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Doug Field, until recently the president of Mac hardware engineering at Apple, is to shift to Tesla Motors to become vice president of vehicle programmes.

What do June 25, July 26 and Oct. 25 have in common? They are all days in which a European plant stopped vehicle production this year. The plants were victims of the region's chronic overcapacity.

Hyundai reported its first profit increase in four quarters after sales rose in China and demand for hatchbacks helped boost deliveries in Brazil.

Mercedes may introduce Google Glass integrated into a car's navigation system in its production models.

General Motors' ability to reverse years of losses in Europe is coming down to products, not partners.

General Motors' ability to reverse years of losses in Europe is coming down to products, not partners.

PSA will end production at its factory in Aulnay near Paris but the closure is not enough to dent overcapacity in Europe's auto industry. Matching capacity with demand would entail closing 18 European plants, analysts say.

From Merrittville Speedway

With the Awards Banquets about to officially close out the 2013 Season at Merrittville Speedway near Niagara Falls, officials from the Thorold facility are thrilled to announce that Lucas Oil Products will return in 2014.

"We are pleased to be the presenting sponsor of events at Merrittville," said Lucas Oil Canada's Matthew Irvine, "it's a great partnership that allows us to market our brand and high performance products to a large audience while providing hospitality for our local retailers and distributors."

"Globally, Lucas Oil has a real passion for auto racing as can be seen at our facilities and others and with quite a roster of drivers as well," added (Merrittville GM) Erica Bicknell-Jones, "we are excited that the leading manufacturer of high quality petroleum additives and oils will be a big part of our fan and driver experience once again ... since 2006 their support has been a strong testament to the quality and professionalism of our race teams."

Lucas Oil will continue to assist not only the 63rd consecutive Saturday Night Stock Car Schedule portion while being an integral part of the 21st season of Tuesday Night Kart Racing as well.

From CMS

Canadian Motor Speedway (CMS) is proud to announce that after seven years of government regulatory and developmental process, heavy excavation equipment is working the CMS site in Fort Erie Ontario, to commence phase-one of the project, the relocation and major environmental enhancement of Miller Creek.

CMS is a world-class motorsport and entertainment development in Fort Erie, Ontario. CMS will include industrial, recreational and commercial retail space, as well as a motorsport innovation park in collaboration with McMaster University's renowned Faculty of Engineering, expanding the build-out to $400 million.

The core of the project is a stand-alone "Jeff Gordon Designed Signature Speedway" that combines to form an FIA/FIM grade road course.

The core property for the oval, the grandstands and the road course is in CMS hands, while work to finalize site planning and the archeological clearances of the periphery properties has been scheduled over the next three months.

Aecon Group Inc., one of Canada's largest construction companies, is the project's Construction Manager. They will be responsible for managing the entire 820 acre development, working with local construction resources to ensure CMS is positioned for timely completion, within targeted cost, with the highest level of quality and safety.

CMS plans a formal ground-breaking in late spring of 2014 to green-flag eighteen months of construction of the sports' first Carbon Neutral, and Canada's first world class oval and integrated road course hosting a variety of racing platforms, notably stock car and open wheel racing, which is slated to be race-ready in 2016.

Williams Formula 1 Team has been fined 60,000 euros after the car driven by Pastor Maldonado lost a wheel nut in the pit lane at the Buddh International Circuit in New Delhi.

This was the second similar incident to happen to Williams of Maldonado after Japan two weeks ago.

The official statement read ''Examination of the parts concerned revealed that the wheel fastener had been cross threaded, thus not engaging in the primary retaining plunger. This is a breach of Article 23.12 of the FIA Sporting Regulations as the car was released in an unsafe condition''

The Stewards also took into account that Williams had a similar issue in Japan, but this time, ''the wheel had been retained on the car''.

The statement further read ''Whilst the Stewards accept that improvements to the wheel retaining system had been implemented the team need to ensure that both the wheel and its fastener are fully retained on the car.''

From NASCAR

NASCAR on Thursday discussed with drivers potential changes to qualifying procedures for next season, and laid out plans to further enhance competition on intermediate tracks.

In a meeting at the NASCAR Research and Development Center in Concord, N.C., officials from the sanctioning body told drivers from all three national series that it was considering the elimination of single-car qualifying for the 2014 season.

The alternative would be group qualifying similar to the procedure currently used on road courses, where a number of vehicles would be on track during qualifying at the same time.

Currently on road courses, cars are assigned to a set number of groups based on practice speeds, from slowest to fastest. Each group is on the track for an amount of time determined by the series director, and a car's best time during its session counts as its qualifying time of record.

NASCAR officials would like to see more wheel-to-wheel racing like this. (Photo: NASCAR/Getty Images)

NASCAR continues to work on improving the current Sprint Cup Series car, particularly at mile-and-a-half tracks.

NASCAR has scheduled a second test at Charlotte Motor Speedway, this one for December 9, to build on its findings from the first test at the facility on October 14. There, six drivers representing three manufacturers tested seven different aerodynamic elements used in three different packages.

Teams tinkered with elements such as static ride height, vents in the rear fascia, a strip across the roof, a larger rear spoiler, and a stepped-down front splitter. Since then, NASCAR has been to the wind tunnel and performed computer simulation. Officials plan to meet with engine builders next week, and have another wind tunnel session set for November.

The first Charlotte test was "very productive," Tharp said, allowing NASCAR to eliminate some elements that didn't work, and focus more on those that did. "Those are some of the things we're looking at now trying to validate, and some of the things we'll likely test in December to make the racing better," he added. "... We're very diligent and very aggressive toward this end right now, and for the balance of this year."

It's all being done with the intention of improving the racing, particularly at the intermediate tracks that comprise the bulk of the schedule. "That's a top priority for us," Tharp said. "We're approaching that very aggressively."

Tesla has just hired Doug Field as vice president of new vehicle development. Until now, the man was in charge of developing several Apple products, including the latest MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, and iMac.

Before that, Field used to work as a Ford engineer.

“Until Tesla came along, I had never seriously considered leaving Apple. I started my career with the goal of creating incredible cars, but ultimately left the auto industry in search of fast-paced, exciting engineering challenges elsewhere,” Field said in a statement. “As the first high-tech auto company in modern history, Tesla is at last an opportunity for me and many others to pursue the dream of building the best cars in the world -- while being part of one of the most innovative companies in Silicon Valley.”

Source: Autonews

John North Willys was born on October 25th, 1873, in the state of New York. He began selling bicycles in his hometown of Canandaigua and within a few years expanded into manufacturing his own line of bicycles.

At the dawn of the 20th century, Willys ran a very successful car dealership that sold Overland automobiles. When the factory encountered supply problems in 1907, he purchased the company, which became known as Willys-Overland five years later.

Business was good to the point of becoming the second largest automaker in the U.S. (Ford was No. 1). During World War I, Willys-Overland built trucks, planes, and engines.

The company's best-selling vehicle, the Willys-Overland Whippet, found more than 100,000 takers between 1927 and 1931.

After the Willys enterprises went bankrupt during the Great Depression and John Willys died in 1935, Willys-Overland started production of the Willys MB military vehicle, better known as Jeep, in 1941.

Source: Wikipedia

Drift master and YouTube superstar Ken Block will now serve as racing advisor for the Need for Speed franchise including the video games and upcoming movie.

Need for Speed Rivals is set to launch worldwide in mid-November.

In return, Need for Speed will sponsor Block and his Ford Fiesta ST for Gymkhana Six, which will be released in its entirety on November 11th.

The first five instalments in the Gymkhana series have so far garnered more than 250 million views. Expect the latest to be an even bigger hit.

Source: Need for Speed

Photo: Need for Speed

Adapted from GMM

This weekend's Indian grand prix is going ahead.

Earlier, a public campaigner appealed to the supreme court for an injunction against proceedings at the Buddh circuit, on the basis race organisers have not paid enough tax.

But AFP news agency cited legal sources in saying the judge delayed the hearing on Friday.

"The hearing will now take place next week," one of the lawyers is quoted as saying. "This means the race can go ahead."

Photo: McLaren F1 Team

Before the announcement, Vicky Chandhok said petitions like this are customary in the Indian democracy.

In the Guardian, he declared: "I don't think it endangers the race in any way whatsoever. People who live in this country learn to deal with these things. It is not something that is worrying. Generally, judges will not grant an injunction for a sporting event to be stopped. Sport has to continue and the rest of it can be dealt with later on."

The bigger question is whether F1 will return to India in 2015, as the unpopular grand prix destination has been left off next year's bustling calendar.

"You know," Sahara Force India team owner Vijay Mallya told CNN, "Bernie (Ecclestone) is a good friend of mine and I have tried to persuade him that India has a market that should not be ignored. I would be very, very disappointed if India fell into the category of being in the F1 calendar and then being permanently out of the calendar."

From GMM

Toro Rosso will prepare Daniil Kvyat for his debut next year by giving him time at the wheel during forthcoming Friday practice sessions.

The first step for the teenage Russian, who is replacing the Red Bull-bound Daniel Ricciardo, will be getting his mandatory super licence credential.

"We plan to run him in a two-year-old formula one car very soon ... so that he can complete enough mileage to qualify for the all-important document," Red Bull-owned Toro Rosso said in a report posted on its website.

After that, Kvyat will get the green light to practice on Friday morning in Austin and Brazil, the last two grands prix of the season, the Faenza based team added.

Daniil Kvyat, Toro Rosso. (Photo: WRi2)

Some, however, think F1 is coming too soon for the GP3 driver.

"It (F1) will be a shock to him," McLaren driver Jenson Button is quoted by Brazil's O Estado de S.Paulo newspaper. "He's used to working with 12 people, but now he'll be working with 700."

But Dr Helmut Marko thinks talk like that is hypocritical, especially as a team like McLaren has been talking up the prospects of its own development drivers, Kevin Magnussen and Stoffel Vandoorne.

"Sebastian was the first of our young drivers to do it (succeed), and now Daniel Ricciardo is coming as the second," he told Speed Week.

"That's another thing: Red Bull brings young talent into formula one while the others talk. They say there is no room for inexperienced drivers, but that's just an excuse. Daniel and Sebastian are two that have made it out of our junior team and we are very proud of it," he added.

However, O Estado de S.Paulo newspaper reports that the FIA could be set to toughen the criteria for obtaining a F1 super licence, on the grounds of safety.

On his way to a fourth consecutive world championship. German Sebastian Vettel -- the only man to have ever won at the New Delhi venue -- topped the timing sheets during both free practice sessions of the Indian Grand Prix Friday.

Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull RB9-Renault. (Photo: WRi2)

Driving his Renault-powered Red Bull RB9, Vettel set a best time of 1m26.683 to edge his teammate, Australian Mark Webber during FP1.

Nico Rosberg of Mercedes AMG, who fought Vettel throughout once the dusty track had improved, lapped his W04 in 1m26.899, with Lotus' Romain Grosjean coming in fourth on 1m28.990.

Nico Rosberg, Mercedes W04. (Photo: WRi2)

Lewis Hamilton in the second Mercedes completed the top five as the Briton battled with his car's handling to record 1m27.227.

Briton James Calado took over Paul di Resta's Sahara Force India. The rookie was 18th on 1m29.197.

The afternoon session saw Vettel repeat his strong performance, this time setting a quick time in 1m 25.722. The German was the only man to dip below the 1m 26 mark in an intriguing session that saw all the drivers struggling with front tire wear on the soft Pirelli rubber.

Romain Grosjean, Lotus E21-Renault. (Photo: WRi2)

Mark Webber again finished second to his teammate with a 1m26.011. Frenchman Romain Grosjean was third in his Lotus with a 1m26.220, and Lewis Hamilton moved up to fourth for Mercedes with 1m26.399.

Ferrari driver Fernando Alonso was fifth with a 1m26.430, beating Rosberg, Felipe Massa in the other Ferrari, Kimi Raikkonen in a Lotus and the McLaren duo of Sergio Perez and Jenson Button.

Fernando Alonso, Ferrari F138. (Photo: WRi2)

“We tried a number of different set-ups this morning - but I think our baseline was in the wrong place, so they didn't particularly work around this type of circuit,” said Button.

“So we reverted to more of a traditional set-up for the afternoon, and we developed the car over the course of the day, so we're now getting there, despite the setbacks of the morning. In a way that's positive, because it meant that we'd already been getting the best out of the car for the whole year,” he added.

Grand Prix of India, 1st free practice session*, Friday
1- Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull RB9-Renault) - 1'26"683 - 24 laps
2 - Mark Webber (Red Bull RB9-Renault) - 1'26"871 - 17
3 - Nico Rosberg (Mercedes W04) - 1'26"899 - 23
4 - Romain Grosjean (Lotus E21-Renault) - 1'26"990 - 20
5 - Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes W04) - 1'27"227 - 21
6 - Jenson Button (McLaren MP4-28-Mercedes) - 1'27"335 - 23
7 - Sergio Perez (McLaren MP4-28-Mercedes) - 1'27"416 - 23
8 - Felipe Massa (Ferrari F138) - 1'27"692 - 21
9 - Nico Hulkenberg (Sauber C32-Ferrari) - 1'27"770 - 19
10 - Valtteri Bottas (Williams FW35-Renault) - 1'27"800 - 23
11 - Jean-Eric Vergne (Toro Rosso STR8-Ferrari) - 1'28"035 - 25
12 - Fernando Alonso (Ferrari F138) - 1'28"214 - 6
13 - Daniel Ricciardo (Toro Rosso STR8-Ferrari) - 1'28"336 - 18
14 - Pastor Maldonado (Williams FW35-Renault) - 1'28"342 - 21
15 - Adrian Sutil (Force India VJM06-Mercedes) - 1'28"468 - 20
16 - Esteban Gutierrez (Sauber C32-Ferrari) - 1'28"538 - 18
17 - Kimi Raikkonen (Lotus E21-Renault) - 1'28"730 - 18
18 - James Calado (Force India VJM06-Mercedes) - 1'29"197 - 22
19 - Giedo Van der Garde (Caterham CT03-Renault) - 1'29"413 - 24
20 - Jules Bianchi (Marussia MR02-Cosworth) - 1'29"560 - 20
21 - Charles Pic (Caterham CT03-Renault) - 1'30"026 - 23
22 - Max Chilton (Marussia MR02-Cosworth) - 1'30"471 - 17

Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes W04. (Photo: WRi2)

Grand Prix of India, 2nd free practice session*, Friday
1 - Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull RB9-Renault) - 1'25"722 - 35 laps
2 - Mark Webber (Red Bull RB9-Renault) - 1'26"011 - 38
3 - Romain Grosjean (Lotus E21-Renault) - 1'26"220 - 36
4 - Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes W04) - 1'26"399 - 36
5 - Fernando Alonso (Ferrari F138) - 1'26"430 - 39
6 - Nico Rosberg (Mercedes W04) - 1'26"582 - 40
7 - Felipe Massa (Ferrari F138) - 1'26"601 - 41
8 - Kimi Raikkonen (Lotus E21-Renault) - 1'26"632 - 32
9 - Sergio Perez (McLaren MP4/28-Mercedes) - 1'26"857 - 40
10 - Jenson Button (McLaren MP4/28-Mercedes) - 1'26"972 - 39
11 - Daniel Ricciardo (Toro Rosso STR8-Ferrari) - 1'27"304 - 17
12 - Adrian Sutil (Force India VJM06-Mercedes) - 1'27"375 - 36
13 - Valtteri Bottas (Williams FW35-Renault) - 1'27"429 - 31
14 - Nico Hulkenberg (Sauber C32-Ferrari) - 1'27"491 - 40
15 - Paul Di Resta (Force India VJM06-Mercedes) - 1'27"608 - 38
16 - Pastor Maldonado (Williams FW35-Renault) - 1'27"720 - 23
17 - Esteban Gutierrez (Sauber C32-Ferrari) - 1'27"949 - 34
18 - Jean-Eric Vergne (Toro Rosso STR8-Ferrari) - 1'28"431 - 30
19 - Giedo Van der Garde (Caterham CT03-Renault) - 1'28"692 - 39
20 - Jules Bianchi (Marussia MR02-Cosworth) - 1'28"799 - 32
21 - Charles Pic (Caterham CT03-Renault) - 1'29"366 - 37
22 - Max Chilton (Marussia MR02-Cosworth) - 1'30"164 - 27

*Unofficial timing

From press release

Four-time Formula One World Champion Alain Prost has today joined forces with Jean-Paul Driot, founder of leading GP2 and Formula Renault 3.5 team Dams, to enter the FIA Formula E Championship - competing as new team e.dams.

The new team launch, held at the L'Atelier Renault on the Champs-Elysées in Paris, was attended by racing legend Alain Prost and Jean-Paul Driot, together with FIA President Jean Todt and Alejandro Agag, CEO of series promoters Formula E Holdings.

e.dams now becomes the fifth team to sign an agreement with Formula E Holdings to compete in the new fully-electric race series which begins in September 2014 and features 10 races through the heart of some of the world's leading cities. e.dams joins leading IndyCar outfits Andretti Autosport and Dragon Racing, UK- based Drayson Racing and Chinese team China Racing as one of the 10 teams to be put forward to the FIA for final approval by its World Motor Sport Council.

Photo: FIA Formule E

The new Formula E team will be supported with logistical and technical assistance by top European squad Dams (Driot Associés Motor Sport). Based near Le Mans, Dams boasts almost 25 years' experience with numerous team and driver titles to its name including three International F3000 Championships, two A1GP titles, two Auto GP titles, two GP2 Asia titles and one team and two GP2 drivers' titles. The squad has also expanded into Formula Renault 3.5 where last weekend it claimed the team and drivers' title in only its second season.

With four F1 titles (1985 & 86, 1989 & 1993), 51 GP victories and 108 podiums to his name, Alain Prost remains one of the sport's most successful racing drivers with the Frenchman very much looking forward to being a part of the new zero emission series: “I am very happy to be a part of the Formula E adventure. Being able to actively participate in the development of this new technology, which is 100% electric is extremely motivating. As we've seen in other championships, 2014 will see a move towards more sustainable racing, proving more than ever that motorsport is the benchmark for the future.”

“Getting involved with the FIA Formula E Championship was an obvious choice”, added Jean-Paul. “Being the race enthusiast that I am, I was immediately convinced by this new concept of using fully electric single- seater cars and believe it will shape the future of motorsport. The implementation of new technologies, in the heart of the most beautiful cities in the world and in front of a young audience, lays the path for a new form of motorsport, which is innovative and respectful to the environment. I am extremely proud to be a part of this new challenge.”

From GMM

A member of Felipe Massa's management team has denied as "fantasy" reports the Brazilian has penned a five-year Williams contract.

Alessandro Aluni Bravi, who according to O Estado de S.Paulo newspaper works with Massa's manager Nicolas Todt, denied the report that appeared on a Brazilian website on Thursday.

"Felipe has already expressed that racing with Williams in 2014 would be a good option," he said, "but still there is nothing certain.

"Firstly," Bravi added, "who signs a five year contract today in formula one?

"Sebastian renewed for two seasons, Lewis has a three-year commitment with Mercedes. But this (report about Massa) is information without origin and it could only (adversely) affect the negotiations."

Bravi continued: "Williams is just one of the scenarios for us. We have talked with Lotus, Force India and Sauber as well.

"But we have not got to the level of discussing the contract term and details of how our relationship with the team would be," he added.

Photo: Williams F1 Team

However, the rumour goes that if Massa does arrive at Williams, his sponsor Petrobras would replace PDVSA, the Venezuelan oil company, as well as Pastor Maldonado.

Speaking in India, Maldonado did little to quell the speculation.

"If I decide to leave," he is quoted by Spain's EFE news agency, "someone has to come to the team and I would wish Felipe well, to continue (in F1).

"It is not yet decided, so let's see what happens in this final part of the season," Maldonado added.

Williams' deputy team boss Claire Williams, however, played down the Massa link.

"We are not in a position to announce our driver lineup, so I can't comment on these rumours," she told Brazil's Totalrace.

"It is pure speculation," added Williams, who did acknowledge Massa's skills, history and experience.

"Felipe has a great history in the sport," she said. "He is an experienced driver and Williams is always interested in talents such as Felipe.

"But at the moment we have two drivers under contract who are doing a great job for us," Williams added, also referring to Finnish rookie Valtteri Bottas.

But she fanned the flames when she referred to Williams' own great history of working with Brazilian drivers, such as Nelson Piquet, Ayrton Senna and Rubens Barrichello.

"Historically, we've had some great Brazilian drivers and we always get on well with them," said Williams.

"I think it has to do with the passion that the two sides have for the sport -- it makes a good fit."

Meanwhile, Williams played down a sporting corruption scandal in Venezuela that some say could affect Maldonado's sponsorship backing.

"We have a contract with PDVSA," she said, "and to our knowledge, this investigation has nothing to do with us."

From wrc.com

The battle for Thierry Neuville's signature for the 2014 WRC season is down to a straight fight between newcomers Hyundai and current team M-Sport after the Belgian driver ended negotiations with Citroen.

Neuville is expected to make his decision shortly after this weekend's Rally de España and although rumours suggest he has already agreed a deal with the Korean manufacturer, M-Sport boss Malcolm Wilson believes Neuville's future is not settled.

Thierry Neuville, Ford Fiesta M-Sport. (Photo: WRC)

Twenty-five-year-old Neuville left Citroen at the start of this year after being offered a full programme in a Ford Fiesta RS by Wilson's Qatar-funded squad. A string of five consecutive podiums, including four second place finishes, has made him the hottest property in the end-of-season transfer market.

Citroen boss Yves Matton was keen on Neuville returning to the French squad but admitted talks had halted. “We were talking with Thierry but now we have stopped the negotiations. Thierry stopped them,” said Matton.

Neuville remains tight-lipped but Wilson said M-Sport was still talking to him. “I think it's quite clear it's between us and Hyundai, but I can't give an answer because I don't know,” said Wilson. “It's got to be 50-50 in view of what's happened this season because he can see how competitive our car and the team are.

“But obviously I can also see the appeal to Thierry in view of the long term situation with a new manufacturer. He has got to weigh up whether it would be better to stay with a car he knows will win, or switch to a team where everything is new,” he added.