The Racing Magazine issue 6, 2014 by The Racing Magazine

thenationals.com.au

LOVING WHAT WE’VE GOT By Richard Craill QANTAS FLIGHT 732 from Adelaide begins its approach into the busy air-traffic control circuit that brings Easterly-bound aircraft into Sydney for an approach to Charles Kingsford-Smith international airport from the North. Winds this morning dictate a long lap of Sydney before landing. This is a flight no different to any other early-morning red-eye to the big smoke, but for motor racing fans like me this approach quickly wakes me from a late-flight doze. For there are things to be seen. The initial track into Sydney brings us from the South West, following the course carved by the Hume highway and the lower reaches of the M5. Directly below sits the workingclass grit of Campbelltown and to the left the ever-expanding urban sprawl of the twin towns of Camden and Narellan. There, the Northern road stretches from the M5 junction into the middle of town and out the other side to where the great Oran Park Raceway now lies buried as another completely anonymous housing estate. From the plane you can see the newlychristened Peter Brock drive, that almost follows the contour of the main access road to the circuit that would be jammed solid come V8 weekend. It’s a poignant moment: Like so many other people, Oran Park sat as one of my favourite tracks to visit. Onwards we fly, over the national park and past the M5/M7 junction before Warwick Farm slides into view out of the left hand side of the 737. Though a majority of the epic road course that once sat inside the horse racing track is now gone, as we track further East towards the coast you can still make out the few sections of tarmac that remain. If you close your eyes for a minute you can imagine (in black and white, of course) looking down on this once-great circuit filled to the walls with spectators watching the likes of Sterling Moss, Sir Jack Brabham and all the other greats going at it during the Tasman series in the sixties. The ‘farm was fast and challenging and gone well before it’s time.

The plane now banks left, to head North, and out of the right-hand window is perhaps the most important circuit in Australia; Sydney Motorsport Park. Marked by the massive reservoir nearby and bounded by the M4 motorway, it’s one of only two circuits left in Australia that can truly be counted as being slap-bang in the middle of suburbia. It might feel slightly soulless at times and yes it is very near to a rubbish tip, but there is no doubt it is critical to our sport maintaining a hold in our biggest city of them all. We’re further north now as the plane banks right once, now heading nearly due-east again. Out the left, the congested suburbs of small blocks and medium-rise buildings built alongside traffic-jammed city streets and Parramatta road’s car yards, give way to more leafy domains and larger blocks of land on the Northern side of the M2. It’s an altogether more serene, quiet picture. Now, where is it? Ah! There! In the middle of all the greenery you can just make out the dog bone-shaped allotment next to Annangrove road where Amaroo Park once sat: That tight, twisty mistress with the big rock wall, bitupave hill and zero runoff. I’d have liked to have gone to Amaroo, just once, before it vanished because I think I would have liked it very much. As the plane banks right again, this time to line up on the southbound approach to Mascot, we pass the City in all its glory: Harbor, Bridge, Opera House and skyline glimmering in the sunshine and population jammed in eternal gridlock. As the gear comes down with a clunk and the flaps extend, there is time to reflect. This morning we’ve flown over four race tracks, or at least, one track and three places where heroes once had epic two and four wheel battles. Three great tracks banished to the record books with the stories of those who raced there and those who visited. Only one track, grasping for an identity and its place in the world, survives. In the same way that you don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone, you can also say that it seems more important than ever to love.. okay.. like what we’ve still got.

Speed Shots

GET BETTER, BROCK

Pitlane Whiteboard

10 Feature TRADING SKIDS FOR SLICKS 14 Feature THE MASTERS APPRENTICE 16 Feature THE COOMA EXPRESS 18 Feature STATE OF ORIGIN 21 Round 6 - Categories & Entries 28 Meeting News 30 Television Coverage Lap Records

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

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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.

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SUNSET VICTORY Photo by Nathan Wong: Canon 1DX, 24mm, 1/200s @ f7.1, ISO400. Garry Holt and Stuart Kostera in the Eastern Creek Karts EVO X race into the sunset to take victory in the Australian 4 Hour at Garryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s home circuit of Sydney Motorsport Park.

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GET BETTER, BROCK ON A SUNNY Friday morning at Sydney Motorsport Park in July 17-year-old Sunshine Coast driver Brock Giblin rolled his Osborne Motorsport Mazda 3 MPS at turn one, one of the quickest corners in Australian Motorsport. The car caught fire, badly burning Brock in the process. He was immediately transferred to Westmead Hospital and then onwards to Royal North Shore’s specialist burns unit for treatment to commence.

As we went to press, Brock remained in an induced coma and had undergone several skin graft procedures already. The recovery is likely to be long and challenging but there’s no doubt it will be made easier by the outpouring of support that has flowed from the motorsport community since. We know that he’ll be reading this magazine during his recovery (who wouldn’t?), so we’ve collected just a small portion of those get well wishes and published them here for Brock and his family to read. If you’d like to offer your ‘Get Well Soon’ note, drop us a line via www.thenationals.com.au, via Facebook or @ShannonsNats on Twitter.

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EDITORS NOTE to Brock walking away – or at least, escaping without severe injury. It’s no consolation, but at the same time it’s also a positive. The motorsport community on social media were quick to band together and in general, there was a lot of strength shown in the Sydney Motorsport Park paddock that Friday. At this point I could bang on about how it would be preferable that this kind of supporting spirit was shown all the time in life, but that would detract focus from the real point of this missive which simply is this: From everyone at the Shannons Australian Motor Racing Nationals, this publication, and the sport in general we can only say one thing: Get Better, Brock! Richard Craill, Editor.

No one will deny that Brock Giblin’s accident wasn’t anything other than utterly horrible. The severity of the crash itself coupled with the fire and his age ensured that by the end of the day, Brock’s name was headline news around Australia which, for his family, was perhaps the second worst thing that happened that day.

In times like those, privacy is the first thing you want so you can deal with all the ensuring emotions and challenges in your own way. But out of the situation came more remarkable stories of this sport banding together as it so often does in times like this. The Osborne Motorsport team were stoic in their professionalism and support during an extremely emotive time and as Colin Osborne said: ‘When you hurt machinery, it’s OK. When you start hurting people, that’s when it gets tough’. His team should be commended on the way they handled the situation. The actions of the drivers who stopped and assisted at the scene, too, were nothing short of heroic. And it should be noted that the car did its job, too. Had it not been for the fire, every indication I’ve heard points

COMMENTS

Comments here have been gathered from more than 1,000 offered via Facebook and Twitter in the weeks following the Sydney Round.

Hope to hear more good news soon. Chin up Peter. Thinking of you all. Xxx - Barb Cooke

Wishing you a very speedy recovery Brock Giblin sending you all our prayers and love xxx - Leanne Leitch

All the best Brock for a fast recovery, our thoughts are with you and your loved ones. - David Gallagher

Kindly pass on to his family that there is another huge family out here thinking of them all even tho they don’t know each and everyone of us we are all there for him and them in thoughts and prayers. What a Christmas gift to them if it is then but boy I hope and pray it is way before then for sure!! - Maria Maree

A young man enjoying his sport. We all hope you have a quick recovery Brock and out thoughts are with you and your family. That is extended to your teammates at Osborne Motorsport. - David Rome

SOMEONE once said, I believe it was in relation to a global conflict ongoing at the time, that ‘good things can still come from even the direst of circumstances’. The events of Friday, July 11th at Sydney Motorsport Park were not a war but remain proof that, in this world where people are fighting, espionage is daily news and commercial airliners are being shot down, that saying holds true.

So many people wanting to hear about Brock. Sending him strength and best wishes for this terrible time. - James Winslow Wishing Brock a speedy recovery. Thoughts to his family and friends. - Liz Muscat Please give Brock my kindest regards and best wishes. My thought are with his family, I’m sure they don’t know me but just from one racer to another. - George Elliot Get well soon mate. , we are all thinking of you and your family right now. :) - Brett Parrish Thinking of you and your family and friends after this horrible accident. I’ll keep everything crossed for speedy recovery. - Delli Boyce-dipphotojourn Our hearts go out to Brock and his family, only had the pleasure of speaking with young Brock a couple of times at Warwick ,very impressive young fella many people in the motorsport family are watching Brocks progress and wish him a full recovery. - David Evans With a name like Brock he must be made of the right stuff! Fight on mate. - Aaron Malloy

Good luck for a speedy recovery Brock. My thoughts and best wishes from one racer to another. - Steve Coulter Good thoughts being sent your way, hoping for a speedy recovery. - Kat Culley

As a marshal at Sydney Motorsport Park I have to thank my fellow marshals for their quick work and their involvement with helping the driver, well done guys, I’m privileged to work with such a great team of people. - Corey Slade

Get well soon Brock, the whole Aussie motorsport community is behind you and hopes you make a speedy recovery. - Dan Holihan

It is great to hear that you are recovering quicker than expected. We know you are a fighter and on behalf of the Eastern Creek Karts Racing Team we wish you a speedy recovery. All the best mate. - Garry, Stu, Rhett, Al & Sean. Eastern Creek Karts Racing

We pray that you make a speedy and safe recovery, mate... God Bless you and your friends and family... - Mark Cariss

Wishing you a speedy recovery so we can see you out on the track again soon. From the Sherrin Racing team. - Sherrin Rentals Racing

Many people are thinking of ya and your family Brock so get well soon mate. - Stephen Oppert

Our thoughts are with Brock and his family and wishing him a full and speedy recovery. Bruce Lynton BMW / Alphera Financial Services team. - Beric Lynton

Get well soon Brock from all your race family south of the border - thoughts and prayers for a quick recovery and a gutsy comeback to our sport. - Mark Bateman

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PITLANE WHITEBOARD It’s the anonymous Twitter account that has more twitter followers than our editor and the Shannons Nationals combined, so you’d think, just once in a while, he’d be good for a retweet. But no, it seems not! He’ll RT David Reynolds’ latest selfie but a serious tweet about the latest racing news? Not likely. Sometimes, we wonder why we keep him around. Anyway... It’s a little known fact that @PitlaneWB, while he hangs out with tin-tops, is of open wheel construction, and doesn’t mind a bit of action that involves a category that is predicated with the word “Formula.”

So what can Flavor Flav do? And how can we use it to help the show in other forms of the sport?

optimal downforce conditions, and the ladies love it.

For a start, he can get rid of super imposed messages from Bernie.

And how good is the racing in Formula 1 at the moment? Despite the fact that the championship is already a battle in two, and the cars sound like the machine that makes your Boost Juice at your local shopping centre, it has everything you need.

Really? What does Bernie want me to think about?

Jordan Taylor, Dario Franchitti, Jeff Gordon, Keke Rosberg, I could go on. Even Gerhard Berger was better as a mullet wearing driver than he is as a category creating administrative hooligan.

Exciting races with passing, cars that catch on fire at the blink of an eye, teammates refusing to co-operate, and technical stuff being banned arbitrarily using convoluted methods by the FIA.

Maybe I have it wrong. Maybe that’s what we need at the Shannons Nationals? I look forward to the next episode of Speedweek when I see “Rob says: Think before you insure,“ next to a Shannons logo, superimposed on top of the grass in the background. Do it Rob, you know you want to!

What more would you want? Well a lot more apparently. So Bernie has hired Flavio Briatore. And that makes perfect sense. Because a guy that was so popular he almost got banned for life for fixing a Formula 1 race is the ideal appointment to fix the newly titled Popularity Working Group. Yes, the Popularity Working Group. Just the fact that Formula 1 have got a concept, i.e. “making racing more exciting,” and come up with the most boring way of going about it, i.e. a “working group”, makes me want to strip off and run down the main straight naked in excitement. Not.

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“Bernie says: Think before you drive.” I think about Bernie’s daughter in her diamond encrusted bathtub purchased with my hard earned admission money all the time. It’s yet to do me any good.

Also raised is the idea of success ballast. Flavio understands the concept well, as he is currently carrying a lot of success ballast from the string of supermodels he’s conquered in past seasons, and a quick Google indicates he’s still pretty competitive. Ultimately though, Flavio’s appointment means only one thing. What Formula 1 really needs, is to bring back the mullet. It creates a bigger hole in the air for the car behind, it waves in the breeze like a DRS giving

The 70’s were the best era of Formula 1, when every aerodynamic device was inspired from a mullet, rather than any CFD or wind tunnel calculation. Bernie was right, we need to use our head, but thinking is for the FIA, and it’s not going well. What we need is action. What we need, are mullets. Or maybe we should just leave it? It could be worse. We would have standing restarts and double points for the final round. Oh, hang on.

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 it’s associated entities.

CHAMPIONS CROWNED

THE FIRST CHAMPIONS of the 2014 Shannons Australian Motor Racing Nationals season were crowned at Sydney Motorsport Park last month.

The Australian 4 Hour enduro held at the Sydney circuit marked the conclusion of the Australian Manufacturers Endurance Championship – a ‘series within a series’ made up of the Sydney event plus the Great Southern 4 Hour at Phillip Island and the season-opening Sandown 3 Hour classic. Beric Lynton (Class A), Grant Sherrin (Class B), Jake Camilleri (Class C) and Like King (Class D) were each awarded their respective class titles.

The Championship awards the drivers who accumulate the most points across the opening three rounds of the season within their respective classes. “It is a matter of bad luck for the other guys, they have had issues and we had issues at Sandown too so I was a bit surprised to win this,” said Beric Lynton.

and we fought some gremlins today, but we brought it home in second and got the trophy for the endurance championship so this is a credit to all of our team just like all of (the other racers), they work hard - so thanks to them for that.”

“We push the limits of the cars and sometimes we bring on these issues we have

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TRADING SKIDS FOR SLICKS

JON MCCORKINDALE is one of only a few drivers in Australia to have tasted success in the fast-paced world of Speedway racing and transferred those skills into a successful circuit racing career. At just 23, he’s young, fast and going places quickly. Words: Richard Craill. Images: Nathan Wong / Joel Strickland / Jon McCorkindale.

IMAGINE for a moment that you are an up and coming star of Australia’s strong and competitive Sprintcar scene. You’ve got a good car, support from sponsors and family and you’ve just knocked off two of the very best in the game, in this case Max Dumesny and Robbie Farr, in a $10,000-to-win feature on a summer’s Saturday night at Parramatta. So naturally, the next thing you do is ditch the lot and go circuit racing. It sounds crazy but in this case, if your name is Jon McCorkindale, it’s entirely true: the 23-year-old from Young in country New South Wales ditched the dirt three years ago and

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now competes as a leading competitor in the one-make Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Australia Series. But why? Why take the risks involved in moving from a position as a rising star of speedway to starting from essentially nothing on the tarmac? “People were saying ‘Oh, you’ve won one big race and now you’re quitting,’” McCorkindale grins when asked about his exit from the Speedway scene. “Speedway is a great sport, but you need to give up your whole life to make it as a driver and because I’ve got my own business, that’s not something I’m willing to do,” he adds.

“I thought cars might be a better way to go because there seems to be more of a chance of building a career here as well as building a business. “I raced Karts, initially, but then we went to Speedway because of my age. I was 15 and CAMS hadn’t yet lowered the minimum age for competing in something like Formula Ford so we went to Speedway.” McCorkindale made his circuit-racing debut at Phillip Island in the Saloon Car series, driving a Ford Falcon operated by long-time sponsor Mark Primmer of Dial before You Dig.

The opportunity was enough to convince him that circuit racing was the way to go, with category selection the next key choice. “We were tossing up to go Kumho V8’s or GT3 Cup and the thing that enticed us into Porsche is that everyone on the grid has the same car. Everyone in Class A is the same, we all buy our brakes and shocks from the same people. It’s so controlled in the way that it really comes down to the team and the way the driver can drive the car on the day and that’s what made me think that it was the way to go. “It’s been amazing. The category itself is fantastic and to be honest, I didn’t think there’d be a category out there like it. The cars are great and the people that run it are fantastic and we’ve got so much support out of it. I hope to remain with the Porsche brand for a long time.” The match seemed to work immediately, too. In his first season McCorkindale was a regular feature at the pointy end of a field that, remember, included the likes of Richard Muscat and Michael Almond battling for the outright championship. He was on course for a podium finish on debut at Sydney Motorsport Park last July before a race three incident with Phil Woodbury dropped him out of the running, but the potential had been shown. From there, he finished third at Queensland Raceway and second at the Phillip Island season finale to end the year with two round podiums from three starts. “It was surprising, actually,” he remembers. “We didn’t expect anything at all and were hoping top five, mainly, but to go to the first round we did and have podium potential straight away

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was amazing. At Queensland we got a third, then another second at Phillip Island. It was a good feeling to hop into a new car I’d barely driven and go fast. It was a good year.” 2014 has been more challenging, but there’s no denying the pace of the bright green Dial Before You Dig 997. A maiden race victory at Sandown and regular battles with this year’s frontrunners, John Goodacre and title favourite Fraser Ross, were highlights. A rough round at Winton, where he failed to finish two of the three races, was not. “This year has been, what do they call them, ‘Character building?,” he laughs. “I’ve always wondered why some people, no matter how good they are at driving, can’t just go in and win a championship in the first year and I’ve realised that now. It’s not just the driver it’s the whole package and everything that comes with it. “We bust our bums to buy that car before the start of the year. We had to work our bums off after that to get the budget to start racing and it took a long time to work out how to balance

keeping my focus on the racing but keep my business going well enough so I could fund it too. It’s been a learning curve with my driving, but also with everything from the team owner aspect of it.” The challenges faced this year have not been without benefit, helping McCorkindale decide on his immediate future within the Porsche ranks. “We were initially only going to run this year in GT3CC and then progress into Carrera Cup, but with the realisation of what we need to do win GT3 Cup Challenge, there’s a lot more things we can focus on here first,” he explains. “We’re going to do one more year in GT3 Cup, and then asses where we are at. “The biggest thing is that it comes down to budget, obviously it triples when it comes to Carrera Cup, but as the year goes on we’ve picked up more sponsors and getting more support from teams, so hopefully one more year In GT3 cup and then we can push on.” The results he’s achieved this year suggest that, should he move into Australia’s top one-make

championship success would likely follow, but there’s also one other thing that he would like to try. “We won an A-Main a Parramatta against all the internationals that were there, so it would be nice to be one of the few people who have been able to win a major Sprintcar feature and also a circuit racing championship. “I’ve always said that no matter what you drive, whether it’s a hire cart, a Sprintcar or whatever, no matter what type of driving style you have it can always transfer to another type of racing.”

BUIK-ING FOR WINS

A new relationship built this year with Adelaide Porsche specialists, Buik Motorworks, has been key to helping McCorkindale get to, and remain at, the pointy end of the ultracompetitive GT3 Cup Challenge.

While McCorkindale helps their drivers with coaching and advice, the Buiks’ extensive Porsche knowledge has been critical in helping to push his bright green machine to the front. “We’re not the most computer-savy people in the world so for Mark to come on board has been great,” McCorkindale explains. “It all came about because we do some coaching with their drivers. (Owner) Mark Buik has never asked for a cent from us, and we annoy him every second day, but he always helps us out. He knows we’re a budget team and the things he does behind the scenes to help us out has been amazing. I think it’s a great relationship for everyone.”

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THE MASTERS APPRENTICE

The story of Mick Benton and Geoff Russell is not your usual story of the apprentice making good – though it does contain elements of that. It’s a story of a lasting friendship that culminated in the apprentice offering a drive to the person who employed him all those years ago... WORDS: Amanda Jackson IMAGES: Nathan Wong

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Almost 40 years ago, a lasting friendship and racing partnership began when an 18 year old larrikin building apprentice started work for a 23 year old building contractor who loved all things motorsport. That apprentice was Mick Benton, who would learn both his trade and a love of all things fast from then boss and now long-time friend Geoff Russell – experienced racer and father of V8 Supercars enduro driver David Russell. Following AMCHAMP success in 2012 and 2013, the pair returned for July’s Sydney Motorsport Park hit-out, with supercharger belt issues resulting in the pair’s first ever DNF result. Following a front end rebuild at Simon Chapman Motorsport, the pair will this weekend return to Queensland Raceway, where last year they clinched victory in Class B on their way to the 2013 Class Championship. “When I was lucky enough to complete my apprenticeship with Geoff he was doing all sorts of racing, and as young apprentices we were all amazed by what he was doing,” said 57 year old Benton, a Company Owner and Director of Casino (NSW) who recently competed in the Dutch Supercar Challenge at Spa. “After I finished my apprenticeship I went off and started my own business, but obviously we remained mates. He was a great boss and is a great fella, and I think it says a lot that he had a lot of apprentices and they are all still very fond of him, as am I.

“Mick was and still is a bit of a character with a great personality – he was an absolute larrikin on the job, everyone knew he was there that was for sure! He was a good tradesman, but he was also a lot of fun, and he always had an eye on my race cars,” said 63 year old Russell of Lismore (NSW) once owned Queensland’s fastest Sports Sedan and boasts a sixth outright finish at Bathurst with Rusty French as well as three Australian Speedway titles. “I don’t think there is any of the ‘boss’ feeling left, although there never really was much of that dynamic – he never took much notice of me anyway!” laughed Russell. “He was working with me when my kids were born and is good friends with my family including my son David – to the point that when he asked me to drive I checked to see he had the right Russell on the phone, but he told me he thought us ‘old fellas’ would have more fun!” For both racers, the sport is more about fun and family than outright results. Even so, their first DNF result did not go down all that well. “Sydney was difficult as it was our first ever did not finish result, we don’t do DNFs really well we discovered, we all got a bit precious,” laughed Benton. “At the end of the day for us it is more about getting out there and having a mates experience,

and that is why we like the Shannons Nationals so much as it brings together a bunch of people with similar interests to enjoy weekends with great racing and great camaraderie – we don’t have big egos, we want to finish, we want to put in a respectable performance, but at the end of the day what we really want is to enjoy the racing.” Russell agreed: “We are both competitive people and we want to go out there and be as competitive as we can be, but we are also there for fun and we make sure we have a ball and enjoy being part of this big motor racing family. “I just love motor racing, I might be 63 in November but I still feel 28 and I still like to think I can go as fast as I used to – it is one of those enduring passions I suppose, I might grow out of it one day, perhaps when they put me in a box! “There are so many stories in this sport especially from back when I was racing at Bathurst that you just don’t hear anymore – like the one where I got sixth at Bathurst with Rusty French after securing the drive at 11am the day before after an all-night party - so to be able to catch up with people who have been there and raced with you and whose kids have raced against your kids and so on is just so great, even if these days I am better known as Dave Russell’s dad!”

“Around three years ago I decided to try my hand at endurance racing and had a GT Falcon built by Simon Chapman who still comes to every round as our engineer and mechanic, and naturally I contacted Geoff to see if he was interested in driving with me – he practically broke his legs rushing here to talk to me about it,” laughed Benton. “He is extremely experienced especially at Bathurst, and he is good in the wet which suits me down to the ground as in my opinion I am extremely poor in the wet – our styles definitely complement each other.” While Benton remembers a great boss, Russell remembers a ‘character’ who made his presence known on the build site.

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THE COOMA EXPRESS 18-year-old Cooma teenager Chris Anthony burst on to the Formula 3 Australian Drivers Championship scene with a vengeance this year and scored his first victory at the most impressive of locations: Mount Panorama, Bathurst. Here, in his own words, he tells his story from starting out in the sport to being the fastest ever around Mount Panorama for 24 hours... WORDS: Chris Antony (As told to Richard Craill) IMAGES: Nathan Wong, Kumho Tyre Australia

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I got into motorsport through my family. My Grandfather was a massive motorsport enthusiast and so was my Dad, my Uncle and my Mum, especially, and I’d always watched F1 with them every night, V8 Supercars every weekend when it was on. We were always rev-heads. One day my Dad said ‘Do you want to get into it? I’ve got some mates at Bega, at Frog’s Hollow (the local karting track) and we can get a kart and you can have a go’. Me and my cousin, Tony, were right into it, going on eBay at age 11 and 12 looking for karts with no idea what we were doing. One day Dad brought one home and it started from there. We went down as a family in an old little box trailer... It was real hillbilly looking stuff and we’d call ourselves the Grizwalds.. It was pretty embarrassing! We’d go down every month for the meeting and just race and have the time of my life. Some of my best racing memories are from my time in karting, going away with my family and staying in some of the worst, weirdest hotels all around Australia!

for it if you haven’t been there before’. You really just have to grow a pair! I have my PS3 with GT6 and a Steering wheel so I spent night after night on it practicing around there and in first practice it felt like the game. I was quick – P3, I think. Qualifying I stuffed up but still managed second and everything fell into place. It was a perfect weekend and nothing could go wrong for us. To pick up two wins in my third round of Formula 3 was just amazing and the best feeling ever. Going across the line I had both hands off the wheel and going nuts and coming into the pits I was shaking my firsts like a madman! I didn’t even think about getting the lap record! When Mark said ‘You’ve won and you’ve got the lap record’ I was like, ‘WHAT? I’ve got the lap record?’ All that night I was going ‘I don’t want to lose that lap record but I don’t want to come second.. what do I do!’ Everyone was telling me that the track wouldn’t be as good and that I’d be sliding around, but unfortunately Hodgey smashed it... ah well!

We did and still do LOTS of fundraisers in our region and town, Cooma. The support I get is amazing. People don’t know it’s me when they see me! I work in the local Video Ezy that my parents own and I help run. People come into the shop and say ‘oh, we’ve heard a lot about this young kid in the papers but we’ve never seen him,’ and I go ‘pleased to meet you... It’s me!’. They go ‘what... really!’. I am aiming 100% at Formula 1 and I will give it a 100% go. Next year is sponsorship dependant but I have next year to go to Europe. Next year is probably my first and only crack at Europe. I’ve seen a thing about Daniel Ricciardo and he went over when he was 17 and he said he only had one year to prove himself. I’ll go there as a 19-year-old and hopefully follow in his footsteps and those of Anton DePasquale who is doing an awesome job in Formula Renault 1.6. We’re not sure what series we’re doing and I’d ideally love to go to European F3 or Renault 2.0 but it’s all budget dependent. We don’t have enough money to go there at the moment, but we’re definitely working on it.

In 2011 I had a go in a Kent Formula Ford. Dad said he’d get me a test with Anglo Motorsport, a Sydney based team, and we ended up running two rounds of the state championship. I finished top five in my first two races and I thought ‘I can do this, I really love this and it’s fun’. A year later, we bought a Mygale SJ09 Duratec and ran the NSW series and in the first round, I think I won my first race. I still can’t get over the fact that in my First F3 round I got to stand on top of the Clipsal podium. Being able to race on a track that I’ve played on video games and watched people race at, even F1 legends, and to be able to have that feeling was unbelievable. I still see the results and me on top of the podium in pictures and it still amazes me! I still remember going into that round going ‘oh man, you’ve got all these quick guys’ and it was just so surreal that whole weekend. I was going into it not thinking of much but it ended up being one of my best moments in motorsport, I think. The first practice session at Bathurst I thought ‘this is fun, this is good’. Mark, my team boss, said to me ‘you can’t really prepare

THENATIONALS.COM.AU | 17

STATE OF ORIGIN It’s not just Queensland and New South Wales split by Red and Blue in state of origin competition; it’s also alive and well in the Super Six Touring Car series, too. This year there seems to be a state-based split between a group of Southerners in Holdens, and Ford-driving Queenslanders. WORDS: Garry O’Brien IMAGES: Joel Strickland / Nathan Wong INTERSTATE RIVALRY does not rest with football codes alone. In Saloon Car racing there have been healthy contests with drivers from various states for a number of years, and that is on top of the very passionate and healthy Ford verse Holden competition. Now rebranded as Super Six Touring Cars, the Dial Before You Dig six cylinder series for Falcons and Commodores has produced some grand contests over the past 14 years. Most of them involved drivers from different states. This round the state-verses-state contest is between the Victorians Travis Lindorff and Gavin Ross, and the Queenslanders Kane Baxter-Smith and Lindsay Kearns. More intriguingly, at Queensland Raceway, the southerners are driving Holdens and the hosts are in Fords. “We Queenslanders travel a lot to be a part of the series and it’s great to compete against the best on your home turf,” said Baxter-Smith. “We are really looking forward to the Queensland Raceway round and racing the Victorian guys at home.” Baxter-Smith has almost single-handedly taken the fight to Lindorff and Ross. Kearns had a trouble first round and missed the next two. “The Vics will have more than just me to worry about as Lindsay seems to really find form at QR. He qualified on pole here last year ahead of (Simon) Tabinor.” Lindorff had been the one with the pace but his second round at Mallala was frustrated with handling issues and he didn’t get on the podium. But he did strike back with a round win at Winton. “Bring on the State of Origin I say! “After the Winton round we have a fair bit of confidence back in the handling where we won both races and took back the series lead,”

18 | THE RACING MAGAZINE

Lindorff enthused. “We have made a couple more improvements since, so I think we will be able to take it up to the Queenslanders on their own turf. “Even though it’s our first time at Queensland Raceway, I think we will pick it up pretty quick – we also have plenty of feedback from the guys who have raced there previously,” he added. They won’t be the only ones wanting good results. The blue corner will also include Queenslander Ben Grice and his Victorian team mate Brent Edwards, Tony Shanks (Qld) and West Australia’s Rick Gill will be going hard in their Fords. Meanwhile on the red side there will be equal enthusiasm from Victorians Jason Leoncini and Harley Phelan, Queenslander Craig Campbell and Chris Lillis from West Australia. The states and makes concept has been around the category since it started. It was a Queenslander in Shane Beikoff, then driving a Holden Commodore VN, who took out the initial 2000 three-round series. The next year it was Tony Evangelou from Victoria, again in a VN that overcame the best of the Ford Falcon EAs. In 2002 the series became a championship and the stakes went up immediately. South Australian Bruce Heinrich became the third different winner in three years, and the third from a different state, as well as scoring a title win for Ford. Then he went on and backed up the following year before West Australia’s Clint Harvey put Holden in the box seat in 2004. Heinrich scored his third title in 2005 but the wind of change was intermittent with the advent of model upgrade for the two makes. The Ford racers

move to the AU model while the opposing camp upgraded to VTs. More importantly the significance to the states became prevalent. Heinrich adapted best with two more series wins, but he had a tremendous fight on his hands with a talented Queenslander in Kris Walton. They were both racing Fords but they put on some of the most intensive racing ever seen. Heinrich changed brands – to prove a point rather than dismiss his Ford affiliation – but fellow South

Aussies came on the scene in Steve Kwiatkowski (Ford) and Shawn Jamieson (Holden) to continue the fight. They each took a title. The Victorians were back on top when Tim Rowse won in 2010 aboard a Commodore. Matt Lovell a long-time parochial and vocal South Australian Ford pilot vied with the relocated Englishman Simon Tabinor, firstly to Perth, then Melbourne. Lovell emerged victorious after a season battle with the Commodore driver, and then Tabinor claimed the next two.

THENATIONALS.COM.AU | 19

ROUND 6 QUEENSLAND RACEWAY

SHANNONS AUSTRALIAN MOTOR RACING NATIONALS ROUND 6, QUEENSLAND RACEWAY • AUGUST 8-10, 2014 AUTHORITY

OFFICIALS OF THE MEETING

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: 814/1008/01

CLERK OF COURSE:

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

CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER:

In exchange for being able to attend or participate in the event, you agree: • to release Confederation of Australian Motor Sport Ltd (“CAMS”) and Australian Motor Sport Commission Ltd, promoters, sponsor organisations, land owners and lessees, organisers of the event, their respective servants, officials, representatives and agents (collectively, the “Associated Entities”) from all liability for your death, personal injury (including burns), psychological trauma, loss or damage (including property damage) (“harm”) howsoever arising from your participation in or attendance at the event, except to the extent prohibited by law; • that CAMS and the Associated Entities do not make any warranty, implied or express, that the event services will be provided with due care and skill or that any materials provided in connection with the services will be fit for the purpose for which they are supplied; and • to attend or participate in the event at your own risk. You acknowledge that: • the risks associated with attending or participating in the event include the risk that you may suffer harm as a result of: • motor vehicles (or parts of them) colliding with other motor vehicles, persons or property; • acts of violence and other harmful acts (whether intentional or inadvertent) committed by persons attending or participating in the event; and • the failure or unsuitability of facilities (including grand-stands, fences and guard rails) to ensure the safety of persons or property at the event. • motor sport is dangerous and that accidents causing harm can and do happen and may happen 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.

PROMOTERS Qld Raceways Operations Pty Ltd PO Box 100, Amberley Qld 4306 ABN 41 133 848 405 neil@qldraceways.com.au Ph: (07) 5461-9100 Fx: (07) 5461-9111

ENTRIES Phillip Livingstone

ASSISTANT:

Doug Chapple

ASSISTANT:

Stephen Buchanan

SECRETARY OF THE MEETING:

Neil Lewis

Dr Dan Bitmead

SERIES STEWARD:

Steven Lisk

STEWARDS:

TBA

SERIES DIRECTOR:

Rob Curkpatrick

RACE DIRECTORS: Paul Overell (Australian Manufacturers Championship) TECHNICAL COMMISSIONERS: Bob Buck (Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge), Paul Grey (Aust Super 6 Touring Car Series), Laurie Griffin (Kerrick Sports Sedan Series), Bob Hockley (Australian Manufacturers Championship), Fred Severin (Formula 3), Greig Black (Formula Ford). CHIEF TIMEKEEPER: JUDGES OF FACT:

Ian Leech Ian Leech, Steve Buchanan

JUDGES OF FACT:

Pit Lane Speed:

TBA

RACE CONTROL COMMUNICATIONS: Dale Ham, Steve Buchanan EMT COMMUNICATOR MEDICAL: David Miller EMT CHASE CAR DRIVER:

Bruce Muhling

SAFETY CAR DRIVER:

Matt Pegg

SAFETY CAR COMMUNICATOR: COMMENTARY:

Darren Smith (Series)

CHIEF SCRUTINEER: SCRUTINEERS:

TBA Lloyd Evans

Brad Payne

EMT FIRE CHASE DRIVER:

Brad Bowden

CHIEF RECOVERY: RECOVERY: CHIEF MARSHALLING:

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

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.

Paul Stones Barb Cooke Wade Bates (Deputy)

CHIEF STARTER:

Suzie Brooks

DEPUTY:

The organisers of this race meeting have 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.

Rodney McDonald

MARSHALLING:

CHIEF FLAG:

PROHIBITED AREAS

David McClure, Greg Chappell, John Coad, Tony Taylor

CHIEF FIRE AND RESCUE:

ASSISTANT:

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.

Anthony Clark Bob Lovi TBA

FLAG MARSHALS: Arian Fuller, Fabrice Niquet, John Bisson, Nick Finn, Peter Southwell, 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.

THENATIONALS.COM.AU | 21

ROUND 6 QUEENSLAND RACEWAY

SCHEDULE FRIDAY 8TH AUGUST 700

Gates Open

815

Practice

Aust. Formula Ford Series

15 mins

835

Practice

Kerrick Sports Sedan Series

15 mins

855

Practice

Kumho Tyres V8 Touring Car Series

15 mins

915

Practice

Australian Manuf. Championship

15 mins

935

Practice

Australian Formula 3 Championship

30 mins

1010

Practice

Dial Before You Dig Aust.Super 6 TC Series

15 mins

1030

Practice

Aust. Formula Ford Series

20 mins

1055

Practice

Kerrick Sports Sedan Series

20 mins

1120

Practice

Kumho Tyres Aust V8 Touring Car Series

20 mins

1145

Practice

Australian Manuf. Championship

20 mins

1210

Practice

Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge

30 mins

1245

Practice

Australian Formula 3 Championship

30 mins

1320

Practice

Dial Before You Dig Aust.Super 6 TC Series

20 mins

1345

Practice

Aust. Formula Ford Series

20 mins

1410

Practice

Kerrick Sports Sedan Series

20 mins

1435

Practice

Kumho Tyres Aust V8 Touring Car Series

20 mins

1500

Practice

Australian Manuf. Championship

20 mins

1525

Practice

Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge

30 mins

1600

Practice

Dial Before You Dig Aust.Super 6 TC Series

20 mins

1625

Sponsor Rides

AMChamp, Super 6 TC

25 mins

1700

Sponsor Rides

AV8TC, Porsche GT3 CC

25 mins

1745

Light Setup

Night racing familiarisation

Observation laps at maximum 80kph

1830

Australian Manuf. Championship

Observation

15 mins

Do you want to be more involved in motorsport? Have you considered becoming a volunteer official? QMROA is a CAMS affiliated club operating for over 50 Years. Members of QMROA have worked as officials for many events throughout Queensland, Australia & overseas, from local club race meetings to Formula 1 Grands Prix.

Want to know more? Ph: 07 3353 6383 Or email us: committee@qmroa.com.au www.qmroa.com.au www.facebook.com/qmroa

22 | THE RACING MAGAZINE

ROUND 6 QUEENSLAND RACEWAY

SCHEDULE SATURDAY 9TH AUGUST 700

Gates Open

815

Practice 1

Aust. Formula Ford Series

20 mins

840

Practice 1

Australian Manuf. Championship

20 mins

905

Practice 1

Kumho Tyres Aust V8 Touring Car Series

20 mins

930

Practice 1

Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge

20 mins

955

Qualifying 1

Dial Before You Dig Aust.Super 6 TC Series

20 mins

1020

Qualifying 1

Kerrick Sports Sedan National Series

25 mins

1050

Qualifying 1

Australian Formula 3 Championship

20 mins

1115

Qualifying 1

Aust. Formula Ford Series

20 mins

1140

Qualifying 1

Kumho Tyres Aust V8 Touring Car Series

20 mins

1205

Qualifying 2

Dial Before You Dig Aust.Super 6 TC Series

20 mins

1230

Qualifying 2

Kerrick Sports Sedan Series

25 mins

1300

Qualifying 1

Australian Manuf. Championship

20 mins

1325

Qualifying 1

Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge

20 mins

1350

Qualifying 2

Australian Manuf. Championship

20 mins

1415

Race 1

Dial Before You Dig Aust.Super 6 TC Series

10 laps

1440

Race 1

Aust. Formula Ford Series

14 laps

1510

Race 1

Australian Formula 3 Championship

14 laps

1540

Race 1

Kumho Tyres Aust V8 Touring Car Series

12 laps

1610

Race 1

Kerrick Sports Sedan Series

12 laps

1640

Race 1

Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge

40 laps

1735

Light Setup/Officials Break

1815

Australian Manuf. Championship

Race 1

CPS

200km/65 laps

SUNDAY 10TH AUGUST 700

Gates Open

840

Toyota 86 Club laps/photo

900

Race 2

Aust. Formula Ford Series

10 laps

935

Race 2

Formula 3 Australian Drivers Championship

14 laps

950

Race 2

Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge

12 laps

1020

Warm up

Australian Manuf. Championship

1035

Race 2

Kumho Tyres Aust V8 Touring Car Series

12 laps

1105

Race 2

Kerrick Sports Sedan Series

12 laps

1135

Race 2

Dial Before You Dig Aust.Super 6 TC Series

9 laps

1205

Race 2

Australian Manuf. Championship

200km/65 laps

1350

Race 3

Aust. Formula Ford Series

10 laps

1420

Race 3

Australian Formula 3 Championship

18 laps

1500

Race 3

Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge

12 laps

1530

Race 3

Kumho Tyres Aust V8 Touring Car Series

18 laps

1610

Race 3

Kerrick Sports Sedan Series

12 laps

1640

Race 3

Dial Before You Dig Aust.Super 6 TC Series

9 laps

CPS

10 min

THENATIONALS.COM.AU | 23

ROUND 6 QUEENSLAND RACEWAY

AUSTRALIAN MANUFACTURERS CHAMPIONSHIP ON THE WEB: WWW.AMCHAMP.COM.AU

Car

SPONSOR

DRIVER

state

VEHICLE

Lovton Coal

Michael Benton

Qld

Falcon FG FPV GT

Osborne Motorsport

Kandi Warehousing

Sherrin Rentals

co-driver Geoff Russell Colin Osborne co-driver Hadrian Morrall

Sherrin Rentals

Grant Sherin

Qld

BMW 135i

Garry Holt co-driver Stuart Kostera

Melbourne Performance Centre

Castrol/Turbosmart/DBA/Bilstein

AAW Australian Auto Wreckers

Qld NSW

Vic

co-driver Anthony Gilbertson

Mitsubishi Evo 10

WA Vic

Peter O'Donnell

BMW 135i

Qld

Shane Marshall

co-driver Rob Jarvis GWS Personnel

Qld

co-driver Robert Marshall Allan Jarvis

NSW Honda Integra DC5

Michael Sherrin

Eastern Creek Karts

Mazda 3 MPS

Qld

co-driver David Ayres 20

NSW

Kevin Herben co-driver Iain Sherrin

NSW

QLD

Mitsubishi Evo 10 Suzuki Swift Sport

NSW NSW

BMW 335i

Qld

Aaron Seton

Qld

Mitsubishi Evo 10

George Karadimas

Vic

Ford Falcon XR6T

co-driver Lauren Gray

Vic

co-driver Michael Gray

Vic

Sennheiser/Ric Shaw Racing

Ric Shaw

Grand Prix Mazda

Jake Camilleri

Qld

Mazda 3 MPS

Alphera Financial Services

Beric Lynton

Qld

BMW 1M

Donut King

Tony Alford

Qld

BMW 1M

Kintyre Racing

Glyn Crimp

Audi TT RS

CXC Global

Pedders/ToyotasRS Racing

co-driver Michael Sloss

co-driver Matthew Cherry

WA Mitsubishi Evo 9

Grant Phillips

Vic

Toyota 86 GTS

Franck Donniaux Network Clothing/Dentbuster

NSW

co-driver Carly Black 88

Mark Eddy co-driver Francois Jouy

Vic NSW

Renault Clio RS200

NSW Vic NSW

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

24 | THE RACING MAGAZINE

BMW 130i

Dylan Thomas co-driver Andrew Turpie

NSW

Renault Megane RS265

ROUND 6 QUEENSLAND RACEWAY

KERRICK SPORTS SEDAN SERIES ON THE WEB: WWW.SPORTSSEDANS.COM.AU

Car

SPONSOR

DRIVER

state

VEHICLE

BJ Banks Electrical

Bruce Banks

Tas

Mazda RX7

Auto Union Deutsche

Darren Hossack

Vic

Audi A4

B&M Ricciardello Motors

Tony Ricciardello

Alfa Romeo GTV

Domain Prestige Homes

Steven Tamasi

Vic

Holden Calibra

Moonbi Oil Traders

Phil Crompton

Qld

Ford Mustang

Smart Jump Starters

Shane Hart

Qld

Mazda RX7

Bell Real Estate

Michael Robinson

Vic

Holden Monaro

MR Automotive

Colin Smith

Qld

Holden Monaro

Marinellos Mechanical

Bob McLoughlin

Commodore VS

Rent Depot

Kerry Baily

Qld

Aston Martin DBR9

JCH Electrical

Jason Heck

Qld

Ford Falcon BF

Stawell Cartage

Bruce Henley

Vic

Mazda RX8

Aston Air Conditioning

Shane Bradford

Qld

Chev Camaro

Supercar Parts & Sales

Warren Davis

Qld

Ford Falcon AU

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

PORSCHE GT3 CUP CHALLENGE ON THE WEB: WWW.GT3CUPCHALLENGE.COM.AU

Car

SPONSOR

DRIVER

state VEHICLE

Fleetplus

Scott Taylor

Qld

Porsche 911 GT3 Cup

Eva Racing/Evolve Technik

Peter Fitzgerald

Vic

Porsche 911 GT3 Cup

Autobarn

Tim Miles

NSW

Porsche 911 GT3 Cup

SAFE-T_STOP

Richard Gartner

NSW

Porsche 911 GT3 Cup

HTFU

Sam Shahin

Porsche 911 GT3 Cup

Kinpath Group

John Karytinos

Porsche 911 GT3 Cup

Bill Campbell Builders

Matt Campbell

Qld

Porsche 911 GT3 Cup

Walz Group / Staff4u / Surelift

Brendan Cook

QLD

Porsche 911 GT3 Cup

Fastway Couriers

Simon Ellingham

Porsche 911 GT3 Cup

Taylor Motorsport

Greg Taylor

NSW

Porsche 911 GT3 Cup

Merry Sparks Art

Grant Sparks

QLD

Porsche 911 GT3 Cup

Porsche Centre Brighton/TRP/Torque Money

Fraser Ross

Vic

Porsche 911 GT3 Cup

GAP Solutions/Sektor

John Goodacre

Porsche 911 GT3 Cup

Dial Before You Dig

Jon McCorkindale

NSW

Porsche 911 GT3 Cup

Southern Star Windows

Ross McGregor

Vic

Porsche 911 GT3 Cup

Nick Creswell

Porsche 911 GT3 Cup

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

THENATIONALS.COM.AU | 25

ROUND 6 QUEENSLAND RACEWAY

AUSTRALIAN FORMULA FORD SERIES ON THE WEB: WWW.FORMULAFORD.ORG.AU

Car

SPONSOR

DRIVER

state VEHICLE

Sonic/kTEQ

Nick Rowe

Vic

Mygale SJ13

Sonic/AKH Denture Clinic

Hamish Hardeman

Vic

Mygale SJ01A

Sonic/Calista Property Group

Christian Morina

Vic

Mygale SJ12

E-Steel Australia

Paul Zsidy

Vic

Spectrum 012

Fastway Couriers Wollongong

Cameron Walters

NSW

Mygale SJ07

Colin M Hill Engineering

Cameron Hill

ACT

Mygale SJ 10A

Borland Racing Developments

Tom Grech

Vic

Spectrum 011C

Synergy Motorsport

Caitlin Wood

NSW

Spectrum 012B

Express print

Nick Ellen

VIC

Spectrum 012

Synergy Motorsport

Jake Parsons

NSW

Spectrum 014

Gippsland Body Builders

James Golding

Vic

Spectrum 014

CKAS/Kerrick/Voluparts/SnapOn/Mobil1

Thomas Randle

Vic

Mygale SJ13A

Omega Engineering/RossPerformanceParts

Michael Hinrichs

Vic

Mygale SJ04A

James Garley

NSW

Mygale SJ01A

Ownit Homes/E&K Plumbing/Autobarn

Wade Scott

Qld

Spectrum 011C

Tim Hamilton

QLD

Spectrum 011B

Synergy/www.gregholloway.com

Greg Holloway

Vic

Spectrum 014

Thomas Corbett

QLD

VanDiemen RF03

Littleblackfox.com/CLPS

Jordan Lloyd

Qld

Mygale 2011

All Security Northside Fasteners "Browns"

Jimmy Bailey

Qld

Spectrum 06B

Coates Hire

Liam McAdam

Qld

Mygale SJ10A

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

KUMHO TYRES AUSTRALIAN V8 TOURING CAR SERIES ON THE WEB: WWW.V8TOURINGCARS.COM.AU

Car

SPONSOR

DRIVER

state

VEHICLE

Kustom Workz/Supercar Parts & Sales

Shane Hunt

Qld

Ford Falcon BF

Poco Racing

Steve Briffa

NSW

Commodore VY

JCV Automotive

John Vergotis

NSW

Ford Falcon BA

Falcon Spares/Engine Master

Matt Chahda

NSW

Ford Falcon BA

Century 21 Hazelbrook

Chris Delfsma

NSW

Ford Falcon BA

MW Motorsport

Ford Falcon BF

MW Motorsport

Ford Falcon BF

Haymans Electrical

Ramon Connell

Qld

Ford Falcon AU

STR Truck Bodies

Matthew Palmer

Vic

Ford Falcon BF

Eggleston Motorsport

Justin Ruggier

NSW

Commodore VZ

G&D Strong Excavations

Brendan Strong

NSW

Commodore VZ

Parramatta Smash Repairs

Ryan Simpson

NSW

Ford Falcon BF

For more entry information, visit www.thenationals.com.au 26 | THE RACING MAGAZINE

ROUND 6 QUEENSLAND RACEWAY

DIAL BEFORE YOU DIG AUSTRALIAN SUPER SIX TOURING CAR SERIES ON THE WEB: WWW.SALOONCARS.NET.AU

Car

SPONSOR

DRIVER

state VEHICLE

501 Performance

Ben Grice

QLD

AU Falcon

Dej's party shop

Jason Leoncini

VIC

VT Comm

www.bigrigtyres.com.auÂ

Tony Auddino

AU Falcon

Buyaustralianmade.com.au

Phil Gray

VIC

AU Falcon

PJT Accountants

Wayne Patten

Qld

VT Comm

Silkgate Group

Ian Chivas

NSW

AU Falcon

Zedtec Engineering

John McCleverty

QLD

AU Falcon

Kleenduct Australia P/L

Harley Phelan

VIC

VT Comm

Truckphones.com.au

Brent Edwards

VIC

AU Falcon

Autorite

Tony Shanks

QLD

AU Falcon

Blackwell Race Engines

Gavin Ross

VIC

VT Comm

Dial Before You Dig

Mark Primmer

NSW

AU Falcon

Dial Before You Dig

Cameron Moss

NSW

AU Falcon

Pakenham Tyres

Travis Lindorff

VIC

VT Comm

PPG Racing

Kane Baxter-Smith

QLD

AU Falcon

Campbells Motorsport

Craig Campbell

QLD

VT Comm

Cachet Homes

Chris Lillis

VT Comm

Scotts Rods Exhausts

Lindsay Kearns

QLD

AU Falcon

Rick Gill Motorcycles

Rick Gill

AU Falcon

Luke Anderson

QLD

AU Falcon

Spraytech Smash Repairs

Shayne Hine

QLD

AU Falcon

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

FORMULA 3 AUSTRALIAN DRIVERS CHAMPIONSHIP ON THE WEB: WWW.FORMULA3.COM.AU

Car

SPONSOR

DRIVER

state VEHICLE

BRM

Simon Hodge

Mygale

BRM

Christopher Anthony

NSW

Dallara

R-TEK

Roman Krumins

Qld

Dallara

Varney Racing

Blake Varney

QLD

Dallara

McDonalds/Gilmour Racing

Ben Gersekowski

QLD

Dallara

Gilmour Racing

Chris Gilmour

QLD

Dallara

Garnet Patterson Racing

Garnett Patterson

NSW

Dallara

Ozstaff Racing

Chelsea Angelo

VIC

Dallara

Harvest Motorsport/Forpark

Alpine Motorsport

Dennie Rumble

NSW

Dallara

Scott Motorsport

Paul Scott

QLD

Dallara

Capo Racing

Ricky Capo

NSW

Dallara

Mygale

For more entry information, visit www.thenationals.com.au THENATIONALS.COM.AU | 27

ROUND 5 SYDNEY MOTORSPORT PARK

A SEASON of disappointment for Garry Holt and Stuart Kostera has been revived thanks to victory in the Australian Four Hour Australian Manufacturers Championship enduro at Sydney Motorsport Park. The Eastern Creek Karts crew fought a tense strategy battle with the rival Pro-Duct Mitsubishi squad for the opening two-thirds of the race with the winning Mitsubishi electing to take a threestop strategy, while the Pro-Duct team tried to make it on two. A stunning performance from Aaron Seton had the Pro-Duct car in a position to make it to the end on fuel before broken wheel studs on the right front corner with just over an hour to go – soon after Glenn Seton had taken the wheel – saw them forced out of the race. Their retirement left the Holt / Kostera car unchallenged in front to take an emotional victory after a season that had seen the champion

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team – the drivers have seven production-based racing titles between them – fail to finish in the opening two rounds. The result also serves as revenge for Kostera – who was controversially denied victory in the same race 12 months ago as he entered pit lane in an out-of-fuel Mitsubishi he was sharing with Dylan Thomas as the flag flew. “It was a great race, and full on from the first lap, you couldn’t let off the pressure for one bit,” Holt said. “We gave ourselves a kick in the backside after Phillip Island where everything that could go wrong, did go wrong, and we have turned it around. The car and the crew were fantastic today and it’s a great way to regroup. “We worked out that it was better to break the race into three stops rather than try and stretch it on fuel to do two, we put less fuel in at each stop and it worked.”

Aaron Seton impressed in his national racing debut, taking over the No. 33 car from car owner Bob Pearson 1hr 20 minutes in the race. He raced consistently and routinely matched Stuart Kostera for pace as the pair ran first and second outright on the road. Glenn Seton set three of the fastest laps of the race when he took over from his 16-year-old son before the issue on the front-right corner sent them to the garage at the 2hr45 mark. There was a battle of the BMWs for second and third place, with Beric Lynton and Tim Leahey edging out the Sherrin Motorsport 135i of Iain and Grant Sherrin for second in the final hour, both a lap behind the leading Mitsubishi. The Sherrins’ were the first Class B car home, however, extending their class lead after three of five AMChamps rounds. Jake Camilleri and Scott Nicholas took out Class C (and 5th outright) in their Mazda 3 MPS while there was drama well into the final hour in the inter-team battle for Class D. The leading Keven Herben / Luke King Honda was shown the meatball flag within the last hour for allegedly spraying fuel from a filler. Though the team argued the point, the team was forced to pit lane to assess the problem, the time spent in the lane costing them the class lead to their teammates, Jake Williams and Geoff Rands. However, the race wasn’t decided yet as mechanical issues sidelined the Williams / Rands entry within the final two laps – handing the lead and class victory back to Herben and King. Tim Berryman and James Winslow combined to win the Radical Australia Cup 250 enduro, a storming performance by Winslow in the second, 50-minute leg in particular ensuring the combination would score the round victory.

Berryman took the first leg earlier in the day after early leader Neale Muston struck dramas in his No. 1 Excalibur Racing SR8 and eventually drifted to third position at the line. Winslow then charged from the rear of the grid and served a drive through penalty (as part of his ‘seeded’ driver status) but yet still managed to race his way to the front in the second leg, before a throttle issue saw him drop through the field. Muston again led early in leg two before Winslow was able to work his way to the front. Muston regained point when Winslow served his drivethrough, however was soon forced to pit lane with mechanical dramas and was sidelined from the race. With both leading cars suffering issues, SR3 driver Michael Shaw was the main beneficiary – sweeping through the drama to take the outright victory in leg two. The earlier SR3 ‘race within a race’ was a thriller, Peter Paddon edging out Michael Shaw for the leg 1 ‘win’ by a scant 0.0023s. Peter Paddon won the SR3 class battle over Shaw and Kim Burke, while Berryman and Muston combined to win SR8 over Chris Medland. Sydney driver Adam Proctor won his first Australian Sports Racer Series round of the year in style, though he had to battle series leader Roger I’Anson to do it. Proctor’s Stohr was slow away in each of Sunday’s two races but on both occasions was able to charge through the field to battle with the Westdriving I’Anson for the win. In each race the pair battled side by side before Proctor, the defending series winner, was able to muscle his way through to the lead. In the final race the pair crossed the line 0.1s apart with Proctor sweeping the round and closing to within 14 points of I’Anson in the series standings. “It was important for us to come here and go well,” Proctor said of racing on his home turf. “Our car suits this track and suits the next one, too. We still need to find some more points to catch Roger, but it should be a great fight for the championship.” Aaron Steer finished third for the round in the brightly-liveried West WX-10. I’Anson leads the Sports Racer Series points after three rounds, 14 points ahead of Adam Proctor. John-Paul Drake sits third with two rounds remaining. In the opening round of the Australian Superkart Championship, Gary Pegoraro was a shock winner after the dominant driver of the weekend, Ilya Harpas, failed to finish the final race of the weekend. Pegoraro won a dramatic fourth race of the weekend on Sunday morning when Harpas’ pulled to the side of the circuit immediately following the start with mechanical issues. Pegoraro’s race victory coupled with Harpas’ non-finish was enough to hand the first of two Superkart Championship rounds this year to the experienced Queensland driver in the 250 International Class.

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ROUND 6 QUEENSLAND RACEWAY

TELEVISION COVERAGE SHANNONS NATIONALS TV Speedweek on Sunday at 2pm on SBS1

ROUND 6 QUEENSLAND RACEWAY Show 1

Sunday 24th August Australian Manufacturers Championship Aust Super 6 Touring Car Series Kerrick Sports Sedan Series

Show 2

Sunday 31st August Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Kumho Tyres Aust V8 Touring Car Series Aust. Formula Ford Series

Show 3

Sunday 7th September Aust Formula 3 Championship

‘SHANNONS NATIONALS’ ON FOX SPEED Visit www.thenationals.com.au for complete TV schedule LIVE INTERNET TV FROM 9.00AM ON SUNDAY via www.thenationals.com.au

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QUEENSLAND RACEWAY