Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Canadian GP back on F1 calendar through 2014]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/29/canadian-gp-back-on-f1-calendar-through-2014/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/29/canadian-gp-back-on-f1-calendar-through-2014/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/29/canadian-gp-back-on-f1-calendar-through-2014/#commentsFiled under: ,

Canadian GP

It's official, Formula 1 and Montreal are in love again. Bernie Ecclestone's supersonic price increases in 2008 drove the Canadian venue (and North America entirely) off the map in 2009. It was the first time in three decades that the F1 club didn't visit Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, and by the end of this summer, everyone was highly motivated to get it back.

When Ecclestone's original demand of $175 million Canadian ($165M U.S.) over five years became $75 million Canadian, ($71M U.S.), the Montreal, Quebec, and Canadian governments got together to split the cost three ways. When the government's commitment to spend such an amount on a sporting event was questioned, Quebec's minister of finance replied that the GP will cost Quebec $4 million but return $10 million to its coffers alone. On top of that, Ecclestone promised them 30% of ticket sales every year, which, for a hugely popular grand prix, should be a substantial number. Vive le Montreal GP and June 13, 2010! Thanks to everyone who submitted tips

[Source: F1 Live | Photo credit: Vinod Sankar via CC2.0]

Canadian GP back on F1 calendar through 2014 originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 29 Nov 2009 19:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bernie ecclestoneBernieEcclestoneformula 1formula oneFormula1FormulaOnegpmontrealmontreal grand prixMontrealGrandPrixquebecSun, 29 Nov 2009 19:18:00 EST<![CDATA[Autoblog gets schooled at the Jacques Villeneuve Academy]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/09/28/autoblog-gets-schooled-at-the-jacques-villeneuve-academy/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/09/28/autoblog-gets-schooled-at-the-jacques-villeneuve-academy/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/09/28/autoblog-gets-schooled-at-the-jacques-villeneuve-academy/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Jacques Villeneuve Academy at ICAR - Click above for high-res image gallery

There's nothing like a Montreal summer. Once the sun starts to shine on the island metropolis after a long winter, the city transforms into a burgeoning oasis of festivals, street cafes and exotic sports cars. And grand prix or no grand prix, the world's second largest francophone city stands as one of the greatest motor sport destinations in North America, easily on par with anything Daytona or Indianapolis can throw at it.

You'd expect to hear a lot about racing drivers hailing from this capital of motorsport, but while the likes of Tagliani and Carpentier have made their mark, one name looms larger than any other: Villeneuve. Following in the footsteps of his father Gilles - the beloved fallen Ferrari driver for whom the city's F1 circuit is named - to say nothing of his eponymous uncle, Jacques Villeneuve took both the Indy 500 and CART title in 1995 before going on to win the Formula One world championship two years later. And while his track record since may fall short of his earlier successes, the name still carries a lot of weight. Especially in Montreal. So when JV opened up his own racing school just outside the city, and we found ourselves in town for a few of those precious summer days, we could hardly resist the opportunity to see what the Jacques Villeneuve Academy had to offer. Follow the jump to read what we found, and more importantly, what we learned.


Gallery: Jacques Villeneuve Academy


Photos copyright (C)2009 Noah Joseph / Weblogs, Inc.

Continue reading Autoblog gets schooled at the Jacques Villeneuve Academy

Autoblog gets schooled at the Jacques Villeneuve Academy originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 28 Sep 2009 14:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>canadacircuit icarCircuitIcarcompetition mustangCompetitionMustangfeaturedford mustangFordMustangicaricar circuitIcarCircuitInternational Center for Advanced RacingInternationalCenterForAdvancedRacingjacques villeneuvejacques villeneuve academyJacquesVilleneuveJacquesVilleneuveAcademyJean-Sebastien SauriolJean-sebastienSauriolmirabelmirabel circuitmirabel international airportmirabel quebecMirabelCircuitMirabelInternationalAirportMirabelQuebecmontrealmustangmustang racingMustangRacingquebecSauriolvilleneuvevilleneuve academyVilleneuveAcademyMon, 28 Sep 2009 14:57:00 EST<![CDATA[The Little Nürburgring: Ferraris in their Natural Habitat at Mont Tremblant]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/28/the-little-nurburgring-ferraris-in-their-natural-habitat-at-mon/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/28/the-little-nurburgring-ferraris-in-their-natural-habitat-at-mon/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/28/the-little-nurburgring-ferraris-in-their-natural-habitat-at-mon/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


2009 Ferrari Challenge at Le Circuit Mont-Tremblant - Click above for high-res image gallery

We've always found the idea of going on safari or a diving expedition rather intriguing. But while we can appreciate those willing to spend their precious vacation time and hard-earned cash to see nature's most beautiful creatures in their natural habitats, most of us here at Autoblog aren't exactly the nature-adventure types. We're car guys. The Ferrari Challenge... now that's more like it.

Like a lion in the Sahara or a bear in the forest, Ferraris belong on the race track. But the unfortunate reality is most end up sitting in tiled garages adjoining big mansions in prestigious locations. We get to see more than most, but more often than not they're perched on an auto show stand under floodlights and flash bulbs. So when Ferrari invited us to join them at the legendary Circuit Mont Tremblant for a round of wheel-to-wheel racing, we could hardly resist. Follow the jump for more.


Gallery: 2009 Ferrari F430 Challenge at Mont Tremblant


Gallery: 2009 Ferrari Historic Challenge at Mont Tremblant


Photos copyright (C)2009 Noah Joseph / Weblogs, Inc.

Continue reading The Little Nürburgring: Ferraris in their Natural Habitat at Mont Tremblant

The Little Nürburgring: Ferraris in their Natural Habitat at Mont Tremblant originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 28 Jul 2009 19:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>250 gto250Gto430 challenge430Challengecanadian grand prixCanadianGrandPrixcircuit mont tremblantcircuit mont-tremblantCircuitMont-tremblantCircuitMontTremblantf430 challengeF430Challengefeaturedferrariferrari 250 gtoferrari 430 challengeferrari canadaferrari challengeferrari f430ferrari f430 challengeferrari gtoferrari historic challengeferrari quebecFerrari250GtoFerrari430ChallengeFerrariCanadaFerrariChallengeFerrariF430FerrariF430ChallengeFerrariGtoFerrariHistoricChallengeFerrariQuebecgtohistoric racingHistoricRacingle circuit mont tremblantle circuit mont-tremblantLeCircuitMont-tremblantLeCircuitMontTremblantlittle nurburgringLittleNurburgringmont tremblantmont-tremblantMontTremblantquebectremblantTue, 28 Jul 2009 19:56:00 EST<![CDATA[Montreal, Niagara Falls, New York City: F1 looks to return to North America]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/17/montreal-niagara-falls-new-york-city-f1-looks-to-return-to-no/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/17/montreal-niagara-falls-new-york-city-f1-looks-to-return-to-no/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/17/montreal-niagara-falls-new-york-city-f1-looks-to-return-to-no/#commentsFiled under:



Since the Canadian Grand Prix was canceled for this season, Formula One has been entirely absent from North America. But participating automakers, investors and organizers alike know that the North American market is vital and can't be overlooked, and to that end several new developments are said to be underway to bring F1 back over to the western shores of the Atlantic.

First up, and probably the most straightforward, would be the reinstatement of the Canadian Grand Prix at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal. The event was long a mainstay of the F1 calendar and a prominent event both for locals and for racing fans from across Canada and the United States. Quebec provincial government minister Raymond Bachand confirmed in a recent radio interview that the local governments are motivated to bring the race back to Montreal, and that talks are ongoing with Bernie Ecclestone. A five-year deal at a more reasonable rate than what Ecclestone previously demanded is what local governments are seeking.

Meanwhile, reports are surfacing of several new circuits being built up the St. Lawrence River near Niagara Falls, Ontario. With the backing of Jeff Gordon and others, Kuwaiti investment firm Bayt Al Mal is reportedly building a new $200 million motorsports park in Niagara to include a one-mile oval track for NASCAR races and a 2.5-mile road course that could attract the Canadian Grand Prix to the site. The facility being built boasts seating capacity for 100,000, plus hotels and other accommodations on a 623 acre site. Several other projects are also reportedly under way in the region, close to upstate New York and not far from Detroit, including a 3.5-mile road course for the IRL.

Enough about Canada, what about the United States, you ask? Ecclestone's latest tirade precludes a return to Indy, while in his view none of the hundreds of existing race tracks in the United States would be suitable. Following his previous indications that a new track could be made near Las Vegas, Bernie's now suggesting that only New York would make a viable location for Formula One to return to the U.S. We wonder, meanwhile, what he'll come up with next.

[Sources: F1-Live and GrandPrix.com | Image courtesy Wikimedia Commons]

Montreal, Niagara Falls, New York City: F1 looks to return to North America originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 17 Apr 2009 09:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>canadian grand prixcanadian grand prix niagara fallsCanadianGrandPrixCanadianGrandPrixNiagaraFallscircuit gilles villeneuveCircuitGillesVilleneuvef1f1 nyf1 ontarioF1NyF1Ontarioformula 1formula oneFormula1FormulaOnegrand prixGrandPrixmontrealnew yorknew york cityNewYorkNewYorkCityniagara fallsNiagaraFallsontarioquebecunited states grand prixUnitedStatesGrandPrixusgpFri, 17 Apr 2009 09:32:00 EST<![CDATA[Rumormill: Montreal GP could be back as soon as this year]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/03/31/rumormill-montreal-gp-could-be-back-as-soon-as-this-year/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/03/31/rumormill-montreal-gp-could-be-back-as-soon-as-this-year/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/03/31/rumormill-montreal-gp-could-be-back-as-soon-as-this-year/#commentsFiled under: ,



Abu Dhabi is scheduled to hold its first ever Formula 1 Grand Prix on November 11 of this year. Due to tight capital, though, it is being reported that the event's organizers are behind on the building schedule for the race track and new support hotels. If that race gets replaced, rumor has it that Montreal will be asked to step up. Montreal would certainly get our sympathy vote -- the city's grand prix site still features a timer that is busy counting down to nothing...

For his part, Montreal mayor Gerald Tremblay has been speaking to Bernie Ecclestone about bringing F1 back to Montreal in 2010, and Quebec's gem could be slotted into an October space to substitute for the Middle Eastern race. Tremblay said he doesn't want to consider a one-off event, he wants a long term contract that brings F1 conclusively back to Montreal. Thanks for the tip, Pat.

[Source: F1 Live]

Rumormill: Montreal GP could be back as soon as this year originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 31 Mar 2009 16:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>abu dhabiabu dhabi f1 grand prixabu dhabi gpAbuDhabiAbuDhabiF1GrandPrixAbuDhabiGpBernie EcclestoneBernieEcclestonecanadaf1formula 1formula oneFormula1FormulaOneGerald TremblayGeraldTremblaygrand prixGrandPrixmontrealmontreal gpmontreal grand prixMontrealGpMontrealGrandPrixmotorsportsQuebecTue, 31 Mar 2009 16:59:00 EST<![CDATA[Canada plans new fuel economy standards at least as good as U.S.]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/17/canada-plans-new-fuel-economy-standards-at-least-as-good-as-u-s/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/17/canada-plans-new-fuel-economy-standards-at-least-as-good-as-u-s/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/17/canada-plans-new-fuel-economy-standards-at-least-as-good-as-u-s/#commentsFiled under: ,

Canada's response to America's latest energy legislation and CAFE standards: a resounding "Meh, whatever. Call us when you're serious." The land of the maple leaf has declared that the new U.S. standards simply don't go far enough. Said the nation's transport minister, "We welcome the U.S. goal, but are committed to developing made-in-Canada standards that achieve - at minimum - that same target in Canada."

What kind of goal do they have in mind? Well... they haven't really said. But there will be a 60-day consultation period while the government holds pow wows with various groups, clans and businesses, and then they will come up with... something... that will take effect for the 2011 model year. No word on whether Dick Cheney has been invited to attend the sessions.

Of course, no announcement that "Those guys didn't do enough, so we're going to do it right" would be complete without fifteen follow-up announcements claiming that "You guys aren't doing enough, either!" Quebec, which is already playing the role of Canada's California in trying to set emissions rules that are more stringent than federal standards, has said "setting fuel efficiency standards alone doesn't go far enough." The Sierra Club says the delay to implementing the new rules -- to 2011, mind you -- is still too long. And the auto industry is saying that if you want it, fine, but you're going to pay for it. It looks like the quest for the greenest mile is going to bring quite a bit of heat to the frozen north.

[Source: Canadian Broadcasting Corp]

Canada plans new fuel economy standards at least as good as U.S. originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 17 Jan 2008 18:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cafecanadaco2emissionsenvironmenthybridsquebecThu, 17 Jan 2008 18:26:00 EST<![CDATA[In Montreal, sell on Sunday, get pelted on Monday]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/02/26/in-montreal-sell-on-sunday-get-pelted-on-monday/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/02/26/in-montreal-sell-on-sunday-get-pelted-on-monday/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/02/26/in-montreal-sell-on-sunday-get-pelted-on-monday/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Quebec is probably the last place in North America where some businesses are still forbidden to open on weekends. Although the practice has long since dissipated in other retail sectors, car dealerships in Montreal still adhere to an archaic 35-year-old policy that dates back to when the Catholic church still had a strong hold on French Canadian society.

One dealership in this writer's home town is departing from that policy, and he's facing tough opposition. Pie IX Dodge Chrysler (pronounced pee nuf, on the street named after Pope Pius the 9th) is a dealership on the island's predominantly French east end, next to the Olympic stadium that once hosted the Montreal auto salon before it moved to the convention center downtown. They decided to open on weekends, selling cars on Saturday and Sunday, a move opposed by other area dealerships and their association (which also organizes the annual car show). Pie IX's sales have gone up, despite the protests outside. The demonstrators include salesmen from other dealerships (which remain closed on the weekend) and from nearby used car lots (which are open on the weekend). If new car dealerships were to open on weekends, the association says the salesmen will be overworked, while the used car lots will lose business. One protestor even went so far as to hit the manager at Pie IX Dodge Chrysler in the head with a block of ice and was arrested for assault. Demonstrators were also thought to have jammed the dealership's phone lines.

Despite the opposition, and with support from DaimlerChrysler, owner Claude Leclair says he plans to keep his dealership open on weekends, quoting sales figures of over a dozen cars each weekend, while competing dealerships are suspected to be operating in the red. Kinda gives new meaning to the old Quebec separatist slogan "Vive la Quebec Libre" - long live a free Quebec.

[Source: The Montreal Gazette via Jalopnik]

In Montreal, sell on Sunday, get pelted on Monday originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 26 Feb 2007 11:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>9associationcanadachryslerdealershipdodgegazetteixmontrealopenpiequebecsalessaturdaysellingsundayweekendMon, 26 Feb 2007 11:05:00 EST<![CDATA[Montreal Auto Show: Locus Plethore supercar unveiled...almost]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/01/19/montreal-auto-show-locus-plethore-supercar-unveiled-almost/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/01/19/montreal-auto-show-locus-plethore-supercar-unveiled-almost/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/01/19/montreal-auto-show-locus-plethore-supercar-unveiled-almost/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Click on the image above to jump to our gallery of 25 high-resolution images

The centerpiece of the 2007 Montreal auto show was supposed to be the Plethore, a supercar being developed in Quebec by HHT Locus Technologies. As we reported previously, the car nicknamed "the Quebec Bomb" employs carbon fiber construction and an 8.2-liter V8 to produce a high power-to-weight ratio driving from behind a three-passenger cabin with a center-line driving position, an innovative layout employed in the record-shattering McLaren F1 supercar (and in a 1966 Ferrari 365 P prototype), but not replicated since.

Unfortunately, as is often the case with such ambitious projects, the car was far from ready to be unveiled when the auto show opened. Instead, designer Luc Chartrand and company took the wraps off a non-functioning pre-production prototype, essentially a mock-up for display purposes. Next to the prototype they displayed the 8.2-liter GM-sourced V8 that is anticipated to propel the Plethore to mind-boggling speeds, if and when it finally gets rolling.

Locus Technologies anticipates its creation will be ready for delivery in the fall, when a limited annual run of no more than 400 will each sell for $330,000 CDN. They can call it the Plethore, the Quebec Bomb or whatever they'd like... we'll call it blind ambition.

We've got 25 high-resolution images of the Plethore from the show floor. Click on any of the images below or right here.

Gallery: Locus Plethore


Montreal Auto Show: Locus Plethore supercar unveiled...almost originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 19 Jan 2007 15:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>autobombcanadadebuthhtlocusmontrealplethorequebecsalonshowtechnologiesunveilingFri, 19 Jan 2007 15:03:00 EST<![CDATA[Tabarnouche! French-Canadian journalist loses his license for speeding]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/10/12/tabarnouche-french-canadian-journalist-loses-his-license-for-sp/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/10/12/tabarnouche-french-canadian-journalist-loses-his-license-for-sp/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/10/12/tabarnouche-french-canadian-journalist-loses-his-license-for-sp/#commentsFiled under: ,

An automotive journalist in the Canadian province of Quebec was caught driving 222 km/h (approximately 138 mph) on a public road early Monday morning. Philippe Laguë was testing the Dodge Charger SRT-8 on highway 132 in Longueuil, near Montreal, and faces a fine of $958 CDN ($845 US) , plus 15 demerit points on his license - enough to have it suspended. Maudite!

Laguë claims he's not the only journalist who performs high-speed testing on public roads in Quebec, and that while car manufacturers advise journalists to watch out for police, they often prevent them from testing on closed tracks. He admits that he was driving too fast and obviously made an error in judgement. (Uh, no kidding.) He also says he's going to ask the Quebec provincial police (Sûreté du Québec) to investigate how the information on his arrest was leaked to the press.

Quebec has some great driving roads and many are tempted to push the limit. (Claiming you were rushing home to watch the hockey game doesn't always work.) Needless to say, losing your license, for an automotive journalist especially, poses an even bigger problem than usual. But as the saying goes, "if you can't do the time, don't do the crime."

Merci pour le tip, Raoul!

[Source: La Presse - for translated version click here]

Tabarnouche! French-Canadian journalist loses his license for speeding originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 12 Oct 2006 18:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>journalistLaguëlaguephilippequebecspeedingwriterThu, 12 Oct 2006 18:02:00 EST<![CDATA[Canadian race shuffle: NASCAR comes to Montreal, CART moves to Tremblant]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/10/05/canadian-race-shuffle-nascar-comes-to-montreal-cart-moves-to-t/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/10/05/canadian-race-shuffle-nascar-comes-to-montreal-cart-moves-to-t/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/10/05/canadian-race-shuffle-nascar-comes-to-montreal-cart-moves-to-t/#commentsFiled under:

To battle its image as a form of motorsport exclusive to the South, NASCAR is going North - to Canada: "the True North, Strong and Free" (at least that's how the anthem goes). So with F1 drivers coming to NASCAR, NASCAR is going to an F1 track: it's been confirmed that next season's Busch Series schedule will include a race at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal, home of the Canadian Grand Prix.

In past years the track has hosted both F1 and Champ Car races each season. After securing exclusive rights to the track from Montreal city hall in June, Canadian Grand Prix promoter Normand Legault began moving on plans to bring stock car racing to Montreal. As an extra bonus, the weekend will also feature a Grand-Am race.

The Champ Car race, meanwhile, will move even farther north to the legendary track by the slopes of Mont Tremblant. Securing a major open-wheel event is a huge coup for the recently revived track, which was once famously referred to by Michael Schumacher as the "little Nurburgring". (No wonder Ferrari elected to open its first North American driving school there. )

Having grown up in Montreal, this writer can attest that it's a die-hard racing town through-and-through (in the summer, at least). Hosting F1, CART, Grand-Am and NASCAR will only allow more fans, teams and drivers to get a taste of the action.

[Sources: GrandPrix.com and Canada.com]

Canadian race shuffle: NASCAR comes to Montreal, CART moves to Tremblant originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 05 Oct 2006 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>buschcanadacanadiancartchampcircuitf1formula oneFormulaOnegillesgrand prixGrandPrixindyjacquesmontrealnascarquebecracingstock carStockCartremblantvilleneuveThu, 05 Oct 2006 14:58:00 EST