classified advertising: 0208 267 5355 motorsport-news.co.uk January 25 2012 5 “Is Club Duratec the the voice of MOTORSPORT answer to ageing Kent?” ff1600 at a crossroads, p20 SIMON davidson shocked ARRON Davidson is now without a seat by peugeot pull-out British sportscar star Anthony ‘The potential Davidson has promised to continue chasing his dream of of race circuits winning the Le Mans 24 Hours, despite losing his race seat after Peugeot pulled the plug on its is great’ sportscar programme with immediate effect. The French automotive giant last week shocked the world of racing by announcing that it is withdrawing its successful 908 HDi Davidson (left) won Sebring with Peugeot machines from competition this year. Peugeot will not take part in this year’s Le Mans 24 Hours or in Hawkins Gary Photo: the FIA’s new World Endurance Championship. The French firm has cited both the ongoing European debt crisis and falling arron was wowed by rally action at Brands Hatch road car sales as concerns as the key reasons for its withdrawal. t might not have the cachet of, say, Ex-F1 racer Davidson, who has the 1964 Monte Carlo Rally, but a raced for Peugeot for the last two Le Mans will run dusty programme harbours fond seasons, finished fourth in last without 908s memories. The Ian Harwood Stages year’s 24 Hours with the team and was a Chester Motor Club event held was in contention to win the 2010 event before retiring with rumours over the winter that the events like Le Mans and Sebring. because there’s still a lot of on February 23 1980 at Oulton Park. mechanical failure. He also took programme was shaky but we all They expected to see the classic manufacturer interest with Toyota IIt was an exercise in lateral thought, a racing three Le Mans Series victories for stayed positive. It’s a crushing Audi vs Peugeot duel and this and Porsche both starting circuit being used slightly differently but the team, including the 2010 blow, not just to myself, but to the year they won’t get it. I fear Le programmes, so I’m going to keep wholly appropriately. Sebring 12 Hours. mechanics, the engineers and the Mans especially may be a bit of pushing for a top seat. My main Oulton Park sometimes featured as a special The 32-year-old said the news team personnel who have worked an anti-climax now that Audi is career goal is to win Le Mans and I stage when Britain’s round of the World Rally came as a blow: “It was terrible to so hard to put together one of the left unopposed. think I’ve proven myself to be one hear Peugeot had axed the most formidable sportscar teams “It’s bad timing because it’s very of the fastest drivers out there Championship plied its trade in England, Scotland programme and it’s come at an in the world. close to the start of the year so it’s during my time with Peugeot. I’m and Wales, rather than just the suburbs of Cardiff. awful time,” Davidson told “I feel incredibly sad for the tough to make plans.Sportscar giving up, so work starts now to get But it was used relatively little during the mainstream Motorsport News. “We’d all heard fans who have bought tickets to racing is still a great place to be myself back onto the grid.” motorsport season (14 car meetings and a handful for bikes would be typical for the period) and hardly at all outside. Compare that with the number of Rising star bacheta to events on the contemporary calendar, then factor in the fastest news Le Mans Series LMP1 champion Vainio will join Lotus this year for team Rebellion Racing will contest his second tilt at the title. The battle for F2 success track days, test sessions and so forth. round-uP this year’s World Endurance former Tech 1 racer scored a British single-seater racer There was greater diversity back then, before the Championship. Ex-Aston Martin podium finish at Catalunya last Luciano Bacheta will make a age of one-make saturation, but significantly less driver Harold Primat will drive for year and finished 15th overall. The full assault on this year’s FIA action. That’s why the Ian Harwood Stages was a the squad in the new championship team has won both GP3 titles to Formula Two Championship welcome supplement. In their programme notes, behind the wheel of a Toyota- date, with Esteban Gutierrez and following his participation in powered Lola. He will line-up Valtteri Bottas taking the crowns selected events last year. the promoters celebrated a move “from the wild alongside Andrea Belicchi, Neel in 2010 and 2011… Kyle and Kurt The 21-year-old contested wastes of Marchington Depot [a former military Jani and Nicolas Prost… Formula Busch will split driving duties in a just four of the 16 rounds in barracks] to the civilised roads of Oulton Park”. Not Renault 3.5 driver Kevin Korjus will full-time NASCAR Nationwide Series last year’s championship after that civilised, though: my outstanding memory is challenge for the title again this year with campaign this year. Kurt will step up to switching from GP3. His best having to scramble smartly to avoid a Hillman Imp Tech 1 Racing. The Estonian scored Nationwide this year in his brother’s finish was a fifth place at that had strayed from the prescribed route. three wins in his rookie season with the team, Kyle Busch Motorsports, in Monza in Italy. French squad last year. He also took part place of a Camping World Truck bid. The former Formula Renault The soundtrack hadn’t much altered last weekend, in the F1 young driver test in Abu Dhabi The two drivers have 47 NASCAR driver is set to contest a full when I attended Chelmsford MC’s single-venue with Renault… GP3 driver Aaro Sprint Cup wins between them… campaign in F2 this season and stage rally at Brands Hatch. Ford Escorts? Check. says he is glad to have his plans Mini Clubman? Check. Hillman Imp – check, but confirmed already. keep a close eye on where it goes... “I’m really excited to be It was the first time in 25 years that I’d been to driving in Formula Two this Brands so early in the season. The previous such Mcnish to aid starworks bid for daytona glory daytona contenders season and to have it all team Drivers confirmed so early in the occasion was a sprint that marked my debut in Starworks Motorsport boss Peter enough to compete for a win,” said Chip Ganassi Joey Hand year,” said Bacheta. “It’s great licensed, competitive motorsport. Towards the Baron reckons the addition of Baron. “You just do not pass on the Car: BMW/Riley Scott Pruett to be running a full campaign afternoon’s end, marshals on the Cooper Straight British star Allan McNish to its opportunity to put Allan McNish Graham Rahal in F2. Last year I contested were waving their arms in a manner that suggested Daytona 24 Hours team will give in the car. He is a legend. He brings Memo Rojas four races and enjoyed every they’d like me to drive faster, because they were the squad a boost when fighting much more than his speed – he Chip Ganassi Scott Dixon one and was impressed with borderline hypothermic and wanted to go home. I for victory this weekend. elevates the other guys, gets the Car: BMW/Riley Dario Franchitti the set up of F2. The two-time Le Mans winner others even more motivated and it Jamie McMurray “I would love to get my hands was doing my best, but didn’t want to push my luck has been drafted in by the outfit to is great to work with someone Juan Pablo Montoya on the Williams F1 test prize because a) the car belonged to a friend and b) it was help challenge for the prototype with that kind of history in sports Michael Shank Jorge Goncalvez but know the competition will snowing. title, which was last year won by car racing.” Racing Michael McDowell be tough.” There were no such problems last weekend. A favourites Chip Ganassi Racing. Testing at the track took place Car: Ford/Riley Felipe Nasr little fine-tuning had taken place since 2011’s McNish will race in one of the this week and Chip Ganassi Gustavo Yacaman inaugural event – timing beams had been shifted, team’s two Ford/Riley prototypes Racing star Scott Dixon says his Starworks Ryan Dalziel in a five-man team including team’s consistency could be the Motorsport Lucas Luhr I’m told, to minimise the risk of demolition – and it Scottish racer Ryan Dalziel and Le key to winning the crown again in Car: Ford/Riley Allan McNish might have been better if the stages were peppered Mans ace Lucas Luhr. this year’s event. Alex Popow with a few loose surfaces, such as parts of the Starworks will be one of 14 “All of us on the team are pretty Enzo Potolocchio adjacent rallycross track, but the most important prototype teams going for victory close with our times, so everyone Top GT entries ingredients were slick organisation and a decent in the twice round the clock event pulls their weight,” he said. Risi Gianmaria Bruni crowd with commensurate atmosphere. at the Daytona International “Our times are down a little bit Competizione Giancarlo Fisichella Speedway in Florida.