Motorsport eNews Issue 29 - November 6-12, 2007 by V8 Sleuth

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Issue No. 029 6 – 12 November 2007

RED v BLUE Two-Sided Shootout for v8s At Grand Prix

Frosty’s Desert StOrm - Full Coverage inside

Tander’s Overseas options

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. 029 | 6-12 November 2007

Graphic Design & Web: Jayne Uthmeyer design@mnews.com.au

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

news 5 Red versus Blue

Wild V8 format for AGP 8 I’m out, boys Mika calls it quits 11 Tander heading O/S? Leanne looking elsewhere 12 Tragedy at Buller Fatal crash mars rally

Administration 357 Nepean Highway, Brighton East, VIC, 3187 (PO Box 7072, Brighton, VIC, 3186) P 03 9596 5555 F 03 9596 5030 admin@mnews.com.au

MD / Publisher

Chris Lambden publisher@mnews.com.au

chat 18 5 minutes with ... opinion 20 Branagan 21 Lambden 43 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

race 22 Let’s get dirty! 24 Let’s get Dirty! #2 26 Frost in the desert? 32 One last time ... 36 Tim the Title Man

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) 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

Mark Winterbottom Tander and politics. Sort of Back to Bahrain Cars with wings. Err ... WSS 07/08 Preview Rally of Melbourne Preview FPR still owns Bahrain Dani wins final MotoGP Macrow snatches F3 crown

trade 40 Trade and Industry / Raceshop / Classifieds

welcome Brothers in arms. Or should that be brothers in Falcons? Anyway, here’s the Seiders! Check out the latest eNews supplements via http://www.mnews.com.au

Could the AGP go to The Coast? FORMULA 1

John Morris/Mpix

THE future of the Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix may be not at Albert Park but on the streets of Surfers Paradise. A Queensland state government official has confirmed an approach from F1 powerbroker Bernie Ecclestone in relation to moving the World Championship round north from Melbourne, where the race has been since 1996, and which has a deal to host the race until 2010. This comes after the Victorian state government last week tabled a report detailing that the race cost taxpayers almost $35m to stage the 2007 race. Newly-installed Victorian Premier John Brumby last week declined to offer the Melbourne event his unconditional support, saying that the government cannot keep spending increasing amounts on propping up the event. “I think that it is still a good event for the state,” Brumby told ABC Radio. “We have the event until 2010. Beyond that, we need to renegotiate for a new event. There are really two tests for the government: to keep it simple; the first is, does it remain a good event for the state? And secondly would any arrangements going forward represent good value for the state? “Everything has a price, and everything has a cost. If someone said to me, ‘we are going to have to pay $100 million a year in the

future for this event’, would that represent good value? My view would be, no, it doesn’t.” The Queensland government has a deal to host a Champ Car event, which it has backed – at comparatively modest cost – since 1990, for one more year. But doubt surrounds the state’s interest in an F1 event. Queensland Events Corporation Chairman Des Power confirmed Ecclestone’s interest when he spoke to The Daily Telegraph last week. “It was a clandestine approach but the price tag was enormous,” he said. “If we were again approached by F1, any proposition would have to be given appropriate consideration. There’s no doubt Surfers Paradise is a terrific venue for an international motorsport event. It’s become more than a car race.” But on Monday, a QEC spokesman initially denied that the Chairman had commented. “I don’t know anything about that,” he said. “We haven’t seen any approach in this office – unless it’s gone straight to the Premier’s office …” But, with (Victorian) public funding increases of more than 150 percent in two years, Ecclestone is clearly not banking on continuing support from the taxpayers of Victoria and is casting his net wider. Whether the taxpayers of Queensland could remotely consider bankrolling an event likely to cost $35m-plus is another matter … – PHIL BRANAGAN

V8s ready to step up if GP goes V8 SUPERCARS

Dirk Klynsmith

V8 SUPERCARS would step forward to convert the Albert Park event into a Clipsal 500style V8 headline race if the Victorian government were to step back from Formula 1 after 2010. That was the initial response from V8SA CEO Wayne Cattach, following Victorian Premier John Brumby’s caution in committing beyond that date (see other story), following the release last week of record loss figures for the GP.

“It’s very much a what-if question,” Cattach told eNews in Bahrain, “but if that situation arose then, yes, we have shown before – with Clipsal – that we can do it. “Costs associated with the constuction of both those circuits would be pretty similar, so – if the situation arose – I’m sure V8 Supercars could present a viable and spectacular event for the Victorian government.” With the group’s recently stated plan to ‘experiment’ with the pre-Bathurst 500km

endurance race, an Albert Park 500 might well be on the agenda for 2011 – contingent of course on the government’s

attitude to the potential renewal of contracts for the F1 Grand Prix beyond 2010. – CHRIS LAMBDEN

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Red v Blue at Albert Park

Holdens and Fords set to duke it out around The Lake in at the Australian Grand Prix in March V8 SUPERCARS V8 SUPERCARS are likely to contest a series of two-sided ‘team’ races on their return to the Australian F1 Grand Prix support bill in March. Nothing has been confirmed or announced, but eNews understands that a series of team ‘points’ races is under consideration, which will allow the Grand Prix promoters to take the ‘Holden

v Ford’ theme to an altogether new level. Details are, at this point, sketchy, but it is likely that the top 10 or 15 finishers in each race will accrue points for their ‘brand’. Team racing is a feature of several branches of motorsport – notably bike speedway, where national teams contest a World Cup – but this will be the first time a major national motorsport

category has staged a team event – and with just two, big teams at that. Over the past few years (other than 2007) the V8s have contested the ‘GP 100,’ on the Saturday of the Grand Prix, along with two other shorter sprint races. While the V8s have been one of the major drawcards of the Grand Prix, this previous format lacked any real individuality and a ‘new-look’ is something

V8SA and the AGP Corp have been keen to devise for the category’s return to the GP support bill. The V8 Supercars did not compete at this year’s AGP event due, it was said, to the proximity of the V8’s regular Perth race. However, a number of V8 sponsors were among those pressing for a return in 2008 to what is seen as a major corporate weekend.

Dirk Klynsmith

BRIEFLY... n Team Australia driver Will Power has received approval from Champ Car medical officials to race in this week’s race in Mexico City after injuring his wrist in the Lexmark Indy 300 in Australia last month. Along with receiving the all clear for this weekend’s season finale in Mexico City on November 9-11, as has been done in the past, Champ Car has granted Power 15 minutes prior to the first practice session on Friday to trial a brace that the Australian will wear on his injured left wrist. n Yvan Muller will stay with SEAT’s WTCC team for the next two years. Muller, 38, joined the team in 2008 and goes into the final round of this year’s title tied on points with defending Champion Andy Priaulx.

V8 SUPERCARS PWR team owner Kees Weel has discounted suggestions that he will effectively be out of V8 racing in 2008 after selling or leasing his two V8 licences.

Pit lane chat in Bahrain was adamant that one of the licences currently being used by PWR would find its way, via a lease mechanism, to leading Fujitsu team owner Jim Morton (Ford Rising Stars Racing), with the second also being passed on to a new owner. Morton, it is being suggested, will run a car under FPR’s wing for young gun Andrew

Thompson – using one of the licences currently attached to PWR. However, Weel, below, told eNews that this wasn’t the case. “No … wish they’d tell me,” he said. “While we’ve had a pretty bad run over the second part of the season, we’ll be here next year. Of late, we’ve put a fair bit of HMS equipment into the cars with a view to getting ourselves set up properly for next year. Right now, we just need to have a bit of luck go our way. “There’s still an option with

young Paul (Dumbrell), and we might run a young bloke …” Dumbrell confirmed that he retains an option with Weel, but that there are also other possible options. Although he wouldn’t comment further, it is understood that one is the SBR option revealed by eNews some months back. Stand by for an interesting V8 Silly Season …

Dirk Klynsmith

PWR Boss denies licence sale: Dumbrell and youngster in frame for ‘08

Daniel Be ard

n Alex Zanardi has completed the New York Marathon. The BMW WTCC star ‘rode’ the 42.2km course in 1h33m17s on his ‘handbike’, a three-wheeler that allows the former F1 and Champ Car driver to pedal with his hands. In his first attempt at the famous race, Zanardi finished fourth, 16 minutes behind the race winner, Californian Alejandro Albor.

Weel: We’re Staying

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Cam on the Market V8 SUPERCARS CAMERON McConville will be a free agent at season’s end.

Marshall Cass

The PWR driver confirmed at the weekend that he and team owner Kees Weel had agreed that they would move on and pursue separate paths after the Phillip Island finale. “We’ve agreed, completely amicably, that we’ll give the rest of the season the best go we can, but then I’ll head off down a different path,” Cam told eNews. At this point, McConville is unable to shed any light on his future plans, but it is an open pit lane secret that he is the ‘manmost-likely’ to spearhead the currently also officially unconfirmed all-new HMS Holdenpowered set-up at Brad Jones Racing. Contractual requirements mean that the Jones brothers are unable to discuss their 2008 plans at all at present – indeed it may turn out to be one of those strange January 1 change-of-brand announcements …

New control Brake rotors tested V8 SUPERCARS

THE V8 Supercar braking issues of 2007 are likely to be a thing of the past following testing of a revised brake disc spec during practice at the Desert 400.

One car from each of four teams – HRT, Stone Brothers

Racing, Paul Morris Motorsport and Jack Daniels Racing – were fitted with revised 72-vane spec discs for the first one hour session of the meeting. No-one undertook significantly long runs, but the general response was, we hear, very favourable.

Brake disc life, with the 48vane spec provided as part of the control brake package in 2007, has been muchdiscussed – the indications are that it won’t be an issue in 2008.

– CHRIS LAMBDEN

Super Thursday V8 SUPERCARS THURSDAY looms as a crucial day for the 17 licence-holding members of TEGA, the V8 Supercar teams’ group.

Thursday is AGM day, and it comes with behind-the-scenes tensions at a high following months of drama which started in May with tension between the TEGA Board and V8SA Chairman Tony Cochrane, was followed by the subsequent sudden departure of TEGA Chairman John Hewson and, most recently, has seen an unpleasant, and to date unsuccessful attempt to dislodge TEGA GM Kelvin O’Reilly from his position – although O’Reilly is serving some form of ‘suspension’ and wasn’t in Bahrain. eNews hears there is likely to be a clean sweep of the Board, with a fresh, new-generation group potentially set to try and sort out what has become a bitter managerial stalemate. It won’t be pleasant, but eNews understands that the core membership of the teams’ group has the numbers and is determined to sort the situation. It needs to – the political bunfight which has engulfed the group recently cannot be good for business …

Red Bull Dream Team? Alonso and RBR linked, again – and can Mateschitz get Ross Brawn? FORMULA 1 RED Bull – Alonso – Webber – Brawn. It could just happen!

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The Formula 1 driver Silly Season leapt into hyperdrive last week when McLaren and Fernando Alonso, right, announced they were parting ways – and the latest in a series of informed rumours is suggesting the mouthwatering combo above. Alonso has been connected with his former team, Renault, in a direct swap with Heikki Kovalainen – but it seems that a deal may have been stymied because Alonso has reservations about going back to the team that has struggled since Michelin left F1 at the end of last season. Ferrari appears committed to World Champion Kimi Raikkonen and Felipe Massa, both under long-term contracts, while Red Bull has made, at best, a lukewarm denial of any interest in the Spaniard – always a clue that something is afoot. As eNews went to press, reports out of the UK were suggesting that Red Bull owner Dietrich Mateschitz might be trying to pull off a

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double signing coup – Alonso and former Ferrari team manager Ross Brawn, left, above. Despite being contracted for 2008, David Coulthard is the driver considered likely to make way should the team be able to tempt Alonso. Mark Webber (with Brawn right above) and Alonso, we understand, actually get on quite well and such a squad is an environment in which both could flourish. It is believed that Toyota has made a huge offer to sign

Alonso, one source suggesting that there was a US$50m-ayear deal to join Jarno Trulli, his former Renault team-mate. There had been suggestions that Alonso may be tempted to go to the seriously underperforming team – if it too were able to lure Brawn … To fan the flames, Toyota is in dispute with BMW at present over the future of Timo Glock, Cologne wanting to secure the GP2 Champion for three years and BMW wanting an option to reclaim him in 2009. Williams looks unlikely to be able to bid for Alonso. Besides, team management are believed to be impressed with Japan’s Kazuki Nakajima, who made a decent debut in Brazil, despite running over some of his crew during a pitstop. He set the fifth-fastest lap of the race and this did not go unnoticed. The secondgeneration driver would also encourage a close relationship with Toyota. The signs are that no deals have yet been done but a lot is likely to happen, and happen quite soon ...

– SAWARD/STAFF

The Fly FORMULA 1 MIKA Hakkinen has announced his retirement from motorsport.

The two-time World champion, 39, has retired once before, after he took a sabattical from Formula 1 in 2002. Hakkinen was a natural. After winning titles in the Formula Opel Euroseries and British Formula 3, he was hired by Lotus in 1991.

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Singapore Considers FORMULA 1 THE government of Singapore has announced that it is going to make available land for the construction of a permanent racing circuit.

Mitsubish Media

After two years, he moved to McLaren as test driver and then replaced Michael Andretti. He suffered a serious

setback when a tyre failure caused a heavy accident in Adelaide and he nearly died, being saved by an emergency tracheotomy, performed by the side of the track. He returned to racing immediately and won the World Championships in 1998 and 1999 and was a serious contender in 2000 as well. At the start of 2001 he had another big accident in Australia which convinced him to think again and he

announced that he would take a year off in 2002. He announced his retirement from F1 that summer. In 2003 and 2004 he stayed at home with his young family and then decided in 2005 to return to competition with Mercedes-Benz in the DTM. The German car manufacturer says that Hakkinen will stay on as a brand ambassador for the company. He has similar roles with a number of sponsors.

– JOE SAWARD

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ying Finn calls it Quits

The facility will be located on land close to the old Singapore Air Show grounds, off the Changi Coast Road, close to Singapore’s international airport. The move is a logical one if Singapore intends to build on the interest in motorsport generated by the country’s F1 race in order to create a racing industry and possibly bring more automotive activity to Singapore. The government has requested design tenders for a track and has asked that the bidder accept the condition that the track must host a minimum of three international races and two national series each year. The agreement will be for 30 years but the land on which the circuit will be built will be priced favourably to make the deal more attractive to investors. – JOE SAWARD

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 3 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.

Australia AMRS – Wakefield Park International WRC – Japan MotoGP – Estoril NASCAR – Atlanta

NEED A CAR? CLICK HERE

news

Rally stalwart killed at Buller TARMAC RALLY

Vale: Paul Flintoft

BMF on the Box BATHURST MOTOR FESTIVAL A TIME and date has been set for the television coverage of the 2008 WPS Bathurst Motor Festival. As exclusively revealed in eNews #18, the BMF will be featured in a three-hour highlights show on Channel Seven. And that will be aired at 2:00pm on February 16, just a week after the event takes place at Mount Panorama. The news comes shortly after the Shannons Nationals announced its 10round calendar, which kicks off at BMF in February. The Nationals then runs in every state except Western Australia (and the Northern Territory), finishing at Sandown in November. The individual series calendars are yet to be released.

Neil Blackbou rn

THE Australian rally community is mourning the death of vastly experienced navigator Paul Flintoft. Flintoft, 42, was killed during the Mount Buller Sprint after the Elfin driven by David Reynolds left the road and went down an embankment. Flintoft had competed at the very highest levels of the sport, partnering local and international drivers in both the World and Asia-Pacific Rally Championships, and co-driven with the likes of Roman Watkins, Andrew Pannam, Bob Whyatt and Denise Collins amongst many others. Flintoft is survived by wife Jenny and sons Mark and Sean. To them and his many friends in the sport, Motorsport News extends is sincere condolences.

Neil Blackbourn

TRAGEDY hit last weekend’s Mount Buller Sprint with the death of experienced rally navigator Paul Flintoft. Flintoft, 42, died when the Elfin MS8 sports car being driven by former Formula Ford champion and Carrera Cup racer David Reynolds left the road and plunged down an embankment. While the navigator was pronounced dead at the scene, Reynolds was airlifted to The Alfred hospital but released the following day. Initial media reports carried by some newspaper websites were unfortunately confusing and incorrect, and it was some hours before the correct information was released, by CAMS.

2008 Shannons Nationals 1 Bathurst Feb 8/10 2 Oran Park April 26/27 3 Mallala May 17/18 4 QLD Raceway June 14/15 5 Eastern Creek July 12/13 6 Phillip Island August 9/10 7 Oran Park August 30/31 8 Symmons Plains Sept. 20/21 9 Mallala November 1/2 10 Sandown November 29/30

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Wood considers options

V8 Supercar test this week, but UK Formula Ford looks the most likely option for Glen Wood in ‘08 FORMULA FORD

NATHAN Antunes has tested a GP2 car for Super Nova Racing. The New South Welshman drove with the team, pictured above, last Wednesday at Paul Ricard, before heading to New Zealand, where

Ricciardo Red Bull chance FORMULA RENAULT YOUNG Australian hopeful Daniel Ricciardo is officially a Red Bull junior driver following a successful evaluation trial in Portugal last weekend. The 18-year-old West Aussie was one of six Formula Renault drivers to be invited to the test, and one of four asked to complete the second day after topping the times on the first. He then set the pace on the second day by 0.8s, earning him a spot in the squad. “The other three drivers were all within a tenth of each other so they had to do another run to see who else would join me in the program,” Ricciardo told eNews. “When I was told I didn’t need to drive again I assumed it was good news. “It was great to hear Dr Helmut Marko welcome me to the Red Bull family and it is a huge opportunity for me. I am now looking forward

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GP2

he competed in the first round of the Toyota Racing Series. His short stop over in France was backed up with his NZ racing debut, where he finished 14th overall for the European Techniques team. – GRANT ROWLEY

World at Wood’s feet: Glen Wood, left, will test a Howard Falcon tomorrow, but hopes to race OS next year.

Dirk Klynsmith

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Antunes GP2 test

John Morris/Mpix sutton-images.com

GLEN Wood is testing with Fujitsu V8 Series team Howard Racing tomorrow, but his future seems likely to centre around his European dream. The 19-year-old, who currently sits fifth in the Australian Formula Ford Championship, has his mind focused on racing in the UK next year, most likely in the British Formula Ford Championship. “The preference is to go over and stay in England and do Formula Ford,” he said. “Formula Renault is a faint option, but Formula Ford is the most likely. “The good thing about doing British Formula Ford is that you learn all the tracks, get a good grip on life over there, so it’s a

good warm-up. “I just want to go over there and see what racing in Europe is like. I went over to the Formula Ford Festival last month, just to watch, see what its like and I spoke to a lot of people and got a good idea of what it will be like.” In the meantime, Wood, the younger brother of Fujitsu driver Dale, will test one of the Howard Falcons. “The opportunity was too good to pass up,” he said. “It gives me an opportunity to meet Mark Howard and his team. “I can’t see the disadvantage of doing this. All I’ve driven is a Formula Ford. I’ve spoken to Dale, and he’s explained what to do and what not to do. I hope it all goes well.” – GRANT ROWLEY

to some winter testing with my new team and it should be getting underway in the next couple of weeks.” Frenchman Jean-Eric Vergne also got the nod from Red Bull at the end of the test. Ricciardo’s 2008 program will consist of the Formula Renault Eurocup and West European Cup championships, running for French team SG Formula. – ANDREW VAN LEEUWEN

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Dirk Klynsmith

Four of the best

AMSF confirms Pye, Erickson, Chapman and Mostert as the CAMS Rising Stars for 2008 FORMULA FORD CAMS and the Australian Motor Sport Foundation has announced the complete CAMS Rising Star driver lineup for 2008. As reported in eNews last week, New South Wales state championship drivers Scott Pye and Daniel Erickson will form half of the squad, and they will be joined by Victorian Series Champion Jake Chapman and karting’s Junior Clubman Champion Chaz Mostert. The quartet will drive in identical Spectrums, prepared by Borland Racing Developments.

“These young drivers are undoubtedly stars of the future and I am confident that with the support of the program, they will emerge as the top drivers in the 2008 AFFC,” AMFS General manager Quentin Crombie said. “The key objective for next year is to help accelerate their development before they embark on the next stage of their careers, which for most will be at the international level.” In other AMSF news, the Foundation has struck a deal to grant young aspiring drivers open access to the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) at its inaugural AMSF Driver Development Camp.

The camp is being made available to young drivers seeking to compete at the highest levels of motor sport both in Australia and internationally, including circuit, karting, rally and off-road competition. “This will be the first time that such a camp has been made available to the broader motor sport community,” Crombie said. “For those who attend, it will unlock many of the secrets required to be successful at the elite level.” The cost of the camp is $2,990 (inc. GST) which includes accommodation, apparel, learning materials and all meals expenses.

Boost for Aussie Internationals AUSSIES OVERSEAS

between the two programs and continuity for the drivers. Some of the drivers who may benefit from this scheme is current AMSF-supported driver John Martin, who looks set to drive for Raikkonen Robertson Racing in the British Formula 3 Championship next year. Others Aussies who plan to race overseas and could receive assistance include Ash Walsh, Josh Scott, Tim Blanchard, Glen Wood, Daniel Riccardo, Leanne Tander and Jessica Golding, among others.

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THE Australian Motor Sport Foundation (AMSF) will pilot a new international elite driver development program in 2008. The aim of the program, dubbed the ‘AMSF International Rising Stars,’ is to manage and develop selected Australian drivers competing internationally. The AMSF International Rising Stars will leverage many of the elements of the existing

CAMS Rising Star Program so that Australia’s international drivers are provided with the appropriate structures to continue their development as elite competitors. With the AMSF now managing the CAMS Rising Star Program under licence from CAMS, the AMSF will have end-to-end control over the development of young Aussie drivers from entry level motor sport up to the Formula 1 World Championship. This will ensure maximum integration

Rossi attacks Yamaha

Valentino pockets Bridgestone deal – and then blows off steam about bike MOTOGP HAVING already alienated Michelin, Valentino Rossi has launched a scathing attack on Yamaha after conceding second place in the MotoGP World Championship to Dani Pedrosa.

MOTOGP IT’S official; Valentino Rossi will race on Bridgestone rubber next season.

Yamaha Racing confirmed on Sunday night what many already knew; that The Doctor will run on Japanese rubber in one garage and that new team-mate Jorge Lorenzo will race on Michelins in a separate garage. Yamaha’s second team, Tech 3, will also race on

Yamaha Racing

After breaking his hand in qualifying, Rossi was running 14th in the Valencia Grand Prix when his Yamaha M1 stopped with engine problems. The seven-time World champion’s nightmare was completed when Pedrosa won the race to take second behind World Champion Casey Stoner by a single point. “The luck is so bad it’s almost comical,” Rossi told TV network Italia1. “Unfortunately the engine broke down. I was doing a quiet, intelligent race, as I only needed one point. I was going pretty quick too. I need to thank Claudio Costa and the Clinica Mobile as the hand was OK, even though now it’s swollen like a football. “But I worked my arse off to race, I went through injections

and that’s no fun. So I raced with three fractures and the engine broke down again today.” Rossi claimed that his factory Yamaha was so slow on Valencia’s straights that it was being left behind by lesser riders. “The situation is disastrous here, because my bike was extremely slow. Not only Anthony West’s Kawasaki was quicker, but even [Makoto] Tamada’s [Tech 3] Yamaha was quicker on the straight. “And then it broke down. I don’t know what else to say. If someone put some bad luck on us I would like to know who it is, because for sure he did well. I have to congratulate him ...” Sounds like an interesting winter coming up …

Michelins, with Colin Edwards and James Toseland. Ironically, Rossi withdrew from the final race of the season yesterday in Spain, his Yamaha breaking down and handing second-place in the championship to Dani Pedrosa – who won the race on his Michelin-shod Honda. Michelin has defied the usual courtesies involved in MotoGP and declined to release Rossi from his contract early, meaning that the Italian will test only once on Bridgestones before the testing ban comes into effect. Because of the test at the end of this month, Rossi has withdrawn from the final round of the World Rally Championship in Britain, where he was due to drive a Subaru.

Yamaha Racing

news

MotoGP’s Rubbery Figures MOTOGP AS anticipated, MotoGP teams will have a bigger choice of tyres next season.

Users of Bridgestone and Michelin tyres will be able to choose 40 tyres, 18 fronts and 22 rears, as opposed to the 14-17 split enforced this year. Dunlop users, should any team choose to work with the maker, are not subject to the restriction. Tyre companies will also be able to nominate one GP circuit on which they can test for a maximum of four days per season, but only after the track has hosted a GP. The companies will also be required to conduct tests at new or resurfaced tracks (ie, Indianapolis) at least four weeks prior to a GP. At both these kinds of tests, teams may test only with test riders rather than nominated GP riders.

Neal’s Tarmac Racer TARGA TASMANIA

TOYOTA will have a factory presence in next year’s Targa Tasmania, with TRD building a special Toyota Aurion tarmac rally car for the prestigious event.

The TRD Aurion will run in the standard class, meaning it will have limited modifications from its road-going specification. TRD boss Neal Bates will drive the car with his usual navigator Coral Taylor calling the notes. “I’ve always enjoyed doing Targa, so I’m really looking forward to going back there,” Bates told

eNews. “The Aurion’s really good. It won’t be an outright contender I don’t think, but we’ll be looking at a Top 10.” TRD’s tarmac rally program currently only consists of Targa, although there is a chance the car will make more outings next year. “For the moment it’s just for Targa, but I guess it depends on how we go.” – ANDREW VAN LEEUWEN

Biaggi signs with Sterilgarda WORLD SUPERBIKES

MAX Biaggi has signed on the dotted line with the Sterilgarda team.

STERILGARDA

The Italian hero will line up for the 2008 World Superbike Championship on a Ducati 1098R alongside Spaniard Ruben Xaus, left. The bikes will be similar to the factory machines of Troy Bayliss and Michael Fabrizio and, as is the case with the Xerox-backed bikes, be fitted with Magneti Marelli’s latest engine management systems. “It seems to me a good opportunity,” Biaggi said on his website. “Unfortunately we won’t be testing at the end of November in Qatar, but we hope to be on track within the first week of December in Vallelunga or Valencia. I am motivated for this new adventure and then ... to ride a Ducati has always been my dream!”

Leanne ‘07: Tander for DTM! I CAN cook. I offer that information because I am quite happy to run the odd meal over to Garth Tander’s house next year, if he finds himself at home alone while his wife Leanne is overseas, racing in the DTM. Okay, I know this sounds like one of those motor racing fairytales, but I am prepared to give this a push. Motorsport eNews has an international readership so, if there is anything I can write from here that will get Leanne an Audi A4 V8 to race, dammit, I am going to write it. This year, Leanne came very close to winning the Gold Star and would have become the first person to be able to wear it as jewellery without looking like one of those guys who makes the fascinators worn at the Melbourne Cup. She is very mediagenic, she knows what to say and what not to, and is (and how can I say this without GT punching me in the nose?) a top sort. (International translation:

opinion Phil Branagan Executive Editor she looks good). I am not sure whether Leanne speaks any German or not but I guarantee that, if someone confirmed now that she was racing in the DTM in 2008, she would have plenty of phrases down-pat by the time the preseason media scrum starts. She has already raced a 600 horsepower V8 Supercar, so a DTM car should hardly prove too much for her. So, the highlights again; competitive, smart, goodlooking, Australian and advice from her husband (who is one of the best saloon car drivers on the planet) is, at worst, never more than a phone call away. And, if that means I have to make a meals-on-wheels run across a few suburbs on a Wednesday night, I’m good for it – unless Garth has become a bloody vegetarian.

VOTE YES a

Letters

Have your say, email us at mail@mnews.com.au. Keep letters to the point. BAM BAM Berreta BAM Media do a sterling job of providing comprehensive race results within hours of the day’s activities winding up, but I had to chuckle at their latest offering. They had Mark Beretta listed as finishing third in Race 3 at Bahrain (subbing for Mark Winterbottom, I assume). Congratulations to Mark (Berreta) for a fine

performance, assisting Frosty to a long awaited round win. And nice job by FPR to shoehorn the lanky Berrets into Frosty’s seat. I can only imagine how peeved Grant Denyer is to have his colleague cutting his lunch. Matt Treacy matttreacy@bigpond.com CCWS v V8SA Round 2

In response to Robert Souter’s letter last week about the fans at Indy heading of in “droves” after qualifying and the Champ Car race, Robert you must have been at a different Indy than I was. I attended my first Indy this year, and I commented to the friends that were with me how everyone stayed after the Champ Car qualifying to see the first V8 Supercar race. Then,

on Sunday, we commented on how boring the Champ Car race was and that the fans had slowly dwindled out during the race. Then when the final V8 race came on, the stands filled again. As I said before either Robert was at a different race meeting, or he is wearing huge rose coloured glasses! Mark Illman qscapes@bigfoot.com

opinion

THE second V8 Supercar pilgrimage to Bahrain certainly won’t be the last. While there are those in the V8 fraternity who wonder why they are trooping half the way around the world to put on a race, the Bahrain International Circuit loves the show it is getting and will be welcoming our boys back every year for some time yet. Virtually empty grandstands may concern some media commentators, but to circuit manager Martin Whittaker it’s a minor issue: “Of course we hope that the crowds will build up over time, but it’s all part of an education programme,” he explained over the weekend. “While F1 is understood – and our GP sells out already – there is an education process here, because there isn’t a strong motorsport heritage [in Bahrain]. “We tried F3, GP2, and it was quite clear

McWebber no good? Not that this will ultimately have much bearing on the decision regarding where Fernando Alonso drives in 2008, but another move for Mark Webber, to Renault or McLaren, would not be good for his career. In fact, it would probably spell its demise. At the very least it would seal his fate as that of a journeyman … Simon Hill Murrumbateman, NSW Short and sad ... Its hard when we are reminded how dangerous this game is. Condolences to the Flintoft family. Clinton Browne Healesville, VIC

opinion Chris Lambden mNews Publisher that what we needed was some decent saloon car racing. We looked around a bit – at the WTCC, DTM and so on – and the one thing that stood out was the Aussie V8s. Big cars, lots of noise, media-friendly drivers … plus that thing that Australians have of promoting sport. We didn’t look any further – this is what we wanted. “Okay, last year, a slow start, but building up. We’ve seen an increase in ticket sales, but we know we’re not going to fill the stands – that’s not the objective. We’re after growing the understanding of motorsport, and it’s easier to do that if you have a good championship to do it with – and we couldn’t get any better than this.” The customer is happy, which is always

Dirk Klynsmith

The customer is always right

a good thing. This customer has the resources to make sure things happen. Organisationally, 2007 was even better than ’06 – the only real hiccup was the spectacular shunt involving a truck, four race cars and a pregnant woman driver, with a baby on her lap, chatting into a mobile (see race pages) – always a dodgy combination … Aussie supporters seemed thinner on the ground – if there was a way of involving them in some of the off-track stuff on offer to the drivers/media, it could make for an attractive trip … but that’s something for BIC to think about next time. In the meantime, an ‘A’ for effort. It may be a long way, and a very different backdrop, but it’s certainly one of the most relaxed races you’ll go to. Full interview with Martin Whittaker in the next Motorsport News, on sale Nov 21

eLETTER OF THE WEEK CCWS v V8SA Round 2.5 After many years attending the Gold Coast Indy, this years Champ Car race was one of the better races I’ve seen there (second only to Paul Tracy’s win back in 1995). After completing the obligatory survey this year, in respect to returning to Surfers Paradise if there

was no Champ Cars, it made me realise how much I actually spend there each year. If you take into account grandstand tickets, accommodation, restaurants, merchandise and theme parks for myself and three teenage children, it runs into many thousand of dollars. You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to work out

how much revenue the Queensland Government will miss out on should there be no Champ Cars. Would I return? Definitely not – I can see the V8s in my home state. If anything, drop the V8s and let’s have the Champ Cars and the A1GP! Richard Anderson Glenhaven, NSW

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

WORLD SERIES SPRINTCARS SEASON PREVIEW

World Series Sprintcars enters a new era this season, with new tracks and a new promotion base. What will the 2007/08 season hold? MATT PAYNE previews the ...

New World Order

FTER a tumultuous off-season, Wanless World Series Sprintcars is set to kick-off in Perth this weekend. With a new promotional consortium at the helm – the six major tracks in Australian speedway – much rides on World Series being successful this year. The Series will return to Sydney’s Tyrepower Parramatta City Raceway on December 1 as well as having rounds in or around every other major state capital city in Australia. Returning too is the big screen and free to air television, with a six show package to air on the Nine Network throughout summer, starting on December 1. The winner this season will take away arguably the richest contingency prize in

the history of World Series – a brand new Performance Wholesale-built 410 cubic inch Sprintcar engine. The contracted driver line-up at the top end is arguably the strongest it’s been in many a year. Australian Champion Brooke Tatnell returns to Krikke Motorsport after an indifferent season in the United States. Tatnell goes into World Series as an almost unbackable favourite after a season with an under-funded outfit in America. He will be eager for success from the beginning and will be difficult to stop after a difficult 2006/2007 Australian season followed by the sad passing of his illustrious father, George. Defending World Series Champion Max Dumesny has had a difficult beginning to

his 25th season in the sport, however Max always comes good when World Series starts and his legendary consistency has led him to the crown on seven occasions. Sydneysider Robert Farr has one of his best shots at winning the Series with Eastcoast Pipelines racing – a team he has practically built around himself. The only American contracted for the full Series is once again Jason Johnson. He links up with Adelaide-based Supaloc Racing and, having finished second in the past, he is keen to become just the second American to have taken out a World Series Sprintcars crown and vowed to continue returning to Australia until he wins it. Much interest will centre on the Rookie of the Year crown.

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To the Max: Max Dumesny, above, will defend his title in a new Valvoline livery. Geoff Gracie

Ready to challenge: David Murcott, above and Robbie Farr, below.

Geoff Gracie

Champion, Donny Schatz. Schatz will race for 10-times Australian Sprintcar Champion Garry Rush at the first two rounds at the Perth Motorplex and then at Adelaide’s Speedway City round on November 17. Titan Racing’s Daryn Pittman is expected to compete at the final twonight round at Titan Garages Brisbane International Speedway on January 11-12. Off track, Speedway Promotions Australia’s performance will be under more scrutiny from all stakeholders than has been seen in the past, while on-track the Championship battle is expected to be as hot as ever. The time for talking has stopped – the time for action is here!

Greg Boscato

It has been named the ‘George Tatnell Rookie of the Year’ title, in memory of a founding father of World Series and one of its most ardent supporters over the years. The winner will receive an all expenses paid trip to the USA, including a Richard Petty Driving Experience and $1500 spending money. Just four drivers are eligible for that title – South Aussie Ricky Maiolo, Queenslanders Bryan Mann and Peter Lack and Northern Territorian James McFadden, who will drive with Mackaybased Morvale Motorsports. As ever, a number of guest drivers will populate World Series at various rounds, none more anticipated than the appearance of World of Outlaws

RALLY OF MELBOURNE ROUND PREVIEW

The Final Countdown

Champions in waiting: Bates, above, Batten, top right, Fullerton, above right, and Reeves, below, all have a chance of taking trophies away from RoM. Although some have more chance than others ...

Joel Strickland

IT hasn’t been the closest Australian Rally Championship of all time, but heading into this weekend’s season-ending NGK Rally of Melbourne, the title fight is not quite over. Reigning Champions Simon and Sue Evans might only be a couple of points from sealing the deal for 2007 (having won each of the five rounds so far), but it’s not yet guaranteed. Should the Toyota Racing Developments pair hit problems early on, their team-boss Neal Bates is mathematically capable of taking an unlikely victory. And he says there will be no team orders. “There’s never been team orders and there never will be,” said Bates. “It’s a long shot for me to win the title, but in motorsport these things happen. Look at what happened to Lewis Hamilton with two Grands Prix to go! Anything can happen.” While he was expected to debut a Super 2000-specification TRD Corolla in Melbourne, Evans will now stick with the tried-andtested Group N(P) car, thanks to delays in the build of the newest S2000. But there is more to be decided at the NGK Rally of Melbourne than just the outright honours. Brendan Reeves looks set to not only wrap up third in the ARC, but, thanks to Dean Herridge’s decision not to start the Rally of Melbourne, take out the Privateers Cup as well. “The whole year we have sat consistently in fourth and this will be our home round so we’ve got to capitalise on that,” said Reeves. “I’ll be fresh from Mt Buller so the time in the car will be a big help heading into Melbourne.” However it’s the www.rally.com.au Rally Challenge that is providing the closest contest, with Paul Batten and Bruce Fullerton heading into the final round on equal points, and another eight drivers a mathematical chance of taking the title. – ANDREW VAN LEEUWEN

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Joel Strickland

NGK Rally of Melbourne – Schedule FRIDAY NOVEMBER 9 Joel Strickland

4:30pm NGK Rally of Melbourne drivers and cars arrive at New Quay, Docklands 6:30pm Ceremonial start, New Quay, Docklands SATURDAY NOVEMBER 10 HEAT ONE

Joel Strickland

7:00am Service Park Exit 7:23am SS1, Mount Slide 1 7:51am SS1, Marginal 1 * 8:19am SS3, Blowhard 1 *

10:17am SS4, Paradise 1 * 11:10am SS5, Siberia 1 * 1:08pm SS6, Yarra Glen Showgrounds Super Special * 1:26pm SS7, Mount Slide 2 1:54pm SS8, Marginal 2 * 2:22pm SS9, Blowhard 2 * 3:45pm SS10, Yarra Glen Showgrounds Super Special * SUNDAY NOVEMBER 11 HEAT TWO 7:50am Service Park Exit 8:28am SS11, Ben Cairn 1 8:56am SS12, Acheron 1

9:49am SS13, Paradise 2 * 10:32am SS14, Siberia 2 * 12:45pm SS15, Don Road Sporting Complex, Healesville, Super Special * 1:03pm SS16, Ben Cairn 2 1:31pm SS17, Acheron 2 3:34pm SS18, Don Road Sporting Complex, Healesville, Super Special * Last car followed by podium presentation * Denotes spectator access

Win ROM tickets with eNews! Want a couple of tickets to NGK Rally of Melbourne (Nov 9-11)? We’ve got three pairs to give away – just email your details to comp@mnews.com.au (click here) and you’re in the draw. See the stars of Australian rallying up close and personal. 25

V8 SUPERCAR CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES ROUND 12 – BAHRAIN

Frosty Reception It’s been a little while coming, but pole specialist Mark Winterbottom ticked all the boxes in Bahrain. The race was for second – James Courtney and Steven Johnson filling a Ford podium. Where were the championship contenders? A good question! CHRIS LAMBDEN provides the answers 26

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Dirk Klynsmith

IMPLY getting the car to the track appeared to be Mark Winterbottom’s toughest problem in Bahrain. Other than the bizarre shunt involving the truck carrying the FPR/HRT cars, everything went utterly to plan for the youngster who, to date, has had the pace but not quite strung it together all weekend. Through Qualifying, Race 1 and Race 2 he was unbeaten, leaving him to, literally, cruise in Race 3 – nursing a flat-spotted front tyre – to third place and his first V8 sprint round win. It was comprehensive, and no-one had any sort of answer for it. Frosty controlled the first two races. Fastest laps make for interesting reading – Winterbottom a good six-tenths quicker than the next best

in both. The pace was there when needed – the rest of the time, he just gapped them and, according to the team, chatted away on the radio about the weather, track conditions … By Race 3 it didn’t matter – it was over. A tardy start saw an impressive James Courtney and Craig Lowndes (on green rears) in front. And after flat-spotting a front coming in for his stop, Winterbottom nursed it home, in third. A fully professional, dominant day, that had to come – and when it did, it was worth watching. Courtney too strung together a strong weekend. He qualified fifth, half a tenth from third, and drove three strong races. Race 1 had its moments – the engine wouldn’t drop below 3500rpm (which makes for

some interesting moments) and he struggled to sixth – but from there on a pair of second places were well-earned. Steven Johnson too earned his podium. “The car wasn’t so good in practice, but it came right for qualifying,” he confirmed. Did it what – out of the blue, in the last minute, Steve came from nowhere to second, just a couple of tenths shy of Winterbottom. From there, three intelligent races netted third, fourth and sixth – a few points up on his equally proficient team-mate Will Davison. So where were the championship-contenders while all this was going on? In damage-limitation – all four of them. In the end, there was little to choose between three of them in terms of points

relativity, but the fourth, Jamie Whincup – leading into the round – had a disaster. An innocent victim in the Race 1 lap one bingle between Lowndes and Paul Morris, nothing else went right as he attempted to drive through the field in the two following races. There were mini dramas happening everywhere and, for a while, Jamie seemed to be in all of them. Lowndes, by contrast, pulled off a blinder in Race 2, one of his best, carving through to fifth – still without using the brand new set of Dunlops that he would roll out for Race 3, which turned into an easy win. The Toll duo, on the other hand, will still be cursing each other – and themselves. Winterbottom was away in Race 2, but the orange cars

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Dirk Klynsmith

Turned around: Team-mates crashing into each other is never a good look. Rick got a run on the inside of Garth; Garth squeezed; no-one backed out – at a time when their closest rivals had also faltered.

V8 Supercar | Round 12 DESERT 400 – BAHRAIN Pos #

Dirk Klynsmith

were going to be an easy 2-3 until they had a clash of egos on lap two. It was not impressive. In the end, Garth Tander would recover best, to 18th, and then a strong drive top fifth in the last race. It may be the recovery that wins the title – then again, the silly teammate collision could lose it. It’s going to be that close … Of the rest, Russell Ingall, Dean Canto, Jason Bargwanna, and Shane Price could say they had an okay day. The rest … will be looking forward to Tassie. Mark Skaife had one of those days – best summed up by the startline stall in Race 3, while team-mate Todd Kelly saw enough of Morris to suggest the pair have something going! The two clashed several times in Races 2 and 3. The Stewards got involved … you know how it goes …

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

Driver

5 Mark Winterbottom 4 James Courtney 17 Steven Johnson 18 Will Davison 16 Garth Tander 888 Craig Lowndes 9 Russell Ingall 1 Rick Kelly 34 Dean Canto 10 Jason Bargwanna 51 Greg Murphy 7 Shane Price 6 Steven Richards 2 Mark Skaife 3 Jason Richards 20 Paul Dumbrell 021 Shane Van Gisbergen 22 Todd Kelly 33 Lee Holdsworth 14 Simon Wills 8 Max Wilson 11 Jack Perkins 12 Andrew Jones 25 Jason Bright 26 Alan Gurr 39 Owen Kelly 50 Cameron McConville 55 Steve Owen 67 Paul Morris 88 Jamie Whincup 111 John Bowe

Team/Car

Ford Performance Racing Falcon BF Jeld-Wen Motorsport Falcon BF Jim Beam Racing Falcon BF Jim Beam Racing Falcon BF Toll HSV Dealer Team Commodore VE Team Vodafone Falcon BF Caltex Racing Falcon BF Toll HSV Dealer Team Commodore VE Valvoline Cummins Commodore VE WPS Racing Falcon BF Tasman Motorsport Commodore VE Jack Daniel’s Racing Commodore VE Ford Performance Racing Falcon BF Holden Racing Team Commodore VE Tasman Motorsport Commodore VE Supercheap Auto Racing Commodore VE Team Kiwi Racing Falcon BF Holden Racing Team Commodore VE Valvoline Cummins Commodore VE Team BOC Falcon BF WPS Racing Falcon BF Jack Daniel’s Racing Commodore VE Team BOC Falcon BF Fujitsu Racing Falcon BF IRWIN Racing Falcon BF Team Sirromet Wines Commodore VZ Supercheap Auto Racing Commodore VE Autobarn Racing Commodore VZ Team Sirromet Wines Commodore VE Team Vodafone Falcon BF Glenfords Racing Falcon BF

1 5 2 12 4 11 3 7 26 15 9 17 19 6 21 18 23 13 10 27 28 29 24 22 30 25 31 16 8 14 20

1 6 3 8 2 dnf 5 4 13 9 10 12 25 7 16 14 15 11 dnf 21 23 17 22 19 24 20 dnf dnf dnf dnf 18

1 2 4 3 14 5 8 12 7 10 11 9 6 18 13 dnf 16 28 25 15 26 17 21 dnf dnf 19 20 27 23 22 24

3 2 6 5 4 1 7 8 9 11 10 26 25 21 15 14 13 dnf 12 23 20 dnf 22 dnf 24 17 27 19 dnf 16 18

Points: Tander 530, Lowndes 510, Whincup 501, R Kelly 496, Winterbottom 336, T Kelly 320, S Richards 311, Courtney 309, Ingall 297, Davison 297, Johnson 265, Murphy 230, J Richards 199, Holdsworth 180, Canto 109, Bargwanna 109, Wilson 108, Radisich 96, Dumbrell 65, O Kelly 63, Lyons 63, Simonsen 63, Besnard 60, Morris 60, Bright 55, D’Alberto 54, Weel 51, Bowe 47, Baird 45, Pretty 45, Halliday 42, Youlden 33, McConville 33, Davison 30, Thompson 30, Seton 30, Price 30, McLean 27, Ritter 27, Webb 24, A Jones 19, Van Gisbergen 15, Longhurst 12, Wills 12, Coulthard 8, Ellery 6, Perkins 6, Caruso 6, Denyer 6, Gurr 2.

Dirk Klynsmith

Desert 400 Notepad

n Shane Price had his best weekend for the season, racking up 12th and ninth in the first two races before a rear puncture put him out of contention in Race 3. In the first session at Bahrain, Price was fifth, signalling that the young gun has turned the corner and could threaten for better results from here on ...

Factory seconds Cars fall off the back of the truck, giving crews a big pre-race headache AN additional batch of HRT and FPR spares was air-freighted out to Bahrain to cover the items used to repair all four cars after a bizarre pre-race accident. Both HRT and FPR cars were damaged when the truck carrying them to the Bahrain circuit swerved to avoid an errant RAV 4WD and tboned the freeway armco. (The lady in the car, pregnant and with a baby on her lap (!) and on her mobile, was uninjured despite the two vehicles making significant contact). The ‘rack’ carrying the two FPR cars broke its restraining chains and slammed forwards into the HRT rack which, in turn, smashed into the driver’s cab. The FPR rack slewed sideways and remained delicately balanced on the edge of the truck tray until lifting machinery arrived. The freeway was all-but blocked for two and a half hours, creating a massive tail-back traffic jam – many team (and MNews) personnel heading to the circuit caught in it. “It happened at 8.30am – I got the call at 9.30 at the hotel and had to sit in the traffic jam to get out here as well,” explained a bemused FPR team manager Tim Edwards as he watched Gibson Freight boss Bill Gibson oversee the recovery. Most seriously damaged appeared to be Mark Skaife’s car, front and rear. In the end, it would require new radiator

Dirk Klynsmith

n A few moments indecision late in qualifying ended up costing title contenders Triple Eight far more than at first met the eye. With the track gripping up by the minute, late in the second qualifying session, both T8 cars were on track and hovering around the edge of the top ten. A set of fresh Dunlops sat at the front of both garages. Fresh rubber, late run – you’d put money on easy top tens. But somehow the team ran out of time and, in the end, there wasn’t enough of it to make the vital tyre-change stop. When the dust settled, the cars were 11th (Lowndes) and 14th (Whincup). No big deal. A long way to go. And a rare set of fresh rubber wouldn’t go astray. But (almost exactly as per the Tasmanian round last year) being back in the ruck can mean being back in trouble. Trouble found both cars – Lowndes colliding with Paul Morris and Whincup getting caught up in it. A championship-deciding moment?

and associated mountings, front air dam, rear bodywork, fuel tank and associated parts. Damage to rear quarter panels was tapped out, although little could be done with a couple of dents in the roof, which remained. “The racks themselves are very strong,” Gibson reported, “so although there’s some primary damage to the cars, I don’t think there’ll be anything more serious or structural.” There was, apparently, no truth to the subsequent rumour that the IPO would impose a drive-through on Frosty for rear-ending Skaife’s car … – CHRIS LAMBDEN

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When older is better – or is it? The Holden guys are starting to grumble about straightline speed – do they have a case or not?

Dirk Klynsmith

BATHURST hinted at it and the low-grip Bahrain surface (much like Barbagallo – another sandy place – used to be) confirmed it: the VE Commodore is actually slower in a straight line than its predecessor, the VZ. But whether that’s a bad thing, or a good thing depends on your perspective – and the colour of the badge on your race car. Down in the Holden mid-field there’s a bit of despair. After Falcons finished 1-2-34-5-6 in Race 2, it was palpable. But wait. As eNews reported just two weeks ago, the parity formula – which governs the equality relationship between the two brands – hasn’t come close to triggering a change since the debut of the VE this year. Which tends to suggest that over-all equality might be just about as equal as it can get. You won’t get an argument from Mark Winterbottom, the latest to join the ranks

opinion Chris Lambden mNews Publisher of V8 round winners: “Yeah, it’s funny, isn’t it. It’s nice to come back to Bahrain with the parity even – they had a massive drag advantage over us last year. To come back, with the long straights and the parity even makes a massive difference. They [Holden] had it good for years – now it’s a bit different!” Indeed. Interesting though, at a time when both car companies are cutting back across the board, and that includes support for some of the lesser teams, that Ford currently has four teams consistently capable of being ‘a factor’ on any given day. Holden has, really, two – both based in Clayton. Next year’s distribution of ex-Clayton

cars to a couple of other teams may help, but Bahrain does illustrate what can happen when your focus is quite narrow – when the guns fall over, there’s not much left to fight the fight. Inter-brand stuff aside, Winterbottom’s debut round win was as complete a victory as you could see – last moments of Qualifying, bang, pole. Races 1 and 2, almost easy. Whatever the boys at FPR are doing, it gels with Winterbottom’s style. The best, though, came after the tyre stop in Race 3 when Frosty found himself behind Will Davison. Sure the car speed was there, but Davo is no mug. When it came, the pass was pure class – feint left, dive right, game over. Davo, to his credit, accepted the inevitable and carried on to another strong result of his own. Further back in the field, a couple of attempts at the same move at the same place ended in tears. That’s the difference. Classy stuff.

MOTOGP ROUND 18 – VALENCIA

Dani Pedrosa ended the season with a win in front of his home fans – and Casey Stoner. Better for him, it sealed second place in the MotoGP championship, ahead of Valentino Rossi ...

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O, Dani Buoyed Honda Pro Images

Red End: Casey Stoner, left, had to give best to Dani Pedrosa. Marco Melandri won the all-Honda battle with Nicky Hayden, above, while Chris Vermeulen, below chasing Randy De Puniet, struggled.

Kawasaki RacingTeam

Ducati Corse

T was enough to give Valentino Rossi nightmares.

The winner of the final race of the season started from pole position and led all the way for an emotional victory. But it was not Casey Stoner on the dreaded Bridgestones that did the deed, it was Dani Pedrosa. And he did that on Michelins. Ouch. Actually, the ‘ouch’ was selfinflicted, on two fronts. Rossi had barrelled over the bars of his Yamaha in qualifying and

broken three bones in his hand. In order to maintain second in the championship, he had to race, with Pedrosa 24 points behind and 25 on offer for a victory. Rossi bravely raced and was 14th (good for two points) when his Yamaha stopped with unspecified engine problems. Ouch. Pedrosa was a smiling man after his second win of the season; “In the early laps I was struggling a little with grip

MOTOGP | RIDER’S points Stoner 367, Pedrosa 242, Rossi 241, Hopkins 189, Melandri 187, Vermeulen 179, Capirossi 166, Hayden 127, Edwards 124, Barros 115.

from the front tyre but then in the second half of the race the grip was very good,” he said. “The pace today was really fast and Casey was chasing hard so there was no moment to relax or back off.” In fact – and this sounds sacrilegious, given the recent tyre politics – it appeared that Pedrosa’s Michelins stayed strong while Stoner’s Bridgestone faded late in the race. Ouch. John Hopkins fought back the tears, literally, in his final race with Suzuki to take third place and, with it, cement fourth for the season, while Nicky Hayden reminded

everyone of his huge talent to hold fourth for much of the race from Marco Melandri. The Italian sneaked away as it appeared that Hayden had a late-race problem but, as it turned out, the factory Honda’s ECU calculated that Nicky’s spin-it-or-bin-it style was using too much fuel and trimmed his supply to as to not run dry on the final lap. So, the season ended, with 10 wins for Stoner in what can only be described as a stunning performance. The signs are there that, as good as the 2007 MotoGP season was, 2008 is going to be a cracker.

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DORNA

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GA GA GABOR

HECTOR Faubel won the race in front of his home crowd but second place was enough for Gabor Talmasci, leading above, to become Hungary’s first World Champion in the 125cc category.

The two battled with their Aspar team-mate Sergio Gadea over the final laps to fight out a thrilling finish. Mattia Pasini and Lukas Pesek were next. Points: Talmasci 282, Faubel 277, Koyama 193, Pesek 182, Pasini 174, Corsi 168, Gadea 160, Olive 131. MIKA Kallio started the 250 race from pole but had to chase down Alex de Angelis to take

his second win of the season.

The Finn took the lead two laps from the end, while Alex Debon held out Andrea Dovizioso to take third. World Champion Jorge Lorenzo looked set to thrill his local fans until his Aprilia’s engin soured mid-race, dropping him to seventh. Points: Lorenzo 312, Dovizioso 260, de Angelis 235, Bautista 181, Barbera 177, Aoyama 160, Kallio 157, Luthi 133.

Roizla Suzuki Racing

Yamaha Racing

Roizla Suzuki Racing

The Pain in Spain: Carlos Checa, top, rode his final GP, despite appendicitis. John Hopkins farewelled Suzuki with third, a trademark wheelie and a memorable podium appearance, left. Wayne Gardner, possibly, remembered what he was doing 20 years ago, bottom left. Valentino Rossi started 17th, behind even Colin Edwards, below.

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Tanderlisingly Close Just when it loked like we were going to have the first woman Gold Star champion, Tim Macrow stole the show from Leanne Tander FORMULA 3 IN what was a spectacular final round of the Australian Formula 3 Championship, Tim Macrow stole the 2007 Australian Driver’s Champion at Oran Park last weekend. After finishing second behind Ben Clucas last year, Macrow was able to go one better, recording a hard-fought final race victory that snatched the title from Leanne Tander and English import Charles Hollings. A mere four points separated top three drivers in the championship heading into the final race, but it was Macrow, who started from fourth on the grid, who got off the line and into the lead. From there he was able to carry that advantage all the way to the chequered flag. Despite her best efforts, Tander finished second behind Macrow in both the final race and the overall championship standings, while Barton Mawer put in a solid drive to place third ahead of Hollings and Chris Gilmour. “To be able to win the Gold Star after Dad

finished second so many years ago is special,” said Macrow. “It means a lot. It’s a major award and to win it like this is amazing. We are a small team, everyone is a volunteer and puts in so much, so the result is just fantastic.” In the opening race it was Hollings who claimed victory by outpacing Macrow and Tander in a very close and tense battle. The opening race was marred by two incidents, one involving Walter Grubmuller, who spun on the third lap into the sand. An uncharacteristic mistake saw Mawer make contact with the final turn wall mid-race, and a few laps later he was forced to retire due to the damage sustained in the earlier contact. Both Chris Barry and Rod Anderson managed to cap off their championship success with round wins in their respective National and Trophy classes. – DANIEL POWELL Final Points: Macrow 208, Tander 206, Hollings 199, James Winslow 133, Marco Mapelli 114.

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John Morris/Mpix Neil Blackbourn

John Morris/Mpix

The Bryce is Rght: Washington, above, was way too fast at Oran Park, winning all three GT races. Meanwhile, Bob Middleton, left, took out the SuperTruck title ... again.

White Washington in Oz GT SHANNONS NATIONALS SOUTH Australian Bryce Washington proved too quick for his rivals at the penultimate round of the Australian GT Championship at Oran Park, scoring a clean sweep of all three races. Although kept honest by arch-rival Allan Simonsen for the first half of the weekend, Washington was able to clear out after Simonsen spun out while dicing for the lead during the second race. Simonsen managed to recover and finish in third place. The fight back of the weekend was David Wall, who managed to overcome a huge crash in qualifying. Working all night to repair car, Wall and his team returned the next morning only to fail to start the opening race after suffering mechanical issues on the warm up lap. But in race two he fought his way from the back of the grid to finish in second, and finished second again in the third and final race. In the Commodore Cup Michael Graham took out the round victory,

after Brett Holdsworth, who had won both Races 1 and 2, suffered mechanical issues in the third race and finished back in 13th. Graham had finished second behind Holdsworth in Races 1 and 2, but got up for victory in the final race. Holden Commodore driver Steve Briffa took the top spot in the Australian Production Car Championship round ahead of Barry Morcom and Garry Holt, with the latter sealing the overall championship with one round to spare. Ben Porter added to his recent National Championship victory by winning the third and final round of the National Formula Vee Series, and in the process took the overall title. Steve Zammit and Steve Coulter took out round victories in their respective Super Trucks and Light Trucks classes, but it was defending champion Bob Middleton who claimed back-to-back Australian Truck Racing Championship wins with second place overall for the round. – DANIEL POWELL

JOHNNY MAC BACK IN FRONT JOHN McIntyre made a blinding start to his NZ Truth V8s title defence at Pukekohe last weekend, winning the opening round of the 2007/2008 season. McIntyre was fastest in qualifying, before going on and winning the first race from NZV8 regulars Andy Booth and Angus Fogg. McIntyre then backed it up with another win in Race 2, having to surge past Booth and Fogg in the opening laps. The final race started with a complete reversal of the grid, which gave Adam Brook the opportunity to lead home Australian Cameron McLean in wet conditions. But McIntyre came through the field to finish fourth, and seal the round honours. Mclean was the best placed Australian with seventh place overall for the round, while part-time Aussie Paul Radisich was eighth, Luke Youlden was 10th and David

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NZ V8S

Besnard was 18th. Andy Knight was on top of the game in the Toyota Racing Series, winning all three races. He now leads the series from Nic Jordan and Sam MacNeill, while Aussie Nathan Antunes was 14th for the round.

Gumley again at Cotton PETER Gumley regained the Australian Hillclimb Championship at Queensland’s Mount Cotton last weekend. Gumley’s supercharged VW Wortmeyer came from behind to take the title, recording a best time of 37.53s on the final run to take victory by 0.09s from Andrew Howell (Gould GR55B). Allan McConnell (Van Diemen RF87) was third with a 38.50s. “It’s been pretty close,” said Gumley. “There’s only been a hundredth of a second separating us most of the weekend and we took it out to nine at the end. “I would like to dedicate this to Geoff Lord. He’s put so much into our car over the last few months. He had a hillclimb accident six weeks ago and he still hasn’t regained consciousness.” Other notable performances included fourth placed Tom Donovan (Pilbeam MP82) with a 39.65s, the only other car under 40s. Robert Hackwood broke the under 750cc record in the

The Sera Show! Mark Jones

AUS HILLCLIMB CHAMPS

In the Battery Town Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge, Craig Baird was the man to beat, winning all three races. But teenagers Ant Pedersen and Jono Lester were the standouts, finishing second and third respectively.

Qld University of Technology’s Formula SAE entry, finishing ninth fastest. Kevin Mackerall was the fastest Sports Car in the Chevrolet powered Datsun ‘600Z’. Fastest sedan was the Subaru Impreza WRX of Mike Collins, while Bill Norton (GRD 72) was the fastest historic. Ron Hay (RH Honda), Brad Stratton (Torana XU1), Jason Lea (Datsun Sports 2000), Bill Norton and Allan Don (Nimbus FVee) all took class records. – MARK JONES

KARTING DAVID Sera and Hayden Stephenson won the 2007 Toyota Leopard finals at Puckapunyal on the weekend, each taking home a new Toyota Yaris for their efforts. The Leopard Light final turned into The Sera Show, with David (Arrow) and cousin James (Kosmic) hammering the opposition to such an extent that only the first eight karts in a field of 30 remained un-lapped. Jason Pringle (Arrow) had a lonely drive to third. The Heavy final was much more eventful. Michael Griffiths built a small lead in the opening laps before pre-final winner Ben Walter (Arrow) applied the pressure and took over. However within a lap Walter was in trouble, a loose coil wire resulting in a cruel DNF. Griffiths (Monaco) was in front, but not for long. Queensland Phoenix driver Hayden Stephensen had made a remarkable recovery after a poor start to take over on Lap 9 and was never headed from there. Griffiths held on for second with Kel Treseder (Kosmic) keeping his nose clean for third. Adam Hughes and Ryan Sanderson won the prizes to race at next year’s IAME International Challenge. – MARK WICKS

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Johnson Edges Away NASCAR Media

NASCAR A THIRD consecutive win has seen Jimmie Johnson move into the lead of The Chase with two races to go. Johnson went into last weekend’s Dickies 500 nine points shy of Hendricks teammate Jeff Gordon, but a side-byside win from Matt Kenseth has put him in the hot seat for a

second consecutive title. The decisive moment in the race came when Johnson’s crew took four new tyres at the final stop, while Kenseth only went with two. The move dropped Johnson to fifth, but he and Kenseth were soon running nose-to-tail, the reigning Champ just getting by at the end. “I expected a good fight,’’

Johnson said. “I didn’t think his two tyres would last that long or be that good. There wasn’t much time left to get it done.’ “I do know we’re racing for the championship and now we have control of it, I guess.’’ Having led the race early on, Gordon finished sixth. “We just flat out got beat today,’’ Gordon said.

! ! n n o o i i p p m m CChhaa

KEVIN Harvick may have won the Busch Series race at Texas, but Carl Edwards was the big winner, wrapping up the 2007 title after a dominating year. Edwards may have finished only eleventh in the race, but it was enough to seal the deal. “It’s really amazing to be a Busch Series champion,” said Edwards. “I can’t tell you how exciting that is and what it means to me.” Team owner Jack Roush was just as relieved

The Chase: Johnson 6382, Gordon 6352, Clint Bowyer 6201, Kyle Busch 6043, Carl Edwards 6025, Tony Stewart 6009, Jeff Burton 5951, Kevin Harvick 5943, Kurt Busch 5929, Kenseth 5928, Denny Hamlin 5858, Martin Truex Jr 5858.

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BUSCH SERIES

“We just weren’t very good right from the start. There at the end was the best we were all day and night. We made the most of it.”

that Edwards got it done Saturday. “We were a better race team than we looked like at the end with crashes and parts and things breaking,” he said. “Those guys definitely deserve that championship and I’m happy for them.” In fitting style Harvick, the 2006 Champ, won the race comfortably from Kyle Busch. Marcos Ambrose finished 30th after getting involved in someone else’s accident while running strongly. Points: Edwards 4494, David Reutimann 3942, Jason Leffler 3733, Harvick 3717, David Ragan 3576, (Ambrose 3225).

TONY Schumacher, Tony Pedregon, Jeg Coughlin, and Matt Smith collected the 2007 NHRA POWERade championships in their respective Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock, and Pro Stock Motorcycle classes, as the season came to a dramatic conclusion at Pomona Raceway last weekend. Schumacher and the US Army dragster claimed the title having to win the event after Rod Fuller, who led the points for almost the entire season, fell in the opening round. The championship in Pro Stock Motorcycle also came down to the final round in a winner-take-all race, as Smith secured his first title, defeating Chip Ellis. – DAVID OSTASZEWSKI

rear of grid

Perth vs Bahrain I HAVE never been to the Middle East and only once to Perth (the wife has family there). I cannot be sure which place I will get to first, but I have a feeling it will be WA. Having found myself with some spare time on Sunday afternoon, I played Remote Control Man and split my viewing between the V8 Supercars in Bahrain and the Red Bull Air Race on the Swan River. It was interesting to make comparisons between the two telecasts. First; Daryl Beattie did a ‘Crompton’ job on the air race and, clearly, has spent a fair bit of time working with a joystick. He did a really informative job, as Neil does on the V8 telecasts, and opened up my eyes to what was going on. So 10 gets 10 points for that. Second; the Bahrain track is huge, so huge that the cars look small. In fact, they also looked slow, and I am not sure that is a good thing for the V8s. The other thing is the crowd; so far as I could tell from the TV shots, the grandstand on the back straight was empty for the whole weekend, which is definitely not a good thing for the V8s. I know that the teams do not go there for the local fans but, between no spectators and TV in the middle of the night, I don’t know what else I am supposed to think. Anyone could see that Winterbottom was going to dominate and, once Crompton mentioned that Lowndes had fresh Dunlops for Race 3, that was a foregone conclusion too, so guess what? I watched the air race more than the cars. It was really exciting, that vision of the planes close to the water was pretty spectacular and

punter@mnews.com.au

Brought to you by the NGK Rally of Melbourne

Want a couple of tickets to NGK Rally of Melbourne (Nov 9-11)? We’ve got three pairs to give away – just email your details to comp@mnews.com.au (click here) and you’re in the draw. See the stars of Australian rallying up close and personal. it was great to see the Russian Ivanoff win for the first time [Ed: First time RBAR winner Nicolas Ivanoff is French, actually]. I am sure that there are some people reading this who will see me as a traitor. Sorry. But, if the date clash happens again next time, I might not bother watching the V8s at all – unless I have a portable TV with me, sitting on the banks of the Swan, with hundreds of thousands (not dozens) of other people.

Can we go to Ferrari-land?

Paris Charles

FORGET going to the US to see Disneyland ... why not head to Abu Dhabi and check out the soon-to-be-built Ferrari Theme Park? Ferrari’s President Luca di Montezemolo and Ahmed Ali Al Sayegh, Chairman of ALDAR Properties, recently laid the foundation stone for the park, and also buried a time capsule containing a conrod and piston from a 2007-spec Fezza Formula 1 car (???). When completed in 2009, the park will feature multiformat high-tech theatres, a variety of driving schools both for children and adults, Ferrari automotive displays and participatory learning centres. Cool!

Odd Spot