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Robert Kubica will step up to a World Rally Car for Rally Great Britain, when he wil drive a factory Citroën DS3 for the last round of the season.

The former F1 driver, who get closer to the WRC2 title after his class win in Rallye de France with his Citroën DS3 RRC (Regional Rally Car), will have the opportunity to drive for the first time in his career a World Rally Car.

The Pole, who fights against Abdulaziz Al-Kuwari in WRC2, could already secure the championship win in Rally Spain before heading to Great Britain in WRC in November 14 to 17.

For next season, Robert Kubica is rumored to join the Citroën factory team in WRC, but also to compete several rounds of the World Touring Car Championship with a factory Citroen C-Elysee.

Citroen DS3 WRC. (Photo: Citroen Racing)

The ripple effect of the contorted finish at the nice race at Richmond has extended to Michael Waltrip Racing. On Monday the team announced a “reorganization” which takes the presently three-car NASCAR Sprint Cup team to a full-time two-car team in 2014 with occasional forays for a third car in what is described a “strengthened research and development group.”

Martin Truex Jr. who has been driving the No. 56 Toyota sponsored by NAPA (an automotive accessory parts retailer) and his crew chief, Chad Johnston, have been advised that they are free to negotiate with other teams. And there was an approximately 15 per cent reduction of the MWR labor force.

Martin Truex Jr., Toyota MWR. (Photo: NASCAR)

Ironically the 33-year old Truex, who broke a 218 race winless drought at Sonoma in June, was an innocent victim of the fallout of the Richmond race. Clint Bowyer, who drives the No. 15 car had an inexplicable spin in the closing laps of the race which changed the outcome (and subsequent line-up) of NASCAR's playoff's called the Chase for the Sprint Cup. Brian Vickers, who drives the No. 55, was told to remain in the pits for longer than necessary which, at the time, locked Truex in the Chase.

NASCAR penalized Ty Norris, the General Manager, who was acting as the spotter who advised Vickers to remain in the pits, by an indefinite suspension. According to reports Norris has been newly titled as director of business development which takes him out of a competition role.

In a related development, on Monday, Vickers told team officials that a blood clot in his right calf would preclude him from any further driving this year.

NASCAR penalized a team official but took no action against Bowyer. Ironically, it was Truex, who did no wrong, who lost his sponsor, NAPA, which caused the team to downsize.

Photo: Michael Waltrip Racing

Team officials commented via a press release.

“Our goals for the reorganization were twofold, firstly to improve the competitiveness of our race teams and, secondly maintain a stable organizational structure,” said co-owner Rob Kauffman. “The team's focus has been to find that last one percent needed to move from Chase participant to Cup champion. This realignment will get us closer to that last one percent.”

“Today was about doing what we had to do not what we wanted to do,” Kauffman added. “It was important to let those whose jobs were affected know as early as possible, and a majority of those will remain with MWR through the end of the season.”

“We have very strong support from Toyota, Toyota Racing Development, 5-hour ENERGY, PEAK, Aaron's, AAA Mid-Atlantic and other partners who enable us to compete at the highest level,” said MWR founder and co-owner Michael Waltrip. “We are confident that with two teams and a very active test team, our competiveness will take a step forward. We will also continue to do a great job for our partners off the track, which has always been a cultural staple for our organization.

“Rob and I deeply appreciate everyone who has helped build MWR into a race winning team and we are dedicated to continuing our pursuit of excellence on and off the track.”

From GP2 Series

Thirteen teams will compete again in GP2 Series' fourth three-year cycle.

GP2 Series organisers are pleased to reveal the name of the thirteen teams entered for the next three seasons. While twelve outfits of the last cycle have been reselected, one team will make a comeback to the Series with Campos Racing returning to GP2 in replacement of Barwa Addax Team.

The Campos squad had previously competed in the first four seasons finishing Team Champions in 2008 before passing the torch to Addax and Alejandro Agag.

GP2 Series CEO Bruno Michel said: “We're very happy to announce our line-up for the next three years. As usual, we received high quality requests from new teams who wished to join our Series. However, as we did in the past we decided to show loyalty to the existing teams who have done a very good job in a difficult economic environment.

“We are pleased to welcome back Adrian Campos to GP2 and I would like to thank Alejandro Agag for his involvement in our Series: Barwa Addax Team won the Teams' Title in 2011 with Charles Pic and Giedo van der Garde as drivers. I wish Alejandro all the best in his next challenge.”

Starting grid in Monza. (Photo: GP2 Series)

The following teams entered 2014 GP2 Series*
Arden International  GBR
ART Grand Prix   FRA
Campos Racing   ESP
Carlin  GBR
DAMS  FRA
EQ8 Caterham Racing   MAS
Hilmer Motorsport  GER
MP Motorsport  NED
Racing Engineering  ESP
Rapax  ITA
RUSSIAN TIME  RUS
Trident  ITA
Venezuela GP Lazarus   VEN

*in alphabetical order

Porsche Supercup leader Sean Edwards has died in an accident  Tuesday at Queensland Raceway, Australia.

Twenty-six-year-old Edwards was a driving instructor in a Porsche 996 when the car went off the road at high speed, crashing heaviling in the tire wall.

The car bursted in flames following the impact, and the emergency services extracted both Edwards and the driver, a young Australian who is currently in intensive care.

Sean Edwards was crowned FIA GT3 European champion in 2006. He was running in his fifth Porsche Supercup season. With three wins, he led the point standings before the two races remaining and that will be presented in Abu Dhabi in November.

Sean Edwards, Monaco 2013. (Photo: Porsche Supercup)

From GMM

With Sebastian Vettel and Red Bull easing to the titles at a canter, the biggest remaining importance of 2013 is the lucrative battle for second in the constructors' championship.

A country mile behind the Red Bull juggernaut, grandee teams Ferrari, Mercedes and Lotus are all separated by just over 30 points. Their battle is worth many millions in income distributed by F1's commercial rights holders.

At the centre of that battle is a figure like Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton, but he has already turned his real attention beyond November's season finale.

Asked what he's looking forward to most in 2013 now, the Briton admitted in Japan: "Christmas."

For the fans, it's a similar story. Perhaps Vettel's march to all-time records will stimulate their interest.

Red Bull, Mercedes, Ferrari, what will be the finale classification in 2013? (Photo: WRi2)

For instance, the German has just won five grands prix on the trot. Not even the great Michael Schumacher won more than seven in a row.

If Vettel wins in India - sealing his title - and then Abu Dhabi, Austin and Interlagos, it will match Alberto Ascari's 60-year-old record.

He would also equal Schumacher's record haul of 13 wins in a single season.

Lewis Hamilton thinks he could do it.

"If he (Vettel) doesn't have any reliability issues, most likely (he will)," the Briton said. "He's just walking it."

And, like Hamilton's impatient wait for Christmas, Lotus boss Eric Boullier also gave a sickly smile when asked which of the remaining races he is targeting for a win.

"Winter testing!" the Frenchman replied.

Including 2013, Red Bull has won the last four drivers' and constructors' championships. McLaren team boss Martin Whitmarsh said on Sunday that success has been powered by "a lot of money".

"It's a very important factor," he added.

Eric Boullier told Speed Week: "I would guess teams like Red Bull and Ferrari spend 250 to 300 million euros a year.

"At Marussia it's maybe 60 million, but to be competitive, you can hardly have less than 120 million."

But according to former Mercedes boss Norbert Haug, it's too simplistic to say Vettel is just driving the most expensive F1 car to easy victory in F1.

"He is clearly the best," he said on German television Blickpunkt Sport.

"He works the hardest, is involved the least in politics, he takes care of his mechanics. Even if you have the most money, the formula one title is not just mailed to you," Norbert Haug insisted.

“Being powerful is like being a lady: If you have to tell people you are, you aren't.” - M. Thatcher.

Being a powerful vehicle is about more than hood scoops, flared wheel arches and a super-loud exhaust note; it's about more than straight-line times and downforce-inducing wings. Being a powerful vehicle is about composed speed, sophisticated handling, astonishing acceleration and a smoothness that'll leave you both breathless and impressed with the end result.

The 2013 Audi RS 5 may not look like anything special, unless you know what you're looking for, but it is. That's one of its most redeeming qualities; with plenty of ponies under the hood and Audi's renowned Quattro system underfoot.


What is the Audi RS 5?
Based on the A5, Audi's coupe appeared in '07 as an ‘08 -- the RS 5 is essentially a jacked-up version. While an S5 existed from the beginning, it wasn't until 2010 that the RS 5 emerged, and not until 2013 that a cabriolet model was released, as well.

With a jump on horsepower and performance over the S5, the Audi RS 5 is the epitome of speed and performance in the A5.

Based on the A5, Audi's coupe appeared in '07 as an ‘08 -- the RS 5 is essentially a jacked-up version. (Photo: Colin Styker)

2013 Audi RS 5 Price and Specs
If you're in the market for the RS 5 you're well aware that with power and performance comes a hefty price. Starting at $77,000 the 2013 Audi RS 5 is, actually, quite a lot of car for not that much money. It's the extras that really throw it into another realm, such as the $6,000 Carbon Ceramic Brakes and $1,500 Sport Exhaust, and $1,000 20” five-arm rotor wheels -- all of which were included in my $91,450 tester.

Underneath all the fancy extras sits a highly impressive vehicle that boasts Audi's 4.2L FSI V8 engine that pushes out 450 horsepower and 316 lb-ft of torque. Audi ensured the RS 5's stability with its RWD-biased Quattro AWD system. The RS-tuned and lowered suspension, as well as upgraded steering, help the 2013 Audi RS 5 really hunker down and get into it when needed.

The 2013 Audi RS 5 reaches 100 km/hr in just 4.7 seconds, and as you crest the 120 km/hr mark a subtle rear spoiler deploys to help you stay stable. You can self-shift the 7-speed S tronic autobox via steering-wheel mounted paddle shifters.

Underneath all the fancy extras sits a highly impressive vehicle that boasts Audi's 4.2L FSI V8 engine that pushes out 450 horsepower and 316 lb-ft of torque. (Photo: Colin Styker)

Driving the 2013 Audi RS 5
The 2013 Audi RS 5 can be as dapper and demure or as devilish and daring as you desire. Thanks to Audi's Drive Select that lets you swap between comfort, auto, dynamic and individual, you can change up the vehicle's engine response, adaptive suspension, dynamic steering, and transmission shift characteristics. There are noticeable differences between each.

Of course, I kept the car firmly planted in dynamic mode with “S” selected on the gear lever. That kept the 2013 Audi RS 5's revs delightfully high for maximum milking of power from the 4.2L V8, with delightfully loud and fart-y downshifts from the upgraded sport exhaust when I came to a stop. I did wish for a bit more torque, but the RS 5 reaches speed in a gloriously smooth way.

Cornering in the 2013 Audi RS 5 is fabulous. You can feel the rear squat and push into the turn; like a lion settling onto its haunches before launching towards its prey, the RS 5 is planted and ready to kill any road you throw its way.

In comfort mode the drive is much quieter with shorter gears and no downshifts (unless you do them yourself). I wished for “softer” suspension damping as it can be quite rough on less-than-stellar roads.

The 2013 Audi RS 5 can be as dapper and demure or as devilish and daring as you desire. (Photo: Colin Styker)

Inside and Out of the 2013 Audi RS 5
That grille! Audi's designers took an understated approach to the aggressiveness of the RS 5. No need for super-flared wheel arches or a big wing; gentle sloping lines, massive 20” rims and a lowered, squat stance is all this car needs to make a statement.

Audi's signature LED headlights are present, and the rear is delightfully simple as well, with large exhaust tips on each corner.

Inside, the 2013 Audi RS 5 is surprisingly roomy up front and even in the back. My son's larger Britax baby seat was an easy fit, and he actually had legroom (unlike in the XKR). Trunk space is passable.

Of note: The seats in the Audi RS 5 are comfortable, but they do not breathe in the summer heat. Audi's MMI system takes a bit of getting used to, but is functional and logical. I was a bit disappointed with the optional Bang & Olufsen, as well. It sounds much better in the Audi A8.

That grille! Audi's designers took an understated approach to the aggressiveness of the RS 5. (Photo: Colin Styker)

Comparing the 2013 Audi RS 5
Directly in line with the RS 5 is BMW's M3 Coupe and even the Mustang Shelby GT500, both of which offer up differences such as balls-out power or a bit more refinement when compared to the Audi. If it's understated “fast” you're looking for (with a bit more room in the rear), the Audi is the clear choice. Plus, it's the only one with all-wheel drive, which makes it the only plausible all-season performance car.

From Mazda

The Mazda Club Racer Shootout is the single largest prize in club racing. Since 2007 Mazda has annually promoted one talented club racer to the professional ranks. The $75,000 prize funds a drive in the 2014 Mazda MX-5 Cup.

The heart and soul of Mazda Motorsports is club racing, and supporting those racers who have invested in racing a Mazda. The criteria for the shootout is to identify the aspiring professional racer who has the best range of skills required to succeed.

These skills include speed, consistency, racecraft, technical feedback, and off-track business and PR skills. History has shown that a driver will be limited in success if they are lacking in multiple areas.

Eighteen racers are semi-finalists, having met the eligibility criteria for 2013. Each has won a recognized championship over a minimum number of competitors. The next step is for the racer to submit a business presentation, which will be reviewed and scored by a team of motorsports and marketing professionals.

From those proposals, the finalists will be selected. The final shootout will be a one-day event at Buttonwillow Raceway Park in November where the racers will be tested on the track for their technical skills. It is a winner-take-all event with one racer moving up to the Mazda MX-5 Cup for 2014.

The 18 semi-finalists are:
Racer Club/Series Hometown/Residence
Ben Albano - Skip Barber Racing School Greenwich, CT
Joey Bickers - NASA Teen Challenge (California) Moorpark, CA
Jim Drago - SCCA National Runoffs Memphis, TN
TJ Fischer - Worldspeed Formula Car Championship Vacaville, CA
Dennis Holloway - NASA National Championships Huntington Beach, CA
Rob Huffmaster - SCCA National Runoffs Shelby Township, MI
Andrei Kisel - Sports Car Club of British Columbia North Vancouver, BC, Canada
Jason Kohler - NASA National Championships Waterford, MI
Zachary Munro - NASA Teen Challenge (Colorado) Granby, CO
Adam Poland - NASA Teen Challenge (Texas) Mount Vernon, Texas
Scott Rettich - SCCA National Runoffs Camden, OH
Matt Schultz - NASA National Championships Portland, OR
Cherie Storms - Sports Car Club of British Columbia Langley, BC, Canada
Jon Van Caneghem - NASA National Championships Marina del Rey, CA
Cal Vandaalen - Spec Miata Championship (Canada) Wellington, NS Canada
Rob Warkocki - SCCA National Runoffs Frankfort, IL
Michael Whelden - Worldspeed Formula Car Championship Sausalito, CA
Darryl Wills - SCCA National Runoffs Houston,TX

From GMM

Ferrari failed to beat Red Bull for a fourth consecutive time because of "two main factors", according to team boss Stefano Domenicali.

Speaking to the Spanish sports newspaper AS, the Italian denied he is the main problem.

"You wouldn't change Domenicali and win tomorrow," he insisted.

"Sure, my boss could do it, and if he does, I would always be grateful to Ferrari," said Stefano Domenicali.

"But in Italy there is a saying: 'When you leave the road you know, the other could be worse'.

"The problem is not Domenicali," he added. "Domenicali is the first to come to work in the morning and the last to leave. If we had won in 2012, Domenicali would be a phenomenon, he would have done his job well."

Ferraris F138. (Photo: WRi2)

Indeed, together with Fernando Alonso - whose patience may now be running out - Ferrari has come tantalisingly close to winning under the Domenicali reign.

Stefano Domenicali thinks the main problems in 2013 were technical ones.

"The first is that at the beginning of the season we had a car that was competitive in qualifying and very good in race pace. The problem is that we could not improve the car steadily, because unfortunately in some cases we brought developments that, instead of improving, actually worsened the car," he said.

Domenicali said Ferrari has been working hard to right that wrong, including by completely overhauling the Maranello wind tunnel, and installing technical bosses - James Allison and Pat Fry - who are renowned for success in F1's aerodynamically-focused era.

He explained that the second fundamental problem in 2013 has been Pirelli.

"I do not mention why or whether it was right or not, but in changing the tyre type we have not been able to exploit the best feature we had -- our competitive race pace," said Domenicali.

He also said that, despite coming so close in some years, not winning in the end had now increased the pressure on Ferrari to fever-pitch.

That has now resulted in the Alonso exit rumours, and "general criticism" that Domenicali thinks makes little sense.

"Like when it comes to the drivers," he said, "many times I've read in the past 'Ferrari has to change Felipe (Massa)'.

"But now I read 'Felipe has to stay!' Which is it? A little rationality, please," Domenicali insisted.

"I'm the first to defend Felipe and I always will, because he is a special lad, someone dedicated to the team, but you have to make a professional assessment," he added.

From Clarke Motorsports Communications

Things started well, but with 27 circuits of the 50 lap Thunder Car feature event complete, the weatherman intervened and brought action on Canada's Toughest 1/3-mile Oval at Peterborough to a halt.

"We were hoping to get the entire show in the books, but the storm front just wouldn't provide the opportunity," said Peterborough Speedway owner/promoter J.P. Josiasse.

"We made a decision to hold things over to Monday, October 14th to finish out the 21st edition of the Autumn Colours Classic."

Events will pick-up where things left off before the rain fell. Pit gates will open at 9 am, with spectator grandstands unlocked at 10 am and racing will start at 11 am.

On track action will begin with the final 23 laps of the Thunder Car feature and continue through the balance of the race program. Fans are reminded to retain their Sunday admission tickets and wristbands for the completion of the show.

Full details can be found at www.peterboroughspeedway.com. Fans can also follow Peterborough Speedway on Facebook and Twitter.

From GMM

Sahara Force India has hit back at claims it is being outclassed by Sauber at the tail end of the 2013 season.

When the season began, Nico Hulkenberg looked to have made a grave error in moving over the winter from consistent Sahara Force India to new tail-ender Sauber.

But at the end of 2013, the German is a sensation of 2013, reportedly courted not only by Lotus but also Ferrari and McLaren.

Not only that, Esteban Gutierrez - the languishing Mexican rookie who couldn't score a point - has spectacularly turned the corner with the suddenly-competitive C32.

"Something in him exploded," Sauber team boss Monisha Kaltenborn said in Japan, where Gutierrez finally scored his first points of 2013.

Kaltenborn warned, however, that it might not be enough to safeguard the 22-year-old's future -- as Kamui Kobayashi knows well after his Suzuka podium a year ago.

"Individual results are not decisive for us," she told Germany's Auto Motor und Sport, "when it comes to planning the future.

"We have some options but we're not going to name names," added Kaltenborn.

Esteban Gutierrez, Sauber C32. (Photo: WRi2)

According to championship rival Sahara Force India's sporting director Otmar Szafnauer, Kaltenborn knows well that the real sensation was not Gutierrez, or the formerly-struggling Swiss-made car.

The battle for sixth place in the constructors' championship is worth millions, and crucial to midfield teams like Sahara Force India and Sauber.

So Szafnauer is angry that the decisive factor has been Pirelli.

"This is no wonder-Sauber," he is quoted by the Swiss newspaper Blick. "It's only Pirelli.

"It is the whole explanation for the current situation," said Szafnauer, referring to how Pirelli's mid-season tyre specification switch badly hurt some teams like Force India, whilst giving a big boost to others.

Superior Industries International said Steven Borick will retire as CEO and president effective March 31, 2014, but will remain chairman of the aluminum wheel maker.

The De Tomaso Pantera, a perfect mash-up of classic Italian styling and American underhood brawn, struck a chord when it debuted at the 1970 New York auto show.

A team of three Range Rover Hybrid prototypes has just completed a 53-day journey from Solihull, England to Mumbai, India.

This week, there is a rather photogenic BMW 2002 from 1976

General Motors has raised the prices of its 2014 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra full-sized pickups, now that stocks of the outgoing 2013 trucks are nearly depleted.

Ford and the University of Michigan are opening a battery laboratory in Ann Arbor to speed development of electrified vehicles, the automaker said today.

GM scaled back cooperation with Peugeot months into their alliance and later turned down a government-backed merger, leaving China's Dongfeng as the French carmaker's last hope, people familiar with the matter told Reuters.

Hyundaiand#8217;s next SEMA trick is a joint effort with tuner John Pangilinan. The pair has linked up again for the JP Edition Genesis Coupe in Atlantis blue.

Construction of the first Infiniti factory in Europe began on Monday (14 October) at Nissan Motor's plant in Sunderland, north east England.

Are you currently in the market for a new car, but you aren't ready to take out a second mortgage in order to afford it? The automotive market these days is brimming with so many different models and options to choose from it can become quite an...