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News Archive  March 2008

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10/04/2008 

31-03-08

Richard Lloyd and David Leslie have been killed in a plane crash near Kent, England. The two were among five on board the private Cessna Citation 501 when the pilot made a mayday cal to Biggin Hill Airfield before the plane went down near a housing estate. No one on the ground was injured.  Lloyd and Leslie were apparently headed to Nogaro, France where Leslie was to have driven Lloyd's Apex Motorsport Jaguar XKR at an FIA GT3 test day...The BRDC pay their tribute...read more

Ian Milton won two out three Smatycar.com Mini Cooper races at Knockhill yesterday while Peter Cruickshank and Charlie Cope(pictured) share the XR2 spoils.  Graham Carroll won both FF1600 racees as did Stan Bernard in the Classic Sports and Saloons. The Sports/Saloons saw Andrew Gallacher and Stewart Whyte each win a race.

In-Tune Racing’s Michael Doyle  claimed a well deserved top 15 race result on his HiQ MSA British Touring Car Championship debut….read more

Robert Lawson romped to victory in Round One of the SEAT Cupra Championship and secured second place in Round Two to give him an early lead in the Championship, while fellow debutant driver Martin Byford (AB Glass/ Z Speed Racing) followed up a disappointing first race with a victory in the second

Giovanardi wins two and Colin Turkington one in the HiQ BTCC’s opening races at Brands Hatch.

Michael Caine completed a perfect double weekend victory at Brands Hatch today (Sunday 30 March) by winning round two of the Porsche Carrera Cup GB to give his title bid the very best start.

Formula 3 Australia  says it's ‘business as usual’ for the Kumho Tyres Australian Formula 3 Championship for the CAMS Gold Star, irrespective of the issues surrounding Opes Prime, who have gone into receivership..read more

Freddy Nordstrom made a solid start to 2008  with a 5^th place in the second race of the Cupra Championship at Brands Ha\tch.

Arkas Racing got back on track in this year’s BTCC opening rouinds at Brands Hatch. Drivers Erkut Kizilirmak and Martyn Bell both finishing in the points.

George Richardson took a dominant win in the second round of the Ginetta Junior Championship at Brands Hatch yesterday…read more

Ben Winrow has won the second round of the 2008 ELF Renault Clio Cup at Brands Hatch   The team Pyro driver held off Saturday’s winner Paul Rivett to claim the win. Niki Lanik completed the podium line-up

Total Control Racing’s Jonathan Ridley-Holloway saw his full season ELF Renault Clio Cup debut last no more than half a mile during round one on Saturday, 29th March; contact three corners into the race leading to an unfortunate retirement….read more

The Christodoulou family has much to celebrate at Brands Hatch on Sunday. First Riki won the opening round of the 2008 Formula Renault UK with Michelin Championship before Adam won the second

Alexander Sims opening race weekend of the 2008 Formula Renault UK season started well with pole but went wrong at the start of the race when his neutral cable snapped in the  formation lap before the first race

Dillon Battistini became the fifth Firestone Indy Lights driver to win in his first start when he captured the Miami 100. Battistini passed Richard Antinucci on Lap 64 of the 67-lap sprint to win by 1.6848 seconds. Antinucci was second while Brent Sherman was third, Arie Luyendyk Jr. fourth and Chris Festa fifth. Report

Graham Heard took two wins from two starts in the Porsche 924 Championship at Snetterton on Sunday.  In the first race he just held off Simon Regitz to win by 0.666secs with Matt Davis third. In the second race it was Alastair Kirkham who kept him honest. Kirkham was a mere 0.678 secs behind at the flag while Richard Mowbray was third 1.9 secs behind the winner.

The second Formula Renault race at Brands Hatch yesterday(Sunday) produced a stylish first win for CR Scuderia’s Adam Christodoulou

SEAT Sport UK’s Leon TDI made a promising race debut in the HiQ MSA British Touring Car Championship at Brands Hatch today, when Jason Plato took the series’ first manufacturer-entered diesel powered car to two podium results and team-mate Darren Turner set the fastest lap of a race…report

Hartmann Honda Racing have announced their plans for it’s assault on the  Danish Touringcar Championship. This year the team intends to be at  the front of the field, and with the help of Michael Larsen of Honda Denmark the team has done a deal with Honda Motor Europe. With this and Larsen’’s official partners, JAS Motorsport ,they will get the benefit of  running two cars with the newest engine and suspension specifications.  They will also get co-operation of N-Technology and James Thompson to drive alongside Dane Jens Moller.  "I will not want to make up the numbers in Denmark," James Thompson says. "The guys at Hartmann are very enthusiastic, and I see no reason why we cannot win races or be on the podium consistently."

30-03-08

JHR Developments driver Paul Rivett won round one of the 2008 ELF Renault Clio Cup in damp conditions at Brands Hatch Indy yesterday(Saturday, 29^th March). Team Pyro’s Ben Winrow was second with Full Speed Racing’s Phil Glew third.

Michael Caine won round one of the Porsche Carrera Cup at Brands Hatch on Saturday (29 March) after a race filled with incicents. report

Dino Zamparelli and Dominic Pettit provided a memorable start to the 2008 Ginetta Junior Championship at Brands Hatch Indy Circuit in Kent today – Zamparelli shading the round one win by a mere 0.025 seconds in a race hard to beat in terms of drama and edge-of-the-seat excitement.

This weekend the Asian F3-series comes to an end. On the track of Batangas, on the Philippines the drivers have a very busy schedule this weekend, with altogether six races in three days time. The meeting started on Friday and will end tomorrow on Sunday.  Fred Vervisch had already a comfortable lead in the Asian Series and came to Batangas with only one thing in mind: assuring his title. This Asian F3 title is not only another success for the Belgian youngster, but Vervisch will also get an F1-test with Force India.  Vervisch took pole on two occasions on Friday, but his car stalled on the starting grid in both races, forcing Vervisch to start twice from the back of the field. But even in these difficult conditions, Vervisch managed to get to the podium, by finishing second and third in respectively the first and second race on Friday.  On Saturday, the Team Goddard driver was unstoppable and with two victories he assured his Asian title. Vrevisch will now try to conquer two more victories on Sunday.

29-03-08

Manor Competition’s Alexander Sims snatched pole for the first round of the 2008 Formula Renault UK with Michelin Championship season today (Saturday, 29^th March) while CR Scuderia Formula Renault’s Adam Christodoulou was did the same for the second race...read more

Tim Bridgman was the quickest qualifying at Brands Hatch today (Saturday 29 March) for the opening rounds of the Porsche Carrera Cup GB. ..read more

Menasheh Idafar sets quick times on old tyres at Rockingham test..read more

Michael Caine was quickest in testing for the Porsche Carrera Cup GB at  Brands Hatch yesterday( Friday 28 Mar) in preparation for this weekend's opening rounds. ...read more

Jean-Marie Balestre the former, and somewhat controversial,  FIA president has died. He was 86.  The Man who will be forever linked to Formula One's FISA-FOCA was of the early 80s, became president of the International Sporting Commission of the FIA in 1978(then the CSI). It subsequently became FISA which he ruled from 1979 to 1991. He was also the president of the FIA from 1986 to 1993.

Gannasi racing's Scott Dixon has qualified on pole position for the first race of the new Indycar season at Homestead Miami. Dixon set a time of 1:40.234 secs (213.341 mph). Qualifying has taken on a new format for ovals this year with positions determined by the  driver's average speed over four laps.  His team-mate Dam Wheldon, who is looking for an unprecedented fourth win in-a-row at Homestead, failed to set a time after he crashed on his second warm up lap, After a check in the infield Medical Centre he was cleared to drive this evening.  Vision Racing's Ed Carpenter and A. J. Foyt IV will start second and third.

Raphael Matos was quickest in qualifying for this afternoon's first round of the all new Firestone Indy Lights Championship. Like it's bigger brother Indycar, qualifying is now based on an average speed over a set number of laps, in Lights case 2. Matos' in his new AFS/Andretti Green car, averaged 186.899 mph over is two laps. "It feels great to win the pole," he said.  "The team worked so hard during the winter and through the preseason. This just proves to everybody that we can get the job done. It feels great to start up front. It's really important at this track. I hope we can keep it clean and finish the race well to collect points." Dillon Battistini was second for Panther Racing at a speed of 186.541 mph. "I joined this team last week," he said. "It's my second day on ovals and in the Firestone Indy Lights car. The last time I drove this car was my rookie test." Guthrie Racing's Sean Guthrie was third with RLR/Andersen Racing's Andrew Prendeville fourth while Sam Schmidt Motorsports monopolised the next 3 places with Richard Antinucci, Ana Beatriz and James Davison fifth, sixth and seventh respectively. Bobby Wilson is eighth and 2005 Indy Lights Champion Wade Cunningham and Pablo Donoso round out the top ten. The race will be covered live on the Internet at indycar.com/pro.

Jeff Gordon is on pole for the NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Martinsville with Denny Hamlin second and  Aric Almirola third."I felt like we got beat in practice and we just never gave up on it," said Gordon. "We made some adjustments for qualifying and they were certainly all the right ones. It really allowed me to put two ends of this racetrack together that I don't know if I have ever put together here."

Matt Howson took a fine win after soaking up the pressure from Frederic Vervisch with Rafael Suzuki in third place in the Castrol Asian F3 race at Battangas in the Phillipines. Rafael Suzuki took the laurels in race one of the with Howson second and Vervisch third

New races and altered Schedules & Prize packages have taken place for the MOLECULE Formula Mazda Challenge and Star Mazda West Coast & Winter Series ..read more

This weekend, Sunoco Team Ultra 94 driver Mike Vincec will be at  Sebring for the final two races of the Skip Barber Southern Region Championship. Vincec, who is second in points, is coming off his first win at Las Vegas which he hopes to add to this weekend. Currently with a 61 point lead over third place in the championship and with 65 points available for a win, Vincec could effectively settle his position should he win the first race this weekend. "Michael has done a very well for Sunoco Team Ultra 94 to date, culminating with his first victory at the last event in Las Vegas," said Ron Fellows. "He has continued to improve at every race and now has the confidence to know that he can win." This weekend the races will be held on the 'Sebring New' track, which will be the first time the Sunoco Team Ultra 94 driver races on that configuration. The penultimate round of the series will go on Saturday, March 29, with the season finale going on March 30.

Alexandre Imperatori has confirmed he will be in the hunt for the National Japanese F3 Championship title this year after signing with newly formed PTRS racing team.

28-03-08

Sam Hancock has set his sights on the Porsche Carrera Cup GB title in 2008. The former LMP2 champion gets his season underway this weekend at Brands Hatch..read more

Jessica Golding will make her car racing debut in round two of The Genuine Ford Parts Australian Formula Ford Championship at Wakefield Park (Goulburn) next weekend (4-6 April)...read more

Wakefield Park marks the return of Kristian Lindbom to Australian Formula Ford.  Joining Sonic Racing, Lindbom replaces young-gun Ben Small in a Mygale - Small instead is concentrating on the Victorian Formula Ford series where he is a top three contender.  

After taking out the Victorian State Karting Championship last year, Nick Tanti also joins the field at Wakefield Park in his Spirit - pushing the field out to 24 competitors. A highlights package from Wakefield Park will be broadcast in the V8 Supercar telecast from Hamilton , New Zealand on the Seven Network.

European GT4 Champion Eric De Doncker  looks forward to 2008 after his first test of 2008 at Zolder yesterday..read more

Will Bratt finished  the FIAT Spanish Formula 3 Championship test yesterday, Thursday, 27th March in the top five, just 3 tenths shy of the quickest runner . After a similar run on Wednesday, where he was fourth fastest, Will was pretty pleased with his own progress...read more .

Jonathan Bomarito sets the fastest time in Cooper Tires Presents The Atlantic Championship Powered by Mazda tests at MSR Houston..read more

Indy Pro Series has been renamed Indy Lghts after Firestone signed up as the series sponsor..read more

The N.technology team  will join the FIA World Touring Car Championship from the third race meeting of the season that will take place in Valencia on May 17th and 18th. They will also take part in the official two-day test session at the Spanish track on April 15th and 16th.  The Italy-based team have worked relentlessly together with JAS Motorsport since the end of the Christmas break to prepare the Honda Accord Euro R car that James Thompson will drive in the championship. "We are still working very hard because we really wish to be competitive and reliable from our race debut," said Team Principal Mauro Sipsz. "And we will have the first clue on how competitive we can be during the next month's test. We are confident and we do hope that our efforts will be rewarded in Valencia."

Rafael Matos previews his Indy car season and the opening race this weekend at Homestead Miami..preview

27-03-08

Phil Quaife is hoping to add the overall  Porsche Carrera Cup GB title  to his 2006 Pro-Am category triumph  this year and it will get underway this weekend at Brands Hatch..read more

The 2007 SEAT Cupra Champion, Jonathan Adam will be back defending his title in this season's SEAT Cupra Championship against the 2007 Clio Cup title holder Martin Byford, starting this weekend at Brands Hatch..read more

GP2 Asia driver Marcello Puglisi has joined Pro Motorsport to compete in this seasons's Formula Master Championship...read more

Nick Sanderson endured a disappointing start to his www.dees.co.uk Ford Fiesta Championship.  After qualifying on the front row things went downhill from there…

Father and son team Graeme and James Dodd are planning to compete regularly with the Masters Racing Series this season in two very different cars. ..read more

The Masters Racing Series is pleased to announce the appointment of Mike Harris as the Series Technical Commissioner for 2008...read more

Former FPA driver Tim Bridgman set the fastest time in  testing for this year’s Porsche Carrera Cup GB at Silverstone during the pre-season test and media day on Tuesday (25 March)….read more

SG Formula’s Daniel Ricciardo and  Andrea Caldarelli shared the honours in the  West European Cup in Formula Renault 2.0 at Nogaro last weekend,..read more

Anna Walenska is back for another season racing for Geoff Steel ion one of his BMW 3.2ltr 360 Bhp machines. She has paired up VW Cup Champion, Tony Gilham, who will also be taking part in the Porsche Carrera Cup…full report 

The opening round of the FIA GT Championship is at Silverstone on 19-20 April,  the only UK race in 2008. To showcase the race the Silverstone Supercar  Tour will take place  for the third year running, on Friday 18 April. Entrants into the Silverstone Supercar Tour will drive from The Royal Automobile Club in Pall Mall to the Northamptonshire circuit…read more

Ollie Hancock was  on-song on Easter Monday when he won the second race in the Formula Renault BARC season opener at Brands Hatch..report,.

Motor sport insurance specialist THB Clowes has been confirmed as the preferred insurance partner for the 2008 Porsche Carrera Cup GB.  Teams and drivers in the Carrera Cup can take advantage of a special deal for on-track insurance with the leading company in the market. "We can offer the best deal available in the market for the Carrera Cup GB," said Porsche racer Richard Williams, business development executive for THB Clowes. "This is the company's 30th anniversary year and our sole business is in motor sport. We're all motor sport enthusiasts and we've got a strong reputation for delivering the right product Ollie Hancock won the opening race of the Formula Renault BARC season at Brands Hatch on Easter Monday with a dominant display…read report

Hillspeed have started their Formula Renault BARC Campaign and so far it is looking very good with their dirver Menasheh Idafar is leading the Fr2000 class…read more

Sam Bird has been awarded “superstar” status by the BRDC. The British Racing Drivers’ Club has selected fourteen drivers who they consider capable of reaching the pinnacle of their chosen discipline within Motorsport, and Sam is delighted to be among them. “It is a huge honour to be selected by the BRDC” said Sam on hearing the news The Superstars scheme will provide development and training along with advice from the BRDC members, with their huge wealth of experience. The scheme will be headed by Tim Harvey, and it is hoped that a commercial partner will shortly be on board to finance the brightest prospects in the future.

25-03-08

David Ashburn and Richard Williams driving Trackspeed's  #5 Porsche GT3 in Briitish GT at Oulton Park had a mixed weekend, taking 4th on Saturday and spinning out in Monday's race..

The 2008 Porsche Open season opened in style with a superb race at Donington Park, the leading trio scything though a huge field of Porsches at the track's 75^th Anniversary meeting. Mike Donovan kept his 997 GT3 clear of the GT2 of Paul McLean, the pair together on the final lap. Mike Johnson was a close third, while Paul Winter claimed Class Two and fourth overall. Tim Bryan took Class Three honours. 

Hitech Junior's 2008 season got underway at the weekend with the opening rounds of the WEC Formula Renault Championship at Nogaro.

The 2008 Formula Renault season starts up this weekend and the CR Scuderia Renault team is raring to go....read more

The CR Scuderia team is at the top of the drivers and teams championship tables after a fantastic first weekend of racing in the 2008 Avon Tyres British GT Championship.

Russell Racing's Aaron Steele finished with two top five finishes at Brands Hatch yesterday, Easter Monday, 24th March, in the opening Rounds of the 2008 Formula Renault BARC Championship.

Ian White had the perfect start to the 2008 Porsche Club Championship winning both races at Donington Park in his new 964 C2. Second on both occasions was  2007 Champion  Mark McAleer. Trevor Lewis and Mike Clapham wach tok a  Class Two win  while Class Three saw a win for a pair of debutants,  Jeremy Clark and Sarah Bennett-Baggs.(left)

Ahead of the season finale at Brands Hatch on 2 - 4 May, A1GP World Cup of Motorsport will make a pit stop in London's West End on Sunday 27 April.Lower Regent Street in London will be transformed into an A1GP grid with all 22 nations' single-seat race cars lining up. Visitors to one of London most iconic streets will have the opportunity to get up-close-and-personal with the 22 teams and drivers - as well as meeting Formula One legends Emerson Fittipaldi and Alan Jones. To mark, A1GP's partnership with Ferrari, two 599 GTBs used as the series' safety car will also be on display. With action for all the family the A1GP Regent Street Pit Stop will include tyre change challenges, activities for the kids and the ever-popular A1GP grid girls.  

MediaZone, a leading global online broadcaster, in partnership with IndyCar Series, ESPN and SportVision announced IndyCar Race Control, a new online portal offering LIVE coverage worldwide of the 2008 IndyCar Series race season. Beyond simply streaming races online, IndyCar Race Control takes the broadcasts a step further, allowing fans to get the total racing experience all in one place. ..read more

Thruxton celebrated it's 40th anniversary over the Easter weekend with a variety of Historic races. The HSCC's Historic F2 races for the Jochen Rindt Trophy amongst them. The first of the two races saw Bill Coombs take his March 712 to victory  by 1.187 seconds over the March 782 of Peter Meyrick with Bo Warmenius third in another March, a 772.  Meyrick went one better in the second race winning from Warmenius by 11 seconds. James King completed the podium this time in another March 712. 

In the Universal Racing Services Classic Formula Ford Series the 1600 race was won by Keith Davey in a Van DIeman RF81. Second was Jonathan Davis driving a , now rarely seen, Hawke DL11. Third went to Paul Walton in a Crossle 25f.   In the FF2000 race Tony Hancock in a Van Dieman RF82 won from Richard Wallington in a RF83 by 1.946 secs with Erik Pagano completing a Van Dierman clean sweep in third.  The HSCC/JHRA Miller Oils Historic Formula Jnr race was won by Denis Welch driving a Merlyn Mk5/7 . 4.961secs ahead of the Lotus 20 of Mark Woodhouse. Andrew Hibberd was a distant third inn a Lotus 22. The 750MC Formula Vee encounter  was won by Daniel Hands in a GAC01 from John Hughes Scarab Mk5 and  Ian Buxton's GAC01..  

The Healey Driver International, Syd Segal Memorial Trophy was won by Bruce Montgomery at Thruxton by a mere 0.780 secs from Jeremy Welch while the two BARC Classic Clubmans races saw a clean sweep by Mark Charteris in a Mallock Mk20B. Steve Chaplin was second in both driving a Phantom P79 while Antony Denham completed the podium in the first race and Paul Harper in race two.

Victory in the Top Hat Masters races at Thruxton went to John Young on both occasions. His Ford Mustang  won race one from Leo Voyazides Ford Falcon after the latter had led the first 12 laps, Young slipping by on lap 13 to take the win by 0.819secs. IN race two Young led all but one lap, the 13th, when Voyazides managed to lead, albeit briefly, until Young re-took the lead to win by a little over 1 second.   Third in the first race, also driving a Falcon was Richard Dodkins while in race 2 James Dodd, Mustang completed the top 3. Richard Meins and Simon Hadfield shared the spoils in the Sports racing Masters races, Meins winning the first in his Lola T70 from Clark and Hadfield's GT40 while the second saw Hadfield lead Andrew Newall's Lotus 23B over the line with nearly 5 seconds in hand

The BRSCC kicked off the Carphones Warehurse Club FFord Championship at Mallory Park on Monday with Gavin Wills taking the spoils  with a comfortable win in his Van Dieman RF00 over David Grady, also in a Van Dieman, 8 seconds behind in second. Third was Peter Barrable in a Ray GRS05 a further 6 seconds behind. The www.DandDautos.co.uk  XR Challenge race was won by Mark Robinson, just 0.289 secs up on Simon Robinson. John ifan-Jones was third 2.025 secs off the leader. In the Mill Street Motors  Ford Saloons Malcolm Wise was the winner in an Escort Cosworth with Ashley Bird second in a Sierra XR4i. Third was Terrence lark in a Fiesta ST150.

Sandy Forrest  made his debut in the www.dees.co.uk Fiesta series at Mallory and promptly won the race in his ST from David Abbot's Fiesta Si by 1.621 seconds. David Nye came third.   The two Don Truman Trophy races were both won by John Turner driving a Cooper Mk9. Nigel Ashman was second in race 1 in a Cooper Mk XI while Richard Bishop-Mille took the runner-up spot in race 2, also in a Cooper Mk XI.

Level Ten Communications and AIM Autosport have reached an  agreement for Level Ten to provide media, marketing and public relations support for AIM's Grand AM Daytona Prototype and Star Mazda race programs. The deal also includes the development of new web site for the team...read more

Paul Wood and Steve Taylor took a win a-piece in the  2008 Volkswagen Racing Cup in association with Hankook at a snowy Oulton Park yerterday (Monday)...report

Jaime Alguersuari used his second pole position of the weekend to good effect in race 2 of teh British F3 Int Series at Outlton Park yesterday, winning from Swedish pair Marcus Ericsson and Sebastian Hohenthal. Brendon Hartley had actually crossed the line first but he was demoted to 4th after it was adjudged he overtook while the safety car was out!..

24-03-08

Wayne Boyd and Tim Blanchard, team-mates at Jamun racing, started the British FFord season in the best possible way at Oulton Park today (Monday).  Boyd, from N Ireland won two of the races and Australian Blanchard took the third...report

A snow shower 30-minutes before the opening round of the 2008 British F3 International Series caused a few headaches for the drivers as the track dried out during the race. Oliver Turvey (Carlin) came through to take chequered flag after taking the lead off the line. Hitech's Max Chilton  took his first ever British F3 podium after Carlin teammates Jaime Alguersuari and Brendon Hartley  went off after fighting for 2nd place. Atte Mustonen (Double R) finished 3rd after starting from 10th place on the grid. Andy Meyrick (Carlin) took the National Class win, making it a double for Carlin Motorsport

Formula BMW Junior Simon Moss won the second Round of Formula BMW Pacific at the Formula 1 Petronas Malaysian Grand Prix.Ross while Ross Jamison beat not only his fellow drivers but the elements as well in Round 1 when torrentia shortened the race to 8 laps. report 

Paddy Shovlin and Michael Cullen were the winners in British GT at Oulton Park on Saturday, taking the  first win of the  season and the first victory for the CR Scuderia team...read more

Daniël Ricciardo got off to a great start of his Western European Formula Renault 2.0 season, by scoring a convincing win at Nogaro. After having started from pole position, the Australian swapped places twice with his SG Formula team mate Andrea Caldarelli in the opening lap of the race, before retaking the lead which he held to the flag Though Ricciardo enjoyed quite a good start when the starting lights turned off, his Italian team mate Andrea Calderelli managed to get the better out of the two at the start. After Caldarelli passed him in the first corner, Ricciardo tailed his SG Formula colleague closely through the next couple of turns before making his move at the back straight that same lap. As Ricciardo got a better exit out of the corner before the back straight, he was able to retake the lead by out braking Caldarelli into the tight hairpin. Back in front, Ricciardo build up a comfortable three seconds gap in the following laps, stayed out of trouble and collected a well-deserved win. Andrea Caldarelli and Roberto Merhi finished in second and third position respectively.

Dams Driver Kamui Kobayahsi  took victory at Sepang in GP2 Asia's second race of the weekend, the first Japanese driver to win a GP2 race. In the first race. Russian driver Vitaly Petrov came ut on top....report 

Competitors in this year's 2008 Aston Martin Asia Cup (AMAC) rtook part in the first of the Championship’s official tests  at Beijing’s Goldenport Circuit last week ..read more

Wayne Boyd and Tim Blanchard gave reigning champion team Jamun Racing a superb start to the 2008 British Formula Ford Championship today (Sat) at Oulton Park, annexing the front row of the grid for Monday's opening round of the Ford-backed series. Ulsterman Boyd pipped Aussie Blanchard to the pole by a tenth of a second.The Van Diemen of Dane Marco Sorensen was third fastest, with the new Comtec, driven by Westley Barber, seventh...times

Menasheh Idafar qualified on pole for the second round of the 2008 Formula Renault BARC Championship at Brands Hatch Indy Circuit this afternoon . The Hillspeed racer set a 46.257 to take the first pole of his career. In teh first round he will start eighth..read more

Russell Racing team's Aaron Steele and Don De Graaff both performed well during qualifying for the opening two rounds of the 2008 Formula Renault BARC Championship at Brands Hatch on on Sunday, 23rd March...read more

Hitech Racing started their British F3 International Series with two second row positions in Saturday's qualifying for today's(Monday)  first and second rounds of the championship.Austrian Walter Grubmüller and Britain's Max Chilton both qualified well  , taking  third and fourth respectively for round 1 ...more

ELF Renault Clio Cup racer Jonathan Ridley-Holloway  has announced his sponsors for this season, the 23-year-old revealed his new backers at last week's official test session at Silverstone..read more

23-03-08

Harry Handkammer and David Leslieovercame both the opposition and some seriously snowy weather to win yesterday's(Saturday) Britcar Championship race at a very cold Silverstone. .

Alex Livesley and James Harison won Production S1 race driving a Ginetta G20 in the Britcar meeting at Silverstone winning comfortably from Garrie Whittaker's BMW E30 M3. The pair had battled closely throughout the first half of the race but after the pitstops the Ginetta  pulled out a substantial lead to win by 13 seconds.

Avon Tyres British GT Championship debutant Jeremy Metcalfe made a good start ot his GT career at Oultonpark on Saturday, very nearly getting on the podium until his gearbox failed during the pit-stop..read more

Ian Stapleton(right) won the Alfashop Alfa Romeo Championship encounter in a GTV6 at Silverstone taking the lead from Roger Evans's rapid GTV 3.8 on the final lap to win by less than a second. Third was Neil Smith in a 156.  Stapleton had led the first lap before vans supplanted him on lap 2, with Chris Snowdon getting past as well Stapleton's race wasn't look all that good. When Snowdon retired on lap 4 Stapleton could once again get at the leader but it took him until the last of 14 laps to find a way past.

Jean Lou Rihon and Nick Padmore won the Britsports race on Saturday at Silverstone. Their Norma M20  heading Steve Griffiths Jade Chrysler across the line by 5.867 seconds. Third  in a Mosler GT3 was Kevin Riley.

21-03-08

More successful tests for new Bicknell PS7. The all-new Bicknell PS7 sports-racing car has now had a series of highly successful tests in preparation for the first VdeV UK race in April. ITesting was carried out by Chris Ward and 2005 VdeV champion Jonathan Coleman. Jonathan who has a vast amount of  experience in VdeV having driven the Norma and Ligier, echoed the comments of Chris who had shaken down the car. ”The car is very easy to drive, the engine felt very strong and it’s beautifully engineered” Overseeing the tests was the car's constructor Rob Bicknell, who has built his latest design to CN category regulations ready for the VdeV UK Series.
"I'm delighted with the progress of the car, it looks stable on the track and has good mechanical grip, this is confirmed by the data, as we are up on corner speeds of the old car" said Bicknell. " Considering the old car was highly successful in VdeV in 2004 and 2005 I couldn’t be happier, we can’t wait to get out there. " We’re now looking for talented drivers for the first round that takes place at Donington Park on 12/13 April” Call Rob Bicknell on 07905224246 or email rw.bicknell@ntlworld.com for details

Menasheh Idafar confirmed his status as one of the favourites for the Formula Renault BARC Championship once again in official testing at Silverstone National Circuit when he again lapped consistently close to and under the existing race lap record....read more 

The HSCC's opening meeting of 2008 will be at Donington park next weekend(30 March) and it looks like the club is in for a terrific season.  Not only will there be a great variety of cars, from Mg's to Lola F5000s but the FF1600 grid is expected to exceed 40 cars..read more

BIRTHDAY TEST FOR LARINI. Chevrolet driver Nicola Larini celebrated his 44th birthday on Wednesday while testing his racing car at the Guadix racetrack in Spain. Larini and the Chevrolet RML team spent two days at the Spanish circuit with the aim to establish better chassis performance, tune other car areas, put mileage on new parts and do some evaluation work on prototype parts.
Larini commented: "We had two full working days. Weather conditions were excellent and the Guadix circuit is very interesting, so it was a very useful test. We have worked mainly on the set-up, trying a number of little adjustments, some were new, and others we had already tried. It has been a lot of fine-tuning." The car used was the designated 2008-spec test car, as the actual race cars are currently enroute to Mexico via sea freight containers.BMW Team UK/RBM also took part in the test with reigning world champion Andy Priaulx.

Tim Harvey heads the entry list for the Porsche Carrera Cup GB at Brands Hatch next weekend(29-30 March). With the new 420bhp 911GT3 Cup cars and a minimum of 6 drivers looking for an early win the series is looking good in 2008...read more 

THE VIRTUAL WTCC IS ONLINE. SimBin Development Team, producer of RACE the WTCC Game, have launched the 2008 Virtual WTCC, which is expected to dramatically expand the community of the WTCC fans.
Players may register online, and attempt to qualify using the 'best lap' mode on any of the WTCC racetracks. Those who have, either the online version of the RACE 07 game installed or the demo, must press the 'In Game Register' button in the World Leader board menu, and a registration tool will popup. The 'In Game Register' button will then change into a 'Ranking Servers' button, which is where the action begins.
Performances will be monitored through the on line World Ranking system hosted on the www.race-game.org website.
The best ten players will be invited to the WTCC events in Valencia, Pau, Brno, Anderstorp and Oschersleben to take part in the semi-finals on simulators. The five semi-final winners will take part in the final at Monza, competing to win a Chevrolet road car.

BWRDC Junior Champion and RDA student Cassey Watson completed her first official duties as a BTCC package competitor when she spent two days at Croft circuit in North Yorkshire for the media launch days of the 2008 Ginetta Junior Championship last week.Cassey came away with her confidence boosted due to being up the top of the time sheets on both days of testing. Cassey said, "This was an important test as it was the first time that most of this year's competitors were on track together, to be quick was terrific but credit has to go to my team, Tockwith Motorsport, who gave me a car that filled me with confidence." Cassey will now head off to Brands Hatch in Kent where the first two rounds take place on 29/30th March.Anyone interested in hospiality packages for upcoming rounds are asked to contact vb@racedriversacademy.com

Mike Conway made his debut in a Formula Master car at Monza yesterday and immediately set the fastest time in the morning session and third overall for the day ..read more 

LIVE TV COVERAGE FROM MEXICO. Eurosport will continue to give extensive live TV coverage to the FIA World Touring Car Championship at the second event of the season in Puebla, Mexico, on April 6th.
A total of 195 minutes of live broadcasting will be dedicated to the FIA WTCC during the first weekend in April.
Coverage will start on Saturday 5th, with the qualifying session aired live on Eurosport 2 from 11.00 to 11.45 pm Central European Time.
Live coverage will continue on Eurosport 2 on Sunday - from 4.00 to 4.30 pm CET - for the 15-minute warm-up session.
Later on Sunday, Eurosport International will broadcast both of the Mexican races live: Race 1 from 7.00 to 8.00 pm CET and Race 2 from 10.00 to 11.00 pm CET. Highlights of the races will be repeated on Monday morning, from 9.00 to 10.00 am.

BTCC Brands Hatch Preview  -“full of drama, excitement and controversy” , so says BTCC boss  Alan Gow..read more

20-03-08

Sarah Reader(25) from Stratford-on-Avon will race a  250 bhp Juno SSC-EN in the VdeV endurance championships in  both in Britain and Europe.Sarah will partner experienced sports car driver Ryan Hooker in the VdeV UK Championship…read more,

This year’s SEAT Cupra Championship is looking very healthy as we head towards the opening race of the 2008 season at Brands next week. Alongside the experience of Carl Breeze, Freddy Norstrom and co we have newcomers Andrew Herron and Martin Byford all fighting over a  £250,000 prize fund…read preview 

Reigning VdeV Champions Juno Racing started their 2008 Campaign at Jarama last weekend with 5 cars taking part in the opening round of the EU series.  Despite leading the race prior to the driver handover, Rob Croydon and Adrian Mardlin slipped back in the latter stages to finish in fourth place, the highest placed Juno in the field

SEAT will make a little piece of history at Brands Hatch on Sunday 30th March, when their Leon TDi becomes the first manufacturer’s car to race with a diesel-engine in the HiQ MSA British Touring Car Championship..read more

The Caterham Superlight Challenge and Eurocup series look like providing  even morfe action than usual with the news that 23 of Caterham's upgrade packages,  incorporating the new Quaife sequential gearbox, have been ordered for this year’s championships…read more

Arkas Racing is looking forward to the opening two rounds of the 2008 HiQ MSA British Touring Car Championship on the  Brands Hatch Indy Circuit on Sunday 30^th March. This season sees not only the return of Erkut Kizilirmak to the team but for the first time he will have a teamimate, Martyn Bell …read more

Formula Renault UK team Manor Competition finished it’s pre-season testiong at Silverstone in style with drivers Kris Loane, Alexander Sims and Henry Surtees all producting quick times..read more

PSL Karting wrapped up it’s Florida Winter Tour last weekend at the Ocala Gran Prix facility in Ocala, Florida.  The team’s PSL shifter drivers took 4 wins to clinch 2 championships Californian Fritz Leesmann and Virginia’s Gus Vidal. report

Australain Formula 3 team, Piccola Scuderia Corse has a new sponsor, on of  Australia's best designers of real Australian culinary workhorses - Beef Eater Barbecues.

The Toyota Long Beach Long Beach Grand Prix has secured it’s future until 2015 after renewing it’s contract with the local city council until 2015..read more 

Dale Coyne Racing will fieldi two cars in the 2008 IndyCar Series, they will also take part in the Champ Car farewell on April 20 in Long Beach. Bruno Junqueira  has been confirmed in the No. 18 Dallara. returning to Dale Coyne Racing after the 2007 Champ Car season where he finished seventh. "This season brings new challenges -- a new series, new ca\r, new tracks, but at the end of the day, everybody is starting from scratch," said the Brazilian. "I love the ovals and really look forward to getting back to Indy. Dale and I both have some unfinished business to do there."  Fellow Brazilian and IndyCar rookie Mario Moraes, will partner Bruno in the team., "This is quite a challenge for me, but I am excited to learn with Dale's experience with rookies and with Bruno who I know can help me a lot. I have done this a long time, first driving, then qualifying several rookies at the Indy 500 over the years," reflects team owner Dale Coyne. "I cannot tell you how much going back to Indy means to me. To go back and truly be competitive is a great dream and challenge."

James Dixon will make his racing car debut at Brands Hatch this Easter Weekend when he competes in his first ever car race, at the the opening round of the Formula Renault BARC Championship. The Candy Carriers-backed racer, who is driving for Mark Burdett Motorsport, is making the switch from European kart racing, where he raced at the top level against the best in the world. However, he will now make his first step onto a ladder which, one-day, might lead to a career as a professional driver and maybe even Formula One.

The Greek Olympic Committee and the International Olympic Committee confirmed the famous Chinese driver Cheng Cong one of the torchbearers for first leg of 2008 Olympic Torch Relay, on March 24 in Greece....read more

19-03-08

The Porsche Club Championship start this weekend (Easter Monday)at Donington Park with the Club series fielding a grid of over 30 cars..read more

The Porsche Open Series gets underway at Donington on Easter Monday as well with the prize of a one-off Porsche Carrera Cup GB drive to the 'Driver of the Series' at the end of the year..read more

Will Bratt has set the tongues wagging amongst the FIAT Spanish F3 regulars with his pace during testing at Jarama yesterday,(Tuesday). Bratt finished the test no only with the fastest time, but a full six 10ths of a second clear of the rest….read more

Michael Ammermüller will compete in Formula Master in 2008. The former Red Bull F1 test driver will drive for Swiss team Iris Project. Read more

Formula BMW Germany graduate Niall Quinn  will race in the National Class of the British International F3 Series at Oulton Park this weekend with championship returnees Team Loctite. Ultimate Motorsports.  The 19-year-old from Co Meath has also been competing in A1GP for his country and was named the A1GP Team Ireland Rookie Driver of the Year in 2007. Quinn's entry now brings the grid for this weekend's season opening round to 27 cars, with 9 in the National Class. The first race takes place on Monday 24 March with the second race in the afternoon on the same day.

Aston Martin DBRS9 team Astuti Motorsport and driver John Kaias reckon that their first win in the Australian GT series is just around the corner, despite a frustrating weekend at  Melbourne…read more.

Team Australia and driver Will Power will have their first IndyCar test this week at Sebring. Power will get a taste of the Honda-powered Dallara IndyCar on the 1.66-mile circui..read more.

Michael Denino kick-off his season in the 2008 Skip Barber National Series on March 11-14 at Sebring as support to the Mobil One 12 Hours of Sebring..read more

Alexander Sims is clearly the  favourite in Formula Renault UK after a totally dominant display in testeing at Silverstone..read more

Richard Antinucci’s IPS debut year got off to a good start with some positive winter testing, the Italian-American driver is confident and aiming for strong start at Homestead-Miami …preview

18-03-08

Mark Dryden set the pace in testing on Saturday(15^th March) for the Smartycars.com Mini Cooper Cup at Knockhill, Dryden said,  "Really happy with how the car handled in the dry and I'm obviously very happy to be quickest. It is a good confidence boost to pick up from where you left off last season.We finished the session only 2 tenths away from my Lap Record which is very encouraging."…Times

Phil Quaife has joined Jota Sport for the 2008 Porsche Carrera Cup GB. The former Pro-Am champion and BRDC Rising Star will race alongside Sam Hancock…read more

Motors TV ,the ‘High Speed Television’ channel, will show highlights of the  FIA GT3 championship and GT4 European Cup and  Belcar, Belgium’s highly-competitive domestic GT series..read more

FINAL CALL FOR TOP HAT ENTRIES AT SNETTERTON…more

The Genuine Ford Parts Australian Formula Ford Championship has added an extra round to the series for 2008 series. Round seven will take place at Symmons Plains  in Tasmania with the V8 Supercars in November…read more

Matech GT Racing willl enter two Ford GTs in the 2008 German ADAC GT Masters in the GT3 class. ..read more

Lola have released a  specially  designed  50th  Anniversary  poster  which it plans to give away at the official celebrations of it’s Golden Anniversary at both the Brands Hatch World Sportscar Masters race on  25  May and the Outlton Park Gold Cup in August…read more  

Asia Racing Team (ART) Motorsports had an encouraging start to its Formula Renault 2.0 season campaign at the  weekend during the Asian Formula Renault Challenge meeting at Zhuhai …read more.

Richard Childress Racing’s Jeff Burton won the NASCAR Sprjnt race at Bristol on Sunday. Second was Burton’s team-mate  Kevin Harvick with Clint Bowyer third giving Childress a clean sweep of the podium.

Formula BMW Pacific‘s season gets underway this weekend at the Malaysian Grand Prix in Sepang..read preview

Joel Miller and his JDC Motorsports team-mate in the Masters Class, Chuck Hulse were both triumphant in the Star Mazda series opening round at Sebring last weekend..read report

Atlantic pre-season tests on 10.-11. March at Laguna Seca saw Markus Niemela and his team Brooks Associates suffer from technical difficulties on the first day(Monday) but by Tuesday they were able to concentrate fully on testing ending up one of the fastest in the afternoon.  Niemela: “We had some problems in the car that were not down to team or myself, just bad luck. Because of these problems we got bit behind to start with and everyone needed to work really hard to catch up which we managed to do. I’m very happy that team recovered quickly from the difficulties and Tuesday afternoon I was already one of the fastest and missed 2nd position just by 0.06 seconds. Unfortunately I ruined my new tyre run by going off the track and damaging my car slightly. Therefore my best laptime was actually done on old tyres. I believe we should be in quite good shape at the moment.” Niemela’s position on Tuesday morning was 11th and on the afternoon 5th. Fastest time in the morning session was done by Dane Cameron and in the afternoon by Carl Skerlong.

A1GP World Cup of Motorsport has appointed Octagon Worldwide, the global sales and marketing agency, to assist in the strategic development and co-ordination of commercial sales for the series..read more.

Ombra Racing has signed 25 year old Massimo Rossi for the  ATS Formula 3 Cup.  Rossi will drive a Dallara F304 Mugen Honda in the Trophy Class. 

British F3 gets underway this weekend at Oulton Park…Preview

Jon Barnes will race for Brookspeed Motorsport in their 'Team Trimite' Dodge Viper Competition Coupe in the 2008 Avon Tyres British GT Championship.  The 24-year-old from Hampshire will partner  his old karting rival James Gornall in the endurance series, with the first races of the Championship at Oulton Park this coming Easter weekend.  Barnes said, "I am really pleased to be back in the cockpit for a full season of racing this year. It is going to be a very tough season ahead, but I am confident that myself, my team mate James, and Brookspeed Team Trimite can go out and surprise the other teams and drivers with our competitiveness this season. "

Jamie Davies tops the timesheets for Scuderia Ecosse in GT Tests at Monza..read more

17-03-08

Sarah Bennett-Baggs will race in this season's Porsche Club Championship for 2008 starting at Donington Park on Easter Monday...read more

Carlin Motorsport will join Brookspeed Team Trimite  at Coopers Square Shopping Centre, Burton upon Trent this Thursday, 20 March..read more

The Penske Porsche Spyder of  Timo Bernhard, Romain Dumas and Emmanuel Collard led a 1-2 Porsche in the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring yesterday ending Audi’s 8-year winning streak.  Second on the road was the Diaz/ Fernandez Acura ARX 01B but this later failed a post-race Stall test which moved the third placed No. 20 Dyson Racing Porsche of Leitzinger, Lally and Marino Franchitti to second overall.

A1GP Team Ireland claimed the spoils in yesterday’s A1GP feature race in Mexico, driver Adam Carroll winning from fifth on the grid. In the morning’s Sprint event New Zealand’s Jonny Reid took his third Sprint win on the year. Team GB’s Oliver Jarvis was second in both…read more

A1Team GBR took two second palces at the A1GP in Mexico City this weekend, driver Oliver Jarvis also took fastest lap in the feature race to move the team up to 4^th in the standings…more

Joel Miller won the opening round of teh Star Mazda Championship at Sebring.

The Greek Olympic Committee and the International Olympic Committee confirmed the famous Chinese driver Cheng Cong one of the torchbearers for first leg of 2008 Olympic Torch Relay, on March 24 in Greece.

On the second day off the official F3 Euro Series test, Nicolas Hülkenberg (ART Grand Prix) again took top spot. In the Sunday morning session of the tests held at Valencia’s Circuit Ricardo Tomo, the German set a time of 1:28.405secs, the quickest time so far. Second  was Christian Vietoris (Mücke Motorsport), just 0.062 secs down, while Jules Bianchi (ART Grand Prix) came third on day two, with his personal best of 1:28,539. Testing gets underway again at  Estoril on Thursday. 

This weekend Hitech Racing will begin the defence of its British International Formula 3 crown at Oulton Park.  This year, replacing Suaber BMW bound Marko Asmer they will have Austrian Walter Grubmüller and Britain’s Max Chilton driving their  Dallara F308 Mercedes HWAs in the first race of the season on Easter Monday…read more

Jeremy Metcalfe will make his debut in the Avon Tyres British GT Championship this weekend at Oulton Park.  The Hampshire racing driver will kick-off his sportscar career alongside Luke Hines at the wheel of a CRScuderia Ferrari 430….read more   

A1 TEAM USA’s Jonathan Summerton finish on the podium in yesterday’s feature race with a marvellous third place after earlier taking fifth in the morning’s Sprint race…read more

16-03-08

Ford Performance Racing continued its rollercoaster V8 Supercar season at Albert Park on Saturday with Mark Winterbottom finishing a strong fifth and team-mate Steve Richards retiring from the first race. In race 2 'Frosty' Winterbottom added another podium to his 2008 V8 tally, while his team-mate Steve Richards gave the crowd an overtaking master class. Starting from 26th on the grid, Richo made up almost one place per lap over the 15-lap race to finish 12th overall, at one point taking both James Courtney and Fabian Coulthard in one corner.  In today;s race Winterbottom retired from second place in t after pulling off a beautiful move on Will Davison. The 26-year-old made a blinding start to the 19-lap race, passing Rick Kelly into third and nipping up the inside of Davison a lap later for second. Jamie Whincup meanwhile was right on the tail of the battling pair and seized his opportunity at the next chicane. He and Frosty were side-by-side through two corners, before contact ended both drivers' race.  Steve Richards, started the race eighth and finished sixth. He narrowly missed out to Russel Ingall early in the race as he fought to pass Mark Skaife, but held off the chasing pack until the chequered flag.

Robert Wickens set fastest sector two and three times to take the pole for today's A1GP Feature Race in Mexico with a lap of 1:20.278. His margin: 42/1000ths!!
The hot lap almost came to naught for Team Canada when a yellow flag came out as Robert came through the final turns. Robert was on the throttle coming through the sweeping turn and was well into it when the yellow came out. Had the yellow come out any earlier it might have ended his hot lap right there.This is Robert's second pole - and first for the Feature Race. A nice birthday present for Robert who turned 19 on Thursday. He won the Sprint Race from pole in South Africa. A1 Team South Africa's Adrian Zaugg  qualified in pole position for the morning's Sprint race...read more

Jonathan Summerton put the A1 TEAM USA car on third on the grid for the Sprint race and  seventh for the Feature in A1GP qualifying yesterday..read more

15-03-08

Menasheh Idafar continues to deliver an impressive turn of speed in testing for this season's Formula Renault BARC Championship. On Friday, (14th March), at Brands Hatch Indy Circuit, he again set the pace in the BARC class in unoffical timings..read more

Jonathan Summerton seventh on Friday in practice for the A1GP World Cup of Motorsport at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez. ..read more

Joel Miller won the opening round of the Star Maxda presented by Goodyear Championship at Sebring this weekend. Charles Hall was second with Pater Dempsey third.

Carlin Motorsport look like being one of the teams to beat in this season British F3 Championship after 3 of it's drivers posted 3 of the top 4 quickest times in testing at Oulton park this week..read more

With the unification of Champ Car and the Indy Racing League now official and a new open-wheel landscape beginning to take shape, the Star Mazda Championship presented by Goodyear has announced a revised 12-race schedule for 2008..more

RICHARD EGGER BACKS CLUB FORMULA FORD. New insurance venture, Richard Egger Insurance, has backed the BRSCC’s Club Formula Ford Midlands South Championship as an associate sponsor for the 2008 season. Richard Egger Insurance specialises in all aspects of motorsport-related insurance and joins Carphone Warehouse Networks in backing the popular regional Formula Ford series. Richard Egger, a competitor, marshal and event organiser since 1969, has a wealth of experience in motorsport insurance and commented “We have a policy of backing motorsport at its grass roots and are already involved in rallying, hill climbs and sprints so circuit racing was the missing link. The BRSCC and Club Formula Ford was an obvious choice - the introduction of the National Club Formula Ford Championship has given the iconic marque a huge boost and I have worked successfully before with the BRSCC in the days of Formula First”.   The Championship starts the season on Easter Monday (24th March) at Mallory Park and consists of 11 rounds, of which 7 will count towards the National Club Formula Ford title.  

EASTER MONDAY AT MALLORY. The BRSCC season gets underway on Easter Monday at Mallory Park. As mentioned above, the meeting will feature the debut of the new Club Ford National Championship, as well as rounds of the Mill Street Motors Ford Saloons & the Ford XR Challenge. Completing a triumvirate of Ford tin-tops is the www.dees.co.uk Ford Fiesta Championship, which will see at least 9 Fiesta STs taking to the track. With another half dozen hoping to be ready by the next round at Silverstone in April, it certainly looks like there is a very competitive season ahead. Completing the Easter card is the annual Don Truman Trophy for the old Formula 3 500cc cars, which played a vital role in the formative years of the BRSCC.  

SEAT Cupra Championship newcomer Andrew Herron finished his pre-season testing with great aplomb setting a time under the official category lap record on the  Brands Hatch Indy Circuit yesterday, (Friday, 14th March)..read more.

A1 Team Great Britain topped the time sheets in the second of Friday's two free practice sessions in Mexico City, as the eighth round of the 2007/08 A1GP World Cup of Motorsport ...read more

LEARN 2 DRIFT Learn2drift was set up by a top International Professional racing driver to teach other racing drivers and advanced road drivers the techniques needed to drift a car sideways without losing control.The Learn 2 Drift Experience is open to drivers (with a full UK license) of all abilities. The course is intensive but with the focus being on having fun while learning. This course gives you the opportunity to "drive it like you stole it" in a safe environment and really improve your car control. The course includes:

• Learn how to hold the car at a constant angle of oversteer

• A slalom course which is timed

• Learn how to do the perfect doughnut!

• Learn how to do a high speed drift (60 - 70 mph)

For more information please visit www.Learn2drift.co.uk or phone: 07528328116

LMA REGISTERS A HIT .  The booming BRSCC LMA Euro Saloon & Sports Car Championship has recorded its highest ever level of registered competitors with 66 drivers signing up for the championship so far. The first round is at Snetterton on Sunday 30th March and with two weeks to go the grid is already full with 38 confirmed entries. For more information about the championship visit www.LMAperformance.com   

FILM SHOW AT BRSCC MIDLAND CENTRE AGM. The Midland Centre has organised a film show after the formalities have concluded at their AGM next week. The show will feature archive footage of some major BRSCC meetings between 1961 and 1964. The AGM takes place at 8pm on Wednesday 19th March, at the Hollyfields Centre Club, Woodacre Road, Erdington, Birmingham, B24 0JT. Please submit any formal questions or nominations at least seven days beforehand to Keith Jones at keithj@brscc.co.uk.

14-03-08

The 2008 IndyCar Series season begins under the lights with the GAINSCO Auto Insurance Indy 300 on March 29 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. The 2008 schedule, one of the most diverse in all of motorsports, features races on ovals, permanent road courses and temporary street circuits, all broadcast worldwide through a comprehensive, long-term agreement with ESPN. All races in 2008 will be telecast in High Definition. The 2008 Indy Pro Series season also begins on March 29 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. The 16-race schedule, which features eight ovals and four road/street course doubleheader weekends, will be televised by ESPN2

Touring 70s, a new race series for Group 2 Touring Cars of the 1970s, was officially launched by the Masters Racing Series during Race Retro, the International Historic Motor Sport Show, at Stoneleigh today..read more

The HSCC also made a major announcements at Race Retro today (Friday 14 March), launching a new 80s Road Sports category for 2009 and beyond. Read more

The new FIA WTCC success ballast system comes into force at the next in Puebla, Mexico, on April 6^th. Ten drivers will be given extra weight to put on their cars, with SEAT Sport team-mates Yvan Muller and Gabriele Tarquini ech having to carry an additional 44 kg…read more

The Juno Racing team are of to sunny Spain this weekend and the opening round of the VdeV championship at Jarama. Drivers Rob Croydon and Adrian Marlin will be looking for a similar result to last year when they they took their first win of the season…read more

The British Formula Ford Championship kicks-off next weekend at Oulton Parks with a predicted grid of 25 Duratec-engined Formula Fords. Not only is this the biggest ever first-event gathering of such machinery but it is also a grid offering a great depth of talent plus a strong international flavour …….Read more

The Masters Racing Series will be taking its popular racing series into Europe in 2008, with four Masters Festivals planned scheduled.  After running similar events in the UK last year there will now be two new events at Anderstorp and Magny Cours…read more

After driving the 2008 Formula Masters Series’ car double Formula Master race winner Kasper Andersen and Bulgarian driver Vladimir Arabadzhiev have both voiced their satisfaction with the new engine and chassis..read more

Britain's liveliest saloon car championship, the Volkswagen Racing  Cup, is set for another brilliant yeseasor of racing, more new cars and models joining the grid than in any previous season. The opening rounds of the Hankook-backed championship are at Oulton Park on Easter Monday (24 March)…read more

The Masters Racing Series have announced today(Friday) that they will join up with the POWERnights race meetings.  Read more

VX Racing lauched their all new Vauxhall Vectra at Rockingham duing the HiQ MSA BTCC  media day this week..read more

The PSL Karting team completed the Rotax portion of the Florida Winter Tour this past weekend at the Ocala Gran Prix in Ocala, Florida..read more

Star Mazda Qualifying times...more

13-03-08

The Masters Series will be represented on the central stage at Race Retro, Stoneleigh tomorrow, (Friday 14 March).At 13:30 hrs, Series Director Christopher Tate and Speedmaster Managing Director James Hanson will be discussing many exciting aspects of The Masters Series for 2008. The Masters Series will also be present during the show at stands D36-40.

Ollie Hancock’s pre-season preparations could hardly have gone better, with the Hampshire-based racer topping the time sheets at all three Formula Renault BARC test days so far. The 2007 BARC race-winner and rookie-of-the-year, was quickest of all the BARC-spec cars at this winter’s tests at Rockingham, Brands Hatch and Snetterton, leaving Hancock and his Scorpio Motorsport team hugely encouraged for the forthcoming campaign. While relative pace in testing is notoriously difficult to judge, Hancock has gone faster than last season’s pole time at both Brands and Snetterton and feels he and the team have made significant strides this winter. “We’ve had a couple of small teething problems, but generally the car feels fantastic,” said Ollie. “We’re much quicker than last year and it feels better with every run. The guys at Scorpio have all been fantastic and we believe there’s even more time to come. At the moment everything is heading in the right direction.” Hancock will test again at Brands Hatch on Friday 14 March, while the 2008 Formula Renault BARC championship kicks off at the Kent circuit with a double-header on 23/24 March.

Richard Philippe will join Carlin Motorsport for the team's first season of F3 Euro Series this year. The 2005 Formula BMW USA champion, previously competed in Champ Car Atlantics and Renault World Series, is the first Euro Series driver to be announced by the British F3 championship winning squad. Speaking about his plans for 2008 , Philippe said, "I'm very excited and happy to be joining Carlin for F3 Euro Series this season. This marks a new chapter in my career, one that is unavoidable to reach the highest form of motor sport in the world and I'm pleased to be working with such a well-known and prestigious team.F3 Euro Series is a very competitive championship and as a new driver and team to the championship we will have a lot to learn very quickly, nevertheless I believe before long we will be running at the front."  Team Principal Trevor Carlin added, "I'm delighted that Richard has chosen to race with Carlin in our first year in F3 Euro Series. The competition level for both teams and drivers is extremely high, but I'm sure together we will make great progress and surprise some of the regular teams before the end of the year." Carlin Motorsport and Richard Philippe will make their F3 Euro Series debut at Valencia from 15 - 16 March at the first official test of the season.

Australian driver Will Power will race in the new Indycar series in 2008 with a  renewed Team Australia . Power will drive the #8 Aussie Vineyards - Team Australia Honda/Dallara/Firestone for his third season driving in Craig Gore’s Team Australia squad, with the Aussie Vineyards-backed team taking on a new form in 2008. Team Australia has joined forces with KV Racing Technology in a partnership for the motorsport program that Gore created in 2005, which uses motorsport as a marketing tool for Australian companies, including Gore’s own Aussie Vineyards company and it’s Au wine label, wanting to increase their brand awareness and sales on a global scale, with a major focus in the United States. KV Racing Technology is entering its sixth year of competition and its first in the IndyCar Series. Oriol Servia will be behind the wheel of the KV Racing Technology #32 Honda/Dallara//Firestone entry as Power’s team-mate in 2008.

The FV10 Jaguar R5 had it's first test run at Donington Park on Tuesday with Marc Hynes at the wheel. The car ran reliably and despite oil on the approach to the Esses Hynes managed a time of 55.5 secs, a new lap record for the track...read more

British F3 champions Hitech Racing topped the times in the penultimate pre-season test at Oulton Park yesterday (wednesday) with Max Chilton setting the fastest time ahead of Fortec's Marcus Ericsson during the morning.  Max’s Walter Grubmüller was third just 0.04secs behind the second placed car..read more. 

Thruxton will be celebrating  40 years of motor racing at the Hampshire venue on Easter Monday (24 March) with the Historic Sports Car Club playing an integral part in the BARC organised event...read more.  

Brazilian Adriano Buzaid driving for Fortec Motorsport set the fastest lap during testing for the Formula Renault UK with Michelin Championship at Snetterton yesterday afternoon. Buzaid, about to start his second season in the series set a time of 1min 04.851s (108.35mph) ...read more

Team Aluminos kart racing team  were at the CalSpeed Karting facility in Fontana, Californaia last weekend for the final round of the SKUSA WinterNational Championship Series. With 5 drivers taking part in categories S1 and S3 they were on the look-out for podium finishes...read more

Alexander Sims' confidence continues to grow after further testing at a windy Snetterton confirmed his status as one of the favourites for this year's Formula Renault UK Championship, ..read more

Mike Vincec, from Ontario, heads for the final races in Florida Winter Tour and Skip Barber Series this month...read more

12-03-08

GO TO ONE Racing from Emken in Germany plan to run two Mosler MT900’s in the forthcoming FIA GT Championship. They will be driven by Czech pairing Adam Lacko and Ales Jirasek in one car, with  Stepan Vojtech, also from the Czech Republic and German Kenneth Heyer in the other….read more

Michael Doyle will make his HiQ MSA British Touring Car Championship this year at the wheel of a Honda Civic Type R for In-Tune Racing. Yesterday he made he performed his first official duty as a BTCC driver when he appeared at the 2008 Media Day at Rockingham Motor Speedway….read more

Asia Racing Team (ART) Motorsports will take part of Asian Formula Renault Challenge first round at Zhuhai International Circuit this weekend with 5 drivers, including 3 ‘rookies’…read more

Alexander Sims continues to set impressive times in Formual Renault UK testing at Snetterton..read more

Bridgestone e-reporter: deadline for entries 31 March...more

Conquest Racing has announced that it had signed a technical partnership with Forsythe Performance Research, a wholly owned subsidiary of Forsythe Racing Inc.The new alliance with Forsythe will provide the team with technical and engineering resources for the 2008 season.  "We are working very hard on our transition from Champ Car to the IndyCar Series and we are excited about this partnership with Forsythe Performance Research," said Eric Bachelart, owner of Conquest Racing. "Their knowledge and experience will accelerate our efforts of becoming a front-running team in the IndyCar Series." Conquest Racing will start its second full season in the Indy Racing League, where it has already taken a podium finish with a third place by Laurent Redon in 2002 at Fontana . The team looks to add to their past success with rookie Franck Perera and a second driver who will be announced shortly.

Mike Meadows has signed to drive for CR Scuderia in this year's British GT championship, combining this series with his recently announced Formula Master campaign. He will drive a Ferrari 430 GT which he will share with James Sutton. The combination of racing in single- seaters and sportscars will provide Meadows with the biggest challenge of his race career so far, but he says, "I'm ready for this. There's nothing more that I love than being in a racing car, so it's a dream season for me." His first challenge comes later this month, with a Formula Master shakedown in Italy on the first day, a British GT test on the second, back to Italy for a Master test day before returning to Oulton Park for the season-opening British GT race on March 22-24th.

SEAT Sport’s HiQ MSA BTCC team will be sponsored by Holiday Inn for 2008. Both SEAT Leon TDI’s will carry the new sponsoe and willfeature a new colour scheme for the first time…read more

Matt Hamilton will race in the British Formula Ford Championship with Joe Tandy Racing (JTR) in 2008. Having tested with JTR in January at Brands,Hamilton ran consistently quick times in the team’s Mygale 07. Matt will race a new Mygale 08’s this season, with testing getting underway this week

The Austrian Interwetten-Racing Team will race in the 20008 Renault Formula 3.5 World Series with new driver Pablo Sanchez and the experienced Salvador Duran. Duran is the favourite to win the driver’s championship while the team have hopes of securing the constructors title. Both Mexicans are sponsored by TELMEX, the Mexican telecommunications provider. 

The Britek Motorsport Scholarship team has made its debut at the opening round of the Genuine Ford Parts Australian Formula Ford Championship at Sydney's Eastern Creek. Run by Minda Motorsport, the four-car team was part of a strong 22-car entry at the first round of the series. Overseen by V8 driver of the #25 Fujitsu Racing Ford Falcon, Jason Bright, the Britek Motorsport Scholarship that provides a structured staircase opportunity to aspiring career-path drivers. The program caters for Karters and aspiring open-wheel drivers that want to move into V8 Supercars or pursue a career overseas. The stand-out performance came from Adam Graham  aboard the #66 McLaughlin Freightlines entry who finished the weekend in sixth place overall. Martin Swindells in the #63 Refrigerated Rental & Sales car was placed 14th; Ben Walter in the #25 Road Solutions entry was 16th; and Taylor Gore in the #26 PGM Investments car was 17th.

11-03-08

Lola sport scars head for Florida this weekend and the  56th running of the  Sebring 12 Hours, the first majopr sportcar race of Lola's 50th year as a manufacturer ...read more

Ben Morley started his 2008 Australian Formula Ford Campaign on a positive note. Not only did he stand on the podium in all 3 races, he also led race 3 and sits just 8 points of Championship leader Brad Lowe..read more

Dane Cameron set the pace at Laguna Seca on the first day of Spring Training for this season’s Cooper Tires Presents Atlantic series..read more

 A1 TEAM USA returns to the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez this weekend (March 14-16) for the eighth round of the A1GP World Cup of Motorsport. Last year saw Team USA’s best two-race result with second in the feature and fifth in the sprint , can they go one better?  "I'm really looking forward to this year, especially knowing how far the team has progressed during the season," said Jonathan Summerton. "It's a fun track and has passing zones. I think it's a great track to race on and fits my driving style. You need to have a smooth throttle through the corners and we've developed a setup on the car that should be good for Mexico City." Summerton's top finish this season was fifth in the Sprint at Australia. Team owner Rick Weidinger views Mexico as an opportunity to regain momentum for the rest of the season. "We've been very competitive in the last four rounds, but we've had some unfortunate circumstances ruin promising results in the last two," Weidinger said. "We have a team capable of running and finishing in the top five and returning to Mexico City could be the impetus for a very strong run in the home stretch to the season."

Will Bratt set an impressive third fastest time on first ever run in a F3 car during testing at Valencia yesterday…read more

The first official DTM test of 2008 got underway yesterday(Monday)at Mugello. Audi and Mercedes-Benz have their first opportunity to assess where they stand. For Audi, all 9 drivers signed to date are taking part, including newcomers Oliver Jarvis and Katherine Legge. Audi has 5 A4’s at track with Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline using two of the all new cars while Phoenix and Rosberg are each testing a 2007 machine. The fifth A4 DTM is a test prototype. "The winter break was long enough. It's a great feeling to be sitting in the racing car again and to not only be seeing four rings but a few stars in the rear-view mirror," says 2007 Champ Mattias Ekstrom with a smile. After internal tests the incumbent DTM champion is now back on the circuit together with the competition from Mercedes-Benz for the first time. "As is customary for Audi Sport, we're going about these tests with one hundred per cent concentration in order to be optimally prepared by the time the season starts. This is definitely necessary because I'm sure that we'll be seeing a number of nail-biting and extremely tight races again this year." The season starts on April 13 ar Hockenheim.

Walker Racing has withdrawn its attempt to join the IndyCar Series for 2008. The racing partnership of "Team Australia" and the association with Australian businessman Craig Gore, drivers Will Power and Simon Pagenaud, has also come to an end forcing the team out due to a lack of funds. A lengthy search for new sponsorship partners drew a blank, so Walker Racing had to close the program officially on Friday. "It's a great pity that the team has had to abandon our IndyCar program. So much work by so many has gone into the Team Australia program over the last three and a half years, but now it will remain unfinished business for us. I wish my co-partner well with his new venture and so to Will and Simon and all the employees, associates and fans who have given me the opportunity. Many thanks," said Walker Racing Owner, Derrick Walker.

Nine drivers will race in the 2008 DTM with the AMG Mercedes C-Class, Mercedes-Benz Motorsport announced yesterday(Monday). Read more

10-03-08

A official entry list has been released for his year’s Bennetts British Superbike Championship. With 31 entrants it is an interesting mix of experience and enthusiastic young riders all looking to make a name for themselves in 2008..more

Andrew Herron’s preparations for this year’s SEAT Cupra Championship continued last week at Snetterton when he got in some wet weather testing…read more

Robertshaw Racing driver Alan Taylor made his first outing in 2008 in his BTCC Honda Integra at Snetterton last week. The Newcastle based driver was having his first runs at Snetterton in a Touring Car after a couple of outings at Knockhill and Thruxton at the end of 2007. The day was not without it’s teething problems as gearbox gremlins reduced the morning running on the Norfolk circuit, but the afternoon sessions proved more productive as Taylor enjoyed some consistent lapping before the end of the day. “The morning was very frustrating” said Taylor later that day, “but the afternoon sessions were more productive with my lap times continually coming down as we got further into the session”. Team manager Joe Bradley added, “That’s what these shakedown days are about, it’s frustrating for the driver but we’ve ironed out a few niggles today and Alan should be ready for a good run at Rockingham next Wednesday”. That test day will be the final chance the teams and drivers will get the prepare themselves before the opening rounds of the season at Brands Hatch on 29 – 30 March.

Volkswagen will field five Race Touaregs in next month's Central Europe Rally through Hungary and Romania, it is announced today (Monday). The 5 drivers set to compete on the 20-26 April event are those originally down for January's cancelled Dakar Rally, the 2007 FIA Cross Country World Cup winner, Spain's Carlos Sainz, South African Giniel de Villiers, Mark Miller of the USA and Germany's Dieter Depping in works cars and Portuguese privateer Carlos Sousa in the Team Lagos entry.  'The Central Europe Rally represents a new challenge in cross-country rally sport and we look forward to this challenge,' said Volkswagen Motorsport Director Kris Nissen. 'After the cancellation of the Dakar our team is extremely motivated to show our strong performance capabilities. The new rally gives us an interesting and demanding platform for this.' Volkswagen also announces its intention to enter two cars in June's Rallye dos Sertoes in Brazil in preparation for the 2009 Dakar Rally, which will be run in Argentina and Chile for the first time.

Ultimate Signature driver Fabio Carbone has had his first taste of the new car he’ll drive in the World Series by Renault. Fabio’s new team is a joint venture between Ultimate, which first raced in British F3 last year, and Signature, which is competing on the F3 Euroseries. The all-new World Series by Renault car draws heavily on the lessons learned from F1, powered by Renault’s 3.5 litre V6. A 2-day official test took place at of Valencia last week, where the weather intervened on day 1 with high winds force the cancellation of the day’s running by 11am. On day two, the 27 year-old Brazilian shook down the car that he will be using this year. “With the cancellation of the first day, we obviously only got the chance to sample the car and shake it down rather than carry out a full test programme,” said Carbone. “We’ve obviously got a lot still to do, but out of the box the car feels very good indeed. The chassis and the aerodynamics are obviously all new, and you can really feel the influence of the Formula 1 design. The next step now will be to adapt the car to my driving style and find the right set-up in preparation for the opening races.”  The next test will take place in Barcelona from April 8-10, before the first round of the championship at Monza on April 26.

Skip Barber Series - Mike Vincec drving for Sunoco Team Ultra 94 took the top step on Sunday and a new lap Record at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. After some disappointment on Saturday, Mike Vincec bounced back to take the chequered flag on Sunday in the Skip Barber Southern Region series at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Not only did Vincec win but he did so from ninth on the grid, in a race that featured both Championship and Sportsman classes on track together. He also took fastest lap of the race, setting a new track record* in the process (*based on current track configuration).  Saturday had started with promise with Mike lining up off-pole and running second through to lap twelve when a brisk wind sent some desert dust across the track. Running through the dirt took away any grip and Mike dropped two wheels into the grit loosing positions as a result. He would end the day P6 in his class and P9 overall, which determined his starting position on Sunday.   "We are really pleased to come away from Las Vegas with a win." Mike commented. "We have been working towards this since the first race when we had two podiums that weekend. It is great to finally put a win in the books for Sunoco Team Ultra 94. I have to thank Ron Fellows, Brad Brown and Paul Cooke for all their support."  Mike continued, "Now we look ahead to Sebring in a few weeks for the final race in the series. Let's hope we can end the series with another trip to the podium." With the win on Sunday and sixth-place on Saturday, Mike has added 95 points to take a strong hold on second place in the Southern Region championship. The series finale takes place at Sebring, March 20 & 30.

Atlantic Racing Team of Halifax, Nova Scotia Canada will take part in the  Formula BMW Pacific Series with Gabby Chaves of Colombia. Gabby, as one of the youngest drivers in the FBMW Pacific series, recently in the Skip Barber Racing School Regional Series. "When we had the opportunity to test Gabby in our FB2 car we instantaneously recognized that there is a young driver, unlike so many we had tested before, with total insight of the car, track and team work! Not only was he fast, right from the get go but also consistent, fully focused and. really likable!" says Ingo Strackerjan, team manager and proceeds to explain "All this will help him and us to go to the Pacific series and be strong contenders.I think we are all very excited to go to Asia, to participate in all 3 Asian Formula One races, including the first night street race in F1 history! The Pacific series will be one of the most contented FBMW series this year, considering more European teams and drivers from all over the world are now participating in it ". The Formula BMW Pacific Series kicks off at the Sepang International Race Track in Malaysia on March 16th as part of the second 2008 Formula One racing series.

The ALMS gets underway this weekend with the  56th Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring presented by Fresh from Florida. GT1 and GT2 entries are looking good with cars from Aston Martin, Corvette, Dodge, Ferrari, Ford, Panoz and Porsche all taking part…read more.

Kyle Busch won the NASCAR Sprint Cup race at the Atlanta Oval yesterday, his first win of the year and Toyota’s first ever win in the Cup. Tony Stewart took second giving the Japanese Manufacturer not just a win but a 1-2. Third was Dale Earnhardt Jnr.

Hitech Racing were at the official media launch of the British Formula 3 International Series at Silverstone last week where they took part in the latest test session for the series..read more

Mark Winterbottom took his first victory of the season on Sunday at Eastern Creek in an incredible fight-back from the Ford Performance Racing driver after he qualified 15th .,..read more

Garth Tander won the opening race in the V3 Supercup in the Toll Holden Racing Team Holden Commodore VE beating Will Davidson’s Ford Falcon into second with Jamie Whincup third for Team Vodafone.

Hamilton, Button and Coulthard gear up for the start of the F1 season and the 2008 Santander British GP at Silverstone - With this year’s FIA FORMULA 1 World Championship set to get underway in Australia this weekend, the hopes and expectations of British fans have never been higher. British star drivers Lewis Hamilton, Jenson Button and David Coulthard will all be gunning for glory this season and never more so than in front of the Silverstone crowd at the British GP on 4-6 July. During  preparations  for  the opening  race  the  three  British  drivers  came together for a rare, one-off photo shoot, calling on fans to show their support at their home race at Silverstone on 4-6 July.   For details on tickets,, etc

Robert Podlesni completed a clean sweep in the opening round of the Pacific F2000 series on Sunday taking pole, fastest lap and the win, at Fontana in California..

The Jacksons M-Sport team believes its new BMW 320si will enable it to take a step forward in performance in this year’s HiQ MSA Britsh Touring car Championship. Mat Jackson tested the car , Andy Priaulx’s 2007 WTCC title-winning machine,at Snetterton last week. Team principal Tony Jackson told BTCC.net: “We’ve already run it at Brands Hatch and Oulton Park and Mat definitely feels it’s a step forward on the 06/07 car. It has the latest modifications and is, in essence, a full 2008-spec car. “We’re very pleased with some of the data we’ve seen so far, but we’re not getting too carried away – you never know what the others are really up to during the pre-season.”

Neil McFadyen has won the first Australian MINI CHALLENGE round at Sydney’s Eastern Creek International Raceway yesterday(Sunday) with a classy victory in the final race after Seven Network personality, Grant Denyer won the morning’s race. McFadyen had previously won Saturday’s opening encounter ahead of Jason Bargwanna..

Queensland teenager Nick Foster is learning in the Formula Ford ranks while racing in round one of the Ford Genuine Parts Australian Formula Ford Championship in Sydney at the weekend. Foster, who was making his debut in the series aboard the #13 Steeline Metal Framing Systems Van Diemen, qualified in 21st position before moving up to 14th place in the opening 10-lap race yesterday. The 16-year-old was involved in an incident with fellow karting graduate Chaz Mostert on lap three of this morning’s race which dropped him to the rear of the 22-car field. Despite suffering minor damage to the front right suspension during the incident Foster pushed on to finish the race and gain valuable experience. Buoyed by the confidence of finishing the opening two races Foster was determined to climb up the order in the final race. By lap three the five-time state karting champion had elevated himself into 18th position and was continually improving his lap times. As the race continued Foster found himself battling for a position inside the top 15 before eventually crossing the line in 16th spot. “Overall I’m happy with the way I was able to continually improve over the weekend and close the gap between myself and the front runners in the championship,” said Foster. “The aim was to learn more about the car and become more competitive with each session throughout the weekend. I’m happy to say that I was able to achieve both of these aims. I felt comfortable in the car during the final race and was able to make up a few spots which was good.

09-03-08

Bradley Lowe took two wins from three races in the opening round of the Genuine Ford parts Australian Formula Ford Championship at Eastern creek this weekend. With 54 points in the bag he now leads the title chase by 8 points from Ben Morley(pictured). Nick Percat was the round's other winner, snatching the lead in the final race with 2 laps remaining from Ben Morley.

A1GP heads for Mexico next weekend(14-16 March) with Switzerland holding a 10 point advantage over France with just 3 rounds remaining. New Zealand are a further 10 points adrift in third.  ...preview

Alan Holm driving a Laser Sprint Rhema 2 stamped hios authority on the 2008 South African National Formula Vee Championships  by taking two dominant at Port Elizabeth's Aldo Scribante Circuit this weekend..

Dave Freitas Racing's Robert Podlesni's took pole on his return to the Pacific F2000 Series yesterday at the Fontana cicuit in California ...read more

A1 Team Great Britain has announced that Duncan Tappy will be it's rookie next weekend’s in Mexico. The highly-rated Tappy won the Formula Renault UK championship last year and  the  Formula Ford Festival in 2005.  He will take part in the rookie session next weekend helping A1GP team GB to set up the car for Oliver Jarvis and the main event. ‘I feel very honoured and excited to be able to represent my country in A1GP World Cup of Motorsport,’ Tappy said. ‘It’s a fantastic start to the next phase of my career. I’m looking forward to the challenge of the Mexico track as well as the car. I know it’s very physical and I’ve been training hard through the winter in case such an opportunity arose so I’m prepared. In my 50 minutes of track time I want to contribute to the team as much as I can with a mature, solid performance.’

Luxembourg’s Team Racing Experience led by Christian Hauser is entering the 2008 SATS F3 Cup with three cars. The line-up, his two sons, David and Gary alongside Latvia’s Karline Stala. The 22-year old has shown her speed by winning the 2007 Belgian Formula Renault 1.6 Championship. In the twelve-race season, she took ten podium finishes and two wins. With these successes, she even attracted the attention of the HWA Team AMG-Mercedes that is now officially supporting the young Latvian.  In 2000, she started motor-racing in the Latvian Kart Championship. Three years later she raced Saloons with a Toyota Yaris before switching to single-seaters in 2006 in the Belgian Formula Renault series. Team Principal Christian Hauser attaching great importance to equal treatment. “They all have got the same goal and will have to learn a lot in a short period of time,” he underlines. “Racing Experience always treated all its drivers equally and this won’t change, even if my sons are racing for us, now.”

Carlo van Dam is prepared for the start of the Japanese F3 season where he will drivel compete for reigning champions Toyota Team TOM’s. He tested his Dallara-Toyota at Fuji and Motegi recently and has another test scheduled for Suzuka on March 18/19. The first race is on April 4-5 at Fuji. The most recent test at Fujim, with all the teams, was hit by snow, but Carlo still managed to complete over 150 laps in two days. “We have learned a lot, which is quite necessary, for although our team claimed the first three positions, there are still some things we can improve”, said Carlo. He also  knows he will be racing in a tough championship this year: “It’s quite competitive, but I knew that already. Just look at the drivers who raced here before. This season we are up against some very quick Japanese drivers and I think it will basically be between our team and the Honda works team. At Fuji we were significantly quicker, but the last test is staged at Suzuka, Honda’s home track. Then we will see where we stand.”

Adrien Tambay was quickest during the Formula BMW Europe Official test day with more than 0.7secs to second placed Kevin Breyse. 

Top 12 Times

1. Adrien Tambay (FRA) 1:34.706 49 Eifelland Racing

2. Kevin Breysse (FRA) 1:35.477 49 0.771 DAMS Team

3. Marco Wittmann (DEU) 1:35.623 42 0.917 Josef Kaufmann Racing

4. Tiago Geronimi (BRA) 1:35.653 21 0.947 Eifelland Racing

5. Daniel Juncadella (SPA) 1:35.866 48 1.160 Eurointernational

6. Carlos Huertas (COL) 1:35.916 41 1.210 Double R Racing

7. Kazeem Manzur (GBR) 1:35.962 50 1.256 Josef Kaufmann Racing

8. Jazeman Jaafar (MYS) 1:36.149 35 1.443 AM-Holzer Rennsport GmbH

9. Henrique Martins (BRA) 1:36.423 49 1.717 Eifelland Racing

10. Michael Christensen (DNK) 1:36.499 28 1.793 Double R Racing

11. Thomas Hillsdon (GBR) 1:36.561 49 1.855 55 Motaworld Racing

12. Jim Pla (FRA) 1:36.628 33 1.922 DAMS Team

08-03-08

Brad Lowe and Paul Laskazeski have taken a one-two finish in race one of the Genuine Ford Parts Australian Formula Ford Championship at Eastern Creek (Sydney) today for Synergy Motorsport. 

David Brown, Adrian Campfield and Jamie Jardine have all signed up for the  British Formula Ford championship in 2008..read more

The Brookspeed Team Trimite British GT Dodge Viper Competition Coupe will be on display at Coopers Square Shopping Centre in Burton upon Trent on Thursday 20 March before it heads up the road to compete in the opening rounds of the championship at Oulton Park on Easter Monday. ..read more

52 TONNES OF FOOD COLLECTED IN CURITIBA. The WTCC Race of Brazil, which took place last Sunday in Curitiba , again made a contribution towards the aid of the starving people of Brazil . Like in 2007, together the City Hall of Curitiba; KSO, the championship promoter; HSBC and TIM, partners of the event, offered free tickets to the public in exchange for two kilograms of food. 52 tonnes of food (compared to last year's 24) were collected throughout the campaign and donated to the charity society Instituto Pró-Cidadania de Curitiba, who will distribute the food to those in need.  On Sunday morning, in front of absolutely packed grandstands, the Mayor of Curitiba Beto Richa; the Chairman and General Manager of KSO Jacques Behar and Marcello Lotti; and the Markerting Director of HSBC Glenn Valente, presented a board symbolizing the success of this humanitarian initiative to Mrs Fernanda Richa, president of the charity institute.  This will now result in the distribution of more than 300,000 meals.

 DRIVERS SUPPORT GREEN CAMPAIGN. The first round of the 2008 season in Curitiba also marked the beginning of the WTCC's support for the FIA's Make Cars Green campaign. Make Cars Green is an international campaign, aimed at reducing the impact of motoring on the environment. As part of the campaign, the FIA has launched a public policy Declaration which calls on the United Nations to adopt the first ever worldwide target for CO2 emissions in passenger cars. Make Cars Green also outlines how policy makers, industry and consumers can all play a constructive role in the development of a more ecologically sustainable means of personal mobility in the future. In Curitiba all the WTCC drivers posed for a group photo to support the campaign. Their World Rally Championship colleagues have done the same in Mexico , and the Formula One competitors will do it next week in Australia . 

BRAZIL REVIEW - SEAT'S DOUBLE VICTORY. SEAT Sport team opened the 2008 FIA WTCC with a double victory at Curitiba , in front of a crowd of 45,000.  The León TDI cars won both races: in the first one pole sitter Yvan Muller crossed the line first followed by his team-mate Rickard Rydell, while Gabriele Tarquini - on his 46^th birthday - resisted the charge of BMW's reigning champion Andy Priaulx in the second race.  As a consequence of these results, Muller and Tarquini are equal with 14 points on top of the Drivers' Championship, while in the Manufacturers' Championship SEAT lead by 8 ahead of BMW.  BMW drivers Priaulx, Jörg Müller, Augusto Farfus and Félix Porteiro made life tough for their fellow SEAT competitors and collected three podium results: Müller third in Race 1 (after Farfus' exclusion for a technical infringement), Priaulx and Porteiro second and third respectively in Race 2.    Chevrolet suffered a nightmare weekend. Alain Menu's dramatic shunt in qualifying - from which he escaped unharmed - seemed to be an omen and all three Chevrolet men (Robert Huff, Nicola Larini and Menu) were eliminated in collisions during the first race. The second race was not much better: only Larini made it to the end, but out of the points. In the Independents' Trophy, Olivier Tielemans scored two victories on his first appearance in the Wiechers-Sport BMW. 

YOKOHAMA PARTNER OF SPEED RACER. During last week's WTCC event in Curitiba , Yokohama exhibited the Mach 5 car that will star in the new Warner Bros movie 'Speed Racer'. The movie, written and directed by Andy and Larry Wachowski (creators of 'The Matrix') will be released from May 9th, 2008.  'Speed Racer' stars Emile Hirsch, Christina Ricci, Matthew Fox, John Goodman, and Oscar winner Susan Sarandon; the movie is based on the classic series 'Mach Go Go Go' created by Japanese anime pioneer Tatsuo Yoshida. Yokohama will exhibit the Mach 5 car at various other WTCC events this year.

07-03-08

Daniel Erickson was quickest by quite a margin in first practice today(Friday) for the first round of the Genuine Ford Parts Australian Formula Ford Championship at Eastern Creek Raceway (Sydney). Second was Robert Storey nearly half a second off the pace. ...read more

Formula Renault BARC team Hillspeed put in some promising times last week during pre-season testing.  Driver Ahmad Al Harthy set the second fastest time at Brands before topping the timesheets at Rockingham.

PSL Karting is is heading into the final two weekends of  the 2008 edition of the Florida Winter Tour starting this weekend with the Ocala Gran Prix

Steve Wood, runner up in last season’s VW Cup has confirmed he will be back in the Hankook-backed championship in 2008, no doubt planning to go one better this time around.

Lola to support Oulton Park Gold Cup. The Oulton Park Gold Cup race meeting in August will be a significant date in the 50th anniversary celebration for Lola as the company will support the HSCC event. Displays of Lola racing cars, on-track demonstrations and awards for competitors in Lolas will feature during the 25/26 August event. Lolas are expected to race in at least five races, with cars ranging from Formula 5000s to Formula Juniors and 2-litre sports-racing cars. "The Gold Cup will certainly have a Lola theme," said Grahame White, Chief Executive of the HSCC. "We hope to present trophies to the leading Lola in several races. “  Lola's Executive Chairman Martin Birrane said,”It’s a wonderful accomplishment to reach 50 years in motor sport and we are looking forward to celebrating with the HSCC.  The Oulton Park Gold Cup is itself steeped in history and a fitting event to applaud the Lola cars and drivers who enjoyed great success at Oulton."    Lolas twice won the Oulton Park Gold Cup in the 1960s and 1970s. In 1965 John Surtees won the Gold Cup in a Formula 2 Lola T60, while in 1974 Ian Ashley won the prestigious trophy in a Formula 5000 Lola T330. Others to win in Formula 5000s at Oulton Park included Brian Redman, Frank Gardner and Gordon Spice, while Redman also won the 1968 Guards Spring Trophy at the Cheshire track in a mighty T70Mk3 sports car.   For more details about the HSCC, please visit www.hscc.org.uk

Jeremy Metcalfe has joined up with CR Scuderia to partner Luke Hines in a Ferrari 430s in the GT3 class of the 2008 Avon Tyres British GT Championship. Michael Meadows will join James Sutton in the second car  

A1 Team Canada have announced that Robert Wickens(pictured) and Daniel Morad will return for the next race at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez in Mexico City on March 14-16. Daniel will once again take the wheel of the 550bhp A1GP car on during the rookie practice sessions on Friday morning.  Robert will then take over the car in the afternoon for the rest of the weekend. The team was very pleased with Daniel's sessions in South Africa and are happy to have him back in Mexico. In Durban Robert became the youngest driver to take pole in A1GP history and of course went on to win the sprint race. A1 Team Canada now sits eighth overall in the championship on 52 points.

Reigning British F3 National Class champion Sergio Perez was quickest in a test at Silverstone yesterday morning with a 1:14.268, 0.2 seconds faster than second placed Marcus Ericsson (#8 Fortec Motorsport). Andy Meyrick (#56 Carlin Motorsport) was once again the fastest National Class runner in 15th overall. The Escuderia Telmex sponsored T-Sport driver said. "I'm pleased with the progress we?re making," said Perez. "I'm developing a good relationship with my engineer and we're working well together to get a better understanding of the new car.".

Aston Martin Racing took part in the recent LMS 2-day test at Paul Ricard along with several of their customer teams including the Aston Martin powered Charouz Racing Systems LMP1 Lola…read more

07-03-08

The Aluminos kart racing team (www.aluminos.com) head for the CalSpeed Karting facility at the newly-named California Auto Club Speedway in Fontana this weekend, for the final round of the SKUSA WinterNational Championship Series. Kurt Brunner(pictured will be back with the team after missing Round 2. ..read more.

Knockhill Classic SpeedFair to be launched at Stoneleigh. The third annual Classic SpeedFair at Knockhill will be unveiled to the public during Race Retro, the International Historic Motorsport Show at Stoneleigh Park, Coventry, on 14-16 March.  
To develop interest in the event, the organising team from Knockhill will have a stand in the main 'Speed Street' at Stoneleigh and are inviting competitors, spectators and members of the historic racing and classic car fraternity to visit the stand and find out more about the event. 
Over the weekend of 7/8 June the Dunfermline will track play host to a celebration of motor sport history, with a stunning array of racing Ferraris at the heart of the action. The Classic SpeedFair will enjoy the backing of Event Scotland when it moves to an early summer date for 2008 and marks the racing successes of Sir Jackie Stewart OBE and his late brother Jimmy.   The JYS Trophy, in honour of the three-time World Champion, will again go to the winner of the Formula Ford 1600 knock-out event. With interest in the category running at record levels in Scotland, a bumper field is expected with drivers from Scotland, Ireland and England. 
Meanwhile a new Jimmy Stewart Trophy will honour the memory of Jackie's elder brother Jimmy, who sadly passed away earlier this year at the age of 76. Jimmy was a talented racer in his own right and earned drives with the Ecurie Ecosse, Aston Martin and Jaguar teams in international sports car races in the early and middle 1950s. 
"We're exhibiting at Stoneleigh as part of our development plan for this event," said Stuart Gray from Knockhill. "We want to invite everyone to come and meet us and talk about the event, whatever their interest in historic motorsport and classic cars. The Classic SpeedFair is growing year on year, and there will be something for all tastes."

Manor Competition’s Alexander Sims continues to shine in pre-season testing for Formula Renault UK with Michelin Championship. In testing at Brands Hatch the 19 year-old set a fastest time of 43.709 (98.72mph) early on the second day of the two-day test. Fortec’c Adriano Buzaid(pictured) was next up, just 0.096secs behind…read more

Brazilian Fabio Carbone will race in the World Series by Renault this year for the newly-formed Ultimate Signature team. The team is a collaboration between Ultimate Motorsport , which raced in British F3 last year, and the  French Signature team which has competed on the F3 Euroseries as well as the Formula Renault V6 championship. Carbonne will be partnered by fellow Brazilian, Claudio Cantelli. The 27 year-old Carbone comes to the World Series by Renault after a successful year in Japan, where he raced in the Formula Renault Championship and finished second in the Japanese GT Championship. Carbone said: "I'm delighted to have this opportunity to return to race in Europe after some very enjoyable seasons in Japan. The value of the World Series by Renault can be seen just by looking at the list of previous winners. Ultimate Signature is a new team, but there is a lot experience behind it. Together with my own racing experience, I feel very confident that we can put together a very strong package."

Canadian Formula Ford Champion Kyle Marcelli was invited to attend the 1st annual Lupus Grand Prix held at Formula Kartways last weekend. Aside from Marcelli’s duties at the Canadian Motorsports Expo he was teamed up with NASCAR Canadian Tire Series driver J.R. Fitzpatrick and CASC GT-A class Champion Malcolm Strachan for the 2-hour endurance race in support of the Lupus Flare Foundation. “First off the race was just a blast, I haven’t been behind the wheel of a go-kart for about a year and a half so it was good to get back in the groove and do a little bit of rubbin’s racing at the indoor karting track.” Marcelli, Fitzpatrick and Strachan started the race from 10th after drawing for position. Upon completion of the 2-hour charity event Marcelli crossed the stripe to take the win. “I had a lot of fun teaming up with J.R. and Malcolm for the event; the pit stops were entertaining to watch throughout the race I think we had to make about eight because of the karts fuel consumption. Overall we were all here for one reason to support Lupus research and it was good to see a lot of familiar faces supporting the cause. Organizer Bill Bryan worked really hard making this event such a great success in support of the chronic autoimmune disease called Lupus. Upon completion of the event I believe there was about 7 thousand dollars raised. My hat goes off to Bill for his hard work with the event and everyone at the Lupus Flare foundation.” Says Marcelli.

Manor Competition continues to set the pace in testing for this year’s Formula Renault UK Championship. Driver Alexander Sims again topped the timesheets during the second official test on the  Brands Hatch Indy Circuit this week.

There is less than a month to go before the start of the 2008 Indy Racing League and the first race, the GAINSCO Auto Insurance Indy 300 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. …read more

Hitech completed the first shake-down laps of the all new Superleague car at Donington Park recently with Frenchman Bruce Jouanny at the wheel….read more

RLR/Andersen Racing is pleased to announce that J.R. Hildebrand, the 2006 Cooper Tires FF2000 champion, will drive its No. 25 Indy Pro Series car this season.  Hildebrand, 20, from California, joins Andrew Prendeville as RLR/Andersen Racing's two Indy Pro Series drivers for the 16-race season. The Florida-based team also fields multiple cars in the Star Mazda Championship presented by Goodyear and the F2000 Championship presented by Hoosier Racing Tire.  Hildebrand is reunited with engineers Dominic and Nicholas Cape, who guided him to his F2000 Title in 2006 before becoming RLR/Andersen Racing's chief Indy Pro Series engineers in 2007. Hildebrand and the Cape brothers had a phenomenal year in 2006, winning a record 12 of 14 F2000 races enroute to the title. .R. Hildebrand: "I can't begin to express how excited I am to be racing for RLR/Andersen Racing this year in the Indy Pro Series. Dan and John [Andersen Racing co-owners Dan and John Andersen] have given me a great opportunity and have been fantastic in working everything out. Reuniting with Dominic and Nicholas Cape, who I won the Formula Ford 2000 Championship with, is going to be a real treat.”

Ten teams from the Atlantic Championship Powered by Mazda  series will take part  in Spring Training at the picturesque Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca circuit on March 10-11. ..read more

05-03-08

Alexander Sims continued to produce quick times during the Formula Renault UK test  at the Brands Hatch Indy Circuit this morning (Wed 5 March). On the the second day of the official Formula Renault UK test the 19-year-old headed the times with another outstanding performance.

Cold and windy conditions didn't help Hillspeed's F Renault BARC test at Silverstone on Friday, (29th Feb) but drivers Ahmad Al Harthy and Menasheh Idafar(pictured) still managed to set some impressive times.

Paul Rees, has signed to race in the 2008 Formula Palmer Audi Championship. Rees finished seventh in last year's Formula Renault Championship and in 2006 he raced in Formula BMW. Paul is the son of 1960s Formula 2 and Formula 1 driver, Alan Rees.  Testing at Bedford Autodrome this week ahead of the FPA season, Paul was confident of doing well in the single-seater world of FPA: "This is my first test in the FPA machine and I am very impressed with how it drives and a little surprised by the amount of power it has. I have one aim this year and that is to win the championship, I know that once I have a bit more practice I will be bang on the pace and able to win races.'' With some of the FPA grid returning for their second year in the series, Paul is not worried about any potential advantage they might have: "Drivers who are racing again this year will know the cars much better but I have the advantage of knowing all the tracks we race at as I have done them all in BMW and Renault. I chose to run in FPA as it is the most level playing field."

01-03-08

In practice for Round 1 of the WTCC, BMW Team Germany's Augusto Farfus set the fastest lap ever to be achieved by a WTCC car at Curitiba with a 1:24.704, beating his own pole position time from 2006 (1:24.761). Second was SEAT Sport's Gabriele Tarquini 0.079 seconds behind and third was Rickard Rydell  with a gap of 0.223.

Formula Renault BARC Championship competitor Menasheh Idafar continued to impress during testing at a blustery and cold Silverstone yesterday(Friday, 29th Feb).

Lola have announced that they will support for the historic HSCC Oulton Park Gold Cup meeting on August 23/24/25 as part of their 50 years in Motorsport Celebrations....read more.

Formula BMW Americas have named the 4 young drivers who have been awarded BMW Junior scholarships in 2008. They are Ricardo Favoretto from Brazil; Mikael Grenier of Canada, Alexandre Ruiz, again from Brazil and Gianmarco Raimondo from Canada...read more

Preparations for the 2008 Formula Master season made headway today(Saturday) following the delivery of new cars and upgrade-kits to Formula Master teams.   “I’d like to thank all our partners,” said Formula Master Chairman Mauro Sipsz. “Tatuus, LRM and Magneti Marelli, as well as the others who have made it possible to deliver all our cars in such a short period of time.”   New cars were delivered to Formula Master newcomers Trident Racing, AR Motorsport and Performance Racing, with Trident Racing on track today for a shakedown in Monza.  Official testing for the Series will begin next month at the Autodromo di Monza in Italy on 20 and 21 March 2008

Formula BMW Americas have confirmed the Junior drivers to be awarded scholarships for the 2008 season and that Canada’s Gianmarco Raimondo has is one of those selected.
"We are really happy with the news" said an enthusiastic Gianmarco. "We are now working hard with Autotecnica to bring success to the team and being part of the Formula BMW Junior program will bring added benefit to our efforts to achieve winning results in 2008."   The primary objective of the Formula BMW Junior program is to back motor racing at the grass-roots level by offering drivers the training they need. Sporting and technical regulations ensure that everyone competes with identical equipment and in a fair, competitive environment, which means nobody has any advantage through financial or technical means.  Raimondo and Team Autotecnica will now continue with their testing program ahead of official testing for the series that will start April 4th at Virginia InternationalRaceway.  Formula BMW Americas has also confirmed their schedule for this year and announced the venue for rounds 5 & 6 which will take place at the Mid Ohio Race Course on June 20-22. The complete schedule is available on the series web site: www.formulabmwamericas.com

Bradley Ellis has been elected to the BRDC following is impressive season in the 2007 Avon Tyres British GT Championship which he won in his debut GT3 season ..read more

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