Pitstop: Veale sets speed record

New Zealander Dean Veale set a land speed record at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah on his Special Construction Hayabusa-engined motorcycle. Veale confirmed his initial record-breaking run from Wednesday with a second backup run that set the record at an average of 311.2km/h in the 1650cc A-G Class.

Kiwis buddy up

New Zealand Australian V8 Supercar diver Shane van Gisbergen will be partnered by fellow Kiwi Daniel Gaunt in the Stone Brothers Racing Ford at the two endurance rounds this season. Gaunt is racing in the second-tier Fujitsu V8 Supercar Series and is fifth after four rounds of the seven-round title chase.

Scholarships open

Applications for the 2010 Rally New Zealand Rising Stars Scholarship programme are open and forms can be obtained from the Rally New Zealand office. Completed forms must be received by November 2.

Turbocharged muddle

The World Rally Championship ruling body appears to be in a muddle about whether the turbocharged 1.6-litre engine will be used from 2011 or won't be introduced until 2012, and 2011 will see the introduction of the Super 2000 engine. WRC commission president Morrie Chandler made the FIA's position clear recently, underlining a commitment to a shift to 1600cc. The confusion has come about with the suggestion Skoda might have signed up to race in 2010 with its Fabia S2000.