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The UK car market has posted another strong month in October with sales up 14.2% to 179,714 units

Ford began production of its Escort compact saloon car at a new plant in China this week, in the south-western city of Chongqing.

Lotus's new CEO Jean-Marc Gales has launched a cost-cutting plan at the money-losing automaker that will include axing over a quarter of employees. The former No. 2 at PSA says his next task is to add more dealers.

Proposed changes to how fuel economy and emissions are measured could mean the end of useful-but-ugly sideview mirrors and other design changes on cars.

From GMM

McLaren has warned Fernando Alonso he is running out of time to commit to the British team for the 2015 season.

Media reports in the last days have suggested the Spaniard, whose five-year stint at Ferrari appears definitely over, has now decided to re-join McLaren to spearhead the team's new works Honda era.

Italy's Tuttosport said the contract is for two years with a total value of EUR 70 million.

On a visit this week to Mexico City's rejuvenating F1 venue for 2015, however, Alonso denied the reports.

"There is nothing new," he insisted. "I have decided nothing for next year -- nothing is definite yet.

"With Ferrari I am seeing what is the best decision for next year, whether I continue or not, but I will try to choose what is best for my future.

"I have something in my head, but every week for the past two months there have been these rumours, always with a different team.

"I respect Ferrari greatly," Alonso said. "It is a team that I love. For Ferrari it has been a difficult year, and for me it has been five difficult years."

On the face of it, it seems Alonso's only choice is McLaren or a sabbatical, leaving Jenson Button increasingly nervous about the likely end of his F1 career.

Fernando Alonso, Ferrari. (Photo: WRi2)

In his latest interview with Hermes, former McLaren driver Mika Hakkinen agrees: "Jenson's behaviour lately reflects a certain loss of confidence. I think when you are striving for success in the long-term, your behaviour looks different."

McLaren acknowledges that it has put Button and Kevin Magnussen in an awkward position as the Alonso talks drag on.

Team boss Eric Boullier may now be losing patience.

"We want to have Fernando's decision between Brazil and Abu Dhabi," the Frenchman is quoted as declaring clearly to the German newspaper Bild.

"We have had good conversations with him, he would fit well with us and he has signalled that he wants the job. However, we want a long-term solution - three years - not just a contract for one."

Honda is making no secret that it wants a driver of Alonso's top calibre for 2015. The BBC has reported Alonso is on the verge of agreeing a two-year contract plus a further option for 2017.

"We cannot comment on the drivers as it is a subject for McLaren and Honda," said the Japanese marque's F1 chief Yasuhisa Arai, according to Spain's Marca.

"But Alonso, Vettel and Hamilton are very strong drivers and all the teams want them. Any one of them has a chance of being in the team in 2015," Arai added.

The big favourite is clearly Fernando Alonso.

"There are simply moments in your career when you know that you have to change teams," McLaren legend Emerson Fittipaldi said. "Fernando has arrived at such a moment."

From GMM

Lewis Hamilton has produced championship-winning performance alongside former title favourite Nico Rosberg in the latter stages of 2014.

That is the claim of former F1 stars turned pundits including the outspoken 1997 world champion Jacques Villeneuve, who said Mercedes' British driver deserves his title 'check mate' following five straight wins.

In contrast, Hamilton's teammate Rosberg, once the runaway leader in 2014, has fallen 24 points off the pace with just Brazil and then the 'double points' finale in Abu Dhabi still to go.

"In the crucial moments, Hamilton has just been more aggressive. And that's the only way you win a world championship," French Canadian Villeneuve told the German magazine Sport Bild.

Indeed, in the wake of his latest triumph in Austin, an increasingly bullish and relaxed Hamilton said he found a new gear after Spa in August, when he and Rosberg famously collided.

"Spa was like 'I'm going to turn this up. This means war!', that kind of feeling," Hamilton said.

Nico Rosberg, Mercedes AMG. (Photo: WRi2)

Another pundit, David Coulthard, agrees with his contemporary Villeneuve that Rosberg might be missing the final piece of the title-winning puzzle.

"I am almost embarrassed to criticise Nico," said the former McLaren and Red Bull driver, "because he is 95 per cent the perfect driver.

"He is much better than I ever was technically, and he has the speed too," Coulthard declared. "But what he has not yet proven is that he has the necessary hardness in combat. He needs to change that urgently in the last races of the season -- not only because of the championship, but because of his reputation."

Caterham Formula 1 team administrators expect the small squadron to be in a position to compete in the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix after missing races in Austin and Sao Paolo, they said on Wednesday.

"We are now extremely hopeful that we will be going to Abu Dhabi," Finbarr O'Connell told news agency Reuters.

"I think I've got enough confidence now to say I'd be very surprised if we were not racing in Abu Dhabi," he added in a telephone conversation.

"I'm now really hopeful for the future of the team."

Both teams in administration, Caterham and Manor Grand Prix (a.k.a. Marussia), appear on the 2015 F1 entry list published yesterday by the FIA.

Finbarr O'Connell said the entry had been lodged without a fee being paid, with plenty of time before a November 30th deadline.

"We're trying to sell a racing team and clearly a new owner will want to be racing next season," O'Connell explained.

O'Connell hasn't said a word about the potential Caterham drivers for Abu Dhabi.

From GMM

Caterham is preparing to return to formula one for F1's 2014 finale in Abu Dhabi next month.

As it was put into administration following founder Tony Fernandes' ill-fated sale to Colin Kolles-managed investors, the team as well as backmarker Marussia sat out Austin and will again be absent in rainy Brazil this weekend.

But it then emerged on Wednesday that Caterham's administrators, led by Finbarr O'Connell, have lodged an official team entry for the 2015 season.

Marussia, now renamed to the operating company Manor, is also on the provisional FIA entry list.

But reports that Caterham and Marussia have paid the $500,000 entry fee already are wide of the mark. That fee is not due until late in November.

O'Connell, however, who now runs Caterham, said it was imperative to lodge a 2015 entry so that the team is saleable.

"It's absolutely essential," he said. "We're hoping the new owner will then pick up things like the fees and finalising the 2015 design."

It would also make Caterham's life much easier if it could appear and race in Abu Dhabi, as Bernie Ecclestone and the FIA only agreed a two-race dispensation for the backmarker teams to sort their financial problems.

O'Connell said: "I think I've got enough confidence now to say I'd be very surprised if we were not racing in Abu Dhabi."

Photo: Caterham F1 Team

A headline at Brazil's Globo Esporte suggested Rubens Barrichello could make a "surprise return" to F1 as Caterham looks to get back up and running.

"There are a number of parties involved," said O'Connell, "but because the financial commitments are so huge it is difficult for people to commit. But we are making arrangements to go to there (Abu Dhabi) as we speak."

Marussia, now Manor, has been much quieter following its slump into administration, but boss Graeme Lowdon was in Austin last weekend for meetings.

In Austin, of course, the next three endangered privateer teams Lotus, Sauber and Sahara Force India threatened to boycott the race if the sport's owners CVC do not release more revenue.

It is reported those teams, plus Caterham and Marussia, could share a $160 million bonanza if Lotus owner Gerard Lopez's direct negotiations with CVC chairman Donald Mackenzie are successful in the coming hours.

"Talks are progressing well," the Guardian quoted Lopez as saying, "but I don't expect any news before Friday."

According to departed boss Cyril Abiteboul, however, life at the back of the grid for a team of Caterham's scale is not viable.

The Frenchman, having returned to Renault, told Auto Hebdo: "In their (Caterham's) situation to be in formula one, it was simply impossible.

"You only have to analyse their situation and the economic model of F1 to realise that the adventure was doomed to failure," said Cyril Abiteboul.

Sauber Formula 1 Team confirmed Thursday that it would run Marcus Ericsson and Felipe Nasr next season, meaning that Mexican Esteban Gutierrez now has to find a new home.

Gutierrez claims that he has “several alternatives” to stay on the F1 grid next season.

“I'd like to thank each and every member of Team Sauber for all the time we worked together,” Gutierrez wrote on Twitter. “I wish them the best of success.

“Unfortunately, after long talks and negotiations, we were not able to reach an agreement; at the same time we have and are still working on several alternatives with the intention to remain in Formula One.

“I deeply thank all my work team, my sponsors and fans for their support throughout my career; we will continue working as a team to find the best way to go.”

His best chance of staying in F1 greatly depends on the survival of the two small teams currently in administration, Caterham and Marussia.

Gutierrez has personal sponsors who can help him find a ride with one of these two teams, if they race next year, obviously.

Also in Gutierrez's advantage is the return of Mexico on next year's F1 calendar.

From GMM

Sauber has locked Adrian Sutil, Esteban Gutierrez and Giedo Van der Garde out of formula one for now.

The Swiss team has instead signed Williams reserve Felipe Nasr, and his sponsor Banco do Brasil, to be Caterham refugee Marcus Ericsson's teammate in 2015.

It leaves not only Sauber's existing drivers Sutil and Gutierrez looking for seats, but also the well-sponsored Dutchman Van der Garde, who may be surprised to have missed out on his return to F1 with the team next season.

Sauber's reserve, Van der Garde, had said this week that despite Ericsson's confirmation for 2015, his prospects were "looking good".

"I think we will have clarity within the next two or three weeks," he had told Dutch television Sport1 mere hours ago.

Weather specialists at UBIMET forecast high probability of rain showers during the entire Brazilian Grand Prix weekend.

“On Friday temperatures will increase to 32 degrees Celsius, and in this hot air mass thundery showers will develop across the region“, predicts Formula 1 chief meteorologist Steffen Dietz.

A well-structured cold front will reach Interlagos on Saturday, bringing periods of thundery rain.

“After some early showers practice three is expected to stay mainly dry, however the track could be still wet at the start (11:00 local time)”, says Dietz.

“During the Qualifying (14:00) drivers and teams will also have to contend with gusty winds and an increasing probability of rain. There also exists a high chance of intermittent heavy rain.”

Sunday
A cold front will move very slowly northeast on Sunday and the air will stay very moist because of southerly to southeasterly winds.

“There is again an increased chance for wet conditions, but there is still some uncertainty about the intensity of the rain, “ says Dietz, who adds that temperatures will also drop down from 26 degrees Celsius on Saturday to 21 on Sunday.

The 2012 wet Brazilian Grand Prix at Interlagos. (Photo: WRi2)

From GMM

Romain Grosjean is edging close to a deal to remain with Lotus for 2015.

Spain's Marca reported this week that talks about a possible switch to McLaren-Honda, where the Frenchman may have been under consideration as an alternative to Fernando Alonso, have now ended.

Grosjean, obviously frustrated this year, said recently that Lotus' impending switch from Renault to Mercedes power will give the Enstone team an obvious boost for 2015.

And he has insisted the arrival of Petronas fuels, apparently contradicting his strong alliance with existing partner Total, will not affect his potential future at Lotus.

Romain Grosjean, Lotus E22-Renault. (Photo: WRi2)

But in Austin last week, he did not hide his desire to move to a "top team".

"I have a contract with the (Lotus) team," said Grosjean, 28, "(but) I have the option to leave if I want to."

Speed Week now quotes deputy team boss Federico Gastaldi as saying: "We are still in the process of finalising things.

"As I have already said, Romain is a very important member of our family at Enstone and we want to keep it that way.

"An announcement will follow shortly," he revealed.

"The discussions are very open and progressive, and we hope that we are soon in the position to go public."

The first running of the Brazilian Grand Prix was held in 1973, 41 years ago. Let's review the most memorable facts about this always-exciting race.

6
Local hero Emerson Fittipaldi won the first Brazilian Grand Prix in 1973 behind the wheel of a Lotus 72D-Ford Cosworth DFV.

Emerson Fittipaldi, Lotus-Ford Cosworth, 1973. (Photo: WRi2)

5
Frenchman Alain Prost holds the record for the most victories in Brazil. He won the race six times in 1982, 1984, 1985, 1987, 1988 and 1990. Michael Schumacher won it four times in 1994, 1995, 2000 and 2002.

4
The closest finish at the Brazilian Grand Prix happened in 2002 when Michael Schumacher, driving for Ferrari, beat his younger brother Ralf, in a Williams-BMW by just 0.588 second.

3
In 1975, Brazilian Carlos Pace won the Brazilian Grand Prix in a Brabham BT44B, scoring his only victory in Formula 1. Pace was killed in a light aircraft accident near Sao Paulo in 1977. The circuit of Interlagos was renamed Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace in his honour.

Carlos Pace, Brabham BT44B, 1977. (Photo: WRi2)

2
Brazil has produced 30 drivers who have started at least one Grand Prix. Of the 30, three have won the drivers' title (Emerson Fittipaldi, Nelson Piquet, Ayrton Senna) and six (or 20 percent) have won races (Fittipaldi, Senna, Piquet, Carlos Pace, Rubens Barrichello and Felipe Massa).

1
Veteran Rubens Barrichello is the only one of the six Brazilian race winners not to have won his home Grand Prix. Barrichello is the F1 driver who took part in the highest number of Grands Prix in his career with 323.

Harrison Newey, son of Red Bull Racing Formula 1's technical director Adrian Newey, will make the switch from karting to car racing this weekend.

Harrison, 16-year-old, will participle in the BRDC Formula 4 Winter Trophy series, organised by Jonathan Palmer's MotorSport Vision.

The opening round of the series will be held this weekend at Snetterton, UK.

Newey junior has already tested the car on several occasions, and he will drive for HHC Motorsport.

Mikko Hirvonen will retire from the FIA World Rally Championship following next week's final round of the season at Wales Rally Great Britain.

Following speculation over his 2015 plans, the 34-year-old Finn confirmed Thursday that he will bow out after 13 seasons at the top.

Hirvonen plans to devote more time to his family after a career in which he finished runner-up in the drivers' championship four times, and played a key role in Ford winning back-to-back manufacturers' titles in 2006 and 2007.

He made his WRC debut in 2002 and spent most of his career driving for Ford, apart from a year at Subaru in 2004 and two seasons at Citroen in 2012 and 2013. He returned to Ford this year as lead driver for M-Sport World Rally Team.

Hirvonen has not mentioned yet if he is going to continue racing in another category, such as the rallycross.

Mikkko Hirvonen. (Photo: WRC)

From GMM

Organisers of the Brazilian grand prix have tweaked safety measures in light of Jules Bianchi's life-threatening Suzuka crash a month ago.

Globo reports that the tractor destined to be on duty in the famous 'Senna-S' has been relocated.

"The Bianchi accident certainly made us think," said Luis Ernesto Morales, the chief engineer at Interlagos.

"One of the changes we have made was the adoption of a new post at the new run-off area at the Senna-S, so that there will not be a tractor entering there. Undoubtedly, the changes have improved the safety procedures," he added.

During the wet Brazilian grand prix in 2003, Michael Schumacher spun off and narrowly missed a tractor that was removing Juan Pablo Montoya's stricken Williams.

Jules Bianchi's crash at Suzuka, Japan. (Photo: WRi2)

From GMM

Jean-Eric Vergne is suddenly sounding very confident about his future in F1.

Just a month ago, prior to Sebastian Vettel's shock decision to switch from Red Bull to Ferrari for 2015, Frenchman Vergne looked set to lose his place on the grid.

That was because the 2015 lineup at Red Bull's junior team Toro Rosso was already set -- Daniil Kvyat alongside the rookie sensation Max Verstappen.

The Vettel situation changed everything. Suddenly, Russian Kvyat got the call to replace the champion German, and a new place at Toro Rosso was open.

Carlos Sainz Jr, the Red Bull-backed new Formula Renault 3.5 champion, was an obvious favourite, but there was also a reluctance to create an all-rookie and extremely young pairing of the Spanish rookie alongside teenager Verstappen.

Toro Rosso boss Franz Tost said he "personally" wants to keep Vergne, while Dutchman Verstappen thinks the experience of Vergne would be "better" at his side than another rookie.

Jean-Eric Vergne, Toro Rosso-Renault, at Monza. (Photo: WRi2)

And even Red Bull supremo Dietrich Mateschitz conceded recently: "There are some very good arguments in favour of having an experienced driver alongside a very young rookie (at Toro Rosso)."

Suddenly, 24-year-old Vergne is sounding very hopeful.

"Nothing is done yet," he is quoted by the French daily Le Figaro, "but I'm not too worried. I'll be in F1 in 2015."

Vergne admitted that staying at Toro Rosso is his "number one option".

Drivers will test the latest updates to the new virtual safety car system during Friday's two free practice sessions of the Brazilian Grand Prix at Interlagos in Sao Paulo.

The system has been slightly modified following its maiden test in Austin, Texas this past weekend after some drivers said to be concerned with having to watch their steering wheel instead of the road. Drivers must look at the screen to adjust the speed they're doing.

In Brazil, the test will begin at the end of each free practice session after the last car takes the chequered flag for the first time.

Drivers out on the race track will then have ten seconds to slow down to reach the required ‘delta' time.

Following that they must be above the minimum time at least once in each of the 21 marshalling sectors around the track, as well as at the start/finish line and safety car lines 1 and 2.

The test will also incorporate pit stops taking place under the virtual safety car conditions. Two cars will be brought in the pit lane to simulate the pit stops.

During Thursday's FIA press conference at circuit Interlagos, Adrian Sutil responded to questions on his future after Sauber announced the signing of Marcus Ericsson and Felipe Nasr for next season.

It is believed the German driver signed a two-year deal with Sauber and if that's the case then Sutil could have grounds for a legal challenge.

“There are certain things to talk about, definitely, yes. They've confirmed two drivers but it doesn't mean the drivers are going to drive,” Sutil emphasized.

“There's no real change from last weekend to this weekend. It's just an announcement and now, of course, in my situation, I think I have to do some talking... to sort out the things,” he added.

Moreover, it's understood that Sauber reserve driver, Dutch Giedo van der Garde is also none-too-happy at the team's decisions to hire Ericsson and Nasr, as he believes that he too has signed on for a race seat for 2015.

With Sauber in a difficult financial situation, money is key element here.

Both Nasr and Ericsson are believed to bring several millions of dollars in sponsorship money, as Sutil's contract apparently does not require him to bring any sponsorship - and he is paid a salary by the Swiss team.

So what is Sutil next move?

“I don't know, so I will see what's possible, what I want,” he replied.

“There's quite a few things to sort out and I can't really say more at the moment."

Dealertrack Technologies, which supplies a wide variety of auto dealership retail software and services, said its third-quarter business surged and it bumped up its revenue and profitability forecast for the year.