Diary

13-14 DecRockingham Stages RallyNo need to get covered in mud, sweat and beers if you want to catch some rallying action.www.rockingham.co.uk

14 DecRace of Champions, Wembley Stadium, London Will Priaulx, Coulthard and Co find the KTM as disappointing as we did?www.raceofchampions.com

26 DecStock Car Racing, Wimbledon, LondonCold turkey sandwiches and The Great Escape or stock cars and banger racing? Your call… www.spedeworth.net

3 JanJavelin trackday, Elvington, YorkIf you’re not still hungover, get the year’s first track action under your belt in Yorkshire.www.javelintrackdays.co.uk

8-11 JanAutosport ShowThe Birmingham NEC celebrates all things motorsport. DC (right) and some of his old racing cars will be there, too.autosportinternational.com

17-25 JanDetroit motor showMotor City’s annual shindig  could be a few balloons short of a party if the global economy has its way. That (right) is a hybrid, by the way. www.naias.com

18 JanRun what ya brung, Santa Pod Not great if you love grammar, but great if you love the idea of firing your own car down a drag strip.www.rwyb.com

3-18 Jan DAKAR RallyThe name’s probably a bit misleading – never mind Dakar, the race won’t even be in Africa this time after security concerns caused the abandonment of the 2008 event. Instead, Dakar ’09 will take in Argentina and Chile, beginning and ending in Buenos Aires and including around 5500 miles of hardcore off-roading along the way.

Open to cars, trucks and motorbikes, it’s a gruelling event for both driver and vehicle, with a number of casualties over the years. Whatever happens, expect a strong challenge from Mitsubishi. The Pajero has clinched the last seven Dakars and is the event’s most successful model, so the new Racing Lancer should put in a strong challenge for glory in South America. www.dakar.com

20-24 JanMonte Carlo RallyNot a WRC round this year – it’ll only be used for world rallying biennially – the Cote d’Azur kicks off the 2009 Intercontinental Rally Challenge instead. www.fia.com

22-24 JanRally of QatarIf Monte Carlo ain’t your thing, then watch the Middle Eastern rally championship begin in the Arab Emirates over the same weekend.www.fia.com