A CAR carrying Toyota...

A CAR carrying Toyota personnel was attacked by a gun-toting thug in Brazil. Afterwards, security at the track was beefed up – leading to a fight between Renault boss Flavio Briatore’s personal bodyguard and a trackside bouncer.

THERE were rumours in Sao Paulo that the Prodrive Formula One team due to make its debut in 2008 will come in as an Aston Martin squad. Currently, European billionaires Bernard Arnault and Albert Frere are looking into buying the British firm from Ford. Prodrive currently runs the Astons in sportscar racing.

KOREAN giant Hyundai is planning to be in Formula One by 2010, according to reports in Germany. The maker is in talks with F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone about competing with its own team. Hyundai is also planning a rally return for 2008.

THE Brazilian GP weekend started badly for Spyker’s Tiago Monteiro. The Portuguese was fined for a pitlane infringement on Saturday, then he spun off in qualifying.

“It was one of the most stupid mistakes of my career,” he said.

INTERLAGOS was British engine maker Cosworth’s last appearance in F1. It has been on the grid since 1967, and won 13 F1 titles and 176 grands prix, second only to Ferrari during that period.

THE battle of the major motor makers ended in a whimper rather than a roar. Neither BMW nor Toyota scored points in their fight to finish fifth in the championship. The German team edged it by a point after both Japanese cars retired with suspension trouble.

PAUL di Resta – the cousin of IndyCar racer Dario Franchitti – could become the third Brit on the trot to win the Formula Three Euroseries, following in the wheel tracks of Lewis Hamilton and Jamie Green. He has a 15-point lead with 17 available as the championship goes into its last round at Hocken?heim in Germany this weekend.

FORMER world rally champion Carlos Sainz demonstrated one of last year’s Renault F1 cars at the Barcelona round of the World Series by Renault event in Spain.