One Lap of the Web: The Markchurian Candidate

-- When does a cartoonist become a short-track racer? When he's Bob Englehart of the Hartford Courant, and he writes a book about his childhood in and around Indiana, a childhood spent fixated on oval racers. Englehart, a Pulitzer Prize finalist for his political cartooning, explores why America's youth are willing to risk their lives to drive in circles -- and why he himself is so addicted to it.

McLaren P1 Track confirmed as McLaren Automotive goes in to profit

McLaren are building a track version of the P1 (pictured) for P1 customers only It’s only three years since McLaren Automotive entered the hugely competitive market for high-end supercars (well, it’s four years, but only three since the first 12C went to a customer), but it’s already in profit. McLaren made an operating profit in 2013 of £12.4 million (and a pre-tax of £4.4 million) on sales of £284.4 million and did so – as predicted – by hitting their sales targets – McLaren sold 1359 12Cs and 36 of the McLaren P1 hypercar. And that looks to be just the start.

2013 Peugeot RCZ facelift priced from £21,595

The facelift for the Peugeot RCZ – revealed at the Paris Motor Show – will cost from £21,595 when it arrives in January 2013. The main change for the RCZ is the loss of the old ‘big gob’ Peugeot nose, to be replaced by a much more appealing front that fits in with the rest of Peugeot’s current crop of cars, complete with LED running lights, new grill and headlights and a bigger air intake with chrome bars. As well as the more obvious changes to the exterior, the RCZ gets some minor interior tweaks, with the Sport spec getting auto lights and option of half leather and leather/Alcantara. The GT spec RCZ gets a few more changes including 19″‘Technical’ alloys, interior sports kit, new interior colours, the option of matt black roof arches, new body transfer decals and more alloy choices.