Auto News 5

Cadillac will pump out plenty of commercials for its redesigned 2014 CTS sedan during the Winter Olympics this month.

From WRC

Jari-Matti Latvala overhauled his Volkswagen team-mate and reigning world champion Sébastien Ogier at the top of World Rally Championship (WRC) standings, with a win in this weekend's Rally Sweden.

The Finn, who claimed his maiden Swedish victory in 2008, beat Volkswagen team-mate Andreas Mikkelsen by 53.6sec after a tight battle through snowy forests in Sweden and Norway. Mikkelsen, who twice led the rally, secured his first WRC podium.



Third went to Mads Ostberg who finished just 5.9sec behind his fellow Norwegian to secure his fourth consecutive podium in the championship's only true winter round.

Jari-Matti Latvala, VW Polo R WRC (Photo: VW Motorsport)

Ogier, Mikkelsen and Latvala dominated the opening leg in their Polo R cars. When Ogier dropped more than four minutes yesterday morning after crashing into a snowbank, Mikkelsen moved to the front.

Ostberg struggled for confidence initially in his first loose surface rally in a DS3, but came to terms with the car and saw off the Ford Fiesta RS cars of Mikko Hirvonen and Ott Tanak.



Ogier recovered from 20th to finish sixth, overhauling Henning Solberg in the penultimate stage. Pontus Tidemand, Craig Breen and Kris Meeke completed the leaderboard, Meeke bouncing back after losing seven minutes and sixth place when he slid into the snow this morning.



Elfyn Evans was on course for ninth until rolling his Fiesta RS in the final stage, while Martin Prokop retired this morning when he went off and became stuck in the snow.

Hyundai duo Juho Hanninen and Thierry Neuville finished down the order after respectively damaging a wheel and breaking the front right suspension on their i20 cars yesterday and Robert Kubica was 24th after three lengthy spells in the snow.

From BMW

Next month, Andy Priaulx is going to swap the BMW Z4 GTLM he races in the United SportsCar Championship for a very different model from the German manufacturer - a BMW 3.0si.

Priaulx will be one of the celebrity drivers to take part in the Goodwood 72nd Members' Meeting on the 29th and 30th March.

The triple world touring car champion will be sharing the BMW 3.0si with race preparation expert Alex Elliott. The car itself is the same specification as that raced by touring car ace Tony Lanfranchi in 1973, and is entered in the Gerry Marshall Trophy which is for Group 1 touring cars of up to 1982 vintage.

Priaulx said: “I always enjoy going to Goodwood for the amazing events held there. They are always special and so to be part of the 72nd Members' meeting is something I know I shall enjoy. I just love sitting behind the wheel of a BMW on a race track, so to be given the chance to race this iconic model in the Gerry Marshall Trophy is just too good an opportunity to miss.”

“For me to be able to compare the touring cars I race now to those of 40 years ago is fantastic”, added Priaulx. “Although they were a little before my time, I am very well aware of the exploits of such touring car legends as Tony Lanfranchi and Gerry Marshall," he said.

From press release

The Canadian Touring Car Championship (CTCC) is pleased to confirm that Continental Tire has extended its presenting partnership for three more years. The CTCC has built a solid icon in the Canadian racing industry over the years and we are proud to develop this relationship further for another three years.

The key advantage of this significant partnership is the Continental ExtremeContact race tire which will continue to be the official and exclusive tire of CTCC.  The tires have proven to be able to handle the extreme challenges of touring car racing and the drivers have come to rely on their performance on the track to give the fans the best racing experience.

As the new season shapes up, we are welcoming new teams with newly-built race cars ready to take on the challenges of CTCC racing.

Photo: Paolo Pedicelli

"We are proud to extend our partnership with Continental.  Over the years we have built a strong relationship and we are excited about what is to come.  The possibilities are there and we are ready to go further together; we are very fortunate to have the support of the entire Continental team," stated John Bondar, President of CTCC.

"The last 3 years have been extremely exciting for Continental Tire Canada. We have thoroughly enjoyed building a lasting partnership with John, his staff, and all the fantastic race teams.  We are thrilled to be extending our partnership for another 3 years," commented Terry Smouter, Marketing Manager of Continental Tire Canada.

From press release

A wide variety of drag racing machines will be on display in the Quarter-Mile Corral at this weekend's eighth annual Canadian Motorsports Expo. The show runs February 7, 8 & 9 in Hall 5 of Toronto's International Centre.

Several teams that compete in the popular Quick 32 Sportsman Series and the Pro Bike and Sled Series will be on hand at the CME with their race vehicles.

The Quick 32 Sportsman Series, presented by NAPA Auto Parts, will be represented by both the Top Dragster and Top Sportsman classes that make up the series.

From Buffalo, New York, Dan Flanigan will display his Top Sportsman 2013 Chevy Camaro (top right). The NOCO Energy Corporation Camaro features a 680-cubic inch nitrous-injected engine underneath the swoopy G-Force Race Cars product.

On hand with his Top Dragster will be Lyle Williams of Strathroy, Ontario. This 2012 Race Tech car (middle right) competes with a 526-cubic inch Veney Hemi between the chassis rails with a Kobelco Supercharger on top.

Representing the PBSS, presented by Wiseco Performance Products, will be popular series racer Jessica Touroukis (bottom right) and her 2002 Arctic Cat Thundercat snowmobile. Touroukis, from Innisfil, Ontario, rides for the Psycho Princess team with her sled, which is powered by a 1000-cc engine.

Also on display representing various other drag race series will be:
• Bill Kraft - Can-Am Stock Super Stock Series
• John Wisman - Can-Am Stock Super Stock Series
• Ian Hill - Can-Am Stock Super Stock Series
• Lui Ramundo - DSE Automotive Sportsman Racing Series - Super Pro/Quick 16
• Pete Stewart - DSE Automotive Sportsman Racing Series - Bike
• Emily Ramundo - DSE Automotive Sportsman Racing Series - Jr Dragster
• Nicole Meloche - Ontario Street Car Association - OSCA
• JP Calandra - Ontario Street Car Association - OSCA
• Simon Moroz - Ontario Street Car Association - OSCA

Aside from these racing machines at the CME, drag racing will be center stage for a panel discussion about the sport, with the top names in Canadian drag racing taking part.

Hosting the panel, which is to take place on the CME's Inside Track Stage from 3:45 to 4:45 on Sunday afternoon (Feb. 9), will be moderator Bruce Mehlenbacher, Director of Operations of the Pro Modified Racing Association, the Quick 32 Sportsman Series, and the Pro Bike & Sled Series.

Joining Mehlenbacher will be Andrew Stirk of DSE Automotive Sportsman Racing Series, Can-Am Stock Super Stock Series driver Victoria Smith, Dan Flanigan, driver of the NOCO Sponsored Top Sportsman entry in the Quick 32 Sportsman Series, nitro-burning Nostalgia Funny Car racer Rick Kopp, and Rob Reeves of Edmonton's Castrol Raceway.

From press release

Move Motorsports Executives Jason Sharpe and Diane Dale (promoters of the Toyo Tires F1600 Championship) announced today details of a new Formula 2000 Championship for the Canadian market.

Sanctioned by CASC - Ontario Region the series will feature the sleek, fast cars that are realizing a huge resurgence in the United States and that were featured so prominently in Canada during the 80's and 90's, helping to nurture the career of some of Canada's greatest racing stars.

“With the success we have had in such a short time promoting Formula 1600 racing in Canada we felt it only natural that we create another step on the ladder for Formula Car racers in this country,” stated Move's Jason Sharpe.

To ensure large grids and close competition throughout the field the Series will have two classes and allow for multiple chassis including Van Diemen, Citation, and the newly launched Spectrum. The motor package will be the Ford Zetec in A Class that is immensely popular in both Pro and Club levels in the US and the older Ford “Pinto' motor which was the staple for so many years in Formula 2000 competition.

Canadian Remy Audette (foreground) racing in the US based F2000 championship while it visits Mosport, ON (Photo: www.f2000championshipseries.com)

“CASC-OR are proud of the resurgence of open-wheel racing in Ontario,” said CASC Race Director and Executive Committee member Ted Michalos,

The Series will also provide additional opportunities for some of Canada's professional teams to build their businesses close to home, many of which have been running ultra successful programs in US based series for years.

“The time is right for a return for Formula 2000,” said BGR Team Grote owner Brian Graham. “When Formula 2000 first gained popularity and migrated to North America it was Canada that took it to great heights, first with the Walter Wolf series then the Canadian Tire Series before the very popular Export A National Pro Series,” he added.

The Series will have a modest schedule in year one, with 4 weekends on the calendar and a mid-summer start to allow Series management time to raise awareness with teams and to allow competitors time to organize themselves - ensuring a large grid when the green flag flies. Three of the events will be at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, in conjunction with the Toyo Tires F1600 Series.

A fourth event is still being negotiated.

Planned schedule
June 21 / 22, BARC Grand Prix of Ontario, Canadian Tire Motorsport Park
July / August, TBD
September 13 / 14, BEMC Indian Summer Trophy Races, Canadian Tire Motorsport Park
September 27 / 28, CASC-OR Celebration of Motorsports, Canadian Tire Motorsport Park

Toyota is close to a deal to pay $1 billion to settle a federal criminal investigation into how it disclosed customers' complaints about unintended acceleration years ago, The Wall Street Journal reported on Friday, citing anonymous sources.

Kia Motors America's marketing boss, Michael Sprague, will assume the new role of executive vice president of sales and marketing following the departure of Tom Loveless, Kia's executive vice president of sales.

Kia Motors America's marketing boss, Michael Sprague, will assume the new role of executive vice president of sales and marketing following the departure of Tom Loveless, Kia's executive vice president of sales.

BMW showed off its i subbrand during the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics on Friday night. The first of three i television commercials featured the i8 plug-in hybrid super car.

BMW plans to debut its i subbrand during the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics tonight. The first of three i television commercials will feature the i8 plug-in hybrid super car.

We hope Simon LeBon's mysterious and#8220;treasure in the darkand#8221; wasn't a turbocharger. If the Duran Duran frontman deigns to pick up a

Radio host Howard Stern finally got his shot on Jerry Seinfeld's and#8220;

More than 20 percent of auto manufacturers have launched Web sites that implement responsive design technology -- technology that allows shoppers to view the same Web site content across tablets, smartphones and desktop computers.

PSA/Peugeot-Citroen negotiators and French government officials are leaving for China this weekend, sources said, for what they hope will be a final round of tie-up negotiations with Dongfeng Motor.

Chevrolet and Buick-GMC are running a nearly month-long Presidents Day promotion for February, offering some of GM's biggest incentives in months as the company tries to shake a recent sales slump.

News 10 Feb, 2014

First pictures of the BMW 3 Series Plug In-Hybrid, as a lightly disguised prototype was spied testing in Scandinavia

News 7 Feb, 2014

Driving licence applications on bogus sites cost three times as much as DVLA services

Chrysler Group said it is recalling an estimated 9,655 full-size vans in North America to replace a part that could lead to the accelerator pedal getting stuck in the wide open position.

Aston Martin produces some of the world's most highly engineered cars, and its reputation stands on the quality of those vehicles. The news this week, therefore, that the company has to recall the majority of vehicles it has made since 2007 will come as a shock, writes Brian Balmer, industry principal for performance materials at research firm Frost & Sullivan.