As the new motorsport season prepares to kick off later this month with the opening round of the World Rally Championship, a number of drivers and riders are preparing to try and make their mark on 2006.
In Formula One, Nico Rosberg has been lucky enough to jump straight into a top seat with Williams after his title success in GP2 in 2005, while another youngster Scott Speed makes the step up following the buyout and rebranding of the Minardi team by Red Bull. Meanwhile the seat Rosberg left behind in GP2 is being filled by Brit Lewis Hamilton who dominated the F3 Euroseries last year and will hope to impress again on his quest to reach Formula One.
Teenager Matthew Wilson has been given a dream chance in the WRC with the Stobart VK M-Sport Ford Rally Team following regulation changes in the championship, with two more teenagers in Marco Andretti and Martin Kudzak looking to make the grade in the Indy Racing League and Formula Three respectively.
Will Davison will aim to impress in the V8 Supercar Series while British star Katherine Legge will be keen to carry on her rapid progress if a deal can be concluded to see her compete in the Champ Car World Series in 2006. Even if that deal doesnt come off, she looks set to be one of the stars of an ultra competitive Formula Atlantic season.
In the biking world, much is expected of Casey Stoner as he steps up to MotoGP with the LCR squad with which he almost took the 250 class title in 2005, while Craig Jones at Foggy Petronas and Roberto Rolfo with Scuderia SC Caracchi will aim to impress on the World Superbike stage. In British Superbikes, Ollie Bridewell moves from the Vivaldi Racing Superstock team onto a full blown Superbike and will be looking for success to build on his 2005 season.
But which one of the twelve will be the 'new kid on the block' who impresses most during the new season?
Who will be the new star of 2006?
|
|
