A new era in Formula One that will definitely be faster, but debatably better, begins at the season-opening Australian Grand Prix.

As Victoria prepare for a likely "home" Sheffield Shield final later this month in Alice Springs, the prospect of how the Grand Prix might affect the Bushrangers's chances of hosting next year's final at the redeveloped Junction Oval on Grand Prix weekend remains up in the air.

It takes some effort to wipe the smile off Daniel Ricciardo's face, but Red Bull teammate Max Verstappen will be hoping the breezy Australian has less to grin about this season.

Las Vegas: Martin Truex Junior passed Brad Keselowski with two laps to go and avoided a last-lap wreck that led to a pit-road brawl and left Kyle Busch bloodied in a wild finish to the Nascar Cup race on Sunday.

In one of the most dramatic finishes to World Rally Championship even, race leader Kris Meeke careened off the course, wove through a trackside carpark, plunged back on to the course - and won.

Australian Grand Prix organisers have abandoned a late bid to upgrade the Supercars support races at next week's Formula 1 season-opener to championship status, vowing to make a concerted effort for next year.

Daniel Ricciardo says several teams could be in contention in the Australian Grand Prix.

Judging by his demoralising domination of the season-opening Adelaide 500, Shane van Gisbergen will be even more difficult to beat in this year's Supercars championship.

About the only insight the opening race of the Supercars championship provided was that defending champion Shane van Gisbergen is fully motivated to retain his title.

Supercars has become embroiled in a controversy over a stillborn plan to create a V8-powered open-wheel racing car for a support series at major events.

It's the elephant in the room, the subject no one in Supercars is prepared to query or criticise because it involves gender.

Few would have predicted the sweeping changes that took place in the Supercars off-season. But Shane van Gisbergen hopes there is a familiar look to the 2017 Supercars podium.

Formula One testing is not unlike the AFL's pre-season competition – it's about putting run in the legs, avoiding grand statements of intent and seemingly endless tinkering.

Mercedes dominated the first day of Formula One pre-season testing, sending a message that the overhaul of regulations may not derail the three-time defending champions.

Red Bull have become the final of Formula One's elite teams to reveal their car to be driven by Australian Daniel Ricciardo and Dutchman Max Verstappen in the forthcoming season.

Kurt Busch finally wins Daytona as just 25 cars cross the finish line, only five of them unscathed.

Jonathan Rea has celebrated a home-away-from home double after sweeping the opening world superbike championship round at Victoria's Phillip Island.

The 20th anniversary season of Supercars starts in Adelaide on Friday amid several major changes that prompt many intriguing questions.

Short of racing in his native Northern Ireland, Superbike world champion Jonathan Rea couldn't be starting his bid for a title hat trick closer to home than at Phillip Island.