BMW hindered by weather at Valencia

The BMW Sauber were unable to complete their programme during the first day of testing at the Valencia circuit due to poor weather conditions at the Spanish track.

The German squad decided to save testing mileage and instead had Nick Heidfeld and Robert Kubica carrying out system checks, collecting data on wet and extreme wet weather tyres. The team also practiced pitstops.

Kubica covered a total of six laps, with Heidfeld covering 22. No times were issued.

BMW continue testing alone at Valencia tomorrow.

source: autosport.com

Hamilton moves on from racism row

Briton Lewis Hamilton says he has moved on from the racism row that has hit Formula One in recent weeks.

"It's not really something I want to comment on. I've moved forward and I'm looking forward to the first race," Hamilton, attending the Laureus awards ceremony last night, was quoted as saying by the Press Association.

The McLaren driver, second in last year's championship, has already switched his focus back to racing, and he admits he is aiming to win more races this season.

"Honestly, I can't wait to get back out there. The first Grand Prix - the car is feeling good, the team feels good and I feel good and that's all that matters," Hamilton added.

"My goals would be winning more races, finishing more races - last year we were very, very close to finishing every race so we have to try and improve that, more pole positions, fastest laps and then the main goal is to win the World Championship," he continued.

"It's going to be a tough season again and by no means will it be easy so we are working as hard as we can.

"But I feel even more confident than last year, even more determined because I know what to expect, I know how to manage my time better, I know how to train better and how to drive better so I feel very optimistic."

Hamilton enjoyed a sensational debut season in 2007, winning four races and losing the title by just one point.

And although it will not be easy for him to cause such a positive impression again this year, Hamilton says he still expects to take everyone by surprise.

"I still plan to take everyone by surprise personally," he said. "For sure coming into this season everyone knows what I can do but I have a few tricks up my sleeve."

source: autosport.com

Pedrosa expects more recovery time

Dani Pedrosa fears his injured right hand will not be fully healed in time for the final pre-season test at Qatar later this month.

The Spaniard had a frustrating time at Jerez in Spain this weekend where, although able to get back on the machine for the first time since his Sepang accident, he could only complete limited running.

He missed Sunday's wet sessions and did not want to push too hard on the other two days in case another accident put his recovery back.

Speaking after the final day of running, Pedrosa said: "My right hand feels the same as it did on Saturday. We’ve been trying to make some changes to the bike to make it easier for the hand and that’s been positive.

"But we weren’t able to try too many things because it’s been so windy, which makes it dangerous to ride fast, so it’s been difficult to improve.

"I don’t think the hand will be 100 percent when we get to Qatar but I hope it will be better than it is now. We have ten days before the test, so we’ll do as much therapy as we can in order to be ready for the tests and for the race."

Despite Pedrosa’s problems, his Repsol Honda team enjoyed an encouraging final day with Nicky Hayden topping the timesheets.

The American expressed his delight at what had been a confidence-boosting three days of running, although was still cautious about where the team stood compared to the opposition.

"It’s definitely been a really positive and productive three days," said Hayden. "We had high hopes coming here because when we tested here in November the bike worked pretty good and Michelin tyres normally work good at Jerez, so this is a good track for us, also there’s no big long straightaways.

"The chassis seems to be working good and also the tyres are working good. We tried a few different tyre options, and we’re still checking data between the 16 and 16.5 rears.

"But the show hasn’t started yet, we’ll find out what everybody’s really got and what we’re in for when we get to Qatar but we leave here pretty happy."

source: autosport.com

Ducati rubbish Schumacher rumours

Senior MotoGP figures have rubbished rumours that Michael Schumacher could race for Ducati as a wildcard entry at Mugello later this year.

Schumacher's speed in two tests he has done for Ducati, allied to recent running at the Bresse track in France, have prompted speculation that the seven-time Formula One world champion could try and enter a MotoGP race.

But the stories have been completely dismissed by MotoGP chief Carmelo Ezpeleta, whose Dorna organisation would have to approve the wildcard.

"It's not true at all," Ezpeleta told Gazzetta dello Sport. "Okay, maybe we'll have him racing with (Kimi) Raikkonen in a sidecar!"

Ducati team manager Livio Suppo also said he was unaware of any developments with Schumacher - despite saying how much he enjoyed working with the German at the Valencia and Mugello tests he has done with Ducati.

"Honestly we don't know anything about it," he said. "I can say it was a pleasure to work with Michael in the two tests he did with us, where he demonstrated to be very professional, especially at Valencia where he showed that the times he set at Mugello weren't made up.

"But from there to see him racing it's a long way. First of all we'd need to hear his opinion about it, but on the contrary, we've never spoken to him or to his management."

source: autosport.com

Abarth present 2008 team

During the 2008 season Abarth will compete in the Intercontinental Rally Challenge thanks to the sponsorship of Selenia, an important lubricant manufacturer that recently became part of the international Petronas group, and has also entered into a partnership agreement with Abarth to develop high performance lubricants dedicated to the legendary scorpion.


The Brembo and Sabelt brands will also partner Abarth in this rally season: the former is world leader in the production of braking systems, while the latter is leader in the field of racing safety harnesses. Sabelt and Brembo signed an agreement a few months ago as main partners for the development and marketing of kits and accessories through a new company, Brembo Performance Spa. The new company will develop the product concepts, working in co-design with Fiat, guaranteeing their industrialisation in its own manufacturing plants and managing customer logistics right down to delivery of the products to dealers and authorised workshops.


The two official Grande Punto Abarth S2000s that will compete in the IRC will be driven by Giandomenico Basso, with his navigator Mitia Dotta, and by Finnish driver Anton Alen, teamed up with Timo Alanne. There will be 10 races in the championship, after the cancellation of the Safari Rally because of the current political unrest in Kenya, and it will start on April 4 with the Istanbul Rally in Turkey. This will be followed by races in Portugal (May 9-10), Belgium, with the Ypres 24 Hours (June 27-28), Russia (July 11-12), the Portuguese island of Madeira (August 1-2), the Czech Republic with the Barum Rally (August 22-23), Spain (September 12-13), Italy with the San Remo Rally (September 25-27), Switzerland with the Valais Rally (October 24-25) and the concluding event in China (November 7-9).


Basso, 34 years old, started his career in Fiat single-make trophies, winning the Fiat Cinquecento Trophy in 1998 and the Fiat Punto Abarth Trophy in 2003, results that opened the way to a professional career. In 2006, he won the European Championship and the International Rally Challenge with the Fiat Grande Punto, and last year he won the Italian Drivers’ title, helping Abarth to take the manufacturers’ title. Last year Basso also won the Madeira Rally (Portugal), which is valid for the Intercontinental Rally Challenge.
Anton Alen, the son of the celebrated driver Markku Alen, who was an official Fiat Abarth driver from 1974 to 1989, joined the Abarth Team last year and immediately showed his skill at the wheel, winning the Russian Rally, valid for the Intercontinental Rally Challenge, with authority. A case of a passion and a great talent that have been passed down from father to son.
The Grande Punto Abarth Super 2000 swept the board in its first two seasons (2006 and 2007), winning the first edition of the International Rally Challenge, the 2006 European Championship, two Italian Drivers’ titles (in 2006 and 2007), one Italian Manufacturers’ title (2007), and Italian S2000 Championship (in 2006, when this category was excluded from the overall title), the Spanish Championship and the Madeira Regional Championship (Portugal).


The Grande Punto Abarth S2000 and its official drivers have won a total of 21 races in two years in the IRC, Eurorally and Italian championships. There were also 13 victories in 2007 by private drivers, many of which in testing, prestigious events, such as the Antibes Rally (won by Renato Travaglia) and the Condroz Rally in Belgium, won by Francois Duval. And we should also mention the excellent second place of Turkish driver Volkan Isik in the 2007 European Championship.


Thanks to the collaboration of Metis and Api-IP, the Grande Punto Abarth S2000 will be competing again in the Italian Rally Championship with two cars driven by fast drivers Andrea Navarra and Renato Travaglia. Finally, Umberto Scandola is a pilot from the Abarth Team that will carry out development tests as well as several prestigious international competions.

source: rallye-info.com

Nicolas Vouilloz joins Kronos Peugeot

Kronos Racing have confirmed that Nicolas Vouilloz will join their team for the 2008 IRC season, driving a Peugeot 207 S2000 alongside the already-signed Freddy Loix and a third car entered for a local star on each event, supported by BF Goodrich. A statement on Kronos Racing's website reads: "With the assistance of his partners Prefal, Total and BFGoodrich, 32 year old Frenchman Nicolas Vouilloz and his co-driver Nicolas Klinger (31) will drive the second Peugeot 207 S2000 under tha banner of "Peugeot Belgium-Luxembourg" in the IRC season 2008."

"The vice champions and winner of 3 events last year the "2 Nicolas" have been selected to drive alongside Belgian's Freddy Loix and Robert Buysmans with the objective to capture the IRC title 2008."

"Their Peugeot 207 S2000 'version 2008' will be prepared and serviced by Kronos Racing."

source: rallye-info.com

IRC launches 2wd cup

The IRC will host a two-wheel drive cup this season, in order to reward participants who choose to compete on the series in two-wheel drive cars.This initiative has come about to provide greater recognition for manufacturers of two-wheel drive cars within the IRC series, some of whom already compete with a Super 2000 car.

Nonetheless, two-wheel drive machinery has been able to fight on equal terms with four-wheel drive cars on several occasions throughout the season last year. The two-wheel drive competitors have been particularly strong on asphalt, with Luca Betti finishing fifth overall on the Rallye du Valais in Switzerland at the wheel of the Honda Civic Type R R3 (pictured). Two-wheel drive cars make up a sizeable proportion of the entry list on the majority of IRC events, regularly finishing in the points.

Jacques Behar – the President of IRC series promoter Eurosport Events – commented: “The decision to host the ‘IRC 2WD Cup’ this year follows on from the requests of several of our competitors. We are extremely happy to oblige, in line with our philosophy of putting our participants first and maximising sporting opportunities for everybody. The ‘IRC 2WD Cup’ will become a prestigious competition within the Intercontinental Rally Challenge, rightly recognising the efforts of those teams and drivers who compete in two-wheel drive cars – whether they are private entries or manufacturer-backed squads. The establishment of the new Cup is sure to add yet another thrilling dimension to the IRC this year.”

The latest IRC sporting regulations are now available, containing full details of the ‘IRC 2WD Cup’. At the end of every event, a classification of the two-wheel drive runners will be drawn up from the general classification and the standard FIA points system (10-8-6-5-4-3-2-1) will be applied for drivers, co-drivers and manufacturers. This will lead to a two-wheel drive overall classification at the end of the year, the winners of which will receive the ‘IRC 2WD Cup’. Prizes will also be presented to those finishing second and third in the two-wheel drive classifications.

The ‘IRC 2WD Cup’ will operate on all 10 rounds of the IRC this year, with the best seven scores from every competitor counting towards the final classification – as is the case in the main IRC series. The two-wheel drive prizes will be presented at the end of every event, with the Cup itself being awarded at the official end of year IRC prize-giving ceremony.

source: rallye-info.com

27 year old record broken.

The record for the youngest driver was rather old. No, not the driver, the record itself! When Jari-Matti Latvala won Rally Sweden this weekend, he became the youngest driver to win a WRC event in history. Jari-Matti is 22 years old, turning 23 in less than 2 months. The previous record was owned by Henri Toivonen, who won the RAC Rally (GB) 1980 aged 24 years & 3 months. Both are from Central Finland region, Henri actually from Rally Finland host town Jyväskylä itself, Jari-Matti from a small town less than 100km west of Jyväskylä. Both are the sons of other Finnish rally drivers with WRC successes. Other than that the similarities are however surprisingly little, which also shows the changes and state of WRC.

First a little note on the claim their fathers had WRC successes. Jari-Matti Latvala’s father Jari did Rally Finland year in, year out. His best WRC result came on his only (to my knowledge) event outside Finland when he finished 11th overall on the Safari 2001. This was also Jari’s last WRC event, as it was the time young Jari-Matti started driving. Henri Toivonen’s dad Pauli is better known by fans, but has not better WRC record than Jari Latvala to be strict. Pauli won Monte Carlo and Finland rallies outright as Citroën and Porsche works driver, however all that before the WRC started. When the WRC was born Pauli Toivonen competed occasionally only with Talbot (Simca / Hillman) models that he shared with his sons Henri & Harri.

So this is background info, rather than the point of this article. Before getting into it, let me say that I first interviewed Jari-Matti Latvala during Rallye Deutschland 2003, when he was 18. Too early to judge his driving for an outsider, but I do remember Pentti Airikkala described him already as one of the three biggest talents ever to visit his Left Foot Braking School. To me I will always remember this interview. Jari-Matti was fun to talk to and what he had to tell was refreshingly factual and informative. There was a kind of professionality and unselfish attitude in this teeny some of the big stars could have learned a lesson from!

Also looking at the last events, I start wondering if not Hirvonen but Latvala is going to be Ford’s #1 to make Loeb’s life difficult this year. Hirvonen surely was the key to Ford’s makes titles of the past 2 seasons compared to Citroën’s #2 driver. But I must say since he is lead driver at Ford, Hirvonen failed to speed up from last year. In 2008 we now had 2 rallies with cummulated 37 stages run and Mikko Hirvonen has only won 1 single stage. Stage wins are not everything for sure, as we completely ignore tactics then, but this is still a disappointing result for the #1 driver of the reigning makes champs. Latvala in turn truly dominated Rally Sweden, and I have the feeling this was not a one off. During 2007 Jari-Matti won 18 stages all season 2007, but incredibly 14 of these 18 stage wins came on the last 3 rallies of that season, exactly since the moment it became clear a seat at the Ford works team was free! This is the type of improvement some may have expected from Ford’s #1!

So please note the big point of this article and the next lines is not to play down Jari-Matti Latvala’s achievement in any way, but to air my deep sadness that today Henri Toivonen lost his record.

Henri’s record of being the youngest WRC rally winner stood for 27 years and 3 months. To hold a record for that long is a big testimony, and even more so since in modern times it seems much more a fashion of putting 17 year olds into WRCars. There will hardly be a rally fan not knowing that Henri Toivonen died on the Tour de Corse 1986, the accident that triggered the cancellation of the whole groupB. For once I am fortunate being old, it means that I already was a rally fan, visiting rallyes and seeing the groupB action and Henri Toivonen live. For me this 2nd May 1986 was one of the saddest days in my life, and that until today Henri still owned the record of being youngest WRC winner ever, was like Henri was still with us!

Now the record is gone, but thinking about this record, I realise what isn’t gone is how special Henri was and how different times are today. Nothing to take away from Jari-Matti, times have changed I guess, but Jari-Matti should be an old fox. If I compare these two youngest drivers to win WRC events, there is 27 years between them and the differences are nearly shocking.

So Jari-Matti started his first WRC event aged 17. And he is not the only driver starting that early. Despite his famous dad, Henri Toivonen’s career started maybe a bit more like a human being. Excuse that expression, but if talent alone was what counted today, how are these talents going to pay 50 WRC starts before they get spotted? When Henri Toivonen started his first WRC event, he was already 19 years old, a senior by modern standards!

On our forum many fans often agree that in recent years the WRC lacks competition. Certainly in the 1970s, 80s and then maybe between 1998 – 2003 we had far more competition than today. But it is difficult to compare. One comparison I loved hearing only today about weak entries in WRC events: “Andreas Mikkelsen will be celebrated for coming 5th in Sweden, but take his gap to the leader, apply it to IRC Rally San Remo only last year, and he would have been outside the top15 !!!!”. Tho this is sometimes difficult to compare. The really old rallies were much longer, therefore back then the gaps should have been bigger, but the risk to do something silly and loose time was bigger too.

Anyway, what I am getting to, Jari-Matti Latvala had his first finish in the points on his 34th WRC rally. OK, many starts were in groupN or S1600 cars. Still, Henri Toivonen did so on his 2nd WRC start! It was Rally Finland 1977, only the 2nd WRC start of Henri Toivonen, and he finishes 5th overall! I won’t even investigate if there was lack of competition, because it was a huge rally back those days and Henri did so with a group1 Talbot Avenger, which is a groupN car to modern standards, even more like road car! Meaning it doesn't matter who the competition was, Henri would have been in a lesser car! It was this result that had Talbot competitions boss Des O’Dell employ Henri!

And it is drives like this I am missing today. Today you need money and 50 starts to get your name noticed. It was not that unusual that there was a newcomer and he had a mindblowing result straight away. Like guys needed 3, 4, 5 starts and team bosses knew he is somebody special and they started receiving support maybe for national rallies. But even for that decade Henri was outstanding, because he came 5th in a road car, apart from Citroën in Africa this was the highest result of a group1 car at WRC ever. Henri Toivonen proved that point nicely. Des O’Dell was a smart guy, he was quick signing Henri after that 1000 Lakes Rally (Finland) 1977 result, never mind he didn’t really have a car for him. Henri received help into other cars, but then was in a works Talbot Sunbeam for the RAC Rally (GB) 1978, where he finished 9th overall. Not much? Oh yes, it was, for this was no Talbot Sunbeam Lotus but a works loaned early prototype with just 140BHP!

Next step would be Henri’s first win. The win that made Henri the youngest winner for over 27 years of this sport’s history: RAC (GB) 1980. Today this sounds unbelievable, this was Henri Toivonen’s 12th start at a WRC rally! To compare, Jari-Matti Latvala’s win came at his 54th start! And Henri had different competition too! You all know the slim entry of Rally Sweden 2008. When Henri won RAC 1980, he had to beat not only 2 of his Talbot team mates, but 6 works spec Ford Escort, 2 works Toyota, 2 works Datsun, 2 of the new works Opel Ascona 400, 3 works Vauxhall, 2 works Saab Turbo, and 4 works TR7 V8! Don’t believe? Check out: http://www.rallye-info.com/event_entrylist.asp?event=65 And that on a rally over 70 stages. Those were the day, eh?

Again, not to take anything away from Jari-Matti. I am happy this so friendly Finn became the new youngest guy to win a WRC event. But he has already had 54 WRC starts? It took actually long, and likely cost a few millions to get there! Why does it seem so difficult for talent to get spotted these days? 54 starts sounds like an unbelievably high number to me, about bloody time to turn a superstar!

Just as another example how time has changed and who Henri Toivonen was. Henri never competed in 54 WRC events. He got killed on his 40th start! Now I hear you say in comparison: “What, Henri Toivonen competed only in 40 WRC events? How can that be, he was a superstar!” Indeed, and Henri had the doubtful talent to always be in the wrong team at the wrong time! Of his 40 WRC starts, many were wasted opportunities and still he turned a superstar. I.e. had Henri been a little more patient, he could have been the lead driver of the 205 T16 project already from early test stage, but instead he joined the sinking Opel ship. But it was also typical Henri Toivonen and the kind of surprise early talent shows I am missing today. When Henri Toivonen had a one-off drive for Lancia, it was Rallye Portugal 1984, Lancia had long standing drivers, Audi was there with the Quattro, Mikkola, Blomqvist & Röhrl... Henri Toivonen crashed the Lancia on his first start in this car already in SS6 – until then he won every single stage!!!! Suddenly this wasn't a one-off drive any more!

Henri Toivonen was killed on his WRC start #40. And I wouldn’t go as far as saying he was so quick because it was an accident like that waiting to happen. The cause of the accident was never proven, but was at least partly triggered by the concept of groupB. Point however is, Henri Toivonen only had 40 WRC starts, won 3 of them, had 9 podiums, 17 top6 finishes, all within 40 career starts only, and despite often being in the wrong team at the wrong time. This is absolutely unique. But still I feel today it takes too long to spot real talent. Guy Fréquelin, vice WRChamp in 1981 = 35 starts. Anders Kulläng, Opel lead and development driver when the Ascona 400 was born and winner Rally Sweden 1980 = 45 starts, to name just two more of many examples. Who doesn’t know Michèle Mouton? Now she is a legend, isn’t she, and not (or at least not to a large part) because she is a girl? She has had less WRC starts in her entire career than Jari-Matti Latvala has so far!

Somehow makes you wonder? I admit I am one who complained there are too many guys with so many WRC starts without results. As the entries these days are not only low in quantity, but low in quality too. Is the only talent that counts today the talent in the wallet? In the case of Jari-Matti I should maybe refine my comments. Why do talents need 50 odd WRC starts these days before they even get a chance to be considered a superstar?

Finally, while talking records:

Jari-Matti Latvala did something for Ford too. His Rally Sweden victory, Latvala’s career 1st victory, was victory #17 for the Focus Mk2 generation! This makes the current Ford Focus Mk2 the most successful Ford model of all time! The old shape Focus Mk1 won 16 WRC events and is now passed by the Focus Mk2. The Focus Mk2 model such has now pushed legendary Peugeot 205 T16 outside the top10, which also won 16 WRC events when it dominated groupB. The previous and still joined most successful Ford rally car was the Ford Escort Mk2 (also known as Escort RS1800 or Escort BDA), which also has 17 WRC wins to its records. Another legend the Focus Mk2 has joined with this win #17 is the Lancia Stratos!


source: rallye-info.com

Red Bull try radical new aero solution

Red Bull Racing caused a surprise on the first day of this week's test at Barcelona in Spain when they ran a radical engine cover fin on their new RB4.

At the car's launch last month, Red Bull drew criticism that their new car was too similar to its predecessor. Only the car's new diffuser and attention to its reliability issues had been obvious developments.

The team had promised several aerodynamic updates, however, although few had predicted the solution that ran today.

The top of the engine cover extends horizontally from the top of the roll hoop all the way to the rear wing.

The new fin will likely be aimed at helping lateral stability, with flow from the rear wing being affected when the car slides. The new more extreme tail looks to be a work around for the fin shrouding the rear wing.

As the fin is undercut, the flow to the wing can continue when the car slides, leaving the upper part of the fin high above the rear wing to provide the lateral stability.

The solution aids the car's stability particularly on corner entry, which is important this year, as the loss of the engine braking control on the single ECU makes the cars less stable. This fin could go some way to recovering some of the lost stability.

Source: autosport.com

Honda not satisfied with new bike yet

HRC managing director Kosuke Yasutake says Honda's new bike is not yet as strong as the Japanese manufacturer would hope.

Honda had a difficult season in 2007, taking only two victories thanks to Dani Pedrosa. Rivals Ducati won 11 races and sealed both titles as Honda's RC212V proved no match for the Italian marque's GP7 bike.

Honda have been hard at work to rectify the situation, but Yasutake admits there is still some way to go.

"We've solved many of the problems the first RC212V had, even though we certainly aren't at a satisfactory level with the new bike," Yasutake was quoted as saying by Motosprint magazine.

"In its first version, the new engine had a very aggressive power output. After the November test we gathered the indications of the riders and now the engine on track has evolved a lot.

"All the bike has changed: maybe it can't be seen from the outside, but by carrying on modifying details the bike is very different now."

Yasutake says both Pedrosa and teammate Nicky Hayden have offered more positive feedback about the new bike, although the American said the new engine seemed slower than the old one.

"Actually their comments are now a lot more positive than before. Even Pedrosa, who was always very critical and sceptical, has started to be more positive."

On Hayden's comments about the engine, Yasutake said: "It is only because we haven't yet found the right set-up. That's the problem.

"This engine has a much bigger potential: it has more power and the revs are higher. The situation has already improved after this three-day test (at Sepang)."

Source: autosport.com

Stoner sets pace on day 2 in Phillip Island

Second day of testing in Phillip Island saw mixed weather conditions, which allowed riders and teams to prepare their machines for both wet and dry conditions. Casey Stoner was fastest man on the track, setting his best time on used race tyre. Honda rookie Alex de Angelis set second fastest time, in front of another rookie, Andrea Dovizioso and Shinya Nakano who was reasonably happy with 4th time. Only man that did not have reasons to be happy today was John Hopkins, who had nasty highside exiting turn one, resulting in torn abductor muscle on the left side of his groin. Hopkins will return to the United States, where he will receive laser treatment under the direction of the world renowned Doctor Ting. Hopkins hopes that, with the assistance of Doctor Ting, he will be back on the bike for the IRTA test in Jerez in just two weeks time.



Casey Stoner - 1st - 1:29.938, 45 laps
Today I set my fastest lap on tyres that had 22 laps on them and that is really positive because it means that the modifications we tried on the set-up have had the desired effect, which was to increase tyre durability. This also allows us to consider using softer tyres, at least in the odd race. This morning I went out twice for just 5 laps each to verify engine response, which is now smoother at the bottom end; everything worked brilliantly and I'm really pleased. The track conditions were never perfect but with some changes to the rear suspension we were able to set some fast times, all of them on race tyres. I think it will be possible to repeat those times in the race here too because the new Bridgestones are even better than the ones we used last year. Hopefully the weather is good tomorrow so that we can complete a race simulation.

Alex De Angelis - 2nd - 1:30.449s, 54 laps:
I'm satisfied of today's test session, finishing with the second fastest time is a satisfaction. This morning we started in wet conditions, but in the afternoon the track dried out and things improved. We worked on the cycle parts to improve traction. We only tested race tyres and my rhythm was good. Tomorrow we will test some new tyres and hope to make another step forward. I feel much better than at Sepang, my results on track prove this.

Andrea Dovizioso - 3rd - 1:31.074, 60 laps:
After our very positive first day I can also have that feeling again today, despite the weather and a small crash! Again, the main thing is that Phillip Island has never been my favourite track because the layout of the track is complicated and there are so many elevation changes. Also, the thing about this layout is that it’s close to the sea so you can imagine how slippery it can be. Also, the strong winds you get here play a part of in dictating the track conditions, so you can imagine overall how tricky it can be to ride here in less than perfect conditions! Still, overall we are satisfied at the result we achieved today and the feeling from the Honda on Michelin tyre is very good. I was fast in wet conditions with lap times very close to the times you would expect in wet races here, so I am happy. In the afternoon the racetrack was drier but the temperature was particularly low, but we know conditions will be better tomorrow – one day of rain is enough thank you!

Shinya Nakano - 4th - 1:31.316, 74 laps:
I'm happy of the work done today even if I haven't improved my lap time of yesterday. I kept on working on the general set up: geometry, forks and Nissin brakes. It was an intensive programme but it was worth it. I have found a good feeling and I have fun riding, this is very important for a rider. Tomorrow we will keep on working on the new Honda RC212V.

Nicky Hayden - 5th - 1:31.373, 72 laps:
You know, we get a lot more dry races than wet, so the dry’s more important, but we’ve got to be ready for everything, so today was useful. We were able to check the bike in the wet and make a few little adjustments. Conditions stayed stable long enough to do that, which a lot of times in the rain is hard, you know, it’s dry, it’s wet, it’s pouring, it’s deep water, but today it stayed pretty stable so we got to check some stuff. The general feeling in the wet was okay, then in the afternoon it dried out enough to get some dry lap times. My best time was about the same as I did yesterday, I wasn’t able to improve, though conditions were a little bit cooler and not as good today, so I think that’s a positive. We’re not where we need to be on race pace consistently. I tried to test a few tyres today but at the moment we’re struggling for traction on the edge. So we need to have a meeting tonight with Michelin and maybe try something completely different. We struggled a bit here when we were here for the race, so we need to definitely address the problem tomorrow. We get one more day at it and hopefully the weather looks a lot better, so we’ll come in here and try to make a big step forward.

James Toseland - 6th - 1:31.451, 55 laps:
It was important to try the bike in the wet for the first time and I got to grips with it quickly. Luckily I did a lot of wet tyre testing for Michelin last year at the Suzuka Eight-hour. I had five days of testing and three-and-a-half days were completely wet and I got a bit of time on the Michelin wets so I got a pretty good feeling pretty quickly. The electronics work very well and I had a lot of grip. The track was really dirty once it had dried. I don’t know whether the rain brought some sand with it but the track was really slippery. I went out and couldn’t break a 1.35 and it was completely dry. I got back down to some decent times but the conditions were still not as good as yesterday. There was just no drive grip exiting corners, so it was more difficult to make a lap time. Quite slow corners lead onto the fast straight sections on this track and if you can’t get good grip on the exit, you can’t carry momentum on the straight and that can cost a lot of time. It also got quite windy in the afternoon and that makes it difficult as well. I got some good experience of riding in the rain, and but hopefully it will be dry tomorrow so I can try a full race simulation.

Marco Melandri - 7th - 1:31.478, 80 laps
Today was really tough - we did 80 laps in total, 35 of them in the wet. It was the first opportunity I've had to test the Ducati in the wet and even though it was just a case of getting a few laps in to get used to it, I felt really comfortable by the end. In the afternoon, when the track had dried out, we continued with the work we had started yesterday, concentrating on weight distribution. I feel as though the balance of the bike is noticeably improved, on both the front and rear, and I can push harder through the corners. I did a lot of laps on used tyres and the feeling continues to improve. We've been able to confirm that my riding style is completely different to Casey's and I have to work hard with my crew to find the best way forward for me.

Loris Capirossi - 8th - 1:31.545,62 laps:
I was able to ride the bike in the wet today for the first time and for me the feeling was good right away. We changed some settings and made some more adjustments and by the time the track started to dry we think we have a good set-up for the rain. As it dried in the afternoon we were able to test a couple of bits and we went well on the race tyres, even though the track was not in the best condition because of the weather earlier. I put on a qualifier at the end of the day, but unfortunately I crashed. I am ok and will be able to continue with the test tomorrow.

Randy De Puniet - 9th -1:31.575, 72 laps:
We lapped in the wet till midday and my pace was pretty fast. It was the first time for me in the wet on this bike and felt quite comfortable. We tested several rain tyres gathering important data for the season. After lunch, when the track started to dry up, I came out to proceed with my set-up work but the surface was dirty and slippery. We tested a couple of rear race tyres and we worked on engine map to improve the engine connection. The problem I had yesterday with the front is almost fixed and the bike is more stable now.

Colin Edwards - 10th - 1:31.593, 44 laps:
It was a difficult day with the weather but we still managed to take something positive out of it. I tried a new front rain tyre from Michelin that I was asking about and they produced one out of the back of the truck and I was really happy with it. Michelin seem to have really taken steps forward with slick and wet tyres. The tyre was different to what I had in the wet last season and it felt more natural for my style. The electronics in the rain are so much better too. The bike is easier to ride. I came in after the first run and gave my electronics guys a hug because I was so happy with it. I liked the ’08 chassis in the rain too. It gives me a lot of confidence and I can understand more what’s going on with the front tyre. This afternoon the track was slippery as hell. I tried a few tyres from Michelin but it was hard to gauge with the track being so greasy. At the end of the day I think we have learned something for Michelin and Yamaha and that’s the key.

Chris Vermeulen - 11th - 1:31.774,50 laps:
It has been a positive day today - although my position is not where I would want to be - we got through a lot of work and have a definite direction we want to go in. We had a good run in the rain this morning and know where we need to be in the wet. When it dried out we did some tyre testing and continued to get the best set-up we can for here, and we are now closer to getting there than we have been before, we have made some big steps forward! We still have some way to go to get the bike to be as competitive as we want it for this track, but what the guys have produced over the last couple of days has really made that target closer.

Anthony West - 12th - 1:32.242 - 75 laps:
It was a shame to lose dry testing time this morning, but it was good to get out on the new bike in the wet for the first time as well. Once the rain had cleared and the track had dried out we started a pretty heavy tyre testing session with Bridgestone. The tyres they'd brought here for us to try we've not used before, but we quickly identified a number of them that seemed to work pretty well at this circuit. Despite the rain, it's been a pretty productive day. I'm down to do a race simulation run tomorrow. Hopefully it will be just one long run; I told Hopper when he got back from the hospital that if the team make me do his race simulation as well tomorrow then he'll be getting a bill for it!

Toni Elias – 13th - 1:32.246, 59 laps:
This morning rain hasn’t helped us. We need to do as many laps as possible on the dry to find the right setting of the bike and consequently be competitive also in wet conditions. We made it to work on completely dry track for less than a couple of hours and we manage to obtain some good result. We have found a good solution for the front tyre and we will keep working on it tomorrow.

Sylvain Guintoli – 14th - 1:32.431, 64 laps:
Also today it was a good day of work for us, also because I had my first experience on wet track with this bike and Bridgestone tyres. I can consider my self satisfied for how we performed. We were in the middle of the standing and this is good for us. We couldn’t do much in the few laps we had with total dry track, but we count on a sunny day tomorrow to try to improve our lap times and maybe try some qualifying tyres.

John Hopkins - 15th - 1:42.130, 27 laps:
My lap times had been coming down by a second a lap, but then I got caught out at turn one while pushing for a faster time. I got on the gas a little too early on the exit, lost the rear and got flicked over the highside when the bike came round on me. I must have been horizontal in the air, because I landed flat on my side. It was a hard landing and it felt painful straight away. I went to hospital in Melbourne, where the doctors confirmed that I'd torn around 50 percent of the abductor muscle from the bone. It's not a serious injury, but it is quite painful at the moment. I'm determined to be back on the Kawasaki for the IRTA Jerez test, so I'm going to head home to see Doctor Ting and to get treatment on the injury as soon as possible.

Test times - day 2 - Phillip Island:
1. Stoner, Ducati Marlboro - 1'29.938 (45)
2. De Angelis, Honda Gresini - 1'30.449 (54)
3. Dovizioso, JiR Team Scot - 1'31.074 (60)
4. Nakano, Honda Gresini - 1'31.316 (74)
5. Haydon, Repsol Honda Team - 1'31.373 (72)
6. Toseland, Yamaha Tech3 - 1'31.451 (55)
7. Melandri, Ducati Marlboro - 1'31.478 (80)
8. Capirossi, Rizla Suzuki - 1'31.545 (62)
9. De Puniet, LCR Honda - 1'31.575 (72)
10. Edwards, Yamaha Tech3 - 1'31.593 (44)
11. Vermeulen, Rizla Suzuki - 1'31.774 (50)
12. West, Kawasaki Racing - 1'32.242 (75)
13. Elias, Alice Team - 1'32.246 (59)
14. Guintoli, Alice Team - 1'32.431 (64)

Source: highrevs.net

Kawasaki joins forces with Monster Energy

The Kawasaki Racing Team is excited to announce that it will be joining forces with the meanest energy drink on the planet, Monster Energy, for its assault on the 2008 and 2009 MotoGP World Championships. One of the two leading energy drink brands in the United States, Monster Energy has an undoubted passion for racing, with involvement in many motorsport activities worldwide. The partnership with Kawasaki in MotoGP, the pinnacle of two-wheeled motorsport, is a natural progression for Monster Energy, as they look to expand into the European market following their successful collaboration with Kawasaki's factory road racing and motocross teams in America.

It's an exciting start to a new era for the Kawasaki Racing Team. The two-year partnership with Monster Energy marks the first time that a major consumer brand has appeared on the side of Kawasaki's Ninja ZX-RR MotoGP machines since the Japanese engineering powerhouse returned to the premier class six years ago, after an absence of more than two decades.

The Kawasaki Racing Team's new livery, complete with Monster Energy branding, will be unveiled for the first time during pre-season testing in Phillip Island, Australia on 29 January, when riders, John Hopkins and Anthony West, continue their build up to the 2008 MotoGP season.


Yoshio Kawamura: Managing Director, Kawasaki Motors Racing B.V.
The partnership with Monster Energy is another important indicator that Kawasaki are now regarded as a real contender in the MotoGP World Championship, and not just in the racing paddock. The fact that we've been able to attract a leading, non-industry consumer brand to the team, and that Monster Energy will use their association with Kawasaki to spearhead their move into the European market, shows just how much progress we've made as a manufacturer since returning to the premier class in 2002. Monster Energy have had an incredibly successful partnership with Kawasaki in the United States, and we are looking forward to equal success as we take the same collaboration onto the world stage over the next two years.

Michael Bartholemy: Competition Manager, Kawasaki Motors Racing B.V.
If we've learnt one thing about Monster Energy since we started talking to them about this partnership it is that they share the same passion for racing that is endemic in Kawasaki. And, of course, they have the same affinity for lime green; I guess you could say it's a perfect match. This is a major departure for the Kawasaki Racing Team, as the partnership with Monster Energy over the next two seasons will mean for the first time Kawasaki will feature an outside industry sponsor on the side of our Ninja ZX-RR machines. We have made big steps forward over the past 12 months, which is what attracted Monster Energy to Kawasaki in the first place, and I hope that if we can continue this forward momentum through the 2008 season then we will be able to persuade them to make the step up to title sponsor for 2009.

John Lee: Director of Sports Marketing, Monster Beverage Company
Monster Energy enjoyed its first foray into the world of MotoGP this past season with John Hopkins and we were very pleased with the feedback we received – especially on an international basis. We view MotoGP as the two-wheel equivalent to Formula One and Monster Energy’s action sports marketing philosophy was built on a motorcycle racing foundation, particularly in American motocross and Monster Energy AMA Supercross. As we move forward with our international marketing efforts, involvement with MotoGP was a logical decision for us and we’re looking forward to following Hopper’s spectacular rides aboard the Monster Energy branded Kawasaki Ninja ZX-RR machines.

Scott Sepkovic: Monster Beverage Company
Monster Energy views MotoGP as the pinnacle of two-wheel motorsports. That said, it’s a highly important platform for building the Monster Energy brand. Monster Energy is poised to take on the global energy drink market and what better way to place ourselves than with the Kawasaki Racing Team in MotoGP.

Source: highrevs.net

Loeb clinches record Monte Carlo win

Sebastien Loeb has become the most successful driver in Monte Carlo Rally history by clinching a record fifth win on the event.

The result is the perfect start to Loeb's bid for a fifth consecutive World Rally Championship title.

The Frenchman led from the second stage of the rally on Thursday evening - overcoming an early charge from his Citroen teammate Dani Sordo and then pulling away.

When Sordo retired from second with engine problems on Saturday, Loeb was left with an enormous margin over second-placed Mikko Hirvonen (Ford), ultimately winning by two minutes and 34 seconds.

"For sure it's a great weekend for us to win here again," Loeb said. "It's a big, big victory.

"We had a very good lead, we were faster than everybody on the whole rally. But last year it was the same and the rest of the season was a lot more complicated."

Hirvonen was disappointed with his form in the Thursday evening stages and settled for a points-gathering second once it became clear that Loeb was unstoppable. Well aware of Loeb's Monte Carlo reputation, Hirvonen was content to begin his year as Ford's number one with a runner-up finish.

"Of course when you start the season you hope you can fight for the win," Hirvonen said. "But we saw quite early in the rally that the Citroens were going to be really fast so this is definitely a fantastic result for me."

The main excitement in the rally was Chris Atkinson and Francois Duval's weekend-long contest for what became third place. Subaru driver Atkinson was ahead throughout, but Duval - returning to the series for what could be a one-off appearance with Stobart Ford - closed inexorably and was just 1.1 seconds behind going into the rally-ending Monte Carlo street stage.

The duo then set absolutely identical times in the superspecial, allowing Atkinson to clinch the second podium finish of his WRC career, and Subaru's first since Greece last year.

"It's cool, amazing," said Atkinson. "It's been a few years and it's good to be back on the podium. My first tarmac podium, too.

"I hoped for a top five coming into the rally, and I expected guys like Francois and Gigi (Galli) to do well. Duval had me on my toes, and it was tough."

Atkinson's teammate Petter Solberg completed a promising season-opener for Subaru by taking fifth place.

Returnee Gigi Galli improved his pace throughout his debut event for Stobart Ford and fended off a mid-rally challenge from French privateer Jean-Marie Cuoq to take sixth position.

The final point went to Junior champion PG Andersson on his first appearance in the new Suzuki SX4 WRC. Although both Andersson and teammate Toni Gardemeister had mechanical problems with their cars at times during the weekend, a trouble-free Saturday allowed Andersson to show the SX4's full potential with a charge from outside the top ten to eighth, where he would remain.

Gardemeister had briefly held eighth earlier in the rally and looked set to at least recover to ninth before an overheating engine forced him out late on Saturday.

Stobart Ford's Henning Solberg and Matthew Wilson completed the top ten, with Sordo and works Ford driver Jari-Matti Latvala using the superally system to take 11th and 12th.

Latvala had a difficult debut for the factory Ford squad - clipping a wall and puncturing a tyre in the very first stage. He lost four minutes in that incident, then dropped more time with hydraulics problems before damaging his suspension and having to retire from day three.

Works-assisted Citroen driver Conrad Rautenbach had an even more troubled start to his season. The Junior series graduate crashed in both the first and last stages of the rally - spinning into the barriers at the final corner of the Monaco street course while heading for 21st place.

Leading results:

Pos  Driver     Car      Time
1.  Loeb       Citroen  3h39:17.0
2.  Hirvonen   Ford     +  2:34.4
3.  Atkinson   Subaru   +  2:58.6
4.  Duval      Ford     +  2:59.7
5.  P Solberg  Subaru   +  4:40.9
6.  Galli      Ford     +  8:46.5
7.  Cuoq       Peugeot  + 10:24.8
8.  Andersson  Suzuki   + 11:19.5
9.  H Solberg  Ford     + 12:43.6
10.  Wilson     Ford     + 14:00.1

Source: autosport.com

Ganassi closing on Rolex 24 win

Juan Pablo Montoya, Dario Franchitti, Scott Pruett and Memo Rojas are closing on victory in the Rolex 24 at Daytona International Speedway, after the rival No.6 Michael Shank Racing Ford Riley had to pit from the lead with a mechanical problem.

With less than three an a half hours remaining, the No.6 car driven by Burt Friselle started smoking heavily when approaching the chicane on the backstraight. The car had experienced a bell-housing failure that forced MSR into a long pitstop in their garage.

Montoya was running second at the time after a pitstop for fuel and tyres had put his Ganassi team behind the No.6 car. The Colombian was closing the gap on the leaders before the incident and now enjoys a healthy lead of over four laps to the No. 99 Bob Stallings Pontiac Riley, which has Grand-Am series co-champion Alex Gurney at the wheel.

"It looks pretty good," Montoya said after his last driving stint, which had lasted for nearly three hours.

"It was getting a little hot. We had a five-lap lead, so we decided just to back off and bring the car home. We've got enough of a lead, we can just cruise along.

"I don't even want to think about winning. We're doing good and everything is going our way. Until the fat lady sings, it's not over."

If the No.1 Ganassi car can hold on to the lead, it will be the team's third consecutive Daytona 24 Hours victory - a new record for the event. It will also be a second consecutive Rolex 24 win for Montoya and Pruett, who shared their car with Salvador Duran last year.

The No.9 Penske-Taylor Pontiac Riley is up to third place, having faced overheating issues in the early hours of Sunday. It is currently running seven laps behind the leaders and on the same lap as the No.76 Krohn Racing Pontiac Riley of Nic Jonsson, Ricardo Zonta and Darren Turner.

Raphael Matos continues to consolidate the GT class lead with his No.70 Speedsource Mazda RX-8 and enjoys a four-lap gap to the No.66 TRG Porsche GT3.

Both cars currently round up the top ten on the overall leaderboard with less than two hours of racing left before the chequered flag.

Source: autosport.com

Pedrosa hoping to return soon

Dani Pedrosa is hoping to return to MotoGP action soon, but the Spanish rider admitted his main priority right now is to recover well from his injury.

The Repsol Honda driver underwent surgery on Wednesday following his accident during testing at the Sepang circuit, where he broke his hand when he lost control of his bike.

If everything goes well, doctors expect Pedrosa to be able to ride again in three weeks, but the Spaniard says he wants to make sure he is perfectly recovered before he's back in action.

"The injury is obviously more important," Pedrosa told a news conference. "We don't know exactly when I will be able to ride again, but I want to recover and I have hopes that I'll be okay soon.

"Doctor Mir and his team, as everybody knows, are excellent professionals and that will make my recovery easier.

"I won't force (my return) in order to avoid problems at the start of the championship. My hand is more important than the bike right now, and I need to recover well because I can't change that.

"The bike's progress is halted for me, but that's not important."

Pedrosa said the fall was not his fault, and he reckons something failed in his bike.

"There was something on the bike that failed. It was a quick fall and there was no reason for me to fall. I simply touched the brake and I went down. The mechanics are looking at what happened."

Source: autosport.com

New Impreza debuts in Monte Carlo!

All Subaru fans awake now? No, the works drivers still have to wait for their new WRCar. But it is true. Swiss privateer Olivier Burri makes the surprise perfect turning up at Rallye Monte Carlo 2008 tests with a new "GE" generation Subaru Impreza WRX!

This is the groupN version of the new car. But still a surprise. On last year’s Rally Japan we saw both groupN dominators showing us new cars, when the new generation Subaru Impreza (GE) WRX-Type RA STI N14 as well as the new generation Mitsubishi Lancer EvoX were driving the stages as course opening cars.

Though Olivier Burri at Monte Carlo 2008 is definitely the World Rally competition debut of the new shape Impreza!

Olivier Burri is a rally icon maybe lesser known outside Switzerland, but a Rallye Monte Carlo expert nevertheless. He finished in the top10 overall of the Rallye Monte Carlo no less than 4 times: 1993 = 7th in a Ford Sapphire Cosworth 4x4 groupA; 1997 = 7th again in a Subaru Impreza 555 groupA, 2000 = 8th in a Toyota Corolla WRC and 2004 = 8th again in a Subaru Impreza WRC03. His strongest showing was probably 2002, when he was setting 5th and 6th fastest times in a Peugeot 206 WRC until a minor elctrical fault sidelined him.

For all this it seemed surprising for 2008 Olivier Burri entered in a groupN car, but now it turns out the competition debut of the new shape Impreza will be to his credit.

As far as Subaru goes, maybe on this event there is no real benchmark. Rallye Monte Carlo 2008 not being a round to the PWRC, nor the JWRC, and also looking through the entry list, there seems no real competition to compare the new car to.

It's a Subaru hatchback of course, but it is really hard to tell when was the last time a Subaru hatchback has been rallied at World level. Subaru’s first try at the Rallye Monte Carlo was when Shekhar Mehta started in 1984 with a 1st generation Leone Coupé model. Though the result was a disappointing 14th place, being beaten by many 2WD cars in snow. We further note that on the 1993 Safari Rally the Japanese STI arm of the Subaru works team started with 3 tiny, supercharged 600cc Vivio fleas. Probably the last time a Subaru hatchback – in the far sense – started at World level, was when local Patrick Njiru retired early with engine failure in the Safari Rally 1997 in a somewhat curious choice: a Subaru Impreza Wagon (Estate)!

Source: rallye-info.com

Loeb on course for record victory

Sebastien Loeb moved closer to a record fifth Monte Carlo Rally win by establishing a lead of over two minutes during the penultimate leg of the event.

With his Citroen teammate - and only realistic challenger - Dani Sordo having retired with an engine problem in SS11 this morning, Loeb was able to take a relaxed approach to this afternoon's loop. Despite having no need to push, he still won two of this afternoon's three stages.

"It's really good," said Loeb. "I tried to drive very fast all day, but not to take too many risks in some places. I just tried to have fun in the stages.

"The stages are really nice, there's a great atmosphere. It's perfect."

Sordo's retirement also allowed Mikko Hirvonen to back off. The Ford driver had been frustrated by his inability to catch the second-placed Spaniard, but inherited the position once Sordo stopped. With no chance of catching Loeb and a comfortable margin over the rest of the field, Hirvonen has switched to conservative mode for the rest of the event.

"Sebastien's far away and Chris (Atkinson) is quite far behind, so I can just cruise and have a look at how they're doing," he said.

Hirvonen's Ford teammate Jari-Matti Latvala's troubled rally got even worse when he stopped with suspension damage in SS12 and had to retire from the leg. Latvala was already running nine minutes off the pace at the foot of the top ten having lost time with a puncture on the opening evening and then hydraulic problems this morning.

Although the lead battle appears settled, there is still a close contest for the final podium spot - although Atkinson (Subaru) did his best to break the pursuing Francois Duval's challenge by putting on a charge through this afternoon's loop.

Atkinson won stage 12 and will take a 20-second cushion over the Stobart Ford driver going into the deciding day.

"Twenty seconds is quite a lot for tomorrow," Duval admitted. "But today was not so bad, some very good times in fact."

Atkinson's Subaru teammate Petter Solberg remains a lonely sixth, with Gigi Galli (Stobart Ford) now more secure in seventh after easing clear of Peugeot 307 privateer Jean-Marie Cuoq.

"This morning apart, when I was slipping, everything is going okay," Galli said. "We're trying to enjoy the car and get to know him."

Suzuki are enjoying an extremely promising start to their first full season with the SX4 WRC, with drivers PG Andersson and Toni Gardemeister ending day

three in eighth and tenth positions, having each set top six stage times during the leg.

"A very good day - six perfect stages without any problems and very good times," Andersson said. "We're very pleased."

After being delayed by myriad technical problems in the first half of the rally, Gardemeister made great progress this afternoon and looked set to overhaul Henning Solberg (Stobart Ford) for ninth by the final stage.

However concern over rising engine temperatures encouraged him to back off, leaving the Suzuki six seconds behind Solberg.

Leading positions after day three:

Pos  Driver        Car      Time
1.  Loeb          Citroen  2h50:38.8
2.  Hirvonen      Ford     +  2:10.6
3.  Atkinson      Subaru   +  3:02.6
4.  Duval         Ford     +  3:22.7
5.  P Solberg     Subaru   +  4:11.8
6.  Galli         Ford     +  7:39.7
7.  Cuoq          Peugeot  +  8:19.7
8.  Andersson     Suzuki   +  9:31.8
9.  H Solberg     Ford     + 11:17.0
10.  Gardemeister  Suzuki   + 11:23.4



Source: autosport.com

SX4 sets top ten times on Friday

At the end of Suzuki’s first full day of World Championship rallying, both cars are safely at the finish with some valuable lessons learned for the future. The SX4 WRC has again set top 10 times today, with P-G Andersson finishing 11th overall and Toni Gardemeister 14th.

Andersson had a clean run throughout the day, although he encountered a small gear selection
problem in the morning and also stalled at the start of SS5. Gardemeister’s progress was not quite so straightforward, as he had to cope with a loss of boost pressure in the morning (which was fixed by the Suzuki mechanics at midday service in Valence) and then a lack of engine response in the afternoon.

Today’s roads were mostly dry, with only a few damp places and a number of flat-out sections that pushed drivers and cars to the limit. In these rapid conditions, the Suzuki SX4 WRC proved itself capable of setting top 10 stage times once more, underlining its clear potential for a points finish on its debut.

Car news – Suzuki SX4 WRC n.11 (Gardemeister), n.12 (Andersson):

Gardemeister had limited turbo boost throughout all three of the morning’s stages, which held him back on the tricky mountain roads – especially during the long uphill sections. The Suzuki mechanics traced it to a small electrical problem at service, but the Finn then suffered an unrelated problem in the afternoon that affected the engine response.

Andersson left service four minutes late this morning as a result of some differential adjustments, which led to a 40-second road penalty. However, he had no real problems at all throughout the rest of the day and made excellent progress on what is only his first-ever World Championship event in a World Rally Car.

Driver news:
Toni Gardemeister: “We had a few issues today but nothing major: it’s already clear that we have a lot of potential so I’m happy and I know where we can improve. I’m actually surprised by how quick we have been already when things are working well. There’s a very long way still to go on this rally, so tonight we will get the car back to perfect order and see what we can do: tomorrow’s stages are very nice. ”

P-G Andersson: “Today has been very good for us, as we’ve had no real problems and we’ve been able to set some good times. The encouraging thing is that we have already been able to go
quicker than some cars and drivers with more experience. I’m going to stick to a steady pace,
because the priority for me is to finish.”

Team news:
Osamu Honda, Suzuki Senior Managing Executive Officer: “At what is still the start of our first
event, we are finally living our dream in one of the toughest forms of motor sport. Competition is in Suzuki’s DNA, from motorbikes to cars. We are finding out of course that the top category of the World Rally Championship is extremely challenging, but competition like this is the best way for us to express our deep passion for our cars. Like the slogan says, for us it is a Way of Life!”

Source: rallye-info.com

Same race, different continent? - Chile offers to host Dakar Rally

The Chilean authorities will back a proposal to get the Dakar Rally to South America later on terrorist threats pushed the cancellation of the off-road endurance race traditionally arranged crosswise the Sahara desert.

The chief of the Chilean Tourism Service, Oscar Santelices, said a formal letter will be directed following week to the France-based rally organizer Amaury Sports Organization stating Chile's interest to host it.

Santelices assured local media, even so, that no financial support would be charged.

Chile's deputy sports minister, Jaime Pizarro, as well said the authorities would be interested because "the idea appears on the line with the official policy of hosting important international sports events."

The reaction in Chile came after the Spanish sports newspaper As reported that South America was being viewed instead to the African territory, and that the epic motorcycle, car and truck race, presented each year since 1979, may cross through Argentina, Brazil and Chile.

In Chile, the rally would go across the northern Atacama desert, the world's driest, where a local rally known as Patagonia-Atacama is staged annually.

Local media reported that over the Andes in Argentina, organizers of the annual Rally of the Pampas are as well interested in hosting a part from the Dakar Rally.

Carlo De Gavardo, a Chilean motorcycle rider who has competed in the Dakar Rally a few times, told a major advantage for South American lands hosting the rally is the security they offer in the territories where the race would be staged.

He said a conclusion on the new situation would probably be made in February, and that other likely choices are Australia, Russia and China.

Suzuki present 2008 livery

Barely a few weeks later on declaring their driver lineup for their first full season, the freshly Suzuki WRC team have nowadays presented their livery for the 2008 series. The more traditional Suzuki yellow features strongly here as contrary to the all-white livery in which the SX4 ran in Corsica and Wales last year.

Markko Martin signs as SWRT test driver

Markko Martin has signed as the official test driver for the Subaru World Rally Team, as the team intensifies its testing programme in preparation for the launch of its all-new Impreza World Rally Car.

The thirty-two year old Estonian, who won the Bettega Memorial Rally at the end of last year driving an SWRT entered Subaru Impreza WRC2007, has an arrangement that will see him responsible for the ongoing testing and development of Subaru’s freshly WRC competitor throughout 2008.
Martin’s first WRC event with the Subaru World Rally Team was Rally Australia in 2000, where he sat beside co-driver Michael Park. The duo contested nine issues with the team in 2001, with a best finish of 5th on Rally Finland. Martin owns a wealth of experience on which to draw, having competed on the world stage for Subaru and a few other top teams, and is excited about his comeback to a major role in the WRC with Subaru.

Markko Martin noticed: “For me it’s a great challenge that I am really looking forward to. Having been with the team before, it’s a privilege to come back and be able to help. I’m sure the team has changed a lot since 2001, but the colour is still the same!

“It is crucial for me to understand what the car needs to be, and to find the common language with the engineers. The trickiest bit is that before I was used to setting the car up for myself, but now I also have to remember that the car has to work for other drivers. I think that my own preference is quite neutral though so I hope it will more or less work for everybody.

“For sure there is pressure in this role. It’s clear that the new car has to be competitive, and I feel now a part of the team that has to perform. But that’s what I’m here for, and I’m looking forward to the challenge.”

SWRT Managing Director, Richard Taylor, added: “As a winner of five WRC events and having gained competitive experience in a wide range of World Rally Cars we are delighted to welcome Markko back to the Subaru World Rally Team and are confident that he will play a key role in the successful launch of the 2008 Impreza in a few months time. We look forward to working with Markko again and hope that this will be the beginning of a long term relationship.”

Ducati launch new bike in Italy

The Ducati team officially launched on Tuesday their new bike, the Desmosedici GP8, for the 2008 season.

World champion Casey Stoner, alongside new teammate Marco Melandri unveiled the new bike during the press ski meeting at Madonna di Campiglio.

The two riders broke an ice sculpture to reveal the new bike in its 2008 livery.

"This is such a wonderful event," said Stoner. "I'm happy to be here although it meant celebrating my first wedding anniversary on a flight from Australia!

"I'm happy to begin a new season with the same bike and the same team, it's a first for me since I started to race. The feeling is just perfect with everyone at Ducati: Claudio, Filippo, Livio and all of my team, I wouldn't change a thing.

"As for my bike, I haven't suggested any big changes either, because we already had such a competitive package.

"We are only going to work on a few details. Winning a World Championship has taken a big weight off my shoulders: all my parents' sacrifices, all the hard times in the past, it's all behind me now.

"This year, I'll continue to work in order to try and repeat my performance of last year and be even stronger and faster, but I'll be able to do that in a very different spirit."

Melandri, joining the team from the Honda Gresini squad, was delighted during his first official appearance as a Ducati rider.

"I feel great in red," said the Italian. "I'm so happy to have become part of the Ducati family. I'd dreamt of riding a Ducati ever since I first saw one. When I tried on my new leathers yesterday, I felt quite emotional.

"I'm aware of the big opportunity I have been given this year. It's not going to be easy, but it will be exciting and I'm ready to commit entirely to reward all those who wanted me to be here. I'm really impressed with how people work at Ducati. Although they've already achieved the greatest goal, winning the world championship, they have continued to work relentlessly.

"After my first tests, I gave feed-back to the engineers so that my bike could be adjusted to match my requirements and now, I can't wait to hit the track again to train for this season. As soon as we manage to fine-tune the bike we'll be very competitive."

source: autosport.com

Red Bull Air Race goes full speed ahead in 2008

In 2007, over four million people turned out to watch the Red Bull Air Race World Series where the world’s best pilots race through a low-level aerial slalom course, at speeds reaching 400 km/hr while pushing up to 10 Gs. The international motor sports championship is continually evolving and now into its fourth season, is set to become even more exciting and challenging.

The knock out format which proved so successful in 2007 will stay in place for the semi final and finals, but a new race format in 2008 will mean all twelve pilots will have the chance to show their skills on race day and they’ll be under pressure to achieve top results in each of the race sessions to ensure success.

Qualifying day will again take place the day before the race. Each pilot will compete in two qualifying sessions where the better results counts and determines the line up for race day.

The fastest eight pilots in qualifying will make it through to the ‘Super Eight’ round where they’ll be competing for a place in the semi finals. The last four pilots in qualifying will compete in the ‘Point One’ round where they will battle it out for one crucial World Series ranking point and an overall ninth place position in the race. Ranking points will be awarded to the top nine pilots, with the winner receiving a total of nine points.

Race day will kick off with the Point One round followed by the Super Eights. Racing straight after each other, the pilots will be going all out for the fastest time and least number of penalties in order to achieve the best position for the semi finals.

The fastest four from the Super Eight round will make it through to the semi finals. Timing and skill are crucial as the fastest pilot will gain the advantage of racing against the slowest pilot in the semis and the second fastest will take on the third fastest. Competing in knock out rounds, two pilots will be pitted against each other as they race individually against the clock.

The final will be a showdown between the fastest two in the semi finals. The slowest pilots from the semi finals will compete in the ‘3rd place fly-off’ to determine who else will make it to the podium.

The new race format will include all the elements to ensure nail-biting, non-stop action. Safety is paramount in the Red Bull Air Race and pilots will now only fly a maximum of three times.

“This improved race format fulfils the new safety requirements that were discovered throughout the 2007 season. Pilots will now fly a maximum of three flights per day to counteract the fatigue”, said Aviation Director Heinz Moeller. The race format in 2007 meant that some of the pilots ended up flying four times throughout the course of the day which can be extremely demanding on them.

“But the most exciting thing about this format is that the crowds will now get the chance to see all pilots perform on race day”, Moeller added.

source: redbullairrace.com

Security fears see Dakar cancelled

The Dakar Rally was cancelled on Saturday due to security concerns in Mauritania where four French tourists were killed last month, organisers said.
France-based Amaury Sport Organisation, in charge of the 6,000km rally, said in a statement they had been advised by the French government to cancel the race which was due to begin on Sunday from Lisbon. They said direct threats had also been made against the event by "terrorist organisations".

The race, originally known as Paris-Dakar, has been held uninterrupted since 1979 although stages have been cancelled in the past for safety reasons. "The organisers of the Dakar have taken the decision to cancel the 2008 edition of the rally scheduled from the 5th to the 20th of January between Lisbon and Senegal's capital," Amaury Sport said. "Based on the current international political tension and the murder of four French tourists, but also mainly the direct threats launched directly against the race by terrorist organisations, no other decision but the cancellation of the sporting event could be taken."

France warned the Dakar organisers on Friday against holding stages in Mauritania because it said "the terrorist risk" cannot be ruled out. Three attackers, who authorities suspect were linked to al Qaeda, gunned down four French tourists and injured a fifth as they enjoyed a Christmas Eve picnic by the roadside in the south of the country, near the border with Senegal.

Gunmen killed three soldiers three days later in the remote and sparsely populated north of the country, bordering Algeria and Morocco's breakaway territory of Western Sahara.

Serious blow

A spokesman for Mauritania's National Tourism Office, Hamady Samb Ba, played down France's concerns however. "It is a surprise," he said, before the race was cancelled." "It would deal a serious blow to the image of the country. Their concerns are unfounded."

The rally, one of the toughest and most dangerous challenges in motorsport, had been due to arrive in Mauritania on Jan. 11 with eight stages in that country until Jan. 19. Organisers cancelled two stages in Mali last year after French security services said participants risked being kidnapped or ambushed by Algerian rebels. Some 570 teams had registered for the 30th edition of the event with Mitsubishi seeking their eighth successive win in the car category.

Competitors included France's former downhill skiers Luc Alphand and Carolle Montillet, Olympic and world boxing champion Brahim Asloum and former Formula One drivers Tiago Monteiro of Portugal and Japan's Ukyo Katayama.

source: tvnz.co.nz