thenationals.com.au
EDITORIAL By Richard Craill AS I WRITE this, I am angry. The Adelaide Crows have just given away an easy 50 metre penalty with four minutes and nine seconds left in Showdown 39 – the twice-annual Aussie Rules footy battle with cross-town rivals, the Port Adelaide Power. It’s annoying. Our boys have dominated much of the play all game and seen off challenge after challenge from the Power and yet one poor decision by one ill-disciplined player handed the footy to the rival captain, who promptly slotted it through for a goal. That’s narrowed the margin from an otherwise safe 15 points to a somewhat dangerous 9 with four minutes and nine seconds to go. I don’t like this kind of stress. I’m okay with people making honest mistakes in situations like this – it happens in professional sport as it does in business and in life. But I can’t tolerate bad decisions made with what seemed to be some form of conscious thought. Not only does it put the fortunes of the 21 other players at risk, but then there’s the coaches, the crowd in the game and the supporters, like me, watching on TV who can’t deal with the stress they’re causing. This player made a choice to crowd his rival after he’d taken a clean mark and as such gave away a penalty - and that annoys me because it was a decision he wouldn’t have made had he been more disciplined. Making good, sound decisions is generally reliant on a couple of key factors. Firstly, there’s taking the time to think things through – which, I admit, can often be an element hard to nail down in competitive sports – before deciding which option is best to take. Then there’s the consultation: talking with key members or stakeholders (In this case, the teammates, the fans etc) who are going to be effected by the choice you make. There’s also a need to consider further than those in the immediate vicinity around you: as outlined above, there’s more relying on the decision to crowd a player after he’s taken a mark, and risk a 50-metre penalty, than just the 21 blokes round you on the field. Two minutes left...damn...another Power goal after a rapid centre clearance. Our defence has gone the same way the French went in 1939! Three points? This is going to be a close one! When the Crows player in question gave away fifty meters and handed the opposition another goal, it set in place a sequence of
events that led to the Power kicking another goal, almost immediately. It’s contributed to 54,000 people at the game being on edge and my couch copping a fair walloping as it deals with me punching it repeatedly, in frustration. All decisions, in sport or otherwise, can have this broader ripple effect that people often don’t take into account. If people took the time to think beyond how the choice they’re making effected them and, rather, thought about how it could change the lives of people in the broader spectrum, the world might be a better place.
IN THIS ISSUE
Fifty seconds left and a stoppage, 65 meters from the Crows forward line. That’s it lads, hold the ball up. Slow it down. Make the right decision that will result in those wearing black and teal not getting the ball again.
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Speed Shots
8
Pitlane Whiteboard
Motorsport is, naturally, full of moments like this. I bet when the FIA signed off on the new powerplants in Formula One they didn’t think about the wider consequences that would have for teams who ended up with a dud powerplant, like Red Bull, or that two years after their introduction a majority of fans would be baying for their removal.
16 Feature SLEUTHING F3 STYLE!
Decision made, consequences effected. I think Motorsport needs to be careful when it comes to making decisions. Signing off on a set of rules that changes the landscape in three or four years, as V8 Supercars have done with their Gen 2 rules, is fine. Making decisions in a short timeframe, in the same way this Crows player threw away six points of a valuable lead by making a bad call on the fly, only serves to create circumstances that lead to discontentment amongst the fans and those involved. And that can lead to much worse situations than just the sideeffects of one bad call.
10 Main Feature NEXT GEN JAG
18 Feature BROTHERS IN ARMS 21 Program 22 Schedule 24 Entries 28 Round 4 in Review 30 Television Coverage Lap Records
Publisher
Australian Motor Racing Pty Ltd
Editor
Richard Craill
Siren! Thank goodness for that… we hold on to win by three points in an emotionally charged finale.
Art Director
Sarah Anesbury – 121 Creative Hilton
Writers
Richard Craill, Amanda Jackson & Garry O’Brien
It’s lucky, then, that the decision making process, in the end at least, was sound for the Adelaide Crows. The last pressure filled minute was filled with choices that could’ve changed the end result but in the end they made the right calls and got home.
Production
Decision making is important. Making the right ones are even better. But rebounding from a poor decision and putting pieces in place to rectify the situation, much like the Crows did today, is the best possible outcome for all involved. Especially the Mighty, Fighting, Adelaide Crows.
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.
Chief Photographer: Nathan Wong Kwik Kopy Printing Hilton
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MISTY MORNINGS Photo by Rob Annesley THERE’S NOT MUCH TO SAY about this other than this: Sydney Motorsport Park, a pre-dawn mist, and the Shannons Nationals Safety Car. Our thanks to Rob for this remarkable shot!
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Photo by Nathan Wong CAMERON HILL is doing someone people shouldn’t be able to do — dominating the Australian Formula Ford Series: a title so competitive, so open that stringing together three race wins in a row is difficult: doing it in two consecutive rounds shouldn’t even be possible! And yet, the young Canberran has done just that. From tight, technical Winton to the fast and flowing Sydney curves car eleven has had it made. He’s now won seven races this year and holds a handy points lead going into the final two rounds. And though Formula Ford is often the most open and competitive of championships around, the blistering mid-season form from Hill is in a very, very handy position indeed.
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PITLANE WHITEBOARD COMMON SENSE is often lacking in this column. It’s also lacking in motorsport in many occasions as well, come to think of it, but this month the old PLWB has put his Common Sense cap on forwards and has actually come up with a decent suggestion for once. Yes, in the world of vanilla drivers and beige PR quotes, there’s one racing driver breaking the mould and knowingly quoting the Twelfth Man in live TV interviews. Give him a knighthood, now… There’s a lot going on in motor racing at present.
What we need, ladies and gentleman, is Ben Grice.
Where do we start?
How I would see this operating is rather like an iPhone. Powerful, yet amazingly simple and easy to use. There would be a new department: The Fair Dinkum Department.
We’ve got Holden teams complaining about the Fords being too fast in V8 Supercar, Formula 1 teams who can’t agree on anything, and drag racers who want to play in separate paddocks. There’s angst and people causing trouble everywhere. And just when you think things couldn’t get any more farcical, they want to dig up Fangio! Well I’m just about fed up with this. We need a solution. We need an honest, hard working, straight to the point man with a plan. And then, as I was watching the Shannons Nationals Livesteam from Sydney Motorsport Park, the solution hit me the face like that snowball hits Tina in a whisky ad. “Yeah, this is the first fair go we’ve had in this category. We’ve been dead set of luck in the fair dinkum department.” Once I noted that I know no girls named Tina who drink Whisky, but if I did I’m sure she’d be a fun kind of girl, I thought, “This, my friends, is the man motorsport needs.” Son of a no-nonsense politician. A man that can call a spade, a spade. The people’s champion.
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Want permission to dig up a former World Champion? Ask the Fair Dinkum Department. Need to come up with solution to stop your sport splitting two factions? The Fair Dinkum Department is at your service.
It would consist one man, Ben Grice, in one desk, in one room. There would be one assistant, who would have one job, and that is ensuring the one beer fridge is stocked in a fair dinkum fashion.
Are you a Sauber boss that has signed 54 drivers to drive your two cars next year? Need to fit extra races in your Formula 1 calendar? Do you have a problem with aerodynamic parity?
The Fair Dinkum department would receive requests from organisations across the world looking to solve their motorsport issues. These would be filed in a tray marked ‘IN’. There would be two out trays, one marked ‘YEAH,’ the other marked ‘NAH.’
We have your answer. A Fair Dinkum operator is standing by. But be quick, as there’s a fully stocked bar fridge, and it’s not drinking itself while we wait for your call.
The Chairman and CEO of the Fair Dinkum Department, the aforementioned B. Grice, would then file the requests appropriately. We could call it the “Court of Arbitration for Motor Sport,” but that would imply that we’re interested in some form of mediation, or negotiation. We don’t have time for that. There’s a fully stocked beer fridge, and it’s going to waste while we’re listening to lawyers who are representing category managers, manufacturers, circuits, or governing bodies. The way to get the answer is clear.
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.
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NEXT GEN JAG FORGET ‘Gen 2’. Forget ‘Car of the Future’. If you want to see innovative engineering, design and construction in motorsport then look no further than the world of the Kerrick Sports Sedan Series. Thanks to a sensational, access-all-areas Facebook page and a family organisation producing cars, here’s a story about a team boldly going to the next generation of Sports Sedans. WORDS: Richard Craill & Jordan Roddy IMAGES: facebook.com/pages/Roddy-Motorsport PERHAPS ONLY the World Endurance Championship offers the same level of diversity and engineering innovation currently on offer from within Australia’s own Kerrick Sports Sedan Series. In what is the last bastion of racing with an open rule book and where creating new and ingenious engineering solutions is the key to success, Sports
Sedans are now rare in a world of increasingly standardised rule packages and commonality of components. But in the same way Harry Hogge said ‘There ‘aint nothing stock about a stock car’, there’s nothing standard about a Sports Sedan. True to form, new cars continue to be built and developed to take on the well-refined machinery
entered by the likes of the Gourlay, Ricciardello, Tamasi and Randle outfits who have been doing it so well for so long. The Roddy surname is synonymous with Sports Sedan racing thanks, in part, to their dedication to the Jaguar brand and secondly – and possibly more impressively — their commitment to continue running a V12 powerplant.
THE OLD CAR
PEOPLE
TRANSMISSION “OUR chosen transmission is the Hewland VGC. It’s a fairly old design, but is used by one of the most notable front running cars in the Australian sports sedan class - the Ricciardello Alfa GTV. “It represents a departure from our XJS that preceded this car, which ran a Hollinger longitudinal transmission and a independent 9” differential within an IRS assembly trailing it. We hope this will improve our weight distribution and improve the cars serviceability. “The only sequential gearboxes that we felt were engineered to withstand the V12s power and torque were far outside the budget we’d set for the whole driveline. This was the best solution we could come to and best of all, it’s highly proven for our application.” 10 | THE RACING MAGAZINE
“INTRODUCING the two biggest external influences of the project thus far. “The first image shows Ron Hossack with (Jordan’s Dad) Mike (Ron is the father of multiple Kerrick Series champion Darren), who has been a significant motivator and engineering partner of the project. Much of the incredible engineering seen on the car has been tirelessly produced by Ron in his suburban shed, a true legend of Australian Sports Sedans. “In the second image is Nathan Garratt (also with Mike), our body stylist and composites guru. The amount of time he’s selflessly put into the project after hours would probably stretch into the thousands of hours. Much of the Roddy Motorsport exploits of the last 10 years wouldn’t have been possible without him.”
“THIS is the car that the Roddy XK-RS owes its engine and lineage to: the XJS sports sedan we built and competed with between 2006 and 2008. “It was a mighty car, but moved aside to enable the gestation of this project (and a few other Roddy racers too). “As you can see, the engine is set well back into the chassis. We have maintained this for the XK-RS. At the expense of driver visibility (and comfort due to the extreme heat from the exhaust next to the drivers legs), this engine position helps the car closer to obtaining the magical 50:50 weight distribution desired for all race cars.”
“The amount of time he’s selflessly put into the project after hours would probably stretch into the thousands of hours.”
ENGINE
FRONT UPRIGHTS
“OUR race engine on the stand in its specific Kerrick National Sports Sedan trim (differences from TWR spec include butterfly throttle bodies instead of slides, short trumpets, larger carbon airbox and different sump). “Note the blue engine stand, which is one of the original Jaguar stands from Jaguar’s Radford V12 Assembly Plant just outside Coventry, UK. We were fortunate to be offered it after they closed the plant in 1996, it probably gave birth to quite a few thousand V12s. “(It produces) around the 700hp mark, with approximately 550 ft. lb. of Torque, from 6 litres. We could get a bit more but it would be at the expense of longevity. In this spec we can get a few seasons racing out of it with nothing more than oil changes.”
“ANOTHER interesting ‘original’ TWR feature of the car is the front suspension uprights. These are original magnesium XJR-9 uprights. We run them complete with the TWR spindles and titanium drive pegs. As such, any 1980s period TWR prototype wheels will fit on the car. “The fronts are cast magnesium items from a TWR Jaguar XJR-9 prototype (very similar to pictured) and the rears are custom fabricated CrMo sheet metal items made to our spec.”
ENGINE & CHASSIS MOUNTING “HERE is a look at the front of the engine in the chassis. The KRC power steering pump (with a custom pulley), the crank pulley and the water pump can all be seen here. “Two interesting things to note here are the lack of a damper or harmonic balancer — the mighty V12 doesn’t need it! Also, the plate itself is the front engine mount, this helps us use the entire engine assembly as an addition to the basic structure of the chassis — making it a ‘stressed member’.”
SUMP “THE XJR-9 WSC (World Sports Car) and IMSA-spec engines both shared the same low profile cast magnesium sump, it is approximately 1” (25mm) thick and has a series of integrated slotted scavenge ‘shovels’ to vacuum the sump oil from. “In an effort to lower the centre of gravity even further we have eschewed it for what is essentially a flat plate. This enables us to lower the engine 15mm vertically forwards the ground, vastly aiding the cars centre of gravity (bear in mind the V12 is somewhat top heavy). “We are currently developing a new scavenge system that gains passage through the side of the engine block itself.”
WHEELS “THE wheels we have chosen for the XK project are custom made 18 inch BBS 3 piece centre lock rims. They have been manufactured for us by BBS specifically so they will interface with the TWR XJR9 front and rear spindles and wheel nuts that we are using. “An interesting feature is the scallop between each spoke to reduce weight. A beautifully made set of wheels.”
GETTING A QUICK DISCONNECT “THE devil is in the detail: to enable quick removal of the transaxle assembly, we have created a billet quick disconnect system for the clutch and rear brakes. “The connectors are ‘dry break’ (red twist fittings), meaning they can be connected and disconnected over and over without requiring a re-bleed to purge air from the hydraulic system. “Also, as multi-tasking is paramount to save weight in race cars, we have incorporated the brake light switch in the distribution block (the two pin switch).” THENATIONALS.COM.AU | 11
STYLING & BODYWORK “HERE we can reveal the ‘face’ of the new car.” “Here is what we call the styling ‘buck’ that was used to create the initial moulds for the carbon fibre body. “It is mainly wood, fibreglass, body filler and clay, however there is a fair amount of genuine Jaguar hiding in there. The screen A-pillars and roof turret visible are actually part of a genuine X150 Jaguar XK body we used for the moulding process. “You might also see that we have added our own headlight design in place of the original XK headlights. We intend to run 2 x LED clusters on each side so the car has working headlights but still without the exceptional weight of an OEM Jaguar headlight assembly. “A piece of clear polycarbonate will sit in the relieved area in the periphery of each headlight. “All credit goes to our body man Nathan Garratt here for this extraordinary creation.”
GETTING A SPARK “YOU can see the Motec dash logger enclosed within the carbon fibre dashboard binnacle. “This unit will monitor and log various sensed parameters from around the car and stores the information in an internal hard drive. This mainly includes temperature and pressure related alarms. It is able to automatically control outputs too, such as cooling pumps and fans. “The other photo you can see, included for a bit of a laugh, shows the starter button. The starter button is identical to a Lucas item from a 1957 Jaguar D-Type (and various jaguar road models of the period)... Since there is so little ‘jaguar’ in the car we took the opportunity to include a little bit of Jaguars pre-V12 competition history. “We have also paid attention as to how the loom and its various sensors are restrained within the car. In photos of the chassis, you can see tiny little latching points on the bars of the chassis: these are the anchor points to tie the loom into the car without having to wrap a tie around the whole chassis bar (one of our pet hates).”
BODY “THE body — where did we start? As detailed earlier, the body for the XK will be 100% composite and mainly carbon fibre. How did we achieve this when a real XK body is 100% aluminium? “We started with a genuine aluminium X150 XKR shell that was surplus to the factory Jaguar race team. The images show it at Apex Motorsports workshops in the UK just prior to us shipping it to Australia. “From this shell we have every shape and datum point that we could possibly want. We have used it as the basis of the ‘buck’ from which all of the composite body moulds were taken. Most importantly, it enabled us to get the tricky parts like the ‘turret’ (roof panel, A and C pillars) and all of the window shapes and lighting apertures absolutely perfect. “After we had mocked up the first set of panels on the car that we would use as a basis, we were left with the question: what to do next? “We were faced with a small conundrum, the body wasn’t anywhere near finished but we needed it to be in order to finish the top half of the chassis (mainly the rollover structure). This is where a lot of hard graft from composites man Nathan Garratt came into play.. “We took the decision to take a quick ‘flop’ off the basic mocked car so the chassis could continue, but before we did Nathan added a few quick features like our lightweight headlights. You can also see the ‘mocked’ body ready for the fibreglass skin to be laid with the hell coat still glistening wet. “All-in-all, it was very worthwhile exercise. It allowed continuous and simultaneous development of the chassis and the body and gave us a great indicator of how we could eventually package the various ancillaries and sub systems under the skin of the car.”
“We started with a genuine aluminium X150 XKR shell that was surplus to the factory Jaguar race team.”
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HOSSACK EYEING SYDNEY RETURN WORDS: Amanda Jackson
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Following his speedway incident 14 weeks ago, two-time Kerrick Sports Sedan Series champion Darren Hossack is eyeing a 2015 season finale return to the #4 Auto Union Deutsche Audi A4 as he continues to recover from his injuries. Hossack was involved in a nasty crash in a heat race at Victoria’s Simpson Speedway in early April and suffered injuries to both knees in the subsequent impact – breaking one and fracturing the other. While the timing of his comeback will ultimately depend on the continued progression of his recovery, the 45 year old from Ferntree Gully in Victoria is hopeful that the November 13-15 event at Sydney Motorsport Park is a suitable goal. “It has been 13 weeks since the crash and my recovery is progressing as well as possible,” said Hossack. “I am now doing leg presses every second day, swimming every day and riding a stationary bike every day. The movement in my right leg is 100 degrees and my left leg is 125 degrees, and while I am not yet strong enough to walk without a crutch I am hopeful that that will change in the coming weeks. “It is too soon just now to get back in the car, so Jack Perkins will be taking the wheel on my behalf for Queensland Raceway’s round in August and I wish him all the best for a successful event. “For the Wakefield Park event in October I unfortunately have work commitments that mean that I won’t be available even if my recovery has progressed sufficiently to drive – with having had so much time off recently, work really needs to take priority. That leaves Sydney as the next possible point of return, and one that I am quietly confident of meeting if all goes to plan.” According to doctors, Hossack has another nine months of work ahead as he works towards a 100% recovery. “The doctors are hopeful that I will make a full recovery, so we will just keep working away at it and doing what we need to do. It is a long and sometimes frustrating process but I have really appreciated everyone’s support and well wishes,” said Hossack. “DPE Kart Technology in particular have been incredibly understanding through all of this and I can’t thank them and also my wife Mel enough for all of their support.” For regular updates on Hossack’s progress, keep an eye on the Hossack Motorsport Facebook page. Jack Perkins will continue to deputise for the two-time series champion at the Queensland Raceway Kerrick series round in August.
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SLEUTHING F3 STYLE! ORIGIN STORIES are all the rage at the moment. In the last five years we’ve found out where Batman, Superman, Marvel’s The Avengers and a whole host of superheroes have come from, for starters. WORDS: Richard Craill IMAGES: Formula3.com.au/Nathan Wong/Dirk Klynsmith Meanwhile, in the real world, the history of motorsport has also become more and more prominent with the likes of our good friend, the V8 Sleuth, producing oodles of fascinating content charting the racing history of every V8 Supercar chassis ever constructed. But it’s not just the V8’s with a rich and fascinating history worth telling. So, with a nod (and a hope he doesn’t sue for blatantly ripping off his gig), to the V8 Sleuth himself, we’ve dusted out the record books and searched our way to find the backgrounds of a couple of Australia’s more interesting Formula 3 chassis. We admit, it’s a niche’ market, but who knows? Like the above superhero titles, there might be a market for an ‘F3 Sleuth’ franchise yet!
DALLARA F302 - 066 OUR STORY starts with Dallara Formula 3 chassis F302-066, ordered and purchased by Hitech racing for use in the British Formula 3 Championship between 2003-04. As one of the top teams in the championship at the time, Hitech attracted a strong driver roster to its ranks with the likes of Estonian Marko Asmer and Brazilian Luca DiGrassi racing for the team in the 2004 season. Like all F3 chassis, the car was upgraded from 2002 aero specification to ’03 and ultimately ’04spec during it’s time with Hitech. It’s believed that Asmer drove this chassis in 2004, finishing 10th in the championship, before it was sold into Australia at the end of the season. Its first local owner was Jack Alajajain, father of Chris, the car coming as part of a three-car order from Hitech with the sister cars owned by John Caratti, father of racing brothers Aaron and Nathan. Alajajian’s car was run by the Sam Astuti-David Borg outfit, Astuti Competition, for the first two round before the outfit was split and the Alajajian’s handed preparation over to Scott Anderson’s Protechnica Racing squad.
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Alajajian finished third in the 2005 championship, behind Carartti and Michael Trimble, winning two races and scoring 10 podium finishes. In 2006 the car remained in Alajajian’s hands but was run by Team BRM, and despite contesting only four rounds it certainly left its mark on the championship. In Alajajian’s hands, the car qualified second at the Grand Prix support races and ran strongly before a three-car bingle between Chris, Polesitter Michael Trimble and Bruno Senna (yes, THE Senna), saw it damaged and out of the race.
DALLARA F305 – 029 305/029 is the only Formula 3 chassis imported into Australia to win two Australian Formula 3 Championship titles, by virtue of success in 2009 with Joey Foster and 2010 with Ben Barker. The car was one of three identical 2005-built chassis imported into Australia for the commencement of the 2008 season by Team BRM, who had at the time secured the backing of stockbroking firm Opes Prime (before it went under), and a host of remarkably talented young drivers. The three chassis (029, 033 and 035) were very well developed pieces of engineering by the time they landed in Australia, direct from competing in the 2007 Macau Grand Prix for former owners Signature Racing. The competition in Euro F3 at the time was such that the cars also came with something else – legal disclaimers that ensured BRM couldn’t release any of the proprietary information or ideas developed by Signature in their Euroseries battles with the likes of Prema and ASM at the time. Estonian Esteban Guerrieri raced ‘029’ for Signature at Macau, qualifying 12th but unfortunately failing to finish the qualifying race. Once in Australia, young West Aussie ace Nathan Caratti took over the car and in its new blue and black livery, won three times, scored three pole positions and set four fastest laps on his way to third in the championship behind James Winslow and Leanne Tander.
The following year, however, was the breakthrough for the car with Brit Joey Foster edging Tim Macrow for the championship, having won seven times from 16 races. 2009 is also the year the car crossed paths with the Tweedie Dallara mentioned earlier for the first time, though the following season would see the pair engage in a furious battle for the Gold Star. With another young Briton, Ben Barker, behind the wheel, ‘029’ won the championship by a single point when Barker set the fastest lap in the final race of the year. He edged out teammate Mitch Evans to win the title, Evans racing the identical, sister, ex-signature chassis no. 035. Across the three seasons between 2008 and 2010, F305/029 started 51 races, won 16 of them, scored 11 pole positions and 22 fastest laps and, of course, two championship titles. Despite its success, 029 sat idle for the entire 2011 and 2012 seasons, before another young West Aussie driver, Jordan Oon, raced the car in 2013, scoring five podium finishes and 5th in the championship. Chelsea Angelo then ran the car in 2014, winning National Class races and showing her raw speed before budget ultimately curtailed her openwheel career, at least in the short term. ‘029’ remains available and competitive for the next young star to drive..
The car contested just two rounds in Alajajian’s hands the following season, starring at the A1GP meeting at Eastern Creek where ‘The Chris’ storming from 7th to second in race one and ninth to P2 in the second race, breaking the lap record on two occasions along the way. The car remained idle throughout the 2008 season however was sold at the end of the year to noted Sydney racer Bob Tweedie, who with RALT Australia ran the car for son Tom in the 2009 season, winning the National Class in the process. It’s worth noting that 2009 marked the last season the famous RALT Australia name was involved in Australian Motorsport, the late Graham Watson passing away at the end of the season after a battle with illness. The Tweedie’s returned the following year and were the David’s to the Team BRM goliath in one of the closest Formula 3 title battles ever staged, Tweedie’s older, privately run car upsetting the BRM boys with two victories and a narrow third in the championship. It was the second-last ‘04-specification car to win a race outright in Australian Formula 3. The car again sat on the sidelines in 2011 before being sold across Sydney to brothers Adam and Nathan Gotch, whose AGI Sport operation was looking to expand into open-wheel competition. The Gotch’s retain 302/066 in their garage, the car since having gone on to win multiple NSW State open wheel titles whilst still popping back onto the national scene for the occasional run.
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WITH BIG LEAPS taken recently with their Sherrin Rentals Racing team and their BMW135i, the Queenslanders are certainly competitors to keep an eye on this year, so we decided to catch up with them ahead of their home-track round to see what it was like racing alongside each other.
if you want to go past him you have to make it happen yourself, there will be no favours. And you can be assured it is always our fault if anything goes wrong! Our team member Ben has already had his ears burning a few times on the radio this year!
While the pair are experienced and effective teammates today and are quick to point out that they are best mates as well as brothers, it hasn’t always been that way, reports older brother Iain.
“It all makes for a good laugh at the team dinner that night though — Mike and Dave are gunning for us this year so it is on, and we know that if we slip up like at Sandown they will be there to swoop in.”
“When it comes to sport we have always been super competitive, whether it has been car racing or triathlons, bikes or yard cricket — we always want to beat each other,” said Iain Sherrin.
BROTHERS IN ARMS AFTER COMING HOME second outright and taking out the Australian Endurance Championship in 2014, the Sherrin brothers — Grant and Iain — have been taking big strides in the Australian Manufacturers Championship, with off-season improvements to see them consistently battling for outright wins while dominating Class B. WORDS: Amanda Jackson IMAGES: Nathan Wong
“Sharing the car with Grant is a lot more relaxing and enjoyable for us and the team than if we were racing against each other! We have done that before, and both the team and dad got very nervous. Even when we are out testing the cars and we get close to each other it is on, so the team try their best to keep us apart,” laughed Iain. “When it comes to racing, Grant is quick and very consistent in the car and you know that the car is being driven at its best when he is in it — I know that if he can’t get it done than neither could I, so there is never any disharmony between us, only faith. Although I don’t like it when he pips me in qualifying!” The Sherrin Rentals Racing team isn’t only made up of the brothers, but also their father Michael, who shares the sister Sherrin Rentals BMW135i with co-driver David Ayres. All three have raced together in the one entry a number of times — at events including the prestigious Bathurst 12 Hour. “Iain is always focused and consistent, especially in the long distance race meets. As we are a small team when Iain gets out of the car he jumps on the radio and always has good communication skills, which allows me to pick up from where he left off,” said Grant. “Dad is great at analysing and working out the best strategies for the team, which has allowed us to always be on the hunt for a podium finish. When it comes to racing together we all know each other’s weaknesses and strengths so we have an advantage from the beginning. “Racing together as a family is great because we encourage each other, although at times he (Michael) is one of the hardest to pass because he is ultra-competitive and he wants us to earn the spot! When we finished the 2015 Bathurst 12 Hour — our third attempt as a family trio — it was a really special moment and we couldn’t have been happier to be coming home third in class. It was the race that we all had the most determination to finish together although it wasn’t the kindest race to us. We had many problems throughout the day but as a team we worked it out together and are so proud to be one of the first ‘all family drivers’ members to finish.” It certainly seems that while the family that races together ‘stays together’, there are no favours on the track. “I love going racing with dad but he is probably the hardest person to pass,” said Iain. “It doesn’t matter who it is or what part of the race it is, you know he will stick to his line and
18 | THE RACING MAGAZINE
While enjoying racing together, everyone knows that sharing a car means making compromises regularly — from set-up to strategy. “On set-up Grant and I are the same, we are very close in lap times and we don’t have to change anything as far as seating position or set-up which is a bonus, although I think Grant is a bit harder on the brakes and tyres. Dad likes it set-up a bit differently however this is one of the rare times when we get our own way and he just nods his head and gets on with it,” said Iain. While this team is already obviously a family affair, there is even more to the story. “Our team is very much a family affair, as not only is there the three of us as drivers, but our cousin Ben is the team manager, and our brother in law Nathan is on our pit crew,” said Iain. “For us we all live busy lives with work and family commitments, so at times we actually don’t see each other and can be like passing ships in the night. Because of this race weekends are special, where we can have the whole weekend together to catch up on things and enjoy what we love to do together. “We have had a small consistent team for the last three years now same eight guys including us drivers and each weekend all of the team play there part well and our Head engineer Jimmy definitely deserves recognition as a major part of our improvement.” This August, the third round of the AMChamps will see the Sherrin family able to compete on their home turf of Queensland Raceway — but don’t expect them to be hanging their hopes on the home track advantage. “In previous years even though it is our home track, we have struggled getting the results we were after at Queensland Raceway,” explained Grant. “This year with the way the team has been working together and how the car has been performing, we are hoping for an outright podium finish. “We love this series, due to not only the length of the races and the competiveness of the field, but also the close bond between the competitors. It is good, clean and hard racing. “As a team, even as a B Class car we are always determined to win the race outright and are really focused on winning the championship. We are currently sitting in second spot and are hoping to improve from last year’s result. We feel like this year with all the work we have done in the off-season that the car is the best it has ever been which seems to be showing in our results with us up amongst the Class A competitors, so we will be doing all we can to come home with that outright result.”
“Our team is very much a family affair.”
THENATIONALS.COM.AU | 19
ROUND 5 QUEENSLAND RACEWAY, QLD
SHANNONS AUSTRALIAN MOTOR RACING NATIONALS ROUND 5, QUEENSLAND RACEWAY • AUGUST 7– 9, 2015 AUTHORITY 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, and Supplementary Regulations issued for this Meeting. CAMS Permit : 815/0908/01
PROMOTERS
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.
OFFICIALS OF THE MEETING Clerk of Course:
Phillip Livingstone
Clerk of Course Assistants: Doug Chapple, Stephen Buchanan
Qld Raceways Operations Pty Ltd PO Box 100, Amberley Qld 4306 ABN 41 133 848 405 Tel: 07 5461 9100 Fax: 07 5461 9111 E: neil@qldraceways.com.au
Secretary of the Meeting:
Neil Lewis
Chief Medical Officer:
Dr Dan Bitmead
Series Steward:
Bradley Tubb
EXCLUSION OF LIABILITY, RELEASE AND ASSUMPTION OF RISK
Series Director:
MOTOR SPORT IS DANGEROUS
Technical Commissioners: Bob Buck (Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge), Paul Grey (Aust Super 6 Touring Car Series), Laurie Griffin (Kerrick Sports Sedan Series), Peter Kemp (Australian Manufacturers Championship), Fred Severin (Formula 3), Bob Hockley (Formula Ford)
In exchange for being able to attend or participate in the event, you agree: • to release Confederation of Australian Motor Sport Ltd (“CAMS”) and Australian Motor Sport Commission Ltd, promoters, sponsor organisations, land owners and lessees, organisers of the event, their respective servants, officials, representatives and agents (collectively, the “Associated Entities”) from all liability for your death, personal injury (including burns), psychological trauma, loss or damage (including property damage) (“harm”) howsoever arising from your participation in or attendance at the event, except to the extent prohibited by law;
Stewards: Steve O’Connor, Rich Reddish Rob Curkpatrick
Race Director: Paul Overell (Australian Manufacturers Championship)
Technical Advisor: Frank Lowndes (V8 Touring Cars) Chief Timekeeper:
Ian Leech
JUDGES OF FACT: Ian Leech, Steve Buchanan, Phillip Livingstone Pit Lane Speed:
TBA
RACE CONTROL COMMUNICATIONS: Dale Ham, Steve Buchanan
• 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
EMT COMMUNICATOR MEDICAL: David Miller
• to attend or participate in the event at your own risk.
SAFETY CAR COMMUNICATOR: TBA
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;
EMT CHASE CAR DRIVER: Bruce Muhling SAFETY CAR DRIVER:
Matt Pegg
COMMENTARY:
Darren Smith (Series)
CHIEF SCRUTINEER:
Lloyd Evans
SCRUTINEERS: David McClure, Greg Chappell, John Coad, Tony Taylor CHIEF FIRE AND RESCUE: Brad Payne
CHIEF FLAG:
Bob Lovi
DEPUTY: TBA FLAG MARSHALS: Adrian Fuller, Fabrice Niquet, John Bisson, Nick Finn, Phillip Miller, Stephanie Dix Jeanes, Stewart Gear, Nigel Faul, Trevor Hampson, Paul Bailey PIT LANE: Amy Cannock, Julie Hockey, Kathy Smith 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.
PROHIBITED AREAS The Organising Committee of today’s races has made every effort to ensure the safety of spectators at this meeting. In the interest of public safety, all areas other than the official spectator areas are PROHIBITED. The spectator areas are plainly defined and spectators are requested to keep behind the safety fence at all times. In the event of an accident on the circuit, the public MUST remain behind the safety fence as their entry to the track may cause further accidents and hinder officials.
SAFETY The fencing erected around the circuit is there for your protection. It is forbidden to sit, stand or climb on it.
parking Vehicles are permitted to enter and park on condition that the promoters and circuit owners are not under any liability whether in contract or in tort and whether for negligence as an occupier, or on any other basis or for any cause for action, for loss or damage to the vehicle or its contents no matter how or whether such may be caused.
• acts of violence and other harmful acts (whether intentional or inadvertent) committed by persons attending or participating in the event; and
EMT FIRE CHASE DRIVER: Brad Bowden
COPYRIGHT
CHIEF RECOVERY:
Paul Stones
• the failure or unsuitability of facilities (including grandstands, fences and guard rails) to ensure the safety of persons or property at the event.
RECOVERY:
Rodney McDonald
CHIEF MARSHALLING:
Barb Cooke
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.
MARSHALLING:
Wade Bates (Deputy)
CHIEF STARTER:
TBA
ASSISTANT:
Anthony Clark
• motor sport is dangerous and that accidents causing harm can and do happen and may happen to you.
THENATIONALS.COM.AU | 21
ROUND 5 QUEENSLAND RACEWAY, QLD
ROUND 5 QUEENSLAND RACEWAY, QLD
ROUND 5 SCHEDULE
ROUND 5 SCHEDULE
FRIDAY 7 AUGUST
1140
Qualifying 2
Kerrick Sports Sedan Series
20 min
1205
Qualifying 1
Australian Manuf. Championship
20 min
1230
Qualifying 1
Australian Sports Racer Series
20 min
1255
Qualifying 1
Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge
20 min
1320
Qualifying 2
Australian Manuf. Championship
20 min
1345
Race 1
Dial Before You Dig Aus Super 6 TC Series
10 laps
1415
Race 1
Aust. Formula Ford Series
14 laps
1445
Race 1
Australian Formula 3 Championship
14 laps
1515
Race 1
Kumho Tyres Aust V8 Touring Car Series
12 laps
1545
Race 1
Australian Sports Racer Series
12 laps
1615
Race 1
Kerrick Sports Sedan Series
12 laps
1645
Race 1
Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge
40 laps
1800
Race 1
Australian Manuf. Championship CPS
65 laps
0700
Gates Open
0830
Practice
Aust. Formula Ford Series
20 min
0855
Practice
Kerrick Sports Sedan Series
20 min
0920
Practice
Kumho Tyres V8 Touring Car Series
20 min
0945
Practice
Australian Manuf. Championship
20 min
1010
Practice
Australian Formula 3 Championship
20 min
1035
Practice
Dial Before You Dig Aust. Super 6 TC Series
20 min
1100
Practice
Australian Sports Racer Series
20 min
1125
Practice
Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge
20 min
1150
Practice
Aust. Formula Ford Series
20 min
1215
Practice
Kerrick Sports Sedan Series
20 min
1240
Practice
Australian Formula 3 Championship
20 min
1305
Practice
Kumho Tyres V8 Touring Car Series
20 min
1330
Practice
Australian Manuf. Championship
20 min
1355
Practice
Dial Before You Dig Aust. Super 6 TC Series
20 min
1420
Practice
Australian Sports Racer Series
20 min
1445
Practice
Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge
20 min
1510
Practice
Australian Formula 3 Championship
20 min
1535
Practice 1
Australian Manuf. Championship
15 min
1600
Practice 1
Aust. Formula Ford Series
15 min
1620
Practice 1
Australian Sports Racer Series
15 min
1640
Sponsor Rides
AMChamp, Super 6 TC
15 min
1655
Sponsor Rides
AV8TC, Porsche GT3 CC
20 min
1830
Observation
Australian Manuf. Championship
15 min
SATURDAY 8 AUGUST
22 | THE RACING MAGAZINE
0600
Gates Open
0830
Practice 1
Kumho Tyres Aust V8 Touring Car Series
15 min
0850
Qualifying 1
Dial Before You Dig Aust. Super 6 TC Series
20 min
0915
Qualifying 1
Kerrick Sports Sedan National Series
20 min
0940
Qualifying 1
Australian Formula 3 Championship
20 min
1005
Practice 1
Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge
15 min
1025
Qualifying 1
Aust. Formula Ford Series
20 min
1050
Qualifying 1
Kumho Tyres Aust V8 Touring Car Series
20 min
1115
Qualifying 2
Dial Before You Dig Aust. Super 6 TC Series
20 min
SUNDAY 9 AUGUST 0700
Gates Open
0800
Race 2
Aust. Formula Ford Series
10 laps
0830
Race 2
Formula 3 Australian Drivers Championship
14 laps
0900
Race 2
Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge
12 laps
0930
Warm up
Australian Manuf. Championship
0945
Race 2
Kumho Tyres Aust V8 Touring Car Series
12 laps
1015
Race 2
Australian Sports Racer Series
12 laps
1045
Race 2
Kerrick Sports Sedan Series
12 laps
1115
Race 2
Dial Before You Dig Aust. Super 6 TC Series
9 laps
1145
Race 2
Australian Manuf. Championship
65 laps
1330
Race 3
Aust. Formula Ford Series
10 laps
1400
Race 3
Australian Formula 3 Championship
18 laps
1440
Race 3
Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge
12 laps
1510
Race 3
Kumho Tyres Aust V8 Touring Car Series
18 laps
1550
Race 3
Australian Sports Racer Series
12 laps
1620
Race 3
Kerrick Sports Sedan Series
12 laps
1650
Race 3
Dial Before You Dig Aust. Super 6 TC Series
9 laps
CPS
10 min
THENATIONALS.COM.AU | 23
AUSTRALIAN FORMULA 3 CHAMPIONSHIP
ROUND 5 QUEENSLAND RACEWAY, QLD
ON THE WEB: WWW.FORMULA3.COM.AU
AUSTRALIAN FORMULA FORD SERIES ON THE WEB: WWW.FORMULAFORD.ORG.AU
Car
SPONSOR
DRIVER
state
VEHICLE
3
All Properties Group
Chris Gilmour
QLD
Dallara F311
6
R-Tek Motorsport
Dennie Rumble
NSW
Dallara/Merc
Car
SPONSOR
DRIVER
STATE
VEHICLE
7
R-Tek Motorsport
Nathan Kumar
NSW
Dallara/Merc
2
Sonic/Bosch Car Service
Thomas Maxwell
VIC
Mygale SJ13
8
R-Tek Motorsport
Roland Legge
QLD
Dallara/VW
3
Sonic/BrookeEvansCharteredAccountants
Benjamin Reichstein
VIC
Mygale SJ15A-001
9
R-Tek Motorsport
Keegan Brain
4
Sonic/CalistaPropertyGroup
Christian Morina
VIC
Mygale SJ12
13
Wiltec
Shane Wilson
QLD
Dallara F304
8
E-Steel (Aust)
Paul Zsidy
VIC
Spectrum 012
14
Trent Shirvington
Trent Shirvington
NSW
Mygale/Merc
7
Walters Racing/Synergy Motorsport
Cameron Walters
NSW
Mygale SJ07
17
McDonalds/Gilmour Racing
Jon Collins
NSW
Dallara/Merc
11
Colin Hill Engineering/Inflighter
Cameron Hill
ACT
Mygale SJ10a
23
bestjet.com/Gilmour Racing
Luke Spalding
QLD
Dallara/Merc
12
Synergy Motorsport
Andrew Kahl
NSW
Spectrum 012
46
Cetnaj Harvest Motorsport
Shane Ryding
VIC
Mygale/Merc
13
jamescorbettart.com
James Corbett
QLD
Spectrum 014b
92
Jani-King/Ricky Capo Racing
Ricky Capo
VIC
Dallara/M-Honda
23
Cars Galore/Race Academy
William Brown
QLD
Mygale SJ12A
Paul Scott
Paul Scott
QLD
Dallara F304
26
Dream Motorsport
Luis Leeds
VIC
Mygale SJ13a
38
VHT/TecFit/219 Design
Mitch Martin
VIC
Spectrum 014
39
SJ Display Group
Jake Spencer
VIC
Mygale SJ2012
Tim Hamilton
QLD
Spectrum 011b
Greg Holloway
NSW
Spectrum 014
AUSTRALIAN MANUFACTURERS CHAMPIONSHIP
92
Robert Power
QLD
Mygale SJ08A
ON THE WEB: WWW.AMCHAMP.COM.AU
95
Adrian Lazzaro
VIC
Spectrum 011
Jimmy Bailey
QLD
Spectrum 06B
87 88
96
Synergy Motorsport
JohnWhiteEng/BrownsEng/NorthsideFast
For more entry information, visit www.thenationals.com.au
AUSTRALIAN SPORTS RACER SERIES ON THE WEB: WWW.SPORTSRACER.COM.AU
Dallara F304
For more entry information, visit www.thenationals.com.au
Car
SPONSOR
DRIVER
state
VEHICLE
7
Poll Performance/Mocomm
Jim Pollicina
NSW
HSV GTS VF
13
Osborne Motorsport
Colin Osborne
NSW
Renault Megane RS275
18
Sherrin Rentals
Grant Sherrin
QLD
BMW 135i
19
Sherrin Rentals
Michael Sherrin
QLD
BMW 135i
23
Alphera Financial Services
Beric Lynton
QLD
BMW 1M
26
GWS Personnel
Michael Sloss
28
GWS Personnel/Hunter Kitchen King
Peter Foote Rick Bates
Car
SPONSOR
DRIVER
state
VEHICLE
30
Castrol/Turbosmart/DBA/Bilstein
3
West Race Cars
Josh Cranston
NSW
Composite
31
Osborne Motorsport
4
Orlando Phoenix
Terry Peovitis
WA
Composite
33
Castrol/Turbosmart/DBA/Bilstein
5
Aventis Racing
Adam Cranston
NSW
S2
34
9
DSR Downunder
Joshua Townsend
QLD
S3
32
Hughes Motorsport/Pro Vinyl
Sue Hughes
NSW
33
Taylor Collision/ Badge
Michael Whiting
44
West Race Cars
53
BMW 130i NSW
BMW 335i Mitsubishi Evo 10
NSW
Renault Megane RS275
Bob Pearson
NSW
Mitsubishi Evo 10
AAW Australian Auto Wreckers
George Karadimas
VIC
Ford Falcon XR6T
36
Grand Prix Mazda
Jake Camilleri
QLD
Mazda 3 MPS
S2
54
Donut King
Tony Alford
QLD
BMW 1M
SA
Composite
81
Wade Scott
QLD
Mitsub Evo 8
Jason Makris
SA
S3
Callan Sayers
QLD
Bryan Stoeckel
Jonathan Stoeckel
VIC
Widebody
Grant Phillips
VIC
55
Laucke Flour Mills
Mark Laucke
SA
S3
Andrew Turpie
VIC
56
West Race Cars
Aaron Steer
SA
S3
Mark Eddy
VIC
66
West Race Cars
John-Paul Drake
SA
S2
Francois Jouy
NSW
For more entry information, visit www.thenationals.com.au 24 | THE RACING MAGAZINE
86
88
Pedders/Borneo Bears AFL Indonesia
Network Clothing/Dentbuster
Toyota 86 GTS
Renault Megane RS265
For more entry information, visit www.thenationals.com.au THENATIONALS.COM.AU | 25
BEFORE YOU DIG AUSTRALIAN SUPER SIX TOURING CAR SERIES Shannons Nationals DIAL R4 Sydney Program ON THE WEB: WWW.SUPER6TOURINGCARS.COM.AU Dial Before You Dig Australian Super Six Touring Car Series
PORSCHE GT3 CUP CHALLENGE ON THE WEB: WWW.GT3CUPCHALLENGE.COM.AU
STATE Car VEHICLE #
Jon Trende
VIC
30
Scott Taylor Motorsport
Aaron Seton
QLD
33
Fastway Couriers
Simon Ellingham
NZ
44
Merry Sparks Art
Grant Sparks
QLD
48
Emery Motorsport
Geoff Emery
VIC
54
Horsley Park Gun Shop
James Abela
NSW
66
GAP Solutions
John Goodacre
SA
69
Dial Before You Dig
Jon McCorkindale
SA
72
Power Street Racing
Jim Campbell
QLD
Car SPONSOR Porsche 911 GT3 Cup 1 Blackwell Race Engines1 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup 4 6 911 GAG/Hinde Transport 6 Porsche GT3 Cup 9 911 Silkgate Porsche GT3 Cup Group 8 Porsche GT3 Cup 9 14 911 selby.com Porsche 911 GT3 Cup 16 Kleenduct Australia P/L16 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup 18 18 DPS Enterprises Porsche 911 GT3 Cup 22 20 911 501 Porsche GT3 Performance Cup 26 Porsche GT3 Cup 22 911Lighthouse Electrical 27 Porsche GT3 Cup 30 27 911 Transley Solutions Porsche 911 GT3 Cup 40 Currie Bros Engines 32 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup 41 41 Dial Before You Dig Porsche 911 GT3 Cup 42 42 911 Dial Before You Dig Porsche GT3 Cup 52 Porsche GT3 Cup 52 911 Luke Fraser Racing 55 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup 67 64 Cachet Homes Porsche 911 GT3 Cup 88 95 Glen Postlethwaite Porsche 911 GT3 Cup
82
Laser 3D/Force Accessories
Brian Finn
VIC
Porsche 911 GT3 Cup
88
Sonic/Parramatta Smash Repairs
Ryan Simpson
VIC
Porsche 911 GT3 Cup
91
McElrea Racing/N2C
Jaxon Evans
QLD
Porsche 911 GT3 Cup
99
Southern Star Windows
Ross McGregor
VIC
Porsche 911 GT3 Cup
Car
SPONSOR
DRIVER
2
Scott Taylor Motorsport
Scott Taylor
QLD
3
Orrcon Steel/Taylor Engineering
Jono Taylor
VIC
4
Autobarn
Tim Miles
QLD
5
Wrightlands Property Group
David Ryan
NSW
8
Dexion/Allstar Equipment
Dylan O'Keefe
VIC
9
TM Motorsport /The Triffio Bar Venue
Tony Martin
QLD
13
htfu
Sam Shahin
SA
16
Kinpath Group
John Karytinos
SA
21
Melbourne Orthopaedic Group
Shane Barwood
VIC
Brendan Cook
QLD
25
95
98
SPONSOR COMPETITOR
Blackwell Race Engines
Gavin Ross G. Beggs Matthew Palmer GAG/Hinde Transport Ian PJTChivas Accountants Silkgate Group Simon Tabinor Kleenduct Australia P/L Peter Phelan DPS Enterprises Les Morrall Lighthouse Electrical Les Morrall Autorite Ashley Jarvis Transley Solutions ZedtecWestall Engineering Luke Lighthouse Sam LeeElectrical Dial Before You Dig Mark Primmer Dial Before You Dig Mark Primmer Luke Fraser Racing Luke Fraser Steffans Concreting Scott's Lillis Rods Exhausts Chris Spraytech Smash Repairs Glen Postlethwaite Glen Postlethwaite
All Vehicle Services Taree
DRIVER DRIVER Gavin Ross Gavin Ross Gary Beggs Ben GriceBen Grice Ian ChivasWayne Patten Chivas Simon Tabinor Harley Phelan Harley Phelan Brent Edwards Brent Edwards Ashley Jarvis Tony Evangelou Tony Shanks Ashley Jarvis Luke Westall John Luke WestallMcLevety Sam Lee Dion Jarvis Mark Primmer Mark Primmer Michael Bartch Luke Fraser Luke Fraser Steve Cook Chris LillisLindsay Kearns Shayne Hine Glen Postlethwaite
Glen Postlethwaite
Sam Lee
State Vic Qld NSW Vic Vic Vic Vic Qld NSW NSW NSW SA SA WA Vic
STATE VEHICLE CC VEHICLE VIC VT Comm 3800 VT Comm QLD AU Falcon 3800 VT QLDComm AU Falcon 4000 AU Falcon QLD VT Comm NSW BA Falcon 3800 VT Comm VIC VT Comm 3800 VT Comm VIC AU Falcon 4000 AU Falcon QLD AU Falcon 4000 AU QLDFalcon AU Falcon AU NSWFalcon AU Falcon3997 QLDFalcon AU Falcon 4000 AU QLD AU Falcon AU Falcon 4000 NSW AU Falcon 4000 AU Falcon AU Falcon 4000 AU Falcon SA VT Comm VT Comm 3800 QLD AU Falcon QLD AU Falcon 3800 VT Comm QLD AU Falcon 3800 VT Comm VIC
VT Comm
NSW
AU Falcon
For more entry information, visit www.thenationals.com.au
KERRICK SPORTS SEDAN SERIES
For more entry information, visit www.thenationals.com.au
ON THE WEB: WWW.SPORTSSEDANS.COM.AU
KUMHO TYRES AUSTRALIAN V8 TOURING CAR SERIES ON THE WEB: WWW.V8TOURINGCARS.COM.AU
Car
SPONSOR
DRIVER
state
VEHICLE
1
B&M Ricciardello Motors
Tony Ricciardello
WA
Alfa Romeo GTV
4
Auto Union Deutsche
Jack Perkins
VIC
Audi A4
9
Domain Prestige Homes
Steven Tamasi
VIC
Holden Calibra
Car
SPONSOR
DRIVER
STATE
VEHICLE
12
Moonbi Oil Traders
Phil Crompton
QLD
Ford Mustang
4
Kustom Workz/Supercar Parts & Sales
Shane Hunt
QLD
Anderson/Maverick
15
A1 Towing
Stuart Inwood
NSW
Corvette C5
5
JCH Electrical
Jason Heck
QLD
Stockman/MR2
16
Landells Signs
Shane Woodman
VIC
BMW M3
7
Poll Performance/Mocomm
Jim Pollicina
NSW
Anderson/Maverick
18
Smart Jump Start
Shane Hart
QLD
Mazda RX7
8
Poco.com.au
Steve Briffa
NSW
SK EVO
32
Bell Real Estate
Michael Robinson
VIC
Holden Monaro
9
Steve Briffa Racing
Scott Loadsman
NSW
PVP
44
MR Automotive
Colin Smith
QLD
Holden Monaro
12
JCV Automotive
John Vergotis
NSW
Stockman /MR2
50
Slick 50
Ryan McLeod
QLD
Mazda RX7
21
Century 21 Hazelbrook
Chris Delfsma
NSW
Avoig Elise PSR
54
Donut King
Tony Alford
QLD
MARC
38
Eggleston Motorsport
Liam McAdam
QLD
Avoig Elise
56
BJ Banks Electrical
Bruce Banks
TAS
Mazda RX7
39
Vectra Corp/Lubrimaxx
Chris Smerdon
SA
Stockman/MR2
58
Rent Depot
Kerry Baily
QLD
Aston Martin DBR9
48
STR Truck Bodies
Matthew Palmer
VIC
Anderson/Maverick
60
Andrew Brown Motorsport
Andrew Brown
VIC
Camaro
56
Arcoplate/Penrite Oils
Jake Kostecki
WA
Avoig Elise
68
Aston Air Conditioning
Shane Bradford
57
ADG Engineering/Precise Precut/GCPF
Lyle Kearns
QLD
Bakker X4
91
MARC Cars Australia
62
Performance West
Alex Rullo
WA
Anderson/Maverick
92
Castrol
75
Strong Excavations/ Kirra Automotics
Brendan Strong
NSW
Anderson/Maverick
93
77
Douglas Barry Specials
Steven Devjak
NSW
Stockman/MR2
95
For more entry information, visit www.thenationals.com.au 26 | THE RACING MAGAZINE
QLD
Chev Camaro
QLD
MARC
Michael Benton
NSW
MARC
Kerrick/CKAS
Thomas Randle
VIC
SAAB
Rosemount Smash Repairs
Anthony Cox
QLD
SAAB
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COLOU Green Black Blue/Yellow White White Black Black Red/Blue/S White Blue/Red Blue/Red Red/Blue White Bronze
ROUND 4 RECAP THE FOURTH ROUND of the Shannons Australian Motor Racing Nationals has delivered a compelling mixture of results at Sydney Motorsport Park on a crisp yet clear Sydney winter’s weekend. The 10th visit of the Nationals to the Sydney venue in July — one every year of the series existence — saw Luke Ellery successfully complete his Open Wheel Double with a victory in his Formula Ford and a top four result in Formula 3. The Aussie open-wheel first saw Ellery complete six races and slightly more than 239 competitive racing kilometres across the two distinctly different categories this weekend. Meanwhile, Ben Grice added to the motor racing terminology lexicon with a ‘Gricewash’ — a sweep of all three races — in round three of the Super Six Touring Cars. Jon McCorkindale won the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge round and Jon Collins the fourth round of Formula 3 for the season. Cameron Hill was a dominant winner in Australian Formula Ford overall while Anton Stevens won the first of two rounds that make up this year’s Australian Superkart Championship.
AUSTRALIAN FORMULA 3 CHAMPIONSHIP HAVING LOST the lead of the Australian Formula 3 Championship following Ricky Capo’s victory in race one on Saturday, it didn’t take long for Sydneysider Jon Collins to return to the top of the standings.
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The home-town hero led every lap of Sunday’s 14-lap feature race to reassert himself — if only narrowly — at the top of the compelling title fight for Australia’s fastest racing car championship he’s having with Ricky Capo this season. Collins was aided in his quest to win his home round by National class racer Dennie Rumble, who rocketed from the third row of the grid to second place on the opening lap — delaying Capo’s chase of pole man Collins.
DIAL BEFORE YOU DIG AUSTRALIAN SUPER SIX TOURING CARS BEN GRICE has created a new phrase for a driver who wins all three races: A ‘Gricewash’. The Queenslander powered to a clean-sweep of the third round of the Super Six series in Sydney, rebounding from slow starts in both races on Sunday to win comfortably in each.
Capo chased hard once he was clear of the pack but couldn’t close to more than a second of the race leader, ultimately settling for second place.
He broke the lap record in race two, having gone from pole to third at the start before returning to the lead by the end of the opening lap.
It was Collins’ second win of the day as he won the sprint race held earlier in the morning.
Defending champion Gavin Ross finished second overall and extended his series lead while a race three non-finish by Simon Tabinor cost the double champ a podium finish.
Roland Legge finished a solid third in his return for R-Tek Motorsport whilst Luke Spalding won the Formula 3 National Class. Shane Wilson won the Kumho Cup class. Luke Ellery finished fourth overall on his Formula 3 Championship debut, though his feature race performance was marred by an incident early that dropped him down the pack and out of touch with the leaders. He charged through the field to fourth place in the feature, mirroring the result he achieved in race two from the back of the field earlier in the morning.
Ashley Jarvis was the main beneficiary, scoring a round podium finish thanks to a trio of consistent results. Fellow Falcon driver Lindsay Kearns finished fourth with Glen Postlethwaite completing the top five. Gavin Ross now holds a commanding lead at the top of the super six standings, Harley Phelan 83 points behind the defending champion. Ben Grice rocketed to 7th in the standings having sat well outside the top-10 prior to his dominant performance at Sydney Motorsport Park.
AUSTRALIAN FORMULA FORD SERIES CAMERON HILL has swept his second Australian Formula Ford Series round in succession to take a commanding lead in the championship standings with two rounds remaining. The Canberra driver executed pole position and three comprehensive victories at Sydney Motorsport Park, his second such performance in the space of two rounds. Hill was rarely challenged across the three races and scored the perfect 61 points for three wins and a pole. He also set a new Sydney Motorsport Park lap record in race one — setting the new benchmark to 1m34.5519s. Luis Leeds and Christian Morina ended the weekend tied for second on points while Thomas Maxwell just missed the podium. Local racer Luke King starred on his national series debut, finishing fifth overall.
He stormed from 16th to second in the nine laps of race two, before making a perfect start to take an early lead in the final race later in the day. He re-set his own lap record en route to a dominant 10-second victory in the finale’ to remind people of his remarkable pace. James Abela — who finished fourth and third in the two Sunday races, respectively — and a strong and consistent Geoff Emery completed the overall podium, Emery winning the Elite class for the weekend. Title contender Dylan O’Keefe had a disappointing weekend, failing to finish race two with suspension issues before storming through from last to sixth in the finale’ to salvage championship points. Aaron Seton battled Class B rival Jaxon Evans for the honours in their ‘race within a race’, ultimately coming out on top thanks to a strong performance in the final race.
“He broke the lap record in race two, having gone from pole to third at the start before returning to the lead by the end of the opening lap.”
In the second part of his Open Wheel Double, Luke Ellery won all three races in the Kent Class to extend his series lead in Formula Ford’s ‘race within a race’. It matched his pair of fourths in his Formula 3 debut.
PORSCHE GT3 CUP CHALLENGE PRESENTED BY PIRELLI JON McCORKINDALE won the third round of the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Australia series at Sydney Motorsport Park, a race two victory and second in the finale’ enough to help him reduce the title lead to nearest rival Ryan Simpson. Simpson was the star performer of Sunday in Sydney following his race one non-finish on Saturday night during the demanding 30-lap Jim Richards endurance trophy race.
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ROUND 5 QUEENSLAND RACEWAY, QLD
TELEVISION COVERAGE SHANNONS NATIONALS TV Speedweek on Sunday at 2pm on SBS1
Round 5 queensland raceway, 7–9 august 23rd August Australian Manufacturers Championship Aust Super 6 Touring Cars Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge 30th August Kerrick Sports Sedan Series Kumho Tyres Aust V8 Touring Car Series Formula Ford National Series 6th September Aust Formula 3 Championship Australian Sports Racer Series
Show 1 Show 2 Show 3
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 9AM ON SAT & SUN via www.thenationals.com.au
LAP RECORDS
QUEENSLAND RACEWAY
CATEGORY
DRIVER
VEHICLE
TIME
DATE
Kerrick Sports Sedans
Darren Hossack
Audi A4
1:08.7417
11/08/2012
Porsche GT3 Cup Kumho V8 Touring Car Super 6 Touring Car AMChamp Formula 3 Sports Racer Formula Ford Formula Ford 1600
Michael Almond Morgan Haber Bruce Heinrich Beric Lynton James Winslow James Winslow Nick Rowe Marcus Marshall
911 GT3 Cup Ford Falcon EA AU Falcon BMW M1 Dallara F307 West WR1000 MygaleSJ13 Van Diemen
1:13.5909 1:12.9477 1:23.7733 1:20.6150 1:04.7818 1:08.474 1:31.8758 1:15.6176
11/08/2012 11/08/2012 23/07/2006 12/08/2012 3/08/2012 16/06/2013 10/08/2014 25/08/2001
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