Motorsports

"A team of specialists is planning the best course of action and the tumour is expected to be removed early next week,'' his Brad Jones-run race team confirmed late yesterday. "The focus of Jason and his family is on Jason's health and they have asked for privacy at this time.''  Fans have been asked to send any message of support to Team BOC or the Jason Richards Fan Page on Facebook. Richards, 34, married with two children, is a former New Zealand Touring Car Champion.  In V8 Supercars he has finished second three times at the Bathurst 1000 race. News footage of his spectacular crash at Queensland Raceway in 2005 went around the world.  Andrew Jones will drive the team BOC Commodore this weekend at Sandown, Melbourne and in the final V8 event for 2010, the Sydney street race, early next month.

But mathematically I am still a very slim chance, despite the setback last Sunday. I'm not really a betting man, but I'd still put a bet on me as a long outsider.Realistically, the bad luck I had at the weekend would now have to strike all three in front of me to have any chance. But I haven't given up all hope and will keep the pedal down until such time as it becomes a mathematical impossibility.At that point where we realise we are out of the chase, we will sit down and have a discussion about what we can do to help Jaydub win. It's a shame that such bad luck can strike after having a good run all the way from Phillip Island.After Saturday's race I had hauled back a stack of points and the car was sensational and exciting to drive on the sticky soft tyres. On Sunday it rained, but we were still running fast and it looked like Jaydub would leapfrog Courtney and I'd be only 100 points behind.But then it all started to unravel when I came out of the hairpin and pulled the gear shift back to second and the bolt and thread came straight out of the front mount.I had the adrenalin pumping because I was running second to Frosty and quite comfortable at that point. So when it all disappeared from my grasp it was a bitter disappointment. We came in and re-drilled it, tapped it and put in a helicoil. We then went back out 19 laps down, but still looking for some points.However, it seemed the incident weakened the two other mounting points and it broke again. We then parked it because we couldn't do enough laps as you have to complete 70 per cent of the race and greet the chequered flag to score points.By this stage the adrenalin had subsided and I was in a different mindset. I was still disappointed but I realised it was just one of those things that happens in racing.Then there was the unfortunate incident with Jaydub's car running low on fuel. Our team is one of the best sport teams in the whole of Australia, but we can still come unstuck with basic human error and that's what happened.It was a simple mistake of looking at a wrong graph and getting the fuel calculations wrong. It's highlighted a flaw in our procedures. Now we've spoken about it, come up with a different strategy and we won't make the same mistake again. It was possibly the most disappointing weekend we've had as a race team.Our debrief with team boss Roland Dane could have become a shouting match, but it wasn't. He's obviously not pleased and when he's like that he'll share his view of the world. He's very passionate and focussed.However, I think that the time between the end of the race and the debrief allowed him to cool down a little more, so basically Roland left it up to us to analyse it and figure it all out.There's no good dwelling on it. We have to make changes to fix what has happened and that is that.As for sorting out the gearshift problem, from what we can understand, a couple of teams have had the same problem with the sequential gearbox. It's highlighted a problem that the bolt arrangement may not be strong enough.As it's a part everyone runs, the problem needs to be sorted out as a category, not by an individual team. I didn't see the pit lane fight between Steven Richards and Rick Kelly, but I heard all about it.There's no doubt drivers get frustrated when they are baulked in qualifying, especially at Symmons Plains. It's the shortest track in our series and that means there is a lot of traffic and it's difficult to get a clean run to set a good qualifying time.I'm not sure who did what to whom first but they repaid the complement later on and two negatives never make a right.I've had situations like that where you might go and have a talk to a driver about their behaviour or conduct, but I've never got to a point where I've become physical about it. Not even after the Kelly incident at Phillip Island a couple of years ago that crippled my championship. Everyone could see what went on there and I didn't want to make the situation worse.Moving on, I'm keyed up for Sandown this weekend. This is a track I love. I've done many miles around here when I was with HRT and also working as a driving instructor so I know every inch of it.It's quite bumpy and the car needs to ride kerbs extremely well. The back straight has a kink and goes up a hill, but it's actually faster than the front straight.You grab fifth gear over that crest and you have to position the car just right or you can spear off like Jason Richards did a couple of years ago and mount the wall.It's not as critical to get a front row in qualifying as it is at some other tracks. So long as you are in the first few rows you have a good shot. My track record is good at Sandown, but Frosty will also go extremely well, so will Jamie and the HRT cars.We stayed in Melbourne rather than heading home this week and we did a ride day at Calder Park, but we didn't get a chance to take our motorcycles to Broadford like the team usually does because our truck was full of spares we might need to work on the cars.So this week has been about PR duties such as signing sessions for my book.Some people have been asking about our team's support for men's health issues with the big moustache on the front of our cars and why Jaydub and I aren't sporting mos. Well, while the team might be happy for us to support the cause, I don't think anyone reckons we'd look good with a mo.People have also been asking about my wife, Nat, and her health problems. She's feeling better and is a lot more active, but I'm not sure whether she will be able to come down for the finale in Sydney or the gala presentation night on the Monday. We'll see what the doctors say after her next cat scan early next week.

Hundreds of the fastest cars from Australia's racing history will blast back into action next weekend at the Tasman Revival meeting at Eastern Creek. About 400 racing, sports and touring cars from the 1960s and 70s, valued at more than $2million, will turn back time, with 11 different categories of cars contesting more than 60 races over three days. Organisers say they have also attracted more than 40 cars from overseas including entries from the US, the UK, Japan and New Zealand. While the focus is on the grand prix cars of the 1960s reliving the international Tasman series that was contested in Australia and New Zealand at famous long-gone tracks such as Warwick Farm in Sydney and Longford in Tasmania, Formula 5000 open wheelers from the 1970s will also be racing. Unlike today the Formula One stars of the 1960s including Sir Jack Brabham, Jim Clark and Graham Hill regularly contested the Tasman series in their off-season. Sir Jack and Lady Margaret Brabham will attend the event - which is effectively an open wheel version of the successful Muscle Car Masters retro touring car event also run at Eastern Creek. The organisers says one of  Sir Jack's most famous cars, a Brabham BT24 that he drove to second place in the 1967 F1 world championship, will be racing at Eastern Creek.  It is now owned and raced by Sydney enthusiast Brian Wilson. Champion racer John Bowe, who won Australia's highest open wheel honour the Gold Star, before becoming a household name after winning the Bathurst 1000 in touring cars, will return to the open cockpit next weekend. Bowe will drive a Brabham BT 23B.  He has a strange tie to the Brabham lineage. As a child the Tasmanian regularly went to Longford to watch the Tasman series and recalled how he got lost in the crowd one year. "A very nice old lady comforted me and returned me to my parents. The kind lady turned out to be Jack Brabham's mother.''  Half a century later he will drive one of the cars her son built.  For more information go to tasmanrevival.com

… in the form of himself American freestyle motocross rider Brian Deegan wants to get his daredevil paws on a V8 Supercar in next year's Gold Coast 600. In Australia with the Crusty Demons Thirst 4 Destruction tour he says: "I think it would be cool to race in the V8 Supercars or maybe the development series under that. "I hear that (Australian) Chad Reed is also interested in V8s. He'd be good at it.” Deegan is no slouch on four wheels having won the American off-road truck series in his debut season last year and hoping to back it up this year before moving on to V8 trucks next year and possibly NASCAR like Australian Marcos Ambrose. "I've been on four wheels more than two lately," Deegan said. "There have been a lot of dirt bikes riders moving into four wheels lately like Ricky Carmichael and Travis Pastrana. "I think the foundation of riding on dirt is good, just look at (NASCAR champions) Robbie Gordon and Jimmie Johnson; they started on dirt bikes. I don't think there is any crazier racing than dirt bike riding. So once you get inside a roll cage on four wheels, anything is possible." Deegan said he had talked with "a few people" in Australia about lining up a test in a V8 Supercar.

Mark Webber's mercurial 23-year-old German team mate became the youngest driver to claim the title following an overpowering win in the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Vettel was clearly the best on ground and sprinted past points leader Fernando Alonso, who was ahead going into the four-way title decider, when a poor call on tyre-change strategy left Ferrari's front man a miserable seventh at the final flag and four points behind in the final standings. Webber was never a factor after qualifying a disappointed fifth, trailing home in eighth place but still an impressive third - up from fourth in 2009 - in the F1 rankings. There was plenty of action in the final race of a frantic 19-round championship, with seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher eliminated on the first lap when he spun and was collected by Tonio Liuzzi of Force India. The unlikely spoilers at Yas Marina were Nico Rosberg of Mercedes and the Renault twins, Robert Kubica and Russian rookie Vitaly Petrov, who all stole points from Alonso and eased Vettel's path to the crown. Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button of McLaren both led the race briefly, but could do nothing against Vettel - who started from his 10th pole position of a sensational season. The German faced all sorts of championship scenarios before Abu Dhabi, including the possibility of boosting Webber to number one, but made his own luck. He had never led the championship at any time before the decider but picked exactly the right time and place to do the job. ABU DHABI GRAND PRIX1. Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull2. Lewis Hamilton, McLaren3. Jenson Button, McLaren4. Nico Rosberg, Mercedes5. Robert Kubica, Renault6. Vitaly Petrov, Renault7. Fernando Alonso, Ferrari8. Mark Webber, Red Bull9. Jamie Alguersuari, Toro Rosso10. Felipe Massa, Ferrari WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP1. Sebastian Vettel, 256 points2. Fernando Alonso, 2523. Mark Webber, 2424. Lewis Hamilton, 2405. Jenson Button, 214    

He will need to be faster than a speeding Ferrari and more powerful than a pair of McLarens to have any chance of lifting the world title- and that's without worrying about the Red Bull family feud with Sebastian Vettel who took pole position.Basically, Webber must get ahead of championship leader Fernando Alonso to have any chance.He did not help himself when he only qualified fifth for the duel in the desert, but his grid spot for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix was not helped by only using one set of qualifying tyres and a surprising lack of speed on the two big straights at the Yas Marina course.Even so, Webber - arguably the toughest bloke in F1 - is not giving up."I did not expect to be fifth, I expected to be further up. But that is what happened," Webber admitted after qualifying."Of course I am not rapt with the qualifying today. It was the crucial session that did not come together for us, which is a shame."But he has not given up his world title hopes, even with Lewis Hamilton promising a go-for-broke run at the front, Alonso sitting tight on a solid series lead, and outgoing world champion Jenson Button pipping him in the final seconds of qualifying."The script is impossible to predict tomorrow. Let's have a look at the end, and the world champion - one second after the race they will give it to him, whoever he is."It is not handed out yet. So, if it was a one lap race it would maybe be not so good. But it is a two hour race and things can change."Webber was quick enough to be a serious contender through the three practice sessions at the gorgeous Yas Marina circuit and was clearly baffled when he slipped down the final order."It is one of the first times this year I have looked at the pit board and said, 'I really cannot do that time'. Because most of the time I can always react to the pit board with the lap time and get back in the fight, but tonight in the last Q3 I could not do that."In contrast, Vettel was bouncing like a puppy after claiming his tenth pole position of the season with a Red Bull RB6 that has been the car to beat all season. He is a long shot for the championship but if Alonso has problems and Webber cannot improve then he could become the youngest driver to lift the crown."My season has been up and down and we should be in a different position and we are not. Still we are in a strong position," Vettel said."We put the car on pole here which is crucial for tomorrow's race. It is long race, a lot of things can happen. We will see."Hamilton is likely to be very quick, and his McLaren has been strong on the straights all year, but everyone in the field is looking at Alonso as he builds towards his third world title and his first championship at Ferrari."I'm confident. I've been confident for the past five months of the championship. Now there is one day to go," Alonso said."This year also I feel the team supporting a lot. I feel very happy in the car. It is a great, great year for me."ABU DHABI GRAND PRIXSTARTING GRID1. Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull-Renault2. Lewis Hamilton, McLaren-Mercedes3. Fernando Alonso, Ferrari4. Jenson Button, McLaren-Mercedes5. MARK WEBBER, Red Bull-Renault6. Felipe Massa, Ferrari7. Rubens Barrichello, Williams-Cosworth8. Michael Schumacher, Mercedes-Benz9. Nico Rosberg, Mercedes-Benz10. Vitaly Petrov, Renault11. Robert Kubica, Renault12. Kamui Kobayashi, Sauber-Ferrari13. Adrian Sutil, Force India-Ferrari14. Nick Heidfeld, Sauber-Ferrari15. Nico Hulkenberg, Williams-Cosworth16. Tonio Liuzzi, Force India-Ferrari17. Jaime Alguersuari, Toro Rosso-Ferrari18. Sebastian Buemi, Toro Rosso-Ferrari19. Jarno Trulli, Lotus-Cosworth20. Hekki Kovalainen,Lotus-Cosworth21. Timo Glock, Virgin-Cosworth22. Lucas di Grassi, Virgin-Cosworth23. Bruno Senna, Hispania-Cosworth24. Christian Klien, Hispania-Cosworth  

THE Proton R3 Rally Team dominated the final round of the FIA Asia-Pacific Rally Championship in China at the weekend with Scot Alister McRae clinching maximum points and teammate Chris Atkinson of the Gold Coast second of the series runners. McRae and Atkinson were among the pacesetters throughout the 15-stage, two-day event despite getting several punctures. Atkinson said they had three punctures thanks to rocks sharper than on the Acropolis Rally. Japan's Katsu Taguchi won the drivers championship. His co-driver, Australian Chris Murphy finished second in the points to MRF's Glenn MacNeall because Murphy missed the Malaysian round when he was stuck in the UK by the Iceland volcano in April.LUCK has turned around for Australian Marcos Ambrose with a 12th place in a dramatic Texas 500 NASCAR race at the weekend. After several weeks of mechanical failures and crashes, Ambrose steered clear of the drama around him in his Toyota Camry, to bring home his best Sprint Cup result since Richmond at the start of September. The race featured a fist fight between Chevrolet drivers Jeff Burton and Jeff Gordon, while Kyle Busch spun his Toyota, was penalised for speeding in pit lane and docked two more laps for an inappropriate gesture towards an official. The race was won by Denny Hamlin (Toyota), who now leads the Chase for the Sprint Cup ahead of Jimmie Johnson (Chevrolet) with only two events remaining.RALLY drivers from the Asia Pacific will return in May for the International Rally of Queensland on the Sunshine Coast which is part of the provisional FIA Asia Pacific Rally Championship and Australian Rally Championship calendars. It also is expected to include rounds of the Queensland Rally Championship and Australian Classic Rally Competition, plus supporting categories.SOUTH Australian Kevin Weeks has recorded a dramatic victory over Tasmanian Jason White at the inaugural Targa High Country in Victoria at the weekend. White was initially declared winner, crossing the line six seconds in front. After a review of times, Weeks was allocated a corrected time 20 seconds ahead of his fellow Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera driver and a further 1 minute 21 seconds in front of eight-time Targa Tasmania winner Jim Richards. "It is unfortunate that the error happened, but these things can occur in such logistically complicated events like a Targa, and it's just one of those things," Weeks said. The next round of the Australian Tar ga Championship is the Targa Wrest Point in Hobart in January.SPEEDWAY star Brooke Tatnell will miss the first four rounds of the World Series Championship starting in Brisbane on November 20 because of the birth of his son Garrett in the US. The Krikke MotorSport will fill his seat with American Jason Sides until after Christmas. Sides and Tatnell, a three-time national champion, race in the US World of Outlaws series.A RECORD number of Australians will compete in the Dakar Rally in South America in January. The contingent is led by our most successful Dakar competitors, Bruce Garland and Harry Suzuki, who finished 11th in 2009. The Sydney-based team this week loaded their Isuzu D-Max on to a ship bound for Buenos Aires. They will be joined in the auto division by Geoffrey Olholm and Steve Riley in a BMW-powered Rally Raid special. There will also be six competitors in the motorcycle category, led by Dakar veteran Simon Pavey with newcomers Mark Davidson, Simon Harslet t, Andrew Scott, Warren Strange and 2009 Australasian Safari winner Jacob Smith, 22. It will be the first time Smith has raced with a GPS. "My goal is to finish in the Top 10. And this year I'm here just to learn the ropes. Then I'll be trying to score a better result," Smith says.A 1964 EH Holden driven by Australians Matthew Bryson, 38, and Gerry Crown, 78, has scored an outright win in the 37-day Peking to Paris Motor Challenge. Of the 96 that started the gruelling trans-continental rally, only 83 finished. The EH also competed in the 1997 rally with Matthew's father, John, co-driving with Crown, winning its class and finishing second outright. Only four of five cars completed the original 1907 rally. The second Peking to Paris was not held until 1997.BRYAN Staring is this weekend hoping to become first Australian rider to win the 125GP, Supersport and Superbike championships. The Perth rider now based on the Gold Coast holds an 18.5-point lead going into the final round of the Australian Superbike Championship which is being run in tandem with the V8 Supercars round at Symmons Plains, Tasmania. The 23-year-old Honda rider has won half of the 10 races he has contested this season and finished outside the top three only once. The only rider capable of upsetting Staring is fellow Honda rider Wayne Maxwell of Victoria.

Life with a Lamborghini is like having something alien and alive under your skin. Every move it makes is felt in your body. Its exhaust and engine noises shout and bark and roar in your ears like getting nagged on a bad day by the mother-in-law of your nightmares.Through a layer of Alcantara, there are subtle vibrations from the steering wheel and seat that tingles the fingertips and your butt. A variation on a Thai massage. Vision is blurry because the vehicle picks up speed and changes direction at a pace that initially shocks the brain. Think absinthe in a pint glass.Then there's the squashing. First the car's acceleration will crush you in the seat and then the corners will press against your hips and head, pulling your arms to be free of the steering wheel and your legs off the pedals. World Wrestling Entertainment in your bedroom.VALUEYou've got to be kidding.TECHNOLOGYTechnology costs. This is about $550,000 to buy and register so you get lots of carbon fibre(body and cabin), aluminium (chassis and body), Alcantara and leather (cabin) and forged alloy (wheels). The V10 engine now has direct-petrol injection for an instant hit. Fuel consumption is decreased, now 13.5 litres/100km average down from 17 l/100km.The 5.2-litre V10 pushes 419kW at a glorious 8000rpm and torque of 540Nm at 6500rpm. The extra 7kW over the LP560-4 is achieved primarily by remapping the engine management system.The six-speed automated manual e-gear transmission is now improved. Which is like saying being run over by a truck is much better today than 20 years ago thanks to advancements in tyre design. The original e-gear fitted to the Murcielago was a harsh and jerky affair that made you look bad in front of your mates. The new one is much smoother. The LP570-4's e-gear is operated only by the steering wheel paddles - but of more interest is the choice of full automatic, Sport and Corsa.Basically, the auto is for getting to the shops, Sport is for making it to work on time and Corsa is there to put a big grin on your face on the way home.The all-wheel drive uses a central viscous coupling and a 45 per cent rear LSD. Normally, power is channelled at the ratio of 30:70 front to rear and hit the ground via Pirelli P Zero Corsa tyres - 235/35ZR19 at the front and 295/30ZR19 at the rear - mounted on forged alloy wheels with titanium bolts.The wheels save a total of 13kg over the LP560-4. Every gram helps.The chassis is aluminium spaceframe with an aluminium and carbon fibre skin. In comparison with the LP560-4, only a liberal use of carbon fibre in the cabin shows the Superleggera has been designed to shave weight in order to get there faster.Carbon fibre is also used for the engine cover, bumper panels, spoilers and wing mirror housings. The rear spoiler, which is the easiest way of identifying the Superleggera, is actually a $15,000 option. All of the four cars already sold in Perth have this carbon-fibre wing.Carbon fibre is important in creating this coupe's character. The material is responsible for 40kg of the 70kg weight saving. The seats are covered in lightweight Alcantara instead of leather, however the car retains airconditioning and electric windows. The rear window and side glass are made of polycarbonate, as is the window over the engine bay.DRIVINGThe LP570-4 is making animal noises as it brakes and pitches and accelerates around the Wanneroo V8 Supercar circuit. Fresh from Italy and unlicensed for the road, the Gallardo LP570-4 Superleggera enjoys stretching its legs after such a long plane flight and revels in the warm air and empty track.At 1340kg, the Superleggera - simply, lightweight - is 70kg lighter than the LP560-4 coupe on which it is based and is the lightest road-going model in Lamborghini's range. Light is quick is economical is (more) environmentally friendly.It has a 0-100km/h time of 3.4 seconds and clearly - and unashamedly - is designed to match the Ferrari 455 in acceleration. More startling, however, is its 0-200km/h blast of 10.2 seconds and its top of 325km/h.All this technical data goes out the polycarbonate window, replaced with the need to concentrate so hard to ensure it tracks neat and smooth around the circuit. Thanks to the e-gear automated manual, it's not particularly hard to drive. But it is particularly hard to perfect the corners while getting used to its width and the razor-sharp response of the engine.Start the circuit in the transmission's "automatic" mode, build confidence and switch on the run to Sport, and then, a lap later, press the centre console's Corsa button. Which is like riding a feral beast and then stabbing in the neck. Pull on the right-hand steering wheel paddle and the car jumps sharply, the next cog rammed in and the engine howl drops an octave or two.Up two more for the straight, down one, then two for the right-hander. The ratios plunge instantly and the tail gives a little squirm, the steering wheel turns slightly and the back settles for the corner. It seems to know what to do and even pretends to become friendly.If it didn't cost half a million dollars and didn't have the fuse-lit explosion of 419kW hanging over the driver's head, it could be a fun car. Which is why - unlike many of its peers - you can flick the Gallardo's engine mapping switch back to automatic mode and, literally, go shopping.Lamborghini last year has a similar track day when the limited-edition two-wheel drive Valentino Balboni model, plus a LP560-4, came to Perth.I was more enthusiastic about the Balboni, with the 40kg weight saving of the front drive mechanicals creating a coupe that boasted lighter and more responsive steering and far less understeer than the all-wheel drive model.Despite sharing drivetrains, the Superleggera's weight loss has removed that hint of understeer and made it feel as nimble, confident and as easy to drive as the Balboni. Plus, of course, it has all-wheel drive for particularly slippery conditions.OTHER MODELSAlso shown on the track day - but not driven - is the LP550-2, the car that evolved from the limited edition Valentino Balboni car that celebrated its former works driver with a lightweight, rear-drive chassis. It is identical to the 250 Balboni cars save for the lack of the trademark centre-body stripe and identification badges.The LP550-2 weighs 1380kg, runs 0-100km/h in 3.9 seconds to top 320km/h, has 405kW and 540Nm and averages 13.3 l/100km. It's also about $140,000 cheaper. Lamborghini sells four Gallardo models in Australia - LP560-4 coupe and Spyder; new LP370-4 Superleggera; and the LP550-2.The Murcielago has stopped production and its replacement, the sub-3 second 0-100km/h Jota, is expected early next year.PRICINGThe Superleggera is $541,500 (add $27,204 for e-gear) and the LP550-2 is $399,990.VERDICTLousy visibility in traffic and a price tag Olympic/Commonwealth gold medallist Steve Hooker couldn't pole vault over fail to dent the allure of its tremendous performance.LAMBORGHINI GALLARDO LP570-4 SUPERLEGGERAOrigin: ItalyPrice: from $541,500Engine: 5.2-litre, V10Power: 419kW @ 8000rpmTorque: 540Nm @ 6500rpm0-100km/h: 3.4 secondsTop speed: 325km/hFuel: Premium unleadedFuel tank: 90 litresEconomy (official): 13.5 litres/100kmGreenhouse: 319g/km (Corolla: 175g/km)Transmission: 6-speed e-gear automated manual, sequential, paddle shifters; constant 4WDBrakes: 4-wheel vented discs, 8/4-pot front/rear calipersSuspension: Front/rear _ double wishbones, coilsWheels: 19-inch alloyTyres: Front  235/35ZR19; Rear  295/30ZR19; no spareLength: 4386mmWidth: 1900mmHeight: 1165mmWheelbase: 2560mmWeight: 1340kg

A stripped-down and rebuilt 1964 EH Holden driven by Matthew Bryson, 38, and Gerry Crown, 78, scored an outright win in the 37-day trans-continental rally.  "It is remarkable how 37 days of rallying can make you work," says Bryson a veteran forest and endurance rally drivers. "We really had to work hard to win, there was some brilliant opposition but when things aren't easy, it makes the win more valuable."  The EH was competing against an exotic array of classic machinery including the oldest competitor, a 1907 Itala and the youngest, a 1972 Hillman Hunter-Peykan. Of the 96 vehicles that started the gruelling rally, only 83 finished.  "The EH Holden was fantastic. It was a tribute to Australian engineering," says Bryson. "We went through the whole rally with only a few small problems - we holed a radiator, a headlight stopped working and we got water in the fuel tank from bad fuel. "We didn't have one puncture while others had over 30 flats and had to have tyres flown in.  Some cars had massive problems and there were a lot of accidents with locals because anyone can drive there and it's pretty wild on the road." The Doric Racing-prepared EH was also campaigned in the 1997 rally by Matthew's father, John, co-driving with Crown. It won its classic category and finished second outright.  Bryson says Crown shared the driving with him until he hurt his hand and couldn't change gears. "Gerry's quite fit and he's still extremely competitive," he says.  "With him, age is just a number." There was a strong Australian contingent in the 2010 rally including Cecil Bird and Ross Oakman, also in a 1964 EH Holden; Pamela and Andrew Mykytowych in a 1968 Vauxhall Viva GT; American Steven Harris and Hayden Burvill, 1964 Porsche 356C; Gregory and Lesley Newton, 1952 FX Holden; Timothy Clemons and John Chalmers, 1939 Packard Six; Roger Allen and Maggie Gray, 1940 La Salle Cadillac Coupe; Rachel Vestey and Suzy Harvey (GB), 1938 Chrysler Plymouth Sloper; Reginald Toohey and Antoon Spanjers, 1935 Bentley; Michael Wilkinson and Anne Wilkinson, 1937 Alvis SA; Maurice Timms and John Hastie, 1936 MG; Harry and Catherine Hickling, 1937 MG; Norman Brice and Colin Ryan, 1954 Austin A135 Princess; and Maxwell Stephenson and Carl Watson who finished second in the pre-1921 Pioneer Cat egory with their Vauxhall. The original Peking to Paris Motor Challenge was run in 1907 as the first trans-Continental motor-rally. Only five cars set out from Peking and al but one completed the journey to Paris.  It was not held again until 1997. The 2010 event left Beijing on September 10, passing through China, Mongolia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Iran, Turkey, Greece, Italy and France before arriving in Paris last month.

Mining magnate Nathan Tinkler has withdrawn his $4 million offer for a half stake in Dick Johnson Racing, ending months of negotiations with Johnson's current racing partner, Charlie Schwerkolt. Yesterday's development re-ignites a long running dispute between Johnson and Schwerkolt over the future of DJR that partly turns on the driving career of Steven 'Junior' Johnson.  But both sides are back in negotiations that could either see Schwerkolt take complete control of the Gold Coast racing operation or walk away to concentrate on his Melbourne-based multi-million dollar forklift empire. Schwerkolt was not available for comment yesterday and Johnson said it was "business as usual" after the collapse of the Tinkler bid.  Johnson also said reports of Courtney leaving were "totally incorrect". But the ownership of the company is critical, since Courtney is currently tied to DJR and could switch to another team for 2010 if the ownership changes.  Courtney currently leads the V8 Supercar championship heading to the next round in Launceston this weekend and his manager Alan Gow yesterday denied rumours that he might drive for the Holden Racing Team in 2011. "Enough is enough. James remains 100 per cent focused on winning this year's championship, and delivering more race wins for both his team and Ford fans who have supported him for many years," Gow said in a statement from his office in England. "Let me be very clear on this; James is contracted to Dick Johnson Racing and that is the only contract or agreement in existence for him to drive in the V8 Supercar Championship. I really can't put it any more plain than that." While the DJR situation is as confused and confrontational as ever, four-time Bathurst winner Greg Murphy has confirmed he is quitting his current ride with the Paul Morris team. Castrol, Murphy's backer this year, has also withdrawn its support. Murphy is unlikely to get a fulltime drive for 2011 but is believed to be chasing a co-driving seat for the long-distance races at Phillip Island and Bathurst.  "I am not retiring," Murphy said. For Johnson, the ownership dispute threatens to overtake his team's championship bid but he is putting on a brave face.  "We're carrying on as we have and focussing ahead to the Tasmanian round, then Sandown and then Homebush and winning the championship,"  Johnson said. "Hopefully we can wrap it up before the last round."  Courtney has been backed by Ford since he came to V8 Supercar racing from Japan and the company's motorsport manager, Chris Styring, admitted he was keen to keep him. But Styring also said "there is a bit too much speculation at the moment".  "People are making fantastic summations and guesswork about what he's doing, but he's still driving for Ford at the moment," Styring said, while refusing any comment on the DJR ownership.  "We've sort of let Dick get on with that."