Home » October 2012
Vettel wins Indian GP


Defending world champion Sebastian Vettel cruised to his fourth consecutive win and extended his lead in this year's title race to 13 points when he steered his Red Bull car to victory in the Indian Grand Prix.

The 25-year-old German dominated the race from start to finish as he led from pole to the chequered flag to come home ahead of nearest championship rival, Fernando Alonso of Ferrari.

Fernando Alonso meanwhile took the runners-up spot, passing Mark Webber for second in the final third of the race. Lewis Hamilton was fourth, finishing right on the tail of Webber, ahead of Jenson Button, Felipe Massa and Kimi Raikkonen. Nico Hulkenberg, Romain Grosjean and Bruno Senna complete the points' scorers.

1. Sebastian Vettel     Germany    Red Bull-Renault    60 laps 1hr 31m 10.744s
2. Fernando Alonso     Spain     Ferrari-Ferrari     +0m 09.4s
3. Mark Webber     Australia    Red Bull-Renault    +0m 13.2s
4. Lewis Hamilton     Britain     McLaren-Mercedes    +0m 13.9s
5. Jenson Button     Britain     McLaren-Mercedes    +0m 26.2s
6. Felipe Massa     Brazil     Ferrari-Ferrari     +0m 44.6s
7. Kimi Raikkonen     Finland     Lotus-Renault     +0m 45.2s
8. Nico Hulkenberg     Germany    Force India-Mercedes    +0m 54.9s
9. Romain Grosjean     France     Lotus-Renault     +0m 56.1s
10. Bruno Senna     Brazil     Williams-Renault    +1m 14.9s

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Hirvonen wins in Italy


Finland's Mikko Hirvonen won the Rally of Italy on Sunday in the absence of Citroen team mate and nine-times world champion Sebastien Loeb. Was Hirvonen's first victory for Citroen and 15th of his career.

Frenchman Loeb hit rocks and retired on Friday on the first full day of the rally in Sardinia, the penultimate round of the championship and first event since he retained his title in France earlier this month.
 
Russian Evgeny Novikov was second, one minute 20 seconds behind, with Estonian Ott Tanak third, both in privately-entered Fords.

Result from the 2012 Rally of Italy

1 Mikko Hirvonen (Finland) Citroen 3hr23min54.900
2 Evgeny Novikov (Russia) Ford +01min20.6
3 Ott Taenak (Estonia) Ford +02min21.1
4 Mads Ostberg (Norway) Ford +03min42.9
5 Sebastien Ogier (France) Skoda +04min27.5
6 Chris Atkinson (Australia) Mini +05min22.2
7 Andreas Mikkelsen (Norway) Skoda +06min12.5
8 Martin Prokop (Czech Republic) Ford +09min29.3
9 Petter Solberg (Norway) Ford +09min52.3
10 Luca Pedersoli (Italy) Citroen +20min35.6

Drivers and Constructor points after Rally of Italy

1 Sebastien Loeb (France) Citroen Total World Rally Team - 244
2 Mikko Hirvonen (Finland) Citroen Total World Rally Team - 198
3 Mads Ostberg (Norway) Mads Ostberg - 137
4 Jari-Matti Latvala (Finland) Ford World Rally Team - 133
5 Petter Solberg (Norway) Ford World Rally Team - 124
6 Evgeny Novikov (Russia) M-Sport Ford World Rally Team - 87
7 Thierry Neuville (Belgium) Citroen Junior World Rally Team - 53
8 Ott Taenak (Estonia) M-Sport Ford World Rally Team - 52
9 Martin Prokop (Czech Republic) Czech Ford Rally Team - 46
10 Sebastien Ogier (France) Volkswagen Motorsport - 41

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Nissan GT-R Launch Control


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Vettel wins Korean GP


World champion Sebastian Vettel won the Korean Grand Prix in a Red Bull one-two finish on Sunday to take the overall Formula One lead from Ferrari's Fernando Alonso with four races remaining.

It was Vettel’s third straight race victory after wins in Singapore and Japan. Vettel heads the standings with 215 points, six more than Alonso.

Australian Mark Webber, who had started on pole position but was overtaken by his team mate off the grid into the first corner, finished second to anchor the first one-two of the season by any team.

South Korea's 'Gangnam Style' rapper Psy waved the chequered flag as Vettel crossed the finish line.

The 17th of 20 races, the Indian Grand Prix, is scheduled Oct. 28 in New Delhi.
 
1. Sebastian Vettel     Germany    Red Bull-Renault    55 laps 1hr 36m 28.651s
2. Mark Webber     Australia    Red Bull-Renault    +0m 08.2s
3. Fernando Alonso     Spain     Ferrari-Ferrari     +0m 13.9s
4. Felipe Massa     Brazil     Ferrari-Ferrari     +0m 20.1s
5. Kimi Raikkonen     Finland     Lotus-Renault     +0m 36.7s
6. Nico Hulkenberg     Germany    Force India-Mercedes    +0m 45.3s
7. Romain Grosjean     France     Lotus-Renault     +0m 54.8s
8. Daniel Ricciardo     Australia    Toro Rosso-Ferrari    +1m 09.5s
9. Jean-Eric Vergne     France     Toro Rosso-Ferrari    +1m 11.7s
10. Lewis Hamilton     Britain     McLaren-Mercedes    +1m 19.6s

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Toyota recalls 7.43 million cars


Toyota says it is recalling 7.43 million vehicles globally, including the U.S., Japan and Europe, for a faulty power-window switch that may stop working in more than a dozen models, produced from 2005 through 2010.

Toyota said that the switch on the driver's side didn't have grease applied evenly during production, causing friction and sometimes smoke. No crashes or injuries have been reported related to the problem.

In total European market, this operation involves about 1.4 million units, while in the United States and in China the number reaches 2.47 million cars and 1.4 million, respectively.

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Sébastien Loeb clinches ninth consecutive WRC title


Sebastien Loeb and Daniel Elena have won Rallye de France Alsace to secure their ninth FIA World Rally Championship crown.

In the process they have helped Citroen secure the WRC manufacturers title for an eighth time.

Jari-Matti Latvala finished second for Ford with Mikko Hirvonen adding to Citroen’s joy in third place.

But by reaching the finish of the run Sebastien Loeb claimed the overall victory - his 75th in the FIA World Rally Championship - to secure in his ninth WRC drivers title with Citroen becoming WRC manufacturers champion for an eighth time.
 
Belgium Thierry Neuville moved up two places from sixth overnight to fourth in his Citroen after winning Sunday's first three stages, as Spaniard Daniel Sordo lost ground after the powersteering on his Mini Cooper failed.

Rallye de France-Alsace: Overall standings after Stage 22 (Top 10):

1. Sebastien Loeb    Citroen Total WRT DS3 WRC     3hours 32mins 53.0secs M
2. Jari-Matti Latvala    Ford WRT Fiesta RS WRC     +00mins 15.5secs M
3. Mikko Hirvonen    Citroen Total WRT DS3 WRC     +00mins 44.1secs M
4. Thierry Neuville Citroen Junior WRT DS3 WRC     +01mins 07.3secs M
5. Mads Ostberg    Adapta WRT Fiesta RS WRC     +01mins 16.4secs M
6. Ott Tanak     M-Sport Ford WRT Fiesta RS WRC    +02mins 27.9secs M
7. Evgeny Novikov    M-Sport Ford WRT Fiesta RS WRC    +05mins 51.6secs M
8. Chris Atkinson    WRC MINI Team Portugal John Cooper Works WRC +06mins 42.4secs
9. Martin Prokop    Czech Ford National Team Fiesta RS WRC +08mins 46.8secs
10. Sebastien Chardonnet FFSA Citroen WRT DS3 WRC    +08mins 59.7secs

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Schumacher announces retirement

Seven-time Formula One World Champion Michael Schumacher said that he will retire at the end of the current season. 

Just last week, Mercedes-Benz announced that Lewis Hamilton would be replacing Schumacher for the 2013 F1 season. Schumacher didn't completely dominate the rumors of his taking a spot with another racing outfit next season. I

In an interview with the Associated Press following the Japanese Gran Prix, Schumacher recounted, "I feel I am still able to compete at my best level but the time has come to say goodbye and this time can be forever." 

Schumacher retired for the first time following the 2006 F1 season, choosing to return with Mercedes in 2010. 
Despite being the most successful driver in the history of the sport, Schumacher has underwhelmed in the intervening years since his comeback.

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Hyundai returns to WRC with i20


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