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The Grid.co.uk the national & club motor racing website - est1998 |
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The Grid.co.uk the national & club motor racing website - est1998 |
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News Archive September 2009 mail your news to editorthegrid@yahoo.co.uk 09/11/2009 IF RACE REPORTS LINKS REMOVED - FOLLOW 'Reports' LINK ON THE GRID above 30-09-09
Karts - Junior Max driver Ed Brand was in action Shenington near Banbury last weekend (26/27 September), where he won the the ‘O’ Plate , the British Open title, one of the UK’s most prestigious trophies. 29-09-09
Carrera Cup GB - Three time British Rally Champion Mark Higgins will make his debut in the 2009 Porsche Carrera Cup GB in the final two races of the season at Brands Hatch this weekend (3/4 October), after being invited to race the VIP car from Porsche Motorsport. However, it will be a challenging weekend for him as he is already committed to competing on the Colin McRae Stages in Scotland on Saturday. Higgins will take part in official testing at Brands on Friday, then fly to Scotland for the rally before flying back on Saturday evening in time for the pair of Carrera Cup races on Sunday. In the process, he will miss official qualifying and so will start both races from the back of the grid. "I'm really excited about racing the Porsche," said Higgins, who narrowly missed a fourth British title after crashing out of the final round on Saturday (26 September), the Trackrod Rally Yorkshire. "I started off in karting and I've kept up an international race licence, but I've not had a chance to do much racing recently," he said. "I'll drive anything and the Porsches are great cars; this is the high end of the sport and it is going to be a really interesting experience." His most recent regular racing was in 1999 when he contested the VW Beetle Cup in Germany. Higgins, who is competing in an ex-Carlos Sainz Subaru Impreza on Saturday, will have a shakedown run in the 911GT3 Cup car on Wednesday before going into testing on Friday. He will also need to learn the Brands Hatch GP circuit on Friday, as he has never driven on the full circuit at the Kent venue before. Saloons - Ric Wood brought the curtain down on the Performance N Economy Chip Tuning Sports/Saloon Car Championship at Oulton Park on Sunday with two comfortable wins in his Vauxhall Calibra,. In two red-flagged races. Robert Spencer meanwhile collected two class wins and with them the 2009 Championship crown…read report
Westfields - Russell Small was i9n action at Snetterton last weekend where he took a double victory in the BARC Westfield series driving the new works Aero race 190M Mini Challenge -With titles in both classes up for grabs as well as the overall crown, there was plenty of action in the Mini Challenge at Snetterton at the weekend. Oli Mortimer secured the S class title with a second place followed by two wins but it was Luke Caudle that took the overall title with another clean sweep in the Club Class.. Radicals - Derek Johnston had regular partner Stuart Moseley alongside again at Snetterton in the Radical UK Cup at the weekend. The pair subsequently took two dominant wins and a second successive title for the Nottinghamshire based Geordie. It was all to play for in the Radical Club Cup at Snetterton over the weeknd. Both Jonathan Wright and Colin Millar were in with a shot at the title and despite Millar winning the second race Wright managed to gain enough points with a third in race 1 and a second in race 2 to take a the title for the second year in a row. It was touch and go however as Wright’s engine had blown crossing the line in race 1 and although his team manged to change it for race 2 he only grabbed second place(and with it the title) when Darren Luke retired after 6 laps. Formula Renault - CRS Racing's Harry Tincknell heads to Brands Hatch this weekend for the final two races in the 2009 Formula Renault UK Championship. After a dream rookie season, the 17 year-old from Devon needs just one 14th place finish to secure the Graduate Cup title. Harry has an almost unassailable 58-point lead in the standings, which he has earned with 11 graduate cup race wins, four overall podiums and two overall fastest laps, including a lap record at Oulton Park. All eyes will be on Harry when he takes to the grid for the start of the first race this Sunday at 1050hrs. Race two gets going on Sunday at 1715hrs. Although not in the hunt for titles the other CRS drivers are just as keen as Harry to end the 2009 season on a high so will be going all out for some good results at Brands Hatch. IndyCar Series - Just eight points separate IndyCar Series championship leaders Scott Dixon (570 points), Dario Franchitti (565) and Ryan Briscoe (562) entering the season-ending Firestone Indy 300 on Oct. 10 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. It will be the 10th time in 14 IndyCar Series seasons that the title will be decided at the final race.
28-09-09
Karts - Harry Crawley finished an excellent fifth in the national Super 1 Series, despite being far less experienced than many of his rivals. Twelve-year-old Harry is now preparing for the final meeting of 2009 in the Formula Kart Stars Championship at Whilton Mill this coming weekend, 3/4 October. James Singleton was in action at the PF International track over the weekend where he finished fourth in the Grand final despite a bent chassis that presented him with some handling and braking problems.
Porsches - The Porsche Club Championship visited Croft in North Yorkshire for the penultimate meeting of the season, and saw race wins for Ben Demetriou and Mark McAleer – while championship leader Jez Clark stayed won Class Two in both rounds and now heads into the final races at Silverstone unbeaten in class all year. The Porsche Open runners joined other sportscar racers for two Sports, Saloons and GT Challenge races at Croft, Jim Geddie winning both races on his welcome return to the series. Fellow front runner Mark Chilton had an unlucky weekend – given a penalty for a jump start in the first race before going off in the second while leading after a tangle with another car. Fraser Robertson claimed Class One in race two after Chilton’s demise, a fine result on his debut in his 996 RS.
ALMS - Franck Montagny and Stephane Sarrazin won a rain-shortened Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta on Saturday in their Peugeot 908HDI ahead of their team-mates Pedro Lamy and Nic Minassian to hand Peugeot its first American Le Mans Series victory. The race was red-flagged after 4 hours and 50 minutes due to torrential rain.
FBMW – Australian Formula BMW Junior, Chris Wootton has ended the 2 Singtel Singapore Grand Prix support events with a sixth and eighth place finish respectively. With guest drivers attracted by the lure of impressing the F1 fraternity, it was important that the regular Formula BMW Pacific drivers kept their eyes on the Championship points (as guest drivers don’t score points).From this point of view, Wootton managed a good haul of points – effectively third and fourth place points. More importantly, he managed to finish the two races without incident or damage to his Formula BMW FB02. A disastrous qualifying session saw him down in 11th for both races – his engine cover coming loose midway through the session costing him any chance of going for pole. His best two laps (which determined the grid for the two races) were both the 11th quickest laps of the field. This compromised the overall result, however with the action that unfolded (including two rollovers in race one!) to have the car come home unscathed was a feat in itself. Race one, Chris was lucky to avoid Fahmi Ilyas, who was making his way through the field and almost collided with the Australian and then on the final lap, Wootton got past his Eurasia Motorsport team-mate, Axcil Jefferies, who tagged the wall and subsequently collided with Cao Hong Wei, pitching the Zimbabwean into a violent roll. The second event was a reasonably lonely affair for the Aussie, a late race Safety Car to clear debris from the track assisted in tightening the field up, but for most of the race, he was on his own. With just 3 races to go, Chris has his eyes on finishing 2009’s Formula BMW Pacific in the top five. The 20-year-old had a busy week visiting sponsors, including First Automobile, Fraser Place and the One 15 Degree Marina and took time out to meet with a group of disadvantaged youth that were visiting the Grand Prix.The next event for Formula BMW Pacific will be staged in support to the World Touring Car Championship round at Okayama in Japan, October 30 to November 1. The two Singapore races were won by Formula BMW Europe Champion, Felipe Nasr from Brazil.
27-09-09
26-09-09
Classics - Andrew Smith dominated the two Scottish Classic Sports and Saloons car races at Knockhill on Saturday. No-one, not even his team-mate Russell Paterson, who was second both times in a similar Morgan Plus 8, could get close. In the first race Willy Toye put in some heroics in a brakeless Triumph TR8 sadly dropping from 4th to ninth in the last couple of laps while in race 2 George Leitch was outstanding in his Mini Ogle climbing from 17th on the grid to ninth at the flag.
F3 > - Exciting plans to continue the development and growth of the Avon Tyres British GT Championship and the Cooper Tires British Formula 3 International Series are being formulated by the SRO Motorsports Group to take both championships into the 2010 season and beyond. Following a successful conclusion to both series at Brands Hatch last weekend, and the announcement by the BRSCC that SRO remains its preferred commercial partner, SRO Motorsports Group is pressing ahead with team and competitor consultations aimed at improving not only grid sizes but also enhancing the experience for competitors and spectators. "I would like to thank the BRSCC for its confidence in SRO Motorsports Group as the commercial rights holder of the British GT Championship and look forward to working alongside the BRSCC again for the 2010 season," said Stephane Ratel, SRO Motorsports Group Chairman. "The Avon Tyres British GT Championship is the UK's most prestigious GT racing series and SRO will continue to develop the championship as a professional environment for the UK's leading amateur and professional GT drivers." Said BRSCC Chairman Bernard Cottrell: "As the permit-holding club for the Avon Tyres British GT Championship, we are mindful that this is the premier championship in the UK for GT racing. Certainly the grid numbers have declined during the 2009 season and we were obliged to discuss the future of the championship with not only SRO, but also with other interested parties. Having now made the decision to retain SRO as the promoters of the championship, we believe that we now have in place a detailed plan of how we intend to rekindle interest in the championship." Atlantic - Jonathan Summerton is right back in the hunt for the 2009 Atlantic Championship after winning the latest round at Road Atlanta yesterday. Summerton took a lights to flag victory to close the gap to Championship leader Simone De Silvestre to 7 points with 1 race remaining. Silvestre finished the race on Friday in second ahead of Summerton’s Newman Wachs Racing team-mate John Edwards who was third. Star Mazda - Peter Dempsey has won his fifth race of the year at Road Atlanta in the Star Mazda Championship presented by Goodyear, leading from the start to the finish. The win extends his lead in the championship to 15 points with one race remaining at Laguna Seca in two weeks time. Second in the race was Conor Daly with Dempsey’s Championship rival Adam Christoloudou third. WTCC - The WTCC Race of Japan that takes place at Okayama International Circuit on November 1st will be launched next Tuesday, September 29th, at a press conference at the French Embassy in Tokyo. This race meeting will mark the return of the FIA World Touring Car Championship to Japan after last year's successful visit to Okayama, and will, for the first time feature a round of the Asian Le Mans Series within a WTCC event.The provisional entry list will be unveiled during the press conference that will be attended by Marcello Lotti, General Manager of KSO, WTCC promoter, Daniel Poissenot, advisor to the ACO President and ALMS Race Director, and Yojiro Terada, President of ACO Japan.
This weekend Jörg Müller and Andy Priaulx are set to take part in the Petit Le Mans race at Road Atlanta, at the wheel of two BMW M3 GT2 cars for the Rahal Letterman team. Priaulx, who makes his first appearance at the Petit Le Mans, shares his car with Bill Auberlen and Joey Hand, while Müller will make shifts with Dirk Müller (his former team-mate in ETCC and WTCC) and Tommy Milner. The two BMW cars have clocked the fastest times in the GT2 class during today qualifying session. The Müllers and Milner (1:20.393) will start from 13th spot of the overall grid, alongside the sister M3 of Priaulx-Auberlen-Hand (1:20.463) and ahead of a bunch of Ferrari, Corvette and Porsche cars. Gabriele Tarquini is in a great shape. Two days after winning the first race in Imola and stretching his WTCC championship lead, the SEAT Sport driver has claimed another success in the second edition of the Green Golf Tour promoted by Eurosport Events. Just like in 2008 Tarquini emerged as the winner in the 3rd Category of the 36-hole Stableford golf tournament that took place Monday and Tuesday at the San Valentino golf club in Castellarano, Italy. WTCC chief timekeeper Mike Salmon, of MST, won the 2nd category, WTCC team coordinator Nunzia Corvino claimed victory in the Ladies Trophy, while Glen Valente, marketing director of HSBC Latin America topped the overall classification and was awarded with the WTCC World Amateur Cup.
A1GP World Cup of Motorsport will be starting Season Five in just over a month with the Nikon SuperGP on 22 to 25 October and a financial restructuring has been put in place to secure its long term future. A1GP Chairman, Tony Teixeira, has outlined his plans for the series having secured the full financial package necessary to see it grow over the next three to four years. “I wanted to announce this re-financing a long time ago, but the reason it has taken longer than I planned was the size of the package. I could see no reason to look for a one year deal, it had to be for at least three to four years until such a time as the series is independent. This way we can make sure everyone involved in the series has the necessary security and the series is totally creditable.”Teixeira is also working closely with his major partners and suppliers to ensure their continued support. “I shall be meeting all of them personally in the next couple of days. I want them to understand this is a series that is here to stay on the motorsport scene, and they need to know their involvement is with a series that is going from strength to strength.” The way Teixeira sees the series now is as starting with a totally clean sheet with a re-structuring that has no outstanding issues that can hold back its growth: “We have always put on a fantastic show and this is only going to get better.” However, he was also realistic about the adverse publicity that the series has received, and was quick to reassure all those involved that many of the stories were very wide of the mark. “I have seen all the stories written over the past few weeks doubting the future of the series, and these are not new to me as I have seen them at the start of every one of our four seasons. These are not things I like to read and I feel frustrated that I cannot always come out and explain exactly what we are doing, but, as you know, we have always delivered every season and race we have committed to,” he said. The series has recently announced a new deal with IMG Sports Media to market its worldwide media rights for the next three years and also the Season Five calendar. Teixeira is now working on further deals, and in the coming weeks the grid for the race in Surfers Paradise will be announced after final deals have been put in place.The one outstanding issue that will be dealt with soon is the liquidation of A1 Grand Prix Operations Limited, that was a subsidiary of A1 Holdings Ltd. Administration for this company has now been applied for and this will be heard on the 6th October. Teixeira’s message to all of the company’s creditors was: “Our intention is to settle all our outstanding creditors prior to the administration hearing, and would like to thank them for their patience and support.“We at A1GP have been so lucky to have such loyal support from all our stake holders - management and staff, race promoters, team owners, partners, suppliers, TV rights holders, sponsors and last but not least our fans”. 25-09-09
Atlantic - Jonathan Summerton took his fifth pole position of the season in qualifying for today's Cooper Tires Presents The Atlantic Championship Powered by Mazda race at Road Atlanta. Driving the No. 34 Nuclear Clean Air Energy/Entergy/NEI machine for Newman Wachs Racing, Summerton posted a 1:15.166 (121.651 mph). More importantly for Summerton he earned a bonus point to move 11 points behind Championship leader Simona De Silvestro, 160-149. Second on the grid and in the standings is Summerton’s team-mate John Edwards with a lap of 1:15.345. De Silvestro wound up third on the grid with a 1:15.357. Jonathan Bomarito made it a all Team Stargate Worlds Row 2 with fourth-quickest time(1:15.614) while Rookie of the Year points leader Frederic Vervisch completed the top five with a 1:15.645.
Renault 3.5 - Guillaume Moreau qualified his KMP Group/SG formula Renault 3.5 for the Superpole Qualifying session for the first time at the Nurburgring last weekend. Sadly problems in that session left him 11th on the grid. In first race on Saturday his front wing was damaged at the start before he found himself pushed into a spin later on in the race eventually finishing 11th. Sunday’s second race was even worse when he was involved in a first lap accident which put him out of the race. His team-mate Anton Nebylitskiy meanwhile scored a point for the best climb throught the field in race 1.
This year's
top International Formula Master (IFM) drivers
24-09-09
Atlantic - In the first practice for Friday's Cooper Tires Presents The Atlantic Championship Powered by Mazda race at Road Atlanta, Jonathan Summerton led another one-two sweep of the top two positions for Newman Wachs Racing. Summerton set a 1:15.446 (121.199 mph) just 0.15secs aheadof his team-mate John Edwards whose set a 1:15.514. Third was Atlantic returnee Jonathan Bomarito in a 1:15.596. Championship leader Simone de Silvestro had engine problems in session 1, limiting her time on track, however she bounced back in session 2 with a 1:15.698, the fourth best of the day. She heads into Friday's race looking for her series-leading fifth win of the season and has an outside chance at clinching the series championship in the penultimate round of the 2009 season.
Carrera Cup GB –
Superleague Formula - Italian motorsport fans will have the chance to enjoy a very special racing event on 3/4 October at the Autodromo Nazionale in Monza, near Milan, when it hosts the first ever International GT Open and Superleague Formula joint weekend. The event will bring together the excitement of both GT and single-seater racing in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. Spa 6 hours - This weekend aficionados of classic and historic racing cars will be at Spa-Francorchamps for the F1 Historic & Spa 6 Hours. Top of the bill of this year is the Grand Prix Masters with F1 cars dating from 1968-78, all powered by 3 litre engines. Raced in their prime by the likes of Ickx, Stewart, Fittipaldi, Peterson, etc . There are also Prototypes and Touring cars completing the programme over the weekend, plus of course, the Spa 6 Hours, Rowan Atkinson will be amongst the drivers going for victory, his opposition includes Rene Herzog, Hans Hugenholtz and Vincent Vosse, in a Ford Mustang, as they try to reclaim the trophy as well as Herve Regout and Pierre-Alain Thibaut in a Ford GT 40, the car which Willy Mairesse drove at Le Mans and Spa back in the 60s. Running in parallel to the Spa Six Hours is a 6 hour kart race at the kart circuit on the inside of Blanchimont. Tickets for the 3 days costs just 20 Euros with an 8 euro discount voucher available from the www.roadbook.be or cut one out from one of the 50.000 table mat sets distributed in the various restaurants.
Rolex Grand-Am series star and Muscle Milk extreme athlete, Memo Gidley, helped his Team Sebring to a podium finish in the 8th Annual Petit Petit Go Kart Challenge race last night.(Wednesday) This annual charity go kart race is held to raise money for the Motorsports Ministries, an organization provides support to drivers and their families over the race weekends. “Over the years, I have become good friends with Richard Anderson who runs the Motorsports Ministries organization and his partner Dan Lacy,” said Gidley. “Even though I do not follow any one type of religion, I do like them both as friends and appreciate what they and the Motorsports Ministries organization does for the drivers and families at race tracks all across the country…they are good people.” For this race, Memo was recruited once again by team sponsor John Gorsline of Gorsline Insurance to drive alongside Andy Lally and David Murray. “I really like driving for John because he is so intense about winning,” said Gidley. “I keep telling him it is time for him to step up and be a real team owner!” This race is unique because teams can buy black flags and other penalties…or favours for themselves if they donate more money to the Motorsports Ministries organization. At a point last night, one team actually paid to have the entire field black flagged, minus their kart, for two laps. “You can’t get too caught up in winning when these kinds of silly negations go on,” said Gidley. “Really, I do this race because of the lack of any corner workers with black flags, the good tight racing, and the occasional bashing session that comes with a three hour go kart race on a slick track with a bunch of racers. But for the record, I swear I never bumped anybody!” Memo will also stay on hand this weekend to support his sponsor, Team Muscle Milk, and owner Greg Pickett who will be racing his new Porsche RS Spyder P2 prototype in the Petit LeMans race. “I have raced and finished on the podium at this race in numerous cars from the Panoz Prototype, to an MG P1 car for Highcroft Racing, to the Muscle Milk Lola that I raced for Greg last year,” said Gidley. “I would have loved to have been able to race this year but nothing really came together. But I am happy to be here to support Greg and his team running the Muscle Milk car, and hope they win.” 23-09-09
BTCC - The Brands Hatch GP circuit will host the title-deciding season finale of the HiQ MSA British Touring Car Championship next weekend (3/4 October), with 3 drivers going head-to-head for overall honours. Colin Turkington of Team RAC BMW currently leads the standings, but VX Racing’s Fabrizio Giovanardi and the Racing Silverline Chevrolet of Jason Plato are also both in contention for the 2009 title following last weekend’s penultimate round at Rockingham. Although Turkington has a 13 point advantage, the Ulsterman is particularly wary of second place Giovanardi: "Fabrizio and I have had some very good races between ourselves on track and I'm glad it's him I'm fighting against because it's known around the world what a high calibre driver he is. You'd be mad to rule out Jason as well." Double BTCC champion Giovanardi, who is vying for his third consecutive title, is also facing pressure from the in-form Plato – who lies 14 points adrift of the Italian in third place. A potential 48 points are on offer at the Kent season finale. Brands Hatch will host a trio of British Touring Car races, along with support championships including Ginetta Juniors, Formula Renault UK and the Porsche Carrera Cup GB. Tickets for the HiQ MSA British Touring Car Championship at Brands Hatch on 3/4 October are available from £23 for adults, with free entry for children aged 12 and under. For more information call 0870 950 9000 or visit www.brandshatch.co.uk.
Formula Renault - Antonio Felix da Costa wins his first International Title, the NEC Formula Renault 2.0 Champion with a brilliant win at Nurburgring from third on the grid. He also took part in the Formula Renault Eurocup where he alkso won. However the results of the latter series are provisional pending an appeal by his team, Motopark Academy, over alleged brake irregulatities…
Historics - It’s the last Top Hat Race Day of 2009 at Mallory Park on Sunday 25th October. Due to the cut in daylight hours(winter starts that weekend) there are 4 races for the regular ‘Top Hat’ series in two formats as follows: A Mini-enduro of 45 minutes – Top Hat, Cloth Cap with the XK Challenge plus 2 Sprint Races of 20 & 25 minutes - Oldies But Goldies, Stars of the 70s with Touring 70s All races will have the option of 1 or 2 drivers entering per car, with the usual compulsory pit stop in the mini-enduro races and two single driver sprint races for the double headers with a combined result. Darren Turner went back to the 1960's last weekend at the Goodwood Revival. The double Le Mans winner went out in a 1964 Austin Mini Cooper S…and loved every minute of it! Darren raced two cars at Goodwood, the first being Andy Hack's Mini in the St Mary's Trophy. This was the Mini's first event but Darren still managed to qualify it in fifth place for Saturday's race. "I dropped to sixth on the first lap but then got into a great battle with Robin Brundle and Desiree Wilson," said Darren. "I managed to fight my way through, all the way up to second, even after being pushed onto the grass by Robin. Olly (Gavin - the eventual winner) was too far ahead to catch by then so I had to settle for second. It was so much fun though; good hard racing, which is just how I like it." Darren also raced a 1963 AC Cobra at Goodwood, which he described as a "very different animal" to the Mini. "The Cobra was scary," he said. "I only had five laps on Friday then went straight into qualifying on Saturday. I took seventh so I was pretty pleased with that but a bit apprehensive about starting the race. It's hard to describe the car so I'll just say it has massive amounts of power, no brakes and handles like nothing I've ever driven before!" A slightly nervous Darren took the start of Sunday's TT race in the AC Cobra. He made up a few places on lap one and handed over to the car's owner, Ludovic Caron, in fifth place at the halfway point. Caron did a top job and brought the car home in fifth. "I've had an amazing weekend," said Darren. "I loved driving the Mini and, by the end of the TT race, I appreciated the Cobra too. By the time I got home I was actually missing the Cobra a little bit! Massive thanks to Goodwood for organising these drives for me. I have had an absolute ball. Thanks also to Andy and Ludovic for letting me drive their precious cars."
Superbikes - The penultimate round of the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship (BSB) this weekend (26/27 Sept). Leon Camier has carved out a significant lead in the championship and is likely to be crowned 2009 Champion on Sunday. Should the Airwaves Yamaha rider be successful in his quest as Silverstone will also be celebrating the return of two-wheeled Grand Prix racing to the circuit when the FIM MotoGP World Championship touches down in 2010. To mark that return, Silverstone will feature a MotoGP Zone on Sunday. In addition to Q&A and Autograph sessions with MotoGP stars from the past and present, a collection of current and classic MotoGP bikes will be on display, including Valentino Rossi’s current Yamaha YZR-M1. ‘The Doctor’s’ bike is being transported over from the FIAT Yamaha MotoGP team base in Italy, and will be displayed alongside Chris Vermeulen’s Suzuki GSVR MotoGP bike. Other classics featured in the display will be a Suzuki XR45-50, raced by Barry Sheene in 1984; Randy Mamola’s 1983 HB Gallina XR4500 and one of Rob McElnea’s 1984 Carbon XR45 Skoal Bandits. Randy Mamola, winner of the 1980 and 1984 Grands Prix at Silverstone, will be meeting fans at two Q&A sessions on Sunday 27 September, along with former British World Championship riders Steve Parrish, Jeremy McWilliams, Niall MacKenzie and Rob McElnea. Races at the weekend include 2 MCE Insurance British Superbike races, Fuchs-Silkolene British Supersport Championship, Metzeler Racetec National Superstock Championships (1000 and 600), Relentless British 125GP Championship, National F2 Sidecar Challenge and the Focused Events KTM RC8 Super Cup.
Atlantic - Three-Way Battle for the 2009 Cooper Tires Presents The Atlantic Championship Powered by Mazda is coming down to a fight between Simona De Silvestro (No. 78 Team Stargate Worlds), John Edwards (No. 36 Newman Wachs Racing) and Jonathan Summerton (No. 34 Newman Wachs Racing). De Silvestro currently leads by eight points over Edwards, 160-152, with Summerton another four points back. There are two races remaining on the schedule. A1GP World Cup of Motorsport has announced its Season Five calendar and a long term deal with IMG Sports Media to market its worldwide media rights for the next three seasons. This news for the series was greeted enthusiastically by A1GP Chairman, Tony Teixeira, who said: "I have always had a long wish list of deals we wanted to make our series one of the most well known on the sporting calendar. "A deal such as this was at the top of it, and to be associated with IMG Sports Media is just what we needed to ensure we have the best possible representation in this highly competitive market. The plans they have for us are exciting and innovative." The nine event Season Five calendar, subject to FIA approval, includes four new race meetings in Australia, Brazil, Germany and The Netherlands. The season kicks off in six weeks with the Nikon Super GP in Surfers Paradise on the Australian Gold Coast. 22-09-09
VW CUP
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Touring cars - Aston Martin works driver Harold Primat
Atlantic - A pair of familiar faces will return to the Cooper Tires Presents The Atlantic Championship Powered by Mazda at this week's penultimate round of the 2009 championship as Jonathan Bomarito and Greg Mansell will compete in Friday's race at Road Atlanta. A five-time Atlantic race-winner, the 27-year-old Bomarito will drive the No. 77 Stargate Worlds/Maakoa/Cheyenne Mountain Entertainment/FireSky/Cardinal Technologies machine for Team Stargate Worlds alongside points leader Simona De Silvestro, who drives the team's No. 78 entry. In addition to this week's race at Road Atlanta, Bomarito will also drive the car in the finale at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in his hometown of Monterey, California. Bomarito is filling in for Frankie Muniz who had wrist surgery last month after competing in the first nine rounds of the season. Mansell, meanwhile, is returning to Atlantic competition for the first time since 2008 and will drive the No. 18 Genoa Racing entry. The 21-year-old competed full time in the 2008 Atlantic Championship with Walker Racing and earned a best result of fifth at Road Atlanta. Mansell competed in World Series by Renault events earlier this year and recently cdrovein the 1000 km of Silverstone Le Mans Series race alongside his father and U.K. driver Lawrence Tomlinson. He joins a Genoa Racing team that has three cars entered for Friday's race at Road Atlanta, with Rookie of the Year points leader Frederic Vervisch and James Winslow FBMW - Asia Racing Team (ART Motorsports) Formula BMW Pacific squad heads to a new Formula BMW Pacific venture next weekend, the Singapore Grand Prix. After finishing 5th in Macau Grand Prix 2008, this is going to be the first race of the 2009 season for ART's Formula BMW cars. Making his Formula BMW Pacific debut with ART on his home circuit is Singaporean Suriya Bala Kerisnan Thevar. The 16 year old has extensive experience karting in both in Asia and further a-field, racing twice in Asian Formula Renault series this year. The two 10-lap races will take place on a 5.067 km street circuit around the city-state's picturesque Marina Bay. As with all street tracks, the surface is not as smooth as a permanent racetrack and it varies in width. Some sections utilize a three-lane highway, while in other places the track is quite narrow and the barriers create a really enclosed feeling. ART Team Manager, Philippe Descombes, added, "Suriya has a great challenge ahead of him, racing at home for the first time is never easy. We will do our very best to provide him the best car and service to let him show His real talent. It is not going to be easy for him. It's a street circuit and we only have one Free Practice session prior to the Qualifying. I'm expecting our premiere in Singapore to be the highlight of our Formula BMW mini-season."
A charity karting day is being organised by young Sheffield kart driver Russ Danzey in aid of local charity Neurocare. The event will take place this Friday (25th September) at the state-of-the-art PF International Circuit near Grantham Formula 2 - Andy Soucek took the 2009 FIA Formula Two Championship by coming home in third as Kazim Vasiliauskas scored his maiden victory of the season in the opening F2 race at Imola on Saturday. Soucek set the seal on his Championship by winning Sunday’s race by beating Mirko Bortolotti and Robert Wickens away from the line to win his fifth race of the season. ...read reports Skip Barber - Ashley Freiberg, 17 from Homer Glen, Illinois is off to Georgia for the Skip Barber BFGoodrich National Series presented by MAZDA competition at the Petit Le Mans in Road Atlanta this week. The races are set for Thursday and Friday, Sept. 24-25, on the fast 2.54-mile circuit. Freiberg, a series rookie, currently ranks seventh in the Barber National point standings. "It will be a hectic week for me," said Freiberg, who scored a podium finish last month at Road America. "I have been studying very hard to get ahead in my classes. That way I can concentrate on my races and special appearances this week. The special events are very exciting, too." Freiberg will kick off her busy week today with the 8th annual Motorsports Ministries Petit Kart Challenge in Atlanta. Invited by veteran woman racer Lyn St. James, Freiberg will team with Shannon McIntosh in the three-hour endurance contest, raising funds for Motorsports Ministries and Breat Cancer charities. "I am honoured to be invited by Lyn for this event," said Ashley, a two-time WKA world karting champion. "She helps many young women racers each year, and I want to thank her for her guidance and assistance in racing in the prestigious charity event." Following her racing week at Road Atlanta, Freiberg will travel to West Palm Beach, Fla., to be part of the coveted AMG Mercedes Driving Experience at the new Palm Beach International Raceway. Ashley will drive AMG Mercedes with world class female athletes from different forms of competition such as surfing world champions, Olympic skiing medalists, X Games snowboarding gold medalists and pro frestyle skiers.
21-09-09 VW Cup - Joe Fulbrook has won his second successive VW Cup title after a difficult weekend at Brands hatch for the Bora driver. His fifth-place in the first race left him needing a top 12 finish in the final race to clinch the title , easy enough in normal circumstance, but that was before his team discovered he had a major mechanical problem that needed a complete engine change!. This they did with just minutes to spare and despite being down on power Fulbrook brought the car home in ninth to take the title. The races were won by Liam Griffin in a Scirocco followed by a first win for Darren.
Nathan Freke moved closer to winning the Michelin Ginetta G50 Cup title on Sunday despite failing to finish in the first race of the day. His closest Challenger Frank Wrahtall had closed the gap in the table to 64 points after he won the first race yesterday before Freke bounced back in the afternoon with a win the third race. To make matters worse for Wrathall he recorded a DNF when he spun off on the opening lap effectively handing the Championship crown to Freke. In Sunday’s Michelin Ginetta G50 Cup, the yourracingcar.com Ginetta of Fulvio Mussi had various incidents of one type or another pickinh up a fifth, and eighth and a sixth before the stewarts intervened with he last result penalising him 10 points for an incident earlier in the race. Formula 4 - Chris Holmes Finishes The Formula 4 Season On A High . Chris Holmes ended the 2009 Formula 4 Championship with a pair of wins at the final event of the season at Snetterton yesterday(20 Sept). Taking pole position for the first race, Chris took a comfortable win to start the weekend. In the second race of the day, the grid for race two saw the top 8 finsihes from race one start in reverse order. So, starting from 8th on the grid, Chris had to fight his way past all and sundry before drawing out a lead and taking the chequered flag once again, breaking the lap record in the process. Chris has now won 8 times this year to end the season as Championship runner-up. "I am really happy with the way the weekend went" said Chris. "It was pretty perfect I suppose! Throughout the year I have shown my speed and potential by taking 8 wins from 11 starts with plenty of lap records and pole positions, so it's been a solid year, and a lot of fun! I would like to thank all my sponsors - Hanline Associates, Nuffield Health and Fitness, Skins Products and Cushdy Creative, for all their support throughout 2009. I am currently looking at some interesting options for a 2010 drive, and the pace I have shown certainly helps. I am waiting on a couple of decisions in the next month or so, and if they go my way, it will lead to a very exciting 2010 season!" Clios – Team Pyro’s Phil Glew has won the 2009 ELF Renault Clio Cup with Michelin championship title with two excellent wins at Rockingham yesterday(Sun). In second on both occasions was returning 2001 Clio Cup Champion Danny Buxton while Sam Tirdorf and Andrew Herron each picked up a podium place with a third a-piece. ..read reports Daniel Lloyd came close to winning his first ever Clio Cup race at Rockingham yesterday(Sunday). However an accident on lap 8 when he went into the wall while leading, later put down to a puncture, prevented the teenager from fighting for the victory. In the second race he dragged his hastily repaired and somewhat imperfect car to fifth place.
Sam
Tordoff and his TCR team-mate Daniel Lloyd
both produced stand-out performances at Rockingham on Sunday
in the Elf Renault Clio Cup. Tordoff had his third ELF Renault
Clio Cup podium finish this season while Looyd nearly won(see
story above), The 2009 Michelin Ginetta G50 Cup team
Champions didn’t have quite as good a day although Joachim
Ritter(pictured left)
Andrew Herron picked up his seventh podium of 2009 in the Elf Renault Clio Cup in the first race of the weekend at Rockingham. He finished second on the road to equal his best result this year before a 4 second penalty for running to close to Danny Buxton during a safety car period, dropped him to third. FBMW - Australian Formula BMW Junior – Chris Wootton – is in the final stages of preparation for Asia-Pacific’s most glamorous motorsport event – the Formula 1 Singtel Singapore Grand Prix – where Formula BMW Pacific acts as the curtain raiser to the main event. This event is important to the 20-year-old in more ways than one. He attracts significant sponsorship support from Singapore, ensuring the week leading up to the Grand Prix he will be busy connecting with sponsors – such as First Automobile and Fraser Place, along with appearances at the One 15 Degree Marina. After a strong performance at the only night Grand Prix on the Formula 1 calendar last year, Wootton is hoping that he can turn things around on the biggest stage there is and show his true potential in front of the Formula 1 paddock. Wootton’s team, Eurasia Motorsport currently sits third in the Team’s Classification and is still in with a strong mathematical chance of winning that Title. Aside from the concrete canyon that lines the Marina Bay circuit, Wootton will have numerous other challenges to contend with, namely a late afternoon schedule for all sessions and the prediction of thunderstorms to go with humid temperatures well into the 30’s (C).
Renault Sport also announced over the weekend that the New Formula Renault 2.0 race car is to make its competitive debut at the start of the 2010 Michelin Formula Renault UK Championship. Dean Smith has one hand on the 2009 Michelin Formula Renault UK Championship crown after two more victories over the weekend at Rockingham. With just 2 more races to go in the Championship he has a 25 point lead to take to Brands Hatch next month. While Manor Competition’s Dean Smith was grabbing all the limelight, the team’s other drivers weren’t doing so badly either. Thomas Hylkema, David McDonald and Alice Powell all produced some ogreat performances. Hylkema produced the best result of his Formula Renault UK career so far with an excellent sixth on Sunday while rookie Powell claimed 13th after a 12th on Saturday. McDonald meanwhile had superb top six finish in round 17.
Epsilon Euskadi's Albert Costa has possibly won both races in the Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 at the Nurburgring giving him a 2 point lead to take into the final round. However the results are provisional as both Motopark Academy's Antonio Felix da Costa and Kevin Magnussen have entered appeals against their disqualification for technical irregularities after the SuperPole session. The results of this race, as with that of the first race the previous day are on-hold pending these appeals.
Formula 3 Euroseries entrant Manor Motorsport ‘s weekend failed to produce any points from the two races. Their leading driver Spaniard Roberto Merhi raciong at home on the Circuit de Catalunya missed out by one place in the first race coming in ninth. In the second race he was forced to retire with technicalproblems. GP2 - Alvaro Parente ended his home GP2 race weekend with a fourth place finish, giving the local Portuguese fans something to cheer about at the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve.In the first race on Saturday the Portuguese driver was climbed up to eighth place from the very back of the grid before he got tangled up with Sergio Perez thereby ending his race. “When Dani Clos spun in the last corner, which is flat, I had to brake hard to avoid him and Sergio Perez was able to put himself alongside me. He was in the inside for the first corner, but in the second I had the line and I didn’t back off. We touched and we had to retire. It’s disappointing because I could start the Sunday’s race from pole-position, but he had space and I was in the kerb and I was entitled to defend my position. In the end, it was a racing accident and I would do the same thing again”, said Soccerade, Delta, TMN, Aurora Group, Geotur/Star e Cision driver. On Sunday the Ocean Racing Technology driver was luckier. Helped by penalties to other drivers he ended the race in closing in on fourth placed Dani Clos. “The start was very messy, with cars overtaking with Safety-Car. After the restart I attacked the best I could and I overtake some cars which, with some penalties gave to other drivers, allowed me to reach the fifth position. I was pressing Dani Clos, but I didn’t have the top speed to pass him, but a fifth place, after starting from sixteenth, is a good result”. Their fourth and fifth placing soon became third and fourth however when a 25 second penalty was handed to Sergio Perez for overtaking under yellows. With so many problems during this weekend, a fourth place was a positive end to the championship. “It was a tough event, with technical problems in the Friday and the first race incident. I would like to offer a good result to the Portuguese fans, a win would be fantastic. But with so many troubles, this fourth place is a good result for the end of the season”, said Alvaro.
Goodwood - Oliver Gavin, this weekend celebrated yet another victory on the race track. But, instead of his usual mount of a GM Chevrolet Corvette C6.R, Oliver was at the Goodwood Revival meeting, near Chichester in Sussex, racing a pre-1966 Mini Cooper S. To mark the 50th anniversary of the world's best loved small car, Goodwood staged a special saloon car event devoted entirely to Alec Issigonis' masterpiece. A full 30-car grid of 1275cc Mini Coopers contested a closely-fought race but it was Oliver Gavin and his driving partner, Nick Swift, in the Swiftune-prepared Mini that took full honours. Gavin claimed pole position on Friday, and both he and Nick Swift each won their heat of the two-part St Mary's Trophy race. "The whole weekend was enormous fun," said Oliver afterwards, "and it's the first driver's briefing I've ever been to where champagne was served and I was wearing plus-fours! I can't wait to do it again next year."
BTCC - Stephen Jelley and Jason Plato both won yesterday in the HiQ MSA BTCC’s penultimate event of 2009 at Rockingham. Jelley won his first ever race in the BTCC taking the flag first in the opening encounter. Jason Plato then won race 2 before Jelly completed his weekend with a second win in the thrid and final race In the Championship Colin Turkington leads Fabrision Giovanardi by 13-points as the series heads for it’s finale in October, 2 weeks from now. 20-09-09
Porsche Carrera Cup GB - James Sutton made completed his fourth successive win with his second win of the weekend at Rockingham today (Sunday 20 September 2009). After leading Michael Caine, Tim Bridgman and Tim Harvey across the line Sutton has set up a 3 way fight for the Championship crown at the final rounds next month at Brands Hatch. Ollie Jackson drove well to take victory in the pro-am1 category with Glenn McMenamin winning pro-am2
WTCC - The previous race meeting in Oschersleben had boosted Augusto Farfus' and BMW's hopes in the title fight. But today in Imola, SEAT Sport's men Gabriele Tarquini and Yvan Muller struck back and claimed a serious stake on both the Drivers' and Manufacturers' championships. By sharing victories and second places on the Italian track, Tarquini and Muller built a solid cushion from Farfus, who now has an 18-point gap from the leader and lies 11 points behind the reigning champion. Meanwhile, SEAT's leading margin in the Manufacturers' standings was stretched to 21 points. Although the battle for the world title hogged the limelight, James Thompson caused a sensation. Not only did the Briton score LADA's first points in the Drivers' Championship, but finishing sixth in both races he also showed that the pace of the Russian car has improved dramatically. Now podium results look to be within reach. The championship is now facing a five-week break, before resuming on November 1st at Okayama, Japan, for rounds 21 and 22. Formula 3 - The Formula 3 Australian Drivers’ Championship has been enhanced by the display of Joey Foster in the most recent round of the German ATS Formula 3 Cup at the weekend. Foster, a six-time race winner in Australia with Team BRM this season, returned to the German series in a one-event deal with his former team (HS Technik Motorsport) where he was right on the pace. Foster qualified eighth and fifth for the two races this weekend and made further ground when the green flag dropped despite not having seen the Sachsenring circuit before Thursday. In race one he took his Dallara F307 Mercedes to a fourth place finish, setting fourth-fastest lap of the race as he followed his HS Technik teammate Harald Schlegelmilch over the line. In race two he finished fifth, the same position he started, again following his team-mate home . That Foster could return to the German F3 series after a three-year absence, learn a new circuit and yet still finish inside the top five against a competitive grid shows the speed he has used all season in Australia is competitive on a world level.
Karts - Callum Bowyer achieved his best results of the 2009 campaign in round six of the Super 1 Series at Larkhall in Scotland last weekend, taking his maiden KF3 class victory in the heats and going on to finish an excellent second and fourth in the two finals. Ginettas- In the Michelin Ginetta G50 Cup Frank Wrathall got back on the top step of the podium form the fourth time this year with a superb win at Rockingham on Saturday. Championship leader Nathan Freke stayed with the elader throughout coming in second juust 0.3secs behind the winner Total Control Racing’s Carl Breeze took fourth place in Saturday’s Ginetta G50 Cup race at Rockingham. He was followed home by his team-mate Fulvio Mussi in the yourracingcar.com entered Ginetta.
19-09-09
Porsche Carrera Cup GB - James Sutton took a double pole position for rounds 17 and 18 of the 2009 Porsche Carrera Cup GB at Rockingham today (Saturday). Although just 0.07 ses covered the top three drivers for round 17, Sutton bagged both pole positions as well as two more championship points. Robert Lawson headed pro-am1 for both races, while Glenn McMenamin topped the pro-am2 times for both races. Sutton (Red Line Racing) was elated to take both poles and close the points' gap on Tim Bridgman and Tim Harvey. "I love this championship and wouldn't want to be anywhere else," he said. "The car was perfect and that's exactly what we needed to do." Harvey (Red Line Racing) was right behind his team mate on both grids. "We had a plan and worked together," said Harvey. "I'm glad to be in front of Tim Bridgman, who is my main championship rival." For Bridgman (Team Parker Racing), it was a frustrating session although he took two third places despite a couple of early overshoots at Turn 2. "It just seemed low grip at Turn 2 and it just didn't stop," said Bridgman. "That spoilt the first run." Then, he was chasing a potential pole lap later in the session when he was forced to back off for yellow flags. "It was a bit of a scrappy session," he said. Fourth and fifth places on the two grids were shared between Tom Bradshaw (Team Parker Racing) and Michael Caine (Motorbase Performance), with Bradshaw having his best qualifying run to date. "We're in the mix and certainly progressing," said Bradshaw. Top of pro-am1 for both races was Robert Lawson (JHR), who came back strongly after a troubled day in testing. "The car was much better; I'm pleased with two poles," said Lawson, who trimmed two points from Glynn Geddie's pro-am1 lead as a result. Ollie Jackson (Motorbase Performance) and Geddie (Team Parker Racing) shared second and third places in pro-am1 with Tony Gilham (Red Line Racing) a very close fourth on both grids.Glenn McMenamin (Parr Motorsport) topped the very competitive pro-am2 category, from Paul Hogarth (IN2Racing) and championship newcomer Steve Parish (Motorbase Performance). "That's a really important result; two more points," said McMenamin.
GP2 - Alvaro Parente’s weekend started in the worst possible way, an electrical problem that kept him out of qualifying for the first Portimao GP2 race, leaving him at the back of the grid. The day started with rain, which forced all the drivers to run on wet tyres. Parente always fast in these conditions, was always among the quickest but as the track dried he slipped back down the just timesheets to end the session twelfth fastest. In the second practice, now on slicks, he set the seventh fastest time, leaving him optimistic for qualifying. However the session didn’t go well for the Portuguese driver, after just 2 slow laps an electrical problem jammed his gearbox in second. As a result he will start then first race from last. “There isn’t much to say about this qualifying! I had a technical problems in my car and I couldn’t do any timed lap. It was really bad!”, said Alvaro. He still wants to give his home fans something to cheer about, “Tomorrow’s race will be very hard, because I’ll start from last. Though, as usual, I’ll give my best I’ll fight with all my strength to see the chequered flag in a good position
18-09-09
WTCC - Next year the prize money for the FIA WTCC Independents’ Trophy will increase from 384,000 euros to 500,000. “We are very grateful to Yokohama for continuing to support the privateer drivers’ efforts to stay in the championship. And thanks to Yokohama we are now able to offer an impressive half-million prize money,” WTCC promoter Marcello Lotti said. The distribution of the prize money will be announced in the near future. “We are currently in negotiations with other partners to increase the prize money by another 250,000 euros. We hope to confirm this new deal soon,” concluded Lotti.
GP2 - Series helps a school in Seeta Nazigo, Uganda. The GP2 Series is drawing to a close this weekend in Portugal, where the last round of the 2009 season will take place at the Autodromo Internacionale do Algarve. On Sunday evening, the traditional Prize Giving Ceremony will not only honour all the protagonists of the season, but will also feature our now customary charity auction. This year, GP2 has chosen to support and help develop St Mary's Primary School in Seeta Nazigo, Uganda. Although attendance at a primary school is mandatory in this country, a large number of children still cannot afford to pay for the school fee. Learning English and getting an education offer a significant advantage in Ugandan society, and going to school helps to secure a child's future. Built a few years ago, the school building is no longer big enough to welcome all the potential pupils, aged from five to sixteen years old. Thanks to GP2 Series' donations, a new classroom block - including teachers' housing and a kitchen shed - will be erected. Further funds will also be used to purchase books and furniture, along with repairing and maintaining the existing block. LMS - 2009 GT1 Champion Yann Clairay and the Luc Alphand Aventures team ended their season in the LMS with a fine third in class in the Autosport 1000kms held at Silverstone last weekend . The team has now a confiormed place at Le Mans in 2010 thanks to 2nd place in this year's 24-hour race and its LMS GT1 title…read report 17-09-09
Formula 2 - Andy Soucek is just one victory away from taking the inaugural FIA F2 Championship and he could do it at Imola this weekend (18-20 September). Soucek currently leads by 32 points with just four races and 40 points remaining. The four-time race winner does not even have to win to take the crown, but he is of course determined to win the championship in style. Mikhail Aleshin took his maiden victory last time out in Oschersleben and the Russian Soucek's main challenger. Aleshin is 2 points ahead of his Red Bull Junior Team colleague Robert Wickens, who in turn is two points in front of Julien Jousse in fourth place. Mirko Bortolotti and Tobias Hegewald are fifth and sixth respectively with just ten points separating all five as they fight for second in the standings. The Philipp Eng in seventh will be looking to bounce back from a fruitless weekend in Germany. It will be an emotional round for the Italian drivers, with Bortolotti arguably the most likely to take a victory on home soil. Nicola De Marco will be looking for a good result after returning to points at Oschersleben, whilst Edoardo Piscopo will be chasing a maiden F2 podium. Pietro Gandolfi is another who is looking forward to racing in his homeland for the first time in 2009. The Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari circuit is steeped in history. Based near the Italian town of Imola, a picturesque little town in the province of Bologna, the track is one of the few major international circuits to run in an anti-clockwise direction. Soucek said: "I would love to win the championship in Imola and I would like to do it with a victory. If I can do it this weekend then I can really enjoy the final round in my home country when we race in Barcelona."
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Superbikes -The MCE British Superbike Championship (BSB) heads to Silverstone on 26/27 September, for the penultimate round of the 2009 season. Being one of the most competitive two-wheeled race series in the world, BSB features some of the best riders from the UK and abroad, none more-so than Airways Yamaha rider Leon Camier. Camier currently enjoys a substantial lead (99.5 points) over team mate James Ellison, who sits second in the race for the title, and with only 75 points up for grabs after Silverstone, Camier is likely to be crowned 2009 Champion at the circuit. Silverstone, which will host MotoGP next year, is investing more than £5 million on improvements, including changes to the track, spectator and viewing facilities. A new section of track will make it one of the longest, fastest and most challenging bike circuits in the world. Randy Mamola, winner of the 1980 and 1984 Grands Prix at Silverstone, will be joining former British World Championship riders Steve Parrish, Jeremy McWilliams, Niall MacKenzie and Rob McElnea for two Q&A and autograph sessions with the BSB fans at Silverstone(Sunday). In addition, a number of Britain’s current 125cc MotoGP riders will be looking ahead to next year’s MotoGP at the track, including Bradley Smith. Eurosport commentator Toby Moody will be hosting the Q&A sessions. In addition to two Superbike races, on-track action from the Fuchs-Silkolene BritishSupersport, Metzeler Racetec National Superstock and Relentless British 125GP championships will all ensure a packed weekend of top class racing, along with racing from the National F2 Sidecar Challenge and Focused Events KTM RC8 Super Cup. There will be free access to trackside grandstands plus three giant TV screens, located at Luffield, Abbey and Copse. In addition to the aforementioned Q&A and autograph sessions there will be displays from the Bold Dog Freestyle motocross team and the Red Devils Freefall parachute team as well as performances by extreme stunt rider Craig Jones and the Globe of Death motorcycle stunt show. Race Day (Sunday) and Weekend Tickets are available to purchase in advance for as little as £23 and £27 respectively. Tickets will also be available on the day, priced at £30 for the Sunday and £20 for qualifying on Saturday. Admission is free for children aged 15 and under*. All tickets include general admission, free access to trackside grandstands and free parking. For further information, or to book tickets for the penultimate round of the MCE British Superbike Championship at Silverstone on 26-27 September, visit www.silverstone.co.uk, or contact the ticket hotline on 08704 588 260. Race day hospitality can be booked by calling 08704 588 230. 16-09-09
Saloons – Isla Cox won her first race in the LMS Euro Saloons and Sports cars at Oulton Park last weekend. Cox, whose SEAT Cupra had been running in a solid second place inherited the lead when Joss Ronchetti’ Talbot Sunbeam Lotus hit differential problems late on leaving Cox with a 3 second lead over Tim Evans Impreza. By the flag she had stretched this to 3.7secs to take a well deseverd victory. Brett Walker meanwhile won Class E and with it the Championship title. Chris Maries had his first win of the year at Mallory Park on Sunday. It wasn’t only his first win in the Performance N’ Economy Chip Sports Saloons it was his car’s as well. After leading the entire race Maries crossed the line to take a first outright win for the MK Indy marque.
LMS - Harold Primat finished his season in the LMS with Aston Martin Racing at Silverstone in the Autosport 1000kms on Sunday. He ands his co-driver Darren Turner brought their 009 Aston home in fourth place, exactly the same position they finished in the Championship. They had looked on course to win the final race of the year before a mid-race puncture forced them to alter their strategy
15-09-09 Karts - Harry Crawley entered round five of six on the Super 1 calendar at Shenington in Oxfordshire with high expectations, having secured a top ten finish around the super-fast circuit on his only previous visit in FKS this time last year
Minis - Congratulations are due to Mighty Minis Champion Chris Morgan and Ladies Champion Louise Inch who secured their respective titles at the BRSCC Oulton Park meeting last Saturday. Meanwhile, down at Brands Hatch on the same day Tom Roche completed the formality of his Mazda MX5 Championship title, where the well supported series were guesting at a SEMSEC meeting. All BRSCC champions will be guests of the club at the 2009 dinner dance & awards evening which is at the Holiday Inn, Stratford-upon-Avon on Saturday 20th February 2010.
With just over a month until the BRSCC Formula Ford Festival the annual end of season event is shaping up nicely with entry levels looking like the best in recent years. One competitor who will be lining up in the Kent category is Ulsterman Noel Robinson who won his place on the grid with an amazing victory at the Kirkistown Martin Donnelly Trophy race late last month. The occasional racer, who also plays professional football in Ireland , looked an unlikely winner when he qualified 22nd on the grid via the Last Chance race but deterred he fought his way through the field to take the chequered flag and a shot at Festival glory. The iconic Brands Hatch event has always attracted a strong Irish entry so the Portadown man will be in familiar company. Other News - Want to know how fast you were on the track? And more importantly, do you want to know how to go even faster? A Race Technology data logger is your answer. The DL1 data logger is a plug and play solution that offers accuracy far beyond its price tag. Using the DL1 will help you analyse your lap and sector times, compare your braking points and through the built in accelerometer get a quantifiable answer to how much grip there is out on the track. The DL1 is also expandable and can accept up to 13 inputs, to collect data from for example steering input or brake pressure sensors amongst others. The DL1 can also record your rpm and info rmation from engine sensors, either by connecting them directly to the logger or by using an ECU interface available separately. But sometimes it is not enough to know how quick you were going after the fact, knowing your lap and sector times on the track can be crucial to getting pole position. Race Technology has several solutions to this, all of which are based around a data logger to provide the lap timing info rmation. Anything from a simple combined shift light and lap timer to a full on backlit LCD panel, which also happens to be road legal is available. To complete the data logging system Race Technology also offer the VIDEO4 video recording system, when this is coupled with a Race Technology data logger it opens up a new dimension in race analysis. Video from up to 4 cameras and data are fully synchronised and stored on a single memory card for fast analysis. Not only that, but it also comes with software to configure graphic overlays and even burn DVD’s at a click of a button. For more info rmation visit RACE TECHNOLOGY Saloons - News was announced last week that the Ford XR Challenge, current sponsored by BRS Recovery, will expand to four classes for the 2010 race season. At present there are two classes covering the mid 1980s Ford Fiesta XR2 and Ford Escort XR3i, and these will be joined by the Fiesta 1600 Zetec (year 2000 model year) and Fiesta ST. All will run on the control Yokohama A048 'road' tyres. Championship organiser Kevin Shortis said, "The XR Challenge is predominantly based in the North West with the majority of rounds at Oulton Park and Anglesey . We have had a lot of interest from potential competitors based in the area who have these newer models and would like to join the series. By creating these two extra classes we are giving them an opportunity to do just that so we expect a good take up to bolster the solid grids we currently enjoy." Draft regulations are being finalised and any competitor who would like more info rmation should contact Ford Racing UK by email at fordracinguk@aol.com .Further info rmation about the XR Challenge can be found at: FORD XR CHALLENGE Britcar - It is now just over two weeks until the Britcar 500 at Silverstone on Saturday 4th October and Britcar is offering a special ticket deal to all teams competing at the annual endurance race. Each team is allocated 5 tickets as part of their entry but additional tickets can be purchased from Britcar in batches of 20 only at £ 5.00 plus VAT each for a weekend entry ticket. To take advantage of this offer please book with Claire Williams at Britcar on 01252 834377 by the 18th September. The organisers have provisionally booked funfairs, children's inflatable's, face painters, trade stands, simulators, street entertainers, jazz bands, singers etc and therefore a full entertainment package for drivers to bring their families along. For more information about the meeting visit BRITCAR 500 Goodwood - Motor Sport Circuit Guide will be attending the Goodwood Revival this coming weekend (September 18th, 19th and 20th) with an exhibition space opposite the entrance to Bonhams Auction. The publishers will be promoting their motoring media channels as well as hosting several themed picnics throughout the three days. They will be organising many exciting activities, competitions and events throughout the Goodwood Revival weekend - it will be the only place to be!. For more info rmation visit: www.motorsportcircuitguide.com
Nick Padmore will be stepping back into the past this weekend as the prestigious Goodwood Revival returns for its eleventh annual dose. Padmore, who has a full-time campaign racing prototypes in the French V de V Championship, will race his privately-entered 1965 Mini Cooper S, which has enjoyed successful outings this season at the Masters Historic at Brands Hatch and the Silverstone Classic in July. Saturday will see Padmore qualifying for Part 2 of the 25-minute St. Mary's Trophy which will take place on Sunday and is regarded as one of the world's most popular motorsport events. Part 1 of the St. Mary's Trophy takes place on Saturday with a celebrity driver behind the wheel of the Mini, in the shape of former F1 and 1970 Le Mans 24hrs winner, Richard Attwood. Also taking part in the race will be Derek Bell, Jochen Mass, and Jackie Oliver. Attwood drove for BRM, Lotus and Cooper in a F1 career that spanned five years, in tandem with sportscars between 1964-1984. Arguably his greatest achievement was in 1970,when he won the Le Mans 24hrs in a now-classic Porsche 917K. "I'm ecstatic to be racing in the Goodwood Revival", commented Padmore. "We weren't sure whether we would get an entry until about ten days or so ago, so it's been manic getting everything sorted. The Revival is just a momentous event. I've been before but haven't had the opportunity to be invited to race until now so I can't wait to just be there. Historic racing is something I've always enjoyed being a part of, and just looking around some of the cars in the paddock will be amazing enough."Having Richard (Attwood) onboard for the Celebrity Race on Saturday is fantastic. He's been a friend of my Dad's for years - it only started off as a small joke to get him in the car for Goodwood, but now it's all in place and the Mini will have a bit more history attached to it!"
Karim Ajlani
Porsche - SC Global have signed Danny Watts to race in the Porsche SC Global Carrera Cup Asia at the 2009 Formula 1 SingTel Singapore Grand Prix. Singapore's leading luxury residential property developer, SC Global Developments Limited is delighted to once again partner Porsche Asia Pacific for this year's event on September 27th at the Singapore Grand Prix. Watts has had a chance to tackle the Marina Bay circuit in the Aston Martin support race last year. Commented Danny Watts: "Racing for SC Global Racing in their home event in Singapore with the support of their guests is a great honour. Singapore was the most impressive racetrack I have ever experienced. The atmosphere was second to none in terms of how close an individual can get to the track - you can almost lean over the barrier and touch heroes like Kimi Raikkonen and Lewis Hamilton. It's unreal !" He added: "Street circuits take no prisoners. Any small mistake and you are in the wall. The Marina Bay circuit itself is very challenging because it is a normal road that has both fast and slow corners, and chicanes, which makes getting the perfect set up very difficult."
Formula Vee - Chad Van Beurden produced another polished performance in the South African Formula Vee Championship. The fifteen year old not only started from pole but took two race wins and the fastest lap at the tight 1.6 Km SCC Lichtenburg Raceway, in the North West Province. Formula Renault – SG Formula’s Jean-Eric Vergne beat local hero Albert Costa in the latest rounds Formula Renault 2.0 West European Cup in Valencia. Costa, driving for Epsilon Euskadi now leads the Championship by just 11 points from Vergne with 2 races left to run. In the FFSA French Formula Renault 2.0 Championship Nathanael Berthon (Epsilon Euskadi) clinched the title .. The seventh round of the Formula Renault 2.0 Northern European Cup will take place on the 19th and 20th of September at the Nurburgring. The 13th and 14th race of the 2009 season will be held among the good company of the World Series by Renault programme, including Formula Renault 2.0 EUROCUP, Formula Renault 3.5 and the Eurocup Megane Trophy. Portuguese Antonio Felix da Costa has strengthened his lead in the overall standings through his win at the Truck GP weekend in Most, almost three weeks ago. He is now 74 points ahead of Kevin Magnussen in second position. If Felix da Costa wins one and takes the minimum of a fifth place or higher in the other race, he will be able to secure his title in the Northern European Cup. WTCC - The 2009 FIA WTCC is set to establish a new record in TV ratings, according to the recent intermediary study released by the German Independent Institute IFM *. It showed that after 7 out of the 12 race meetings, a global audience of 313 million viewers watched the races of the series' fifth season. These figures, compared to the total audience of 350 millions for the entire 2008 season, are testament to the growing worldwide popularity of the championship, which also resulted in an increase in worldwide press, web and TV coverage and event attendance. The WTCC is now covered by 75 TV networks over more than 160 countries and the contribution of Eurosport, the n°1 pan-European TV channel & official media partner of the series, represents 10% of this intermediary cumulative audience, showing that the TV coverage of WTCC is growing all over the world. IFM is an independent German company, appointed by Eurosport Events to track WTCC international feed on a global basis and deliver media ROI studies to WTCC stakeholders.
I 14-09-09 Mini Challenge - Scott Bargwanna and his ROCK Energy Drinks team didn’t have a great weekend at Phillip Island in the Australian Mini Challenge. After a fourth place in the opening race on Saturday, he chose the wrong tyres for race 2, using wets on a drying track. This dropped him to eighth at the flag before he bounced back in the final encounter with another fourth place finish.
Team ORECA-Matmut-AIM took the chequered flag to win the Autosport 1000kms at Silverstone in LMP1 with the Speedy Racing Team Sebah taking their first win of the season in LMP2. Gigawave Motorsport took the luarels in GT1 and JMW Motorsport ruled GT2. Team Oreca-Matmut AIM was back, after missing the German race with a first victory for Nicolas Lapierre and Olivier Panis. The pair started from the pole and had an almost flawless race.
OAK Racing Team Mazda France made it four podium finishes from the last five races in 2009 as Jacques Nicolet and Richard Hein took a fine third place in the LMP2 class during the final round of the Le Mans Series at Silverstone.
Benoît Tréluyer returned to the familiar surroundings of Team Motul-Autech at Fuji Speedway at the weekend in the Super GT series. There he helped helped the reigning champions regain the lead in the with a fine second place finish Lucas Ordoñez, the Spanish winner of PlayStation® and Nissan’s GT Academy competition in 2008, capped an incredible year on Sunday, 13 Sept when he and team-mate Alex Buncombe took a race victory to secure second place in the European GT4 Cup championship. The victory also sealed the team title for GT Academy partners RJN Motorsport. The result was a clear demonstration of PlayStation and Nissan’s belief that true racing talent could be unearthed from among PlayStation’s legion of Gran Turismo® game fans. Some strong results throughout the season, including three second places and a win, saw Ordoñez and Buncombe take their RJN Motorsport Nissan 350Z into the final round of the season six points off series leader Joe Osborne. Their hopes of catching him suffered some bad luck however. Despite their track time on the new Algarve circuit being limited by an engine change, Buncombe managed to qualify on pole for race one. But luck was against them as an electrical failure put them out before the start.. Second for Osborne was enough to secure the title. Starting the second race fromfifth on the grid, Ordoñez shot through to second by the first corner. Good drives all round saw them take the win and head the tight fight for the runner up spot in the championship. Commenting on his debut season, Lucas Ordoñez said: “This has been the most amazing 18 months. When I look back at what has happened to me since I entered the online part of GT Academy on my PS3 there are just too many fantastic moments to list.The whole experience has been like a dream. And what an amazing weekend, full of the ups and downs of racing. To finish with a win and second in the championship in my first year’s racing is great. I cannot thank Nissan and PlayStation enough for this opportunity. My team-mate Alex Buncombe and RJN Motorsport have been fantastic as well, and it is great that we won the team title. There is no doubt that GT Academy has changed my life.” Porsche Carrera Cup GB - Steve Parish is the latest driver to race in the 2009 Porsche Carrera Cup GB, starting at Rockingham this weekend (19/20 September) with Motorbase Performance. Parish (44), not to be confused with the motorbike commentator of the same name, has worked with the Motorbase team to prepare for the challenge of the Carrera Cup and acquire the necessary National A race licence. "It's 12 months exactly since I started," explained London-based Parish. "Before that I'd only done some karting. I've done plenty of laps in the Porsche now and we tested at Rockingham last week. That went well." Parish will race in the pro-am2 category and he has realistic aims for his first weekend at this level. "The aims aren't too extravagant and we're not expecting too much. It is a massive step up." The Motorbase squad has been working with Parish to build his experience and complete sufficient races to upgrade his licence. "We've been working with Steve since last September," said team boss David Bartrum. "He's been working hard through the summer and he's a very determined driver. He ran strongly in the test last week." If all goes to plan, Parish will use the final two weekends of the 2009 season as a lead-in to a full Carrera Cup programme in 2010. "The idea is to see how we go and then do a full season next year," he said. "It just depends how it goes and how I feel."
Radicals - Reigning McLaren Autosport BRDC Young driver of the Year Alexander Sims gave a display of his undoubted talents, by taking his works run SR8 to a double victory on his sports car racing debut.
Karts - This weekend is the final round of another hugely successful and competitive Easykart UK Championship. Two titles (in the Junior and Heavy classes) will go to the wire, whilst reigning Light Champion Terry Langley, could make history as the first driver to retain his crown. Full grids are expected in the senior categories and the Ellough circuit will almost certainly guarantee fantastic, close racing.  RFM's
Robert Foster-Jones
was in scintillating form in the penultimate round of the British Super
1 series at Larkhall Never headed all weekend, his twin
triumphs in Scotland on Sunday(13 Sept) have propelled him into title
contention .13-09-09
Formula 3 - Daniel Ricciardo clinched the Cooper Tires British Formula 3 International Series championship title in fine style today (Sun 13 Sept) at the new Algarve circuit in Portugal. The Australian 20-year-old took a maximum-points finish in the first of the day's races, and claimed a fourth-place finish in race two, enough to lift the crown beyond the reach of any of his rivals. Ricciardo wasn't the winner of Round 17 that honour went to invitation class driver Jules Bianchi who also won Round 18. Invitation class drivers aren’t eligible for points. Daniel McKenzie took the the National class title. Formula Ford - Nick Percat is the 2009 Genuine Ford Parts Australian Formula Ford Champion after he won the second race of the weekend at Phillip Island. It was just as well he did it in race 2 for in a wet third race he went off, finishing out of the points for the first time this season. Chaz Mostert took the win, his first of the year.
IFM - Alexander Rossi's International Masters Season continued last weekend with a fourth and a seventh place finishes at Oschersleben in Germany. At the start of the first race Alexander had challenged Fabio Leimer for the lead before going wide, this dropped him to fourth where he remained for the rest of the race. In the second race he was forced onto the grass while trying to pass Sergey Afanasiev, he recoverd in seventh where he finished 12-09-09 ATCS - Cheung Chi Sing had a brilliant end to his day at the Bira International Circuit on Saturday 12 Sept when he claimed a pole to flag win ahead of Adrian Henry D’Silva and Gary Sham. The top three finishers all had a fantastic race with Cheung managing a great clean start and immediately began pulling away from the rest of the pack. The Team IMSP-S&D driver managed to control his pace and pulled a big gap halfway through the race.
Formula Ford - Nick Percat has one hand on the Genuine Ford Parts Australian Formula Ford Championship title after winning the first of 3 races in Round 7 at Phillip Island today(Saturday). Percat and his Sonic Racing Team –mate Mitch Evans dominated the race scoring a 1-2 ahead of Borrland racing’s Scott Pye.
The FIA WTCC travels to Imola, Italy, on 19-20 September, for the last European race weekend of 2009, before moving to Asia for the four last rounds of the season. The Autodromo Enzo and Dino Ferrari will play host to rounds 19 and 20. Imola, once known for its high speed corners, has now been emasculated with chicanes in order to improve safety and quell fears of serious accidents. The result is a circuit which proves little to test the quality of the Yokohama Tyres, as the manufacturer has worked hard over the last three seasons to develop tyres, which are versatile enough to handle different track dynamics. “Imola is one of the easier circuits we visit,” said Yokohama’s Technical Consultant, Ian Beveridge. “If you take a look at the calendar, there are tracks like Oschersleben where we have to cope with severe braking and Pau where the cars are really riding the kerbs. We have developed a tyre that works well throughout the WTCC calendar, and now have several seasons under our belt. So when we visit somewhere like Imola we know the tyre is going to give the high-performance that is expected. Even if it was to stop raining on the grid, we are confident that the wets would allow drivers to get through the race on a drying track. Our job has been to develop a high-end product which keeps the cars on the asphalt, so spectators can enjoy the great racing WTCC offers. Whether it is wet, dry or anywhere in between we are confident that our YOKOHAMA product will deliver good performance.” Carrera Cup GB – Karting star Tiffany Chittenden will make her debut in the 2009 Porsche Carrera Cup GB in the next two races at Rockingham (19/20 September), after being invited to race the VIP car from Porsche Motorsport. The 28-year old from Kent is one of Britain's most accomplished kart racers, having started racing at the age of 12. She currently races in the European Championship, but is keen to make the switch to cars having raced a variety of single-seaters and sports cars over the last four seasons. Chittenden is working on backing for a full season in the Carrera Cup in 2010 and says the chance to race the VIP car at Rockingham is a massive opportunity. "The Carrera Cup is what I want to do next year and we're working on raising the budget. "Racing cars has always been the dream and I'm really grateful to Porsche for such an opportunity. I want to do well, but I've got to be realistic," she said. "I know it's going to be a steep learning curve and I've got so much top learn in three days." She also has to learn the Rockingham circuit, where she has not yet raced.
Grand Prix Shootout - The race to find a future F1 star continued this week with 11 more hopefuls attending the latest Grand Prix Shootout event on Tuesday and Wednesday (September 8/9). Bruntingthorpe Proving Ground once again provided the setting for some of junior motorsport’s brightest stars to show off their skills at the wheel of Fiat’s new Abarth 500. Driver coach to the stars Rob Wilson, as well as A1GP Team GB drivers Robbie Kerr and Danny Watts, put the all through their paces, while former IRL champion and Indy 500 winner Kenny Brack, not to mention USF1 chief Peter Windsor, were on hand to offer the drivers additional helpful advice. Among those attempting to claim their seat in the final were reigning British Formula Renault UK champion Adam Christodoulou, A1GP Team Ireland rookie Niall Quinn, Grand-AM regular Dion von Moltke and Skip Barber ace Filipe Polehtto, as well as a host of top UK karters. The nine most promising candidates from across each Shootout round will be invited to the final at Pembrey on November 23-25 where they will test a Raikkonen Roberston Racing-prepared Formula BMW Europe single seater. The driver who then demonstrates the greatest talent over those three days will be rewarded with a fully-paid drive in the F1-support series next season. The next Grand Prix Shootout round takes place on September 22/23 at Bruntingthorpe Proving Ground. 11-09-09 Pickups - Mickel Maintenance Man wins the day for sponsors. Sponsors MTS, PVL and Rennicks and their guests enjoyed the exciting last round of Pickup truck racing at the Rockingham Oval on Sunday 6th September, with John Mickel’s car 51 sporting distinctive promotional highways markings. PVL and Rennicks, who supply and manufacture highways markings, and MTS, suppliers of portable, variable messaging units, are looking forward to continuing the relationship into next years racing season. In the first race Mickel; just missed out on a top ten finish, with his power disadvantage proving critical. “I tried to race them and lost out, he explained. But despite giving away up to 20bhp to some of his rivals, Mickel was with the lead pack in the second race. “I was OK in the draft and could sit there, but when I lost out it took time to catch up again,” he said after finishing a strong ninth. The Asian Touring Car finale is this weekend in Thailand at the Bira International Circuit in Pattaya.. Rounds 8, 9 and 10 complete the season with Man Ting Yu leading the ATCS Championship by 6 points from his compatriot Cheung Chi Sing. However they will need to watch their backs as there are another 5 drivers who could take the title.
The WTCC Title contenders will run on the same weight next week at Imola. BMW drivers and their competitors in the SEAT turbodiesels will have the maximum 40-kgs ballast on board. The SEAT León TDI emerged as the fastest during the German weekend, due in part to the changeable weather conditions in the qualifying session on Saturday. According to the calculations based on lap times set in the three previous events (Porto, Brands Hatch and Oschersleben) BMW and SEAT remain on the maximum ballast while the Chevrolet move down to +20kg, 10 kilos less than in Germany. Alessandro Zanardi's BMW 320si (equipped with a sequential gearbox), the SEAT León TFSI and the LADA Priora will have 20kg deducted from the minimum weight. James Thompson and Mehdi Bennani will rejoin the championship in Imola. Thompson will be back at the wheel of his LADA Priora car after team principal Viktor Shapovalov ran it at Oschersleben. Thompson had a previous commitment to race in the Australian V8 Supercars championship at Phillip Island. Bennani and Exagon Engineering return to the WTCC with their SEAT León after skipping Brands Hatch and Oschersleben. Their best result so far is victory in the Independents' class on their debut at Marrakech.
Andrea Larini, younger brother of Chevrolet driver Nicola, has won a place at Imola after he emerged as the best scoring driver during the SEAT Eurocup meeting at Oschersleben last Sunday. Larini will drive a SUNRED Engineering SEAT León. Fabio Fabiani will team with Félix Porteiro at Proteam Motorsport in a BMW 320si.
Saloons - The Bathurst 12 Hour Showroom Enduro has given the "thumbs up" to the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia as the official charity for the production based motor racing endurance event to be held 12 – 14 February 2010. The Foundation is funding research into the cause, diagnosis, prevention and treatment of prostate cancer. Bathurst 12 Hour Promoter James O'Brien is confident collaboration with the Event will help aid this. "It's a very important cause and we are glad to recognise the Foundation as our official charity. I'm confident that competitors and visitors will all get behind this great cause," said O'Brien. Prostate Cancer NSW State Manager Wendy Farrow will head up the awareness and activities that will run over the weekend and is pleased to be a part of the Event. "It's our first time at the Event and we are very excited. It's a great opportunity to connect with men on a valuable message." The Formula Renault 2.0 West European Cup will be run alongside the FFSA Super Series in 2010 with six events in France and one in Spain. There will also be an event in the World Series by Renault meeting in either Barcelona or Motorland Aaragon. In France, three races will also be held very near the Spanish border. Patrick Sinault, the promoter Formula Renault 2.0 West European Cup explains: "By choosing the FFSA Super Series, the Formula Renault 2.0 WEC gives itself an excellent shop window, and the fact that three events will be held near the Spanish border -- Nogaro, Pau, and Albi or Ledenon - is a plus. 10-09-09 The Volkswagen Racing Cup in association with Hankook is all set for a thrilling finale next weekend (19/20 Sep) at Brands Hatch, where a four-way showdown for championship honours is in prospect. Leading the title challengers to Brands is reigning champion Joe Fulbrook, who's out in front 72-points in frpont of his RP Motorsport team-mate, Steve Chaplin.
Joey Foster will make his ATS Formula 3 Cup comeback in just over a week at the Sachsenring,. The 26-year old currently leads the Australian Formula 3 Championship will race the Dallara Volkswagen No 8 entered by Team Performance Racing. "I'm convinced that Joey is going to be quick right away and I know that our team can benefit from his experience," says Team Principal Bobby Issazadhe. Nonetheless, Joey Foster will have to cope with a difficult task as he neither knows the Volkswagen engine nor the Sachsenring. He raced in the ATS Formula 3 Cup in 2006, running second in the points with 4 wins, until an accident during for the EuroSpeedway Lausitz race ended his season. There he crashed backwards into the concrete wall, suffering a fracture of the third lumbar vertebra. It took 4 operations to mend the injury ending his season there and then. In 2007-8 he made only sporadic appearances, in GT and F3 tests plus the Le Mans 24-Hours..
Former motocross ace Alex Martin will step up to the 2009 Porsche Carrera Cup GB for the next two races at Rockingham (19/20 September), racing with the GT Marques team of Paul Mace. The 22-year old racer from Somerset only started racing Porsches earlier this season, but has already shown excellent pace in the GT Cup and is now eager to make the next step up the racing ladder. He will contest the final two Carrera Cup GB weekends of 2009 at Rockingham and Brands Hatch as a lead-in towards a full campaign in 2010. "I used to compete in motocross to a high standard, but I picked up a lot of injuries," said Martin, who raced on two wheels for six years, often racing every other weekend. Encouraged to switch to cars by his father Rupert, Alex started racing a 996-model 911GT3 Cup car at the start of the 2009 season. Now, they have added a latest 997-model car to the squad so that Rupert can do some races in the older car. "I'm after a bit more competition and I'm definitely up for the move to the Carrera Cup," said Martin, who will race in the pro-am1 category. "I can't wait to get out and I'm testing with Tim Harvey next week. The whole family is into Porsches, so it was definitely the right choice," said Martin.
Formula Renault -The fourth round of the 2009 AFR Championship will take place next weekend at the Chengdu International Circuit in the Sichuan province of China. Luis Sa Silva, Benjamin Rouget and Luca Ferigutti will be driving once again for Asia Racing Team, two weeks after the two consecutive victories in Shanghai. The 3.367 km clockwise circuit features a long front straight and 13 turns, the track is likely to promote overtaking due to its wide nature. None of the three ART drivers have driven on the track before but are confident ofa good result. ART Team manager Philippe Descombes: "We're heading to a venue that is an unknown quantity for most of us and we are talking about a very technical track. This last part of the season starting in Chengdu is going to be exciting for everyone but at the same time it means greater pressure and consequently more responsibility is required. We will look at every single race individually but Benjamin and Luis are definitely title contenders. They need to be on top-3 in Chengdu if they want to be champions, and that's where we want to be. For Luca the target is different. He is improving race after race, and he count on him to help us in this second half of the season".
The FIA GT3
Championship gets back on track
this weekend after a long summer break for rounds seven and
eight at the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve in Portugal. CRS
Racing has Klaas Hummel and Chris Goodwin in the No 55
Ferrari as usual, but this round sees Danny van Dongen join the
team alongside Phil Quaife. Dongen, from Holland, is
standing in for Robert Hissom who is otherwise engaged.
Chris Goodwin commented on the circuit. “The track is a
big surprise the first time you go there as it is hidden away.
It’s hard to believe it when you come off the motorway and find
a very impressive race track tucked away. I really like the
track. It’s very imaginative with some fantastic and unusual
corners. With so many of today’s circuits being so similar
it is refreshing to go to the Algarve track where a lot of the
corners are unique. I particularly like the high-speed
straight that comes off a fast corner and has a good overtaking
opportunity at the end. Mix all this in with lots of
elevation changes and I think we will have a great GT3 race on
our hands.” Phil Quaife, who did a good job for the team at the
Spa 24 Hours this summer, is looking forward to a couple of
rollercoaster races this weekend. “I’m looking forward to the
next round of the FIA GT3 Championship after a long break
following the Spa 24 Hours,” said Phil. “It will be great
to be back in the seat and especially at the new circuit in the
Algarve, where we tested at the beginning of the season. I think
it will suit the Ferrari quite well, if we nail the set-up in
testing. My first impressions of the circuit were that it
is similar to a ride at Alton Towers: very undulating and pretty
demanding. I have a new team mate for this event and I am
looking forward to working with him and pushing hard for the
best result possible.”
National Championship Formula Vee racing returns to the South Africa’s North West Province this weekend when the tight 1,6Km SCC Lichtenberg Raceway hosts the seventh round of the 2009 South African National Formula Vee Championship. As well as the two 20 lap National Championship Races, for the 1400cc Citi Golf powered single seaters, the day's program also includes Regional Championship Races for Formula GTi single seaters, Goldwagen Volkswagen Challenge saloon cars and Lotus Challenge, with Club Championship Races for Historic Racing Cars and Formula Libra/M single seaters, rounded off by an Opel Owners Club, demonstration event. Heading the Formula Vee field will be three times South African National Formula Vee Champion Alan Holm along with ex-Champions Peter Hills and Symm Grobler. Others who should be mixing it with these three ex-Champs are Jaco Schriks, Cape Town based development driver Courtney Steenveld, fifteen year old ex Karter Chad Van Beurden, Trevor Bland and the other development driver, Durban’s Zaahir Essa . This time however they will have to contend with back markers a lot earlier in the race, and a lot more often, due to the short Lichtenburg lap. All the drivers will also be changing gears a lot more often as well for Lichtenburg is the only circuit in the country where Vee competitors are known to finish a race with a blister in the palm of hand! Not far behind the lead bunch should be Gareth, Jannie Geyser Jnr , Ben Pienaar, Nicholas Tennent Alan Eustice and Luca Caderle, all fighting over the remaining points scoring positions. Also capable of getting in amongst the last group should be Paul Venter, Nico Blignaut and Jason Campos. Rounding out the field and hoping to also secure a good result, with be Henk Swanepoel , Hugo Wallendorf, Mile Stewart and Chandre Kruger. There is also the possibility, that Gregory Wilson will be making his Formula Vee debut, at Lichtenbourg, in the ex Dennis Johns Rhema 2. Saloons - The Castrol Canadian Touring Car Championship presented by Toyo Tires closed out it's season this past weekend at the Le Circuit ICAR just north of Montreal with two action packed 40-minute races that would decide the championship for both Super Touring & Touring Car classes.
Karts - British title challenger James Singleton warmed up for the 2009 national Super 1 Series finale with a brace of superb performances, including a victory at PF International in Lincolnshire last week. A1GP World Cup of Motorsport has confirmed they will complete their traditional pre-season testing at Queensland Raceway on 19th of October ahead of the Nikon SuperGP at Surfers Paradise. Nikon SuperGP General Manager Greg Hooton said he couldn't wait to see A1GP on Australian soil. "With A1GP unveiling their cars for the first time this season at Queensland Raceway, the motorsport celebration for South East Queensland will kick off even earlier," said Hooton. "It is great news to see A1GP heading Down Under even earlier than expected, to test out their cars before they take to the streets of Surfers Paradise for the first time on Thursday October 22." A1GP Chairman Tony Teixeira said he was delighted there was testing in Australia prior to the event. "We always have a pre-season test and this year have decided on doing it in situ rather than before they leave the UK," said Teixeira. "Our operations team felt this was the way to go and so it was great to find a perfect circuit so close to Surfers. This means our cars will do even more miles on Australian turf. With us now on the 50 day countdown the excitement is mounting for this landmark event for our series." 08-09-09
07-09-09 V de V - Dijon 6 hours. Motor sport involves risks and all of the enthusiasts taking part, drivers, mechanics, track marshals and all officials are aware of this. Unfortunately, in spite of everything a track marshal lost his life at the Dijon Prenois track last weekend. Eric Van de Vyver and the whole of his team, paid homage to the track marshalls, sharing their grief and offering their support. The ASAC Bourgogne and the Dijon Prenois track, have lost one of their most long-standing marshals but, in his memory, decided to continue with the event. The “Dijon 6 hours” is now christened Denis Lelièvre whose passion for the sport was just as strong as that of the competitors themselves.
Formula 3 – Manor Motorsport didn’t have the best of times at Brnads Hatch over the weekend. Their lead driver Roberto Mehri got stuck in traffic in then two races, both of which were hit by safety car periods… Formula 2 - Mikhail Aleshin took his debut victory in Formula Two in the second race at Oschersleben on Sunday after he had spent to entire race holding off Andy Soucek and Julien Jousse. IN Saturday’s race Andy Soucek scored a dominant victory from pole after mayhem at the start removed some of the front runners and relegated several more to the back of the grid. After a safety car period, Soucek held onto his lead to win by more than 6 seconds from Mirko Bortolotti, in second and Kazim Vasiliauskas in third.
Mini Challenge - The Bargwanna Motorsport ROCK Energy Drinks team are keen to go all out to chase down second spot on the Mini Challenge scoreboard this weekend at Phillip Island in support of the L&H 500 V8 Supercar endurance race. Currently sitting third in the points, Scott Bargwanna will be going after Grant Denyer’ second place and runaway Series leader, Paul Stokell. The Como (NSW) based cousin of Team Principal and Sprint Gas Racing V8 Supercar driver, Jason, had his preparation interrupted for Phillip Island, when his daughter was admitted to hospital with a kidney problem. “That is a real wake up call and really puts into perspective that racing cars isn’t that important in the overall scheme of things,” Scott said. “Thankfully she’s on the mend now, but it has affected my preparation a little, I can assure you.” The team – who were still bolting bits onto the car at Sandown after Scott’s massive turn one shunt at Townsville – have had more time to go through the car and get it ready for the fast flowing Island circuit. “We found some things, mainly in the suspension that we had to work on, so we’ve done that and we’ll be good to go. The team went well there last year – Jason did the clean sweep and I was leading the second race until I put a wheel off at Southern Loop. We’d like it to be more of the same and bring home that win, which seems to be eluding us at the moment.” Team-mate, Brendon ‘BJ’ Cook continues his MINI Challenge ‘master class’ at Phillip Island – yet another circuit he’s yet to visit. Nevertheless, BJ is taking his usual charismatic approach. “When I came into Mini Challenge, I knew it was going to be a tough ask to be competitive straight away. My aim was to bring the car home in one piece each race and consistently finish in the top 10 – so far, so good. “I want to keep that run going and if I can be knocking on the door of the top half dozen and maintain my spot in the Championship around sixth or seventh, then I’ll be happy.” The ROCK Energy Drinks MINI Challenge team will compete in three x 20 minute races across the Sandown weekend. One of those races will be telecast LIVE around Australia on the Seven Network, with a 30 minutes highlights package to air the week following. Aussie V8 - ROCK Brand Ambassador and Team Principal, Jason Bargwanna, goes into the year’s first V8 Supercar endurance race brimful of confidence. Experienced campaigner, Mark Noske will line up alongside him, whilst the other Sprint Gas car will see five times Bathurst Champion, Mark Skaife saddle up alongside four times Bathurst Champ, Greg Murphy. Add Bargwanna’s one Bathurst win to those and you have the winningest garage (in terms of Bathurst wins) anywhere on pitlane. “Testing was good for us at Winton just before the last round at Queensland Raceway, so we’re pretty fired up for the endurance races,” he said. “I’m hopeful at Phillip Island we can bring it home in the top 10. “We have put ourselves under pressure and we want nothing less than a top six result in the next two races.” Formula Renault – Apotex Scorpio Motorsport’s Kieren Clark has wonthe 2009 Protyre Formula Renault BARC Championship after the latest two rounds at Rockingham. He also klnotched up his eighth win of the year when he won the first race of the weekend. Josh Mulholland won race 2 after Clarke and his Championshiop rival Dino Zamparelli had a coming togther at the start . Kieren Clark’s Ttile in the 2009 Protyre Formula Renault BARC Championship was done with yet another win at the weekend…The Apotex Scorpio Motorsport team had to fight off Dino Zamparelli and a restart to win but he came through to take the flag with 2 seconds to spare.
Hillspeed’s Ahmad Al Harthy made a welcome return to the Protyre Formula Renault BARC podium at Rockingham on Sunday giving him a chance at the runner-up spot in the Championnship. IHis team-mate Janes Theodore had looked likely to take a seond place in race 2 before an off dropped him down the order.
LMS
– Speedy Racing Team Sabah
06-09-09
The next rounds of the Ford Fiesta championship are at Lydden Hill in Kent on 3rd/4th October. Nick Sanderson’s usual partner in the Kemster Ford / Orion Engineering backed team, John Findlay, won’t be driving due to work commitments so Kempster Ford Director, Ian Fletcher will be making a return to the series with Fiesta Si regular Alan Donnelly making his Fiesta ST debut in the NSR hire car.
WTCC - BMW cars made the most out of their home race meeting at Oschersleben with Andy Priaulx and Augusto Farfus sharing the victories today(Sunday). The Briton won the first from SEAT Sport's Gabriele Tarquini and Rickard Rydell, ending a 15-month drought. Later Priaulx claimed another podium result, finishing second between Farfus and Tarquini. The results changed the championship table moving Tarquini into the lead with a slim one-point lead over Farfus. Yvan Muller, who had led since the first race of the season in Curitiba, slipped to third (7 points behind) after experiencing a tough weekend. The reigning World Champion has scored only four points in the last four races. One point is also all that separates SEAT from BMW in the Manufacturers' Championship, while Tom Coronel is the new leader of the Independents' Trophy thanks to two great races. At the time results of the first race are provisional as the Stewards are investigating an incident between Farfus and Yvan Muller, following a protest from SEAT Sport. The Stewards also penalised Nicola Larini a drive-through plus a drop of ten positions on the grid, the latter suspended for the next three events. Chevrolet’s driver was deemed responsible for causing the collision with Jaap van Lagen’s LADA Priora on the last lap of Race 1. The incident cost the Dutchman the chance to finish fifth, scoring LADA’s first points in the championship. Due to the drive-through (wich equates to 30 seconds added to his elapsed time) Larini is demoted from fifth to 15th in Oschersleben’s Race 1.
International Formula Master (IFM) can confirm its 2010 calendar with 14 races partnering the FIA World Touring Car Championship and live TV coverage from Eurosport until 2012. Revised regulations will enable drivers to run a full season in the Series (14 races plus 2 testing days) with funds of €200,000, whilst a new class, International Formula Master Light, will allow drivers to take part all year with a €150,000 budget. Superleague Formula – Estaban Guerrieri drving the Olympiacos car took the team’s first win in the opening Superleague Formula by Sonangol race at Estoril. He put in a late charge in the second half of the race to reclaim the lead from the Liverpoool car with just 3 minutes remaining after dropping to third during his pitstop.04-09-09
Masters at the Spa 6-Hours .The Spa 6-Hour meeting is always a great event, possibly one of the best in the historic calendar every year, with a wonderful atmosphere in the paddocks and a fine selection of historic cars racing. The variety alone makes it all worth while. The Masters Sportscars have a 60 minute race for WSM and SRM cars, and it already has a full grid including thirteen Lola T70’s, Chevron’s, Ferrari’s and GT40’s. There is the Gentleman Drivers GT & Sports Endurance Masters, a 2-hour race with a mandatory 2-driver regulation, a race that is always the finale for the 6-Hour weekend . This year there is the Grand Prix Masters – a double header of 25 minute races for GP cars from 1966 to 1984, a firm favourite with race fans. Top Hat All Series, a one-hour race open to cars from Pre-66 Touring cars, Cloth Cap, XK Challenge, Oldies and Stars of the 70s. The Masters Series are alos hoping to run a special 50th Mini Celebration Trophy. Of course there is also the 6 hours itself plus another 9 events! VW Cup - A racer who had to give up the sport he loved 10 years ago is to return to the track later this month thanks to the Volkswagen Racing Cup. Richard Styrin had to give up motorsport to concentrate on building his car sales business, but hopes his comeback in the 20 September Brands Hatch rounds of the Hankook-backed championship will be the catalyst for a full-time return to racing in 2010. "I'm incredibly excited to be racing again," said 39-year-old Richard. "I last competed in the 1990s and had to give it up for all the usual reasons - business, marriage, children and so on. I had been looking around for an opportunity to get back into the sport, and found the Volkswagen Racing Cup, which has proved ideal." Leeds-based Styrin has taken advantage of RacingLine's "arrive and drive" plan, which enables novices and returnees to the sport to take part without the expense and difficulties involved with preparing their own cars. It's a scheme from which many have benefited, including World Snooker Champion Ronnie O'Sullivan, who made his racing debut last month and who hopes to be on the grid again at Brands. Richard, 39, will drive a RacingLine-prepared Golf GTI in the Brands races, the final rounds of the 2009 championship season. Styrin was in the championship top three in the British 100cc TKM kart series in 1996 and '98, but is not expecting to be at the sharp end of the Volkswagen grid just yet. "I'm under no illusions at all that I'll be competing at the front; the aim is enjoy it and gain experience and hopefully to return for a full season next year."
Superleague Formula - PSV has signed Carlo van Dam as its new driver for the next three events of the Superleague Formula. Van Dam will have his first race for PSV at Estoril in Portugal this coming weekend. "With Carlo we have opted for a more experienced driver", says Marcel van den Bunder, who welcomed the new PSV-driver yesterday morning (Thursday) in the Philips soccer stadium in Eindhoven. From Estoril onwards, Van Dam replaces Dominick Muermans in PSV's Superleague Formula-car. Van Dam has been racing since he was eight years old and spent much of his childhood years at the karting track near Eindhoven Airport. His most significant recent achievements include winning the German and Japanese F3 titles in the last two years. "To join a championship in the middle of the season is never easy, but it is a spectacular series and the PSV-team seems to be well organised", Carlo says. "I hope to get them some good results in the remaining races and improve a bit more their position in the championship standings. I will try my best.I hope we can be on the podium", Carlo sums up his ambitions. "But I will be driving a car and in a series that are new to me, so the first event in Portugal will be a challenge no matter what." The Cooper Tires Presents The Atlantic Championship Powered by Mazda teams taking part the test day at Road Atlanta on Tuesday, Sept 22 will have the opportunity to test Cosworth Power To Pass in the day's first session. Cosworth pioneered the technology in 2004 for use in the turbocharged, 2.65-liter V8 engines used exclusively by Champ Car. Drivers utilize Cosworth Power To Pass by pressing a button on their steering wheel, which increases the engine's rpm and horsepower for a pre-determined amount of time. "Looking forward, we believe the addition of Cosworth Power To Pass will bring about more overtaking opportunities during our races," said Atlantic Championship technical director Eric Haverson. "The system worked very well on the Cosworth-powered Champ Car and really helped provide for some exciting racing. It offers the driver another tool to use during the race when trying to pass and should bring some interesting strategy into play for the teams as well." Cosworth has been preparing the 2.3-litre, 4-cylinder Mazda MZR engines used in the Atlantic Championship since 2006. The normally aspirated, 16-valve, fuel-injected engines currently produce up to 300 horsepower at 8,000 rpm and are capable of speeds in excess of 175 mph. The length of time one push of the Cosworth Power To Pass button will increase rpm and horsepower will correspond with the longest straightaway on the circuit. Cosworth Power To Pass will disengage as soon as the driver lifts off the throttle. Next up for the Atlantic Championship is Road Atlanta on 25 Sept at the 12th annual Petit Le Mans Simona De Silvestro currently leads the championship by 8 points over John Edwards with Jonathan Summerton a further 4 points adrift.
WTCC -
The WTCC resumes in Oschersleben after a six-week summer break. The German event opens the
final part of the season and it will be followed by the last
European meeting (Imola, 20th September) and the long leap to
the Far East (Okayama, 1st November and Macau, 22nd November).
The championship looks set for a grand finale, landing in
Oschersleben with a strong 27-car field. With 8 races to go, the
fight for the world titles is wide open. Three men are covered
by only six points in the Drivers’ Championship: Yvan Muller (82
points), Gabriele Tarquini (77) and Augusto Farfus (76). But
with 80 points still at stake, four others may also have a shot
at the title: Rickard Rydell (54), Robert Huff (53), Jörg Müller
(52) and Andy Priaulx (48).
A large committee of FASC (the Federation of Automobile Sports of China) is visiting the WTCC paddock at Oschersleben this weekend. The group is led by Xian Tongchun, Division Chief in charge of Touring Cars and includes key persons in charge of organising and promoting the Chinese Touring Car Championship that will switch to the FIA S2000 technical regulations next year. "We are very happy to welcome the Chinese delegation and show them how the WTCC works. It is great to see the CTCC embracing the FIA regulations, because this is a crucial market for car manufacturers. Even those who are interested in joining the WTCC in the near future are keen to have the opportunity to race in China with the same cars. It is something that the FIA and ourselves have worked on, together with FASC president Mr Yu Zaiqing, for a long time," said WTCC promoter Marcello Lotti. The LADA Sport team spent the summer break building two new Priora cars. This enabled the team to stick to the original plan of switching to three Prioras from this weekend. The Russian car recently completed a test session at Magny-Cours that focused on general development of chassis and engine. With James Thompson unable to race in Oschersleben, due to a clashing commitment, team principal Viktor Shapovalov is back in the driver's seat. "Of course I've missed driving, so this is a very nice opportunity for me," said Shapovalov. "I've been out of competition for a couple of months so I might not be up to speed straight away, but I'm certainly going to be trying my best."
03-09-09 Club Racing - The first of four specially commissioned programmes to showcase the best of BRSCC racing will be broadcast tomorrow evening, Friday 4th September, at 7.05pm on Motors TV as part of their UK Full Speed Racing series. Tomorrow’s programme features rounds of the BRSCC Super Mighty Mini Championship and the Richard Egger Insurance backed Club Formula Ford Midlands South Championship, which were both shot at our South Eastern Centre meeting at Brands Hatch on Sunday 16th August. The series of programmes were produced thanks to the support of Grand Prix Racewear, Richard Egger Insurance and Gaz Shocks. Motors TV can be found on channel 413 on the Sky platform and channel 545 via Virgin Media. The show will be repeated several times next week. The complete schedule can be found at MOTORS TV Drivers Club member, Simon Dolan and coach and club founder, Sam Hancock looked on course to win the latest round of the SPEED series at Snetterton last weekend. Until a spinning back marker intervene that is.
V de V - British racing driver Nick Padmore and team mate Jean-Lou Rihon finished in a fine second place in the French V de V race at Dijon, France at the weekend.It was Belgian Rihon who started the 3-hour endurance race from 6th on the grid but had a tough time during his stint as he battled with the Pro drivers, dropping to P13 before picking up a puncture. As he came into the pits to replace the wheel, Norma UK team manager Tim Mullis made the quick call to use the stop to refuel and get Reigate-resident Padmore in the hot seat. Padmore rejoined the race in 13th position but was up to P9 after only a handful of laps, and for the last hour of the race was the fastest car on the track. With just two laps to go Padmore snatched P2 to record their best placing in the ultra-competitive championship this season, finishing only 15 seconds behind the first-placed Palmyr entry. "It's just a fantastic feeling to finish on the podium", added a delighted Padmore. "Jean-Lou drove consistently and handed the car over to me in good health, so well done to him. The car was perfect from the first day of the meeting and, thankfully, we weren't hampered by the gearbox troubles that have compromised some of our other outings this season, so I have to say thank you to the team. Hopefully, as a unit, we can build on this and generate some similar results in the remaining three races." Padmore will next be out in action at the prestigious Goodwood Revival in a little over three weeks time, racing in his family-run 1965 Mini Cooper S.
As t Formula 2 - Ollie Hancock will compete in the final three Formula Two rounds of this season, starting at Oschersleben this weekend. The Reigning British Formula Renault BARC champion and Drivers Club private driver coach had originally been hoping to do a full season of F2, but failed to raise the budget in time. "Originally I wanted to do a full season of Formula Two this year but missed out," Hancock explained. "It's a fantastic package though, and I'm delighted to be contesting the final three rounds of the year. The plan is definitely to use these next races as preparation, and hopefully to come back next year and have a proper go at the title. I'm clearly playing catch up, and I'll have to learn the cars and the circuits quickly, but I'm confident I can do well. Ultimately I'm not putting too much pressure on myself - everyone has the same chance, so I'll just take it step by step and concentrate on my own agenda." Ollie has remained match fit with half a season of Formula Renault UK and working for The Drivers Club whose logos will be on the side of his F2 car. With just over a week until Oschersleben, Hancock will be jumping into the deep end but insists he will be up for the challenge. "I've been doing an intensive training course for the last week, and I'll keep it up until Oschersleben," he said. "F2 is clearly very competitive throughout the field, but I'm not fazed by drivers like Andy Soucek and Robert Wickens. Everyone has the same chance in F2, unlike a series like Formula Renault where you know only two or three teams have a chance to win, and that's a great boost for drivers. The budget for F2 is great, and the coverage it generates is also fantastic, so I'm very happy to have joined the series even at this late stage. "I’ve also got to say a big thank you to The Drivers Club, Race2Win, as well as my family - all of whom I owe this opportunity to."
Atlantic - Summerton Leads 1-2 Sweep for Newman Wachs Racing at Mosport. The battle for the 2009 Cooper Tires Presents The Atlantic Championship Powered by Mazda just got a whole lot tighter as Jonathan Summerton led a 1-2 sweep for Newman Wachs Racing in the Grand Prix of Mosport. Driving the No. 34 Nuclear Clean Air Energy/Entergy/NEI machine, Summerton led from pole to take his third victory of 2009. His teammate, John Edwards, crossed the line second 1.122 seconds behind in second. Championship leader Simona De Silvestro, who entered the race with a 21-point lead over Edwards, crashed out in Turn 2 six laps from the finish. She was not injured and was classified 10th. As a result, her lead is now down to 8 points over Edwards with Summerton a further 4 behind. Frederic Vervisch came home third, a result which leaves him 25 points clear of Borja Garcia in the Rookie of the Year point standings. Canadian racer Robert Wickens came fourth with Markus Niemela fifth. 02-09-09
Karts - James Singleton finished a superb second in the hotly-contested Rotax Cup at Three Sisters near Wigan last weekend. This in spite of his kart being a wet-weather set-up on a fast drying track.
The FIA WTCC resumes in Oschersleben, Germany, for rounds 17 and 18 on 6 September. Due to its unpredictable weather conditions, the German circuit can present a challenge for teams and drivers, but with good tyres supplied by Yokohama that shouldn’t present a problem. A smooth driving style is best suited to the circuit, so drivers such as 2008 Champion Yvan Muller and Chevrolet’s Alain Menu should achieve good results. With changeable weather predicted, Yokohama’s Technical Consultant, Ian Beveridge said, “Obviously, driving in the rain means that there is intrinsically less grip, but we have developed the wet Yokohama Advan so that it has the same characteristics as the slick tyre. Competitors do not need to change their driving style, but simply be aware of the decreased grip and act accordingly.” Oschersleben is BMW’s home track, and local driver Jörg Müller is another likely front-runner. He added: “At such a demanding track the tyres play a very important role, especially if the weather conditions change quickly and the tyres have to react to the asphalt conditions. The tyres are very good. I think Yokohama did a great job to supply tyres which suit both rear-wheel and front-wheel drive cars.” Live coverage from Oschersleben will be broadcast on Eurosport on Sunday 6 September with race one at 11:50 (CET) and race two at 14:05 (CET). BTCC - Chevrolet’s Mat Jackson and Jason Plato both won races in the latest instalment of the BTCC at Silverstone last weekend. Jackson led a Chevrolet 1-2-3 in the opening encounter leading Plato and RML's young charge James Nash over the line. Plato then took a rain affected second race before Jackson made it a day to remember by winning the third and final event. Colin Turkington still leads the Drivers' championship by 11 points from Giovanardi . 01-09-09
The AMOC Aston Martin race at Castle Combe was won by Chris Scragg in his big V8 by a comfortable 5 seconds from the DBS V8 of Bob Searles with Robert Rawe third in a very quick DB4. Gary Culver won the Pirelli Ferrari Classic race at Castle Combe after he passed Nick Taylor on lap 5 of 15. Culver finally crossing the line 5 seconds up on the aforementioned driver. Third went to Peter Everingham after a brief fight with James Cartwright who slipped down the order as the race progressed eventually finishing sixth.
The Porsche Open Contenders took on their counterparts from the equivalent Ferrari series at Castle Combe’s Bank Holiday Monday meeting, and Mark Chilton upheld Porsche honour with a superb win in the ten-lap race. Enjoyed by all, the race saw the Porsche runners dominate the podium, John Taylor claiming third overall and second of the Open runners home. . Formula Nippon - Poor qualifying and a strategic race-day mistake have ended Benoît Tréluyer’s hopes of capturing this year’s Formula Nippon crown at Autopolis. During the season finale in Sugo at the end of September, the Frenchman will attempt to clinch the runners-up spot for a third time, instead of fighting for a second title. ..
With five new racers on the grid for the Michelin Ginetta G50 Cup qualifying traffic caused a shake-up of the grid with YourRacingCar.com qualifying to start in 8th, 6th and 5th for the weekend’s three races. The early evening Saturday race saw the first damage to the YRC car of the weekend, with an incident under yellow flags on the second lap resulting in a shattered rear bumper and diffuser. YRC’s driver Fulvio Mussi showed the benefit of experience to take the car to the line 18 laps later in 7th despite the tracking having been knocked out of alignment.
For the first time this season, Manor Competition’s Dean Smith has taken the lead in the 2009 Michelin Formula Renault UK Championship driver standings following the 15th and 16th rounds of the campaign at Silverstone National Circuit over the weekend, 29th/30th August. ELF Renault Clio Cup front-runner Andrew Herron managed to maintain his top three placing in the driver standings over the weekend, 29th/30th August, at Silverstone National Circuit even though a potential podium finish in round 16 was snatched from his grasp due to contact early in the race.
The opinions expressed on this site are not necessarily shared by 11/56 MotorSport or any of theGrid team
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European
GT3
The
Formula 3
Clio
Cup
WTCC
PartyPokerRacing.it
Euroseries 3000
Grand
Prix Shootout
Saloons
–
GTs
- Singaporean Ringo Chong described winning the Aston
Martin Asia Cup race in Singapore at the weekend as
“making a childhood dream come true”. owever happy as Chong was
Australia’s Mark Williamson was just as happy with his 2nd place
as it clinched him the 2009 Aston Martin Asia Cup Championship
title 
Macau
driver Rodolfo Avila
Formula
Nippon
BTCC
In
addition to a BTCC triple header at Brands Hatch
Saloons
– Andrew Gallacher
ALMS
- 
Formula
Ford - Rory Butcher was unstoppable in the
SMRC Formula Ford races at Knockhill on Saturday as he
claimed the 2009 Scottish Formula Ford Championship with a win
in the first race of the day. He repeated the feat in race 2
followed home on both occasions by Scott Fraser.
Graham Leslie took part in
both races at the wheel of his father's Royale finishing 10th in
the second race after a DNF in the first.
Legends
- On a day for crowning Champions in Scotland Ross Marshall
(#3 left)clinched the 2009 legends title with a superb
win in the second heat. After a red flag interrupted the race
just after he had grabbed the lead. He was forced to do it all
over again in a five lap restart which he duly did winning the
Championship in style. 
Imola
marked a historical moment for the LADA Sport team when
Goodwood
Star
Mazda
Clios
- 
The
Superleague Formula
Formula
Master
will
be rewarded with a host of testing prizes arranged with some of
motorsport's best teams worldwide. This season's champion Fabio
Leimer will test with GP2 team DAMS at Paul Ricard on 12
November. The team has fielded IFM's inaugural title winner
Jérôme D'Ambrosio for the past two years and will evaluate
Leimer during the official GP2 Main Series test days. Top rookie
Alexander Rossi will be the recipient of an Indy Lights Series
test in the US. Rossi will also run with the illustrious
American SSM team, which holds the Indy Lights race-win record
with 30 victories and three series championships to date. The
test will take place on 19-20 October at Putnam Park in Indiana.
Vladimir Arabadzhiev, part of the winning team line-up at JD
Motorsport, has been chosen by Chevrolet to test with the FIA
World Touring Car Championship Team Chevrolet in October. The
test will take place in Pembrey on 13 October. The Series' top
three drivers, Fabio Leimer, Sergey Afanasiev and Josef Kral
will also be given access to the Red Bull Racing Formula 1 Team
chassis simulator during the off-season this winter. "I am very
pleased to be able to confirm these tests for our top drivers
this season," said IFM General Manager Alessandro Alunni Bravi.
"All have worked extremely hard all year to finish at the top of
our classifications and deserve their chance to shine at the
higher levels of our sport. I would like to thank the teams
involved, the Red Bull Racing Formula 1 team, the WTCC team
Chevrolet, DAMS and the Sam Schmidt Motorsport outfit for their
contribution and interest in our drivers, and I look forward to
each of the test days." 
Star
Mazda
With
all the drivers titles still unresolved in the Porsche Carrera
Cup GB
Karts
Star
Mazda
Superleague
Formula – 
SG
Formula's Jean-Eric Vergne
Rockingham
provided the venue for this year’s annual Renault Sport
Formula
3 Euro Series - 
International
Formula Master
Porsche
V
de V
Heritage
GT Challenge
RP
Motorsport and the Warranty Direct/Complete Utilities team
British
GT - 
continued
his successful 2009 season with a podium in the International
Czech Touring Car Championship at Brno last weekend. The
Geneva-based Primat joined fellow Aston Martin driver Stefan
Mucke and Czech racer Václav Nimc at the wheel of a Mercedes
Benz C-Klasse AMG in the ICTCC series which caters for DTM and
GT cars. 
Karts
– 
Jack
Barlow's valiant attempt to wrest the British Super 1 Mini Max
The
Vintage Motorcycle racing
Formula
Ford
Ginettas
picked
up a fifth place in Round 24 and and Fulvio Mussi was sixth in
Round 25…
Grand-Am
Formula
Renault
Jordan
Oakes recorded his best finish of the season 
Formula
3
Formula
Renault 3.5
F3000
Avon
IFM
- ISR's Alexander Rossi clinched the 2009 IFM
Rookies' Title today(Sunday)
GTs
- Jody Firth was) crowned GT4 Class Champion of
the 2009
Avon Tyres British GT Championship yesterday(Saturday).
Taking his 10th GT4 Class win of the season at Brands
Hatch in the penultimate round of the series. Firth and his
co-driver Nigel Moore led the class all the way at Brands in
their Team WFR Ginetta G50, finishing nine laps ahead of their
rivals Ian Stinton and Gary Simms. 
Jake
Cook is back on top in the Ginetta Junior Championship
Porsche
Carrera Cup GB
WTCC
- On his home racetrack, championship leader Gabriele Tarquini
IFM
Porsche
Carrera Cup GB
Formula
Master
Karts
-.jpg)
Warwickshire
karting driver Jordan King
Tom
Coronel has secured
Alessandro
Zanardi
Porsche
Carrera Cup GB
Karts
& Jet Ski
Over
a long, tough season racewear takes a real battering
GP2
-
Grand-Am
- Heading into the final two races of the season, AIM
Autosport has something to look forward to as well as the
opportunity to take care of some unfinished business in the 2009
Rolex Sports Car Series presented by Crown Royal Cask No. 16.
After ten races, the AIM Autosport No. 61 Ford Riley with
drivers Mark Wilkins (CAN) and Burt Frisselle (USA) sits in a
tie for sixth overall in the championship with fifth place
within its grasp. Of course a lot depends on the fortunes of the
other teams during the final two events. While the team could
sit as high as fifth at the end of the year, it belies the fact
that AIM has yet to reach the podium in 2009. They have come
close (4th at Laguna, 5th at New Jersey and Mid Ohio) but the
season is not over yet and overall, the team has improved on its
performance. With two opportunities left to reach the podium,
everyone on the team is working hard to reach that particular
goal. "Getting a podium result is the ultimate goal" commented
team principal Ian Willis, "but a strong finish and championship
points go a long way toward making a successful season. Last
year we had three DNF's that hurt us but 2009 has seen us cross
the checkered flag nine out of ten times. The reliability factor
is what has kept AIM in the fight and on track for a possible
top five overall." Going into the race Miller Motorsport
Park, the team is confident they can produce a good result. In
2008, when the race was 1000 Km, the No. 61 Ford Riley finished
sixth and was running strong early, leading the race at one
point and running third at the three hour mark. This could be
significant seeing this year's race will run the standard two
hours and forty-five minutes. "Last year at Miller we were
running great in the early stages" noted Mark Wilkins, "but we
fell off a bit toward the end. Sixth was a good result but after
the race everyone on the team was wishing it had been a
250-miler as that would have given us our fourth straight
podium. But that of course is wishful thinking." Wilkins
continued, "We just need to take that attitude and the strengths
we have been working on all season, plus the fact it is a sprint
race this weekend and shoot for the podium. Miller is a tough
track with its twenty-four turns, but Burt and I have been
training hard and the team has been working hard to give us a
great car. We are certainly looking to end the season on a
strong note." The Utah 250 at Miller Motorsport Park takes place
on Saturday, September 19 at 3:30 p.m. MT (5:30 p.m. ET) and
will be broadcast live on SPEED TV.
Formula
Ford
Karts
The
Speedy Racing Sabah team could so easily have won the Autospoort
1000kms
F3000
- The Euroseries 3000 by PartyPoker Racing
HRS
Motorsport's Ed Brand rounded off his European campaign in
fine style with a stunning, unbeaten performance at Salbris last
weekend.
Formula
Ford
LMS
endured
a difficult end to his 2009 Le Mans Series campaign at
Silverstone today after a small fire put pay to his chances in
the 1000km event.
RallyCross
-
FM
- 
LMS
– 
JMW
Motorsport secured a hard fought win
Thomas
Erdos, Mike Newton
GT
GP2
Superleague
Formula’s 
ALMS
-
Formula
3 - 
GT
- With only 8 points separating the top five title contenders in the
Avon Tyres British GT Championship,
ATCS
-
F3000
LMS
-
Asian
Touring Car Series
ELF
Renault Clio Cup
GP2
Formula
3 -
Formula
Ford - New Zealand Banklink racer Mitch Evans
Carrera
Cup GB
GP2
–
Star
Mazda -
Formula
3 -
LMS
-
HEXIS
Racing AMR have two goals this weekend. win both the
Drivers’ and Teams’ FIA GT3 European championships
V
de V
LMS
-
Karts
- 
Formula
Ford
Formula
4
Formula
3000
Josh
Mulholland produced a career-best drive during round 11
is the current leader of the Michelin Green X Challenge and
since the second race of the 2009 Le Mans Series they have seen
their #33 LMP2 Lola Coupé - Judd driven by Jonny Kane, Benjamin
Leuenberger and Xavier Pompidou top the points table. With just
the Finale at Silverstone next weekend(11-13 Sept) they are in a
good position to win the trophy
Speedy
Racing Team Sabah is aiming for a great result in the 2009 LMS
finale
Fiesta
Championship
Superleague
Formula
International
Formula Master
Formula
3 -
There
will be two Daniels in the motorsporting lions' den next weekend
- Daniel Ricciardo, who will be bidding to clinch overall
championship honours in the Cooper Tires British Formula 3
International Series, and Daniel McKenzie, who is in line to
take the British F3 National Class title.
Karts
BMW
Team Germany drivers Augusto Farfus and Jörg Müller
LMS
- Karim Ajlani returns to Le Mans Series Silverstone
Sports
car fans
European
Late Model Series
he
International Formula Master Series (IFM) moves to Oschersleben
Superleague
- After his win in Saturday’s GP2 race at
Spa-Francorchamps, Alvaro Parente will race in Futebol
Clube do Porto’s colours at the Portuguese round of the
Superleague Formula next weekend at Estoril. Parente now
takes on Superleague Formula where he expects a tough battle.
“This will be a different challenge; I don’t know the
championship or the car, something that will make my job harder
during the weekend. However, as usual, I’ll give my best and
I’ll try to achieve a good result”, he said. As a supporter of
Porto, he is very pleased to race in his home event. “I’m very
happy to defend the Futebol Clube do Porto’s colours; it’s my
football team since I can remember. I think that the Superleague
Formula is a good concept and I’m looking forward to drive the
blue & white car. Besides, It’s an opportunity to drive at
Portugal, something that pleases me and that doesn’t happen
since 2007.
Ginetta
-
British
GT
Superleague
Jack
Hawksworth
Formula
Ford
Sportscars
Saloons
The
Porsche Club Championship.jpg)
Ginetta
-
Formula
Renault