01.01.2001
PARIS-DAKAR RALLY:- Spain's Juan Roma and Italy's Giovanni Sala were
the fastest on the first special stage on Monday. The colourful 360-vehicle
caravan of cars, motorbikes and trucks set off from beneath the Eiffel
Tower in the rain at dawn. The easy part of 23rd race is a 916-kilometer
first stage through France to Narbonne, near the border with Spain. Roma,
on a BMX motorbike, and Sala, riding a KTM, set the fastest times, both
clocking 3min 37sec.
Result after stage one (3.7 miles): Motorcycles mins secs 1 G Sala It 3:37 = J Roma Sp 3:37 3 A Cox SA 3:38 4 R Sainct Fr 3:39 5 J Campbell US 3:40 = J Lewis US 3:40 Cars 1 JM Servia Sp 3:43 2 JL Schlesser Fr 3:45 3 H Masuoka Jp 3:48 = K Shinozuka Jp 3:48 5 J K'schmidt Ger 3:51
CHRISTMAS STAGES RALLY:- Anthony Eaden triumphed in the Christmas Stages
Rally at Catterick Garrison on December 30. Eaden finished a minute ahead
of Tony Bardy in second. Paul Bird was nine seconds back in third.
02.11.2000 - PARIS-DAKAR RALLY
Organisers have cancelled the third stage of the event's motorcycling race citing "excessive" financial demands from Spanish motorcycling authorities. The leg of the rally had been due to run from Castellon to Costa Azahar in Spain on Wednesday. But the stage was scrapped after the Spanish Motorcycling Federation demanded a staging fee of 275,000 French francs (39,500 dollars). The figure was "extremely excessive" Paris-Dakar organisers said.
British BMW rider John Deacon lost 30 minutes on the leaders after breaking down during the 35km special stage on the second day of the event. Deacon limped in second to last in Chateau Lastours, having finally managed to get his BMW going again. KTM's Richard Sainct took the stage by 56 seconds, ahead of Juan Roma of Spain, with Kari Tianen of KTM third. In the auto section, Jean-Louis Schlesser clocked 30min 33sec to lead Hiroshi Masuoka of Japan by 11 seconds.
Result after stage 2, 35km (Tue): Cars mins secs 1 JL Schlesser Fr 30:33 2 H Masuoka Jp 30:44 3 K Shinozuka Jp 31:12 4 JM Servia Sp 31:27 5 C Sousa Por 31:30 Motorcycles 1 R Sainct Fr 31:25 2 J Roma Sp 32:21 3 K Tianen Fin 32:22 4 G Sala It 32:23 5 J Campbell US 32:37 6 J Mayer Ger 32:48
03.01.2001
F1:- Minardi have insisted that they will be on the grid for the start
of the 2001 campaign - even though they have yet to seal an engine deal.
Team boss Giancarlo Minardi told the BBC: "I have no intention of commenting
on reports until the negotiations we are involved in are definite. But
Minardi will be at the start of the championship in 2001. And we are doing
everything in our power to come to a solution because time is money."
F3000:- Brazilians Antonio Pizzonia and Ricardo Sperafico will drive
for the Petrobas Junior team in the 2001 FIA Formula 3000 International
Championship. Pizzonia won the British Formula Three title in 2000 and
Sperafico triumphed in the Italian Formula 3000 series. "I am very happy
to have joined this team. I hope I can do a good job here," said Pizzonia.
Team manager Paul Jackson added: "We are delighted to have secured the
services of two such talented drivers."
PARIS-DAKAR RALLY:- Japanese driver Hiroshi Masuoka took the overall lead in the rally after finishing second behind team mate Jean Pierre Fontenay in the third stage. Masuoka took over from overnight leader Jean-Louis Schlesser after the two time winner of the rally finished 13th. The beach course caused plenty of problems for the drivers with Kenjiro Shinozuka getting stuck. The start of the race was held up for 40 minutes Polisario Front members calling for an independent state.
Result after stage 3 (Wed): Cars mins secs 1 J-P Fontenay Fr Mitsubishi 8.20 2 H Masuoka Jpn Mitsubishi 8.26 3 G de Mevius Bel Nissan 8.53 4 T de Lavergne Fr Nissan 8.53 5 C Souza Por Mitsubishi 8.54 Motorcycles Third stage cancelled Overall standings after stage 3 (Wed): Cars mins secs 1 H Masuoka Jpn Mitsubishi 42.58 2 J-L Schlesser Fr Schlesser 43.44 3 J-P Fontenay Fr Mitsubishi 43.58 4 J-M Servia Sp Schlesser 44.04 5 G de Mevius Bel Nissan 44.13 Motorcycles 1 R Sainct Fr KTM 35.04 2 J Roma Sp BMW 35.58 3 G Sala It KTM 36.00 4 K Tianen Fin KTM 36.05 5 J Campbell US Honda 36.17
04.01.2001
F3000:- Indonesia's young racing hopeful Ananda Mikola has moved one
step closer to his dream of competing in Formula One after signing a contract
to race in F3000. Mikola, 20, has secured a two-year deal with British
team Astromega. He said he was confident he would be able to make the step
up to Formula One provided he had adequate sponsorship and the government's
backing. "If the money is available and the government supports me, I'm
sure I can race in Formula One," Mikola said.
F1:- Jordan's chief designer Mark Smith has left to join Benetton two months before the start of the new season. Smith follows technical director Mike Gascoyne who made the same move from Jordan to Benetton in October.
Benetton driver Giancarlo Fisichella will return to action on Monday
following knee surgery last month. The team are set to unveil their new
Renault-powered car on February 6.
PARIS-DAKAR RALLY:- Frenchman Jean-Louis Schlesser regained the lead in the car category after winning stage four by almost four minutes in his Schlesser buggy. Schlesser now leads the overall standings, while Hiroshi Masuoka, who led after three stages, slipped back to seventh overall when finishing seventh. Compatriot Richard Sainct increased his overall lead in the motorcycle category by winning the stage. Sainct, winner for the last two years led a top five for the KTM riders.
Result after stage four (Thu): Cars h min s 1 J-L Schlesser Fr Schlesser 1:12.12 2 J-P Fontenay Fr Mitsubishi 1:15.52 3 J-M Servia Sp Schlesser 1:19.06 4 T de Lavergne Fr Nissan 1:20.22 5 J Kle'schmidt Ger Mitsubishi 1:20.38 Motorcycles 1 R Sainct Fr KTM 1:16.01 2 C de Gavardo Chi KTM 1:17.15 3 F Meoni It KTM 1:17.28 4 A Cox SA KTM 1:17.34 5 K Tainen Fin KTM 1:18.29 Overall standings after stage 4 (Thu): Cars h min s 1 J-L Schlesser Fr Schlesser 1:55.56 2 J-P Fontenay Fr Mitsubishi 1:59.50 3 J-M Servia Sp Schlesser 2:03.10 4 T de Lavergne Fr Nissan 2:04.51 5 C Sousa Por Mitsubishi 2:05.04 Motorcycles 1 R Sainct Fr KTM 1:51.05 2 F Meoni It KTM 1:54.24 3 J Roma Sp BMW 1:54.32 4 K Tianen Fin KTM 1:54.34 5 A Cox SA KTM 1:54.37
BRITISH GTs:- Mike Jordan will partner David Warnock in a Lister Storm
in the Privilege Insurance British GT Championship next season.
05.01.2001
F1:- Jordan Grand Prix will be known as Benson and Hedges Jordan Honda in 2001 following the works engine deal with Honda Motor Company.
Double world champion Mika Hakkinen and McLaren team-mate David Coulthard will begin testing for the 2001 campaign in Valencia on January 15. The Finn, who was runner-up to Michael Schumacher last year, took time off after the Malaysian Grand Prix to be with his wife and new-born son.
Minardi have lost two members of their team to rival Formula One outfit
Prost, according to the FIA official website. Frenchman Jean-Francois Sinteff
and Italian Gabriele Pagliarini, who has been appointed chief mechanic
at Prost, have made the switch.
PARIS-DAKAR RALLY:- Frenchmen Jean-Louis Schlesser and Richard Sainct kept their overall leads after both finished second in the 333km fifth special stage on Friday. Jose-Maria Servia of Spain won the auto category section in three hours 25 minutes 55 seconds, beating team-mate Schlesser by one minute 59 seconds. Jean-Pierre Fontenay of France was third in his Mitsubishi. Carlo de Gavardo of Chile won the motorcycle stage in 3:14.17 - the first South American victor of a stage.
Motorcyclist Jurgen Mayer has been forced out of the event after he broke his collarbone during the 333km fifth stage from Er-Rachidia to Quarzazate. The German, who was lying seventh overall, was taken to hospital by helicopter for X-rays. Mayer fell at the 159km mark of the stage, which was eventually won by Carlo De Gavardo. The next stage of the event is a 608km stage from Quarzazate to Goulimine and 305km are a special stage.
Result after stage five (Fri): Cars hr min sec 1 J-M Servia Sp Schlesser 3:25.55 2 J-L Schlesser Fr Schlesser 3:27.54 3 J-P Fontenay Fr Mitsubishi 3:28.14 4 T de Lavergne Fr Nissan 3:29.51 5 H Masuoka Jp Mitsubishi 3:32.00 Motorcycles 1 C de Gavardo Chi KTM 3:14.17 2 R Sainct Fr KTM 3:14.38 3 K Tainen Fin KTM 3:16.35 4 J Roma Sp BMW 3:17.10 5 F Meoni It KTM 3:18.06 Overall standings after stage 5 (Fri): Cars h min s 1 J-L Schlesser Fr Schlesser 5:23.50 2 J-P Fontenay Fr Mitsubishi 5:28.04 3 J-M Servia Sp Schlesser 5:29.05 4 T de Lavergne Fr Nissan 5:34.42 5 H Masuoka Jp Mitsubishi 5:38.11 Motorcycles 1 R Sainct Fr KTM 5:05.43 2 C de Gavardo Chi KTM 5:11.06 3 K Tianen Fin KTM 5:11.09 4 J Roma Sp BMW 5:11.42 5 F Meoni It KTM 5:12.30
SPORTSCARS:- The Interactive Sportscar Championship has been given official
championship status by the MSA. The 12-round series for on-road cars will
begin in May and will be broadcast using the latest in digital technology.
Digital television viewers will be able to select camera angles in any
car and listen to driver conversations.
06.01.2001
F1:- Spanish teenager Fernando Alonso expects to find out within 10
days whether he will drive for Minardi in Formula One next season. The
season starts on March 4 and Minardi, who scored no points in 2000, have
yet to announce an engine deal, drivers or major sponsor for 2001.
PARIS-DAKAR RALLY:- Frenchman Jean-Louis Schlesser stayed on target for a third straight victory by winning the sixth stage in his self-designed Schlesser Buggy. Schlesser now has an overall lead of five minutes 57 seconds over teammate Jose-Maria Servia. Spaniard Joan Roma won the motorcycling stage on his BMW, the first stage win this year for both BMW and Roma. Richard Sainct, winner for the last two years, still has an overall lead of five minutes 26 seconds.
Result after stage six (Sat): Cars hr min sec 1 J-L Schlesser Fr Schlesser 3:17.24 2 J-M Servia Sp Schlesser 3:18.06 3 J-P Fontenay Fr Mitsubishi 3:25.49 4 H Masuoka Jp Mitsubishi 3:26.37 5 T de Lavergne Fr Nissan 3:27.46 Motorcycles 1 J Roma Sp BMW 3:13.39 2 R Sainct Fr KTM 3:14.01 3 K Tianen Fin KTM 3:14.01 4 C de Gavardo Chi KTM 3:15.21 5 A Cox SA KTM 3:15.45 Overall standings after stage 6 (Sat): Cars h min s 1 J-L Schlesser Fr Schlesser 8:41.14 2 J-M Servia Sp Schlesser 8:47.11 3 J-P Fontenay Fr Mitsubishi 8:53.53 4 T de Lavergne Fr Nissan 9:02.28 5 H Masuoka Jp Mitsubishi 9:04.48 Motorcycles 1 R Sainct Fr KTM 8:19.44 2 K Tianen Fin KTM 8:25.10 3 J Roma Sp BMW 8:25.21 4 C de Gavardo Chi KTM 8:26.27 5 A Cox SA KTM 8:28.29
07.01.2001 - PARIS-DAKAR RALLY
Jean-Louis Schlesser lost the lead in the rally after being hit with a one-hour time penalty at the end of the seventh stage. The Frenchman crossed the line fourth in the 420km special from Goulimine in Morocco and Smara in Western Sahara. But officials penalised him for a push from Spanish teammate Jose Maria Servia at the second checkpoint after his car had stalled. Schlesser slipped back to eighth and, ironically, Servia took over the lead.
Isidre Esteve Pujol was reinstated as the winner of the motorcyle section of the seventh stage after race judges rescinded an eight-minute time penalty. The Spaniard, who came in 40 seconds in front, was first sanctioned for failing to check in within regulation time. But officials later accepted Pujol's explanation that his absence was due to demands for interviews. Meanwhile, the Algerian Polisario Front has withdrawn its threat of violence against the event.
Result of stage seven (420km between Goulimine-Smara) on Sunday: Cars hr min sec 1 H Masuoka Jp Mitsubishi 4:01.31 2 J-M Servia Sp Schlesser 4:05.07 3 J-P Fontenay Fr Mitsubishi 4:07.02 4 K Shinozuka Jpn Mitsubishi 4:07.48 5 C Sousa Por Mitsubishi 4:07.49 Motorcycles 1 I Pujol Sp KTM 4:02.11 2 F Meoni It KTM 4:03.09 3 P Lundmark Swe KTM 4:03.25 4 J Arcarons Sp KTM 4:04.22 5 C de Gavardo Chi KTM 4:06.17 Overall standings after stage 7 (Sun): Cars hr min s 1 J-M Servia Sp Schlesser 12:52.18 2 J-P Fontenay Fr M'bishi 13:00.55 3 H Masuoka Jp M'bishi 13:06.19 4 C Sousa Por M'bishi 13:14.13 5 J Kl'schmidt Ger M'bishi 13:21.03 Motorcycles 1 R Sainct Fr KTM 12:27.01 2 F Meoni It KTM 12:32.09 3 C de Gavardo Chi KTM 12:32.44 4 J Roma Sp BMW 12:34.32 5 I Pujol Por KTM 12:47.26
08.01.2001
F1:- Jenson Button says he is happy with the way his his pre-season training for the forthcoming season has gone. The Benetton Renault driver spent five days in Lanzarote working on his fitness with test driver Mark Webber. The programme included running, mountain and road biking, swimming and weight and circuit training. He said: "I was slightly apprehensive about the intense programme but we had a really good team there and it has been lots of fun as well as hard work."
Michael Ainsley-Cowlishaw has been appointed the new race team manager
with Arrows. The Briton joins Arrows from Benetton where he started in
Formula One as a mechanic in 1980 and where he has been chief mechanic
since 1992.
PARIS-DAKAR RALLY:- Jose Maria Servia extended his lead in the Paris-Dakar Rally on Monday after winning the 628km stage from Smara to El Ghallaouiya in Mauritania. Servia now has an overall lead of 11 minutes from French driver Jean-Pierre Fontenay, who came third in this stage. Two-time winner Jean-Louis Schlesser, who was penalised an hour on Sunday, is off the pace in sixth place. In the bike race, Saturday's stage winner Joan Roma of Spain won again but still trails Richard Sainct overall.
The driver of one of the assistance vehicles in the race has lost a foot after he drove off the course and struck a mine in the Western Sahara. Jose Eduardo Ribeiro lost his left foot in the explosion and has been taken into care by UN forces in the Western Sahara Observation Mission. The race had been under threat when its route went through Morocco. The Morrocan Army were called in after threats from separatists, but it is not yet clear who planted the mine.
Result of stage eight (628km between Smara-El Ghallaouiya Monday): Cars hr min sec 1 J-M Servia Sp Schlesser 5:14.27 2 H Masuoka Jp Mitsubishi 5:16.25 3 J-P Fontenay Fr Mitsubishi 5:17.20 4 J-L Schlesser Fr Schlesser 5:19.49 5 J Kl'schmidt Ger Mitsubishi 5:32.18 Motorcycles 1 J Roma Sp BMW 5:16.41 2 R Sainct Fr KTM 5:19.01 3 A Cox SA KTM 5:21.02 4 F Meoni It KTM 5:21.46 5 J Arcarons Sp KTM 5:26.08 Overall standings after stage 8 (Mon): Cars hr min s 1 J-M Servia Sp Schlesser 18:06.45 2 J-P Fontenay Fr M'bishi 18:18.15 3 H Masuoka Jp M'bishi 18:22.44 4 C Sousa Por M'bishi 18:51.06 5 J Kl'schmidt Ger M'bishi 18:53.21 Motorcycles 1 R Sainct Fr KTM 17:46.02 2 J Roma Sp BMW 17:51.13 3 F Meoni It KTM 17:53.55 4 J Arcarons Sp KTM 18:15.02 5 C de Gavardo Chi KTM 18:22.54
09.01.2001
F1:- Jaguar have unveiled their car for the new season and are determined to build on their performance in 2000. "We have experienced a challenging first year but have implemented changes we feel are necessary to deliver our objectives," said CEO Bobby Rahal. "Our aim this year is to achieve respectability and to continue to put in place the building blocks that we believe will deliver long-term success. Our ultimate goal remains to challenge for World Championship honours."
British American Racing Honda have confirmed Briton Darren Manning and
Frenchman Patrick Lemarie as their test drivers for 2001. Anthony Davidson,
the 2000 McLaren Young Driver of the Year, and Takuma Sato of Japan have
also joined the team Ralf Schumacher continued to dominate testing in his
BMW-Williams in a rain-interrupted session in Jerez, Spain. Jenson Button
missed the session but will be back on track on Wednesday when a new Renault
engine arrives.
PARIS-DAKAR RALLY:- Germany's Jutta Kleinschmidt won Stage Nine on Tuesday, beating defending champion Jean-Louis Schlesser into second place by just 25 seconds. Overall leader Jose Maria Servia was sixth in the 518km stage around the town of El Ghallaouiya in Mauritania. His lead over Hiro Masukoa has now been cut down to almost 10 minutes. Isidre Esteve Pujol of Spain has his second stage win in three days in the motorbike race. Overall leader Richard Sainct finished in ninth place.
Result of stage nine (518km around El Ghallaouiya Tuesday): Cars hr min sec 1 J Kl'schmidt Ger Mitsubishi 5:22.42 2 J-L Schlesser Fr Schlesser 5:23.07 3 H Masuoka Jp Mitsubishi 5:23.08 4 J-M Servia Sp Schlesser 5:29.13 5 T de Lavergne Fr Nissan 5:35.30 Motorcycles 1 I Pujol Sp KTM 5:22.33 2 G Sala It KTM 5:23.53 3 C de Gavardo Ch KTM 5:25.26 4 J Deacon GB BMW 5:26.45 5 F Meoni It KTM 5:28.24 Overall standings after stage 9 (Tue): Cars hr min sec 1 J-M Servia Sp Schlesser 23:35.58 2 H Masuoka Jp M'bishi 23:45.52 3 J-P Fontenay Fr M'bishi 23:54.56 4 J Kl'schmidt Ger M'bishi 24:16.03 5 C Sousa Por M'bishi 24:27.29 Motorcycles 1 R Sainct Fr KTM 23:17.62 2 F Meoni It KTM 23:22.19 3 J Roma Sp BMW 23:22.40 4 J Arcarons Sp KTM 23:43.27 5 C de Gavardo Chi KTM 23:48.20
10.01.2001
F1:- Argentine driver Gaston Mazzacane will be the second driver for the Prost Formula One team this season, Prost announced on Wednesday. The 25-year-old will partner veteran Frenchman Jean Alesi. Mazzacane first drove in Formula One in 2000 for the Minardi team, his highest finish being eighth at Monaco. The move means there is greater uncertainty over Minardi's future, as they have now lost both of their drivers from last season.
Benetton have signed Jordan chief designer Mark Smith onto their technical team. He will start a five-year contract on May 1.
F1 TESTING (Jerez) Wednesday's testing times: min secs 1 G Fisichella It Benetton 1:24.576 2 J P Montoya Col Williams 1:24.732 3 R Schumacher Ger Williams 1:24.786 4 M Gene Sp Williams 1:26.062
PARIS-DAKAR RALLY:- Hiroshi Masuoka of Japan won Wednesday's 435km special stage to move into the overall lead by more than 45 minutes from Jutta Kleinschmidt. Previous leader Jose Maria Servia of Spain lost top spot after his Schlesser Buggy became stuck in a sand dune. The motorcycle winner was Alfie Cox of South Africa, but overall leader and winer for the last two years Richard Sainct dropped out with engine failure. Italy's Fabrizio Meoni took over the overall lead.
Spanish motorcycle rider Joan Roma crashed during Wednesday's 10th stage and suffered a suspected broken leg. Roma, riding a BMW, fell after just six kilometres of the 440km stage between El Ghallaouiya and Atar in Mauritania. Organisers said Roma, who was third in the overall motorcycle standings after nine stages, would be flown to hospital in Atar. The Spaniard had to quit last year's Paris-Dakar race with technical problems when he held the overall lead.
Result of 435km special stage 10 (El Ghallaouiya to Atar): Cars hr min sec 1 H Masuoka Jp Mitsubishi 5:10.24 2 J-L Schlesser Fr Schlesser 5:20.02 3 J Kl'schmidt Ger Mitsubishi 5:25.35 4 C Sousa Por Mitsubishi 5:27.16 5 S Henrard Bel V'swagen 6:02.53 Motorcycles 1 A Cox SA KTM 5:02.04 2 J Arcarons Sp KTM 5:03.03 3 F Meoni It KTM 5:03.58 4 K Tianen Fin KTM 5:08.33 5 I Pujol Sp KTM 5:10.39 6 J Deacon GB BMW 5:17.58 Overall standings after stage 10 (Wed): Cars hr min sec 1 H Masuoka Jp M'bishi 28:56.16 2 J Kl'schmidt Ger M'bishi 29:41.38 3 J-M Schlesser Sp Schlesser 29:51.16 4 C Sousa Por M'bishi 29:54.45 5 T d Lavergne Fr Nissan 31:22.34 Motorcycles 1 F Meoni It KTM 28:26.17 2 J Arcarons Sp KTM 28:46.30 3 C de Gavardo Chi KTM 29:06.43 4 I Pujol Sp KTM 29:22.29 5 A Cox SA KTM 29:46.23 8 J Deacon GB BMW 31:07.37
11.01.2001
F1:- German maestro Michael Schumacher has insisted that his triumph
in the world driver's championship last year would not weaken his appetite
for new glory. "I am born for racing and as long as I sit in a racing car
I can assure you that you don't need to have any worries about my motivation,"
he explained. "I have begun training a little earlier than last season
and my results are slightly beyond schedule. I am looking forward to keeping
the stable base and to even improve it."
RALLYING:- Mark Higgins will drive a Ford Focus RS World Rally Car on
each of the seven rounds of the 2001 British Rally Championship, it has
been announced. This year is the first time World Rally Cars are being
allowed in the event.
TOURING CARS:- A new team, made up of Janspeed Engineering, GA Racing
and Stefan Lindberg will make a combined attack on the 2001 BTCC Production
class. 'GA-Janspeed Racing' will run a pair of Alfa Romeo 156 saloons in
the event and a Honda Accord in some rounds of the European Touring Car
Championship. Tom Ferrier will become the youngest in the top-flight British
Touring Car Championship category when driving in Vauxhall Astra Coupe
this season. The 19-year-old has joined the Triple Eight Race Engineering
team for the series whcih starts on April 16.
PARIS-DAKAR RALLY:- All of the top nine drivers in the car section have
been penalised for various infringements during the ninth stage. Overall
leader Hiroshi Masuoka was hardest hit, being docked 30 minutes to reduced
his lead over two-time winner Jean-Louis Schlesser to 35 minutes. Schlesser,
who suffered a 10-minute penalty, was belatedly awarded the ninth stage
after appealing against original winner Jutta Kleinschmidt. Several drivers
are expected to appeal against the decisions though.
12.01.2001
F1:- Ferrari team director Jean Todt says he will shortly begin talks with company president Luca di Montezemolo regarding his future with the F1 world champions. Todt's contract with Ferrari expires at the end of this year and there has been speculation that the Frenchman may then decide to leave Maranello. But Todt, who has been with Ferrari since 1993, says he has yet to decide. "Before the end of the season, I will make things clear. We will begin talks in the forthcoming weeks," said Todt.
Honda will unveil their new RA001E engine during testing at Silverstone
this weekend.
F.PALMER-AUDI:- Two more European rounds have been added to the 2001
Formula Palmer Audi calender, with rounds 9 and 10 taking place in the
Czech Republic in June. The two rounds scheduled for Snetterton on June
24 have been cancelled.
PARIS-DAKAR RALLY:- Spaniard Jose Maria Servia won the 437km 11th stage when the rally resumed on Friday, his fourth stage win. Japan's Hiroshi Masuoka maintained his overall lead. However, he finished 52 minutes behind Servia, meaning that less than an hour now separates the top five cars with nine stages remaining. Sweden's Per-Gunnar Lundmark won the motorcycle section, with KTM team-mate Fabrizio Meoni of Italy staying in the overall lead.
Result of 437km 11th stage (Atar to Nouakchott): Cars hr min sec 1 J M Servia Sp Schlesser 4:04.33 2 J Kl'schmidt Ger Mitsubishi 4:23.45 3 S Henrard Bel V'swagen 4:29.10 4 J-P Fontenay Fr Mitsubishi 4:31.30 5 C Sousa Por Mitsubishi 4:31.52 Motorcycles 1 P-G Lundmark Swe KTM 4:23.46 2 C de Gavardo Chi KTM 4:28.04 3 A Cox SA KTM 4:29.59 4 I Pujol Sp KTM 4:30.39 5 K Tianen Fin KTM 4:30.42 Overall standings after stage 11 (Fri): Cars hr min sec 1 H Masuoka Jp M'bishi 34:23.24 2 J Kl'schmidt Ger M'bishi 34:45.33 3 C Sousa Por M'bishi 34:36.37 4 J-M Schlesser Sp Schlesser 35:02.44 5 JM Servia Sp Schlesser 35:14.14 Motorcycles 1 F Meoni It KTM 32:57.36 2 J Arcarons Sp KTM 33:18.49 3 C de Gavardo Chi KTM 33:34.47 4 I Pujol Sp KTM 33:53.08 5 A Cox SA KTM 34:16.22
RALLYING:- Former world champion Colin McRae believes he has an excellent
chance of regaining his title this season. The 32-year-old Scot feels that
the Ford Focus is free of the reliability problems of recent seasons and
also has the pace to match his rivals. "This year we look to have the balance
right. We have got reliability and an increase in performance," he said.
"It is probably going to be the toughest yet, but that will only make it
all the better for me if I win it."
13.01.2001
F1:- Formula One newcomer Kimi Raikkonen has insisted that he can make
his mark in the sport, despite having driven in only 23 car races. The
Finn will race for Sauber this season having never competed in the usual
route to grand prix racing - Formula Three or Formula 3000. But Raikkonen,
who won the British Formula Renault title last year, said: "I have done
only 23 races. But before that I spent 13 years in karts. I will try and
score points."
PARIS-DAKAR RALLY:- Frenchman Jean-Louis Schlesser won the 12th stage to move back into contention in the standings. Hiroshi Masuoka retained the overall lead despite twice getting stuck in the sand, while Carlos Sousa finished second and is second overall. Jose-Maria Servia had puncture problems and finished fourth. In the motorcycle section, Jordi Arcarons of Spain was first over the line, followed by Italy's Fabrizio Meoni, who stays in front overall.
Result of 580km 12th stage (Nouakchott to Tidjikja) Cars hr min sec 1 J-L Schlesser Fr Schlesser 7:01.47 2 C Sousa Por Mitsubishi 7:13.46 3 J-P Fontenay Fr Mitsubishi 7:15.52 4 JM Servia Sp Schlesser 7:20.04 5 J Kl'schmidt Ger Mitsubishi 7:20.11 Motorcycles 1 J Arcarons Sp KTM 7:11.16 2 F Meoni It KTM 7:12.13 3 C de Gavardo Chi KTM 7:13.10 4 C Despres Fr BMW 7:13.41 5 A Cox SA KTM 7:16.19 Overall standings after stage 12 (Sat): Cars hr min sec 1 H Masuoka Jp M'bishi 41:46.55 2 C Sousa Por M'bishi 41:50.23 3 J Kl'schmidt Ger M'bishi 41:55.44 4 J-M Schlesser Sp Schlesser 42:04.31 5 JM Servia Sp Schlesser 42:34.18 Motorcycles 1 F Meoni It KTM 40:09.49 2 J Arcarons Sp KTM 40:30.05 3 C de Gavardo Chi KTM 40:47.57 4 I Pujol Sp KTM 41:09.48 5 A Cox SA KTM 41:32.41
14.01.2001 - PARIS-DAKAR RALLY
Hiroshi Masuoka retained the overall lead in the event after winning the 513km 13th stage around Tidjikdja. Double Paris-Dakar winner Jean-Louis Schlesser was second to keep the pressure up in the battle for glory. Finland's Kari Tiainen won the motorcycle section but his team-mate Fabrizio Meoni of Italy is still in the lead overall. Tiainen was more than 25 minutes ahead of second-placed finisher Isidre Esteve Pujol of Spain.
British rider John Deacon lost time on the event leaders after a late crash on the 13th stage cost him dear. Deacon was hoping to make up time on the loop stage in a bid to move up from seventh place in the overall standings of the motorcycle category. But a crash before the finish line in the Mauritanian town of Tidjikja meant that Deacon finished the day 54 minutes behind stage winner Kari Tiainen. Deacon now needs his rivals to stumble if he is to finish in the top five.
Result of 535km 13th stage (around Tidjikja) Cars hr min sec 1 H Masuoka Jpn Mitsubishi 6:42.16 2 J-L Schlesser Fr Schlesser 7:02.05 3 C Sousa Por Mitsubishi 7:21.09 4 J Kl'schmidt Ger Mitsubishi 7:22.41 5 K Shinozuka Jpn Mitsubishi 7:37.03 Motorcycles 1 K Tianen Fin KTM 6:53.31 2 IE Pujol Sp 7:18.54 3 A Cox SA KTM 7:19.23 4 C de Gavardo Chi 7:21.46 5 F Meoni It KTM 7:22.11 Overall standings after stage 13 (Sun): Cars hr min sec 1 H Masuoka Jp M'bishi 48:29.11 2 J-M Schlesser Sp Schlesser 49:06.36 3 C Sousa Por M'bishi 49:11.32 4 J Kl'schmidt Ger M'bishi 49:18.25 5 JM Servia Sp Schlesser 50:26.17 Motorcycles 1 F Meoni It KTM 47:32.00 2 J Arcarons Sp KTM 47:53.25 3 C de Gavardo Chi KTM 48:09.43 4 I Pujol Sp KTM 48:28.42 5 A Cox SA KTM 48:52.04
15.01.2001
F1:- Mika Hakkinen returned to work on Monday when he tested his McLaren for the first time since October. Hakkinen, who had not driven since last season's final race in Sepang, clocked the sixth fastest time of 1:23.27. Meanwhile Jean Alesi tested Prost's new Ferrari engined for the first time on Monday at Magny Cours. Alesi completed 56 laps and said the car handled well, adding: "This was an excellent first run of the new car. It felt very good right from the start."
F1 TESTING TIMES (Valencia):- Monday's leading times: mins:secs 1 J Verstappen Ned Arrows 1:18.29 2 G Fisichella It Benetton 1:19.33 3 E Irvine GB Jaguar 1:19.71 4 J Montoya Col Williams 1:19.82 5 M Gene Sp Williams 1:20.51 6 M Hakkinen Fin McLaren 1:23.27 7 A Wurz Aut McLaren 1:24.68 8 R Schumacher Ger Williams 1:28.31 9 L Burti It Jaguar 1:32.19 10 J Button GB Benetton 1:51.14
PARIS-DAKAR RALLY:- Twice former winner Jean-Louis Schlesser closed the gap on leader Hiroshi Masuoka by winning the 234km 14th stage from Tidjikdja and Tichit. Schlesser came in 24 seconds ahead of Portugal's Carlos Sousa with Masuoka three minutes, 26 seconds further back. Masuoka's partner Pascal Maimon blamed the placing on a puncture, but they still lead overall by 34 minutes. In the motorcycle section, Kari Tiainen registered his second successive stage win, with Briton John Deacon second.
Result of 234km 14th stage (Tidjikja-Tichit) Cars hr min sec 1 J-L Schlesser Fr Schlesser 3:02.11 2 C Sousa Por Mitsubishi 3:02.35 3 J-P Fontenay Fr Mitsubishi 3:03.23 4 JM Servia Sp Schlesser 3:05.32 5 H Masuoka Jpn Mitsubishi 3:05.37 Motorcycles 1 K Tianen Fin KTM 2:53.07 2 J Deacon GB BMW 3:07.39 3 G Scala It KTM 3:09.39 4 J Arcarons Sp KTM 3:11.16 5 J Brucy Fr KTM 3:11.27 Overall standings after stage 14 (Mon): Cars hr min sec 1 H Masuoka Jp M'bishi 51:34.48 2 J-M Schlesser Sp Schlesser 52:08.47 3 C Sousa Por M'bishi 52:14.07 4 J Kl'schmidt Ger M'bishi 52:26.13 5 JM Servia Sp Schlesser 52:26.17 Motorcycles 1 F Meoni It KTM 50:44.12 2 J Arcarons Sp KTM 51:04.41 3 C de Gavardo Chi KTM 51:23.06 4 I Pujol Sp KTM 51:44.33 5 A Cox SA KTM 52:06.22
17.01.2001
F1:- Eddie Irvine escaped unhurt after his first run in the new Jaguar
R2 was brought to a premature end. The Ulsterman careered off the last
corner of the Valencia circuit, bouncing across the gravel trap before
coming to rest against a tyre wall. The front end of the R2 was badly damaged
and the car has been sent back to the factory for repairs. Jaguar now have
just one test car remaining at Valencia, in which Irvine will conduct evaluation
of the tyres.
RALLYING:- Finland's Jani Paasonen, 25, has earned his first World Rally
drive with the Ford Focus team. He will take part in six rounds of the
FIA World Championship after winning a glut of titles in his home country.
Paasonen debuts in next month's Swedish Rally before competing in Spain,
Cyprus, Finland, Italy and Britain. "This marks a significant step up and
for the first time I can measure my abilities against the world's best
drivers in a similar car," he said.
MONTE CARLO RALLY:- Britain's Richard Burns escaped without injury after crashing head-on into a lorry in Sospel, France, during the recce for the Monte Carlo Rally. Subaru driver Burns collided with the lorry between two stages of the recce as he prepared for the season-opening event on his 30th birthday. The incident deep in the Alps, on treacherous road conditions. Dry roads were expected in the region but instead there were hazardous snow blizzards to contend with.
The chic setting of Monaco kicks off the 2001 World Championship, with a number of drivers aiming to wrest the title from Marcus Gronholm. Round one begins on Thursday with a ceremonial start and the next day's leg, which is the longest, heads to the mountains for six stages. Leg two on Saturday includes a double run over the Sisteron, the longest and toughest stage of the rally. The Col de Turini section will be tackled twice on the Sunday finale.
Richard Burns is determined to put the disappointment of last season behind him by wrapping up the drivers' title in 2001 for Subaru. The Briton has been runner-up for the past two years. He had looked on course for glory in 2000 after building up a 14-point lead but lost out to Marcus Gronholm. "It was a missed opportunity last year," admitted Burns. "We had a great start to the season but a disappointing finish, apart from Britain."
Reading-born Richard Burns will want to fare better in Monaco than last year. His challenge ended on the second day when his car failed to start as the temperature dropped. "I was really gunning for the win last year," stated Burns, who moved from Oxford to Andorra over the winter. "It would have been the perfect start. It is going to be a tough season. Marcus Gronholm will be very strong and there will be the Fords of Colin McRae and Carlos Sainz."
Colin McRae won the drivers' crown five years ago and believes he has a good chance of repeating that success this year in his Ford Focus. The 32-year-old's title hopes ended in the penultimate rally in 2000 but McRae feels his team have improved on the reliability of the car. He said: "We look to have got the balance right this year. We have got reliability and we have got an increase in performance so it is looking good."
Colin McRae is chasing a home victory in Monaco. The Scot has a base in Monte Carlo but has never won the event and he admitted: "The stages are quite fast and bumpy in places. And because of the speed it makes them quite tricky. The prospect of snow and ice adds to the problems so it can be a difficult rally. There will be sections in which we have to drive with tyres that are far from ideal."
Marcus Gronholm will be the man to watch after he beat a number of more-fancied drivers to the 2000 title. His rivals will know what to expect now and the Finn's Peugeot boss Corrado Provera admitted: "From the hunters we will become the hunted. The French team took the driver and manufacturer titles last year. As they go for more glory Gronholm will be joined by former SEAT driver Didier Auriol and Gilles Panizzi, who will specialise in the asphalt events.
Ford star Carlos Sainz will be chasing his fourth victory in 11 starts in Monaco after triumphing in 1991, 1995 and in 1998. However, he conceded: "New regulations restrict our choice of tyre patterns to just two, with two more for snow. "Pirelli have been traditionally good in Monte Carlo and I can see no reason why this year should be different." And the Spaniard added: "I am confident that Ford can be competitive straight away on the new rubber."
Skoda will celebrate the centenary of their participation in motor sport by contesting 12 rounds this year. The team hopes to build on their achievements of last year when they scored points in four of eight rounds. In the close season the team has been engaged in a testing programme that has taken drivers and engineers to Sweden, France and Austria. The Octavia WRC car has been thoroughly prepared and the team have secured the services of experienced Bruno Thiry.
Britain's Natalie Barratt will be the only female driver to contest
a full programme of events when she takes part in the FIA Teams Cup. The
25-year-old from Cheshire begins at the Swedish Rally in mid-February and
will take part in six events, culminating in Australia in November. She
has a rally-tuned Mitsubishi built by Yorkshire-based BTR Promotions, one
of only two Group N production models. "It's certainly a challenge to compete
at the very highest level," she said.
2001 F1 CALENDAR Jan 18-21 Rally of Monte Carlo Feb 8-11 Rally of Sweden Mar 8-11 Rally of Portugal Mar 22-25 Rally of Catalunya, Spain May 3-6 Rally of Argentina May 31-Jun 3 Rally of Cyprus June 14-17 Acropolis Rally, Greece July 19-22 Safari Rally, Kenya Aug 23-26 Rally of Finland Sep 20-23 Rally of New Zealand Oct 4-7 Rally of San Remo, Italy Oct 18-21 Rally of Corsica Nov 1-4 Rally of Australia Nov 22-25 Rally of Great Britain
PARIS-DAKAR RALLY:- Hiroshi Masuoka endured a horror day during Wednesday's 214km 16th special stage but just managed to hold onto the overall lead with four stages left. The Japanese Mitusbishi driver suffered from problems with a rear wheel joint and finished almost 38 minutes behind stage winner Carlos Sousa of Portugal. Sousa clocked 2 hours 26 minutes 13 seconds to win the special stage ahead of Germany's Jutta Kleinschmidt. Alfie Cox of South Africa won the motorcycle leg on his KTM in 2:30.28.
Result of 214km 16th stage (Nema in Mauritania to Bamako in Mali): Cars hr min sec 1 C Sousa Por Mitsubishi 2:26.13 2 J Kl'schmidt Ger Mitsubishi 2:29.38 3 JM Servia Sp Schlesser 2:30.59 4 J-L Schlesser Fr Schlesser 2:31.58 5 S Henrad Bel Volkswagen 2:34.22 Motorcycles 1 A Cox SA KTM 2:30.28 2 G Sala It KTM 2:32.51 3 P-G Lundmark Swe KTM 2:37.29 4 A Duclos Fr KTM 2:40.11 5 J Arcarons Sp KTM 2:40.25 Overall standings after stage 16 (Wed): Cars hr min sec 1 H Masuoka Jp M'bishi 60:53.12 2 J-M Schlesser Sp Schlesser 60:59.40 3 C Sousa Por M'bishi 61:20.11 4 J Kl'schmidt Ger M'bishi 61:24.02 5 JM Servia Sp Schlesser 62:25.49 Motorcycles 1 F Meoni It KTM 60:18.04 2 J Arcarons Sp KTM 60:39.19 3 C de Gavardo Chi KTM 60:58.41 4 I Pujol Sp KTM 61:19.48 5 A Cox SA KTM 61:27.11
18.01.2001
MONTE CARLO RALLY:- Richard Burns has been given the all-clear to take
part following his car crash on Wednesday. Burns, who will be bidding to
claim his first drivers' crown in 2001, had complained off a stiff neck
after his car collided with a lorry. The incident occurred when Burns was
surveying the course route for the first round of the World Championship.
He had a precautionary scan and was cleared to take part in the Monaco
event by a team doctor.
PARIS-DAKAR RALLY:- Jean-Louis Schlesser won the 17th stage but Japanese driver Hiroshi Masuoka has retained the overall lead with only three stages left. Schlesser, who is aiming for his third straight win, finished 37 seconds ahead of second-place Masuoka but is nearly six minutes ahead overall. Carlos Sousa's hopes of victory disappeared after he lost two-and-half hours because of gearbox problems. Italian Giovani Sala won the motorcycle section on his KTM.
Motorcycles 1 G Sala It KTM 3:38.32 2 C Despres Fr BMW 3:44.51 3 K Tianen Fin KTM 3:46.04 4 J Deacon GB BMW 3:46.36 5 F Meoni It KTM 3:48.00
19.01.2001
F1:- World champion Michael Schumacher has admitted that soccer makes him more nervous that driving a Formula One car. Schumacher who makes regular appearances in charity matches, told F1 magazine that football is something he has not got right yet. He said: "I am more nervous about playing football than about driving in Formula One. It might sound strange but it's because I can't do it with the same skill, I haven't got the awareness."
Jordan called off their test session at Silverstone after snow began
to fall. Jarno Trulli had been due to take over from Heinz-Harald Frentzen
and Ricardo Zonta but the team will now test in Barcelona next week.
MONTE CARLO RALLY:- Colin McRae's is on course to end the 33-year wait for a British triumph in the Monte Carlo Rally. The Scot finished the opening day with a lead of over 30 seconds from Finland's Tommi Makinen, who has won the event for the past two years. Fellow Briton Richard Burns was almost 90 seconds adrift in fourth spot. With his Ford Focus showing signs of improved reliability, McRae is well set to emulate Vic Elford, the last Briton to win, way back in 1968.
Colin McRae was not even born when the last Briton, Vic Elford, was victorious all of 33 years ago. But the Scot is refusing to count any chickens either after taking a lead of 30 seconds at the end of the first day. "I am not even thinking about winning - there are still two days to go and anything can happen," said McRae. "Any margin is a good margin but 30 seconds can be taken back so easily if you make a mistake or get the wrong tyre choice."
Finland's Tommi Makinen found it hard going as he ended the opening day of the rally over 30 seconds adrift of Britain's Colin McRae. Makinen, who has won the race for the last two years, said: "That was one of the toughest first days I've known in this rally. But I was disappointed to lose so much time on the final stage. I lost almost 20 seconds on a short stage and I don't really understand how that happened."
Word champion Marcus Gronholm was among a list of top-level retirements during a tough opening day. Gronholm's challenge ended on the second stage after a damaged water pump caused his Peugeot to overheat. "The water temperature went up to 140 degrees. I couldn't do anything about it," said Gronholm. Didier Auriol and Gilles Panizzi also retired, while Marko Martin was the first to be forced out when his Subaru developed electrical problems.
LEADERBOARD after stage 6 of 15 hr min sec 1 C McRae GB Ford 1:52.46.1 2 T Makinen Fin Mitsubishi @ 30.6 3 C Sainz Sp Ford @ 33.9 4 R Burns GB Subaru @ 1.29.6 5 A Schwarz Ger Skoda @ 1.49.3 6 F Delecour Fr Ford @ 1.49.5 7 F Loix Bel Mitsubishi @ 2.28.7 8 A McRae GB Hyundai @ 2.40.0 9 O Burri Swi Toyota @ 2.46.7 10 T G'meister Fin Peugeot @ 3:06.4 Special stage winners: Gardemeister (SS1), Gassner (SS2), Delecour (SS3), McRae (SS4), Makinen (SS5), Sainz (SS6)
PARIS-DAKAR RALLY:- Hiroshi Masuoka took advantage of his rival's misfortune to win stage 18 of the Paris-Dakar race in Senegal and retain the overall lead. Masuoka came in 1 min 37 seconds ahead of Frenchman Jean-Louis Schlesser after a puncture cost the Frenchman a big lead just after the halfway point. In the motorbike race Cyril Despres of France came in ahead of Giovcani Sala. Italian Fabrizio Meoni still leads. There are only two stages left in the world's most famous rally.
Result of 285km 18th stage (Bakel to Tambacounda in Senegal): Cars hr min sec 1 H Masuoka Jpn Mitsubishi 2:44.47 2 J-L Schlesser Fra Schlesser @1.37 3 JM Servia Sp Schlesser @3.32 4 J-P Fontenay Fra Mitsubishi @4.31 5 G de Mevius Bel Nissan @7.08 Motorcycles 1 C Despres Fr BMW 2:52.16 2 G Sala It KTM @0.51 3 A Cox SA KTM @4.10 4 J Arcarons Sp KTM @7.46 5 J Brucy Fr KTM @8.56 Overall standings after stage 18 (Fri): Cars hr min sec 1 H Masuoka Jp M'bishi 67:12.46 2 J-M Schlesser Fra Schlesser @ 7.28 3 J Kl'schmidt Ger M'bishi @ 39.43 4 JM Servia Sp Schlesser @1:38.58 5 C Sousa Por M'bishi @2:51.36 Motorcycles 1 F Meoni It KTM 67:07.38 2 J Arcarons Sp KTM @ :22.04 3 C de Gavardo Chi KTM @ :42.09 4 I Pujol Sp KTM @1:03.22 5 A Cox SA KTM @1:14.53
20.01.2001
MONTE CARLO RALLY:- Colin McRae hit-out at fans and organisers as the Monte Carlo Rally was again embroiled in controversy. The Scot was annoyed after being forced to slow several times to avoid hitting spectators on the third of five stages. McRae shrugged off the setback to take a slender lead of 3.5 seconds over Tommi Makinen into the final day, but could still pay for losing time. Organisers decided to call off the 10th stage as fears of spectators encroaching on the course grew.
Title hopeful Richard Burns was forced to pull out of the rally before the start of the second day because of an engine problem with his Subaru. The 30-year-old had battled his way up to fourth place after a shaky start which had initially left him in 28th place overall. "This is not the way to start the season," he conceded. "But I am pleased that the new Impreza has shown that it can be competitive straight away."
LEADERBOARD after stage 11 of 15 hr min sec 1 C McRae GB Ford 3:13.42.4 2 T Makinen Fin Mitsubishi @ 3.5 3 C Sainz Sp Ford @ 55.7 4 A Schwarz Ger Skoda @ 2.12.6 5 F Delecour Fr Ford @ 2.17.2 6 A McRae GB Hyundai @ 4.17.1 7 T G'meister Fin Peugeot @ 5.21.8 8 F Loix Bel Mitsubishi @ 5.43.1 9 O Burri Swi Toyota @ 7.27.8 10 B Thiry Bel Skoda @11.30.7
PARIS-DAKAR RALLY:- Jean-Louis Schlesser of France won Saturday's penultimate stage to regain the overall lead from Hiroshi Masuoka. Schlesser is now set to win the rally for the third successive year after Masuoka lost precious time when he suffered damage to his left rear tyre. Schlesser, who clocked two hours 20 minutes 39 seconds, now leads Germany's Jutta Kleinschmidt by over 41 minutes at the top of the overall standings. Giovani Sala, of Italy, won the motorcycle category in 2:28.00.
Result of 217km 19th stage (Tambacounda to Dakar in Senegal): Cars hr min sec 1 J-L Schlesser Fra Schlesser 2:20.39 2 JM Servia Sp Schlesser 2:26.04 3 C Sousa Por Mitsubishi 2:27.20 4 J K'schmidt Ger Mitsubishi 2:30.22 5 G de Mevius Bel Nissan 2:31.02 Motorcycles 1 G Sala It KTM 2:28.00 2 C Despres Fr BMW 2:30.20 3 J Lewis US BMW 2:32.10 4 J Brucy Fr KTM 2:32.45 5 K Tianen Fin KTM 2:33.07 Overall standings after stage 19 (Sat): Cars hr min sec 1 J-M Schlesser Fra Schlesser 69:40.53 2 J Kl'schmidt Ger M'bishi 70:22.51 3 H Masuoka Jp M'bishi 70:25.46 4 JM Servia Sp Schlesser 71:17.48 5 C Sousa Por M'bishi 72:31.42 Motorcycles 1 F Meoni It KTM 69:43.49 2 J Arcarons Sp KTM 70:08.52 3 C de Gavardo Chi KTM 70:27.47 4 I Pujol Sp KTM 70:46.05 5 A Cox SA KTM 71:02.44
21.01.2001
F1:- Ferrari test driver Luca Badoer was taken to hospital for observation
after crashing at the Montmelo circuit in Barcelona on Sunday. His injuries
were said not to be serious and he is expected to return home to Italy
on Monday.
MONTE CARLO RALLY:- Finland's Tommi Makinen completed a hat-trick of wins on the Rally of Monte Carlo as he finished 60.8 seconds ahead of Spaniard Carlos Sainz on Sunday. The Mitsubishi driver coasted home to victory after being handed the lead at the end when overnight leader Colin McRae was forced to retire. Francois Delecour was more than a minute further adrift in third. Makinen is seeking to regain the world title from countryman Marcus Gronholm who retired on the opening day.
Tommi Makinen completed the first Rally of Monte Carlo hat-trick for 17 years after leader Colin McRae was forced out on the 12th stage. And afterwards, the Finn said: "I'm sorry for Colin as it would have been nice to have a good fight with him. "The stages were difficult and dangerous and it was important to keep our concentration after he went out. It's a great start to the season and I hope I can continue in the same form in Sweden next month," he added.
Colin McRae's hopes of becoming the first Briton to win in Monaco in 33 years came to an end when he was forced to retire from the event. The Scot, who was the overnight leader, pulled out after the opening stage of the final day. He lost more than 13 minutes on the stage because he had throttle and engine problems with his Ford Focus. McRae, who had to retire last year and was disqualified in 1999, finished the stage but then withdrew.
Colin McRae suffered a repeat of his final day exit last year to hand victory to Tommi Makinen. "It was a problem with the fly-by-wire throttle system and we lost so much time trying to fix it that we had to pull out," he said. "It's a new system on the car but you have to try these things. It is very frustrating to be forced to retire two years in a row but it's only the start of the season and I intend to fight for the title," he added.
Alister McRae and co-driver David Senior claimed an outstanding seventh place to finish in the points on Hyundai's debut in the event. The pair set top ten times on all but one stage and only lost sixth position after a slide on the last leg. "If you'd have asked me at the start if I'd be able to finish seventh, I'd have said it would have been extremely difficult," McRae said afterwards. "But the car has run faultlessly all the way through," he added.
FINAL LEADERBOARD after 15 stages hr min sec 1 T Makinen Fin Mitsubishi 4:38.04.3 2 C Sainz Sp Ford @ 1.00.8 3 F Delecour Fr Ford @ 2.05.3 4 A Schwarz Ger Skoda @ 2.26.0 5 T G'meister Fin Peugeot @ 5.52.1 6 F Loix Bel Mitsubishi @ 6.25.9 7 A McRae GB Hyundai @ 9.04.0 8 B Thiry Bel Skoda @13.55.0 9 O Gillet Swi Mitsubishi @16.23.9 10 M Stohl Aut Mitsubishi @17.50.3 DRIVER STANDINGS 1 T Maikinen Fin Mitsubishi 10 pts 2 C Sainz Sp Ford 6 3 F Delecour Fr Ford 4 4 A Schwarz Ger Skoda 3 5 T Gardemeister Fin Peugeot 2 6 F Loix Bel Mitsubishi 1 MANUFACTURER STANDINGS 1 Mitsubishi 13 2 Ford 6 3 Skoda 5 4 Hyundai 2
PARIS-DAKAR RALLY:- Jutta Kleinschmidt of Germany became the first woman to win the Paris-Dakar rally at the end of the last 25kms timed stage in Dakar on Sunday. The Mitsubishi driver beat Japanese team-mate Hiroshi Masuoka. Frenchman Jean-Louis Schlesser, the winner in 1999 and last year, finished third after being handed a one-hour penalty for unsporting behaviour. Italian Fabrizio Meoni led a KTM clean sweep of podium places in the motorcycle section.
Jutta Kleinschmidt played down her ground-breaking victory after becoming the first woman to win the event. The modest German praised her rivals and claimed that Japan's Hiroshi Masuoka deserved to win "He was the best driver in this rally, no question about that," she said, paying tribute to Masuoka who led the race for 11 days. She also praised he co-driver Andreas Schulz: "If Andi had not navigated so well we would not be in this position."
British motorcyclist John Deacon completed the 60-mile final stage of the rally on Sunday and equalled his best finish of sixth overall. The 38-year-old Plymouth motorcycle dealer matched his 1999 result after overcoming several problems. Deacon lost most of his time on the second day of the 21-day event but battled back to claim sixth place from BMW team-mate Jimmy Lewis. Lewis' rally ended badly when he broke his collarbone in a crash.
Result of 95km 20th stage Cars hr min sec 1 J-L Schlesser Fra Schlesser 18.42 2 C Sousa Por Mitsubishi 18.54 3 H Masuoka Jp Mitsubishi 18.59 4 J K'schmidt Ger Mitsubishi 19.15 5 S Henrard Bel Volkswagen 20.44 Motorcycles 1 K Tianen Fin KTM 15.48 2 G Sala It KTM 15.48 3 E Aubijoux Fr KTM 15.51 4 J Deacon GB BMW 16.23 5 F Meoni It KTM 17.19 Final overall standings (Sun): Cars hr min sec 1 J Kl'schmidt Ger M'bishi 70:42.06 2 H Masuoka Jp M'bishi 70:44.45 3 J-M Schlesser Fra Schlesser 71:05.35 4 C Sousa Por M'bishi 72:50.36 5 JP Fontenay Fr M'bishi 74:36.11 Motorcycles 1 F Meoni It KTM 70:01.08 2 J Arcarons Sp KTM 70:26.18 3 C de Gavardo Chi KTM 70:45.19 4 I Pujol Sp KTM 71:03.52 5 A Cox SA KTM 71:20.17
22.01.2001
F1:- Ferrari test driver Luca Badoer has been released from hospital
after crashing at the Montmelo circuit in Barcelona on Sunday. He has been
advised to rest for two weeks. Ferrari said the crash was due to a "mechanical
failure."
RALLYING:- Ford team chief Malcolm Wilson is confident of Colin McRae's chances for the season despite him being forced out of the Monte Carlo rally. McRae has said recently that he hopes that reliability problems are a thing of the past. Wilson said: "To go out while leading is very hard, and it has a big effect on the whole team. But it was a rare and unexpected failure. Colin's passion and will to win are still there."
Finland's Tommi Makinen has warned Colin McRae and Richard Burns they
face a fierce battle if they want to win the World Rally title. Makinen
was celebrating winning the Rally of Monte Carlo this weekend after Burns
and McRae failed to finish. The Finn said: "It was important to get the
victory and the 10 points, my aim is to get a fifth championship. It is
going to be very difficult because the competition is much harder but I
have started the season well."
PARIS-DAKAR RALLY:- John Deacon took little time to celebrate the end
of the rally on Sunday before turning his mind to next year's event. The
38-year-old from Plymouth matched his best overall finish of sixth, set
in 1999, before joining celebrations at Lake Rose in Dakar. "It's been
a long, hard slog but I'll be straight back to work preparing for another
crack," Deacon said. He now faces every day riding and high- impact gym
work for 11 more months.
RALLYING:- Northern Ireland rally driver Bertie Fisher and his wife
were critically ill in hospital after a helicopter crash which killed their
son and daughter. Bertie Fisher won the Irish Rally Championship four times
and his son, Mark, won the Peugeot Super 106 Cup in Britain in 1999.
25.01.2001
F1:- Sauber team chairman Peter Sauber has confirmed that their chief designer Sergio Rinland will leave the team before the start of the new season. British designer Gary Anderson, who was replaced at Jaguar in December, and ex-Prost technical director Alan Jenkins have both been linked with the post.
French driver Olivier Panis of the BAR team was faster than world champion Michael Schumacher in pre-season practice at the Catalunya circuit. Panis clocked 1min 20.792sec, the fastest time since four Formula One teams began practice at the circuit. Schumacher drove his Ferrari over 63 laps, producing a best time of 1min 21.392sec, in the team's last practice session before they unveil a new car. Dutchman Jos Verstappen, driving a re- designed Arrows, was third fastest.
Leading testing times (Thu): mins secs 1 O Panis Fra BAR 1:20.792 2 M Schumacher Ger Ferrari 1:21.392 3 J Verstappen Ned Arrows 1:21.718 4 J Trulli It Jordan 1:21.897 5 D Manning GB BAR 1:22.086 6 M Gene Spa Williams 1:22.844
F.RENAULT:- Mark McLoughlin has agreed to stay with Formula Renault
champions Motaworld Racing for this season where he will partner Carl Breeze
and Tom Herridge.
RENAULT CLIO CUP:- Daniel Buxton has joined Tim Sugden's Elf Clio Cup
team for 2001. His rival David Gibson will race for his newly-formed family
team Elite Motorsport.
26.01.2001
F1:- Jacques Villeneuve has warned that only a top-three finish in the Constructors' Championship will ensure that he stays with BAR. The 1997 World Champion warned BAR Honda managing director Craig Pollock that the team must become big players or he will go elsewhere. He said: "Third place is the minimum acceptable for us to be happy. If we don't it will be a big weight for us, if the team keeps progressing then there is no reason to leave."
Honda have launched their new BAR Honda 003 at a ceremony in London. The car features an advanced RA001E three-litre V10 engine, an evolution of the powerful and reliable unit which helped BAR Honda to fifth spot in 2000. Honda managing director Takefumi Hosaka said: "There were some encouraging results last season but we have to make sure we build on this in 2001. Our target for this year is to have one Honda-powered team in the top three of the constructors' championship."
F1 TESTING (Barcelona): Leading testing times (Fri):mins secs 1 M Gene Spa Williams 1:21.206 2 N Heidfeld Ger Sauber 1:21.230 3 J Trulli It Jordan 1:21.897 4 K Raikkonen Fin Sauber 1:21.942 5 D Manning GB BAR 1:22.346 6 E Bernoldi It Arrows 1:23.581
RALLYING:- Subaru said that Richard Burns and Markko Martin failed to finish the Monte Carlo Rally due to a faulty batch of ignition coils. The team said the problem would not happen again at the Swedish Rally.
Ford have recruited Phil Short as sporting adviser for this season.
He will advise the team on strategic decisions and tactics.
27.01.2001 - F1
Team boss Sir Frank Williams has set realistic aims for the 2001 campaign. At the unveiling of Williams' new FW23 car at Silverstone he said: "Our aim is to finish every race. And maybe we could get a win or two if those grey cars and red cars make a mistake. We have two remarkably competitive drivers. I don't suppose they will get on but it is what they do out there on the track that counts. I await our future with interest."
Williams chief Sir Frank Williams has admitted that he expects there to be fierce rivalry between drivers Juan Pablo Montoya and Ralph Schumacher. "There may well be a bit of jealousy and they are both hot-headed characters," revealed Williams. "But I think they are both wise enough to have a professional relationship and that will be sufficient. Personally I like to have two equal drivers because then we have two chances of winning."
Ralf Schumacher has played down his chances of winning his first race after five seasons in Formula One. The Williams driver said: "I am sure that Ferrari and McLaren did not sleep over the winter. Our target is to get closer to the top two and I might be able, with a bit of luck, to win a race. I might have been frustrated about not winning if I had felt I had had a real chance to sit in a car that was able to win races, but I have not."
New Williams driver Juan Pablo Montoya has admitted that it was always
his target to compete in Formula One. The former Champ Car driver, who
has replaced Jenson Button in the team, confirmed: "I always dreamt of
Formula One when I was younger. Formula One is the pinnacle for me. I hope
to get on the podium but it is very early to say how competitive the new
car is going to be." He also said he was in good shape after doubts were
raised over his fitness.
Former champion Jacques Villeneuve insists he still has what it takes
to beat Michael Schumacher. Asked he was good enough to beat the German,
the BAR ace said : "I wouldn't be racing if I didn't believe that. "And
I don't think the team would have kept me if they did not believe that,"
he added at Friday's launch. BAR boss Craig Pollock described his driver
line-up of Villeneuve and Olivier Panis as: "probably the best in Formula
One today."
28.01.2001 - F1: TESTING (Barcelona)
Sauber drivers Nick Heidfeld and Kimi Raikkonen led the times in testing on Sunday to show Bridgestone have an advantage in the tyre war. German Heidfeld was more than 2.5 seconds quicker than Eddie Irvine's Jaguar, the best of the Michelin cars. "I was very pleased to set the fastest time and to endorse my feelings for the new car," said Heidfeld, who just pipped his team-mate Raikkonen. "It feels very good and the handling and balance is very satisfactory."
Leading testing times (Sun):mins secs 1 N Heidfeld Ger Sauber 1:20.493 2 K Raikkone Fin Sauber 1:21.190 3 E Irvine GB Jaguar 1:23.117 4 JP Montoya Spa Williams 1:23.523 5 L Burti Brz Jordan 1:24.503 6 G Mazzacane Arg Prost 1:25.078
29.01.2001
F1:- Ferrari unveiled their new F2001 Formula One car with a simple
aim on Monday - to be world champions for a third season in succession.
The new car, revealed to cheering fans at the Fiorano test track, has been
adjusted to meet new regulations. These new implementations come into effect
on aerodynamics, traction control and electronics. "We want to win the
world championship, full stop end of story," said company president Luca
di Montezemolo.
DAYTONA 24-HOURS:- Reigning American Le Mans Series champion Allan McNish
heads to America this weekend to compete in what is likely to be his only
race of the year. The Dumfries ace bids for glory in the Daytona 24-Hour
sportscar race before embarking on a hectic year of testing Toyota's new
Formula One car. McNish drives a privately-entered Ferrari 333SP, with
David Brabham, Ralf Kelleners and Eric van de Poele. "Daytona is my one
realistic chance of keeping my racing licence up to date."
31.01.2001
F1:- Enrique Bernoldi will join Jos Verstappen in the Arrows team for 2001. The 22-year-old Brazilian driver will replace Pedro de la Rosa. Team principal Tom Walkinshaw said: "We have a strong, experienced driver in Jos and some young blood with Enrique. It should prove to be an interesting combination. We have been pleased with the maturity shown by Enrique. We would like to thank Pedro and wish him well for the future."
The Rt Hon Kenneth Clarke QC MP has succeeded Don Brown as independent non-executive chairman of BAR.
F1 TESTING (Barcelona) Wednesday times: mins secs 1 J Alesi Fr Prost 1:19.415 2 J Trulli It Jordan 1:20.089 3 R Schumacher Ger Williams 1:20.570 4 J Verstappen Ned Arrows 1:20.604 5 J Button GB Benetton 1:20.637 6 JP Montoya Col Williams 1:20.943 7 G Fisichella It Benetton 1:20.976 8 L Burti Brz Jaguar 1:22.327 9 T Scheckter SA Jaguar 1:24.248