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<body> <Table Width="550" border="0" style="border-collapse: collapse" cellpadding="0"><TR><TD Width="35"><IMG SRC="//www.totalmotorsport.com/images/spacer.gif" WIDTH="35" HEIGHT="1"></td><td> <CENTER><Table border="0" width="100%"> <TR><TD width="100%" align="center"><B><FONT FACE="Tahoma" SIZE="5">FIA SPORTSCAR CHAMPIONSHIP</FONT></B></TD></TR> <TR><TD width="100%" align="left"><B><FONT FACE="Tahoma" SIZE="2">06/12/2000</FONT></B></TD></TR> <TR><TD width="100%" align="center"><B><FONT FACE="Tahoma" SIZE="4">Next Year</FONT></B></TD></TR> <TR><TD width="100%" align="center"><B><FONT FACE="Tahoma" SIZE="3">Looking Very Much Stronger</FONT></B></TD></TR> <TR><TD width="100%" align="center"><img border="1" src="Storage/YearngerSPO.jpg"></TD></TR> <TR><TD width="100%" align="center"><FONT FACE="Tahoma" SIZE="1">  </FONT></TD></TR> <TR><TD width="100%" align="left"><FONT FACE="Tahoma" SIZE="2"> It is confirmed – the Championship that has been waiting for its new name for nearly two months is now officially the FIA Sportscar Championship.<BR> <BR> Kremer’s test of the revised Roush V8 after Kyalami was hit by bad weather, Ralf Kelleners only managing a handful of laps. But there are indications that the Kremer K9, the carbon-tubbed chassis that was supplanted by the B98 Lola early last year, may still have a future. It could yet be a home for the Roush V8 in 2001.<BR> <BR> BMS Scuderia Italia are going to give their 333SPs another year (but not enter Daytona?), but 2002 could see a change to a more modern chassis. Audi R8s were a possibility for next year as recently as early November, but now it seems that the most likely replacement for the marvellous 333s will be Dallara-built chassis. <BR> <BR> GLV Brums are in a similar position. When do teams get to the stage when they have to retire their Ferraris? A Lola is one option, carrying on for one more year with the V12 behind Giovanni Lavaggi is another. <BR> <BR> There will definitely be some new chassis in the SR class in 2001. Although the news isn’t strictly ready for release, Auto Hebdo in France are already announcing that Jan Lammers and Tom Coronel will be sharing a Dome chassis in the FIA Sportscar Championship. There could be one or two more of the Japanese chassis in the series, probably fitted with Judd V10 engines. To the list of new cars, add the Snobeck LM01 and the Promec, plus new Ascaris and a Reynard 2KQ.<BR> <BR> The 2KQ is the known Redman-Bright car for Mark Smithson and Peter Owen (due for delivery in January and featuring improvements over the final version of the 2000 chassis), while Ascaris could total three once Gabriele Rafanelli has finished weighing up his options. Ascari have been putting in the miles in testing at Misano, the car running very reliably according to an Italian source. Rafanelli will also run the Gunther Blieninger R&S. <BR> <BR> The Snobeck has been lined up as a 2001 contender for several months, while the Promec is the Giuseppe Angiulli designed chassis. <BR> <BR> One piece of non racing news is that Den Bla Avis boss Karsten Ree sold a helicopter last week – then discovered that just hours later it crashed into a lake in Denmark, killing all three of the occupants. Ree is expected to link up with John Nielsen again in 2001, running one or two new chassis. <BR> <BR> Among the Lights, Audisio & Benvenuto should expand to a two car entry, as will the factory Lucchini team, while Mauro Prospero has ordered a Lucchini for his new operation. <BR> <BR> Mark Bailey has signed two as yet unnamed drivers to pedal a revised MBR Rover under the Jess Racing banner. Launch date for this project is in the New Year, with Mark himself taking on the engineering of the car. It will be fitted with push rod front suspension.<BR> <BR> Finally for now, the FIA Sportscar Championship will see Roy Baker continue his changes from Pilbeam-Nissan (with Alfa stickers) to Tampolli-Alfa to eventually settle on the Tampolli with a Nissan engine. Doesn’t he like Alfa engines? <BR> <BR> It’s looking very promising already. Bring on those new cars.<BR> <BR> </FONT></TD></TR> </TABLE><BR> </CENTER> <BR><CENTER><font size="1" color="#808080" face="Tahoma">Copyright ©2000-©2023 TotalMotorSport</font></CENTER> </td> </tr> </table> </body>