2009

This weekend's Malaysian Grand Prix - the second round on the 2009 Formula 1 World Championship calendar - could be disrupted by thunderstorms, throwing an added element of the unknown into an already highly unpredictable season.

While SEAT may have withdrawn from the HiQ MSA British Touring Car Championship, a diesel-car will feature on the grid this season after AFM Racing revealed a late entry into the season-opener at Brands Hatch.

Ben Spies thinks AMA Superbike rivals Mat Mladin and Jamie Hacking should consider making the switch to the World Superbike Championship, claiming they are capable of 'fighting for wins'.

Jonathan Rea has set his sights on a maiden World Superbike podium when the series returns to Europe for the third round of the season in Valencia, Spain.

Despite speculation to the contrary in the run-up to, and during, the recent Australian Grand Prix, Anthony Davidson has yet to be officially installed as Brawn GP's test and reserve driver.

Gigawave Motorsport has assumed the ignominious position of being the first team to scratch its entry to this year's Le Mans 24 Hours, having decided that running the legendary race will conflict with other priorities.

Nick Tandy is pinning his hopes of glory in the 2009 Cooper Tires British Formula 3 International Series on Mygale bringing to an end years of Dallara dominance in the championship - and he is confident that his small JTR team can take on the big boys in what looks like being one of the most hotl

Whilst congratulating Jenson Button and Brawn GP on their staggering Australian Grand prix success in Melbourne last weekend, Martin Whitmarsh has sought to stress that the ex-Honda F1 outfit would likely not have been on the starting grid Down Under at all had it not been for McLaren-Mercedes' h

Jason Hughes will be forced to wait and see if he is able to take to the track for the opening rounds of the new HiQ MSA British Touring Car Championship as he awaits the all-clear from doctors following his knee surgery.

Three members of the British F3 'class of 2009' have been added to the intake for this year's MSA British Race Elite, coming through a tough election process as the scheme's judging panel considered over 50 initial applicants.

Let's see, which way does the nozzle go?

Nicky Hayden's 2009 MotoGP preparations came to a modest conclusion at Jerez on Sunday, when the new Ducati Marlboro rider recorded the eleventh fastest lap time in the red flag interrupted and rain-shortened 'qualifying' session.

Formula 1 returned to its 'spiritual home' of the BBC for the curtain-raising Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne at the weekend, popularly welcoming the top flight back to Auntie to the traditional opening chords of The Chain - but how did Auntie's coverage stack up against that of

After the bright sunshine of Australian Grand Prix glory has come the rain for Brawn GP, with a sting in the tail at the end of an historic weekend in Melbourne following the news that 270 jobs are to be lost at the Brackley-based outfit.

Valentino Rossi concluded his 2009 pre-season preparations with a distant second place behind Casey Stoner during the special 45-minute 'qualifying' shootout, to win a new BMW, during the final day of testing at Jerez on Sunday.

The final pre-season MotoGP test of 2009 has fallen to Casey Stoner, courtesy of a stunning lap time set during the 45-minute 'qualifying' shootout at Jerez on Sunday.

Timo Glock has slated Formula 1's rule-makers after team-mate Jarno Trulli was demoted from third place in the 2009 curtain-raising Australian Grand Prix today - marking Toyota's third penalty of the Melbourne weekend.

Lewis Hamilton has described this weekend's Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne as 'one of my best-ever races' as he stormed through the field from 18th place to third - admitting afterwards that he had 'wrung every last ounce of pace out of the car' and 'absolutely raced my heart out'.

Sebastian Vettel has apologised to Robert Kubica for having caused the collision between the pair in the closing stages of the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne this weekend - costing both a podium finish in the 2009 curtain-raiser and, BMW-Sauber contend, costing the latter a likely win.

As if throwing away a podium finish wasn't a bitter enough pill to swallow for Sebastian Vettel, he has now been held accountable by the race stewards for the clash with Robert Kubica that took both men out of the running.

Following Saturday's press conference at Jerez - in which the main cost-cutting rule changes for the 2009 and 2010 MotoGP were outlined (see separate story) - the FIM has today (Sunday) released the full official version of the regulation changes, as agreed by the Grand Prix Commission.

S?bastien Buemi admitted to being over-the-moon with his eighth-place finish on his Formula 1 debut in the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne this weekend - but team-mate S?bastien Bourdais failed to impress his Scuderia Toro Rosso employers after being given a second chance in the top flight thi

The last time Jenson Button began from pole position - also co-incidentally in Melbourne - he had taken the chequered flag tenth.

Despite eternally youthful good looks, which defy both his age and experience, it is ten years since McLaren test driver Pedro de la Rosa made his Formula One debut at the 1999 Australian Grand Prix.