April 26 2012 – vol 208 no 4 CONTENTS

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

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REPORTS 28 Bahrain Grand Prix

Once the lights went out it was another gripper, as Vettel and Red Bull broke their 2012 ducks. Full report from Mark Hughes, along with detailed results, technical analysis and driver-by-driver ratings 42 GP2/Porsche Supercup Sakhir Valsecchi does double in GP2, as Siedler takes Porsche lead 44 GT1 World Championship Zolder Halliday leads Porsche squad to victory in Belgium 46 World of Sport

NASCAR; Australian V8 Supercars; Superstars;

European GT3; Ferrari Challenge

FEATURES 52 DTM preview: BMW’s return

Taking a look at the Munich attack on eve of the season 54 DTM preview: Mercedes C-Coupe

Tech chief Gerhard Ungar talks us through new-car build 57 DTM preview: who to look out for in 2012

Focus on some of the drivers to watch, plus full schedule 58 Brad Keselowski interview

The man who’s replaced Kurt Busch as Penske’s top dog in NASCAR has had a colourful career

NEWS 10 Vatanen warns Formula 1 over Bahrain…

Ex-rally king/MEP says sport must acknowledge troubles 12 …as Todt explains FIA’s stance on event

President of governing body answers the questions 14 Testing D-day approaches at Mugello

Next week is critical for the F1 teams – especially Ferrari 17 This week in Formula 1 A round-up of the other things in the news in Bahrain… 20 IndyCar weighs up wheelguard redesign

US series could make mods after Andretti Long Beach crash 22 Bentley set to join the GT3 field

New Supersports to take on Ferrari, Porsche, McLaren, Audi 25 Merc’s Brits eye German plunder

Paffett and Green fired up for DTM season opener 26 WRC going the distance in Argentina

Endurance back on the menu this weekend for rally boys

REGULARS 7 From the editor 8 Snapshot 19 Mark Hughes column 76 Subscribe for a free gift 88 Final drive

Letters and latest gear 90 On track/on screen

The best action in the next week 93 From the archive

1983: the last time four constructors won first four F1 races 94 Race of my life

Ricardo Zonta, World GT1, Spa, 2010

SPORTS EXTRA 73 Nissan adds GT Cup to schedule

Hetherington brothers to contest further events with GT-R 74 Brit on top in North European invasion

Jake Dennis takes Formula Renault NEC lead at Hockenheim 77 Young racer takes his Renault to Mono

Single-seater hopeful Spires contests clubbie series 78 National reports

Cadwell Park HSCC; Silverstone VSCC; Donington Britcar/ BARC; Brands Hatch BARC; Oulton Park BRSCC 86 Track test

Behind the wheel of the radical Caterham SP/300.R

COVER IMAGE: MASON/GETTY INSET: COATES/LAT

April 26 2012 autosport.com 5