Pitstop: V8 Supercar officials can controversial reverse grid

Controversial reverse-grid races have been dropped for the rest of the Australian V8 supercar season despite officials insisting that they heightened interest and intrigue. The board of V8 Supercars has decided that the last four rounds, where the reverse grids were scheduled in one race, will now be contested with conventional grids. Officials say the mayhem predicted had not eventuated but the remaining circuits were unsuitable for the experiment. Drivers who were critical of the reverse grids have welcomed the decision, though New Zealander Jason Richards must have mixed feelings because he won one of the back-to-front races.

Drifters set to contest third round

The country's top drifters return to Pukekohe Park tomorrow for the third round of the national championship. Leading after two of the six rounds are Whangarei pair Dan Woolhouse and Gaz Whiter, tied on 38 points, from Victor Chapman on 24, Steven Sole, 19 and Sean Falconer, 18.

Mclaren quick to replace Montoya

Juan Pablo Montoya's decision to quit Formula One and compete in Nascar next season with Chip Ganassi's team brought a fast reaction from his McLaren team. The Colombian was dropped immediately and replaced with Spaniard Pedro de la Rosa for the rest of the season, starting with the French Grand Prix this weekend. De la Rosa has been one of the fastest of the test drivers for the past two seasons.

Motorcyclist Rossi booked for Rally NZ

Taupo would much prefer that Italian motorcycle world champion Valentino Rossi compete on two wheels at their track. But his projected drive in Rally New Zealand in November could be a spur to their ambitions for a round of the MotoGP Championship. The British magazine Autosport says Rossi is expected to drive a 2006-specification Subaru Impreza WRC in Rally NZ. He has been a regular competitor in Italian rallies.

Double header at rally of the north

For the first time this year rally drivers competing in the Top Half series and Xtreme Championship will go head to head in today's Rally of the North, which starts in Paihia and travels as far north as Kaitaia. Top seed is Hamilton's Kevin Honiss, reigning champion in the Top Half series, which is held over six events in the top half of the North Island.

Single-seater driver tops academy grade

Palmerston North single-seater driver Sam MacNeill topped the scoresheet at the week-long Motorsport Academy in Dunedin. The academy is organised by the Motorsport NZ Scholarship Trust and run by high-performance specialists from the New Zealand Academy of Sport South Island and Otago University.

Westlake student wins racing season

Sixteen-year-old Westlake Boys' High School student Alastair Wootten is Speedsport Magazine's latest scholarship winner, receiving an all-expenses-paid season racing a Sabre Formula First single-seater in the New Zealand Formula First Championship. This season's contenders included two from the United States.

King wins Tarawera endurance race

Damian King on a Yamaha took the major honours in the Tarawera dirt bike endurance race last weekend. Second was Peter Broxholme on a Honda and third Mike Cotter on a Kawasaki.

Crocker increases rally lead with win

Australian driver Cody Crocker took maximum points at Rally Hokkaido, Japan, to increase his lead in the Asia-Pacific Rally Championship. Crocker drove a Subaru Impreza WRX, to finish 1m 16.4s clear of championship rival Hiroshi Yanagisawa in a similar car.