Renault have confirmed they will remain in Formula One despite the stain on their reputation caused by the race-fix scandal. the team has also withdrawn the complaint made against nelson Piquet Jr and his father of false allegations and blackmail. the disclosures were made in documents submitted by Renault to the World Motor Sport Council and during the hearing into the scandal itself on Monday. Renault were handed a suspended disqualification from F1 over the plot involving team boss Flavio Briatore, assistant Pat Symonds and driver Piquet Jr to cause a crash in last years Singapore race. Part of their written submissions read: Renault have given serious consideration as to whether it should remain in the sport following the prejudice caused to its corporate image by the conspiracy, in addition to the existing background of financial pressures that have caused car manufacturers to withdraw. But it has concluded that it would like to remain in Formula One and continue to make an important contribution to the sport. However, Renault may have to rebuild their reputation without double world champion Fernando alonso. It is widely believed Ferrari have already agreed a deal for the Spaniard (pictured), and the Italian team last night hinted Kimi Raikkonen may have to make way despite having a year to run on his contract. team president luca di Montezemolo confirmed Felipe Massa, recovering from a fractured skull, would be back but added: Otherwise, we are mulling the best choice. We will decide in a few weeks. D Thursday, September 24, 2009 METROSPORT 25 formula one Belgium hit by Spa wars The future of the Belgian Grand Prix appears to be bleak after the Spa- Francorchamps circuit had its operating licence suspended for the next 17 years. A noise complaint was made by a board of local residents in 2007 that resulted in the track operators being ordered to undertake an environmental impact study, which has been described in a Council of State ruling as seriously inadequate and incomplete. The verdict shocked Spa director Pierre-Alain Thibaut, who said: The whole viability of the circuit may be questioned. Renault to regroup but Alonsos on Ferrari radar Team player: Rory McIlroy Seve boost for Trophy teams PAul McGinley says there is a 75-25 chance of Seve Ballesteros being in Paris this weekend at a european Tour event for the first time since he found he had a brain tumour last October. What used to be called the Seve Trophy is now named the Vivendi Trophy with Seve Ballesteros, and Britain and ireland captain McGinley said that nothing could lift the match against Continental europe more than to have the Spanish superstar in attendance. McGinley read a message from the Spaniard to the 20 players and said: its quite an emotional letter and there was a lot of thought that went into it. hes a special person and has done a huge amount for the european Tour. he wants to leave a legacy and the Seve Trophy is something he really believes in. Rory Mcilroy, who partners fellow ulsterman Graeme McDowell in the opening fourball against Soren Kjeldsen and Alvaro Quiros, is one of the biggest names in action and he said: im very excited. its my first team event as a pro and im looking forward to playing under Paul. i was always going to play if i made the team. When you get into weeks like this it makes you realise how special team golf is. its a lot of fun and you want to do your best for the others as well as yourself. DeSPIte not winning a major for only the third season in a 13- year professional career, world no.1 tiger Woods goes for his seventh win of the year and the Fedex Cup title at the tour Championship in atlanta today and insists he is happy with his performances this year since returning from knee surgery. Majors are the biggest events, and unfortunately I didnt win any of the four, Woods said. But as far as the season, its certainly been one of my most consistent seasons ever. to have this many high finishes, I think its pretty good. Woods happy with consistent year golf vivendi trophy gaa DuBlin have been handed a nightmare Allianz nFl Division 1 fixture list with away ties against irelands top four teams. First up for the Dubs in 2010 will be a trip to face All-ireland champions Kerry on February 7. After that, they face games with provincial champions Cork, Mayo and Tyrone. The three home games are against Derry, Monaghan and Galway easier ties that manager Pat Gilroy would have forsaken home advantage for. Dublin had four home games in the 2009 campaign, compared with just three away, but still struggled to avoid the drop, only securing their status with a final round win over Westmeath. Dublins hurlers hit the road to face Waterford in Round 1, but key games against Kilkenny, Tipperary and Cork will all be at Parnell Park. Tough schedule for Dubs FORMeR laois treasurer tony Walsh has apologised for not revealing a 42,000 hole in their accounts earlier. Club delegates were informed at a county board meeting that 42,321 from ticket sales went unaccounted for between 2002 and 2004, and was ultimately written off. the figure only came into the public domain following a recent auditors report and is a major embarrassment for local officials. Ill stand up and admit that maybe I should have told everyone about it at the time, admitted Walsh. I made one mistake and I didnt broadcast it. auditor Mark Kirwan said that the outstanding money represented around one ticket in every 100 sold going unaccounted for. Black hole in Laois accounts Dubs hunt elusive AllStarBy paul keane allStar hope: McCrabbe leads a quartet of Dublin nominations Picture: Sportsfile hurling allstar nominations Goalkeeper: PJ Ryan (Kilkenny), B Cummins (Tipperary), C Hennessy (Waterford). Full-backs: M Kavanagh, J Tyrrell, JJ Delaney (Kilkenny), P Maher, P Stapleton (Tipperary), O Canning, F Moore (Galway), N Connors (Waterford), S ONeill (Cork). Half-backs: T Walsh, J Tennyson (Kilkenny), M Foley (Limerick), D Fanning, C OMahony (Tipperary), J Lee (Galway), S Hiney (Dublin), T Browne, M Walsh (Waterford). Midfield: M Rice (Kilkenny), S McGrath, J Woodlock (Tipperary), G OMahony, S Hickey (Limerick), A McCrabbe (Dublin). Half-forwards: H Shefflin, E Larkin, E Brennan (Kilkenny), A Callinan (Galway), B OConnor (Cork), J OBrien, L Corbett, S Callanan, P Kerwick (Tipperary). Full-forwards: M Comerford, R Power (Kilkenny), N McGrath, E Kelly (Tipperary), J Canning, D Hayes (Galway), J Mullane (Waterford), D OCallaghan, D Treacy (Dublin). AlAn McCRABBe is set to become Dublins first hurling AllStar since 1990 and just the countys third ever. The Craobh Chiarain man is one of four Dubliners nominated for a Voda- fone 2009 AllStar following a break- through campaign. Dublin contested their first leinster final since 1991 this year and the re- ward is AllStar nominations for Mc- Crabbe, David OCallaghan, David Treacy and captain Stephen hiney. The omission of full-back Tomas Brady, who was Man of the Match in the semi-final win over Wexford, is a big surprise, but Dublins disappoint- ment will be tempered by the selec- tion of McCrabbe at midfield. There is no guarantee, of course, that he will win a place in the final 15. But aside from McCrabbe and Kilkennys Michael Rice there are no outstanding candidates nominated for the role. The other four midfielders named are Tipperarys Shane McGrath and James Woodlock and limerick duo Gavin OMahony and Seamus hickey. McCrabbe was persuaded to return to county hurling this year by new boss Anthony Daly and starred all season. he hit 1-50 in the league and, oper- ating between midfield and the full- forward line, tallied a whopping 1-39 in four Championship games. unsurprisingly, finalists Kilkenny and Tipperary carve up more than half the nominations between them. But it may raise eyebrows that win- ners Kilkenny have only 12 nominees compared with Tipps 13, a figure which includes four of the six half-for- ward nominations, an area of the field the Premier County have struggled in. Three of 2008sAllStars Kilkennys James Fitzpatrick and noel hickey and Waterfords eoin Kelly miss out. Seven sides are represented but An- trim, Clare and Offaly are overlooked. henry Shefflin is one of Kilkennys nominees and one moreAllStar would put him level with DJ Carey on nine. Team-mate Tommy Walsh, chasing his seventh straight AllStar, is favourite for hurler of the year over Tipps lar Corbett and Waterfords John Mullane. holder Joe Canning faces Tipp pair noel McGrath and Padraic Maher to becomeyoung hurler of theyear. index.html2.html3.html4.html5.html6.html7.html8.html9.html10.html11.html12.html13.html14.html15.html16.html17.html18.html19.html20.html21.html22.html23.html24.html25.html26.html27.html