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From GMM

Jenson Button has not denied suggestions he is on the cusp of signing a new three-year deal to stay at McLaren beyond 2013.

The 2009 world champion counted himself into the 'silly season' recently when he revealed that team boss Martin Whitmarsh is yet to take up an option on his current deal.

Red Bull has subsequently confirmed Daniel Ricciardo as Mark Webber's successor at Red Bull, but Ferrari still has an opening alongside Fernando Alonso for 2014.

Asked about the fabled Italian team, Briton Button answered: "I should say 'never say never', as all the drivers do.

"I don't like to predict the future," he is quoted by Italy's La Repubblica, "and Ferrari is legendary, but so too is McLaren."

Photo: WRi2

Indeed, the Woking based team is this week celebrating the 50th anniversary of the establishment of Bruce McLaren Motor Racing Limited in September 1963.

"Why should I change?" 33-year-old Button asked rhetorically.

Actually, Button's age is perhaps the best argument that, if he does harbour a desire to wear red, he should jump at the opportunity now.

With Mark Webber's exit to Le Mans, Button will be the oldest driver on the grid next year.

Asked if that bothers him, Button insisted: "No, because age is not important, what is important is whether you're losing your speed or your reflexes or your reaction time. We do all of those tests and if anything I am improving, not to mention that I have more experience and strategic intelligence."

Asked specifically about the rumours of a three-year extension, which would take Button well into McLaren's new Honda era, he said: "(I will stay) as long as I feel competitive."

Former Formula 1 driver and CART series' champion, Italian Alex Zanardi continued to impress by taking his first para-cycling world title with time trial victory in Canada.

Zanardi, who lost both legs in a terrifying accident on the Lausitzring oval in Germany during a CART series' race in 2001, won the H4 category after covering the 17.3km course in 27min15sec.

The likeable Italian, who already won two gold medals at the 2012 London Paralympic Games, wrote on Twitter: "Well that's it, World Champion! I know it won't last, but now I'm happy."

Following Zanardi's latest victory, three-time Indy 500 winner Dario Franchitti wrote on Twitter: "Congratulations Zanardi - you continue to amaze!"

Alex Zanardi in London, in 2012. (Photo: London 2012)

From GMM

With Daniel Ricciardo now safely at Red Bull Racing for 2014, the Australian's move has opened up a seat at the energy drink company's second team, Toro Rosso.

Until very recently, the obvious favourite was Portuguese Antonio Felix da Costa, the latest cream of Red Bull's junior programme.

But we reported last week that the 21-year-old has actually struggled recently in the Formula Renault 3.5 series.

And the next Red Bull youngster in the queue, Carlos Sainz jr - the 18-year-old son of the Spanish rally legend - has already been ruled out by Toro Rosso boss Franz Tost.

"I assume that he could be at formula one maturity in about two or three years," Tost said in July.

Who to replace Daniel Ricciardo at Toro Rosso, in 2014? (Photo: WRi2)

Another candidate is the Brazilian GP2 star Felipe Nasr, who according to Germany's Auto Motor und Sport is knocking on the door with backing from Banco do Brasil and Sky Brasil.

"I need a Brazilian driver," said F1 chief executive Bernie Ecclestone in August.

Tost said on Wednesday the Faenza based team is not ready to name Ricciardo's successor.

"We will look at all our options and make a decision at a later date, as there is no immediate need to rush," he said.

From Delaware Speedway

The Great Canadian Race Weekend kicked off with the ignition of one of the hottest rivalries to hit Delaware Speedway this season. No love was lost between Jeff Shower (No. 44) of Mt. Elgin and Darrell Lake (No. 77) of London as the pair found themselves in an aggressive competition for the lead in the Coca-Cola Super Stocks.

The V8 Stock Muscle Cars were also in action where Derek McCullough (No. 38) of Glencoe took the victory. Devon Bloemendal (No. 01) of Delaware raced hard against the drivers of the Demar Aggregates Trucks to win in their 25-lap feature. The night was sponsored by Krown Rust Control and featured a King of the Hill Spectator's race.

Jeff Showler (No. 44) of Mt. Elgin won the controversial Coca-Cola Super Stocks feature, his third win of the season in championship competition. Kathleen Hosang (No. 16) of London led the first two laps of the race until she was passed by Darrell Lake (No. 77) of London.

Lake and Showler battled early in the event making strong contact in turns three and four cutting one of Darrell Lake's tires and sending him to pit road. In a controversial move with a handful of laps to go in the 35-lap race Lake waited for Showler to approach in hopes of slowing him down enough to allow the second and third positions to catch up.

"Showler had a bit of a run down the back straightaway but he was nowhere near my door so I ran my line. He overdrive the corner and door slammed me," accused Lake in a post-race interview. "At that point there was no way I was going to just let that crap fly. That's absolute nonsense. Way too aggressive. He's supposed to be the championship guy: he should be more worried about saving his car than going for one position in a race. I was going to do everything I could to make sure Showler didn't win this race. Unfortunately I failed but if it was up to me and I was allowed back out there that wouldn't have been the case tonight."

Second and third-place drivers Matt Robblee (No. 51) of Dorchester and Kenny McNicol Jr. (No. 17) of Exeter did make it around Showler as Lake forced him high but ultimately tangled together with four laps to go handing the lead back to Showler.

Jamie Grover (No. 33) of Glencoe then entered the fray attempting to bump Showler out of the way. When the caution came out a final time for a green-white-checker finish Grover was unable to mount another charge sending Showler to victory lane. Grover placed second and rookie driver Branden Verhoeven (No. 7) of Kerwood placed third.

Showler measured his comments in victory lane over the incident with Lake:

"I don't know [what happened], I had a good line off of two and had the inside coming into three and tried on the bottom of three. I don't know why he chose to go to the bottom and got tangled in it," he explained. "He gave me a shot, so I think [he was waiting for me]. I got to thank everyone for coming out whether they're a fan of us or not."

The victory was a key one for Showler. Overcoming the challenges of the night and claiming the victory while many of his challengers faced issues on the track has solidified his points lead over second-place challenger Matt Robblee (No. 51) of Dorchester.

Derek McCullough (No. 38) of Glencoe was thrilled to win the 35-lap V8 Stocks feature. He started the race in the lead and although other drivers challenged him for position he pushed through traffic and refused to allow a pass. Steve Arrand (No. 37) of Ailsa Craig challenged McCullough early in the event and placed second Gary Zwygers (No. 93) of Cambridge finished third. In an unbelievable twist the V8 Stock point championship has swapped one tie for another. Entering the night Steve Arrand was tied with Steve Book (No. 64) of Brantford for the lead. Now, Arrand finds himself tied with McCullough for the lead.

Devon Bloemendal (No. 01) of Delaware won the 25-lap Demar Aggregates Trucks feature with an unprecedented pass over the King of the Trucks Gary Adriaensen (No. 55) of Belmont. Trevor Collver (No. 51) of Lucan led the first nine laps of the feature until he was passed by Adriaensen, who despite winning his heat earlier in the evening, was only able to hold position until lap eleven. Bloemendal pushed past Adriaensen and held position until he saw the checkers. Adriaensen placed second and Brady Smith (No. 39) of Coldstream placed third. There were two cautions; the first caution on lap four was a result of a spin and the second in lap twenty-two for mechanical issues on Collver's truck.

The King of the Hill Spectator's race, in which race fans could enter their street legal cars in support of Jesse's Journey, proved to be a thrilling crowd favourite. One race was even too close to call and it was necessary to stage a rematch. Ultimately a driver of a black Eagle Talon from London won the competition.

Great Canadian Race Weekend continues on Saturday for the Keystone 200. Spectator gates open at 11a.m, with time trials beginning at noon. The green flag is scheduled to fly on the historic race at 2:30 p.m. with autograph sessions taking place earlier in the afternoon.

From GMM

The immediate future of the Italian grand prix is secure.

That is the claim of the Lombardy minister Antonio Rossi, rejecting reports historic Monza could be the victim as Bernie Ecclestone seeks to further expand the F1 calendar beyond Europe.

"The formula one grand prix in Monza is untouchable," he is quoted by Tuttosport.

"Not only because it is an engine for the economy of Brianza, but also because of Expo 2015," said Antonio Rossi.

Indeed, he said the Autodromo Nazionale, in the Villa Reale park, will play a role as Milan hosts the next Universal Exposition, Expo 2015.

NASCAR statisticians have reckoned that there are five spots left for Sprint Cup Drivers to make the Chase as the series heads to Richmond for the last race in regulation play.

Statistics provided by NASCAR Public Relations: 
Six drivers have clinched top-10 spots in the Chase: Jimmie Johnson, Clint Bowyer, Kevin Harvick, Carl Edwards, Kyle Busch and Matt Kenseth. Kasey Kahne, on the strength of two wins, has clinched at least a Wild Card spot.

Four drivers control their top-10 clinching destiny. Regardless of the finishes of any other driver...

Dale Earnhardt Jr., currently seventh in points, will clinch a top-10 spot with a finish of 32nd or better, 33rd with at least one lap led or 34th with the most laps led.

Joey Logano, currently eighth in points, will clinch a top-10 spot with a finish of 11th or better, 12th and at least one lap led or 13th and the most laps led.

Greg Biffle, currently ninth in points, will clinch a top-10 spot with a finish of ninth or better, 10th and at least one lap led or 11th and the most laps led.

Kurt Busch, currently 10th in points, will clinch a top-10 spot by winning, finishing second with at least one lap led or finishing third with the most laps led.

The remaining mathematically eligible drivers need help to clinch a top-10 spot. Some, however, control their own Wild Card destiny (a win would guarantee at least a Wild Card spot).

Photo: NASCAR

Clinch scenarios for the remaining eligible drivers follow...

Jeff Gordon:  Currently 11th in points, Gordon would clinch at least a Wild Card spot with a victory at Richmond. Gordon, currently six points outside the top 10, remains eligible for a top 10 spot.

Kasey Kahne: Kahne, currently 12th in points, has already clinched at least a Wild Card spot. Ten points outside the top 10, Kahne remains eligible for a top 10 spot.

Martin Truex Jr.: Currently 13th in points, Truex would clinch at least a Wild Card spot with a victory at Richmond. Fifteen points outside the top 10, Truex remains eligible for a top 10 spot. Truex, currently holding the provisional No. 2 Wild Card spot, could clinch a Wild Card spot without a victory.

Ryan Newman: Currently 14th in points, Newman would clinch at least a Wild Card spot with a victory at Richmond. Twenty points outside the top 10, Newman remains eligible for a top 10 spot. Newman could clinch a Wild Card spot without a win (Logano and Biffle must remain in the top 10 or be replaced by Kahne; Newman must out-point Truex by six points; Gordon must not win; and Brad Keselowski or Jamie McMurray cannot win and overtake Newman).

Brad Keselowski: Currently 28 points outside the top 10, Keselowski remains eligible for a top-10 spot. Currently winless, Keselowski must win to be in contention for a Wild Card spot. Mathematically there will be at least two drivers outside the top 10 with wins. To clinch, Keselowski would need to win and outpoint Truex by 13 and Newman by eight (and would only need to outpoint one of these drivers if Kahne would displace a winless driver from the top 10). If Truex or Newman displaces Kurt Busch from the top 10, he would need to outpoint the other one-win driver remaining outside the top 10 by the requisite amount.

Jamie McMurray: Currently 39 points outside the top 10, McMurray remains eligible for a top-10 spot. Currently winless, McMurray must win to be in contention for a Wild Card spot. To clinch, McMurray would need to win and outpoint either Truex by 25 and Newman by 19 (and would only need to outpoint one of these drivers if Kahne would displace a winless driver from the top 10).  If Truex or Newman displace Kurt Busch from the top 10, he would need to outpoint the other one-win driver remaining outside the top 10 by the requisite amount.

Paul Menard: To clinch, Menard would need to win and outpoint Truex by 47 and Newman by 42 (and would only need to outpoint one of these drivers if Kahne would displace a winless driver from the top 10).  If Truex or Newman displace Kurt Busch from the top 10, he would need to outpoint the other one-win driver remaining outside the top 10 by the requisite amount.

Jaguar has announced the launch of its C-X17 SUV concept vehicle in the hours preceding the Frankfurt Auto Show at 5:10 p.m. local time, on September 9th. The official press conference is scheduled for the following day at 10:30 am local time.

So far, Jaguar has only released a sketch of the vehicle, providing a quick glance as to Jaguar's future design and technology plans. The manufacturer will also use the Frankfurt Auto Show as the setting for the launch of its new production models.

Photo: Jaguar

Former Formula 1 driver and CART series' champion, Italian Alex Zanardi continued to impress by taking his first para-cycling world title with time trial victory in Canada.

Zanardi, who lost both legs in a terrifying accident on the Lausitzring oval in Germany during a CART series' race in 2001, won the H4 category after covering the 17.3km course in 27min15sec.

The likeable Italian, who already won two gold medals at the 2012 London Paralympic Games, wrote on Twitter: "Well that's it, World Champion! I know it won't last, but now I'm happy."

Following Zanardi's latest victory, three-time Indy 500 winner Dario Franchitti wrote on Twitter: "Congratulations Zanardi - you continue to amaze!"

Alex Zanardi in London, in 2012. (Photo: London 2012)

From CTCC

Teams of the Canadian Touring Car Championship were prepared for intense racing this weekend at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, as the season reaches the end with one more event to go.

This weekend was the opportunity for them to either win positions in the points standing or strengthen their lead.

Early Saturday morning, drivers got on the track for the first qualifying session. Two new drivers joined the pack, Michael DelleDonne and Rocco Marciello, both driving a BMW 330i. The clouds were menacing, making everyone fear rain but the teams were prepared for all scenarios and it was all about strategic preparation.

Bob Attrell grabbed the pole in Super Class right in front of his teammate Jonathan Rashleigh who was 0.04 seconds faster than Scott Nicol who finished third. In Touring, first position went to Damon Sharpe, followed by his teammate Michael DiMeo, both driving a Honda Civic Si. In his Mini Cooper S JCW, Michel Sallenbach managed to get third position on the starting grid of Round 11.

As for B-Spec Class, Karl Wittmer was faster than his rival Normand Boyer which allowed him to get his hands on pole position.

Saturday, Round 11
The place was packed with fans, thrilled to watch Round 11. Around 3pm, the green flag was waved allowing the drivers to step on the gas and race!

It was a tough race but the drivers had fun, especially Jonathan Rashleigh who won in Super Class for the first time followed by Bob Attrell and Scott Nicol in third position. Damon Sharpe won the race in Touring Class. “This is an emotional win for me as exactly 20 years ago I had a very bad crash here in Mosport,” Sharpe said at the podium ceremony.

His partner DiMeo, once again followed right behind and Michel Sallenbach completed the podium trio and commented, “I'm going as fast as the car can go. My lap times are good but the car handling is not as good as it was at previous events.”

In B-Spec Class, two very happy drivers were on the podium. It probably was the most intense battling of all season. Karl Wittmer said he had so much fun exchanging positions all race long with Boyer. Karl won first position and Boyer second position.

On Sunday morning, all cars got on the track for the second qualifying session. In Super Class, the pole position was won by Scott Nicol, in Touring Class by Damon Sharpe and in B-Spec by Karl Wittmer.

Sunday, Round 12
On Sunday afternoon, Round 12 was very entertaining as several battles were happening at once. Scott Nicol had the pole position and finished first in Super Class. In second place was Alex Healy and in third Sergio Pasian.

In Touring Class, Damon Sharpe lost his pole position due to mechanical issues and finished third, allowing his teammate DiMeo to win with Michel Sallenbach in second place. Damon Sharpe hoped to finish in front of Sallenbach in order to reduce the point difference between them, but finishing third caused Sallenbach to increase his lead from 9 points to 14.

However, nothing is decided yet as the next event can still change everything. In B-Spec Class, once again Wittmer and Boyer had a lot of fun, towards the end Boyer was leading but on the last lap Wittmer took back the lead and finished first and won the B-Spec Class Championship.

Rounds 13 and 14 will be held at Calabogie on September 6, 7 and 8 where the Super and Touring Class Championships will be decided.

From Brockville Speedway

Track titles and bragging rights were on the line this past Saturday at "The BOS" in all division plus the final points in the first ever Ogilvie's Auto and Fleet Triple Crown for the 358 Modified and Sportsman divisions.

The Modifieds were set for 50 laps of racing and with the heads up start format, Lee Ladouceur and Jeff Sykes led the field to Gary Vandermeer's green flag.

Sykes was able to use the outside groove to take the lead away as Ladouceur, Danny O'Brien, Brian McDonald and Pat O'Brien completed the top five spots. Sykes was on rails in the opening laps as he held a six car length lead, working the outside lane to perfection until the first caution flew on lap 12 for defending track champion Kyle Dingwall's spin in Turn 4.

When the green flew Sykes continued his great run with Danny O'Brien, Brian McDonald, Pat O'Brien and Jason Riddell making up the top five.

Danny O'Brien was in pursuit of the lead on lap 20 as Sykes began to enter into lapped traffic. Five laps later, O'Brien used a slick move in Turn 3 to take away the spot using the bottom side of the speedway.

On lap 28 the yellow flew for Luke Stewart who slowed with a flat tire. On the restart O'Brien took command of the lead, but behind him Lee Gill was having quite an adventure.

After a near flip in his heat put him 15th on the starting grid, Gill tried at will to keep pace with his championship rival. After surviving contact with the wall and dodging several race cars along the way Gill was able to break into the top five by lap 30.

On lap 36 the yellow flew again for Joe Banks who spun off Turns 1 and 2.

When the green flew, Danny O'Brien had the fastest car on the track and despite two late race cautions, O'Brien would cruise on the his sixth win of the year and clinch the Ogilvie's Auto and Fleet 358 Modified Triple Crown with older brother Pat O'Brien coming home second.

Lee Gill came home third, sealing up his fifth career track championship. Jeff Sykes and Bobby Herrington rounded out the top five.

The regular season is in the record books but the racing action is not finished yet as the annual Monster Enduro will be set to go in two weeks on Sunday September 15th. Racing begins at 2pm.

Chase Elliott thrilled the huge crowd on hand at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, winning the inaugural Chevrolet Silverado 250.

This was the first NASCAR Camping World Truck Series victory for the No. 94 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet rookie driver.

The 18-year-old Georgia native was followed to the line by Ohio resident Chad Hackenbracht. Miguel Paludo of Brazil was third.

Check out our photo gallery of the event.

Photos: Philippe Champoux

Adapted from GMM

Although well prepared, Daniel Ricciardo may take some time to adjust to his new role alongside Sebastian Vettel at Red Bull Racing.

Dr Helmut Marko said the 24-year-old Australian will be given "three to five races" to get up to speed.

Australia's 1980 world champion Alan Jones thinks he might need longer.

"There's been a lot of kids go into that (Red Bull young driver) programme and have never survived it -- and Daniel is one that has," he is quoted by the Melbourne newspaper The Age.

"If it takes Daniel twelve months or thereabouts to get into the groove with (Red Bull), I think they've probably factored that in."

Daniel Ricciardo replacing Mark Webber at Red Bull Racing. (Photo: WRi2)

Another Australian, McLaren sporting director Sam Michael, also thinks Ricciardo will need some time.

"If he came in and performed right at Sebastian's levels straight away then I think it would be quite amazing," he told reporters during the Vodafone teleconference on Wednesday.

"But ultimately, it's grand prix racing so it's also survival of the fittest. He'll be in there to prove himself as quickly as possible," said Michael.

At last, I got the opportunity to test drive the new 2013 Volkswagen Jetta Turbo Hybrid. However, the more time I spent on the road, the more pessimistic I felt about meeting the official fuel economy ratings. I thought the gasoline engine worked for excessively long periods, even at slow cruising speeds.

I was pleasantly surprised when the time came to fill up the 2013 Volkswagen Jetta Turbo Hybrid: While the 1.4L mill is a busy operator, the electric motor significantly contributes to reducing consumption.

There's just one problem with this car, and unfortunately, it had a major impact on the overall driving experience.


What's a Volkswagen Jetta Turbo Hybrid?
This upscale compact sedan offers all the amenities and benefits of the Jetta GLI, including an independent rear suspension, a roomy and refined cabin, ergonomically designed controls, and comfortable seats.

Of course, the 2013 Volkswagen Jetta Turbo Hybrid burns less fuel by combining gas and electricity. On the other hand, cargo capacity in the trunk is affected by the battery pack.

This upscale compact sedan offers all the amenities and benefits of the Jetta GLI. (Photo: Volkswagen)

Volkswagen Jetta Turbo Hybrid Prices and Specs
A 1.4L turbocharged four-cylinder engine with direct injection, rated at 150 hp and 184 lb-ft of torque, teams up with a 20 kW (27 hp) electric motor producing 114 lb-ft of torque to motivate the 2013 Volkswagen Jetta Turbo Hybrid. Total output amounts to 170 hp at 5,000 rpm and 184 lb-ft from a ridiculously low 1,000 rpm. While this results in solid acceleration, you should know that premium gasoline is recommended.

The seven-speed DSG does a nice job but, alas, paddle shifters are nowhere to be found on the steering wheel. I would have liked a tachometer, as well; taking its spot in the instrument cluster were an energy flow display and a power metre.

The 2013 Volkswagen Jetta Turbo Hybrid's Start/Stop technology and regenerative brakes further improve fuel economy, so much so that I averaged 5.9L/100km after travelling 80% of the time on the highway.

Pricing for the 2013 Volkswagen Jetta Turbo Hybrid starts at $27,875 in Trendline trim. Next up is the Comfortline model at $30,175, and then the Highline at $34,025. I tested the latter, which came with a rearview camera, navigation, a power sunroof, and satellite radio.

I averaged 5.9L/100km after travelling 80% of the time on the highway. (Photo: Volkswagen)

Driving the Volkswagen Jetta Turbo Hybrid
So, what's the problem I was talking about? It's the damned brakes! They completely annihilated the fun I could have had behind the wheel. Let me explain...

With what I deemed to be “normal” pressure on the brake pedal, the 2013 Volkswagen Jetta Turbo Hybrid violently threw my body forward. Therefore, I had to modulate my inputs with extreme care to prevent this from happening every time I wanted to slow down or come to a stop. After seven long hours on the road, however, I still wasn't used to it.

The worst part is how inconsistent the brakes are. The initial sharp deceleration suddenly fades even with steady pressure on the pedal. And upon approaching a red light, the brakes lose friction, so you're again thrown forward. With another car in front of you, that can be scary!

Other than that, the 2013 Volkswagen Jetta Turbo Hybrid has a sharp steering and compliant suspension. While rearward visibility is fairly limited, I was impressed with the smooth transitions between energy sources, which you can follow on the aforementioned display.

While rearward visibility is fairly limited, I was impressed with the smooth transitions between energy sources, which you can follow on the aforementioned display. (Photo: Volkswagen)

Inside and Out of the Volkswagen Jetta Turbo Hybrid
Those who've read my review of the Jetta GLI know that I'm not a big fan of this German sedan's looks. The 2013 Volkswagen Jetta Turbo Hybrid sports unique wheels that minimize drag; their size ranges from 15”-17”. A rear lip spoiler and bi-xenon adaptive headlights with LED daytime running lights add flair to the Highline model.

Inside, typical Volkswagen styling applies. The material selection, generous storage and comfortable seats can all be appreciated the moment you settle in. The leather-wrapped steering wheel is driver-friendly, just like the multimedia interface.

The material selection, generous storage and comfortable seats can all be appreciated the moment you settle in. (Photo: Volkswagen)

Comparing the Volkswagen Jetta Turbo Hybrid
The Toyota Prius and Honda Civic Hybrid boast similar dimensions as 2013 Volkswagen Jetta Turbo Hybrid, while the mid-sized Kia Optima Hybrid and Hyundai Sonata Hybrid offer more room. From a fuel economy standpoint, you should also consider the all-newChevrolet Cruze Clean Turbo Diesel.

If Volkswagen engineers could just improve the infamous braking system, I would have a really hard time complaining about the Jetta Turbo Hybrid.
I know that it's a big gap, the last time I was behind the wheel of a Volkswagen I was 17, and it was a 1986 Jetta! Imagine the shock, it's like switching from a Commodore 64 to a PC overnight. In spite of the fact that I only spent a few hours behind the wheel, my Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid experience was enough to reconcile myself with the brand...but not enough to consider purchasing this vehicle.

Nissan has published the first image of its new SUV, which plans to be launched for the first time ever at the Frankfurt Auto Show on September 10th. According to Nissan, this production model will ‘'re-invent'' the SUV.

No further details have been released, as the Japanese manufacturer seems to be keeping a tight lid on things until the Frankfurt launch. The European launch of the Friend-Me, concept featured at the Shanghai show in last April, is also planned for Frankfurt.

Photo: Nissan

From Delaware Speedway

The Great Canadian Race Weekend kicked off with the ignition of one of the hottest rivalries to hit Delaware Speedway this season. No love was lost between Jeff Shower (No. 44) of Mt. Elgin and Darrell Lake (No. 77) of London as the pair found themselves in an aggressive competition for the lead in the Coca-Cola Super Stocks.

The V8 Stock Muscle Cars were also in action where Derek McCullough (No. 38) of Glencoe took the victory. Devon Bloemendal (No. 01) of Delaware raced hard against the drivers of the Demar Aggregates Trucks to win in their 25-lap feature. The night was sponsored by Krown Rust Control and featured a King of the Hill Spectator's race.

Jeff Showler (No. 44) of Mt. Elgin won the controversial Coca-Cola Super Stocks feature, his third win of the season in championship competition. Kathleen Hosang (No. 16) of London led the first two laps of the race until she was passed by Darrell Lake (No. 77) of London.

Lake and Showler battled early in the event making strong contact in turns three and four cutting one of Darrell Lake's tires and sending him to pit road. In a controversial move with a handful of laps to go in the 35-lap race Lake waited for Showler to approach in hopes of slowing him down enough to allow the second and third positions to catch up.

"Showler had a bit of a run down the back straightaway but he was nowhere near my door so I ran my line. He overdrive the corner and door slammed me," accused Lake in a post-race interview. "At that point there was no way I was going to just let that crap fly. That's absolute nonsense. Way too aggressive. He's supposed to be the championship guy: he should be more worried about saving his car than going for one position in a race. I was going to do everything I could to make sure Showler didn't win this race. Unfortunately I failed but if it was up to me and I was allowed back out there that wouldn't have been the case tonight."

Second and third-place drivers Matt Robblee (No. 51) of Dorchester and Kenny McNicol Jr. (No. 17) of Exeter did make it around Showler as Lake forced him high but ultimately tangled together with four laps to go handing the lead back to Showler.

Jamie Grover (No. 33) of Glencoe then entered the fray attempting to bump Showler out of the way. When the caution came out a final time for a green-white-checker finish Grover was unable to mount another charge sending Showler to victory lane. Grover placed second and rookie driver Branden Verhoeven (No. 7) of Kerwood placed third.

Showler measured his comments in victory lane over the incident with Lake:

"I don't know [what happened], I had a good line off of two and had the inside coming into three and tried on the bottom of three. I don't know why he chose to go to the bottom and got tangled in it," he explained. "He gave me a shot, so I think [he was waiting for me]. I got to thank everyone for coming out whether they're a fan of us or not."

The victory was a key one for Showler. Overcoming the challenges of the night and claiming the victory while many of his challengers faced issues on the track has solidified his points lead over second-place challenger Matt Robblee (No. 51) of Dorchester.

Derek McCullough (No. 38) of Glencoe was thrilled to win the 35-lap V8 Stocks feature. He started the race in the lead and although other drivers challenged him for position he pushed through traffic and refused to allow a pass. Steve Arrand (No. 37) of Ailsa Craig challenged McCullough early in the event and placed second Gary Zwygers (No. 93) of Cambridge finished third. In an unbelievable twist the V8 Stock point championship has swapped one tie for another. Entering the night Steve Arrand was tied with Steve Book (No. 64) of Brantford for the lead. Now, Arrand finds himself tied with McCullough for the lead.

Devon Bloemendal (No. 01) of Delaware won the 25-lap Demar Aggregates Trucks feature with an unprecedented pass over the King of the Trucks Gary Adriaensen (No. 55) of Belmont. Trevor Collver (No. 51) of Lucan led the first nine laps of the feature until he was passed by Adriaensen, who despite winning his heat earlier in the evening, was only able to hold position until lap eleven. Bloemendal pushed past Adriaensen and held position until he saw the checkers. Adriaensen placed second and Brady Smith (No. 39) of Coldstream placed third. There were two cautions; the first caution on lap four was a result of a spin and the second in lap twenty-two for mechanical issues on Collver's truck.

The King of the Hill Spectator's race, in which race fans could enter their street legal cars in support of Jesse's Journey, proved to be a thrilling crowd favourite. One race was even too close to call and it was necessary to stage a rematch. Ultimately a driver of a black Eagle Talon from London won the competition.

Great Canadian Race Weekend continues on Saturday for the Keystone 200. Spectator gates open at 11a.m, with time trials beginning at noon. The green flag is scheduled to fly on the historic race at 2:30 p.m. with autograph sessions taking place earlier in the afternoon.

Jaguar has announced the launch of its C-X17 SUV concept vehicle in the hours preceding the Frankfurt Auto Show at 5:10 p.m. local time, on September 9th. The official press conference is scheduled for the following day at 10:30 am local time.

So far, Jaguar has only released a sketch of the vehicle, providing a quick glance as to Jaguar's future design and technology plans. The manufacturer will also use the Frankfurt Auto Show as the setting for the launch of its new production models.

Photo: Jaguar

From PMRA

Race winners and 2013 season champions were declared during the Thunder by the Beach Weekend at the Grand Bend Motorplex for the Pro Modified Racing Association, the Quick 32 Sportsman Series, and the Pro Bike & Sled Series.

This event was the final for all three drag race series, and along with new event winners, the championship in each series was announced.

After a stellar year with five victories in the PMRA, Rocky Di Lecce of Mississauga, Ontario has been named champion, his first in the Pro Modified series. The Top Sportsman team of Rob Gray and Bill Wilson of Ingersoll, Ontario won their first Quick 32 Sportsman Series title, and Pro Bike rider Dan Cryderman of Thamesville, Ontario won his first championship in PBSS racing.

The Grand Bend race was the seventh and final points race for the PMRA, now in its ninth year. The race marked the sixth and final race for the Quick 32 Sportsman Series, presented by NAPA Auto Parts, as well as the sixth and final race of the season for the PBSS, presented by Wiseco Performance Products.

Winning his first PMRA race was Paolo Giust of Osgoode, Ontario. Qualifying third with his 1963 Corvette Pro Modified, Giust caught a good light in the final round and eliminated Derek Hawker of Corbyville, Ontario in his 1968 Firebird with a 6.330-second, 213.57-mph pass.

Di Lecce, who qualified number one in the field, was taken out in the first round by Sam Andreacchi of Toronto, Ontario. Andreacchi was eliminated by Hawker in the semi-final, and number two qualifier Jeff Roth of New Hamburg, Ontario fell victim to Giust in the semi.

Finishing second in PMRA points behind Di Lecce was Jack Grainy of Basom, New York, while Bruce Boland of Stoney Creek, Ontario took third. Hawker placed fourth in points and Giust fifth.

The Wilson and Gray team, with Gray at the wheel of the 2002 Cavalier, qualified number two on the Top Sportsman side of the Quick 32 Sportsman Series and drove through the eliminations to meet up with Darrin Grubb of Kincardine, Ontario. Grubb made Gray work for his win, who posted a 6.925, 187.50 to win over the Pontiac GXP entry of Grubb. Semi-finalists in the event were Spencer Hyde of Stratford, Ontario, and Mike Beska of Waterloo, Ontario.

On the Top Dragster side of the Quick 32 Sportsman Series, race, number 16 and final qualifier Jim Rubino of Buffalo, New York marched through the field to meet up with and eliminate Brody Vandergeld of Cambridge, Ontario, who qualified third. Semi-finalists were Tony Positano of Toronto, Ontario and Jeff Moser of Waterloo, Ontario.

Rubino met up with Gray in the event final, but was eliminated in the race, giving the Wilson and Gray their first event victory in series competition.

The top five in the 2013 Quick 32 Sportsman Series championship are Wilson and Gray, the Top Sportsman entries of Kevin Wicke of Stratford, and Spencer Hyde, also of Stratford, then the Top Dragster entries of Melanie Simmons Salemi of Orillia, Ontario, and Jeff Moser.

In PBSS action, which pits Pro Bike entries against Pro Sled entries, Ted Glinny of Milton, Ontario rode his Kawasaki to victory over the Pro Bike Suzuki of Melissa Pluim of Pefferlaw, Ontario in the final eliminator. Glinny qualified fourth with an 8.462, 149.80. Pluim was sixth in qualifying, and eliminated number three qualifier and Pro Bike rider Dave Vandereyken of Acton, Ontario in the semi-final round while Glinny sat out with a bye run.

Cryderman qualified sixth for the PBSS race, and although he was taken out in first round action, he amassed enough points to win his first PBSS championship. Glinny placed second in points for the season, while Pro Bike riders Marty Kuiack of Milton, Ontario placed third, John Orfanidis of Toronto, Ontario fourth, and Curtis Beck, also of Milton, placed fifth.

While the 2013 season is over for the Quick 32 Sportsman Series and the PBSS, the PMRA will take part in the inaugural International Pro Mod Challenge September 20-21 at Maryland International Raceway in Mechanicsville, Maryland.

On September 3rd, 1962, Canadian Prime Minister John Diefenbaker officially opened the Trans-Canada Highway at a ceremony in British Columbia. Construction of the highway began in 1950, two years after the decision was made to build it. The highway was completed in 1971.

Known under a different number in each province, the Trans-Canada is divided into several routes currently totalling 7,821 km of roadway. The route stretches west to east from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic coast, making this national the world's longest highway. Over the years, the Trans-Canada was expanded to up to four lanes on its busiest stretches.

Today, the Trans-Canada Highway is not a single route, strictly speaking, but a collection of several interconnected routes that cross Canada from one coast to the other.

From GMM

With Daniel Ricciardo now safely at Red Bull Racing for 2014, the Australian's move has opened up a seat at the energy drink company's second team, Toro Rosso.

Until very recently, the obvious favourite was Portuguese Antonio Felix da Costa, the latest cream of Red Bull's junior programme.

But we reported last week that the 21-year-old has actually struggled recently in the Formula Renault 3.5 series.

And the next Red Bull youngster in the queue, Carlos Sainz jr - the 18-year-old son of the Spanish rally legend - has already been ruled out by Toro Rosso boss Franz Tost.

"I assume that he could be at formula one maturity in about two or three years," Tost said in July.

Who to replace Daniel Ricciardo at Toro Rosso, in 2014? (Photo: WRi2)

Another candidate is the Brazilian GP2 star Felipe Nasr, who according to Germany's Auto Motor und Sport is knocking on the door with backing from Banco do Brasil and Sky Brasil.

"I need a Brazilian driver," said F1 chief executive Bernie Ecclestone in August.

Tost said on Wednesday the Faenza based team is not ready to name Ricciardo's successor.

"We will look at all our options and make a decision at a later date, as there is no immediate need to rush," he said.

I know that it's a big gap, the last time I was behind the wheel of a Volkswagen I was 17, and it was a 1986 Jetta! Imagine the shock, it's like switching from a Commodore 64 to a PC overnight. In spite of the fact that I only spent a few hours behind the wheel, my Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid experience was enough to reconcile myself with the brand...but not enough to consider purchasing this vehicle.

Photo: Volkwagen

I liked the car's styling, which is definitely not flashy or gaudy like some others, yet distinctive enough to stand out in a crowd.

Notwithstanding the fact that I blew my knee on the steering wheel's telescoping control stalk, I would give the interior of the 2013 Volkswagen Jetta Turbo Hybrid a nearly perfect score. The friendly and accessible dashboard incorporates a lovely touchscreen interface that doesn't require a learning curve.

On the road, the 2013 Volkswagen Jetta Turbo Hybrid is powerful enough considering its aspirations. Transitions between the various operating modes are often seamless. However, like my colleagues Marie-Laurence Paquin and Matt St-Pierre, I had a really hard time adjusting to the regenerative braking system.

My three sons could have stayed in the back without running out of air, but since my youngest son has to sit in a child seat, they would have lacked comfort during long trips. Overall comfort is good, though. As for the trunk, it boasts decent cargo capacity despite the space-consuming battery pack. Had we undertaken a full weekend getaway, however, a cargo rack would have been a must.

At the end of the day, my two eldest sons liked the 2013 Volkswagen Jetta Turbo Hybrid very much. As for my four-year-old, anything new means a lot of fun for him, especially the rear window button. Thank God he didn't throw his toys off the window while on the highway!

I would consider the 2013 Volkswagen Jetta Turbo Hybrid if I had just two kids; its many amenities and good driving dynamics won me over. However, I have a large family and wouldn't want to own more than one car. I'll keep an eye on it just in case because, you know, kids grow up eventually...

Don't miss the full reviews of the 2013 Volkswagen Jetta Turbo Hybrid by Marie-Laurence Paquin and Justin Pritchard.

Photo: Volkswagen