Belgian Grand Prix Qualifying – Hamilton beaten to pole by Rosberg

Rosberg takes pole in Belgium in the rain Formula One is back from its summer break, but normal service has resumed with Mercedes taking a one-two at Spa in qualifying for the 2014 Belgian Grand Prix, but it’s Nico Rosberg on pole, beating Lewis Hamilton in to second place. The two Mercedes were in a league of their own – two seconds ahead of the best of the rest – as torrential rain made the Spa circuit teachorous. Hamilton’s qualifying was patchy – - and a bit erratic – and he also had problems with glazed discs pulling his car to the left, but Rosberg was consistent – and quick – and deserved his pole.

Why Ford’s Euro design is changing: Joel Piaskowski replaces Martin Smith

By Tim Pollard Motor Industry 28 May 2014 14:30 Ford today confirmed that it is shaking up its European design team, as it appoints Joel Piaskowski to replace the retiring Martin Smith. Smith, 64, has led Ford of Europe’s design team for a decade and is the father of the brand’s edgy ‘kinetic design’, but will step down on 1 July 2014, it was announced this afternoon. Before he retires fully at the end of the year Smith will work with the Blue Oval’s vice president of design, Moray Callum, on a global project looking at the future of Ford design.

2012 Mazda CX-5 at Frankfurt

2012 Mazda CX-5 - Frankfurt Debut Mazda has been touting its SKYACTIV Technologies for some time now, and the new 2012 Mazda CX-5 – which Mazda will debut at Frankfurt next month – is the first Mazda to come endowed with a complete raft of SKYACTIV stuff. The clever stuff includes Mazda’s new modular platform that can be used for everything from the Mazda3 upwards, and which is said to give the CX-5 not just car-like handling but proper sporty and stable driving dynamics too. The SKYACTIV technology comes in to play with the engines too on the CX-5, with the new 2.2 litre diesel delivering 173bhp and a remarkably low 120g/km in standard guise.