Pitstop: German makes the most of visit

German driver Peter Scharmach intends to make the most of his racing in New Zealand this season.

The 42-year-old is bringing his own car for the new Mini Challenge championship and with a two-week gap between the first round at Pukekohe and the second at Ruapuna, he intends to compete in Rally NZ.

For his rally venture from November 17-19, he has an ex-Possum Bourne Subaru Group N car.

Briton joins V8 line-up

Another overseas entrant has confirmed for the national V8 championship. Englishman Shaun Richardson, a veteran of European Nascar series, has a Holden used last season by Team Kiwi. He will also race a Nascar in the Tranzam series.

Heat on Martin

Turangi driver Brett Martin will have the pressure on during the final round of the national rally champs in Nelson this weekend. Richard Mason, who took the title at the previous round, is in China and second-placed Martin's Mitsubishi will be hounded by Subaru drivers Sam Murray, Emma Gilmour and former champion Chris West. There are 64 points at stake over the two days and West in fifth spot is 20 points behind Martin.

Van Gisbergen wins

National Formula Ford champion Shane Van Gisbergen showed his versatility by winning the Franklin Club's All Terrain Vehicle winter series at Mercer last weekend. When the circuit racing championships begin at Pukekohe on November 4, the St Kentigern pupil will move up to the Toyota series.

Victory for Scott

National V8 champion Kayne Scott won the reverse-grid race at the latest round of the second-level V8 Supercar championship at Mallala in South Australia. Palmerston North teenager Chris Pither was third. Another Kiwi, Mark Porter, was fourth, with Scott seventh and Pither 11th.

Crocker way ahead

Australian Subaru driver Cody Crocker has taken an unassailable lead in the Asia-Pacific Rally Championship after finishing second in Rally Indonesia to Japan's Toshi Arai. He becomes just the second Australian to take the title after Ross Dunkerton in 1991 and 1992.

Oceania result

Pukekohe teenager Sam Smith and national 600cc champion Craig Shirriffs fared best of the four-rider NZ team in the Oceania Road Race Championship at Phillip Island, near Melbourne. Smith on a Yamaha was fourth and Shirriffs on a Suzuki fifth.