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News Archive October 2006

05/04/2007

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23-10-06

Jumping into the lead on the opening lap, Ryan Justice survived a caution filled race to take the victory in the season finale of the Star Mazda Championship presented by Goodyear at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. Joining Justice on the podium were Michael Potekhen, in second place, and Adrian Carrio, who captured the championship, in third place….full report

Caterham Motorsport crowned its newest champions yesterday (Saturday) at Brands Hatch, 17-year-old Winchester-based student Lewis Hopkins (right)and Lancashire businessman James Sharrock, 37, claiming the evo Caterham Academy crowns for 2006…full story

The Autosport Caterham Superlight Challenge accelerated to a superbly thrilling climax at Brands Hatch this weekend, Superlight title winner Graham Fennymore(below) putting in a champion’s drive in streaming wet conditions to win Friday’s penultimate round and Ben de Zille Butler claiming a dramatic final-race victory yesterday to be championship runner-up….full story

Gary Halcrow made Caterham Roadsport Challenge history at the weekend, adding the Roadsport championship title to that which he had already won in the Roadsport B class. It’s the first time that one driver has ever won both Roadsport titles in the same season….full story

The Official Clio Cup Scholarship, which offers the winner of the competition a full years racing in the 2007 Clio Cup Championship, has secured a deal to have the competition broadcast over the internet.The Racing Scholarship Internet Show will be produced by Double Six Racing and the TV Training Academy, and will be broadcast in 10 minute weekly episodes starting in January.  The show will be broadcast through the www.RacingScholarship.com web site every Wednesday from January.The exciting format of the competiton will keep fans on the edge of there seats, whilst watching some high octane and intense action.  All areas of the competition will be covered, from on track action, interviews with the drivers, to behind the scenes footage of the finalist and winners selection process and announcements.The winner of the Official Clio Cup Scholarship will also be the subject of a behind the scenes documentary.  During the course of the 2007 season, the Double Six Racing cameras will follow the winner as they get to grips with competiting in the fantastically competitive Clio Cup Championship.  Rarely has there been an opportunity for fans to see what it takes to be a racing driver, competing in a top form of motor sport.There is still time to sign-up for the Racing Scholarship competition.  For your chance to live life in the fast lane visit the www.RacingScholarship.com web site for more details.

Noel Dunne won the Formula Ford Festival Kents Final at a wet Brands Hatch in a Van Dieman. Second 3.035sec behind was Morgan Dempsey in a Swift while third was Mike Edgar in another Van Dieman. The Zetec Final was won by Benoit Perret from Takashi Nagase who was only 0.204seconds behind at the flag with Neil Tofts third 2.5 secs off the leader.

The FFord Festival Duratec final as won by Richard Tannahill in a Van Dieman RF06 just 4 tenths of a second ahead of Jay Bridger’s Mygale SJ06. Neil Duran picked up the final podium place in third 3.195 seconds behind.  Stewart Whyte took the honours in the Ford Saloon race with Rod Borley second, both driving Escorts. Third, a long way behind was the Focus of Mike Webb. In the Sports Duratec race Richard Johnson took his Van Dieman RF5C to victory ahead of Colin Rodger’s Lola T05/90. Tom Mills was third in a GunnTS8.  The Sports 2000 Pinto event saw Chris Yarwood win once more in his Tiga SC87 from Jim MCDougall in a Swift DB2, just 1.3 seconds separated the pair at the  flag while Tony Morgan was third,  similarly just 1.3 seconds behind second place.

The Heritage races saw Pete Hall win the sprint event in the dry on Saturday in his Camaro from Simon Verschueren by a mere 0.430secs. On Sunday Hall also won the longer two driver event with his partner Andy Rouse. The Minshaw Chevrolet Malibu was second with the Searles and Jardine Aston Martin third.

At Donington on Sunday David Howard too a brace of wins in his Jaguar XJ12. He started off  winning the Classic Group 1 race beating the XJS of Brian Stevens and Jim McLoughklin’s Capri. He then went on to win the York Fitness Post Historic race, just holding off the Camaro of Pete Hallford  to win by 0.447seconds. Dave Nixon was third in his Mazda RX3 some 21 seconds behind the winner.

The Mini Se7en race at Donington was won by Max Hunter 1.2 seconds in front of Alan Letts. Geoff Letts and Paul Thompson were third and fourth, the last named just 0.3 seconds behind the second placed Alan Letts!The Mini Miglia race saw ‘Mr Mini’, Bill Sollis notch up another victory as he beat James Hall to the flag by 8 tenths of a second. With Kelly Rogers third only  0.1seconds further behind.The Mini Challenge completed the ‘mini display’at Donington with Arthur Forster taking the plaudits from Jack Stanford and Carl Bradley, the trio crossing the line within a second of each other.The weather played a part in deciding the outcome of the Waxoyl Classic Thunder race when the Fiesta XR2 of Tim Watson snatched the win in the rain. His nimble front wheel drive machine more suited to the conditions as he beat the Sunbeam Lotus of Joss Ronchetti by 4.605secs and Ken Lark’s VW Corrado.

The HSCC ran it final meeting of the year at Silverstone on Saturday and Paul Conway took the win in the 70s Road Sports race in his Morgan Plus 8. For once Charles Barter in his Datsun 240Z had to settle for second place, but only just as he finished a mere 0.767secs down on the leader.The Classic F3 race saw Paul Smith take his Ralt Rt1 to victory ahead of Paul Campfield’s March 803 and Neil Dunkel’s Argo JM3 while in the Historic Formula Junior race Michael Hibberd came out on top in a Lotus 27 ahead of Mark Woodhouse’s Lotus 20 by 0.108secs.The Derek Bell Trophy race was won by Michael Wrigley in a Lola T330/332, 3 tenths of a second ahead of the similar Lola of Frank Lyons. In the Historic FFord race Neil Fowler’s Lola T200 led Nelson Rowe’s Crossle 20F home by 2.013secs with David Wild third , also in a Lola T200.The Historic Racing Saloons encounter was won by Lois Bracey in a Lotus Cortina  from the BMW 2000 of Les Elym, Bracey winning by just 0.7secs from Ely who was only 4 tenths up on third placed Jonathon Gomm ‘s Cortina. The Classic Racing Cars event turned into a Brabham bebefit, the marque filling the first 3 places. Matthew Watts won in a BT16 with Richard Kendle second in a BT21B and Ian Gray third in a BT30.  The Historic Road Sports was won by the TVR Griffiths of Laurence Bailey from David Randall’s Ginetta G4 and Tony Howard’s Morgan Plus 8 while the Classic Sports car race saw Michael Schryver take the honours in a Chevron B6. Second was Andrew Newall in another Chevron, this time a B8 while David Beckett was third in a Nevus Silhouette.  

21-10-06

Ryan Justice, of Portland, Oregon, set the pace in both practice sessions today for Round Twelve of the Star Mazda Championship presented by Goodyear being held this weekend at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca as part of the Monterey Sports Car Championships. Driving the #38 Northwest Autosport World Food Program Mazda, Justice improved on his morning fast time with a lap of 1:21.426 (98.816 MPH) around the 2.238-mile Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca circuit to lead the field of forty-one drivers participating in the Star Mazda season finale.

20-10-06

Mark Wilkins, from Toronto was fastest at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in testing yesterday(Thursday) for the final round of the 2006 Star Mazda Championship presented by Goodyear, being held with the ALMS Monterey Sports Car Championships. Driving the Bluetooth AIM Autosport Mazda, Wilkins lapped the 2.238-Mile circuit in a time of 1:21.670 (98.651 MPH) to edge out Adrian Carrio for the top spot in unofficial practice."The start of the final session was a little hectic as Adrian Carrio, Kevin Lacroix, Ryan Justice and myself were running in a group and making risky moves to get through slower traffic and I had to remind myself that this was a practice session," Wilkins explained. "I backed out of the group and got a couple of clear laps which was all I needed to set some fast times as AIM Autosport has given me a fast car right off the trailer." With the championship battle coming down to the wire between Carrio and Kevin Lacroix, who clinched the Rookie-of the Year title at Road Atlanta, it was fitting that they would post the second and third fastest times of the day, with Carrio on a 1:21.691 and Lacroix a 1:21.831. 

Formula Atlantic driver Andreas Wirth has been given the rare opportunity to compete in the penultimate round of 2006 Champ Car competition in Surfer's Paradise, Australia with Dale Coyne Racing in the #19 Sonny's BBQ entry.  An elated Wirth recounts, "I still can't believe it -- it doesn't even seem real! I thought my chance to run a race in Champ Car this year was over back in Montreal when I was no longer in contention for the Atlantic title. But now, thanks to Dale Coyne Racing, I'm getting to live the dream that I thought I'd lost. I don't think it's possible to express how grateful I am for this opportunity - this is huge for me -- and it really makes up for some of the disappointments this year. I can't wait to get in a Champ Car again, and to race at Surfer's Paradise will be awesome! This is a big chance and I'm going to take this opportunity to learn as much as I can for next year, and for sure I'll do my very best for the team. I really didn't think that this would happen this year! This is completely amazing, and I don't think I can explain how excited I am!"

Odyssey Motorsport's Carl Skerlong sealed his Formula TR Pro Series 2000 Championship-winning year with two more wins in the final rounds at Las Vegas Motor Speedway last Sunday. Having wrapped up the title at last month's double-header in California, the 18-year-old stuck his car on pole for Round 19 and romped away with his 15th win of the year beating John Knudsen to the flag. In Round 20 later that day Skerlong, starting from the back of the grid scythed his way into the lead to rake his second win of the day. Following the end-of-year Formula TR Pro Series awards banquet on Sunday night, Carl then hopped a trans-Atlantic flight for the UK to tests in Formula Renault for the  Winter Series with Fortec Motorsport. Carl's first taste came at Croft where he racked up 100 laps, he followed that up a day later with another 97 laps in changeable conditions.  Carl reflected:"Well it's been a crazy week but everything's gone really well. It felt good to round out my time in the Formula TR Pro Series with back-to-back wins. We didn't have too long to celebrate following Sunday's successes as I headed here to England for the first of my Formula Renault UK Winter Series tests. Fortec Motorsport has an impressive set-up and we ran well over both days at Croft which is encouraging heading to next week's tests at Snetterton and Brands Hatch." The 2006 Formula Renault UK with Michelin Winter Series kicks off at Brands Hatch with on the 4-5 November, followed by Rounds 3 and 4 at Croft, on the 11th November.

Canadian Mercedes-Benz works-driver Bruno Spengler scored his third victory of the season in the DTM at the Le Mans Bugatti Circuit, but it was another Mercedes-Benz-driver ", namely Bernd Schneider, who came out on top of the championship standings. Fifth place was enough for the 42-year old to secure his fifth DTM title with one race remaining. For Schneider, the success is another great achievement after his earlier DTM titles in 1995, 2000, 2001 and 2003. "It is unbelievable, after problems on the opening lap and dropping back to last still making it up into fifth. I am overjoyed", a visibly relieved Schneider commented after the 39 lap race.  

The FIA GT Championship has announced the details for next season

Penske Motorsports and Porsche confirmed last week that the two will team up again in 2007 racing the Porsche RS Spyder in LMP2 in the American Le Mans Series. Penske and Porsche have already sewn up the 2006 team and manufacturer championships before the season ender in their inaugural full-season debut of the RS Spyder. The only remaining title on the line as the series heads in Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca for the Saturday October 21st finale is the drivers' championship. Currently, Sascha Maassen has the driver points lead by a mere four points over teammate Lucas Luhr. Intersport Racing's Liz Halliday and Clint Field sit third, 16 points adrift of the P2 points leader. Field won the title in 2005 before the Porsche RS Spyders came to play.

19-10-06

Fabrizio Giovanardi,3 times European Super Touring Car Champion will take the wheel of the Honda Accord Euro R FIA Super 2000 of JAS Motorsport in the last round of the Touring Car World Championship in Macau (November, 15-16),as he already did in the Brazilian round in Curitiba. "I am really delighted" Fabrizio commented "it's a fantastic opportunity to be back again in the WTCC,after the Curitiba's round.In Brazil we were immediately fast and I had set the best lap time in the free practice, then something went wrong with the car and I could not confirm the same performance in qualifying and in the race. This time we have a big opportunity to show up our real potential" "It was planned" concluded the team manager Alessandro Mariani "that Corthals and Sharp might not drive in Macau, and so we have worked in order to offer another opportunity to Fabrizio,after the unluckly race of Curitiba, to show our potential in such an important event." concluded Mariani.

Australian Sam Abay heads into this weekend's Formula BMW Asia series finale at the Zhuhai International Circuit on top of the points standings with Earl Bamber is just 16 points behind. The pair took a win apiece at the penultimate round of the 2006 series at Shanghai a fortnight ago and with three chances to score points this weekend the series title could go to either driver. Third overall and with an outside chance of an upset should the other two drivers suffer setbacks is young West Australian driver Daniel Ricciardo who lies 56 points behind Melbourne driver Abay.

The Champ Car World Series makes its annual trip to Australia this weekend for the Lexmark Indy 300 around the streets of Surfers Paradise. With two races to go Justin Wilson still leads the Bridgestone Passion for Excellence Award, based on drivers' fastest race laps. Though he's mathematically still in the hunt for the driver championship, the focus this weekend is on regaining runner-up spot from A.J. Allmendinger. Going into the event Justin is 11 points behind, so a podium or win is the aim. In the four weeks since Road America Justin has kept busy, with a visit to Mexico City ahead of November's season finale, as well as helping RuSPORT to select a driver to replace Cristiano da Matta for the last two races of the season. Having been RuSPORT's sole driver since Cristiano's testing accident in August, Justin is looking forward to being able to share crucial set-up data with his new team-mate, the Australian driver Ryan Briscoe.

18-10-06

French Canadian driver, Maxime Pelletier, was the victim of a bicycle accident last Saturday. and sadly he cannot complete the FBMW Asian tour in preparation for the world finals of the Formula BMW series. "I was almost finished my three hour work out and at 15 minutes to the end of my training I fell," explained Pelletier, "I fractured my ribs that were already hurting me for months," he added. Because of his condition, he had no choice but to cancel his participation to the race this weekend on the Zhuhaï circuit. Maxime Pelletier, who competed in the North American Formula BMW Championship with his team, Gelles Racing, was the third driver to be recruited amongst all of the drivers. This accident should not prevent Pelletier's participation in the Formula BMW series final held in Valencia, Spain on November 24, 25 and 26. This world final is important for the future stars of racing.

Three 100km races will highlight of the Gillette V8 Supercar Challenge from October 19 - 22 on the Gold Coast in Australia. All V8 Supercar teams and drivers have been preparing for the return to ‘sprint’ racing after contesting Bathurst last Sunday. Today the Gillette V8 Supercar Challenge was launched in the Queen Street Mall in Brisbane with drivers from the first four cars at Bathurst revving up the crowd. Jamie Whincup (Team Betta Electrical), Todd Kelly (Holden Racing Team), James Courtney (Stone Brothers Racing / Jeld-Wen) and Russell Ingall (Stone Brothers Racing / Caltex) finished in that order in Bathurst with their respective co-drivers, and were on hand to talk up their chances of success on the 4.47km Surfers Paradise street circuit. With the overall V8 Supercar Championship Series up for grabs, this year's Gillette V8 Supercar Challenge will prove to be a decisive round for those in the hunt for the championship title. Craig Lowndes will enter the Gillette V8 Supercar Challenge next week as a favourite to take home the prestigious 'surfboard' trophy -- he is the defending race winner, currently leads the championship and is coming off victory in the Super Cheap Auto 1000 with Whincup.

Team Australia has announced a new sponsor for this weekend’s CART race in Brisbane, WOW Sight & Sound is the latest Australian company to join the team with the electronics retailer backing the green and gold Aussie Vineyards Champ Cars of Will Power and Alex Tagliani for the remainder of the 2006 Champ Car World Series. WOW Sight & Sound will adorn the cars for this weekend's Lexmark Indy 300 on the Gold Coast and the season finale in Mexico City, Mexico. WOW Sight & Sound is also a sponsor of Team Australia Co-Owner Craig Gore's WPS Racing operation in the Australian V8 Supercar Championship Series.

At the halfway point of the 2006 Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup, Jeff Burton in the  Cingular Wireless Chevrolet, has established himself as the man to beat for the series championship. Following a solid third-place finish this past Saturday night at Lowe's Motor Speedway, Burton gained 39 points over his closest competitor, as second place Matt Kenseth now trails Burton by 45 points heading into this Sunday's Subway 500 at Martinsville Speedway. But, with the unpredictability of Martinsville's .526 mile short track style of racing, this Sunday's race certainly lends itself to being capable of adding plenty of drama into the Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup.

 Jeff Gordon has ruled himself out of this year's title chase in the NASCAR Nextel Cup after he retired for the third time in a row last weekend at the  Lowe's Motor Speedway. A the time Gordon was running 4^th when his engine failed leaving him in 10^th place in the ‘chase’. ."It's just not meant to be this year," said Gordon. "We are happy to be in the Chase but from now on we will just try to win races."We needed a good run at Lowe's and we had that, but we needed a solid finish to take some momentum to the next race." If Gordon had finished fourth he would now be up in  seventh place with a deficit of 128 points to  championship leader Jeff Burton. Instead he is 216 adrift behind, "All we care about is going out there and getting the best performance that we can, but we've got to finish," Gordon said. "It just hasn't been in the cards for us these last three races and that has taken us out of it."

17-10-06

James Clarkson made an immediate impact in the world of motorsport with an outstanding debut in the Elf Clio Cup on 14^th/15^th October. James, 20, won a competition run by Nuts magazine to race in the Clio Cup at Silverstone with leading team Boulevard Team Racing and the former club karting champion finished an excellent 12^th in his first race…..full story 

Aston Martin Wins the FIA GT1 Manufacturers Cup. Aston Martin has been awarded the 2006 FIA GT1 Manufacturers Cup while Works team, Aston Martin Racing BMS secured second place in the Teams championship at the penultimate round of the FIA GT Championship at Adria, Italy on Sunday 15 October. Aston Martin is represented in the FIA GT Championship by three teams. Aston Martin Racing BMS competes with two DBR9s and customer teams Phoenix Racing and RaceAlliance each compete with one DBR9. In Adria, fourth and fifth places for the Aston Martin Racing BMS team, combined with consistent results throughout the year including a hard fought second place for Phoenix Racing at the Proximus 24 Hours of Spa, and Race Alliance's first Aston Martin win in Mugello, allowed Aston Martin to claim the 2006 GT1 Manufacturers Cup.

Robert Podlesni added to his stock this year in the Pacific F2000 Championship Presented by Hankook Tires by guiding his Dave Freitas Racing Alpinestars/Elan Motor Tech Van Diemen to another pair of well-judged victories over the  weekend at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Podlensi took pole on both days at the 1.8-mile track and was only prevented from scoring a maximum points by Tim Harris who came second right on Podlesni's tail, claiming the 2 bonus points for fastest lap in the process. The two wins took Podlesni’s tally to 6 (out of 12). "It was a great weekend," concluded Podlesni, who had clinched the overall championship crown last month at Infineon Raceway. "The race today was cool," he added," because I learned a lot about racecraft. I was watching my mirrors, and [team owner] Dave Freitas was giving me the gaps [to the second-placed Harris] on the radio. I knew if I pushed at 110 percent for the whole race I'd burn off the tires, so I just tried to run a pace where I knew I would keep the car underneath me and still have something [in hand] in case [Harris] got too close at the end." Podlesni judged his pace perfectly. The gap between the two leaders was a scant 0.557 seconds at the checkered flag. Harris, though, was relatively content with his second-place finish. Saturday afternoon's race saw Podlesni again lead from flag to flag. Once again, though, he was made to work hard for his laurels. Barrett ran second in the early stages before being passed by Nick Haye who chased down Podlesni and finished just 0.662 sec behind after 16 laps.

Gelles Racing could be the only American team at the Formula BMW World Final in Valencia next month. Team owner Bob Gelles announced that at least five drivers will be among the 36 entries in the four-day BMW race fest in Spain. Three regular 2006 Gelles drivers, Adrien Herberts, Maxime Pelletier and Sebastian Saavedra, will head to Europe while American Ryan Phinny and Formula BMW UK front runner Ross Curnow will join them. The fourth BMW World Finals are set to take place from November 23 to 26 at the facility that has become the Formula BMW headquarters. "This will be our first time at the World Final, claimed team owner Bob Gelles and we will bring a whole six-car team over there. Three of our 2006 regulars will return to the track where they tested a BMW for the first time. French Canadian Maxime Pelletier and Colombian Sebastian Saavedra will vie to be the Top Rookie in this year's contest. Adrien Herberts from British Columbia is a 2-year veteran that anticipates a strong weekend. We will also have Californian Ryan Phinny: he raced with us last year at Laguna Seca in the first rounds of the 2005 season and finished in tenth place in the 2006 standings. I am also very happy to have Ross Curnow from the United Kingdom join us. 18 year-old Curnow has been one of the stars of the BMW UK series for the last three years and has won rounds in every one of them: he was a Junior Scholar and Best Rookie in 2004 and just missed vice-champion this year by a mere 4-points. Ross is looking to compete in America next year and this will be his first experience with a U.S. team. “

The 2006 British GT Championship has gone down to the wire and the title will be decided this weekend at Magny Cours in France. Chris Niarchos and Tim Mullen of Scuderia Ecosse, have won an incredible 10 of the 12 races so far this year but still need a good result at Magny Cours to clinch the title. The final two rounds of the 2006 British GT Championship are to be held within a French GT event so the British cars will have the added complication of GT1 cars around them and of course the French GT2 cars having their own separate battles.

At Le Mans Bugati circuit Euro F3 points leader Paul di Resta finished sixth jn the second race on Sunday, scoring one point. When added to his win on Saturday he is now 15 points clear of Sebastian Vettel with just  two rounds remaining in the Formula 3 Euro Series. The German, Friday test driver of the BMW Sauber Formula 1 team, was only ninth at Le Mans after driving errors. There is a maximum of 17 points at stake during the final race weekend at Hockenheim in a fortnight.

One of the highlights of the Formula Ford Festival is the drivers’ forum which takes place in the Kentagon on Saturday evening. The forum starts at 6.30pm and the man with the mic will be the voice of Brands Hatch, Brian Jones. Many of the leading Formula Ford protagonists will be present to give their views on the season gone by, their future plans and of course their hopes for the weekend. There is always plenty of veteran Formula Foresters in attendance and aided by some liquid refreshment the stories and anecdotes of Festival’s long gone are coaxed out of them by Brian. It really is a great evening of entertainment for the Formula Ford fanatic.

After two spells as BRSCC Competitions Manager, totalling a period of 17 years, Bob Armstrong has decided to leave the Club to concentrate on developing a consultancy role within motorsport. Bob explained “At this stage in my career I wanted to spend less time in the office so I can concentrate on specific motorsport related projects”. Bob was instrumental in all the major BRSCC initiatives of his tenure including such prestigious events as the Birmingham Superprix & Autoglass Tour of Britain. Bob also had a major role in bringing many new championships to the Club. The BRSCC would like to thank Bob for his many years of service and wish him the best of luck with future projects.

’theGrid’ would like to congratulate Tim Lewis for winning the BRSCC Alfashop Alfa Romeo Championship recently plus Richard Mitcham (right)on his victory in Class A  of the Formula Jedi Championship while  Nigel Reubens picked up Class B.

 Nigel Pike, Neven Kirkpatrick, Peter Crewes  all took Class A, B & C respectively i the  Mighty Minis Championship while Mark Robinson won in the Ford XR2 CHampionship. Mike Wright took the honours in the Ford XR3i Series while Rob Wells won the Mill Street Motors Ford Saloons Championship.

 John Hutchinson the Club FF NW Post 89 Champion with Tom Bradshaw taking the Club FF NW Pre 90 title.  A big 'well done' to each and everyone!

Tickets are now available for the BRSCC Dinner Dance and Annual Awards Presentations where the  2006 Championship winners will be presented with their trophies. The event will take place on Saturday 18th November at the Holiday Inn Stratford-upon-Avon. Tickets are priced at £45 per person – contact Dominic at BRSCC HQ on 01732 783141 or dominic@brscc.co.uk for a booking form. Rooms are available at the Holiday Inn at the following rates; Twin/Double Rooms for 2 people sharing - £97.00. Twin/Double Rooms for 1 person - £83.00. Rates Include Full Breakfast and VAT. To book contact Hotel-Stop Tel: 0870 241 3150 Mobile: 07939 040 589 Fax: 0870 241 3150 E-mail: sales@hotel-stop.co.uk

BRSCC members can get free entry to Autosport International and they can choose which day they want to attend from any of the four days of the Show, which runs from Thursday 11th to Sunday 14th January 2007, at the NEC in Birmingham. Full details of how to apply for your free ticket will appear in the November edition of BRSCC Racing News and also next month’s e-newsletter. Please note that only current members of the BRSCC at the time of the Autosport Show can claim a free ticket therefore if your membership expires before January you will need to renew it beforehand.

The Ford Escort was without doubt one of the greatest rally cars of all time and no other model`s CV boasts eight consecutive wins on the RAC Rally. In recognition its feats the Motorsport Safety Fund`s 2006 Charity Christmas card has been produced. It which features an oil painting by artist Matt Bruce RI  of Hannu Mikkola and Arne Hertz en route to victory in the 1979 rally, the last achieved on this event by the car. The card shows the car in typical pose – on opposite lock on a forest stage. . You can view the image at www.motorsportsafetyfund.com
The cards are priced at £6.50 for 10, including envelopes, postage and packing within the UK. They are available from: Motorsport Safety Fund, PO Box 200, Sevenoaks, TN15 8WZ.

16-10-06

T Cars championship leader Luciano Bacheta is to make his single-seater racing debut next month in the Formula Palmer Audi Autumn Trophy, competing in the two triple-header meetings at Snetterton and Brands Hatch in early November

Rockingham based Team West-Tec, led by Gavin Wills, is expanding its line up in BRSCC Club F3 for 2007

Fortec Motorsport’s Sebastian Hohenthal (pictured right)is provisionally the 2006 Formula Renault UK with Michelin Champion after winning the 20^th and final round of the prestigious single-seater Championship at Silverstone National circuit on Sunday, 15^th October. The Swede ends the season tied on 481 points with long-time leader Patrick Hogan  but wins the title by virtue of having more victories, seven to the AKA Lemac ace’s six. This is the closest finish in Formula Renault UK history. ..full report 

Total Control Racing’s Tom Onslow-Cole completed a lights-to-flag victory in the final round of the 2006 ELF Renault Clio Cup to sign off his title-winning year in style at Silverstone National circuit. The 19-year-old clinched his 10^th win of the campaign by just 0.317s from Z Speed Racing’s Martin Byford with Mardi Gras Motorsport’s Stephen Colbert in third….full report 

Guy Harrington and Ted Murray fought tooth and nail all weekend (14/15 Oct) at the Pau-Arnos circuit in south-western France to decide which of them would be runner-up to Ben de Zille Butler in the Autosport Caterham Eurocup…full story 

Tony Soper won the opening race in the Alfashop Alfa Romeo Championship at Snetterton o0n Sunday. Soper driving a GTV 3.00 beat Tim Lewis, the new 2006 Champion in his Sud Sprint by 11.635 seconds with Julian Birley a distant third in his Alfa 75. In the two part Relay race held later in the day the Tim Lewis and Aidie Hawkins combo were pretty unstoppable winning both races comfortably. Tony Soper was second in the first half with Julian Birley the runner-up in part two. 

Nathan Bell and Rob Jenkinson are the 2006 Cosworth Caterham Masters Champions. They were crowned at the French circuit of Pau-Arnos on Saturday (14 Oct) with a triumphant victory – their seventh of the season – in a thrilling penultimate round of the series….full story 

In the Fiat Racing Challenge at Snetterton on Saturday Sandro Proietti beat Kris Greatrex and Martin Riman in both the opening race, which was red-flagged after 3 laps and the second 14 lap event. In the Formula Jedi Championship Brett Parris won on Saturday from Allan Dallas by 5.864secs with Nigel Reuben third, 12 secs off the lead. Reuben turned it around on Sunday though, winning from Parris by 3.07seconds. Russell Small was third. In the Irish GT Lights series on Sunday Alan Byrne won both races but only just. In the opening race he crossed the line with just 0.840 secs to spare over second placed Peter Drennan while Edwin Masson was third 5.9seconds behind the leader. In race 2 Bryne beat Keith Dawson by an even smaller margin, 0.476secs while Masson was third once again, although on this occasion he was only a further half a second behind.

The MRC Stoneguard Blaze Monoposto Championships were at Snetterton at the weekend. In the 1200 series Chris Woodhouse(pictured) won the first race with 20 seconds in hand over Ake Bornebusch in second place. In the second race he lost out to Colin Stone after he received a 2 second penalty which dropped him to second place by just 0.007secs!. Bornebusch was third  11 seconds further up the road. In the 2000 championship Phil Moore‘s Dallara F301 won the first race from Mark Harrison’s Dallara F398  on Saturday by 1.816seconds. On Sunday Harrison turned the tables beating Moore by just over 5 seconds.

The LodgeSports Porsche 924s were also in Norflok and Graham Heard won by 2.8 seconds from Martin Todd. Richared Mowbray was third a long way back, over 20seconds in fact. The weekend was completed by the VSR Championship with Steve Hall’s Audi TT triumphant omn Saturday a mere 0.149seconds ahead  of Lea Wood’s Tigra VXR . Dave Longhurst completed the podium in his Mitsubishi Colt GTI, 1.146 seconds off the leader. On Sunday Wood took then honours from Hall by 6.544 seconds. Longhurst was third less than a tenth of a second behind the second placed Audi.

At Pembrey yesterday(Sunday) Barry Webb won both Clubmans Cup events in his Mallock Mk23. Adrian Lester was second in race 1 with Alex Osborne third. Osborne followed Webb home in race two to take second just 1.915seconds behind. Third was Howard Payne 2.150 seconds behind the winner. In the WRDA Sports Saloons Alexis Cole’s Nemesis was the car to beat and no one managed it. Cole winning race on from Peter Williams in a Radical by 2.07 seconds. Third was Ginger Marshall in a Bowley Clubmans, over 40 seconds behind. The first Saloon car across the line, 2 laps adrift, was the Mazda RX7 of Jon Reeves. In race two Cole again led Williams over the line with Huw Williams third, again a long way off the pace. Andrew Williams won the Saloon class in a Sierra Sapphire. 

Gareth Howell won two out of three BTCC races in his Honda Integra at Silverstone yesterday. Matt Neal won the second race after he had clinched the title with 4^th in race 1.His nearest rival, Jason Plato had a poor practice session suffering from gearbox problems which saw him start the first race from 13^th.effectively removing him from the title chase. He finished the opening race in 8th handing Neal the title.

13-10-06

Former karting champion James Clarkson makes his ELF Clio Cup debut this weekend afterwinning the Formula Nuts competition to find a new car racing star. The 20-year-old beat hundreds of rivals to win a race seat with Boulevard Team Racing. 

There are just over two weeks to go before teams and drivers interested in buying a New Clio Cup race car have to pay the second instalment to confirm their order. All prospects have this week received a letter requesting a payment of £9,250, which will be added to the deposit of £1,000 to total 50% of the cost of the car. The deadline is Wednesday 1st November. To date, 65 refundable deposits have been paid since the car was launched in July and there is no restriction on the number that can be ordered. The expected delivery date for cars ordered by 1st November is in December. Teams will then be free to test until the official testing ban is introduced prior to the start of the season. New Clio Cup replaces the current car in 2007 after seven successful seasons. The new car is already competing in the Spanish, Italian and German Clio Cup Championships. Championship Manager Simon North and technical officials Allen Collen, John Millett and Denise Trigg paid a visit to Monza to see the car in action. Current drivers Steve Wood and Alan Taylor were passengers on hot laps in the car at the World Series by Renault, the first UK drivers to experience the car on-track. Both have placed deposits for the new racer.  

Total Control Racing has confirmed James Williams and Ray MacDowall as two of its proposed four-car team for the Clio Winter Series. JHR Racing Developments and BoulevardTeam Racing are also expected to enter. The races will be held within sports and saloon car races at Brands Hatch on 4th/5th November and at Croft on 11th November. Entries close on Wednesday, 18th October. 

Rupert Lewin Racing have been running the ‘911 Experience’ events for 3 years and are already a serious contender in the high end corporate entertainment market with their professionally managed events, exclusive fleet of Porsche supercars and high calibre of instruction.

12-10 -2006

Ford Triple 888 Racing driver Craig Lowndes ended a 10 year drought to take the Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 at Mount Panorama yesterday, with many believing he was being guided from the heavens by his mentor and Holden hero Peter Brock. …more

Dominic Lesniewski got his first taste of the famous Belgian circuit, Spa-Francorchamps at the weekend and came away with the dream ending to his season – two class victories  …full story

The Pacific F2000 Championship Presented by Hankook Tires has already been settled in favour of talented teenager Robert Podlesni., but there is still plenty at stake as the season concludes this weekend with a pair of races at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway road course…more

New Zealand racer Mark Porter died on Sunday, October 8th (Australia) at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Sydney where he had remained in critical condition from injuries sustained in a crash Friday at Mount Panorama circuit in Bathurst,  Porter was racing in the CAMS-sanctioned V8 Fujitsu development series' first race of the weekend when he spun his Hydralink Holden and was stalled in the middle of the track where he was  hit by David Clark at about 120mph coming around the blind left hand turn. The 31-year-old New Zealander sadly never regained consciousness and died with his wife Adrienne, his young son and his parents by his side. Optima Sport's driver Clark remains at Sydney's Nepean Hospital with multiple fractures to the right side of his body and a punctured lung. The Australian is alert as he continues to recover from his injuries. The 31-year old New Zealander's family has requested privacy, but did make a brief statement: "The family wishes to convey their heartfelt appreciation for the efforts of the medical crews who have been involved all the way through -- at the track, at the Bathurst Base Hospital and at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, and all of those who transported Mark between those facilities. They gave Mark every chance at life, for which we thank them."  ‘theGrid’ offer their condolences to both the family and friends’

Lincolnshire-based ELF Renault Clio Cup team Boulevard Team Racing is giving one young driver the opportunity of a lifetime with a race seat for this weekend’s season finale at Silverstone. James Clarkson, 20, is the inaugural winner of the Formula Nuts racing scholarship and will drive for the Boulevard Team Racing/Formula Nuts team alongside regular drivers Martin Johnson and Paul Rivett at Silverstone National Circuit on 14^th/15^th October..

The LMA Euro Saloons at Silverstone saw another win for Simon Blanckley and class wins for Jason Holmes, Simon Taylor, Richard Ibrahim  and Simon Jackson...full story

Racing indeed is a small world and proving that is the Cooper Tire company which has stepped up to the plate as not only the tire supplier in 2007 but will be the Champ Car Atlantic series presenting sponsor. Along with their 2006 partner Mazda North America Operations, the series will have a new title: Cooper Tires Presents The Champ Car Atlantic Championship Powered by Mazda. "We're still enjoying the exciting conclusion to the 2006 season, but we're already looking forward to the 34th year 016.a, powered by Mazda of Atlantic racing in 2007," said Vicki O'Connor, Managing Director of the Champ Car Atlantic Championship. "After welcoming Mazda to the series this past season, we're excited to open up new doors with Cooper Tire coming on board as presenting sponsor of the Atlantic Championship. With some of the best venues in all of racing on the series schedule for 2007, it's bound to be one of the most thrilling seasons in Atlantic history," continued O'Connor.

Fortec Motorsport’s Sebastian Hohenthal and AKA Lemac’s Patrick Hogan are both on the brink of realising a dream as the Formula Renault UK with Michelin Championship decider takes place at Silverstone on Sunday, 15^th October. Rounds 19 and 20 will be held on the 1.64-mile National circuit at the Northamptonshire venue, with both drivers confident of claiming their first car racing title.

The Groovy Baby for Soulful 70s Saloons race race at Mallory Park was won by  Alan Daffin in a MK1 Capri. Second in another Capri, this time a Mk3, was Dave Thomas while third went to Richard Tyzack in a BMW 2002. In the Cloth Cap trophy race for Pre 66 Sportscars Shaun Lynn took his AC Cobra to victory ahead of the Elva Mk7 of Robert Hartley. Hartley won the main race of ther day, the Top hat Pre-66 Historic Touring Car event. His Mustang beating Jim Prentice's similar car after 46 laps. Roger Cope was third in a BMW 1800. Alex Hammond won the Allcomers event in a Camaro from Dave Thomas's Capri with Shaun Lyn taking a second podium spot in his AC Cobra with third.

At Castle Combe Ed Moore(right) won the Melton Concrete Products FFord Carnival in his Van Dieman RF99/00 by 3.4seconds. Second was Matt Rivett in Ray GR97 while Keith Dempsey was third in a Swift. In the National Mobile Windscreens Saloon car race Mark Harrison drove his Mitsubishi Evo 8 to victory 5 seconds up on Gary Prebble in second in a Rover 220 Coupe. Third was Terry Thorne in a Ford Focus RS. The Savesometax.co.uk GT race was son by Tom Richardson in a Nemisis from Guy Woodward's Jade Trackstar and Louis Davidson's Radical. The Classic FF1600 race saw Steve Hare in a Van Dieman RF81 just beat Paul walton's Crossle 26f by 1 second while in the FF2000 race Olly Hancock in a Van Dieman RF82 beat none other than Sideshow Bob, the cartoon character apparently driving a Reynard SF79, whatever next!

Nathan Freke crowned his UK Formula Ford Championship-winning season with another race victory – his 10th – yesterday (Sat) at Castle Combe, with Nick Tandy pipping Freke to the line to win race two and secure championship runner-up position....full story

Dorset driver Gary Halcrow (right) enjoyed an eventful weekend (7/8 Oct) at Silverstone – clinching one championship title, accelerating into the lead of another and crashing his Caterham just three of the highlights…full story

The scene is set for a dramatic finale to the evo Caterham Academy at Brands Hatch in a fortnight’s time after a brace of exciting races at Silverstone.Seventeen-year-old Lewis Hopkins strengthened his hold over Academy Group 1 with a fine win today (Sun) despite a botched start which dropped him from the front row of the grid to eighth on the opening lap. 
Hopkins clawed his way back into the top three by lap five and lifted the lead from Peter Young on the eighth tour. Young fought back to the front before crashing out at Brooklands, thankfully without injury, and bringing the race to a premature end. Hopkins took the win by half a second from Richard Edwards, with Morgan Parry third. Edwards and Parry share second in the championship, 10 points adrift of Hopkins. 
In Group 2, Nico Master lost his championship lead after a late retirement from the Saturday race. Stuart Patterson led from the seventh lap on to take his maiden win, ahead of new championship frontrunner Andrew Bell and with James Sharrock close behind for third. Bell and Sharrock head for Brands separated by only three points. 
PROVISIONAL RACE RESULTS
Academy Group 1 1 Lewis Hopkins; 2 Richard Edwards +0.542s; 3 Morgan Parry;
Academy Group 2 1 Stuart Patterson; 2 Andrew Bell +1.097s; 3 James Sharrock;
PROVISIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP PLACINGS
Academy Group 1 1 Hopkins 123 points; =2 Parry & Edwards 113

Rory Butcher and Ian Forrest  were the victors in the Scottish Mini Cooper Cup 30 lap 2 driver event at Knockhill today (Sunday). Jamie Cleland and Sandy Forrest had led the event until half distance until the driver change when Forrest had problems with his seat belts delaying the hand-over. Butcher and Forrest Snr had no such problems and  switched places in seconds allowing them to emerge from the pits with a lead of some 10 seconds over the erstwhile leaders. This left the Connon/Mitchell pairing in second and Dryden/Thiewall third.

Stan Bernard won the SMRC's Classic Sports and Saloons race at Knockhill after early leader Al Fleming broke down at the start of the sixth lap. Bernard had started from the front row alongside the similar Porshce 911 of Adam Bernard before Fleming passed them both  on the 4th lap. Fleming then started to pull away before his retirement. This left the 2 Porsches circulating together for the remaining 9 laps and although Adam had a look up the inside once or twice he never really looked like passing. Third fell to Jim Grant in a Lotus Elan. Geordie Taylor won the Formula Phoenix race in his Reynard FF84, although for once he was kept honest by Graham Brunton in a Van Dieman RF92 who finished second 6.471 seconds behind, Thid was David Kerr in a PRS. Robert Pritchard won the first of the Sports/Saloons encounters from George Brewster and Ian Cowie all three driving Caterhams. In the second race Pritchard seemed off the pace leaving Cowie and Brewster to battle for victory. Cowie it was who triumphed winning by just 0.056seconds after the pair circulated nose to tail throughout. Pritchard was a distant third 14 secs behind.  Chris Doherty in an Escort Cossie was the winner of the saloon class from Paul Luti in a MG ZT 250 which was quite a handful in the wet. In the XR2s Scott Fraser won the first of two races from brother Iain by less than a second after a first corner crash eliminated Stewart Scott. Andrew Winchester  crashed out on the penultimate lap leaving the Fraser's with a  win and a second place. third was Alastair Hall  3 seconds behind the winner. Race two was marred by a late crash involving Iain Fraser which brought out the red-flag. Fraser hit the tyre wall hard on the main straight after a coming together with race winner Alastair Hall.  Andrew Winchester was second and Colin Mackinnon third.

The NW Formula Ford race at Oulton Park for Class A-B cars was won by John Hutchinson in a Van Dieman RF00 by just 1.652seconds from James Cole in a similar car. Third just under 4 seconds behind the winner was Neil Patten in a Van Dieman RF90. In the Class C-E race Tom Bradshaw took his Reynard RF89 to victory 1.277secs ahead of Robert Whelan's Reynard RF89 . Lee Hannan was third in another Reynard.  The Dunlop Tuscan Challenge race saw Andy Holden win by over 20seconds from Steve Glynn who was also over 20seconds ahead of third placed Darren Smith.

At Silverstone this weekend(7-8 October) Brian Roper won the Ford Fiesta race from David Abbott by 4.4secs with Seam McIenerney third. In the Ford Saloon Championship Steve Scott led a trio of Escort Cossie's over the line with over 15seconds to spare on second placed Stewart Whyte. Malcolm Wise was third 2 seconds further up the road. In the Club FFord race Lee Mumford took the win in his Reynard FF92.  Adrian Campfiled's Swift SC93 and Mike Gardner in a Van Dieman RF90 were second and third 7.4 and 7.5 seconds behind the winner respectively. In the Mighty Mini race Neil Slark won from Nigel Pike by just 0.304seconds with Steve Miles a 'massive' 2.6 seconds off the lead. In teh Super Mighty Mini race Peter Grewes won  with 1.9secs to spare from Julian Howe. Mike Edgell was a distant third 18 seconds further back.

The Grand Sport (GS) and Street Tuner (ST) machines from the Grand-Am Cup Series will go to the Virginia International Raceway this weekend for the first six-hour endurance races in series history to decide the driver, team and engine manufacturer championships in the final round of the 2006 championship. The events--Saturday's Wheel Enhancement GS Enduro presented by EMC Mechanical and Sunday's Bill Black Chevrolet Street Tuner Six-Hour Enduro--will be the second visit of the season to the 3.27-mile circuit for each class. The GS and ST carscombined class event back in April, which was won overall by Blake Rosser and David Murry in the Playboy/Unitech Nissan 350Z and by Eric Curran and Jamie Holtom in the Clearscada/GM Performance Division Chevrolet Cobalt in the ST class. Much has changed since the spring. Points leader Anders Hainer didn't win his first race of the season until Labor Day Weekend at Miller Motorsports Park, but the Swede has finished inside the top-five in all of the last 6 races. This weekend, he will share the  Under Armour/Turner Motorsport BMW M3 with road racing veteran Boris Said and team owner Will Turner. Just 7 points behind in the GS point standings are Patrick Long and Brent Martini The duo have had 8 top-10 finishes, including a win at Trois-Rivieres in August.

Alan Holm (JBS Lasersprint Rhema 2) came another step closer, toward successfully defending his National title, when he took both wins and the fastest lap, in round eight of the 2006 South African National Formula Vee Championship, at the Zwartkops International World of Motoring, Pretoria West. Starting the first heat, from fourth place on the grid, he took the lead from Peter Hills (Vacuform Rhema 2) half way through the race and went on to finish just over one and a half seconds ahead of Hills, at the flag. He then went on to lead the second heat from start to finish, claiming maximum points for the day.

Just five days after the thrilling opening round of the A1GP World Cup of Motorsport at Zandvoort, the Netherlands, the field once again roars into action for round two of the 12-event series. This time the championship heads to the east of Europe to the 5.41km Brno track in the Moravia region of the

Renault Sport UK has confirmed an upgraded bodykit will be implemented on its Formula Renault 2.0 car for the 2007 Formula Renault UK with Michelin Championship season

Aussie driver Michael Trimble will test with the Raikkonen -- Robertson Racing Formula 3 team next week at Pembrey on the 9th and 10th of October. The 21-year-old will complete two days of running in a Double R Dallara F306 -- Mercedes chassis, as he bids to take his career overseas in the near future following two successful years in the domestic series, this year with local team Astuti Motorsport. The confirmation of his two-day test with the Double R squad comes after Trimble made contact with the team's manager Anthony Heiatt almost a year ago in preparation for his first international test. "I have been talking to Double R and Anthony for a year, slowly working out a plan to get me over there and into a car," said Trimble. "I'm really looking forward to the week. It's going to be hard to come back because when I've done the test there is no way I'm going to be able to sit out the British F3 championship next year! Michael Trimble has been one of the top contenders in this year's Australian Championship, having won two races and a stunning pole position -- by over a second - in front of the Formula 1 teams at this year's Australian Grand Prix Support Races.

The BTCC title goes down to the wire at Silverstone this weekend with the final round of the 2006 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship. With three drivers still in with a shout of claiming the Drivers' Championship, fans, teams and drivers alike could not have wished for a more exciting climax to the season. Matt Neal, Jason Plato and Colin Turkington are all locked in a three-way battle at the top of the table and will be desperate to clinch the title in front of a bumper end-of-season crowd. And where better to be crowned Champion than at Silverstone? Defending champion and Team Halfords Honda driver Neal, currently leads SEAT driver Plato by a margin of 35 points and, with 52 points up for grabs at Silverstone, remains the bookies' favourite to become the BTCC's first back-to-back champion since 1987. Turkington, 49 points behind Neal, is a big outsider, but will be going all out at Silverstone to claim maximum points.

Shane Kelly is The Enterprise Group 2006 Club F3 Champion after finishing second in the final race of the season at Thruxton.  Paul Sibley (pictured left)claimed the Class B Championship with 10^th place at Thruxton and Nicholas Robinson won the Masters Class Championship after claiming Masters Class victory on Sunday…..full story 

Adrian Quaife-Hobbs has confirmed he will take part in the 2007 Formula BMW UK Championship with Fortec Motorsport. The 15 year-old 2005 BRSCC T-Car Champion signed this week after becoming one of the 5 drivers selected for a FBMW Scholarship, worth £35,000. Thirty-four young hopefuls attended the Course in January and 21 returned to Valencia to demonstrate their driving abilities in a FBMW car to a panel of judges including former 1992 World Champion Nigel Mansell. Quaife-Hobbs, who became the youngest ever winner of an MSA sanctioned car racing championship and the youngest ever driver to be awarded prestigious BRDC Rising Star will join Richard Dutton at Fortec Motorsport. "This is a great opportunity to be run by the championship winning team, as they have a proven record. I am looking forwarding to working with Richard and all the team."

The 2006/07 A1GP World Cup of Motorsport season kicked off in thrilling style today at the 4.18km Zandvoort circuit in the west of the Netherlands. A1 Team South Africa, driven by Adrian Zaugg sealed victory in the 12-lap, 20 minute Sprint race, just 2.2 seconds ahead of A1 Team Mexico and A1 Team France. Germany, Great Britain and New Zealand rounded off the top six.  The 70 minute Feature race, characterised by breathtaking overtaking moves and unpredictable conditions, was finally won by Nico Hulkenberg for A1 Team Germany, the country's first-ever A1GP victory, just over seven seconds ahead of A1 Teams USA and Australia. A1 Team Netherlands finished its home race in a popular 4th position.

Champ Car rookie Katherine Legge began last week by climbing out of the smoking wreck that once was her PKV Champ Car.  She ened it by getting back into a new car for testing  at Sebring International Raceway.  Last night in the US she recounted her experiences on the Ellen DeGeneres Show  on television

Danny Watts won a very wet F3 race at Thruxton after the race was started behind the safety car. The win for Watts in his first F3 outing since Macau last yea was in the Invitation Class. Jarvis was 2nd overall (allowing his to take second in the championship ahead of Bruno Senna) but classed as the winner of the Championship Class. Third was Jelley with Senna fourth.,. Greg Mansell was 2nd in the Invitation Class, ahead of National Class winner Gonzalez. In race 2 on the final lap, as the leaders headed into the Chicane for the last time with Oliver Jarvis in the lead, Yelmer Buurman(right) snatched the win with a daring overtaking move, nipping past Jarvis, who in his efforts to hang onto the lead went wide onto the kerbs letting not just Buurman but Bakkerud as well leaving him in third less than 100 yards from the finish. National Class winner was Morgado, with the Invitation Class going to Leo Mansell.

Wins for Christian Ebbesvik and Nick Tandy at Thruxton this weekend were the highlights of the UK Formula Ford Championship's penultimate meeting of the season.   Full story

The scene is set for a dramatic final-round showdown to the Cosworth Caterham Masters following the action-packed Italian rounds of the series at the weekend (30 Sept/1 Oct). Nathan Bell and Rob Jenkinson took twin wins at Monza, both achieved with less than a tenth of a second to spare, in their Hyperion/Acre Jean CSR 260 to bring to six their collection of race wins for the season.   Full report 

In the Classic F3 race at Thruxton on Saturday Richard Trott claimed the win in his Chevron 843 from Peter Williamson in a Argo JM6 by 9 seconds. Third was Paul Smith in a Ralt RT1. In the Club F3 race on Sunday, Justin Sherwood came out on top over 12 seconds ahead of Shane Kelly. Keith Baldwin was a distant third.   In the Formula Jedi race Brett Parris won from Nigel Reubens and Paul Butcher . The Sports Duratec race was won by Richard Johnson in a Van Dieman RF53 . Chris Gilbert the last unlapped runner was second in a Lola, a long way behind with Martin Ellis third in a Carbir CS2. The A wet Sports 2000 Pinto race saw Chris Yarwood’s Tiga SC87 just hold off Tony Maryon’s Lola 492, crossing the line just 0.275seconds apart. Third was Jim McDougall in a Swift DB2. 

Ben de Zille Butler was crowned Autosport Caterham Eurocup champion on Saturday at Monza, a brace of top-four placings enough to secure the title for the 29-year-old Suffolk racer well before the end of what is only his second full season of racing. Full story

Paul Taylor is the 2006 Volkswagen Racing Cup champion. The 41-year-old from Hertfordshire claimed the title at Thruxton this weekend despite being denied season-closing victories at the wheel of his four-wheel-drive Golf R32. 
A fourth-place finish yesterday (Saturday) and seventh in today’s final round was enough for Taylor to finish the job he started with a win at Oulton Park in April, and Paul was delighted: ‘It’s a great feeling… As with all motor racing, there have been ups and downs throughout the season. It’s fantastic to have got the job done.’ 
After his Oulton success, further victories followed for Taylor at Donington Park and Snetterton, which he capped with twin wins at Silverstone a week ago to bring his victory tally to five from 12 races. He also claimed a brace of second place finishes at Brands Hatch. 
Backing from Taylor’s Heating, Alpha Boilers, Revo Technik and Big Boys Toys helped put Paul on the top step of the championship podium. 
He plans to return to the series in 2007 to defend his title. ‘I have every intention of coming back to have another go, even though the competition is getting tougher all the time.’ 
Taylor started racing in karts at age eight and, after a spell in rallying, turned to saloon car racing in 1999. He was the Stock Hatch champion in 2003.

The Volkswagen Racing Cup in association with Hankook enjoyed a truly grand 2006 finale at Thruxton this weekend, Golf R32 driver Paul Taylor clinching the championship title and Steve Wood and Martyn Culley claiming the victory honours in a pair of breathtaking races…full report

The Ace Vehicles Deliveries Sports/Saloons were at Oulton Park yesterday(Saturday). Michael Blomfield won both races in his Ford Sierra with Rob Pritchard in his Caterham Vauxhall second and Mark Primett in a Banks Europa third on both occasions.  Also on the bill were the Classic Clubmans, Peter Harper winning that race in his Mallock MK20B.  In second was Malcolm Jackson, just 0.591seconds behind while third was Steven Chaplin. The Kumho BMW race was won by Rick Kerry from Ian Hill  with Garrie Whittaker third.

The MGOC were at Oulton as well and it was Stuart Plotnek who took the honours in the Clas A-F Lancaster Insurance event. Second 3.959 secs down on the leader was Nick Dunn with Ian Evans third, all three driving MGF's. In the Class B-Z race Doug Cole won from Martin Wills in second and Martin Gilchrist third. The Yoyo Tyres Modified Saloons saw Neil Philpotts  win in a Mitsubishi Starion from Sean Holland's Peugeot 205GTI, just 0.340secs behind. Clodse behind the leading pair in third was Graeme Roberts 1.3secs off the lead. The Westfield Sports car race was won by Jonathon Young 1.233 seconds ahead of Dider Prongue with Troy Robinson third.

At SIlverstone on Saturday(30 September) Natalie Butler and Kirsty Jeffrey each won a race in the final rounds of the Formula Woman series. Second in race one was Jeffrey with Nikki Welsby third. Welsby followed Jeffrey home in race two for second place with Lucy Clements third. In the MaX5 Championship John Diffey won the opening race from Jonathon Greensmith , Steve Greensmith and Scott Kirlew. The four cars crossing the line less than a second apart. In race 2 Jeremy Clark beat Paul Sheard by 4 seconds with Martin Stevinson third. The WRDA  Sports/Saloon race was won by David Kragen in  a Radical from Peter Williams, also in a Radical. Third was Ginger Marshall in a Bowley Clubman. Finally the Tiger Sports race saw Stewart Fenton take the chequered flag first with Steve Quenby second and James Dudley third.

At Road Atlanta, Ron White took to his third consecutive victory of the season in the Ross Smith Racing Mazda in Round Eleven of the Star Mazda Championship.

Daniel Herrington, from North Carolina, led the final practice session at Road Atlanta for Round Eleven of the Star Mazda Championship presented by Goodyear, setting the fastest time of the weekend at 1:20.507 (113.580 MPH) ahead of this afternoon's qualifying session..

After a three week hiatus the drivers of the Star Mazda Championship presented by Goodyear have taken to the Road Atlanta circuit as practice begins for Round Eleven, the penultimate round of the 2006 championship. Under sunny skies, a marked contrast from their race at Mosport as the remnants of tropical storm Ernesto swept through, thirty-six competitors participated in today's three unofficial practice sessions, with championship points leader Adrian Carrio posting the fastest time of the day.

It was a day of drama and heartbreak for the Mi-Jack Conquest Racing Atlantic Team last weekend at the Champ Car Atlantic season finale in Road America . It was the most important race of the season, the championship decider, Graham Rahal or Simon Pagenaud, the 2006 Atlantic Champion. Conquest Racing's Graham Rahal was well determined and focused to take the title home, but his engine had other plans. The stuck throttle safety feature kicked in during a caution period, shutting down the engine for no apparent reason, costing the team what could have been a well-deserved Championship. Regardless of Sunday's results, the team has nothing to be ashamed about; they were the dominating force all season. Things had started off well for Rahal. He was staying at the front and fighting for position with Pagenaud when a yellow flag came out on lap 4. That's when the dreaded event happened. Rahal quickly tried to restart the car but to no avail. He jumped out of the car and headed back to pit lane only to find out that his rival Simon Pagenaud had crashed out on the next lap. To make matters worse, once the car was returned to the team after the race, it started on the first try.

Zandvoort will be reverberating to the sound of 24 A1GP cars this weekend as the Dutch track hosts the opening round of the 2006-07 A1GP World Cup of Motorsport. Yorkshire's Darren Manning has been called up to take the wheel of A1 Team Great Britain's entry for next Sunday's Sprint and Feature races following an impressive podium-scoring debut for the team back in April at the 2005-06 A1GP season finale in China.

Dominic Lesniewski did not only sew up the Matador Powertec Radical Challenge title at Snetterton but he did so in style  taking a win and a second place at the weekend…full report

Shane Kelly bounced back from two disappointing races to win his 6th Club F3 race of the season at Oulton Park on Saturday…full story

Tom Onslow-Cole is the 2006 ELF Renault Clio Cup Champion after finishing third in round 18 at Brands Hatch Indy today. Although his nearest title-rival Paul Rivett won the race ahead of Martin Byford, the Total Control Racing star’s lead of 69 points is insurmountable with just two rounds left and 68 points on offer

Coles Racing’s Richard Singleton eased to victory in round 12 of the Formula Renault BARC Championship at Brands Hatch Indy on Sunday, 24^th September, his sixth in a title-winning season….full report 

Nathan Freke is the 2006 UK Formula Ford Champion. The 23-year-old clinched the championship this weekend in the best possible style, winning both Silverstone races at the wheel of his Newnet-backed, Jamun Racing-prepared Mygale….full story

Jason Plato and Giovanardi shared the spoils at Brands hatch yesterday in the BTCC. Plato took the chequered flag in the opening two races while the Vauxhall driver notched up his second win in as many weeks in race 3.

Tom Onslow-Cole is the 2006 ELF Renault Clio Cup Champion after finishing third in round 18 at Brands Hatch Indy today. Although his nearest rival Paul Rivett won the race ahead of Martin Byford, the Total Control Racing star’s lead of 69 points is insurmountable with just two rounds left…full story

Sam Bird (right)completed a lights-to-flag victory in round 18 of the Formula Renault UK with Michelin Championship on Sunday, 24th September to regain third place in the drivers’ standings. His Fortec Motorsport team-mate Sebastian Hohenthal  finished in third, two places ahead of title rival Patrick Hogan to stretch his Championship lead to 19 points with two races left. However, this becomes nine points, as each driver is required to drop his two worst scores of the season to determine their final points total…..full report

Nick Sanderson returned to the Scottish XR2 Championship at Croft at the weekend, possibly for the last time…full story

Graham Fennymore  was today (Sun) crowned Autosport Caterham Superlight Challenge Champion for 2006, winning one of the day’s Silverstone races and finishing second in the other to clinch the title for the Hyperion Motorsport/Ambitions Racing team. ..full report

The Volkswagen Racing Cup is all set for a grandstand finish following twin wins at Silverstone yesterday (Sunday) for Golf R32 pilot Paul Taylor,(right) results which propelled him back into the championship lead …full report

Mike Conway won the Britiish F3 title at Silverstone yesterday winning both races in the process. Oliver Jarvis was second in the first race, Round 19 while Bruno Senna was the runner-up in Round 20.

Mark McAleer was a double winner as the Porsche Club Championship visited his home circuit of Croft, but caution in tricky conditions made sure Ian White left the North East as Class One winner and the newly crowned 2006 overall champion….full report

Simone Pagenaud, the French hot-shoe signed with the newly formed Team Australia Atlantic team. wrapped up the 2006 season by winning the Champ Car Atlantic Championship at Road America at the weekend. "It is such a good feeling, just starting to realize I am the champion," he said after the podium celebration where he was handed the trophy and the $2 million Champ Car bonus. "Now I can think about Champ Car in 2007. Yesterday, I could not project the future." Co-team owner Derrick Walker stated on the day they signed the French racer: "Once we met and talked about our objectives we quickly realized that we shared a common interest in having a competitive race program."

Richard Chamberlain and John Allen shared their 935 to a comfortable win in the final one-hour enduro of the 2006 Porsche Open season, but had to play second fiddle to Colin Broster's 996 for the first half of the race…full report

Hankook-backed rally ace Gwyndaf Evans yesterday (Sunday) proved that lack of circuit racing experience need be no handicap to success when he collected a brace of top-six finishes in the Volkswagen Racing Cup. The 47-year-old Welshman, a former British Rally Champion, was drafted into the new Polo GTI for the Silverstone rounds of the championship and quickly adapted not only to the car but also to the confines of Britain’s Grand Prix circuit. 
Wet conditions in race one suited him perfectly and he sped from 13th on the grid, past some notable rivals, to sixth at the chequered flag. 
‘I thoroughly enjoyed myself,’ said Gwyndaf, who was fresh from success on the Ulster Rally, on which the SJR Hankook team driver was the top British Rally Championship finisher. ‘The Polo is a great little car and relatively easy to get the hang of.’ 
There was better yet to come: his sixth-place finish earned him pole position for race two and, though Gwyndaf was unable to convert his start advantage into a race lead on the opening lap, he turned in another superb performance to collect fourth at the finish. 
‘It’s been a great weekend and I’d like to thank Hankook and Volkswagen for the opportunity,’ he added. ‘The Racing Cup is a great little championship and I’d love to do more – though I’ve no intention of giving up on rallying just yet.’

Jason Holmes crashed out of the LMA Euro Saloons race at Oulton Park on Saturday but still won the title.  Mal Davison’s Noble beat the Tourers to the flag while there were class wins for Dave Roberts, Peter Felix, Mark Hammersley and Simon Jackson…full report

Gavin Seager and Nic Grindrod took victories in the Pickup races at Snetterton yesterday(Sunday). Steve Dance was second in race 1 followed by Mark Willis in third. IN the second event Seager took the runner-up spot with Willis third once again.

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