August 9 2012 – vol 209 no 5 Contents

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

“It’s incredibly boring for most people. Something else will pop up, I promise you!” Mark Webber batS off all the talk of red bull rule-bendIng

COveR IMAGe: dUnbAR/LAT

features & reports 26 Pastor Maldonado: F1’s bad boy The Venezuelan Williams racer has gone from sinner to winner and back again, but, as Edd Straw discovers, there’s more to him than that 30 Ferrari’s F1 fightback The Scuderia’s F2012 wasn’t truly competitive at the start of the season, yet Fernando Alonso now leads the title race by 40 points. Tech chief Pat Fry explains the turnaround in form 36 F1 2012: half-term technical appraisal While the F1 teams enjoy their summer hibernation, Gary Anderson reveals which of them excelled in the season’s first half and which of them need to do better in the second 40 IndyCar Mid-Ohio Ganassi’s Scott Dixon takes fourth Mid-Ohio win in six years 44 WRC Finland ‘Sebastien Loebonen’ beats the local heroes for a third time 48 British F3 Snetterton Carlos Sainz Jr is the rainmeister in Norfolk 50 British GT/Formula Ford Snetterton McLaren and Porsche share spoils; Lichtenstein takes treble 53 World of Sport NASCAR; V8 Supercars; Formula Nippon; ALMS; Indy Lights news 8 Why motorsport could become an Olympic sport There are no insurmountable obstacles to racing and rally drivers competing for a gold medal in the future 10 Webber ready for a world-title showdown The Red Bull driver explains why experience of the last-gasp heartache in 2010 would help him this time round 12 Toro Rosso commits to technical reshuffle James Key set to replace Giorgio Ascanelli as team halts development of troublesome 2012 chassis 15 This week in F1 Despite the summer break, there’s still plenty going on 18 Red Bull set to land WRC promotion gig Energy drinks firm’s commitment should safeguard sport 20 Barrichello to stay on for second IndyCar campaign Brazilian veteran wants another season – but not with KV 23 Plato promises BTCC fightback Double champ ready to catch Hondas in improved MG6 25 A1GP series revival bids received by administrators Dutch and Australian interest in defunct World Cup series regulars 5 From the editor 6 Snapshot 17 Mark Hughes column 66 Subscribe and receive six issues for £1 84 Final drive Letters and latest gear 86 On track/on screen The best action in the next week 89 From the archive Alain Prost ‘drops’ his trophy at Monza in 1989 90 Race of my life James Weaver, Formula Ford Festival, 1978

sports extra 69 Neal and Shedden sign up for Goodwood Revival BTCC aces to trade paint in St Mary’s Trophy historic thrash 70 Lloyd lands second Porsche scholarship season Daniel Lloyd to benefit from German marque’s rethink 74 National reports Croft HSCC; Anglesey 750MC; Brands Hatch BRSCC; Pembrey BARC; Maasmechelen ERC; Craigantlet BHC 82 National Focus Formula Renault BARC’s three-way title shootout

August 9 2012 autosport.com 3