KEY POINTS:
International motorsport's A1Team.NZL's Junior Development Team returns to the Toyota racing series this season. The team has two new drivers, 17-year-old Earl Bamber and Mitchell Cunningham, 21. Bamber won the Formula BMW Asia series in 2006 and Cunningham claimed pole and a race win in his rookie year in the 2007 Pacific F2000 championship in the United States.
BIAGGI BIKES ON
Max Biaggi will remain in the World Superbike Championship next year after signing for Sterilgarda Ducati. The 36-year-old Italian will partner Ruben Xaus on the latest 1098. After a career that brought him four 250cc world titles and 13 Moto GP wins, Biaggi switched to superbikes from Moto GP after signing for Alstare Suzuki. A soured relationship with team chief Francis Batta, and the withdrawal of the team's main sponsor Corona Beer, resulted in Biaggi walking out on Alstare two weeks ago.
SUBARU TEAM ON FORM
Double New Zealand rally champion Richard Mason and co-driver Sara Randall made the most of their first-ever overseas World Rally Championship event - in Japan - with their third top 20 WRC finish. The team brought their virtually standard 2003 Subaru Impreza home in 18th place overall (of 85 starters) and in so doing won the trophy for the third non-priority seeded Subaru to finish.
SHANE IN BAHRAIN
Team Kiwi Racing supercar V8 rookie 18-year-old Shane van Gisbergen takes to the Bahrain International Circuit for the first time this weekend. The F1 circuit will not hold any problems for van Gisbergen, a proven fast adapter.
ALONSO BIDS FOR NO 1
Should the rumours prove to be true that F1 driver Fernando Alonso may be moving to the Red Bull team, the driver most likely to be replaced is David Coulthard. However, with Alonso's clearly stated need to be the No 1 driver in the team, Mark Webber could take umbrage. If the Red Bull deal goes through, a seat at McLaren becomes vacant. Webber is highly regarded at McLaren.
FUEL CASE TO COURT
The FIA International Court of Appeal will hear McLaren's appeal over the steward's decision not to take action over fuel temperature irregularities on November 15. If Nico Rosberg, Nick Heidfeld and Robert Kubica, who all finished ahead of Hamilton in Brazil, are excluded from the results, that would allow Hamilton to overtake Kimi Raikkonen in the championship. A messy end to a messy season.
GRAND PRIX LIGHTS UP
The Singapore Grand Prix has been granted approval to become the first F1 race to be held under lights. The circuit is to be lit by lighting balloons that have been used successfully before. The second new venue for the 2008 season, Valencia, is also understood to have received track approval. The race will take place in August on a newly-constructed street circuit around the Spanish city's redeveloped marina.