http://www.autocar.co.uk/News/NewsArticle/AllCars/236832/

This is fantastic news. Atkinson will be driving a car just like Sebastion Loeb's in Rally Ireland.

For Lewis Hamilton, it seems that everything has been going his way recently. Not only did he snatch up the Formula 1 Driver's World Champion title, he was the youngest ever to do so, and the first Englishman to do so in twelve years. To top it all off, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II has dubbed Hamilton, along with nearly 1,000 other recipients, as Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (or MBE for short).

"It is a massive honor and incredible privilege for me to receive an MBE from Her Majesty The Queen. It is the most amazing culmination to what has been quite a year for me," Lewis commented after the announcement.

"I am also very humbled to be included on the Honors list alongside all the members of the general public who have been recognized for their tireless work in such varied and worthwhile arenas."

So what does this mean for the British champion? Well, he can officially add the letters MBE to his name with legitimate bragging rights. Don't be mistaken however, this is no 'Knighthood,' but at least it will look rather dashing on the resume and serve as an interesting conversation piece at parties.

+ Vodafone McLaren Mercedes: Lewis Awarded MBE

http://www.crash.net/motorsport/wrc/news/172924-0/content.html

Solberg signed a contract with Subaru in 2006 that runs through 2009. This article says that Subaru has given him permission to drive another brand of car. In other words, they'd rather not pay him to stay home.

http://tinyurl.com/7xuy7j

Chris Atkinson earned five podiums this season in a car that clearly was not competitive. Subaru has him under contract for next year, but now will not be fielding a team. Obviously, Subaru's decsion to pull out of WRC was not part of a long-term plan. They were reacting in haste. It's probably the right decision for their business, as much as I want to see them in WRC.

http://www.carzi.com/2008/12/09/ken-block-jump-video-subaru-wrx-sti/

0-60 magazine is responsible for this video of Ken Block’s running of a Gymkhana course on an airfield in El Toro, Calafornia. It’s quite simply one of the most disgustingly competent displays of car control we’ve ever seen, in addition to featuring perhaps the bravest Segway rider we’ve ever seen. Take a few minutes, watch the video, and explode your expectations of what can be done with a car.

+ 0-60

In only his second year as a Formula 1 driver, and at the tender age of 23 years, 10 months, and 26 days, McLaren Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton has become the youngest World Champion in the history of F1.

Hamilton secured his place in the annals of motorsport in rather spectacular fashion, closing in on the title by a single point after moving into fifth place on the final corner of the last race on the season calendar. Hamilton’s work at the Brazilian GP was just enough to edge the race’s winner, Ferrari’s Felipe Massa, with Hamilton totaling 98 points on the season to Massa’s 97. Felipe certainly didn’t go down without a fight however, finishing in first place for his home grand prix in Brazil.

Hamilton called the GP, “the most dramatic race of my whole life.” Going on to say, “We did a fantastic job throughout the whole year and, with all the sacrifices we made, I'm so thrilled to be able to win this for everyone."

Hamilton’s championship points with teammate Heikki Kovalainen’s 53, brought McLaren to a second place finish in the constructor’s championship behind the 172 points earned by the Ferrari team.

+ F1-Live

http://edition.cnn.com/2008/SPORT/09/23/hamilton.appeal.ap/index.html