2002

The 2002 world rally season will truly be an historic milestone for the Mlada Boleslav based Skoda works team. For the first time in its history Skoda Motorsport will compete in the complete programme of the FIA World rally championship, consisting of 14 events this year.

Johnny Benson and the #10 Valvoline Pontiac team finished in 11th place in the points in 2001. The Pontiac driver scored a career-best six top-five finishes and led 101 laps during the 2001 season. This season he will be hoping for more and that elusive first Winston Cup victory.

Williams-BMW driver Ralf Schumacher has been given the 'all clear' to wear glasses in 2002. FIA spokesperson Francesco Longanesi told Reuters: "At present there is nothing in the FIA rules that prevents a driver from wearing spectacles when competing."

Henning Bager is on the lookout for a new club - and he's ready to step into the Elite League. The talented Dane made his British debut with Glasgow last season and is keen to return to this country.

Simon Crafar is getting back on a bike and competing in the British Superbike series this year. The New Zealander who fought against greats such as Mick Doohan will be riding a Yamaha R1 and will be keen to show he hasn't lost what it takes to win.

Complete event timetable for this weekend's Monte Carlo Rally - the first round of the 2002 World Rally Championship. Thursday 17 January: 18.30 Ceremonial Start - Monaco Friday 18 January

Mark Webber has joined a select group of drivers including former world champion, Jacques Villeneuve, after becoming a three times winner of the prestigious Bruce McLaren Award, presented annually by the British Racing Drivers' Club (BRDC) to the top Commonwealth driver.

Northern Ireland's Derek Hayes will contest the 16 round French Formula 3 Championship in 2002 with the LD Autosport team.

Chaz Davies is the newest Brit to be signed up to compete in the 2002 MotoGP Championship. Davies, who is fourteen-years-old, will be racing in the 125cc class on an Aprilia for the Italian Matteoni racing team.

After a miserable debut in which they failed to qualify for last year's Indy 500, Brayton Racing have secured the funds to complete a full 15-race Indy Racing League programme in 2002 with sponsorship from Pit Bull Energy Drinks and a number of other associate sponsors including the fans themselv

Team Xtreme, one of the most exciting prospects of the Indy Racing League in the past three years, has shut its doors after failing to secure the budget to compete in 2002 leaving driver Airton Dare out in the cold and without some of the money owed to him by the three-year old team.

After an absence of 16 years, three-time Formula One world champion and Jaguar Racing team principal Niki Lauda made a historic return to the cockpit at Valencia today [Sunday].

Contrary to recent reports suggesting that British riders Jay Vincent and Leon Haslam were second choices at the BQR team, the Spanish outfit admits that it could not believe its luck on discovering that they were still uncontracted.

With the winter testing ban now over, the British American Racing team was been back in action this week at the Circuit de Catalunya for the first test of the new season.

Galaxy Motorsports could make a return to the NASCAR Winston Cup scene in 2002 if reports in the US are to be believed with the No.75 team, last seen with Wally Dallenbach Jr driving in 2000, even taking on a new co-owner in the shape of NFL head coach Dennis Green.

The merger between Sam Schmidt Motorsports and Treadway-Hubbard Racing appears to be paying dividends before the 2002 Indy Racing League season begins with newly appointed driver Anthony Lazzaro turning some highly impressive laps in his first off-season test with the team at the Homestead-Miami

The first round of the 2002 World Rally Championship, the Monte Carlo Rally, starts on Thursday [17 January] with Subaru beginning the defence of its drivers' title without the man who earned it for them.

George Mack's dream of becoming an open-wheeled oval racing star is one step closer to reality this weekend after the former karter sailed through his Indy Racing League rookie orientation test at the Homestead-Miami Speedway where he hopes to make his IRL debut on March 2nd.

Glasgow Tigers have agreed terms with another rider for the new season - but they will not name their man until the Supporters Club AGM on Monday.

Johnny Benson and the #10 Valvoline Pontiac team-mates begin their 2002 testing schedule today [Sunday] at Daytona International Speedway, as Benson hopes the 2002 season will see him improve on his 11th place finish in the points from 2001.

CART has revealed veteran racing engineer Lee Dykstra as its new director of technology and competition, with one eye on formulating new rules for future series.

Peter Oakes has been unveiled as the new boss of Premier League side Swindon Robins, as the Wiltshire squad limbers up for a possible title shot.

All full-time Indy Racing League entrants will be allotted a total of 183 sets of Firestone Firehawk tyres for the 2002 season, with 138 sets designated for race use, 15 sets for open tests and 30 sets for private testing.

OrangeArrows announced today [11th January] that Enrique Bernoldi will continue to drive for the team in the 2002 FIA Formula One World Championship.