In brief, December 2009

An Acura prototype will race at the Le Mans 24 Hours for the first time next year. The British Strakka Racing team is purchasing an LMP2 ARX-01b car from Fernández Racing for Danny Watts and Nick Leventis to drive.

Sports car legend Hurley Haywood made a winning return in the Daytona Prototype ranks at the Grand-Am season finale at Homestead. He claimed victory with João Barbosa in a Brumos-run Riley-Porsche after replacing J C France at short notice. France was arrested on drugs charges in the run-up to the race.

On October 14 Audi marked the 100th anniversary of the birth of Bernd Rosemeyer by laying a wreath on the A5 Autobahn, at the site of his death in early 1938 during a world speed record attempt. Rosemeyer achieved international fame primarily in Auto Unions during the 1930s.

The World Touring Car Championship could race in the US in 2011. Series boss Marcello Lotti has revealed that he is in contact with both Homestead and Laguna Seca about hosting the first North American event in the WTCC’s history.

Oliver Turvey, a beneficiary of the Racing Steps Foundation, will race in both the GP2 Asia Series and GP2 2010 for iSport after competing in the World Series by Renault. Another beneficiary, Formula Renault UK vice-champion James Calado, will join Carlin Motorsport for the 2010 British F3 series.

Yvan Muller, the 2008 World Touring Car Champion, will take part in the Race of Champions on November 2-4 at Beijing’s Bird’s Nest stadium. The Frenchman joins a line-up including Schumacher, Button, Vettel, Hirvonen, Doohan, Kristensen, Ekström and Priaulx.

A Donington round is on the 2010 BTCC calendar, but late in the season (September 19) due to remodelling work at the track.

Allan McNish has joined the judging panel of the Jim Russell Future Driver programme as part of his new partnership with the racing school. Two fully-funded drives in the Jim Russell series are up for grabs during the competition on December 19-22.