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New DTM champion, Marco Wittmann not only will see BMW produce a BMW M4 DTM Champion Edition in his honour, but will also complete a Formula 1 test for the Scuderia Toro Rosso team.

“I am delighted that we can also make his childhood dream come true with the Formula 1 test. Thanks to the relationship we enjoy with our premium partner Red Bull, it was possible for us to organise a test drive in the Toro Rosso,” said BMW Motorsport Director Jens Marquardt.

“To have my contract as a BMW works driver renewed and receive a Formula 1 test - that is a dream come true for me,” said Wittmann.

“The test in the Scuderia Toro Rosso F1 car will definitely be an amazing experience,” he added.

Toro Rosso STR9-Renault. (Photo: WRi2)

From GMM

Williams reserve driver Felipe Nasr linked with a race seat for 2015.

Felipe Nasr admits he is "upset" to have missed out on this year's GP2 title to Jolyon Palmer.

But Brazil's Globo claims it is possible that, with the help of his sponsor Banco do Brasil, the 22-year-old might have a chance to debut in 2015 with Lotus or Sauber.

"For next year the plan is to be in formula one," Felipe Nasr confirmed. "With my manager we have started some negotiations. We are talking to some teams," he added.

Felipe Nasr, Williams. (Photo: WRi2)

Hans Werner Aufrecht, chairman of DTM rights holder and promoter, ITR e.V. Sunday said in Hockenheim that the some technical and sporting rules would be changed for 2015.

“2014 was a good year; a very good one, in fact. We have seen exciting and races and plenty of overtaking. Still, we have a lot of work to do during the wintertime, because we also saw that the fans weren't 100% satisfied with us, especially during the first half of the season”, said Aufrecht in a DTM press release.

“[Next year] we will no longer have option tires, there is an agreement on that. Our tire partner Hankook has produced a nearly perfect tire that the drivers really liked. However, it didn't bring the additional excitement to the races that we wanted,” Aufrecht said, adding that action was a bit difficult to follow because of the mandatory tire switch during the races.

Hans Werner Aufrecht. (Photo: DTM)

The big boss of the DTM also admitted that the race director also took some controversial decisions this season, taking too many of too few calls.

“We have to make the regulations easier and more evident. That is what the representatives of the manufacturers and the DMSB officials are currently working on with great commitment. The drivers are involved in this process, too, because they are the ones who have to race with these regulations,” Aufrecht declared.

BMW, Audi, Mercedes-Benz, the three constructors involved in DTM. (Photo: DTM)

From nascar.com

In a must-win situation at Talladega Superspeedway, Brad Keselowski did exactly that, preserving his NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship hopes with a victory in Sunday's GEICO 500.

With the right side of his car damaged in the wreck that brought out the first caution flag of the afternoon, Keselowski persevered, taking the lead during the first attempt at a green-white-checkered-flag finish and winning the race in the second overtime—after a wreck that ended the title run of Keselowski's former boss, Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Keselowski won his series-leading sixth race of the season, his third at Talladega and the 16th of his career.

Brad Keselowski (No. 2) battling with Ryan Newman. (Photo: Getty Images for NASCAR)

That alone propelled him into the Eliminator Round of the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup on a day that saw three of the four Hendrick Motorsports drivers—Earnhardt, Kasey Kahne and six-time series champion Jimmie Johnson—fall by the wayside.

Matt Kenseth finished second, leading Clint Bowyer, Landon Cassill and Ryan Newman.

Matt Kenseth, Ryan Newman, Denny Hamlin (18th), Jeff Gordon (26th) and Carl Edwards (21st) joined Contender Round winners Logano, Kevin Harvick and Keselowski in the Eliminator Round, which opens next Sunday at Martinsville.

Kyle Busch, victim of an early wreck, joined Earnhardt, Johnson and Kahne as drivers knocked out of the Chase.

From GMM

Force India Formula 1 team has a radical suggestion about how F1 should proceed in the sport's Pirelli-tire era.

Earlier in the Italian supplier's F1 tenure, Pirelli was famed - and often heavily criticised - for spicing up the race action with its aggressive tire compounds.

That has changed dramatically in 2014, as the marque responded to the often-explosive events of last year and the arrival of high-torque turbo V6 engines.

The last race in Sotchi, Russia, for instance, was notable for its lack of drama.

Track designer Hermann Tilke insists he is not to blame.

"Pirelli brought very conservative compounds," he told Germany's Auto Motor und Sport. "When they are bolder again with the selection of tires, it will look different again."

Indeed, while Pirelli was earlier criticised for being too aggressive, now it is taking criticism for being too conservative.

So hard was the original compound selection for Brazil next month that Felipe Massa said it might even be "dangerous" in cold or damp conditions.

After Massa's comments, Pirelli did a U-turn and will now take softer tires to Interlagos.

"After further technical analysis of the impact of the revised circuit surface, together with a risk assessment suggesting a low probability of compound overheating due to extreme track temperatures, we have made this change with the unanimous agreement of all 11 teams," Paul Hembery confirmed.

Sahara Force India selecting tires. (Photo: Pirelli)

But all the fuss about compound selection might disappear if the teams have more control, according to Sahara Force India's sporting director Otmar Szafnauer.

He told Auto Motor und Sport: "Why not let each team choose their own two tire options?"

Szafnauer said a rule change along these lines would lead to more overtaking.

"One car will be faster, another will be running longer. It would make the races exciting," he said.

Pirelli, however, has played down the likelihood of the proposal getting the green light.

"First, it would be a logistical nightmare," said Hembery. "And then there is the danger that some teams will get it wrong.

"And if the (wrong) tires are a safety problem, we are the ones who get the blame, not the teams," the Pirelli chief added.

From GMM

Dominant Mercedes is unapologetic amid increasing pressure to agree to an engine 'unfreeze' for 2015.

The new constructors' champions came under fire recently when Red Bull's Christian Horner claimed Mercedes went back on an earlier pledge to agree to relax the sport's tight restrictions on in-season engine development.

"Sometimes you have to reset your own interests and do what is best for the sport," Horner is quoted by Auto Motor und Sport.

Given Mercedes' utter dominance in 2014, the consensus among the German marque's rivals is that at least one mid-season engine performance upgrade should be allowed.

Christian Horner said: "Our opinion is that it would not be much more expensive, and it will not affect the customers. This technology is still very new, so it would give everyone the chance to sort out their problems.

"Our (Renault's) power deficit to Mercedes is so big that we cannot erase it overnight. What are Mercedes afraid of?" Horner asked.

"Nico Rosberg showed with his drive through the pack in Russia how superior that package is. They should not be afraid of competition."

Mercedes AMG engine V6 turbo hybrid. (Photo: WRi2)

Mercedes F1 chairman Niki Lauda, however, is unapologetic about the team's new position amid the increasing pressure.

"If it really is the case that we now think differently than we did in Singapore," he said, "then I say that we made a mistake.

"We did our sums again and concluded that we cannot deliver the same for all of our customers, and especially not at the same price, as is required by Bernie (Ecclestone)," Lauda revealed.

Italy's Omnicorse claims Mercedes is preparing to make a bold step forward for 2015, when the existing F1 rules allow engine manufacturers to change up to 48 per cent of the 2014 design.

The report said Mercedes has developed with partner Bosch an upgrade of the turbo pressure to a maximum of 500 bar, as allowed by the regulations. Omnicorse said the 2014 turbo is limited to little more than half that figure.

From press release

Sahara Force India Formula One Team is pleased to confirm that Nico Hulkenberg will continue to race with team for 2015.

The 27-year-old German returned to Sahara Force India at the start of 2014 and has enjoyed his most successful Formula One season to date. With points finishes in 13 races, including four fifth place finishes, Nico remains one of the most exciting drivers on the Formula One grid.

Otmar Szafnauer and Nico Hulkenberg. (Photo: Sahara Force India)

Vijay Mallya, Team Principal and Managing Director: "Everybody in the team is delighted to see Nico remain a Sahara Force India driver for next season. We rate him very highly and he has done a tremendous job this year by consistently picking up crucial championship points. We know him extremely well: he's a true racer and he knows how to motivate the team. I am convinced he is one of the best talents on the grid and I am proud that he will continue to race in the colours of Sahara Force India."

Nico Hulkenberg: "It's good to confirm my plans for next season. This is a team I know extremely well and we've enjoyed a great year together with some special results. The team has big ambitions and I believe we can have a competitive package once again next year. We have a strong partner in Mercedes and everyone in the team is motivated and hungry for more success. I have a good feeling for 2015 and there is a lot to be excited about as we try to build on the results we have achieved this year."

From GMM

Jean Todt has called for patience in the wake of critically-injured Jules Bianchi's recent Suzuka crash.

Since the Frenchman struck a recovery vehicle in controversial circumstances during the Japanese grand prix, speculation about responsibility for the crash has been widespread.

The Italian press has been particularly critical.

"The world has 200 countries. Each has its own ideas," FIA president Todt told La Gazzetta dello Sport.

"There was this reaction by the Italian media, but it is different in Germany and the UK," he insisted. "So let's wait for the commission."

He is referring to a group he has put together to thoroughly investigate what happened at Suzuka before, during and after Bianchi's crash, and how F1 should respond.

"Let's wait for the findings before judging," Jean Todt urged.

Jules Bianchi's crash. (Photo: WRi2)

He said some of the facts of the crash "in hindsight seem obvious, but fate can always lead to dramatic consequences," he said.

"As I said after the accident: for years now we have seen terrible accidents without serious consequence. But that was not normal. It was a miracle. We must never take anything for granted or relax when it comes to safety," he insisted.

Meanwhile, 68-year-old Todt was asked if he will seek a third term once his current tenure as FIA president expires.

He answered: "I still have 39 months before me, but I am no longer a young man."

From GMM

Sebastian Vettel behaved impeccably in 2015, despite plotting his Red Bull exit and being outclassed by his teammate.

That is the claim of Daniel Ricciardo, who having established himself as an undisputed F1 star with three wins this year is now set to become the 'number 1' at Red Bull as Vettel prepares to move to Ferrari.

The Australian said that even as he rattled the reigning quadruple world champion's cage in 2014, Vettel dealt with the situation maturely.

"He was very respectful to me on the first day and he remained respectful to me after my third win," Ricciardo is quoted by Brazil's Globo.

"I'm sure he would love to have won this season, so there must be some frustration inside, but he has not shown it at any time.

"It is to his credit that he hasn't said anything to me, or in front of me. Maybe he has behind closed doors, but it was not visible to any of us," he added.

Daniel Ricciardo and Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull Racing. (Photo: WRi2)

Daniel Ricciardo, 25, also said he thinks Vettel will do a good job with Ferrari next year.

"Apart from his driving ability that everyone sees on TV, his work ethic, the way he works with the engineers, is very impressive," he revealed.

"It has been good to see that from behind the scenes," Ricciardo added. "I think if he's going to Ferrari or to any other top team, he will play a strong leadership role."

Meanwhile, Red Bull team owner Dietrich Mateschitz thinks Ricciardo is more than ready to play the same sort of leadership role in Vettel's wake next year.

With Vettel having announced his exit, the Austrian billionaire said: "If we did not have a 'team leader' then the situation would look slightly different.

"But we knew that Daniel would fill these shoes, so things were much easier," Mateschitz is quoted by Melbourne's The Age newspaper.

Frenchman Jean-Eric Vergne has spent the last three season driving for the Scuderia Toro Rosso Formula 1 team. Taking to Sky Sports F1, Vergne said he thinks he has a place in F1.

Red Bull published devastating news for Vergne in August when it announced the arrival of 17-year-old Max Verstappen at Toro Rosso in 2015, assuming that the Frenchman would leave the team.

Jean-Eric Vergne, Toro Rosso, at Monza. (Photo: WRI2)

In Belgium, Vergne told the press “I'm too old at 24', adding he could not understand why Red Bull chose a 17-year-old rookie to drove for Toro Rosso.

“I don't want to understand it. People have their reasons; the same way as I don't want to understand how he [Verstappen] could get the Super Licence,” said Vergne.

“ If Red Bull put him in the car they think he's good, he's talented and he only has to show it in the car. As a team, Toro Rosso are right to put him in the car to give him as much mileage as possible.

“All I understand is that Toro Rosso is there with Red Bull-backing, which is a team to promote young drivers. And it stands that after three years you're not really a young driver anymore and that they need to keep feeding the programme with young drivers. That's what I understand,” he added.

Dr Helmut Marko and Jean-Eric Vergne. (Photo: WRi2)

His former teammate Daniel Ricciardo was promoted to Red Bull Racing.

“I think the reason they picked up Daniel [Ricciardo] was because he was probably more ready mentally and he was probably doing less mistakes. Now, all I know is that they need to promote young drivers, they take me out and I don't fit anywhere because there is simply no place in the Red Bull programme,” Vergne continued.

Vergne confessed he ran a strong race in Singapore, taking 6th place to equal his best result in F1. Could that save his career?

“I really think I have my place in F1; when you look at what Daniel [Ricciardo] is doing, and when you compare ourselves the last two years, we were extremely similar and it was so tight between him and me to go to Red Bull. So that means I have the potential; I came through many difficult moments in F1, you know. I'm sure that when I will have a good car, I will be extremely strong I believe...strong in my head,” he continued.

Jean-Eric Vergne fighting with teammate Daniil Kvyat, Toro Rosso. (Photo: WRi2)

The Frenchman admits that finding a good seat for 2015 will be difficult.

“I mean that the situation is as it is. I'm not a superstar; I've never won a race in F1. Even if I know - and people know - that I can make it, to be in big teams there is a big board of people to decide, that are not probably in the paddock; that just want to have a big name in their car. So it's a little bit tricky you know?” he asked.

When Sky Sports F1 asked him would you have done anything differently, Vergne replied, “No, I don't want to have regrets. I think I've done mistakes that have helped me to be a better driver and that's how it is.”

From the FIA

The composition of a new FIA Accident Panel, as announced by FIA President Jean Todt in Sochi on October 10, 2014 following the accident involving Jules Bianchi at the Japanese Grand Prix, has been established.

The group will carry out a full review of the accident to gain a better understanding of what happened, and will propose new measures to reinforce safety at circuits, with recommendations to be made for the FIA President.

The work of the group will start this week and a full presentation of its findings is to be made at the next meeting of the World Motor Sport Council on 3 December 2014 in Doha, Qatar.

Peter Wright, Chairman of the FIA Safety Commission, has been entrusted with the Presidency of the newly established accident panel, and the full list of panel members can be found below.

Composition of the Accident Panel

Presidency
Peter Wright, President of the Safety Commission

Members
Ross Brawn, former Team Principal of Mercedes F1 Team, Brawn Grand Prix and former Technical Director of Scuderia Ferrari

Stefano Domenicali, former Team Principal of Scuderia Ferrari

Gerd Ennser, Chief Stewards' representative

Emerson Fittipaldi, President of the FIA Drivers' Commission, F1 Steward

Eduardo de Freitas, WEC Race Director

Roger Peart, President of the Circuits Commission, President of the ASN of Canada, F1 Steward

Antonio Rigozzi, Advocate, Judge at the International Court of Appeal of the FIA co-opted by the teams

Gérard Saillant, President of the FIA Institute and President of the Medical Commission

Alex Wurz, President of the GPDA, drivers' representative

Ford is to invest an additional GBP190m at its Dagenham London site to produce a new advanced technology 2.0-litre diesel engine for cars and commercial vehicles.

Ford is inviting suppliers to help benchmark other companies' vehicles and parts before Ford launches new models -- a move that is starting to pay dividends.

The advent of autonomous cars is forcing automakers to rethink the traditional proving ground and strike a balance between existing test tracks and the realities of today's bustling cities.

The owners of a small dealership near New York City have won a legal challenge stymieing General Motors' bid to terminate his franchise, a ruling that could help other dealers targeted by automakers for subpar sales.

Ford is inviting suppliers to help benchmark other companies' vehicles and parts before it launches new models. Ford has performed the benchmarking program twice over the past year for the next Fiesta and Focus cars.

From press release

Formula E has today released previously unseen footage of its pre-season race simulation at Donington Park involving all 10 teams and 20 drivers.

The race simulation was one of two undertaken during July and August as part of preparations for the season opener in Beijing last month.

Organizers have chosen today to release the footage as it coincides with the original date for the Putrajaya ePrix (Round 2) before the race was moved to its new date of November 22.

The race simulation, which included a full standing start and car change pitstops, marked the first time the 10 teams ran all four of their fully-electric Spark-Renault SRT_01E cars, with the day following the same timetable as all one-day Formula E events.



Benoit Dupont, Formula E Sporting Manager, said: "Although only an event simulation, it was still a fantastic sight to see all 20 Formula E cars accelerating towards the first corner for the very first time.

"Both simulations were essential in checking all systems were working as they should, and with the gap in the calendar, today seemed the perfect time to release this previously unseen footage to fans as we head towards the Putrajaya ePrix."

Ken Block will be back in a WRC car for the first time in over a year, next week-end in Spain. His aim is to simply enjoy the experience.

Block has spent his time mostly doing rallycross this year, which means he's only had the time to do one stage rally in 2014: the 100 Acre Wood, in the Rally America series.

He knows getting back in a WRC car will be a challenge.

"I haven't had any seat time in (a WRC car) in over a year so I'm certainly at a bit of a disadvantage compared to the rest of the field," Block told WRC.com.

"But I'm doing this event for fun, the stages in Spain are absolutely amazing, as are the fans."

Ken Block, Ford Fiesta RS WRC (Photo: Facebook)

Friday, Block covered 170 kilometres of testing behind the wheel of an M-Sport Ford Fiesta RS WRC.

"Things went really well and I got back up to speed driving and listening to notes," Block wrote on his Facebook page.

"The day went perfect except for one small off because of a wheel/tire issue (had to put the car in a ditch to save it). Zero damage though, minus the tire. Gotta say, it was a good day!"

In 22 seasons of Formula 1, Sauber has never had such a difficult year.

That is the claim of team principal Monisha Kaltenborn.

Having yet to score a point in 2014, the Hinwill based team is behind even back marker Marussia in the manufacturers' standings.

"I would say it's the worst season we've had," she told Crash.net

"We've had seasons before where for quite a while in the season we were last or second last, but yes, being there without points and in some situations circumstances resulting to it which are out of our control makes it very difficult to react in any way.

"So, yes, I think the worst season."

Kimi Raikkonen, Nick Heidfeld, Sauber C20. 2001 (Photo: WRI2)

Interestingly, in 2000, Sauber scored just 6 points on its way to 8th place in the championship.

The following year, with Nick Heidfeld and Kimi Raikkonen, it bounced back and scored 21 points to secure fourth, its best ever result as a privateer team.

Many people are still on the team today, and Kaltenborn is confident the team can bounce back again.

"Well we see ourselves here next year and we will also definitely be in a better shape," she said.

From DTM.com

Both Canadians racing in the German DTM championship received post-race penalties, Sunday in Hockenheim.

The stewards of the meeting added 30 seconds to Robert Wickens race time as a substitute for a drive-through penalty. The Mercedes-Benz driver got the penalty for causing a collision with Augusto Farfus (BMW).

As a result, Wickens drops back from eighth to 17th place. Due to this decision, the Canadian loses valuable points and drops back from ninth to twelfth place in the final drivers' standings.

Robert Wickens, Mercedes C-Coupe (Photo: DTM.com)

Bruno Spengler was also penalized by the stewards of the meeting after the race.

After a collision with Daniel Juncadella, the Canadian deliberately had braked so hard that the Spaniard couldn't avoid a collision. For this unsporting behaviour, Spengler has to do three hours of charitable work, to be carried out in consultation with the DMSB.