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Nurburgring officials have revealed “the dream lives on” for Formula 1 to return to the Nordschleife – but that no “serious discussions” have taken place. A first F1 race for seven years at the Nurburgring took place recently, but a subject of fascination for many of the drivers involved was the Nordschleife circuit which adjoins the modern track. Nicknamed ‘The Green Hell’ by Jackie Stewart after it hosted F1 in the 1950s and 60s, the Nordschleife was modified in the early 1970s for safety reasons and continued to stage the German Grand Prix up to 1976 when Niki Lauda suffered a near-fatal accident. Nowadays, the Nordschleife, which measures 12.9 miles compared to its former 14.1-mile distance, is the scene of several touring car races and also an annual 24-hour event for GT endurance cars. Formula 1 cars have been driven around the circuit for exhibition purposes, but given the Nordschleife’s length there would be various logistical difficulties in holding a race there – … [Read more...] about ‘Dream lives on’ of F1 return to Nordschleife

WASHINGTON - Natasha Cloud writhed on the floor under the basket while teammates gathered around her Sunday and Entertainment and Sports Arena fell silent. The Mystics' leader and longest-tenured player would eventually get up and shoot a pair of free throws before checking out for the rest of the game. She limped to the locker room and never returned to the bench. The starting point guard was officially ruled out with a knee injury, but the team was adamant that holding her out was precautionary. The Washington Mystics had nothing to play for in their regular season finale - a 95-83 victory over the Indiana Fever - as they already had the No. 5 playoff seed locked up and will face the No. 4 Storm in a best-of-three series beginning Thursday in Seattle. Coach Mike Thibault, however, committed to playing his starters significant minutes Sunday. Washington closed the season with its second straight win, both against the league-worst Fever. "Psychologically, I think it's good … [Read more...] about Mystics close regular season with win, but Natasha Cloud hurts knee

This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 20 KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — A United Nations-chartered ship loaded with 23,000 metric tons of Ukrainian grain destined for Ethiopia set sail Sunday from a Black Sea port, the first shipment of its kind in a program to assist countries facing famine. The Liberia-flagged Brave Commander departed from the Ukrainian port of Yuzhne, east of Odesa, according to regional governor Maksym Marchenko. It plans to sail to Djibouti, where the grain will be unloaded and transferred to Ethiopia under the World Food Program initiative. Ukraine and Russia reached a deal with Turkey on July 22 to restart Black Sea grain deliveries, addressing the major export disruption that has occurred since Russia invaded Ukraine in February. Ethiopia is one of five countries that the U.N. considers at risk of … [Read more...] about Ship carrying grain for hungry Ethiopia leaves Ukraine

Listen to this article Turkington led teammate Jake Hill all the way, via two safety cars, to head a 1-2 for the West Surrey Racing-run BMW 330e M Sport squad. In scorching conditions, Turkington led the field, and had just extended his advantage over Hill to over one second when the safety car was called for the first time on lap five, with the Power Maxed Racing Vauxhall Astra of Michael Crees in a vulnerable position on the exit of the Hamilton left-hander. Turkington, who as points leader was allowed just one lap of hybrid usage, got an excellent restart, but Hill (allowed four laps of hybrid) reeled the Northern Irishman in, and was applying serious pressure when the safety car appeared again. This time it was the Laser Tools Racing Infiniti Q50 of Aiden Moffat in trouble, the Scot getting pitched into the barriers at Riches after contact with the troubled Josh Cook’s BTC Racing Honda. The restart came with three laps of green-flag racing remaining, and … [Read more...] about BTCC Snetterton: Turkington dominates opener from Hill

One of swimming's oldest records toppled Saturday courtesy of one of its youngest stars, as 17-year-old Romanian swimmer David Popovici bested César Cielo's 13-year-old 100-meter men's freestyle mark at the European Aquatics Championship in Rome. Popovici's time of 46.86 eclipsed the former event record by 0.05 seconds, and he beat Saturday's second-fastest competitor, Kristóf Milák, by 0.61. "It felt great, and it's very special to break this record which was set here in 2009 by César Cielo," Popovici said via the Associated Press. Though announcers declared Popovici the odds-on favorite entering Saturday's final, his win hardly appeared inevitable at the halfway mark of the race, as he trailed France's Maxime Grousset with 50 meters remaining. Popovici ultimately pulled ahead with a second-half surge, measured at a 24.12 split. Cielo, the previous record-holder, complimented Popovici's performance on Twitter, declaring that Popovici is "just getting started." Few swimmers … [Read more...] about Romanian swimmer, 17, breaks 100-meter men’s freestyle record

Listen to this article A team that began its time in Formula 1 under controversial circumstances, Arrows’ 24-year spell in the championship came to an end in 2002 amid mounting financial problems. Still the team with the most world championship race starts (counting the Footwork years) under its belt – at 382 – without ever taking a victory, Arrows came close to troubling the top step of the podium throughout its curious history – but fell short each time. The British squad, started up by former Lotus F1 driver Jackie Oliver, Alan Rees and Franco Ambrosio, went through multiple ownership changes in its latter years. It spent six seasons as Footwork in the 1990s, before Tom Walkinshaw took over for 1997 and restored the Arrows name. Although the team made an encouraging start under his tenure, with the Scot’s investment helping to bring 1996 champion Damon Hill and famed designer John Barnard into the team, it arguably over-reached its capabilities with an in-house engine … [Read more...] about Top 10 Arrows F1 drivers ranked: Hill, Warwick, Fittipaldi and more

Listen to this article Who is on the list? The report said Nico Hulkenberg, despite being close to a new deal to stay with Force India in 2015, is at the top of the German carmaker's shortlist. Theoretically, Porsche's supposed plan is possible, given that the F1 calendar is not scheduled to clash with the fabled endurance race next year. Auto Bild said Fernando Alonso and Jenson Button might also be in Porsche's sights, having already signed the former Red Bull driver Mark Webber this year. In truth, the F1 'season season' is in a holding pattern again until Alonso's Ferrari exit and Sebastian Vettel's move to replace him are confirmed officially. Lotus' Romain Grosjean makes no secret of the fact that he is one of the drivers who is patiently waiting. "Any Formula One driver dreams of driving for Ferrari," the Frenchman told Europe 1 radio. Asked if he has been in talks with the Italian team, Grosjean admitted: "Yes, everyone, but the paddock is a small … [Read more...] about ‘Silly season’ waits but 2015 rumours still firing

It was a visibly pained Lewis Hamilton that emerged from the cockpit of his Mercedes after the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. Advert | Become a Supporter & go ad-free His agony was the consequence of the especially fierce punishment he suffered on the long, bumpy straights of the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, Montreal , the W13 smashing along its bumps so hard his back eventually went numb. This was the nadir of Hamilton’s season so far. After Baku he’d been beaten home by his new team mate George Russell for seven consecutive races. Social media’s inexhaustible thirst for knee-jerk punditry was kept well-supplied by critics insisting the seven-times world champion was finished. But just five races later, how they have quietened. Mercedes appear to have got to the bottom of the porpoising dilemma which plagued them early in the season and begun tapping into the performance offered by the car. Suddenly Hamilton appears to have clicked with the car, and Russell is hardly … [Read more...] about Hamilton confounds his detractors again as Mercedes reverse early-season slump · RaceFans

Anne Heche died Sunday evening after being taken off life support, but an outpouring of appreciation for the 53-year-old actress had already been building for days, beginning with the Aug. 5 car crash in Los Angeles that left her hospitalized. It continued all weekend after Thursday's news that Heche had been declared brain dead and her family issued a statement mourning their loss. "We have lost a bright light, a kind and most joyful soul, a loving mother, and a loyal friend," her family wrote in a statement. "Anne will be deeply missed but she lives on through her beautiful sons, her iconic body of work and her passionate advocacy. Her bravery for always standing in her truth, spreading her message of love and acceptance, will continue to have a lasting impact." "After six days of unbelievable emotional swings, I am left with a deep, wordless sadness," Homer Laffoon, 20, one of Heche's two sons, wrote in a statement, issued on Friday. "Hopefully my mom is free from pain and … [Read more...] about Anne Heche’s family and friends share their love, sorrow at her death