Commentary moves

Ben Edwards will be over at Brands doing A1GP next weekend, so BTCC viewers will be treated to John Hindhaugh once more. Simon Hill is also part of the A1 team, but ITV are again drafting in the surprisingly competent-at-the-microphone Rob Huff.

Following David Leslie's death, Eurosport have signed up fellow Scot and ex-BTCC champion John Cleland to partner Martin Haven. John rarely holds back on his views, so it'll be worth tuning in via Sky, cable or online to hear him, even if the racing isn't fantastic.

Citroën to DTM?

So says this Polish article which some online translator just about made comprehensible.

WTCC Lada in action

The (long awaited?) 1980s-Chav-Escrot-lookalike WTCC Lada has been captured on video testing in Holland (thanks to TCT for the story).

Massive LMS crash at Monza

Stephane Ortelli's Oreca has a massive accident at Monza today, suffering only a broken ankle. Flies over McNish's Audi and misses it by literally inches.

Team 48 again

Team 48 didn't make it at Rockingham. Alfa Fan claims they're dead in the water. But then he also reckoned CMS would be at Brands with two Toledos. No further news to report from the Jamaican racing forums.

Racin' Jason latest

Platos' latest excuses for Sun readers can be read here.

Volunteer as a marshal: reason #94

Drinking game updated

For Rockingham.

Rockingham weather

Not looking good alas - BBC are reporting heavy showers for Sunday. At least shelter at the Rock is pretty good - you wouldn't want heavy showers at Brands, with nowhere to take cover...

Winner!

In the post today: a pair of free tickets for Rockingham this weekend. Presumably it's the result of some competition or other I entered, but the letter didn't really elaborate on that.

Oh, and further to the rant about getting to the Rock via public transport, the letter helpfully tells the reader that Kettering station is serviced by Midland Mainline, a train company that ceased to be last November. Ah well.

Team 48 update - updated

Posts on Jamaican racing forums claim that Matthew Gore (or is it Goré?) has flown back to Blighty and should be in the middle of 5(!) days of testing with the team. Apparently.

Update: They won't be at Rockingham after all. Time to start guessing who'll be on the grid first - Xero or 48?

Jelley wrestling - updated

Motorsport News reports Jelley will most likely be racing in Dubai this weekend in GP2 Asia, having not negotiated his way out of his ART deal. There's no doubt that WSR will field two cars however, as Dick Bennetts has three drivers (according to Autosport) in mind to take his place. Danny Watts is one man reckoned to be on that shortlist, and a good choice too. (Did you know Danny recently got engaged to Fiona Leggate? Congrats!)

Update: Turns out he's going to skive off just one GP2 Asia race and fly back from Dubai in time for BTCC.

Rockingham traffic info

Thanks to the ever reliable Northants Evening Telegraph:

A one-way inbound system will be in operation at the Mitchell Road entrance between 8am and midday however, Shelton Road will remain open to two-way traffic at all times. Anyone being dropped off at the circuit is advised to use this entrance.

There are no road closures planned, however restrictions will be in place to stop motorists turning right at the junctions of Phoenix Parkway/Mitchell Road; Shelton Road/Steel Road and Rockingham Road/Gretton Brook Road.

Dumb Ask Alan post of the month - April

Sometimes I wonder why Alan even bothers replying to some of these.

I was just wondering why the Seat Cupra's aren't in the support package this year, is it due to lack of entries?

See the thread here.

Rockingham attempts public transport green credentials

Rockingham has been posting little green hints on various pages on their website lately. Some are useful, practical things like making sure your tyres are inflated to the right pressure, cut down on the crap that's weighing down your car etc. But asking punters to use public transport to get to the Speedway... how's that going to happen? Their How to get to us page is rather silent on getting to the Speedway via public transport.

So, to be green and get to The Rock on raceday via public transport you can:

• Get the train into Kettering station, and then hope for a cab from there. Or walk the 9-or-so miles. Only problem is first train out from London on Sunday doesn't arrive at Kettering until 1011, thus missing the first race or two.
  
• Wait for a slightly shorter walk in December when Corby station re-opens.
  
• Take a bus. There is the "Corbystar 10" which runs hourly from somewhere in Corby to somewhere else in Corby via the Speedway. Again, first bus doesn't arrive until past 10am, so that's no good either.
  

Motorsport embracing green credentials (being carbon neutral, biofuels, CO2 emission limiting etc.) is all very well, but the carbon footprint of couple of dozen cars doing 50 laps on a race weekend is nothing compared to 15,000 cars travelling to and from a race circuit every other weekend.