December 1993


03.12.93
F1:- McLaren have confirmed Finland's Mika Hakkinen in their team for the 1994 World Championship. Hakkinen has been rewarded with a three-year contract after replacing Michael Andretti for the last three races of last season. McLaren, who have a new engine agreement with Peugeot, plan to contest the championship with three drivers next year. But the names of Hakkinen's teammates are not expected to be confirmed until next month.

THAILAND RALLY:- Australian Ross Dunkerton leads the Rally of Thailand at the end of the first day. The Mitsubishi Lancer driver has a 56-second advantage over New Zealander Possum Bourne in a Subaru. Teammate Richard Burns, from Oxfordshire, was in third place a further 33 seconds adrift.





04.12.93 - RALLYCROSS
Essex driver Richard Hutton was the surprise leader in the first heats for Sunday's rallycross at Brands. Hutton in a Ford Escort Cosworth featuring far fewer modifications than the other leading challengers, clocked 3 mins 24.2 secs to head Swede Per Eklund in a Subaru. Torquay's Barry Squibb was third with Norway's Martin Schanche, winner in 1984 and '92, fourth. Reigning champion Will Gollop lost his chance of a quick time when his Peugeot 309 collided with Pat Doran's Escort at the first corner.





05.12.93 - THAILAND RALLY
The Subaru duo of Possum Bourne and Richard Burns hold the top two places after day two of the Rally of Thailand. Kiwi Bourne is 1 min 26 secs ahead of Britain's Burns while first day leader Ross Dunkerton of Australia is a further 21 secs adrift in his Mitsubishi Lancer.





06.12.93 - F1
Formula One newcomers Simtek have confirmed they will be powered by Ford Cosworth V8 engines when they make their debut next year. The British team are one of two new entrants, the other being fellow Brits Pacific Racing.





07.12.93 - F1
Benetton Formula One have announced that German driver Michael Schumacher has signed a new three year contract.





08.12.93 - F1
Ayrton Senna and Eddie Irvine are due to give evidence to FIA today following their fracas after the Japanese Grand Prix in October. The Brazilian confronted Irvine in the Jordan camp to complain about his driving and apparently a blow was struck by the McLaren driver. But no official report was made and the sport's governing body will only use the drivers' evidence. Senna admitted he regretted the incident but Britain's Derek Warwick offered support having also been a victim of Irvine's driving.





09.12.93
F1:- Ayrton Senna has been given a two race ban by the sport's governing body, the FIA, for striking Irish driver Eddie Irvine. But the ban has been suspended for six months because of the Brazilian ace's "positive attitude". Senna hit the Jordan driver during a fracas after the Japanese Grand Prix in October. The former world champion was furious over the way Irvine was driving and the McLaren driver confronted him although admitted later he regretted the incident.

Team Lotus have confirmed Alessandro Zanardi as their test driver for 1994 alongside Johnny Herbert and Pedro Lamy.

TOURING CARS:- Auto Trader has agreed to continue its sponsorship of the British Touring Car Championship for the next two years. The weekly motoring magazine was impressed with their results following their backing of this year's series. "In our first season we achieved results way beyond our expectations and had to continue," said David Owen-Smith, sponsorship director. The 1994 calendar features 21 races to be staged over 13 weekends between April and September.





13.12.93 - F1
The Footwork Formula One team will use the Ford HB engine to contest the 1994 FIA World Championship. The team has reached agreement with Cosworth Engineering for the supply of Ford engines next season. Footwork will have the use of the air valve engines that took McLaren to five victories in 1993. The fourth RAC International Historic Rally of Great Britain will run as a two-day event from next year. It will take place in November and cover about 60 miles.





16.12.93
TOURING CARS:- Italian manufacturer Alfa Romeo is to contest the 1994 Auto Trader RAC British Touring Car Championship. A two-car team, featuring former GP driver Gabriele Tarquini, will compete in all 21 rounds of next year's event.

SPEED RECORD:- McLaren have unvieled a project aimed at beating the 633mph land speed record, set in Nevada by by Richard Noble 10 years ago. The Rolls-Royce powered Maverick is capable of reaching 850mph in 40 seconds but a suitable stretch of land is still to be found.





22.12.93 - F1/INDY
Martin Brundle is considering a switch to join Nigel Mansell in Indy Cars next year after failing to land a top Formula One drive. The Briton was seventh in a Ligier in the 1993 F1 World Championship and is frustrated he has not been signed by one of the major teams. He told BBC TV that the growing prestige of the Indy Car series appealed to him. And he added: "The teams have to find less money to be competitive and the cars are much more equal."