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50 TO WATCH IN 2012THE NEW YEAR HANGOVER MIGHT STILL BE LINGERING... BUT IT'S TIME TO LOOK AT THE YEAR AHEAD. HERE, IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER, ARE THE 50 THINGS YOU MUST WATCH IN 2012 AUSTRALIAN RALLY CHAMPIONSHIPTHE YEAR 2012 heralds yet another major shake-up for the ARC, following the pseudosuccess of its 'derestricted' year of full-flight turbocharged cars in 2011. This new direction is aimed squarely at enticing car manufacturers back to the struggling series, with a 2WD class and an SUV category joining the Premier League privateers, the Junior Challenge, and the outright title. The 2WD class already has factory support with Honda entering a two-car team, and is being touted as the lead category from 2013. Unfortunately, the 2012 calendar is already off to a shaky start with the opening Calder round clashing with the Clipsal 500, and the Victorian finale is the same weekend as the Targa High Country rally.AA Predicts: The new format will either struggle or prove success, but ARC has nothing to lose.SEBASTIAN VETTELTHERE CAN be no denying the supreme dominance of Sebastian Vettel in 2011. He took a record breaking number of poles and won a staggering 11 races. Basically, he was on another level. But the question we're all asking is - can he keep it up? And the short answer is yes. At 24, Vettel is at the height of his powers, driving for the best team and riding a titanic wave of confidence. But one weakness remains - in 2011, Vettel was hardly pushed but when real pressure was applied, he cracked. His mistake while trying to fend of Jenson Button at the Canadian GP is a prime example. So here's hoping someone has the speed and skill to pressure Vettel this year. Otherwise he'll make mince meat of everyone. Again.AA Predicts: As much as we'd love to see a new champion, Vettel will dominate once again.LEWIS HAMILTONWHICH LEWIS Hamilton will we see on the grid this year? Will it be the courageous and lethally skilled Lewis we all know or will it be the distracted, crash-happy Hamilton we saw in 2011? Here's hoping for the former, but whether Lewis can return to his former glory depends largely on his state of mind. It was clear to everyone that Lewis let his personal life affect his performance last year, with his off-track (and beside the track) antics and the resulting media attention causing his results to plummet. The raw skill is still there - as was evident in his strong qualifying form and the occasional race win, but Hamilton needs to sort out his head if he wants to be world champion this year.AA Predicts: At 27, Hamilton can't afford another 2011. He'll be refocused and blindingly quick..NEW INDYCARTHIS YEAR marks a new era for lndyCar. For the first time in nearly a decade the category will introduce its first all-new car. Faster, lighter and more powerful, the new Dallara DW12 will radically change the nature, speed and sound of lndyCar racing. Named after the late Dan Wheldon who was instrumental throughout its testing phase, the new chassis features improved safety and an all-new engine, with the series moving away from its current VB powerplant to a twin-turbo powered V6, and rear wheel shrouds will hopefully reduce the risk of cars getting airborne at high speed. How the new car will affect the quality of the racing remains to be seen, with the all-new setup likely to turn the current pecking order on its head.AA Predicts: Faster, safer and twin-turbo., just gets bigger and bigger.NEW MOTOGP BIKESFORGET EVERYTHING you saw in MotoGP last year, things have changed for 2012. New, more powerful bikes and an entirely new class are set to mix things up, with the new machinery designed to create better racing and boost grid numbers. MotoGP bikes will now be 1000cc instead of 800cc, with the bigger engine capacity likely to promote more passing thanks to more grunt and torque. CRT bikes will also be a controversial addition to the grid, with the new lowerspec class designed to attract new teams. Standing for 'Claiming Rules Team' the new bikes are significantly cheaper and will run production based engines with a prototype chassis. Nine teams have already confirmed they'll run CRT bikes racing.AA Predicts: 2012 is set to usher in a new era of MotoGP racing that won't disappoint.MARK WEBBERTWO FAT question marks hang over Mark Webber this year. The first is whether he can truly bounce back from the disappointment of 2011. Webber may have eventually equalled his best ever result to finish third in the title standings, but overall 2011 was underwhelming. Too few wins and lacklustre speed on the new Pirelli rubber meant the Aussie veteran couldn't build on the promising form he showed the season before. Plus he was absolutely smashed by Sebastian Vettel. But Webber is certain he can bounce back and vie for the title this year, with his form set to answer the second question - will 2012 be his last season in F1? Webber reckons he can race on into 2013, but whether that happens is anyone's guess.AA Predicts: A fresh dose of his trademark grit will make Mark faster this year.FERNANDO ALONSOFERNANDO ALONSO'S move to Ferrari is yet to pay dividends. So far it's been a case of quick, but not quite quick enough for the Spanish ace, but that could all be about to change in 2012. Alonso and Ferrari are making a lot of noise about their plans for this season, with the famous marque positive it can win the title. The key, according to Alonso, is a different approach to the design of Ferrari's new car. Apparently, Ferrari has used 'aggression' as the theme for the design its new racer, with Alonso set to benefit from an all-new suspension set-up and new aerodynamics. Whether it will be enough to secure him a third world title is uncertain, but Alonso is sure to be in the mix in 2012.AA Predicts: Alonso will be a force to be reckoned with - if Ferrari nails its 2012 car.KIMI RAIKKONENYEP,THE Iceman's back! Returning to Formula One for the first time since 2009, Kimi Raikkonen will drive for Lotus Renault this year. His return is great news for F1 fans, with the Finnish ace widely regarded as one of the fastest ever Formula One drivers. But such a reputation creates high expectations, with many predicting big things from the Finn in 2012. True, he's driving for a team currently struggling for speed, but all eyes will be on Raikkonen to see whether he can pull the team back to race-winning form. 2012 could be a struggle for Raikkonen, but his razor sharp skill and infamous 'don't care' attitude will bring a much needed breath of fresh air on a rather stuffy Formula One grid.AA Predicts: Lotus is struggling tor speed, and Kimi won't adapt quickly to a different era of F1.LEE HOLDSWORTHPEOPLE ARE expecting big things from Holdsworth this year - and rightly so. Graduating from Garry Rogers Motorsport to join frontrunning squad Stone Brothers Racing, Holdsworth should win races in 2012. But don't think this season will be easy for Holdsworth. In reality, it's going to be bloody hard. Joining a new team is always difficult and Holdsworth will have to foster new relationships with the SBR crew and his engineer. Plus, he'll be racing alongside Shane Van Gisbergen who is currently SBR's golden boy and making the switch from Holden to Ford which is notoriously difficult. How Holdsworth fits in at SBR in 2012 will be interesting to watch. Nothing short of race wins and regular podiums will sufice.AA Predicts: Holdsworth will struggle early, but expect strong results towards the end of the year.DAVID REYNOLDSTHE SUPERCAR dream is turning into a nightmare for David Reynolds. Favoured by many as an up-and-coming talent, Reynolds may have shot himself in the foot as he tries to further his V8 Supercar career. Currently embroiled in a nasty contractual dispute with Kelly Racing, Reynolds' hopes of joining the FPRrun Bottle-O Racing in 2012 could be about to disappear. The Kellys are convinced they have a water tight contract to keep Reynolds, with the youngsters future set to be decided in the court room. Should the Kellys' lawyers win, Reynolds' future could be in doubt. All will be decided in the coming months, with Reynolds' promising career currently teetering on a knife edge.AA Predicts: Reynolds will pay the Kellys compensation and go on to win races with Bottle-0.DICK JOHNSON RACINGEXPANSION! EXPANSION! Expansion! That seems to be the war cry of Dick Johnson Racing this year, with the legendary team likely to expand to four cars. DJR has already confirmed it will run Dean Fiore as a third 'customer car' this season, but speculation is rife VIP-backed racer Steve Owen will also join the team should Paul Morris Motorsport close down. Should that happen, what does it mean for Ford's poster team? Will iT suddenly start winning races and mount a charge at the 2012 V8 title? Or will it struggle under the logistics of running four cars and produce worse results than it did in 2011? We're hoping for the former, but predict 2012 will be a difficult season for DJR.AA Predicts: Four cars might look impressive on pitlane, but its results won't be.COTF TESTINGTHIS YEAR marks crunch time for V8 Supercar's Car Of The Future. In just over 12 months the COTF will be making its racing debut, which makes 2012 the most important year of its development so far. And most of that development will take place on track. V8 Supercars has granted teams an additional 10 test days purely to develop their new rigs, so expect to see a lot of the COTF this year. But while 10 test days might sound like a lot, every day will be precious. Don't forget, the COTF is an entirely new machine. An all-new chassis, new suspension, different layout and new tyre will make the COTF a completely different beast, with teams needing all the time they can get to tame it.AA Predicts: Don't expect the COTF tests to go without a hitch. Teething problems are a certainty.WHINCUP V LOWNDESTHIS WAS one of the best battles of 2011, and there's no reason Jamie Whincup and Craig Lowndes won't rekindle their rivalry this year. Driving for the best team in pitlane, the TeamVodafone pair are again likely to be the drivers to beat. But it will be how they race each other that will be interesting. Last year, Whincup just had the edge over his older stablemate, but don't expect the dynamic to remain the same this year. Lowndes was a transformed driver last season, and likely to build on his strong performance. Lowndes has already identified where he needs to improve, but admits Whincup will once again be a worthy opponent. Expect tense moments in the TeamVodafone garage, and hopefully some on-track fireworks.AA Predicts: We'd love to see these two clash on the track, but reckon it'll be a friendly rivalry.CASEY STOIMERCASEY STONER might currently be the king of MotoGP, but he'll need to lift his game if he wants to maintain his crown this year. Not only will he face stiffer competition from regular front runners like Jorge Lorenzo, Dani Pedrosa and Andrea Dovizioso, but the introduction of the 1000cc era is sure to turn the category on its head. Bigger, faster and more powerful, Stoner will need to adapt his riding style-to stay at the front. Still, Stoner has the talent to do just that. Almost untouchable last season, Stoner silenced his critics with sublime racing to win 10 races - more than three times the number of wins achieved by his nearest rival. Stoner will be more determined than ever this year, with the Aussie ace gunning to win his fourth MotoGP title.AA Predicts: After some early wobbles. Stoner's talent will ensure he wins another title.WILL POWERLAST SEASON ended in the worst possible way for Power. Not only was he seriously injured in the crash that killed Dan Wheldon at the Las Vegas season finale, but he missed out on winning the lndyCar championship. Again. It's the second time on the trot that Power has finished second in the standings, and it could be a fatal blow. How Will bounces back from 2011 will be a measure of his determination. But 2012 won't just challenge Power's mental strength. lndyCar's all-new machine is sure to provide a steep learning curve, with Power likely to need all his experience to stay at the pointy end. Who will adapt to the new car is anyone's guess, but Power will be hoping he can finally wrap up that elusive lndyCar title.AA Predicts: Power has bounced back from worse, and we reckon the new car will suit him.RYAN BRISCOETHIS YEAR marks a pivotal season in Ryan Briscoe's career. Completely out of sorts last year, Briscoe needs to bounce back if he wants to be a serious title contender in 2012. Totally outshone by his compatriot and teammate Will Power, 2011 marked the first time in four years that Briscoe hadn't won a race. lndyCar's new chassis could provide the catalyst for Briscoe to rediscover his mojo, but he'll need a physiological edge if he wants to step out of Power's shadow. That could be provided by a change in his team structure, with Briscoe set to receive a new engineer in 2012. How the pair will gel remains to be seen but Briscoe needs a strong start to the season if he wants to ensure the longevity of his lndyCar career .AA Predicts: Despitehis best efforts. Briscoewill continueto play secondfidale to Power.MARCOS AMBROSENOW OFFICIALLY a NASCAR race winner, Marcos Ambrose could pull a few surprises out of his pocket in 2012. Will his solid season last year transform him into a consistent race winner? Probably not - but that doesn't mean Ambrose won't be competitive this year. Honestly, his best shots at victory will come at Infineon Raceway and Watkins Glen, with Ambrose renowned for his speed at the two road course circuits. But wins at the road courses, plus the possibility of an oval win or two, would be enough to secure Ambrose a spot in The Chase, where he will most likely finish just outside the top 10. Still, two race wins and a bag of prize money wouldn't be a bad way to spend 2012.AA Predicts: Wins at Infineon and Watkins Glen, but the Chase remains a long-shot.TONY STEWARTIS TONY Stewart crazy? From the outside it certainly looks like it. As the reigning NASCAR Sprint Cup champ, you might think Stewart would be looking for consistency as he prepares to defend his title. But nope, not Stewart. In a moment of either madness or pure genius, Stewart has gone on a firing rampage, completely changing the make-up of his championship-winning Sprint Cup race team. The biggest scalp to fall was his crew chief Darian Grubb, with Stewart hiring others to create a new look team. So then, it seems Stewart isn't afraid to roll the dice. Time will tell whether his gamble will pay off, but the veteran racer will be pulling out all the stops to start the season strongly and defend his title.DANICA PATRICKWE CAN'T wait to see what Danica gets up to this year. Now a full-time NASCAR racer after ditching lndyCar at the end of last season, Patrick is sure to make headlines. Will ii be for winning races? We doubt it. Patrick is a skilled racer, but just one lndyCar win from 116 starts shows she mightn't have the metal or the experience to stand on the middle step in 2012. A Sprint Cup result in the top 10 would be a more achievable target, but Danica's on-track performance is just one of the reasons she'll be one to watch this year. Known as much for her pitlane conflicts as her skill behind the wheel, Danica has never been one to back down from a fight. And the prospect of her getting in a fist fight with Kyle Busch ... Bring it on!AUSSIES AT THE AGPAS IF the Australian Grand Prix isn't exciting enough, 2012 has a brand new drawcard that makes us all here at Auto Action go weak at the knees. Yep, this year is the first time ever that two Aussies will line up on an F1 grid in Australia. We're licking our lips at the prospect, and making it even more exciting is that both Webber and Ricciardo will be in competitive cars. Can 2102 be the year Webber finally breaks his home soil hoodoo and takes a win at Albert Park? Or can young gun Daniel Ricciardo surprise everyone and get on the podium on debut with Toro Rosso? Webber winning is probably a more realistic outcome, but both of the Aussies will definitely be in the mix come March.MICHAEL SCHUMACHERYES HE'S old, slow and a shadow of his former self, but Schumacher is definitely one to keep an eye on this year. And not because of his on track exploits. True, his battle with Nico Rosberg has been enthralling, and he still produces the odd moment of brilliance, but off the track will be where Michael scores most of our attention this year. Schumacher's contract with Mercedes GP is up this season and the question everyone is asking is - will he re-sign? It's obvious the fire is still in Schumacher's belly, but he just hasn't produced results since returning to F1 in 2010. It'll be a hard choice for Schumacher. Does he bow out gracefully or does he continue on and risk further harm to his already tarnished reputation?AA Predicts: Schumacher is a stubborn bugger. He·II resign to try and regain his racing respect.BMW IN DIMWHOA! THAT'S the noise you'll make when you see BMW's new DTM car. It's a seriously mean-looking machine, and the perfect car to signal BMWs return to the DTM after a long 18 year hiatus. BMW's return is big news (and a big relief) for the DTM series, which has been battling with a closed-in Mercedes/Audi duopoly for years. Not only will the injection of BMW make the racing more interesting, but it also offers a playground for Germany's three big manufacturers to finally sort out their differences on the track. Who will emerge as the victor is anyone's guess, but here's hoping BMW are on the pace from round one. If it is, 2012 could be the best DTM season in years.AA Predicts: BMW doesn't do things by halves. and it won't be long before its winning races.WORLD ENDURANCE CHAMPIONSHIPINA word, awesome! It's been 20 years since we've been treated to a World Endurance Championship for sportscars, so it's about time the FIA reestablished what was once one of the premier motorsport titles. With the Le Mans 24 Hour as its centrepiece, this year's seven-round championship, held on four continents, will pit the might of Audi and Peugeot against challengers from Toyota, Aston Martin, Pescarolo and Oreca, and possibly lure former sportscar powerhouse Porsche out of retirement. We can only dream. One thing's for sure; Derek Warwick and Yannick Dalmas will, at the end of the year, hand over their world title. The reigning champions have worn the crown since1992 when they won with Peugeot. An omen, perhaps?AA Predicts: A Peugeot versus Audi battle. an interested Porsche watches on...DANIAL RICCIARDO VS JEAN-ERIC VERGNETHIS BATTLE is going to be so intense, we can already smell the blood. Given the shot of a lifetime at Toro Rosso, both Ricciardo and Vergne will be fighting tooth and nail to crush each other as they try to secure their Formula One futures. Basically it's a head-to-head duel, and the odds couldn't be more evenly matched. Both drivers are young, freakishly skilled and ruthlessly ambitious, with the pair set to continue the rivalry they've shared since joining the Red Bull Junior program on the same day. The stakes couldn't be higher either, with the victor likely to be rewarded with a seat at Red Bull Racing, while the loser will face the wrath of the infamously ruthless Red Bull development program. Place your bets, this will be a close one.AA Predicts: Vergne is a worthy opponent, but Ricciardo will trump the young Frenchman. Just.MITCHE VANSMITCH EVANS is on a roll. In 2009 he was runner-up in the Australian Formula Ford Championship. Then in 2010, the 16-year-old took out the Toyota Racing Series, as well as runner-up in the 201 O Australian Formula 3 Championship. In 2011, as if heading to Europe wasn't enough for the youngster, he took top honours in the Toyota Racing Series, and a race win in only his second round in the GP3 series proved Evans has the raw pace to take on the big guns. If previous years are anything to go by, the Kiwi won't be leaving anything to chance when he heads into his second year in GP3. In fact, you don't have to take our word for it. In 2012 testing back in October, Evans topped the time sheets by a mile.AA Predicts: Evans will win the GP3 title, and move on to bigger and better things.BATHURST 12 HOURSOME OF the best race cars from around Australia and the world take to the 6.213 kilometres of winding road, ducking, weaving and climbing around Australia's favourite mountain in February. It is the pinnacle of endurance and the spectacle only grows each year. The 2012 Bathurst 12 Hour is no exception, with a super lineup of cars and drivers set to take the grid. Keep an eye out for the Marenello Motorsport Ferrari 458 that smashed the Bathurst lap record last year, with Allan Simonsen heading the drivers' duties along with his Le Mans Series teammate Dominik Farnbacher, John Bowe, and car owner Peter Edwards. Other big hitters include the two Phoenix Racing Audi RB LMS cars, which topped the results in 2011.AA Predicts: The Ferrari will break the 'official' Bathurst lap record on its way to the B12H win.WORLD RALLY CHAMPIONSHIPBACK IN November last year, it was announced that World Rally Championship Commercial Chief, Vladimir Antonov was being chased down by police all over Europe after a warrant was issued for his head. Prosecutors in Lithuania suspected him of misappropriating funds, and what he did and didn't do is still up in the air. But what we do know is that Convers Sports Initiatives, the parent company for the WAC commercial rights partner North One and run by Antonov, has gone into receivership. The financial bombshell has sent the category into a frenzy and while the FIA has announced its longterm commitment to the category, we suspect we are yet to bear the full brunt of the 36-year-old Russian's mischief.AA Predicts: While it's a big blow for the WRC, the wounds won't be fatal.LATVALA UNLEASHEDIT'S BEEN a pretty long, hard slog for Jari-Matti Latvala over the last few years. A string of ups and downs, then a few ups, and then heaps more downs, saw a mix of random crashes and triumphs for the Finnish star. But his pace is undeniable. Back in 2008, the 22-year-old set the record for the youngest driver to win a WAC qualifier when he dominated Rally Sweden. While the fiery 26-year-old is still yet to claim a title, and has only managed to take four more wins in the WAC, his performance this year proved he is ready to fight Loeb for the championship. Backed again by Ford in 2012 as its #1 driver above newlysigned Petter Solberg, Latvala will be out to prove a point; he's angry, he's fast, and he's after the Frenchman.AA Predicts: Latvala will be looking for the tiny margins that kept him from the #1 spot in 2011.LATVALA UNLEASHEDLET'S BE honest. Barring a disaster for Sebastien Loeb, Mikko Hirvonen will not be fighting for the championship this year. He has been employed by Citroen to be Loeb's loyal deputy. If he's faster than Loeb, he will be asked to slow down and let the Frenchman win. And if he's not; natural order will be restored. It's a shame that it's come to this for Hirvo, who was once considered a real championship contender. But the Loeb juggernaut has completely swallowed him up; much like the rest of the F1 grid was swallowed up by Michael Schumacher in his heyday. By joining Citroen as number two, Hirvonen has almost resigned himself to not winning a world title; at least not until Loeb retires. And on current form, that's not happening any time soon.AA Predicts: Loeb will leave perrenial bridesmaid Hirvonen trailing in his dust.SHANE VAN GISBERGENEVERYONE KNOWS Shane Van Gisbergen is a rising talent. He's fast, fair (most of the time anyway), and a seriously good racer. But is he ready to stand up and be a legitimate title contender? This year will provide the answer. At 22, rookie errors occur more frequently than he'd like, but it's obvious the young Kiwi is maturing. In fact, last year SVG was a force to be reckoned with. Two race wins were clear highlights, with Van Gisbergen finishing a career-high fourth in the title standings. On-track stoushes with VB heavyweights Craig Lowndes and Paul Dumbrell were also high points, with SVG displaying a steely determination to win. Van Gisbergen's talent can't be questioned, but whether he can mature enough to win the title is yet to be seen.AA Predicts: Van Gisbergen will be in the mix, but poor qualifying and errors will let him down.THE 'TBA' ON THE V8 CALENDARKOREA, USA, the Philippines, Singapore, India, who the hell knows? There's more mystery surrounding this mid-November slot on VB's 2012 calendar than there is an episode of Midsomer Murders. Various rumours have surfaced regarding the possible venue in the months since the calendar was released; none with any real substance. VB Supercars is keen to continue its international expansion, so there's a strong argument in favour of the TBA being an overseas event. VB supremo Tony Cochrane has already stated there will be no more Australian events, so the strong money is on another international event, twinned with the Abu Dhabi flyaway. The smart money is on South-East Asia, with India and Korea outside chances. Stay tuned.AA Predicts: Nowhere. The TBA will slip quietly off the V8 calendar without so much as a whimperTEXAS GRAND PRIXNEXT YEAR, Formula One will return to the US after booting the country from its schedule four years ago. It's been 30 years since the US Grand Prix was last run on a purpose-built permanent course. And the last time F1 touched down on Yankee soil was when Lewis Hamilton won the race back in 2007, in the prepierced ears and beard-art era. A lot has changed since then. The GP will now serve as the penultimate round for the series on a brand new 5.5km track, innovatively named 'Circuit of the Americas'. Contractual nightmares almost saw the event canned last November, and Bernie Ecclestone has since said he has doubts. But really that doesn't much matter, we're just keen to see F1 on the new track.AA Predicts: Four years is a big enough gap to draw big crowds to F1 's return to the US.FORD PERFORMANCE RACINGSHOCK! HORROR! Ford Performance Racing reckons it can win this year's VB championship. But while this claim sounds impressive, the fact that FPR has made the same statement for the past three seasons takes away some of its shine. In fact, it's beginning to sound like an old record. But amazingly enough, this year, we actually agree. FPR was red hot at the end of 2011, and even though it endured more ups and downs than a porno flick last season, we reckon Ford's factory squad will be a title contender this year. Mark Winterbottom and Will Davison are top drivers and if David Reynolds joins the squad as planned, FPR will have a formidable line up. Set-up issues seem to be a thing of the past, too.AA Predicts: Quality drivers and a strong baseline set-up will make FPR a driving force in 2012.HOLDEN RACING TEAMBYTS own admission, 2011 was a shocker for the Holden Racing Team. Dismal performances on track and sweeping changes to the team's management structure meant 2011 was a season Team Red would rather forget. And that's exactly what it plans to do. With its team structure finally sorted, 2012 could be a year of resurgence for the Holden Racing Team. It certainly has the personnel to mount a serious championship challenge. New boss Steve Hallam's influence will be a much needed boost for the ailing squad, while Ryan Walkinshaw will continue to play a vital role. And don't forget the drivers. Garth Tander and James Courtney are standout performers, but they'll need the rightcar to put HRT back on the winners list.AA Predicts: Much needed consistency ana a clear direction will make HRT a resurgent torce.BATHURST 1000IT'S ALMOST pointless, really, writing anything in this little box. The Bathurst 1000 is a synonym for awesomeness, for tradition, for heritage and for heart-in-your-mouth action. It never fails to surprise and delight with its twists and turns and sub-plots. This year, VB Supercars is celebrating SO-something anniversaries at Bathurst, but we reckon they've got it wrong. The first 500-mile race at Bathurst was in 1963, which makes this year the 49th anniversary of the Great Race. Similarly, counting the two Super Tourer races in 1997 and 1998, this year will be the 52nd Great Race at Mt Panorama. Confused? Us too. All that aside, watching and hearing and feeling the various V8s tackle The Mountain will be the same annual highlight.AA Predicts: A Dunch ot hyperbole from V8 Supercars thai somehow includes the number 50.SCOTT PYESCOTT PYE has some tasty options cooking for 2012. With fortuitous links to Mercedes Benz - the German car giant is a personal sponsor - Pye is eyeing off the F3 Euro Series with Prema Powerteam, the same outfit that carried another Aussie, Ryan Briscoe, to the title way back in 2003. Pye tested for the team late last year, and remained in the frame to secure a race seat. But if that doesn't work out, Pye's back-up plan could see him back in Oz and slotting into the Triple Eightrun Monster-backed Fujitsu Series Commodore. Triple Eight supremo Roland Dane rates Pye highly and would, we reckon, gladly groom the youngster for a VB future. Not a bad fallback then, eh?AA Predicts: We'd love to see Pye chase that Euro dream with everything he has...VALENTHO ROSSICAN VALENTINO Rossi and Ducati bounce back from the disaster that was 2011? Well, it can't get any worse. What was expected to be a dream combination quickly turned into a nightmare. But this year ushers in a new era of MotoGP racing, and the 1000cc regulations should suit Ducati more than the 800cc rules. Rossi at his best is a sight to behold. Rossi at his worst is invisible, with the focus continually drawn to the young guns at the front - Casey Stoner, Jorge Lorenzo and Dani Pedrosa. The nine-time world champion will turn 33 later this year. That's old in MotoGP terms - but is it too old? Rossi's a fighter, for sure, but the era of Valentino might well be over and we are instead heading into the Stoner age.AA Predicts: Rossi will duke it out for one last shot at a world title. Which will go to Stoner. Again.ALEX DAVISONPUT YOUR hands up if you reckon Alex Davison deserves a slot in the VB main game. Thought so. We here at AA do too. There are plenty of blokes on·the VB grid with less talent than the elder Davison brother. At the time of going to press, Davison was one the four trillion names still in the hat for the Garry Rogers Motorsport seat vacated -ironically -by 'Albert's' replacement at SBR, Lee Holdsworth. If it was up to us he'd be a shoo-in for the seat, but Rogers doesn't think like the rest of us. Rogers might opt for the experienced and wise head of Davison, but he is just as likely to pluck a completely obscure name from the Formula Ford ranks to drive his car, as he has done so often in the past.AA Predicts: Carrera Cup for Davison, and a plum enduro ride at FPR alongside younger brother Will.TOURING CAR MASTERSTHE BEST racing category in Australia, without question. Historic racing buffs blanch at the lack of period purity, but really, who cares? Every time the Touring Car Masters take to the track is a good time. And, as the eligibility rules are relaxed, the category goes from strength to strength. Last year, John Bowe, Andrew Miedecke, Jim Richards, Glenn Seton et al were epic on track, sliding their muscle cars with a reckless abandon that reminded one of 'the halcyon days', whatever they are. And the fun doesn't just happen at the front. The mid-pack and rear of field dices between Porsches and Escorts are just as entertaining. Make no mistake, this is motor racing with the fun factor set to maximum. We can't get enough.AA Predicts: More arse-sideways, lyre smoking, door-to-door racing. Who will v/in? Who cares!LE MANS 24 HOURAUDI'S AND Peugeot's annual punch-up for Le Mans bragging rights will again be a focus this year. We reckon this is one cool race. It may lack the mystique of its glory days from the 1960s through to the '80s, but it still one of the toughest races to win. Last year, Audi stole the race from Peugeot and the Frenchies will be looking to exact some major revenge. Problem is, those pesky Japanese are making a comeback, in the shape of Toyota's petrol-hybrid powered LMP1 machine. Let's hope Toyota's effort is better than the much vaunted, yet ill-fated, Aston Martin experiment from 2011. Otherwise, it will again be left to Peugeot and Audi to slug it out. And frankly, we're getting a bit bored of that.AA Predicts: Still smarting from last year s defeat. Peugeot will dominate and finish first.ANDREW THOMPSONWE SIGH when we think of Andrew Thompson. We sigh because we don't quite know what to think of him, or how to judge him. Is he any good? His form in last year's Fujitsu Series and at the VB enduros with Jamie Whincup suggests he is. But then sometimes - okay, it's usually when it's wet - we shake our heads. There's no doubt Thompson is talented, but is he talented enough for a VB main game drive? The jury's out. The big question still surrounding Thompson - at the time of M going to print -is where he will end up this year. He drove super well at the enduros last year so should, at the very least, retain his sought-after co-driver seat alongside Jamie Whincup at TeamVodafone.AA Predicts: Carrera Cup looks like a good option, with a plum enduro tide to keep him sharp.INDY 500THIS IS one of those races you just can't miss. Ever! You might think that US open-wheeler racing is a mere shadow of what it once was - which it is - but this is the one race of the year that makes you forget all that. Thirty-three cars, of near-identical spec, trying to win the race that will make them a household name. The great thing about the 500 is that anyone, on any day, can win the damn thing. Look no further than last year where a rookie - JR Hildbrand - had the race in the bag until the final corner when he smacked the wall letting a part-timer - Dan Wheldon - through for the win. That doesn't happen in Formula One. Or VB Supercars. Or anywhere. Only at Indy. Bloody awesome.AA Predicts: We've been waiting tot ovet a centuty, but in 2012 an Aussie is going to win it. Watch.CUPSAL 500HOO-BLOODY-RAY. When V8 Supercars, in its infinite wisdom, decided to start the championship a billion miles away in the Middle Eastern desert, we thought they had gone stark-raving bonkers. Which they had. But now the powers that be have put their hands up and said, 'yep, we got it wrong,' and V8 Supercar's opener is back where it belongs -on the streets of Adelaide. The Clipsal 500 has only a short history, but there was always an anticipation surrounding the event, that back-to-school feeling that strangely didn't resonate in the same way when the championship started 11,007.Skms -as the Etihad Airbus A380 flies -away in Abu Dhabi. Madness. Thank goodness, Clipsal is back where it belongs.AA Predicts: Hot weather, great racing and an anticipation that has been missing recently.SANUUWN 500IT'S A deceptively simple-looking track in suburban Melbourne, which doubles as a horse racing venue, and has none of the allure of Phillip Island - and certainly not the ballsout speed. But it is the spiritual home of Australian touring car racing's 'other enduro' and this year, it's back. The Sandown 500 isn't the Bathurst 1000, nor does it pretend to be. But it is a race that is steeped in a history and tradition that Phillip Island, no matter how world class the facility, could never hope to match. For the last couple of years, V8 Supercar's Sandown sprint round has been billed as the 'Heritage' round. Now, with the return of the 'SOOto Springvale, there is finally some genuine heritage to acknowledge.AA Predicts: Typically wet and cold, but the punters will return in droves and love every minute of it.JENSON BUTTONWHO KNEW that Jenson would earn the title of 'unofficial number one' at McLaren in 2011? While teammate Lewis Hamilton's world imploded - both on the track and off - Button calmly and without fanfare chased after runaway pacesetter Sebastian Vettel. When Button joined McLaren in 2010, many pundits predicted that he would be upstaged by Hamilton. Not only has that not happened over the last two seasons, but the likeable Brit has turned the tables on his mercurial sparring partner. Button has built the team around him, and done so without the personal distractions that have plagued Hamilton. It will be interesting to see how Hamilton reacts to Button's rising status within a team that was once solely his.AA Predicts: The two McLaren drivers will continue to scrap for bragging rights... Button will win.SCOTT MCLAUGHLINWATCH OUT Shane Van Gisbergen! There's a new fast Kiwi ready to take on your title as New Zealand's fastest young gun. Scott McLaughlin, 18, has been making ripples since his Fujitsu Development Series debut in 2010. Firmly entrenched in the Stone Brothers Racing camp - where he works by day as an apprentice - McLaughlin broke through for his first VB race win at Queensland Raceway last year and ended the season fourth in the championship. Make no mistake, McLaughlin is a seriously quick racer and should - with time - graduate to the V8 main game in time. A racer in the mould of his compatriot Van Gisbergen, McLaughlin is definitely one to keep an eye out for in 2012.AA Predicts: McLaughlin has to be considered a preseason favourite in the Fujitsu Series.FORMULA FORDIF YOU'RE keen to keep an eye on future VB Supercar stars, look no further than Formula Ford. This is where the next generation of stars learns its racecraft. The class of 2011 includes rising stars such as champion Cameron Waters, runner-up Jack LeBrocq and third-placed Nick Foster. All three are expected to go on to bigger things this year, opening the door for a new generation to strut their stuff. Formula Ford has been a mainstay of Aussie motorsport since 1969, and has produced some of this country's biggest stars. Current F1 ace Mark Webber is a graduate, while VB stars Craig Lowndes, Jamie Whincup, Garth Tander, Jason Bright, Russell lngall, Will Davison and David Reynolds are all past champions.AA Predicts: With many seats still to be finalised, we can only predict that the racing will be fierce.THE CAR MANUFACTURERSWITH V8's Car of the Future gathering steam, all eyes will be on the car makers that aren't Ford or Holden to see which one blinks first. We've been told repeatedly by Messers Cochrane and Co. that there will be at least one new manufacturer on the grid in 2013. But, as yet, the stony silence emanating from the various manufacturers is deafening. No interest? Or just some stoic poker faces? We're not sure ... yet. The biggest question that remains unanswered: 'What's in it for them?' Sure, V8 Supercars provides a sound marketing platform, but is that enough to pique the interest of other manufacturers? We're still to be fully convinced that COTF is the panacea to V8 Supercar's perceived ailments.AA Predicts: Don't look to the Germans for an interested third player. Keep an eye on Seoul...JAMES COURTNEYPOOR OLD JC. After winning a - let's be honest, unlikely - championship with DJR in 2010, Courtney's slide down to VB Supercar oblivion last year was painful to watch. By finishing 10th in the championship, Courtney cemented his place in the record books for the worst title defence in ATCCNB history. And, truth be told, it could have been much worse. That he continued to scrap and fight and hustle for every position on the track, every point on the scoreboard is testament to his tenacity. But there is good news on the horizon. HRT improved in the second half of 2011, and with new leadership and stability, Courtney should have the arsenal to again challenge for wins and championships this year.AA Predicts: Under that carefully groomed exterior lies a hardened racer. Courtney will bounce back.KYLE BUSCHWHO KNOWS what NASCAR's bad boy will do next? Last year, Busch - never one to shy away from a fight - stooped to new lows when he deliberately and dangerously rammed Ron Hornaday in a Truck Series race. That earned him the wrath of the fans, even his own, and NASCAR officials threw him out of the race meeting and placed him on probation. His sponsors fled, and his team was in tatters. Busch is an enigmatic talent; one who can deliver wins with reckless ease at times. But his churlish behaviour and surly countenance has won him a legion of enemies. This year, you can bet your life that NASCAR officials will be watching him carefully and at the first hint of an indiscretion will give him his marching orders.AA Predicts: A quieter, calmer, more focused Busch will win a ton of races and be a title contender.