Auto News 5

From press release

Chrysler Group LLC announced Monday that it is discontinuing the factory-backed SRT (Street and Racing Technology) Motorsports racing program in IMSA (International Motor Sports Association) with the conclusion of the 2014 season.

This decision affects participation in the IMSA TUDOR United SportsCar Championship with the Dodge Viper SRT GTS-R GTLM-class team. The Dodge brand will redirect its focus and efforts on the brand's product line-up.

The Dodge Viper SRT GTS-R 2014 racing season concluded Saturday, Oct. 4 at the Petit Le Mans.

SRT Dodge Viper GTS-R (Photo: Richard Prince/SRT Motorsport)

The two-car SRT Motorsports team won the team and driver titles with Canadian Kuno Wittmer in the inaugural IMSA TUDOR United SportsCar Championship GTLM-class.

SRT Motorsports won two-of-three championships contested in the class and finished second in the GTLM manufacturer championship in just its second full year of the program.

As the company announced May 6, the SRT brand will continue to be aligned with the Dodge brand, delivering SRT ultimate performance vehicles to complement the Dodge brand's mainstream performance vehicles.

From BMW

BMW Motorsport will add a new chapter to its success story in GT racing in 2016.

The BMW M6 GT3 will replace the BMW Z4 GT3, which has been in action since 2010. Development work on the new car is already in full swing.

The first tests with the car, which is based in the BMW M6 Coupé, are planned for the first quarter of 2015.

Artist's view of the BMW M6 GT3 (Image: BMW Motorsport)

Customers will be able to purchase the BMW M6 GT3 from the end of 2015, allowing them to compete in the 2016 BMW Sports Trophy with the new car. Orders will be accepted over the course of 2015.

The exact date, from which orders can be placed, will be announced at a later date.

The heart of the BMW M6 GT3 is the BMW M Twin Power Turbo 8-cylinder petrol engine, which features a capacity of 4.4 litres. The engine is familiar from the production model and has been modified specifically for racing.

The chassis is being optimised by hand for the specific demands of the racetrack in the BMW Motorsport workshop in Munich (DE). With regard to technology, the focus is on the use of extras that meet the very highest and latest standards in motorsport development, such as racing gearbox, racing ABS and racing electronics.

Artist's view of the BMW M6 GT3 (Image: BMW Motorsport)

The inaugural Grand Prix of Russia will be the sixteenth round of the 2014 season.

The race held at Sochi marks the first time that the Russian Grand Prix has been held in a century, and will also be the first time the Russian Grand Prix has been run as a round of the Formula 1 World Championship since the championship was formed in 1950.

Timetable of the 2014 Russian Grand Prix*:

Thursday October 9
Formula 1 Press Conference - Press Room 15:00

Friday October 10
Formula 1 Practice 1 10:00 - 11:30
GP2 Practice Session 12:00 - 12:45
Formula 1 Practice 2 14:00 - 15:30
GP2 Qualifying Session 16:00 - 16:30
Formula 1 Press Conference - Press Room 16:00 - 17:00
GP3 Practice Session 17:00 - 17:45

Saturday October 11
GP3 Qualifying Session 09:30 - 10:00
Formula 1 Team Pit Stop Practice 10:30 - 11:00
Formula 1 Practice 3 12:00 - 13:00
GP3 Race 1 (15 Laps or 30 Minutes) 13:40 - 14:15
Formula 1 Paddock Club Pit Lane Walk 14:20 - 14:45
Formula 1 Qualifying 15:00
GP2 Race 1 (30 Laps or 60 Minutes) 16:40 - 17:45

Sunday October 12
GP3 Race 2 (15 Laps or 30 Minutes) 11:00 - 11:35
GP2 Race 2 (21 Laps or 45 Minutes) 12:05 - 12:50
Formula 1 Drivers Track Parade 13:30
Formula 1 Starting Grid Presentation 13:45 - 14:15
Formula 1 National Anthem 14:46
Formula 1 Start of race 15:00

*Note - please be advised that this timetable is subject to change.

The following statement is provided by the family of Jules Bianchi, in conjunction with the Mie General Medical Center, and is distributed on their behalf by the Marussia F1 Team.

Yokkaichi, Japan
7 October 2014, 23.00hrs local/15.00hrs BST

“This is a very difficult time for our family, but the messages of support and affection for Jules from all over the world have been a source of great comfort to us. We would like to express our sincere appreciation.

Jules remains in the Intensive Care Unit of the Mie General Medical Center in Yokkaichi. He has suffered a diffuse axonal injury* and is in a critical but stable condition. The medical professionals at the hospital are providing the very best treatment and care and we are grateful for everything they have done for Jules since his accident.

We are also grateful for the presence of Professor Gerard Saillant, President of the FIA Medical Commission, and Professor Alessandro Frati, Neurosurgeon of the University of Rome La Sapienza, who has travelled to Japan at the request of Scuderia Ferrari. They arrived at the hospital today and met with the medical personnel responsible for Jules' treatment, in order to be fully informed of his clinical status so that they are able to advise the family. Professors Saillant and Frati acknowledge the excellent care being provided by the Mie General Medical Center and would like to thank their Japanese colleagues.

The hospital will continue to monitor and treat Jules and further medical updates will be provided when appropriate.”

* Diffuse axonal injury occurs in about half of all severe head traumas, making it one of the most common traumatic brain injuries. It can also occur in moderate and mild brain injury. A diffuse axonal injury falls under the category of a diffuse brain injury. This means that instead of occurring in a specific area, like a focal brain injury, it occurs over a more widespread area.

In addition to being one of the most common types of brain injuries, it's also one of the most devastating. As a matter of fact, severe diffuse axonal injury is one of the leading causes of death in people with traumatic brain injury. - From brainandspinalcord.org

Cadillac and American Airlines are teaming up to offer travel benefits to the airline's frequent fliers and encourage test drives of the luxury brand's lineup through a new marketing partnership.

Can Peugeot become a near-premium brand, in time? CEO Maxim Picat believes it can. Here, he discusses progress on future vehicles and powertrains, and challenges the notion that Peugeot needs a challenger for Dacia and Renault's Logan and Sandero.

The average fuel economy of light vehicles purchased in the U.S. in September had its largest decline in nearly three years, after hitting a record high in August, a University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute report said.

The number of claims of injury and death linked to a faulty ignition switch in GM cars rose 30 percent last week to 1,130, according to a report on Monday from the lawyer overseeing a program set up to compensate accident victims.

Renault-Nissan Alliance veteran Francois Bancon heads up Product Strategy for Infiniti. He is charged with overseeing a 60 percent expansion of the brand's vehicle range over the next five years.

Mexican auto production and exports rose in September compared with the same month last year, the Mexican Auto Industry Association said on Monday.

Sales of 11,840 new vehicles in September set a record for the month since the Motor Industry Association (MIA) started collecting records in 1975.

Chrysler Group is recalling an estimated 31,497 commercial full-size vans in the United States to replace their head restraints.

Increasing focus on autonomous driving potential will require a combination of several partners to solve technological and human behavioural issues, says French supplier, Valeo.

U.S. safety regulators opened a probe of an estimated 938,000 Ford Motor Co. midsize sedans due to complaints about steering issues.

Lotus says it is seeing a rise to car sales, with sales for the half year to the end of September up 49% on last year to 1,114 units.

Chrysler Group is recalling an estimated 21,470 commercial full-sized vans in the United States and Canada to replace their head restraints.

Chrysler Group is recalling an estimated 21,470 commercial full-sized vans in the United States and Canada to replace their head restraints.

Western European car sales rose 6 percent in September, helped by an additional selling day and strong demand across all the region's major car markets.

General Motors is conducting another ignition switch-related recall but this time on much later model vehicles. Repairs will be made to the key fob, not the switch.

September registrations of commercial vehicles in the UK rose 10.8% year on year to 54,497 units with year to date sales up 12.6% to 269,456.