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News Archive February 2007

20/03/2007

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10-03-07

Apex Tubulars Sponsors for Porsche Club Great Britain Series.  Porsche Club Great Britain have announced that Apex Tubulars, Aberdeen-based suppliers of down-hole casing and tubing to the oil and gas sector, will be title sponsors of the Porsche Club Championship and Porsche Open in 2007. Jim Geddie, MD of Apex, will be racing a Porsche 997 in the Porsche Open, and the motorsport sponsorship sees the Scot combining his two favourite sports.   "We also sponsor Aberdeen Football Club," explains Jim, "so this lets me combine my two sporting loves - football and motorsport.  "I had good fun, and some good results, when I sampled the Porsche Open last season, and the Open is a great series - competitive, well-run, but with a good friendly bunch of guys. I've bought myself a 997 from France to drive this year and I'm busy testing ready for the new season."   The two championships will now be known as the Apex Tubulars Porsche Club Championship and the Apex Tubulars Porsche Open.  "It is always nice when companies want to get involved with the Porsche Club," commented series co-ordinator Steve Kevlin, "and this year we have a number of companies where the MD takes is actively involved in our motorsport."   

Northwest Autosport announced that young Canadian driver Lorenzo Mandarino will join recently signed Northwest Autosport drivers Phil Fogg Jr. and Eric Freiberg for the 2007 Star Mazda Championship presented by Goodyear and will be behind the wheel of the #38 Northwest Autosport Pro Formula Mazda for Round One at Sebring International Raceway. read more

Northwest Autosport enters season confident after final pre-season test. With the opening round of the Star Mazda Championship presented by Goodyear just a week away Northwest Autosport is excited at their prospects following a successful two day test at Buttonwillow Raceway Park that saw their young drivers Eric Freiberg and Lorenzo Mandarino, along with veterans Phil Fogg Jr. and Steve Cook, complete over 300 miles of testing and development. “Entering this season with two rookies everyone at Northwest Autosport is looking forward to the start of the season based on their performances in testing,” Team Manager Michael Hernandez explained. “This was Lorenzo’s first time in the Pro Formula Mazda and only the second time that Eric had driven the car yet both drivers adjusted to the car and were up to speed quickly, posting the fastest times of the test. Given their raw talent and speed we were equally impressed with their ability to adapt to the changing conditions and their level of technical feedback and look forward to watching them at Sebring battling at the front of the field.”  With cold mornings and occasional showers during the test, the changing conditions were ideal for showing the drivers how the Pro Formula Mazda handles in different situations and both drivers adjusted quickly, setting fast laps in all sessions.  “In addition to bringing the drivers up to speed we really wanted to help them understand the window the car likes to operate in and the weather played right into our hands,” commented team driving coach Ryan Justice, a Northwest Autosport alumni and current Indy Pro Series driver. “Lorenzo and Eric did a great job and were very impressive for their amount of experience. I have little doubt that both of these drivers will be at the front of the field.”Freiberg and Mandarino were equally enthused by the test. “We had a great couple of days during the test and am looking forward to the start of the season,” commented the Homer Glen, Illinois native Freiberg . “I got the chance to feel the changes between the different tire compounds and log a lot of miles working with the team and my engineer. Now all I can think about is Sebring and what looks to be a great season.”Mandarino, runner-up in the Discovery Channel Canada Star Racer driver search competition, echoed Freiberg ’s thoughts. “For my first time in the car I was very pleased with my progression and getting up to speed and the team did a great job,” the Vancouver , Canada explained. “The car is really fast in some sections and I’m happy to be racing in the series. Now that I have some laps behind the wheel of this car I am excited about going to Sebring as I have some experience on that track from Skip Barber so it should be a fun weekend.”The test was also a cause for celebration as veteran Northwest Autosport driver Steve Cook returned to the cockpit for the first time since July of 2005. It has been a long road back to the track for Cook, a professor in the Department of Orthopedic Surgery at Tulane Medical School in New Orleans , who lost everything when Hurricane Katrina swept through Louisiana and Mississippi in August of that year. Battling back from this tragedy and unexpected health issues, Cook was able to complete the two day test in preparations for participating in the 2007 championships.Based in Milwaukie , Oregon , Northwest Autosport is one of the top teams participating in the Star Mazda Championship presented by Goodyear, which will feature twelve races across the United States and Canada supporting the American Le Mans Series, ChampCar and the GrandAm series. For more information please visit www.northwestautosport.com.

The 2007 Formula TR PRO Series with its Formula Renault 1600 and Formula Renault 2000 Championships is set to begin the season this weekend at California Speedway with rounds 1 & 2 of the 10 weekend, 20 race series. The host for the weekend, the Vintage Auto Racing Association (VARA), has made it quite special.  Formula TR will be part of the  Route 66 Classic Formula Festival with vintage CHAMP/Indy cars, over 100 Model A’s and T’s at the event along with VARA’s special guest for the weekend Al Unser Sr.  Formula TR is a driver development series that uses the world’s largest and longest lived development platform, the Formula Renault.  The formula is stable and the safety is unprecedented.   The series enjoys the sponsorship of Gatorz, precision tuned eyewear, and Yokohama Tires. About Formula TR Formula TR (Tatuus Renault) provides a development series for young drivers progressing from karting into professional formula car racing as early as age 14.  The series was established in 2002 and features both 1600cc and 2000cc carbon fiber open wheel chassis built by Tatuus and powered by Renault. The series consists of 20 races conducted over 10 weekends at tracks throughout the western US

The field for the 2007 Formula Palmer Audi Championship has been further boosted by the addition of ex-Formula BMW racer Matt Hamilton to the grid. Hamilton, 17, joins fellow teenager Jack Clarke in moving from the BMW series into the 300bhp turbocharged FPA single-seater for 2007. Matt has been one of the leading lights in pre-season testing thus far, and is confident of his chances with the season now just a month away. "I've been really happy with the testing at Bedford so far," said Matt, who took fifth in the FBMW Rookie Cup last year in what was his debut season of car racing. "But this championship is shaping up to be so competitive, there really isn't going to be any hiding place. I'll have to be at the very top of my game to win the championship." Hamilton is thrilled by the prospect of being able to take the FPA car to some of the most famous and challenging circuits in the UK. "The long Oulton Park circuit is one of the most enoyable circuits there is, so I'm really looking forward to heading up there in August."

French Formula Renault team SG Formula’s 2006 season ended with a unique 1-2-3-4 win on the Magny-Cours circuit. The La Rochelle-based squad also took drivers’ runner-up spot and teams’ title in France, and third place in the Eurocup’s final classification….read more

Andrew Bentley (Barnard Castle, Co Durham) is preparing to make his ELF Renault Clio Cup debut after winning the Double Six Racing Scholarship. The competition, organised by former Clio Cup racer Marc Nelson, saw over 200 entries whittled down to a final group of 10. They went head to head on Wednesday, 28th February at the Three Sisters circuit in Wigan with Bentley, who turned 25 just three days after the final, clinching the prize of a place on the 2007 Clio Cup grid….read more

Double Six Racing are delighted to announce that the winner of the inaugural Official Clio Cup Scholarship is Andrew Bentley, Film Production Co-ordinator, aged 25, from Northampton.  Andrew drives away with the prize of a seasons racing, joining the 2007 Clio Cup Championship as the 44th driver on the grid.  On winning the scholarship Andrew was overwhelmed with emotion, “To win this prize is quite simply life changing. It has been my dream to race cars for as long as I can remember. I have worked hard to achieve my goals but a lack of finance has always prevented me from fulfilling my potential. Double Six Racing and all of the sponsors involved have given me an opportunity to prove myself and indeed vindicate their decision to choose me as their driver.I had a great time at all of the rounds of the scholarship and I feel that the amount of driving time you actually get at the qualifying rounds more than covers the cost of entering. The instruction was very good and really helped me to get the best from my time in the car. Each instructor was very enthusiastic and wanted to make sure I did my best.  The scholarship is amazing value (even if you don’t win!) and I would recommend anyone to enter, no matter what experience you have as you stand a great chance of winning an amazing prize.Winning meant everything to me, and I could feel my heart trying to jump out of my chest as I waited to hear if it was me.  It really is an amazing feeling to know that I will be on the Clio Cup grid this year and that I have a racing car with my name on it.                 ”Marc Nelson, Double Six Team Manager commented, “It has been such a diffiicult decision to make, there have been so many excellent drivers, even those that did not make it through to the final stages were very good.  Andrew was consistently in the top 4 from the end of Round Two of the competition and he was the unanimous choice for the panel of judges at the final.  We are confident that Andrew will be fantastic in the Clio Cup Championship this year and are looking forward to a successful season together.     You can follow Andrew’s progress throughout the season on Motors TV in a ‘fly on the wall’ documentary that is being produced by Double Six Racing.  The documentary starts on Friday 30th March at 8.30pm when you will be able to see how Andrew performs against the rest of the grid during the Official Clio Cup Test day at Brands Hatch.

FORTEC PAIR SHOW THE WAY AT FIRST OFFICIAL TEST.   Dean Smith and Riki Christodoulou topped the timesheets on the first two days of official pre-season testing for the Formula Renault UK with Michelin Championship, held at Rockingham Motor Speedway on 1st/2nd March. The duo’s Fortec Motorsport team showed its strength throughout its line-up with Ryuji Yamamoto and Duncan Tappy  consistently close to the pace of the leading pair.   The test marked the first outing for the new-for-2007 updated bodykit, which brings the 2.0-litre single-seaters in line with its World Series by Renault and Formula One cousins. On the series’ first visit to the Leicestershire venue since 2004, the 1.95-mile International Sports Car circuit configuration was used with many drivers lapping the track for the first time in their careers. Riki Christodoulou set the pace on the morning of 1st March with a time of 1min 16.324s (91.93mph), ahead of Eurotek’s Jordan Oakes with Tappy in third. AKA Cobra’s Jeremy Metcalfe was fourth, just 0.499s behind Christodoulou. Smith made the best of the afternoon conditions to improve to a time of 1min 15.879s (92.47mph), demoting Christodoulou to second. Metcalfe moved up to third quickest, while Yamamoto and Tappy also went faster than Christodoulou’s earlier benchmark.Manor Competition’s Alexander Sims improved by five places over the two sessions, while AKA Cobra’s Adriano Buzaid jumped from 15th to seventh quickest in the afternoon. Commenting at the end of the first day, Smith said: “Today is the first time I have driven here with this configuration of the track and it’s gone really well. The car was quick for me straight away without having to push too hard for a few extra tenths of a second. I’ve been quick throughout winter testing so it’s not a great surprise to do well here and I can’t see any reason why I can’t challenge for at least the top three this season.” The second day of testing was held in less windy conditions allowing even faster times to be set as drivers learned the nuances of the new circuit. The first of the day’s three one-hour sessions saw Riki Christodoulou, Smith and Yamamoto as the only three drivers to lap in less than 1min 16s. Christodoulou set what turned out to be the fastest time of the day at 1min 15.752s (92.62mph). Sims set the fourth fastest time ahead of AKA Cobra duo Adam Christodoulou and Metcalfe. After the lunch break, Yamamoto put himself to the head of the field for the first time in UK racing as Fortec locked out the top four spots. Sims, Buzaid and Oakes were next ahead of AKA Cobra trio Adam Christodoulou, Nathan Caratti and Metcalfe. Apotex Scorpio Motorsport’s Will Bratt, Manor Competition’s Kris Loane  and AKA Cobra’s Chris Holmes were all within one second of Yamamoto. With temperature’s dropping in the final session of the two-day test, there was no improvement on the fastest time as Riki Christodoulou finished ahead of Sims and Smith. Commenting at the completion of the test, Christodoulou said: “I love this Formula Renault car! I improved by more than one second when I used new tyres this morning and every time I get in the car I feel more comfortable. The team did a great job with the set-up and I am really looking forward to the season starting.”

Dominik Jackson has officially signed up for the 2007 Formula Palmer Audi Championship and immediately declared his intention to walk off with the title. Lincolnshire-based Jackson, 22, will compete in the 300bhp turbocharged single-seater series this season having already gained racing experience in German Formula BMW and American Formula Ford. After testing at Bedford Autodrome last week and immediately setting the fastest time of the pre-season, Jackson heads into the 20-race campaign with no doubts as to his target.   "I really think this championship is within my grasp," said Dominik, who despite his four years of car racing will be entering his first full season in the UK. "I was ecstatic with the test time that I set, and I hope this will fire out a warning to my rivals for the coming year." Jackson will take in two more tests at Bedford before the season-opener at Silverstone next month, and says these should prove useful. "It's important to rack up as much mileage as possible now before the season begins and the margin for error disappears."

02-03-07

Karting prodigy to make car racing debut. Sutton Coldfield karting star Chris Chubb will make the step up into car racing this season, competing with some of Britain's brightest young talents in Formula Palmer Audi.  Chubb, 20, a former protege of ex-Formula 1 driver Alex Zanardi, will compete at eight of the UK's most famous circuits in a 300bhp turbocharged single-seater ideal for young drivers learning their trade. With just five weeks to go until the season begins at Silverstone, Chris is eager to get in some more testing ahead of the 20-race campaign.  "FPA cars are a real challenge to drive so getting to know the machine is a top priority," said Chubb. "I'm hoping to test at (FPA test base) Bedford Autodrome three or four times in the next few weeks so that I'm fully prepared for the first race. Everyone's got the same car in FPA, so it's very competitive and every fraction of a second is crucial." With a calendar that allows Chris to learn most of the circuits on the British Formula 3 calendar, Chris is looking forward to competing at some truly legendary venues. "The Brands Hatch Grand Prix race at the end of April will be special for me," he explained. "I haven't been to Brands since I was a kid so it's a dream come true to be able to race there."

Silverstone's open test session for teams this week provided the ideal opportunity for Ford of Britain chairman and managing director Roelant de Waard  (left) t o sample Formula Ford power for the first time. A keen club racer in his native Netherlands, Roelant thoroughly enjoyed his outing at the wheel of the latest Van Diemen challenger. Ford marketing manager Mark Ovenden also took the wheel.     Formula Ford reaches its 40th birthday in July. The championship, expanded to 25 rounds, is the sole single-seater support series to the British Formula 3 Championship. The opening rounds are at Oulton Park in Cheshire on Easter Monday (9 April).

FORMULA FORD AT 40. With the new Formula Ford season just over a month away, the championship's top teams are readying their driver line-ups in preparation for forthcoming combat.   Read more

56 NEW RACERS ON THE GRID WITH CATERHAM ACADEMY. A motorsport component designer, a gardener, an outdoor pursuits teacher and a legal counsellor are among the drivers who joined the ranks of Britain's racing drivers this week thanks to the Circuit Driver Caterham Academy.  In all, 56 motorsport novices successfully completed their Association of Racing Drivers Schools (ARDS) tests at Castle Combe in preparation for a season of competitive action in the Academy….read more

JDC MotorSports have signed Dane Cameron for the Star Mazda Championship presented by Goodyear. Cameron from California will contest the 2007 season alongside Nick Haye and partial season entrants Gerry Kraut and Noah Bystrom.  Last year Cameron dominated the Formula Palmer Audi Autumn Trophy in November and finished runner-up in the Cooper F2000 Zetec Championship, taking Rookie of the Year as well. "We are definitely very excited about having Dane on our team for the 2007 championship," commented team co-owner John Church. "Dane was very quick in testing and should be a serious contender for the championship," added Church.  Cameron comes to the team looking to for another title. "Earning the Team USA Scholarship after a great season in F2000 and then going to Europe and winning a series over there was a fantastic experience in 2006," said Cameron. "I am extremely excited to be racing in the Star Mazda Championship with JDC MotorSports." The team will continue testing at Buttonwillow and Road Atlanta prior to the Sebring season opener on March 16th.

McLaren Autosport BRDC Award finalist Jeremy Metcalfe ended the opening day of official Formula Renault UK testing at Rockingham happy with his progress after setting the third fastest time today for the AKA Cobra team.  Melcalfe enjoyed his first outing with the new-for-2007 aerodynamic update kit on his car, ending the morning session 4^th overall, Jeremy improved by 0.6s in the afternoon for 3rd quickest time. His best lap, 1m 16.221 seconds (92.052mph) was 0.3s off the top. "It's been a good day, obviously I'd have liked to be fastest but to end the test third overall is a good base to start from", commented the BillChaser and Focus IT-backed star, "Hopefully tomorrow will be just as rewarding and we'll make more progress."   Will Bratt is focused on making big strides forward during the second day of official pre-season test (Friday) after a frustrating start yesterday.  Will began the opening day strongly but attempts to gain more time on new tyres were thwarted on each occasion.  At the end of the day's two sessions the Apotex Scorpio Motorsport driver was ninth, a lap of 1m 16.758 seconds (91.409mph) his best.  "It's been quite a frustrating dayas we never really got a genuine run on new tyres while everyone else had at least one run on new rubber and, in some cases, two full runs", said Will. "To be eight 10ths of a second away from the top of the times certainly isn't indicative of the true picture. We know we can find more time so if the weather stays dry tomorrow we will certainly build on what we have learned today."

PR1 Motorsport  will compete in the 2007 Cooper Tires Presents The Champ Car Atlantic Championship Powered by Mazda with drivers Jonathan Bomarito and Mike Forest. Bomarito gave the California-based team its first Atlantic victory in the 2006  at Road America in the season finale. Bomarito started all 12 races for the PR1 team last season, scoring three podium results on his way to finishing sixth in the championship. The 2007 season marks Bomarito's third year in Atlantics and second with PR1 Motorsports, the team that guided him to the 2003 Cooper Tires Formula Ford Zetec series championship. Forest showed promise in an abbreviated rookie season in 2006. He suffered fractured vertebrae in a qualifying accident at the first race of the season at Long Beach and spent the rest of the year rehabilitating from his injuries. The 25-year-old Canadian made 3 starts last season with a top finish of 10th at Road America. Forest also has a strong history with PR1 as he won the 2005 Pacific F2000 title with the team.  Miracle Sealants returns as the primary sponsor for both cars in 2007. Bomarito will continue to drive the #23 entry with additional sponsorship from Konica Minolta and Dynacor Media Group. Forest will once again be behind the wheel of #32 car with additional sponsorship from Konica Minolta, Dynacor and Earthwater. "We are happy to have both Jonathan and Mike back on our team this year," said Bobby Oergel, co-owner of PR1 Motorsports with his wife Lisa. "We feel that having a long-standing relationship with both drivers can only help to build on last year's success. Miracle Sealants has been a great partner and we're happy to again be working with them in 2007."

Ultimate Motorsport F3 Team followed up its  launch at with a successful testing session around the Grand Prix Circuit yesterday(Thursday).  The team, which unveiled its striking new orange and black livery in the BRDC clubhouse on Thursday, was on track at its 'home' circuit in dry conditions to continue car development and driver assessment. Esteban Guerrieri, who is confirmed as one of the team's drivers, was joined by Briton Ben Clucas, the reigning Australian Formula Three champion, who completed a strong second test for the team. There were no official times given for the day's running.

On  Thursday  1  March  2007,  Super Aguri  driver  Anthony Davidson was  on hand  to officially  launch  the  ‘FORMULA  ONE™  CHAMPIONSHIP  EDITION’ game for PLAYSTATION®3.   read more

International Formula Master declared the Formula S2000 on schedule for a race debut in Valencia on 20 May, after further tests were carried out today at the Italian track of Vallelunga.  Focusing on set-up and tyre development during the three-day test, with Development Driver Giorgio Pantano, the single-seater race car completed several long-distance runs without any problems.  “The car is incredibly quick and easy to set up,” said Pantano whose previous drives include GP2 and Formula One. “It responds very well and we did a lot of kilometres over the past three days.”    Overseen by N.Technology’s Series Director, Mauro Sipsz, the test benefited from warm weather throughout the three days ensuring consistency in the car’s development.  “We are very upbeat,” said Sipsz. “Pantano’s feedback on the set-up was perfect and we are confident that the car is good. There were no problems with the car; the engine and tyres performed without a hitch so we were able to complete every job we had planned.  “We also tested our new sequential six-gear gearbox today concentrating on the clutch and gearshift-paddles and I am happy to say that it all works fantastically.”   Further Formula S2000 testing will take place later on this month in Vallelunga and Monza.

Dominick Muermans has signed with Ombra Racing to take part in the 2007 International Formula Master Series. By signing Muermans the Italian team has now completed its line-up for 2007. Johnny Cecotto junior will race alongside Muermans in the series.

1-03-07

Jonathan Heynes, who ran the 2001 Production title winning team in the British Touring Car Championship – the same year that Jason Plato won the overall drivers’ title – will return to the series this year as SEAT Sport UK Race Team Manager. The 31-year old from Bristol was the British Open Kart Champion in 1995 before he set up his own race team, HTML, in 2000. It ran cars in the BTCC and National Saloon Car Championships and in 2001 it prepared and ran a pair of Peugeot 306s in which Simon Harrison and Roger Moen finished first and third in the Production Car category of the BTCC. While this will be the first time Jonathan has worked with Jason, he knows the former champion’s SEAT Sport UK team-mate well, having run a Pontiac Grand Prix car for Darren Turner in 2002.  In that season, Darren won six ASCAR races at Rockingham, including a sensational last to first victory. Jonathan continued to run in ASCAR for the next three years, before going into motorsport management and consultancy in 2005. He also runs his own performance sports car dealership, Bahn Stormers Ltd, in Cirencester. Jonathan said: “It’s great to be back in the British Touring Car Championship with such an exciting new challenge.   There is a great team spirit within SEAT Sport UK and I’m really looking forward to the season ahead.”

Rodolfo Avila has been at a two day testing at Pembrey recently. The Macau SAR driver was pleased with his and the teams performance in the first official test of 2007 British F3 International Series.  Avila celebrated his 20th birthday and Chinese New Year at the wheel of the Performance Racing Europe‘s Dallara F307-Mügen Honda, the former National Class contender undertook a programme of chassis set-up and set 11th best time of the second day from 27 cars. “As I expected the team suffered a crew restructure during the winter and look like a new team. However the lack of teamwork experience didn’t affected the boys and got into the pace straight way! The times were coming down lap after lap but I wasn’t focus on the chronometer. To accomplish our setup programme was my main target and we did well”, said Avila. He will now take part in a second test at Silverstone today before moving to Snetterton next week.

Ultimate Motorsport Team unveiled its long-awaited plans for the 2007 season at the Silverstone British Drivers' Club on Wednesday(Feb 28).  The British team will compete in the British F3 Championship with a new Mygale powered by a Mercedes engine.Argentine Esteban Guerrieri has been confirmed as one of their drivers. Team owner Barry Walsh said: "After months of preparation it is extremely exciting to see the car here at Silverstone in full livery and to announce Ultimate Motorsport's arrival as a new name in British motor racing. Ultimate Motorsport is an ambitious team and, together with Mygale, we are hoping to shake up the order a little in Formula Three. We will have an excellent combination of drivers and, with Formula One experience leading the team, we are starting from a good baseline. "  Ultimate Motorsport will operate out of headquarters near East Haddon in Northamptonshire and is the latest addition to the famed 'motorsport corridor' that is home to the Honda, Spyker, Williams and Red Bull Racing Formula One teams

More than 20 fledgling drivers will meet at the BMW Performance Centre in Bahrain this weekend for one of the first major contests of their motorsport careers, and a chance to earn one of five coveted Formula BMW Asia Scholarships.  The youngsters aged between 15 and 20 hail from every corner of the Asia Pacific region. The wide-ranging BMW E&C programme is the most professional of its kind available in the region, and utilises the expertise of BMW Motorsport in all areas, including driving instruction, technical knowledge, fitness and nutrition, media training, and sports management. All the tools a young driver needs to reach the very top of the sport.The Scholarship Qualifying will include both theory and practical sessions, during which drivers will be assessed by a team of BMW Motorsport professionals

The 2007 V8 Supercar Championship kicks off Tasman Motorsport at Adelaide this weekend with the Clipsal 500. Four-time Bathurst winner Greg Murphy joins fellow Kiwi and Tasman Motorsport stalwart Jason Richards in the championship. Tasman Motorsport will also field two brand new Holden VE Commodores in Adelaide - one of just three Holden teams to do so.   The team's technical abilities have also been expanded with respected Race and Data Analysis Engineers Adam DeBorre (ex-Garry Rogers Motorsport), Steve Henderson and Steve Harris (ex-Supercheap Auto Racing and Engine Development Manager Royce McCort (ex-Holden Racing Team) joining the Melbourne-based team.  Confronting the team is an expanded championship, up from 13 to 14 rounds, a new, F1-style qualifying format, a different point structure that is more heavily weighted towards winners and the most competitive field in V8 Supercar history.   "It is an extremely exciting time for Tasman Motorsport, and V8 Supercars in general, and I'm more than glad to be a part of it," Richards, who is in his fourth year with the team, said. While hopeful of a victory, Richards was circumspect in his Clipsal predictions. "We'd like to win the race, no questions, but our main focus is on making sure we come away with good results from both races and set up our season. We've had a strong package there in the past, as shown by our lap record last year, but we haven't had the 'real' results we were looking for and that puts the entire team on the back foot for the rest of the season - it's proved to be our Achilles heel,"

Nordskog Performance Products, designers and manufacturers of high performance automotive and marine instruments, introduces TEAM NORDSKOG 2007 who will provide continued sponsorship for Tom Hope and H&H Motorsports in the Pacific F2000 Series . Hope, Winner of the Drive of the Year Award in 2004, was the Pacific F2000 National Division Champion in 2004 and 2005, and 2nd in 2006.

28-02-07

NEW SPONSOR FOR FORMULA FORD: Formula Ford has gained a new sponsor for the coming season - Snap-on Equipment Solutions (EQS), a key provider of workshop service and diagnostic equipment. 
Welcoming the firm to its partnership with the Ford-backed championship, Michael Norton, Ford TeamRS Motorsport Manager for the UK, said: "We are very pleased that Snap-on has chosen to support Formula Ford and we look forward to working with them. We see this link as recognition of the championship's rejuvenation and growing strength." 
Snap-on Equipment Solutions (EQS) offers a free service to the UK dealer or independent garage in workshop design, planning and equipment.. It supports a wide range of products in the workshop equipment and OEM services sector and specialises in providing comprehensive workshop designs and equipment.  The company works with manufacturers - including Ford, Volvo, Jaguar, Land Rover, Aston Martin and Mazda - worldwide to provide franchised dealers with workshop, service and diagnostic equipment

Britcar opening round to be sponsored by BERU F1 Systems on  March 24^th at Silverstone. Norfolk-based BERU F1 Systems will sponsor the opening round of the 2007 Britcar Championship at Silverstone on March 24th.  BERU F1 Systems, whose tyre pressure monitoring systems deliver performance and safety benefits in the highest levels of motorsport, will be offering Britcar competitors a special price for its DigiTyre system.  In addition, further incentives will be available for BF1Connect, a new company that provides a full range of motorsport connectors and wiring accessories.     "We are delighted that BERU F1 Systems is sponsoring our opening round,” says EERC’s James Tucker. “It’s great to see a professional company joining up with our professional series,” BERU F1 Systems’ managing director John Bailey is equally excited about the deal.  “With longer races, Britcar competitors in particular are looking to optimize wear and safety of their tyres.  Our systems are already in use in F1, NASCAR and GT racing and we are very excited to be able to offer the benefits to competitors at a national level.”The DigiTyre system has been used effectively in 2006 by Scuderia Ecosse in both the FIA and British GT championships.  “The BERU F1 Systems Tyre Pressure Monitoring System was a superb addition to our Ferrari 430GT car in 2006 ,” said Snr Race Engineer Stuart Robinson.  “It not only gave our drivers warning in case of puncture, but it allowed them to manage their tyres better. They knew when their tyres were up to pressure in qualifying and therefore able to go for a fast lap.  We could even see a pressure drop along the Mulsanne straight at Le Mans as the tyres cooled down.  amazing!”                                                                                                                                                                                            About BERU F1 Systems  -  Founded in 1993 and since 2001, a specialist division of BERU AG, BERU F1 Systems offers advanced design and manufacturing facilities for vehicle wiring harness systems, tyre pressure monitoring, stress measurement and composites.  Supplied to world championship winning cars in every major formula and every Formula 1 team, components from BERU F1 Systems are now available in military, road car, aerospace and nautical applications.  In January 2007, BERU F1 Systems won the prestigious Autosport International Innovation of the show for its Wire in Composite technology.

Snetterton and Silverstone have each been selected to host a two-hour feature race for the 2007 Avon Tyres British GT Championship instead of the usual two 60-minute events. Following the success of the end of season finale last September, Silverstone will once again stage one of the longer races on August 12th, with Snetterton becoming the host circuit for the other feature race on June 3rd. Last year Snetterton was the scene of the hottest races of the season, with the teams and drivers basking in the Mediterranean style sunshine. The long flowing Norfolk circuit is the ideal place to hold a longer race, with the added drama of mid race fuel stops. With GT3 class such as Ascari, Dodge Viper, Ferrari, Porsche and Aston Martin battling for the overall British GT title this season, the 2-hour mini endurance event will be a big draw for the fans in East Anglia. "Thanks to the promotion of the event, British GT raced in front of a large crowd last year and with the added excitement of seeing supercar brands such as Aston Martin, Ascari, Ferrari, Porsche and Lamborghini battling it out for two hours, we're confident the attendance will be even better this year." said British GT Championship Coordinator Benjamin Franassovici. "Holding the first 2-hour race of the 2007 season at Snetterton in June, we are hopeful that the race day will have similar weather to the sunshine we enjoyed there in 2006." Over twenty confirmed entries for the 2007 Avon Tyres British GT Championship have been received, with at least thirty cars expected for the first race of the season at Oulton Park at Easter. For further details visit www.britishgt.com

Niall Quinn has been selected to spearhead the attack by top German squad AM Holzer Rennsport on this year's German Formula BMW Championship.  Quinn, who finished third in last season's Formula BMW UK Rookie Cup with five victories, has been top of Holzer's list following a successful one off outing for the team at the BMW World Finals in Valencia last November.

The Ford Performance Racing (FPR) V8 Supercar team is looking forward to the start of the new V8 Supercar Championship season this weekend at the Adelaide Parklands Street Circuit for the Clipsal 500. The Prodrive team is eager to continue where it left off at the end of last season, with Orrcon Ford Credit FPR Falcon driver Mark Winterbottom racing to the final victory of the season on his way to third in the Championship. The 25 year old is determined be a major contender in 2007, starting his second season with the team with great confidence.Making his debut with FPR this weekend is double Bathurst Champion V8 Steve Richards. Saturday's opening leg of the Clipsal 500 will be the 34 year old's first V8 Supercar race in a Ford since 2001. The new FPR driver has taken little to no time in becoming accustomed to his brand new Castrol FPR Falcon, his speed during pre-season testing  indicating that a competitive season is on the cards.                          Caltex-backed drivers kick off their 2007 V8 Supercar Championship with young gun Jamie Whincup leading the charge into the race in Adelaide this weekend. Whincup, driver of the Caltex-backed Team Vodafone Falcon, is the defending Clipsal 500 champion. The 24-year-old won on his debut with the Triple Eight Race Engineering team last season on the streets of Adelaide. The victory began a breakthrough season for Whincup, which included victory with team-mate Craig Lowndes at the Supercheap Bathurst 1000 and his maiden top 10 finish in the championship. Caltex’s other driver Russell Ingall is determined to regain the form that saw the him win the title in 2005. The final Caltex driver  James Courtney will begin his second full season in the V8 Supercar Championship this weekend.                                                                                        WPS Racing's Jason Bargwanna believes the carnage seen at last year's V8 Supercar opener in Adelaide will be nothing compared to this year's event if the predicted extreme weather conditions arrive this weekend. The former Bathurst winner says that the ambient 40 degree temperature predicted for opening practice on Friday could see cabin temperatures of some cars creep towards 70 degrees. Last year's event saw some major accidents in both the Saturday and Sunday heats, with a couple of drivers admitting to becoming nauseous and even having fainting spells at the wheel. Bargwanna, returns to WPS Racing for his second season where he will be joined in Adelaide by his regular teammate Max Wilson who will be driving a newly-unveiled WOW Falcon for the first time in race trim.

The dates for the 2007 Formula 3 Euro Series season have been announced. Four of the ten events on the calendar will be held in Germany and two in France, with Great Britain, Italy, Spain and the Netherlands hosting one event each. The Formula 3 Euro Series is a joint project of DMSB and FFSA and in the five years of its existence, it has established as the most successful young-gun series when it comes to producing new blood for top series such as DTM or Formula 1

27-02-07

Jonathan Fildes, 2003 ELF Renault Clio Cup Champion, one of the favourites to claim this year’s title, had a highly competitive test  at Silverstone yesterday  The 31-year-old, who will be backed by Applied Signs & Display, Asgard Taverns and Barry Evans Plastics, arrived at the Northamptonshire venue with no prior mileage in the new generation Clio under his belt but swiftly served notice to his series rivals he is back in the Clio Cup with one aim only, to win the championship.Competing with Total Control Racing, he concluded the first Clio group test of the year just three 10ths of a second shy of the outright pace. With conditions blustery and cold during the opening two hour 45 minute session, light rain did threaten towards the end of the morning but skies brightened early in the afternoon enabling Jonathan to enjoy a full day of dry running.“We’re all very happy with the way testing has gone for us today”, said Jonathan, “I’m delighted with the pace we’ve shown, Lee (Brookes) is happy and the whole team has been quick. The new car really suits my driving style, which is the complete reverse to the SEAT I raced last year, so things are looking very good ahead of the new season.”

Jim Tafel today revealed that his Tafel Racing GT team will chase for the Grand American GT championship this year. Three of his drivers from the 2006 season will remain to handle the duties of placing the team's two Porsche GT3 Cups on the podium for the 13 Rolex Series events on the calendar.  Tafel Racing just missed the GT team title last year by 11 points to the TRG's Pontiac team. Their drivers, Robin Liddell and Wolf Henzler were in the hunt as well right up to the finale at Miller Motorsports Park in Utah.  Henzel will remain as one of the two drivers in the No. 74 Rembrandt Charms Porsche with Eric as the German's co-driver.  Lux from Buffalo was the youngest racer to take the chequered flag in the Rolex 24 will enter his second year with the team.  Andrew Davis and Nathan Swartzbaugh will team up in the No. 72 North-South Machinery sponsored Porsche. This will be Davis' third season with Tafel Racing. Swartzbaugh is the 2006 IMSA GT3 Cup Challenge champion; a very competitive series that fields the popular identically-prepared Porsche GT3 cars. 2007 will be his first season with the team.

John Walko Racing was testing for the Star Mazda Series recently at Virginia International Raceway in far from ideal weather". The rain and the cold weather aren't perfect conditions to work in obviously but the data that we gain from these types of tests in very significant. And with the Star Mazda Series returning to VIR to race in the spring, we could face any of these situations again. Not only will we have very pertinent data to deal with most any weather condition but Charles and Russell both have seen the track in the best and worst of conditions. When coming to race at a track for the first time, like we will with VIR later this year, that knowledge in invaluable."  The team now looks toward Sebring and the start of their quest to once again be Team Champions.

Ford Performance Racing (FPR) welcomes one of the world's best known names in tools, DEWALT, as an associate sponsor for the 2007 season. DEWALT has been involved in Australian motor racing as a sponsor and supplier to several teams over the years, electing in 2007 to become an FPR partner as the major blue oval team heads towards its most successful season yet following their second placing in the 2006 V8 Supercar Teams' Championship.

Corvette Racing Announces 2007 Driver Lineup  There will be familiar faces in different places when Corvette Racing returns to the American Le Mans Series in 2007 to defend its drivers, team and manufacturers championships. Corvette Racing officials have announced a revised driver lineup for the two-car Chevrolet factory team. Johnny O'Connell and Jan Magnussen will drive the No. 3 Compuware Corvette C6.R in all ALMS events. They will be joined by Ron Fellows for three endurance races (Sebring, Le Mans and Petit Le Mans) as Fellows takes on new roles and responsibilities with GM Racing. Defending GT1 champions Oliver Gavin and Olivier Beretta will drive the No. 4 Compuware Corvette C6.R, teamed with Max Papis in the three endurance events. The six Corvette Racing drivers have a combined total of 109 ALMS victories and 11 championships. They've won races and championships in series ranging from karts and touring cars to open-wheel formula racers. "The changes in our driver lineup will give us two strong and balanced entries that will both be racing for victories," said Steve Wesoloski, GM Road Racing Group manager. "We are very excited that Ron Fellows will be taking on new roles and responsibilities with GM Racing. We'll continue to benefit from Ron's vast racing experience as he drives the No. 3 Corvette C6.R in endurance races while he begins a new phase in his career as an ambassador for Corvette and a valued advisor to GM Racing."

26-02-07

Even a late charge by Kevin Harvick who was closing in on Matt Kenseth or a late caution which brought out he red flag and opened the door for Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Burton to chase down the Roush Fenway Racing driver did not stop Kenseth from winning the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series race yesterday(Sunday) on the 2.0-mile oval in Fontana in the California Speedway Auto Club 500.  It was the second win of the weekend for Kenseth and his Ford Fusion after he took the NASCAR Busch Series race earlier in the weekend.  "It's a special win," noted Kenseth in victory lane. "It's not the same without Robbie (Reiser) though. Robbie built this team." Kenseth's crew chief is still sidelined by penalties assessed by NASCAR at Daytona. The two Hendrick Motorsports teammates finished on the podium, with Jeff Gordon second and reigning champion Jimmie Johnson third. RCR's Burton came home fourth.

This week in Motorsport. On February 28^th  its Happy Birthday to brothers Mario (F1 and Indianapolis 500 champion) and Aldo Andretti are born in Montona, Italy (1940). While on March 1 1975 Jody Scheckter took his Tyrrell 007 to victory in the South African GP. On March 2^nd 1953 a Porsche Type 547 (Carrera) engine runs in Zuffenhausen for the first time. First engine ever designed by Ernst Fuhrmann while on March 3^rd 1996 Ray Bellm and James Weaver drove a Gulf McLaren F1 GTR to victory in the 4-hour race at Paul Ricard.

16-02-07

Formula Junior racing to headline Knockhill Classic SpeedFair . The fabulous Formula Junior racing category will be one of the star attractions in the 18-race schedule for the 2007 Knockhill Classic SpeedFair event over the weekend of 21/22 July.  
In a race line-up that will also include the crowd-pleasing 'Tin Tops' series for pre '66 saloon cars and a host of Formula Ford 1600 action, two races for the FJHRA/HSCC Millers Oils Formula Junior Championship will bring the prestigious historic championship to Knockhill. 
Formula Junior, which will celebrate it's 50th anniversary in 2008, was the most successful junior single-seater category of the late 1950s and early 1960s, and many subsequent Grand Prix stars made their name in the class. Although it is over 40 years since Formula 3 replaced the class, Formula Junior racing continues to thrive worldwide, with hundreds of cars competing regularly.   
The Formula Junior Historic Racing Association promotes the category and an excellent grid is expected for a rare Formula Junior event in Scotland. Among those sure to support the Knockhill races is Scottish veteran John Fyda, racing the Lotus 22 that won the 1963 Formula Junior championship in Australia.  Alongside the two Formula Junior races will be the hour-long, two-driver 'Tin Tops' race, several heats and a final for the Golden Helmet Formula Ford 1600 Trophy, races for classic single-seaters, classic sports and saloons and Morgans.  Saturday will be taken up with qualifying and then several races before the track is turned over to rallying mid-afternoon for a super special stage. On Sunday, racing will run throughout the day, including demonstrations by classic motorcycles

LMA EURO Saloons have replaced their event at Mallory Park on 4/5 August with a race at Snetterton on the same dates. 

Former Formula 1 driver and ITV F1 commentator Martin Brundle followed in the footsteps of his son Alex at Bedford Autodrome yesterday as he sampled a Formula Palmer Audi car. After 16-year-old T Cars graduate Alex had completed his run in the 300bhp turbocharged single-seater, Martin, who competed in Formula 1 for 13 years, couldn't resist the chance to try out the 150mph racer, and was gushing in his praise of the machine.   "It's a good all-round car for youngsters to learn their trade. It has plenty of horsepower, which is delviered beautifully, and it was a great experience to drive," said Brundle, whose last racing car test was in a Super Aguri F1 car last month.  
While Martin is unlikely to make a racing comeback, Alex is set to take on the challenge of the 2007 FPA Championship, where he will go up against some of Britain's brightest racing talent. The teenager made his single-seater debut in the FPA Autumn Trophy last November, showing flashes of promise including a front-row grid slot for his very first open-wheel race. The 20-race season kicks off at Silverstone on 7 April, and visits the Brundles' home track of Snetterton on 12/13 May.

CHAMPIONS CONSTABLE & FENNYMORE PLAN EURO CAMPAIGNS. The 2005 Caterham Eurocup champion, Jamie Constable, is to step up to a Caterham CSR 260 for an assault on this year's championship. He will be joined on the grid by reigning Superlight Challenge Champion Graham Fennymore and a host of other big names from recent seasons of Caterham competition.  This year the Eurocup and the Masters series have been combined under the evo Caterham Eurocup title, with a schedule of 12 half-hour sprint races and six one-hour endurance events spread over six meetings. The Grand Prix circuits of Spa, Hockenheim and the Nürburgring are on the calendar. 
Among the big guns planning to run are the 2005 and 2006 Caterham Masters runners-up, Clive Richards and Richards Hay, in their CSR. They will be joined in Richards' Colards Motorsport team by London-domiciled Italian CSR pilot Michele Tommasi and by Superlight newcomers Gary Halcrow, Clive Coote and Chris Bialan.   Constable and his new CSR will be fielded by multiple Eurocup team champion Team Parker Racing, with 2005 Eurocup runner-up Mike Cantillon alongside him. Meanwhile Fennymore, who swept the board in 2006 in the UK with his Superlight, is planning to stage a repeat performance this season in Europe. 
Taylor's Foundry Motor Sport will start the season with two CSRs, for Malcolm Johnstone and Phillipe Evrard, and expects to expand its entry to feature several Superlights later in the year. Other CSRs are to be handled by multiple German Caterham Champion Kurt Hoffmann and his co-driver Wolfgang Becker, and by TFL Racing's Sarah Reader and Oliver Bull, who took third in the championship last year.   Calendar

With just a fortnight to go until the first official Formula Renault UK group test of 2007, confidence is high within the Scorpio Motorsport camp for a strong championship challenge as lead driver Will Bratt continues to set the pace in pre-season testing.At Donington Park National Circuit on Wednesday, (14th February) the 18-year-old had his first real dry running  and, combined with highly competitive wet-weather pace which he has shown during recent weeks, Will has confirmed his status as genuine title prospect.After topping the unofficial times during the morning on the damp 1.95-mile track, Will headed into the afternoon with confidence and although an accident at the Old Hairpin forced him to switch from his new car to the chassis he used during 2006, he continued to impress. “We’ve been very pleased with our preparations so far and the new car is certainly feeling very nicely balanced and quick”, said Will, “It’s obviously a shame we had the accident at the Old Hairpin but it was just one of those things. We were instantly fast again in the old car so we’re all feeling very confident ahead of official testing. It has been confirmed this week the BP 102 Celebrity Kart Challenge, which saw Will return to his racing roots in a bid to raise money for charity, will be screened on ITV2 at 17.00 on Sunday, 18th March.

Croydon’s Bradley Ellis will take the step up to contest the highly-competitive Avon Tyres British GT Championship GT3 class in 2007, at the wheel of a mighty Dodge Viper. Ellis, who finished an impressive third overall in the GTC class alongside Alex Mortimer in what was his inaugural British GT season in 2006, will continue to race with Banbury-based Team RPM.

The Sierra Sierra Enterprises team held a very successful time recently at the second pre-season open test for the Champ Car Atlantic Championship, held in Houston, Texas . If James Hinchcliffe 's first outing with his new team is an indicator of the upcoming season, "Hinch" is in for the ride of his life. Hinchcliffe posted the fastest lap in each of the four sessions at the MSR Houston testing track, despite the unseasonably cold weather. His top time of 1:18.345 (109.362 mph) led all 26 drivers testing on the 2.38-mile road course

Castrol, has joined forces with leading blue oval Aussie V8 Supercar team Ford Performance Racing (FPR) in a multi-year major naming rights sponsorship agreement. Castrol had been assessing the potential to return to the V8 Supercar Championship Series as a major sponsor after evaluating the performance of a number of leading teams during 2006. The company clearly identified FPR as a perfect fit for the company's marketing strategy for the premium high performance Castrol EDGE brand, developing a striking green, white and red livery that is sure to be a hit with V8 Supercar fans when it hits the track at the Clipsal 500 during the first week of March.   Castrol EDGE now takes pride of place across the sides of Steve Richards' Castrol FPR Falcon, the bold Castrol EDGE logo being joined by the traditional Castrol brand logo on the car, with shared signage on the team's sister car, the Orrcon Ford Credit FPR Falcon.

A1 Team Great Britain hopes it can end its current A1GP World Cup of Motorsport campaign with a home victory at Brands Hatch on Sunday 29th April, the team is also proud to be supporting the Demelza House Charity Ball to be held at the Kent-based track on Friday 27th April. Demelza House, a charity providing hospice care for children with life-limiting conditions and their families across Kent, East Sussex and South London, is hosting 'The Flying Finale Charity Ball' in association with A1 Team Great Britain and will have as its guest speaker Team Principal John Surtees -- the only man to win World Championships on two and four wheels. In addition to Surtees' attendance at the event, an A1 Team GBR A1GP car will be on display with other A1GP-related auction prizes up for grabs on the night.

 15-02-07 

The Jaguar Enthusiasts Club have to date 11 XKs, 29 XJSs, 20 Saloons & 18 Powered by Jaguars  carsregistered for their  2007 championships

New BRSCC Website ready to Launch  Check-out the new BRSCC website when it launches on the 1st March. The website has been designed with a greater emphasis on the championships that the Club runs and easy access to regulations, meeting dates and all the latest news from both the BRSCC and motorsport in general. www.brscc.co.uk
A key function of the new website will be the on-line race entry facility. This will enable BRSCC Racing Members to enter all the races they choose for the entire season in one visit to the secure website. All Racing Members will receive a letter from the Competitions Department allocating them a PIN number with which they can access the system once it goes live after the 'prove-out' phase is completed later in March.

Jaynee Grundy has joined the BRSCC HQ to cover competitions Jaynee did work for the Club many years ago so has experience of the motor racing world

On behalf of the BRSCC East Anglian Centre, Tony Weatherley would like to thank the various drivers who responded to his request back in September for some help with a flag training exercise for the Centre`s Training Day at Snetterton on January 28. In particular we would like to thank Andrew Crighton and Richard Moy who attended the Training Day and gave the exercise invaluable support and credibility. It was very much appreciated by the marshals.

Volunteers in Motorsport Webshop.  Working with Linkup Ltd, the official supplier of MSA merchandise, Volunteers in Motorsport have set up a webshop specifically for marshals to purchase clothing & equipment at reduced prices. The site is still in its infancy but the product range offered will be increased throughout the year so log-on to www.linkupltd.com/vim

Ford Saloons on DVD. If you pick up a copy of the March edition of Performance Ford magazine you will find it comes with a free DVD featuring some excellent footage of the 2006 Ford Saloon Championship races from Brands Hatch & Croix-en-Ternois. With a readership in excess of 30,000 the magazine is introducing the ever popular championship to a much wide audience both at home and abroad.

BRSCC AGM. The BRSCC AGM for 2006 will be held at the Courtyard by Marriott Northampton, Bedford Road, Northampton NN4 7YF at 2.30pm on 25th March 2007.
BRSCC EAST ANGLIAN CENTRE AGM.  The Centre AGM is being held at the Holiday Inn Ipswich on March 13th 2007 at 8pm.
BRSCC MIDLAND CENTRE AGM. The Midland Centre AGM will be held at 8pm on Wednesday 7th March, at the Hollyfields Centre Club, Woodacre Road, Erdington, Birmingham, B24 0JT.
BRSCC NORTH WESTERN CENTRE AGM.The North Western Centre AGM will take place at 8pm on Tuesday 6th March at the Culcheth Sports & Social Club, Culcheth, near Warrington.
BRSCC NORTHERN CENTRE AGM. The Centre's AGM will take place The Crown Hotel, Bawtry on Tuesday 13th March commencing at 8pm. Admission is on production of your current membership card.
BRSCC SOUTH EASTERN CENTRE AGM.The South Eastern Centre AGM will take place on Thursday March 8th 2007 at The Bull Hotel, Wrotham, Kent at 8pm..
BRSCC SOUTH WESTERN CENTRE AGM. The AGM of the South Western Centre will be on Wednesday 14th March at The Ship Inn, Thornbury Road, Alveston, Nr. Bristol. BS35 3LL

Champ Cars are to return to Circuit Mont-Tremblant on June 29-30th and July 1st, when the Series returns to the famed circuit almost four decades after their first-ever race in the Province of Quebec. Following in the footsteps of Bobby Unser, Mario Andretti, Johnny Rutherford and Gordon Johncock, the likes of Sébastien Bourdais, Paul Tracy, Justin Wilson and Alex Tagliani will shine as today’s stars on the most beautiful and scenic race track in North America. Furthermore, the weekend rendezvous in the heart of the Laurentian landscape during the Canada Day Weekend will feature more than high-level motor racing excitement, as the world’s top spectacular art show, Cirque du Soleil, will join the festivities for the enjoyment of all those attending the event.

Italy’s Edoardo Mortara will drive for French team Signature-Plus in the Euro F3 Series this year. The 20 year old will also take part in the  prestigious BP Ultimate Masters of Formula 3, held at Zandvoort. For Mortara, it will be his first season in Formula 3 and his second in car racing. In 2006, he contested the Italian Formula Renault Championship and the Formula Renault Europcup with the Prema Powerteam. In the Italian Championship, he finished fourth, thus proving to be the best rookie and in the Eurocup, he secured two top-ten results, with seventh place at Le Mans being his best result of the season

Prema Powerteam and Ben Hanley, RDD driver, have reached an agreement to compete in the 2007 World series by Renault. The 22 year old Brit will be entering his second year in the category. Hanley will be joined by rookie Xavier Maassen in the team. Ben made his debut in single seaters in 2005, establishing himself as one of the front runners of the Formula Renault 2.0 Italia Series. Last year he made the jump up to World Series by Renault.

Mondello Park's on-going development works continue apace as the Kildare circuit prepares for another exciting circuit racing season in 2007. Upgrading work is currently underway on the drainage systems with some resurfacing also on the list. The drainage up-grade has been prompted by the cancellation of Mondello Park's British Superbike round last May, due to unprecedented levels of rainfall. There was a general acceptance at that time that no race track could have handled the deluge and still provided a circuit safe for motorcycle racing. Furthermore, virtually every other sporting event in Ireland was either cancelled, abandoned or where possible postponed. Nonetheless, Mondello Park's management are determined to do all they can to prevent a recurrence at any time in the future. Managing Director John Morris explained: "when the event was cancelled last year, we made a commitment to look at every aspect of the venue, to see if we could do anything differently in the future. We undertook a full review of the circuit's drainage system and identified areas where we felt we could extend, re-route or install additional drainage, which should help dissipate water from the track surface more efficiently than before" The drainage system upgrade is currently ahead of schedule and has also seen moling under the track at strategic points to alleviate the possibility of water running across the circuit. Along with improving conditions for competitors, the hospitality area used for BSB and BTCC events is also to have a new drainage system installed. Morris again explains: "The lower part of the BSB hospitality paddock was particularly badly affected last year but our engineers have identified a way to drain this area into one of the outlet pipes taking water off circuit and we're confident this solution will be completely successful". Mondello Park is also planning some more resurfacing for late March, just in time for the recommencement of circuit racing activities. In addition, spectators will also see an improvement in facilities around the main straight grandstand, where any soft margins have been replaced by tarmac and there will be some improvement work carried out in the main bike and car parks before this years feature events.

NASCAR announced Wednesday that it has confiscated the primary car of the No. 55 Toyota team that competes in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series with driver Michael Waltrip, as a result of rule violations found during pre- and post-qualifying inspection for the Daytona 500. Crew chief Larry (David) Hyder and the team's vice president of competition Bobby Kennedy have been ejected from this week's events at Daytona International Speedway and suspended indefinitely. Hyder also has been fined $100,000. NASCAR also penalized Waltrip with the loss of 100 driver championship points. His qualifying time from pole day on Feb. 11 was disallowed. Team owner Elizabeth (Buffy) Waltrip has been penalized 100 car owner championship points. The actions taken by NASCAR resulted from violations of 12- 4-A actions detrimental to stock car racing), 12-4-Q (car, car parts components and/or equipment not conforming to NASCAR rules) and 20-15.2C (gasoline must not be blended with alcohols, ethers or other oxygenates). The confiscated car and the parts related to the violations will be transported to the NASCAR Research and Development Center in Concord, N.C. for further inspection. NASCAR said the investigation of the confiscated car is ongoing. Michael Waltrip's statement regarding the NASCAR penalties  "During preparations for the 2007 season and especially the 2007 Daytona 500, I specifically requested that our competition teams not disrespect NASCAR, our competitors or our sponsors by blatantly circumventing the rules. "This is not the action of an organization, a manufacturer or a sponsor. This was an independent act done without consent or authorization from me or any of my executive management team. As an owner, I realize I am ultimately held responsible for the actions of my employees. Therefore, I accept the penalties issued tonight by NASCAR. I respect NASCAR's rules, its people and the sport's integrity, which is why I am so sad and embarrassed. I am dedicated to get to the bottom of this because I will not let the independent act of an individual or individuals tarnish the incredible accomplishment my organization has made to be where we are today. "I want to apologize to the other owners, who know how hard I've worked to get here in such a short period of time, NASCAR, Toyota, NAPA, all my sponsors, the drivers and especially the fans."

Motorsports Events are running track days in March at four of their most popular airfield venues.  These offer outstanding value and are the place in which to push your car to it's limits and to hone your car control skills.  March also sees our first Saturday airfield event of the year at Colerne…..read more

14-02-07

As reported last week Stefan Wilson, the younger brother of 1998 Formula Palmer Audi Champion Justin, has confirmed his participation in the 2007 FPA Championship.The 17-year-old Yorkshireman, who made his car racing debut in the FPA Autumn Trophy late last year, is hoping to emulate his brother, who went on to race in Formula 1 and is now a top driver in the US-based ChampCar series.  "It's going to be a great season, and I think I'm going to get plenty of valuable experience," said Wilson, who will go up against some of Britain's best young racing talent in the 300bhp turbocharged single-seaters. "There's a lot of very competitive drivers lining up this year, but I think I've got the ability to take them on." Wilson, is confident of being able to compete at the front of the field, especially having already got six FPA races, three of them top-six finishes, under his belt: "It's a great advantage already knowing what to expect from the car in race conditions, and I think I'll fare a lot better than I would if I went into 2007 cold."

Fleetcare TanderSport driver Leanne Tander will race in New Zealand for the first time when she travels across the Tasman to join the Toyota Racing Series at Manfeild, this weekend.Currently placed fourth in the Kumho Tyres Australian Formula 3 Championship following a fast yet unlucky weekend at Eastern Creek two weeks ago, Tander will join the European Techniques team for this weekend’s championship round at the North Island circuit.In a quirk of fate, Tander will be united with former Australian Formula 3 race winner Barton Mawer in the two-car team that began the season with another Aussie, Lucas Dumbrell.

Simon Pagenaud, the reigning 2006 Champ Car Atlantic champion makes the move up to Champ Car and who better to do it with than the team he won the Atlantic championship with, Team Australia.The Frenchman completes Team Australia’s 2007 line-up, with him campaigning the #15 Aussie Vineyards/Panoz DP01 while teaming up with 2006 Roshfrans Rookie of the Year, Australian Will Power, who will pilot the #5 Aussie Vineyards/Panoz DP01 for a second season.The announcement was made as Team Australia completed the second half of a two-day Champ Car open test in Houston.

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