Around the tracks 05 February 2010

LEWIS Hamilton is the early favourite for this year's Formula One   world championship, based on the early odds from www.tab.com.au. The   McLaren team leader heads the betting at $4, followed by new Ferrari   signing - and two-time world champion - Fernando Alonso at $4.50,   comeback king Michael Schumacher also at $4.50 and Sebastian Vettel at   $6.50. Australia's Mark Webber is ranked seventh at $10 for the title.

SCOTT Pedder will renew his attack on the Australian Rally   Championship with the re-creation of the Pedders Rally Team for the   2010 season. The former Mitsubishi factory driver will pair-up with   his brother Mark in a two-car effort in the series, using a pair of   Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IXs. Scott Pedder's most recent start was the   2006 Rally of Melbourne, which he won.

TWO of the marquee drivers in V8 Supercar racing have just stretched   their current deals by an extra three years. Mark Winterbottom of Ford   Performance Racing and Lee Holdsworth from Garry Rogers' Commodore   crew have both committed to race for their teams until the end of the   2012 season.

KELLY Racing is expanding its base in Melbourne to include all the manufacturing capacity currently housed at Larry Perkins' shop in   Moorabbin. The expansion at Braeside will not be finished until 2011 but will eventually give the Kelly family crew 4000 square metres of   undercover work space.

Queenslander Kyle Ensbey win the Rotax DD2 final to cap a dominant   performance at the opening round of the 2010 Rotax Pro Tour at   Geelong, Victoria last weekend. Max Johnston took Rotax Light, Pierce   Lehane won in Formula Rotax JMA Light and Frank Falla was the winner   in Rotax Over 35s. Rotax Over 35's were taken out by Geelong driver, Frank Falla

An international lineup led by Portugal's Joao Barbosa took a surprise victory in the Daytona 24-Hour race last weekend. The first big race   of the 2010 season was hit by rain, crashes and mechanical problems   but it was no drama for the auto Express team, with German Mike   Rockenfeller, Briton Ryan Dalziel and American Terry Borcheller   joining Barbosa on the victory dias for team owner Bob Johnson.

SPECTATORS at this year's Phillip Island leg of the World Superbike   Championship will get a chance to meet the stars on the Friday of race   weekend. The paddock will be open from 8.30am to 1pm for an inside   look at the riders and crews leading up to the main event on Sunday,   February 28.

A British-built Ascari sports car is the latest addition to the varied   lineup for the 2010 Australian GT Championship. The Ascari will appear   for the first time with Darren Berry driving at the Clipsal 500   meeting from March 11-14, although petfood mogul Tony Quinn is the   early favourite for the title after switching from an Aston Martin to a Mosler supercar.