01.5.91 - CORSICA RALLY Final leaderboard after 27 stages: hrs:mins.secs 1 C Sainz Toyota Celica 7:05.29 2 D Auriol Lancia Int 7:06.34 3 G Cunico Ford Sierra Cos 7:11.39 4 M Duez Toyota Celica 7:13.12 5 M Wilson Ford Sierra Cos 7:17.19 6 Y Loubet Lancia Int 7:24.12 7 P B'ardini B.M.W. M3 7:24.25 8 P Bugalski Renault Clio 16S 7:24.52 9 F Chatriot Subaru Legacy 7:32.56 10 J Manzagol Renault 5 GT 7:54.54 DRIVERS after round Tour of Corsica 1 C Sainz Sp Toyota 60 pts 2 J Kankkunen Fin Lancia 38 3 D Auriol Fr Lancia 32 4 M Biasion It Lancia 27 5 M Alen Fin Subaru 20 MANUFACTURERS 1 Toyota 77 pts 2 Lancia 71 3 Ford 28 4 Subaru 20 5 Nissan 10World champion Carlos Sainz in a Toyota drove superbly in the wet conditions of the final day to deny Didier Auriol the chance to retain his crown. The Spaniard started the day with a slender 11 second lead but drew away after the Frenchman experienced tyre trouble on the wet tarmac surfaces. It was sweet revenge for Sainz who was pipped last year by Auriol and his Lancia by just 36 seconds. Italy's Gianfranco Cunico in a Ford Sierra was a distant third, six mins 10 secs behind Sainz.
03.5.91 - SPORTSCARSMilan's Teo Fabi marked his European debut for the Silk Cut Jaguar team with the fastest time in the first practice session for Sunday's race at Monza. His lap of 1 min 33.672 secs came near the end of a session which Fabi and team-mate Derek Warwick had dominated using Goodyear 'slicks' on their cars. "The balance of the car for the track and conditions was perfect.. As this is my home track I'm not complaining," he said afterwards. Former GP star Warwick was second fastest with a best lap of 1:34.027.
WORLD SPORTSCAR DRIVERS CHAMPIONSHIP Friday practice times at Monza:mins secs 1 T Fabi It Jaguar 1:33.672 2 D Warwick GB Jaguar 1:34.027 3 O Larrauri Fr Porsche 1:37.853 4 M Baldi It Peugeot 1:38.040 5 JL Schlesser Fr Mercedes 1:38.096 6 K Rosberg Fin Peugeot 1:38.954 7 C Zwolsman Hol Spice Ford 1:40.153 8 M Schumacher Ger Mercedes 1:40.555 9 M Reuter Ger Porsche 1:40.720 10 M Sala Brz Mazda 1:48.690FRAM WELSH RALLY:- Three Ford Sierras are poised to upset the Championship hopes of young Colin McRae in the Fram International Rally, third round of the British Open series. McRae won the opening two rounds but this weekend faces the tough challenge of Group A Sierra Cosworth 4x4s driven by Louise Aitken-Walker, Gwyndaf Evans and ex-British champion Russell Brookes. Also in the top class entry is Mark Lovell in a Volkswagen G60, confident after two days' testing in North Wales where the "car ran without a hitch".
04.5.91 - SPORTSCARSBritain's Martin Brundle qualified in style for Sunday's race at Monza despite very wet conditions in the final qualifying session. Brundle, the 1988 world champion, missed Friday practice due to an F-One testing commitment with Brabham and needed to lap in 1:54.221 to qualify. He clocked 1:51 on his first flying lap in the number 3 Silk Cut Jaguar and lowered it to 1:44.052 to finish as the day's fastest driver. "I was never worried," he insisted. "The XJR-14 is stunning in the wet."
Milanese driver Teo Fabi starts on pole for Sunday's second round of the FIA World Sportscar Championship after rainkept times down in final qualifying. Fabi set the fastest time in the final moments of the first session on Friday, clocking 1 min 33.672 secs in his Silk Cut Jaguar. Fastest on Saturday was team-mate Martin Brundle in 1:44.052. Rain is forecast for race day so most teams worked on wet weather development. Walter Brun, who had a fuel pressure problem on the Porsche on Friday, failed to achieve the qualifying time.
Peugeot drivers Philippe Alliot and Yannick Dalmas both tested the hand-grooved Michelin tyres during the wet session. Alliot, third fastest on Saturday, gave them the vote but Dalmas found his car was aquaplaning. Jochen Mass lost time after being black flagged for an inoperative rear light. Mercedes team-mate Karl Wendlinger was halted by a detached oil pipe. Fastest Porsche driver for the second day running was Oscar Larrauri (Brun). Manuel Reuter was seventh quickest on Saturday after curing gearbox trouble.
WORLD SPORTSCAR DRIVERS CHAMPIONSHIP Friday practice times at Monza:mins secs 1 T Fabi It Jaguar 1:33.672 2 D Warwick GB Jaguar 1:34.027 3 O Larrauri Fr Porsche 1:37.853 4 M Baldi It Peugeot 1:38.040 5 JL Schlesser Fr Mercedes 1:38.096 6 K Rosberg Fin Peugeot 1:38.954 7 C Zwolsman Hol Spice Ford 1:40.143 8 M Schumacher Ger Mercedes 1:40.555 9 M Reuter Ger Porsche 1:40.720 10 M Sala Brz Mazda 1:48.690 FRAM WELSH:- LEADERBOARD after 13 of 20 stages: hr mins secs 1 R Brookes Ford 1:53:42 2 G Evans Ford 1:55:26 3 L A-Walker Ford 1:58:45 4 G Middleton Mitsubishi * 2:00:45 5 R Ferreyros Ford * 2:01:27 6 P Dyas Ford * 2:01:28 7 D Gillanders Ford 2:01:55 8 M Sohlberg Mitsubishi * 2:03:39 9 G Jones Toyota 2:04:17 10 D Metcalfe Vauxhall 2:05:20 End of first day (* Group N)Gwyndaf Evans lost his brakes for the end of stage 3 and the whole of stage 4 and then suffered turbo trouble with his Ford engine on stage 6. Louise Aitken-Walker, the reigning women's champion, says she is still on a learning curve with her 4x4 Ford and says it is a little 'tail happy'.
Mark Lovell spun on stage 2 and then lost time with a puncture on stage 4. He slowed his VW inside the final stage of the day with a broken supercharger. David Maslen ended his Group N victory hopes when he crashed on stage 4. Robbie Head retired his Honda and Jim Bothwell lost third gear on his Toyota on stage 4. Paul Frankland's charge into the top 10 came to an abrupt halt on stage 5 when the engine on his Peugeot blew, forcing him out of the two-day event. David Gillanders dropped off the leaderboard after apparently booking in three minutes early at a control. He incurred a penalty and slipped to 19th. Roger Davies is struggling on despite brake trouble on his Peugeot, caused by a broken brake pipe on stage 1. He went off on stage 5 but recovered.
05.05.91 - SPORTSCARSDerek Warwick and Martin Brundle led a Silk Cut Jaguar 1-2 in the second round of the FIA World Sportscar Championship. Brundle had started from the pit lane after mechanics spotted a pre-race oil leak and changed the engine on the XJR-14 in just 75 minutes but, by the end of lap one, he was into fifth place. Brundle also took over from Two Fabi in the second Jaguar, with Fabi returning to the car to take the chequered flag. Third was the Sauber Mercedes of Jochen Mass and Jean-Louis Schlesser ahead of the Euro Racing Spice Ford.
A pit-stop crash destroyed Peugeot's hopes of collecting a second successive win in the World Sportscar Championship. With their two cars leading, Yannick Dalmas lost control coming in to his pit, injuring a mechanic and wrecking his refuelling tower. He moved across to the other pit just as Keke Rosberg pulled in to refuel in the second Peugeot and both cars lost three laps in the resulting confusion. Rosberg retired 10 laps before the end of the 75-lap race with a blown engine but the other car finished eighth.
WORLD SPORTSCAR DRIVERS CHAMPIONSHIP Result after 75 laps at Monza:hrs mins sec 1 Warwick/Brundle Jaguar 2:05:42 2 Fabi/Brundle Jaguar 1 lap 3 Schlesser/Mass Mercedes 2 laps 4 Zwolsman/Euser Spice Ford 4 laps 5 Reuter/Toivenen Porsche 4 laps 6 Larrauri/Sigala Porsche 6 laps 7 Sala/Dieudonne Mazda 6 laps 8 Baldi/Alliot Peugeot 6 laps 9 Robert/Migault Porsche 7 laps 10 Trolle/B'bonnais Porsche 8 laps WORLD SPORTSCAR DRIVERS CHAMPIONSHIP: Points 1 Schlesser 27 = Mass 27 3 Alliot 23 = Baldi 23 5 Reuter 20 = Toivonen 20 = Warwick 20 FRAM WELSH RALLY:- PROVISIONAL RESULT: (after 20 stages): hr mins secs 1 R Brookes Ford 3:01:54 2 G Evans Ford 3:03:11 3 L A-Walker Ford 3:09:10 4 G Middleton Mitsubishi * 3:11:25 5 P Dyas Ford * 3:11:50 6 R Ferreyros Ford * 3:11:59 7 G Jones Toyota 3:16:49 8 D Gillanders Ford 3:17:10 9 D Metcalfe Vauxhall 3:18:01 10 M Sohlberg Mitsubishi * 3:18:13Mark Lovell was unable to start the second day after checking in to the overnight rest halt one minute over his permitted lateness, following engine troubles with the Volkswagen. Colin McRae's brilliant fightback came to an end when he put his Subaru off the road on Sunday's fifth stage, with just two remaining. McRae, who slipped to 35th after crashing on day one, had just returned to the leaderboard. Group N leader Graham Middleton hit a large boulder on stage 16 but was able to continue with his Mitsubishi intact and clinched the group honours. Wetherby's Richard Forster extended his lead in the Vauxhall Nova GSi Super Challenge with a narrow victory in the class, at Swansea. A mix-up over start times gave the lead to Kim Kirk at the start of the final stage but a broken driveshaft dropped Kirk to second spot.
SHELL RAC OPEN RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP Position after 3 rounds (provisional) 1 C McRae 40 Points 2 R Brookes 35 3 M Sohlberg 26 4 D Maslen 18 5 B Fisher 15 6 G Evans 15 08.5.91 - JOHN WATSON ON THE MONACO GRAND PRIXAfter an exhibition of total domination in Imola and Ayrton Senna's hat-trick, everybody must be wondering what to do to break McLaren's stranglehold. Unfortunately the principal opposition - Williams and Ferrari - are at more of a disadvantage at Monaco than at Imola. McLaren's biggest strength, outside of Senna, will lie in the performance range of the Honda V12 engine. Their engineers tailor it to suit each race. In addition they are able to dial in the chassis for all sorts of circuits.
Who will finish behind the McLarens in Monte Carlo - that must surely be the only question remaining this weekend! Ferrari possibly. For once they can stand back and say 'not guilty' and point the finger of blame at the two drivers for the shambles in Imola. Don't be surprised to see Jean Alesi outdriving Alain Prost, after last year's stunning performance when he was second in his underpowered Tyrrell-Ford. However the Ferraris are not ideally suited to street races - or, should I say, that was the opinion of Alesi and Prost after Phoenix earlier this year.
Once again Williams should be the strongest threat to McLaren. Their strengths are a great chassis, a flexible and powerful Renault engine - and a bubbling Riccardo Patrese. Team leader Nigel Mansell, like Patrese will be looking for reliability to match the car's potential but the Monaco circuit is a known car-destroyer. Their weak link this year has been the semi-automatic gearbox. A success at Monaco, the most mechanically-demanding circuit in the F1 season, would provide them with a confident platform for the rest of the year.
Monaco is a race that can produce an unexpected result, right through the top six placings. It is essentially a finishers' race and, as was proven at Imola two weeks ago, the unexpected can sometimes provide a gift to a team not normally expected to be among the points. The Dallara, Minardi and Lotus camps celebrated more than just a fine result. By finishing in the top six they improved their chances of avoiding pre-qualifying in the second half of the season. Monaco provides another chance for those on the borderline to escape.
Footwork-Porsche will have two of the new FA12 cars in action in Monte Carlo.The car's debut two weeks ago was marred by a problem in the oil system. Michele Alboreto's fitness is still in doubt following his crash in testing and Stefan Johansson is standing by. Eric Van der Poele gave a superb performance at Imola. He is also known as a dab-hand around street tracks. Again he must first face the daunting pre-qualifying session on Friday morning. In my opinion, he deserves better...
PARIS-DAKAR RALLY:- Organisers of the Paris to Dakar rally have decided that the next race will end in Cape Town after crossing 13,000kms through Africa. Competitors will leave Paris on December 28 and finishers would be expected at Bloubergstrand, a Cape Town beach, on about January 20. The Paris to Cape Town event will mark South Africa's return to international motor sport after six years of isolation.
09.5.91 - MONACO GP FIA WORLD FORMULA ONE CHAMPIONSHIP: Thursday practice times: mins secs 1 A Senna Brz McLaren 1:20.508 2 G Berger Aut McLaren 1:21.222 3 R Patrese It Williams 1:22.057 4 A Prost Fr Ferrari 1:22.113 5 N Piquet Brz Benetton 1:22.816 6 J Alesi Fr Ferrari 1:22.966 7 JJ Lehto Fin Dallara-Fd 1:23.023 8 N Mansell GB Williams 1:23.279 9 E Pirro It Dallara-Fd 1:23.311 10 S Modena It Tyrrell 1:23.442 11 R Moreno Brz Benetton 1:23.476 12 P Martini It Minardi 1:24.101 13 A de Cesaris It Jordan 1:24.257 14 S Nakajima Jap Tyrrell 1:24.435 15 G Morbidelli It Minardi 1:24.481 16 B Gachot Bel Jordan 1:24.540 17 T Boutsen Bel Ligier 1:24.728 18 E Comas Fr Ligier 1:24.747 19 M Hakkinen Fin Lotus-Judd 1:24.868 20 M Gugelmin Brz Leyton Hse 1:24.920 21 I Capelli It Leyton Hse 1:25.040 22 G Tarquini It AGS-Ford 1:25.078 23 E Bernard Fr Lola-Ford 1:25.370 24 M Blundell GB Brabham 1:25.500 25 A Suzuki Jap Lola-Ford 1:26.380 26 M Alboreto It Footwork 1:37.843 27 F Barbazza It AGS-Ford 1:28.060 28 J Bailey GB Lotus-Judd 1:28.772 29 M Brundle GB Brabham disqualifiedMartin Brundle has been disqualified from the Monte Carlo Grand Prix. The Brabham Grand Prix driver was disqualified after he failed to see signs calling him in for a weight check during Thursday's first timed session. Under articles 11 & 12 which came into force on Wednesday he was banned from taking any further part in the event. The ban puts the pressure on his team who have just this race and races in Canada and Mexico to score points to avoid falling into pre-qualifying.
SPORTSCARS:- Ulsterman Kenny Acheson will be part of the Jaguar entry for the Le Mans 24-hour race on June 22-23.
11.5.91 - F1:- MONACO GPItaly's Alex Caffi walked away from a high-speed crash which destroyed his Footwork-Porsche in Saturday's practice. Caffi's car seemed to go out of control as he drove through the swimming pool complex in the harbour of Monte Carlo, sending him head-on into the barriers. His car split into two on impact with the rear end breaking away as the car spun down the circuit, wings and wheels flying in all directions. Fire broke out as the rear axle broke loose. Caffi was taken to hospital with slight concussion but was otherwise unhurt.
Defending champion Ayrton Senna in his McLaren-Honda once again dominated practice around the streets of Monte Carlo to clinch his 56th pole position. Senna, who won the race last year, was well inside his 1990 pole time with a lap of 1 min 20.344 secs. Italy's Stefano Modena also lines up on the front row in his Tyrrell-Honda after claiming the best starting place of his career with a lap of 1:20.809. Third fastest was Riccardo Patrese in a Williams-Renault with team-mate Nigel Mansell making a big improvement to 5th.
Ayrton Senna kept a clean sheet with his fourth pole position of the season and then welcomed the new competition from Stefano Modena in a Tyrrell-Honda. "Stefano did a good job and it shows how tough it is going to be from now on," said the Brazilian. "It's good for spectators and good for the sport." Modena was also delighted with his lap which left him alongside Senna on the front row of the grid. "I think I was the fastest car through the Mirabeau and I feel everything should go well on Sunday," he commented.
FIA WORLD FORMULA ONE CHAMPIONSHIP: Final practice times: mins secs 1 A Senna Brz McLaren 1:20.344 2 S Modena It Tyrrell 1:20.809 3 R Patrese It Williams 1:21.013 4 N Piquet Brz Benetton 1:21.159 5 N Mansell GB Williams 1:21.205 6 G Berger Aut McLaren 1:21.222 7 A Prost Fr Ferrari 1:21.455 8 R Moreno Brz Benetton 1:21.804 9 J Alesi Fr Ferrari 1:21.910 10 A de Cesaris It Jordan 1:22.764 11 E Pirro It Dallara-Jd 1:23.022 12 JJ Lehto Fin Dallara-Jd 1:23.023 13 S Nakajima Jap Tyrrell 1:23.052 14 P Martini It Minardi 1:23.064 15 M Gugelmin Brz Leyton Hse 1:23.394 16 T Boutsen Bel Ligier 1:23.431 17 G Morbidelli It Minardi 1:23.584 18 I Capelli It Leyton Hse 1:23.642 19 A Suzuki Jap Lola-Ford 1:23.898 20 G Tarquini It AGS-Ford 1:23.909 21 E Bernard Fr Lola-Ford 1:24.079 22 E Comas Fr Ligier 1:24.151 23 B Gachot Bel Jordan 1:24.208 24 M Blundell GB Brabham 1:24.253 25 M Alboreto It Footwork 1:24.606 26 M Hakkinen Fin Lotus-Judd 1:24.829 NON QUALIFIERS 27 J Bailey GB Lotus-Judd 1:26.995 28 F Barbazza It AGS-Ford 1:27.079CAMEL TROPHY:- Britain's Tim Dray and Andrew Street fought back from a disastrous start to move into third place behind Turkey and Austria in the Camel Trophy in Tanzania. A broken terratrip on the Land Rover Discovery and problems in the mud left them ninth after two tasks but they won two of the next three to move into contention with seven tasks remaining.
INDYCAR:- Indy-car rookie Mark Dismore suffered multiple injuries after crashing in practice for the Indianapolis 500 race on May 26. Emerson Fittipaldi, the 1989 winner, set the pace averaging 226.7mph during unofficial testing.
F3000:- Londoner Chris Goodwin makes his British F3000 Championship debut at Brands Hatch on Sunday in a Reynard 90D backed by GJ Motorsport's Graham Warren. Goodwin was only just over a second off the pace set by Championship leader Paul Warwick, winner of the first two rounds, in testing at the Kent circuit on Tuesday afternoon.
12.05.91 - F1:- MONACO GPWorld Champion Ayrton Senna took a 29 point lead in the championship with his 18 second victory over Nigel Mansell around the streets of Monaco. And with victory he became the first man in the sport's history to win all of the first four races.
Stefano Modena's Tyrrell's second place disappeared when his engine blew at half distance - and third placed Riccardo Patrese slid off on his oil. A late charge saw Mansell take second place from Prost and a pit stop then demoted Prost to fifth at the finish.
Nigel Mansell celebrated his first finish of the season with a storming drive into second place. The podium result lifts him fourth equal in the world championship but a distant 34 points behind Ayrton Senna. Mansell's result hinged on a heroic overtaking manoeuvre past Prost at the Nouvelle Chicane 15 laps from the end.
"Prost made a mistake going into the tunnel and I managed to get alongside him and outbraked him into the chicane" said Mansell. But he did not get close enough to threaten Senna's 30th victory. Stefano Modena's chance of claiming his first Grand Prix victory ended when his engine exploded on lap 46. He was second behind Senna when he was held up for three laps lapping Emanuele Pirro, allowing Riccardo Patrese to close right up behind him.
"I was right behind Modena in the tunnel, flat in sixth gear, when his engine exploded spreading oil and I went off," said Patrese. "It was a great disappointment not to have finished when everything was going so well," said Modena. Frenchman Alain Prost threw away two places in the final stages of the Monaco Grand Prix when he was forced to make a pit stop. Prost, who has won at Monaco four times in the past, looked comfortably in third place when one of the tyres on his Ferrari started to deflate. A slow tyre change demoted him behind team-mate Jean Alesi and Roberto Moreno before he was able to storm back into the race. On fresh tyres he set a new lap record of 1 min 24.368 secs.
Britain's other Grand Prix drivers did not have the same luck as Nigel Mansell who survived his engine cutting out twice to finish second. Julian Bailey was unfortunate not to qualify and Brabham's Martin Brundle was disqualified during qualifying after failing to make a weight check. Mark Blundell was equally unfortuate as his 10th place disappeared when he came through the tunnel just after Stefano Modena's engine had exploded. "I was doing 150mph and with oil on the track I had no chance," said Blundell.
FIA WORLD FORMULA ONE CHAMPIONSHIP Result after 78 laps: 1 A Senna Brz McLaren 2 N Mansell GB Williams 18.348s 3 J Alesi Fr Ferrari 47.455s 4 R Moreno Brz Benetton 1 lap down 5 A Prost Fr Ferrari 1 " 6 E Pirro It Dallara 1 " 7 T Boutsen Bel Ligier 2 " 8 B Gachot Bel Jordan 2 " 9 E Bernard Fr Lola 2 " 10 E Comas Fr Ligier 2 " 11 JJ Letho Fin Dallara 3 " 12 P Martini It Minardi 6 " The rest of the field failed to finish FIA WORLD F-ONE DRIVERS STANDINGS 1 A Senna Brz McLaren 40 points 2 A Prost Fr Ferrari 11 3 G Berger Aut McLaren 10 4 R Patrese It Williams 6 = N Piquet Brz Benetton 6 = N Mansell GB Williams 6 7 J Alesi Fr Ferrari 5 8 JJ Lehto Fin Dallara 4 9 S Modena It Tyrrell 3 == P Martini It Minardi 3 == R Moreno Brz Benetton 3 12 S Nakajima Jpn Tyrrell 2 == M Hakkinen Fin Lotus 2 FIA WORLD F-ONE CONSTRUCTORS TABLE 1 McLaren 50 points 2 Ferrari 16 3 Williams 12 4 Benetton 9 5 Tyrrell 5 = Dallara 5 7 Minardi 3 = Lotus 3 9 Lola 1INDYCAR:- Rick Mears headed the first day qualifiers for the Indianapolis 500 race on May 26, averaging 224.113mph in a Penske 91 Chevy. AJ Foyt, who was seriously hurt in a crash last year, qualified for the 34th year running.
SALOON CAR:- Frank Greenway and Andy Middlehurst won the 125 lap, Donington 500 saloon car race by 1 min 25 secs from the BMW M3 of Steve Griffin and Mark Hales.
WARWICKS:- The Warwick family celebrated a winning weekend after ex-GP driver Derek won the Jaguar saloon car race supporting the Monaco GP and younger brother Paul scored his third win in three races to dominate the British F3000 Championship Julian Westwood was second.
CIRCUIT OF KERRY RALLY:0 John Price in a Metro 6R4 won the Circuit of Kerry rally in a time of 1hr 25 mins 19 secs ahead of Ken McKinstry in a Sierra Cosworth, 11 secs behind.
16.5.91 - JOHN WATSON ON SPORTSCARS AT SILVERSTONESilverstone hosts its first major event on the new-look circuit on Sunday with the third round of the world sportscars - and it should be a real spectacular. There have been dramatic changes to the previous layout with nearly every corner altered. Drivers will find it much more physically demanding. The changes are simply visual to the spectators but to the teams, the very nature of the new corners present real problems in terms of car set-up. Some teams will be caught out but not Jaguar and Peugeot, who tested at Silverstone three weeks ago.
The most outstanding thing for me about this weekend's world sportscars will be viewing the action on the new circuit. Some of the new corners are spectacular - at Becketts, Stowe and Vale - and when I watched Jaguar and Peugeot go through Bridge, now the fastest corner on the circuit, I got the shivers! Spectators should try to see qualifying to get in effect a preview of what the Grand Prix will be like at Silverstone. Spectators will have an excellent view of all the action from a more elevated position because viewing around the circuit has been improved enormously.
Jaguar have dominated at Silverstone over a number of years and I cannot see why that should not continue on Sunday. The XJR14 is a very special race car. It has extended the boundaries of the ordinary concept of what a sportscar is and is the nearest thing to an F1 car with bodywork. Martin Brundle, devastating at Monza, is effectively the floater with Derek Warwick going for the championship. Teo Fabi completes a powerful team and I will be surprised if they don't win - but motor racing is a carousel and you never know...
Peugeot were euphoric after the V10-engined 905 won in Japan but they had a terrible race at Monza - it was total catastrophe. They were hit by mechanical failure but if they are to bounce back, Keke Rosberg is the man to do it. He only knows one way to drive - flat out! Peugeot's chance on Silverstone's new circuit is strong as they use two drivers per car and to my mind that is the way to approach it. This will be an advantage because of the increased physical effort generated by the new corners.
Last year's champions Mercedes have so far had to rely on last year's turbo-charged C11 to pick up points. The C11 is proven and reliable - Schlesser and Mass currently lead the championship - but high weight limits and pit-stop penalties are the downside. The new 3.5-litre car is a complex car and engine package that is not fully competitive and not fully reliable. Of the rest, Euro Racing Spice are potentially top three material if they had two decent drivers while Porsche has generally relied on reliability rather than performance.
F1 TESTING IN FRANCE Magny Cours - Wednesday mins secs 1 J Alesi Ferrari 1:15.52 2 R Patrese Williams 1:15.81 3 N Mansell Williams 1:17.17 4 A De Cesaris Jordan 1:18.10 5 A Prost Ferrari 1:18.32 6 A Senna McLaren 1:18.71 7 N Piquet Benetton 1:18.77 8 JJ Lehto Dallara 1:19.15 9 E Comas Ligier 1:19.30 10 G Berger McLaren 1:19.53 OTHERS: 17 M Brundle Brabham 1:21.50 19 M Blundell Brabham 1:22.06The new venue for the French Grand Prix is not proving popular with the F1 drivers who tested there on Thursday. "It is a good circuit but it is too narrow and very difficult to overtake said Canon Williams driver Riccardo Patrese, of the Magny Cours circuit. Patrese was among the fastest on Tuesday but restricted to a single lap early Wednesday by electronics troubles. Nigel Mansell, who was quickest Tuesday, had problems with his semi-automatic gearbox repaired before concentrating on a full race distance this afternoon.
Ferrari F1 chief Cesare Fiorio has been sacked and will be replaced by a three-man board of directors. Ferrari made the shock announcement at French circuit Magny Cours where they are holding private practice sessions. Fiorio, under pressure after wide criticism about the team's poor results will be replaced at the head of the new board by Piero Lardi Ferrari. Alain Prost said: "I don't have much to say about it but there must be a reason for Fiorio being dropped."
18.5.91 - SPORTSCARSMartin Brundle continued his dazzling form as he and Jaguar team-mate Derek Warwick dominated in practice for the World Sportscar round at Silverstone. Brundle clocked 1 min 34.989 secs on the re-designed circuit, the fastest lap by more than two secs. Warwick was second fastest with over 3.7 secs to spare on the Mercedes of Austrian Karl Wendlinger. Teo Fabi rounded off a very successful session for Jaguar, who enjoyed a 1-2 at Monza, with the fifth fastest time.
Martin Brundle was hoping for better weather on Saturday after setting the fastest lap in very damp conditions. "We'll all be pleased if it's a dry day tomorrow. The traffic was very bad indeed but I managed three or four clear laps and popped in a fast time." Brundle finished with damaged bodywork after colliding with a Porsche on the revised circuit. Fellow Jaguar driver Teo Fabi said: "I think it's a more complete circuit. It has everything." But 1990 world champion Jean-Louis Schlesser commented "Technically it is very difficult."
FIA WORLD SPORTSCAR CHAMPIONSHIP Friday practice times at Silverstone: mins secs 1 M Brundle GB Jaguar 1:34.989 2 D Warwick GB Jaguar 1:37.020 3 K Wendlinger Ger Mercedes 1:40.769 4 K Rosberg Fin Peugeot 1:41.100 5 T Fabi It Jaguar 1:41.437 6 JL Schlesser Fr Mercedes 1:42.055 7 O Larrauri Arg Porsche 1:43.135 8 P Alliot Fr Peugeot 1:43.202 9 M Schumacher Ger Mercedes 1:46.143 10 M Reuter Ger Porsche 1:46.196F3:- Rickard Rydell was fastest in testing for Sunday's fifth round of the British F3 Championship at Brands Hatch with a lap of 42.33 secs. Spain's Jordi Gene had the next best time.
CAMEL TROPHY:- United Kingdom duo, Andrew Street and Tim Dray, were the first to arrive at Mikumi in the Camel Trophy. They then returned to the depths of the jungle in their Land Rover to help other entrants free their stricken vehicles from mud.
MANX NATIONAL RALLY:- Japanese journalist Hideaki Miyoshi, leader of the Mintex National Rally Championship heads the field for Saturday's Manx National Rally. Miyoshi, driving a Mitsubishi Giant, takes a nine point series lead to the Isle of Man, where the championship reaches its halfway stage. 1989 champion Graham Middleton follows in his Ford Cosworth but the biggest threat to Miyoshi's lead looks set to come from Trevor Smith and Steve Hill. The Oxfordshire duo are capable of pushing Miyoshi hard over the 16 stages.
19.5.91 - SPORTSCARSDerek Warwick was at the wheel to round off a decisive World Sportscars win by Jaguar at Silverstone - but officials ruled he will not score any points. Italian Teo Fabi made a flying start in the car and was over a lap clear when he handed over to Warwick on lap 56. He drove smoothly to the finish but officials later said he had been listed to drive their other car and Fabi alone would receive the winner's points. Martin Brundle drove superbly for third in the second Jaguar which suffered a broken throttle cable early on.
Derek Warwick could not conceal his disappointment after hearing he will not receive any points after bringing his Jaguar home first at Silverstone. He has been listed to partner Martin Brundle but the team decided to switch him to Teo Fabi's car when Brundle ran into early trouble. "I am sick that I lost the points, as I would have been leading the world championship tonight. Instead I am ninth," Warwick commented. He said he had been "choked" when his own car's problem occurred.
Tired Martin Brundle said it had been the hardest drive of his life after single-handedly bringing his Jaguar home third at Silverstone. "I was reduced to tears from relief and total exhaustion when I crossed the line," he commented. "I didn't expect to do the race on my own, but we could not jeopardise the team's points, so there was no choice. I spent the whole race grappling with the throttle cable, which was changed super-quickly with no time to secure it in the cockpit. We became quite good friends," he added.
Yannick Dalmas brought the Peugeot he shared with Keke Rosberg into the pits and retired on lap 51 after reports of smoke from the engine. John Sheldon's Chamberlain Spice was withdrawn owing to 'engine problems.' "To race could be terminal and expensive," said Hugh Chamberlain. Francois Migault was disqualifed for overtaking the pace car at the start after getting under way late. Tiff Needell was forced to retire the Konrad Porsche with a faulty turbo boost.
FIA WORLD SPORTSCAR CHAMPIONSHIP Result after 83 laps: hrs:mins.secs 1 Fabi/Warwick Jaguar 2:12.30 2 S'macher/Wend'r Mercedes 1 lap b/h 3 Brundle Jaguar 4 laps b/h 4 Schlesser/Mass Mercedes 4 laps b/h 5 Piper/Euser Spice 5 laps b/h 6 Baldi/Alliot Peugeot 5 laps b/h 7 Larrauri/Pareja Porsche 6 laps b/h 8 Reuter/Toivonen Porsche 7 laps b/h 9 Trolle/B'onnais Porsche 8 laps b/h 10 Sigala/Brun Porsche 8 laps b/h 1991 WORLD SPORTSCARS DRIVERS STANDINGS (after Silverstone round - May 19) 1 J Mass Ger 37 points = J-L Schlesser Fr 37 3 T Fabi It 35 4 P Alliot Fr 29 = M Baldi It 29 = C Euser Hol 28 7 H Toivonen Fin 23 = M Reuter Ger 23 9 D Warwick GB 19 = C Zwolsman Hol 19 11 K Wendlinger Aut 15 == M Schumacher Ger 15 13 M Brundle GB 12 1991 WORLD SPORTSCARS TABLE 1 Sauber Mercedes 42 points 2 Silk Cut Jaguar 40 3 Peugeot Talbot 29 4 Euro Racing 28 5 Porsche Kramer 23 6 Repsol Brun 14 7 Courage Compet. 12 8 Mazdaspeed 10 9 Salamin Primagaz 2F3:- Gil de Ferran led from start to finish at Brands Hatch to record the first Reynard victory since 1989 in the British F3 championship. He finished 1.24 secs clear of David Coulthard.
GM LOTUS:- Tamworth's Kelvin Burt won the Formula Vauxhall Lotus Championship race at Silverstone. Warren Hughes and Piers Hunnisett were fifth and sixth and share the overall championship lead.
INDY CART:- Hiro Matsushita became the first-ever Japanese driver to win a place in the Indianapolis 500 by recording 218.14mph in qualifying for next week's race.
HISTORIC SPORTSCARS:- John Harper beat Steve O'Rourke by 1.44 secs in all-Jaguar battle at the British Aerospace Historic Sportscars race at Spa in Belgium. Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason finished third.
21.5.91 - SPORTSCARSJaguar cannot appeal against Derek Warwick's loss of world championship points after he 'won' Sunday's Sportscar race at Silverstone. The Briton switched cars after his original Jaguar broke its throttle cable on lap one but officials said he was in eligible for points as he had not been nominated to drive the second car. The penalty cost Warwick the lead in the championship and Jaguar were set to appeal to the RAC - the governing body - but FISA said its stewards had not given the team permission to appeal.
27.5.91TOURING CAR:- Will Hoy in a BMW M3 was on pole for the British Touring Car Championship race at Thruxton, with Jeff Allam in a Vauxhall Cavalier alongside on the grid. The works Vauxhall team staged a one-two finish. John Cleland finished first with teammate Jeff Allam a close second. Will Hoy placed third to retain the overall lead.
GM LOTUS:- Portugal's Pedro Lamy clinched his third victory of the season in round five of the GM Lotus Euroseries, held in wet and slippery conditions at the Oesterreichring. Britain's Jonathan McGall finished in ninth place.
F3:- Steve Robertson,in a Ralt RT35, jumped from the second row of the grid at the start to lead all the way to the finish of the British Formula Three Championship at Thruxton. Rubens Barrichello finished second, while David Coulthard's third place was enough to put him in the championship lead ahead of Rickard Rydell, who had to retire after a crash on lap one.
28.5.91 - F1 Surrey's Julian Bailey is to leave the Lotus GP team after just four races and is to be replaced by ex-Benetton driver Johnny Herbert. Bailey finished sixth at Imola in the San Marino GP but failed to qualify at Phoenix, Sao Paulo and Monaco. Herbert is currently racing F3000 in Japan and it is understood that Lotus have acquired a Japanese sponsor if Herbert drives. Lotus would only say that Bailey's departure was due to "circumstances beyond both parties control". Julian Bailey was sad to be leaving the Lotus GP team but would not elaborate on the circumstances that led to his departure.
"I'm obviously disappointed to be unable to continue with Team Lotus and I have thoroughly enjoyed my brief spell with the team," he said. "I wish them every success in the future," he added. Herbert, who replaces Bailey, made a stunning F1 debut in 1989 for Benetton at Rio de Janeiro where he finished in fourth place.
30.5.91 - SCOTTISH INTERNATIONAL RALLYRussell Brookes is aiming to repeat his 1976 Scottish International Rally success, when this year's event gets under way from Perth on Friday. It was his first international success and his hopes of victory are high after his recent Welsh triumph in the 4x4 Sapphire Cosworth. Championship leader Colin McRae is likely to provide the main opposition in his Subaru. His father Jimmy is a late entry for the 700-mile event, which features 25 speed tests.
SPORTSCARS:- Sunday's Canadian Grand Prix could be disrupted due to two sportscar teams fighting for over $1m in compensation. Swiss-based Brun Motorsport and Courage Competition, of France, have been in dispute with Canadian officials and FISA over a crash in Montreal in 1990. Now, team chiefs Walter Brun and Yves Courage are due in Montreal later this week to see lawyers in the hope of issuing injunctions to halt the race. Brun team boss Peter Reinisch said: "We needed the money to replace our cars for this year, but we have had nothing."
JOHN WATSON ON THE CANADIAN GP
The focus of interest in Montreal will be on the incorrigible Ayrton Senna who, having established a record three successive wins, then made it four. No doubt he will be looking for his fifth win in a row and I wonder whether he is becoming more interested in the records than the victories themselves. There is a danger of the record book becoming too important a motivation. Senna does not need to win every race to hold on to his world title but he appears to be obsessed with doing so.
An exhibition of vintage Nigel Mansell was rewarded with a second place in Monaco - refreshing news for that bulldog breed, the Mansell fan club. Nothing motivates Mansell more than success and plaudits and a second victory in the Canadian Grand Prix - he won in the Williams-Honda in 1986 - can not be completely discounted. Williams and Renault are close to perfecting the FW14 which should ensure the strong Mansell-Patrese partnership is the biggest threat to Ayrton Senna so far this season.
Casino, casino - which in my Italian means chaos - is what Jean Alesi and Alain Prost can expect to face in Montreal this weekend. Cesare Fiorio, drop-kicked outside the ground by Fiat, has been replaced by a committee of three. If one boss cannot make Ferrari work then I fail to see how three can do so - but perhaps I am applying British logic to a Latin problem. There is so much talent and ability at Ferrari. Perhaps Ron Dennis should be released from McLaren for six months to help them offer a challenge to Senna!
Footwork-Porsche's misfortunes continue unabated with the news from Italy of Alex Caffi's road accident. It looks as if Caffi, barely recovered from his horrific crash in practice at Monte Carlo, will not be back in his F1 car before the French Grand Prix. Caffi will travel to Canada but Stefan Johansson will deputise if needed.
Julian Bailey's F1 comeback at Lotus has ended with his replacement by Johnny Herbert. I'm sure this move is solely a commercial one. Several changes have been made to the Gilles Villeneuve circuit in Montreal following the horrific accident in last year's world sports car race. Manhole covers which are thought to have caused the crash have been removed and resurfacing carried out. In addition, the final right-left flick at the beginning of the pits has been greatly altered and is now little more than a mirror of the other corners. It was dauntingly fast in the past and a mighty challenge that some drivers will miss. However it will make things much safer for everyone in the pits.
The Gilles Villeneuve circuit, based on a man-made island in the middle of the St Lawrence Seaway, is traditionally hard on brakes and gearboxes. Weather also plays a part and can be changeable even in June, with cold, icy winds sometimes blowing from the north. Brabham, Leyton House and Footwork-Porsche will be feeling under pressure here and in Mexico with the prospect of pre-qualifying looming ever closer. With Dallara and Jordan doing such a great job, some of the establishment could find themselves rudely awakened by pre-qualifying, after the British GP.
31.5.91 - SCOTTISH RALLY, Perth & Kinro Positions after 10 of 25 stages:mins.secs 1 C McRae Subaru 53.21 2 R Brookes Ford Sapphire 53.47 3 J McRae Ford Sapphire 54.39 4 S Damseaux Toyota 55.31 5 L A-Walker Ford Sapphire 55.58 6 R Head Ford 56.48 7 H Eriksson Peugeot 57.57 8 P Frankland Peugeot 58.25 9 M Sohlberg Mitsubishi 58.34 10 A McRae Vauxhall 58.52Colin McRae clipped the front wing of his Subaru on the third stage but still maintained his lead. Dom Buckley junior put his Mazda in a ditch on the same stage in Devilla and is unlikely to continue. He was lying ninth at the time. Louise Aitken-Walker broke a front drive shaft on Kirk O'Muir - the fourth stage - but lost little time. Peter Stephenson had to carry out repairs to the gearbox on his Toyota after a heavy landing over a jump on stage six - Fairy Knowe.
Positions after 13 of 25 stages: hr:mins.secs 1 C McRae Subaru 1:13.57 2 R Brookes Ford Sapphire 1:14.46 3 J McRae Ford Sapphire 1:15.54 4 S Damseaux Toyota 1:17.04 5 L A-Walker Ford Sapphire 1:18.56 6 R Head Ford 1:19.09 7 H Eriksson Peugeot 1:20.22 8 P Frankland Peugeot 1:21.07 9 M Sohlberg Mitsubishi 1:21.23 10 A McRae Vauxhall 1:21.58Colin McRae in a Subaru leads by 40 seconds after winning 10 of the 13 stages so far. Worcestershire's Russell Brookes in a Ford is in second.
The McRae family completed a first in international rallying, with father and two sons on the leaderboard. Robbie Head, leading the showroom car category, has so far bent a suspension strut, collected a puncture and glazed the rear brake pads.
F1:- CANADIAN GP FIA WORLD FORMULA ONE CHAMPIONSHIP Pre-qualifying times (four go through): 1 E Pirro It Dallara 1:23.244 2 JJ Lehto Fin Dallara 1:23.480 3 A de Cesaris It Jordan-Ford 1:23.672 4 B Gachot Bel Jordan-Ford 1:23.719 NON-QUALIFIERS 5 O Grouillard Fr Fomet-Ford 1:24.795 6 N Larini It Lamborghini 1:25.736 7 E v d Poele Bel Lomborghini 1:26.900 8 P Chaves Por Coloni 1:34.475Britain's Nigel Mansell claimed his first provisional pole position of the season after clocking 1 min 35.065 secs in his Williams Renault. He overcame the rain to lap the Gilles Villeneuve circuit two-tenths of a second faster than Frenchman Jean Alesi in a Ferrari. Ayrton Senna, who finished in third, was unable to take part until the final 20 minutes after his McLaren had blown an engine during the morning session.
FIA WORLD FORMULA ONE CHAMPIONSHIP: Friday practice times: mins secs 1 N Mansell GB Williams 1:35.065 2 J Alesi Fr Ferrari 1:35.257 3 A Senna Brz McLaren 1:35.843 4 R Moreno Brz Benetton 1:35.897 5 A Prost Fr Ferrari 1:36.003 6 A de Cesaris It Jordan 1:37.097 7 N Piquet Brz Benetton 1:37.354 8 R Patrese It Williams 1:37.593 9 P Martini It Minardi 1:37.864 10 E Bernard Fr Lola-Ford 1:38.013 11 S Modena It Tyrrell 1:38.218 12 G Berger Aut McLaren 1:38.223 13 B Gachot Bel Jordan 1:38.383 14 M Brundle GB Brabham 1:38.405 15 JJ Lehto Fin Dallara-Fd 1:38.435 16 T Boutsen Bel Ligier 1:38.517 18 M Gugelmin Brz Leyton Hse 1:38.689 19 E Pirro It Dallara 1:39.017 20 J Herbert GB Lotus-Judd 1:39.113 21 E Comas Fr Ligier 1:39.670 22 A Suzuki Jap Lola-Ford 1:39.696 23 G M'bidelli It Minardi 1:39.780 24 M Blundell GB Brabham 1:39.897 25 F Barbazza It AGS-Ford 1:40.555 26 I Capelli It Leyton Hse 1:40.906 27 S Nakajima Jap Tyrrell 1:41.100 28 M Alboreto It Footwork 1:41.196 29 G Tarquini It AGS-Ford 1:41.946 30 M Hakinnen Fin Lotus-Judd 1:42.900 31 S Johansson Swe Footwork 1:49.019