Formula One: McLaren launch the MP4-23

Hamilton and Kovalainen pose for pictures with the MP4-23 car. (Action Images / Wolfgang Rattay)

SINGAPORE -

Following Ferrari’s launch of their new car on Sunday, McLaren became the second Formula One team to reveal their 2008 model, the MP4-23 in a special ceremony held at the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart, Germany.

Lewis Hamilton and Heikki Kovaleinen will be racing in McLaren colours this season and both were present at the ceremony.

It was a rush to get the car ready and it was only completed on Sunday evening and was immediately transported from the McLaren Technology Centre to Stuttgart for the ceremony.

What made the ceremony all the more special was Lewis Hamilton celebrating his 23rd birthday and the delighted birthday boy made known his excitement on his cool present.

"The Vodafone McLaren Mercedes MP4-23 is the coolest birthday present you can get, well it is for me anyway!” said Hamilton. “To see the car for the first time at such a great place as the Mercedes-Benz museum makes it an even more memorable day.

Hamilton also talked about what he has been up to in his first post season time off.

“I have had the past three weeks off and spent the time training and relaxing with family and friends. I know how much work has been going on in Woking, Brixworth and here in Stuttgart and it is a great looking car.”

Right after the ceremony, the MP4-23 will be transported to the Jerez circuit in Southern Spain where Kovalainen and test driver Pedro de la Rosa are set to take it on a test drive. Hamilton will come in on Thursday and get his first taste of the new car a day later.

"Development of the MP4-23 began in earnest 10 months ago and everyone in Woking, Brixworth and Stuttgart have worked very hard during the last few weeks, and particularly over the Christmas period, to make today’s presentation here in Stuttgart happen,” explained McLaren’s Formula One CEO Martin Whitmarsh.

“We are confident, based upon the simulation and analysis which has been an integral part of the development process, that the MP4-23 represents a step forward. Of course we will continue to develop the car from now until the first race in Australia and see whether we have done enough to be at the level where we want to compete this coming season.”

Chelsea 2-1 Everton: Wright-Phillips puts Blues in pole position

LONDON (PA SPORT) - The undeniable fighting spirit that has galvanised Chelsea's season was prevalent again as Avram Grant's side earned a slender first-leg advantage in their Carling Cup semi-final against Everton.

Shaun Wright-Phillips was key to the win, scoring the first and putting Joleon Lescott under pressure to force the decisive own goal in added time.

It was a win the Blues had carved out of adversity after Mikel John Obi had been controversially sent off in the 55th minute.

Ayegbeni Yakubu grabbed a 64th-minute equaliser but there was late drama to come as Wright-Phillips outjumped Lescott, who inadvertently nodded in Michael Ballack's cross.

Mikel was instantly given his marching orders for a one-footed lunge at Everton captain Phil Neville.

Ironically, like Everton goalscorer Yakubu and defender Joseph Yobo, Mikel had been allowed to play in the game by the Nigerian federation before leaving for the African Nations Cup.

Mikel's dismissal left Chelsea to face the last 35 minutes of a pulsating cup-tie that sprang into life after his departure.

The first half, while dominated by Chelsea, produced few moments of note although it would have got off to a better start had Blues right-back Juliano Belletti managed to get his 20-yard drive on target.

Chelsea, much the better side in the opening skirmishes, were finally rewarded for their endeavours with the opening goal in the 26th minute.

A throw-in on the left flank was brought under control by Florent Malouda before he cleverly found the unmarked Wright-Phillips lurking with intent on the edge of the penalty area.

The England winger has often squandered such opportunities this season but this time he sent a curling shot beyond the outstretched Tim Howard and into the net via the far post.

Three minutes later Chelsea almost made it two when Joe Cole's run was halted unfairly on the edge of the penalty area and Ballack's free-kick flew inches wide of the far post with Howard beaten.

Everton had offered little in the opening half but they raised the tempo in the second period even though they could have been two down from the restart.

Wright-Phillips found himself with just Howard to beat on the edge of the penalty area but sent his shot straight at the goalkeeper.

But then came Mikel's indiscretion, though referee Peter Walton's decision looked a harsh one after a lunge at Neville.

But it was also the catalyst for the game to turn into a bad-tempered affair, with Walton handing out six yellow cards in the end.

Chelsea could have doubled their advantage again when Wright-Phillips put Claudio Pizarro in the clear but the Peruvian striker could not find a way past Howard.

They paid for it in the 66th minute when Walton awarded Everton a free-kick for handball by Alex.

When James McFadden sent the ball into the box, Chelsea's defence could only half clear their lines and Yakubu lashed his shot into the roof of the net.

The heated exchanges continued when Lescott took umbrage at a rash challenge by Belletti and yet Walton failed to take any action against Neville when he floored Malouda on the edge of the Everton penalty area.

Everton were unlucky not to grab the lead themselves when a great run and cross from McFadden eluded everyone in the six-yard box.

Chelsea, ravaged by injuries and the loss of Salomon Kalou, Michael Essien and Didier Drogba to the African Nations Cup continued to search for a winner.

The game was marred throughout by blustery conditions and while Chelsea had mastered them better than their opponents, the Blues were thwarted by a determined rearguard action from the Merseysiders.

The last four minutes of added time brought with it a sense of anticipation and yet the Chelsea faithful were rewarded with a goal out of nothing.

There appeared to be little danger when Ballack's hopeful overhead kick pitted the diminutive Wright-Phillips against England defender Lescott.

But the Chelsea winger outjumped Lescott, and the defender was pressured into heading the ball beyond Howard to secure Chelsea's well-earned victory.

Ferrari Unveils 2008 Formula 1 Car

( Worldcarfans ) - Ferrari's 54th single seater will be competing for the 2008 Formula One championship, where Kimi 'Iceman' Raikkonen will be defending his crown and Felipe Massa will be looking to beat his teammate to the punch. Obviously the entire Ferrari team is poised to stay ahead of McLaren, BMW and the rest of the Formula One teams.

2008 will bring a host of changes to F1, amongst which the new SECU (Standard Electronic Control Unit), gearbox rules (must now be used for four consecutive events), safety (higher side protection around the driver's helmet), materials (limit to type of composites that can be used) and the much talked about loss of traction control. Aerodynamicly the car has been totally revised and will be totally changed again before the season starts in March at the Australian Grand Prix.

Kimi Raikkonen said: “The most dangerous competitors? McLaren will be there for sure. And then there's BMW. It will be a difficult year.” Traction control is one of the systems the FIA has ruled out for the competition, Kimi said: “It will be much more complex to drive, that's for sure. Especially on wet tracks. But it will be also much more fun."

Felipe Massa gave the new 2008 Ferrari two thumbs up. “The first impression of the car is that it is really beautiful. Just like every other Ferrari. The looks are important, but the performance and the reliability are even more important.” he said. In response to the loss of traction control Felipe said: “When there's less grip you can use the tyres much better. It really is different now. You have to take care of the accelerator; even more than of the brakes. The driving style has to be softer and less aggressive.”

Burnley 0-2 Arsenal: Eduardo shines as Gunners go through

UNITED KINGDOM (PA SPORT) - Arsenal survived a searching examination of their FA Cup ambitions at the hands of Burnley to reach the fourth round of the competition following their 2-0 victory.

Eduardo continued his rich vein of scoring with the opening goal

The Gunners were grateful to Croatian striker Eduardo who scored the first and made the second for Nicklas Bendtner.

Their opponents from the mid-table of the Coca-Cola Championship deserved to come off the field with their heads held high - it was not until Kyle Lafferty had been dismissed for a studs-up challenge midway through the second half that their challenge ended.

In the ninth minute Eduardo cemented his reputation as one of the coolest finishers in the game with another clinical strike to make it six goals in his last four games.

Eduardo is in sizzling form at the moment. (Action Images / Jason Cairnduff)

The Brazilian-born Croatian seized on to a chipped pass over the top by Kolo Toure and held off Steven Caldwell before slipping the ball neatly past Gabor Kiraly.

The Championship side responded with some accomplished and attractive attacking play. First Andy Gray managed a shot on target that Bacary Sagna's block took the sting out of, then Robbie Blake fired just over from a right angle.

In the second half, Eduardo's finishing powers for once let him down. He and Bendtner combined excellently and a one-two saw the Croatian through on goal again but this time he put the ball the wrong side of the post - and kept Burnley's hopes alive.

Chris McCann floated a header too high as the Clarets tried to break through, then their task became mountainous when Lafferty was sent off for sliding in on Gilberto with his studs up.

Burnley continued to give it a go right to the final whistle but with 15 minutes left Bendtner delivered the knockout blow.

Eduardo was the creator this time with a perfect pass down the middle allowing the Dane to take the ball around Kiraly and fire home.

Scoreboard

Home		Away
Burnley	0	Arsenal	2
Fulham	2	Bristol Rovers	2
Derby	2	Sheff Wed	2
Luton	1	Liverpool	1
Stoke	0	Newcastle	0

Harbhajan hit with three-match ban

Harbhajan Singh has been found guilty of making a racist comment to Andrew Symonds on the third day of the Sydney Test and slapped with a three-match ban. Mike Procter, the match referee, ruled at the end of a four-hour hearing that Harbhajan had breached Level 3 of the ICC's Code of Conduct. The Indian team management said it would appeal against the ban.

The charge was brought by the on-field umpires after they received a complaint from Ricky Ponting, Australia's captain. The incident occurred when Harbhajan was batting with Sachin Tendulkar during India's first innings on Saturday. It was alleged that Harbhajan had an argument with Symonds, during which time he called Symonds a "monkey".

Announcing his verdict, Procter said: "I am satisfied beyond a reasonable doubt that Harbhajan Singh directed that word at Andrew Symonds and also that he meant it to offend on the basis of Symonds' race or ethnic origin."

The ban takes place immediately and so will rule Harbhajan out of the rest of the Test series. The Indian management have 24 hours to lodge an appeal with the ICC and, if they do so, he will be free to play pending that hearing.

It also emerged that the Indians levelled a counter-claim of abuse against Brad Hogg, Australia's left-arm spinner. A report in the Sydney Morning Herald said the Indians accused Brad Hogg of using offensive language during the Test. The report stated that the hearing on Brad Hogg's conduct will, in all likelihood, be held on Monday.

MV Sridhar, the assistant manager, who spoke to the media before the decision was announced, said there was no video or audio evidence involving Harbhajan. "We felt there was no substantial evidence," he said.

The Indian board president, Sharad Pawar has said he was determined to preserve strong ties between the India and Australia. "There is an extremely good relationship between the countries," he told the Melbourne-based Age. "There has been a conflict on the field and an issue has been reported by some players, but I don't want to react. It is important it should not spoil the relationship between the countries or the teams. That is not our desire."