Motorsport News January 13, 2022

Two of rallying’s most iconic names will be reunited in 2022 following confirmation of Max McRae’sAustralian Rally Championship campaign in a Subaru Impreza. The 17-year-old nephew of the late Colin McRae – who won the 1995 World championship in a Subaru Impreza – is the son of McRae’s brother Alister and grandson of Jimmy McRae. Born and raised in Perth, Western Australia, Max McRae will contest four rounds of the ARC in an Impreza run by Dean Herridge’s Maximum Motorsport outfit with support from Subaru Australia. He will also contest his local championship during what will be his first full season in four-wheel-drive machinery following class-winning exploits at Rally4 level in 2020 and 2021. Speaking exclusively to MN, five-time British rally champion Jimmy McRae said: “It’s good to see the McRae name back with…

To the outsider, the perception of barriers to taking an active interest in motorsport are that they are many and insurmountable. In Motorsport News this week, we highlight two instances where this is very much not the case. There are many avenues into motorsport, be that racing or rallying, that are positively slanted towards the inexperienced or underfunded. We turn the spotlight on the BTRDA’s drive to embrace Targa road rallies and it is one which is underpinned with both a solid and proven ethos and a genuine desire from those behind-the-scenes to throw the motorsport doors as wide open as possible. The community spirit prevails to spread the gospel of competition and Nick Garton’s feature can be found on pages 14-15. One of the hardy perennials of opening the doors to cut-price…

New FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem is confident that Lewis Hamilton will not turn his back on Formula 1 despite the controversial end to the 2021 World championship battle. Hamilton has remained tight-lipped on his future after losing the crown to Red Bull’s Max Verstappen inAbu Dhabi in December. Question marks were raised over the implementation of a late-race safety car and both Hamilton and his bosses at Mercedes felt the final outcome had been “manipulated” as some cars were allowed to unlap themselves from the safety car while others weren’t. Rumours have suggested that the seven-time title-winner Hamilton would walk away from grand prix racing as a mark of his disappointment at the way the season finale had been handled. Speaking on the Dakar Rally recently, FIAboss Ben Sulayem said: “No, I…

New Mercedes F1 recruit George Russell says early test and race pace from teams up and down the grand prix grid in 2022 will not necessarily point to who has title-winning potential. A radical design switch this season could lead to a significant shake-up in the usual pecking order as squads get to grips with the revamped machines, which will feature less downforce in a bid to improve overtaking. Russell told Autosport: “I am sure it won’t necessarily be who is quickest at race one will win, and I am sure there will be some interesting designs out there and might be some underdogs who prevail in the opening tests or races. “It is whoever develops the fastest, whoever develops the best and to build those foundations for the coming years. That is…

Bosses of the Spa-Francorchamps track are pressing ahead with several modifications to the run-off on sections of the Belgian venue. The most significant works have taken place around the Eau Rouge section of the circuit, which has been the scene of a number of recent high-speed accidents. The track layout will remain unchanged. The Raidillon chalet on the outside of the circuit was demolished last year to make room for a covered grandstand with 4,600 seats as well as VIP boxes. It is due to be finished by April. Alongside works around Eau Rouge, barriers have been moved back at Les Combes and there is a new gravel trap at La Source. Further reprofiling has taken place at the fast right-hander of Blanchimont towards the end of the lap. It will have an…

Former Champ Car series boss and IndyCar team owner Kevin Kalkhoven passed away last week at the age of 77. TheAustralian, a venture capitalist, took over Champ Cars in 2003 with Gerry Forsythe and helped revive the US single-seater series amid a division between top-line racing inAmerica and kept the category afloat. As well as forming KV Racing with Jacques Villeneuve’s former manager Craig Pollock – a team that, after several alterations in ownership, claimed glory in the Indy 500 in 2013 with Tony Kanaan driving – Kalkhoven also bought Cosworth and Pi Research in 2004 and was chairman of the board up until last season. Indianapolis Motor Speedway owner Roger Penske said: “Motorsports has lost one of its true leaders. Kevin Kalkhoven had a great passion for open-wheel racing, and his vision…