Speedcafe.com Race Guide - ITM400 Hamilton

ITM400 Hamilton, April 20-22

Farewell Hamilton Van Giz ready to defend ITM400 crown

Tech Preview

Circuit Details

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Before Shane van Gisbergen stole the show on Sunday afternoon, the 2011 ITM400 Hamilton was all about Jack Daniel’s Racing.

Brothers Rick and Todd Kelly took a one-three finish on Saturday, before locking out the front-row of the grid the following morning

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Races 5/6 - Hamilton I Introduction

To Hamilton and beyond Just 400km of racing separates the Hamilton Street Circuit from the end of its time as a host of the V8 Supercars Championship.

HAMILTON EDITOR: Stefan Bartholomaeus DESIGN: Kirstie Fuentes SALES/MARKETING: Leisa Emberson IMAGES: Alexandre Premat Brad Jones Racing Ford Performance Racing Garry Rogers Motorsport Holden Motorsport Michael Patrizi Stone Brothers Racing Taz Douglas TeamVodafone Tony D’Alberto Racing VIP Petfoods Racing Wilson Security Racing PARTNERS: Armor All, Bisley, Castrol EDGE, IRWIN Tools, Lucky 7, Money Choice, Norton by Symantec, Coateshire, Orrcon Steel, Pirtek, Toshiba, Vodafone,

It’s fair to say that the V8 Supercars community will look back on the five-year history of the event with mixed feelings.

Naturally there have been some memorable on-track moments over the years, with 2011’s first-time successes for Kelly Racing (Saturday) and Shane van Gisbergen (Sunday) chief among them.

For sheer drama of course, nothing could match Jamie Whincup’s effort from the inaugural event, where the eventual series champion crashed out of the weekend during qualifying.

On balance however, the circuit has provided fairly processional racing. Combining the lack of passing with the circuit’s frankly comical back chicane and the largely industrial-look of the venue has left Hamilton well short of its legendary street circuit cousins in Adelaide and the Gold Coast.

Sadly, the event’s off-track faux pas have proven to be even bigger talking points over the years than the racing itself.

From the grandstands without a view of the track in the first year, to the accusations of major government overspending and the eventual demise of the original promoter, it’s been a rocky ride.

For the sake of the local fans one hopes that, no matter what the racing quality is like this weekend, the V8 Supercars can find a new home in New Zealand for 2013.

After the Hamilton experience, a return to Pukekohe may not be the step backwards that it first appears to be.

Green means go!

Stefan Bartholomaeus Journalist, Speedcafe.com Editor, Speedcafe Race Guides

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Duel in the Desert

Craig Lowndes and Lee Holdsworth spent the Easter break in Abu Dhabi promoting this November’s Formula 1/V8 Supercars double-header at the Yas Marina circuit.

Here, Holdsworth (Aston Martin) races Lowndes (Holden Commodore) up the Jebel Hafeet Mountain.

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Races 5/6 - Hamilton I Cover Story

Farewell Hamilton Van Giz ready to defend ITM400 crown Shane van Gisbergen will spend the final ITM400 Hamilton trying to defend the Mark Porter Trophy he won in spectacular fashion last year.

The SP Tools Falcon driver sits fourth in the points standings after four races, and heads to his home event fresh from a second placed finish on Sunday in Tasmania.

The 22-year-old spoke to Speedcafe.com’s Grant Rowley ahead of the weekend.

SPEEDCAFE: Ten years ago, Greg Murphy was the man that all locals would hang off the edge of their seats for, praying to win. Now, you are

the local that is looked at as the ‘man most likely’. What sort of pressure does that bring?

SHANE VAN GISBERGEN: I don’t try and think like that. Murph is still a big name over there.

championship, but is it fair to say that you are still a little bit behind Ford Performance Racing and TeamVodafone?

To go back as the defending race winner, it’s a pretty good thing, but this year is different.

There’s heaps of fast cars, so it will be tough, but really, no different to any other event.

SHANE VAN GISBERGEN: Definitely, but we’re not far away. FPR has a big advantage on the fuel economy races at the moment, but they’ve been quick in every race. Even Albert Park, they were up there. FPR is now in the same pace as Triple Eight, and we are just behind.

SPEEDCAFE: You say that there are a lot of fast cars, but it would be wrong not to put yourself and SBR in that category. All three SBR cars are inside the top seven in the

If we can just step it up that little bit and match them, that’s what we need to do.

Everyone is working hard to get that done and get to their level.

9 SPEEDCAFE: Is there anything in particular that you’re working on to make that final step?

VAN GISBERGEN: There are a few things in particular, but a lot of little things as well. We’re just trying to put it all together, fine tuning it.

Our base set-up at most tracks is better this year.

We’ve found that we’ve gone to the track and we don’t have to throw a bunch of things at it. It’s good, because it allows me to focus on driving it.

SPEEDCAFE: This is the last Hamilton street race, and potentially the last V8 Supercars race in New Zealand.

How important is it for V8 Supercars to find an event in New Zealand beyond this weekend?

VAN GISBERGEN: I think they need to keep something there. The fan base is massive in New Zealand. You see when we go back there, everyone is passionate about the V8s. Hopefully they can find another track that we can go to.

Hopefully the last event in Hamilton will be big and it is well supported. It would be great to see the fans send it off as a huge event.

SPEEDCAFE: If V8 Supercars don’t end up going back to New Zealand, what would your thoughts be?

VAN GISBERGEN: It would be pretty sad. I always love going back home, and Fabian (Coulthard) and Murph do as well. It’s the race I look forward to going back to the most during the year. It wouldn’t be very good if we didn’t race there.

Hopefully they get something sorted at Pukekohe or Hampton Downs. There are a few suitable places.

It would be good to keep going there and keep our fans over there happy.

SPEEDCAFE: You have one new team-mate in your squad this year (Lee Holdsworth). Has Lee helped bring the team forward?

VAN GISBERGEN: Lee has brought a few good ideas across. He’s definitely a fast driver, and he has quite a different style. On some corners, it might show up and I’ll change my style to match him.

It’s great to have another competitive driver and we can bounce ideas off each other and push each other forward. It has worked well so far. We’re all in the top 10. As long as we keep the good working relationship going, we’ll keep progressing.

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Races 5/6 - Hamilton I Circuit Info

Hamilton Street Circuit

Circuit Details: Location: Hamilton, New Zealand Length: 3.4-kilometres Direction: Clockwise Average speed: 141km/h Maximum speed: 248km/h Fastest Point: Front Straight Slowest Point: Turn 2 Hairpin

Circuit Description: A genuine street circuit in the heart of the Frankston business district in Hamilton, the 3.4-kilometre layout is relatively fast and flowing. The track runs alongside the Waikato Stadium - home of Rugby Super 14 team the Waikato Chiefs - and the international cricket ground at Seddon Park.

V8 Supercars Qualifying Lap Record: Garth Tander, Holden Commodore VE, 1m23.0439s, 2010

V8 Supercars Race Lap Record: Jamie Whincup, Holden Commodore VE II, 1m22.8973s, 2011

Event Format:

Friday Practice: 2 x 30 min (lower 50% of the championship) 2 x 30 min (all drivers) Saturday Qualifying: 1 x 20 min 1 x Top 10 Shootout Race: 1 x 200km Sunday Qualifying: 1 x 20 min Race: 1 x 200km

Tyre Format: Three sets of hard and four sets of soft compound tyres will be allocated to each car for the weekend. Drivers will have to use at least one set of each compound during the two races, and will be free to use either during the two qualifying sessions.

As is the case for the championship’s other fly-away event in Abu Dhabi, no pre-marked hard tyres are permitted in New Zealand.

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Races 5/6 - Hamilton I Tech Preview

Hamilton is a true street course in the sense that it’s bumpy, hard on brakes and quite difficult to pass on.

It’s probably closer to Homebush than any of the other street courses that we go to, although the colder climate sets it apart.

the allocation is generous enough that it won’t be an issue.

The lack of pre-marked tyres means that it’s far easier to get a read on your true position in the field after practice.

Outside of the event’s first year in 2008, it’s been a bit of a bogey circuit for Ford Performance Racing, and part of that is due to the conditions. Last year here we had 19 degree track I’d expect everyone to run a set of softs on Friday, and then use two sets in each of the qualifying sessions. If you make temperature one day and 21 degrees on the other, which the shootout on Saturday you’ve basically got the choice made it difficult to get the tyre to work. of running a used set their or sacrificing one run in Sunday morning’s session.

Despite the weather, managing the brakes is a major challenge. It’s particularly hard to get a braking balance at It’ll all depend on the weather of course though. They’re three of the turns, which is one corner in each sector. Finding predicting for it to be fine all week, but I don’t know if I trust that balance will be the key for us.

New Zealand’s weather bureau any more than I do ours!

Tyres Race Strategy Last year we brought the soft tyres to Hamilton for the first time, but this year we’re required to use a set of the hards in With 200km races on each day, there’ll be two stops per race. In Hamilton the fuel windows are very big, so we’d each race, as was the case at Symmons. expect to run anywhere between 10 to 20 laps on the hard We have three sets of hards and five sets of softs to play with. tyres at the start before completing two longer stints on the softs. You’d be a brave person not to get your hards out of There aren’t any pre-marked practice tyres in Hamilton, but

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TECH PREVIEW with

CAMPBELL LITTLE

the way at the start, which basically equalises the field in terms of strategy.

reacting to other people stopping, simply trying to maintain track position against who they’re racing.

I’d be surprised if anyone could stop earlier than Lap 10 and make it home in a green race. It’ll be interesting if there’s a Safety Car on Lap 2 or 3, which could happen if we get the sort of Turn 2 pile-up we’ve seen there in the past. Pitting could work if a lot of other cars came with you, but you’d be relying heavily on more Safety Cars and really trying to save fuel.

Circuit changes Last year the track evolved quite a bit over the weekend, particularly in the Turn 4 chicane. They opened it up quite a bit, and in the end I think everyone was fairly happy with how the kerb-hopping was policed with the electronic timing line.

Congestion We saw a lot of pitlane incidents last year, which cost several guys dearly. The entry is very difficult because you actually come from quite a high speed. The pit entry at a lot of the circuits we go to is pretty close to a corner exit, whereas this one funnels into a tight chicane, so it’s not easy.

We haven’t heard of any changes for this year, but it will be interesting to see what they do with the electronic system on the restarts. Last year they turned it off on the restarts, because it’s almost impossible to sight the kerbs properly when you’re in such a tight train of cars.

Getting back out onto the track can be pretty interesting as well, because you are really set-up to be fighting someone already on the track at the exit. We might see people

The issue then was that the leader was taking advantage and deliberately straight-lining the chicane to create a big gap. The system was left on for the restarts in Adelaide this year, so we’ll see what they decide to do in Hamilton.

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Races 5/6 - Hamilton I Did you know

DID YOU

KNOW

?

Last year’s Saturday race winner, Rick Kelly holds one of the most consistent records in the four-year history of the ITM400 Hamilton.

The Jack Daniel’s Commodore driver has finished in the top eight in eight of the nine races held in Hamilton. It’s a feat no other driver has been able to match and leaves him with an average finishing position of sixth.

Kelly has also qualified in the top 10 on six of a possible seven occasions. Four of those efforts have seen him start on the first two rows of the grid.

He currently sits 11th in the V8 Supercars Championship, one position behind brother and team-mate Todd.

The Pepsi Max Crew’s Greg Murphy returns to the V8 Supercars Championship in Hamilton after missing the last event at Symmons Plains in Tasmania.

Murphy is one of three Kiwi drivers in this year’s ITM400 Hamilton alongside last year’s Sunday winner Shane van Gisbergen (SP Tools Racing) and Fabian Coulthard (Lockwood Racing).

Van Gisbergen’s win last year was the first by a Kiwi on home soil in the V8

Supercars Championship since Murphy won at Pukekohe back in 2005.

Both Murphy and Coulthard have already racked up wins in New Zealand this year in the country’s new V8 SuperTourer category.

Murphy won the opening round at Hampton Downs, while Coulthard filled in for him recently at Manfeild and also collected a round victory.

Races 5/6 - Hamilton I Did you know

The Holden Racing Team’s James Courtney will debut a brand new Commodore on the streets of Hamilton – a car that will be the last current specification V8 Supercar built before the new Car of the Future is introduced in time for 2013.

Courtney shook down his new car at Winton last week before it was due to head to New Zealand.

The car is the 15th VE Commodore built by Walkinshaw Racing since the model was introduced into the V8 Supercars Championship in 2007.

Courtney currently sits 21st in the championship after a nightmare start.

Courtney’s Hamilton record however is solid with a podium finish in 2008; a runner-up result on Sunday in 2009 and another podium finish on Saturday in 2010.

Hamilton has proven to be a bogey circuit for Lucky 7 Racing’s Tim Slade The Ford pilot has been to Hamilton three times, though only managed to finish one race from five starts. He missed out on another race completely – on Sunday in 2009 he crashed in qualifying and did not make the grid due to the damage to his car.

Last year he failed to finish on either day after accidents in both 200-kilometre races sidelined him.

Slade’s bad Hamilton record is not confined to race results. He’s never qualified in the top 10 in Hamilton – his 15th grid position on Sunday last year is his only top-20 qualifying performance at the circuit.

Predicting who will claim pole position at Hamilton has proven to be difficult over the years.

Six different drivers have taken the seven pole positions that have been up for grabs in Hamilton.

Only Jamie Whincup has taken more than one pole (2010 Saturday and 2011 Saturday), with Steven Richards (2008), Mark Winterbottom (2009 Saturday), Steven Johnson (2009 Sunday), Garth Tander (2010 Sunday) and Rick Kelly (2011 Sunday) the others to taste qualifying success.

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The Bagman Triple Eight

THE BAGMAN’S SAY...

The Hamilton event proved TeamVodafone’s worst of the 2011 season - with pitlane errors and on-track incidents costing both Jamie Whincup and Craig Lowndes dearly.

The dramas, however, masked the fact that the team’s dry weather car speed was characteristically quite good. Combining that with the team’s 2012 form, it’ll be hard to bet against a TeamVodafone victory this weekend.

Whether or not Lowndes can match his team-mate here remains a significant unknown. Lowndes doesn’t have a great record in Hamilton, but the 37-year-old was strong in Adelaide, and will be eager to bounce back from his clash with Will Davison in Tasmania. All looks set for a cracking battle.

Base: Banyo, Queensland Car: Holden Commodore VEII Chassis: Triple Eight Race Engineering Engines: KRE Team principal: Roland Dane

#1 Jamie Whincup

Team: TeamVodafone Born: 6 February 1983 V8SC debut: Queensland, 2002 Starts: 249 Wins: 54 Career Highlights: 2008, 2009 & 2011 V8 Supercars Champion, 1st 2006, 2007 & 2008 Bathurst 1000, 2002 Australian Formula Ford Champion

#888 Craig Lowndes Team: TeamVodafone Born: 21 June 1974 V8SC debut: Calder Park, 1996 Starts: 445 Wins: 82 Career Highlights: 1996, 1998 & 1999 V8 Supercars Champion, 1st 1996, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2010 Bathurst 1000, 1993 Australian Formula Ford Champion

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Races 5/6 - Hamilton I Driver Profiles

Walkinshaw Racing THE BAGMAN’S SAY...

While the Holden Racing Team has been keen to play down the importance of rolling out a new chassis for James Courtney this weekend, it’s hard to believe that some improvement in the 2010 champion’s form is not expected.

Courtney has yet to start a race from within the top 10 this season - putting the #22 Commodore at a significant disadvantage from the outset.

Garth Tander was also off-the-pace at Symmons Plains, although his form on the streets of Adelaide - which included a pole position - indicates that a repeat of last year’s strategy-assisted Sunday podium isn’t completely out of the question.

Base: Clayton, Victoria Car: Holden Commodore VEII Chassis: Walkinshaw Racing Engines: Walkinshaw Racing Team principal: Steve Hallam

#2 Garth Tander

Team: Toll Holden Racing Team Born: 31 March 1977 V8SC debut: Phillip Island, 1998 Starts: 414 Wins: 50 Career Highlights: 2007 V8 Supercars Champion, 1st 2000, 2009 & 2011 Bathurst 1000, 1997 Australian Formula Ford Champion

#22 James Courtney Team: Toll Holden Racing Team Born: 29 June 1980 V8SC debut: Sandown, 2005 Starts: 193 Wins: 9 Career Highlights: 2010 V8 Supercars Champion, 2001 British Formula Ford Champion, 2002 Jaguar F1 test driver, 2000 British Formula Ford Champion

#66 Russell Ingall Team: Supercheap Auto Racing Born: 24 February 1964 V8SC debut: Eastern Creek, 1996 Starts: 479 Wins: 27 Career Highlights: 2005 V8 Supercars Champion, 1st 1995 & 1997 Bathurst 1000,1st 1998 Sandown 500 & 1999 Queensland 500, 1993 British Formula Ford Champion

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Races 5/6 - Hamilton I Driver Profiles

Stone Brothers Racing Base: Yatla, Queensland Car: Ford Falcon FG Chassis: Stone Brothers Racing Engines: Stone Brothers Racing Team principal: Ross Stone

THE BAGMAN’S SAY...

Stone Brothers Racing has been hovering around the fringe of the Triple Eight/FPR battle so far this season, and this weekend could be the one where the Kiwi team steps it up.

Shane van Gisbergen put a horror 2010 Hamilton meeting behind him last year to take the Sunday race, where he finished marginally ahead of future team-mate Lee Holdsworth.

Holdsworth almost always proved a contender on streets circuits during his time with GRM, and a top five finish in Adelaide last month indicates his previous form wasn’t all car related.

Both will fancy their chances of a podium, while a top 10 will be a good result for Tim Slade who has struggled here in the past.

#4 Lee Holdsworth Team: IRWIN Racing Born: 2 February 1983.

V8SC debut: Sandown, 2004 Starts: 201 Wins: 2 Career Highlights: 1st 2010 V8 Supercars Race 26 (Sydney), 1st 2007 V8 Supercars Round 8 (Oran Park), 3rd 2009 Bathurst 1000, 7th 2010 V8 Supercars Championship

#9 Shane van Gisbergen Team: SP Tools Racing Born: 9 May 1989 V8SC deubt: Oran Park, 2007 Starts: 138 Wins: 2 Career Highlights: 1st 2011 ITM400 Hamilton (Race 6), 1st 2011 Skycity Triple Crown (Race 12), 2005/06 NZ FFord Champion, 2nd 2006/07 Toyota Racing Series

#47 Tim Slade Team: Lucky 7 Racing Born: 3 August 1985 V8SC debut: Adelaide, 2009 Starts: 83 Wins: 0 Career Highlights: 2nd 2005 Australian Formula Ford Championship, 7th 2008 V8 Supercars Development Series, 9th 2011 V8 Supercars Championship

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Races 5/6 - Hamilton I Driver Profiles

Ford Performance Racing

THE BAGMAN’S SAY...

Ford Performance Racing has been mightily strong over the opening three events of 2012, but finding set-ups that work on the bumpy and often cold Hamilton street circuit will prove a big test for the factory Ford team.

Its record here, particularly with the FG Falcon, has not been stellar, with Winterbottom having only once qualified better than 10th in seven qualifying sessions at the circuit.

The FPR chassis have come a long way since this time last year however, so podium finishes for either Winterbottom or Will Davison will not be a surprise.

David Reynolds should again be right amongst it in qualifying, although his race results remain anyone’s guess.

Base: Campbelfield, Victoria Car: Ford Falcon FG Chassis: Ford Performance Racing Engines: Ford Performance Racing Team principal: Tim Edwards

#5 Mark Winterbottom Team: Orrcon Steel FPR Born: 20 May 1981 V8SC debut: Sandown, 2003 Starts: 248 Wins: 17 Career Highlights: 1st 2006 Sandown 500, 1st 2003 V8 Supercars Development Series, 2nd 2008 V8 Supercars Championship, 2nd 2002 Australian Formula Ford Championship

#6 Will Davison Team: Tradingpost FPR Born: 30 August 1982 V8SC debut: Winton, 2004 Starts: 198 Wins: 8 Career Highlights: 1st 2009 Bathurst 1000, 1st 2009 Phillip Island 500, 2nd 2009 V8 Supercars Championship, 2001 Australian Formula Ford Champion

#55 David Reynolds Team: The Bottle-O Racing Born: July 1985.

V8SC debut: Sandown, 2007 Starts: 53 Wins: 0 Career Highlights: 2007 Australian Carrera Cup Champion, 2004 Australian Formula Ford Champion, 4th 2008 V8 Supercars Development Series

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Races 5/6 - Hamilton I Driver Profiles

Kelly Racing Base: Braeside, Victoria Car: Holden Commodore VEII Chassis: Kelly Racing Engines: Kelly Racing Team principals: Rick and Todd Kelly

#7 Todd Kelly

THE BAGMAN’S SAY...

Kelly Racing is perhaps the biggest unknown among the potential contenders heading into this weekend. The Braeside squad picked up its first ever victory on Saturday here last year, with Rick Kelly judging a wet-dry race to perfection before performing equally strongly in a similarly weather-affected qualifying session the following morning.

The Kelly Racing cars have not had top-five pace so far this year, while poor fuel economy has also counted against them.

Even so, they have tended to shine brighter on street circuits, and can be expected to fare better than they did at Symmons Plains. Repeating last year’s heroics looks a difficult task however, presuming that dry weather prevails.

Team: Jack Daniel’s Racing Born: 9 October 1979 V8SC debut: Eastern Creek, 1999 Starts: 360 Wins: 19 Career Highlights: 1st 2005 Bathurst 1000, 1st 2003 Sandown 500, 2nd 1998 Australian Drivers’ Championship, 2nd 2006 Bathurst 1000, 2nd 2006 Bathurst 1000

#11 Karl Reindler Team: Fair Dinkum Sheds Racing Born: 18 April 1985 V8SC debut: Bathurst, 2008 Starts: 60 Wins: 0 Career Highlights: 2004 Australian F3 Champion, 8th 2008 V8 Supercars Development Series, 3rd 2006 A1GP Shanghai Feature Race

Races 5/6 - Hamilton I Driver Profiles

#15 Rick Kelly Team: Jack Daniel’s Racing Born: 7 January 1983 V8SC debut: Queensland, 2001 Starts: 301 Wins: 12 Career Highlights: 2006 V8 Supercars Champion, 1st 2003 & 2004 Bathurst 1000 , 2001 Australian Drivers’ Champion, 2nd 2000 Australian Formula Ford Championship

#51 Greg Murphy Team: Pepsi Max Crew Born: 23 August 1972 V8SC debut: Calder, 1997 Starts: 416 Wins: 28 Career Highlights: 1st 1996, 1999, 2003 & 2004 Bathurst 1000, 1st 1996 & 1997 Sandown 500, 1st 2003 Bathurst 24 Hour, 2nd 2002 & 2003 V8 Supercars Championship

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Races 5/6 - Hamilton I Driver Profiles

Brad Jones Racing Base: Albury, Victoria Car: Holden Commodore VEII Chassis: Walkinshaw Racing Engines: Noonan Race Engines Team principal: Chris Clark

THE BAGMAN’S SAY...

Season 2012 has not started well for Brad Jones Racing, with consistent finishes from new recruit Fabian Coulthard the only saving grace thus far.

The team has changed its driver/engineer combinations for Hamilton, with Phil Keed moving to Coulthard’s car, and Andrew Edwards stepping into Jason Bright’s side of the garage.

The Lockwood Commodore sits ninth in the standings after four races, despite having only shown top-10 qualifying speed on one occasion. Sneaking into the top 10 in either race this weekend will be a good performance.

Jason Bright meanwhile has only one top-20 qualifying effort to his name in 2012, leaving expectations low for this weekend.

#8 Jason Bright Team: Team BOC Born: 7 March 1973 V8SC debut: Symmons Plains, 1997 Starts: 387 Wins: 30 Career Highlights: 1st 1998 Bathurst 1000, 1995 Australian Formula Ford Champion, 1997 Australian Drivers’ Champion, 1st 2006 Sandown 500

#14 Fabian Coulthard Team: Lockwood Racing Born: 28 July 1982 V8SC debut: Oran Park, 2004 Starts: 160 Wins: 0 Career Highlights: 2005 Australian Carrera Cup Champion, 2001 NZ Formula Ford Champion, 3rd 2004 Australian Carrera Cup, 4th 2000 NZ Formula Ford Championship

#21 David Wall Team: Wilson Security Racing Born: 1 January 1983 V8SC debut: Phillip Island, 2009 Starts: 10 Wins: 0 Career Highlights: 2009 & 2010 Australian GT Champion, 3rd 2007 Australian GT Championship, 11th 2011 V8 Supercars Development Series

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Races 5/6 - Hamilton I Driver Profiles

THE BAGMAN’S SAY...

Dick Johnson Racing

Dick Johnson Racing’s difficult start to the year has taken a dramatic turn between events, with the squad’s highly respected team manager Malcolm Swetnam returning home to the UK. With a permanent replacement yet to be sourced, the Queensland-based squad heads to Hamilton with its cars 12th (Steve Owen), 13th (Steven Johnson), 20th (Dean Fiore) and 22nd (James Moffat) in the standings respectively.

Johnson is a former pole-sitter in Hamilton, but top 10 qualifying performances have proven extremely hard to come by of late. Sadly, there is not much to suggest that an upswing in form will be experienced this weekend.

Base: Yatla, Queensland Car: Ford Falcon FG Chassis: Triple Eight Race Engineering Engines: InoV8 (Roger Higgins) Team principal: Dick Johnson

#12 Dean Fiore

Team: Jim Beam Racing Born: 1 December 1983 V8SC debut: Adelaide, 2009 Starts: 84 Wins: 0 Career Highlights: 2nd 2008 Australian Carrera Cup Championship, 4th 2005 Australian Formula Ford Championship, 5th 2007 Australian Carrera Cup Championship

#17 Steven Johnson Team: Jim Beam Racing Born: 6 September 1974 V8SC debut: Oran Park, 1994 Starts: 389 Wins: 3 Career Highlights: 1st 2001 Queensland 500, 1st 2001 Canberra 400, 5th 2001 V8 Supercars Championship, 6th 2009 V8 Supercars Championship

Races 3/4 - Symmons Plains I Driver Profiles

#18 James Moffat Team: Team Norton DJR Born: 18 June 1984 V8SC debut: Phillip Island, 2010 Starts: 34 Wins: 0 Career Highlights: 2nd 2009 V8 Development Series, 3rd 2008 Australian Carrera Cup Championship, 3rd 2007 Australian Formula Ford Championship

#49 Steve Owen Team: VIP Petfoods Racing Born: 18 December 1974 V8SC debut: Bathurst, 1999 Starts: 138 Wins: 1 Career Highlights: 1st 2008 & 2010 V8 Supercars Development Series, 1st 2010 V8 Supercars Race 20 (Gold Coast), 2nd 1999 Australian Formula Ford Championship

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Races 5/6 - Hamilton I Driver Profiles

Tekno Autosports

THE BAGMAN’S SAY...

Base: Stapylton, Queensland Car: Holden Commodore VEII Chassis: Triple Eight Race Engineering Engines: KRE Team principal: Jonathon Webb

#19 Jonathon Webb

The opening two rounds of the 2012 championship indicate that Jonathon Webb’s form will be among the hardest to predict throughout the season.

The former Development Series winner again showed strong onelap pace at Symmons Plains, but failed to put a result on the board in the races. Saturday’s encounter proved particularly disastrous, with the #19 entry experiencing several offs as brake issues struck in the opening laps.

Both car and driver are well capable of a top 10 finish should everything go smoothly, but that’s far from a sure thing.

For Michael Patrizi, consolidating his top 20 place in the standings will be a job well done.

Team: Tekno Autosports Born: 10 December 1983 V8SC debut: Sandown, 2006 Starts: 65 Wins: 1 Career Highlights: 1st 2009 V8 Supercars Development Series, 3rd 2005 Australian Carrera Cup Championship, 2010 V8 Supercars Race 26 winner

#91 Michael Patrizi Team: Tekno Autosports Born: 4 May 1984 V8SC debut: Adelaide, 2008 Starts: 34 Wins: 0 Career Highlights: 2nd 2005 Formula BMW Asia,, 8th 2006 Formula BMW UK, 18th 2007 Formula 3 Euroseries, 6th 2011 Australian Carrera Cup Championship

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32

Races 5/6 - Hamilton I Driver Profiles

Garry Rogers Motorsport

THE BAGMAN’S SAY...

The Garry Rogers Motorsport VE Commodores have shown flashes of speed on the Hamilton street circuit since the event’s inception in 2008, and Michael Caruso in particular could be one to watch this weekend.

Although incidents ruled him out of contention in both races here last year, Caruso’s performances in Hamilton across 2009 and 2010 remain amongst the best of his five-year full-time career. While repeating his podium finish of two years ago is unlikely, top 10s should be achievable.

Alexandre Premat meanwhile can be expected to continue to improve with experience - the Frenchman noting at Symmons Plains that communication between himself and engineer Richard Hollway remains very much a work in progress.

Base: Knoxfield, Victoria Car: Holden Commodore VEII Chassis: Garry Rogers Motorsport Engines: Walkinshaw Racing Team manager: Pierluigi Orsi

#33 Alexandre Premat Team: Fujitsu Racing GRM Born: 5 April 1982 V8SC debut: Adelaide, 2012 Starts: 4 Wins: 0 Career Highlights: 2008 Le Mans Series Champion, 1st 2005-06 A1 GP Series (Team France), 1st 2004 Macau Grand Prix, 1st 2004 Masters of F3

#34 Michael Caruso Team: Fujitsu Racing GRM Born: 25 May 1983 V8SC debut: Bathurst, 2006 Starts: 124 Wins: 1 Career Highlights: 2003 Australian Formula 3 Champion, 3rd 2009 Bathurst 1000, 1st 2009 V8 Supercars Race 10 (Hidden Valley), 2nd 2007 V8 Supercars Development Series

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34

Races 5/6 - Hamilton I Driver Profiles

Tony D’Alberto Racing Base: Knoxfield, Victoria Car: Ford Falcon FG Chassis: Ford Performance Racing Engines: Ford Performance Racing Team principal: Al D’Alberto

THE BAGMAN’S SAY...

Tony D’Alberto Racing has kicked a major goal in the weeks since Symmons Plains - signing mobile hose service providers Hiflex as a major sponsor for the remainder of the season.

The deal should allow the small team to focus on helping the #3 Falcon bounce back from an ultimately frustrating weekend at Symmons Plains. D’Alberto’s Sunday race had appeared certain to yield a top 10 finish before an engine problem in his final pitstop dropped the former Development Series winner to 15th.

Expectations should be kept fairly modest for Hamilton however, with the FPR package not anticipated to prove quite as strong this weekend as it has done across the opening phase of the year.

#3 Tony D’Alberto Team: Tony D’Alberto Racing Born: 9 December 1985 V8SC debut: Sandown, 2005 Starts: 126 Wins: 0 Career Highlights: 1st 2007 V8 Supercars Development Series, 6th 2007 Bathurst 1000, 5th 2005 V8 Supercars Development Series, 9th 2011 Bathurst 1000

Lucas Dumbrell Motorsport Base: Nunawading, Victoria Car: Holden Commodore VEII Chassis: Triple Eight Race Engineering Engines: KRE Team principal: Lucas Dumbrell

THE BAGMAN’S SAY...

Lucas Dumbrell Motorsport was the feel-good story of the paddock on Saturday at Symmons Plains, with the single-car outfit rebounding from its Adelaide and Albert Park disasters to qualifying and race inside the top dozen.

Although a potential top 10 finish was lost in a hectic battle during the closing stages, the performance gave a true indication of the potential of LDM’s 2012 technical package, and went a long way to proving that Development Series graduate Taz Douglas belongs at this level.

While qualifying among the top four rows won’t happen every week, finishing in the top half of the field now appears a realistic goal.

#30 Taz Douglas Team: Lucas Dumbrell Motorsport Born: 11 February 1985 V8SC debut: Phillip Island, 2009 Starts: 9 Wins: 0 Career Highlights: 1st 2010 V8 Supercars Development Series Sandown Race 2, 8th 2007 Australian Formula Ford Championship, 9th 2009 V8 Supercars Development Series

Races 5/6 - Hamilton I Race Stats

Championship Standings Pos

Driver

Team

Car

1

Will Davison

2

Jamie Whincup

Trading Post FPR

Ford Falcon FG

TeamVodafone

Holden Commodore VE

549

3

Mark Winterbottom

4

Shane Van Gisbergen

Orrcon Steel FPR

Ford Falcon FG

471

SP Tools Racing

Ford Falcon FG

432

5

Lee Holdsworth

6

Garth Tander

IRWIN Racing

Ford Falcon FG

387

Holden Racing Team

Holden Commodore VE

368

7

Tim Slade

8

Craig Lowndes

Lucky 7 Racing

Ford Falcon FG

357

TeamVodafone

Holden Commodore VE

317

9

Fabian Coulthard

10

Todd Kelly

Lockwood Racing

Holden Commodore VE

315

Jack Daniel’s Racing

Holden Commodore VE

282

11

Rick Kelly

12

Steve Owen

Jack Daniel’s Racing

Holden Commodore VE

273

VIP Petfoods Racing

Ford Falcon FG

246

13

Steven Johnson

14

Michael Caruso

Jim Beam Racing

Ford Falcon FG

246

Fujitsu Racing GRM

Holden Commodore VE

234

15

David Reynolds

16

Alexandre Premat

The Bottle-O Racing

Holden Commodore VE

225

Fujitsu Racing GRM

Holden Commodore VE

225

17

Michael Patrizi

18

Tony D’Alberto

Tekno Autosports

Holden Commodore VE

222

Tony D’Alberto Racing

Ford Falcon FG

198

19

Russell Ingall

20

Dean Fiore

Supercheap Auto Racing

Holden Commodore VE

195

Jim Beam Racing

Ford Falcon FG

195

21

James Courtney

22

James Moffat

Holden Racing Team

Holden Commodore VE

171

Team Norton DJR

Ford Falcon FG

171

23

Karl Reindler

Fair Dinkum Sheds Racing Holden Commodore VE

159

24

Jason Bright

Team BOC

Holden Commodore VE

150

25

Taz Douglas

Team iSelect

Holden Commodore VE

147

26

David Wall

Wilson Security Racing

Holden Commodore VE

129

27

Jonathon Webb

Tekno Autosport

Holden Commodore VE

120

28

David Russell

Pepsi Max Crew

Holden Commodore VE

42

29

Greg Murphy

Pepsi Max Crew

Holden Commodore VE

33

Pts

567

35

36

Races 5/6 - Hamilton I Race Stats

Previous Hamilton Race Winners Year

Driver

Team

Car

2011

Shane van Gisbergen

Stone Brothers Racing

Ford Falcon FG

Rick Kelly

Kelly Racing

Holden Commodore VE

2010

Jamie Whincup

Triple Eight Race Engineering

Holden Commodore VE

Jamie Whincup

Triple Eight Race Engineering

Holden Commodore VE

2009

Jamie Whincup

Triple Eight Race Engineering

Ford Falcon FG

Jamie Whincup

Triple Eight Race Engineering

Ford Falcon FG

2008

Garth Tander

Holden Racing Team

Holden Commodore VE

Garth Tander

Holden Racing Team

Holden Commodore VE

Garth Tander

Holden Racing Team

Holden Commodore VE

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38

Races 5/6 - Hamilton I Race Stats

Past ATCC/V8SC Champions

Year

Driver

Team

Car

2011

Jamie Whincup

Triple Eight Race Engineering

Holden Commodore VE

2010

James Courtney

Dick Johnson Racing

Ford Falcon FG

2009

Jamie Whincup

Triple Eight Race Engineering

Ford Falcon FG

2008

Jamie Whincup

Triple Eight Race Engineering

Ford Falcon BF

2007

Garth Tander

Toll HSV Dealer Team

Holden Commodore VE

2006

Rick Kelly

Toll HSV Dealer Team

Holden Commodore VZ

2005

Russell Ingall

Stone Brothers Racing

Ford Falcon BA

2004

Marcos Ambrose

Stone Brothers Racing

Ford Falcon BA

2003

Marcos Ambrose

Stone Brothers Racing

Ford Falcon BA

2002

Mark Skaife

Holden Racing Team

Holden Commodore VX

2001

Mark Skaife

Holden Racing Team

Holden Commodore VX

2000

Mark Skaife

Holden Racing Team

Holden Commodore VT

1999

Craig Lowndes

Holden Racing Team

Holden Commodore VS/VT

1998

Craig Lowndes

Holden Racing Team

Holden Commodore VS/VT

1997

Glenn Seton

Glenn Seton Racing

Ford Falcon EL

1996

Craig Lowndes

Holden Racing Team

Holden Commodore VR

1995

John Bowe

Dick Johnson Racing

Ford Falcon EF

1994

Mark Skaife

Gibson Motor Sport

Holden Commodore VP

1993

Glenn Seton

Glenn Seton Racing

Ford Falcon EB

1992

Mark Skaife

Winfield Team Nissan

Nissan Skyline R32 GT-R

1991

Jim Richards

Gibson Motor Sport

Nissan Skyline R32 GT-R

1990

Jim Richards

Gibson Motor Sport

Nissan Skyline HR31 GTS-R, R32 GT-R

1989

Dick Johnson

Dick Johnson Racing

Ford Sierra RS500

1988

Dick Johnson

Dick Johnson Racing

Ford Sierra RS500

1987

Jim Richards

JPS Team BMW

BMW M3 E30

1986

Robbie Francevic

Volvo Dealer Team

Volvo 240T

1985

Jim Richards

JPS Team BMW

BMW 635CSi

1984

Dick Johnson

Dick Johnson Racing

Ford Falcon XE

1983

Allan Moffat

Peter Stuyvesant Racing

Mazda RX-7

1982

Dick Johnson

Dick Johnson Racing

Ford Falcon XD

1981

Dick Johnson

Dick Johnson Racing

Ford Falcon XD

1980

Peter Brock

Marlboro Holden Dealer Team

Holden Commodore VB

1979

Bob Morris

Ron Hodgson Channel 7 Racing

Holden Torana LX SS A9X

1978

Peter Brock

Marlboro Holden Dealer Team

Holden Torana LX SS A9X

1977

Allan Moffat

Moffat Ford Dealers

Ford Falcon XB GT, XC

1976

Allan Moffat

Allan Moffat Racing

Ford Falcon XB GT

1975

Colin Bond

Marlboro Holden Dealer Team

Holden Torana LH SL/R 5000 L34

1974

Peter Brock

Marlboro Holden Dealer Team

Holden Torana LJ GTR XU-1, LH SL/R 5000

1973

Allan Moffat

Ford Motor Company

Ford Falcon XY GTHO Phase III

1972

Bob Jane

Bob Jane Racing Team

Chevrolet Camaro ZL-1

1971

Bob Jane

Bob Jane Racing Team

Chevrolet Camaro ZL-1

1970

Norm Beechey

Shell Racing Team

Holden Monaro HT GTS350

1969

Ian Geoghegan

Mustang Team

Ford Mustang

1968

Ian Geoghegan

Mustang Team

Ford Mustang

1967

Ian Geoghegan

Mustang Team

Ford Mustang

1966

Ian Geoghegan

Total Team

Ford Mustang

1965

Norm Beechey

Neptune Racing Team

Ford Mustang

1964

Ian Geoghegan

Total Team

Ford Cortina GT

1963

Bob Jane

Bob Jane

Jaguar 3.8 Litre Mk II

1962

Bob Jane

Bob Jane

Jaguar 3.8 Litre Mk II

1961

Bill Pitt

Bill Pitt

Jaguar 3.4 Litre

1960

David McKay

David McKay

Jaguar 3.4 Litre

39

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Races 5/6 - Hamilton I Event Schedule

Schedule of Events

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