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UK new-car sales rose 9 percent last year to hit their highest level in 10 years at 2.47 million, cementing the UK's place as Europe's second-largest car market after Germany, industry body SMMT said.

News 7 Jan, 2015

2,476,435 new car registrations recorded in 2014 making it the best year since 2004

Europe's carmakers can look forward to another year of sales growth in 2015, but analysts expect the rate of increase to be 2 percent to 3 percent compared with last year's 5 percent rise.

The latest issue of the Automotive News Europe monthly e-magazine is ready for you to view. This month's edition looks at why Jaguar expects 2015 to be a record-breaking year.

BMW may decide this year whether to launch a new range-topping sedan. Incoming CEO Harald Krueger is said to be receptive to the idea of a model, possibly called the 9 series, that would compete against the recently-unveiled Mercedes-Maybach S600.

From GMM

The European Commission looks set to dismiss claims formula one authorities are acting anti-competitively.

Recently, it appeared likely the European Union's executive body would launch an investigation into the sport, following a letter by concerned British politician Anneliese Dodds.

Her concerns, reportedly backed by disgruntled smaller teams including Lotus, Force India and Sauber, centred around the FIA's exchange of decision-making power for a 1 per cent shareholding in F1's commercial rights.

Smaller teams were in turn locked out of the new Strategy Group, where Bernie Ecclestone and the grandee competitors make key decisions about the future.

The Times this week reported that an anti-competition chief at the European Commission, Krzysztof Kuik, had spoken to team bosses and experts.

Correspondent Kevin Eason said there is "widespread apprehension that a Competition Commission investigation could stop F1 in its tracks", as it could result in "wholesale changes in the way that the sport is run".

But F1 business journalist Christian Sylt, writing for Forbes, concluded that Kuik's written response to Dodds in fact signals that the Commission has "brushed off" the anti-competition allegations.

Krysztof Kuik wrote: "We are aware of the recent allegations regarding formula one's governance, as described in your letter and the recent press reports. I appreciate it that you have provided information about those issues and have taken note of your concerns."

Sylt concluded that the letter "comes across as a brush off as he gives no indication that any specific action will be taken".

He said Dodds shares that view, as she has now written back to the Commission's competition commissioner Margrethe Vestager, this time with "some very specific requests".

From GMM

The future of the historic Belgian grand prix at popular Spa-Francorchamps appears safe.

La Libre, a French-language Belgian newspaper, said the economics minister of the local Walloon region has authorised the extension of the race contract.

"There will therefore be a grand prix in 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018," minister Jean-Claude Marcourt is quoted as having said in parliament on Tuesday.

He revealed that additional investments into the fabled Spa circuit have not been requested by F1's governing FIA as the facility is already up to scratch.

Marcourt did admit that the 2014 Belgian grand prix recorded a EUR 7 million deficit, partly because of the negotiations for the 2015 contract, but he also said the local and international impact of the race justifies the cost.

Verizon IndyCar team Andretti Autosport has hired Rob Edwards, who spent the past five-plus years as team general manager with Schmidt Peterson Motorsports, as its director of race operations and engineering.

Edwards replaces long-time team director Kyle Moyer, who moved in the fall to Team Penske.

Rob Edwards has worked previously for Walker Racing and FAZZT Racing.

Andretti Autosport has three confirmed entries for the Verizon IndyCar Series season along with entries for Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires and the Pro Mazda Championship Presented by Cooper Tires.

"His experience in racing will be valuable in moving our organization forward across multiple racing platforms," team owner Michael Andretti said, while noting that George Klotz will remain the Verizon IndyCar Series team manager.

James Hinchcliffe, who drove for Andretti Autosport the past three seasons, will compete in the No. 77 Schmidt Peterson Motorsports car this season.

The team has not announced a replacement for Edwards.

From press release

The Polish bike rider Michal Hernik (no. 82) was found dead on the selective section of the third stage of the rally between San Juan and Chilecito at kilometre 206.

The circumstances surrounding his death have yet to be determined, as the competitor did not show any external signs of an accident.

When the race management detected the loss of his Irritrack signal and was informed that he had not completed the special stage at 15:16, it decided to start a search for the rider at 15:23. An ambulance helicopter found the rider 300 meters off the route at 16:03. Unfortunately, the on-board doctor could only confirm the rider's death.

At 39 years of age, Michal was taking part in the Dakar for the first time and he was in 84th position in the general ranking. He had previously participated in the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge in 2014 and the Morocco Rally in 2013, both of which he completed.

The whole Dakar family offers its condolences to Michal's family, close friends and team.

MIchal Hernik, KTM. (Photo: Dakar.com)

From wrc.com

After a cost-cutting freeze on development in 2014, this season's rules give manufacturers greater scope to improve their World Rally Cars.

The changes will be subtle rather than revolutionary, but at the sport's top level even the smallest detail can make a big difference.

In the cockpit, the most obvious change will be the reintroduction of steering wheel-mounted gearshift paddles, a system that replaces the 2014-spec sequential stick shift.

The new livery of the Ford Fiesta RS WRCs for 2015 (Photo: M-Sport)

Under the skin, manufacturers can take advantage of a new supply of homologation ‘jokers', enabling them to make a limited number of mechanical changes to their homologated designs. There are changes too to the minimum weights of some components, allowing greater freedom to play with weight distribution and balance.

The first manufacturer to make full use of the regulations will be Volkswagen, which will introduce a new version of its championship-winning Polo at Rallye Monte-Carlo.

Citroen too will introduce changes at the opening round, with the DS3 getting a new engine, developed alongside its World Touring Car unit, new suspension and a paddle gearshift. Citroen plans two other evolutions during 2015, with an aero package scheduled for April and a second step with the suspension in the second half of the year.

M-Sport's Fiesta RS will have a modified pneumatic gearshift system in time for Monte Carlo. More changes are planned for Vodafone Rally de Portugal, where a new engine, transmission and new hydraulic gear selection system will make their debut.

Like M-Sport, Hyundai will start the season with an upgraded version of its 2014-season car, before an all-new model is introduced later in the year.

From GMM

The FIA could be set to rethink its decision to leave Honda outside of the new engine development 'unfreeze'.

A loophole in the existing rules will allow 2014 suppliers Ferrari, Renault and Mercedes to develop their turbo V6s within the season this year.

But because McLaren's 2015 works partner Honda is a newcomer, the FIA's Charlie Whiting ruled that it will have its power unit homologated or 'frozen' on 28 February, just as the 2014 manufacturers did almost a year ago.

McLaren told us this week that, in response to the ruling, the British team has been in contact with the governing body.

And the Spanish sports newspaper Marca quotes a Honda spokesman as saying the Japanese manufacturer is "angry and sad" about the situation, "but we do not want to comment further".

McLaren powered by Honda. (Photo: WRi2)

It is believed further meetings will be held in the coming days, but the sport's 2015 engine suppliers already got together this week in Geneva, to discuss Bernie Ecclestone's desire for a different engine formula for 2016.

According to Italy's Autosprint, however, Honda also raised the 'unfreeze' issue at the meeting.

Correspondent Roberto Chinchero revealed: "Honda has been heard. At the meeting in Geneva ... the FIA decided to reconsider its position with regards to Honda.

"Taking note of their (Honda's) concerns, the question remains open and will probably be defined at a later meeting between the manufacturers that has been set in two weeks time."

Chinchero continued: "There are also rumours of a 'plan B' for the Japanese.

"If the FIA keeps its current position, McLaren could protest against each technical update that is brought to the track by the other manufacturers, invoking the technical regulation prohibiting multiple homologations of the power unit," he added.

Orlando Terranova claimed his second stage win of the Dakar Rally on Tuesday to move into third place overall in the standings behind his MINI teammate, Nasser al-Attiyah.

After rolling his MINI at the end of the special on Monday, Terranova fought hard to regain the time he lost in the incident.

In the end, he clawed back almost two minutes on the Toyota's De Villiers and more than four minutes on Qatari al-Attiyah, the overall standings leader.

As for the Peugeot team, Carlos Sainz seems to be getting the hang of the new car and improving performance with the day's fourth place, four minutes behind the day's winner.

Alrajhi Yazeed, racing in his maiden Dakar is running a very impressive fifth in the general standings.

Overall standings - Day 3
1 Nasser Al-Attiyah, MINI  9h21:26
2 Giniel De Villiers, Toyota,  +5m18
3 Orlando Terranova, MINI,  +18m05
4 Carlos Sainz, Peugeot,  +19m32
5 Yazeed Alrajhi, Toyota,  +20m08

From GMM

Fernando Alonso is more adaptable than Kimi Raikkonen and better able to cope with a difficult car.

That is the claim of Ferrari's recently-ousted technical chief Pat Fry, musing the key differences between the Maranello team's 2014 pairing.

For 2015, Spaniard Alonso has switched to McLaren-Honda, but Raikkonen is staying put and will be joined this year by his friend Sebastian Vettel.

Fernando Alonso and Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari, Montreal. (Photo: WRi2)

Ferrari's champion of 2007, and having thrived at Lotus, Finn Raikkonen notably struggled alongside Alonso last year and Briton Fry thinks he knows why.

"There were two issues," he is quoted by Brazil's Totalrace. "The first is that Fernando is more adaptable and the second is that the limitations of the car and tyres are especially difficult with Kimi's driving style."

"It was the same at McLaren," Pat Fry added, having also worked with Raikkonen at the British team.

"He was very sensitive to the front of the car -- when he and Montoya were together, I think we had about seven different front suspensions for the season. To get the most out of Kimi, you need to give him the car to do it," he said.

The FIA Wednesday confirmed that the Korean Grand Prix has been officially axed from the 2015 Formula 1 schedule.

The Korean race that was held at International Circuit in Yeongnam was added to the schedule, at least on a provisional basis, last month.

Days later, Formula 1 boss Bernie Ecclestone admitted the race had to be put on the calendar for legal reasons even though he confirmed local organisers 'would rather it not happen'.

The news means that the 2015 calendar is down to 20 races, as expected.

There is now a three-week gap between the Bahrain race on April 19 and the start of the European leg of the season in Spain on May 10.

2015 Formula 1 calendar (revised):

March 15: Australian GP
March 29: Malaysia GP
April 12: Chinese GP
April 19: Bahrain GP
May 10: Spanish GP
May 24: Monaco GP
June 7: Canadian GP
June 21: Austrian GP
July 5: British GP
July 19: German GP
July 26: Hungarian GP
August 23: Belgian GP
September 6: Italian GP
September 20: Singapore GP
September 27: Japanese GP
October 11: Russian GP
October 25: United States GP
November 1: Mexican GP
November 15: Brazilian GP
November 29: Abu Dhabi GP

From press release

Porsche signalled their intent early on in the build-up to the 2015 Hankook 24 Hours of Dubai, by topping the timing the timing sheets at the end of the first free practice session of the event on Wednesday at Dubai Autodrome.

The Fachs Auto Tech Porsche 997 of Otto Klohs, Martin Ragginger, Jens Richter and Sven Muller setting the early pace, with a best lap time of 1m59.170 and with it suggesting that Porsche intend repeating the win scored last year by Stadler Motorsport Porsche.

Trailing the pace setters by a mere 0.118 was the KPM Racing Aston Martin in the hands of Paul White, Stefan Mucke and Jonny Adam.

Two times winners in Dubai, the Abu Dhabi by Black Falcon Mercedes of UAE driver Khalid Al Qubaisi, Jeroen Bleekemolen, Bernd Schneider and Andreas Simonsen were third quickest, 0.342 of asecond off the leading Porsche.

For teams the Wednesday free practice was optional and only 66 of the 95 entered teams took to the track. The session was used mainly to shakedown the cars and for drivers to get track time ahead of a busy schedule on Thursday with practice from 11:30 to 14:45.

Wednesday Free Practice Top 5:
1. Fach Auto Tech 2 Porsche 997 GT3 R - 1:59.170
2. KPM Racing 1 Aston Martin Vantage GT3 - 1:59.288
3. Abu Dhabi Racing Black Falcon Mercedes SLS AMG GT3 - 1:59.512
4. Stadler Motorsport Porsche 997 GT3 R - 1:59.745
5. Ram Racing Mercedes SLS AMG GT3 - 2:00.196

From GMM

The collapse of Marussia and Caterham may be the definite end of an era in formula one, according to the sport's newest team entrant.

American Gene Haas, basing his 2016 outfit in North Carolina, is also setting up camp in the UK, probably at ailing Marussia's Banbury facility.

He told F1 business journalist Christian Sylt that work in England will begin shortly.

"We are moving right ahead and in January we are going to start having a few employees in the UK," Haas is quoted by the report in Autoweek.

His business model, however, will be vastly different to that of Marussia and Caterham, who tried to compete with F1's established and grandee teams as full constructors.

"Our business model in Formula 1 is based on our NASCAR race team where we use other people's engines and chassis," Haas said.

"If Caterham doesn't come back there are going to be nine teams so we will be the tenth team and I don't think Bernie is going to allow start-up teams anymore."

Gene Haas said Caterham and Marussia's failure shows that the old model of smaller teams "just doesn't work".

"I look at it and say it is insanity," he said. "If you want to become a doctor, you have got to spend 10 years going to medical school. You've got to learn from somebody. That's why we have partnered with Ferrari."

Gene Haas with Ferrari's boss. (Photo: WRi2)

Tweaks to the rules have made Haas' new approach possible, where significant support and components can be supplied by a parent team like Ferrari on top of the basic customer 'power unit'.

And Haas said the tie-up with Maranello could also help Ferrari.

"I think they would like to partner with somebody that can give them some feedback, so if we can provide value to them I think then that this will work out very well," he said.

"It is basically an experiment to see if this new way of doing things is beneficial and also whether a new team can be competitive. To me the new teams are just so far behind that they can't even catch up," added Haas.

"If we do it right we will look like geniuses. If we can get it half right that would be pretty awesome."

Improving the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's vehicle defect analysis and recall system is the top priority of the agency's new administrator, who also vowed to petition Congress for additional resources and authority to bolster the...

Infiniti released the first detailed image of the Q60 coupe concept it will showcase at the Detroit auto show.

BMW plans to add touch-screen and gesture recognition to its next-generation iDrive human-machine interface.

A former executive with Japan-based supplier Toyoda Gosei has agreed to plead guilty to a conspiracy charge and serve just over a year in prison for his role in fixing the price of automotive hoses sold to Toyota.