Pitstop: Hope for A1 in NZ

"Build it and I will come" - that was the message from Sheikh Maktoum Al Maktoum and it was music to the ears of the developers of the motor-racing complex at Hampton Downs near Meremere.

The sheikh, founder of the A1GP series, has been in Auckland this week as the guest of Colin Giltrap, owner of the New Zealand franchise, whose black-liveried car lies fourth after four rounds in the World Cup of Motorsport.

Sheikh Maktoum said the black car of New Zealand and the orange car of Holland stood out from the rest and had developed a strong fan following. A round in New Zealand would be a great boost to tourism and he would be delighted for that to happen when the track was completed.

Hampton Downs is still immersed in the consent process and principal Tony Roberts doesn't expect the go-ahead before March. He was heartened by support from Government Minister Damien O'Connor, who is Minister of Tourism but who also holds corrections and rural affairs portfolios - which might be handy as the proposed track is on farmland next door to a new prison.

Black Beauty on show in Auckland

In the meantime, fans can have a look at the Black Beauty car from noon until 2pm today at Giltrap Prestige in Great North Rd, Auckland.

Search for a V8 track

Another man looking for a track is Dean Calvert, whose organisation holds the rights to the V8 Supercar round in New Zealand.

Pukekohe will be the host in April and probably in the following season but Calvert has been talking to other prospective venues. Wellington, which stalled a street race decision before the last local body elections, is apparently still in the market.

The bulldozers are at work on Taupo's new track and it is on schedule to stage a round of the local V8 series early next year.

Ingall favourite in Supercar championship

Russell Ingall, who leads the Aussie V8 Supercar championship coming to this weekend's round in Tasmania, must start as favourite after winning there last year. His team-mate and defending champion, Marcos Ambrose, is a Tasmanian but had only ever raced a Kart there before last year's round.

Ingall has a 66-point lead with two rounds remaining (Symmons Plains and Phillip Island).

World title chance for Tony Sircombe

New Zealand co-driver Tony Sircombe has the chance to share in a world championship victory at Rally of Australia in Perth this weekend.

He will be alongside Subaru driver Toshi Arai defending a seven-point lead in the final round of the Production World Rally Championship. They only need to finish sixth or higher to become world champions in the class.

They have had three wins in the championship this year and a second placing in New Zealand. They are previous winners of the production class in Australia.

Sircombe, a co-driver for 20 years, has worked with a number of drivers, including the late Possum Bourne.

Super performance by reigning Superkart champion

Reigning national Superkart champion Wayne Sproston added the North Island title to his collection at Taupo last Sunday.

The Wellington driver, who won the national title at the same circuit back in February, won three of the four heats to take title ahead of Gerard Braakhuis and the first of the Adlington brothers, Kevin. He also won the North Island Grand Prix race and title from Braakhuis and the second of the Adlington brothers, David.

Triple treat for Lyall Williamson

Lyall Williamson's International Motorsport team had entries in three of the main categories at the opening national championship meeting at Pukekohe and he was well pleased with the results.

The team prepares a number of Porsche GT3s so there was no surprise that Fabian Coulthard and Craig Baird dominated the class.

Daniel Gaunt had some problems with the engine in his Toyota single-seater but improved in each race to win the last and take the championship lead.

In the V8s Angus Fogg topped qualifying and led the first race until he was slowed by a worn tyre and finished third behind team-mate Paul Pedersen.

Good luck from crash

World Superbike rider Steve Martin found that bad luck can have unexpected benefits after a crash led to the discovery of a malignant tumour in his kidney.

The 36-year-old Australian suffered a blow to his kidney in a crash at Magny-Cours and subsequent medical tests revealed the presence of the tumour.

Martin has since had the kidney removed and will be riding again next month.