27.08 - 29.08.93

Belgian Grand Prix

30.08.93

Damon Hill is expected to meet Frank Williams later this week for talks which could lead him to a �1 million contract for next year. Hill, buoyed up by his second successive Formula One win in Sunday's Belgian Grand prix, feels he has proved his pedigree in brilliant style at Spa. "I am trying to let my driving do the talking and that's it. I don't know what it will lead to but I can say I shall be seeing Frank later this week. We will talk and see what happens," he said.

Nigel Mansell claimed sixth place in the latest round of the IndyCar championship in Vancouver. Mansell finished just ahead of his nearest championship rival, Emerson Fittipaldi, to stretch his overall lead by two points to 33. The race was won by Al Unser Jr, who passed defending champion Bobby Rahal on a tactical pit stop and then held on for victory. Swede Stefan Johansson took third ahead of Canada's Scott Goodyear and Mario Andretti. Mansell had started third on the grid.
Nigel Mansell pronounced himself "just happy to finish" after taking sixth place in Vancouver. He lost vital time when the engine of his car stalled at the first pit stop and he was dogged by handling problems throughout. "This was the toughest race I've ever been in," said Mansell, who now leads Emerson Fittipaldi by 33 points in the Indy title race. "It was a lot of hard work today. My car had no grip. But we gained two points on Fittipaldi and that's what counts," he added.

03.09.93

Belgian Thierry Boutsen announced his retirement from Formula One racing after a 10-year career in which he won three Grands Prix. Boutsen, who has had a poor year with Jordan-Hart, is quitting immediately and will not compete in the last four races of the season. The 36-year-old started his career in 1983 with the Arrows Ford team but had to wait six years for his first win - in Montreal. His best placing in the drivers' championship was in 1988 when he finished fourth with Benetton-Ford.

Thierry Boutsen is having talks with three IndyCar teams, after announcing his retirement from Formula One grand prix racing.

07.09.93

Marco Apicella will make his debut with Sasol Jordan at this weekend's Italian Grand Prix. The 27-year-old is being plunged straight into action after being named as the replacement for the retiring Thierry Boutsen. Team owner Eddie Jordan said: "As a team we have always been believers in providing opportunities for up and coming talent. I have known Marco since he was racing in the European F3000 series and he's always been one to watch."

Johnny Herbert is likely to have a new teammate at this weekend's Italian Grand Prix as a replacement for Alessandro Zanardi. Zanardi is still recovering from a shunt at Spa and Portuguese F3000 driver Pedro Lamy could come in. Lotus are expected to make an announcement on Wednesday.

08.09.93

Japan could host two F1 grand prix races in 1994, if the little-known Okayama TI Circuit near Okayama gets the go-ahead next month. Donington Park stepped in this year when Japan's second F1 race, the Asian GP due to be held on the Autopolis circuit, was cancelled.

09.09.93

Britain's Damon Hill will be after a hat-trick of Formula One wins at Monza - but is still unsure of his future with Williams. The 32-year-old Londoner, lying third in the championship, has yet to secure a contract for 1994, despite a superb debutant season. But Hill said: "I have had a great opportunity with this team and I believe they will be the team to beat again next year. But if it is not to be, it will not worry me. Above all I want to enjoy myself driving a racing car."

British car makers Lola and Italian Formula 1 team Scuderia are parting company at the end of the year. In a statement issued on the eve of the Italian Grand Prix, Lola said the two parties made the decision mutually, and with regret. Lola chairman Eric Broadley said it was necessary for the team and its design department to be as one, and they planned to prepare their own team for next year's championship. It is widely believed Scuderia will merge with Minardi for the 1994 Formula 1 campaign.

10.09 - 12.09.93

Italian Grand Prix

13.09.93

Damon Hill's late and unexpected challenge for the Formula One title has teammate Alain Prost looking nervously over his shoulder. Following Hill's third successive win in Italy Prost's lead has been slashed to 23 points, and he said: "Anything can happen now. Damon is driving so well and I have scored only four points from the last three races. I am worried." But Hill refused to admit, with three races left, that he is a realistic challenger, saying: "I have got no real hopes."

14.09.93

Emanuele Naspetti has been confirmed as Jordan's second driver for the Portugese Grand Prix on September 26. The 25-year-old Italian will test the Jordan-Hart at Silverstone, before making his first Grand Prix apearance of the season in Estoril. Naspetti made his Formula One debut at last season's Belgian Grand Prix and competed in the final five rounds of the 1992 championship. He signed a testing contract with Jordan at the end of April after competing in the Japanese F3000.

15.09.93

Peugeot will enter Formula One racing next year by building a V10 engine for a team to be announced. Peugeot, already involved in sports racing and rallying, are expected to join forces with the French Larrousse team. Former F1 and sportcar driver Jean-Pierre Jabouille is Peugeot's new racing team chief. Meanwhile Harvey Postlethwaite, one of the most respected engineers in F1, is quitting Ferrari and will be replaced by Valerio Bianchi.

16.09.93

Michael Andretti is leaving the McLaren Formula One team to resume his career in Indy Car racing. The American has had a miserable season but ironically achieved his best result for McLaren when he was third at last weekend's Italian GP. He will be replaced by the team's test driver Mika Hakkinen for the final three races of the season. "This experience will enable him to be better prepared for next year and help him avoid the initial problems I encountered," he said.

The Gulf state of Qatar has made a $40 million bid to become the first country in the Middle East to host a Formula One Grand Prix. A FISA representatove visited Qatar earlier this week to inspect a proposed site for the circuit. FISA are now studying the plans and is expected to make a decision on the bid early next year. Qatar motor racing officials are confident of staging their first GP either towards the end of 1995 or in early 1996.

18.09.93

Nigel Mansell will continue IndyCar racing for at least the next two years, after agreeing to renew his contract with the Newman Haas team. Mansell, the reigning F1 champion and current IndyCar points leader, has claimed four wins and six pole positions so far this season. "All credit goes to Paul, Carl and the team for what we have achieved this season," said Mansell, who has an option for the next three years. "I'm enjoying racing in IndyCar series and my family are enjoying life in America very much."

19.09.93

Britain's Nigel Mansell has made history as the first reigning F1 champion to win the IndyCar title. Mansell clinched the crown with victory in the 200-lap race around the Nazareth Oval in his Lola-Ford. He drove a superb race, passing Paul Tracy on the 47th lap and leaving Championship rival Emerson Fittipaldi trailing in fifth place. Mansell, winning in his debut season, has already agreed to stay with the Newman-Haas team for at least the next two years.
Nigel Mansell became the IndyCar champion and dedicated his success to "the boys of Newman-Haas team". "The mechanics, they all did just an outstanding job all year long," said Mansell after winning in Nazareth. "I like this kind of racing - it's just pure racing." Emerson Fittipaldi, his only title challenger, led for the first 11 laps but was slowed by problems with his Penske-Chevrolet. "Nigel drove a beautiful race," said the Brazilian. "It would have been difficult to catch him."

24.09.93

Three times world champion Alain Prost has said he will retire from Formula One at the end of the season. The Frenchman is out to clinch a fourth world crown this weekend in Estoril for Williams. He will bow out in Adelaide on November 7. Ayrton Senna also confirmed that he will leave McLaren at the end of the season - and now seems certain to replace Prost at Williams. Damon Hill's position at Williams now also looks more secure.

24.09 - 26.09.93

Portuguese Grand Prix