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He was one of Hollywood's hottest properties in the 1960s. The star of such hits as "The Magnificent Seven," "The Great Escape," "Bullitt" and "The Thomas Crown Affair," Steve McQueen's graceful machismo and laconic air earned him the sobriquet "The King of Cool." He favored playing antiheroes -- and, off-screen, racing cars.

His desire to produce the "ultimate racing movie" -- a feature-length film depicting the 24-hour endurance race in Le Mans, France -- would prove to be professionally torturous for McQueen, who was at a pivotal point in his career. Disillusioned by the film business, he sought to make his own films through his production company, Solar. For "Le Mans" he brought on veteran director John Sturges.

A foot injury kept McQueen (who'd just finished second at the 12 Hours of Sebring race) from competing in the 1970 Le Mans, which his film crew covered documentary-style (camera cars kept pace with the true competitors). After the checkered flag fell, the film crew stayed in Le Mans to shoot the film proper, putting cars through their paces for six months. A mythical-sounding million feet of film was purportedly shot.

It might have helped had there been a script. Nervous studio executives pressured McQueen for a story, any story. The actor and his favored screenwriter, Alan Trustman, parted ways. After six weeks, Sturges himself quit in frustration. An accident cost driver David Piper his leg. And through it all, McQueen pushed for authenticity before the cameras while also facing crises in his personal life.

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The new Caterham CT05 finally broke cover at Jerez after a delayed launch due to a few early teething problems.

The Caterham left the garage at 15:10 on the first day of testing and features another different take on the new nose regulations. New driver Marcus Ericsson was at the wheel.

But the new nose design was criticised by Adrian Newey. "If you hit the back of a car square-on, you go underneath and you end up with a rear-crash structure in your face, a much worse scenario," he said.

The CT05 features a the team's standard green livery along with the unique nose and front wing. This year Ericsson is joined by Formula One returnee Kamui Kobayashi, who missed the 2013 season after losing his Sauber drive.

Ferrari has launched its 2014 car, F14 T, at its base in Maranello, Italy.

The car carries the hopes of Fernando Alonso and Kimi Raikkonen this year as the team enters Formula One's new turbo era with one of the most talented driver line-ups on the grid. It features a different take on the new 2014 nose regulations compared to the McLaren, Williams, Force India and Lotus seen so far, with a sloping but still odd looking nose cone. Ferrari has also stuck with the pull-rod front suspension design it has been using since 2012.

New technical director James Allison was present at the launch in Ferrari's race bay but was not involved with most of the design process of the car, which was overseen by Pat Fry, Fabio Montecchi and chief designer Nikolas Tombazis. Legendary Ferrari designer Rory Byrne was also consulted on the project.

Team principal Stefano Domenicali said the new additions to the technical team and the upgrades to the wind tunnel, which is now operational at Maranello, have been crucial for Ferrari to make a step forward.

"In the last couple of years the changes and investment we have made in Formula One has been very important and significant," Domenicali said. "Some have been spectacular in terms of names that were in the Formula One world and some others less, but nevertheless the changes were very important.

"Not only the organisation of the people, but also investment in the new windtunnel and tools of the simulation that are really important to make sure all the group of engineers can make the difference."

The new car is the second to break cover after McLaren's MP4-29 on Friday and the first of the Ferrari-engined cars to emerge.

Ex-Formula One driver Alex Zanardi is set to make a return to motor racing by taking part in the Blancpain GT Sprint Series behind the wheel of a BMW Z4 GT3 this year.

The 47-year-old lost both legs in a crash while racing in Champ Car in 2001, but overcame his disability to return to motorsport. He returned just two years later racing in the European Touring Car Championship in a specially adapted car before driving and winning races for BMW in the World Touring Car Championship.

He stopped racing cars in 2009 but went on to win two gold medals in handbike racing at the 2012 Paralympics. However, his desire to return to motorsport never faded and it was reinvigorated while testing a BMW DTM car in 2012.

"Even after leaving the sport in 2009, I was still a racing driver at heart," he said. "When I took to the track in the BMW M3 DTM at the end of 2012, I immediately got itchy fingers again. Ever since that moment I have been toying with the idea of returning to motor racing.

"Together with BMW we have looked at various options. I am even more pleased that it has worked out with my old friends at ROAL Motorsport. I would like to say a big thank you to BMW for this unique opportunity."

Britain's Chris Froome must successfully navigate a number of traps lurking around a tricky 2014 Tour de France route if he is to retain his title in cycling's most prestigious stage race.

Starting in northern England on July 5, the Tour features stretches of cobbled roads in northern France, a treacherous crossing of the Vosges mountains and only one time trial - a favourite discipline of Team Sky leader Froome. "Uncertainty is part of the competition," Tour director Christian Prudhomme told reporters when asked about the cobbled sections, which could turn the fifth stage into a lottery.

"It would not make sense to avoid the cobbles when we go through northern France," he added.

But Froome told reporters: "If you know a rider who likes the cobbles, you tell me."


Team Sky sports director Nicolas Portal told Reuters: "It's an interesting route, anything can happen, we'll have to be careful. It's good for the pure climbers. They (the organisers) made it spicier.

"It is going to be an intense battle every day on every terrain."

Asked if Froome should fear the cobbles, Portal replied: "Even though he does not have a beautiful style on the bike, Chris is rarely on the ground. He knows how to handle his bike."


Prudhomme said the 2014 Tour would pay its respects to those who died in World War One as the peloton will ride on the Chemin des Dames and Verdun where many battles took place a century ago.

"I'd like to see Bradley Wiggins there," International Cycling Union (UCI) president Brian Cookson told a media briefing.

Wiggins won the 2012 race but sat out of this year's edition through injury and it is unclear whether he will take part in the 2014 Tour along with team mate Froome.

"It will keep the media guessing in speculation," said Cookson.

Should Froome cope with the 15 km of cobbles spread out over nine sections, where his rivals will hope to catch the Team Sky juggernaut off guard on a terrain unlikely to suit them, the Briton will then need to combat three mountain ranges.

They will start in the Vosges, with the 10th stage being "a real mountain stage where the best GC (general classification) riders should fight", according to Prudhomme.

The stage ends at the top of the Planche des Belles Filles, where Froome triumphed last year.

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