Motorsport news

15th September 2006

The 61-year-old multiple V8 touring car champion was killed in a rally accident when his AC Cobra left the road and struck a tree in Western Australia.

JAY Howard has clinched the Indy Pro Series and is now tipped to move up a class to the IndyCar series in 2007. Twelve months ago, Auto Express selected the little known 25-year-old Brit as one of our ‘tips for the top’.

CITROEN Sport has confirmed that Dani Sordo will line up alongside double world champion Sebastien Loeb in its two-car attack on next year’s WRC. The 23-year-old Spaniard has been the revelation of this season, driving a privately entered Citroen Xsara. Sordo has already bagged three podiums and currently holds third in the standings behind Loeb and Marcus Gronholm. Citroen returns to official WRC action in 2007 with a brand new C4.

RENAULT has confirmed its third driver Heikki Kovalainen will replace Fernando Alonso in 2007. The Finn will line up alongside Giancarlo Fisichella when he makes his GP debut in Australia on 18 March.

IF YOU fancy your artistic skills, Rubens Barrichello wants to hear from you. The Brazilian has launched a competition for a new helmet design on his website. Log on to www.barrichello.com.br and he’ll wear his new colours in his home Brazilian GP next month.

ORGANISERS of the British Grand Prix are to offer anyone who buys an adult grandstand ticket for the 2007 race £50 back if Jenson Button wins. Tickets for the 8 July event have to be purchased by the end of September to qualify.

MEANWHILE Button’s Honda team is turning to charity for backing. The squad is expected to reveal it will replace chief sponsor Lucky Strike with a conglomerate of international fundraisers. Bosses believe the move could attract so much interest, it will help them land more conventional sponsors.

GRAND prix drivers have slammed the historic Monza circuit for being unsafe. They want bigger run-off areas and gravel traps replaced with high-friction tarmac. It could involve a major redesign as one of the areas where work is needed is close to the track’s perimeter wall.