SWRT fourth and fifth after tough opener in Japan

On the home event for the Subaru World Rally Team, Chris Atkinson and Stéphane Prévot finished in fourth position overall on a day that saw three stages cancelled and one stopped prematurely. Teammates Petter Solberg and Phil Mills also climbed the leaderboard to secure fifth position at the end of the first day, the two crews separated by just 1.7 seconds.

The Mitsubishi Racing Lancer makes debut on the muddy super-special in Portugal

Leg 1 (Friday, October 31, 2008), Nerpor-Nerpor (Portugal):

Road section: 0.10km. Road section: 7.17km
SS1 (super-special): 6.18km
Road section: 6.71km. Total distance: 20.16km

The cross-country rallying career of the brand new Mitsubishi Racing Lancer kicked off today with the short super-special which served as appetiser for this weekend’s 2008 Baja Portalegre 500.

Seat: World Touring Car Champions

SEAT has secured both the Drivers’ and Manufacturers’ titles in the 2008 FIA World Touring Car Championship after Rickard Rydell won Round 21 of the series at the Okayama International Circuit in Japan at the wheel of the Leon TDI.

This is SEAT’s first overall title in the WTCC and signifies the first time a diesel race car has triumphed not only in the WTCC, but in any FIA championship. In addition, it ends BMW’s long run of success in the series.

F1-spec KERS and other motorsport technology at Autosport International 2009

With only ten weeks until the 2009 Autosport International opens, exhibitors are being confirmed with a multitude of new products for the upcoming motorsport season, set to be unveiled in January. Known as Europe’s largest motorsport trade show, Autosport International will play host to industry representatives from over 58 countries.

Team Repsol Mitsubishi Ralliart ready for Racing Lancer’s competition debut

The Repsol Mitsubishi Ralliart team has chosen this weekend’s Baja Portalegre 500 in Portugal for the official competition debut of its latest cross-country rally car, the new diesel-powered Racing Lancer.

Premier Stages

The third and final rally of the season in Sherwood and Hugh Hunter returned to defend his 2007 win.

This time it was Mike O’Brien he beat, in what is fast becoming a Cambrian shakedown for Hunter. In the historics it was the battle of the Lepley’s with Jason coming out on top.

Noble & Green go for 1,000mph

Twelve years since Andy Green OBE and Thrust SSC scythed through the sound barrier on their way to the current World Land Speed Record of 763.053 mph, Green and former record-holder, Richard Noble OBE, are preparing to write the latest chapter in the history of World Land Speed Record attempts, with a 1,000mph bid.

WRC reaches a head

The Subaru World Rally Team will head to the northerly Japanese island of Hokkaido for the last long-haul rally and the penultimate round of the 2008 World Rally Championship season. It is the first time that the new Impreza WRC2008 will be seen in its homeland. Whilst still in Hokkaido, this year sees the rally base move from Obihiro to Sapporo, meaning new gravel stages and a whole new challenge.

Cheviot & Keith Knox Stages

It was wet, windy and wild on Otterburn for the conclusion of the National Apshalt championship.

With 2007 champion Steve Simpson going out on stage 1, David Kynaston just had to get to the finish to be champion. Andy Fenwick took overall victory on the event, nursing his ailing Octavia to the finish.

Bulldog Rally

The conclusion of the ANCRO series was a simple affair, in terms of the championship. Marcus Dodd had to win to take his 4th National title, in the absence Jon Ingram. He duly did this with Steve Perez keeping him honest.

In the Clubmen event Nick Elliott took victory by little over a second.