Auto News 5

Australian Formula 1 driver, Red Bull Racing's Daniel Ricciardo has launched a brand new product in the karting world, which bears his own name.

"Ricciardo Kart" will be a line of karts, which covers the whole range of categories, from Mini-kart, to Rotax and the CIK-FIA classes (KFJ, KF, KZ).

It will be designed, manufactured and distributed globally by BIREL ART, the new player in international karting, born from the merger of the Birel Group and ART Grand Prix.

In addition to distribution, "Ricciardo Kart" will be present next year with an official racing team in major competitions throughout Europe.

Ricciardo has not only given his name to the different models, but will be involved in the complete design, production and development of the go-kart, providing BIREL ART and customers, all of his experience and his passion.

The first model of “Ricciardo Kart” will be presented to the public in late November.

From GMM

Jean-Eric Vergne hopes his impressive drive in Singapore will open a rival team's garage door for him in 2015.

Dumped as a Red Bull-backed driver, the Frenchman will leave the energy drink company's second team Toro Rosso at the end of the season, to be replaced by teenager Max Verstappen.

Vergne, 24, has had a largely anonymous 2014 season alongside the impressive rookie Daniil Kvyat, but in Singapore he left all his regular rivals in the shade with a spectacular drive to sixth place.

The homepage at Faenza based Toro Rosso's website still exclaims 'Vergne Va Va Voom!"

"Wow! What can we say?" the official report reads. "Jean-Eric Vergne delivered one of the best drives of his formula one career".

Jean-Eric Vergne, Toro Rosso-Renault, at Singapore. (Photo: WRi2)

According to France's Auto Hebdo, Vergne hopes Toro Rosso was not the only impressed F1 team on Sunday.

"When you have a good car, that's when you need to show what you can do, and that's what I did," he said.

"I think I showed my potential, I did everything I could. Let's see if it can change things. I keep my fingers crossed for a cockpit for next year with a good team. I really hope so," he added.

According to Italy's Autosprint, one planned update for the STR9 was a new nose, but it did not debut in Singapore due to problems with the FIA crash test.

Anthony Hamilton has urged his son, Mercedes AMG driver Lewis to enjoy the pressure that comes with this year's Formula 1 World Championship battle.

Lewis claimed victory on the streets of Singapore last Sunday while his main championship rival, his teammate Nico Rosberg, suffered a costly retirement.

Hamilton is now leading the championship with a three-point advantage over Rosberg.

Lewis Hamilton, winner in Singapore. (Photo: WRi2)

Speaking to Press Association Sport, Lewis' father Anthony said he feels Lewis has taken to the track this season with a very different mindset to past years, and that is to have some fun.

"He had a plan this year and he's managing himself, that plan, what he wants, really, really well," said father Anthony.

"On occasions I've reminded him and said 'when you think about it, we're in Formula 1, an amazing sport to be in, and never forget it, so enjoy every minute of every day'.

"He'll have bad days but, do you know what, it actually doesn't matter because we are at the top of the greatest sport in the world.

"If there's pressure, that's the bonus that comes with winning, but really this is a life you have to enjoy because you are only here for a short period of time.

"It's great to win, but the key is enjoying it and he is,” Anthony Hamilton explained.

Anthony Hamilton celebrating Lewis' victory at Monza, with Mercedes. (Photo: WRi2)

Father Hamilton has been alongside Lewis during most of his career: in karting, Formula Renault 2.0, Formula 3, GP2 and Formula 1. He admits the pressure of seeing him race still hard to take.

"It's the desire for your kid to be safe and to get what he wants," admitted Anthony Hamilton.

"It's the same feeling I've always had from when Lewis used to be at the back of the grid when he first started go-karting, watching that yellow helmet and thinking 'come through, come through, come on'.

"When it happens it's a great feeling, but the stress level is exactly the same whether it's F1 or karts. It's just unreal. I'm going through the same pain I went through all those years ago - I thought it was over!" he declared.

From GMM

Valentino Rossi, the MotoGP great, says he is still a big fan of formula one.

In fact, the flamboyant 35-year-old nearly switched from two to four wheels in 2006 with a series of Ferrari tests.

"There was still a lot of testing then," Rossi told Italy's Sky, "and so you were able to see your potential and if you really can race in F1.

"I went to Valencia together with Ferrari and it was beautiful," he explained, "very charming but honestly I did not have the heart to stop with the bike because I knew I still had many good years ahead and it was also very risky.

"I've never regretted it," said Rossi, "I think I made the right choice because then I won two more titles."

Valentino Rossi in 2010 aboard the Ferrari F2008 in Barcelona. (Photo: WRi2)

But he said he continues to follow formula one closely today, and currently has a close eye on a couple of promising talents.

"I always follow F1, I really like it," said Valentino Rossi.

"I like Ricciardo and Bottas, they're going very strongly, then there are greats like Alonso and Vettel, who are very good.

"Of course there is Hamilton, who often comes to see the (MotoGP) races, and also so many young drivers who are coming up," he added.

From nascar.com

A reduction in horsepower, a shorter rear spoiler and an optional driver adjustable track bar are among the nearly five dozen changes that encompass the 2015 rules package for NASCAR Sprint Cup Series teams.

After nearly a year of testing and collaboration to arrive at the package, NASCAR officials informed teams of the 2015 changes this week.

Testing
In addition to the changes in "hard parts," NASCAR has banned all private testing by teams for next season. Organizations will be allowed to participate in NASCAR/Goodyear tests only.

There also will not be a preseason test at Daytona International Speedway leading into the season-opening Daytona 500. Teams were expected to be at the 2.5-mile track in January for the annual Preseason Thunder program.

Rain
There could also be qualifying and racing in the rain at Sprint Cup Series events contested on road courses if weather is an issue; and the new qualifying format unveiled this year could see some minor tweaks going forward.

Photo: NASCAR

Engines
The horsepower reduction, from 850 to 725, will be obtained in part through the use of tapered spacers, which are currently used in the NASCAR Nationwide Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.

Flat valve lifters will be replaced with roller valve lifters; lower differential gear ratios (targeting 9,000 RPM) will be in use and the rear spoiler height will be reduced from 8 inches to 6 inches.

An adjustable driver track bar will be optional (the device was tested this summer at Michigan International Speedway); while the size of the radiator pan has been decreased from 43 inches to 38 inches.

Previously announced for 2015 were the move to automated pit road officiating, a new parts approval process and the implementation of an electronic rule book.

Several major auto brands will boost their marketing budgets next year to support busy model launch schedules, a group of executives said at the Automotive News Marketing Seminar in New York on Tuesday.

General Motors hired its first product cybersecurity chief in a move designed to address the growing challenge of providing safe, secure and reliable technology in vehicles.

Boutique British sports car maker Lotus may be due for a pit stop in the U.S. The only Lotus model sold in the U.S., the Evora, is being dropped for the 2015 model year because it no longer meets U.S. federal crash standards.

Infiniti released an image today of a large four-door fastback concept that signals the styling for a stream of new products planned over the next four years.

California Governor Jerry Brown has a moonshot goal for the world's eighth-largest economy as he seeks to lead the global fight against climate change: 1.5 million zero-emission cars on state roads in the next decade.

When it comes to hiring hot young car designers, Detroit's automakers face tough competition from an unlikely but glamorous source: Hollywood.

If you make executive or luxury cars, you're helped by theoretically naturally higher margins than brands in the volume segments can achieve.

Volkswagen Group of America has four vehicles in the running for North American Car and Truck of the Year awards.

Wire harness market leader Yazaki, which paid the largest federal criminal fine so far in a three-year prosecution of automotive supplier price-fixing, also will shell out the largest civil settlement -- $100 million -- in related settlements.

General Motors has now agreed a compensation payout to families of 21 people killed in its cars in crashes related to faulty ignition switches.

Pictures See all 5 pictures 24 Sep, 2014

News 23 Sep, 2014

Infiniti introduces its Mercedes CLS-rival ahead of Paris show and claims it ‘will lead to future model’

News 24 Sep, 2014

Drop-top TT uses retractable fabric roof and will cost around £2,200 more than the Coupe

Mazda, the most famous company from Hiroshima, may have survived the city's infamous atomic bombing on Aug. 6, 1945, quite literally by only a split hair.

Mercedes will roll out at least 10 new plug-in hybrid models by 2017 -- starting with its flagship S-class sedan -- as the premium car manufacturer looks to fulfill strict carbon emission requirements in Europe.