WINSLOW WRAPS IT UP AS ENGINE SINKS TANDER

An engine drama in race one has cost Leanne Tander her chance at the 2008 Australian Drivers Championship for the CAMS Gold Star despite winning the weekend's F3 feature race at Tasmania's Symmons Plains. With Tander out of the first race the title went to English driver James Winslow. Winslow wrapped up the title by winning race one on the final lap after a rain shower made the 2.4km Symmons Plains circuit slippery and cost race leader Stuart Kostera the win.  “It is just unbelievable. After the year I have had I don’t know quite what to feel. It hasn’t sunk in yet,” he said. “I knew that Leanne was out of the race but I was so determined to win the championship in race one I pressed on as hard as I could. That’s why I challenged Kostera when he passed me because I wanted to win to make sure of it.”  Winslow has battled for funding all year and at the earlier Phillip Island round had told In Pit Lane that he might not even make it to Tasmania.

STUNT GONE WRONG, DENYER OUT OF BATHURST

A back injury suffered while driving a “Monster” Truck will keep well known TV star and part time V8 Supercar driver Grant Denyer out of next months Bathurst 1000. Ford Rising Stars Racing Team owner Jim Morton released a statement today September 19 announcing Denyer's withdrawal from the race.

DOES HONDA NEED SATO MORE THEM SATO NEEDS THEM?

New Formula 1 Grand Prix winners Scuderia Torro Rosso are hosting a test session at Jerez for Super Aguri F1 refugee Takuma Sato in his F1 comeback. For Sato, Scuderia Torro Rosso, or Minardi as we used to know it, is another small F1 team not dissimilar to Super Aguri. They have finally achieved their first win after over 2 decades of trying, and one really has to ask what if SAF1 was still in existence and whether their performance would be comparable to STR’s over the last few months.

SPEED TV’s ITALIAN GP WRAP

MY SECRET IDENTITY EXPOSED

My friends, and though I've known you for only a short time I'd like to consider you as my friends. I have a secret. Something that I have told no one else and that you must solemnly promise never to reveal to anyone, even under threat of torture. I have Superhuman powers. Yes, it's true. How I developed this astonishing and awesome power I have no idea, but none the less I have it and it's an incredible burden that I now choose to share with you.

TAKING TIME WITH TAKU

Taku, as we all affectionately know and call him, was initially a name, which I came across on top timesheets and scorecards in the 2000 British F3 championship when I joined In Pit Lane in that rainy September in year 2000.  I became interested in his performances when I spotted him more frequently than not in F3 related articles and the praises that everyone was giving him.  When I saw some footage of his driving in the 2000 Macau F3 GP (unfortunately eventually crashing out) and over the course of 2001, when Ant was his teammate and the pair dominated the British F3 championship, my mind was set.  I enjoyed keeping myself up to date with his performances and especially enjoyed that win at the Macau F3GP in 2001. I was therefore overjoyed when Eddie Jordan hired Taku, and Ant became BAR Honda’s test driver in 2002.

PEUGEOT PUMPS UP HYBRID POWER

Peugeot Sport presented a 908 HDi FAP equipped with  hybrid power at the final round of the 2008 Le Mans Series at Silverstone, this weekend. The company unveiled a 908 HDi FAP equipped with a hybrid power plant, featuring a kinetic energy recovery system. The 908HY was presented in a new, specific silver-grey livery and will provide a foretaste of what Peugeot’s next endurance racing challenger could resemble, although its use will depend on the regulations that will govern LMP 1 cars from 2009.

AUDI SCORES AT SILVERSTONE AS PEUGEOT CRASHES OUT

Audi have turned the tables on the dominant Peugeots winning the Silverstone 1000 the final round of the 2008 Le Mans Series. Driving the Diesel powered R10, Dindo Capello (Italy) and Allan McNish (Scotland) scored the first series victory for the Le Mans winning Audi R10 TDI. It was a tough weekend for the previously dominant Peugeots,  Nicolas Manasian spun early while fighting for the lead with McNish, and later retired after a frightening crash on the high speed Hanger straight that totally destroyed his 908 Coupe.

HOLDING ON IN A HOLDEN

Garth Tander and Mark Skaife have broken Holden's enduro drought with a win in a thrilling Phillip Island 500. Tander took the lead on lap 103 of the 113-lap race after a rare mistake by Ford driver Jamie Whincup who had led for much of the race. Whincup had led from pole position but a heavy shower midway through the race caused chaos as teams and drivers struggled with their choice of tyre.

VETTEL VICTORIOUS IN A WIN FOR THE SPORT

Sebastian Vettel showed his recent race form and stunning pole position were no fluke with a dominant pole to flag win in the Italian Grand Prix at Monza. Vettel was never seriously threatened leading all the way to give Scuderia Toro Roso its first ever victory as well as becoming the youngest driver to ever win a Grand Prix.