Edition #66 / New Zealand 2018
WELCOME TO THE INSIDE LINE WELCOME TO the latest edition of Inside Line for the 2018 Auckland SuperSprint. Building on a very successful 2017 season, the Doric and Cowdroy racing programs have continued again this year with Supercar star Will Davison, Australian Touring Car legend John Bowe, and young gun Hunter McElrea, as well as motorcycling great Troy Bayliss. We’re very proud of our committment to our motorsport program and are looking forward to sharing it with you at such a wonderful track this weekend in New Zealand. Having introduced Cowdroy to our motorsport program in 2015, our brands have been seen right around the world via the series’ extensive television coverage. We are pleased to be able to continue our long relationship with Supercar driver Will Davison, who you will see behind the wheel of the #230 Ford Falcon for 23Red Racing this weekend. 2018 marks Will’s eighth consecutive year as our Doric Ambassador. He is such a big part of our racing family and we’re proud to stand beside him as he continues to push to new heights on the race track. We are also continuing our support of our longest-running ambassador in 2018; motorsport legend John Bowe. We have supported JB in the Touring Car Masters series for many years and it has been thrilling to watch him consistently raising the bar on the track. JB is entertaining, engaging and an absolute legend, who continues to deliver value for the Doric business. We’re also thrilled to stand beside Troy Bayilss as he makes a bid for the 2018 Australian Superbike Championship. Troy is a true legend of
the sport and we can’t wait to watch what he does next on track in 2018. This year we are also throwing our support behind up and coming racer Hunter McElrea. Having watched hunter progress at an incredible rate, we’re so excited to see him rising to the top this year in the Formula Ford Championship. ALG is proud of our various associations in motorsport, with the 2018 season marking Doric’s 14th year delivering money can’t buy experiences for our valued clients and staff. Our sponsorships have taken our brand exposure to a new level and helped raise the professionalism and image of both Doric and Cowdroy. Motorsport is competitive, exciting, passionate and innovative. The team here at Doric and Cowdroy stand for all the same great values. We hope you enjoy the Auckland event with Doric and Cowdroy and continue to follow our racing adventures this year and into the future. NIGEL LONG CEO, Alchin Long Group
CONTENTS Welcome to the Inside Line
/ 03
About us
/ 05
Flying high with Doric and Cowdroy
/ 06
2018 on track
/ 10
Poster
/ 14
New Zealand fast facts
/ 16
Get to know Pukekohe Park
/ 18
Get to know Supercars
/ 22
2018 Calendar
/ 23
On track at New Zealand
/ 26
ABOUT THE INSIDE LINE Managing Editor - Tom Arciuli Alchin Long Group Marketing Manager tom.arciuli@alchinlong.com Production Editor - Hao Nguyen Marketing Communications Coordinator hao.nguyen@alchinlong.com The Inside Line Production Media & Communication Services www.mediacomservices.com.au Editorial & Design: Ashleigh Maxwell Facebook // cowdroyaustralia doricracing Instagram // @doricracing
FLYING
HIGH DORIC AND COWDROY ARE BACK IN 2018 WITH THEIR EYES SET ON THE FRONT OF THE FIELD
DORIC AND Cowdroy are back in 2018 with a new brand marketing and customer activation program. Central to the 2018 program is the continuation of the exciting partnerships with front-running Supercar star Will Davison and Touring Car legend John Bowe, plus new collaborations with Formula Ford young gun Hunter McElrea and motorcycle maestro Troy Bayliss. The program will see Doric and Cowdroy follow the racers’ ventures throughout Australia and New Zealand. At the heart of the program, parent company Alchin Long Group (ALG) will be building upon many years of loyal commitment to Doric Ambassador Will Davison, joining the star driver in his new role with 23Red Racing. Davison will proudly display Doric branding on his helmet throughout the 2018 Supercar season, which will be seen widely via the series’ extensive Australia-wide television coverage. The two-time Bathurst winner has proven time and time again that he is one of the strongest drivers in the field and Doric is excited to continue its long-standing relationship with Davison in 2018 as he continues his role as Brand Ambassador for the 8th consecutive year. Davison will be one to watch this year, after joining the new 23 Red Racing Team. Established following the
purchase of a majority stake of Lucas Dumbrell Motorsport, 23Red will field Davison in the Tickford Racing-built Falcon FG X that won last year’s Sandown 500. Keeping the team on track for glory, former Holden Racing Team manager Rob Crawford has signed on to lead the outfit, with Supercars veteran Rob Palermo set to be a guiding force as Davison’s race engineer. John Bowe will also continue into his 11th year as a Doric Ambassador in 2018. Contesting the Touring Car Masters series, the driver is looking to back up his stunning 2017 performance in his all-Aussie Holden SLR5000 Torana. The legendary touring car driver has claimed five TCM Championships in the last seven years and is proving to be a key contender for the title this year. ALG will also be following young gun Hunter McElrea in the Australian Formula Ford Championship throughout 2018. McElrea is a true talent and a rising star in the Australian motorsport scene and we’re proud to stand beside him this year. Doric is also throwing its support behind two-wheel racing ace, Troy Bayliss, who has come out of retirement to chase a maiden Australian Superbike Championship title. Aboard a Ducati and racing for the factory-supported DesmoSport Ducati operation he co-owns with former racer Ben Henry, Bayliss will be a force to be reckoned with on track this year.
8 /
//2018 so far IT’S BEEN A WILD START TO THE YEAR FOR THE ALCHIN LONG GROUP ON TRACK.
JOHN BOWE //
John Bowe has become a staple in the Touring Car Masters Series. The legendary touring car racer has been competing in the series since 2008 and is a consistent front-runner. 2018 has been no exception, with Bowe scoring a host of race wins and nipping at the heals of another series win. While this year has thrown a number of curveballs towards JB, the fiercly competitive racer always manages to find a way back to the lead. After arch rival Steven Johnson slipped ahead in the series points lead earlier this year, JB has responded with resounding performances at Townsville, Sandown and Bathurst. Now the touring car hero heads into the final round at Newcastle just 59 points shy of the lead.
WILL DAVISON //
It’s been a wild year for Will Davison. Joining the new 23Red Racing team for the 2018 Supercars season, will jumped in the deep end, but has proven time and time again throught the season, that he made the right move. With a massive investment from the new team, Davison has notched up a host of top ten finishes and has proved he means business on track. While the Enduro Cup had its fair share of challenges for the team, Davison’s experience on track consistently shines through. With one previous race win at the Pukekohe circuit and an additional two podium finishes tucked away, Will has good odds for a result at New Zealand.
11 /
2018 // so far
HUNTER MCELREA //
Hunter McElrea has been the man to beat in this year’s Australian Formula Ford Championship. With one round remaining, the 18-year-old continues to lead the series standings thanks to an incredible 12 race wins throughout the season. A clean sweep of the first round of the season truly set the tone for the year, with Hunter backing up in the second round with two more podium finishes. The young racer raised the bar again at the the third round at Wakefield Park in Goulburn, taking his second perfect weekend of the year. Since then, Hunter has nailed another perfect weekend at round five, and heads into the final stretch of the season with a commanding lead.
TROY BAYLISS //
After announcing late in 2017 that he would be making a career comeback, all eyes were on legendary racer Troy Bayliss as he set off in this year’s Australian Superbike Championship. The 49-year-old Australian icon is a multiple World Superbike Champion and MotoGP race winner, but had yet to claim a title in the Australian series. Racing for the factory-supported DesmoSport Ducati team he co-owns with former racing ace Ben Henry, Bayliss was a consistent force throughout the season and never strayed far from the top of the championship standings. With a winning run at Hidden Valley Raceway in Darwin and another at Phillip Island in Victoria, Bayliss claimed an impressive third place in the standings. With less than 50 points separating Bayliss from the top of the points table, it was a tight race to the finish line in the 2018 series. Bayliss flew the flag for Doric proudly this year and we can’t wait to see what the legendary racer does next.
Will Davison. Bathurst 1000. October 2018.
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new zeala
fast f
As the 2018 Supercars Championship head across the pond to the land of the long white cloud, get the lowdown on New Zealand’s famous Pukekohe circuit.
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aland
t facts
1 // JASON RICHARDS MEMORIAL This year will mark the sixth time the Jason Richards Memorial Trophy has been awarded to the driver with the most points scored over the course of the Auckland SuperSprint round at Pukekohe. 2 // FORD ON FIRE Ford drivers have won just seven of the 38 Supercars Championship races held at Pukekohe since the first round was held there in 2001. 3 // SAFETY CAR ODDS No VASC weekend has ever been completed at the Pukukohe circuit without at least one Safety Car period in one of the race. 4 // POLE The closest pole position-winning margin in Supercars at Pukekohe was set in 2015 when Scott McLaughlin beat Jamie Whincup to pole by just 0.0014s. 5 // FINISHING TOUCHES The closest Supercars race finish at Pukekohe was recorded in 2014, when Shane van GIsbergen beat Mark Winterbottom to the finish line by just 0.2896 seconds. 6 // LUCKY 13 This year is the 13th time that Pukekohe has hosted the Virgin Australia Supercars Championship since it became the first track outside Australia to host a round in 2001.
GetPUKEKohe to knowpark Every race track on the 2018 Supercars calendar is unique. But the Pukekohe Park Raceway is arguably Australasia’s fastest track. Created in 1963, the circuit is no doubt New Zealand’s most iconic race track.
: LENGTH :
2.6KM
: TO WIN :
DRIVERS NEED A GOOD ENTRY ONTO THE BACK STRAIGHT TO STAY AHEAD OF THE PACK
: TURNS :
ELEVEN
: VISABILITY :
: TOP SPEED :
255 KM/H : AVERAGE SPEED :
168 KM/H
: FULL THROTTLE :
40% OF TRACK
: DIRECTION :
CLOCKWISE
WITH ARMCO BARRIERS ONLY INCHES FROM THE TRACK ON BOTH SIDES, VISABILITY IS LOW FOR DRIVERS
FACTS A N D FIGU R ES SUPERCARS The Virgin Australia Supercars Championship (formally known as Australian Touring Car Championship) is the premier motorsport category in Australia and one of the country’s biggest sports.
From 1960 to 1968 the Australian Touring Car Championship was decided by a single race.
NEED TO KNOW :
From 1995 to 2012 the Supercar series was soley contested by just Ford and Holden.
The Championship has been won by eight different manufacturers: Jaguar, Ford, Holden, Chevrolet, Mazda, BMW, Volvo and Nissan.
The first Australian Touring Car Championship was held over a single race at Orange, NSW in 1960 and was won by David McKay in a Jaguar.
Jamie Whincup holds the record for the most Championship wins, with seven.
The Car of the Future was introcuced in 2013, with lighter, more agile and economical cars shaking up the competition.
The Supercars grid combined produces in excess of 16,000hp.
This year is the first time since 1977 that two rounds will be held in South Australia, as the new Bend Motorsport Park facility joins the Adelaide 500 on the calendar.
DJR Team Penske is the reigning Teams Champion, taking the 2017 title in just its third season in the series under the guidance of legendary team owner Roger Penske.
2017 will see the introduction of Supercars new Gen2 rules, opening up the Championship to different body shapes and engine configurations outside of the currently mandated five-litre V8. Holden’s ZB Commodore hatchback will become the first Supercar to make its debut under the new rules.
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1-4 March // Adelaide 500 // Adelaide, South Australia
22-25 March // 2018 Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix // Melbourne, Victoria 6-8 April // Tyrepower Tasmania SuperSprint // Symmons Plains, Tasmania 20-22 April // WD-40 Phillip Island 500 // Phillip Island
4-6 May // Perth SuperSprint // Barbagallo, Western Australia 18-20 May // Winton SuperSprint // Winton, Victoria
15-17 June // CrownBet Darwin Triple Crown // Darwin, Northern Territory 6-8 July // Watpac Townsville 400 // Townsville, Queensland 20-22 July // Coates Hire Ipswich SuperSprint // Ipswich, Queensland
4 August // Red Rooster Sydney SuperNight // Eastern Creek, New South Wales 24-26 August // The Bend SuperSprint // Tailem Bend, South Australia 14-16 September // Sandown 500 // Melbourne, Victoria 4-7 October // Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 // Bathurst, Australia 19-21 October // Vodafone Gold Coast 600 // Surfers Paradise, Queensland 2-4 November // ITM Auckland SuperSprint // Pukekohe, New Zealand 23-25 November // Coates Hire Newcastle 500 // Newcastle, New South Wales
Calendar
/ / S U N D AY / /
/ / S AT U R D AY / /
PU K E KO H E :
SCHEDULE
08:50 - 09:10
Toyota 86 Racing Series
Qualifying
09:20 - 09:40
Formula 4
Qualifying
09:50 - 10:10
Support Categories
Race 1
10:25 - 10:45
Supercars Championship
Practice 3
11:00 - 11:15
NZ Formula 5000
Race 1
11:25 - 11:40
NZ Muscle Cars
Race 1
11:50 - 12:15
Toyota 86 Racing Series
Race 1
12:30 - 12:50
Formula 4
Race 1
13:00 - 13:25
NZ Touring Cars Championship
Race 1
13:40 - 14:00
Supercars Championship
Qualifying - Race 28
14:15 - 14:30
NZ Formula 5000
Race 2
14:40 - 15:00
Support Categories
Race 2
15:10 - 15:25
NZ Muscle Cars
Race 2
16:10 - 17:40
Supercars Championship
Race 28
09:00 - 09:20 09:30 - 09:50
Formula 4
Race 2
Toyota 86 Racing Series
Race 2
10:00 - 10:15
NZ Muscle Cars
Race 3
10:25 - 10:50
NZ Touring Cars Championship
Race 2
11:05 - 11:25
Supercars Championship
Qualifying - Race 29
11:30 - 11:40
On Track Entertainment
On Track Entertainment
11:45 - 12:05
Formula 4
Race 3
12:15 - 12:35
Support Categories
Race 3
12:45 - 13:05
NZ Formula 5000
Race 3
13:15 - 13:40
Toyota 86 Racing Series
Race 3
13:55 - 14:15
Supercars Championship
Top Ten Shootout - Race 29
14:30 - 14:45
NZ Muscle Cars
Race 4
15:00 - 15:25
NZ Touring Cars Championship
Race 3
16:10 - 17:40
Supercars Championship
Race 29