APRIL 14, 2008

Happy times in Dubai and Shanghai

Johnny Herbert sealed the title in the inaugural Speedcar Series at the weekend in Dubai. He ended the season level on points with France's David Terrien, who runs the driving school operations at the Dubai Autodrome, but scored more wins than the Frenchman and thus took the title.

Johnny Herbert sealed the title in the inaugural Speedcar Series at the weekend in Dubai. He ended the season level on points with France's David Terrien, who runs the driving school operations at the Dubai Autodrome, but scored more wins than the Frenchman and thus took the title. Title rivals Uwe Alzen and Jean Alesi, who both started the final event in a stronger points position, crashed out.

The final round of the GP2 Asia Series saw victory in the first race going to Romain Grosjean (ART) after a pitstop mix-up deprived Bruno Senna of his chance for victory. Senna overtook Grojean at the first corner and pulled away, while Grosjean fell behind the two Trust Team Arden cars of Yelmer Buurman and Sebastien Buemi. Buemi and Grosjean overtook Buurman and after Buemi pitted Grosjean tried to catch Senna but made little impression but the Brazilian's pitstop went wrong and he had to stop twice, leaving Grosjean and Buemi to fight for the win. Grosjean won that battle. Buurman was third and Russia's Vitaly Petrov fourth. In the second race Serbian Milos Pavlovic led from pole (having finished eighth the previous day) but retired almost immediately with an oil pressure problem. The lead went to Belgian Jerome d™Ambrosio but he was soon swallowed up by Marco Bonanomi and Buemi. Bonanomi then pulled away to scopre his first win. Buemi stayed second and thus was able to grab the runner-up spot in the championship as his rival Petrov retired with a fuel pressure problem. D™Ambrosio was third.

A1 Team USA™s Jonathan Summerton took his and the team™s first ever A1GP race win in Shanghai on Sunday. Current title leader and pole-sitter Switzerland™s Neel Jani lost second gear early on in the race and fifth gear towards the end so, despite a heroic drive, couldn™t stay in touch with the American car and crossed the line fifth behind title rival New Zealand™s Jonny Reid.

A1 Team USA™s Jonathan Summerton took his and the team™s first ever A1GP race win in Shanghai on Sunday. Current title leader and pole-sitter Switzerland™s Neel Jani lost second gear early on in the race and fifth gear towards the end so, despite a heroic drive, couldn™t stay in touch with the American car and crossed the line fifth behind title rival New Zealand™s Jonny Reid.