Auto News 5

Here is the track schedule of the Rolex Grand Prix of Australia - Round 1 of the 2013 FIA Formula 1 World Championship - to be held this weekend at Albert Park, Melbourne.

Please note that all times are local.

Friday March 15
11:00 11:30 MSS SECURITY V8 SUPERCARS CHALLENGE FIRST RACE (30 MINS)
11:40 11:50 SHANNONS HISTORIC DEMONSTRATION
12:00 12:15 RAAF ROULETTES AIR DISPLAY
12:30 14:00 FORMULA ONE - FIRST PRACTICE SESSION
14:20 14:50 MSS SECURITY V8 SUPERCARS CHALLENGE SECOND RACE (30 MINS)
15:00 15:15 THE ULTIMATE SPEED COMPARISON
15:30 15:45 MAZDA6 CELEBRITY CHALLENGE FIRST RACE (5 LAPS)
15:55 16:05 RAAF F/A18 JET RECONNAISSANCE FLIGHT
16:30 18:00 FORMULA ONE - SECOND PRACTICE SESSION
18:20 18:40 PORSCHE CARRERA CUP FIRST RACE (8 LAPS)
18:50 19:00 TARMAC RALLY CAR DEMONSTRATION

Photo: Rolex Australian Grand Prix

Saturday March 16
11:00 11:20 SHANNONS HISTORIC DEMONSTRATION
11.30 11:40 TARGA TARMAC RALLY CAR DEMONSTRATION
11:55 12:10 MAZDA6 CELEBRITY CHALLENGE SECOND RACE (5 LAPS)
12:20 12:35 ULTIMATE SPEED COMPARISON
12:50 13:10 PORSCHE CARRERA CUP SECOND RACE (8 LAPS)
13:30 13:45 RAAF ROULETTES AIR DISPLAY
14:00 15:00 FORMULA ONE - THIRD PRACTICE SESSION
15:20 15:55 MSS SECURITY V8 SUPERCARS CHALLENGE THIRD RACE (30 MINS)
16:10 16:20 FERRARI ROAD CAR PARADE LAP
16:30 16:40 RAAF F/A18 JET AIR DISPLAY
17:00 18:00 FORMULA ONE - QUALIFYING SESSION
18:25 18:45 TOTAL OIL INTERNATIONAL SPORTS CARS FIRST RACE (8 LAPS)

Sunday March 17
11:00 11:15 SHANNONS HISTORIC PARADE
11:20 11:40 TOTAL OIL INTERNATIONAL SPORTS CARS SECOND RACE (8 LAPS)
11:45 11:55 MAZDA6 CELEBRITY CHALLENGE & CAMS CHAMPS PARADE
12:00 12:10 JUNIOR GP CHALLENGE
12:15 12:25 MSS SECURITY V8 SUPERCARS CHALLENGE DRIVERS PARADE
12.25 12.30 GUEST LAPS
12:40 12:55 MAZDA6 CELEBRITY CHALLENGE THIRD RACE (5 LAPS)
13:20 13:55 MSS SECURITY V8 SUPERCARS CHALLENGE FOURTH RACE (30 MINS)
14:10 14:30 PORSCHE CARRERA CUP THIRD RACE (8 LAPS)
14:40 14:55 ULTIMATE SPEED COMPARISON
15:00 15:15 60TH AGP ANNIVERSARY PARADE LAP (REV DIRECTION)
15:25 FORMULA ONE - FORMULA 1 ROLEX AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX (58 LAPS OR 120 MINS)

From GMM

Ferrari insists it is happy with its technical structure, despite not having a high-profile figure like Adrian Newey in the limelight.

"The goal," said the Italian team's Greek designer Nicholas Tombazis, "is to combine respect with victory, which is what we have failed to do in recent years."

Indeed, in the wake of Kimi Raikkonen's title for the Maranello marque in 2007, the coveted drivers' championships have subsequently gone to McLaren, Brawn, and then Red Bull, whose technical head Newey is widely proclaimed a 'genius'.

"Without knowing the details," Tombazis told Italy's Autosprint in an interview, "I think the way we are organised is quite different. We do not have a person who does everything, who pretends to know everything, while all the others are slaves. We have a strong team and also quite a 'deep' one, that we have been able to re-examine in recent years because we were not winning.

"From the technical point of view I think it's hard not to feel admiration for Adrian Newey. From the human point of view, I know other people," he added.

Adrian Newey. (Photo: Red Bull)

Adapted from GMM

McLaren on Thursday swiftly confirmed reports that Vodafone will definitely end its seven-year title sponsorship at the end of 2013.

It emerged mid last year that the lucrative deal could be in doubt beyond 2013, with the Financial Times reporting that the British telecommunications giant was "reviewing" its major sponsorships. Citing a company spokesman, the newspaper said Vodafone has indeed decided to end the estimated $75 million per year McLaren deal.

"Having met and exceeded all the highly ambitious targets that Vodafone had set for its title partnership with McLaren, the company has now decided to focus on business priorities away from formula one sponsorship," the British team announced in a press release.

Launch of the McLaren MP4-28 at Woking. (Photo: WRi2)

Amid speculation it will team up with the Sergio Perez-linked Mexican giant Telmex, McLaren announced that its next title sponsor will be announced in December.

"While the current title partnership is in place... McLaren will not disclose its new title partnership, but (the team) will make an exciting announcement on 2nd December 2013, following the last grand prix of the season," said the Woking based team.

As it has since Perez entered F1 in 2010, Telmex currently sponsors Sauber. Rumours will surely now intensify about a switch to McLaren to replace Vodafone.

McLaren boss Martin Whitmarsh said last September: "I did have a conversation with Carlos Slim ... but we have made an offer to Sergio, we are paying him well and there are no side deals. I'm not saying that ultimately there won't be other fresh partners coming forward because of it (Perez's signing) but that wasn't the motivating force."

From GMM

Valencia could be set to return to the formula one calendar.

The European grand prix is missing from the 2013 schedule, and it emerged recently that a return was unlikely because city authorities and race organisers had left the street circuit in a state of disrepair.

However, El Mundo newspaper reports that Valencia president Alberto Fabra met with Bernie Ecclestone in London at the end of February.

The report claims he agreed a deal whereby Valencia will annually alternate the Spanish grand prix with Barcelona.

"The agreement is (now) awaiting the signature of the Catalan president Artur Mas," wrote journalist Pedro Blasco, adding that if the deal is signed, Valencia will host formula one races in even years, beginning in 2014.

Spain's El Confidential newspaper quoted Fabra as saying at a news conference in Madrid that he hoped the deal would be formalised soon.

"We have been working to make this a reality," he added, revealing that he has already been in contact with his Barcelona counterpart Mas.

Photo: WRi2

From GMM

Sahara Force India has lashed out at F1's owner CVC, accusing the private equity firm of not being interested in developing the sport.

The financial news agency Bloomberg quoted deputy team boss Bob Fernley as saying new deals that give more money and power to the bigger teams are a "disaster".

"CVC is not interested in developing the sport, it's interested in making as much money as possible and then selling it," he said. "The income split doesn't support formula one."

Many of F1's smallest teams are struggling, and former Renault boss Flavio Briatore told Sky Italia this week: "I can't understand why none of the team bosses are saying anything".

Spanish backmarker HRT folded over the winter, the woes of Force India's owners Vijay Mallya and Sahara are making headlines, and Marussia and Caterham have had to dump their number 1s in order to sign 'pay drivers' in 2013.

Photo: WRi2

Still referring to CVC, Bob Fernley continued: "You need to have an investor who gets a good return but one that also has an interest" in F1. "CVC has milked it and anyone investing in it should be looking very closely at what they're getting."

However, former Minardi owner and boss Paul Stoddart has warned that equality up and down pitlane is "a lovely dream but it isn't going to happen".

In fact, he said a team like Sahara Force India gets about $35 million per year in income from CVC, insisting: "I would have crawled over hot coals to get" that."

Toyota plans to introduce the redesigned 2014 Highlander crossover at the New York Auto Show this month.

The 2014 Toyota Highlander will make its debut at the New York auto show.

A federal judge has rejected an appeal by four former Chrysler executives, including Bob Lutz, over the automaker's decision to reduce retired executives' pension benefits as part of its 2009 restructuring plan, said Mayer Morganroth,...

To promote the new seven-passenger Santa Fe, Hyundai has launched a

Not all valuable cars are rare, and not all rare cars are particularly valuable. Take the infamous Bricklin SV-1.

Also in this episode: Kia promises to tweak Provo name; Audi A4 next in line to receive diesel.

A spokesman for Audi UK has told just-auto that the forthcoming sedan version of the A3 will be sold in this market. The launch should take place within six months of the vehicle's world premiere at next month's Shanghai motor show.

A spokesperson for Audi UK has told just-auto that the forthcoming sedan version of the A3 will be sold in this market. The launch should take place within six months of the vehicle's world premiere at next month's Shanghai motor show.

In February, we saw the 2014 Range Rover in a leaked internal document sent to us by a dealer.

Three General Motors brands, led by GMC, ranked among the top five volume makes for customer satisfaction with the dealership service department, based on an annual J.D. Power and Associates survey released today.

Turkish vehicle production fell 1% year on year to 93,519 units in February, the Automotive Manufacturers Association (OSD) told Reuters.

News 14 Mar, 2013

Pictures of the new Range Rover Sport completely undisguised have been leaked ahead of its New York show debut

The National Automobile Dealers Association has pulled the plug on its appeal of the Federal Trade Commission's controversial interpretation of the Risk-Based Pricing Rule that applies to dealerships that don't receive or review credit reports in...

News 13 Mar, 2013

The founder of Fisker Automotive has left the company, following a dispute over strategy

Kia's European base is encouraging dealers to spruce up their showrooms and workshops - or move to new premises - to provide a more welcoming environment for the customers it has won in recent years.