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From Audi

Audi has given eight young talents the opportunity to gather experience in the cockpit of an Audi A4 DTM at a scouting event.

With instructions provided by the two factory drivers Timo Scheider and Adrien Tambay they completed an extensive program of testing on and off the track for three days in Spain. 
 
It has become a bit of a tradition: After the end of the DTM season, Audi gives a number of young talents the opportunity to gather personal experiences at the wheel of the DTM race car.

As in previous years, the event for young drivers between 17 and 22 years of age was not only focused on driving the fastest lap time but on technical understanding, dealing with engineers and mechanics, giving feedback on changes made to the Audi A4 DTM and handling a racing simulation.


Photo: Audi

“We regard this talent scouting event as an investment in the future,” says Dieter Gass, Head of DTM at Audi.

“We're absolutely happy with our current driver line-up but would still like to give young talents an opportunity to take a peek behind the scenes of the DTM from time to time. This is how some of our current drivers got started as well and today they're part of the DTM or other series.”

DTM youngster Adrien Tambay and the two-time Champion Timo Scheider took care of the young talents as ‘driving instructors' and assisted them with tips and tricks.

The drivers who tested in Spain were: Jordan King (GB) and Harry Ticknell (GB), who were awarded the test as the best Volkswagen drivers in the FIA Formula 3 Championship, as well as Robin Frijns (NL, 2012 Renault World Series Champion), Marvin Kirchhöfer (D, 2013 ATS Formula 3 Cup Champion), Alessandro Latif (GB, Speed Euroseries), Thomas Schöffler (D, 2013 International GT Sprint Series Champion), Ferdinand Stuck (D, VLN) and Stefan Wackerbauer (D, Formula Renault Eurocup).


From GMM

1997 world champion Jacques Villeneuve thinks Fernando Alonso would have won this year's title at the wheel of the 2013 Lotus car.

The French Canadian told the Spanish sports daily AS that the Ferrari driver's performance this season was not quite as impressive as in 2012.

"He (Alonso) is always at a high level," Villeneuve said at Interlagos, "but what we saw from Alonso in 2012 I have not seen this year. That was second to none -- the best I've seen.

"This year, with the statements (made by Alonso) about Ferrari and everything, there was too much negative energy," he added.

Next year, Alonso will be paired at Ferrari with a new teammate.

Fernando Alonso, Ferrari F138 (Photo: WRi2)

"(How will he fare) with (Kimi) Raikkonen?" Villeneuve said. "The Lotus is a great car this year. All I'll say is that Alonso would have won this year's title in that Lotus."

Alonso joined Ferrari in 2010 but, although he has come close, he is yet to add to his tally of two world titles, won at Renault seven years ago.

The Spaniard has had an often tense relationship with Ferrari this year, but despite flirtations with Red Bull and McLaren, he is staying put for 2014.

"You have no other choice than to be patient," Alonso told the Brazilian newspaper O Estado de S.Paulo newspaper at Interlagos.

"Sometimes it's frustrating. For days and days. But I have to use this anger in a good way, to work harder and to win again," he insisted.

Meanwhile, while Alonso's comments about Sebastian Vettel might often sound uncomplimentary, the 32-year-old insists the Red Bull driver deserves his success.

"With the same car, Webber was not able to win any titles," Alonso said. "It's clear that Sebastian deserves it."

From GMM

Daniil Kvyat has made an immediate impression on his bosses.

The Russian teen has been signed as the Red Bull-bound Daniel Ricciardo's 2014 replacement at the energy drink company's second F1 team, Toro Rosso.

He has been given an early start in 2013, with two Friday practice appearances in Austin and now in Brazil.

On Friday at a wet Interlagos, the confident 19-year-old was not only faster than Ricciardo and his 2014 teammate Jean-Eric Vergne, but ranked eighth fastest overall in the morning session.

Daniil Kvyat, Toro Rosso STR8 (Photo: GEPA pictures)

"He has big balls," Dr Helmut Marko, the outspoken Austrian Red Bull chief, said after Kvyat set the time on the wet Brazilian circuit.

"I think we have the right man," he told the Swiss newspaper Blick.

Red Bull team boss Christian Horner was also impressed.

"You could see he's not afraid of the car in any way," he said on British television BBC. "He's throwing it around and has got plenty of car control. It was certainly an impressive performance."

Amy Williams, who won the gold medal in the skeleton at the Vancouver Winter Olympics in 2010, wants to repeat her WRC experience from last week's Wales Rally GB.

"It's been an unbelievable few days," the 31-year-old woman told WRC.com.

Co-driving TV presenter Tony Jardine's Mitsubishi Lancer, she finished 26th overall, first in the Class 3.

Williams and Jardine (Photo: McKlein)

"It has (been) really tough," she added, referring to the few problems she encountered on her WRC debut, which included illness, turbo problems, as well as a puncture and a time penalty.

"But I've honestly loved every minute of it.

"I've really got the bug for rallying now (even though) it's probably one of the hardest things I've ever done.

"I'd love the opportunity to do it again," she added.

Fisker Automotive, the dormant California-based maker of hybrid-electric sports cars, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection as part of a restructuring plan.

Fisker Automotive, the dormant California-based maker of hybrid-electric sports cars, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on Friday as part of a restructuring plan.

Stephane St-Hilaire has been named president and CEO of automotive auction firm ADESA Inc., effective Jan. 6, parent company KAR Auction Services said. St-Hilaire, 44, is currently the president and COO of ADESA's Canadian auction unit.

Nissan is making a number of management changes in its North American operations designed to enhance the company's performance in sales, marketing and manufacturing. Most of the changes are effective Dec. 1, Nissan said.

2014 Technology of the Year: Autonomy

The end of driving.

Ultimately, there will be no need for seatbelts, airbags, bumpers, rollover protection, steering wheels, pedals, or even Automobile Magazine. Cars will be various-size pods on wheels like the futuristic vehicles of Woody Allen's 1973 movie Sleeper, traveling closely, safely, and efficiently in neat little rows like trains without rails.

Photo Gallery: 2014 Technology of the Year: Autonomy - Automobile Magazine

2014 Technology of the Year: Autonomy | Digg It | Add to del.icio.us

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