Ford World Rally Team lies first and second after today’s opening leg of Rally de Portugal. Jari-Matti Latvala and Miikka Anttila lead this fourth round of the FIA World Rally Championship in a Ford Fiesta RS World Rally Car by 2.6sec from the similar car of team-mates Petter Solberg and Chris Patterson. The team won three of the four speed tests which made up the short opening day’s action in this four-day event. Solberg, who was fastest in qualifying yesterday, was quickest over the opening two special stages, while Latvala…
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IndyCar – Thursday, March 29 Barber Report
Editor’s Note: Kevin Neely has been kind enough to write some articles for us while down at Barber Motorsports Park this week. I would like to personally thank Kevin for reaching out and offering his observations! There’s one thing for certain about late March/early April in Central Alabama; the weather is going to be anything but predictable. For the past two years, the Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama presented by Legacy Credit Union has had the luxury of Chamber of Commerce weather conditions. This year, however, that streak looks…
Read MoreStar Mazda – St. Pete Offers a Mix at the Top
Unlike the USF2000 races which saw the same two drivers, Pigot and Brabham, battle for the race wins clear and away from the rest of the field, the Star Mazda Championship Presented by Goodyear offered quite a variety at the front during it’s opening two races on the Streets of St. Petersburg. The car counts for this first race weekend of 2012 were pretty good with twenty-one racers taking to the hybrid airport/street circuit. Race #1 Connor De Phillippi picked up where he left off at last year’s St. Petersburg…
Read MoreUSF2000 – Pigot Sweeps St. Pete Weekend
The car count was again huge for the Cooper Tires Presents the USF2000 National Championship Powered by Mazda. Thirty-four cars took to the Streets of St. Petersburg for Rounds 3 and 4 of the 2012 season, and again race fans were treated to great action on track in both the Championship and National Classes. It really seems that the series has the balance between the FC and FE cars spot on, although there’s a definite performance differential between the NAT an CHP class cars. Race #1: It was a good…
Read MoreThe FIA WTCC and the Nitto Tires USTCC to Race at Infineon 2012
Napa, CA — In September 2012, the FIA World Touring Car Championship (WTCC) will make history by having its first race ever in the United States at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, California. Racing alongside their bigger brother will be the Nitto Tires United States Touring Car Championship (USTCC). The American touring car teams and drivers will be the opening act for the international teams and drivers when they take the stage on September 21-23, 2012. Last year the WTCC officials decided that the World Championship needed to have a race…
Read MoreRallycross – Rally America Announces the 2012 US Rallycross Series
WILLISTON, VT (March 26, 2012) – Rally America and New Jersey Motorsports Park (NJMP) present the 2012 Rally America U.S. Rallycross Series, with the first event being held on May 19, 2012. The U.S. Rallycross Series will consist of at least four events at the New Jersey Motorsports Park, with other venues to be added later in the year. The U.S. Rallycross Series marks a return to the Rally America schedule after a taking a year off from the sport. Rally America introduced Rallycross to the U.S. for the first…
Read MoreWRC – Ford Set Fastest Times During Qualifying Stage
The Ford World Rally Team has struck the first blow during Rally Portugal with the Blue Ovals setting the top two times during qualifying. Jari-Matti Latvala led the way with 3m01.884s. That put him clear of second place Petter Solberg by 1.771s. Latvala admitted to taking risks during the 4 kilometer stage in order to take advantage of road conditions. With Portugal being a gravel rally, road position will be tricky to pick. While he could start in the back and allow the other cars to sweep the gravel away,…
Read MoreEpisode 131 – OpenPaddock.net Podcast
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadThis week we welcome Jenna Fryer to talk about the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. She talks not only about the weekend, but some of the things IndyCar should be thinking about going forward. Doug is here this week as well and we talk Mazda Road to indy, Formula 1, and this weekend’s round of the WRC in Portugal. Thank you for the download and we really hope you enjoy the show!
Read MoreRally – Petter Solberg Engineering/Hankook to Support Flodin in the IRC
Petter Solberg’s company ‘PS Engineering’ will together with tyre-supplier Hankook run a Ford S2000 car for the young and talented Swedish Driver Patrik Flodin. Patrik and his co-driver Göran Bergsten will take part in seven events of 13 in the 2012 IRC-series. The first event will be Tour de Corse, Corsica, France 11th – 12th May. – I am very happy we are able to support Patrik. He is an extremely talented driver and I’m confident he will be able to achieve a lot in the IRC this year, says…
Read MoreIndyCar – Lotus Can Supply for 2012, Compete Though?
The off season was rich with speculation that Lotus may or may not make the 2012 season with its Judd engine. Think back to late December when there was little to no contact between Lotus or really any of the teams that were in the market for an engine. Autosport.com featured an article this morning that indicated Lotus was in fact capable of supplying the teams they had signed for the entire season. That includes bonus parts and support for HVM, Herta, DRR, and Dragon. The recent change in ownership…
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