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Robert Kubica was enjoying a healthy lead in his first European Rally Championship (ERC) appearance when he crashed out of the event.

The Pole lost control of his Citroën DS3 while going through the first run of the San Bartolomé de Tirajana special, in Rally Islas Canarias.

Robert Kubica before he crashed his Citroën DS3 (Photo: FIAERC.com)

"I tried to do the corner but I hit the barrier," he explained afterwards. "I didn't reduce enough speed but I hit the barrier with the rear-left corner. Then with the front we dived into the barrier.

"It's a shame but unfortunately this can happen."

Kubica's crash handed the lead of Rally Islas Canarias to Skoda driver Jan Kopecky.

Sebastian Vettel scored his second consecutive pole position of 2013 during a bizarre wet/dry qualifying session for tomorrow's Malaysian Grand Prix.

The world champion set his fastest lap of 1m49.674s in the closing stages of Q3 on a drying track after pitting for a fresh set of intermediate tyres on his Red Bull. 

Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull RB9 (Photo: WRi2)

The Ferraris will line up behind Vettel, with Massa once again qualifying ahead of his teammate Alonso for the fourth race in succession after putting in an impressive lap at the end of Q3, albeit 0.9s from Vettel. This is the Brazilian's first front row start since Bahrain 2010.

Fernando Alonso, Ferrari F138 (Photo: WRi2)

Mark Webber split the two Mercedes' in fifth despite seeming during the early stages of the session he could repeat his 2010 pole position. The silver cars finished fourth and sixth, once again showing the potential for pole in the hands of Hamilton and Rosberg, with the Brit staking his claim for the top spot with a 1m51.699 and the German setting the pace in Q2.

Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes W04 (Photo: WRi2)

Kimi Raikkonen qualified his Lotus down in seventh ahead of Jenson Button's McLaren which showed improved pace this weekend. But the Finn was pushed down to 10th for blocking Rosberg. Adrian Sutil continued his impressive return to action by putting the Force India in ninth, with the second McLaren of Sergio Perez rounding out the top-ten.

An unexpected rain shower was the surprise of Q2 and caught a number of drivers out, most notably Romain Grosjean and Paul di Resta who spun twice after pushing hard to make it through to Q3; the Frenchman and the Scot will line up 11th and 15th respectively.

Romain Grosjean, Lotus E21 (Photo: WRi2)

Further down the grid, Williams' weekend worsened with Pastor Maldonado failing to set a time in Q2, which put the Venezuelan down in 16th. Teammate Valtteri Bottas once again failed make much of the hype surrounding him as he dropped out in Q3 after finishing 18th and was almost outpaced by the impressive Jules Bianchi's Marussia, which sits almost 0.2 seconds behind.

Bianchi's compatriot Charles Pic was the best of the Caterhams in 20th ahead of Marussia's Max Chilton. Giedo van der Garde props up the grid in the sister Caterham in 22nd and final spot.


Qualifying results* - Malaysian Grand Prix (Kuala Lampur)
1.Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull RB9-Renault) - 1'49”674 - Q3
2.Felipe Massa (Ferrari F138) - 1'50”587 - Q3
3.Fernando Alonso (Ferrari F138) - 1'50”727 - Q3
4.Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes W04) - 1'51”699 - Q3
5.Mark Webber (Red Bull RB9-Renault) - 1'52”244 - Q3
6.Nico Rosberg (Mercedes W04) - 1'52”519 - Q3
7.Jenson Button (McLaren MP4/28-Mercedes) - 1'53”175 - Q3
8.Adrian Sutil (Force India VJM06-Mercedes) - 1'53”439 - Q3
9.Sergio Perez (McLaren MP4/28-Mercedes) - 1'54”136 - Q3
10.Kimi Raikkonen (Lotus E21-Renault) - 1'52”970 - Q3**
11.Romain Grosjean (Lotus E21-Renault) - 1'37”636 - Q2
12.Nico Hulkenberg (Sauber C32-Ferrari) - 1'38”125 - Q2
13.Daniel Ricciardo (Toro Rosso STR8-Ferrari) - 1'38”822 - Q2
14.Esteban Gutierrez (Sauber C32-Ferrari) - 1'39”221 - Q2
15.Paul Di Resta (Force India VJM06-Mercedes) - 1'44”509 - Q2
16.Pastor Maldonado (Williams FW35-Renault) - no time - Q2
17.Jean-Eric Vergne (Toro Rosso STR8-Ferrari) - 1'38”157 - Q1
18.Valtteri Bottas (Williams FW35-Renault) - 1'38”207 - Q1
19.Jules Bianchi (Marussia MR02-Cosworth) - 1'38”434 - Q1
20.Charles Pic (Caterham CT03-Renault) - 1'39”314 - Q1
21.Max Chilton (Marussia MR02-Cosworth) - 1'39”672 - Q1
22.Giedo Van der Garde (Caterham CT03-Renault) - 1'39”932 - Q1

*Unofficial
** Penalised

A US-based version of the German DTM touring car series could debut in 2015, running alongside NASCAR and Unified SportsCar rounds.

The idea, born about a year ago, had been forgotten a little in the midst of the merger between ALMS and Grand-Am. With the new series now firmly on track, the focus has shifted back to DTM.

An announcement is set to be made later this week, at the New York motor show, by DTM, Grand-Am and Japanese Super GT representatives.

According to German news website Motorsport-Total, the American DTM could present eighth rounds in 2015, four of which at Unified SportsCar rounds, and the other four at NASCAR events -- all on road courses. Officials are studying the prospect of racing at Sonoma, Watkins Glen, Daytona and Indianapolis.

As far as teams are concerned, official DTM teams could be represented by American customer outfits.

But the American DTM could also shape up as an "all-star" series, pitching against one another stars from DTM, Grand-Am and Super GT.

Tune in on March 26 for more...

Top teams Red Bull and Mercedes want Pirelli to rush last year's tires back into service.

According to Germany's Auto Motor und Sport, the two outfits are arguing that it is not fair that the tyre supplier's 2013 products seem to be penalising the best cars.

Indeed, while in the past high downforce tended to minimise tyre wear, the opposite phenomenom is apparently occuring now, and according to Red Bull and Mercedes that also poses a safety risk.

Correspondent Michael Schmidt said: "Adrian Newey has made the direct link between downforce and wear."

World champion Sebastian Vettel confirmed: "The better the car, the worse shape you're in."

The Renault R30 raced by Robert Kubica in 2010 (Photo: Renault F1 Team)

Another growing gripe is that Lotus has gained an unfair advantage by supplying its 2010 car - the Enstone-designed Renault R30 - to be used as Pirelli's exclusive track testing car.

"It's obvious that the Pirelli tires are designed for this type of car," Red Bull's Dr Helmut Marko is quoted as saying.

"The Lotus of today has the same DNA."

A study by Mayo in the U.S. reveals that people with a pacemaker can safely drive a hybrid or electric vehicle.

Researchers wanted to see if the electromagnetic interferences generated by the electric motor could have ill effects on a pacemaker.

The study involved 30 people and a Toyota Prius. Tests were conducted at speeds of 50 km/h and 100 km/h, under acceleration and deceleration, as well as in different areas of the vehicle.

Overall, these interferences are not powerful enough to send a heart attack signal to the pacemaker, although it remains a possibility in an infinitely small number of cases.

While no definitive conclusions were drawn, future tests with other EVs will provide a clearer picture.

Source : cnetfrance.fr

Photo: Michel Deslauriers

A federal bankruptcy court has approved the sale of a bankrupt Toyota dealership in St. Augustine, Fla., for $18.7 million. The buyer, Michael Beaver, owner of Beaver Toyota in Santa Fe, N.M.

Skoda Auto has revealed global build numbers by model for 2012, and announced where and when several new vehicles will be built or assembled.

A busy news week started early Monday, with the details of the redesigned 2014 Cadillac CTS sedan's new 420-hp twin-turbo 3.6-liter V6 engine option.

Also in this episode: Toyota hosts Dream Car art contest; Ford of India facing criticism for insensitive ads.

Anybody remember Polocore? That weird little moment in the mid-'90s when a sect of hardcore kids were all decked out in Ralph Lauren finery? What seemed incongruous in '95 was simple, unvarnished fact a dozen years later, when it was announced that...

Speaking at the launch of the Mirage A-segment hatchback, Mitsubishi UK managing director Lance Bradley said that brand sales were up 105% in February, and have averaged a 56% rise YoY for Q1.

Set adrift in mechanized life with just one tool, what would you choose? Probably Vise-Grip pliers. One do-it-all vehicle? Perhaps a Jeep Wrangler.

The CAW has canceled a ratification vote for members at a General Motors assembly plant in Ingersoll, Ontario, originally scheduled for this Sunday, a union representative said.

Germany's Robert Bosch GmbH today said Bernd Bohr, board member responsible for its automotive unit, will leave the company at the end of June.

Bosch said Bernd Bohr, board member responsible for its auto-supply unit, will leave the supplier. Bohr was once a candidate to become Bosch CEO.

Just how good can a sub-GBP 6,000 car be? A lot better than you would expect, Glenn Brooks finds, as he tries out the Dacia Sandero.

Ford will launch an ad campaign touting its EcoBoost engine brand within the next two weeks, the company said today.

Midsize Madness - Day Five

It’s the 2013 Honda Accord.

Our winner is the 2013 Honda Accord. Really, it comes as a surprise to us, too.

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Photo Gallery: Midsize Madness - Day Five - Automobile Magazine

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Marco R. della Cava went to the Vatican to cover the election of the new Pope, but he managed to leave with

Chrysler will launch a special edition of the 200 sedan with trim inspired by work clothes maker