European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - August 23, 1989, Darmstadt, Hesse Wednesday August 23, 1989 the stars and stripes Page 25 racing Roundup Fia to Back new sports car series Jean Marie Balestre president of the federation internationale de raut Mohile Fia called a press conference last weekend on the Nur Burgering to stress that the world governing body of motor sports is fully supportive of the new group c world sports car championship series. And if the Fia is smart it will live up to a in str s Promise and work hard to promote this series one that Calls for sports car races of about 300-Milcs distance. Last sunday s race on the curb urging fifth round in the championship proved to be far More exciting that any formula one grand prix staged so far this year. The curb urging event had every Clement of drama. For instance the big Silver Sauber mar cedes cars were on their Home ground there were five different race leaders the Competition was extremely close All the Way a new Star glittered with the Nissan r89c s performance the German Joist team made a Brilliant Effort with its aging porsche 962, and the Sauber mar codes one two sweep was achieved Only two laps from the end. You can t do much better than that. What should work for the new series Success is the entrant situation. Here is a Case of the manufacturer becoming involved with current Marques including Sauber mar codes Jaguar Aston Martin Nissan Toyota Mazda and private entry French Peugeot firm plans to come in next year and the Fla s Balestre said at the press con Ference that general motors will enter in 1991when turbos arc dropped and normally aspirated 3.5-Liicr engines take Over. The 3.5-Litcr engines Are already powering formula one cars replacing the 1.5-liter turbos since Jan. I of this year. Porsche which is beginning to have some Suc Cess in . Indy car racing will probably return to the world sports car scene to Battle Mercedes and there could be other big names by 1991 Ford and Bow perhaps. So the Outlook is Bright. At the curb urging we had a discussion with Nissan s team chief Howard Marsden. And he had some interesting things to say about Nissan s role in the world championship series. He pointed out that the Nissan company Aims to sell at the top level the new Nissan infiniti luxury car is one example and that the firm is using sports car racing to elevate its image just As Honda is doing in formula one. Marsden says that firms like Mercedes and Bow must meet the japanese Challenge and that was one of the main reasons Mercedes returned to racing. During its motor sports press conference in March which we attended the Only challengers Mercedes did mention in fact were the japanese a Point not missed by Nissan s Marsden. Nissan of course is ruling the Simsa racing scene in the United states and the japanese cars Are improving rapidly in Europe. A Nissan won the recent sup cup race at Diepholz Germany and for a Long time on sunday it appeared that the Nissan r89c would win on the ring. Driven by englishmen Julian Bailey and Andrew Gilbert Scott the r89c led almost half of the race but finally fell Back with Turbo problems and fuel consumption problems. But it was an impressive showing creating a lot of publicity for the japanese manufacturer. And that of course is Nissan s . Germany s Jochen mass who teamed with Frenchman Jean Louis Schlusser to win at the ring for Sauber Marc eds is having a Superb year with other victories at Jarama and be mans. Today s race is one of the Best i be Ever driven in mass said and the spectators were treated Toa lot of exciting moments. We had great expectations for this race but we had to run consistently and according to strict plans because of the fuel limits. But we had no problems. Although Nissan looked Good the Joest porsche was still our Tough est opponent. The Joest car led with two laps to go when it ran out of Gas. The Nissan was ready Quick though mass said and it s a Good Young team. When the Nissan moved up to a 30-Secqnd Lead we knew according to our fuel consumption skbbsjk.-. Ass Randy Bonn a new challenger in sports car racing the Nissan r89c speeds in for a pit Stop sunday on the Norbur Grung. Riders in the three classes. Where to go this weekend the Bel Gian grand prix 11th round in the world Drivers championship will be held on sunday at the spa Franco champs circuit. Unt Mcd practice sessions arc scheduled from 10 to 11 30 . On Friday and saturday with official qualifying set from i to 2 . On both Days. Sunday s belgian grand prix of 44 laps 189.7 Miles will Start at 2 30 . Alain Prost of France leads his Mclaren Honda team mate Ayrton Senna of Brazil by 14 Points going into this race. A formula pm Lotus euros pics race plus other supporting races arc also on the three Day program. The circuit is located near Mal Mcdoy in the belgian ardennes not far from the German belgian Border. Parts of the race will be shown on All Channel 3 stations in Germany Dur ing the sports show from 1 to 5 . On the Salzburg ring in Austria races for touring cars formula 3 cars. Formula Fords and Renault 5s arc scheduled for sunday along with the eighth race in the porsche 944 Turbo cup series. Practice and qualifying will take place on saturday. The Salzburg ring is located just cast of Salzburg. On Germany s curb urging the adar Ruhr trophy races for touring cars arc scheduled for saturday. The program starts at 9 . And ends about 4 . Motorcycle racing the 12th and next to last round in the european Road racing championship will be held sunday at the doing ton Park circuit near Derby England with races for 125cc, 2socc and Soock bikes As Well As cycles with sidecars. Practice and qualifying will be held on saturday. The i oth round in the German National Road racing championship plus German trophy races will be held sunday at he Straubing Airport circuit. The races arc for All classes of cycles. Practice and qualifying will take place on saturday. The City of Straubing is located on National route 8 Between re Gunburg and Passau. Motocross the final round in the Soock world Motocross championship will be held Sun Day at Wohlin Switzerland with practice and qualifying Motos set for saturday. The town of Wohlen is located a few Miles West of Zurich on Swiss National route i. The 33rd div Motocross Starkenburg a German trophy Moto for 2socc bikes and cycles with sidecars will be held on saturday and sunday at Sossdorf which is located just East of Darm Stadt. There will be no racing Roundup column again until the sept. 13-14 editions so please consult the sports Calendar in the thursday sports Section for listings of motor sports events. calculations that they would eventually run out of Gas. Either that or they certainly knew something we did t know. But the Nissan did run out of Gas did t it we had our consumption calculated to the last drop and it was a great team Victory Here it was also a great personal Victory for the popu Lar German Driver who at age 42, has no plans for retirement. With More than 20 years of lop level racing behind him including 14 years in formula one the Monaco based mass remains an extremely enthusiastic competitor. In Motocross the world championships have All been decided except for the 125cc division and the american rider Trampas Parker needs Only two Points this weekend at Hun France to Clinch that one. The 125cc finale in France follows the two South american rounds the brazilian Moto won by Alex Ander Puzar of Italy Suzuki and the Argentine Moto won by Parker who also took second in Bra Zil. Frenchman Jean Michel Bayle Honda mean while has clinched the 250cc championship with wins in Sweden and Finland while British rider David Thorpe Honda clinched the Soock Crown in the recent Luxembourg round. It was the third title for Thorpe his others scored in 1985 and 86. The american rider Bobby Moore Kim Cap tured the German National championship last weekend by winning both rounds of the Buhl Ertan Ner Motocross his fifth Victory in six German out Ings. Our Motocross correspondent Darrell Diamond finished 27th in a Field of 35 riders in the support ing Soock Amateur race at Buhl Artanner. Motocross fans should Lake notice that All of the world s Best riders will be competing in the Moto Cross of the nations on sept. 9-10 in Gail Dorf Germany which is located just South of sch Sobisch Hall. Representing the american team will be Jeff Ward Soock Jef Slanton 250cc and Rick Johnson 125cc. The american Parker who rides with an italian License will compete in the Soock division for Italy while the american Billy Liles with a Luxembourg License will ride 250cc bikes for thai nation. The Canadian team will be represented by Carl Vaillancourt Soock Ross Pedrson 2socc and Allan Dyck 125cc. Some 25 nations will be competing at Gail Dorf. The United states has won an unprecedented eight consecutive Motocross of the nations titles. Team results Are based on the combined efforts of the
