Jimmie Johnson wins in Atlanta, ties with Dale Earnhardt Sr: the motorsport roundup

You hear that? That’s the rumble, whine and screech of engines whirring into life. It’s March, and finally, the world motorsport series are lurching into life.

This week, we bring news from the World Superbikes opener Down Under, we take a look at Sebastien Loeb’s latest career move and the comings and goings of the second round of the NASCAR circus. And of course, the obligatory F1 news.

FIA World RallyCross Championship: Sebastien Loeb joins Peugeot RX team

The nine-time WRC champion has decided that the WTCC is just too damn boring, and is heading into the panel-beating world of the FIA World RallyCross Championship. The series is in its third season and is already a hit with fans. Loeb will duke it out with one of rallying’s other legends, Petter Solberg, who is the only driver to have won the Championship.

Formula 1: Sauber finally unveils its 2016 challenger, the C35

Goodbye C34. Welcome #SauberC35! Now on >> https://t.co/8eAljCjFFO#SauberF1Team #JoinOurPassion #Racing #F1 pic.twitter.com/1fYRwmginb

— Sauber F1 Team (@SauberF1Team) February 29, 2016

Better late than never, especially if you’re an F1 team launching a new car. The team in question is Sauber and the car is the C35. Although it retains much of its predecessors livery detailing, the C35 boasts a new nose and hopefully a beefier, more efficient power unit from Ferrari.

Formula 1: New qualifying format is bonkers, delayed until Spain GP

Rarely is Formula 1 ever labeled as a sane sport, and the plans to change the qualifying format all but cements this.

The new qualifying system was due to take effect from Australia, but Bernie Ecclestone has announced that it will likely be delayed until Spain. Why? Well, because it’s as easy to explain as quantum physics.

Each session will see the slowest car knocked out of said session every 90 seconds, effectively leaving the two fastest cars on track at the end of Q3. But the number of if, buts and whys that currently surrounds the system is not only confusing fans, but likely drivers too.

You can read a more eloquent definition of the new format here, courtesy of F1 Fanatic.

NASCAR Xfinity Series: Kyle Busch wins another Xfinity race, first triumph in Atlanta

Kyle Busch just can’t stop winning in the Xfinity Series. The Sprint Cup champion has now won 77 races, and he can add Atlanta to that list after this weekend.

In a much less congested race, it was Kyle Larson who came within a second of victory, but Busch’s short stint pace was too hot to run, and he finished second.

NASCAR Sprint Cup: Jimmie Johnson beats Earnhardt Jr. to flag, levels with Earnhardt Sr. on career wins

In a completely different race to the Xfinity Series’ Atlanta tie, the Cup cars went over 200 laps without a caution. Kevin Harvick was almost a cert to win with 50 laps to go (he also led the most laps), but a fast charging Jimmie Johnson stole the show and the chequered.

It was a combination of some brilliant strategy and driving, as Johnson pitted as soon as possible for fresh tyres and just enough fuel. By the time Harvick stopped, Johnson was around 13 seconds ahead of the #4 car. Dale Earnhardt Jr. finished second, while Kyle Busch rounded up the podium.

It was Johnson’s 76th victory too, which means that he now ties with Dale Earnhardt Sr. as the seventh most prolific NASCAR driver of all time.

World SBK: Jonathan Rea continues where he left off

In another defiant display, Jonathan Rea did the double in Philip Island, after the series had its first Saturday race in a new format. Tom Sykes in the other Kawasaki led from pole, while the Ducatis, Hondas and Yamahas were all in with a shout. But it was Rea who got to the front and romped away, like he did in almost every race last season.

Race two saw Rea challenged by Guiliano and van der Mark on the Ducati and Honda respectively, but the Kawasaki rider once again showed his class with two laps to go, as van der Mark wobbled and Guiliano ended up in the dirt.

Feature image: Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images via NASCAR