THE THUNDER ROLLS ON DESPITE V8 ISLAND RAID

It's now been confirmed, the V8 supercars will race at Phillip Island in November, the same weekend as the traditional Historic Sandown, Return of the Thunder. The Island race will feature two sprint races under the banner of the Phillip Island 300. Confirmation of the race has came as a huge blow to the Victorian Historic Racing Register who will clearly lose spectators and possibly trackside officials as a result of the clash. It'll be a big weekend for local marshals with a round of the Victorian Motor Racing Championships also on at Winton that weekend.

THE FORMULA THAT CAN NOT BE CURED

With the latest scandal in Formula 1 involving race fixing claims splattered in all manners of media, I certainly was glad I’m no longer a Formula 1 fan. I very definitely do not want to be associated with those scammers, liars, cheats, nor any of the like-minded ego-maniacs that populate this field. However, I find it very disturbing the sort of level Formula 1 as a brand image and its integrity has sunk towards with scandal after scandal within and beyond the last ten years of its existence. If you’re still interested in this sport or entertainment, or whatever you’d like to call it. I’m sure you’d be asking when any of this will ever stop, so you can get to enjoy your Formula 1 racing again. Having watched and studied the field for almost 20 years, I really don’t like the prospects of any of these huge egos with limitless pockets being put in their place and coming to terms that honesty, sportsmanship and values are not just merely words in press releases and sponsorship proposals.

RENAULT WILL NOT CONTEST RACE-FIX CLAIMS AS BRIATORE SAYS GOODBYE

In a bombshell announcement Renault said that they will not dispute the serious allegations of race fixing in last years Singapore Grand Prix when the team appears before the FIA World Motorsport Council on September 21. The team also announced that controversial team boss Flavio "fun bags" Briatore and executive director of engineering Pat Symonds have "left" the team. The team will face the WMC to answer the charge after disgruntled former driver Nelson Piquet Jnr alleged that he had been asked to crash his car during the early stages of the race in order to advantage his team-mate Fernando Alonso. In a brief statement Renault said:

HARTLEY WINS EURO F3 AT BRANDS

New Zealand driver Brendon Hartley (Carlin Motorsport) scored his maiden victory in the Formula 3 Euro Series, with a win at the Brands Hatch "Indy" circuit in the UK. Hartley's victory also gave his team Carlin Motorsport it's first win in the Euro series after years of dominating in the British series. Mücke Motorsport drivers Alexander Sims and Sam Bird  completed the podium after the 14th round of the series. Jules Bianchi (ART Grand Prix) retired in the pits after six laps, but still retains his championship lead with a margin of 16 points. The race was determined by two safety car phases. Basil Shaaban (Prema Powerteam) caused the first by hitting the barrier and a collision between Jake Rosenzweig (Carlin Motorsport), César Ramos (Manor Motorsport) and Adrien Tambay (ART Grand Prix) triggered the second safety car phase of the race.

LOEB STRIPPED OF RALLY AUSTRALIA WIN

Citroen driver Sebastian Loeb of France has been stripped of his win in this year's Rally Australia. Sebastian Loeb lost the rally after all three Citroen C4s received one minute penalties for a technical infringement. The stewards' gives the win to Ford driver Mikko Hirvonen, who further extends his championship lead to five points with just two rounds to go. The penalties were imposed on the cars of Loeb, his team-mate Dani Sordo and Citroen Junior driver Sebastian Ogier - who had finished third and fourth due to "an irregularity in their cars' anti-rollbars". Loeb won the event on the road by 12.5 seconds from series leader Hirvonen. Hirvonen's battle with Spanish Citroen driver Dani Sordo was a thriller, the two traded places five times in 10 stages.

“GREENIES” SABOTAGE RALLY AUSTRALIA

So called "Environmental" protesters have carried out their threat to sabotage Rally Australia, the 10th round of the World Rally Championship. Despite failing in their attempts to stop the rally via legal means, protesters resorted to throwing rocks onto the road causing Special Stage Six to be cancelled. Protesters also disguised themselves as marshalls and waved yellow flags at competitors causing then to slow down thus sabotaging their run. Members of the No Rally Group were yesterday distributing flyers to local residents urging them to try and stop the event, even if it resulted in breaking the law. “There is now no option but action,” the flyer read. The protesters have been supported by a fringe radical group called "The Seventh Generation". NSW Police have brought in extra staff to the area to try and protect rally participents and spectators fiollowing several threats.

LOTUS TO RETURN WITH MALAYSIAN F1 PUSH ?

A Malaysian F1 team, possibly running under the famous Lotus name, could be on the grid for next years Grand Prix season according to the Malaysian media. The popular newspaper the Malay mail has carried several stories quoting well placed sources indication a desire to get on the grid for 2010. AirAsia founder and CEO Tony Fernandes is said to be part of a Malaysian-led consortium eager to bid for a spot on the grid. AirAsia currently sponsors the Williams team but the appeal of a home based F1 team would undoubtedly be very strong. The Malaysian petro-chemical giant Petronas is also said to be involved in the plan which could involve the purchase of the BMW-Sauber operation.

WHERE NOW FOR DANICA ?