Renault is pressing on with testing of its Formula 3 engine, although it is unlikely to race in 2014.

The French car giant was due to contest this year's F3 European Championship with Signature, only for the team to pull out on the eve of the season.

While Signature is returning to the category next month with Volkswagen power, the ORECA-built Renault engine is now being tested by Ma-Con Motorsport.

The German team, which raced in European F3 in 2012 and '13 with VW engines, was linked last winter with Renault power for '14, but has not competed this season.

Two-time Toyota Racing Series champion Nick Cassidy has had two days at the wheel of a Ma-Con Dallara-Renault at Lausitz, while Frenchman Andrea Pizzitola—who like Cassidy is racing in Formula Renault Eurocup this year—has also driven the car.

"I'd never driven an F3 car with a new-spec engine so it's very hard for me to compare," said New Zealander Cassidy, who had two race outings in Euro F3 last year.

"But it's a good chance for me to get knowledge and work with another team, and they're doing a very good job with continuing to develop the engine."

Ma-Con is expected to take part in next month's two-day official test at Imola.

As the 2014 inaugural TUDOR United SportsCar Championship prepares for its two final races and plans for the 2015 season take shape, the International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) announced a number of enhancements to its competition department. IMSA adds motorsports veterans Simon Hodgson and Beaux Barfield to key leadership positions while establishing key new roles for existing IMSA competition officials Scot Elkins, Paul Walter and Mark Raffauf.
 
Hodgson, a native of the United Kingdom, brings more than 25 years of experience in motorsports to his new position as IMSA’s Managing Director, Racing Operations. Hodgson’s experience includes positions in Formula 1, IndyCar and IMSA / GRAND-AM, where he most recently served as general manager of Wayne Taylor Racing’s championship-winning Prototype team.
 
Hodgson will oversee all racing operations functions, such as race directors, series platforms, competition administration, member services, track services and logistics. He will report to IMSA President and COO, Scott Atherton.
 
Elkins, who has served in an executive role with IMSA since 2008, becomes Managing Director, Technical Regulations. He will oversee the technical aspects of all IMSA-sanctioned series, with a primary focus on the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship, Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge and Cooper Tires Prototype Lites powered by Mazda. Those aspects include Adjustment of Performance (AoP), technical regulations, homologation, technical staff and technical inspection.
 
He also will continue to represent IMSA for all international technical meetings with groups such as the Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) and the Automobile Club l’Ouest (ACO), and will continue to lead IMSA’s development in collaboration with the ACO and FIA of all aspects of the new TUDOR Championship Prototype (P) class car set to debut in 2017. Elkins will continue to report to Atherton.
 
“The addition of Simon to our senior leadership team and the redefinition of Scot’s responsibilities put IMSA in a very strong position domestically and abroad,” Atherton said. “Simon comes in with a wealth of relevant industry experience and has earned the respect of virtually everyone with whom he has come in contact throughout his very successful and diverse career.
 
“Likewise, Scot maintains a strong voice in defining technical regulations that shape the future of our sport here in the U.S., Europe and around the world. He has developed solid relationships with his international counterparts, which are vital to the long-term success of the technical rules that will govern and unify professional endurance sports car racing.”
 
Hodgson joins the company at its Daytona Beach headquarters on Monday, Sept. 8 and both he and Elkins assume their new responsibilities immediately.

Beginning with upcoming 2014 events at Circuit of The Americas in Austin, Texas on Sept. 19-20 and the season finale Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta, veteran official Barfield will become Race Director for the TUDOR Championship and Continental Tire Challenge. Barfield served in the Race Director role of the IMSA-sanctioned American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón from 2008 through 2011. He most recently was Race Director for the IndyCar Series from 2012 to 2014.
 
Barfield will be responsible for race direction and race control staff for all TUDOR Championship and Continental Tire Challenge events.
 
With the addition of Barfield, Walter moves into the role of Director, Racing Operations. His responsibilities will continue to include the development of all event schedules and supplementary regulations, as well as the IMSA Rule Books and related updates. Walter also will serve as the Clerk of the Course and have an active role in competition-related matters.
 
Long-time IMSA and GRAND-AM competition leader Raffauf has been named IMSA Director, Series Platforms. He will have day-to-day oversight of all IMSA series platforms, including the TUDOR Championship, Continental Tire Challenge, Cooper Tires Prototype Lites powered by Mazda, Ferrari Challenge, Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA by Yokohama, Ultra 94 Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Canada by Michelin and Lamborghini Super Trofeo.
 
Barfield, Walter and Raffauf will report to Hodgson.
 
“These enhancements to our leadership structure will enable us to maximize the strengths of each of these individuals and our entire IMSA competition team,” said IMSA CEO Ed Bennett. “I am pleased to add Simon to our team, welcome Beaux back into the IMSA family and congratulate Scot, Paul and Mark on their new positions. All of them are proven professionals who will play important roles in the continued growth and development of IMSA now and into our bright future.”

VP Racing Fuels announced Excel Fuels, one of the largest independent petroleum distributors in Oklahoma, has partnered with VP in its retail branding program. Oklahoma City-based Excel plans to convert each of its 11 corporate-owned E-Express locations to the VP brand with 29 independent locations to follow. Each store is expected to carry VP’s race fuel blends as well as VP’s array of consumer products.  
 
Neal Do, President of Excel Fuels, LLC, was quick to grasp the advantages of VP’s branding program. “The first thing that caught my attention about VP’s program was the option to buy fuel on the open market, which saves us $.08-.10 per gallon and makes us much more competitive. At the first station we converted, these savings enabled us to match the price of a super independent we compete with and we’ve already seen a 30% increase in gallons. Not only are we making more money per gallon, we’re selling more gallons.
 
“VP’s brand also helps differentiate our sites from the competition with a premium look, a premium reputation, and race fuels that are the fuel of choice for performance enthusiasts,” Do added. “VP’s race fuel blends represent an additional profit center for our dealers and are something no other brand can offer. In addition, VP’s credit card fees are the lowest in the industry, which has saved more than $2000 per month at one of our stations. We’re also happy that, despite the change, retail customers will be able to continue taking advantage of Excel’s popular loyalty program.”
 
“We’re extremely pleased to welcome Excel Fuels to Team VP,” said Alan Cerwick, President of VP Racing Fuels. “Neal Do is an astute businessman and very well respected in the industry, so his enthusiasm means a great deal. Neal immediately saw the advantages of our program and is going all in with race fuels, VP Small Engine Fuel and VP Madditives, with long-term plans to offer VP101 unleaded performance fuel at the pump once the program is established.  Our partnership with Neal will provide a big boost to the expansion of VP’s brand program in Oklahoma.”
 
“To me, VP’s branding program is a real turning point,” said Do. “For too long, major brands have taken advantage of station owners, but VP’s program is changing the playing field. On its own, our E-Express brand wasn’t big enough or widely recognized, but partnering with VP Racing Fuels will position us to grow aggressively not only in Oklahoma but beyond.” 

SCORE International announced its official five-race schedule for the 2015 SCORE World Desert Championship series featuring four races in Baja California, Mexico and one in the United States.

The biggest changes for the 2015 race season will be the season opener, SCORE San Felipe 250, now starting mid-January, the all new addition of the SCORE Baja Sur 500 race in April and the SCORE Imperial Valley 250 now taking place in September.

“It is truly the dawn of a new day in SCORE and the SCORE World Desert Championship series is having a significant impact in the world of motorsports,” said Roger Norman, CEO and President of SCORE Int’l. “Mexican races are the cornerstone of SCORE and to have our first event entirely in Baja California Sur will add another colorful chapter to the SCORE Baja racing legacy.”

SCORE also announced that final negotiations are being completed to again televise the entire SCORE World Desert Championship series nationally on the CBS Sports Network and internationally through syndication.

“With the diligence and creativity of BCII TV, SCORE has a viable domestic television package this year with the CBS Sports Network as our partner and our international syndication platform. When we finalize our 2015 television package it will continue to move SCORE up the visibility ladder with viable and sustainable programming,” Norman said.

SCORE International will be celebrating its 42nd year as the world’s foremost desert racing organization in 2015 with a five-race series that will feature competition for 25 Pro and 5 Sportsman classes for cars, trucks, UTVs, motorcycles and ATVs.

In order to earn a 2015 SCORE World Desert Championship class point title, SCORE has announced that racers will have the option to run either the inaugural SCORE Baja Sur 500 or the 47th SCORE Baja 500. If a racer elects to run both races, his/her highest point total between those two races will be included in his/her point totals from the other three SCORE races which are all required starts in order to qualify for a season point championship.

2015 SCORE World Desert Championship:

Date – Event – Location

Jan. 22-25 – San Felipe 250 – San Felipe, Mexico

April 16-19 – Baja Sur 500 – Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

June 4-7 – Baja 500 – Ensenada, Mexico

Sept. 24-27 – Imperial Valley 250 – Plaster City, Calif.

Nov. 18-21 – Baja 1000 – Ensenada, Mexico

The 2015 season for both the NMRA and the NMCA will kick off with a blast down in the Sunshine State at Bradenton Motorsports Park in Bradenton, Florida. The 21st NMRA Spring Break Shootout is scheduled for March 5-8, 2015 and the 13th Annual NMCA Muscle Car Nationals will take over Bradenton on March 20-22, 2015.

When NMRA Keystone Automotive "all-Ford madness" blasts into Florida in 2015, racers can look forward to amazing weather and outstanding track conditions. Spectators can expect close racing on the drag strip, a huge all-Ford car show on both days during the weekend and a giant manufacturer's midway.
 
All brands of American muscle hit the Bradenton Motorsports Park quarter mile when the NMCA arrives on the third weekend of March. Super fast Pro Mods reaching speeds of 250+ mph plus Ford vs. Chevy vs. Mopar intense match-ups mark the series that's known for exciting grassroots style drag racing. Of course, fans will also enjoy an all-brands car show on both Saturday and Sunday and an all-inclusive manufacturer's midway with representatives from the best-of-the-best in the aftermarket industry.
 
For more information about these events, please visit www.NMRAdigital.com and www.NMCAdigital.com for updates and schedules.

Six young American drivers will converge on Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, Calif., next Monday, September 8, for a shootout to determine who will represent the Team USA Scholarship in the traditional Formula Ford Festival at Brands Hatch and the Walter Hayes Trophy at Silverstone, England, later in the fall.

This will be 25th year the scholarship has assisted promising American youngsters at an early stage in their careers. Jimmy Vasser was awarded the inaugural Team USA Scholarship in 1990. Subsequent winners have included Bryan Herta (1991), Buddy Rice (1997), A.J. Allmendinger (2001), Charlie Kimball (2003), J.R. Hildebrand (2005), Dane Cameron (2006), Josef Newgarden and Conor Daly (2008), Spencer Pigot (2010/2011) and Tristan Nunez and Matthew Brabham (2012).

This year’s candidates are:

• Ben Auriemma, 16, from Manhasset, N.Y. – currently competing in the Skip Barber Summer Series (4 wins)

• Tristan DeGrand, 18, from St. Louis, Mo. – leads two Canadian F1600 Championships (16 wins)

• Kenton Koch (pronounced “Cook”), 20, from Glendora, Calif. – SCCA Mazda MX-5 Cup points leader (6 wins)

• Garth Rickards, 21, from Mechanicsburg, Pa. – currently second in the F1600 Championship Series (8 podiums)

• Michai (“Muh-KIE”) Stephens, 22, from Evanston, Ill. – competes in the Skip Barber Summer Series (4 wins)

• Aaron Telitz, 22, from Birchwood, Wis. – finished fourth, Rookie of the Year in USF2000 (1 win, 6 podiums)

The shootout will be conducted on the Auto Club Speedway infield road course aboard FR1600 cars provided by Allen Berg Racing Schools, owned by Canadian ex-Formula 1 racer Allen Berg, and running on Cooper tires.

“Our business is based around introducing new drivers to motorsports and improving driver performance,” said Berg, who also hosted the shootout in 2012. “The Team USA Scholarship has a distinctive 20-plus-year record of selecting the best drivers in the country, many of whom have gone on to successful professional racing careers. We are of course delighted to participate in the Team USA Scholarship shootout once again this year and be part of the selection process.”

The judging panel also will include two-time Rolex Sports Car champion Alex Gurney; Team USA Scholarship winner and 2014 Pro Mazda Championship Presented by Cooper Tires contender Neil Alberico; Chris Pantani, Director of UHP Marketing, Event Management, Sponsorships & Motorsports, Cooper Tires; David Cook, Business Development Manager, Mazda North American Operations; veteran IndyCar/Indy Lights team owner Jack McCormack; Jim Leo of Pitfit Training; RACER Magazine founder Paul Pfanner; and race engineer Geoff Fickling, who guided Colombian-American Gabby Chaves to this year’s Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires championship with Belardi Auto Racing.

“I’m extremely grateful to such an accomplished and varied panel of judges for joining us, and to Auto Club Speedway for helping stage this event,” said Team USA Scholarship founder Jeremy Shaw. “We have another fine crop of youngsters, all of whom would represent the program well. We face a tough task in selecting just two winners.”

A more rapid qualifying format for both the GEICO 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and fred’s 250 Powered By Coca-Cola NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races at Talladega Superspeedway, Oct. 17-19, was unveiled by NASCAR, and is sure to create an extra element of fan excitement at the 2.66-mile venue.
 
Both national series’ qualifying will take on a more fast-paced look that should resemble race conditions and promises to bring out the best in the competitors. In addition to the qualifying changes, the Saturday, Oct. 18, schedule will now see the start of the fred’s 250 Powered By Coca-Cola NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race moved earlier in the day to a 12 NOON (CT) green flag, and will be televised live on FOX. Foodland/Food Giant Qualifying for the GEICO 500 will follow later in the day at 3:30 p.m. (CT). It will be aired live on ESPNEWS, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
 
National series qualifying at Talladega will now consist of the following:
 
•  Qualifying will consist of three rounds with the first round divided into two groups amongst the competitors. The first qualifying round is five minutes in length for each group.
 
•  Competitors will be assigned to a first qualifying round group based on the random draw held earlier in the event.
 
•  The 24 eligible competitors who post the fastest single lap speed from either of the first qualifying round groups will advance to the second round. The remaining competitors will be sorted based on their speed posted in the first round of qualifying in descending order.
 
•  There will be a 10-minute break after the completion of the first qualifying round and the 24 remaining competitors who advance to the second round will have their times reset.
 
•  The second qualifying round is five minutes in length and the 12 eligible competitors who post the fastest single lap speed will advance to the third and final round.
 
•  The fastest remaining competitors will earn positions 13-24 based on their fastest single lap speed posted in qualifying in descending order.
 
•  Following a five minute break, the 12 eligible competitors who advance to the final round will have their posted speeds reset.
 
•  The final qualifying round is five minutes in length and the fastest single lap speed will determine positions 1-12 in descending order.
 
The field for the fred’s 250 Powered By Coca-Cola will be set on Friday, Oct. 17, at 4:30 p.m. (CT) and will be aired live on FOX Sports 1. The Friday slate also includes two rounds of practice for the Sprint Cup drivers and one practice session for the NASCAR Camping World Series competitors.

“It’s appropriate that our facility, which was built as a palace of speed, will play host to this new qualifying format where achieving speed quickly will be pivotal,” said Talladega Chairman Grant Lynch. “There will be intense pressure on the drivers and teams to make their laps count, and it’s going to be one heck of a chess match to see the tactics for success. We know our fans will enjoy it. With the new starting time for the fred’s 250 Powered By Coca-Cola, it’s going to be an incredible Saturday here at Talladega.”
 
“This revision in national series qualifying at Talladega should be more exciting for our fans,” said Robin Pemberton, NASCAR Senior Vice President of Competition and Racing Development. “It will feature a more accelerated pace, provide greater opportunity for team strategy to come into play and it should more closely resemble actual racing conditions.”
 
The GEICO 500 is the sixth race in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. It is the cutoff race for the Contender Round and will trim the championship field from 12 to eight drivers at the checkered flag.

Nationwide has expanded its three-year relationship with Hendrick Motorsports to become the majority sponsor of driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. and the No. 88 Chevrolet SS team beginning with the 2015 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season.

Nationwide, which in May announced it will join Hendrick Motorsports as a corporate partner, will increase its primary sponsorship of Earnhardt to 21 Sprint Cup events, including the Daytona 500, for each of the next three seasons. The revised agreement provides Nationwide with nine additional primary races in 2015 and eight additional primary races in both 2016 and 2017.

“We’re thrilled to be deepening our partnership with the Hendrick Motorsports team,” said Matt Jauchius, chief marketing officer at Nationwide. “We look forward to seeing Nationwide on the No. 88 for NASCAR’s biggest races over the next three seasons.”

Nationwide is making an early debut as Earnhardt’s primary sponsor during this weekend’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event at Richmond (Va.) Int’l Raceway, where it is previewing the 2015 No. 88 Nationwide Chevrolet SS paint scheme.

“That Nationwide has already elected to grow the sponsorship sends a clear message about the opportunities they see and how well our teams are working together,” said Rick Hendrick, owner of Hendrick Motorsports. “It’s quickly become a strong relationship, and we’re committed to building on that foundation and delivering results in every facet of the program.”

Earnhardt, 39, is a two-time Nationwide Series champion and has 22 career points-paying Sprint Cup victories, including two Daytona 500 victories.

“I know the people at Nationwide extremely well and truly appreciate how invested they are in our team and our sport,” said Earnhardt, whose family has been insured by Nationwide for more than 35 years and who has been featured in its national advertising since 2009. “It’s extremely gratifying that they recognize so much value in the partnership and want to do more. Having this kind of support and seeing so many positive things happening around the team feels really good.”

Three of the Tire Rack SCCA Solo program’s highest honors were given out Wednesday night at the Lancaster Event Center  as part of the Wednesday’s Tire Rack SCCA Solo National Championships awards banquet.

The Solo Cup, Spirit of the Sport and Driver of Eminence award were all awarded prior to the official coronation of 26 National Champions.

The Solo Driver of Eminence award was given to Shelly Monfort, of Saratoga, California. The award is given yearly to the Solo driver who not only displays a high degree of skill behind the wheel, but also promotes sportsmanship, dedication and unselfishness. The winner is selected by the Solo Events Board, from a pool of nominations made by the general membership.

Behind the wheel, Monfort has competed in Solo, Club Racing and even professional-level racing. Throughout her time in the sport she has put in time as a driving instructor for beginning and experienced racers. In addition, Monfort was part of the committee responsible for selecting the recipient of the Wendi Allen Scholarship. The scholarship was created to assist up-and-coming female soloists further their motorsport ambitions.

“I started racing when I was 16 years old,” Monfort said. “I wasn’t very good at it for a long time, but I stuck with it. Talent is fortunate, but tenacity is what’s earned. I’m still learning it, and I’m sure all of you all. I would say, if nothing else, just don’t ever give up on yourself.

“I’m just one person, and I know so many other people in this audience that have put in so many hours and you put your heart into this. I hope I can live up to what all of you have done. It’s a gift that we all bring to this sport, and it’s what makes it great. I thank all of you for that.”

The Solo Cup was given to Robert Chrismas for his lifelong contributions to the Solo Events Program. Like the Driver of Eminence title, the recipient is selected by the Solo Events Board from a group of members’ nominations.

Chrismas served as the Northwestern Ohio Region SCCA Regional Executive in 2004 and 2005. Currently, he serves as a Director at Large for the region.

“About three sentences into that, I looked over at my wife and said ‘no, really?’” Chrismas said. “The Northwestern Ohio Region has given me a platform to work with some wonderful people who make me look good. I’m deeply honored and completely thrilled by this, and hopefully the rest of my week will go this well.”

The Johnson Spirit of the Sport award was given to Van Townsend for the fun-loving spirit he has displayed and promoted throughout his time in the sport. The award, selected by a committee of the three previous winners, is named in honor of the initial recipient, Roger E. Johnson. The award is given to anyone in the Solo community that ‘upholds the spirited virtues of FUN, CAMARADARIE, and TOMFOOLERY,’ as it is engraved on the trophy itself.

The SCCA Nebraska Region presented an $8,000 check to the SCCA Foundation, during the evening. The check represented the donations made my competitors who utilized the practice course on the north side of the competition site.

The SCCA Foundation is the not-for-profit 501(c)(3) arm of the SCCA that supports select automotive educational and safety programs. Currently, the major efforts are directed towards several youth educational and safety initiatives including the Tire Rack Street Survival Program, Formula SAE, the Carroll Smith’s Mentor Cup and the Bob Woods Cup.

The remaining National Champions will be decided following the final day of competition on Friday, at the Lincoln Airpark. The banquet for the second wave of winners will be held Friday evening, again, at the Lancaster Event Center.

Sports Car Club of America president and CEO Lisa Noble will make her Pirelli World Challenge series debut during the Nissan Championship Finale Weekend at Miller Motorsports Park in Utah, Sept. 12-13. As part of the series’ charitable initiatives, Noble will race in support of a charitable foundation supporting children battling disease.

Noble, who became SCCA president in March, is a veteran SCCA racer and multi-time divisional champion and top-10 finisher at the National Championship Runoffs in the Formula Vee class. Noble will join Michael Pettiford’s Go 4 It Racing team to pilot the No. 42 Go 4 It Racing Schools/Hawk Performance/Maxton’s Fight Pontiac Solstice in Touring Car for the doubleheader weekend.

“I have watched Pirelli World Challenge grow by leaps and bounds over the last several years, and can’t wait to jump into the fray myself,” Noble said. “From the standing starts to the fender-to-fender racing start-to-finish, this is racing at its best. I thank both the series and my teammate Mike Pettiford, from Go For It Racing, for the opportunity.”

Noble will use the races as an opportunity to raise money and awareness for Maxton’s Fight, a foundation established this year in honor of one of SCCA’s youngest members, 3-year-old Maxton Prill, who has leukemia. Maxton’s Fight is a foundation with a mission of raising funds in support of children and families dealing with pediatric diseases. Maxton is the son of SCCA vice president of marketing and communications Eric Prill and former SCCA Pro Racing and Pirelli World Challenge staff member Robin Prill.

“September is National Childhood Cancer Awareness month, and pediatric cancer has hit our SCCA family very closely this past year,” Noble said. “Pediatric health issues are devastating to families, and Maxton’s Fight has been established to support these families, both financially and through organizations that lift the spirits of these brave children. The series and I are honored to race in support of this.”