April 12 2012 – vol 208 no 2 CONTENTS

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REPORTS 50 IRC Circuit of Ireland

Hanninen wins thrilling Skoda scrap as Mikkelsen gets dizzy 54 British Formula 3 Oulton Park Harvey on top as Serralles takes surprise win 56 British GT and supports Oulton Park BMW and Porsche take the honours on soaking track 59 FIA World GT1 Nogaro

Ortelli leads Audi squad to victory on dream debut 61 World of Sport

FIA European GT3; New Zealand V8 SuperTourers

FEATURES 34 Ferrari – beware of the false dawn

OK, so Fernando Alonso won in Malaysia, but there’s work to be done to get the Scuderia to the front on merit 40 Hitting the brakes with Brembo

Ferrari may be up against it in F1, but here’s an Italian company that seems to be doing rather well 42 Allan McNish interview

He’s conquered Le Mans (twice). Now there’s a

World Endurance Championship to win with Audi 46 Formula 2 track test & preview

The first round of 2012 is at Silverstone this weekend, so we thought we’d better get our own Ben Anderson out in one

NEWS 8 Pressure on Lotus to get results – and backing

Raikkonen and co need to perform in wake of sponsor split 10 Mercedes works on conquering tyre worry

It’s quick – but team needs race consistency for results 12 Italians not missing their F1 drivers

TV figures prove only Ferrari matters. No surprise to R Patrese 15 This week in Formula 1 16 Chinese Grand Prix preview 21 David Coulthard column 24 Viper set to attack Le Mans GTE class

Chrysler’s new V10 baby gets ALMS programme to start 27 IndyCar rules out performance balancing

No leg-up for duff aero kits when series opens up in 2013 29 Six engine companies commit to new F3

But Merc and VW aren’t there for category’s new era 31 NASCAR ramps up its technology

Fuel injection begins to transform working practice 32 Circuit of Ireland future uncertain

Organising team works to maintain place on IRC calendar

REGULARS 5 From the editor 6 Snapshot 23 Mark Hughes column 60 Subscribe for a free gift 92 Final drive

Letters and latest gear 94 On track/on screen

The best action in the next week 97 From the archive

Dan Gurney wins for Porsche, French GP 1962 98 Race of my life

Mike Broad, London-Sydney Marathon 1977

SPORTS EXTRA 75 Formula Ford calls on MSA for blessing as junior hotbed

It’s the only junior series left without ancient cars 76 New cars put cat among British GT pigeons

Aston Martin Vantage tipped to join BMW Z4 as winner 82 National reports

Snetterton BARC; Lydden ERC; Castle Combe CCRC; Knockhill SMRC; Silverstone BRSCC; Donington MGCC

COVER IMAGE: GILHAM/GETTY INSETS: STALEY, EBREY/ LAT, BEARNE/F2

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