Motorsport news

09th October 2006

F1: IT'S the most unsuccessful season in a decade for the McLaren team. This could be the first year since 1996 that the mega-bucks squad, based in Woking, Surrey, fails to win a grand prix.

DRIVERS union the Grand Prix Drivers Association has appointed Ralf Schumacher as its new chairman, with Fernando Alonso and Mark Webber joining him on the board. Michael Schumacher, Jarno Trulli and David Coulthard have stepped down as directors.

THERE may have been plenty of spectators in the Shanghai circuit, but not many were likely to have paid the full price. In a survey of 100 fans at last year’s Chinese GP, 98 of them had bought black market tickets which were originally given away to boost numbers, then sold illegally by touts for less than the official cost.

THE German Grand Prix is to alternate between two venues from next season. For 2007 and 2009, it will take place at the Nürburgring. In 2008 and 2010, the event will be staged at its
traditional home in Hockenheim.

FORMER McLaren star Juan Pablo Montoya will make his competitive stock car debut in Alabama this Friday. The Colombian has been released from his McLaren contract to drive a Texaco Havoline Dodge. He’ll race full-time in next year’s Nextel Cup NASCAR series.

Big-budget Toyota had a dismal weekend in China. The Japanese cars failed to make it beyond the first session in qualifying. Then, both Jarno Trulli and Ralf Schu­macher retired from the race with mechanical problems.

WORLD rally champ Sebastien Loeb will miss the next round of the WRC series in Turkey after breaking his right arm in a tumble off his mountain bike. With four rounds remaining, the Frenchman only needs to collect six more points to clinch a third consecutive crown. He’s hoping to make his comeback for Citroen in Australia later this month.

NEWLY crowned British F3 champ Mike Conway has revealed he’s hoping to race in the Formula One support series, GP2, next year. But he has yet to arrange any test­ing. However, big rival Bruno Senna – nephew of late F1 legend Ayrton – is also lining up some GP2 tests, including one with two-time champion team ART Grand Prix.