Pitstop: Gearbox karters in action

The gearbox karters head to Waitara in Taranaki this weekend for the first round of this year's Shifter Series. The championship for purpose-built 125cc gearbox KZ2 and 125cc motorcycle-engined F125S karts has rounds all over the North Island. With last year's runner-up Daniel Bray racing in the US this year, the KZ2 class is wide open. Last year's F125S winner, Daniel Eggleton, steps up to challenge long-time category pace-setter Ryan Grant in KZ2.

Classics join F1 lineup
The classic Formula 5000 racing cars are joining the V8 Supercars, Formula Fords and GTs at the opening round of the Formula One season at Melbourne's Albert Park circuit, March 27-29. This year is the first the popular cars have been invited to join a modern meeting.

Targa start
The first of the 2009 Dunlop Targa NZ tarmac rally series, the Targa Bambina, starts today on the Awhitu Peninsula. There are 27 classic and 38 modern cars contesting the event, including 10 entries in the Narva Tour. Top seed is Mark Parsons in a 1970 Capri Perana V8. The rally finishes tomorrow at Te Kauwhata's Waikare Golf Club.

Hillclimb field best ever
The best field ever assembled for the Bay View Hotel/Pub Charity Bluff Sealed Hillclimb gets into action today. Defending champion Duncan McCrostie - who set a 59.188s record up the 1.6km climb last year - returns in his ex-Emma Gilmour Mitsubishi EVO. That time looks secure for the immediate future as the course has been extended to 1.8km.

Hopes up for Honda F1
An announcement is expected soon to confirm Nick Fry and Ross Brawn have organised a management buy-out of the Honda F1 Racing team. But Fry said the remaining teams on the grid had helped the team survive too, with cost-cutting measures for the sport also making it viable for the team to continue.

Woman joins V8 ranks
The Australian V8 Supercar championship has finally got a woman among its ranks. Leeanne Tander, the wife of 2007 V8 champion Garth Tander, is also relishing the opportunity to compete against her husband in this year's 500km battle at Phillip Island and the Bathurst 1000 at Mt Panorama. No stranger to V8 Supercar racing, Tander battled the blokes in the 2001 and 2002 V8 Supercar Development Series.