Formula 1: constructors title for ZF Sachs partner Ferrari
In one of the most gripping final races in Formula 1 history local hero Felipe Massa won the Brazilian Grand Prix. Despite this exploit the Ferrari driver, in whose car damper technology from ZF Sachs ensures optimum grip, had to admit defeat by one point to his rival in the title fight, Lewis Hamilton. However, in the constructors championship Ferrari achieved a convincing triumph over McLaren-Mercedes. Last year痴 champion Kimi R臺kk�en, who finished third in Brazil and thus clinched third place in the drivers championship as well, had a part in this too. Another driver to experience a nice end of the season was Toyota driver Timo Glock. At the last race of the year the German finished sixth, his team mate Jarno Trulli eighth. Both cars are fitted with ZF Sachs clutches.
BMW-Sauber on the other hand scored no points. Nevertheless, the German-Swiss team that relies on high-tech dampers from Schweinfurt finished the season with an extremely positive tally: Robert Kubica delivered the first victory to his employer and climbed onto the podium on six other occasions. In the end, he finished fourth behind R臺kk�en with an equal points score. Nick Heidfeld celebrated a second place on the podium four times and closed the season in sixth place. In the constructors championship BMW-Sauber, with a clear lead over their next rival, occupied third place.
Results, Brazilian GP (BR), 18th round, FIA Formula 1 World Championship, 31 Oct - 02 Nov 2008:
1. F. Massa, Ferrari, 1h 34m11.435s, ZF Sachs
2. F. Alonso, Renault, + 13.298s
3. K. R臺kk�en, Ferrari, + 16.235s, ZF Sachs
4. S. Vettel, STR-Ferrari, + 38.011s
5. L. Hamilton, McLaren-Mercedes, + 38.907s
6. T. Glock, Toyota, + 44.368s, ZF Sachs
7. H. Kovalainen, McLaren-Mercedes, + 55.074s
8. J. Trulli, Toyota, + 1m 08.463s, ZF Sachs
Drivers championship:
1. L. Hamilton, 98 points; 2. F. Massa, 97; 3. K. R臺kk�en, 75; 4. R. Kubica, 75; 5. F. Alonso, 61; 6. N. Heidfeld, 60; 7. H. Kovalainen, 53; 8. S. Vettel, 35; 9. J. Trulli, 31; 10. T. Glock, 25.
Constructors championship:
1. Ferrari, 172 points; 2. McLaren-Mercedes, 151; 3. BMW-Sauber, 135; 4. Renault, 80; 5. Toyota, 56; 6. STR-Ferrari, 39; 7. Red Bull-Renault, 29; 8. Williams-Toyota, 26; 9. Honda, 14.
World Rally Championship: Ford clinches one-two victory in Japan
ZF Sachs partner Ford celebrated a commanding one-two victory at the Japan Rally. The Finn Mikko Hirvonen, whose Ford Focus RS WRC is equipped with a clutch from ZF Sachs Race Engineering, finished the event with a 31-second lead over his team-mate and compatriot Jari-Matti Latvalal. This means that ZF Sachs partner Ford will travel to the WRC finale in Great Britain with chances of winning the title. Eleven points separate Ford from WRC leader Citro�. In the drivers championship Hirvonen has already been determined as the runner-up behind the Frenchman S饕astien Loeb.
Matthew Wilson from the Stobart team, who also drives a Ford Focus, scored two championship points in seventh place. He relies on a clutch from Schweinfurt as well.
Results, Japan Rally (J), 14th round of the World Rally Championship, 31 Oct -02 Nov 2008:
1. M. Hirvonen/J. Lehtinen, Ford, 3h 25m03.0s, ZF Sachs
2. J. Latvala/M. Anttila, Ford, + 31.1s, ZF Sachs
3. S. Loeb/D. Elena, Citro�, + 2m 30.6s
4. C. Atkinson/S. Prevot, Subaru, + 3m 42.4s
5. P. Andersson/J. Andersson, Suzuki, + 5m 12.9s
6. T. Gardemeister/T. Tuominen, Suzuki, + 6m 09.4s
7. M. Wilson/S. Martin, Ford, + 7m 05.3s, ZF Sachs
8. P. Solberg/P. Mills, Subaru, +13m 19.9s
Drivers championship:
1. S. Loeb, 112 points; 2. M. Hirvonen, 102; 3. D. Sordo, 59; 4. J. Latvala and C. Atkinson, je 50; 6. P. Solberg, 41; 7. F. Duval and H. Solberg, 22 each; 9. G. Galli, 17; 10. M. Wilson, 15.
Manufacturers championship:
1. Citro�, 175 points; 2. Ford, 164; 3. Subaru, 93; 4. Stobart-Ford, 64; 5. Suzuki, 28; 6. Munchi`s-Ford, 22.