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News Archive December 2008 mail your news to editorthegrid@yahoo.co.uk 12/03/2009 IF RACE REPORTS LINKS REMOVED - FOLLOW 'Reports' LINK ON THE GRID above 31-12-08
The fifth season of the FIA World Touring Car Championship will get underway in a little more than two months, on March 8th in Brazil, at the Autódromo Internacional de Curitiba. For the third time Curitiba will be hosting the championship's opening meeting and the event will mark the fourth visit paid by the FIA WTCC to the 3.7-km Brazilian racetrack. The Championship will then move to Puebla, Mexico (March 22nd) before inaugurating the new street circuit of Marrakech, Moroccofor the third race meeting on May 3rd. Seven European events will follow; from Pau, France (May 17th) to Imola, Italy (September 20th) - before the two final rounds in the Far East: Okayama, Japan (November 1st) and Macau (November 22nd).
28-12-08
24-12-08 Scotland's Ryan Dalziel has new challenge in 2009, the 26-year-old will return to the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series Presented by Crown Royal Cask No.16 driving for Miami-based Alegra Motorsports. The former 'Rolex 24 at Daytona' GT Champions will be moving into the Daytona Prototype class next season. Dalziel's first competitive outing for the team, headed by owner-driver Carlos de Quesada, will be the 47th edition of the 'Rolex 24 at Daytona' on Thursday 22nd -- Sunday 25th January 2009. Alongside Dalziel in the team's BMW-Riley Daytona Prototype entry will be the aforementioned de Quesada (US), Chapman Ducote (US), Jean-Francois Dumoulin (CAN) and Tomas Enge (CZH). Alegra's new-look line-up will take to the track for the first time at the scheduled Daytona test days on 3-5 January, where preparations for the 2009 season begin in earnest for the entire Grand-Am field. The Complete Bentley by Eric Dymock is a new single volume history of the cars and the company and despite it's £55.00 price it should be a 'must have' for fans of the cars. 23-12-08 The UK ’s premier national karting championship will present its biggest ever Karting Show stand in January at Autosport International, 8-11 January 2009 at the NEC Birmingham. The Super One series has been responsible for nurturing some of the UK ’s leading motorsport stars since 1983, so if you want to compete at the highest level of national karting, there’s no better place to start
When the Masters Series designed their calendar for 2009 they have taken into account the current economic conditions, and by continuing to offer quality racing on quality circuits, they aim to offer a varied and interesting ‘menu’. Although there are a couple of dates yet to be finalised, 90% is fully fixed. Masters Historic Racing is set to run two of its own UK Festivals in 2009. With a return to Donington (May 9/10) and then the 3rd Masters Festival on the Brands Hatch GP circuit) over the holiday weekend of May 23-25. After that, various Masters’ groups will play a role in the Silverstone Classic (July 25-27), then the Oldtimer Grand Prix (August 7-9), followed by 4 grids at the Spa Six Hours meeting (September 25-27), before an exciting season finale at the dramatic new Autodrome do Algarve circuit, Portugal (October 17/18). In addition, another meeting is actively being planned in continental Europe during June/July, the details for which should be announced shortly after Jan 1st. The UK-based Masters Top Hat Racing calendar is already confirmed. After the Goodwood track days on February 27/28, now fully sold out, Snetterton will play host to the first full Top Hat Raceday of 2009, on March 21. The Oldies but Goldies & Pre-66 Saloons will join in the Masters Festival at Donington on May 9/10, and as in 2008, there will be a Top Hat Raceday at Brands Indy Hatch on May 23 as part of that weekend’s Festival. Further racing for Top Hat grids are planned for Castle Combe (June 13), Silverstone for the Bentley Drivers Club (August 8/9), Spa (September 25-27) and the traditional Top Hat Finals Raceday at Mallory Park on October 25. The complete Masters 2009 Calendar, together with all the 2009 Technical and Sporting Regulations, as well as all the specific event details, will be published shortly after the New Year holidays – look out for those, and keep an eye on the website, www.themastersseries.com
22-12-08
Formula 3 Euroseries newcomer Alexander Sims concluded a stunning year in fine style at Barcelona in Spain last week by outpacing a number of experienced F3 competitors on his first major test outing since announcing his new race deal with Mücke Motorsport..,..read more Formula Master set a new lap record for 2.0 litre cars at the Circuit y la Comunitat Valenciana Ricardo Tormo in Spain on Friday. Czech driver Josef Kral posted a best lap of 1:26.577 with team JD Motorsport. The Italian team also ran Formula Master regular Vladimir Arabadzhiev, who was second fastest with a time of 1:27.357, whilst team Cram Competition tested with new driver Alessandro Kouzkin. The Russian was third fastest, completing the top three times set by Formula Master drivers. Both Formula Master teams tested alongside Formula 3 Euroseries, British, German and Spanish Formula 3 outfits, with Carlin Motorsport setting the British F3 fastest lap of the day with driver Max Chilton (1:28.124). SG Formula represented the quickest Euroseries team with driver Henki Waldschmidt completing his best lap in 1:29.101, whilst Leonardo Cordeiro and team Campos Racing posted the fastest Spanish F3 time in 1:31.837. Chinese driver Adderly Fong set the fastest lap for German F3 with a time of 1:30.209 for team Performance Racing. Andersen Racing have signed Conor Daly in the 2009 Star Mazda Championship presented by Goodyear. Daly, who victory in the 2008 Skip Barber National Championship won him $350,000 from Mazda towards his season's budget in the 2009 Star Mazda championship. After testing with Andersen Racing he chose to work with the Florida based team in the new year. Daly also distinguished himself this year as one of two recipients of a Team USA scholarship. In November at Silverstone, England he became the first American ever to win the Walter Hayes Trophy. "I'm really excited to be with Andersen Racing for the Star Mazda Championship next year!" said Conor Daly, "I have such a good relationship with the team already from doing various test days. Now I can actually compete for Dan [Andersen, the team co-owner] and his team! I can't wait for the season to start because I know Andersen Racing will give me the best possible opportunity to win the championship!" Andersen said he hopes to announce additional drivers for 2009 soon. 2008 Ford Racing Mustang Challenge Champion Andrew Caddell will make his Grand-Am KONI Sports Car Challenge debut in the season-opening Fresh from Florida 200 at Daytona on January 23rd as part of his championship earnings package. Ford Racing has confirmed Caddell to co-drive with fellow Mustang Challenge racer and KONI veteran Jim Click in a Hypersport-prepared Jim Click Racing Ford Mustang FR500C. "We are really excited to see our first Champion get this opportunity to race in the next step in the Ford Mustang competition ladder," said Mustang Challenge Series Director Lynda Randall. "He had an amazing season with us and he's going to be a great ambassador for the series. That he's sharing a car with another one of our drivers in Jim (Click) makes it all the better and we can't wait to see how they do together." The Ford Mustang FR500C that competes in the GS class of the KONI Sports Car Challenge features the 5.0-liter Cammer engine and represents the next step up in the Ford Mustang racing ladder from the FR500S utilized in Mustang Challenge competition. The 2008 FIA World Touring Car Championship (WTCC) has reached a new record in TV ratings, according to the recent study published by the German independent Institute IFM. The study showed that an impressive cumulative global audience of over 300 million viewers watched the twelve events of the WTCC series' fourth season. This equates to a 20% increase of the year-on-year audiences compared to 2007; a clear demonstration of the WTCC's growing worldwide popularity. The series' increased popularity also resulted in an increase in worldwide press, web and TV coverage and event attendance. The WTCC is now covered by 75 TV networks over more than 160 countries and average on-site attendance has increased by over 5% (674,000 spectators in 2008 compared to 640,000 in 2007). Jacques Raynaud, Vice-Chairman of Eurosport Group and Eurosport Events commented: "We are extremely satisfied to see that the WTCC's popularity is growing steadily and that the event continues to break audience records season after season. The figures speak for themselves and prove that WTCC is a compelling and powerful motorsport event that appeals to large, diversified audiences. This success is a result of the event's excellent production and high standard television broadcast. We are extremely satisfied with the evolution of the WTCC and will continue to innovate in 2009." The 2009 WTCC season will be marked by several major commercial and broadcast developments. WTCC will be the first FIA World Championship produced in native HD. The event will travel to Africa for a new spectacular race in Marrakech. The series welcomes LADA, a new manufacturer, as part of the competition. Finally, in 2009, the WTCC will also become more environmentally friendly through the adoption of second generation bio-ethanol fuel. 20-12-08 2008 Formula BMW World Finals winner Alexander Rossi - who also became the first U.S. driver to win Formula BMW Americas series with 10 wins - has denied the circulating rumours stating he has agreed to drive for EuroInternational in European Formula BMW Series next year, as incorrectly reported by a couple of internet sites. Rossi pointed out that one of those websites included the item in their "Rumours" column. "That's all it is, a rumour," said the young Californian. The 17-year is still mulling things over for next season. “After the FBMW World Finals several opportunities have come forward for next year," stated Rossi, who will be testing the Formula One BMW Sauber car as part of his duties in 2009 as the World Finals winner. "It is still a bit too early to tell in which series I will partake next season as we carefully assess," commented Rossi. The BMW champion concluded by saying he was considering all options. Harold Primat was once again joined in the Swiss Alpine resort by 2008 co-driver Christophe Tinseau, with whom he finished best petrol LMP1 car at Le Mans (7th overall) and Pescarolo Sport team mates Romain Dumas (LMP2 ALMS champion) and Emmanuel Collard (12 Hours of Sebring overall winner). Activities included skiing, seal skin walks and gym sessions and also served as an end-of-year Le Mans Series bonding session. Tinseau said: “Crans Montana made a lasting impression on us all last year so I didn’t need to think twice about returning with the boys again.” Collard added: “Not only do they provide superb food and accommodation but also organise all the equipment needed for the various activities making this the perfect setting to come and train in.” Dumas commented: “I had never been to Crans Montana until last year and now I love to come back each year. A big thank you to Jean-Yves Rey (Mont Blanc Marathon winner) and his team for looking after us during the week.” Primat concluded: “Just like last year, we all thoroughly enjoyed the few days that we had here. Motor racing is an ultra-competitive sport so it’s always good to meet up with the other drivers away from work. We did plenty of different sports and it was nice to have an enjoyable time while topping up our fitness.” 19-12-08 Following a strong finish to the year in Formula BMW, Ollie Millroy is considering offers to move up to the British F3 Championship in 2009. The 18 year old BMW junior development driver has received some interest from eams, following recent testing and he plans to make a decision during the next few weeks. "I have had a good end to the year and since changing teams after the European Championship, Kent based Motaworld Racing and I have had some excellent results. We both felt that we had something to prove and we certainly did that to the extent that we ended up as one of the favourites to win the world final. Motaworld and BMW would love me to do a second year in the Championship and although we haven't written this off I have to seriously consider coming back to the UK to race in F3. I have been testing and I felt at home in the car straight away and absolutely love it." The 2008 Formula BMW Pacific season was one of the best yet, culminating with an excellent debut at the Macau Grand Prix …read review ABC Supply Co. Inc. has extended its contract with A.J. Foyt Racing to sponsor the No. 14 IndyCar Series machine driven by Vitor Meira. The contract locks in the sponsorship for the 2009-2010 seasons with an option year for 2011. As part of the agreement, the company will again sponsor the ABC Supply/A.J. Foyt 225 IndyCar Series race at The Milwaukee Mile on May 31. "We are thrilled to have ABC Supply on board for the next two seasons," said A.J. Foyt, who inked the deal earlier this month with America's largest wholesale distributor of roofing, siding and windows. "We've had a really good relationship with everyone at ABC Supply for the last four years and I'm very happy that it will continue. They have been an important part of our being able to turn this team around, and I believe they will see that it has been worth it. I think 2009 is going to be a great year for us." 18-12-08
The GP2 Series organization has announced that the fourth round of the GP2 Asia Series 08-09 Championship will now take place in Qatar instead of Dubai as previously scheduled for the end of February 2009. The GP2 Asia Series will now compete at the Losail International Circuit on February 6th and 7th. Qatar is not only a new addition to our calendar, but it will also take place at night, providing a new challenge for all thirteen teams and twenty-six drivers in the series. It will also be the first time that the Losail International Circuit organise a single-seater night race. Series Organiser Bruno Michel commented: "I am very pleased to report that we will be having a night race weekend in Qatar. It is a very exciting new challenge, and one that GP2 is happy to take up. The Formula One Grand Prix in Singapore prove to be a success, generating tremendous interest among both media and fans all over the world: we are confident that the GP2 Asia Series will offer the same kind of dramatic action in Qatar in true GP2 style. I am really looking forward to that fourth round." Genoa Racing were impressed with the performance of 22-year-old Finnish driver Henri Karjalainen during a two-day test in one of the team's Atlantic cars last week at Sebring. Karjalainen was 17th in his rookie season in the Cooper Tires Presents The Atlantic Championship Powered by Mazda this year. His best finish was a tenth on the street course at Trois-Rivieres, Quebec. Genoa Racing's management feels confident they can help Karjalainen improve on those results in 2009, and offered him specific suggestions he can work on during the off-season. "We were impressed with Henri, both in and out of the car," said Thomas Knapp, team manager and chief engineer. "He never put a wheel wrong, and was responsive to our direction. He hadn't driven at Sebring previously, and met our performance targets over the two days. We would like to complete a deal for the season, and develop him into a consistent threat for the 2009 Atlantic championship." The Atlantic test was in addition to the team's recent Firestone Indy Lights test at Homestead-Miami Speedway in Homestead, Fla. The team plans to field cars in both series in 2009. The VDS Racing Team is getting ready 2009 where the Belgian team will race in the GT1 class of the FIA-GT championship. The team will run drivers Bas Leinders and Renaud Kuppens in the series, their highlight being the Spa 24 Hours (25th-26th July), followed closely by the second Belgian round at Zolder on the 11th of October. The team has yet to decide which car they will run, an announcement is expected soon. "Of course I am very proud that VDS Racing Team's colours are again at the top of one of most competitive international championships around", admits Marc van der Straten. "I am also very happy that I can allow Bas and Renaud to show their immense talents at the highest level of GT racing. I can hardly wait for the start of the season, on the 3rd of May in Silverstone. I expect to live a very emotional year." Robby Gordon Motorsports will partner with Toyota beginning in the 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season for the No. 7, which is guaranteed a spot in the season opener Daytona 500. "We are excited to be partnering with Toyota in NASCAR in 2009. After watching their progress last season, we decided that a switch to Toyota was the right package for our team," commented Gordon. "We are confident that fielding a Toyota Camry will add to the success of our organization and the competitiveness of our performance on the race track." 17-12-08
Sean Babington and Dan Rogers completed their successful 2008 campaigns with superb victories in the TKM Grand Prix at PFi on 7 December. Sean has been almost unbeatable in the junior 4-stroke class and added the ‘GP’ plate to his already impressive tally of victories this season – the Super1 title, ‘O’ plate and TKM Festival. All were achieved using the Magura 908.1 brake system. Similarly, Daniel Rogers won the GP title in the senior 4-stroke class using a 908.1 system and said “We’ve been using the Magura 908.1 from the beginning of 2008 and I also won this year’s Formula 6 Championship in Junior TKM 4 Stroke with it.” He added, “I've been really impressed with the performance of the Magura; just one a set of pads has lasted us a whole season, which is incredible given its harder, faster braking. This has given me so much more confidence”.Trevor Howell of Venhill - the UK importers of Magura products - said, “Sean has had an unprecedented year and I’m delighted that he attributes a key part of his success down to the 908.1. What makes it all the better, is that Daniel agrees. The Magura really does represent a significant performance advantage – not just in the TKM classes but in Rotax, Prokarts and a whole host of other classes.”As the economic downturn is already affecting many kart racers’, Trevor announced, “We are offering a 20% discount on all products bought on our website – www.venhill.co.uk - until 1 January 2009. All you have to do is quote 692793.” 16-12-08 Jim Morris, a regular campaigner in the BRSCC Club Formula Ford championships, was presented with an award at the World Motorsport Symposium Awards late last month at a ceremony in Oxford . In his ‘day job’ Jim is the Managing Director of Lifeline Fire & Safety Systems and received the award for the Most Innovative New Product of the Year, for the Zero 'ZERO' fire suppression system, the lightest and most compact ever produced, which is also effective on unleaded, diesel and bio-ethanol fuel fires. "I am overcome that Lifeline Fire & Safety Systems has received the award for the Most Innovative New Product of 2008," said Jim at the event organised by the publishers of RACE TECH. BRSCC members are once again entitled to free entry to Autosport International. For 2009 members can choose which day they want to attend from any of the four days of the Show, which runs from Thursday 8th to Sunday 11th January, at the NEC in Birmingham .Therefore if your membership expires before January you will need to renew it beforehand. If you are not already a BRSCC member you can still join the Club and claim your Autosport Show ticket. Just call Jo Ward on 01732 780100 or download an application form from the website BRSCC The calendars for all BRSCC championships and race meetings are currently being drawn up and will be issued to championship co-ordinators for distribution to registered competitors as soon as they are available. This information should be available at the Autosport Show. If you are still searching for the perfect Christmas gift then have a look at the ‘Every Second Counts’, the autobiography of the current BRSCC John Nicol Trophy holder, Martin Hines. The book chronicles Martin’s extraordinary life on and off the track covering his karting career that started back in 1964 and the key role he has played nurturing young F1 talent, including the 2008 champion Lewis Hamilton. There is still just about time to order the Motorsport Safety Fund's 2008 charity Christmas card. This year the card is a chilly reminder of the valiant work carried out by Britain 's motorsport marshals, year in, year out, whatever the weather. It features a composite of two photographs taken at a wintry Lydden by lensman Steve Williams. In the foreground is a Jaguar marooned at a marshals' post and partially camouflaged by falling snow. Behind are five long-suffering marshals looking typically cheerful, despite the freezing conditions. The cards are priced at £6.50 for 10, including envelopes, postage and packing and are available from: Motorsport Safety Fund, Penny Farthing, Heythrop, Chipping Norton OX7 5TW. An image of the card can be viewed in the Publications section of the Fund’s website; www.motorsportsafetyfund.com The 2009 BRSCC Dinner Dance & Awards Presentations Evening will take place on Saturday 21st November at the Holiday Inn, Stratford-upon-Avon. The highly awaited GT1 version of the Ford GT will shortly see the light of day. Matech, the manufacturer and tuner of the Ford GT3, who recently clinched the 2008 teams award in the European FIA-GT3 Championship has now confirmed that it had been developing a GT1 version of its car. The GT1 version of the Ford GT, built to the new FIA-GT 2010 regulations, will make its debut in the 2009 FIA-GT Championship. This will give Matech GT Racing a year to gain experience and technical information prior to the official launch of the World Championship in 2010.
Jim Beam® Bourbon, the world's No. 1-selling bourbon, announced today that it will continue its partnership with Robby Gordon Motorsports (RGM) as a primary sponsor of the No. 7 driven by team owner and veteran driver Robby Gordon during the 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season. When Volkswagen takes the start in Buenos Aires on 3 January the "Dakar" experiences a genuine premiere: After 29 expeditions through the heart of Africa, crossing Argentina and Chile is on the route plan for the first time for the four Race Touareg 2 and their competitors. However, regardless of whether it is 1979 or 2009: The "Dakar" was and is a rally of superlatives at any time. When in winter 1978/79 as many as 182 competitors set off along the 10,000 kilometre route from France via Algeria, Niger, Mali and the former Upper Volta to Senegal and a mere 20 journalists covered the event it was hardly possible to perceive the level of importance and scale that the rally would one day achieve. More than 13,000 men and women have participated in the "Dakar" since then. Over 550 journalists cover the start and finish from Buenos Aires this coming January. The television coverage from South America alone reaches people in 189 countries. The Dakar Rally also generates record numbers in the background: In 1980 Volkswagen started with four almost production specification Iltis, today the Volkswagen team navigates approximately 50 tonnes of spare parts, tools and equipment and also the responsible engineers and technicians through South America to support the four Race Touareg 2. Instead of Volkswagen's clinical workshop in Germany their place of work is a 2,200 square metre camp that is erected every evening beneath the stars at the end of the corresponding stage. 15-12-08 Team Reckless driver Kota Sasaki from Japan took the 2008 Aston Martin Asia Cup title in style this weekend with a double win in the final rounds held at the Zhuhai International Circuit, China. Roots V8 Racing is offering a CAMSO V8 rental package of £8,000 for the full 2009 CAMSO V8 season. This is an “arrive and drive” deal. All you have to worry about is getting yourself to the track. You do not need to hold a Competition Licence. You do not need any previous experience, although you will be required to pass a training course. The price includes Practice before each championship round. Cars are also available on a race by race basis at €1,500 per meeting. The seats will be allocated on a first come first served basis and are strictly limited. Interested parties should contact Tony Roots on 07860327397
After a two-year lay-off the SCCA's Trans-Am Series will return in 2009. An eight-race calendar is planned with 5 races announced so far. Sebastien Loeb has won the Race of Champions at Wembley beating David Coulthard in the final. Loeb won the first race of the three race decider in a RoC buggy. Coulthard then bounced back to win race 2 in a KTM X-Bow. In the final race, once again in the RoC buggy. Loeb won once more to win the event. This was his third win ion the event after wins in 2003 and 5. "It was a good atmosphere," Loeb said. "For sure in the Stade de France I had more fans, but that's normal because it's in France. But here it was a good atmosphere also. It's always a nice moment to come here because it's a unique opportunity to see drivers from Formula One, motorbikes, NASCAR, everywhere." Coulthard had god time Wembley "I had a little bit of energy left for this event because I only did two corners in Brazil!", quipped Coulthard. "I've never been this far in the tournament, but I came up against a multiple world champion, and to be not so far behind, I'm very happy with that."
A1GP World Cup of Motorsport has confirmed that Italian F3 Champion, Mirko Bortolotti, will drive the A1GP test car at the Portimao Circuit in the Algarve, Portugal from the 10-13 January after impressing Scuderia Ferrari at Fiorano recently. The 18-year-old had his first taste of Formula One with the legendry team at Fiorano, Ferrari’s official test circuit, as part of his reward for winning the Italian F3 series, alongside Edoardo Piscopo and Salvatore Cicatelli who also ended the season in the top three. Bortolotti made the biggest impression recording a 59.111-second lap, breaking the lap record. Mario Almondo, Operations Director, Gestione Sportiva said: “We are extremely happy that a young Italian driver who won the Italian Formula 3 Championship, and has shown his talent in a test day with the Ferrari F1 car, can have a such a good opportunity with A1GP.”
McLaren Autosport BRDC Award winner Alexander Sims has unveiled a new initiative which gives everyone the opportunity to be an integral part of his step-up to Formula 3 racing in 2009. ‘The Name Car’ offers the chance for any number of individuals to be part of the excitement and drama of the 20-year-old sensation’s debut season in F3 next year as he continues his ascension up the motorsport ladder towards a professional career in Formula One. For a mere £5, people will not only see a name of their choice emblazoned on Alexander’s racing car throughout his 2009 campaign, they will also enjoy other benefits including email news updates, access to an exclusive website and a personalised gift certificate from the UK’s hottest young driver. “We’ve considered a number of ways in which to get people involved with my racing career and the idea of ‘The Name Car’ has the perfect mix of everything”, commented Alexander, “For a small one-off payment, fans of motor racing or people looking for a unique Christmas gift can be centrally involved with my first season in Formula 3 Euroseries. It’s a really exciting and fun initiative.” Alexander has already launched the official www.thenamecar.com website where you can secure a place on the F3 Euroseries grid in 2009. A1GP Brazil’s Felipe Guimarães was starring alongside Scott Speed, Dan Wheldon and AJ Allmendinger last Thursday (11 Dec) as they took to the track at the 2008 Performance Racing Industry All-Stars Karting Classic. The event, now in its third year, took place at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida. The All-Stars Karting Classic is the jewel in the crown of the event. "I had a really enjoyable time,” said Guimarães. “I qualified in third position and then went on to win the first race. It was hard because the track is very small so everyone is setting the same lap times and it's really hard to overtake. In the final race someone put me out on the first lap after I started from pole. I had another crash on the final lap as I tried to overtake someone and ended up outside of the top six. I had a great day though and the racing was really good." Esteban Gutiérrez has been in Mexico City keeping on top of his game at the Formula BMW World Final. Gutiérrez claimed pole position after his success in the heats and came home third in the final last Sunday (7 December). The 17-year-old from Monterrey was still feeling positive after the event despite not adding a second accolade to his Formula BMW Europe title. "This weekend was good fun," he said. "I had a lot of new experiences, and it was just great to feel the support of my fellow countrymen." A1 Team Mexico has confirmed that the youngster will get his A1GP debut with the team in the A1GP Taupo, New Zealand rookie session. "After having a great season in Formula BMW, I feel very excited to have the opportunity to climb up the ladder to more powerful cars,” he continued. “I think this new experience will help me develop myself a lot more and, working together with the team, I hope we can also develop the car and take Mexico to the top. I can’t wait to have this new experience in A1GP." Taupo Motorsport Park is also gearing up for the first event of the New Year with Managing Director David Steele saying that everything has been done to make the 2009 A1GP Taupo, New Zealand event the best yet. The circuit has done a lot of work over the past year to help eradicate the dust problems at the first and second races, but Steele believes they have it under control. “We have taken measures both inside on the circuit and track boundaries and outside the circuit to minimise dust issues experienced during the last event and, on top of that, the circuit has one more year’s growth and maturity, so that has helped as well,” said Steele. “Even with the extreme and unusual weather we saw in 2007 and 2008, we are confident we are as much in control as we can possibly be.” A1GP fans can now also relive the 2007/08 season with the limited edition A1GP World Cup of Motorsport season review book. The book captures all the drama and excitement of the 2007/08 season, with race reports, plus exclusive features and analysis of the campaign. This full-colour glossy review was produced in strictly limited numbers as an exclusive keepsake and copies can be reserved on A1GP.com now. 13-12-08 The FIA World
Touring Car Championship will change its qualifying format
from next season to adopt a system similar to Formula One. The new
format was proposed by the FIA Touring Car Commission and approved
yesterday by the FIA World Motor Sport Council in
Monaco. The 30-minute qualifying session will be split into two parts: Q1 and
Q2. All competitors will take part in the 20-minute Q1; at the end of
this period they will return to the pits for a five-minute pause. Yvan Muller has
been officially named 2008 FIA World Touring Car champion
during the traditional FIA prize giving gala in Monaco. In the sumptuous
setting of the Sporting d'Eté's Salle des Etoiles, the FIA honoured all
its champions. After SEAT Sport's Gabriele Tarquini and Chevrolet's
Robert Huff - second and third in the championship respectively - had
received the runner up trophies, a sequence of spectacular pictures
introduced the WTCC champions. Kristian Poulsen will race in the 2009 WTCC with the Liqui Moly Team Engstler. Poulsen is the first Danish driver to commit for a full WTCC season: "I have only been driving circuit racing for two years, so it will be an enormous challenge, which I am really looking forward to," he commented. After a long career in international rallying, Poulsen switched to circuit racing in 2007. Next year he will race alongside team-owner Franz Engstler, the runner up in the 2008 WTCC Independents' Trophy. "I got to know Franz and found him a nice guy. He rented one of our BMW cars for the European Touring Car Cup, and now I will rent a car from him. 2008 has been a pretty good year, but I believe that 2009 will bring even more success," said Poulsen. Nicola Larini repeated his 2007 victory at the Bologna Motor Show. The Italian driver and his Chevrolet Lacetti won the Yokohama World Touring Car Show tournament last Monday, beating in the final round Jörg Müller's Schnitzer BMW 320si. Müller emerged as the top driver in the preliminary phase, with nine wins from ten rounds against the other five competitors, but in the final he met Larini - the only one capable to beat him in the preliminary phase. The Italian won both rounds, with margins of 0.55 and 1.68 seconds respectively. Duncan Huisman's RBM BMW 320si defeated Engström's Honda Accord in the final for the third place; both SEAT drivers - Gabriele Tarquini (SEAT Sport León TDI) and Oscar Nogués (SUNRED León TFSI) were eliminated in the preliminary phase. 12-12-08
Don't forget all BRSCC members can get into Autosport International for free! All you need to do is go to the BRSCC web site and follow the link, that scrolls across the bottom of the homepage. If you’re racing in the LMA Euro Sports and Saloons check out their stand, number 7224 in hall 7 in the National Motorsport Area. You can save £20 if you pay your registration at the show where it will cost you £100.00 rather than the normal £120. Please note Italian Intermarque Racing Ltd do not accept credit/debit cards Wins, podiums and the Championship runner-up all came the way of Manor Competition in the Formula Renault UK this year . Their top placed driver Alexander Sims not only came second in the title race but he also picked up the 2008 McLaren Autosport BRDC Award…which was nice Masters Historic Racing is all set to offer its Top Hat racing members an enjoyable, yet condensed, racing calendar for 2009. Certain final details have yet to be completed, but they will visit some of the old Top Hat favourites, as well as racing at a couple of new additions to the calendar. The 2009 Calendar for Masters race dates will follow very shortly - keep an eye on the Masters website for details!. 11-12-08
Tickets are on sale for the only street race in the A1GP 2008-9 calendar. A1GP Lippo Village, Indonesia will be held from 6th - 8th February 2009, using the streets of the township that is just 45 minutes away from the centre of Jakarta. “We are on schedule to complete the track as planned, as well as the infrastructure and facilities necessary to host the event,” said Gordon G. Benton, Organizing Chairman of A1GP Lippo Village. “The grandstands and hospitality suites will be ready to accommodate enthusiasts and we are looking forward to welcoming visitors to our little township.” General admission for entry to the venue is Rp 250 thousand for adults, Rp 175 thousand for children and Rp 225 thousand for students with special early bird pricing of only Rp 180 thousand per person till 20 December 2008 or while supplies last.
David Brabham will introduce a new free Karting Workshop at the Karting Show 2009, 8-11 January at the NEC Birmingham. The double GT1 Le Mans 24-Hour class winner will share the fundamentals a driver must master to establish a foundation to build a future motorsport career in a special workshop at 10.15am on Saturday 10 January. Brabham is currently preparing to move to LMP1 with Patrón Highcroft Racing and Acura in the American Le Mans Series for 2009 after narrowly missing out on the 2008 LMP2 title.“I’m looking forward to hosting the first Karting Workshop at the Karting Show and to sharing some of my winning ethos with budding potential motorsport champions,” said Brabham. “A big part of what I will be presenting comes from the Brabham Performance Clinic, where we highlight the areas that impact on performance. It’s all about a driver’s self-awareness, about how you operate as a person and how that influences others around you. I hope that my Karting Show session will help a small group of drivers to understand themselves more, to help them move on to achieve whatever they want to achieve.” The Karting Workshop will be available for 25 karters, who must be MSA licence holders aged between 12 and 17 years. The limited places are guaranteed to be in demand, so book now for this free workshop by visiting www.thekartingshow.co.uk and completing the online form. Workshop participants must have a valid ticket for Autosport International on Saturday. Autosport International will be open to the public on Saturday and Sunday 10-11 January 2009. MSA kart licence holders under 16 will receive a complimentary ticket to the Karting Show, when accompanied by a paying adult, by calling 0844 579 3188 and quoting ‘KART 167’, while BRDC Stars of Tomorrow and Super One competitors will receive a pair of free tickets to the show. To purchase tickets visit www.autosport-international.com or call +44 (0) 844 579 3188. Adult tickets start at £29 per day with children’s tickets costing £19. 10-12-08 The Brazilian GT3 Championship has been won by Andreas Mattheis and Xandy Negrao, winners of 7 races throughout the season including teh final at Sau Paulo last weekend. Second were the GT Racing duo of Walter Salles and Ricardo Rosset, both teams used Matech Ford GTs.
David Brabham was awarded the BRDC Woolf Barnato Trophy, sponsored by Gulf, on Monday 8 December during the British Racing Drivers’ Club Awards 2008 ceremony at the Café Royal, London . For the second year in a row, Brabham jointly collected the award with Aston Martin Racing teammate Darren Turner, as the highest-placed finishing British or Commonwealth drivers in a British car, following their double GT1 Le Mans 24-Hour class victory in their Aston Martin DBR9. Brabham was delighted to accept the award and commented: “This year was my 15th year of racing at Le Mans , so to win the GT1 class again with Aston Martin Racing and the support of Gulf was something special. The BRDC Woolf Barnato Trophy just tops it off. Le Mans 24-Hour race is one of the highlights of my season and after competing in it for so long I am always keen to return. What will happen next year is anyone’s guess, but I have an open mind and hope the opportunity will arise again. Naturally my priority for 2009 is the LMP1 programme in the American Le Mans Series with Acura and Patrón Highcroft Racing, so if the race fits around that schedule I certainly hope to return.” 09-12-08 Alexander Rossi is Formula BMW World Champion, after he came through from fourth on the Grid in the World Final to take a dominant victory Robert Foster-Jones signed-off his KF2 career with another sparkling performance last weekend – appropriately at Vendrell, in the heart of Spain’s Cava-producing region in the annual Copa Campeones (Champions Cup).
Daniel Lloyd finished fourth in the Ginetta Junior Championship this year and now plans to compete in the Elf Clio Cup in 2009, read his 2008 review It’s been a memorable year for Jonathan Ridley-Holloway what with a third class victory in as many attempts in the Britcar 24 Hours plus a season ELF Renault Clio Cup races..read review
Andrew Herron’s second season of car racing went pretty well. Not only did he pick up 5 podiums in the SEAT Cupra Championship he also came close to his first win…read review SEAT withdrawal makes way for potential Porsche graduation for Andrew Herron. At this stage, he is aiming to secure the funding to graduate to the Porsche Carrera Cup GB Championship – like SEAT, a high profile support category on the HiQ MSA British Touring Car Championship package. Having already experienced a rear-wheel drive Porsche 911 GT3 Cup car of the kind he is hoping to race in 2009 with a run at Silverstone in October, Andrew is confident he would be able to quickly adapt to the demands of the Porsche Carrera Cup GB. “With the withdrawal of SEAT from UK motorsport, it’s meant a big change in plans for us for next year as we were going to do a second season in the championship”, he explained, “We’ve already got our focus on Porsche Carrera Cup GB and when I had a run in a 911 at Silverstone it went really well and I enjoyed it. We’re working really hard to try and secure the budget for Porsche next year with the aim of getting to the front as quickly as possible and then making the step up to the Porsche Supercup a couple of years from now. My main goal is to become a paid, professional racing driver and hopefully by racing as part of the Porsche family that could become a realistic possibility.” 08-12-08 Alexander Sims has been named 2008 McLaren Autosport BRDC award winner, the prize including a Formula One test with World title-winning team McLaren Mercedes in addition to £50,000..read more During Alexander Sims acceptance speech at London’s Grosvenor House Hotel last night, he confirmed his graduation to F3 in 2009 where he will compete in the F3 Euroseries with leading squad Mücke Motorsport. “Next year we’re going to be racing in the Formula 3 Euroseries with Mücke Motorsport and I can’t wait for the season to begin”, he commented, “Testing so far has gone well so I’m confident we should be strong in our first year. It is the toughest F3 championship in the world but we need to race the best and beat the best, that’s our plan.” Formula Renault UK team Manor Competition is celebrating today after their driver Alexander Sims claimed the 2008 McLaren Autosport BRDC ‘Young Driver of the Year’ Award. The New Ollerton team, owned and run by husband and wife partnership Tony and Sarah Shaw, sends its warmest congratulations to the 20-year-old Cambridgeshire racer who it ran to the Vice-Champion’s position in this year’s Formula Renault UK title battle. In addition, Sims was named a British Racing Drivers’ Club (BRDC) Rising Star and became one of just three drivers accepted onto the Motor Sports Association (MSA) Race Elite programme. Speaking on Sims’ success, Tony and Sarah Shaw commented: “It’s absolutely fantastic to see Alexander win the McLaren Award, it’s a huge prize and thoroughly deserved. He did a truly fantastic job in Formula Renault UK this season and had a couple of bits of bad luck gone the other way he’d have won the title for sure, with or without the drop scores. It’s been a pleasure working with Alexander over the last couple of years and he definitely has a huge future in the sport. For us, it’s great to have produced another McLaren Award winner, Ollie Jarvis being our other one in 2005 after he won the Renault title with Manor that year. We have all really enjoyed this season’s racing – huge congratulations to Alexander on his success.”
Over the weekend for current A1GP Champion, A1 Team Switzerland’s Max Welti and driver Neel Jani attended a ceremony in Bern as the team was presented with a special award to commemorate the 2007/08 title success.Auto Sport Switzerland and the Swiss National Sports Commission have awarded A1 Team Switzerland the Auto Sport Award for special merits in relation to Swiss motor racing. They then flew over to the UK for the Autosport Awardsat the Grosvenor House Hotel in London. Wayne Boyd celebrated a Milestone Year at the Autosport Awards amongst the stars of motor sport on Sunday night (7 December). Boyd, one of six finalists in the McLaren Autosport BRDC Young Driver of the Year, is now working with his management team on finding a competitive seat in next year’s British F3 series. "I have really enjoyed testing with all the leading Formula 3 teams, but it is now crunch time. We need to decide what will be the best move, as we want to be fully prepared for the season ahead. Next year will be a high profile year in the British F3 Championship, so we need to secure the most competitive drive possible. I’ll be aiming to take the fight to the field from the start of the season." The final Lippo Village circuit design has now been submitted to the FIA for approval and the granting of the relevant licence. The 3.2-kilometre circuit comprises of 13 –turns running anti-clockwise. A1GP Lippo Village, Indonesia will be held from the 6 - 8 February 2009.
Formula Ford will welcome a new team to the British championship in 2009 in the form of DW Racing, founded by Dan Woodrow. The squad has bought the Ray driven to Scholarship Cup victory this season by Chrissy Palmer and is planning to field it, and another chassis, in 2009. Multiple kart racing champion Lee Harpham tested the DW Racing Ray at Silverstone last week and impressed the team. "Lee got to grips with the car very quickly," said Woodrow, "worked very well with our chief engineer Les Wilson, and set some good times." Team manager and driver coach Les Latham added: "I believe Lee can lead our team to Scholarship honours in 2009." The squad is backed by prestige car hire firm Qasims No Limits. British Formula Ford race-winner Adrian Campfield impressed Formula 3 team West-Tec when he tested for them at Snetterton. At the wheel of one of West-Tec's Spanish championship-specification Dallara F306s, 19-year-old Campfield completed more than 100 laps of the Norfolk track. "Adrian did a stunning job and approached the day very intelligently," said West-Tec's John Miller. "We have kept an eye on him in Formula Ford all season and had a fair idea of what to expect from him... he didn't disappoint."Added Campfield: "Team West-Tec were a pleasure to work with and the car was beautiful to drive. Racing with the team in F3 in 2009 is my aim. Now we just have to make it happen." AIM Autosport will run a single car entry at the 2009 Rolex 24 at Daytona. Joining regular drivers Mark Mark Wilkins and Burt Frisselle will be Alex Figge and John Farano. New South Wales’ Paul ‘Laska’ Laskazeski has capped off a stellar season of racing, setting pole position and winning the final round of the Australian Formula Ford Championship at Oran Park Raceway last weekend. Winning the round was the perfect end to a weekend that saw Laska crowned the Australian Champion. Proving his speed and consistency, Laska has been on the podium at each of the eight rounds, scoring three round wins, three second places and two thirds. Laska secured the title aboard the Factory Enterprises backed Spectrum 011b, prepared by Synergy Motorsport. Impressively, Justin Cotter’s team has taken the title in its debut season. The result is a just reward for the tireless effort put in by Justin, Laska and the entire team starting back in 2007 when plans for Synergy Motorsport started to emerge. ‘This is an amazing feeling,’ Paul said. ‘We have worked so hard for this title and stuck to our plan all season long. We set the season up in the first few rounds and then didn’t have to push so hard in the middle. We were able to sit back and pick up second and third places because of the lead we had. But this weekend once the title was ours, we could relax, have some fun and show how much pace we have!’ he added. 07-12-08 Bradley Ellis was denied the opportunity to fight for the runner’s up position in the FIA GT3 European Championship after the find round of the season in Dubai was cancelled on Saturday (6 Dec), due to a torrential storm on Friday night. Daniel Erickson
and Paul Laskazeski
After qualifying 2nd for Formula BMW World Championship on Friday, Alexander Rossi arrived at the circuit ‘Autodromo Hernandez Rodriquez’ on Saturday morning at 6:45 a.m. to find out that his #16 EuroInternational FB02 had not cleared it’s technical inspection on Friday evening. Scrutineers discovered a missing rear wing center support (a very small aluminum part weighing less than 10 grams – to keep upper element from vibrating) in ‘Parc Ferme’ (impound) after Super Pole Qualifying. Alexander and team were notified by race stewards that their decision for a penalty was not conclusive and would notify by 8:30a.m. this morning. After many discussions with stewards and technical inspectors Alexander received word ½ before heat #1 that he would start P6 (6th) for both Heat #1 and #2 today, resulting in a 4 grid spot penalty from 2nd. The silver lining! Alexander disappointed yes, but only more motivated by stewards decision. He took his lumps and dug deep finishing Heat #1 in 4th place, for Heat #2 a 2nd place finish combined with both overall fastest laps. Alexander will start fourth for Heat #3 tomorrow morning with combined finishes from Heat 1-3 placing his Grid Position for Formula BMW World Final tomorrow afternoon. Again Alexander has shown his mental toughness, determination, resolve along with amazing speed. No one could touch him in ‘the Esses’. Neil McFadyen has been crowned the inaugural Mini Challenge Champion after today’s third and final race at Oran Park Raceway, whilst Jason Bargwanna wrapped up his third round win in four events. The Swiss Matech GT Racing team won teams’ crown on Friday in the final round of the European GT3 Championship, at the Dubai Autodrome before the final race was cancelled due to torrential rain. The new Chevrolet Cruze that will compete in the 2009 FIA World Touring Car Championship was unveiled at the Bologna Motor Show by Nicola Larini.The race livery of the Cruze aims at stressing the new design language for Chevrolet in Europe introduced with the Cruze street version. It results from a team effort of different departments within GM Europe, coordinated by Phillip Zak, Director Exterior Design GM Europe, who said: "As a racing fan myself, I was thrilled to be involved with this project. My main direction to the team was that we wanted a bold unique dynamic graphic that stands out on the race track as the bold dynamic Cruze will also stand out from competitors in the street. The team colors have been incorporated on as a continuation of our successful past. The super graphics are asymmetrical and unexpected, with a geometric execution, while we have accentuated the Chevrolet grille, which is the global face of Chevrolet. I am sure the Cruze WTCC will certainly help transmitting the dynamic spirit of Chevrolet!" The WTCC racing program is an essential element of the marketing plan for the Chevrolet Cruze, the new compact sedan launched last October at the Paris Motor Show. The Cruze WTCC is currently undergoing an intensive program of testing and development, in the hands of the three drivers Larini, Robert Huff and Alain Menu.
WTCC driver Franz Engstler has won the 2008 BMW Sports Trophy. Engstler topped a record field of 141 independent drivers from 20 different countries, the longest list of competitors in the BMW Trophy's 40-year history. Engstler collected a cheque of 30,000 euros, while the runner-up prizes of 25,000 and 21,000 euros went to the Swedish Touring Car Championship winner Richard Göransson and to Mat Jackson who finished second in the British Touring Car Championship. Others WTCC Independendents classified in the BMW Sport Trophy were Kristian Poulsen (6th), Sergio Hernández (7th), Stefano D'Aste (8th) and Andrey Romanov (15th). On December 8th, Nicola Larini will defend last year's victory in the tournament for WTCC cars at the Bologna Motor Show. The Chevrolet driver and his Lacetti car will take part in the Yokohama World Touring Car Show, that will be held on the short and twisty track drawn among the pavillions of Bologna's Exhibition Centre. Six drivers will participate, facing each other in a series of pursuit races. Besides Larini's Chevrolet, BMW will be represented by Jörg Müller (Schnitzer Motorsport) and Duncan Huisman (RBM), while SEAT will enter Gabriele Tarquini (SEAT Sport) and Oscuar Nogués (Sunred Engineering). The field is completed by Tomas Engström's Honda Accord. 06-12-08 2009 is promising to
be a great year for the BRSCC’s Porsche 924 Championship
Jason Bargwanna and Paul Fiore took a win apiece in the Australian Mini Challenge races at Oran Park today(Saturday). Bargwanna won the opening encounter from pole followed by Paul Stokwell. In race 2 Paul Fiore dominated ahead Neil McFadyen who now only has to finish the third and final race of the year to claim the title. Bradley Ellis is still in with a ‘shout’ at second place in the FIA GT3 European Championship after claiming third in the penultimate race of the year in Dubai yesterday. 05-12-08 Jason Bargwanna has taken pole by 0.8secs from his cousin Scott in the CarShowroom.com.au Qualifying for Mini Challenge at Oran Park just outside Sydney.
Bradley Ellis will be awarded the BRDC Innes Ireland Trophy at the annual prestigious British Racing Drivers’ Club Awards 2008 at the Café Royal, London , on Monday 8 December. The 21 year-old from Croydon will receive the coveted accolade as the driver who best displayed the qualities of courage and sportsmanship epitomized by the late Innes Ireland, during 2008.The 2007 Avon Tyres British GT Champion suffered a massive accident during a guest return to the series in June 2008 at Thruxton. Contact to the rear of Ellis’ Ginetta G50 on one of the fastest parts of the Hampshire circuit launched him off the track and into a bank protecting a marshals’ post, just before the chicane, resulting in a compression fracture to the sixth vertebra. Despite an overnight stay in hospital, Ellis bounced back to buy another crash helmet and HANS device on the way home and returned to the racing seat less than one week later, to contest the next FIA GT3 European round at Oschersleben, Germany. His swift recovery and determination to return to racing no doubt helped Ellis to stay in the fight for the FIA GT3 European Championship crown. Ironically, Ellis will fly directly back from the final rounds of the series in Dubai on Sunday, where he remains one of seven drivers who could take the title, in order to attend the BRDC Awards ceremony. Sportscar driver David Brabham will receive the BRDC Woolf Barnato Trophy for the second time in his career, at the British Racing Drivers’ Club Awards 2008 at the Café Royal, London, on Monday 8 December. As the highest-placed finishing British or Commonwealth driver, in a British car in the Le Mans 24-Hour race, Brabham will once again jointly receive the award with Aston Martin Racing teammate Darren Turner following their second consecutive GT1 class victory. The BRDC Trophy is presented in memorial of the three times winner at Le Mans , Joel Woolf Barnato, who was one of the original BRDC-founding Bentley Boys. He was also the driver who famously beat ‘Le Train Blue’ in the car-versus-train race from Cannes to London .“It’s a great honour to receive the BRDC Woolf Barnato Trophy for the second time with Darren Turner, my trusted teammate,” said Brabs. “This year’s race at Le Mans was by far the toughest and closest battles I have encountered in 15 years. We were under immense pressure from the start but the Aston Martin Racing Team ran like clockwork and we didn’t have a single problem. So this award isn’t just for us drivers as we represent the entire team, and the Aston Martin Racing crew did a fantastic job once again.” 04-12-08 Neil McFadyen fired the first shot in the battle for the Mini Challenge Series win today(Thursday) at Oran Park, setting the fastest time in the second practice session aboard the Industrie Clothing MINI. It is a welcome return to the top of the timesheets for McFadyen, his nearest rival – Paul Stokell (DecoRug Racing) – third in the session. Jason Bargwanna (Trivett Classic MINI Garage) was the quickest in session one this morning.
Eurasia Team Goddard has announced plans to run a pair of Dallara F307 Mercedes Benz chassis in the 2009 Australian Drivers Championship for the CAMS Gold Star. With former driver Mark Goddard at the helm, Eurasia Team Goddard won last year’s Asian F3 drivers and Teams title as well as the 2007 Asia-Pacific series, in both the outright and promotions class. Success in the competitive Asian Formula BMW Championship was also forthcoming. The team has also previously raced in Australia, entering a 3-car team in the non-championship Australian F3 races at the 2007 Australian GP. The team was the quickest of the Asian visitors and, despite running a different spec(The Asian series used a control Toyota engine) and having to adapt to the Australian Kumho tyre, they went well against the Australian elite. Team owner Mark Goddard said the team hopes to capitalise on the teams’ extensive experience. “Drivers such as Ben Clucas, Charlie Hollings and James Winslow have demonstrated that Formula 3 Australia is a positive career move for European based drivers, as well as those from the Asia-pacific region. Drivers from the America’s should also consider the series,” he said. “We have some serious drivers interested for 2009 - We know it will be tough but that’s part of the attraction – we love a challenge” Eurasia Team Goddard is currently in the process of sourcing drivers and preparing for the opening round of the 2009 Australian Drivers Championship, to be held at the Clipsal 500 Adelaide between March 19 – 22 on the streets of Adelaide.
Speedcar Series' second season begins this weekend at the Dubai Autodrome with 14 cars on the grid. The Speedcars will be run by 7 teams from six countries across Europe, the Middle East and United States. Two of the teams took part last eason, they are the German Phoenix Racing who also race in DTM, FIA GT and Le Mans 24 hours and the Union Properties team from the UAE. Newer teams include a second UAE team Continental Circus, Italian team Durango with a 28-year history in the sport, in F3000 and GP2, HPR from the UK who get technical support from AF Corse, JMB from Monaco and the American team Palm Beach Racing. Claudio Berro, Operations Director of Speedcar Series said, "We are very pleased with the high level of teams that we have on board at the moment. Our focus this season is to attract professional teams and we are accomplishing that. We are still waiting for a final adjustment to the list of drivers from some of our teams. It will be finalised today and announced tomorrow. However, I can anticipate that our entry list includes seven F1 level drivers: Season 1 Champion Johnny Herbert, Jean Alesi, Heinz Harald Frentzen, Stefan Johansson, Vitantonio Liuzzi, Gianni Morbidelli and Jacques Villeneuve." Canadian Formula BMW driver David Ostella is in Mexico City this weekend for the 2008 Formula BMW World Finals at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez. "It's very much like karting events used to be," said Ostella prior to his departure. "Qualifying and heat racing that lead up to a main event. I like it because it means more racing first of all, and because consistency will be rewarded, especially if you are up front." After timed and SuperPole qualifying on Friday, the drivers face Heats one and two on Saturday before running a third and final 25-minute heat on Sunday morning. This will lead to a 30-lap World Final on Sunday afternoon. Ostella is optimistic heading in, especially when noting the schedule. "My goal is the same as it always has been," he said of his final run. "I want to be toward the front and show that I'm quick and can run with the fast guys. I really like that we will have four full practise sessions, and have set my goal as a top-five finish." JDC Motorsports has re-signed American Chris Miller for the 2009 F2000 Championship Series. The Minnesota-based driver challenged for the series title in his first full-season of car racing and will again be part of a multi-car effort, partnering yet-to-be-named drivers in the 14-race series. In addition to racing a Miller Milling-backed Van Diemen in the series, Miler will also test a Star Mazda Championship car in preparation for a full campaign in that series in 2010. Miller began his car racing career in the F2000 Championship Series last season and established himself as a driver worth watching, earning a podium finish in his first-ever start. From that point forward, the teenager was among those challenging for the title, eventually ending the season fourth in the championship fight via four podium finishes and a consistent 13 top-10 finishes in 14 races. "We are very happy to have Chris returning and plan on giving him a shot at the championship title," stated Team Owner John Church. "As part of 2009 campaign, Chris will begin working with our Star Mazda team via multiple tests, as he takes advantage of our internal open-wheel ladder program." Further announcements regarding the F2000 Championship Series driver-line-up and Star Mazda campaign are expected shortly. Drivers interested in teaming with Chris for the 2009 campaign should contact John Church. The Firestone Indy Lights schedule has been finalised: Nine races on the Firestone Indy Lights schedule in 2009 will be held on the same day as IndyCar Series races, series officials announced on Dec. 2. The 15-race schedule, divided among eight ovals, four temporary street circuits and three permanent road courses, includes three new venues and the series' first two races outside of the United States. "It is important to Firestone Indy Lights that our drivers and teams can showcase their talents not only to IndyCar Series teams competing on the same track, but to the fans that come to each event," said Roger Bailey, executive director of Firestone Indy Lights. Same-day races will be held at St. Petersburg 2, Long Beach, Kansas, Milwaukee, Edmonton, Kentucky, Mid-Ohio, Infineon and Chicagoland, while the season-opening St. Petersburg race, Iowa, Watkins Glen, Toronto and the season finale at Homestead-Miami will be held on the day prior to the companion IndyCar Series race. The Firestone Freedom 100 is scheduled to be held as part of Miller Lite Carb Day activities on May 22 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, two days before the 93rd Indianapolis 500-Mile Race. Firestone Indy Lights is an essential stepping stone for drivers and teams striving to compete in the IndyCar Series and the Indianapolis 500. Teams compete for nearly $4 million in prize money in cars that are second in speed only to the IndyCar Series at most tracks they visit. The complete Firestone Indy Lights schedule
03-12-08
The 2009 Nippon Challenge have released their Technical Regulatons for next season..read regs Ireland's Peter Dempsey took advantage of one perk of Andersen Racing's groundbreaking open-wheel development program recently by testing one of the RLR/Andersen Racing Firestone Indy Lights cars at Homestead-Miami Speedway in Florida. The team awards tests at the next level for each of its full-season Star Mazda and F2000 drivers and Dempsey finished third in the 2008 Star Mazda driver standings. Jonathan Summerton (third place in the Atlantic series), Jeff Westphal (2008 Pacific F2000 champion) and Alistair Jackson (British F3 driver) also tested the team's Firestone Indy Lights cars on the short course at Sebring recently. “I am very impressed with the talent level testing for us," said John Andersen, team co-owner and manager of the RLR/Andersen Firestone Indy Lights effort. "I have been able to attend most of our test days this fall, and was really impressed. Hopefully we'll be able to make some driver announcements soon." Drivers quotes The two Team USA
scholarship winners who
represented America so well this year, Conor Daly (2008 Skip Barber
National champion) and Josef Newgarden Young French driver Julien Gerbi impressed Team West-Tec during a two day test at Snetterton in the last week of November. Julien, who has been racing in the USA for the last two years, hopes to step up in 2009 and has been in communication with West-Tec for quite some time. Despite the test being affected by fog, snow, frost and rain, Julien showed well as he lapped consistently over both days. Despite being new to the team, car and circuit, Julien soon got into the groove and was able to record competitive lap times. At the end of the first day, he got more confortable with the Dallara 306, and set a lap only 0.4 seconds slower than Robbie Kerr's time (British F3 Champion, A1 Series and World Series Renault race winner). This weekend, the "Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez" in Mexico City will host the Formula BMW World Final where 21 young drivers from around the world compete for a chance to take a F1 test drive with the BMW Sauber F1 Team. Philipp Eng (AT), who won last year, will enjoy his big moment on Thursday. The 18-year-old will head out onto the track in a F1 car for the first time in his career. "I can hardly wait," says Eng. "Of course I have done some special preparation for this test. The strain on the neck will be much greater than I am used to. However, I feel I am well equipped. My aim is to make a good impression and to enjoy the time in a F1 car." Mexican fans will see the BMW Sauber F1 Team in action on numerous occasions over the course of the weekend. Regular driver Robert Kubica will alternate with Germany's Augusto Farfus from the WTCC. BMW Motorsport Director Mario Theissen will also attend the event. Farfus' fellow BMW WTCC driver, Felix Porteiro from BMW Team Italy-Spain, will also travel to Central America. Although the race weekend in Mexico City is dominated by the Formula BMW World Final, a whole host of interesting events appears on the support bill. Excitement is guaranteed, with well-known cars such as the BMW V12 LMR and the legendary BMW M1 all set to take to the track. In addition, a wide variety of entertaining off-track activities awaits the spectators. 02-12-08
Adam Carroll’s exploits in A1GP not gone un-noticed as the A1 Team Ireland driver has been invited to represent his country at the Race of Champions at London’s Wembley Stadium on the 14 December. The driver from Portadown is hoping to beat all comers, which will include seven times Formula One World Champion, Michael Schumacher, at the event which will see him drive rally cars and buggies. He will be teamed up with Irish rally star Gareth MacHale with this being the first time Ireland has been represented in this event. "I am really looking forward to competing in the Race of Champions,” commented Carroll, ”because not only will it be great fun but also really interesting to drive so many types of vehicles against such an impressive line up of competitors. It's a unique opportunity to perform in such a famous venue as the new Wembley Stadium and to give motorsport fans a lot of entertainment over the course of one day. From a driving point of view, I am particularly looking forward to driving the World Rally Car and the buggies." Sixteen drivers will compete in a series of knockout heats in their own division to determine their class champion. Then, in a shoot-out to determine who is the master of motorsport, the winners from the two divisions will go head-to-head in a super final with the winner rewarded with the title “The Champion of Champions”.Tickets for The Race of Champions are on sale now by calling +44 (0) 844 412 1743, or online at www.raceofchampions.com. Adult prices start at £18 and child tickets at £9. News from the Paddock at A1GP Sepang. As the excitement continued on the track and Switzerland and Ireland took the spoils, the action continued in the paddock as A1GP enjoyed its last outing before the Christmas break in Sepang, Malaysia last week. 01-12-08 Anglesey held it’s Winter Race day yesterday and Jonathon Ramsey led the way in both the Caterham Sports car races holding off Phil Howarth ion the first to win by 0.803 secs. Matthew Gill banks came third 12 seconds behind the leader. In the second race Ramsay took a more comfortable victory, crossing the line 10 second up on second placed Paul Lund while third went to0 Gordon Sawyer. Jonathan Wright won both the Formula Libre events. Driving a Radical PR6 he coasted the first race winning by 37 seconds from Rob Pritchard’s Caterham Vauxhall. Third, a lap down, was Kevin Lewis in a Van Dieman RF82. The second race went pretty much the same way with Wright winning by 35 seconds from Pritchard with Graham Onion third in a Mallock Mk16C. In the University of Central Lancashire Trophy race for FF1600s at Anglesey, Chris Chisnall won in a Van Dieman RF00 from John Farrell’s Reynard 89FF, the pair separated by 8.5 secs. Third was Benji Hetherington in a Ray 08. The Saloon and Sports car races completed the programme and it was Tommy Dreelan who won the first in a Porsche 997 GT3 beating Paul Dobson’s Mazda RX7 by 6.9 secs. A second further back in third was John Morris in a Peugeot 206. Race 2 was an even closer affair up front with Paul Dobson taking the flag just 0.816secs ahead of Dreelan with David Nye third only 2.5 secs off the winners time.
Conor Daly Tests with World Speed Motorsports; 16 Year Old champion shows well in a variety of conditions. Conor Daly the 2008 Skip Barber champion and winner of the MAZDASPEED Motorsports scholarship continued his preparations for the 2009 season when he tested on the challenging Infineon Raceway course with World Speed Motorsports. The beginning of the day allowed Daly to get accustomed to the track, before the rain started to fall. "We ran a little in the dry, and a ton on the wet," stated Team Owner Telo Stewart. "It all went very well; Conor drove hard and smart and never put a wheel wrong even as the conditions got treacherous." World Speed Motorsports Team Manager John Olsen had this to add, "It was easy for us to see how Conor has won the Skip Barber championship and the Mazda scholarship; he is a true talent and will be immediately competitive in the '09 Star Mazda Series. Conor worked very well with the team, and he worked hard to keep improving his driving and his set-up throughout the day. We were very impressed with his ability to take feedback and immediately apply it."
Essex-based team GW Racing is to return to the British Formula Ford Championship next season and has already signed the first of its drivers for a planned three-car assault on the Ford-backed series. Thirty-two-year-old Yorkshireman Mark Harper is the driver on pole for GWR; he made his track debut in October in the Formula Ford Festival and will race a Duratec-engined Van Diemen chassis in '09. "The Festival was very much 'in at the deep end' for me," says agricultural contractor Mark. "I was driving a Zetec-engined car, and I enjoyed it, but it whetted my appetite for the greater power of a Duratec machine. I have already started a test programme with GWR and the Van Diemen and my times are coming down nicely. I can't wait for the season to get underway."GWR team chief Gerald Webb has secured three cars for the coming season and is seeking further drivers. The team last contested British Formula Ford in 2007. GWR and all the major Formula Ford teams will be represented at the British Formula Ford Sampler Day, to be held at Silverstone tomorrow (Tuesday). Some 55 drivers, two-thirds of them with previous racing experience, have registered to attend the free event, which offers them the opportunity to meet the teams, drive their cars and discover what the championship has to offer. 2008 British Formula Ford Champion Wayne Boyd continued his preparation for the 2009 British F3 Championship last week by completing two tests with T-Sport. On Wednesday(26 Nov) Boyd spent the day at Rockingham setting the fastest lap of the day,. a 1:11.70 secs. Boyd was pleased with how it went. “F3 has been a steep learning curve and I've still got so much to learn, but with the team’s help I'm getting better and better, day by day. It’s been great working with T-Sport. Skelly, Russell and therest of the guys have been absolutely brilliant. I'm learning so much from them all. Most importantly, I really feel I can go faster." On the following day (27 Nov he joined T-Sport at Donington Park. Once again setting fastest lap with a 1:2.10 secs. Boyd was delighted: It’s been fantastic - I’m really pleased with both days of testing. The conditions were really difficult today – it was so cold and windy and there was so much traffic. It wasn’t easy to get the tyres up to temperature, but we managed to be patient and learn the circuit. By mid afternoon we were setting good, competitive times, I managed to put a really good lap together.The team were very happy and that's the main thing. I need to convince them that I can do a good job and I think I am doing that. We have some more testing planned over the next two weeks and then, hopefully, we can get down to the business side of things and confirm a deal for next year. I can't wait. "
Robert Foster-Jones’ KF1 debut in the CIK Asia-Pacific Championship at Macau was pretty impressive. Not only was he new to KF1 and the track, he also had to use super sticky special tyres for the first time as well. His reward was a well earned sixth place.
The 2009 WPS Bathurst 12 Hour Showroom Enduro will have Raceline Events providing the entertainment for the February 20-22 Event. The Superstreet Nationals will return after its debut at the 2008 Event, while set to make its debut for 2009 as part of the Superstreet Nationals is the Stadium Drift Pro Show. Alongside the Drift extravaganza will be the motorcross feats of the FMX Nationals which again return to the Bathurst Event. Raceline Events Director Ian Badock said Raceline Events were pleased to again be appointed by the Event Organisers. "Each year we try to come back and continue our commitment to growing the package for fans at the WPS Bathurst 12 Hour," said Badock. "In 2008 the major step in that plan was the debut of the Superstreet Nationals which was a massive success, and in 2009 we will see the Stadium Drift Pro Show which expands on the highly popular drifting segment of our entertainment program. With all of that going on, you also can't forget the FMX Nationals which always provides thrills for the fans with their gravity-defying leaps and tricks with 30-40 riders expected from both the professional and amateur ranks. The 2008 WPS 12 Hour Showroom Enduro attracted in excess of 100 drivers across 37 entries from various parts of Australia and New Zealand with the Mitsubishi Evo 9 of Damien White, Graham Alexander and Rod Salmon taking the victory.
The opinions expressed on this site are not necessarily shared by 11/56 MotorSport or any of theGrid team
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Continuing
his climb up the MAZDASPEED Motorsports Driver Development Ladder, Dane
Cameron
Stefano
D'Aste will re-join Wiechers-Sport for the 2009
A
60 minute season recap of Alexander Rossi’s 2008 Formula BMW Americas
Bertrand
Baguette will drive in the World Series by Renault in 2009, however
although he will still driver for the Draco team of Adriano and Nadia
Morini, the traditional yellow livery on the Italian team’s cars will
make way for those of Force India F1 “The Draco team’s foremost
objective is to offer young drivers the opportunity to move on up to
F1”, Adriano Morini, the man in charge of the team explained. “After no
less than 20 years in the motorsport world, we felt that a closer
collaboration with a team involved at the peak of the racing world would
be an excellent thing for our drivers. Draco will remain Draco, however
this association with Force India F1 will undoubtedly draw the attention
to our cars” It goes without saying that this has help determine
Bertrand Baguette and his entourage when it came to opting for a further
season in Formula Renault 3.5 with Draco. “At this time the
collaboration with Force India F1 is confined to the exchange of
technical methods and procedures, with engineers from their side coming
over to reinforce those at Draco for the races, but in addition it’s
also a solid boost for our image “, Bertrand commented. “Sporting the
colours of an F1 team, it’s like having a foot in the door at the
highest level and it also represents a perfect guarantee when it comes
to returns for our partners. But then who knows what might happen in the
months to come. All the more since I will be invited in the F1 paddock
during the various Grand Prix events which do not clash with the FR 3.5
ones. “ Present at the official launch was Vitantonio Liuzzi, the
present Force India F1 1 test driver, “ F1 is a highly complicated
universe and you need to grasp the slightest opportunity to approach and
enter that world. Quite obviously the two Draco drivers (Baguette and
his Spanish tam-mate Marco Barba) will be in the spotlights in 2009,
because in the first instance Force India F1 will analyse their
performances, prior to turning to other potential racing drivers. In all
reality not many young drivers can boast having a connection with the
Formula 1 world. The overwhelming majority can only hope to be noticed
at one time or another. With Draco, this link exists, and it is
priceless” In addition both Adriano and Nadia Morini will do everything
in their powers to ensure that the young Belgian will have the
opportunity to get behind the wheel of an F1 between now and the end of
2009. 
Porsche
Club GB can now announce the 2009 calendars
Daniel
Lloyd will take part in the BP Ultimate Celebrity Kart Challenge
The
Mini 7 Racing Club (M7RC)
Valencia
in Spain became the latest venue on Menasheh Idafar's winter test
Bradley
Ellis
Asia
Racing Team (ART) Motorsports
Formula
Reanult team Hillspeed
SPEEDY
RACING – TEAM SEBAH
Current
A1GP championship leader, A1 Team Ireland’s driver, Adam Carroll
Ex
SAXMAX, Ginetta Junior & T-Car racer Cassey Watson
Hitech
Junior will race in the UK next season
Will
Bratt 
Bradley
Ellis was presented with the BRDC Innes Ireland Trophy 
Ridley-Holloway
aims for Clio return in 2009. Backed by A4 Apparel, Bond Oxborough
Phillips and PicoPC.co.uk for his 2008 Clio Cup campaign, the category
rookie is now embarking on an attempt to attract additional financial
support for 2009 to enable him to continue the great progress he made
this year. “Clio Cup is where I want to be racing in 2009, we’ve had a
good season this year and I know if I have the chance to put into
practice all of the experience I gained during a second season in the
championship I can take my first podium for sure”, said Jonathan. It’s
all about sponsorship though and the amount of racing budget we can
attract. The guys at TCR would like to run me again and I want to race
with the team but we’ve got to work very hard over the next couple of
months to see if we can raise the necessary backing. I’m very keen to
fly the flag for North Devon so if any local businesses wish to get
involved and make the most of the marketing opportunities available
through supporting my racing programme, I’d love to hear from them.”
Zaamin
Jaffer from India
ended
the 2008 Genuine Ford Parts Australian Formula Ford Championship in a
positive fashion with both coming out winners, Laska taking the win in
the round and the title while Erikson won the final race of the year and
with it the Rookie of the year crown .
Daniel
Erikson won the final race of the year in the Australian Formula Ford
Championship to lift the Avon Rookie of the eyar award.
Paul
Laskazeski is the 2008 Genuine Ford Parts Australian Formula Ford
Champio
The
2008 CAMSO V8 championship delivered exactly what was expected of
it: fast cars, lots of noise and action all the way!...
Paul
Laskazeski has moved a step closer to the 2008 Genuine Ford Parts
Australian Formula Ford Championship after taking pole at Oran
World
Series runner-up Julien Jousse to join new FIA Formula Two Championship
DR
kart – the brand launched by 5-time World Kart Champion, Danilo Rossi,
is now available in the UK. New British importers, Total Karting Ltd
gave British karters their first look at the chassis during last
weekend’s Kartmania show (1/2 December 2008). Director Steve Green said
“We had a huge amount of interest in the DR Kart on both days. We’re
very proud to be working directly in association with Danilo and CRG.
Danilo was the CRG Race Team Manager for many years, and looking at the
DR chassis shows you just how he’s used all that experience – its
beautifully constructed, lightweight, and has some great design
features. There are two chassis currently available – the M92 (for
harder tyre classes, such as Rotax) and the J90 (ideal for KF1, 2, and
3). The model names reference the locations and dates of two of Rossi’s
greatest World title wins – Jesolo and Mariembourg. Both models will
feature best quality chassis tubing, all magnesium accessories (ie:
bearing hangers and hubs), floating disc brakes and fully-adjustable
steering geometry. Race Team Manager, Elliott Green says, “We’re
confident that the DR Kart range will very quickly make an impact on the
British and European racing scene. We are currently arranging a series
of test days in December and January and would welcome enquiries from
drivers interested in joining our 2009 Rotax and KF teams, testing one
of the chassis for themselves or in becoming a DR kart distributor”.
Young
drivers from around the world congregated at Silverstone
(pictured right - runner-up in 2008 Skip Barber National), tested
Andersen Racing's Star Mazda cars on the short course at Sebring as
well. In addition, Richard Kent, who won the Star Mazda season finale at
Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in an Andersen Racing car, also tested the
same type of car there. Michelle Kish, the overall team manager as well
as the team manager for the organization's Star Mazda squad, was also
pleased with the Star Mazda testing. "We know Conor, as he has tested
with us in the past, and the team members all love him, but it was also
great getting to know Josef," she said. "The test went very well, and
both drivers showed why they had such great results in the UK. They
adapted quickly to the higher-horsepower Pro Mazda cars, and will be
competing at the front in 2009 if they choose to do the series," she
added. The latest round of drivers testing with the team followed
earlier testing at Sebring. Jonathan Bomarito and Joel Miller tested the
RLR/Andersen Racing Firestone Indy Lights cars and Anders Krohn and
Nathan Silva tested the team's Star Mazda cars in early November there.
Australian
Formula Ford wills say farewell to Oran Park Raceway this weekend
after nearly 40 years of racing with the final round of the 2008 Genuine
Ford Parts Australian Formula Ford Championship. The track has eseen
many title dieciders ovder the years including those involving such
luminaries as Craig Lowndes(Pictured with Paul Laskazeski)
and Garth Tander.
The
Volkswagen Racing Cup will see two new Volkswagen Scirocco's on the grid
in 2009. They will be driven by 
Daniel
Erickson looks set to take the Rookie of the year award with a home
track advantage at Oran Park Raceway, NSW this weekend in the Genuine
Ford Parts Australian Formula Ford Championship. Erickson has a 27-point
lead in the competition ahead of Ben Morley after an impressive
effort at Symmons Plains in round seven. With Morley not competing in
the final roun, Erickson’s closest rival is team mate, Scott Pye, who is
53-points behind in third. “I’m looking to stay in the top-three this
weekend at Oran 
Bradley
Ellis has his sights set on trying to clinch back-to-back GT titles
at the final FIA GT3 European rounds in Dubai on 5&6 December. The 2007
Avon Tyres British GT Champion faces the last two races third in the
standings while any one of seven drivers occupying the top three ranks
have a chance of taking the crown. The 21 year-old lies just nine points
adrift of Arnaud Peyroles and James Ruffier who lead with 44 points,
with Ian Khan and Thomas Mutsch second on 36, and Ellis currently
sharing third with Thomas Accary and Pierre-Brice Mena. However, Ellis
would be forgiven for having a sense of déjà vu as he finds himself in a
similar position to last year when he battled back from eight points
down to clinch the British GT spoils. It goes without saying that the
Croydon ace will be looking to repeat history in Dubai this weekend.
Ellis has chipped away at Championship, notching up two wins on the way.
Ellis is now looking forward to the finale and is already in Dubai. “I
can’t wait for the final rounds this weekend. If the last two races are
anything to go by, it’s going to be fiercely competitive,” said Ellis. “
The
Canadian Automobile Sport Clubs - Ontario Region presented Mark Wilkins
the North American Cup at their Banquet last week. The award goes to a
Canadian driver who excels in a North American or international racing
series. Mark received the award based on his back-to-back wins and
overall showing in the Grand Am Rolex Sports Car Series presented by
Crown Royal cask No. 16. Mark and his team mate Brian Frisselle had a
breakout win for AIM Autosport when they surprised everyone at their
home race in Montreal after being spun to the back of the field in the
opening lap. Crossing the line just 64/1000ths ahead of the second-place
car, it is on record as the closest finish in Rolex Sports Car Series
history. One week later, the team would take the pole and the win at
Watkins Glen and go on to record their third consecutive podium at
Infineon Raceway in California two weeks later. "I am extremely thrilled
to have been chosen for this award," exclaimed a very surprised Wilkins.
"To be selected by your peers for any award is great, but to think that
my name will be on a plaque alongside some of my racing heros and
mentors, is absolutely amazing. I can only hope that my racing career
continues to flourish and that can attain the same levels of success as
theirs." Mark continued, "I'd like to thank the board, all the members
and the selection committee at CASC-OR for this this award. We now look
forward to another successful season with AIM Autosport in the Grand Am
Rolex Sports Car Series." AIM Autosport's win at Montreal was earlier
selected by fans as Grand Am's "Moment of The Year" in online balloting
and the team was recognized at the annual awards banquet. That stunning
win is now in the running for the Speed Performance Awards as "Move of
The Year". Fans can view the video and vote online at