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From press release

BMW driver Marco Wittmann emerged as the winner from an action-packed DTM race at Red Bull Ring.

With his BMW M4 DTM, the 24-year-old won the sixth season round from his fellow BMW driver Augusto Farfus and Timo Glock. Martin Tomczyk completed the success for BMW by finishing fourth.

(Photo: DTM.com)

“I had a very bad start, which made the early stage of the race not particularly easy for me. I had to stay cool and I saved my tyres. There was plenty of action in front of me, but I didn't see to much of it. Today, I was just really lucky,” a satisfied Wittmann said.

Canadian Robert Wickens had to take in a heavy setback. Throughout the first half of the race, the pole sitter was involved in an entertaining battle for first place with Augusto Farfus, until race control showed the Mercedes driver the black flag.

(Photo: DTM.com)

The reason: the Toronto native had ignored a drive-through penalty that he had been given after race control found that he had impeded the upcoming Timo Glock when leaving his pit stall.

Thanks to his third victory of the season, Marco Wittmann extends his points' tally to 95. Swedish driver Mattias Ekström remains Wittmann's closest rival in the drivers' standings.

Robert Wickens chases Augusto Farfus (Photo: DTM.com)

The next race weekend will take place at Nürburgring, August 17 till 19.

Race results* - Spielberg
1 - Marco Wittmann (BMW M4) - RMG - 47 laps in 1.08'23"185
2 - Augusto Farfus (BMW M4) - RBM - 3"298
3 - Timo Glock (BMW M4) - MTEK - 5"391
4 - Martin Tomczyk (BMW M4) - Schnitzer - 6"237
5 - Timo Scheider (Audi RS5) - Phoenix - 6"666
6 - Adrien Tambay (Audi RS5) - Abt - 12"213
7 - Mattias Ekstrom (Audi RS5) - Abt - 14"046
8 - Jamie Green (Audi RS5) - Rosberg - 14"456
9 - Christian Vietoris (Mercedes C-Coupe) - HWA - 15"224
10 - Bruno Spengler (BMW M4) - Schnitzer - 15"782
11 - Miguel Molina (Audi RS5) - Abt - 16"192
12 - Joey Hand (BMW M4) - RBM - 16"214
13 - Mike Rockenfeller (Audi RS5) - Phoenix - 17"717
14 - Maxime Martin (BMW M4) - RMG - 30"235
15 - Daniel Juncadella (Mercedes C-Coupe) - HWA - 34"836
16 - Edoardo Mortara (Audi RS5) - Abt - 35"420
17 - Gary Paffett (Mercedes C-Coupe) - HWA - 40"852
18 - Paul Di Resta (Mercedes C-Coupe) - HWA - 44"107
19 - Nico Muller (Audi RS5) - Rosberg - 45"827
20 - Vitaly Petrov (Mercedes C-Coupe) - Mucke - 45"971

(Photo: DTM.com)

Retirements
Pascal Wehrlein
Antonio Felix da Costa

Disqualified
Roberto Wickens

Drivers' championship
1.Wittmann 95 points; 2.Ekstrom 56; 3.Spengler 42; 4.Mortara 41; 5.Tambay 36; 6.Rockenfeller 35; 7. Farfus, Glock, Vietoris and Martin 33.

*Unofficial results

BMW driver Augusto Farfus with his family (Photo: DTM.com)

Red Bull has reportedly offered an F1 race seat to the 16-year-old Dutchman.

Fresh out of karting, the young Max Verstappen has impressed many formula one teams this season in the European F3 championship. So much so that Mercedes even offered him a contract.

The deal, which is believed to be said and done, would see Verstappen step up to GP2 next year and eventually formula one.

But Italiaracing is reporting a new twist to the story.

Max Verstappen met with Helmut Marko, this weekend in the paddock of the Red Bull Ring (Photo: FIA F3 European championship)

Verstappen would instead go straight to F1 in 2015... with Red Bull's junior team, Toro Rosso.

Indeed, Helmut Marko has apparently offered Verstappen a race seat in F1, just like he did last year with the 19-year-old Daniil Kvyat, who also skipped the GP2 feeder series on his way to formula one.

The big looser of course, would be Carlos Sainz Jr, the next Red Bull junior driver waiting to make the jump to F1.

Mercedes DTM boss Wolfgang Schattling described the stewards' decision to blackflag Robert Wickens in Austria as "incomprehensible".

Wickens was racing for the win, Sunday at the Red Bull Ring, when the stewards disqualified the Canadian after he ignored a drive-through penalty.

Actually it was Mercedes who told Wickens to stay out, because the team thought race control had mixed up the 25-year-old with Pascal Wehrlein, another Mercedes driver who, like Wickens, was released unsafely after his pit stop.

"Robert secured a fantastic pole position on Saturday and was leading the race. His tussle with Augusto Farfus was world class," said Schattling.

Robert Wickens, Mercedes AMG C-Coupé (Photo: WRi2)

"Unfortunately, the race stewards then took what was for us a surprising and incomprehensible decision. In our view, there was no unsafe release after Robert's pit stop.

"We tried to speak to the stewards during the race, because we thought that they had possibly mixed up the incident of Pascal Wehrlein leaving the pit lane with that of Wickens.

"That's why Robert stayed out so long."

The city of Melbourne will host the Australian Grand Prix until at least 2020, it emerged Sunday.

The race will also keep its spot as the season opener of the F1 world championship.

Premier of Victoria Denis Naphtine spoke enthusiastically about the new deal.

"This is a terrific announcement that reaffirms Melbourne and Victoria as the sporting and events capital of the world," he told the 3AW radio station.

"We've secured a great deal for the people of Victoria that's a better deal than the existing deal. The new deal is on the same terms as the existing contract in that it will be the first race of the season, it will be in March each year."

Melbourne has been hosting the Australian Grand Prix since 1996, the year the event moved from Adelaide.

Albert Park circuit (Photo: WRi2)

From press release

There have been many initiatives over the years to raise financial support for Racing For Cancer, and the latest involves renting Verizon IndyCar Series driver James Hinchcliffe's face.

Hinchcliffe shaved a good part of his beard, leaving a Jason Lee-like "My Name is Earl" mustache for the Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio race weekend, to step in for Ryan Hunter-Reay.

Team 'Stache, a group of Hunter-Reay fans, donated $1,028 with the request that Hunter-Reay join their facial follicle group. Alas, Hunter-Reay isn't up to the challenge.

"It would take a whole season if I were to grow a moustache," the reigning Indianapolis 500 Mile Race champion and 2012 Verizon IndyCar Series champion said.

James Hinchcliffe with teammate Marco Andretti (Photo: Joe Skibinski/IndyCar.com)

In stepped his Andretti Autosport teammate, who's had facial growth going for months.

"This morning he offered, he said, 'Ryan, if you raise another thousand dollars, I'll just go moustache,' '' Hunter-Reay said. "I was, 'Done.' ''

Added Hinchcliffe: "This is in support of Racing For Cancer and my homeboy Ryan Hunter-Reay, who is not as awesome at growing a mustache."

Asked if Hinchcliffe would match the donation, he replied "I donated my face, my ego and embarrassment."

Hunter-Reay founded the charity after his mother died of cancer in 2009, and he drives the No. 28 car to honour the 28 million people living with cancer around the world.

China suffered its worst industrial accident in a year on Saturday when an explosion killed at least 69 people and injured more than 120 at a factory that makes wheels for United States carmakers, including General Motors.

China suffered its worst industrial accident in a year when an explosion killed at least 69 people and injured more than 120 at a factory that makes wheels for carmakers including General Motors.

Many of the cars on sale today carry as many cameras as a cluster of paparazzi, pointing five or more lenses at lane lines and blind spots to assist drivers. The next step, experts say, could be cameras that observe the driver instead of the road.

Tesla Motors hasn't decided on a site for its so-called gigafactory, but it's moving forward as though it has.

General Motors' full-sized commercial van -- sold as the Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana -- has officially become the old man of that mainstay fleet segment.

The UK government will allow self-driving cars to be tested in three cities starting in January as the UK aims to be at forefront of new technology governing autonomous driving.

GM's website set up to give consumers quick information on recalled cars has been providing inaccurate information, the U.S. Transportation Department said.

The UK government will allow self-driving cars to be tested in three cities starting in January as the UK aims to be at forefront of new technology governing autonomous driving.

From press release

Toyota Racing test and reserve driver Mike Conway will make his race debut for the team in the fourth round of the FIA World Endurance Championship, in Austin on 20 September, the team announced.

The Englishman, already a two-time race winner this season in the IndyCar Series, will drive the No. 7 TS040 Hybrid in place of Kazuki Nakajima, who has conflicting Super Formula duties in Japan.

Mike has already gained experience of the TS040 Hybrid during winter testing and raced on the Circuit of the Americas in 2013, when he won the LMP2 class on his way to fifth overall.

He will drive alongside Alex Wurz and Stéphane Sarrazin in Austin, before Kazuki returns to the cockpit for the Fuji Speedway race on 12 October.

"I'm really pleased to be given the chance to race at the Circuit of the Americas," said Conway.

"I cannot wait to get started. The car is phenomenal, especially with the 1000 horsepower of four-wheel drive hybrid boost, and it should be great fun to race at the front in Austin."

From GMM

Bernie Ecclestone looks set to avoid jail and retain control of formula one.

Germany's Suddeutsche Zeitung is reporting on Saturday that the F1 chief executive has negotiated a US $100 million settlement with prosecutors in his high-profile corruption case in Germany.

The newspaper did not name its sources but said the settlement, negotiated in Munich on Saturday, will terminate the trial altogether and see all charges dropped.

Earlier in the week, there was talk of a EUR 25 million compensation payment to the Munich state bank BayernLB.

It is believed that, on Friday, the court told witnesses due to testify not to attend until further notice.

Bernie Ecclestone (Photo: WRi2)

Official confirmation is possible within the first half of next week, and probably on the scheduled resumption of the trial on Tuesday.

"There have been additional talks involving state prosecutors, defence lawyers and the court, and it's possible that a settlement to end the case could be reached next week," a court spokesman said.

Suddeutsche Zeitung said prosecutors had initially demanded a settlement amount of EUR 100 million, but Ecclestone and his lawyers had negotiated the currency down to US dollars.

The report said that if the settlement is agreed by all sides, it would be the biggest in German history.

"The deal would mean that the Briton will not be convicted and therefore most likely remain formula one boss," correspondent Klaus Ott said.

From press release

Former F1 driver Robert Kubica has wrecked his Ford Fiesta RS WRC once more, this time during Rally Finland.

The Pole went off the road in the very first stage of the day Friday and damaged his front-left suspension.

"I went onto the grass," he remembers. "Nothing would have happened if there was a bit of a straight afterwards. Unfortunately the road went right, and we were deeply on the inside of the corner.

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

"We were thrown to the outside and we hit something with the left front.

"The biggest problem in that situation was an unloaded car because of the crest. I hadn't noticed that during recce; I only noticed when we were there at full speed. It is very difficult to foresee these things as I am not experienced enough."

Kubica was able to rejoin the rally Saturday, and is now in 39th place overall.

IndyCar driver Juan Pablo Montoya is hinting he would like to attempt the "double" in 2015, which would see him race in both the Indy 500 and Charlotte 600 on the same day.

"I think it would be cool," said the Penske driver. "I don't want to force (Penske) into anything.

"Physically, I don't think it wouldn't be that hard. If you went to do it properly it would be a lot of run," he added.

Juan Pablo Montoya (Photo: Chris Owens)

So far in the history of the two races, Tony Stewart is the only driver to have done the double.

Kyle Busch attempted to repeat the feat last year, but after finishing sixth at Indy, he retired just past the halfway mark in Charlotte. John Andretti and Robby Gordon also attempted it.

Montoya has one win so far in his first Indy car season since 2000, and he sits fifth in the driver's standings.

From press release

Kyle Larson, the talented 22-year-old from Elk Grove, California, won the Coors Light Pole at Pocono Raceway on Friday, which means he is edging closer to his first career win in the Sprint Cup series.

In winning the pole, Larson set a track qualifying record with a lap of 183.438 mph (49.063 seconds).

Kyle Larson (Photo: Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

Of Japanese-American heritage, Larson's rapid ascent up NASCAR's ladder is nearing a pinnacle - a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series victory. He has come close, finishing second at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California in March.

He has already won two races in the NASCAR Nationwide Series and once in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. His first win came in 2013 at Rockingham Speedway in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.

He followed that with a NASCAR Nationwide Series victory at Auto Club Speedway in March and at Charlotte in May, both in 2014.

Larson has scored one other NASCAR national series pole in his brief career - for a NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway in March of this season.

Drivers of the the German DTM championship have joined forces in a new driver association.

The DTM Driver Association's (DTMDA) role will be to represent the interest of all drivers during negotiations with ITR, the organizer of the championship, and the German Motor Sport Association.

Within the DTMDA, Timo Scheider will represent the Audi drivers, Timo Glock the BMW drivers and Gary Paffett the Mercedes drivers.

"Our task is, with a neutral voice, to present the greatest possible degree of transparency and diversity of opinion," said the spokesperson of the DTMDA, former driver Manuel Reuter.

From press release

In a thrilling qualifying session for the sixth round of the DTM season at Red Bull Ring, Canadian Robert Wickens proved to have strong nerves.

In spite of having spun, the Mercedes-Benz driver kept his cool and claimed pole position with a time of 1:25.175 minutes just before the end of the session.

Timo Glock, Robert Wickens, Marco Wittmann (Photo: DTM.com)

“I knew that we had made a step ahead, but I had never expected to be on pole position. I did my utmost, which is also why I made a mistake. Now, I am looking forward to the race”, the Canadian said.

Until a few seconds before the end, everything looked set for Tim Glock's maiden DTM pole position, but then, he was toppled by Wickens.

Timo Glock, BMW M4 DTM (Photo: DTM.com)

“That hurts,” the BMW driver said. “On my cooling down lap, I saw on the video walls that I was first and I was really happy. The fact that Robert (Wickens) still took pole position away from me in the final moment is sad.”

Only 0.006 seconds separated the 32-year old from the pole sitter with the DTM Mercedes AMG C-Coupé.

(Photo: DTM.com)

Qualifying results* - Spielberg
1.Robert Wickens (Mercedes C-Coupe) - HWA - 1'25"175 - Q3
2.Timo Glock (BMW M4) - MTEK - 1'25"181 - Q3
3.Marco Wittmann (BMW M4) - RMG - 1'25"228 - Q3
4.Augusto Farfus (BMW M4) - RBM - 1'25"237 - Q3
5.Pascal Wehrlein (Mercedes C-Coupe) - HWA - 1'25"246 - Q3
6.Jamie Green (Audi RS5) - Rosberg - 1'25"266 - Q3
7.Christian Vietoris (Mercedes C-Coupe) - HWA - 1'25"362 - Q3
8.Maxime Martin (BMW M4) - RMG - 1'25"424 - Q3
9.Joey Hand (BMW M4) - RBM - 1'25"259 - Q2
10.Bruno Spengler (BMW M4) - Schnitzer - 1'25"309 - Q2
11.Martin Tomczyk (BMW M4) - Schnitzer - 1'25"323 - Q2
12.Daniel Juncadella (Mercedes C-Coupe) - HWA - 1'25"335 - Q2
13.Antonio Felix Da Costa (BMW M4) - MTEK - 1'25"343 - Q2
14.Mike Rockenfeller (Audi RS5) - Phoenix - 1'25"385 - Q2
15.Timo Scheider (Audi RS5) - Phoenix - 1'25"400 - Q2
16.Mattias Ekstrom (Audi RS5) - Abt - 1'25"423 - Q2
17.Miguel Molina (Audi RS5) - Abt - 1'25"708 - Q2
18.Nico Muller (Audi RS5) - Rosberg - 1'25"526 - Q2
19.Gary Paffett (Mercedes C-Coupe) - HWA - 1'25"577 - Q1
20.Adrien Tambay (Audi RS5) - Abt - 1'25"599 - Q1
21.Edoardo Mortara (Audi RS5) - Abt - 1'25"666 - Q1
22.Vitaly Petrov (Mercedes C-Coupe) - Mucke - 1'25"856 - Q1
23.Paul Di Resta (Mercedes C-Coupe) - HWA - 1'25"932 - Q1
*Unofficial results

(Photo: DTM.com)