IN THE HEADLINES

BELGIAN GP SECURED

The future of the Belgian Grand Prix has been secured by the local government, which has signed a new three-year extension with Formula 1 owner Liberty Media. Belgian media reported that the deal was signed last week, between Spa’s local Wallonian government and Liberty, extending the current deal that runs out after the 2018 event. The race’s annual operating losses are paid for by the local government, and offset by the economic benefits to the region.

COLLINS RE-DEDICATION

A re-dedication of the gravestone of 1950s grand prix star Peter Collins will be carried out at 11am on August 5 at St Mary the Virgin Church, Stone, Kidderminster – two days after the 60th anniversary of his death, when he crashed his Ferrari in the 1958 German

GP. Rectification work, organised by a number of Collins’s friends, has been carried out on the gravestone.

BUTTON IN BGP ‘RACE’

Jenson Button will take part in a staged ‘race’ against motorcycle racer-turned-tv presenter Guy Martin at Silverstone on the Friday of the British Grand Prix weekend, for a Channel 4 programme. Button will drive the unraced Williams FW08B six-wheeler, with Martin aboard an FW08C.

PEUGEOT’S NEW 208

Peugeot plans to introduce a new 208 Supercar model for Sebastien Loeb and Timmy Hansen to race in the World Rallycross Championship from next week’s round at Holjes in Sweden. The machines will feature a revised chassis and new engine. Loeb sits second in the points behind runaway leader Johan Kristoffersson. Third driver Kevin Hansen is to upgrade to one of the 208s used so far by Loeb or his older brother.

AUDI STARS IN SPA 24

Reigning DTM champion Rene Rast is to contest the Spa 24 Hours in an Audi R8 LMS alongside Nico Muller and Robin Frijns, who also compete in the German tin-top series for the manufacturer. The trio will line up for WRT alongside the Belgian squad’s current Blancpain GT Endurance points leaders Dries Vanthoor, Christopher Mies and Alex Riberas.

FITTIPALDI MOVES AHEAD

A triple victory at Misano last weekend has carried Enzo Fittipaldi into a narrow lead in the Italian Formula 4 rankings. The grandson of two-time world champion Emerson, run by Prema Powerteam, is now one point ahead of Leonardo Lorandi, who scored a second place. Czech F4 rookie Petr Ptacek was second in the other two races.