Newsfeed

Motogp Nicky Hayden finished the opening test at Sepang on January 22-24 on top with a best time of 2.00.326. * Pedrosa fractured his hand after crashing on the first day of testing but will return for the Jerez test. * Casey Stoner finished at the top of the testing time at Phillip Island with a 1min 28.777, nearly a second faster than second place Hayden. * Valentino Rossi was fastest at the second Sepang test with a 2.00.300. * Dani Pedrosa has changed from his usual number 26 to number 2 for the 2008 season, reflecting his position in last year’s championship.

A1GP Neel Jani wants to concentrate on racing for Team Switzerland rather than returning to Champ Cars this year. * Christian Vietoris became the youngest ever winner in the series when he was victorious at Taupo, aged 18yrs, 9 months and 19 days. * Loic Duval won the sprint race for Team France at Eastern Creek. However, because of other racing commitments it is unlikely he will race for the rest of the season.

GP2 Luca Filippi has joined Romain Grosjean at the ART Grand Prix team for 2008. * Bruno Senna and Karun Chandhok will drive for reigning champion iSport. * Mike Conway will drive for Trident Racing. * Adrian Valles returns to the series with Fisichella Motor Sport after a year away.

A1GP The series used bio-fuel for the first time at the Taupo event in New Zealand on January 18.

ALMS Corvette has switched to greener fuel, made of 85 per cent ethanol, for the ’08 season.

Le Mans Racing for Holland will not compete in 2008, after seven years of running in the prestigious event, due to financial concerns. * Former F1 driver Jos Verstappen will race an LMP2 Porsche Spyder for Van Merksteijn Motorsport.

WTCC The Puebla circuit in Mexico is back on the calendar for 2008. * In preparation for his first WTCC season, Franz Engstler took a class win in the Dubai 24 Hour race in a BMW Z4 Coupé.

BTCC Seat has decided to switch to diesel after its success with the fuel in last year’s WTCC.

NASCAR Dario Franchitti made a strong start in the Sprint Cup Series by setting the pace in his first test. * Kasey Kahne was quickest on the final day of testing before the 50th Daytona 500, with an average speed of just over 189mph.

DTM Ralf Schumacher tested an AMG Mercedes C-Class at Estoril on February 16. The German described it as “a good experience and big fun”. EF