The Racing Magazine - Issue 23, July 2015 by The Racing Magazine

thenationals.com.au

EDITORIAL

IN THIS ISSUE

By Richard Craill ON A CRYSTAL clear spring afternoon in Sydney’s South West, in late August 2009, a group of four ambled down the pit lane at the grand old lady that was Oran Park raceway and commenced a track walk. The last track walk. ‘It’s got something extra, this place,’ said Tim Macrow, the Formula 3 driver who clinched his Gold Star in dramatic fashion at the circuit two years prior and whom ambled alongside me at the time. My notes of the walk are sketchy but I remember him walking alongside me and surveying the awesome, 180km/hr righthander that fired you off the bridge and down the hill to the old Suttons corner. “Winning a championship here was cool, you know. Dad raced here a lot and it was cool to follow what he did,” he added, sweeping his arm across an arc that covered the bridge, the hill, the dogleg and more.

The last major race meeting at a place for which I had — have — incredibly fond memories.

Speed Shots

Pitlane Whiteboard

That’s the key point, too: it’s my memory, one shared with only a select few. Others will have different memories of that place, and others. They might circle other dates on their historical calendar as being more auspicious, more memorable and more defining.

10 Feature THE MOMENTS THAT MADE US

But on that walk, the significance of what was occurring wasn’t lost on me, nor the other parties of the group that walked the track that afternoon. It was big to be the last ones there – the last to leave our mark, as it was, before history continued turning the pages of the area to a brand new chapter. A chapter we didn’t like, for sure, but it was good to be there at the end of the exciting one. Oh yes — with us on the walk was a British driver, Peter Kalpakiotis, over for a brief stint in Australian F3 at the time.

“The history gives it a feeling that so many other places can’t have. That and the fact it’s a f&%king awesome circuit..” You can forgive the expletive.. It’s what most people thought.

“I can’t believe,” he said, eyeing the suitably close wall on the exit of Oran Park’s final corner that people still called Momo, “That you lot are tearing this place up. It’s incredible!”

On that stunning Thursday afternoon, as the sun set over the new housing development that was gradually eroding away into the seams of Oran Park’s permitter, we chatted history, memories and the quirks of the place, and the fact that it would soon go away.

Six years on, I still think the same...

It remains one of my most fond memories of the traveling roadshow that the Shannons Nationals has now produced for nine and a half seasons. Including Oran Park in our list of the defining moments that make up the last ten seasons of Shannons Nationals competition was not easy. It may be an inclusion that others feel should be removed — to be replaced with something that they hold more dear. But for me it was an automatic inclusion because I was there.

16 Feature LUKE FRASER 18 Feature PORSCHE PAST 21 Program 28 Round 3 in Review 30 Television Coverage Lap Records Special thanks to: Graeme McKinnon for the cover image.

Publisher

Australian Motor Racing Pty Ltd

Editor

Richard Craill

Art Director

Sarah Anesbury – 121 Creative Hilton

Writers

Richard Craill, Amanda Jackson & Garry O’Brien

Chief Photographer: Nathan Wong Production

Kwik Kopy Printing Hilton

Feedback We want your feedback. Please email us at admin@thenationals.com.au Advertisers If you would like to advertise in the next issue of The Racing Magazine please contact 0414 294 153 or email admin@thenationals.com.au Disclaimer While reasonable effort has been taken to ensure the accuracy of information provided, Australian Motor Racing Pty Ltd make no representation, express or implied, as to the accuracy, currency, reliability or suitability. Australian Motor Racing Pty Ltd expressly disclaim responsibility for any damages that may be caused by or in connection with the information provided. THENATIONALS.COM.AU | 3

FORMULA OPEN Photo by Nathan Wong THE 2015 Australian Formula Ford Series is as open as they come, with three winners from the first three rounds of the championship and plenty more drivers on the grid who look more than capable of being title contenders. Cameron Hill — in the foreground of this image — won at Winton recently and rocketed to the championship lead as Christian Morina, second in line here, had a rough round and plummeted from first to third in the standings. And yet, with half the season to go, you just know that there’s no way the championship is any way done yet. Just as it’s been for the last 30 years and more of Formula Ford, and probably will be for a while yet.

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Photo by Nathan Wong IT WAS one of the most dramatic moments of the entire 2007 season, be it Formula 3 or otherwise. Fighting for the lead early in race one of the Australian Formula 3 Championship, title rivals Leanne Tander and Tim Macrow collided at turn seven at the end of the first lap. Macrow was outsted immediately whilst Tander, with Damage, dropped to the back of a seven-car freight train that would ultimately be the battle for the lead. While James Winslow ran away out in front and stormed to an impressive victory, Tander one-by-one picked off car after car in wet/dry conditions to ultimately blaze through to a stunning second. It’s still one of the best ever drives seen in Australian F3. Generated some media coverage, too — this clipping is from the back page of The Advertiser in Adelaide, the day after.

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PITLANE WHITEBOARD OUR WHITEBOARD is an old, grizzly item. Full of dents, scratches and ill-informed opinions on what’s going on in the world around him.So it’s no surprise that it’s weighed in on the 14-year-old race winner story going around the traps lately… Welcome to Sydney Motorsport Park for this round of the #ShannonsNats. For those paying attention, we’re using the Gardner circuit this weekend, or as we prefer to call it here, the Triple C: Captain Chaos Configuration. In case you have been living under a rock (sorry Dick), you’ll by now know that news that a 14 year old won a race in a V8 Supercar three weeks ago at Winton. Fair dinkum, 14? I don’t want to say that’s young, but the team told him to shave two tenths off the gap, and he had to ask the crew what shaving was. He’s so young that if he spins off the track, he has to look up urbandictionary.com to find an expletive to use. Seriously though, nice job Alex. If you ever land in the V8 Utes, we’ve reserved Alex “That’s how I” Rullo as your nickname. We’ve got him sorted out though if he runs in Australian GT. As part of the compulsory pit stop, he’ll have to finish his homework by simplifying some algebraic expressions, completing a couple of equations using Pythagoras theory, and fixing that problem on Garry O’Brien’s iPhone that he can’t figure out before swapping to the second driver. In F1 world, the F1 Strategy Working Commission Discussion Think Thank Consideration Group have decided that, apart from ordering more

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champagne, and needing to work on a different name, to consider customer cars as an option to cut the ever-spiralling-like-one-of-Bernie’staircases costs of the sport. Sauber boss Monisha Kaltenborn sees this issue needing to be solved quickly, especially as she has already signed 18 drivers to drive for Sauber next year, so being able to buy an additional 16 Ferrari’s in time for Albert Park 2016 would be an ideal solution.

interest, and it’s all because there’s scope for cars that are, frankly, completely ridiculous. If all racing goes one make, and that’s the way it’s heading, it’ll be a shame. I mean, have a look at that Le Mans Nissan. I’m still not sure which dealer team supports Ben Bowlby, but I’m pretty sure it’s not one that sells cars… and it’s awesome.

Don’t get me wrong, PLWB loves a single make open wheel series. It’s close, it’s competitive, and it’s so wild that in a recent European F3 round, the big boss upstairs put the red flag out and told the young kids to stop crashing, go home and learn how to not drive like maniacs. The young drivers protested, but the officials didn’t accept their argument of “this never happens when I race on PlayStation.” However, customer cars remove what Formula 1 is about. It’s not about being the same; it’s about being different. What would this column be like if we couldn’t make jokes about Honda F1 investing millions of dollars to come up for a new package of synonyms for Jenson Button and Fernando Alonso to describe how bad the car was in the post-race interviews in time for the Belgian Grand Prix? A trip to Le Mans tells you the answer. There are different cars, new technology, there’s plenty of

Follow the Pit lane Whiteboard on Twitter: @pitlaneWB * It goes without saying (but I’ve had an eraser held at my throat until I finish writing this bit, so I’ll say it anyway) that the views expressed in this column are most certainly, totally, absolutely and wholly 100% those of the whiteboard and NOT this publication or its associated entities.

1/ THE FIRST ROUND IT IS LISTED quite accurately on the Natsoft race timing website as ‘CAMS NATIONAL RACING CHAMPIONSHIPS – ROUND 1’. Round one for both the 2006 season and, indeed, what would become the Shannons Nationals. March 3, 4 and 5 2006 — before Facebook, Live Streaming, HD Television and Twitter were commonplace — brought together six key CAMS-affiliated national level racing categories to Wakefield Park Raceway, near Goulburn, and kicked off the 2006 national racing season.

THE MOMENTS THAT MADE US WORDS: Richard Craill IMAGES: Nathan Wong, Richard Craill, Graeme McKinnon, Nationals Archives

The program included six quite strong categories. Formula 3 was a week away from introducing Bruno Senna to the Australian fans at the Grand Prix, Commodore Cup had 20 VS and VH cars on track for their typical door-banging racing, Australian GT was embarking on the second year of their rebirth and sported a field that included the late, great Allan Simonsen, Greg Crick, David Wall and young gun Bryce Washington. Kerrick Sports Sedans, much as they do now, featured names like Ricciardello, Bailey, Hossack and Randle, while the Australian Production Car Championship saw David Ryan qualify his Ford Falcon XR6 on pole. 28 Saloon Cars also put on quite the show.

Randle was clear of the wreckage in four seconds, instantly facing off a concerned Tamasi, who had also stopped 20 meters short of the accident scene with damage from the initial impact. Furious, and with adrenaline pumping, Randle overarm bowled his helmet at Tamasi — the black lid followed by a glove as he stormed away from the scene. Tamasi was left standing, helpless, as Randle seethed and stormed his way from the wreckage. Both drivers were fine, thankfully, and the subsequent vision shown on Speedweek has since become the most famous vision ever shot at a Shannons Nationals round. Ten seasons later, Daniel’s son Stephen and Dean’s boy Thomas are racing head to head in this year’s Kerrick Sports Sedan Series. One in a SAAB, one in a Calibra. We await Phillip Island in September... Images: The crash vision that still gets played: Phillip Island Kerrick Sports Sedans, 2006.

“Easy it was not, but fun it was.”

It was a great start, too — one that set the tone for the future with a diverse mix of racing cars and personalities, honest racing that focussed on the on-track product more than the pomp and circumstance, and a stable product for competitors to enjoy. If there is a number one defining moment, that opening round at Wakefield, held under bright, blue skies, could be it. It set the tone that continues today.

2/ DEAN RANDLE VERSUS PHILLIP ISLAND AS IT IS IN LIFE, ten years is a bloody long time in motor racing. Yet, when you sift through the old records, photos and stories from the last decade, it never ceases to amaze just how quickly that time passes. Time has a funny way of changing one’s perception of how things were, too. A few years of rose-coloured vision can change ‘reckless moments’ to ‘heroic drives’ and terrible cars to those with ‘great character’. Post-race hangovers seem larger, controversies seem smaller than they felt at the time and those to have left the sport become more fondly remembered than perhaps they were acknowledged back in the day. As much can be said about the history of the Shannons Australian Motor Racing Nationals. Formed from a time of great upheaval, following the demise of PROCAR and the fill-in year that was the 2005 Australian Motor Racing Series, the Nationals were established in 2006 simply as a place for categories to race. But it’s since developed into so much more than that — into a series with character — with great competition and perhaps most importantly, nine-and-a-half seasons of compelling stories to tell.

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Celebrating that history is important, but the quest to define ten seasons worth of highlights into a few thousand words was, ultimately, a challenge that will have to wait. Instead of narrowing our focus to particular races, drivers or cars we’ve taken a broader approach in documenting the last ten seasons of racing by looking at several ‘moments’ in time. Moments that will be remembered, generally, above and beyond others in the series’ history. To make this list, a moment must have made a meaningful impact in some way, shape or form to have affected the core fabric that bonds the Nationals together. Easy it was not, but fun it was. Here, then, are ten moments that define the very core that ten seasons of fantastic, compelling, captivating, enjoyable motor racing have delivered us. May there be many more.

ON A DARK and gloomy late afternoon at Phillip Island, Dean Randle’s end-for-end in his SAAB 9-3 Sports Sedan went viral before ‘going viral’ was a commonly used phrase. It’s a crash that produced vision that is instantly familiar and has been used in crash compilations on video, DVD, You Tube and social media with common regularity since. A clip from an oversteering Holden Calibra driven by Daniel Tamasi exiting turn four on the opening lap of the final race tipped Dean Randle’s SAAB sideways, across the front of the Black Calibra and onto its side and into a sequence of three, hold-your-breath rolls. History records that the somewhat flimsy nature of Sports Sedan bodywork helped exacerbate the nature of the rollover: the car seemingly selfdestructing as it barrel-rolled itself into the Phillip Island turf on drivers left. It landed, upright, with wheels missing and Randle exposed and moving within the roll cage structure, clear for all to see.

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3/ LEANNE’S FIRST WIN

4/ THE BIRTH OF SOMETHING NEW

VICTORY IN the second race of the third Formula 3 round in 2007 was an enormous result for a race car driver who would time and time again prove she had the capabilities to beat the best anywhere, in any category.

THE WHOLE premise of the Shannons Nationals foundation was to be a ‘place to race’ for categories and competitors who needed it.

When Leanne Tander won on a bright afternoon at Phillip Island she became the first female driver to win a race in the then 51-year history of CAMS’ Gold Star award and the first female to win a Formula 3 race anywhere in the world. It was another turning point for a driver to have already won and scored podiums in V8’s, Formula Ford and Production Cars. The way she achieved it was similarly impressive; sweeping around the outside of the supremely fast brilliant Brit, James Winslow, at turn one. Yes, there was no lacking in the courage department when it came to Leanne and Phillip Island. Her silky smooth style suited the fastest track in the land and 2007 wouldn’t be the last time she won in ‘wings and slicks’ there, either. That win was the first of many that season for Leanne as she engaged in the best championship fight Formula 3 in Australia has ever seen, with Tim Macrow and Charlie Hollings. Though she fell agonisingly short at another of her favourite tracks — Oran Park — at the end of the season didn’t take away from what had been a remarkable campaign. Defining moment? Oh yes.

So when a group of Porsche enthusiasts decided to go their own way and start a new series — rather than racing 911 Cup Cars within a GT field increasingly filled with GT3-specification machinery — the Nationals was the place for it. What evolved, the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge, flourished and to this day remains one of the series’ prized assets thanks to continually large fields, compelling racing and everything a good Porsche one-make series should have. The efforts made by the likes of Sven Burchartz, Jodi Zylstra, the late Jamey Blaikie and others in forming the GT3 Cup Challenge proved that with the right model, the right motivation and the right brains behind it, a new series could grow and thrive. And thrive the GT3 Cup Challenge has. Image: GT3 Cup Challenge is born: Mallala, 2008.

Images: More history for Leanne in record-breaking Formula 3 campaign: Phillip Island, 2007.

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5/ KEEPING THE (V8) FAITH IT’S HARD WORK running a national racing category.

a few years later, properly competitive grids of eighteen to 22 cars were the norm.

The economics are pretty average (breaking even is the same as a mass profit in this game), the politics are endless and the regulatory issues sometimes seem insurmountable.

The Kumho V8 Touring Cars are now every bit a legitimate third tier of V8 racing in Australia, serving the double purpose of allowing drivers to come through the ranks en-route to a V8 career, or just have a place to enjoy the cars in a competitive environment.

And yet there are competitors who invest their heart and soul into racing and so those behind the scenes continue to strive to give them that chance.

The V8s aren’t the only ones who can thank some good, old-fashioned hard grind, persistence and commitment for their continued survival.

The success of the V8 Touring Cars – and success is the correct word – is the best case in point.

Image: When people tell you things aren’t going to work, just try harder.

The opening round with four cars was challenging, but when it dropped to three during a particularly low point in its inaugural 2008 season it seemed like it was bound to fail. And yet the faith was maintained. Sponsors stuck with it and investment was made by key parties to keep it going and slowly, but surely, it grew. Four cars became ten. Ten became fifteen and then

6/ TAKING IT TO THE PEOPLE… “SHANNONS NATIONALS LIVES UP TO THE HYPE!” proclaimed the Warwick Daily News, the day after Morgan Park had hosted it’s second ever national championship race meeting across three sensational days in 2010.

A year earlier the great experiment brought the series to town for the first time and it arrived not knowing of the reception it would receive in an otherwise untested market. The chance to race at the technical, challenging circuit just outside of the Darling Downs town of Warwick in 2009 was one too good to miss: take the series to a regional centre that hadn’t seen the like before and put on a show. With the GT3 Cup Challenge Porsches and the AMChamp Production Cars leading the charge, that’s what it did. Going to an untested market was a challenge – but the return the following year bigger, better and with more people paying attention – proved it would work. The series returned to Queensland Raceway after three visits to Warwick, but few believe the series has seen the last of the great little venue. We hope not. Image: The first trip to Warwick and Morgan Park Raceway: August, 2009.

7/ ...AFTER FAREWELLING A GRAND OLD LADY A LOT has been said, written and told about the great Oran Park Raceway. Its last national-level round was a Shannons Nationals round in late August, 2008. Tim Macrow (F3), Ryan McLeod (AMChamp), Darren Hossack (Sports Sedans), Paul Kemal (Aussie Racing Cars), Shane Biekoff (V8 Touring Cars), Brett Holdsworth (Commodore Cup) and Shawn Jamieson (Saloon Cars) were the overall winners of the categories in action. It was a great place — and it had a great send off. Image: Oran Park’s last national-level race meeting: 29-30 August, 2008.

8/ THE WEATHER THE REMARKABLE flooding that occurred at Phillip Island on the afternoon of May 25, 2012, will remain with those who experienced it for a long time. There was more than a metre of water across the top of turn one. White caps on the top of waves were reported — at turn three, and not Bass Strait as usual — as wind and yet more torrential rain lashed Phillip Island. Track activity was cancelled by 1pm and wouldn’t re-start until the following morning after a heroic effort by officials and track management to try and clear the deluge. There was some consternation from promoters when viral images of the flooding made it to the Channel Ten evening news in Melbourne that night — and yet the record crowd that followed for the remainder of the weekend was proof enough that bad news can sometimes be good for business.

CHRONICALLY UNDERUSED in circuit racing in Australia, the Shannons Nationals has included night racing as a regular part of its schedule for a good chunk of its history. From racing under Mallala’s lighting — there’s been some cracking Porsche races held on a Saturday evening there — to the temporary pools of light illuminating an otherwise pitch black Ipswich night at Queensland Raceway, doing it in the dark has become a Nationals tradition. QR’s ‘Fight in the Night’ AMChamp race has been a particular standout — filled with dramatic events on and off track, thrilling on track battles (generally between turbo Mitsubishis, who love the cool night air) and its share of controversy (the whole field being pulled into pit lane in 2014 remains a standout). It’s even generated plenty of funky neon lighting schemes — all in the name of a good photo or two. Image: The Fight in the Night delivering an underused product to the masses.

10/ LIVE STREAMING THE FINAL round of the 2009 series was notable for plenty of reasons not the least of which was Mitch Evans winning on his Formula 3 debut, rocketing himself into open wheel history in Australia. But behind the scenes there was also something significant occurring as well — the first ever live internet broadcast of a Shannons Nationals round. It’s another example of what now seems commonplace being trialled and experimented with ‘in the field’ ahead of a fully-blown implementation down the track.

FAST FORWARD a few months to October 2012 and a cold morning at Wakefield Park — so cold, in fact, that it snowed.

The Nationals was the first national series in Australia to offer the free streaming product — opening up the rounds to a substantially larger on-the-spot audience than just those at the track.

A solid coating of white powder coated Goulburn, the surrounding hills and the Shannons Nationals Safety Car — amongst others — on a particularly frosty morning.

It’s now commonplace across the industry, at varying levels, and remains a cornerstone of the Shannons Nationals mantra of being as accessible as possible.

Suffice to say, the Weather Channel loved it!

Image: Taking it to the world, free, via the internet. Sounds simple now…

Image: It’s been wild…

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9/ NIGHT RACING

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UNLUCKY LUKE

“If I had to describe this year with one word, I would say that word is unlucky.”

IN 2013 LUKE FRASER took home a hard-fought championship in the Suzuki Swift Series after having placed second in the driver challenge held by the series earlier in the year. WORDS: Amanda Jackson IMAGES: Nathan Wong Nowadays, the 24 year old from St Morris in South Australia can be found in the Dial Before You Dig Australian Super Six Touring Car Series, where he is looking to once again do battle with his former Swift sparring partner Ben Grice. Despite a strong early beginning, the year that is 2015 has not been overly kind to the 2011 CAMS Future Star (SA/NT) recipient, but he remains hopeful of more rewarding times ahead for the family and friend operated Luke Fraser Racing outfit. We caught up with him at Winton Motor Raceway to find out more. Racing Magazine: Your first foray into national-level motorsport went exceptionally well — looking back, what was that like for you? Luke Fraser: It was really good. After coming second in the challenge we headed to the first round and it just went so well. We won every race by margins of at least 10 seconds and from there picked up CLS Finance as a sponsor. They ran us through the next four rounds which got us through — we wouldn’t have been able to do it otherwise. We got quite a few round wins and despite a couple of dramas we headed to the last round tied on points with Benny (Grice). That was always going to be a tight round but it went really well for us with pole, a win in the hour-long race and the championship — so all in all it was a really good year for us. RM: From the Swifts you had a pretty quiet 2014, before taking the first steps towards Super Six with the purchase of a Holden VT Commodore… LF: Yeah 2014 started pretty slow for us — we put a lot of money into doing Clipsal in an Aussie Racing Car which was great as racing at Clipsal in my home town was something I had wanted to do since I was a kid. After that we didn’t do too much for a while to recoup some money, and then in August we bought this car. We ran it in the state round (in SA) in November and all went all right, but then we found out the engine was no good so we bought a new one to start off this year. RM: How have you found the transition from the Swift to the Commodore? LF: It is a massive difference. Obviously these are so much heavier and so much bigger. They are rear wheel drive instead of front wheel drive, and they have a lot more power. I have had a lot of fun in them, they are great to drive and they

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actually handle pretty well for what they are. We are just learning as we go, every time we go out we are learning more. RM: We are two rounds in for 2015 and you started off strongly, but then issues have intervened. How would you describe the season so far for you? LF: If I had to describe this year with one word, I would say that word is unlucky. At the first round we were going well, we had wanted to be in the top five in what is a big field with good competition and that is where we were, but then we had an engine drama. Then coming into round two at Winton, we again wanted to be top five and I was probably hoping to be closer to the podium. We were really looking forward to it, especially the longer races like the ones I really enjoyed doing in the Swifts, and the pit stop race as we have never done a pit stop before. In practice we were running in the top five in the first two sessions, but then we had a very small component in the engine fail and that put us out for the weekend. RM: With the transition to Super Six, you are back on the track with your Swift sparring partner (and 2013 series runner-up) Ben Grice — how has that rivalry been for you? LF: Ben is obviously really quick, we have seen that in everything he has done, so to be racing with him is always good. I was pretty happy to get the upper-hand in the Swifts at the end. We have always raced pretty clean and fair and as long as we can do that I am always happy to race against him. He has been racing (Super Six) since last year so he has a bit more experience and this year he has been mega quick, so if I can get back up to racing against him again I would be happy with that. RM: There is no shortage of racing categories around, so what was it about the Super Six series that inspired you to get involved?

“Racing at Clipsal in my home town was something I had wanted to do since I was a kid.”

LF: When you look at it obviously you would want to run with the V8 Kumho Series or something like that, but the budgets required are pretty enormous and we just don’t have that. The car was cheap when we bought it so cost was certainly a factor, but on top of that (the series) has good close racing. When you watch it, it is always really close with lots of battles and proper racing, so that certainly intrigued us enough to get into it and have a crack.

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Percat made an immediate impact, taking pole position on debut before placing third for the round.

PORSCHE PAST: PACESETTER, RACE WINNER AND ITS FUTURE V8 STAR It’s not just old V8 Supercars that have a strong racing history — Porsche’s competing in the GT3 Cup Challenge are now also at the point of notching up some impressive racing CVs. WORDS & IMAGES: www.gt3cupchallenge.com.au

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CHASSIS #WP0ZZZ99ZBS798105 was destined for life as a front-runner. Purchased ahead of the 2011 season by Melbourne businessman and former Carrera Cup driver Peter Hill, the car found immediate success at the season opening Albert Park round with Hill placing second for the round in the Challenge (then Elite) class. Hill raced the 911 at the following Perth and Phillip Island rounds before handing the reins to Tim Leahey at Bathurst, placing eighth outright for the weekend. Hill would return for the Gold Coast round, though his event was marred by a race two accident at the hairpin when an out-ofcontrol car careered into the rear of his racer.

Percat made an immediate impact, taking pole position on debut before placing third for the round behind the untouchable Craig Baird and experienced Steven Richards. Albert Park saw his second pole in as many rounds followed by a third, second and a DNF — a blow to his title hopes with drivetrain issues. The following Rennsport round would see the car take its first race win; Percat and Rodney Jane taking victory in the championship’s first ever codrive race. The feat also make Jane the first ever Challenge driver to take an outright race victory in Carrera Cup Australia.

Hill would return for the following Grand Prix round, placing third in the Challenge class, though would park the car for the remainder of the season.

Percat would return to the winners’ list at Winton before executing one of the best qualifying performances ever seen in Carrera Cup. At Bathurst, Percat soared to a 2:08.77, pushing the 911 to its limits across Mount Panorama before winning the opening race.

The car’s true potential was felt when former Bathurst champion Nick Percat moved to the Porsche category from the V8 Supercars Development Series.

The final round would deliver Percat his maiden round victory. The South Australian won the opening two races before finishing second in the final race of the season. His 911

GT3 Cup, therefore, would be the final round winner of the 997 era in the Carrera Cup Australia championship. In this season, Percat would achieve six race wins, one round win, five pole positions from seven events and an astonishing nine fastest laps from 20 races. Percat would finish runner-up in the championship standings, with Baird sealing his fifth Carrera Cup Australia title.

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ROUND 4 SYDNEY MOTOR SPORT PARK, NSW

SHANNONS AUSTRALIAN MOTOR RACING NATIONALS ROUND 4, SYDNEY MOTOR SPORT PARK • JULY 4–5, 2015 AUTHORITY

OFFICIALS OF THE MEETING

PROHIBITED AREAS

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 : 815/0507/01

Clerk of Course:

Michael Hancock

Deputy Clerk of Course:

Vince Morgan

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 and hinder officials.

PROMOTERS The Australian Racing Drivers Club Limited Tel: 02 9672 1000 Fax: 02 9672 0209 E: Doreen.Butchers@ardc.com.au

EXCLUSION OF LIABILITY, RELEASE AND ASSUMPTION OF RISK MOTOR SPORT IS DANGEROUS

Clerk of Course Assistants: Stephen Preece, Evan Jones, David Ellem, Gary Peterson Chief Steward:

Bradley Tubb

Stewards:

T Davidson, J Leahy

Secretary of the Meeting:

Doreen Butchers

Secretary of Meeting Assistants: Laura Campbell, Jean Cook, Michael Petersen Race Control: Louise Hallam, Sandra Hopkinson, Wayne Millward, Jessica Nicholson, Karen Beldizinski Schwalbach, Rodney Schwalbach, Allen See, Terry Thompson, Ronda Turner Emergency Coordinator:

David Martin

Safety Car Driver: John Cotter

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

Safety Car Communicator:

Sandra Brand

• 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;

Course Car Driver:

R Edwards, A Brand

Circuit Coordinator:

Peter Layland

• 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 grandstands, 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 to you. 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.

Circuit Coordinator Assistants: P Soster, G Manhood Noise Meter:

TBA

Starters: Alan Grix, Matthew McNicol, Derek Taylor, Kerry Tunks DSO:

TBA

CRO:

Neil Turner

SAFETY The fencing erected around the circuit is there for your protection. It is forbidden to sit, stand or climb on it.

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 magazine/program is copyright and must not be used without permission of the publishers. The opinions of the contributors are not necessarily those held by the publishers or race organisers.

Commentary: D Conole / D Smith Chief Scrutineer:

David Healy

Scrutineers: Renee Annovazzi, Simon Biggs, Greig Black, Robert Butler, Dennis Castellarin, Michael Chin, Norm Crompton, Virginia Crompton, Diana Dimmock, Steven Dimmock, Steve Gifford, Lester Gough, Ronald Henson, Robert Hockley, Peter Jakrot, Patricia Jones, Adolfo Jose, Peter Kemp, Janet King, John Lewis, Ern Mitchell, Elaine Nikiforoff, Nicholas Nikiforoff, Sandy O’Sullivan, Robert Panetta, Glenn Pincott, Katia Pincott, John Read, Lance Smith, Zayn Smith, Samantha Stratford, Jan Stubbs, Raymond Tabet, Mike Walsh, Kim Woodward 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.

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.

THENATIONALS.COM.AU | 21

ROUND 4 SYDNEY MOTOR SPORT PARK, NSW

22 | THE RACING MAGAZINE

ROUND 4 SYDNEY MOTOR SPORT PARK, NSW

ROUND 4 SCHEDULE

FRIDAY 3RD JULY

SATURDAY 4TH JULY

0630

Gates Open

0630

Gates Open

0905

Practice

Aust Formula Ford Series

15 min

0910

Practice 1

Australian Superkart Championship

15 min

0925

Practice

DBYD Aust Super 6 Touring Car Series

15 min

0930

Qualifying 1

PRB Motorsport Series

15 min

0945

Practice

Australian Superkart Championship

15 min

0950

Qualifying 1

DBYD Aust Super 6 Touring Car Series

20 min

1005

Practice

Aust Formula 3 Championship

15 min

1015

Practice 1

Aust Formula Ford Series

20 min

1025

Practice

PRB Motorsport Series

15 min

1040

Qualifying 1

Australian Superkart Championship

15 min

1045

Practice

Aust Formula Ford Series

20 min

1100

Practice 1

Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge

20 min

1110

Practice

DBYD Aust Super 6 Touring Car Series

20 min

1125

Qualifying 1

Aust Formula 3 Championship

20 min

1145

Practice

Australian Superkart Championship

20 min

1150

Qualifying 2

Australian Superkart Championship

15 min

1205

Lunch Break

30 min

1210

Qualifying 2

PRB Motorsport Series

15 min

1235

Practice

Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge

30 min

1230

Qualifying 2

DBYD Aust Super 6 Touring Car Series

20 min

1310

Practice

Aust Formula 3 Championship

20 min

1255

Qualifying 1

Aust Formula Ford Series

20 min

1335

Practice

PRB Motorsport Series

15 min

1320

Qualifying 1

Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge

30 min

1355

Practice

Aust Formula Ford Series

20 min

1355

Race 1

Australian Superkart Championship

8 laps

1420

Practice

DBYD Aust Super 6 Touring Car Series

20 min

1425

Race 1

Aust Formula 3 Championship

9 laps

1445

Practice

Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge

30 min

1455

Race 1

PRB Motorsport Series

8 laps

1520

Practice

Australian Superkart Championship

20 min

1525

Race 1

DBYD Aust Super 6 Touring Car Series

9 laps

1545

Practice

Aust Formula 3 Championship

20 min

1600

Race 1

Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge

30 Laps

1610

Practice

PRB Motorsport Series

15 min

1630

Sponsor Rides

Super 6 Touring Cars

15 min

1645

Sponsor Rides

Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge

15 min

SUNDAY 5TH JULY 0630

Gates Open

0915

Race 2

Australian Superkart Championship

8 laps

0945

Race 1

Aust Formula Ford Series

9 laps

1015

Race 2

Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge

9 laps

1045

Race 2

Aust Formula 3 Championship

9 laps

1115

Race 2

DBYD Aust Super 6 Touring Car Series

8 laps

1145

Race 2

PRB Motorsport Series

9 laps

1215

Race 2

Aust Formula Ford Series

9 laps

1245

Race 3

Australian Superkart Championship

8 laps

1315

Race 3

Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge

9 laps

1345

Race 3

Aust Formula 3 Championship

14 laps

1420

Race 3

DBYD Aust Super 6 Touring Car Series

8 laps

1450

Race 3

Aust Formula Ford Series

9 laps

1520

Race 4

Australian Superkart Championship

10 laps

1605

Race 3

PRB Motorsport Series

9 laps

THENATIONALS.COM.AU | 23

ROUND 4 SYDNEY MOTOR SPORT PARK, NSW

PORSCHE GT3 CUP CHALLENGE

AUSTRALIAN SUPERKART CHAMPIONSHIP (R1) Shannons Nationals R4 Sydney Program Australian Superkart Championship (R1) ON THE WEB: WWW.SUPERKARTSAUSTRALIA.ORG

ON THE WEB: WWW.GT3CUPCHALLENGE.COM.AU

Car

SPONSOR

DRIVER

STATE

Scott Taylor Motorsport

Scott Taylor

QLD

Orrcon Steel/Taylor Engineering

Jono Taylor

VIC

Autobarn

Tim Miles

QLD

Wrightlands Property Group

David Ryan

NSW

Dexion/Phoenix Lubricats/Allstart Equipment

Dylan O'Keefe

VIC

htfu

Sam Shahin

Kinpath Group

John Karytinos

Melbourne Orthopaedic Group

Shane Barwood

VIC

Scott Taylor Motorsport

Aaron Seton

QLD

Merry Sparks Art

Grant Sparks

QLD

Emery Motorsport

Geoff Emery

VIC

Horsley Park Gun Shop

James Abela

QLD

GAP Solutions

John Goodacre

Dial Before You Dig

Jon McCorkindale

Power Street Racing

James Campbell

QLD

Laser 3D/Force Acessories

Brian Finn

VIC

Sonic/Parramatta Smash Repairs

Ryan Simpson

VIC

McElrea Racing/N2C

Jaxon Evans

QLD

Southern Star Windows

Ross McGregor

VIC

Sonic/Parramatta Smash Repairs

Ryan Simpson

VIC

McElrea Racing/N2C

Jaxon Evans

QLD

Southern Star Windows

Ross McGregor

VIC

For more entry information, visit www.thenationals.com.au

Car # SPONSOR COMPETITOR DRIVER State Gary Pegoraro Gary Pegoraro 1 Dunlop Kartsport/BRC Engines Vic VEHICLE Car SPONSOR Dalton Rowell DRIVER Dalton Rowell NSW 2 DLR Racing/Secret Squirrel Racing Porsche 911 GT3 Cup 1 Dunlop Kartsport/BRC Engines Gary Pegoraro Vic 6 MJR Bricklaying/Slipstream Signs Scott Williams Martin Latta Porsche 911 GT3 Cup 2 DLR Racing/Secret Squirrel Racing Dalton Rowell Carlo Chermaz Tony Lappas SA 7 Wizzer Engines/ SKE Porsche 911 GT3 Cup 6 MJR Bricklaying/Slipstream Signs Martin Latta Anton Stevens Anton Stevens Vic 8 Ciscos/Art Motorsport/KPI Porsche 911 GT3 Cup 7 Wizzer Engines/ SKE Tony Lappas Vic 9 Stockman Superkarts Sam Zavaglia Sam Zavaglia Porsche 911 GT3 Cup 8 Ciscos/Art Motorsport/KPI Anton Stevens Phil Silcock Phil Silcock Qld 12 Rockpress Fabrications PSR Porsche 911 GT3 Cup 9 Stockman Superkarts Sam Zavaglia NSW 20 Redback Racepaint (ACT) Paul Campbell Paul Campbell Porsche 911 GT3 Cup 12 Rockpress Fabrications PSR Phil Silcock Dale Williams Dale Williams Vic 21 Slipstream Signs/Williams Racing Porsche 911 GT3 Cup 20 Redback Racepaint (ACT) Paul Campbell Vic 22 Supersonic Global Payments Martin Latta Jason Akermanis Porsche 911 GT3 Cup 21 Slipstream Signs/Williams Racing Dale Williams Timothy Philp Timothy Philp Qld 23 Floth Sustainable Building Consultants Porsche 911 GT3 Cup 22 Supersonic Global Payments Jason Akermanis Garry Haywood Vic 26 Bakker Superkarts/Ringwood Kart Centre Garry Haywood Porsche 911 GT3 Cup 23 Floth Sustainable Building Consultants Timothy Philp Ilya Harpas Ilya Harpas SA 29 Your Amigo Porsche 911 GT3 Cup 26 Bakker Superkarts/Ringwood Kart Centre Garry Haywood Jason Smith Qld 30 Middletons Printing, Anderson, Fugi Xerox Jason Smith Porsche 911 GT3 Cup 29 Your Amigo Ilya Harpas Stewart Bell Stewart Bell Qld 32 Linra Properties Porsche 911 GT3 Cup 30 Middletons Printing, Anderson, Fugi Xerox Jason Smith Kristian Stebbing Kristian Stebbing Vic 33 KJB Accountants & Business Advisors Porsche 911 GT3 Cup 32 Linra Properties Stewart Bell Jeff Reed Jeff Reed NSW 34 Stockman Superkarts Porsche 911 GT3 Cup 33 KJB Accountants & Business Advisors Kristian Stebbing Russell Jamieson Russell Jamieson Qld 35 Coach Design Porsche 911 GT3 Cup 34 Stockman Superkarts Jeff Reed Warren McIlveen Warren McIlveen NSW 43 Stockman Superkarts/Macs Marine Porsche 911 GT3 Cup 35 Coach Design Russell Jamieson Paul Clark Paul Clark WA 44 Northshore Boats Porsche 911 GT3 Cup 43 Stockman Superkarts/Macs Marine Warren McIlveen Mark Robin Mark Robin NSW 46 Colourite Painting Porsche 911 GT3 Cup 44 Northshore Boats Paul Clark Qld 47 DHM Auto Solution/Exclusive Auto Centre Sean Maberly Sean Maberly Porsche 911 GT3 Cup 46 Colourite Painting Mark Robin Qld 54 Win Excavations Craig Brook Craig Brook Porsche 911 GT3 Cup 47 DHM Auto Solution/Exclusive Auto Centre Sean Maberly Vic 55 Beyal Stud Rams, Hughes Bros Removals Scott Appledore Scott Appledore

VEHICLE

250I Anderson/Maverick STATE VEHICLE Stockman/MR2 250N

COLOUR

Blue

Blue/Orange

VIC

Anderson/Maverick

VIC

Anderson/Maverick

SK EVO

VIC

PVP

VIC

Stockman /MR2

250N Black Anderson/Maverick NSW Stockman/MR2 SK EVO 125 Chrome/Black PVP

Stockman /MR2 Avoig Elise PSR Avoig Elise QLD Stockman/MR2

250I

Blue/Yell/Blk

250I

Red

125

Yellow/Voilet

125

Orange/White

Avoig Elise PSR

250N

Blk/Blue/Wh

Anderson/Maverick

250I

Black

Avoig Elise

125

Black/Yellow

125

Black

Bakker X4

NSW

Avoig Elise

VIC

Stockman/MR2

VIC

Anderson/Maverick

QLD

Avoig Elise

Anderson/Maverick

QLD

Anderson/Maverick

VIC

Anderson/Maverick

NSW

Stockman/MR2

QLD

Anderson/Maverick

NSW

Stockman 115

Anderson/Maverick

NSW

Stockman/MR125

QLD

Anderson/Maverick

QLD

Anderson/Maverick

250I Anderson/Maverick VIC Bakker X4 Anderson/Maverick 250I

Red/White

Stockman/MR2

Yellow

125

Yell/Black/Wh

250I Black Anderson/Maverick QLD Stockman/MR2 Stockman/MR2 125 Yellow/Blue Anderson/Maverick

250I

Red/White

Stockman 115

250I

Red/Blue

Anderson/Maverick

250I

White/Blue

Stockman/MR125

125

Red

Anderson/Maverick

250N Dark Grey

Anderson/Maverick

250N Blk/Y/Grn/Red

Anderson/Maverick

250N Blk/Blue/Red

Win Excavations

Craig Brook

Beyal Stud Rams, Hughes Bros Removals

Scott Appledore

VIC

Anderson/Maverick

Giova Racing

John Pellicano

NSW

Avoig Elise

Shiftmn

Michael Nicholas

QLD

Stockman/MR2

Carbon Treatment

Mehmet Sinani

NSW

Stockman/MR2

Avoig Superkarts/Rat Pack Racing

Aaron Cogger

NSW

Avoig Elise

L & J Custom Kitchens & Joinery

Lee Vella

NSW

Avoig Elise

Lewis Plumbing Qld, Z1K, DHM M'sport

Daniel Lewis

QLD

Anderson/Maverick

Timothy Weier

QLD

Anderson/Maverick

Denture Professionals

Mark Hanson

ZIP Eagle 2

DLR Racing/Secret Squirrel Racing

Dalton Rowell

NSW

Stockman/MR2

For more entry information, visit www.thenationals.com.au

24 | THE RACING MAGAZINE

THENATIONALS.COM.AU | 25

ROUND 4 SYDNEY MOTOR SPORT PARK, NSW

AUSTRALIAN FORMULA FORD SERIES

FORMULA 3 AUSTRALIAN DRIVERS CHAMPIONSHIP

ON THE WEB: WWW.FORMULAFORD.ORG.AU

ON THE WEB: WWW.FORMULA3.COM.AU

Car

SPONSOR

DRIVER

STATE

VEHICLE

Car

SPONSOR

DRIVER

state

VEHICLE

Sonic/Bosch Car Service

Thomas Maxwell

VIC

Mygale SJ13

R-Tek Motorsport

Nathan Kumar

NSW

Dallara/Spiess

Sonic/BrookeEvansCharteredAccountants

Benjamin Reichstein

VIC

Mygale SJ15A-001

R-Tek Motorsport

Roland Legge

QLD

Dallara/Merc

Sonic/CalistaPropertyGroup

Christian Morina

VIC

Mygale SJ12

R-Tek Motorsport

Andrew Roberts

Dallara/Spiess

E-Steel (Aust)

Paul Zsidy

VIC

Spectrum 012

Wiltec Industries

Shane Wilson

QLD

Dallara/Spiess

Walters Racing/Synergy Motrosport

Geoff Walters

NSW

Mygale SJ07

Trent Shirvington

NSW

Mygale/Merc

Colin Hill Engineering/Inflighter

Colin Hill

ACT

Mygale SJ10a

McDonalds/Gilmour Racing

Jon Collins

NSW

Dallara/Merc

Andrew Kahl

NSW

Spectrum 012

bestjet.com/Gilmour Racing

Luke Spalding

QLD

Dallara/Merc

12 20

Synergy Motorsport

Caitlin Wood

NSW

Spectrum 014

Bob Johns Racing

4wd.net.au/SinocoLED/Road2Race

Luke King

NSW

Mygale SJ09

Cetnaj Harvest Motorsport

Shane Ryding

VIC

Mygale/Merc

Dream Motorsport

Luis Leeds

VIC

Mygale SJ13a

Ross McAlpine

NSW

Dallara/Spiess

Mitch Martin

VIC

Spectrum 014

Ellery Motorsport Enterprises

Luke Ellery

VIC

Dallara/Merc

Dallara/VW

SJ Display Group

Jake Spencer

VIC

Mygale SJ2012

AIE/Brook Engraving Alpine Motorsport

Dennie Rumble

NSW

Dallara/Merc

AngloAustralianMotorsport

Daniel Holihan

NSW

Mygale SJ08

Jani-King/Ricky Capo Racing

Ricky Capo

VIC

Dallara/M-Honda

Fleetcare

Leanne Tander

VIC

Mygale SJ10A

Tim Hamilton

QLD

Spectrum 011b

Shannons Nationals R4 Sydney DIAL BEFOREProgram YOU DIG AUSTRALIAN SUPER SIX TOURING CAR SERIES WEB: WWW.SUPER6TOURINGCARS.COM.AU For more entry information, visit www.thenationals.com.au Dial Before You Dig Australian SuperON THESix Touring Car Series

Melbcon/Parkinson Group

Adrian Lazzaro

VIC

Spectrum 011

JohnWhiteEng/BrownsEng/NorthsideFast

Jimmy Bailey

QLD

Spectrum 06B

OntrackAccounts/Xero

Luke Ellery

VIC

Spectrum 06B

PRB MOTORSPORT SERIESCar

SPONSOR COMPETITORCar 1 ON THE WEB: WWW.PRBAUSTRALIA.COM.AU 6 1 Blackwell Race Engines Gavin Ross 9 6 GAG/Hinde Transport Car SPONSOR DRIVER state VEHICLE Matthew Palmer 14 1 Speed Racer Sportscars Chris Barry NSW Composite 16 9 Silkgate Group Ian Chivas 4 Trans-West Insurance Brokers Stefan Versluis NSW Composite 18 14 selby.com Simon Tabinor 20 7 John Moyes John Moyes NSW S2 25 Stuart Shirvington Stuart Shirvington NSW S3 22 16 Kleenduct Australia P/L Peter Phelan 42 Jos Kroon Jos Kroon NSW S2 27 44 Warwick Williams Real 18 Estate Williams NSW CompositeLes Morrall DPSWarwick Enterprises 40 45 Zeppelin Pty Ltd Ivan Srjber NSW S3 41 20 501 Performance Les Morrall 48 Emu Car Care James Dick NSW Widebody 42 50 Sherwell Silos Tasmania Malcolm Lee TAS S3 52 22 Lighthouse Electrical Ashley Jarvis 52 Trans-West Insurance Brokers Joshua Versluis NSW S3 64 27 Transley Solutions Luke Westall 92 Michael McCosker Michael McCosker NSW S2 95 For more entry information, visit www.thenationals.com.au 40 Currie Bros Engines Sam Lee 41 Dial Before You Dig Mark Primmer 26 | THE RACING MAGAZINE

For more entry information, visit www.thenationals.com.au

DRIVER state VEHICLE DRIVER State VEHICLE Blackwell Race Engines Gavin Ross VIC VT Comm GAG/Hinde Ben Grice VT Comm GavinTransport Ross Vic VT QLD Comm Silkgate Group Ian Chivas NSW AU Falcon Ben Grice Qld VTVICComm selby.com Simon Tabinor VT Comm Kleenduct Australia P/L Harley Phelan VT Comm Ian Chivas NSW AU VIC Falcon DPS Enterprises Brent Edwards VIC AU Falcon Simon Vic VT VIC Comm 501 Performance Tabinor Tony Evangelou AU Falcon Lighthouse Electrical Ashley Jarvis QLD AU Falcon Harley Phelan Vic VT Comm Transley Solutions Luke Westall NSW AU Falcon Brent Edwards Sam Lee Vic AU NSW Currie Bros Engines AU Falcon Falcon Dial Before You Dig Mark Primmer NSW AU Falcon Tony Evangelou Vic AU Falcon Dial Before You Dig Michael Bartch SA AU Falcon Luke Fraser RacingJarvis Luke Fraser Qld VT Comm Ashley AUSAFalcon Cachet Homes Chris Lillis WA VT Comm Luke Westall NSW AU Falcon Glen Postlethwaite Glen Postlethwaite VIC VT Comm Sam Lee For more entry information, visitNSW www.thenationals.com.au AU Falcon Mark Primmer NSW AU Falcon SPONSOR

CC 3800 3800 4000 3800 3800 4000 4000 3997 4000 4000 4000

CO Gree Black Blue/ White White Black Black Red/ White

Blue/

THENATIONALS.COM.AU | 27

HISTORY MADE AT WINTON RACEWAY HISTORY WAS MADE during round three of the Shannons Australian Motor Racing Nationals as 14-year-old teenager Alex Rullo won the second round of the 2015 Kumho V8 Touring Cars Series.

The Perth Youngster becomes the youngest ever winner of a national-level round in Australian Motorsport History. Meanwhile, Ryan Simpson dominated the second round of the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge and Jon Collins wrangled the lead of the Australian Formula 3 Championship away from rival Ricky Capo. Cameron Hill dominated Formula Ford, winning all three races while Simon Tabinor was similarly competitive in the Super Six Touring Car challenge, taking his second win from as many races. The Australian Sports Racer Series and IROC Challenge also staged competitive rounds.

PORSCHE GT3 CUP CHALLENGE RYAN SIMPSON stormed to a clean sweep of the second round of the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge presented by Pirelli, taking victory in both sprint races on Sunday to sweep the round. The Sydney driver executed a near-perfect demolition of the 20-strong field in race two, winning by six seconds and lowering the lap record – set on Saturday evening by Jon McCorkindale – by a further 0.5 seconds. He then won an abbreviated third race when a turn one, lap one crash left debris and oil over the circuit following four laps behind the Safety Car. Simpson judged the restart perfectly and again pulled away to complete the sweep. Impressive rookie Dylan O’Keefe was second overall after grabbing third and second in today’s two races, respectively. The 17-year-old battled with Jon McCorkindale for second in race two, before avoiding the chaos in race three to grab second place. McCorkindale was in the midst of the race three carnage and failed to finish, putting a dent in his otherwise strong round performance. John Goodacre won the Elite class after a series of consistent performances – including third outright in race three – while Aaron Seton rocketed to the lead of the class B points standings thanks to his round win.

KUMHO V8 TOURING CARS FOURTEEN-year-old schoolboy Alex Rullo has created Australian motorsport history in the second round of the Kumho Tyre Australian V8 Touring Car Series at Winton Motor Raceway. The Perth-based teenager won the final race of three at Winton after finishing runner-up to 17-year-old Liam McAdam in the first two races and, in doing so, sealed overall round victory. Rullo became the youngest winner in Australian touring car racing history given the V8 Touring Car Series consists of Commodores and Falcons that formerly competed in the V8 Supercars Championship.

28 | THE RACING MAGAZINE

He was driving a Falcon for Matthew White’s Melbourne-based MW Motorsport team that was formerly driven by current V8 Supercars Championship leader Mark Winterbottom for Ford Performance Racing in 2006 and 2007. The Winton round was Rullo’s second appearance in the Kumho Series after he made his debut at Sandown in late March. It was an equally special moment for Rullo given his father Peter was also competing in the same field this weekend. “It’s an awesome feeling, we had good pace all weekend,” said Rullo, who turned 15 the day after the round. “It’s a good way to end my last day of being 14, that’s for sure. Having the extra support of Dad here this weekend competing in the same event was great too.” Sydney driver Steve Briffa had a breakthrough weekend of his own in his Poco Furniture Commodore, a trio of third-place finishes in the three races netting him second overall for the round. The result is his first Kumho Series podium finish in his third season in the category.

AUSTRALIAN FORMULA 3 CHAMPIONSHIP JON COLLINS has stormed to the lead of the Australian Formula 3 Championship after sweeping round three of the championship at Winton Raceway. Collins twice took advantage of nearest rival Ricky Capo’s tiny errors to turn a ten point championship deficit to a five point lead heading into the half-way point of the wings-and-slicks championship in Sydney next month. Collins finished second on the road to Capo on race two, however was handed the win when Capo was penalised five seconds for rolling at the start. In the longer feature race Collins jumped to the early lead from second on the grid, but was handed a substantial lead when Capo spun exiting the final corner early in the race. A late Safety Car closed the pair up, however Collins wasn’t troubled following the restart and pulled away to record his second consecutive race victory. Shane Ryding finished third in the Harvest Motorsport Mygale while Luke Spalding continued his recent run of success by taking the National class victory.

AUSTRALIAN FORMULA FORD CHAMPIONSHIP CAMERON HILL has become the first driver to win all three races in a round of the 2015 Australian Formula Ford Series, sweeping the Winton weekend to rocket himself to the top of the points standings. Hill dominated the weekend and beat home Luis Leeds (who had two seconds and a fifth)

at Winton, Northern Territory driver Thomas Maxwell finishing third overall. Leading the points coming into the round, Christian Morina could only manage ninth overall this weekend, missing out on points in race two and only managing seventh in race three from further down the field. Luke Ellery edged out former outright round winner Hamish Hardeman for the victory in the Kent class to extend his championship lead.

DIAL BEFORE YOU DIG SUPER SIX TOURING CARS SIMON TABINOR repeated his race one victory to seal the double deal in the Dial Before You Dig Super Six Touring Car Challenge at Winton.

(#53 Bryan Stoeckel West) and Mark Laucke respectively, after coming home second from first-time race winner Laucke in the opening 10 lap stanza. While race two saw Laucke struggle with a poor start and then a turn 12 spin, the Laucke Flour Mills CEO would regroup for race three to come home in second place to clinch the runner-up trophy for the round, pulling off an impressive move on Jason Makris (#44 West Race Cars West) and Stoeckel to move from fourth to second in one corner in the process. After qualifying on pole, Roger I’Anson endured a difficult day at the race track in what may well be his last race of the season following the acceptance of a new job in the Northern Territory and a need for the family team to reset following a financially and emotionally draining last few rounds.

The two-time series champion had relatively straightforward path to victory in the second of two, 30-lap races, pitting on the seventh lap and working his way back up the order as the remainder of the field pitted. Defending winner Gavin Ross finished second and Harley Phelan third in another Commodore lockout of the top three spots. Ashley Jarvis finished fourth – and first Ford – while Chris Lillis completed the top six. Ben Grice’s horrific start to his season continued with another DNF, mechanical issues slowing his car on the formation lap before he could even start the race.

IROC CHALLENGE SERIES ROHAN LITTLE won the first round of the brand-new IROC Challenge series for classic Porsche’s, but not before seeing off strong challenges from nearest rivals Sven Burchartz and Greg Keene. The new one-make series entertained with a series of competitive races, the trio – often joined by Graeme Cook and Rory O’Neill – putting on a show in each of the three races held. Little won races one and two whilst Burchartz won the finale’. Keene scored a trio of third place results in his White 911. Rory O’Neill and Graeme Cook tied for fourth overall while Rob Black was forced to withdraw following a race one DNF for a broken clutch on his bright Blue entry. The IROC Challenge series will return to the Shannons Nationals series at Phillip Island this September.

SPORTS RACER SERIES West Race Cars Australia’s Aaron Steer scored two race wins on his way to the Australian Sports Racer Series Round Two victory at Winton Motor Raceway. Steer emerged victorious from both the second and third races ahead of Jonathon Stoeckel THENATIONALS.COM.AU | 29

ROUND 4 SYDNEY MOTOR SPORT PARK, NSW

TELEVISION COVERAGE SHANNONS NATIONALS TV Speedweek on Sunday at 3:30pm on SBS1

Round 4 Sydney Motorsport Park, 3‒5 july Don’t forget the new time of 3.30pm Speedweek on Sunday at 3.30pm on SBS1

Show 1

19th July Aust Formula 3 Championship Aust Super 6 Touring Cars Formula Ford National Series

Show 2

26th July Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge

All Speedweek episodes are now broadcast free to air on SBS HD & SBS One simultaneously.

‘SHANNONS NATIONALS’ ON FOX SPORTS Visit www.thenationals.com.au for complete TV schedule

LIVE INTERNET TV FROM 9.00AM ON SATURDAY AND SUNDAY via www.thenationals.com.au

LAP RECORDS

SYDNEY MOTORSPORT PARK Grand Prix Circuit