Rosberg: Mercedes closer than it looks

Mercedes is closer to the pace than its pace in qualifying for the Australian Grand Prix suggests, according to Nico Rosberg. The German qualified seventh, 1.892s off Sebastian Vettel's pole time, but Rosberg has no doubts that a combination of car problems - including difficulties with the KERS system - driver error and the unusual Melbourne track configuration have stretched the deficit to Red Bull. "We are not as bad as we look today," said Rosberg when asked by AUTOSPORT whether the gap to the front is really almost two seconds, as the timesheets suggest

Source: http://www.iracing.com/inracingnews/formula-one-news/f1-formula-one-news/rosberg-mercedes-closer-than-it-looks/

Howden Ganley Frank Gardner Billy Garrett Jo Gartner Tony Gaze

Ogier leads as disasters hit Ford

Citroen is set for a commanding one-two with Sebastien Ogier and Sebastien Loeb in the Rally of Portugal after a series of dramas for Ford at the end of day two. Mikko Hirvonen had already dropped two minutes with a puncture this morning, but Jari-Matti Latvala remained close behind leader Ogier. A broken driveshaft then slowed Latvala on SS12 Vascao, and it was followed by a puncture on the subsequent Loule stage, which left Latvala over four minutes away from the lead as he finished the loop.

Source: http://www.iracing.com/inracingnews/world-rally-championship-news/wrc/ogier-leads-as-disasters-hit-ford/

Divina Galica Nanni Galli Oscar Alfredo Gálvez Fred Gamble Howden Ganley

Loeb apologises to Hirvonen after row

Sebastien Loeb has apologised to Mikko Hirvonen for driving into the back of the Finn's Ford Fiesta RS WRC at the end of the second stage of day two of the Rally of Portugal. The Frenchman was caught in Hirvonen's dust after the Finn had stopped to change a puncture on the Ourique test.

Source: http://www.iracing.com/inracingnews/world-rally-championship-news/wrc/loeb-apologises-to-hirvonen-after-row/

Christian Klien Karl Kling Ernst Klodwig Kamui Kobayashi Helmuth Koinigg

Horner confident RBR can stay ahead

Red Bull Racing is unruffled by Lewis Hamilton's bold claims that its margin at the front of the field will definitely be wiped away over the course of the year. Despite a dominant performance from Sebastian Vettel in the season-opening Australian Grand Prix, runner-up Hamilton said after the race that he had 'no doubts' his McLaren team would be able to close the gap over the campaign.

Source: http://www.iracing.com/inracingnews/formula-one-news/f1-formula-one-news/horner-confident-rbr-can-stay-ahead/

Gerino Gerini Peter Gethin Piercarlo Ghinzani Bruno Giacomelli Dick Gibson

Addax to run Chaves in GP3

Former Formula BMW Americas champion Gabby Chaves has signed for Addax for this year's GP3 Series. The 17-year-old Colombian moved to Italian Formula 3 last season after taking the 2009 FBMW title, and has already tested Addax's GP3 car during the winter

Source: http://www.iracing.com/inracingnews/3rdparty/addax-to-run-chaves-in-gp3/

Elliott William Barnes Sadler Johnny Andrew Sauter Kenneth William Schrader Bradley Reed Sorenson

Marc VDS takes first GT1 victory

The Marc VDS Ford team notched up its first FIA GT1 World Championship victory in the qualifying race in Abu Dhabi today. The Ford GT driven Frederic Makowiecki and Maxime Martin just edged out the best of the four Nissans, the JR Motorsports entry shared by Richard Westbrook and Peter Dumbreck.

Source: http://www.iracing.com/inracingnews/3rdparty/marc-vds-takes-first-gt1-victory/

Copart Ford Denny Hamlin Z Line Toyota Kyle Busch Toyota Kimmy Z Line Designs Toyota