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23/04/2008
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30-11-06
Racing For Ireland, a newly formed driver marketing and management company has teamed up with the American run Skip Barber Race Series and School to offer you affordable and competitive racing in single-seaters.
2007 CALENDAR announced for Reanult Championships. Hampshire’s Thruxton circuit will host the final round of the Formula Renault UK with Michelin Championship and ELF Renault Clio Cup for the first time in 2007. The high-speed track is scheduled to host two meetings in 2007, rounds five and six will be held on 5th/6th May and rounds 19 and 20 on 13th/14th October. Nine of the 10 race meetings will feature on the British Touring Car Championship support package.
The biggest meeting of the season will be the non-BTCC penultimate event when the World Series by Renault visits Derbyshire’s Donington Park Grand Prix circuit on 8th/9th September. Rounds 17 and 18 of Renault Sport UK’s championships will be held here, with organisers hoping for a repeat of 2006 when more than 100,000 fans packed the grandstands during the corresponding weekend.
As per the 2006 season, Kent’s Brands Hatch circuit plays host to rounds one and two with an earlier start to the campaign on 31st March/1st April. Rounds three and four take place on 21st/22nd April at an as-yet unconfirmed venue before the first visit to Thruxton.
From Hampshire, the championships switch to North Yorkshire and the Croft circuit for rounds seven and eight. The first half of the season ends at Cheshire’s Oulton Park on 23rd/24th June. Formula Renault UK and Clio Cup visit Donington Park with the BTCC for rounds 11 and 12 on 14th/15th July before a trip to Norfolk’s Snetterton circuit on 28th/29th July for rounds 13 and 14.
Brands Hatch hosts its second meeting of the season on 18th/19th August before the hugely-anticipated climax to the season at Donington Park and Thruxton. As in 2006, logistical reasons prevent Renault Sport UK from attending the BTCC race meeting at Knockhill on 1st/2nd September, as this does not allow teams and officials enough time to prepare for the World Series by Renault event the following week.
Championship Manager Simon North commented: “The combination of nine meetings in support of the BTCC and one meeting supporting the World Series by Renault is probably the best calendar we have been able to offer our teams and drivers. Thruxton is a great circuit and we look forward to crowning our champions there. Meanwhile, World Series by Renault was a huge success last season and a major attraction for drivers and spectators alike.”
29-11-06
2006 Star Mazda Champion Ace Carrio will test at Thunderhill with Forsythe Championship Racing later this week. "Forsythe Championship Racing is a powerhouse Atlantic team and Champ Car team, and it is important to show them what I am capable of and to make a good impression," stated Carrio
At the MSR Houston track several Champ Car teams were testing this week. Forsythe Championship Racing was with 16-year-old Richard Philippe testing components that they intend to use on the 2007 Panoz DP01 Champ Car, while Pacific Coast Motorsports put in laps in their Rocketsports Lolas, getting drivers Ryan Dalziel and Alex Figge more familiar not only with the car, but also with the engineers and teammates that will aid them in battle next season. Meanwhile, Mi-Jack/Conquest Racing went about their 2007 preparation in the tried-and-true method of giving new drivers a chance to show their skills in the Car, with Guillaume Moreau and Alex Premat both turning their first Champ Car laps.
RuSPORT has a new owner Dan Pettit, previous co-owner of PKV Racing, became the sole owner of RuSPORT as of November 24. Dan looks to bring both his racing background and business expertise to the team. RuSPORT will remain based in Loveland, Colorado, campaigning the new for 2007 chassis, the Panoz DP01 Champ Car World Series. Dan Pettit has been involved with Champ Car racing since 2004 when he and partners, Jimmy Vasser and Kevin Kalkhoven founded PKV Racing. Dan has served as CFO and President of European Operations for JDS Uniphase Corporation and has seen multiple companies through the transition from privately held organizations to public corporations traded on the NASDAQ.
American Honda Motor Co., Inc., has announced that it will be the title sponsor of a joint IndyCar Series/American Le Mans Series race weekend at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, July 20-22, 2007. The three-year agreement opens with the Acura Sportscar Challenge, the seventh round of the 2007 American Le Mans Series, taking place on Saturday, July 21. The Honda 200 IndyCar Series race follows on Sunday, July 22, as the 12th round in the open-wheel racing series marks the return of Indy-style competition to Mid-Ohio for the first time since 2003.
Andy Wallace will be celebrating his thirteenth year with Dyson Racing by partnering with Butch Leitzinger full-time in the team's 2007 season. Replacing recently retired James Weaver, Wallace is the only driver who has won Le Mans, Daytona 24 Hours, 12 Hours of Sebring, and the Petit Le Mans. He has won Le Mans once, Daytona three times and Sebring twice. Additionally, he has five class victories in these world-class events, twenty-one over all podiums, and four class podiums. "I know it is an over worked word, but it really is an honor to be chosen for this seat," said Wallace. "I drove with James for a dozen years at Dyson Racing and no one was quicker in a sportscar. This is a special team - family would be a better word, and to be back full time with the guys is a great early Christmas gift. Like most drivers for Rob Dyson, I have had a great enduring relationship with fond memories. Rob gives you the tools to do the job right and as a driver, you cannot ask for more."
Juan Pablo Montoya capped off an eventful conclusion to the 2006 racing season at Homestead-Miami Speedway with his Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates (CGRFS) crews after successfully qualifying for his first-career NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series race in the Texaco/Havoline Dodge, and pulling his first racing "double" in the Busch Series event. When the dust settled from his seven-race stock car racing season (ARCA, Busch and NEXTEL Cup), Montoya had completed 96 percent of the total race laps, with an average qualifying position of 13th and 24 laps led. "I think the thing that is easy to forget is that Juan Pablo is a driver with no prior experience in these cars," said Team Owner Chip Ganassi. "To accomplish what he's been able to accomplish in just seven races really speaks volumes about both his ability as a race car driver, and the passion he has for making this effort and this team a success." The 2000 Indianapolis 500 champion and Formula One race winner quickly turned heads in his stock car debut at Talladega Superspeedway in October, qualifying on the front row and leading the first nine laps en route to a third-place finish in the ARCA RE/MAX Series race.
28-11-06
Carlin Motorsports will join up with David Price Racing starting in 2007 for an assault on the GP2 Championship. "Trevor (Carlin)and I have known each other for over twenty years and we've always worked well together. We've been discussing this for several months and now the time is right from both of our perspectives to form this alliance," Price said. "It puts the top on the Carlin pyramid of race series, from the 15 year-old drivers entering the sport, right through to the door of F1." Trevor Carlin will head the new Carlin DPR team while David Price will remain on board., The new team will be based atthe former Brabham F1 factory in Chessington bought earlier this year by Carlin."I'm absolutely delighted that we are moving into GP2 next season," commented Carlin. "Dave and I have come to an agreement which is beneficial to both of us and having him involved will be invaluable. I am confident that the team will be able to build on the successes that DPR has achieved in its last two years in GP2."
Greek driver Vasilis Zahos will test with Mi-Jack Conquest Racing Atlantic Team. Zahos was picked for the test with theteam in order to develop his skills with an eye on the Athens Champ Car race project for 2008. The test, which will take place at the MSR Houston track will be conducted under the watchful eye of new Team Manager Steve Ragan. "The Greek Champ Car project is very exciting and with that project in perspective, I'm glad that we have the opportunity today to evaluate a young Greek driver like Vasilis. He's a perfect fit with our Atlantic Team and our philosophy of developing young drivers," said Eric Bachelart, co-owner of Mi-Jack Conquest Racing. Zahos, a 22-year-old from Athens, may have little experience in open-wheel cars but he is glad to have been chosen to test with the Conquest Atlantic Team and he sees today's test as his first step toward his dream of racing in the Champ Car World Series.
2006 Pacific F2000 Champion Robert Podlesni will be testing at Buttonwillow Raceway Park with PR1 Motorsports in preparation for a possible 2007 Champ Car Atlantic campaign. Podlesni will start off his extensive PR1 test with the previous generation Swift 014.a Atlantic car in order to establish a solid baseline, and help ease the transition to the newer chassis. After the baseline is set, Podlesni will graduate to the latest Swift 016.a Atlantic car, introduced at the start of the 2006 season, for the following two days.
This week’s memorable Motorsport moments - November 27 1966. Mario Andretti wins USAC Sprint Car race on the dirt track at Manzanita, California, USA . November 28 1895, The first organized auto race in America, originally scheduled for November 2, is run in Chicago. The "Chicago Times-Herald Contest", organized by the Times-Herald's owner, H.H.Kohlsaat, was contested by six cars, two of which were electric powered. The cars left at different intervals, with J. Frank Duryea the first to leave. Duryea won the 54 mile run from Chicago to Elgin and back in a time of 7 hours 53 minutes. He was awarded $2000 for the win . November 29 1964 , Willy Mairesse wins the Angolan GP in Luanda driving a Ferrari 250LM . November 30 1975, Gulf Research Racing, winners of the 1974 Le Man 24 Hours (and twice before as John Wyer Automotive Engineering), closes down . December 1 1929 Scuderia Ferrari formed
27-11-06.
Christian Vietoris of Josef Kaufmann Racing was the winner of the DELL Formula BMW World Final. At Valencia’s “Circuit de la Comunitat”, the 17-year-old beat 35 competitors from across the globe
On the Viana track in Portugal, Intrepid had the honour of providing the karts for the whole Senior field in the 7th Rotax Mojo Max Challenge Grand Final. No less than 68 chasses were sent out to the Iberian Peninsula. This new partnership with Rotax proved to be a huge success.
CATERHAM MOTORSPORT AWARDS NIGHT. More than 350 racers, team members and their guests gathered at a special awards ceremony in London on Saturday (25 November) to celebrate a superb season of Caterham Motorsport Caterham Cars managing director Ansar Ali presented in excess of 55 trophies to award-winners in the Cosworth Caterham Masters, Autosport Caterham Eurocup, Autosport Caterham Superlight Challenge, Motorsport News Caterham Roadsport Challenge, evo Caterham Academy and the Caterham Graduates Racing Club championships pic - Ben De Zille Butler receiving his Euro Superlight trophy from Ansar Ali
26-11-06
Germany’s Nico Hülkenberg won Round 4 of the 2006-07 A1GP World Cup of Motorsport at the Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia on Sunday 26 Nov. Second was Robbie Kerr for team GB. Kerr, who earlier scored points for a fifth place finish in the Sprint race, enjoyed his return to the sereis after Oliver Jarvis's stint behind the wheel at the previous round in China. The British team is now second overall in the A1GP Standings behind Germany The Sprint race was won by Neel Jani after he started from pole.
Friday's (1 December) innovative
'sampler day' at Silverstone is proving a major draw for prospective UK
Formula Ford
Championship competitors. At least 23 young drivers - many fresh
from karting and looking to take their first tentative laps in a single-seater
- have already signed up for the free event, which is being organised by
RacingLine, promoter of the Ford-backed series.
"We are genuinely delighted with the response," said RacingLine's Sam
Roach. "We know of 23 prospective drivers, all completely new to Formula
Ford, who plan to attend, and I am sure that the teams have some more
names which they are keeping under wraps. It's set to be a great event
and a superb showcase for the championship and the teams."Nearly all the
major teams from the 2006 season will be in attendance, including Jamun
Racing, Fluid Motorsport, Kevin Mills Racing and Eau Rouge Motorsport,
as well as some teams new to UKFF.In addition to National circuit laps
in Formula Fords there will be track training with instructors on the
Stowe circuit using Focus ST saloons. "We are expecting youngsters
straight from karts, so it makes sense to give them some big-circuit
training before they sit in a Formula Ford, to help them get the most
from the experience," added Roach.The day will also provide an
opportunity for 2006 champion Nathan Freke and his runner-up, Nick
Tandy, to sample Formula 3 power with Fluid Motorsport.
Drivers with kart or National B racing licences who have not already
signed to attend should contact the championship co-ordinator, Barbara
Armstrong, who is arranging test drives.Barbara is on 01908 210077,
email b.armstrong@racingline.com
Ford Performance Racing (FPR) driver Jason Bright won the Desert 400 Aussie V8 Supercar round, the 12th and penultimate round of the 2006 V8 Supercar Championship and the first Australian motor racing event to be held in the Middle East. The CAT FPR Falcon driver's impressive Friday race victory and two second places today secured the 33 year old driver the honour of being the inaugural winner and V8 Supercar lap record holder of the Desert 400, beating Holden drivers Todd Kelly and Garth Tander by nine and twenty points respectively. "Winning this round plus the Manufacturers' title means this weekend's been pretty sweet. I had a great battle with Todd today which was great fun. Actually I spent pretty much the whole day side-by-side with him so it was great racing." Rick Kelly meanwhile goes to the final round with a lead of just seven points over Craig Lowndes in the drivers' title race. "It's not been a good weekend for my championship but that's what its all about and what makes the championship so exciting," he said. "For the fans and for our motivation it's a good thing that it can get this close after a long season."
24-11-06
Gold Helmet Award: Sao Paulo Citizen Driver were held recently in the Alpha Theater, in São Paulo, Considered the Oscar of Brazilian motoring, the event congregated more than 500 people, like drivers, entrepreneurs and journalists. 48 award-winnings in 14 categories, 80 journalists had participated of the election of the best ones of the year. One of the special moments of the night was the prize given by the São Paulo City hall to the drivers who born in the city. The Sao Paulo Citizen Driver was delivered by Mr. Heraldo Correa, Municipal Secretary of Sports Leisure and Recreation. Bia Figueiredo, Chico Serra, Felipe Massa, Helio Castroneves, Ingo Hoffmann and Rubens Barrichello were the award-winning drivers. Bia Figueiredo, Suzane Carvalho, Fernanda Parra and Débora Rodrigues also won Gold Helmet Awards for their great perfomances on Brazilian tracks.
Marco Holzer from Germany received part of his prize for winning last years BMW World final. At the "Circuit de la Comunitat Valenciana Ricardo Tormo” he completed 65 laps at the wheel of a BMW Sauber F1 Team Formula One car.. Holzer took to the track in front of the 37 drivers competing in this year’s DELL Formula BMW World Final over the weekend. Representing the four international Formula BMW series in Germany, Great Britain, Asia and North America the youngsters will be battling it out on the same track to become Holzer's successor. "This has been a unique experience," said Holzer. "The cornering speeds are amazing, just like the braking forces. From one lap to the next it became more fun, and I felt more comfortable. The team gave me a warm welcome, and I got all my questions answered. I say only this to the competitors of this year's World Final: Push hard to win the race, because a Formula One test drive is just an unforgettable adventure."
Holzer was not the only driver who was happy about his maiden outing in a BMW Sauber F1 Team car. Alessandro Zanardi, who normally competes for BMW Team Italy-Spain in the FIA World Touring Car Championship, made his first system check in a specially modified car. To enable the leg-amputee to return to the cockpit of an F1 car, the BMW Sauber F1 Team engineers modified the clutch paddle - among other things - on the left rear side of the steering wheel. This can now be used to accelerate the car. On Saturday and Sunday, Zanardi will complete two longer test runs in the support program of the World Final.
The Australian V8 Supercars Series has arrived north of the Equator for the first time in its illustrious history to an enormous welcome from the Kingdom of Bahrain. The Desert 400 race weekend has already established itself as one of the highlights of the international calendar of events at the Bahrain International Circuit before the massed ranks of 650bhp Holden Commodores and Ford Falcons even takes to the track.
Stolen Reynard F3 - Alf Skeels the landlord of the White Lodge Public House at Attleborughhad his red and green F3 Reynard 1990, complete with VW engijne stolen from his garage at the pub near Snetterton sometime during the past 24 hours. The car may be known to BRSCC Marshalls and other members as it was previously run by Darren Bland in ARP Championship until it was acquired by Alf approximately one year ago. Any information please to Police at Attleborough, Norfolk or to Alf at the White Lodge PH
Robbie Kerr returns to action for A1 Team Great Britain this weekend as the 2006-07 A1GP World Cup of Motorsport continues to hold court in the Far East heading from the streets of Beijing, China to the Sepang International Circuit for Round 4 in Malaysia, Friday 24th -- Sunday 26th November. With Great Britain sitting third in the A1GP Nations Standings behind Mexico and Germany following Oliver Jarvis' second place Feature podium in China, the first top-three of the season for the British entry, Kerr is keen to carry the momentum built by his rookie team-mate and translate it into a maiden A1GP victory. Having wracked up a total of seven podium finishes for A1 Team GBR in last season's inaugural championship, Robbie hopes his familiarity with both car and circuit in Malaysia will play to his advantage.
Roberto Streit and Kouta Sasaki participated in the rookie audition for Formula Nippion that was held at Suzuka Circuit recently. Brazilian Streit who finished All-Japan F3 with the third in the championship drove the car of team 'BOSS INGING', and Sasaki drove the car of 'TEAM RECKLESS CERUMO'.Both drivers finished the test without a trouble. Streit drove 66 laps and his best lap was 1'45"797. And Sasaki marked 1'45"207 in 70 laps
21-11-06
Jorg Muller dominated the second FIA World Touring Car Championship race at Macau but it was not enough to prevent BMW teammate Andy Priaulx from taking his second successive world crown. Muller moved to the front of the field at the start after making a great start At the restart, Second place eventually went to Yvan Muller, who fought off race-long pressure from the pursuing Tom Coronel until the chequered flag, while SEAT's James Thompson finished fourth. Behind him, Priaulx took fifth place, which was enough for him to take the WTCC title by one point from Muller. After fighting off a tough challenge from eventual sixth placed finisher Fabrizio Giovanardi, Priaulx claimed it was the 'hardest and best' race of his career. "It is almost too much to take in," said Priaulx, who had earlier won the first race. "The pressure was unbearable. I could not have gone another lap. It means a lot more to me now having won the first race. I came fifth in the second race with no help from anyone at all."
NSPCC Track Day at Castle Combe. Ever wanted to take your own car around the Castle Combe Circuit? If yes, this could be your big moment! Ben Elliott Racing Ltd has teamed up with the NSPCC to organise a Charity Track Day on 27 January 2007 at Castle Combe Race Track. Members of the public have the opportunity to drive their car around the circuit with the option of driver coaching from one of Ben Elliott Racing’s instructors. Nikki Welsby, the 2006 Formula Woman Champion will be driving paying passengers around for 3 laps of the circuit. Alternatively, parade laps are available for people who only want to drive a couple of laps in their cars.As well as the driving opportunities on offer, there will be a raffle with some fantastic prizes, refreshments and of course spectators are welcome on the day too. Katie Croucher from Ben Elliott Racing Ltd said “This is our second Charity Track day at Castle Combe and I am so pleased we are raising money for the NSPCC. After the last track day, which raised over £4,000 we hope this year we can do even better and I want lots of people to come along and take part even if the weather is bad”.The NSPCC exists to prevent cruelty to children and support those children who have suffered abuse and neglect. Ali Garland from the NSPCC said “We are enormously grateful to Ben Elliott Racing Ltd for organising such an exciting event and we are thrilled that Nikki Welsby will be present to show off some of her skills. We hope that as many people as possible can join us on the day to raise money for children and young people who need to access the NSPCC’s local services”.For more information or to book your place please contact Katie Croucher, on 01243 670467 or by email: katie@benelliottracing.com
Ricardo Vassmer, who finished third in this year's Cooper Tires Formula Ford 2000 series, and Jonathan Goring, the 2006 champion of the Skip Barber National Championship were testing with Andersen Racing's Star Mazda at Roebling Road Raceway in Bloomingdale, Georgia. "It went very well," said team owner Dan Andersen of the two-day test. "Ricardo again (It was Vassmer's second appearance with the team) impressed all of us with his speed, his feedback and his desire to learn and to win," Andersen said "Jonathan did an awesome job as well, adapting quickly to the higher-horsepower car and working with team engineer Remi Lanteigne on changes to his car's set-up. I'm again impressed with the quality of Skip Barber graduates, especially their champions," Andersen added.
Andy Priaulx converted his pole position into a dominant victory in the first FIA World Touring Car Championship race at Macau to seize the lead of the title chase. The BMW driver made a good start from pole and was comfortably ahead by the end of the lap. He then set about pulling away and, despite a worrying moment on lap two when he was forced to reduce his speed to a crawl at the Melco Hairpin after coming up behind a very slow Stefano D'Aste, he comfortably edged out a lead to finish 1.020 seconds ahead of Huisman. "I am very pleased to have got the win from pole position, but obviously we have still got to perform in the second race," said Priaulx, who was relieved that the following Huisman was protecting his position. "It was great to have Duncan behind me and he allowed me to build up a little lead."
Greg Biffle made it three in a row at Homestead-Miami Speedway in the NASCAR Nextel Cup. He dodged the hard-charging cars of Martin Truex, Jr. and Kasey Kahne on a green/white/checker finish to earn his second win of the season and 11th of his career. "I tell you what. My Ford Fusion was something else this weekend," said Biffle. "I was nervous as can be. I was just scared to death that I wasn't going to be able to hold those guys off. I was really nervous about the 1 and being able to hold him off. But I was excited that we were able to." Truex, Jr. took his Cup series finish with second place, "Great day and a great weekend overall. We tested well down here and had a lot of confidence coming into this weekend." Denny Hamlin finished third in the race and third in championship standings.
Jimmie Johnson secured his first NASCAR Nextel Cup series title. The final Chase point standings have Johnson followed by Matt Kenseth, Hamlin, Kevin Harvick, Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Jeff Gordon, Jeff Burton, Kasey Kahne, Mark Martin and Kyle Busch. Tony Stewart secured the coveted 11th place finish while Hamlin also won the Raybestos Rookie of the Year title.
19-11-06
Raikkonen Robertson Racing have won the season-ending Formula 3 Macau Grand Prix with Mike Conway taking a brilliant victory in the team’s lead Dallara-Mercedes. Conway went from seventh on the grid to lead the first lap, then controlled the race on the challenging streets of Macau. It completed a superb season for both him and Raikkonen Robertson Racing, which included victory in the British Formula 3 Championship. Conway made an opportunist move at the first corner, benefiting from a big tangle among the leading contenders to take the lead. He then maintained a one-second gap to Euroseries race winner Kohei Hirate, before pulling his margin out to 3.4 seconds in the middle third of the race. F3 veteran Richard Antinucci then passed Hirate and made inroads into Conway’s advantage, but despite a minor brush with the barriers the Englishman was unrattled and reeled off a memorable win. “I am really happy with the result and with the team,” said Conway. “Winning the British championship and Macau is thanks to them.” RESULTS - 1st MIKE CONWAY; 2nd Richard Antinucci; 3rd Adrian Sutil; 4th Sebastien Buemi; 5th Romain Grosjean; 6th James Jakes
This week in Motorsport - 20 Nov Stefan Bellof born in1957 and
21 Nov Jacque Laffite born in Paris in1943. On Nov 22
Jim Paschall drives a Petty Engineering Plymouth to victory in the
NASCARrace at Tar Heel Speedway in N Carolinain 1962. Nov 23 Andre
Boillet wins the Targa Florio in 1919. Nov 24 Ross Brawn born 1954
while on Nov 25 Gaston Chevrolet killed in National Championship
race at Beverly Hill, California in 1920.
Scuderia Ecosse ended the season in Dubai with another race win for Chris Niarchos and Tim Mullen. This is the second win in a row for the team and their fifth this year in the FIA GT Championship. The second cari of Nathan Kinch and Marino Franchitti finished in ninth position after completing the full distance without a clutch
The Porsche 996 GT3 of Moss and Ashburn won the second race of teh Britcar series at Brands on Saturday after the Riley/Flux Mosler and won the opening race. Kevin Clarke was second in both races. In the Britsports the Spooner/Wakefield Jade won the first race by 10seconds from Duncan Williams Radical. In the second race Williams won by 6.4 seconds after 63 laps from William Curtis's Juno
Japan's Kamui Kobayashi took a dominant victory in the Macau Grand Prix qualification race on Saturdayfinishing 3.3 seconds ahead of Marko Asmer. Kohei Hirate lead early on but Kobayashi was able to move back in front soon afterwords.There he stayed until the chequered flag. "I pushed really hard on the first and second lap to build up a lead," he said. "After about five laps it was okay, so I am confident for tomorrow." Having moved up to second at the start, Asmer was unable to respond to Kobayashi's early pace. The Estonian then came under late-race pressure from Hirate, who had recovered from dropping behind Kodai Tsukakoshi to challenge for second. Euroseries champion Paul di Resta finished fourth, having lost ground at the start avoiding the stalled Romain Grosjean.
Walker Racing announced today that it has signed a multi-year contract with Formula BMW USA driver, Simona De Silvestro, who will join the team's three car line up for the 2007 Cooper Tires Presents the Champ Car Atlantic Championship Powered by Mazda. De Silvestro, a native of Lausanne, Switzerland, is the second woman to race for the team and joins a list of drivers that have competed for Walker Racing, which includes Sarah Fisher.
Philip Major and his AIM Autosport team, announced that they have teamed up with six time Grammy award-winning rapper Kanye West for the upcoming Formula BMW World Finals in Valencia, Spain. The race car, driven by Major and sponsored by Kanye West Foundation, will bear logos and marks designed by Kanye West, along with the United Nations World Food Program logo. Both are intended to further the awareness around childrens's causes, in particular youth education/development and world hunger issues, respectively.
17-11-06
The Caterham 7 celebrates its 50th birthday in 2007, and to commemorate its landmark year Caterham Cars is to host a Golden Jubilee weekend of Caterham racing action at Donington Park next summer
Newman Wachs Racing has signed FF2000 Cooper Series Champion J.R. Hildebrand for the 2007 Atlantic Championship. Hildebrand brings a very impressive record to the team after shattering the record for most wins for a season in the Cooper Tire FF2000 series with twelve last year. The 18-year-old made his Atlantic debut the '06 season finale at Road America for NWR. "Eddie ( Wachs, the team co-owner) has given me a lot of opportunities this year and I am really grateful for that. He is a super guy, and I will be pushing 100% all the time to bring him some hardware," said Hildebrand. Team principals Eddie Wachs, who owns NWR with legendary actor Paul Newman, and Ove Olsson have been restructuring the team since the last round at Road America. "J.R. impressed us from day one," said Wachs "His commitment and work ethic are exceptional. J.R has had much success this season and we are hoping he will bring the same success into our program. The driver's comfort is very important, and I feel we can achieve that here with our group of people. We are also in negotiations with a Technical Director to finalize our engineering staff. It's all very exciting and all the pieces of the puzzle are coming together. We are really looking forward to next season, and we are expecting to field a second funded car which will be announced within the next thirty days."
Caterham's premier UK race series, the Superlight Challenge, will benefit from headline sponsorship from Avon Tyres in 2007, it has been announced ….read more
Danny Watts is on pole for the final round of the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia today with a time of 2:30.327 in his Gates GR Asia’s Porsche 911 GT3. Watts who is having his first start in sportscars at Macau this weekend, has previously raced in single seaters at the track.
It’s Formula 3 Euro Series all the way in practice for Macau Formula 3 Grand Prix. The second and final 45 minutes’ qualifying heat saw drivers from the series dominate qualifying. Japanese driver, ASM Formule 3 driver Kamui Kobayashi on pole in his his Dallara-Mercedes with a time of 2.13,449secs. Second was fellow-countryman Kohei Hirate driving for Manor Motorsport with a time of 2.13.566 secs with Frenchman Romain Grosjean third for Signature Plus, stoping the clock on 2.13.930 secs. To further emphasise the domination of the Euro F3 Series another 5 of its drivers made it in the top 10. Paul di Resta, in the second ASM Formule 3 car was 5th with a time of 2.14.175secs while Mike Conway ended up eighth with a 2.14.379secs
16-11-06
The Porsche Club Motorsport Award Dinner on November 11th saw the official finale to the Club's two race series in 2006 as the leading lights in the Porsche Club and Porsche Open series' received their awards. In addition to the prize giving, the night also saw the announcement that Porsche GB will once again offer a one-off prize drive in the Porsche Cup to leading drivers from each series in the 2007 season
Darren Manning will return to the Indy Racing League IndyCar Series next year. Manning has been named by A.J. Foyt to race the No. 14 car. In his stint with Chip Ganassi Racing, Manning had 24 starts with four top-five finishes. "I know a lot of the family and Larry and everybody here, and you know, I was really excited when I first got the call and it's really motivated me. And I'm working harder than ever before in the gym," commented Manning. "I'll be spending a lot of time with the team and hopefully I can be a good contribution. It's a tight little organization that wants to go better, and you know, hopefully bringing me on board is hopefully a step to getting A.J.'s car back up to the front, and hopefully I can learn a lot from A.J. I love his passion and involvement with his little team." Manning has not been idle in the world of racing, the 31-year-old former BAR Honda Formula One test driver has ran a few races in both the FIA GT sportscar series and in the World Cup of Motorsports A1 Grand Prix as one of the three drivers for Team Great Britain. Foyt also name son Larry as the new team director for his 50th year in Indy car racing. "Next year is a big year for our team," said Foyt. "We're doing everything we can to get our program where it needs to be. My son Larry is a great asset to our team on the management side and we've worked hard to put together a solid plan for 2007."
Racing Engineering will hold a two day test at the Jerez circuit. Eight drivers were chosen to participate: Siso Cunill (ESP), Chris Holmes (UK), Franck Mailleux (FRA), Bruno Mendez (ESP), Nil Montserrat (ESP), Arturo Llobell (ESP), Stefanos Kamitsakis (GRE) and Juan Manuel Polar (PE). Four Spaniards, one French, one Peruvian, one Greek and one British driver are to drive the team's Dallara F306 cars in order to convince Racing Engineering's selection committee and become part of it's 2007 Formula 3 line-up.
James Hinchcliffe has finished P1 in the fan poll voting for the prestigious Greg Moore Legacy Award. "Honestly, just to have been nominated for this award was such a cool feeling, and then to lead the fan poll at the end is just unbelievable," enthused Hinch. "The support has just been amazing, I can't even tell you what it means to even be on that list of drivers and then to finish off first. I feel like there was some sort of computer error; the electronic version of a hanging Chad or something! I just now have to thank, on top of those who nominated me, all of the fans that voted for me. Your support has just been fantastic! I know this doesn't mean we have won the award, but this in itself is more than I could have expected. The award, now in its seventh year, honours the driver who most typifies Greg Moore's distinctive combination of on-track talent and dynamic personality that led him to become a favourite among the fans, the media and everyone involved with Champ Car racing. Previous winners of the award include; Sebastien Bourdais, Dario Franchitti , and Helio Castroneves
15-11-06
Richard Tannahill has
been confirmed as the Formula Ford Festival Duratec champion when the
MSA upheld the Clerks original decision to give Nick Tandy a 10 second
penalty for over taking while the Safety Car was deployed. The Coleraine
based driver will be at the dinner this Saturday, together with
runner-up Jay Bridger and third placed Neil Doran, to collect their
trophies. Highlights of the Formula Ford Festival meeting can be seen on
Motors TV at 8pm on Monday 11th December and will be repeated on several
occasions during the rest of the month.
BRSCC members are once again entitled to free entry to Autosport
International, worth £19. For 2007 members 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, at the NEC in Birmingham. To apply
for your free ticket log-on to
www.autosportinternationalcom then click Trade Visitors and then
Trade Registration and follow the steps from there. You will need to
have your BRSCC membership number when applying and you will need to be
a current member of the BRSCC at the time of the Autosport Show.
Therefore if your membership expires before January you will need to
renew it beforehand. If you are not already a BRSCC member you can still
join the Club and claim your Autosport Show ticket. Just call Jo Ward on
01732 780100 or download an application form from the website
www.brscc.co.uk
FORMULA FORD ‘SAMPLER DAY’ FOR SILVERSTONE.
An innovative free ‘sampler day’ for prospective UK
Formula Ford Championship competitors is to be held at Silverstone next
month. The event, which is being organised by RacingLine,
promoter of the Ford-backed series, is aimed as a showcase not only for
the championship but also for teams looking to run drivers in the UKFF
in 2007.
“It’s an open circuit for all the teams who took part in 2006, as well
as for prospective teams,” says RacingLine director Sam Roach. “We want
teams to showcase themselves and to invite along prospective competitors
to find out about them and what they can offer, and also to learn how we
plan to build on the phenomenal success which the championship has
enjoyed this season.” Drivers with kart or National B racing licences
who would like to attend are urged to contact the championship
co-ordinator, Barbara Armstrong, who is arranging test drives. Barbara
is on 01908 210077, email
b.armstrong@racingline.com Among those already signed up for tests
at the 1 December event are some frontrunners from the 2006 Kartmasters
series. The day will also provide an opportunity for 2006 champion
Nathan Freke and his runner-up, Nick Tandy, to sample Formula 3 power
courtesy a Fluid Motorsport Development test session.
BRSCC Racing Member Nikki Welsby, who became the fastest woman in
Britain in September by winning the Formula Woman Championship, has been
short listed for a BBC Midlands Sports Award - The Female Breakthrough
Award - which recognises achievement over the last 12 months to attain a
higher level of sporting ability. Nick Owen, presenter of BBC
Midlands Today, will be hosting the ceremony which takes place on
Sunday 3rd December at the National Motorcycle Museum in Solihull. The
winner will be announced during the course of the evening.
Nikki, who raced alongside boy friend Dave Rees in the Mighty Minis
Championship, has also been nominated for BBC Midlands Sports
Personality of the Year, for which members of the public can cast their
vote. The winner will also be announced on 3rd December.
The BRSCC South Eastern Centre Dinner will held in the Kentagon
at Brands Hatch on Saturday 2nd December. The evening runs from 7pm to
1am and is open to marshals, drivers, officials and spectators. A
traditional festive meal with wine at the table will be supplemented by
‘The King’, a lively musical act & disco. There are a wide range of
raffle prizes to be won including a half hour helicopter trip for two
over London, a trip for two on the London Eye and various electrical
goodies. It promises to be a great evening and tickets cost just £25
each and are available from the Centre Treasurer Brian Jones on 01474
853885 or
bj@brianjones.net
The EERC has DVD’s of both the 2005 & 2006 Britcar 24
Race at Silverstone available to order from their website
www.eerc.co.uk . DVD’s of the Britcar Brands Hatch meeting in June
are also available from the ‘Shop’ section of the website as are a range
t-shirts, caps and jackets.
Student Mark Hooper is currently studying for an MSc in
Motorsport Vehicle Dynamics at Kingston University and is looking for a
placement with a team to broaden his experience. Mark’s course covers
topics such as data acquisition, chassis characteristics, powertrain
aerodynamics, vehicle structure and materials. Ideally Mark is looking
for a team he can assist on a voluntary basis within a 50 mile radius of
his Surbiton home. If you can help please contact Mark directly on 07860
480965 or email
pimpsedan@hotmail.com
Four Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 teams have completed two days of testing at the Paul Ricard. JD Motorsport, the winner of the 2006 Team title, put its two new drivers Johnny Cecotto and Martin Raddinger at the top of the time sheets ahead of Jaime Alguersuari. JD Motorsport set the fastest lap with Johnny Cecotto doing a 1'32''829. After a 2006 season in which he shared his time between the German F3 and Italian F3000 Championships, he is keen to make his debut in the leading World Series by Renault next year. His teammate Martin Raddinger was also very consistent on day two setting the second best timed lap only 0.2secs back. The Red Bull Epsilon Team line-up has already been confirmed for 2007 with Jaime Alguersuari and Brendon Hartley signing up for their second season in the category, this time with the title in their sights. The two new drivers for the Basque outfit put in some steady work while using the opportunity to get to know their new team. Epsilon will sign two other drivers to compete in Red Bull colours in 2007. Their second squad will consist of Stefano Coletti and Mihai Marinescu. The team was also taking a close look at the current World Series Karting Champion Miquel Juli0x00e0, who was having only his second ever go behind the wheel of a Formula Renault 2.0. Motopark Academy was also in attendance to test out its 2007 drivers, Fabio Onidi and Tobias Hegewald Onidi was quick to show what he could do, setting the fastest times on day one. Two young Polish karting talents Andrzej Gasenko and Jakub Giermaziak both had their first taste of a Formula Renault 2.0 here and both must be hoping they can emulate their countryman's success.
Qualifying for the five Formula BMW Asia Scholarships available for the 2007 season, worth a total of 250.000 USD, will be held from March 2 and 5 at the Bahrain International Circuit in the Middle East, and entries are now open. Each of the five scholarships up for grabs include a 50.000 USD cash contribution to the cost of a full season in Formula BMW Asia (with10.000 USD earmarked for parts), plus free participation in the proven, season-long BMW Education & Coaching Programme (E&C). With the recent announcement by the Formula BMW Asia Teams of a 22-race, six-event, standard 2007 season package for 130,000 USD, scholarship recipients will be able to take part in the region's most prestigious single seater series for less than ever before.
John Walko continued a long running tradition he has had with the BeaveRun Karting community recently when he tested two young kart racers who participated in the BeaveRun Championship Kart Series. Timmy Wilson and Matt Machiko were the drivers who earned the chance of a lifetime to climb behind the wheel of one of the machines that powered JWR to the 2006 Star Mazda Team Championship. Walko chooses the drivers not only based on results but how the drivers handle themselves on and off the track. Wilson, a competitor in the Briggs Animal class at BeaveRun earned his chance two seasons ago but was unable to participate in the previous testing programs while Machiko was chosen following the 2005 season when he won his first of two Yamaha Junior Can titles at BeaveRun. JWR will start their off season testing program in earnest at Road Atlanta. Charles Anti and Russell Walker, two key members of the 2006 Championship winning team, will be among those drivers testing for JWR at Road Atlanta.
The Indy Pro Series will feature a series-record 16 races in 2007, including seven races on ovals, seven on road courses and two on street courses. The series will compete three times at the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The 2007 season begins March 24 on the 1.5-mile oval at Homestead-Miami Speedway, and concludes Sept. 9 on the 1.5-mile oval at Chicagoland Speedway. More than $3 million in prize money will be at stake. The Indy Pro Series, which introduced doubleheader weekends to its competitors in 2006, will expand from two to four doubleheader weekends in 2007, including on the road course at Indianapolis in support of the United States Grand Prix.
The Scuderia Ecosse team heads off to the Middle East this week for the FIA GT Championship season-closer at the Dubai Autodrome. After an incredibly busy year which has seen the team compete in 24 races, including two 24-hour events, the Scottish team is aiming to finish the season on a high with a top result in Dubai. The team will run a different driver line-up this weekend. Chris Niarchos and Tim Mullen will drive the no.63 Ferrari, and Marino Franchitti will join Nathan Kinch in the no.62 car for this race. Andrew Kirkaldy has other commitments this weekend and, now the Championship is out of reach for Kinch and Kirkaldy, Andrew can miss the race without it affecting Championship positions.
14-11-06
Circuit Driver Magazine, the only UK publication dedicated solely to the needs and interests of track users and amateur racers, is to become headline sponsor for the 2007 Caterham Academy race series
Eighteen-year-old Kent racer David Mayes was crowned the UK Formula Ford Winter Champion yesterday (Saturday), appropriately enough on his home circuit of Brands Hatch
US Formula Ford Rookie Dane Cameron and Pacific F2000 Champion Robert ‘Poodles’ Podlesni arrived at Snetterton on 4 November having never seen the circuit before, never previously attempted a standing start or even raced competitively off American soil. At Brands Hatch eight days, six races, nine podiums and four victories later, they'd shown the British what they were made of, Robert finishing a sterling fourth and Dane taking the Autumn Trophy home to California.
13-11-06
Manor Motorsport’s Franck Mailleux wrapped up the Formula Renault UK with Michelin Winter Championship title by a margin of 36 points as he won the fourth and final round at Croft, North Yorkshire on Saturday, 11th November. The Frenchman won every round of the Championship to add the title to his 10th place finish in this summer’s Formula Renault UK Championship
Improving youngster Niki Lanik won the 2006 ELF Renault Clio Winter Cup on Saturday, 11th November with a win and a second place in rounds three and four at Croft, North Yorkshire. The Austrian, who races for Drive 4 Life with Stancombe Vehicle Engineering, only made his Clio Cup debut at Donington Park in round 10 of this year’s series but secured a decent run of results, backed up by his mature performance in the Winter Cup, which he wins by 24 points from Clio Cup veteran Martin Johnson
Mike Welburn won the opening Caterham Academy/Graduates race at Croft on Saturday with James Bashall second. James Sharock won race 2 with Bashall once again in the runner-iup position. The DDMC Sports/Saloons ran alongside the Clios and George Brewster won the first race in his Caterham heading Iain Cowie by just over 8seconds. Richard Reed was a distant third. Race two was a closer affair, Colin Simpson (pictured) winning in his Marcos Mantis from Richard Reed by just 9 tenths of a second. Brewster was third 2.5seconds off the lead.
US RaceTronics Champ Car Atlantic Championship team have announced that they will expand to a two-car operation in 2007. The California-based team is owned by Shane Seneviratne, former team manager for the championship Dorricott team in both the Atlantic and Indy Lights series'. "2007 will open up a new chapter for the team in which we will expand to a two-car team. I am looking forward to the challenge," commented Seneviratne. "It will be a good opportunity to bring in additional quality people and keep on building the solid foundation that we've been building. Most of the 2006 crew will remain in place and we will add to what is already a strong team." After announcing the drivers as David Garza and Carl Skerlong, Seneviratne said. "Carl and David are looking to further their careers and USRT is happy to be a part of that. They are very mature and focused and I know that they will succeed." Garza raced in Formula BMW-USA series in 2006 for Euro International finishing ninth. Skerlong, currently in the UK racing in the Formula Renault winter series has a background in the TR Pro Series winning the TR2000 Title in 2006 and TR 1600 in 2005.
A1GP World Cup of Motorsport has appointed Pete da Silva as Chief Executive Officer of A1 Holdings Ltd, the company behind the FIA-sanctioned, international motorsport series. Da Silva joins A1GP in January 2007 from his current position as Group CEO, Siemens in South Africa. He will take overall responsibility for the day-to-day running of the series, overseeing its future growth and development with particular attention to the company's forthcoming IPO.
A1 Team Italy has secured its first-ever A1GP World Cup of Motorsport Feature race victory in an incident-filled event in Beijing, China. A1 Team Great Britain claimed second position behind Italy's Enrico Toccacelo, with Australian Karl Reindler third after Sprint race victor Netherlands crashed out of the lead with only nine laps remaining. France was a startling fourth after starting 17th on the grid, with South Africa and the Czech Republic fifth and sixth respectively. Team Netherlands became the fourth different team to win a round of the 2006/07 A1GP as Dutchman Jeroen Bleekemolen secured a lights-to-flag victory in the Sprint race from A1 Team Mexico's Salvador Duran and Italy's Enrico Toccacelo.
The Gran Premio Telmex Presentado por Banamex(Champ Car race in Mexico) was the last race for the Lola B2K00 chassis, so Sebastien Bourdais and Justin Wilson made sure the old warhorse went out in style in front of 104,422 fans in Mexico City. Bourdais and Wilson staged a duel for the ages over the last five laps of the 2006 Bridgestone Presents The Champ Car World Series Powered by Ford season finale, with Bourdais battling back from four seconds behind to take his seventh win of the year and the 23rd of his career. Bourdais overcame a 360-degree spin - as he did in his 2004 title-clinching win - stretched the life of his Bridgestone Potenzas rain tires over two stints, escaped unharmed through a side-by-side battle through the fabled Peraltada, and made a hair-raising pass of Wilson on the last lap of the year to take the win. The last-lap pass ended a courageous run for victory by Wilson who led a race-high 40 laps despite a broken wrist that caused him to miss the Australia event, but Wilson's second-place run was enough to move him into a career-best second place in the final season standings. Will Power made some history of his own today, earning his first podium finish and the Roshfrans Rookie-of-the-Year title with a third-place finish.
Dario Franchitti will drive gor Andretti Green Racing in both the Indy Racing League and the American Le Mans Series. Bryan Herta will be AGR's main driver in ALMS with Franchitti alongside him at events that don't coincide with IndyCar races. His brother Marino is expected to fill in on those occasions.
09-11-06
Darren
Blumson, last year's 750 Motor Club Stock Hatch Champion,
is to make a serious bid for top honours in the 2007 Volkswagen Racing
Cup. The Surrey-based racer has bought the Beetle RSi which Phil House
drove to championship victory in 2004 and '05, and which Tony Gilham
used to win a race this season. 'I am really looking forward to the
new challenge,' said Blumson, 41. 'I sampled the Volkswagen Racing Cup
at Brands Hatch in the summer, driving a Vento, and thoroughly enjoyed
it. 'The Beetle is a proven winner and Auztech Racing is currently
stripping it down for a rebuild which we hope will make it bang on the
money come the season's start.'
Blumson is following in the wheeltracks of 2003 Stock Hatch Champion
Paul Taylor, who switched to the Racing Cup at the end of 2005 and
this season won the championship with his Golf R32.
Taylor plans
to defend his title but Blumson believes he has the measure of his
friend and rival: 'Paul is always going to get away better because of
his car's four-wheel drive. But we plan to set the Beetle up so that
it comes good towards the end of a race when Paul is struggling!'
Another former Stock Hatch racer, Richard Kingsnorth, is also planning
to join the Volkswagen Racing Cup next season. He will drive a TDI-powered
Golf.
Current Star Mazda Champion Adrian Carrio will get a chance to prove he ready to compete in the Champ Car Atlantic Championship when he tests a 300-horsepower Mazda-Cosworth/Swift/Cooper Atlantic car with the Forsythe Championship Racing Atlantic team on Thursday, November 30 at Thunderhill Raceway Park in Willows, California. Officials from the Champ Car Atlantic Championship, Mazda North America and the Star Mazda Championship announced the official testing program for the Star Mazda champion last May, formalizing the developmental relationship that's existed between Atlantic and the Star series over the past several years. While Carrio will become the first driver to take advantage of the champion's testing program, he's certainly not the first Star Mazda racer to eye a move up to Atlantics after excelling in the Star system. Raphael Matos, the 2005 Star Mazda champion, just completed a very successful rookie season in Atlantics that saw him claim fourth in the '06 series title chase. Matos joined other notable Star Mazda graduates Graham Rahal, James Hinchcliffe and Robbie Pecorari in making a smooth transition from the Star cars into the Atlantic machines this season. "I am really excited to be able to drive the Atlantic car with one of the best teams not only in the series, but in Champ Car as well," said Carrio. "I believe that the Star Mazda Championship and all of the competition that is there has made me ready for the next step. I am also excited to show what I can bring as a driver to the Atlantic series and follow the path of people like Raphael Matos and other former Star series competitors." As part of the ongoing relationship with Star Mazda, and to further help foster the Mazda motorsports development program, Champ Car has also agreed to wave all entry and competition fees for the Star Mazda champion if they race in the Champ Car Atlantic Championship the season after winning the title.
Australian Michael Patrizi has impressed in testing with Victory Engineering in a World Series by Renault car at Paul Ricard. He competed in three of the four test sessions held over the last couple of days and was on the pace, setting the 12th fastest time out of almost 30 cars. Patrizi's best times from the Wednesday were not recorded due to a transponder failure. The Aussie worked well with the professional Victory Engineering squad over the two days and was pleased with his progress and car speed. With around 30 cars on the track at one time it was difficult to set a fast lap time on new tyres, with some Patrizi's best laps hampered by traffic.
A good dress
rehearsal for the 2007 Dakar Rally - that's the verdict on the
Volkswagen team's performance on the UAE Desert Rally, which ended in
Dubai today (Friday).
Volkswagen
team leader Carlos Sainz completed the rally on a high, claiming
victory on this morning's final special stage to bring his tally for
the event to three stage wins from five. Spaniard Sainz(pictured)
and his French co-driver Michel Périn placed 10th overall in their TDI-powered
Race Touareg 2. Highest-placed Volkswagen finisher was Portugal's
Carlos Sousa who, with German co-driver Andreas Schultz ,was fourth
overall, just over 40 minutes behind the winning Mitsubishi of Luc
Alphand.
Volkswagen Motorsport Director Kris Nissen was pleased by the team's
showing: 'We are satisfied with the performance of the
latest-specification Race Touareg 2, which is on a par with our
competitors' machines. Of course the entire team is disappointed that
we weren't able to fight for victory, but the fact that we have
achieved a successful evolution of the car is very positive. Now we
are in for a few intensive weeks during which all our vehicles will be
prepared for the Dakar Rally, which starts in January.'
Sainz led the UAE Desert rally after the first of his stage wins, on
Monday, but slipped back after lengthy repairs were required to the
drive system on Tuesday. 'It was a good rally for us,' he said, 'and
useful preparation for the Dakar. I've gained a lot of experience of
the sand, and we were able to claim three stage wins against very
strong competitors. Without our small problem on the second day a
superb result would have been possible.' The third Volkswagen,
handled by Finn Ari Vatanen, retired from the event on Wednesday after
a gearbox problem.
Provisional final standings
1, Luc Alphand / Gilles Picard (FRA), Mitsubishi, 16h 51m 15s
2, Stéphane Peterhansel / Jean-Paul Cottret (FRA), Mitsubishi, +15m
59s
3, Jean-Louis Schlesser / Emmanuel Guigou (FRA), Schlesser-Ford,
+36m 27s
4, Carlos Sousa (POR) / Andreas Schultz (GER), Volkswagen, +40m 57s
10, Carlos Sainz (ESP) / Michel Périn (FRA), Volkswagen, +4h 21m
30s
09-11-06
Provisional 2006 Formula Renault UK with Michelin Championship winner Sebastian Hohenthal (below) and runner-up Patrick Hogan shone on their first outings in the 425bhp Formula Renault 3.5, the car used in the World Series by Renault. The test forms part of the prize for winning the Formula Renault UK title, but the withdrawal of another country’s champion allowed Hogan, who finished tied on points with Hohenthal in the category’s closest ever finish, to attend on Wednesday, 8th November.
Volkswagen’s Carlos
Sainz set fastest time on today’s (Thursday) fourth and longest
stage of the UAE Desert Challenge, the Spaniard’s Race Touareg 2
crossing the line with a time 1m 39s better than that of its closest
rival. It was Sainz’s second stage win of the event, final round of the
FIA Cross Country Rally Championship. Sainz said: ‘We are pleased with
our second stage win, particularly as the pace today was very hard and
the conditions very hot.’ Despite their success today, Sainz
and his French co-driver Michel Périn are four-and-a-half hours behind
overall leader Luc Alphand and his Mitsubishi, this the result of a
drive failure on Tuesday and resultant lengthy repairs. Portugal’s
Carlos Sousa
(pictured)remains Volkswagen’s leading contender; he and his German
co-driver Andreas Schultz are fourth in their Race Touareg 2, 39 minutes
off the leader’s pace. ‘There is still more speed to come from me,’ said
Sousa, ‘and I am sure we can maintain fourth to the end. The top three
are I think too far ahead to catch now.’ The rally ends tomorrow in
Dubai after a final 186 km special stage.
Provisional standings after leg 4
1, Luc Alphand / Gilles Picard (FRA), Mitsubishi, 14h 2m 9s
2, Stéphane Peterhansel / Jean-Paul Cottret (FRA), Mitsubishi, +20m
45s
3, Jean-Louis Schlesser / Emmanuel Guigou (FRA), Schlesser-Ford, +31m
56s
4, Carlos Sousa (POR) / Andreas Schultz (GER), Volkswagen, +39m 12s
The BARC has acquired Croft PromoSport Ltd. (CPS) who run the day to day operation of Croft. Dennis Carter the Chief Executive of BARC said "The acquisition is a natural progression for the club, broadening the geographical spread of our existing circuit activities and further enhancing the club's standing within the industry. Croft is an important facility serving a large catchment area in the North of England and complements our existing hill climb at Harewood House in the south of the region. I am pleased to say that the agreement will see both the Croft Estate and the BARC working together in to the future and will enable the further development of facilities on the site. I am also pleased to say that the existing management team and staffing arrangements at Croft are to remain in place, making the acquisition and change of ownership seamless. " Trevor Chaytor-Norris whose family own Croft said, "We are very pleased to have entered into a long term agreement with the BARC by them taking over CPS.
Jonathan Kennard will be one of thirty Formula 3 drivers travelling to China this month for the Macau F3 Grand Prix. Kennard who has shown glimpses of talent in his debut year of F3 race with the Alan Docking Racing 'This race doesn't just have Eastern promise,' declared Kennard, one of nine drivers from the 2006 British F3 field to make the trip to China. 'It's a legendary event and if you can add it to your CV, it stands you in very good stead. Clearly, it's going to be among the toughest races of my season, if not the toughest. But I had my best performances this year on another circuit that demands the very best from you as a driver - Spa - so I am feeling good about taking on the immense challenge the Macau track presents. I reckon I work best when the heat is on, and it definitely will be out there.' The opening race is on Saturday, November 18, with the follow up on Sunday 19th.
Craig Lowndes and Russell Ingall face a vitally important round at this weekend's Ferodo Triple Challenge in Tasmania as they fight to keep the V8 Supercar Championship with Caltex. Lowndes currently leads the championship points tally, 30 points clear of his nearest challenger Rick Kelly. Lowndes will be drawing on his experience of Symmons Plains Raceway, where he scored round wins in 1996 and 1998 as he pushes to extend his championship lead ahead of the final two rounds of the season. Russell Ingall is also a previous winner at Symmons Plains, steering his Caltex Falcon to victory in 2004 when the V8 Supercars returned to the Apple Isle after a five year absence. Ingall will be aiming for a repeat of that performance as he needs a big points haul in order to climb into the championship top three and back-to-back title contention.
The SCCA Pro Racing SPEED World Challenge GT Championship has been added to the line-up of the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach on April 13-15, 2007 making a total of 6 races. The SCCA GT’s joins the Champ Car World Series, the American Le Mans Series, the Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race, EZ Lube Team Drift Challenge and the Atlantic Championship. The GT race will run on Sunday afternoon as the climax to weekend activities
Oliver Jarvis takes on the challenge of A1GP this weekend when he drives the A1 Team Great Britain's car in the third round of the 2006-07 A1GP World Cup of Motorsport, held this Sunday (12th November) in China's capital city, Beijing. Jarvis, winner of the prestigious McLaren Autosport BRDC Young Driver of the Year Award in 2005, is set to make his first career A1GP start in China having fulfilled rookie duties over the opening two rounds of this year's global competition in Holland and the Czech Republic before handing over to Darren Manning and Robbie Kerr respectively for the races.
A1 Team Malaysia, riding high with a double victory at the last round of the international motor racing series head to China for the next round aiming to maintain their winning form. Regular A1 Team Malaysia driver, Alex Yoong, will be joined by team-mate Fairuz Fauzy, who will take part in the Friday morning practice session giving the team early technical feedback for the team's race preparations. A1 TEAM USA driver Phil Giebler will return for his third race this season. Giebler, who earned a second place finish for A1 TEAM USA in the season-opener in Zandvoort, The Netherlands, is cautiously optimistic about the race ahead. "I'm looking forward to having the opportunity to race on a track that no one has ever raced on before," Giebler said. "Because it's a street race, none of the drivers have an advantage--none have ever driven it. It's going to be a game of who can figure out the track the fastest and which team can get their car set up the best for this track. Every practice session is going to mean a lot."
Optima Sport, an official team of the 2006 Fujitsu V8 Supercar Series, would like to thank those who have expressed their best wishes to the team and its driver David Clark, following the tragic racing accident at Bathurst on October 6. The team is pleased to report that Clark's outlook remains encouraging following his recent transfer to an Adelaide hospital by Wingaway Medical Flights where he will remain for the duration of his recovery. The team would like to convey their deepest sympathy to the family of Mark Porter. Msport Racing, the team built by Mark was a shining light in the Fujitsu V8 category, and much admired in setting the benchmark for presentation and professionalism. It's a tribute to Mark that every time his team arrived in pit paddock, there was envy from competing teams. It is heart warming to know that despite on-track competitiveness, both the Optima and Msport crews were welcome into each others pits and workshops when assistance was required.
Formula Motorsports Inc., promoter of the Cooper Tires Formula Ford 2000 Championship in the US, will introduce a state-of-the-art carbon fiber Dallara FF07USA chassis in time for the 2007 season. "We at Dallara are extremely pleased to bring a new chassis to North America, and play a role in the long successful history of Formula Ford 2000. It is our intention to work closely with the teams and drivers and FMI to ensure the quality and service that our company is known for around the world," said Gian Paolo Dallara. The new FF2000 design will be very similar to the car that has dominated Formula 3 since its introduction in Europe. The car also will incorporate an ultra-modern sequential no-lift shift 6 speed gearbox, FIA safety seat and of course, the Ford DOHC 2.0 Liter/Zetec engine which has proven to be so reliable and cost-effective since being introduced to Formula Ford 2000 in 2002 by Formula Motorsports. The FF07USA chassis is the result of extensive research and development including aerodynamic wind tunnel testing, 7 post shaker rig testing, rigorous FIA crash testing procedures, and the particular attention Dallara pays to the build quality of the finished product. Consequently each rolling chassis has a retail price of over $100,000 US dollars. FMI, however, has two new partners on board, who in order to launch the series will be able to offer the 1st twenty six chassis at a significantly subsidized price of $67,500 to ease the equipment change for clients.
The Spa-Francorchamps based Mühlner Motorsport Team will take part in two 24 hour races in the Middle East with their Porsche 911 GT3s. The first race, the 24hrs of Bahrain, is in mid-December at the Bahrain International Circuit which has been modified for the purpose making it almost a kilometre longer than the GP version. Nonetheless, the Mühlner Team are hopeful that their experience from the Supercup race held there in March will aid their cause. After Bahrain, is Dubai which will host its secondrace in January. "The competitors who took part in the premiere last year naturally start with the advantage of prior experience of the track but we would hope to compensate for that with our huge experience in 24 hr racing -- we can draw on the experience of 12 class wins in 24hr races. Three times we've achieved a one-two in our class and even once managed a one-two-three" explained team boss Renate Mühlner.
08/11/06
Carlos Sainz and his Volkswagen Race Touareg 2
set third-fastest time on today's (Wednesday) third leg of the UAE
Desert Challenge, final round of the FIA Cross Country Rally
Championship. The Spanish driver's fight back came after the
disappointment yesterday of losing several hours in the dunes as he and
his co-driver Michel Périn fixed a drive problem. Sainz was less than
six minutes slower today than the Mitsubishi of stage winner Stéphane
Peterhansel. The best-placed Volkswagen pilot is now Portugal's Carlos
Sousa, who enjoyed another trouble-free day to end the stage and reach
the rally's mid point in fourth place, just over 28 minutes behind
overall leader Luc Alphand in another Mitsubishi.
It was the turn of Volkswagen's Ari Vatanen to suffer mechanical
problems today; the Finn lost sixth gear and, rather than risk wrecking
the gearbox by carrying on, retired from the event to allow the fault to
be fixed. 'We decided to play it safe,' said Ari, 'and immediately
return to the service crew.' Vatanen will rejoin the rally tomorrow to
gain further valuable mileage and experience at the wheel of a Race
Touareg.
Volkswagen Motorsport Director Kris Nissen said: 'The Race Touareg
driven by Carlos Sainz ran perfectly despite the strenuous pace and the
heat. Overall we are optimistic because we have made great strides since
the 2006 Dakar Rally and haven't had any problems with overheating
components.'
Tomorrow's stage is the longest of the event at 378 km.
Provisional standings after leg 3
1, Luc Alphand / Gilles Picard (FRA), Mitsubishi, 9h 25m 53s
2, Stéphane Peterhansel / Jean-Paul Cottret (FRA), Mitsubishi, +22m
22s
3, Jean-Louis Schlesser / Emmanuel Guigou (FRA), Schlesser-Ford, +25m
49s
4, Carlos Sousa (POR) / Andreas Schultz (GER), Volkswagen, +28m 21s
07-11-06
Volkswagen’s Carlos Sainz
claimed a stage win and the overall lead today (Monday) on the first leg
of the UAE Desert Challenge. The Spaniard’s TDI-powered Race Touareg 2
ended the day with a 3m 43s advantage over the second-placed Mitsubishi
of Dakar Rally winner Luc Alphand.
The Volkswagens of Ari Vatanen and Carlos Sousa lie fourth and fifth
overall after the opening 284 km test, from Abu Dhabi to Moreeb, of what
is the FIA Cross Country Rally Championship’s final round.
Sainz was pleased with the performance of his Volkswagen but is worried
that it may prove difficult to maintain the lead: ‘The Race Touareg was
running perfectly today and my co-driver [Michel Périn] did a super job;
we stayed on the right track throughout. But after our stage victory
ours will be the first car to hit the road on Tuesday and we are
expecting a difficult day.’
Volkswagen new boy Vatanen lost two minutes stuck in the sand and also
suffered in the extreme heat; the Finn did well to end the leg less than
seven minutes behind his team-mate Sainz.
The privately entered Team Lagos Volkswagen of Portugal’s Sousa is a
further 34 seconds behind Vatanen.The second leg will take competitors
in a 304 km loop through the dunes around the rally’s desert bivouac at
Moreeb.
Standing Start
is a new company offering high level coaching services to racing drivers
looking for the unfair advantage. To succeed in any sport requires
coaching, and racing is no different. Standing Start offers at track
coaching that covers all the bases. The company focuses on racing,
testing, marketing, sponsorship, networking, fitness, mental preparation
skills as well as giving a driver-side understanding on vehicle and team
dynamics. Standing Start will be headed up by John Olsen. For the past
two race seasons, while acting as Speed Secret's Coaching Services
Manager,Olsen has been coaching Ace Carrioin the World Speed Motorsports Pro Formula Mazda. "Having John work with
Ace and the team has been extremely beneficial," said Team Owner Telo
Stewart. "We knew that we would like to work with John even after Ace
moved up through the ranks, and as soon as his current contract was up
we began discussing working with him on a more permanent basis”
This past weekend the Seniors for Survivors race team proved that age, experience and a well-prepared car can overcome setbacks in the most heated of contests. While in the SCCA North Carolina Region's Kumho Tires Charge of the Headlight Brigade 13-hour endurance race at VIRginia International Raceway on Nov 4, this team of champions finished fifth in class and 17th overall while raising more than $30,000 for the American Cancer Society. After an early fuel problem caused the team to lose 30 minutes on the track and in the pits, this group of drivers, the youngest of who is 65, took on a field of 81 cars and freezing temperatures. 5 times Le Mans winner Derek Bell and his team mates Buzz Marcus, Tony Adamowicz and Gene Felton, charged through the pack in a BSI Racing-owned Mazda MX-5. "Both the fans and the team were amazed at how this car could keep up with and pass so many faster cars," said Buzz Marcus, team founder and cancer survivor. Paul Mears, Jr. of Mears Motorcoach of Orlando, Fla. was the major sponsor of the Seniors for Survivors Racing Team. Other sponsors included Marcus, Hoosier Tires, Lavagraphics.com and Checkered Flag Motors. The fund-raising total topped $30,000 for Breast Cancer and Lymphoma Research when the Seniors for Survivors raised $5066 at the track through lap pledges and the Mazda North America Operations donated $2500.
On
this week in Motorsport - November 6
Clay Regazzoni and Brian Redman drive a Ferrari 312PB to victory in the
Kyalami 9 Hours race in South Africa. First win for a 312PB. Jackie Ickx
and Mario Andretti are second in another 312PB (1971). November 7,
Jonathan Palmer born in London, England (1956). November 8
Victor Hemery establishes a new speed record at Brooklands of 202.691
kmh in a "Blitzen Benz" (1909). November 9, Bruce McLaren,
driving a McLaren M8B-Chevrolet, wins the final Can-Am race of the year,
in College Station, Texas, USA. This is Team McLaren's twelfth win in 12
races as Bruce clinches the Can-Am championship (1969). November 10,
Touring car driver Allan Moffet born in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan,
Canada (1939). November 11
Early NASCAR stockcar racer Gober Sosebee dies from injuries suffered in
an agricultural accident (1996).
Carl Skerlong's 2006 Formula Renault UK with Michelin Winter Championship campaign kicked off Sunday(5-Nov) with the American finishing the opening rounds at Brands with 7th & 5th places respectively. Skerlong, the reigning Formula TR Pro Series 2000 Champ, is fifth overall in the standings as the championship head for Croft this weekend. Looking back his introduction to European racing Carl commented, "I didn't get a whole load of time on the track before qualifying but for my first time here I think top-ten was respectable and a positive reflection on the relationship I'm building with the team. Being new to the series I didn't want to protest my penalty too much so while it was disappointing to lose a spot after the race we just sucked it up and concentrated on the second race and came away with a fifth place points score from that. Overall it was a good weekend and I'm sitting fifth in the points which is encouraging heading to Croft this Saturday for the final two races."
Luciano Bacheta took two wins from three starts in the Palmer Audi Autumn Trophy at Snetterton.
Team USA Scholarship winners Dane Cameron and Robert Podlesni had their first experience of Eurpean racing last weekend in the opening three rounds of the Formula Palmer Audi Autumn Trophy at Snetterton. Cameron from California came away with a win and 2 second-place while Podlesni (known as ‘Poodles’), also from California was 10th after an incident in the race one and then fourth in rounds 2 and 3. Cameron, after his win "Hearing the US National Anthem in a foreign country is something that I will never forget," said Cameron. "Overall, my first European race weekend went better than I could have hoped," he continued. "I can't wait to get to Brands Hatch and try to win the Autumn Trophy Championship. I learned quite a bit about saving tires and boost as well as racing and strategy, and I think it will make me more prepared when I get to Brands next weekend." Podlesni, after his second fourth-place finish was up-beat about the experience. "This whole weekend has been just a tremendous experience," summarized Podlesni. "Dane did a fantastic job, I'm so proud of him, and I'm really looking forward to running up front with him at Brands Hatch."
06-11-06
A total of 45 orders have been placed for New Clio Cup, the pure racer that will be introduced to contest the 2007 ELF Renault Clio Cup. The uptake for the 2.0-litre 205bhp car is the most since the Renault 5 GT Turbo in 1978 and reinforces the interest shown in the car since its launch in July. Renault UK has now placed orders with Renault Sport Technologies in Dieppe with delivery expected next month. Orders can still be placed for the latest evolution of Renault’s renowned saloon-car racer, but delivery cannot be guaranteed in time to join the first grid of 2007
Franck Mailleux completed a lights-to-flag victory to increase his lead in the Formula Renault UK with Michelin Winter Championship with a faultless display at Brands Hatch Indy circuit on Sunday, 5th November. The Manor Motorsport star added two bonus points for setting the fastest lap as he finished ahead of Fortec Motorsport’s Niall Breen and Eurotek Motorsport’s Jordan who secured a maiden Formula Renault UK podium. In the opening round Mailleux won his first Formula Renault UK race. The Frenchman taking the lead at turn one as pole-sitter Niall Breen bogged down at the start leaving the Frenchman free to romp home by 1.461s. Richard Keen was second on his return to Formula Renault UK racing with Fortec Motorsport ahead of team-mate Breen who recovered to finish third.
The Haggis Trophy was won by Gavin
Childs at SIlverstone on Sunday. His Gryphon C73/75 beating Ray
Mallock's Mallock by just 0.348 secs. Third was Anthony Denham in his
Doris. Clive Wood won the Formula Ford 2000 race at the Hayes
trophy meeting
in a Van Dieman RF82. Second, 3.2 seconds behind was Sideshow Bob in a
Reynard SF79 with Andy Huxtable third in another Van Dieman.
At Brands Hatch Riki Cann won the Classic Saloon Race on Saturday in an Aston martin DBSV8. Second was Peter Taylor in a Sierra Cosworth. Steve Mills and Dave Moore each took one Legends final, Mills taking the honours on Saturday from Dave Ward, Moore winning on Sunday from Lee Fitzpatrick. In the Pickup races on Sunday Mark Willis won both races beating Steve Dance into second on both occasions.
ELF Renault Clio Cup champion Tom Onslow-Cole and provisional Formula Renault UK with Michelin Championship winner Sebastian Hohenthal received their Championship trophies at the British Touring Car Championship awards night at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole hotel on Sunday, 5th November. Both champions were honoured by the drivers, teams and officials of the BTCC and support races as the pair celebrated their achievements in the 2006 season.
Niki Lanik secured his second ELF Renault Clio Winter Cup victory of the weekend to open a 14-point lead in the drivers’ standings at the midway point of the campaign. The Austrian started from pole position for the second time at Brands Hatch on Sunday, 5th November and there were few fireworks as he held a comfortable lead from lap one to wrap up victory. Ray MacDowall held off a late charge from Martin Johnson as they completed the podium places. Niki Lanik secured his second ELF Renault Clio Winter Cup victory of the weekend to open a 14-point lead in the drivers’ standings at the midway point of the campaign. The Austrian started from pole position for the second time at Brands Hatch on Sunday, 5th November and there were few fireworks as he held a comfortable lead from lap one to wrap up victory. Ray MacDowall held off a late charge from Martin Johnson as they completed the podium places.
Nathan Freke, the 2006 UK Formula Ford
Champion, this week received yet another boost to his career and
reputation with the announcement that he is one of the six finalists in
the prestigious McLaren Autosport BRDC Awards. The award, which is
worth £50,000 to the winner and which includes an F1 test with McLaren
and a GP2 test session, is the most highly prized in British club
motorsport. Freke and his five rivals - Sam Bird, Oliver Turvey, Jon
Barnes, Jeremy Metcalfe and Oliver Oakes - will undergo a two-day
assessment later this month before a distinguished judging panel which
includes former World Champion Damon Hill and ex-F1 stars Martin Brundle
and Jonathan Palmer. Former winners of the award include Jenson Button
and David Coulthard.
Nathan - and the 2006 UKFF runner-up Nick Tandy - are additionally among
the frontrunners for the Autosport British Club Driver of the Year
title. The identity of the winners of both competitions will be
announced at the Autosport Awards in London on 3 December.
Ireland's Peter Dempsey was the winner of the celebrated Walter
Hayes Trophy at Silverstone today, pipping his countryman Neville Smyth
to victory by a tenth of a second.
Takashi Nagase had a Fifth of November to remember, the Milton Keynes-based Japanese driver shooting to his maiden Formula Ford win at Silverstone.
Eighteen-year-old David Brown made the most of his debut at the wheel of a Duratec-powered Formula Ford today, winning the opening round of the UK Formula Ford Winter Championship at Silverstone.
03-11-06
A1 Team GB have taken on Oliver Jarvis as their new driver for Round 3 of the 2006-07 A1GP World Cup of Motorsport in Beijing, China next weekend, 10 -- 12 November. The 22-year-old from Cambridgeshire is no stranger to the A1 Team GBR set-up having fulfilled driving duties in the rookie-only sessions on Friday's at the opening two rounds of this season's nation versus nation championship in Holland and the Czech Republic before handing over to Darren Manning and Robbie Kerr respectively to race in those events. Now it's Jarvis' turn to represent the Union Jack in the heat of battle and with no-less accomplishments than the 2005 Formula Renault UK Championship and 2005 McLaren Autosport BRDC Young Driver of the Year Award to his credit, combined with a fantastic rookie effort in the 2006 British F3 Championship where he finished series runner-up, Oliver's talents now await the hot-bed of A1GP competition.
A1GP World Cup of Motorsport sporting regulations review. Following feedback from fans and consultation with the 23 national A1 Teams, A1GP has conducted a thorough review of its sporting regulations. With effect from the Beijing race next weekend, the grid for the 70-minute Feature race will be determined by the finishing results of the earlier 20-minute Sprint race. The winner of the Sprint race will start the Feature race in pole position as in the 2005/06 season, simplifying the qualifying system and making the results more immediate to the fans in the grandstand. Also in effect from Beijing will be a change to the eligibility of Rookie drivers and the Friday format. The Rookie session, to be held between 11.00 and 12.00 with a ten minute break midway, will now be open to drivers under the age of 28 or any driver from a developing motorsport nation. The new regulations will allow drivers and countries with little motorsport experience to come to terms with the powerful 550-bhp A1GP cars and challenging tracks, while the move to an earlier slot will allow teams more time to analyse performance in the sessions and optimise race set-up. The Rookie session will be followed by the second official practice session open to all teams and drivers between 14.00 and 15.00. For more details on the sporting and technical regulations for A1GP, please visit www.A1GP.com.
A full season’s racing in the 2007 Caterham Superlight Challenge with champion team Hyperion Motorsport – that’s the fantastic prize on offer from the Silverstone Motorsport school to the winner of its newly launched Racing Driver Scholarship
Tasman Motorsport have unveiled an expansion into the New Zealand V8 Touring Car Championship with twotime NZ V8 champion Andy Booth. On the eve of the beginning of the 2006/2007 series this weekend at Pukekohe, Booth will be joined by Tasman Team Principal Kevin Murphy and its foundation V8 Supercar driver Jason Richards trackside tomorrow to kickoff the partnership. Part of Tasman's strengthening of its relationship with Holden New Zealand, the new arrangement will see Booth carry Tasman's familiar #3 number on his Commodore as his aims to win his third NZ V8 crown. The car will run in identical livery to its V8 Supercar `cousin' in Australia and will include a wide range of support including technical, commercial and sporting assistance.
Sam Bird's year in Formula Renault UK has been rewarded with a place, for the second year running in the McLaren Autosport BRDC Young Driver of the Year Award. The winner of this prestigious Award will not only win £50000 towards his 2007 budget, but will receive a GP2 test and a McLaren F1 test, as well as lifetime membership of the BRDC. "I'm delighted to be selected again" said Sam on hearing the news. "Last year, I made some mistakes during the evaluation and I'm looking to put that right this year."
Top Ford team, the Caltex-backed International Motorsport squad, has played a key role in the growth and development of the Parker ENZED NZ V8s Championship which tops the bill at the first round of the 2006/07 Mike Pero Motorsport Series at Pukekohe's Pukekohe Park Raceway this weekend.
02-11-06
Five-time Le Mans 24-hour winner and two-time World Sports Car champion Derek Bell will join former champions Tony Adamowicz, Gene Felton and Buzz Marcus in the SCCA North Carolina Region's Kumho Tires Charge of the Headlight Brigade 13-hour endurance race at VIRginia International Raceway this Saturday, November 4 to raise awareness for the American Cancer Society. The team, known as Seniors for Survivors, will compete in a BSI Racing-owned and -prepared Mazda MX-5. Paul Mears, Jr. of Mears Motorcoach of Orlando, Fla., will be the major sponsor of the Seniors for Survivors Racing Team. Other sponsors include Buzz Marcus, Hoosier Tires, Lavagraphix and Checkered Flag Motors. "We hope that this team of racing legends will both raise money for cancer research and inspire race fans and drivers of all ages," says Buzz Marcus, team founder and cancer survivor. "The Seniors for Survivors Racing Team sincerely thanks Paul Mears, Jr. and the other sponsors for their generosity and support." To date, the Seniors for Survivors Racing Team has raised $21,000 for Breast Cancer and Lymphoma research.