Ford Performance Racing driver Mark (Frosty) Winterbottom has taken a stranglehold on the V8 Supercar championship lead, posting his second round victory in 2008 at Queensland Raceway and back to back round wins for FPR after team mate Steven Richards made a one act affair of the previous round in Darwin.

Winterbottom finished second in the opening race before recording effortless wins in races two and three and now holds a 122-point lead over defending V8 champion Garth Tander in the series.

Veteran and 2005 series champion Russell Ingall with a second and two thirds, has found the sweet spot in the Supercheap Commodore after switching marques this season and a deserved second placing on the podium after a consistent weekend.

Twenty-eight year old James Courtney put the unwanted tag of the sport's most overrated driver, voted on by his peers, behind him, breaking through for his first V8 Supercar race win in race one after a drought stretching more than 50 races, second and sixth placings in the remaining two races, after claiming pole position in qualifying to take the minor rung on the podium in the Stone Brother's backed Falcon.

PERSONAL SECURITY

New car buyers are being encouraged to ask about personal car security features and devices on vehicles, with the NRMA believing many car manufacturers are not stacking up and, in particular, considering the security of women in vehicle design.

Each year the NRMA releases its personal security car ratings, based on 14 vehicle features, such as lights, locks and alarms, that are designed to offer motorists, added peace of mind when they find themselves in an uncomfortable situation.

In 2008, after a review of 129 vehicles, Land Rover scored 12 out of a possible 14, the top score across all nine vehicle classes. For large Australian built cars, the Mitsubishi 380 and the Holden Commodore were the best performers scoring nine out of a possible 14.

BETTER HALF

The better looking half of team Tander, Leanne the wife of current V8 Supercar champion Garth, moved into a share of the Australian Formula 3 Championship lead while Darren Hossack cleaned up in Sports Sedans, in round five of the Shannon's nationals at Eastern Creek Raceway.

Tander and Hossack were among the winners in a big weekend of racing at the Sydney circuit, with seven categories in action and lap records tumbling.

Nathan Caratti was on form early in round six of the Australian Formula 3 Championship, topping each qualifying session trying to extend his championship lead of 20 points. He lost ground at the start of each race though, and was involved in a Race Two incident, finishing fourth and 12th in the two races, despite setting a new lap record.

With an opening-race victory and second-place in race two, Tander eliminated the deficit and the pair are now tied on 145 points at the top of the standings, with two rounds remaining.

Darren Hossack dominated the third round of the National Sports Sedan Series, winning all three races and re-setting the class lap record in the process to extend his championship lead.

DRIFT SERIES

The fight to become 2008 Australian Drift Champion is down to three drivers, after championship leader Leighton Fine took out a hotly-contested fourth round of the Toyo Tyres Drift Australia Series.

First, second and third in the championship entering the weekend, Fine, Luke Fink and Beau Yates claimed the same positions at the Sydney circuit, setting up a showdown for championship glory in the season finale at Oran Park in September.

The win is Fine's third of the season in the Commercial Truck Sales Nissan 180SX bouncing back in style from a mechanical problem at Mallala last month which slashed his points lead.

Safe motoring!