HULKENBERG FULFILS EARLY WEEKEND PROMISE WITH FEATURE RACE WIN

teamcar - A1 Team Germany's rising star Nico Hülkenberg has fulfilled his early weekend promise with a dominant victory in the Astro A1GP Sepang, Malaysia Feature race. The 19-year-old German talent finished more than 42 seconds ahead of A1 Team Great Britain's Robbie Kerr and defending champions France in a race shortened by heavy rain.

Home nation A1 Team Malaysia seemingly had a race of two halves, as Yoong dropped down the field before the pit stop. With a new set of tyres, a rejuvenated Yoong then scythed through to close to the tail of a five-way battle for seventh with South Africa, Ireland, Singapore, Netherlands and USA by lap 19. Yoong and South Africa's Adrian Zaugg had light contact at the entrance to Turn Two as Yoong squeezed through, but both emerged unscathed. Yoong made careful use of the PowerBoost to close down on Ireland down the pit straight and take Michael Devaney on the entrance to the first corner.

Again Yoong used his PowerBoost to go ahead of Singapore's Christian Murchison and then Netherlands' Jeroen Bleekemolen, within striking distance of seventh-placed Phil Giebler in the USA car. Giebler however moved ahead of Jonny Reid into sixth, leaving Yoong to ease in front of the New Zealander into seventh. Yoong put his second half performance down to changing the tyre pressures on the second set of rubber, "It was so bad at the start," commented Yoong. "I just had people passing me so we dropped the tyre pressures for the second set and the car was transformed and I could really attack. It's really been a race of what ifs, but that's Motorsport."

Piquet Sr warns Fisichella to watch out for son

teamcar - Triple world champion of the 1980s, Nelson Piquet, has warned Giancarlo Fisichella that his place in the Renault team could be called into question next year. The 54-year-old Brazilian, whose namesake and son will be Renault's official third and reserve driver in 2007, told Italian press that team chiefs are likely to keep a close eye on Fisichella as the F1 veteran shapes up alongside Heikki Kovalainen.

"Nelsinho is going to have an apprenticeship year," Piquet Senior told the sports daily La Gazzetta dello Sport, "but in his first test he was already quicker than Kovalainen. This is really the issue. If Kovalainen is faster than Fisichella, then the possibility of Nelsinho racing for Renault is much bigger -- even for 2007, even during next season.

Piquet - who won drivers' titles in 1981, 1983, and 1987 - insisted that Renault's chances of retaining the championship in 2007 without Fernando Alonso at the wheel depends on having two ultra-quick race drivers.21-year-old Nelson Piquet Junior's father continued : "It will not be good enough to have just one good driver or one good car

SWITZERLAND STEALS POLE FROM NEW ZEALAND AND GERMANY IN SEPANG

teamcar - A1 Team Switzerland's Neel Jani has sealed pole position for this weekend's Astro A1GP Sepang, Malaysia race, 0.291secs from New Zealand's Jonny Reid. Nineteen-year-old German hotshot Nico Hülkenberg could not match his scorching Friday practice pace and had to settle for the third spot on the grid following the four 15 minute Qualifying sessions.

A1 Team Malaysia was one of only two teams who waited to come out in the first session to try and take advantage of the clear track. The circuit had however become slippery and Yoong could only manage the seventh fastest time. Fast laps in the third and fourth sessions did not improve the position and he starts on the fourth row of the grid behind the Netherlands. "There was still a little bit of dampness when I went out. We took the gamble that it wouldn't rain so we saved our new tyres for the third and fourth sessions. It didn't rain but it got really, really hot and really, really slippery and the first two sessions were definitely the quicker ones. So that caught us out a little bit and I think we would have definitely been higher up if we had gone with the other way, but you can't predict these things as the weather changes so much. The guys on the first two rows are very quick and it is going to be hard to beat them tomorrow. We have certainly got some time to find in the car."

A1 Team Great Britain's Robbie Kerr, driving for the first time since Brno, lines up fourth on the grid. Australia starts 17th after Ryan Briscoe ran wide in the third session into a gravel trap and ripped off his front wing and damaged his front-rear suspension.

The 20-minute Sprint race will start on Sunday 26 November at 11.00 local time. The results of the Sprint race will determine the grid for the 70-minute Feature race, which will begin at 15.00 local time.

GERMANY SETS EARLY PACE IN SEPANG

teamcar - A1 Team Germany's Nico Hülkenberg has set the benchmark for this weekend's Astro A1GP Sepang, Malaysia races, setting the fastest times in today's two practice sessions. The 19-year-old set a stunning lap time of 1:51.789secs on his first flying lap, over three seconds quicker than last season's Sepang pole time.

In a session interrupted by rain, Hülkenberg was over one second faster than China's Congfu Cheng and New Zealand's Jonny Reid.

Home team Malaysia also had a strong showing, with Fairuz Fauzy third in the morning's classification, just 0.060secs slower than Hülkenberg. Team-mate Alex Yoong completed limited running before the rain fell to set the sixth quickest time, "It is a disadvantage at the moment not being in the practice session but I hope as the weekend goes on it will prove not to be a disadvantage. Certainly for today it will be a disadvantage as for those who do not do the earlier session we do not get the best out of the tyres.

In Nico's case he had a morning session and he came out and was strong, " Yoong credited the young German on his stunning performance, "There is nothing to take away from Nico's lap. It was really a stunning lap and I don't think anyone could imagine beating that even if we had done the session. From driving we will find more time so I am sitting here thinking of that more than anything at the moment."

Yoong admitted the rain had interrupted his running, "When the rain came it started on this side of the circuit so I got it in the middle of turns five and six and there was a big moment because the rain comes down here very fast, but you just have to expect it really.

I think you just can't plan for the rain as it happens so fast here and stops so quickly as well. You have just got to plan to be as flexible as you can and try to react to every change that happens." Qualifying could be a lottery, he suggested, "I think the people may be watching the cars go round but I can assure you the team members will be watching the sky.

Gronholm seals title for Ford with NZ victory

teamcar - Marcus Gronholm was convincing on the muddy roads of Rally New Zealand, taking the win in the penultimate round of the World Rally Championship -- and, more importantly, the manufacturers' title for Ford.

"This is fantastic," he said after his 24th career victory, and his fourth in New Zealand. "It's a great feeling to win the rally and secure the world title for Ford on the same day."
"While we are very happy, we are also a bit surprised," Gronholm explained.

"When I joined the team I expected a high performance level from the Focus RS WRC because it was a new car and to experience the fantastic level of reliability that we have enjoyed during the season was a big bonus. This wasn't such a hard rally as the Focus RS has been absolutely perfect."

With the 2007 drivers' champion, Sebastien Loeb, still recovering from a mountain-biking injury, there was no one who could touch Gronholm in Kiwi country. Gronholm finished 56 seconds ahead of his Ford Focus RS teammate, Mikko Hirvonen, and minutes in front of Loeb's Kronos Racing team, the OMV Peugeot team and the Subaru works team.

Mixed weather and varied development

teamcar - A selection of riders took to the track today under the heat of the Sepang sky for the second post season test, which is taking place over the next few days.

The intense humidity was broken up by a storm at lunchtime, although temperatures stayed uncomfortable for the riders as they looked to continue their 800cc development.

Work is focused mostly on tyre development and fine tuning, although a number of riders are doing so on last year's 990cc bikes.

A1GP APPOINTS NEW CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

teamcar -A1GP World Cup of Motorsport is pleased to announce the appointment of Pete da Silva as Chief Executive Officer of A1 Holdings Ltd, the company behind the FIA-sanctioned, international motorsport series.

Da Silva joins A1GP in January 2007 from his current position as Group CEO, Siemens in South Africa. He will take overall responsibility for the day-to-day running of the series, overseeing its future growth and development with particular attention to the company's forthcoming IPO.

Commenting on his new appointment, da Silva said: 'I am looking forward to further developing the many accomplishments of A1GP as it expands into new markets, forges new commercial partnerships and develops as a business. A1GP has created a unique product in motorsport that delivers an outstanding entertainment package so for me, this is a great opportunity to combine my business experience with a personal passion for the sport.'

On behalf of A1GP, deputy chairman Tony Teixeira commented: 'Pete da Silva has extensive experience in business development and I believe he will be a great asset to the series, significantly contributing to its future as we work to maintain and strengthen our position in both the motorsport and business arenas.'

A1GP TRACK ACTION SUSPENDED IN BEIJING

teamcar - Following overnight modifications to the Jingkai street circuit, the A1GP World Cup of Motorsport's inaugural Beijing race weekend got underway today with the third official practice session. After 25 minutes of action, the 90-minute long session was suspended following a red flag resulting from a manhole cover coming loose on the racing line between turns three and four.

The aerodynamics of the A1GP car creates an extreme suction effect, pinning the cars to the track during high speed racing. The manhole lids had been welded to the rim, utilising a method that would cause less damage to the existing infrastructure, however the force of the suction proved too strong, fracturing the welding and loosening the lid. The remainder of the practice session and this afternoon's four qualifying sessions have been cancelled while work is undertaken to secure all the manhole covers on the circuit.

A proven method used during the Durban street race back in January this year will be used to secure the manhole lids. Bolts will be drilled into the gap between the manhole lid and rim and screwed into place, locking the 15 kilo lid into place. Silicon seal with then be injected around the bolt to ensure it is securely positioned. The work will be carried out this afternoon and the A1GP cars are expected back on track tomorrow.

With the cancellation of all four qualifying sessions, the grid for tomorrow's sprint race will be determined by the fastest lap times set in today's practice session. All A1 Teams will be given an extra session on track ahead of tomorrow's Sprint race.

VAZMAZ OPTIMISTIK DAN INGIN DOMINASI KEJUARAAN SEPANG DRAG BATTLE

teamcar - Litar Antarabangsa Sepang (SIC) sekali lagi bakal menjadi medan pertarungan jentera-jentera modifikasi seluruh negara apabila bakal menjadi tuan rumah pusingan akhir Sepang Drag Battle 2006 pada Sabtu, (11hb November 2006).

Tumpuan diberikan kepada pesaing yang kerap menjadi buah mulut peserta-peserta Sepang Drag Battle (SDB) yang bertandang dari Johor iaitu Vazmaz Engineering. Pasukan ini merupakan pesaing tegar yang memberi saing sengit dan konsisten pada setiap pusingan yang disertainya.“VAZMAZ adalah keringan anak jati Johor dan kami telah beroperasi hampir 13 tahun.

Pengasas VAZMAZ ialah Edmund William Vaz yang mempunyai 40 tahun pengalaman dalam dunia modifikasi serta perlumbaan. Ilmu serta pengalaman luas yang telah diwarisi ini, kami praktikkan didalam sukan lumba pecut tanahair. Pusingan akhir SDB yang bakal berlangsung ini, menyaksikan kami bakal mempertaruhkan jentera yang tidak asing lagi iaitu Mazda RX7 FC3s.

Jentera ini dianggarkan mempunyai 450 kuasa kuda dan menggunakan khidmat Microtech sebagai nadi pemprosesan.“Mazda RX7 serba merah ini telah kami selaraskan pengubahsuai sesuai dengan permukaan Litar Sepang agar kami dapat memaksimakan tujahan.

Jentera ini bakal dipandu oleh Foong Yap Weng yang telah seakan sebati bersama Mazda RX 7 Vazmaz ini, kata Eric Oliver Vaz selaku koordinator kepada pasukan Vazmaz.SDB merupakan acara sukan lumba pecut yang telah diperkenalkan di Litar Sepang melibatkan saingan di antara dua jentera bersaing pada satu masa dan menguji kepantasan tujahan masing-masing di laluan lurus sepanjang 400 meter.

Kesempatan ini telah diambil oleh pelumba-pelumba dengan adanya kemudahan yang serba moden dan terkawal membolehkan mereka beraksi tanpa sebarang keraguan.

Tiket untuk menyaksikan acara Drag Race ini berharga RM10 untuk kawasan Grandstand dan RM30 untuk kawasan bangunan pit dan Paddock sementara bayaran RM2 dikenakan untuk meletak motosikal dan RM5 untuk kereta di kawasan Paddock.

Hamilton confident of F1 debut in 2007

teamcar - Lewis Hamilton sounded confident at the weekend as he appraised his prospects of lining up alongside Fernando Alonso at McLaren next year.

The GP2 champion is shaping up for a winter test shootout against Pedro de la Rosa, as the Mercedes-powered team consider a second driver for the 2007 season.

At the traditional 'Stars & Cars' event in Stuttgart on Saturday, 21-year-old Hamilton answered to reporters: "I think my chances are good.

"I am hoping to race in formula one next season."

Zanardi to test F1.06

teamcar - Former Champ Car Champion and F1 racer Alex Zanardi is to return to the Formula One cockpit next month when takes to the Valencia circuit in a modified BMW Sauber F1.06.Zanardi of course was fortunate to escape with his life in a horrific Champ Car accident in Germany in 2001, losing his legs in the accident.

Since then the Italian has returned to racing with BMW in the FIA World Touring Car Championship. Zanardi will run the F1.06 during the BMW World Finals on November 24th to 26th. "First of all I would like to say thank you to BMW for this opportunity," Zanardi told the BMW Sauber website.

"Of course, I know that I won't get a contract with the Formula One team. However, having the chance to drive an F1 racer again is just incredible.""I'm really excited to see what has changed since my last Grand Prix in 1999," Zanardi continued with reference to his season with Williams.

"I can call myself a happy man, as I turned my passion into my profession. I still feel the fire burning in me. Formula One is - and will always be - the pinnacle of motor racing."