The eight-time World Rally champion began his quest for a ninth title in style after winning the famous Rally Monte Carlo. 

It was a dominating win, however Loeb looked like he might have had a fight on his hands when Ford driver Jari-Matti Latvala shot to a 30-second lead on day one. However he rolled his car, leaving Loeb at the front of the field.

Mini’s Dani Sordo, Ford’s Petter Solberg (who was competing as privateer before being signed by Ford) and Citroen’s Mikko Hirvonnen battled for the remaining podium places. Sordo claimed second with Solbeg third.

Emotional sprint win

Back on Australian shores, second-generation speedway journeyman Brooke Tatnell claimed his fifth Australia Sprintcar Title at Speedway City in Adelaide last Saturday evening.

The win was very special for Tatnell who emulated the feats of his father George who won at Speedway City in 1988. However, his win was not easy with 18-year-old Tasmanian sensation Shaun Dobson leading early, shadowed by Tatnell’s Krikke Brothers-owned machine. David Murcott took the minor placing.

Tatnell spoke of the strength he drew from late legends, his father George and former Rowley Park promoter Kym Bonython, in winning his fifth title in Adelaide.

“I said a prayer to Dad and also Kym ahead of the race and they were riding with me,” an emotional Tatnell said.“I wanted to win this one so badly and I was able to get the job done. This track means so much to me and my family and with it being the 50th Australian Title. To have my wife and children here, who I’ve dragged halfway around the world, and my mum and Uncle Joe, it’s special.”

His legendary father George, who lost his battle with cancer in 2007, won his only national crown at the venue and had a tight friendship with Bonython.

Indy highs and lows

As I reported last week, Rubens Barichello was to have an Indy car test during the week after losing his F1 seat at Williams to Ayrton Senna’s nephew Bruno.

The test was very successful with the KV Team, owned by former driver Jimmy Vasser, who raced in the early Gold Coast Indy Car GPs.

“I’m truly happy and like what I saw. I just need to see what comes up. I need to talk to my family and I need to talk to Jimmy,” Reubens said.

In other IRL news, the Newman Haas Team has withdrawn from Indy Car. Founded in 1993 by movie star Paul Newman, who himself raced sports cars into his seventies, and his partner Carl Haas, the team was very successful.

However, Haas said a budget shortfall has necessitated the withdrawal.

The controversial IRL chief steward and director of racing Brian Barnhart has been relieved of his duties in the IRL. He was heavily criticised for many decisions which came to a head after he failed to stop a race when it rained, causing multi-car crashes.

Australia’s Will Power, whose car was damaged, gave Barnhart “the bird” and was fined US$5000 and reprimanded.Power’s actions, no doubt, echoed the feelings of all the other competitors that day.

Supercar hots up

With the “Car of the Future” V8 Supercar program now well underway with prototype cars already built and tested for the 2013 session, Garry Rogers Motorsport has been canvassing other makes to enter the championship.

Rogers has been talking with Chrysler in the hope of running a Chrysler 300 in 2013, however no decision has yet been made (see more page 2).

Moving away from his policy of giving young Aussie drivers a start, Rogers has signed former Audi driver in the European DTM Touring Car Series Alexander Premat.

He will become the first full-time French driver to contest the championship, though Yvan Muller and Sebastian Bourdais have both won V8 Supercar races.

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