Auto News 5

Mercedes AMG F1 team boss Toto Wolff clearly said he was unsure about the proposed changes to the Grand Prix format.

In Montreal two weeks ago, details filtered about cost-saving plans concocted by the F1 Strategy Group to eliminate free practice 1 next season and run only one track session on Fridays in order to condense race weekends from four to three days.

The F1 Commission, ahead of the World Motor Sport Council meeting next week, which will approve rule changes for 2015, must now approve this and other proposals.

Toto Wolff explained that skipping FP1 was discussed to save money.

“In very few locations you have spectators and we could do a day of media, a day for the promoters, on the Friday and therefore oblige the drivers to do more work on the Friday.

“So the idea came up, let's not do the Friday and save engine and gearbox miles - it's about one engine a year, 3,000km on average - and that is, if not millions, it's at least a million or a million and a half,” Wolff explained.

Mercedes at work during a testing day. (Photo: WRi2)

However, Wolff admitted he is unsure about the proposal as he would prefer to see more running on Fridays.

“Honestly myself I doubt whether it's the right thing because Formula 1 is the pinnacle of motorsport, this is not a weekend entertainment which starts Saturday morning, it is a proper sport,” Wolff added.

“Therefore I tend to follow the opinion that the Friday should be a full-blown test day - but then you don't save any cost, you just add miles.”

From GMM

The hospital in Lausanne, Switzerland, has admitted F1 legend Michael Schumacher could be there for the "long haul".

News that the great German had left Grenoble, where he has been in intensive care since his skiing fall in late December, and is no longer in a coma, was met with elation the world over.

But Britain's Telegraph newspaper cited a source close to the Schumacher family - who are otherwise fiercely guarding the former Ferrari and Mercedes driver's privacy - as confirming the 45-year-old is 'drifting in and out of consciousness'.

And Darcy Christen, the Lausanne university hospital's head of media, confirmed that Schumacher's stay "won't be days. It could be for the long haul".

"The transfer doesn't mean that his condition improved markedly in the last few weeks.

"He is still going in and out of consciousness but he is having more moments of consciousness more regularly than in April. He certainly can't talk but there is some degree of communication.

"His doctors and family speak to him but he gets tired very quickly and needs a lot of rest. So this is kept to a minimum," he added.

Italy's La Repubblica newspaper also quoted hospital sources as revealing that Schumacher had been moved from Grenoble to be closer to his home in Switzerland, and because he no longer needs to be in intensive care.

"It will take a few days for him to stabilise completely, after the transfer," the hospital sources reportedly said. "Then the rehabilitation will begin."

The report also said Schumacher's moments of consciousness are brief, but that he is sometimes able to communicate by using his eyes.

"It will be a very long journey, and it is hard to say what will be the outcome," Christen said. "Whatever happens, it will take a lot of patience."

He said Lausanne's neurology department is headed by field leader Professor Richard Frackowiak, and is one of the best-equipped and modern in the world.

"It combines care and research in the best way. There is no better place for Schumacher at this time," said Darcy Christen.

Alain Prost, the most successful Formula 1 driver to have ever raced at Silverstone and several other fellow drivers will be part of the ceremonies surrounding the 50th F1 Grand Prix at Silverstone.

Having won the British Grand Prix five times (1983, 1985, 1989, 1990 and 1993), Alain Prost is the most successful F1 driver ever to have raced at Silverstone.

His record of five victories is equalled only by the great Jim Clark, whose British Grand Prix wins were split between Silverstone (1963, 1965, 1967), Aintree (1962) and Brands Hatch (1964).

The parades will take place on all three days of this year's event, celebrating Silverstone's 50th Grand Prix in style, as a host of motor sport greats lap the Grand Prix Circuit in cars that have helped shaped history at the famous Northamptonshire Circuit.

Prost will drive the Red Bull RB8, which was driven to victory at the 2012 British Grand Prix by Mark Webber, his second win at Silverstone.

Alain Prost (Renault) and René Arnoux (Ferrari), Silverstone 1983. (Photo: WRi2)

Other legendary cars and drivers confirmed to take part in the 50th Grand Prix parades include:

• Sir Jackie Stewart, driving his 1969 British Grand Prix winning Matra MS80
• Rubens Barrichello, driving the Williams FW07b, a tribute to the 1979 British Grand Prix winning Williams FW07
• David Brabham, driving his late father Sir Jack Brabham's 1960 British Grand Prix winning Cooper Climax T53
• Dario Franchitti in Jim Clark's 1963 British Grand Prix winning Lotus 25
• Adrian Newey who will drive Ronnie Peterson's March 711 from 1971

The ‘Silverstone50' parades are scheduled to take place on all three days of the British Grand Prix at the following times: Friday 04 July - 12:50-13:05; Saturday 05 July - 12:05-12:20; and Sunday 06 July - 11:10-11:25. Timings are provisional and subject to change.

Visitors at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in the U.K. (June 26-29, 2014) will get to see the Ferrari California T and 458 Speciale, not to mention the Ferrari F12 Berlinetta, which will receive the Compasso d'Oro design award.

The Ferrari California T uses a 560-horsepower 3.8L turbocharged V8 engine to sprint from 0-100 km/h in 3.6 seconds. While output is up 70 horsepower from the regular California, fuel economy is 15% better.

Photo: Ferrari

Unveiled at the 2013 Frankfurt Auto Show, the Ferrari 458 Speciale is more powerful than the 458 Italia. In fact, its 597-horsepower 4.5L naturally aspirated engine is the most potent V8 ever built by Ferrari, allowing 0-100 km/h acceleration in a mere 3.0 seconds.

Photo: Ferrari

The Ferrari F12 Berlinetta will return to Goodwood after winning the 2013 International Engine of the Year award in the Performance Engine and Above 4-litre class and the 2012 Top Gear award for Supercar of the Year. Now, it will add one of the oldest and most prestigious accolades in the world of design: the Compasso d'Oro.

Photo: Ferrari

Finally, the Scuderia Ferrari team will be demonstrating the 2009 F60 Formula 1 car driven by ex-F1 driver Pedro de la Rosa. Special guests Kimi Räikkönen and John Surtees will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the latter's F1 Championship title.

Photo: Ferrari

A Tesla spokeswoman ended months of speculation by confirming that the new Model X crossover will enter production early next year. Pricing has yet to be announced, though.

Tesla sent an e-mail to reservation holders on Monday saying the Model X will come standard with falcon wing doors and all-wheel drive. Third-row seating will be optional.

“We'll also deliver a level of functionality and practicality that will exceed what you saw on the concept vehicle,” the e-mail read.

The electric car maker plans to build about 10,000-15,000 copies of the Model X annually. Customers can reserve theirs on the company's website by making a minimum $5,000 deposit.

Be patient, however: As of October 2013, Tesla had already received more than 6,000 pre-orders.

Source : autonews.com

Photo: Tesla

From GMM

Fabio Leimer is at F1's crossroads.

The reigning GP2 champion missed out on a race seat on this year's grid, but Tages-Anzeiger newspaper says he now has a solid offer on the table.

Marussia is offering to make Swiss Leimer, 25, its test and reserve driver with immediate effect.

"He could enter right now as a test driver for Marussia," his manager, Sven-Oliver Mangold, confirmed.

"It has even been promised that next year he will be one of the regular drivers," Mangold added.

He said it will cost Leimer a sponsorship figure in the "low single-digit million range".

Therein lies the problem. Until now, Leimer's career has been bankrolled by the wealthy Rainer Gantenbein, who over the years has ploughed over EUR 15 million into the burgeoning driver.

But Gantenbein said some months ago that he is "no longer willing" to burn money on the F1 dream, because the sport's system of pay-drivers is "sick".

"It's a bottomless pit," he insisted. "At some point you have to pull the plug."

Fabio Leimer, 2013 GP2 Champion. (Photo: WRi2)

Leimer's manager Mangold, therefore, is scrabbling to raise the necessary money before other opportunities also start to slip away.

He said talks with a "prominent Swiss company" have fallen through.

"I always get the same answer: we only sponsor teams, not individual athletes," said Mangold.

In the meantime, the clock is ticking.

"Marussia has suggested (Leimer contest) the test at Silverstone and then to target the next race," said Mangold, referring to the German grand prix next month.

And what if that deadline passes? "Then formula E would be an alternative," he said, amid reports many well-known names are rescuing and rebuilding their careers in the FIA's new all-electric single seater series.

Rockstar Games unveiled the latest downloadable content for and#8220;Grand Theft Auto V Onlineand#8221; on Tuesday.

The Challenger Hellcat melted our eardrums and warmed our hearts when

While PSA, Renault, Ford and Toyota struggle in Europe's D segment, Opel-Vauxhall boasts of 100,000 Insignia orders since the facelifted model was launched at September 2013's Frankfurt show. What's GM Europe's secret ingredient?

While PSA, Renault, Ford and Toyota struggle in Europe's D segment, Opel-Vauxhall boasts of 100,000 Insignia orders since the facelifted model was launched at September 2013's Frankfurt show. What's GM Europe's secret ingredient?

The 2014 Goodwood Festival of Speed takes place from 26-29 June. There will be various vehicle world premieres and this list will be updated as more are announced.

The 2014 Goodwood Festival of Speed takes place from 26-29 June. There will be various vehicle world premieres and this list will be updated as more are announced.

The 2014 Goodwood Festival of Speed takes place from 26-29 June. There will be various vehicle world premieres and this list will be updated as more are announced.

The 2014 Goodwood Festival of Speed takes place from 26-29 June. There will be various vehicle world premieres and this list will be updated as more are announced.

The 2014 Goodwood Festival of Speed takes place from 26-29 June. There will be various vehicle world premieres and this list will be updated as more are announced.

The 2014 Goodwood Festival of Speed takes place from 26-29 June. There will be various vehicle world premieres and this list will be updated as more are announced.

The 2014 Goodwood Festival of Speed takes place from 26-29 June. There will be various vehicle world premieres and this list will be updated as more are announced.

The 2014 Goodwood Festival of Speed takes place in south east England from 26-29 June. This list is being updated as yet more world premieres are announced over the four days.

The 2014 Goodwood Festival of Speed is taking place in south east England from 26-29 June. This list is being updated as yet more world premieres are announced over the four days.

The 2014 Goodwood Festival of Speed is taking place in south east England from 26-29 June. This list is being updated as yet more world premieres are announced over the four days.