Jenson Button becomes world champion for the Brawn team created out of the ashes of Honda • F1 comes close to a cataclysmic split as teams' body FOTA rows with the FIA • Max Mosley decides not to stand for re-election and is replaced as FIA president by Jean Todt • Flavio Briatore and Pat Symonds banned from F1 after Renault is found to have 'fixed' the 2008 Singapore GP • BMW and Toyota pull out of F1 and Renault sells majority of team in manufacturer exodus • Fernando Alonso signs for Ferrari from 2010 • Kimi Raikkonen deserts F1 for rallying • A1GP goes into indefinite hiatus amid financial problems • Michael Schumacher announces he will return to F1 in 2010 with new Mercedes team • Dario Franchitti returns to IndyCar and wins second title, while Helio Castroneve wins third Indy 500 • Peugeot finally defeats Audi at Le Mans, with Alex Wurz, Marc Gene and David Brabham taking the spoils • Jimmie Johnson wins record fourth straight NASCAR crown • Gabriele Tarquini wins WTCC crown, becoming the oldest winner of an FIA world title at 47
2009
Jenson Button wins the world championship for Brawn GP following Honda's withdrawal
Jimmie Johnson wins a record fourth consecutive NASCAR title
Sebastien Loeb beats Mikko Hirvonen to the World Rally Championship title by a single point
Peugeot wins Le Mans at the third attempt with its 908 diesel
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