WRC Rally Monte Carlo : Overall Classification after 3 Stages

The SS3 has affected the overall standings tremendously with Kubica dropping down to fourth. Latvala dropping to eleventh. Bouffier, Meeke, Sordo and Evans making the climb up the table.
Here's an overall classification after the 3 stages.

POS	NO	DRIVER	TIME		DIFF with 1ST
1.	11	B. BOUFFIER (FRA)	45:44.2
2.	3	K. MEEKE (GBR)	45:57.8		+13.6
3.	8	D. SORDO (ESP)	46:25.7		+41.5
4.	10	R. KUBICA (POL)	46:26.7		+42.5
5.	6	E. EVANS (GBR)	46:30.9		+46.7
6.	4	M. OSTBERG (NOR)	46:58.2		+1:14.0
7.	1	S. OGIER (FRA)	47:03.6		+1:19.4
8.	22	J. MELICHAREK (SVK)	47:39.4		+1:55.2
9.	5	M. HIRVONEN (FIN)	48:16.6		+2:32.4
10.	9	A. MIKKELSEN (NOR)	48:41.9		+2:57.7
11.	2	J. LATVALA (FIN)	48:48.4		+3:04.2

WRC Rally Monte Carlo : Timings after SS3 MONTAUBAN SUR L'OUVEZE - LABOREL 1

SS3 looks to be a tough one as the route has a 300 meter climb in the first half of the stage and descends steeply in the second half of the same. There was heavy snow for the last 8 kms of the SS3.
The drivers with the winter tyres on have surely been helped by the snow in the later half of the SS3 as we see Bouffier, Sordo, Meeke and Evans make astonishing timings in the SS3.
Bouffier wins the stage followed by Evans, Sordo and Meeke.
Kubica meanwhile drops down to fourth overall.
Bouffier leads the Rally Monte Carlo by over 13 seconds followed by Meeke and Sordo respectively.

Here are the SS3 stage timings.

POS	NO	DRIVER	TIME		DIFF 1ST
1.	11	B. BOUFFIER (FRA)	14:04.1
2.	6	E. EVANS (GBR)			+0.5
3.	8	D. SORDO (ESP)			+8.0
4.	3	K. MEEKE (GBR)			+16.1
5.	4	M. OSTBERG (NOR)			+1:13.2
6.	10	R. KUBICA (POL)			+1:24.3
7.	1	S. OGIER (FRA)			+1:24.4
8.	5	M. HIRVONEN (FIN)			+1:34.1
9.	9	A. MIKKELSEN (NOR)			+1:56.9
10.	2	J. LATVALA (FIN)			+2:27.6

WRC Rally Monte Carlo : Timings after SS2 ROSANS - STE MARIE - LA CHARCE 1

SS2 saw Latvala go 13.1 seconds faster than his teammate Ogier as Kubica again emerged as the stage winner after the SS2 and also increased his overall lead over Ogier to 36.8 seconds. 

Here are the stage timings from the SS2.

Pos.	No.	Driver	SS2 time
1.	10	R. KUBICA (POL)	12:19.1
2.	2	J. LATVALA (FIN)			+4.6
3.	3	K. MEEKE (GBR)			+13.0
4.	8	D. SORDO (ESP)			+16.7
5.	1	S. OGIER (FRA)			+17.7
6.	4	M. OSTBERG (NOR)			+18.9
7.	6	E. EVANS (GBR)			+19.3
8.	11	B. BOUFFIER (FRA)			+27.5
9.	9	A. MIKKELSEN (NOR)			+33.8
10.	5	M. HIRVONEN (FIN)			+46.4

WRC Rally Monte Carlo : Timings after SS1 ORPIERRE - ST ANDRE DE ROSANS 1

Former F1 driver Robert Kubica emerged fastest in what seemed to be a very slippery stage with some snow and unexpected conditions. All drivers described the stage to be worse than it was expected.
Robert Kubica himself said "Very tough, there was snow, we were not expecting...we had slicks...the lights were bouncing...toughest stage of my life".
The stage also saw Thierry Neuville off the road after he had a crash. He said "We lost the front of the car, went too fast in a right hander. We spun and crashed the rear. We are both OK"
These words are enough to understand how harsh the conditions were at SS1 of the Monte Carlo Rally.
The SS1 stage timings are given below.

Pos.           Driver                SS1 time

1.              Kubica                18:39.02

2.              Bouffier               +14.03

3.              Ogier                   +19.01

4.              Ostberg                +23.07

5.              Hirvonen              +53.07

6.              Sordo                  +58.06

7.              Evans                  +01:08.07

8.              Mikkelsen            +01:08.08

9.              Latvala                +01:13.08

WRC Monte Carlo : Shakedown

Sebastien Ogier continued his great run after ending the 2013 season on a high by setting the fastest time in the 2014 season opener Rally Monte Carlo shakedown.
Kris Meeke and Mads Ostberg set the second and third fastest times followed by Jari Matti Latvala in fourth.
Robert Kubica, Mikko Hirvonen and Dani Sordo also featured in the top 10 in the shakedown.

The top 10 times in the shakedown are given below.

Pos  Driver              Team/Car            Time/Gap
 1.  Sebastien Ogier     VW                 2m 15.3s
 2.  Kris Meeke          Citroen               +1.2s
 3.  Mads Ostberg        Citroen               +1.2s
 4.  Jari-Matti Latvala  VW                    +2.9s
 5.  Robert Kubica       M-Sport Ford          +3.0s
 6.  Thierry Neuville    Hyundai               +3.1s
 7.  Mikko Hirvonen      M-Sport Ford          +3.5s
 8.  Dani Sordo          Hyundai               +5.1s
 9.  Andreas Mikkelsen   VW                    +5.1s
10.  Bryan Bouffier      M-Sport Ford          +6.6s

F1 official entry list with the chosen numbers

Formula 1 2014 season entry list with the competition numbers chosen by the drivers.

1 *
Sebastian VETTEL (DEU)
RED BULL RACING (AUT)
Red Bull Racing

3
Daniel RICCIARDO (AUS)
RED BULL RACING(AUT)
Red Bull Racing

44
Lewis HAMILTON  (GBR)
MERCEDES-BENZ GRAND PRIX LTD (DEU)
Mercedes F1

6
Nico ROSBERG (DEU)
MERCEDES-BENZ GRAND PRIX LTD (DEU)
Mercedes F1

14
Fernando ALONSO (ESP)
FERRARI SpA (ITA)
Ferrari F1 team

7
Kimi RAIKKONEN (FIN)
FERRARI SpA  (ITA)
Ferrari F1 team

8
Romain GROSJEAN (FRA)
LOTUS RENAULT F1 LTD (GBR)**
Lotus Renault F1 team

13
Pastor  MALDONADO (VEN)
LOTUS RENAULT F1 LTD (GBR)**
Lotus Renault F1 team

22
Jenson BUTTON (GBR)
VODAFONE MCLAREN RACING LTD (GBR)
Vodafone McLaren F1 team

20
Kevin MAGNUSSEN (DEN)
VODAFONE MCLAREN RACING LTD (GBR)
Vodafone McLaren F1 team

27
Nico HULKENBERG (DEU)
FORCE INDIA FORMULA 1 TEAM LTD (IND)
Sahara Force India F1 team

11
Sergio PEREZ MENDOZA (MEX)
FORCE INDIA FORMULA 1 TEAM LTD(IND)
Sahara Force India F1 team

99
Adrian SUTIL (DEU)
SAUBER MOTORSPORT AG (CHE)
Sauber F1 team

21
Esteban GUTIERREZ (MEX)
SAUBER MOTORSPORT AG (CHE)
Sauber F1 team

25
Jean-Eric VERGNE (FRA)
SCUDERIA TORO ROSSO SPA (ITA)
Toro Rosso F1 team

26
Daniil KVYAT (RUS)
SCUDERIA TORO ROSSO SPA (ITA)
Toro Rosso F1 team

19
Felipe MASSA (BRA)
WILLIAMS GD PRIX ENGINEERING LTD (GBR)
Williams F1 team

77
Valtteri BOTTAS (FIN)
WILLIAMS GD PRIX ENGINEERING LTD (GBR)
Williams F1 team

17
Jules BIANCHI (FRA)
MANOR GRAND PRIX RACING LTD (RUS)**
Marussia F1 team

TBA
Max CHILTON (GBR)
MANOR GRAND PRIX RACING LTD (RUS)**
Marussia F1 team

TBA
MALAYSIA RACING TEAM SDN BHD
Caterham F1 Team

TBA
MALAYSIA RACING TEAM SDN BHD
Caterham F1 Team

* For the duration of his F1 career, Sebastian Vettel chose N°5

** Subject to confirmation

Upcoming bike launches in India

Bike launches in India in the coming days:

January:

Suzuki Inazuma GW250
Bajaj Pulsar 375
Hero Splendor iSmart

February:

Harley Davidson Street 750
Mahindra Mojo
KTM RC390
Yamaha R25
Honda CBR500R
Hyosung GV250
Kawasaki Z800

Mostly all of the February launches will take place at the Auto Expo 2014.

F1 line-up for 2014 season

The current 2014 line-up:

Red Bull Racing
Sebastian Vettel
Daniel Ricciardo

Mercedes
Lewis Hamilton
Nico Rosberg

Ferrari
Fernando Alonso
Kimi Raikkonen

Lotus
Romain Grosjean
Pastor Maldonado

McLaren
Jenson Button
Kevin Magnussen

Force India
Nico Hulkenberg
Sergio Perez

Sauber
Adrian Sutil
Esteban Gutierrez

Toro Rosso
Jean-Eric Vergne
Daniil Kvyat

Williams
Felipe Massa
Valtteri Bottas

Marussia
Jules Bianchi
TBC

Caterham
TBC
TBC

TBC - To be confirmed

Formula 1 rule changes for the 2014 season

Points for the last race: Double drivers’ and constructors’ points will be awarded at the final race of the Formula One season - Abu Dhabi for 2014 - in order to maximise focus on the championship until the end of the campaign.

 Driver numbers: Drivers will be asked to choose their race number, between 2 and 99, for the duration of their career in the FIA Formula One World Championship. Number 1 will be reserved for the current world champion, should he choose to use it. If more than one driver choses the same number, priority will be given to the driver who finished highest in the previous year’s championship.

Cost cap: The principle of a global cost cap has been adopted. The limit will be applied from January 2015. A working group will be established within the coming days comprising the FIA, representatives of the Commercial Rights Holder and Team representatives. The objective of the working group will be to have regulations approved by the end of June 2014.

New penalties: The principle of a five-second penalty for minor infringements was agreed. In what form such a penalty will be applied will be discussed with the Formula One teams in order that a new regulation be introduced for 2014 season.

Pirelli tyre test - Bahrain, December 17-19, 2013: The F1 Commission agreed to a change to the 2013 Sporting Regulations, on safety grounds, allowing the Formula One tyre supplier to carry out a three-day test in Bahrain from December 17-19, 2013. All Formula One teams have been invited to take part in the test and six have accepted: Red Bull Racing, Mercedes, Ferrari, McLaren, Force India and Toro Rosso. All the rule changes above are confirmed.

Random Clicks at Alibaug

Wish I get that bike as my New Years gift... :p