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Qoros will unveil a compact SUV at the Guangzhou auto show. The Qoros 3 City SUV will give the Chinese brand a model aimed at Europe's fourth-largest segment as it prepares for a regionwide rollout in 2016.

Ford's conversion of a 2.6-million-square-foot Michigan truck assembly plant to build the aluminum-body 2015 F-150 pickup has altered the look of the factory, body shop and adjoining stamping operations.

SEE UPDATE BELOW

As it prepares its return to the grid, Caterham is weighing options regarding drivers.

The Leafield based team will need to replace at least one driver since regular Marcus Ericsson left the team. The Swede already has a deal for next year with Sauber.

It emerged in the World Endurance Championship (WEC) paddock in Bahrain that Audi driver Andre Lotterer, who raced for Caterham at Spa, had been offered a chance to return behind the wheel of the CT05.

But the German, who is available on the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix week-end, is hesitant.

"Caterham wants me to race in Abu Dhabi but I am not sure if I will take up the offer," he is quoted saying by British magazine Autosport.

Roberto Merhi (Photo: WRI2)

Roberto Merhi is apparently also on the short list of candidates. His father, Roberto Merhi Sr even declared Caterham was contractually obligated to give his son a race seat.

"(Caterham) should know what's going on," he also told Autosport. "Because we have a contract that says if any of the main drivers can't run, Roberto should be driving."

The 23-year-old Spaniard made three Friday practice outings with Caterham before the team went under administration.

Update
Lotterer has now confirmed he will not race for Caterham at Abu Dhabi, having turned down the offer.

From press release

Nicholas Latifi took fifth in the Macau Grand Prix for SJM Theodore Racing by Prema from ninth on the grid.

While the Canadian earned a good result, there was disappointment for his team-mates Esteban Ocon and Antonio Fuoco, who both failed to finish.

Frenchman Ocon was battling for the lead on the opening lap when he collided with Tom Blomqvist at the Lisboa bend. This broke his steering, and he was unable to avoid hitting the barriers at the next corner, causing a pile-up, a track blockage and a red flag.

Fuoco was also caught up in the accident and the SJM Theodore Racing by Prema mechanics worked wonders to change the entire left-front assembly of his car before the restart, which he took from the pit-lane.

Unfortunately, there was not enough time to bleed the brakes and, after making progress up the field, he retired with four laps remaining due to brake troubles.

Nicholas Latifi (Photo: WRI2)

Latifi got through the incident unscathed and was fifth for the entire duration of the restart. He ran very close to Roberto Merhi in the battle for fourth, and twice attempted to brave it out with the Spaniard to take the place, finishing just 0.614 seconds behind.

“It's a very good result, but I'm disappointed that it was the maximum I could have got unless something happened. We opted to go really low on downforce, the least I think of everybody on the grid, and it still didn't give us the top speed we were hoping for.

“Then the tire degradation got worse and they started to pull a gap in front of me. But I'm pleased with fifth.”

From GMM

Sebastian Vettel has apparently grown tired of the extended wait to officially announce his switch to Ferrari.

The fact the outgoing world champion is leaving Red Bull is already confirmed, but his move to Ferrari - although an open secret in the paddock - is still awaiting the outcome of Fernando Alonso's contractual impasse.

But German Vettel let the cat out of the bag last weekend in Brazil whilst filling out a fun questionnaire for the Italian broadcaster Sky.

Asked the question "Sebastian Vettel is", the 27-year-old completed the sentence with the hand-written answer "A driver for Scuderia Ferrari".

Now, speaking to a German Sunday newspaper, Vettel has openly talked about the apparent fact that existing Ferrari driver Kimi Raikkonen will be his teammate in 2015.

Raikkonen and Vettel are good friends (Photo: WRI2)

The Finn is known as the 'Iceman' who can be uncommunicative with his teammates and colleagues, but Raikkonen and Vettel actually get along well, regularly meeting to socialise or play badminton.

"I see myself getting along with Kimi just fine," Vettel told Bild am Sonntag.

"He is always straight and direct, so on the human side I expect absolutely no problems in the future," he added.

Vettel had a well-documented tense relationship with his former Red Bull teammate Mark Webber, but the quadruple title winner is expecting none of the same issues in 2015.

"He (Raikkonen) has - thank god - zero interest in the politics within a team," he insisted.

From press release

Rob Huff and José María López each won a race, this week-end as part of the World Touring Car Championship's (WTCC) annual visit to Macau.

Huff claimed his 7th win from 20 starts at the Guia circuit, and his second win this season driving for Lada. His former teammate Yvan Muller tried everything but couldn't find a way through.

"It was a difficult race, because of the constant pressure from my old friend Yvan (Muller), but I know him well and I was able to close door every time," commented Huff.

Hugo Valente recovered well after a poor start from pole to take third place, his third podium of the year.

José María López celebrates his 10th win of the season (Photo: WTCC)

Earlier, López scored a record-breaking 10th win this the season. The new WTCC champion claimed victory on his very first visit to Macau.

"It has been an incredible season and it is fantastic to end it with a win at Macau, something that means a lot to me and could not even think of," said López.

"That's probably why I was feeling nervous, despite having already secured the title."

From WRC.com

World champion Sébastien Ogier scored his eighth win of the season after a start-to-finish victory at Wales Rally GB on Sunday.

The Frenchman mastered the muddy gravel forest roads in his Volkswagen Polo R to win by 37.6sec from Mikko Hirvonen, who claimed an emotional second place after a titanic battle in his final rally before retirement.

Sébastien Ogier, Julien Ingrassia (Photo: WRI2)

Hirvonen, driving a Ford Fiesta RS, finished 26.0sec clear of Mads Ostberg's Citroen DS3 on this 13^th and final round of the FIA World Rally Championship after Kris Meeke lost his chance of second when he skidded into a ditch and damaged his DS3's tires.

Jari-Matti Latvala won the rally-closing live TV Power Stage in a Polo R to take maximum bonus points. Thierry Neuville claimed two points for second in a Hyundai i20, with Ostberg taking one point for third.

From GMM

On the very day Caterham announced it will return to the grid in Abu Dhabi, the F1 team's entire staff was made redundant.

After a controversial crowdfunding scheme raised $3 million for the embattled backmarker, administrator Finbarr O'Connell announced that Caterham is heading to Abu Dhabi for the 2014 finale.

A statement said it was made possible "through Crowdcube, the world's leading investment crowdfunding platform".

Crucially, Crowdcube's service accountancy and tax adviser is Smith and Williamson -- the company Caterham administrator and interim team boss O'Connell works for.

So with O'Connell now faced with claims the crowdfunding project was at least in part a PR exercise, it now emerges that on the very same day it was declared a success, Caterham's 230 race team was made redundant.

Senior aerodynamicist Jim McManus told The Observer newspaper: "It is dismaying to see the amount of publicity surrounding the success of the crowdfunding on the same day that the entire workforce was made redundant while owed seven weeks' salary.

The success of Caterham's crowfunding operation could be a cover-up (Photo: WRI2)

"The cynic in me would suggest that the two are not unrelated, and the good news has served as a convenient opportunity to bury the bad news," he added.

O'Connell, however, who is team boss for now but says his intention is to appoint an alternative, claims that staff actually wanted to be made redundant.

"It is a crazy situation but the most ironic thing is that the majority of the team were pressing me to make them redundant so their redundancy claim forms could be up and running while I try to sell the team," he said.

"If I sell the team they will be re-employed by the purchaser and those claim forms will effectively be ripped up."

As for the timing of the Abu Dhabi announcement and the redundancy letters being received by staff, O'Connell added: "I could not issue redundancy letters until Friday because it was only then that I was appointed administrator to 1MRT".

But McManus insists that some staff "actively indicated that they did not want to be made redundant".

Porsche SE has warned shareholders it could be forced to return "economic benefits" from a failed takeover of Volkswagen if former board members are convicted.

Italian brake maker Brembo reported a 51 percent rise in third-quarter net profit, boosted by higher sales and better margins. The supplier now targets sales to grow about 14 percent to 15 percent this year, up from a previous goal of 13 percent.

VW has boosted production of its dual-clutch transmission at a second plant in China. The plant, in the northern city of Tianjin, will build up to 450,000 units of VW's so-called DSG gearbox annually, with output rising to 1.

Auto dealers large and small will eliminate $800 million worth of print advertising from U.S. newspapers next year, according to a new industry forecast, accelerating their media rush onto the Internet.

This past summer, Takata rehired a retired engineering executive to oversee its embattled quality-control operation -- an executive who is now at the center of a fresh controversy involving the company's disclosures about its defective airbags.

Chevy's approach to its so-called Tier 2 advertising, under which regional dealer groups pool money to buy ads, is in something of a transition.

From press release

Mathieu and Remy Audette's father François is getting back behind the wheel.

"Papa François", whose career in motorsports spans over five decades, confirmed he will be driving a Porsche Cayman, next year in the Super Touring class of the Canadian Touring Car Championship (CTCC).

"I'm never going to beat Mathieu and Remy," admits François Audette.

"I just want to have some fun racing with my boys, and improve my driving skills. I tried some lapping days at ICAR and Calabogie, but it was nothing like racing, I didn't like it.

"I'm a very competitive person, I like to race. So I thought, why not try it again?"

Over the past several seasons, brothers Mathieu and Remy Audette have made significant contributions to the record books of CTCC, both drivers being proven race winners and championship contenders.

From WRC.com

Sébastien Ogier completed Saturday's opening loop of speed tests at Wales Rally GB with a comfortable lead in his Volkswagen Polo R WRC.

He completed the fan-friendly Chirk Castle parkland stage with a 1min 10.1sec advantage, the Frenchman relaxed after the pressure on his lead was removed in the morning's opening test when team-mate Jari-Matti Latvala slithered off the muddy gravel road and into a ditch.

"The battle with Jari-Matti was enjoyable and exciting. Now the gap is quite comfortable but in these conditions it's easy to make a mistake," said Ogier, whose speed was so measured that he set just one time in the top seven during the five stages.

Sébastien Ogier, VW Polo R WRC (Photo: WRI2)

Behind Ogier, there was a thrilling three-car fight for second. Mikko Hirvonen held the advantage in his Ford Fiesta RS after Latvala's crash, but Mads Ostberg put together a string of good times in his Citroen DS3 to move ahead of the Finn in Chirk Castle by 0.7sec.

Ostberg's hold on second place disappeared, though, as he picked up a 10-second penalty for checking in late at the start of SS12. Ostberg was delayed as he worked on an intercom problem in his Citroen DS3, but insisted he was on time.

From WEC

Toyota celebrated both success in the FIA World Endurance Drivers' Championship and winning the 6 Hours of Bahrain race today.

After a difficult race that saw the No. 8 Toyota TS040 spend 16 laps in the garage to change an alternator, Anthony Davidson and Sebastien Buemi took the chequered flag in 11th overall to clinch the FIA World Endurance Driver's Championship.

The sister crew of Alex Wurz, Stephane Sarrazin and Mike Conway claimed their first race win of the 2014 season after a flawless performance in the day/night spectacular in the desert.

Despite not scoring, Buemi and Davidson clinched the title in Bahrain (Photo: WRI2)

Filling out the podium at Bahrain were both Porsche 919 Hybrid entries with the No. 14 car of Marc Lieb, Neel Jani and Romain Dumas just heading home the No. 20 entry of Mark Webber, Brendon Hartley and Timo Bernhard.

Starting from pole, the No. 14 Porsche kept Sebastien Buemi at bay for several laps before losing out as the Toyota swept into the lead. However the pace of the two 919s were to be reckoned with throughout the race, with both cars leading during the 6 Hours of Bahrain. The German team were rewarded with their best result of the 2014 season.

The two Audi R18 e-tron quattros were 4th and 5th, with the No. 2 Audi of Fassler / Lotterer/ Treluyer finished one lap behind the winning Toyota and one lap ahead of the no1 R18 of Kristensen/ Di Grassi / Duval. The 22 championship points has kept Audi's slim world championship hopes alive for the final race in Brazil in two week's time.

From press release

Jeff Gordon is on his way to ending his 2014 NASCAR Sprint Cup season on a high note.

After powering his No. 24 Drive to End Hunger at 180.747 mph around Homestead-Miami Speedway, Gordon will start Sunday's race from the pole position.

This marks the first time in Gordon's career that he will lead the field to green at the 1.5-mile track.

Gordon also reached another milestone for Hendrick Motorsports, giving the organization its 200^th pole position.

Photo: Robert Laberge/NASCAR via Getty Images

"I'm really excited about that pole in our Drive to End Hunger Chevrolet SS," Gordon said. "I don't know if I've ever been on the pole here, number one and to be [pole number] 200 for Hendrick Motorsports is really cool."



Championship favorite Kevin Harvick will start fifth, with fellow contenders Denny Hamlin and Joey Logano eighth and ninth, respectively. Ryan Newman, the fourth driver eligible for the championship, failed to advance to the final round and will start 21^st.

From press release

Shell has welcomed 1981 world champion Ari Vatanen to the Wales Rally GB, Britain's round of the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC), taking place this weekend (November 14-16 2014).

Hyundai Shell World Rally Team driver Thierry Neuville, together with his team-mate Nicolas Gilsoul and their Hyundai i20 WRC, joined with their illustrious predecessors for a unique photo opportunity before this year's Wales Rally GB got underway.

Finnish ace Vatanen has been reunited with his British co-driver Terry Harryman to celebrate the 30th anniversary of their victory on British soil in the iconic Peugeot 205 T16. In 1984 Vatanen's Peugeot team enjoyed a Technical Partnership with Shell to develop the small but mighty 205 T16 into the defining car of its era, winning both the Drivers' and Manufacturers' championships in 1985 and 1986.

In 2014 Shell has returned to the forefront of international rallying as Title Sponsor and Technical Partner of the Hyundai Shell World Rally Team, its Hyundai i20 WRC cars using Shell Helix Ultra motor oil and featuring Shell Helix branding. Wales Rally GB marks the end of the partnership's first season, which has seen the team amass four podium finishes so far - including a stunning 1-2 result at the Rally Germany in August.

As well as celebrating Shell's long history of technical partnership with some of the world's most successful competition teams, Ari Vatanen's presence on the 2014 Wales Rally GB will see his career celebrated as the first official ‘Rally Legend' of the event - what will become an annual award to the sport's greatest veterans.

“It goes without saying that it is an honour to be the first person to be selected as ‘Rally Legend',” Vatanen said. “It proves that the links I have with this event and this country are reciprocal. I have always been made to feel at home by British fans and I hope when we competed I always put on a good show.”

From press release

Canadian Nicholas Latifi finished seventh in the qualification race for this week-end's Macau Grand Prix.

Latifi started the race in ninth position but made good progress to claim seventh, which he then lost in a good battle with Jordan King.

Then, F1 rising star Max Verstappen crashed, bringing out the safety car. At the restart, Latifi was able to get seventh place back.

"I got through cleanly on the first lap and pretty much maintained my position," said Latifi. "The main thing was to get through cleanly.

Nicholas Latifi (Photo: Theodore Racing)

"The pace felt quite good at the beginning of the race, I think I just didn't have the speed on the straight compared to the others around me.

"I felt strong in the middle sector but I think I had maybe too much tyre degradation. The main thing was to not make mistakes, and seventh is a pretty good place to start tomorrow."

Esteban Ocon, the FIA Formula 3 European champion, lost one position away from the start and dropped to fifth. But the Frenchman then moved up to fourth by the race's end.