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From Toyo Tires F1600 Series

The Toyo Tires F1600 Championship Series is back at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park this weekend for the BARC Canadian Touring Trophy Races, rounds 7 and 8 of the Championship.

Ottawa, ON resident Zach Robichon has a commanding lead in the “A” Class Championship over veteran Shane Jantzi of Ayr, ON. Clarendon Hills, IL resident Jack Mitchell, Jr. sits 3rd and has decided to compete for this Championship, forgoing the Formula Tour event taking place in Mt. Tremblant this weekend.

Mitchell, Jr. is on a hot streak as of late, fresh off winning both events last time out and seems to really be hitting his stride. He will be supported by Exclusive Autosport teammate Max Hanratty as he battles Robichon for “A” Class honours.

Photo: Michael Haley

Craig Willis sits atop the “B” Class Championship points standings but has seen his lead eroded in the last few rounds - missing one event because of a blown motor and having to face an impressive drive by Mike Gayowski, winner of the last event's MK Technologies Award. Willis will also be tested by Andrew Mason, returning to the series after missing the last round. Mason had a great battle with Willis at Shannonville and looked like a good bet at grabbing the top step of the podium before suffering an engine failure.

Gayowski sits tied for 2nd in the points with Graham Lobban. Lobban has shown great form and delivered impressive results having missed the opening two rounds of the Championship. Rookie Connor Wagland is right there in 3rd place and continuing to progress each and every time out.

Exclusive Autosport has split their 4 car team up this weekend as they have a legitimate shot at winning both the Formula Tour and Toyo Tires Championships so it will be interesting to see how they fair.

Jesse Lazare has returned to the series after competing in the Honda Indy Toronto's USF2000 rounds, and has jumped over to Brian Graham Racing's Piper Honda Team as his regular team - Britain West - concentrate on the Formula Tour this weekend.

Twenty cars are expected to compete this weekend with Paul Bollenbach making his first appearance of the season.

“Things are really starting to heat up in both Championships,” said Jason Sharpe, promoter for the series.

“(Zach) Robichon will be in a real fight with (Jack) Mitchell, Jr., and (Jesse) Lazare will be under the BGR awning as well adding a little boost to that program. (Craig) Willis is feeling a little heat from the veterans in his Championship as well so the racing all throughout the field will be very intense, it's going to be a great weekend,” he added.

Cars will hit the track on Friday for a full day of testing and the racing will begin with Round 1 on Saturday and Round 2 on Sunday afternoon.

From Callaway Cars

Callaway Competition of Leingarten Germany will embark on a development program for making the new Corvette C7 into a GT3-class race car and submit for homologation from the FIA.

Callaway Corvette GT3 project (Image: Callaway)

Specialists, like Callaway, require authorization from original equipment manufacturers, like Chevrolet, to submit the homologation forms necessary to allow their version of the car to be the version allowed in FIA competition.

As Callaway has just received the required letter of authorization from Chevrolet, Callaway has become the appointed specialist representative for building and holding the homologation of the Corvette C7 FIA GT3 race cars.

Callaway has also been the homologation holder for the Corvette C6 version of the GT3 car with the FIA. The Callaway team is currently one of the most successful in GT3, with numerous Drivers and Team Championships from 2007 to present.

Callaway Corvette GT3 project (Image: Callaway)

From GMM (with update)

A series of events has come together to form formula one's very latest hot rumour.

After the financially-struggling Sauber failed to pay him on time, therefore breaching its contract, it is rumoured Hungary could be Nico Hulkenberg's last race for the Swiss team.

Where the German might be headed is unknown, but the latest news hints at who his replacement might be.

Robin Frijns, the highly-rated 21-year-old and Sauber's reserve driver, has lost his GP2 seat at the Hilmer team, despite winning the Spanish race.

"So that was it then," he wrote on Twitter. "No money no drive.

"Winning championships is not enough these days," added Frijns, the reigning Formula Renault 3.5 title winner.

Robin Frijns. (Photo: Sauber F1 Team)

It is rumoured German Hulkenberg, after leaving Sauber, might simply sit out the rest of 2013 before making his next move.

If it was up to 1964 world champion John Surtees, he would already be at McLaren.

"I am not saying Perez isn't talented," he told the Daily Mail, "but it was too early for him to go into such an environment at McLaren.

"I know who I would have had there -- Nico Hulkenberg. He has served his time and would have made a good match with Jenson," said Surtees.

UPDATE
As expected, Nico Hulkenberg on Thursday rubbished the rumour.

Asked in Hungary if he is staying put at the Swiss team for the rest of 2013, he told British broadcaster Sky: "Absolutely."

Beyond this year, however, Hulkenberg admitted the future is "open".

"My management and I are looking at all the possible options, including Sauber," he said.

From GMM

Formula one is considering introducing a minimum time limit for pitstops, as the clampdown on pitlane safety continues.

After a cameraman was hospitalised by Mark Webber's flying wheel at the Nurburgring following a botched pitstop, access to the pitlane for journalists and photographers has been severely limited.

And according to Germany's Auto Motor und Sport, the clampdown could be set to continue.

Photo: Mercedes AMG F1 Team

Concerned that ever-impressive techniques and technology are pushing the speed of pitstops beyond the safety threshold, talks between the FIA's Charlie Whting and the team bosses are set to take place at the Hungaroring on Thursday.

"A time limit will be discussed," said correspondent Michael Schmidt.

"For example, a minimum of five or even ten seconds, which would reduce the error-rate drastically."

Schmidt added, however, that some teams would resist the move, insisting the spectacle and competition of the pitstops is a crucial part of the F1 'show'.

In wake of the accident that happened during the recent German Grand Prix, the Federation Internationale de l'Automobile has decided to restrict the access to the pit lane during the free practice sessions.

At the Nurburgring, FOM cameraman Paul Allen was injured after being struck by a flying wheel from Mark Webber's car.

The FIA stipulated that from the Hungarian Grand Prix onwards, media (both journalists and photographers) wishing to access the pit lane will be required to wear a special tabard. Twenty-five tabards will be available per session and will be allocated by the FIA Media Delegate, based upon requests received.

Previously, permanent pass holders and tabard holders were allowed pit lane access for all free practice sessions.

For the avoidance of doubt the procedure for qualifying and race will remain unchanged.

Photo: WRi2

2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray First Drive

Eye-popping performance meets poise.

If you want to totally enrage Corvette fans, here's a fun thing to do: argue that the Corvette should be a four-cylinder. Then watch the capillaries burst in their cheeks as red-hot indignation flows like 93-octane through a Holley double-pumper. The notion of neutering the Corvette down to anything less than full V-8 glory is right up there with pawning the Constitution to China or outlawing hamburgers or declaring soccer the national sport. And yet, when you see a new seventh-generation Corvette lope past on the street, chances are it's powered by a four-cylinder -- 3.1 liters, 126 hp, and 221 lb-ft of torque. Oh, great. Texas just seceded.

Photo Gallery: 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray First Drive - Automobile Magazine

Photo Gallery: 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray First Drive - Automobile Magazine

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2013 Switzer P700 BMW M5 First Drive

Can you improve a masterpiece?

You wouldn't touch up an Annie Leibovitz photo, so why would you mod a 2013 BMW M5? That question nagged at us as we drove to Oberlin, Ohio, to visit Switzer Performance. The company is best known for its wicked quick GT-Rs, which are still its bread and butter, but owner Tym Switzer wanted to build something with four-doors. His quarry? The new BMW M5. The fact that we were driving an absolutely brilliant, stock 2013 BMW M5 with a six-speed manual transmission made that nagging question resurface continually. Just a voice inside our head, asking, "You wouldn't cut a Harmony Korine film, so why would you mod a BMW M5?"

Photo Gallery: 2013 Switzer P700 BMW M5 First Drive - Automobile Magazine

Photo Gallery: 2013 Switzer P700 BMW M5 First Drive - Automobile Magazine

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2014 Subaru Forester 2.0XT Touring

A crossover for drivers who wouldn't be caught dead in a crossover.

It's funny, when I break down the Forester's attributes and compare the parts to the competition, the Subaru is mediocre; however, when I look at the whole package I quite like it. The Forester is a great size -- neither too small nor too big -- with a low H-point, but a higher vantage point than a car or wagon. The 2.0-liter turbo is peppy and when put into S# (Sport Sharp) mode, the CVT acts almost like a smooth eight-speed automatic. The problems begin to mount once I stack the Forester up against its competition. The Mazda CX-5 is much more involving to drive and the Ford Escape offers more technology. And with a price tag north of $36,000, the Subaru is hardly a good value.

Photo Gallery: 2014 Subaru Forester 2.0XT Touring - Editors' Notebook - Automobile Magazine

Photo Gallery: 2014 Subaru Forester 2.0XT Touring - Editors' Notebook - Automobile Magazine

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As much as weand#8217;d love to be the first to drop the hammer on this 1973 Chevy Chevelle stock car thatand#8217;s on sale though our friends at

What can we say about Lincoln circa 1966, except that it is everything the Lincoln of today is not? The automaker has taken a step forward with the

Enterprise Holdings has named Nate Lattimer its vice president of remarketing sales and operations for its Enterprise, National and Alamo car rental brands, as well as its commercial-truck business and its fleet-management affiliate.

The redesigned 2014 Mazda3 has received an EPA rating of 29 mpg city/41 highway. The rating covers the 2014 Mazda3 sedan with a manual transmission and a 155-hp, 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine.

Gentex, a supplier of rearview mirrors and related parts, today reported that its net income rose 28 percent in the second quarter after a 2 percent drop last quarter. Net income in the quarter rose to $52.

This week in 1970 finds Jochen Rindt and his Lotus 72-

In a sweeping change from the product plan Chrysler Group outlined this year, the lives of the Dodge Avenger, Dodge Grand Caravan and Jeep Wrangler have been extended, The Detroit News reported today.

RM Auctions is getting ready for its annual sale at the Concours d'Elegance of America, formerly known as

If you prefer your mid-century BMC iron built in New Zealand, then an eBay seller in Virginia has a deal for you. Up for auction is a

Remember the Mazda Mazda 3 (according to the DMV forms) that we drove a few weeks ago? Yeah! You want one? Maybe! How much? Well, read on, friend!

US-based XL Hybrids is a developer of hybrid-electric powertrain technology for commercial vans and pickup trucks. In this interview, Matthew Beecham talked with the company's VP of business development and co-founder, Justin Ashton about what makes their technology different and where we can see it.

Faurecia, the French supplier controlled by PSA/Peugeot-Citroen, plans to close eight seat factories, mostly in Europe, as the region's slumping vehicle sales hits car production, sources told Reuters.