Pitstop: Stroud loses appeal against Manfeild yellow flag

Superbike star Andrew Stroud, who is a front-runner in the national championship, will have an extra spur going into the third round at Teretonga next week.

The Hamilton-based Suzuki rider has lost an appeal against a decision that cost him last year's title. His disqualification from one race at Manfeild for passing under a yellow caution flag allowed Tony Rees to win the title.

The Sports Disputes Tribunal has provisionally upheld the decision of the Appeal Committee of Motorcycling New Zealand to support the disqualification.

The tribunal found that the evidence fell short of establishing that MNZ had made a factual error in determining Stroud passed another rider under a yellow flag.

Stroud had also appealed against the disqualification subsequently imposed. The steward at the meeting had originally relegated him one place but, after a protest by another rider that relegation was not an available penalty, the protest committee disqualified him.

The tribunal accepted the submissions of MNZ that it had applied the only appropriate rule. In such circumstances, exclusion was appropriate.


Kart kings could go head to head

Two of karting's most successful graduates are in line to compete in the CIK Trophy of New Zealand event at Hamilton from January 20-23.

Organisers of the Karcher-sponsored event are hopeful that former world karting champion Wade Cunningham and local graduate Chris Vander Drift will be available.

Last year, in his first year in a single-seater, Cunningham finished fifth overall in the United States Formula Ford Zetec 2000 championship. This year he won the Infiniti Pro Series, the support class to the Indy Racing League.

Vander Drift, who earned a scholarship to compete in the European Formula BMW Championship, finished fourth overall and won the rookie of the year award in 2004 and won a race and again finished fourth overall this year.

Set to provide the two ex-karters with competition are Cunningham's younger brother Mitchell, who took his brother's place in the CRG team in Italy, and one of Australia's top CIK class drivers, Jason Burns. Recently crowned North Island Formula 100 champion, Phillip Watkins, from Wellington, will also be a contender.


Zanardi bio-pic for big screen

Alex Zanardi, who lost his legs in an horrific Champ Car accident and recovered to compete again in touring cars, is to be the focus of a film.

A US production company has bought the rights to Zanardi's autobiography My Sweetest Victory and negotiations are taking place between the studio and prospective production companies.

Zanardi, who lost his legs at the Lausitz bowl in Germany, won a World Touring Car Championship round at Oschersleben this year.


Hartley brothers set to spread their wings

The Hartley brothers from Palmerston North could be racing overseas next year. Brendon will be competing with the Red Bull junior team in Europe and now older brother Nelson is mulling opportunities in the US.

Nelson Hartley has been contesting the national Formula Ford championship, but has received invitations to drive in the Formula 2000 series in the US. He may opt to preserve his funds for that venture after the next two Ford rounds.


Supercars' China date up in the air

Team Kiwi will be hoping the Australian Supercar organisers can settle their differences with the Chinese over the scheduled round in Shanghai next season.

Paul Radisich produced the New Zealand team's best result when he finished third in the inaugural round of the V8 series in China last season.

The Chinese have notified Avesco that the June date for Shanghai next year does not fit their needs and the Aussies intend to fly to China next month to try to settle on an alternative.


Newspapers fined for F1 tobacco logos

France, where you may still have to peer through the fug of Gauloises tobacco smoke to eat in a restaurant, can be militantly anti-smoking when it comes to motor-racing.

Three French newspapers have been fined for publishing photographs of Formula One drivers whose overalls showed tobacco logos.

The newspapers, Le Point, Le Monde and Les Echos, were fined $2000 each and ordered to pay the costs of the anti-smoking group that laid the complaints.


Audi diesel for Le Mans

Audi, which changed the face of world rallying with its mighty Quattros, is heading to the Le Mans 24-hour race in June with an R10 prototype sports car powered by an all-aluminium 650bhp 12 cylinder turbo-diesel. The car will make its debut at Sebring in the US in March.