Ferrari, McLaren, BMW-Sauber and Toyota have all confirmed that they will be keeping their stable of drivers exactly as they are, whilst Renault did the same and are keeping Alonso and Piquet. 

Naturally, given some of the comments of the sometimes-irritating (yet frequently successful) Alonso, there was some speculation that he’d in fact be moving off to the territory of a certain manufacturer that has a penchant for painting their cars Rosso Red.  However, Ferrari saw fit to keep the one and only Raikkonen firmly in the driving seat.

This does beg the question of what sort of action we can expect to see next year.  Well, my theory is that with F1 being such an ‘open’ sport, there won’t be much difference.  The top teams will remain… well… the top teams.  Those in the bottom will also stay.  Will Lewis Hamilton prove how classy he is and take the first win of 2009?  That remains anyone’s guess.  One thing I’m sure of though is that if Renault has the car right, then Alonso will be on Hamilton’s back even more than he was this season.

Of course, it’s an extremely stressful situation that can be made all the worse by the possibility of some sort of bodily injury to yourself or others. Nonetheless, it is important to ensure that you provide (and receive) the name, address, telephone number, vehicle and insurance details of the other party.

What many don’t realise is that failing to take down the requisite information can result in a claim taking far longer than usual to process, or even worse, invalidate the claim (if your insurer feels this is necessary and correct) due to lack of information taken at the scene.

Why not take the following steps to remain on the side of the law (and keep your insurer on YOUR side):
* Remain safe, and check the other party is safe
* Take all personal details necessary, including name, address, telephone number and vehicle reg
* Take down the other party insurance details (and policy number – it is an offense to refuse it when asked)
* Take down any witness details
* Take photographic evidence of as much as you can of the scene, including any damage to your car
* Write down what the other party says, especially if they are threatening or asking for you to not report the accident

Ultimately, many people don’t know the law in this area, and plenty of us are simply too shaken to do the right thing. However, make sure you’re prepared by having a notepad and paper in the car – and keep your wits about you at all times when driving so you don’t end up there in the first place!

You’ll have a chance to see and test the prototype and there’s a high probability that the car will actually be made available – as early as 2011. Want to get involved? Go look up the project and see how you can work with this virtual car company.

Here’s some info from the company:
You will be voting on all the key decisions that will shape the design of the vehicle; from styling and engine options to specification, equipment and everything in between!

Before voting, discuss, debate and collaborate with thousands of fellow car enthusiasts from all over the globe as part of the Splitwheel community. Read our in?depth analysis on the key issues around the car, plus all the latest news on the cars that we love to drive and talk about.

You don’t need to be an engineer to get involved… if you have a passion for cars then we need you!

Motorsport has a range of champions, just as we have a range of sports.  You have your Hamilton in F1 and your Giovanardi in BTCC.  So, how do you know who’s really the fastest when they race across different sports?  The Race of Champions of course!

Created in 1988 by IMP (International Media Productions) President Fredrik Johnsson and the world’s best female rally driver, Michele Mouton, the ROC remains the only opportunity for drivers to race in exactly the same cars and on a parallel track.

The premise is simple: using identical equipment and track, drivers can prove themselves based on their talent alone.

In 2008, sixteen drivers will compete in a series of knockout heats in their own division to determine their class champion. Then, in a shoot-out to determine who is the master of motorsport, the winners from the two divisions will go head-to-head in a super final.

The winner is rewarded with the title “The Champion of Champions”.

Now in its 21st year, the ROC boasts a list of past winners that reads like the “who’s who of racing”. DTM champion Mattias Ekstrom created a huge surprise when he beat homecrowd favourite Sébastien Loeb at Stade de France in 2006 and then again last year at Wembley when he defeated Michael Schumacher. Loeb, the 5-time World Rally Champion, had taken the title in 2005. The above join a distinguished group that includes world rally champions Juha Kankkunen, Stig Blomqvist, Didier Auriol, Tommi Mäkinen, Carlos Sainz, Colin McRae and Marcus Gronholm.

In 2004 Heikki Kovalainen, the Nissan World Series Champion that year, surprised everybody by winning against all the established stars. After beating seven-times Formula 1 Champion Michael Schumacher, the young Finn celebrated by jumping up and down on the red Ferrari! He then went on to beat Sebastien Loeb in the ROC Super-Final to take the “Champion of Champions” title.

In 2003, Sebastien Loeb ended his season on a high note by winning a re-match of the 2002 ROC final, beating Finland’s two-time World Rally Champion Marcus Gronholm. Loeb defeated Gronholm two heats to nil, both victories achieved by little more than a car length.

This year’s Race of Champions takes place on Sunday 14th December.

Registrations in the UK were at just 128,352 in October 2008, down 23.5% on October 2007. Rather a large drop, in that we’re talking almost 25%. It goes without saying that the industry can’t really sustain this amount of loss for successive months.

This is the worst figure since June 1991 when sales slumped by more than 31%. It is the third month in a row that new car sales in the UK have nosedived. SMMT figures for September revealed a 21% dip despite the attraction of the new 58-registration number plates. Sales also fell sharply - by 18.6% - in August. Sales for 2008 now total 1.92 million - an 8.7% drop on the January-October 2007 figure.

As is always the case with these scenarios however, every cloud has a silver lining. In this case, it’s the fact that you might be one of the lucky ones with enough cash to buy new. If so, you’ll find there are wealth of car offers out there. These offers take the form of 5 years 0% APR, meaning you can have a real bargain on your hands in no time.

Perhaps more importantly, with fewer registrations, you’ll be able to get significant discounts on both pre-and not-yet-registered vehicles, so whatever you want, there’ll be a dealer out there quite happy to negotiate with you. This of course applies even if you have a vehicle to trade in – just be aware that said vehicle will also sadly be worth less!

One million pound price tag.  Check.  Incredible, insane amounts of power.  Check.  7.3 litre V12.  Check.  Aston Martin badge.  Check.  I’m of course talking about the One-77 – as the new video is now available on the site!

Here’s what I got by email:
The project is moving at a real pace and in this new episode Chris Porritt, Program Manager starts to outline the cars performance, while Marek Reichman, Design Director, explains how you will be able to fine tune the cars feel and responsiveness to your own personal requirements.

The beauty of this new car is now really shining through as we also reveal the entire car, both in the video, and in a range of new high resolution photography.

We hope you enjoy this next episode, and we will continue to keep you up to speed as the project develops.

In the video, Dr Ulrich Bez and Chris Porritt among others outline exactly what will make the car special.  It is the spirit of the thing apparently, it is how the DNA of the company has shaped the model and made it what it is.  It is the thrill of the acceleration, the “should I be doing this” feeling that all those rampaging horses gives you.

Perhaps most importantly (for the 77 lucky owners anyway) it is how the car is a reflection of themselves.  Each car will be completely bespoke, tuned even down to the firmness of the flappy-paddle gears to the preference of the driver.

This is a real car that will have real soul.  It’s just a shame that so few of us will ever see one in real life, let alone drive it.

There’s a range of meanings you can see for the word, but I think what this new campaign is really driving at is the principle behind it. Perhaps, even, the archaic version of the word, to have a consideration for. You’re responsible for your actions on the road, but ultimately you need to consider others when you make decisions on how you drive.

One thing we don’t do enough of is to have that little bit of consideration. I’ve been unfortunate enough to have been in a car crash and I can tell you that it isn’t a pleasant at all experience. The person who caused the crash (neither myself nor the driver of the car I was in) was angry and confrontational rather than checking to see if everyone was ok first. This is why I’m quite happy to put my support behind this North-East based campaign.

Here’s the charter:
This campaign will potentially:

Save the lives of many drivers, passengers and pedestrians.
Cut down on vehicle and insurance claims.
Reduce the ‘hidden’ costs arising from road accidents.

Endorse our charter to show your employees, colleagues, family and friends that you really care about their wellbeing. Share your employees’ stories and become central to our campaign. We’re looking for people with real stories to tell. It could mean positive publicity and PR for your organisation. Encourage respect, read more about the charter now and save lives by signing up!

I’m sure you will agree that all of those aims of the campaign are admirable ones and it is especially important that younger drivers learn that caning around can sometimes lead to far more than some bumper scratches.

Research based on 10 million user quotes from the UK’s leading price comparison site shows bus conductors and GPs as the professions most likely to crash. It also reveals motor insurance premiums could rise and hit consumer pockets hard as a result of having an at-fault claim.
 
Peter Gerrard, head of insurance research at moneysupermarket.com, said: “Being at fault in a car accident is terrifying enough for any motorist but with purse strings tightening all over the country a hike of over 60 per cent on premiums should make Brits think twice about running risks on the roads. When an insurer risk assesses a driver, any history of accidents will no doubt mean motorists pay more.”

The research reassuringly shows driving examiners practise what they preach on the roads, with under 1.5 per cent responsible for motoring accidents.  Au pairs and magistrates are also low offenders according to the research.

At the other end of the scale, bus conductors are the most likely to crash while in their own cars (almost one in six or over 16 per cent), and Brits with careers related to health and well-being are also popular culprits. GPs, speech therapists, psychologists, keep fit instructors and surgeons are all amongst the professions most prone to crash.

Buy a ‘green’ car
No car is hugely green. They are big, lunking things that require resources to build, maintain and service. However, how much of the old oil-based juice it drinks and the requisite emissions it produces can be controlled – to a certain degree. Modern cars can offer more mpg (but might not if you go for something sports-oriented) and are less harmful to the environment.
Cost to us: High
Cost to the environment: Medium (what happens to your old car? This is fine if it stays in use, not so good if it is scrapped)

Get your tyre pressures right
Tyres at the right pressure and in good nick can help you cut fuel consumption, lowering the amount of CO2 produced. Well looked-after tyres will last longer.
Cost to us: Very low
Cost to the environment: Low

Driving style
Harsh braking and frantic acceleration can cost you up to 30% more fuel than being sensible and reading the road. Smooth, consistent driving rewards you by lowering costs and emissions.
Cost to us: Low
Cost to the environment: Low

Walk more
Controversial this one, but it’s the small journeys you do every day that’ll drink your fuel up like you do your morning coffee. Try walking these short distances, or, if you must be on wheels, do what I did recently. Invest in a pedal bike.
Cost to us: Low
Cost to the environment: None

Car share
If you can, organise a car share at work or for any sort of club you attend. Having multiple people in the car is sensible and you’ll be reducing the amount of congestion on the road, as well as the emissions that are being chucked out into the environment.
Cost to us: It saves money
Cost to the environment: Lower than using multiple vehicles