Fight on for 2nd place, as champ Bogie opts for Mk2

With an historic fourth consecutive title safely secured, David Bogie has set himself a new challenge by contesting next weekend’s Colin McRae Stages in a Mk2 Ford Escort, while the battle for second in the MSA Scottish Rally Championship reaches its conclusion.

Euan Thorburn and Mike Faulkner will slug it out on the Aberfeldy-based rally – just as they did last year in appalling weather, when Thorburn won both the event, and the SRC runners-up spot, in his Mitsubishi EVO 9.

The pair finished tied in the points, but with the best six rounds from eight deciding the final points tally, the Borderer clinched it under “tie-break” rules.

Cronin takes third title as Cave and Pryce tie for Yorkshire win

A dramatic end to a landmark season culminated in Keith Cronin becoming MSA British Rally Champion for the third time this weekend, at the end of the sixth and final round, the International Rally Yorkshire. By finishing in third place, he and Marshall Clarke had achieved their goal of claiming the 2012 Drivers’ and Co-drivers’ titles.

Ahead of them on the event, a rally-long battle between the two Welsh crews of Tom Cave/Craig Parry and Osian Pryce/Iestyn Williams could not have been closer, when the final results revealed that after 66.31 competitive miles and six stages in the forests over the North Yorkshire Moors, their times were exactly the same.

Class victory on Rally Yorkshire for Perez

Following on from his class victory earlier in the month on Wales Rally GB, Steve Perez was once again in action in the Lancia Stratos and again saw him take a class win on this weekend’s Trackrod Rally Yorkshire.

Along with Welsh co-driver Paul Spooner, the pair were in action in the Amigos Tequila-flavoured beer liveried car and had a good run through the opening stage in the darkness in Dalby Forest on Friday night to lead their class.

Best result of season for Korhonen on Rally Yorkshire

Finland’s Jukka Korhonen saved the best until last when he scored his season’s best result of fifth place in the final round of the 2012 MSA British Rally Championship which took place with the Trackrod Rally Yorkshire this weekend.

Driving the Pirelli TEG Sport Skoda Fabia R2, the 27-year-old from Siikajarvi, who won last year’s Pirelli UK Star Driver award, gradually climbed the leader board from holding seventh place overall after Friday night’s stage in Dalby.

Vive la France (et MINI)!

‘Salut everyone, my name is Céline Grasland the Hospitality Manager at WRC Team MINI Portugal, and I’m proud to be your guide through the team’s adventures at Rallye de France, the upcoming round of the 2012 FIA World Rally Championship.

‘Being French – I’m from Bretagne the north-western part of the country – Rallye de France is quite special to me so I’m really happy to be updating you on our progress during the event and seeing what we can achieve on French soil. I’m sure Rallye de France will represent a completely new challenge for the team. It is only the second full-Tarmac event of the season and the third event with Atko but everyone seems positive and I’m confident we’ll do a great job.

McNish makes Bahrain debut with ‘pole’ start in hybrid diesel Audi

Allan McNish starts his hybrid diesel Audi from pole-position for the Bahrain Six Hour race tomorrow (Saturday 29 Sep).

Dumfries-born McNish stopped the clock at the wheel of the Audi R18 e-tron quattro he shares with Tom Kristensen (Den) in a fastest time of 1min 45.814ecs, an average speed of 114.40mph around the 3.36-mile Bahrain International Circuit in Sakhir in today’s (FRI) 20-minute qualifying session.

“From pole position you can’t get a better starting point for a race,” commented McNish who switches to the hybrid diesel for the first time since the Le Mans 24 Hours in June.

National Motorsport Week revs up for 2013

The dates for next summer’s National Motorsport Week have been announced. Now entering its third year of joint-promotion by the two leading bodies in UK motor sport – the Motor Sports Association (MSA) and Motorsport Industry Association (MIA) – National Motorsport Week 2013 will run from 29 June to 7 July 2013.

McLaren P1 aims for pole position with global debut in Paris

– Global debut of new McLaren ultimate supercar
– McLaren P1 aims to be the best driver’s car on both road and track
– The large adjustable ‘active’ rear wing adjusts automatically to boost downforce and optimise aerodynamics
– Mid-engine design that uses a carbon fibre monocoque and roof structure safety cage called MonoCage, and lightweight carbon ‘multi-purpose’ body panels

International Autumn MG show and spares day

MG enthusiasts have a new event in the calendar to look forward to as the organisers of the Spring International MG Show and Spares Day launch its Indoor autumn event at Sandown Park Racecourse, Surrey, on Sunday 7th October.

Whether you’re the driver of an early two-seater model or a fan or the later sporting saloon, everyone is welcome so come along and enjoy fantastic displays from the UK’s most dedicated motoring clubs, showcasing many rare and stunning examples of MG models through the ages.

Business minister first to view Bentley’s new race car concept at the Paris Motor Show

• Bentley’s CEO Dr Schreiber meets new Business Minister Rt Hon Michael Fallon MP
• Schreiber outlines Bentley’s plans to return to motorsport