Auto Action #1820

REVVED UP ROLAND THE MAN WITH A PLAN

CHEV COMEBACK FIFTY YEARS

SINCE BOB’S BEST JOB

CAMARO CELEBRATION

PAST & FUTURE OF MUSTANG SLAYER

BROWN SUGAR F5000 STAR’S SWEET SUCCESS

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PYE SEALS NEW DEAL Scott Pye & Charlie Schwerkolt renew their partnership at Team 18

BY BRUCE NEWTON SUPERCARS STAR Scott Pye has shot down a series of wild rumours about his future, confirming he has signed to continue with Team 18 for at least the next two years.

Pye and team owner Charlie Schwerkolt had been signalling for months their intention to extend the relationship they began for the 2020 season.

But with no deal announced, the rumour mill started linking Pye with various potentially vacant seats, including the drive alongside Chaz Mostert at Walkinshaw Andretti United.

Even a direct swap was mooted with James Courtney at Tickford Racing, with whom Schwerkolt won the 2010 drivers’ championship when he was a partner in Dick Johnson Racing.

“Both Charlie and I got to the point where enough people were talking about it and coming to us for comment, that we decided to just put pen to paper and end the speculation,” Pye told Auto Action.

“We were hearing all these stories and some of them were funny because you just wonder where they come from.

But that’s the world we live in and it’s interesting for the fans. But I am not interested in that.

“It was a very easy decision for me and I think much the same for Charlie,” said Pye. “I never looked at going anywhere else, I wanted to remain where I was and see what Charlie’s plan is for the future.”

While Pye made it clear staying at Team 18 was always his preference, he declined to say if he received offers or interest from other teams.

Melbourne-based Pye said he and Gold Coast-based Schwerkolt had pushed back inking their new deal because of COVID border restrictions, lockdowns and quarantines.

“In an ideal world you sit opposite each other, shake hands across the table and sign the document and that was what we were waiting on,” he explained. “But the way things are at the moment it got to a

point where it wasn’t worth waiting any longer.

“At some stage we’ll have a quiet beer together and celebrate the fact we are continuing the partnership.”

He paid tribute to Schwerkolt, saying the forklift entrepreneur who has run his own Supercars squad since 2013, was intrinsic to his decision to renew.

“I always really appreciate the team owner being invested in the team and Charlie is always there,” said Pye. “That means more than people would realise because it’s a motivating factor.

“It means we will be strong into the future and that is a big part of my decision.

“I really feel we are able to get the most out of people through good leadership and Charlie is a great leader.”

Pye, 31, will complete a decade in the category with this deal, as he first competed full-time in 2013 driving for now defunct Lucas Dumbrell Motorsport, after finishing runner-up in the 2012 Development series. It will also be his longest stint at any squad since he joined the championship.

“Growing up, the goal was always to make it to the top and to stay there is a complement in itself, because it is such a competitive industry,” said Pye. “There are plenty of boxes unticked but achieving that is nice and now I am just excited to see what we can achieve in the next phase.

“The potential is there to be winning races regularly with this team into the future. The team is definitely very strong.”

After LDM, Pye spent a year at Dick Johnson Racing. Then, after Roger Penske bought in, there were two turbulent years with DJR Team Penske.

He moved to Walkinshaw Racing in 2017, which became Walkinshaw Andretti United in 2018. He left for Team 18 at the end of the 2019 season.

Pye joined Team 18 after Schwerkolt bit the bullet and expanded to a two-car operation, slotting the Melbourne-based South Australian into the DeWalt Holden Commodore ZB alongside Mark Winterbottom in the Irwin entry.

Pye has competed in 268 Supercars races for one win, one pole position and 10 podiums. His best championship finish was seventh in 2018 and he pipped Winterbottom to finish ninth last year.

He also scored Team 18’s first podiums in its stand-alone structure at Hidden Valley in Darwin last year.

While the first year at Team 18 hit Pye’s performance targets, a push into the championship top five hasn’t eventuated in 2021.

Pye is only 13th in the championship hunt, with seven top 10 qualifying starts and eight top 10 finishes to his credit, across 19 races.

Renowned for his stellar racing more

than his qualifying, Pye is confident the potential exists for strong performances both when this season resumes and next year ,when the current Gen2 era ends and the transition is made to Gen3.

“This year has been disrupted with the restrictions preventing us from having a consistent year, but it hasn’t changed anything in the way the team has operated and the progress we are making,” Pye said.

“For me, we are very close to being consistently at the front every weekend.

It only takes a very small margin for us to be there.”

Pye cited the team’s engineering brain trust including his own engineer Phil Keed, tech chief Richard Hollway and Winterbottom’s engineer Manuel Sanchez, as critical to that improvement.

“This is the longest I have had the same engineer on my car since I joined the championship, which is crazy,” said Pye. “That was a big part of my decision, having someone like Phil and Richard at the team. Add in Manuel and we have three engineers who are extremely strong. I also really like my mechanics and have full confidence in them.

“The potential is here for us to win races and with the Gen3 platform coming in, the team which gets all the one-percenters right will have a shot at success regardless of the budget.”

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SUPERCARS AUTO ACTION reveals the key details of Supercars’ proposed new ownership

SPORTS MARKETING giant TLA and national series promoter Australian Racing Group are close to being publicly confirmed as the preferred and exclusive bidder for Supercars.

Their combined bid has been accepted as the sole offer to buy V8 racing, valued at approximately $92 million.

The sale will result in earnings certainty, with teams likely to receive a $650,000 payment per year, for each entry over the next five years – plus a one-off $400K grant to finance the changeover to Gen3.

TLA/ARG is conducting final due diligence to establish its binding offer and progress to a final binding contract of sale.

The rival consortium, headed by Boost Mobile boss Peter Adderton, is claiming its offer became known and key benefits copied.

After joining forces and following their submission to the teams, TLA/ARG was nominated as the preferred bidder.

The sale of Supercars, majority owned by private equity firm Archer Capital since 2011, is now expected to be finalised by mid-October.

Under the deal, the TLA/ARG consortium will take full ownership of Supercars, buying Archer’s stake for around $60 million.

It appears that the teams are happy with the offer, which provides an additional cash grant support for the Gen 3 changeover delivering them value in excess of their 35% shareholding based on the price paid for Archers holding.

It is believed that TLA/ARG will buy out Archer for around $60 million, representing way under half their original investment.

But Archer has accrued profits from Supercars for a decade, offsetting its initial $190 million investment in an entity then valued at $360 million.

Supercars is now worth under $100 million, but Archer will still come out of the sale ahead.

A few years ago, a consortium of teams offered around $40 million, so the wait has been worth it.

Archer is set to receive close to the $60 million it wants for its controlling share of the business.

Subject to final due diligence – a complete in-depth look at Supercars’ current and potential earnings – TLA/ARG will submit a binding formal offer for Archer’s and the teams’ stakes.

The process is called “confirmatory due diligence” and the final offer may well be less than the initial indicative bid.

But the takeover is set to go ahead in principle as both Archer and the teams are broadly happy with the bid, with settlement due to happen by mid-October.

Once the sale is completed, there will be an orderly transition and integration involving the current management at Supercars.

“There’ll be no coup,” an insider said.

A new Supercars corporate entity will be established, encompassing the running of events at two levels, with the overal aim of growing the sports profile.

Supercars will always remain the “premium product”, drawing on existing support categories that will be enhanced by the high profile ARG categories of TCR, S5000, GTWCA and TCM at selected key events.

A place is seen for TCR at, say, the Newcastle street race event while S5000 would be prominent on the

Gold Coast undercard.

The new owners foresee “Tier 1 and Tier 2 event offerings” under the new Supercars/ARG umbrella.

This will allow “headline act” opportunities for a broader range of categories across the combined and expanded event offering.

The prospective new owner group sees the combination of Australia’s best motor racing categories, gaining more TV coverage and sponsorship, while engaging and attracting a bigger, younger audience.

The deal offered by TLA/ARG impressed team owners.

“It was pretty decent,” a team boss said. “We were surprised how good it was. Everyone was quite enthusiastic about it. It’s a lot better than what we have currently.”

In return for their 35 per cent shareholding, it is understood that the teams will receive $650,000 per REC each year for five years. Beyond that, the teams will share in any increased revenues, but not suffer reduced income if profit declines.

“It’s a pretty good deal for the teams,” another team principal said.

Under the terms of the proposed sale, teams will receive a grant $400,000 per REC towards the cost of the transition to Gen3.

That grant is in addition to the loan already offered to teams to help finance the changeover, due to happen mid-season next year.

However, a senior insider warned that Gen3’s introduction was likely to be delayed until 2023.

“It needs a really good review,” the informant said.

“The chances of it rolling out in 2022 are remote.”

By Mark Fogarty and Staff.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST DEFEATED GROUP CRIES FOUL THE BEATEN high-powered bidders for Supercars are unhappy with the sale process, claiming their bid was hi-jacked.

The combined TLA/ARG offer that is set to succeed was rivalled by a group headed by outspoken Boost Mobile boss Peter Adderton.

His partners were BTCC chief Alan Gow, five-time world motorcycle champion Mick Doohan, ex-racer Paul Morris and transport mogul Pete Smith.

They also had the promotional backing of media giant News Corp.

But the group was ‘excused’ in favour of TLA/ARG, which is moving ahead with its bid.

Although not bitter about the rejection, the Adderton consortium is upset that its main attractions were incorporated into its rival’s pitch.

One of the principals of the Adderton syndicate expressed his dismay that key elements of their bid were matched by their main rival.

“So much of the process

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absolutely stinks,” he complained.

“All the other bidders put in offers that were only for Archer’s 65 per cent. When we put our offer in, we were told it was unique in that we would buy out the teams as well.

“Then lo and behold, the other offer changed to mirror exactly what we were offering. Wonder how that happened?

Clearly, someone passed the terms of our bid on to the other group. It was recognised as a good deal.

“Our bid from day one was Archer get their money and the teams exchange their shareholding for $750,000 a year for five years and we forgive them their Gen3 debt.

“They obviously went to TLA/ARG and told them that if they changed their bid to match ours, then they’d be fine. That stinks. But none of us is going to lose any sleep over it.”

The Adderton group is unimpressed with what it regards as a one-sided process.

“Us not getting it is fine,” the insider said. “You can’t be

Alan Gow Images: Motorsport Images

successful with offers every time.

But, clearly, we would have won it had our bid not been shopped to the other side. It was by far the best bid.

“We were never told what the other group was offering. It was a one-sided process.

To try to suggest there was a transparent and fair process is laughable. It’s absolutely not right.

“We’re not bitter and twisted.

We just roll our eyes at how it happened. There were forces at work that wanted the other side to win no matter what.”

He also alleged that TLA/ARG upped their bid for Archer Capital’s majority share, sealing the deal.

“We’re not bitter,” he emphasised.

“We’re just annoyed by the process and that our offer was then made

their offer. We thought the process would be more transparent than it was.”

The Supercars sale has been brokered by financier/racer Tim Miles, who the Adderton group member admitted had done a great job in maximising Archer’s return.

“If I were going to sell a company, I’d want him to sell it for me,” he observed wryly. MF

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MOLTO BENE AUSTRALIA DAY IN ITALY MONZA ITALY, Sunday September 12 2021, what a day for Australian motor sport, the first time that Aussies have won in F1 and F2 on the same weekend.

Just hours after young up and comer Oscar Piastri took a controlled victory in the FIA Formula 2 Championship, a few hours later Daniel Ricciardo led home a McLaren 1-2 in Formula 1.

The last time Australia had double delight at this level was when Ricciardo last won an F1 race, the 2018 Monaco Grand Prix, the very same day that Will Power took victory at the Indianapolis 500.

What made the Piastri and Ricciardo double more impressive was that it happened at the very same circuit.

For Piastri it was his second victory of the season but maiden Feature race win, allowing the reigning F3 champion to extend his championship led over fellow Alpine Academy driver Guanyu Zhou to 15 points.

While Piastri has taken multiple world championship victories in recent years, Daniel Ricciardo has not won since he made the surprising move to leave Red Bull Racing at the end of 2018.

After two years at Renault which yielded two podium finishes Ricciardo moved to McLaren in what he has described as the toughest season of his life.

In the first half of the season he struggled to match his teammate Lando Norris who scored three podiums.

However, refreshed after the summer break Ricciardo has been on form once more.

Ricciardo admitted that at times he has not enjoyed himself this year, but the result makes the victory even more sweet.

“For moments you fall out of love with the sport but actually, the clarity you get afterwards makes you realise how much you do love it and how much you want it,” he said after the race.

“I think that’s the biggest thing this weekend, I knew I’d have a chance to fight for a podium and yes, the want shone through and when it gets to that point and that level, I’ll back myself to the hilt.”

Although championship leaders Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen collided mid-way through the race wiping themselves out of contention, it is likely that the Australian would have had them covered anyway.

For Ricciardo he explained just how much the win meant to him.

“It means everything,” he expressed. “I definitely try not to, like, make or dictate my life happiness around the sport, because it’s been

three and a half years since I won, so I’d be pretty miserable most of the time if I just based my happiness on winning races.

“A lot has happened since Monaco 2018, so to be back here in this moment that’s why we love the sport.

It makes all those crappier days worth it and it’s as simple as that.

“I’m still floating right now to be honest. That’s what it does. And that’s what draws you back. It’s wild.”

After taking his second straight pole position on Friday, Piastri finished in fourth and seventh in the inverted top 10 grid races before going on to control the Feature race.

Piastri explained that it meant a lot to him to contribute to what was an incredible event in Australian motor racing, and proud to give something back to many residents in Australia currently in lockdown.

“It was very cool to watch (Ricciardo win),” he said to Auto Action. “I think that’s the first time an Aussie has won F1 and the major support category on the same weekend.

“It was definitely cool to be a part of that and I think, given the tough times particularly in Victoria and New South Wales at the moment, it was nice to be able to do that for everyone back home.

“I was doing it for myself as well, but it’s always nice to see Aussies conquering the motorsport world.”

Piastri and Ricciardo had a text exchange after the race but due to the separate F1 and F2 travel bubbles they have not been able to meet up.

“I sent him a text message after the race and shared a few texts which was cool,

we stay in touch a little bit which is nice,” Piastri said.

“The power of technology, he chuckled.

“It’s impossible to try and meet up or anything particularly with the COVID bubbles, he’s a very busy man and I’m also pretty busy man, so text messages are way forward.”

Dan McCarthy

SVG ENJOYING HIS SWEET MOMENT IN TIME - SAYS DANE

By Paul Gover SHANE VAN Gisbergen is sitting pretty as he rolls towards his second Supercars championship title, according to his boss at the Red Bull Ampol Racing team, Roland Dane.

“He is in that sweet spot,” Dane tells Auto Action.

Other drivers have won individual races, but no-one has been able to mount more than token resistance to van Gisbergen and it’s his team-mate at The Bulls, retiring racer Jamie Whincup, who is second in the series.

None of this is a surprise to Dane, who tells AA that he sees no signs of significant change in his lead driver in 2021.

“I don’t necessarily think he has changed really,” Dane says of SvG. “I think that what happens with touring car drivers, in my experience, is there is a sweet spot in their careers. It’s where experience has been accumulated and is matched with the basic speed.”

Dane has a worrying warning for the rest of the Supercars grid, as he forecasts a continued dominance by his driver.

“With him, that could last longer than almost

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anyone. He is in a good place and he is comfortable, so long may it continue.”

Digging into what gives SvG his current dominance, Dane cannot pinpoint an individual strength or difference from his rivals.

“I think it’s not so much his greatest strength, but his point of difference is that he has a huge understanding of the sport.

“It’s how to race, how to read the bigger picture. And when he’s on top of his game his

brain is running different scenarios during a race at a speed that most other people cannot contemplate.”

It’s an ability that many people relate to grand prix greats Michael Schumacher and Ayrton Senna, who could be driving flat-out but still calculating the risks and rewards in various strategies. Triple champion Jackie Stewart once avoided a crash because he was watching the crowd and realised they

were looking ahead to an incident, instead of watching him.

This ability to drive mostly on instinct, freeing the brain to do other things in a race, is rarer in touring cars.

“I think, at different levels and in different ways, both Craig Lowndes and Jamie Whincup have it. It’s just that Shane’s knowledge of the wider sport helps him in that area,” he says.

That knowledge comes from his dips into GT racing, driving speedway and rally cars, and his interest in the history of motor sport and also the strengths and weaknesses of his rivals.

Dane, who has had a talented roster of international aces through the seats at Triple Eight and also tracks his motorsport career back to his earlier days in the UK, draws a comparison with multiple World Touring Car champion Yvan Muller.

“Yes, Yvan Muller springs to mind as someone who is a very smart racer. But, ultimately Shane and Jamie have shown that they have more speed than Yvan.

“He used his brain to maximise his situation.

But both Shane and Jamie have probably got more outright speed,” says Dane.

CAMARO CELBRATION 50 YEARS AFTER BOB’S FIGHTING ‘71 ATCC WIN

MARK FOGARTY looks ahead to the revival of the Chev versus Ford Mustang rivalry FIFTY YEARS after V8 legend Bob Jane ended the Ford Mustang’s domination with his bright orange Chevrolet Camaro ZL-1, the bow tie bruiser is preparing for a comeback in Australian touring cars.

The Camaro is returning as General Motors’ Gen3 Supercars entry, due mid next season.

It will replace the Holden Commodore, stalwart of ATCC/Supercars since 1980.

Following Norm Beechey’s Holden Monaro breakthrough in 1970, ending five straight years of Mustang title success, Jane triumphed with his rule-evading seven-litre Camaro in 1971, clinching the title in a dramatic finale at Sydney’s Oran Park just over a half decade ago.

Jane ended the first Mustang era by repeating in ’72 despite his first-generation Camaro’s V8 being downsized to 5.7 litres, defeating Mustang loyalist Allan Moffat yet again.

The Camaro will return in Gen3 guise as the new Mustang’s arch-rival.

Prototypes of the new-look pony car racers will begin track testing in November.

Our com-gen image by Nick Moss Design shows how a Bob Jane tribute Gen3 Camaro could look.

It celebrates the last championship-winning Camaro and portends the coming Mustang versus Camaro revival.

Supercars’ Gen3 is designed to pit road-look Mustangs and Camaros for

Our com-gen rendering by Nick Moss Design represents a modern ‘Gen3’ interpretation of Bob Jane’s ‘71 ATCC winning Chevy Camaro Moss Design the first time in 50 years.

The Mustang returned in 2019, winning two straight Supercars crowns.

Triple Eight is developing the new-gen Camaro as DJR recasts the modern Mustang.

The Chevrolet Camaro was Mustang’s natural road car rival from 1967, Beechey and others tried to break Ian Geoghegan’s Mustang grip with the bow tie bruiser, but failed.

It took Beechey’s ‘Trans-Aus’ Monaro 350 in 1970 to end the Mustang’s supremacy.

Jane sent the Camaro out on a high with his ’71/72 double.

The Chev coupe returned in ’79 with Kevin Bartlett, the second-gen 5.7-litre blue monster threatening for the next few years.

But even KB and Channel 9 backing couldn’t break the Commodore/Falcon nexus, ending as a footnote in ATCC history.

Remembering Jane’s breakthrough, our Gen3 tribute to his tangerine machine reminds us how exciting the new versions will be.

Next year – or 2023 – Camaro is back.

Against a new Mustang, Gen3 will relive ATCC glory days.

It will be an old battle renewed for enthusiasts and a new fight for modern followers.

In the meantime, a Bob Jane-look Camaro reminds us of the 1971 ATCC, which had the most exciting finish ever in front of a huge crowd.

Turn to pages 34-37 for Mark Bisset’s in depth look into the fondly remembered 1971 Australian Touring Car Championship.

PERCAT STILL WANTS TO DELIVER RESULTS FOR BJR

By Paul Gover NICK PERCAT is not yet ready to talk about his Supercars future, even though the door closes at Brad Jones Racing after Bathurst.

There is widespread speculation about a move to Walkinshaw Andretti United, or perhaps the fourth car at Tickford Racing, but Percat is saying nothing.

Instead, he is focussing on the targets through to the end of 2021.

“For myself and Brad, and the crew of car 8, the goal was to be inside the top six in the championship. That’s still the objective,” Percat tells Auto Action.

“I’m sitting eighth at the moment and I think sixth is the dream. We go to two tracks, including Sydney Motorsport Park, where we were fast last year. I haven’t driven at Queensland Raceway for a while, but we’ll see about that one.

“I’d like to think we can come out swinging and get a few trophies.”

Percat, now 33 and with eight years in the main game, admits that things have become messy with BJR but that was not his intention.

He talks openly about his successes with the Albury squad, and his enjoyment of the family atmosphere, but says he knew that this year was

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make-or-break.

Looking ahead to the end of his career, he decided it was time to roll the dice on a team change.

“I’m looking to put myself up against the guys who run top five in the championship every year. For me, this whole thing was about putting myself up against those guys, to see where I fall,” says Percat.

“Then, when I come to the end of my career, I’ll know if I was good enough to run door-to-door with

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Shane van Gisbergen, Cam Waters and Anton de Pasquale. I want to know if I was good enough, or if I wasn’t.”

But it’s not just the results he craves.

Without mentioning either Tickford or WAU, and with no deal in place yet for 2022, he talks about the general challenge.

“There is room for self growth there. I want a team mate and a crew that pushes me,” he says.

The push to the end of this year is focussed on Bathurst, where he will pair with Dale Wood, and he wants to rebound from the power steering problem that took him and Thomas Randle out of the running last year on the warm-up lap.

“The big one for me is to have a strong result at Bathurst with BJR. I’d like to think we will be in the top five. I’ve qualified well up there for the last couple of years, so we just need some luck.

“The boys have re-developed all the steering after last year, so we won’t have a repeat of that.

“At the end of the year, I’d like to be in fifth or sixth in the championship. That would be a good result for me and repay the faith in the team.”

And beyond that?

“Nothing yet. I hope to have something I can talk about in mid-to-late October,” Percat says.

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SUPERCARS CHAMPIONSHIP driver Cameron Waters is expanding his Sprint Car racing operation for the 2021/22 speedway season, building a second car to increase his involvement. The Tickford Racing man is in the process of building a second Maxim chassis for the upcoming season, giving his team more flexibility to enter more events than previously.

Waters has been competing for Sprint Car team Chief Racing between Supercars events, contesting nine so far in 2021. JN

MOTORSPORT AUSTRALIA has announced that the Australian Rally Championship rounds scheduled for Adelaide and Coffs Coast have been cancelled. Ongoing COVID-related border restrictions have derailed the rounds, scheduled for October 22-24 and November 26-28. The state components of the events have also been abandoned. A new event in December is now being finally, the date and location currently unknown. JN

TCR AUSTRALIA driver James Moffat has jumped behind the wheel of a Garry Rogers Motorsportprepared S5000 machine during testing at Winton Raceway this week. The two-time Supercars Championship race winner swapped his LMCT+ Renault Megane RS for a Rogers AF01/V8 after 15 years out of open wheel racers. This year the Victorian has been mentoring GRM driver Nathan Herne from pitlane, supporting him on the way to a sixth-place finish in the S5000 Australian Drivers’ Championship. JN

TCR AUSTRALIA privateer Michael Clemente has announced that he intends to remain in the turbocharged front-wheel-drive series for the long term.

The Victorian is contesting his debut season in the category, racing a former Wall Racing Honda Civic Type-R for his own Michael Clemente Motorsport outfit. Notably Clemente scored a season best fifth at the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit and sits 17th in the series. DM BRODIE KOSTECKI has taken the championship lead in Supercars Eseries after he won his second consecutive Supercars ESeries round at a virtual Monza Circuit. The Erebus Motorsport man was dominant in Italy, putting in a lights to flag performance.

Newly signed Grove Racing driver Matthew Payne finished second, ahead of two-time race winner Richie Stanaway. Cameron Waters is now second in the overall standings, ahead of Stanaway with two rounds remaining. JN

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GOLD COAST CANCELLED, HUB TO FINISH SUPERCARS SEASON SUPERCARS IS planning an AFL/ NRL-style hotel hub in southeast Queensland to ensure the season is completed after the Gold Coast 500 was cancelled.

This is the second year in a row that the popular seaside circuit will not host a round of the Supercars Championship.

Southern teams will instead quarantine in a Gold Coast ‘bubble’ for 14 days before racing resumes with back-to-back events at Queensland Raceway in early November.

All the teams would then move to NSW for another double-header at Sydney Motorsport Park before the Bathurst 1000, which is to be rescheduled as the season finale at the start of December.

Supercars is understood to be negotiating with the Queensland government to allow team personnel and series staff from VIC and NSW to isolate in a hotel or resort on the Gold Coast for two weeks.

“They’re going to do a quarantine hotel for all the team and Supercars personnel from Victoria for 14 days,” a southern squad insider revealed. “That’s the smart way of doing it.

After completing quarantine, they would be free to join the QLD-based teams and Supercars officials to compete on consecutive weekends at QR. The deal is due to be finalised within days, along with the latest revision of the COVID-disrupted calendar for the final five events.

As outlined to the teams, all interstaters would isolate in a dedicated hotel that would be turned into a Supercars ‘bubble’.

They’d have freedom of movement within the facility rather than be restricted to their rooms, with access to dining areas, gym, swimming pool and other outside facilities

Image: Motorsport Images

The arrangement will be similar to the hotel/resort ‘bubbles’ employed by the NRL, which relocated its competition to QLD, and the AFL’s finals mini-hubs in Adelaide and Perth.

Finalisation of the Gold Coast hub is part of the delay in announcing the new schedule of events, which has been postponed at least twice since late last week.

COVID uncertainties have already claimed next month’s proposed returns to Winton and Phillip Island, plus the Gold Coast 500 in December.

Supercars is planning back-to-back events at QR and then SMP in November before the Bathurst 1000, delayed again to replace the GC500 on the December 4-5 weekend as the season-ender.

The Bathurst 1000 is set to be combined with ARG’s Bathurst International to create an almost week-long racing festival at Mount Panorama from

November 30-December 5.

ARG’s TCR, S5000, TCM and Trans Am will join Supercars’ full roster of main game, Super2, Porsche Carrera Cup and Toyota 86 Series, culminating in the 1000 km classic.

Supercars’ last-ditch effort to fulfill its contractual obligations to complete a 12-event season depend on lockdown restrictions being eased in NSW by mid-November and no deterioration in QLD. After the two-week quarantine from late October and 10 days in Ipswich, it is understood that all the teams will be allowed to enter NSW from QLD without isolating.

More problematic may be the teams’ returns home after the Bathurst 1000.

But they are all prepared to quarantine for two weeks – hopefully, at home rather than hotels – afterwards to ensure the season is completed.

Josh Nevett/Mark Fogarty

ANDRE SIGNS MULTI-YEAR DEAL WITH BJR BRAD JONES Racing has signed up the services of New Zealand driver Andre Heimgartner for the 2022 Supercars Championship season and beyond.

The 26-year-old Kiwi has raced in Supercars for several seasons, notably breaking through to take his maiden championship victory at The Bend Motorsport Park in South Australia earlier this year.

Heimgartner has been with Kelly Racing, renamed as Kelly Grove Racing since 2018, however for 2022 will make the move to the Albury based BJR outfit.

The two parties have previous history, with Heimgartner getting an enduro gig with the team in 2017 where he scored a famous podium finish with Tim Slade.

“I’m extremely excited to announce my new long-term signing with BJR,” Heimgartner confirmed.

“BJR was a big part of my resurgence back onto the Supercars scene, with a last-minute call up to replace the injured Ash Walsh in 2017 that resulted in a podium at the Gold Coast 600 with Tim Slade.

“To be joining such a legendary team with such great people, is an amazing opportunity and challenge I am

really looking forward to.

“I can’t wait for the years ahead and much more success to come.”

To this point in his Supercars career Heimgartner has notched up 171 Supercars Championship race starts, five podium finishes (including the race win at The Bend) and two pole positions.

Team owner and founder of BJR, Brad Jones is delighted to have signed up Heimgartner.

“Andre is a familiar face with the BJR team and I’m extremely excited to have him on board, full-time, for the 2022 season and beyond,” Jones said.

“I’ve watched him develop over the last few years and see a lot of potential in him.

“I think he’ll fit right in with our team and partners. I feel like we’ll be in a good position to fight for wins and podiums moving forward.”

After Auto Action broke the news, Nick Percat has officially announced he will depart BJR at the end of the season.

AA understands that Percat is pursuing the second seat at Walkinshaw Andretti United.

SIX DAY BATHURST FESTIVAL MT PANORAMA ENDS 2021 SUPERCARS CHAMPIONSHIP IT’S OFFICIAL the Bathurst 1000 will run as a six-day event, featuring 10 of the most popular categories in the Australian motorsport landscape from Tuesday, November 30 – Sunday, December 5.

Supercars has confirmed the Bathurst 1000, like it did last year, will act as the finale of the 2021 championship after it was announced the Gold Coast 500 had to be cancelled for a second straight year.

The ARG run Bathurst International originally scheduled from November 26-28 has been cancelled as all categories from that event join the support bill of the Bathurst 1000 a week later.

The 1000 will see Supercars and Australian Racing Group categories come together and race at Mount Panorama on the same program for the very first time, in what will be one of the biggest motorsport events the country has ever seen.

The Bathurst event is set to be a spectacle with 10 high quality categories racing over the six days.

The lead category will be the Supercars Championship finale, the Bathurst 1000.

Its regular support categories, the second tier Super2 Series, one-make Porsche Carrera Cup, the popular Toyota Gazoo Racing 86 Series and V8 Superutes will all feature.

Five ARG categories will also be at the event, the pocket rocket TCR Australia Series, the S5000 open-wheel monsters, the National Trans Am Series, the ever-popular retro Touring Car Casters and modern GT World Challenge Australia categories.

Image: Motorsport Images Supercars CEO, Sean Seamer is thankful that this event has come to fruition and thinks it will be great for motorsport fans around the nation.

“I would like to thank the Bathurst Mayor Ian North, Rob Cameron at Repco and John McMellan at ARG for their collaboration over the past few weeks to put together what might be known as the best ever Repco Bathurst 1000,” Seamer said.

“It’s been a tough year for motorsport fans but we’re confident this is the recipe for the best possible end to the 2021 season.”

ARG Chairman John McMellan is happy that everyone has come together to achieve this common goal in such tough times.

“It is very pleasing when everyone has the same goal which was to make the sport the priority and work collaboratively to deliver something special,” McMellan said.

“We need to acknowledge the role that all of our respective sponsors

T8 DRIVER CHOICE

By Paul Gover

CHAZ MOSTERT and Earl Bamber headline the list of high-profile candidates who were considered to replace Jamie Whincup at Red Bull Ampol Racing.

The Bathurst champion and Le Mans winner were both identified by Roland Dane when he began the search in 2019.

But they were not alone, as the Triple Eight Engineering boss cast a wide net before focussing on Broc Feeney for the future.

Speaking exclusively to Auto Action about the background to Feeney’s promotion from Super2 to the Supercars ‘main game’, Dane reveals that finding the right replacement for Whincup took more than two years.

“We looked at a number of drivers, not necessarily in the past year, but over the last couple of years, to see where they were at,” says Dane.

“We certainly thought about who else was out there. And considered people who were active at the moment.

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“Anton De Pasquale. Todd Hazelwood.

Chaz, of course. Nick Percat.”

But the talent search did not stop in Supercars, or in Australia.

“We also had to consider whether it would be the right thing to do to try and entice somebody who was overseas. Like an Earl Bamber or a Matt Campbell.

“But, in the end, we didn’t talk to either of them.”

Typically, Dane is not giving up much detail on the drivers and is not discussing

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played in assisting to make this happen which is reflective of their passion for the sport.

“This event will be a great opportunity to grab the family, go camping in the fresh rural air of Bathurst whilst being entertained by a truly dynamic range of motorsport.”

Supercars and ARG have said they will be working closely with NSW health authorities around COVID-safe measures and Public Health Order requirements to ensure the safety of all staff and patrons at the event.

The reason for the date change is to ensure that more people can attend the event, as it is very likely that New South Wales will have hit its 80 per cent double vaccine target.

“We are all eager to get back to enjoying incredible sports events across NSW, which is why it’s so important that our community keeps pushing forward with our outstanding vaccination effort,” said NSW Minister for Jobs, Investment, Tourism and

Western Sydney Stuart Ayres.

“Motorsport has a spiritual home in Bathurst and there’s no doubt that fans love to watch racing unfold at Mount Panorama, be it in person or on the national broadcast.”

Supercars and Ticketek will provide ticketing information to current ticket holders over the coming days.

The 2021 Great Race weekend takes place when the Gold Coast 500 was originally scheduled.

Supercars are currently in discussions with various stakeholders on the four other events that are due to feature on the calendar prior to the Bathurst 1000 which AA understands to be a Queensland Raceway doubleheader followed by two events at Sydney Motorsport Park.

Anyone who purchased a ticket or campsite to the Bathurst International will receive a full refund, which will be processed by event ticketing providers within the next 14 days.

Dan McCarthy

the strengths or weaknesses of potential candidates.

But he is clear on the direction that led to Feeney.

“Just, for a variety of reasons, we felt that timing was right to take a different direction from that of just taking on somebody who was already established, at whatever level,” he says.

“And wanting to, in some way, follow the same sort of path as we had with Jamie in 2006 when he joined us.”

Dane says he sees the same sort of potential in Feeney that he identified in Whincup, who he picked up when he was shopping for a team-mate for Craig Lowndes at T8 and Whincup was nearly on the Supercars scrap heap after a tough time with Garry Rogers Motorsport.

He picked up the signals when Feeney, who is well connected with the motorsport heavyweights on the Gold Coast - including Paul and Terry Morris, as well as Mick Doohan - showed the same sort of speed and commitment his father Paul had used to become a factory Kawasaki superbike racer in the 1980s.

“He is fast,” Dane says bluntly.

“I see him having the potential to be a top-line supercars driver. What happens after that remains to be seen.”

He then provides a little extra detail on the grooming of Feeney.

“We started to really consider him hard at the back end of last year. And then worked to see how he fitted in around us. And see how he fitted into the team.”

Dane admits that he was the one who chose Feeney, even though he will be racing for T8 beyond his retirement and under a new management structure from 2022.

“I put it to the other shareholders as my desire. And they all agreed. If they wanted to do something else they could have.”

Like all young drivers, Feeney has had financial backers on his rise - led by his father, a successful Gold Coast businessman - but Dane says his promotion has nothing to do with bringing money to the team.

“I think the commercial arrangements around him are all are for us, not anyone else. The fact is he will be paid next year and he’s a professional motor racing driver.”

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LATEST NEWS

RYAN HUNTER-REAY will not return to Andretti Autosport in 2022, leaving the IndyCar Series team after a partnership that has spanned over 12 seasons. No announcement was made about Hunter-Reay’s replacement in the #28 Honda but it is considered highly likely that former Formula 1 and current Rick Ware Racing/Dale Coyne Racing driver Romain Grosjean will take the seat. JN

NASCAR HAS shifted its 2022 pre-season opener from the traditional Daytona International Speedway venue to Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. The season-opening Clash exhibition race will be contested around a quarter-mile asphalt oval that will be built around the facility’s football field. It will also mark the debut of the Next Gen machines, at the February 6 non-points event. Daytona has hosted the opening event since its inception in 1979. JN

FOR THE second season in a row, Italy will host the World Rally Championship finale. The asphalt-based Rally Monza is scheduled from November 19-21, based at the Monza race circuit near Milan. Rally Monza will be the 12th and final round after a schedule restructuring induced by COVID-19. The event replaces Rally Japan, which was cancelled due to the continued effects of the pandemic. JN

TEEMU SUNINEN will drive a Hyundai Motorsport WRC2 entry at October’s World Rally Championship round in Spain. Suninen will join WRC2 regular Jari Huttunen, while Oliver Solberg will also represent the Korean brand in a WRC car at the October 14-17 event. Before Rally Spain, Suninen will appear at his home Rally Finland round from October 1-3 in a Volkswagen Polo. The Finn made headlines last month when he split with team M-Sport. JN

LUCAS DI Grassi has been unveiled as a Venturi Racing driver for the 2022 Formula E season.

Di Grassi will partner 2021 runner-up Edoardo Mortara, after his former team Audi quit the category. The 2016-17 title winner’s signing spells uncertainty for Norman Nato, the 2021 Venturi rookie driver, who is now out of a seat.

JN BRITISH AUTOMOTIVE brand Lotus has revealed a competition-spec GT4 version of its new Emira sports car. Lotus plans to produce a limited number of Emira GT4 race cars for the 2022 season. The development was carried out in collaboration with project partner RML Group, replacing the outgoing Evora GT4. Composite bodywork and Toyota’s 3.5-litre V6 engine form the foundations of the Emira GT4, along with improved GT4 aerodynamics. JN

10 AutoAction

RUSSELL CONFIRMED AS MERC F1 DRIVER AFTER MONTHS of speculation the Mercedes AMG Formula 1 team has announced rising-star George Russell as its second driver for the 2022 Formula 1 Championship alongside reigning champion Lewis Hamilton.

Mercedes junior Russell’s promotion to the team has seen Finish driver Valtteri Bottas move to the mid-field team Alfa Romeo team on a multi-year deal, replacing the retiring Kimi Raikkonen.

Bottas has won nine grand prix with Mercedes since he was recruited in 2017, however for 2022 the German manufacturer elected for youth over experience, hiring the services of the 23-year-old.

Russell, contesting his third F1 season with Williams Grand Prix Engineering, notably scored his maiden Formula 1 podium at this year’s unique Belgian Grand Prix.

Russell is a former Formula 2 and GP3 Series winner and Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff felt it was time to give the Englishman his break.

“We are very happy to confirm that George will have the opportunity to take the next step in his career and join Mercedes,” said Wolff.

“Now, it is our challenge together to help him continue learning within our environment and alongside Lewis, the greatest F1 driver of all time.

“I am confident that as their relationship grows, they will form a strong team and deliver for Mercedes on and off the track in the years to come.”

Russell was incredibly happy to sign as a full-time Mercedes driver, after making a one-off appearance for the team last

year in which he led most of the Sakhir Grand Prix, when he replaced COVID-19 infected Lewis Hamilton.

“It’s a special day for me personally and professionally, but also a day of mixed emotions,” said Russell.

“I’m excited and humbled to be joining Mercedes next year, which is a huge career step, but it also means I’ll be saying goodbye to my teammates and friends at Williams.

“It has been an honour working alongside every member of the team, and an honour to represent the Williams name in F1.

“Looking ahead to next season, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t absolutely buzzing

“It’s a huge opportunity and one I want to grab with both hands. But I’m under no illusions as to the scale of the challenge; it’s going to be a steep learning curve.

“Valtteri has set a high bar, consistently delivering week in and week out, scoring wins, pole positions and helping win multiple championship titles.

“My target must be to reward the trust that Toto, the team, and the board have placed in me by ensuring I play my part in continuing that success and I want to do my new team-mates proud.

“A huge thank you to Williams, to Mercedes and to everyone who has supported me in getting to where I am today. I couldn’t have done it without every single one of you.”

Bottas is happy to have locked a multi-year contract for the first time in his F1 career and is looking forward to the stability.

“A new chapter in my racing career is opening,” Bottas said. “I’m excited to join Alfa Romeo Racing for 2022 and beyond for what is going to be a new challenge with an iconic manufacturer.

“Alfa Romeo is a brand that needs no introduction, they have written some great pages of Formula 1 history and it’s going to be an honour to represent this marque.

“The potential of the setup in Hinwil is clear and I am relishing the opportunity to help lead the team forward up the grid, especially with the new regulations in 2022 giving the team a chance to make a leap in performance.

“I’m grateful for the trust the team has put in me and I cannot wait to repay their faith.” Dan McCarthy

GROSJEAN: INDYCAR IS THE ANSWER

GRAND PRIX refugee Romain Grosjean says youngsters should be aiming for IndyCar instead of Formula 1 if they want a shot at winning at the top of motor sport.

After a racy run to third place at Laguna Seca, in the second-last race of the 2021 IndyCar season, he says he is having far more fun than he did during his nine years of F1 with Lotus and Haas.

“I understand a lot of kids want to make it to Formula 1. If it’s to be at the back of the grid every weekend, I think you’re better here,” Grosjean says.

“I was one of the 20 lucky guys in the world to make it to Formula 1, had an incredible career. Yes, the last few years were a bit tough and frustrating.

I knew I knew how to drive but I couldn’t show anything.”

The Frenchman says he has been

re-invigorated by IndyCar. “Definitely coming somewhere where you can fight at the front, you have an engineer telling you, ‘You are the fastest car on track, you’re P1’, fighting for podiums, it’s definitely a revival.”

He talks of falling in love with IndyCar, even if he has avoided the danger of ovals during his rookie season.

“The ability to enjoy every single lap that we do, enjoy the fact that you can be competitive in any team. The atmosphere in the paddock, obviously with the support of the fans, been just the whole package that I’ve enjoyed a lot.

“It’s the freedom of driving the car the way you like to drive it. You don’t need to look after charging mode, push mode, tyre temperature, tyre window, so on and so on and so on.

“You just go in the car, leave the pit lane, then you push every single lap.

You play a bit with your bars. But as I said, you push, push, push, come in, pit, new tyres.”

Grosjean was emotional as he thanked fans for their reception at Laguna.

“It’s just been incredible. As I say, I had a podium, when I got the ovation - is that the word in English? - I almost cried, and I don’t cry very often. It’s been more than anything I could imagine,” he says.

“Without the fans, we wouldn’t be racing. Without the fans, there wouldn’t be any TV viewership. If there’s no viewership, there’s no sponsor. If there’s no sponsor, there’s no job.

“They are a very important part of what we do. But what they give me back is just incredible.” Paul Gover

SOUTH AUSTRALIANS PAYING FOR ADELAIDE 500 AXING money,” Malinauskas continued.

SOUTH AUSTRALIANS are paying “Stephen Marshall admitted today for the cancelation of the Adelaide that he has compensated Supercars for 500 it has been revealed by the cancelling the Adelaide 500, but he’s enraged Labor opposition leader refusing to tell South Australians just Peter Malinauskas after the SA budget how much. estimates were revealed.

“So, not only had he decided to Late last year, the South Australian cancel the Adelaide 500, which is a Liberal leader, Premier Steven Marshall cost to tourism, which costs jobs in our made the shock announcement that state, which has cost us a place on the they had decided to axe the Adelaide national sporting map ...”

500 effective immediately.

There are also some reports that However, in recent days it has come thousands of dollars’ worth of Adelaide to light that Adelaide taxpayers are 500 merchandise has also gone essentially paying out the Supercars missing. contract, which came to an early end.

“The question is what’s happened to “One of the things that’s most that merchandise? Malinauskas said. “I Supercars, to cancel the Adelaide 500 What Marshall didn’t reveal in his concerning that’s coming out of sincerely hope that it hasn’t just been budget estimates was how much is estimates today of course is that we’ve – the cost of cancelling that contract being paid, however again Malinauskas destroyed or thrown in the bin. has now been borne by taxpayers. been able to confirm that Steven “That merchandise has a value, there “Taxpayer’s dollars being used to pay elaborated saying he understands Marshall has used taxpayer’s dollars to Images: Motorsport Images are a lot of Adelaide 500 fans out there that Marshall is also making taxpayers pay Supercars a fee for not having the Supercars for an Adelaide 500 event that would like to get their hands on event here in our state,” Malinauskas we’re not even holding. That seems like pay off other parties that relied on the such material. revealed. a real waste of money. event.

“I really hope that Steven Marshall “There’s also the prospect he’s had “The cost of cancelling the Adelaide “It was a crazy decision by Steven hasn’t dumped it for his own political to compensate other service providers 500 is now being borne by the South Marshall to cancel the Adelaide 500 purposes, just as he sold off the Australian taxpayer.

– it’s even more crazy that he’s now that were locked into contracts for the WITH THE Haas F1 team set to a pretty bleak picture on getting His plan is to get all teams to run delivery of the Adelaide 500 services, infrastructure.

“To put it simply, Steven Marshall paying for that event, even though retain its two drivers for 2022, only that seat, so I don’t think it’s mine rookie drivers in a select number we’re not even hosting it ...” this is just a total waste of taxpayers’ Dan McCarthy decided to break a contract with one drive remains vacant, the for the taking, unfortunately.” of practice sessions in 2022, second Alfa Romeo Racing seat A disappointed Piastri however “They’ll need to run a young alongside Valtteri Bottas. explained that jumping into an driver on Friday, every team, a Reigning FIA Formula 3 Alfa is certainly not the normal certain number of occasion each champion and FIA Formula 2 route into F1 for an Alpine junior year,” Brawn said. “We’re being OSCAR RE-DISCOVERS ONE LAP PACE championship leader, Australian like himself or Zhou. very careful about how we define Struggling Tickford driver planned session with driver coach Oscar Piastri, is one of many “Being with Alpine obviously a rookie to make sure.”

VICTORY IN the Monza “I think this year, we’ve people linked to the seat but there is no engine link to As an Alpine Accademy driver Feature race saw Oscar definitely gotten on top Waters’ wingmen, Le Brocq runs A PLAN to exploit the long gap in the how much truth is there to the Alfa (which runs with Ferrari this is very positive news for Piastri extend his F2 of it. calendar created by COVID and fly Jack 18th in the championship with a 15.3 speculation? power units) so it’s not a very Piastri.

Championship lead to “If we took the qualifying qualifying average and 14.4 finishing Le Brocq to the UK for a refresher with There are many drivers in conventional path to getting that “I certainly hope (to take part 15 points, with three averages across the field, average. guru driving coach Rob Wilson has contention for the F1 seat in seat and (could be) potentially in several sessions next year), I rounds and nine races we would have the best Le Brocq first visited New Zealander been foiled by COVID. 2022 including current driver quite messy on that side of things. don’t really know what the plan is remaining. average by quite a bit. It’s Wilson for tuition in 2018 ahead of Tickford Racing was able to get the Antonio Giovinazzi, Formula “So yeah, I would be very for next year,” Piastri confessed Although he won the been refreshing to sort of his first full-time season with Tekno Truck Assist Ford Mustang pilot onto 2 Championship front-runner pleasantly surprised if it’s me, but, to AA. Formula 3 Championship be qualifying back up at Autosport. He went back in the 2019a flight to the UK, but getting him Guanyu Zhou, and F2 debutant I’m certainly not banking on it.”

“It still sort of somewhat last year, Piastri did the front.

20 off-season ahead of his debut with home before the resumption of the Theo Pourchaire.

Despite being an Alpine driver, depends how the rest of this not score a single pole “Even last year most of to doing anything to improve his He also revealed Le Brocq could Tickford. championship at Winton on October Piastri’s name has also been Zhou is reportedly throwing year goes, but that’s an exciting position. the time we were there or performance.He’s not happy where he Tickford Racing boss Tim Edwards attend some sessions with a sports 02-03 could not be guaranteed. thrown in the ring, however the everything at Alfa Romeo to get prospect and it’s good to see However, in the last two thereabouts but never on is. Sometimes it’s qualifying, sometimes psychiatrist, something many topThe Tickford brains trust and Le confirmed the Le Brocq-Wilson plan: Australian himself admits that the seat.

F1 take that initiative and getting rounds Piastri has gained the front row, so it’s nice it’s braking, sometimes it’s starts, it’s line drivers already include in their “We actually toyed with it but we have Brocq agreed on the trip as they seek a move into F1 is unlikely for While Pourchaire is a Sauber the younger guys, some more eight points by scoring to be back at the front. not one thing.” preparation. been unable to get him back. to boost his results in the Supercars 2022 as he has had no formal Academy driver, at the age of running, hopefully, if they go two consecutive pole “In Formula Renault While Le Brocq politely declined What may help Le Brocq stay onboard championship.

“We can get him to the UK, we just conversations with Alfa Romeo. just 18, the question is will the F2 through with it. positions.

(2019) I was pretty good at Tickford is its expansion out to four to be interviewed about his form can’t get him home. The earliest For Le Brocq it’s also a fight for his “I would be extremely surprised front-runner be ready for F1?

“Obviously, it depends what Piastri is happy that he in qualifying, that year we cars for 2022. and future at the recent Townsville flight we can get him back is end of driving future, as he is out of contract if it’s me that ends up in the seat,” Although it is unlikely that Piastri happens with Zhou and whether and the team have found had five or six poles. It’s Waters is staying, Courtney would like September and that is probably running SuperSprint, Edwards said he was with Tickford at the end of this season.

Piastri told Auto Action. will be on the F1 grid next year, he stays or leaves to Alfa. I don’t his qualifying mojo as it refreshing to get back to to stay and the team is waiting to hear the gauntlet for Winton.” fully engaged internally in sorting the In his second year full-time with the “I haven’t personally been in any it is expected that the Victorian know what his situation is, but I’d makes life in the Feature being a good qualifier, I from his backer Boost on that. Highlyissues he was experiencing.

Edwards said a whole range of other squad and fourth full-time year in discussions and there’s not been will take part in several practice like to think I’m the first on the list race a lot simpler. always knew that I could rated rookie Thomas Randle will be “Jack’s not shying away from it I can measures were now being considered Supercars overall, the 29-year old from any discussions that I know of. sessions as F1 motorsport to get those practice sessions, “Qualifying was do it, it was just a while domestically during the break before tell you. He might not want to be talking added to the line-up.

Melbourne is not delivering the results “I think at this point, if that’s the director Ross Brawn explained which would be very cool!” certainly my weakness between poles.” about it publicly because it is difficult That leaves Le Brocq five events to Tickford expected.

Winton, including local driver training situation we’re in, it sort of paints leading into Monza.

Dan McCarthy last year,” he told AA. Dan McCarthy subject to talk about, but he is receptive impress and keep his seat. BN coaches.

Rather than being team leader Cam

PIASTRI UNLIKELY TO GET ALFA F1 SEAT LE BROCQ UK DASH FOILED

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BAYLEY HALL has confirmed he will step up to Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia in 2022 and be the first to commit to the new Porsche 911 GT3 Cup (Type 992). The McElrea Racing driver who scored a podium on debut in the Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge at the start of the year will graduate to the top tier of Porsche competition in Australia next season. RV

FORMER AUSTRALIAN Karting Champion Lochie Dalton will enter the National Trans Am Series in 2022 as part of an expanded Garry Rogers Motorsport operation. Dalton’s credentials are highlighted by the 2018 Australian KA1 Karting Championship, which he won ahead of recently announced Triple Eight Race Engineering Supercars Championship driver Broc Feeney. After previously testing fellow Tasmanian Tim Shaw’s Chevrolet Camaro, Dalton will join National Trans Am next year in a GRM Ford Mustang, mentored by Marcos Ambrose. JN

PAYNE WILL REQUIRE SUPERLICENCE DISPENSATION RECENTLY SIGNED Grove Junior driver Matthew Payne will require Superlicence dispensation to line-up on the Supercars Championship grid next year.

The young New Zealander has been thrust into the spotlight in recent weeks, as the hot favourite to take Andre Heimgartner’s seat in the #7 Grove Racing Mustang in 2021.

However, the up and comer has not completed the allocated criteria to warrant an automatic Superlicence approval and will therefore has to apply for dispensation.

Currently, to race in the Supercars Championship Motorsport Australia requires any driver to hold a minimum FIA International Grade C licence, be a minimum of 17 years of age and accumulate a minimum of 13 points through the Motorsport Australia Superlicence point system over a fiveyear period.

Since graduating from karting midway through 2020, Payne stepped into the highly regarded open-wheel Toyota Racing Series in New Zealand.

He emphatically won the championship, earning himself 10 Superlicence points, taking five race wins, and not failing to finish off the podium in any race.

Since then, he has moved down under, racing for Earl Bamber Motorsport in the Australian Carrera Cup Series.

Despite taking pole position in two of the three rounds and a race victory in Townsville, bad luck and incidents have robbed him of many solid results.

Payne sits 12th in the series, but would need to finish at least seventh to secure the three Superlicence points in order to reach the minimum 13 required.

With the speed he has shown, and if a couple more rounds run as planned, Payne is likely to make it into the top seven of the series, however he has clearly not met the other part of the Superlicence endorsement criteria.

According to the 2021 Superlicence Application form, Payne must have achieved at least one of the following: i. Be one of the first six (6) of the final classification of the previous year’s Supercars Australia Super2 Series.

If one (1) or more Driver/s currently holding a Motorsport Australia Superlicence are within the first six of the final classification, eligibility for a Motorsport Australia Superlicence shall extend up to a maximum of the first eight (8) of the final classification of the previous year’s Series; or

ii. Have competed in a minimum of 3 rounds of the Supercars Championship within the last 5 years or; iii. Have competed in a minimum of 6 rounds of the Supercars Super2 Series within the last 3 years or; iv. Hold a minimum of a Gold FIA Driver Categorisation Payne has not achieved any of these four points.

AA has heard from multiple sources that the team intends to run him in the remaining scheduled Super2 Series rounds.

However, with a maximum of three Super2 rounds remaining it appears very unlikely that Payne will have achieved any of these four points before the 2022 Supercars Championship commences, and therefore will be required to go through the dispensation process.

There are also reports that at least one Supercars Daniel team Kalisz is against Payne being given a Superlicence dispensation for the 2022 season, due to his lack of car racing experience.

Dan McCarthy

HANSON TO RACE NEW AUDI TCR IN 2022 TOYOTA GAZOO Racing New Zealand has confirmed a prize pool topping $175,000 for the upcoming NZ Toyota 86 Championship.

The fund is the largest in New Zealand motor sport history, including a Supercar test with Triple Eight Race Engineering provided by the Tony Quinn Foundation and two drives in the Toyota 86 race at the Bathurst 1000 in 2022. In addition, a further $75,000 will be distributed among the top five finishers in the championship. JN

AIDAN READ finished 14th in the LMP3 class as part of a three-driver European Le Mans Series team at Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps.

Competing for Inter Europol Competition, Read teamed up Martin Hippe and Ugo De Wilde in the #13 Ligier JS P320, contributing to a 32nd overall result. Having raced in the Asian Le Mans Series in both LMP2 and LMP3 classes, Read had not competed at the iconic Belgian venue before the recent event. JN THE FORMULA Ford Festival at Winton Motor Raceway and Victorian State Championship round at Phillip Island have both been abandoned for 2021. This has made Round 7 at The Bend Motorsport Park the next and final scheduled round for 2021. Round 5 was scheduled from September 24-26 at Phillip Island. JN

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NEXT YEAR Audi’s new WTCR race winning machine, the latest RS3 LMS TCR, will be driven by youngster Jay Hanson in the national TCR Australia Series.

Audi Sport’s Martorell factory in Spain has opened up to global customer orders, with Australian TCR outfit Melbourne Performance Centre already securing one of the machines.

The new RS3 LMS TCR is the latest evolution of the frontrunning machine currently raced

by Chaz Mostert and Luke King in this year’s TCR Australia Series, with the pair placing first and second in the standings.

The RS3 LMS TCR is Audi Sport’s most produced TCR car, with more than 180 built since 2016.

In that time, it has won over 300 races globally, including seven in TCR Australia – five for Chaz Mostert in 2021, and one apiece for Garth Tander and Frenchman Jean Karl Vernay in 2019.

The new RS3 has already taken two victories in WTCR, the world TCR series, this has got Hanson excited to see what he can achieve in the latest spec machine.

“I’m just keen to see what they can do with that little beast,” Hanson said.

“We’ve been committed (to TCR) for a couple of years, but in 2022 we’re ready to give it a red hot crack and see what we can do.

“We have some goals set.

We’ll need to see how we go with the team and then we’ll work forward from there.

“I mean, we were nearly on the podium this year, so that will be my main goal to start off with.

“Hopefully we can start the year off well, be consistent at the top end and see where we end in the later stages of the year.

“I’m aiming to get as many miles as I can so I’ll be in full

swing for when the season commences.”

Hanson started the year with Ash Seward Motorsport in an Alfa Romeo, however elected to depart the team to join MPC. The 18-year-old will contest the remainder of the season in his Alfa Romeo, before stepping into the new Audi in 2022.

“I’ve always liked the look of the Audi, I think it’s a tough, clean looking car,” he said.

“Hopefully it goes as well as it looks.

“For Melbourne Performance Centre to have its hands on another Audi is going to work great for the team and myself.

“They know those cars inside out and back-to-front due to working with Audi Sport

products for many years.

“It (TCR) is just going to keep on growing as a category, with all these new cars including the Audi and Hyundai now available, I think it’s just going to keep on rising.”

The Audi Sport factory has improved the new model in several areas with tunability being a focus of the new model, providing high variability and quick adjustments.

As well as this, the interior ergonomics have been altered by grouping buttons on the steering and to the right of the driver so they are easier to access, while safety was further enhanced by Audi Sport’s own six-point fixation Protection Seat.

Dan McCarthy

Image: Motorsport Images

with Oscar Piastri

BATHURST IN DECEMBER

By PAUL GOVER BACKING BATHURST into December means The Great Race could be the hottest on record.

The heat at Mount Panorama has nothing to do with competition and everything to do with the weather at the NSW country town.

The temperature could easily roll past 30 degrees for the whole day, presenting a new set of challenges for drivers.

If it is truly hot, and Bathurst can easily hit 40 in early December, it might even bring an end to the triple-stint tactics of recent years in the closing laps of the race.

“I think it will be about the triple stint on the run home. We’ll see who’s got the biggest balls,” Will Brown, the pacy young rookie at Erebus, tells Auto Action.

“But I don’t think it will be too much of a drama. At Bathurst you get a few breaks around the track. So long as we’re fit and ready it should be fine.”

Roland Dane, the master tactician at Red Bull Ampol Racing, already has eight Peter Brock trophies in his collection and is not expecting any additional complication at Bathurst in 2021.

“The race will almost certainly run later in the day. So that could negate the heat,” Dane says.

“I would have thought that, if you’ve got a window, you would run later. Any broadcast company is going to allow Bathurst to run later in the day.”

Addressing the temperature, Dane is not expecting any dramas with his drivers.

“The pace might be a bit slower than October because it’s hotter. But we ran in February this year and they were still 250-kilometre races and

PITLANE TRAUMA FOR SCOTT MCLAUGHLIN

Image: Motorsport Images

PROMISING SPEED has been stymied by pitlane trauma in Scott McLaughlin’s penultimate 2021 IndyCar race.

McLaughlin qualified only 16th at Laguna Seca despite being fastest in free practice 2 and then finished 12th in his Penske Racing Dallara-Chev despite rising at least as high as seventh in the race.

The 95-lapper was won by a dominant Colton Herta in his Andretti Autosport Dallara-Honda, while Ganassi Racing’s Alex Palou tightened his grip on the championship with a strong second place.

Frenchman Roman Grosjean’s third meant the fight for rookie of the year has narrowed, with McLaughlin now leading the Dale Coyne Racing driver by just 20 points ahead of next weekend’s Long Beach finale.

McLaughlin failed to translate his FP2 speed into qualifying because he mistakenly thought he’d been called into the pits rather than go for one more hot lap.

On Sunday he blew through his pit box at his final stop and dropped positions because of it.

“Overall for me and the broad scheme of things this is probably a real good character-

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it was hotter.”

Multiple race winner Garth Tander says he is already ramping-up his fitness ahead of returning to defend his Bathurst crown alongside Shane van Gisbergen at The Bulls.

“There is a chance for it to be quite a lot more challenging, from a fitness point of view,” Tander tells Auto Action.

“I’ve been there a couple of times in late November when we’ve done Challenge Bathurst and it was very hot. So there is a chance for it to be quite a lot more challenging, from a fitness point of view.

“I’m working on my fitness. I’m training most days. It doesn’t really change that much, because as a co-driver you were preparing for it to be in October.

“You just keep ramping up the program through those extra two months.”

According to Tander, the challenge at Bathurst will be no worse than Darwin or Townsville for the main-game regulars and all the leading codrivers know what to expect.

“There is no science. It’s all about cardio, maintaining a high heart rate for a long period.

You just have to be as ready as you can be, physically.”

With cool suits now commonplace, Tander also says the physical challenge is easier than in the past.

“The cars are much better, even with venting and things. It’s not going to be an Adelaide type of deal, because it’s not that type of circuit.”

But he still sees that a triple-stint finish will be the pattern for all the leading contenders.

“If you want to win the race that’s how you’ve got to do it,” Tander says.

building weekend for me,” the triple Supercars champion explained.

“I passed probably the most cars I ever have, I gained like seven spots on the start and I was having a lot of fun and then a couple of strategy calls didn’t go our way.

“But then I made complete balls-up into the pits and slid through the box and cost us three or four spots.

“We were realistically eighth or ninth today and we finished 12th. Onwards and upwards.”

Overall, McLaughlin sits 13th on 286 points in the IndyCar drivers’ championship. Grosjean is 15th on 266 points.

The season’s other rookie, NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson, had his best finish of the season in 17th place. He is 28th on 95 points.

Bruce Newton

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WHEN THE guys at Auto Action came looking for this column a couple of weeks ago, I suggested hanging off with it until this issue as I thought we’d finally have something more to discuss.

The near two-month break from the last F2 round at Silverstone to Monza seemed like an eternity. I honestly didn’t think those still locked up at home wanted to read too much about me being able to catch the British MotoGP in the sunshine at Silverstone or sneak off to enjoy some summer sun in Croatia between races.

Thankfully, Monza turned out to be a good weekend with a second consecutive pole and a Feature Race win, along with two top 10 finishes and the fastest lap of the race in the Sprint Races, to help solidify and slightly extend our championship points lead.

After failing to convert pole into a win at Silverstone, it was important for my HP Tuners PREMA Racing team to tick a Sunday win off the list at PREMA’s home race, at the Temple of Speed, and we were able to do that with a fair amount of confidence.

I believe we were in control for most of the race, although the later race Safety Cars weren’t too kind to us, while the last restart provided a heart-in-mouth moment when I locked up the fronts into Turn 1.

That slight blemish gave my Alpine Academy team-mate Guanyu Zhou a chance to get alongside and challenge for the lead

heading towards the second chicane, but I was able to hold my line, keep Zhou out, and go on to win.

Standing on the top step of the podium and hearing the Australian national anthem is always satisfying, but it was even way cooler to do it at an incredible circuit like Monza and share the occasion with Daniel Ricciardo after his surprising F1 victory.

I had to ask my trainer, Kim Keedle, for Daniel’s phone number, and I texted him a couple of days later to congratulate him on his win; and it was great to hear back from him quickly and how excited he was about my win too, and our “Australia Day” at Monza.

Our next round is this weekend at Sochi in Russia, and it’s going to be a challenge as I haven’t raced there before, while most of my competition has, including my closest points rival Zhou.

PREMA had a strong result in Sochi last year with Mick Schumacher taking the Feature Race win and another podium, so the team has good information for me to prepare.

The weekend could be crucial in how our championship campaign ultimately plays out, so I must keep my head down and concentrate on what I can control, and if I can do that, I’m confident we’ll be competitive again.

Thanks to everyone for your kind messages and support, especially following Monza, it’s been sensational, and I do appreciate it!

Cheers, Oscar

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13

LATEST NEWS

TARGA ACTS ON REPORT TARGA AUSTRALIA has already begun to implement several of the 23 recommendations made in the Motorsport Australia Investigatory Tribunal Report released into Targa Tasmania.

The national governing body established the Tribunal consisting of chair Garry Connelly AM, Neal Bates and Matthew Selley, to investigate the tragic deaths of competitors Shane Navin, Leigh Mundy and Dennis Neagle during the event back in April.

Navin, 68, was killed when his 1979 Mazda RX-7 rolled on the Lyell Highway in Tasmania’s remote west.

The next day, Leigh Munday, 68, and Queenslander Dennis Neagle, 59, died after their 2019 Porsche 911 GT3 RS hit a tree near Cygnet.

The subsequent report, released to the public earlier this month, guaranteed that all safety-oriented recommendations made in the 61-page document would be implemented by March 1, 2022.

Seven of the 13 recommendations requiring Targa Australia’s response surrounding course design, top speeds and average speeds have already been implemented, included for the Targa Great Barrier Reef event earlier at the start of the month.

The 10 remaining recommendations are the responsibility of Motorsport Australia.

Motorsport Australia CEO Eugene Arocca confirmed that tarmac rally reform was already underway.

“I can say to you confidently that we’ve already seen seven changes that have

been incorporated into both target Great Barrier Reef and also Targa West,” Arocca said in a media conference including Auto Action.

“Now that the report has become public, and we’re able to action the recommendations, there will be some outstanding ones that we’ll need to implement before March 1.

“Michael Smith and his team are already putting together a Tarmac Rally Working Group to start implementing the 23 recommendations.”

Some of the central recommendations within the report were a tiered licencing system for competitors, ensuring car set ups are fit for purpose and the better use of technology and existing safety equipment.

Another key issue addressed within the report was speed and mechanisms to prevent tarmac rally entrants exceeding exceptionally hazardous speeds, more specifically 200km/h.

Arocca explained the methods in which this may be controlled in future events.

“The tribunal has taken some time to recommend the various methods by which that speed can be managed, including average speed, virtual chicanes, restricted time sections, and ultimately speed limiting if that was necessary,” Arocca said.

Targa Australia CEO Mark Perry believed only the outright competitors would take issue with the new speed managing regulations.

“It’ll be a very small percentage and it will be the outright cars,” Perry said in a

media conference.

“Our business has been changing dramatically in the last 10 years, a lot of people are now just enjoying the event from the touring perspective.

“The speed changes will have an impact on a very small percentage of the front running cars.”

The suggestion that participation in Targa events may dwindle in the aftermath of this year’s fatalities was quashed by Perry.

“The reality is, enquiries for Targa are actually up,” Perry said.

“Targa Great Barrier Reef, which because of COVID could only run a Queensland field, had 83 entrants last year and 125 this year.

“Some type of notoriety actually draws people to things, as well as causing some to question whether they should stay in it.”

The next Targa event is Targa High Country, held from November 12-14 in Victoria.

Targa Tasmania is scheduled to host its 30th anniversary event in March 2022.

Josh Nevett

Image: Angryman Photography

AMRS OVER FOR 2021, BACK IN 2022 THE AUSTRALIAN Motor Racing Series (AMRS) will return in 2022, after organisers announced that the series has been cancelled for the remainder of 2021.

Events were scheduled for Winton, Wakefield Park and Tailem Bend to close out the year, but COVID-19 outbreaks in New South Wales and Victoria have rendered those events impossible to hold.

AMRS Series Manager Matt Baragwanath was equally disappointed in the unavoidable cancellations and appreciative of the support from categories and competitors.

“Our priority has always been to give our customers every chance of going racing – I can put my hand on my heart and honestly say we have explored every possible opportunity to enable our events to proceed,” Baragwanath said.

“Unfortunately, strict health orders have made it impossible to conduct events in Victoria or New South Wales, and border closures have prevented our competitors and management team from being able to travel interstate.

“It’s frustrating for the AMRS to have been so severely disrupted for the second year, but I am greatly appreciative of the categories that have continued to support us.

“I’d also like to thank the Benalla Auto Club committee for their continued support of AMRS and our shared values of value, respect,

14 AutoAction

engagement, fun and innovation.”

The AMRS managed to complete its first event at Sydney Motorsport Park in March, however COVID conditions have only worsened since then.

Frequent and extended lockdowns and border closures due to the pandemic forced series management to cancel the planned rounds at Morgan Park and Queensland Raceway.

Now organisers have turned their attention to planning a strong return for the series next year.

“Our core categories have all committed to AMRS

for the 2022 season and our preparations are in full swing,” Baragwanath said.

“I’m confident with State and Federal Governments committed to reopening the economy and supporting businesses, we can look forward to a much more ‘normal’ experience next year.”

Categories that generally feature in AMRS events include Super GT Australia, TA2 Muscle Cars, Formula Ford, and Excel Circuit Racing.

The 2022 AMRS calendar is yet to be announced.

Josh Nevett

REVISED SHANNONS PRAGA TO SCHEDULE RELEASED RACE GROUP2A

MOTORSPORT AUSTRALIA has announced a revised calendar for the Shannons FRESH OFF the announcement Motorsport Australia categories, that Praga will be distributing its highly successful R1 race car with two rounds scheduled. down under, Australia/New Zealand director The final rounds will take place Rick Campbell has revealed in November and December more details about the itmachine’s when is hoped category that manyeligibility and local demand. states will have hit the targeted Now thatdouble the ANZ branchrate of Praga’s global 80 per cent vaccine network has been confirmed, allowing them to open back up.the manufacturer aims to have its car entered in Australian racing The round in November by early 2022. will take place at the historic Campbell has said that the R1 will initially fit Sandown Raceway in Victoria into Motorsport Australia Group 2A category, from November 19-21. comprising of ‘Sports Cars, open and closed’.

Formerly two rounds were set “At this stage we’re looking at the Motorsport to be held at The Bend Motorsport Park in South Australia 2A category,” Campbell told Australia in October, now one round willAA. take “Hopefully, we’re hearing some noises place at the venue from December 10-12. that may eventually be a new prototype Atthere this point the categories racing at these category that will include LMP-type events have not been confirmed, but cars, will be obviously theannounced Radicals, andPragas. expected to be in the coming weeks and “But days.that’s a bit of a To Be Advised, more just noises we heard at thisbroadcast stage. details will Ticket information and As it stands at the moment the 2A category is also be revealed soon. where we’d sit.”

Motorsport Australia Director of Motorsport & The Praga R1 has performed in said its initial Commercial Operations Michael well Smith that stints in the UK, USA, and Europe, recording the changes were necessary in light of ongoing overrestrictions.

30 wins and podiums as well as winning travel the 2020 Endurance Championship.

“It’s been aBritcar difficult year for competitors, The design features a lightweight (643kg), venues, event organisers, officials and everyone composite monocoque powered by involved in trying to make these eventsa a272kW possifour-cylinder engine. bility,” Smith explained.

Campbell believed that demand for the R1 “For Motorsport Australia, we’ve made sure would come from both competitive racing to be agile and flexible and today’s calendar outfits and amateur enthusiasts. announcement is a prime example of that “We have an expectation and a hope and a ongoing work.

“While we’ve had to cancel one event, we’ve been able to lock away a further two events to allow the greatest opportunity for our categories to squeeze in as much racing as possible this year.

“Sandown will host the next round of the Shannons Motorsport Australia Championships in November, before we head to The Bend in December to finish off the year in style.

“Understandably, these events remain subject to ongoing travel restrictions, however the various government roadmaps provide plenty of hope that these events will be able to go ahead

drive and desire that this will not only become involved in competitions, but we also see a bigger market in terms of a track day warrior,” Campbell said.

“As long as people can get on track, we believe that the car will generate a significant amount of interest and take off from there.”

The Praga R1 is set to be offered for $400,000 on Australian shores and has generated strong interest beyond its initial two-car distribution.

“We would, based on our projections, expect that we can sell initially somewhere in the vicinity of eight to 10 cars,” Campbell in line with government restrictions inpredicted. each state.

“We are on the verge of signing an official “A huge thank you must go to the team at distribution agreement through a veryand flexiThe Bend for their ongoing support significant playerus currently in the Australian auto bility in allowing to put on an event at their market to represent us in different states as world-class venue, and likewise to the team well. at Sandown we are extremely grateful for their “A massive caveat around that is people’s continued assistance. access to the track this is a trackand only “We also thank ourbecause category managers car, not like a Porsche GT3 RS or something competitors for their understanding and flexithat you can track and road.” bility.

As for theimportant future, Campbell suggested that “It’s also to acknowledge our event Praga may look to expand their product range if sponsors for their continued backing over recent their on-track success continues. months and their dedication to supporting “Discussions have already been had,” motorsport.”

Campbell said. director of The Bend MotorThe managing “This is obviously their agreed flagshipwith product, sport Park Sam Shahin Smithsoand Iexplained would surmise it’s a case of walk before that in these uncertain times a you venue run. has to be flexible.

“Once that’s happened, we’ll besport looking “In a year of challenges, motor hastostill extend with additional products which will be managed to navigate a path to hold events, very much focused on the race car models and Motorsport Australia has been a most they offer.” Josh Nevett progressive, sensible and trustworthy partner throughout,” Shahin said.

“The Bend has continued to reach out to all motorsport bodies, state and national organisations, category owners, and at all levels, re-affirming our readiness to remain an integral part of the resumption of motorsport in Australia.

“We look forward to delivering more events in 2021 and to what also promises to be a sensational 2022.” DM Shannons Motorsport Australia Championships 2021 remaining events: 19-21 November – S andown Raceway 10-12 December – The Bend Motorsport Park

AND THE OTHER CALENDARS ...

WHEN AUTO Action went to print, it was understood that Australian Racing Group categories TCR Australia, S5000, Touring Car Masters and the National Trans Am Series were set to race at Sydney Motorsport Park prior to Bathurst.

It has been confirmed that TCR Australia, Trans Am, Touring Car Masters, S5000 and the GT World Challenge Australia Series will run at the Bathurst 1000 as part of a six-day motorsport extravaganza at The Mountain.

SMP is set to host two Supercars Championship rounds in coming months, and AA understands that and four Australian Racing Group categories are also expected to race at the venue.

The ARG categories are expected to visit Sydney Motorsport Park at

the same time as the Supercars Championship, however when AA was printed it was unknown if TCR, Trans Am and Touring Car Masters would run on the same program as Supercars or separately.

The ARG categories could run on the same program as Supercars as they will for the six-day Bathurst 1000 event or they could run separately.

AA has heard from multiple sources that ARG are open to running a mid-week event, or even in the morning or under lights in the evening, before or after the Supercars Fox Sports TV coverage.

TCR, Trans Am and TCM were expected to run a double header at The Bend Motorsport Park, however, may now run a double header at SMP.

AA sources report that ARG categories will not race at either of the two Shannons Nationals events.

It is understood that S5000 has a slot on one of the Supercars SMP rounds, running the first round of its revived Tasman Series which will conclude at Bathurst.

It remains to be seen whether the other ARG categories will feature on the Supercars program or run separately. AA has not heard GT World Challenge Australia in any conversations regarding a round at SMP. Supercars support categories, the Toyota Gazoo 86 Racing Series, Super2 and Super3 categories are expected to travel to SMP also, comtesting at least one of the two Supercars rounds. DM

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th Luke West iith wit

AA’s COLUMNIST columnist considers theRECENT importance of AA’S CONSIDERS SHOCK events at Le Mans NEWS, BOTH TALL TALES AND TRUE. LAST WEEKEND’S 24some Hoursstartling of Le Mans won’t go down as SPRING HAS sprung surprises upon motorthe one of the classics, has yet italready was a hugely significant event sport fans.

September delivered some real bolts nonetheless. from the blue, be they results, news or rumours.

The running the 24 Heures du Mansbecoming marked the Who89th could have of foreseen Dan Ricciardo thestart first of a newtoera French classic theevent Hypercar age.

There Aussie winfor thethe Italian Grand Prix,– an dating back to was also a game-changing regarding cars 1921?

The West Australian announcement achieved something at thethe famous which will contest classes from 2024. Jones and Monza circuit that the his GT forerunners Brabham, These were developments substantialcollective ramifications for Webber did not, despite theirwith considerable success. motorAllan sport’s premier and have raceswon globally, with a rub-off Only Moffat and divisions John Harvey a four-wheeled effect for Australia. Letevent me explain…

World Championship in motor racing’s spiritual home The firsttheir Hypercar-flavoured Mans was somewhat country, Commodore VLLe duo winning the 1987 WTCC underwhelming the track with Toyota its fourth opener.

So that’sonanother box ticked for scoring our country on the consecutive at Lethe Sarthe, against some pretty F2 flimsy world stage, win coming day after Oscar Piastri’s win that oppositionhis in the newpoints top division. stretched series lead. Ricciardo’s victory was also Toyota’s Hybridsinfinished leading homeGP a for the first forGR010 an Australian a World1-2, Championship ‘grandfathered’ LMP1with Alpine entry andorigins. the only other two allMcLaren, a marque Antipodean new Hypercars, the Glickenhaus Ricciardo’s shock win followed007s. the most surprising news Good on the American minnow for having a crack the reports to emerge in ages – the possible return of aagainst Canberra Japanese It willcalendar. be fascinating see how the tiny street racepowerhouse. to the Supercars What to the? manufacturer fares when any other big guns arrive.for And let me tell I can’t imagine there’s political appetite Canberra you,after they’re 2.0 the coming debacleinofnumbers. the Canbrrrr 400 two decades ago. If joins the when Hypercar fun in 2022,was specialist it Peugeot didn’t work then, V8 Supercars on the racing rise, I can’t teamit ByKolles too.today.

Then Ferrari in 2023. Meantime, Le Mans see succeeding Hypercars joined track by marques in Canberrawill 1.0be failed noton just because it was competing held in mid-winter America’s LMDhenduring class in IMSA. LHDh, anbut awkward moniker with spectators icy conditions, because most denoting Le Mans Daytona hybrid, hasfreezing already cold attracted paying punters stood trackside in the seeing commitments Acura,roofs Audi,over BMW Porsche.

Others little more thanfrom the cars’ theand concrete walls.

The will follow,was lured by the prospect competing in IMSAviewers and at Le track a featureless dud. of Meantime, television were Mans. to shots of shivering spectators in between the procestreated Excitingly Antipodeans, TeamCanberra’s Penske willtourism operatechiefs a sional racesfor – hardly the images pair Porsche prototypes in IMSA two more in the World envisaged when they signed up.and Whoever designed that track Endurance Championship.

Penske’s IndyCar stars should not be let anywhereThis nearmeans running Supercars events Will Power and Scott McLaughlin will be well-placed to fill out again. theIt line-ups at the bluetoribbon events. will be fascinating see if 12thisand new24-hour proposal actually has Thelegs. convergence sportscar rules globally – previously the any ReceivingofACT government approval and funding US andbeEuropean done theirExhibition own thingPark – means might possible scenes if tied tohave redeveloping in we are entering golden era. I’ve it before and big I’ll say Canberra’s roadainfrastructure.

Butsaid that’s a bloody andit again, sportscar racing is the next ifbig thing ainconnection world motorsport. expense ‘if’. Thus, I’m wondering there’s There’s the likely to beofa these significant drain 2.0 of manufacturer between timing Canberra news storiesmoney and the away from 1 in buyers the years Mercedes-Benz courting of Formula prospective forahead.

ArcherSurely Capital’s Supercars’ will be lured to Le Mans and Daytona. There’s only so much stake? credibility be gainedto from beating an energy company The nexttobombshell drop was news of thedrink six-day event in F1, despite of Red Bull. Group’s and at Bathurst to the endself-importance both the Australian Racing F1 snobs should know a time, 50-odd Supercars’ seasons.

Six there days!was How’s that admittedly going to work years ago, when sportscar single-seaters shared the scheduling-wise?

Glad I’m racing not theand person charged with billing as motor sport’s dogs.

History might be about to the logistics of fitting 10top racing categories into ajust workable repeat. programme for competitors, television, officials and spectators.

Endurance racing provides important Anyway, there is a lot more tomany play things out onthat this are front. to At automotive asmega-meeting the world heads towards least this manufacturers early December gives us hybridisation – reliability and range amongthis something toand lookelectrification forward to. Who would have considered them. Funds currently invested soon be diverted stunning development possibleelsewhere just a fewwill short months ago? to Of sportscar course,racing. the joint meeting is a pointer to a new era with Hopefully will ownership gain a WECconsortium. round. The The Bend’s January ARG part ofAustralia Supercars’ mind 2020 hosting the Asian Leand Mans Series wasconsequences surely an boggles at theofimplications unintended for indication ofracing the venue’s ultimate intentions.

Australia’s landscape.

Perhaps of more locally Supercars was the Leand Mans For starters, get significance your head around TA2 being organisers’ that GT3 carswill willbe replace on the sameannouncement card this December.

There manyGTE tradimachines in theviewers event’sand ultra-popular classes fromtrackside 2024. tional Bathurst spectatorsGT– presuming This follows the development that GT3 cars willSupercars be the only fans are allowed en masse – wondering why is machines used IMSA’s GT classes fromwhen next year. if GT3 developing newinMustangs and Camaros thoseAssame wasn’t a juggernaut. cars arealready essentially already racing in TA2. Has Supercars’ Potential manufacturers willall, beTA2 ableMustangs to developare cars that thought allnew of this through? After more are eligiblethan to race at Le Mans – and just aboutmonster-like everywhere else. attractive the current Gen2 Frankenstein Chevrolet Plus is now odds-on to build a GT3-spec Corvette.

Mustangs.

TA2 has a third marque and model – the As I’ve noted before, Ford may even follow suit re its Mustang, with Dodge Challenger. motor sport chief Mark Rushmoreand making positive noises in that Hopefully a mega attendance TV audience provides a regard. Now stop and considerfor theTCR implications of an annual well-deserved shot-in-the-arm and S5000.

Witnessing Fordopen-wheelers vs GM battle atacross Bathurst February in the 12 big theeach top of the mountain willHour? certainly What have onPanorama the 1000? pilgrimage. be theeffect focalmight point that of my 2021

Luke West is a long-time Auto Action columnist and author of The Immortals of Australian Motor Racing: the Local Heroes.

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LATEST NEWS

IndyCar announces 17 race 2022 calendar INDYCAR HAS announced a 17-race 2022 calendar, kicking off on February 27 in St Petersburg Florida and finishing on September 11 at Laguna Seca in California.

An extra race has been fitted into a schedule that starts much earlier than 2021’s April 18 kick-off, while the finish is also a couple of weeks earlier.

The St Pete street race returns to its opening slot and marks the first February championship opener since 2004 and the earliest start since 2003.

St Pete replaces Barber Motorsport Park road course, which shifts back to May and becomes the fourth event.

Texas Motor Speedway moves forward to March and reverts to a single race, while the Long Beach street race shifts from the 2021 championship finale to April in 2022.

After being cancelled in 2021 because of the pandemic, the Toronto street race returns next July, while after a year off the

Iowa Speedway short track also rejoins the calendar that month with a double-header.

The 106th Indianapolis 500 is scheduled to take place on May 29. The Detroit Belle Isle continues in its usual post-Indy slot but drops back to a single race from a double-header.

A record 14 IndyCar events will be televised live on free-toair NBC network television in 2022.

“This is an excellent schedule for the 2022 NTT IndyCar Series championship,” Penske Entertainment Corp. president and CEO Mark Miles said. “This calendar provides a level of balance between temporary street circuits, road courses and ovals, and that variety and the required versatility from our drivers are important, distinguishing attributes of the NTT Indycar series racing.

“The continuity among our events and the growth in the number of teams showcase our strong positioning and continued momentum.”

MINEEFF SETS SIGHTS ON TOP 10

TCR AUSTRALIA Series privateer Lachlan Mineeff has set a goal of top 10 race finishes to close out what has been a challenging introduction to the category this year.

Mineeff has taken his Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR to the Philip Island and Sydney Motorsport Park rounds of the series, registering a best result of ninth in his first ever race.

As a consequence of missing the Symmons Plains and Bathurst rounds, the 18-year-old sits 21st overall in the standings.

Despite the significant challenges of a fluid schedule and unfamiliarity with the category, Mineeff was confident that an upturn in results was possible over the remaining rounds.

“I’m really enjoying my time in TCR,” Mineeff told Auto Action.

“Looking forward to these next few rounds, hopefully we can get some momentum, get some events on the board and there’s no reason why we shouldn’t consistently be in the top 10.

“The results may not look too impressive at the moment, but the series is just so competitive and will continue to stay like that.

“We’re always working really hard on ways we can develop and improve the car.”

The former Formula Ford racer finished 18th, 16th and 15th in the most recent Sydney-based round, but will look to channel his form from Phillip Island into the next outing.

“I think both myself and the team have

16 AutoAction

been working hard and I think our performances have been really, really good,” Mineeff said.

“I think performance has been around the eight out of 10.

“I’m thankful for the people around me that have given me these opportunities, but we’ve still got some more work to do to really prove ourselves.”

Mineeff started the year strongly with a Class D Production victory in the Bathurst 6 Hour alongside teammate Tom Sargeant.

Tin tops appear the priority for the New South Welshman, who is committed to TCR for the time being but has also left the door ajar for future category movement.

“As a driver you’ve always got to keep your options open,” Mineeff explained.

“The TCR formula is something that’s attractive for me, the fact that the cars are pretty much all the same all the way around the world.

“The TCR Australia championship is one of the most competitive in the world, I’m certainly not looking to move out of TCR Australia anytime soon.

“However, there’s obviously options in the US and Europe, which would be cool, looking at the touring car route in the US, UK or Europe would be fantastic.

“I am thankful to be in TCR Australia at the moment, and if we could stay in it for as long as we can, I think that would be really exciting.”

The final confirmed round for TCR Australia will be held at the new six-day Bathurst race meeting from November 30-December 5.

Read on further for an in-depth feature on Mineeff’s career to date. Josh Nevett

Historic Sandown Is On! WITH COMMENDABLE pro-activity and optimism, the VHRR is forging ahead with one of historic racing’s favourite, classic annual meetings on November 5-7.

The weekend promises to be a cracker with races for Group J, K, L & invited Sa, Formula Ford, M & O Sports and Racing & Formula Vee, P Q & R Racing & Q & R sports to 2000 cc, Formula 5000, Group C & A Touring cars, Group Sa, Sb & Sc Historic Touring Cars, MG & invited British cars, HQ Holden, and Regularity.

There is something for everybody in this fabulous mix, with over 400 cars expected.

Sandown’s trade, food, and goodies purveyors alongside the grandstand are always chock full of stuff guaranteed to empty the wallet.

In addition, over 500 classic and collectible cars will be on display; if you arrive so mounted, you will be ushered into the complex ... you still must buy a ticket mind you.

A decent field of bellowing 5-litre V8 F5000s rumbling up Sandown’s long backstraight at high speed, and then through the fast swoop down into Dandenong Road are well worth the price of entry on their own, so too the Historic Touring, Group A & C and Formula Ford desperates scrapping for a sheep-station.

Victorians starved of racing will ensure a strong entry in an event also on the calendar’s of many interstaters. All the usual Covid caveats apply.

Mark Bisset

FOR SALE

THE COLLECTION THE ULTIMATE AUSTRALIAN MOTOR SPORT COLLECTION An opportunity exists to own a unique collection of Australian motor sport history.

“The complete HSV/HRT success story all in one remarkable collection.”

JOHN CRENNAN “This is the car that took me to so many remarkable victories”.

MARK SKAIFE

Original artworks of significance are part of The Collection.

HOLDEN RACE TEAM, HOLDEN DEALER TEAM, HOLDEN SPECIAL VEHICLES Bathurst 1000 - Bathurst 12hr - Group C - Group A - F1 - Supercars Brock - Skaife – Richards - Lowndes - Crennan – Murphy – Walkinshaw - Grice

This privately owned collection includes Holden Racing Team chassis 045 ‘The Golden Child’.

This car is one of only two to win the world-renowned Bathurst 1000 on two occasions and was never raced other than by the Walkinshaw owned, factory supported Holden Racing Team (HRT).

Chassis 045 is fully complete and has not been raced since retirement from the Holden Racing Team program and comes complete with full documentation including a Logbook updated by (CAMS) Motorsport Australia to reflect the current ownership.

The engine as fitted to the vehicle is the motor that was last used in HRT competition and was part of Holden Racing Team engine program. The significance of the engine now fitted to chassis 045 is that it powered the Greg Murphy 2003 K-Mart car (HRT 043) when he completed the now legendary ‘Lap of the Gods’ qualifying lap at the 2003 Bathurst 1000

HRT’s most famous race car, chassis 045 - ‘The Golden Child’. It won Bathurst twice as well as two Championships and a number of other significant events.

Major results for HRT chassis 045 include:

• Championship winning car of Mark Skaife in 2001 • Championship winning car of Mark Skaife in 2002 • Bathurst 1000 winning car of Mark Skaife and Tony Longhurst in 2001 • Bathurst 1000 winning car of Mark Skaife and Jim Richards in 2002 • Round winner 2002 Clipsal 500 • Round winner 2003 Clipsal 500 as a Project Blueprint car

The collection also includes: Winners and perpetual trophies, winners’ laurels, driving suits, gloves and helmets, professionally compiled scrap books, original paintings on canvas and board, original race poster artwork, race team documentation, sponsorship proposals, watches, event programs, books, team apparel, framed posters, photos and much more.

A number of original driving suits & helmets are included in the collection.

Original

Peter Brock artwork Peter Brock, self-portrait pencil on board ‘Contemplation’.

Painting by Peter Brock.

This artwork was painted

by Peter Brock live on the Doug Mulray Show in 1994. Paint on canvas

Included in the collection are many significant trophies

This is a significant collection, serious enquires only.

For further information please contact Mr. Nick Wilson via email admin@wilsonconsulting.com.au

LATEST NEWS

SUPERCHEAP AUTO REVEAL BATHURST LIVERY SUPERCHEAP AUTO has released a new livery which is set to adorn the #39 Holden ZB Commodore driven

by Broc Feeney and Russell Ingall in the 2021 Bathurst 1000.

Unveiled at an event in Brisbane, the livery focuses on the Supercheap Auto brand, as well as Australian patriotism.

Large Supercheap Auto logos span the sides of the car, likewise the bonnet.

The Australian flag also features prominently with ‘Proudly Australian’ slogans attached.

The livery also makes reference to the replacement of Supercheap Auto by Repco as this year’s naming rights sponsor for the event, featuring the slogan ‘We still love you Bathurst xoxo’.

Running along the top of the windshield is a sticker noting the driving pair, ‘Enforcer and the Kid’.

Managing Director of Supercheap Auto Benjamin Ward was proud of the livery and what it represents.

“Today is about bringing our team together, sharing our passion

for Bathurst and our continued commitment to Australian motorsport,” Ward said.

“We are proudly Australian owned and the team environment we have built around our long-term commitment to the sport is quite incredible and worth celebrating.

“This wildcard with Russell and Broc takes our partnership with The Great Race to a new level and we’re excited to be reuniting with our fans at Bathurst come December.

“The Supercheap Auto Bathurst Supercar looks fantastic and we are proud to unveil the final race livery with our fans and team. It looks racey and I can’t wait to see it at Mount Panorama.”

Commenting on the fresh design at the live launch, Ingall was rapt with the final result.

“We’ve had so many comments come back through social media and all the platforms online about how good the testing livery has been because it’s very clean and Supercheap Auto is very prominent,” Ingall said.

“It’s great that we’ve kept with that theme and just cleaned it up a little bit.

“The proudly Australian is fantastic, it’s going to be a great theme throughout Bathurst as well.

“Overall, I honestly can say it’s probably one of the best Supercheap liveries we’ve had so far, so I think it’s something to be proud of and I look forward to showing it off on the mountain.”

Feeney was also looking forward to driving the new look machine.

“We’re getting around QR pretty well at the moment, obviously Bathurst is a completely different place but we’re definitely looking forward to it.

“I can’t wait to take this car for a

drive, it looks unbelievable.

“It’s got the Australian flags on it and we’re probably one of the very few Australian teams, a lot of Kiwis in there at the moment.

“Supercheap Auto have done a great job. I think it looks super clean, and red always goes fast, isn’t that what they say.”

Feeney will drive alongside 2005 Supercars champion Russell Ingall in a wildcard entry at the Great Race, after his recent announcement as the new Triple Eight Race Engineering Supercars driver to replace Jamie Whincup.

In the lead-up to the livery announcement, Feeney and Ingall have had two test opportunities at Queensland Raceway in a predominately red livery.

Feeney does have prior experience in an endurance race at Mount Panorama, competing in the 2020 Bathurst 1000 on his 18th birthday in partnership with James Courtney of Tickford Racing.

The 57-year-old Ingall will be taking part in his 26th event.

The Bathurst 1000 is set to take place from November 30-December 5.

Josh Nevett

CARUSO TO PERFORM DOUBLE DUTY AT BATHURST TCR AUSTRALIA driver and former Supercars Championship full-timer Michael Caruso has confirmed that he will perform double duty at the Bathurst 1000 when both TCR and Supercars race at The Mountain.

The New South Welshman is looking forward to competing double duty, racing a Garry Rogers Motorsport prepared Alfa Romeo TCR car and the Team 18 Holden Commodore alongside former Bathurst 1000 winner Mark Winterbottom.

Caruso is one of six TCR Australia drivers that have signed up to contest the Bathurst 1000 this year and is looking forward to the opportunity.

“I’m really looking forward to double duties at Bathurst, especially in two really different styles of touring cars,” said Caruso.

“Any time you race at Bathurst, it’s special, regardless of what car you are in.

“TCR is going to be fantastic, especially with the 400km format over the three longer races.”

Despite the difference in vehicles Caruso believes there will be no problem adapting between the frontwheel drive Alfa Romeo and rear-wheel drive Commodore.

“Add that into my duties as a co-driver for Team 18 in the 1000 is going to be massive,” Caruso said.

“It’s a massive week for the sport, and something really special. Who knows if we’ll get to do anything like this ever again.

“I’m going there in both cars with a good opportunity to win. It would be great to take out the touring car double at Bathurst.

“When I did double duties in the Development Series and Supercars, those cars handled different, and needed to be driven differently, so you just adapted and got on with it.

“I can’t see this being any more of a challenge to that, and it will be a bonus to have more track time. It will help get myself into the zone for the big race on Sunday.”

In the most recent TCR race at Sydney Motorsport Park back in May Caruso broke through for his maiden TCR Australia victory.

Caruso expects that longer races at the Bathurst 1000 will give him an advantage.

“It’s been a while since I’ve been in the Valvoline Alfa, but that format is perfect for me,” Caruso expressed.

“It’s where I feel like I’m going to come

into my own. They’ll be strategies in the race, because I don’t think that you’re going to have to be able to go hell for leather.

“All of the different makes have different capabilities, and 21 laps around the mountain in a TCR car is going to be a challenge, but fun.”

The six-day Bathurst 1000 event will take place from November 30-December 5. Dan McCarthy

LATEST NEWS

HORNER NOT RULING OUT GASLY RED BULL RETURN RED BULL Racing team principal Christian Horner is not ruling Pierre Gasly out a return to his Formula 1 team in the future.

Gasly formerly raced for Red Bull Racing in 2019 replacing the Renault bound Australian Daniel Ricciardo at the front-running outfit.

However, after failing to finish on the podium in the first 12 rounds, the young Frenchman was demoted back down to the sister squad Toro Rosso (now known as AlphaTauri), swapping seats with Thai driver Alex Albon.

Since returning to the sister outfit Gasly has had great success claiming three podiums, including a race victory at the Italian Grand Prix last year.

After an impressive 24 months at AlphaTauri, Gasly was hopeful of a promotion back to Red Bull Racing however it was not to be.

Red Bull Racing elected to retain the services of Sergio Perez alongside Max Verstappen for next year.

Although Gasly was disappointed by the decision, Horner says he would not rule out a Gasly return further down the line.

“I would never rule anything out,” Horner said. “He’s driving at a very nice standard. He’s still very young, he’s doing a great job.

“For 2023, we have multiple options available to us, so when you’re in the situation that we are, that’s exactly what we want.”

“Pierre Gasly has done a phenomenal job with AlphaTauri

the last couple of seasons, and their aspirations continue to grow, so for him to retain the lead drive there is good. He remains a Red Bull Racing driver on loan to AlphaTauri.”

Gasly sits ninth in the standings on 66 points compared with 18 from his rookie teammate Yuki Tsunoda.

However Red Bull are not short of junior drivers looking for a seat at Alpha Tauri, Albon has a drive with the Williams team outside of the programme in 2022.

Horner revealed late last week that the Red Bull junior programme has an option to reclaim Albon in 2023.

The junior programme also has countless other drivers in the FIA Formula 2 and FIA Formula 3 Championships including Kiwi Liam Lawson and Aussie Jack Doohan.

“We have this group of young talent coming through,” said Horner.

“We have Liam Lawson and Juri Vips in F2, we have got Dennis Hauger leading the way in F3 and an exciting young American, Jak Crawford.

“So there is strength and depth in the junior programme.”

Incredibly in 2022 at least eight of the 20 F1 drivers (40%) will have come through the Red Bull junior programme or been recruited by the works team.

These are Verstappen, Perez, Gasly, Tsunoda, Sebastian Vettel, Daniel Ricciardo, Albon, and Carlos Sainz.

Dan McCarthy

MURRAY NOMINATED FOR PORSCHE JNR SHOOTOUT PORSCHE CARS Australia has announced Cooper Murray as the winner of the 2021 Porsche Michelin Junior Australia programme which will see the Victorian contest the Porsche Junior Shootout later this year.

After winning the most recent Porsche Carrera Cup Australia round in Townsville, Murray holds a 25-point lead in the junior competition allowing him to go overseas and compete against the other competition winners from around the globe for a seat as an official Porsche driver.

The fourth round of the Carrera Cup Series scheduled for Phillip Island was meant to be the final round of the Porsche Junior programme this year, however due to the events cancellation Murray has earnt himself the Carrera Cup Australia nomination for this year.

Should the nomination be approved Murray will go up against the best young Porsche drivers from around the world.

“I’m very excited and grateful to have been nominated as a Porsche Carrera Cup Australia representative with the opportunity

to attend the Porsche Junior Global Shootout event,” Murray said.

Both Australian Matt Campbell and New Zealander Jaxon Evans went onto win the Shootout and became official Porsche drivers.

Since then, Campbell has taken a class win at the Le Mans 24 Hours and an outright Bathurst 12 Hour, while Evans has gone on to win another Carrera Cup title and now races alongside Campbell in the FIA World Endurance Championship.

“I hope to follow in the footsteps of fellow McElrea racing drivers Matt Campbell and Jaxon Evans and replicate their success,” Murray continued.

“I wouldn’t have been able to get to this point in my career if it wasn’t for the amazing support of my family, McElrea Racing and everyone who has helped me along the way.”

McElrea have been racing Porsches since 2018 finishing as the runnerup in the second tier Sprint Challenge Series.

Troy Bundy head of motorsport Porsche Cars Australia is delighted to have seen Murray grow.

“Like all the juniors that have

come through our programme,” said Bundy. “It’s been personally rewarding to see Cooper’s development and outright pace mature in both our series, ever since his first season with us in 2018 – which was then the GT3 Cup Challenge (Porsche Sprint Challenge).

“Despite his young age, he has been a force within Carrera Cup Australia the last two years, against arguably the strongest Pro drivers in the series history.”

Other Porsche Shootout participants from the Australian Series include Jordan Love, Dylan O’Keeffe on two occasions and Nick Foster.

The threeday Porsche Shootout will take place from November 23-25, however it is yet to be determined at what European racetrack. Dan McCarthy

LATEST NEWS

AORC CANCELS CHAMPIONSHIP ROUNDS

THE MOTORSPORT Australia Off Road Championship (AORC) has been cancelled, the remaining two rounds will now be run as cups due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The cancellation of the outstanding rounds comes as ongoing state border closures continue to hamper competitors plans to travel interstate in time.

As they did in 2020, the Black Diamond Drilling Kalgoorlie Desert Race will be run as the Motorsport Australia Off Road Cup – West, while the Can-Am Loveday 400 will be known as the Motorsport Australia Off Road Cup – Central.

The Motorsport Australia Director of Motorsport & Commercial Operations Michael Smith is gutted to cancel the

championship but expressed that it was a decision that had to be made.

“There have obviously been a lot of disruptions to motorsport over the past two years and unfortunately the AORC has been another victim of the current climate we find ourselves in where competitors simply can’t get to enough events for us to justify awarding a Championship,” Smith said.

“It’s quite disheartening that we have had to cancel the season again this year, especially after we had two really successful rounds completed in the first half of the year.

“However, with the current situation of border closures and restrictions not looking to be eased until at least the end of October at the earliest,

it’s just not possible to run a national championship at this point, alongside the fact that Finke was not open to all competitors from around Australia.

“Luckily, we have events like Kalgoorlie and Loveday that can take place as standalone and which still attract large fields as state run events, as we saw in 2020 and in previous years before they joined the AORC. These events will see Cups awarded, thanks to BFGoodrich.

“I would like to use this opportunity to thank all the event promoters for supporting this decision, as hard as it has been to make, and to all the competitors, officials and fans who have been patient with us for the past 18 months.

“We look forward to a big 2022 where

we should hopefully be able to run all rounds of the championship and get back to a bit of normality, with more rounds than in recent years expected to make up the calendar.”

With two rounds already run in 2021, the Cobb & Co Hotel St George 399 will be now be marked as the Motorsport Australia Off Road Cup – East, while the Tatts Finke Desert Race ends the year as a standalone event.

The dates for the Kalgoorlie Desert Race and Can-Am Loveday 400 will remain as they are currently scheduled with the Kalgoorlie event on 21-24 October, and Loveday a week later from October 28-31.

Dan McCarthy

BRABHAM BT63 GT2 CONCEPT COMPLETES QUEENSLAND RACEWAY TEST THE BRABHAM BT63 GT2 Concept has tested successfully in Australia in the lead up to its competitive debut in the final round of the 2021 GT2 season at Circuit Paul Ricard.

Australian Supercars driver and winner of the 2017 Bathurst 1000 Luke Youlden conducted the test at Queensland Raceway, in preparation for the October 1-3 event.

Youlden has driven Brabham machines in the past, he piloted the Brabham BT62 to a closed-wheel

record at Mount Panorama in 2019.

Brabham Automotive Director and Chief Executive Officer Dan Marks confirmed that Brabham had achieved all of its objectives for the shakedown program.

“We are really pleased at how well the BT63 GT2 Concept has come together,” Marks said.

“We had a goal of testing the new brake package, speed differentials due to aero changes and fine-tuning the setup for racing.

“The car was immediately within

the desired performance envelope.

We’re very excited to see what it will do at Paul Ricard next month.”

Youlden was also impressed with the package during testing.

“It was great to be back in a Brabham again,” Youlden said.

“It’s been a couple of years but it’s one of my favourite cars to drive and the way this BT63 GT2 Concept has come together is a credit to Brabham Automotive and the guys at Pace Innovations, who set up the car for this session.

“We managed to tick a lot of boxes during this program. The brake balance and performance, the aero setup, the engine performance – everything came together quickly based on good engineering and decision-making.

“The BT63 is a precision instrument.

It’s both exhilarating to drive and predictable – you get great feedback from your inputs, and you always get a great response from any changes you make.”

The Brabham BT63 GT2 Concept has slightly less power from its 5.2 litre, naturally aspirated V8 than the BT62, while carrying more weight in line with GT2 power-to-weight regulations.

Now that testing has concluded, the car will journey to France ahead of its first race start.

The Circuit Paul Ricard race is in advance of a full season’s competition in the SRO GT2 class in 2022.

Details of the team and drivers are expected shortly.

Josh Nevett

WHITMARSH JOINS ASTON MARTIN

2021 AUSTRALIAN OFF ROAD CALENDAR: ROUND 1: Cobb & Co. St George 399 – Motorsport Australia Off Road Cup – East ROUND 2: Tatts Finke Desert Race – standalone event Events remaining in 2021: ROUND 3: Black Diamond Drilling Kalgoorlie Desert Race – Motorsport Australia Off Road Cup – West (22-24 October) ROUND 4: Can-Am Loveday 400 – Motorsport Australia Off Road Cup – Central (29-31 October)

FORMER MCLAREN Racing team boss Martin Whitmarsh will join Aston Martin in the CEO of Aston Martin Performance Technologies role.

After working at McLaren for 25 years between 1989 and 2014, including a spell as CEO and Team Principal from 2008-2014, Whitmarsh will join Aston Martin from October 1.

The 63-year-old will be responsible for overseeing the strategic direction of the Aston Martin Formula 1 team, as well as establishing a new division at the brand to provide engineering and manufacturing services.

In the Aston Martin Performance Technologies role, Whitmarsh will be in direct competition with the McLaren Applied Technologies program that he was involved in launching.

Aston Martin Executive Chairman Lawrence Stroll believed the appointment would assist the organisational goal of winning an F1 World Championship.

“Martin will enjoy senior leadership responsibility and will assist and support me in setting the new strategic direction for Aston Martin Performance Technologies and its subsidiaries,” Stroll said.

“Including the crucial objective of leading the transformation of Aston Martin Cognizant Formula One Team into a Formula One World Championship-winning organisation within the next four to five years and evolving it into a £1 billion business over a similar time period.

“Martin has enjoyed a long, successful and high-profile career, spanning the motorsport, automotive, aerospace, marine

and renewable-energy sectors.

“Moreover, he is a proven winner in Formula One. He is therefore the ideal person for the job of working with me and our senior management team to lead and inspire our workforce to future success both on and off track.”

Speaking on his appointment, Whitmarsh was looking forward to propelling Aston Martin to greater heights.

“I am delighted to have been appointed by Lawrence to the position of Group Chief Executive Officer of the new Aston Martin Performance Technologies,” Whitmarsh said.

“I have known and admired Lawrence for many years, and I have always been extremely impressed by his formidable business acumen and his seemingly inexhaustible ambition.

“Equally, I have always respected ‘Team Silverstone’, if I can call it that, which has often punched

TCR PASSES MAJOR MILESTONE

TCR RACING Racing globally has passed a major milestone, with more than 1000 cars having now been produced for the category.

According to official data competing manufacturers have supplied to TCR rights holders WSC, a total of 1060 TCR cars across 20 models from 15 manufacturers have been produced since TCR’s inception in 2015.

“We are obviously very proud of the achievement of the 1000-car total,” said Marcello Lotti, president of WSC. “It has been an impressive result in less than seven seasons of exciting competition. This proves that when a racing category is affordable, it becomes successful.”

Australian Racing Group first brought the series to Australia in 2019, and there are now 32 of the under two-litre turbocharged race cars in the country.

A total of 35 TCR cars have been imported into the country, but the

ex-Kelly Racing Subaru Impreza WRX TCRs and maiden racewinning Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR have found a new home to race in the UK next season.

Melbourne Performance Centre have already confirmed that at least one more TCR car will be brought into Australia when they enter at least one of the newest model Audi RS 3 LMS into next year’s Supercheap Auto TCR Australia Series.

While more cars and manufacturers are expected to join the series globally. Toyota will be the next manufacturer to enter TCR after it announced earlier this year through its Gazoo Racing Argentina arm the development of the Corolla sedan for the touring car class.

“It’s a fact that the success of TCR is not fading yet and we are pleased to see that, despite the pandemic and a troubled 2020 season, numbers are getting back to the pre-Covid times,” said Lotti.

“TCR cars are currently eligible to compete in WSC-sanctioned series all over the world and the total of the races will reach 320 by the end of the season.

“The number of drivers is also growing again, but more than the

above its weight under its various previous incarnations, and which now has the weight with which to punch harder than ever before.

“Lawrence intends Aston Martin Cognizant Formula One Team to win Formula One World Championships, plain and simple, and I would not have joined him in that endeavour unless I was utterly convinced that it was an entirely achievable aim.

“I know what it takes to win in Formula One, and, inspired

by Lawrence’s leadership and backed by the skill, passion and resolve of the workforce, I intend to do whatever I can to make sure that our team becomes the winning operation that Lawrence is determined that it should be.”

Aston Martin sit seventh in the 2021 Constructors’ Championship standings, with a total of 59 points.

Sebastian Vettel is the highest ranked team driver, placed 12th on 35 points. Josh Nevett

overall total it is worth to point out that 146 of them have scored victories driving thirteen different models. This is more evidence of how TCR offers equal opportunities to the competitors.”

Rhys Vandersyde

with Dan Knutson

ALEX ALBON will return to Formula 1 full-time with Williams Racing in 2022. The iconic team officially announced that Albon will slot into the seat vacated by George Russell, following his promotion to Mercedes for 2022. Albon joins Nicholas Latifi at the squad, who will continue for a fourth consecutive season, reuniting the pair who were teammates at DAMS for the 2018 Formula 2 season. RV

THE ALPHATAURI Formula 1 team has confirmed that both Pierre Gasly and Yuki Tsunoda have been retained for the 2022 season. Gasly has been at AlphaTauri since midway through 2019, scoring three podiums with the team. Tsunoda has had a rollercoaster opening season in F1, however AlphaTauri and Red Bull Racing feel that Tsunoda has done enough to be retained. DM

THE ASTON Martin Cognizant Formula 1 Team has confirmed it has retained drivers Sebastian Vettel and Lance Stroll for the 2022 season.

Vettel, a four-time Formula 1 World Champion joined the team this year after departing Ferrari.

The German has had a rollercoaster season, currently sitting 12th in the standings. His Canadian teammate Stroll has raced for the Silverstone-based outfit co-owned by his father Lawrence since 2019. DM

BREAK CRITICAL FOR RICCIARDO DANIEL RICCIARDO says that Formula 1’s annual three week break was critical for him to get things together and come back stronger.

If the Australian’s winning form in the Italian Grand Prix is any indication, he definitely has made a major step with his comfort and confidence levels in driving the 2021 McLaren MCL35M. “The August break is good, just to reset,” he said. “I’ve felt better the last three weekends.”

He is referring to the races in Belgium, the Netherlands and Italy.

He qualified fourth in Belgium and was classed in that position when the race was red flagged after just two laps. The

McLaren didn’t suit the Zandvoort circuit, so Ricciardo finished 11th in the next round. But then it was on to Monza where he won for the first time since the 2018 Monaco Grand Prix.

“We’re an international sport, so everyone has been aware of some of the struggles I’ve had this year,” he said. “I think to come back from that, and not only to win but as a team to get a one-two…it’s crazy.”

So just what happened to Ricciardo to go away on holiday and come back as a transform driver?

“We all don’t know what he did exactly in these three weeks,” McLaren team principal Andreas Seidl said. “We probably

don’t want to know! Sometimes it is good to have a break and a bit of a distance.

It was very intense for him when he was putting in a lot of energy together with the team and the results did not come.

“Maybe he needed that break to step away a bit, reflect, and then come back and apply everything we worked through in the first half of the season. Somehow that seemed to work from the first outing when he returned. We are looking forward now to a strong second half of the season.”

Ricciardo says that there is more to come.

“I don’t know if you will ever find everything, but that’s obviously the way

HAIL THE HALO VETERAN FORMULA 1 driver Kimi Raikkonen has recovered from COVID-19 and will return for the Russian Grand Prix on September 26. The 41-year-old Finn, who was absent from the Grands Prix in both Belgium and the Netherlands, after returning a positive test, reported no symptoms throughout his isolation period. Fellow experienced campaigner Robert Kubica replaced him in the Alfa Romeo Racing seat, finishing 15th and 14th. JN

FERNANDO ALONSO was realistic about eighth place at the Italian Grand Prix, saying Alpine’s Monza pace had been “uncompetitive”. Alonso and teammate Estaban Ocon finished eighth and 10th respectively in the Italian Grand Prix.

“I’m happy, because this was an uncompetitive weekend; we were a little bit on the slow side off the grid; we qualified 13th, 14th on Friday, so that was probably our potential here and even with that, we still scored points with both cars,” said Alonso. JN

18 AutoAction

THE HALO on Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes probably saved his life, after Max Verstappen’s Red Bull landed on top of his car in their frightening accident during the Italian Grand Prix.

“It was a very awkward accident and you could see Max’s car ride up the Mercedes,” said Red Bull’s sporting director Christian Horner. “Without the halo there would’ve been no protection for the weight of that wheel coming down on top of Lewis. The halo has again demonstrated its purpose in Formula 1.”

As it was, Verstappen’s right rear tyre still hit the top of Hamilton’s helmet, giving him a sore neck.

“I’m so, so grateful that I’m still here,” Hamilton said. “Thank God for the halo.

That ultimately saved me. And saved my neck.”

The accident raised several important issues including who was at fault, how to prevent further nasty clashes between the duo as they duke it out for the championship, and what about the safety aspect?

The race stewards including Garry

Connelly, Australia’s representative on the World Motor Sport Council, and former F1 driver Vitantonio Liuzzi, ruled that Verstappen was mostly to blame, and they handed him a three-place grid penalty at the upcoming Russian Grand Prix.

“Car 44 (Hamilton) was exiting the pits,” the statement from the stewards

said. “Car 33 (Verstappen) was on the main straight. At the 50m board before Turn 1, Car 44 was significantly ahead of Car 33. Car 33 braked late and started to move alongside Car 44, although at no point in the sequence does Car 33 get any further forward than just behind the front wheel of Car 44.”

This was the second major clash

Images: Motorsport Images

DECISIONS AND WORK AHEAD the sport is,” he said. “Just inside myself I’ve felt better since the second half of the season, and that doesn’t always need to translate into lap times. It’s just me throwing the car round, feeling a bit more comfortable with it, that’s stuff I know. I don’t think all of it has translated yet into the stopwatch but there is certainly a bit more comfort and confidence that’s coming through from myself.

“I just look to keep building on that. I think we will get tracks that suit, some that don’t, but I would like to think in the second half of the season there will be some more consistency and hopefully more of these types of results.” between the two, the other being when Hamilton pitched Verstappen into the barriers on lap two of the British Grand Prix.

“It’s fierce and it’s intense,” Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff said. “They need to find a way of how to race each other.

Either leave room in every direction, but there will be accidents when it is not clear cut, and it’s never clear cut actually. But they know in the car what they are doing and how they are racing. We should be watching with interest and hopefully we will not have eight accidents in the next eight races because then we will lose the championship by five points!”

The FIA’s F1 race director Michael Masi said that the accident is being investigated.

“Incidents that are different, so it’s not necessarily high G impacts or anything like that, but anything unusual, we do look at,” the Australian said.

“Our safety department does look at them in detail, investigate and see what we can learn and what we can improve for the future. That’s how we have a whole lot of the safety features that we have today, and will continue to evolve into the future.”

SO JUST how successful was Formula 1’s second trial of Sprint Qualifying? The answer to that, just as it was after the first trial, is uncertain.

If you are Daniel Riccardo you would praise the weekend format because it played a major role in the Aussie winning the Italian Grand Prix.

Traditionally, there are three practice sessions followed by qualifying and the race on a grand prix weekend.

During the British Grand Prix weekend, and at that of the recent Italian Grand Prix, there was one practice session followed by qualifying on Friday. And that set the grid for Sprint Qualifying, a 100km race (even though the FIA and Formula 1 refuse to call it a race) that followed another practice session on Saturday.

Those race results set the grid for the main event on Sunday.

The Sprint Qualifying in Italy turned into a largely static race as drivers were

unwilling to take too many risks that could jeopardize their starting position on Sunday.

Furthermore, overtaking proved to be difficult indeed. That came as a surprise to Formula 1 and the FIA who had specifically chosen the Monza circuit because in the past it has been the opposite case.

There will be one more Sprint Qualifying weekend this season – in Brazil. How many will be staged next year?

“I think that’s a big decision,” Ross Brawn, F1’s managing director of motor sports, said.

“Do we make this a grand slam event for five or six races or do we do more of it?

What we are seeing is a strong increase in fan engagement. More people are watching a race weekend than we had before. Does that tail off if we do it all the time? Is it something we can maintain?”

“We all know we get good and bad

races,” he added. “We might find in Brazil we have a fantastic sprint. It’s over three races we want to judge it. There’s probably an element in this event that drivers take a little less risk because they know they want to be there on Sunday.”

One proposal, and this has received the support of many of the drivers, is to have practice and qualifying on Friday that sets the grid for the main race on Sunday. There would be a “stand alone” race on Saturday, perhaps with a reverse grid based on Friday’s qualifying. Points would be awarded, but whatever the race results are on Saturday, they would have no bearing on the starting line-up on Sunday.

“How do we marry that (Saturday race) with a classic grand prix weekend and make sure we don’t cannibalise the weekend? Brawn said.

“Lots of decisions to make and work to be done.”

THE NEW OLD PLACE EDDIE JORDAN vowed, when he founded his Formula 1 team in 1991, that if his staff ever grew beyond 100 people he would quit the business.

Those, of course, were different times.

In 1996, the mighty Williams team consisted of 200 people on the chassis side – not counting the staff on the Renault engine side – when it won the world championship with Damon Hill.

Jordan’s team set up shop literally across the road from the legendary Silverstone circuit. Over the years the Jordan team grew well beyond 100 people, changed ownership, but maintained its reputation of punching above its weight.

In 2018, the team’s assets were bought by a consortium of investors, named Racing Point UK and led by billionaire Lawrence Stroll, the father of then Williams driver Lance Stroll.

In about 18 months from now the team, called Aston Martin now, will have an expanded state-of-the-art facility and a staff of about 800 people.

The 37,000m2 building project, which has been delayed by COVID-19 shutdowns, is expected to cost between 150 and 200 million British pounds ($283 - $377m).

One building will house the team’s design, manufacturing and marketing resource; a second will be occupied by a brand-new wind tunnel; and the third will redevelop and repurpose the existing factory premises as a central hub featuring staff amenities and a logistics centre.

The new tunnel will use the latest steel-belt rolling-road system, and

a state-of-the-art flow-imaging section area.

For the first time the new factory will house every manufacturing resource within a single campus – the team currently operates from several discrete buildings with additional work outsourced externally.

The construction of a brand-new headquarters is a significant cultural landmark for F1 – it marks the first all-new factory in F1 in the UK for 17 years, the most recent otherwise being the McLaren Technology Centre which was officially opened in 2004.

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with Paul Gover

MULTIPLE FORMULA FORD MANUFACTURERS NOW LIKELY E IV T C E P S R PG’S PE

FORMULA FORD is now likely to remain as a multiple manufacturer category after Motorsport Australia took note of competitor feedback.

Motorsport Australia Director of Motorsport and Commercial Operations Michael Smith opened up to Auto Action about the current state of play in the incredibly popular Australian Formula Ford category.

Smith explained that the original idea Formula Ford now appears to be substantially less likely after listening to competitors views.

“We’re really wanting the DNA to stay the same,” he said to AA. “I know one of our preliminary recommendations was to look at a single manufacturer path,” he said.

“Whilst the (Formula Ford) working group hasn’t formed a view, one way or another on that, I think we’re coming around to the viewImages that, potentially a Image: Motorsport multi-manufacturer format would be a better path to go, because that’s consistent with what Formula Ford has always been in this country.

“We had the stakeholder forum, we then had the survey, and then we MONZA IS amazing. invited people to make submissions.

If you’ve never been to the Temple of Speed in the royal park in the Northern Italian city of Milan then you must add it to your bucket list.

It has some brilliant grands ONE OFproduced the country’s longest serving prix in recent years despite a layout category administrators Margaret Hardy where super-high speeds promise passedthe away from cancer on Thursday very little wheel-to-wheel racing or August 19. passing between modern Formula One Hardy was involved in motor racing cars that are trimmed more like aircraft. for decades and was known for her Daniel Ricciardo justFord. made history at dedication to Formula Monza.

Hardy joined the Light Car Club as Pierre won and his first race last the officeGasly manager began working year. with the Australian Formula Ford Sebastian Vettel also scored his championship 1978, doing paperwork landmark first win at Monza with Toro for the category throughout the ‘80s.

Rosso in 2008.

Early in the following year she became And there have of been so many the administrator the so, category and more great stories at Monza. was tasked with organising national The 1971 Italian Grand Prix until 2013. series events, a role she held produced a blanket finish is still She has dealt with many that of Australia’s the closest on record in F1, with Peter motor sport stars over the years and Gethin and Ronnie Petersen milliwas well-known as a hardworking and metres apartworker. ahead of the late Chris passionate Amon, a brilliant New Zealander In her time as category managerwho never won a Grand Prix, that seven-time Bathurst 1000stunned winner Craig he had torn the visor off his helmet Lowndes, reigning 1000 victor, Will while trying to remove the Chaz last ofMostert his Davison, David Reynolds, thin plastic tear-offs.

He could hardly and Anton de Pasquale are just some see at the end.

“We’ve taken the time to speak to every single one of those people or email every single one of those people.

“I guess as a consequence of that we’ve come around to the view that perhaps a multi-manufacturer concept is the way to go.”

Smith feels that if they can get the rules right, then a multi-manufacturer series will continue to work successfully.

“In order to do that (a multi-brand category) you have to get the rules right, we know that, it’s a lot simpler to craft a set of rules when you’re only Then there was the time that Mika have one homologated manufacturer.

Hakkinen spun out of the lead in his McLaren in 1999 and was then spotlighted by a hovering helicopter as he cried in the bushes. what about the time ofAnd the illustrious names that that won in the Jean-Louis Schlesser, a touring car category. and Le Mans specialist making an on Hardy assisted all of these drivers outrageous F1 debut with Williams, their route to Australia’s top-level. prevented McLaren She was liked by allsweeping who knewevery her race of the 1988 season. in the industry which is why the motor Ayrton Senna was in an sport community is sad to hear of her untouchable lead when he came passing. upDuring to lapher Schlesser, but rushed and time in the category, blundered the move and finished she was named a Life Member of the stranded on one of the kerbs ...

Formula Ford Association.

My first visit Monza was in Formula FordtoAssociation 1983, at the height of the turbo representative Phil Marinon said wars in Formula One. Turbocharger she remained very connected to the technology category. was in its infancy but that didn’t stop full-boost qualifying laps “Margaret was a tireless Administrator with more than 1000 horsepower, for Formula Ford Association and also when drivers have battled to manager get their the AFFM including category front tyres warm before their rear tyres for the national competition,” he told melted.

Auto Action.

Standing at the I can “Her attention to first detailchicane, and ability to clearly remember a giant cloud support the competitors has beenofvery black smoke out of the on Parabolica strongly acknowledged social media raw fuel was used to cool the engine, and is undisputed. as“Margaret well as making power - andperson then was a very private Nelson Piquet emerging like a bullet

“But ultimately, if we’re, wanting to achieve or carry on the philosophy of Formula Ford Racing we need to be able to do it in a multi-manufacturer environment.”

Smith believes the reason that Formula 4 did not work in Australia was because it did not appeal to the Australian motor sport scene, this is why it is essential that Formula Ford remains as close as possible to its roots.

“Formula 4 didn’t work here,” he admitted. “It’s clear, people are very passionate about Formula Ford Racing on“Our the thinking run towards us. itHe is have aswas an clocking 211 miles-an-hour - that’s 340 today - in the Brabham BT52 with its BMW turbo motor and it was just stunning.

Walking back to the pits past the old banking we found an abandoned RAM racer which had suffered an engine blow-up. It was the most comprehensive detonation I have ever seen and the only remnant of the motor was the rocker cover everything else had left the scene of the explosion.

I’ve also driven around Monza, in a Volvo wagon of all things, and it’s an amazing circuit. It’s beautiful, and fast, and scary and rewarding. Yes, even in a Swedish box-mobile.

That same day, former F1 racer Johnny me on for the a ride in and wasCecotto always took focused result arather touring car that was a twin of the than looking for accolades. one that Robbie Francevic usedto to win “Margaret was very dedicated the Australian Touring Car Champiall things Formula Ford and has onship. was thethe firstassociation lap and I haven’t recentlyItassisted in forgotten how the car snapped the production of a book on 50 severely years sideways the Lesmo corner of Formulaafter Ford in first Australia and under heavy boost with cold tyres. disappointingly will not get to see the Theresult.” best thing about Monza is final that you don’t have to visit for the past grand Many Australian racing legends prix.

evolution of Formula Ford Racing, as distinct from trying to introduce something that’s entirely new that we know with our Formula 4 experience hasn’t worked.”

Smith also admitted that the plan for a 2023 introduction along with the reintroduction of championship status is looking ambitious.

“If I’m being really honest, I think 2023 introduction might be a bit ambitious at this point,” Smith felt.

“But we haven’t formed a fixed view on that, the Formula Ford Association of course, will be key to all of this as well.

“What I will say is our current thinking is to run Formula Ford, the current cars as a national series next year, and then at a point in time, whether that’s 2023 or 2024, we will introduce a new car as a championship.

“We’d run existing cars in parallel with the new ones as sort of a mixed grid and that would happen for a period, broadly speaking, I’d be anticipating that it’d be three to five years, something like that.

“I guess ultimately, it depends on the It’s up theofworld’s third-oldest take any new car. DM permanent racing circuit - after Brooklands in the UK and Indianapolis in the USA - and has so many ghosts and stories.

There is history everywhere, most obviously but not just on the deserted high-banked curves at the opposite ends of the modern paddock area.

There are old garages behind the pits that trip you straight back to the 1950s.

If you visit during winter, when the track is deserted and the trees are stripped of their colourful leaves, it is plain spooky.

But if you can make it to the GP, when the Tifosi - that’s shorthand for Ferrari fans - are rampaging and celebrating, it is more like a football grand final than car race. and present tookany to social media to Back in ’83, I can remember fans in send their condolences. a Outside restricted grandstand beating back of Formula Ford, Margaret an attempt to clear them with dogs. also took on roles such as the race And fans photograsecretary forwater-bombing Sandown Raceway. phers to get them out of the Hardy was diagnosed with way at the first chicane.

Inflammatory Breast Cancer in 2019 And theinto wayStage the Tifosi cheer every and went 4 in May. time a Ferrari comes past.

Auto Action sends its condolences to Monza a place where her friendsis and family.

DM history, and memories, is made every year.

Highly experienced motor sport writer & observer Paul Gover rejoins the Auto Action team...Welcome back PG!

VALE: MARGARET HARDY – FORMULA FORD’S GUIDING HAND

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HAMILTON TO BE CHALLENGED? THE LAST time Lewis Hamilton had a teammate who consistently challenged him throughout an entire Formula 1 season was in 2016, when Nico Rosberg beat him by five points to win the drivers’ championship.

Hamilton was also challenged in 2007, his rookie year with McLaren teammate Fernando Alonso, as well as during a three year period at McLaren with Jenson Button.

Yes, Heikki Kovalainen, and, for the past five years, Valtteri Bottas, have had strong performances … but not consistently.

Bottas may be currently third in points, but he has not won this year whereas Hamilton has won four times and is just five points behind championship leader Max Verstappen.

I predict that is going to change next year with Hamilton’s new teammate George Russell, who will be replacing Bottas.

The latter signed a longterm contract with Alfa Romeo where he will replace Kimi Räikkönen, who will retire at the end of the 2021 season.

Hamilton, 36, has a Mercedes contract for the next two years.

He is not slowing down, and

you can be sure that if he does start to lose pace, he will retire.

He is also keen to pursue other interests outside of F1.

Hamilton has been with the team since 2013. Bottas, 32, joined in 2017.

Russell, a Mercedes protégée, is 23, and only in his third season of F1. It’s not guaranteed, of course, that Russell, like Hamilton, will spend many years with Mercedes, but it is obvious that is what both sides are aiming at.

Niki Lauda realised that when Alain Prost joined McLaren in 1984 that the Frenchman was faster and so he, Lauda, would have to use his experience to beat Prost.

When Ayrton Senna arrived at McLaren in 1988 the situation was reversed for Prost.

Will that be the case next year?

Russell has served a three-year apprenticeship at Williams, and when he subbed for Hamilton in last year’s Sakhir Grand Prix, he was immediately quick in the Mercedes.

But, unlike the feuding Senna and Prost, Hamilton and Russell both believe that they will get along.

WHAT’S IN THE NEXT ISSUE ON SALE OCT. 7

“George is an incredibly talented driver, clearly,” Hamilton said. “He’s humble, I think he’s got a great approach. Naturally being British I would imagine (that) probably helps in terms of communication.

“He’s the future; he’s one of the members of the future of the sport. I think he’s already shown incredible driving so far and I’m sure he’s going to continue to grow.”

Hamilton is on record saying he preferred to have Bottas as his teammate next year.

This was not because he feared fierce competition from the talented Russell, but rather because Bottas and Hamilton have such a harmonious teammate relationship.

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff insisted that the driver choice for 2022 would be based on what was best for the team.

“This hasn’t been an easy process or a straightforward decision for us,” Wolff said.

“Valtteri has done a fantastic job over the past five seasons and he has made an essential contribution to our success and to our growth.

“Together with Lewis, he has

built a benchmark partnership between two team-mates in the sport, and that has been a valuable weapon in our championship battles and pushed us to achieve unprecedented success.

“He would absolutely have deserved to stay with the team, and I am pleased that he has been able to choose an exciting challenge with Alfa next year.”

Mercedes says that Hamilton and Russell will be equal number ones and that there will be no team orders.

But, as Bottas found out, Mercedes will not hesitate to issue team orders if the championship is at stake.

A recent example was towards the end of the Dutch Grand Prix when Bottas was told not to go for the bonus point for fastest race lap, so that Hamilton could collect it.

But that works both ways.

If, for example, Russell is fighting for the championship and Hamilton is out of contention, Hamilton will have to submit to team orders.

I say that Russell will be consistently challenging Hamilton from race one in 2022. It is going to be a fascinating battle to watch.

F1 Russian Grand Prix; American MotoGP; Long Beach Indycar Grand Final; Living Legends Warwick Brown Part 2; Young Guns Clay Richards; all the latest news & views

rty garty MarkrkFoFoga withhMa wit

E IL F E S IL E F G S O E F G E O H F T E H T AA’s profound pundit pays tribute to a pair of AA’s pondering pundit critiques iconoclasts who have influenced histhe long career Michael Schumacher documentary FURTHER ALONG in have over-stated with the benefit of knowing himttheI may this issue, we celebrate vaguest interest of the achievements of New AZealand legend IT’S very sad story. One of the Graham McRae, greatest athletes ever is struck down who early this prime by a freak in hisdied post-retirement month at the ripe recreational accident.

He survived, old age of 81.

Our but nearly eight years later, he has not historian Mark Bisset recovered. recounts McRae’sthe new Netflix Many expected career scrupulously, documentary Schumacher to lift the veil revealing an on the seven-time F1 world champion’s enormously talented condition. It does not. driver/engineer/ In fact, if you didn’t know Michael constructor. suffered a traumatic brain Schumacher Certainly, McRae’s injury in a skiing accident in December legacy is worthy of extensive i 2013, you might wonder about the acclamation, especially so longfilm. after underlying sombreness of the the peak of his accomplishments.

It’s not actually spelled out what Not much was heard ofconsequences. him in the past 40 happened, nor the years or so and the passing of time Schuey is spoken about in some sort of meant he was almost forgotten. ethereal sense. Here but not here.

His death was particularly poignant The documentary is confounding –and andcontradictory. sad – for me. But Forgive the as it is not indulgence, but he had a profound shallow and disappointing as many impactcharge. on my long career in journalism. critics In fact, I may notit’s have got my start For enthusiasts, unfulfilling, without him.

In early 1972, as certainly. We want to know when how Michael a 15-year-old I decided writing about really is. Is he comatose or aware? motor racing wasgeneral a way in, I identified But for Netflix’s audience, it is McRae as an interesting story. a moving tribute to a great – if flawed was at the his powers, – He champion.

Thepeak film of offers an insight dominating Formula 5000 thepublic into his rise and reign, andinhis Antipodes and making a name in the and private personas, which were very UK with his self-designed car. different.

In ’72, his Leda GM1 – resplendent Produced in co-operation with the in Day-Glo pink STP liveryhave – was the Schumacher family, who zealously F5000 to beat down under. protected his privacy since his McRae – nicknamed debilitating mishap, it is‘Cassius’ naïve to for think it his showmanship – won the Tasman would be a tell-all, reveal-all, here-he-is championship three years running from drama. ’71-73, mosthow notably – Aussie We allbeating want to –know Schuey F5000 ace Frank Matich. really is, how cognisant he is and His success whether there in is his anypost-McLaren hope he will walk M10B self-designed Leda, named for and talk again. his production deal with anwife English race His doting and devoted Corrina car builder, seemed a logical subject maintains Michael would not wish to explore. his plight to be explained. To some So withthat dubious authority, I fronted extent, is right.

He always McRae at Sandown in late February maintained a barrier between his ’72 and announced I had public and private life.been assigned to write a story on him for that Autowas Action.

When he was racing, understandable. In his current

www.autoaction.com.au www.autoaction.com.au

th then AA editor James L Laing-Peach… condition, as bad or as good as it Anyway, bold as, may be, I’m not convinced.

In my th this gangling teenager experience, Michael understood fan w with his primitive tape and media interest, even if he was never re recorder convinced comfortable with the intrusion.

Mc McRae. He invited He was, however, pragmatic andme to joi join him in his car at the accepted that he had to give some of bac back of the old Sandown himself to his followers. for the chat. from I knew him atpits arm’s distance W With him was 1992 to his first retirement at athe end of glam glamorous woman in 2006. We bantered and we battled. som some sort of fur coat.

On the unusual occasion when heShe was sceptical, he washe agreed to a one-on-one interview, i d indulgent. was thoughtful and considerate. He was in the back seat, microphone a I’m decent person who was a ruthless extended, asking him racer, much like Ayrtonearnest Senna.questions about Leda came about.

Theirhow willsthe to win at GM1 any cost regularly A few weeks later, my unsolicited clouded their sensibilities on the track. contribution was published Both took aggressive drivingin–AA. andIn hindsight, it was a very ordinary story. righteous indignation – to new levels But it launched my career and I will be that tarnished their legacies. forever grateful to McRae for indulging Schumacher is full of early and that precocious personal footagekid. that helps humanise Sadly, I never had any meaningful him, showing his lighter side and interaction with the head-strong commitment as a family man. Kiwi after It is that. a well-orchestrated, tightly By all accounts, McRae controlled production thatwas putsdifficult his to the point of obstinacy.

But he was racing achievements into positive at a level just short of many F1 andvoices excelled in the perspective.

The of family, USA, winning the rich L&M series in ’72. friends, mentors, colleagues and rivals He disappeared in the ’80s, but he give it balance and credibility. remained historical figure. Attempted As a nearantwo-hour homage to a touring car comebacks didn’t do his fallen hero/villain, the film is valid.

The talent justice. pity is that circumstances surrounding Our appreciation 32 - 37 his skiing accident on andpages resultant recognises Graham McRae’s stature devastating brain injuries are not in the golden era of big banger openexplained. wheel racing.

I have skied at Mirabel in France, where it happened, and while not AN AMERICAN suggesting I wasLEGEND anywhere near ARDENT FOLLOWERS Indycars as proficient as Michael, of even the over the past half century will most difficult black runs were know withinof Robin Miller, perhaps the they mostwere forthright my ability.

Mogul-ridden, and opinionated motor sport journalist punishing, but not dangerous. the world has ever known.

The difference is that it appears he Miller, 71, is certainly the so, straightestwas skiing off-piste. Even he was talking sports reporter I know – orstruck have very unlucky. His helmeted head ever met – and the pundit I admire a rock in an unusually bad way. most.

The accident has never really been fully explained. All we knew was that he

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Graham McRae (above) had a profound impact on Foges’ career, granting the precocious 15 year old an interview which was subsequently published in Auto Action (far left). was hospitalised in an induced coma.

But if you haven’t seen the first two Images: Gavin Hatfield/AA Archives He remained unconscious for a very seasons of Drive To Survive, the fly Unfortunately, his exceptional insights impressed is clever, candid long time until moved to his home in on the wall me. lookHe at F1, it would be a and never appeared in Australian media. concise.

Switzerland amid intense medical care. worthwhile one-off sign-up to watch His candour cost him his job at the However, the internet era, if you There heinremains, his confinement them all.

Indianapolis Star when he have been a dedicated fan of CART/ surrounded in mystery.

Meanwhile, thenewspaper latest intense rivalry questioned – rightly – Tony George’s Champcar/IRL/IndyCar, you will have The family is determined to maintain between Max Verstappen and Lewis leadershiphas of the IndyF1 Racing League readsecrecy, and watched unvarnished the which his is why some critics Hamilton made must-see TV in the midst of the CART versus IRL civil war. commentary of major American openhave been scathing. But they miss the again. This is a battle of the ages. New Miller rebounded as a writer/critic/ wheel racing’s civil war/reunification/ point. It wasn’t ABC’s Four Corners super-talent versus incumbent great. analyst on webcrash? sites and IndyCar revival. or BBC’s Panorama doing a deep Their Monza Racing incident. broadcasts.

In which case, like me, you will be investigation.

Talk to the hand… Best. Battle. In. He was firmly in the Champcar camp, upset to learnitthat iconoclastic To reiterate, wasthis a feel-good doco Years.

Rejoice, don’t revile. but he acknowledged its flaws.

His word warrior has terminal cancer and, done with the co-operation – aka, And Daniel Ricciardo’s victory was forthright views got himHe’s banned from by his own acknowledgement, is in his censorship – of Corinna. Inadequate for emphatic vindication. still one writing for Champcar’s web site. last days. many, interesting to most. of the very best. We doubted, but we Reunification hasSchumacher rallied to his with plightan ex-F1 shouldn’t IIndyCar discussed have.finally happened in 2008, when IRL absorbed to create following a recent near-death incident person now prominent in Supercars.

Our Dan now has Champcar his head around the the unified IndyCar Series. and he is held in such high regard that He, like me, enjoyed the trip down quirky McLaren-Mercedes and will do Throughout, criticised, cajoled he has been the American memory laneinducted of an erainto in which he was damage from Miller here on. and called out the bad Motor Sports Hall Of Fame, alongside deeply involved.

Add his revival to themanagement Max vs Lewisof both series. his heroes like AJ Foyt, Parnelli Jones Accept it for what it is rather than what fight and F1 is suddenly worth staying Helate wasfor. right and continued as a hardMario Andretti. itand might have been. Like the real story up edged analyst andMax news-breaker.

He is Miller is friends with all the Indy greats, of Senna’s death, I doubt the Shuey As a fan, I hope triumphs. He still the most connected media person who recognise his uncompromised saga will be fully told in my lifetime. By is the future. But an eighth world title in IndyCar, despite his debilitation. approach.

They have had famous runthe way, that’s his Angelised nickname, for Hamilton would be impressively Miller deserves his enshrinement as an ins, but came to appreciate his lack of which in German (and the rest of historic.

American sports legend because bias. Everyone in racing was fair game Europe) is Schumi.

We nevermotor thought Michael he consistently campaigned for questioning. better If you don’t already subscribe to Schumacher’s record wouldfor beabeaten.

As a writer, Miller has always deal.

Netflix, is it worth signing up to watch But, as he himself said, records are Schumacher? Probably not. made to be broken…

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NOT THE ‘R’ WORD The Banyo base of Triple Eight Race Engineering is, quite literally, a wall-to-wall trophy cabinet with hundreds of cups and plaques and Gold Coast surfboards.

PAUL GOVER says each one is a tribute to the top man at T8, Roland Dane.

HE IS the most driven character in Supercars, even if he leaves the actual driving to Jamie Whincup and Shane van Gisbergen and the rest of the aces who have raced in the name of T8 and its various partners – from Vodafone and Red Bull, to both Ford and Holden.

Dane is a master tactician, a planner and a schemer, a politician, a brilliant businessman and, at all times, focussed and relentless.

He is a racer who always has his eyes on the prize.

And yet he is about to walk away from Triple Eight, which is more like his child than a racing team, for a quieter life where he will split his time between Brisbane and Britain.

His plan is to spend more time with his family, reconnecting with friends including his great mate and former F1 racer Derek Warwick, and indulging his passions for everything from high-speed motorcycles to art and fine dining.

Dane has been developing and then working through his transition plan for more than five years and is finally ready to talk, although actual use of the R-word is tough for him.

“I’m not sure I’ve said I’m retiring,” Dane begins, while sitting with a cup of tea on the balcony at his expansive home in Brisbane’s riverside inner-city.

It’s a typical reply from a motorsport chess master who likes to stay one move ahead, and usually has no trouble maintaining his edge.

“What I’ve said is that I’m eligible for a bus pass in a few weeks time,” he adds, as he opens the door to Auto Action for some rare insights.

That is British code for his 65th birthday, the age in Britain when Seniors get a free ride on public transport. Not that Dane needs buses,

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with an electric Mini and a Porsche in the garage now that his ties to Holden have been officially terminated.

Then he begins to relax and the chat is wide and varied, starting with the future of T8 “It’s time to hand over the running of Triple Eight to the next generation,” Dane says.

That means everything from Jamie Whincup’s future role as team boss, the massive ownership stake he sold to businessman-racer Tony Quinn, and the role of his daughter Jessica at Banyo.

“What it does do, hopefully, is free me up so that I’m not bound by the Supercars calendar and feel obliged to be in a certain place on a certain day. So, if I want to spend a couple of months of the year in Europe, in their summer, I can.

“I’m retiring from running Tripe Eight.

That I’m doing.”

So there it is, the confirmation, as he moves on to his future role.

“I think the shareholders want me to stay on for a year as Chairman, in a part-time role. I certainly don’t want to tread on people’s toes and I don’t want to out-stay my welcome.”

But will he be lurking at the back of the garage, as he has done since passing the pivot point in the Red Bull Ampol Racing garage, standing between the two race engineers, to Mark Dutton? Or dropping into Banyo every day?

“I might come in and have a look, but there is an awful lot of the business that is being run today by the people who are there. And with far less involvement on my part than there has ever been.”

Dane stresses that the change has been part of a long-term plan and he is

comfortable, and happy, with the way it is going.

“The strategy is more about trying to empower who is there, those people, to do their jobs and gradually allow them to get on with it.”

At the top, that means Jamie Whincup and Dane’s daughter, Jessica, who relocated from the UK to join the family business and is now also studying for a law degree.

“Jamie had talked about wanting to get involved. What he wanted to do. And then he said he would like to prove the point by buying into the business, three years ago.

Triple Eight’s first-ever race in Australia, the 2 litre Bathurst 1000 in 1998. Peter Brock and Derek Warwick shared the Vauxhall Vectra. It followed the team’s highlysuccesful British Touring Car campaign.

Images: Motorsport Images/Ross Gibb Photography/AA Archive Roland Dane with the next generation, Jamie Whincup and daughter Jessica Dane (opposite, left). Dane pictured at right with long-time friend and one-time Triple Eight partner, Derek Warwick. Early days for Triple Eight in Australia (above), Craig Lowndes on his way to Bathurst victory.

“He was drawing a line in the sand to say ‘I am serious’. And then I knew what the direction could be.”

Jessica, who has famously said “I’m a Dane, we don’t smile”, is also pivotal.

“Her role for the next period, whether you call it three years or five years or whatever, is really to try to provide the administrative backbone for the business, for Jamie to be able to operate. So looking after the HR side, overlooking policy, overlooking contractual issues, to empower Jamie and empower the other people there to allow them to do their day-to-day jobs.

That is really her role, to try and ensure that the administrative side of the business is being executed properly.”

So there will be another Dane at the top of T8, but it’s not just family succession.

“If I didn’t have her then I would have to try and find someone like her. Operating a business with 50, 60 people, or whatever, in Australia today, is increasingly onerous.

“She has been around the business for a long time and she has an understanding of motor sport that goes beyond just Triple Eight. She’s a bit like Shane (van Gisbergen), in that she just soaks up a hell of a lot of what is going on around the world. Not just from the perspective of females in motor sport, but from an overall perspective in what’s going on in sports cars, what’s going on in F1 or MotoGP. She takes a keen interest in it.

“She has got her own level of contacts now that she uses to keep herself up with what is going on. To

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be honest, sometimes at a better level than me these days. She is connected with a different generation to me.”

But there was also a time when Dane’s daughter could have been running a satellite Supercars team with Simona de Silvestro driving and a mostly female crew.

“We had a plan that would have been good to have been able to execute properly. But, in the end, it didn’t happen, because I was very insistent that it had to be funded properly and it was taking too long to put all those pieces into place.

“In the end it didn’t happen and that’s one of the reasons Jessica said ‘If I’m not going to be doing that, what will I do to improve myself?’. So she went off, literally shortly afterwards, to do the law degree to give herself another set of tools.”

Even though the Simona plan failed, Dane was a surprising fan of the Swiss

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miss.

“It would have been good to have Simona. I think she was potentially better than she was showing, and it would have been good to have helped her show that.”

Dane is so committed to T8 that he became an Australian citizen, like his daughter, and has developed a multifaceted business that is much more than just a Supercars racing team with a new manufacturing operation at a fresh factory on the same street in Banyo.

“Hopefully, just having a number of different legs to the business means that we’re more resourceful, means that we’ve got different sources of income, and can spread our risk, and allow us – as the Supercars become very standardised in the Gen3 car – to have the ability to have an engineering backbone.

“It doesn’t matter if we’re doing

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Super2, or GTs, or manufacturing, it is one thing. If you’re just relying on Supercars, and it’s your only sphere of operation, you’re not going to be able to justify having the sort of engineering expertise that Triple Eight has always had.”

That approach explains why Dane’s company, tracking back to its foundation days in Super Touring in the UK, has always been called Triple Eight Race Engineering.

“If I go back to the name of the business, it came through a conversation between Ian Harrison – who had worked at Williams - and myself back in the mid-90s. Having Race Engineering came out of Williams being called Williams Grand Prix Engineering. The engineering side is what made Williams the force it was through the ‘80s and the first half of the ‘90s.”

Apart from racing, Dane has been a successful businessman with

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Roland Dane in typical pose in recent times (right) and at the beginning of his Supercar adventure in Australia (below), with engineer Mark Dutton.

wide-ranging interests. He went from washing cars to owning the Panther car company, was for a time the biggest importer of second-hand Japanese cars to the UK, and has even been involved with hotels in England and restaurants in Asia.

“There are only two areas I’ve really ever earned any money out of, and those are automotive and motorsport.

I’ve only ever been a silent investor in the others. Other people have done all the work and all I’ve done is benefit,” he admits.

“In automotive, I’ve held my own for all my working life. For the last 25 years, basically the second half of my working life, I’ve spent more time on motor sport than I did on the automotive side.

“Automotive taught me an awful lot about the world because it took me all over the world. But, while I enjoyed it an awful lot and still enjoy some aspects of it, it didn’t give me as much of a kick as actually competing. That’s what we do, the team competes, and that gives you the adrenalin rush.”

It’s also provided Dane and the T8 family with the massive number of trophies at Banyo, but he is still clear on the key achievements reflected in the collection.

“I think, in hindsight, it’s so hard to separate some of the big moments. But the 1-2 at Bathurst in 2010 is probably the pinnacle. Because everyone tried so hard to stop us winning.

He is talking about a rule change that stopped teams from pairing their Supercars sprint drivers, meaning Dane had to split Whincup and Craig

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Lowndes.

“We had had three (1000) wins on the trot, in six, seven and eight, and then they changed the rules to try and stop us winning.

“It actually achieved the opposite and meant we got two podium positions instead of one. It was immensely satisfying to stick a finger up at the people who had tried to screw us over with that rule change. I didn’t disagree with the rule change so much, it was just a very open and deliberate attempt to try and stop us winning all the time.

“Anyway, that 1-2 was extremely satisfying. I look back and there have only ever been three 1-2s at Bathurst, in the history of the sport, and we’ve

got one of those.”

The rule change also meant good co-drivers cost more and changed the complexion of the driver line-ups at Mount Panorama.

“It cost them all more money. Unfortunately, it also stopped us bringing some of the outsiders, like Yvan Muller.

Some were good, some were not so good, but it was interesting to have outsiders come. That stopped and it was a shame, because you could do things with your second car that suddenly you could no longer do.”

From the highs of Bathurst, Dane easily identifies the lowest point in his motor sport career.

“In motor racing, and in life really, the

overall disappointment, the worst day, the worst incident, was undoubtedly the death of Paul Warwick in 1991 at Oulton Park. And by a long way.”

The younger brother of Derek was competing in a Formula 3000 singleseater event as he headed rapidly on a trajectory towards Formula 1.

“I was there that day and Derek wasn’t. I was there with a couple of very close friends of Paul and Paul’s father, and it was undoubtedly the worst day of my life, so far. It’s just the biggest, worst, event in my life in motor sport.”

It also gave him a different perspective.

“There was a realisation that it can be dangerous, that it is dangerous. At that time, 30 years ago, it was a lot more dangerous than it is today, but even back then we thought safety had taken huge strides from where we had been.

We didn’t think of it automatically as being dangerous.

“So it was a real shock. And very hard to take with somebody that close, not only in terms of the relationship and friendship, but also the potential. This kid was going to go and slay dragons at the highest level. He was almost an identical age with Michael Schumacher, their birthdays literally days apart, and it would have been just great to have seen him develop that potential.

“It was heart breaking.”

The incident hit Dane hard and even impacted on his love of racing.

“It wasn’t that I wasn’t interested in motor sport for a long time. I didn’t want to help anyone else, and I didn’t, for many, many years. One of the people I didn’t help, funnily enough, who asked for a small bit of help back in the late ‘90s when he came to Europe, was Mark Webber. I had lent cars in the past, and I said no.

“I did actually help David Coulthard.

But only by suggesting that he was a good up-and-comer for Car Graphic magazine in Japan to back, because they had been backing Paul and desperately wanted to keep an involvement in Formula 3000, just under Formula 1. I steered them in David’s direction, which he always said helped pay for his apartment in Milton

Keynes at the time he was driving for Paul Stewart Racing. He’s acknowledged that from time to time.”

In Australia, and outside the direct T8 family, Dane has also given help to some up-and-coming drivers. Scott Pye was one, but he is not talking about any others.

“It’s up to them. They know who they are. There are areas where I have helped people in a more substantial way, and I have helped people in a small way. It’s up to them to tell, not me.

“It’s good when they remember and acknowledge it, and there are several in Australia who have done that.”

Dane is open about his friendship with Warwick, from the time he was a grand prix racer to his current motor sport role as one of the FIA Stewards at F1 races. There was a time when he drove for T8 in Super Touring and he was one of the team principals.

“We share mutual interests and we have spent so long, 35 years or so, in each other’s company. And I don’t want to fall out with him because my Triumph Rocket 3 is sitting in his garage.

“I talked to him last night. But if he does tell me Stewards stuff, it stops with me.”

Switching back to racing topics, Dane is clear on some things. One of those is T8’s ongoing development work

Dane has sold a massive ownership stake in Triple Eight to businessman-racer Tony Quinn. Roland’s greatest achievement, he says, is the team’s 1-2 win in the 2010 Bathurst 1000 (top).

on the Gen3 racer that will transform Supercars in the back half of 2022.

“I’ve said all along that I don’t talk about Gen3. That’s for Supercars to talk about. We’re part of it, but it’s their project.”

But with older(er) age catching up with him, it’s time for Dane to reflect on some of his successes.

“First and foremost, seeing your family doing well. But, secondly, all the people who have developed alongside you, with you, over the years, seeing those people kick goals. That produces the most satisfaction.

“That’s followed by looking back and being able to say: Well, I didn’t come here 18 years ago with nothing, but I didn’t come here also with billions of dollars in my back pocket. I had the same opportunity as anyone else, really, to come into this environment. So that is satisfying, to have been able to kick the number of goals we have, over those 18 years, from a standing start.”

Bathurst, though, is his personal measure of success.

“Bathurst is the most important race in the world, in my opinion, and always has been. The most important race in

my world. And hopefully will remain so in my lifetime.

“So having the track record that we have at Bathurst, not just the wins, but being there or thereabouts almost every single year. And having won a 12-Hour race there as well helps. But the 1000 is really what it’s all about.

“We might only have won it eight times, at the moment, but we could have won it 15 times. We’ve been in the fight every time.”

Looking to the future, Dane has plans but is only prepared to tease a hint.

“To be honest, I’m just doing what I’ve read that old people do, which is downsizing. Living in a six-bedroom house that is far too big for me makes no sense.

“So I’ve positioned myself to travel more easily by having a smaller place here in Brisbane and giving myself peace of mind in being able to lock the door and go away for two months, and come back refreshed.

“I don’t think I’ve got anything particular in mind, beyond hopefully being able to buy a ticket to London in the not-too-distant future and catch up with everyone.

“Maybe I’ll buy a rocking chair and a rug, so I can sit and think about things.”

As if . . .

Triple Eight and Shane van Gisbergen in particular have dominated the 2021 Supercars season and leads the Championship. Townsville saw the team’s most recent 1-2 win, with soon to be Managing Director Jamie Whincup holding a strong second in the series.

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Warwick Brown

NICE WON WARWICK WARWICK BROWN PART ONE

In the latest of our conversations with racing greats of the past, fiery F5000 star Warwick Brown recounts his brief but impressive career with MARK FOGARTY IMAGES: Autopics.com.au/John

ON PAPER, Warwick Brown’s racing record looks light-on. In just a decade, he flared and then disappeared. Prodigy to premature retirement.

In fact, Brown was much, much better than his simple statistics. He survived one of the most horrendous crashes ever and recovered to win the last Tasman Cup championship, become a front-runner in American F5000/Can-Am and start an F1 race.

The feisty redheaded racer of the 1970s suddenly quit, arguably at his peak, at the end of that decade and in retirement went on to become a successful private jet pilot and aviation entrepreneur.

Now 71, Brown is still active, alert, involved and opinionated. Surly and aggressive in his racing heyday, in his ‘dotage’ he is a raconteur, relating his memories with stark honesty and entertaining humour.

He remains a keen and informed observer of racing, following F1 and Supercars – and all the young Aussies abroad – closely.

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Lemm/Auto Action archives/Warwick Brown Collection

Born and bred on Sydney’s leafy upper North Shore, where he still lives, Brown starred in open wheelers from the unlikely start of his racing career to its early end in 1979.

In just eight years, he rocketed from under-two litre tyro to F5000 maestro, winning the last full NZ/Australia Tasman Cup in ’75, and then the Oz-only 1977 and ’78 Rothmans International

“He wanted to get a Formula Vee. Too slow for me. I wanted something sexier than that”

Series. He was third in what turned out to be his last hurrah in the ’79 series, in F5000’s spluttering stage.

More than 40 years later, Brown remembers it all – and more – with uncanny recall and humour.

But underlying his self-effacing recall is an enduring arrogance. He knew he was ‘kin-good in his day and isn’t afraid to intimate his self-confidence.

At least 44 years after our last meaningful encounter – there was a brief reacquaintance at a soiree in Sydney in 2004 – Brown and I chat like old mates.

We talk for more than two hours, which is the longest interview I’ve ever done. It was also among the most enjoyable and informative.

WB is also a passionate advocate of S5000 – the modern version of F5000 – and the revival of the Tasman Cup championship. He is convinced the rumbling V8-powered single-seater reincarnation is a cost-effective pathway to international success for aspiring young Aussies.

Unruly dark red hair matched Brown’s fiery nature, pictured here (right) in 1973. He took to F5000 (pictured here at Oran Park) under the guidance of Peter Molloy, taming his wild driving in ex-Niel Allen McLaren M10B at Oran Park (left). He wrung the neck of the ex-Piers Courage, ex-Allen 1.8-litre McLaren M4A Cosworth (below centre right), snapping at the heels of the 2.5L ANF1 cars in the 1971 Gold Star (pictured here at Warwick Farm). WB starred in F3 Brabham (bottom) in ‘69/70 (pictured here at Bathurst) and was in F5000 just two seasons later.

ZERO TO HERO

Brown was heavily influenced by his father, a powerful patriarch who owned a successful earthmoving and civil engineering business. Although a competitive person, he discouraged his son’s teenage interest in racing.

His father died when Brown was just 17, and although he rebelled against his wishes to join the family business, taking more of an interest in becoming a mechanic, he retained his interest in heavy machinery and his outlook on life was forever guided by his dad’s principals.

“I had a lot of respect for him,” he said. “He was the light of my life. I’ve thought about him every day since then. He was the most powerful influence on my life and I learned a lot from him.

“One of the things my father told me was to find something in life that you were good at and I’ve stuck with that all my life. He was against me racing. He wanted me to go into the family business.”

Although a disinterested student, he was – and still is – keen on sports and, like his father, excelled at boxing as a teenager, captaining his school’s boxing team for three years.

“I was always fascinated with anything sporting,” he said. “I’ve been a sporting tragic all my life. I’d watch two flies crawling up a wall as long as one of them was Australian.

“But I also had a fascination for anything mechanical. I was driving bulldozers at 13 or 14, plus trucks, excavators – any form of earthmoving equipment – totally self-taught.”

He also developed an interest in motor racing and was a regular spectator at race meetings at Warwick Farm and Bathurst. As fate would have it, the Browns’ next-door neighbour was Pat Burke, a wealthy enthusiast businessman who made his fortune in the Australian mining boom in the late 1960s early ’70s.

A casual conversation resulted in Brown taking

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up racing at 19 in 1969, forming a patron/protégé partnership that set the youngster on the fast track to stardom.

“Pat had a lust for motor racing, but he had so many responsibilities, he couldn’t race himself,” he recalled.

“I drove him to Bathurst and on the way, he asked me if I’d ever thought about going motor racing. He said ‘Why don’t we get into it?’

“He wanted to get a Formula Vee. Too slow for me.

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I wanted something sexier than that. As fate would have it, my girlfriend at the time knew this guy who had a Formula 3 Brabham. Anyway, we did a deal and I bought it from him – and he took the girlfriend! So that’s how I got into racing.”

He made his debut in the Brabham BT9 – powered by a 1.1-litre Holbay Ford – at Warwick Farm in late ’69, finishing second in his class and third outright in a Formula Libre field in his first race.

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Buried in the reeds in a ditch (left) is the mangled wreckage of Brown’s Target-backed LolaT300 (pictured intact, below left), totalled in a huge crash at Surfers Paradise International Raceway in early February 1973. His comeback from horrendous leg injuries the following year in a Lola T332 (below, at Sandown) was highlighted by attention-getting end-of-season appearances in the USA.

LIFE-THREATENING CRASH

His family was “apoplectic” when they found out he was racing, but Brown had suddenly found his calling.

He still remembers the little Brabham with awe.

“I thought it was the fastest thing in the world,” he chuckled. “I couldn’t believe anything could be so quick. Wonderful.

“Pat funded that and I was fortunate that from day one, I always had sponsors for my racing.”

After his first event, Brown was never beaten in the Brabham in his class in NSW and Victoria – running just behind or even among the 1.6-litre F2s.

“We realised within six months that I needed a bigger, better car,” he said.

Burke obliged by buying the ex-Piers Courage McLaren M4A 1.8-litre Cosworth Ford FVC from Sydney real estate mogul racer Neil Allen.

FAST TRACK TO THE TOP

Brown delighted in the nimble McLaren, and although outclassed by the 2.5-litre ANF1 machines, finished seventh in the 1971 Gold Star championship. That, in turn, prompted the increasingly ambitious Pat Burke Racing to step up to outright contention with an F5000 McLaren M10B Chev, again ex-Allen, for the ’72 Tasman Cup championship.

The move was also the start of Brown’s defining alliance with the late Peter Molloy, by then a noted race engine builder and emerging guru team manager.

“I was a 22-year-old kid driving a 500-horsepower car!” Brown recounted.

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It was the start of a successful, if often fractious, relationship. The tension and respect were there from the outset.

“I was a pretty aggressive young bloke,” Brown said. “Peter was a man of few words. He said to me ‘Listen, son, I’ve seen ya, ya got a bit of talent, but you’re too wild’. That didn’t go down too well with me, but I had the sense at the time to figure that this guy had a helluva reputation and was obviously knowledgeable and a wise man, so I decided to listen to him.

“Within about two months, I was trying at about 90 per cent of what I was previously and going a second and a half quicker. I was thinking ‘How easy is this?’

“Pat wanted Peter to run the team as well as build the engines. He felt we needed a team manager, and he was dead right. He coached me and trained me.

“Those two guys were the people who made my career. I definitely wouldn’t have achieved what I did without them.”

Brown showed plenty of promise, claiming fifth in the Gold Star series, to once more earn an upgrade for ’73. Burke bought Bob Muir’s Lola T300 Chev discount department chain Target signed on as sponsor.

The Team Target deal, brokered by journalist-turned-PR/marketing man (and now successful author in retirement) John Smailes, was lucrative and ground-breaking.

“It was an unbelievable amount of money in those days,” Brown said.

He was immediately on the pace in the ’73 Tasman Cup Kiwi rounds in the year old car, third at Levin and second at Wigram. It was then off to Surfers Paradise International Raceway for the start of the Australian leg of the trans-Tasman summer series.

In the warm-up for the race on Sunday, February 4, 1973, he suffered a deflated left front tyre as he powered the spindly wedge-shaped Lola through the fearsomely fast right-hander at the end of the long-defunct circuit’s main straight.

The resulting crash was one of the most devastating ever. The car was a mangled wreck, yet somehow Brown survived, albeit with a shattered lower body.

“Regrettably, I just missed the outside wall,” he reminisced nonchalantly. “I think if I’d hit it, it would’ve thrown me back on the track. But I missed it by inches and went up a bank.

“I was doing OK until I hit a cutting and launched into the air. I went through the air for 120 feet and landed upside down in a drain.

“That was my life-defining accident. But I don’t have any problem talking about it or thinking about it.

“I had one of the largest accidents I think anyone has ever survived. Frank Gardner happened to be watching it at the time and he told me later on that in his opinion, I was subjected to 90 g. Not many have lived through an impact like that in that era.”

Both Brown’s legs were broken, snapped between knee and ankle, and each ankle was pulverised. He also broke his back as the engine water pump was rammed through the seat by the impact.

“That was a bit of a blessing in a way because it took my mind off my legs because my back was that sore,” he said.

“Listen, son, I’ve seen ya, ya got a bit of talent, but you’re too wild” It took 20 minutes to cut him out of the twisted wreck. As he was losing a lot of blood, his ambulance was diverted to a hospital in Brisbane, arriving just in time to save his life.

“They reckon another 10 minutes and it would’ve been all too late,” he said.

He spent three months in hospital and had to learn to walk again. His girlfriend Suzy (later to become his wife) nursed him through his recovery, which required intensive physio and training.

Brown credits her with getting him through the ordeal, giving him the resolve to want to return to racing in F5000.

“Suzy was the one that got me going again,” he recalled proudly. “Pat promised me we’d get another car. I held him to it.”

His physical recovery was remarkable and left no psychological scars.

“We saw the bad side of motor racing, which in those days wasn’t all that uncommon,” he philosophised. “I’ve started in three races in my time where guys have died.

“I think about it with my values today and shudder.

But back then, you never thought it would happen to you. Well, I ended up in hospital three times. How

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“You never thought it would happen to you. Well, I ended up in hospital three times.

How bloody stupid was I?” bloody stupid was I? But I wouldn’t change anything.

“There were a few days I wished I’d never got out of bed and that was obviously one of them, but otherwise no regrets.

“I never thought about stopping. I was devoted to it. It was my whole life.

My attitude was that if I died in a racing car, that was the price I had to pay. Stupid to say that now, but that’s how I felt back then.”

His family tried to get him to quit and were shocked when he announced his comeback.

“I said to them ‘If I gave up now, I should never have started’,” he rationalised. “That was my attitude.

“I’m proud that I did all my good stuff after I had that big one.

I was one of the few who knew the consequences of what could happen to you if you had a bad day.

“Did it change my approach to racing? Well, I don’t think it slowed me down. It gave me a few physical impairments.

“I lost mobility in my feet. Heeling and toeing was difficult. In those days, would I have admitted it slowed me at all? Hell no. In hindsight, I’m sure it did have some effect.”

INCREDIBLE COMEBACK

Not that you’d notice from his career following his return to the 1974 Tasman Cup. In a Molloy fettled Lola T332 Chev, he was sixth including a confidence boosting race win in the Adelaide final round. Mid-season, it was off for an initial foray into the booming American F5000 series, as the small Aussie squad mixed it with the big names.

His trial run comprised end-of-season appearances at Ontario Motor Speedway, Laguna Seca Raceway and Riverside International Raceway, all in California. He was second in his Ontario heat, fifth at Laguna and a magnificent third to Mario Andretti and Brian Redman at Riverside (like Ontario, long buried under housing developments).

Nice Won Warwick. Patron-Pat Burke, Warwick Brown, team mechanic Phil Harris and master mechanic/ engineer/team manager Peter Malloy, seen here celebrating their ’75 Tasman Cup triumph with some coldies. Peter Molloy (far right in picture) with his famous ‘V for victory’, of course …

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A photo of him following the legends has pride of place in his home.

Brown returned home for the ’74 Australian Grand Prix at Oran Park in November, suffering one of his greatest disappointments.

He had the race shot to pieces when his Molloy motor’s harmonic balancer failed.

“I was so far in front that I could’ve pulled up for a Big Mac and fries and still won the thing,” he grumbled.

He was primed for an all-out assault on the ’75 Tasman Cup championship, which turned out to be the last following growing friction between the NZ and Australian promoters.

The series ended with a thrilling finale at Sandown. Brown, Johnnie Walker and 1970 Tasman champion Graeme Lawrence went into the decider tied on points.

Walker, under-rated, started on pole from Brown.

Infamously, Walker crashed spectacularly on the opening lap, his lightly sponsored orange T332 spearing off over the rise at the end of the back straight, tearing through the horse racing track railing on the inside of the circuit as it appeared to

disintegrate.

“Walker was very good,” Brown noted. “I had a lot of respect for John. But I think he had a fair bit of desperation going in that last race.

“He went and had a single plane crank fitted to his (Repco Holden) engine (for more power), which had a habit of shaking the car to bits.

“I got the jump and was leading up the back straight. I could feel Johnnie coming, except I was on the good side of the track – I was on the right going over the rise. He was on the left amongst the marbles and stuff and I thought ‘This is not going to end up well’.

“I was worried he was going to take me out. I sensed the kerfuffle when he went off.”

Amazingly, Walker emerged from the tangled aluminium mess with just bruises and scratches as Brown sailed on while Lawrence struggled.

“Johnnie was very lucky,” Brown intoned. “If he’d hit the pylon of that Rothmans sign there, he’d have been dead. As it was, he ripped up the horse track railing to smithereens.

“He looked like he’d done 15 rounds with Muhammad Ali, but he didn’t break anything, which

WB won the 12th and final Tasman Cup Championship in ’75 in a threeway title shootout with Johnnie Walker and Graeme Lawrence, in a Sandown finale.

He won two races – NZ GP and Oran Park (left) – and led John Goss until the last lap in the dramatic Sandown decider (right), taking the prestigious summer series crown by one point.

Back at the track that nearly claimed his life only two years before.

Brown aboard his Lola T332 Chev during the Surfers Paradise Tasman round in 1975.

Incidently, chassis HU27 was the very first of its model type built and was new for WB.

was incredible.”

It was. I witnessed the crash from the outside of what is now Turn 6 and couldn’t believed he survived, much less essentially uninjured. I also saw him the next day to follow up his escape and, apart from some facial lacerations, Walker was unscathed.

The spectacular crash and Lawrence’s fade left Brown with an easy, but not uneventful, run to the flag and the title.

“After the accident, it wasn’t a real hard race for me,” he shrugged. “I just had to keep out of trouble.”

He was leading going into the last lap when his engine coughed and spluttered, starved of fuel.

He dashed into the pits for a quick dose, returning to finish sixth as John Goss streaked to an unexpected victory.

“I’m sure I did the right thing, but I would’ve won it anyway because Lawrence was out, too, and I had more wins than anybody,” he said.

Brown won the last Tasman Cup by a point in the storied summer series’ closest finish. Despite the narrow margin, he was the dominant driver and

deserved the title.

He regards it as the highlight of his career.

“I was the first and only Australian to win it,” he said. “There are some pretty good names on that Cup, including Jackie Stewart, Jim Clark, Graham McRae. That’s pretty good company.”

From there, Brown returned to the USA with Pat Burke and Peter Molloy.

His reason for crossing the Pacific rather than the traditional path to the UK was typically pragmatic.

“My decision where to go overseas, which I did very early, was pretty simple,” he explained.

“You went to Europe for the prestige and you went to America if you wanted the money.

“After my accident, my vision of becoming world champion wasn’t going to happen, realistically, but I was interested in money. So, I went to America and did very well out of it.”

Very well, indeed.

Next issue: Brown recounts his rapid rise in America, doomed F1 start and premature retirement that led to an also-successful – and much longer – career in aviation.

WB FACT FILE Age

71 ( born 24/12/1949)

Lives

Sydney

Status Married, retired private jet pilot Racing career

1969-1980

Main categories Formula 5000, Can-Am Championships 1975 Tasman Cup; ’77/78 Rothmans International Series Major race wins 1975 New Zealand GP 1977 Australian GP F1 starts

1 (1976 USA GP – 14th)

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CAMARO TAKES ALL: BOB JANE’S 1971 ATCC WIN

The Chevrolet Camaro’s entry into Supercar competition next year has enthusiasts excited. The Camaro first won an Australian Touring Car Championship 50 years ago when Bob Jane was victorious in one of Australia’s most loved racers. Mark Bisset remembers Jano’s mighty 427 ZL-1 V8.

IMAGES: Autopics.com.au/AA

MOUNT PANORAMA is the Cathedral of Australian motor racing, and the late, great Oran Park was its bullring.

Fittingly, the Action Circuit of the Seventies, 20km west of Sydney, staged the winner-takes-all Australian Touring Car Championship decider on August 8, 1971, 50 years ago.

By 9am, 32,000 fans grid-locked Sydney’s southwest roads to witness touring car’s biggest names battle for the heavyweight title.

Pete Geoghegan, as intuitive an artist at the wheel as there ever was, and the hometown favourite, went head-to-head with two Melbourne pretenders;

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perennial baddie, the intense, brooding Allan Moffat, and Bob Jane, a pugnacious Brunswick brawler.

Their weapons of war were three iconic touring cars; Big Pete’s Australian (John Sheppard built) developed Ford Mustang GTA 302, Moffat’s seductive factory Kar-Kraft Mustang Trans Am 302 and Jano’s brutish Chev Camaro ZL-1 427.

Jane was on the cusp of a title he last won in 1962-63 aboard a Jaguar Mk2.

Only a year before he seemed an unlikely Chevvy campaigner. He had raced three Mustangs from 1965, but the stocky entrepreneur – surely one

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of Australia’s greatest from the 1960s1980s – was perennially on the move.

To his existing wholesale car business and nascent, rapidly expanding Bob Jane T-Marts empire, he added Southern Motors, a Melbourne Holden dealership group.

He and John Harvey soon raced a Series Production HT Holden Monaro GTS350. Next, Bob simultaneously commissioned John Sheppard to build the superlative Holden Torana GTR XU-1 Repco Holden 4.4-litre V8, while a Camaro ZL-1 looked a good thing to a racer always after The Unfair Advantage.

Jano wasn’t the first to race a Camaro in Australia, that honour went to Melbourne racer Terry Allen who competed in a Camaro SS from 1967.

Then Norm Beechey replaced his Chev Nova with a Camaro SS, which debuted at Warwick Farm in July 1968, before Bryan Thomson joined the fold in 1969.

Jane raised the bar bigtime in 1970 when he bought two ‘69 ZL-1s from 1960 Indy 500 winner, Jim Rathman’s Cape Canaveral, Florida Chev dealership.

Sixty-nine of these poverty-pack, but oh-so-special, pricey Central Office

Jane bringing home the bacon at Oran Park. What a menacing presence that thing would have had in ‘yer mirrors! (left). Calder Classic Repco/Gloweave (turn one) shot. Lotsa space, lotsa cars, lotsa carnage! Moffat, Jane, Jim McKeown’s 911S, Norm in the Monaro and ‘Big Pete’ in the Mustang. (above left). Jane and Geoghegan finished one-two at Mallala in June. Despite constant evolution from its birth, Pete’s warrior - easily the most reliable front-runner - lacked ultimate pace in ‘71. (above right) in June. Soggy Symmons. The ‘71 ATCC is underway on March 1 with the Fab-Four up-front; Moffat and Jane, Beechey and Geoghegan on a day Moffat’s Mustang prevailed. (bottom) machines were built. What made them trick was light weight, front disc brakes, stiffer suspension, four-speed Muncie M21/22 gearboxes, a 12-bolt posi-traction limited slip differential and a magnificent, aluminium 427cid (7-litre) V8.

The engine spun-off GM’s backdoor Can-Am alliance with Jim Hall’s Chaparral outfit, based at Rattlesnake Raceway, Texas. These unlimited sportscars were the wildest, most powerful road-racers on the planet until the 1.5-litre 1000bhp F1 turbo-cars of the mid-eighties.

The 321kw @ 5200rpm, two valve, 427cid ‘Rat’ V8s had big-block performance and small-block weight.

Moffat couldn’t live with a beefy 351 Cleveland bolted into his Mustang, the extra 50kg or so of weight stuffed the handling of his Trans Am 302. Jane had no such disadvantage, albeit the driveline of the car was stressed – but it was nothing a liberal interpretation of the rulebook couldn’t fix!

The cars were soon on a ship to Port Melbourne. There, build number 33, a Hugger Orange ZL-1, VIN # 610732 was bolted to a surfaceplate and converted into a Group C racer at Bob Jane Racing in Sydney Road, Brunswick overseen by Chief Mechanic/Team Manager John Sawyer.

Fabrication and construction was by John Brookfield, Graeme Moore, Ron Harrop and others.

The garish, brutal orange beast

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broke cover in early 1971. Sandown’s late February Tasman meeting was a portent of the spectacular year’s racing to come, when Moffat and Jane swapped paint in the second of the Bill Patterson Holden Trophy heats. Jane won both, the pair notably quicker than reigning champ, Norm Beechey’s magic Trans-Oz Monaro GTS350.

A month later the circus gathered for the first ATCC round at Symmons Plains.

Jane popped the orange beastie on pole but had no answer to Moffat’s pace on a very wet race day. Moffat passed Bob on lap four, winning from Jane and Geoghegan. Beechey’s engine blew in the race after head sealing-ring problems throughout the weekend. Jim McKeown’s Porsche 911S was fourth – the 911s were outgunned by the V8s in 1971 – Graham Ritter’s Ford Escort Twin-cam was fifth and Rob Kent’s Morris Cooper S, sixth.

ATCC days of yore had bulk variety but not 24 Supercar grid depth.

Calder followed three weeks later, there Moffat took pole by a tenth from Jane, McKeown, Beechey, Geoghegan, Thomson’s Camaro and Ritter. Moffat led for 10 laps after Jane’s clutch failed on lap one, before the Mustang’s engine progressively cooked, then Beechey led and won – his last ATCC win in a stellar, thrilling career.

Geoghegan was second and McKeown third.

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The series remained in Victoria – Sandown – where the Camaro was a sure-fire winner, two long straights and a couple of medium high-speed corners were tailor made for GM’s finest.

Geoghegan and Moffat gave their Super-Falcons a gallop during practice, however while the locally-built racers were closer in times to their Mustangs, both drivers elected to race their well proven American iron.

In a fascinating race, Moffat started well but was passed by Jane until he progressively lost his intermediate gears – he chugged through slower corners in fourth gear using bulk 7-litre torque. Moffat passed him but was black-flagged. He ignored the flag several times, then quickly pitted on his last lap to discover a transmission oil

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line hanging free (the oil pump fell off at Goodyear Corner) .

He restarted, took the chequered flag, the bubbles and kissed the babe, but was later excluded from the results for ignoring the black flag.

Jane won from Geoghegan, who was steadily accumulating a bag of points, and McKeown.

Surfers Paradise is another fast circuit which favoured the Camaro but Jane had no answer for Moffat’s pace that May weekend.

The Malvern Marvel popped his Mustang on pole, then raced into the distance, setting a lap record, winning by 35 seconds from Jane and Geoghegan. Noteworthy was John French’s speed in Moffat’s Super Falcon. He gave Geoghegan plenty to think about, passing him at one

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stage until John spun. He caught Geoghegan again before finishing a second adrift of Pete’s faithful old-gal.

A long tow south followed a month later, the tourers gathering at tight Mallala in mid-June.

There, the Jane – Moffat tables turned, Bob started from pole and won the race. Moffat spun out of second, then Geoghegan stepped up to the plate, drawing close to the Camaro many times under brakes, only to be out-mumbo’d on the straightaways …

Jane won from Geoghegan, Moffat, McKeown’s 911S then Brian Foley’s superb ex-works Alfa Romeo GTAm – the 2-litre machine totally blown off by

American bent iron.

Another long tow followed five weeks hence when the party-faithful gathered for Lakeside’s penultimate round.

On a power circuit, Moffat’s tiddly-5 litre Mustang was supreme. He bagged pole, then won flag to flag including fastest lap; game-set-match.

Jane ceded second to Geoghegan after he had wheel bearing problems in the closing laps. Beechey finally had a finish, fourth with John French fifth, this time racing Geoghegan’s Super Falcon.

Leading into the final Oran Park round, Moffat’s had won three rounds and 31 points,

Jane ahead of Moffat during those final, frantic laps (above). Didn’t this duo thrill and polarise we fans in equal measure in that dawn of the ‘70s era?

Jane’s cars were always superbly presented, when Sheppard arrived preparation levels went up a notch, as results proved. Note the gorgeous Minilite wheels, also used by Moffat until the Globes replaced them.

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Jane won twice with 34 points, while Geoghegan had 32 in a season of consistency. His 1967-8-69 championship winner still boogied but finally, after so many faithful years, lacked ultimate pace. Norm Beechey’s Holden Monaro GTS350 won at Calder but otherwise his 71’ account was light-on.

Jane was hampered by Oran Park unfamiliarity; it was the first occasion the Narellan track hosted the ATCC. Bob hadn’t raced there before. Moffat bagged pole 1.2 seconds clear of Jane, then Geoghegan, in his own backyard, a further five-tenths back.

Moffat’s split-arse-scaryfier lap would be hard to maintain over the full distance, whereas Jane’s top-speed advantage ensured a slightly easier task.

Marvin The Marvel led from the off and looked set to win, his pace compounded by Jane missing a shift to second gear, doubtless feeling the heat. He was third behind Geoghegan for three laps, John Sheppard recalled. “I couldn’t believe it took him so long to get going. He said to me, ‘I was just having a board meeting with myself telling myself to calm down.

Then I went after him!’”

Bob soon passed Pete, before gradually bridging the gap to Moffat but was gob-smacked when he led on lap 16! The Canadian was marooned trackside on the run to the Dogleg, the hapless driver wrestling with a gear shift which stuck in second.

He blipped the throttle furiously and played with the shifter before it came good and he set off again, with Jane 20 seconds up the road.

But first, he had to elbow aside Geoghegan, who was not going to hand over a place, after all, Pete was chasing his sixth ATCC. The crowd was on its feet screaming as Moffat sought a way past. He got alongside in the first turn and set up a run down Geoghegan’s inside enroute to the Esses. The crowd roared as Moff gave Pete’s door a whack on the way through – the three front-runners were in a race of their own, lapping the rest of the field.

With 13 to go Jane led his cross-Melbourne rival – remember there was absolutely no love lost – by eight seconds. Moffat closed at a second a lap in a stunning on-the-limit driving display mixed with one of Australia’s strangest on-circuit moments.

Joe The Goose, an unknown spectator in a Valiant roadie, joined the race between turns one and two!

Off he set on an erratic lap, down

the straight and through the Esses he went, then around Suttons just as Moffat arrived. With great on-track presence Joe kept well to the left allowing Moffat to pass between his Val and Bill Fanning’s Escort Twin-cam.

Moffat was so focussed he didn’t register the interloper’s presence!

Joe exited the track via the pit entry into the hands of waiting wallopers and a trip to the local nick. The name of the event’s most infamous competitor is unknown to this day, on the occasion of the VH Valiant’s first motor race!

With three laps to run Moff was within three seconds of Jane, the gap two seconds on the final lap. It seemed enough but Moffat tried a Larry-Late-Braker into BP, just avoiding Jane, before Bob unleashed the Camaro’s horses to gallop away from the snarling Mustang down the main straight with only a metre to spare at the finish.

Jane won the stunning race, and the title, with 43 points from Moffat and Geoghegan on 37 and 36 points respectively.

It was an extraordinary end to an extraordinary day.

Just as well really, as the circuit departure traffic jams were worse than the ones in the morning, with spectator cars were still exiting after 8pm.

John Sheppard ran Bob Jane

Racing from mid-1971. He now admits, with a cheeky chuckle, the Camaro shamelessly exploited ill-defined rules.

“It was notoriously unreliable, but we got it right and Bob won the championship.

Then CAMS (Motorsport Australia) realised Bob had put one over them because that car was never legal, so for 1972 it had to go back to a 350. It didn’t matter because it was still a beaut thing with the smaller engine.

“Moffat thought, you-beauty, without the 427 I’ll be able to beat him. It didn’t happen. It was relatively simple, the 350 revved harder and when the rubber hit the track, the result was the same.”

Four wins from the eight rounds and the ‘72 title.

2022’s Chev Camaro Supercar will be a vastly quicker machine than Jano’s 7-litre ZL-1 but old-timers doubt it will be as spectacular.

Welcome back Camaro, it’s been a long time ‘comin!

Acknowledging the plaudits of the crowd at Calder (right, top), a bit of real estate he would own within a year, 1971.

How sweet it is. Jane, ATCC job done, Oran Park. (right)

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LACHLAN

MINEEFF

BORN RACER

For as long as he can remember, Lachlan Mineeff has lived for motor sport. It’ s therefore no surprise that the teenager is making his way on the national scene, racing TCR. Mineeff chatted to JOSH NEVETT about his journey so far.

WHEN LACHLAN Mineeff got behind the wheel of a Formula Ford at just 14 years of age, his goal was to ease himself into the world of motor sport.

It is safe to say that he could not have imagined what happened next.

Barely of high school age, Mineeff’s win in the final round of the 2017 NSW Formula Ford Championship at Wakefield Park put him among the youngest ever race victors.

That day lives vividly in the memory of the now 18-year-old Mineeff, who has kicked on since that first teenage triumph.

“That was a really cool event,” Mineeff recalls to Auto Action.

“We got a pole that round which was awesome. My first pole position at 14, still quite fresh and making sure that we always bought car home every event.

“I will certainly remember crossing the line in that one for a long time. I really, really enjoyed that first year.”

Since making 10 race appearances in that debut Formula Ford season, Mineeff has transitioned into the national TCR Australia Series in 2021, driving his own privately entered Volkswagen Golf GTI. Such progress to national tin top level would not surprise those closest to the New South Welshman, as motor sport has always been front and centre in his life.

“My family has always been around cars and racing,” Mineeff said.

“I was watching racing on TV, events like Bathurst, other Supercars events and anything I could watch at the time.

“From there I made the step into karting, we got a go-kart on my seventh birthday, and I fell in love with it.”

It took a few years for Mineeff to take the plunge into competitive karting, but once he did, results followed quickly.

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“I remember the first event at Lithgow kart track in 2013, it was a bit of an eye opener,” Mineeff said.

“In the early years the highlights were the social aspect, racing with friends and meeting people on the way, but towards the end of my karting career, winning the New South Wales State Junior Championship was awesome.”

Mineeff’s 2017 Formula Ford breakthrough may never have occurred, if not for regulatory intervention that changed the initial plans of developing drivers.

“Funnily enough the original intention when I was turning 14 was to go Production Car racing in the New South Wales State Production Touring Car Championship,” Mineeff recalls.

“However, at the time the Superlicence points system moved the minimum age from 14 to 15, which prevented us from racing.

“From there we looked at Formula Ford, after speaking with Cameron and Colin Hill from CHE Racing Team.

“You look at Formula Ford. A large majority of drivers in Supercars had competed in Formula Ford, it just made sense to us.”

With his name already on the lips of Formula Ford fans, Mineeff then made his mark on the endurance racing scene.

Mineeff and CHE teammate Thomas Sargeant created history at Mount Panorama, in the 2019 Bathurst 6 Hour, capping off a year that included two Australian Formula Ford Championship race wins.

“I finished the 2019 Bathurst 6 Hour with Tom Sargeant and we became the youngest finishers in an endurance race at Mount Panorama, which was an

Like so many others, Lachlan Mineeff began his racing in Karts (centre, below), enjoying some success before moving onto Formula Ford (below) as a 14 year old. Today he mixes Production Cars in a Toyota 86 (bottom) with TCR in a privately-run VW Golf (left).

awesome achievement by the team,” Mineef said.

“The two race wins in Formula Ford were also awesome.

“We had a good year, a little bit up and down, but then some rounds we just didn’t quite have the pace to be contending at the front.

“We finished fifth in the championship, but we were in the top three in the standings for a lot of the season.”

Mineeff and Sargeant went one better in the 2021 Bathurst 6 Hour, taking out Class D Production honours in a Toyota 86.

It is apparent that the pair have become quite the formidable team.

“Tom’s a really quick steerer,” a complimentary Mineeff said.

“We really enjoyed Bathurst and to win the class there in 2021 was awesome.

“Together we made a pretty good team, the consistency and pace was always there.

“In the six-hour races, it’s just about having a safe set of hands who can bring the car home to the finish line in one piece, Tom did a great job with that.”

After tasting Formula Ford and endurance success, Mineeff made the call to enter TCR Australia as his first multi-race tin top commitment this year.

Entering the series one round into competition, Mineeff was forced to quickly adapt to a front-wheel drive turbocharged machine that was already familiar to his rivals.

“To be honest, I hadn’t sat in a single TCR car until the Wednesday before the [Phillip Island round] event,” Mineeff reveals.

“There’s been a few drivers and teams that have been able to get some serious miles up, and we’re obviously jumping in the deep end with no practice at all.

“It’s been a unique situation where we’ve jumped into a top-level national category where the teams are quite established.

“The challenge that we’ve had this year as a privateer team is trying to work out the best way to drive the car.”

Despite the challenges posed throughout Mineeff’s maiden campaign, the rookie has not dropped

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below 18th in his Volkswagon Golf GTI TCR, and registered a best finish of ninth in his debut race.

It has been a satisfying year of development and growth for the driver.

“I’m certainly really enjoying my time in TCR,” Mineeff said.

“The cars are extremely unique to anything else that’s out there, the mix of front-wheel drive and the slick tyre.

“You look at some of the names and there’s several Bathurst 1000 winners.

The level of competition is huge, and certainly up there as one of the most competitive TCR series in the world.

“Guys like Chaz (Mostert) are fantastic for the category, competing

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full-time in TCR and Supercars this year, that gives us a really good yardstick of where we’re at.

“It’s certainly not a cheap category to run, but the value from it is far greater than what you would get in a Porsche series or the Supercar route, the fact that you are the main category at each event, and the TV is also very good.”

The Phillip Island event in March remains the highlight of a yet young career for Mineeff.

“It was a bit of a whirlwind,” he fondly remembers.

“We took the weekend as six practice sessions at the start, just trying to learn as much as we could.

“The first race was the highlight,

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from 20th on the grid to ninth in really wet weather conditions. That was certainly the highlight of our TCR season this year.”

Looking to the future, there are many unknowns in motor sport given an ever-evolving calendar and uncertainties surrounding travel.

However, Mineeff maintains a clear sense of direction for both the rest of this season and beyond.

“I think to consistently be in that top 10 is a realistic goal,” Mineeff shares.

“The TCR formula is something that’s attractive for me, the fact that the cars are pretty much the same around the world.

“The TCR Australia Series is one of the most competitive in the world, I’m certainly not looking to move out of TCR Australia anytime soon. “[In the longer term] as a driver you’ve always got to keep your options open.

“Looking at the touring car route in the U.S., UK or Europe would be fantastic.”

Lachlan Mineeff already has a valuable variety of motor sport experiences under his belt, competing in multiple categories as well as testing in an S5000 open wheeler.

The learnings from those opportunities, as well as a keen understanding of the business side of racing, set him in good stead for what may be a long career ahead.

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Formula 1

Round 14 Italian Grand Prix

FORZA

RICCIARDO!

McLaren teammates Daniel Ricciardo and Lando Norris finished first and second in Italy Report: Dan Knutson Images: Motorsport Images THE TIFOSI at the Autodromo Nazionale Monza cheered after Daniel Ricciardo won the Italian Grand Prix and toasted them with a “shoey” on the podium.

The Australian, after all, has Italian roots and speaks Italian.

Ricciardo had plenty to celebrate. His eighth career F1 victory and his first since Monaco in 2018 came on merit, as he led virtually the whole way.

“Even if we got the start there was Aussie Daniel Ricciardo picked a great way to finally get to grips with his McLaren never a guarantee we would lead the (above), leading the Italian Grand Prix all the way to head home a team 1-2 (below). whole race,” he said, “but I was able to hold firm out front during the first stint. I wouldn’t say we had mega speed but it was enough to keep Max (Verstappen) behind. To lead from start to finish, I don’t think any of us expected that.”

Actually the McLarens were competitive right from the first practice session on the high-speed lowdownforce circuit.

The end result was victory for Ricciardo and second place for teammate Lando Norris.

It was McLaren’s 183rd championship F1 win; its first since Jenson Button won the 2012 Brazilian Grand Prix; and its first one-two since the 2010 Canadian Grand Prix with Lewis in Italy, going from last to third in his the kerb and into me,” Hamilton said, Hamilton and Button.

Mercedes. “so I don’t feel at fault because I got hit “I knew after Friday that we had The race will also be remembered for from behind. There is a point where you something this weekend,” Ricciardo Max Verstappen parking his Red Bull have to concede that you aren’t going said. on top of Hamilton’s Mercedes. to make the corner and you go across.

“That’s why I was so kind of just fired Having made his tyre pitstop, Everyone has gone across the kerbs, up because I knew it could have been a Hamilton was heading towards the and I am not too sure why Max didn’t.” little bit better. I just didn’t want to waste first chicane on the start of lap 26.

The stewards blamed Verstappen – at that opportunity. Obviously I haven’t Verstappen came steaming up the no point did Verstappen get any further had that many this year, or put myself inside and tried to sneak inside of forward than just behind the front wheel in that position, so I think from that Hamilton in the second turn of the of Hamilton’s car – and gave him a moment on it was pretty much on.” chicane. three-place grid penalty at the next Valtteri Bottas also put in a great drive “Ultimately he lost control, went over race.

42 AutoAction

“We were racing for position today,” Verstappen said, “but you need two people to work together to make the corner, and Lewis just kept squeezing until there wasn’t room anymore for two cars and that’s when we crashed. When he exited the pits he started to squeeze me going Turn 1, so I had to use the green part of the track.”

Even if Verstappen and Hamilton had not retired, there is a solid chance that Ricciardo still would have won. His great weekend saw him finish third in Saturday’s Sprint Qualifying. Bottas won that race but instead of being on pole for the main event on Sunday, he was sent to the back of the grid because his car needed new power unit components installed.

So now Verstappen was on pole for the 53-lap race, with Ricciardo second, Norris third, Hamilton fourth, and Ferrari teammates Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz rounding out the top six.

When the lights went out, Ricciardo got a better start than Verstappen and took the lead going into the first chicane. And that was that. Verstappen couldn’t get quite close enough to challenge Ricciardo, and was wearing out his tyres trying to do just that.

Ricciardo was the first of the front runners to pit for tyres, coming in at the end of lap 23. Red Bull responded by bringing Verstappen in one lap later for what would be a disastrous 11 second stop, due to problems on the right front. That allowed Norris to move into second.

Verstappen, Norris, Hamilton and Leclerc all led during the pit stops, but then Ricciardo cycled through and back out front.

Hamilton pitted at the end of lap 25, and a two second delay put him back on the track directly in the path of

Title protagonists Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen clashed again (above), both cars badly damaged in the turn one incident just short of half distance. Verstappen has been penalised three starting positions for the next race in Russia. Ricciardo and Norris were in amazing form at Monza (below) and didn’t look like being beaten.

2021 ITALIAN GRAND PRIX 53 LAPS Pos Driver Team 1 Daniel Ricciardo McLaren 2 Lando Norris McLaren 3 Valtteri Bottas Mercedes 4 Charles Leclerc Ferrari 5 Sergio Perez Red Bull Racing 6 Carlos Sainz Ferrari 7 Lance Stroll Aston Martin 8 Fernando Alonso Alpine 9 George Russell Williams 10 Esteban Ocon Alpine 11 Nicholas Latifi Williams 12 Sebastian Vettel Aston Martin 13 Antonio Giovinazzi Alfa Romeo 14 Robert Kubica Alfa Romeo 15 Mick Schumacher Haas DNF Nikita Mazepin Haas DNF Lewis Hamilton Mercedes DNF Max Verstappen Red Bull Racing DNF Pierre Gasly AlphaTauri DNS Yuki Tsunoda AlphaTauri

Laps Margin 53 53 +1.747s 53 +4.921s 53 +7.309s 53 +8.723s 53 +10.535s 53 +15.804s 53 +17.201s 53 +19.742s 53 +20.868s 53 +23.743s 53 +24.621s 53 +27.216s 53 +29.769s 53 +51.088s 41 +12 laps Ret 25 +28 laps Collision 25 +28 laps Collision 3 +50 laps Ret 0 +53 laps Brakes

Drivers’ Standings: Verstappen 226.5, Hamilton 221.5, Bottas 141, Norris 132, Perez 118, Leclerc 104, Sainz 97.5, Ricciardo 83, Gasly 66, Alonso 50, Ocon 45, Vettel 35, Stroll 24, Tsunoda 18, Russell 15, Latifi 7, Raikkonen 2, Giovinazzi 1 Constructors’ Standings: Mercedes 362.5, Red Bull Racing 344.5, McLaren 215, Ferrari 201.5, Alpine 95, AlphaTauri 84, Aston Martin 59, Williams 22, Alfa Romeo 3, Haas 0

Verstappen. That triggered their bizarre accident.

McLaren told Norris to hold station behind Ricciardo. Did Norris ever consider ignoring team orders and challenging for his first F1 win?

“No,” he replied. “I got a bit closer on one lap. I had a few flashes seeing

the incident between Max and Lewis – because I saw it quite well in my mirrors. So when I thought maybe I’ll try, that was flashing up in my head, and I thought naaah, maybe this isn’t the wisest decision!”

As for Bottas, he finished fourth but was promoted to third after Sergio

Pérez (Red Bull) got a five second penalty for cutting a corner to overtake Leclerc.

“It was probably the most positions gained, maybe in my career,” Bottas said.

“Some people might think it’s easy to overtake here in Monza but actually it

isn’t. When there’s a few cars in a row it’s not that easy.”

McLaren boss Zak Brown, Ricciardo and Norris had an agreement that if they were ever on the podium together, that they would all drink “shoeys” and they did just that at Monza.

Valtteri Bottas (below left) had a strong weekend, winning the ‘Sprint’ race before an engine penalty took him to the back of the grid for the Grand Prix. He stormed through the field to finish third. Home favourites Ferrari had a decent weekend, with Charles Leclerc (below right) fourth though teammate Carlos Sainz crashed heavily during practice.

AutoAction

43

INTERNATIONAL

AUSSIES ON GB3 PODIUM HUGH BARTER had a consistent round in the French F4 Championship, achieving two podiums alongside a fourth place finish. Barter finished just outside of the podium positions in the first race at Circuit de Ledenon but broke through for second and third finishes to close out the round.

Barter sits third in the overall standings behind French pair Esteban Masson and Maceo Capietto. JN

MARCOS FLACK claimed his second podium finish of the year to mark a successful season in British Formula 4.

The Aussie finished 11th in Race 1 but was then able to weave his way through the field in Race 2 to clinch third place, despite starting sixth. The Argenti driver could not repeat his heroics in Race 3, forced to retire after the opening lap. Flack is now 15th in the standings. JN

DYLAN YOUNG continued his imperious form in Europe with a trio of podiums in the Formula 3 Regional category of the Ultimate Cup Series at Le Mans Circuit.

The Melbourne-based driver finished third in Race 1 before rising to 2nd for Races 2 and 3, out of a field of 21 drivers. Young has stood on the podium in 11 of his last 12 races, including a current run of seven podiums in a row. JN

JAMES ALLEN contributed to a thirdplace finish for Panis Racing in the European Le Mans Series round at Spa-Francorchamps. The result leaves Panis and Allen third in the LMP2 standings ileading up to the season finale at Algarve in Portugal. Commenting on the result Allen said, “That’s another podium, after a difficult week. An amazing start from Julien Canal put us in a position to fight.” JN HARRY HAYEK and co-driver Katie Milner struggled in the latest British GT Championship round at Oulton Park, failing to challenge the GT4 frontrunners. The Team Rocket RJN pair were the last to finish in Race 1. In Race 2 Hayek managed sixth in class in his McLaren 570S GT4, representing an overall finish of 15th. JN

44 AutoAction

Report: Josh Nevett Images: Motorsport Images AUSSIES CHRISTIAN Mansell and Bart Horsten stood on the podium during the GB3 Championship round at Oulton Park, but despite that, the former lost a place in the standings to sit third with one round remaining.

Horsten and Mansell finished second and third respectively in Race 2, but both struggled in the final encounter to end an otherwise consistent weekend for the pair on a sour note.

Championship leader Zak O’Sullivan clinched a win in Race 1 but fell just short of guaranteeing himself the title a weekend early.

The Carlin driver led from lights to flag, sealing a fifth victory of the season over Fortec’s Luke Browning, who crossed the line second in his first race in the series.

However, Browning was disqualified post-race, promoting Ayrton Simmons of Chris Dittmann Racing to second.

Fellow Fortec driver Roberto Faria was third, completing the podium.

Horsten came home third just 0.4s ahead of Aussie compatriot Mansell, with Reece Ushijima taking sixth for Hitech GP. Javier Sagrera, Branden Oxley, Sebastian Alvarez and Tom Lebbon completed the top 10.

In Race 2 Horsten thought he had claimed his first victory of the season until it was awarded to Browning, who redeemed himself to triumph in a dramatic second race.

Browning claimed the win on countback after a red flag ended the encounter.

Horsten was classified second ahead of Mansell, the second time the Aussie pair

Bart Horsten (above) had a solid round at Oulton Park, but still slipped a place in the point standings.

Below he is flanked on the podium by Christian Mansell (left) and Ayrton Simmons.

crossed the line consecutively.

Simmons was fourth ahead of Ushijima and Arden’s Frederick Lubin.

Lebbon finished just 0.2s further back in seventh for Elite Motorsport.

Bryce Aron, Jonathan Browne and Reema Juffali completed the top 10.

Arden’s Roman Bilinski won the final rain-soaked race at Oulton Park, taking full advantage of a desirable reverse grid spot.

The Polish driver led polesitter Mikkel Grundtvig to the line by over 8s.

Lubin was a further 3s behind, snaring his first podium for Arden Motorsport.

Sagrera was fourth, ahead of Alvarez and

title leader O’Sullivan, who climbed from 16th on the grid to finish sixth.

Simmons was seventh, accompanied in the top 10 by Lebbon, Browne and Faria.

Mansell came home just outside the top 10 in 11th.

Horsten was unable to complete a hattrick of top five finishes, further back in 14th.

At the conclusion of the Oulton Park weekend, O’Sullivan holds a 112 and 115 point gap over Simmons and Mansell, who are the only two drivers who can mathematically beat him at the season finale at Donington.

EVANS RUNNER-UP IN SUPERCUP STANDINGS Report: Josh Nevett

LARRY TEN Voorde took home his second consecutive Porsche Supercup title, after another weekend at the front of the field in Italy.

New Zealander Jaxon Evans could not defy the odds to reel in the Dutchman, finishing the championship in second just one point ahead of BWT Lechner Racing driver Ayhancan Guven.

Chasing a come-from-behind title win, the crown was out of reach by the end of Race 1 as Evans could only muster fourth and seventh at Monza Circuit.

Guven and Ten Voorde were race victors in the Monza doubleheader, demonstrating their skills as top drivers in Supercup.

Race 1 proved to be decisive in the title battle, as third place proved enough for Ten Voorde to ensure back-to-back championship triumphs.

The Dutch driver from the GP Elite team crossed the finish line at the Formula 1 track behind Turkish Porsche Junior Guven and Dorian Boccolacci.

Behind Evans in fourth (Martinet by Almeras) were Laurin Heinrich from Nebulus Racing by

Huber and CLRT guest driver Marvin Klein.

Leon Kohler finished seventh, ahead of Simone Iaquinta (Dinamic Motorsport), Harry King (Parker Revs Motorsport) and Max Van Splunteren (Team GP Elite) who rounded out the top 10.

In Race 2, Ten Voorde crossed the finish line in first place for the fourth time this season.

Starting from pole position, the 24-yearold claimed a convincing victory in the final race of Porsche’s international onemake cup.

German Heinrich secured the Rookie title with his second-place result, leading

Guven to the line by 3.175s, who defended his third ranking overall in the series.

Just outside of the podium positions, Florian Latorre finished fourth after a disappointing result in Race 1.

Kohler won a tightly contested battle for fifth, while King and Evans had to settle for sixth and seventh, less than 1s behind.

Van Splunteren helped to secure the Teams’ Championship for Team GP Elite with an eighth race result.

Boccolacci (Martinet by Almeras) and Iaquinta completed the top 10.

The Pro-Am category victory went to Nicolas Misslin for the sixth consecutive round.

The Lechner Racing Middle East team driver did not require the extra points, having already claimed the title.

German pair Heinrich and Kohler were classified fourth and fifth at the conclusion of the series, ahead of Boccolacci and Spa race winner Dylan Pereira.

Latorre, Van Splunteren and Christopher Zochling rounded out the Supercup top 10.

FIA F2 ROUND 5 ITALY

P1ASTRI Report: Josh Nevett Images: Motorsport Images AUSSIE OSCAR Piastri has maintained his ascendency at the top of the Formula 2 Championship after a maiden Feature Race victory in round five, at Monza in Italy.

Title rival Guanyu Zhou threatened to close the gap across the first two races of the round, but Piastri held his nerve to clinch crucial maximum points after fourth and seventh place finishes in the sprint races.

ART Grand Prix driver Theo Pourchaire and Carlin’s Jehan Daruvala were the other drivers to top the podium at Monza, winning sprint races 1 and 2 respectively.

Piastri avoided the carnage to finish fourth in the first Sprint Race.

The PREMA Racing driver climbed six spots from 10th to finish just outside of the podium places, after a measured performance.

Frenchman Pourchaire scored the race win, avoiding the misfortune of

Australian Piastri won his first-ever Formula 2 Feature race in fine style, at Monza. It was a great day for the Aussies, with ‘Advance Australia Fair’ heard twice on the Monza rostrum thanks to Dan Ricciardo’s Grand Prix win later that afternoon.

several others behind who dropped out of the race.

Championship contender Zhou finished second to heap the pressure on Piastri, while Christian Lundgaard had a dream run climbing from 19th on the grid to complete the podium.

Multiple drivers exited the race early after a carnage laden start in Italy.

Piastri was dealt a blow when he slid down the placings on lap 7 after PREMA teammate Robert Shwartzman forced him onto the gravel.

Running in third, Lirim Zendeli’s podium hopes dissipated as he also retired, promoting Piastri up a rapidly shrinking field.

Pourchaire made it to the line unscathed to win by almost five seconds ahead of Zhou.

Shwartzman crossed the line third but after a 5s penalty was demoted to sixth, aiding Lundgaard, Piastri and Liam Lawson, who were now scored ahead of him.

Ben Viscaal, Juri Vips, Daruvala and David Beckmann rounded out top 10.

Oscar Piastri leads title rival Guanyu Zhou at Monza.

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Only five other drivers finished the race, as a long list of competitors including Dan Ticktum, Felipe Drugovich, Richard Verschoor, Zendeli, Roy Nissany, Guilherme Samaia and Enzo Fittipaldi were forced to retire.

Piastri extended his championship lead in sprint Race 2, finishing seventh just ahead of Zhou.

Daruvala took advantage of a front row grid spot to claim his first victory of the season for team Carlin, in a far less chaotic race.

Completing the podium were Viscaal, who recorded the first podium of the year for Trident, and Shwartzman who crossed the line in third for PREMA Racing.

Behind the podium getters Liam Lawson finished ahead of late faller Beckmann, and Juri Vips came home sixth ahead of championship frontrunners Piastri and Zhou.

Ralph Boschung and Race 1 winner Pourchaire completed the top 10.

After his heroics in Race 1 Lundgaard was quickly brought back down to earth, finishing 14th after a spin through Rettifilo on lap 1.

Piastri won his first ever F2 Feature Race to close out the weekend, taking victory over Zhou.

Starting from pole, Piastri managed several yellow flag interruptions to secure maximum points, ahead of both Zhou and Ticktum in a safety car finish.

Most drivers chose to pit during the second safety car period of the race, leaving Carlin driver Ticktum in the lead with a damaged front end after running into the back of Vips.

Title contenders Piastri and Zhou moved back up through the field on fresh rubber, setting themselves up for a charge to the line in the final third of

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the race.

Lawson ground to a halt on lap 22 much like his teammate Vips, ruling him out of contention after sitting in second.

Ticktum’s strategy of banking on a second safety car therefore paid off, allowing him to pit from the front for fresh tyres for the home stretch.

Yet again though, an incident meant that the safety car was required on the penultimate lap, when Beckmann suffered damage, ending any possibility of a win for the charging Ticktum.

Pourchaire finished just outside the podium places, in front of Indian driver Daruvala.

Shwartzman was sixth, leading MP Motorsport pair Verschoor and Zendeli to the line.

Nissany and Marcus Armstrong rounded out the top 10 for DAMS. Viscaal, Beckmann, Lawson, Alessio Deledda, Sato, Vips and Samaia were all forced to retire.

Points: Piastri 149, Zhou 134, Shwartzman 113, Ticktum 104, Pourchaire 94

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INTERNATIONAL

PALOU REBOUNDS TO WIN IN PORTLAND ALEX PALOU recovered from first corner chaos to win the IndyCar Series round at Portland, leaving as the series points leader.

After falling back in the order early, the Chip Ganassi Racing driver executed an effective pitstop strategy to climb back through the field and take victory.

Andretti Autosport’s Alexander Rossi challenged Palou for the win after the final two safety car restarts but could not reel in the Spaniard.

Scott Dixon put in his own spirited recovery to take the final spot on the podium.

Starting from pole position, Palou was caught out when Felix Rosenqvist collected him and Kiwi teammate Dixon under braking for Turn 1 on the opening lap.

All three drivers had to divert through the runoff area, tumbling down the order, while the field checked up behind.

Aussie Will Power, Romain Grosjean, Oliver Askew, James Hinchcliffe and Helio Castroneves were all involved in incidents at the

Image: Motorsport Images first chicane and had to return to the pits for repairs.

After the first of four safety car interruptions, Arrow McLaren’s Pato O’Ward led the field until his first pitstop.

It was the pitstop periods that proved the difference in the race, as O’Ward gave way to Palou who climbed from 16th position to the

Image: Motorsport Images

THEN THERE WERE 12 KYLE LARSON celebrated a NASCAR Cup Series victory at Bristol Motor Speedway, as the playoffs Round of 12 qualifiers were decided.

Larson moved into the lead on lap 397 of 400 and held off the competition to seal his sixth NASCAR victory of the season.

The news was not so good for Aric Almirola, Tyler Reddick, Kurt Busch and Michael McDowell, who were eliminated from the playoffs in the final race of the Round of 16.

William Byron overcame the second-largest points deficit in elimination-era history to advance, finishing the race third behind Larson and Kevin Harvick.

Ryan Blaney finished fourth and Alex Bowman fifth in the Bristol event.

Brad Keselowski, Martin Truex Jnr, Erik Jones, Denny Hamlin and Matt DiBenedetto rounded out the top 10.

Both Kyle Busch and Christopher Bell had to deal with punctures to secure their places in the next playoff round.

Of the remaining playoffs qualifiers, Hendrick Motorsports has the greatest representation with four drivers (Elliot, Larson, Byron and Bowman).

Joe Gibbs Racing also has four left in the running, namely Busch, Hamlin, Truex Jnr. and Bell.

Keselowski, Joey Logano and Blaney will fly the flag for Team Penske, while Harvick is the only driver from Stewart-Haas Racing to advance to the Round of 12.

Truex Jnr. won the previous race at Richmond Raceway in Virginia on September 11. JN

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lead on Lap 86.

From there it was the Honda driver’s race, clinched in unlikely circumstances.

Meyer Shank Racing’s Jack Harvey crossed the line fourth ahead of Josef Newgarden, the lead Team Penske entry, in fifth.

Rosenqvist salvaged sixth ahead of Marcus Ericsson and Colton Herta.

Kiwi Scott McLaughlin led the race briefly before his final stop. The Team Penske rookie crossed the line ninth ahead of Graham Rahal.

Power was able to recover to 13th just ahead of O’Ward in the final standings. Josh Nevett Points: Palou 477, O’Ward 452, Newgarden 443, Dixon 428, Ericsson 402

Herta dominates Laguna IndyCar COLTON HERTA dominated the penultimate IndyCar championship round at Laguna Seca Monday morning Aussie time, while second-place finisher Alex Palou moved closer to wrapping up his first championship.

Andretti Autosport driver Herta led almost all the way to win from pole position, while Ganassi Racing’s Palou quickly moved forward from fourth on the grid to shadow him for much of the race .

Palou needs only to finish 11th next weekend to wrap up his first IndyCar title.

“It was an amazing day for us, I was really surprised we were so competitive in comparison to qualifying with Herta,” said the Spaniard. “We did the most we could for the win.”

Pato O’Ward is now the only driver with a realistic chance of challenging Palou for the title at Long Beach next week.

The Arrow McLaren SP driver converted sixth place on the grid to fifth at the finish, to trail by 35 points.

Penske’s Josef Newgarden is mathematically still in with a chance, 48 points off the pace after rising from 17th on the grid to seventh. But Ganassi duo Marcus Ericsson and Scott Dixon were eliminated from contention after respectively finishing sixth and 13th.

Dixon’s chances were hindered badly when he couldn’t avoid Rahal Letterman Lanigan’s Takuma Sato rolling off the track after a spin the corkscrew and suffered damage.

Palou’s path forward was aided

Image: Motorsport Images by front-row qualifier Alex Rossi spinning off while challenging Herta for the lead on lap two.

Third-place qualifier, Penske’s Will Power, suffered engine issues early and finished 26th two laps down.

Third place from 13th on the grid for Frenchman Romain Grosjean in his Laguna debut re-ignited the Rookie of the year fight with triple Supercars champion Scott Mclaughlin, the Penske driver only able to finish 13th. The gap is now just 20 points.

The highlight for the Kiwi was setting fastest time in free practice two on Saturday, but a miscommunication during qualifying meant he pitted rather than go for a final hot lap.

“Overall for me and the broad scheme of things this is probably a real good character-building weekend for me,” said McLaughlin.

“I passed probably the most cars I ever have, I gained like seven spots on the start and I was having a lot of fun and then a couple of strategy calls didn’t go our way.

“But then I made complete balls-up into the pits and slid

through the box and cost us three or four spots.

“We were realistically eight or ninth today and we finished 12th.

Onwards and upwards.”

Grosjean enlivened the end of the race, charging home on much fresher tyres, closing to within less than two seconds of Palou by the chequered flag.

Grosjean’s charge appeared over when he locked the rears and clattered into Jimmie Johnson while lapping the NASCAR champ at the corkscrew, launching into the air in the process.

“It’s been a great day, amazing,” said Grosjean. “I am sorry to Jimmie for the contact out there.

I think he was trying a little bit to protect [team-mate] Alex [Palou} and I wanted to go and chase Alex.

“Laguna Seca I love you! That’s all I can say.”

Herta’s win continued a family tradition as his father Bryan – who calls the shots for him from the pitwall - is also a two-time IndyCar winner at Laguna in 1998 and 1999.

“This place is so awesome, it’s my favourite track in North America by far,” Colton Herta said. “Winning here means so much.”

Bruce Newton

ROVANPERA DOUBLES HIS TALLY IN GREECE KALLE ROVANPERA claimed his second World Rally Championship win in the Acropolis Rally Greece, continuing his rise to stardom.

The 20-year-old Finn led for nearly the entire distance across four days, achieving a final margin of 42.1s over Ott Tanak.

Rovanpera wrote his name in the history books as the youngest WRC winner, in Estonia just two months ago, and two events on has doubled his tally in a Toyota Gazoo Racing Yaris.

Championship leader Sebastien Ogier extended his points lead to 44 after a third-place result, finishing a further 29.2s back in his Yaris.

After an eight-year spell between Greek events, it was Rovanpera who started best on the first day.

The young talent took the lead on Stage 3 and did not look back thereafter, establish a 3.9s lead over Hyundai driver Tanak by the close of the day.

Ogier was just 0.2s behind, completing a tightly bunched top three.

Title challenger Elfyn Evans suffered severe gearbox issues in his Yaris before Stage 3, having to make do with the use of just a couple of operational gears and falling back in the pack as a result.

Thierry Neuville also had mechanical troubles, his power steering failed in Stage 4 and required a DIY fix that managed to get him back on the road.

On Day 2, Rovanpera took his driving up a gear to achieve four

Image: Motorsport Images

Image: Red Bull Content Pool straight stage wins and a 40s lead.

The order of competitors did not change at the close of the second day, Tanak and Ogier still trailing the leader.

That pattern held throughout the final morning as only Gus Greensmith’s move into fifth disrupted an otherwise stable top five.

In the final stage of the Rally, Rovanpera scored maximum bonus points for winning the Power Stage, rounding off a perfect weekend.

Rovanpera was thrilled with his second victory.

“I was not maybe the most comfortable coming here, but it just shows that now everything is going well for us and we can push hard,” said Rovanpera.

LAWSON RACES INTO DTM LEAD A PAIR of podium finishes at Circuit Assen has sent Kiwi Liam Lawson to the top of the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters (DTM) standings.

The junior Red Bull AF Corse driver followed up a third-place effort in Race 1 with a runner-up result in Race 2 to usurp Kelvin van der Linde, who fell to third overall.

Marco Wittman was also a beneficiary of van der Linde’s stumble, slotting in behind Lawson after finishing first and third in respective races.

Van der Linde was 12th in Race 1, before recovering to cross the line fourth in the second outing.

Austrian Lucas Auer was the other driver to triumph in Round

“We had a perfect car and also a rough rally and it was running without issues all the time.”

Jonne Halttunen joined Rovanpera to celebrate the victory, as Tanak and Ogier held their podium positions.

Behind them were Dani Sordo and Greensmith, who completed the top five.

Evans salvaged sixth after his opening day transmission troubles, in front of Frenchman Adrien Fourmaux.

Neuville could only managed eighth after losing time on Day 1, while WRC2 winner Andreas Mikkelsen and Marco Bulacia rounded out the top 10. JN Points: Ogier 180, Evans 136, Neuville 130, Rovanpera 129, Tanak 106

Image: Red Bull Content Pool

6, claiming maximum points to close out the weekend in the Netherlands.

Italian guest driver Mirko Bortolotti was the other standout performer, driving his way to second for a Race 1 podium. JN Points: Lawson 175, Wittman 165, van der Linde 160, Gotz 155

BTCC LEADERS CHALLENGED AT CROFT THE CHAMPIONSHIP leaders did not have it all their own way in the latest British Touring Car Championship round, when three separate drivers triumphed at Croft Circuit.

Aiden Moffat, Jake Hill and Colin Turkington took out race honours in Race 1-3 respectively, boosting their championship positions.

Reigning champion and title frontrunner Ashley Sutton maintained a 29-point lead over Jake Hill after a consistent round of results, which saw him finish sixth, fifth and third.

Hill was the big winner of the weekend in his #24 Ford Focus ST, jumping to second place in the

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Image: Motorsport Images standings due mainly to a P2, P1 double in the first two races.

A final race victory also promoted Turkington up the rankings into third,

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after he began the weekend fifth.

Moffat had by far his best round of the season, overcoming the likes of Tom Ingram and Josh Cook to record a race victory in Race 1 and runner-up result in Race 2.

After starting the round second overall, Ingram plummeted to fifth overall despite a pair of fourth-placed finishes.

Cook had a consistent round but could only register one podium, sandwiching his Race 2 result with fifth-place performances. JN Points: Sutton 247, Hill 218, Turkington 212, Cook 211, Ingram 210

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ALBUQUERQUE & TAYLOR EXTEND LEAD

RICKY TAYLOR and Filipe Albuquerque overcame mechanical adversity to win the IMSA SportsCar Championship round at Laguna Seca.

The pair extended their DPi championship lead to 100 points in the #10 Acura, taking race honours over Renger van der Zande and co-driver Kevin Magnussen.

Pipo Derani and Felipe Nasr finished third in the #31 Whelen Engineering Racing Cadillac, maintaining slim hopes of a title win with just two races remaining in the 2021 season.

Pla finished fourth in the #60 with co-driver Dane Cameron.

In Le Mans Prototype 2 (LMP2), Ben Keating and Mikkel Jensen won to increase their title gap over Tristan Nunez and Steven Thomas.

Jensen’s #52 PR1 Mathiasen Motorsports ORECA finished a lap ahead of second-placed Gabriel Aubry in the #8 Tower Motorsport ORECA he co-drove with John Farano.

Championship rivals Nunez and Thomas finished third in class in the #11 WIN Autosport ORECA. Tommy Milner and Nick Tandy collected their first full-points victory of the season in GT Le Mans (GTLM), winning the class in the #4 Corvette Racing Chevrolet Corvette C8.R. Corvette teammates Jordan Taylor and Antonio Garcia were second, despite leading the race for 68 laps.

The #79 WeatherTech Racing Porsche 911 RSR-19 shared by Cooper MacNeil and Aussie Matt Campbell finished third.

In GT Daytona (GTD), Zacharie Robichon and Laurens Vanthoor won for the second race in a row in their #9 Plaid Porsche 911 GT3R. JN

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BIKES

BAGNAIA VICTORIOUS

Report: Dan McCarthy Images: Motorsport Images

SRT SIGNS DOVI MOTOGP outfit Sepang Racing Team announced its signing of three-time championship runner-up Andrea Dovizioso and its rebranding to now be known as RNF MotoGP Racing, at Misano.

The satellite Yamaha team also announced that RNF MotoGP Racing would be committed to racing in the premier class until at least 2026.

Razlan Razali, CEO of the Sepang Racing Team, will remain team leader.

After success in Moto2 and Moto3, the team entered MotoGP in 2019 and was quickly on the pace with Fabio Quartararo and Franco Morbidelli.

The latter finished second in the championship for the team in 2020, just behind factory Suzuki rider Joan Mir. “It has been a whirlwind journey for us.

In recent months, we have put all our efforts to reset, rebrand and relaunch as a fresh and stronger MotoGP team,” said Razali.

“I would like to thank Carmelo for his continued trust and confidence in me to begin this second chapter with a newly rebuilt team, competing in MotoGP’s premier class for the next five years.

“Equipped with the experience we gained and having achieved multiple highlights in the past, we look forward to the 2022 season as an even stronger team entry.”

Dovizioso will return to MotoGP with SRT for the remainer of this season, before continuing with the rebranded team in 2022.

“Andrea has been away from MotoGP for a short sabbatical, but we are certain that a rider of his calibre will soon find his speed again,” said Yamha managing director Lin Jarvis.

“We are really looking forward to working with him as a member of Yamaha‘s satellite team, and we will be supporting him in every way we can.”

Dan McCarthy

MORBIDELLI THE FACTORY MAN

ITALIAN FRANCO Morbidelli returned to MotoGP action at Misano, after missing the previous five rounds due to a serious knee injury.

After starting the season on the Petronas SRT Yamaha, Morbidelli has been drafted in to replace the departed Maverick Vinales, who is now racing for Aprilia.

It has since been announced that Morbidelli has signed with the team until the end of 2023.

“We have already locked down our plans for 2022 and 2023, with Franky receiving full factory backing from Yamaha Motor Company,” Jarvis said.

“We feel certain that a skilled, calm, and experienced rider like Franky will strengthen the Yamaha Factory Racing MotoGP Team and will enjoy great success in the future.”

Morbidelli will race alongside former Petronas SRT teammate and championship leader Quartararo at the factory team next year. DM

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FRANCESCO BAGNAIA held off Marc Marquez in a MotoGP classic at Aragon, to take his maiden premier-class Motorcycle Grand Prix victory.

The factory Ducati rider fought off an onslaught from the six-time champion lap after lap, eventually forcing Marquez into an error on the final lap.

The duo switched places countless times in the final three laps with Bagnaia prevailing by 0.6s at the line.

It was a very close affair throughout practice with no obvious favourite heading into qualifying, however Bagnaia pulled out a blinder.

Ducati locked out the top two positions on the grid with Bagnaia qualifying just ahead of Australian Jack Miller.

It came as a surprise as the Italian manufacturer suffered two horrible rounds at the Spanish circuit last year.

In the final qualifying segment, Bagnaia obliterated the lap record of seven years by over 0.3s, claiming Ducati’s 50th pole in the premier class.

Aussie Miller completed a very strong final sector on his last attempt to shoot up to second, eclipsing championship leader Quartararo by 0.031s.

Marquez had won at Aragon in MotoGP five times previously and qualified just 0.017s behind Quartararo in fourth.

Rookie sensation Jorge Martin qualified fifth ahead of the inform Aprilia rider Aleix Espargaro, and reigning champion Joan Mir on his factory Suzuki.

Notably championship contender Johann Zarco qualified down in 10th after making his way through Q1.

Suzuki rider Alex Rins was the biggest shock of the day, struggling to extract pace from his Suzuki qualifying 20th on the grid.

On Sunday, pole sitter Bagnaia made a strong start and led into the first turn from Miller, however a strong starting Marquez moved into second position on the exit of the corner.

In the first third of the 23 lap race race, the

Francesco Bagnaia won his first MotorGP (top) after holding off Marc Marquez (above left). The factory Ducati rider celebrates his landmark win (above right).

top six riders remained line astern and in formation with Bagnaia leading Marquez, Miller, Aleix Espargaro, Mir, and Martin, while championship leader Fabio Quartararo was beginning to drop off the pace.

At the halfway stage both Bagnaia and Marquez began to gap the rest of the chasing pack, while Quartararo fell down to ninth.

In an attempt to stay with the top two Miller made a mistake, running very wide at the final turn and fell behind Mir and Espargaro.

Further forwards Bagnaia came under increasing pressure from Marquez, setting up a grandstand finish.

On the final lap alone Marquez made three unsuccessful moves at Turn 1, Turn 5 and then Turn 12, the latter seeing him run wide and forced to settle for second position.

After finishing second four times previously, Bagnaia broke through to take his first MotoGP win in dramatic fashion.

The win was Ducati’s first at the venue since Casey Stoner in 2010, while Marquez returned to the podium after a tough couple of races in p2.

Mir finished the race a lonely third on his Suzuki, from Aprilia rider Espargaro and Miller.

On Saturday reigning Moto2 champion Enea Bastianini scored his first top 10 grid position and converted that into a career best sixth place finish on his Avintia Esponsorama Ducati machine.

It was a difficult weekend for the KTM riders, however Brad Binder salvaged a seventh place finish for the Austrian factory team.

Quartararo struggled for pace throughout the race, only just holding onto eighth on his factory Yamaha. Martin was ninth, ahead of Takaaki Nakagami in 10th.

Iker Lecuona sat sixth at one stage, but a mistake saw him drop outside the top 10 to 11th, ahead of Rins, Pol Espargaro, Miguel Oliveira and Danilo Petrucci.

Replacement Yamaha rider Cal Crutchlow, championship contender Johann Zarco, Maverick Vinales on his Aprilia debut, seven-time champion Valentino Rossi and his half-brother Luca Marini rounded out the 20 finishers.

Standings: Quartararo 214, Bagnaia 161, Mir 157, Zarco 137, Miller 129, Binder 117 A Espargaro 96, Vinales 95, Oliveira 87, M Marquez 79

INJURED FERNANDEZ CRUISES TO MOTO2 WIN RAUL FERNANDEZ took a courageous victory just seven days after having metacarpal surgery, romping home ahead of his Aussie teammate Remy Gardner.

The Spaniard injured himself in a cycling accident a week prior and did not expect to contend for victory at Aragon.

However, the Moto2 rookie sensation claimed his fifth victory in 2021, closing the gap to Gardner in the championship.

With five rounds to go the Aussie still holds a 39-point lead in the championship.

Sam Lowes took pole from Gardner and Fernandez, and things remained the same in the opening few corners before Fernandez made his way by Gardner late in the lap.

On lap 2 Fernandez closed in on the pole sitter, and it did not take long for him to dispose of Lowes, making the move stick into Turn 1 on lap 4.

Fernandez immediately put his head down and was never headed, while Gardner was involved in a scrap early on

to defend third.

Gardner briefly fell behind Ai Ogura but recovered to retake the position.

The damage had been done, however, and by the end of lap 5 Gardner was nearly 2s behind the leading pair.

Out front Fernandez continued to churn out the fast laps while Lowes was struggling to remain with the leader.

On lap 10 the man who sits third in the championship, Marco Bezzecchi, lost the front end, taking a tumble at Turn 8, almost certainly taking himself out of the title fight.

The relentless speed from Fernandez out front also forced Lowes into an unforced error, the Englishman crashing out of second position on lap 13.

This left Fernandez out front with a comfortable 6.3s lead over Gardner, who now led Jorge Navarro by two seconds.

Out front Fernandez cruised to a 5.4s victory over his KTM Ajo teammate.

Behind Navarro and the in form Marc VDS Racing Team rider Augusto

Fernandez were locked in a tussle for the final step on the podium.

It was an intense battle, but in the end it was Fernandez who came up trumps to claim his fourth podium in five races.

Navarro brought his bike home in fourth, his second straight top five finish.

Aron Canet, Fabio Di Giannantonio, Fermin Aldeguer, Ogura, Tony Arbolino and Simone Corsi rounded out the top 10.

Standings: Gardner 251, R Fernandez 212, Bezzecchi 179, Lowes 127, A Fernandez 108

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AUSSIE KELSO SIGNS UP TO MOTO3

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TWO IN A ROW FOR BAGNAIA Report: Dan McCarthy Image: Motorsport Images FOR THE second week in a row Francesco Bagnaia held off a last lap attack to win in MotoGP, this time at the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli.

Riding an Italian factory Ducati in his home country, Bagnaia held off a late attack from his championship leading rival Fabio Quartararo to win the race by just 0.364s.

With the harder medium rear tyre compound, Quartararo on his factory Yamaha closed the gap to Bagnaia late in the race, but was never quite near enough to make a move thanks to Bagnaia’s relentless consistency.

While Bagnaia claimed his second career victory, Quartararo stood on a MotoGP podium for the 19th time, the most of any Frenchman.

Behind them Enea Bastianini turned heads, riding from 12th to third position on a two-year-old Ducati.

Overtaking the likes of Aussie Jack Miller, reigning champion Joan Mir and six-time champion Marc Marquez, Bastianini was often the fastest rider on the circuit. The Italian claimed a

well-deserved maiden podium finish in third.

There was a great battle for fourth on the final lap between Miller, Marquez and Mir. At Turn 14 Mir made a move on Miller for fourth but ran wide, allowing Marquez to overtake the pair. In an attempt to line up a move at the final corner, Mir ran wide at Turn 15.

Despite finishing fifth behind the Honda of Marquez, Mir was demoted to sixth for exceeding track limits, handing Miller his third straight top five finish.

The Espargaro brothers were next, with factory Honda rider Pol Espargaro eventually getting the better of his older brother Aleix on the factory Aprilia.

Only one KTM rider finished in the points, in what was a disastrous round for the Austrian manufacturer.

Brad Binder was that sole KTM rider, moving up from 17th on the grid and finished ninth, LCR Honda rider Takaaki Nakagami rounded out the top 10 ahead of Ducati Wildcard rider Michelle Pirro.

For the fourth race in succession Frenchman Johann Zarco finished outside of the top 10, this time coming home in a lonely 12th place after an off-track excursion at Turn 1 early on.

In just his second race on a factory Aprilia, former Yamaha rider Maverick Vinales scored points for the Italian manufacturer, bringing his #12 machine home in 13th.

Honda test rider Stefan Bradl finished 14th, ahead of satellite Honda rider Alex Marquez, who rounded out the 15 point scorers.

On his factory Yamaha debut, a still injured Franco Morbidelli came home 18th, while Andrea Dovizioso on his MotoGP return rounded out the field.

Notably Alex Rins and Jorge Martin both crashed out of top five positions.

Standings: Quartararo 234, Bagnaia 186, Mir 167, Zarco 141, Miller 140, Binder 124, A Espargaro 104, Vinales 98, M Marquez 92, Oliveira 87

AFTER MAKING two Moto3 starts as a replacement rider for the CIP Green Power team, Australian Joel Kelso has been signed by the squad to race fulltime in 2022.

Kelso currently competes in the FIM CEV Moto3 Junior World Championship and took an impressive victory at the Algarve International Circuit earlier this year.

“I’m very excited and grateful for this opportunity to be with the CIP team in the world championship for my first year in Moto3,” Kelso said.

“I’m stoked about it. I can’t wait for the adventure and the things I will learn and the great things to come.

“Overall very excited and happy to be with the team.”

In his maiden full-time Moto3 season the Australian will join Japanese rider Kaito Toba, who has been racing for the team this year and scored a podium in the German Grand Prix.

It was the German Grand Prix in which Kelso made his debut replacing the injured Maximilian Kofler, finishing an impressive 17th and backed it up in the Dutch TT with a 22nd place finish at the next round.

“After the two races in Germany and the Netherlands, we decided to rely on Joel Kelso for the next season,” said team owner Alain Bronec.

“He is a promising young Australian rider, and we are convinced that he will do well in his first year in the world championship.

“He is another Australian who will fly our colours just like Remy Gardner did a few years ago. Welcome to Joel!” DM

RAZGATLIOGLU RETAINS LEAD

FERNANDEZ PIPS GARDNER RAUL FERNANDEZ beat his Australian teammate Remy Gardner to the line in what was a nail biting Moto2 race at the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli.

The Australian started from fourth on the grid and spent much of the race outside of the podium positions, however a storming end to the race saw Gardner home in on what would have been an incredibly unlikely race victory.

Pole sitter Fernandez fell to third position himself behind Sam Lowes and Aron Canet early in the race, while Gardner was shuffled back to sixth in the opening sequence of turns.

As half distance approached Lowes made an unforced error at Turn 14 allowing Canet into the lead, and just a couple of turns later Fernandez followed Canet through.

By this point Gardner had made his way back up to fourth and was closing in on the leading trio.

On lap 15 Fernandez made the decisive move, snatching the lead from Canet.

Two laps later Gardner made his way by Lowes at Turn 2.

With less than a handful of laps to go Canet began to fade, Gardner made his move up the inside at Turn 2 on the penultimate lap.

The gap between the leading Ajo teammates was over 1s, however Gardner still smelt victory.

Every corner the Australian was visibly gaining on his championship rival and got the gap down to under 0.3s on the final lap.

It looked as if the fight for the win was going down to the wire, however Gardner had a big moment at Turn 11, nearly firing himself over the handlebars of his Kalex.

The Aussie was lucky to hold on, but as a result he was forced to settle for P2 for the second successive weekend.

Gardner came home ahead of Canet, Lowes, Merco Bezzecchi and Augusto Fernandez. DM Points: Gardner 271, R Fernandez 237, Bezzecchi 190, Lowes 140, Canet 119

TOPRAK RAZGATLIOGLU clung onto his World Superbike Championship lead by just a solitary point, after the round in Barcelona.

Six-time champion Jonathan Rea closed the gap to Razgatlioglu with a win in the Sprint Race, while Scott Redding and Michael Ruben Rinaldi were the main race winners.

In Race 1, technical issues with Razgatlioglu’s Yamaha paved the way for a Ducati 1-2-3 at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, which was led by factory Ducati rider Redding.

The Englishman claimed his victory ahead Motocorsa Racing rider Axel Bassani, who secured his first Superbike World Championship podium.

Completing the podium was Rinaldi, who found strong pace over the 20-lap rain-soaked affair.

Rea was just outside of the podium places in his pursuit of a seventh title, while Michael van der Mark made Rea earn his points in fifth.

Razgatlioglu was forced to retire from the lead on lap 15.

The Turkish rider bounced back to finish second in the Sprint Race, but it was title rival Rea who stood atop the podium.

Alvaro Bautista also found himself among the top three in a race that was red flagged after just four laps, due to an incident at Turn 11

involving Lucas Mahias and Chaz Davies, before a five-lap restarted encounter.

Lowes finished fourth 2.948s off the leader and was trailed by Rinaldi and Bassani.

After a nervous start to the round, Razgatlioglu reclaimed his championship lead in Race 2 thanks to a runner-up result.

Rinaldi took winners honours and Redding finished third.

Bautista, Andrea Locatelli and Rea were just out of the podium places.

Tom Sykes and Lucas Mahias collided early in the race, with the former being rushed to hospital conscious but concussed.

Aussie Lachlan Epis made his debut, finishing in 20th in Race 1, an impressive 16th in the Superpole race, before retiring in Race 2.

Josh Nevett Standings: Razgatlioglu 399, Rea 398, Redding 339, Rinaldi 218, Locatelli 201

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TARGA

ANEAR AND SARANDIS STEAL TARGA GREAT BARRIER REEF Reporrt: Josh Nevett Images: Other Side Productions LUKE ANEAR and Andy Sarandis won Targa Great Barrier Reef after a fast finish, claiming outright honours in the event's fourth edition.

The pair overcame an 11s deficit heading into the final day, powering into the lead with two stages remaining to top the overall classifications in their 2010 Subaru WRX STi. “We had a red hot go and I drove the best I’ve ever driven, and we caught him (Tony Quinn) on the Palmerston run,” Anear said.

“He wasn’t going to let me by, and it was very satisfying. Then we managed to double the lead again on the next shorter stage.

“Because the roads were damp, we reckon the Subaru was the right car for the conditions.

“I’ve got to thank Ben Newman who gave me the car which was prepared by Buckby Motorsport on the proviso that ‘you go up there and win it’.

“If it wasn’t for those guys, we wouldn’t have made it here, so I can’t thank them enough.”

Winners of the 2020 event Tony Quinn and Brian Foster finished second, unable to maintain their ascendency to the finish line.

Subarus proved their worth among the frontrunners, as local entrants Steve Van Der Brug and Linda Rankine finished third overall in their 2010 WRX STi. On the first day of competition, experienced tin top driver and Triple Eight Race Engineering shareholder Quinn dominated proceedings, to establish a 24s lead alongside co-driver Foster.

The pair guided their Nissan GT-R R35 to the top of the standings early, expertly navigating the demanding tropical North Queensland roads.

Into the second day, Quinn channelled his experience including two Targa

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Luke Anear and Andy Sarandis (above) celebrate their Targa Great Barrier Reef victory in the pair’s Subaru WRX STi (top).

Tasmania titles to maintain an 11s lead over Anear and Sarandis.

Quinn and Foster were challenged by the eventual winners but completed the six stages without a significant dent to their lead.

Brisbane pair Tony and Sandra Seymour were consistent across the day to be third overall in their 2013 Lotus Exige with one day remaining.

Staring at a deficit of 11s heading into the final day, Anear and Saradis defied the odds to triumph.

The pair hauled in Quinn and Foster on the 27.98km Palmerston test (stage 15 of 17), building a margin of 10s which extended to 17s by the finish.

Anear achieved the feat despite requiring a vehicle change ahead of the Cairns-based event, due to a crash in Tasmania, which rendered his Mercedes AMG GT-R unfit for competition.

As well as taking the outright win, Anear also took the Cairns Regional Council GT Production category honours.

Outside of the outright standings, in Classic GT the experienced pairing of Jon and Gina Siddins surged to a 1m 12s advantage after Day 2 but failed to

finish because of gearbox issues in their 1970 Datsun 240Z. Their premature exit left the lead open for Anthony Genocchio and Robert Horsfall to cruise to a 34s win in their 1983 Holden Commodore.

Paolo Buccini and Claire Buccini led by over six minutes in Early Modern 2 after Day 2 and further extended that to 7m 55s by the conclusion of the event in their 2008 BMW 135i.

In Early Modern 4 Geoffrey and Toni Hewitt triumphed in a 2009 Nissan GTR R35.

In Shannons Classic there was just Leading into the final day, Tony Quinn/Brian Foster were pipped at the post.

one entry to cross the line, Patrick Barnett and Katie Barnett picking up the victory in their 1979 Ford Cortina.

Geoffrey Olholm and Matthew Sanders took their 2019 Toyota Supra GTS to a win in GT Sports Trophy, finishing 2m 16s ahead of Gwesyn Dalliston and Robert Goodwin’s 2003 Nissan 350Z. The Thoroughbred Trophy winners were Tim and Kym Hall for the second year in a row, by an almost nine-minute margin.

Darryl and Peter Marshall were successful in their 2002 Ford Pursuit Ute to top the time, speed and distance challenge and thus won the TSD Trophy.

Wayne Lamont and Errol Rosenblatt rounded out the honours list, winning the Rookie Rallye class in a 2012 Toyota 86.

TARGA Great Barrier Reef results overall

1 Luke Anear/Andy Sarandis (2010 Subaru WRX STi) 2 Tony Quinn/Brian Foster (2018 Nissan GT-R) +17s 3 Steven Van Der Brug/Linda Rankine (2010 Subaru WRX STi) +4min07s 4 Tony/Sandra Seymour (2013 Lotus Exige) +5.03s 5 Mark Griffith/Neill Woolley (2017 Mercedes A45) +5.45s

BEND CLASSIC

YASSER SHAHIN DOMINATES THE BEND CLASSIC

Report: Dan McCarthy Images: John Lemm/David Batchelor THE BEND Motorsport Park co-owner Yasser Shahin claimed victory in the 2021 edition of The Bend Classic, driving a Formula Renault 3.5L V8.

The Bend Classic sees drivers compete in sprints against the clock on The Bend West Circuit, with the fastest 10 qualifing for the end of event Top 10 Shootout to decide the overall winner.

In the Top 10 Shootout Shahin dominated, he was nearly 6s faster than his nearest rival Sebastien Amadio driving a Team BRM S5000 open-wheel machine.

As always at The Bend Classic, competitors can compete in almost whatever they want, from classic Formula 1 cars to historic Touring Cars, modern GT machines or even Rally cars.

However, it isn’t just the cars that draw attention, several well-known drivers competed in the 2021 edition including seven-time Bathurst 1000 winner Craig Lowndes.

Over the weekend, Shahin saved his best lap until the Top 10 Shootout, setting a 1m 10.540s time, fast enough to win the event.

However, he was 0.42s off the lap record set by fellow South Australian Josh Kean last year.

Shahin, a regular GT racer, admitted that he had a couple of moments on his lap, when giving it 100 per cent.

“It was pretty hairy coming onto the straight and I had another moment at Turn 3. I was really pushing!” Shahin said.

“It was a great lap, great fun, but just not quite enough, so the record will have to wait for another year.

“We’ve got big plans to come back and give it a shake again. This is a great format, we love it and it’s been a sensational weekend.”

The lap was still the second-fastest recorded on the 3.4km circuit, though nobody is yet to break under the 70 second bracket.

Despite the disappointment of not claiming the lap record, Shahin still earned the The Bend Classic trophy, beating 17-year-old Amadio who prior to the weekend had never even driven an S5000 machine.

Amadio steered the machine raced by Thomas Randle in the inaugural S5000 Australian Drivers Championship, ending up just under 6s off the pace of Shahin.

Nevertheless, he was 1.2s faster than John-Paul Drake in his Wolf Mistral Sports Car. Drake missed all of Saturday’s action

Yasser Shahin (top) won The Bend Classic Shoot Out in his Formula Renault 3.5L V8 while Craig Lowndes (above left) drove a Dallara F189 but a gearbox issue put him out. Dan Day’s Subaru WRX Time Attack racer (above right) won the Modern Sports class.

the very mixed conditions over the weekend, this was harder than it appeared.

Phillip Carter in an MGB won the Vintage class, while SA competitor Jim Doig claimed the Open Sports & Racing in his Motorlab ASP. Mark Haig driving a Datsun 510 won the Classic Sports Sedans class, Cook’s consistency saw him claim Classic Open Wheel and F1.

Peter Gazzard took the honours in Classic Production, with Day taking out Modern Sports.

Weather conditions were mixed over the weekend, though the enthusiasm of competitors was hardly damped. Brock Commodores and tribute cars featured prominently.

but managed to qualify for the Top 10 Shootout, rounding out the overall podium aboard his new machine.

Driving the Formula Toyota FT-50 previously run in the New Zealand Toyota Racing Series, Chris Slusarski finished fourth.

Tim Cook won the Classic Open Wheel & F1 class driving a Wolf Thunder to fifth position overall.

The Bend’s annual Classic attracted all manner of modern, historic and significant racers, like this glorious Bugatti Type 37A special in the hands of Kent Patrick.

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In an Audi R8 GT3 Mark Rosser placed in sixth position, while former Super2 Series driver Dan Day’s well-known Subaru WRX Time Attack monster was seventh, winning the Modern Sports class in the process.

Mark Rundle’s in a Mitsubishi Evo 8 finished eighth overall ahead of Ben Cheney’s West WX10, while Matt Roseler’s Toyota Racing Series open wheeler completed the Top 10.

Unfortunately for fans around the track, Lowndes missed out on a spot in the Top 10 Shootout when his Dallara F189 Cosworth, originally raced by Andrea de Cesaris in 1989, broke a gearbox on Sunday morning.

Lowndes’ Dallara was not the only F1 car to strike mechanical issues over the weekend.

Sam Shahin’s Benneton B198 (raced in 1998) suffered fuelling issues and forced the circuit owner to sit out Sunday’s proceedings.

In total six categories were decided across a regularity format where consistency was key, however in

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SHOOTOUT RESULTS: • Yasser Shahin (Formula Renault 3.5V8) 1m10.540s • Sebastien Amadio (Rogers AF01/V8 S5000) 1m16.220s • JP Drake (Wolf F1 Mistral) 1m17.429s • Chris Slusarsrki (Formula Toyota FT-50) 1m18.785s • Tim Cook (Wolf Thunder) 1m19.087s • Mark Rosser (Audi R8 LMS) 1m19.121s • Dan Day (Subaru Impreza STi) 1m19.601s • Mark Rundle (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 8) 1m21.730s • Ben Cheney (West WX10) 1m2.469s • Matt Roseler (Formula Toyota FT-50) 1m23.985s CLASS WINNERS: Vintage – Philip Carter Open Sports & Racing Jim Doig Historic Sports Sedans – Mark Haig Classic Open Wheel & F1 – Tim Cook Classic Production – Peter Gazzard Modern Sports – Dan Day

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p ra w S L A N NATIO

HUTCHISON SCORES LAST RUN LEYBURN WIN WARWICK HUTCHISON claimed outright honours for the fourth time at the 2021 Historic Leyburn Sprints, taking out the Col Furness Memorial Trophy.

The event suffered several COVIDrelated postponements, however crowds were welcomed to the Sprints, headlined by a battle between Hutchison and Brett Bull for this year’s crown.

Bull held the superior time heading into Hutchison’s ninth and final run, but was ultimately beaten by the latter’s Mazda rotary powered OMS28 in a last-minute upset.

Hutchison set a 42.271s to oust Bull, who clocked his best 42.365s

time in a Van Dieman RF03K Formula Ford.

It was Hutchison’s first Sprint triumph at the 1.0km Leyburn street course since 2013.

“This trophy is close to my heart.

I’ve been up here several times and it’s good to be back,” Hutchison said.

“Brett was in front most of the weekend and it was a really close battle. That was very satisfying to beat him on the very last run.”

In the 25th anniversary of the Leyburn Sprints, Brad Stratton led the Historics class, setting the fastest time of 55.225s in a 1962 Elfin Mallala sports car.

Images: Trapnell Creations At the wheel of a Suzuki Swift, Thomas Rath won the Ann Collins Memorial Junior Award for setting the most consistent times among drivers aged between 14-17.

Leyburn Sprints President Tricia Chant was proud of the 2021 edition especially after several setbacks which ruled out interstate entries and forced a three-week postponement.

“We’ve faced some challenges in the past couple of years after having to cancel the 2020 event and postpone this year’s by three weeks.

But there was no sign of that at the weekend – everyone seemed to have a great time,” Chant said.

Alongside the competitive action, Erebus Motorsport Supercars

driver Brodie Kostecki provided a demonstration in a Ford Fusion NASCAR once raced in America by Aussie Marcos Ambrose.

Australia’s oldest racing car, the 1922 Wikner Ford Special owned for 63 years by Doug Partington, also provided entertainment as it took Dick Johnson on a parade lap.

Johnson was joined at the Sprints by his son Steven and grandson Jett, who was competing in a Ford Escort.

The Leyburn Sprints event commemorates the 1949 Leyburn Australian Grand Prix.

The annual sprint is expected to return in 2022 on its usual lateAugust date. Josh Nevett

FOURTH HILLCLIMB TITLE FOR MAHON IN VERY trying conditions, Dave Mahon won his fourth South Australian Hillclimb Championship on September 10-12.

Held at Collingrove in the Barossa Valley, the event attracted a respectable 105 entries, all South Australian.

Mahon’s winning time in his Dallara F394 of 28.77 seconds was on Saturday’s second run, 0.86s in front of Derek Foster (White Formula Libre), in turn 0.75s ahead of older brother Allan, also sharing the White.

Robert Ellis’s front-engined Acrobat Mk 1 sports car was next, ahead of the first of the rapid 4WD tin-tops, the Mitsubishi EVO IV shared by Henry and John Beasley, and Nathan Green’s Nissan Skyline GTR. Friday’s practice day weather was perfect, but that was to change drastically for Saturday’s competition, with strong winds all day.

The turbocharged Cheap BOSS F/L of David Whiteside didn’t survive practice, bending a valve – an unfortunate birthday present for the car’s owner Roy Mitchie.

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Image: John Lemm Sarah Pfeiffer in her usually frontrunning Mallock U2 sports had a bad day, disqualified for hitting a marker on the second run, before breaking

a tailshaft CV joint. She also suffered the indignity of having her son Harry go quicker in the car on his only run.

If Saturday’s weather was bad,

Sunday’s was horrific, the winds even stronger and bringing intermittent heavy rain. Many competitors sat back and waited to see if conditions would improve, the top four not even bothering to bring their cars out of the trailer.

Anyone who hadn’t set a decent time on Saturday was out of luck, with only three competitors setting their best times on Sunday. Two of those, in fact, hadn’t run Saturday – Gavin Farley (EVO VII) and Tara Le Maistre (Mazda MX5).

Paul Healey (EVO VIII), who was to finish ninth outright, actually set Sunday’s fastest time – 33.50s.

After the official runs came the Shootout, the object being to exceed your best time by the greatest amount. This time it was contested solely by eight 4WDs, most of the others eligible having packed up and left.

Paul Healey proved fastest overall from David Coombe (EVO VII) and Nathan Green. However, Willa Wauchope (Toyota GR Yaris) collected the trophy on the corrected formula. John Lemm

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FEATURE AutoAction AutoAction 57 53 FEATURE

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STATE RACERS TAKE OVER SUPERCAR DATE NOT EVERYONE rued the cancellation of the Perth Supersprint, as the West Australian Sporting Car Club put on a Image: Motorsport Images non-championship, one day meeting on September 11. Some categories were combined, and longer races were held with the highlight being the 30-lap enduro for Excels.

WALKINSHAW ANDRETTI outside, of the top 10. just helps you keep the United is in the process of WAU team principal Bruce momentum.

EXCELSwho its second deciding Stewart explained that “It went reasonably well in THE DEBUT of a brandChaz new car could driver will be alongside performances this year Townsville 2 and then you not havenext gone any better for Taylawill Dicker Mostert season. have a big factor in the kind of stop for a while, take and Tom Hamlett.isThey each haddecision. a win Bryce Fullwood currently away a few of those wheels in the the position; sprints before teaming a in however manyup to“Firstly, he’s a great young for a while, until you get comprehensive victory in the drivers are bidding for the seatenduro kid,” Stewart said on a to go again in October. So over Jewell/Alex Newton.Supercars.com Rob at theAnthony frontrunning Melbourne video. that makes it a little bit more Landsmeer third, as he did“We thewant race to see if we can based outfit,finished next season. difficult.” on hisNorthern own. Territorian The grow him and be that driver The team is reportedly taking In race Hamlett was the early leader Chaz. has had aone difficult season alongside other considerations into from Harrison Douglas to date after what was aand Landsmeer, “But as we’ve said along account. who passed Douglas forinsecond on lap promising debut season the the way, we’ve always got to “We’re just looking at those two. Ryan Championship McNess spun inlast Turn 6look which FORMULA/FORMULA FORDS Supercars at the resultsFREE and keep scenarios right now,” he said. brought out the safety car under looking which the AFTER A great start, year. at performance, “ButWilliam ideally Norman Bryce is (Ralt just race led all of race one to winyoung aheadbloke of Simon Latefinished. last year Fullwood because we wantRT4) to keep such a great and Landsmeer led the fieldBend away inimproving race two, and consistently Alderson (Van Diemen FF2000).

Virago scored a podium at The great talent, he’sRicky awesome closely followed Dicker and Jewell who with the (Ralt early, only toaround retire which Motorsport Park, by however improving topRT5) few ran third for us culturally the wasmomentum passed by Andrew Malkin (sharing elevated Andrewplace, Nielson that did not carry teams.” that(Ralt is aRT4). huge part of withthe Douglas) shortly In to the second race Alderson doggedly held into first portion of after. the Dicker passed Stewart was asked the consideration.

Landsmeer after to take win. the lead for the first four laps before Norman 2021 season.soon Meanwhile, his theelaborate on whether on track “We’ve got five rounds to go.

In the enduro it was in frontare at the getthe by. Alderson wasn’t done he teammate Mostert hasLandsmeer been results key tocould whether Unfortunately, it’s allas pushed before the Dicker/Hamlett team the Series hung on to makeback a successful astart championship contender, 2019took Super2 winner into thoseand lastwinning three lead ontwo thewins second in move on the lastmonths. lap. Nielson was third. Jack taking in thelap, firstwith halfDouglas/Malkin keeps his seat. third.

Jewell/Newton entry was“Always,” the first to Sheldon (Stealth) was the best of the Formula of the The season. he said.

“Always in “It makes it a little more make its pitstop on an lapupturn 11 and had a 10stolead Fords.

Fullwood has had regard how you perform. hectic to get it done. But yeah, after Dicker andthe Hamlett swapped as in speed during last four It’sseats unfortunate, we haven’t we’re looking at all those they were the have last toseen pit. him FORMULA VEES rounds which had events in August and things right now.”

Lap by lap fighting the latterin,pulled backbecause PIT STOPS while leading both 15-lap races consistently or justthe margin September, that Dan McCarthy and regained the lead with four to go. Douglas cost David Caisley victories which then went and Malkin finished fourth ahead of Cam to fellow Jacer drivers Jeff Cadman and Allan Atkins and Michael Holdcroft.

Reid respectively.

After Caisley’s stop in race one, Cadman led SPORT SEDANS/SPORTS CARS/ just ahead of Reid, who managed to get ahead STREET CARS/IMPROVED before he retired. Cadman won, Caisley was PRODUCTION ANDRETTI United second and Vini Paduano (Aurora) a distant WALKINSHAW IN A pair of TA2 Camaros, Ron Moller andto third. Fourth went to Bruce Welsh (Jacer) who Wildcard driver Kurt Kostecki admitted Brett Action Niall went ahead oftoWalter Epple was the best of the 1200s, 0.04s in front of Auto he one-two is not wedded the team in race one, to before Porsche 997 and is able lookthe elsewhere for aSports full-time Callum Lamont (Sabre).

Car pilot hit Championship back with a resounding Caisley stopped earlier in race two, which Supercars seat in victory 2022. in Insyde Mediato exchange the the second outing.West Australian has leftImage: Reid and Cadman The 23-year-old Epple bounded to an early andthree increasing front running several times, Reid ultimately already completed two of his lead in theappearances first race before Glen Brocklehurst prevailing. thirdfull-time in front ofnext year.

Wildcard this year and hopefully Caisley I’m on was the grid (Ford Falconwith XC a Sports Sedan) the Paduano, while Mackenzie bested impressed top 10 finishclawed in Darwin.

“It’s all business.

So forMatthews them (WAU), gap sixth of 16 laps Brocklehurst Welsh bygot 0.31s honours.in the best Theback. resultOnatthe Hidden Valley Raceway they’ve to for put1200 themselves Motorsport Images wentthe down theever inside of the at Turn 7 was best finish forPorsche a Wildcard position, whether that’s with me or not.” for theand lead.turned Epple spun onup theand exit,down did not hit SALOON CARS driver heads the The humble Kostecki is grateful for the anything, and resumed in fourth.

FORD FALCON drivers the top three Supercars paddock. opportunity thatAU has beenfilled presented to Brocklehurst wasthat disappearing into the in both with that victories Rick Gill Kostecki hopes these strong Wildcard places him this year races, and feels he istoimproving distancewill when suffered on when lap and Mason results givehehim a legatoproblem stand on every timeHarvey. he gets behind the wheel.

11 and pulled off toin the2022. side of the track. That The was red when hunting for a seat “I’mfirst justrace grateful thatflagged I’ve got this Brock enabled to take over the lead just main in front Ralph discovered brakes intojust Turn 6, “HavingNiall done these rounds in the opportunity,” he no said.

We’re working of Moller, who passed Niall twome laps times upinonthe hisdoor, roof. series recently, the aim is with to put in to go. rolled hard several and trying toand get ended my foot In frame race two Moller got the ledforfor Fortunately, he me wasin able exit position. the wrecked the and put my hat jump in theand ring and this puts thetobest the first lap but Epple explained quickly tooktoover.

Holden Commodore VT unaided. next year,” Kostecki AA. Niall “They’ve (WAU) been awesome with me passed working Moller onreally lap 11hard for second.

Theget latter At far the and restart Gill led from the starthard followed “We’re to try and so we’ve been working to put dropped to fifth before Aiden Friel a by Harveyproduct and Robert Marcon (AU).every Marcon something there and retaking I hope that having a good out on the track time (Toyota Sprinter Street Car) third passed on lap 11 and finished second. good result in Darwin putsbut metrailed in a good we get Harvey into a session.” placed Brent Peters (Nissan Skyline) at the Vince CiallellaKostecki (VT) was was fourth ahead of Greg position.”

In Darwin, often ahead of end.

Dyson (AU), while the best of the older Pro-Am Kostecki admits that while Walkinshaw regular driver Bryce Fullwood, not bad drivers was Michael Koberstein by a narrow Andretti United has given him the for someone who has only contested 15 margin over Championship fellow Commodore VN steerers opportunity this year, it was agreed that he Supercars races.

Desylva and Jenkins. could spread his wings and find a full-time “The number one comparison are your Marcon opened lead in race two drive elsewhere. teammates, so ifaIhandy can do what Bryce before Harvey and caught passed “With how tough it is, a lot of drivers is doing in the carGill and evenand what Chaz him.

Dysoniswas fourth the VTsit wanting to get into Supercars, we’re (Mostert) doing at in thefront nextofround, driven

by Robert Perrozzi and Stephen Martin. looking around as much as we can at the definitely puts me in a good position.”

Terry (VN) home the Pro-Am moment, we’re starting talks,” he said.

KurtDesylva Kostecki is led expected to be announced brigade ahead of Steve West (FalconinEA).

“The goal for Oliver Walkinshaw was to help me as a Matt Stone Racing co-driver coming Images: Mick Mick Oliver get a leg up and get into the series next weeks alongside his brother Jake.

Dan McCarthy year, we have to see how it pans out and

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NATIONALS wrap n compiled by garry o’brie

BRINKMAN/ RICHARDSON WIN IMBIL THE GLOBE ROAMER II Imbil Rally was an abbreviated event with just five of the nine scheduled stages contested.

But it didn’t matter to Glenn Brinkman and Steve Richardson who won by a minute and a half.

The third round of the Queensland Rally Championship was promoted by the Brisbane Sporting Car Club and conducted on Forestry roads in the Imbil and Amamoor State Forests on September 11.

Brinkman and Richardson (Mitsubishi EVO 9) were only beaten on one stage as they took outright honours ahead of 2WD winners Andrew Carrigan and Jennifer Prince (Mitsubishi Magna EVO) and Tom Dermody and Ryan Preston (Ford Escort RS 1800).

The first competitive stage was taken out by Brinkman, 9.0s in front of Ian Menzies and Robert McGowan (EVO 9), with Rod Reid and Ray Priest (EVO 7) third.

Then followed Dermody, and Tony Quinn and Brian Foster (Nissan Navara V8 Nismo).

Early casualties were the Ronnie Bustard/Cahal Carey Evo 9 (gearbox), the Richard Galley/ Alan Stean EVO 8, and the Ryan Williams/Brad Jones Ford Fiesta R2T with a blow clutch. On the second stage Matt Dolan and

Image: CH Images

his daughter Alex Cherry had a rollover in their Holden Gemini.

Brinkman followed up with the fastest times over the next two stages, over Carrigan and Quinn firstly, then Tristan Carrigan and Neill Woolley (Alfa Romeo 147), and Andrew Carrigan. Through stage five the Alfa crew were quickest from Brinkman and Andrew Carrigan.

Brinkman led the rally by 1min

2.0s from Andrew Carrigan, Dermody, Quinn and Menzies.

Time constraints caused the next stages to be cancelled, which just left the night stage to negotiate where Brinkman was able to extend his lead.

Menzies was second by just 2.0s while Badenoch and Kelly (Toyota Celica RA40) were next ahead of Andrew Carrigan. Quinn had opted not to contest the stage as

HABY’S PERFECTION AT MANNUM FOUR STARTS and four wins was the scenario for Aaron and Liz Haby, when they comfortably took victory in the fifth round of the South Australian Multi Club Series at the Pretoria Hotel Mannum Enduro on September 11-12.

Adam and Nyree Bierl (Jimco/Chev) were just off the pace set by the Haby Unlimited class Element Prodigy/ Toyota, but scored a good result in difficult conditions to be second.

Andrew Fitzgerald and Maddy Barrett (Element Prodigy/Chev) grabbed third after shadowing the black Jimco throughout.

Fourth for Chris Pickert and Bryan Brown (Mitsubishi Triton/Chev) showed they continue to improve with their first top five result. There was then a gap to Class 6 winners Nic Hicks and Christian Macintosh (Can-Am Maverick).

Less than 30s back were the unlucky Carl Haby and Wayne Tabe (Element

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Prodigy/Nissan V8) who finished first on Sunday, but had lost 10 mins the day before with a flat tyre.

There was a big margin to Brenton and Matthew Gallasch (Southern Cross/Chev) who avoided any of the dramas in the dust.

Geoff Brennan and Wade Haythorpe (Can-Am) had some hair raising moments on their way to eighth. They were comfortably ahead of John Smith and Grant Manion (Nissan Patrol), while a very happy Michael Shipton and Paul Charlton put their Chev-powered Ford Ranger in the top 10.

The race lost Daryl Nissen and David Hall (SORE/Nissan) on Saturday in a collision in thick dust while trying to avoid the stranded Ford Maverick of Aaron Harre and Nathan Dunn. Nissen

the Navara was not equipped for night rallying.

Menzies finished the event fourth with Anthony Tanzer/Annette Thomspon (Subaru Impreza WRX) next, then Dan Ross/Jay Davidson (Mitsubishi Starion), Justin Northage/Matt Sosimenko (Lotus Exige), Cameron Henry/ Tony Best (WRX) and Keith Fackrell/Claire Buccini (Escort).

Garry O’Brien

Image: David Batchelor

was out with a badly damaged engine while Hall managed to limp around for another lap.

Mark and Ryder Taylor (Cobra/Mazda) only managed two laps before they lost out in a confrontation with a tree.

Nev Day and Tanya Wales (Mantiss/ Mitsubishi) were out of luck again when they lost a wheel on Sunday.

Despite a good run on Sunday, Gavin

Chant and Greg Luke (Southern Cross/ Honda) were a DNF after electrical problems on day one.

Other class winners were Sam Vanstone/Brad Cheer (RIDS Joker/ Toyota) in Class 2, Class 5 went to Chris Pickert and Bryan Brown (Mitsubishi Triton/Chev), and Class 4 was taken by John Smith and Grant Manion (Nissan Patrol). David Batchelor

Image: ASORRC

PADDY PREVALENT IN THE RED CENTRE IN HIS Sportslite Tiny Built/Suzuki, Paddy Geraghty took out the Dennis Zaglas Short Course off road event at Mt Ooraminna in the Northern Territory, on September 11-12.

Geraghty, in a lone hand effort, overcame a poor prologue to win both sections and be comfortably ahead. Second over four minutes away was Jack Weir and Jack Agnew (ProLite Jimco/Toyota), 1min 10s ahead of Tim Weir (Super 1650 Holeshot/Toyota) with Eliza Agnew navigating in her first race.

Named after a founding member of the Alice Springs Off Road Club who passed away in 2011, the Dennis Zaglas event comprised four three-lap sections of the 14.7km course. The first two sections were on Saturday afternoon with half the field in each, and the second two took place from Sunday morning until noon.

Jack Weir was the fastest in the single-lap prologue, ahead of Jesse Schembri (ProLite MDS Fabrication/ Hayabusa) and the Leighton Surr/ Josh Landers/Shannon Landers

Extreme 2WD Ford Ranger/Chev.

Geraghty could only manage seventh after a couple of errors.

In the first race, Tim Weir led away before Geraghty went on to win. Third place went to husband and wife Peter and Michelle Baulch (Super 1650 Rivmaster/Toyota).

The second race was taken out by Simpson who passed Jack Weir on the final lap to win by 0.089s. Third place went to David Bird and Jamie Smith (Extreme 2WD Bennett Trophy Truck/Chev).

Race three was easily headed by Geraghty from Tim Weir, while Brad Geraghty along with 12-year-old Bradley (Paddy’s son in his first event) were third in their SXS Sports Yamaha YXZ 1000.

In the fourth race was Jack Weir with Darren Wright and his daughter Cloe (Super 1650 Southern Cross/ Mitsubishi) second in front of Bird.

Schembri was well placed for second overall, but for a wayward wire off the fuel pump put him out of contention.

GOB

Best of the Class 6 entries was eighth placed Richard Tassin and Cherie Robson (Can-Am Maverick X3).

Other class winners included 16th placed Jason and Jamie Lavis (Class 10 Southern Cross/Honda), 27th Luke Peterson and David Anderson (Class 7 Nissan Patrol), and 29th Chris Wieden and Terry Kane (Class 8 Patrol/Holden).

Inaugural ‘King’ in 2019 Billy Geddes, with Alan Cornick (Geiser Bros TT/Chev) were out of winning

contention due to a broken input shaft. Chris Western and Troy Boland (Rush Truck LCG/Chev) had power steering issues, and Brett Comiskey/Dan McKenzie (4WD Racer Engineering TT/Chev) suffered gearbox dramas.

Stuart Chapman and Jason Keane (Chenowth Millennium 2/Mitsubishi turbo) suffered electric gremlins and the Rob Chapman/Adam McGuire/ Ross Challacombe Razorback/Toyota turbo had a converter issue. GOB

KING OF THE RIVER AGAIN BACK-TO-BACK victories went to Talbot Cox and Craig King when they won the Pat McDonnell Earthmoving Don River Dash 300 on September 1112 and became King of the River for a second time.

The event’s third running was part of the Mickey Thompson ARB Queensland Off Road Racing Championship, based out of Bowen.

The unique event started in the township and used a public road to the Don River. It then entered the dry riverbed for three laps of 50km, before the road section to the Event HQ finish – twice over the two days for a total distance of around 320km.

In their Unlimited class Racer Engineering Carbon/Toyota V8, Cox and King finished just under 15 mins ahead of Justin and James Montesalvo (Class 4 GET Performance Trophy Truck/LS1).

Third overall were Craig Krog and Rhys Hutcheson (Unlimited Razorback/Chev), a further 3 mins 1.5s behind on combined times.

The latter completed the event in spectacular fashion when landing awkwardly off the first spectator jump near the finish line, clipped the second jump, and barrel rolled.

Over 80 teams entered and both legs were taken out by Cox, the first over Krog and Montesalvo. The latter was second on leg two ahead of Andrew and Teegan Mowles (Razorback/BMW S65).

Overall the Mowles’ were seventh behind the Unlimited buggies of Russell, Sarah and Blake Newman (Element SS Gangster/Chev), Cooper and Rhyce Western (Rush Buggy/ Chev) and Michael Marsden with Michael Collins and John Moore (Racer Engineering Carbon/Ford Windsor V8).

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55

SPEEDWAYnews 56 AutoAction FEATURE Words: Paris Charles Images: Ray Ritter WITH COMPETITORS coming from most parts of the nation, Darwin’s 7Mate Northline Speedway played host to the three rounds over consecutive nights, of the Jewel of the North Wingless Sprints within the Chariots of Thunder Series.

The opening night of competition saw the excitement bar raised, with a finish that could not be scripted any better than a director of a Hollywood blockbuster.

Local gun Zack Grimshaw snared a Steve Bradbury like victory on the opening night’s 20-lap feature race.

The reigning national champion Alex Ross lead for 99.9 per cent of the race until tangling with local veteran Jamie McInnes, who made a late lunge for the lead as the duo exited the final corner in the run to the finish line. The pair tangled, allowing Grimshaw aboard his Global Lighting Solutions entry to drive around the outside, less than two metres from the finish line and take one of the most thrilling race victories by a mere 0.143 of a second.

Ross would claim second and McInnes third as the cars crossed the line still tangled together.

Blake Iwanow would claim both of his heat races and the Top 8 Dash to ensure a Pole Position start for the feature event, while Alex Ross and Jamie McInnes scored maximum points in the remaining two.

The night two, 20-lap feature proved an action packed affair from the getgo when New South Welshman Troy Carey rolled in spectacular fashion on the opening lap, into the turn two fence.

For the complete restart a fired up Ross got the jump from the second

ROSS RACES TO WINGLESS JEWEL WIN

row and was never headed over the journey to claim an untroubled victory aboard the Advanced Living Solutions V2 car. The race for second proved an exciting affair as Zac Grimshaw and Blake Iwanow battled in close quarters, only for Iwanow to spin on the final corner and drop him from the podium placings.

Ex-pat South Aussie Damien Thorne picked up the pieces for third.

The four heat races were evenly shared with Alex Ross, Zac Grimshaw, Damien Thorne and Jarrod Goldoni claiming one a piece, while West Aussie Champion Matthew Iwanow won the Top 8 Dash.

For the third and final night, Zac Grimshaw looked poised to claim the overall victory of the Jewel of the North Wingless Sprints Series.

He gave himself every possible

opportunity after qualifying for the 20-lap final on the front row, only to go crashing out on the first circulation after Darren Goldoni slid into him while trying to pass as they pair exited turn four.

In an ironic twist, the second of the Goldoni brothers in Jarrod crunched the rear of the Grimshaw machine as it rolled down the track.

For the second successive night a complete restart was called and next time around Damien Thorne’s run of fortune the night prior would change when he lost the rear push bar forcing him out of the restart.

Troy Carey won the Top 6 Pole Shuffle aboard the Regional Insurances Services N45 Eagle and would lead the field away at the single file restart and all the way to the waving of the chequered flag.

West Aussie Blake Iwanow bounced

back for a well-deserved second, also picking up the award for the Best Presented Car and Crew of the series, with Carly Walsh rounding the podium in third.

The local competitors fared well on the final night with Jamie McInnes, Zac Grimshaw, Damien Thorne and Tyson Newcombe each claiming a heat win.

After three nights of competition Victorian Alex Ross claimed the 2021 Jewel of the North Wingless Sprints portion of the Chariots of Thunder Series, over Zac Grimshaw and Damien Thorne.

Siblings Blake and Carly Walsh were next followed by Mathew Sealey, Jamie McInnes, Troy Carey, Blake Iwanow, Geoff Cook, and William Caruso, while Jarrod Goldoni rounded out the top dozen of the 21 competitors to partake in the series.

what makes the day for me. Top that with respect and enthusiasm from a great group of teens who well and truly earned their places in the program: it was a brilliant day, and it was great to be a part of it!” said Veronica in closing.

In South Australia a similar day but on a smaller scale was held at the Port Parham Speedway practice track, when the South Australian Late Model Association had a mechanics / sponsor’s day.

This incorporated an open invitation

via social media to Junior drivers and/ or other competitors looking to get involved with the local Late Model ranks.

New Late Model competitor, Lee Rothe is keen to get more people into in the class, so he offered up the 01 General Lee to anybody looking for an opportunity.

While only two drivers, Caitlyn Gilding (Junior Sedans) and Damien Eve (V6 Sprints), took up the generous offer tthat’s two new potential competitors with a head start to join the class.

RACE SCHOOL MADE FUN! Words: Paris Charles Images: Shane Vanzetti THE LATE Model Racing Western Australia club recently held their third annual Junior Development Program at the Kellerberrin Speedway Club.

Late Model drivers Veronica McCann and reigning Australian Champion Kye Blight were on hand to teach and mentor five nervous yet keen teenagers.

The teens had been shortlisted from various forms of Junior motor sport based upon on track results, sportsmanship on and off track, and respect for their team and other drivers.

The kids on hand, Kayne Dellar, Taj Vanzetti, Elysha Cooper, Hayley Morton and Riley Hanson, were keen to absorb the fine art of racing a Late Model to nurture future possible competitors looking to enter the big and powerful V8 powered class.

The day started with Kye teaching with the aid of a white board, as the teenagers learnt the mechanical principals of how a Late Model works

56 AutoAction

and why it is important to be smooth on the pedals, guidance which would pay dividends for these young drivers.

After the theory section in the morning the eager teens climbed into the passenger seat of either of the two, two seater Late Models on hand, supplied by the very generous Paul Stubber.

To start the practical side of the day, Kye and Veronica took the wheel offering one-on-one instruction for each of the Juniors, before swapping seats and giving them the chance to take the wheel.

After the first round of drives, instructors Kye and Veronica provided individual feedback to each of the Juniors on their first up efforts before climbing back behind the wheel for a second set of laps.

After the runs were completed the next in line for an introductory drive were the parents of the kids, who each had a go before a social BBQ was enjoyed, completing the day.

“As soon as the first sessions are over and the nerves are out of the way, the smiles come out and that’s

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NOMETRIC

All things historic with Mark Bisset

Mallala Globetrotters GARRIE COOPER exported two Elfin sportscars to South Africa in the mid’60s, a Mallala and Type 300, both of which were competitive machines in the hands of Henri Le Roux and Garth McGillewie.

Some keen readers may recall that Melbourne driver Greville Edgerton raced the ex-Whitehead/Jones/Phillips Cooper T38 Jaguar we featured three months ago.

After the Cooper’s sale, Edgerton bought Elfin Mallala chassis 6317, fitted a 2-litre Coventry Climax FPF and shipped it to the UK to show the Poms how it’s done.

In the chilly winter of 1964 Grev tested/ raced the Mallala at Silverstone, Mallory Park and Goodwood.

He was accompanied by his father, ‘Racing Ron’, who competed in/owned more cars in a lifetime of automotive passion than most of us have hot dinners.

With competition very tough, Edgerton returned to Australia to a successful career in property development, and an equally impressive record of blue-water competitive yachting, both of which continue. The Mallala lives on in Bill Hemming’s hands.

Foreign Mallalas got me thinking about Garrie’s Elfin exports; 15 cars of the 264 he built, I reckon, as follows; 1964: Mallala S6418 Henri le Roux, South Africa 1967: 400 BB67-4 Andy Buchanan, New Zealand, 300 SS67-4 Chuck Krueger USA, 300 SS67-5 Garth McGillewie South Africa 1969: 600C 6910 Hengkie Iriawan Indonesia, Ford FVA engined 1970: 600B 7015 Teddy Yip Macau, 600FF 70005 David Oxton New Zealand, 600FF 70009 Frohlich Golding & Co South Africa 1973: 620FF 73421 Dante Silverio, Toyota engine fitted Philippines,

The vivid yellow 2-litre Elfin Mallala is a hit of light amongst the Silverstone winter gloom (above) in 1964.

Equipe Edgerton at Goodwood (below) in 1964. Note Ron Edgerton’s Lotus Cortina ‘Big valve’ behind.

(Images Greville Edgerton). Ian Cook (left) with his ANF1.5 trophy at Calder (AA Archive)

622 73422 Dante Silverio Toyota engine Philippines 1974: 620/BFF 73430 Mike Hall USA, 73432, 73433 and 73434 all USA, seemingly Chuck Jones Racing 1977: MR8A-C 8783 Vern Schuppan.

He was a US based Oz International then, so I’m treating the car as such - it bombed in the USA as a central seat Can-Am car but was also raced in F5000 guise at home.

As always, I’m happy for input, are there any of Garrie’s exports I’ve missed from that list?

Ian Cook

AUTO ACTION’S photo archive is huge and interesting.

This tattered and torn unattributed old shot (above, with trophy) was a bit of a mystery. I thought it may have been Ian Cook (born 1941), and his old friend, Denis Lupton, confirmed it.

A young, ‘60s-star, he won the Lucas Davison ANF1.5 Series at Calder

aboard two Elfin Monos back-to-back in 1966 and 1967. The photo shows happy-chappy Ian collecting the goodies at one of those prize-givings.

As a youth, the enthusiast/Australian Motor Sports Club member was apprenticed at TAA (Trans Australian Airlines - GOV Owned domestic airline) as an airframe sheet-metal worker in ace-welder/engineer Hedley Thompson’s aircraft maintenance department.

After a few drives in Lupton/ Thompson’s Lotus 11 replicas, built

by Thompson/Lupton/Cook/Frank Exposisto, he managed and instructed at John Leighton’s Birchwood Racing School at Calder, also hill-climbing and racing the school Cooper S, Nota Clubman and Lotus 18s.

He progressed from the Elfin Monos to Tony Osborne’ new Argo Chev V8 in 1967 – a Cooper T53 Tasman 2.5 Climax converted to a sporty, now

Ian Cook all cocked up at Calder in 1967 in the Argo Chev V8. Stars of the show in Victoria were Cook and Alan Hamilton’s Porsche 906, but it was a different kettle of fish when Frank Matich and Niel Allen were in town (Image: Peter Brennan Collection)

owned by Peter Brennan – where his engineering and car sorting abilities were tested, in addition to big-banger race pace.

“Ian used to say it changed its mind each time it was tipped into a corner,” Lupton recalled.

He did well enough to be picked up by Bob Jane for his team in 1968, mainly driving the tricky Elfin 400 Repco 4.4 V8 John Harvey disliked intensely. Ian found it a challenge too, but drove it competitively throughout Victoria, New South Wales, and Tasmania.

But Jano had a full roster of drivers by the year’s end. He took on Bevan Gibson, and Allan Moffat upon his return from the ‘States. John Harvey was back in harness after a long recovery from his Easter Brabham BT23E Repco crash, not to forget Jane himself. Moffat and Cook were out of a ride.

Ian and Denis built, then shared the Devione Ford ANF2 car (now owned

by Grant Twining), and in the same era, Ian commenced a successful PR career with Chrysler Valiant.

Twitching to get back into a competitive ANF2 car, Cook bought Bob Jane’s Brabham BT36 in partnership with Max Baschera .

In his first real drive of the car, during practice on July 8, 1973 he was killed instantly after tyre failure/deflation/ under-inflation. Under braking for Sandown’s Shell Corner (turn one), the car turned hard left, then went backwards into a concrete sign support structure at undiminished speed.

RIP, and remember 32-year-old Ian Cook.

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57

We take a look back at what was making news in Auto Action 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 years ago 1971: A RECORD-breaking crowd attended the now defunct Hume Weir circuit in 1971 and saw Norm Beechey and Allan Moffat go hammer and tongs in a nail-biting touring car race. In the end it was Moffat who prevailed. A strong international field lined up for the Southern Cross Rally, from Australia to Japan and even the United Kingdom. Notably the Holden Dealer Team fielded Colin Bond in a Torana XU-1.

B

A

1981: IT WAS understood that in 1982 Australia would host its first World Championship Grand Prix. The event would be at a government funded venue built at Ravenhall near Melbourne.

Reigning Formula 1 World Champion, Aussie Alan Jones, announced he would retire from Formula 1, confirming that he would race nationally from 1982. John Bowe also left the Mercedes 450 SLC Sports Sedan program.

Name:

Images: AA Archives

Complete the crossword puzzle below 1

2 3

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7

9

10

11 12

13

14 15

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19

1991: EASTERN CREEK Raceway, now known as Sydney Motorsport Park was set to regain its place on the Australian Touring Car Championship schedule in 1992, after it was looked over for the 1991 season. Internationally Ayrton Senna signed a long-term deal to remain at the McLaren Formula 1 team, while Porsche and Footwork were set to end their partnership.

In England Russell Ingall kept his British Formula Ford Championship hopes alive at Donington.

20 21 22 23 24

25

26

2001: LAST ISSUE’S 2001 AA Archive asked who would take the vacant co-driver role alongside Marcos Ambrose at Bathurst. Two weeks later the rising Stone Brother Racing outfit found its man, Wayne Wakefield. In America former Formula 1 driver Alex Zanardi suffered a horrifying Indycar crash at Lausitzring. The Italians injuries were severe, doctors forced to amputate his legs above the knee and lost 75 per cent of his blood volume.

27

2011: The 2011 pre-Bathurst 1000 edition featured AA’s list of top 10 Bathurst greats.

Unsurprisingly Peter Brock was number one, followed by Mark Skaife, Jim Richards, Craig Lowndes and Allan Moffat.

28 29 30

Created using the Crossword Maker on TheTeachersCorner.net

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Across Grand Prixtaken? and Bathurst 1000, who race in MotoGP? hich F1 legend is pictured racing Chevron B8 in image A? 2. How many MotoGP titles hasAustralian Valentino Rossi 1. Which F1 legend is pictured racing a it? (surname) 10. For how many years were Scott ame) 3. Who holds the record for the ismost amount of British Touring image A?Holden (surname) For what team is Zak Best racing in the McLaughlin and Fabian Coulthard teammates ho finishedChevron third in B8 theinsecond Dealer Team Car Championship race starts? 29. (surname) Who finished thirdalongside in the second Super2 Series year? at DJR Team Penske? modore at 5.

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7. How many race wins has Josh Buchan taken in his maiden 9. The 1982 Monaco Prix wasinone Championship round, the 2011 Jordan Rally?

TCR Australia season? ame) of the most dramatic F1 races in history, Down (surname) 8. On what brand of bike does Iker Lecuona race in MotoGP? n image C, the first and so far, only lady to score in who won it for Brabham? (surname) 2. How many MotoGP titles has Valentino 14. Who won the 1975 Spanish Grand Prix, ula 1 is pictured, who is it? (surname) 10. For how many years were Scott McLaughlin and Fabian 12.

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3 down – Dale Wood,driver 4 across – Ojeda, 5 down – DeBorre, when 6 across – Unser, 7 down – two, 8 down – Hockenheimring, 9 across ? leading the Formula 1 World Championship in 1982?

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58 AutoAction

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