Thursday 31 January 2013

Rusty Wallace Racing Returns For Limited 2013 Nationwide Series Schedule

RICHARD TOCADO COMPANIES AND RUSTY WALLACE RACING TO PUT THE NO. 66 BACK ON TRACK –Steve Wallace to Pilot Familiar Number in Limited 2013 Campaign– MOORESVILLE, NC (January 28, 2013)–Officials of Rusty Wallace Racing, LLC (RWR) announced today that the organization will make a return to the NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS), campaigning the No. 66 [...]

Kazuyoshi Hoshino Casey James Mears Charles Robert Hamilton IV Cecil Green Roberto Guerrero Terrence Lee Labonte Eddie Johnson F1

Porsche brand returns to Superstars

Porsche will return to the Superstars International Series this year, with Petri Corse entering two Panameras. The Porsche brand was last seen in the championship when N.Technology fielded Fabrizio Giovanardi for three events in late-2010 and took four wins from six starts.

Alan Dennis Kulwicki Christian Goethals Jean Pierre Jabouille Billy Garrett Scott Russell Riggs David Carl Allison Brian Gubby Eddie Keizan

First Drive: 2014 Kia Forte

Filed under: , , ,

Kia Tries Yet Again To Prove That Compact Sedans Are Its Forte

2014 Kia Forte

For those keeping track, the introduction of the 2014 Kia Forte sedan marks the second time in five years that Kia has completely redesigned its compact sedan offering. Put another way, car shoppers have now had three entirely different options in this category from Kia - the unloved Spectra along with two generations of the Forte - in the same period of time that Toyota has been building the current Corolla.

If nothing else, it's clear that Kia is committed to making as big of a dent in the compact class as possible. That said, none of Kia's entries have come close to challenging the dominance of the aforementioned Corolla, Honda Civic or Volkswagen Jetta, domestic offerings like the Ford Focus and Chevrolet Cruze, or even the Hyundai Elantra, its slightly older and more subdued Korean sibling, in the race for market share.

We spent a day driving the new 2014 Forte Sedan through the wide open spaces separating the copper mines of central Arizona to find out if Kia's latest offering has what it takes to play in the compact car Big Leagues.

Continue reading 2014 Kia Forte

2014 Kia Forte originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 31 Jan 2013 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Masten Gregory Cliff Griffith Peter Hirt Theo Helfrich Kurt Thomas Busch Horace Gould Heikki Kovalainen Z Line Toyota

The Case for a Highway Teardown in Dallas

IH-345 in Dallas looks like a perfect candidate for a highway teardown. The 39-year-old, 1.4-mile elevated highway is nearing the end of its useful life, and it’s taking up valuable real estate just outside downtown.
Dallas could be a richer city without IH-345, says Patrick Kennedy. Image: D Magazine
Patrick Kennedy at Network blog Walkable Dallas Fort [...]

Miguel Ángel Guerra Mark Anthony Martin Jean Marc Gounon Nascar Cuth Harrison Loris Kessel Stefan Johansson Damon Hill

Alex Bowman to Compete for 2013 NASCAR Nationwide Series Rookie of the Year Honors in RAB Racing’s No. 99 Toyota Camry

Ingo Hoffmann Out! Pet Care Toyota Jerry Hoyt Bruce Halford Yves Giraud Cabantous Kasey Kenneth Kahne William Ashton Lewis Jr Innes Ireland

Richard Tocado Companies and Rusty Wallace Racing to Put the No. 66 Back on Track

Rusty Wallace Racing LogoSteve Wallace to Pilot Familiar Number in Limited 2013 Campaign MOORESVILLE, NC (January 29, 2013)–Officials of Rusty Wallace Racing, LLC (RWR) announced today that the organization will make a return to the NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS), campaigning the No. 66 Ford Mustang in a limited 2013 campaign. At the helm of the...more»

Juan Pablo Montoya Peter de Klerk Cars Gimax Masten Gregory Cliff Griffith Peter Hirt Theo Helfrich

Pete Rondeau named competition director at Furniture Row Racing

Lewis Hamilton Bertrand Gachot Ruby Tuesday Dodge Kamui Kobayashi Helmuth Koinigg nascar news Bruce Kessler Jacky Ickx

Sprint Introduces 2013 Miss Sprint Cup Lineup

Richie Ginther Mike Harris Helm Glöckler Gregory Jack Biffle Dan Gurney Mack Hellings Kevin Paul Lepage Oscar González

Wednesday 30 January 2013

Mucke signs Nissany for European F3

Front-running European Formula 3 Championship squad Mucke Motorsport has signed Roy Nissany for the coming season. The 18-year-old Israeli was a race winner for Mucke in ADAC Formel Masters on his way to ninth in the championship last year, and makes the step-up to F3 alongside Australian Mitchell Gilbert

William Clyde Elliott Nascar updates Naoki Hattori Jim Hall Jean Pierre Jarier Chris Irwin Kazuyoshi Hoshino Casey James Mears

Report: GM investing $600M in plant that produces Malibu, LaCrosse

Filed under: , , ,



General Motors, committed to investing upwards of $2 billion in plant upgrades, has just announced that it is making a $600 million investment in its Fairfax Assembly and Stamping Plant in Kansas City, KS - it is one of the largest investments GM has ever made in a single plant.

Construction is set to begin later this year, and the work will increase the footprint of the facility by 15 percent, bringing its total to to 3.7 million square feet. Production schedules will be unaffected by the work, meaning 4,000 employees will stay on the job.

Fairfax Assembly currently produces the Buick LaCrosse and Chevrolet Malibu. Operating three shifts, a completed vehicle rolls out the door every 58 seconds. The present facility was completed in 1987, but since it first opened in 1945 Fairfax has manufactured more than 12 million vehicles.

Continue reading GM investing $600M in plant that produces Malibu, LaCrosse

GM investing $600M in plant that produces Malibu, LaCrosse originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 30 Jan 2013 18:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Ruby Tuesday Dodge Kamui Kobayashi Helmuth Koinigg nascar news Bruce Kessler Jacky Ickx Alan Jones Al Herman

Huff to make Bathurst 12 Hours debut

World Touring Car Champion Rob Huff will make his Bathurst debut next month in the 12-hour race at the legendary circuit.

Hubert Hahne Oscar Alfredo Gálvez Nicolas Kiesa Nanni Galli José Froilán González Elmer George Dave Kennedy Hans Klenk

2015 Audi S3 Cabriolet Spied: A Softtop and 300 Horses In a Shape Americans Desire

What It Is: The next-generation Audi S3 cabriolet, caught by our spy photographers in light disguise. Based on the third generation of the Audi A3, the next A3 convertible will be aimed squarely at the U.S. market for the first time. Audi’s American dream is why the new ragtop will be based on the upcoming [...]

Jimmy Jackson Jason Leffler Kyle Eugene Petty Paul Goldsmith Eddie Irvine Hiroshi Fushida Ukyo Katayama Jim Hurtubise

Conway working on more RLL outings

Mike Conway is optimistic of adding more races to his 2013 portfolio following yesterday's announcement of his deal to race a second Rahal Letterman Lanigan entry at Long Beach in April. The Briton stepped away from IndyCar prior to last year's final round at Fontana after deciding that he no longer wished to race on ovals

Timo Glock David Lee Blaney Karl Kling Sterling Burton Marlin Jesús Iglesias Driving info Charles Robert Hamilton V Dale Arnold Jarrett

Denny Hamlin wins pole at Auto Club Speedway

Denny Hamlin went low when most drivers went high at Auto Club Speedway, and he ended up in pole position for Sundays race.

Innes Ireland David Hobbs Sam Hanks Z Line Designs Toyota Olivier Gendebien Tony Gaze David Hampshire Jimmie Kenneth Johnson

RAB Racing Reinstates John Wes Townley: NASCAR Fan Reaction (Yahoo! Contributor Network)

On March 23, RAB Racing announced that driver John Wes Townley has been reinstated and will be able to compete at the Camping World Truck Series Kroger 250 on March 31. Townley was officially placed on probation by NASCAR on March 22 because of a previous DUI arrest.

Paco Godia Hubert Hahne Oscar Alfredo Gálvez Nicolas Kiesa Nanni Galli José Froilán González Elmer George Dave Kennedy

Pruett and Ganassi lead into night

Scott Pruett and Chip Ganassi Racing topped the leaderboard of Daytona 24 Hours at one-third distance. Pruett led the race behind the safety car aboard the #01 Riley-BMW MkXXVI by less than a second from the Wayne Taylor Racing Dallara-Chevrolet DP01 in the hands of Max Angelelli.

Ken Kavanagh Jo Gartner Max Jean Emmanuel de Graffenried Robert Allen Labonte Mika Häkkinen Paul Hawkins Kerry Dale Earnhardt

Tuesday 29 January 2013

Yamaha and PETRONAS Conclude MotoGP Partnership

Yamaha Racing Sunday, 01 Jan 2012 As 2011 draws to a close it marks the end of a successful partnership between Yamaha's Factory MotoGP Team and PETRONAS....

Taki Inoue Howden Ganley Ralph Dale Earnhardt Jr Frank Gardner Nico Hülkenberg Willi Heeks Aldo Gordini Juan Jover

Study: Survey says more people trust independents than dealers for car repairs... do you? [w/poll]

Dealership vs Independent Shop

A new survey by AutoMD.com finds car owners trust independent shops over dealerships when it comes to vehicle repairs. The site surveyed 3,000 owners online between November 2 and December 12, 2012, and 80 percent of the respondents said they felt they had been overcharged for repairs at a dealership, while 90 percent felt they could save more money by visiting an independent shop.

But it's not just about savings, either. When asked who owners trust more to repair their cars, 67 percent said a private shop, while only 33 percent trust their local dealer. Meanwhile 47 percent of those who use dealers for their vehicle service are either satisfied or very satisfied with the experience.

Even so, the vast majority of those who choose to go to the dealer do so either because their car or truck is under warranty or because their vehicle has been recalled for service. A total of 83 percent of dealer-goers say they would rely on an independent shop if it weren't for a warranty or recall notice.

Who do you rely on? Take the poll below to tell us who turns your wrenches and be sure to check out the full press release for more information.

View Poll

Continue reading Survey says more people trust independents than dealers for car repairs... do you? [w/poll]

Survey says more people trust independents than dealers for car repairs... do you? [w/poll] originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 29 Jan 2013 18:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Narain Karthikeyan Kenny Dale Irwin Jr James Christopher McMurray Maurício Gugelmin Oswald Karch Bobby Grim Ernst Klodwig Clint Bowyer

Photos: 2013 NASCAR Sprint Media Tour, Day 1 & Day 2

Photos from the 2013 NASCAR Sprint Media Tour in the Charlotte North Carolina area. PHOTO CREDIT: NASCARMEDIA

Walt Hansgen Kevin Michael Harvick Copart Ford Zaxby s Chevrolet William Clyde Elliott Nascar updates Naoki Hattori Jim Hall

Pruett and Ganassi lead into night

Scott Pruett and Chip Ganassi Racing topped the leaderboard of Daytona 24 Hours at one-third distance. Pruett led the race behind the safety car aboard the #01 Riley-BMW MkXXVI by less than a second from the Wayne Taylor Racing Dallara-Chevrolet DP01 in the hands of Max Angelelli.

Terrence Lee Labonte Eddie Johnson F1 Divina Galica Peter Gethin Bill Homeier André Guelfi Carl Edwards

Kubica downplays DTM move talk

Robert Kubica reckons his Mercedes DTM test at Valencia this week will be a significant step in his comeback progress, but played down the chances of it leading to a race deal. AUTOSPORT understands that Kubica is already committed to a European Rally Championship programme , having begun his motorsport return in rallying, and that date clashes make a 2013 DTM drive unlikely regardless of the success of the test

Masahiro Hasemi Bob Gerard Virgil Ernest Irvan III Drivers Lucas di Grassi Ignazio Giunti Johnny Herbert John James

NASCAR slashes rain delays for 2013

NASCAR believes its new track-drying system will dramatically reduce the length of rain delays and could spread across all of motorsport.

Ukyo Katayama Jim Hurtubise Jeffrey Michael Gordon Leslie Johnson Al Keller Randy Joseph Lajoie Ken Kavanagh Jo Gartner

Honda reveals 2013 MotoGP contender

Honda has unveiled the new-liveried 2013 MotoGP bike with which Dani Pedrosa and Marc Marquez will contest this year's MotoGP world championship. Dubbed the RC213V, the bike was revealed at Repsol's Madrid headquarters. 2013 marks the 19th year of the Japanese marque's partnership with the oil giant.

Timo Glock David Lee Blaney Karl Kling Sterling Burton Marlin Jesús Iglesias Driving info Charles Robert Hamilton V Dale Arnold Jarrett

All-New 2014 Toyota Tundra to Debut in Chicago [2013 Chicago Auto Show]

Toyota will unveil the all-new 2014 Tundra full-size pickup February 7th at the 2013 Chicago auto show, and we expect big changes. This is a bit of déjà vu all over again as Chicago played host to the debut of the first truly full-size Tundra pickup—the 2007 model—in 2006. That 2007 truck made big waves with [...]

Carel Godin de Beaufort Lewis Hamilton Bertrand Gachot Ruby Tuesday Dodge Kamui Kobayashi Helmuth Koinigg nascar news Bruce Kessler

Monday 28 January 2013

Introducing Lightning Lap 2013: Behind the Scenes at Virginia International Raceway [Lightning Lap 2013 Preview]

Lighting Lap is our annual track-torture test, wherein we gather the year’s hottest vehicles at Virginia International Raceway—a.k.a. VIR, a.k.a. America’s Nürburgring—and pit their lap times and performance data against those we’ve accumulated in previous LL competitions. The seventh running is almost here: Tomorrow, we’ll post the entire smorgasbord of vehicles, lap times, and data [...]

Jim Hall Jean Pierre Jarier Chris Irwin Kazuyoshi Hoshino Casey James Mears Charles Robert Hamilton IV Cecil Green Roberto Guerrero

Outlaws Improve Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year Award Format

Oscar Alfredo Gálvez Nicolas Kiesa Nanni Galli José Froilán González Elmer George Dave Kennedy Hans Klenk Keith Greene

Block aiming for three WRC rounds

Ken Block intends to contest a three-round World Rally Championship programme again in 2013. The American has been a WRC regular since 2007, and was at one stage working towards becoming a full-time entrant . But he cut down his WRC appearances last year due to his other commitments in American rallying, rallycross and with his hugely successful Gymkhana tour and associated activities.

Innes Ireland David Hobbs Sam Hanks Z Line Designs Toyota Olivier Gendebien Tony Gaze David Hampshire Jimmie Kenneth Johnson

Patrick aiming for Daytona pole

Danica Patrick is confident she can challenge for pole position for the Daytona 500 given her strong testing form ahead of her first full NASCAR Sprint Cup season. Patrick was among the quickest in the group test at Daytona earlier this month in her Stewart Haas Chevrolet. "We all think that we maybe have a chance at the pole," said Patrick, who took pole for last year's Nationwide Series opener at Daytona

Richie Ginther Mike Harris Helm Glöckler Gregory Jack Biffle Dan Gurney Mack Hellings Kevin Paul Lepage Oscar González

NASCAR Royal Purple 300 Schedule for March 24, 2012 (Yahoo! Contributor Network)

The NASCAR Royal Purple 300 race is scheduled for Mar. 24, 2012, at the Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, Calif. Qualifications will be at 1:30 p.m. EST with the actual race planned for 5 p.m. EST on Mar. 24. In 2011, Kyle Busch won the Royal Purple 300 while Carl Edwards was the pole...

Miguel Ángel Guerra Mark Anthony Martin Jean Marc Gounon Nascar Cuth Harrison Loris Kessel Stefan Johansson Damon Hill

Photo: Travis Pastrana’s #60 NASCAR Nationwide Series Ford Mustang Paint Scheme

Words are not needed here.

Gus Hutchison Michael Duane Bliss nascar info driving news Bill Holland Taki Inoue Howden Ganley Ralph Dale Earnhardt Jr

Kia Urban Concept Vehicle Teased, Loses “Tiger-Nose” Grille [2013 Geneva Auto Show]

Kia has unleashed a set of highly stylized teaser images of a new urban concept car the maker plans to debut in March at Geneva. Featured on both Kia’s U.K. press site and Facebook page, very little information is offered. The official press release paints with a broad brush, simply stating, “With the company’s signature [...]

Denny Hulme Marc Gené Richie Ginther Mike Harris Helm Glöckler Gregory Jack Biffle Dan Gurney Mack Hellings

Kia Urban Concept Vehicle Teased, Loses “Tiger-Nose” Grille [2013 Geneva Auto Show]

Kia has unleashed a set of highly stylized teaser images of a new urban concept car the maker plans to debut in March at Geneva. Featured on both Kia’s U.K. press site and Facebook page, very little information is offered. The official press release paints with a broad brush, simply stating, “With the company’s signature [...]

Roberto Guerrero Terrence Lee Labonte Eddie Johnson F1 Divina Galica Peter Gethin Bill Homeier André Guelfi

Sunday 27 January 2013

A Win-Win-Win Proposition

You might think sim-racing and golf share little in common.  One focuses on driving virtual race cars around virtual race tracks in competition with real people around the world . . . all from the relative comfort of their offices, game rooms or dens.  The other consists of hitting (and chasing) a tiny ball around lush fairways and greens (not to mention roughs, sand traps and other hazards) . . . out of doors and in all kinds of weather. But Bernie Villers, Jr, founder and president of SimXperience, one of the world’s leading manufacturer/suppliers of motion simulation equipment and software, doesn’t see it that way.  In fact, he sees many parallels between sim-racing and golf . . . or any avocation/hobby for that matter. “We believe the average, middle [...]

Bruce Halford Yves Giraud Cabantous Kasey Kenneth Kahne William Ashton Lewis Jr Innes Ireland David Hobbs Sam Hanks Z Line Designs Toyota

Kia Urban Concept Vehicle Teased, Loses “Tiger-Nose” Grille [2013 Geneva Auto Show]

Kia has unleashed a set of highly stylized teaser images of a new urban concept car the maker plans to debut in March at Geneva. Featured on both Kia’s U.K. press site and Facebook page, very little information is offered. The official press release paints with a broad brush, simply stating, “With the company’s signature [...]

Peter de Klerk Cars Gimax Masten Gregory Cliff Griffith Peter Hirt Theo Helfrich Kurt Thomas Busch

Stanaway Seals iRPS Title at Suzuka

Continuing his unassailable form in the iRacing.com Road Pro Series, Richie Stanaway made it four race victories on the bounce with a faultless run to the chequered flag in the championship finale at Suzuka International Circuit. The New Zealand-based sim-racer who has dominated the second half of the season, demonstrated his qualifications for the championship crown with a pole-to-flag run that couldn’t be matched by any of the other 24 sim-racers in their virtual Williams-Toyota FW31s. In what has become a regular role for Stanaway, the Team Redline pilot found himself in pole position after setting a qualifying time of 1:29.891 to best Yudai Narumi (1:30.094) for the top spot, with Mogar DG Filho and Emil Spindel occupying the second row.  As the lights turned to green, Stanaway put-on an [...]

Duncan Hamilton Tom Jones Christian Klien Kyle Busch Ingo Hoffmann Out! Pet Care Toyota Jerry Hoyt Bruce Halford

The Weekly Carnage

The Weekly Carnage is a Friday round-up of motor vehicle violence across the five boroughs and beyond. For more on the origins and purpose of this column, please read About the Weekly Carnage.
A taxi driver was killed in Gramercy when a speeding SUV driver rear-ended his car, which he was standing in front of. Photo: Post
Fatal [...]

Terrence Lee Labonte Eddie Johnson F1 Divina Galica Peter Gethin Bill Homeier André Guelfi Carl Edwards

Tesla Model S production reaches 400 cars a week capacity

Filed under: , ,

Tesla Model S assembly

Civil War Admiral David Farragut has famously been credited with saying, "Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead!" when he was presented with a challenging path ahead during the Battle of Mobile Bay. Specifically, the path was full of torpedoes. The Admiral has some "move forward!" ideological company in one Elon Musk.

While the torpedoes are only figurative at Tesla's Fremont plant, Musk has pushed Tesla Motors to double its weekly output of the Model S all-electric luxury sedan over the last three months and is now approaching full capacity of 400 vehicles a week - 20,000 a year - Automotive News says.

With more cars out on the road, Tesla's over-the-air software update system is proving its worth. This system allows for important software changes - which allow the driver to turn on a "creep" mode, for example - to take place without drivers spending time in a Tesla service center. In November, Motor Trend named the Model S its 2012 Car of the Year.

In the third quarter of 2012, Tesla lost $110.8 million on $50.1 million in revenue. With production humming along, Tesla should finally be able to realize its first quarterly profit this year, Musk told Automotive News. Of course, Musk didn't say which quarter.

Tesla Model S production reaches 400 cars a week capacity originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Fri, 25 Jan 2013 14:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Kyle Eugene Petty Paul Goldsmith Eddie Irvine Hiroshi Fushida Ukyo Katayama Jim Hurtubise Jeffrey Michael Gordon Leslie Johnson

NASCAR Royal Purple 300 Schedule for March 24, 2012 (Yahoo! Contributor Network)

The NASCAR Royal Purple 300 race is scheduled for Mar. 24, 2012, at the Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, Calif. Qualifications will be at 1:30 p.m. EST with the actual race planned for 5 p.m. EST on Mar. 24. In 2011, Kyle Busch won the Royal Purple 300 while Carl Edwards was the pole...

Mark Anthony Martin Jean Marc Gounon Nascar Cuth Harrison Loris Kessel Stefan Johansson Damon Hill racing info

Goodyear Tire Test at Darlington Raceway Free and Open to the Public!

Darlington Raceway LogoFebruary 5 test will feature new Gen-6 car driven by NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers Carl Edwards, Denny Hamlin, Martin Truex Jr., Paul Menard and Juan Pablo Montoya  DARLINGTON, S.C. (Jan. 23, 2013) – Testing returns to Darlington Raceway! This time with the new and highly-touted Gen-6 racecar! On Tuesday, Feb. 5, Darlington will...more»

José Froilán González Elmer George Dave Kennedy Hans Klenk Keith Greene Brian Hart Juan Pablo Montoya Peter de Klerk

Texas Motor Speedway makes sweeping changes to further enrich fan experience while making it more economical heading into 2013 season

Hiroshi Fushida Ukyo Katayama Jim Hurtubise Jeffrey Michael Gordon Leslie Johnson Al Keller Randy Joseph Lajoie Ken Kavanagh

Saturday 26 January 2013

Kubica ‘very comfortable’ in DTM test

Robert Kubica said his DTM test with Mercedes posed no physical problems at all. The Valencia run on Thursday was the first time that Kubica had driven a high-specification racing car since the horrific rallying accident in February 2011 that left him with multiple fractures and a partially severed right arm. Kubica completed 114 laps of the Spanish track, initially in wet conditions before the track dried

Kevin Michael Harvick Copart Ford Zaxby s Chevrolet William Clyde Elliott Nascar updates Naoki Hattori Jim Hall Jean Pierre Jarier

Rosenzweig completes Addax’s line-up

Jake Rosenzweig has completed the Addax line-up for this year's GP2 Series.

José Froilán González Elmer George Dave Kennedy Hans Klenk Keith Greene Brian Hart Juan Pablo Montoya Peter de Klerk

NYPD: 1,500 Pedestrians and Cyclists Injured, 17 Killed in Traffic in December

Image: NYPD
Twenty-nine people were killed in New York City traffic in December, and 4,529 were injured, according to the latest NYPD crash data report [PDF].
Citywide, at least 16 pedestrians and one cyclist were fatally struck by drivers: three pedestrians in Manhattan; two pedestrians in the Bronx; four pedestrians in Brooklyn; and seven pedestrians and one [...]

Kurt Thomas Busch Horace Gould Heikki Kovalainen Z Line Toyota Masahiro Hasemi Bob Gerard Virgil Ernest Irvan III Drivers

Hamilton ready to be patient

Lewis Hamilton says he is ready to be patient with Mercedes if the team does not manage to deliver a competitive car right away. The British driver is joining the German squad after having spent all his Formula 1 career at McLaren , but he has already stated that he is not expecting to fight for wins this year.

Bertrand Gachot Ruby Tuesday Dodge Kamui Kobayashi Helmuth Koinigg nascar news Bruce Kessler Jacky Ickx Alan Jones

Ducati test plans wrecked by rain

Ducati was frustrated by rain at Jerez as it tried to get three days of running in ahead of next month's first official MotoGP test of the year at Sepang. Test riders Michele Pirro and Franco Battaini were present at the Spanish track from Saturday through to Monday, but managed little mileage until the final day. New team boss Bernhard Gobmeier was present at the track for the first time, and said Ducati had achieved as much as it could in the circumstances

Bertrand Gachot Ruby Tuesday Dodge Kamui Kobayashi Helmuth Koinigg nascar news Bruce Kessler Jacky Ickx Alan Jones

Alex Bowman to Compete for 2013 NASCAR Nationwide Series Rookie of the Year Honors in RAB Racing’s No. 99 Toyota Camry

Mack Hellings Kevin Paul Lepage Oscar González Rupert Keegan Carl Michael Edwards III Kevin Harvick François Hesnault Miguel Ángel Guerra

Hamilton fastest in Malaysian GP practice (PA SportsTicker)

By CHRIS LINES AP Auto Racing Writer

Carel Godin de Beaufort Lewis Hamilton Bertrand Gachot Ruby Tuesday Dodge Kamui Kobayashi Helmuth Koinigg nascar news Bruce Kessler

Official: Hyundai details its five Super Bowl ads, Santa Fe is MVP [w/video]

Filed under: , , , , ,

Hyundai Santa Fe Super Bowl commercial screencap

If the Super Bowl were Las Vegas, Hyundai would be considered one of its whales. The South Korean automaker will be advertising for the sixth straight year during The Big Game, and this time it's rolling up with five spots, four of them new. The new 2013 Santa Fe gets the star treatment, featuring in three of the spots, but the theme throughout is using "a Hyundai vehicle as the ultimate sidekick and partner-in-fun."

The four brand new commercials are:
  • Epic PlayDate - the headliner, uses the Santa Fe for "an unforgettable and epic play date" and features a brand new song from "a legendary alternative rock band."
  • Team - a 30-second homage to action movies in which a young boy gathers a team to tackle the neighborhood bullies
  • Stuck - a 30-second ad that travels with newlyweds on a road trip in a Sonata, getting stuck behind rolling obstacles
  • Excited - a 30-second spot with NFL commentator Gus Johnson doing a play-by-play on the Genesis R-Spec tacking a track
The fifth spot, which has already aired, is called "Don't Tell" and you'll find it along with a press release below.

Continue reading Hyundai details its five Super Bowl ads, Santa Fe is MVP [w/video]

Hyundai details its five Super Bowl ads, Santa Fe is MVP [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 24 Jan 2013 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Richie Ginther Mike Harris Helm Glöckler Gregory Jack Biffle Dan Gurney Mack Hellings Kevin Paul Lepage Oscar González

Friday 25 January 2013

iSCS 2012 S4 W8 – Concord

Virgil Ernest Irvan III Drivers Lucas di Grassi Ignazio Giunti Johnny Herbert John James Boy Hayje Patrick Gaillard

Shell and Pennzoil Extend Alliance with Penske Corporation

Shell PennzoilMooresville, N.C. – Penske Corporation and Shell confirmed today a multi-year extension of their ongoing alliance in North America. As part of the agreement, Shell and Pennzoil will continue sponsoring Penske Racing entries in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and the IZOD IndyCar Series as well as continue to be the preferred supplier of fuels,...more»

Brad Keselowski Gary Hocking Jeremy Allan Mayfield Toyota Kimmy Yuji Ide Travis Wade Kvapil Bruno Giacomelli Graham Hill

Empty Keg Racing dominates at Road America

Empty Keg Racing boasts two of the top drivers in the Red Sox Racing League, Paul Hesla and  Patrick Guerin.  With their history of RSR league wins, no one was surprised when the 2013 season began with a win by Hesla and a strong 4th place finish by Guerin.  Riding a wave of momentum out of Florida, the EKR team arrived in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin full of energy for the “Blain’s Farm 30″ at Road America.  Hesla and Guerin dominated qualifying for the event and were the only two drivers to post sub 2:07 laps.  Hesla earned his second pole in a row with a lap time of 2:06.391 while Guerin earned the outside position of row one with a lap time of 2:06.853.  Brian Irby (3rd), Douglas Beard (4th), [...]

Z Line Toyota Masahiro Hasemi Bob Gerard Virgil Ernest Irvan III Drivers Lucas di Grassi Ignazio Giunti Johnny Herbert

Vacca and Lappin Press DOT, Not NYPD, for Data on Dangerous Intersections

New Yorkers who pay attention to street safety policy know that NYC DOT has been busy constructing sidewalk extensions, pedestrian islands, and speed humps, while NYPD has lagged behind on traffic enforcement and crash investigations. So it was perplexing to see City Council members James Vacca and Jessica Lappin on the steps of City Hall [...]

F1 Divina Galica Peter Gethin Bill Homeier André Guelfi Carl Edwards Ryan Joseph Newman Olivier Grouillard

NASCAR’s Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Richard Petty Join Forces With Goody’s

Arguably two of NASCAR’s most iconic stars, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Richard Petty, will join forces to promote one of the sport’s most iconic brands, Goody’s headache powder, officials announced Monday night during the NASCAR Sprint Media Tour hosted by Charlotte Motor Speedway. As part of the new collaboration, Earnhardt Jr. and Petty will join [...]

Kevin Paul Lepage Oscar González Rupert Keegan Carl Michael Edwards III Kevin Harvick François Hesnault Miguel Ángel Guerra Mark Anthony Martin

Sprint Cup qualifying returns to Friday for both Pocono races

Boy Hayje Patrick Gaillard Beppe Gabbiani Jeffrey Tyler Burton Hans Heyer Ralph Dale Earnhardt Sr Carel Godin de Beaufort Lewis Hamilton

Northeastern Supply Gearing Up for 20th Straight Nationwide Season With Associate Sponsorship of Regan Smith and JR Motorsports

Northeastern SupplyNASCAR sponsors come and go, and seldom does one remain in the sport very long unless their programs are providing a return on investment. For the regional plumbing, heating, air conditioning, HVAC, water systems and hardware distributor Northeastern Supply Company, that all-important ROI has always been met. As a result, the private, Baltimore-based company...more»

Kevin Paul Lepage Oscar González Rupert Keegan Carl Michael Edwards III Kevin Harvick François Hesnault Miguel Ángel Guerra Mark Anthony Martin

Force India won’t name driver at launch

Force India says it is not planning to announce its second driver in time for the launch of its 2013 car.

Yuji Ide Travis Wade Kvapil Bruno Giacomelli Graham Hill Leo Kinnunen Parker Kligerman Paco Godia Hubert Hahne

Thursday 24 January 2013

Sprint Introduces 2013 Miss Sprint Cup Lineup

Parker Kligerman Paco Godia Hubert Hahne Oscar Alfredo Gálvez Nicolas Kiesa Nanni Galli José Froilán González Elmer George

IndyCar keeps engine-change penalty

IndyCar's engine-change penalty system will remain in place for the 2013 season, despite moves to change it. With the return of manufacturer rivalry under the new-for-2012 technical package, IndyCar ruled that drivers exceeding the five-engines-per-season limit or changing engines before the minimum mileage threshold must take 10-place grid penalties. This led to a large number of penalties through the year, most notably in Long Beach , where all Chevrolet-powered cars needed precautionary engine switches.

Loris Kessel Stefan Johansson Damon Hill racing info Georges Grignard Brad Keselowski Gary Hocking Jeremy Allan Mayfield

Today’s Headlines

Under Cuomo’s Proposed Budget, Traffic Offenses Will Cost Drivers More (NYT)
Plus: $6B for MTA/Port Authority Sandy Recovery (WNYC) and Shorter DMV Waits (Gothamist)
Police Don’t Expect to File Charges After Van Driver Kills 15-Year-Old Girl in Midwood (News, DNA)
Driver Critically Injures Woman on Ft. Hamilton Parkway in Dov Hikind’s Turf (DNA)
The Annual Number of Subway Deaths Has Held [...]

Divina Galica Peter Gethin Bill Homeier André Guelfi Carl Edwards Ryan Joseph Newman Olivier Grouillard Gerino Gerini

Day 2: NASCAR Sprint Media Tour Hosted By Charlotte Motor Speedway

Richard Childress Racing drivers for 2013 Kevin Harvick, Jeff Burton, Paul Menard, Richard Childress, Ty Dillon, Brendan Gaughan, Austin Dillon and Brian Scott pose for a photo at RCR in Lexington, North Carolina. - Photo Credit: Jamey Price/Getty ImagesRichard Childress Racing Discusses 2013 Outlook, Gen-6 Cars and DRIVE4COPD Involvement – During Monday night’s dinner with Richard...more»

Hubert Hahne Oscar Alfredo Gálvez Nicolas Kiesa Nanni Galli José Froilán González Elmer George Dave Kennedy Hans Klenk

Motorsports: Indycar tweaks race lengths, broadcast times

Filed under:



With a goal of making races more competitive and fan-friendly, the Izod IndyCar Series has made a few changes to its 2013 schedule. For fans, the starting times of the races have been tweaked in order to create more consistency, and for race teams, four of the races have had their lengths adjusted to make racing a priority over strategy, according to Speed TV.

Race-length changes include a shorter opening race in St. Petersburg, FL as well as Long Beach, CA (down 10 laps and five laps, respectively), while the Milwaukee and Mid-Ohio races have both been extended (up 25 laps and five laps, respectively). From the sound of it, the distance change will take fuel strategy out of the picture - or at least lessen its impact - and make teams drive hard the entire race. As for the scheduling change, the article states that with a more consistent green-flag time, it will be easier for viewers to watch on a regular basis.

Head over to Speed TV for a full breakdown of the 2013 IndyCar schedule.

Indycar tweaks race lengths, broadcast times originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 24 Jan 2013 08:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

William Clyde Elliott Nascar updates Naoki Hattori Jim Hall Jean Pierre Jarier Chris Irwin Kazuyoshi Hoshino Casey James Mears

Wolff joins Mercedes’ management

Toto Wolff is to become a shareholder and executive director of the Mercedes Formula 1 team, it was announced on Monday.

Olivier Grouillard Gerino Gerini Alan Dennis Kulwicki Christian Goethals Jean Pierre Jabouille Billy Garrett Scott Russell Riggs David Carl Allison

Official: Porsche 918 Spyder officially priced from $845K, Weissach package $84K more

Filed under: , , ,



Porsche has released official pricing for its entire lineup of 2013 models, which just happens to include the upcoming 918 Spyder hybrid supercar. The 795-horsepower advanced-technology-lab-on-wheels is now officially confirmed to have a starting price of $845,000 in the US, which is the exact amount we were told earlier when we had the opportunity to ride shotgun in some 918 Spyder pre-production test vehicles.

What we didn't know at the time was the cost of the Weissach trim package, which is a high-performance upgrade to the standard vehicle that includes the deletion of some interior amenities and addition of lighter-weight carbon fiber appointments, magnesium wheels, flame-resistant upholstery, racing belts and aerodynamic aids - it's meant for track-going folk who intend to use their 918 Spyders as God, country and manufacturer intended.

All told, the Weissach package should drop the 918 Spyder's curb weight by some 80 pounds, while also lightening your wallet of an additional $84,000 - the car's MSRP with the Weissach package is $929,000. These prices don't, however, include destination charges, which, for something like the very limited edition 918 Spyder (only 918 will be made), could very well cost considerably more than your average Porsche.

The official pricing list can be found below and also includes base MSRPs for new models like the 2014 Cayman ($52,600), Panamera S Hybrid ($96,150), Cayenne Diesel ($55,750) and Cayenne S Hybrid ($69,850).

Continue reading Porsche 918 Spyder officially priced from $845K, Weissach package $84K more

Porsche 918 Spyder officially priced from $845K, Weissach package $84K more originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 23 Jan 2013 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Gus Hutchison Michael Duane Bliss nascar info driving news Bill Holland Taki Inoue Howden Ganley Ralph Dale Earnhardt Jr

Denny Hamlin wins pole at Auto Club Speedway

Denny Hamlin went low when most drivers went high at Auto Club Speedway, and he ended up in pole position for Sundays race.

Lewis Hamilton Bertrand Gachot Ruby Tuesday Dodge Kamui Kobayashi Helmuth Koinigg nascar news Bruce Kessler Jacky Ickx

Wednesday 23 January 2013

Obama Becomes First Prez to Walk Down a Bike Lane on Inauguration Day

The networks were busy tripping over themselves trying to point out all the “firsts” during yesterday’s inauguration ceremonies. But when Barack and Michelle Obama stepped out of the presidential motorcade to greet well wishers on Pennsylvania Avenue, they missed a huge one: Obama is now the first U.S. president to walk down a bike lane [...]

Willi Heeks Aldo Gordini Juan Jover Timo Glock David Lee Blaney Karl Kling Sterling Burton Marlin Jesús Iglesias

Loeb stretches Monte lead

Sebastien Loeb continued to stretch his Monte Carlo Rally lead on Friday afternoon, while battles behind him closed up.

Mika Häkkinen Paul Hawkins Kerry Dale Earnhardt Duncan Hamilton Tom Jones Christian Klien Kyle Busch Ingo Hoffmann

Almirola tops truncated test

Richard Petty Ford driver Aric Almirola was quickest in the final pre-season NASCAR Sprint Cup group test at Charlotte on Friday. The test had been scheduled as two days of running, but persistent rain on Thursday and continued poor weather the following morning meant it was Friday lunchtime before cars actually hit the track.

Walt Hansgen Kevin Michael Harvick Copart Ford Zaxby s Chevrolet William Clyde Elliott Nascar updates Naoki Hattori Jim Hall