Weekend review and results round-up
The World Rally Championship is heading for a thrilling climax in Spain and Wales after last weekend's Rally of France, with Sebastien Loeb's engine failure throwing things wide open
Sebastien Ogier's victory brought him to within three points of his Citroen team-mate and arch-rival, while Mikko Hirvonen is equal with Loeb - thanks in part to some team orders and Petter Solberg's disqualification.
Many other title fights were settled this weekend. Peugeot became Intercontinental Le Mans Cup champion by winning a dramatic Petit Le Mans, while Phoenix Audi's Martin Tomczyk made DTM history by taking the title in an old-spec car.
Several single-seater categories were settled for 2011 too: Mirko Bortolotti, Roberto Merhi and Kevin Ceccon are now Formula 2, F3 Euro Series and Auto GP champions respectively.
There were twists in championship contests too. Another disaster for Will Power at Kentucky swung the IndyCar advantage firmly back in Dario Franchitti's direction - although the weekend's big news was a maiden win for Ed Carpenter and Sarah Fisher Racing. NASCAR's Dover round saw Tony Stewart's fine run interrupted and Jimmie Johnson regain some momentum, though Kurt Busch was the race winner.
The MotoGP fight saw stalemate in Japan, second and third for Jorge Lorenzo and Casey Stoner in an incident-packed Motegi race changed little in the title race, while Dani Pedrosa ended Honda's home-win drought.
The motorsport action
IndyCar: Carpenter wins, Franchitti takes lead
ILMC/ALMS: Peugeot wins Petit Le Mans
NASCAR: Kurt Busch beats Johnson at Dover
WRC: Ogier closes in with home victory
DTM: Tomczyk takes title as Ekstrom wins F3 Euro Series: Melker wins first Valencia race F3 Euro Series: Wittmann wins second Valencia race F3 Euro Series: Merhi takes title with win F2: Marinescu claims maiden win F2: Bortolotti clinches F2 title with win Auto GP: Tambay wins as title showdown looms Auto GP: Carroll wins, Ceccon secures title BTCC: Plato wins as title fight hots up BTCC: Second Brands win puts Plato in lead BTCC: Neal wins and reclaims points lead 125cc: Zarco scores breakthrough win
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