Auto News 5

Ford Motor Co.'s installation of former General Motors executive Mark LaNeve as its new U.S. sales and marketing chief shows that the automaker plans to get more aggressive.

The global car is here. And it's not a car. It's the small crossover, and it's quickly cementing its place as the super vehicle for the global auto market.

For a mechanical engineer who once worked on 1,000-hp race boats and Dale Earnhardt Sr.'s roaring NASCAR engines, Pam Fletcher is pretty stoked about a car that starts with barely a whisper.

Automakers sold more cars and trucks to U.S. buyers in the last two months than in any other November and December in history. Now entering its sixth consecutive year of growth, the market could top 17 million units for the first time since 2001.

Dealertrack Technologies has decided to stop selling dealer management systems to dealers in Canada, forcing its current 130 dealer customers to find alternative vendors.

It used to be that whenever a customer called AutoNation Honda Roseville, the call reverberated around the dealership for anyone to answer, regardless of their specialty.

The second-generation Chevrolet Volt will go about 50 miles on an electric charge, up from 38 on today's model, as General Motors looks to broaden the plug-in hybrid's appeal beyond environmentalists and tech geeks.

In a year in which BMW reclaimed the U.S. luxury sales title from Mercedes-Benz, BMW hiked incentives and outspent its top rival by more than $670 per vehicle.

Mercedes-Benz basically invented the automobile. And judging from its new prototype for a self-driving luxury car, it may be an old-guard company like Mercedes -- not a newcomer like Google Inc. -- that reinvents the automobile for the next century.

From GMM

Renault has reportedly hit back at the FIA's controversial new system for issuing F1 super licences.

In light of 17-year-old Max Verstappen's controversial debut this year, the governing body is installing a new system for 2016 to ensure new grand prix drivers are older, more experienced and successful in the junior classes.

But the proposed 2016 system is also causing raised eyebrows, as it emerges future champions like Jenson Button and Kimi Raikkonen would have been denied their F1 debuts, while even the great Michael Schumacher's 2010 return may not have happened.

Also ruled out would have been Paul di Resta's 2011 debut, despite the fact he was the reigning DTM champion.

"I think the system needs some work," another DTM driver and long-time F1 tester Gary Paffett, whose F1 debut would also have been theoretically denied under the 2016 system, told Reuters.

Also reportedly unhappy with the new system is Renault, whose premier category, the Formula Renault 3.5 series, will attract fewer super licence points for its top drivers than GP2, F3, sports cars, Indycar and the currently non-existent F2.

Italiaracing reports: "The French manufacturer promptly responded by sending a letter directly to FIA president Jean Todt.

"Renault will now have a meeting with the FIA, probably around the middle of January", the report added.

FIA motorhome in Formula 1. (Photo: WRi2)

From GMM

Ferrari is spending a whopping EUR 40 million as it steps up its off-track technology at Maranello.

Having struggled in 2014 and subsequently undergone a revolutionary shakeup, the fabled Italian marque is now spending big on a dynamic platform that will allow in-factory testing of the entire car-plus-engine package.

Italy's La Gazzetta dello Sport said the move is part of Ferrari's new collaboration with the Austrian giant AVL, even though the research and simulation specialists were formerly closely aligned with Red Bull.

Amid the tight restrictions on actual track testing, the AVL platform will allow Ferrari to run and develop the car and systems including brake-by-wire at simulated speeds of up to 360kph, the report said.

La Gazzetta said the AVL technology, also falling outside the strict limits on wind tunnel testing, will be housed in a special building at Maranello and also connected to a driver simulator.

From GMM

Will Stevens has turned his eye to Le Mans in the event his F1 career stumbles at the first hurdle.

Funding brought by the 23-year-old's backers as he made his grand prix debut in Abu Dhabi is believed to have been instrumental in ailing Caterham's survival to date.

"When I got the offer," he is quoted by Russia's f1news.ru, "I jumped at the chance with both hands.

"I had to use it and in the end I didn't lose much to a great driver like Kamui Kobayashi, although it was the first time I had driven the car and my first formula one weekend," said Stevens.

"Now I'm doing everything to keep it going," he added, referring to Caterham's battle for survival, "but if it doesn't work out, I am considering the possibility of (racing in) LPM1."

LMP1 is the premier prototype class at Le Mans and the world endurance championship.

Briton Stevens finished the 2014 Formula Renault 3.5 series in sixth place.

Will Stevens, Caterham. (Photo: WRi2)

From GMM

F1 legend Mario Andretti has called on Franck Montagny to be banned for life for doping.

Former Super Aguri racer Montagny, a 37-year-old Frenchman, was suspended from the FIA-sanctioned new Formula E series recently when he tested positive for a cocaine derivative.

It has also been rumoured that Montagny's brush with cocaine may in fact date all the way back to his F1 career, which spanned test roles at Renault and Toyota.

He is yet to be formally sanctioned.

"If I had my way," said world champion Mario Andretti, "Monsieur Montagny would be banned for life.

"It is a big disappointment for us all, as he also endangered every other driver on the track. What he did is unforgivable in our sport," the 74-year-old told Germany's Welt newspaper.

Franck Montagny, Andretti Autosport. (Photo: WRi2)

Andretti's son Michael heads the team for which Montagny was racing. Montagny was replaced for the Buenos Aires round by Indycar driver Marco Andretti.

Marco's grandfather Mario, the world champion of 1978, insisted the Montagny case does not indicate that doping may be rife within top motor racing.

"There are always some black sheep," he said, "but there is no doping or drug problem in racing. The fact that Montagny was busted just shows that the control system works."

From GMM

Race organisers are reluctant to shift the start time for the 2015 Australian grand prix.

In response to Jules Bianchi's horror crash at Suzuka, the governing FIA vowed to look into ensuring that races are no longer started too close to dusk.

Races at the season opener Melbourne, for instance, are traditionally now started at 5pm local, creating a better morning television timeslot for the bulk European audience.

The local Herald Sun newspaper claims race organisers have now received a request to reverse the scheduled start time by several hours.

But race chief Andrew Westacott insisted: "The race time will remain at 5pm as per agreement with the Australian grand prix corporation and formula one management, which means Melbourne, as the opening race of the season, airs in Asia at lunchtime and Europe at breakfast."

Last year, the state government agreed a five-year agreement to keep the grand prix at Albert Park until 2020.

From GMM

Former McLaren tester Gary Paffett is unsure of the British team's potential as its new works Honda era begins.

After years of serving as tester, McLaren's change of power means Briton Paffett, who will remain Mercedes powered in DTM, has left the Woking team.

McLaren is now working with Honda, its ultra-successful partner of the 80s.

"The last (McLaren-Honda) time was very successful," Paffett told f1web.it, "but it is now more difficult to make predictions.

"To succeed, Honda will need to reach Mercedes' level, which will be very difficult. McLaren also needs to make progress with the chassis, as in recent years, the car did not meet the expectations of the team," he added.

McLaren-Honda. (Photo: WRi2)

Here is the video of Portuguese Antonio Felix da Costa's victory in an action-packed Buenos Aires electric ePrix ahead of e.dams-Renault's Nicolas Prost and China Racing's Nelson Piquet Jr.

FIA Formula E Championship - Buenos Aires ePrix (Rd 4) - Race results:

1. Antonio Felix da Costa, Amlin Aguri, 48m52.100
2. Nicolas Prost, e.dams-Renault, +5.354s
3. Nelson Piquet Jr, China Racing, +8.552s
4. Jaime Alguersuari, Virgin Racing, +11.148s
5. Bruno Senna, Mahindra Racing, +11.535s
6. Jean-Eric Vergne, Andretti, +11.535s
7. Sam Bird, Virgin Racing, +13.617s
8. Nick Heidfeld, Venturi, +15.464s
9. Oriol Servia, Dragon Racing, +19.334s
10. Stephane Sarrazin, Venturi, +28.973s
etc

From press release

Canadian Tire Motorsport Park (CTMP) will return as an exhibitor in the Canadian Motorsports Expo section of the Motorama Custom Car & Motorsports Expo in Toronto.

The show takes place March 13, 14 and 15 at Toronto's International Centre, adjacent to Pearson International Airport.

At Motorama, Ontario's racing facility - which is located northeast of Toronto - will highlight the continuing redevelopment of its 900+ acre motorsports property. Track representatives will also showcase CTMP's impressive 2015 racing calendar, which features a wide variety of major league and grassroots road racing competition.

The most recent phase of construction at the Bowmanville, Ontario-area venue has been focused on the Karting Centre, which has been newly named Mosport Kartways.

The re-configuration and re-paving of the circuit has already been completed, and a new building that includes a reception area, showroom, washrooms, change rooms and a parts and service area, will be finished in time for the start of the 2015 racing season.

The 17th edition of Canada's most prestigious kart racing event will be coming to Mosport Kartways on August 20-23 when competitors from across the country will race for the top podium positions in the Rotax Max Challenge and Briggs & Stratton National classes.

The road courses will be the stage for races of the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and TUDOR United SportsCar Series.

While these two events will be perceived as season highlights, the 2015 Canadian Tire Motorsport Park schedule also features visits from American touring series like the Pirelli World Challenge (all classes), the Continental Tire Sportscar Challenge, and several others.

Canadian Tire Motorsport Park has been recognized as Canada's Home of Motorsports since 1961, with the history of this world-renowned facility continually growing.

Fans can get an insider's look at the next chapter by visiting their display at the 2015 Motorama Custom Car & Motorsports Expo.

From GMM

Mercedes is positioning to keep world champion Lewis Hamilton well beyond the 2015 season.

Talks over the Briton's expiring contract were scheduled towards the end and then just after the 2014 season.

But in what was interpreted as a 'hurry up' to the 30-year-old, boss Toto Wolff recently declared that Fernando Alonso and Valtteri Bottas are first in line for Hamilton's seat should he leave the Brackley team late this year.

Now, Italy's La Gazzetta dello Sport claims Mercedes "has prepared a three-year renewal (of the deal) for a fixed EUR 20 million per season".

The report speculated that the deal to be presented to Hamilton, who is currently not represented by a manager, is for the years 2016, 2017 and 2018.

Hamilton's new contract may also include a million euro bonus for each race win, and 5 million for his third world title, La Gazzetta added.

Lewis Hamilton, 2014 world champion, Mercedes. (Photo: WRi2)

Britain's Daily Star said the Mercedes renewal beyond 2015 will make Hamilton the highest paid driver in F1.

He is quoted as saying: "Not everyone gets to work with such a great team. They helped me to my dream with a great and dominant car."

From GMM

McLaren has denied reports it will run its Honda-powered 2015 car a few days before its launch and official test debut.

Spain's El Mundo Deportivo claimed that, following news the MP4-30 will be launched on January 29, the car will actually clock up some laps beforehand.

"A few days before (the launch), the car will run at Silverstone for a shakedown and to shoot a promotional film," the report added.

"It is hoped the software problems of the post-season test in Abu Dhabi have been solved."

But a McLaren spokesman told us: "We are not planning to run the MP4-30 before the Jerez test."

El Mundo also claimed McLaren is likely to enter a second consecutive season without a title sponsor, given that talks with the Spanish mobile operator Movistar are not promising.

Meanwhile, the Swiss newspaper Blick reports that Sauber is likely to launch its 2015 car in a simple pitlane unveiling ceremony ahead of the Jerez test.

From GMM

Pat Symonds has admitted Williams' next step will be more difficult than the giant leap of 2014.

After a career slump that hit bottom in 2013 with ninth in the constructors' standings, the once-great Grove team managed to end last year as arguably Mercedes' closest challenger.

But Red Bull designer Adrian Newey thinks Williams was helped last year by its switch from Renault to industry-leading Mercedes power.

"Clearly, last year was engine-dominated," he told Sky, "and we saw that with Williams springing forward. Obviously Williams did a very good job but I think what really made the difference for them was the engine."

Valtteri Bottas, Williams FW36-Mercedes. (Photo: WRi2)

Williams' technical chief Symonds, however, said the British team is proud to have beaten a grandee name like Ferrari to third place in the constructors' standings.

"We are stable and do not have financial difficulties," he insisted, according to France's L'Equipe, "but we do not have the budget of some of our competitors.

"So it was especially pleasing last year to beat Ferrari for example, as we have half the budget they do. But to be better than third in 2015 will certainly be more difficult than going from ninth to third place last year."

Pat Symonds also denies that Williams' leap forward can so easily be explained by its superior 'power unit'.

"In 2013," he pointed out, "we also had the same engine as the world champions (Red Bull) and we were ninth. We had many new things in 2014 including the aero and the braking system, and those things do not happen by magic.

"We want to continue on this path in 2015," Pat Symonds added.