Pitstop: Stanaway makes voters' lists

Richie Stanaway. Photo / Supplied

Kiwi open-wheel racer Richie Stanaway has made the list on Driverdb.com. He has been voted into categories including Young Driver of the Year, Open Wheel Driver of the Year and Driver of the Year. Dixon and Franchitti question carNew Zealand IndyCar driver Scott Dixon's reservations about the series' new car has been backed by his teammate and reigning champion Dario Franchitti. The Scot wants the new Dallara DW12 chassis to be more adaptable to different driving styles.

Paddon pits himself against Ogier

Production World Rally champion Kiwi Hayden Paddon says one reason for moving to the S2000 class was to pit himself against Sebastien Ogier. Ogier has signed with Volkswagen Motorsport, and will drive a Skoda, as will Paddon with ASM Motorsport.

Public service for Richards

New Zealand V8 Supercars' driver Jason Richards will be remembered at a public service at Sandown in Melbourne on January 9. Richards died on December 15, after a 14-month battle with cancer.

Grand Prix queen crowned

Miss New Zealand Grand Prix 2012 will be crowned on race day, February 9, at the NZ Grand Prix at Manfeild. Her first official duty will be to present the laurels to the Grand Prix winner.

Under the hood

MotoGP star and seven-time world champion Valentino Rossi has said that the global financial meltdown will force manufacturers to dump super high-tech gizmos on bikes and build cheaper machines with less performance. The 2012 season will see the return of the 1000cc engine after five years of riders racing an 800cc power plant. Also, a new category for privateer teams, Claiming Rule Teams, has been created to boost the number of entrants and combat the dwindling number of factory teams.