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From wrc.com

Citroen Racing boss Yves Matton has criticised the penalty applied to Kris Meeke for cutting a corner at Rally Australia and believes that without it the Briton would have been able to finish on the podium.

Meeke completed Saturday's stages in fourth, locked in a back and forth battle with Volkswagen's Andreas Mikkelsen who was just 1.5sec ahead.

But the fight ended that night, when stewards hit Meeke with a 1min 01sec penalty, dropping him to fifth, for driving over a grass area on the repeated Valla stage (SS10).

At Rally Poland in June Mikkelsen was reprimanded by stewards for a similar corner cut, but his penalty was a 5,000 Euro fine and the threat of exclusion if he repeated the offence.

Yves Matton said: “I have no comment on Kris's penalty, other than to say that on similar facts the [stewards'] decisions are not consistent. But it's like that. There is nothing more we can do. I just hope if it happens again we have some more consistency with the decisions.”

Meeke regained fourth on Sunday's opening test but was unable to close the gap to Mikkelsen. Without the penalty, Matton believes it was a fight Meeke would have won.

“I don't know if Andreas would have made the same tire choice on Sunday morning if he was still fighting, that will stay as a question mark, but for sure Kris was able to secure third place.

“If you take the penalty away, and you look at the times he was doing, I think it was possible for Kris to finish something like 30 or 35 seconds from the victory. And with the experience he has, for sure it was a great performance.”

From GMM

Luca di Montezemolo says there is no correlation between Ferrari's successes as a business as opposed to success in formula one.

After 23 years as president, the Maranello marque's iconic leader is stepping down to be replaced by Fiat-Chrysler chief Sergio Marchionne.

Defending his position, Marchionne said that while 67-year-old Montezemolo should be applauded for growing Ferrari as a road car business, the downwards trend of success in formula one needs to be addressed.

The implication is that, ultimately, Ferrari overall will suffer.

But, in an interview to be aired by Italian broadcaster Rai 1 later on Tuesday, Montezemolo challenged the view that Ferrari's road car and F1 successes can be tied together.

"I often hear people say 'If you win you sell more, if you lose you sell less'," said the charismatic Italian.

"My reply is that it is not so. Just think that the greatest growth Ferrari has had over the past 60 years was in the United States -- the country where formula one is almost unknown."

Montezemolo says that even applies to other markets.

"It would be said 'take a German driver, sell more in Germany'. But we had outstanding victories with a driver like Schumacher, but we didn't sell any more in Germany," he insisted.

The latest victory of Ferrari was in Spain, in 2013. (Photo: WRi2)

Meanwhile, as Montezemolo's decline is hotly debated in Italy and beyond, a member of the influential Agnelli family has backed the controversial news.

Andrea Agnelli, president of the Juventus football club, said Montezemolo made a "profound" impact on Ferrari, including "incredible achievements" for the Maranello marque.

But he said responsibility for Ferrari's failure to win a title since Kimi Raikkonen in 2007 "applies to everyone".

"Whenever you begin a process of renewal which relates to the medium and long term, it is right that it involves new people," said Agnelli, whose uncle was the great Fiat figurehead Gianni Agnelli.

"Ferrari must not be nostalgic but look to the future in a constructive manner with regards to the leadership," he is quoted by La Gazzetta dello Sport.

"I hope that Ferrari and Juventus win together perhaps already next year, as anyone who works in sports can set no other ambition than victory. Sport, from this point of view, is ruthless both on the football field and on the track," said Agnelli.

From GMM

The FIA has furnished teams with more information about how it intends to enforce its new clampdown on radio communications in Singapore and beyond.

Following feedback from fans, the governing body has banned any radio messages between the pitwall and the drivers that relate to "performance".

It is hoped that the clampdown will end the notion that today's complex cars are being driven in a sort of remote-control fashion by engineers and boffins.

Reports are now beginning to emerge about what precisely the FIA will allow and what may be subject to penalties this weekend as the ban falls under Singapore's lights.

Italy's Autosprint said information about the operation and function of energy-recovery is not allowed, as is notifications about tire temperature, clutch settings and brake wear -- among many other instructions outlined in a detailed document.

Ferrari's pitwall. (Photo: WRi2)

Additionally, any messages that appear encoded are not allowed.

It means that only basic radio messages are now permitted, including time gaps, positions, traffic and verbal encouragements such as "push".

Discussions about the selection of tire compounds and wing adjustments, and the type of tires used by competitors, are permitted, as are notifications of technical problems and race strategies.

Teams may also remind drivers to be aware of hazards, including the white line when rejoining from a pitstop and the limitations of the track.

And the ban will be in effect throughout not only the grand prix but also qualifying and practice sessions, Autosprint added.

From GMM

Nick Heidfeld has defended the new Formula E series following criticism from within the F1 paddock.

F1's reigning world champion Sebastian Vettel recently slammed the fully electric powered series - which kicked off on the streets of Beijing last weekend with an all-star grid and global interest - as "cheese".

Ultimately, German Heidfeld - a veteran of no less than 185 grands prix and 13 podiums - was arguably the star of the show, spectacularly crashing in a last-lap lunge to take victory from Nicolas Prost, the son of the F1 legend.

But Vettel said recently: "I'm not a fan of it (Formula E), and as a viewer I would not be interested."

Heidfeld, who drives for the team co-founded by Hollywood actor Leonardo Dicaprio, was asked by the German-language Spox to react to Vettel's attitude.

"I like Sebastian and I don't know in what context he said that," the 37-year-old answered.

"But I think that Formula E cannot currently compete against formula one and actually it does not want to. The concept is quite different.

"But the series is justified when you consider the development of electric mobility and the interest the manufacturers have in it. How successful it is, we will have to see.

"I think even formula one is currently struggling with some negative headlines, but it is the peak of motor sport and that will long remain the case.

"But that doesn't mean that there can't be something else as well," Heidfeld added.

Nick Heidfeld, Venturi. (Photo: Venturi Formula-E Team)

It has been said that, at least for now, Formula E will never pose a danger to the success of F1 because of the speed of the cars.

In its report, Spox said the laptimes show that Formula E is "more formula 3" than F1.

"Compared with formula one, the performance is modest," Heidfeld agreed.

"We have almost 300 horse power in qualifying and the cars are 900 kilos. And the Michelin tires we are using are not slicks, which is slower but we can use them in the wet and the dry.

"Ultimately they are normal single seater cars, which are always difficult to drive on the limit. But another reason I chose to race is because of the opponents -- in terms of the quality of the drivers, we don't need to hide from formula one," he said.

Nick Heidfeld explained that the trend is therefore different to F1, where so-called 'pay drivers' are wielding unprecedented levels of power in the increasingly expensive sport.

"Compared to some years ago, the difference is obvious," he said. "It is difficult to get into formula one now only with talent.

"I don't want to criticise the teams," Heidfeld added. "Clearly they would prefer to sign drivers based only on what they can do on the track. But they also have to pay them. Formula one is too expensive for most of the teams, which is a shame -- but that's the way things are."

Start of the Chinese race. (Photo: FIA Formula E)

Finally, Heidfeld commented on the declining age of rookies in F1, with Daniil Kvyat, Max Verstappen and now Mercedes reserve Pascal Wehrlein all signed up as teenagers.

"Basically, maturity and experience goes up the older you are," Heidfeld explained.

"We saw that it worked out with Kimi (Raikkonen in 2001), but even he was older than Max," said the German, who was Raikkonen's first teammate in 2001.

"On the whole it would be better and safer if there is a minimum age in formula one. Clearly it's possible that there are exceptional drivers like Kimi and maybe Max who can do it. But it is very difficult to predict beforehand," Heidfeld added.

The small world of Formula 1 changed dramatically in early 1978 when Colin Chapman introduced the stunning and gorgeous (and very fast!) Lotus 79.

1
Only 5 full aluminum chassis of the Type 79 were built, and none were destroyed. The Type 79 was the first full ground effect F1 car with sliding skirts. It was able to generate 4450 pounds of downforce at 200 m/h.

2
Mario Andretti won two Grands Prix in 1978 with only front brakes operational on his Lotus 79. The rear callipers were made of magnesium. Once heated up, it would became porous, producing a spongy brake pedal.

Lotus 79, Mario Andretti, Grand Prix des Pays-Bas 1978. (Photo: WRi2)

3
Veteran engineer and designer Martin Ogilvie designed the Lotus Type 79 with inputs from Colin Chapman, aerodynamicist Peter Wright, Geoff Aldridge and Tony Rudd.

4
The Lotus Type 79 was originally fitted with a Lotus-Getrag gearbox with sequential shift mechanism. However, the unit proved to be insufficiently strong and was abandoned.

Cockpit de la Lotus 79 (Photo: René Fagnan)

5
The T79 debuted at the Daily Express International Trophy race, held March 19, 1978 at Silverstone. Mario Andretti retired early when he skated off the wet track. Andretti gave the T79 its maiden win in May in Belgium.

6
The car was also known internally as the John Player Special Mark IV.

La Lotus 79 de Duncan Dayton en action sur le Circuit Mont-Tremblant. (Photo: René Fagnan)

Formula 1 teams will not be able to provide driving instructions to their drivers by the mean of pit boards during this week-end's Grand Prix of Singapore.

British magazine Autosport reveals Tuesday that the FIA told the teams they would not be allowed to get around the radio ban by displaying information on the pit board instead.

However, some flexibility has been given until the Grand Prix of Japan, early October, for teams to get better fail-safe systems in place so that drivers can cope with areas like tire pressure, brake wear and gearbox learning (for seamless shift) without safety or reliability being compromised.

Further talks with teams are expected to happen ahead of the Grand Prix of Singapore for the teams and the FIA to clear up any outstanding issues.

Photo: WRi2

Squamish, BC -- Normally, I wouldn't point out my location unless it was for a launch drive, but I felt it important for this review. Nestled in the Coast Mountains sits what used to be a sleepy little logging village, and it's where I grew up. Sandwiched between sheer mountain cliffs and the Pacific Ocean, I was molded in the nature that surrounded me, and am grateful for every moment I spent there as a child.

I hadn't been back in over 20 years since moving to the east coast, and when I chose to make the journey it was behind the wheel of a Porsche Panamera S E-Hybrid.

To check out our full review on the 2014 Porsche Panamera S E-Hybrid, head on over to Auto-Venus.com.

Photo: Miranda Lightstone

From GMM

Before the long-haul flight to Singapore, world champion Sebastian Vettel and his team have denied the latest sensational 'silly season' rumour.

Germany's Sport Bild reports on Tuesday that dissatisfied Ferrari driver Fernando Alonso could take Vettel's place at Red Bull for 2015, in a straight 'swap' deal with the fabled Maranello team.

Vettel immediately denied it.

"There is nothing new," he said. "I have a contract with Red Bull and I'm happy where I am."

Earlier reports, however, had suggested the deal was done, and would be announced on Tuesday.

Dr Helmut Marko said on Tuesday: "Alonso will definitely not be at Red Bull."

And in another sure sign that Red Bull's commitment to Vettel is far from wavering, even despite his disappointing 2014 campaign, Marko insisted the team will not be bowing to Daniel Ricciardo's request for team orders.

"We have no team orders and there will be done," he said clearly.

Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull RB10. (Photo: WRi2)

Vettel will have yet another new chassis at his disposal this weekend in Singapore, and Marko added: "If Sebastian can win, then he is allowed to -- whether Daniel is behind him or not.

"That is our philosophy."

Justifying the fourth new chassis of the season for Vettel amid the quadruple world champion's mysterious handling problems, Marko explained: "Sebastian is too important to the team for him to not be reaching his full potential."

And team boss Christian Horner added: "I will not say it too loudly, but I have a feeling Sebastian will win in Singapore."

Infiniti Canada has announced pricing for the 2015 Q50 sedan, which will arrive at dealerships in October, as well as the 2015 QX50 and QX70 crossovers, available now across the country.

“Infiniti is a brand on the move and we're committed to providing Canadians with the opportunity to come along for the ride,” said Stephen McDonnell, Managing Director, Infiniti Canada. “With the addition of the new entry-level model on our Q50 sports sedan and QX50 luxury crossover, the inspired performance, luxurious styling and premium features of Infiniti is more achievable than ever.”

The 2015 Infiniti Q50 lineup consists of 10 trim levels ranging from $37,500 to $56,450. Most of them are equipped with a 3.7L V6 engine rated at 328 horsepower, while two feature the brand's Direct Response Hybrid System with Intelligent Dual Clutch Control.

Both the 2015 Infiniti QX50 and QX70 offer five models, with the former ranging from $34,950 to $47,650 and the latter ranging from $53,500 to $63,650. They use the same V6 as the Q50, with an inexplicable drop to 325 horsepower. The FX70 comes standard with all-wheel drive.

2015 Infiniti prices

Q50

• 3.7 RWD: $37,500;
• 3.7 Sport RWD: $48,950;
• 3.7 AWD: $39,950;
• 3.7 AWD with Moonroof: $41,200;
• 3.7 AWD with Moonroof, Premium & Navigation: $44,800;
• 3.7 AWD with Moonroof, Premium & Navigation, Deluxe Touring & Technology: $49,100;
• 3.7 SPORT AWD (includes Premium & Navigation content): $47,950;
• 3.7 SPORT AWD, Deluxe Touring & Technology: $51,750;
• HYBRID AWD (includes Premium & Navigation content): $49,500;
• HYBRID AWD, Sport & Deluxe Technology: $56,450

QX50

• Base: $34,950;
• Journey: $37,950;
• Journey, Premium: $42,200;
• Journey, Premium, Navigation: $45,150;
• Journey, Premium, Navigation, Technology: $47,650

QX70

• Premium: $53,500;
• Premium, Navigation, Deluxe Touring: $59,150;
• Sport, Navigation: $60,150;
• Premium, Navigation, Deluxe Touring & Technology : $62,650;
• Sport, Navigation & Technology: $63,650.

Source : Infiniti

Soon to be the world's fastest ultra-luxury sedan

On October 2nd, Bentley will hit the Paris Auto Show with the all-new Mulsanne Speed, hailed as the world's fastest ultra-luxury sedan. Powered by a 6.75L V8 engine that produces 530 horsepower, it reaches 100 km/h in 4.9 seconds and tops out at 305 km/h.

In terms of styling, a dark tint finish is applied to the radiator grille, lower bumper grilles and wing vents. The distinctive headlights of the Mulsanne Speed show the same dark tint application, and at the rear of the car the taillights retain the “floating ellipse” design, but are similarly finished with a dark tint for a striking appearance, especially at night.

The 21" wheels are individually machined from solid forged blanks before being perfected by hand, while the twin rifled exhaust tailpipes are the finishing touch to the revised powertrain.

The “standard” paint range covers 25 shades, but the optional extended range features over 100 colours.

Inside the lavish cabin of the Bentley Mulsanne Speed, a new and unique colour split is available, balancing diamond quilted light-colour hide with darker, smooth hide. A new technical veneer option is available, with Piano Black veneer panels now including expertly handcrafted carbon fibre inlays.

Concealed beneath the exquisite materials is a suite of technology to make any journey as productive or relaxing as one desires. Highlights include a 60GB hard drive, electrically operated tables with recesses and connections for iPads and matching keyboards, on-board Wi-Fi through a dedicated router, and a 2,200-watt Naim for Bentley premium audio system that offers the best in-car sound experience in the world, according to Bentley.

By the way, a frosted glass bottle cooler, complete with bespoke crystal champagne flutes, may be installed behind the rear armrest.

Pricing for the Bentley Mulsanne Speed has yet to be disclosed, but it's safe to say this car will be accessible to a select few only.

Source : Bentley

Photo: Bentley

Pros: The 2015 Toyota Tacoma offers some decent cab-box and engine-transmission combinations. Given the brand's reputation, expect reliable performance from this rugged “little” truck. Plus, the various models in the lineup are all nicely finished and appointed.

Cons: The suspension is a bit stiff, compromising ride quality. And while the V6 is an honest worker, the 4-cylinder proves quite noisy, unrefined and underpowered.

Photo: Toyota

2015 Toyota Tacoma Price: There are four trim levels to choose from including 4x2 Access Cab at $25,650, 4x4 Access Cab at $30,545, 4x4 Access Cab V6 at $31,695, and 4x4 Double Cab V6 at $32,035.

2015 Toyota Tacoma Fuel Economy: Official fuel consumption ratings for the Tacoma are:

• 4x2 Access Cab 5MT - 11.5L/100km (city); 9.5L/100km (highway);
• 4x2 Access Cab 4AT - 12.2L/100km (city); 9.9L/100km (highway);
• 4x4 Access Cab 5MT - 12.9L/100km (city); 11.5L/100km (highway);
• 4x4 Access Cab 4AT - 13.1L/100km (city); 12.2L/100km (highway);
• 4x4 Access Cab V6 6MT - 15.3L/100km (city); 12.3L/100km (highway);
• 4x4 Access Cab V6 5AT - 14.8L/100km (city); 11.6L/100km (highway);
• 4x4 Double Cab V6 6MT - 15.3L/100km (city); 12.3L/100km (highway);
• 4x4 Double Cab V6 5AT - 14.8L/100km (city); 11.6L/100km (highway).

Improvements and Changes: Upgrades for 2015 include new colours and packages.

2015 Toyota Tacoma Powertrain: Under the hood of the Tacoma is a standard 2.7L DOHC 4-cylinder engine that produces a mere 159 horsepower. Transmission choices include a 5-speed manual and a 4-speed automatic. If you want more power, turn to the 4.0L DOHC V6, which is rated at 236 horsepower. In this case, both the manual and automatic transmissions offer an extra gear. As mentioned, the Tacoma is also available in 4x2 and 4x4 configurations.

Capabilities: Regardless of trim or engine selection, the Tacoma's maximum towing capacity amounts to 1,587 kilos (3,500 lbs).

Safety: Standard features include stability and traction control, disc brakes with ABS, brake assist and electronic brake force distribution, as well as smart stop technology, which automatically cuts engine power and allows the brakes to take precedence over the accelerator when both pedals are pressed at the same time.

Comparing the 2015 Toyota Tacoma: The midsize pickup segment also includes the completely redesigned Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon as well as the Nissan Frontier and Honda Ridgeline.

I somehow missed out on this year's Chevy Tahoe launch in Lake Tahoe, California, and I'm a tad young to have driven the Alfa Romeo named for that delightful city in Quebec (Montreal), but I can now lay claim to have driven a brand spanking new 2015 GMC Yukon in the Yukon!

Yes, together with several other Canadian automotive journalists, I spent this past week behind the wheel of a 2015 GMC Yukon Denali exploring the breathtaking (and I truly do mean that!) scenery in what has to be one of the most closely guarded secrets of this country: the Yukon Territory.

Sure, we've all heard of the Yukon Gold Rush and there's probably more than a handful of us who has chowed down at the breakfast table on a bowlful of Klondike Pete's Crunchy Nuggets Cereal. Yet beyond this, how much do we truthfully know about this famous region of Canada?

Well it's quite large! Although covering 482,443 km² (roughly the size of Spain), the Yukon is the smallest of Canada's three federal territories. It's also brimming with magnificent scenery. In fact, although I've visited most parts of Canada, until I was standing gazing at mountain tops poking majestically above the Yukon clouds, I never appreciated just how truly glorious this country of ours is.

Of course, it's a fair old trek up into the Yukon. Fortunately for me, we flew into Whitehorse by plane (via Vancouver) before hopping into the luxurious comfort of a 2015 Yukon Denali. We then hit the Klondike Hwy en route to the famous gold rush town of Dawson City.

Photo: Kevin Corrigan

It's almost 550km up to Dawson and the GMC Denali soaked up the first few clicks like a limousine, until the pavement ended and we found ourselves on dirt roads that is. It was around this time that the full-size luxury SUV really started to show what it's made of. Freshly laid gravel can be as scary as black ice if one doesn't show adequate respect, and a competent 6,000lb (2,725kg curb weight) Denali 4x4 certainly helps install confidence. So too did its 420hp (460 lb-ft of torque) 6.2L V8 as when someone famously uttered the phrase: “There's gold in them there hills;” they weren't joking about that last word!

The Klondike Hwy carves itself through mountain after mountain and, from the comfort of my leather heated & cooled armchair, I marvelled at what it must have been like for those early Gold Rush pioneers. Horses, mules, and wagons were all they had, and here was I living it like a gold-rush winner in the lap of luxury. And that is the right word as the new GMC Yukon Denali is as luxurious as an Escalade, yet manages this in a slightly more understated manner. It is the perfect vehicle for someone who has just discovered his pot of gold in the Yukon and wants to return to the big city without drawing too much attention to the fact.

Of course, I may have been approaching the task from the opposite direction, yet I still possessed dreams of making a lucky strike so I paid really close attention to the ground whenever I exited the vehicle!

We rolled into Dawson City rather gold-less, yet suitably relaxed. GM's second generation magnetic suspension certainly soaked up the humps & bumps of those dirt roads with ease, even if it didn't manage to magnetize any gold dust we passed along the way.

Photo: Kevin Corrigan

The first stop in town for any trail-thirsty gold prospector has to be the local watering hole, so we moseyed on down to Bombay Peggy's. This fine establishment is reported to have once been a house of ill repute, which is slightly more polite than deeming it an “old brothel.” However, our hosts were truly welcoming and their rather suggestively worded array of cocktails (Chastity Belt, Bloomer Remover, Spank my Naughty *ss, Easy Lai... to name a few) caused more than a chuckle or two amongst my companions (journalists, you can't take them anywhere!).

Strolling through the town of Dawson City evoked all sorts of feelings. The wooden decked sidewalks (straight out of a John Wayne film), appear at first like a movie prop/tourism gimmick, but actually serve a genuine purpose as the dirt covered roads in Dawson churn to mud when it rains. And boy did it rain! So hard in fact that we had no option but to take shelter in Diamond Tooth Gertie's casino. This is when I learned another of life's lessons: Take your guns to town by all means son, but don't take any cash in your wallet or Gertie will rather quickly relieve you of it! In fairness though, she did put on a spectacular stage show full of sing-a-long songs and high-stepping can-can girls. The atmosphere was amazing and provided a real glimpse of what it must have been like to strike it rich and celebrate Yukon style!

The next morning, we headed out to a real-life gold mining operation. This required us to navigate several glorious miles of churned mud, and I was sure glad to be driving a capable 4x4. En route, we passed several historic claims and one of the old mining dredgers from days gone by. This now stands as a tourist feature but is a constant reminder of how gold prospecting went from being a one man/one pan operation to big business/big money.

Out in the gold field we were met by the owner who explained how the business operates. Massive digging machines do most of the heavy lifting today, yet the mechanical sluices still bear a certain resemblance to those used near-on 100 years ago. My colleagues requested all sorts of technical information from the owner, but only yours truly asked the real important question: “Do you operate a finder's keeper's policy here?” I heard a belly laugh and the word “yes,” and immediately spent the next 30 minutes scouring the surrounding landscape.

Photo: Kevin Corrigan

Unfortunately, like oh-so-many before me, I came away empty handed. Yes, as I clambered aboard the Air North flight home clutching my little bag of fool's gold (from the tourist store), I couldn't help thinking of the lucky few who had journeyed to the Yukon and left laden with wealth and happiness. For me, thanks to the blackjack table at Gertie's, I left void of some wealth, yet rich in happiness. The Yukon is a truly amazing place to visit. Overflowing with spectacular scenery, home to wonderful people and history galore, so everyone leaves with a wealth of memories.

I also learned a great deal about the other Yukon during this trip, the one from GMC. This is a true truck-based tuxedo-wearing expedition vehicle of the first order. We put ours well and truly through its paces on this trip. Dirt roads at highway speeds, mud-bogging on gold mine trails, and through all this it performed like a well-trained British butler. It attended to our every need and never once complained. In fact, my mind is set; once I discover a proper gold map of the Yukon, I'm heading back for another attempt, and in another Yukon Denali. Yep, I reckon with its healthy payload capacity and a tow rating of 8,300lbs (max), a new 2015 Yukon Denali should be plenty capable of carrying home my gold nuggets in style!

From press release

As the excitement of the day finally subsides, the results at the end of the Lucas Oil North East Avalon Leg 1 of competition at the Targa Newfoundland.

The Grand Touring, Equipped leaders are the surprise story so far. The 2015 Nissan Micra SR M/T co-driven by Keri Potipcoe and Michel Crepault (below), who are both auto journalist selected by the Nissan backed factory team to be the team for that entry, are showing poise and handling the early pressure of the time-distance-speed calculation aspect of the division.

They have a 4-second lead over Targa veterans of John Hume Sr. and Craig MacMullen in their 2013 Mini GP, who will certainly be pressuring the rookies in the coming days to see if they'll crack and give up the lead.

The Grand Touring, Unequipped leader is the brother team of Geoff and Lester Pike, who are members of the 'Racing with the Reverend' entry.

Their 2014 Scion FR-S is showing great handling and is standing up to what the Newfoundland weather can throw at it with the wet conditions on the stages. They currently have a 9-second lead over their teammates, so bragging rights are currently on the line between the teams.

In the Classic division, the 1965 Ford Mustang of Americans Jack Rogers and CJ Strupp are on top with a 16-second lead over the local entry of Edison and Marg-o Wiltshire in their 1977 Porsche 911.

The American team had to retire mid-event last year due to engine failure, so they are hoping for a much better result in the 2014 event. The first ever pickup truck in Targa is also in the division, with the Ontario team of Mark Bovey and Miles Markovic in their 1971 GMC 1500 in 3rd.

The bad luck award goes to the 1959 Corvette of the Brown brothers, who went off the stage in Conception Harbour/Colliers in the morning. No injuries to the crew, but the car did suffer front-end damage that did not allow them to complete any other stages on the day. They will however, be at the start line Tuesday morning as the car has since been repaired.

Modern division has a 5-way tie at the top after Leg 1. The entries of Hume Jr./Crant, Jullian/Andrews, Oldford/Oldford, Mepham/Solecki, and Hartling/Proudfoot are all at the top. That will certainly change after tomorrow's northern Burin Peninsula stages.

Another eyebrow raiser is the 5-way tie at the top of the Open division. With two, all rookie teams (Stewart/Smith and Knott/Knott) along with three veteran teams with at least a couple Targa's under their belts (Rittenhouse/Laitenberger, Davenport/Benson, and Atkinson/Corbett), the mixture of savvy young guns against the wise, capable veterans will be a great storyline to watch in the coming days.

The City Tire/Goodyear North Burin Leg 2 on Tuesday will certainly spread out the teams in all of the divisions. The mixture of short, tight stages mixed with the longer, spread out routes will give the entries chances to show their stuff and get some distance on their rivals.

A favorite area for Targa Newfoundland, the northern Burin stages will certainly be an exciting day for the volunteers and the teams involved.

Swiss Ski World Cup winner Didier Cuche will also be celebrating his debut in an Audi R8 LMS ultra during the finale of the Blancpain Endurance Series - the 1,000-kilometer race on the Nurburgring, September 21st.

Cuche, the Super-G world champion, will be tackling his first car race in an Audi.

The 40-year-old race rookie will be relying on the support of two fellow Swiss, as Rahel Frey, who has been clinching success in motorsport with Audi since 2011, and Nico Muller, who is in his first year of racing in the DTM with Audi, are sharing the cockpit with the former professional ski racer from Le Paquier.

Cuche is the most recent example of a number of newcomers receiving professional training by the Audi race experience. They complete a systematic educational program for race drivers, from license training through to actually competing in a race.

Audi R8 LMS. (Photo: Didier Cuche/Facebook)

From press release

Peterborough Speedway's 2014 track champions are looking to add their names to a very select group, as the latest of the local favourites to claim a title at the Autumn Colours Classic.

This year's edition of the Super Bowl of Stock Car Racing - presented by Lucas Oil Products - takes the green flag Friday, October 10 and names like Barberstock, Babin, DiBello and Kimball will looking to be part of an exclusive fraternity that hasn't had a new member since 2011, when Daryl Fice joined the club with a Mini Stock championship and Autumn Colours win.

Flyin' Ryan Kimball has made the most of his experience behind the wheel of the Janzen Racing No. 73. In 2013, he won the Chase for the Colours qualifier and earned the pole position for the Limited Late Model 'A' main at the Autumn Colours Classic, eventually finishing 14th.

A year later, the machine was his full-time ride and some strong runs helped the Norwood, Ontario driver claim the Earl Ireland Auto Sales Late Model track championship by nearly 80 points over his nearest rival.

The 2014 season was barely three weeks old when Anthony DiBello made the decision to put all his eggs in one basket and chase the Paul Davis Systems Thunder Car title.

The driver of the No.16 elected to skip the 'Chase' event and save his stuff for the regular Saturday night shows. Even though he was locked in a tight battle with Howie Crowe throughout the late stages of the season, the Woodville, Ontario runner managed to capture the crown by just a single point in the final tally.

Probably the biggest story heading into the final night of action at Canada's Toughest 1/3-Mile Paved Oval was the battle for the Peterborough Hyundai Mini Stock title, where Ryan Babin and Tyler Junkin were tied for the overall lead. After a rough and tumble affair, where the championship contenders were involved in a wreck on the backstretch. When the dust settled, Babin was the 2014 titleholder by 22 points over Junkin.

One of the biggest hits by classic rockers The Who is called 'The Kids are Alright'. While at just 14 years of age, she's too young to know anything about The Who, Willow Barberstock knows the fast way around the tight, tricky bullring on Mount Pleasant Road, west of the Liftlock City. The Bayside Secondary Schooler, from Stirling, Ontario - who won the 2014 Battlefield Equipment Rental 4Fun championship - is looking forward to running the Autumn Colours Classic and adding another chapter to her history-making season.

Make your plans now to catch the Super Bowl of Stock Racing at Peterborough Speedway's 22nd Annual Autumn Colours Classic - presented by Lucas Oil Products - October 10, 11 and 12. Pit gates open daily at 10am.

Ahead of this weekend's 2014 Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix, here are some need-to-know facts and statistics.

Did you know that Fernando Alonso has missed out on the podium just once in six editions of the Singapore Grand Prix?

Circuit lap record: 1m48.574 - Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull, 2013

Last year's pole position: 1m 42.841s, Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull

First world championship Grand Prix in Singapore: 2008 (won by Fernando Alonso, Renault)

Number of races at Singapore with at least one safety-car appearance: 6 (there has been at least one safety car in every Grand Prix run at Marina Bay)

Podium Singapore 2013. (Photo: WRi2)

Longest race: 2012 (2h00m 26.1s)

Shortest race: 2009 (1h56m 06.3s)

Did you know that Sebastian Vettel has led nearly half of the laps that have taken place on the Marina Bay Street Circuit?

Most Singapore Grand Prix wins (driver): 3 - Sebastian Vettel; 2 - Fernando Alonso; 1 - Lewis Hamilton

Number of wins from pole: 4 from 6 races (66 percent)

Lowest winning grid position: 15th (Fernando Alonso, Renault, 2008)

Most podium places (current field): 5 - Fernando Alonso; 4 - Sebastian Vettel; 2 - Lewis Hamilton, Jenson Button; 1 - Nico Rosberg, Kimi Raikkonen

Here some numbers of note regarding the 2014 Verizon IndyCar series season, which saw Team Penske's Will Power, take the title.

From indycar.com

1
Chief mechanic for Team Penske's last four IndyVar titles: Matt Jonsson, who also won titles with Gil de Ferran (CART series 2000, 2001) and Sam Hornish Jr. (2006).

2
Drivers to finish the season without a Did Not Finish: Will Power and Ryan Briscoe.

3
Number of races won by both Will Power and Ryan Hunter-Reay, tied for most of any driver.

Also, consecutive manufacturers titles for Chevrolet.

4
Number of teams to win races in each season in which the Verizon IndyCar series has used the Dallara IR-12 chassis (Team Penske, Chip Ganassi Racing, Andretti Autosport, Dale Coyne Racing).

5.59
Average running position of Will Power in the 2014 season.

7
Number of different teams to win races in the 2014 season.

11
Number of different winners in 18 races.

Also, number of top-five finishes recorded by Scott Dixon in 2014.

69.2
Percentage of races led by Will Power since 2012. Power has led at least one lap in 36 of 52 races in the last three seasons.

99.95
Percentage of laps completed by Will Power, who completed 2,394 of 2,395 possible laps, most of any Verizon IndyCar series driver in 2014.

247
Laps led by Tony Kanaan at Iowa, the most by a driver who didn't win the race.

623
Laps led by Will Power in 2014, most of any driver.

The agreement that ended a one-day strike at a Lear seat plant supplying Ford in Chicago would get rid of a wage structure that pays new-hires less than their veteran colleagues, a union official said.

Massachusetts' highest court on Monday threw out a lawsuit seeking to block Tesla from selling its luxury electric cars directly to consumers in the state, enabling it to bypass traditional dealerships.

One of Tesla's strongest supporters on Wall Street issued a cautious report on the maker of luxury electric cars today, sending its shares skidding 9 percent.