01.12.99
F1:- Alex Zanardi is set to leave Williams after just one season according to a report in Autosport magazine. The story claims the former CART driver, who failed to pick up a single Formula One point, is even considering giving up the sport altogether. If he does leave then ex-Williams test driver and this year's CART champion Juan Pablo Montoya could replace him. BAR's former world champion Jacques Villeneuve and ex-Formula One driver Jos Verstappen are other possibilities.
Rubens Barrichello drove his first laps as Michael Schumacher's new
team-mate at Ferrari in a test session at the Fiorano track. The Brazilian
has replaced Eddie Irvine at the Italian-based team and put the car through
its paces at Ferrari's private circuit. He drove a modified F399, the car
that gave Ferrari the constructors' crown. "It is a great emotion to see
my name written on the red car," he said."I fell very much at ease in it."
RALLYING:- Oxford-based World Championship driver Richard Burns has been confirmed as the UK's top rally driver in the final standings of the year. Burns took over the top spot from Scotland's Colin McRae in June and three wins in 1999 have kept him there. McRae is second overall, just ahead of 1998 British champion Martin Rowe. Published in association with Motoring News, the rankings also include results from the Mobil 1 British, BTRDA, Mintex National and Safety Devices series.
DECEMBER DRIVER LIST:Previous position
1 R Burns
1
2 C McRae
2
3 M Rowe
5
4 A McRae
3
5 G Evans
4
6 M Dodd
6
7 M Higgins
8
8 D Higgins
9
9 N Wearden
10
10 K McKinstry
11
02.12.99 - F1
Jean Alesi predicted that the Peugeot powered Prost would be a force
to be reckoned with next season. Speaking after 22 laps of testing at Jerez,
Alesi said: "I think we will have a big surprise with Peugeot." David Coulthard
was quickest during the session but it was a miserable day for the Williams
team. Ralf Schumacher was left stranded after four laps when the new BMW
motor on his car failed, while Alex Zanardi was not at the session.
03.12.99
F1:- Michael Schumacher has admitted that he is still suffering from the broken leg he sustained in a crash at the British Grand Prix in July. "I still have problems," Schumacher said. "I still can't follow my normal training programme. Nobody can say at the moment how long this will last." The German will not be back testing until the new Ferrari F320 is ready in January next year. Rubens Barrichello abandoned a practice session with mechanical problems.
British American Racing have confirmed the shape of their management
structure for next season. Craig Pollock will be responsible for the management
and running of the business side while Adrian Reynard will have technical
responsibility. The team have also moved quickly to quash speculation linking
Jacques Villeneuve with a move. "I am very much looking forward to being
with the team during the 2000 season," Villeneuve said.
RALLYING:- Mohammed Bin Sulayem claimed his 12th win in the Dubai International Rally, clinching the FIA Middle East Rally title at the same time. Britain's Howard Paterson claimed his third win of the season in the two- wheel drive section.
The Micra Challenge 2000 will support each round of the Mobil 1 British
Rally Championship next season, running in the Formula 1400 section.
NEWS:- Organisers of the Formula Vauxhall and Vauxhall Vectra SRi V6
Challenge series announced changes for next season. Formula Vauxhall entrants
will contests 14 races at 12 events. Vectra Challenge cars will join the
BARC's Formula Saloon Championship as a separate class in that 10-race
series.
04.12.99 - F1
Alex Zanardi is keen to stay on with Williams next season but is still unsure if the team feels the same way. A report in the Independent quoted the Italian driver as saying: "I have a contract with Williams and I am committed to it. I speak to Frank Williams a lot and we have discussed the situation. But years ago, I was told to ignore stories about losing my Formula One drive at Lotus and the following week, they chose a new driver."
Interlagos will stage the Brazilian Grand Prix until 2002 after race
chiefs signed an extension to their current Formula One deal. It is believed
that the contract was renewed on the understanding that the track refurbishment
will be finished before next year's race on March 26. The improvements
will cost around $2m and will include enlarging the paddock and run-off
areas. Mika Hakkinen won this year's Brazilian Grand Prix on his way to
the title.
07.12.99 - F1
British American Racing and Honda have had their first test at Silverstone
in preparation for the 2000 campaign. Jacques Villeneuve took to the track
and it was the first time that Honda's RA000E engine has been installed
in the new chassis. Honda project leader Takefumi Hosaka said: "Our primary
aim was to confirm that all systems were operational. It was even more
successful than expected, with 34 trouble-free laps, and is an important
first step for us."
13.12.99
F1:- Former world champion Nelson Piquet believes Rubens Barrichello has no chance of winning the 2000 title. Piquet told the Brazilian media: "Certain people have asked me if Barrichello can challenge for the world title. Are they joking? Let's be sincere. Ferrari are very good but Barrichello has no chance because he knows nothing about being in a top team." Former Stewart driver Barrichello has replaced Eddie Irvine at Ferrari.
Toyota want to enter Formula One as a full works team in 2001 rather than their original date of 2003. "We wish to do it in 2001 if it becomes possible in the course of our various preparations," said Toyota's senior managing director Akihiko Saito. "It is going to be our biggest investment in motor sport ever." After pulling out of the World Rally Championship and Le Mans 24-hour race, Toyota will concentrate on Formula One and the US CART series.
UNOFFICIAL TESTING (Jerez)
Monday's times:
min secs
1 R Barrichello Brz Ferrari 1:39.136
2 L Burti It Stewart
1:40.276
3 J Herbert GB Stewart 1:40.384
4 M Gene Sp Minardi
1:42.474
5 R Zonta Brz BAR
1:42.862
6 F Alonso Sp Minardi
1:43.474
7 G Vinella It Minardi 1:45.747
Arrows have appointed Keith Shepherd and Chris Hicks as CEO and CFO
with immediate effect.
CLIO CUP:- Daniel Buxton and David Gibson are both moving to the new
Renault Sport Clio Cup, thereby renewing their rivalry from Ford Fiestas.
Buxton will drive for former BTCC champion Chris Hodgetts' team and Gibson
will drive for Colin Stancombe, for whom he won the Fiesta crown. Thirty-four
new two-litre Renault Sport Clio Cup cars will replace Renault's Spider
sportscar. Ray MacDowall will partner Buxton and Matt Jackson will join
Gibson.
BRITISH GTs:- PK Sport will mount their biggest ever programme next
year, by running as many as four Porsches in the British GT Championship.
Mike Pickup's team will run a pair of new GT3 models and at least one 911GT2.
There is also the possibility of a second GT2 car. The build-up to the
season will begin at Daytona in February. Calum Locke will also be in the
Daytona 24-hour event and will race alongside Cor Euser in the Marcos LM600.
PORSCHE CUP:- The Pirelli Porsche Cup will take a leading position in
the new premier package from the British Racing and Sports Car Club. Adrian
Slater is one of four front-runners from Team Eurotech, while current champion
Peter Chambers will defend the title in a Carrera 996. Twins Godfrey and
David Jones will swap cars for 2000. Godfrey will handle the Carrera 996
and David will have the older 993 as the Cup uses slicks for the first
time.
14.12.99
F1:- Eddie Irvine has completed his first test drive for the new Jaguar team and declared that he was glad to be back with a British team. Irvine, who left Ferrari last month, said: "I feel completely re-motivated. Speaking English certainly makes life a lot asier than it was at Ferrari. There's definitely some areas where we are stronger than Ferrari, but there are also a few where we are not." Irvine will link up with new team mate Johnny Herbert at Jaguar Racing.
Tuesday's times:
mins secs
1 J Herbert GB Jaguar
1:25.304
2 O Panis Fr McLaren
1:25.515
3 J Villeneuve Can BAR
1:25.790
4 R Barrichello Brz Ferrari 1:25.955
5 E Irvine GB Jaguar
1:26.638
6 P Diniz Brz Sauber
1:26.710
7 M Salo Fin Sauber
1:26.715
8 M Gene Sp
Minardi 1:28.450
9 B Junqueira Brz Williams 1:28.718
10 D Manning GB Williams 1:29.189
11 M Wilson Brz Minardi
1:29.462
12 N Fontana Arg Minardi 1:31.739
13 P Sundberg Swe Minardi 1:44.256
Jordan have clinched a major new three-year sponsorship deal with German
post and transport logistics company Deutsche Post.
BRITISH GTs:- Brookspeed Racing will field a pair of Lotus Elises in
the Privilege Insurance British GT Championship next year. Team boss Martin
Braybrook said: "We have spotted the potential of the Elise in the new
GT3 class. We see it as the start of a long-term relationaship with Lotus.
Maybe we can upset some of the bigger GT3 cars for around half the budget
of a Porsche." The cars will be based on the Elise models being produced
for the company's one-make series.
15.12.99
F1: UNOFFICIAL TESTING (Jerez)
Wednesday's times:
mins secs
1 O Panis Fr McLaren
1:24.418
2 R Barrichello Brz Ferrari 1:24.983
3 J Herbert GB Jaguar
1:25.081
4 M Gene Sp
Minardi 1:25.157
5 D Coulthard GB McLaren 1:25.508
6 J Villeneuve Can BAR
1:25.843
7 L Burti It Jaguar
1:26.177
8 B Junqueira Brz Williams 1:26.704
9 P Diniz Brz Sauber
1:26.828
10 E Irvine GB Jaguar
1:26.946
11 N Fontana Arg Minardi 1:27.774
12 M Wilson Brz Minardi
1:27.824
13 D Manning GB Williams 1:28.829
14 M Salo Fin Sauber
1:42.214
RALLYING:- Skoda have signed Spaniard Luis Clement to contest the 2000 World Championship. The 33-year-old will join forces with German Armin Schwarz in a two-pronged attack in Skoda Octavia's.