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Carlisle Companies, Inc. joins as the primary sponsor for CRP Racing to run Ron Fellows in the 2010 World Challenge GT Championship Season.

RON FELLOWS AND CRP RACING

Harrisburg, NC - CRP Racing is pleased to announce that seasoned road-course racer Ron Fellows will be driving its No. “2″ C6 Chevrolet Corvette in the 2010 SCCA Pro Racing World Challenge GT Season.

RON FELLOWS

A longtime sports car and road-racing veteran, Fellows is credited with three class championships in the American Le Mans Series, two class wins in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and 19 overall victories in the Sports Car Club of America’s Trans-Am Series as a member of the Corvette Racing Team.

Fellows made 14 World Challenge GT starts between 2004 and 2007, earning three wins (Mosport in 2004, Mosport in 2005, and Long Beach in 2006) and seven podium finishes. Fellows also was fastest qualifier three times.

CRP Racing owner, Nicholas Short, is excited to have a driver of Ron Fellows’ caliber join the team. Says Short: “I’ve known Ron since the Trans-Am days and when the opportunity arose to have him drive for us, it was a very easy decision. I couldn’t be happier having him join CRP Racing.”

Also joining the CRP Racing Team is primary sponsor Carlisle Companies, Inc. which is a diversified global manufacturing company serving industries ranging from foodservice to aerospace to specialty trailers to construction materials to specialty tires and wheels. Carlisle will use the opportunity to promote their Cragar, Black Rock™ & ITP™ wheel brands and ITP™ Off-Road and Carlisle trailer tire brands. In the past, Carlisle has been involved in off-road racing with its ITP™ and Black Rock™ brands. Cars equipped with ITP™ tires earned class wins at the 2009 Baja 500 and 1000 off-road races. David Roberts, Chairman, President and CEO of Carlisle Companies, Inc., said: “Carlisle is headquartered in the heart of racing country, Charlotte, NC. We manufacture tires, wheels and power transmission belts used in some of the toughest racing environments. Our sponsorship of cars in last year’s Baja 500 and 1000 races were successful as class wins were achieved by cars using ITP™ tires and wheels. Partnering with CRP and Ron Fellows is an extension of our commitment to the performance and motorsports industry. Our Cragar wheel brand was the wheel of choice by many of the top names in motorsports in the past and we look forward to rekindling that preference. Cragar branded products continue to be a favorite with hot rod and muscle car enthusiasts. The introduction of the Black Rock™ brand for the off-road enthusiast has been extremely successful and we want to continue that success. I think the association with CRP Racing will allow us to accomplish our goals. In addition, many of our employees are racing enthusiasts and successful amateur racers. Sponsoring CRP Racing is a natural fit for us and allows our products and people to be involved in motorsports.”

With the support of Carlisle Companies, Inc. and the talent and skill of driver Ron Fellows, CRP Racing looks forward to running a highly competitive race team in the World Challenge GT Series this season.

News release: competitionraceparts.com

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Last year the Formula 1200 Championship had a very event filled season. Races in Shannonville, Mosport International Raceway and Calabogie, with 23 Drivers competing in a mix of sunshine, rain, fog, wind - and one this season even hail, made for one of the best seasons ever.

Michael Iamundi dominated the 2009 season, won eleven races, and earned the 2009 season championship with a tight finish in the drivers points yet again. Andrew McMurrary was a podium regular and top 5 finisher. Andrew took some amazing onboard video footage as well, showing drivers how it is import to draft and finished the season in second place. Eric Barret was the new 2009 Vallis Cup winner for this year, scoring a hat trick in winning the three racing that weekend. Eric won six of the last nine races. Eric Barret finished the season on a high note with third overall.

The Formula 1200 Championship starts its racing season at Mosport International raceway May 8 - 9 in the BEMC 60th Annual Spring Trophy Races.

>>>>>Read more in our RolfsRacing.com F1200 Page.

2010 FIA Formula One World Championship

POINTS SYSTEM

In order to further encourage the ‘race to win’, an adjustment to the points system was agreed. Points for both titles will be awarded at each event according to the following scale:

          1st : 25 points
          2nd : 18 points
          3rd : 15 points
          4th : 12 points
          5th : 10 points
          6th :  8 points
          7th :  6 points
          8th :  4 points
          9th :  2 points
         10th :  1 point

QUANTITY AND USE OF TIRES The number of dry weather tires sets allocated per driver has been reduced from 14 to 11.

In addition, to encourage teams to run during the Friday practice sessions, one set has to be returned before the start of the second practice session, and two sets before the start of the third practice session.

IMPROVING THE SHOW

In order to introduce a further element of strategy, cars having participated in Qualifying 3 (Q3) must start the race on the same set of tires with which their grid time was set.

>>>>>For all the latest read RolfsRacing.Com News Page.

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla Andrew Ranger, the 2009 NASCAR Canadian Tire Series presented by Mobil 1 champion, will utilize his secured starting position - earned as a NASCAR Developmental Series champion - in the NASCAR Toyota All Star Showdown on Jan. 29-30 at Toyota Speedway at Irwindale (Calif.).

Andrew Ranger

The annual all star event attracts the top drivers from across North America to what has become the pinnacle of short track racing in the U.S. and is often referred to as the ‘Daytona 500 of short-track racing.’

The 23 year-old Ranger, out of Roxton Pond, Que., will pilot a car out of the Steve McGowen stable. McGowen fields the Chevrolet driven by David Mayhew, who won a pair of NASCAR K&N Pro Series West events in 2009. Mayhew, too, has a secure spot in the starting lineup as a NASCAR K&N Pro Series race winner.

“I’m really excited about this opportunity to race against all these talented drivers,” said Ranger.

In 2009, Ranger won his second Canadian Tire Series championship in three years on the power of a single season series record six wins and outdistanced frequent NASCAR Nationwide Series competitor DJ Kennington by 167 points for the crown. Among those six victories, three came on oval tracks while the others were a result of his tremendous prowess on road courses.

It was through his road course ability that he caught the attention of the U.S. stock car media last August in the NASCAR Nationwide Series event in Montreal. Ranger staged a race long battle with Carl Edwards and Marcos Ambrose before settling for a third place finish in the race.

His first stock-car victory on an oval track came last July 18 at SunValley Speedway in Vernon, B.C., where he dominated on the half mile trioval by lapping every car in the field but one. This win validated his skills behind the wheel of a NASCAR race car after making the switch from open wheel racing where he was a top-10 performer in the Champ Car World Series, which since has reunified with the Indy Car.

“That victory was huge for me,” said Ranger. “If I was going to be racing in NASCAR, then I had to be able to win on ovals. Everything clicked that night. All of the things that Dave Jacombs (car owner) and Billy Burns (crew chief) had taught me fell into place.”

This will be Ranger’s second appearance in the NASCAR Toyota All Star Showdown having competed in the event following his first Canadian Tire Series championship in 2007. That outing lasted just 31 laps, leaving him with a 39th place finish.

>>>>>Read more in our RolfsRacing.com 2010 News Page.

VW TOUAREGS TAKE THE DAKAR AGAIN
Carlos Sainz & Lucas Cruz, Volkswagen Race Touareg 2
Photo: courtesy audi-motorsport.info

Wolfsburg (16 January 2010). Triumphant title defence in South America: Volkswagen has won the legendary Dakar Rally for the second time in succession and including 1980 for a third time.

After a ’showdown in blue’ the Volkswagen duos and their TDI powered Race Touareg prototypes celebrated a one two three podium lockout at the finish of the toughest challenge worldwide in motorsport. In the process, Carlos Sainz/Lucas Cruz (E/E) triumphed by only 2 minutes 12 seconds ahead of his team mates Nasser Al-Attiyah/Timo Gottschalk (Q/D) in a thrilling finale on the closing 202 kilometre sprint on the 14th and final rally day. Mark Miller/Ralph Pitchford (USA/ZA) claimed third position. Last year’s winners Giniel de Villiers/Dirk von Zitzewitz (ZA/D) finished seventh.

“I’m incredibly proud of our team. It’s stunning what the drivers, co-drivers and the entire team have achieved on every single day of the Dakar Rally. With this one two three triumph Volkswagen Motorsport even surpassed its own lofty goals,” says Dr. rer. pol. h. c. Francisco Javier Garcia Sanz, Member of the Board of Management at VOLKSWAGEN AG for procurement, at the finish of the final stage. Volkswagen Motorsport Director Kris Nissen explains: “Three weeks ago a highly motivated Volkswagen team came with the goal of successfully defending the ‘Dakar’ title won last year. Volkswagen has achieved something historical with this one-two-three. We are not only unbeaten in South America, we are also the only manufacturer to have won the world’s hardest rally up to now with diesel technology. The Volkswagen drivers fought amongst themselves for victory all the way to the chequered flag - sometimes by hard but fair means. This is exactly how we imagine motorsport to be. My congratulations therefore go to every Volkswagen duo who would all have been worthy winners.”

>>>>>Read all the latest and final results of the DAKAR in our RolfsRacing.com 2010 DAKAR Page.

The year 2010 could hardly have started any better for Audi “factory” driver Tom Kristensen: The Dane was voted “Sportsman of the Decade” as many as two times in his native Denmark. The TV channel “TV2″ as well as the major daily newspaper “Berlingske Tidende” awarded the prestigious title to the record Le Mans winner.

“I’d like to thank everyone who voted for me and helped me receive these two awards,” said the Audi driver. “Ten years ago, I wouldn’t have even dreamed of being so successful some day. But back then I had the great fortune of joining Audi. It’s a big privilege to have been a member of one of the world’s best race teams for as much as a decade now.”

The eight-time Le Mans winner clearly prevailed against such popular athletes as tennis pro Caroline Wozniacki, bicycle racer Michael Rasmussen and U.S. football star Morten Andersen in the votings.

Tom Kristensen was also recently recognized by the British racing magazine “Autosport,” which voted the Dane “Sports Car Driver of the Decade,” followed in second place by Allan McNish as another Audi “factory” driver.

Tom Kristensen has been competing for Audi since 2000 and has meanwhile won the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans (France) eight times, the 12 Hour Race at Sebring (USA) five times, the “Petit Le Mans” race at Road Atlanta (USA) and the LMP1 title in the American Le Mans Series in 2002. In addition, the Dane contested the DTM for Audi from 2004 to 2009, celebrating a total of four victories in the Audi A4.

In 2010, Tom Kristensen wants to fully concentrate on his greatest passion: on sports car races with Audi. Yet again, the highlight will be the 24 Hour Race at Le Mans on June 12/13.

Millions lining the route, billions worldwide in front of television screens - the longest marathon that motorsport has on offer, mesmerizes everybody with its fascinating and dramatic pictures: The Dakar Rally.

In 2010 the mother of all desert rallies starts for the second time on the South American continent. Also competing: Five Race Touaregs with TDI diesel power prepared and fielded by the Volkswagen factory team. They face up to the challenge with the goal of defending the title, because whoever triumphs here is ‘talk of the town’.

“The media interest during the Dakar Rally is unique. The fascinating pictures are broadcast on television in approximately 190 countries,” says Volkswagen Motorsport Director Kris Nissen. “Compared with other leading motorsport categories the ‘Dakar’ provides an outstanding platform. This event is seen worldwide by billions of people. Whoever demonstrates technical expertise within this environment can be sure of huge publicity. This is also a reason for our involvement in the ‘Dakar’.” The Dakar Rally achieved a substantial range on its premiere in South America in 2009. The number of TV features amounted to 1,130 in the 189 countries where television reports about the desert classic were shown. On the South American continent alone, where only five countries were evaluated, there were almost 300 million viewers. However, in the other nations around the world - from China to Canada, from New Zealand to Russia, from South Africa to Denmark - the “Dakar” is a hip subject immediately after the New Year, and not only in the sports programmes. In 2009, 2.2 billion television viewers worldwide followed the television reports - tendency increasing.

>>>>>Read more on the Dakar in our RolfsRacing.com Dakar Page.

The Fort Erie regional planning committee supported an amendment application to its policy plan, allowing the Canadian Motor Speedway project to move ahead past another hurdle. The regional planning committee supported an amendment application to its policy plan, allowing the motor sports complex to move ahead to the next phase of the future zoning bylaw.

The proposal will come back to the regional council early next year for further discussion and a vote.

“I think it’s an important indicator to our investors that the Region recognize the project and they would like to see it move to the next process,” investor Azhar Mohammad, executive director at Emirates Consulting said after the Fort Erie planning meeting.
“And certainly, now is the time to roll up the sleeves with them to start dealing with some of the other issues, which we are confident that we will deal with, especially on the environmental noise side.
“I think we have to now understand, from an investment point of view, what is the quickest route to begin the return on the investment. That will be determined once we mitigate all of the concerns that the region has addressed in their proposal to us … and then the province also had some clarifications required, and we’ve already been working on those for the last couple of months.”

All indications show that the speedway is a go. The pro’s out way the con’s.

>>>>>Read all the latest CMS info in our RolfsRacing.com Page.

In the future, the so-called “Le Mans Intercontinental Cup” will consist of the major races of the Le Mans Series in Europe, the USA and Asia and aims to continue the heyday of the legendary World Championship for Makes. In its debut year in 2010, the 1000-kilometer race at Silverstone (Great Britain), the “Petit Le Mans” race at Road Atlanta (USA) and an event on the Asian continent. Further races are to be added in 2011.

Audi will contest the new Le Mans Intercontinental Cup in the 2010 season with two R15 TDI cars fielded by Audi Sport Team Joest. Three cars are planned for the 24-hour race at Le Mans on June 12/13. Audi Sport Team Joest plans also to contest the 1000-kilometer race at Spa-Francorchamps (Belgium), which Audi would like to use as a dress rehearsal for Le Mans, with three cars.

Fort Erie Town Council heard from close to 60 people in support or opposition to the proposed Motor Speedway on Monday night. The meeting went from 6 p.m. to 12:50 a.m. Tuesday morning when council voted unanimously in favour of the speedway. Instead of the Town Hall, the Council meeting was moved to the Leisureplex Banquet Hall due to the expected large turnout.

Hundreds of people attended the meeting Monday night, with close to 60 people taking to the podium to express their support or opposition.

The next step of the approval process now goes to Niagara Regional Council for a vote on Wednesday afternoon.

>>>>>Read more CMS info in our RolfsRacing.com Canadian Motor Speedway Page.

60 tons of material, 17 support vehicles - Volkswagen’s “Dakar” crew embarked on its voyage across the Atlantic ocean to South America.

The winning team of the past Dakar Rally in Argentina and Chile will tackle the title defence project from 02 to 16 January 2010 by fielding five Volkswagen Race Touareg vehicles. To successfully master the challenge of the world’s toughest rally Carlos Sainz, Giniel de Villiers and company will be supported on location by a service crew consisting of some 80 members. In Le Havre, France, five service trucks, three equipment trucks and two race trucks of the Volkswagen factory team set out on the longest part of the journey, the roughly four week passage to Buenos Aires in Argentina. The cargo ship Grande Brasile that takes the equipment to the starting location was loaded the day before.

“For Volkswagen the preparation for the Dakar Rally entered its hot phase as early as at the end of September. Today the cargo loading and embarkation of the support crew marked the completion of another stage for the team,” said Volkswagen Motorsport Director Kris Nissen. “And of course every successful completion of these individual steps makes us look forward to the ‘Dakar’ in Argentina and Chile, which as the title defender we want to again decide in our favour, with even greater anticipation. Today, a major portion of the logistical effort was accomplished.”

The Grande Brasile and its precious cargo: joint passage of all participants

Dakar Rally organiser A.S.O. (Amaury Sport Organisation) made it possible for all European participants to transport their material to South America by ship by centrally organising the voyage. The Grande Brasile carries a major portion of the material of the total of 373 participating teams in its bowels.

On 28 December - exactly 27 days after the Grande Brasile’s departure - the teams will receive their trucks and other support vehicles again, including six Volkswagen Panamericana Multivans that will transport the Volkswagen crew through South America. For the roughly 80 team members work will then start on location: Immediately after clearing customs the support vehicles will be checked again. On 29 and 30 December they will undergo scrutineering, just like the actual rally vehicles. Every vehicle has to prove that the required modifications - from safety features all the way to sufficient water supply - were made. On 01 January when the starting signal is given at the ceremonial “Dakar” start the armada will embark on its tour of Argentina and Chile.

>>>>>Read all the News in our RolfsRacing.com News Page.

In 2010 Mosport International Raceway (formerly Mosport Park), will celebrate the 50th Anniversary of its opening. The track was built as a 2.459 mile long 28 feet wide 10 turn raceway, and widened to 40 feet in the year 2000 to accommodate the faster speeds of the ALMS.

The Launch for the year long celebration will officially start January 22 to 24, 2010 at the Canadian Motorsport Expo in Toronto, with Canadian racing legend Paul Tracy in attendance on Sunday January 24. Paul won the Formula Ford title at Mosport Park in 1985 and went on to score a Can-Am victory there in 1986, to become the youngest Series race winner at age 17.

Over the span of the last 50 years Mosport has hosted many race series and stars. Most notably Can-Am, Formula 1, Indy Cars, Trans-Am and since 1999 the American Le Mans Series.

The drivers that visited Mosport are to numerous to list but they included Stirling Moss, Gilles Villeneuve, Bruce McLaren, stock car king Richard Petty, Juan Manuel Fangio, Jim Clark, Jackie Stewart, Mario Andretti, Nick Lauda, Rodger Ward, A.J. Foyt, Al Unser, Bobby Unser, Rick Mears, Gordon Johncock, Randy Pobst, Ron Fellows, Tom Kristensen, Emanuele Pirro, and Hans-Joachim Stuck.

Many more rising Stars are using the track as a starting point in their careers. These include Nigel Krikorian, Nicholas Krikorian, Nick Wittmer, David Ostella, Stefan Rzadzinski, Caitlin Johnston and Conor Daly.

>>>>>Read the full report and more in our RolfsRacing.com Mosport Page.

23 year old Jonny Cocker sprung a big surprise on the Okayama circuit today. In the Drayson Racing Lola coupe he shares with Paul Drayson, the current Minister for Science for GB, the young Englishman grabbed the pole for the first of this weekend’s Asian Le Mans Series races. The front row will be dominated by Judd engines as the second quickest car in the 20 minute session was the no. 17 Tinseau/ Nakano Pescarolo Judd.

>>>>>Read more in our RolfsRacing.com Asian Le Mans Series Page.

Hockenheim. Briton Gary Paffett (Mercedes-Benz) has won the tenth DTM season round at the Hockenheimring Baden-Württemberg. After 39 laps at the 4.574 kilometres long circuit, he crossed the finish line in first place with his AMG Mercedes C-Class. For Paffett, it was the 14th DTM race win of his career and the fourth victory of the season. Timo Scheider (Audi) has successfully defended his DTM title: finishing second in the season finale at Hockenheim was enough for the German to win the drivers’ title again. Third place in the final round of the season at Hockenheim went to Paul Di Resta (Mercedes-Benz), Alexandre Prémat (Audi) finished fourth. The Frenchman was the best-placed driver with a year-old car. The final point-scoring positions were taken by Jamie Green (Mercedes-Benz), Oliver Jarvis (Audi), Bruno Spengler (Mercedes-Benz) and Markus Winkelhock (Audi).

>>>>>Read more in our RolfsRacing.com DTM Page.

Tom Kristensen will contest his 60th and last DTM race at Hockenheim. The 42-year-old Dane’s sporting track record includes nine pole positions, four race victories, 18 podium places and 212 points. Audi honors the achievements of its “factory” driver, who was part of the DTM driver line-up for six years since the brand’s return to the series in 2004, with special graphics on his car, for all the fans to see. The red white Audi A4 DTM will be emblazoned with an inscription in German, “Danke Tom fur tolle Jahre in der DTM” (Thank you, Tom, for fantastic years in the DTM) and “Held og lykke, Tom” in his Danish native tongue as well as a large portrait picture on the hood.

Several executive board members of AUDI AG would not miss being personally present at the title decision at Hockenheim. Rupert Stadler, the Chairman of the Executive Board, as well as his colleagues Michael Dick (Technical Development) and Frank Dreves (Production) will support the brand’s DTM squad on location at the crucial tenth round.

>>>>>Read more in our RolfsRacing.com News Page.