Motorsport eNews Issue 21 - September 11-17, 2007

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Issue No. 021 11 – 17 September 2007

Combine Conquer

Richo & Frosty split for sandown but bathurst could be a different story ...

McLaren LIFELINE? Prodrive could hold the key to macca’s uncertain future

Editorial Editor: Grant Rowley grant@mnews.com.au National Editor: Andrew van Leeuwen andrew@mnews.com.au Executive Editor: Phil Branagan editor@mnews.com.au

Australasian

The ‘A’ Team

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Advertising National Sales Manager: Calvin Wood cwood@mnews.com.au P 03 9596 5555 F 03 9596 5030 M 0439 566 265

Issue No. 021 | 11 – 17 September 2007

news 5 Switch-a-roo!

8 Macca booted?

11 Aussie Battler 18 The 500 is here

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MD / Publisher

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Contributing Writers F1: Joe Saward, Mark Glendenning, Adam Cooper, Paolo Filisetti Europe: Quentin Spurring, David Addison US: Martin D. Clark, Phil Morris Speedway: Greg Boscato, Geoff Rounds, Darren Sutton, Tony Millard (UK) Rally: Ryan Lahiff Drag Racing: Dave Ostaszewski (USA), Ken Ferguson, John Bosher National: Mark Wicks, Mark Jones, Aaron Shaw, Daniel Powell.

Photographers Sutton Motorsport Images, Dirk Klynsmith, Marshall Cass, John Morris/Mpix, AF1 Images, James Smith, Peter Bury, Neil Blackbourn, Chris Carter, Coopers Photography, Ash Budd, Paris Charles, Bob Potts, Neil Hammond, Joel Strickland, Mike Patrick (UK) Motorsport eNews is published by Australasian Motorsport News ABN 55 125 120 702 Publisher: C Lambden Copyright: Material published in Motorsport eNews is copyright and may not be reproduced in full or in part without the written permission of the publisher.

Freelance contributions are welcome, and while all care will be taken, Motorsport eNews does not accept responsibility for damage or loss of material submitted.

Opinions expressed in Motorsport eNews are not necessarily those of Australasian Motorsport News or its staff.

International photos supplied by Sutton Images, www.sutton-images.com – click here to check out their exclusive poster deals

chat 20 5 minutes with ... opinion 22 Glendenning 24 Moffat 25 Crompton 40 Punter

Frosty/Richo/Bathurst?

Ron & Co may be benched Atko re-signs with Suby Just Sandown. Just Four CCWS pilot Justin Wilson More to F1 than spies!

How it was, how it is 500 is a real challenge Talking preparation!

race 26 Ferrari beaten at home Macca win in Italy 35 Not Again!

Richo wins Targa – West

trade 36 Trade and Industry / Raceshop / Classifieds

welcome This guy’s really a wrestler, but he’s a US celebrity racecar driver too! Introducing John Cena ...

Check out the latest eNews supplements via http://www.mnews.com.au

John Morris/Mpix

Triple 8 and HRT pick enduro chassis All is normal at Team Red, but the Eights are going for Jamie’s car ...

V8 SUPERCARS THERE may be three 8s on the door of TeamVodafone’s lead entry at Sandown this week but it will be, essentially, Jamie Whincup’s #88 set-up.

Whincup and Craig Lowndes will drive the former’s regular

chassis at the 500km race, with Whincup’s crew, led by regular engineer, Mark Dutton.

“It’s their turn,” commented team boss Roland Dane on Monday. “The cars are so similar, it makes no difference.”

In the ‘other’ red corner, the Holden Racing Team heads

into battle with Todd Kelly jumping into Mark Skaife’s usual car.

The regulars will pair up in Skaife’s chassis #005, with Skaife engineer Dave Swenson calling the shots. Matt Crawford stays with #22, which will be raced by Glenn Seton

and Nathan Pretty.

Over at the other pre-race favourites’ garage, Toll Racing, championship leaders Garth Tander and Rick Kelly are, of course, remaining in their own individual cars, with co-drivers Craig Baird and Paul Radisich respectively.

Brad has injury woes, Murcho on standby V8 SUPERCARS

John Morris/Mpix

A QUESTION mark hangs over Brad Jones’s fitness leading into this weekend’s Sandown 500.

The veteran touring car driver/owner recently aggravated an old herniated disc injury in his lower back and, as eNews went to press, could not confirm that he would take to the starting grid.

Jones is slated to partner Damien White in the #14 Team BOC Falcon, while Andrew Jones and Simon Wills will pair up in the other BOC car.

At this stage, Singapore A1GP driver Christian Murchison is the Albury team’s reserve driver.

Team manager Kim Jones said that Brad’s condition had improved over the weekend: “But Brad is not a 100 percent starter,” he said on Monday.

“We don’t expect to know until Wednesday. Today is better than yesterday, but we’ll just wait and see.

“If there’s a possible way for him to do it, he’ll do I – even if he has to be lifted in by a crane!”

Brad drove the #14 car at Winton last week in the team’s pre-Sandown test, simply sitting in the car being a drama. He only drove short stints due to the pain.

Another complication that has presented itself to Team BOC is the physical size difference between Jones and White. The team has now ordered a sliding seat system, pictured top right, that will allow the lanky White to fit into the #14 car better.

During last week’s test, White was involved in a minor crash thanks partly to the cramped seating position. A more easily changeable seating position will help overcome this issue.

– GRANT ROWLEY

news

FPR pairs not a done deal!

Frosty and Richo may still challenge for the Bathurst crown together V8 SUPERCARS THERE may be a late change in plans that could see Ford Performance Racing pair its regular lead drivers for the Bathurst 1000.

For Sandown, Steven Richards and Mark Winterbottom will share their rides respectively with co-drivers Owen Kelly and Matt Halliday, because of the team’s ‘split’ sponsorship arrangements that sees Winterbottom in an Orrcon-liveried car and Richards carry Castrol Edge branding.

However, eNews believes that the team is in discussion with its sponsors with a view to pairing its aces in one car and Halliday and Kelly together in co-liveried Castrol/Orrcon cars for the Bathurst 1000.

Like most two-car teams, FPR has crossentered its drivers so is permitted to make changes up to the Friday of Bathurst race

week – although a livery re-design would require a decision quite soon after this weekend’s Sandown race.

“We are going ahead with our planned combinations at Sandown,” said Operations Manager, Tim Edwards this week. But he would make no commitment regarding what may or many not happen for Bathurst.

Should the team decide on a Frosty/ Richo lead entry, the ‘co-livery’ move is not without precedent – in 2004, SBR created a ‘merged’ Pirtek/Caltex livery to enable stars Marcos Ambrose and Russell Ingall to share their lead car.

With Richards replacing Jason Bright this year, the team has taken time to settle and is yet to register a round win.

Winterbottom is seventh and Richards ninth in the V8SCS points, while FPR is fourth in the teams’ race behind HSV,

Triple 8 and HRT. With both its drivers out of championship contention, and a topthree teams’ result a best-case scenario, a Bathurst win would be a big boost for the team. And pairing its regular duo would undoubtedly propel the lead FPR car into the rather exclusive ‘Could Win’ club at the Mountain …

Watch this space.

Split Personalities: A split one (mocked up by gra livery like this phic designer Jayne Uthmeyer) could be the key to a Frosty/Ri cho combo at Bathurst.

BRIEFLY... n Ever wanted to see some V8 Supercar drivers take on AFL players in a fitness competition?

Well, get down to Melbourne’s Federation Square today [Tuesday] to see Triple Eight’s Craig Lowndes and Jamie Whincup take on Jamie Charman from the Brisbane Lions and Nathan Brown from Richmond. Once the quarteet’s fitness vitals signs are assessed, they will test their strength, speed and endurance in a rock-climbing challenge. n Allan Simonsen had what you’d sarcastically term an ‘okay’ weekend in the British GT Championship at Croft last weekend.

The Triple Eight endurance driver was fastest in practice, took pole, both race wins, and both fastest laps – all while suffering from a dose of the ‘flu! n David Stremme will likely not be back at Ganassi Racing’s NASCAR team in 2008, and his replacement is set to be IRL IndyCar driver and reigning Indy 500 winner Dario Franchitti.

Franchitti would complete a Ganassi line up of Juan Pablo Montoya and Reed Sorenson if the deal takes place.

–STAFF/MARTIN D CLARK

Bright’s last-minute mate Reigning Fujitsu Champ gets the gig with the boss – Luff teams with Gurr V8 SUPERCARS REIGNING Sandown 500 winner Jason Bright has picked Adam Macrow to partner him in the #25 Fujitsu Ford Falcon this weekend.

The decision to pair Bright with Macrow was made after the team’s pre-Sandown test session last week at Winton.

“Adam is one of this country’s best talents and I’m sure he’ll show that at Sandown,” said Bright.

“Winning Sandown last year was pretty special. I’m feeling

confident going into this year’s race. We have good pace and I’m sure in a long race like Sandown we will really shine.”

Macrow is equally looking forward to the endurance races.

“Driving with Jason is a big thrill and I’m looking forward to the opportunity,” said Macrow.

“I had other options at the start of the year, but my decision to be part of this program was based on working with a team that valued my input.”

In the second Britek Motorsport Irwin Tools Falcon is Alan Gurr and the versatile Warren Luff.

“It’s good to get back in the driver’s seat and get back with the team in a race situation,” Luff said.

“In a long race like Sandown it’s not about where your weekend starts, rather where it finishes.

“Pace is important, but reliability is everything. I’m sure our car will have good pace as well as excellent reliability.”

news

Caruso’s ‘new’ Sandown debut V8 SUPERCARS MICHAEL Caruso will make his Sandown 500 debut in WPS/ WOW Racing’s brand-new car this weekend.

Caruso will team up with regular WOW Racing driver Max Wilson in the new Falcon, while Jason Bargwanna will continue to drive the #10 WPS Falcon, with Grant Denyer in the co-driver’s slot.

Caruso is looking forward

to his first run in a V8 at Sandown.

“It’s going to be a pretty big Sandown 500 debut for me this weekend,” said Caruso.

“Being handed the responsibility of driving with Max and driving the new WOW car is a big deal and I will be doing everything I can to repay the team’s faith in me by doing a solid job.

“Sandown is a track where the team had good pace last

year. I have not driven a V8 Supercar around there but have raced a Formula 3 car there and like the layout.”

The new car, revealed by eNews last week, is WPS Racing’s first-ever new mount.

It takes advantage of new V8 Supercar rules which allow the driver’s seat to sit much closer to the centre of the car (primarily for safety reasons).

According to our spies, the driver is so centralised in the

new WPS machine that the roll bar adjusters are between the right hand side of the driver’s seat and the door!

The developments on show in the new car come courtesy of the team’s technical director Paul Ceprinich.

The Falcon had its first laps at a Queensland Raceway shakedown last week, with Wilson and Caruso completing the car’s first laps.

– GRANT ROWLEY

Happy Birthday, Mr Jack SOMEONE at Jack Daniel’s Racing is turning 157 at the Sandown 500 and no, it’s not Larry Perkins.

Mr Jasper Newton Daniel, better known as Jack Daniel (yes, of the Whiskey variety), would be turning the big 1-5-7 sometime in September if he were still alive, and while the exact date of the old man’s birthday is unknown thanks to a

courthouse fire in his native Lynchburg, Tennessee, JDR will be celebrating at Sandown this weekend.

The team’s celebrations include a special ‘Happy Birthday Mr Jack’ painted bonnet, pictured, as well as a 19m mobile distillery at the track and Jack Perkins, Shane Price, Marcus Marshall and Kayne Scott serving birthday cake to fans.

Will McLaren be excluded?

FORMULA 1

sutton-images.com

MEMORIES of McLaren’s epic 1-2 victory at the weekend have faded quickly as the team faces possible exclusion from the World Championship.

On Thursday, the team will appear before the FIA’s World Council to again answer charges that it breached Formula 1 regulations over what has become known as the Stepneygate spying saga.

The team was found to have breached the rules in July, but no sanction was imposed at that time.

However, the FIA is now believed to have copies of an email exchange conducted in early March between Monza winner Fernando Alonso and test driver Pedro de la Rosa, referring to a ‘Ferrari set-up’ to suit Bridgestone tyres. This follows an FIA request that the two, and Lewis Hamilton, provide any information in their possession about the affair.

The question that the World Council must answer is what to do about whatever comes

to light, and what punishment would be used if there is evidence to justify penalising McLaren.

The FIA knows that it must be incredibly careful in its dealings with the case because McLaren has long felt victimised and, if there is any hint of anything untoward, the team might consider launching a civil case against the FIA for damaging the team’s reputation. At the same time, Ferrari is saying that it will continue legal action in Britain and Italy if it is not satisfied by the FIA decision.

Should McLaren be found guilty it could, in a worst-

case scenario, be excluded from the 2007 Constructors’ Championship and may even be barred from entering the 2008 Championship. There is a precedent – Team Toyota Europe (TTE) was barred from the 1996 World Rally Championship after it had been found guilty of using an illegal air restrictor in their turbos in 1995.

It seems very unlikely that any action would be taken against Alonso, Hamilton and test driver De la Rosa, since the FIA has already offered the McLaren drivers immunity from prosecution.

In the meantime, much of the British media has accused

Alonso of ‘dobbing’ in his team.

“I’ve been unfairly treated by the papers,” Alonso told Gazzetta dello Sport. “I did not accuse the team, I just replied to the FIA with honesty and professionalism.

“It’s stupid to think that I might have replied to the FIA in order to damage the team, as I would do nothing but damaging myself. You must not forget I’m fighting for the Championship.

“The FIA sent that letter to all the drivers, asking if we had anything to say on this matter.

It was our duty to reply, by sending what we had. There was no other choice. I hope everyone understands that.”

For McLaren, read ... Prodrive? … while Stepney SHOULD the FIA find McLaren guilty and go as far as barring the team from the 2008 Championship, it may have a lifeboat – Prodrive.

The team, which is due to enter the Formula 1 World Championship as a ‘customer’ team’, might well become a de facto McLarenMercedes works team, if McLaren is unable to compete on its own terms.

It may even be the case that Prodrive could enter Lewis Hamilton in the championship, though it would appear that Fernando Alonso may choose to

move on, should the opportunity present itself.

Prodrive was due to announce its own F1 plans earlier this year and delays prompted rumours that there were problems with the team’s sponsorship arrangements.

However, eNews believes that there have been discussions about the possibility of the new team taking a greater role than was originally planned.

Of course, much depends on what the FIA World Council determines on Thursday and whether McLaren appeals against any action that might be taken.

proclaims innocence

Embattled former Ferrari engineer Nigel Stepney continues to defend his position, arguing that he is being set-up by someone at Ferrari.

The Englishman recently sent a letter to the FIA, to Jean Todt and to Ron Dennis explaining his position and, according to the well-connected La Repubblica newspaper, saying that he did not give McLaren’s Mike Coughlan the Ferrari data he is accused of passing over.

He says that this was stolen from him. He is also said to have named the members of the group that he and Coughlan were intending to take to Honda.

Ferrari is engaged in a criminal case against Stepney regarding the alleged sabotage of F1 cars before the Monaco Grand Prix.

– JOE SAWARD

news

Fuji/Suzuka to share Grand Prix FORMULA 1 FUJI International Speedway and Suzuki are to share the Japanese Grand Prix from 2009 onwards.

Toyota’s Fuji will host its first race this

year and another in 2008, but then the race will return to Honda’s Suzuka track, which will be rebuilt so that it is up to modern F1 standards.

The idea was proposed by Formula One Administration to avoid the two

tracks getting into a bidding war, as it is clear that Japan cannot have two races a year in the foreseeable future because of the demand that exists for races around the world.

– JOE SAWARD

sutton-images.com

NASCAR AS first reported in Motorsport eNews #017, Joe Gibbs Racing has made the official announcement that it will switch to the Toyota brand starting in 2008 for its Cup and Busch Series programs.

Gibbs is in its 16th year with General Motors, a period which has seen them net 58 Cup wins and three Cup titles.

While the switch is expected to

guarantee Toyota instant success in the top series and entry into the 2008 Chase for the Cup, the main reason for the change is that Toyota will provide greater engineering assistance and the operation will move to the top of the food chain rather than be further down the pecking order among the four other long-standing Chevrolet teams.

Gibbs will field Camry’s for Tony Stewart, Denny Hamlin and the recently signed Kyle Busch next season. Engines will be

NASCAR Media

Denny says GM no, Camry yes!

built in-house using parts from TRD and it’s also likely Gibbs will supply engines to either Team Red Bull or Michael Waltrip Racing as part of the deal.

Hall of Fame Racing, which has a business agreement with the supply of JGR engines and chassis, has apparently not made a decision as to whether it will follow in Gibbs footsteps with the move to Toyota.

– MARTIN D CLARK

Martin at DEI, Eury Jr off to Hendricks NASCAR

10

NASCAR Media

DALE Earnhardt Inc has announced its 2008 driver line-up.

Martin Truex Jr and Paul Menard will stay in their current car and sponsor situations, but Mark Martin and Aric Almirola will share duties in the #8 Chevrolet with sponsorship from the US Army.

Regan Smith will be in a fourth DEI Impala, but sponsorship for that ride will be announced at a later date.

Speculation has Coors as the backer for Smith, replacing Budweiser on the #8.

The change at DEI comes on the back of the July

announcement that Earnhardt would leave his own team to drive at Hendricks Motorsport.

Last week, Earnhardt’s crew chief (and cousin) Tony Eury Jr announced he would follow him to Hendricks in the same role. It was also announced last week that Casey Mears will move from the #25 Chev to the #5, replacing Kyle Busch, while Busch’s crew chief will work with Mears in 2008.

– MARTIN D CLARK

news

WORLD RALLYING

CHRIS Atkinson is poised to lead Subaru’s renewed WRC campaign after signing a new two-year deal.

Atkinson, 27, was confirmed with the squad for 2008 and ’09 and will spearhead the team’s resurgence with the new Impreza.

The Queenslander looks set to become the senior member of team, with Petter Solberg still to confirm his intentions.

The 2003 World champion is due to appear at the Frankfurt Motor Show next week, to unveil Subaru’s new 2008 car, but rumours continue to suggest that the Norwegian is considering a move to Ford.

Much depends on whether Marcus Gronholm stays with Ford or retires.

Opinion –

sutton-images.com

Count Me In!

Atkinson has scored 12 fastest times so far this season, his most recent coming in New Zealand, where he was the only driver other than title combatants Gronholm and Sebastien Loeb to do so.

“I’m delighted to announce that we have secured Chris’ services for a further two seasons,” said Subaru World Rally Team managing director Richard Taylor.

“Over the last 12 months he has shown excellent pace on many occasions and is now backing this up by producing strong results.”

“There is an excellent team of people in the UK and Japan who all want to see a Subaru on the top step of the podium,” said Atkinson.

“And you can be sure I’ll be doing everything I can to make that happen.”

Good News Story

CONFIRMATION of Chris Atkinson’s extended contract with the Subaru WRC team is the good news story of the week.

The young Aussie got his start with the WRC team, as many have to do, with the assistance of support from, among others, Subaru Australia, but this latest deal is a straight paid drive deal, and acknowledgement that the team has faith in Atko for the future.

Interestingly, he has been locked in before anything has been done with his current team-

mate, Petter Solberg – who may or may not be staying on after being given a fair seeing to by Atkinson recently.

Subaru has an all-new car for 2008 which, if it goes as well as it looks, might well propel a young Aussie into championship contention against the likes of Gronholm, Loeb and Hirvonen. Like we said, a good news story …

– CHRIS LAMBDEN

COMING THIS WEEK

Australia V8 - Sandown 500 ARC5 – NSW Historics - E Creek Drag – Nationals, QLD

International F1 – Belgium MotoGP – Portugal NASCAR – New Hampshire

NexT Week (SEPT 22-23) Australia NSW State Series – Eastern Creek

International MotoGP – Estoril NASCAR – Dover

NEED A CAR? CLICK HERE

11

Howard will run three FUJITSU V8s IN the wake of Andrew Thompson’s resignation from his Howard Racing drive in the Fujitsu V8 Series, the Champion team is still likely to enter three cars for the remainder of the season.

Thompson pulled out of the

Development Series, citing a need to “ focus on V8 Supercars pinnacle category.”

Howard Racing team manager Warren Davis said that he’s had interest from all parts about driving the #71 Falcon.

“If the deal’s right, we’ll continue to run three cars,”

Davis said this week.

“I’ve had a million phone calls from people interested in it. We are now just evaluating some of those inquries and we’ll make a decision from there.”

Howard Racing won last year’s Fujitsu V8 Series with Adam Macrow.

– GRANT ROWLEY

Dirk Klynsmith

Spychala is swapping cars

John Morris/Mpix

BA

Marshall Cass

12

ANDREW Thompson will not contest any more rounds of this year’s Fujitsu V8 Supercar Series, deciding instead to focus on his endurance duties with Jim Beam Racing.

“We’ve decided it was more important to focus on the endurance races and trying to get the best results possible,” Thompson told eNews.

“It’s just about there being more benefit in getting results there, as well as sorting a deal for next year.”

He remains upbeat about being on the main series grid in 2008.

“I’m still pretty confident I’ll be there,” He added.

“Although things can always change pretty quickly.”

– ANDREW VAN LEEUWEN

FUJITSU V8s

VD for a

While AT looks at the future

JOEL Spychala will race a Ford Falcon in the Fujitsu V8 Supercar Series next year, and possibly even this year.

The New South Welshman is set to purchase Gary Deane’s Falcon BA, originally built by Anthony Tratt in 2003.

He will complete a hand-over day at Queensland Raceway next week.

Spychala will run the car out of his home base at Taree, and is currently looking at a couple of options for engineers.

The 2004 New South Wales Formula Ford Champion has spent the 2007 season on the sidelines, ensuring he has a sufficient budget for the 2008 Development series.

Now with a car locked away, Spychala is focusing on next year, but if early testing goes well, he may race the car in the final FV8 round at Phillip Island.

“We are going to try and do Phillip Island,” he told eNews.

“I’ve been out of it for a little while. I need to get a steering wheel in my hand.

Next year is just a learning curve, get used to the car, get some sponsors and get the ball rolling.”

– GRANT ROWLEY

news

Making a Hasty Exit

Marshall Cass

Sydney’s Star Car FUJITSU V8s BRETT Hobson has completed the first laps in his new toy – the GRM VZ Commodore that Lee Holdsworth started the main series season in.

Hobson, left, and the Sydney Star Racing team have been patiently waiting for the new car, which was retained

by GRM until Holdsworth’s

new VE race car was ready.

But at Winton last Friday the hand-over was completed, with Holdsworth completing several laps in the car before Hobson had his first drive.

Hobson will debut the car at the next Fujitsu Series round at Bathurst next month.

“He’s very excited,” said Hobson’s father Brian.

“The car feels totally different, but fast. We’ll probably do

Samadi wants change

RENOWNED V8 Supercar engine builder Craig Hasted escaped a freak fire at Queensland Raceway last Wednesday.

Hasted, below, received partial thickness burns to his right forearm and forehead when the WPS/ WOW Racing team were refuelling the team’s Champ Car ‘show car’ as part of a demonstration.

The 10 year-old Reynard exploded, blowing clearburning methanol fire out the side of the fuel cell.

Both Australian Champ Car driver Will Power and rival Justn Wilson were only metres away from the incident.

a test day before Bathurst, but the car’s come set-up for Bathurst, so it’ll just be a bit of familiarisation.”

The chassis has proven to be fast in Holdsworth’s hands, the GRM youngster making the ‘Top 10’ part of the new threetier qualifying format three times in the early part of the year (Clipsal 500, Barbagallo and Winton).

– ANDREW VAN LEEUWEN

FUJITSU V8s

John Morris/Mpix

ASH Samadi is looking at ending his three-year tenor in Carrera Cup and driving in the Fujitsu V8 Supercar Series next year.

Samadi has sold his Porsche back to Sherrin Motorsports, but he will continue to run the car for the remainder of the 2007 season.

In the meantime, Samadi is speaking to a number of V8 teams about breaking into the

Supercar league.

“I’ve been in Cup Car for three years and it’s probably time to change,” he told eNews.

“The V8s is an alternative to what we’ve been doing. It’s a respectable category, but I haven’t made a decision.

“I’m just looking at the options and I’ll make a decision in the next couple of weeks.”

Samadi is also expecting to enter the Dubai 24 Hour in a 997 Cup Car early next year.

– GRANT ROWLEY

13

news

Reindler Jr set for AFFC debut FORMULA FORD

circlework.com.au

YOUNG West Aussie Chris Reindler will make his Australian Formula Ford Championship debut at this weekend’s Sandown 500 meeting in Melbourne.

The younger brother of former Australian A1GP representative Karl Reindler will replace John Magro at Team BRM for the sixth round of the AFFC. With only a handful of WA State Formula Ford series rounds and a single day’s testing in a Jim Beam Racing Falcon under his belt, Reindler is not expecting too much from his debut.

“It’s going to be a tough call,” Reindler told eNews.

“I’m just focussing on finishing and, if I can get a Top 10, then that’d be great. But I’ve only done the WA series, so

I can’t go out there expecting too much. It’s just going to be great to be out there.”

Reindler is yet to drive a Duratec-powered car, and will do so for the first time during practice at Sandown. That Friday morning session will

also be his first taste of the Melbourne circuit.

“I’ll be pounding out a few laps [around Sandown] on the Playstation before the weekend,” he said.

“And Karl will be coming over too. He’s done a few laps

around there so he’s really helpful to have around.”

At this point the meeting is a one-off for Reindler. However, he has registered an interest in doing the entire National Series in 2008.

– ANDREW VAN LEEUWEN

BRD’s engine cover-up FORMULA FORD

What’s yellow and from France? The Mygale SJ08a FORMULA FORD THE first two 2008-specification Mygale Formula Ford chassis have arrived in Australia ahead of next year’s Australian Championship.

The shiny new SJ08a chassis have been imported from France by Mygale distributor Greg Woodrow in a bid to alleviate the last-minute pre-season preparation of this year’s cars.

“This will mean the problem we had with testing this year will definitely be alleviated,” Woodrow told eNews.

14

“We’ve had a lot of interest in the cars for next year at both state and national level, so we’re getting ahead of the game.”

The early arrival of the cars also means that a SJ08a complete with Duratec power will be available for lease at the final round of the 2007 AFFC at Phillip Island in December.

“The car will be ready and we’re happy to hear from drivers who are interested in having a go at Phillip Island,” Woodrow said.

– ANDREW VAN LEEUWEN

BORLAND Racing Developments is looking for every extra advantage to bridge the Formula Ford championship points gap to the Sonic Motor Racing Mygales.

At Sandown this weekend for Round 6 of the Australian Formula Ford Championship, BRD will debut a sleek new engine cover.

The change comes due to the introduction of a new inlet manifold, which has freed up a small amount of space under the car’s skin. It may only offer a minor performance improvement, but in such a close formula, an advantage has to be taken.

“It’s lower, sleeker and sexier,” BRD’s Paul Zsidy said.

“You’ll notice when you look at it that it drops away at the back. We’re only talking about a gain of hundreds and thousands here, but any advantage is worth taking.”

Borland’s CAMS Rising Star team driver Ash Walsh has taken a clean-sweep in the past two rounds and is now just 31 points behind early series dominator Tim Blanchard.

– GRANT ROWLEY

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n With Loris Capirossi already turning down Ducati for a Suzuki seat in 2008, Ducati may have its eye on a new rider for its satellite team.

Chaz Davies, the Brit, who subbed for Pramac D’Antin at Laguna Seca earlier this season, will test a factory GP7 at a two-day test at Mugello, alongside regular tester Vito Guareschi. Davies is a former 250 GP racer and currently races Supersports in the AMA series.

Kevin Curtain’s international career is at a standstill, with confirmation that Fabien Foret will join Broc Parkes in Yamaha’s World Supersport Team. Foret, 34, won the title in 2002 and currently is second in the SS series for the Gil Kawasaki team. n

16

WSS returns to the Nine Network in 2007/08 SPEEDWAY WORLD Series Sprintcars will return to the Nine Network in 2007/08.

Six half hour programs will appear on the Nine Network chronicling the series, with a one hour post-series special.

Backing up the free-to-air television coverage will be a package on Fox Sports’ Inside Speed.

Speedway Promotions Australia has elected to stick with Greg Sita’s AVE television production company – which has produced World Series television over recent

years – as the producer of the programs.

SPA also confirmed the giant screen, which has become an integral part of the World Series show over recent seasons, will be back for this season.

In other World Series Sprintcars news, Queenslander, Allan Haynes has confirmed his participation as a contracted driver.

Coopers Photography

n Track activities have resumed at Morgan Park Raceway after it was closed due to the Equine Influenza that cancelled last weekend’s Super Sprint races.

This weekend’s motorbike meeting will go ahead as planned, and the Improved Production and Formula Vee Nationals are well and truly back on track.

Dirty Television

Geoff Gracie

n As revealed by eNews last month, the WPS Bathurst 12 Hour will enjoy an expanded television deal this year.

The event, to be held February 8-10, has secured an extended highlights package with three-hours of coverage set to be screened in March on Channel Seven.

“I am delighted that we have been able to come to an arrangement with Seven which will see even more of the WPS Bathurst 12 Hour action shown across the country on free to air television,” said Event Director James O’Brien.

Aussies heading OS KARTING SIX Australian karters will compete in the IAME International Challenge six hour race in Barcelona next month.

Victorians David Sera, Kevin Millard and Rick Pringle will be joined by Michael Goss (SA), Kel Treseder (Qld) and Ben Walter (Tas). The sextet represents some of the country’s leading IAME Leopard series drivers. They were chosen to represent Australia by Leopard promoter Remo Luciani.

The inaugural International Challenge will

actually be two 3-hour endurance races, one on Saturday October 27 and the other on Sunday.

Seventeen nations will compete with two teams of three drivers each.

The IAME organisation will provide identical control equipment for all teams: FA (Fernando Alonso) karts fitted with 125cc Parilla X30 TaG engines. ”My six drivers will have the opportunity to compete on a world class scale” Luciani said.

“Hopefully Team Australia can bring home the first IAME World Challenge Trophy”.

– MARK WICKS

news

Suzuki confirms its WRC drivers WORLD RALLY SUZUKI has surprisingly announced that Nicolas Bernardi and Sebastien Lindholm will drive its cars next season.

In the meantime, Bernardi will drive the new SX4 WRC at his home event, the Rallye de France, in October, and

Finn Lindholm will take over on Wales Rally GB in late-November. Both drivers will run a full schedule in 2008.

“Bernardi and Lindholm are experienced WRC pilots,” Nobuhiro ‘Monster’ Tajima, president of Suzuki Sport, said. “So we are confident that they will deliver the desired results by

the end of the year, enabling us to finetune the car’s set-up for 2008.”

Tajima is very happy with the car’s test program and predicts podium finishes in its first full season. The team will be backed by oil giant Shell.

Full details will be unveiled in Frankfurt next week.

sutton-images.com

McRae still campaigning for Oz Rally ride AUSTRALIAN RALLY

sutton-images.com

FORMER works Hyundai driver Alistair McRae is still on the hunt for a drive in the Australian Rally Championship.

The brother of famous Scot and former World Rally Champion Colin McRae is currently residing in Sorrento, Western Australia, with his Australian wife, and says he would love to get involved in the NEC ARC. “It would be really nice to get involved in the championship over here. The ARC has some great competitors and I would love the chance to compete against them,” he told eNews this week.

“I’m heading to NSW next weekend to get a feel for the championship, and see if there is any interest out there.”

While he is far from securing a deal, McRae is already thinking towards his new ‘home’ rally for 2008.

“Hopefully I will be able to do a couple of rounds,” he added.

“The Forest Rally here in WA has a great reputation for providing some fantastic roads, and I really enjoyed Rally Australia when it was over here, so fingers crossed.

“I’m aiming to get the backing to do a full season next year, but a lot of it is going to come down to funding.”

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Four can, most can’t opinion Grant Rowley Editor eNews

18

V8 Supercar Championship track times – Sandown 500 FRIDAY SATURDAY SATURDAY SATURDAY SATURDAY SUNDAY

Practice Practice Practice Qualifying Top 10 Shootout Sandown 500

50 Laps 30 Minutes 30 Minutes 30 Minutes 30 Minutes 161 Laps

13:15 - 15:45 11:00 - 11:30 11:40 - 12:10 14:25 - 15:35 15:50 - 16:20 13:30 - 17:15

Support categories include Carrera Cup, Formula Ford and Aussie Racing Cars.

If there’s a wildcard, it’s the weather AS is always the case in Victoria, weather is a factor worth keeping track of.

Since the 500 returned to Sandown in 2003, the race has been affected by rain in 2003, 2004 and 2005.

Two rounds this year have been affected by wet weather, and both offered surprise results.

The enduros always have a knack of throwing up a few unknowns, so maybe a bit of moisture won’t be such a bad thing this weekend ...

Long-range forecast – courtesy www.weather.com.au

min.

max.

FRIDAY Passing Showers. Afternoon Clouds. Cool. 7 SATURDAY Morning Clouds. Cool.

10 SUNDAY Drizzle. Mostly Cloudy. Cool 6

16 16 15 Dirk Klynsmith

THERE was once a time when the experts would confidently suggest that there were 10 or 12 cars with a genuine chance of winning the V8 endurance races.

In 2007, you can forget that. At Sandown this weekend, one of four cars will win.

It sounds simple. It may sound harsh, but it’s a fact that will ring true at 5pm on Sunday afternoon – major catastrophes aside.

To be specific, #1 (Rick Kelly/Paul Radisich), #2 (Mark Skaife/Todd Kelly), #16 (Garth Tander/Craig Baird) and #888 (Jamie Whincup/Craig Lowndes) are the only cars really worth putting serious cash on. Any other winner this weekend will come from something untoward happening to all of these four entries.

While I might be brave enough to predict that one of these four will win, don’t dare ask me which one it will actually be. I’m a gutless gambler!

Note to all, though: If it rains, forget everything I’ve suggested here ...

Rookie Kiwi Shane Van Gisbergen could win!

One thing is for sure, though – I love V8 endurance time. For me, it’s the best part of the season. Which begs the question, why aren’t there more long distance, two-driver races?

news

It’s V8 Enduro time!

Bathurst’s traditional warm-up looks like a Clayton vs Triple 8 affair ... or is it?

Dirk Klynsmith

V8 SUPERCARS THE 2007 V8 Supercar endurance races kick off this weekend, with the 45th running of the Sandown 500.

And the theme at the front looks set to revolve around the Clayton Commodores, the lead Triple 8 Falcon and their championship chances.

Just 116 points separates the top six in the series, which means that if the front men produce a result outside the top 15, they could be in serious series strife.

The Toll HSV duo are split, and they will both drive their regular VEs. At HRT, Skaife and Toddler will drive Skaife’s VE, which is the team’s newer chassis.

Ford’s best hope will be in unfamiliar territory this weekend. Lowndes will be Whincup’s wingman, as the team have elected to use Whincup’s regular car and engineer for the race.

If things turn to mud for the championship leaders, look out for one of a number of fringe players to pounce – including FPR, SBR, the lead Tasman Commodore, the #17 Jim Beam Falcon, the #33 Valvoline Holden and maybe Jason Bright’s Fujitsu Ford.

WPS/WOW Racing will debut a new car for Max Wilson and Michael Caruso. It’s the only brand-new car in the field.

International guest drivers are a rare breed this year. The only non-regular foreigns are Irish-born Richard Lyons, who teams up with Allan Simonsen in the second T8 Falcon.

2007 Just Car Insurance Sandown 500 Entry List 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 14 16 17 18 20 021 22 25 26 33 34 39 50 51 55 67 88 111 888

Rick Kelly Paul Radisich Mark Skaife Todd Kelly Mark Noske Jay Verdnik James Courtney David Besnard Mark Winterbottom Matt Halliday Steven Richards Owen Kelly Jack Perkins Shane Price Max Wilson Michael Caruso Russell Ingall Luke Youlden Jason Bargwanna Grant Denyer Kayne Scott Marcus Marshall Simon Wills Andrew Jones Brad Jones Damien White Garth Tander Craig Baird Steven Johnson Will Davison Andrew Thompson Alex Davison Paul Dumbrell Paul Weel Shane Van Gisbergen Johnny McIntyre Glenn Seton Nathan Pretty Jason Bright Adam Macrow Alan Gurr Warren Luff Dean Canto Lee Holdsworth Greg Ritter Cameron McLean Fabian Coulthard Chris Pither Cameron McConville David Reynolds Greg Murphy Jason Richards Steve Owen Tony D’Alberto Paul Morris Steven Ellery Alan Simonsen Richard Lyons John Bowe Jonathon Webb Craig Lowndes Jamie Whincup

HSV Dealer Team Holden Racing Team Tasman Motorsport Stone Brothers Racing Ford Performance Racing Ford Performance Racing Perkins Motorsport WPS/WOW Racing Stone Brothers Racing WPS/WOW Racing Perkins Motorsport Brad Jones Racing Brad Jones Racing HSV Dealer Team Dick Johnson Racing Dick Johnson Racing PWR Racing Team Kiwi Racing Holden Racing Team Britek Motorsport Britek Motorsport Garry Rogers Motorsport Garry Rogers Motorsport Paul Morris Motorsport PWR Racing Tasman Motorsport Rod Nash Racing Paul Morris Motorsport Triple 8 Race Engineering Paul Cruickshank Racing Triple 8 Race Engineering

VE VE VE BF BF BF VE BF BF BF VE BF BF VE BF BF VE BF VE BF BF VE VE VZ VE VE VZ VE BF BF BF

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5 Minutes with ...

JUSTIN WILSON

This lanky Brit is the latest CCWS race winner, and has a pretty good chance of doing likewise ANDREW VAN LEEUWEN on the streets of Surfers Paradise next month

Will last year’s crash be on your mind when you first go out?

No not at all.

Once you put the helmet on your don’t really think about consequences. You just think about the competition.

You’ve just got to get on with it!

You’ve just had a win at Zolder – was it comforting to be back racing in Europe?

It was really nice, and much easier for my friends and family to come and watch.

But, ultimately, when you’re in the car you’re just against the clock or against everyone else, and that’s what matters.

I was enjoying it, but I like everywhere we go.

At the end of the day we go to some neat places and have

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Champ Car Media

MOTORSPORT NEWS: There’s never been a repeat winner at the Indy 300, and you and Will [Power] seem to have the best chance of keeping that statistic alive …

JUSTIN WILSON: I’m just looking forward to trying and keeping that streak going!

We’ve been pretty confident on the street circuits this year.

We’ve picked up our game in that respect, and we now have good street circuit car.

With the old Lola chassis we were always good on the road circuits and slow on the streets, but we’ve completely switched that round with the new car.

So we’re confident we can have a strong showing and, after last year when I broke my wrist, I’m keen to do well.

Being back in europe was good, but it’s not the be all and end all for me – Justin wilson likes racing anywhere in the world a lot of fun, so being back in Europe was good, but it’s not the be all and end all for me.

I just want to win races – it doesn’t really matter to me where they are being held.

In your opinion is there a future for Champ Car racing in Europe?

I think it’s good to have a couple of races there each year, just like we have the race here in Surfers, and a few in Canada, and the one in Mexico.

But we also need to strengthen the American market, because that’s where

the sponsors are based and we want to keep companies like CDW involved, because they’ve made it what it is.

But surely on a personal level you’d love a race at Silverstone …

Yeah that would be great.

To race in front of your home crowd means a lot to every driver, so I’d love it, no question about that!

You’ve got a new engineer for this year, how is that going?

It’s going well.

Mike [Talbot] was an

assistant engineer last year, and then my engineer left at the end of the season when the team got sold, so Mike got promoted to race engineer.

So he’s in at the deep end, because I think it’s only his fourth year in motorsport. But he’s a really smart guy and he’s learning quick.

And now he’s engineered a race winner …

Yeah he’s got the first race win away now.

He was grinning from ear to ear when I got back afterwards …

opinion chat

Champ Car Media

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Another day (yawn) at Spy Central ...

Unexpected benefits

I

DON’T know about anyone else, but I am getting sick to death of the F1 spy saga. Yes, it’s a serious issue; yes it could have massive ramifications for the world championship. I know all that.

It’s not something that should be taken lightly and I hope that whatever the final verdict is on Thursday (Paris time), it serves the best interests of the sport. But if you were in the Paddock at Monza last weekend, you could have been forgiven for thinking that nothing else of importance was happening anywhere on the planet. It’s all that anyone talked about.

Amid all the noise, one of the only people I came across who offered any real perspective on the whole thing was Mark Webber:

22

OPINION Mark Glendenning Formula 1 Correspondent “Well, it’s not good for the sport. That’s clear,” he said. “What’s also clear is that people forget things quite quickly. At the moment we are a bit worried and nervous about it, but people do get on with it.

“If McLaren get kicked out and Ferrari win everything ... people will get over that pretty quickly. By winter testing, it’s gone.

McLaren have got number 22 and 23 on their car ... people forget it.

“But it’s our own housekeeping; and we probably could be a bit sharper with

it. Especially with North America, and places where we are a little bit on the edge anyway. The hardcore fans will always be there because they’ve always got their rosy glasses on. But the people that are on the edge, it’s probably tougher.”

The whole saga has produced some unexpected benefits though, not the least of which is that most journos have forgotten that there are any teams on the grid besides McLaren and Ferrari. This is great, because it means that the rest of the field is suddenly a lot more accessible than normal. And like kids, backmarkers sometimes say the darndest things.

Adrian Sutil was a good example. Monza marked the much-delayed introduction of Spyker’s heralded B-spec car and, after

opinion

FIA in a quandary over Stepneygate?

THE World Council meeting Joe Saward this week Formula 1 is a vital moment in Formula 1 history as the decisions made could create an even bigger problem than has been caused by the ‘Stepneygate’ Affair.

The sign of a healthy system of government is that the law can be applied in a sensible fashion and the legislature is trusted to make the right decisions. The minute that trust is lost, the credibility goes with it.

The FIA has a perception problem because President Max Mosley has too often made the mistake of making public his dislike of McLaren’s Ron Dennis. It is thus inevitable that a strong punishment against McLaren would be viewed by many as part of some sort of continuing vendetta against Dennis.

The FIA says this is not true but it takes more than a few denials to change perceptions.

Mosley has created the problem with his constant jibes and now he must live with the consequences.

Add to this a strong perception that the FIA is always supportive of Ferrari and whispers of dossiers of perceived misdeeds and the like and one can see that the sport stands on the verge of a meltdown of awful proportions.

One cannot expect a company like McLaren – which has taken years to be built – to allow itself to be damaged unless the organization knows that it is guilty.

Huge damage will be done if the World Council makes the wrong decisions because this will open the floodgates to other questions which until now have simply lurked in the background: Should Ferrari have been punished for running an illegal floor in Melbourne? And if the allegations made about Nigel Stepney are true, should Ferrari not be answering the same charge of bringing the sport into disrepute? What is the difference?

Similarly should Toyota not have been punished for espionage crimes which were proven in a civil court?

If there are penalties that need to be applied then they should be intelligent penalties that add something to the show rather than just a ban. It would be far better, for example, to give a team a points deficit to begin 2008 than to seriously damage the sport by banning them completely.

ANALYSIS

qualifying I went and found him to get his thoughts.

“You know what?” he said.

“There’s no improvement. There’s nothing I can say about it. We expected more, but the gap is still huge.”

There are guys racing in Australian F3 who would not be that candid.

It also brings out a different side of some of the veterans. Take Ralf Schumacher, for example. Ralf has a reputation for barely-concealed hostility towards the English-speaking press, and it’s a tag that is not wholly undeserved.

When faced with a group of the British media, his default setting tends to be ‘defensive’, and you get the feeling that he can’t get out of there quick enough.

Last Friday, he finished with a large group of German media – with whom he gets along famously – and then moved on to the international press. Which, on this occasion, consisted of me. Some drivers hate working with the media, but they hate even more the idea that noone wants to speak to them.

As a result, ‘sullen Ralf’ was nowhere to be seen, and in his place was a guy who, oddly, seemed relieved to have an audience. He was friendly, chatty, tried to answer questions properly … in short, he was everything a journo would like a driver to be. And everything that Ralf, famously, usually isn’t.

It’s amazing what a good, oldfashioned crisis can bring out in people.

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The more things change ...

A COUPLE of decades since preparing for Sandown and Bathurst was something I had to worry about, the fundamentals haven’t changed much, but things have gotten a lot more complex.

Preparation, both of drivers and vehicles, remains paramount and the more comprehensive you are, then the more likely you are to succeed. But, as ever – probably more so in this highlycompetitive era – it’s surprising how easy it is to lose one of these races. The slightest mistake – on or off-track – can cost you big-time.

The only exception I can recall to that was at Bathurst when Larry collided with Craig Lowndes at Turn 1 and went a lap down changing that wheel – but still won.

But in general, something simple can get you.

It got me at our last Bathurst, 1989, during our last stop when the left rear on the ANZ Sierra wasn’t quite located right on the pegs. The nut was tight, but of course half way up Mountain Straight Klaus (Ludwig) had a loose wheel – and lost mountains of time getting back to the pits to have it fixed.

We lost, to Dick Johnson and John

opinion Allan Moffat Bathurst Legend Bowe’s Sierra by 90 seconds …

In those days, we didn’t do the religious pit-stop practice that teams do now – indeed, the pressure on all members of the team is now greater than it ever was.

Drivers are being asked to work overtime, monitoring and coping with so much more, by radio. Even the mechanics are linked by radio and similarly under increased pressure.

I’ll admit to having a radio in my car back then, but ours was one-way – and I did the talking!

The improvement in lap times at Sandown and Bathurst over that time is substantial, and in turn contributes to increased strain on drivers – to the point that I believe that they don’t need some of the distractions that they are asked to deal with. They are, after all, contributing a fair bit more than simply being the nut who holds the steering wheel on – although I think there are a few team owners who think that’s about it!

Letters

Have your say, email us at mail@mnews.com.au. Keep letters to the point.

Choose it or Booze it #1 I’m a little confused about the Bathurst 1000’s new alcohol policies.

Does this mean that my family and I, along with the other families that we travel there with each year, are not going to be permitted to set-up our chairs next to our eskies over by The Chase as it isn’t listed as a licensed area of the circuit?

The information put out so far isn’t very informative. Is

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all trackside consumption of alcohol confined to only the three places mentioned so far (Reid and Sulman Parks and along Pit Straight somewhere)?

I refuse to pay $3.00 or more for a can of VB when I can get a 30-pack for less than $40.00, and I like to sit trackside with a ‘coldy’ in my hand, not in my campsite watching it on a TV, which I can do at home.

They had better get this sorted out properly ASAP, or it could be the beginning of the

end for the popularity of the 1000 with the average person.

Colin Forbes vazelky@hotmail.com ED: As far as we can tell the new rules will not permit you to enjoy a tinnie by the side of the track as you might have done in years gone by. While the info may be a little hazy at this point, I’m sure some enquiries to event organisers will clear up exactly where and when

you can enjoy a brew or two at Mount Panorama this year.

Choose it or Booze it #2 As someone who goes to Bathurst with his mates each and ever year, I was in two minds when I read about the new alcohol rules in eNews last week.

But I decided (against the opinions of most of the boys) that it really doesn’t matter that much. We will still be able

opinion race

There’s no Race 2 this time Dirk Klynsmith

opinion Neil Crompton Commentator SANDOWN, scene of this weekend’s 500, is one of those places where teams need to be confident before they head there.

You need to stay a heartbeat ahead of the weather, which can always be an issue in Melbourne. In a team management role, that is a much bigger task to handle than it sounds. It is easy to end up on the wrong tyre at the wrong time, to fall off and end up in the gravel at Turn 1 or at Dandenong Road. Managing your car around the place is a big factor.

Depending on what your position is in the championship, you need to keep one eye on your total points, not just your track position. You can find yourself racing against a driver you

have not raced all year and, in the heat of battle, it is easy to overlook that. You need to ‘second-guess’ yourself and think your way through your stint.

There is usually a point in the race, and it usually comes past the length of a usual sprint race, where the penny drops that 500 kilometres is a long way. Having a car that is balanced and which looks after its tyres is very important.

It can throw the spotlight on many aspects within a team

that you might not see up until this points of the season.

Fuel consumption and tyre use is always critical but things like transmissions, diffs and so on come to the fore. Pitwork is crucial, more so than ever with the potential for weather, and as cars have continued to develop technically, setting up a car for a driver change can be a challenge. Little things change from season to season and sometimes, getting people in and out of the cars can be a challenge!

Sandown is an almost perfect wake-up call for all the things you need to get right before you even think about Bathurst. One of the obvious points is that there is no Race 2 at Sandown; the 500 is THE race and if it goes bad, it stays bad ...

The enduros can be a series of sprint races, and those individual races can be five laps or 55 laps. That can take some getting your head around, and it will be hard for all of the 62 drivers in the race.

Wetting the Whistle: eNews’ readers are split on the new booze rules for the Bathurst 1000. What’s your thoughts?

to have a quiet drink in the camp site of an evening and at the end of the day, I go to Bathurst to watch a race, not get drunk …

For anyone who’s whingeing about it, I’m sure there are plenty of pubs that will televise the race.

Make a choice …

Stephen Ferry sferry_05@hotmail.com TV TV TV! Firstly Channel Seven introduced the ‘3pm rule’ for V8 Supercar races on a Sunday, now they have the nerve to

move the traditional start of our Greatest Race of the Year (the Bathurst 1000) from 10am to a 10:30am start.

Surely ratings for the series aren’t so fickle that they would need to resort to such tactics as manipulating the time slot to gain points/viewers?

Would they ask the VRC to run the Melbourne Cup in December? I don’t think so ... so why do this to our beloved Great Race?

Surely some traditions are worth holding on to …

Brad Child child.bradley.r@edumail.vic.gov.au

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FORMULA 1 ROUND 13 – MONZA

When the flag dro

The McLaren team produced the perfect antidote after an appalling few weeks for team boss Ron Dennis 26

race

rops ...

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27

R

ON Dennis’ Week From Hell had some sort of interim happy day with a dominant 1-2 against the old enemy, Ferrari, on their home turf at Monza, on Sunday.

The result looked assured after a lap one arm wrestle between Lewis Hamilton and Felipe Massa was resolved in the Brit’s favour, the McLarens – with Fernando Alonso out front and a few tenths quicker than his team-mate – racing away into the distance.

Once Felipe Massa became an early retirement with a broken rear shock absorber (see Tech, page 31), the only question remaining was whether Kimi Raikkonen – racing with a sore neck after a high-speed practice shunt – was on a one or two-stop strategy, and whether it would make any difference anyway, such was the speed difference between the McLarens and Ferraris.

The answers were ‘one’ and ‘no’. It was a worthwhile gamble by the Reds and it, briefly, got Kimi ahead of Hamilton,

28

but the latter’s second stop was late, he emerged on the softer Bridgestones and in the end went past Raikkonen under brakes at Turn 1 like he was a back-marker.

Hamilton had a teeny piece of luck at the start. He’d been a bit slow away (from the dirty ‘inside’ grid two, but then plunged down the outside to re-pass Massa under brakes. The Ferrari’s front left nudged Hamilton’s right rear and the McLaren marginally cut the second apex (above) as it recovered. No damage, and no stewards’ involvement – on such moments can championships be won …

Behind the podium contest, the two BMWs locked up their usual best-of-the rest spots, fourth and fifth, Heidfeld cruising it after Robert Kubica lost valuable time in a botched pit stop.

Sixth, and a well-earned sixth, after a titanic early struggle with Jenson Button’s Honda (yes you read that correctly!) went to Nico Rosberg – backing up an equally strong qualifying effort.

With Heikki Kovalainen working his

way back to seventh, the other news was Honda’s return to the points, Jenson Button completing a strong one-stop race in eighth, Rubens Barrichello tenth.

Between them, and pushing a difficult Red Bull along, was Mark Webber.

Red Bull team-mate David Coulthard walked away from a big lap two shunt after going straight on at the Curva Grande. His car’s front wing, damaged in a touch with Fisichella, had disintegrated.

DC was unhurt and out of the car quickly – which raised questions as to the need for and length of , the subsequent Safety Car. But the restart provided no surprises and the race resumed as it was.

As Alonso and Hamilton completed their slow-down laps, it all became too much for Ron Dennis. Under intense pressure for some weeks, the man who epitomises the British stiff upper lip almost crumbled, wiping away moisture from his eyes before heading to the rostrum. It was a brief, if satisfying moment, at the start of what could be a tumultuous week …

race

Italian ups and downs: Trulli, top, had a launch problem at the start and spent the rest of the race trying to make up time. Above, Honda scored its second point for the year. Below, BMW was again a clear third best. Red is the new red, left. Above left, Coulthard was escorted back to pit lane by the authorities after his big stack early in the race.

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Big crash one-day, podium the next IT would be easy to look at Kimi Raikkonen’s third place in front of the rampant Tifosi at Monza as a failure, particularly as Lewis Hamilton pulled the move of the season on his at Turn 1.

But in truth, the Finn put in one of the most heroic performances of the season.

Following a 250kmh practice crash on Saturday, Raikkonen was having problems holding up his head and, despite seeing two McLarens in front of him at the finish, was a satisfied man post-race.

“This was definitely a tough race for me because of the pain I felt in my neck after yesterday’s accident, which was bad enough to make it hard for me to hold my head steady under braking,” he said.

“Having said that though, today we were not really quick enough [to challenge the McLarens]. The car was not bad in the first stint but then we were not strong enough. We just didn’t have the speed today. That’s how it goes.”

The interesting part now will be whether Raikkonen get Ferrari’s ‘Schumacher’ treatment at Spa. He is five points ahead of team-mate Felipe Massa in the championship, and Ferrari has said that it will not place team orders on its drivers. But it has a long history of doing so and, with the McLarens in peak form, Raikkonen may be the Prancing Horse’s best hope of a Drivers’ Title this season.

– MARK GLENDENNING

Another Bull of a day

Webber: “We need to learn how to develop the car” RED Bull has fallen into something of a development ‘hole’ admitted Mark Webber after another frustrating midfield Grand Prix, at Monza.

Webber’s frustration was compounded by the clear progress made by Honda, which moved forward in the pecking order to surround the Red Bull driver – finishing in front of and

30

behind the Australian.

Having just missed the qualifying top ten and started eleventh, Webber finished ninth – only really benefiting from the retirement of Felipe Massa’s Ferrari.

“It was good to get Jarno off the start but as I settled into the first stint, it became difficult to keep a consistent pace as the car was

unpredictable lap to lap,” said Webber afterwards.

“This was later put down to a slow left-front puncture, which nearly forced us to stop early, on safety grounds.

“I knew everyone was long in terms of fuel loads and that we were racing the Hondas – I managed to beat one of them but not the other. I’m very disappointed not to have come away with

a point from today’s race, but the reality is we’re simply not quick enough. We need to learn how to develop the car because it’s been difficult for us since the fifth race of the season to make any progress.”

F1 moves to Spa this weekend – a happy Webber hunting ground in the past, although current Red Bull car speed would suggest another tough weekend is looming.

race

The Italian’s Jobbed

Technical Editor PAOLO FILISETTI watched as Ferrari’s weekend went sour

THE cause of the retirement of Felipe Massa from Monza was a physical failure in one of the rear dampers of the F2007, right.

This problem made it impossible to carry on at all in the race, as the high speed reached on the straights would have led to dramatic and dangerous bottoming of the rear end.

Ferrari was adamant that there was no relation between this and the accident suffered by Kimi Raikkonen in practice – according to the team, that was down to the constant hard-riding of the kerbs by the Finnish driver.

BMW provides a good example of the degree of aero change required for Monza.

Both front and rear ends were deeply revised, with the front nose sporting a single very narrow flap instead of the usual wider version. In addition, the usual additional upper profiles (green arrow) were absent in this particular version.

Quite interesting also was the adoption of a triangular shaped gurney tab on the exit edge of the flap, in its middle, instead of the usual rectangular one.

This configuration produces dramatically less drag in comparison to the standard version, but is capable of keeping the front end of the car very stable and sharp in the corners.

F1 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP | Round 13 MONZA Pos #

Driver

Team

1 1 Fernando Alonso McLaren-Mercedes 2 2 Lewis Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes 3 6 Kimi Räikkönen Ferrari 4 9 Nick Heidfeld BMW 5 10 Robert Kubica BMW 6 16 Nico Rosberg Williams-Toyota 7 4 Heikki Kovalainen Renault 8 7 Jenson Button Honda 9 15 Mark Webber Red Bull-Renault 10 8 Rubens Barrichello Honda 11 12 Jarno Trulli Toyota 12 3 Giancarlo Fisichella Renault 13 17 Alexander Wurz Williams-Toyota 14 23 Anthony Davidson Super Aguri-Honda 15 11 Ralf Schumacher Toyota 16 22 Takuma Sato Super Aguri-Honda 17 18 Vitantonio Liuzzi STR-Ferrari 18 19 Sebastian Vettel STR-Ferrari 19 20 Adrian Sutil Spyker-Ferrari 20 21 Sakon Yamamoto Spyker-Ferrari Ret 5 Felipe Massa Ferrari Ret 14 David Coulthard Red Bull-Renault Fastest Lap: Alonso on lap 44, 1m15.284s

Time

Qual

1:18:37.806 +6.0 secs +27.3 secs +56.5 secs +60.5 secs +65.8 secs +66.7 secs +72.1 secs +75.8 secs +76.9 secs +77.7 secs +1 Lap +1 Lap +1 Lap +1 Lap +1 Lap +1 Lap +1 Lap +1 Lap +1 Lap Suspension Accident

1 2 5 4 6 8 7 10 11 12 9 15 13 14 18 17 19 16 21 22 3 20

F1 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP | DRIVER'S points Points: Hamilton 92, Alonso 89, Raikkonen, Massa 69, Heidfeld 52, Kubica 33, Kovalainen 21, Fisichella 17, Wurz 13, Rosberg 12, Webber 8, Coulthard 8, Trulli 7.

Points: McLaren-Mercedes 166, Ferrari 143, BMW 86, Renault 38, Williams-Toyota 25, Red Bull-Renault 16, Toyota 12, Super Aguri-Honda 4, Honda 2.

NASCAR Media

F1 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP | Constructor’s points

31

GLOBE TROTTER BRITISH F3 MARKO Asmer wrapped up the British Formula 3 Championship last weekend at Croft – but not in the way he would had liked.

The Estonian retired from a healthy lead in the first race, handing victory to Stephen Jelley. But with Maro Engel also retiring, the title went to Asmer anyway.

Aussie John Martin had a solid weekend, finishing 12th and 11th in the two races.

TOMASZ Gollob, the seven-times Polish Speedway Champion, won his home Grand Prix for the sixth time last weekend.

Gollob took the honours ahead of meeting wildcard Krzysztof Kasprzak and championship leader Nicki Pedersen.

There was disappointment for the two Australians, Leigh Adams and Jason Crump.

Crump failed to gain enough qualifying points to make the semi-finals and Adams, with a heat victory in his final qualifying ride, did make the top eight but came third in his semi to miss out on the Final.

That means that Nicki Pedersen needs just 18 points from the final two Grands Prix, in Slovenia and Germany, to regain the world title he last won in 2005.

– TONY MILLARD

Haga, Bayliss on top and Troy Corser. But the Ducati ace was in peak form in Race 2, Bayliss and Haga staging a thrilling battle throughout.

Bayliss outlasted his Yamaha opponent to win, while Biaggi was third.

“Honestly there wasn’t much difference between the bikes in the two races – sometimes you have a problem and it goes like that,” said Bayliss.

“We weren’t happy with the

WORLD SUPERBIKES A SOFT front tyre and a pumped-up Noriyuki Haga stopped Troy Bayliss from taking a double World Superbike win at Lausitz Speedway in Germany.

The World Champion led Race 1 early until his front Pirelli hoop faded, dropping him to fourth behind a rampant Haga, Max Biaggi

IRL INDYCAR

IRL IndyCar Media

32

first race and you could tell the difference in the second race because the bike was better to ride.”

Points leader James Toseland struggled more than most after much of practice was washed out, and moped to ninth in the opening race. But better grip in Race 2 saw him finish fourth.

Points: Toseland 375, Haga 334, Biaggi 322, Bayliss 296, Corser 254, Xaus 177, Lanzi 173, Rolfo 166.

Close in Chicagoland

GP2 TIMO Glock has increased his GP2 Series lead over Lucas di Grassi to 11 points after winning the Sprint race in Monza last weekend.

Both Glock and di Grassi had a disastrous first race. Glock was lucky to finish third after a firstcorner clash with Adrian Zaugg, while di Grassi was poised to take the series lead before he suffered mechanical dramas two laps from home.

Yamaha Media

SPEEDWAY GP

IF there was just a little more fuel in his car, Brisbane-born Scott Dixon would have been crowned the 2007 IRL IndyCar Series Champion.

But there wasn’t, and instead the title went to Dario Franchitti after Sunday’s season closing Chicagoland IRL series race.

The two title protagonists went into the final round almost level on points and were running nose-to-tail on the final tour.

But just when it looked like Dixon was going to sneak

home for the race and title win, his car hiccuped as it gasped for fuel, allowing Franchitti through with two corners to run.

“I was drafting and going for the slingshot, but just as I pulled out I saw him slow down,” said Franchitti, the third consecutive Indianapolis 500 winner to win the title in the same season.

“I almost hit the back of him. Once I corrected that, I knew that the race and the championship were ours.”

Final Points: Franchitti 637, Dixon 624, Tony Kanaan 576, Dan Wheldon 466, Sam Hornish Jr 465.

race

NASCAR Media

Jimmie wins as Chase is set NASCAR FOR the second week in succession, Jimmie Johnson has dominated the latter part of a race, heading the final 106 laps on his way to victory from pole position at Richmond on Saturday night .

Johnson’s sixth win of the season cemented him at the top of the standings for the final 10-race Chase as the points are re-shuffled based on wins in the ‘regular’ 26 race schedule.

“We’re off to a good start,” said Johnson of his win entering the Chase.

“As everybody knows it was a little bit of a tough summer for us. But everything is working right now. I feel like our intermediate program, our current car program, between the COT and the current car, we’re strong on all fronts and I’m happy that we’re able to put that together and win back-to-back weeks like this.”

Dale Earnhardt Jr ran up front in the latter half as he attempted to race his

way into the Chase in the hope that 12th placed Kevin Harvick suffered problems.

Although Harvick dodged two wrecks along the way – one involving Juan Pablo Montoya and Kurt Busch – his seventh place was enough, coupled with the luckless Junior’s blown engine just seven laps from the finish, to stay in the 12.

Chase Standings: Johnson 5060, Jeff Gordon 5040, Tony Stewart 5030, Carl Edwards 5020, Kurt Busch 5020, Denny Hamlin 5010, Matt Kenseth 5010, Kyle Busch 5010, Jeff Burton 5010, Martin Truex Jr 5010, Harvick 5010, Clint Bowyer 5010.

Second Title for Cody CODY Crocker has secured his second consecutive AsiaPacific Rally Championship after finishing fifth in Rally Indonesia last weekend.

Crocker, with co-driver Ben Atkinson, had a tough weekend in Indonesia, but the pair battled on to grab the necessary points to win the Championship with one round to go.

“After a flat tyre on SS5 yesterday we were out of contention for the Indonesian title, so the focus became securing the APRC title,” Crocker said.

“While we could be disappointed with fifth here, the real story for us and the team is a second straight Championship.”

“We’ve had an incredible run, ten straight event wins, that was never going to go on for ever in a sport like this.

But for us to add two APRCs to three ARCs across five years is just incredible.”

Crocker and Atkinson are rumoured to be seeking a drive in the Production World Rally Championship next season, although the pair has already agreed to continue in the APRC in 2008.

– RYAN LAHIFF

NASCAR Media

APRC

Kyle’s Busch Win BUSCH SERIES KYLE Busch dominated last Friday’s NASCAR Busch Series race at Richmond, leading all but 25 of the laps on his way to his second victory of the season.

Busch started from pole and took the lead for the final time on Lap 160 when Matt Kenseth spun avoiding an accident.

He eventually won from Carl Edwards and Ryan Newman.

Marcos Ambrose led the rookie brigade and secured the best short-track finish of his NASCAR career with 15th place.

He was running eighth with 13 laps to run, but a re-start – where a number behind him had gambled and gone in for fresh rubber – saw him drop to 15th in the closing laps.

Points: Edwards 3998, Kevin Harvick 3265, David Reutimann 3265, Jason Leffler 3172, David Ragan 3021, (Ambrose 2795).

33

Digital Realism

Need For Speed at Tweed SPEED ON TWEED THE sixth Speed on Tweed historic motor racing festival was held over the weekend in front of huge crowds in the northern New South Wales town of Murwillumbah.

This year was all about celebrating the history of the Australian Grand Prix, with many former cars and drivers in attendance and Vern Schuppan this year’s patron.

Jack Brabham, Tony Gaze, Tim Schenken, Ron Tauranac, John Goss, Kevin Bartlett and

John McCormack were all there helping to highlight the history behind today’s Albert Park spectacular.

Ian Ross thrilled the crowd by lapping the one-kilometre course in his ex-Alan Jones 1985 Beatrice-Haas LolaHart, pictured above, striking spectacular skid-plate sparks, while history buffs enjoyed such cars as the newly restored Wanderer W8 that raced at the first GP, in 1928.

Ex-GP winners included the George Reed Special used by Warwick Pratley to win the

1951 GP and Doug Whiteford’s Lago-Talbot T26C which won the first Albert Park GP in 1953.

Ty Hangar recorded the fastest time of the weekend in a 1981 AGP-raced March 77B, 2.5s faster than Jeff Brown’s exSchenken Brabham BT28. The Doug Chippendale award for the person best embodying the spirit of the event was awarded to Dick Vermeulen for his sideways racing in a 1935 Ford V8 replica, displaying the family trait that has taken nephew Chris to MotoGP stardom.

– MARK JONES Digital Realism

Digital Realism

Letting it all hang out: Ty Hangar was the man to beat again in Murwillumbah, setting the fastest time of the day in the March his father Ray raced at the 1981 Australian Grand Prix, above. And it wouldn’t have been a celebration of Australia’s involvement in Grand Prix racing without Sir Jack, left.

34

race

TARGA WEST

circlework.com.au circlework.com.au

circlework.com.au

Replica Tribute: Anthony Clarke’s Brock replica Torana was a worthy recipient of the ‘King of the Mountain’ trophy, above left. There was crash damage for both Bill Buys, left, and Kevin Weeks, above.

JIM Richards has proven that he is definitely the man to beat on tarmac, taking out the Competition Modern class at QUIT Targa West in Perth last weekend.

In winning the class, Richards, above, put an end to Western Australian local Ross Dunkerton’s hopes of securing the event hat-trick, and adds the Targa West trophy to a cabinet that already boasts eight Targa Tasmania titles.

Richards set the pace from the word go, driving his 2007 Porsche GT3 RS in unrelentingly style around the winding tarmac stages to finish 2m10s ahead of closest rival Tony Longhurst (Skelta GForce), who had a tight battle with Dunkerton (Mitsubishi Evo IX) across the weekend.

“We came over here to win, and it’s great to walk away with another title,” said Richards at the end of the rally.

“I would like to be able to package the Western Range Wines stage and take it back to Tassie with me tomorrow

circlework.com.au

King of the Road Surface

because that is probably the best stage we have done in 15 years,” added Richards’ codriver Barry Oliver.

“We always knew it was going to be a good event but it has certainly exceeded our expectations.”

WA local Hans De Corti, who drove his Porsche 911 RS to a commanding win of more than five minutes, dominated the Competition Classic class for the whole weekend.

In the Challenge categories, Anthony Clarke took out the Classic class in a Holden Torana, while Robert Darrington drove his BMW M3 consistently across the weekend to take out the Modern title.

Heading the ‘spinners’ list was Paul Summers, who spun out on the Zig Zag course, coming to a sliding holt down an embankment between two trees. The Holden Monaro of Matt Waters ended up on its roof during the second stage on Saturday, and Paul Davis’ Ferrari will need to be sent to the panel beaters after it found a solid resting place tangled in a fence on Stage 4.

35

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Karting Webber Ambrose Power Formula 1 World Rally

Smile – you’re on camera!

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The solid state digital recording system writes directly to compact flash cards for easy drag-and-drop computer transfer in Mpeg-2 format. Extremely durable, it is currently being used by the V8 Utes and producing broadcast quality footage.

The video processor is capable of simple picture-inpicture or split screen video.

There is no need for expensive file editing programs or tricky synchronization of videos. Racer Industries also provides a full range of mounts to overcome any installation problems.

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All from Speedzone – phone 02 9709 4655 for your nearest dealer or check out www.speedzone.com.au

39

rear of grid

Preparing for ‘Bathurst Jr’ L

ATE last year The Punter took some financial punishment (not to mention a tongue-lashing from the wife) and bought a flatscreen plasma TV. It really wasn’t cheap and the figure still stands out like a sore thumb every time the credit card bill arrives at the door, but right now, less than a week out from the Sandown 500, I couldn’t care less.

You see, my colleagues down there at eNews have spent the better part of the year going on about the enduros, and what the teams do to get ready – what codrivers they hire, who qualifies and who starts, and so on and so forth.

But what about fan preparation?

Longer races means more TV time, and more TV time means The Punter has to be especially prepared when the coverage starts this Saturday.

It’s really quite involved; first there’s practice, which is where I check the wiring on the beer fridge, the bolts on the roofmounted aerial (not much

point having this bloody expensive TV if you’ve got ordinary reception), and the groove in the couch where my derriere fits so snugly.

Then there’s qualifying which, just like real motorsport, can affect the outcome of the big day. It’s all about an efficient trip to the Bottle-O, making sure the mates are comfortable and re-hydrating before the telecast starts, and making sure the team manager (the missus) has the kids quiet and the snagger rolls in the oven (thanks sweetheart).

The easy part is the race, where myself and the boys enjoy a frothy or three and watch Bathurst Jr. This year is apparently the 45th running of the Sandown 500 and I’ve never seen it in the flesh. I know I should make the effort in the next year or two, but this new telly is so bloody good I’m almost thinking about not even going to Bathurst.

Although ...

punter@mnews.com.au

THE PUNTER HAS TO BE ESPECIALLY PREPARED WHEN THE COVERAGE STARTS THIS SATURDAY

Odd Spot

Mumm’s boy

40

Dirk Klynsmith

NOW, here is a job that we bet you never thought of.

Since 2000, Champagne Mumm has been the official drop of Formula 1 and has featured in the podium ceremonies (with the exception of no-alcohol Bahrain, which features carbonated rose water).

So, logically, someone has to ensure that sufficient quantities of the good stuff arrive at the tracks in good order.

Not a spectacular pic, to be sure. And I bet that Jennifer Hawkins’ bikini wrangler is a slightly happier fella. But for now, and on a hot day at Monza, we reckon that this bloke has one of the better gigs in Formula 1 …