Auto News 5

The latest Scotiabank Global Auto Report shows that global car sales advanced 4% in the first half of 2013 and will climb to a record high this year.

“We expect continued gains in the second half of the year supported by low short- and long-term interest rates around the world, strengthening global job creation and improving financial market conditions which have propelled several equity market indices to record highs,” said Carlos Gomes, Scotiabank's Senior Economist and Auto Industry Specialist.

Unsurprisingly, China is leading gains in global car sales so far this year with a 20% improvement, while purchases across North America are moving steadily higher with passenger car sales in Canada on target to climb to a record high in 2013.

The market in Western Europe is stabilizing, and Brazil has been a source of strength through the spring, with car sales climbing to record highs through May. However, purchases have recently lost momentum in the face of high inflation and rising interest rates.

Source: Scotiabank

From Formula1.com

The 1966 classic Grand Prix and the recent Senna documentary aside, there have been surprisingly few attempts to convey the essence of F1 racing to cinemagoers. That will be addressed this autumn with the release of Rush. Directed by Ron Howard, the man behind blockbusters such as Apollo 13 and A Beautiful Mind, it tells the tale of the epic duel for the ‘76 drivers' title between Niki Lauda and James Hunt.

Formula1.com spoke to Howard about bringing Formula One racing back to the big screen...

The movie's James Hunt and Niki Lauda (Photo: "Rush" Facebook)

Q: Ron, after almost two years working on Rush, the movie based on the Niki Lauda/James Hunt rivalry of the mid-seventies, how do you see Formula One racing now?

Ron Howard: Now I am a fan! (laughs) I am watching, I am very curious. Before I also watched Formula One, but I watch it differently now. Before I used to watch the start, then got occupied with something else, then checked back once in a while to see who is leading, and watched the finish. Otherwise my mind would wander somewhere else. Now, when I watch a race I can't even get up to go to the toilet. Now I stay glued to the action - because now I understand it well enough.

Ron Howard and actor Chris Hemsworth, who plays James Hunt (Photo: "Rush" Facebok)

Q: What's your idea about racing drivers after getting so involved with the lives of Niki Lauda and James Hunt? Are they heroes or madmen?

RH: Ha, I think it still takes a lot of courage to test yourself in that way. It is not only the risk of death or serious injury - although that still exists in their minds - but it is also the fear of failure that is sometimes more important to men than anything else. They are testing themselves constantly and they are willing to subject themselves in the most public way. You can say that about a lot of athletes, but it is a bit like golf and tennis: they are out there alone - even if they have a team behind them. So you could argue that they are half heroes and half madmen - but for sure one hundred percent world-class athletes.

Ron Howard with actor Daniel Brühl, who plays Lauda (Photo: "Rush" Facebook)

Q: The last big Hollywood blockbuster about Formula One racing was John Frankenheimer's film Grand Prix in 1966. Why did it take almost 50 years for another Hollywood director to get interested in the subject?

RH: Well, John Frankenheimer was able to imbed himself in Formula One of that time and use the spectacle that was naturally occurring, captured it and put it into his movie. Nowadays it is much more difficult and no sport would allow that. There is too much at stake: there are too many sponsors, there are too many rights issues - it is too complicated. That means you have to create everything and that has been too expensive to do - until recently. Now digital technology allows you to use archive footage, create new footage, extend the set digitally, build up the number of cars...

Q: How satisfied are you with the result?

RH: My mantra was: if you know and love Formula One, I hope you feel that and see the sportsmen respected. And if you don't know Formula One, you realize what you've been missing! I hope that's what we have achieved.

Director Ron Howard and cinematographer Anthony Dod Mantle on the set of "Rush" (Photo: "Rush" Facebook)

Veteran racer Michel Bonnet won both races of the Formula Tour 1600 series held this weekend at the Grand Prix of Trois-Rivieres.

Bonnet, driving the No. 2 Vector, started both races from pole position and ahead of Thomas McGregor in the No. 93 Spectrum.

Friday's qualifying session for race 1 was red flagged to allow the safety crew to extract Steve McCamus from his car after a big shunt against the wall. Accoring to the latest report, McCamus would be suffering from a broken leg.

In race 1, Bonnet ran away from McGregor and the pair finished in that order. Tristan DeGrand crossed the line in third place ahead of veteran Didier Schraenen and Pascal Bellemare.

In race 2 held Saturday, Bonnet repeated his winning performance, finishing the 22-lap race in first place, 2.8 seconds in front of DeGrand and Chase Pelletier. Pascal Bellemare and Marcel Lafontaine completed the top 5.

Schraenen was en route to third place with half a lap to go when his CMV suddenly stopped in the middle of the race track.

The final race of the season will be held at Circuit Mont-Tremblant, September 21st and 22nd.

Model: 2010 to 2013 Mazda 3

Vehicle Type: Compact sedan or hatchback

The Verdict: The last-generation Mazda3 was loved for its upscale looks, sporty handling and fuel-efficient performance, but test drive your used Mazda3 candidate with an eye for potential clutch and transmission trouble.

Price: Depending on mileage, condition and feature content, shoppers can find a used Mazda3 for as low as $10,000 for a higher-mileage 2010 model, with that figure climbing into the low $20,000 range for a loaded, low-mileage unit. Selection is plentiful in the low- to mid-teens.

Photo: Sébastien D'Amour

What Owners Like: Upscale styling, sporty handling dynamics, an upscale cabin, and a pleasant, easy-to-drive character were highly rated by owners of this generation Mazda3. Fuel mileage, especially on models with the SKYACTIV engine, was highly rated, as was versatility on hatchback models.

What Owners Dislike: The grinning front bumper fascia, a small navigation system screen and limited rear-seat space were among the common complaints for this generation of the Mazda3. Others included tire noise, blind spots, and some easily scratched interior panels

Photo: Matthieu Lambert

History/Description: This second-generation Mazda3 advanced the popular model on all fronts and maintained both the sedan and hatchback offerings from the previous generation. Look for 4-cylinder, front-drive architecture all around. Engine choices included 2.0L and 2.5L gas units. Base GS models will have a 5-speed manual or automatic, while 6-speed transmissions in manual or automatic were found elsewhere on higher-end GS or GT models.

Note that from 2012 on, SKYACTIV technology fitted a high-efficiency 2.0L engine option as well.

Photo: Matthieu Lambert

Common Issues: Shoppers considering a model with a manual transmission are strongly advised to check the condition of the clutch on a test drive by “feeling” for any signs of slippage or a “grinding” sensation when shifting gears. Numerous owners reported premature clutch wear, which isn't covered by warranty -- this issue looks most prevalent in 2010 models. This issue may stem from a faulty clutch master cylinder and lead to transmission problems.

Coax slippage from the clutch by applying full throttle at very low revs as a check. If any slippage is noted, move to another model.

A full inspection of the Mazda3's body and paint is also advised, in light of several reports of finishes and panels that are easily dented and paint that's easily chipped.

Check for proper operation of all remote key fobs, remote trunk and hatch release, and all power windows. Some owners reported failure of the Bluetooth module used to link their cell phones, so be sure that's in good working order, too.

Other mandatory feature checks should include: cruise control and all steering-wheel mounted controls.

Some owners note issues with their braking system, particularly relating to a loud “squealing” sound heard when reversing. This sound could be caused by use of a non-Mazda brake pad -- used models affected by this issue should be checked by a mechanic to be safe.

Photo: Matthieu Lambert

Auto123.com Racing provides race fans with a live description of the Trois-Rivieres round of the NASCAR Canadian Tire series.

We will provide live comments and analysis of the action while it happens out on the race track. This race is Round 8 of the season and will count 42 laps of the 1.53mile temporary street course. The start is scheduled at 3:30 p.m. Sunday afternoon.

For technical reasons, the description is provided in both English and French.

Simply click on the box below to access the Live Description.

As the auto industry struggled to recover from the recession, it swore off the deep discounting that destroyed profits and led to disaster. Now, a price war has erupted in the industry's smallest segment: electric cars.

The auto industry, which by 1950 made Detroit the fourth-largest U.S. city, produced decades of prosperity but also enabled the city's gradual destruction and depopulation, leading to last month's historic bankruptcy.

As the auto industry struggled to recover from the recession, it swore off the deep discounting that destroyed profits and led to disaster. Now, a price war has erupted in the industry's smallest segment: electric cars.

The auto industry, which by 1950 made Detroit the fourth-largest American city, produced decades of prosperity but also enabled the city's gradual destruction and depopulation, leading to last month's historic bankruptcy.

The auto industry, which by 1950 made Detroit the fourth-largest American city, produced decades of prosperity but also enabled the city's gradual destruction and depopulation, leading to last month's historic bankruptcy.

Paul Dalla Lana is amongst the drivers that are multitasking this weekend at Elkart Lake's Road America. The Canadian is racing in both the Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge (CTSCC) and Rolex series, Grand-Am two top championships.

The fact that he had to drive both his rides back to back made for a great story in qualifying.

Looking for a fast lap near the end of the CSCC session, Dalla Lana crashed his No. 96 BMW M3 heavily.

"It was big hit - about 90 mph straight in," recalls the driver.

As quickly as he could, the Vancouver native convinced the doctor at the medical centre he was well enough to go back out to qualify for the Rolex series.

"The doctor wanted to keep me for a little while, but I was able to calm down in about five minutes and convince everyone that I had my wits about me."

At it again, Dalla Lana clocked a personal best around the 6.5-kilometre track to put the No. 94 M3 on the front row.

"I couldn't believe it," team owner Will Turner said. "One minute, he's into the wall, and then he goes right back out and runs the fastest lap he's ever done here. Unbelievable."

Paul Dalla Lana, No. 94 BMW M3 (Photo: Turner Motorsports)

From GMM

Lotus has played down reports the Enstone based team is struggling to survive financially amid crippling debts.

It was already known that the team's highest-paid member, lead driver Kimi Raikkonen, is waiting on his latest pay instalment.

And reports in the German press said other unpaid staff at Enstone are threatening to lay down their tools, while spare parts are running low because suppliers are also waiting for invoices to be paid.

35 per cent of the Genii-owned team was sold recently to a consortium called Infinity Racing, but it subsequently emerged that the deal is still not actually done.

"There may be some delays," team boss Eric Boullier admitted this week, "but it will be repaired within a few days.

"The package that ensures the future of the company is completed slowly, but we'll get there," he told the Finnish broadcaster MTV3.

Meanwhile, the Spanish sports newspaper Marca said Lotus has officially denied that team members have not been paid and are therefore threatening to strike.

From GMM

Lotus has played down reports the Enstone based team is struggling to survive financially amid crippling debts.

It was already known that the team's highest-paid member, lead driver Kimi Raikkonen, is waiting on his latest pay instalment.

And reports in the German press said other unpaid staff at Enstone are threatening to lay down their tools, while spare parts are running low because suppliers are also waiting for invoices to be paid.

35 per cent of the Genii-owned team was sold recently to a consortium called Infinity Racing, but it subsequently emerged that the deal is still not actually done.

"There may be some delays," team boss Eric Boullier admitted this week, "but it will be repaired within a few days.

"The package that ensures the future of the company is completed slowly, but we'll get there," he told the Finnish broadcaster MTV3.

Meanwhile, the Spanish sports newspaper Marca said Lotus has officially denied that team members have not been paid and are therefore threatening to strike.

From GMM

More wins in 2013, or the 2014 title?  Nico Rosberg is in two minds about how Mercedes should tackle the second half of this season.

The German has won two races in the ever-improving Mercedes so far this year, while his teammate Lewis Hamilton won the most recent grand prix, in Hungary.

But with the sweeping rules changes for 2014 looming, and some teams already turning their full focus to the new cars, Rosberg is unsure how Mercedes should proceed.

Speaking to Germany's Auto Motor und Sport, he seemed to acknowledge that, notwithstanding Mercedes' absolutely front-running car, the chance of winning the 2013 title is slim.

"We have been able to celebrate some huge successes," he said.

"Unfortunately, especially due to the tyres, we were not consistent enough.

"The progress we have made, however, is huge," Rosberg explained.  "But our goal is to be where Sebastian (Vettel) is."

Lewis Hamilton leads Nico Rosberg in Hungary (Photo: WRi2)

Indeed, with half the season gone, Red Bull's Vettel has a 38 point lead over Lotus' Kimi Raikkonen, while the closest Mercedes challenger is Hamilton, who is 48 points adrift.

Rosberg's gap to the lead, meanwhile, is 88 points.

The 28-year-old acknowledged, therefore, that the 2014 rules revolution is a "huge opportunity" for a works outfit like Mercedes.

So should the Brackley based team throw its full weight behind 2014, or keep developing the current car for more poles and wins?

"That's a difficult question," Rosberg said.

"I'm in two minds.  On the one hand, I find it so cool to come to a race weekend with the best car, thinking 'I can put it on pole and win'.  It's a great feeling.

"On the other hand, half of me thinks next year is such a huge opportunity, because of all the changes.  If we just keep driving what we have now, we can still get some good successes out of this car," he added.

What Rosberg is implying is that Mercedes might now consider simply switching the full weight of the team's resources to the 2014 project.

Team boss Ross Brawn admitted that is a possibility.

"For Spa and Monza we have some great update packages in the works," he revealed.

"Depending on how well things go, we will then decide what to do for the rest of the season."

Paul Dalla Lana is amongst the drivers that are multitasking this weekend at Elkart Lake's Road America. The Canadian is racing in both the Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge (CTSCC) and Rolex series, Grand-Am two top championships.

The fact that he had to drive both his rides back to back made for a great story in qualifying.

Looking for a fast lap near the end of the CSCC session, Dalla Lana crashed his No. 96 BMW M3 heavily.

"It was big hit - about 90 mph straight in," recalls the driver.

As quickly as he could, the Vancouver native convinced the doctor at the medical centre he was well enough to go back out to qualify for the Rolex series.

"The doctor wanted to keep me for a little while, but I was able to calm down in about five minutes and convince everyone that I had my wits about me."

At it again, Dalla Lana clocked a personal best around the 6.5-kilometre track to put the No. 94 M3 on the front row.

"I couldn't believe it," team owner Will Turner said. "One minute, he's into the wall, and then he goes right back out and runs the fastest lap he's ever done here. Unbelievable."

Paul Dalla Lana, No. 94 BMW M3 (Photo: Turner Motorsports)

Lachenaie, Quebec's Alex Tagliani captured pole position Saturday afternoon or the Juliawine100.com race of the NASCAR Canadian Tire series held at the Grand Prix of Trois-Rivieres.

In the morning practice session, local driver Louis-Philippe Dumoulin set the fastest time in front of D.J. Kennington, Martin Roy and Tagliani.

In the afternoon, Tagliani, driving the No. 28 Dodge, captured pole position with a time of 1m07.080 and the average speed of 82.111 mph. He broke the previous track record of 1m07.661 set last year by two-time series' champion, Andrew Ranger.

Dumoulin said he's been held up in traffic during his qualifying effort but set the second fastest time in 1m07.355 in the No. 47 Dodge.

Marc-Antoine Camirand - a very experienced road racer, but a rookie in the NASCAR Canadian Tire series - qualified third in the No. 88 Chevrolet, one place ahead of former Formula 1 World Champion, Jacques Villeneuve in the No. 24 Dodge.

J. R. Fitzpatrick, rookie Alex Labbe, Martin Roy, D.J. Kennington, Kerry Micks and Alex Guenette completed the top 10 who qualified within one second.

The Juliawine 100.com race will start at 3:30 p.m. Tomorrow afternoon and Auto123.com Racing will provide live description of the race.

Team Sahlen's Dane Cameron (BMW/Riley) ended Jordan Taylor's (Corvette) streak of three consecutive poles in the Daytona Prototype category of the Grand-Am Rolex championship, by snatching his team's first pole since moving up to DP, this weekend as the series visits Road America.

Taylor, who now looks ahead to the race for his revenge, will still get to start off the front row, albeit on the outside of it.

Memo Rojas (BMW/Riley) snatched third spot, ahead of former Champ Car champion Sébastien Bourdais (Corvette).

Leh Keen (Ferrari 458) broke by over three seconds a two-year-old track record set by Wayne Nonnamaker on his way to the GT pole. Canadian Paul Dalla Lana (BMW M3) beat Patrick Lindsey (Porsche GT3) to the off-pole.

Tom Long (Mazda 6) beat everyone in the GX category.

Dane Cameron, No. 42 BMW/Riley (Photo: Grand-Am.com)

Qualifying results - Road America, Elkarth Lake (Grand-Am)
1.Cameron-Nonnamaker (Riley-BMW) - Sahlen - 2'00"028
2.Angelelli-Taylor (Corvette DP/Dallara) - Taylor - 2'00"575
3.Pruett-Rojas (Riley-BMW) - Ganassi - 2'00"710
4.Di Guida-Bourdais (Corvette DP/Coyote) - 8Star - 2'00"914
5.Barbosa-Fittipaldi (Corvette DP/Coyote) - ActionEx - 2'01"096
6.Fogarty-Gurney (Corvette DP/Riley) - Stallings - 2'01"245
7.Dalziel-Popow (Riley-Ford) - Starworks - 2'01"293
8.Allmendinger-Yacaman (Riley-Ford) - Shank - 2'01"658
9.Taylor-Westbrook (Corvette DP) - SpiritOfDaytona - 2'01"671
10.Frisselle-Frisselle (Corvette DP/Coyote) - ActionEx - 2'01"934
(...)

In recent weeks, MINI has shown how its small cars can become great camping companions.

• The MINI Clubvan Camper is the world's smallest luxury camper van, packed with practical solutions that make it ideal accommodation for an individual on a weekend away.

• The MINI Cowley is a compact yet comfortable caravan for two people, equipped with a twin-ring gas stove, fridge and sink.

• The MINI Countryman ALL4 Camp with its innovative roof-top tent is the getaway car for an adventurous couple, evoking images of African safari and expedition vehicles.

All three remain concept vehicles that showcase the depth of the MINI range. There are no plans to offer them as production models at this stage.

Photo: MINI

AJ Allmendinger, last-year's Penske Racing Sprint Cup regular driver will be back in a Penske Racing Nationwide car and IndyCar later this year according to report in Racer.com.   

Allmendinger failed a NASCAR required drug test but successfully completed NASCAR's Road to Recovery drug rehabilitation program and since returned to race at the Sprint Cup level for Phoenix Racing and JTG Daugherty Racing.

Moreover, the 31-year old has driven in the Nationwide Series and IndyCar Series for Penske.

He'll race a Penske Racing Nationwide Ford Mustang at Mid-Ohio next week and add the 500 miler Auto Club Speedway in October (his sixth IndyCar Series race) at a minimum in a Penske Dallara Chevrolet later this year. And he may race twice more in the IndyCar series for Penske.

“He will run for us in a third car at the IndyCar race at Fontana, and he'll drive for us at Mid-Ohio in the Nationwide race, so he's got two more drives for us that are planned this year,” team owner Roger Penske told RACER.

“We'd like to run him some more, but sponsorship is key to everything today. The costs just to run an Indy car have gone up, so it's not something you do without having the budget in place.”

Penske wants to keep him under the Penske Racing umbrella but says he'll let the driver find a better deal if he can.

“He's had a number of people contact me about him and he's had just as many reach out to him directly, and I said we should talk about them as they come in, and if there's a full-time opportunity waiting for him, I'm certainly not going to stand in his way or hold him back.

“If I have something I can offer him full time, that's certainly something to take a look at, but there's also a couple of good things he's taking a look at to see if it's feasible or not for him to do.”

Penske, who backed Allmendinger quietly through his NASCAR problems said  “my main mission was to get him through his problem, which he did - he faced up to the issue, had the poison he had to drink and came back stronger.”

Penske added “and I think people are thinking about going forward with him based on what he's doing today and not some of the negative stuff that took place earlier in NASCAR.”

The California native is driving the JTG Daugherty Toyota at the Sprint Cup race at Watkins Glen this weekend.


Jonathan Bomarito lapped his SRT Viper GTS-R faster than everybody else in the GT category for a second consecutive time, as the American Le Mans Series (ALMS) stopped at Elkhart Lake's Road America.

Bomarito's previous pole was last month, at the Canadian Tire Motorsport Park (CTMP), where Corvette Racing pipped Viper for the win. That means the team is still looking for its first win since bringing the brand back to ALMS racing last year.

Antonio Garcia qualified the No. 4 Corvette he co-drove to the CTMP win with Jan Magnussen on the outside pole. Leh Keen completed the GT top three aboard his Ferrari F458 Italia.

Marino Franchitti (Level 5 Motorsports) paced the LMP2 field, as he beat both Guy Cosmo (Tequila Patron) and IndyCar regular Simon Pagenaud, who stepped in the sister Level 5 car to replace an injured Ryan Briscoe.

Lucas Luhr (Muscle Milk) topped the field overall by besting a distant Chris McMurry (Dyson Racing) and an outpaced Katherine Legge (DeltaWing).

Colin Braun (CORE) and Spencer Pumpelly (Alex Job Racing) had the last laugh in PC and GTC respectively.