The Racing Magazine Australia - Issue 29, May 2016 by The Racing Magazine

T H E

M A G A Z I N E

NUMBER 29 - MAY 2016

thenationals.com.au

A U S T R A L I A

australian GT expansion

MAJOR PARTNER

Four Hours of Australian Production Cars

formula 3 flashback racefuelS & Gt racing

PRESENTING PARTNER

â&#x20AC;&#x153;NO ONE KNOWS YOUR P A S S I O N L I K E S H A N N O N S.â&#x20AC;?

Shannons insurance is for motoring enthusiasts just like you, with features like: n Choice of repairer n Agreed value n Multi-Vehicle & Multi-Policy discounts n Limited Use & Club Plate cover n Laid up cover n One excess free windscreen claim per year n Total Loss Salvage options n Home Contents Insurance including $10,000 enthusiast cover for your collectables & tools n Towing & storage costs as a result of loss or damage n Pay by the month premiums at no extra cost Call Shannons on 13 46 46 for a quote on your special car, daily drive, bike or your home, and speak with a genuine enthusiast.

INSURANCE FOR MOTORING ENTHUSIASTS | CALL 13 46 46 FOR A QUOTE | SHANNONS.COM.AU Shannons Pty Limited ABN 91 099 692 636 is an authorised representative of AAI Limited ABN 48 005 297 807, the product issuer. Some benefits only apply to comprehensive vehicle cover. Shannons has not 2 |account THE ofRACING MAGAZINE taken your objectives, financial situation or needs. Read the Product Disclosure Statement before buying this insurance. Contact us for a copy.

WELCOME TO round 2

Cameron McConville - Series Director Welcome to the second round of the 2016 Shannons Motor Racing Nationals presented by Penrite. For the first time in National’s history we have two CAMS National Championships for Australian GT on the one race weekend. To kick off a great weekend at the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, two Australian GT Championship one-hour events on Saturday will be followed by the 101 lap ‘feature race’ for the CAMS Australian Endurance Championship for GT cars on Sunday. Without a doubt GT racing is on the rise and we are extremely proud to host some of the world’s biggest brands and fastest sports cars here at Phillip Island. As you walk around the paddock this weekend, you will see some of these manufacturers on show with the likes of Audi, Porsche, Ferrari, McLaren and Aston Martin all represented.

We also welcome back Production Car racing to the Shannons Nationals with the Island 4 Hour Challenge kicking off Saturday afternoon. With the outstanding success of the recent Bathurst 6 Hour, the Australian Production Car Series also looks certain for a resurgence with new cars and drivers committing for 2016. Also joining us is Radical Australia for their second round of 2016, and a Phillip Island round of the Shannons Nationals wouldn’t be complete without the Australian F3 Premier Series. Finally a huge thank you to PIARC who assist CAMS in the running of the meeting and to our loyal supporters Shannons Insurance and Penrite Oil.

in this issue 4 Australia’s Own GT 8 Four Hours of Australian Production Cars 11 F3 Flashback at the Island 12 RaceFuels: RaceFuels and GT Racing 16 Entry Lists 24 Lap Records 25 Schedule 26 Staff and Volunteer Thanks

Please enjoy the weekend and welcome to the Australian GT Championship. Publisher: Confederation of Australian Motor Sport

EXCLUSION OF LIABILITY, RELEASE AND ASSUMPTION OF RISK

Editor: Loren Hazelwood

MOTOR SPORT IS DANGEROUS

You acknowledge that:

Graphic Designer: Bill Sgubin

In exchange for being able to attend or participate in the event, you agree:

• the risks associated with attending or participating in the event include the risk that you may suffer harm as a result of:

• 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.

Photography: Nathan Wong &

• motor vehicles (or parts of them) colliding with other motor vehicles, persons or property;

Dan Thompson

• acts of violence and other harmful acts (whether intentional or inadvertent) committed by persons attending or participating in the event; and

Contributors: Richard Craill, Mat Coch & Amanda Jackson

• the failure or unsuitability of facilities (including grandstands, fences and guard rails) to ensure the safety of persons or property at the event.

Production: Skoop Printing

• motor sport is dangerous and that accidents causing harm can and do happen and may happen to you.

Advertising: If you would like to

You accept the conditions of, and acknowledge the risks arising from, attending or participating in the event and being provided with the event services by CAMS and the Associated Entities.

advertise please contact graham.sattler@cams.com.au

thenationals.com.au | 3

australia’s own gt WORDS: Mat Coch IMAGES: Nathan Wong/Dan Thompspn

When the chequered flag falls on Sunday afternoon, we’ll have witnessed Australian GT history. It will mark the end of the first ever round of the CAMS Australian Endurance Championship, and the end of the biggest weekend in the category’s history. Phillip Island marks the second round of the Shannons Nationals, but it will be the fourth round of the CAMS Australian GT Championship and the first ever round of the CAMS Australian Endurance Championship. With two different GT championships running on the same event, it’s going to be a massive weekend of racing. GT racing is growing globally, and Australia perhaps the fastest of them all. From just a single championship in 2015, there are now three separate competitions in 2016, all of which will run at least in part with the Shannons Nationals. Most of the world’s leading car makers have cars homologated to go GT3 racing. Mercedes has launched the all-new AMG GT3, the car which will replace the SLS, while BMW has entered the Australian GT with Steven Richards in 2016 with an M6 GT3. There is Audi, Porsche, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Bentley, Chevrolet and more. The list reads like a ‘who’s who’ of the modern car industry with all the biggest players represented in some shape of form. Even Ford is in on the act, with its GT GT3. Peel back the layers of a GT car and underneath, you will find the same structure as found beneath the dealer-selling equivalent.

4 | THE RACING MAGAZINE

Each has its own chassis, its own bodyshape, its own drivetrain and gearbox. Each and every car is unique, with a personality. Each has a link to the poster on the bedroom wall and is therefore relatable. In the cabin they are Spartan, but that is what we’ve come to accept from a race car. In all other ways the cars on track are the same as the one which pulled up alongside your family saloon at the lights. That desire for a relatable form of motor sport, one that touring car racing has stepped away from over the decades, has fuelled the growth of GT3 racing in Europe. In turn, that has spurred manufacturers to further increase their support for GT3 cars in a self-fulfilling prophecy. As car makers work to meet the growing interest in their products, they are eagerly anticipated and lusted over by enthusiasts globally. GT racing appeals not only to the motor sport fan, but also the car enthusiast. In Europe, GT racing is dominated by the Blancpain series. Run by Stephane Ratel the championship has grown in stature almost in proportion to the demise of other categories such as the World Rally Championship, WTCC or the British Touring Car Championship. There are factory backed efforts and superstar drivers, names who’ve graced the podium in categories ranging from Formula One to DTM. Australia has followed that lead, and Australian GT now has three of the fastest growing competitions on the planet. From the ashes of the Australian

Nations Cup Championship, the foundations for the modern championship can be traced back to 2005. The series itself was first formed in the 1960s, only to fall by the wayside. There was a brief appearance in the 1980s too, but neither shared much in common with the category as it is today beyond its name. Tony Quinn purchased the category at the end of 2011. Under his stewardship Australian GT has continued to grow, thanks in part to Quinn’s management (also his off-siders Ken and Margaret Collier, who manage the dayto-day running of the category) but also as a halo effect of the increased popularity globally. Greater manufacturer interest internationally has seen them head down under, bringing with them some of the world’s leading drivers. The Bathurst 12 Hour has been instrumental in that and has helped forge relationships between local teams, drivers and their European counterparts. Because of that, Australian GT has welcomed the likes of Christopher Mies, an Audi factory driver, who won the championship last year. There have been other guest appearances too, while the calibre of machinery has tempted even a number of leading Supercar drivers to try their hand at GT racing. The series shows no sign of slowing down. In 2016 there are now three separate championships including the Australian GT Championship, Australian Endurance Championship and GT Trophy Series, each catering for a different style of racing. The Australian GT Championship

Australia has followed that lead, and Australian GT now has three of the fastest growing competitions on the planet.

power circuit Sandown is dubbed the ‘Home of Horsepower’ and OFFICIAL OIL PARTNER its two long straights make that title pretty apt. And while the TCM field is filled with cars offering plenty of ponies under the bonnets, everyone will keep one eye over their shoulder this weekend for Eddie Abelnica and his bright red, Melbourne’s Cheapest Cars XB Falcon. While we don’t know for sure if it’s got more grunt than any other car in the field or not, the fact it was clocked at 290km/hr at Bathurst last year (only 6km/hr down on the fastest V8 Supercar) makes it the fastest in the field. And at the home of horsepower that kind of straight line motivation is just the ticket.

PROUDLY PROTECTING AUSTRALIAN richo is MOTORSPORT king

he weren’t as modest as heZINC, is, Jim Richards could& ESTER The Penrite 10 TenthsIfRacing range of FULL 100% PAO argue that he’s the current king of Sandown. As well syntethic engine oils and specialty products are RACE PROVEN to provide as winning the iconic Sandown 500 enduro twice – in ULTIMATE PROTECTION. 1985 and 1989 – he’s also dominated TCM racing at the venue. In eight rounds there, Richards has started

Available at all leading auto won retailers. to find your 24 races, eight ofVisit them penriteoil.com and scored an incredible 19 podium finishes. He’s also scored three pole closest retailer and view the entire range. positions. The Shannons driver winning a Shannonssponsored TCM round at the Shannons Nationals? Hard to bet against!

thenationals.com.au |5 PROUDLY AUSTRALIAN MADE & OWNED SINCE 1926

will take on a sprint flavour, with one hour races throughout the season. The Australian Endurance Championship has adopted the 101 lap formula that has proved so popular with rounds split between Australia and New Zealand. This also means for the first time, the Highlands 101 will become a championship event after three years of a non-championship status. The championship will run over four rounds, each running to the popular 101-lap format. In recent seasons it’s proved a hugely popular style of racing, with events lasting close to three hours. Last year the Phillip Island 101 formed part of the Australian GT Championship, while since 2013 the season has ended with the non-championship Highlands 101 in New Zealand. This year both Phillip Island and Highlands host championship events, with the four-round championship also visiting Sydney Motorsport Park and Hampton Downs; another first for the category. In all, drivers are set for more than 1,700 kilometres across four races in two countries. The GT Trophy Series sees a championship designed deliberately for older-spec GT3 and even GT4

6 | THE RACING MAGAZINE

cars to race. Australian GT has always operated a class structure but for 2016 it’s the first time that those outside of Championship class have their own standalone title to race for. It’s an important addition as it gives greater life to older-spec cars, creating a market and easing the financial burden of purchasing a new car knowing it has just three years of competitive racing in it. At the other end of town are BMW, Mercedes, Audi and Ferrari, who’ve all developed new cars for the year ahead. Australia will witness the global competition debut of the Ferrari 488 GT3, the Scuderia’s first twin turbo since the F40. It’s a ground up GT3 car, unlike the 458 which was conceived as a production car before being upgraded to Challenge and then GT3 specification. Balance of performance regulations bring them all into line, ensuring for closer racing between the marques. Careful work goes in to bringing each different car onto an even playing field, all the while retaining their own advantages. The frontengined Mercedes, for example, are particularly strong under brakes as they can carry more speed into the

apex of the corner versus the rear engine cars, which need to have their braking done in a straight line before turning in. In the Australian GT Championship drivers can compete solo, though many do opt to share the car. One who has chosen not to however is Nathan Morcom, who is fresh off a round win at Barbagallo Raceway earlier this month. The McLaren 650S GT3 driver sits a narrow second in the championship table, one spot behind former two-time series champ Klark Quinn. It’s tight at the top though; there are just 12 points between first and third in the championship with the Audi pairing of James Koundouris and Marcus Marshall still very much in contention. This weekend raises the question; which car will suit the fast, sweeping Phillip Island circuit best? The Audi R8 LMS driven by Koundouris and Marshall proved victorious last year in the hands of Christopher Mies and Greg Crick, but will the 2016 model be just as fast?

thenationals.com.au | 7

WORDS: Amanda Jackson IMAGES: Nathan Wong

FOUR HOURS OF AUSTRALIAN PRODUCTION CARS Four hours of racing around the picturesque Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit will provide the perfect first outing for the latest evolution of CAMS production car racing - the Australian Production Car Series.

Challenge thanks to a strong entry list – with each entry boasting at least two drivers, a veritable laundry list of racers has been created to keep spectators and those watching from home enthralled.

In 2016, the APCS will bring its unique style of endurance racing aboard a wide variety of production models to four exciting events across Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland – starting with The Island 4 Hour Challenge at the prestigious Victorian venue.

“As a true endurance championship, the value for money on offer to competitors in the APCS is unrivalled due to the comparably low costs for the sheer amount of racing delivered by each weekend,” APCS category manager Iain Sherrin said.

Pitting what are perhaps more well-known to the public as ‘daily drives’ against each other in a battle of ingenuity, skills, technology and determination at some of Australia’s best race tracks; the APCS displays the prowess and skills of vehicles which can be purchased in the domestic automotive market. With six separate classes, all kinds of vehicles from high performance to hybrid racers are catered for, making for an incredibly diverse and interesting entry list every time the APCS heads to the race track. Certainly, that variety will be wellshowcased at the Island 4 Hour

8 | THE RACING MAGAZINE

“In addition, with all rounds of the APCS requiring at least two drivers, racers can spread their costs across a two or three-driver arrangement which makes what is already a grass roots program when it comes to affordability even more accessible. “Australian racing legends like John Bowe, Mal Rose and Glenn Seton and identities like Rick Bates, Dean Fiore, David Russell and Craig Baird have all been hosted by production car racing over the years, and it is a great place for young up and coming racers as well. “For instance, Chaz Mostert raced a BMW335i in 2011 and 2012 and even took home a race win in Sydney - all

while he was cutting his teeth in the Development Series - and recently used the Bathurst 6 Hour to make his comeback from his Bathurst 1000 crash in a BMW335i – winning the event with Nathan Morcom; while Aaron Seton moved up to driving in the Porsche GT3 Cup after a year in a Mitsubishi Evo. “Like these racers and many more, production car racing delivers an unbeatable and affordable opportunity to race with the best in production car racing, develop a career, and have fun. “For all of these reasons and more, we expect 2016 to be a banner year for production car racing in Australia in general, and the APCS in particular. “With a really strong entry list ondeck for the season opener, things are already looking bright, and I can’t wait to see how the rest of the year unfolds for this passionate group of racers.” In Class A (Extreme Performance), Tony Alford will lead the way in a brand new Donut King Audi TT RS after taking out the 2015 Class A title in a BMW1M in 2015 from Beric

Lynton, who will also be hitting the track at Phillip Island in his Alphera Financial Services BMW1M. Alford will be joined in his new steed by top production car racer Stu Kostera. Also campaigning an Audi TT RS will be Mark Eddy, who will bring campaign his Network Clothing Audi TT RS with experienced GT and Porsche racer Dean Grant, while Luke Searle, Barry Graham and Supercar identity Paul Morris will run a BMW M135i. In Class B (High Performance) the formidable Sherrin Racing outfit will be back and looking to continue the success they found in 2015. After coming so close in 2014, last year saw the team clean up with Grant Sherrin taking out the outright championship, Class B championship and the Class B Australian Endurance Championship, while the team took out the Teams’ Championship. The team’s line-up will remain unchanged, with brothers Grant and Iain to take the wheel of the #18 Sherrin Rentals Racing BMW135i while their father Michael Sherrin and family friend David Ayres will steer the #19 Sherrin Rentals Racing BMW135i with the support of their dedicated crew. As the outright winners in 2015 the #18 will have a target on its back from the field, but one entry in particular will be looking to make sure they don’t taste glory at the opening round – their Class B competitors Steve Hodges and Rob Coulthard, who will campaign a Holden VY CSV Monaro Mondo at Phillip Island. Class C (Performance) is set to feature very competitive racing, with

both Osborne Motorsport Renault Meganes returning for 2016 alongside Francois Jouy/Franck Donniaux’s Renault Megane R265, as well as the Karadimas Motorsport Ford Falcon XR6 Turbo – which over the offseason has been upgraded to the latest Sprint package specifications. He will be joined at the wheel this season by Geoff Russell – father of well-known racing identity David Russell.

Joining the Swifts in Class E will be another Declan Kirkham-run Mazda (a Mazda Eunos 30x) and also the development team entry of Lauren Gray Motorsport, which has the youngest-ever pairing in the series (with an aggregate age of just 31) has already attracted plenty of attention. 15-year-old Liam Thompson will be joined by 16-yearold Ellexandra Best in the LGM Toyota Echo in their APCS debut.

Making Class C that little bit more interesting will be the fact that there will be a Ford versus Holden battle afoot, with Karadimas and his fellow Class C racers to take on the Holden VE Commodore of Hong Kong-based Aussie Troy Williams and his codriver Rich Pham – co-owner of the successful Asian BlackArts Racing outfit.

Also expected to grow this year is the Production Invitational class.

In Class D (Production), reigning class champions Pedders Racing will be back on track, with Grant Phillips and Andrew Turpie taking the wheel of their popular Toyota 86 with the support of their Motorsports Training Australia student crew. They will be joined by Carly Black in the Network Clothing Renault Clio, while Declan Kirkham will team up with his father Phil in a Mazda MX6.

“In the past, those racing in the Invitational class were not awarded round wins or class championship points – we have changed that so that they now can compete for class honours within the APCS. We are really looking forward to growing this class across 2016.”

“The Production Invitational class is able to give those production-based entries that were built for a specific category like the Mini Challenge or one-off races like the Australian Grand Prix Celebrity Race or the Bathurst 12 Hour a permanent home,” Sherrin said.

For more on the APCS, please visit australianproductioncars.com.au

Fans would also be advised to keep an eye out for a Suzuki Swift invasion, with no less than four taking part in Class E (Compact) – Thanks to the ‘arrive and drive’ program that was launched by APCS earlier this year in conjunction with GMC Motorsport Services. The drivers taking advantage of the program include Jamie Little, Patrick Galang, Jason Walsh, Paul Currie, Mitchell and Leigh Neylor, Scott Gore and Keith Bensley.

thenationals.com.au | 9

10 | THE RACING MAGAZINE

F3 Flashback at THE Island WORDS: Richard Craill IMAGE: Nathan Wong

Australian Formula 3 has produced some of the best racing ever seen at Phillip Island and to celebrate, we’ve put together what we think are the top five races from the series’ history at the Island. 5. SIMON HODGE VS BEN GERSEKOWSKI, 2014 Ben Gersekowski won a combative 9-lap sprint after a thrilling battle with title rival Simon Hodge that saw the pair swap the lead several times in the opening laps. The pair swapped the lead three times in the first two laps and and continued to duel before the battle came to a head on the fifth lap, when Hodge again looked down the inside at Turn 4 – his front wing making contact with Gersekowski’s rear tyre, braking the mounts of the Mygale’s front wing. Hodge ultimately slipped to fourth place at the finish behind the impressive Chelsea Angelo and Ricky Capo while Gersekowski went on to win a belter. 4. COOPER WINS IN THE WET, 2012 Hayden Cooper had a rough start to Race 2 of Round 7 at Phillip Island. For starters, the 17-year-old from Brisbane had never driven a Formula 3 car in the rain. Anywhere. It was pouring down when teams gridded up to start the sprint race. He then spun on the formation lap, covering his pristine white Dallara in mud in a hurry to make it to his fourth-place grid position. To make matters worse, he was then hit from behind when his car stalled on the warm up lap, damaging the rear diffuser and giving him a rude shock. What happened next was even more remarkable: the young Queenslander storming to the lead in the opening lap before pulling away to win by 49 (yes, 49!) seconds in an eight lap race. Only one wet

weather performance has been more controlling in the history of Australian F3 – more later in this feature. 3. LEANNE’S FIRST WIN, 2007 This race was hugely competitive however will be remembered more for the sensational maiden victory for Leanne Tander in the championship – the first by a female driver in 51 years of the Gold Star. Tander passed James Winslow around the outside of Turn 1 to take the victory, a breathless 255km/ hr wheel-to-wheel battle between two elite drivers that was waged for much of the first half of the race. The significance of the victory propelled Formula 3 to national headlines in the mainstream media and set the scene for a thrilling championship battle: with Winslow having won earlier in the day, Leanne’s victory saw her become the fifth different winner from six races to date that season. 2. CARATTI EDGES TANDER, 2008 A breathless race in late 2008 saw Nathan Caratti, driving for Team BRM, edge out Leanne Tander by 0.0695s in a thriller – the third closest winning margin in Formula 3 history. Tander got the jump off the line in Race 1 in dry conditions while Caratti slipped backwards after a slow getaway, slowly making his way back to the front. Caratti made a strong restart and drafted Tander on the run to Turn 1, passing the leader on the outside and briefly assuming the lead until Tander was able to resume the lead on the exit of Turn 2.

1. BEN CLUCAS VS MICHAEL TRIMBLE, 2006 It is still regarded as the greatest race in the history of Australian Formula 3: British driver Ben Clucas winning Race 1 in torrential conditions despite rolling at the start and serving a drive-through penalty. Clucas made the best start from pole but a safety car at the end of the opening lap slowed the field, with racing getting underway three laps later with Clucas escaping to a solid lead before serving his drive through penalty – dropping him to fifth and more than a minute behind the leader with nine laps to go. What followed was a stunning charge through the field, the webfooted Clucas clocking five seconds a lap quicker than anyone as he scythed his way towards the front. A safety car with four laps remaining also played into Clucas’ hands, the top three (Michael Trimble leading Tim Macrow and Clucas) line astern when the race restarted with just one lap remaining. Trimble made a strong restart, whilst Clucas slipped past Macrow on the run towards the Turn 4 hairpin. The championship leader then closed on Trimble with two corners remaining, sliding alongside the Victorian as the pair ran to the flag. What followed was a classic finish, Trimble pushing the Clucas machine to the inside of the racetrack as the pair crossed the line side by side. Clucas was scored as the winner – crossing the line an incredible .0039s ahead of Trimble in the closest finish in championship history.

Carartti then slipped past with two laps to go, but Tander retaliated and drafted her rival to the line, ultimately missing out by half a tenth in an absolute thriller.

thenationals.com.au | 11

ADVERTORIAL

racefuels & GT racing WORDS: Richard Craill IMAGES: RaceFuels Archive

RaceFuels and GT racing in Australia go back a long way – in fact, the genesis of a longstanding relationship between the two can be charted all the way back to the late, great Allan Simonsen belting the wall at the Clipsal 500.

Say what? In 2004, GT racing in Australia looked very different than it does now. The ‘GT Nations Cup’, run by PROCAR, was ultra-competitive yet struggled to attract ultimate numbers and also to manage the parity between top-level international GT cars and homegrown products like the famous, Bathurst-winning Holden Monaro’s. For 2004 Maranello Motorsport had drawn on their overseas Ferrari contacts to bring in a stunning 550 Maranello GT car, to be driven by Simonsen, for the full championship. It was a stunning thing: its bright green hues matching the support from South Australian beer company, Coopers. It became

12 | THE RACING MAGAZINE

an instant classic however it was Simonsen’s skill and daring behind the wheel that instantly appealed it to fans everywhere.

that point we didn’t have any input into that level of racing and certainly nothing into GT so we had to look into it.”

And yet, when the flying Dane incredibly passed Paul Stokell’s Lamborghini Diablo GTR around the outside of turn eight and whacked the wall on corner exit, all RaceFuels boss Mark Tierney could think was ‘It’s taken my sticker off!’.

As Tierney notes, the process was far from simple.

The story of the Victorian-based businesses’ entry into GT racing starts earlier than that, however, as Tierney remembers. “We had taken on the Victorian distribution for ELF Racing Fuels and lubricants but we grabbed Tasmania as well – we wanted Targa Tasmania and were providing product to guys like Steve Glenney in his Nissan GTR,” Tierney said. “Out of the blue however we got a call from Phil Hughes at Maranello Motorsport saying they needed fuel for this Ferrari they were running. At

“Maranello wanted proper 102 RON FIA fuel for the Ferrari as it just wouldn’t run on anything else. The car had been developed on the stuff in Europe and they needed it in Australia: we had limited stock as we were dyno tuning WRX and EVO rally cars and the fuel was achieving great results - yet the regulations over here did not yet cover FIA fuels.” “Phil Hughes’ phone call was a pivotal moment because at that point we had zero customers in GT racing, we had no logistics planned for the fuel into the Clipsal 500 and we had to quite literally smuggle the stuff into the track to get it to the team. “Shell were the dominant fuel

provider with 98 RON at the time being the control fuel for V8 Supercars and they just didn’t want to know about an FIA spec/102 RON alternative, but that one call to get a 50-litre drum into our Richmond base set the wheels in motion for today.” Today, as it turns out, sees RaceFuels as the premier fuel supplier to GT racing in Australia – both for the Australian GT Championship’s sprint and endurance titles plus the new trophy series and the Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12 Hour enduro. It’s a mighty change from smuggling fuel into Clipsal so one lone Ferrari could perform at its best. “It hasn’t lost momentum since,” Tierney says. “We’ve gone from Phil and Allan needing better fuel for their one car to 12 years later enjoying a great relationship with Australian GT and the Bathurst 12 Hour and we now provide fuel to the entire field. “That one phone call really did change our history, though my overriding memory of the whole experience was Allan whacking the wall at turn eight and removing the first ever ELF Sticker on a GT car in Australia! He was an incredible driver and that weekend of racing was phenomenal.” The RaceFuels operation for Phillip Island’s GT spectacular is likely to be slightly more advanced than the sole 50-litre drum that fuelled the Maranello Ferrari all those years ago. Capacity grids and the first ever round featuring concurrent rounds of both the Endurance and Sprint championships mean that there’s plenty of juice needed to keep the grid running. “It’s a massive excersise and we’ve brought in 16,000 litres. Sean Scott (RaceFuels Operations manager) and I met with the French executives back in November, projecting volumes and orders for 2016 and we had smoke coming off the calculator! They were quite surprised with the growth of GT racing in Australia over the past 18 months. This weekend at Phillip Island we need 80 200 litre drums of fuel, that is an entire shipping container’s worth,” Tierney explained. “With GT racing being so competitive these days the cars are being developed around their fuel and a lot of them are tuned to run on LMS 102 racing fuel. It’s designed for these cars and it’s the same stuff they use in the Blancpain Sprint and Endurance titles in Europe. “Walkinshaw GT3 are running it in the new Porsche 911 GT3R and that’s another indication of how important it is.” It will be a satisfying moment when a full grid accelerates away from the green flag for the start of the 101-lap enduro on Sunday afternoon. A 12 year journey from one drum of fuel to becoming a critical part of what is now the top GT series in the Southern hemisphere. “The funny thing is,” Tierney added, “is that all the cars carry a sticker these days but I still get annoyed when one gets removed!”

thenationals.com.au | 13

14 | THE RACING MAGAZINE

thenationals.com.au | 15

round 2 PHILLIP ISLAND GP CIRCUIT, VIC

AUSTRALIAN GT CHAMPIONSHIP ON THE WEB: www.AUSTRALIANGT.com.au No.

Sponsor/TEAM

JAMEC PEM Racing

Supabarn Supermarkets

GT Motorsport

Skwirk Online Education

Darrell Lea

Maranello Motorsport

Bondi Wholefoods

Objective Racing

Taplin Real Estate

Hogs Breath CafĂŠ/Griffith Corporation

JBS Australia

Pirelli/Trofeo Motorsport

Fastway Couriers

Darrell Lea

Eggleston Motorsport

Interlloy M Motorsport

AMAC Motorsport

McLaren Melbourne

DPO

Beechwood/SLR/Buildmap

16 | THE RACING MAGAZINE

Driver A/B

Name

Miguel Molina

TBA

Stephen McLaughlan

N/A

James Koundouris

Marcus Marshall

Greg Taylor

Barton Mawer

Rod Salmon

N/A

Tony Quinn

Daniel Gaunt

Adrian Deitz

Ash Samadi

N/A

Tony Walls

N/A

Andrew Taplin

Dean Canto

Mark Griffith

N/A

Roger Lago

N/A

Jim Manolios

Ryan Millier

Simon Ellingham

Tim Miles

Klark Quinn

Shane van Gisbergen

TBA

Justin McMillan

Glen Wood

Andrew Macpherson

Brad Shiels

Jonathon Webb

Grant Denyer

Nathan Morcom

N/A

Nathan Antunes

Elliot Barbour

Make

Model

Audi

R8 LMS

Audi

R8 LMS

Audi

R8 LMS

Audi

R8 LMS

Audi

R8 Ultra

Aston Martin

Vantage GT3

Ferrari

458 GT3

Mercedes Benz

AMG SLS GT3

McLaren

650S GT3

Lamborghini

Gallardo R-EX

Mercedes Benz

AMG GT-S GT3

Lamborghini

R-EX

Lamborghini

Huracan GT3

Audi

R8 Ultra

McLaren

650S GT3

Mercedes Benz

AMG GT-S GT3

Lamborghini

R-EX

Porsche

997 GT3-R

McLaren

650S GT3

McLaren

650S GT3

McLaren

650S GT3

round 2 PHILLIP ISLAND GP CIRCUIT, VIC

Performance West Motorsport

Eggleston Motorsport

Maranello Motorsport

MARC GT

Modena Engineering

Miedecke Motor Group

100

SR Motorsport

222

Scott Taylor Motorsport

911

Walkinshaw GT3

Alexander Rullo

Peter Rullo

Peter Hackett

Dominic Storey

Peter Edwards

John Bowe

Tony Dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Alberto

Graham Smythe

Morgan Haber

Jake Camilleri

Ricky Capo

N/A

Andrew Miedecke

George Miedecke

Steve Richards

Max Twigg

Scott Taylor

Craig Baird

John Martin

TBA

Lamborghini

Gallardo FLII

Mercedes Benz

AMG GT-S GT3

Ferrari

488 GT3

Ferrari

458 GT3 2014

BMW AG

M6 GT3

BMW

Z4 GT3

Aston Martin

Vantage GT3

BMW

M6 GT3

Mercedes Benz

AMG GT-S GT3

Porsche

911 GT3-R

thenationals.com.au | 17

round 2 PHILLIP ISLAND GP CIRCUIT, VIC

AUSTRALian ENDURANCE CHAMPIONSHIP ON THE WEB: www.australianGT.com.au

No. Sponsor/TEAM 1

JAMEC PEM Racing

Supabarn Supermarkets

GT Motorsport

Skwirk Online Education

Darrell Lea

Maranello Motorsport

Objective Racing

Hogs Breath CafĂŠ/Griffith Corporation

JBS Australia

Pirelli/Trofeo Motorsport

Fastway Couriers

Darrell Lea

Eggleston Motorsport

Interlloy M Motorsport

AMAC Motorsport

McLaren Melbourne

Performance West Motorsport

18 | THE RACING MAGAZINE

Driver A/B

Name

Miguel Molina

TBA

Stephen McLaughlan

TBA

James Koundouris

Marcus Marshall

Greg Taylor

Barton Mawer

Rod Salmon

Liam Talbot

Tony Quinn

Daniel Gaunt

Adrian Deitz

Cameron McConville

Tony Walls

Warren Luff

Mark Griffith

TBA

Roger Lago

David Russell

Jim Manolios

Ryan Millier

Simon Ellingham

Tim Miles

Klark Quinn

Shane van Gisbergen

TBA

Justin McMillan

Glen Wood

Andrew Macpherson

Brad Shiels

Jonathon Webb

Grant Denyer

Alexander Rullo

Peter Rullo

Make

Model

Audi

R8 LMS

Audi

R8 LMS

Audi

R8 LMS

Audi

R8 LMS

Audi

R8 Ultra

Aston Martin

Vantage GT3

Ferrari

458 GT3

McLaren

650S GT3

Mercedes Benz

AMG GT-S GT3

Lamborghini

R-EX

Lamborghini

Huracan GT3

Audi

R8 Ultra

McLaren

650S GT3

Mercedes Benz

AMG GT-S GT3

Lamborghini

R-EX

Porsche

997 GT3-R

McLaren

650S GT3

Lamborghini

Gallardo FLII

round 2 PHILLIP ISLAND GP CIRCUIT, VIC

Eggleston Motorsport

Maranello Motorsport

MARC GT

Miedecke Motor Group

100

SR Motorsport

222

Scott Taylor Motorsport

911

Walkinshaw GT3

Peter Hackett

Dominic Storey

Peter Edwards

John Bowe

Tony Dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Alberto

Graham Smythe

Morgan Haber

Jake Camilleri

Andrew Miedecke

George Miedecke

Steve Richards

Max Twigg

Scott Taylor

Craig Baird

John Martin

TBA

Mercedes Benz

AMG GT-S GT3

Ferrari

488 GT3

Ferrari

458 GT3 2014

BMW AG

M6 GT3

Aston Martin

Vantage GT3

BMW

M6 GT3

Mercedes Benz

AMG GT-S GT3

Porsche

911 GT3-R

thenationals.com.au | 19

Cornering Made Easy

ADJUSTABLE COIL-OVER SUSPENSION

....Click. Tune. Play. • Gas Pressurized • 30 Position Adjustable • Alloy Steel Motorsport Coils • Fully Threaded Mono-Tube Body • Factory Style Bracketry • At the CLICK of a button, enables you to fine TUNE your suspension for whenever you want to PLAY.

Supercar Performance at your Fingertips • Adjustable 30 position Bump Damping • Adjustable 30 position Rebound Damping • eXtreme Size Remote Canisters • 52mm Fully Threaded Monotube Body • An eXtreme GRIN on your face!

Contact your local Pedders outlet to discuss your ride and handling needs today or visit www.pedders.com.au for further information. 20 | THE RACING MAGAZINE

Straight advice, specialists you understand and...

round 2 PHILLIP ISLAND GP CIRCUIT, VIC

australian PRODUCTION CARS ON THE WEB: www.AUSTRALIANPRODUCTIONCARS.com.au No.

Division

Sponsor/Team

Sherrin Rentals

Network Clothing

TBA

Falcon Fire Racing

Future Assist Racing

Hurley Smash Repairs Racing

Naylor Racing

Osborne Motorsport

Lauren Gray Motorsport

Hi Tec Oils

Sherrin Rentals

Bruce Lynton Prestige Automotive

Osborne Motorsport

Karadimas Motorsport, Aust Auto Wreckers

Donut King

Hare Motorsport, Declan Kirkham Racing, Inertia

Roadchill Freight Express

Driver A/B/C

First Name

Surname

A B A B A B A B C A B C A B A B A B A B A B

Grant Iain Mark Dean Doug Chad Scott Keith Patrick Jason Paul Matt Mitchell Leigh Colin TBA Ellexandra Liam Steve Robert Michael David

Sherrin Sherrin Eddy Grant Westwood Parrish Gore Bensley Galang Walsh Currie Thewlis Naylor Naylor Osborne Best Thompson Hodges Coulthard Sherrin Ayres

Beric

Lynton

A B A B A B A B

TBA TBA George Geoff Anthony Stuart Michael TBA

Luke

Searle

Barry

Graham

Karadimas Russell Alford Kosteran Hopp

Paul

Morris

Troy

Williams

Thang Kim (Rich)

Pham

Declan

Kirkham

Phil

Kirkham

Black Arts Racing

Declan Kirkham Racing, Inertia Apparel

Pedders Motorsports Training Aust Racing

Grant

Phillips

Andrew

Turpie

Dentbuster, Network Clothing, Gosford Europe-

Francois

Jouy

Franck

Donniaux

Gosford European Car Services, The Wed Design

Carly

Black

Barry

Black

223

Katilyn

Hawkins

Richard

Luff

Make

Model

BMW

I35i

Audi

TTRS

BMW

E36M3

Suzuki

Swift

Suzuki

Swift

Suzuki

Swift

Renault

Megane RS 265 Trophy

Toyota

Echo

Holden

Monaro CSV Mondo GT

BMW

135i

BMW

Renault

Megane RS 265 Trophy

Ford

Falcon XR6 Turbo Sprint

Audi

TTRS

Mazda

Eunos

BMW

M135i

Holden

SSV Redline

Mazda

MX6

Toyota

86 GTS

Renault

Megane 265 RS

Renault

Clio

Suzuki

Swift

thenationals.com.au | 21

round 2 PHILLIP ISLAND GP CIRCUIT, VIC

australian formula 3 ON THE WEB: www.formula3.com.au Christopher Anthony and R-TEK Motorsport’s Roland Legge, who both scored fastest laps on the sweeping Sandown circuit at Round 1. Team BRM returns to the championship with Trent Shirvinton, as well as Harvest Motorsport with their Mygale car, with the driver yet to be announced. In the National Seris youngest ever Formula 3 driver Cameron Shields will battle alongside R-TEK Motorsport’s Nathan Kumar in their older-spec Dallara chassis. Upcoming Rounds Australian Formula 3 in 2016 is set to be one of the most competitive seasons in years, thanks to several new and returning drivers providing the ingredients for a high level of racing. Double Formula 3 Champion Tim Macrow will has made his full-time return with Alpine Motorsport this year and is sure to be the one to beat, taking out the first round of the season at Sandown Raceway.

Round 3: Winton Motor Raceway: 10-12 June Round 4: Sydney Motorsport Park: 1-3 July Round 5: Queensland Raceway: 29-31 July Round 6: Phillip Island GP Circuit: 9-11 September Round 7: Sydney Motorsport Park: 11-13 November

Applying the pressure to Macrow will be Cooma’s

No.

Sponsor/Team

Class

NAME

State

Car

Team BRM

Championship

Trent Shirvington

NSW

Mygale M11

R-TEK Motorsport

National

TBA

R-TEK Motorsport

Championship

Roland Legge

Qld

Dallara F308

R-TEK Motorsport

National

Nathan Kumar

NSW

Dallara F307

Gilmour Racing

Championship

Christopher Anthony

NSW

Dallara F308

Harvest Motorsport

Championship

TBA

Gilmour Racing

National

Cameron Shields

Qld

Dallara F306

AIE/Brookes/Alpine Motorsport

Championship

Tim Macrow

Vic

Dallara F307

Mygale M11

round 2 PHILLIP ISLAND GP CIRCUIT, VIC

radical AUSTRALIA cup ON THE WEB: www.radicalsportscars.com.au be looking to move up in the championship after a DNF in Race 2 at Bathurst. It will also be a race between the states, with eight drivers from New South Wales entered to run this weekend including David Crampton, Simon and Tom Haggarty, Chris Medland, Kim Burke and Rowan Ross, alongside Victorians Rob Knight, Shane Barwood and Morriss. Queenslander Bill Medland and the Taylor Collison/Lauke Flour Mills entry of Michael Whiting round out the 14 entries for this round. The Radical Australia Cup returns to the Shannons Nationals Presented by Penrite for their second round of the championship at Phillip Island. After the opening round at the Bathurst 12 Hour, current championship leader Peter Paddon will be ready to extend his championship lead, after taking the win at the first round.

To find out more about the Radical Australia Cup, please visit radicalsportscars.com.au Upcoming Rounds Round 3: Sydney Motorsport Park: 1-3 July Round 4: Highlands Motorsport Park: 11-13 November

A close battle is also brewing between On The Runâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Yasser Shahin and Oliver Smith, while John Morriss will

No.

Sponsor/Team

Name

State

Model

First Focus

Peter Paddon

NSW

SR3

Vantage Freight Services

David Crampton

NSW

SR3

Axiom Wealth/Radical Aust

Simon Haggarty

NSW

SR3

Axiom Wealth/Radical Aust

Tony Haggarty

NSW

SR3

On The Run

Yasser Shahin

SR3RSX

Radical Australia

Chris Medland

NSW

SR3

Rob Knight

Vic

SR3

15 21

Melbourne Orthopaedic Group

Shane Barwood

Vic

SR3RSX

Taylor Collison Ltd / Laucke Flour Mills

Michael Whiting

SR3

Motorsport Leasing

John Morriss

Vic

SR3RSX

Radical Australia

Bill Medland

Qld

SR3

Radical Australia

Kim Burke

NSW

SR3RSX

Radical Australia

Oliver Smith

NSW

SR3

Radical Australia

Rowan Ross

NSW

SR3RSX

thenationals.com.au | 23

round 2 PHILLIP ISLAND GP CIRCUIT, VIC

PHILLIP ISLAND MAP

PHILLIP ISLAND LAP RECORDS Formula 3

Tim Macrow

1:24.5146

2013

Radical

James Winslow

1:25.9294

2013

Australian GT

Jack LeBrocq

1:27.1505

2013

Producation Cars

Dean Lillie

1:43.7316

2015

Come and join the team who can get you closer to the action! A

www.vicflag.org.au

RSHALLI NG

V IC

24 | THE RACING MAGAZINE

For more information simply email info@vicflag.org.au or call 03 8796 5321

TO R I A N

Anyone over 16 years old can be a flagmarshal. No experience necessary, just bring your excitement!

V IC

Year

Lap Time

TO R I A N

Driver