MOTORSPORT By Tony Brunskill

Published at 05:14, Friday, 19 June 2009

THE sun beat down on a full grid at Croft Racing Circuit last Saturday when I went with young Matthew to see if Fabrizio Giovanardi would win and help secure his hat-trick of British Touring Car Championships (BTCC) because he won in 2007 and 2008 for Vauxhall VX Racing.

Ready to go: Fabrizio Giovanardi's track grid girl before the start

The shakedown and qualifying were exciting, so we returned for both races on Sunday.

However, it rained and having been caught out on the circuit getting some action shots we decided to return home after Fabio sadly came fifth.

But Croft is a great circuit and we enjoyed ourselves, with Matthew being particularly interested in the track grid girls.

By the time you read this, I will be down at the British Grand Prix as guest of Toyota, whom I hope will get on the podium because the team has done really done well this year and the drivers, Jarno Trulli and Tim Glock, deserve success.

I say that not because I am guest, but as an impartial observer. I met the Toyota team when they were floundering at the back of the grid a few years ago.

Then they said success would eventually happen as they developed the cars, and they have doggedly done so by investing in technology and have never given up.

However, I will also be on the lookout for Jenson Button and the Brawn team, which have swept to F1 victory this season by stealing a march on the rest of the teams in terms of aerodynamics and technology. Brawn's sensational success has left the world champion Lewis Hamilton sniffing their exhaust fumes but I am sure we will eventually see him back at the front.

Silverstone, dubbed the home of F1, is a power circuit and it will be interesting to find out who will claim the win. Let's hope it's a Brit like Jenson, as this is supposedly the last time the GP will be held at the track, though I suspect the stated move to Donington is a political FIA game.

At home, the regs for the superb one-day rally, the Stobart Rail Pendragon Rally, will be available on July 1, when entries will open and, as it always attracts huge entries, I advise you go to www.pendragonstages.co.uk soon. Entries close on August 15, with final instructions posted on the website on August 21.

This year, the organising committee have found an extra 10 stage miles in Warcop, which, added to the demanding and technical stages at Lowther Park, bring the total stage miles to 80 out of 195 total rally miles.

With a compact route from the rally HQ in Penrith, and starting with the ramp outside the George Hotel again, it is superb value for money at £275 per entry, which includes road books, numbers and service info.

Over the weekend other exciting events and entertainment are being planned by Eden District Council, so it will be great for families, fans and businesses.

Finally, I am delighted that Cockermouth's Malcolm Wilson, international rally driver, national rally champion, owner of rally preparation company M-Sport, and Ford's world rally team manager has been rightly awarded an OBE for his services to motorsport. He also deserves it for being a great ambassador for Cumbria, who has brought vital employment and an excellent skill base to the county.

Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk