02.10.91 - Wednesday Formula 1 testing Estoril, Portugal 1 R Patrese Williams 1m 16.18s 2 D Hill Williams 1m 17.06s 3 G Berger McLaren 1m 17.17s 4 G Morbidelli Ferrari 1m 17.22s 5 A Prost Ferrari 1m 17.44s 6 E Pirro McLaren 1m 18.88sNigel Mansell is expected to continue Goodyear tyre testing for Williams on Thursday and may be joined by Mark Blundell. Ayrton Senna is not expected at the testing which will continue until Saturday.
03.10.91 - Thursday Formula 1 testing Estoril, Portugal
mins secs
1 N Mansell Williams 1:15.13
2 R Patrese Williams 1:15.69
3 D Hill Williams 1:16.19
4 A Prost Ferrari 1:16.95
5 G Berger McLaren 1:17.23
6 G Morbidelli Ferrari 1:17.39
7 E Pirro McLaren 1:19.53
Austrian sports car driver Karl Wendlinger is to drive for Leyton House in
the last two Grands Prix of the year. The 22-year-old will replace Mauricio
Gugelmin for the next Formula One race in Japan and Ivan Capelli in
Australia. The troubled Leyton House team have signed up Wendlinger because he
has backing from Mercedes. He is following in the footsteps of Mercedes
team-mate Michael Schumacher who has picked up three points finishes in
succession.05.10.91 WORLD SPORTSCAR DRIVERS CHAMPIONSHIP Friday practice times at Mexico:mins secs 1 Baldi/Alliot Peugeot 1:21.881 2 Warwick Jaguar 1:21.929 3 Fabi/Brabham Jaguar 1:21.959 4 Rosberg/Dalmas Peugeot 1:22.454 5 S'macher/W'linger Mercedes 1:22.791 6 Winter/Schneider Porsche 1:23.565 7 Schlesser/Mass Mercedes 1:23.727 8 Euser/Zwolsman Sp Ford 1:25.351 9 Larrauri Brun Judd 1:26.304 10 Reuter/Rocha Porsche 1:26.312The Silk Cut Jaguar team made a good start to their bid to clinch the World title with second and third places in the first practice session in Mexico. Almost 40 minutes of the session were lost due to rain and driving conditions thereafter proved difficult. The Peugeot of Mauro Baldi and Phillipe Alliot was quickest with a lap of 1 min 21.881 secs. But Derek Warwick and Teo Fabi were also inside 1:22 in the two Jaguars with the team needing to pick up just three points to take the title.
F3000:- Christian Fittipaldi has snatched pole position from F1 pilot Sandro Zanardi in the European F3000 qualifying at Nogaro, France. Zanardi starts second, Hill third, McNish 17th & Stewart 21st.
TOURING CAR:- Andy Rouse starts on pole for Sunday's Touring Car race with series leader Will Hoy starting third and arch-rival John Cleland starting second. Cleland must win with Hoy sixth or lower to take the title from the BMW driver.
F3:- Rubens Barrichello has taken pole position for the penultimate round of the British F3 series at Silverstone with Dave Coulthard starting third.
06.10.91 - FITZPATRICK HOTELS CORK 20 RALLY Positions after stage 11:- 1 McKinstry/Philpot 1m 59.16s 2 Connolly/O'Brien 2m 03.36s 3 O'Donovan/Hayes 2m 05.25s 4 Gilleece/Hayes 2m 06.47sJames Cullen's broken radiator meant a blown headgasket and retirement on ss1. Leader Bertie Fisher retired with blown gearbox. John Price crashes out. Richard Smith broke half shaft on ss6. New leader Kenny McKinstry has turbo problems on ss6. Bob Fowden drops two minutes with differential problems.
WORLD SPORTSCAR DRIVERS CHAMPIONSHIP Final qualifying in Mexico: mins secs 1 Baldi/Alliot Peugeot 1:19.229 2 S'macher/W'linger Mercedes 1:20.332 3 Rosberg/Dalmas Peugeot 1:20.403 4 Warwick/Brabham Jaguar 1:20.746 5 Fabi Jaguar 1:21.092 6 Winter/Schneider Porsche 1:22.849 7 Schlesser/Mass Mercedes 1:23.727 8 Reuter/Rocha Porsche 1:23.906 9 Euser/Zwolsman Sp Ford 1:24.634 10 Moretti/Bell Porsche 1:24.992Mauro Baldi and Phillipe Alliot took pole position in their Peugeot for round seven of the championship in Mexico with a time of 1 min 19.229 secs. Michael Schumacher in a Sauber Mercedes is in second with Keke Rosberg in the other Peugeot third. The Silk Cut Jaguar team will start the 98-lap race in fourth and fifth after Derek Warwick clocked 1 min 20.746 secs with teammate Teo Fabi 0.346 secs behind. Intermittent rain made life difficult for teams trying to evaluate tyres.
F3000:- Christian Fittipaldi raced from pole position to take a four second victory over Sandro Zanardi at Nogaro. Damon Hill was third Allan McNish eighth and Paul Stewart 10th in the Labatts Lola.
TOURING CAR:- Will Hoy finished fifth in the Touring Car race at Silverstone to win the championship. Tim Harvey won and John Cleland was ninth.
F3:- Rubens Barrichello won the F3 race at Silverstone and set a new lap record to lead title rival Dave Coulthard by six points. Coulthard was 22nd with engine problems but can still take the title with victory at Thruxton next Sunday.
HEAT:- Chris Hall wrapped up the 1991 HEAT Champion of Brands with one round remaining by finishing runner-up to Andy Charsley, of Petts Wood. Charsley victory was his third of the season in the Brands Hatch series.
V.LOTUS:- Scott Lakin took fastest lap and victory in Silverstone's Vauxhall Lotus supporting race. He was over two seconds ahead of Oliver Gavin with Alexandre Andrade third.
FF1600:- Russell Ingall in a Van Diemen won the Motorcraft FF1600 race at Silverstone with Dino Morelli second and Marc Goosens third.
07.10.91F1:- Akihiko Nakaya has signed to drive for Brabham in next year's F1 world championship. Brabham have not taken up their option on Mark Blundell and Martin Brundle is expected to sign for Benetton at the end of the year.
SPORTSCARS:- Derek Warwick clinched the World Sportscars Championship for Jaguar, despite only finishing sixth in Mexico. Peugeot took one and two in the seventh round as Warwick battled on amid a string of disasters. He was challenging for second place when a rainstorm hit the circuit but Warwick survived a spin and a jammed starter motor to finish sixth. The first Jaguar failed to start the race because of an oil leak.
09.10.91 - F1British lawyer Max Mosley has been elected president of motor sport's governing body, FISA. He was elected by 43 votes to 29 at FISA's plenary conference in Paris and replaces Jean-Marie Balestre who has held the post for the last 13 years. Mosley is the son of the former fascist leader Sir Oswald Mosley and founder of the March motor racing team, now known as Leyton House.
"I've no intention of making immediate changes and will need time to consider everything," he commented. Formula One has abandoned attempts to establish itself in America - at least for next year. The US event has been left off the provisional 1992 calendar announced by the motor sport's governing body, FISA, in Paris after last year's race attracted less than 30,000. In its place has been put a South African GP at Kyalami and the calendar has been increased from 16 races to 17. The surprise of the schedule was the inclusion of a European Grand Prix at Jerez - giving Spain two Grands Prix.
FORMULA ONE: 1992 PROVISIONAL SCHEDULE Mar 1 South Africa (Kyalami) Mar 22 Mexico (Mexico City) Apr 5 Brazil (Interlagos) May 3 Spain (Barcelona) May 17 San Marino (Imola) May 31 Monaco (Monte Carlo) Jun 14 Canada (Montreal) Jul 5 France (Magny Cours) Jul 12 Britain (Silverstone) Jul 26 Germany (Hockenheim) Aug 26 Hungary (Budapest) Aug 30 Belgium (Spa) Sep 13 Italy (Monza) Sep 27 Portugal (Estoril) Oct 4 Europe (Jerez) Oct 25 Japan (Suzuka) Nov 8 Australia (Adelaide) 10.10.91 - F3000Julian Westwood set the fastest time of 1 min 21.6 secs in official testing for Sunday's British F3000 Championship finale at Donington.
11.10.91 - F1Martin Brundle is to replace three-time world champion Nelson Piquet in the Benetton team for next year's Formula 1 world championship. The 32-year-old from King's Lynn leaves Brabham to join Michael Schumacher at the British-based Italian team. Ivan Capelli has left Leyton House following the signing of Karl Wendlinger, who will team up with Mauricio Gugelmin. Struggling AGS have pulled out of the season's final two rounds.
12.10.91 - F3000Welshman Julian Westwood won his second pole position of the year in final practice for Donington Park's British F3000 finale on Sunday. Jason Elliott was second with Peter Olsson third.
13.10.91 - SAN REMO RALLYLancia driver Didier Auriol was fastest on the speed test, prologue to the five-day event which starts tonight. Auriol clocked 1 hour 02 secs, one second faster than teammate Juha Kankkunen with World Championship leader Carlos Sainz equal third with Piero Liatti after recording 1:04. The teams are due to leave San Remo later for the first seven stages over 123km, taking them to a short rest halt at Il Ciocco in the early hours. They tackle a further three stages before Monday's overnight at Arezzo.
Newly-crowned Spanish gravel rally champion Mia Bardolet has been signed by Q8 Team Ford to compete in the next round of the FIA World Championship. The 27-year-old driver joins Italian Alex Fiorio in the team, driving the Sierra Cosworth 4x4 which was expected to be used by Francois Delecour. "Mia will give us his skills and local knowledge for Catalunya," said team manager Mark Deans. The Catalunya Rally is included in the drivers' championship for the first time. It starts on 10 November.
F3000:- Welshman Julian Westwood won the final round of the British F3000 Championship at Donington Park to finish third overall. Paul Warwick was the posthumous winner of the title.
F3:- Britain's Steve Robertson, in a RALT RT35, won the final British Formula Three Championship race at Thruxton, with Brazilian Rubens Barrrichello clinching the overall title. David Coulthard needed to win to snatch the championship, but retired with a bent nose fin after a collision with Hideki Noda on the seventh of 20 laps.
14.10.91 - SAN REMO RALLY
Positions after 11 of 31 stages:
hrs:mins.secs
1 D Auriol Fr Lancia 1:49.46
2 C Sainz Sp Toyota 1:50.08
3 M Biasion Fin Lancia 1:50.25
4 D Cerrato It Lancia 1:50.56
5 A Schwarz Ger Toyota 1:51.18
6 F Delecour Fr F Sierra 1:52.09
7 G Cunico MC F Sierra 1:53.03
8 A Aghini It Lancia 1:53.24
9 P Fiorio It F Sierra 1:54.08
10 M Wilson GB F Sierra 1:54.46
Didier Auriol lengthened his fragile lead in the San Remo Rally at the end of the second leg. He pulled another nine seconds away from world champion Carlos Sainz in the final stage to lead by 22 seconds. With Auriol setting fastest time on six stages and Sainz on four, Massimo Biasion led two to remain the only challenger to the leading pair. Francois Delecours in a Q8 Ford lost a minute with a puncture on the penultimate stage and slipped to sixth.F1:- Benetton's decision to ditch triple world champion Nelson Piquet was done by mutual agreement Benetton managing director Flavio Briatori has said. "Nelson needs a fresh challenge and so do we," he said. "It was a mutual accord. I have a good relationship with Nelson." Piquet will be replaced next year by Brabham driver Martin Brundle. "He's a good driver - the best on the market at the moment," said Briatori. Despite a meeting with Barone Rampante team last week, Briatori denied they would become a Benetton junior F1 team. Martin Brundle's signing will be a big boost to Benetton F1 team says managing director Flavio Briatori.
"He is very nice and he will be very good for the atmosphere in the team," said Briatori. "He is english and this is an english team. Martin is very professional and experienced. He has been in Formula 1 for four or five years now." Brundle has signed a three-year deal with Benetton to replace triple world champion Nelson Piquet who won this year's Canadian Grand Prix.
15.10.91
THE SAN REMO RALLY
Positions after 20 of 31 stages:
hrs:mins.secs
1 D Auriol Fr Lancia 4:12.42
2 M Biasion Fin Lancia 4:15.11
3 A Schwarz Ger Toyota 4:17.07
4 D Cerrato It Lancia 4:18.44
5 F Delecour Fr F Sierra 4:21.06
6 A Aghini It Lancia 4:23.50
7 M Wilson GB F Sierra 4:24.44
8 P Liatti It Lancia 4:25.05
9 A Fiorio It F Sierra 4:26.23
10 C Sainz Sp Toyota 4:26.28
Didier Auriol increased his lead to over two minutes after 20 stages had
been completed in Italy. The Frenchman, in a Lancia, set fastest times on all
but one of the day's nine stages to underline his superiority. World champion
Carlos Sainz, who had been second behind Auriol, was held up by transmission
problems and lost over 15 minutes to drop to 10th place. Miki Biasion is
second with the Toyota of Armin Schwartz in third, nearly four and a half
minutes adrift of the leader.F1:- French driver Bertrand Gachot has been freed from an 18-month jail sentence for spraying CS gas in the face of a London taxi driver. Three Court of Appeal judges headed by Lord Lane, the Lord Chief Justice, ordered freedom for the 28-year-old after ruling the sentence was too harsh. The judges cut the sentence to nine months and suspended six months of the reduced term which enabled Gachot to be released immediately. The Formula One driver has missed four events during his imprisonment.
The French AGS formula one racing team has been disolved due to severe financial problems. This leaves their two Italian drivers, Gabriele Tarquini and Fabrizio Barbazza, without a team.
16.10.91
SAN REMO RALLY
Positions after 23 of 31 stages:
hrs:mins.secs
1 D Auriol Fr Lancia 4:39.21
2 M Biasion Fin Lancia 4:41.58
3 A Schwarz Ger Toyota 4:43.29
4 D Cerrato It Lancia 4:45.49
5 F Delecour Fr F Sierra 4:48.45
6 A Aghini It Lancia 4:51.00
7 M Wilson GB F Sierra 4:51.17
8 P Liatti It Lancia 4:51.50
9 C Sainz Sp Toyota 4:52.56
10 A Fiorio It F Sierra 4:53.24
Frenchman Didier Auriol will go into the final overnight route of the San
Remo Rally with a lead of over two and and a half minutes in his Lancia. The
33-year-old has led the five-day event since the very first special stage and
he has won a total of 15 of the 23 stages so far. Miki Biasion, also driving a
Lancia, has preserved his car and consolidated his points position in second
place. Armin Schwartz in a Toyota took fastest time on stage 23 but is
unlikely to catch Biasion.JOHN WATSON ON THE JAPANESE GRAND PRIX
The simmering tension surrounding the 1991 world title will reach boiling point in Japan. Ayrton Senna's failure to clinch the crown in Spain will harden his resolve to finish the job in Suzuka. He feels he has been too lenient of late. I am sure Senna's proclamations have Nigel Mansell shaking in his boots! Mansell is the only driver on the race track, in my opinion, who has the psychological measure of Senna. Senna managed to brow beat Alain Prost but he has failed to do the same to Mansell.
There is little doubt that Nigel Mansell has a car advantage over Ayrton Senna - but no more than Senna had over everyone for many seasons. But this race will not only be one of machines, but of character. Senna is the most complete F1 driver around but Mansell is the best racer at present. Both would make fine world champions and it is a shame one of them must lose. Mansell's task is a simple one - if ever winning was simple. Senna has the easier job but faces extra pressure in Japan where Honda will be looking for victory in their home grand prix.
The Suzuka circuit is one of the most demanding on the Formula One calendar. It is considered a power circuit but is ultimately about handling and comprises a mixture of everything from a low speed chicane to a 170mph corner. There are two crucial elements to this race - qualifying and the first corner on the first lap. Pole is never more important than at Suzuka. For the credibility of the drivers' championship, I hope it depends on the positions at the chequered flag rather than on any mishap in the first corner but emotions will be running high here.
Changes have been made to the driver line-up at Leyton House with Mercedes-Benz using their influence once again. Young sportscar star Karl Wendlinger appears in place of their number one driver Ivan Capelli. He and Mauricio Gugelmin were going to share the last two races but now Gugelmin will do both. In fact I feel rather sorry for the German who, at over six feet tall, is far too big for comfort in this car. Another worst kept secret has been confirmed. Since Tom Walkinshaw took over at Benetton, everyone has known that Martin Brundle would join for 1992.
The battle for the constructors' championship could not be closer with Williams leading McLaren by a single point with two rounds remaining. While this may not capture the public imagination in the same way as the drivers' contest, from the teams' point of view it represents dollars and cents. Racing in Japan can be hit by wet weather. Not just a little rain but torrents of water! Unique wet weather tyres are available for local events but F1 tyres are not so deeply grooved. For everyone's sake and safety, I hope the race on Sunday will be a dry one.
17.10.91
SAN REMO RALLY
Provisional result after 31 stages:
hrs mins secs
1 D Auriol Fr Lancia 6:34:26
2 M Biasion Fin Lancia 6:37:16
3 D Cerrato It Lancia 6:41:07
4 F Delecour Fr F Sierra 6:44:41
5 A Aghini It Lancia 6:47:12
6 C Sainz Sp Toyota 6:47:33
7 P Liatti It Lancia 6:48:12
8 A Schwarz Ger Toyota 6:49:26
9 A Fiorio It F Sierra 6:50:12
10 M Wilson GB F Sierra 6:55:18
Frenchman Didier Auriol, driving a Lancia Delta, won the San Remo Rally for
the second year running. Auriol, 33, led the five-day event from the first
stage and stayed well clear of second-placed Miki Biasion. Biasion, also in a
Lancia, consolidated his points position in the world drivers' championship by
finishing ahead of Dario Cerrato in third. The Toyota team instructed Armin
Schwartz to clock in early and take time penalties to allow Carlos Sainz to
consolidate his championship lead.F1:- Nigel Mansell has made it clear that he will do all he can to avoid a collision with world champion Ayrton Senna in Sunday's crucial Japanese Grand Prix. He was reacting to Senna's claim that he was driving too aggressively. Senna added that he hoped there would be "no silly incidents to bring the sport into disrepute."
"Senna has a 16 points advantage going into the last two races and I can't understand his attitude," Mansell said. "We have had some great, clean races and this should be no different."
German car makers Porsche have announced that they are pulling out of Formula One racing. A company statement said Porsche and Footwork, its Japanese partner, had agreed to break their Formula One contract.
18.10.91 - AUDI SPORT RALLYColin McRae and Russell Brookes are set for a thrilling duel in Saturday's Audi Sport International rally to decide who becomes 1991 Shell British champion. The pair will start the 10-stage event in the Welsh forests tied on 80 points but are not likely to have things all their own way. David Llewellin, the 1989 champion, adds spice to the event by making his first UK appearance of the season after concentrating on the World Championship. He is using the event as a warm-up for next month's Lombard RAC rally.
JAPANESE GRAND PRIX:- Nigel Mansell was fractionally outpaced by the McLarens in the first practice session for Sunday's Japanese GP. Gerhard Berger was quickest with a lap of 1 min 36.458 secs, but less than 0.1 of a second separated him, teammate Ayrton Senna and Mansell.
"I'm disappointed I'm not on pole but at the same time happy because there is so little between us at the front. I'm aiming to try and get pole tomorrow becuase the track is narrower than I remembered and it will be important be at the front for the start of the race," Mansell commented.
British driver Mark Blundell has failed to pre-qualify in his Brabham for the first time this season. Blundell suffered an oil leak on his car and then severe handling problems with his spare machine. But teammate Martin Brundle, who next season switches to the Camel Benetton Ford team, clocked the fastest time of the session with a 1 min 41.289 sec lap. Frenchman Eric Bernard will miss the race after suffering a broken left leg when his car span into the barriers, breaking off the nose cone.
FIA WORLD FORMULA ONE CHAMPIONSHIP: Friday practice times: mins secs 1 G Berger Aut McLaren 1:36.458 2 A Senna Brz McLaren 1:36.490 3 N Mansell GB Williams 1:36.529 4 A Prost Fr Ferrari 1:37.565 5 J Alesi Fr Ferrari 1:37.718 6 R Patrese It Williams 1:37.874 7 A Zanardi It Jordan 1:39.051 8 S Modena It Tyrrell 1:39.254 9 M Schumacher Ger Benetton 1:39.724 10 T Boutsen Bel Ligier 1:39.946 11 S Nakajima Jap Tyrrell 1:40.100 12 P Martini It Minardi 1:40.176 13 JJ Lehto Fin Dallara 1:40.191 14 A de Cesaris It Jordan 1:40.407 15 J Herbert GB Lotus-Judd 1:40.512 16 A Caffi It Footwork 1:40.517 17 N Piquet Brz Benetton 1:40.557 18 M Gugelmin Brz Leyton Hse 1:40.714 19 M Brundle GB Brabham 1:40.867 20 G M'delli It Minardi 1:41.088 21 E Pirro It Dallara 1:41.246 22 E Comas Fr Ligier 1:41.251 23 M Hakkinen Fin Lotus-Judd 1:41.485 24 A Suzuki Jap Lola-Ford 1:41.528 25 M Alboreto It Footwork 1:41.536 26 K W'linger Aut Leyton Hse 1:41.639 27 G Tarquini It Fondmetal 1:42.835 28 N Larini It Lamborg'ni 1:43.053 29 E Vd Poele Bel Lamborg'ni 1:46.641 30 E Bernard Fr will not race FIA WORLD FORMULA ONE CHAMPIONSHIP Pre-qualifying times (four go through): 1 M Brundle GB Brabham 1:41.289 2 A Caffi It Footwork 1:42.383 3 M Alboreto It Footwork 1:42.479 4 G Tarquini It AGS Ford 1:43.025 NON-QUALIFIERS 5 M Blundell GB Brabham 1:44.004 6 N Hattori Jpn Coloni 2:00.035 19.10.91 AUDI SPORT RALLY Final positions after 10 stages: Accumulated penalties hrs:mins.secs 1 D Llewellin Nissan 1:30.57 2 R Brookes Ford 1:33.29 3 C McRae Subaru 1:33.34 4 D Metcalfe Vauxhall 1:39.17 5 D Gillanders Ford 1:39.51 6 M Sohlberg Mitsubishi 1:41.21 7 B Bell Ford 1:41.49 8 R Forster Vauxhall 1:42.46 9 D Humphreys Ford 1:42.48 10 M Jones Mitsubishi 1:45.28Colin McRae captured the Shell British Open title with third place behind Welshman David Llewellin in a gripping day-long battle. Llewellin was in brilliant form in his Nissan, setting the fastest time on the eight forest stages and the closing time trials around Telford town centre. He finished 2.5 minutes clear of Russell Brookes, who snatched second from McRae on the penultimate stage after being plagued by transmission problems. But third was good enough for McRae, who won four earlier rounds.
JAPANESE GRAND PRIX:- Austrian Gerhard Berger upstaged championship rivals Ayrton Senna and Nigel Mansell by grabbing pole position for tomorrow's Japanese Grand Prix. Berger, in a McLaren, claimed the eighth pole of his career with a lap recorded at one minute 34.700 seconds. Nigel Mansell starts in third position. He lapped in at one minute 34.922 seconds in his Williams. Senna clocked one minute 34.898 in second place. The final qualifying session was held up for 18 minutes when Michael Schumacher crashed his Benetton but he escaped unhurt.
Nigel Mansell remained in confident mood despite failing to improve his second row place behind the McLarens in final practice for the Japanese GP. "I'm delighted to be as close as we are and I think it's encouraging. It will be tough - that goes without question," he commented. Mansell's rivalry with Ayrton Senna guarantees an exciting start but he said: "I'll be really surprised if Ayrton does anything silly because all the world will be watching." Martin Brundle is only 19th on the grid after problems with blistered tyres.
FIA WORLD FORMULA ONE CHAMPIONSHIP: Final qualifying times: mins secs 1 G Berger Aut McLaren 1:34.700 2 A Senna Brz McLaren 1:34.898 3 N Mansell GB Williams 1:34.922 4 A Prost Fr Ferrari 1:36.670 5 R Patrese It Williams 1:36.882 6 J Alesi Fr Ferrari 1:37.140 7 P Martini It Minardi 1:38.154 8 G M'Delli It Minardi 1:38.248 9 M Schumacher Ger Benetton 1:38.363 10 N Piquet Brz Benetton 1:38.614 11 A de Cesaris It Jordan 1:38.842 12 JJ Lehto Fin Dallara 1:38.911 13 A Zanardi It Jordan 1:38.923 14 S Modena It Tyrrell 1:38.926 15 S Nakajima Jap Tyrrell 1:39.118 16 E Pirro It Dallara 1:39.238 17 T Boutsen Bel Ligier 1:39.499 18 M Gugelmin Brz Leyton Hse 1:39.518 19 M Brundle GB Brabham 1:39.697 20 E Comas Fr Ligier 1:39.820 21 M Hakkinen Fin Lotus-Judd 1:40.024 22 K W'linger Aut Leyton Hse 1:40.092 23 J Herbert GB Lotus-Judd 1:40.170 24 G Tarquini It Fondmetal 1:40.184 25 A Suzuki Jap Lola-Ford 1:40.255 26 A Caffi It Footwork 1:40.402 NON-QUALIFIERS 27 M Alboreto It Footwork 1:40.844 28 N Larini It Lamborg'ni 1:42.492 29 E Vd Poele Bel Lamborg'ni 1:42.724 30 E Bernard Fr will not race 20.10.91 - JAPANESE GRAND PRIXAyrton Senna clinched the world crown as Nigel Mansell spun his Williams off the track on lap 10 at Suzuka. The Briton was challenging Senna for second place but went wide, tried to correct and ended up in the sand. Senna's teammate, Gerhard Berger, took his McLaren into the lead from pole position while the Brazilian held up Mansell, who needed to win to stay in contention for the title. With Mansell out of the race Senna took over the lead but let Berger through on the line to claim victory.
Nigel Mansell's title chase ended in a spin at the start of lap 10 as his Williams spun out of control to assure rival Ayrton Senna of the championship. The two McLarens powered into the lead with Mansell in third on Senna's tail, looking for a gap to squeeze past on the twisting Suzuka circuit. But his eagerness to stake an early claim for the lead led to his downfall as he spun from the track. The Briton's Williams was suffering from a soft brake pedal but that could not be entirely blamed for the mishap.
Brazilian Ayrton Senna made a grand gesture at the end of the race to allow teammate Gerhard Berger through on the line to win the race. McLaren's one-two put them back on top of the constructor's championship with Riccardo Patrese's third place not enough for Williams to keep the lead. Berger had a clear lead from pole but a poor pit stop held him up and the Brazilian overtook him leading to a cat and mouse race between the teammates. Senna showed his high regard for his colleague as he handed him 10 points.
Ayrton Senna sealed his third world drivers' championship in four years and paid tribute to his team. "It has been really tough from the fourth race onwards," he said. "The result has come from a lot of push from me, Gerhard and the McLaren team. We stepped forward bit by bit and won critical races in Hungary and Belgium." he added. "To do one and two here is fantastic, it was a great race and should stand as an example," added the Brazilian.
Nigel Mansell was quick to applaud Ayrton Senna as he became the youngest man to join the elite ranks of three times world champions. Juan Fangio (five titles), Jack Brabham, Jackie Stewart, Niki Lauda, Nelson Piquet and Alain Prost have all joined the club. "Ayrton has all my congratulations. Gerhard shot off like a bullet, Ayrton kept me slow through the corners - all perfectly legitimate tactics," he said. "It's a pity things finished like they did but we cannot be too disappointed."
Gerhard Berger won his first race for McLaren and his first since Portugal in 1989 after looking set to collect his fourth second place this season. Senna pulled over at the final corner to let his McLaren teammate through to take the chequered flag. "I must say thank-you to Ayrton for switching places," said the Austrian. "I have been in that position and given way, it's nice to know it cuts both ways," he added. "It's good for the future if both sides are working for each other," he said.
Britain's Martin Brundle finished in fifth place in his Brabham Yamaha, his best for two years. He moved into sixth place by lap 24 and when Germany's Michael Schumacher went out on lap 35, Brundle tussled with Stefano Modena to finally claim fifth spot by lap 45 of the 53 lap race. "I'm absolutely delighted, it's one of the best drives I've ever had," said Brundle. "I made a good start and caught people napping." Romford's Johnny Herbert failed to finish in his Lotus Judd.
FIA FORMULA ONE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP Japanese Grand Prix, Suzuka Result after 53 laps: hr:mins.secs 1 G Berger Aut McLaren 1:32.10.695 2 A Senna Brz McLaren 1:32.11.039 3 R Patrese It Williams 1:33.07.426 4 A Prost Fr Ferrari 1:33.31.456 5 M Brundle GB Brabham @ 1 lap 6 S Modena It Tyrrell @ 1 lap 7 N Piquet Brz Benetton @ 1 lap 8 M Gugelmin Brz Leyton H @ 1 lap 9 T Boutsen Bel Ligier @ 1 lap 10 A Caffi It Footwork @ 2 laps 11 G Tarquini It Fomet-Fd @ 3 laps FIA WORLD F1 DRIVERS' STANDINGS 1 A Senna Brz McLaren 91 points 2 N Mansell GB Williams 69 3 R Patrese It Williams 52 4 G Berger Aut McLaren 41 = A Prost Fr Ferrari 34 6 N Piquet Brz Benetton 25 7 J Alesi Fr Ferrari 21 8 S Modena It Tyrrell 10 = A De Cesaris It Jordan 9 10 R Moreno Brz Jordan 8 11 P Martini It Minardi 6 12 JJ Lehto Fin Dallara 4 == B Gachot Fr Jordan 4 == M Schumacher Ger Benetton 4 CONSTRUCTORS CHAMPIONSHIP 1 McLaren 132 pts 2 Williams 121 3 Ferrari 55 4 Benetton 37 5 Jordan 13 6 Tyrrell 12SALOON CAR:- Cricketer Ian Botham lasted just one lap on his motor racing debut before retiring his Sierra Cosworth with mechanical problems in the Firestone Production Saloon race at Donington. He had to start from the back of the grid after a persistent misfire had wrecked his practice effort but was looking good when the trouble returned.
"I moved up nine places on the first corner, but then there was just nothing there when I wanted to put the power down," an angry Botham said. The race was won by Guy Povey in a BMW.
GM LOTUS:- Pedro Lamy of Portugal took the GM Lotus Euroseries title when he finished fourth behind start-to-finish winner Kelvin Burt at Donington.
22.10.91 - LOMBARD RAC RALLYThe Subaru Rally Team will field an impressive line-up for the RAC Lombard rally in November after Rothmans agreed to extend their sponsorship. The team's regular 1991 contender, Markku Alen, will be joined by Finnish compatriot Ari Vatenen and new British Open champion Colin McRae. Vatanen, the 1981 World Rally Champion, will be making his first appearance in a Subaru and will re-unite him with his world championship winning co-driver David Richards, who will be directing proceedings as MD of Prodrive.
24.10.91 - F1Eric van de Poele will take Mark Blundell's place in the Brabham team in next season's Formula One World Championship. The 30-year-old Belgian, who was with Lamborghini, has signed a one-year deal with an option for another year. Van de Poele, who qualified for only one Grand Prix this season, at Imola, will team up with Formula One newcomer Akihiko Nakaya. Brabham have been impressed by the Belgian's performances in Formula 3000.
25.10.91SPORTSCARS:- Jaguar driver Teo Fabi claimed provisional pole in qualifying for Sunday's final round of the world sportscar championship. The Italian leads the championship by 10 points and can clinch the world title if he wins in Autopolis, Japan. Fabi's British team-mate Derek Warwick is fourth on the provisional grid. Britons Geoff Lees and Andy Wallace, driving the new Toyota V10-powered TS-010, were sixth fastest.
F.FORD:- Patrick Lamarrie was quickest in official qualifying for this weekend's Duckhams Formula Ford Festival and World Cup at Brands Hatch.
26.10.91SPORTSCARS:- Derek Warwick will start fourth on the grid for Sunday's final round of the World Sportscar Championship in Autopolis, Japan. Jaguar teammate Teo Fabi, with a 10-point lead over Warwick in the championship, took pole after holding off a late challenge from Keke Rosberg. Warwick clinched the manufacturers' crown for Jaguar in the last round despite a string of problems. Geoff Lees and Andy Wallace were fifth fastest in the new Toyota TS-010, making its debut in Japan.
F.FORD:- Belgian Marc Goossens set the fastest lap in qualifying heats for Sunday's Duckhams Formula Ford Festival and World Cup at Brands Hatch.
27.10.91 - SPORTSCARSTeo Fabi took the World Sportscar Drivers' championship when he steered his Jaguar to third place in the final race of the season at Autopolis, Japan. The Italian's team-mate Derek Warwick finished second overall, Jaguar having clinched the constructors' title three weeks ago in Mexico City. Fabi and co-driver David Brabham came in behind Michael Schumacher and Karl Wendlinger in Japan, who gave Mercedes a welcome victory. Mercedes' 12-cylinder engines have been unreliable in recent races.
WORLD SPORTSCAR DRIVERS CHAMPIONSHIP
Result of final round at Autopolis:
hrs mins secs
1 M Scumacher Ger Mercedes 2:26.36
2 D Warwick GB Jaguar 2:27.07
3 T Fabi It Jaguar 2:28.15
4 M Baldi It Peugeot @ 1 lap
5 JL Schlesser Fr Mercedes @ 1 lap
6 G Lees GB Toyota @ 3 laps
7 C Euser Hol Ford @ 6 laps
8 G Fouche Zim Porsche @ 8 laps
9 MS Sala Bra Mazda @ 8 laps
10 D Kennedy Ire Mazda @ 9 laps
1991 WORLD SPORTSCARS STANDINGS
DRIVERS:
1 T Fabi It 86 points
2 D Warwick GB 79
3 P Alliot Fr 69
= M Baldi It 69
5 C Euser Hol 54
6 C Zwolsman Hol 46
TEAM:
1 Silk Cut Jaguar 108 points
2 Peugeot Talbot 79
3 Sauber Mercedes 70
4 Euroracing Ford 54
5 Mazdaspeed 47
6 Porsche Kramer 43
F.FORD:- Belgian Marc Goossens led from start to finish to win the Duckhams
Formula Ford Festival at Brands Hatch. England's Warren Hughes took second
place and Tomi Veijalainen completed a 1-2-3 for Van Diemen.DEMON TWEEKS TARMAC CHAMPIONSHIP RALLY:- John Price took the Demon Tweeks/Motoring News National Tarmac Championship after winning the Budget Rentacar Cheviot Rally near Newcastle, the final round of the series.
29.10.91 - F1Three-times world champion Alain Prost has left Ferrari with immediate effect and will not drive in the Australian GP, the Italian team have announced. His contract was due to expire at the end of 1992 but the team has decided to "discontinue its cooperation" with him after a disappointing season. Ferrari hope that young Italian Gianni Morbidelli, who has been driving for Minardi this year, will fill the vacant driver's seat on Sunday. Prost has been linked with a possible move to the French Ligier outfit.
Belgian Bertrand Gachot will drive for Larrousse in Sunday's Australian Grand Prix just two weeks after his release from a British prison. Gachot has been named as replacement for Frenchman Eric Bernard, who broke a leg in Japan earlier this month. The Belgian, who formerly drove for the Jordan team, spent two months in jail for spraying CS gas in the face of a London taxi driver. His place at Jordan has been filled by Alessandro Zanardi and he is still without a drive for 1992.
IVORY COAST RALLY:- Kenjiro Shinozuka of Japan leads the Ivory Coast rally by over an hour after two stages.
30.10.91 - F1Alain Prost has said he is keen to carry on in Formula One next year despite splitting with Ferrari. His contract was due to expire at the end of 1992 and the Frenchman is now considering possible legal action against the team. Prost said: "Whilst I regret that I should now be in a contentious situation with Ferrari, I am relieved that what, for me, has been a very unsatisfactory season, has ended. Despite my experiences I retain my enthusiasm for Formula One next year."
IVORY COAST RALLY:- Kenjiro Shinozuka, bidding to become the first Japanese driver to win a world championship rally, led after three stages of the Ivory Coast rally. Patrick Tauziat was in second spot.
31.10.91 - JOHN WATSON on the AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIXA grand prix season interrupted by a number of squalls has been hit by a hurricane just before the final stage. Alain Prost's termination of contract by Ferrari will have come as a major shock to most of the cognoscenti who had been expecting the Frenchman to be the one to make the move. This would never have been easy since Prost was committed to Ferrari for '92. Now he may seek damages from the team - and be free to move elsewhere in F1. Which of the two will prove to be the bigger prize I wonder...
If I was a betting man, I would put my money on Alain Prost joining a British team with a French engine, for 1992. The team in question already has two drivers for next season but such is Prost's commercial value and experience he could prove an invaluable asset. This situation looks likely to be a mirror of Monza, where Schumacher was taken on by Benetton and poor Moreno kicked into touch holding a bag of gold. Meanwhile Gianni Morbidelli, Ferrari's test driver in 1990, replaces Prost this weekend with Ivan Capelli tipped to fill the gap at Minardi.
School is out this weekend in Adelaide, except for two teams still in sight of the much-coveted manufacturers' title. McLaren-Honda and Williams-Renault have battled all year for this honour and McLaren, with an 11-point lead, look set to add this to the drivers' crown. Many congratulations to Ayrton Senna and his team on another outstanding year. McLaren have now dominated F1 since 1984, only missing out on the title once when Piquet won in '87. This has been a truly remarkable exhibition. What must be done to break their hold on the World Championship?
Ayrton Senna's achievement in clinching the 1991 world title is particularly creditable because he wins regardless of how the Championship is framed. All 16 races counted this year, rather than the best 11 as in previous seasons but, either way, Senna wins the crown. The only sour note has been Senna's post-Championship comments which, if the reports in the motoring press are to be believed, were more suited to the pages of the Sunday tabloids. Let's hope new FISA president Max Moseley will improve relations between the ruling body and F1 drivers.
Undoubtedly the discovery of the 1991 season has been the 7-Up Jordan team and we can expect them to be aiming to end their debut year on a high note. Irishman Eddie Jordan, the team leader, is apparently the only man in Formula One to have won the respect of highly-respected McLaren boss Ron Dennis. Perhaps that kind of patronage can produce a McLaren-like result for the Jordan-Ford team in Adelaide. Even Australia's favourite tipple would turn green in celebration!
The biggest disappointment of the season has once again been the pride of Italy - Ferrari. I can see only one solution for the team but it depends on somebody in Italy recognising the 'Italian ancestry' of one Ron Dennis. Then, on a wave of emotion, he could be co-opted into the team and take control of that misguided prancing horse. The structure at McLaren is strong enough to withstand their boss's one-year sabbatical. While Ron Dennis, more than anyone, knows how much Formula One needs Ferrari.
There is good news at last for the 'Friends of Bertrand Gachot' with the Belgian set to substitute for injured Eric Bernard in Australia this weekend. Bernard broke a leg in practice in Japan and, while the Larrouse-Ford is not as competitive as the Jordan-Ford, for Gachot it is a great opportunity. It is a chance to revive his F1 career so rudely interrupted by his two-month holiday at Her Majesty's pleasure. By contrast, many teams will now be wondering how they are to survive with the ever-escalating cost of putting together a competitive F1 package.
Nigel Mansell has predicted a stormy future if Williams-Renault invite Alain Prost to join them next year. Mansell was unhappy at rumours suggesting the Frenchman, axed by Ferrari, could replace Riccardo Patrese. He said on the eve of the Australian Grand Prix: "Even before Ferrari get around to asking Riccardo or Frank (Williams), they are going to have to ask me. I would not be impressed. There would be a few fireworks."
FIA WORLD FORMULA ONE CHAMPIONSHIP Pre-qualifying times (four go through): 1 M Brundle GB Brabham 1:17.707 2 A Caffi It Footwork 1:18.007 3 M Blundell GB Brabham 1:18.049 4 M Alboreto It Footwork 1:18.051 NON-QUALIFIERS 5 G Tarquini It AGS Ford 1:18.184 6 N Hattori Jpn Coloni 1:22.852IVORY COAST RALLY:- Kenjiro Shinozuka became the first Japanese driver to win a round of the world championship with victory in the Ivory Coast Rally. Patrick Tauziac was in second spot.