Auto News 5

Automakers are crafting strategies to keep existing customers -- and perhaps poach some new ones -- when the number of vehicle owners coming off lease shoots up next year.

Toyota expects the addition of a BMW-sourced diesel will make it more competitive in Europe's compact minivan segment. Starting in February, the Toyota Verso will be offered with a BMW 1.6-liter diesel.

Nissan says the idea for the BladeGlider, the wedge-shaped concept that drew crowds at the Tokyo Motor Show last week, came out of the clear blue sky. One of Nissan's former racing partners begs to differ and is suing the Japanese automaker.

From GMM

Three top teams will provide cars so that Pirelli can test its 2014 tires later this month.

Earlier, some teams objected amid rumours McLaren had put its hand up to run its 2013 car for the official tire supplier at a December test in Bahrain.

"It would be unfortunate," said Mercedes' Ross Brawn recently, "if one team had the benefit of running a (2014) tire to the exclusion of all the others."

Now, Italy's La Gazzetta dello Sport and Autosprint are separately reporting that the 2013-car Bahrain test, to be held between 17-19 December, will in fact be attended by three teams.

McLaren will not be among the select three: Red Bull, Mercedes and Ferrari. Those three teams finished the constructors' championship in first, second and third places.

Autosprint said Lotus, fourth overall in 2013, was also invited, but declined for financial reasons.

McLaren finished the season fifth.

La Gazzetta dello Sport said the collected tire data will be made available to all of the other teams, who are permitted to send observers to Bahrain.

Autosprint correspondent Alberto Antonini, however, said the other teams are not happy to have been effectively locked out of the Bahrain test, handing an early advantage to the 2013 frontrunners.

Photo: Pirelli

From GMM

Ross Brawn is going "fishing", but he may return to formula one after a break.

That is the claim of Niki Lauda, who as Mercedes' team chairman tried to stop 58-year-old Briton Brawn from deciding to leave the German squad altogether.

But, with Paddy Lowe waiting in the wings as team boss, Brawn did decide to step away from the Brackley based team, which he also led under the Honda and Brawn GP guises.

Ross Brawn and his successor Paddy Lowe at Mercedes. (Photo: WRi2)

"He told me, and all the staff of the team, that he wants to do something else," Austrian Lauda told the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung newspaper.

"Spend more time with the family, go fishing," he added.

"Ross assured me that first he wants to relax, but I would not be surprised if he is not soon in demand," added Lauda.

"He has won eight world championships -- only Adrian Newey has won more.

"If Ross does eventually find another job in formula one, I will respect his decision," said Lauda.

However, Lauda insisted that the fact the team will now be headed by Lowe and Toto Wolff now makes the "leadership structure more clear, which will allow the team to make more progress".

"Ross was excellent at his job, I want to stress that," said Lauda.

"Now Toto and Paddy are taking over, and that will not be easy. Team leadership is always associated with pressure, and I will pay close attention to ensuring there is no vacuum in competence.

"But I firmly believe they will cope," he concluded.

From press release

Infiniti Red Bull Racing drivers Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber have each donated a helmet from a podium-win race in the 2013 Formula One season to raise money for spinal cord injury charity Wings for Life at a Bonhams Auction on 9th December.

Vettel has chosen a helmet worn at the 2013 German Grand Prix at the Nürburgring. In this memorable race - his first home victory since he started in F1 - Vettel took race lead from turn one and finished on top of the podium. Uniquely designed for each race, this signed and glittering helmet reflects Germany's national colours of black, red and gold.

Mark Webber. (Photo: WRi2)

Mark Webber has chosen two helmets, one worn at the 2013 Italian Grand Prix in Monza where he finished on the podium in third. The other was worn at the 2013 Belgian Grand Prix in Spa where he finished in fifth place.

Mark has also donated a signed and worn Alpinestars race suit for the auction.

Both lots will be sold to the highest bidder at a live auction as part of Bonhams' traditional end of year sale of Collectors' Motor Cars and Automobilia in Oxford, UK.

Buyers can bid online, by telephone or attend the event in person. 100% of the money raised from these unique Formula One items will go directly towards cutting-edge research aimed at finding a cure for spinal cord injury.

For more detailed information about the event visit www.wingsforlife.com and click on ‘Latest'.

For an overview of how to bid through Bonhams visit ‘How to Buy' at www.bonhams.com.

Auto123.com, the most comprehensive and most popular automotive website in Canada with over one million visitors per month, is proud to present Ñ Space, a special platform aimed at the Hispanic community across the country. Readers will find useful tips, car and truck reviews, as well as expert advice on all things car-related in Canada.

A number of articles will help new immigrants become more familiar not only with the Canadian auto industry and marketplace, but also the road infrastructure and driving conditions. This also includes traffic laws, car maintenance, ownership costs, dealer networks, and specialized shops.

Hopefully, Ñ Space will prove to be a friendly forum for the 450,000 Hispanics in Canada and eventually all Hispanics across North America and the globe.

The Ford Model A of 1928-1931 (not to be confused with the 1903-1904 car -- Ford's first-ever automobile) entered production in the fall of 1927, and hit the market on December 2nd of that year. It replaced the iconic Model T, which was last built on May 26th.

Equipped with a water-cooled, L-head, 4-cylinder engine that produced 40 horsepower, this Model A came with a 3-speed manual transmission with reverse, and could reach a top speed of 105 km/h. Offered in various configurations and body styles, not to mention four colours (red, grey, black, and green), it ranged from $385 to $1,400 USD.

Ford Model A. (Photo: Ford)

On February 4th, 1929, Ford sold its one millionth Model A; by July 24th of that year, sales had doubled. Overall, nearly five million units found takers.

The Model A's direct successor was the Model B.

Source: Wikipedia

In an effort to reach younger customers, who are fond of social media and online buying, Mercedes-Benz is about to launch a website allowing consumers in yet-unspecified markets to purchase any of these four models: A-Class, B-Class, CLA, and CLS.

The automaker promises that online prices will be identical to the ones advertized by dealerships.

Selling cars online is nothing new: BMW has been doing it with the i3 since mid-November, and Renault used a similar tactic with the Dacia in Italy two years ago.

In the U.S., you all know about Tesla, which is trying hard to bypass the traditional franchise system, but faces strong opposition by dealer associations.

Source: La Presse

From press release

With a collection of hardware waiting to be handed-out, Canada's Toughest 1/3-Mile Oval rewarded the efforts of a stellar field at Peterborough Speedway's annual awards banquet, held at the Ranch Resort Banquet and Conference Centre in Bethany.

The night's activity began with the 'State of the Speedway' address by track owner and promoter J.P. Josiasse. With new corporate and divisional sponsors, increased car and crowd numbers, 2013 was one of the most successful seasons in a number of years.

Long hours and hard work behind the scenes by a strong team paid-off in a big way and helped build the Peterborough Speedway brand in the motorsports community.

His last title may have been seven years ago, but three main event wins, and consistent finishes from the first green flag to the final checkered, allowed Craig Graham to reclaim the champion's seat at the Vanguard Self Storage Late Model table.

The 41 year old from Orono, Ontario carried a comfortable, but not commanding, lead into the final night of action and used a conservative strategy to clinch the crown. Cory Horner was named the Late Model field's Rookie of the Year and Most Improved Driver, while Chris Mitchell picked-up the Most Sportsmanlike Driver honours and Bryan Sudbury's No. 29 machine captured the Best Appearing Car award.

The Thunder Car division returned to regular action in 2013 at the tight bullring west of the Liftlock City, with backing from the restoration specialists at Paul Davis Systems. Beaverton, Ontario veteran Donny Beatty earned the first championship of the new era with a solid showing on the final night of the campaign.

Beatty - who has yet to announce his 2014 plans - dedicated the season to the memory of his brother. Brad Lavalle won the Thunder Car Rookie of the Year award, with Anthony DiBello named the division's Most Sportsmanlike and Most Improved driver. The No. 53 of Matt Spence was picked as the best appearing car.

There is nothing in the Peterborough Speedway rulebook to prevent a driver from running two different cars in two different classes and that loophole played perfectly into the plans for Ryan Oosterholt.

The Blackstock, Ontario runner - a proud member of the Farm Bro Race Team - was able to earn the track championship in both the Peterborough Hyundai Mini Stock and Battlefield Equipment Rental Four Fun divisions.

James Townsend was named the Four Fun field's Rookie of the Year, with Willow Barberstock the Most Improved Driver. Griffin Powell captured the Most Sportsmanlike driver award, while Andrew Massey's ride was named the best appearing car.

In the Mini Stock division, Chris Mulders was honoured as Rookie of the Year, with Oosterholt the Most Sportsmanlike Driver. Brandt Graham took the Most Improved Driver award and Ryan Babin's name appeared on the Best Appearing Car award.

What they may have lacked in numbers, the Moi Parry Spring Service Renegade Track field certainly made up for with their on-track performance. Three-wide battles for the win and the occasional swapping of paint were a regular events for the pick-up pack, with Bill O'Hara's consistent runs paying off with the track championship.

Jack Dallin was named the division's Rookie of the Year and also collected the Best Appearing Car award. The Most Sportsmanlike and Most Improved drivers in the field were Stephen Bierworth and Rob Harwood, respectively.

The top runners in the Peterborough Speedway Enduro Series were Shane Richards, Bob Richards and Steve Lavoi in the 8 cylinder division. Charlie Pederson, Cameron Pederson and Tyler Junkin topped the 4/6 cylinder pack.


Top 5 point standings by division:

Vanguard Self Storage Late Models - 1). Craig Graham, 2). Chris Mitchell, 3). Bryan Sudsbury, 4). Cory Horner, 5). Jack Horner

Paul Davis Systems Thunder Cars - 1). Donny Beatty, 2). Matt Spence, 3). Dan Price, 4). Anthony DiBello, 5). Brad Lavalle

Battlefield Equipment Four Fun - 1). Ryan Oosterholt, 2). James Townsend, 3). Andrew Massey, 4). Griffin Powell, 5). Ray Schroer

Peterborough Hyundai Mini Stocks - 1). Ryan Oosterholt, 2). Chris Mulders, 3). Ryan Babin, 4). Brandt Graham, 5). Kevin Strutt

Moi Parry Spring Service Renegade Trucks - 1). Bill O'Hara, 2). Jack Dallin, 3). Tyler Junkin, 4). Stephen Bierworth, 5). Andy McCann

The Rally of the Tall Pines, final round of the 2013 Canadian Rally Championship, saw Chris Martin win his first national event, and Antoine L'Estage clinch his sixth CRC title.

The Tall Pines, held near Bancroft, Ontario has a reputation as one of the trickiest rallies of the season.

Antoine L'Estage, Mitsubishi. (Photo: René Fagnan)

This year's edition was no different, with very slippery, frozen gravel roads and no snowbanks to help keep cars on the road. Hidden rocks under a light layer of ice led to many tire punctures. Of 33 starters, fully 20 failed to finish, the victims of mechanical failures and off-road excursions.

For much of the event, it looked as though the victory would go to "Crazy Leo” Urlichich of Toronto. He and co-driver Patrick Walsh, in a Subaru Impreza WRX STI prepared by Can-Jam Motorsports, were leading with only three stages left when a cam shaft broke, and denying them a second victory at the Tall Pines.

Starting 19th and having never won a national-level rally, Chris Martin and Brian Johnson in their Subaru took over the lead after Crazy Leo's retirement.

Crazy Leo, Subaru. (Photo: René Fagnan)

The team was clearly at ease in the icy conditions, with driver Martin having won multiple ice-racing championships in Ontario. The team didn't stumble under pressure and took a well-deserved first national event win.

Antoine L'Estage and Craig Parry finished second in their Mitsubishi Lancer, one minute and 51 seconds behind the winners. Having fallen as low as 14th early in the rally thanks to an electrical problem, the team fought back mightily to gain the points needed to defend L'Estage's national Driver's Championship, his sixth.

This result earned L'Estage his sixth Canadian championship title, which ties him with Frank Sprongl and Tom McGeer for top spot in the more than 50 years of Canadian rally history.

The only driver who could have mathematically beaten L'Estage for the Driver's title was Patrick Richard, who was reunited with his sister Nathalie as co-driver for this event for the first time since 2006.

Pat Richard, Subaru. (Photo: René Fagnan)

The Subaru Team Canada duo were in second place behind Crazy Leo and were in a good position to secure the championship after L'Estage's early trouble, but multiple flat tires and a subsequent driveline seizure forced them to retire.

Third place overall went to Maxime Rochefort-Laframboise and Jerome Milette in a Subaru Impreza WRX, a terrific result for the Quebec team.

Despite having not competed for over a year, they resisted the pressure from Steeve Hobbs and Jean-Mathieu Tremblay to take the podium.

Simon Losier with co-driver Brian Maxwell completed the top five, in front of Production Four-Wheel Drive victors Alexandre Ouellette and David Lamarre in their Subaru.

In the two-wheel-drive battle, Martin Walter and Ferdinand Trauttmansdorff in their Nissan won the class and finished a terrific seventh overall.

Chris Martin, Subaru. (Photo: René Fagnan)

Rally of the Tall Pines 2013, Top 10
1) Chris Martin - Brian Johnson (Subaru Impreza WRX) - 2h17'21,0"
2) Antoine L'Estage - Craig Parry (Mitsubishi Lancer Évo.10) - 2h19'12,3"
3) Maxime Rochefort-Laframboise - Jérôme Milette (Subaru Impreza WRX) - 2h20'12,7"
4) Steeve Hobbs - Jean-Mathieu Tremblay (Subaru Impreza WRX) - 2h20'51,0"
5) Simon Losier - Brian Maxwell (Mitsubishi Lancer Évo.8) - 2h30'58,0"
6) Alexandre Ouellette - David Lamarre (Subaru Impreza WRX) - 2h33'35,7" (1st Prod. 4WD)
7) Martin Walter - Ferdinand Trauttmansdorff (Nissan 240 SX) - 2h34'39,1" (1st 2WD)
8) Nick Mathew - Kelly Mathew (Subaru Impreza WRX) - 2h35'18,1"
9) Boris Djordjevic - Andrew Avery (Subaru Impreza WRX) - 2h42'08,4" (2nd Production 4WD)
10) Jeffrey Dowell - Emily Dowell (Mitsubishi Lancer DE) - 2h46'14,0" (1st Production 2WD)

National Driver's Championship: 1-Antoine L'Estage, 107 points; 2- Pat Richard, 75; 3- Max Riddle, 46 points; 4-Steeve Hobbs, 42; 5-Simon Losier, 35 points; etc.

National Co-Driver's Championship: Rob Fagg

Manufacturer's title: Mitsubishi

Rookie of the Year: Jeremy Norris

Ladies' Cup: Emily Dowell

From GMM

Giedo van der Garde's father-in-law has denied he is considering buying into a formula one team.

In recent weeks, the Dutch billionaire and businessman Marcel Boekhoorn, who sponsors van der Garde's Caterham race seat via the McGregor brand, was linked with buying stakes in the Williams or Sahara Force India teams.

"The rumours are false," Van der Garde's management insisted in a Dutch-language media statement.

"A formula one team does not fit the investment profile of Boekhoorn M+A, the investment vehicle of Marcel Boekhoorn," it insisted.

The statement also insisted that even a "minority stake" in a F1 team would "not guarantee a cockpit" for van der Garde, since they "are two different projects".

As for Van der Garde's future, his management said 2013 was a "very strong debut" for the Dutch racer, adding that "constructive discussions" are taking place not only with Caterham, but also "a number" of other teams regarding 2014.

"The outcome of these talks is currently completely open," the statement concluded.

Photo: Sahara Force India F1 Team

Ram will sell an all-new compact van starting in 2015, Chrysler announced. Based on the Fiat Doblo, the ProMaster City will expand the Ram Commercial truck lineup and offer features and powertrains preferred by North American commercial customers.

"Our successful relationship with Fiat Professional, one of the world's foremost commercial truck manufacturers, gives Ram a competitive advantage with access to proven products and technology that will resonate with our U.S. and Canadian customers," said Reid Bigland, President and CEO, Ram Truck Brand, Chrysler Group LLC.

Prices, on-sale dates, and specifications have yet to be announced.

From GMM

Romain Grosjean has admitted he is not sure if Lotus' money problems have been solved.

The Enstone based team had been delaying signing its preferred option to replace the disgruntled Kimi Raikkonen - Nico Hulkenberg - until the money from the much-vaunted 'Quantum' investment came through.

Ultimately, while re-signing the impressive Frenchman Grosjean, Lotus announced on Friday that his new teammate will be Pastor Maldonado.

The press release made no mention of the Venezuelan's backing, but it is well known that he brings around EUR 35-40 million from the PDVSA oil company.

After the news broke, some said it was a clear sign that the Quantum money will never arrive. But others insisted the deal headed by controversial businessman Mansoor Ijaz is still on the cards.

Eric Boullier and Romain Grosejan, Lotus F1 Team. (Photo: WRi2)

Asked if he has been told Lotus' financial problems are now over, Grosjean told France's L'Equipe: "Not yet, but I am going to see (team boss) Eric (Boullier) on Monday.

"We will discuss it then."

Asked if Friday's news was a relief, he told RMC: "I don't know if relief is the right word, but it's always nice to be confirmed sooner rather than later.

"The team had other things to deal with beforehand, but we had always wanted to continue to work together."

Grosjean said he is confident Lotus will handle the transition to the radical new 2014 rules well, but acknowledged: "We will have to have the budget, because it (the season) will be expensive and complicated."

And asked if he has concerns that he will not be paid in 2014, the 27-year-old answered: "I have no problem. My motivation and my work have never changed during the season.

"It is a personal matter between myself and my employer," added Grosjean.

From press release

TOYOTA Racing announced the signing of Mike Conway as test and reserve driver for the 2014 FIA World Endurance Championship.

Conway, 30, will support the work of existing drivers Alex Wurz, Nicolas Lapierre, Kazuki Nakajima, Anthony Davidson, Sébastien Buemi and Stéphane Sarrazin, all of whom are confirmed as race drivers for next season.

His role in 2014 will see him contributing to the development programme of the team's new LMP1 car, with tests due to begin in January.

Mike Conway. (Photo: IndyCar)

Mike already has experience of the WEC having been a front-runner in LMP2 this year, including an impressive appearance at the Le Mans 24 Hours. He also has a strong pedigree in single-seater racing following three seasons in GP2 and five in the IndyCar Series, where he will again race in 2014.

Yoshiaki Kinoshita, Team President: “We are happy to welcome Mike to the team and I am confident he will make a valuable contribution alongside our already-strong driver line-up. We have followed his career closely for the past couple of years and we see him as an exciting talent with the right attitude to fit in at TOYOTA Racing. He will provide support during our development programme as we work on producing a race-winning car for 2014 and beyond.”

Mike Conway: “I am delighted to be joining TOYOTA Racing as test and reserve driver for 2014, a role which will fit well with my IndyCar programme. It is every driver's ambition to be involved with a manufacturer-backed team at the top level of international motorsport and that's what TOYOTA Racing is. I would like to thank my manager Mark Blundell and everyone at TOYOTA Racing for putting this deal together and giving me this great opportunity. I look forward to contributing to the team's success in 2014 and hope this is the start of a long and successful relationship.”

From press release

Citroen Racing will reveal its driver line-up for the 2014 World Rally Championship on Monday 16 December.

The drivers will be presented at Citroën Racing's technical center in Versailles, Paris. Last month team boss Yves Matton said that he was talking to five drivers about seats at the factory team in 2014.

This year's drivers Mikko Hirvonen and Dani Sordo were on the shortlist, as well as Mads Ostberg, Kris Meeke and Robert Kubica. Since then Francois Duval has been linked to a possible return to the squad he drove for in 2005.

Dani Sordo. (Photo: Citroën Racing)

In October Matton said he wanted his 2014 line-up to feature at least one ‘new talent' who hadn't won a rally or had been away from the WRC for a long time. 

The name of the driver who will run the World Touring Car Championship on a C-Elysée WTCC alongside Sébastien Loeb and Yvan Muller will also be revealed on that day.

Hooray! Audi finally expands its A3 lineup for North America. We can expect the first A3 Sedans to start arriving in dealerships during the 1st quarter of 2014 and come September or thereabouts, the excitement will ramp up further with the release of the much-awaited performance S3 model and the “delightful” A3 Cabriolet. Yes, I've driven the new 2015 Audi A3 convertible and ”delightful” certainly is the right word to describe this topless beauty!

What is an Audi A3 Cabriolet?
The Audi A3 is a small family car which has been in production since 1996, although it wasn't until the mid-2000s that the A3 made its way across the pond, and then only in the 5-door hatchback form. However, the A3 Cabriolet has been offered in other markets for many years now, and earned itself a loyal following, which I feel will only grow with its introduction to Canada & the U.S.


2015 Audi A3 Cabriolet Prices & Specs
No pricing has been released yet, but with a little thoughtful deduction, we come up with a pretty good guess at where the base price will start. I expect it to fall somewhere in the $42-$45k range, which places it roughly around the same cost as the new 2015 Audi S3 (base price $44k).

Only one engine choice will be available for North America: a 2.0L TSFI 4-cylinder that produces 220 hp & 258 lb-ft of torque (at just 1,500 rpm). Standard fitment will be an Audi 6-speed transmission (no manual), and all Canadian cars will feature Audi's world famous Quattro all-wheel-drive system.

Only one engine choice will be available for North America: a 2.0L TSFI 4-cylinder that produces 220 hp & 258 lb-ft of torque. (Photo: Kevin Corrigan)

Driving the 2015 Audi A3 Cabriolet
When the sun comes out, is there a better place to be than behind the wheel of a stunningly attractive open-top convertible? Well the 2015 Audi A3 Cabriolet is all that and more!

The A3 Cab is a comfortable open-top cruiser with impeccable road manners. However, since it is an Audi, you somehow have the constant feeling of being a master holding back his tethered pet. Let go the leash and play with the happy pedal and the 2015 Audi A3 Cabriolet becomes a true sporty delight. The torque is amazing, and although the steering feels somewhat lighter than most Audi products, it's almost go-kart in its directness. The fact that Audi made its name in the AWD rally world probably has more than a little to do with the handling characteristics of this vehicle.

The optional Magnetic Ride Suspension will be well worth whatever charge Audi places on it (no price quoted, yet) as it makes the most of this well-balanced and fun-to-drive rag top. The company states that it's worked hard on the rigidity of the body structure underneath, and I would congratulate them on this as I found there to be little or none of the usual convertible shake, rattle & roll.

All in all, the new 2015 Audi A3 Cabriolet is one of the finest small convertibles I've ever driven.

The A3 Cab is a comfortable open-top cruiser with impeccable road manners. (Photo: Kevin Corrigan)

Inside and Out of the 2015 Audi A3 Cabriolet
The 2015 A3 Cabriolet is a genuine four-seat convertible, albeit perhaps a tad tight for long hauls. However, the vehicle offers quite reasonable cargo space for a convertible of its size (just over 10 cubic ft) which is plenty for a couple on a touring holiday.

Of course, ragtops are marvellous for summer, but it's our long winter months that often steer buyers away from purchasing them. Well, Audi has addressed this issue with a 5-layer (plus insulation) convertible top, plus a clever neck-heating system built into the front seats.

The 2015 Audi A3 Cabriolet features a host of safety equipment as standard, together with a pop-up roll bar system fitted behind the rear seat headrests that deploys in a fraction of a second if (and when) required.

The 2015 A3 Cabriolet is a genuine four-seat convertible, albeit perhaps a tad tight for long hauls. (Photo: Kevin Corrigan)

Comparing the 2015 Audi A3 Cabriolet
In truth, there's very little in the way of competition when it comes to four-passenger convertibles today, especially when you add AWD to the equation. Naturally, some may cross-shop with other high-end convertibles, but if one is looking to share their fresh-air pleasure with friends, then the 2015 Audi A3 Cabriolet is pretty much in a class of its own

From GMM

A visibly-slimming Daniel Ricciardo had admitted he is still shedding kilograms ahead of his switch to Red Bull for 2014.

The Australian is among the taller and heavier drivers on the grid, and according to recent rumours he had trouble fitting at the controls of designer Adrian Newey's proposed cockpit during a seat fitting for next year's Red Bull car.

At the final few races of 2013, some observers noticed Ricciardo not only sporting a new beard, but also a more gaunt look.

Daniel Ricciardo. (Photo: Red Bull)

He confirmed that he is trimming some superfluous muscle before 2014, when the V6 turbo engines and new ERS systems are adding crucial bulk to the single seaters.

"Compared to where I am now, I need to lose a couple more kilos. That's my goal," Ricciardo is quoted by Brazil's Totalrace.

"It's not a problem. I like watching UFC (ultimate fighting championship) and those guys lose eight kilos in a week or something when it gets close to the fight. Two kilos in four months will be easy," he smiled.

According to the latest reports from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, speeding is likely responsible for the crash that killed Fast & Furious actor Paul Walker and a friend, Roger Rodas, on Saturday.

The red 2005 Porsche Carrera GT -- believed to have been driven by Rodas, although this has yet to be confirmed by authorities -- hit a lamp post and a tree before catching fire.

While the speed limit was 45 mph (72 km/h), the Sheriff's deputy Peter Gomez told ABC News that investigators are still trying to determine how fast the car was travelling and what caused it to go out of control, including whether the driver was distracted or something in the road prompted him to swerve.

Walker and Rodas had just left a special event in Valencia to raise funds for Reach Out Worldwide, a charity Walker founded in 2010 to aid victims of natural disasters.

Sources: La Presse and Le Parisien

Photo: Wikipedia

From press release

The Sports Authority of Thailand and the organisers of the 2013 Race Of Champions have announced that the event cannot take place as planned on December 14-15 due to the current political situation in Bangkok.

Our thoughts are with the Thai people during this difficult period and we wish that a peaceful solution will soon be found.

The Race Of Champions has been held all over the world for 25 consecutive years and we are currently looking at options of repeating the success of last year's event in Bangkok on another date.

Romain Grosjean, winner in 2012, in Bangkok. (Photo: Race of Champions)