BRISCOE TOPS WEBBER IN WORLD DRIVER “RANKINGS”

Indy Racing League driver Ryan Briscoe has topped Formula One star Mark Webber and 2009 Le Mans and ALMS winner David Brabham to be the top  ranked Australian driver in a new world driver ranking system. The Castrol Driver Ranking System claims to fairly compare drivers across a number of different race series and styles. The rankings analyse performances over 50 major National and International racing series, points are awarded based on a bewildering formula based on results from qualifying, racing and fastest laps. Events and series are also given a rating based on the number of rounds and the "importance" of the event or series. The rankings were revealed at the Autosport International Show in Great Britain by former F1 driver David Coulthard.

ANOTHER POM TAKING OUR JOBS

Former Director of Motorsport at Ford and current Bahrain International Circuit CEO Martin Whitaker, is the new CEO of V8 Supercars Australia. The appointment of the highly respected sports administrator will be seen as a major boost in the profile and credibility of the category in the International motorsport scene. Making the announcement V8 Supercars Australia Chairman  Tony Cochrane said that Whitaker's signing "is an outstanding testimony to the size and quality of our business and our sport." “Martin will join an excellent management team and help build the sport throughout Australia, the Pacific, Asia and the Indian sub continents.” he said.

THE CHAMP IS HERE

SCHUMACHER BACK FOR MERCEDES GP

The most successful partnership in Formula One history is set to be reunited with the news that seven time World F1 Champion Michael Schumacher will drive for Mercedes in the 2010 World Drivers Championship. Schumacher will again team with Ross Brawn, the man who helped the German to his incredible success throughout the late 90's and into the new century. According to the German newspaper "The Bild", Mercedes GP will soon make the official announcement that Schumacher has signed with the team for one year with a further one year option. The paper says that Schumacher will effectively be warming the seat for another fast young German star in Sebastian Vettel, who still has two years to serve on his Red Bull contract.

FORMULA ONE: AS SEEN ON TV

Australian free to air television network "Network Ten" have announced a five-year extension of its exclusive Australian broadcast rights to Formula 1. The new agreement commences at the start of the 2011season and extends through to the end of 2015. The new agreement with Formula One Management will see the network continue it's live F1 coverage on the digital only ONE HD Sports channel as well as with delayed coverage on TEN. The Australian Grand Prix race will also be broadcast live simultaneously on TEN as is required under Australia's anti-siphoning rules. For the first time the new deal also covers online, mobile and IPTV rights as well. Network Ten's general manager – sport, David White, said: "Formula 1 has always had a large, passionate and loyal following in Australia."

TOYOTA OUT AS JAPAN SAYS SAYONARA F1

A report in the Japanese English language newspaper "Mainichi Daily" claims that Toyota are about to announce their withdrawal from Formula One effective immediately. The company is due to annouce it's six monthly financial report this Thursday where it is expected to reveal a significant operating loss. Sales have dropped by just over 30 percent in the April to September period compared with the previous year, with exports falling 45.4 percent. The company had already announced it's decision to withdraw from hosting the Japanese Grand Prix at its' Fuji circuit and follows the news that Japanese tyre giant Bridgestone will pull out from F1 at the end of 2010.

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:

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.

IMG LINK RAISES THE STAKES IN F1 BREAKAWAY

Website Grand Prix.com is suggesting that global sports management juggernaut IMG could be the people behind the promotion of an "alternative F1" series. IMG is one of the World's largest sports promotion and management companies and if anybody can rival Bernie Ecclestone for professionalism and global reach then it's IMG. IMG has a global portfolio that includes many of the worlds biggest sporting events and the company has plenty of motorsport experience including running a number of major street races including the Surfers Paradise Indy race and several Champcar rounds in the USA. It also has run Bathurst and the Sandown enduros here in Australia. Currently they are responsible for the media and marketing rights to events including the LeMans Series, NASCAR, NHRA Drag Racing and The World Speedway Grand Prix. Interestingly IMG is also a media partner of the Williams F1 racing team, one of only two current F1 teams to commit themselves to the traditional FIA series next year. FOTA is scheduled to meet tomorrow to discuss the planning for their series, certainly, if as rumoured IMG is involved, then the chances of it happening and operating successfully just got a whole lot better.