Motorsport ColumnRalph Firman needs to get on the right side of Lady Luck if he is to score that overdue A1 Team Ireland victory in the World Cup of Motorsport.
Firman finished fourth in the sprint race at the last round in South Africa but was robbed of scoring points in the Grand Prix of Nations by a broken rear suspension component.
The Sunday races will be held on the Sentul circuit, south of Jakarta, and are backed by the Indonesian government. The country is pitching for a Formula One round and much depends on the success of the A1 Grand Prix, particularly regarding track and spectator safety.
Tinton Soeprato, father of top Indonesian driver Anada Mikola, said "it is important for the country to show it is safe for a large crowd to attend an event in Indonesia"
The Indonesian races were postponed from the original January 15th date after the sudden death of the Emir of Dubai. The two races to be run at Curitiba in Brazil are cancelled, and after Indonesia the remaining rounds are: February 26th - Monterrey, Mexico; March 19th - Laguna Seca, California; April 2nd - Shanghai, China.
France is favoured to win the inaugural A1 series, leading on 120 points from Switzerland 92, Brazil 63, Britain 58, New Zealand 54, Portugal 50, Ireland and Netherlands 44.
Eddie Peterson has a seven points lead over Sam Johnston in the autotest championship, 243 to 236. On dropped scores only two points separate the leaders and on form, Peterson looks likely to retain the Hewison Trophy for a second successive season.
In the battle for third, JJ Farrell, on 184 points, will probably overtake Eamonn Byrne on 228 points. Best of the rest are Chris Grimes 180, Paul Phelan 155, Paddy Power and Simon Echlin 152 each, Robin Lyons 148, Ken Irwin 116 and Christopher Evans 106.
There is a change of venue for Sunday's round 11 (of 15), from Blackchurch, Co Dublin, to Mondello Park.
The Phoenix Park motor races will go ahead on August 12/13th, when races will be run on the Oldtown Circuit for all the national classes and including historic cars.
Dublin driver Gavin Smith has been signed by VX Racing for a second season in the British Touring Car Championship.
WEEKEND FIXTURES
Saturday - Donegal MC,Navigation Trial, starts Kilmacrennan, Co Donegal, 21:01, Skibbereen & District CC, Nav Trial, starts Drimoleague, Co Cork, 23:01. Sunday - Co Cavan MC, Autocross, Ballybay-Cootehill Rd, Co Cavan, 11.00; Motor Enthusiasts Club, Hewison Trophy Autotest, Mondello Park, 12:00.
