Motorsport eNews Issue 26 - October 16-22, 2007 by V8 Sleuth

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Issue No. 026 16 – 22 October 2007

Owen replaces Fabian for final four V8 rounds

STONERMANIA World Champ wows ‘em at home

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

Production

Issue No. 026 | 16-22 October 2007

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news 4 Stoned Island 6 I like my paint 8 Spanish for ‘Home’ 14 ExTandersion

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MD / Publisher

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chat 18 5 minutes with ... opinion 20 van Leeuwen 21 Branagan 39 Punter

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

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

Cameron McConville A High Definition idea I think it’s more than tyres Casey and Lewis

race 22 The Rockets’ Red Glare Two little Ducks ... Ducatis 26 Tarmaction Control 30 Write a Black Czech 32 Mallalalala Land

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, Neil Hammond, Joel Strickland, Mike Patrick (UK)

Casey’s late tyre gamble Ford V8 teams’ liveries Alonso-Renault ... ??? Leanne and Garth grow

Loeb cements on bitumen But we won in the League Proddies turn it on in SA

trade 36 Trade and Industry / Raceshop / Classifieds

welcome Until we hire someone, we are bench testing new receptionists here at Motorsport News Check out the latest eNews supplements via http://www.mnews.com.au

Stoner smokes ‘em MOTOGP CASEY Stoner could be on the verge of dominating MotoGP racing for years, following an inspired and inspiring victory in the 2007 Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix. Stoner, who turns 22 today, was never headed in the race and only revealed after the podium ceremony that the team had gambled and run a rear tyre in the GP that he had not tested during the lead-up to the race. Stoner and Ducati team-mate Loris Capirossi were both concerned that the warmer race day conditions would compromise tyre life. After the Sunday warmup session, both consulted Bridgestone technicians and made the decision to go with a harder rear slick.

John Morris/Mpix

“We didn’t really know what to expect,” Stoner told the BBC. “The tyres that we ran in the warm-up were not so much different to the ones I ran in the race, but they weren’t going to be able to last the distance. “So we actually went with a tyre that we hadn’t really tested before the race. We just took a gamble – we’ve got nothing on the line at the moment, and it was a lot of fun.” Even as Stoner was pulling away from the field, Capirossi used his tyres perfectly, pulling past Dani Pedrosa and Valentino Rossi in one fell swoop to give Ducati a 1-2 result, and hand the Italian marque the Manufacturers’s title, the first for a European brand since MV Augusta’s crown in 1973. “Winning the constructors’ and teams’ titles confirms and strengthens the value

of the goal conquered three weeks ago by Casey,” said Ducati’s CEO Gabriele Del Torchio in a statement. “We have a great team of men and women who, with courage and warmth, have made a dream come true.” Stoner’s ninth win of the season – the first for an Aussie at home since Mick Doohan’s 1998 victory – was one of his most satisfying, but even if he manages to win the final two races of the season, he will not be able to set a new single-season win mark. That still belongs to Doohan, who won 12 GPs in 1997. Even so, Stoner, who will be joined by Italian Marco Melandri in the factory Ducati squad next season, heads to Malaysia a happy man: “I didn’t think this season could get a lot better, but it just has today.”

McLaren under the microscope for F1 decider FORMULA 1 THE F1 championship decider, this weekend, in Brazil, could end in farce following the revelation that the FIA will have an official on hand to monitor activities in the McLaren garage and thus

ensure that Fernando Alonso gets a ‘fair deal’ from the McLaren team. Championship leader Lewis Hamilton goes in with a four point advantage over his McLaren team-mate, with Ferrarii’s Kimi Raikkonen – three points further back –

needing a McLaren disaster to snatch an unlikely crown. However, tensions between the two McLaren drivers suggest that nothing is impossible. The wild-card will be Felipe Massa, out of championship contention, but desperate to

repeat his 2006 home GP win. The Head of the Spanish motosport Federation has been invited by McLaren boss Ron Dennis to attend the Brazilian race, and has revealed that an FIA Steward will be in the McLaren pits to ensure fair play ...

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Kelly’s final four fling

Coulthard out for Owen in second Morris Commodore at Indy, Bahrain, Tassie and The Island James Smith

V8 SUPERCARS

Dirk Klynsmith

OWEN Kelly will replace Fabian Coulthard at Paul Morris Motorsport for the remainder of the 2007 V8 Supercar Championship Series – starting on the Gold Coast street circuit this weekend. The Ford Performance Racing endurance driver will steer the #39 Paul Morris Motorsport Holden Commodore VZ at Indy, Bahrain, Symmons Plains and Phillip Island. Coulthard will remain on the V8 sidelines for the rest of the year while finalising his plans for the 2008 season – he is one of two drivers reportedly in contention for the drive at Paul Cruickshank Racing. Team manger Nigel Barcley is disappointed to lose Fabian off the team’s roster, but pleased to have Owen fill the void: “Fabian has done a superb job this year for us but the commercial realities of it all mean that Owen will step in for the rest of the year,” he said. “Owen does a good job in anything he drives. He’s a very good driver; he’s driven for the team before and he is very under-rated.” Kelly is pleased to get the call up by PMM to drive in the final four rounds of the championship. “The opportunity has come up – you’ve got to grab them when they are presented to you,” he told eNews. “My requirement is to keep the car straight and bring it home in one piece. I won’t get to test, so it’s important to finish Indy nice and straight before the cars are packed up for Bahrain. There isn’t really much time to be preparing cars. “The team doesn’t expect me to go out there and set the world on fire so we’ll take a pretty conservative approach to it.” Kelly, who finished third and 13th in the two endurance races with FPR, is also pumped to race at the “world-class” Bahrain circuit. “I haven’t been to Bahrain, so that will be interesting. It’s probably not a place that I would have gone for a holiday so its good to go there and do something. And it’s obviously a world-class facility. Kelly has driven for PMM on a number of occasions. He was the team’s test driver in 2000, as well as competing in the Bathurst 1000 in the team’s second car with Aaron McGill that year. “Paul was instrumental in getting me up to speed in a V8 Supercar at the time because its so difficult to get miles in the cars he was good enough to let me blaze around in one of his cars during their test days.” In that same season, Kelly joined Morris in a second BMW Super Tourer for three races during that category’s final season. – GRANT ROWLEY

BRIEFLY... n As expected, WilliamsF1 has confirmed that Kazuki Nakajima will make his Grand Prix debut in Brazil this weekend. The 22-year-old test driver, who replaces the retired Alex Wurz, is the son of former Lotus and Tyrrell driver, Satoru Nakajima.

n eNews can guarantee an Alfa Romeo will lead the field at next February’s WPS Bathurst 12-hour. The Italian car-maker will provide three cars to event organizers, with a V6-powered 159 set to be the official pace car.

New paint stays for Ford teams V8 SUPERCARS TWO Ford teams will carry their new looks onto the streets of Surfers Paradise this weekend. Ford Performance Racing, which ran a new-look Orrcon entry at Bathurst, will maintain its new Ford ‘Cobra’ paint scheme in Queensland and for the rest of the season. Mark Winterbottom, who teamed with Steven Richards in a combined Castrol-Orrcon entry at Mount Panorama, will return to his familiar number #5 Ford, now in white colours. Dick Johnson Racing will maintain its own new look. The iconic Queensland squad ran in new ‘Jim Beam with zero sugar cola’ branding at Bathurst and will retain the mainly black look for the huge Gold Coast weekend.

TanderSport is seeking drivers with suitable budget for the 2008 Kumho Tyres Australian Formula 3 Championship. To find out how you can race for free in 2009, Contact Leanne Tander on 0414 424 264 or leanne@garthtander.com for more information.

Dirk Klynsmith

n A well-placed source in the USA is suggesting that there could be more to the move by Dario Franchitti to NASCAR than meets the eye. The Scot, who has already raced in Target colours in a NASCAR-sanctioned event, has a long relationship with Canadian Club whiskey and our man swears that the brand will make the move to Stock Cars with the Indy 500 winner ...

James Smith

n Col Trinder has been appointed the acting Chairman of ARCom. The former Deputy Chairman replaces Ed Ordynski, who stepped down from the role at the end of last week. Trinder will fill the role until such time as the expressions of interest process has been completed and a permanent appointment is made.

Blue, white and tough: Frosty stays as Ford’s Cobra.

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Moving heaven and earth Team BOC work night and day to get burned and broken Falcons ready for Indy V8 SUPERCARS SIMON Wills will use Team BOC’s spare chassis at Indy this weekend after the team’s car-damaging round at Bathurst. Both the #12 and #14 Falcons were extensively damaged at Mount Panorama, with car #14 the worst affected. Crashed heavily in the hands of Damien White at McPhillamy Park during qualifying on Friday at Bathurst, the car was stripped at the track, but deemed too damaged to fix before Indy. Wills will use BJ004, which has sat on sidelines all of this year, having last been driven by

John Bowe last year. On the other side of the garage, #12 has also been being totally stripped to replace all components, including the wiring loom, which was heavily damaged in the fire during the early stages of the Great Race. This car will be in the hands of its regular driver Andrew Jones this weekend. Team owner Brad Jones said that the team has moved heaven and earth to get them to the Gold Coast. “The guys have worked night and day and they’ve done an unbelievable job to get the cars finished on Saturday night,”

he said. “It’s been a mammoth task to get everything done. I can’t speak highly enough of the people we have working here.” Jones said that it is unlikely that the car that White crashed will see a race track again this year. “I don’t think so. We’re going to have a look at it now. We’ll sit down and have a really good look at it. Unless someone has a major, and it would really want to be a major, I think we’ll stick with the two cars we’ve got.” – GRANT ROWLEY

No kidding, Bathurst Champs go floral at Indy V8 SUPERCARS CRAIG Lowndes and Jamie Whincup will look a little goofier this weekend – but it is all in a good cause. The two-time Bathurst 1000 winners will ditch their usual TeamVodafone suits for something more tropical in Queensland, to raise money for UNICEF Australia. The dynamic pair will don Hawaiian print race suits, which will be worn at the Lexmark Indy 300, and an online eBay action will be held from October 15 to raise funds for UNICEF. “At the start of our season, Vodafone revealed the most revolutionary race

livery in the history of V8 Supercars. Now, at Indy, we’ll match the flair of our car design with the loudest suits on circuit,” said Jamie. “UNICEF Australia is delighted with Vodafone’s support and their innovative fundraising initiative with TeamVodafone,” said Carolyn Hardy, Chief Executive of UNICEF Australia. “The Vodafone Australia Foundation is a committed supporter of UNICEF. We are very grateful that Vodafone is able to leverage the TeamVodafone sponsorship to help UNICEF’s work in bringing health, education, equality and protection to children around the world.”

BRIEFLY... n The Swiss Senat, the council of the various states, has rejected an attempt by the lower house of the Swiss Parliament to alter the 1958 Road Traffic Law, which prohibits all circuit racing in the country. Thew law was created in the wake of the Le Mans disaster of 1955 when around 100 people were killed when a Mercedes sports car crashed into the crowd and disintegrated. The vote passed through the lower house, but was blocked in the Senat last week. n BusinessF1 Magazine Ltd has been placed in the hands of the Receiver, while the magazine's publisher, Tom Rubython, has been declared personally bankrupt. The winding up petition against the magazine came from Tony Purnell, former head of the Jaguar Racing F1 team.

n He may have less points than Lewis Hamilton but Heikki Kovalainen stands to finish his 17th GP in Brazil this weekend, from 17 starts.

– SAWARD/SPURRING

FORMULA 1 HAS Fernando Alonso signed a letter of intent to drive for Renault in 2008?

That is the current debate, following reports to that effect in the German media last week. A letter of intent is not necessarily legally binding, as this usually depends on the clauses that are included in the document and, in the case of Alonso, the principal clause would have to be that he can find a way to get out of his McLaren contract. Having said that, if Alonso has signed such a document there may be a legal argument from McLaren that he is in breach of his contract and thus must pay damages to the team. Legally-speaking Alonso cannot simply join another team because McLaren would then be able to challenge that deal at the F1 Contract Recognition Board. Alonso is committed to McLaren until the end of 2009 – although once again there are probably a number of conditional clauses. The team has built a package of sponsorship around Fernando, notably with the Spanish companies Banco Santander and Mutua Madrilena. If Alonso wants to leave McLaren early, the team may not be able to stop him from doing so, but it can stop him driving elsewhere in 2008 and it can claim damages from him. The option of staying at McLaren now seems less and less likely, unless the team agrees to align itself behind Fernando – and that is not going to happen. There have been solid rumours in recent weeks that McLaren recently tied Lewis Hamilton into a five-year deal worth more than US$100m – so Alonso’s desire to be the team number one is simply not going to happen … – JOE SAWARD

German media reports 3-year Renault-Alonso deal. Letter of Intent denied. Lukewarm denial

sutton-images.com

n Triple Formula 1 World Champion Jackie Stewart is evaluating a slander action against Max Mosley. The FIA President called Stewart “a certified half-wit" because he criticised the FIA's handling of the McLaren spying scandal. Stewart told the UK’s The Guardian newspaper: “That option is still very open. My lawyers advised me that I have every right to do so and that’s an option I’m able to take up. My lawyers are in communication with Mr Mosley.” Mosley remains unrepentant, asserting that Stewart’s comments to the media were ill-informed and misrepresented the position of the World Motor Sport Council.

Deal or No Deal?

Nope, we’re wrong. We must be ... RENAULT’S denial of the Alonso-signing story sets a new benchmark for tepid responses.

“The team will not comment on the speculation that has appeared in the media,” Renault insisted in a brief statement, “We will announce our drivers for next season when we are ready to do so.” This would appear to be the statement a Formula 1 team in a holding pattern, while its chosen man is under contract to another team, manufacturer and sponsors. And it hardly suggests that Alonso and Heikki Kovalainen will be anything other than team-mates next season, at Enstone …

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Delayed Concorde Agreement puts new team in doubt

Heikki Hiking FORMULA 1 RENAULT F1 driver Heikki Kovalainen is the star international entry for Mark Webber’s annual charity contest – the Mark Webber Pure Tasmania Challenge.

FORMULA 1 PRODRIVE now looks most unlikely to line up on the F1 grid in 2008.

Its entry next year had been contingent upon the teams agreeing a replacement version of its Concorde Agreement (which would allow the use of ‘customer’ cars) but as negotiations have slipped further and further behind, it has become apparent that the new agreement won’t be in place for 2008. The teams have agreed, therefore, to continue use the existing agreement until something new is finalised. In terms of Prodrive’s entry, that now requires a special ruling by the FIA Court of Appeal. Given the delays involved, Prodrive and McLaren – who were in negotiation over car/engine supply – have called a halt.

sutton-images.com

Prodriven out?

As neither team wishes to be involved in a half-hearted operation, the plans have been put on hold and thusthere will not be a Prodrive F1 team in 2008. “The financial viability of a new team will not be possible until agreement is reached on a revised Concorde Agreement,” Prodrive said in a statement last week. “This is required to determine the long-term rights of participation in the championship and eligibility to FOM income, on an equitable basis for all participants in Formula 1. It would therefore be totally irresponsible of us to employ all the staff required to establish the new team or commit to significant financial obligations while these uncertainties are still unresolved.” – JOE SAWARD

Kovalainen will travel to Australia with physio Gabriele Polcari to compete in the seven-day adventure race, which will take competitors from Cradle Mountain, through Launceston, across to the Freycinet Peninsula on the east coast to a finish in Hobart on November 23. “It’s great to have a fellow competitor from Formula 1 coming to take part, especially as Heikki will be fresh off the back of the New York Marathon in November,” Webber told us. “He is an incredibly fit guy with superb determination, and has everything that the event stands for.” The Mark Webber Pure Tasmania Challenge will kick off in Launceston during the same (Nov 16) weekend that the V8 Supercar circus comes to town.

SUPER POMS BRITISH F3-BTCC BRITISH motorsport may undergo a major change, with a new ‘Super Series’ mooted for 2008.

– DAVID ADDISON

Ferrari gets six-year A1 engine supply deal: New A2 feeder series A1 GRAND PRIX FERRARI and A1GP have agreed a six-year deal that will see the Maranello company designing and building engines for the series and designing and overseeing production of the chassis.

eNews believes that the chassis will be built by Dallara. The deal will begin this time next year when A1GP kicks off its 2008-2009 season. The deal with Ferrari will also include an exclusive licensing agreement for all A1GP merchandise to use the Ferrari name and the phrase ‘Powered by Ferrari’. This very significant deal, first revealed in eNews some weeks back, is a major plus

for the struggling championship as an association with Ferrari, a widely recognised brand name around the world, will no doubt help to make the A1 series more globally credible. The deal makes sense for Ferrari because it will create a solid new revenue stream for the company. To sweeten the deal with Ferrari and to strengthen the drivers in A1GP the series, A1GP has also announced that there will be regional series called A2GP beginning in 2009 which will act as a feeder series for A1GP. The cars will be similar to A1GP but the engines will be less powerful.

– JOE SAWARD

sutton-images.com

If paddock rumours are true, the British Formula 3 Championship could be moved from its own F3/GT package to a support slot at nine of 10 BTCC events for 2008. It is understood that the teams have not been told of this yet, nor has commercial rights holder SRO, the Stephane Ratel Organisation. Ratel bought the rights to BF3 and BGT in 2003 from British Motorsport Promoters, an amalgam of UK circuits, but the permit for the championship remains with the British Automobile Racing Club which now owns TOCA as well as Thruxton Circuit. The move is seen more as a move to weaken SRO’s portfolio more than strengthening the BTCC package, which already has Formula Renault to fulfil a similar type of single-seater racing. A co-ordinator is believed to have been appointed and a calendar will soon be issued, but it is expected that SRO will not take the proposal lying down. Whilst F3 doesn’t attract crowds, it has kudos and is a key part of the F3/GT racedays – insiders doubt whether GT can be sustained on its own.

Prancing with the Tzars

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Green Light for Orange People to stay in the Black FORMULA 1 THE FIA International Court of Appeal has ruled that Scuderia Toro Rosso’s appeal against Tonio Liuzzi’s penalty in Japan, which dropped him from eighth to ninth position, thus depriving the team of its first World Championship point was a valid decision.

sutton-images.com

“Obviously we are disappointed, but we accept the decision of the court,” said Toro Rosso team manager Franz Tost. The team’s disappointment was most probably overcome, in the interim, by a stunning Chinese Grand Prix, where both cars finished in the points, with Sebastian Vettel a storming fourth, two spots ahead of Liuzzi – guaranteeing ‘travel’ money for the team in 2008.

– JOE SAWARD

From Stone Bros to Wood Bros FORMER SBR engineer Paul Forgie has arrived in the US to work with Marcos Ambrose at Wood Brothers.

Forgie, who engineered Ambrose to his two Australian V8 Supercar championships, before leaving the team to work at Paul Morris Motorsport this year, visited Charlotte earlier this year and has now gained the appropriate US visa,

to start work with the team. He flew out last Friday, and is expecting to play a role in setting up a test team at Wood Brothers shop in Mooresville, NC. “There’s no doubt that having a test team is important in terms of improving the team’s over-all position and pace,” he told eNews on Friday. “That’s likely to be my role, and I’m really looking forward to it.”

Ford Racing Media

BUSCH SERIES

Is Burnie the ARC’s first tarmac rally? AUSTRALIAN RALLY PLANS are being made to make Rallye Burnie a fully-fledged round of the NEC Australian Rally Championship. The 2007 version of the event was successfully run following the ARC format, a move that was prompted to trial the event as a possible inclusion on the 2008 ARC calendar. “We are interested, but before that happens we need a clear indication from ARCom what the rules and regulations will be,” Rallye Burnie organiser Geoff Becker

told eNews. “And we also need to know from Rallycorp what the responsibilities from a commercial point of view would be. But we now have a report from a CAMS observer saying the event would be suitable as a round of the ARC so, yes, that is the plan.” Becker also indicated that event organisers would need to ensure an ARC round wouldn’t “disenfranchise” the existing competitor base. “We’d need to run a piggyback event to make sure it was viable,” he added, “but

a lot of that is up to the decision-makers now.” Rallye Burnie is based in the City of Burnie on the North West Coast of Tasmania. The competition covers spectacular mountain and valley areas south of the City, and returns to Burnie at the end of each day. Jim Richards and Barry Oliver won the 2007 event in their Porsche GT3, with ARC competitor Brendan Reeves and Rhianon Smyth finishing second in their Subaru WRX STi. – ANDREW VAN LEEUWEN

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New Qld Fujitsu team Prova Racing buys Rising Star Falcons for 08 assault

John Morris/Mpix

FUJITSU V8s

pans out. I’d like to run a couple of young guys. There are a lot of good guys out there who can’t afford it, so it’s more about doing it because I enjoy it. It’s a passion of mine and that’s the way I’m going about it.” Bastian, right, formally ran an AU Falcon in the Development series back in 2003. He still owns that car and also indicated that it could be run in the series if the right driver could be found. – GRANT ROWLEY

Marshall Cass

FORMER Fujitsu V8 Series driver Craig Bastian has purchased two of the current Ford Rising Star Racing Falcons and will set up his own Development Series team for 2008 and beyond. Bastian’s team, ‘Prova Racing’, has secured the ex-SBR and exLMS Falcons and plans to run both out of his new Brisbane workshop next year. The former racer-turned-team

owner is picking up the ex-LMS chassis (used at the start of this year by Grant Denyer) straight away, and will take delivery of the second car at the completion of this year’s FV8 season. Bastian’s team will complete a full-ground up rebuild on both cars, before locking his first driver. “We’ll definitely have the people and infrastructure to run two cars,” Bastian told eNews. “Having not been in the game for a while, we want to see how it

CCup title fight: Reynolds v Davo v Bairdo CARRERA CUP

James Smith

THE 2007 Carrera Cup will be decided this weekend, on the Gold Coast. After a season-long battle, the title will come down to a three-way fight between David Reynolds, Alex Davison and Craig Baird. Reynolds will go into the finale as the leader, having at one point looked to have all but wrapped-up the title before Bathurst. But the annual visit to Mount Panorama has forced the series into a tight finish, with Davison winning the round and closing the gap to Reynolds. With just three races remaining, Reynolds leads with 1032 points to

Davison’s 988 and Baird’s 987, meaning there is less than a race win between the top three. Davison goes in to the round with form. Not only did he win the previous round

at Bathurst, but he is the reigning Indy Champ, having won all three races from pole position on the streets of the Gold Coast last year. – ANDREW VAN LEEUWEN

Loser: Karting. Winner: Formula Ford!

Williamson and Walter leave karting and bypass state competition for National Formula Ford FORMULA FORD KARTING standout Tom Williamson will drive in the Australian Formula Ford Championship next year for the newlyestablished Van Diemen Australia Racing team. The New South Welshman will skip the traditional state-based Formula Ford learning year and dive straight into the cut-throat National series, and hopes to be knocking on the door for victories in his

kart in the wet or on cold tyres. It should be fun.” The New South Welshman will get his first taste of Formula Ford in an older model Van Diemen RF04 at a test day at Queensland Raceway later this month. The new model Van Diemens are expected to arrive in Australia later this year. Williamson’s final karting meeting will be at the Rotax World Championships in Dubai in late November. – GRANT ROWLEY

the brother of Fujitsu V8 racer Sam told eNews. “We are committing two years to the national series. I want to learn the tracks and the cars in the first year, and have a good crack at it in the second season. “It’s a good opportunity with Minda. It’s their first year in the national series, so it’s a good chance for us to learn together. “When we had test day with them at Winton recently. I was very impressed with

their team structure and the crew so I’m looking forward to it. I can’t wait.” Before Ben makes his Formula Ford debut, he will finish his karting career by contesting the Tassie State Championships before flying to Barcelona, Spain for the IAME International Challenge. He will be joined by Mical Goss, Kevin Millard, Rick Pringle, David Sera and Kel Treseder. – GRANT ROWLEY

Peter Bury

first year. “Yeah, we are skipping state, but we are doing a lot of pre-season testing,” he told eNews. “But I do expect to be fighting for the championship, at least top three, Maybe not so much in the first few rounds, but I really want to come on strong after I get settled into the car and the way it behaves. “I’ve never driven a Formula Ford, but from what I’ve been told, they’ll be like a

FORMULA FORD BEN Walter will drive in the Australian Formula Ford Championship with Minda Motorsports in 2008. The front-running karter will join the Melbourne-based team in its first season in the national championship, using semifactory Spectrum chassis. “It’s a big step but we’re saving a ourselves a year in the state series,” Walter,

BRM upsize for Tas

FORMULA FORD THERE is likely to be a new face on the Formula Ford grid at Symmons Plains next month with Team BRM on the look-out for a second driver. The drive has come up thanks to Chris Reindler’s university exams, which are ruling him out of the Tassie round. He will be back for Phillip Island in December. “He [Reindler] will be driving again at Phillip Island, but he can’t get to Tasmania so we’ve got a seat going there,” team boss Mark Rundle told eNews. “We’ve spoken to a couple of

people, but at the present that drive is still available.” Rundle, who has recently been to the UK on a factfinding mission for 2008, remains guarded on the team’s plans for next year. “There was a lot of good things that came out of the trip, but I can’t say too much at the moment. “What I can say is that we will be doing both categories (Formula 3 and Formula Ford), that we’ll be running Mercedes engines, and that it looks like we’ll be running three Formula Fords.” – ANDREW VAN LEEUWEN

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Tander upsized New factory for championship-leading F3 team

Dirk Klynsmith

FORMULA 3 THE expansion of TanderSport continues! Having just purchased one, and possibly a second, 2007-spec Dallara F3 car from Hitech Racing, the team has now announced they are moving to a new factory. Up until now the team has been run out of Garth and

Leanne’s garage, but with plans to run as many as three cars next season, the husband and wife duo have got a new factory and a new transporter. “In 2008 we are out to show that TanderSport is a professional multi-car team out to compete with the very best,” Leanne Tander said. ”With our new workshop, new transporter and new cars

it’s our aim to be the best in the business and give drivers the chance to win every race they start. “We are now looking for drivers – with a suitable budget and the drive to win – who can join us next year to challenge for the Gold Star title again.” The final round of this year’s Gold Star is at Oran Park in two weeks.

COMING THIS WEEK

Australia V8 – Gold Coast Indy

(incl Carrera Cup, Aussie Race Cars, V8 Utes)

Marshall Cass

International F1 – Brazil MotoGP – Malaysia Champ Car – Gold Coast NASCAR– Martinsville NexT Week (OCT 27-28)

Aussies Indy title showdown AUSSIE RACING CARS FUJITSU V8 Supercar Series driver Colin Sieders will make a one-off return to the Aussie Racing Car Series this weekend at Surfers Paradise. The 25-year-old, who raced in the Aussie Series in 2004/05, will drive the Stone Brothers Racing-liveried Jeld-Wen car in the final round of the series. “I’m looking forward to getting back into the Aussie,” Colin said. “Dave (Colin’s brother) has driven in two

rounds this year, so I decided that it was my turn, and there’s no better place to do it than Indy. It’s a great track for the little Aussie cars. Plenty of passing, close racing and a good atmosphere.” In other pre-Indy news, V8 Ute driver Derek Hocking will make his Aussie Racing Car debut in the Pennzoil car after a licence issue in the V8 Utes Series. A total of 40 entries are expected to compete in the Gold Coast (and final round) of the Aussie Racers, with Brad Ward, James Ward and reigning Champion Paul Kemal set to battle it out for the title.

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If you can’t beat ’em ... Bridgestone may supply Rossi – but not other Yamahas MOTOGP VALENTINO Rossi may race on Bridgestone tyres next season.

Control Tyre? Nope

MOTOGP CARLOS Checa and Alex Barros both rode their last Australian MotoGPs at Phillip Island last weekend.

MOTOGP MOTOGP looks likely to continue as a multiple-choice tyre category next season.

Yamaha Racing

Category promoter Dorna is set to confirm in Malaysia later this week that the competition between Bridgestone and Michelin will continue and that it will not mandate a control tyre, at least in the short-term. The Spanish-based company had been thought to favour the introduction of a singlebrand of rubber to appease former World champions Valentino Rossi and Dani Pedrosa. While neither racer has specifically called for control rubber per se, both have been outspoken of their desire to see either their tyre supplier Michelin lift is performance or their teams to switch to Bridgestone, in order to take on World Champion Casey Stoner.

However, it now appears to be a failed gambit, though Dorna is expected to announce changes to the 31-tyre nominated tyre limit introduced at the start of this season. This will in some way mute some of the criticism, for now. As yet, there are no deals in place with teams that will see Dunlop remain as a tyre supplier in the premier category. Ironically, Dunlop is the sole supplier in both the 125cc and 250cc GP categories.

The two veterans are moving to the World Superbike Championship for 2008. Checa will join an all-new, and all-star, lineup in Ten Kate’s Honda’s World Superbike team, joining World Supersport Champion Kenan Sofuoglu and Ryuichi Kiyonari, who clinched

Yamaha Racing

The seven-time World champion has admitted that there have been discussions about a switch to Bridgestone tyres, and declined to confirm which tyre brand he will race on in the future, despite the fact that his Fiat Yamaha team has a 2008 contract with Michelin. “The situation is not very clear now for us because Michelin want to give a really big effort next year to improve the situation,” Rossi said. “They understand a lot of the mistakes from this year and especially with the new (tyre limit) rule it was a bad surprise for Michelin. In their head they may have thought the situation is not so bad but

sometimes we have a lot of problems. “So we have to decide, also we don't know if it is possible to have Bridgestone so the situation is in progress now. So sincerely, we have to decide.” The Italian legend is believed to be at the centre of a complex four-way deal that seeks to satisfy his desire to race Casey Stoner on equal rubber in 2008. Yamaha and Honda have both had discussions with Dorna and Bridgestone that, we believe, included the option of only Rossi and HRC’s Dani Pedrosa using the Japanese tyres, while their respective 2008 team-mates Jorge Lorenzo and Nicky Hayden stay with Michelins. Talks regarding the Spaniard now appear to have been ended by Dorna but Yamaha continues to press Bridgestone to commit to a single supply of tyres, for Rossi.

his second British Superbike title on Sunday, in a three-man team. The 34-year-old Spaniard, below, is racing this season with the LCR Honda team but has struggled, and will be replaced by Randy De Puniet next season. In 13 seasons at the top level, he has won two GPs. Ten Kate’s Supersport team will consist of Australian Andrew Pitt and current British Superbike star Jonathan Rea.

End of the Checa

news

BUD and GUTS

Lamattinas grab ex-Bernstein McKinney fueller

Dave Ostaszewski

DRAG RACING

Barros, who raced in the SBK series last year before joining Pramac d’Antin Ducati, is still to finalise a seat but confirmed over the weekend that he will return to Superbikes. Now 37, the Brazilian, who has won seven 500 or MotoGP events, raced a Klaffi Honda in the 2006 World Superbike Championship, winning one race at Imola.

All Neal for The Jolly Green Giant BRITISH TOURING CARS VAUXHALL will run a twochampion lineup in next year’s British Touring Car Championship.

Newly-crowned 2007 Champion Fabrizio Giovanardi will be joined by former titleist Matt Neal, who will leave his family-run Dynamics team. The Englishman is expected to test for the VX team, which clinched both the Drivers’

Dirk Klynsmith

Honda Pro Images

e road for a, Barros

LAMATTINA Top Fuel Racing has secured an exKenny Bernstein Racing McKinney chassis for the remainder of the 2007/08 Australian drag racing season. After driver Phil Lamattina’s horrific flip at Willowbank’s Top Fuel Nationals round recently, the Victorian team has secured the car that is currently being prepared in the United States. The chassis was previously campaigned by American driver Brandon Bernstein and will make its Australian debut in Lamattina’s Fuchsbacked colours at WSID in December. “After the crash, we really wanted to buy a

brand new chassis but the time frame was just too long,” said Lamattina. “When we approached Murf McKinney in the [United] States, he gave us the option of talking with Kenny Bernstein Racing about buying one of their existing chassis. “The front half [of the chassis] is brand new, the middle section is just 18 months old and McKinney Corporation are preparing a totally new back half. It will be one of the most technically advanced dragsters in the country.” Lamattina has also confirmed that the McKinney Corporation will build another latestspec chassis for the team to take for the 2008/09 season.

and Manufacturers’ titles at Thruxton on the weekend, before the end of the year. “I’ve always admired VX

Racing as a good professional team with a friendly atmosphere,” said Neal. “Racing against them, they were annoyingly consistent! When they were running the allconquering Astras in the early 2000s, it was tough because they would be knocking in the results day-in-and-day-out!” Neal, 40, won his two titles in Hondas, in 2005 and ’06.

5 Minutes with ...

CAMERON McCONVILLE

A ride with Randy Mamola on Ducati’s 2-seater left SCAR’s ace out of breath

Just for the record, do you ride? I have my bike licence, and I used to have a Ducati 996. But I sold it a few years ago when I decided that I needed something more substantial, like a house. So I ride, but I haven’t over the last few years. You had expectations of the two-seater? I did. I thought that it would be amazingly quick on the straights but fairly conservative through the corners and under brakes, just because of the size of the tyre contact patch on a bike, as compared to that on a car. Randy Mamola said that we would get up to 1.5 negativeGs at Honda, and that is where I realised that they brake a little harder than I thought! With the weight on the back, Randy said that it actually helps him to keep the rear wheel on the ground. We did have the wheel flopping in the air at Honda, it was probably about 10 inches or so off the ground! I didn’t know what to expect in those areas. Acceleration? Yep, I expected that. Braking and cornering, so-so. I was wrong!

John Morris/Mpix

MOTORSPORT NEWS: You looked a little out of breath when you hopped off that Ducati. CAMERON McCONVILLE: I was out of breath! I didn’t breathe for the first four corners, then I realised that. It was the most impressive experience I have ever had, by a factor of 10. It was unbelievable. I enjoyed every moment of it, but it was scary enjoyment.

PHIL BRANAGAN

So when he leaned it over for Turn 1, it would have been entertaining. He braked so late! They trailbrake much more than us, they brake while it is leaned over. The entry speed into Turn 1 was so high. I didn’t see the kerb until I was half-way through the corner, not because I had my eyes shut but because of the angle the bike was on. I couldn’t believe how hard he tipped it in – so aggressive. And he said he was braking earlier because there was a fair cross-wind on Saturday ... Every time he tipped it in, the front wanted to chatter and move across the road. I could feel it wander midcorner. Through Turn 3, he kicked it in while he was pulling gears, and I could just see out the top of my visor through there. The cornering forces were unbelievable – and then we braked for Honda. It took all of

my strength to hang on to the grabrails built-in to the tank not to go over the top of him. I had my legs squeezed into his back and I don’t think that I could have held on for another lap! We managed two flying laps and I was hoping that he would stop when we were on the straight for the second time, because I didn’t think I could hold on any longer.

I suppose it is more difficult hanging on the back as a pillion, when you do not know exactly what the rider is doing at every second. Physically, it might be harder to be a pillion there than to be a rider. But the way he handled the bike was amazing. Even though the good ones are little blokes, they must have a lot of upper body strength.

Does this give you a whole new respect for people like Casey Stoner and Valentino Rossi? Absolutely! They do this, and faster, while they are hanging off the bike! When Randy changed direction, through Siberia, into the Hayshed, accelerating, he pulled a gear and flicked it over to the kerb. He flicked it for Lukey and, as he was braking, he was manhandling the bike. He was purposely braking as late as he could, so show how impressive that part of the package is.

So, when will you get yourself a Ducati 1098? [Laughs] Yeah, right! Not quite sure that the wife is a big fan of any such purchase. If anyone wants to give me one, I am more than happy to take one – that sounds like a Jason Richards comment! I am sure that manufacturers will flock to my door. It was the most amazing experience I have ever had, on four wheels or on two. It’s almost impossible to put it into words, and something I will never, ever forget.

ACCELERATION? YEP, I EXPECTED THAT. BRAKING AND CORNERING, SO-SO. I WAS WRONG! Mcconville was blown away by the speed of the ducati

chat

John Morris/Mpix

It’s all about the timing ...

Dirk Klynsmith

AN international media centre, such as one I sat in at Phillip Island last weekend, is a fascinating place to hang out. That’s not to say that the local scribes who follow the V8 Supercar circus around the country aren’t an interesting bunch of guys and gals, because they are. But there was something about a bunch of Spanish journos going bananas when Dani Pedrosa fell over doing a practice start in the warm-up that really made me laugh. Anyway, the most fascinating part of being in the media centre at Phillip Island last weekend was the timing data available to journalists and teams. You see, in V8 Supercar-land, the lap times come courtesy of an age-old MS Dos-type system, that is hard to read, uninformative, and, generally speaking, unexciting. In MotoGP-land, however, Dorna has created a corker of a system. Last weekend,

opinion Andrew van Leeuwen mNews National Editor Phillip Island was split into four sectors, and each rider’s progress throughout those sectors was indicated by a helmet icon. A red helmet meant it was the fastest sector of the session, a blue helmet

meant it was that particular rider’s fastest sector of the session, and a grey helmet meant they had completed the sector without high-siding into the gravel … It made reporting, especially in qualifying, a cinch. With V8spec timing you only know when a fastest outright sector has been completed – with MotoGP timing you could see

how far a rider was going to progress up the order, even if he wasn’t going to be on pole. This isn’t a cheap shot at V8 Supercars, it’s a gentle suggestion that it’s time for an upgrade. Hey, if we can make a magazine show up on your computer screen, surely there’s some tech gurus out there who can make the V8 lap time data look a bit prettier.

Letters

Have your say, email us at mail@mnews.com.au. Keep letters to the point. Safety, payment first I have drawn up a safety idea for V8 Supercars. But before anyone can use it, I would have to be paid. The safety idea could become a real invention. I am not a draftsman or an engineer. But it wouldn’t cost that much to make. But I wouldn’t be giving away this idea for nothing. Maybe I could pass it on to the CEO

of V8 Supercars’ – would you have their address? David Manfield Port Pirie SA ED: You need to send it to Wayne Cattach, CEO, V8 Supercars Australia, PO Box 607, Southport BC, Qld, 4215. Raspberries to Seven Yes l agree it was a great Bathurst 1000 and full marks

to Channel Seven – for the fantastic coverage of advertisements with a splash or racing in between. At one stage towards the exciting completion l timed ads versus racing. Racing coverage was four minutes with 10 consecutive ads followed by five minutes of racing and nine consecutive ads. Name withheld by request Via email (WA)

Give the oldies a go Why is it that every year at Bathurst the Touring Car Masters / Historics are the ones that have thier race cut short? Do the people who make this decision not see the stands fill and the viewing areas crowd up right before a one of these races.? Do they not notice that 99% of the crowd love these guy’s going around?

opinion

... and the tyres THERE was a funny moment behind the Autograph Stage at the MotoGP last weekend. A PR lady showed up, all smiles and expensive clobber, with a Michelin Man in tow (and, when I say Michelin Man, I mean a bloke in a Bibendum suit, not a French tyre technician). She pointed Bibendum towards the steps to the stage (which would have been hilarious, because he had huge feet) and stood back. As an ‘official’ for the weekend, I had to step in front of the white-suited fella and ask someone to make a phone call. Y’see, because as many as 30 different riders appear on stage over the course of the weekend, the stage is, and must be, ‘sponsorship neutral.’ You would not want a Hayden pic to have a Suzuki logo in the background, for instance. The kind woman explained that she was here to have Bibendum appear with Valentino Rossi. We explained that ‘Vale’ was here yesterday,that he was now in the paddock, and she should be there too. The funny part was the timing. An hour or so later, I was chatting to a mate in the media centre who follows the MotoGP circus around the world and he swears that Rossi and Dorna are trying to pressure Bridgestone into supplying him with tyres next season. This somewhat, flies in the face of Yamaha’s new contract with Michelin, and would presumably leave 2008 team-mate Jorge Lorenzo and the

Why could they not cut short the Performance Cars or Carrera Cup? The old excuse was that they are a not a championship round – well this year they were and they still got the chop. This is not just my opionion – ask the average punter paying for his seat in the stand, or the outer, and they will all say give me a full blast of the old Muscle Cars every time. I understand the corporate dollar is pretty big but so are the thousands of dollars of gate and stand prices..... Let the boys run next year, PLEASE... Brett Chapman duck050@bigpond.net.au

opinion Phil Branagan Executive Editor Tech 3 pair of Colin Edwards and James Toseland on French rubber and, perhaps, twiddling their thumbs. It was interesting to find out post-race that Casey Stoner had made a late switch to a harder and untried rear tyre, in the face of Sunday’s warmer conditions. In the circumstances, it was a risk; in fact, it would have been entirely understandable if he had cruised early, until he got his confidence up on the new rubber. Not a bit of it; he blasted away and was never headed. So much for the tyre wars. Yes, Loris Capirossi was second and Alex Barros made it three Ducati-Bridgestone combos in the top five. But Marco Melandri, on Bridgestones, made the wrong tyre call and charged, then faded. As he has done so much this season, Stoner won because he made a wise call – and then rode the wheels off it. Maybe Rossi will race on Bridgestones. Perhaps there will be races when the Michelins will be the tyre to have next season. I wonder what Vale will tell Bibendum then?

eLETTER OF THE WEEK And the Logie goes to ... I don’t know who is writing the script at V8 Supercars these days, but the total demise of the two championship leaders, in the Toll Car, at Bathurst is clearly a bit suss. Not only that, whoever is pulling the strings obviously didn’t want to take any chances with a late

driver swap – both orange cars fell over with the same problem! It was a totally professional job, which gets me thinking, maybe McLaren should hire the perpetrator to ensure Lewis wins in Brazil this weekend undetected ... Hmmm. Regardless, and I’m no supporter of either brand of V8 (I drive a Subaru),

it has set up what should be a brilliant four-round championship fight. The Gold Logie for scriptwriting goes to … You Know Who! David McPherson Deakin, ACT ED: Now that is a conspiracy theory – albeit just a fraction far-fetched. Well done, David ...

Horspwr Clothing is giving away a t-shirt each week for the most creative letter. Send yours to mail@mnews.com.au, or Motorsport News PO Box 7072, Brighton, Vic 3186 21

MOTOGP ROUND 16 – PHILLIP ISLAND

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Home Run New ride. New bride. First GP win. First GP title. The only thing missing from Casey Stoner’s 2007 checklist was a win at home – and that was in the bag 10 seconds into the Australian MotoGP. By ANDREW VAN LEEUWEN

John Morris/Mpix

WITH the 2007 World Championship already safely locked away, Casey Stoner could really relax and enjoy his home Grand Prix at Phillip Island last weekend. And if his dominant display in the race was any indication, that’s exactly what he did.

Ducati Corse

Look what I can do: Stoner and Capirossi shared the champagne, above, after a fine 1-2. On for young and old: Aussies Ant West and Chris Vermeulen, left, had a fine fight, here leading Colin Edwards and Carlos Checa into Honda. Kawasaki leads Suzuki, Yamaha and Honda. John Morris/Mpix

Having topped every unofficial session of the weekend, Stoner was always going to start the race as favourite. However there were questions marks, namely two falls during practice, and the fact that a small mistake on his last-gasp qualifying lap cost him pole position. But once the race started, all of the imperfections disappeared. With the gamble on a late change to a harder rear tyre, Stoner got the jump over pole-sitter Dani Pedrosa and Valentino Rossi on the run to Turn 1, and then rode off into the distance. Interestingly it was Nicky Hayden who seemed to have an answer for Stoner, the 2006 World Champ shadowing his successor throughout the early laps. But a lack of pace through the final sector (and a crumbling rear tyre) left him unable to truly challenge for the lead, and eventually his slipped into the clutches of Rossi before retiring with a dropped valve. On lap eight Stoner threw down the hammer, opening up a stint of low 1m31s laps to further gap the field. The run would continued until there was just four laps remaining, when, with team-mate Loris Capirossi safely in second place, Stoner backed off to ensure a memorable win on home soil. “Being up there on the podium was unbelievable,” said Stoner. “I’ve been working really hard to win this race for a lot of years, even when the rest of the season hasn’t been going well. This year has just been magical for us.”

With Stoner well out in front, the AGP became a race for second place. When Hayden went out on lap 12 it was Rossi who was best of the rest, but five laps later he found himself under pressure from Pedrosa. But it became a battle for third on lap 19 when Capirossi, who had shaken off PI specialist Marco Melandri, scooted past both Rossi and Pedrosa at Turn 1 to take second place. Capirossi came home a safe second, while Rossi, who complained of a lack of grip from his Michelins late in the race, held on for third. “To get on the podium here is always good, because there’s always a big crowd in front of you,” said Rossi.

MOTOGP | RIDER’S points Stoner 322, Rossi 230, Pedrosa 201, Hopkins 165, Vermeulen 160, Melandri 154, Capirossi 150, Edwards 115, Hayden 112.

“I tried really hard, but I was losing grip and had to slow down near the end.” While it was a cakewalk for one Aussie, the other two, Ant West and Chris Vermuelen, had a harder time of things. Vermuelen had a shocker of a weekend up until the race, showing no pace in practice before qualifying 16th. But a flying start to the race was the turning point, and Vermuelen finished a grinding eighth. “It’s not great to finish in eighth, but it is a very good result from the weekend we’ve had,” he said. “We’ve really struggled here both last year and this, but this year we have taken a big step and it’s great to see that we have a direction to head in. If we improve the same next year we will be pushing for the front.” West started 10th, and spent much of the race battling with

Vermuelen on the fringe of the Top 10. He slipped away in the closing laps, finishing 13th.

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A Nice Spanish Red

John Morris/Mpix

Alvaro Bautista ‘won’ the battle with Andrea Dovizioso, the latter’s Honda outgunned for straightline speed. But Dovi did manage to keep the points race alive to take the fight to Malaysia. Hiroshi Aoyama (KTM) was fourth ahead of the Aprilias of Thomas Luthi and Julian Simon. “The other riders struggle, maybe, more than me,” said Lorenzo somewhat modestly after a 20second win. Hero of the race was Roberto Locatelli, the Italian taking a brave 11th place after a major get-off during Saturday’s qualifying session that saw him stretchered away from the track. Points: Lorenzo 287, Dovizioso 242, De Angelis 215, Bautista 181, Barbera 146, Aoyama 129, Kallio 119, Luthi 115.

Ducati Corse

Japan to Australia: Capirossi, above, carried his form to PI with second. Hayden, left, chased early until his tyres went and then his engine blew up. Team-mate Pedrosa, below, took pole.

John Morris/Mpix

TAKE Jorge Lorenzo out of the 250cc GP and it would have been a great race.

Lukas uses The Force LUKAS Pesek was the man on the spot to win the 125cc Grand Prix.

Mattia Pasini took his seventh pole of the year but Pesek’s Derbi broke away at the start of the opening lap and held out a group of Aprilias to win. Joan Olive was second from Hector Faubel and Simone Corsi, while Esteve Rabat took fifth on the outgunned Repsol Honda. Raffaele de Rosa had the biggest disappointment of the day, electrical probems forcing him to swap second on the grid for a pitlane start, before sidelining him altogether. Gabor Talmasci may have been looking to stretch his points lead but handling problems threw him off his Master Aspar Aprilia twice in practice and restricted him to eighth in the race. The result gives Faubel a single-point lead with two races to go in another classic 125 season. Points: Talmasci 237, Faubel 236, Koyama 166, Pesek 161, Corsi 155, Pasini 153, Gadea 133, Olive 118.

John Morris/Mpix

WORLD RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND 13 – CORSICA

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Twice on Tarmac A second win on the black top in as many weeks has taken Sebastien Loeb to within four points of the lead of the World Rally Championship

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EIGNING World Rally Champion Sebastien Loeb has further proven his tarmac supremacy by taking a hardearned victory in the Corsican round of the WRC last weekend. Loeb went into his home rally fresh off the back of a bitumen win in Catalunya just a week ago, although title rival Marcus Gronholm seemed more able to challenge for the win this time around. In fact, Gronholm led the rally throughout most of the first leg, only slipping 4.8s behind Loeb in the final two stages of the first day. But the second day set the tone of the rally. A combination of paddleshift problems for Gronholm and some mega stage times from Loeb put the Frenchman 27.5s clear at the top of the leaderboard heading into the final leg. Gronholm did manage to close the gap slightly during the final group of tests, but it wasn’t enough, Loeb winning by 23s and closing the gap in the World Championship to just four points. “Our role was to keep an eye on the times of our rival and adjust our pace accordingly,” said Loeb at the finish. “Even so, I tried to drive quickly in order to keep up my concentration. It’s not the sort of situation I enjoy but it means you are leading, so I am always happy to live with it.” Gronholm, however, wasn’t disappointed with second place: “I only conceded two points to Loeb on what is one of his strongest events of the season and I still lead the championship after two consecutive weekends on asphalt, which is my least favourite surface,” he said. Dani Sordo was able to carry his form from Spain over to France, finishing third in the second Citroen. But it was the efforts of Jari-Matti Latvala that grabbed everyone’s attention, the Stobart-Ford driver finishing a career-best fourth. It was a solid weekend for Subaru, with all three drivers finishing in the points. Petter Solberg was fifth and Xevi Pons eighth, while Chris Atkinson came home sixth despite hitting a rock during the final stage of the rally. The event was also the debut of the allnew Suzuki SX4 WRC car, with Nicolas Bernardi doing the honours behind the wheel. The car retired from both the first two legs, but finished the third leg despite a few mechanical gremlins.

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There at the Finnish: Marcus Gronholm was fast, but not quite fast enough, in Corsica. sutton-images.com sutton-images.com sutton-images.com

First Timers: The SX4 had a topsyturvy debut, above. Jari-Matti Latvala had his best ever finish, right, while ‘Atko’ did a solid job for Subaru, finishing sixth, left. Dani Sordo scored his second podium finish in as many rallies with third, below.

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WORLD RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP | DRIVER'S points Gronholm 104, Loeb 100, Hirvonen 74, Sordo 45, P Solberg 38, Chris Atkinson 29, Henning Solberg 28, Jari-Matti Latvala 23.

JEFF Gordon is looking good for a fifth NASCAR title after winning the Bank of America 500 at Lowes last Saturday night. It was a bizarrely lucky race for Gordon. First he was helped on the points table by Jimmie Johnson, who spun and

finished outside the Top 10 for the first time since 2001. Then he was helped on the track by Ryan Newman who spun while leading comfortably, which virtually handed the win to Gordon. But even then it wasn’t straightforward. A fuel pickup problem threatened to sideline Gordon late in the race,

Grosjean takes Euroseries title

Burton survives carnage

NASCAR

however he eventually made the finish. “I can’t tell you how many times we tried to give this one away,” Gordon said. “Jimmie Johnson, I’m not sure what happened to him. He had the field covered. But when I saw he had problems, I thought it was an opportunity for us.”

NASCAR Media

Two from two for Jeff Clint Bowyer was second, confirming his third place in The Chase, while Kyle Busch finished third.

The Chase: Gordon 5880, Johnson 5812, Bowyer 5802, Tony Stewart 5682, Carl Edwards 5640, Kyle Busch 5600, Kurt Busch 5565, Kevin Harvick 5552, Denny Hamlin 5531, Jeff Burton 5514, Martin Truex Jr 5502, Matt Kenseth 5438.

F3 EURO

NASCAR Media

HIS team-mate Nico Hulkenberg may have won the first race at Hockenheim last weekend, but Romain Grosjean wrapped up the Euro F3 title with a second place. Sebastien Buemi won the second race from Edoardo Mortara, while Aussie Michael Patrizi failed to finish the first race before coming home 13th in Race 2. The German round was the official final for the 2007 season, with just the Macau Grand Prix remaining.

BUSCH SERIES JEFF Burton won last Friday night’s Busch Series from the back of the grid, but it was just that kind of race. The 200-lapper was a complete crash-fest, which claimed one-time race leaders Carl Edwards and Greg Biffle. According to Burton, it was the final of the 10 cautions that set him up for the win. “We got lucky with that last caution,” he said.

“Junior was coming hard and I’m sure he would have gotten by us. But, after we got the tyres cooled down during the caution, my car was fast, as fast as it had been all night.” It was a luckless race for Marcos Ambrose, who smashed the wall on Lap 27 after his Ford Fusion’s front right tyre deflated. Points: Edwards 4276, David Reutimann 3638, Kevin Harvick 3523, Jason Leffler 3451, David Ragan 3299, (Ambrose 2987).

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Whoa, Black Betty ... A1GP NEW Zealand took two commanding victories in the second round of the A1 Grand Prix at Brno in the Czech Republic last weekend. Jonny Reid’s winning performance moved the team into the championship lead by one point. “We’re very pleased as a team,” Reid said. “I couldn’t have asked more from the boys

in the pits. The car was well balanced and I was just happy to push 110 per cent all the time. I was able to pull a margin with some clear air so I’m really pleased.” Reid won the Sprint race ahead of Great Britain’s Robbie Kerr and Ireland’s Adam Carroll. In the Feature event, Reid won by seven seconds over Netherlands Jeroen Bleekemolen and Swiss driver Neel Jani. South African Adrian Zaugg and

Bleekemolen took the respective pole positions for the races. A1 Team Australia had another trying round. Team driver Ian Dyk qualified 19th and 14th, before hitting a piece of debris in the Sprint Car, causing a DNF. In the Feature race, he gained a place to take 13th. Points: New Zealand 37, South Africa 36, Great Britain 31, Netherlands 31, France 29.

Green and Ekstrom win

Wild final round nets Fab a championship

Jamie wins race, Mattias takes the 2007 title DTM

Final Points: Ekstrom 50, Spengler 47, Tomczyk 40, Green 34.5, Paul di Resat 32.

BTCC

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MATTIAS Ekstrom is the 2007 DTM Champion after finishing ahead of title-rival Bruno Spengler at Hockenheim last weekend. But the pair were only fighting it out for third and fourth, with Jamie Green driving a controlled race at the front to prove his last round maiden win was no fluke. He led home Timo Scheider, who had earlier left Martin Tomczyk with no chance of taking the title after the pair made contact.

FABRIZIO Giovanardi is the 2007 British Touring Car Champion after last weekend’s final round at Thruxton. The Vauxhall driver went in to the round trailing Jason Plato in the points, but used to race wins from the first two heats to set up a title decider in Race 3. He then followed hom Mat Jackson in the final to seal the deal, with Plato finishing back in fourth.

Pics: Mike Patrick

Brock away the night SHANNONS NATIONALS MITSUBISHI Evo VIII driver Michael Brock has won the eighth round of the Australian Production Car Championship after taking a win and a second place in the two onehour races at the last weekend’s round of the Shannons Nationals at Mallala. The first of two handicapped races was run under lights on Saturday evening, which, combined with some close racing, provided an awesome spectacle. Ric Shaw took the win in his RX-7 but was later excluded for being underweight, handing the victory to Gary Holt. Brock, above, then fought off some tough competition in Race 2 from Holt and Barry Morcom to secure the round in emphatic style. John Bomberle finished strongly in all four Australian Supertruck races to edge out Bob Middleton and Steve Coulter for the round win. Bomberle managed to take one win over the weekend and stayed out of trouble to ensure

the round. Sports Sedans was dominated by Tony Ricciardello, who took out two of the three races, and placed second in the other. Ricciardello was challenged early in all three races by Kerry Baily, who finished second overall, while Dean Randle was third. The Australian Saloon Car Championship followed suit with Bruce Heinrich managing to take two wins and a second place over the three races to snatch the round from Kris Walton and Matthew Lovell. Gavin Porteous continued his dominant form in the HQ Holdens with four race wins to his name. Chad Beers and Neil Cory fought closely over the weekend to place second and third respectively behind Porteous for the round. The Australian Superkart Nationals saw some extremely close racing with Micheal Rogers taking the round win from Shaun Jones and Jonathon Mangos. – PHIL MAHONEY

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Mark Jones

Formula Holden QUEENSLAND STATE RACING

Phil Williams

THIN fields took to the track for Round 5 of the Queensland state championships at Morgan Park. Several championships were decided over the weekend, with the largest field seeing Ben Tomlin take his first two championship wins to seal the Gemini honours. Tony Shanks won both Saloon Car races, but a second and a fifth for Lindsay Kearns was enough to win the title by a single point over Tim Young. WORLD SPEEDWAY GP Gary Bonwick retained his HQ title after clean-sweeping the races ahead of Darren Aspinall with Ian Mundell and Brad Schomberg sharing the thirds. Bob McLoughlin wrapped up the Sports Sedan title with a pair of wins while Carlo Chermaz took a pair of wins in Superkarts ahead of Steve Murray. Barclay Holden dominated racing car proceedings with Ryan Cochran taking all the seconds in his Stealth Formula Ford. Graeme Wilkinson celebrated his championship win with a pair of race wins in Improved Production, while Tim Whitten and Kevin Heffernan shared the Historic Touring Car wins. Steve Morcombe won the Sports Car events and John Doige won the Formula Vee races.

Phil Williams Phil Williams

Phil Williams

Close call: Bruce Heinrich was the best of the Saloons, but not by much over Kris Walton, above left. Tony Ricciardello was, as usual, the class of the field in Sports Sedans, left, while John Bomberle used consistency to take Supertruck honours, above.

Pics: Mike Patrick

Aussies tie up podium spots WORLD SPEEDWAY GP AUSTRALIANS Jason Crump and Leigh Adams have locked in second and third places in the 2007 World Speedway Championship after a thrilling final GP of the season, in Germany.

With the title already in the hands of Nicki Pedersen, interest in the German race, in front of a sell-out crowd at Geisenkerchen, centred on the two podium spots, and the $100,000 biggest-ever cash prize for the winner of the final GP of the year (set to double in 2008). Adams left it late to qualify for the semi-finals. He totalled just five points from his first four rides but with a vital heat win in heat 20, his final race, he secured a place on a points

countback and race wins. For outgoing champ Crump it was, again, an up and down night. He won his last two qualifying heats after just five points from his first three, and that forced him through to the semis with three points to spare With the new world champion eliminated in the semis, both Crump and Adams made the final, alongside Swede Andreas Jonsson and American Greg Hancock. In the end, it was the Swede who claimed the $100,000, from Hancock, Crump and Adams. – TONY MILLARD Results: German GP – Andreas Jonsson (SW) 20; Greg Hancock

(USA) 16; Jason Crump (AUS) 15; Leigh Adams (AUS) 11. Final results: World Speedway Championship: Nicki Pedersen (DK) 196; Leigh Adams (AUS) 153; Jason Crump (AUS) 124; Tomasz Gollob 108; Hans Andersen 107; Greg Hancock 106.

The heat action (above) was

as hectic as ever – Crump and Pedersen duke it out. Adams,. Pedersen and Crump made up the world championship podium (above right); Crumpy’s F1 mate (a bike speedway fan) dropped in to lend support (right).

race

Adams considers World Championship future WORLD SPEEDWAY GP WORLD Championship runnerup Leigh Adams is considering retirement.

The Aussie, who cemented second spot at last weekend’s The final: brilliant speedway in front of an awesome crowd. Left to right – Adams, Hancock, Jonnson, Crump

final GP for 2007, in Germany, could not confirm acceptance of his automatic invitation to contest the 2008 series. Adams said he will discuss the future with his family before making a decision.

Speedcars rule at PCR SPEEDCARS SPEEDCARS turned it on last Saturday night at the Parramatta City Raceway with the mighty midgets taking centre stage at the Sydney venue.

While the numbers were still on the low side, it was quality if not quantity, with Mark Brown showing he’s got some early form. The 30 lap A Main saw Brown’s Aussie built Hawk-powered Aggressor quickly powering through the field taking the race lead and looking likely to score an easy victory. Battles were intense behind but with just 10 laps to run, Brown had opened up almost a half lap lead, with Brett Morris forging up into second position. However, while in lapped traffic, Brown’s machine hit the cushion in turn 4, breaking the rear shock mount. While racing a little slower, Brown continued in the race lead. All eyes were on Morris as he started to catch the struggling

Brown and with just one lap to run, Morris powered by to take the lead and the victory. An unlucky Brown had to settle for second, with Tony Abson third. Rounding out the finishers were fourth placed Alan Day with Chris Steep, Rod Bright, Brendon Fox and Jason Millington in eighth position. Sprintcars return to the PCR this Saturday night for round 3 of the 2007/8 Championship series. Speedway karts return to the Nepean Motorsports complex this Sunday (October 21) for round 8 of the NSWSKC championship.

With numbers growing to an expected 70 plus, the Richards Road Castlereagh (outer western Sydney) venue is becoming the place where the future speedway champions are made. – GREG BOSCATO

rear of grid

Stoner: the genuine article

punter@mnews.com.au

AS in any motorsport, it is how you go compared to your teammate that is always a fair guide

John Morris/Mpix

NE of the things I haven’t managed to do during nearly two decades of watching motorsport of many kinds is to get to a Bike GP – but I’m going to fix that next year. Sunday’s race at Phillip Island might not have been the closest of all time, but who cares when it’s because a young bloke like Casey Stoner is giving the rest of them a fair old lesson. It looked fantastic, more so when you do hear the story behind his career, the family sacrifices and so on. I’ve always watched and admired Valentino Rossi (both on and off track!) and Mick Doohan before him, but seeing Stoner rise to the top and the way he has won some of his races this year is a great thing. I find it interesting that even Rossi is suggesting that Stoner’s Ducati/Bridgestone package is what has made the difference, but that is to underplay Stoner’s ability. As in any motorsport, it is how you go compared to your team-mate that is always a fair guide, and Stoner has absolutely dominated his team-mate, the experienced Loris Capirossi, all year. Many of Rossi’s titles were, in my view, assisted by a superior Honda/Michelin package, but nobody talked it down at the time. His switch to Yamaha, and the success he brought them in that first year was, however, the true mark of a champion. Stoner’s stunning success mirrors that of Lewis Hamilton in F1 – there’s no doubt that both have fortunately found themselves in a competitive team – but making the most of that opportunity is what counts. Stoner has already done – and this weekend is Hamilton’s real moment of truth. And isn’t that shaping up as a potentially dramatic race. In the meantime, next year’s Phillip Island GP is on the agenda. They look good on TV, but I’ve heard that 320kph at the end of Gardner Straight is pretty awesome in real life …

Odd Spot Who's that in the Whippy van? WHEN you win a race on the streets of Surfers Paradise, you can be guaranteed you'll be asked to do some crazy PR stunts. Usually, you'll find Lexmark Indy 300 winners winners surfing, playing beach volleyball or judging the Miss Indy contest. But in the name of charity, last year's winner Nelson Philippe spent last Saturday morning selling ice-creams! To raise funds for CanTeen, Philippe donned the trademark Mr Whippy hat and served up cones of summer goodness for Broadbeach surfers and sunbakers.