03.10.90 - F1 TYRE TESTING, ESTORILAll the major Formula 1 teams are at Estoril, Portugal, Tuesday for the start of the final Goodyear tyre test of the season. World Champion Alain Prost starts the Ferrari test which will be carried on by test driver, Gianni Morbidell and Nigel Mansell Thursday and Friday.
"The test is partially for the Australian Grand Prix," said Goodyear spokesman Barry Griffin. Also at the test are both McLaren drivers, Williams, Benetton and GLAS. Stefano Modena, in his Tyrrell, was fastest on the second day of tyre testing at Estoril in Portugal. Testing did not start until the afternoon because of heavy rain. Riccardo Patrese was quickest of the teams testing Goodyear race tyres.
Ferrari test driver Giovanni Morbidelli did not do a single lap - Nigel Mansell takes over for the last two days. Gerhard Berger is waiting for a new monocoque to arrive after his accident on Tuesday and will continue testing on Thursday.
Formula One tyre testing, Estoril: (Tuesday) 1 Alain Prost Ferrari 1m 16.15 2 Ricardo Patrese Williams 1m 17.70 3 Gerhard Berger McLaren 1m 19.10 4 Nelson Piquet Benetton 1m 19.28 5 Stefano Modena Tyrrell 1m 19.46 6 Ayrton Senna McLaren 1m 20.28 7 Marco Apicella GLAS 1m 25.00 04.10.90 - Formula One tyre testing, Estoril: (Wednesday) 1 Stefano Modena Tyrrell 1m 15.87 2 Riccardo Patrese Williams 1m 16.62 3 Nelson Piquet Benetton 1m 17.87 4 Ayrton Senna McLaren 1m 18.17 5 Marco Apicella GLAS 1m 21.38 6 V de Poele GLAS 1m 22.23F3000:- Roger King, the Conservative MP for Birmingham Northfield who was sponsoring the Bill in Parliament to secure the survival of the Birmingham SuperPrix, has withdrawn his support. He says there are too many arguments over the cost of the Formula 3000 event. Three Labour MPs in the city have consistenctly argued the SuperPrix is a waste of money and had not lived up to revenue expectations. The Birmingham Superprix is to continue but will be handed over to private organisers to avoid further losses. The move follows the withdrawal of a Parliamentary Bill intended to allow the closure of city streets for three days each August Bank Holiday. Only two days are permitted at the moment.
05.10.90 - TYRE TESTING AT ESTORIL Thursday's times: 1 A Senna McLaren 1m 14.59s 2 R Patrese Williams 1m 14.94 3 S Modena Tyrrell 1m 16.44 4 N Mansell Ferrari 1m 17.89 5 N Piquet Benetton 1m 18.54 6 M Apicella GLAS 1m 19.80 7 E V de Poele GLAS 1m 19.97Championship leader Ayrton Senna was quickest at the end of the third day of Formula 1 testing using the Honda V12 engine the team may use next year. Riccardo Patrese, who was also on Goodyear race tyres, was 4/10ths of a second slower. Nigel Mansell did not post any competitive times because he was doing long distance runs on race tyres. A new car has arrived to replace the one Gerhard Berger crashed on Tuesday and he is expected to drive on Friday.
SPORTSCARS:- Mercedes go to Mexico City on Sunday hoping to close their triumphant world sports-prototype season with another resounding victory. Jean-Louis Schlesser and Mauro Baldi, unbeatable in the drivers' championship will form one team at the Hermanos Rodriguez circuit. Team manager Jochen Neerspasch said: "We had planned this so they can become joint champions." The Silk Cut Jaguar team are hoping to sign off with a win. Jan Lammers said: "We've got nothing to lose."
06.10.90 - F1Ulsterman Martin Donnelly has undergone another brain scan following his 160mph crash at Jerez last weekend. The 26-year-old Lotus driver suffered multiple injuries, including two broken legs and a fractured skull, in the crash and is now being treated at a London hospital. "The last two days have been difficult but he remains stable," said a spokeswoman for the Lotus team. "He has had another brain scan, is still on a ventilator and is having kidney dialysis treatment," she added.
Friday tyre testing times: 1 N Mansell Ferrari 1m 14.90s 2 R Patrese Williams 1m 14.93 3 A Senna McLaren 1m 17.50 4 A Nannini Benetton 1m 18.47 5 G Berger McLaren 1m 18.98Nigel Mansell set the second quickest time of the week as he dominated the final day of Formula 1 testing at Estoril in Portugal. Only Ayrton Senna's 1 min 14.59 secs mark in the McLaren V12 on Thursday has been faster. Mansell and Riccardo Patrese were on Goodyear qualifying tyres while Senna concentrated on race tyre testing. The test is to run for an extra day and Senna, Berger and Alessandro Nannini are to remain at Estoril.
07.10.90CORK 20 INTERNATIONAL RALLY:- Bertie Fisher, current leader in the Dunlop Tarmac championship, went out of the Cork 20 International when his BMW crashed into a ditch on the famous Mullaghanish stage. Fisher and his navigator escaped unhurt. Austin McHale led from John Price and Billy Connolly after the first day's 11 stages. Kenny McKinstry's Ford Sierra blew a head gasket and he retired.
SPORTS PROTOTYPE WORLD SPORTSCAR DRIVERS CHAMPIONSHIP Final qualifying times from Mexico: mins secs 1 Brundle/Lammers Jaguar 1:20.626 2 Mass/Schumacher Mercedes 1:20.923 3 Schlesser/Baldi Mercedes 1:21.124 4 Lees/Watson Toyota 1:21.661 5 Bailey/Blundell Nissan 1:21.751 6 Wallace/Jones Jaguar 1:22.058 7 Acheson/Br'telli Nissan 1:22.319 8 Wollek/Jelinski Porsche 1:22.397 9 Palmer/Stuck Porsche 1:22.459 10 Schneider/Lopez Porsche 1:22.943Former F1 star Martin Brundle claimed pole position in his Jaguar for Sunday's final round of the World Sportscar Championship. Brundle and co-driver Jan Lammers posted a time of 1 min 20.626 secs (197.400kmh). Germany's Jochen Mass will start alongside the Jaguar on the front row of the grid. Mass had set the fastest time in Friday's practice in his Mercedes. It is the first pole for Jaguar's turbo since Brands Hatch in July last year.TOURING CARS:- New British Touring Car champion Robb Gravett battled to victory in a superb finale to the series at Silverstone. Gravett, in a Ford Sierra Cosworth took the lead from Andy Rouse with two laps remaining to win by 1.69 seconds. Tim Harvey, who started from pole, lost time when a valve was ripped from his front tyre by another car. John Cleland won the two-litre class in his Vauxhall Cavalier beating the battling BMWs.
F3:- Mika Hakkinen, already confirmed as the new British F3 champion, clinched victory in his Ralt in the final round at Silverstone.
F3000:- Belgian Eric van de Poele in a Reynard won the International F3000 race at Nogaro, ahead of Erik Comas in a Lola.
F.VAUXHALL LOTUS:- Vauxhall Lotus Kurt Luby, David Coulthard and Gil de Ferran will battle it out for second place in the British Vauxhall Lotus Championship at Silverstone. Champion Vincenzo Sospiri is absent competing in Formula 3000.
08.10.90 - SPORTS PROTOTYPE WORLD SPORTSCAR DRIVERS CHAMPIONSHIP 9th and final round from Mexico: 1 Mass/Schumacher Mercedes 2:47;54.907 172.190 kmph 2 Bailey/Blundell Nissan 107 laps 3 Wallace/Jones Jaguar 107 laps 4 Acheson/Br'telli Nissan 106 laps 5 Palmer/Stuck Porsche 106 laps 6 Wollek/Jelinski Porsche 105 lapsMercedes won the final race of the 1990 World Sports Prototype Championship. They took the chequered flag first and second only to find the first placed car of Jean-Louis Schlesser and Mauro Baldi disqualified for taking on 0.1 litres too much fuel. Mercedes still claimed victory with its number two car driven by Jochen Mass and Michael Schumacher. Britons Julian Bailey and Mark Blundell (Nissan) were second and Andy Wallace and Davy Jones (Jaguar) third.
09.10.90 - F1Briton Martin Brundle has re-joined the Brabham Formula One team and will spearhead their World Championship challenge in 1991. "I am delighted to return to Formula One and I am looking forward to the technical might of Yamaha and their new V12 engine," said Brundle. Brundle has driven for Jaguar since walking out on the team after a pay dispute seven months ago. Of the current team line-up Stefano Modena is moving to Tyrrell and David Brabham will not be retained.Lotus Grand prix driver Martin Donnelly is making good progress at the Royal London Hospital, the Lotus team has reported. The 26 year old Ulsterman is recovering from a 150mph accident in qualifying for the Spanish Grand Prix 10 days ago. He underwent a further brain scan today as well as further X-rays. Doctors hope that sedative drugs are withdrawn over the next 24 hours. Donnelly continues to use a ventilator and is receiving kidney dialysis.
10.10.90 - F1Lotus will decide next week who is to stand-in for injured Martin Donnelly at the Japanese & Australian Grands Prix. The talented Ulsterman is being treated in the Royal London Hospital after his 150mph acident in qualifying for the Spanish Grand Prix last month."It will probably be Johnny Herbert but no decision will be made until next week," said Camel Lotus team manager, Rupert Mainwaring. Herbert, the Lotus test driver, drove for Benetton in 1989 and was Donnelly's team-mate in F3000 before that.
11.10.90 - F1The Spanish F1 Grand Prix will move from Jerez - where Martin Donnelly was involved in a dreadful crash last month - to Barcelona for the 1991 series. Martin Brundle crashed his Williams-Renault F1 car during test trials at the Le Castellet race track in France, but was not hurt.INDYCAR:- The Gold Coast Indy race will be held in March as planned around the streets of the Surfers Paradise resort in Australia. FISA have ruled that races organised by the US-based Championship Auto Racing Teams outside North America will be illegal.
F.FORWARD:- Andrew Guye-Johnson set a series of lap times between 46.3 and 46.4secs to smash his own Brands Hatch record of 47.0 secs, in general testing for Sunday's Cellnet Superprix, the final stage of this year's Talkland Formula Forward championship.
12.10.90LOMBARD RAC RALLY:- The 1990 Lombard RAC Rally has been cut to four days instead of five - but organisers say the competition will be as fierce as ever. Another innovation this year means all competitors will have the chance to do reconnaissance runs on all the stages. Clerk of the Course, Malcolm Neill said: "This brings the event into line with all other World Championship events." The 1,465 mile event covers 41 stages over four days from November 25.
SAN REMO RALLY TIMETABLE Leg 1 Sunday October 14 Start San Remo 2400 Finish Arezzo 1530 Leg 2 Monday October 15 Start Arezzo 0700 Finish Perugia 1745 Leg 3 Tuesday October 16 Start Perugia 0600 Finish San Remo 1740 Leg 4 Wednesday October 17 Start San Remo 2400 Finish San Remo 0950 (Thursday)Louise Aitken-Walker and Swedish co-driver Christina Thorner could wrap up the Women's International Rally Cup at this weekend's San Remo Rally. They lead the series by nine points from Italy's Paola de Martini, who needs maximum points to stay in the chase. "After the first day the rally is on gravel, where our two-wheel drive Vauxhall Astra will be hard pressed to match her four-wheel drive Audi," said Aitken-Walker. "But Paolo is the one who has to drive the hardest," she added.EARS/MOTORINGNEWS RALLY:- John Price looks to salvage the runner-up spot in the EARS/Motoring News Championship in the Cheviot Stages Rally over Northumberland's Otterburn ranges this Sunday - the final event of the season. Champion-elect Geoff Kitney is absent after clinching the title in Wexford last month. Graham Hollis and Gwyndaf Evans are currently tied in the two-litre class.
F1:- Grand Prix driver Alessandro Nannini was badly injured when his helicopter crashed near Sienna, northern Italy. Nannini was one of four passengers in the helicopter when it plunged into the ground watched by his mother and father. First reports say that doctors are using micro-surgery to repair his lower right arm damaged in the accident. Three other passengers were injured but are not seriously hurt and are expected to be out of hospital within a month.
Paramilitary police said a helicopter carrying GP driver Alessandro Nannini crashed as it tried to land in a field near his villa at Belriguardo at 3pm. Passenger Giuseppe Brancadori said it landed, rose suddenly to a height of 90 feet and then crashed. Nannini, 31, who drives for the Benetton team, brought the five-seater French-made machine a few weeks ago and had clocked between 20 and 30 hours flying time. The injured included another friend of Nannini's and the helicopter pilot.
Benetton team chief Flavio Briatori travelled to the hospital where Alessandro Nannini was being treated. "I'm in a state of shock after what has happened," he said. "But it's comforting to know that Sandro is in the hands of the best micro-surgeons in the world."
"His life is not in danger and that is the most important thing," added Briatori, a close personal friend of the talented Italian driver. "Nothing will be known about 'Sandro's condition until around midnight," said team spokeswoman, Elizabeth Wright.
Alessandro Nannini is one of the rising young stars of Grand Prix racing. Last month he rejected a $4 million deal to move from the Benetton team to Ferrari. The accident comes just as Nannini was preparing to depart for Japan next week - the scene, a year ago, of his only Grand Prix victory in 77 races. He was third in the last race of the world championship a fortnight ago to move to seventh in the Formula One World Championship.
Lotus Grand Prix driver Martin Donnelly remains in a serious but stable condition, the team has reported. Donnelly, 26, is being treated in the Royal London Hospital following his 150 mph accident at the Spanish GP. Doctors have stopped sedating the Ulsterman and he is slowly regaining consciousness. He has been taken off a ventilator for the first time. "This is another small step now that he is breathing without a ventilator...but there is still a long way to go," said Martin's father, Martin Donnelly snr.
F3000:- Birmingham's Phil Andrews has switched to the British Formula 3000 series at Donington on Sunday in a bid to win his first F3000 race of the season. The 21-car entry for the championship includes touring car racer Tim Harvey who is teaming up with newly crowned champion Pedro Chaves at Mansell Madgwick Motorsport. MMM, the team founded by GP ace Nigel Mansell, fields four cars including Brazilian Marco Greco and Leicester's Peter Hardy.
PRO-CELEBRITY EVENT:- Javelin world record holder Steve Backley makes his motor racing debut on Sunday in the Pro-Celebrity Race supporting the Cellnet Superprix. Also in the event are Jonathan Palmer, Damon Hill and Paul Warwick. Racing starts at 10.00am.
F.FORWARD:- Andrew Guye-Johnson and Mark Goddard battle it out for the Talkland Formula Forward title in Sunday's final round, the Cellnet Superprix. Guye-Johnson leads by two points overall and set a series of lap times between 46.3 secs and 46.4, well under his own 46.4 record, in testing earlier this week.
14.10.90 - SAN REMO RALLYBriton's Malcolm Wilson shares the overall lead after the opening leg of the San Remo Rally in northern Italy. Wilson, and co-driver Nicky Grist, set a pace which only Carlos Sainz, Juha Kankkunen and Wilson's Ford team-mate Franco Cunico could match. Just one second behind is the third British Ford of Pentti Airikkala, equal with four other drivers. "I'm pleased with the way things have started but the real pressure starts tonight as the rally moves into the hill," said a relaxed Wilson.
Leading positions after 1 of 35 stages: mins:secs 1 M Wilson GB Ford Sierra 1:09 2 C Sainz Sp Toyota Celica 1:09 3 J Kankkunen Fin Lancia Delta 1:09 4 A Schwarz Ger Toyota Celica 1:09 5 F Cunico It Ford Sierra 1:09 6 M Biaison It Lancia Delta 1:10 7 P Airikkala Fin Ford Sierra 1:10 8 M Ericsson Swe Toyota Cel 1:10 9 A Fiorio It Lancia Delta 1:10 10 F Chatriot Fr Subaru 1:10Markku Alen received a two-minute time penalty after engine trouble with his Subaru left him late at first control.GEMINI TOUR OF MULL RALLY:- Tobermory's Andy Knight, in a Vauxhall Nova, won the Gemini Tour of Mull Rally with co-driver Mike Corner. Ron Beecroft and John Millington, in a Ford Escort, finished second.
CHEVIOT STAGES RALLY:- Keith Lovegreen in a Ford Sierra Cosworth led by 34 seconds from John Price in a MG Metro after nine stages of the Cheviot Stages Rally. Price will finish second in the EARS/Motoring News Championship if he can finish in the runner-up spot.
F3000:- Birmingham's Phil Andrews starts on pole position for Sunday's British Formula 3000 race in Donington. His best lap around the 2.5 mile circuit was a time of 1m 23.10s, in his Reynard-Mugen. But Andrews, still looking for his first F3000 win, faces a tough challenge from Pedro Chaves, Rikard Rydell and Marco Greco.
GRID POSITIONS: 1 P Andrews GB Reynard-Mugen 1m 23.10 2 P Chaves Po Reynard-Coswo 1m 23.65 3 M Greco Bra Reynard-Mugen 1m 24.25 4 R Rydell Swe Reynard-Coswo 1m 24.34 16.10.90F1:- Johnny Herbert is to replace injured Martin Donnelly in the Camel Lotus team for the last two races of the F1 season. Herbert, 26, fourth in his debut Grand Prix in Brazil last year, will partner Derek Warwick in Japan and Australia. "My thoughts are all for my friend Martin and my hopes are for his full recovery. If I can get any points in the last two races, it will all be for him," he said. Donnelly suffered multiple injuries in a 150mph crash during practice for the Spanish Grand Prix last month.An inquiry has begun in Italy into the cause of last week's helicopter crash in which GP star Alessandro Nannini was seriously injured. Nannini, 31, lost part of his right arm in the crash near Siena but it was later restored in a nine-hour operation. His condition is improving in hospital and his sister, Gianna, has insisted that reports of his F1 career being over are premature. "It's not the end of the racing career for Alessandro. He has an iron will. I am certain he will recover," she said.
Brazilian Roberto Moreno will take over from the injured Alessandro Nannini at Benetton for the two remaining races of the Formula One season. Moreno, 30, was released by the Eurobrun team when they decided not to race in the Japanese GP at Suzuka this Sunday or in Adelaide on November 4. He links up with compatriot and former world champion Nelson Piquet. Benetton's technical director John Barnard said: "We feel certain Roberto will help us earn enough points with Nelson to capture third in the constructors' championship."
World champion Alain Prost has renewed his verbal attack on Ferrari teammate Nigel Mansell. "The truth is that Mansell is not trying to be a good driver. I do all the work and all he thinks about is playing golf. Then he comes back happy and relaxed and enjoys the results of my hard work, asking for the same adjustments to the car as me," Prost told the Brazilian newspaper O Globo. Mansell won in Portugal last month after nearly forcing the world champion into the pit wall at the start.
SAN REMO RALLY Leading positions after 11 of 35 stages hrs:mins.secs 1 M Biasion It Lancia Delta 1:46.07 2 A Schwarz Ger Toyota Celic 1:46.14 3 C Sainz Sp Toyota Celic 1:46.18 4 D Auriol Fr Lancia Delta 1:46.21 5 J Kankkunen Fin Lancia Delta 1:47.12 6 D Cerrato It Lancia Delta 1:47.17 7 M Wilson GB Ford Sierra 1:47.42 8 PG Deila It Lancia Delta 1:47.48 9 P Liatti It Lancia Delta 1:47.59 10 A Fiorio It Lancia Delta 1:48.22 Ladies Cup 1 L A'n-Walker GB Vaux Astra 1:58.47 2 F L'Huillet Swi Lancia Delta 2:02.44World champion Miki Biasion held a narrow lead at the end of the second day after a determined display by Armin Schwarz and Carlos Sainz. The Toyota duo piled on the pressure to finish just seven and nine seconds respectively behind Biasion, winner for the last three years, after 11 stages. Britain's Malcolm Wilson was equal fastest with Sainz on stage 11 to improve to seventh place overall. Britain's Louise Aitken-Walker has a massive three and a half-minute over Florence L'Huiller in the Ladies Cup.
Leading positions after 22 of 35 stages hrs:mins.secs 1 C Sainz Sp Toyota Celic 4:26.40 2 J Kankkunen Fin Lancia Delta 4:27.55 3 M Biasion It Lancia Delta 4:27.58 4 D Auriol Fr Lancia Delta 4:28.17 5 D Cerrato It Lancia Delta 4:29.56 6 A Fiorio It Lancia Delta 4:30.00 7 M Wilson GB Ford Sierra 4:30.55 8 PG Deila It Lancia Delta 4:32.05 9 P Liatti It Lancia Delta 4:32.30 10 A Schwarz Ger Toyota Celic 4:32.40Championship leader Carlos Sainz took charge on the third day of the 1,200-mile rally, overhauling reigning world champion Miki Biasion. The Spaniard, needing just a point to clinch the title, moved into the lead on stage 14 and increased his advantage to 75 seconds by the end of stage 22. Biasion hit a large rock on stage 19, wrecking his front suspension and wheel allowing Juha Kankkunen to go second. Briton Malcolm Wilson improved to fifth before a puncture dropped him back. In the Ladies Cup, Louise Aitken-Walker led Florence L'Huiller by nearly 7 mins.
17.10.90F1:- Italian Formula One driver Alessandro Nannini still hopes to race again, says his wife Paola. "Alessandro is terrified of being forced to stop racing but he's still hoping he'll be able to make a comeback. F1 has always been his life and mine too," she told reporters. Surgeon Carlo Bufalini said: "The risk of amputation is getting smaller by the hour."JOHN WATSON ON THE JAPANESE GRAND PRIX
Sunday's race at Suzuka will be a mirror of 1989 with Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost once again the only two drivers left contesting the world title. Last year they were team-mates, both driving McLaren-Hondas, and Prost was leading the way in the Championship. This year Prost is in a Ferrari and the shoe is on the other foot with Senna in a commanding position and the Frenchman doing all the chasing. Prost must win here or it is all over. He must also win in Australia if he is to retain his world crown.
Last year's World F1 Championship was resolved in a very unsatisfactory way. Ayrton Senna was considered to be the guilty party when he and Alain Prost collided in the chicane before the pits. Senna was penalised and the world title went to Prost. There were even calls for Senna to be banned. Yet it was clear from the in-car and overhead cameras that Prost had turned into the corner far too early and had in fact driven into Senna. What an irony it would be if it should happen again handing the title to Senna.
I cannot really see a collision between Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost deciding the world title as it did last season. Senna will want to win the title cleanly and without controversy. The Brazilian is a master at Suzuka, the circuit on which he clinched his first world crown, in 1988. It is also Honda's test track so they will know exactly how best to set up their cars. Suzuka is among the world's finest race tracks and one of the most difficult. It is like a mini-Nurburgring and intimate knowledge is worth time even at the high level of F1 racing.
Alain Prost's win in Spain two weeks ago - his 44th - was one of the most convincing of his career. There is no question now that the Frenchman is highly motivated and will do everything he can to claim a fourth world title - and then chase a fifth to equal Juan Manuel Fangio's record. To have any chance this year, he must win at Suzuka. It is a handling circuit which could give him a slight advantage as long as the Ferrari proves reliable. It should be a great battle between the two top men which is exactly the way the Championship should be decided.
Tragedy again struck Formula One with last week's helicopter accident which left Alessandro Nannini badly injured. Almost on the anniversary of his first GP victory, there is serious doubt over Nannini's racing future. As a further irony, 1991 looked to be the season in which he would realise his potential. Nannini will be greatly missed for he is liked by both competitors and media. Everybody will be wishing him a full and speedy recovery. But the show must go on and Benetton will still run two cars in Japan, with Roberto Moreno filling the gap.
Johnny Herbert, the Camel Lotus team test driver, replaces the badly-injured Martin Donnelly for the next two races. It's good to see Martin now making such good progress after his horrific crash during practice for the Spanish GP. Suzuka will be Herbert's first F1 race since the '89 Belgian GP with Tyrrell. I am sure he will do justice to the seat both here and in Australia. Paolo Barilla has been unceremoniously dropped by the Minardi team in favour of Gianni Morbidelli who will drive for them next season when they will be using a Ferrari engine.
Alain Prost will again seek the help of Ferrari team-mate Nigel Mansell as he chases a crucial victory in Suzuka. Mansell made way for Prost after throttle trouble in Spain but I cannot see him doing so again. There will be no team orders unless Prost is leading. However I expect to see Gerhard Berger assisting McLaren team-mate Ayrton Senna, either as a defence or shadow. Behind them will be the battling Benettons and Williams, plus Jean Alesi wringing more miracles from his Tyrrell. An even bigger fight will feature teams desperate to avoid pre-qualifying.
SAN REMO RALLY Leading positions after 27 of 35 stages hr mins secs 1 D Auriol Fr Lancia Delta 5:18:18 2 J Kankkunen Fin Lancia Delta 5:18:34 3 C Sainz Sp Toyota Cel 5:19:14 4 D Cerrato It Lancia Delta 5:20:32 5 A Fiorio It Lancia Delta 5:21:03 6 A Schwarz Ger Toyota Cel 5:22:22 7 M Ericsson Swe Toyota Cel 5:22:56 8 PG Deila It Lancia Delta 5:23:11 9 P Liatti It Lancia Delta 5:24:31 10 G Grossi It Lancia Delta 5:35:08 Ladies Cup 1 L Aitken-W GB Vaux Astra 5:52:22 2 F L'Hullier Swi Lancia Int 6:01:27Frenchman Didier Auriol swept into the lead on Wednesday's final stage as Spaniard Carlos Sainz lost out after putting his Toyota on its roof. Auriol finished leg three 16 seconds clear of Lancia team-mate Finn Juha Kankkunen, with Championship leader Sainz in third, 56 seconds off the pace. Reigning world champion Miki Biasion, winner of the event for the past three years, went off avoiding Sainz's car and Italian spectators in the road. He skidded into a tree, damaging his Lancia and was unable to continue.Britain's Malcolm Wilson started day three with two stage wins in his Q8 Team Ford Sierra Cosworth but slipped off the leaderboard after hitting a bank on the next stage, wrecking the front suspension. London-based Finn Pentti Airikkala lost 13 minutes on the road section before stage 25 while his gearbox was replaced at service. Belgian Marc Duez also stopped for a new gearbox and lost time.
Britain's Louise Aitken-Walker still leads the Ladies Cup battle in her Vauxhall Astra and was lying 18th overall at the end of the third leg.
19.10.90RENAULT 5:- The finale to the Renault 5 Elf Turbo UK Cup takes centre stage at Donington Park on Sunday with the title still to decided. Adding to the action are races for MGs, MGBs, Metros and Maestros, BMWs and Formula Fords.NEWS:- Knockhill race circuit will be closed for a week from next Monday to Saturday while re-surfacing work is carried out. It is part of a œ100,000 improvement programme at the track.
SNETTERTON:- The largest entry this season has been attracted to the final round of the HEAT-backed Champion of Snetterton series to be held at the circuit this Sunday. George Cubitt has already clinched the title.
F1:- JAPANESE GRAND PRIX
Austrian Gerhard Berger made the most of perfect driving conditions to clock the fastest time of first official practice. Berger lapped the Suzuka circuit in 1 min 38.374 secs, just quicker than Ferrari driver Alain Prost (1:38.684) and his McLaren-Honda team-mate Ayrton Senna (1:38.828). The hour-long session was halted twice as first Bertrand Gachot and then Phillippe Alliot went off at Spoon Curve, damaging their cars. Jean Alesi shunted his Tyrrell at the end of the pit straight and had to continue qualifying in his spare car.
Friday's qualifying times at Suzuka: mins secs 1 G Berger Aut McLaren 1:38.374 2 A Prost Fr Ferrari 1:38.684 3 A Senna Brz McLaren 1:38.828 4 N Mansell GB Ferrari 1:38.969 5 T Boutsen Bel Williams 1:39.577 6 J Alesi Fr Tyrrell 1:40.052 7 R Patrese It Williams 1:40.355 8 P Martini It Minardi 1:40.899 9 N Piquet Brz Benetton 1:41.041 10 S Nakajima Jap Tyrrell 1:41.208 11 A Suzuki Jap Lola-Lamb 1:41.442 12 D Warwick GB Lotus-Lamb 1:41.482 13 I Capelli It Leyton H 1:41.657 14 R Moreno It Benetton 1:41.719 15 M Gugelmin Brz Leyton H 1:42:049 16 E Bernard Fr Lola-Lamb 1:42.141 17 S Modena It Brabham 1:42.617 18 G Morbidelli It Minardi 1:42.858 19 J Herbert GB Lotus-Lamb 1:43.111 20 D Brabham Aus Brabham 1:43.156 21 A Caffi It Arrows 1:43.270 22 M Alboreto It Arrows 1:43.304 23 N Larini It Ligier 1:43.396 24 A De Cesaris It Dallara 1:43.601 25 O Grouillard Fr Osella 1:43.993 26 P Alliot Fr Ligier 1:44.106 *************************************** 27 G Tarquin It AGS-Ford 1:44.281 28 Y Dalmas Fr AGS-Ford 1:44.410 29 E Pirro It Dallara 17:40.230 30 B Gachot Bel Coloni 20:22.535The Arrows name will disappear from the Formula One scene next year following the clinching of a deal for Porsche V-12 engines by Footwork. The team will be known as Footwork Porsche but are retaining Italian duo Michele Alboreto and Alex Caffi as their drivers. Managing director Jackie Oliver said: "Alex has matured considerably with the team especially in his racecraft and Michele's knowledge and experience will undoubtedly be of great use to the team. His proven talents cetainly deserve an opportuinity".SAN REMO RALLY
Carlos Sainz gave Spain its first world rally crown as he became the new champion after finishing in third place in San Remo. Frenchman Didier Auriol won the event after holding off a strong challenge from Lancia teammate Juha Kankkunen during the final night. Britain's Louise Aitken-Walker extended her lead in the FIA Ladies Cup to a commanding 18 points after a strong victory in the two-litre class. She said: "Winning puts me in a very strong position. It was very hard."
German Armin Schwarz, sixth after the third leg, went out on the final day. His Toyota hit the parapet of a bridge just two stages from the finish but he and his co-driver escaped unhurt. The World Championship ends with the Ivory Coast rally (Oct 28-Nov 1) and the Lombard RAC rally (Nov 25-29).
Result after 35 stages: hr mins secs 1 D Auriol Fr Lancia Delta 7:30:38 2 J Kankkunen Fin Lancia Delta 7:31:23 3 C Sainz Sp Toyota Cel 7:32:23 4 D Cerrato It Lancia Delta 7:33:25 5 P Liatti It Lancia Delta 7:36:52 6 M Ericsson Swe Toyota Cel 7:37:12 7 PG Deila It Lancia Delta 7:37:49 8 A Fiorio It Lancia Delta 7:38:23 9 G Grossi It Lancia Delta 7:56:57 10 A Fassina It Ford Coswth 7:58:13 Sainz is new world champion Ladies Cup 1 L Aitken-W GB Vaux Astra 8:20:41 2 F L'Hullier Swi Lancia Int 8:31:27 WORLD RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP POSITIONS: DRIVERS TABLE 1 Carlos Sainz Sp 132 pts 2 Didier Auriol Fr 87 3 Juha Kankkunen Fin 85 4 Miki Biasion It 64 5 Mikael Ericsson Swe 32 CONSTRUCTORS TABLE 1 Lancia 145 2 Toyota 142 3 Subaru 43 4 Mitsubishi 39 LADIES CUP 1 Louise Aitken-Walker GB 36 2 Paola de Martini It 18 20.10.90 - F1:- JAPANESE GRAND PRIXChampionship leader Ayton Senna slipped into pole position after a scorching lap on his second qualifying tyre set. Senna lapped the Suzuka circuit in 1 min 36.996 secs, well ahead of Alain Prost, who put his Ferrari on the front row of the grid with 1 min 37.228 secs. Team-mate Nigel Mansell won third spot with 1 min 37.719 secs, to be joined on the second row by Thierry Boutsen after notching up a time of 1 min 39.324 secs. Jean Alesi only managed one lap after injuring his neck in an earlier shunt, and Johnny Herbert staged a big improvement by rising from 19th to 15th.
Saturday's qualifying times at Suzuka: mins secs 1 A Senna Brz McLaren 1:36.996 2 A Prost Fr Ferrari 1:37.228 3 N Mansell GB Ferrari 1:37.719 4 G Berger Aut McLaren 1:38.118 5 T Boutsen Bel Williams 1:39.324 6 N Piquet Brz Benetton 1:40.049 7 J Alesi Fr Tyrrell 1:40.052 8 R Patrese It Williams 1:40.355 9 R Moreno Brz Benetton 1:40.579 10 A Suzuki Jap Lola-Lamb 1:40.888 11 P Martini It Minardi 1:40.899 12 D Warwick GB Lotus-Lamb 1:41.024 13 I Capelli It Leyton H 1:41.033 14 S Nakajima Jap Tyrrell 1:41.078 15 J Herbert GB Lotus-Lamb 1:41:536 16 M Gugelmin Brz Leyton H 1:41.698 17 E Bernard Fr Lola-Lamb 1:41.709 18 N Larini It Ligier 1:42.339 19 E Pirro It Dallara 1:42.361 20 G Morbidelli It Minardi 1:42.364 21 P Alliot Fr Ligier 1:42.593 22 S Modena It Brabham 1:42.617 23 D Brabham Aus Brabham 1:43.156 24 A Caffi It Arrows 1:43.270 25 M Alboreto It Arrows 1:43.304 26 A De Cesaris It Dallara 1:43.601 *************************************** 27 O Grouillard Fr Osella 1:43.993 28 G Tarquini It AGS-Ford 1:44.281 29 Y Dalmas Fr AGS-Ford 1:44.410 30 B Gachot Bel Coloni 1:45.395AUDI SPORT RALLY:- Finn Markku Alen and New Zealand's Possum Bourne will give the Subaru Legacy its British debut in Saturday's final round of the British championship. The Banbury-based team have decided to run the four-wheel drive cars as part of their testing programme for next month's Lombard RAC rally.Alen, winner of 19 World championship rallies, heads a field of 87 which also includes ex-British champion Russell Brookes and Colin McRae. The event covers 11 timed stages in the forest gravel tracks of mid-Wales.
Top entries for Saturday's event: 1 Alen/Kivimaki Fin Subaru Legacy 2 Brookes/Wilson Eng/Wal Sapphire Cos 3 McRae/Ringer Sco Sapphire Cos 4 Middleton/Mills Eng/Wal Sapphire Cos 5 Metcalfe/Gr'rod Eng Vauxhall Nova 6 Wood/Paterson Sco Sierra Cos 7 Frankland/Ch'chase Eng Peugeot 205 8 Dyas/Derry Eng Sapphire Cos 9 Kaby/Gormley Eng Daihatsu Ch 10 Head/Roy Sco Honda Civic 11 Bourne/AN Other NZ Subaru Legacy 12 Bothwell/Jones Eng/Wal Toyota Celica 21.10.90 - F1:- JAPANESE GRAND PRIXAyrton Senna captured the world crown in a dramatic start to the Suzuka race. Senna, starting from pole position in his McLaren-Honda, lost out at the green light to Ferrari driver Alain Prost and then collided with him on the first corner, spinning off the track. Prost, needing to win the penultimate round to keep the Championship alive, also ended up in the gravel, his race and title challenge over. The 30-year-old Brazilian, world champion in 1988, walked to the pits as team-mate Gerhard Berger took the lead.Senna and Alain Prost crashed and went off as they jostled for the best line on the opening bend. It is not yet known if Prost, marginally ahead at the time of the collision, will protest. Last year the two rivals collided near the end of the race, Senna was blamed and Prost clinched the world crown. "Prost opened the door," insisted Senna after the latest incident. "But there was only room for one car."
Britain's Nigel Mansell looked well set for victory when his Ferrari once again let him down, halfway through an incident-packed race at Suzuka. Alain Prost and Ayrton Senna went out in a first corner collision and Gerhard Berger took the lead, only to spin off in his McLaren-Honda on the second lap. Mansell settled into the lead, driving superbly and comfortably holding off the challenge of the two Benettons. But trouble struck as he pulled away from a very quick tyre stop - his ninth retirement in 15 races.
Former triple world champion Nelson Piquet made the most of the absence of the top four F1 drivers to clinch his first Grand Prix win for three years. Piquet took the lead halfway through the race after Nigel Mansell retired, to win by several seconds from stand-in Benetton team-mate Roberto Moreno. It was a remarkable result for Moreno, the EuroBrun driver who has failed to pre-qualify 10 times this year.
Japanese fans cheered ecstatically as Aguri Suzuki earned his first top three finish in the Larrousse and Satoru Nakajima (Tyrrell) finished sixth. Benetton drivers Nelson Piquet and Roberto Moreno enjoyed a lap of honour side-by-side after their magnificent one-two finish in the Japanese round. Piquet's victory earned him about œ450,000 in bonus money and moved him to fourth in the drivers' championship. Moreno's runner-up spot will have strengthened his claim to the Benetton seat for 1991, left vacant following Alessandro Nannini's helicopter crash. "Everything has happened a bit too quickly for me," he admitted. "But I'd like to dedicate this race to Nannini."
Ayrton Senna insisted he felt no blame for the collision which handed him a second world Formula One title - but a disappointed Alain Prost disagreed. "Anyone who understands motor racing could see it for themselves," declared Prost angrily. "He did it deliberately and showed his true character today." Senna said it was "not a bad feeling at all" being world champion again and added that he was not unhappy about failing to win to the race. "I have been on the podium many times," said the Brazilian.
Result at Suzuka (after 53 laps): hrs:mins:secs 1 N Piquet Brz Benetton 1:34:36.824 (average speed 123.077mph) 2 R Moreno It Benetton 1:34:44.047 3 A Suzuki Jap Larrousse 1:34:59.293 4 R Patrese It Williams 1:35:13.082 5 T Boutsen Bel Williams 1:35:23.708 6 S Nakajima Jap Tyrrell 1:35:49.174 7 N Larini It Ligier 1:34:58.244 8 PL Martini It Minardi 1:35:01.090 9 A Caffi It Arrows 1:35:12.139 10 P Alliot Fr Ligier 1:35:48.434Nigel Mansell, Derek Warwick and Johnny Herbert all retired. Jean Alesi unfit to start due to neck injury.
WORLD FORMULA ONE DRIVERS CHAMPIONSHIP Standings after Round 15 of 16: 1 A Senna Brz McLaren 78 points 2 A Prost Fr Ferrari 69 3 G Berger Aut McLaren 40 4 N Piquet Brz Benetton 35 5 T Boutsen Bel Williams 32 6 N Mansell GB Ferrari 31 7 R Patrese It Williams 22 8 A Nannini It Benetton 21 9 J Alesi Fr Tyrrell 13 10 I Capelli It Leyton H 6 == R Moreno Brz Benetton 6 12 A Suzuki Jap Larr-Lamb 6 13 E Bernard Fr Larr-Lamb 5 Senna wins title WORLD FORMULA ONE CONSTRUCTORS TABLE Standings after the Japanese GP: 1 McLaren-Honda 118 points 2 Ferrari 100 3 Benetton-Ford 62 4 Williams-Renault 54 5 Tyrrell-Ford 16 6 Larousse-Lamborghini 11 7 Leyton House-Judd 7 8 Lotus-Lamborghini 3 9 Brabham-Judd 2 = Arrows-Ford 2Ferrari team boss Cesare Fiorio lashed out at officials for allowing the race to go on after the first lap collision between Alain Prost and Ayrton Senna. The accident ended Prost's hopes of denying Senna the title and Fiorio said the race should have been stopped. "It is a scandal that they didn't stop the race. Prost was in front and had a right to turn in," he stormed. McLaren counterpart Ron Dennis laid the blame for the crash on a pole alongside the circuit which both Senna and Prost had asked to be moved.FISA chief Jean-Marie Balestre slammed the crash between Alain Prost and Ayrton Senna as "scandalous" - and blamed Senna for the collision. The International Federation of Automobile Sports president said: "We know over the course of the last two years those who have crashed most."
"I find it scandalous that the end of the world championship be stained once more, destroyed by the fault of a driver. There are no elements in the dossier that permit the disqualification of Senna."
25.10.90 - SPORTS PROTOTYPENissan Motorsports are to withdraw from the 1991 World Sportscar Championship and develop a 3.5 litre normally aspirated car for the 1992 series. Nissan have decided against competing this year and no privateer teams will be given the cars for the 1991 series. However, Nissan will continue to contest the domestic Japanese Group C championship with both factory and privateer turbocars. Although no decision has yet been made the current Nissan drivers are expected to be released from their contracts.
26.10.90DUCKHAMS FORMULA FORD FESTIVAL:- More than 200 drivers take part in 22 races at Brands Hatch this weekend in search of the unofficial title of Formula Ford world champion. GP aces Roberto Moreno and Johnny Herbert have competed at the festival in recent years and potential future Formula One stars are hoping to shine. Dutchman Michael Vergers will drive the Van Diemen RF90 with Bath's Gareth Rees likely to be his main rival. The entry also includes drivers from Brazil, Belgium, Australia and Spain.LEYTON HOUSE:- Leyton House are to stop production of Formula 3000 cars at their Bicester HQ to concentrate solely on the Grand Prix scene next year.
SPORTSCARS:- Jochen Mass, Jean-Louis Schlesser, Michael Schumacher and Karl Wendlinger will represent Mercedes-Benz in the 1991 World Sportscar Championship. Schlesser, 42, and Mass, 44, will drive the Mercedes-Benz C291 - the team's number one car. Schumacher and Wendlinger, both 21, will drive the second Silver Arrow. The appearance of the two juniors as team-mates for the forthcoming season is part of a promotion plan by racing manager Jochen Neerspach. Previously they had been co-drivers to Mass.
F1:- Ferrari president Piero Fusaro has called for a crackdown on Formula One drivers who believe "crashes are now an acceptable tactic". His remarks follow the Japanese Grand Prix in which Ayrton Senna clinched the drivers title after colliding with Ferrari's Alain Prost on the first lap. In a letter to Jean-Marie Balestre, the president of FISA, he said the sport's credibility was being undermined. "We propose consultations begin on adopting concrete measure to apply from the start of next season," he said.
RALLY:- Scotland's Louise Aitken-Walker has become the first women's world champion after her only remaining rival failed to enter the final round of the Cup. Paola de Martini of Italy is not among the 184 entries for November's Lombard RAC Rally leaving Aitken-Walker 18 points clear at the top of the table. In the starting line-up will be last year's winner Pentti Airikkala, top British driver Malcolm Wilson and new world champion Spaniard Carlos Sainz. Former Formula One driver Derek Warwick has also entered.
28.10.90FORMULA FORD:- Camberley's Dave Coyne became the first British winner of the Duckhams Formula Ford Festival and World Cup since 1985 with a narrow victory at Brands Hatch. Coyne scored his first Festival victory after 11 years of trying but was pushed hard by Irishman Fionn Murray and Brands debutant Christophe Bouillon. The Frenchman's third place helped his country lift the World Cup ahead of Eire and Northern Ireland. Pre-event favourite Michael Vergers finished a fighting fourth having started last after a semi-final spin.IVORY COAST RALLY
Top Uruguayan Gustavo Trelles pulled out of the 3,171-km event hours after it began in Abidjan. Trelles, current leader of the World Championship's Group N section for production cars, smashed into a tree across the track close to the start of the 965-km first stage to Yamassoukro. Many top drivers are missing from the penultimate race of the season, with the drivers' and constructors' titles already having been decided.
31.10.90IVORY COAST RALLY:- France's Patrick Tauziac retained the lead in his Mitsubishi Galant as the tough 1,221km second stage claimed a number of victims. Only 14 of the 32 starters were still in the running when the drivers set out on the third and final stage. Japan's Kenjiro Shinozuka, lying second behind Tauziac after the 965km opening stage, dropped out when his Mitsubishi got stuck in deep mud.
Leading positions after second leg: hrs mins 1 P Tauziac Fr Mitsubishi 3:36 2 R Stohl Aut Audi Quattro 4:28 3 A Oreille Fr Renault 5 5:12 4 A Ambrosino Fr Nissan March 5:37 5 P Servant Fr Toyota Cor 6:27 6 M Moline Fr Toyota Cor 6:53 7 J-P Bernier Fr Toyota Cor 7:20 8 V Evina Cam Totota Cor 8:21 9 P Dionneau Fr Toyota Cel 8:55 10 C Vella Fr Peugeot 205 9:19SNETTERTON:- Snetterton race circuit is under threat after a bid to build homes on the site. Owners Brands Hatch circuits have given an option to a property development group to buy the Norfolk track if they win planning permission for a village. Money from the sale would pay for improvements at Brands with the aim of turning it into one of the world's leading motor racing venues. Snetterton, which is unlikely to close until the mid-1990s, regularly attracts crowds of 20,000 plus for national motor racing and motor cycling events.TRUCK RACING:- Roger Burnett swaps his light-weight Durex Suzuki motorcycle for a heavy-weight truck at the weekend to compete in Donington's international festival. Among the stars is European champion Steve Parrish, bidding to avenge his defeat by Swede Curt Goransson at the meeting last year.
F1:- Formula One drivers will not be issued with licences for next year until a special committee has investigated incidents which marred the 1990 season. FISA, the sport's ruling body, insist licences will depend on the committee's conclusions. They say the world series has deteriorated because of "the behaviour of some participants". Alain Prost won the 1989 world title after a crash with Ayrton Senna; this year a crash gave the crown to Senna. Senna was refused a licence this year until he retracted claims of rigging.
JOHN WATSON ON THE AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX
Australia may no longer decide the 1990 drivers' or manufacturers' titles but there will still be plenty to celebrate in Adelaide this weekend. Sunday's race is the 500th round of the World Championship - the first was at Silverstone in 1950 - and lots of extra activities will be held to mark the occasion, including a centenary dinner. The Adelaide track, a mixture of public and private roads, is always hard on cars. Benetton and Williams will both be battling for the remaining top three place behind McLaren and Ferrari.
Benetton arrive in Australia boosted by their welcome 1-2 success in Japan and confident of snatching third place in the World Constructors' Championship. But despite Roberto Moreno's fine drive in Japan, there appears no prospect of Benetton signing him for 1991. Nelson Piquet is already committed to the team and they would not want two drivers of the same nationality. Speculation about the second driver has ranged from Michael Andretti to Thierry Boutsen. Andretti appears to be committed elsewhere while Boutsen has already signed for Ligier.
Derek Warwick would certainly love the Benetton drive but is beginning to feel that his face does not fit any more. This is such a shame. He still has the motivation and the talent and would be a real asset to a team like Benetton. But who said Formula One was fair? Dallara-Ford must feel they have had more than their share of unreliability and now find themselves faced with pre-qualifying next season unless they they can get a result in Australia. There will be no pre-qualifying here, with only 30 cars due to run. The 8am one-hour charge will not be missed!
Nigel Mansell has been following the fortunes of Williams and has already been offering advice to his 1991 team. Mansell has been trying to encourage the team now, rather than waiting until he actually climbs into the car, in the hope that they can work out where they might have been going wrong. Now the World Drivers' Championship has been decided he will not have to support Ferrari team-mate Alain Prost the way he had agreed to do in Japan. He will have to hope the team will support him with the equipment that will give him the chance to win.
The tit-for-tat between Alain Prost and Ayrton Senna has gone full cycle and we can but hope they will now call a truce. Both have won and lost the title as a result of each other's actions but any more incidents would bring themselves and the sport into disrepute. Some team owners and sponsors felt the race should have been stopped but, as there was no danger to other drivers, it was allowed to continue. This time commercial pressures did not prevail. Let us hope Sunday's race is such as befits the 500th round of the series. Anything less would be a disgrace.