Pitstop: Now they can all get some sleep

Rally New Zealand, which was hardly top of the pops with drivers and co-drivers last year, should regain its chart-topping status in April with a more competitor-friendly format.

Gone will be the absurd mille pistes reconnaissance system, giving everyone more time in bed. The long traipse from Paparoa to Auckland for a couple of spins round the Manukau Superspecial will also be eliminated.

Preliminary planning for next year has the cars completing a ceremonial start in Auckland on April 7. The competition will begin the following morning at Paparoa.

There will be eight stages on the Friday and the cars will stay in the north for six more stages on Saturday, including the new 21km Waipu Caves test.

On Saturday evening there will be two passes of the crowd-pleasing Manukau Superspecial and on the Sunday competitors will complete the final four stages near Raglan, including two passes of the world-renowned Whaanga Coast. The Propecia-sponsored rally will finish at the Viaduct.

Organisers expect teams of two cars from Subaru, Peugeot, Ford, Citroen, Mitsubishi and Skoda, a full field of world production car contenders and a vastly increased local contingent because of the national championship status.

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RADISICH OUTSHONE

Marcos Ambrose's triumphant championship-winning performance at Eastern Creek in the V8 Supercar finale has overshadowed New Zealand driver Paul Radisich's achievement.

In his last drive for Ford's Betta Electrical team, Radisich finished second for the round, showing he is a catch for Team Kiwi next season. His drive to keep Aussie glamour boy Craig Lowndes at bay during the second race was evidence that, at 42, he retains all his old cunning.

It was Radisich's first visit to the podium this season and saw him finish 19th in the championship. Greg Murphy slipped from a potential win to fourth place. Steve Richards was fifth, Jason Richards 14th, Simon Wills 26th and Craig Baird 27th.

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FORD GRAB SKODA MAN

Toni Gardemeister, who has been signed to drive for Ford in the world rally championship next year, had a remarkable debut at this level in New Zealand.

In 1999 the 29-year-old Finn finished third in Rally New Zealand in a Seat car, the first podium finish for the Spanish manufacturer in the premier class. In recent seasons he has driven for Skoda.

Ford have also signed another former Skoda driver, Czech Roman Kresta, after Francois Duval and Markko Martin moved to Citroen and Peugeot respectively.

Skoda will pair veteran Armin Schwarz with youngsters Janne Tuohino, Jani Paasonen and Alex Bengue, who will all have a turn.

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TASMAN MOVE

Tasman Motorsport, the team who run Kiwi Jason Richards in the Aussie V8 championship, will shift to Melbourne in the off-season.

Richards started with Auckland-based Team Kiwi, moved to Adelaide-based Team Dynamik, joined Tasman in Sydney and now shifts to Melbourne.

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SELF-BELIEF

Jenson Button, who finished third in the Formula One world championship behind Michael Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello of Ferrari, is nothing if not confident.

In an interview with British newspaper the Guardian, the BAR-Honda driver reckoned Schumacher was beatable and he could be the man to do it.

"He's won the world championship on many occasions, but it's not all down to him. He's got the quickest and most reliable car out there," he said. "I'd regard myself as the best person at overtaking in Formula One.

"If I've got the right equipment, there's no one better than me."

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ESPIONAGE TRIAL

Two former employees of Ferrari are to be tried in Italy on charges of industrial espionage.

Angelo Santini and Mauro Iacconi are accused of stealing data from Ferrari and disclosing it to Toyota's Formula One team, based at Cologne, Germany.

Toyota denies that any file allegedly stolen from Ferrari was used in the design of its Formula One cars.

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SCHUMACHER HUMBLED

Heikki Kovalainen has humbled motorsport's biggest names by taking victory in the Race of Champions in Paris.

The Nissan World Series champion ousted Michael Schumacher in the semifinals and beat world rally champion Sebastien Loeb in the final in front of 50,000 fans.