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Robert Kubica announced today that he was definitely returning to the WRC in 2015.

The Pole committed himself to another full season, aboard a Ford Fiesta RS WRC, co-driven by Maciek Szczepaniak and sponsored by LOTOS.

The identity of Kubica's team, however, will only by confirmed later.

The former F1 driver, who considered returning to circuit racing, says he decided to stay in rally, because that's where he could find the biggest challenge.

"After analysing the situation I decided to continue in WRC, where the challenge for me is still the biggest," Kubica is quoted as saying by WRC.com. 


"It took me a long time to make this decision, but there was no pressure at all. I wanted to be sure about it and I did not want to rush. There will be some more new things to come, but I will announce them later."

Robert Kubica is dedicated to his rally career (Photo: WRI2)

From GMM

The future of the historic grand prix at fabled Monza has taken a blow this week, according to reports in the Italian press.

F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone warned earlier this year that the existing Italian grand prix contract, running only until 2016, is a commercial "disaster".

And now, more bad news for Monza has emerged from the government, Italian newspapers including La Stampa reveal.

It is about the so-called 'legge di stabilita', or stability law, in which a decision of the senate has made the collapse of the Italian grand prix beyond 2016 reportedly more likely.

Reports said an amendment of the law allowing a tax exemption to the tune of about EUR 20 million has been ruled out.

Politician Fabrizio Sala is quoted as saying: "The stability law penalises Monza and its Autodrome, putting at risk the future of the formula one grand prix".

But former F1 driver Ivan Capelli, who this year became a director of the automobile club of Milan, vowed to fight for the Italian grand prix.

"Our commitment to find the resources needed is clear," he insisted.

From press release

Young Dutch racing driver Beitske Visser announced a new deal today, that will see her racing in the Formula Renault 3.5 series again in 2015, with AVF.

Last year, in her debut season with Adrian Valles' team, she scored points on two occasions to finish 21^st in the standings.

"I can't wait to go back in the car and start preparing for the next World Series Renault 3.5," said the 19-year-old woman.

Beitske Visser signed a deal extension with Adrian Valles (Photo: beitskevisser.com)

"So far it's been a great challenge, with some up-and-downs and experiences, but thanks to the great job done by my engineer and by all the AVF personnel I made constant steps that enabled me to get closer and closer to the front end of the charts."

"We are happy to continue the work stared this year with Beitske in 2015," added Valles.

"She joined us after running with the small Formula ADAC Masters cars and she did a great job, growing up consistently and demonstrating that she can be a top-10 runner."

From GMM

Ferrari has changed its tune over the issue of track testing in formula one.

Historically, since the sport drastically cut down on the allowed amount of private and official testing on cost grounds, Ferrari has argued stridently against the new era.

But Maranello is now run by a new president, Fiat-Chrysler's Sergio Marchionne, alongside the former Marlboro executive and new team boss Maurizio Arrivabene.

On Monday as they sat with reporters, it became clear Ferrari's stance about testing has dramatically changed.

Fiorano, Ferrari's private test track (Photo: WRI2)

"We have talked about it," Marchionne said, "but the tests on the track will not be reintroduced."

Ferrari's new stance might be related to vast investments the team has made since the dawning of the 'no testing' era, for example in the realm of state-of-the-art simulators.

And an all-new facility at Maranello will be opened in mid-January, Germany's Sport Bild revealed.

But Marchionne explained: "The costs associated with this (allowing more free testing) would be detrimental to the already stretched budgets of more than one team.

"Having this kind of activity would only increase the scope of what is already a very serious situation for a number of teams," he added, "in what is a less than encouraging global situation."

From GMM

Ferrari has denied blocking the appointment of former long-time president Luca di Montezemolo to be the new chairman of the F1 Group.

With current chairman Peter Brabeck reportedly wanting to step down for health reasons, it was claimed Ferrari's recently-ousted Montezemolo was the favourite for the role along with former Diageo chief Paul Walsh.

But international reports have suggested that Montezemolo, despite now stepping up as a non-executive director on the Formula One Group board, had his potential chairmanship blocked by the 'veto' enjoyed by the new Ferrari president Sergio Marchionne.

But Italian reports quote Marchionne as denying he 'vetoed' Montezemolo's move to the top job.

"In the F1 Group there is only one president, and that is Ecclestone," he said.

"Ferrari can only be opposed to that appointment.

"As for Montezemolo, there was the proposal, but if there was the opposition of Ferrari it would only be for reasons of expediency with our competitors, as he led Ferrari for 23 years," Marchionne explained.

"It was about fair play. It was like if suddenly I went to be the president of Volkswagen," he explained.

Marchionne says he did not approve Montezemolo becoming chairman of the F1 Group. But he did not block it (Photo: WRI2)

"I would also have opposed the appointment of Jean Todt to the FIA for the same reasons. That choice had no consequences, but that does not mean that it was correct.

"I would have opposed it on principle," Marchionne added.

As for 67-year-old Montezemolo, who was ousted in 2014 and subsequently became the Alitalia chief, Marchionne commented: "He did a great job and I respect him a lot.

"But the world has changed, just as the world will have changed when it is time for me to go."

Marchionne was also asked on Monday about suggestions F1's V6 engine formula could be scrapped altogether for 2016.

"(That is) difficult," he answered, "as it must be decided by March and the costs would be high.

"We will keep these power units, as I think they are called, trying to get more and more power from them."

BMW AG today expanded its recall nationally to include another 140,000 vehicles that have potentially faulty driver-side airbags, in cooperation with NHTSA.

Several automakers, led by Chrysler, will be working overtime during the Christmas and New Year's holiday period at North American plants that build SUVs, crossovers and pickups, signaling confidence that the U.S.

Honda Motor on Monday (22 December) began sales of a new minivehicle called N-Box Slash, the fifth model in its N series, in Japan.

The new Spin Activ is the first mass-produced Chevrolet in Brazil to gain the 'adventurous look' - effectively SUV off-roader looks minus the actual off-road ability.

General Motors received 104 claims for compensation for ignition-switch defects in its cars in the past week, bringing the total to 2,430, according to the official administering the compensation program.

Output of engines by UK automakers fell 12.6% year on year to 202,132 in November "as impact of retooling for new models continued", according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).

The Daimler group has joined the GENIVI alliance, bringing the number of OEM members to 13.

Harman International Industries announced it had signed anagreement to acquire S1nn, a German developer of infotainment systems, connectivity and car audio solutions.

Visteon Corporation will show a range of new connected vehicle technologies and services at the 2015 International CES, in Las Vegas from 6 to 9 January, 2015.

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