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Who else than former F1 Mark Webber can explain the rivalry that exists between the teammates of a Formula 1 team?

During five consecutive years, Mark Webber and Sebastian Vettel fought hard at Red Bull Racing.

During a visit to Red Bull sports show Sport und Talk, Webber described what went so wrong between Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes AMG.

This past weekend, the pair touched on lap 2 of the Belgian Grand Prix, damaging Rosberg's front wing and causing a puncture to Hamilton's left rear tire.

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

“This is not just about one incident in one corner,” Webber said.

“Obviously this whole situation has been brewing like it always does inside the teams and you've got two guys fighting for victories”.

Webber continued: “Well, it's ... a passing move. Nico is trying to have a look on the outside, but it's Lewis's corner.

“At this point (moments before the contact) Nico knows he has no chance to get the move done. It's strange that he tried to come in so tight behind Lewis.

“It wouldn't have been a big deal at all ... it would have been nothing if there was no puncture, but the puncture changed the whole race. In the end both of their races were in trouble,” Webber continued.

Mercedes AMG now made of two teams?
The new Porsche driver thinks that the Mercedes team's management, comprising of Toto Wolff, Paddy Lowe and Niki Lauda, is going to have a tough time getting the pair to work together again.

“Now we have a very difficult situation at Mercedes where the drivers are not enjoying a good relationship,” Webber declared.

“It's going to be interesting, not just for the rest of this year but can they drive together in the future? Is it okay for 2015 for the team to have the two guys together?

“The thing is, who is now going to try to put this back together? Is it the people who pay Niki's and Toto's wages? Because at the end of the day, if the drivers are not listening to these guys, do they have to say, ‘Lewis and Nico, you go chat to the big guys at Mercedes, because they're paying you guys to get the job done in a team environment.' At the moment it's not a team, it looks like the drivers are doing their own thing'. Webber said.

Complexe situation for Niki Lauda and Paddy Lowe at Mercedes AMG. (Photo: Mercedes AMG F1 Team)

Media nightmare in Monza
Webber predicts the Italian Grand Prix in Monza to be a nightmare for the entire Mercedes team.

“The (tought) thing is for the drivers to stay focused on driving the cars now, because for them it's going to be a nightmare. The Thursday, the Friday, all the stuff out of the car, the media ... and this will just keep going up,” Webber explained.

“Let me tell you, when they get to the track, they'll only be thinking about each other. There's no one else really in the race. They are really only focused on beating each other, and that's what happens when you have a car that is so dominant,” Mark Webber told.

The NHTSA has released on its website a vehicle recall search tool based on vehicle identification numbers (VIN).

As of today, consumers may enter the VIN to find out whether their vehicle is under recall (current or past) or whether the recall has already been repaired. Consumers may also find out if a manufacturer has issued specific instructions for a recall.

“This should be a one-stop shop for consumers,” said Jim Schulte, NHTSA's director of digital strategies. “If you have a recall that has not been repaired, this is how you find out.”

This search tool was made available upon the request of several automakers, including General Motors, which has recalled a record number of vehicles this year. According to the NHTSA, 37.5 million vehicles were recalled in the United States in the first six months of 2014, representing more cars and trucks than in any prior year.

Search tool users will be able to retrieve recall campaigns dating back to 15 years. Moreover, the tool will help used car dealers determine whether their vehicles in stock are under recall.

Source : autonews.com

From press release

Peterborough Speedway's 2014 season got underway Saturday, May 17 and with just the Championship Clash - Saturday, August 30 - left to settle the score.

Tyler Junkin and Ryan Babin are deadlocked for the lead in the Peterborough Hyundai Mini Stock title chase at Canada's Toughest 1/3-Mile Oval. Each driver has enjoyed a strong campaign, but know they won't just be battling each other for the crown.

The Mini Stock title tilt won't be the only tight fight to be settled during the Championship Clash.

After last weekend's action, Howie Crowe's advantage over Anthony DiBello in the Paul Davis Systems Thunder Car field is down to just a single point.

Jack Dallin has a 27 marker cushion over defending track champion Bill O'Hara in the Parry Spring Service Renegade Truck division, while Willow Barberstock is 31 points ahead of Ray Schroer for the Battlefield Equipment Rental 4Fun crown heading into the final night of regular season racing at the tight, tricky bullring on Mount Pleasant Road, west of the Liftlock City. The Earl Ireland Auto Sales Late Model contest will also be decided, but it looks like Ryan Kimball's battle to lose as the Norwood, Ontario speedster has a 75-point buffer over Adam Cuthbertson.

Action Saturday, August 30 will also include the crowd favourite OSCAAR Outlaw Super Late Models, who won't settle their 2014 championship until the Autumn Colours Classic. Pit gates open at 2 pm, with the spectator grandstands unlocked at 4 pm and the night's first green flag at 6 pm.

Fans can always find the latest news at www.peterboroughspeedway.com.

Forbes Magazine published the results of a study carried out by the Illinois-based NCIB (National Insurance Crime Board) on the most-stolen new and used vehicles in the United States. By looking at a similar study on the Canadian market conducted by the Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC), we can see that thieves have differing tastes on each side of the border.

Among other things, the study shows that top-selling used cars are stolen more often than new cars. In fact, they are most likely to be taken to chop shops to be stripped into parts, which are subsequently sold over the Internet or to unscrupulous dealers.

Top 10 most-stolen cars in the United States (used):

1. Honda Accord
2. Honda Civic
3. Chevrolet Silverado
4. Ford F-150
5. Toyota Camry
6. Dodge/ Ram
7. Dodge Caravan
8. Jeep Cherokee/ Grand Cherokee
9. Toyota Corolla
10. Nissan Altima

Top 10 most-stolen cars in the United States (new):

1. Nissan Altima
2. Ford Fusion
3. Ford F-150
4. Toyota Corolla
5. Chevrolet Impala
6. Hyundai Elantra
7. Dodge Charger
8. Chevrolet Malibu
9. Chevrolet Cruze
10. Ford Focus

Top 10 most-stolen cars in Canada:

1. Honda Civic SiR (2000)
2. Chevrolet Trailblazer SS AWD (2006)
3. Cadillac Escalade 4WD (2002)
4. Cadillac Escalade 4WD (2005)
5. Ford F-350 Super Duty 4WD (2006)
6. Cadillac Escalade ESV AWD (2005)
7. Acura RSX Type S (2006)
8. Ford F-250 Super Duty 4WD (2007)
9. Ford F-350 Super Duty 4WD (2007)
10. Acura RSX Type S (2003)

Source: ssqauto.com

An accident took place this morning at the building site of the new Toro Rosso factory in Faenza, Italy.

From press release

This morning, at the site where construction of a new building is underway, to become part of the team factory here in Faenza, an accident took place.

Two of the construction workers were injured while working on the second floor, as they fell when the ceiling collapsed.

After receiving immediate attention at the site, both men were taken by ambulance to the Cesena Hospital, where neither men is in a serious condition. We wish them both a full and speedy recovery.

Photo: ToroRosso.com

The intensity of the battle that ranges between teammates and arch rivals Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg led Mercedes and the Briton to postpone their contract talks until the 2014 title is decided.

Rosberg signed a new multi-year contract mid-July. His teammate Hamilton has a contract with Mercedes until the end of 2015, but talks for a renewal have been postponed until things cool down a bit.

"At this stage it is very intense and you have to stay concentrated on the season," Wolff told ESPN F1.

"But one thing is for sure, we are not going to talk to anybody else before having a very clear situation about how we can continue to work with Lewis. This is what we said to each other."

With over a year left on the current contract, Wolff revealed both parties trust each other not to look elsewhere.

"We have no interest of having any other conversation with any other driver, and we are not having any, and Lewis is not having any discussion with any other team,” Wolff indicated.

“That is why we trust each other. At the moment we need to be concentrated on the championship and not get involved in contractual discussions or intense discussions, because it is something that is one and a half years away from us.”

Lotus F1 Team gets a new sponsor for two upcoming Grands Prix.

Multi-national electronics manufacturer Hisense will join Lotus F1 Team for the forthcoming Italian and United States Grands Prix.

The Hisense logo will be posted on the sidepod of the team's E22s as well as on the air box for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

Photo: Lotus F1 Team

The branding is part of a global promotion by the world-leading provider of flat panel TVs, household appliances and mobile communications.

Headquartered in Qingdao, China, Hisense joins the team's portfolio of partners for three of the most popular races of the year, with the Italian Grand Prix taking place at Monza on 5-7 September, the United States Grand Prix at Austin, Texas on October 31-November 2 and the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at Yas Marina on November 21-23.

Photo: Lotus F1 Team

From IndyCar.com

A Verizon IndyCar Series race on a newly configured 13-turn, 2.67-mile road course at NOLA Motorsports Park will debut in April as part of the 2015 season.

The Indy Grand Prix of Louisiana, held April 10-12, will feature a three-day festival combining Louisiana's culture - including live musical acts, entertainment and local cuisine - with the excitement of a Verizon IndyCar Series event.

The race weekend will compliment the French Quarter Festival, a popular music festival held in and around the historic neighborhood in New Orleans.

Earlier this year, the state of Louisiana committed $4.5 million to make enhancements to the racetrack in support of the event. This investment, combined with private funding from NOLA Motorsports Park, helped facilitate required track and facility improvements necessary to host a Verizon IndyCar Series event.

Improvements to NOLA Motorsports Park include a reconfigured course layout, which was designed in collaboration with INDYCAR officials and Verizon IndyCar Series drivers, including James Hinchcliffe and Graham Rahal.

Layout of NOLA track. (Image: NOLA)

From GMM

Alain Prost is confident Renault can bounce back in 2015.

As the new 'power unit' rules took effect this season, Mercedes has utterly dominated its turbo V6 rivals Renault and Ferrari.

The latter Italian outfit, however, is calling on the FIA to relax the so-called 'engine freeze' regulations, whereby substantial elements of the power unit are not able to be changed except for cost, reliability or safety reasons.

But Renault ambassador, F1 legend and quadruple world champion Prost tips the French brand to make big progress for 2015 within the existing rules.

"When I talk to the people from Renault Sport, they say they have the opportunity to make changes to the power unit and that everything will be fine," he told the Russian website f1news.ru.

Renault power unit installed in the Red Bull RB10. (Photo: WRi2)

Indeed, engine homologation of the power unit is in fact being phased in, with a system of 'tokens' meaning that Renault and Ferrari could, in theory, enter the 2015 season with an engine altered by a factor of 48 per cent.

"Of course," Prost said, "the restriction (in the rules) should not be too strict, because otherwise those who did everything correctly from the beginning will just win forever.

"This is not what we need (in F1)," the Frenchman added.

"It does seem possible to improve the engines well enough, but let's see how the situation develops," added Alain Prost.

From press release

Brighton Speedway is ready for the first of three huge events to conclude the 2014 season.

The Southern Ontario Sprints (SOS) will thunder in to Brighton Speedway for two full nights of racing this Labour Day weekend. Lucas Oil, Rock 107, Extreme Rush Adventures, and Mystical Distributing present the SOS for the final time this season on Saturday, August 30 and Sunday, August 31.

Southern Ontario Sprints: The fifth and sixth SOS races of the season at Brighton will decide the 2014 champion. Mitch Brown (No.10b Pro-Fit Health Club) of Brantford, Ont. won the first three races of the year. Glenn Styres (No.0 Case IH Tractors) of Ohsweken, Ont. won the most recent meeting at Brighton on August 9 and enters the final weekend as the points' leader. Brown is second in the championship standings, trailing Styres by 70 points.

Saturday, August 30: The OilGARD Canadian Modifieds, Brighton Automotive Pro Stocks, Bill's Johns Comp 4s and Quinte Septic Stingers will also be in action on Saturday.

The OilGARD Canadian Modified division holds the tightest points battle of the weekly Brighton divisions. Dan Ferguson (No.11 Kilmarnock Enterprise) is the current points leader by 20 markers over Ryan Scott (No.33 J&J Automotive). Andrew Hennessy (No.87 Custom Automotive) is also in the mix, 100 points behind Scott. Doug O'Blenis (No.32 John's Car Care) and Adam Whaley (No.12 John's Equipment) round out the current top-five in the standings.

The Brighton Automotive Pro Stocks are one of two weekly divisions to pull a double header for the Classic Weekend. Point leader Doug Anderson (No.72 Hunt's Bobcat Service) is fresh off his sixth victory of the season. He leads Leslie Mowat (No.2 Cormier's Auto Recycling) and Justin Ramsay (No.03 Empey Tire) for the top spot in the standings.

The Bill's Johns Comp 4s will also pull double duty this weekend, racing on both Saturday and Sunday nights. Rich Sanders (No.29 Fowl Mood Racing) increased his point lead with a win last Saturday night. Brady Greer (No.94 Greer Excavating) remains in championship contention in the second spot ahead of Shelby Mills (No.78 ABC Taxi).

The Quite Septic Stingers have been the victim of rainfall twice so far this season, limiting their on track action. Del MacGregor (No.19 R.Ward Construction) leads the standings on the strength of four feature wins to start the year. Rick Phillips (No.7 Ontario Duct Cleaning) is second in the standings. Chris Lammle (No.95 Lammle Auto Repair) sits third after his win on August 2.

Sunday, August 31: The Southern Ontario Sprints will headline another full card of racing on Sunday evening. The SOS will crown the 2014 champion following their 25-lap feature. The SOS 'Dream' race for drivers who have yet to win an SOS race will run after the primary feature. One driver is guaranteed to pick up their first checkered flag in a sprint car.

At the conclusion of the SOS point race, the sprint cars will remove the top wing and race topless for bragging rights to conclude their season.

The Vanderlaan Building Products Pro Late Models will also compete topless on Sunday. The second-last points race of the season will see the drivers remove the roof. Drivers will have the opportunity to hot lap minus the roof on Saturday, but will not get in to race action until Sunday. Charlie Sandercock (No.57 Bellevue Fabricating) enters as the point leader with two points races remaining. Steve Baldwin (No.5 cigarchief.com) and Phil Potts (No.29 Vanderlaan) occupy the second and third spots in the standings.

Lear agreed to buy automotive leather supplier Eagle Ottawa in a deal valued at $850 million that aims to strengthen the company's global seating business.

Keith Crain, editor in chief of Automotive News and chairman of Crain Communications, will be honored with a 2015 Automotive Lifetime Achievement award at the ninth annual Boca Raton Concours d'Elegance in February.

Mercedes-Benz is ditching the M-class nameplate as part of a comprehensive renaming strategy. When the vehicle receives a face-lift in early 2015 for the 2016 model year, it will be called the GLE class.

Mercedes is renaming the M-class as the GLE class as part of a strategy to align the badges of its SUVs with the most closely related sedan.

Kia plans to produce 'a range' of small cars for markets including the United States at its $1 billion plant in Monterrey, Mexico, after production begins in the first half of 2016, the company said in a statement.

China's ongoing investigation into anti-competitive practices in the country's automotive industry has picked up momentum in recent weeks, with some of the biggest companies in global automotive industry accused of abusing their market position.

BMW scored a coup this month when former Apple executive Tony Fadell became one of the first owners of the new $136,000 i8 plug-in sports car in the United States.

BMW scored a coup when former Apple executive Tony Fadell became one of the first owners of the new i8 plug-in sports car in the U.S. Fadell, who worked with Steve Jobs to develop the iPod, lends some much needed cred to BMW in Silicon Valley.

Subaru hopes the redesigned WRX line will capture a wider customer base with better fuel economy and safety features after spinning off the nameplate from its Impreza stablemate.

General Motors said on Wednesday (27 August) it would spend US$185m to make small petrol engines at its Spring Hill manufacturing complex (once a Saturn plant), retaining 390 jobs. GM also said it would build the next generation Cadillac SRX there, moving the model from Mexico.