CONTENTS

February 23 2012 – vol 207 no 8

Up-to-the-minute news and reports from F1, WRC and more. Subscribe for must-read opinion, stats and images

“As far as I’m aware, we’re definitely going. We rely on the FIA - they’re far better placed to know what the issues are” RED BULL RACING BOSS CHRISTIAN HORNER THINKS THE SITUATION IN BAHRAIN IS UNDER CONTROL…

FEATURES & REPORTS

COVER IMAGES: HONE, DUNBAR, COATES/LAT

COVER STORY

574 The number of grand prix starts amassed by Rubens Barrichello (352) and Jarno Trulli (252) who find themselves out of an F1 drive in 2012. That’s 66.9

per cent of the 858 GPs held since 1950!

SUBSCRIBE... to AUTOSPORT and get a free Autoglym Valet Kit P84

NEWS

26 Mercedes MGP W03 launch The car that must propel team forward; Ross Brawn interview 36 Merc’s 60th anniversary Pictorial highlights of ThreePointed Star’s racing highlights 38 Rubens: F1 is not over yet Brazilian veteran believes his F1

career isn’t necessarily over 42 Bianchi: third time lucky Frenchman must succeed in 2012 to justify F1 interest 44 IRC season preview Andreas Mikkelsen interview and full event guide 52 Daytona 500 preview

REGULARS

5 From the editor 6 Snapshot 17 Mark Hughes column 84 Subscribe for a free gift 88 Final drive Letters and Latest Gear

We analyse new Merc – can it break the top three? P26

Top tips from Jamie McMurray; Kasey Kahne interview; what’s new for the 2012 season 58 Gordon Shedden Why ‘Flash’ must win BTCC title 60 Brits to keep an eye on Youngsters on the move in 2012 67 World of Sport

90 On track/on screen The best action in the next week 93 From the archive Tony Brooks, Syracuse GP 1955 94 Race of my life Jonathan Palmer, Monaco GP, ’88

I L L I A M S/L AT

,W

:F E R R A R O

P IC S

8 Aesthetics backlash in F1 Teams to consider ‘pretty-car’ rule after fans’ 2012 launch fury 10 Schuey closes on 2013 deal Mercedes keen to hang on to seven-time champ next season 12 Petrov: I’ll prove my worth Russian hits back at pay-driver slurs after Caterham move 15 This week in Formula 1 Round-up of the latest stories

NASCAR star defends new rules, p23

18 GP2: we won’t slash costs Bruno Michel vows to keep ‘premium series’ core values 20 Nissan back to British F3 Japanese firm to take on Merc and VW in series’ engine scrap 23 Stewart defends NASCAR Stop moaning, champ warns critics of stock-car series changes 24 VW denies early-debut plan Team scotches ’12 debut rumour

SPORTS EXTRA

81 Single-seat aces target GT Rupert Svendsen-Cook and Callum MacLeod aim at Brit GT 82 Motorbase quits Porsches Top Carrera Cup squad leaves series but doesn’t rule out return

85 Lancia wins Boucles de Spa No, not Tabaton’s Delta S4, but van de Wauwer’s Beta Monte Carlo! 86 Club Focus Celebrating 60 years of the weird and wonderful Pomeroy Trophy

Pomeroy Trophy at 60, p86

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