MARTIN'S 24HR PLAN

WORLD ENDURANCE CHAMPIONSHIP

AUSSIE OPEN-WHEEL export John Martin is set to race in the World Endurance Championship this year.

Martin is talking to several teams about a possible seat in the new category, with the Superleague Formula champion hoping to secure a drive in the competitive LMP2 ranks for 2012.

"I'm currently putting together a sportscar deal, and things are getting quite close,'' Martin told Auto Action.

"It'll be in the World Endurance Championship in LMP2, and there are a few teams I'm talking to.

"I can't say who they are because the deal is nearly done and I don't want to jeopardise it,'' he continued.

"But I'll say it could be with a brand new manufacturer for the sport."

The move to sportscars will be a big jump for Martin, who has been racing in Superleague Formula since 2009, and has raced in the now-defunct A 1GP series, British F3, and Formula Ford.

"I'm moving to sportscars because the dream has always been Formula One," said Martin. "Superleague has been good, and technically we actually won the championship last year, plus the prize money was great.

"But I don't have the budget to do GP2 or even Formula Renault 3.5. Sportscars has got a huge amount of manufacturers, and we plan on doing a good job in LMP2 this year to hopefully securing a factory deal for 2013."

HIRVO: I WON'T BACK DOWN

CITROEN'S NEW signing Mikko Hirvonen insists he will not approach his firs) season in Ihe French team with a second driver mentality. While he says his focus is on settling into the DS3 as quickly as possible, he concedes that - as a two-time Ray Sweden winner -there wilt be a lair amount of pressure on him end the team's seven-year wait for a victory in Varmland.

DOVIZIOSO GETS AN UNLUCKY BREAK

Andrea Dovizioso is confident he'll be fit for winter testing later this month. ANDREA DOVIZIOSO'S switch to Monster Energy Tech3 Yamaha for 2012 has suffered a blow, with the Italian suffering a broken collarbone while riding motocross on January 5.

CHRISTMAS CRUNCH

MOTOGP American Nicky Hayden is recovering from a series of injuries suffered in a training accident while riding dirt bikes just days after Christmas in the United States. Former World Champion Hayden suffered a broken left scapula and two fractured ribs while riding flat track near his home in Kentucky on December 27.

BUEMI EYES LE MANS 24HR DRIVE

Cast out from F1, Buemi hopes to garner seat time in the Le Mans 24 Hour. FORMULA ONE reject Sebastien Buemi is hopeful of securing a seat in this year's Le Mans 24 Hour with a major frontrunning team. Dumped by Toro Rosso at the end of last season, Buemi has recently signed on as Red Bull Racing's reserve F1 driver for 2012.

TAKING THE TOUR

BOB PEARSON had to wait for the final race weekend to take out the 2011 Production Touring Car series, after leading the championship for most of the year in his Mitsubishi EVO X. Pearson was forced to miss the Wakefield Park round, allowing six other drivers to join him in the battle for the outright championship coming into the final round at Eastern Creek.

HIRVO: I WON'T BACK DOWN

DOVIZIOSO GETS AN UNLUCKY BREAK

CHRISTMAS CRUNCH

BUEMI EYES LE MANS 24HR DRIVE

TAKING THE TOUR

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