Motorsport eNews Issue 44 - March 3-9, 2008

The world of motorsport every week – directly to your desktop

PEACE TALKS

Issue No. 044 3 – 9 March 2008

BArgs this week, but who is on

Mini’s WishLIst?

ATKo’s PB

Ambroseand LownDES, courtney newseek CUpcalm winterbottom deal before creek clash

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

Australasian

The ‘A’ Team

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MD / Publisher

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

Photographers Sutton Motorsport Images, Dirk Klynsmith, Marshall Cass, John Morris/Mpix, AF1 Images, James Smith, Peter Bury, Neil Blackbourn, Chris Carter, Coopers Photography, Geoff Gracie, 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

Issue No. 044 | 03-09 March 2008

news 5 You blokes, Behave! Ford brokers peace deal 6 TKR: It’s a Pither 8 Nico at McLaren 10 The pressure mounts 12 Ovals, not Ovaltine 15 Spectrum fightback 16 Qatar Nightmares?

chat 18 5 minutes with ... opinion 20 Branagan 21 Skaife

race 22 Bayliss Blitz 26 Atko is P2!

30 Diesel times 2

Kayne out for ECreek No, but it was close McLaren denies Ron exit Power looks forward Biante backs Aussie cars Yams fly, Rossi struggles Rosberg and Nakajima Girl Power? No thanks Turning the other Creek Troy smokes ‘em at PI Yes, we know Loeb won SEAT dominates WTCC

trade 38 Trade and Industry / Raceshop / Classifieds

welcome James was ready to talk, even before the phonecalls started ...

BRIEFLY... n The Clipsal 500 has won a big tourism gong. The traditional Adelaide opening round of the V8 Supercar Championship Series last week won the best Festival or Event (of any category, not just sport) ahead of finalists including the Melbourne Cup and Royal Easter Show at the Australian Tourism Awards in Canberra.

The award was made for the 2007 race. n As first reported in eNews, Jim Beam Racing has confirmed that Steve Owen and Warren Luff will join Steven Johnson and Will Davison for the Phillip Island and Bathurst endurance races. n Ford driver James Courtney will launch his range of his new ‘JC’ personal merchandise at the second round of the V8 Supercar Championship at Eastern Creek this weekend.

The ‘JC’ range comprises brushed cotton caps ($25 each), men’s cotton t-shirts ($30), women’s cotton/ spandex singlets ($30), children’s cotton t-shirts ($25), men’s and women’s cool-dry mesh sports t-shirts ($60), can coolers ($10), and key rings ($10). n Kiss has a support act for its March 16 Australian GP concernt. Vanessa Amorosi will perform, as well as singing the national anthem before the race. n Williams has announced new sponsorship arrangements, with mydiamonds.com and sportswear brand All Saints (yep, we thought it was the Channel 7 soapie too …)

MINI CHALLENGE THIS weekend at Eastern Creek marks the debut of the MINI Challenge on Australian soil, and there are some exciting prospects ahead for the series.

Former Bathurst winner Jason Bargwanna will drive the series’ VIP/media car this weekend (see story page 14), with that seat changing drivers at each event throughout the year.

According to eNews sources, MINI Challenge organisers have an extensive ‘wishlist’ for drivers to compete in the VIP/Media car – and one of the drivers on that list is Alex Zanardi.

The two-time CART Champion and former Formula 1 driver is nowadays a factory BMW driver in the World Touring Car Championship.

Despite the loss of both his legs in a horrific Champ Car crash in 2001, Zanardi is a race-

winner in the WTCC, and with the help of hand controls, has driven a number of different race cars since his debilitating accident. One of the cars that Zanardi has raced is a MINI in a demonstration race in 2005.

It seems that Zanardi may get another chance to race in the one-make championship, but this time on Australian soil …

– GRANT ROWLEY

28 cars set for Creek V8 SUPERCARS DON’T expect to see a Walden Motorsport entry at Eastern Creek this weekend.

After trying to scratch together a late deal to enter the Clipsal 500, it seems the embattled V8 Supercar team will not race at Eastern Creek, or for the rest of the season.

It is, however, possible that the team could sell the licence for another team to use later this year.

But given V8 Supercar Australia’s recent desire to cut the field back to 28 cars, it seems unlikely that any sale will be granted.

Licence owner Brian Walden could not be contacted as eNews went live.

Walden’s no-show will mean that 28 cars will hit the grid at the Sydney circuit.

Jim Morton’s Ford Rising Star car (to be driven by Michael Patrizi) won’t debut until the Albert Park non-points races.

Dirk Klynsmith

n Sarah Fisher is starting her own team. The long-time IndyCar driver will race for Sarah Fisher Racing, to be coowned by her father. Sponsors and final team makeup are TBA.

Zanardi on MINI’s wishlist

news

John Morris/Mpix

Peter Bury

John Morris/Mpix

Ford mutes its stars

Lowndes, Courtney and Winterbottom in peace talks after Ford’s disapproval of post-Clipsal sledging V8 SUPERCARS

sledging off-track.

“There’s been a number “Heat-of-the-moment stuff of chats between the is very difficult and most of guys, and that’s good. us would do the same thing It’s productive and in the same situation,” he said. “We hope that it doesn’t it means that we’ve happen again.” made good ground Price was quick to reflect on over the weekend.” recent moments when Ford drivers raced together, without – Ford Motorsport boss RAY PRICE it ending in tears.

“We watched our main drivers race hard and fast and competitively at Bathurst last year. We trusted them, we left it with them and let them run their race, and it was the best racing we’ve seen for 10 years.

“This time, something went wrong and it was a major accident. But that just shows you how close and competitive the whole category is.

“Basically it comes down to the fact that our side is sorted now, and we look forward to taking on Holden this weekend.”

– GRANT ROWLEY Dirk Klynsmith

FORD’S Motorsport manager Ray Price has put his foot down on the verbal exchanges that occurred between its leading drivers in the first round of the V8 Supercar Championship Series at Adelaide.

In the aftermath of the heated on and off track exchanges between the blue oval boys Craig Lowndes, James Courtney and Mark Winterbottom, Price has called for calm between his factorysupported rivals. eNews understands that the trio have exchanged phone calls to sort through the rift that developed in Adelaide, and Price is hopeful that it will be “business as usual” come race day at Eastern Creek this weekend.

“We’ve spoken to the teams and drivers about the incidents and we wanted clarity,” said

Price, pictured below right.

“There are always things said in the heat of the moment.

Holden drivers as much as Ford drivers will have their say.

What we need them to do is to be mature and professional about it.

“There’s been a number of chats between the guys, and that’s good. It’s productive and it means that we’ve made good ground over the weekend.”

The verbal ceasefire was called for after Courtney and Lowndes, running second and third at the time, clashed in Leg 2 of the Clipsal 500.

The heavy incident not only inadvertently took Winterbottom out of the race, it also meant that Lowndes and Courtney will race in their team’s spare cars this weekend at Eastern Creek.

While on-track damage is out of his hands, Price wants to discourage any further

Practice makes perfect ...

V8 SUPERCARS

Ash Budd

THE ‘new for 2008’ endurance driver practice sessions at selected V8 Supercar meetings will make its debut at Eastern Creek this weekend.

The first 30 minutes of Friday’s practice session will see some seasoned V8 drivers, and some old faces, hit the track.

Drivers inside the top 15 in the championship will not be eligible to drive in the 30-minute session, allowing teams to give miles to their endurance drivers or rookie drivers.

Fujitsu V8 Series driver Jack Perkins is one of 12 stars getting early track time, driving Todd Kelly’s #7 Jack Daniel’s Racing Commodore VE. “I think it’s a good thing,” Perkins said.

“It keeps my bum in a seat, it helps me stay close to the team and it‘s good to do more laps. You can’t put a price tag on laps in a V8 because they are hard to come by.

“There won’t be any lap records set. I’m just going to do what the team want me to do, which will probably be to bed brakes and make sure the car is running OK.” These special practice sessions will be held at Eastern Creek (Round 2), Sandown (Round 5), Qld Raceway (Round 7) and Winton (Round 8).

Who’s driving what at EC 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 9 15 33 51

Craig Baird Glenn Seton Mark Noske David Besnard Dean Canto Luke Youlden Jack Perkins Jonathan Webb Marcus Zukanovic Greg Ritter Dale Wood

Holden Racing Team Holden Racing Team Tasman Motorsport Stone Brothers Racing Ford Performance Racing Ford Performance Racing Jack Daniel’s Racing Stone Brothers Racing HSV Dealer Team Garry Rogers Motorsport Tasman Motorsport

Marshall Cass

Pither: Kiwi Sub V8 SUPERCARS

Macrow Back in Blue V8 SUPERCARS Dirk Klynsmith

CHRIS Pither will drive the Team Kiwi Racing entry at this weekend’s Eastern Creek round of the V8 Supercar Championship Series.

The young Kiwi was working with the team at the seasonopening Clipsal 500, and will step into the driver’s role at EC, replacing Kayne Scott, who has commitments with the final round of the NZV8 series at Teretonga.

“There are plenty of reasons why we’ve chosen Chris,” said team boss David John.

“He did a good job for us when he raced for us in Bahrain in 2006, he’s a young Kiwi which is in keeping with policy of giving young guys a go, and he fits in very well with the team. He’s also got plenty of experience with the cars, which makes a big difference.

“So if he can do the same job he did for us in Bahrain, we’ll be very happy.”

TKR’s decision further strengthens Pither’s position as the favourite for TKR’s vacant endurance driver seat, as reported in last week’s eNews.

– ANDREW VAN LEEUWEN

ADAM Macrow will suit up for Britek Motorsport at this year’s endurance races at Phillip Island and Bathurst.

It will be Macrow’s third year as an endurance driver for the team, and he thinks the stability could see them in with a chance.

“It’s good to have that stability,” he told eNews. “This is my third year with the team and we’ve got a good relationship.”

With the second enduro driver yet to be signed, Macrow isn’t confirmed to be sharing a car with Jason Bright.

“At this point I don’t know [who I will share with], but to be honest it doesn’t really matter. In saying that, I’d love to share with Jason again because we were in with a shot at Bathurst last year and it’d be great to have another go.”

This year’s Bathurst 1000 will be Macrow’s 10th visit to The Mountain.

– ANDREW VAN LEEUWEN

news

Do barriers need to be SAFER? NASCAR-style crash wall mooted for V8s V8 SUPERCARS SAFER barriers may be one of the options to emerge from the safety enquiry into the crash that claimed the life of Ashley Cooper.

The American-developed system, which dissipates energy from impacts between racecars and concrete walls, is likely to be one of the discussion points to emerge from the enquiry, details of which are expected to be confirmed this week.

Calls for the introduction of SAFER technology have already been heard from several levels of the sport, however, there are a number of challenges involved in the implementation of the system.

To date, the barrier has been

used predominantly on tracks with permanent and fixed concrete barriers, and not on street tracks. Adelaide’s concrete barriers are not fixed to the road and, as such, provide a degree of impact absorption in the event of a collision.

For instance, Russell Ingall’s Turn 8 crash during Sunday’s warm-up prompted officials to move a four-tonne concrete barrier back into its original position, because it was moved by the force of Ingall’s impact.

But a revised system of mounting the system has been developed, and is said to be applicable to temporary, streetcourse circuits.

Cooper Foundation A FOUNDATION has been established to support the family of Ashley Cooper.

Cooper’s partner Casey and children Ella and Bailey will benefit from the fund, which has been established with the assistance of Transplant Australia. Cooper was a

registered organ donor, and seven people benefited through organ donation after he died last Monday.

People wishing to make a tax-deductible donation to the Ashley Cooper Foundation can do so by phoning 1800 827 757.

BRIEFLY...

n The venue of the Canadian GP, the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve on the Ile Notre Dame in Montreal, is to undergo a CDN$4.5 million upgrade that will include renovations of the pits and the paddock, and the construction of a new media centre.

– QUENTIN SPURRING

NO, IT’S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN. BUT IT ALMOST DID ...

FORMULA 1 THE 2008 Formula 1 grid could have looked much different, with Lewis Hamilton in a Williams and Nico Rosberg at McLaren.

Sir Frank Williams and Patrick Head have revealed that these changes may happened, with their team having an approach from the Hamilton family four years ago, and McLaren making a large and serious offer last year to buy Nico Rosberg out of his contract, to replace Fernando Alonso.

“It was never a thought we entertained,” Sir Frank Williams told reporters.

“We had an offer of majestic proportions from McLaren, but it was never ever discussed. Why would we give away the crown jewels? Why bother improving the car by one second if we then give away half a second with the driver?”

Had the deal gone ahead, Nico’s move would have replicated that of his father, Keke, two decades ago.

On the same day, Williams co-owner Patrick Head confirmed that the team passed on securing Hamilton, who was then in the midst of a dispute with long-time mentors McLaren over whether to race in the Formula 3 Euroseries for a second year.

“They rang up and said ‘can we come and see you? Ron Dennis has dropped us’,” Head said.

“We were with BMW at the time and I think Frank rang Mario Theissen and said ‘this guy looks as if he could be pretty good.

“I think Mario said they weren’t prepared to provide any support, and we weren’t in a position financially where we could finance his racing so, much to Frank’s annoyance, he could have had Lewis in a Williams.”

... and Nico appeals for some calm FORMULA 1 WILLIAMS star Nico Rosberg has warned against high expecations on the eve of the 2008 season.

The German, who steps into the leading role within the team with the arrival of rookie team-mate Kazuki Nakajima, has tried to damper some optimistic predictions from, particularly, the British media.

“I think that the expectations can be too high, but it can go either way very easily,” Rosberg told eNews. “You need to be

sutton-images.com

n A week after Bernie Ecclestone visited Russia for negotiations for a race on a proposed new permanent circuit at Pulkovo, near St Petersburg, another project has been revealed at Volokolamsk, 80km west of Moscow. Hans Geist, who has previously managed the venues of the Austrian and Bahraini Grands Prix, has been appointed to oversee the project.

Lewis, Rosberg swap sutton-images.com

n Force India finally shook down its new Formula 1 car at Spain’s Catalunya track last week.

The VJM01 is based on the B-spec Spyker monocoque that was introduced at Monza in September 2007, with extensive aerodynamic updates developed in the team’s two windtunnels.

The work of a design team led by chief technical officer Mike Gascoyne, it is based on the B-spec Spyker monocoque that was introduced at Monza in September 2007, with extensive aerodynamic updates developed in the team’s two wind tunnels in the UK and Italy. Giancarlo Fisichella and Adrian Sutil both tried the car, and do did test driver Tonio Liuzzi.

This was the last of the new cars from the nine constructors: Super Aguri and Toro Rosso will begin the season with updated versions of their 2007 ‘customer cars’.

very careful.

“But I think that we are in our best shape for many years, and that things are very positive.”

Rosberg is in a changed position this season, the first in which he will be the more experienced driver in the team

alongside Nakajima.

“The team asks a lot more of me, both technically and with things like visiting the team more often. Young drivers come into Formula 1 better and better prepared these days.

“Things are going very well.

He [Nakajima] is very quick, which is what I expected, so that is good for the team, to have two quick drivers. You will see in the races. That is a lot different to testing, so we will see how he goes there.”

– PHIL BRANAGAN

news

Aguri: Melbourne Bound

Buyers circling, but it’s business as usual for Honda’s second team FORMULA 1 SUPER Aguri will be in Melbourne, despite swirling rumours that the team may be on the brink of extinction.

sutton-images.com

Team co-owner Fumio Akita, Aguri Suzuki’s partner, has vowed that the team will be racing at Albert Park, in spite of missing most of the winter testing due to funding and ownership dramas. Drivers Takuma Sato and Anthony Davidson have not tested since December.

“We are usually scrambling to be ready for the start of the season,” Akita told Reuters.

“It was very tight last year and this year is following the same

pattern. But we will be on the grid for Melbourne. We’re not worried at all about missing out.”

Akita confirmed that there are as many as three potential investors in talks with the team about buying a partial stake, or complete ownership, of the team. But he also warned that there were bigger issues in the air for Honda.

“If you have no Aguri Suzuki you would probably lose Honda as engine suppliers,” explained Akita.

“If investors come in and say they can bring in BMW engines, then that’s a different story.”

So, that’s the end of all that, then ...

WITH this edition of Motorsport eNews, we mark the end, and start, of an era.

From the next issue, there will be no more Formula 1 coverage in eNews. For that matter, we are chucking out all of the World Rally Championship stuff as well.

And while we are at it, Valentino Rossi and his MotoGP mates can get their kicks somewhere else.

Of course, ‘somewhere else’ is GP Week. The new online publication, a coproduction between Motorsport News and Sutton Images, launches next Monday, March 10. Editor Will Buxton will be our man on the Formula 1 scene; the doyen of WRC journalists, Martin Holmes, will cover the rally world; and Michael Scott is our eyes and ears on all things two wheels.

eNews continues, with unrivalled and expanded coverage, with all other international motorsport, V8 Supercars and a greater commitment to local racing.

And both eNews and GP Week will be free, on your computer, each Monday evening.

If you have not registered for GP Week, go to www.gpweek.com and off you go.

See you for some history next week.

Is Ron Gone?

FORMULA 1

sutton-images.com

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www.lockwoodcompany.com.au

To The Order of Garry Rogers Motors & Garry Rodgers Motor Sports who have moved to new premises

DESPITE denials all round, rumours within the European press continue to suggest that Ron Dennis is on the verge of resigning.

While Mercedes Benz has denied it is pressuring the team boss to walk, as fallout continues from the Stepneygate affair, latest suggestions are that Dennis may follow through on suggestions in late 2007 that he might quit anyway, to get away from Formula 1 and spend time with his children.

Britain’s Sunday Times reported at the weekend that, while Dennis was under no pressure from McLaren’s shareholders to quit, the differing demands of heading up an F1 team in the modern

era might swing the balance in favour of walking away from the team he turned into a multi-championship-winning machine.

The Times suggests that Dennis may announce his retirement later this week.

This follows a week from hell, in which 50 UK police, acting on behalf of Italian Authorities, searched both the McLaren factory and the homes of Dennis, CEO Martin Whitmarsh, and three other directors.

The Italian police were acting on the instruction of Modena’s public prosecutor, Giuseppe Tibis, who in turn is acting on Ferrari’s allegations of espionage in F1, centering around Stepney, and McLaren – for which McLaren was fined US$100m.

news

Joel Strickland

The Mysterious Mazda Mazda rally car shows up at the Melbourne Motor Show, but what is it for?

AUSTRALIAN RALLYING THIS Mazda 2 Extreme rally car will compete in Australia.

That’s what Mazda’s Motorsport Manager Allan Horsley said after the car was officially unveiled at the Melbourne Motor Show recently.

But in what configuration, and

therefore in what championship, the car will appear is not yet known.

“The car will go rallying here in Australia in some form, but we honestly don’t know any more at this point,” Horsley told eNews.

“The car is almost fully developed except for the motor, which we’re working on at the moment, and that will

decide in what series the car will run.”

Horsley said it was too early to link Mazda with the Australian Rally Championship.

“That would be to strong a statement to make at this point,” he said. “But the car will run here in Australia, it’s not going anywhere.”

– VAN LEEUWEN/STRICKLAND

AUSTRALIAN RALLYING THE Australian Rally Championship has been given an important sign of stability for season 2008, with Toyota re-confirming its involvement in the series.

Toyota Racing Developments officially launched its program at the Melbourne Motor Show, confirming that reigning Champions Simon and Sue Evans would run a factory Super 2000-spec Corolla alongside TRD boss Neal Bates and Coral Taylor.

“We’re incredibly excited to

both be in S2000 cars and to continue the development of the S2000 cars,” said Bates.

“I think it’s going to be a tough year, I think the competition will be very strong.”

“In 2009 we will see a lot of new teams and 2008 is an opportunity for us to build on the last couple of years and move to a level that is good enough for when there’s more manufacturers involved, which I think will be very soon.”

The Evanses, who will make their competitive debut in a S2000 at the season-opening QUIT Forest Rally in WA, are

Joel Strickland

Toyota Says Yes!

equally excited about the new season.

“It’s going to be good, the S2000 car is going to be fantastic,” said Simon.

“I had a test before Christmas and fell in love with the car, so I’m really looking forward to getting out and competing in it.”

sutton-images.com

Tracy: I won’t drive for “hot dogs and hamburgers” IRL INDYCAR SHORTLY after the historic IRL-CCWS press conference, one of the mainstays of Champ Car, Jerry Forsythe, withdrew his team from the unified series.

Forsythe Racing will run one more event – Long Beach’s ‘Champ Car’ race on April 20, and then run only in the Champ Car Atlantic Series. The driver for the California event is yet to be named.

Forsythe had been one of the owners of CCWS prior to signing, along with coowner Kevin Kalkhoven, the unification

‘agreement in principle’ with IRL boss Tony George.

The news means that Paul Tracy is out of a drive.

“Neil [Micklewright VP of Operations for Forsythe] said he’d been trying to get a hold of my manager but he was having a colonoscopy today,” explained Tracy to Speed TV. “That’s ironic ’cause that’s what I feel like I got.”

“I want to be part of this new league, run at Indianapolis again, and stay in open wheel racing. It’s pretty late in the deal to just find this out but I’m hoping I can still

find something competitive.”

Rumors circulating about Tracy include his driving a third car for the Tony George’s Vision Racing. But Tracy wants to be with a winning team like Ganassi or Penske, and earn a top salary (a million or two), not drive for “hot dogs and hamburgers”.

Tracy contacted friend and owner, Jimmy Vasser, about driving for KV Racing (Kalkhoven Vasser) as team-mate to Oriol Servia. But could that team have plans to steal Will Power from Walker Racing?

– MARY MENDEZ

Keeping ‘Indy’ on the Gold Coast IRL INDYCAR

Peter Bury

WITH the “merged” open wheel series into the IRL’s IndyCar Series, Gold Coast officials General Manager Greg Hooton and Chairman Terry Mackenroth are meeting this week with Tony George, the Indy Racing League’s founder, to secure the race for 23-26 October.

Due to the Chicagoland

Speedway’s contract stating their event is the final race of the season, the Surfer’s race will likely be a non-points event.

“There’s a strong possibility we’ll get eighteen events this season,” said Brian Barnhart, President and Chief Operating Officer of the Indy Racing League, referring to the addition of Edmonton and Australia to the 16-race IndyCar

schedule.

“Australia is pending FIA approval because it is an international event. When we

come to agreement, we’ll have to make sure we go through the proper channels with the FIA.” – MARY MENDEZ

news

Power Looks Left

Aussie Champ Car race winner still without a firm IRL ride IRL INDYCAR AUSSIE Will Power is looking forward to racing on ovals – provided he can get a deal to race in the merged IndyCar Series.

Power and former Team Australia team-mate Simon Pagenaud accompanied team owner Derrick Walker to the Homestead open test to talk to officials and secure equipment for the 2008 IndyCar season. And Walker is meeting with co-owner Craig Gore this week in Indianapolis to discuss moving forward for the 2008 IndyCar season.

According to Walker, there is an outstanding financial matter to be settled, partly due from the 2007 season and the balance is for operational costs going forward.

Walker took possession of his first Dallara a week ago and will be

receiving his second Dallara on March 10, and is hoping to run both drivers.

Walker Racing will be partnered with Team Penske in the assistance system offered by IndyCar to shorten the new teams’ learning curve with the Dallara chassis and Honda engines.

“I raced at Milwaukee’s 1-mile oval in 2006, which was my first and only oval,” said Power, whose eyes widened just talking about it.

“I qualified well. It’s a different discipline. Oval racing still requires a driver’s skill. I’m looking forward to the challenge. We have a 1-2 day oval test, which will be pretty daunting. All the Champ Car teams get to test at Sebring (Florida road course) and at Homestead. Everyone has the same opportunity. We are all at the same disadvantage but the speedway is very willing to help us get up to speed.”

– MARY MENDEZ

Testing as usual IRL INDYCAR

sutton-images.com

WITH all the fuss of the merger announcement, it was easy to forget that there was the business of testing at Homestead in Florida.

In spite of missing the first of the two-day oval test due to the flu, Danica Patrick managed to outclass the boys with a speed of 213.182 mph, edging out Aussie Penske driver Ryan Briscoe (213.056 mph)

and Dan Wheldon (212.980 mph) on the 1.5-mile track.

“We ended up having a great run in the Motorola car near the end, especially running up with the Ganassi and Penske guys,” said Patrick, who benefits from at least a 23-kilo weight advantage. “If we can keep the speed when we are back in a few weeks for the race, the Motorola car will be one of the best cars out there.”

– MARY MENDEZ

Bargs giant entry in MINI field Former Bathurst winner to debut with new series at Eastern Creek, but the numbers aren’t set ...

MINI CHALLENGE V8 SUPERCAR driver Jason Bargwanna will head the MINI Challenge field for this weekend’s opening round at Eastern Creek.

The former Bathurst winner is the first driver to be named in the Stillwell-run ‘UBER-STAR CAR,’ and is looking forward to the experience.

“I think it’s an exciting category with great growth prospects,” said Bargwanna.

“Everyone has a story about Mini. Guys my age have heard their old man talk about Minis racing at Bathurst in the ‘good old days’ and we remember watching them when we were kids.

“Personally, my kids are more excited about me racing a MINI than they are a V8 Supercar.”

But while Bargwanna is a big catch for the category, it would seem the rest of the field is looking a bit scant.

As eNews went live there were just 10 drivers confirmed for the opening round, however MINI Challenge officials said there were as many as five cars entered without a driver yet named, and that there should be 20 cars on the grid come this weekend.

While the quantity is not yet guaranteed, the quality is. Paul Stokell and Neil McFadyen are on the official starters list, making it a pair of former Australian Driver’s champions.

Also on the list are former Formula

Fording brothers Todd and Paul Fiore, as well as a name synonymous with BMW and motor racing – Michael Stillwell.

Gary Young is also on the entry list, and will share his duties with the Aussie Racing Cars, see story below.

IN other MINI Challenge news, a problem with the Engine Control Unit that plagued a group of competitors at a recent test is apparently fixed.

With a ballot-type system in place for the race day ECUs (to discourage cheating), the cars have been testing with road car units installed. And as such many

of the cars engaged ‘limp home’ mode during testing, bringing several driver’s test days to a standstill.

Data from Germany predicts that the problem shouldn’t re-occur with the proper ECUs installed.

With the series set to kick off in Australia this weekend, some final details have recently been announced. Dunlop will supply the control tyre for three years, while Warren Luff will fill the role of Driving Standards Observer.

Come on Aussie, come on, come on THE Aussie Racing Car Series starts this weekend at Eastern Creek and they are set for a competitive seven-round series.

Notable entrants for the series include V8 Supercar driver Paul Morris, who is back for his second season of Aussie racing. Morris will be joined by a second Supercheap Auto Commodore, driven by

reigning Performance Car champion Gary Young. Young got his first taste of ARC-power at Lakeside today (Monday).

Nick Simmons makes a return to the series this year, driving the #91 Falcon, while the regular Ward boys (Phil, James and reigning Champ Brad) will be there, along with Victorian Ben McCashney.

The Aussie Racing Cars will back up next weekend at the Australian Grand Prix. Expect to

Marshall Cass

AUSSIE RACING CARS

see Neil Crompton suit up in a Commodore entry.

The recently announced CAMS Young Gun

Development squad driver and car isn’t likely to hit the track until the AGP meeting.

– GRANT ROWLEY

news

Biante backs Rising Stars FORMULA FORD THE Australian Formula Ford Championship kicks off this weekend at Eastern Creek, and the CAMS Rising Stars Spectrum team is looking to put last season’s championship defeat behind them and recapture the title John Martin won in 2006.

Helping the factory team’s quest for redemption this year will be a striking new red and silver colour scheme, and major support from Biante Model Cars, which has inked a deal with the Borland Racing Developments-run team for the 2008 season.

“Being the only Australian Formula Ford Manufacturer, and now with their export plans into Europe, Borland Racing impressed me with their professionalism, their approach and commitment,” Chris Roche, Biante CEO said.

The CAMS Rising Star team, consisting of three National Series rookies – Jake Chapman,

Scott Pye and Daniel Erickson – enters the championship with plenty of pre-season testing miles under their belt, but they will be fighting an uphill battle against the might of reigning Championship-winning team Sonic Motor Racing Services.

Sonic boasts a formidable team of drivers, led by Nick Percat and Kristian Lindbom, who both have more than enough Formula Ford miles to do the job.

Any challenge to the Sonic team is likely to come from a Spectrum chassis, with over half of the field entered in the locally-produced car. Besides the CAMS team, a number of new outfits, notably Fujitsu V8 Series team Howard Racing and Synergy Motorsport are entering Spectrums. Both these teams have impressive driver line-ups, including reigning Australian karting Champion Chaz Mostert (Howard) and former national FFord front-runner Paul Laskazeski (Synergy).

2008 GENUINE FORD PARTS AUSTRALIAN FORMULA FORD CHAMPIONSHIP 2 3 4 7 12 13 15 16 19 23 25 26 27 30 35 41 43 63 66 74 77 98

Nick Percat Sonic Motor Racing Services Lucas Dumbrell Sonic Motor Racing Services Kristian Lindbom Sonic Motor Racing Services Paul Laskazeski Synergy Motorsport Robert Munnerley Munnerley Motorsport Nicholas Foster Chaz Mostert Howard Racing Rob Storey Anglo Australian Motorsport Scott Pye CAMS Rising Star Daniel Erickson CAMS Rising Star Ben Walter Minda Motorsport Taylor Gore Minda Motorsport Scott Auld Howard Racing Trent Harrison Munnerley Motorsport Cameron Spence Rob Spence Motorsport Bradley Lowe Synergy Motorsport Ben Morley Synergy Motorsport Martin Swindells Minda Motorsport Adam Graham Minda Motorsport Yudi Doyle No Sponsor Racing Blake Varney Autobarn Virginia Jake Chapman CAMS Rising Star

Other outfits to watch out for this year include Rob Storey (Anglo/Spirit) and the four-car Minda Motorsport team, which

Mygale SJ07A Mygale SJ07A Mygale SJ07A Spectrum 011b Mygale SJ06A Van Diemen RF04 Spectrum 011 Spirit WL07 Spectrum 011b Spectrum 011b Spectrum 011c Spectrum 011b Spectrum 011 Mygale SJ08A Spectrum 011c Spectrum 011c Spectrum 011 Spectrum 011c Spectrum 011b Van Diemen RF04 Spectrum 011b Spectrum 011b

has secured a scholarship deal with V8 Supercar team Britek Motorsport.

– GRANT ROWLEY

news

TOPS GO Are Dark Times ahead for Rossi? TIN SWEET 16 Yamaha impresses in final Qatar test – but only the ones on Michelins MOTOGP HAS Valentino Rossi just made the biggest blunder in his stellar MotoGP career?

That is the question being asked on the eve of the MotoGP season, with Yamaha ending the final test, under lights at Qatar, 1-2-4. But none of the M1s featured Rossi, with rookies Jorge Lorenzo and James Tosleland proving to be the class of the field, with Colin Edwards fourth. And all three of

those Yamahas will race on Michelins on Saturday.

In fact, the fastest Bridgestone runner of the test was Casey Stoner, who dominated Night 1 before concentrating on race setups after a small tumble on Night 2. Rossi struggled to 10th, and the fear is that with a lack of experience on the Japanese rubber, and no other Yamaha riders with which to compare data, the Italian will

DRAG RACING

battle, at least until the series gets back to the European races.

Randy De Puniet was once again the best of the Honda riders in third place, while Chris Vermeulen was eighth and Anthony West 18th, after set-up problems with his Kawasaki.

Dani Pedrosa and John Hopkins both tested after recovery from their recent injuries, both playing themselves in steadily.

FOR the first time in Top Doorslammer history, qualifying will determine the top 16 spots.

Yamaha Racing

To be held at Willowbank Raceway’s annual Tin Top Titles next month, Top Doorslammer’s best will compete for a place in the top 16, rather than the usual top eight.

And only for the secondtime in Australian history, the Pro Stock category will do the same.

Willowbank Raceway Managing Director Steve Bettes said that the April 18-19 event will be worth every cent of the admission fee.

“In a usual event, fans would see eight competitors line up against each other for the first round eliminations,” he said.

The April program will feature the penultimate round of Group One activity in Top Doorslammer and Pro Stock categories as drivers enjoy one final hitout prior to the season-ending Castrol EDGE Winternationals at Willowbank Raceway on June 5-8.

Slowing down the Red Rocket WORLD SUPERBIKES

TROY Bayliss’s electrifying start to the 2008 World Superbike Championship will see Ducati’s latest V-twin racer reined in.

– DARRYL FLACK/STAFF

Ducati Corse Press

After winning three of the opening four races, the Ducati 1098R F08 has been marked for a 3kg weight increase after Round 3, and if that fails to bring it back to the field, the 2008 WSBK rules allow for the introduction of intake restrictors.

Some of WSBK’s most senior journalists and insiders are deeply concerned that the 1200cc Ducati

V-twin has been allowed to run unrestrained against the 1000cc four-cylinder bikes, and say that the implementation of restrictors is a given. The team managers of the leading Japanese brand teams were seen in a meeting on Saturday afternoon after Superpole, and it is a safe bet that the runaway Duke was high on their agenda.

To add to the concerns, Max Biaggi and Ruben Xaus on Sterilgarda’s 1098s have shadowed the Japanese factory bikes for speed, leading to concerns of a rout at some events.

5 Minutes with ...

ROSBERG and NAKAJIMA PHIL BRANAGAN

The two Sons of Guns are looking forward to racing the Williams FW30

The introduction of the control ECU, do you think that has brought some of the leading teams back to the pack?

No, I feel that it has not made a difference. It is not going to change the fact that the quicker engines and still going to be the quicker engines. I don’t think that it is going to have a big impact.

You have got some experience now, the team has made an improvement. Is that going to be enough to win a race?

I don’t think so, no. The car is still not quick enough, I tried to push as hard as I could in testing. But I think that we are going to have a great year.

So, you would be happy to be in third place in the Constructors’ Championship?

No. If I finish first, that is what I consider to be winning. You just have to be patient, because

Japanese drivers can be fast but not consistent?

I think so. I am trying really hard to accomplish something but I do not have a lot of experience. I am sure that there is a part of that.

Dirk Klynsmith

MOTORSPORT NEWS: How has testing been going with the [Williams] FW30?

NICO ROSBERG: Really well. I think that the team has done a really good job with the reliability. Performance-wise, it has also been pretty good.

Just like with any new car, it is up to us to get the most performance out of it now, and we are approaching that quite positively. We are going to be, possibly, in a similar situation to last year, there is going to be a very tight mid-field and we are going to be working very hard at every race to try to come out on top of that. That would make us the fourth-best team, behind BMW.

that is the way it is in Formula 1.

Have you had much attention from the teams with the winning cars?

Yes, definitely.

There has been some testing in the off-season on slick tyres.

From a drivers’ point of view, how soon would you like to see them introduced, if at all?

Slick tyres are really good fun.

It is like going back to the old days, a bit; you can drift the car a lot more, the cars are not so demanding, you can use the car a little more. It was a lot quicker too, which was a lot of fun!

I think that it will be good for F1 to come back to slick tyres, definitely, it would be good for the racing too, if they can reduce the aerodynamics.

More mechanical grip can only help the racing.

You are going to be racing against some of the sons of drivers your father raced against. Are you afraid to let Keke drive to the track on Sundays if Nelson Piquet is out there on the roads with his son?

No, no, no! I am sure that it does happen sometimes. When he is at the track, and we go

home together on Sunday night, he has not been able to release his speed all weekend.

So he tends to drive a bit faster then, and he can get a bit scary!

Kazu, what is the level of interest now in Formula 1 in Japan?

KAZUKI NAKAJIMA: Usually, very high. It is a bit difficult to say how it is at the moment, but generally, Formula 1 is very popular, quite big and, hopefully, it is going to be even bigger if I can do well in the Formula 1 races.

Do you feel under any pressure? Honda and Toyota have not been very fast in testing.

I don’t think that there is extra pressure from that. Pressure in Formula 1 is normal, actually because the races are hard, anyway. So I think that there is just normal pressure.

No Japanese driver has achieved any great success in Formula 1. Do you know why that is the case?

That is a good question. If it is the case, it is because Formula 1 is not just normal racing.

Do you feel it is case that

Kazuki, does the Williams team have a big following in Japan?

I think so. The team has a great history and many achievements, and I think that many people like that.

What was you image of Williams, the team, before you arrived there?

Before I joined, I really liked the team’s history and its long list of team-mates and they really fitted in. Actually, that is what I find on the inside of the team as well, it is really like a big family and I like all the people.

They want me to do a good job from the word go, and that is what I want to do.

What has you father advised you about Formula 1?

He was telling me that, when you are in Formula 1, there are a lot of things going on around you. He said there will be a lot of pressure but he has told me to concentrate and to try to learn things from what is happening. It is important to stay calm and to stay focused.

How has Nico been as a benchmark?

He is a great driver. He has been quick consistently and he has very good feedback, a good technical background. So I think that he will be a good target for me and I think that I can be close to him.

chat

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Today we’re gonna party like it’s 1979 LAST May, I watched the buildup to NASCAR’s Coca Cola 600 at Charlotte from as close to pit lane as I could get.

While there, I commented to a NASCAR official of the lack of grid girls.

“This is a family sport,” he said, gesturing at the groaning grandstands.

“There are a lot of wives and moms out there, and we don’t wanna offend them.”

Can we say the same of V8 Supercars? Is it a family sport?

On the evidence of the Clipsal 500, we can’t, and it isn’t.

The Adelaide promoters seem experts at, each year,

opinion Phil Branagan Executive Editor gathering a group of women, whose smiles are possibly not the only manufactured part of their anatomy, and parading them at various parts of the track in ever-smaller outfits. I have seen this in the City of Churches many times.

Along with that, and for some time, a scantily-clad gang of ladies appear at races’ media conferences – but not all of them. They were noticeably absent from the

one in which V8SA’s Tony Cochrane explained his board’s latest announcements, and the one Wayne Cattach fronted (with great dignity, may I add) regarding Ashley Cooper’s ghastly crash. (FYI, there are no grid girls in Formula 1 press conferences, as pictured above, or MotoGP, or most of the world’s major series. Also, and I am no expert, but I have never seen them at ‘pressos’ for the AFL, test cricket or grand slam tennis).

This year, there is a new wrinkle, with the XXXX Angels – named after a beer, folks, that’s not a censorship rating

– appearing for the first time, ‘dancing’ on the grid before the big race. The Angels debuted at the season launch but it is only in the context of a race meeting that their full impact was seen.

In terms of 21st century entertainment, I can only offer the opinion that the Angels rival the cheesiest bits of The Don Lane Show in sheer spectacle.

V8 Supercars can be a major sport that families can enjoy. But while the Angels and others continue to be an integral part of the show, my family will be staying away.

Letters

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

The kids are alright Who would have thought that Lee Holdsworth in a Garry Rogers Motorsport car would top the list of Holden drivers after the Clipsal 500?

I think you will find the answer would be ‘not many’, and after reading the last edition of Auto Action you still probably wouldn’t know

that he came second overall unless you were watching the television coverage.

I don’t think you realise that GRM is also the leading Holden team in the team’s championship! Also, Shane Van Gisbergen had the drive of his life but still you only mention his name once in the race report.

On the other hand, if your name is Craig Lowndes or James Courtney you will find your name plastered all through the magazine for doing something stupid that deserves no praise or recognition at all.

Why not promote good results instead of amateur driving?

Jake Parker parkers@live.com.au The kids are alright #1A I’m the biggest Holden fan there is and I’m very angry!

I want Holden to win and don’t care who wins it for us!

So when I skim through the online MNews edition I want to see something about the

opinion

Skaifey’s Creek ...

EASTERN Creek has been one of the tracks that has featured heavily in my career, but I don’t treat it differently to any other track that we go to.

I have always enjoyed it there; it is like Phillip Island, or Bathurst, in that it is good to drive on. Eastern Creek is in that category, a big, fast, Europeanstyle track. Fortunately, we have been able to have some results there over the years.

I look for a car to do the same things there as it does at any of the other similar circuits. It can be unique in some ways, it is not a stop-go circuit, with

opinion Mark Skaife V8 Supercar driver some long flowing parts. But in terms of set-up, it is not anything special.

As for me, I view it as a good circuit to drive on, with some reward for putting in a good lap. It has some history for me, in terms of the biggest accident I have ever had was there, I have had some successes and I even managed to get a win there in the same year I had a big crash there. It was a big thing to come

back from that and to do a good job.

Eastern Creek is a volatile racetrack, it is big and fast and wide, and that means that there will be, and has been over the years, three and four cars alongside each other. That makes the highs high and some of the lows very low, After the 2007 result, people might expect a repeat. I would say that our car was up on the car speed that we showed there in 2007, but it can be more difficult than that.

Given our history at the place, I am looking forward to having a good weekend.

John Morris/Mpix

leading Holden driver after the first round … Holdsworth!

Give the dude a go!

Jason Lukes jasonlukes@hotmail.com Ex Ed: It appears that ‘Jake Parker’ and ‘Jason Lukes’ is one person, with an axe to grind. The two emails arrived at approximately the same time, in the same style, from differing addresses.

Please note; we did mention Holdsworth, we did 5 Minutes with The Giz and we have no control over what is published in other magazines.

eLETTER OF THE WEEK Safety First While we all accept motor racing is dangerous, we can always improve on safety.

My solution to the Turn 8 issue at Adelaide is to leave the turn exactly as is, but introduce the SAFER barrier on the exit, as used in

NASCAR and IndyCar in the United States.

Over there it has been proven to absorb serous impacts, and has the added benefit of reducing the amount of instances where cars back across the track in front of other oncoming cars.

As for the driving standards, I think Tomas Mezera has got it right; the drivers need to give each other some room.

I hope he has the guts to stand up to the pressure.

Kevin Baptist kevsoph1@optusnet.com.au ED: As you have probably read by the time you got to this page, the SAFER barrier has definitely popped up in official channels as a potential problem solver.

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

WORLD SUPERBIKES ROUND 2 – PHILLIP ISLAND

race

A little bit of Italia in Australia: L to R, Corser, Bayliss and Fabrizio celebrate after another empahtic performance. The two Aussie veterans now look poised to fight out the World Championship.

John Morris/Mpix

THAT OLD RED MAGIC

Things could hardly have been better for Troy Bayliss in his last race weekend at Phillip Island.

DARRYL FLACK watched a Tareefic performance John Morris/Mpix

MANY Troy Bayliss fans would have headed to Phillip Island hoping that he would sign off his World Superbike career at home with a win. Some hoped for two.

John Morris

Holland (DF Racing Honda) ran up the back of Carlos Checa (Hanspree Ten Kate Honda), sending both bikes sprawling into the gravel trap at Lukey Heights at over 200kmh. With his foot and ankle badly cut, Fabrizio bravely fronted the restart to finish a highly commendable third.

In Race 2, the starter held the field for several seconds too long and a number of riders, including Corser and Fabrizio, were pinged for jumping the start. Before he could enter the pits for the ride through, an unlucky Corser crashed out of contention as Bayliss disappeared for his second win of the day.

Behind him, Checa, Fonsi Nieto (Team Suzuki Alstare) and Xaus staged a titanic duel for second until Checa split in the latter stages with Nieto scoring another great podium, and Xaus fourth from Max Neukirchner.

Biaggi did the double in the wrong way, sliding off at turn one at over 220kmh, and another pre-title favourite, Noriyuki Haga (Yamaha Motor Italia WSB) struggled with injuries sustained at Qatar and lack of rear grip to card an eighth and seventh.

Suzuki-Racing

But, their ageing hero had a fairytale farewell. After topping Superpole, the Ducati legend was never headed in either race and, by his lofty standards, cruised home to add to his WSBK points lead. The only grey clouds on his silver lining were a nasty highside on Saturday that required eight stitches in his upper left arm, and concerns that Ducati’s red rocket is soon to be reined in by authorities (see news pages).

Nevertheless, it was a highly emotional Bayliss who fought back tears on the podium as he faced his adoring home fans, a record 65,400 over three days.

“To do the double here after such a tough weekend will live in my memory forever,” said the popular people’s champ.

“To do it with my friends and family here is incredible. My arm was pretty sore before the first race but the adrenaline took over and that was it – I was off.”

Bayliss won the first 22lap by 4.22s from the other Troy [Corser] but said he was lucky to win at all after the slow-starting Max Biaggi (Sterilgarda Go Eleven Ducati) stormed through the top five to get within 1.5s of the Aussie.

But just when Max looked all set to set-up a late race challenge, he crashed out of MG corner to hand Bayliss a comfortable win over Corser, who fought off a number of lurid slides in the final laps to hang on to second.

The race had started in frightening fashion when Bayliss’s team-mate Michel Fabrizio stalled on the front row and was glanced by David Checa then cleaned up by Vittorio Ianuzzo, ripping his right boot off and flinging 10m into the air.

As the red flag came out, Aussie WSBK rookie Russell

As if Bayliss’s form was not enough, Andrew Pitt made sure that Australia is yet to drop a race in the 2008 World Supersport

It’s just Super, Sport!

John Morris John Morris/Mpix

Ouch! Max Biaggi had two offs on a terrible weekend, left, while Bayliss already had hurts of his own, scarring an elbow in a major getoff, above.

John Morris

Yamaha Racing

Go! Pitt led from the start, top, but Brookes almost ran him down on the other Ten Kate bike. Garry McCoy, above, continues to impress on the Triumph 675.

Honda Pro Images

Neat as Nieto: Fonsi, left, scored another podium to consolidate second in the points.

Carlos Checa, above, gave Ten Kate its first Superbike podium of the year in Race 2.

WORLD SUPERBIKES | RIDer’s points Points: Bayliss 88, Nieto 61, Xaus 59, Corser and Checa 45, Neukirchner 39 Biaggi 36 Fabrizio 34, Haga 22, Lavilla 18.

ANDREW Pitt (Hanspree Ten Kate Honda) may have won the World Supersport race at Phillip Island but it was fellow New South Welshman Josh Brookes (Hanspree Stiggy Motorsports Honda) who has shot to the top of championship standings with his hard fought second place.

Brookes finished just 0.06s behind Pitt after 21 laps on a very warm Phillip Island circuit, with Danish team-mate Robin Harms 0.50s back in third.

“This is not quite as beautiful as 2004, but it’s pretty close,” said Brookes in reference to his only dominant WSS outing when he bested the top riders in the world on debut as wildcard.

“I have to thank Johan [Siggefelt] from Stiggy Motorsports for giving me this great opportunity.”

Early leader and winner at the opening round at Qatar, Broc Parkes (Yamaha World Supersport), crashed out of the lead at MG corner on lap 2, opening the way for teammate Fabien Foret to challenge the leading group.

Foret beat home Pitt’s team-mate Jonathan Rea, and surprise packet Garry McCoy (Triumph SC) who took the unheralded Triumph 675 to the top three by mid-race, and the fastest top speed without a draft (272kmh) to claim a fine sixth. Not bad for a bike with ‘only’ three cylinders ...

The other Aussie rider Mark Aitchison (BE1 Triumph) finished 12th in his second WSS race.

Points: Brookes 33, Lascorz 29, Pitt 25, Parkes 25, Craig Jones 16.

WORLD RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND 3 – MEXICO

Frenchilada!

Nothing could stop Sebastien Loeb taking his third-consecutive win in Mexico. Not even an engine problem in shakedown or an in-form Finn

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Loeb and Daniel Elena were almost out of the running before the rally started when their Citroen C4 developed an engine problem during shakedown. Staring down the barrel of a five-minute penalty for an engine change, the Citroen crew managed to repair the motor without cutting the FIA’s engine seals.

Crisis adverted.

But then there was the hot early pace of Ford’s new factory recruit Jari-Mati Latvala.

The Finn came into rally on a high, having won the recent Swedish round, and was out to prove it was no fluke by setting the pace during the first leg. He went into the second leg 10s clear of Loeb.

But the second test of the

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S

EBASTIEN Loeb might have taken his third consecutive Rally Mexico victory last weekend, but it wasn’t all smooth sailing.

second day would see Loeb’s second bit of good fortune for the event, with the pipe connecting the turbo and the intercooler on Latvala’s Focus coming loose, cutting his power significantly. Ford got the problem fixed, but by then Loeb was more than two minutes clear, and sprinting to a comfortable victory.

“I’m delighted to have won here,” said Loeb.

“Following our blank scorecard in Sweden, it was important to try to bounce back straight away. It wasn’t easy and, as often seems to be the case in Mexico, we had a troubled start, but the rest of the event went very well for us!

“It’s the sort of victory I like because it came after a good fight. Marcus Grönholm’s absence has already been filled by another Finn who

is younger and just as determined. I think we can look forward to some good scraps this year, and that’s fine by me!”

Another benefactor from Latvala’s problem was Chris Atkinson. The Aussie had a trouble-free run in his ageing Subaru Impreza, and was rewarded with his best-ever finish in a WRC rally – second place.

“It’s a great start to the year for me and also for the team, and I hope we can keep building on this,” Atkinson said.

“We’re making good steps forward and the car felt really good this weekend.

“We did some work on the dampers after Sweden and

that was a big help – they were good here in the heat which is always a tough test. Now we look to Argentina and to keep this performance going. The sooner I can win the better!”

Latvala still managed to come home third, one place ahead of Ford team-mate Mikko Hirvonen, who was slowed on the second day by a couple of punctures. He might have been fifth if Henning Solberg hadn’t had a late puncture, which dropped him to fifth.

Matthew Wilson finished sixth while Federico Villafra and Ricardo Trivino rounded out the points finishers.

WRC | DRIVER'S points Hirvonen 21, Loeb 20, Latvala 16, Atkinson 14, Petter Solberg 9, Gigi Galli 9, Francois Duval 5, Henning Solberg 4.

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Subaru Motorsport

Just one more step to go: A damper change pre-Mexico had ‘Atko’ back on front-running pace ... can that elusive first win be far away?

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Not another Seb: Sebastien Ogier, above, won the JWRC category comfortably, and finished ninth outright. Any chance of Latvala, above left, scoring a second straight win was gone when he blew a turbo hose, while his team-mate Hirvonen struggled with tyres, left. Mechanical woes stopped a third-straight points-paying finish for Suzuki, below.

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Johnny Mac, lookin’ good NZV8s REIGNING NZV8s Champion John McIntyre is looking good for a second straight title after another consistent weekend at Timaru.

Having qualified second, McIntyre survived a wet first race to come home second behind Andy Booth.

Race 2 saw McIntyre sprint away from the field

for a massive 7s victory from Booth, while Paul Radisich held out McIntyre’s closest title contender Angus Fogg for third.

McIntye finished ahead of Fogg in the final reversegrid race too, although the pair finished 13th and 14th respectively, while Paul Manuell won the race.

McIntyre leads Fogg by 115 points heading into this

weekend’s final round at Teretonga.

David Besnard had a really consistent weekend, finishing fifth in all three races, while a Race 2 off left Luke Youlden with a weekend best of eighth in the final.

The Battery Town GT3 Cup Challenge looked a lot like last year’s Australian Carrera Cup, with Craig Baird and David Reynolds fighting it

out for the win.

Baird took out the round having won the first two races, however Reynolds won the final race, which was shortened after a nasty crash between Rodney Forbes and Daniel Gaunt.

Aussie F3 campaigner Earl Bamber won all three Toyota Racing Series races and now leads the series from Andy Knight.

SEAT take two WTCC

SEAT has made a ripper start to the 2008 World Touring Car season, winning both races of Round 1 at Curitiba in Brazil last weekend.

In Race 1 it was Yvan Muller who took the spoils, leading home team-mate Rickard Rydell and BMW driver Augusto Farfus, who was later excluded for a breach of technical regulations.

Gabriele Tarquini was the man in second race, withstanding immense pressure from reigning World Champ Andy Priaulx to take the win. It was a fitting way to celebrate the Italian’s 46th birthday.

Points: Muller 14, Tarquini 14, Priaulx 13, Jorg Muller 11, Rydell 10.

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SPRINT CUP

CARL Edwards overcame a penalty on pit road for an errant tyre to take his second win in a week in Las Vegas after also winning the rain-delayed Fontana race last Monday.

“This is very special,” said Edwards, who leads the points for the first time in his career.

“I did all I could do to hold off Dale [Earnhardt] Jr there at the end.”

Edwards was given a pass by NASCAR on a second tyre infraction when a tyre collector at pit wall couldn’t grab the front rubber due to a TV cameraman in his way.

NASCAR rightly determined the infraction was not the team’s doing.

NASCAR Media

Carl on a Roll

Earnhardt Jr posted his best run of the year 0.5s behind Edwards and ahead of Edward’s Roush stable mate Greg Biffle and the RCR pairing of Kevin Harvick and Jeff Burton.

With five laps to run Jeff Gordon was challenging Matt Kenseth and teammate Earnhardt Jr for second when he nudged Kenseth, sending him spinning and Gordon into the inside wall extremely hard.

Several drivers suffered blown front right tyres including Tony Stewart who, on lap 109, took a hard lick against the SAFER barrier, and dropping him from third in points, along with Kurt Busch who was

sitting fourth in the standings.

Open wheel stars Sam Hornish Jr, Dario Franchitti and Patrick Carpentier all had issues, Hornish whacking the wall, Franchitti getting together with Scott Riggs and Carpentier getting chopped off

by Ryan Newman.

One big surprise was Jimmie Johnson, who was going for his fourth straight win at Las Vegas. The reigning Champ finished a disappointing 29th, two laps off the pace.

– MARTIN D CLARK Points: Edwards 491, Kyle Busch 470, Ryan Newman 450, Kasey Kahne 444, Harvick 428.

NATIONWIDE SERIES MARK Martin made an unusual mistake en route to winning the Las Vegas Nationwide Series race on Saturday.

With just four laps remaining, Martin hit the rear of Carl Edwards, who was running alongside Brad Keselowski for the lead. The tap sent Keselowski into the wall after contact from Edwards, and Martin inherited the lead, and the win, on the restart.

“I have to apologise before I do any celebrating,” Martin

said of his 48th series win.

“I ran into the back of Carl, I just hate it, I sure didn’t intend for it turn out like that.”

Marcos Ambrose qualified seventh, but aired caution 10 when he moved under rookie Johnny Borenman entering a corner while running in the top 20.

Ambrose did a great job of keeping his Ford off the wall, but engine issues resulted from the spins.

“We got pinched down there while I was trying to lap some backmarkers,” said Ambrose.

“I saved it, but when I turned

NASCAR Media

Spin ‘n’ Win for Mark

full hard right, the steering arm got into the pulley and knocked the oil pump belt off.

I shouldn’t have got myself in a bad spot anyway and then this just compounds it.”

– MARTIN D CLARK Points: Tony Stewart 385, Kyle Busch 355, Edwards 289, David Reutimann 281, Kevin Harvick 270, (Ambrose 143).

AUSTRALIAN MOTOR RACING CHAMPIONSHIPS ROUND 1 - WAKEFIELD PARK

Defe

race

ending the Crown Darren Saillard got his Touring Car Challenge title defence off to the best start possible at Wakefield Park. DANIEL POWELL reports James Smith

D

EFENDING Champion Darren Saillard has made the perfect start to his Australian Touring Car Championship (ATCC) defence by dominating the opening round over the weekend at Wakefield Park Raceway as part of the newlook Australian Motor Racing Championship.

Driving his ex-Tony Longhurst EL Ford Falcon V8 Supercar, Saillard topped the time sheets in both practice and qualifying sessions on the Saturday before going on to dominate all three races on the Sunday and holds a comfortable points lead.

In the opening 10-lap race, John Vergotis (AU Ford Falcon V8 Supercar) jumped into an early lead, only to have Saillard take control of the race on the second lap. From there he was never headed and recorded a strong victory over Gary Leaton (Holden Monaro GTS 04) and Phillip Groeneveld (VS Holden Commodore Future Tourer).

Vergotis suffered gearbox failure in the opening race and was unable to take part in the remainder of the weekend, while fellow V8 Supercar rival Darren Formosa (VX Holden Commodore) had mechanical issues and was forced to take a long stay in the pit area before

returning to the track later in the race.

For Races 2 and 3 (17 laps each), Saillard was simply too strong. He downed Formosa and Groeneveld in both races to record dominating start to his title defence.

The OZ Boss Championship kicked off for 2008 with Bob Muir (1994 Reynard Lexus) taking out the round victory, after last year’s Champion Ty Hanger (1986 Ralt RT4) struck mechanical dramas and took no part in the second and final race.

After finishing second behind Hanger in the opening race, Muir was able to take

the victory in the second race without the presence of Hanger, and therefore claimed the round victory.

For Hanger, who had earlier dominated qualifying and Race 1, it was bitter disappointment to not take part in the final race, as it most certainly was looking to be another dominating performance from the Central Coast NSW-based driver.

Finishing in second and third place overall for the round in the OZ Boss Championship behind Muir were the consistent Mark Laucke (WR 1000 West) and Glenn Lynch (398 Dallara).

It was Jeremy Gray (2002 XR8

race

James Smith

New season, (some) same winners: Left, Saillard dodges the spun John Vergonis. A jammed gearbox saw Vergonis fail to finish. Above, Bob Muir won the busy OzBOSS races. Below, a competitive grid of Super TTs arrived at Wakefield Park.

James Smith James Smith

James Smith

James Smith

AU Ford Falcon) that came out on top in the Production Cars for the round after he won second and third race of the weekend and finished ahead of Clark Stott (2007 Mazda 3-MPS) and Daniel Flanagan (Hyundai Sonata) overall. Earlier in the weekend it was Stott that dominated after he took out qualifying and the opening race, only to have Gray find the pace and then go on to take out the next two races and win the round.

Other winners over the course of the weekend for the 2008 AMRC opener were Keeran DalMaso (Thunder Sports), George Anslow (Super TT) and Pirelli’s Rod Wilson (Gran Turismo).

Pocket Rockets: Kaaren Dal-Maso won the Super TT battle, above, while Rod Wilson was the winner in Gran Turismo.

A Fine Performance South Australia went one up in Drift Australia opener at Symmons Plains

DRIFT

S

OUTH Australian Leighton Fine got his 2008 Toyo Tires Drift Australia Series title chances off to the best possible start, winning Round 1 at Tasmania’s Symmons Plains Raceway on Sunday.

Driving for the Commercial Truck Sales team for the first time, Fine took the Nissan 180SX to the overall win, courtesy of victory against Victorian Luke Fink (Holford Motors Nissan Silvia) in the final.

“What an awesome start to the year,” Fine, a former World BMX

champion said.

“I’ve been counting down the days until the start of the season and the chance to get out there and show what we’re capable of.

“The Team CTS guys have done an awesome job; we couldn’t have had a better weekend.

“We had a few little things go against us last year; hopefully this is a good omen for the rest of the season.”

In a great start for his brandnew team, Senwill Civil Racing, Christian Pickering took third as he looks to go one better than his second-place finish in the

2007 championship.

“Our new car didn’t miss a beat and this is a great result to start the year,” Pickering said.

“I’m really happy with the package we’ve put together, and confident we’ll be right up there at the end of the year.”

Pickering defeated Chris DeJager (Turtle Was ICE Nissan Silvia) in the third place battle, with fourth DeJager’s best-ever result in the series.

In the top 16 battles, Pickering eliminated Robbie Bolger (VIP Petfoods Holden Monaro) and DeJager accounted for top-qualifier Beau Yates (Toyota Racing

Developments Toyota Sprinter).

Winner of the final two events in 2007, Fernando Wiehrl (Auto Salon Nissan Silvia) couldn’t make it three victories in a row, bowing out early to Danny Vahoumis (Miluc Civil Nissan Silvia). Vahoumis was joined in the Top Eight by his new teammate Adam Trewhella (Miluc Civil Nissan Cefiro), Paul Austin (WheelWorx Nissan Silvia) and Tom Monkhouse (Japanese Motorsport Nissan Silvia).

Tasmanian driver Ben Purtell (GT Garage Nissan 180SX) took out the Toyo Tires Super Drift feeder class, ahead of Luke Jacobs (Nissan Skyline).

No Toyoing around: Top, Leighton Fine won teh opening Drift Australia round. Above left, Luke Fink was second, and they were joined on the podium by Christian Pickering, above right.

race

QUEENSLAND STATE THE first State Championship round of the Queensland season got underway at Morgan Park last weekend.

Saloon Cars boasted 19 cars, with Kris Walton (Falcon AU) taking both wins ahead of Troy Hoey (Falcon AU). Michael Uebergang (Falcon AU) and Lindsay Kearns (Falcon EA) shared the thirds. The day ended with three-car collision involving the Commodores of John Townsend and Wayne Patten and the Falcon of Greg Townsend.

Improved Production saw Justin Keys (Mazda RX-3)

take maximum points with Adam Uebergang (Mazda RX7) drifting to second. Tony Isarasena (Mazda RX-7) and David Waldon (Mazda RX-3) shared the thirds.

Historic Touring Cars provided a meeting highlight in the battle between Kevin Heffernan (Torana XU-1), Tim Whitten (Ford Capri) and Jason Black (Ford Escort), with the trio finishing both races in that order.

Ash Jarvis was a class apart in the Geminis, racing away from Ben Singleton and Dion Jarvis for a pair of wins.

Carlo Chermaz (PVP-PVP) had to overcome Chryss Jamieson

Darin Mandy

The Bulls Begin ...

(Anderson-Honda) to take both Superkart victories. Russell Jamieson (Stockman-Honda) took both thirds and won the 125cc class.

HQ Holdens saw cousins Darren Aspinall and debutante Jamie Furness fight for the lead in both races with Aspinall winning the second race. A clash in the first allowed Dion Cidoni through for the win.

Barclay Holden (F2 Van Diemen RF74) ran away from the Racing car grid. James Mann (Van Diemen RF01) took two of seconds with teenager Nick Foster (Van Diemen RF02) best FFord in Race 2. Foster, Roman Krumins (Van Diemen

RF03) and David Lawrence (Spectrum 05c) each had a third.

Despite wrecking his Jacer at Bathurst, Tim Hamilton still took both Formula Vee wins, driving Mike Russell’s Concept GS82. Scott Andrew (Rapier) and John Doidge (Elfin NG82) shared the seconds.

Steve Morcombe (Chiron LMP3-05) took both Sports Car wins ahead of Grant Watson (Prosport Mulsanne).

Bob McLoughlin, above, (Commodore VS Chev) won both Sports Sedan races. Colin Smith (Rover-Chev) and Rockie Whitbread (Gemini-Toyota) took a second.

– MARK JONES

... and so has the Bushrangers VICTORIAN STATE ROUND 2 of the Victorian Motor Racing Series took place last weekend at Sandown Raceway, where young gun Luke Ellery took control of the Formula Ford field, winning two of the three races.

Ellery had a comfortable win in the final Safety Car-affected race ahead of Andrew Beams and Ben Small, who started from the rear of the field.

John Morriss won the opening Porsche 944 round from ex-Formula 3 champion Paul Stephenson and category stalwart Robert Lange.

Three winners from four races typified the close racing at the front of the Formula Vee field with David Frith winning two races while George Panagiotidis and Daniel Reinhardt were the other race winners.

John Wood dominated the HQ Holden field by three of the four races and Darren Hossack in the Melbourne-built Audi A4 Sport Sedan annihilated the opposition and won all four races comfortably, setting a new lap record in the process standing at an astonishing 1m08.5689s.

Anthony Wallis (Mazda 808) led the way in Improved Production, winning every

race in front of a nice battle for the minors between Steven Lloyd, Neil Crowe and Gary McKay. Corey Ludeman in a new AU Falcon won all four Saloon Car races, with Ryan Millier finishing second. Robin Bailey won two of the four MG races while Alan Richardson and Rob Whitwell were victorious in races 3 and 4 respectively.

In Sports Cars Sven Burchartz (Porsche) won the round from Ross Lilley while pace-setter Brett Bedggood encountered turbo problems that prevented him from winning the round.

– AARON SHAW

rear of grid

Charity begins ... at Parkes WHILE many race drivers take on charity appearances, Dick Johnson, former Gold Star champion Spencer Martin, and V8 racer Damien White headlined a very special charity golf tournament held in the NSW country town of Parkes over the weekend.

The tournament is the brainchild of former multiple Australian kart champion John Pizarro – one of the first Australians to take on the World Kart Championship, back in the mid-70s – who was diagnosed two-three years back with Parkinson’s Disease.

Based in Parkes, NSW, Pizarro is not one to take anything

much lying down, and has resolved to do what he can to aid research into the debilatating condition.

The result was last weekend’s second-annual Westlime Roray/Rotaract Charity Gold Tournament.

Over 200 players took part, 340 people packed Sunday night’s celebratory dinner ... and the event raised $100,000, of which three-quarters is going directly to Parkinson’s research groups, the balance to other Rotary charities.

Hats off to JP, to Dick (at a pretty busy time), Spencer Martin, Damien White, former oval track racer Adam Pay and all who chipped in ...

John Pizarro and Dick Johnson (top right); Spencer Martin (right) with local Rotary President Gail McDonald and Dennis Gill; Damien White (left) mixes with the locals.

(Pics: David Hughes, Jennie Barnes)

Odd Spot

V8 Kiwis fly high KIWI V8 drivers John McIntyre and Andy Booth, along with Porsche GT3 driver Craig Baird, last week enjoyed a unique opportunity to fly with the Royal New Zealand Air Force ‘Red Checkers’ aerobatic team.

The boys were mega-impressed: “We were taken through a range of their aerobatic manoeuvres,” says McIntyre.

“My pilot bought our plane in to fly upside-down just metres above the plane Andy Booth was in ... the plane control is very impressive.

“We can really relate to the multiple sources of information the pilots are processing – it’s not unlike what we’re dealing with while we’re racing. “