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Mar
20th

F1: The steering wheel of the Caterham CT03 F1 car (+photos)

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We let you take the wheel of the Renault-powered Caterham CT03 Formula 1 car normally driven by Frenchman Charles Pic and Dutchman Giedo van der Garde.

F1 Caterham CT03 steering wheel
Photo: WRi2

But before you go for a spin, let's review the various buttons, switches and dials of the hand-made, carbon fibre steering wheel.


Let's start with the top portion

F1 Caterham CT03
Photo: WRi2

N (yellow): Puts gearbox in neutral
KERS (white): Activates KERS
TALK (red): To talk to the team by radio
10 - (green): To change a selected value by increments of 10
SC: Safety car (when running behind the SC)
MID (purple dial): To adjust differential in the middle of the corners
EXIT: (purple dial): To adjust differential at the exit of the corners

PIT (red): Speed limiter in the pit lane
WING: To activate DRS (Drag Reduction System)
ACK: To acknowledge message
1 + (green): To change a selected value by increments of 1
DRINK: To drink during the race
KERS (green dial): To make adjustments to the KERS
Green dial: Used to change multi-function map settings for RPM (torque settings, changes torque delivery), KERS (changes KERS maps), OIL (activates reserve oil tank) and DEF (various sensors)


Let's continue with the bottom portion

F1 Caterham CT03
Photo: WRi2

OVER TAKE (white): To increase temporarily engine power to pass a rival
ENTRY: (purple dial): To adjust differential at the entry of the corners
CLUTCH: To change clutch settings
MIX (red dial): To change engine maps to save fuel, for example

PC BPF (white): Bite Point Finder, used to accurately measure the clutch bite point
TORQUE (black dial): To change engine torque, when driving in the rain, for example
TYRE (black dial): changed for each tire type and used to enable ECU to know what compound is on the car. Dry tires are obviously less circumference than full wets and inters so each setting tells the car's brain what tire is on it
REV (red): To change maximum revving speed of the engine


Mar
20th

Volvo promises exciting addition to North American lineup

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Volvo will announce a new and exciting addition to its North American model lineup next week at the New York Auto Show. The Swedish automaker will also host the world premiere of its latest R-Design models, as well as the North American premiere of the V60 Plug-in Hybrid.

The world's first diesel plug-in hybrid will take centre stage as one of three remaining candidates for the prestigious 2013 World Green Car of the Year award (along with the Renault Zoe and Tesla Model S). It can travel 50 kilometres on pure electric power, and accelerate from 0-100 km/h in 6.1 seconds on the strength of 285 combined horsepower.

Come back next Wednesday to discover Volvo's brand new vehicle.

Photo: Volvo


Mar
20th

Subaru XV Crosstrek Hybrid to make global debut in New York

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Subaru will launch its all-new XV Crosstrek Hybrid at the upcoming New York Auto Show. Also making its world debut in the Big Apple will be a new performance model in concept form.

The Subaru XV Crosstrek Hybrid is the Japanese brand's first-ever hybrid vehicle. It will hit the market later this year, although no exact date has been announced.

As for the concept, Subaru provided zero information, so it's all speculation until next Thursday.

Subaru XV Crosstrek hybride vue 3/4 avant
Photo: Subaru


Mar
20th

Ford gets rid of allergens

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Ford Motor Company has begun requiring that more than 100 materials and components meet stringent standards to minimize potential allergy issues on the new 2013 Ford Fusion and other vehicles.

From now on, engineers will avoid using materials such as latex, chrome, and nickel (a metal 10% of Americans are allergic to) that can cause allergic reactions. Common high-touch areas such as the seats, steering wheel, armrests, door handles, and shifters will also be tested for allergens.

Moreover, new cabin air filters improve driving comfort by reducing particle concentration, improve cleanliness, and protect climate control components from particle deposits. These filters also capture soot, smog, and tobacco smoke.

Ford testers also make sure dyes are strictly limited to levels that are acceptable even for clothing.

Finally, with SYNC AppLink, drivers can quickly access allergy information through the Allergy Alert app, and request to hear the types of allergen conditions they are likely to encounter.

Mar
20th

F1: McLaren not considering running 2012 car this season

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From GMM

Martin Whitmarsh has played down reports McLaren could end its crisis by pulling its winning 2012 car out of mothballs.

The famous British team, whose Jenson Button closed last year's campaign with a win in Brazil, was scrabbling for mere points in Melbourne as the shortcomings of the radical new MP4-28 became clear.

Given the depths of McLaren's problems, it triggered rumours McLaren could simply revert to its 2012 car, which could be easily converted to the similar new rules by tweaking the design for tougher wing load and impact crash tests.

F1 McLaren MP4-28
McLaren MP4-28. (Photo: WRi2)

Team boss Whitmarsh fuelled the speculation early this week by saying "Purely from a technical point of view, it would be possible".

But he is now quoted by the BBC: "All our efforts are currently focused on understanding this year's car, not considering last year's car.

"At the moment we have to work hard on this car," the Briton added. "We know it has got some areas of high potential and we know it has potentially more downforce than last year's car. We just need to understand it and make sure (the performance) is accessible."


Mar
20th

GM hits 2013 Buick LaCrosse and Cadillac SRX with a recall

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Transmission issues have led General Motors of Canada to recall 1,275 vehicles from 2013. Affected models include the Buick LaCrosse sedan and Cadillac SRX crossover.

In some cases, the transmission can unexpectedly shift from manual mode to automatic mode. If the driver is slowing the car using the manual mode to achieve engine braking, that function would be cancelled without warning. Of course, this could increase the risk of a crash.

As a result, GM dealers will reprogram the transmission control module.

Source: Transports Canada
Mar
20th

F1: Russian Grand Prix organiser goes broke

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From GMM

A dark cloud has moved above next year's inaugural Russian grand prix.

Speed Week is reporting that the debt-ridden race organiser, Formula Sochi, has gone bankrupt and been liquidated by authorities of the Krasnodar region.

Just one month ago, Sochi mayor Anatoly Pakhomov announced that the city "will host" formula one next November.

Speed Week claims that the bigger company, promoter and circuit builder Omega, has taken over full responsibility for the race preparations.

Official Dmitry Erofeev was quoted by the news agency Izvestia as saying the preparations will continue as normal.

Sochi mayor Pakhomov said last month: "The Krasnodar region administration do not have the right for any kind of failure in this project as the country's prestige is at stake. In the event of any problems we would definitely receive all the required help from our neighbours and state."

F1 Sochi Russian Grand Prix
The future Russian Grand Prix track.


Mar
20th

Nissan recalls 2,153 NV vans in Canada

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Nissan Canada has issued a recall on 2,153 NV full-size vans from 2012-2013 because the gear selector plate lock clip may have been installed incorrectly during vehicle assembly. Over time, the clip could disengage from the steering column bracket, allowing the transmission cable to move out of position.

If this occurs, the gear selector will not match the actual gear position. The driver would be able to remove the key from the ignition, even if the transmission is not actually in the PARK position. This could allow the vehicle to roll away and potentially cause a crash.

Nissan dealers will therefore inspect and, if necessary, reposition the clip.

Source: Transports Canada

Mar
20th

AUTO123.COM – RSS 2013-03-20 00:00:00

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Auto123.com is pleased to present you the latest column of Canadian Bruno Spengler, official driver for BMW and reigning champion of the DTM German touring car series.

He writes to you while preparing for pre-season testing in Barcelona, Spain.

Hello all,

Glad to be back for another column.

We're now just a month and a half away for the 2013 DTM season, which starts May 5th, in Hockenheim. And the waiting is killing me.

I miss the adrenaline of racing, the intense stress before qualifying, of the grid building up and of the race itself. I can't wait for the first red lights of the season to go off. Yet, the weeks separating me from that highly anticipated first race are going to zip by in a flash.

DTM Bruno Spengler BMW
At the Geneva Motor Show. (Photo: WRi2)

Since my last trip to Canada, where I spent the end of year celebrations with my friends and family, my agenda has been overflowing.

To start with, there was the ADAC celebration night in February (the ADAC is one of Germany's motorsport sanctioning body and a partner of the DTM championship). Then, in early March, I met with some of my most loyal fans in a Frankfurt restaurant, in Germany. For me, it was a way of saying thank you, and a chance to catch up with them - which is always hard to do properly on a race weekend. All in all a pleasant evening filled with good memories.

Right after that, I left for the Viareggio resort, in Northern Italy, for a week of training alongside my fellow BMW drivers. It was intense physical preparation, overseen by Dr. Ceccarelli his team at Formula Medicine, who are the best in the business of training race car drivers.

Despite the bad weather, we enjoyed a very good week that will go a long way during the season. It was great fun to hang with the other eighth drivers of the BMW DTM family. Even our boss Jens Marquardt, who is also good fun, spent a few days with us.

DTM Bruno Spengler BMW
Training in Italy... (Photo: BMW)

Over that week, I took a day off in Geneva to attend the auto show. There, I helped Karim Habib, BMW's chief designer, unveil the beautiful new 3-series GT.

I also visited our Leipzig factory, where the i3 and i8 models are assembled. Very interesting stuff indeed happening there! I got to look around and meet some of the staff, chat with them, sign a few autographs. Shortly afterwards, I had to travel to the Munich area, where an important BMW garage was celebrating its 30-year anniversary. I got to meet some more fans and do some more interviews.

In the coming weeks, the development of our M3 DTM ahead of the next season will kick into high gear. Lots of test days are lined up for us in Barcelona and Hockenheim. It's a opportunity to fine tune the car, even though what we can do is limited by the rules.

DTM Bruno Spengler BMW
Team meeting at Schnitzer. (Photo: BMW)

As you can see, I'm very busy. But I'm confident come the season-opener, we'll be 100% ready and even stronger than we were last year at the start of our first race. One way or another, I can't wait to get back to it! Did I mention I have the firm intention of keeping my title?

See you soon!

Bruno Spengler

www.brunospengler.com


Mar
20th

Is your speedometer lying to you?

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A number of months back, I drove a 2013 Volkswagen CC and noticed, while driving towards an automatic traffic speed radar, that the indicated digital speedometer speed (shows up between the gauges) in the Vdub was 3 km/h over the radar's reading.

I noticed similar occurrences with other cars over the years, but never thought much of it. I figured that not all speedometers are created or calibrated equally; therefore, there was nothing to it.

However, after the CC, I kept a watchful eye on indicated speed limits as I travelled past radars that post oncoming traffic speeds. The route I take from my in-laws to get home includes a short stretch of road that has a radar permanently set up.

I take this road on a weekly basis and I notice there is a clear trend with today's cars.

Regardless of the car (or CUV, pickup, SUV or minivan) I drive past said radar, the posted speed is always lower than the indicated speed in the vehicle I'm driving.

The variations in speeds are nominal; the range is always between 3 and 4 km/h lower than indicated in the car.

Photo: Sébastien D'Amour

I performed the same exercise with my 10-year-old Subaru WRX and noticed the same gap; less than a 5 km/h spread between the radar and my car.

Can anyone guess why our cars would show a speed that is actually higher than the one we are travelling? Safety? Probably, but it's not only that.

So what does it mean? Not much in fact. I say we use this small speed discrepancy as a buffer, just in case... The real question is: What's really going on with the odometer? Think about it.

The two are intimately related, and both the speedo and odo run off similar feeds. Let's say that your speedo indicates 34 km/h when you're actually going 30. Figure that 30 fits 3.333 times in 100, multiply the 4 km difference by 3.333 and you get 13.33. So, this means that 13.33 extra kilometers are tacked on every 100 km travelled?

No, it does not.

Readings for the speedo are purposefully off for a number of reasons, and they go a little something like this: As a tire wears out, its overall diameter changes, thus changing its speed of rotation. Tire pressures also have a comparable effect; same goes for when we switch from summer to winter tires. Occasionally, the exact overall diameter of the rotating tire and wheel combo are not the same as the OE size. As well, can you imagine the lawsuits if a manufacturer “underestimated” the travelled speed? The odometer, on the other hand, measures real distances.

Many of you who own a portable navigation system probably noticed a discrepancy between the posted speed on the unit and on the car's speedometer. Now you know why there is a difference and, yes, the $300 is right but no, the $50,000 car is not wrong either; it's purposely giving you the wrong reading.

Mar
20th

WTCC: A new season with new players

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A new season of the FIA World Touring Car Championship (WTCC) will begin this weekend in Monza, featuring new players following the withdrwal of Chevrolet.

After having been unchallenged for the past three years, Chevrolet decided to leave the WTCC at the end of last year, after having spent a decade in the championship.

FIA WTCC Honda Civic Gabriele Tarquini
Gabriele Tarquini, Honda Civic. (Photo: FIA WTCC)

This season, there will be two works teams on the starting grid. Honda, which took part in the last three rounds last season will run two Honda Civics for Gabriele Tarquini and Tiago Monteiro, with the backing of Castrol.

The Japanese team tested massively last winter, so did Lada, making a return to WTCC this season with high ambitions with James Thompson and Russian Alexey Dudukalo, with the backing of oil company Lukoil.

Being left without Chevrolet's official backing, team RML will still be in Monza with two private Cruzes. Despite its lack of testing (only one test day last week), RML is still amongst of the title favorites. The drivers are three-time WTCC champion Yvan Muller and Tom Chilton, brother of F1 driver, Max.

FIA WTCC Chevrolet Cruze
Chevrolet Cruze, Team RML. (Photo: Eurosport)

Reigning WTCC champion, Rob Huff has switched from Chevrolet to Seat, joining Münnich Motorsport, a new team in WTCC. Huff will drive a Leon TDi, and aimd to win again this season.

Norbert Michelisz will also capable to fight for victories. The Hungarian driver still races under the colours of team Zengo Motorsport, which becomes a Honda "B" Team, running a Civic WTCC instead of a BMW 320 TC as last year.

The Independant Trophy will see great fights between drivers such as Franz Engstler (BMW 320 TC Engstler), James Nash and Alex McDowall (Chevrolet Cruze Bamboo), Darryl O'Young (BMW 320 TC ROARL) and Stefano D'Aste (BMW 320 TC PB Racing).


Mar
20th

2013 Chevrolet Trax 2LT AWD 1SE Review

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I've said it before and will repeat it countless times in the future: I love cars. I especially love cars that have a purpose, a clearly defined one. Think Scion FR-S, Ford F-150, Mercedes Sprinter and Subaru Outback.

When I first glanced at pictures of the 2013 Chevrolet Trax, I thought I had found a new nameplate to add to my list. When I took delivery of my Trax, I was immediately smitten with its quirky almost cute mug. The love quickly dissipated in the course of our comparo as the Chevrolet Trax lost its grip in the shootout.


What is a Trax?
General Motors dubs the 2013 Chevrolet Trax the “smart SUV.” The fact of the matter is that it's a compact crossover that further blurs the definition of what a CUV is.

The Trax competes against the likes of the Hyundai Tucson and Volkswagen Tiguan as well as taking on the Mitsubishi RVR and Subaru XV Crosstrek.

The name would suggest that the Trax is a minimally capable off-roader; however, this is not the case. Available with AWD, the 2013 Chevrolet Trax is primarily urbanite as its outer dimensions suggest maneuverability and its ability to fit in relatively small parking spots.

2013 Chevrolet Trax 2LT AWD 3/4 view
General Motors dubs the 2013 Chevrolet Trax the “smart SUV.” The fact of the matter is that it's a compact crossover that further blurs the definition of what a CUV is. (Photo: Sébastien D'Amour)

Technicalities
The 2013 Chevrolet Trax is shod out of the box with a turbocharged 4-cylinder ECOTEC 1.4L engine that produces 138 hp and 148 lb-ft of torque. The LS model has a standard 6-speed manual transmission in base trim, and a 6-speed autobox is optional, standard on all other trims. Front-wheel-drive is standard while AWD is a $1,950 option. Pricing starts at $18,495.

Driving the Trax
Despite the smallish displacement motor, the turbo manages to make things generally interesting. Perhaps the best aspect of the drivetrain is its impressively frugal fuel consumption numbers; we averaged fewer than 10L/100 km on test day, the best by far of the lot. Acceleration is decent, but the addition of three passengers to go along with the driver maxes out what the powertrain can achieve.

The optional 6-speed autobox swaps gears with skill, but prefers to do things at its rate. In other words, the Trax does not like to be rushed. With the available AWD, the 2013 Chevrolet Trax proves to be a competent tool to get around on snow-covered roads, particularly in the city. Where the countryside is concerned, as I found out firsthand during the comparo drive, things aren't as good.

What became evident was the Trax's suspension calibration or, better yet, lack thereof. The 2013 Chevrolet Trax suffered from poor weight transfer control on some of the twistier country roads. The same applied to strut rebound and compression control; in short, the Trax felt floaty while the others remained composed and surefooted.

Steering was numb with little feedback but thankfully, its precision was never put in doubt. As for the brakes, the top portion of pedal travel was mushy and therefore unresponsive. It was not as disconcerting as with a 2013 Chevrolet Malibu we recently entered in another comparo test.

Despite the less than stellar performances on the open road, the 2013 Chevrolet Trax proved to be an excellent and comfortable steed in the city. It is clear why GM refers to it as the “REAL” city adventurer.

2013 Chevrolet Trax 2LT AWD engine
The 2013 Chevrolet Trax is shod out of the box with a turbocharged 4-cylinder ECOTEC 1.4L engine that produces 138 hp and 148 lb-ft of torque. (Photo: Sébastien D'Amour)

Inside and out of the Trax
The most endearing aspect of the 2013 Chevrolet Trax is its outer appearance. Stout and snub-nosed, its short overhangs and wheels at all four corners really make it the perfect “cute” urban jungle-conquering vehicle.

Its tall 5-door body configuration lends itself well to young, small family duty; however, fitting anything more than two adults (or three kids) on the rear bench will work if only for a very short period.

Sadly, the remainder of the cabin takes a serious nosedive. GM designers may have thought to fit a large number of storage areas throughout but they did not think to make it all fit harmoniously together. The dashboard is a smorgasbord of cheap looking, differently textured and poorly assembled pieces of plastic.

The high points include the very easy to use and pleasant to behold MyLink that just about seamlessly brings music, video, smartphones and the like together in a fun-to-use way. Fair marks go to the front seats, the driving position and overall visibility.

2013 Chevrolet Trax 2LT AWD inside
The dashboard is a smorgasbord of cheap looking, differently textured and poorly assembled pieces of plastic. (Photo: Sébastien D'Amour)

Comparing the Trax
As we discovered in our comparo test of Compact Crossover Alternatives, the 2013 Chevrolet Trax has everything it needs on paper but falls short in execution.

The most hurt on the Trax comes from its pricing. Our AWD 2LT came in at just under $29,000 which is quite pricey when you consider that it has no heated seats or fog lights while those of equal of less money in the comparo did.
Mar
20th

F1: Riad Asmat denies Caterham F1 quit rumours

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From GMM

Caterham has hit back at paddock rumours team founder Tony Fernandes has lost interest in the F1 project and could soon shut it down.

Late last year, Malaysian entrepreneur Fernandes handed over the role as team boss to Cyril Abiteboul.

And the decision to replace the highly rated Heikki Kovalainen with a second pay-driver for 2013 was seen by some as an acknowledgement that Caterham is unlikely to ever make the giant leap from the back even to the middle of the grid.

Indeed, the green cars lined up dead last on the Melbourne grid last Sunday, while Caterham was the only team whose drivers both finished the race two laps down.

F1 Caterham CT03
Caterham CT03. (Photo: WRi2)

Riad Asmat, Caterham chief executive, dismissed all the rumours.

"If I remember correctly, our alleged demise has been reported about since we came into formula one in 2010," he is quoted by Speed Week.

He said "The investments we have already made for the new turbo era" beginning in 2014 is clear evidence Caterham has no intention of pulling out of F1.

"Why would we spend money like that if we're closing down?" the Malaysian asked rhetorically.

"Formula one is part of a larger picture of our business model," Asmat continued, "and a fundamental part of the complete philosophy.

"That is the second reason why the rumours of a withdrawal are nonsense. Caterham is staying this year, next year and for many more years," he insisted.



Mar
20th

Rally: Robert Kubica to face tough challenge in Portugal

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From wrc.com

Four weeks before he makes his World Rally Championship debut on Rally Portugal, former Formula 1 driver, Robert Kubica has admitted that the loose-surface event is likely to be his hardest test of the year.

The Pole will contest the seven-round WRC 2 championship in a Citroen DS3 RRC, tackling the remaining events in the WRC calendar except the rounds in Argentina, Australia and the season finale in Great Britain.

Alongside him will be experienced Polish co-driver, Maciek Baran, who since 2003 has navigated for WRC regular Michal Solowow. The pair will also take part in four rounds of the European Championship, starting with next week's all-asphalt Rally Islas Canarias.

As he unveiled the livery of his new Citroen, Kubica explained that his objective for 2013 was to build experience of the rallies and of driving with pace notes.

“Each and every rally will be new to me,” he said. “This year Rally Portugal will be the hardest. Although some sources apparently claim that I have already done some test on gravel, in fact I haven't done it yet. We will test after the Canaries Rally. Rally Portugal will be my first world championship event, first gravel rally and for the first time I will tackle such long stages - one of them has over 50 kilometres. It will be a steep learning curve for us.”

“My goal is clear: to learn, learn, learn. Experience is essential here, more important than in racing. On circuits we do a lot of laps, the driver knows the track by heart. Here you have to trust the pace notes completely. For me it is important to work on my pace notes system, I feel it can be improved and this is the key to success,” he added.

A difficult decision to take
Kubica acknowledged that the decision to switch from racing to rallying hadn't been easy, and he didn't rule out a return to the racetrack.

“Everything I do in my life, I do with one hundred per cent commitment,” he said. “My approach to rallies will be the same, but I will not put racing aside. Probably I will test a lot on circuit this year, but only if my rally schedule allows it.”

“The most important thing to me was to come back to competing at highest possible level in motorsport. I guess it worked out - only Formula 1 is at higher level than World Rally Championship, although in fact it is impossible to compare these two series. These are two different kinds of sport, so it's like comparing one of the most famous marathon runs in the world to 100 metres sprint run during Olympic Games,” he added.



Mar
20th

AUTO123.COM – RSS 2013-03-20 00:00:00

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From GMM

The buck will stop at Martin Whitmarsh if McLaren cannot quickly emerge from its early 2013 slump, according to former team driver David Coulthard.

Having lost team stars Lewis Hamilton and Paddy Lowe ahead of the new season, the Woking based team struggled markedly in Australia with the radical new MP4-28.

Whitmarsh, team boss, might ultimately shoulder the blame, Scot Coulthard wrote in a column for the Telegraph.

"You cannot escape the fact that there is pressure upon Martin Whitmarsh as team principal, for in the end, the captain of the ship is responsible for its navigation," said the 41-year-old, who drove for McLaren between 1996 and 2004.

"F1 is not a sport where people shy away from responsibility. Any evidence of a lack of commitment, lack of focus, or an inability to deliver consistently, is immediately addressed. Failure is not an option," Coulthard added.

F1 Martin Whitmarsh McLaren
Martin Whitmarsh, McLaren's team boss. (Photo: WRi2)

There has been talk of McLaren scrapping the MP4-28 in favour of reverting to the winning 2012 car, but that cannot be done in the very short term.

"Am I excited for the next race (in Malaysia)? We certainly will not be quick," Jenson Button is quoted by Brazil's Totalrace.

On the possibility of the 2012 car returning to action later on, Whitmarsh is quoted by Italy's Autosprint: "Purely from a technical points of view, it would be possible."

As the pressure ramps up, Button backed his boss.

"Everyone looks up to Martin," he is quoted by the Daily Mail. "It's difficult to always be strong, but he is doing a bloody good job. There is no finger-pointing. We want to improve, but it is going to be a long journey for us I think."


Mar
20th

F1: Alain Prost takes advisory role at Renault Sport F1

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In a press release published Wednesday March 20, the Renault Group and four-time Formula 1 world champion, Alain Prost, announced the prolongation of their relationship for the coming year.

From Renault Sport F1

Alain Prost has been the Brand Ambassador for Renault since 2012 and will take on an enlarged consultancy role within Renault Sport F1 this year.

In addition to his current duties promoting the brand in press and marketing activities, the Frenchman will assume an advisory role within the Renault Sport F1 Executive Committee.

Within the scope of this role he will attend a selection of races over the year, plus events outside the F1 calendar, including the World Series by Renault and various other competition activities.

Alain Prost Renault Sport
Photo: DPPI

Alain Prost and Renault have a long working history. Alain Prost raced for the Equipe Renault Elf in the early part of his F1 career, from 1981 to 1983. Over this period he won nine races, only missing the drivers' title in 1983 by two points. He resumed his relationship with Renault in 1993 after joining Williams. The Frenchman went on to dominate the championship with seven wins, thus securing his fourth and final world title.

“Alain's experience of F1 personnel and politics combined with his sharp intelligence and retained enthusiasm for the sport has already been of great benefit as we consolidate our position as an engine supplier to four teams,” said Jean-Michel Jalinier, Renault Sport F1 President and Managing Director.

“We will continue to draw on his knowledge this year, particularly as we prepare for the technical challenges of the 2014 engine regulations.”

“Renault has a long history within F1 and everything it has done in the sport has ultimately been a success. Indeed I have achieved some of the greatest results of my career with Renault power,” Alain Prost added.

“Over the past year I have seen that it has kept the same passion and rigour for F1, and it has stayed true to these values as it prepares for the new V6 power unit in 2014. I will use my experience and knowledge of the sport to advise on strategic and technical challenges - it's a very exciting time for everyone and together we represent very strong potential,” Prost said.


Mar
20th

DTM: David Coulthard says Ralf Schumacher has taken the right decision

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From GMM

Retirement is the right option for Ralf Schumacher, according to former F1 rival David Coulthard.

Despite Mercedes signing him up to stay in the DTM series in 2013, 37-year-old Schumacher surprised the racing world late last week when he announced he is hanging up his helmet.

Schumacher, whose older brother is the famous seven time world champion Michael, is instead moving into management, taking up a shareholding in the RSC Mucke Motorsport team.

Also hanging up his helmet late last year was Coulthard, the 41-year-old who raced in the German touring car series alongside Schumacher at Mercedes since 2010.

"I was surprised (about Ralf Schumacher's decision)," Coulthard told the Kolner Express newspaper, "because I thought he wanted to stay on for another year. But I know from personal experience how hard it is to compete against these DTM guys. For me it (retiring) was right, and I think also Ralf has realised that it is time to go."

DTM Mercedes Ralf Schumacher
Ralf Schumacher, Mercedes. (Photo: DTM)



Mar
19th

BMW X4 will attract new buyers to brand, sales chief says

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BMW's new X4 model will bring a new type of customer to the brand, sales chief Ian Robertson said. The X4 will launch next year as a sportier version of the X3 SUV with a lower roofline and coupe styling.
Mar
19th

BMW X4 to lure new buyers to brand, sales boss says

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BMW's new X4 model will bring a new type of customer to the brand, sales chief Ian Robertson said. The X4 will launch next year as a sportier version of the X3 SUV with a lower roofline and coupe styling.
Mar
19th

2014 SRT Viper TA gets ready for New York: Autoweek TV

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Also in this episode: Fangio's famous Benz is for sale and Lotus lives another day.
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