KELLY WINS A WET ONE BUT ALL IS SUNNY FOR JAMIE

Falcon driver Jamie Whincup edged closer to his first Australian V8 Supercar championship despite finishing second to Holden's Todd Kelly at a wet and windy Symmonns Plains Raceway in Tasmania. Starting from the front row Whincup led early but was soon under pressure from main title rival Holden's Garth Tander as rain began to sweep the Northern Tasmanian track. Tander ran off the track in the tricky conditions and stalled leaving Kelly as Holden's main contender against the fast Fords of Whincup and Mark Winterbottom. Kelly drove brilliantly in the terrible conditions coming from way back in the pack to be challenging for the lead within a few laps. After changing to wets Kelly stormed through the field again to take the lead for good on lap 35. After the race an emotional Kelly, who leaves the Perkins team at the end of the year, described the race as one of his best ever.

WEBBER HOSPITALISED AFTER TASMANIAN BIKE CRASH

Australian Formula One star Mark Webber has been rushed to a Tasmanian Hospital in a stable condition after being involved in an accident during his annual charity event. Webber was on the bike leg of the annual Mark Webber Challenge when he  hit a car on Fortescue Bay Road on the Tasman Peninsula. The Tasmanian Ambulance Service initially said that Webber had multiple fractures of his arms and legs, but a more recent report says that the injuries are to one leg only. He was immediately  airlifted to a hospital in the Tasmanian capital city of Hobart.   Webber Challenge media manager Nancy Cook says Webber is disappointed his race has been ended by an accident. "Mark's been involved in a minor accident, he's fine," she said. "He's being treated, he's really disappointed that he's not going to be able to continue but he's well and being looked after." The incident could see Webber out of action for at least six weeks, not good considering the major changes to Formula One regulations in 2009.  

WIN FREE TICKETS TO SANDOWN NATIONALS

The 2009 Australian Circuit Racing season rounds up with the Shannon's Nationals from Sandown on November 29-30 and YOU can be there! Thanks to the Shannons Nationals, In Pit Lane is offering five lucky viewers the chance to be our guest at Sandown for what looks like a huge weekend of motorsport variety. The main event sees the glamour and excitement of the final round of the Australian GT Championship as Lamborghini driver Mark Eddy faces off against the Aston Martin of John Kaias in the fight for this year's title. But they wont have it all on their own though as several top drivers return to the series for the grand final. Australian motorsport legend John Bowe will return to to track driving with Ted Huglin in a Lamborghini Gallardo and as a five time GT race winner Bowe will be hard to beat.

INDY OUT, A1GP IN

  The A1GP is to replace the Indy Cars on the Cold Coast. Queensland Premier Anna Bligh announced this morning that a compromise could not be reached with the Indy Racing League bringing an end to the history of a major US racing category on the circuit. Ms Bligh rather pointedly said the the new series would feature the faster A1GP cars instead of Indy cars as well as V8 supercars. "I am sure the A1GP will be a terrific attraction for both `revheads' and new fans to the world of motorsport," Ms Bligh said. The State Government has been negotiating with the owners of the Indy Racing League over scheduling clashes but refused to move the racing carnival to March at the request of the US-based league.  An in-principle agreement with the European A1GP has been drawn up and the deal will be finalised within a week.  

TOYOTA BACK TO LE MANS ?

The rumours became whispers now the whispers are becoming a quiet roar, Toyota is heading back to Le Mans. The stories have been around for years but with the limitations of Formula One and the high profile of the Le Mans series in both Europe and the important USA market, the chances of a return by Toyota are growing. Speaking on the Australian television show “In Pit Lane” Toyota's Australian motorsport manager Todd Connolly said the while there was nothing official the company would like to be back at Le Sarthe. “At this stage there is nothing we can say in that reagard but obviously there's a lot of benfits in running a hybrid in  a race like Le Mans. he said. Connolly was speaking from in front of the Toyota stand at the recent Syd.. sorry Australian International Motorshow which featured a heavy motorsport presence including the Tokachi 24 hour winning Supra Hybrid.

DRAG RACING DEFIES THE DOWNTURN: ENZED INCREASE BACKING

At a time when many companies are pulling back or leaving motorsport altogether, Drag Racing seems to faring better than most other areas of the sport. The latest announcement sees the mobile hose and fittings specialists ENZED expand its support and backing for the sport. While ENZED has been involved in various motorsport sponsorships including a long running sponsorship of Larry Perkins' V8 Supercar team, the new deal will see ENZED increase it's presence in Drag Racing through the sports increasing television profile and professionalism.   ENZED will be the corporate backer of ANDRA TV's ‘Reaction Times’ package with the ENZED’s logo will now appearing on all reaction time screen shots for each drag racing category on every ANDRA Championship Drag Racing television program.

HYUNDAI UNVEILS MILLEN BUILT “GT” GENESIS

IT’S GOING TO BE A BRIGHT SUNSHINY YEAR?

  Jason Bright will drive a third car for Stone Brothers Racing in 2009, the move seeming to bring an end to Bright's own Britek Racing operation in the Melbourne suburb of Dandenong. Bright's move comes after the decision by Ford Australia to withdraw support from a number of Falcon teams including Brights. Speaking to In Pit Lane earlier this year Bright made his intention clear that he wanted to continue with his own team, but less than three months later Bright has been forced to admit that his on-track future lies with the Queensland based operation. Bright and several senior Britek staff are now set to leave Melbourne to move to Queensland leaving the Factory backed FPV team the only top level Ford team still based in Melbourne. “I’ve tried to push the Fujitsu Racing Falcon well into the top ten and have done so on a number of occasions. However, with a new car coming on stream and the changes in fuel technology we simply don’t have the resources, or time, to research and develop what is needed to be competitive.” he said. Just how the decision effects Bright's other projects such as the Britek Scholarship is not known at this stage. A decision on the second, currently IRWIN Industrial Tools sponsored, Britek entry driven by Marcus Marshall will not be made until early December.  

‘TWAS ON THE ISLE OF CAPRI

Glenn Seton made a winning return to South Australia's Mallala Motor Sport Park and South Australian Bob Middleton wrapped up his fourth-consecutive Australian Supertruck title in the penultimate round of the Shannons Nationals.   Six categories took to Mallala for the ninth round of 2008, with Middleton one of three new national champions crowned over the weekend.   On his 64th birthday, Middleton continued his golden run in the Tankworld Australian Supertruck Nationals, winning the championship.   Middleton entered the weekend 10 points behind John Falk, but won all four races to take his fourth crown.   “I'm over the moon, it's a nice little birthday present,“ Middleton enthused.   “We've worked hard all year for this and the guys have done a great job to bounce back after we lost a heap of points with mechanical problems in Perth.   “This weekend went really well from the outset; wrapping up our fourth straight championship here at home is a great feeling.“

WORLD OF OUTLAWS by SPEED TV