QUIET START FOR EUROPEAN LE MANS SERIES

A new era for European endurance racing kicks off this weekend as the European Le Mans Series gets underway at the Paul Ricard circuit in France. The new series will feature LMP2 as it's premier category leaving the faster (and more expensive) LMP 1 machines to the new World Championship which got underway last month at Sebring. Five separate chassis will be represented including Lola, Oreca and the revived Morgan brand. There are at this stage only two engines being used. Nissan and well know endurance race engine specialists Judd. Attracting the most attention will be the new team of eight time World Rally Champion Sebastien Loeb. The last minute deal to put the team together has left then short of testing time but there's plenty of driving experience to overcome any shortfall.

MOVING TRIBUTE TO RICHARD BURNS

RALLY AUSTRALIA CHAIRMAN RESIGNS

Rally Australia have announced the resignation of former CAMS CEO Graham Fountain from the event. Mr Fountain, who last week resigned from his position at the Melbourne Fire Brigade after allaegations of inappropriate behaviour involving a female employee was in the position with the Rally for only a matter of weeks. Here is the Statement: RALLY Australia Pty [...]

RALLY AUSTRALIA BOSS IN SEX SCANDAL

Former CAMS CEO and Rally Australia Chairman Graham Fountain has been forced to step down as CEO of Melbourne’s Metropolitan Fire Brigade after claims of sexual harassment by a female employee. Mr Fountain tendered his resignation this morning (Thursday Dec. 16th) , which was accepted by the president of the board, Neil Comrie. According to a report [...]

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.

RALLY AUSTRALIA FOR NSW

The Confederation of Australian Motorsport has announced details of the return of Australia's round of the World Rally Championship, Rally Australia. At a launch in Sydney today it was announced that the Rally will take place around North Eastern New South Wales in and around the Tweed Heads area.