HRT refugee Vitantonio Liuzzi has re-emerged on the grid of the Italian-based touring car series Superstars.
Despite having a 2012 contract, the 30-year-old Italian lost his race seat at the struggling Spanish team HRT for this year to the well-backed Indian Narain Karthikeyan.

So, in 2012, he will race a Mercedes C63 AMG – which he tested last week at Monza – in the Maurizio Flammini-organised Superstars series.

Also on the grid will be former F1 drivers Christian Fittipaldi, Mika Salo, Gianni Morbidelli and Johnny Herbert.

“I’m persuaded that Superstars is a great choice to open yourself to other categories than F1,” said Liuzzi.

The season begins in April at Monza, then moving on to Imola, Donington, Mugello, the Hungaroring, Spa, Portimao, Vallelunga and Sentul (Indonesia).

Since 2005, Liuzzi also raced in F1 with Red Bull, Toro Rosso and Force India.

Donington Park no longer aspires to host formula one.
The circuit’s bold bid to redevelop the site and host the 2010 British grand prix failed spectacularly, but it is once again the scene of minor category and motorcycle racing.

Managing director Christopher Tate told the BBC: “We have no ambition to run the British grand prix for cars.”

In the Donington Park before not too long ago, great hope had reigned. Under the leadership of Simon Gillett wanted to bring F1 back to the legendary track. Together with the MotoGP and Superbike World Championship, it would have to be the Mecca of British racing. Financial difficulties prevented the radical restructuring and remained in ruins. But there are positive reports back from Donington.

Only recently had a new tenant, the Adroit Group, the track rebuilt. The FIA has taken the track already and nothing stands in the way of racing. Now the Donington Park Racing Ltd (DPR) to manage the plant taken by Adroit. “I am very pleased that DPR must run the track again,” said Kevin Wheatcroft, president of DPR and the owner of the complex.
“Racing is back at Donington. We are now an exciting future for the route and the place they promised. I would like to thank the Adroit Group. You have invested incredible energy, so Donington can reopen. We are happy about The first improvements. ” DPR was founded in 1953 by Wheatcroft and organized racing events since 1970 in Donington Park

Last weekend, again hosted the first races, once the safety inspections were positive. There are craft already in a full racing calendar. “It is for all racing classes an exciting moment that Donington is available again. It was bitterly missed,” said Robert Bryant, the chairman of the Classic Racing Motorcycle Club. The club had organized the first event on the course reopened.

As Silverstone’s new 17-year contract kicks off this weekend, Bernie Ecclestone said he is happy with the circuit.

The F1 chief executive has been a staunch critic of the ageing venue, and the sport would have moved away for 2010 had Donington’s plans not fallen through.

But on Friday, the F1 cars laid rubber for the first time on the new ‘Arena’ section, and next year the grid will form up between the Club and Abbey corners, where the skeleton of a new pit and paddock complex can already be seen.

“It’s not really like Silverstone at all, is it?” joked Ecclestone, who once described the modern British GP track as a country fair masquerading as a world event.

“They have done what I was asking them to do for years,” added the 79-year-old Briton. “All I wanted was for them to bring the place up to the standard we expect for a world class event and they are starting to get there.”

85,000 spectators were at Silverstone on Friday to see the practice sessions, which is more than most of F1′s new international venues can currently only dream of for race-day.

India is set to debut next year, bringing the calendar to 20 races amid rumours there might be up to 24 dates in the near future.

But Ecclestone said: “That (20) is enough, we won’t be going to 24 or anything like that.

“Maybe one or two European races will drop out. Probably the ones who complain that they can’t afford them. No race is sacrosanct,” he warned.

The reaction has been mixed since F1 announced it is heading to Austin, Texas, for 10 consecutive United States grands prix beginning in 2012.

Britain’s Sun newspaper quoted Williams chief executive Adam Parr as saying: “We are a global sport and not having a race in America has been a big hole in the calendar. Our partners will be thrilled.”

But the announcement was short on detail, including where in the Texan capital the venue will be built, and why Austin can succeed where the likes of Donington failed.

McLaren’s managing director Jonathan Neale said in a teleconference on Wednesday: “I’d say it is fantastic news if it turns out to be true and if we can make it happen.”

One sceptic is Kevin Eason, correspondent for London’s The Times.

“This is one old formula one dog who was once bitten by Donington and is twice shy.”

And a blogger at former US GP host city Indianapolis’ Indy Star newspaper read: “I’ll believe it when I see it.”

The German news agency SID said the news had triggered “joy and doubt”.

Even the major Austin daily American-Statesman found the surprise news, which came hot on the heels of claims New York was closing on a deal, hard to swallow.

“Monte Carlo. Istanbul. Barcelona. Montreal. Austin? Maybe,” read a report.

The report added that “significant details” are yet to come, including the cost, the source of the funding, “and why would an Austin project succeed where others haven’t?”

The fabled Indianapolis Motor Speedway hosted F1 between 2000 and 2007, and spokesman Fred Nation said: “Some years we had the largest crowds of the year for formula one.

“From a spectator point of view, it was a success. At the end of the day, we could not make a business deal that made sense to us.”

The promoter of Austin’s F1 race is Tavo Hellmund, whose company Full Throttle Productions is largely unknown outside of Austin, and he admitted that land has not been bought but three sites are being considered.

A local race venue owner thinks Hellmund’s task is a huge one.

“I can tell you this facility cost about $250 million,” said Texas Motor Speedway president Eddie Gossage, referring to the venue used for NASCAR races.

“(An F1 track) would exceed that,” he added.

Finally, the Silverstone circuit has the approval to utilize the new section of the circuit for the 2010 British Grand Prix.

The “complex stage” was originally designed for MotoGP, but when Silverstone recovered the contract to hold the British Grand Prix at Donington, it immediately approached FIA and Formula One Management (FOM) to be able to run in the new racetrack.  Today, Thursday, the FOM consented on the use of this new area, which the organizers hope will improve the view for the audience.

“The circuit was always designed for two and four wheel competitions,” explained Silverstone’s managing director, Richard Phillips. “We have been very careful, together with the marshals and pilots to insure that we are improving and increasing what Silverstone has to offer – one for the pilots and another view for the audience.”

The F1 circuit will keep most of the high-speed racetrack, but will lose Chicane Abbey, Corner Bridge and the left in Priory –all of which have been left untouched to provide an alternative design.  Contrary to this, the drivers will now turn to the right at the Abbey, before entering a 90 degree right turn that opens in two at the left to again go to the existent National Circuit and, finally, the F1 circuit.  It is expected that the extra length will increase the F1 times per lap in four seconds.