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The Formula One Teams’ Association has announced that it is setting up a breakaway championship.

The announcement was made after a four-hour meeting at Renault’s Enstone factory featuring the eight FOTA members – Ferrari, McLaren, Renault, BMW Sauber, Toyota, Brawn, Red Bull Racing and Scuderia Toro Rosso.

In a press release, the teams explained their decision.

“The FIA and the commercial rights holder have campaigned to divide FOTA.

Melbourne’s Tim Macrow closed the Formula 3 Australian Drivers Championship title battle as Joey Foster had a mixed day, while David Wall and Matt Kingsley took their Porsches to victory in Round Three of the Shannons Nationals at Phillip Island.

Wall won in the Australian GT Championship and Kingsley in the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge, while the Sentinel Fire Services Commodore Cup, Kumho Saloon Cars and a Porsche Club Regularity also featured in this weekend’s action at a wet, cold and windy Phillip Island.

Macrow claimed pole position for both Formula 3 races and led the way early in the wet opening stoush, before Englishman Foster took the lead and went on to win by 26 seconds.

Foster’s day went downhill in Race Two, though, failing to finish after an opening lap clash with Mat Sofi.

Macrow won, moving into second place in the championship and reducing Foster’s advantage to 17 points.

Kiwi Ben Crighton recorded his best-ever result with second place, ahead of team boss Leanne Tander, driving an older, 2004-model car in a one-off return to the series.

“It was a pretty perfect race,” Macrow said after Race Two.

“We got off the line well and the incident between Joey and Mat worked to our advantage.

“The track was dirty and slippery early on, so it was tough going, but it got better and better during the race.”

David Wall took out the Phillip Island GT Classic, extending his championship lead.

Wall won both one-hour legs, leading home the Lamborghini of Mark Eddy and Dean Grant on Sunday, with fellow Shannons-sponsored Porsche driver Jim Richards third.

Allan Simonsen and Nick O’Halloran were seventh with John Bowe and Ted Hughlin 10th, while Tony Quinn was quick but had a troubled run and finished 16th.

“The weather made it really challenging, but I’m pleased to get the win,” Wall said.

“Our strategy worked out well, particularly staying out on slick tyres when it rained in the middle of Saturday’s race.

“The car was quick, we were able to push hard and bring it home.”

ISC Limited, the exclusive worldwide media and commercial rights holder for the WRC, has appointed Generate to implement a global PR and communications programme.

Generate, who were selected after a competitive pitch, will work alongside ISC, local promoters, teams, sponsors and the FIA to substantially raise the profile of WRC and its positioning as ‘an epic motorsport adventure bringing you the world’s greatest drivers’.

GMR Motorex KTM racer Kristy Gillespie has dominated round one of the Victorian Motocross Championship held at Broadford, taking three straight wins, for a clean sweep in the Women’s Open class racing.

“I quite easily picked up the win in moto one and three, but it was moto two which was pretty exciting for me, and the spectators - after a collision in on the first turn pushed me back in the field,” said Gillespie. “I got an awesome start in the second moto, and was on my way to a holeshot when another rider snuck up on the inside hitting my back wheel, and our bikes got tangled up.

Mark Webber bounced back from a disappointing qualifying to take a well-earned third place in today’s Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona, his best result at the Catalunya track. The 32-year old Australian was the first Red Bull driver across the line, finishing behind the dominant Brawn GP cars of Jenson Button who claimed his fourth win of the season and Rubens Barrichello. His result has moved him into fourth place in the World Drivers’ Championship with 15.5pts, while together with team-mate Sebastian Vettel who finished fourth, the team has strengthened its grip on second place in the Constructors title race although they dropped points to runaway championship leader Brawn GP.

In what is a shock announcement, Darryl Campbell and Heeley Motorsport would like to confirm that they have parted ways immediately.

This announcement brings to an end a successful three season partnership between Campbell and Heeley Motorsport owners Grant and Karin Heeley that in that time earned them the reputation as one of the most professional Sprintcar outfits currently in Australia.

“I would like to say a big thanks to Grant and Karin Heeley for the opportunity to drive for them,” commented Campbell. “As the saying goes, nothing is forever, and I am just extremely grateful for all their support and all the fun times we had together.”

Championship leader Dale Sinclair had a lackluster penultimate round of the RTS Chassis Australia Stampede Series at Laang last weekend, but when the series hit Swan Hill for the final round Sinclair was almost unstoppable taking his third round win of the series and his first RTS Chassis Stampede Series Championship.
Sinclair took the round win and the series as he led home the young speedster James Arranyosi (who set the fastest lap of the night) with Jason Pearson, Jeremy Beddison and Steven Horton next.