The final calendar has been announced
The final 2007 MotoGP World Championship calendar has been announced yesterday by the FIM.
All eighteen events previously listed appear on this finalised calendar, but a few date changes have been made.

As a result, the 2007 season will start earlier, as the Grand Prix of Qatar has been planned on March 10. The ... [ more ]

An emotional first podium in Turkey
Henning Solberg admitted pure delight in taking third position in Turkey on Sunday. The Citroen 307 WRC finished 43 seconds behind second place finisher Marko Hirvonen. The result marked Solberg's first WRC podium result.

"I think it's the first time we have cried in the car, two tough guys. He started crying, so I had ... [ more ]

Turkey : Citroen / JWRC - Finish
The fifty or so kilometres of the 2006 Rally of Turkey's short final leg had little effect on the JWRC leaderboard which saw Citroën C2 Super 1600 crews Kris Meeke/Glenn Paterson, Martin Prokop/Jan Tománek et Julien Pressac/Jack Boyère finish in 5th, 6th and 7th places respectively.

The last day of the event: "took place ... [ more ]

Turkey : OMV Junior Team - Finish
The OMV Junior Team (Citroen C2 S1600) decently finished the Rally of Turkey.

Following two completely jinxed legs with any number of tyre damages and other problems they used the third day for testing, among others, several different chassis set-ups. Despite this, Aaron Burkart and Tanja Geilhausen only lost 37 seconds ... [ more ]

An important part of the success in Turkey
Marcus Gronholm clinched his 23rd WRC career win in Turkey. Road conditions were particularly difficult. Mud, gravel and a few asphalt sections were sometimes dry or wet with rain falling intermittently during the event. Even snow was seen in the higher altitude mountain stage roads.

In these conditions, the performance ... [ more ]

A historic and incident-packed Grand Prix
Michelin riders dominated Sunday afternoon's incident-packed Portuguese Grand Prix, taking the top five finishing positions.

With one round remaining only two riders can now win the 2006 MotoGP crown and they are both Michelin men – Valentino Rossi (Camel Yamaha Team YZR-M1-Michelin), who finished second on Sunday, ... [ more ]

“If size did matter, the dinosaurs would still be alive”
If size did matter, the dinosaurs would still be alive." As the Chairman and Chief Executive of Porsche, Mr Wendelin Wiedeking, personal motto greatly explains, this is the era of small and managerially agile companies, that make successful exclusive products, sure-fire way to big-profits. This is particularly ... [ more ]

“To finish the championship third overall is my goal”
KTM rider Hero“ Hiroshi Aoyama came in second in the penultimate Grand Prix of the season on Sunday on the Estoril circuit in Portugal to pick up his seventh podium so far this season.

In recent races, Hiroshi was third in Australia then won his home race in Japan. Now with the second place in Portugal, ... [ more ]

Brazilian GP - Michelin - Preview
The 2006 Brazilian Grand Prix is the final round of this season’s Formula One world championship and also marks the end of an era as Michelin bids the sport adieu. This will be Michelin’s 216th grand prix and Brazil is an appropriate stage for the company’s farewell. It was here – at Rio de Janeiro’s Jacarepagua circuit, on January ... [ more ]

Brazilian GP - Williams Cosworth - Preview
The 2007 Formula One World Championship makes its final stop of the season in South America this weekend for the 34th Brazilian Grand Prix. Both FW28s will feature the same specification as that which was raced in both China and Japan. Ahead of the season finale the team completed a four day test session in Jerez, southern ... [ more ]

Renault sponsor involved with Allsport
An ING spokesman has confirmed reports that the Dutch bank, unveiled officially as Renault's new title sponsor on Monday, will also advertise trackside at grand prix circuits in 2007.

"ING has finalised an agreement with Allsport Management for on-track sponsoring at several Formula One races in key ING markets in ... [ more ]

No 'overdose of brotherly love' from Ralf
Ralf Schumacher says he would not sacrifice position in the Brazilian grand prix on Sunday even if it means his brother Michael can retire with an eighth crown.
"My loyalty is to Toyota," Germany's daily Bild-Zeitung quoted the 31-year-old as saying. "I don't think they would accept an overdose of brotherly love."

The ... [ more ]

Home support for Fernando Alonso
A giant television screen is being erected in Fernando Alonso's Spanish home town of Oviedo.
It will allow thousands of the 25-year-old's local supporters to follow his progress at his last race for current team Renault, and his likely securing of a second drivers' title.

Alonso, however, is taking nothing for granted ... [ more ]

A change of career post F1?
F1 team boss Flavio Briatore has revealed that he may consider becoming a politician after his new Renault contract expires at the end of 2008.
"At the moment I am fully involved in Formula One," the 56-year-old Italian told public broadcaster Rai.

"But if I should ever become bored ... well, people have told me that you ... [ more ]

Ferrari keen on retaining Schumacher link
Michael Schumacher's may still be a regular face in the F1 paddock next year and beyond.
The Cologne based newspaper Express reports that Schumacher could be set for a Niki Lauda-style role as informal Ferrari 'advisor', involving attendance at most races on the 2007 calendar.

It is speculated that some Ferrari ... [ more ]

Interlagos not Alonso's favourite
Interlagos is one of Fernando Alonso's least favourite circuits, according to an 'insider' at the Renault team.

Although the Spaniard wrapped up his maiden drivers' title in Sao Paulo a year ago, he only finished third. The 25-year-old, moreover, has never won the Brazilian Grand Prix.

The 'insider' told German ... [ more ]

Former champion doubting Raikkonen
Kimi Raikkonen is unlikely to 'plug the hole' left at Ferrari in 2007 and beyond by departing race driver Michael Schumacher.

That is the concern of triple world champion Niki Lauda, who also referred to the likely sabbatical next year of technical director Ross Brawn.

"If these enormous holes are not effectively ... [ more ]

Tester aiming to land second Spyker seat
Test driver Gary Paffett's management has negotiated a release from his McLaren contract in order to chase a race seat in 2007.

It is reported that the 25-year-old Englishman, managed by former racers Martin Brundle and Mark Blundell, can return to the Woking based squad if he is not successful in landing the Spyker ... [ more ]

A big cheque for Eddie Jordan
Peter Sauber has revealed for the first time that he helped to fund Michael Schumacher's Formula One debut for Jordan in 1991.

The former team principal of Hinwil based Sauber squad, now principally owned by BMW, told newspaper Welt that he actually handed Eddie Jordan the cheque for £150,000 (223,000 Euros) prior to the race ... [ more ]

Renault tester aiming high
Nelson Piquet Jnr says he is eyeing Giancarlo Fisichella's Renault race seat because 'age' may soon become a factor for the Roman racer.

"Fisichella may retire in 2008 and if everything goes right, I should replace him," the 21-year-old Brazilian, signed recently as an official test driver for 2007, was quoted as saying by Reuters.

It ... [ more ]

A new look with ING branding
Renault is likely to launch its Formula One car for 2007 some time in January, team chiefs hinted in Holland on Monday.
At the press conference in capital city Amsterdam to confirm Dutch bank ING as new title sponsor, Renault Team Principal Flavio Briatore said the car - the R27 - and will be probably revealed to the world's media ... [ more ]