Volkswagen to enter F1?

VW already competes in Formula Three But we’re hearing reports that VW is considering going in to Formula 1 which – with manufacturer teams leaving willy-nilly – does perhaps seem a bit odd. And VW has no F1 history to speak of. Yes, Auto Union did participate in Grands Prix pre-war, Porsche had a very minor bash decades ago and Lamborghini has offered up a few engines for other teams.

Didn’t The Bentley Boys Do Well?

AS Bentley gears up for a fulltime return to the racetrack, the weekend saw the Crewe-based luxury car maker score a solid fourth place overall at the Gulf 12 Hours of Abu Dhabi. Approached as a dress rehearsal ahead of the team’s attack on the 2014 Blancpain Endurance Series, the three driver-strong outfit achieved a creditable third and fourth place finishes in the two six-hour races at the Yas Marina circuit. The race programme – the first factory-backed activity since its 2003 Le Mans win – sees the firm use a Continental GT producing 600 horsepower in competition trim.

NHTSA unveils new safety ratings; BMW and Hyundai first to get five stars

The 2011 BMW 5-series and the Hyundai Sonata were the first two cars to achieve five-star ratings under NHTSA's revised safety ratings announced on Tuesday. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration will rate a total of 24 cars, 20 SUVs, nine pickups and two vans for the 2011 model year. The federal agency has significantly modified its rating process and will now grade side-pole testing and crash-prevention technologies such as lane-departure warning and electronic stability control.