Robert Kubica has just been spotted a the wheel of a Ford Fiesta RRC, testing ahead of the 2014 European Rally Championship (ERC) season opener, the Jänner Rallye.
After making his debut in the top category of the World Rally Championship (WRC) at last year's Rally GB, the Pole signed with M-Sport to drive a Fiesta RS WRC in 2014.
The former F1 driver is entering the Austrian based Jänner Rallye as a warm-up for the Monte Carlo, round one of the 2014 WRC season.
Countryman Maciek Szczepaniak will co-drive for Kubica.
As the Formula 1 world prepares for the new 1.6-litre V6 era, Renault Sport's Remi Taffin revealed efficiency was key in developing the now defunct 2.4-litre V8.
In an effort to cut the costs of racing, engine development was frozen in 2007, one year after the start of the V8 era. Each engine also had to run for multiple races, some times up to 2,500km.
Efficiency therefore became the best way to improve performance.
"We could have thought about it at the start of the V8 era," the French manufacturer head of track operations is quoted saying by Motorsport.com, "but at that point we were focused on gaining horsepower.
"(When development was frozen) we went horizontal rather than vertical. We looked at where the energy produced went, for instance.
"More than 50 % (of it was) dissipated in the exhausts. We asked ourselves if we could use this energy."
Renault V8 in the back of a Red Bull RB9 (Photo: WRi2)
The answer was yes, through many small improvements.
"We worked on the throttle timing (and) at the way we use the engine modes, (we) have increased the capability of running lower water, oil flow and higher water and oil temperatures and have improved the fuel efficiency.
"The changes were not extreme, but the results were."
Indeed, Renault-powered cars went on to 59 wins, 65 pole positions and 55 fastest laps in the 8 years of the V8 era.
Michael Schumacher has been injured while skiing in France, media reports said on Sunday.
The incident occurred off-piste at the Meribel ski resort, where the seven time world champion has a chalet.
Former Ferrari and Mercedes driver Schumacher, 44, was wearing a helmet while skiing with his 14-year-old son when he fell and struck his head on a rock.
The German was airlifted to hospital, according to resort director Christophe Gernignon-Lecomte.
"He was in shock, a little agitated, but conscious," he is quoted by RMC Sport.
"It could possibly be a cranial injury but it is not very serious."
Earlier reports suggested Schumacher, who was transported from Moutiers hospital to Grenoble, had suffered a serious head injury.
But after speaking to his manager Sabine Kehm, the major daily Bild reported: "There is no danger to his life!"
Kehm said: "We ask for your understanding that we cannot give continuous information about his health. He was wearing a helmet and was not alone."
New U.S. light-vehicle sales are widely expected to surpass 16 million in 2014 for the first time since 2007, the culmination of a long recovery from the disastrous recession.
New U.S. light-vehicle sales are widely expected to surpass 16 million in 2014 for the first time since 2007, the culmination of a long recovery from the disastrous recession.
The auto industry lost some memorable people in 2013 #8212; among them Eiji Toyoda, Ford's Phil Caldwell, dealers Kjell Qvale and Cal Worthington #8212; and Automotive News lost a beloved member of its family, John K. Teahen Jr.
Hans Werner Aufrecht, an important figure in German motorsport, is celebrating his 75th birthday today, December 28th.
Aufrecht was unlucky enough to join Mercedes-Benz as the company pulled out of motorsport, in the late 1950s. So he started working on a secret project with his friend Erhard Melcher, over which the two men risked their jobs.
If the Mercedes 300 SE racer they were building proved fast, a board member promised them they could race it. If it proved slow, they would have to leave the famous car manufacturer.
The car in question turned out good. So good Aufrecht and Melcher began earning a living from their tuning skills through their humble company called AMG, which went on to become Mercedes' official tuner.
Aufrecht also played a key role in the development of the Deutsches Tourenwagen Meisterschaft, the German DTM championship.
In 2000, he was awarded Germany's Order of Merit for special social commitments.
Now a pensioner, he enjoys spending time with his family.
Despite his age, Hans Werner Aufrecht can still ride a bicycle (Photo: DTM)
BMW Team Schnitzer celebrated Christmas with the award for the best pit stop of the 2013 DTM season.
Led by team principal Charly Lamm, Team Schnitzer's crew nailed the fastest pit stop at five of the ten races on the calendar last season.
On twice of those five occasions, in Moscow and at the Nürburgring, the mechanics even performed the two fastest pit stops.
"This award means a lot to BMW Team Schnitzer," acknowledged Lamm.
"The DTM is an extremely close affair - not just on the track, but also in the pit lane. If you are able to produce better pit stops than all the other teams over the course of the year, it is a nice reward for all the hard practice you put in."
Hyundai Motor America said John Krafcik will step down as CEO at year end, capping a five-year run during which he steered the Hyundai brand to record U.S. sales and market share.
Hyundai Motor America CEO John Krafcik will step down at year end, capping a five-year run during which he steered the Hyundai brand to record U.S. sales and market share.
Another day, another upcoming car revealed thanks to a leaked patent filing -- and another BMW model variant to memorize:
With the current economy the last thing you need is for your vehicle to break down. Whether your driving a reliable car or a busted up van, insurance you can rely on is a must.
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