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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 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)

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 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.

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".

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.

With gasoline prices plunging, the average fuel economy of light vehicles purchased in the US in December was down slightly from November, a University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute report said.

After a bumper 2014 in Asia-Pacific, buoyed by growth in China's car market, Tony Pugliese considers the outlook for markets in the region in 2015.

Czech new-car registrations jumped 17 percent in 2014 to a record high of 192,314 units, with more growth seen this year.

News 6 Jan, 2015

Lightweight road car set-up for the track to be revealed at this year's Autosport International show

About 1,400 vehicles -- including 1,200 made by Jaguar Land Rover, 65 Minis, and one Rolls Royce Wraith -- could be damaged after a cargo ship carrying them ran aground on a bank in the United Kingdom, according to media reports.

About 1,400 vehicles -- including 1,200 made by Jaguar Land Rover, 65 Minis, and one Rolls Royce Wraith -- could be damaged after a cargo ship carrying them ran aground on a bank in the United Kingdom, according to media reports.

President Obama is scheduled to visit the Detroit area on Wednesday and visit a Ford assembly plant to talk about the auto industry's successes in the five years since his administration rescued General Motors and Chrysler Group.

It's been slow in coming, but the Detroit Electric sports car is taking shape.

AutoNation said its new-vehicle sales jumped 12 percent in December compared with a year earlier, reaching 33,069 vehicles.

UK coastguard authorities are expressing frustration at a lack of information coming from salvors tasked with handling the Hoegh Osaka car ship, which was deliberately run aground at the weekend (3 January) and is currently listing at up to 50 degrees.

News 7 Jan, 2015

Official teaser image confirms the Aston Vantage GT3 we spied in October is on its way to Geneva 2015