Image: This week’s motorsport roundup
After a busy weekend of motorsport, we take a look at some of the best results, biggest stories and fantastic images from the world of motor racing. This week’s roundup includes touring cars at Snetterton, rally racing in Finland and the Australian GP.
There was double joy for Finland as it hosted the latest stage of the World Rally Championship. The Finnish driver and navigator pair of Jari-Matti Latvala and Miikka Anttila won the event, the first time a Finnish team has won on home soil for four years. The team Volkswagen drivers narrowly beat their teammates Sebastian Ogier and Julien Ingrassia by just 3.6 seconds. “Formula 1 in the forest” as the rally is known, was the twelfth consecutive victory for team Volkswagen in Finland, their eighth win of the season. Going into Rally Germany, team Volkswagen are looking odds on to win all three WRC championship titles – for manufacturer, driver and co-driver.
What a feeling! pic.twitter.com/gV5Y4FJBfQ — Jari-Matti Latvala (@JariMattiWRC) August 3, 2014
Snetterton race track was host to a festival of racing this weekend with the club car championships taking place. After a highly competitive race, Irish racer Aron Smith from team Chrome Edition Restart Racing won his second race of the season. Just 2.5 seconds covered first to eighth as the race entered its final two laps. Championship leader Colin Turkington finished third in his eBay Motors BMW.
Árón's second lights to flag victory of the season!!!! #p1 #winning #BTCC #Árón40 pic.twitter.com/WfXbvA16Wm — Árón Smith (@AronSmith_) August 3, 2014
Good news for F1 fans on the south coast of Australia as Melbourne has confirmed it will host the Australian GP until 2o20. This news follows close behind Daniel Ricciardo winning the Hungarian Grand Prix and Premier of Victoria Denis Napthine hopes the Red Bull Driver can continue his success. “Within this contract we hope to see Australia’s own Daniel Ricciardo win the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix and become world champion,” said Napthine. “I congratulate Australian Grand Prix Corporation chairman Ron Walker for his success as a tough negotiator in getting the best deal for Victoria.”
Great news @ausgrandprix has extended contract. We love racing in Oz so not only myself but im sure all drivers are pleased with this one! — Daniel Ricciardo (@danielricciardo) August 4, 2014
In other news, Kamui Kobayashi says he is keeping his options open. The Caterham driver has been told that he may not last the full season and could be replaced. After missing the entire 2013 season, Kobayashi is not looking to leave F1 anytime soon. “Yeah of course I’m very open,” Kobayashi said. “Currently I don’t have any contract for next year. I’m looking at everything. Of course I want to be in Formula One, that’s the biggest priority. Then of course I want to fight in the points and I want to fight higher in the championship.”
The British Lawn Mower Racing Association are looking forward to next Saturday’s endurance race. The race will take place at night-time and each team will be racing for 12 hours at speeds of up to 50mph. BAFTA winning actress Julie Walters will start the race, which takes place at Ingfield Manor School in West Sussex.
This time next week the set up begins to the greatest race #12hourlawnmowerrace, come along next Saturday to see :-) pic.twitter.com/PZLCsri4ih — BLMRA (@BLMRA) July 30, 2014