thenationals.com.au | ISSUE 5, 2013 | $5.00
WINGS & SLICKS THE STORY OF AUSTRALIA’S FASTEST RACING CARS
F3- Faster Than Ever Raw Racing Waldren Gets Raw
AMCHAMPS
Dylan Thomas
PLUS!
All the Round 5 Shannons Nationals information
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Speed Shots
7
News Special... Allan Simonsen
10
News in Brief...
12
Feature F3 - Faster Than Ever
16 Feature RAW RACING - Waldren 18
Feature AMC - Dylan Thomas
21
Round 4 - Welcome
22
Round 4 - Categories & Entries
30 Television Coverage Lap Records
Publisher
Australian Motor Racing Pty Ltd
Editor
Richard Craill
Art Director
Sarah Anesbury 121 Creative Hilton
Writers
Richard Craill, Rob Curkpatrick
Production
Kwik Kopy Printing Hilton
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4 | the Racing Magazine
AUDI AT SPEED
By Nathan Wong
Canon 1D Mark IV, 400mm lens, 1/50 at f10, ISO100 During the Australian GT race late Saturday afternoon at Phillip Island, the sun briefly broke through send golden light across the circuit. As I tracked Rod Salmon’s Audi R8 LMS Ultra from the exit of the Southern Loop to grab Bass Straight as a background, I noticed the gravel traps and access roads through the middle of the track. By shooting at a slower shutter speed I’m able to blur the background and foregrounds to create the coloured stripe effect and to show off the brakes of the Audi as the sun reflects off the brake rotors.
thenationals.com.au | 5
News SPECIAL
ALLAN
SIMONSEN Words: RICHARD CRAILL
thenationals.com.au | 7
ACROSS the top of the most hallowed bit of tarmac in Australian
Allan Simonsen’s opening stint of the 2012 12-hour will remain in
Motorsport and in the eerie gloom of a February Sunday morning,
the minds of those who watched it for a long time, mainly because
the nimble little red Ferrari pitched into the blind crest at the top of
of its sheer relentlessness. It was a brutal slap in the face to the
Skyline and dipped into the abyss.
remainder of the grid that asserted the Danish aces potential dominance over that field.
The left front wheel cocked in the air, the 4.5-litre V8’s tone only just changed as the car changed direction and plunged off the edge of
On lap six Allan lapped in an eight-two and then on the seventh
the earth and down a 1-in-6 decline back towards reality.
dipped into the sevens for the first time. This was committed, fearless, focussed driving in a pressure situation. In eight laps of
Down in pit lane, a rival team manager looked at the monitor,
racing the leading margin went from nothing to more than ten
shook his head and said ‘Christ, that car is going’.
seconds and all of a sudden the works-supported Audi’s were
And going it was. Fresh from a feisty yet all-too-brief battle for the
looking fragile for the first time all weekend.
lead with the leading Audi’s in the opening two-and-a-half laps of
Between lap eleven and lap nineteen, Simonsen only dropped
the 2012 Bathurst 12 Hour, Danish driver Allan Simonsen decided
out of the 2m08s once – when he got traffic at the top of Mount
that now was, in fact, the time to go and see what his 458 GT3
Panorama – and broke the lap record once again.
could really do.
In his electrifying opening stint that lasted 25 laps, he broke the lap
The answers came quickly. On lap three he broke the old lap
record five times - leaving the new mark at 2m06.5 on lap 22, five
record with the first 2m08s racing lap of Bathurst not done in a
laps before he pitted and the wheels fell off the Ferrari bandwagon
V8 Supercar. On lap four, he did it again. On a cool morning and
when mechanical dramas struck. Later, before the car broke for the
on a track that wasn’t offering its premium levels of grip to drivers
final time, he lowered it again into the low 2m06s.
and having to deal with traffic lapping thirty seconds a lap slower,
The remarkable sequence of thirty-odd laps that we’ve covered
Simonsen wasn’t just electrifying, he was crushing.
here will probably not stand as Allan’s most famous drive, but
At this point, every eye in pit lane was tuned to the monitors and watching a thrilling charge by a driver who knew little more than
we’ve recounted it here because it is a perfect description of what he was capable of.
driving a car right at, or way beyond, the limit yet still managing to
History will likely record his one-lap heroics in the same Ferrari (his
bring it home.
stunning 2m04.8s lap remaining one of the most committed laps
8 | the Racing Magazine
recorded on video in motorsport history) as more popular than this
a lot. He talked a lot. He joked a lot. And that made him popular
particular drive – but it proves what a racer he was. On his most
with fans and fellow competitors alike.
average of days, Simonsen was as fast as the next person. But when challenged, or when the chips were down, there would be only a rare few capable of challenging the Great Dane.
Of course, Allan was far from a saint on the track: He could be as hard and as ruthless as anyone and was not averse to using a bumper bar to help move another car out of the way. And his
It is cruel that some of his other achievements here won’t be
opinions on the (admittedly, sometimes utterly ridiculous) parity
remembered equally as well. His drive to fifth place in the 2007
restrictions often imposed on his cars was never backwards in
Bathurst 1000 was remarkable yet completely overshadowed by
coming forwards.
the incredible race going on at the front of the field, yet it was committed and showed he could run with the biggest names in
But really, that’s just part for the course with racing drivers. If they
domestic motorsport had he the right machinery. And his drive to
don’t win, they’re not happy. And Allan loved wining.
third with Greg Murphy in 2011 was equally ‘under the radar’ but
And he was very, very good at it.
no less impressive. Allan’s death in the early hours of the 90th anniversary Le Mans 24 Hour race this year was of course a tragedy for the sport, but it goes beyond that. He left behind a wife and a young daughter who
I was fortunate enough to work closely with Al on more than one occasion and I was lucky to be in the commentary box for many of his great drives – especially the one outlined on these pages.
will only have video and other people’s memories on which to learn
I will miss his cheeky grin, his sense of humour and his quick wit.
about her father and that is of course so much worse than our sport
But most of all I will miss his incredible ability to draw the absolute
being denied a great driver. Family, of course, comes first.
maximum from a racing car.
Allan Simonsen the driver, though, remained one of the more
Allan Simonsen was a driver who drove at 110%, all the time. The
popular figures in the paddock – especially in Australia. He smiled
best kind of driver.
thenationals.com.au | 9
The Latest News...
KUMHO V8s
WINTON RUMBLE Words: Richard Craill IMAGE: Nathan Wong
Tony Evangelou wins first round in years, as leading contenders tee-off after bruising and controversial Winton round of the V8 Touring Car series. FORMER Kumho Tyres Australian V8 Touring Car Series champion Tony Evangelou claimed victory in Round 3 of the 2013 series at Winton Motor Raceway in June.
post-race and demoted to 18th for contact with Morgan Haber.
Driving an ex-Jason Bright/Ford Performance Racing in its original CAT colours, Evangelou claimed victory in the second nine-lap race of the weekend – his first race win in 12 months - and finished second to young gun Ryan Simpson in the 15-lap final to seal the round result.
“It was a tough day after winning the first race yesterday,” said Davies post-round.
He finished second in Saturday’s opening race of three to claim his first round win since Eastern Creek in 2010. “It’s great for the team after not having such a good start to the weekend,” said Evangelou, who now sits third in the series, 19 points behind leader Shae Davies. “The young blokes were fast and Ryan (Simpson) has been instantly on the pace so we’ll go back and try to make our car faster for the next round.” Simpson, making his Kumho Series debut in a Triple Eight-built, exCraig Lowndes BF Falcon, finished second in the opening race after clutch problems and a lowly 11th place in Race 1 on Saturday. He seized the lead of Race 3 on lap four from Evangelou and drove away to an 11.2-second victory to take second for the round and claim victory in the sequential gearbox class.
He finished third in the final race but didn’t have the pace to match Simpson or Evangelou.
“We had a few dramas and what I felt was a tough penalty in Race 2. We just didn’t have the pace in the last race though.” Meanwhile, Davies and fellow leading-contender Matt Hansen teed off at each other on social media following the aftermath of contact between the pair in Race 3. Davies and Hansen got together in the third and final race of the round at the notorious turn six-seven complex, the light contact spinning Hansen’s ex-Holden Racing Team Commodore. The West Australian was subsequently collected by Morgan Haber while stranded – both cars eliminated from the race with damage and a possible podium result gone begging for title contender Hansen. Stewards decided to take no action over the on-track incident, prompting Hansen to express his displeasure at Davies post-round, via Facebook.
“I really wanted to win a race this weekend and I would have liked to have won the round,” said Simpson.
“&*^%& Shae Davies little gnome turns me around cause he can’t pass me … Destroys 2 cars. Payback is going to be a bitch for him this season!” posted Hansen.
“We had good pace in qualifying Saturday and took pole but we had to change the clutch after Race 1.”
Davies responded: “Goodluck with that champion. If there was something to answer I wouldn’t have been on the podium.”
Shae Davies managed to build his series lead across the weekend, third place for the round helping him build his points lead over Mallala round winner Terry Wyhoon into an eight point advantage by the end of the weekend.
That wasn’t the end, however, with Hansen responding: “I don’t have to turn people around to get past them, but I’ll definitely think about it next time.”
Davies crossed the line third in Race 2, but was penalised 30-seconds
The next round of the Kumho Series will be at Queensland Raceway on August 3-4.
www.hankooktyre.com.au 10 | the Racing Magazine
The Latest News...
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In BRIEF Queensland Raceway’s sixth round of the Shannons Australian Motor Racing Nationals will arguably be the biggest in the series’ history. A full eight national-level categories will compete at the Ipswich circuit, necessitating a move to Friday for some official sessions. It’s not an unprecedented move – a round at Sydney Motorsport Park several years ago saw action held over four days – yet this year’s QR event perhaps offers the most variety of any Nationals round ever held.
The Shannons Australian Motor Racing Nationals is now on Instagram, and sharing photos from each round of the series! Just search for ‘shannonsnationals’ on your iPhone or Android App and give the series a ‘follow’. Then tag each image you post from Shannons Nationals rounds with #TheNationals – and you can join the photo sharing fun!
As well as the twin, 200-km enduros for the AMChamps, Aussie GT and Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge races will be held under lights on Saturday night. The event also includes rounds for the Swift Series, Saloon Cars, Sports Sedans, V8 Touring Cars and Formula 3. The QR event will be held between August 2-4 this year.
You can also follow the series on Twitter @ShannonsNats and Facebook – search for ‘Shannons Nationals’
Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge leader Richard Muscat may make some more appearances in the Porsche Carrera Cup later this year. The 20-year-old Victorian, who has won two of the opening three GT3 Cup Challenge rounds to date, made his debut in the top-flight Porsche series in Sydney earlier this year and impressed in the twin one-hour co-driver races held. Muscat’s GT3 Cup Challenge car owner, fellow racer John Morris, is strongly backing the youngster’s move into Carrera Cup next season and the team is on the hunt for the backing to enable him to make the move.
Follow the series on Twitter @ShannonsNats
The team also says they are working to get Muscat in the series again this year – with his home track of Winton (which hosts its first Carrera Cup round in August) an obvious bet given Muscat’s experience at the Victorian venue. Muscat leads Michael Almond and Elite class leader, John Goodacre, in the overall GT3CC standings this year.
Follow us at www.facebook.com /TheNationals thenationals.com.au | 11
FASTER THAN Words: Richard Craill Images: Dirk Klynsmith / Formula 3
“WE ARE IN A ‘Rebuilding phase’”. Horrible term, isn’t it, and all too
than it has been in a long time – which is why The Racing Magazine has
common in modern-day sports. NRL and AFL clubs roll this catchphrase
decided to go in deep and find out more about the category that lays
out time and time again to explain pathetic on-field performances to
claim to Australia’s fastest racing cars.
their fans whom they hope accept it as verbatim before signing up for another year of club membership. Things are a bit different in motorsport and, especially, in the world of open-wheel racing in Australia. Things really are rebuilding and this years’ Formula 3 Australian Drivers Championship is the proof. It’s not rebuilt (To what, you might ask? Read on..) yet, but it’s better 12 | the Racing Magazine
THE HERITAGE TOURING CAR fans will hate it, but the simple fact is that open wheel racing cars were here first. It’s a fact, clear and simple. Only in the last thirty years has the balance of power changed from an open culture of motorsport acceptance – where punters would watch anything – to
THAN EVER today’s current ‘it’s a V8 or nothing’ mentality. The CAMS Australian Drivers Championship, more commonly known
that established Australia’s open-wheel scene as one of the most competitive – at least domestically – in the world.
by the prize given to those who win it – the Gold Star – was founded
The world came, here, too – the renowned Tasman series still not
in 1957, a full three years before the inaugural Australian Touring Car
having an equal anywhere in the world. Formula 5000 came and went
Championship was awarded to Jaguar driver David McKay, who won
and it was here where the first cracks began showing in the battle
having taken a single race at the Gnoo Blass circuit in regional NSW. The very great Lex Davison won the inaugural Gold Star title, driving a Ferrari. Following years would see some of the great names of our sports history triumph across a series of racing no less competitive
between Wings and Slicks and Touring Cars. Fields began to slim out and the sport settled into a none-too-comfortable niche behind the famous battles of Brock-versus-Moffat. And yet, the names still came. Kevin Bartlett was an open-wheel hero thenationals.com.au | 13
well before his Bathurst successes. The legendary skills of names like
Of course the biggest name of all is the only man in the field to have
Matich, McCormack, Walker and Martin remain prominent in the minds
already won a Gold Star title – taking us back to our earlier point about
of open-wheel aficionados, whilst the mere mention of the name ‘Alfie
experience. With the 2007 championship under his belt, plus a strike
Costanzo’ brings some to their knees – to this day, no driver has won
rate of one podium finish for every 2.5 starts in his F3 career, Victorian
more Gold Star titles – and it’s likely his five will never be bested.
ace Tim Macrow must be considered the outright title favourite. The
Formulas two and Mondial in the early-to-mid eighties gave us titles for Bowe and David Brabham as the sport evolved into the Formula Holden era which is responsible for names that we still see every day -
fact that within a week he was able to go from scoring zero points at the Bathurst season opener to having the title lead at Tasmania the following week kind of emphasises that point.
the likes of Jason Bright, Rick and Todd Kelly and Mark Skaife using it
Steel Guiliana, John Magro, Nathan Morcom, Jordan Oon, Ben
to get a Touring Car seat. And Scott Dixon and Will Power even bigger,
Gersekowski, Hayden Cooper and Nick Foster shape as the group
better seats overseas..
of seven that look to keep Macrow to just one title when this year
Regardless of positioning within the sport, the rich history of Australia’s premier Open-wheel championship is worthy of song in its own right.
concludes. It’s as competitive a pointy-end of an F3 grid anywhere in the world, and each has a realistic chance of race wins this year, if not the title.
Australian Formula 3 was founded in 1999, having evolved from Formula two racing as a hole in the marketplace was established for a
John Magro has been one of the star performers of the championship
truly international, FIA-sanctioned category that was the same here as
for three years now, but is yet to convert his prodigious pace into
it was around the world.
regular race victories. He’s mighty fast, the man from Mareeba (it’s in Far North Queensland), and if he manages to source the budget to
It struggled in its infancy but slowly developed its own reputation for producing competitive racing of the highest order, to the point where in 2005 the series was awarded with custodianship of the ADC and the Gold Star that goes with it. It’s ironic that the series has become more international now than it ever has, too. Since 2005 Australians have won just three titles, whilst British drivers have scored five.
complete a full season, for once, his consistent ability to score points should see him a contender. Steel Guiliana won the Forpark National Class in 2011 and jumped into an outright car for R-Tek motorsport last year. He didn’t win a race, but at the same time impressed with his consistency and fight. At Tasmania earlier this year, the young man from the NSW Central Coast took great delight in pressuring Tim Macrow all the way in each race though a
THE PRESENT:
nasty crash at Hidden Valley only recently put a massive dent in his
OPEN WHEEL racing has almost always been about experience.
of the Darwin trip, he’ll need to begin winning soon – but the potential
Those with it tend to succeed more often than the ones without and
is clearly there (he now has more second places without a win than any
yes, that is cyclical logic but it makes sense. As such, the 2013 Formula
other driver in series history).
3 Australian Drivers Championship is evolving into a battle of youthful exuberance versus those with more experience, as old(er) hands do battle with as exciting a group of younger, less experienced drivers ever gathered in the championship.
championship points prospects. To recover from scoring nothing out
Gersekowski has been the quiet achiever this year. He’s notched up points finishes regularly, and after two years in the Forpark National Class, raced his way to a podium finish for Gilmour Racing in Darwin. Incidentally, it’s the first podium finish for a Gilmour Racing entry that
There’s solid talent at the front of this years’ field, many with the
didn’t have a Gilmour behind the wheel. With his constant development
potential to go on to bigger and better things – and the story runs
and the backing of 2011 champion Chris behind him, you can’t help
deeper than that.
but feel that the young Queenslander has more in front of him this year.
14 | the Racing Magazine
PRODUCTION TOURING CAR ENDURANCE RACING Phillip Island Great Southern 4 Hour Sydney MS 3 Hours Queensland Raceway 2 x 200km Wakefield Park 2 x 200km Sandown 3 Hours Nick Foster comes from a weird position wherein he ranks as one of the more experienced guys in the field – just not in a ‘wings and slicks’ racer. With several successful years in Formula Ford and a strong debut year in Porsche Carrera Cup behind
amchamp.com.au
him, Foster has transitioned nicely to the Mygale Formula 3 car he is driving this year and his dominant performance in Darwin – that led to two race wins and the City of Darwin Cup Trophy – was impressive in its emphatic nature. Nathan Morcom and Jordan Oon both come from open wheel backgrounds and have shown speed this year, though consistency is still developing as they settle into the series and its tracks full-time. Morcom was spectacular in the rain at Bathurst and carved his way through the field to win the Sunday race there in dominant fashion. Oon, who comes from a year racing Formula 3 cars in Europe, was solid in the opening two rounds but began to really deliver in Darwin, where a series of strong performances got him back in the title fight proper. And then there’s Hayden Cooper. Only recently turned 18, he won the Forpark National Class last year in an incredible season that included a dominant debut win in the rain at Phillip
CARS FOR LEASE SPRINT & ENDURANCE OPTIONS
Island. Cooper and his team have struggled to come to grips with their still-new BF Racing Dallara this season and some early season damage cost them big time, but with time will come pace and a true example of this young drivers potential. It’s true. There nothing about ‘rebuilding’ in this years’ Formula
swiftracing.com.au
3 Australian Drivers Championship. It’s built, and a battle royal awaits the remainder of this great season. NEXT ISSUE: We’ll profile the young guns racing in Formula 3’s National Class as they battle for their own Formula 3 ‘race within a race’ this year, and look at the evolving battle of the brands in the sport. thenationals.com.au | 15
WALDEN
GETS RAW Interview: Richard Craill IMAGES: NATHAN WONG
16 | the Racing Magazine
MEET GARTH WALDEN. Second generation race car driver,
challenging at times, but managing Radical Australia for the last 5
experienced race engineer and now the boss of a brand new Sydney-
years, I’ve definitely learnt a lot along the way.
based outfit that is taking big steps towards becoming the most professional team in the game.
RC: Radical Australia has cornered its own piece of the market and has been very successful – what’s the satisfaction level like having been
Having spent five years running Radical Australia’s in-house ‘works’ team, Walden moved onto a new challenge this year, starting up his own team – RAW Racing – and moving into the world of team ownership. So far, it’s been a success. In the throws of preparing his five-car Radical Australia Cup fleet for the demands of the upcoming First Neon Radical 250 event at Sydney Motorsport Park, The Racing Magazine’s Richard Craill caught up with Walden to find out how his newest enterprise is going.
there from the ground floor, as it were, to this point where the series regularly has more than 20 cars on the grid at a national level? GW: I think to watch it grow from within has been great. To go five years back and having five cars to look after, to see it grow and having over 70 cars in the country with Radical Australia having 40 – and myself having 5 – it’s surprising and great to see how it’s grown. They’ve targeted the right market and obviously they supply a service that works; arrive and drive packages. And to have a one-make series
RC: This looks like an exciting new project for you, Garth! How did it
with such cool looking cars and a fast car, appeals to a lot of people. As
come about?
a lot say, they’re really nice to drive and it’s a nice category: The whole
Garth Walden: The team came about at the end of last year when I sat down with (Radical Australia’s) Greg (Smith) and Chris (Medland) and decided that I wanted to supply a different level of service and get back to running a smaller team on my own - a proper team. We
group of people get along really well and make it a nice environment to be in. RC: How has the SR8 changed the game this year?
wanted to provide a little bit more of a service than other teams can
GW: Yeah, the SR8 has been a great thing for the series this year.
provide, so we sat down and decided that we’d start a team called
We’ve been pushing to get it in for the last few but this year has been
RAW Raving and I’d run it.
the right year to introduce it into the category. We’ve been watching how it evolved in Europe, as well; I’ve been fortunate enough to go
RC: Early days, we know, but how has the progress been so far? GW: At the moment it’s been fantastic. It’s been one of the best things I’ve done. All my customers are really happy we’re getting towards the front of the field, which is where we want to be, but the level of service
over there a few times and race in an SR8. It won’t be long before we see grids half and half – SR8 and SR3 – here. RC: What’s the future for RAW? Expansion into other series?
they’re getting, the direction that we’re heading, and the presentation we have, they’re all very happy with which is great.
GW: I think that was another reason why we started RAW – I wanted to go out into other forms in Motorsport. I’ve run F3 teams before: V8
RC: You’ve been a driver at a high level. How was the transition to team ownership?
Supercar teams, Porsche Carrera cup and more, so we’re definitely out in the hunt to find some different makes and models and cars.
GW: I love it, to be honest. For me, to be able to drive a car, to manage
At the moment we’re running an old Supercar for a guy, doing some
a race team, engineer the cars and even mechanic on a car, is all the
Shannons Nationals V8 stuff for people and some production car
things I enjoy about motorsport and I’ve been fortunate enough to
things, so definitely in the hunt to secure some sort of program, be it
do them all. The team management role has been good – it’s been
GT, V8 or F3 car. It would be a great step for RAW Racing. thenationals.com.au | 16
IN HIS OWN WORDS: DYLAN THOMAS IN TWELVE MONTHS, Dylan Thomas has come from circuit racing’s lower
It turned out that I actually quite enjoyed it and ran the next year
steps to become one of the leading drivers in the AMChamps series.
and cleaned up the 1200 class and got the championship! I decided
Driving a Mitsubishi Lancer EVO X RS for his own CXC Global Racing
then to get a 1600 to see how we really stand and since we’ve
Team, Thomas is a title favourite in this years’ series. Here, he tells The
had some mixed results, some to poor equipment and some to
Racing Magazine about his background, 2012 season and hopes for this
other circumstances but in three out of five national titles, I’ve had
year.. in his own words.
podium finishes.
“IT STARTED IN ABOUT 2000 when we started with some grand
I believe the guys in Formula Vee are as good as anywhere and any
prix rallies and then went to Targa Tasmania. We’ve done 8 Targas, or
category they hop into, they go well. That has been proved by guys
something like that, and have our platinum Targa trophy which means
like Ryan Simpson, Benny Porter, Daniel Reynolds, Daniel Reinhardt
we’ve completed six of them within the target time. I’ve been top
and others.
ten outright on two occasions and I’ve got a top three in the Classic Adelaide, at Targa West I’ve got a couple of top fives and so on.
“We had the Evo Nine in last year’s AMChamps, which ran a lot less boost, but at the Phillip Island spring round we were able to be pretty
So, we came through tarmac rally but I had an interest in doing the
aggressive in our strategy and were able to win the round down
Bathurst 12 Hour probably around 2007. Obviously, the rally licence
there - that was pretty nice. I drove around the outside of (Garry) Holt
doesn’t apply for circuit racing so I decided to get my circuit license
and Stuie Kostera in the wet because we had grip. We even lost 40
and the cheapest way to do it was to race Formula Vee.
seconds in the pits changing tyres. It was a good strategy call and a
The first one I leased was a piece of crap! I don’t like running at the
setup, though if you ask my crew that’s not what I was saying on the
back of the field, so I bought one of my own to do my five signatures
radio at the time! But in hindsight we it worked for us and we nabbed
(Needed to get a CAMS license) in, and I planned to sell it afterwards.
the win in the Evo 9 versus the 10.
18 | the Racing Magazine
At Queensland Raceway we ran our new Evo 10 straight from tarmac
very enjoyable to be part of a team - If there’s something wrong, I
rallying and we hadn’t done anything to it aside from putting a fuel
don’t leave until the car is sorted and if there’s a drama then I won’t
tank in. The car wasn’t that flash there but it was good enough that
leave until the car is done.
we should have had the Saturday night race win – A front runner who
There’s a good camaraderie there. Last year, my boys came and
was a lap down but decided to fight us eroded the lead we had and they caught us..
worked in my garage, on my hoist, free of charge doing engine changes and rewiring the car – they’re passionate, so I almost feel
At Sandown last year we had a win on the Saturday, which was great.
obliged that I need to give back to them. The endurance thing we do
My intention is purely to win. I have no intentions to come second and
is as much for them as it is for us.
I think we have the strongest combination to do that. With Simmo
Since the middle of last year, since we became contenders – people
(Ryan Simpson) at the start of the year and now moving forwards with Stuie (Kostera) I think we have the best combination. It’s all well and good to have someone who is a gun but if the second driver isn’t doing the business then there isn’t much point: Kostera and I aren’t too far away from Glenn Seton and a combination that
time our stops and we’ve become the benchmark in time for stops and I don’t think there’s anyone else doing stops as quickly as us – and that’s great for our team.” Dylan Thomas was talking to Richard Craill. Images: Nathan Wong.
has to be pretty handy. We’ve set up our own race shop with our mechanics on our race team, with our own dyno and our stuff. We’ve invested in our crew. We decided that the way forward was to do this enduro stuff – it’s a team sport and it means that we’ve all got to pull our own part. It’s
thenationals.com.au | 19
20 | the Racing Magazine
ROUND 5 SYDNEY MOTORSPORT PARK
Welcome To Round 5 Words: Rob CurkPatrick, Series Director IMAGES: Nathan Wong
Welcome back to Sydney Motorsport Park. The Shannons Australian Motor Racing Nationals is back in Sydney for the second time in 2013, and we have an very innovative schedule to accommodate a busy weekend of sprint and endurance race formats.
new look championship (and made some very good television). Round 5 this weekend means that we are now at the halfway mark of the 2013 Series. It has been a great year so far with everything going to plan. Starting from this weekend we ‘ramp up’ to a very busy period
We may be back for another round, but there are a lot if ‘firsts’ this
with only 3 weeks between Round 5 and our next round, Round 6 at
weekend. It is the first time we have the Formula 3 Australian Drivers
Queensland Raceway.
Championship running with the Nationals this year, it is the first time that the Radical Australia Cup are running a new endurance format in the form of the First Neon 250, and whilst production touring car racing is not new to the Sydney circuit, it is the first time for an Australian Manufacturers Championship 3 hour endurance race format. It is round 2 for the Australian Manufacturers Championship, which is already making a big impact on our 2013 program with endurance races planned for all five rounds. Round 1 at Phillip Island in May became the ‘Great Southern 4 Hour’ and as expected it was a big challenge for competitors, and it proved to be a great opener for the
Due to the increasing demand for track time at the Shannons Nationals, our Queensland Raceway round in August will be a ‘blockbuster’ event. However, rather than add an extra day, we will be running ‘official’ activities on the Friday which will mean limited ‘private practice’ time. The Speedweek television shows are now back to the advertised timeslot of 2.00pm on Sunday. Due to some SBS programming issues we have had a few shows starting at 1.00pm, but will are now back to normal. Have a great weekend! thenationals.com.au | 21
ROUND 5 SYDNEY MOTORSPORT PARK
2013 SHANNONS AUSTRALIAN MOTOR RACING NATIONALS SYDNEY MOTORSPORT PARK 12th – 14th JULY 2013
SERIES MANAGER
to you. You accept the conditions of, and acknowledge the risks arising from,
The CAMS National Racing Championships Pty Ltd T/A Shannons Nationals
attending or participating in the event and being provided with the event services
AUTHORITY
by CAMS and the Associated Entities.
This Meeting is conducted under the International Sporting Code of the FIA, the National Competition Rules of the CAMS Ltd, the Race Meeting Standing Regulations of CAMS, Phillip Island Standing Regulations 03/2012, and Supplementary Regulations issued for this Meeting. CAMS Permit : 813/1407/02
PROMOTER AND ORGANISER The Australian Racing Drivers Club Limited
PROHIBITED AREAS The Organising Committee of today’s races has made every effort to ensure the safety of spectators at this meeting. In the interest of public safety, all areas other than the official spectator areas are PROHIBITED. The spectator areas are plainly defined and spectators are requested to keep behind the safety fence at all times. In the event of an accident on the circuit, the public MUST remain behind the safety fence as their entry to the track may cause further accidents
Tel: 02 9672 1000 Fax: 02 9672 0208 E: brian@ardc.com.au
and hinder officials.
IMPORTANT NOTICES & GENERAL INFORMATION
SAFETY
EXCLUSION OF LIABILITY, RELEASE AND ASSUMPTION OF RISK MOTOR SPORT IS DANGEROUS
The fencing erected around the circuit is there for your protection. It is forbidden
In exchange for being able to attend or participate in the event, you agree: to release Confederation of Australian Motor Sport Ltd (“CAMS”) and Australian Motor Sport Commission Ltd, promoters, sponsor organisations, land owners and lessees, organisers of the event, their respective servants, officials, representatives and agents (collectively, the “Associated Entities”) from all liability for your death, personal injury (including burns), psychological trauma, loss or damage (including property damage) (“harm”) howsoever arising from your participation in or attendance at the event, except to the extent prohibited by law; that CAMS and the Associated Entities do not make any warranty, implied or express, that the event services will be provided with due care and skill or that any materials provided in connection with the services will be fit for the purpose for which they are supplied; and to attend or participate in the event at your own risk. You acknowledge that: the risks associated with attending or participating in the event include the risk that you may suffer harm as a result of: motor vehicles (or parts of them) colliding with other motor vehicles, persons or property; acts of violence and other harmful acts (whether intentional or inadvertent) committed by persons attending or participating in the event; and the failure or unsuitability of facilities (including grand-stands, fences and guard rails) to ensure the safety of persons or property at the event. motor sport is dangerous and that accidents causing harm can and do happen and may happen
DOGS
22 | the Racing Magazine
to sit, stand or climb on it.
In the interests of safety, dogs are NOT permitted at the raceway.
MESSAGES The organisers regret that announcements to assist spectators cannot be made over the public address system except in cases of genuine emergency.
COPYRIGHT All material in this program is copyright and may not be used without permission of the publishers. The opinions of the contributors are not necessarily those held by the publishers or the event organisers.
ENTRIES The organisers accept entries and drivers’ nominations in good faith. Every effort is made to adhere to the printed programme of competitors, but the promoters cannot accept responsibility for the failure of any driver to appear. Although every endeavour is made to avoid inaccuracies in the description of competing cars, the organisers accept no responsibility for any that may occur. The organisers reserve the right to postpone, abandon or cancel the meeting or any part thereof.
ROUND 5 SYDNEY MOTORSPORT PARK OFFICIALS OF THE MEETING CLERK OF COURSE:
Steve Preece
DEPUTY CLERK OF COURSE:
Michael Hancock
ASSISTANTS:
David Ellem, Vince Morgan, Phillip Livingstone, Gary Peterson, Evan Jones, Rhonda Turner, Bruce Colbey, Terry Thompson
CHIEF STEWARD:
Steven Lisk (Series )
STEWARDS:
J. Donkin, G. Pincott
SERIES DIRECTOR:
Rob Curkpatrick
SECRETARY OF THE MEETING: Brian Goulding ASSISTANTS:
Laura Campbell, Carol Drake, Gregory Drake, Jean Cook, Doreen Butchers.
RACE CONTROL:
Allen See, Merv Rixon, Sandra Hopkinson, Wayne Millward, Karen Beldzinski, Kaye Callander, Andrew Johnstone
EMERGENCY CO-ORDINATOR: David Martin SAFETY CAR DRIVER:
John Cotter, Sandra Brand (assistant)
COURSE CAR DRIVER: TBA CIRCUIT CO-ORDINATOR: ASSISTANTS:
Steve Hogan Peter Layland, Gordon Manhood, Paul Soster
NOISE METER:
Merv Rixon
STARTERS:
Kerry Tunks, Graham Ellacott, Derek Taylor
C.R.O:
Neil Turner
COMMENTARY:
David Conole, Darren Smith
CHIEF SCRUTINEER: ASSISTANTS:
David Healy Ern Mitchell, Peter Kemp, Ian Williams, Robert Panetta, Greg Ryan, Bill Jones, Steven Dimmock, Tony Martin, John Lewis, Lance Smith, Glenn Pincott, Mike Walsh, Janet King, Keith Neville, Allan Parsons, Sandy O’Sullivan, Ian Mitchell, Dennis Castellarin, John Wootton, Michael Chin, Robert Hockley, Katia Pincott, Jan Stubbs
CHIEF FIRE AND RESCUE: DEPUTY ASSISTANTS: CHIEF RECOVERY: ASSISTANTS:
Tony Limn Martin Kappeler, Bruce Ferrett, Greg Bretherton, Daniel Ferrett, Dave Fitchett, Andrew Palmer, Rex Ryeland, Murray Shorten, Louise Hallam, John Ferguson, Simon Swyer, Martyn O’Connell, Michael O’Connor, Rodney Schwalbach, Brett Wrightn William Stacey Stephen Foster, Joanne Hodge, Loren Bennett, Brendan Dwyer, Wallace Black, Aleks Novakovic, Bob Priest, Stephanie Priest, John Dwyer, Rodney Gard , William GH Stacey, Kevin Williams, Nicholas Parkes, Jacqueline Stacey, Adam Gard, Joanne Stacey, Ken Hodge
CHIEF FLAG MARSHAL: ASSISTANTS:
Mark Black Michael Su, Stephen Mahoney, Cate Herold, Lahra Smith, Benjamin Haswell, Kylie Levingston, Paul Massey, Terry Collits,
David Garland, Phillip Sadler, Alex Hopkinson, Michele Klimenko, Trevor Inglis, Mark Pulley, Kelvin Carne, Barry Cox, Geoffrey Chisholm, Alan Bishop, Nick Price, Craig Price, Adam O’Grady, Barry Flindell, John Buchanan, Michael Rovere, Roger Romano, David Kay, Rod Callaghan, Peter Carpenter, Robert La Forest, Alfred Parisek, Russell Turner, Sue Levingston, Paul Kokas, Russell Waters, Elinor Cottrell, Corey Slade, Christopher Noble, Rick Subotic, Aaron Splitt, Graham Wells, Matt Bennett, Thomas Chambers, David Brooks, Derek Finter, Stephen Navaratnam
SECTOR MARSHALS: CHIEF GRID MARSHAL: DEPUTY:
Tony Thorne, Rod Edwards, John McGarry, Raymond Morris, Bruce Taylor, John Burgess, Steven Burgess, Colin Toone, John Gleeson, Jason Szarometa, Phillip Revill, Peter Durkin, Tony Sergeant Graham Ellacott John Spies
ASSISTANTS:
Brett Smith, Melissa Beecham, Ross Beecham, Margaret Beecham, Robert Campbell, Elizabeth Nagy, John Spies, Martin Bishop, Clay Small, Ron Roberts, Jack Murray, Peter Schafer, Trent Dunk, Geoff Baker, Keith Nicholls
CHIEF PITLANE MARSHAL: ASSISTANTS:
Gordon White Phillip Lynn, Natalie Martin, William Xia, Mark Taylor, Phil Holt, Diane Robson
CHIEF TIMEKEEPER: ASSISTANTS:
Lisa Drayton Teena Lamb, Kim Brooks, Michael O’Connor, Shane White, Brian White
CHAPLAIN:
Stephen Yeo, Esther Yeo
CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER:
Dr Asher Livingston Ambulance Service Australia
Acknowledgment is also made to the many officials who will be assisting at the meeting but whose names were not available when this programme was printed.
thenationals.com.au | 23
ROUND 1 SYDNEY MOTORSPORT PARK
e:
SCHEDULE
counts
FRIDAY 12th July
tents ols
Time Description Category
onth
e or
FOR A QUOTE | SHANNONS.COM.AU
006 471 709 (AFSL 235011), the product issuer. Some benefits only apply to vant Product Disclosure Statement at shannons.com.au or by calling 13 46 46.
700 Gates Open 900 Practice First Neon Radical Australia 250 925 Practice 1 Formula 3 Australian Drivers Championship 1000 Practice Aust Manuf Champ/Aust Swift- Combined 1025 Practice Australian GT Championship 1050 Practice First Neon Radical Australia 250 1115 Practice Hi-Tec Oils Aust Suzuki Swift Series 1140 Practice Australian Manufacturers Championship 1200 Officials Break 1230 Practice Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge 1305 Practice 2 Formula 3 Australian Drivers Championship 1340 Practice Australian GT Championship 1405 Practice First Neon Radical Australia 250 1430 Practice Aust Manuf Champ/Aust Swift- Combined 1455 Practice Australian GT Championship 1520 Practice Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge 1555 Sponsor Rides Porsche GT3/Aust GT Champ 1615 Sponsor Rides Radical 1630 Sponsor Rides Amchamp/Swift
Duration
20 min 30 min 20 min 20 min 20 min 20 min 20 min 30 min 30 min 30 min 20 min 20 min 20 min 20 min 30 min 20 min 15 min 20 min
SATURDAY 13th July 700 Gates Open 900 Practice 1 Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge 925 Qualifying 1 First Neon Radical Australia 250 950 Practice 1 Aust Manuf Champ/Aust Swift 1015 Qualifying 1 Formula 3 Australian Drivers Championship 1040 Qualifying 2 First Neon Radical Australia 250 1105 Qualifying 1 Aust Manuf Champ/Aust Swift 1125 Qualifying 1 Australian GT Championship 1200 Qualifying 1 Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge 1225 Officials Break 1250 Qualifying 2 Aust Manuf Champ/Aust Swift 1325 Race 1 Formula 3 Australian Drivers Championship 1355 Race 1 Australian GT Championship 1505 Race 1 Hi-Tec Oils Aust Suzuki Swift Series 1530 Race 2 Formula 3 Australian Drivers Championship 1600 Race 1 Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge
20 min 20 min 20 min 20 min 20 min 20 min 30 min 25 min 25 mins 20 min 9 laps 1 Hour 8 laps 9 laps 30 laps
SUNDAY 14th July 700 Gates Open 900 Race 1 (1) First Neon Radical Australia 250 Part 1 50 min 950 CPS First Neon Radical Australia 250 CPS 25 min 1015 Race 1 (2) First Neon Radical Australia 250 Part 2 50 min Hinxman 1115 Race 2 Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge 9 laps 1130 Podium First Neon Radical Australia 250 Hinxman 1140 Race 3 Formula 3 Australian Drivers Championship 14 laps 1215 Race 2 Australian GT Championship 1 Hour 1230 Podium Formula 3 Aust Drivers Championship Hinxman 1325 Race 3 Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge 9 laps 1340 Podium Australian GT Championship AGT Lounge 1415 Podium Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Hinxman 1350 Race 2 Hi-Tec Oils Aust Suzuki Swift Series 1 Hour also First hour combined with‌. 1350 Race 1 Australian Manufacturers Championship 3 Hours 1515 Podium Aust Suzuki Swift Series Hinxman 1715 Podium Aust Manuacturers Championship Hinxman 24 | the Racing Magazine
ROUND 5 SYDNEY MOTORSPORT PARK AUSTRALIAN GT CHAMPIONSHIP PRESENTED BY PIRELLI ON THE WEB: www.australiangt.com.au
THIS WEEKENDS round of the Australian GT Championship presented
But, perhaps expect a little more from the Prancing Horse - the late
by Pirelli is a case of ‘who can beat LeBrocq?’ – not ‘who will win?’.
Allan Simonsen has been a regular driver at Maranello Motorsport for
In his Australian GT Debut and with only little time in the car before
ten years and the team will race in his honour this weekend.
Friday’s practice sessions, the reigning Australian Formula Ford
It will be a weekend of remembrance to a lost Aussie GT hero – and
Champion absolutely smashed the best and brightest of GT racing in
they’ll race as hard as they can in his honour.
both races at Phillip Island. In race one he only lost the lead during the compulsory pit stops and in the second? Well, he didn’t even lose the lead at all. It was a crushing performance by the young Victorian ace and the Erebus Motorsport team, perhaps proving again how capable they are in a season that has seen public attention, at least, diverted to their fledgling V8 Supercar program. So, in the chase to beat Erebus this weekend the task falls to a familiar group of drivers. Klark Quinn (Porsche GT3R), Tony Quinn (Who was hugely impressive at Phillip Island in his still-new Aston Martin Vantage GT3), Lamborghini ace Roger Lago and the Ferrari duo of John Bowe and Peter Edwards. Rod Salmon’s Audi R8 LMS should also be a top five factor if all goes well. So Porsche, Aston Martin, Lamborghini and Ferrari all chasing the flying AMG Mercedes for the win sounds like a tasty combination.
Car # Class
COMPETITOR
DRIVER
State VEHICLE
CC
COLOUR
1
Champ VIP Petfoods
SPONSOR
VIP Holdings (Aust)
Klark Quinn
Qld
Porsche GT3-R
4000
Black
3
Chall
Motor School
George Foessel
George Foessel
Qld
Porsche 911 Carrera
3600
White
4
Chall
Motor School
George Foessel
Ben Foessel
Qld
Porsche 996 GT3 Cup
3600
Blk/Wh/Red
6
Champ One World Bar
Rod Salmon
Rod Salmon
NSW Audi R8 LMS Ultra
5200
Orange
Nathan Antunes
7
Tony Quinn
Champ Darrell Lea
VIP Holdings (Aust)
Qld
Aston Martin Vantage GT3 5955
Multi-stripe
9
Sport
TM Motorsports
Tony Martin
Tony Martin
Qld
Ginetta G50 GT4
3500
White
19
Sport
Vawdrey Semi Trailers
Mark Griffith
Mark Griffith
Qld
Ginetta G50 GT4
3500
Silver
Jack Perkins
Vic
23
Champ JBS
Roger Lago
Roger Lago
Qld
Lamborghini LP560
5200
White
25
Chall
McElrea Racing
3598
Walz Group/ Brendan Cook
Qld
Porsche 997 Cup
29
Champ Trefeo Motorsport/Pirelli Trefeo Motorsport
Jim Manolios
Vic
Corvette
7000
Blue/Black
36
Champ Erebus Motorsport
Erebus Motorsport
Jack Le Brocq
Merc SLS AMG GT3
6200
Black/Yellow
48
Champ M Motorsport
Justin McMillan
Justin McMillan
Vic
Lamborghini LP600 GT3
5224
White
50
Sport
Darren Berry
Darren Berry
Qld
Ginetta G50 GT4
3500
Red
Keith Kasulke
Qld Audi R8 LMS
5200
Burgundy/Wh
Ginetta G50 GT4
3500
Black Black
Surelift Crane Hire
Refresh Cosmetic & Laser Clinics
71 Champ Equity-One
Mortgage Fund
Dean Koutsoumidis
Dean Koutsoumidis Vic
Andrew McInnes
Vic
73
Sport
HHH Racing
Michael Hovey
Michael Hovey
Qld
75
Troph
JAMEC PEM RACING
Steven McLaughlan
Steven McLaughlan Vic
Dodge Viper
8300
77
Troph
JJA Consulting Group
Jan Jinadasa
Jan Jinadasa
Vic
Lamborghini LP520
5000
White
88
Champ IL Bello Rosso
Maranello Motorsport
Peter Edwards
Vic
Ferrari 458 Italia GT3
4500
Red
John Bowe
Vic
ROUND 5 SYDNEY MOTORSPORT PARK Australian Manufacturers Championship IT MAY be their home turf, but don’t expect Pro Duct Motorsport’s Bob
the always speedy Thomas, on home turf, the Blue Evo should be a
Pearson and Glenn Seton to have things all their own way a second
contender.
time around in this years’ AMChamps series.
So too, should be Garry Holt and Ryan McLeod – who had the quickest
The Great Southern Four Hour winners were impressive at Phillip Island
car at Phillip Island but could only show it in the first hour of the race
and slipped their way through the rain to a one-lap victory after more
before mechanical issues set in and slowed their progress.
than 500km of racing, though the results sheet make it look easier than
Watch for BMW this weekend, too – like Phillip Island, if it’s dry the fast
it really was.
and flowing curves will suit the rear wheel drive 1Ms of Beric Lynton /
In the break the Mitsubishi teams have sharpened their knives and will
Tim Leahey and Tony Alford / Peter Leemhuis, and the incredibly quick
be looking for revenge at Sydney Motorsport Park, none more so than
135i of Sherrin brothers, Grant and Iain.
the CXC global team of Dylan Thomas and his new co-driver – the
An expanded 19-car field will take the starter this weekend with local
multiple series champion, Stuart Kostera.
runners joining the series regulars on their home turf, in and amongst
The team has tested following their unreliability-filled weekend at
the existing, highly competitive, class battles that are a highlight of the
round one and with the most successful Lancer driver in alongside
AMChamps grid.
Car # Class SPONSOR
COMPETITOR
DRIVER
8 D
Chris Reeves Chris Reeves NSW Toyota 86 GTS 1998 White co-driver
11 B Lovton Coal
Michael Benton co-driver
Michael Benton Geoff Russell
Qld Falcon FG FPV GT 5000 NSW
13 C Osborne Motorsport
Colin Osborne co-driver
Colin Osborne Hadrian Morrall
NSW Mazda 3 MPS 2300T White NSW
19 B Sherrin Rentals
Sherrin Racing co-driver
Grant Sherrin Iain Sherrin
Qld BMW 135i 2995T Orange Qld
20 A Eastern Creek Karts
Garry Holt co-driver
Garry Holt Ryan McLeod
NSW Mitsubishi Evo 10 2000T Wh/R/Y/Blue Qld
21 D Disc Brakes Australia
Terry Conroy co-driver
Jake Williams Brendan Stone
NSW Honda Integra R 1998 Qld
23 A Alphera Financial Services/Bruce Lynton
Beric Lynton co-driver
Beric Lynton Tim Leahey
Qld BMW 1M 2979T White NSW
26 C GWS Personnel
Peter O’Donnell co-driver
Scott Gore Michael Gore
Qld BMW 130i 2998 Qld
28 B GWS Personnel
Peter O’Donnell co-driver
Peter O’Donnell John Bowe
NSW BMW 335i 2995T White Vic
33 A Disc Brakes Australia
Bob Pearson co-driver
Bob Pearson Glenn Seton
NSW Mitsubishi Evo 10 2000T Silver Qld
31 C Osborne Motorsport
Colin Osborne Mazda 3 MPS 2300T White co-driver
36 C Grand Prix Mazda
Jake Camilleri co-driver
Jake Camilleri Scott Nicholas
Qld Mazda 3 MPS 2300T Blue Qld
42 E Disc Brakes Australia
Terry Conroy co-driver
Terry Conroy Sarah Harley
NSW Mazda 323 Astina 1800 NSW
Blk/White
51 D Network Clothing/Dentbuster
Mark Eddy co-driver
Mark Eddy Francois Jouy
Vic Honda Integra 1998 NSW
Black
54 A Donut King
Tony Alford co-driver
Tony Alford Peter Leemhuis
Qld BMW 1M 2979T Pink ACT
68 A CXC Global
David Thomas co-driver
Dylan Thomas Stuart Kostera
NSW Mitsub Evo 10 1998T White/Blue WA
69 C West End Mazda/Bell Heavy Haulage/ Valvoline Aust
Adam Dodd co-driver
Adam Dodd Mark Bell
NSW Mazda 6 MPS 2500T Chr/Red/Blue Qld
72 I Sherrin Rentals
Michael Sherrin co-driver
Michael Sherrin David Ayers
Qld Mini Cooper S 1598T Orange Qld
86 D Pedders/Valvoline Racing
Grant Phillips co-driver
Grant Phillips Andrew Turpie
Vic Toyota 86 GTS 1998 Vic
26 | the Racing Magazine
State
VEHICLE
CC
COLOUR
Red
Blk/White
Blk/Yellow
Red
ROUND 5 SYDNEY MOTORSPORT PARK Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Presented by Pirelli ON THE WEB: www.gt3cupchallenge.com.au
THREE ROUNDS down and it’s a case of ‘who can catch Richard
likely suspects, though the hugely impressive Winton performance
Muscat’ in the all-Porsche one make series – in fact, we seem to
posted by Elite division driver John Goodacre at the most recent
remember writing the same things before the series’ most recent
round means you can probably add him to that list, too.
round at Winton, too. Worryingly for his rivals, the 20-year-old Victorian driver was in sterling form at the series’ first visit to Sydney Motorsport Park
One thing to watch from Goodacre are his starts – he’s been electrifying off the line this year and if he gets near the first two
earlier this year (at the Porsche-only Rennsport meeting), winning
rows this weekend could very well find himself leading by the time
two sprint races and a one-hour endurance race in style.
the Porsche pack gets to turn two.
The Porsche’s revert to sprint mode only for the first time this
Grove Group driver, Stephen Grove, could also be one of the Elite
season this weekend, three short races perhaps the tonic to get
division drivers to watch. Arguably the most improved Porsche
some new names back to the winners list.
pilot of the last two years, Grove is now a regular top five contender
Michael Almond, Fraiser Ross and Phil Woodbury look like the most
in GT3 Cup Challenge land.
Car # Class
SPONSOR
COMPETITOR
DRIVER
State
VEHICLE
4
E
Grove Group
Stephen Grove
Stephen Grove
VIC
Porsche 911 GT3 Cup 3600
CC
COLOUR Red/Black
9
E
Fleet Plus
McElrea Racing
Scott Taylor
NSW
Porsche 911 GT3 Cup 3600
White
17
P
Wallerawang Engineering
Philip Woodbury
Philip Woodbury
NSW
Porsche 911 GT3 Cup 3600
White
18
P
Copyworld/Toshiba
Michael Almond
Michael Almond
SA
Porsche 911 GT3 Cup 3600
White
22
P
Muscrete Constructions/ Richard Muscat
PEG Genis Steel/Genisis (Aust)
Richard Muscat
VIC
Porsche 911 GT3 Cup 3600
Black/Red
23
E
Rentcorp Forklifts
Indiran Padayachee Aaron Zerefos
NSW
Porsche 911 GT3 Cup 3600
Wh/Blue/Red
34
E
GT3 Factory/Copyworld
John Morriss
VIC
Porsche 911 GT3 Cup 3600
Blue/Wh/Silv
35
E
Rentcorp Forklifts
Indiran Padayachee Indiran Padayachee NSW
Porsche 911 GT3 Cup 3600
Wh/Blue/Red
44
E
Merry Sparks Art
Grant Sparks
Grant Sparks
Porsche 911 GT3 Cup 3600
Wh/Or/Blue
65
P
Porsche Centre Brighton/
John Morriss
QLD
The Ross Partnership
Fraser Ross
Fraser Ross
VIC
Porsche 911 GT3 Cup 3600
Blue/White
66
E
GAP Solutions/Sektor
John Goodacre
John Goodacre
SA
Porsche 911 GT3 Cup 3600
Green/White
69
P
Dial Before You Dig
Jon McCorkindale
Jon McCorkindale NSW
Porsche 911 GT3 Cup 3600 Yellow
87
E
Ronald Racing
Jack Falla
Jack Falla
Porsche 911 GT3 Cup 3600
91
P
Alex Franes
Alex Franes
Porsche 911 GT3 Cup 3600
Eva Racing/ AF Engineering Services
VIC
White
thenationals.com.au | 27
ROUND 5 SYDNEY MOTORSPORT PARK HI-TEC OILS AUSTRALIAN SUZUKI SWIFT RACING SERIES ON THE WEB: www.swiftracing.com.au
THINGS HAVE gone up a level in the Swifts this year and it is all but
shown prodigious speed at Winton... where we put him on the cover
impossible to pick a winner this weekend at a circuit that offers the
of The Racing Magazine..
potential of multiple lead changes. Per lap. And buy multiple, we mean
So Fraser, Grice and Jarvis round out the top three but behind them
five or six.
there are yet more contenders.
Luke Fraser continues the lead the series but at Winton found himself off the top of the podium for the first time this year, two-time defending champion Allan Jarvis finally putting a tough few opening rounds behind him to take the top spot at Winton. ended with three different winners and cars running nearly four wide down the back straight. Ben Grice now sits second in the championship and is in prime form, quickly developing into a regular contender for race wins and having
SPONSOR
COMPETITOR
TV sponsored driver, Callan Sayers. Impressive Rookie James Spicer was also not afraid to get himself in the fight at Winton and will back up for a second go this weekend.
Ahh Winton – where a ridiculously competitive weekend of racing
Car #
Andrew Price was a potential round winner at Winton, as was Nationals
And then there’s the elephant in the room. The driver you can’t miss. Yep, the man who lost out on the 2012 championship by one, single point is back this weekend. Reece Murphy returns to the series in Sydney and adds more spice to an already smoking hot situation in the Swift Series.
DRIVER
State
VEHICLE
CC
COLOUR Black
1
Achilles Radials Trans Tasman M/sp
Allan Jarvis
QLD
Suzuki Swift Sport
1600
6
Finance Ezi Trans Tasman M/sp
Ben Grice
QLD
Suzuki Swift Sport
1600 Yell/Black
7
CLS Finance Trans Tasman M/sp Luke Fraser
SA
Suzuki Swift Sport
1600
Black
11
Subway/Orix Trans Tasman M/sp
Scott Cameron
NSW
Suzuki Swift Sport
1600
White
Andrew Price
QLD
Suzuki Swift Sport
1600 Red
NSW
Suzuki Swift Sport
1600
13 Downshift Australia Trans Tasman M/sp 17
BVC Racing Trans Tasman M/sp Rob Jarvis
White
22
Melbourne Perf Centre Trans Tasman M/sp
Shane Marshall VIC
Suzuki Swift Sport
1600
Black
33
Shannons Nationals Trans Tasman M/sp
Callan Sayers
Suzuki Swift Sport
1600
White
59
James Spicer Racing Trans Tasman M/sp
James Spicer
62 Hastings Deering/CAT Trans Tasman M/sp Reece Murphy 28 | the Racing Magazine
QLD NSW
Suzuki Swift Sport
1600
Blue
QLD
Suzuki Swift Sport
1600
Grey
ROUND 5 SYDNEY MOTORSPORT PARK RADICAL AUSTRALIA CUP ON THE WEB: www.radicalsportscars.com.au
LET US, for a moment, assume that it is very unlikely that anyone will beat Radical Australia Cup series leader Neale Muston this weekend and instead talk about the series innovative new marquee round – the First Neon 250. Round 4 of the Radical Australia Cup is building to be quite a weekend, as regular RAC drivers reach out to professional codrivers for this unique endurance race. This one off 2013 event will see a single 250km race split into two, 45 minute stints, with an extended refuelling CPS between each leg. A rolling championship start will kick off both segments, maximising entertainment on track. Professional graded drivers entered will compete in the second leg of the 250, with each requiring a drive through penalty during a 20 minute long pit window. Several ‘pro’ co-drivers have already
been confirmed, including James Winslow, Josh Hunt, Ben Porter, George Miedecke, and Nathan Antunes. Muston and his nearest rival this year, Apartment Hotel sponsored driver Ash Samadi, will fly solo and its in the second ‘leg’ of the 250 race where they – Muston especially – will face their biggest challenge of the season when the pro drivers shape up for a proper crack at a race victory. Meanwhile, in a RAC – and Shannons Nationals – first, a mother and son will combine for the first time with F3 Australian Drivers Championship ace Jon Collins set to team with his Mum, Sue Hughes, in the Hughes Motorsport SR3. The exciting and expanding RAC series features two classes, the 450-hp SR8 V8-powered cars racing with the existing, four-cylinder SR3s.
Car # Class
SPONSOR
COMPETITOR
DRIVER
State VEHICLE
CC
COLOUR
1
SR8
Excalibur Racing
Neale Muston
Neale Muston
NSW Radical
2700
Red
3
SR3
Vantage Freight
David Crampton
David Crampton
NSW Radical
1500
5
SR3
Haggarty Racing Team
Simon Haggarty
Simon Haggarty
NSW Radical
1500
White
7
SR8
Apartment Hotel
Ash Samadi
Ash Samadi
NSW Radical
2700
Black
9
SR8
Radical Australia
Chris Medland
Chris Medland
NSW Radical
2700
co-driver
James Winslow UK
14
SR3
Rover Coaches
Aaron Lewis
Aaron Lewis
NSW Radical
1500
16
SR3
WT Partnership
Phil Anseline
Phil Anseline
NSW Radical
1500
Black Black
co-driver Oliver Smith
NSW
17
SR3
PJS Air
Peter Johnston
Peter Johnston
NSW Radical
1500
22
SR3
Radical Race Experience
Paul Stokell
Liam Talbot
NSW Radical
1500
26
SR3
Team Tilton Interiors
Kostinken Pohorukov
Kostinken Pohorukov
NSW Radical
1500
27
SR8
First Neon
Peter White
Peter White
NSW Radical
2700
co-driver
Josh Hunt
Vic
29
SR3
Tachac Pty Ltd
Andy Plummer
Andy Plummer
NSW Radical
1500
Black
31
SR3
First Focus IT
Peter Paddon
Peter Paddon
NSW Radical
1500
White
co-driver
Peter Carr
32
NSW Radical
1500
Green
1500
White
Sue Hughes
Sue Hughes
SR3
co-driver
Jon Collins
51
SR3
Hughes Motorsport
Andrew Macpherson
Andrew Macpherson
NSW Radical
co-driver
Ben Porter
NSW
58
SR8
RAW Racing
Richard Kimber
Richard Kimber
NSW Radical
63
SR8
Koala Furniture
Ross Lilley
Ross Lilley
66
SR8
Django Racing
John Corbett
John Corbett
co-driver
Nathan Antunes
68
SR3
RAW Racing
Kim Burke
71
SR3
Engineering Partners
George Davis
co-driver
Anthony Davis
78
Greg Smith
Greg Smith
co-driver
George Miedecke
88
Rowan Ross
Rowan Ross
NSW Radical
co-driver
Barton Mawer
NSW
99
Nick Kelly
Nick Kelly
NSW Radical
SR3 SR3
IMAK-KWIKMIT
Radical Australia Radical Australia Industrie
Blue
2700
Radical
2700
NSW Radical
2700
Kim Burke
NSW Radical
1500
George Davis
NSW Radical
1500
NSW Radical 1500
White
1500
Red
thenationals.com.au | 29
ROUND 5 SYDNEY MOTORSPORT PARK Formula 3 Australian Drivers Championship ON THE WEB: www.formula3.com.au Car # CL SPONSOR
COMPETITOR
2
Mark Rundle Tim Macrow VIC Dallara F307 - Mercedes Benz
C Team BRM
DRIVER
State VEHICLE
CC
COLOUR
2000
Blue
3
C Team BRM / FNQ Larger
John Magro
John Magro
QLD Dallara F307 - Mercedes Benz
2000
Black
4
C Team BRM
Mark Rundle
Jordan Oon
WA Dallara F307 - Mercedes Benz
2000
Blue
5
C Team BRM / Mygale Australia
Nick Foster
Nick Foster
QLD
Mygale M10 - Mercedes Benz
2000
Black
6 C R-Tek Motorsport / Rondo / DPO / CSR Ian Richards
Nathan Morcom
NSW Dallara F307 - Mercedes Benz
2000
Blck / Orge
7
C R-Tek Motorsport / GreenOzNet
Ian Richards
Steel Guiliana
NSW Dallara F307 - Mercedes Benz
2000
Blck / Orge
8
N Fujitsu Racing
Ian Richards Todd Hazelwood SA Dallara F304 - Spiess Opel
2000
Gray / Red
9
N R-Tek Motorsport
Ian Richards
Jon Collins
NSW Dallara F304 - Spiess Opel
2000
Gray / Red
16
N Gilmour Racing
Chris Gilmour
Arrie Maree
QLD Dallara F304 - Spiess Opel
2000
Blck / Orge
Chris Gilmour
Ben Gersekowski QLD Dallara F307 - Mercedes Benz
17
C
36
C Erebus Academy Erebus M’sport P/L TBA
Gilmour Racing / VIC’s Timber
66
N AGI Sport
Nathan Gotch
Nathan Gotch
BF Racing/Insight Management Group Brett Francis Hayden Cooper 93 C
Mygale M10 - Mercedes Benz
2000 Red / Sliver 2000
Blck / Yellow
NSW Dallara F304 - Renault Sodemo 2000
Blue
QLD Dallara F308 - Mercedes Benz
Silv/Blck/Rd
2000
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Live Internet TV from 9.00am on Sunday via www.thenationals.com.au
SYDNEY MOTORSPORT LAP RECORDS CATEGORY OUTRIGHT RACING CARS A1GP Formula Three SPORTS CARS Group 2A Production Sports Supersports Porsche Cup/ Drivers Challenge GT Sports Cars COMBINED TOURING Group 3E TOURING CARS V8 Supercars V8 Touring Cars PRODUCTION CARS 0 - 1300 1301 - 1600 1601 - 2000 2001 - 3000 3001 - 6000 Over 6000 30 | the Racing Magazine
DRIVER Nico Hulkenberg (GER)
VEHICLE A1 Lola Zytek
FASTEST LAP 1.19.142
EVENT DATE 4/02/2007
Nico Hulkenberg (GER) James Winslow
A1 Lola Zytek Dallara Mercedes
1.19.142 1.23.1737
4/02/2007 16/07/2011
Neale Muston Allan Simonsen James Winslow Kane Ross David Russell
Radical SR8 Lamborghini Gallardo Radical SR3 Porsche GT3 Cup Lamborghini Gallardo
1.28.2226 1.28.0570 1.29.4820 1.34.0490 1.28.8814
23/03/2013 28/05/2011 17/07/2011 15/07/2012 15/07/2012
Glenn Seton
Mitsubishi Evo 10
1.43.3983
21/04/2013
Garth Tander Justin Garioch
Commodore VE2 Ford Falcon BA
1.30.9123 1.35.0084
26/08/2012 16/07/2012
Nathan Thomas John Ribeiro Peter Lucas Ian Palmer Paul Stokell Nathan Pretty
Suzuki Gti PRB Clubman Lotus Elise Honda NSX Lamborghini Diablo GTR Holden Monaro CV
1.53.4476 1.48.9879 1.44.8195 1.40.1991 1.33.5918 81.33.9070
30/04/2000 27/08/1995 5/11/2005 26/11/2006 18/07/2004 w18/07/2004
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