Auto News 5

Robert Kubica's experience on asphalt should help him next week-end in Germany for the World Rally Championship (WRC) season's first tarmac event.

"Robert has got more experience (on asphalt)," said M-Sport team principal Malcolm Wilson. "He'll definitely be challenging for wins. I have no doubt about that."

Indeed, the pole entered 76 grands prix over his five seasons in F1. So he probably knows better than anyone else in the WRC how to get the most out of a car on asphalt.

Robert Kubica, Ford Fiesta RS WRC (Photo: WRi2)

Earlier this season, he led the Rallye Monte-Carlo, which is almost considered as a tarmac event, before crashing out on a patch of black ice.

And last month, in preparation for the Rally Deutschland, Kubica entered the Italian Rally Internazionale del Casentino, in Tuscany. He won 10 out of 12 stages on his way to victory.

From press release

Ed Carpenter Racing and Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing announced that they will form a multi-car organization for the 2015 Verizon IndyCar Series. The team will be known as CFH Racing.

The two single-car teams, based in Indianapolis, will be headquartered at the Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing shop in Speedway, Ind., just a few blocks from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

"I am very excited about this new opportunity to merge Ed Carpenter Racing with Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing in CFH Racing," Carpenter said.

Fisher, the first woman to win an IndyCar Series pole, became the first female team owner in the IndyCar Series in 2008. She announced her retirement from driving in 2010.

"The merger of the two teams is a big-picture plan," she said.

"At the nucleus of all parties, there is a lot of synergy that has great potential for the future. Working with Ed, and capturing that first win, was a foothold in our team, and I look forward to the many more that will come as a result of bringing all the parties together."

From press release

The strong relationship between Ryan Hunter-Reay and Andretti Autosport is showing no signs of weakening.

With Milwaukee IndyFest as a backdrop, the Indianapolis-based four-time IndyCar Champions confirmed that 2014 Indianapolis 500 winner Ryan Hunter-Reay will return to the team in 2015 and beyond.

Furthermore, Andretti Autosport announced a contract extension with title sponsor DHL

"I'm thrilled to be able to announce today that the relationship between myself, DHL and Andretti Autosport will continue," said Hunter-Reay.

Ryan Hunter-Reay (Photo: WRI2)

"Every driver strives to find the stability in their career that allows them to continually grow each year; having a home at Andretti Autosport for the last five seasons, working with the same crew and supportive sponsors has no doubt been a key part of our successes."


Hunter-Reay, 33, currently sits third in the Verizon IndyCar Series championship points standings, only 63 points behind the championship leader.

With 166 Indy car starts, Hunter-Reay holds 14 race wins, 81 top 10 finishes and captured the 2012 IndyCar Series Championship title in a thrilling season finale showdown.

The UAW, which lost a controversial organizing vote in February at VW's assembly plant in Chattanooga, has nearly enough members in its newly formed local for the automaker to recognize it as exclusive bargaining agent for the plant, a top union...

Videos 16 Aug, 2014

The 542bhp Range Rover Sport SVR is one of the fastest SUVs in the world. See it up close in our exclusive video

As the rain fell Monday afternoon, Pat Presutti, new-car sales manager at Jim Riehl's Friendly Chrysler Jeep in suburban Detroit sent a porter out to check the water level in the back lot where nearly 100 cars were parked.

Pictures See all 13 pictures 16 Aug, 2014

Pictures See all 30 pictures 16 Aug, 2014

Internet radio is starting to look like a must-have infotainment feature, judging by the number of Pandora users.

Sales are surging, but some industry watchers worry emphasis on volume could rob the brand of exclusivity and increase the danger of quality problems.

Increased vehicle output by Mercedes and Audi is giving Hungary's economy a boost. Gross Domestic Product rose by 3.9 percent in the second quarter, the Hungarian Central Statistics Office said.

Auto123.com is sad to report the death of 20-year-old rally driver Timothy Cathcart.

Cathcart was driving a Citroen DS3 R3 in the top class of the British Rally Championship. He went off during the third stage of the Ulster Rally and was killed in the crash.

His co-driver Dai Roberts is injured, and still receiving treatment in the hospital.

"It is with deep regret that the Northern Ireland Motor Club can confirm that twenty-year-old Timothy Cathcart from Enniskillen, was sadly killed when his car left the road on the Fardross stage of the Ulster Rally," said a statement from the Northern Ireland Motor Club.

The rest of the event has been cancelled.

Auto123.com's thoughts and condolences are with Cathcart's family and friends and we wish Dai Roberts a speedy recovery.

From press release

Max Verstappen had a perfect start as a Red Bull Junior Team member: at the Nürburgring, the 16-year-old won his first outing in the colours of the Austrian Formula 1 World Championship-winning team.

On a drying track, the Dutch rookie scored his eighth win of the season and was thus able to reduce the gap to the championship leader, Frenchman Esteban Ocon, who finished sixth.

"We knew that the track here dries out quickly," said Verstappen.

Max Verstappen (Photo: F3 Euro Series)

"So therefore we opted for slick tires. I reckon that this was the right choice, even though the first few laps with slicks weren't easy. When Richard Goddard overtook me, I was well aware that his rain tires wouldn't last that long anymore, because at that time, he was already trying to cool his tires all the time.

"Therefore, I didn't defend my position too heavily against his attacks and I just tried not to let him pull away too much."

From press release

BMW driver Marco Wittmann remains on course for the DTM title. While his main rival Mattias Ekström only ended up in 22nd place, the German secured his third pole position of the season.

Photo: DTM.com

“For us, that was a very good qualifying. In the sessions before, we had a few problems, so I am all the more surprised by this result. It was great fun, because the car was perfect. Focussing entirely on this single lap in qualifying is one of my strengths,” Wittmann enthused.

The best-placed driver of an Audi RS 5 DTM, Edoardo Mortara will be starting from the front row of the grid alongside Wittmann. The Italian came 0.145 seconds short of the fastest time.

Photo: DTM.com

“Second place on the grid feels like a victory. The past few weekends were really tough for me and now, being back among the front-runners again is nice. I know that our car is generally working very well in the race. That is making me confident for Sunday,” the 27-year-old explained.

Next to Mortara, four other Audi drivers managed to make it into the final qualiying segment.

Photo: DTM.com

Mattias Ekström was dealt a major blow in the battle for the title. The Swede, Marco Wittmann's fiercest rival as runner-up in the drivers' standings, already was sidelined after the first qualifying heat. Ekström has to start only 22nd into the seventh round of the year.

“There are no excuses for the weak performance. Today, our timing simply wasn't the best. It would be nice if we could turn this around in the race, but that will not be easy,” the disappointed two times' champion explained.

Photo: DTM.com

Qualifying results - Nürburgring
1.Marco Wittmann (BMW M4) - RMG - 1'22"780 - Q3
2.Edoardo Mortara (Audi RS5) - Abt - 1'22"925 - Q3
3.Mike Rockenfeller (Audi RS5) - Phoenix - 1'22"951 - Q3
4.Jamie Green (Audi RS5) - Rosberg - 1'22"996 - Q3
5.Timo Scheider (Audi RS5) - Phoenix - 1'23"048 - Q3
6.Miguel Molina (Audi RS5) - Abt - 1'23"163 - Q3
7.Daniel Juncadella (Mercedes C-Coupe) - HWA - 1'23"221 - Q3
8.Paul Di Resta (Mercedes C-Coupe) - HWA - 1'23"354 - Q3
9.Christian Vietoris (Mercedes C-Coupe) - HWA - 1'23"338 - Q2
10.Nico Muller (Audi RS5) - Rosberg - 1'23"405 - Q2
11.Adrien Tambay (Audi RS5) - Abt - 1'23"421 - Q2
12.Maxime Martin (BMW M4) - RMG - 1'23"495 - Q2
13.Robert Wickens (Mercedes C-Coupe) - HWA - 1'23"565 - Q2
14.Augusto Farfus (BMW M4) - RBM - 1'23"592 - Q2
15.Pascal Wehrlein (Mercedes C-Coupe) - HWA - 1'23"593 - Q2
16.Timo Glock (BMW M4) - MTEK - 1'23"691 - Q2
17.Bruno Spengler (BMW M4) - Schnitzer - 1'23"770 - Q2
18.Martin Tomczyk (BMW M4) - Schnitzer - 1'23"841 - Q2
19.Antonio Felix Da Costa (BMW M4) - MTEK - 1'27"479 - Q1
20.Joey Hand (BMW M4) - RBM - 1'27"568 - Q1
21.Vitaly Petrov (Mercedes C-Coupe) - Mucke - 1'27"714 - Q1
22.Mattias Ekstrom (Audi RS5) - Abt - 1'28"504 - Q1
23.Gary Paffett (Mercedes C-Coupe) - HWA - 1'29"612 - Q1

Photo: DTM.com

From press release

The day before practice began at Michigan International Speedway, the No. 48 Lowe's road crew made a pit stop.

Alongside Lowe's Home Improvement, the crew helped renovate the entrance to the Boys & Girls Club of Lenawee.

The renovation focused on landscaping, and by the end of the afternoon, the club had a brand new rain garden.

"We have the best pit crew out there with our team 48, and I think that they're going to do a great job," said Sarah Verlinde, store manager of Lowe's of Adrian, as the event was kicking off. "I can see them already digging in and partnering up with the kids and they're doing awesome."

Lowe's support of Boys & Girls Clubs is centred around ensuring that local clubs remain safe and inviting places for the youth who need them most.

Souvenir from the day Hendrick Motorsports stopped at the Boys & Girls Club de Lenawee (Photo: Hendrick Motorsports)

From press release

For the second consecutive week, Jeff Gordon will start the race as the pole sitter.

In the No. 24 Axalta Chevrolet SS, Gordon qualified first at Michigan International Speedway Friday.

It marked his 76th career pole.

The cars were qualifying at such high speeds that in the second round, Gordon set a new track record at 205.885 mph and a time of 34.971 seconds, and by the third round Gordon broke his own record with a speed of 206.558 miles per hour and time of 34.857 seconds.

Jeff Gordon, Michigan International Speedway (Photo: Brian Lawdermilk/NASCAR via Getty Images)

"I knew that we were really strong here the last time we were here and what our team is doing right now, it's just phenomenal how they continue to improve race cars and just the whole effort," Gordon said.

"I'm just so proud of them. You don't go around this place like that, that fast without a really good race car. Thanks to Axalta, Drive To End Hunger, Pepsi, Chevrolet, everybody that made this possible. I'm so excited about the way our race team is performing right now."

When Williams gave Susie Wolff a chance to drive their FW36 during free practice of the British and German grands prix, many said it was just a marketing ploy.

But Wolff is adamant she was actually put in the cockpit because of her performances as a driver and not because of her gender.

"Frank Williams would never put someone in his car if he didn't believe that they are good enough," the 31-year-old said on Formula1.com.

Susie Wolff, Williams FW36 (Photo: WRi2)

"So I know when I'm not good enough I'm out, because my performance counts more than my gender does. They gave me the chance and we can be proud that we have achieved something special together."

Wolff also said that, as a kid, she was not even aware she was evolving in a sport dominated by boys.

"When I was a kid I didn't think that I was doing something unusual for a girl. My parents were very good in not making me believe that I was doing something unusual," shed added.

As a result, she doesn't consider herself any different from whoever she comes across on the race track, like at the 2000 world karting championships in Portugal.

Wolff says she gets "bad hair" from wearing a helmet, so she wears a cap when she's not in the car (Photo: WRi2)

"After the final I was quite happy finishing 15th as the last race was really tough and I delivered a good finish," she remembers.

"The podium ceremony was going on when suddenly there was the call, 'Susie Stoddart, please come to the ceremony'. I thought that's very strange because I haven't finished in the top three.

"They called me up to the podium for being the top female driver! And I remember thinking I am not here to be the top female driver - I am here to be the best driver."

A federal judge has appointed two lawyers who led cases against Toyota, and a plaintiffs' attorney from Texas, to lead litigation against General Motors related to a faulty ignition switch that prompted the recall of millions of vehicles this year.

Electric carmaker Tesla Motors said the drive unit warranty for its Model S sedan has been increased to match that of the battery pack and will now be covered for eight years and "infinite" miles.

Ford has issued its 11th recall on the 2013 Escape crossover, this time because a wiring problem could cause the engine to hesitate or stall.