Green campaigners have...
Green campaigners have been predicting the death of the so-called "Chelsea tractor" following a recent dip in sales. But the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) says it"s mostly registrations of the UK"s two most popular off-roaders that have suffered in the last year - because they"re both being relaunched. A spokesman said: "Rumours of the demise of the 4x4 have been greatly exaggerated. There were 10,000 fewer sales over the last year, nearly 5,000 of which were for the outgoing Land Rover Freelander, which has not been made since July. The new model only went on sale last week.
The famous Ford name...
The famous Ford name is set to return to the BTCC in 2009 after an absence of nearly a decade. Independent team Arena Motorsport has revealed that it will field a squad of Focus STs in next yearò€™s championship. Although not a factory-backed effort, it will mean tin-top fans get to see the seriesò€™ most successful manufacturer back in action. Since 1959, the blue oval has won 10 championships and a total of 219 races.
Heading the driver line-up will be Tom Chilton. The 23-year-old last raced for the outfit between 2003 and 2005, claiming six victories in a Honda Civic.
Arena boss Mike Earle says the squad has a bright future. ò€œThis is an exciting opportunity for us. We aim to return to the winning ways we enjoyed in the past.ò€