• Date set for F1 customer car arbitration hearing
• GM contines with RML in WTCC
• Foggy-MV Agusta WSBK plan falters, team for sale
• US owner threatens track closure
• Cosworth flying after F1
• Father of drag racing passes away

• FIA changes F1 notification procedure
• Charges dropped against ex-Toyota F1 team personnel
• Japanese GP circuit refunds money for duff seats and bussing problems
• Polish F1 circuit planned
• ACO tweaks LMP1 air restrictor rules
• A1GP launches without E30
• BMW to enter World Superbikes
• Clifford Thames and Cardiff University devise new environmental rating system for cars

• EC reports Euro 6 emissions consultation results
• National Parks get new powers to ban off-road vehicles
• US Rep. Dingell launches 50c gasoline tax proposal, exempts diesel
• Renault reveals 97 g/km Logan eco2 concept as Challenge Bibendum entrant

• Lombard delivers first 140 hybrids to BSkyB
• Industrial farming methods for biofuels crops “increase global warming”

A date has been set for the first hearing in the arbitration case brought by the Silverstone, UK based Spyker Formula One team against the rival Super Aguri and Toro Rosso over their use of customer cars in 2007.

The hearing, that will take place at the International Chamber of Commerce in Lausanne, Switzerland on October 9, is expected to be a preliminary hearing to that will determine a schedule for further hearings.

General Motors Europe has confirmed that its Chevrolet brand will for the foreseeable future continue to be represented in the FIA World Touring Car Championship by a team of Chevrolet Lacettis run by the Wellingborough, UK based Ray Mallock Limited organisation.

Chevrolet Europe's motorsport manager Eric Nève said, "The extension of the current agreement should be seen as a commitment by Chevrolet Europe to the WTCC, but also as the result of the constant increase of performance of our cars due to the excellent work of RML.

"The team have worked very hard over the past three seasons, each time finding steps forward, and will continue to do so over the coming winter as we prepare the 2008 campaign."

RML run Chevrolets have been raced in the WTCC since 2005 and in 2007 have enjoyed their most successful year with five race victories.

Plans for a team of MV-Agustas to be raced in the 2008 World Superbike Championship by Foggy Racing, the Burton-upon-Trent based organisation owned and run by former Superbike champion rider Carl Fogarty have been shelved through a lack of sponsorship funding and the team has been put up for sale.

Carl Fogarty, who won four WSBK championships said, "Everyone knows that this is a difficult time for motorcycle sponsorship. However, we hoped that the combination of my team with an iconic brand such as MV Agusta would have been an attractive proposition for potential sponsors both in the UK and abroad.

"Regrettably, despite the enormous excitement generated amongst motorcycle fans, this has not proved to be the case, leading us to the conclusion that the market will not support a professionally-run outfit of our size without significant financial input from a manufacturer.

"So I have decided to bring this chapter of my career to an end by putting our state-of-the-art facility at Burton, our race trailer and hospitality unit up for sale."

Bruton Smith, the owner of the American Lowe's Motor Speedway race circuit near Charlotte, North Carolina that holds two NASCAR Nextel Cup races each year has threatened to close down the facility in a row with the local council over his plans to build a drag-racing strip at the site.

Earlier this week Charlotte city councillors acting on the concerns of people living near the track voted through to a change local zoning regulations that effectively banned the building of a drag racing strips.

Reacting to the council’s action Smith threatened not only to close the LMS facility but to build a new track at another location in the Charlotte area.

Cosworth, the Northampton, UK company that was famous for its successful Formula One racing engines until the end of 2006, is enjoying a revival of its fortunes in the aerospace industry.

When Cosworth lost its last F1 customer in 2006 it laid off 200 people and speculation arose over the company's future but in the past year it has secured contracts for the manufacture of parts for aeroplane companies including as Boeing and Airbus that are expected to boost profits to £2.5 million.

Cosworth's chief executive, Tim Routsis, said, "The moves we've made into aerospace have actually gone a lot quicker than we expected. Since we really got stuck into it after we left Formula 1 the progress we've made has been terrific. People in the industry seem to like the Cosworth name and it gets us through the door very quickly.

"We're recruiting again and we've taken on about 20 extra people so far. We're still finding our feet in the aerospace industry, but I'd actually be disappointed with just £2.5 million next year.

"Last year, Cosworth learned a very painful lesson about being a one-trick pony, being totally dependent on the motorsport industry.

"We'd never say we wouldn't go into Formula 1 again, but I think we'd hesitate about putting ourselves in that same situation."

Wally Parks, the founder of the US National Hot Rod Association, the governing body of American drag racing died last week at the age of 94.

Parks is credited with moving drag racing from an outlaw sport to a safer, more controlled competition that remains one of the most popular forms of motorsport with spectators.

NHRA president Tom Compton said, "Words simply can't describe the immeasurable impact Wally has had on the sport he created and the millions of people's lives he touched along the way. The name Wally Parks is synonymous with drag racing, and his vision and direction will guide NHRA for years to come.

Everyone in drag racing, and the industries formed to service the sport, will forever be indebted to Wally, his vision, his focus and his desire to create, build and grow the NHRA."

The FIA has changed its procedure for notifying Formula One of instructions following and incident at last weekend’s Japanese Grand Prix in which the Ferrari team claimed not to have received an e-mail requiring all cars to the use extreme wet tyres until after the race had started.

A statement issued by the FIA said, "At a meeting of the Formula One Sporting Working Group held in Monaco on 7th December 2006, all teams agreed to an electronic distribution system to ensure that all competitors received communications simultaneously, with no time advantage for a team by virtue of their location in the pitlane. This system has been used throughout the current championship year.

"To avoid any recurrence of today's problem, the agreed method of using electronic communications will continue to be used but in the future will be backed up by the traditional method of written confirmation."

As a result of the failure of the Ferrari team to receive the e-mail last Sunday both of its drivers were required to make early pit stops to change from intermediate tyres onto extreme wet tyres which dropped them to the back of the field.

German prosecutors have dropped charges against three former members of the Cologne based Toyota Motorsport Formula One team.

In January 2006 the team’s former vice-chairman Ove Andersson, its former chief designer Gustav Brunner and its former head of aerodynamics Rene Hilhorst were charged in relation to the use of technology allegedly stolen from the rival Ferrari F1 team.

According to the Cologne prosecutors the three stood accused of violating German competition law by using a data analysis programme brought to the Toyota team by a technician who joined from Ferrari in 2002.

In April 2007 former Ferrari team members Mauro Iacconi and Angelo Santini who later worked for the Toyota team were found guilty by a Modena court in a case in which they charged with espionage, including gaining unauthorised access to Ferrari's computers and the misappropriation of files.

The cases against Andersson, Brunner and Hilhorst were due to be heard by a court specialising in economic crimes, but during last weekend’s Japanese Grand Prix race meeting it emerged that the charges had been dropped.

According to a report in the Japanese Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper the organisers of last weekends Formula One Japanese Grand Prix at Fuji Speedway will refund a total of 350 million yen paid for reserved seat tickets for the event after receiving complaints from spectators that they could not see the race from their seats.

The organisers plan to give refunds to about 7000 spectators who bought tickets for the seats and will also reimburse the full cost of tickets, transportation, hotel and other expenses for 85 spectators who missed the start of the race due to shuttle bus service delays.

Hiroaki Kato, president of Fuji International Speedway Co., apologized saying, "I'm deeply sorry that our lack of experience has led to so many problems. We plan to investigate the cause of the problems to prevent them from recurring next year."

According to German media reports a Formula One standard race circuit is to be to be built in the city of Gdansk on the Baltic coast of Poland.

The cost of building the 5.7 kilometre circuit is estimated at around 200 million Euros and Gdansk city authorities are said to be seeking sponsorship for the project.

Le Mans 24 Hour race and Le Mans Series championship organiser, the Automobile Club de l’Ouest, has confirmed a that cars powered by petrol engines in its LMP1 class will be able to use 3% larger air inlet restrictor in 2008.

A statement from the ACO said, "The ACO has taken advantage of the intervening months (since June) to refine its study of the equivalence between petrol and diesel-engined cars in motor racing.

"We have taken the time to consult all the entrants, and it appears now is the right moment to close the gap between the performance of the petrol engines and the diesel-powered cars.

"This is to maintain a constant and visible level of suspense throughout the race."

The 2007-08 season of the A1 Grand Prix series, which styles itself as the World Cup of Motorsport, began last weekend at Zandvoort in the Netherlands with the cars running on gasoline fuel rather than the intended E30 mix of 30% bioethanol and gasoline.

A statement issued by the series organisers said that they remain committed to switching to a 30 per cent bioethanol fuel mix despite technical issues that have delayed its introduction to the series.

The statement said, “While the E30 fuel mix has been successfully tested over a total of 4,600 kilometers at Silverstone and Snetterton in the UK, the project's technical team, consisting of experts from A1GP, engine suppliers Zytek and fuel provider PetroChem Carless remain unconvinced that the fuel blend will continue to give the required engine performance over a more sustained period of time.

“A1GP has therefore reluctantly reverted to its regular race 102 octane fuel while further development and testing work continues to rectify the situation with the intention of introducing bio-fuels to all A1GP race cars as quickly as possible.”

A1GP's chief executive officer, Pete da Silva said, 'It is highly regrettable that we have not been able to start A1GP's third season running on our planned bio-fuel mix. We have undertaken 4,600 kilometers of testing which has already successfully demonstrated that an international race series can remain exciting and competitive while also taking account of its environmental impact. However, we must ensure that the long term impact of our fuel change does not impact on our on-track action.

'The launch of our THINK Greener Racing policy at Silverstone last month was warmly accepted by the industry and key environmental leaders and remains at the centre of our business strategy moving forward.'

German motorcycle manufacturer BMW looks likely to become the eighth manufacturer to participate in the World Superbike championship following an announcement at the recent Mondial de Deux Roues motorcycle show in Paris, France.

BMW’s development vice president said, "In 2007 BMW returned to road racing after more than 50 years. In 2008 we will continue our activities in the endurance category. At the same time we will be preparing our entry into the World Superbike championship in 2009."

The British automotive consultancy and data company Clifford Thames has been working with Cardiff University to measure the true environmental impacts of individual passenger cars, on the basis that, as Richard Barber, Clifford Thames Strategy and Business Development Director, says: "The current focus on tail pipe emissions does not necessarily fully reflect a vehicle's true carbon footprint".

Clifford Thames is working with the Centre for Automotive Industry Research (CAIR) and the ESRC Centre for Business Relationships, Accountability, Sustainability and Society (BRASS) at Cardiff University to develop a better environmental rating indicator which can be simply expressed, rather like the NCAP safety rating system.

Clifford Thames and CAIR presented an updated analysis on how to better analyse the environmental impact of passenger vehicles last month. Ratings for individual models based on their official fuel consumption/CO2 emissions figures, correlated with available data on their weight and size as a proxy for other environmental impacts including manufacturing materials and energy usage, can be checked online at www.clifford-thames.com.

When a 75 hp Fiat Grande Punto 1.3 16v Multijet is compared on the site with a 75 hp Renault New Clio 1.2 16v, both with 5-speed manual transmissions, the Fiat offers lower fuel consumption (4.5 vs 5.9 litres) and CO2 emissions (119 vs 139 g/km) ratings, but the Renault scores higher by three points or 13% due to its relatively low weight and length/width/height.

National Parks have been given new powers to control the use of motor vehicles on rights of way. From 1 October National Park Authorities can make traffic regulation orders within their boundaries on rights of way and unsurfaced roads. The new measures are part of a package designed to curb excessive or inappropriate use of vehicles away from ordinary roads.

The last few years has seen a growing debate about the appropriateness and sustainability of the use of byways by motor vehicles for recreation. Some National Parks have attracted considerable numbers of recreational off-road motor vehicles. The government considers that in many cases a level of recreational use that may be acceptable in some areas is inappropriate in National Parks, which are designed to conserve and enhance natural beauty, wildlife and cultural heritage as well as enabling people to enjoy their special qualities.

Government research indicated that while the existing byway network can in general support current levels and types of motor vehicle use, there can be difficulties on particular byways.

Most people who responded to public consultation supported the new powers.

Michigan congressman John Dingell, 81, who is marking his 52nd year in Congress, outlined draft tax proposals on 27 September, coinciding with the two-day conference on climate change in Washington convened by President Bush. Dingell, chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee that will draft climate change mitigation legislation, proposed a 50-cent-a-gallon tax on gasoline and jet fuel, phased in over five years and then adjusted for inflation, on top of existing taxes.

His proposals also included a tax on carbon, at $50 a ton, released from burning coal, petroleum or natural gas.

Gasoline is currently subject to a federal U.S. 18.4-cent-per-gallon tax tax be phased in over 5 years and then adjusted for inflation.

Diesel fuel, which produces approx. 20% lower tailpipe CO2 emissions than gasoline, would be exempt from the tax, as would biofuels that do not contain petroleum.

Rep. Dingell’s proposals came in the form of a request for feedback ahead of any formal bill. He proposes that revenue from the gasoline tax would go into the federal highway trust fund to fund road maintenance and public transport. The jet fuel tax would be used to improve airports.

- U.S. consumers are now able to get a better idea of a vehicle's fuel economy thanks to new EPA-designed fuel labels now appearing on 2008 models which more accurately reflect current driving cycles. The Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, representing the Detroit ‘Big Three’, reminded American drivers this week that the www.MileageWillVary.com website explains the labeling changes and offers tips on how to improve their fuel economy.

In July this year the European Commission launched a public consultation to seek views on the best way forward in the field of pollutant emissions from heavy duty vehicles (Euro VI stage). It has now released a summary of responses conveying the main comments and issues that were raised by stakeholders during the public consultation on Euro VI, giving the Commission’s view on them where appropriate. The full submissions of interest parties are also carried, at ec.europa.eu/enterprise/automotive/pagesbackground/pollutant_emission/heavy_duty/public_consultation/contributions.htm.

At the date of closing the public (internet) consultation, a total of 55 replies were received to the request for comments. Of these the breakdown by source is as follows:

- Governmental organisations……………………………9 replies

- Regional and Local official Organisations…………… 4 replies

- Industry and business organisations…………………24 replies

- NGOs, consumer and professional groups………… 13 replies

- Individuals………………………………….……………. 5 replies

Almost all replies welcome the introduction of stringent limit values for the pollutant emissions from heavy duty vehicles. Very few replies state that the current limit values are still valid for the future and that energy efficiency, in terms of fuel consumption and CO2 emission reduction should be the main priority.

The vast majority of stakeholders support a single step with limit values close to those in US2010 (scenarios A or D).

Just eight replies, and within them only two industrial organisations (AGU-CEFIC and CLEPA) are supporting the two-step approach. These organisations are in favour of the less stringent scenarios (scenario C for Euro VI and scenario D for Euro VII).

In general terms transport operators and some national administrations (IT and SW) support a fuel-neutral scenario (i.e. scenario D; NOx=0.5 g/kWh).

The ACEA and some other national administrations (among which CH, DE, FR and NL) and non- governmental organisations support the introduction of a more stringent set of limit values (i.e. scenario A; NOx=0.4 g/kWh). Additional requirements on on-board diagnostic (OBD), off-cycle emissions (OCE) and in service conformity are also requested. In some replies it is stated that the foreseen fuel penalty associated to this scenario would be reduced by technical improvements by the date of entry into force of the Regulation.

The majority of replies (including that of the ACEA) express support for the global harmonisation of testing procedures and driving cycles (i.e. introduction of WHDC – world-wide harmonised driving cycle) as a means of reaching future global standards while reducing the testing cost for the vehicle manufacturers.

In some replies, including national administrations such as NL, DK and CH, the Greater London Authority and other non-governmental organisations, the introduction of a limit value for particle number is requested.

Monitoring of CO2 is supported in some replies.

Other issues raised are summarised as follows:

- An independent research centre is proposing a change in the testing methodology and the use of different driving cycles according to the vehicle application, but the EC says it should be reminded that the current test procedure (test of the engine by using an engine test bench) is the standard one accepted in US, Europe and Japan.

- In one reply the sender asks about the reason to allow higher NOx emissions, in some scenarios, to gas (PI) vehicles. On this issue, it should be noted that the possibility of considering one scenario for CI engines and another for PI engines was open, as expressed in another reply in which, for example, scenario D is supported for CI engines together with scenario A for PI engines.

Last May saw Renault launch the Renault eco² appellation, a sub-brand covering “both ecological and affordable” vehicles emitting 140 g/km CO2 or less. Yesterday, Renault took the wraps off the Logan Renault eco2 Concept, the experimental car it will use to contest the forthcoming Michelin-organised Challenge Bibendum in Shanghai. The Logan Renault eco2 Concept complies with the three criteria relating to production, use and recycling required to warrant the Renault eco2 label. It has a CO2 rating of 97g/km.

It is powered by a B30 biodiesel-compatible 1.5 dCi engine (63kW/85hp) with modified pistons and injection system for enhanced combustion; detailed work on tolerances and lubrication to minimize friction; new gearbox ratios; the combination of a VORTEX generator (a small, drag-reducing, roofmounted feature), a flexible splitter under the front bumper, wheel fairings and a rear lip spoiler, which have enabled the drag coefficient to be cut from the 0.36 of a standard Logan to 0.29.

The Logan Renault eco² Concept is equipped with low rolling resistance Michelin Pure tyres (185/65 R15). The camber and toe settings, as well as the braking system, have also been optimised to combat friction.

To qualify for the Renault eco² appellation, vehicles must comply with three criteria:

- they must be produced in an ISO 14001-certified factory,

- they must emit less than 140g of CO2/km, or else run on biofuel,

- they must be 95% end-of-life reusable, while at least five per cent of the plastics they contain must be sourced from recycling.

Lombard Vehicle Management (LVM) is delivering the first batch of cars to BSkyB as part of a contract to provide the media company with a more environmentally responsible fleet. The 140 Toyota Prius and Honda Civic petrol-electric hybrids, both of which produce less than 110g/km of CO2, will be driven largely by BSkyB employees who are being switched out of vans. The vehicles will be run on three-year, full-maintenance contract hire.

This initial batch is being delivered ahead of further changes to BSkyB’s company vehicles which have recently undergone part of a comprehensive transport review at the company which includes the UK’s first commercial trial of B30 biodiesel vans. Sky is currently developing a comprehensive environmental fleet solution which will be announced later this year and LVM will support the implementation of this scheme. LVM beat a field of 13 tendering companies to secure the landmark deal.

LVM has already delivered over 1000 vans to BSkyB this year as part of its contract to supply at least 1700 vans over a three-year period. The vehicles comply with the Euro IV diesel emissions standard and some are being run on B30 bio-diesel in the UK’s first large-scale bio-diesel fleet trial. The fuel produces 20% lower CO2 emissions than conventional Euro IV diesel engines. The BSkyB deal is the second high-profile environmental fleet contract secured by LVM this year, having switched existing customer IKEA into an all-hybrid car fleet.

Lombard is the UK’s largest asset finance company and part of The Royal Bank of Scotland Group. Its specialised vehicle management business operates fleet of over 115,000 cars and light commercial vehicles

Most crops grown in the U.S. and Europe to make "green" transport fuels actually speed up global warming because of the NOx emissions related to fertilizer inputs, according to a study by the Nobel prize-winning chemist Paul J. Crutzen. The findings, reported by Reuters’ Planet Ark service, suggest alternative fuels derived from rapeseed could produce up to 70% more greenhouse gases than conventional diesel. NOx is the principal culprit (and about 300 times more powerful as a greenhouse gas than CO2), connected to the fertilizer used for rapeseed.

The study suggests scientists and farmers focus on crops which required less intensive farming methods to produce better environmental benefits.

The results, published in "Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics Discussions," were based on the finding that fertiliser use on farms was responsible for three to five times more such greenhouse gas emissions than previously thought.

The report (see (www.atmos-chem-phys-discuss.net/7/11191/2007/acpd-7-11191-2007.pdf)

suggests biofuels derived from sugar cane, as in Brazil, produce between 0.5 and 0.9 times as much greenhouse gases as gasoline, whereas maize used in the United States produces between 0.9 and 1.5 times the global warming effect of conventional petrol.

The study does not account for the extra global warming effect of burning fossil fuels in biofuel manufacture, or for the planet-cooling effect of using biofuel by-products as a substitute for coal in electricity generation.