Imola still off the 2007 calendar

It appears that there will be no reprieve for the San Marino Grand Prix as the 2007 calendar was re-issued by the World Motor Sport Council (WMSC) on October 18th and Imola is absent. It was thought that after upgrades to the circuit it could be restored to its usual slot as the first race in Europe after the early flyaways but reportedly there is no commercial agreement between Imola and Bernie Ecclestone.

The WMSC noted that "no agreement was in place for an 18th race and there will continue to be 17 races in the 2007 calendar." Therefore the gap of nearly a month still exists between the third race in Bahrain on April 15th and the fourth in Spain on May 13th.

Silverstone returns to its usual early July spot and while the European GP is officially off the schedule, the Nurburgring will be host to the German GP in 2007. In 2008 the race will switch to Hockenheim and will alternate between the two tracks after that.

Alonso says farewell to Viry

Fernando Alonso made a farewell visit to his team-mates in Viry-Châtillon yesterday.

After visiting his team-mates in Enstone last week, the young double world champion was in Viry yesterday to thank the 250 members of the team's factory one final time.

The atmosphere was friendly and jovial for the visit, just as Fernando wanted. Welcomed by thunderous applause, he began -- and to the surprise of many, he did so in nearly-perfect French

Red Bull confirms 2007 engine strategy

Red Bull confirmed on October 31st that in 2007 it will use Renault engines and sister team Toro Rosso will be Ferrari powered. Red Bull had a two year deal for Ferrari engines, starting in 2006, but negotiated to end it early in favour of Renault. Toro Rosso, which competed with the restricted Cosworth V10 this season, will run the Ferrari V8s next season.

The Quail: A Motorsports Gathering
In its fourth year, The Quail: A Motorsports Gathering takes place during the hectic Pebble Beach Concours weekend. With many automotive activities happening during this time, the Quail has built a reputation for being one of the most exclusive and intimate automotive events of the weekend. Located on the golf course of the Quail Lodge, the Quail features rare motorsport automobiles, fine wines, and a peaceful atmosphere. A limited number of selected entrants are permitted to grace the show field; the number of those in attendance is limited to just 3000, with the tickets selling rather quickly. There were three main themes honored this year that included the coachwork of Zagato, 100th anniversary of the Targa Florio, and Laguna Seca's 50th anniversary.

The retro-Volvo stunner

The Volvo Amazon is a classic, but it's not something that leaps to mind when one thinks, "Hot Rod." Mattias Vöcks, a Swede in the employ of the supertuner, Koenig, has changed that forever with his VÖX-Amazon, a '67 Amazon that he turned into one of the most smile-inducing hot rods you'll ever set eyes on. The car was voted "Sweden's Hottest Volvo," an honor that earned Vöcks and his 600 horsepower six-cylinder station wagon passage to Vegas, where the car is is proudly displayed at Volvo's SEMA booth.

Slammed low to the ground, finished in a glossy blue-grey paint and sporting multi-piece black wheels, mesh grilles, a big, fat side-exit exhaust, and a red interior that's all business, With that kind of juice underhood, it could hold its own at the stoplight showdowns, too.

• Scientists eye ethanol boost for gasoline engines

Injecting small quantities of ethanol into car engines at moments of peak demand - such as accelerating sharply or climbing a steep hill - could improve the fuel economy of gasoline engines by 20 percent to 30 percent.