Castrol EDGE Australia Newsletter - December 7, 2011

it’s our best oil yet... www.castroledge.com.au

VOLUME 1 - ISSUE 31

7th DECEMBER 2011

ENDING ON A HIGH! WAR HERO INSPIRES FPR

PLUS ALL ThE COLOUR FROM HOMEBUSh OGIER THE CHAMP

WALLABIES STORM HOME

FROSTY’S WIN AT HOME Mark Winterbottom has rounded out the 2011 V8 Supercars season in fine fashion taking victory in the Sunday race of the Sydney Telstra 500 and securing third place in the Championship.

Winterbottom in the #5 Orrcon Steel FPR Falcon was the highest placed of the Castrol runners in the Championship – and in both races of the final event of the season.

Other Castrol racers to finish in the top 10 in the Championship included Rick Kelly and Will Davison.

Davison was left wondering what might have been at Sydney Olympic Park. After setting pole position on both days – he was left with zero points come Sunday night.

The potential of finishing in the top five went beggeing for the Melbourne driver who dropped to seventh in overall points.

On Saturday, Davison had a steering failure after bending steering arms on the raised Sydney curbs. Sunday – the 28-year-old was easily the fastest driver on track before being caught out on the marbles passing Shane van Gisbergen for third and collecting the wall.

This added to the mixed emotions being felt by the FPR team when Paul Dumbrell – who was on a tear in his final V8 Supercar full time race – spun with a handful of laps to go and was collected by Lee Holdsworth.

The Kelly brothers had a respectable

Saturday, both finishing in the top 10. On Sunday, they finished down the order in 12th (Rick) and 17th (Todd) respectively.

Russell Ingall had one of his best performances of the season – and

his last for Paul Morris Motorsport in Supercheap colours – finishing fifth.

Overall, the highlights of the year have no doubt been the victories by Winterbottom

in Sydney and the Gold Coast, along with Rick Kelly’s two break through victories for Jack Daniel’s Racing in New Zealand and Sandown.

The FPR turnaround and season-ending victory leaves the factory Ford team with a great deal of momentum and impetus leading into 2012!

CASTROL’S HERO GOES FOR A RIDE Australian Special Forces Commando, Private Damien Thomlinson was taken for a V8 Supercars experience of a lifetime with Mark Winterbottom at Sydney Olympic Park last weekend.

Targa (tarmac) rallies for Team Legacy Assist as the navigator, however not quite as fast as he roared around the Sydney Telstra 500 Circuit in the #5 Orrcon Steel Ford Performance Racing Falcon.

The inspirational soldier is still serving in the Armed Forces despite having both legs amputated due to a Taliban improved explosive devise (IED) in 2009.

Pte Thomlinson is an active member of the Commando Welfare Trust – established to support the members’ families of the Special Operations Command Unit injured or killed in battle.

The lively Pte Thomlinson is also a keen motor racing enthusiast, participating in

“It was truly amazing, just an unbelievable

thing to have the opportunity to do,” Pte Thomlinson said.

“We’re doing everything we can to raise the profile of the Commando Welfare Trust and the work that we’re doing with the Commando unit.”

The Castrol-backed Ford Performance Racing team members enjoyed having Damien visit. Despite having to practice on Friday, the mechanics were fascinated by the technology that controls his

prosthetic legs – including hydraulics and Bluetooth controls.

Damien’s attendance was just part of the colour that Castrol EDGE added to the event – the company was once again part of the eXcellerator Zone at Homebush – which provided racefans with numerous money-can’t-buy experiences, including meet n greets with Mark Winterbottom, garage tours and grid walks.

Damien and his ride will be featured on Channel 10’s The Project on December 13 at 6:30pm nationally.

More information and donations towards the Commando Welfare Trust can be made at www. commandotrust.com.

Mark Pickett was the lucky recipient of a ride with Will Davison in his Castrolbacked Trading Post FPR Falcon in Sydney. Mark - who traveled from Western Australia won a national competition operated by Hino in conjunction with Castrol

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WALLABIES WRAP UP 2011 WITH A WIN Recharged, the Wallabies came out fighting in the second half, and put on a points display in a spirited match to bring the final score to 24-18.

The Wallabies will now enjoy a well earned break before the 2012 season begins with their respective Super Rugby teams early next year.

Then the busy international Rugby season will fire into life on home soil, the highlight being The Castrol EDGE Rugby Championship featuring the Wallabies, All Blacks, Springboks and new-comers, the Argentine Pumas.

T

he Wallabies have finished their season on a high after defeating Wales 24-18 at Millennium Stadium in Cardiff over the weekend.

The team not only retained the James Bevan trophy, they also secured their second position in the final IRB World Rankings for the year.

The Australians had a hard run in the first half after being denied a try in the 31st minute, however they were able to head to the sheds only 6-3 down after a last minute penalty goal by James O’Connor.

OGIER THE CHAMPION! Castrol EDGE-backed Volkswagen WRC’s newly signed rally ace Sebastien Ogier has won the Race of Champions (ROC) flying the Castrol flag against the best drivers from all over the world at Düsseldorf’s ESPRIT arena.

The annual end of year arena celebration brought together drivers from various disciplines, including World F1 Champion Sebastien Vettel, Michael Schumacher, WTCC ace Andy Priaulx, and three-time ROC Champion of Champions Mattias Ekström to name a few.

Drivers have to compete across numerous disciplines including road cars, race cars, supercars and specially commissioned ROC buggies to determine the victor.

Ogier – a ROC rookie - took on eight-time Le Mans winner, Tom Kristensen in the best of three finale to come out on top as the best of the best in the fifteen-man competition.

THE FORCE IS WITH YOU Courtney Force, younger daughter of multiple Funny Car national championship winner, Castrol’s John Force has been recognised by ESPN The Magazine as a NEXT athlete for 2012.

NEXT athletes are described as competitors not only on the cusp of stardom, but also on the verge of transcending their sports, NEXT is what happens when the hype is real.

“This is really a big honour, I honestly didn’t know I was being considered as one of the NEXT athletes. I am really excited about my future and getting

on the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series full time,” said Force.

“The chance to race with my father, John Force, is exciting but I also want to chart my own path. Ashley (older sister Ashley Force Hood) has been a big help and she has been a great person to lean on and get good advice.

“I want to make my current fans proud to be my fans and I want to try and introduce a new audience to NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing. It is a great sport and I am looking forward to having a long racing career.”

WHERE TO FIND CASTROL EDGE RACING: Facebook:

twitter:

website:

www.facebook.com/CastrolEDGERacing

www.twitter.com/CastrolRacingAU

www.castrolracing.com.au

F

ormula 1 World Champion Sebastian Vettel ended an outstanding season by winning two major prizes at last night’s Autosport Awards in association with Castrol EDGE. Not only did the German ace receive his trophy for ending 2011 top of the Castrol EDGE Rankings, he also joined motorsport greats Ayrton Senna, Nigel Mansell and Michael Schumacher in winning the International Racing Driver of the Year award for a second year in a row.

Sebastian Loeb who finished the year ninth in the Castrol EDGE Rankings after winning his eighth consecutive World Rally Championship, was named International Rally Driver of the Year, whilst the Castrol EDGE backed Mini John Cooper Works picked up the Rally Car of the Year. There was also silverware for Jenson Button, who lies third in the Rankings after an outstanding season in the Formula 1 World Championships as he scooped

up the British Competition Driver of the Year award.

Paul di Resta was recognised for a fantastic maiden season in Formula 1 with the Rookie of the Year award. Whilst the 2011 Formula Renault 2.0 UK Vice-Champion Oliver Rowland was earmarked as a star of the future after joining the likes of David Coulthard, Jenson Button and Dario Franchitti in collecting the coveted McLaren Autosport BRDC award which recognises the best young racing driver in the UK. Speaking at the annual awards Formula 1 Champion Johnny Herbert, said; “The Autosport Awards are the most prestigious awards ceremony in motorsport and the perfect climax to the season. It’s fantastic to see all of motorsports greats, past, present and future, under one roof celebrating each other’s achievements.”

2011 Autosport Awards in Association with Castrol EDGE Winners: International Racing Driver of the Year – Sebastian Vettel Castrol EDGE Rankings Driver of the Year – Sebastian Vettel Rookie of the Year – Paul di Resta National Racing Driver of the Year - Matt Neal Racing Car of the Year – Red Bull RB7 International Rally Driver of the Year – Sebastian Loeb Rally Car of the Year – Mini John Cooper Works British Competition Driver of the Year – Jenson Button British Club Driver of the Year – Alex Lynn The John Bolster Award for Technical Excellence – Gian Paolo Dallara The Gregor Grant Award for Lifetime Achievement – Damon Hill & Dan Wheldon The Autosport Pioneering and Innovation Awards – ‘Senna’ The McLaren Autosport BRDC Award – Oliver Rowland

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