January & February 1993


01.01.93 - PARIS-DAKAR RALLY
Finland's Ari Vatanen bids for his fifth title as the troubled race gets underway on New Year's Day. Vatanen heads a world class field for the 8,877km event, including Pierre Lartigue who won this year's gruelling Paris-Beijing race. Another of Vatanen's Citroen teammates, Hubert Auriol, is also likely to figure highly. The main Mitsubishi challenge is provided by 1992 European Champion Erwin Weber, France's Bruno Saby and Kenjiro Shinozuka of Japan. Meanwhile, double world sportscar champion Jean-Louis Schlesser competes in a single-seater buggy.

Much of the 16-day, 8,877km event will take place in the Sahara Desert, crossing Morocco, Algeria and Mauritania. French anti-tobacco laws have meant the withdrawal of a number of car and motorcycle teams, reducing the overall entry from 343 to 155. But for all its troubles the race promises to be as exciting as ever. Organiser Gilbert Sabine said: "It will be more intense and action packed and with long stretches of unmarked sand anything can happen."




02.01.93 - PARIS-DAKAR RALLY
Finland's Ari Vatanen, bidding for his fifth title, shared the lead after the prologue with Citroen teammate Pierre Lartigue. The 2.2 miles determined the order of the field at the start of the first stage on Tuesday at Tangiers. Another Citroen driver, Hubert Auriol, tied in third with Bruno Saby and Erwin Weber.

Just after dawn on New Year's Day 64 cars, 46 motorcycles and 44 trucks left from the shadow of the Eiffel Tower heading for Africa. Ahead lay 5,531 miles, including 12 stages and a prologue with timed special stages of 3,348 miles. After landing in Tangiers, the competitors head for Fez, with six days in Algeria, followed by five days in Mauritania. The rally finishes on 16 January in Dakar, Senegal.





05.01.93
INDYCAR:- Nigel Mansell has made a sensational start to his Indycar racing career by smashing the track record at the Phoenix Firebird Raceway. In his first outing with the Newman-Haas Lola-Ford car, Mansell cut 8/10th's of a second off the record. "I'm still learning about the car so I feel I can improve quite a bit more," he said. "I'm really pleased."

PARIS-DAKAR RALLY: Germany's Erwin Weber won the first stage of the Paris-Dakar Rally after a 185-mile high speed chase through the snowy Atlas mountains. Bruno Saby finished second to complete a convincing one-two for the Mitsubishi team. Third-placed Ari Vatanen, in a Citroen, was more than three minutes adrift. The 152 competitors leave the mountains behind and head into the sand dunes of the Sahara.


Positions after first stage:
                          hr mins secs
 1 E Weber       Ger        1:04.26
 2 B Saby        Fra      @   01.33
 3 A Vatanen     Fin      @   03.37
 4 H Auriol      Fra      @   07.45
 5 P Lartigue    Fra      @   08.29
 6 K Shinozuka   Jap      @   09.37
 7 T Salonen     Fin      @   14.26



06.01.93
INDYCAR:- Nigel Mansell made a dazzling start to his Indycar career by smashing the track record in testing at the Phoenix Firebird Raceway. The Formula One world champion completed 60 laps for his first drive in the Newman Hass Lola Ford with a best time of 44.8 seconds. "There's a lot of dust on the track and I'm still learning about the car so I feel I can improve quite a bit more," he commented. His appearance attracted a packed crowd to the track.

PARIS-DAKAR RALLY:- France's Bruno Saby took the lead from Mitsubishi teammate Erwin Weber as the stony wastes of the Algerian Sahara took its toll. Saby arrived home alone on day two and said: "I prayed like I have never done before. We were down to our last spare tyre." Weber ran out of spare wheels after a series of punctures and was left stuck waiting for a service vehicle.





07.01.93
INDYCAR:- Nigel Mansell's long-awaited debut on America's banked oval Indycar tracks has been delayed by flooding. The Formula One world champion had been scheduled to make his first appearance in a Lola-Ford car on an oval track in Phoenix, Arizona. But continuous heavy rain caused flooding on the track and Mansell had to be content with 75mph demonstration laps in his Cadillac. "I am disappointed with the weather but I am not making too much of a fuss," said Mansell.

Britain's Martin Brundle is set to follow compatriot Nigel Mansell into Indycar racing. Brundle finished sixth in last year's world championship but was still dropped by Benetton at the end of the season. Brundle is strongly tipped to be the lead driver for Tom Walkinshaw, who has announced he will run a two-car Lola-Ford team. Walkinshaw, whose Jaguars won three world sportscar championships, has not confirmed his choice of drivers.

PARIS-DAKAR RALLY:- Thursday morning's leg from El Golea to Borj Omar has been called off after only 19 drivers managed to arrive at the starting point. The leg will now be run as a liaison stage, starting on Thursday afternoon. By 2.00am, only about a dozen cars and three bikes had arrived at the finish, with many drivers opting to stop and rest en route. Competitors must now arrive at Bordj Omar 30 minutes before the official departure time for the next leg to Tamanrasset.


 Overall positions (after second stage)
 CARS                    hr mins secs
 1 B Saby        Fra        8:02.30
 2 P Lartigue    Fra      @ 1:15.49
 3 T Salonen     Fin      @ 1:16.02
 4 K Shinozuka   Jap      @ 2:49.37
 5 S Servia      Sp       @ 3:43.00
 6 H Auriol      Fra      @ 4:11.09

TOP GEAR RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP:- Ford have announced a major assault on this year's Mobil 1 Top Gear British Rally Championship, with two of their new Escort Cosworths. The cars, a Group A version for Malcolm Wilson and Group N for young Scot Robbie Head, will be run by Michelin Pilot Team Ford. The British series starts in March, but before that Wilson will compete in the the Swedish Rally, round two of the world championship. A Michelin spokesman said: "The chance to have two top cars running on out tyres was to good to miss."





08.01.93
INDYCAR:- Nigel Mansell made a stunning debut on his first Indycar oval test drive by blasting to within half a second of the Phoenix lap record. Mansell, who was denied on Thursday by heavy rain, took the Newman-Haas Lola-Ford round the one-mile oval in just 21.42 seconds. He did a total of 75 laps in six runs during the session and said: "I think it shows a few people what I can do." Admiring Paul Newman said: "What he did today was quite fantastic."

MEWLA RALLY:- Last year's winner John Price heads the entries for the Mewla National Rally on Saturday, starting at Llandrindod Wells.

TARMAC RALLY:- The first round of the Demon Tweeks Motoring News National Tarmac Rally Series starts at 8am and should finish at about 3.30pm.

PARIS-DAKAR RALLY - Overall positions (after fourth stage)

CARS                       hr mins secs
1 B Saby        Fr  Mitsubi  @ 1:42.03
2 P Lartigue    Fr  Citroen    8:40.07
3 T Salonen     Fin Citroen  @ 1:30.52
4 K Shinozuka   Jap Mitsubi  @ 3:46.25
5 H Auriol      Fr  Citroen  @ 4:21.02
6 S Servia      Sp  Lada     @ 4:30.05
Frenchman Bruno Saby extended his lead in a Mitsubishi as four-times winner Ari Vatanen took Friday's special stage. The Finn won the 550-km stage over the Hoggar mountains in his Citroen but still lies 12th overall after a disastrous second stage. Saby came home behind Kenjiro Shinozuka to take third spot and increase his lead to one hour 30 minutes over Pierre Lartigue.




09.01.93
INDYCAR:- World champion Nigel Mansell has said he has no intention of returning to Formula One in 1994. Mansell made a stunning debut test drive for the Newman-Haas Indycar team but was unable to test further due to heavy rain and high winds. Mansell said: "I honestly feel my Formula One career has ended. I'm due here for one year but I'm hoping it's much longer. "I've made a deal and that's all there is to it. There's no going back for me."


PARIS-DAKAR RALLY
Overall positions (after fifth stage)
CARS                      hr mins secs
1 B Saby        Fr  Mitsubi   10:33.30
2 P Lartique    Fr  Citroen  @ 1:38.24
3 K Shinozuka   Jpn Mitsubi  @ 4:04.36
4 H Auriol      Fr  Citroen  @ 4:38.26
5 S Servia      Sp  Lada     @ 5:39.24
6 E Weber       Ger Mitsubi  @ 5:54.24
Frenchman Bruno Saby increased his lead in a Mitsubishi by winning the longest stage as Finn Timo Salonen crashed and was forced to retire. The former world rallying champion, who was third in his Citroen, was unhurt but his British co-driver Fred Gallagher was flown to Paris with a wrenched back. Saby won the 801 kilmetre fifth African stage from Tamanrasset to Adrar by one minute 45 seconds from Finlands Ari Vatanen. He now has an overall lead of one hour 38 minutes and 24 seconds.





10.01.93 - PARIS-DAKAR RALLY

Overall positions (after fifth stage)
CARS                      hr mins secs
1 B Saby        Fr  Mitsubi   10:33.30
2 P Lartique    Fr  Citroen  @ 1:38.24
3 K Shinozuka   Jpn Mitsubi  @ 4:04.36
4 H Auriol      Fr  Citroen  @ 4:38.26
5 S Servia      Sp  Lada     @ 5:39.24
6 E Weber       Ger Mitsubi  @ 5:54.24
Frenchman Bruno Saby increased his lead in a Mitsubishi by winning the longest stage as Finn Timo Salonen crashed and was forced to retire. The former world rallying champion, who was third in his Citroen, was unhurt but his British co-driver Fred Gallagher was flown to Paris with a wrenched back. Saby won the 801 kilmetre fifth African stage from Tamanrasset to Adrar by one minute 45 seconds from Finlands Ari Vatanen. He now has an overall lead of one hour 38 minutes and 24 seconds.





11.01.93
F1:- German Michael Bartels has signed for the newly formed Pacific Grand Prix team for the 1993 season. The 24-year-old finished fourth in last year's F3000 series but failed to qualify in the four races he had for Lotus in F1 in 1991.


PARIS-DAKAR RALLY
Overall positions (after sixth stage)
CARS                      hr mins secs
1 B Saby        Fr  Mitsubi   12:18.30
2 P Lartique    Fr  Citroen  @ 1:36.36
3 H Auriol      Fr  Mitsubi  @ 4:32.17
4 K Shinozuka   Jap Mitsubi  @ 5:03.22
5 E Weber       Ger Mitsubi  @ 5:45.45
6 S Servia      Sp  Lada     @ 5:53.16
Frenchman Bruno Saby was content to protect his big lead as he steered his Mitsubishi into fifth place on the sixth African stage. Compatriot Pierre Lartigue, the only driver with a realistic chance of catching Saby, finished one hour 48 secs faster in his Citreon. But Lartigue is still more than an hour and a half behind overall. The 626km stage through Algeria's spectacular shifting dunes was won by Finland's Ari Vatanen driving a Citreon, with Erwin Weber second and Hubert Auriol third.





12.01.93 - PARIS-DAKAR RALLY

Overall positions (after seventh stage)
CARS                      hr mins secs
1 B Saby        Fr  Mitsubi   14:27.24
2 P Lartique    Fr  Citroen  @ 1:42.56
3 H Auriol      Fr  Mitsubi  @ 4:36.44
4 K Shinozuka   Jap Mitsubi  @ 5:46.44
5 S Servia      Sp  Lada     @ 6:05.34
6 E Weber       Ger Mitsubi  @ 6:11.33
Jean-Pierre Fontenay became the third Mitsubishi driver to win a stage when he took the honours on the 650km seventh stage. The Frenchman completed the course in the remote north west area of Mauritania over 11 minutes ahead of his nearest rival. It was a good day for leader Bruno Saby who finished the stage in second place to extend his overall lead to six minutes.




13.01.93 - PARIS-DAKAR RALLY

Overall positions (after eighth stage)
CARS                      hr mins secs
1 B Saby        Fr  Mitsubi   16:55.17
2 P Lartique    Fr  Citroen  @ 1:40.48
3 H Auriol      Fr  Mitsubi  @ 4:32.39
4 K Shinozuka   Jap Mitsubi  @ 5:40.37
5 E Weber       Ger Mitsubi  @ 6:01.31
6 S Servia      Sp  Lada     @ 6:10.48
Mitsubishi driver Bruno Saby leads the field by one hour forty minutes after a second day in the Mauritanian Sahara on Wednesday. The 522-km eighth stage was won by Germany's Erwin Weber with Japan's Kenjiro Shinozuka in second. Four-time winner Ari Vatanan crawled to the finish one hour behind after jarring his back when his Citroen crashed into a hole. Saby finished sixth on the stage, just behind closest rival and fellow Frenchman Pierre Lartigue.




14.01.93
F1:- Martin Brundle and Mark Blundell have signed for Ligier for this year's F1 world championship. Brundle finished sixth in last year's series but was dropped by Benetton and was expected to follow Nigel Mansell into Indycars. Blundell drove for Brabham in 1991 alongside Brundle but failed to secure an F1 place last season. Ligier's new president Cyril de Rouvre said Eric Bernard would test the team's cars.


PARIS-DAKAR RALLY
Overall positions (after ninth stage)

CARS                      hr mins secs
1 B Saby        Fr  Mitsubi   19:38.25
2 P Lartique    Fr  Citroen  @ 1:39.05
3 H Auriol      Fr  Citroen  @ 4:30.19
4 K Shinozuka   Jap Mitsubi  @ 5:51.13
5 E Weber       Ger Mitsubi  @ 6:26.47
6 S Servia      Sp  Lada     @ 7:57.24
French pair Hubert Auriol and Pierre Lartigue produced a Citroen one-two on stage nine but barely dented Bruno Saby's overall lead. With only two days left, Saby was well protected by his Mitsubishi teammates, who shadowed him along the 224-km stage from and to Atar. Lartigue finished two minutes ahead of Saby, but is still left one hour minutes behind overall. Four-times winner Ari Vatanen, suffering from a back injury, again struggled and only managed 12th.





15.01.93 - PARIS-DAKAR RALLY

Overall positions (after 10th stage)

CARS                      hr mins secs
1 B Saby        Fr  Mitsubi   24:19.02
2 P Lartique    Fr  Citroen  @ 1:13.05
3 H Auriol      Fr  Citroen  @ 4:02.59
4 E Weber       Ger Mitsubi  @ 6:18.28
5 K Shinozuka   Jap Mitsubi  @ 7:02.52
6 S Servia      Sp  Lada     @ 8:25.16
Mitsubishi driver Bruno Saby kept his distance from the pursuing pack despite a series of mishaps on the penultimate stage. He managed only fourth place on the 450-km 10th stage from Atar to Nouakchott in Mauritania but still leads overall by more than an hour. "We broke the differential and even put the car on its side at one point," said the Frenchman. Compatriot Hubert Auriol, driving a Citroen, won his second consecutive stage in a Citroen.




16.01.93 - PARIS-DAKAR RALLY

Overall positions (after final stage)

CARS                      hr mins secs
1 B Saby        Fr  Mitsubi   24:56.02
2 P Lartique    Fr  Citroen  @ 1:09.45
3 H Auriol      Fr  Citroen  @ 4:02.08
4 E Weber       Ger Mitsubi  @ 6:14.38
5 K Shinozuka   Jap Mitsubi  @ 7:02.51
6 S Servia      Sp  Lada     @ 8:25.24
Mitsubishi driver Bruno Saby drove to a well-deserved victory, having dominated the gruelling event since the second African stage. He led home Citroen duo Pierre Lartigue and Hubert Auriol after 16 days of high speed action across the deserts to Dakar in Senegal.

Frenchman Bruno Saby said the final stage had seemed a long one as he headed for victory in a Mitsubishi. "I spent a peaceful night telling myself it was in the pocket," he said. "But, at the beginning of the last stage, I realised it was not completely won yet. There were still those last kilometres that never seemed to end." Saby finished more than an hour clear of second-placed Pierre Lartigue, who won last year's Paris-Beijing Rally. Four times winner Ari Vatanen finished eighth.





19.01.93 - F1
French sports minister Frederique Bredin has said that the government had offered sufficient guarantees to allow the French formula one Grand Prix to be reinstated. This season's Grand Prix was struck off because of controversial laws banning tobacco advertising.

Brazilian driver Christain Fittipaldi is to stay with the Italian team Minardi in the 1993 World Championship.




20.01.93
LE MANS 24Hrs:- Jaguar have threatened to boycott the Le Mans 24-hour race in June unless their new XJ220 supercar can compete on level terms. The manufacturers' chairman Nick Steele is unhappy that their team have not been told of regulations for the race - even though it is only five months away. Steele is also prepared to set up a rival set of races in Europe which would pit his cars against Porsche, Ferrari, Bugatti and Lamborghini. Jaguar have won Le Mans seven times, most recently in 1990.

MONTE CARLO RALLY:- Rally king Carlos Sainz expects a tough battle in his debut drive for Lancia when the 1993 championship gets under way on Thursday. He has mixed feelings about his decision to quit Toyota after twice winning the world title for them. "I'm a little bit sad to leave Toyota, but they know I will be doing my best to beat them," the Spaniard commented. His former team's strong pairing of Didier Auriol and Juha Kankkunen are likely to be Sainz's main rivals in the week-long event.

Ford and Mitsubishi introduce new cars at the 61st Monte Carlo event which they hope will end the domination of Lancia and Toyota. The four-wheel drive, turbocharged Ford Escot Cosworth, driven by Miki Biasion and Francois Delecour, replaces last year's Sierra. Mitsubishi pin their hopes on the new Lancer and the pairing of experienced Swede Kenneth Eriksson and fearless German Armin Schwarz. The cars set off from five separate towns on Thursday with the first of 22 special stages the following day.

CHAMPIONSHIP - LEADING DRIVERS

LANCIA		C Sainz     Sp
		A Aghini    It

TOYOTA		D Auriol    Fr
		J Kankkunen Fin

FORD		M Biasion   It
		F Delecour  Fr

MITSUBISHI	K Eriksson  Swe
		A Schwarz   Ger

SUBARU		A Vatanen   Fin
		C McRae     GB
		P Bourne    NZ
SCHEDULE:
Jan 21: Cars leave for Monaco from Turin, Bad Hombourg, Lausanne, Reims and Barcelona.
Jan 23: Monaco; Digne-les-Bains; Aubenas. 6 stages - 584.32km.
Jan 24: Aubenas; St Jean-en-Royans; Gap. 6 stages - 519.25km.
Jan 25: Gap; Castellane; Monaco. stages - 424.99km.
Jan 26-27: Monaco. stages - 413.48km.



21.01.93
F1:- World champions Williams have not appeared among the list of entries for this year's Formula One series. FISA, the sport's ruling body, gave a list of 26 cars entered by the deadline but did not rule out a late entry by the British team. This would require agreement from all competing teams and a report on French radio indicated that three had already refused to approve a late application from Williams. Williams won 10 out of 16 GP races last season to easily win the title.

Frank Williams is blaming two rival teams for preventing his Formula One outfit from being included in the 1993 championship entry list. Because Williams entry was made one day after the deadline it failed to go through automatically. Under the rules all the other teams approval was needed. Williams said: "Two teams have refused to sign in order to obtain concessions from Williams involving limiting Formula One technology."


TEAM & DRIVER LINE UPS

TYRRELL   U Katayama   Jp
	  A De Cesaris It
BENETTON  M Schmacher  Ger
	  R Patrese    It
FOOTWORK  A Suzuki     Jp
	  D Warwick    GB
LOTUS     M Hakkinen   Fin
	  J Herbert    GB
LOLA      M Alboreto   It
	  L Badoer     It
LIGIER    M Brundle    GB
          M Blundell   GB
FERRARI   J Alesi      Fr
	  G Berger     Aus
SAUBER    K Wendlinger Aus
	  JJ Lehto     Fin
McLAREN   M Andretti   US
	  Second driver TBA
JORDAN    R Bar'chello Bra
	  Second driver TBA

MARCH, LARROUSSE & MINARDI
	  teams to be announced

SALOON CARS:- Athletics legend Daley Thompson is to make a sporting comeback at the wheel of a racing car. The double Olympic decathlon gold medallist has signed as a works driver for Peugeot for this year's National Saloon Car Cup. He will contest 14 rounds starting in March and insists he is deadly serious about his new career. Team boss Mick Linford said first indications suggested Thompson has the capability to become an "outstanding driver."





23.01.93
F1:- The Williams team may have to agree to limit the technology used in their cars in order to take part in Formula One this season. They failed to meet the deadline for registering their cars and two rivals, Benetton and Minardi, are refusing to let them enter late. Team boss Frank Williams claims the other teams are trying to force him to accept technical limits that could reduce their dominance. FISA president Max Mosley said it was up to Williams to find the solution to resolve the problem.

Benetton want changes in the way Formula One governed in return for allowing Williams a place on the 1993 Grand Prix circuit. Williams missed the registration deadline and need unanimous support from all their rivals to take part. "When the teams met in London to discuss ways of relaunching Formula One we had to accept all the vetos posted by Williams. Benetton is fighting for a system where decision are taken by a broad majority," said Benetton managing director Flavio Briatore.

A climbdown by anti-tobacco lobbyists has opened the way for this year's French Grand Prix at Magny Cours to be reinstated. Lobby representatives have agreed to drop legal action against teams for carrying tobacco advertising. Both the motor racing and motor cycling events were struck off the championship calendar last year due to France's tough anti-tobacco laws. FISA have left the July 4 date open and are awaiting guarantees from the French Federation that cars will not be seized.

MONTE CARLO RALLY:- More than 140 cars set off from five Countries on Thursday at the start of the Monte Carlo rally. Competitors left France, Germany, Switzerland, Italy and Spain in an untimed liaison drive which will take them to the principality. The cars will reach Monte Carlo late on Friday and the first timed stage will start on Saturday. The rally will take the cars 3,091 kms through the Alpine hinterland and will include 22 timed stages before the finish on Wednesday.





23.01.93 - MONTE CARLO RALLY

Positions after 6 of 22 stages:
                             mins secs
 1 F Delecour  Fr  Ford Cos'th 1:35.16
 2 A Aghini    It  Lancia      1:36.46
 3 M Biasion   It  Ford Escort 1:36.51
 4 D Auriol    Fr  Toyota      1:37.23
 5 C Sainz     Sp  Lancia      1:37.24
 6 J Kankkunen Fin Toyota      1:38.03
 7 K Eriksson  Swe Mitsubishi  1:39.56
 8 O Burri     Swi Ford Sierra 1:45.01
 9 B Thiry     Fr  Opel        1:45.04
10 A Schwarz   Ger Misubishi   1:45.12
Francois Delecour took advantage of the favourites' problems to lead after the first day in his Ford Escort Cosworth. The Frenchman is 1.5 minutes ahead of Italian Andrea Aghini after the first six stages with last year's winner Didier Auriol and Carlos Sainz in third and fourth. Auriol's Toyota Celica damaged a tyre up the Turini slope losing him 72 seconds while the world champion suffered a flat in his Lancia. The fifth special stage was interrupted after Ballet crashed.





24.01.93 - MONTE CARLO RALLY
World champion Carlos Sainz and Lancia teammate Andrea Aghini both pulled out of the Monte Carlo Rally on Sunday after spectacular crashes. Sainz's Lancia left the road on the last of the day's six timed stages. He lost a wheel and it took him a considerable time to get back on the course. The Spaniard, who was lying fourth, later pulled out. Italian newcomer Aghini, third overall, finished up in a ravine. Neither he nor his navigator was seriously hurt.

Positions after 12 of 22 stages:
                            mins secs
1 F Delecour  Fr  Ford Cos'th 3:14.11
2 M Biasion   It  Ford Escort 3:15.40
3 D Auriol    Fr  Toyota      3:16.28
4 J Kankkunen Fin Toyota      3:18.50
5 K Eriksson  Swe Mitsubishi  3:18.51
Worried drivers and teams have called for marshalling to be tightened at the Monte Carlo Rally after the death of a spectator. A 73-year-old Frenchman, struck by the Peugeot of Jean-Pierre Ballet on Saturday, died in hospital later of a heart attack. Race leader Francois Delecour said after Stage 7: "I was close to hitting spectators several times. It was crazy." Ford team chiefs lodged an official complaint and urged organisers to tighten up crowd control.




26.01.93

F1 TESTING AT ESTORIL
Monday's leading lap times:  mins secs
1 M Schumacher Ger Benetton   1:14.44
2 A Prost      Fr  Williams   1:15.88
3 D Hill       GB  Williams   1:15.89
4 R B'chello   Brz Jordan     1:19.35
5 JJ Lehto     Fin Sauber     1:19.96
6 J Herbert    GB  Lotus      1:19.98
7 K Wendlinger Aut Sauber     1:23.62


MONTE CARLO RALLY
Positions after 17 of 22 stages:
                              mins secs
 1 F Delecour  Fr  Ford Escort 4:42.07
 2 M Biasion   It  Ford Escort 4:43.10
 3 D Auriol    Fr  Toyota      4:43.18
 4 J Kankkunen Fin Toyota      4:47.14
 5 K Eriksson  Swe Mitsubishi  4:53.27
 6 A Schwarz   Ger Mitsubushi  5:04.41
 7 O Burri     Swi Ford Sierra 5:08.10
 8 B Thiry     Bel Opel Astra  5:10.51
 9 P-M Jenot   Fr  Ford Escort 5:12.53
10 C Spiliotis Fr  Lancia      5:13.20
Monte Carlo rally leader Francois Delecour stayed firmly in charge Monday as wintry conditions set in for the first time. Although rivals Massimo Biasion and Didier Auriol clipped a few seconds off his lead in the first few timed stages of the day, he still holds a 63-second advantage. Temperatures fell sharply with blustery winds and light snowfall on the higher parts of the course. German Armin Schwarz has been fined $5,000 to failing to stop his car at a weigh-in point on Saturday.





27.01.93
F1:- Martin Donnelly is to drive a Formula One car for the first time since his horrific crash in Spain two years ago. The 28-year-old Ulsterman will take the wheel of a Sasol Jordan at Silverstone a week on Thursday. Donnelly suffered horrendous injuries when his car careered off the track during practice for the 1990 Spanish Grand Prix in Jerez. He said: "I've worked hard towards getting in shape for this and now I feel ready to meet the challenge."


Tuesday's leading lap times:
Morning session:             mins secs
1 A Prost      Fr  Williams   1:13.55
2 M Schumacher Ger Benetton   1:13.92
3 D Hill       GB  Williams   1:14.05
4 K Wendlinger Aut Sauber     1:17.11
5 R B'chello   Brz Jordan     1:17.44
6 JJ Lehto     Fin Sauber     1:18.62

Afternoon session:
1 D Hill       GB  Williams   1:14.00
2 A Prost      Fr  Williams   1:15.24
3 JJ Lehto     Fin Sauber     1:16.80
4 J Herbert    GB  Lotus      1:17.69
5 K Wendlinger Aut Sauber     1:18.69
6 R B'chello   Brz Jordan     1:18.90


MONTE CARLO RALLY
Final result after 22 stages:
                            hrs:mins.secs
 1 D Auriol    Fr  Toyota      6:13.43
 2 F Delecour  Fr  Ford Escort 6:13.58
 3 M Biasion   It  Ford Escort 6:16.59
 4 K Eriksson  Swe Mitsubishi  6:31.30
 5 J Kankkunen Fin Toyota      6:32.43
 6 A Schwarz   Ger Mitsubishi  6:39.45
 7 O Burri     Swi Ford Sierra 6:51.03
 8 B Thiry     Bel Opel        6:54.08
 9 C Spiliotis Mon Lancia      6:56.24
10 J Serpaggi  Fr  Ford Escort 6:57.58
Didier Auriol left it late to deny Francois Delecour victory in the new Mobil 1 Ford Escort in the 61st Monte Carlo Rally. Delecour started the final night with a 71-second advantage but Auriol remorselessly cut back the lead in his Toyota. He went in front on the penultimate stage and held on for his second successive win in the event. Miki Biasion took third place to complete an excellent debut display by the new Escort.

Triumphant Didier Auriol won a breathtaking duel with Francois Delecour in Monte Carlo as he edged him out by just 15 seconds. Auriol took the rally for the third time in four years, taking four of the last five stages in his Toyota. He said: "I gave it all I had and even more. I was having brake problems and after that I went flat out." Delecour said: "It was close but Didier was just too strong."





28.01.93

F1 TESTING AT ESTORIL
Wednesday leading lap times: mins secs
 1 M Schumacher Ger Benetton   1:13.71
 2 D Hill       GB  Williams   1:13.77
 3 A Prost      Fr  Williams   1:15.29
 4 JJ Lehto     Fin Sauber     1:15.37
 5 R B'chello   Brz Jordan     1:15.85
 6 K Wendlinger Aut Sauber     1:17.33
 7 J Herbert    GB  Lotus      1:17.79
 8 G Berger     Aut Ferrari    1:19.58
 9 J Alesi      Fr  Ferrari    1:19.89
10 R Patrese    It  Benetton   1:20.21

SPORTSCARS - DAYTONA 24 HRS

Daytona once again hosts its unique 24-hour race this weekend. Entries vary in quality from the professional Jaguar and Toyota teams to something you would see attending a car boot sale. But that is the character of the Daytona sportscar race. The winner will emerge from the GTP category, effectively a Group C car such as the turbo-charged Toyotas, Porsches or Nissan, or perhaps one of the two V12 XJR Jaguars.

Much of the interest in the Daytona 24-hour race will surround the 10 GT entries, a new class this year. These are Porsches and Chevrolet Corvettes and are slightly modified versions of out-and-out road cars. At the moment this category does not include 'supercars' such as the Jaguar XJ220C and Ferrari F40s but it is definitely the direction in which sportscar racing is heading. It is therefore perhaps a final chance to see the big hairy-chested turbo cars, the GTPs, in action.

British interest will centre around the two Jaguar XJR12s, the only non-turbo cars in the race. The Jaguar North America team also have use of a new development car during qualifying, an evolutionary version of the XJR12. There is just a small possibility that, if it goes well, the car will be raced at Daytona - an ideal test in preparation for the prestigious 24-Hour race in Le Mans in June. The car has new bodywork and wings, carbon fibre brakes and improved suspension. It will be fast.

British drivers Kenny Acheson and Andy Wallace join IMSA champ Juan Fangio II in Dan Gurney's Eagle Toyota, the fastest car in the race UK-based Australian David Brabham is in one of the two Jaguars with James Weaver in a Rob Dyson Porsche.

Former Daytona winner Derek Bell handles a Nissan GTP car for the first time in the private Momo team. Apart from GTP and GT categories, there will be Camel Light cars and GTS entries, the latter featuring tubular race chassis with the body panels of a production car.




29.01.93 - F1
Alain Prost walked away from a spectacular crash in his Williams during the final day of the testing week at Estoril. He lost control on a bend and span off the track, badly damaging the rear of the car. A team spokesman said the Frenchman suffered only slight concussion. Prost sat out the 1992 season and has admitted finding the high-tech Williams a difficult one to drive.


TESTING AT ESTORIL
Thursday's leading lap times: mins secs
 1 A Prost      Fr  Williams   1:13.63
 2 D Hill       GB  Williams   1:14.64
 3 M Schumacher Ger Benetton   1:14.64
 4 JJ Lehto     Fin Sauber     1:15.03
 5 J Herbert    GB  Lotus      1:15.47
 6 R B'chello   Brz Jordan     1:16.40
 7 R Patrese    It  Benetton   1:16.90
 8 J Alesi      Fr  Ferrari    1:18.93
 9 G Berger     Aut Ferrari    1:19.03
10 A Zanardi    It  Benetton   1:19.09
Former Ligier driver Erik Comas has signed for French team Larrouse for the 1993 season.





30.01.93
WINTER RALLY:- Stephen Finlay and Dessie Wilson in a Ford Sierra Cosworth won the Mazda Car-Line Winter Rally in Bournemouth, the first round of the Mintex National Rally Series. Murray Grierson was second in a Metro 6R4 and Chris Mellors third in a Sierra Cosworth.



SPORTSCARS:- THE DAYTONA 24 HRS
Final qualifying times:   mins secs
1 PJ Jones     US  Toyota  1:33.875
2 JM Fangio II Arg Toyota  1:34.662
3 D Sullivan   US  Porsche 1:36.198
4 D Bell       GB  Nissan  1:36.419
5 B Wollek     Fr  Porsche 1:37.140
6 D Jones      US  Jaguar  1:38.511
7 D Brabham    Aus Jaguar  1:39.412
8 J Weaver     GB  Porsche 1:42.898
PJ Jones smashed the track qualifying record by almost two seconds in Florida.

A Jaguar and a Toyota were locked together in battle with nearly half the 24-hour race in Daytona gone. The Jaguar prototype, co-driven by Davy Jones, Scott Goodyear and Scott Pruett roared into the lead with nine hours gone. But the Toyota Eagle of pole-winner P.J. Jones, Rocky Moran and Mark Dismore regained the initiative an hour later in an intriguing contest. Former race winners Derek Bell of England and John Paul Jr overcame electrical problems to lie ninth.




31.01.93 - SPORTSCARS:- THE DAYTONA 24 HRS
The American team of PJ Jones, Mark Dismore and Rocky Moran drove their Toyota to victory. The Toyota Eagle took the lead when Derek Bell's Nissan broke down with just one 39 minutes to go and a lead of over two laps. The Jaguar team were plagued by mechanical problems and all three of their cars were forced out. Toyota overcame the difficulties of a collision with a wall and a 76-minute pit-stop to claim their second successive Daytona victory.




01.02.93
F1:- Italian driver Ivan Capelli has signed a two-year contract to drive for the Sasol Jordan Formula One team in 1993-94, alongside Rubens Barrichello.

Pacific Grand Prix has decided not to make a late bid to enter this year's Formula One world championship. They are now aiming for 1994 with a stronger technical and financial package.

Williams boss Frank Williams says he is confident his team will be included in this year's championship despite missing the entry deadline.

SWEDISH RALLY:- Former world champion Ari Vatanen has been forced to pull out of the Swedish Rally due to injury. Vatanen injured his back during the Paris-Dakar rally and has been advised to rest by doctors. Another former world champion Hannu Mikkola will replace him in the Banbury-based Prodrive Subaru team. Mikkola will have Vatanen's regular co-driver Bruno Berglund alongside him, while Colin McRae will be will be hoping to improve on last year's second place in Sweden.




03.02.93 - F1
Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo has warned that the Italian team could quit could Formula One unless the rules are changed to take the sport back to its manufacturing roots.




04.02.93 - F1
Martin Donnelly has had his first drive in a Formula One car since he was almost killed in qualifying in Spain two years ago. The 28-year-old from Belfast took the wheel of a Jordan at a specially-arranged informal test at Silverstone. Donnelly said: "Now I can say I've done it at least. I consider my days in Formula One are numbered, if they exist at all." Donnelly suffered multiple injuries before the Spanish Grand Prix.




05.02.93 - F1
Alessandro Zanardi has been signed by Lotus to partner Britain's Johnny Herbert in this season's Formula One world championship. He replaces Finn Mika Hakkinen who is set to drive for McLaren alongside Michael Andretti. Last week the Formula One Contract Recognition Board in Switzerland did not uphold Lotus' claim to having a contract with Hakkinen. Zanardi has competed in six Grands Prix in the last two years and has been Benetton's test driver.





08.02.93 - F2
Belgian Philippe Adams has signed to drive a Reynard 92D Cosworth for the Madgwick International team in the British F2 Championship. Pedro Chaves and Paul Warwick won the drivers title for the team in 1990 and 1991.





10.02.93 - F1
Alain Prost could be barred from driving in this year's Formula One world championship because of his criticism of governing body FISA. FISA president Max Mosley has told Prost's team chief Frank Williams he does not believe it would be a good idea to give Prost a licence. Mosley said: "I do not believe you (Williams) or your sponsors can control him. Even if he cannot be quoted directly he will probably find a way to poison the atmosphere just at the time we need to improve it."





11.02.93
F1:- Donington Park are gearing up for the Grand Prix of Europe on April 11 by spending œ500,000 to upgrade facilities for spectators. Six grandstands will provide 30,000 seats, while increased trackside bankings promise superb viewing for an anticipated crowd of 100,000. Circuit owner Ton Wheatcroft says this is part of a total cost of œ4 million to stage the event. Safety measures for the Formula One World Championship race have also been improved.

A decision on whether former world champion Alain Prost can drive in this year's Formula One races has been put back until next month. But French motor sports president Jean-Marie Balestre said in a statement that Prost risked a suspension for his highly critical remarks about the running of F1.

SWEDISH RALLY:- The second round gets underway on Friday at Karlstad - a rally only ever won by Scandinavians since its inception in 1959. Didier Auriol, winner of the Monte Carlo Rally, will be looking to change all that in his works Toyota with Colin McRae and Malcolm Wilson leading the British challenge. McRae, driving a Subaru, will be hoping to go one better than last year's second place while Wilson drives a Ford Escort Cosworth. The rally covers 1,431 kilometres over ice and snow covered tracks.

SCHEDULE
Friday: Karlstad, Smedjebacken, Falun. 11 stages; 519.85km.
Saturday: Falun, Branstad, Karlstad. 10 stages; 528.50km.
Sunday: Karlstad. 7 stages; 131.79km.




12.02.93
F1:- The Williams-Renault team will find out next week if they will be able to defend their Formula One title this season. The sport's governing body, FISA, are to carry out a fax vote of their 80 members to decide if the team can enter the championship. They missed the original deadline but FISA president Max Mosley said he would be very surprised if the vote did not go Williams' way. Alain Prost now has a licence to drive for Williams but may face action for criticising FISA.

Ayrton Senna has been nominated as one of McLaren's drivers for the 1993 F1 Championship, but has still not decided whether to take part. "McLaren is nominating me because the FISA deadline will expire before I can test the car and make a decision," he said. American Michael Andretti has been signed for the team this season and Mika Hakkinen has been lined up if Senna declines the drive. Senna will decide after trying out the new MP4/8 car next week.

Frenchman Philippe Alliot will join Erik Comas in the Larrousse team for the new Formula One season. Alliot, who drove for Peugeot in the World Sportscar championship last year, has previous Grand Prix experience with Ligier.


SWEDISH RALLY
Positions after 11 of 28 stages:
                            hrs:mins.secs
 1 C McRae     GB  Subaru      1:59.01
 2 J Kankkunen Fin Toyota      1:59.18
 3 M Jonsson   Swe Toyota      2:00.09
 4 D Auriol    Fr  Toyota      2:00.52
 5 T Makinen   Fin Lancia      2:01.52
 6 B Johansson Swe Mazda       2:02.47
 7 P Eklund    Swe Subaru      2:03.05
 8 H Mikkola   Fin Subaru      2:03.41
 9 H Eriksson  Swe Mazda       2:04.32
10 S Haider    Aut Audi        2:05.24
Britain's Colin McRae took over the overall lead on the ninth of 11 special stages on Friday. McRae replaced Didier Auriol at the head of the field after the Frenchman suffered a puncture 2km from the end of the stage. Early leader Malcolm Wilson ran into disaster in his RS Cosworth when he was forced out of the event. The Cumbrian hit rocks 11km from the end of the third section near Hagfors and badly damaged the suspension on his car.

FOREST RALLY:- The 1993 BTRDA Rally Series gets undwerway on Saturday with the Breckland Forest Rally. The championship, the only one in Britain for Formula 2 cars, has attracted a full entry of 150 cars. Frank Richer, in a Ford Sierra Cosworth, is the defending champion.




13.02.93
F1:- Alain Prost and the Williams team can both compete in this year's Formula One races, says FISA president Max Mosley. Mosley said he acted to clear up the confusion which had left 1992 winners Williams uncertain about their participation this season. He appears to have agreed a deal with Benetton boss Flavio Briatore who had opposed Williams' late entry into the World Championship. He said Prost was likely to get his licence but both matters must be approved at a FISA meeting in March.

Less free practice and qualifying time on the track are among changes planned for this year's FIA Formula One World Championship. FISA president Max Mosley said the sport's ruling body would introduce these and other changes over the next two years. There will be a cut in the number of tyres to be used in '93 races. Moseley said 1994 would see a ban on all the electronic technological devises as used by the Canon Williams Renault team last season.



SWEDISH RALLY
Positions after 20 of 28 stages:
(end of second leg)         hrs mins secs
 1 J Kankkunen Fin Toyota      3:32:29
 2 M Jonsson   Swe Toyota      3:32:35
 3 C McRae     GB  Subaru      3:32:48
 4 D Auriol    Fr  Toyota      3:32:59
 5 T Makinen   Fin Lancia      3:34:51
 6 B Johansson Swe Mazda       3:36:35
 7 P Eklund    Swe Subaru      3:38:22
 8 H Mikkola   Fin Subaru      3:40:30
 9 S Haider    Aut Audi        3:42:34
10 S Blomqvist Swe Opel        3:44:45
Britain's Colin McRae lost his overnight lead but fought back to end the second leg in third, hard on the heels of Juha Kankkunen. The 25-year-old Scot, second in Sweden last year, lost two minutes early in the day with a broken driveshaft on the Subaru Legacy. McRae said: "Sunday will be very exciting and I'm really looking forward to it. The main thing has been to maintain good pace." Former world champion Kankkunen snatched the led from Mats Jonsson on the final stage of the day.

Scot Colin McRae ran into problems early on the second day, losing two minutes with driveshaft problems. The Subaru driver led overnight but was forced to complete SS13 with only rear wheel drive, slipping down the leaderboard to fourth. Team mechanics repaired the car at the next service point without loss of time, leaving McRae just 38 seconds behind leader Didier Auriol. "We're not in bad shape and we're still well in touch with the leader," said McRae who set fastest time on the longest stage, SS15.

FOREST RALLY:- Dave Charlton and Steve Field in a Vauxhall Nova GSi led by one second in the Formula Two class after two of five stages in the Breckland Forestry Rally. Nick Elliott and Dave Price were challenging hard, lying second in a Peugeot 309. Jason Bird and Denis Field in a Ford Sierra Cosworth led overall.





14.02.93 - SWEDISH RALLY

Result after 28 stages:     hrs mins secs
 1 M Jonsson   Swe Toyota      4:49:05
 2 J Kankkunen Fin Toyota      4:49:18
 3 C McRae     GB  Subaru      4:49:33
 4 T Makinen   Fin Lancia      4:52:51
 5 B Johansson Swe Mazda       4:57:35
 6 P Eklund    Swe Subaru      4:58:35
 7 S Haider    Aut Audi        5:05:46
 8 K Backlund  Swe Mitsubishi  5:07:30
 9 J Kytolehto Fin Mitsubishi  5:08:24
10 P Svan      Swe Opel        5:12:05
* Auriol disqualified after stage 25
Scot Colin McRae had to settle for third place after being hit by mechanical trouble as Sweden's Mats Jonsson stormed to victory. The Subaru driver, who led after the first day, lost front wheel drive on SS13. He slipped to fourth but battled back superbly into second after Didier Auriol was disqualified for receiving unauthorised assistance. Last year's winner Jonsson seized the lead from Toyota teammate Juha Kankkunen, who finished second.




15.02.93 - F1
McLaren have confirmed that Ayrton Senna will be in their team for this year's Formula One season. It is still not clear whether the Brazilian will actually compete in the Championship. A final decision is likely to be made after Senna has had a chance to test the new MP4/8, which will debut at the South African GP. Finland's Mika Hakkinen has also been confirmed in the team which already includes Michael Andretti.




16.02.93 - F1
The Marlboro McLaren Ford MP4/8 had its first run at Silverstone on Monday with Michael Andretti at the wheel for the 12 laps. Managing Director Ron Dennis said the American could compare the handling of the car with the MP4/7B that he used to drive. The car will make its race debut at the South African GP at Kyalami.




19.02.93
F1. TESTING AT ESTORIL:- Damon Hill recorded the fastest time of the day as Williams dominated testing at Estoril. In the last major test session before the new Formula One season Nigel Mansell's replacement showed his skill and the car's supremacy. He recorded the best lap time of 1 min 13.51 secs and reported no problems with the car. Hill's team-mate Alain Prost spent much of the afternoon in the team's garage after having engine trouble.

NEWS:- Donington Park race organisers have been told to choose between staging a Formula One race and the British Motor Cycle Grand Prix. The motor cycle race has been held there for six years and this year the circuit were also awarded the European Formula One Grand Prix. Up to 150,000 visitors could attend the F1 race over the Easter holiday but Leicestershire county council have refused to approve both events. Officials from the circuit say they are sure both races will go on and the decision is a "minor hiccup".




25.02.93 - F1
The French Grand Prix has been restored to this year's Formula One calendar after a row over an anti-smoking law was settled. The race will take place as originally scheduled on July 4 at Magny-Cours, FISA president Max Mosley announced. F1 teams were worried about possible legal action over a law prohibiting tobacco advertising. Mosley said French authorities had promised that no action would be taken against the teams.

The French Grand Prix has been restored to this year's Formula One calendar after a row over an anti-smoking law was settled. The race will take place as originally scheduled on July 4 at Magny-Cours, FISA president Max Mosley announced. At the same meeting in Paris, FISA gave the go-ahead for Williams to compete in this season's F1 World Championship. The team missed the original sign-up deadline.