• Terrorism threat leads to Dakar Rally cancellation
• Chinese F1 GP executive jailed
• Silverstone circuit wins road safety award
• Suzuki WRC team appoints new technical manager
• Profits slump for US circuit operator

• 15 US states and five NGOs sue EPA over denial of Californian GHG emissions waiver
• China imposes cleaner fuel standards in Beijing

• Mosley denies need for FIA reform
• Honda Racing CEO proposes F1 budget limits
• Mexican WTCC round re-instated
• NASCAR team relocating after 60 years
• MTS appoints new CEO
• Milan launches Europe's first trial LEZ for cars

The French based Amaury Sport Organisation has cancelled the 2008 Dakar Rally, which was due to start in Lisbon, Portugal on Saturday, due to concerns over the security of the event in Mauritania where four French tourists were killed by suspected terrorists in December.

The decision was taken by the event organiser after it was warned of a “terrorist risk” if the rally followed its planned route.

A statement released by ASO said, "Based on the current international political tension and the murder of four French tourists last 28th of December linked to a branch of Al-Qaeda in Islamic Maghreb, but also and mainly the direct threats launched directly against the race by terrorist organisations, no other decision but the cancellation of the sporting event could be taken by ASO.

"ASO's first responsibility is to guarantee the safety of all: that of the populations in the countries visited, of the amateur and professional competitors, of the technical assistance personnel, of the journalists, partners and rally collaborators. ASO therefore reaffirms that the choice of security is not, has never been and will never be a subject of compromise at the heart of the Dakar rally.

"ASO condemns the terrorist menace that annihilates a year of hard work, engagement and passion for all the participants and the different actors of the world's biggest off-road rally.

"Aware of the huge frustration, especially in Portugal, Morocco, Mauritania and Senegal, and beyond the general disappointment and the huge economical consequences in terms of direct and indirect repercussions for the countries visited, A.S.O. will continue to defend the major values of great sporting events and will carry on its engagement for a durable development through the Actions Dakar, started 5 years ago in sub-Saharan Africa with SOS Sahel International.

"The Dakar is a symbol and nothing can destroy symbols. The cancellation of the 2008 edition does not endanger the future of the Dakar. To offer, for 2009 a new adventure to all the off-road rally passionate is a challenge that A.S.O. will take on in the months to come, faithful to its engagement and its passion for sports."

Yu Zhifei, the former deputy general manager of the Shangahi International Race circuit, which has staged the Formula One Chinese Grand Prix since 2004, has been jailed for four years after being found guilty of embezzling public funds.

According to a report by the AFP news agency Yu was also fined 300,000 yuan in the verdict announced by the Intermediate People's Court in Wuhu city in the eastern province of Anhui.

The AFP story says that Yu spent seven years as chairman of Shanghai Shenhua Football Club from 1994, during which he allegedly embezzled 800,000 yuan from the club in 1997 and 250,000 yuan in 1999 before he became the DGM of the Shanghai F1 track, where he embezzled 1.05 million yuan (around $140,000 dollars) in order to buy a house. He was arrested in January 2007 and expelled from the Communist Party of China (CPC) in May.

The UK’s Silverstone race circuit has won an international road safety award for its involvement with a course for young drivers.

The 20th annual Road Safety Awards gave a commendation award to Silverstone for hosting the CarKraft Young Driver Improvement Scheme, which is organised by Northants County Council and Northants Police to provide training for young drivers aged between 17 and 24.

CarKraft is a free day aimed at reducing the number of young people who die or who are seriously injured on Northants' roads. It is partly funded by safety camera fines.

Steve Deeks, CarKraft presenter and co-ordinator, said, "Silverstone is proud of its part in this ground-breaking scheme. Safety campaigner PC John Spencer and his dedicated team from Northants Police and the county council have managed to reduce road-related deaths and serious injuries in the county by an amazing 45% in the last four years."

The Suzuki World Rally Team which competes in the FIA World Rally Championship has appointed Shusuke Inagaki as its new technical manager.

Formerly the chief engineer of the Mitsubishi World Rally Championship team, Inagaki replaces Michel Nandan who joined SWRT in November 2006. Frenchman Nandan was previously with the Peugeot Sport WRC team and on joining Suzuki was tasked with the development of the all-new Suzuki SX4 WRCcar, which made its debut on the 2007 Rallye de France-Tour de Corse and on the season ending, Wales Rally GB.

The US based race circuit owner and operator Speedway Motorsports Inc in Concord, North Carolina has posted $13.6 million loss for the third trading quarter of 2007.

The loss - $4.7 million lower than the equivalent period in 2006 – is the first posted by SMI since 2004 and is attributed to losses at its subsidiary Motorsports Authentics, a joint merchandising venture with rival track owner International Speedway Corp.

According to SMI had it not been for the Motorsports Authentics losses, the company would have made a $4.4 million profit.

Fifteen US states and five non-profit groups announced on 2nd January that they were joining California in filing lawsuits against the federal Environmental Protection Agency, challenging the agency’s 19th December to deny California its request to implement its landmark law limiting greenhouse gas emissions from new vehicles. The NGOs were the Conservation Law Foundation, Environmental Defense, International Center for Technology Assessment, Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and the Sierra Club.

"The EPA wrongfully and illegally blocked our efforts to do something about climate change - all they should have done was step aside and let the states take the lead," said Governor Rendell of Pennsylvania. In addition to Pennsylvania and California, other states intervening in the suit are: Arizona, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington.

Under the federal Clean Air Act passed in 1963, California is expressly allowed to impose environmental regulations that are stricter than federal rules in recognition of the state's "compelling and extraordinary conditions," which include unique topography, climate and high number and concentration of vehicles.

In the 40-year history of the act, the EPA has granted approximately 50 waivers to California for innovations like catalytic converters, exhaust emission standards, and leaded gasoline regulations. Until last month, a waiver request had never been denied.

Under new road fuel standards introduced in Beijing to control air pollution ahead of the 2008 Olympics, fuel retailers will be required to supply gasoline and diesel equivalent to the Euro IV standard, which will cut local emissions of sulphur dioxide by 1,840 tonnes, according to the China Daily, quoting Beijing's Environmental Protection Bureau.

In an interview with the UK’s Guardian newspaper, Max Mosley, the president of the Paris, France based FIA, rejected a call from the former world Formula One drivers champion Jackie Stewart for changes to the way in which the organisation governs international motorsport and for Mosley to step down.

Mosley told the Guardian, "Dear old Jackie. He knows nothing about sports governance. Because he never stops talking, he doesn't know much about anything, actually. He just talks.

"So when people like that say it, you think, 'I just can't.' It's very childish, I suppose. The real moment to go is when you lose interest in your ideas. As far as I go, the only thing that keeps me doing it is new ideas and new technologies and steering the thing in a sensible direction. That's the motivator."

Nick Fry, the CEO of the Brackley, UK based Honda Racing Formula One team has proposed limiting the budgets of teams as a means of controlling costs in F1.

Speaking to the website autosport.com Fry explained that he had discussed his proposal with Honda Racing’s new technical director Ross Brawn. Fry said, "Ross and I both think that an overall budget cap is something that should be seriously investigated. What we see at the moment, if you look at the accounts of any of the UK F1 teams, is that the costs keep going up.

"So far what we have been successfully doing is moving money from one area of the team to another. Money is certainly moved from engines to aerodynamics, because that is the next best area of performance advantage.

"We support a lot of the proposals on the aero restrictions, but the fear is that that money will merely be diverted elsewhere. It will go to driver salaries or engineer salaries, or some other part of the car, but will not necessarily reduce the total bill that a team has to pay.

"So rather than chasing our tails, we think we should be considering an overall budget cap. Although it will be difficult to monitor, we think it can be achieved."

The FIA has revised the calendar for its 2008 Touring Car World Championship and re-instated the Mexican circuit at Puebla.

The Puebla circuit hosted WTCC rounds in 2005 and 2006 but both were marred by organizational problems and the event was dropped for 2007.

The 2008 WTCC round is scheduled to take place on April 5-6.

The Petty Enterprises NASCAR team, the orgins of which date back to the very beginnings of US stock car racing in the late 1940s, is relocating to new premises closer to the epicentre of the NASCAR racing community in North Carolina.

If all goes to plan by mid January Petty Enterprises will have completed the 74 mile move from it’s old headquarters in Level Cross, NC to raceshop facilities previously occupied by the Robert Yates Racing organisation in Mooresville.

Speaking about the move team figurehead and multiple NASCAR champion Richard Petty said, "The hard part was making the decision. It's easy after that. The deal is you've been somewhere for 60 years. Born in the house right up here, and never went nowhere.

"Then to be able to take the whole racing complex, as far as all the equipment and stuff, and move to another location -- even if it was just down the road, it would be just as hard to take.

"So like I've told everybody, 'You're moving our body, but you ain't moving our heart.' You know what I mean? Your heart is always going to be here because this is home."

The US test equipment manufacturer MTS Systems in Eden Prarie, Minnesota has appointed Laura Hamilton as its new chief executive officer who will succeed Sidney W. Emery, Jr at the company’s annual meeting on January 15.

MTS supplies a number of motorsport organizations, including Formula One teams, with various systems such as transmission dynamometers and rolling road floor systems for wind tunnels.

An "EcoPass" scheme has just been launched in Milan, beginning a one-year trial scheme to charge cars to enter the city according to emissions-related criteria, a month ahead of London’s LEZ scheme for commercial vehicles and buses. Milan has frequently suffered atmospheric pollution near or over the EU’s limits.

The fee to drive into the city, ranging from €2 to €10 during weekday daytime hours, will be based on five engine categories. Electric and alternative fuel vehicles, as well as ambulances, motorcycles, buses, taxis and vehicles delivering perishable goods, will be exempt. Cameras will monitor vehicles to ensure they have paid, or to levy fines of €70 or more. Estimated revenue of €24 million this year is being set aside for low-emissions municipal vehicle acquisition and new cycle paths.

(Planet Ark, 2nd January)