Pitstop: Indonesia round of A1GP rescheduled

The Indonesian round of the A1GP series, which was to have been held at Sentul next weekend, has been rescheduled to February 10-12.

The postponement followed the death of the Emir of Dubai, Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum, uncle of the A1 Grand Prix founder, president and chairman, Sheikh Maktoum, who is observing a period of mourning.

The next round of the series will be a street race in Durban, South Africa, on January 27-29, followed by rounds in Mexico, the United States and China. The round scheduled for Brazil has been cancelled because of difficulties with the track.


Dixon's return part of Ganassi's plan to win

Scott Dixon's return to the long-distance sports prototype race at Daytona this month in a Lexus Riley prototype with Dan Wheldon and Casey Mears is part of a two-pronged effort by Chip Ganassi to win the prized sportscar race.

Ganassi's lead car at Daytona will be driven by Scott Pruett, Luis Diaz and Max Papis. Pruett and Papis won the 2004 Daytona Prototype team and driver titles. The race will be run on the January 28-29 weekend.

Last year's winners were Wayne Taylor, Max Angelelli and Emmanuel Collard in a Pontiac Riley. They completed 710 laps. Dixon's car managed 694.


Russell and Tyler hoping for more

Porsche drivers Alastair Russell and Andy Tyler will be hoping for more of the same as the national SuperGT Series comes to Taupo this weekend.

After the first round at Pukekohe, Russell has a five-point lead in the points standings over defending series champion Tyler, with Subaru-driving Jason Liefting a further two points back.

Russell and Tyler, who drive virtually identical slant-nose Porsche 911 RSR replicas, collected points in all three races while fellow Porsche drivers Bill Fulford and Ray Williams in more powerful turbocharged cars, lacked consistency.

Also racing will be the Formula Firsts with former champion Michael Shepherd enjoying a good points lead over Selby Allison and Cliff Field after three rounds. Racing will be on the old circuit, which remains in use as the new layout is being developed for the visit of the New Zealand V8s in March.


Stroud takes 22-point lead to Teretonga

Andrew Stroud takes a healthy 22-point lead into the third round of the national road racing championship at Teretonga this weekend.

The Hamilton rider has 132 points, Australian Shawn Giles has 110 and Aucklander Ray Clee has 103. All three ride Suzukis.

Palmerston North rider Craig Shirriffs (Suzuki) is 30 points clear of Wellingtonian Derek McAdam (Kawasaki) in the 600cc sport class, with Stroud a further eight points further adrift.

Dave Cole from Glenbrook, the leader in the 250GP class, will not be riding at Teretonga as he guides the talented teenager Sam Smith in the 600cc sport division.

Terry Fitzgerald, Andrew Evans and Stacey Sellar dominate the Formula Three, 125GP and sidecar championships.


Rod Millen to try for race in the sky

Expatriate Kiwi Rod Millen is coming back this year for another shot at the Race to the Sky in the Cardrona Valley at Easter, after missing a podium finish for the first time in four years at last year's event.

At the wheel of his Toyota Hilux the US-based driver won the King of the Mountain title in 2002 and was runner-up in 2003 and 2004. Last year he was relegated to fourth place after Monster Tajima of Japan stormed into first place followed by Swede Kenneth Eriksson and leading Kiwi Andrew Hawkeswood.

Millen, a regular competitor at the Pike's Peak hill climb in Colorado, has been a loyal supporter of the Race to the Sky since its inception. His son, Rhys, may also be a starter this year after finishing third in 2002.

The younger Millen recently took on the role of lead driver for the movie Fast and Furious II and was the stunt driver for the remake of The Dukes of Hazzard. He is also one of the top world competitors in drifting (Formula D), winning at the Irwindale Speedway and the Wall Speedway in New Jersey.


Following in their fathers' footsteps

Keke Rosberg's son is in Formula One, Mario Andretti's grandson is into Indycars and Alan Jones' boy has represented Australia in the A1GP.

Now another Formula One world champion, Nigel Mansell, is joining the ranks of proud parents in the pits.

His sons, Leo aged 20 and Greg aged 18, will make their debuts in Formula BMW this year. What is unusual about the Mansell boys is that they were discouraged by their parents from following in their father's tracks and came to the sport with very limited experience.