2001 October Motorsport News



02.10.2001
F1:- Indian race driver Narain Karthikeyan has been given a second test drive with Formula One team Jordan later this week, one of his sponsors revealed. The 24-year-old will test drive at the Monza circuit in Italy on Friday. Karthikeyan first test drove for Jordan at Silverstone last month after becoming the first Indian to drive a Formula One car in June with Jaguar. "If I put on a good show, maybe they might consider me for a seat next year or even as a test driver," he said.


BTCC (Brands Hatch):- This year's championship enters its final round on Sunday and after an exciting season the drivers' title is still to be decided. Vauxhall have long since wrapped up the manufacturers' crown and will see one of their drivers take the individual honours in the final two rounds. Jason Plato leads Yvan Muller by just six points, and both will be keen for the results which will seal the title. Each driver has topped the standings on occasions throughout the season.

Championship leader Jason Plato is hoping his slender six-point advantage will help him seal the crown. "I'm ahead on points and I don't have the added pressure of needing two race wins to become champion," he said. Title rival Yvan Muller said: "I have some ground to make up in the points standings, but I expect to make a strong show at the weekend. For me and Jason still to be fighting is good for the fans and the championship," he added.

The BTC Production Championship will be decided on Sunday with HTML team-mates Simon Harrison and Roger Moen in competition for the title. Team boss Jonathan Heynes said: "I won't be counting my eggs just yet but I'm they will both do an excellent job. It will be a case of 'best man wins'." If either man slips up, third-placed James Kaye of Team Kaliber Sport could still take the title. GR Motorsport will hope to tie up the BFGoodrich Tires BTC Teams' title.

Teenager Tom Boardman has been in fine form in recent rounds and will hope to continue that when the championship comes to an end on Sunday. Boardman, the youngest driver in the championship, is also satisfied with how his first season has gone. "I've learned a lot from the more experienced drivers which has helped me develop as a driver," he said. "I didn't really expect to do as well as I have done but I think I've proved that I can race with these guys."


SANREMO RALLY:- The battle for the world championship is hotting up as the drivers prepare for round 11 in Italy this week. Colin McRae is now level in the driver standings with Tommi Makinen, while Ford lead the manufacturer standings. The rally, starting with a short stage on Thursday before the main action from Friday to Sunday, is the first of two consecutive all-asphalt events. The route has changed after last year's crowd congestion, with some stages used for the first time since the 1970s.

Colin McRae is now level at the top of the driver standings with Tommi Makinen but knows his Ford Focus is not at its strongest in all-asphalt rallies. "Our team and Pirelli have made progress on asphalt since the last rally on it in Spain," he said. "What we don't know is how much progress the other teams have made. The unknown factor in Sanremo is always the weather. If it stays dry there's no problem. But cold nights in the mountains can leave damp patches."

There will be two additional Ford Focus cars on the road during the rally as the team try to boost the title hopes of Colin McRae and Carlos Sainz. Ford Martini duo Francois Delecour and Daniel Grataloup and Italian title race leaders Paolo Andreucci and Alberto Guisti will drive Focus RS cars. Sainz commented: "We've reached the point in the season where every rally is crucial. We need to score points n these two hard surface events."

Richard Burns is aiming for the title after lifting himself back into contention with victory in New Zealand. "We've had a good test with the latest Pirelli tyres, and together with the New Zealand result it means I'm going with plenty of confidence," he said. "I'm expecting some tough competition from Tommi Makinen and Colin McRae. With just nine points keeping me from the lead, and four rallies to go, the Championship is once again game-on. I'll be giving everything I can."

Joint-championship leader Tommi Makinen wil be driving a new type of Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution WRC when the rally gets underway this week. Makinen has won twice at Sanremo and believes that the changed car gives him further chances of success. "Straight away when I drove this car I had a very good feeling," he said. "The balance is very good and everything is positive. We need a good result now and I think we have a good chance with this car."

The uncertain weather and its effect on the Sanremo rally is playing on the minds of Hyundai drivers. David Senior, co-driver to Alister McRae, said: "Last year we had so much rain during the race that there were rivers running down the road. You can ascend a mountain in rain and the other side of the stage it could be dry. Although tyre choice is critical, it can come down to luck as well, purely because you can't predict the weather.

Natalie Barratt will be aiming to score points for the third consecutive time in the FIA Teams' Cup this week. Barratt has never contested the Sanremo event before and is looking forward to the challenge. "I like competing on asphalt rallies and usually go well, and Sanremo will be a new experience," she said. "The Mitsubishi Lancer is a strong car, which is essential as there is a lot of heavy braking and acceleration, and the Michelin tyres work well on asphalt."

Niall McShea is hopeful about his chances after a successful pre-event test in his Minilite Citroen Saxo in Germany last month. "We got a lot of really useful work done in the two days we were in Germany," he said. "The acid test will be when we get to Italy, but all of the set-up changes we made were extremely positive. The only factor which might hold us back is that I have no previous experience of any of the stages."


F.RENAULT:- Three new drivers will make their Formula Renault UK debuts in Sunday's final round at Brands Hatch. Outgoing Clio Cup champion Jim Edwards jnr lines up for Falcon, Japan's Hiyanari Shimoda drives for Paston and Katherine Legge drives for Saxon.






03.10.2001
F1:- The FIA have unveiled the provisional calendar for next season and the one change is the British Grand Prix has swapped places with the French race. The British race is one of three listed with problems that have to be resolved before the calendar becomes official. Silverstone must solve traffic problems and San Marino is pending a 'new commercial agreement'. The Australian Grand Prix is subject to a coroner's inquiry from this year's race, where a steward was killed.

2002 PROVISIONAL CALENDAR
March 3  Australian GP, Melbourne
March 17 Malaysian GP, Kuala Lumpur
March 31 Brazilian GP, Sao Paulo
April 14 San Marino GP, Imola
April 28 Spanish GP, Barcelona
May 12   Austrian GP, Spielberg
May 26   Monaco GP, Monte Carlo
June 9   Canadian GP, Montreal
June 23  European GP, Nurburgring
July 7   British GP, Silverstone
July 21  French GP, Magny-Cours
July 28  German GP, Hockenheim
Aug 18   Hungarian GP, Budapest
Sept 1   Belgian GP, Spa-Francorchamps
Sept 15  Italian GP, Monza
Sept 29  American GP, Indianapolis
Oct 13   Japanese GP, Suzuka
The FIA have also announced minor technical changes for next year. Wheel tether strength is to be increased by 20 per cent and the cars' rear impact absorbing structure will be subjected to side load tests. Rear view mirrors will become 20 per cent bigger and rear lights 50 per cent larger and any car capable of detecting the race start will be outlawed. Electronically controlled power steering is also banned but the amount of testing time will be unlimited.

Jean Alesi wants Jordan to decide if he has a future with the team before the final race of the season on October 14, according to French newspaper L'Equipe. Ex-Prost driver Alesi, 37, replaced the axed Heinz-Harald Frentzen at Jordan in August and the Silverstone-based team have an option on him for 2002. But they want to try out younger talent before deciding who will partner Giancarlo Fisichella. Alesi is not ready to retire and has been linked to Arrows and a CART move.

Michael Schumacher set a new lap record in testing at Ferrari's Fiorano track. The German world champion used what will be the team's final test of the season to try out parts for next year's championship, clocking a best of 58.792.


CART:- Michael Andretti goes into Sunday's Grand Prix of Houston lying in third place in the Championship. His best finish on the Houston street circuit was a third place in 1999 and he would relish a repeat show to close in on Kenny Brack and Gil de Ferran. Andretti said: "We have been quietly scratching our way to the front of the championship fight. We cannot afford to finish out of the points this weekend. It would be nice to be on the podium."

Driver standings (after Rockingham 500):
 1 K Brack        Swe Ford     147 pts
 2 G de Ferran    Brz Honda    141
 3 M Andretti     US  Honda    125
 4 H Castroneves  Brz Honda    123
 5 C da Matta     Brz Toyota    92
 6 D Franchitti   GB  Honda     89
 7 S Dixon        NZ  Toyota    86
 8 P Carpentier   Can Ford      83
 9 T Kanaan       Brz Honda     77
10 P Tracy        Can Honda     76

Manufacturer standings:
1 Honda                   278 pts
2 Ford-Cosworth           240
3 Toyota                  236

INDY LIGHTS (Atlanta):- Dan Wheldon heads for the 10th round of the championship on Friday boosted by his maiden win at Gateway in August. Wheldon, who is currently third place in the championship, was fastest in a test session last week and is determined to continue his good form. "We are now building on the momentum we have created over the last two races. I want more wins," he said. "I'm feeling confident and I am very positive about achieving my aspirations for next season."


ALMS (Atlanta):- Johnny Herbert is determined to net a maiden win in final race of the series on Saturday. Herbert has recorded two third places plus fourth and fifth positions but is hopeful of driving his Audi to victory in this 1,000 mile event. He said: "Our race pace has been good recently so a top-three place should be achievable if not an outright victory. The race is long and hard and the track is one of my favourites. It's a great event which I won two years ago."





04.10.2001 - F1
Japan's Takuma Sato is close to a deal to drive for Jordan next season. Manager Andrew Gilbert-Scott revealed: "We are very optimistic. Eddie Jordan's attitude has been very positive. "Discussions have reached a serious stage but until things are signed you can never be sure. This week is a crunch time." Sato, 24, won the Formula Three title this season with a record number of wins and has strong ties with Honda, who supply engines for Jordan.




05.10.2001
F1:- World champion Michael Schumacher says that Juan Pablo Montoya cannot be viewed as one of the revelations of the Formula One season. Montoya, in his debut Formula One campaign, won the first race of his career at the Italian Grand Prix but Schumacher is not impressed. "Montoya drives well but my brother has twice as many points," Schumacher told the Gazzetta dello Sport. "He has been very fast but think about Hungary and he was never seen there."


NEWS:- Max Mosley has been re-elected president of motor racing's ruling body the FIA for a third four-year term. The 61-year-old Briton has headed motor sport's world governing body since 1993 having been re-elected in 1997. In other FIA general assembly votes American Robert Darbelnet was elected deputy president in charge of the touring and automobile division. Italy's Marco Piccinini was elected deputy president of the organisation's sports division.


SAN REMO RALLY:- Richard Burns' world title hopes were severly hit as he crashed out of the rally early on. The Briton, nine points behind Colin McRae and Tommi Makinen at the start of the event, went off the road 4km into the first stage and could not recover. Subaru's technical director David Lapworth said: "Details are sketchy, but it seems he ran out of asphalt on a long left hander." Piero Liatti, Carlo Casina and Armin Schwarz also went out of the event.

Richard Burns was unsure what went wrong with his car after he crashed out in the opening stage. He said: "We were four kilometres in when I slid a bit too much in one corner. I don't really know what happened, it all went very quickly. There was not enough room and halfway through we just lost the grip. At the moment I just hope that we can do better in Corsica and Colin McRae and Tommi Makinen don't pick up too many points."

Citroen's Jesus Puras leads the San Remo rally after the first day of the 11th round of the world championship. Puras finished ahead of Frenchmen Gilles Panizzi, Didier Auriol and Sebastien Loeb. Puras and Panizzi battled in the early part of the day and the Spaniard had a slender one second advantage over his rival at the end. But it was a disappointing day for Colin McRae and Tommi Makinen who failed to make an impression.

Leading positions after leg one:
                            hr min sec
 1 J Puras     Sp  Citroen   1:31.41.4
 2 G Panizzi   Fr  Peugeot     @   1.5
 3 P Bugalski  Fr  Citroen     @  16.1
 4 D Auriol    Fr  Peugeot     @  26.6
 5 S Loeb      Fr  Citroen     @  31.4
 6 M Gronholm  Fin Peugeot     @  36.7
 7 C Sainz     Sp  Ford        @  50.7
 8 F Delecour  Fr  Ford        @1.09.2
 9 R Travaglia It  Peugeot     @1.11.7
10 P Solberg   Nor Subaru      @1.13.7
13 C McRae     GB  Ford        @1.54.4
14 T Makinen   Fin M'bishi     @2.17.4
Burns retired on first stage

INDY LIGHTS (Atlanta):- Dan Wheldon will start the 10th round of the championship from sixth place on the grid. Th 23-year-old set the third fastest time of one minute 15.556 seconds around the 2.54-mile circuit on Thursday's morning session. But in the afternoon's warmer session could only manage 1:15.785. Wheldon, who is currently third place in the championship, was boosted by his maiden win at Gateway in August and was fastest in a test session last week.


ALMS:- The British-based Gulf Audi of Stefan Johansson set the second fastest time in warm-up trials for Saturday's 10-hour race in Atlanta. Britain's Johnny Herbert was third fastest on the 2.54-mile circuit in Georgia, with Frank Biela leading.

Warm-up trials:            hrs/mins/sec
1 F Biela/E Pirro     Audi R8  1:11.703
2 S Joh'son/P Lemarie Audi R8  1:12.316
3 A Wallace/J Herbert Audi R8  1:13.029
4 R Capello/T Krist'n Audi R8  1:13.148
5 K Graf/F Lagorce    Panoz    1:13.171
6 W Taylor/M Angelli  Cadillac 1:13.822

MALCOLM WILSON RALLY (Cockermouth):- The event finally takes place on Saturday, based in Cockermouth, with 45 miles of stages in the Lake District. It was originally scheduled for early March but the onset of foot-and-mouth disease forced a postponement. Steve Petch has won for the past two years and returns in his new Hyundai Accent WRC to attempt a hat-trick.

Top three starters:
1 S Petch/J Richardson  Hyundai
2 V Wetton/J Haigh      Mitsubishi
3 J Milner/N Beach      Toyota





06.10.2001
BTCC (Brands Hatch):- Yvan Muller took two vital points in his quest for the title but newcomer Warren Hughes stole the show. Muller, who trails Jason Plato by six points in the title race going into the final weekend, took pole position for the sprint race in 49.722 seconds. However, Hughes took a surprise pole for the feature race in his MG. Muller was boosted when organisers gave him both pole position points because Hughes, due to MG's late entry, is not registered for championship points.
Sprint race qualifying (Sat):     secs
 1 Y Muller      Fr  Vauxhall   49.722
 2 J Plato       GB  Vauxhall  @ 0.030
 3 J Thompson    GB  Vauxhall  @ 0.034
 4 W Hughes      GB  MG        @ 0.068
 5 D Eaves       GB  Peugeot   @ 0.095
 6 P Bennett     GB  Vauxhall  @ 0.099
 7 S Soper       GB  Peugeot   @ 0.104
 8 A Reid        GB  MG        @ 0.306
 9 T Harvey      GB  Alfa R    @ 0.774
10 T Ferrier     GB  Alfa R    @ 1.432

Feature race qualifying (Sat):    secs
 1 W Hughes      GB  MG         49.674
 2 Y Muller      Fr  Vauxhall  @ 0.003
 3 P Bennett     GB  Vauxhall  @ 0.010
 4 J Plato       GB  Vauxhall  @ 0.033
 5 S Soper       GB  Peugeot   @ 0.065
 6 J Thompson    GB  Vauxhall  @ 0.079
 7 D Eaves       GB  Peugeot   @ 0.239
 8 A Reid        GB  MG        @ 0.331
 9 T Harvey      GB  Alfa R    @ 0.826
10 T Ferrier     GB  Alfa R    @ 0.933

Production class qualifying (Sat):secs
 1 P O'Neill     GB  Peugeot    52.053
 2 S Graves      GB  Honda     @ 0.130
 3 S Harrison    GB  Peugeot   @ 0.290
 4 G Pyper       GB  Alfa R    @ 0.381
 5 M Jackson     GB  Ford      @ 0.426
 6 J Kaye        GB  Honda     @ 0.460
 7 G Howell      GB  Ford      @ 0.519
 8 R Collard     GB  Renault   @ 0.524
 9 R Moen        Nor Peugeot   @ 0.615
10 D Allan       GB  Honda     @ 1.119

SAN REMO RALLY:- Gilles Panizzi ended the day with a 34.5 s cond advantage over his rivals. Fellow Frenchman Sebastien Loeb was in second spot, with Didier Auriol and Marcus Gronholm just behind. Panizzi's progress was smoothed when overnight leader Jesus Puras went out on the 10th stage, while Alister McRae also dropped out late in the day. Colin McRae's world championship hopes were hit when he suffered a puncture. He is down in 10th place, more than three minutes behind Panizzi.
Leading positions after 12 stages:
                            hr min sec
 1 G Panizzi   Fr  Peugeot   3:05:22.8
 2 S Loeb      Fr  Citroen     @  34.5
 3 D Auriol    Fr  Peugeot     @  41.8
 4 M Gronholm  Fin Peugeot     @1:10.5
 5 C Sainz     Sp  Ford        @1:36.4
 6 R Travaglia It  Peugeot     @1:40.8
 7 F Delecour  Fr  Ford        @2:09.8
 8 P Solberg   Nor Subaru      @2:53.3
 9 S Jean-J    Fr  Peugeot     @2:58.7
10 C McRae     GB  Ford        @3:27.0
11 T Makinen   Fin Mitsubishi  @3:47.0                                          
Burns retired on first stage
Puras retired on seventh stage
Bugalski retired on eighth stage

CART (Houston):- Gil de Feran took pole position for Sunday's race and closed in on Kenny Brack at the top of the standings. The reigning FexEx series champion produced a lap of 148.853kmph, and the single point it gave him moved him within five points of Brack. "Every point is important," de Ferran said. "But the most important thing right now is focusing on the race, not the points." Bruno Junqueira was second, with Brack in third spot.


INDY LIGHTS (Atlanta):- Dan Wheldon claimed his second successive win with a stunning display. Wheldon left it late, however, passing Townsend Bell, who had led the entire contest, at the penultimate corner. The 23-year-old started in sixth but he gradually worked his way up through the field and he took advantage when the safety car came out with two laps left. Wheldon said: "Townsend had built a big lead, but I knew when the safety car was out that there would be an opportunity to get past him."


MALCOLM WILSON RALLY:- The event got under way on Saturday, based in Cockermouth, with 45 miles of stages in the Lake District. It was originally scheduled for early March but the onset of foot-and-mouth disease forced a postponement. Ian Joel and Graeme Wood led the field by five seconds from Theo Bengry after three stages. In the under 1400 class Simon Hughes was the early leader, with Dave Brick only three seconds behind.


RENAULT CLIO CUP (Brands Hatch):- Paul Rivett took pole position for Sunday's finale but only just, as the top 20 drivers were all within a second of his time. Daniel Buxton and Tim Mullen were third and fourth respectively. Buxton will be champion if he comes in the top eight.

Qualifying times:             secs
1 P Rivett        Stancombe  52.648
2 D Vercoe        Mardi Gras 52.673
3 J Templeman     TCR        52.689
4 T Mullen        Firstair   52.701
5 D Buxton        Sugden     52.723
6 J Coffin        TCR        52.752

F.RENAULT (Brands Hatch):- Richard Antinucci was fractionally ahead of Matthew Griffin in the qualifying session. Antinucci is looking to equal new champion Carl Breeze with four wins this season, while it was the best showing of the season for Griffin.
Leading times:                secs
1 R Antinucci     Manor      44.894
2 M Griffin       Manor      44.899
3 T Sisley        Motaworld  44.934
4 C Breeze        Motaworld  44.938
5 H Kovalainen    Fortec     44.994
6 D Watts         Falcon     44.998

LIGHTNING STAGES RALLY:- The Safety Devices National Rally Championship reconvenes after a four-month gap in Lincolnshire on Sunday. The foot-and-mouth outbreak caused a number of events to be cancelled. Jon Mercer, who leads the championship with co-driver Aled Davies, could virtually wrap up the title with a good result in the event. Tim Wilson, David Kynaston and Andy Fenwick will also challenge over the six stages and 66 miles of the rally, which starts at 9.00am on Sunday.


ALMS:- Europe's two events in the series have been removed from next year's calender. Officials have decided to keep the points-scoring rounds in America but an invitational finale has been set for November 3 in Malaysia. Meanwhile Johnny Herbert is hoping to claim victory in the latest round on Saturday after his second-place finish in the last event. "It will come down to who has the best run through traffic and we know reliability is not a problem," he said.


AUTOBYTEL LOTUS'S (Brands Hatch):- Hyla Breese grabbed his debut pole with just one minute of the qualifying session left. Breese, who lies second in the championship, needs to finish ahead of rival Mark Cole in Sunday's race to guarantee the runners-up place.

Leading qualifying times (Sat):
                          secs
1 H Breese               50.284
2 S Marsh                50.425
3 M Fullalove            50.589
4 J Tee                  50.596
5 M Cole                 50.626





07.10.2001
F1:- Four-time Formula One champion Michael Schumacher insisted he would continue driving after his current contract with Ferrari expires at the end of 2004. "I can see myself going on for a while," he told German Sunday newspaper Welt am Sonntag. But Schumacher, 32, did admit that while he had no immediate plans to retire, he would quit inside 10 years. Schumacher clinched his fourth world championship earlier this year and also pushed the record for race wins to 52.


CART:- Racing driver Alex Zanardi, who lost both legs in a ChampCar crash, says he will not be confined to a wheelchair. The 34-year-old was critically injured when he collided with Alex Tagliani's car during the American Memorial 500. He had both legs amputated but will have artificial limbs fitted and is determined not to get downcast. "My life can go on normally. The doctors have told me the wheelchair will soon be just a memory. I've got a new life ahead of me," Zanardi said.


BTCC (Brands Hatch):- Jason Plato won the title when Yvan Muller's challenged ended. Plato went into the feature race with a six-point lead over Muller and was gifted the crown when the Frenchman retired with damage while leading. Muller stopped 14 laps from the end as Plato finished second less, than 0.3 seconds behind winner Phil Bennett. Plato had earlier finished second in the sprint race but took full points as Anthony Reid, who is not eligible for championship points, won the race.

Jason Plato took the title when Yvan Muller was forced to retire during the feature race, and he was ery pleased to have sealed the crown. He said: "I'm delighted to win the championship. It's been a fraught year and I'm glad it's all over. I would like to thank my family and fans for their support." Plato added that conditions had been difficult at the start of the race, saying: "There was too much standing water and I spun off."

Simon Harrison failed to make the podium in the Production class but still wrapped up the title after James Kaye finished only third. "What a day and season!" Harrison commented. "I can't remember a championship that came down to the last race in both categories. This is the third time I have won a National Championship so now it's about time for a Touring car drive." GR Motorsport picked up the points they needed for the Teams' Championship.


Sprint race result (Sun):     mins secs
 1 A Reid        GB  MG       30:20.821
 2 S Graves      GB  Honda      @ 0.233
 3 J Plato       GB  Vauxhall   @ 4.775
 4 Y Muller      Fr  Vauxhall   @ 6.723
 5 J Thompson    GB  Vauxhall  @ 16.339
 6 P Bennett     GB  Vauxhall  @ 21.090
 7 T Harvey      GB  Alfa R    @ 23.492
 8 D Eaves       GB  Peugeot   @ 26.210
 9 S Sutcliffe   GB  Lexus     @ 28.376
10 J Kaye        GB  Honda     @ 45.882

Feature race result (Sun):    mins secs
 1 P Bennett     GB  Vauxhall 59:54.469
 2 J Plato       GB  Vauxhall   @ 0.281
 3 D Eaves       GB  Peugeot    @ 7.016
 4 T Ferrier     GB  Alfa R    @ 16.832
 5 G Pyper       GB  Alfa R    @ 25.724
 6 G Howell      GB  Forda     @ 26.374
 7 J Kaye        GB  Honda     @ 30.478
 8 S Graves      GB  Honda     @ 30.864
 9 P O'Neill     GB  Peugeot   @ 33.230
10 S Harrison    GB  Peugeot   @ 38.735


FINAL DRIVER STANDINGS
1 J Plato      GB  Vauxhall   336 pts
2 Y Muller     Fr  Vauxhall   318
3 J Thompson   GB  Vauxhall   276
4 P Bennett    GB  Vauxhall   173
5 D Eaves      GB  Peugeot    115
6 S Soper      GB  Peugeot     93


BFGOODRICH TIRES PRODUCTION CH'SHIP
FINAL DRIVERS STANDINGS
1 S Harrison   GB  Peugeot    227 pts
2 J Kaye       GB  Honda      220
3 R Moen       Nor Peugeot    212
4 M Jackson    GB  Ford       151
5 G Howell     GB  Ford       139
6 G Pyper      GB  Alfa Rom   120

FINAL MANUFACTURER STANDINGS
1 Vauxhall              886 pts
2 Peugeot               271

FINAL TOURING TEAMS CHAMPIONSHIP
1 Vauxhall Motorsport   269 pts
2 Team Egg Sport        211
3 Peugeot Sport          95

FINAL BFGOODRICH PROD TEAMS CH'SHIP
1 GR Motorsport         205 pts
2 HTML                  173
3 Barwell Motorsport    164
4 Tech-Speed             62
5 GA Janspeed            59
6 TCR/Interactive Net    46

SANREMO RALLY:- Gilles Panizzi claimed his first win of the season by taking the Sanremo event for the second year in succession. The Peugeot driver held off a brave challenge from Sebastien Loeb to win by 11.4 seconds. Didier Auriol was third, Carlos Sainz fourth and home favourite Renato Travaglia in fifth. Championship leaders Colin McRae and Tommi Makinen failed to score any driver points. McRae was eighth while Makinen crashed out on the 15th stage.

Colin McRae admitted he was disappointed not to have taken some drivers' points to take n outright lead in the series. Joint championship leader Tommi Makinen crashed out on the 15th stage but McRae could only finish in eighth to claim three manufacturers' points. McRae said: "I've done the maximum I could have done with this car in finishing where I have. I didn't want to push too hard because there was fog on the stages."

Leading results:            hr min sec
 1 G Panizzi   Fr  Peugeot   4:05:49.5
 2 S Loeb      Fr  Citroen     @  11.4
 3 D Auriol    Fr  Peugeot     @  54.9
 4 C Sainz     Sp  Ford        @1:11.9
 5 R Travaglia It  Peugeot     @1:32.1
 6 F Delecour  Fr  Ford        @2:28.6
 7 M Gronholm  Fin Peugeot     @2:47.3
 8 C McRae     GB  Ford        @3:53.7
 9 P Solberg   Nor Subaru      @3:59.9
10 S Jean-J    Fr  Peugeot     @4:01.5
Burns retired on first stage
Puras retired on seventh stage
Bugalski retired on eighth stage
Makinen retired on 15th stage

DRIVER STANDINGS
1 T Makinen      Fin  Mitsubishi 40 pts
= C McRae        GB   Ford       40
3 C Sainz        Sp   Ford       33
4 R Burns        GB   Subaru     31
5 H Rovanpera    Fin  Peugeot    27
6 M Gronholm     Fin  Peugeot    16
= F Delecour     Fr   Ford       16

MANUFACTURER STANDINGS
1 Ford           83 pts
2 Mitsubishi     67
3 Peugeot        60
4 Subaru         48
5 Skoda          15
6 Hyundai        10

CART (Houston):- Gil de Ferran turned his pole position into victory in the race to take over from Kenny Brack at the top of the championship standings. He was 3.4 seconds ahead of Dario Franchitti, who took a fine second, with Memo Gidley third. "Gil drove a great race," said his car's owner, Roger Penske. "Now we have got to concentrate on next week." Michael Andretti saw his title challenge falter when he skidded into a barrier to end his race.
Sunday's result:            hr:mn:secs
 1 G de Ferran  Brz Honda    1:54:42.3
 2 D Franchitti GB  Honda    1:54:45.8
 3 M Gidley     Mex Toyota   1:55:01.2
 4 T Takagi     Jpn Toyota   1:55:03.2
 5 H Ca'neves   Brz Honda    1:55:04.0
 6 C da Matta   Brz Toyota   1:55:05.4
 7 K Brack      Swe Ford     1:55:11.1
 8 C Fittipaldi Brz Toyota   1:55:11.1
 9 M Papis      It  Ford     1:54:41.8
10 P Carpentier Can Ford     1:54:42.3

Driver standings
 1 G de Ferran    Brz Honda    163 pts
 2 K Brack        Swe Ford     153
 3 H Castroneves  Brz Honda    133
 4 M Andretti     US  Honda    125
 5 D Franchitti   GB  Honda    105
 6 C da Matta     Brz Toyota   100
 7 P Carpentier   Can Ford      86
 = S Dixon        NZ  Toyota    86
 9 T Kanaan       Brz Honda     78
10 P Tracy        Can Honda     76

Manufacturer standings:
1 Honda                   300 pts
2 Toyota                  250
3 Ford-Cosworth           246

MALCOLM WILSON RALLY:- Steve Head and Andrew Dugdale won the 26th Wilson Rally in their Team Penguin Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution. The duo finished 38 seconds ahead of Vince Wetton who retained his concentration despite his co-driver being struck by illness in the event. Ian Joel and Graeme Wood finished in third place. In the front-wheel drive section Simon Chapman and Peter Foy took their Corsa Kit car into 21st place overall from Shaun Gallagher and Cathal Wilson.


RENAULT CLIO CUP (Brands Hatch):- Daniel Buxton clinched the championship after a cool drive which clinched sixth spot in Sunday's race. Buxton's RSM team also won the teams' trophy while Paul Rivett led from start to finish to win the race ahead of Jason Templeman who had the best lap.

Result (Sun):               mins:secs
1 P Rivett        Stancombe 26:29.736
2 J Templeman     TCR       26:31.545
3 T Mullen        Firstair  26:32.819
4 J Coffin        TCR       26:37.083
5 M Byford        Z-Speed   26:37.541
6 D Buxton        Sugden    26:38.070

F.RENAULT (Brands Hatch):- Richard Antinucci hung on for victory in a race which was shortened due to the rainy conditions. Matt Griffin, who qualified second fastest, lost his chance of a maiden victory when he stalled his car at the start of the race.
Leading times:               mins secs
1 R Antinucci     Manor      12m13.240
2 T Sisley        Motaworld  12m14.936
3 H Kovalainen    Fortec     12m18.152
4 D Watts         Falcon     12m24.948
5 C Breeze        Motaworld  12m25.544
6 S King          Saxon      12m27.684


LIGHTNING STAGES RALLY
Result after six stages:     hr min sec
 1 T Jannetta/L C'ter Metro    1:05.19
 2 B Renwick/D Bell   Metro    1:05.29
 3 J Coates/W Thomas  Subaru   1:05.36
 4 J Mercer/A Davies  Metro    1:05.52
 5 S Simpson/M Booth  M'bishi  1:06.19
 6 T Wilson/L Walker  Ford Es  1:06.44
 7 M Yeadon/R Shores  Sierra C 1:06.54
 8 S Scott/M Bunyan   Escort C 1:07.16
 9 S Fenwick/L T'all  Sierra C 1:07.17
10 M Welch/B Bruce    Escort C 1:07.18

ALMS:- Johnny Herbert's chances of ending his return to endurance sportscar racing with a win were ruined with just three of the 10 hours remaining. Herbert, who shares the driving with Andy Wallace, was in contention when a freak incident disrupted their race. Wallace was driving when a rear wheel flew off and although he managed to limp back to the pits, the lost time was costly as the team finished third. Emanuele Pirro claimed victory to seal the Series title.


AUTOBYTEL LOTUS'S (Brands Hatch):- Mark Cole survived a tremendous battle in torrential conditions to claim his third win of the season and secure the runners-up spot in the championship. Hyla Breese finishes in third overall after his race was ended after contact with 2001 champion Mark Fullalove.

Leading results (Sun):     mins secs
1 M Cole                   41:49.833
2 M Fullalove              42:03.990
3 J Tee                    42:15.657
4 B Donegan                42:27.799
5 J Whelan                 42:41.565

ASCAR:- Mike Vergers and John Mickel provided a thrilling finish to the first season of oval racing at Rockingham. Vergers won the opening 60-lap ASCAR Mintex Cup race ahead of Mickel who triumphed in the second 52-lap event.




09.10.2001
F1:- British Formula Three champion Takuma Sato has reportedly landed a drive with Jordan for 2002. The decision will mean disappointment for current Jordan driver Jean Alesi and Formula 3000 champion Justin Wilson, who had hoped to clinch a de l. Stories in Japan have said that Sato, 24, will join Giancarlo Fisichella at the Silverstone-based team. Sato, who has also been a test driver for BAR this season, is set to announce his future plans on Wednesday.

The FIA has denied that its regulations prevent president Max Mosley from standing for another term. Motor racing's governing body said that Mosley took the decision to stand down in 2005 himself. "The statutes of the FIA place no limit on the number of times a president may be elected," a statement said. "The two longest-serving presidents (Baron de Zuylen de Nyevelt and Vicomte de Rohan) held office for 27 and 22 years respectively."

THE JAPANESE GP
Michael Schumacher can bid to equal his best feat of nine wins in a season on Sunday or he can help team-mate Rubens Barrichello finish second overall. Schumacher and Ferrari wrapped up the driver and constructor crowns in August and the German claimed a record 52nd victory at Spa a month later. And another eight points will take him past the all-time career record of 789.5 scored by Alain Prost. Barrichello must win in Japan to have any chance of being the 2001 runner-up.

David Coulthard will finish second in the driver championship unless closest rival Rubens Barrichello wins at Suzuka and the Scot is fifth or lower. "Suzuka is one of my favourite tracks as it is a classic and challenging Formula One circuit," admitted the McLaren star. "I am arriving in Japan with the aim of winning the race and securing second position in the drivers' championship. The team is introducing some new developments at the race."

Mika Hakkinen goes into the final race of the season chasing his 21st career win before he takes a year away from the sport. The former world champion won the last round in the United States. And he said: "The Japanese Grand Prix has been a special event for me because I claimed my two drivers' world championship titles there. As the last race before I take my sabbatical year, I will be going flat out for a hat-trick of 2001 victories."

Ralf Schumacher is looking forward to the final race of the campaign because it is held at his favourite circuit. He confirmed: "Suzuka is my favourite circuit on the race calendar and it is one of the most difficult. It is not easy to be quick here as you have to know the track very well. It is also very positive that the safety has improved for this year. The only downside is it is very difficult to overtake here and there is only one place where it is possible."

Williams driver Juan Pablo Montoya is set for his first appearance at Suzuka on Sunday. The Colombian stated: "I have raced twice in Japan in CART, although it was at Motegi and not Suzuka, and nearly won both races. I thoroughly enjoyed myself there as I think it is an interesting place. Suzuka is somewhere I am really looking forward to visiting as I have been told it is a proper racing circuit ` a great track with great corners."

Eddie Irvine does not think his knowledge of the Suzuka circuit will give him the edge over his rivals. The Jaguar driver conceded: "The fact that I raced here when I competed in Japan means I know it very well. But at the standard we are competing at I do not think that it gives me any great advantage over the other drivers. After finishing in the points in Indianapolis it would be nice to round off the season by doing it again in Japan. I am in an optimistic mood."

Pedro de la Rosa hopes to boost Jaguar's points tally for 2001 in Sunday's race. He commented: "I raced in Suzuka with Formula Three and Formula 3000 so am familiar with the track. "I hear lots of people say that Eau Rouge in Spa is the most difficult corner to drive but I think that some of the corners at Suzuka are harder. I will be fully concentrated on getting the best out of my car for the last race of the season."

Benetton's Jenson Button describes a lap of Suzuka: On the downhill straight that begins the lap, I will reach a maximum speed of around 305km/h in top gear before entering the first corner. It is, in fact, the first part of a double-apex right-hander. I will take the first part in fifth gear at around 260km, braking again to around 150km/h in third gear for the second apex. I then enter the very tricky section behind the pits. This demands an extremely responsive car and you will need to establish a good rhythm. And through the first three corners of this complex I hold fourth gear, taking the corners at around 210, 190 and 195km/h respectively. After this I enter a right-hander, which is slightly slower, and take it in third gear at approximately 140km/h. This then leads into the long, uphill left-hand corner. I accelerate through fourth and fifth gear, reaching top gear and 290km/h on the next short straight before braking for the first of two right-handers. The first is taken at 210km/h in fourth gear, followed by a second-gear, 125km/h bend. The circuit then passes under the bridge and down to the hairpin. I reach 270km/h in fifth before braking for this sharp, left-hand corner, which I take at around 60km/h in first gear. The next section begins with a long right-hander, taken flat, and I reach nearly 300km/h in top gear. I slow to 190km/h for the first part of the Spoon Curve. The second part of the Curve requires me to drop to third gear and 145km/h ` fighting understeer in order to exit cleanly on to the back straight. That part of the track leads to 130R and I will take this daunting curve in top gear at 285km/h. I will be left-foot braking to settle the car while attempting to keep the throttle wide open. I then reach the best overtaking opportunity on the circuit at the end of the next straight. I take this chicane in first gear at a speed of 65km/h. Then there is the run downhill to the start-finish line. And hopefully in the race that part will lead to some points for Benetton.

Sunday's race is scheduled to last fpr 53 laps (193.037 miles). For the fifth time since the first Japanese Grand Prix in 1976 the race will be the last one on the calendar. Suzuka had been the home of the Japanese Grand Prix since 1987. Last year's winner in Japan was newly- crowned champion Michael Schumacher. The current Suzuka lap record was set in 1997 by Heinz-Harald Frentzen in a Williams with a time of 1:38.942.


F3:- Britain's Mark Taylor has re-signed with 1999-2000 Formula Three champions Manor Motorsport for a second season. The 23-year-old took pole in one race and ended on the podium after two others in his debut season in the competition and will be a title hope. "Mark has made fantastic progress towards the end of the year," said Manor team owner John Booth. "We have signed the only driver left in Formula Three who can overtake! I think Mark has a good shot at the title."





10.10.2001
F1:- Jean Alesi has announced that he is to retire from driving in Formula One. The 37-year-old Frenchman has stated that Sunday's Japanese Grand Prix will be his last. "I retire. I will not race next year," he confirmed. "For the moment it is not completely clear what I am going to do. For sure I will not drive F1 any more." His current team Jordan want to find a role for him and team boss Eddie Jordan said: "I would like him to stay on as a teacher. He has a huge knowledge."

Jordan have confirmed that British Formula Three champion Takuma Sato has signed a two-year deal with the team, starting from the 2002 campaign. And Jordan are also working with current driver Jean Alesi, who has announced his retirement, about a possible role next season. Sato will line up on the grid with Giancarlo Fisichella next year. Team boss Eddie Jordan said: "Sato has proved himself to be outstandingly talented and deserves an opportunity."


FORMULA RALLY:- Ford will be bidding for their third British win of the year when a pair of Rapid Fit Puma Super 1600 cars contest the Barretts Rally of Kent on Saturday. The 1998 British Rally champion Martin Rowe has already triumphed in two events this season. He said: "From the very first moment we will be going flat out in Kent to recapture the championship lead. With so many short stages there will be no room for error and making up for lost time will be difficult."

David Higgins is optimistic about round five of seven on Saturday. The Volkswagen Racing UK driver is a three-time winner of the Kent event and was drafted into the team last month to deputise for the injured Neil Simpson. He stated: "I have done the rally five times and won it in 1997, 1998 and 1999 and was leading it by a mile last year before we had a mechanical problem. So I am as confident as I can be of the conditions. I will be disappointed if we do not finish high up the order."


WORLD CUP RALLY
London-Agadir: TASLA TEST (Day 10)
                              mins secs
1 Edwards/Barraza    Ford       23:44
2 Armstrong/Marlow   Ford       23:47
3 Keating/Condon     Volkswagen 24:08
4 McNeile/Hopkins    Peugeot    24:28
5 D Johnson/R J'nson Proton     24:39
6 Hall/Powell        Skoda      24:54
7 Winstanley/H'grves Honda      24:57
8 Dawe/Sperey        MG ZR      25:22

OVERALL STANDINGS            hr min sec
1 Keating/Condon     V'kswagen 4:14.32
2 Armstrong/Marlow   Peugeot   4:18.04
3 D Johnson/R J'nson Proton    4:18.33
4 Dawe/Sperey        MG ZR     4:23.01
5 McNeile/Hopkins    Peugeot   4:26.18
6 Greenway/Johnson   MG ZR     4:29.02

CART (Laguna Seca):- Michael Andretti knows he needs a points finish in the the Honda Grand Prix of Monterey on Sunday if he is to stay in the chase for the title. He has slid to fourth in the standings after failing to net any points in the last round in Houston and is 38 points behind leader Gil de Ferran. Andretti said: "I think the Penske cars will be really strong at Laguna. We cannot let them get away from us or the chance of the championship for Team Motorola is finished."

CART officials are to meet this weekend to decide whether the Gold Coast Indy should go ahead in Queensland on October 28. Concerns over terrorism have prompted the meeting. Officials must decide whether the two jumbo jets housing 28 cars and a large amount of equipment will make the journey to Australia. Over 270,000 fans attended the event last year, and this year's ticket sales are higher.


PREMIER1:- The FIA have granted provisional approval for the Premier1 Grand Prix series, which will combine racing with the world's leading football clubs. It paves the way for the intended debut of the championship in July 2002.






11.10.2001 - F1
Ferrari driver Rubens Barrichello has told team-mate and new World Champion Michael Schumacher he does not want his help in trying to finish runner-up. He has to win Sunday's final race in Suzuka and hope David Coulthard does not come in the top four places but he says he wants to earn it himself. "It is a bad thing to let somebody by," said the Brazilian. "As you work as a team, sometimes you have to do things you don't like but I hope he doesn't have to let me by."




12.10.2001
F1: THE JAPANESE GP
Jean Alesi began the build-up to his final race in style by clocking the best time in the first day's practice. Michael Schumacher was fastest in the first session but Alesi, who retires after the race, finished the second one just ahead of Juan Pablo Montoya. Alesi survived a spin near the end of his circuit to keep his car going. Eddie Irvine was sixth, one place ahead of David Coulthard, while Jenson Button was 12th after edging his Benetton into the pits when it developed a fault.

Nick Heidfeld walked away from a 150mph crash in Friday's practice session in which Jean Alesi was quickest. Heidfeld's Sauber was left wrecked on the track after he lost control and slammed into a tyre barrier before rebounding on to the track. Tomas Enge also emerged unscathed from a crash in the opening session. And David Coulthard's mechanics had to put out a fire on one of his tyres in the garage while he also had a tricky moment when skidding on to the gravel.

Mika Hakkinen has said that Sunday's finale to the season may be his last race in Formula One. "It is the last grand prix for me for a long time, maybe forever," the McLaren driver told a news conference after Friday's free practice. "I don't know myself yet to be honest. I'm still focusing on this weekend. I'll try to make the best possible result here for myself and for the team, so I don't want to put my mind to this kind of thing."

Friday's practice times:      min secs
 1 J Alesi       Fr  Jordan   1:35.454
 2 JP Montoya    Col Williams 1:35.977
 3 P de la Rosa  Sp  Jaguar   1:36.225
 4 M Hakkinen    Fin McLaren  1:36.430
 5 H-H Frentzen  Ger Prost    1:36.439
 6 E Irvine      GB  Jaguar   1:36.589
 7 D Coulthard   GB  McLaren  1:36.638
 8 M Schumacher  Ger Ferrari  1:36.727
 9 R Schumacher  Ger Williams 1:36.874
10 R Barrichello Brz Ferrari  1:36.944
11 J Trulli      It  Jordan   1:37.564
12 J Button      GB  Benetton 1:37.645
13 N Heidfeld    Ger Sauber   1:37.665
14 J Villeneuve  Can BAR      1:38.312
15 K Raikkonen   Fin Sauber   1:38.315
16 G Fisichella  It  Benetton 1:38.398
17 F Alonso      Sp  Minardi  1:38.961
18 O Panis       Fr  BAR      1:39.108
19 J Verstappen  Ned Arrows   1:39.511
20 E Bernoldi    It  Arrows   1:39.744
21 A Yoong       Mal Minardi  1:39.952
22 T Enge        Cz  Prost    1:41.216
Formula One is heading for a recession- caused crisis that could force several teams to go bust, say three top bosses. Eddie Jordan, Ron Dennis and Craig Pollock sounded the warning call to their fellow bosses and urged action. The situation is likely to be made worse by the after-effects of the war on terrorism if sponsors pull out. "It's not just because of September 11, I think it's been on the cards for some time. The world is in recession and we are not recession proof," said Jordan.

Brazil's Felipe Massa will drive for the Swiss-based Sauber team in Formula One next season. The 20-year-old, who recently clinched the European Formula 3000 title, will replace Finland's Kimi Raikkonen, who has joined McLaren. "By deciding on Felipe we have once again opted for a talented young driver," said team chief Peter Sauber. "He convinced us with his excellent performance during tests at Mugello where he demonstrated his potential."


FORMULA RALLY:- The National Rally Championship, Formula Rally, heads for Kent for the fifth and sixth rounds this weekend. Starting in Ashford, the rally winds through Bedgebury forest complex as well as Hempsted and Kings Wood, over 16 gruelling stages. The rally covers a total of 65 miles on gravel surfaces and any rain could transform the stage surfaces into mud. The rally gets underway on Saturday morning at 7.30am as it heads for the Isel of Grain for the first stages.

Ford will be bidding for their third British win of the year when a pair of Rapid Fit Puma Super 1600 cars contest the Barretts Rally of Kent on Saturday. The 1998 British Rally champion Martin Rowe has already triumphed in two events this season. He said: "From the very first moment we will be going flat out in Kent to recapture the championship lead. With so many short stages there will be no room for error and making up for lost time will be difficult."

David Higgins is optimistic about round five of seven on Saturday. The Volkswagen Racing UK driver is a three-time winner of the Kent event and was drafted into the team last month to deputise for the injured Neil Simpson. He stated: "I have done the rally five times and won it in 1997, 1998 and 1999 and was leading it by a mile last year before we had a mechanical problem. So I am as confident as I can be of the conditions. I will be disappointed if we do not finish high up the order."


RALLY WORLD CUP (London-Sahara-London):- With the event nearing the end of its North African stages, the Volkswagen Polo of Donie Keating and Nick Condon have maintained their overall lead. At the close of day 11 at Merzouga in Morocco, the Irish pair were two minutes, 42 seconds ahead of Peugeot's Barbara Armstrong and Alyson Marlow. The Proton of David and Robert Johnson is third overall. Further stages stages await the drivers in Spain and Portugal before the finish at Brooklands on October 19.





13.10.2001
F1: THE JAPANESE GP
World champion Michael Schumacher will be on pole for Sunday's race after dominating the qualifying session. Juan Pablo Montoya will join him on the front row and Ralf Schumacher pipped Rubens Barrichello to the third quickest time with a late surge. David Coulthard, who could finish the season as overall runner-up, was a disappointing seventh. Jenson Button was ninth, Eddie Irvine 13th and Jean Alesi, who will retire after the race, was 11th.

Michael Schumacher was never threatened as he secured pole position at Suzuka for the fourth year in a row. The Ferrari star will end the 2001 campaign with 11 top grid spots and has now had 43 poles in all. He could break Alain Prost's points record if he wins and said: "We expected to be fast here and we are. What is more important is for Rubens Barrichello to finish second in the championship. I can get more points next season."

David Coulthard remained calm despite qualifying seventh fastest, which hands the initiative to Rubens Barrichello in the race to finish second overall. "I'm not too concerned about coming second as long as I go out and do my best in the race," said Coulthard, who has finished in third four times. "We knew beforehand that factors might play into the competitions' hands but we didn't expect such a big gap." His McLaren team-mate Mika Hakkinen was fifth fastest in qualifying.

Jenson Button and Giancarlo Fisichella combined for Benetton's best qualifying day of the season, with Button coming in ninth place and Fisichella sixth. "This has definitely been a good day - our most successful qualifying effort this season," he said. "We have made steady progress throughout the year," he added. "I wasn't terribly quick in the first sector but I was very good in the last two sectors. Overall I think we are in good shape for the race."

Jaguar driver Eddie Irvine came in 13th fastest but was surprised at how fast he managed to finish. "Whilst we've nothing to celebrate qualifying in 13th, I'm surprised at the time, I've no idea why we clocked a better time than the warm-up," he said. "The car felt well balanced throught the session but as we've experienced all season we're not cornering well. It's a tall order to make something from the race.That's what we thought in Indianapolis and look what happened!".


Saturday's qualifying times: mins secs
 1 M Schumacher  Ger Ferrari  1:32.484
 2 JP Montoya    Col Williams 1:33.184
 3 R Schumacher  Ger Williams 1:33.297
 4 R Barrichello Brz Ferrari  1:33.323
 5 M Hakkinen    Fin McLaren  1:33.662
 6 G Fisichella  It  Benetton 1:33.830
 7 D Coulthard   GB  McLaren  1:33.916
 8 J Trulli      It  Jordan   1:34.002
 9 J Button      GB  Benetton 1:34.375
10 N Heidfeld    Ger Sauber   1:34.386
11 J Alesi       Fr  Jordan   1:34.420
12 K Raikkonen   Fin Sauber   1:34.581
13 E Irvine      GB  Jaguar   1:34.851
14 J Villeneuve  Can BAR      1:35.109
15 H-H Frentzen  Ger Prost    1:35.132
16 P de la Rosa  Sp  Jaguar   1:35.639
17 O Panis       Fr  BAR      1:35.766
18 F Alonso      Sp  Minardi  1:36.410
19 T Enge        Cz  Prost    1:36.446
20 E Bernoldi    Brz Arrows   1:36.885
21 J Verstappen  Ned Arrows   1:36.973
22 A Yoong       Mal Minardi  1:38.246

FORMULA RALLY:- Francois Duval won through a tight three-way battle with championship leader Justin Dale and works team-mate Martin Rowe to take the Rally of Kent. Despite Dale winning nine of the day's sixteen stages, Duval was quicker over the forestry gravel to claim a welcome 20 constructor points for Ford. Dale, who missed a third consecutive win, still extends his championship lead over Rowe to eight points. Martin Sansom comfortably won the Privateers race by over six minutes.
After 16 stages of 16:     hr min secs
1 F Duval/J-M Fotin Ford     1:19:27
2 J Dale/A Bargery  Peugueot 1:19:31
3 M Rowe/C Wood     Ford     1:19:38
4 M Sansom/P Wells  Peugeot  1:21:29
5 S Mauger/A Street Proton   1:28:03

Peugeot Super 106 result:  hr min secs
1 G Jennings/J O'Brien       1:13:28
2 R Champion/C Simmons       1:13:40
3 D Dunbabin/C Dunbabin      1:14:55
4 R Sykes/M Andrews          1:17:14

DRIVER STANDINGS
1 J Dale         38 pts
2 M Rowe         30
3 F Duval        14
4 P Magaud       11
6 M Sansom        9
5 M Andersson     8
7 S Mauger        6
8 D Henderson     4

MANUFACTURER STANDINGS
1 Ford           87 pts
2 Peugeot        85
3 Proton         35
4 Volkswagen     18


TOUR OF MULL
After 5 stages of 18:         mins:secs
 1 C Duffy/D Duffy   Ford       57:40
 2 Hall/Williams     Ford       58:49
 3 J Cope/T Cope     Ford       59:49
 4 E & E O'Donnell   Ford       61:46
 5 MacG'lvry/Kennedy Vauxhall   62:35
 6 MacKinnin/Stayte  Subaru     62:38
 7 Davies/Fraser     Mitsubishi 63:15
 8 Clark/Young       Peugeot    63:38
 9 J & P Swinscoe    Ford       63:40
10 Cressy/Grindrod   Vauxhall   63:45

CART (Laguna Seca):- Michael Andretti is optimistic ahead of Sunday's Honda Grand Prix of Monterey after Team Motorola made improvements to his car. Andretti, who needs a points finish to keep alive his title hopes, was eighth in the second practice session in a time of one minute, 09.920 seconds. He stated: "We made gains with the car and I definitely feel like there was a lot of improvement." Helio Castroneves was quickest and Briton Dario Franchitti was 18th.
Friday's practice times:
 1 H Castroneves Brz Honda    1:08.838
 2 G de Ferran   Brz Honda    1:09.345
 3 M Gugelmin    Brz Toyota   1:09.514
 4 R Moreno      Brz Ford     1:09.602
 5 S Dixon       NZ  Toyota   1:09.785
 6 J Vasser      US  Toyota   1:09.799
 7 P Tracy       Can Honda    1:09.805
 8 M Andretti    US  Honda    1:09.920
 9 B Junqueira   Brz Toyota   1:10.129
10 C da Matta    Brz Toyota   1:10.140                                          
18 D Franchitti  GB  Honda    1:10.565
Honda have said that due to CART engine rule changes they will leave the Champ Car series at the end of next season. "The adoption of a new, normally aspirated 3.5-liter engine formula for 2003 forces Honda to discontinue its participation," the company said. "Honda can no longer put its trust in the CART rule book or those who administer it." Honda joined CART in 1994 and has 60 race wins, as well as five consecutive driver championships.

CART officials are to meet this weekend to decide whether the Gold Coast Indy should go ahead in Queensland on October 28. Concerns over terrorism have prompted the meeting. Officials must decide whether the two jumbo jets housing 28 cars and a large amount of equipment will make the journey to Australia. Over 270,000 fans attended the event last year, and this year's ticket sales are higher.


INDY LIGHTS:- England's Dan Wheldon is hoping for a hat-trick of wins in the 2001 Daytona Indy Lights championship at the Laguna Seca Raceway in California. He won lastyear's CART Toyota Atlantic race at the same meeting and is second in the overall standings after wins in Gateway and at Road Atlanta. Wheldon is also the only Indy Lights driver to have been nominated for the Greg Moore Legacy Award. "I'd love to win an award in his name and emulate him," said Wheldon.






14.10.2001
F1: THE JAPANESE GP
Michael Schumacher broke Alain Prost's all-time points record by winning in typically-dominant fashion. His triumph also means he has equalled the record of nine wins in a season that he holds with Nigel Mansell. Juan Pablo Montoya was second and David Coulthard finished third after Mika Hakkinen, who is set for a 12-month sabbatical, let him go past. Jenson Button was just out of the points in seventh place and Eddie Irvine failed to finish.

World champion Michael Schumacher said that his Suzuka victory was "the perfect end to the season". The Ferrari star confirmed: "It is a great way to end the season before we go into the long winter break. We had two races that were difficult - Monza and Indianapolis - but now we are back to normal. It has been a tight championship. We had to fight for wins and we finished the season early because David Coulthard had reliability problems."

After finishing second in Suzuka, Williams driver Juan Pablo Montoya revealed that he was pleased with his debut Formula One campaign. "It has been a good season," stated the Colombian. "I have been unlucky on occasions and missed a lot of points with the car breaking down." The former CART star has ended the season in sixth place overall. And his 31 points have helped Williams clinch third place in the constructor standings behind Ferrari and McLaren.

Juan Pablo Montoya was delighted after finishing runner-up to world champion Michael Schumacher in the final race of the season. "I am happy with the result as we had to be realistic about what we could do against the new Ferrari that Michael had," said the Williams driver. "He got away on new tyres and I think that is where he won the race. I want to thank the team for everything and now it is up to us to work hard for next year."

Pole-sitter Michael Schumacher had a good start, cutting across Juan Pablo Montoya to prevent him from trying to pass him before the first corner. Rubens Barrichello overtook Ralf Schumacher to move into third place early on. But Jean Alesi's final race before his retirement ended on the sixth lap. Kimi Raikkonen spun across the track and Alesi's Jordan collided with the Finn but both drivers were able to walk unaided from their cars.

David Coulthard finished the drivers' championship in second place and the Scot has admitted that he could not have achieved more. He insisted: "I did everything I could this year ` second place was the best I could do ` but there was a big points gap to Michael Schumacher." Coulthard was third in Japan after his McLaren team-mate Mika Hakkinen let him through in the closing stages. But Coulthard added: "I did not know Mika was going to help me."

David Coulthard was content to finish amongst the points as he secured runner-up spot in the drivers' standings to Michael Schumacher. "I had a fairly uneventful race to be honest, but it's great to finish the season on the podium," said Coulthard. Coulthard also praised team-mate Mika Hakkinen before the Finn takes a break from Formula One for a year. "There is no doubt that I have enjoyed working with him for the past six years and I have liked our battles."

Mika Hakkinen revealed he was paying back favours by letting team-mate David Coulthard through to claim third place. "I must admit that by letting him past I wanted to give him something back for occasions in the past where he has helped me," he said. Hakkinen was fourth in his last race before his sabbatical to finish fifth in the World Championship. He said: "Right now I'm looking forward to my sabbatical but I'm sure I will also miss Formula One."

Ralf Schumacher was left to rue a penalty for a pit lane infringement that cost him dear. "Unfortunately the stop and go penalty has cost me third place, but I have to accept this penalty as a rule. It seemed the speed limiter on Rubens Barrichello's Ferrari got stuck so this is why I had to swerve at the end of the pit lane to avoid hitting him. All in all I am looking back on a season which was better then I expected," he said.

Jean Alesi was philosophical after his 201st and final grand prix ended on the sixth lap. The 37-year-old spun out after a collision with Kimi Raikkonen but he said: "That is life. That is motor racing. You have to accept these situations but it is a bit sad to finish my career like that." Alesi, who announced his retirement after Jordan revealed they had signed Takuma Sato for 2002, has had a 12-year career marked by one victory.

Jacques Villeneuve is already looking forward to next season ` when he feels the team will have a better car. After finishing 10th, he commented: "That was a fun race. We managed to fight hard and actually were more competitive than the guys who qualified in front of us - the Jordans and the Saubers. It is great that we finished up fifth in the championship and everyone is ready to race next year when I am sure we will have a better car."

Eddie Irvine was gutted that his race ended after 24 laps. The Jaguar star said: "I am thoroughly disappointed. All the hard work was done. I had climbed up to seventh. Had the fuel rig worked we would have come out ahead of both Benettons - which was our target for the race. Getting seventh place in the Constructors' Championship was our aim. And for a moment it looked like we were there."

Jenson Button has revealed that his Benetton team achieved their aim in the final race of the season. "Our target for this race was to make sure that we kept seventh place in the championship for constructors, which we managed to do," he stated. Button was seventh in the race and added: "This circuit is really tough but it is fun to drive. It would have been good to have scored some points but I promise to do that when we come back here next year."

Result after 53 laps:        hr min sec
 1 M Schumacher  Ger Ferrari  1:27.33.2
 2 JP Montoya    Col Williams 1:27.36.4
 3 D Coulthard   GB  McLaren  1:27.56.5
 4 M Hakkinen    Fin McLaren  1:28.08.8
 5 R Barrichello Brz Ferrari  1:28.09.8
 6 R Schumacher  Ger Williams 1:28.10.4
 7 J Button      GB  Benetton 1:29.10.4
 8 J Trulli      It  Jordan     one lap
 9 N Heidfeld    Ger Sauber     one lap
10 J Villeneuve  Can BAR        one lap
11 F Alonso      Sp  Minardi    one lap
12 H-H Frentzen  Ger Prost      one lap
13 O Panis       Fr  BAR       two laps
14 E Bernoldi    Brz Arrows    two laps
15 J Verstappen  Ned Arrows    two laps
16 A Yoong       Mal Minardi three laps
17 G Fisichella  It  Benetton   DNF
NOT CLASSIFIED:               Laps completed
    P de la Rosa  Sp  Jaguar        45
    T Enge        Cz  Prost         42
    E Irvine      GB  Jaguar        24
    K Raikkonen   Fin Sauber         5
    J Alesi       Fr  Jordan         5

DRIVER STANDINGS
 1 M Schumacher  Ger  Ferrari  123 pts
 2 D Coulthard   GB   McLaren   65
 3 R Barrichello Brz  Ferrari   56
 4 R Schumacher  Ger  Williams  49
 5 M Hakkinen    Fin  McLaren   37
 6 J-P Montoya   Col  Williams  31
 7 N Heidfeld    Ger  Sauber    13
 8 J Villeneuve  Can  BAR       12
 9 K Raikkonen   Fin  Sauber     9
10 J Trulli      It   Jordan     9
11 G Fisichella  It   Benetton   8
12 E Irvine      GB   Jaguar     7
13 J Alesi       Fr   Prost/Jord 6
14 HH Frentzen   Ger  Jord/Prost 6
15 O Panis       Fr   BAR        5
16 P de la Rosa  Sp   Jaguar     3
17 J Button      GB   Benetton   2
18 J Verstappen  Ned  Arrows     1

CONSTRUCTOR STANDINGS
 1 Ferrari      179 pts
 2 McLaren      102
 3 Williams      80
 4 Sauber        22
 5 Jordan        17
 = BAR           17
 7 Benetton      10
 8 Jaguar        10
 9 Prost          4
10 Arrows         1

CART (Laguna Seca):- Reigning champion Gil de Ferran captured pole for Sunday's race. De Ferran stretched his lead to 11 points over Kenny Brack in the points chase, completing a lap around the 2.238-mile circuit in 68.566 seconds. Brazil's Helio Castroneves, the Grand Prix of Monterey defending champion, was second after completing a fast lap at 117.313 mph. Scotland's Dario Franchitti could only manage 22nd place on the grid out of the 26 drivers.
Saturday's qualifying times:
 1 G de Ferran   Brz Honda    1:08.596
 2 H Castroneves Brz Honda    1:08.678
 3 S Dixon       NZ  Toyota   1:08.972
 4 R Moreno      Brz Ford     1:09.057
 5 P Tracy       Can Honda    1:09.477
 6 T Kanaan      Brz Honda    1:09.515
 7 C da Matta    Brz Toyota   1:09.555
 8 A Tagliani    US  Toyota   1:09.560
 9 P Carpentier  Can Ford     1:09.586
10 T Takagi      Jpn Toyota   1:09.814
22 D Franchitti  GB  Honda    1:10.805

INDY LIGHTS (Laguna Seca):- Dan Wheldon will line-up in fifth place for the penultimate round of the 2001 championship in California. Wheldon's best time in his Lola-Buick was one minute, 17.297 seconds, only 0.717secs behind poleman Townsend Bell's time of 1:16.580 The Englishman is currently joint second in the 2001 CART Daytona Indy Lights Championship with 123 points. Wheldon, who won in Atlanta last week, is also jointly leading the race for the title of Rookie of the Year.





15.10.2001
F1:- Michael Schumacher has said he is confident he can secure his third world title in a row next season. Schumacher clinched a record points total by winning the final race of this season at Suzuka on Sunday and has won four driver crowns in all. "I expect a big battle from both Williams and McLaren next year whoever is sitting in their cars," he said. "But we want this to be a golden period for Ferrari so we know the aim for next season is to win another championship."

David Coulthard insists he can beat Michael Schumacher next year. "I can win grands prix, can race and have improved in qualifying," the McLaren driver said. "If you bring all those factors together then it's a question of 'do you believe you can get the job done'. I do and the team do. I feel confident that I can go racing with Michael." McLaren boss Ron Dennis added: "He's more than capable of beating Michael."

Mika Hakkinen has admitted he faces an uncertain future after deciding to take a break from the sport next year. Hakkinen has not decided if he will return to Formula One and said: "Maybe I'll stay at home for a few months and feel like I want to race like crazy. It can happen but it may go vice-versa though the door is open for 2003 so I'm happy, confident and comfortable with the situation." McLaren team boss Ron Dennis said Hakkinen would be missed.

Jenson Button says he has not dwelled on his poor performances this season and hopes for an improvement in 2002. "I can't remember the races this year actually. I try to block them out of my memory," said the 21-year-old Benetton driver. I watched one race this year...I think it was Spa. And I didn't watch much of that, either. If you've had a bad weekend you don't want to go over it. But it's just got better all season which is a good thing.


WORLD CUP RALLY (London-Agadir):-
Leading standings after Day 15 (Sun):
                              hr min sec
 1 Keating/Condon     V'kswagen 5:10.41
 2 Armstrong/Marlow   Peugeot   5:13.33
 3 D Johnson/R J'nson Proton    5:14.59
 4 Dawe/Sperey        MG ZR     5:23.21
 5 McNeile/Hopkins    Peugeot   5:23.55
 6 Carter/Dearing     Vauxhall  5:37.38
 7 Hall/Powell        Skoda     5:45.11
 8 Greenway/Johnson   MG ZR     5:47.56
 9 Actman/Coulthard   MG Midget 5:48.35
10 Butler/Gordon      Renault   5:49.12

TOUR DE CORSE:- Subaru have announced that four-time world rally champion Tommi Makinen will join the team in 2002 after signing a two-year contract. Richard Burns and Petter Solberg are currently driving for Subaru but Briton Burns has been linked with Peugeot. The team have said that they will confirm who will line-up with Makkinen in next year's World Rally Championship in the next few weeks. Makinen, currently at Mistubishi, said: "I felt it was time for a change."

Competitors will face their second asphalt event in a month when the World Championship moves to the French Island of Corsica for round 12 of 14. The event, which runs from Friday to Sunday, has the nickname the rally of 10,000 corners. But this year organisers have made it the shortest rally in the 28-year history of the championship - 891.59km. The route never extends more than 30km from the Ajaccio base and the stages around Corte have been dropped.

Joint championship leader Tommi Makinen will be aiming to regain the initiative in the title race. The Mitsubishi star, who will be joining Subaru on a two-year contract next year, will be keen to go clear once again at the top of the standings. But he admitted: "This has not been a lucky rally for us but we must try to score points. We had a few problems with the new car in Sanremo but I am sure that the team can make it faster."

Britain's Colin McRae knows a victory in Corsica will take him clear of rival Tommi Makinen in the battle for the drivers' crown. The duo jointly lead the world championship with 40 points but Scot McRae is realistic about his chances. The Ford star stated: "As in Italy it will be difficult against the asphalt specialists and it is hard not to see them dominating again. But the asphalt in Corsica is more abrasive than Italy so should suit us."

Colin McRae believes that there are three other drivers apart from himself who could win the 2001 title. He confirmed: "I think there are still four drivers with a chance of the title. Carlos Sainz has not made any mistakes all season. Richard Burns is not out of it and could be the toughest of all because the final round is in Britain. Tommi Makinen, like us, will be happy that the final two rounds are on gravel. His car should perform better."

Title-chasing Carlos Sainz has a consistent record in Corsica. The Spaniard, who is currently third overall, has achieved one win and three runner-up spots and has secured 12 finishes from 13 starts. "It is a rally I always enjoy," he enthused. "The weather can be tricky and possibly even more so this season as it is later in the year than normal. It is quite a difficult rally because the roads are so twisty. I think the title will be decided in Britain."

Richard Burns is optimistic of his chances in round 12 as he bids to improve his title chances. The Subaru driver said: "This event should be better than the last one. I have got a good level of confidence. And having seen that neither Colin McRae or Tommi Makinen was too competitive in the last round I think I have got a chance here. For me the stages in Corsica are more enjoyable than the Italian ones. They are wider, with more grip."


CART (Laguna Seca):- CART driver Paul Tracy has been fined $50,000 and docked three championship points for his conduct during Sunday's Grand Prix of Monterey. He was accused of four separate offences ` unjustifiable risk, an unsafe act, unsportsmanlike conduct and criticism of officials. The points deduction means he drops from 11th to 12th in the standings. Chief steward Chris Kneifel said Tracy's conduct on Sunday was a "matter of great concern".

Italy's Max Papis took advantage of a record number of caution periods to capture his second victory of the year. The race saw eight cautions in all, twice the previous record set at Laguna Seca, and Papis won by a narrow 0.794-of-a-second from American Memo Gidley. Gil de Ferran settled for third place but took a major step toward claiming his second consecutive points crown. Scotland's Dario Franchitti went out after 59 of the race's 76 laps after contact with Christiano Da Matta's car.

Sunday's result:          hrs min secs
 1 M Papis       It  Ford   2:00.10.589
 2 M Gidley      US  Toyota 2:00.11.383
 3 G de Ferran   Brz Honda  2:00.12.027
 4 S Dixon       NZ  Toyota 2:00.12.390
 5 J Vasser      US  Toyota 2:00.13.058
 6 H Castroneves Brz Honda  2:00.15.022
 7 B Junqueira   Brz Toyota 2:00.16.216
 8 T Kanaan      Brz Honda  2:00.16.681
 9 C Fittipaldi  Brz Toyota 2:00.17.182
10 A Fernandez   Mex Honda  2:00.17.723
19 D Franchitti  GB  Honda    59 laps

Driver standings
 1 G de Ferran    Brz Honda    179 pts
 2 K Brack        Swe Ford     153
 3 H Castroneves  Brz Honda    141
 4 M Andretti     US  Honda    125
 5 D Franchitti   GB  Honda    105
 6 C da Matta     Brz Toyota   100
 7 M Papis        It  Ford      86
 8 P Carpentier   Can Ford      86
 9 S Dixon        NZ  Toyota    86
10 T Kanaan       Brz Honda     83

Manufacturer standings:
1 Honda                   316 pts
2 Ford-Cosworth           266
3 Toyota                  266


INDY LIGHTS (Laguna Seca):- Dan Wheldon picked up ten more points after finishing fifth in round 11 of the 12-round championship. Wheldon began the race in fifth place and although he briefly challenged fourth-placed Irishman Damien Faulkner he could not overtake him. Although Townsend Bell has already won the title, Wheldon could be runner-up in the series. The year's final race takes place on the fast Super Speedway at Fontana near Los Angeles on November 4.




19.10.2001
TOUR OF CORSICA:- A serious accident involving Tommi Makinen's car has led to the final stage of the day being scrapped. The four-time champion's Mitsubishi left the road and overturned several times. He was unhurt but his co-driver was cut free and taken to hospital. Spain's Jesus Puras leads the event at the close of the first leg. Colin McRae and Richard Burns both fell out of contention after accidents on the second stage. The fifth and final stage was scrapped after the accident.
Leading positions after leg one:
                           hr mins sec
 1 J Puras     Sp  Citroen  1:03.56.9
 2 G Panizzi   Fr  Peugeot   @   10.5
 3 D Auriol    Fr  Peugeot   @   11.3
 4 M Gronholm  Fin Peugeot   @   38.0
 5 P Solberg   Nor Subaru    @   50.5
 6 F Delecour  Fr  Ford      @ 1.02.1
 7 M Martin    Est Subaru    @ 1.08.9
 8 T Makinen   Fin Mit'bishi @ 1.20.1
 9 A Mortl     Aus Subaru    @ 1.37.6
10 H Rovanpera Fin Peugeot   @ 1.50.1
   C McRae     GB  Ford      @ 2.11.4
   R Burns     GB  Subaru    @ 2.14.4

BULLDOG RALLY:- The final round of this year's ANCRO National Championship takes place on Saturday and also represents the last round f the UK Evolution Challenge. David Mann heads the standings and will be looking to wrap up the ANCRO title, with Marcus Dodd keen for a good result to pip him to the crown. Leon Pesticcio will be looking to make it four wins out of four in the Evolution Challenge. The rally starts on Saturday morning and uses many classic Wales stages.


PROSPORT TOUR OF EPYNT:- The curtain comes down on the 2001 Safety Devices National Rally Championship this weekend with the running of the Prosport Tour of Epynt. The event should have taken place on April 1 but was postponed due to the foot-and-mouth crisis. The battle for the overall title is now a straight fight between Jon Mercer and Tim Wilson with both drivers needing a good result to keep them in contention. The rally, over 10 special stages, starts in Llandovery on Sunday at 9am.


RALLY WORLD CUP (London-Agadir-London):-
TS22-ARGANIL Test (Day 18, Wed)
OVERALL STANDINGS            hr min sec
 1 Keating/Condon     V'kswagen 6:04.51
 2 Armstrong/Marlow   Peugeot   6:07.53
 3 D Johnson/R J'nson Proton    6:09.42
 4 Dawe/Sperey        MG ZR     6:15.25
 5 Carter/Dearing     Vauxhall  6:34.24
 6 Greenway/Johnson   MGZR      6:43.35
 7 Butler/Gordon      Renault   6:47.30
 8 Actman/Coulthard   MG Midget 6:47.45
 9 Porter/Sinclair    M'tsbishi 6:52.57
10 Hodge/Soames-W     Vauxhall  6:59.46





20.10.2001
F1:- Jaguar's Eddie Irvine has launched a scathing attack on fellow Briton Jenson Button and condemned his Benetton team for not sacking him. Irvine believes Benetton were wrong to replace Giancarlo Fisichella with Jordan's Jarno Trulli. "If I had been the team boss I would have ditched Jenson Button so that Fisichella and Trulli could have driven together." Irvine told The Sun. "I'd have to say: 'Jenson you are the weakest link. Goodbye.'"


BULLDOG RALLY:- Reigning ANCRO champions Marcus Dodd and Jon Bennie successfully retained their title in slippery conditions through the forests of mid-Wales. Dodd gained an immediate lead on the opening special stage before building a lead of more than a minute on the pack with a series of fastest times. Stephen Findlay and Rory Kennedy managed to overhaul Austin McHale and Brian Murphy in the final stages. Peter Littler and Andy Marchbank battled to fourth after an early spin.

Final results after 8 stages:mins sec
 1 Dodd/Bennie     Subaru    1:11.17
 2 Findlay/Kennedy Subaru    1:11.54
 3 McHale/Murphy   Toyota    1:12.22
 4 Littler/M'Bank  Hyundai   1:13.57
 5 Ginley/Bargery  M'bishi   1:14.49
 6 Humphreys/Pryce M'bishi   1:15.10
 7 Pesticcio/Davis M'bishi   1:15.10
 8 Boland/Nestor   Subaru    1:15.25
 9 Perrott/Mansell Ford      1:16.27
10 Midwinter/S'drs Ford      1:16.52

TOUR OF CORSICA:- Colin McRae's hard work in the first half of the day was undone when he suffered mechanical problems. The Scot started the day in 11th position and had risen to seventh place to boost his world title hopes after Tommi Makinen crashed out on Friday. But he spun and stalled on stage 10, lost his power steering on the next stage and, after limping through stage 12, ended eight minutes off the pace. Richard Burns was lying in seventh spot with Jesus Puras still leading.

Colin McRae cursed a bad run of mechanical problems after losing more ground on the leaders and failing to boost his world title hopes. His troubles started on the penultimate stage when he hit a rock which damaged the power steering. McRae said: "It forced the sump guard up against the power steering pump and broke the pump. There was nothing we could do but struggle on through the final stage but on such twisty roads it was hard work."

Title favourite Tommi Makinen faces a search for a new co-driver for the final two events as Risto Mannisenmaki looks likely to be sidelined. Mannisenmaki is still being examined in a Marseille hospital after a spectacular crash on Friday. Makinen's Mitsubishi somersaulted several times after clipping a low stone wall. Mannisenmaki complained of back pain as he was freed from the car. Doctors suspect he may have suffered a broken or crushed vertebra.

Leading positions after second leg:
                          hr mins sec
 1 J Puras     Sp  Citroen  2:47.24.7
 2 G Panizzi   Fr  Peugeot   @   23.5
 3 D Auriol    Fr  Peugeot   @   49.9
 4 P Solberg   Nor Subaru    @ 2.38.4
 5 F Delecour  Fr  Ford      @ 3.22.6
 6 M Martin    Est Subaru    @ 3.40.4
 7 R Burns     GB  Subaru    @ 4.19.2
 8 H Rovanpera Fin Peugeot   @ 5.24.6
 9 P Liatti    I   Hyundai   @ 5.34.6
10 C McRae     GB  Ford      @ 6.00.3
11 A McRae     GB  Hyundai   @ 6.00.3

FIA GT'S (Estoril):- Jamie Campbell-Walter overcame the wet conditions to set the best time n the first qualifying session for round 11 of the championship series. He took the lead early in the session and stayed there throughout, improving gradually to 1 minute 51.139 seconds. Mike Hezemans in his Chrysler Viper was second, half a second behind the impressive Lister Storm. The second Lister Storm improved to take third late in the session, pushing the Ferrari down into fourth.
Qualifying (Sat):            mins sec
 1 Campbell-W/V-Roe Storm    1:51.139
 2 Hazemans/B'molen Viper    1:51.660
 3 Springer/Bailey  Lister   1:52.055
 4 Rydell/Menu      Ferrari  1:52.897
 5 B'molen/B'molen  Viper    1:53.419
 6 Bouchut/Belloc   Viper    1:53.569
 7 C'llari/N'peti   Viper    1:54.661
 8 Kumpen/Belmondo  Viper    1:54.186
 9 Lafon/Jarier     Viper    1:54.380
10 Duez/Bordais     Viper    1:54.393





21.10.2001
PROSPORT TOUR OF EPYNT:- Third place in the final round was enough to secure Jon Mercer the Safety Devices National Rally Championship. Mercer and co-driver Aled Davies were nearly a minute ahead of the main title rival Tim Wilson while Melvyn Evans won comfortably ahead of Bob Fowden.
Leading results (Sun):    hr mins sec
1 M Evans/A Davies  Ford    1:35.05
2 B Fowden/J Hynes  M'bishi 1:36.34
3 J Mercer/A Davies MG      1:37.31
4 J Indri/D Engell  MG      1:37.49
5 T Wilson/D Evans  Ford    1:38.23
6 D T'bull/R Sh'th  Escort  1:39.51

WORLD CUP RALLY (London-Agadir-London):- Volkswagen Racing duo Donie Keating and Nick Condon claimed victory in the gruelling 6,000-mile event. The Cork-based duo won by three minutes having taken the lead after just three days of the rally. "We got a cushion heading into Africa and we had to fight hard to maintain it," Keating said. "We didn't really want to be leading early on, but we found ourselves in front and had to get our finger out," he added.
FINAL STANDINGS                hr min sec
 1 Keating/Condon     V'kswagen 6:04.51
 2 Armstrong/Marlow   Peugeot   6:07.53
 3 D Johnson/R J'nson Proton    6:09.42
 4 Dawe/Sperey        MG ZR     6:15.25
 5 Carter/Dearing     Vauxhall  6:34.24
 6 Greenway/Johnson   MG ZR     6:43.35
 7 Butler/Gordon      Renault   6:47.30
 8 Actman/Coulthard   MG Midget 6:47.45
 9 Porter/Sinclair    M'tsbishi 6:52.57
10 Hodge/Soames-W     Vauxhall  6:59.46

TOUR OF CORSICA:- Spain's Jesus Puras held off the challenge of Gilles Panizzi to claim his first world rallying win. Citroen driver Puras won by 17.5 seconds from Peugeot's Panizzi, whose team-mate Didier Auriol was third. Britain's Richard Burns ended fifth but moved up a place after Subaru teammate Petter Solberg took a time penalty to boost Burns' title hopes. Joint title leader Colin McRae finished 11th after problems on the first two days. His brother Alister came ninth.

Richard Burns appreciated the gesture of his teammate Petter Solberg, after Solberg picked up a last-stage time penalty to allow Burns to overtake him. "Petter and his co-driver have been very professional and I appreciate what they've done," Burns said "Reducing my points deficit really helps my title aspirations. The result is a lot better than I expected." Solberg said: "It didn't matter where I finished, it's not my time yet to prove anything and my time will come."

Colin McRae was disappointed with his rally after finishing in 11th place but was pleased that he retained his place at the top of the standings. "This was a weekend to forget but we're still joint leaders in the championship and in our best ever position going into the final two rounds," he said. "We persevered and got to the end and that's about all I can say. If we can win the next round in Australia it will take a lot of the pressure off us."

Niall McShea scored his second points finish in a row by claiming fourth in the penultimate round of the FIA Super 1600 Championship. He moved up to third during the final morning but slipped back late on. However, he and co-driver Michael Orr are now sixth overall. "This has been a tough rally, particularly because the weather was changing all the time," McShea said. "But I have definitely made progress with the car."

Final result:             hr mins sec
 1 J Puras     Sp  Citroen  3:58.35.5
 2 G Panizzi   Fr  Peugeot   @   17.5
 3 D Auriol    Fr  Peugeot   @ 1.11.9
 4 R Burns     GB  Subaru    @ 4.53.1
 5 P Solberg   Nor Subaru *  @ 4.53.9
 6 M Martin    Est Subaru    @ 5.21.6
 7 H Rovanpera Fin Peugeot   @ 7.29.6
 8 P Liatti    It  Hyundai   @ 8.09.2
 9 A McRae     GB  Hyundai   @ 8.52.7
10 F Delecour  Fr  Ford      @ 9.56.1
11 C McRae     GB  Ford     @ 10.21.3
16 N McShea    GB  Citroen  @ 23.12.4
* Solberg took two-minute time penalty on final stage.

DRIVER STANDINGS
1 T Makinen      Fin  Mitsubishi 40pts
= C McRae        GB   Ford       40
3 R Burns        GB   Subaru     34
4 C Sainz        Sp   Ford       33
5 H Rovanpera    Fin  Peugeot    27
6 G Panizzi      Fr   Peugeot    22

MANUFACTURER STANDINGS
1 Ford           83pts
2 Peugeot        76
3 Mitsubishi     67
4 Subaru         55
5 Skoda          15
6 Hyundai        13


EUROPEAN TOURING CARS (Estoril):-
Super Touring result (Sun):   mins secs
 1 Y Muller      Fr  Alfa R   21:09.671
 2 G Tarquini    It  Honda    21:10.184
 3 F Giovanardi  It  Alfa R   21:14.265
 4 N Larini      It  Alfa R   21:14.787
 5 F Massa       Brz Alfa R   21:16.018
 6 R Colciago    It  Audi     21:25.277
 7 J Nilsson     Swe Volvo    21:34.299
 8 G De Lorenzi  It  BMW      21:35.733
 9 J Edman       Swe Volvo    21:39.451
10 E Cayrolle    Fr  BMW      21:44.666





22.10.2001
F1:- Former Toyota test driver Allan NcNish has been confirmed as the team's number two driver alongside Mika Salo for their Formula One debut next season. "I've been involved with the team from the very beginning of the project. In the process, my ability was recognised. I'm very happy," said McNish. "Allan is fast and is gifted with exceptional development potential," said managing director Tsumtomu Tomita. "We concluded combining Mika and Allan in our first year was the best way."


RALLYING:- Colin McRae is still confident of winning his second world title despite failing to take advantage of Tommi Makinen's withdrawal in Corsica. McRae, the 1995 world champion, remains tied at the head of the standings with Makinen after finishing 11th on Sunday. Fellow Briton Richard Burns moved within six points of the title leaders after claiming fourth place. McRae said: "We're still joint leaders and in the best position we've ever been going into the final two rounds."

French driver Francois Delecour will leave Ford at the end of the season, L'Equipe newspaper has reported. "I will not be at Ford next year. That's all that I can announce at the moment," he told the sports daily. L'Equipe said financial reasons lay behind the split, with the Frenchman now linked to Mitsubishi and Hyundai. The 39-year-old, who joined Ford from Peugeot at the start of the year, is expected to be replaced by Estonian Markko Martin, currently of Subaru.

The Ford Martini world rally team have revealed that Mark Higgins will drive their third official entry in the Rally of Great Britain on November 23-25. Team director Malcolm Wilson said: "Mark has worked hard testing and developing the Focus RS WRC rally car. "It is a gesture of thanks for Mark's patience and dilegence in a difficult year for rallying in Britain." Higgins was due to drive in the British Championship, which was cancelled because of the foot and mouth outbreak.

SEAT UK and Gwyndaf Evans will contest the Rally of Great Britain next month. Evans will drive the latest version of the SEAT WRC E3 for the November 23-25 event following an agreement between SEAT UK and MG Sport and Racing. The car has been built by SEAT Sport and will come directly from their motor sport department near Barcelona for this one-off appearance in the UK. A similar deal in July led to Evans winning the SEAT Lurgan Park Rally in Northern Ireland in a SEAT WRC.


F.FORD:- New Carlin Formula Three driver Alan van der Merwe was crowned king of Formula Ford by winning the Formula Ford Festival at Brands Hatch. Alan's team boss Jim Warren was the man who helped Formula One driver Jenson Button to his Festival victory. Warren said: "I think Alan could have beaten anybody at Brands."





24.10.2001
F1:- Toyota have said that Ryan Briscoe may have to wait until next year for his promised test with the team. It had been reported that the 2001 Italian Formula Three champion would have a run-out for Toyota in France next month. But a Toyota spokesman said: "It will not necessarily be this year." Toyota will make their Formula One debut next year and Australian Briscoe, 20, could be in the frame for the role of official test driver.


CART (Surfers' Pardaides):- Defending champion Gil de Ferran could clinch the title in Sunday's Honda Indy 300 but he will need to improve on his recent form in Australia. He has suffered early exits Down Under in the last two years and his best finish is fifth in 1997. Michael Andretti's slim hopes of taking the title ended after he failed to pick up any points in the last two rounds. He said: "Somehow we have stayed in the championship hunt all year but now we must focus hard to finish top-three."


RALLYING:- Frenchman Francois Delecour and Briton Alister McRae have signed a deal to drive for Mitsubishi in the World Championship for the next two years. It follows four-time world champion Tommi Makinen's decision to leave Mitsubishi for rivals Subaru after the current campaign. Delecour, who is currently with Ford, said: "It is a fantastic opportunity." Scot McRae ` the younger brother of former champion Colin - has been driving for Hyundai.

Alister McRae is delighted to have signed with Mitsubishi for the next two seasons. The 30-year-old Scot confirmed: "This is a very exciting time and I am very much looking forward to working with the Mitsubishi team. They clearly know how to succeed, as four driver and one manufacturer championship demonstrates. And for next year I am sure we can develop the car further and win rallies and more championships in the future."


AUTOBYTEL LOTUS:- Welshman Mark Thomas has won the 2001 newcomer of the year award for his class-winning efforts in the Autobytel Lotus Championship.






25.10.2001 - RALLYING
Carlos Sainz is being retained by Ford for next season and young Estonian Markko Martin is joining the team. The duo join Colin McRae for the World Rally Championships campaign in 2002. Sainz, who is equal third in the drivers' standings, had a two-year contract due to end in December and has now agreed a new one-year deal. Martin will replace Francois Delecour as Ford's third driver and, along with co-driver Michael Park, will face his first full championship programme.

Twice world champion Carlos Sainz is looking ahead with confidence to next season after being retained by Ford. "I'm very happy with Ford, M-Sport and the team as a whole and am convinced we're going to be very competitive next year with the Focus (World Rally Car). There are exciting developments with the 2002 car and I believe there is potential for more improvements to make another strong world title challenge." Ford director Martin Whitaker said: "I'm very happy Carlos is staying."





26.10.2001
F1:- Jordan should discover on Saturday whether they have won their appeal over Jarno Trulli's disqualification in the United States Grand Prix. The ruling will decide who finishes fifth in the 2001 constructor standings - Jordan or British American Racing. Trulli was stripped of fourth place after his car failed a post-race inspection but Jordan are set to argue that it was damaged in a collision. Three FIA appeal judges have met in Paris to consider Jordan's bid.

Giancarlo Fisichella wants to become a winner with Jordan next season to banish his reputation as a nearly man of Formula One. "My aim is to be at the top, quicker than everybody," he told Jordan's website after a seat fitting at the Silverstone factory. "I have come second five times and third four times so I want to win." The Italian teams up with Japanese debutant Takuma Sato in 2002 in an all- new line-up at the Honda-powered team.


CART (Surfers' Paradise):- Jimmy Vasser clocked the fastest time in the first official practice sessions for Sunday's Honda Indy 300. Vasser lapped the circuit in one minute, 36.911 seconds but Briton Dario Franchitti was 18th quickest. Helio Castroneves and Adrian Fernandez were second and third fastest but Gil de Ferran, who could win the title this weekend, had no time from the session. Drivers had 45 minutes in the morning before rain arrived but the afternoon session was all but wiped out.

Friday practice times for Indy 300:
 1 J Vasser      US  Toyota   1:36.911
 2 H Castroneves Brz Honda    1:36.997
 3 A Fernandez   Mex Honda    1:37.442
 4 R Moreno      Brz Toyota   1:37.612
 5 C Fittipaldi  Brz Toyota   1:38.009
 6 C Da Matta    Brz Toyota   1:38.545
 7 P Carpentier  Can Ford     1:39.143
 8 B Herta       US  Ford     1:29.255
 9 M Gidley      US  Toyota   1:40.352
10 M Jourdain Jr Mex Ford     1:40.451
18 D Franchitti  GB  Honda    1:47.968






27.10.2001
F1:- Jordan have won their appeal over Jarno Trulli's disqualification from the United States Grand Prix. Trulli was stripped of fourth place in Indianapolis after his car was found to be in breach of regulations. But an FIA court of appeal in Paris have annulled that decision on the grounds that a steward was absent during the team's hearing in the US. It means that Jordan have pipped British American Racing for fifth place in the Constructors' Championship.

Jarno Trulli was delighted that Jordan won their appeal over his Indianapolis disqualification last month. Trulli, who attended the FIA hearing in Paris, said: "I am very happy that my fourth place in Indianapolis stands. Not least because this was my best result of the season but also because the team and I have had a lot of bad luck this year."

"We are delighted to have our fifth place in the Constructors' Championship comfirmed," added boss Eddie Jordan.

REVISED FINAL 2001 DRIVER STANDINGS
After Jordan appeal win
 1 M Schumacher  Ger  Ferrari  123 pts
 2 D Coulthard   GB   McLaren   65
 3 R Barrichello Brz  Ferrari   56
 4 R Schumacher  Ger  Williams  49
 5 M Hakkinen    Fin  McLaren   37
 6 J-P Montoya   Col  Williams  31
 7 J Villeneuve  Can  BAR       12
 8 N Heidfeld    Ger  Sauber    12
 9 J Trulli      It   Jordan    12
10 K Raikkonen   Fin  Sauber     9
11 G Fisichella  It   Benetton   8
12 E Irvine      GB   Jaguar     6
13 H-H Frentzen  Ger  Jord/Prost 6
14 O Panis       Fr   BAR        5
15 J Alesi       Fr   Prost/Jord 5
16 P de la Rosa  Sp   Jaguar     3
17 J Button      GB   Benetton   2
18 J Verstappen  Ned  Arrows     1

REVISED FINAL 2001 CONSTRUCTOR
STANDINGS (after Jordan appeal win)
 1 Ferrari      179 pts
 2 McLaren      102
 3 Williams      80
 4 Sauber        21
 5 Jordan        19
 6 BAR           17
 7 Benetton      10
 8 Jaguar         9
 9 Prost          4
10 Arrows         1

CART (Surfers' Paradise):- Roberto Moreno took pole position from series leader Gil de Ferran on the final lap of qualifying for Sunday's Indy 300. The 42-year-old Brazilian clocked a time of one minute, 32.095 seconds and admitted: "It was perfect for us today. Last lap, last minute." De Ferran is poised to become only the fourth driver in CART history to win successive championships. Briton Dario Franchitti was fifth fastest in his Honda Reynard.
Qualifying times for Indy 300 (Sat):
                             mins secs
 1 R Moreno      Brz Toyota   1:32.095
 2 G de Ferran   Brz Honda    1:32.406
 3 C Da Matta    Brz Toyota   1:32.552
 4 P Tracy       Can Honda    1:32.605
 5 D Franchitti  GB  Honda    1:32.760
 6 M Andretti    US  Honda    1:32.971
 7 A Tagliani    Can Ford     1:33.137
 8 S Dixon       NZ  Toyota   1:33.209
 9 P Carpentier  Can Ford     1:33.360
10 J Vasser      US  Toyota   1:33.447

Driver standings
 1 G de Ferran    Brz Honda    179 pts
 2 K Brack        Swe Ford     153
 3 H Castroneves  Brz Honda    141
 4 M Andretti     US  Honda    125
 5 D Franchitti   GB  Honda    105
 6 C da Matta     Brz Toyota   100
 7 S Dixon        NZ  Toyota    98
 8 M Papis        It  Ford      86
 9 P Carpentier   Can Ford      86
10 T Kanaan       Brz Honda     83

Manufacturer standings:
1 Honda                   316 pts
2 Ford-Cosworth           266
3 Toyota                  266

F1 (Kerpen):- Formula One world champion Michael Schumacher was hindered by the weather as he managed the 22nd best time in qualifying for Sunday's final round. Schumacher was fastest in his group on a wet circuit but the track then dried up and he was beaten by the drivers in the second group. Schumacher proved he had lost nothing of his kart skills by setting the fastest time in Friday's free practice. Championship leader Vitiantonio Liuzzi clocked the best time in qualifying.




28.10.2001
CART (Surfers' Paradise):- Gil de Ferran became the fourth driver in CART history to win successive titles when he came fourth in Australia to take this year's Championship. De Ferran started the race 26 points ahead of Kenny Brack in the standings but the Swede finished fifth after failing to overtake him near the end. De Ferran's Brazilian compatriot Cristiano da Matta won the race ahead of Michael Andretti and Alex Tagliani. Pole-sitter Roberto Moreno and Helio Castroneves both failed to finish.

Gil de Ferran was overwhelmed after his fourth place finish secured his second successive CART championship win. "I am so proud," he said. "This means a lot to me. Never in a million years would I have thought I was going to achieve this much success. I feel a mixture of exhaustion and happiness and everything I can imagine. My team have made my dreams come true. The race went all the way to the last lap and I almost went off the road three corners before the end."

Result of Indy 300 (Sun):   mins secs
 1 C Da Matta    Brz Toyota   1:51:47
 2 M Andretti    US  Honda     @00:05
 3 A Tagliani    Can Ford      @00:07
 4 G de Ferran   Brz Honda     @00.20
 5 K Brack       Swe Ford      @00:22
 6 J Vasser      US  Toyota    @00:24
 7 M Jourdain    Mex Ford      @00:39
 8 C Fittipaldi  Brz Toyota    @00.40
 9 M Papis       It  Ford      @00.42
10 M Gidley      US  Toyota    @00:42
23 D Franchitti  GB  Honda     30 laps

Driver standings
 1 G de Ferran    Brz Honda    191 pts
 2 K Brack        Swe Ford     163
 3 H Castroneves  Brz Honda    141
 4 M Andretti     US  Honda    141
 5 C da Matta     Brz Toyota   120
 6 D Franchitti   GB  Honda    105
 7 S Dixon        NZ  Toyota    98
 8 M Papis        It  Ford      90
 9 P Carpentier   Can Ford      88
10 T Kanaan       Brz Honda     83

Manufacturer standings:
1 Honda                   332 pts
2 Toyota                  288
3 Ford-Cosworth           280

F1:- Formula One world champion Michael Schumacher spun out on the 15th lap of the final round of the kart series. Schumacher, who lost weight to get ready for the race, had qualified in 22nd place but soon moved up the field in the 23-lap race. But he spun and had to pull out with a broken engine. The title went to 19-year-old Italian Vitantonio Liuzzi but Schumacher said: "I had a lot of fun. To do all this again was a big challenge."




29.10.2001 - F1
Williams chief aerodynamicist Geoff Willis will join British American Racing as technical director next year. Williams said Willis would remain with the team until March 1, 2002 but also announced that chief designer Gavin Fisher had signed a new long-term deal. Malcolm Oastler, BAR's current technical director, will become the team's engineering director. Willis said he believed the team had "the resources to achieve its ultimate ambition of winning the championship."




31.10.2001
F1:- Williams driver Ralf Schumacher has denied that there is in-fighting between himself and team mate Juan Pablo Montoya. Montoya was quoted on Colombia's Caracol Radio website as saying he was not at all interested in improving his relationship with Schumacher. But Schumacher said: "We have no conflict. We understand each other really well on the track and off it. We drive in a two-car strategy, neither has priority."


JIM CLARK MEMORIAL RALLY:- The penultimate round of the Formula Rally Championship takes place on Friday and Saturday, with Justin Dale and Martin Rowe chasing the title. Dale has an eight-point lead over Rowe going into the Jim Clark Memorial Rally, which was postponed from July because of foot-and-mouth disease. But Dale was pipped to victory by Francois Duval in the last round. He said: "I could not push any harder. We knew we had to get in front of Martin and we did that."

Martin Rowe would relish a repeat of last year's success in Scotland. Rowe, whose Ford team are chasing their fourth victory of the year, stated: "We have to win in Scotland this year to boost our championship hopes. So we will be going absolutely as fast as possible all through this rally. There are 20 points available from the final two rounds. We aim to claim all of them ` and the titles. Last year we won our class with the prototype Puma Super 1600 car."

Volkswagen driver David Higgins is confident of his chances on the closed public roads around Duns. Ahead of the 111 competitive miles, Higgins commented: "Usually most of the stage miles take place after dark but this year it is mostly daylight. So it is bound to be quicker. And because it is taking place in November rather than July we have the added hazard of slippery roads. I have done a lot of tarmac events in 2001. It will stand me in good stead."

The Jim Clark Memorial Rally is also the penultimate round of the Volkswagen Polo Rally Challenge. Sussex's Clive Wheeler has a 15-point lead over Lancashire's David Bateson. A win in Scotland would hand the crown to Wheeler, if Bateson finished outside the top six, and Wheeler said: "We know we could wrap up things in Scotland. But second place behind David Higgins on the Jim Clark and on the final round would do the job as well. We are going to take things steadily."


RALLY AUSTRALIA:- Australia stages the penultimate event in the 14-round world championship with six drivers and four teams still chasing the respective titles. Perth's Langley Park will host the opening super special stage on Thursday and the rally will finish on Sunday. The downhill roller-coaster jumps and watersplash in the forest complex known as SOTICO are used twice during the last four stages. There are 21 stages in total, covering 396.77km in a route of 1402.07km.

Colin McRae knows that a victory in Australia would move him a step closer to his second world crown. The Scot, who jointly leads the series with Tommi Makinen, said: "We are in the best position we have been in at this time of year. And Australia is one of my favourites. The last two rounds on asphalt were not good for us but thankfully none of our rivals scored highly. But I am happy to be back on gravel, a surface on which the Focus goes well."

Joint championship leader Tommi Makinen will be driving a new Mitsubishi Down Under and will also be without his regular co-driver Risto Mannisenmaki. Mannisenmaki will be sidelined for the rest of the year with a back injury after a crash wrote off the car in the last round in Corsica. Finn Makinen escaped with bruising and has drafted in compatriot Timo Hantunen for the final two rounds. Makinen, who has been testing his new car, drove with Hantunen 12 years ago.

Four-time world champion Tommi Makinen has revealed that he has ruled out playing it safe in Australia and will be going all out for victory. Makinen is one of six drivers still in with a chance of taking the title and he admitted: "I am sure this will be a big fight. The car is a lot better than the tarmac specification car I drove in the past two rounds. I have a new co-driver but many of the stages are the same as last year."

With 20 points still available in the title race, Richard Burns knows he needs good results in Australia and Britain to achieve glory. The Briton, who will drive for Peugeot next year, is seven points behind Tommi Makinen and Colin McRae. Burns told the Subaru website: "I have a clear understanding of what I need to do in Australia. I am just going to go for it. I cannot win the championship if I don't. I am feeling very positive about it."

Carlos Sainz wants to mark his 150th world rally with a victory. The Ford Focus star said: "Firstly, we need to score points for Ford and it is important that Colin McRae and myself finish in front of Peugeot's drivers. From a personal viewpoint, I need to try to win the rally to improve my own title chances. Retiring so early in Corsica was disappointing. We will try to put that behind us in Australia. I enjoy the rally, although the stages are tricky."

Natalie Barratt wants to mark the final round of the FIA Teams' Cup with a fine finish in her Group N Mitsubishi. Barratt, who made her Rally Australia debut last year, confirmed: "I am looking forward to finishing the FIA Teams' Cup on a high note. The stages out in the forest are quite difficult because the sun-baked surface is hard and quite slippery and the roads are very narrow. It is the sort of challenge I love and I cannot wait to get started."


MACAU GUIA:- Edenbridge Racing have announced that Hong Kong driver Henry Lee Jnr will will compete for them in this year's Macau Grand Prix Guia race. He was second last year in a Peuegot and will drive a BMW E46 this time.


ALMS:- The Le Mans Series Race of Champions, which was scheduled for January 11-13 in Sepang, has been cancelled. It had been planned for November 9-11 but was postponed after the terrorist attacks in the US. Now it is off because of the current world unrest.