01.03.92 - F1 FIA FORMULA ONE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP South African Grand Prix, Kyalami Final positions: hrs mins secs 1 N Mansell GB Williams 1:36.45 (average speed 118.215mph) 2 R Patrese It Williams @ 0:00.24 3 A Senna Brz McLaren 0:00.34 4 M Schumacher Ger Benetton 0:00.47 5 G Berger Aut McLaren 0:01.13 6 J Herbert GB Lotus Ford one lap 7 E Comas Fr Ligier one lap 8 A Suzuki Jpn Footwork two laps 9 M Hakkinen Fin Lotus Ford two laps 10 M Alboreto It Footwork two laps FIA WORLD F1 DRIVERS' STANDINGS (after South Africa Grand Prix) 1 N Mansell GB Williams 10 points 2 R Patrese It Williams 6 3 A Senna Brz McLaren 4 4 M Schumacher Ger Benetton 3 5 G Berger Aut McLaren 2 6 J Herbert GB Lotus Ford 1 CONSTRUCTORS CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS (after South Africa Grand Prix) 1 Williams 16 points 2 McLaren 6 3 Benetton 3 4 Lotus Ford 1Nigel Mansell made the perfect start to the 1992 Formula One World Championship with a comfortable victory at Kyalami. Mansell started the race on pole and never looked in danger of failing to claim his 22nd Grand Prix win. Riccardo Patrese made it a superb day for Williams by holding off world champion Ayrton Senna for second place. Michael Schumacher achieved his best ever finish by taking fourth place with Gerhard Berger fifth and Britain's Johnny Herbert winning a point with a magnificent sixth place in his Lotus.
Nigel Mansell completed a stunning weekend in Kyalami to issue a warning to arch-rival Ayrton Senna that this could be his year. Mansell, quickest in qualifying and in the warm up, comfortably beat team-mate Riccardo Patrese by 24 seconds. Patrese helped give Williams a maximum 16 point start in the Constructors Championship - already 10 ahead of McLaren. The win marked a South African double for Mansell - he won the last Grand Prix held there seven years ago.
Nigel Mansell said he was "very pleased" after romping to his 22nd Grand Prix win and starting the new F1 campaign at the top of the leaderboard. "From the first lap I was building up a bit of a gap," Mansell said. "Ayrton must have been pushing Riccardo hard because I was pushing hard but I was not extending my lead," he added. "It's a great day but Ayrton is going to be formidable this year. I'm grateful to Williams, they have made great efforts over the winter."
World champion Ayrton Senna said he was looking forward to driving his new car after doing all he could in South Africa but only finishing third. "I tried to push Riccardo as hard as I could but the way he started told me there was no way I could go faster," Senna said. "I think third place is very good in the circumstances. Williams came first and second and I think they deserved it. I'm just looking forward to me new car so that we can have another good fight throughout the season," Senna said.
Johnny Herbert won his first point in the Formula One World Championship in almost two years with a tremendous drive for Lotus Ford. Herbert started 11th on the grid but he managed to climb up to eighth by the 20th lap. Then retirements by Ferrari pair Ivan Capelli and Jean Alesi put the young British driver among the points. Herbert, whose career was threatened by an horrific crash four years ago, held off Erik Comas to win a much-deserved point for himself and his team.
Young German Michael Schumacher achieved his highest ever finish in the Formula One World Championship with fourth place for Benetton. Schumacher, driving in only his seventh Grand Prix, bettered his fifth places in last year's Spanish and Italian Grands Prix. Team-mate Martin Brundle had a terrible day despite being fifth fastest in the warm up in the morning. Brundle collided with Bertrand Gachot on the second lap and broke his clutch after attemping a 180 degree spin.
02.03.92 - F1Former world champion Niki Lauda is tipping Nigel Mansell for the world title after his victory in the South African Grand Prix. "The way he drove over the whole of the weekend and the technical advantage Williams have makes me think they can take the Championship," Lauda said. "Of course, we have to wait and see what happens where McLaren introduce their new car. But even then I expect Williams to remain too quick. A one-second advantage is a lot to make up even for Ayrton Senna."
03.02.92 - PORTUGUESE RALLYFinn Markku Alen will take a slender two second lead into the first full day of the event after Monday's speed test at the National Stadium in Lisbon. Alen's Toyota completed the 2.3km test in 1 min 36 secs, with Miki Biasion and reigning world champion Juha Kankkunen in joint second place. A hundred cars have entered the five-day event, which features 40 stages covering almost 600kms. Carlos Menem junior, son of the Argentine president, leads the Group N class with a time of 1 min 44.
Latest positions after 1 of 40 stages: Accumulated penalties mins secs 1 M Alen Fin Toyota 1:36 2 J Kankkunen Fin Lancia 1:38 3 M Biasion It Ford 1:38 4 C Sainz It Toyota 1:39 5 D Auriol Fr Lancia 1:39 6 A Schwartz Ger Toyota 1:39 7 K Eriksson Swe Mitsubishi 1:39 8 F Chatriot Fr Nissan 1:39 9 F Delecour Fr Ford 1:40 10 T Salonen Fin Mitsubishi 1:40 04.03.92F1:- Alain Prost's return to Formula 1 hangs on talks over sponsorship and the Renault contract to supply engines to the Ligier team he wants to drive for. The triple world champion is trying to persuade Renault to extend their three year contract, which ends in 1994, another two years to 1996. Prost spoke to Renault Commercial Director Patrick Faure at the Geneva Motor Show on Tuesday. "We only have a three year contract with Williams. A five year contract is most unusual," said a Renault spokesman.
PORTUGUESE RALLY - Latest positions after 10 of 40 stages: Accumulated penalties hrs mins secs 1 F Delecour Fr Ford 1:25.14 2 A Aghini It Lancia 1:25.46 3 M Biasion It Ford 1:25.53 4 J Kankkunen Fin Lancia 1:26.04 5 C Sainz Sp Toyota 1:26.59 6 M Alen Fin Toyota 1:27.06 7 A Schwartz Ger Toyota 1:27.23 8 K Eriksson Swe Mitsubishi 1:27.25 9 T Salonen Fin Mitsubishi 1:27.49 10 J Bardolet Sp Ford 1:31.00Ford duo Francois Delecour and Miki Biasion dominated the first 10 stages. Every stage record was broken as the Ford's held off all, except Andrea Aghini who muscled into second place. World champion Juha Kankunnen and Carlos Sainz are fourth and fifth. Championship leader Didier Auriol retired on S3 with engine problems while running third. Tommi Makinen retirec from rally on S4 because the steering rack was smashed when his Nissan hit a wall.
A spectator has been killed on the first day of the Portuguese Rally. The accident happened when local driver Rui Madeira's Citroean AX hit a tree, and fell on Armando Carvalho de Oliveira, killing him outright, according to TSF radio reports. His girlfriend was also hurt but later released from hospital. The driver and co-driver of the rally car were unhurt. Organisers have increased safety measures since a rally car killed two people in a crowd in 1986.
05.03.92 - PORTUGUESE RALLYWorld champion Juha Kankkunen took advantage when leader Francois Delecour was forced to abandon the rally. The Frenchman's Ford Sierra Cosworth ground to a halt on the three-kilometre 15th stage with a broken crankcase. Delecour's spectacular driving had given him a lead of almost a minute but the tight curves on the asphalt and gravel track ended his early charge. Kankkunen moved up from fourth to first to lead his Lancia teammate Andrea Aghini by 44 seconds at the end of the day with Massimo Biasion third.
Latest positions after 20 of 40 stages: Accumulated penalties hrs mins secs 1 J Kankkunen Fin Lancia 2:44.38 2 A Aghini It Lancia 2:45.10 3 M Biasion It Ford 2:45.15 4 C Sainz Sp Toyota 2:45.48 5 A Schwartz Ger Toyota 2:47.15 6 M Alen Fin Toyota 2:47.30 7 K Eriksson Swe Mitsubishi 2:47.39 8 T Salonen Fin Mitsubishi 2:48.15 9 J Bardolet Sp Ford 2:55.48 10 F Chatriot Fr Nissan 2:58.58 06.03.92 - PORTUGUESE RALLY Latest positions after 30 of 40 stages: Accumulated penalties hrs mins secs 1 J Kankkunen Fin Lancia 4:23.08 2 M Biasion It Ford 4:24.26 3 C Sainz Sp Toyota 4:24.45 4 A Aghini It Lancia 4:25.31 5 A Schwartz Ger Toyota 4:26.53 6 K Eriksson Swe Mitsubishi 4:27.08 7 T Salonen Fin Mitsubishi 4:27.34 8 M Alen Fin Toyota 4:27.42 9 F Chatriot Fr Nissan 4:39.45 10 J Bardolet Sp Ford 4:41.35Juha Kankkunen, looking for his first victory in Portugal, starts Saturday's final leg of ten stages and 172 competitive kms with a strong lead. Kankkunen has an advantage of 1 min 18 seconds over triple winner Mike Biasion. Kankkunen has eight fastest and two equal fastest times so far in the rally and is definitely the man to beat. Biasion has been experimenting with several combinations of suspension and settings during the various stages but seems pleased with the outcome and will be the biggest challenger.
07.03.92 - PORTUGUESE RALLYWorld champion Juha Kankkunen scored an emphatic victory in his Lancia to move into a five-point championship lead. "I had already built my lead during day two and was able to control the pace," said the Finn, who now goes to Kenya to defend his Safari Rally crown. Italian Miki Biaison gave Ford their best result yet in the Sierra 4x4 with second place, while Carlos Sainz could only manage third in his Toyota. Germany's Armin Schwarz crashed out while trying to overtake Sainz.
Final positions after 40 stages: Accumulated penalties hrs mins secs 1 J Kankkunen Fin Lancia 6:24.37 2 M Biasion It Ford 6:26.10 3 C Sainz Sp Toyota 6:29.36 4 M Alen Fin Toyota 6:30.09 5 T Salonen Fin Mitsubishi 6:31.16 6 F Chatriot Fr Nissan 6:45.41 7 J Bardolet Sp Ford 6:53.55 8 J Santos Por Toyota 7:01.20 9 C Menem Arg Lancia 7:02.47 10 J Miguel Sp Ford 7:13.08 After round three - Portuguese Rally DRIVERS 1 J Kankkunen Fin Lancia 32 pts 2 C Sainz Sp Toyota 27 3 M Alen Fin Toyota 20 4 M Biasion It Ford 18 MANUFACTURERS 1 Lancia 40 pts 2 Toyota 31 3 Ford 29 4 Mitsubishi 18 5 Nissan 14 08.03.92 - FORMULA FORWARDEugene O'Brien broke the Brands Hatch lap record in the opening round of the Formula Forward championship before spinning off on the 11th of 12 laps for Mike Gardiner to snatch victory.
11.03.92NEWS:- Alessandro Nannini will make a final decision on plans for a Formula One comeback after taking part in an Italian Super Tourism race at Monza from March 21-22. The former Benetton star's forearm was severed in a helicopter crash two years ago but was sewn back on by surgeons.
HISTORIC RALLY:- British ace Russell Brookes will drive a 1965 MGB in the Charringtons RAC Historic Rally of Great Britain from March 26-29.
13.03.92F1:- Triple world champion Alain Prost will miss his second Formula One Grand Prix of the season. Prost and French team Ligier have still not reached agreement, with Thierry Boutsen and Erik Comas carrying on at the Mexican Grand Prix next week. Ligier and Prost had hoped to resolve their differences by the time of the race on March 22. The team's major sponsor Elf said no agreement had been reached and Prost would not race in Mexico.
WEST CORK RALLY:- Dubliner Austin McHale starts favourite for this weekend's Keohan Readymix West Cork Rally in a Toyota formerly driven by ex-world champion Carlos Sainz. John Price and Gwyndaf Evans will also be strong contenders in the event round two of the Demon Tweeks/Motoring News National Tarmac Championship.
RALLYCROSS:- Reigning British Rallycross champion Will Gollop has said he will not continue the defence of his title as he aims to strengthen his European title bid. The Brands Hatch round on Sunday will be his last domestic appearance.
F3:- Vauxhall Motors are to enter the British Formula 3 Championship, with the Edenbridge Racing Reynard 923 of Sunderland's Warren Hughes being powered by a Vauxhall two-litre engine.
14.03.92 - WEST CORK RALLYGwyndaf Evans leads a Welsh 1-2-3 after the first day of the West Cork Rally. Evans' Escort leads John Price's Metro 6R4 by 29 seconds, with Bob Fowden ahead in Group N in his Sierra Cosworth.
15.03.92 - WEST CORK RALLYJohn Price overcame an overnight 29 second deficit to win the West Cork rally driving a Metro 6R4. Overnight leader Gwyndaf Evans was slowed down by clutch problems but still managed to finish second in his Escort.
16.03.92 - F1Former world champion Alain Prost has said he expects to return to the Formula One circuit next year after unsuccessful negotiations with Ligier. Prost, without a team since leaving Ferrari last year, told the sports daily l'Equipe he had been approached by team boss Guy Ligier last year about developing developing a French stable. He added that it had not been possible to raise the cash to finance it. Prost has not ruled out a deal with Ligier but said it is likely that he takes a year off and returns in 1993.
19.03.92 - JOHN WATSON ON THE MEXICAN GRAND PRIXThe Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez circuit for the Mexican Grand Prix is 7,000 feet above sea level - the second consecutive GP of the year at altitude. The race has previously taken place in the early summer when it is very hot but it will be much cooler in March. In theory, better for everyone. Another interesting feature about the circuit is the banked Curva Peraltada, a fast six-gear corner, the most exciting on the circuit. The angle of banking has been reduced to slow down the entry speed and cornering speed, a significant change.
Another major feature of the Autodromo is the long main straight. So, to some extent, I'd expect the gap between McLaren and Williams to be closer. McLaren will still struggle to beat Williams in Mexico. Ultimately the final question is on reliability. Mexico is a much bumpier circuit and the suspension "brain" of the Williams will be tested on a surface that is inherently rough. It will be a severe test of the car - Mansell will be looking to consolidate his championship position in Mexico as well as trying to pick up points...
Nigel Mansell has had a dream start to the world championship season after dominating the opening race. Nine months ago Williams came first and second in Mexico and assuming the reliability is there, Mansell and Patrese again look to be favourites. Several things have happened over the winter; notably fuel regulation changes now mean Renault and Elf have caught up to Honda and Shell. Williams dominated in South Africa and one believes that a similar situation will arise in Mexico.
Ayrton Senna is anxious that McLaren introduce their new 1992 car - the MP4/7 - as soon as possible. Senna's role is now split between racing and development and trying to encourage the team to introduce the car as quickly as they can. McLaren's new car will not be at Mexico and the earliest we can expect to see it is in Brazil. It is interesting to observe Senna having to contend with a package that is no longer the most competitive in F1. Mansell is undoubtedly revelling in the situation.
There were two notable performances in particular in South Africa - Michael Schumacher and Johnny Herbert. I would expect to see nothing less from Schumacher with his Benetton Ford in Mexico. Teammate Martin Brundle had a disappointing debut drive at Kyalami. He still has to fully integrate into a very competitive team. He will undoubtedly be happy with Schumacher's performance and will feel he can do the same.
My drive of the race in South Africa was Johnny Herbert in the Lotus Ford - one of the grittiest in the race. It was refreshing to see a driver who in reality had little chance of winning but had the chance of picking up a point, and fighting for that reward. It was a fully justified reward and a lesson to other Grand Prix drivers in tenacity. Life may be more difficult in Mexico for Lotus and Herbert - ultimately the Autodromo is an out-and-out power circuit. Maybe nobody will tell Johnny, and he will be well worth watching.
Riccardo Patrese is undoubtedly still smarting from the verbal GBH he recently received over his drive in the South African Grand Prix. Undoubtedly he has the equipment to win but it remains to be seen if Patrese's response to this criticism will see him standing on the winner's podium.
Pre-qualifying will once again take place in Mexico now that the Andrea Moda team have resolved their legal requirements to compete in F1 racing. It means that the two Venturi Larrousse, one Footwork, one Fondmetal and the two Andrea Moda will be pre-qualifying.
20.03.92F1:- World champion Ayrton Senna was injured after crashing for the second year running in opening qualifying for the Mexican Grand Prix. The Brazilian lost control of his McLaren as he came out of a corner and the car seemed to hit a bump and then crash into the perimeter wall. Senna was fitted with a neck brace and had breathing equipment put around his face before being lifted from the car. He suffered severe bruising to his left leg, whiplash and concussion and will decide whether to race on Saturday.
Ayrton Senna was taken to the circuit medical centre after he crashed during the opening qualifying session at the Mexican Grand Prix. A McLaren spokesman said that Senna had suffered no fracture or break but had a severely bruised leg. It was not clear whether Senna would be able to take any further part in the Grand Prix. The session restarted after a 30 minute delay with Britain's Nigel Mansell setting the early pace in his Williams.
FIA WORLD FORMULA ONE CHAMPIONSHIP: Friday practice times: mins secs 1 N Mansell GB Williams 1:16.346 2 M Schumacher Ger Benetton 1:17.554 3 R Patrese It Williams 1:17.908 4 G Berger Aut McLaren 1:18.604 5 M Brundle GB Benetton 1:18.937 6 A De Cesaris It Tyrrell 1:19.423 7 P Martini It Dallara 1:19.767 8 S Modena It Jordan 1:19.957 9 JJ Lehto Fin Dallara 1:19.982 10 C Fittipaldi Brz Minardi 1:20.042 11 M Hakkinen Fin Lotus-Ford 1:20.145 12 I Capelli It Ferrari 1:20.223 13 M Gugelmin Brz Jordan 1:20.246 14 G Tarquini It Fondmetal 1:20.386 15 J Herbert GB Lotus-Ford 1:20.450 16 T Boutsen Bel Ligier 1:20.709 17 O Gr'llard Fr Tyrrell 1:20.709 18 G M'bidelli It Minardi 1:21.019 19 E Comas Fr Ligier 1:21.122 20 M Alboreto It Footwork 1:21.396 21 J Alesi Fr Ferrari 1:21.434 22 A Suzuki Jpn Footwork 1:21.617 23 B Gachot Bel Larrousse 1:21.656 24 A Chiesa It Fondmetal 1:21.902 25 U Katayama Jpn Larrousse 1:22.188 26 E Vd Poele Bel Brabham 1:22.937 PROVISIONAL NON-QUALIFIERS 27 A Senna Brz McLaren 1:23.063 28 P Belmondo Fr March 1:23.508 29 K W'linger Aut March 47:56.613 30 G Amati It Brabham DNQF3:- Brazilian Gil de Ferran shaved a second off the Donington lap record in testing for Sunday's opening round of the British Formula Three Championship. Compatriot Osvaldo Negri was just three hundredths of a second slower with Kelvin Burt, the 1991 Vauxhall Lotus champion, the fastest British driver.
F.RENAULT:- Schoolboy Christian Horner, 18, starts his bid for the big time at Silverstone on Sunday when he drives a Van Diemen in the Formula Renault Championship. Drivers from Germany, Spain and Sweden are also among the entries.
MOBIL 1 RALLY:- Colin McRae and Trevor Smith head a 99-car field in Saturday's opening round of the Mobil 1/Top Gear British Rally Championship. Scotland's McRae is a firm favourite to retain his British title after a superb effort to finish second in the recent World Championship Swedish rally. But Smith aims to make a big impression after stepping up a division following last year's National title success. Former ladies world champion Louise Aitken-Walker competes in a "clean and green" Sierra using unleaded fuel.
21.03.92NEWS:- Alessandro Nannini finished sixth in an Italian Grand Tourism Championship race at Monza - his first since his arm was severed in a helicopter crash. He is still considering whether or not to attempt a Formula One comeback.FIA WORLD FORMULA ONE CHAMPIONSHIP: Final Practice times: mins secs 1 N Mansell GB Williams 1:16.346 2 R Patrese It Williams 1:16.362 3 M Schumacher Ger Benetton 1:17.292 4 M Brundle GB Benetton 1:18.588 5 G Berger Aut McLaren 1:18.589 6 A Senna Bra McLaren 1:18.791 7 JJ Lehto Fin Dallara 1:19.111 8 M Gugelmin Brz Jordan 1:19.355 9 P Martini It Dallara 1:19.378 10 J Alesi Fr Ferrari 1:19.417 11 A De Cesaris It Tyrrell 1:19.423 12 J Herbert GB Lotus-Ford 1:19.509 13 B Gachot Bel Larrousse 1:19.743 14 G Tarquini It Fondmetal 1:19.769 15 S Modena It Jordan 1:19.957 16 O Grouillard Fr Tyrrell 1:19.961 17 C Fittipaldi Brz Minardi 1:20.042 18 M Hakkinen Fin Lotus-Ford 1:20.145 19 K Wendlinger Aut March 1:20.200 20 I Capelli It Ferrari 1:20.223 21 G Morbidelli It Minardi 1:20.227 22 T Boutsen Bel Ligier 1:20.395 23 A Chiesa It Fondmetal 1:20.845 24 U Katayama Jpn Larrousse 1:20.935 25 M Alboreto It Footwork 1:21.064 26 E Comas Fr Ligier 1:21.122 NON-QUALIFIERS 27 A Suzuki Jpn Footwork 1:21.187 28 P Belmondo Fr March 1:21.504 29 E Vd Poele Bel Brabham 1:22.197 30 G Amati It Brabham 1:25.052 MOBIL 1/TOP GEAR BRITISH CHAMPIONSHIP Result after 10 stages: hrs:mins.secs 1 C McRae Subaru Legacy 1:23.25 2 T Smith Ford Sierra Cos 1:28.23 3 G Evans Ford Sierra 1:28.58 4 A McRae Ford Cos 4x4 1:29.11 5 R Head Ford Sapphire C 1:29.12 6 K McKinstry Subaru Legacy 1:30.27 7 L Aitken-W Ford Sierra Cos 1:30.44 8 M Sohlberg Mitsubishi Gal 1:32.03 9 R Munro Ford Cos 4x4 1:32.15 10 J Milner Peugeot 205 GTi 1:34.28
22.03.92F1:- Masterly Nigel Mansell produced another superb display to record his second win of the season as Williams enjoyed a 1-2 finish in Mexico. The Florida-based Briton built up his lead gradually after starting from pole and was well clear of teammate Riccardo Patrese at the finish. Michael Schumacher repeated the form he showed in South Africa with a best-ever third place in only his eighth GP. But world champion Ayrton Senna, hurt in a practice crash on Friday, lasted only 12 of the 69 laps before retiring.
Nigel Mansell scored another ten points in his quest for the world title as he repeated his 1987 triumph at the Hermanos Rodriguez circuit. The race began dramatically when Karl Wendlinger and Ivan Capelli collided at the start but Mansell was clear of trouble at the head of the field. Teammate Riccardo Patrese, who beat Mansell last year, could not live with the pace and settled for second place. Mansell gave a copybook demonstration despite the sweltering heat and took the chequered flag 11 seconds clear.
Britain's Nigel Mansell emerged tired but delighted after putting another win under his belt after 69 gruelling laps at the bumpy 2.75-mile circuit. He was pushed hard by Canon Williams colleague Riccardo Patrese early on and finished the race with blisters all over his hands. "They are very sore but I've got a great teammate and he doesn't make it easy," Mansell commented. "I am very tired but obviously very happy," he added.
World champion Ayrton Senna suffered the worst possible end to an unhappy week as he watched rival Nigel Mansell win after retiring early in the race. The Brazilian, still in pain from Friday's high-speed practice shunt, was lying third when his McLaren Honda gave up the ghost on lap 11. Mansell cruised to a comfortable win but Gerhard Berger gave McLaren some consolation by finishing fourth. Ferrari had a disastrous day with Ivan Capelli crashing out early and Jean Alesi retiring when lying sixth.
FIA FORMULA ONE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP Result after 69 laps hrs mins secs 1 N Mansell GB Williams 1:31.53 2 R Patrese It Williams 3 M Schumacher Ger Benetton 4 G Berger Aut McLaren 5 A de Cesaris It Tyrrell 6 M Hakkinen Fin Lotus-Ford 7 J Herbert GB Lotus-Ford 8 J Lehto Fin Dallara 9 E Comas Fr Ligier 10 T Boutsen Bel Ligier 11 B Gachot Bel Larrousse 12 U Katayama Jpn Larrousse FIA WORLD F1 DRIVERS' STANDINGS 1 N Mansell GB Williams 20 points 2 R Patrese It Williams 12 3 M Schumacher Ger Benetton 7 4 G Berger Aut McLaren 5 5 A Senna Brz McLaren 4 6 A de Cesaris It Tyrrell 2 7 J Herbert GB Lotus Ford 1 = M Hakkinen Fin Lotus Ford 1 CONSTRUCTORS CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS 1 Williams 32 points 2 McLaren 9 3 Benetton 7 4 Lotus Ford 2 = Tyrrell 2F3:- Dutchman Marcel Albers pulled off a comfortable win in the 25-lap opening round of the British Formula Three Championship at Donington Park. Albers, who averaged 104.26mph, took the lead at three quarters distance and came home ahead of Tamworth's Kevin Burt for his first win in two years. Brazilian Gil de Ferran charged through the field to take third place, setting a new lap record in the process.
SALOON CAR:- Yorkshireman Frank Greenaway won round two of the BRSCC/BRDC saloon car championship at Brands Hatch.
F.RENAULT:- Kent-based Spaniard Pedro de la Rosa led from start to finish to win the opening round of the P&O Formula Renault Championship at Silverstone. Bedford's James Rhodes chased him throughout, but finished almost 1.5 seconds in arrears.
23.03.92TOURING CAR:- Single-seater racing champion Bobby Verdon-Roe will line up alongside David Leslie in Ecurie Ecosse's Vauxhall Cavaliers GSis, completing the Scottish team's driver line-up in the Esso British Touring Car Championship.
INDYCAR:- Emerson Fittipaldi won the opening IndyCar race of the season, the Gold Coast Indy Grand Prix at Surfers Paradise in Australia.
24.03.92F1:- The Benetton Formula One team have signed Italian Alessandro Zanardi as a test driver for the development of their new Ford V12 engine. Zanardi, who drove three Grands Prix for Jordan at the end of last season, will back up senior race drivers Michael Schumacher and Martin Brundle.
27.03.92SAFARI RALLY, KENYA:- Former world champion Carlos Sainz of Spain held the lead after the first leg. Finnish champion Juha Kankkunen lost 10 minutes at the Shanzu control point as the rally got underway in Nairobi and lies fourth in his Lancia Integrale. The first leg took drivers through the Taita Hills to the Indian Ocean port of Mombasa.
Positions after first leg: Penalties hrs mins 1 C Sainz Sp Toyota Celica 00:07 2 J Ricalde Arg Lancia Integ 00:09 3 M Alen Fin Toyota Celica 00:09 4 J Kankkunen Fin Nissan Sunny 00:10 5 B W'degaard Swe Lancia Integ 00:10 6 I Duncan Ken Toyota Celica 00:10 7 K Shinozuka Jap Mitsubishi G 00:32 8 M Ericsson Swe Toyota Celica 00:42 9 P Njiru Ken Subaru Legacy 00:44 10 P Eklund Swe Subaru Legacy 00:48CHARRINGTON'S HISTORIC RALLY:- Stig Blomqvist and Russell Brookes fly the flag for the current generation as they take on the veterans, headed by Timo Makinen and Roger Clark. Blomqvist swops his Nissan for a Mini Cooper S while Clark, Britain's most successful rally driver, will be at the wheel of a 1965 Ford Lotus Cortina. In reaction to criticisms of the layout last year, the organisers have designed a more demanding event with 22 special stages for the 90 entries. Makinen defends his crown in a Mini Cooper S against a pre-1966 entry list including Porsche, Morgans and Sunbeams.
Positions after 8 of 22 stages:(end of day one) Accumulated penalties mins secs 1 J Larsson Porsche 911 42:04 2 A Andersson Porsche 911 42:35 3 M Adolfsson Volvo Amazon 43:00 4 R Clark Lotus Cortina 43:04 5 R Brookes MGB 43:48 6 P Wells Lotus Cortina 44:53 7 S Blomqvist Mini-Cooper S 45:11 8 T Makinen Mini-Cooper S 45:16 9 R Aaltonen Mini-Cooper S 45:22 10 N Mason Ford Lotus C 45:25NEWS:- The Racing for Britain programme, which funded some of Britain's finest up-and-coming drivers of the 1980's, is set to return due to an anonymous benefactor. The programme, designed to permit young British drivers to reach the top, will be administered by Steve Sydenahm, who founded it back in 1981.
28.03.92SAFARI RALLY:- Former world champion Carlos Sainz held a comfortable seven-minute lead after the second leg. Sainz, driving a Toyota Celica GT4, had an accumulated penalty of 35 mins, with Argentine Jorge Recalde's second after his Lancia broke its rear suspension. Swede Bjorn Waldegaard's Lancia developed a fuel leak and caught fire when it was being refuelled. Waldegaard and co-driver Fred Gallagher were out of the car seconds before it exploded into flames, but a mechanic and a few bystanders were injured.
Positions after second leg: Penalties hrs mins 1 C Sainz Sp Toyota Celica 0:35 2 J Recalde Arg Lancia Integ 0:42 3 I Duncan Ken Toyota Celica 0:51 4 J Kankkunen Fin Lancia Integ 0:53 = M Alen Fin Toyota Celica 0:58 6 M Ericsson Swe Toyota Celica 1:13 7 P Njiru Ken Subaru Legacy 1:48 8 P Eklund Swe Subaru Legacy 1:59 9 S Rai Ken Toyota Celica 2:16 10 J Toroitich Ken Toyota Celica 2:18 CHARRINGTONS HISTORIC RALLY:- Positions after 15 of 22 stages: (end of day two) Accumulated penalties hrs mins secs 1 J Larsson Porsche 911 1:04:44 2 P Walfridsson Volvo 1:05:16 3 R Clark Lotus Cortina 1:05:44 4 M Adolfsson Volvo Amazon 1:05:59 5 P Wells Lotus Cortina 1:07:45 6 T Makinen Mini-Cooper S 1:08:54 7 R Aaltonen Mini-Cooper S 1:08:57 8 P Buck Austin Healey 1:09:04 9 S Blomqvist Mini-Cooper S 1:09:15 10 R Bourne Morgan 1:10:40RALLYCROSS:- Former F1 driver Martin Donnelly made a fine comeback from injury with a second place in the Nova Rallycross Challenge. Donnelly, who sustained bad injuries in practice for the 1990 Spanish GP, drove the celebrity car in the third round at Knutts Corner, Northern Ireland. He finished just 0.3 seconds behind the winning car of Davy Crockett. Championship leader Nick Jones from Hereford could only finish in ninth place.
TOURING CAR:- Andy Middlehurst has been confirmed as Kieth Odor's new partner in the Nissan Janspeed Racing team for this year's British Touring Car Championship.
29.03.92SAFARI RALLY:- Former world champion Carlos Sainz maintained a seven-minute lead in his Toyota after the third leg around snow-capped Mount Kenya. The Spaniard had stretched it to nine minutes before being forced to stop to change the drive shaft and gearbox. Second-placed Jorge Recalde failed to close the gap as he lost three minutes replacing both rear shock absorbers on his Lancia Integrale. World champion Juha Kankkunen stayed in fourth but lost time trying to rectify a bent stabiliser bar.
Positions after third leg: Penalties mins secs 1 C Sainz Sp Toyota Celica 43:00 2 J Recalde Arg Lancia Integ 50.00 3 I Duncan Ken Toyota Celica 1hr:04 4 J Kankkunen Fin Lancia Integ 1:10 5 M Ericsson Swe Toyota Celica 1:22 6 M Alen Fin Toyota Celica 1:24 7 P Eklund Swe Subaru Legacy 2:53 8 P Njiru Ken Subaru Legacy 2:55 9 S Rai Ken Toyota Celica 3:00 10 Y Iwase Jpn Toyota Celica 3:31HISTORIC RALLY:- Jerry Larsson in a Porsche 911 led a Swedish one-two finish in the gruelling three-day event for pre-1966 cars. He finished nine seconds ahead of the Volvo of Per-Inge Walfridsson with Britain's Roger Clark a further nine seconds behind in a Ford Lotus Cortina. Though the expected Mini-Cooper surge failed to materialise, the legendary Timo Makinen, Raumo Aaltonen and Stig Blomqvist were sixth to eighth. In a varied top ten, Phil Buck brought his glorious Austin Healey home ninth with Rick Bourne's Morgan tenth.
Result after 22 stages: Accumulated penalties hrs mins secs 1 J Larsson Porsche 911 1:31:41 2 P Walfridsson Volvo 1:31:50 3 R Clark Lotus Cortina 1:31:59 4 M Adolfsson Volvo Amazon 1:33:25 5 P Wells Lotus Cortina 1:34:16 6 R Aaltonen Mini-Cooper S 1:35:21 7 T Makinen Mini-Cooper S 1:35:26 8 S Blomqvist Mini-Cooper S 1:35:30 9 P Buck Austin Healey 1:35:32 10 R Bourne Morgan 1:35:42 30.03.92F1:- Perry McCarthy is set to become Britain's next Grand Prix driver. The talented 29 year-old from Essex is to drive for the Italian Andrea Mode team starting from this weekends Grand Prix in Brazil. "I am absolutely delighted to be in F1 with Andrea Mode after 10 years of trying. I am proud to be Britain's latest Formula 1 recruit," he said. He will drive alongside former Benetton and Jordan pilot Roberto Moreno, who finished second in the 1990 Japanese Grand Prix.
SPORTSCAR:- The future of the world sports car championship will hang in the balance for another day. The future of the series was due to be announced today but FISA President Max Mosley has put back the decision for 24 hours in a bid to save the series. "We are still waiting for a reply from one manufacturer on its commitment to the championship," he said. Without guaratees from enough teams the series will be scrapped. If it does start the first race will be in Monza, in Italy, on April 26.
SAFARI RALLY:- Former world champion Carlos Sainz has stretched his lead to 18 minutes after a dusty fourth stage in Kenya and benefitted from being first on the road. "We had no technical problems but lost a minute going back to the final check point to have our time-card checked," said Sainz, who has back problems. Jorge Recalde, second, had rear shock absorber troubles. "The dust is worse than thick fog," said co-driver Martin Christie. "Carlos is driving too fast". World champion Juha Kankkunen moved into third place after a sixth shock absorber failure was repaired.
Positions after fourth leg: Penalties hr:mn:sec 1 C Sainz Sp Toyota Celica 1:19.00 2 J Recalde Arg Lancia Integ 1:37.00 3 J Kankkunen Fin Lancia Integ 2:01.00 4 M Ericsson Swe Toyota Celica 2:30.00 5 I Duncan Ken Toyota Celica 2:40.00 6 M Alen Fin Toyota Celica 2:49.00 7 S Rai Ken Toyota Celica 4:52.00 8 P Njiru Ken Subaru Legacy 5:24.00 9 P Eklund Swe Subaru Legacy 5:57.00 10 R Stohl Aut Audi 7:15.00 31.03.92SPORTSCARS:- A decision on the future of the World Sportscar championship has been delayed until Wednesday morning. A final decision on the future of the series was due to have been made on Monday morning and was then delayed until Tuesday afternoon. But a FISA spokesman said it had been delayed another 24 hours. "We do not have all the elements to make an announcement yet," he said.
SAFARI RALLY:- Carlos Sainz leads the gruelling Safari Rally by 28 minutes despite the failure of his turbocharger, rear shock-absorbers and driveshaft. "The mechanics changed them all in 11 minutes - and had the engine running after eight. If we win it will be down to them, not me," he said. The biggest threat to Toyota is Jorge Recalde in a Lancia with Kankkunen's roll putting him an hour adrift. Privateer Ian Duncan dropped out of the top 10 after two steering failures, brake troubles, then front and rear suspension failure!
World champion Juha Kankkunen had a lucky escape when he rolled his Lancia on the fifth leg along the volcanic Rift Vallley in Kenya. The car somersaulted after hitting a bank but Kankkunen and co-driver Juha Piironen emerged unscathed. "It was like slow motion in the movies," said the Finn, who was able to continue but is 54 minutes behind leader Carlos Sainz. The Spaniard continues to dominate the event despite turbo problems, with Jorge Recalde holding second place.
Positions after fifth leg: Penalties hr:mn 1 C Sainz Sp Toyota Celica 1:59 2 J Recalde Arg Lancia Integ 2:27 3 J Kankkunen Fin Lancia Integ 2:53 4 M Ericsson Swe Toyota Celica 3:33 5 M Alen Fin Toyota Celica 4:27 6 S Rai Ken Toyota Celica 7:29 7 P Njiru Ken Subaru Legacy 8:01 8 P Eklund Swe Subaru Legacy 8:57 9 K Shinozuka Jap Toyota Celica 9:42 10 B Rautenb'h Zim Toyota Celica 10:25