Ace engineer joins RAC fold

MyTeamCar - Team RAC has poached one of the top engineering minds in the pit lane to oversee its star driver Colin Turkington’s BMW in this year’s HiQ MSA British Touring Car Championship.

John Morton, formerly with title-winning VX Racing squad and who last year helped set up Mat Jackson’s BMW that finished second in the final points table, took up his new role with Team RAC at a test at Thruxton last Friday.

Morton replaces Geoff Kingston who has moved to rival privateer Ford outfit Arena (see separate story). Meanwhile, Albert Lau will remain in charge of Jelley’s car within the RAC camp.

Dick Bennetts, whose WSR concern runs the RAC BMWs, told btcc.net: “We’re very pleased to have John on board. We’re getting someone with experience of working within a title-winning team (Vauxhall/VXR) and who last year obviously had a great touch when it came to making the Jackson BMW work. Bring all that to our BMW, and with a proven quantity such as Colin driving, and we should be very competitive from the start of the season.”

Bennetts said Friday’s test enabled both Turkington and Jelley to try a few new tweaks, even though running was hampered by cars from other race categories being on track at the same time.

He added: “It was a late call to do the Thruxton test, so we only ran one car – our third car (the new one) as the two others are still being rebuilt.

“We missed the first session due to a misfire, which was rectified for the second session. Both Colin and Stephen shared the car, so didn’t have a lot of time each in the car.

“However, we tried a different set-up which appears to have some potential. Lap times were good, but also with a lot of traffic, so it was difficult to gauge 100 per cent where we were.”

source: btcc.net

Thompson Tests Tempus Chevrolet

MyTeamCar - Two-Time British Touring Car Champion James Thampson has tested with new team Tempus Sport Ltd at the Portuguese circuit of estoril as e evaluates his opportunities for the 2009 season. Thompson, who won the BTCC title in 2002 and 2004, had his first runs in the Chevrolet Lacetti against which he has competed in the FIA World touring car series for the past four seasons.

Tempus has been continuing its preseason testing in Portugal as it prepares to make its debut in this year's HiQ-backed BTCC.

Team manager Richard Coleman said: "It was a fantastic opportunity to get a driver of the calibre of James Thompson in the car and his feedback was invaluable. A driver like James would fit in perfectly at Tempus Sport and I think he understands exactly what we are trying to achieve. We are certainly having serious discussions with James, but we are still talking to other drivers too, so it's too early to confirm our second driver."

Thompson, who has also tested for fellow BTCC squad Team Dynamics, Lacetti at tracks around the world over the last four seasons so I've seen how it has developed and I know what it's capable of doing. Getting behind the wheel of the car for myself was interesting and the Tempus Sport team certainly have potential, especially with their close relationship with RML, who make the car. It's still too early to say what I'l be doing for the 2009 season, but the BTCC with Tempus is definitely an option."

source: btcc.net

A1 Team Malaysia Takes Championship Lead To China

After our winning debut at Zandvoort in the Netherlands just over 4 weeks ago resulting in A1 Team Malaysia leading the championship standings, the team is now in Chengdu and busy preparing the pit garage and equipment for the race weekend ahead. The Chengdu round is a new addition to the A1GP calendar this season.

The Chengdu International Circuit itself was built only over a year ago. It is therefore a brand new circuit to all teams and most drivers. Fairuz Fauzy returns to pilot the car this weekend and Aaron Lim will make his start this season on Friday in the morning practice sessions. It will be his first time for Aaron in the new car, the most powerful one he has driven to date.

The A1GP Chengdu event will be broadcast by Star Sports on Astro this weekend with Qualifying shown live on Saturday at 14h00 and live programming beginning at 14h00 on Sunday on the same channel.

Source: www.a1teammalaysia.com.my

Peugeot UK Kicks off Their 2009 IRC Campaign

Peugeot UK and Kris Meeka will line up at the start of the 77th Monte Carlo rally, one of the oldest races of its kind, alongside reigning IRC champion Nicolas Vouilloz and his other KRONOS supported team-mate Freddy Loix. Driving te Peugeot UK KRONOS prepared 207 S2000, Kris will be aiming to repeat his previous victory at Monte Carlo back in 2005 in the JWRC.

The ceremonial start of the rally commences in Monte Carlo, in front of the Casino, on the evening of Tuesday 20th January and finishes back in the pricinpality on Saturday 24th. The rally will be contested over three legs and will also include four stages held at night, with two runs over the famous "Col de Turini".

Following tradition, 100 competitors will be allowed to start the rally, however, only the top 60 will go through to the final Turini stages. The rally will finish at 01:20 on Saturday morning.

A number of well-known drivers will also join Kris and the IRC regulars at the start of the rally. These will include: former World Rally Champion Didier Auriol, three times winner of the Monte Carlo Rally driving another Peugeot 207 S2000; Toni Gardemeister, who finished second overall on the Monte Carlo Rally in 2005, driving an Abarth Grande Punto and Le Mans Peugeot 908 HDI FAP driver, Stephane Sarrazin, driving a Peugeot 207 S2000 for Peugeot Sport.

Source: Peugeot Motor Sport Press

Toyota Aims for Grand Prix Glory With New TF109

PANASONIC TOYOTA RACING unveiled its new TF109 racer at its Colonge headquarters in a ceremony broadcast on-line around the globe. Designed and engineering in line with new FIA reglations, it carries Toyota's hopes of securing its elusive first grand prix victory.

Team resident John Howitt said:" After eight years in Formula 1 we have gained a huge amount of knowledge and improved considerably. We are hungry to win and ready to win, there should be no doubt about that."

The car is new, but there is continuity in Toyota's driver line-up, with Jarno Trulli, Timo Glock and "Third Driver" Kamui Kobayashi looking to build on the successes they achieved during 2008.

Work began on developing the TF109 in October 2007, as soon as the new regulations were announced. At the same time as helping cut the cost of racing, these should increase the spectacle on the track thanks to design restrictions that reduce the car's level of down force and make overtaking easier.

The most notable changes are in the wings: wider and lower at the front, narrower and smaller at the back. Aerodynamics add-on devices, such as wing lets, are now banned, and for the first time in 12 years, slick tyres - will have to last for at least three races, which means each driver can use no more than eight of the 2.5-litre V8 units during the full season.


Source: Toyota Press