KEY POINTS:
The final round of the Auckland Car Club Clubman's race championships is at Pukekohe this weekend. This series has run for 40 years and has been integral in the development of drivers such as Scott Dixon. More than 70 competitors, ranging from 15 to 70 years of age,
race a variety of machines. Also featuring will be the Star Cars - miniature versions of the Holden and Ford Super V8s powered by 1100cc motorcycle engines.
Stoner in control
MotoGP rider Casey Stoner goes into this weekend's Alice Grand Prix de France at Le Mans leading the championship and 15 points clear of second-placed Valentino Rossi of Italy. Le Mans is a tight track with first-gear corners and it places emphasis on late braking and hard acceleration. The circuit is hard on tyres, but Stoner is happy with the new regulations limiting riders to 14 front and 17 rear tyres each. Stoner has won three out of four races so far this season.
Team penalised
American Nascar driver Dale Earnhardt jnr was stripped of 100 points and his crew chief, Tony Eury, fined US$100,000 ($137,270) for racing with an illegal part. Eury was also suspended for six Nextel Cup races, but is allowed to work on the car during an exhibition race this weekend. Nascar inspectors said Earnhardt's rear wing was improperly mounted when it was checked at Darlington the previous week. The team are not disputing the infringement but are to appeal against the severity of the sentence.
Kiwi driver competes
Kiwi racing driver Chris van der Drift is back in action this weekend, competing in the first round of the new International Formula Master S2000 championship in Valencia, Spain. The race is being run in conjunction with the FIA World Touring Car Championship. There are eight rounds, with two races at each round, and 33 drivers have registered in 14 teams. Van der Drift is again driving for Italy-based JD Motorsport.
Subaru signs pons
Spaniard Xevi Pons will drive for Subaru in the world rally championship from the second half of this season. Pons is set to drive a third car in the last eight rallies, beginning in Finland, August 3-5. The former Citroen driver quit the championship last year after failing to find a competitive drive.