Auto News 5

Audi of America announced today that they will team with the Trek-LIVESTRONG Under-23 (U23) Cycling Team for the 2009 racing season, donating two Audi Q7 TDI clean diesel vehicles to provide support to riders while competing. The Audi Q7 TDI is one of America's first highly efficient, seven passenger SUVs providing a luxury option for U.S. drivers who want fuel economy, cleaner emissions, and less imported oil. The Trek-LIVESTRONG U23 Team was created as a project to help develop the next generation of great American cyclists under the leadership and training guidance of 7-time Tour de France winner, Lance Armstrong. Full story...

Andrew Ranger and Miguel Duhamel will team-up for the opening race of the NASCAR Canadian Tire series that will be run on May 23rd at the Autodrome St-Eustache. Full story...

Visiblement, ce week-end à Monza aurait pu se terminer facilement par un doublé pour le pilote américain Ben Spies (Yamaha) mais une bête panne d'essence au dernier virage du dernier tour de la 1ère épreuve l'aura empêché d'avoir une note parfaite. Full story...

Peugeot UK driver Kris Meeke won the Sata Rallye Acores, round four of the 2009 Intercontinental Rally Challenge, to take victory and the overall championship points lead. Full story...

Romain Grosjean and Eduardo Mortara are the first 2009 GP2 winners, as the Frenchman leads the provisional classification. Full story...

The S 400 HYBRID is the first passenger car model with hybrid drive to be introduced by Mercedes-Benz. Its combination of a further developed V6 petrol engine and a compact hybrid module makes the S 400 HYBRID the world's most efficient luxury saloon with a petrol engine. In the New European Driving Cycle, the combined fuel consumption is only 7.9 litres per 100 kilometres. Full story...

Hyundai ranks highest among auto manufacturer Web sites in satisfying Canadian new-vehicle shoppers, improving dramatically from 2008, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2009 Canadian Manufacturer Web Site Evaluation Study(SM) released today. Full story...

Given Brawn's dominance and McLaren's struggles, Mercedes-Benz is considering adding corporate branding to the championship-leading BGP001 car. Full story...

The 'team orders' saga has hotted up even more, with Rubens Barrichello threatening to quit Brawn GP if he is again the victim of team orders. Full story...

The Renault Formula 1 team is not yet joining the threats of a 2010 entry boycott, but team boss Flavio Briatore has made clear his opposition to a 40m pounds sterling budget cap. Full story...

There is "absolutely no chance" that team Super Aguri could return to formula one even with a low budget cap next year. Full story...

Mazda's compact 3 is currently the bestselling car so far this year. With good clearance deals on remaining 2009s, Canadian car buyers feel that although a brand-new model was about to hit showrooms, the old Mazda3 was still a good car. Full story...

GMAC LLC may receive a $7.5 billion infusion from the U.S. government as early as this week, the Washington Post reported in its Saturday edition, citing unnamed sources. Full story...

Nicolas Minassian, Simon Pagenaud and Christian Klien led from the start to take victory in Spa, second round of the Le Mans Serie championship. Full story...

Raphael Matos (Luczo Dragon) was the fastest of all the drivers attempting to qualify for the Indianapolis 500 on the second day of qualifying that was to determine positions 12th through 22nd. Full story...

Red Bull has followed Toyota in declaring that it will not enter next year's world championship under the current regulations. Full story...

Rubens Barrichello on Sunday made clear he is no longer willing to play second fiddle to a teammate. Full story...

Brawn GP and Red Bull, Jenson Button wins the Spanish grand prix, Rubens Barrichello finishes second, Mark Webber and Sebastian Vettel are 3rd and 4th. Full story...

Team Penske's Helio Castroneves has claimed his third Indianapolis 500 pole today during the first round of qualifications on the Indianapolis Speedway finishing on top of the first group of eleven cars to qualify. Full story...

Veteran Mark Martin (Chevy No 5) won a second Sprint Cup race of the season by grabbing the checkered flag of the Southern 500 at the legendary Darlington Raceway Saturday evening. Full story...