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From GMM

Felipe Massa has tipped his former Ferrari teammate to dominate Kimi Raikkonen at the great Italian team in 2014.

Maranello marque Ferrari replaced the long-serving Brazilian with Finn Raikkonen, its 2007 world champion, over the winter, with Massa having to move to the once-great British team Williams.

Ferrari justified the move on the basis that Massa couldn't support teammate Fernando Alonso's title-charging points hauls on a regular enough basis, but the 32-year-old thinks Raikkonen will also struggle alongside the Spaniard.

Having tipped Alonso to beat Raikkonen while talking to the Italian press at Jerez, Massa explained: "Because he's very intelligent and has already grasped the new rules.

"He (Alonso) knows what he needs to do to be fast from the beginning," he is quoted by Speed Week.

"He combines talent with brains. He really is clever, and that is what you need for rule changes as drastic as these," added Felipe Massa.

Fernando Alonso and Kimi Raikkonen, the two drivers of the F14-T. (Photo: Ferrari)

However, Massa said Raikkonen cannot be completely ruled out.

"Maybe the new Ferrari will be better suited to Kimi's driving style," he admitted. "We'll find out."

There have also been doubts about whether Alonso, formerly the clear number 1 alongside Massa, will be able to work harmoniously alongside Raikkonen, the last Ferrari champion.

But team boss Stefano Domenicali said he was "very pleased to see" how harmoniously the pair had worked together at the Jerez test last week.

Alonso also revealed that he spent some days at Maranello with Ferrari's returnee recently.

"We had some fun evenings," he is quoted by Italy's La Gazzetta dello Sport.

"There will be a total sharing of data between us, which is what we are used to at Ferrari," Alonso insisted.

"Every day I had every lap of telemetry from Kimi, and he will also have mine. And what I'm trying here at Jerez, he will try in Bahrain," he added last week.

As 2013 becomes nothing more than an interesting (to say the least) memory, I find myself looking back upon the highlights. As I ponder its ups and downs, delayed flights and busted deadlines, one memory keeps popping up as being the greatest, the most exhilarating, one that I would do all over again. And again. And again...

I got to careen through the Austrian and Italian Alps in a Mars Red 1991 Audi UR Quattro.

In my career, I've had the good fortune of driving some exceptional cars including a pair of Porsche 356s, some ‘90s AMG Mercedes cars, and one 1967 Cadillac DeVille Convertible. I'm quite the fan of the old-school car, be it American or Japanese; however, I will admit to having a strong penchant for the Germans.

Photo: Mathieu St-Pierre

Land of RS
This Audi event that started in Innsbruck, Austria, for our wave of the 2013 Alpen Tour brought together some of Audi's most sought-after cars, namely the all-new RS Q3, RS 5, RS 6 (my baby!) and RS 7. The icing on the cake (or is that the cherry?) was the subject of this story: the legendary Audi Quattro.

With few cars to drive and many eager auto-journo fingers wanting to grab the keys to the Quattro, I could not be more thankful to my friend Cort at Audi Canada for having secured the keys to the car for us four Canucks who hoped for nothing less than to live this dream we shared.

Old school is the good school
When the time came, I was handed the simple key to door and ignition and immediately felt like I was getting reacquainted with an old friend. You see, my beloved 1992 VW Jetta GTX shares numerous parts and basic technologies with the Quattro, the first of which are the door handles.

Once in the car, my heart melted, my grin widened, and my palms got clammy. My sinuses also reacted: the smells were the same as those found in my Jetta. I cannot explain in better terms what it is I was going through.

Truthfully, I'd driven two UR Quattros in Canada before this one, but both were in rough shape and in various states of tune. The prospect of tackling Alp Mountain passes in a Quattro that was factory maintained put my mind at ease, and possibly raised my confidence to a level that I would normally not allow it to climb to in an older car.

Five alive
I scarcely had the time to really think about it as the moment the turbocharged 2.2L I5 churned to life, my conscious self became possessed with what surrounded me. As I write these words, my skin is crawling, my hairs are standing on end; this was automotive magic.

Slipping the shifter into first gear and easing off the clutch was no more a chore than it is in my Jetta, despite the presence of beefier mechanicals. The first few metres were covered at a reasonable speed, as numerous Audi peeps watched me drive off. The moment I left the parking lot, I put the hammer down.

To expect this car to take off like a V8 R8 would be foolish. My anticipations of what 220 horsepower could do to 1,380 kg (3,036 lbs.) were spot on. The Quattro is far from being blisteringly fast, especially when lined up along side the RS 7 (the 30-year evolution is reality-crushing), but the go is entertaining to say the least, but not as much as the growl emanating from the 5-pot and flowing out the twin tailpipes.

A 5-cylinder engine has a very distinct wale that is neither wide nor deep, but gurgly and unruly. Either way, its song is prettier than Sarah Brightman's...

Another lovely sound, although mostly muffled, was the turbo's whistle. Its spooling music was always welcomed and served as the precursor to the coming of more power. Turbo lag was not as fierce as one might expect which further increased the level of buoyancy in both the car and I.

Photo: Mathieu St-Pierre

Rallye prepped
As the 5-cylinder's revs climb in 1st or 2nd gear, so does its nose, lifting from the ground as the weight transfers to the rear with haste. To say that the Quattro is “soft” would be wrong. Remember that this car was in part conceived to tackle the worst roads as a rallye car; therefore, wheel travel was a must.

Despite bodyroll, the Quattro would never lose its grasp of the surface below its rubber unless seriously induced into oversteer with throttle lift-off and some steering action. The car was far more content with being neutral or with a little too much speed, plow conveniently into understeer.

Quattro love
The Quattro's Quattro AWD system delivered exactly what it has always promised. A number of the mountain passes were wet (we even encountered snow), but the Dunlop SP Sport 9000 tires were always being put to good use as power would shuffle front to back.

The 1991 Audi Quattro's brakes were never doubted. In spite of being relatively small in size by today's standards, they never completely faded, at least not while I was driving. By driver No. 3, the Quattro had been pushed very hard climbing above the clouds -- and what goes up, must come down. It was only well within the downhill race that they began smoking, somewhat.

Boxy FTW!
And now, a word on the car's looks: Sublime. On the car's cabin: Perfect. On the scenery: Nice.

Seriously, flared or boxed-out fenders are one sure-fire way to get my attention and to make me whimper. It's no small wonder I slapped WRX sedan front fenders on my WRX station wagon, but this is another story...

In reality, all proportions are period perfect and I'm especially enamored with the 15”x 8” wheels. Mmm, so hot! The sunroof, I would do without...

Enough of that.

Audi Tradition
Manufacturers who make vintage cars available for drives always impress me. The pride in their past demonstrated by these acts of kind generosity are some of the best moments I've ever experienced.

Spending half a day with the Audi Quattro was akin to meeting a life-long hero, one that inspired and gave hope to the world. The Quattro has been one of my heroes for just over 30 years, and I was honoured to make his acquaintance in the Alps.

Photo: Mathieu St-Pierre

In order to reduce the amount of microparticles in the air, Yu Shaocai, a professor at the University of Zhejiang, China, came up with this solution: equip buildings in Beijing with a giant sprinkler system.

Say again?

Apparently, by watering the various facades, air pollution within the city would decrease from 89.5 to 35 milligrams per cubic metre. Used water would be collected at ground level, after which it could serve a new purpose.

Yeah, that makes environmental sense...

Source : caradisiac.com

After making its world debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show last November, the all-new Maserati Ghibli appeared in an epic 90-second commercial titled "Strike" during yesterday's Super Bowl.

As the company's first 4-door midsize luxury sports sedan, the Maserati Ghibli uses a 3.0L twin-turbocharged V6 engine rated at 404 horsepower, allowing it to sprint from 0-100 km/h in 4.8 seconds. You can already buy yours from $89,000.

From GMM

The reason for F1's controversial move to a 'double points' finale has emerged, after the sport haemorrhaged 50 million television viewers late in 2013.

That is the claim of F1 business journalist Christian Sylt, even revealing in the Wall Street journal an almost 9 per cent audience decline in dominant world champion Sebastian Vettel's native German market.

F1 chief executive Bernie Ecclestone confirmed that the less healthy television numbers are due to "the less-than-competitive nature of the final few rounds" of 2013.

The news also shows why Ecclestone is pushing so hard for the 'double points' concept to be trebled to the final 3 races of the season, despite the fan backlash.

Photo: WRi2

Mercedes' Toto Wolff, however, likened the backlash to a "sh**storm" and said the fans cannot be ignored.

"Was it (double points) the right move? 99 per cent of our fans and spectators thought it was the wrong move so perhaps it is something to revisit," he told reporters at Jerez last week.

"(But) things need to be done when you see TV audiences dipping, you need to try out things," Toto Wolff acknowledged.

Multiple sources report that a new 3.0L diesel V6 -- codenamed ''Lion'' -- will join the new Ford F-150's lineup when the truck gets its mid-cycle update somewhere around 2018.

In related news, Ford pickups and selected SUVs will soon receive an all-new 10-speed automatic transmission. Rumours also suggest that the 2015 Ford F-150's groundbreaking new aluminum body will later be found on the Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator.

Source : autos.ca

Photo: Ford

From GMM

Niki Lauda has hit back at Bernie Ecclestone's attack on Mercedes and F1's new, greener and quieter era.

In an outburst last week against the sport he heads, F1 chief executive Ecclestone said the farcical events of the opening test at Jerez proved his fears about the energy recovery-powered V6 era were founded.

He even dismissed the argument that F1's new regulations save fuel, insisting: "Mercedes are taking 23 trucks with them everywhere. If they really wanted to save fuel they should stop that".

Former triple world champion Lauda, now the chairman of the Mercedes team, hit back at Ecclestone's comments in the German newspaper Bild.

"I don't understand what Bernie said," the great Austrian started.

"The decision to go with the new engines was taken jointly, by everybody, five years ago. To criticise now makes no sense," said Niki Lauda.

Opel signed a labor agreement with employees at three German factories in a sign of smoother relations between management and the work force, who have clashed over how to return the unit to profitability.

Seven hedge funds sued Wolfgang Porsche and Ferdinand Piech, members of Porsche Automobil Holding's supervisory board, seeking $2.4 billion of compensation over the aborted purchase of Volkswagen.

Reports in France suggest that PSA is to cut output of its 208 model at its Poissy plant in France. The move is being seen as part of the company's plan to reduce its overcapacity in Europe.

Lear has reported fourth quarter sales of US$4.3bn, up 14% from a year ago and full year sales of US$16.2bn, up 11% from a year ago. It also forecasts increased sales and earnings in 2014.

BMW applied its technology and knowledge of vehicular aerodynamics to redesign the bobsleds used by the U.S. men's and women's teams.

Here's another sign that Akio Toyoda is ready to go on the offensive.

Snow and bone-chilling weather likely hurt U.S. auto sales in January but should not prevent the industry from continuing its rebound, analysts said.

Nissan may consider a sportier version of its Qashqai compact crossover along the lines of the Range Rover Evoque.

One of Formula One's brightest engineers has confirmed his retirement.

Ross Brawn's future in F1 had been in doubt ever since Paddy Lowe arrived at Mercedes earlier this season.

The 59-year-old, who won titles with Benetton, Ferrari and Brawn GP, ended up going on a sabbatical at the end of 2013. Speaking during a fishing event this very weekend, he confirmed this sabbatical would be permanent.

"What they didn't realize when I was invited (at this fishing event in Aberdeenshire) was they had a scoop because the world's press was trying to find out if I was retiring or not," Brawn is quoted saying by the Telegraph.

"I'm retiring - it's not tongue in cheek."

Ross Brawn (Photo: WRi2)

The Briton, who after his years of Ferrari glory with Michael Schumacher also took the 2007 season off and then came back with Honda, is therefore not planning any third stint in F1. Actually, he is not planning anything for the moment, except fishing.

"I'm going to take a year to enjoy the fishing and then see what life brings. I'm looking forward to it but I've got no other plans.

This ends weeks of speculation regarding Brawn's potential involvement with McLaren, which recently parted ways with its team principal Martin Whitmarsh. Eric Boullier, the former boss of Lotus, is now the most likely candidate to replace Whitmarsh.

From WRC

Two-time Rally Sweden winner Mikko Hirvonen fears next week's event could be tough for tires as soft snow will place high demands on studded rubber.

After a mild start to 2014, heavy snow fell in the Varmland area this week but there is little ice protecting the roads beneath the white stuff.

Stud retention could be an issue if the spikes tear up the roads and exposed gravel rips them from their mountings to leave minimal traction.

Mikko Hirvonen, M-Sport Ford Fiesta RS WRC (Phot: Andre Lavadinho)

“I believe there is about 40cm of snow so we'll have good winter conditions,” said Hirvonen. “But there's not much ice underneath so if it stays like that it's going to be really tough for tires.”

Hirvonen, rally winner in 2010 and 2011, was encouraged after a 450km test in a Ford Fiesta RS at Kall in northern Sweden ended today. It was the 33-year-old Finn's first loose surface test since returning to M-Sport from Citroen.

“The Fiesta didn't feel so much different from what I remember when I drove it before. It was always good on fast stages, it was always one of our strong points and it feels the same.

“The roads at Kall were good and it was perfect preparation to find the pace and get a good feeling with the car on fast roads,” Hirvonen told wrc.com.

Audi's Oliver Jarvis will race in the Japanese based Super GT series in 2014.

The 30-year-old signed with the SARD team to share a Lexus RC F with Hiroaki Ishiura.

"(Audi sees) it as a benefit if their drivers are busy competing in a professional and challenging environment," Jarvis is quoted saying by Autosport and Motorsport magazines.

"With new cars in Japan and the programme that I will have with Audi, it made sense to do it now, because if I didn't it would probably never happen," he also said.

Jarvis has experience racing in Japan, including a season of Japanese Formula 3 in 2007. The Brit also raced in Asian Le Mans Series in 2009.

Lexus RC F (Photo: Toyota)

From Lapcevich Racing

Jeff Lapcevich and the Fastline Motorsports team will return to NASCAR Canadian Tire Series competition in 2014. The Grimsby, ON veteran will once again partner with Tim Hortons for a landmark 25th season.


“I can't express how honored I am to once again have the support of Tim Hortons. They've supported our team for the last 24 seasons, I'm sure our 25th year together is going to be a great one”, said Lapcevich.



The team will look to open up 2014 on the same note they departed the 2013 campaign with, after a podium finish in the final event at Kawartha Speedway.



Jeff Lapcevich, Canadian Tire Motorsport Park (Photo: Lapcevich Racing)

“2013 was an exciting year for us. We had a brand new road course chassis and had performed a bunch of upgrades to our oval chassis over the off-season. In many ways, it was a season of experimenting and finding just how far we could push our equipment to get the results we needed. After all that we've learned, I feel as though we have a phenomenal package for our 2014 season and I can't wait to hit the track and start testing”



A schedule has yet to be finalized, though Lapcevich anticipates it will closely resemble his 2013 season, with the team tackling the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series' Ontario and Quebec stops. The manageable campaign will allow Jeff to stay close to home and aide his sons Cayden, Treyten and Ryden as they continue their own driver development.

In addition to support from Tim Hortons, Lapcevich would also like to welcome back Castrol, Cathcart Trucking, Springers Meats and Troy Cove Marine for the 2014 season.

From Audi Motorsport

Audi Sport customer racing has gained a prominent new customer.

After two years of racing with the McLaren MP4-12C GT3, Sébastien Loeb Racing will now race a pair of Audi R8 LMS ultra.

The privateer team, which is the brainchild of nine-time WRC champion Sébastien Loeb and businessman Dominique Heintz, finished the French GT Championship and the FIA GT Series as the overall runner-up last year.

For 2014, Loeb Racing has again planned an extensive GT program, of which we still don't know anything at the moment.

Audi R8 LMS Ultra (Photo: Audi)