Issue 6 • 2011
european supercars
GP2 Series v8 supercars
Take The lead wiTh Bisley.
IT’S HAPPENING IN 2012.
formula3.com.au
issue 6
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e d ito r’s note s
B
est time of the year. Yup it certainly is for me. All because of motorsport too, not because it’s my birthday or wedding anniversary or spring where I live or anything unimportant like that, nope, it’s purely because of motorsport. The reasons are really simple too – it’s because this is the time of year for the enduros in the Australian V8 Supercars, which naturally includes Bathurst, it is also crunch time for Indycar, the Chase in Nascar and F1 is normally by now looking close to finding its champion. Yup, she certainly is a great time of the year. This is the first issue of our new format, and it’s quite a major change. We have merged our two motorsport publications – V8 Racer and P1 – into a single entity that will make it easier for the reader to get their fix of motorsport features. V8 Racer is not defunct; we have simply placed it into its rightful Oceania section of P1.
th e tea m editor in chief Ned Dawson Project Manager Cathy Horton Editor Craig Lord Deputy Editor Jacki Warnock Sub Editors Leigh Neil F1 Editor David Tremayne INDY CARS Jeremy Shaw
From now on you can peruse the publication with a focus not on the type of motorsport, but rather from where it is based. That makes things a little tricky for categories that travel the world such as the World Touring Cars, but as we bring features to you on that series it will be part or the Europe section, simply because 8 of the 12 rounds are in the European section of the globe. F1, GP2 and GP3 are sited at the front, but the rest will be placed in their region of main competition.
CONTRIBUTING editor Elysia Pratt
I’d like to welcome our latest contributor to the fold – Stephen Thomas – he will be bringing us the good oil from the NASCAR series, and I must say his column in this issue says what I have been thinking for a long time....and I thought I was alone on that one!
John Brooks
Anyway, I shall let you go have a look, we have so much more that we want to bring to you, and we will be doing that over the next few issues as we build this new format up into what will be a great place for you to read real stories about racing.
Alex Tagliani
And with so much great racing about to unfold maybe it’s time to remember the great motorsport poem...
Nascar Stephen Thomas CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Ned Dawson
Columnists Mitch Evans Rick Kelly Nathan Pretty Chris Jewell Scott McLaughlin
“Understeer is when you hit the wall with the front of the car
Martin Whitaker
Oversteer is when you hit the wall with the back of the car
Alastair Wootten
Horsepower is how fast you hit the wall
Proofreading Barbara McIntosh
Torque is how far you move the wall”
Sooty
Graphic Design Dot Design Digital Edition www.zinio.com Web Design Fuel Design
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fresh from GP3
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10 formula 1 – the season so far...
The 2011 Formula One season has entered into the business end of the season, with fourteen rounds behind us there is no better time to look back and see how we ended up with Sebastian Vettel so far in front of his nearest rivals.
28 closing the gap
If the Formula One 2011 season is turning into a game of “Can anyone catch Vettel?” then it would be fair to say the GP2 Series is experiencing a similar type of dominance in the form of Romain Grosjean.
46 who next
One of the main criteria motorsport fans are looking for from a racing series is unpredictability. The GP3 Series in 2011 is proving itself to be a race fans dream come true!
62 genius
1983 showed us a greatest example of someone who is beyond exceptional, Ayrton Senna.
europe 84 the power game – a new world order
Sustainability, efficiency and economy are increasingly the primary motivators beyond that basic need for success in the sport. These underlying trends go some way to explaining why Endurance and Sportscar racing should be heading for another golden age.
oceania THE INSIDE LINE
117
LIFE IN THE FUJITSU SERIES 119 THE BEAST UNLEASHED
133
TECH TORQUE
135
104 carrera cup half full
Three rounds into Porsche IFX Carrera Cup Australia, P1 Magazine looks at how the Porsche championship is shaping up.
120 calm waters
The Australian Formula Ford Championship has long been recognised as the breeding ground for future motorsport stars, both within Australia and abroad, and
THE LION’S DEN 149
a quick glance at the graduates cements this fact.
136 the wonders of wings and slicks
From the tiny formulas to the large ones the results are the same. Control under Speed.
150 f3 title – fight looming, again!
For all of its ups and downs in competition numbers and depth, F3 continues to provide stunning races.
152 an enduring affair
America Behind the visor
81
taking stock 99
When Craig Lowndes and Mark Skaife drove to an ultimately convincing win at the L&H500 – Phillip Island, and in doing so confirmed their pre-event status as favourites, it may have appeared that absolutely everything went according to plan.
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The 2011 Formula One season has entered into the business end of the season with just five races remaining before we crown the next World Champion. With fourteen rounds behind us there is no better time to look back and see how we ended up with Sebastian Vettel so far in front of his nearest rivals, Jenson Button and Fernando Alonso, but well in front of Red Bull teammate Mark Webber. story by Jacki Warnock 10
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photos by ned dawson
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I
t was always going to be hard to follow the 2010
Lewis Hamilton. He was the toast of Russia, his home
season which had it all, including five drivers in
country, and looked to begin the year in fine form.
mathematical contention for the Championship
Surprising everyone was also Sauber’s Sergio Perez, who,
towards the end of the year. Eventual winner
on the new Pirelli tyres, managed to go the entire race
Vettel hadn’t been on top of the points table at all during
on just one single pit stop. Unfortunately for the Mexican
the season, until it mattered that is, after the final race
he was later disqualified from the race results following a
in Abu Dhabi.
technical infringement in regards to the rear wing of his
This year has been a little different, very different. The young German’s dominance began straight away, kicking things off at the first round in Australia. Following what
C30. Teammate Kaumi Kobayashi was also discounted, the pair losing their seventh and eighth positions respectively. Next stop for the Championship was the Sepang
could only be thought of as one of the controversies of
International Circuit in Malaysia. Known for the incredible
the year to date, the Bahrain race was postponed due to
hot and humid weather, it was a case of history repeating
the civil unrest and human rights violations the country is
itself as Vettel took the victory around the 5.543km track
suffering, meaning the Formula One season once again
for the second time in as many years. Sharing the podium
began ‘Down Under’.
with him was 2009 race winner, Jenson Button and
Vettel put himself on pole, showing his rivals and fans he had no intention to rest on his laurels and bask in the glow of being the youngest champion in the sports history.
Renault’s Nick Heidfeld, making it two podiums from two races for the Chippping Norton based outfit. It wasn’t plain sailing for the rest of the field however
Following the pole position with a win, the then 23 year
in the wet and sometimes treacherous conditions. Petrov
old showed that not much had changed and the RB7 was
found himself airborne during the race, while Hamilton
taking over from the RB6 as the quickest car on the grid.
was given a 20 second penalty following a clash with
Despite having the win to his name, it was two other drivers
Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso. The 2008 Champ was very
who stole some of Vettel’s limelight in Melbourne.
unhappy with his race, believing a number of strategy
Renault’s Vitaly Petrov scored his first ever podium position, taking third from Vettel and Vodafone McLaren’s
errors in terms of wrong tyre choice and badly timed pit stops cost him a better result.
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A change in fortune saw Button the victor at the Canadian Grand Prix in front of Vettel and Webber.
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Undoubtedly, his tune had changed after the third
In china, Adversity appeared to motivate webber, who fought hard and surged through the field, nabbing the final podium position in what would be remembered as one of the drives of the season.
round in China. Even a fuel-flooded car before the start of the race couldn’t stop the 26 year old Brit taking his first win of the season, putting an end to Vettel’s winning streak after a move in the final laps of the race saw him fly past and put the fans into frenzy. The duo shared the top two steps of the podium once more, with Australia’s Mark Webber nabbing third. However this was no ordinary third position. After being eliminated from qualifying following the first session, Webber’s weekend looked to be in shambles with a number of factors against him; starting from 18th on the grid and a KERS that was not functioning. Adversity appeared to motivate the 34 year old who fought hard and surged through the field, nabbing the final podium position in what would be remembered as one of the drives of the season. Returning to Europe for the next race at Istanbul Park
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– perhaps for the last time as the venue does not currently
feeling around the paddock after the German racked up
appear on the 2012 calendar – Vettel was soon back to
his fourth win in five races. The only glimmer of hope
his winning ways, beating team-mate Webber and Alonso
came in the form of Hamilton, who pushed Vettel all the
to the chequered flag by a comfortable 8.8 seconds. The
way to the end before taking second in front of McLaren
margin between second and third was far less as the two
teammate Button in third.
duelled for position, providing endless entertainment for those watching in the stands and at home. It was a DRS dominated race, with overtaking
After his lightening quick start the infamous Tifosi did not have too much to cheer about at the end of the day with hometown hero Alonso finishing in fifth after falling
becoming easier and much more frequent then had
away at nearly a second a lap after running out of soft
ever been seen at the circuit before, with an astounding
tyres to keep up with those in front of him. Button’s three-
79 passes made. This tally was the most for any F1 race
stop race saved his day after a less then desirable start
since 1983 at Long Beach and brought the 2011 total to
which saw him drop to tenth at one stage. Despite starting
over 200 overtaking manoeuvres since the beginning
on pole, Webber ended in fourth.
of the season. Despite the assistance of technology like the DRS, it soon appeared that no one was going to be able to stop
Hoping some of his fortune from the 2010 race would continue into 2011, Webber went into the race in Monaco with high hopes of turning his season around with another
Vettel in his charge. Round five at Circuit de Catalunya,
win at was is undoubtedly the jewel in the Formula One
Barcelona did nothing much to stave off the sinking
crown. It was not meant to be. A controversial latter stage
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of the race, where proceedings were red flagged then
through two accidents and six pit stops before a mistake
restarted saw the Australian’s Red Bull teammate Vettel
from the current championship leader allowed him to take
come away with the coveted win.
the chequered flag.
Both suffered tardy pit stops, Webber more so, losing a
Beginning under safety car because of the heavy
painstaking 12 seconds as the team brought the tyres from
rain falling around the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, it was
the garage for his stop, uncharacteristically unprepared.
only on lap 4 that the real racing was able to start.
Vettel was able to recover to second, but Webber’s day
Hamilton had soon collected Webber in an attempted
was marred, finishing in fourth. In the dying laps Button
overtaking manoeuvre which saw the Australian spin
was flying on newer tyres and looked to be on his way to
and back in 14th. Another collision on lap 8, this time
taking the win. Unfortunately for him, a red flag following
with his teammate Button, saw Hamilton have to retire
a multi-car accident at the swimming pool allowed Vettel
from the race.
and Alonso to have their tyres changed during the race
The heavy rain once began to fall once again and on
suspension, gifting them first and second position while
lap 20 the safety car was again deployed before the race
on fresh rubber without having to suffer the time normally
was suspended on lap 25. Two hours passed before it
lost in a pit stop.
resumed and despite suffering a puncture during contact
A change in fortune two weeks later saw Button the
with Alonso, Button continued on. The Spaniard wasn’t so
victor at the Canadian Grand Prix in front of Vettel and
lucky, retiring and causing yet another safety car. The next
Webber. One of the longest and most action packed
restart came as the track was drying and Button made
races seen for many years had the eventual winner suffer
his charge for the win, passing Webber and Schumacher
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before forcing Vettel into a mistake and taking first from
for Ferrari, who also celebrated the 60th Anniversary of
the German.
their maiden win, also coming at Silverstone in 1951.
Whispers began as soon as the chequered flag had
while continuing to pull away in the championship
wasn’t invincible. A win two weeks later on the Valencia
lead, with teammate Webber rounding out the podium
street circuit hushed his critics momentarily as he
positions. The crowd noticeably thinned after British pair
extended his championship lead. The Tifosi had a result
Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button had races to forget,
they could cheer for with Alonso taking second place from
the latter having to retire after a loose wheel came off
Webber in third.
leaving the pit lane, the former just hanging on for fourth.
The only real noteworthy happening from what is a
Going to the German Grand Prix two weeks later at
notoriously processional race was the fact that all 24
the Nurburgring, Vettel would have been hoping for a
starters on the grid were able to finish the race, something
win at his home race, something he is yet to achieve.
that had only been seen three other times in Formula One
Unfortunately for him and the many supporters in the rain
history, the other occurrences at Zandvoort in 1961, then
soaked grandstands, it wasn’t meant to be. He was first
again at Indianapolis and Monza in 2005. Hispania Racing
shown up by Webber who nabbed pole on the Saturday,
Team’s Narain Karthikeyan also became the only man in
while it was Hamilton coming away with maximum points
history to finish 24th in what could be one of his last F1
on Sunday.
races (other than in his native India) before Australian
For the first time this season, there was also no Vettel
Daniel Ricciardo took over his seat for the British Grand
on the podium, that honour going to Alonso in second
Prix at Silverstone for the remainder of the 2011 season.
and Webber in third. The battle between the pair and
While Ricciardo’s debut went as well as could have
Hamilton for the win was one that ensured the race kept
been expected as he came to terms with a couple of new
everyone on their toes, with each spending time in the
concepts for the Red Bull/Toro Rosso reserve driver; a
lead, swapping fastest laps and sector times in a bid to
car that spends more time at the back of the field than
keep up with each other.
anywhere else and the foreign concept of having to learn
24
Vettel took second place for the third time this season
flown that perhaps Vettel was human after all, that he
Ironically, it could be said Vettel’s worse race for the
how to be lapped, it was Alonso who took the win at the
2011 season, albeit a fourth position gifted in the pit
new Silverstone circuit. It was a historic and fitting victory
lane, came at the one which means the most the young
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Whispers began as soon as the chequered flag had flown that perhaps Vettel was human after all, that he wasn’t invincible. A win two weeks later on the Valencia street circuit hushed his critics momentarily as he extended his championship lead.
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German. The sympathy in the paddock however, was not evident as once again, the field was given a glimmer of hope that he may be caught. Button, who suffered a hydraulic problem and had to retire from the race, was another who had a weekend he would rather forget. The same could not be said for the following round in Hungary, which saw the 31 year old celebrate his 200th Grand Prix start at the venue which saw him achieve his first victory back in 2006 with yet another win and an invigorated hunt for the championship. Despite starting on pole Vettel finished in second, followed by Alonso in third. A fairytale race for Button left Hamilton, Webber and Heidfeld without their happy endings. The first two made an extra pit stop after bad tyre calls and strategy errors which saw them finish further down in fourth and fifth respectively; the latter had his Renault on fire but was able to escape safely as his race come to an early end. In the latest round of Singapore it was another pole and another seemingly easy victory for Vettel and it seems clear now that aside from a five round disaster Vettel has the championship sewn up. Frustratingly for the driving perfectionist he was unable to take the title away from the night race, missing out by one point thanks to the results of others. But the math is now simple, and it seems as though the big celebrations will happen at the end of the next round in Japan. P 1
GP2 Series
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If the Formula One 2011 season is turning into a game of “Can anyone catch Vettel?� then it would be fair to say the GP2 Series is experiencing a similar type of dominance in the form of Romain Grosjean. story by Jacki Warnock photos by ned dawson
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T
he Frenchman has
Coletti take victory after passing pole
only nabbed one pole
sitter Dani Clos, who then continued
position from the seven
to drop through the field. Giedo van
rounds all ready run, but
der Garde took second place but it
has dominated the races, taking the
was Bird featuring again, surviving
chequered flag five out of 14 times,
contact with his teammate before
giving him a championship lead of 25
nabbing the last podium position on
points with just four races remaining.
the final lap. Charles Pic had been
The DAMS star driver’s shone as
in third, but pushed too hard trying
soon as the season began at Istanbul
to claim second from his teammate,
Park in Turkey, taking the first pole
faltered and allowed the Brit through.
position and race of the season,
Yet another accident occurred in the
backing up his GP2 Asia Series win
second race of the weekend, a shunt
in fine form. Sam Bird of iSport
by Rapax’s Julian Leal into the rear
International pushed him all the way,
of Davide Rigon’s Dallara, ended with
claiming second place 30 seconds in
the latter in hospital.
front of Jules Bianchi in third. Things
Leaving Turkey, Grosjean and
were rosy at the front of the field but
Bird shared the championship lead
a nasty accident occurred when Fabio
heading into the second round in
Leimer ran wide, lost control and
Barcelona but all did not go the
speared back onto the track, up and
Frenchman’s way as was so in Turkey.
over Max Chilton before rolling out
An exclusion from the first race of the
of the race.
weekend at the Circuit de Catalunya
The first reverse grid race of the season saw Trident Racing’s Stefano
due to a technical infringement saw Grosjean’s early season taking a turn
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for the worst. Smart pit stop strategy
remained in the Championship lead,
saw Pic the eventual winner over pole
but instead of sharing the honour
man Van der Garde and Bird.
with Grosjean, it was now van der
Rapax’s second driver, Fabio Leimer was gifted pole for the
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Garde on top of the table with him. Starting on pole for round three
reverse grid race following Grosjean’s
around the streets of Monaco, it
exclusion and was able to turn it
looked as if the season was really
into a convincing win by 10 seconds
going Bird’s way. Proving that things
over his nearest rival Clos in
can and do change in the blink of an
second. Marcus Ericsson of iSport
eye in motorsport, his weekend went
International stepped up to the plate,
from bad to worse. Stalling at the
taking third to show his team-mate
beginning of race one saw him at the
Bird wasn’t the only one who could
back of the field by the time he was
get results. Despite his efforts, Bird
able to move. Managing to claw his
way back through the field, contact
ended the weekend with no points,
with his team-mate Ericsson saw
Grosjean’s haul meant he was again
them both retire from the race. Bird’s
sharing the championship lead with
misfortune was Davide Valsecchi’s
the iSport driver, with Pic just a single
gain, scoring the victory for Team
point behind the pair.
Air Asia in their third only GP2 Series
After a four week break, the GP2
round in front of Alvaro Parente and
Series field came back to life around
Luca Fillipi.
the streets of Valencia. Monaco pole
For the reverse grid race on
man Pic was back starting from the
Saturday, instead of the traditional
first position on the grid for race one
Sunday, Pic started from pole and
around the 5.419km circuit but it was
held on to take the win in front of
a determined Grosjean who took the
Arden International’s Josef Kral and
first win of the weekend and became
a resurgent Grosjean. While Bird
the first driver to take multiple wins
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in 2011. Van der Garde looked to have
for the incident to be served at
the victory in the bag until a penalty
Silverstone. Despite this he held onto
for speeding under yellow flags was
the championship lead heading into
given to the Dutchman, handing the
round five.
lead to Grosjean. Defiantly the Barwa
Starting behind the safety car due
Addax driver fought back to finish
to very wet conditions at the new
second, ahead of Valsecchi in third.
look Silverstone circuit, it was pole
Sunday’s second race didn’t go
sitter Bianchi who was able to hold on
the way of the now championship
for victory, earning the win after being
leader Grosjean, who was hit by
challenged by Christian Vietoris. The
Jolyon Palmer and had to retire from
German was in the lead briefly
the race. Mexican Esteban Gutierrez
as the pair swapped positions
was the eventual winner, holding
numerous times before the Bianchi
off a charge by Team Air Asia’s Luiz
took back first position. Vietoris
Razia and Van der Garde. Contact
would have to settle for second
with Grosjean earlier in the race saw
come race end, with Ericsson in third.
Bird finish 12th after having to pit for
Regardless of his penalty, Grosjean
repairs, while the Frenchman was
finished the race in fourth.
handed out a 10 place grid penalty
Continuing his momentum,
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Grosjean won the second race of the
in his 100th GP2 Series start; his
weekend on a dry track, completely
first since Bahrain in 2007. Pic
different conditions to what the field
finished in second after a battle
had faced the previous day. Starting
with Grosjean, who finished in third.
from fifth, the DAMS star was soon
Positions were won and lost in the
in the lead and pulled away from
pit lane, Grosjean gaining a spot over
the field, leading by seven seconds.
Bianchi after the two stopped for
Clos hung on for second, with Van
new tyres, and Fillipi’s stop one lap
der Garde finishing in third. Leaving
after Pic enabled him to rejoin in the
Britain, Grosjean was nine points
lead. Leimer had a day to forget,
ahead of Van der Garde in the
involved in a number of incidents,
championship.
one which saw Irishman Carroll
For the second time, it was Pic on
pushed back to 16th and the Rapax
pole at the Nurburgring. Unable to
driver excluded from the results. Also
transform this into a win, it was Luca
penalised was Parente, receiving a
Fillipi who took an unexpected victory
drive through for cutting the chicane,
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giving Bird the reverse grid pole
victory to date in front of Pic and the
position for Sunday’s race.
pole sitter. Ericsson had lead after a
Despite this, the Brit bogged down
quick start, but an unsafe release into
at race start as he had done in around
pit lane saw the iSport International
the streets of Monte Carlo, allowing
driver given a drive through, handing
Van der Garde past. Unlike Monaco
Grosjean the lead.
however, he was able to get going
For the reverse grid race on
much quicker and was soon back in
Sunday, it was Coletti who took the
the lead. Clos was the next past the
chequered flag from 21st position
Dutchman before being collected by
after a smart tyre choice in the wet
the Addax driver. All of this carnage
conditions. Gutierrez nabbed second
helped Grosjean move into third,
place on the final corner after starting
before a spin from Bird in the lead
from 24th and podium mainstay
moved the DAMS driver into second
Grosjean featured again, ending in
as Bianchi lead.
third. The Frenchman came away
A mistake by the Lotus ART driver
5 points in the championship lead,
while battling with Grosjean saw
with only four races remaining for
the Frenchman achieve his fourth
the 2011 season.
victory of the season and put him
If his form can continue, Grosjean
18 points clear of his nearest rival
will not only take the 2011 GP2 Series
in the championship going into the
trophy, but will have completed the
seventh round at the Hungaroring
double, after winning the shortened
in Budapest. Team Air Asia Razia
2011 GP2 Asia Series earlier this year.
featured, taking pole in a tight
With rumours flying around the
qualifying session which saw the top
DAMS driver may be headed back
20 split by under a second. History
to Formula One in 2012, what better
repeated as Grosjean took the win
way for him to end this season then
in the feature race, however, his fifth
on top? P 1
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Chicane Racewear Unit K Cain Park Cain Rd Penrose Auckland Email: chicanenz@xtra.co.nz freephone 0800 ChICAne
44
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by Mitch Evans
from
O
ver the European summer break I headed back home to NZ for a few weeks for a chance to catch up with sponsors and family. It was also great to get some solid training sessions in back home even if it was a bit nippy outside. After a great few weeks there I made my way back to the UK to get prepared with the team for the remaining two races of the GP3 season, Spa and Monza! Spa is the closest European race from where I live (Well apart from Silverstone) but it was definitely a short plane trip. When you arrive at the circuit you just get a great feeling that you’re surrounded in motorsport history. Spa is renowned for the famous Eau Rouge corner. You don’t have an idea of the gradient until you see it in real life, it’s seriously impressive and driving up it is another thing! We only had one practice session on Friday because of noise restrictions and it was definitely going to be challenging to get used to the car on a new track in 45 minutes. Things got off to a worrying start when I had a battery pack failure before I left the pits which meant I lost quite a bit of time, but once we got out we were straight on the pace and finished up P2. Qualifying was wet and we struggled a bit for grip but then the track started to dry out with 15 minutes to go, cars pitted for slicks early and some stayed on wets incase it rained again, but I pitted a bit late and I couldn’t get heat into the tyres because sections of the track were still pretty damp. We could only manage 11th. Race 1 was also wet so we made a lot of changes to try fix our issues in qualifying, we still struggled and didn’t make up any positions throughout the race with was really frustrating because I needed to get into the points. After the race we figured out what the issue has probably been in the wet conditions but I was definitely hoping for a dry race on Sunday. Fortunately it was dry on Sunday morning for race 2 which was good news, even though I was starting 11th I was feeling rather confident. My start was decent and had made up positions heading down to turn 1. While I was going around turn 1 I suddenly got hit from the side by an out of control car which instantly punched a hole in the oil cooler that ended my race there and then. This was a huge disappointment because we knew we had great speed in the dry and Spa is a track where you can pass on easily so it was a missed opportunity but yet again it was something out of our control. It was back to hard training for a week until the season finale in Monza. Obviously the title was out of reach as I had slipped back to 8th in the championship but it was possible to improve on that and end the season on a positive note. At Monza you have to run very low downforce for the long straights therefore
there is going to be a big slipstream effect and also better racing. I had finished practice 4th fastest and that’s also where I qualified. The temperature rose into the mid 30’s for race 1, I had warning lights that my engine was overheating while I was pulling up to the grid. Normally once you start racing the engine will cool down from the wind. My start was pretty average and I had lost a couple of positions by the end of the first lap because of this. The warning lights were still displayed over the next few laps and I noticed that I could not stay with anyone down the straights even if I was in the slipstream so I then had to go into defensive mode for the remainder of the race. My aim was to finish in the top 8 because the top 8 gets reversed for race 2. On the last lap I found myself battling for 8th position and at one point I was in 9th but I had to make a risky move to get myself to 8th again which fortunately paid off, therefore I was off P1 for Sundays race. Luckily it was cooler in the morning so we wouldn’t have any engine heating problems. My start was ok but I did lose a position heading into turn 1. We diced around a bit as the slipstream come into play and I then found myself in 3rd but knew not to worry because you could easily got from there to the front within a lap. I positioned myself there for a few laps waiting to make my attack, with about 10 laps to go I moved up to 2nd and stayed there for another few laps. With 7 to go I made my move for the lead, which paid off and actually pulled a bit of my gap between myself, and the bunch behind. It is very hard to lead in Monza because of the slipstreaming but I managed to stay in the lead until 3 laps to go. The car behind me in 2nd (James Calado) out broke himself into turn 1 which is a chicane that also had very big kerbs. He ran wide onto these kerbs while I was passing him and he had no control and hit my left rear wheel, which s ent me straight into the gravel and out of the race. I can’t even describe how gutted I was, but also for everyone supporting me, we have had a really tough year and things were looking great to end it on a high note and another really disappointing thing was that if I had won that race I would of finished 4th in the championship not 9th. Now GP3 has finished this year, I still have exciting things coming up. I’m racing at the last round of British Formula 3 for Double R Racing and also hopefully getting an entry for Macau. We also have GP3 testing at Barcelona at the end of October. I am training very hard at the moment and already thinking about next year, as I want to dominate. That is my aim and I’m going to do anything I can to do it. P 1
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One of the main criteria motorsport fans are looking for from a racing series is unpredictability. A close, hard fought championship where they aren’t sure who is going to win the next race or who will be the driver to take the coveted trophy at the end of the year. Ever changing weather conditions, accidents and a field of up and coming racers fighting tooth and nail to prove themselves worthy of taking the next step in their career and you may have one of the most interesting categories in the world, yes? The GP3 Series in 2011 is proving itself to be a race fans dream come true!
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ollowing the opening round at Istanbul Park, Turkey the action hasn’t stopped. There have been six different Race One winners and six different reverse
grid Race Two winners at each round. Lotus ART driver Valtteri Bottas and Marussia Manor Racing’s Rio Haryanto are the only two drivers to have a victory on both Saturday and Sunday. Five drivers have scored pole at the six rounds, with MW Arden’s Mitch Evans the only one to take it twice, Barcelona and then again at the Nurburgring. The teams Championship has even been lead by three different outfits, first RSC Mucke Motorsport, then a dominant MW Arden before Lotus
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ART took over the top spot and leads into the break before the final two rounds at Spa and Monza. In terms of the Drivers Championship, Bottas currently leads on 41 points after six rounds, seven points clear of his nearest rival Alexander Sims but his dominance is far more recent. It was Nigel Melker who found himself on top of the table coming away from both round one in Turkey and round two in Barcelona with 22 points from the first four races of the season. However his days at the top of
The rain slowed for the middle sector of the race but with just five laps remaining, the heavens opened once more, Haryanto stayed out on slicks, held on and take the chequered flag.
the perch were limited as Evans began to shine. The young Kiwi took his first pole position of the season in Barcelona by 0.001s, before completing the double and taking his first win in just the third GP3 series race he had competed in. If this wasn’t enough of an achievement for a rookie, Evans became the youngest ever person to achieve a GP3 Series pole position or win at just 16 years of age. As is always the way in motorsport, while things seem to be going swimmingly for one driver, the same could not be said for their nearest rivals. Istanbul Race Two winner, Alexander Sims had a weekend to forget in Barcelona,
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caught up in a crash in both races and unable to add to his points tally, losing third in the championship points to Evans. Following two mid season tests – one in Hungary and another in Valencia – the field soon found themselves back in Spain for the third round around the Valencia street circuit. MW Arden featured once again as Lewis Williamson nabbed pole position for Race One after a faulty turbo saw his teammate Evans unable to get back out on track in the final minutes of qualifying to set a time which would have seen him start any higher than fourth. Splitting the two were Addax’s Dean Smith in second and the Marussia
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Manor Racing car of Adrian Quaife-Hobbs in third. A lightening fast start saw the latter shoot past the front row and into the lead by the first corner. Sims began a charge through the field, while the MW Arden pair began battling each other for position in third and fourth. Smith looked as if he would hold onto second but he slowed on the final lap, bumping Williamson and Evans onto the podium. His third place saw the latter move one point in front of Melker in the Drivers Championship, taking the lead heading into Race Two on Sunday. Starting the reverse grid race from sixth, the now 17 year old - after a birthday on the Friday - continued his
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stellar form, making two passing manoeuvres on the same
the points and just two spots from being given pole for the
lap, around the outside of his rivals to climb up to fourth
reverse grid race on Sunday.
and extend his lead over Melker to four points. The overall
It was Smith who started from first on the grid Sunday,
race belonged to Lotus ART’s James Calado, however, who
with Williamson alongside. With no rain carrying over
snatched the win from Sims and Valtteri Bottas.
from the previous day, conditions were far improved and
Going into round four at Silverstone, it seemed as if
everyone started on track. Despite a bad start which saw
the field were going to have a hard time trying to catch
him drop to fifth, Williamson fought back and was in
Evans who was shaping up to be a triple threat with raw
the lead by the end of the first lap, staying there for the
talent, a fast car and luck on his side. Mother Nature had
remainder of the race to take his first GP3 Series win. Once
other ideas. During a fine qualifying session, it was Quaife-
again, luck was not going Evans’ way, with a mechanical
Hobbs who took pole for Race One on Saturday, but the
issue seeing the Kiwi retire on the first lap and missing out
conditions changed dramatically from one day to the next.
on any points from the round.
A downpour just seconds before the formation lap
This worked in the favour of Sims, who finished third in
saw 19 of the 30 strong field rush to pit lane for wet tyres,
Race Two on Sunday after charging his way through the
meaning only 11 cars were on the starting grid when the
field and past his rivals. His effort put him onto 29 points
lights went green. Jenzer Motorsport’s Nico Muller was all
and into the Championship lead from Evans on 26. Despite
ready on wets for the race start, giving him an advantage
the momentum being lost at Silverstone for Evans, his
over his competitors, one that saw him have ‘pole’ position
spirit was not broken and the next round at Nurburgring
in sixth on the grid. A slow start could have cost him the
would prove he wanted to come back bigger and better
race, despite the lucky tyre choice by his team, but contact
than ever.
between Christensen and his RSC Mucke Motorsport
A fine qualifying session at the Eifel Mountain track
teammate Melker saw them both unable to finish, and
was just the place to show his hunger was still ferocious.
ensured the young Swiss took the win.
It was a fast and furious session, with the leader
The back of the pack saw those starting from the pits
changing numerous times before Evans came out and
desperate to make their way back through the field in the
sealed his second pole position of the year in the dying
treacherous conditions. Sims did the best job, ending in
minutes, moving him back to within one single point of
second place, with official pole getter Quaife-Hobbs taking
Championship leader Sims. It looked as though the fight
third. Unfortunately for Evans, he finished in tenth, out of
between the two of them was going to heat up.
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Once again, with rain falling on track, tyre choice was
maiden win after starting from sixth and moving into the
hard to make and a last minute decision for Quaife-Hobbs
lead by the end of the first lap. Sims made the most
and Evans teams to change their drivers onto wets saw
of drama in front of him, including a collision between
them both handed a ten second stop go when it was
Vainio and Calado to find himself in second behind the
decided the wheels were not on within the three minute
Lotus ART driver.
race start warning.
The two fought hard during the race but Bottas held
Before the penalty, Evans was holding strong in the
on to take maximum points, but leaving Germany for
lead from pole position and looked to be on his way to
Hungary the following weekend it was still Sims who
becoming the only driver to win two races in the 2011
had the Championship lead on 34, from MW Arden pair
season and taking back the Championship lead. It was
Williamson and Evans on 28 and 27 respectively. Things
not meant to be. After coming in to serve his penalty,
were soon set to change.
teammate Williamson took over the lead and it seemed
Budapest was to be what could be described as an
as though MW Arden may be able to salvage something
almost ideal weekend for Bottas. The 21 year old scored
from the day.
pole position and followed that with the win in Race One.
The rain slowed for the middle sector of the race
Despite the reverse grid race on Sunday, he made his way
but with just five laps remaining, the heavens opened
from eighth up to second to take the Championship lead
once more.
by a massive seven points from Sims, the biggest gap held
Many dashed into the pits to switch to wets, with
by any driver to date.
Williamson, Haryatno and Bottas staying out on slicks.
Going into the final two rounds and four races of
The three battled hard for the lead, but it was Haryanto
the season, Melker has moved into third position of the
who held on to take the chequered flag.
Championship on 32, with Williamson and Calado on 31
Race two at the Nurburgring saw the dominance of Bottas begin. After yet another wet race, the Finn took his
a piece, followed by Evans and Quaife-Hobbs holding in there on 28 points each. P 1
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story by john brooks photos Courtesy of John Brooks
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The dictionary tells us that A genius is something or someone embodying exceptional intellectual ability, creativity, or originality, typically to a degree that is associated with the achievement of unprecedented insight.
H
ow do we apply this term than to motorsport? I suppose it gets tagged to something or someone who is beyond exceptional. I have encountered a few in
my time of following the sport but arguably the greatest example of this label that I witnessed was back nearly 30 years ago in 1983. At that time I lived in a small hamlet called Charlton Village, a place of farms and two small housing developments surrounded by the massive water reservoirs that supply West London. There were also some small industrial estates and on one of these was located West Surrey Racing. Formed in 1981 as a partnership between entrepreneur Mike Cox and motorsport engineer, Dick Bennetts. Bennetts had worked for Ron Dennis running the Project Four BMW M1 ProCar entry for Niki Lauda and later Hans Stuck. During the 1980 season he had been parachuted into the P4 Formula Three team that was struggling with the then new Ralt RT3. The expat Kiwi managed to put some order into the project to the extent that Stefan Johansson was able to snatch the Vandervell British Formula Three title at the last race. Ron Dennis had his eyes on McLaren and Formula One for 1981 so West Surrey Racing took over the successful chassis and scored another title win for Jonathan Palmer. 1982 saw almost a hat trick of titles for Bennetts but Enrique Mansilla was narrowly beaten
formula 1
by Tommy Byrne. WSR were by any measure the top dogs
manager Herbie Blash, sportscar legend David Yorke and
of British Formula Three.
of course Dick Bennetts could be found propping up the
There was an end of season non-championship race
of mechanics and wannabes like myself. At that stage I
new talent. WSR had another South American in the hot
had one of Dick’s mechanics renting a room in my house
seat, Ayrton Senna da Silva. The Brazilian had swept all
and I would regularly visit the workshop to see what “my
before him Formula Ford 1600 and 2000 and was marked
team” was up to. My wife had even made some of the
out as a rising star. Senna shrugged the opposition aside
team’s uniform during their first two seasons, F3 was still a
on that cold November day. He had laid down a marker
bit of a cottage industry back then. The gang at The Kings
to his opponents for 1983. As an aside one of those trying
Head felt part of the extended family of WSR.
out the F3 circus was none other than Henri Toivonen, the great rally champion. There was quite a racing community based around
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bar on a regular basis and there was a full supporting cast
held at Thruxton back then, an opportunity to test out
However the feeling of intimacy with team changed on the arrival of Ayrton. Strange to say unlike the previous drivers I did not really get to know Senna. He was polite
that part of the world that I lived in, F1 teams Brabham,
enough but somewhat reserved, part shyness but mainly
McLaren and Tyrrell were all locals and the Ralt factory
that he was at all times fully focused on the task in hand,
was also located nearby. One of the favourite places for
that of winning the 1983 F3 Championship and getting
social interaction was an old pub based in Shepperton,
into Formula One. His briefings with Dick Bennetts have
The Kings Head. Characters as diverse as Brabham team
passed into legend with the disciplined and methodical
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approach of the engineer allied to the fierce commitment
points that anyone could have scored at that point in
and work ethic of the Brazilian producing set-up sheets
the season was 90........... Senna had 88.
and data logging rarely found outside of F1 at that time. No effort was to be spared in the pursuit of victory. While the combination of Senna and WSR was
On March 6th the grid had formed up at the Silverstone Club Circuit to open the 1983 Marlboro British Formula Three Championship, David Leslie was on pole but Senna
considered to be favourite there was considerable
roared away at the start and drove just fast enough to
opposition before honours could be won. Leading the
take victory. This proved to be the template for the first
charge was Martin Brundle who was also lining up in a
half of the season except all the other races would see
Ralt RT3, this example for Eddie Jordan Racing. Other
the Brazilian on pole. So there would be wins for WSR
contenders were expected to be Davy Jones, Allen Berg,
at Thruxton, Silverstone GP, Donington, Thruxton,
David Leslie, Calvin Fish and Johnny Dumfries but in
Silverstone Club, Thruxton, Brands Hatch and Silverstone
reality they all became just bit players to the drama that
Club. Add in seven fastest laps and the position is one of
surrounded the two leading protagonists.
complete dominance over the rest of the grid. Well not
If one had considered the position of the championship
quite, as Martin Brundle has finished second eight times,
after the 9th round and approaching the halfway point,
third once plus two fastest laps. Each defeat seemed to
drama would have been the last word to be used. At
spur on the Englishman to greater efforts, he wanted
that time nine points were awarded for a race win
more than ever to get on terms with the Brazilian and he
plus one for fastest lap, so theoretically the maximum
was about to get his chance.
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The 10th round of the Championship was run in
win for Martin, another retirement for Ayrton. The
the British entries was to run on the control Avons and
Stewards were kept occupied for hours trying to work out
score points or run the sticky Yokohamas or Michelins and
who, if anyone was to blame. No conclusion was reached
be faster. As three scores had to be dropped during the
but relations between the drivers and both the teams was
season both Senna and Brundle opted for the faster Yoko
strained to say the least. Certainly the crew at WSR were
rubber. However EJR had much more experience on these
not happy not least because they had to set to and rebuild
tyres and got their set up right, whereas WSR struggled
the car once again. This was having a serious effect on
and went the wrong way. The result pole position and a
progress, as Dick Bennetts put it at the time “You can’t
flag to flag win for Martin Brundle. Ayrton has one spin,
go testing when you are spending late nights rebuilding
recovered but trying too hard comprehensively thumped
a car.” The Kings Head saw precious little of the team
the barriers at Woodcote, a bit embarrassing.
personnel during the mid summer period.
It got worse for the Championship leader, next round
The old order was restored at the British Grand Prix
at Cadwell park, he did not even make the race. Duelling
support round with Ayrton taking another trademark win
with Brundle for pole he trashed the Ralt on the Mountain
in front of what he hoped would be next year’s employers.
causing yours truly to jump for cover. The pressure was
During 1983 I started working with Keith Sutton, then on
getting to Ayrton. Brundle duly won the race making up
his way to be one of the great F1 photographers. He had
more ground. The action reached boiling point at Snetterton when the two drivers made contact after an optimistic move 70
from Senna was blocked by a resolute Brundle. Another
combination with the European Series. The choice for
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become a kind of press officer to Ayrton since linking up together in FF1600 days. During 1982 Ayrton and Keith had taken the then revolutionary step of sending out
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You can’t go testing when you are spending late nights rebuilding a car. Dick Bennetts
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At Oulton Park The pair were scrapping for the lead when Ayrton tried a move that stepped over the boundaries of recklessness. The result was that both cars retired with the WSR Ralt ending up perched on the top of the EJR example.
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press releases of Ayrton’s triumphs in FF2000 to any
this nasty situation in the bud, someone was going to
interested parties including the bosses of all the Formula
get badly hurt if the fight was allowed to escalate. The
One teams. A simple idea, well executed, typical of
Brazilian got a £200 fine plus an endorsement on his
Ayrton’s ability to think five moves ahead.
licence, this was not popular with WSR. Another race
A few weeks later the tables turned once again in the now compelling contest as Brundle dominated the
Then tragedy struck the EJR outfit when the truck
Donington round putting in a Senna-esque performance
bringing their car back from a Euro F3 race went over a
that had WSR scratching their collective heads.
cliff killing the team’s chief mechanic, Rob Bowden. This
Controversy returned at the following round held
shattered the team so it was no surprise that the next
at Oulton Park. The pair were scrapping for the lead
race at Silverstone went to WSR and to add insult to injury
when Ayrton tried a move that stepped over the
the EJR Ralt was declared illegal after failing a check on
boundaries of recklessness. The result was that both cars
skirt heights.
retired with the WSR Ralt ending up perched on the top of the EJR example. The Stewards moved swiftly to nip 76
another rebuild.
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Despite all this the contest was far from finished. The momentum swung back to Brundle as he swept
up the next three races at Oulton Park, Thruxton and
then on to a celebratory dinner at The Riverview Club, also
Silverstone. Worse for Senna was the pair of non-finishes
in Shepperton. Needless to say the whole party, including
with yet another accident at Oulton Park and engine
Ayrton and even his Mother, were extremely well refreshed
problems at Thruxton. Second at Silverstone was a
by the end of the evening.
poor return.
Perhaps at the time we had not appreciated what we
So amazingly going into the final round, number
had witnessed during the year but those at the sharp end
20, at Thruxton Brundle held a one point lead, at least if
were under no illusions. Senna reflected “At the beginning,
you looked at the table. The reality was once the three
we had our car set up better than the others. Then, the
worst results were dropped, the advantage swung back to
others caught us up. I have done a few mistakes, but still,
Senna by three points. That would be enough and Ayrton
we have done all we could do. A couple of times we were
and WSR regained their composure to win the final race
not so lucky, like at Oulton in practice when something
and the Championship. It had been a hell of a fight.
broke and at Thruxton with the petrol thing. Dick is right:
The WSR camp followers all motored back up from Hampshire after the race and took over The Kings Head,
it takes away from our development time and all the time Martin is getting the advantage, getting the points.
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I don’t feel it is a pressure situation for me. Nothing has changed, only perhaps a little bit of luck and that has been with Martin.” Brundle summed up his approach to the second part of the year, “He’s not unbeatable. After the Euro round at Silverstone just forced the pace and let him worry about how fast I was going. Psychologically it shifted all the pressure on to him.” Dick Bennetts was perhaps the best placed of us all to assess just how good his man had been. “He’s the best. Amazingly quick, clever in the car and he always wants to win. I’ll still be here when he moves on, but it is good when both the team and driver make each other look good.” In truth the title could have gone either man and no one could have been disappointed. Perhaps the massive achievements of the Brazilian in his Formula One career mean that looking back it seems inevitable that he would come out on top. Back then, approaching the Thruxton decider it was not so certain, even to man so convinced of his destiny as Ayrton Senna. The rest of the field was nowhere compared to the Dynamic Duo and they included future Grand Prix drivers and Le Mans winners, it was an incredible performance from them both. P 1
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Teamwork, Precision, Performance. Bowers & WIlkins congratulate Sam Schmidt and the entire team for having put IZOD Indycar series driver Alex Tagliani on the pole at the 100th anniversary of the Indianapolis 500.
Photography provided by INDYCAR / Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Listen and You’ll See
Alex Tagliani is an IZOD IndyCar® Series driver Indianapolis 500 and IndyCar are registered trademarks of Brickyard Trademarks, Inc., used with permission. IZOD is a registered trademark of Phillips-Van Heusen Corporation, used with permission.
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For more information and availability about Bowers & Wilkins products please contact B&W Group Ltd. Dale Road Worthing, West Sussex BN11 England info@bwgroup.com www.bowers-wilkins.com
Behind the
by Alex Tagliani
I
t seems that you will all be hearing from me a little more often than I had initially thought when I started out telling you about my side of the fastest sport in the world. This will be the first of my monthly rant on racing as seen through my eyes. I’m just hoping there’s enough fun stuff going on in my crazy world to tell you about on a regular basis! The Indycar series just returned from racing in Japan and I don’t think there were many among us that were not hesitant to go there after the recent devastation. What we realized though was that our race in Japan was not only for sport, but to provide entertainment and to put a smile on the faces of people in hardship. We saw a country that had been devastated by earthquakes and a tsunami, but is a place where so many people have come together to rebuild the country. Going to Japan was a good thing as we were able to show our support and at the same time raise money through charity events. Our presence was well received and as a race series we will remember that experience for a long time. It makes us realize what we have in America and that we should not take anything for granted. This time around we had a chance to race on the road-course and it was so well prepared for the Indycars. The track was wonderful and the weekend as an event was a great success. We really need to take our hats of to the people of Japan for their strength in trying times and also their tireless enthusiasm for racing, they truly are among the best fans in the world!
I’ll have a team-mate again in Vegas and we’ll be giving Dan Wheldon a great shot at winning the race as he is the only driver eligible to win the $5 million prize pool. The series has set him to start last on the grid and if he can make it to the finish first, he’ll win a cool $2.5 Million and one lucky fan will take home the other half of the prize. In an effort to get Dan prepared for Vegas, SSM thought it would be good play having him run in the Kentucky race that is prior to Vegas. So, with such limited resources available, he will be driving the #77. Of course I was in shock for a few days when I heard the news and it’s been hard to see someone else in my seat for Kentucky, but unfortunately motorsports isn’t the same is it was in the golden days. I’m really hoping that the whole thing will turn out successfully for SSM, but only time will tell. Though I’m not a betting man, I’m guessing that 1/28 chance in winning is considered pretty good. I’d like to say you could put your money on me for the win; racing is a gamble after all. Vegas kicks off a big month for a handful of Indycar drivers as we’ll leave the end of year celebration and fly 15 hours overnight to get to Brisbane and then go direct from the airport to Queensland Raceway for the V8 Supercar open test day. After finishing 2nd in the Nascar Nationwide race in Montreal in August, I’m really keen to get back in a sedan car and see what I can accomplish. Kelly Racing has worked hard to prepare a great car and they have had a solid season so far in 2011. I’m really happy to be back with the Kelly gang for this year’s Gold Coast race event and I’m ready to down my first meat pie for 2011 and hit the track to dish out some hard racing and maybe even a payback or two. I know for sure I’ll have some enforcing of my own to get done before the weekend in Surfer’s is over! P 1 JOHN DAGYS
It was the last road-course of the season and we had a 6th in Mid-Ohio and a 7th in Baltimore under our belt going into the event. The team finally got it together after working very hard to find out what we needed from the set up for this track. The car was a lot better at this event than it had been for most of the season and it was good to be able to run up front and be competitive. It would have been nice to resolve issues earlier in the season, but I think for our team, mostly a one-car operation we did pretty well with our limited resources. The new tire compounds were tried by trial and error not via the shaker rig, like the bigger teams would do, so it turned out to be a good weekend.
as getting involved with many of the charity events and parties that are on the schedule. I have a feeling it will be one of the busiest race weekends on the calendar.
October brings with it the last race of the 2011 season and I am looking forward to competing on the oval in Las Vegas. This city was my home for 10 years until our recent relocation to Indianapolis, so it’s a little close to my heart. We’ll be visiting with friends there and hosting a bunch of people for the weekend as well
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europe
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story &photos by john brooks
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t has been a generally held
they burned in pursuit of victory.
assumption in our business that
The financial crisis of recent past
the pinnacle of international
changed the rules, even the largest
motorsport is Formula One.
organisations were forced to examine
Messrs Ecclestone, Moseley and the
and genuinely evaluate all of their
FIA have managed to convince most
expenditures. Honda, Toyota, and
of the major motor manufacturers
eventually BMW, all looked at the
in the past twenty years that Grand
return that they were getting from
Prix racing is the only game in town
their F1 programmes and all reached
worth playing. This fable was held
the same conclusion, quit.
on to tightly by those who were not
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Whatever questionable benefits
really seeing any success on the track
these brands were getting from
despite the mountains of cash that
the halo effect of being part of the
culture of prestige, glamour and
play. Sustainability, efficiency and
give a reliable compass point to the
excitement that is 21st Century F1,
economy are increasingly the primary
direction that we headed.
was eradicated by the consistently
motivators beyond that basic need
poor performance of the teams that
for success in the sport. Even in
with its proposed V6 turbo petrol
represented them, anyone could see
defeat the brands are looking for a
technology and tightly specified
that the cars were dogs.
return on their investment, the simple
rulebook, cannot provide the
formula of win on Sunday, sell on
platform for manufacturers to
Monday does not hack it anymore.
achieve their extended objectives.
Entering into the second decade of this century the priorities of motor manufacturers engaged
These underlying trends go some
Modern day Grand Prix racing,
In addition the old arguments
in competition are changing fast.
way to explaining why Endurance and
of brand values being enhanced
Power, performance and victory will
Sportscar racing should be heading
by proximity to F1’s prestige,
always be a part of the motorsport
for another golden age. As ever the
glamour and excitement have been
mix but now other factors are in
principle “follow the money� will
discredited, so where to go?
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Under encouragement from Audi and Peugeot, the ACO created a new competition for 2011, the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup, which was in reality a new world championship.
Perhaps the first question is why competition, why not just pure research? Major players like Volkswagen and Toyota have annual road car development budgets that are measured in the billions, Dollars, Euros, Yen, it matters not. There is enormous global pressure to introduce new technologies to answer the issues of reducing the dependence on fossil fuels and to cut emissions significantly. At the end of July US President Obama announced an agreement with a broad coalition of motor manufacturers and other interested parties to dramatically increase fuel economy and reduce pollution for all new cars and trucks sold in the United States in the period from 2017 to 2025. The new standards call for incremental improvements each year in fuel efficiency to achieve a 2025 target of 54.5 mpg – almost a 100% increase on the 2011 requirements. Greenhouse gas emissions would be reduced to 163 grams per mile, approximately 50% of the current position. These are major changes and provide a huge challenge to the car industry. Where America goes, the European Union and the rest of
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the world will surely follow. It is held
Max Mosley, who succeeded the
to unify the FIA and the sport in the
that competition is a sure fire way of
Frenchman as head of the FIA
face of the growing threats to the
fast tracking that process, diverting
was much more concerned with
very existence of such activities. Todt
a small proportion of the road car
Formula One battles and largely left
has also built on the worthy initiatives
budgets into the competitive arena
the ACO to get on with re-building
of Max Mosley to expand the remit
will bring disproportionate benefits,
endurance racing. This restoration
of the FIA to promote road safety
well that’s the theory.
was essential as the great race was
worldwide and to engage with the
nearly bankrupt, suffering from
various government bodies on green
the direction that endurance racing is
poor number of entrants in 1992
issues and sustainability.
headed is now beginning to become
and 1993, a direct consequence of
clear. From 1950 to 1992 there was a
the rules package introduced by the
Audi and Peugeot, the ACO created
FIA sanctioned World Championship
FIA in the final years of the World
a new competition for 2011, the
for sportscars and long distance
Championship.
Intercontinental Le Mans Cup,
How all of these strands link into
racing. Why that stopped is a topic
Last year a new FIA President,
Under encouragement from
which was in reality a new world
for another day but since that time
Jean Todt was elected. Best
championship. Of course that
the Automobile Club de l’Ouest
known for managing multiple F1
designation cannot be used without
(ACO), custodians of Les Vingt-
Championships at Ferrari, Todt
sanction from the FIA, so it was
Quatre Heures du Mans, have steered
was, before that, head of Peugeot
not hugely surprising to see the
their own course largely pulling the
Sport during their years of triumph
presence of Jean Todt at this year’s
rest of sportscar racing in their wake.
in the World Rally Championship
Le Mans pre-race press conference.
Relations between the FIA and the
and also during their two victories
Nor was the announcement of the
ACO improved after the departure of
at Le Mans. Todt’s style since his
FIA World Endurance Championship
the choleric FIA President Jean Marie
elevation has been to eschew the
for 2012, which will be run by the
Balestre, who engaged in outright
confrontational approach favoured
ACO in a partnership with the FIA.
warfare with the ACO during the final
by his predecessors; he has kept a
Peace in our time then, let bygones
years of the World Championship.
much lower profile too. He has tried
be bygones, honeyed words between
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the principals with Todt leading
status to attract manufacturers and
the chorus.
it also needs the political influence
“For several years there has been
regulations that the manufacturers
the FIA, but this needs to be closer.
will have to comply with in the
An Endurance Commission will be set
coming decades. The manufacturers
up at the FIA, involving manufacturers,
want a platform that offers both
privateers and the ACO. A working
technological and marketing
group will be put in place, their
benefits. The FIA wants to follow
proposals to be approved by the FIA.”
the money and keep some nominal
So we have a World Championship
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control over what promises to
for Endurance racing once more,
be a very significant part of the
but why now? What has prompted
motorsport world.
this sudden betrothal? The answer
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of the FIA with those making the
collaboration between the ACO and
2012 will see the new
lies somewhere near the Corleone
Championship emerge with races
family strategy, “Keep your friends
in Europe (Le Mans 24, Spa and
close but your enemies closer.” This
Silverstone?), America (Sebring
is a marriage of convenience; The
and Brazil? Petit Le Mans?) and
ACO needs World Championship
Asia (Zhuhai and Japan?). These
races will all be of six hours duration
to be introduced for the 2014 that will
(except Le Mans) and will feature the
provide the framework to transform
usual multiple classes with trophies
endurance racing into the platform
being awarded for Manufacturers’
that will encourage technological
Endurance World Champion, Drivers’
development. The aim will be to
Endurance World Champion (both
limit the amount of energy available
for LM P1) GTE World Cup Pro, FIA
for each car with all starting from
GTE AM (both for LM GTE but no
an equal point. There will be no
drivers’ category), FIA LMP2 and the
restriction on hybrid technology
FIA Trophy for the best private team
systems that will recycle the energy
– open to all categories. So a contest
produced and not utilised by the
aimed squarely at manufacturer
engine. If one considers that even
participation but run broadly along
the most efficient petrol engine used
the lines of the status quo. To figure
in current road cars is only utilises
out why this should be attractive to
30% of the petrol’s energy in driving
other parties not presently involved,
the rear wheels. The rest of the
the future has to be the answer
energy is consumed in thermal or
There are a new set of regulations being drawn up at present, scheduled
frictional losses or when the vehicle is ticking over at rest. Clearly there
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are big gains to be made if the right
endurance arena, the logic runs that
power technology and other fuel
technologies can be employed. That
the bean counters will not allow
efficiency measures. Ruthless by
is the Holy Grail that the new World
such duplication of effort, and more
reputation, this highly talented
Endurance Championship offers.
importantly budget. My sources
engineer is arguably the Ultimate Car
from Germany disagree with this
Guy and sees that for Volkswagen to
competing in the LMP1 class at
obvious conclusion, saying that after
meet its primary objective of being
present, in reality only Audi and
the victory at Le Mans this year,
the world’s leading car manufacturing
Peugeot are likely to have the
Audi have been given the green
group, in the face of the proposed
resources and financial firepower to
light to compete at Le Mans for the
changes to fuel consumption and
go to the brave new world, Aston
foreseeable future.
emissions, radical measures are
There are three manufacturers
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Martin are not. It has been officially
Why these conflicting messages?
announced that Porsche will return
The answer lies in the determination
approaches along different lines will
to the top class with a form of petrol
of the Chairman of the VW Board,
fast track the optimal solutions. Few
hybrid. This has led commentators
Ferdinand Piech, to accelerate the
would bet against the mercurial Piech
to assume that Audi will leave the
pace of development of alternative
getting his way as those who have
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necessary. The logic runs that two
opposed him in the past have found
unfinished business in respect of
owned by Indian conglomerate, Tata,
to their cost. As if to support this
the Japanese company and the Le
commissioning a Le Mans project.
pan-VW assault on the WEC, comes
Mans 24 Hours. They could also do
Some say with Williams Grand Prix,
the news that the new Chairman of
with a rebuilding of their reputation,
who took BMW to victory in 1999.
Bentley, Wolfgang D端rheimer, wants
publically battered in the blizzard of
to take the brand back to the tracks,
US Congressional Hearings in 2010, as
unlikely union of the FIA and the
Bentley Boys anyone?
a result of road safety issues.
ACO at this point in time. Big
Which other manufacturers
Nissan are also looking seriously
All of which ties explains the
budget projects with a complicated
are looking to join this trio of
at a full blown attempt on the FIA
technological package will result
heavyweights? The answer would
WEC. However the tsunami back in
from this initiative and both parties
appear to lie in the East. Toyota
March has derailed these intentions
feel the need to involve the other.
are been reported to be testing
and may end up leading to a delay
The face of Endurance racing will be
hybrid technologies using long time
or postponement of the plans,
fundamentally changed and hopefully
collaborator, Dome, to provide the
time will tell. Persistent stories are
so will the world of road cars and
car. Certainly there is a sense of
found in the media of Jaguar, now
personal transport. P 1
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taking
by Stephen Thomas
I
understand the whole Dale Earnhardt Jr. phenomenon, I really do. He doesn’t come from Central Casting, doesn’t look or sound like so many of his Ken-doll peers and, when he’s asked a question, he actually seems to consider his response instead of regurgitating one of the 102 standard, stock responses ripped right out of the NASCAR Sprint Cup driver’s handbook, How to Answer Any Question Without Actually Saying Anything of Substance that Might Rankle a Sponsor or the Sport. Think of Dale Earnhardt Junior as the Anti-Jimmie Johnson.
Of course, Junior has taken the whole Anti-Jimmie thing a step too far in one important respect – winning. As in, Jimmie wins. A lot. And Junior? Well, not so much. Forget the fact that Johnson has five Sprint Cup titles to Junior’s – ahem! – zero. Johnson has averaged seven wins per season as he’s run roughshod over the competition during his five-year reign; the anti-Jimmie? Hasn’t so much as won a race in more than three years. Wasn’t his 2008 move from Dale Earnhardt Inc. to Hendrick Motorsports, Johnson’s team and undeniably the most successful organization in the sport, supposed to provide him with everything necessary to finally win that elusive title? Yeah, so much for that. And yet, despite Junior’s staggering run of almost total mediocrity, he remains the sport’s most beloved figure, an eight-time winner of NASCAR’s Most Popular Driver Award. Some of that, of course, is the result of genetics and unfortunate circumstance – when his father, seven-time Cup winner Dale Senior, died on the last lap of the 2001 Daytona 500, the then-26-year-old inherited his father’s legion of fans and their sympathy. Still, that America, “We Are No. 1” America, rah-rah USA! USA! USA! America, a society that purportedly identifies most closely with ‘winners,’ has hitched its wagon so tightly to this non-winner? Bordering on the inexplicable.
Even more inexplicable, however, is NASCAR’s continued reliance on Junior for so much of its identity with the fans. Junior is almost perpetually paraded around and held up as the face of NASCAR. In fact, you can almost smell the desperation emanating from the sport’s corporate headquarters in Daytona Beach, Florida, as the sachems who govern the sport hope against hope that one day, Junior might actually inherit more than just his father’s name and emulate the old, departed man by, you know, winning a championship. Some speculated that NASCAR altered the format of the Chase for the Championship before this season in an effort to ensure that Junior stood a better chance of qualifying for the all-important ten-race run to the end of the season. And, again, I understand the organization’s fierce dedication to the Junior phenomenon – he is an indisputably charismatic and compelling character in a sport seemingly overrun with bland automatons. However, if this season of flagging attendance and sagging TV ratings has underscored anything, it has brought into stark relief the short-sightedness of the sport’s over-reliance on any one person. It’s perhaps impossible to know for certain, but it seems at least possible that perhaps if more racing fans were more invested in more drivers, more people would be inclined to go to the track or, at the very least, watch races on TV. Admittedly, NASCAR has made some tepid efforts to stoke people’s interest in other drivers and, furthermore, the position the organization and the sport find itself in is beyond its control – people like who they like. But NASCAR, hardly a bastion of proactivity, would be well served to start thinking about the inevitable day when the Junior phenomenon is no longer the prevailing sentiment. P 1
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WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF JOINING CLUB 5000 IN 2012? •
You have an invitation to join Mitch at all the GP3 Championship rounds in Europe, hosted by Owen.
•
You will catch up with Mitch and his MW Arden team and more than likely get to meet Mark Webber, his manager, and current Red Bull F1 driver.
•
And you’ll probably be wearing your Club 5000 Mitch Evans supporters gear, designed by leading manufacturer Huffer, so everyone knows where your allegiances lie.
•
Even if you don’t make it to all the rounds, you won’t be far from the action. Mitch will email, Twitter or Facebook you with race and progress reports.
•
And when the season is complete you will be at the debrief with Mitch where you will have the chance to meet with the other Club members, find out for yourself what its like to do a lap in a GP3 car and chat through the ins and outs of a busy season in Europe.
•
Signed photo of Mitch and his GP3 car
•
Opportunity for corporate members to use Mitch or Owen as a speaker at their AGM, awards night or company function.
T
he 2012 GP3 Championship is held over 8 rounds at selected European Formula 1 Championship races starting in Istanbul and finishing at
Monza in Italy so maximum exposure to Formula 1 teams is assured. Mitch’s efforts over the last 2 seasons have enabled him to transfer the outstanding support of the Giltrap Group to his European campaign and add to this a significant contribution from current Red Bull F1 driver, Mark Webber, who is also part owner of the MW Arden GP3 team for which Mitch will drive. But the budget for a GP3 campaign goes hand in hand with the opportunity. With the added costs of insurance, travel and living expenses and series cost, Mitch needs still more funds to ensure a successful season and he is requesting new and existing Club 5000 members to come along for the ride as their assistance is instrumental in getting it right.
It probably won’t be possible for me to reach my Formula One goal by myself, but together, and as a team, we can make this happen.
Mitch Evans
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Owen evans 353 Church Street, Penrose Auckland 1061, New Zealand Mobile Business Fax Email
+64 275 900779 +64 9 636 5004 +64 9 634 7228 owen@evans-euro.co.nz
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carrera cup
Three rounds into Porsche IFX Carrera Cup australia, P1 Magazine looks at how the Porsche championship is shaping up.
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STORY BY RichaRd PeaRse PHOTOS BY ned dawson
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I
t’s tight at the top of the Porsche iFX carrera cup australia standings. a mix of consistency, inconsistency and first-class driving has seen four drivers battling at the top of the Porsche points table. Series regular and reigning champion craig Baird began the season on
top with a win in opening round of the championship at the australian Grand Prix, sparking concern that the season would emulate that of years past where the quick Kiwi has run away with the title. While Jonny Reid took victory in the opening race of the season, Baird fought back to take the following two race wins and a convincing series lead after the first event. any concern would soon subside as Baird’s time at the top wouldn’t last. countrymen Jonny Reid and former V8 Supercar racer Steven Richards outclassing the competition at the second round at the Trading Post Perth challenge at Barbagallo Raceway. The duo were consistent front-runners throughout the weekend, with Reid claiming two race wins and the round win and Richards replacing Baird as series leader. Positions at the front would again change in Townsville for round three. newly re-branded Money choice car of Daniel Gaunt would dominate. Just days after signing with new team Money choice Motorsport, Gaunt won all three races at the north Queensland street circuit to win the round and drastically shorten his odds to take the title. now, Gaunt was within striking distance of the series lead after his rivals wavered under the Townsville sun. Gaunt now sits fourth in the standings only 46 points behind leader Reid, with Baird and Richards not far behind in second and third. This leaves a closely fought four-way battle at the top of the Porsche iFX carrera cup australia point score, with new Zealander Reid happy to lead the charge.
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WITh FouR dRIvERs FIGhTInG FoR ThE sERIEs lEAd And only sEPARATEd By 46 PoInTs, REId BElIEvEs hE Is jusT As Good A ChAnCE As Any To WIn ThE TITlE.
“i’m absolutely stoked to be leading carrera cup australia after three rounds,” said Reid. “Together, i have been working with the team extremely closely on set-up to understand the new Porsche GT3 cup car. i feel we have been ahead of the opposition, which means we are all doing a great job at Mcelrea Racing. “i believed i could come out of Townsville as the championship leader. i always set goals. Going into Townsville i had set the championship lead by race three as my main goal to achieve over the weekend. To be able to achieve that was very satisfying.” With four drivers fighting for the series lead and only separated by 46 points, Reid believes he is just as good a chance as any to win the title. “i am very confident for the remaining rounds. i have a great team who provides both Michael (Patrizi) and myself as drivers the support and car
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MuCh lIkE AT ThE FRonT oF ThE FIEld, sPoRT CAR REGulAR MAx TWIGG doMInATEd ThE ClAss AT ThE AusTRAlIAn GRAnd PRIx And lookEd To ConTInuE hIs Run AT ThE FRonT oF ThE ElITE ClAss.
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preparation needed to compete at the sharp end. This, in turn, gives me confidence to do my job 100%. “in terms of competition within the carrera cup australia there are many teams and drivers who are capable of winning. We have the same guys at the front here as we did in Porsche GT3 cup challenge new Zealand. However the difference is there are a few more drivers at the top who can upset your day if you’re not on guard - Patrizi, Steven Richards, Ben Barker, etc. if i look back to new Zealand GT3 cup, i had a half-shalt break and a couple of other failures which i was punished for later in the season. The last race came down to three drivers and their finishing order. My title hopes ended on lap one due to a puncture. So here in australia i’m out to win. all the cars are brand new and well maintained. This should place the emphasis on speed and consistency. it is going to be great racing it out for the championship and i am really looking forward to Phillip island.”
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While four head the field in the points, there would be a further two drivers who are also at the front and seem to be within striking distance of their first race win in the category. Ben Barker impressed with pole position in Perth and several fastest laps among his much more experienced competition. Barker only graduated to car racing at the start of the 2009 season and has since proved himself as one of the truly talented drivers in the Porsche championship. in addition, the Briton went home in the mid-season break to try his hand at Porsche carrera cup Great Britain, where his qualified fourth for both races and followed with a third and fifth place. not only did these results confirm him ability, but highlighted the strength and depth of talent in the australian sister series. another racer itching for his first race win is Michael Patrizi. The former V8 Supercar driver quickly recovered from his spectacular round one shunt at the australian Grand Prix to fight among the leading drivers. While he has yet won a
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race in the series, his experience on the coming circuit – Phillip island, Bathurst, Gold coast and Sydney – will no doubt help the young West aussie notch his maiden win in the series soon enough. Further down the field, there is another battle brewing in the elite class – the sub-championship which will crown the best ‘amateur’ driver. Much like at the front of the field, sport car regular Max Twigg dominated the class at the australian Grand Prix and looked to continue his run at the front of the elite class. However other contenders have proved they are up to the task of challenging Twigg – along with several of the professional drivers – on track, including Paul Kelly, Damien Flack, Peter Hill and the Koundouris brothers, Theo and James. The Porsche iFX carrera cup australia series is almost at its half-way point. With four rounds to go for the season the field will now converge on the Phillip island Grand Prix circuit for the L&H 500. While Reid leads the standings, four of his nearest rivals will have more miles on the Phillip island circuit, with Gaunt, Baird, Patrizi and Richards all preparing for double duty. The quartet will all be juggling driving their Porsche GT3 cup car with a V8 Supercar.in the first of the two V8-fuelled endurance race. Stay tuned to the remaining round of Porsche iFX carrera cup australia. after the championship was re-launched at the start of 2011, the on-track action has provided plenty of thrills, while the depth of talent makes this year’s grid one of the most competitive in australia and, as proven, one of the highest quality all-Porsche championships worldwide. as for those at the front, any one of these leading four drivers could likely run away with the title, while six drivers at any one time have the ability to claim the chequered flag. With this, carrera cup in australia is shaping up for one
spectacular end to the season. p 1
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For more information on the new GT3 contact your OfďŹ cial Porsche Centre or visit www.porsche.co.nz
Life is not a spectator sport. The new 911 GT3. Every idea, every part, every line that went into the design of the new 3.8 litre, 435 hp 911 GT3 was dedicated to the purest expression of Porsche performance. And as is the case with every 911 GT3, the rest of the world will just have to chase it.
GILTRAP PRESTIGE Auckland Ph 09 92 00 911 CONTINENTAL CAR SERVICES Auckland Ph 09 52 68 991 ARMSTRONG PRESTIGE Wellington Ph 04 38 48 779 ARCHIBALDS Christchurch Ph 03 37 75 200
M13602/P1
the
inside
by Martin Whitaker
a
s we approach the most eagerly awaited weekend in the V8 Supercars calendar it is a reminder to all of just how much the championship’s global appeal is growing. Bathurst is the jewel in the V8 crown and has been so for the entire length of the series’ tenure as the australian Touring car championship. But long before 1997 when the V8 nomenclature first hit the tracks, the iconic mountain circuit had been a draw for fans all over the world. i for one was one of those countless millions who tuned in on a Sunday afternoon to watch the world’s greatest touring car race. Murray Walker was entrusted with the commentary and we would settle down to watch the race (albeit a few weeks late) on the BBc’s own sporting icon – “Grandstand”. it is clear now that also sitting down watching the “great race” was another englishman and ardent fan of considerably more repute than the writer. His name – Jenson Button and how good must it have been for Jenson to drive craig Lowndes’ Holden around the mountain course earlier this year. How good was it too for craig to get the chance to pound around the course that he knows like the back of his hand in Jenson’s Formula one mount. There’s awesome in every Moment as we say! The Mountain celebrates 50 years of racing in 2012 and what a year that is going to be. The Mount Panorama course’s reputation is set in stone as one of the top five circuits and races in the world in my book. it justifiably sits up there alongside the indianapolis 500, the Monaco Grand Prix, Le Mans and the isle of Man TT races. Talking of races with a global appeal Bathurst is also now the traditional venue for the launch of the V8 Supercars calendar. officially the series is now referred to in the corridors of Fia power in Paris as the International V8 Supercars Championship; a title that it richly deserves as we see the interest in our sport take on increasingly global proportion. The announcement of the calendar is another reminder to those of us who spend hours trying to construct it of just how difficult it is to produce. next year’s offering demonstrates a wind of change that is blowing through V8 with international races becoming much more conspicuous. With the Fia’s sanction we have the opportunity to stage six races outside our traditional australian and new Zealand shores and the recent announcement of austin, Texas joining the fold in 2013 underlines the burgeoning interest in the series. austin has made admirers of the sport sit up and take
notice and ask the question “could we have a race”. Those asking the question now represent countries across the globe and while we are keeping our powder dry on where we are going in the future it is clear that alongside the Middle east there is a desire from near asian countries to host races in the future. The most recent country to put their hand up is the Philippines and the recent test by Filipino driver enzo Pastor of the Triple eight Holden at Queensland Raceway underlined the enthusiasm. enzo, and what a great name for a racing driver (his parents must have known something at birth), acquitted himself really well behind the wheel in tricky wet and dry conditions. His objective now is to focus on a DVS Fujitsu year in 2012. Having a well known national driver from the Philippines driving in a V8 Supercars series will speak volumes for the profile and awareness of the sport in the country and i sincerely hope that this will be the catalyst for a race in that part of the world. it won’t have been lost either on the emerging manufacturers who are taking a long, hard look at 2013 and the introduction of Car of the Future. Like Bathurst, the Gold coast race is also upon us. This celebration of all things good about the sport has become an australian and Queensland institution and it too underlines the importance of allowing international drivers to compete in our sport. The enthusiasm with which austin has been received will not have been lost on other countries and all will be watching the streets of Surfers Paradise in the coming weeks to see how their drivers are fairing. in closing it is sad to hear that the much discussed subject of V8 Supercars future in new Zealand hit the headlines this week with the announcement that 2012 will be the last year that we see racing on the streets of Hamilton. The final event is bound to be one of mixed emotions but for V8 it will be a very sad day when we leave Hamilton. We have a great following throughout new Zealand and i personally feel it is commendable how V8 Supercars picked the event up off its knees after the failure of the original promoter. Hamilton has seen some great racing, has delivered many special moments (not least Shane’s home win this year) and importantly done much for the economic impact of the Waikato region. i echo the words of our chairman Tony cochrane in saying that i am sure V8 Supercars will do everything possible in the coming months to find a new venue on which to race in new Zealand in 2013. p 1
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by Scott McLaughlin scott Mclaughlin was the youngest ever driver to enter the v8 supercar development series in 2010 when he was 16. At 17 years old he had his first crack at Mt Panorama. The young ace drives for Ross and jim stone in the sBR camp
B
usy. Flat out. That’s the best way i can describe the current status of our workshop as we build up towards the big weekend at Bathurst. currently we are getting a special FG setup for a very cool role on the mountain and that’s keeping us all under the pump. That along with the ride/test days and of course the Phillip island round has ensured that we don’t get much time to ourselves. not that i’m complaining (even if i do have to work Saturday!), because i’m working in a race shop and yeah, that’s cool for sure.
While working with the main game cars i still have to think about my own deal on the track with the Fujitsu series. currently i’m third on the leaderboard, with a good shot at claiming second for the season, but to go higher than that will need some seriously hard work along with a bit of luck going our way. andrew Thompson is leading the series and has a really fast car and a buffer of 166 points – with 150 on offer per race win. i won’t be bothering with the calculator just yet; instead i’ll just concentrate on my job of finishing races. Bathurst is tough and we only have two races there instead of three, with Sandown and Sydney being our remaining rounds. Strangely enough though, while Bathurst is a tough event it’s more a mental track than a physical one. i need to get some confidence back with that circuit after some issues there at my first crack last year. i know the Sandown and Sydney tracks well enough but the mountain will need the extra bit of mental preparation and concentration.
with 9’s but 8’s would really make my weekend. But a lot of that comes down to confidence and time on the track. a lot of the other top Fujitsu drivers are also enduro drivers so they get those extra laps in, me i’m one of the few in the top 10 without that little bit of spare track time. it really is seat time that makes the difference, fitness will play no real part in it and by that i mean the enduro drivers won’t be tired because of their extra time in a car, they are all talented and have great fitness levels. i guess i will be fresher and slightly more relaxed but i really can’t see it playing any part – i’ve simply got to go out there and rely on my driving, not the fatigue! in saying that i haven’t done anything different with my training regime, and i doubt they have either. My program has been the same over the months, and again, Bathurst is probably easier on the body (unless you have to do 1000kms!). But from what happened to me last year i reckon there is less stress on the body than other places. For now though i am very happy with my spot in my second year with the code, and i’ll be out there to do the best i can over the next three rounds. if i do, then you never know, i may get a call up to next season’s enduro drives! Thumbs up for that one! p 1
i say it’s mental because i reckon it’s easier on the body than say Sydney would be. Homebush basically has no straights while Mt Panorama certainly does and that means you have time to recuperate a bit. Homebush you are on the brakes or turning the wheel so there’s no real chance to relax. The difficult part of Bathurst is over the top where i need to concentrate the most, there are four or five corners where you can make time on other parts of the track but over the top you can’t do much apart from go for the ride. also you can’t really fine tune a car for that part of the track which means you can lose time rather than make it up. i was doing 2 minute 10’s last year, this year i reckon i can crack into the 8’s. i’d obviously be very happy
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THE AUSTRALIAN FORMULA FORd CHAMPIONSHIP HAS LONG BEEN RECOGNISEd AS THE BREEdING GROUNd FOR FUTURE MOTORSPORT STARS, BOTH WITHIN AUSTRALIA ANd ABROAd, ANd A qUICk GLANCE AT THE GRAdUATES CEMENTS THIS FACT. 120
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O
verseas Mark Webber, Will Power, Marcos ambrose and more recently new Zealander Mitch evans are all products of the series, while closer
to home V8 Supercar stars like craig Lowndes and Jamie Whincup are former champions. With that sort of heritage, it’s little wonder that in 2011 the championship is again producing stars of the future. With six of the eight rounds completed, 17-year-old cameron Waters has been the standout. Driving for multiple-championship winning team Sonic Motor Racing Services, Waters has been clinical in his racing so far this season, scoring three round victories and finishing on the podium in five of the six. The Mildura born driver came into the season as one of the favourites after a strong finish in 2010 and has lived up to expectations, so much so that he has caught the attention of the Kelly brothers and many others in pit lane. His championship lead currently sits at 78 points, which is an extremely healthy gap when you consider a maximum of 61 points is available at each round. in short, Waters only needs to stay out of trouble to become the youngest ever australian Formula Ford champion, a fact that is not lost on
the young driver. “This year has gone better than i could have
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imaged so far, i felt confident heading into this year
driver, with a DnF in race two at clipsal his only non-points
season, but i didn’t expect to have the lead i have now,”
scoring finish, which is something the other drivers in
Waters says.
the series have struggled to match, despite there being
“There are so many strong drivers in the series this
four different round winners. Both nick Foster and Jack
year and winning races is tough, but i had a plan to stay
LeBrocq were considered championship contenders at the
out of trouble and collect points in every race and so
beginning of the year and currently sit second and third
far that’s working. My main competitors have had a bad
respectively, albeit some distance behind Waters.
round here and there and that’s given me a big gap in the
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consistency has proved the key so far for the Mygale
because i was quick in the final few rounds of last
Foster finished third in last year’s title race and looked
championship. on paper it looks like i’m doing it easily, but
the best bet to go two better this year, and while he has
that not the case.”
had the pace of Waters for much of the season, small
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errors at Winton, Queensland Raceway and Phillip island
unravels the weekend from there. Unless something drastic
have cost him dearly.
happens the championship is unlikely, but i’m focused on
“This season just hasn’t gone to plan for me,” Fosters laments. “i feel like i have everything i need to win races and rounds, but it just hasn’t come together. We’ve been
securing a Team Sonic one-two and winning at least one of the remaining rounds.” LeBrocq has a similar story to Foster, he has been
quick at almost every circuit, but i’ve made a few small
arguably the quickest driver in recent rounds as Minda
mistakes and that’s really cost me, especially when cam
Motorsport continues to get on top of the Mygale chassis,
[Waters] is winning races.
but apart from a round win at Sandown he has failed to
“You can’t afford to make a mistake at any point in
capitalise. The caMS Rising Star has won races in each
this championship, not only does it cost you that race
of last three rounds at Queensland Raceway, Sandown
result, but you then get caught back in the pack and it
and Phillip island, but has been left to wonder what might
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“We had a slow start to this season, which hasn’t helped my championship challenge, but things are starting to come together now. I know I’m driving better and every weekend I understand the Mygale chassis more and more.” JACk LEBROCq
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have been. in Queensland he looked to be a certain round
the Mygale and the end of last season and i don’t think we
while at Phillip island it was the first race. LeBrocq fought
anticipated just how different then two cars would be, but
back across the weekend to eventually take the final race
to the team’s credit, everyone has been working really hard
win with an incredible drive, but the damage had already
and it’s starting to show.
been done. “We had a slow start to this season, which hasn’t helped
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“it was a big change switching from the Spectrum to
winner, but an incident in the final race saw him finish third,
“The last four rounds we’ve had the speed to win and been running consistently at the front, so to only get one
my championship challenge, but things are starting to
of the four is a little disappointing. i’ve been caught up in
come together now. i know i’m driving better and every
a few incidents that i probably shouldn’t have, but that’s
weekend i understand the Mygale chassis more and more,”
racing, especially when it’s as close as it is this year. There’s
LeBrocq says.
two rounds left to go now and i’m focused on doing the
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best job i can. cam is probably too far up the road in
Motorsport, and he dually took third place at the most
terms of the championship, but nick is definitely catchable
recent round at Phillip island, to consolidate fourth
and that’s my aim.”
in the title race.
aside from Waters and LeBrocq, there have been two
“it’s been a really up and down year for me so far, but
other round winners this season. Brad Jones Racing junior
i’m finding my feet now. Things couldn’t have started much
development driver Tom Williamson drew first blood on
better in adelaide with Borland Racing Developments, but
the streets of adelaide by staying out of trouble, but a
for a few different reasons we decided to switch teams
lacklustre second round at Winton and a team swap has
after Winton and things have steadily been improving,”
seen him on the back foot for much of the season. But
Williamson explains.
things are starting to turn around for the new South Welshman as he benefits from an on the up Minda
“at Phillip island consistency was the key for me, i think i really used my head and focused on the weekend as a
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whole, rather than individual race results, which is what has got me into trouble in other rounds. i made sure i played it
time Formula one World champion Sir Jack Brabham,
smart and didn’t do anything silly and i was rewarded for
committed to a partial season of national series racing
that with a podium. There are two rounds to go and both
to focus on his year 12 studies. He may have missed the
circuits really suit me, so i’m confident i can grab another
season opener in adelaide, but came out at Winton to
win. i’m no longer focused on the championship, so i can
record the round victory, much to his surprise. a podium
afford to take a few more risks, but i really want to play it
in his other appearance at Queensland Raceway and a
smart like at Phillip island.”
healthy bag of points at Phillip island, one wonders what
in a season with many standouts, one driver has
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surprised the most. Matt Brabham, grandson of three-
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could have been had he committed to a full campaign.
“We always knew that i was only going to do selected
and one at Symmons Plains in Tasmania and both are
rounds this year, so it was really about learning as much as
sure to produce some exciting racing if the season so
i could with limited time in the car. i was really surprised
far is anything to go by. Waters may have a huge
to win at Winton, but my speed at Queensland Raceway
championship lead and will likely wrap it up at the
kind of backed up that performance, so it’s encouraging to
Gold coast 600, but don’t expect that to affect the
know the speed is there for when i get back to racing full
ferocity of the racing. even if the championship is all but
time next year,” Brabham says.
over, there is still plenty to fight for and plenty of people
Two rounds remain in the 2011 australian Formula Ford championship, one on the streets of Surfers Paradise
watching. Take note, because those at the front will be the stars of tomorrow. p 1
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Delivering your daily fix of news from your favourite motorsports: 7 4VQFSDBST t %SBH 3BDJOH t #JLFT 4QFFEXBZ t ,BSUJOH t 3BMMZ t /BUJPOBM 'PSNVMB t /"4$"3 t *OEZ$BS t .PUP(1 8PSME 3BMMZ t *OUFSOBUJPOBM 7*4*5
www.speedcafe.com
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YOUR PREMIER DAILY MOTORSPORT NEWS SOURCE
by Nathan Pretty
W
ell, after the 4th round in Townsville, i came away from that round reasonably happy. i had never raced there before and ended up with more confidence as i had finally qualified the 56 in the top ten for the first time this year, i had a great first race and managed to pass a few and have the most competitive run i’ve had to finish 3rd. The reverse grid race was not one of my best as i found myself rear ending Kim Jane on the first lap after a slight road block heading up into turn 3. i only managed to pass 6 utes to finish 10th, which therefor put me on 5th for the final race. i got a great start and jumped straight into 3rd and had some good pace but ended up following the tailgate of cam Mcconvilles Bundy ute around for the entire race to finish 3rd but unfortunately that only put the Monster energy ute in 4th for the round by 1 point. on a positive i moved up another couple of positions in the championship and are now sit 5th. if i can manage to keep doing that heading into the tracks i’m familiar with who knows where i can end up. We now go into our big break for the year. Thank god for that as i definitely do not have a straight panel on the no.56, so i’m looking forward to giving it a birthday, besides i will still be kept busy with a ride day in QLD and the Ken Block Gymkhana World Tour at calder Park…… What an event that was, as i got to meet the great man and see his awesome little focus Gymkhana car, What a rig that was. Monster certainly know how to put on a free event for there customers.
i’ve just finished the L & H Phillip island 500 in the LDM Gulf Western oils commodore. Where do i start about this one… Uuummm, what a disaster. i possibly had the worst race of my career, battling inconsistent tyre sets and discomfort in the car. one thing i’m really looking forward to though is the Mountain as noske and i had a good car there last year, so hopefully Luffy and i can have a great result for the guys up at the best Mountain in australia. i will be extremely busy up there, as that is the next round for the utes also and every session is either 15 minutes before or 15 after a Supercar session, so getting out of a car with great brakes and no booster to a production ute with a brake booster and featherlite feel is going to be very interesting, not to mention jumping in and out of suits and helmets and driver debriefs will certainly have me on my toes. i have raced a bit at Mount Panorama in production cars lately including 3rd outright in the R8 clubsport wagon at last years Bathurst 12hr event, so i can’t wait to throw the no.56 Monster energy ute around there, remembering not to smoke the fronts of the thing. We then head to indy which is going to be exciting as it’s a great place and a very interesting circuit for the ute’s. There was a lot of crashes there last year and like most street circuits, the utes put on a great show with plenty of action as usual, so stay tuned for a report on some of the best races coming up. Until then…….Keep it on all four. p 1
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with Chris Jewell
s
o much has changed in V8 Supercars this year. We’ve seen Holden dominate like never before, Shane Van Gisbergen claim a pair of maiden wins and unprecedented soft tyre action, while the biggest story was the majority ownership equity sale of the V8 Supercars category – but there’s more to come.
2014 has been earmarked as the year when the category will grow to 18 events per year, up from the current 14 event schedule and single non-championship race at the australian Grand Prix. The increase in events will include the first foray to the USa, with the race at the circuit of the americas in austin Texas already run and won after the planned visit in 2013, while new events are being mooted all the time, including visits to The Philippines, india and possibly Korea. The V8 Supercar category has come a long way in a relatively short time and for an australian made product, conceived back in 1996 by Tony cochrane and his merry men, it is now largely unrecognisable in a number of ways. Yes, it still visits the mainstream australian motor racing circuits and right now it is still a Holden versus Ford two-make category, but that too may change quite soon as the new car of The Future (coF) chassis comes into vogue. not surprisingly, all this change has resulted in the category gaining in popularity and household reach, value too ... and the hot tip is each of the 28 Racing entitlement contract (Rec) holders each received somewhere in the vicinity of $3.5-million australian dollars for their Rec on the back of the recent sale of the category to the archer capital Group. now, when you consider many team principals own two Rec’s then you can do the maths and realise the sale of the business was a significant milestone event for each of them – very significant indeed. of course, some of the proceeds of sale will need to be parked for development costs associated with coF and also the loss of value from the sale of as many as 45 current specification cars that will soon become surplus to requirements, but all teams have still made some serious cash on the back of the recent sale. This fact is not lost on a handful of drivers, and some of them feel that they too should have been recognised in the sale process. in fact, at Winton back in May, Russell ingall was very direct with his thoughts and comments that the drivers have been the ones to miss out in the category sale process. i’m sure there are plenty of senior management officials at V8 Supercars
head office who would disagree with Russ, and many could rightly claim that the current driver salaries at the head of the field are a direct reflection of the category’s standing among the most popular sports. Russell was in great form at Winton and talked about the need for a V8 Supercar Driver Union, or similar. a body of V8 stars who can bat for the drivers as a group, not just for all things financial where required, but as a common voice for track safety, event planning, marketing and as a general sounding board for all things V8 Supercar. He went onto say that when he attempted to create a group of this type, very few drivers supported his cause and as a result they now had nobody else to blame but themselves. The current mix of V8 Supercar drivers is a combination of professional sporting stars, who drive for a living and get paid accordingly – some quite handsomely – for their efforts, while others are owner drivers who earn their income as part of their racing and business activities ... with many combining both. Right now there are at least six drivers earning greater than aUD$750k per year for their on and off-track performances, with three of those earning well over the aUD $1-million dollar mark. More than half of the field are genuinely professional racing drivers, racing in the one of the biggest touring car championships help anywhere in the world. in fact, one very well-informed colleague of mine assures me that many overseas touring cars stars can only dream of earning the sort of bucks that the current crop of V8 Supercar stars earn. in Grand Prix racing there exists a drivers union, the GPDa (Grand Prix Drivers association), but while their discussions are certainly many and varied, including comment and dialogue on all manner of topics relevant to their specific form of motorsport, i cannot imagine for a minute that their earnings would increase on the back of their strength in number. can you imagine the GPDa going to Bernie on a united front to convince him they were worth more than they were being paid by their respective teams? Heck, even the bestcredentialed and most business savvy team owner struggles in that area. But hey, why not give it a try – if there is ever going to be a V8 Supercar Drivers association to ensure a better hearing for the current 28-strong crop of drivers, regardless of topic – then i can think of no man better to perform the role of Union Shop Steward than the Russell ‘The enforcer’ ingall. p 1
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F3 / dIRk kLYNSMITH – GRAPHIC dAk PHOTOS’
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STORY BY RichaRd cRaill
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it has been a new, revitalised chris gilmour we have witnessed this year and as such he leads the championship going into it’s final stanza. a win would be hugely emotional for the issue 6 137 experienced Queenslander.
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F3 / dIRk kLYNSMITH – GRAPHIC dAk PHOTOS’
Ben gersekowski at dandenong road. Quick, committed and a great piece of road.
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D
anDenonG RoaD. The corner, not the major Melbourne arterial that leads people South east from the hustle and bustle of Melbourne city to the scenery
of the Dandy ranges in the east. as a corner, it’s a fairly simple ninety-degree left but it’s the approach that has our interest here. Three of the better corners to watch a race car behave dynamically anywhere in australia, as the road plunges down through 20 meters of elevation change and through rapid changes of direction. it’s the change of direction that sets apart one race car from another. Sure, watching a Formula 1 car take eau Rouge flat is hugely impressive but it’s the way the car flicks from left to right to left again in the process that is awe inspiring. it’s as if by telepathy – the instant the driver jabs the wheel with the slightest of movement the car reacts, responds and delivers. The aero crushes it to the ground and the tyres grip and the car just goes.
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F3 / dIRk kLYNSMITH – GRAPHIC dAk PHOTOS’
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Who says f3 isn’t competitive? Three wide down sandown’s front straight always makes for fun viewing!
The same can be said for Sandown’s run into Dandenong Road. at the top of a hill is a non-descript left hander that could be one of the most critical changes of direction – save for, perhaps, the entry to Bathurst’s chase – anywhere in australian Motorsport. attack it too early and you will grab the inside kerb, unsettling the car and costing you momentum as you begin the run into the braking zone. The car will be
track and potentially even yourself. Yes, it’s one of those corners. and that’s what makes it great. The recent Shannons nationals round exposed this kink and the following sequence of corners for what it is – a lesson in dynamics and in car behaviour. The V8’s we all know by now. They are heavy and fast
unstable as you break and you could lock an inside
in a straight line but still change direction reasonably well.
front and end up buried, deep in the Dandenong Road
Their limited aero keeps their bulk stuck well to the ground
corner sand.
and after a dab of the brake and a down-change they turn
Turn in too late, or two quickly, and you will do one of
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and do a significant amount of damage to your car, the
into the sequence of corners without too many theatrics. it’s
two things: you will a) understeer across the grass and end
fun to watch, mind, because they do carry a lot of attitude
up on the track or b) understeer into the armco barrier
what with their banging the kerbs and such frivolity.
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RICk CRAILL
oversteer generally doesn’t help the cause in a momentum based racer like an f3 car. But it looks cool!
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RICk CRAILL
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ROMAN kRUMINS HAS BATTLEd AWAY ALL SEASON ANd HAS MAdE SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS WITH THE NEW kUMHO TYRES, OFTEN NIPPING AT THE HEELS OF HIS YOUNGER RIvALS. HERE HE GRABS A BRAkE AT EC.
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sandown’s changes of direction separate the men from the boys. and they also separate the real cars from those that are just pretending. nothing like an f3 car though the quick bits at sandown.
a commodore cup car, however, is something different. Much less power and much less grip means much more attitude and the sequence is taken in what can only be described as a controlled drift. Tail wagging, the driver has – it can only be described as – a bit on. and then you hear the restricted bark (thanks, nearby
This should be interesting. and fast. Whereas Phillip island and eastern creek are all about aero corners, Sandown has just the two; the initial left into the sequence we are analysing here, and the following right (which is the one everyone smashes over – if they aren’t driving an F3 car, that is). The remainder are too
Sandown residents) of the two-litre four-pot propelling a
slow to have any major aero commitment like, say, a Lukey
Dallara carbon fibre chassis up the Sandown back straight,
heights does in any formula car.
coming towards you at 232km/hr and running limited aero to maximise its straight line potential at a circuit made up
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of some squiggly bits connected by two long straights.
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The Dallara gets to the top of the rise and – bam! There it is, that change of direction. no noticeable change in the
RICk CRAILL
John magro concentrates before heading out at eastern creek.
throttle though, just a turn of wheel and grip, glorious grip
into oversteer. You see plenty of fast in motorsport but this
from sticky new Kumho Tyres.
is FaST, in italics and everything.
This is clearly a driver who is on because there was just
The third shock comes when our driver transitions from
the one application of lock to the wheel and one fluid shift
the throttle phase to the braking, slamming the middle
in the vehicle dynamics; there are no opportunities for a
peddle and using the aero to help slow the car before once
second bite when you turn into a corner flat out at more
again using that wonderful pointy nature that only a ‘wings
than 220km/hr.
and slicks’ car can provide to turn into a corner.
Bang! There it is again, a flick to the left with throttle
The best thing is, that was lap one: There’s plenty
still buried. Kissing the face of the kerb with the unloaded
more to go. and when you see a proper Formula car at
inside-front and staying clear from the main elevation in
work here, you know every lap is going to be like the first;
the ripple strip to stop the car unbalancing and breaking
breathtaking. Special. Wonderful. Fast. p 1
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ausTralia
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Join the ONE forum that keeps you up to speed with EVERYTHING motor racing related. From the top level F1, NASCAR, Indy Cars, V8 Supercars and V8 Utes to the Porsche GT3 series, German DTM, GP2 and GP3, Kiwi Toyota Racing Series and Pirelli Cup in California. The P1 FoRums is the one stop networking forum that should be on your “Must Do” list.
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SUNDAY 10 OCTOBER 2010 FABIAN COULTHARD GOES FOR A WILD RIDE
Watch every awesome moment of the 2011 Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000. General Admission and Grandstand tickets are available from ticketek.com.au, or for corporate hospitality options from as little as AUD $264 contact the Corporate Sales team on +61 2 8353 7743. For accommodation options close to the action including campsites, Tent City and Home Hire, check the V8 Supercars website.
v8supercars.com.au
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by Rick kelly
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ell it’s that time of year again where the V8 Supercar Teams get the ultimate test of equipment and skill in the season of endurance that is the Phillip island 500, the Bathurst 1000, and the Gold coast 500.
through a series of elimination challenges to eventually
it’s always hard on the full time drivers, watching your car go around the track without you in it is scary, especially when you’re fighting for your top 4 spot on the championship ladder. But it’s also the only opportunity we get to watch a live V8 Supercar race which is kind of like having an out-of-body experience!
the chance to prove themselves on talent alone. My
it’s a massive time of the year for Kelly Racing with four cars stepping up to the plate at Phillip island and the Gold coast and a massive 5 cars hitting the track at Bathurst. along with our 4 full time cars the Shannons Supercar Showdown car will have it’s first crack at The Mountain in Thursday’s practice with Grant Denyer and the reality TV show winner at the wheel. Watching a talented rookie cut laps of Bathurst for the first time in a V8 Supercar will be an exciting moment for Todd and myself and we’re confident that they will do us proud.
remember it forever. For the record, we finished 14th.
For those who don’t know, we created a reality TV show where we took 10 young hopefuls and put them
find one winner to co-drive with Grant at Bathurst. it’s no secret that the V8 Supercar championship is nearly impossible to crack into without a big cheque, so we wanted to give some of the worlds best young drivers very first V8 Supercar race was at the 2001 Bathurst 1000 with nathan Pretty. i still remember how it felt getting into the car for the first time at a race i had watched and respected for my whole life. it’s a hell of a way to start your V8 Supercar career, but i will Phillip island is always seen as the dress rehearsal for Bathurst, we had a reasonably successful weekend there between our four cars so we’re looking forward to improving on our speed in just over a week’s time in our ‘Grand Final’ of the V8 calendar. Bathurst Sunday is a big day and a top excuse to get your mates around and have a JD. So i hope you enjoy the show, and don’t forget to toast Todd on the big day, it’s his birthday, so hopefully the greatest motor race on the planet will give him and the whole Kelly Racing Team something to celebrate. cheers! p 1
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STORY BY RichaRd cRaill
T
wo rounds, six races and Twenty Points. That’s the maths and it looks pretty simple for James Winslow and chris Gilmour ahead of the final stanza of the 2011 F3
australian Drivers championship. Sure, numbers have been down this year but you can’t accuse the championship battle for being anything other than absorbing from the very first round. chris Gilmour has done a wonderful job to lead since he clean-swept at Morgan Park and the Queenslander – now in his 30s, mind – has taken a massive step forward from his last
the one we saw win the championship in 2008. This
race and get out of the way from those contesting the
is a Winslow who has to graft his way to find finances
full season, this year that Gilmour is long gone.
for each round, who is working with a team that is
This is a chris Gilmour that now will make a move if
not accustomed to be right at the very front of the
he needs to and will block hard when he can. it’s a chris
championship and a Winslow in the strange pushing hard
Gilmour that wants a championship and is driving with
to maintain his position and standing in the sport.
the headiness and mental application of a driver who has
For the most part, he has answered the questions
been there and done that over 110 starts, 4 wins and 36
with some heady drives that remind people he is one
podium finishes across a seven-year F3 career.
of the better F3 drivers australia has seen in its eleven
and then there is James Winslow, riding back into the equation despite missing the fifth round of the
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The Winslow we see this year is a different one to
few seasons. Whereas once he would happily run his own
year history. and so there is another title fight where three
championship after missing Morgan Park’s fun due to
drivers will fight for the championship – John Magro is
work and budget issues.
far out of the equation but really needs to convert his
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James Winslow has gone from being the hunted to the hunter in the space of two months – he sits second in the championship with just two rounds remaining.
F3 / dIRk kLYNSMITH – GRAPHIC dAk PHOTOS’
staggering qualifying speed into race wins – going into
champion Karl Reindler. ’05 and ’06 were relative blow-
the final few rounds.
outs, but 2007 (2 points), 2008 (4 points, 9 between
For all its ups and downs in numbers, in competition
top three), 2009 (8 Points) and 2010 (1 point, 11 between
and in depth, Formula 3 continues to maintain a stunning
top three) have all been final-race thrillers. and this year
record of producing brilliant title battles that go down to
looks no different.
the final race of the final season. The title was decided early in 2000 and ’01 – but in
and that is the ultimate test of a championship, isn’t it. Yes we all want to see big fields and it’s a general
’02 it took Will Power until the final round on the streets
barometer for the health of a series. But as long as the
of the Gold coast to seal the deal. 2003’s finale between
racing is good and the championship battle is intense
Michael caruso and Bart Mawer remains the stuff of
then there is good – a lot of it, in fact. Because, after all,
legends in F3 circles with the latter missing out by just
isn’t it all about the championship, in the end, when all is
two agonising points.
said and done?
chris Gilmour knows what it’s like to lose a title
if so, History says australian F3 is in good shape.
because in 2004 he lost it by three to the eventual
Here’s to many more tight title battles to come. p 1
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v8 supercars
STORY BY chRis jewell PHOTOS BY MaRk hoRsboRough
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when Craig Lowndes and Mark skaife drove to an ultimately convincing win at the L&H500 – Phillip Island, and in doing so confirmed their pre-event status as favourites, it may have appeared that absolutely everything went according to plan.
issue 6
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v8 supercars
W
hilst it most
extreme, but rewind the clock one full
probably did go to
year to the start of the Supercheap
plan, things could
auto Bathurst 1000 and the drama
well have been
that befell Fabian coulthard on his
very different. early contact between
opening lap, and you will see where
the sister, andrew Thompson/Jamie
i am coming from.
Whincup TeamVodafone machine
sort is not at all easy, and even the
been the difference between winning,
best laid, militarily precise plans can
losing or perhaps not finishing.
go haywire, and sometimes through
That innocuous Turn 4 tap, as
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Winning an endurance race of any
just after the start, might just have
no fault of the driver or team. The
the two fluorescent red Triple eight
Phillip island 500k endurance event
Race engineering built commodores
has always been a the perfect curtain-
negotiated the second slowest
raiser to the annual Bathurst classic,
corner on the track, could just have
but at only half the total distance
easily resulted in race compromising
of the latter, and on a circuit much
damage that may have affected either
more forgiving that the famed Mount
car. now that might sound somewhat
Panorama venue, The island is not
always the perfect form guide. Mind
conversely, a car that is nowhere near
you, with Skaife and Lowndes now
the set-up window sometimes never
having won back-to-back Phillip
finds the tuned balance or confidence
island events and as the defending
inspiring feedback the team and
Bathurst champions, it would take
drivers are looking for.
a brave soul to bet against them on october 9. With the time-honoured Bathurst
once practice commences at Mount Panorama, teams are challenged to work through a
1000 event right on our doorstep, let’s
program of running that includes
take a look at the influential factors
tuning the car to the unique 6.2k
that all teams will have to contend
circuit that runs up, down and over
with once practice gets underway on
the biggest elevation change of
Bathurst Thursday.
any circuit the V8 Supercars visit ...
earlY running it’s a much discussed topic, where
it truly is a mountain, just ask any driver having their first drive there ... daunting is not the word. Brake wear,
a car that is ‘good out of the truck’
tyre degradation, fuel economy and
is normally good all weekend, while
providing your nominated co-driver
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v8 supercars
with sufficient track time are all
supply, because with a lap at just
vitally important on the opening day
over two-minutes, the total number
of the four-day event. During the
of completed tours is already in
weekend, finding a qualifying set-
limited when compared with the
up for the primary driver to exploit
practice time available. Throw in pit
well enough to secure a place in the
stops for technical tuning and car
coveted Top Ten Shootout will take
modifications and it can sometimes
precedence for the top half of the
result in a co-driver entering the race
field – at least, while developing a
with little more than 15-20 laps of
car to maintain a strong race pace is
running – sometimes even less – from
always front of mind.
three days of practice and qualifying.
While there appears to be an
progress of the more highly fancied
early incident or mechanical issue can
super subs or the many previous race
deny the team track time and while
winners now performing a supporting
Sunday is race day, losing a session,
role, it severely compromises any
let alone a complete day – with major
driver with little, and sometimes zero,
damage or a serious technical issue,
prior experience.
can severely compromise the Sunday result. This applies to even the biggest teams. example, Jason Richards
magazine
The modern day V8 Supercar is a very reliable beast, and the Phillip
the team completely rebuilding the
island dress rehearsal proved just
Team Boc commodore, come race
that, with all 28 runners who started
day a small throttle issue blighted
the race coming home to greet the
the progress of a team that should
chequered flag at race end, 25 of
have been genuine contenders for a
which were on the lead lap! new
podium finish.
engines, gearboxes and drive-trains
suffer should track time be in short p1
reliaBliTY
practice day crash last year. Despite
inexperienced co-drivers can also
156
While this doesn’t necessarily hurt the
adequate amount of practice time, an
go into each car prior to the 1000k Sunday event, but sometimes it is
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v8 SUPERCARS
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reliability of an altogether different kind that can hurt your victory plans. We’ve seen doors fall off, radios stop working, windscreen demisters fail, batteries lose charge, pit stop equipment break down and all manner of other technical failures that have conspired against even the best prepared team. Rubbish and foreign matter in the front radiator ducts, debris being picked up around the circuit and a kerb that cuts a tyre down call all challenge ongoing reliability, but not all of those are within the direct control of the teams. The old story of the two-dollar item bringing a
multi-million dollar team to its knees
lap journey. Teams will monitor fuel
is never more apparent than at the
economy from the minute they arrive
Bathurst event.
at the circuit and if an additional lap –
fuel efficiencY/ HorsepoWer once upon a time the Bathurst
or two – of running can be squeezed out of a single 120-litre tank of fuel, then a shorter final stop can assist a team in vaulting up the order without
event was a genuine challenge for
having to pass the cars they will
the teams to finish, let alone win.
overtake out on track. a late final stop
More recently, the increased level
will also result in the driver being able
of competition, together with the
to maximise their freshest tyre set
quality of the 58 drivers taking part,
on the run to the flag and should a
aligned to the usually high reliability
Safety car need deploying, that very
– has resulted in the race for victory
team will likely be in good stead in
starting after the leading runners final
the closing laps. Mind you, increased
pit stop, which usually takes place
economy and distance travelled is no
around lap 135 of the scheduled 161
good without having the horsepower
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v8 supercars
to remain competitive on a track
tyres need to be durable, consistent
that is all about grunt, although if it
and able to sustain the rigors of
rains then engine mapping and fuel
running long stints without excessive
efficiency can take on even great
degradation or puncturing. it sounds
significance.
easy, but rarely do all teams get this
TYres
style or tuning the car from within
Mount Panorama circuit being less
the cockpit by altering the front or
harsh on the right rear tyre than
rear roll-bars, while teams can also
the Phillip island track; it remains a
pressure the tyres at different levels
fundamental area that needs to be
based on the feedback coming from
respected. aggressive suspension
their respective pilots during the race.
set-ups that result in quick lap times
Major changes are difficult to effect
over a short distance are not the way
during the race, which is why the
to go at Bathurst, while the use of
three lead-up days are vital to tuning
excessive front camber is always a
the car well for the race on Sunday.
lap speed circuit the V8 Supercars visit all year and also it possesses the
p1
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this area by changing their driving
Tyre life is also vital. Despite the
risk. Bathurst is the fastest average
160
set-up spot on. Drivers can assist in
BraKes The teams are now so proficient
highest terminal speed at just under
at making the compulsory brake pad
300km/h. That being the case, the
change that rarely do we see this
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v8 SUPERCARS
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v8 SUPERCARS
KAI GODDARD
JEFF ANDRETTI
THE JEFF ANDRETTI COACHING GROUP OFFERS A PERFECT TURN KEY SOLUTION TO YOUR HIGH PERFORMANCE TRACK EVENT OR DRIVER TRAINING NEEDS
164
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www.jeffandretticoachinggroup.com
INDIVIDUAL COACHING GROUP COACHING RACING DRIVER DEVELOPMENT SPECIAL AND VIP EVENTS HOT LAPS TV & FILM TEE TEENAGE DRIVER DEVELOPMENT CONSULTATION
Email: info@jeffandretticoachinggroup.com
Phone: (602) 492-2431
being an issue, however this area
any particular use if it’s not on the
should not be taken for granted.
lead lap. With Bathurst being such a
after a pad change all drivers will be
long circuit, staying on the lead lap
told to pump the brake pedal back
is not all that hard, but a visit to any
to create sufficient pedal pressure
of the sand traps for more than one
on the run up the hill, but there is
lap, and for whatever reason, can
always somebody who doesn’t quite
easily see your day destroyed before
complete this task in the way they
it starts. Mind you, endurance races
had anticipated. Brake rotors (discs)
have been won from being a lap
can also be changed at a pit stop, but
down, but rarely does this take place
rarely do any – other than the most
unless the car falling off the lead lap
proficient teams – choose to do so.
has genuine race-winning pace and a
if a team can complete the rotor and
pair of drivers driving at 100 percent...
pad change more quickly than the
miracles aside of course.
time it takes to re-fuel the car, then the advantage of having late-race speed, as a result of better braking
sTraTegY The area of strategy is the single
performance, can put you in good
most important part of the race
stead during the print to the line.
weekend. Teams will pour over history,
lead lap of course, having a fast, reliable,
watch previous races, observe the weather and calculate all of available information to try and create a single
fuel efficient car that is matching
definitively perfect strategy to reach
the leaders is great, but it’s not of
the chequered flag first, while also
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v8 supercars
creating sub-strategies should things
canny strategic call from behind
event, and despite the fuel refill
not go according to plan. excessive
the wheel.
being the longest part of the stop
fuel consumption or unplanned brake and tyre wear will result in new strategies being considered, while
166
Team WorK/ piT sTops never is the team more important
we will still likely see wheel nuts cross threaded, or wheels and nuts rolling away from the car and into the
weather, a high number of Safety
than in an endurance race and with
penalty zone. equipment failure can
car laps or somebody else rolling the
at least five, probably six, expected
also impact on executing the perfect
dice by doing something different will
pit-stops, this is where the race can
stop, while the bio-mechanical human
also be factored into the equation.
be won and lost. While strategy
element is truly tested at this crucial
Rarely will a team reflect on the race
and reliability are largely out of the
time. Windscreen cleaning, rubbish
believing their planned strategy had
driver’s hands, the pit-stop team can
removal, repairing panel damage and
gone according to the pre-race plan,
influence, or destroy, a race while
topping up the driver drink bottle
and those who can think quickly to
servicing their respective mounts.
are all components of any pit stop
execute change and draw on the
at each of the stops, scheduled or
and there’s a lot to cram into the
collective experience from within the
otherwise, crew members will be
35-40s it takes to complete all of
team will likely be best placed at race
under pressure to complete re-
these tasks. The team is fundamental
end. Drivers can also influence this
fuelling, assist with the driver change
to a driver’s success at any event,
from within the cockpit by conveying
and fit new tyres – and or brakes –
but it soars to an altogether higher
what they are seeing on track at
while in the pits. Drivers and teams
place of importance at the endurance
any point of the race and sometimes
will complete hundreds of practice
events, while blending in and out of
a victory can be cultivated from a
pit-stops during the lead-up to the
the transit lane is also critical. Getting
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v8 supercars
this part of the stop wrong will also
the two car teams) nose to tail while
and the best an inexperienced driver
result in valuable time being lost ...
under Safety car conditions, which
can do is to keep his, or her, nose
and speeding in pit lane will leave
was once considered the wrong
clean. Buying into an argument while
you most unpopular with officials and
thing to do, but track position is
up against more experienced rivals,
your team.
so vital and this scenario seems to
trying to define your career on the
lessen the potential time lost when
sport’s biggest stage, or just plain bad
caught behind a car that doesn’t
decision making and car placement
pit. Post race, stories will be in
can sometimes end your career at
be wondering how your race has
abundance about how the Safety car
this race. conversely, learning with
fallen apart. Get them right and you
had influenced the day. Somewhat
each passing lap – something you
can instantly become a genuine
like a post-match reflection of the
can experience in the race that you
factor in the race. Safety cars have
umpiring of our favourite ball sports,
cannot achieve in the days leading up
become the norm at all motorsport
but it seems more than coincidental
to the start – and being there at the
events right around the world, but
that the good teams always seem to
end, then reapplying your learning
in endurance race mode they can
make the right Safety car calls – and
for later in the day – or perhaps the
rescue a horror day that may see
regularly.
following year if you’ve done well
safeTY car calls Get these wrong and you will
you a lap down after early dramas, or cost you valuable track position should the Safety car be deployed to that advantage of others you
168
ineXperience & decision maKing Bathurst is not for the faint
enough – can result in a solid finish and a genuine boost to your career. Bathurst can bite in so many ways and finishing the race after a mature
are racing most closely. obviously,
hearted – it is fast, daunting, blind
drive, is not only a major achievement
some of this is down to luck and the
and dangerous and that’s when you
for less experienced drivers, it will
timing, because the deployment of
are circulating on your own. You
usually result in an invite to come
the Safety car can sometimes be
cannot accelerate the learning at the
back again. Going out early through
more immediate dependent on the
Mountain with anything other than
stupidity or impetuosity will not.
reason for it being instructed to leave
on-track mileage. circuit simulators
pit lane. of recent times, teams have
can assist in some small way, but
chosen to pit both of their cars (for
there is nothing like the real thing
p1
magazine
circuiT dYnamics Mount Panorama Bathurst is an
extremely unique motor racing
extremely narrow, concrete wall-lined
... sounds easy, but of course, it is far
circuit and many rank it alongside
run down from Skyline to Forrest’s
from that.
Germany’s nurburgring as the best
elbow and you can see why the
natural road course in the world.
driver’s eyes are popping out of their
Former BTcc star John cleland was
visors with each passing lap.
once asked which part of the Bathurst circuit was his favourite, to which he replied “the part when you cross
sTarTs With the cars geared for almost
WeaTHer The Bathurst weather can be fickle during october, and the hearty souls who have camped at the top of the hill for many years will vouch for that.
the start-finish line all the way back
300km/h, just getting them away
Sunshine, rain, wind, hail and even
around to the start-finish line”. as
from the uphill starting line on
snow can hit at this time of year, while
good as the place is it does change
Sunday morning can be one of the
temperatures can range from as low
over the course of a race as more
hardest jobs of the day. Most engines
as sub-zero overnight to between six
rubber goes down and even more
will be tuned for maximum fuel
and thirty degrees during the day.
rubber marbles roll to the outside
efficiency, while we also regularly
Predicting conditions, and when they
of the hallowed strip of bitumen.
see the less-experienced co-drivers
will materialise, is one of the hardest
Lapping cars can become a problem
making the start in order to assist
things to do at Bathurst and some
later in the race, as drivers feel less
with late race strategies being rolled
of the devices the teams take to this
comfortable veering off the racing
out for the primary driver. Bogging
race have to be seen to be believed.
line in the high-speed sections of the
the car down will result in a loss of
Spotters from the team will also be
circuit and while the faster drivers
places, but loading the car up and
placed around certain vantage points,
become frustrated with this taking
burning out the clutch will likely result
both within and outside the circuit’s
place, they would be the first ones to
in worse. For those starting in the last
perimeter, as teams vie for the
consider themselves unlucky to be
few rows of the grid, a less intense
increasingly important advantage, no
caught up in someone else’s accident.
pit lane start, with an added splash of
matter how small.
Throw into the equation any bad
fuel on board can make a lot of sense,
weather, oil on the circuit, stones
but for those at the front – cross
dragged back on line from any off-
everything, hope for a clean start and
track excursion, combined with the
then settle into an early race rhythm
compromised ergonomics can you imagine everything is going to plan, the car is running
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ausTralia
reliably, using minimal fuel and tyre
We have seen it before and we will
Heck, even a rolling rock has done so
life is excellent? The strategy is rolling
see it again – driver fatigue and
before, that’s the beauty of Bathurst.
your way and your primary driver
discomfort it is yet another viable
is now back in the car for the final
threat to making it to the end of the
we witnessed at Phillip island is
double-stint to the chequered flag,
race in a winning position.
anything to go by, then this year’s
when a radio transmission comes through that fatigue and cramping is being experienced by the driver at the wheel. Rarely do both driver pairings
172
lucK / Wrong place Wrong Time of course, bad luck, genuine
if the level of competitiveness
Supercheap auto Bathurst 1000 is poised to be a cracking affair. Yes, Lowndes and Skaife go into the race as rightful favourites, but there are at
match in height, weight and shape
bad luck – can deny even the best
least six genuine threats all looking
and this necessitates a compromise
prepared team, with the best drivers
to deny them taking back to back
of in-cockpit ergonomics. everything
who are doing the best job. Being
Phillip island and Bathurst victories
is done to ensure both drivers are
caught up in accident of somebody
for the second consecutive year. all
comfortable, but not until sustained
else’s doing, having a Kangaroo
Skaife, Lowndes and the remaining
running is evident do these situations
bounce into the front of your car, a
28 challenging combinations need to
occur. The race is the first time drivers
tree fall down (it happened at the
do is take into consideration all that
will be behind the wheel for over 20
Bathurst 12-hour) or an errant wheel
is written above and it will be smooth
laps as the lead-up sessions just
come flying into your path ... will all
sailing to the victory celebrations ...
don’t allow this amount of running.
bring your race to an end in an instant.
it’s that simple! p 1
p1
magazine
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ToyotaRacingSeries
2012
Five Rounds, Five circuits, 2,500 km’s includes testing and 15 FIA Sanctioned Races Round 1
12-15 Jan 2012
Round 2
19-22 Jan 2012
Round 3
26-29 Jan 2012
Round 4
2-5 Feb 2012
Round 5
9-12 Feb 2012
New Zealand’s Premier Single-Seater Category
Professionally managed by Toyota Racing Management Contact Barrie Thomlinson barrie@toyotaracing.co.nz +64 21 984639
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