In brief, June 2008

* The Singapore GP organisers have announced that they will use ‘digi-flag’ displays which will be more visible at night. The electronic flag displays, which will be used alongside the flags traditionally waved by race officials, are based on a technology similar to that which guides pilots at major airports.

* Super Aguri announced on April 16 that a planned takeover by the Magma Group had fallen through. The deal would have been financed by a group in Dubai, and former Ford rally team boss and Sauber CEO Jost Capito had been tipped to take charge. The news has left Super Aguri’s future in doubt.

* The US GP could return to the F1 schedule in 2009 if the Indianapolis Motor Speedway can find a title sponsor for the event. Renault backer ING indicated in December that had it known the track needed extra support to run a race this year, it would have stepped in. The return of Indy and the addition of Abu Dhabi would extend next year’s calendar to 20 races.

* Johnny Herbert won the inaugural Speedcar title when he triumphed in both races held in the final round at Dubai. Among the ex-F1 drivers to appear in the Asian-based stock car series were Jean Alesi, Stefan Johansson, Ukyo Katayama, Gianni Morbidelli, Jacques Villeneuve, J J Lehto, Heinz-Harald Frentzen and Pedro Lamy.

* Robin Grant, who has died aged 60, will be recalled professionally as the man who ran Renault’s F1 fabrication shop, as featured in our January issue. But many will remember him as the owner of Keston Pelmore’s 4½-litre Bentley which he drove with vigour on the track and, with his partner Caroline Wright, from Peking to Paris in 2007. A unique character, he will be missed in contemporary and classic racing.

* Coterie Press has announced its latest work with the McLaren Group. The book, called McLaren, will cover every model produced by the team from 1964 to 2008. For details, contact Jo Taylor at coterieltd@aol.com.