Contents

March 29 2012 – vol 207 no 13

“You can’t make a chicken salad out of chicken crap” indYCar series boss randY bernard tells us (in amusing stYle) whY he’ll onlY promote his suCCessful drivers as publiC figures rePorts

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

CoveR IMAGe: GIlhAM/Getty Insets: levItt, ebRey/lAt, thoMpson/ Getty

COVER STORY

186 Combined total number of Gp2 races (in all series) contested by sepang top-two luiz Razia (who’s done 79) and Davide valsecchi

(107). Well, they do say that practice makes perfect!

Report on page 44

suBsCrIBe... to AUtOSPORt and get a free McLaren cap P80

26 Malaysian grand Prix Full coverage from Sepang – and how Alonso beat Perez. Includes technical news plus all those (near-unbelievable) stats

40 IndyCar st Petersburg Castroneves takes first blood as series enters a new era 44 gP2 sepang Malaysian kick-off provides

A victory Alonso didn’t expect, p26

early joy for Razia and Arden, as Calado wins reversed-gridder 46 World of sport NASCAR; Brazilian V8 Stock Cars; Indy Lights; British Rally

,E B R E y/ L At

:F E R R A R O

P IC S

Features 52 BtCC preview

Looking ahead to Britain’s top racing series – which kicks off this weekend. Plus a look back

NeWs

8 Ferrari update is vital… Points leader Alonso is praying mods can keep him in the hunt 10 …but is it too late for Massa? Brazilian could turn things around, according to Ivan Capelli 12 Merc not on board Concorde German giant limbers up to fight Bernie over future of F1 15 this week in Formula 1

at 1987 – a year of a new breed replacing old. Sounds familiar! 63 Introducing… …Bathurst 1000 winner Nick Percat regulars

5 From the editor 6 snapshot 17 Mark Hughes column 80 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 Holden wins a BtCC race, 1987 94 rally of my life Mark Higgins, 1997 Manx Rally

P1 14

how lMp1 could look with revised rules, p20

18 New IndyCar gets praise they look a bit weird, but they’ve got a lovely personality, say aces 20 le Mans’ new lMP1 vision Privateers given rule incentive 23 last-minute Mg set for debut Plato reckons brand-new BtCC challenger can fight at the front 24 toyota weighs up WrC Global engine could mean rallies sPorts extra

77 Formula Ford us test prizes More EcoBoosts emerge as series offers carrots on stick to victors 78 Fortec renaults go abroad UK-series team switches to NEC

82 National reports Silverstone Britcar and BRSCC; Brands Hatch MSVR; Lydden British Rallycross; plus full results round-up

Ford gives incentives for series, p77

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