MOTOR SPORT

FORMULA 1

ROUND 2 OF 17 - MALAYSIAN GRAND PRIX

- Apr 7-8, Sepang, Malaysia.

Beginning this weekend, the softer compound tyres will be visibly marked by a white line painted within one of the grooves. A reg change for 2008 will ban electronic traction control made possible by the mandatory use of standardised ECU.

TV : Qualifying on Saturday Apr 7 at 1pm on Star Sports.

Race on Sunday Apr 8 at 2pm.

WORLD RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP

ROUND 5 OF 16 - RALLY PORTUGAL

- Mar 29 - April 1,Villamoura, Portugal

Sebastien Loeb continued to amaze all by winning the reinstated Rally Portugal in his Citroen C4, as his 31st career victory in just sixth WRC season.

Marcus Gronholm and Mikko Hirvonen's second and third placings at the finish were shortlived when the stewards declared that five of the Ford Focus WRCars had illegal rear windows on them and were penalised 5-mins each. The two were pushed two places down the order with Petter Solberg of Subaru and Dani Sordo of Citroen taking up the rest of the podium places.

Drivers' standings after round 5: 1) S. Loeb (Fra) 38-pts., 2) M. Gronholm (Fin) 37, 3) M. Hirvonen (Fin) 29.

Manufacturers' standings: 1) BP Ford WRT 67-pts., 2) Citroen Total WRT 59, 3) Subaru WRT 27.

Next rally: Rally Argentina, May 4-6.

THAILAND CROSS-COUNTRY RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP

ROUND 2 OF 8

- Apr 7-8, Bangkok - Sakaew.

The second round of the national cross-country rally championship will start at the Bangkok Motor Show (Bitec) this Saturday and finish in Sakaew on Sunday. Six out of seven pick-up manufacturers in Thailand take part in this off-road series.

TV: Live on Sunday Apr 8 at 4pm.

Bangkok Post

Last Updated : Sunday April 08, 2007