Around the tracks: December 19 2008

A weekly wrap of motorsport from around the world.

FIVE-time World Rally Champion Sebastian Loeb beat the best of the best to claim the Race of Champions at Wembley in Britain. He had to beat retired F1 legend Michael Schumacher, world touring car champion Andy Priaux in the heats before scoring a 2-1 victory over David Coulthard in the final to take his third RoC title.

ROBBIE Farr got back on the winning track in Tasmania last weekend when he streeted the field to take the latest round of the Wanless World Series Sprintcar series in Hobart, with Brooke Tatnell and Max Dumesny following him to the flag. But it is Tatnell, who was quickest in time trials, who still leads the series after the seventh round and heading to Adelaide on December 26.

THE governing body of Australian motorsport has a new boss. Andrew Papadopoulos, who has been a board member of CAMS since 2001, has taken over from Colin Osborne as the new president and will serve a two-year term.

THE first night race in Formula One is sweeping the awards season. It has just been presented with the Promoter of the Year award by the FIA - a prize previously won by the Australian Grand Prix - following wins in the Pioneering and Innovation category at the Autosport Awards in Britain and the Motorsport Facility of the Year at the Professional Motorsport World Expo Awards in Germany.

DEFENDING champions Rod Salmon and Damien White have joined the field for the 2009 running of the Bathurst 12-Hour Showrooom Enduro, bringing former Bathurst 1000 winner Tony Longhurst into the cabin of their Mitsubishi Lancer. The race will be run at Mount Panorama from February 20-22 and there are already 37 cars in the field.

YAMAHA is extending its support of motorcycle racing in Australia with backing for riders in the Superbike, Supersport, Superstock and junior ranks. As well as its factory team, the Japanese company will support Ben Henry and Zac Davies in Superbike racing, Scott Charlton in Supersport, Amy O'Mara in Superstock and Rick Olsen in Superstock, with Christian Casella riding the Supersport class as the first member of a new development team.