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From press release

The FORMULA 1 GRAND PRIX DU CANADA announces today the return for the third consecutive year of its popular trios, which offer different seats, in three different grandstands, at three different spots around Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve, one seat for each of the three days of the event.

And something new has been added for next year's race, which will be held on 5, 6 and 7 June 2015: one of the trios, called “ECONO”, will be on sale for as little as $255. The other two trios, “POLE POSITION” and “SENNA”, will be on sale for $525 and $485, respectively. Trios are going on sale this Wednesday, October 1st, and they can be purchased until December 31st, 2014. Supplies are limited.

“POLE POSITION” trio
Once again sold for $525, the “POLE POSITION” trio includes a reserved seat at the start-finish line (Grandstand 1) on Sunday 7 June, the day of the 2015 FORMULA 1 GRAND PRIX DU CANADA.

It is a unique opportunity to see for yourself important moments of the race, like the formation of the starting grid, the start of the race itself and the action in the pits during the Grand Prix. On the previous day, Saturday 6 June, “POLE POSITION” trio ticket holders will have witnessed qualifying at the Hairpin (Grandstand 15), and both free practice sessions on Friday 5 June at the Senna corner (Grandstand 12). Each day, ticket holders will be able to follow all the action around the track on our giant screens.

“SENNA” trio
On sale for $485, the unique ”SENNA” trio offers reserved seats at both ends of the track, at the Hairpin and the Senna corner, as well as seats across the track from pit lane on Saturday 6 June for qualifying. On 5 and 7 June, the latter being the day of the race itself, “SENNA” trio ticket holders will enjoy two very interesting views: first, on Friday, they will see drivers going around the Hairpin from Grandstand 15, and on Sunday, they'll follow all the race action at the Senna corner from their seats in Grandstand 12. Each day, ticket holders will be able to follow all the action around the track on our giant screens.

“ECONO” trio
Very affordably priced at $255, the “ECONO” trio gives ticket holders seats in areas of the track known for their overtaking opportunities on 6 and 7 June. During qualifying on Saturday, ticket holders will have a reserved seat in Grandstand 31, just across from the Pont des Îles chicane.

On Sunday, race day, they'll enjoy a reserved seat in Grandstand 33, located in front of the Canadian Pavilion chicane. On each of those two days, ticket holders will be able to follow all the action around the track on our giant screens. On Friday 5 June, ticket holders are encouraged to show up bright and early at the track to grab a non-reserved seat in the Popular Grandstand, located at the exit of the Hairpin and the start of Casino Straight. The Popular Grandstand does not have a giant screen.

We remind you that right from the start, trios have been very much appreciated by amateur photographers who can enjoy different views of the track and immortalize the F1 cars as they race past them, as well as all the other on-track events.

Fans who wish to purchase one or more reserved or popular grandstand seats, a trio of different seats or general admission tickets for the next edition of the FORMULA 1 GRAND PRIX DU CANADA, which will be held on 5, 6 and 7 June, 2015, may call the box office at 514‑350-0000 or 1-855-790-1245, seven days a week between 9am and 8pm.

Tickets can also be purchased on our secure websites at www.circuitgillesvilleneuve.ca and www.admission.com.

Honda has revealed the first image of the V6 turbo hybrid power unit it is developing ahead of their 2015 Formula 1 return with McLaren.

Progress on the new engine has reached 'prime phase', with the Japanese manufacturer now running full bench tests of the power unit and its connected energy recovery systems.

"At this time, we are unveiling an image of our power unit that is under development - the whole team is concentrating on this development, getting ready for the forthcoming start of F1 participation in six months," said Honda's motorsport chief Yasuhisa Arai.

"In addition to conducting simulations, we have moved onto the next stage where we conduct full-fledged bench tests of the engine while connecting the turbocharger and energy recovery systems. In the meantime, our racing operation base in Milton Keynes, United Kingdom, has become fully operational."

Photo: Honda Racing

2015 drivers
Yasuhisa Arai told Sky Sports News HQ that no decision has been made on who will drive for McLaren in 2015.

There had been speculation that McLaren would announce their drivers for next season at Suzuka, but Arai expects other topics to be on the agenda than the futures of Jenson Button and Kevin Magnussen.

“We are constantly talking about which drivers we would like to see and whilst McLaren is here in Japan it is only natural that we organise some meetings with McLaren,” he told Sky Sports News HQ. “But I don't think we will be discussing the topic of drivers given that nothing is decided.”

From GMM

The best way to make F1 cars harder to drive is to make them faster.

That is the view of retired grand prix veteran David Coulthard, following reports the sport's governing FIA is concerned the challenge of driving an F1 car today is 'too easy'.

That view has intensified recently as the age of F1 rookies, for instance the newly seventeen year old Max Verstappen who will drive on Friday at Suzuka, plummets dramatically.

"The FIA ... is said to be examining ways of making F1 cars harder to drive," correspondent Kevin Eason wrote in The Times.

"As drivers have become younger and leaner, F1's leaders are worried that the sport is no longer the highest examination of driver talent, skill and strength," he added.

It is part of why the FIA has suddenly clamped down on so-called 'driver coaching' over the pit-to-car radios, to end the appearance that the cars are even being piloted by remote control by engineers and boffins.

Start of the 2014 British Grand Prix. (Photo: WRi2)

But Coulthard, whose own F1 career began just as the great Ayrton Senna's so tragically ended, thinks the FIA is wide of the mark to think radios are to blame for the sport's problems.

"It (the clampdown) seems to be the answer to a question that no one was asking," he said in a column for the F1 sponsor UBS.

"I wasn't really aware of any grumbling," said the 43-year-old Scot, who today is a pundit for British television.

"In my opinion, if you want to make the cars harder to drive, make them faster. It is ironic that they are trying to find ways of making life more difficult for the drivers when the actual cars are slower than they were back in 2004," added Coulthard.

Red Bull Racing pitwall. (Photo: WRi2)

The former McLaren and Red Bull driver even thinks the radio clampdown is counterproductive, as it removes one of F1's "technological advancements" only to replace it with "another layer of bureaucracy and red tape".

"f someone offered you the chance to get rid of internet banking and go back to just making all your transactions the old-fashioned way, via a cashier, would you accept? Of course you wouldn't," said David Coulthard.

"It would be a retrograde step; wilfully ignoring technology that already exists and that everyone was perfectly happy with anyway. As for the drivers I spoke to in Singapore last weekend, some were for it, some were against it, some were not fussed either way. I think that just about sums this whole issue up. It's all a bit of a nothing," he added.

Caterham Formula 1 Team confirmed Wednesday that Kamui Kobayashi and Marcus Ericsson will race for the team at this weekend's Japanese Grand Prix.

Spaniard Roberto Merhi will take part in his second official Formula 1 session with the team during Friday's first morning practice at Suzuka.

“I'm very happy to be driving in another FP1 session with Caterham F1 Team. I want to thank the team for this opportunity - after my first outing a month ago in Italy, I am now looking forward to another 90 minutes in the car,” said Mehri who will be driving a Renault-powered CT05.

“I will not be starting from zero like last time, so I will be able to get up to speed quicker. I have never driven in Japan, so I will need to learn the track at the same time as I continue to get used to the car, but it's a dream come true to be able to drive at such a special track like Suzuka, I just can't wait for it to be Friday!”

Robert Mehri, Caterham CT05-Renault. (Photo: WRi2)

From GMM

Simona de Silvestro's road to Formula 1 appears to have ended.

Until now, the 25-year-old female Swiss driver was a Sauber tester, testing one of the Hinwil based team's older cars with unique 'Clean Air Energy' branding.

The former IndyCar driver had also been linked with a F1 debut in Friday morning practice in Austin next month..

However, her F1 career hangs in the balance after negotiations to resolve a contractual dispute between her management and the Sauber team broke down

"Simona's driving programme will not continue for financial reasons on her side," a spokesman for the Swiss team confirmed.

"Everyone who has worked with Simona over the past six months is very disappointed.

"We are currently examining other possibilities," the spokesman is quoted as saying.

British magazine Autosport understands she will retain her status as an affiliated driver.

Simona de Silvestro, Sauber (Photo: De Silvestro Facebook)

Canadian race car driver Chase Pelletier will be representing the Team Canada Scholarship at the 43rd Annual BRSCC British Formula Ford Festival, October 25/26.

Announced today by scholarship founder Brian Graham, Pelletier will fly to England this October to contest the world renowned Formula Ford Festival held at Brands Hatch.

Ontario's Chase Pelletier entered this season his second season of F1600 racing making his focus the Ontario based Toyo Tires F1600 Championship as well as competing in the newly created “Super Series”.

With several podium finishes under his belt he went into the final rounds of the Super Series with a shot at the championship and put his most impressive weekend of the year together when he won both ends of the double header and claimed the inaugural Super Series Championship.

As in the past, Cliff Dempsey Racing will be the host team for the Canadian squad.

From GMM

Team boss Toto Wolff is not 100 per cent sure Mercedes will head into the 2015 season with an unchanged driver lineup.

With Nico Rosberg already under contract into the longer term, his teammate Lewis Hamilton is among those drivers speculatively linked with a sensational switch to the new Honda era at McLaren beginning next year.

Recently, a slight disagreement between Briton Hamilton and Mercedes became apparent after Wolff indicated talks for a new contract beyond 2015 had been "frozen".

"Well, I haven't said that I was freezing anything," the 2008 world champion said last month.

It is rumoured Hamilton might be tempted to leave Mercedes if his teammate Rosberg, with whom relations are already intensely strained, wins the 2014 title.

Toto Wolff has also warned that if the pair cannot find a way to work together effectively, Mercedes might need to rethink its 2015 lineup.

Toto Wolff, Mercedes AMG. (Photo: WRi2)

It is a theme Austrian Wolff appears to have returned to in the days before the Japanese grand prix.

He told Germany's Sport Bild that the Brackley based team's driver lineup for 2015 is only "99 per cent" guaranteed at this stage.

"You have to hold something back because exceptional circumstances can always arise. In life, nothing is ever 100 per cent for sure," said Wolff.

He insisted yet again that contractual talks with Hamilton have indeed been frozen for the time being.

"On both sides we had the desire and decided to postpone the issue, because the championship is so intense," Wolff said.

"Rather than be discussing commercial issues, we want to get to the end of the season. And then the first thing we will do is sit down with Lewis and hopefully everything will be in the bag for the years after 2015," he added.

From Formula1.com

Speaking ahead of this weekend's 2014 Formula 1 Japanese Grand Prix, Raikkonen pinpointed qualifying in Singapore as the chief cause for his optimism.

"In Singapore, we finally had the speed to put together a quick single flying lap in qualifying, as the car behaved the way I'd been hoping for," the Finn told Ferrari's official website.

"It was just a shame we could not maximise the performance of the car because of a minor issue before the last flying lap (in Q3). It meant we could not do much in the race, as I was stuck in traffic and couldn't exploit my pace.

"But for me, the positive thing that weekend was I finally had a good feeling from the car, something I had been waiting for a long time this year."

Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari (Photo: Ferrari)

Raikkonen admitted it is not yet clear how Ferrari will match up to their rivals in Japan this weekend, but said the technical Suzuka circuit suits his driving style - as evidenced by his past success at the track.

"It's a high power circuit, but also technically very challenging, so we are looking forward to see how our car goes there compared to the front running teams," Raikkonen added.

"I like Suzuka a lot. It's an old-school type of racing circuit, the sort that always gives me the best feeling. I'd have to say my favourite is Spa-Francorchamps, but Suzuka comes very near in my ranking. Apart from my first ever time in Japan and Suzuka, when I was driving for Sauber and had to retire after crashing with Alesi, I have finished every single race in Japan and I have got some really good results, as well. Winning the 2005 race was one of my best ever drives."

From GMM

Honda has apparently hit back at rumours its 2015 F1 programme is facing delays.

Italy's Autosprint reported on Tuesday that, despite making an audacious bid to lure Fernando Alonso to McLaren for 2015, the Japanese manufacturer is three months behind in the development of its all-new turbo V6 'power unit'.

Apparently hitting back at that speculation on Wednesday ahead of the Japanese grand prix at Honda-owned Suzuka, the carmaker revealed the first image of its 2015 engine.

Photo: Honda Racing

At the same time, Honda's F1 chief Yasuhisa Arai said the 2015 engine project is now entering the "prime phase" in Japan, and will now undergo "full-fledged bench tests" connected to the turbo and energy recovery systems.

"In the meantime, our racing operation base in Milton Keynes, United Kingdom, has become fully operational," he announced.

Not only that, Speed Week is reporting on Wednesday that Mercedes - McLaren's current engine supplier - has given McLaren permission to debut the Honda V6 at the post-Abu Dhabi grand prix test next month.

That is despite Honda's Arai having said just weeks ago that the engine will in fact not make its debut until the first winter test of 2015 next February at Jerez.

"There is obviously a lot of work behind the scenes with our new partner for next year," McLaren team boss Eric Boullier said recently in Singapore.

"We have not exactly defined when and where we will test first, to be clear about some discussions and rumours. There is a lot of work going through and, to be honest, as per the original schedule, everything is fine so far."

GM Canada is recalling 17,481 Cadillac SRX crossovers from 2010-2015 because the rear suspension toe link jam nuts may not have been tightened to specification. If the vehicle is operated in this condition, the toe link nuts could loosen and eventually separate, allowing the rear wheel to turn inboard or outboard.

If this were to happen, handling could be affected, potentially resulting in a crash.

Dealers will therefore inspect and ensure the rear suspension toe link nuts are tightened to specification. If required, the rear suspension toe link will be replaced.

Source : Transport Canada

Infiniti has released the first official pictures of the all-new Q80 Inspiration concept ahead of its public debut at the Paris Auto Show on Thursday.

Standing 5,060mm long and 2,010mm wide, the Q80 Inspiration sedan offers a unique head-up display system for both the driver and front passenger, and a touchscreen for each rear passenger.

Under the hood is a 3.0L twin-turbo V6 engine mated to an electric motor. Total output is 550 horsepower.

This new engine is smaller and more potent, and serves as a precursor to a family of engines that will be introduced to the Infiniti portfolio within the next two years.

"Q80 Inspiration is a concept vehicle, but there is a production intent associated with it," said Francois Bancon, Infiniti Vice President of Product Strategy. "The naming of the car indicates that something like the Q80 Inspiration will be in our portfolio of the future. This vehicle will inspire all of our future products."

Source : infinitinews.com

Photo: Infiniti

Ford Canada today announced that 1,000 hourly jobs will be created at its Oakville assembly plant in Ontario to produce the all-new 2015 Ford Edge, which will go on sale early next year.

Through a $700 million investment, Oakville is now one of Canada's most competitive and advanced global manufacturing plants, able to meet growing demand in North America and around the world.

The new jobs will bring total employment at the plant to more than 4,000 by the end of this year. Ford already added 300 jobs in 2013 to meet growing consumer demand.

“The new 2015 Ford Edge sets a new standard in its class and will show countries around the world Canadian quality at its best,” said Joe Hinrichs, Ford president of The Americas. “New jobs at Oakville Assembly will strengthen our investment in Canada and increase our capabilities as we gear up for one of the most anticipated launches at Ford.”

The Oakville assembly plant currently manufactures the Ford Edge and Flex, along with the Lincoln MKX and MKT. The 2015 Ford Edge will be exported to more than 100 countries worldwide. It's all new from wheels to roof and is loaded with more technology, higher levels of craftsmanship and greatly improved vehicle dynamics.

Source : Ford Canada

Photo: Ford

The Mercedes AMG Formula 1 Team confirmed Wednesday the news of a new partnership with Hugo Boss, effective from 1 January 2015 onwards.

Hugo Boss, a market leader in the upper premium and luxury global apparel market, becomes a team partner of the Mercedes F1 team, and the team's official supplier of lifestyle and formal wear clothing.

Photo: Mercedes AMG

Hugo Boss is therefore leaving McLaren after 33 years.

The German company will create high-performance teamwear and develop a 'BOSS for Mercedes-Benz Collection', inspired by the Formula 1 team, which will be available twice a year featuring high-end menswear fashion.

Nico Rosberg already had a personal sponsorship from Hugo Boss when he raced in GP2 in 2005. (Photo: WRI2)

“It's not a sports car. It's a Sedona”

Kia's U.S. division is launching a multiplatform marketing campaign to promote the all-new 2015 Kia Sedona.

“Race Track” is the first in a series of ads that playfully challenge the stereotypes and conventions of high-end, high-performance vehicles and the people who drive them. The new Sedona is portrayed as “not what you'd expect” and “not a compromise” before the campaign tagline -- “It's not a sports car. It's a Sedona” -- appears.

“The element of desire was a major theme in the design and engineering of the all-new Sedona, and our campaign was conceived to signal that something different is going on at Kia,” said Tim Chaney, vice president of marketing communications at Kia Motors America. “Sedona brings new levels of style and sophistication to a bland and predictable segment for the growing number of people who do not want to be confined by the conventional design limitations of the category."

Looks can be deceiving indeed!

Source: Kia

From GMM

Kamui Kobayashi has retained his race seat at Caterham for his home grand prix this weekend.

As the team seeks new sources of income in the wake of founder Tony Fernandes' shock mid-season exit, the Japanese driver lost his place to Andre Lotterer at Spa in August.

It was expected that Roberto Merhi would then replace Kobayashi in Monza and beyond, but - despite his Friday outing at Monza - the 23-year-old Spanish rookie is yet to secure his mandatory super license.

Caterham announced on Wednesday that Merhi will return to Friday duties this weekend at Suzuka.

It is good news for Kobayashi, who therefore gets at least one more race outing for the Leafield based team in front of his adoring home fans in Japan.

Kamui Kobayashi, Caterham CT05-Renault. (Photo: WRi2)

Popular and highly rated yet substantially unsponsored, Kobayashi's future beyond the Japanese grand prix is much more clouded.

"He knows that he has open doors at Caterham," new team boss Manfredi Ravetto told F1's official website last week.

"Obviously he knows that he also has to deliver this year. He has to help us to achieve the P10 that we are targeting."

It is a quite different story for the heavily sponsored Marcus Ericsson, as the 24-year-old has enjoyed an uninterrupted 2014 season and solid prospects of retaining the seat next year.

"We don't want to lose Marcus," confirmed Ravetto, "because the team invested in him in his rookie time and now wants to harvest on this investment, as we think that he will be able to deliver."

From GMM

The fate of the German grand prix venue at the fabled Nurburgring is once again in serious doubt.

Recently, we reported that after the embattled circuit was bought for a reported EUR 77 million, it was in the throes of promising talks with Bernie Ecclestone over a new long-term F1 race contract.

But it then emerged in late August that the buyer, a Dusseldorf company called Capricorn, had missed the deadline on its latest due payment to the Rhineland-Palatinate state.

"We still expect the sale to go ahead," a spokesman for the financial recovery experts in charge of the Nurburgring insolvency said at the time.

Aerial view of the Nurburgring.

But now, another alarming report about the health of the Nurburgring buyout deal has emerged.

The respected German business magazine Wirtschaftswoche claims Deutsche Bank has withdrawn its financing for the Capricorn transaction, meaning a new buyer for the Nurburgring is now being sought.

The news could become official later on Wednesday, when the European Commission rules on whether the Capricorn deal is even lawful.

A spokesman for the liquidator told Wirtschaftswoche that he could not comment for reasons of "confidentiality".

Deutsche Bank also would not comment.

But the report said the liquidator has already been in talks with alternative buyers, last Thursday in Berlin and on Monday in London.

A spokesman for HIG Capital, a US-based group, said: "We have the money and we stand by our (previous) offer."

From GMM

With five full races to spare, Mercedes this weekend has its first opportunity to wrap up the 2014 constructors' world championship.

Utterly dominant this season, the German team is 174 points clear heading into Suzuka, meaning a one-two on Sunday with Red Bull scoring fewer than 3 points would wrap it up with Sochi, Austin, Brazil and Abu Dhabi still to run.

"Every single one of us wants to finish 2014 in style," confirmed team boss Toto Wolff.

Mercedes is also the overwhelming favourite for the drivers' title, but the close battle between Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg and a marked record in the reliability stakes means that Daniel Ricciardo remains remotely in the running for now.

Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg, Mercedes W05. (Photo: WRi2)

Red Bull's Dr Helmut Marko is keeping the pressure high, insisting that the tension between Hamilton and Rosberg still threatens to derail the silver team.

"This peace (between the drivers) is not real," he exclaimed to the major German daily Bild ahead of the Japanese grand prix.

"Eventually, Hamilton and Rosberg will be side by side again, and when they see it is the title in front of them, there are no more rules," added Marko.

"And when the silver arrows explode again, we will be there to beat them."

Marko also hopes Mercedes' poor reliability record of late, including former championship leader Nico Rosberg's steering wheel failure in Singapore, continues to worsen.

"Further losses for them plays in our favour in the championship fight," said the outspoken Austrian.

"Mercedes can still throw the championship away."

Short and sweet: sometimes it's best. Leave on a high note; get out while they still appreciate you, and all that. With a lifespan of just five years, the Hyundai Genesis came in with rear tires burning, and it's looking to leave the same way -- on that high rubber-burning note.

Why even show up in the first place? Well, Hyundai desired that ever-popular and sought-after young-buyer vote of confidence. Reaching for the cool appeal, Hyundai released the Genesis Coupe, its first rear-wheel-drive sports car. On the heels of the Tiburon that left something to be desired in terms of performance and boy-racer appeal, the Genesis Coupe checked all the right Gen Y boxes.

Now, as we prepare to say goodbye to the peppy two-door number, I got behind the wheel of a high-performing Genesis Coupe 3.8 GT.

To check out our full review, head on over to Auto-Venus.com.

Photo: Miranda Lightstone

From GMM

Jos Verstappen has moved to ease the pressure on his son's shoulders ahead of the Japanese grand prix weekend.

The former F1 driver is already in Japan, where his newly seventeen year old son will make history at Suzuka as the youngest ever driver to participate in an official grand prix programme.

Young Verstappen's maiden appearance will only be in Friday morning practice, ahead of his full race debut next year with the same Toro Rosso team.

Still, the pressure is intense.

"The whole motor sport world will be looking at what Max is doing," said his father Jos, "but he must take it easy and not drive straight away on the limit."

Jos and Max Verstappen. (Photo: WRi2)

42-year-old Verstappen, with over 100 grand prix starts to his name, knows well the challenge of the fabled Suzuka circuit.

Max revealed: "My dad has raced at Suzuka many times and he told me it's not an easy track to start on."

So Verstappen senior is trying to play down the obvious pressure and the high expectations, after Dr Helmut Marko recently compared Max with the legendary Ayrton Senna.

And F1 legend Sir Jackie Stewart has now said Max has the potential to be a "superstar".

Jos said: "No one should expect Max to turn the world upside down on Friday.

"Laptimes are not important," he is quoted by the Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf. "It's much more important for Max to just do his laps. Max will be driving a new car to him, which is very different to the 2012 version. And he's also starting at Suzuka, which is not an easy task."

Magneti Marelli Holding USA, the Italian parts supplier owned by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, has opened its first exhaust systems plant in the United States, the company said.