Motorsport eNews Issue 50 - April 15-21, 2008

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Issue No. 050 15-21 April 2008

BRAKING POINT New Car, New ‘BLUE’ look For Tasman Motorsport

PLUS

Debut hamilton race set to be the toughest ever on brakes - Murph’s new car - todd’s old car - mcConville tests f3

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

Australasian

The ‘A’ Team

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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.

Issue No. 050 | 15-21 April 2008

news 4 Braking 6 In the west 10 Holy smoke 10 Still no Trace 19 The Boss

chat 20 5 minutes with ... opinion 22 van Leeuwen 23 Rowley

race 24 NASCAR 28 A1GP 32 APRC 34 DTM 36 State Wrap

Hamilton the toughest yet V8 future still up in the air New NASCAR super-team?

No Paul this weekend?

Top Fuel for Stevens?

Bezzy Mini cars, Mini thrills 50 of the best My gosh it’s Jimmie Team U.S.A Japan wins, Aus close Reigning Champ starts well The states go nuts

trade 38 Trade and Industry / Raceshop / Classifieds

welcome It’s a nice car and it’s all his own work ...

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

Peter Bury

Brakes under the spotlight Never before will brakes be tested like they will at Hamilton this weekend ...

V8 SUPERCARS NEXT week’s maiden V8 Supercar round in Hamilton is expected to present the teams with an unprecedented challenge to their braking systems.

A number of teams are expecting that managing braking stress to the control Alcon-supplied control package will play a major part in determining who will take the honours in New Zealand.

Holden Racing Team manager Rob Crawford says that the team is preparing for the toughest braking conditions the teams will face

on 15 different tracks this season.

“We have done a simulation of the track and, even if we are 10 percent out in that – and we haven’t been that far out in these things yet – it is still going to the hardest place on brakes that we go to. The entry speed to the braking zones is going to be high, in some places higher than Surfers.”

Crawford is not stranger to the subject, having been the head man at the HSV Dealer Team when its Bathurst hopes – and nearly championship ambitions – were dashed by braking dramas in last year’s Bathurst 1000.

“It will be interesting to see if the braking package copes with the demands. The package is an absolute gain on what we had last year but that are not a patch, performancewise, on what we had precontrol brakes.”

At Ford Performance Racing, it is a similar situation.

“It is going to be a shocker!” says team manager Tim Edwards.

“The engineers have done a lot of calculations and they think that it will be very tough.

We use water cooling and we will have that fitted, and will be watching it carefully.”

According to Edwards, the

fact that Hamilton is likely to have a lower ambient temperature than, for instance, Surfers will have little bearing on how the brakes will perform.

“A 10 degree difference in ambient [temperature] does not make that much difference when your have 900 or 1000 degrees [of brake temperature].

We will certainly not be blanking anything off [in the brake ducting].”

Back at HRT, Crawford reckons that he has the ideal plan to overcome any brake problems; “If we put it on pole, and lead from the front, it will be less of a drama …”

FOR FORMULA 1, MOTOGP AND WRC NEWS, OPINION AND ANALYSIS CLICK HERE TO

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Tasman unleashes its blue toy V8 SUPERCARS GREG Murphy – V8 Supercar’s most heart-on-his-sleeve racer – can hardly wipe the grin off his face after sampling his new Sprint Gas Racing Commodore at Winton last Tuesday.

The Kiwi will debut the new car on home soil this weekend at Hamilton’s maiden V8 street race and, after a brief run, is confident that the car is a big step forward for the Melbourne team.

In Murphy’s hands, the car was immediately on the pace.

“It feels tighter,” Murphy reported.

“It doesn’t feel strange to drive, and I do feel better aligned in the car.”

The car is the first to emerge from Tasman Motorsport’s $1million-plus technical revamp, which has seen its technical department move

to a specialist Dandenong facility, and is built around a completely different blueprint to the VEs raced by Murphy and Jason Richards this season.

The car features a much lower centre of gravity, with the driver’s position moved inboard by about 20cm. The cars will be the first built by the team to utilize the new

sequential-shift Hollinger gearbox, and the third V8s (after those of HRT) to use Pi Research’s new HISYS system, which require Pi to make a custom-made wiring loom.

The car’s first run was not without problems (“We missed a few things,” said team boss Jeff Grech cryptically) but despite the problem of having

to pack two incompatible spare sets to New Zealand, the team is visibly excited about running a new generation car.

Richards will race the older version of the VE until the second new car is completed, which the team expects to be in time for the Sandown round in June.

– PHIL BRANAGAN

Probable: 2008 Falcon FG debut V8 SUPERCARS LOOK for a Ford Falcon FG V8 Supercar on the track this season – despite conflicting reports from the company itself.

Ford Racing boss Ray Price has confirmed that the FG is still a possibility to race after its July 1 homologation date, despite comments to the contrary from Ford

Australia President Bill Osborne.

Speaking at the media launch of the FG road car last week, Obsborne surmised that the new Falcon would not race until 2009.

“Homologating the car in time to race it this year would have meant we would have

had to show its new look early – it wasn’t an option,” Osborne told the Carsales Network.

“It would not necessarily make sense to pull the current cars off the track. They’re going well right now.”

But Price told eNews that the original plan, which

may see an FG race as soon as the Phillip Island round in September, was still on schedule.

“It is a long an exhaustive process,” said Price, “and we will have a car to be able to present to Bill, to be able to see where we want to be for the second half of the year.”

– PHIL BRANAGAN

O ACCESS THE WORLD’S FIRST INTERNATIONAL ‘VIRTUAL’ MOTORSPORT MAGAZINE ...

BRIEFLY...

n This weekend it is Ford Performance Racing’s turn to make the hard yards. As part of V8 Supercars rotational system for flyaway races, the team lugged it cars and equipment to Brisbane over the weekend to fly to Auckland and then Hamilton for the trip to New Zealand.

n Will Davison, above, has some new toys. The Jim Beam Racing driver recently took delivery of a Suzuki RMZ450 and will shortly take delivery of a new GSX-R750 sports bike after signing on as an ambassador with Suzuki Motorcycles.

V8s in WA? Decision soon ...

THE future of V8 Supercars in Western Australia will be dependant on the upcoming round of the series in the West, according to Barbagallo Raceway officials.

The uncertain future stems from a turbulent last 12 months between the West Australian Sporting Car Club, V8 Supercars Australia and the WA government, with V8 head honchos pushing for a street race in Perth, a plan knocked back by the government. As a result, V8SA indicated to the WASCC that it wouldn’t be extending the current sanction

agreement with Barbagallo Raceway (due to expire in 2009), potentially leaving WA without a round of the championship at all.

However talks between the government and the club regarding upgrades to the current facility may be the saving grace, and that will only become clear when the V8s roll into town next month.

“At the end of the day we just want to move forward, and we want to do that with an extension of the sanction agreement,” said WASCC spokesperson Rob Janney.

“We are no further down the line with that at the moment because we are busy getting ready for this year’s event, but hopefully then we can talk with the people we need to talk to about what we can change around here.

“The first thing they will want to see is some stability with the management of the club.

That’s not to say there is any instability, but we need a new General Manager to make this work, and we’re interviewing this week so hopefully that’s not far away.”

– ANDREW VAN LEEUWEN

Drivers to carry own insurance V8 SUPERCARS V8 SUPERCAR drivers will have to carry their own insurance in future.

Every driver in the V8 Supercar Championship Series and Fujitsu V8 Supercar Series driver will be required to have a minimum $500,000 insurance cover before they compete, after the board of V8 Supercars Australia made the insurance mandatory as of this week’s third round of the Main Series in Hamilton, New Zealand.

“The board felt the need to ensure drivers have an adequate financial safeguard in the case of any severe accidents,” said V8SA CEO Wayne Cattach.

“This is in no way pointed towards any particular incident, more a measure that the

John Morris/Mpix

n Mercedes-Benz’s domination of Formula 3 racing has a serious challenger. Edoardo Mortara clinched the first podium positions for Volkswagen in the Formula 3 Euro Series races at Hockenheim.

Mortara’s Signature-Plus team-mate Franck Mailleux took two fourths, giving VW its best results since making its Formula 3 comeback in September 2007.

Marshall Cass

n Craig Lowndes is back in his old, new car this weekend. Lowndes will race TeamVodafone chassis 12A for the inaugural Hamilton 400 street race, the car subject to more than 500 man hours to repair the extensive damage caused to the car at the season opener in Adelaide.

board wanted to adopt and has been discussing for several months. It is common sense that we as a sport play a part in the welfare of our competitors in the same way we deliver the highest of safety standards as directed by the FIA.”

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Same but different for Todd

New Perkins car gets left in Moorabbin – Todd sticks with refreshed VE – And Slade tests V8 SUPERCARS

Marshall Cass

JACK Daniel’s Racing will not enter its new Commodore VE at Hamilton this weekend for Todd Kelly.

Originally slated to debut the new car (PE047), the team has decided to hold off the car’s first race until Barbagallo Raceway next month.

In the meantime, JDR has undergone a number of fundamental changes to Todd’s current car to improve its speed after a relatively disappointing start to the season.

Team boss Larry Perkins recognised this, and ordered a review of the current machine.

“Our results weren’t what we wanted and I accepted that we needed to find out why,” Perkins said.

“We needed to rectify the situation rather than debut a new car.”

A recent test at Winton has revealed

deficiencies in the front and rear suspension, and the team has re-engineered the car to get some improvement. Kelly is confident that the car will be better.

“Our test was very good,” he said.

“My Jack Daniel’s Commodore is now more responsive and feeling the way I like it - and that has to be better.

“The Perkins team has done an incredible job to re-engineer it since the Grand Prix, and after our test I’m feeling more confident heading to Hamilton.”

Also at the test was Kelly’s team-mate Shane Price and Fujitsu round winner Tim Slade, who was given 10 laps in Shane’s VE. – GRANT ROWLEY

BRIEFLY... n Question: What will this weekend’s inaugural Hamilton 400 and the Indy 300 have in common?

Answer: Both street circuits were overseen by the same construction company. Hyder Consulting have put in six weeks worth of man hours just to build the circuit itself (that doesn’t include grandstands, media centres etc). n Western Australia’s Barbagallo Raceway will soon be in The Guinness Book of World Records.

Last weekend 130 Subarus assembled on the 3.14km circuit, a world record collection of the Japanese cars. n NASCAR has been struck with a drug scandal.

Truck Series driver Aaron Fike has been suspended

by NASCAR after being arrested on possession of heroin charges, and after he admitted to ESPN that he used heroin before racing in the series. Fike also stated that he was using heroin and painkillers for eight months before being caught in public last summer. Fike has returned to running USAC midgets and is drug tested before each race.

– MARTIN D CLARK/STAFF

The band is back!

V8 SUPERCARS DAVID Besnard is heading back to Stone Brothers Racing for the endurance races – and thinks a race win is not out of the question.

The Queensland-based driver, now a regular in the New Zealand V8 Series but an endurance specialist with SBR,

says that he and James Courtney are well-placed to spring a surprise on some of the teams that will pair their regular drivers at Phillip Island and Bathurst.

“We showed what we can do together last year,” Besnard said. “Sandown was good, I had some issues but it was not a performance issue. I think that any time that James and I are in

Kimi Jones?

COMEBACKS

BRAD Jones Racing’s co-owner Kim Jones is investigating a return to driving race cars.

With BJR’s new deal with Holden bearing fruit, and Kim’s role becoming less critical in pit lane, it has given him the opportunity to think about a return to racing – for fun.

There are a number of options that Kim has expressed interest in, including Aussie Racing Cars or Historic events.

While he hasn’t made a decision on which car or category he’d like to compete in, he told eNews that he wants to get back behind the wheel.

“I haven’t decided if I’m going to do it,” he said.

“The Aussie Racing Car category is something that interests me.

“Being a frustrated race car driver all my life, I’m looking for something to play with. I am on the look out. I’m not sure what I’ll drive – it could be an historic, it could be an Aussie.

“If Brad had his way, we’d have a GT Cortina, but I want an open wheeler RT4 Ralt.

Everyone tells me they are too fast and I’d hurt myself, but I’m sure I’d be able to hurt myself in a billy cart!”

Kim’s last race meeting was in a Victorian Formula Ford state round at Winton three years ago.

– GRANT ROWLEY

the same car, we are a chance for a podium – and if you are a chance for a podium, you are a chance for winning the race.”

The duo finished second at Bathurst last year, and Besnard played a starring role at Sandown until the Jeld Wen Ford was struck with brake problems.

But while the team looks certain to part ways with

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Courtney at season’s end, Besnard is not holding his breath, expecting a call to replace him in 2009.

“I can say, honestly, that Ross [Stone] and I have not even spoken about next year,” he said. “I am trying to get some options for V8s and New Zealand for next year.”

For more on Besnard, see 5 Minutes, pages 20-21

! k o o First L

Marshall Cass

BIANTE MASTERS

Marshall Cass

THIS is the first look at Richo’s latest ride.

Jim Richard’s 1964 Ford Falcon Sprint racecar is ready and raring to race at the upcoming Biante Touring Car Masters at Oran Park, and as the pictures show, it is one handsome piece of machinery.

“When I stand here and look at it, there’s not a thing there that I don’t like about it,” said Richards.

For more on the Sprint, see the May edition of Motorsport News, due out on April 23.

– ANDREW VAN LEEUWEN

Will there be Smoke wit

Stewart linked to Chev return, and Menard buyout of CNC SPRINT CUP THERE may be a new ‘super team’ in NASCAR’s Sprint Cup next season – and Tony Stewart could be the lead driver.

‘Smoke’ appears to be a key player in a huge deal that may see John Menard take over Haas CNC Racing. The beleagured team, whose owner Gene Haas is currently serving a two-year jail term for tax fraud involving US$70 million in fines and restitution, is believed to be subject to an offer from Menard, the retailing billionaire who owns the Menards chain of hardware and appliance stores in the USA, which is a direct competitor to JGR’s sponsor Home Depot.

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Current Haas driver Jeremy sponsored by Chevrolet. Since Mayfield has been released JGR switched to Toyota at the from his Sprint Cup ride, with start of 2008, he has usually Johnny Sauter taking his place avoided any problem by simply last weekend at Phoenix. not mentioning Toyota in Unconfirmed sources also media conferences. say that Martin Truex Jr. will The attraction of Haas to any move from DEI to Haas over potential buyer is its technical the winter months and that partnership with Hendrick Stewart – who was sponsored Motorsports, which supplies

by Menard in his open-wheeler engines and chassis to the racing days – will follow.

Chevrolet operation.

Stewart’s contracts with Joe This is not the first Gibbs Racing and Truex’s with suggestion that Menard, the DEI, both expire at season’s end, father of the driver of DEI’s #15 and Stewart has a difficulty in Cup entry Paul Menard, has dealing with Toyota, as his own racing teams – Donny Schatz and Kraig Kinser in Outlaws, and Tracy Hines and Levi Jones in USAC Midgets – are

wanted his own Cup team. He tried to purchase DEI after the death of Dale Earnhardt and with a Haas being an under-performing team, both Chevrolet and NASCAR would likely approve of a deal that would see Haas out and Menard in, and the hugely popular Stewart return to its ranks.

Ironically, Stewart clashed with Paul Menard at Charlotte last year, criticizing him as pay driver with “just enough talent to be in the way”.

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thout Fire? 500 REASONS Hornish may return for Indy

sutton-images.com

While Menard kept his Cup and Nationwide seats, it would appear that his lack of speed would keep him out of a frontline drive with a serious team.

The other plus is that a new Menard deal could possibly include and ownership percentage for Stewart who, clearly, is already planning a post-driving career with three racing teams and stakes in three racetracks in Ohio, Kentucky and Illinois.

– PHIL BRANAGAN

INDYCAR A LEVEL of intrigue surrounds the official entry for the 2008 Indianapolis 500 – and Sam Hornish may be in the middle of it.

A 38-car field has nominated for the May classic with a number of to-be-nominated entries. But the highlight TBA comes from Team Penske with a #77 entry – the same number as Hornish’s Mobilebacked Sprint Cup Dodge. In recent years, the Memorial Day weekend ‘double’ has been impossible, with the 500 starting at 1300 local time and Charlotte’s Coca Cola 600 commencing at 1730.

But Hornish has struggled in Cup races this season and nothing means more to Roger Penske than winning Indy – and he hardley needs a reason to draft in the 2006 winner.

Honda has been asked to prepare for up to 39 entries for the month of May and now, May 18’s Bump Day will mean something, with particularly with Firestone pledging a US$50K bonus to the 33rd and last qualifier.

There are some interesting

names on the entry list, including Tomas Scheckter (Luzco Dragon Racing), Alex Lloyd (Rahal-Letterman/ Ganassi), Larry Foyt (A. J. Foyt Racing), Max Papis (Rubicon Racing) and Sarah Fisher for her own team, which has signed ResQ Power Energy Drink, a recently launched product for women.

There are TBAs from Vision, Penske, Panther, Hemelgarn/ Johnson, Curb/Beck, PDM, and Playa del Racing, which is likely to run the race’s sole Panoz for their Indy Lights driver, Al Unser III. Twelve rookies including Will Power will start Rookie Orientation on May 3, and practice for the event starts May 6.

– MARY MENDEZ

NASCAR Media

sutton-images.com

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Dirk Klynsmith

BEACH BUMMER INDYCAR A CONTRACT dispute between Paul Tracy and Forsythe Pettit Racing may see the Canadian miss the Long Beach race.

The team has entered three cars for the race, for David Martinez, Franck Montagny and TBA. But having taken the decision not to move to IndyCar, and with no other races currently planned other than Long Beach, there seems to be no way forward.

Tracy, a four-time Long Beach winner, and Forsythe are now communicating through their attorneys.

“We don’t want to play this out in the media, but there have been some correspondence as of right now,” said Tracy to the Toronto Star. “Jerry would like me to run Long Beach and I would like

Tracy looks set to miss final Champ Car race

to run Long Beach, but there are some things that have to happen before we can commit to that. At this point I’m glad that we’ve got some correspondence and we’re dealing directly with Jerry’s lawyer.”

But there could be an alternative, with Tracy a possible starter in the Motegi race this weekend.

Answering the question about whether he’d enter Tracy in a third car at his Vision Racing team, Tony George responded that Tracy’s business manager “left a message that he’s free to talk about a ride beginning as early as Motegi. He said he would not be running Long Beach, much to my surprise. I’m not sure what his prospects are, and I’m not sure what teams have available seats that would meet his expectations.”

“We’re currently planning to be a two-car team,” continued George. “On the outside chance the right business opportunity comes along for us to run a third car, we would consider that. But at this point I’m not inclined to spend a lot more money to do that. I’d like to see Paul in, and if it could be with Vision or another team, that would be great. I just want him to have the chance to come over now. Some would say it’s a travesty he’s been left on the sidelines.”

Three more drivers have been added to the Long Beach field, with the announcement of Walker Racing running one car with Alex Tagliani, HVM adding Roberto Moreno to its third car, and Pacific Coast Motorsports adding Mario Dominguez to team up with Alex Figge.

– MARY MENDEZ

Davison at Indianapolis. No, it’s not April 1 INDY LIGHTS

IndyCar Media

JAMES Davison has had his first taste of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and liked what he saw.

Although Raphael Matos was quickest of 23 drivers at the Firestone Indy Lights test at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on April 11, Davison ranked fourth behind Matos’s team-mates, JR Hildebrand and Andrew Prendeville.

“It was a really, really incredible experience driving on the oval at Indianapolis,”

said Davison, who raced on the IMS road course in the 2005 BMW USA race, and who races now for Sam Schmidt Motorsports.

“The team and I worked really well and were able to have a really good car and be competitive around the top three, where we believe we deserve to be.”

Davo III is actually a race winner at The Speedway already, having won one the GP road course there in a Formula BMW in 2005.

– MARY MENDEZ

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Dirk Klynsmith

F3 loses three post-Opes crash Team BRM heads to next round at Oran Park with three-less cars ...

FORMULA 3

Dirk Klynsmith

THE first signs of the Opes Prime collapse are showing in Australian Formula 3, with Team BRM, the main beneficiary of the company’s F3 support, losing three of its drivers.

Britons James Winslow and Ben Clucas and Kiwi Earl Bamber won’t drive with the team from the next round at Oran Park onwards thanks to budget realignments.

While Clucas’s deal was just a one-off regardless of the collapse, Bamber is out of Australian F3 for the rest

of the season, and Winslow is changing teams, taking over the Astuti-prepped Dallara F307 that was ear marked for Michael Trimble.

Winslow tested the Renaultpowered car for the first time today (Monday) at Oran Park.

With Bamber and Winslow gone, just West Aussie Nathan Caratti and Irishman Lee Farrell are left at Team BRM. In other F3 driver news, Carrera Cup regular Ash Samadi will race the ex-Daniel Schultz F304 at Oran Park later this month in the third round of the championship.

– ANDREW VAN LEEUWEN

Reindler Jr steps back to local Formula Ford FORMULA FORD

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Dirk Klynsmith

CHRIS Reindler will not continue with his Australian Formula 3 plans for season 2008, instead opting to spend the year in the West Australian Formula Ford series with Fastlane Racing.

The West Aussie local ran the first two F3 rounds in a National Class entry, but after crashing at the Clipsal 500, he’s decided to head back to Formula Ford to refine his craft.

“I suppose it is kind of a step back, but I’m doing it to learn better racecraft and

that’s a key issue, so it’s the right thing to do,” he said.

“It’s not a question of speed. I think I was fast enough in the F3 car. But I need to improve my consistency and improve as a driver, and Formula Ford is the best way to do that.”

Reindler finished third at last weekend’s Auto Trader Trophy meeting at Barbagallo Raceway driving a Van Diemen RF90, and is expected to be in a later model Van Diemen for the next round in June.

– ANDREW VAN LEEUWEN

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McConville tests Formula 3!

Former Formula Ford Champ gets first taste of open-wheelers in a decade ...

FORMULA 3 CAMERON McConville got his first taste of a Formula 3 car at Oran Park today.

The WOW Racing driver sampled 25 laps of Graham Watson’s Ralt Australia Dallara F304 (last raced by Mat Sofi) at the south west Sydney circuit as part of an upcoming segment on Network 10’s RPM program.

After one session, McConville set a time in the 1m07s bracket – about half a second faster than the pole time at the last V8 Supercar meeting.

His second session was mainly taken up by television shots, but in his first drive of an open wheeler since his drive in a Barber Dodge car at Laguna Seca 10 years ago, McConville was rapt with the

F3 test.

“I had an absolute ball. It was awesome,” McConville said.

“It was better than I remember and better than what I expected.

“The grip is amazing. It was so nice not have to be patient with the throttle. As soon as you are off the brake, you’re back on the accelerator.

“The car was quicker than what I was able to drive it,

though. I need another day to get the most out of it.

“I still wasn’t flat in the kink, but I went flat across the dogleg, and I was pretty proud of myself for doing that.

“I would have been on pole for V8 race, but not the F3 race!”

McConville’s stint in the Dallara will be broadcast on RPM this Saturday.

– GRANT ROWLEY

Perkins to taste NZV8 Hansford out with injury

NZV8s JACK Perkins is a late addition to the New Zealand V8s Trophy Event for the inaugural Hamilton street race this weekend.

The 21-year-old will drive a Meguiars Commodore, pictured above.

The Commodore is the

car previously driven by Wellington driver Darryn Henderson.

Perkins motivation to race at Hamilton is simple.

“To get back into the main series it will help to have this circuit on my CV,” he said.

“However you can only race here once a year so I thought I would have a steer of a New Zealand V8.”

V8 UTES driver Rhys Hansford will miss the next round of the championship at Barbagallo Raceway on May 11.

Hansford, the son of Gregg Hansford, will be forced to miss the round following a dislocated shoulder sustained during his Race 2 incident at Eastern Creek.

Hansford will make his return for Round 4 of the championship at Hidden Valley in July.

Hansford will be replaced at Charlie O’Brien Motorsport for the round by West Australian Paul Williams, who will drive the Poolrite-sponsored XR8.

Williams is a former go-kart champ from Kalgoorlie ad is excited about his venture into V8 Utes.

“It is great and I must admit I was pretty surprised the opportunity came up the way it did,” said Williams.

“These will defiantly be the fastest cars I’ve ever driven, but I’m not going in with know idea what I’m doing” Williams will take part in a special test at Queensland raceway to prepare him for his series debut.

– PHILLIP MAHONEY

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Tas Mania Time

RALLY

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Zoom, Zoom, Air: Rick Bates will run a Mazda3 MPS once more, top, there will be crashes aplenty, centre, and Tony Longhurst will push hard in his Subaru, right.

Crash Budd

THIS week’s Targa Tasmania looks like being a straight fight in fine conditions.

With a weather outlook of fine but cool conditions, the 300-plus field is expected to put on a great show on the five-day event, and as always, there will be plenty of contenders to keep an eye on.

As usual, most eyes will look to the Modern Competition class to provide the outright winner, with Jim Richards/Barry Oliver lining up in the latest Porsche 911 GT2. But the latest and greatest from Stuttgart will face a bevy of competition from some of the country’s well-known racers in AWD Japanese cars.

Dean Herridge will lead Subaru’s hopes, backed up by Tony Longhurst/ Jahmiel Taylor and Carrera Cup racer Klark Quinn. Klark’s dad Tony will provide competition in his Mitsubishi, as will rally stars Ross Dunkerton and Steve Glenney.

Fancy something Italian? Look no further than the Lamborghini Gallardo

Superleggera of former winners Jason and John White, while not one but two Skelta G-Forces will fly the Aussie flag for Nick Faure and Ray Vandersee.

More ARC stars will come out, but in slightly less-than-outright weapons.

Simon and Sue Evans and Neal Bates/ Coral Taylor take to the tar in a pair of Toyota TRD Aurions, while Rick Bates and Alister McRae in Mazda3 MPSs will press on. And, fancy something older? We didn’t know where to look, though for rarities, Klaus Bischof/ Tina Fuchs in a 1960 Porsche 356 GT will always get the editor’s attention and, for those looking for the obscure, Wayne Park/Graham Copeland in the 1967 Bizzarrini GT America get the prize. Yep, we had to Google it too …

The Prologue starts in Georgetown tomorrow (Tuesday) at 12 noon, so get there early and wave to your favourite driver.

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Gurr to Australian CIK KARTING

Lakeside’s Back LAKESIDE Raceway, now known as Lakeside Park, reopened its gates on April 6.

Now run by Queensland Raceway, 41 cars took part in a one-day meeting similar to QRs Top Gear Classic format.

All competing cars had to comply to a 92dB noise limit, which was measured in the pits prior to racing with the metre set two car lengths behind the stationary car revving at 5000 RPM. With strict time limits, organisers were able to push

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through practice, qualifying, and 12 races across the thin fields. Drivers generally reported the racing surface was better than expected.

Jake Camilleri (Mazda 3 MPS) won the Under 3-litre sedan class, Bruce Dummet (Torana XU1) the Over 3-litre class.

Ash Lowe won the Mazda MX5 cup and Michael Grimes (Mazda RX-7) won the combined open-wheel and sportscar race. John Flack crashed his BMW M3.

– MARK JONES

Joel Strickland

ALAN Gurr is close to securing a deal to drive in the reborn Australian CIK Karting Championships this year.

Gurr, who has been on the V8 Supercar sidelines this year, is close to an agreement with Kosmic karts and Kosmic’s distributor Remo Luciani.

Gurr has past history with Kosmic, having driven with them back in 1999.

“I know the product, we’ve had some dealings with Remo in the past so I hope we can finalise a deal,” Gurr said.

“He’s been around the sport for a long time and will make sure that the equipment is first class.”

Gurr’s last outing in a kart was at the VACC 4-hour in 2007, pictured right, finishing second with Tim Slade.

The new five-round CIK championship is tentatively slated to kick off at Newcastle on May 3/4.

In other karting news, the Britek Motorsport Scholarship program has been strengthened with the addition of two young karters from Queensland.

Nathan and Justin Garioch of Mackay will join Scott McLaughlin in the development program to compete in major karting events across Australia.

– GRANT ROWLEY

news

The BOSS to Top Fuel?

DRAG RACING BRETT Stevens Racing is set to run in Top Fuel. Maybe.

According to the rumours Stevens has already purchased a number of Top Fuel cars and is getting them ready for competition.

However, Motorsport eNews spoke to Stevens

during the week and he quickly displelled the rumors as just that.

“We haven’t purchased anything as yet,” said Stevens.

“But we have spoken to a couple of different people in regards to it. It is something that may happen in the near future. But the details of that will be confirmed.”

For Stevens it’s something he would like to do and it would mean completing what is an already impressive squad.

In a team that competes in almost every other form of drag racing in Australia, it would be fitting to see a Jack Daniels Top Fuel car line up at a drag meet in the near future, with Stevens at the wheel.

It has been a dominant season thus far for the Brett Stevens Racing Team, and the introduction of a Top Fuel segment could be cause for concern for many of Australia’s current drag racers as they battle what has become an increasingly formidable line-up.

– PHILLIP MAHONEY

The Dream Team NHRA

sutton-images.com

Teams align: Kenny Harvick, above, has teamed with Bob Vandergriff Jr., below, to create a mega -team that will span across two of America’s top motorsport categories. become extremely interested with what's happening in the drag racing world through our friendship with Bob. The more we come to understand what is happening in the NHRA series, the more attractive it's becoming as a whole.”

Vandergriff and Harvick are planning to organise a race team and secure all of the components and people within the next two months with a planned 2009 debut.

– DAVID OSTASZEWSKI

David Ostaszewski

NASCAR superstar and Daytona 500 winner Kevin Harvick and his wife DeLana have teamed with NHRA drag racing veteran Bob Vandergriff Jr. to pursue the option of fielding a Top Fuel dragster in NHRA competition.

The proposed Harvick-Vandergriff Motorsports will specialise in offering its sponsors marketing opportunities in NHRA, NASCAR Sprint Cup, Nationwide Series and the Craftsman Truck series.

This would be an unprecedented alignment of teams in the top two motorsports sanctions in the United States. Vandergriff believes that having a team car to run alongside his championship-contending UPS dragster would be a huge advantage.

“The response from the companies we've spoken to already has been tremendous,” Harvick said.

“Everyone at Kevin Harvick Incorporated and Richard Childress Racing has

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5 Minutes with ...

DAVID BESNARD

It’s back to business at Stone Brothers in the endurance races for Bezzy MOTORSPORT NEWS: How long have you known that you were going to be back at Stone Brothers for the endurance races?

DAVID BESNARD: Officially, for a couple of weeks. But we knew for a while, I had been looking at options, but we made an agreement and it was a handshake deal. It has been official since I signed the contract the other day.

Ross Stone and I have a great working relationship, we always have had. We both knew that it was the direction that we were going in for a while.

You and the Stones are a bit of an old-fashioned combination, in that you make a deal and shake on it, and sort out the contract later.

Exactly. And that is the way that we would all like to do business but, with the amount of money that is involved in this day and age, everything has to be official.

You would have to be pleased with your performances last year, with your driving in both endurance races. It was really strong.

Absolutely. When I started to talk to Ross last year, he said that I would be with James and I said, ‘That suits me’. And this time, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

We showed what we can do together last year. Sandown was good, I had some issues but it was not a performance issue. I think that any time that James and I are in the same car, we are a chance for a podium – and if you are a chance for a

20

podium, you are a chance for winning the race.

What did you learn last year after being away from V8s for a while?

Nothing that I didn’t know already.

Every time you are in a car, you learn. But the team had not changed a lot since I was there, years ago. It worked all the same, but the part that stood out, after not being there for a while, was the amount of money that is being spent. It was only two years since I was at WPS but even there, we never spent that money or had that technology.

So, I am always amazed when I go into the shop to see how that side of it works.

But ultimately, nothing has changed. You jump into the car on a weekend, or on a test day, and try to make it go as fast as you can. Talk to the people, work hard, go fast.

Most of the front-running teams pair their ‘regular’ drivers. Did you exceed your own expectations, being in with James?

Not really. I think you can drive a car if you can drive a car.

Obviously, it is handy being in the thing more than I am, but we were that close in times, it was not funny.

I don’t think that I am a typical co-driver, the combination where there is a second between the drivers. I had the quicker lap at Bathurst for most of the race, until they tweaked the car, and then, he went a bit quicker. But I am talking hundredths.

PHIL BRANAGAN

The difference now is to do few years that I was racing fullit straight away. I canb’t hop time, I needed to do it to put in the car and be blindingly bread on the table. quick on the second lap. Doing I would like to be in the other racing keeps you sharp, position to be with a good like the NZ V8s, but in one way, team, I have always said that that hurts you too, because I have unfinished business. I you learn other habits. It would won’t do it with a bad team almost be easier to hop in the again – the two years at WPS car after a year of nothing else were the worst two years and get back into it. That gets of my life. I was not happy easier the more you do it.

– in fact, I was miserable. I I was in Webby’s car changed that, I changed quite [Jonathon Webb] the other day a few things in my life and I am and I did some good times. quite happy now.

I don’t need to be the hero, There is a lot of pressure that is James’s job. I don’t need and money in the sport, and to push and do something silly, before, it would not matter I have to have a clean run. You what sacrifices I had to make. get older and things change Now, I don’t need it; a lot a bit! of drivers probably need to race because they can’t do Which leads me to my next anything else. Now, I can do question – just what was in other things. the contract you and Ross I would love to do it. I would signed last week? treat it differently to how I [Laughs] I can say, honestly, did in the past, because the that Ross and I have not even pressure would not be on me spoken about next year. I am as much. I would enjoy that. trying to get some options for V8s and New Zealand for next Finally, are you giving James year. advice on baby carriages, and But, you know how it works, all that stuff?

The way things are going, it [Laughs] No, he seems to be may be a paying driver that doing alright with it! ends up there, and I can’t pay We were together the other for it! There is a lot of water to day and I had my daughter go under that bridge and April with me. It was funny; you is way too early for them. have your own kids, I was So, I haven’t spoken to Ross saying to him that parenthood about next year – but he just gets better and better as knows that I would like to be it goes along. He was a natural there! with her, and she is just over two now.

Is it comforting to feel like James is doing a very good you would like to be back job and doesn’t need my into it full-time, but you don’t advice on that. Besides Phil, have to? you have kids, you have to I have other options now. I learn the hard way, don’t you? don’t have to rely on motor racing, whereas in the last I hope not Bezzy, I hope not!

chat

Ford Racing

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Dirk Klynsmith

Miniature but massive opinion Andrew van Leeuwen eNews Deputy Editor

WHILE back in Perth last weekend, I had a lot of people ask me about the MINI Challenge.

With the new-for-2008 series about to embark on the West in a few weeks, interest was high, and anyone who heard that I was at Wakefield Park for the recent MINI round was quick to ask my thoughts on the series.

And my answer: “It’s okay, I guess ...”

And it is. Good drivers; pretty cars; a little bit of close racing; it looks like an okay class. But there’s a problem there. Australia has way, way too many racing categories for it to be just okay. It needs to be better than okay to survive and prosper.

But, like the cars, the problem is quite small. The first, and most important thing, is the noise. The cars sound slow, and when cars sound slow, they generally look slow. From the pits at Wakefield you could hear the sound of the tyres squealing against the tarmac over the

engines – even when the cars were in a bunch. I live on Punt Road in Melbourne and I hear louder races going on outside my bedroom window nearly every night.

Louder exhausts are a must.

I tackled a few MINI officials at WP and they all talked about it being a specialised system designed to give maximum power with the turbo engine.

Who cares? Even if the cars are half a second slower, if they sound better, they’ll look better!

The reverse top-six idea for the start of Race 2 is good. At WP, it gave Paul Fiore a chance

to take his first win.

So why not make the whole field inversed for the second race? At the end of the day Fiore was able to drive away from pole, quite easily, so let’s give the quick guys a real challenge and make them work through all of the back-markers.

Sure there might be a bit of carnage, but suddenly punters have a reason to stay on the hill for the MINI race rather than using the time to buy a pie and go to the toilet.

There you go. Two MINI ways to stop a potentially massive headache …

Letters

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

Is it over?

I saw the new Tasman car in eNews last week and I was shocked to see it painted blue.

Having a blue Holden is like sitting on the fence and not being able to choose between barracking for the Blues or the Maroons in State of Origin League. Ridiculous!

What’s next? Red Fords?

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David Bates Revesby, NSW ED: Well, I think you’ll find the championship leader is driving a red Ford ...

Balancing act As a keen FFord fan, I have noticed the balancing act between state and national

FFord. Over the past few years whenever one is doing well, the other is suffering. Currently national FFord is booming, while the state series is struggle, but not so long ago it was the other way round. It would be good if they could somehow find a balance between the two.

Terry Hall Ringwood, VIC

Indy on TV Do you know which one of the two Indy rounds will be on FOX Sports this weekend? Last Champ Car race, and Motegi – I can’t miss one!

Power fan Queensland ED: Yes, ESPN will be broadcasting both races.

opinion

Life starts at 50 ... opinion

Grant Rowley Editor eNews I’VE only ever been to one 50th birthday party before.

It was for my dad. We planned a ‘surprise’ event for him, but I don’t think he was really surprised by the whole deal.

My siblings and I took him to the pub. Mum prepared the fairy bread and told everyone to be quiet when we arrived home.

I’m sure he was pretending to be shocked by all of his friends and family in our backyard, but it was the thought that counts …

Here at Motorsport News, the first of our online magazines, Motorsport eNews, has reached the half ton – the big five-zero, 50 issues.

And it’s a big occasion for us.

There’s going to be no fairy bread or no surprise party, but the achievement of reaching 50 is quite satisfying.

When we announced to the world that Motorsport News would be presenting its news digitally, there was one quite well-known, mildy respected guy in the paddock who

told me that we wouldn’t make it past a year.

I guess it’s satisfying to say that we are still here, we are healthy, and we are still breaking stories – every week, for free, and our audience has grown substantially.

It’s timely, then to thank the team here for the hard yards that are put in each week.

There’s no doubt that things get pretty busy in our office on a Monday, but I know that every Monday, regardless of what’s going on in their lives, they always wear their ‘race face’.

When I reach 50, I hope I’m still here and healthy.

And whether or not I’m the one breaking the big stories, or even if this publication, or its next high-tech ‘evolution’ still exists, eNews will be remembered as an innovator and leader in the motor sport industry.

Happy 50th eNews.

Here’s hoping the next 50 come just as sweetly off the middle of the bat …

eNews celeb rates

50 issues this

week

eLETTER OF THE WEEK Is it over?

Has the V8 Supercar season finished?

Did we crown a champion? The length of time between rounds in this year’s calendar is woeful. It could only be marketing suicide for V8 Supercars Australia.

I understand the teams are reluctant

to run anymore than the current 14 rounds, but to space them out over 11 months of the year is leaving fans wanting.

It is obvious to me that clashes with the AFL has left no room for V8 Supercars in the winter. With half the season now run in the warmer months

anyway, should Supercars become a summer sport? This would allow the season to be compressed into fortnightly rounds, and give Channel 7 the freedom to give Supercar fans a fair go.

Dave Kervin Bligh Park, 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 23

NASCAR SPRINT CUP ROUND 8 – PHOENIX INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY

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race NASCAR Media

SMOKE and MIRRORS

Jimmie Johnson and crew chief Chuck Knaus played the fuel game better than anyone else to put Hendrick Motorsport back in the Win column.

By MARTIN D CLARK 25

YOU could argue that there is nothing more boring than watching a bunch of NASCAR teams try to out-fumble each other in a ‘fuel’ race. And you would be wrong.

Such was the case at Phoenix on Saturday night. Up to a half-dozen drivers tried to stretch their fuel range until, one by one, they headed to the pits.

The last man standing was Jimmie Johnson, who led 120 laps and who had the always-steady Chad Knaus on the other end of the radio. And it was a great piece of theatre, Knaus talking down his driver; “Back up your pace half a second a lap,” until he announced, “Screw it. We’ll go for it.”

It worked. When Johnson’s car coughed, then spluttered, it was on the back stretch on the white flag lap, and coasted home with a handful of seconds to spare, for his first win of the year and, amazingly,

the first for Hendrick Motorsports in 2008.

“Chad was giving me splits and I was able to save fuel, the car was handling really well and I just kept it alive and brought it on home,” said the defending Champion.

Polesitter Ryan Newman headed the early laps until Johnson and Carl Edwards made their presence felt up front, the latter overcoming a pit crew penalty during an already untimely caution when he, Jeff Gordon and Greg Biffle pitted as a caution waved.

Point standings; J Burton 1215, Kyle Busch 1135, Earnhardt Jr. 1129 Johnson 1116, Harvick 1115.

Saturday Night Fever: Johnson and Knaus planned the perfect race to take the chequer and the Gatorade in Phoenix.

NASCAR Media

NASCAR Media

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Newman’s Penske engine went up in smoke on lap 133 and the dumped oil saw Matt Kenseth, Jeff Burton, Reed Sorenson, J.J. Yeley and Johnny Sauter all swept into a wreck, and prompting a 10minute red flag.

Mark Martin and Dale Earnhardt Jr. were also the class of the field on this evening and battled up front for the majority of the race. Martin took the lead on lap 272 of the 300, but followed Jr. to pit for fuel with 11 laps remaining.

This left Johnson on track conserving gas with a huge margin over fellow gambler Clint Bowyer that would equate to seven-plus seconds at the chequers, with Denny Hamlin coming home third followed by an again strong Edwards and veteran Martin.

race

NASCAR NATIONWIDE

Joe’s Blokes: The Gibbs Camrys of Busch, #18, and Hamlin, #20, were fast but Ambrose, left, continues to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Ford Racing

KYLE Busch’s domination of the Nationwide Series continued at Phoenix, with his Joe Gibbs Toyota too fast last Friday.

Busch led 132 laps of the race last year and went one better in his Camry this time, but the race was decided in the pits. Busch trailed Carl Edwards into pitlane on lap 178, but a tardy right-rear tyre changer slowed Edwards enough to lose track position in a yellowstrewn, then green-whitechequer finish.

Although Edwards made a strong run, Busch prevailed for the win followed by a bevy of

NASCAR Media

The Busch Series returns

Cup drivers, with Gibbs teammate Denny Hamlin good for third Kevin Harvick fourth and David Ragan.

“Those boys won the race for us on pit road,” commented Busch, “he (Edwards) had a great, great racecar that might have been better than this

Camry here. It’s a good thing we had all those cautions that gave us a chance to get a twolap bump on him.”

Marcos Ambrose qualified his JTG Motorsports Ford Fusion 11th, and finished 17th.

“We had a reasonable day out there and brought it home,”

he remarked Ambrose. “I was waiting for the Lucky Dog to get back on the lead lap, because I really thought we could have had something for a lot of them towards the end to push us up the order.

In the end we were trapped a lap down but we finished and added to the points.”

– MARTIN D CLARK Points: Bowyer 1189, Edwards 1165, Ky Busch 1083, Ragan 1068, Reutimann 1065, (Ambrose 17th 773).

On Guard: Earnhardt Jr, left, was one of the losing gamblers in the fuel race.

Newman, #12, started from pole but was the first man out of the race with a blown engine.

Carl Edwards, #99, finished fourth.

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A1GP ROUND 9 – SHANGHAI, CHINA

Stars and Stripes Jonathon Summerton took the United States’ maiden win in Shanghai as Chamionship leader Switzerland struggled with mechanical dramas

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race

All pics A1GP.com

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J

ONATHON Summerton has steered Team USA to its maiden victory in Sunday’s Feature Race at China’s Shanghai International Circuit, while Neel Jani gave Switzerland yet another win in the 20minute Sprint Race.

Summerton was forced to battle a slight injury to take the win after a start line incident in the Sprint Race won him a trip to the medical centre.

Having taken control at the start after Jani struggled to get off the line, Summerton

30

set about building a small lead, which he maintained throughout the race. Slick pitwork from USA allowed him to consolidate the gap and take a popular win following Jani’s mechanical dramas.

Summerton’s win saw USA become the 16th nation to win in A1GP and, astonishingly, the 10th this season.

“This win is definitely going to build up team morale and we are going to carry that on to Brands Hatch,” said Summerton.

“I knew Switzerland was going to be our biggest competition, so I had to go out

there and go for the win and I just kept pushing once I got by.

“We had a bad start to the weekend, but we had to figure out the problem and work from there. The team did a great job, working all last night and also hard today. In the pit stops they did a great job and I am glad I am here this weekend and racing to win for us.”

Portugal's Filipe Albuquerque finished third in the feature and Adam Carroll continued Ireland’s recent good form to finish in third.

After taking a decisive win in

the Sprint Race, Switzerland’s troubles in the Feature saw them finish behind championship rival, New Zealand’s Jonny Reid, which now takes the title battle to the final round at Brands Hatch.

Team Australia’s John Martin had a frustrating weekend in China finishing 14th in the Feature, Race and 15th in the Sprint Race.

Points: Switzerland 150, New Zealand 121, France 111, Great Britain 99, South Africa 92, Germany 83, Ireland 83, Netherlands 80, Canada 75, Portugal 50, (17th Australia 20).

race

U.S.A: Summerton, left, took a great maiden win for the USA after Jani, top, had some mechanical dramas in the feature.

John Martin above, had a tough weekend, while Reid, below, kept NZ in the title hunt.

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www.aprc.tv

Japan 2, Australia 1, New Zealand 0 Taguchi beats Herridge and Green in opening round of Asia Pacific Rally Champs APRC

J

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www.aprc.tv

APAN’S Katsuhiko Taguchi has won the opening round of the Asia Pacific Rally Championship, Rallyes De Nouvelle Caledonie, ahead of Australia’s Dean Herridge and New Zealand’s Brian Green.

Second outright was a great result for Herridge, who picked up the drive with CUSCO Rally Team, based out of Japan, in February.

“It was a really tough rally, the roads are really hard to pace note and then commit yourself to but I am pretty pleased overall,” said Herridge.

“It was a rally of many firsts; first time for me with the CUSCO Team, first time in New Caledonia, first time with Chris (co-driver Chris Murphy), so we wanted to have a solid result and we are very, very happy with second position.

“It’s good to bank some points and now we can move on with greater confidence.”

Fellow Australian Scott Pedder also made his APRC debut in New Caledonia, driving alongside Taguchi for MRF Tyres.

In only his second-ever international event (his first being the short-lived

attempt at Rally New Zealand last year) Pedder’s ability to adapt to the left hand drive car for the first time got crews in the service park talking.

By the end of Heat 1, things were looking up for the Australian contingent with Pedder in second outright and Herridge in third behind Taguchi.

Late afternoon and overnight rain turned the already slippery roads in the mountains around La Poe into slush, and the focus shifted from attacking for a win to surviving the long stages.

Unfortunately for Pedder, his hard work

in Heat 1 was undone on SS12 when he slid off the road and down a bank.

“It was the slowest crash I’ve had in my life,” said Pedder.

“It is very disappointing; we were just taking it easy, not aiming to challenge for the rally lead and we just misjudged a very slippery corner and slid off the stage at about 5kmh.”

The second round of the APRC is the Rally of Canberra being held in Australia May911th. Rally of Canberra is also a round of the Australian Rally Championship.

– ALISON MACQUEEN

race

Blanchard falls, but recovers AUSTRALIAN driver Tim Blanchard has dropped to second place in the British Formula Ford Championship, despite a solid recovery from a difficult start.

The Victorian qualified fifth at Knockhill, Scotland, but stalled at the start and fell to last place.

Blanchard fought back strongly, setting a new lap record on his way to fifth.

Third place in Race 2 and second in the final ensured that he remains well in title contention in the prestigious championship.

“It was a great result when you take into account I was last entering the first corner in Race 1,” he said.

“The straight at Knockhill is on a slight hill and I stalled off the line, but to be able to work my way through the field and finish fifth while setting a new lap record was also pleasing and gave me confidence for the remaining races.

“It took me a while to get my head around the track, and I started feelong more comfortable toward the end of Race 1.

“To take away another big bag of points is a fantastic result, I lose the lead in the championship but it’s early days and I just want to keep consolidating.”

Another Aussie in the British Formula Ford Championship, Glen Wood, had a disappointing meeting in his Aussie-built Spectrum. After a clash in the opening race, he salvaged the weekend with 11th and eighth in the final two races.

Also competing over in the United Kingdowm was Josh Scott.

The former Australian Formula Ford driver, competing in British Formula Renault Championship, was showing impressive form at Rockingham.

Unfortunately, a missed gear at Tarzan Hairpin causing him to run into the gravel trap as he attempted to pass Jordan Oakes when they were battling in the midfield.

sutton-images.com

APRC

Scott free: Josh Scott ended the British Formula Renault race at Rockingham in the sand trap.

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sutton-images.com

Defending in style

Mattias Ekstrom kicked off his 2008 DTM title defence with a win at Hockeinheim DTM

sutton-images.com

AT the Hockenheim last weekend, Swedish Audi driver Mattias Ekström got his title defence off to a great start with victory in the first DTM race of the year.

The 29-year old crossed the finish line first ahead of pole-sitter Timo Scheider, who was just 0.824s down on the winner.

Danish driver and former champion Tom Kristensen completed Audi’s clean sweep

of the podium by finishing third.

“My new A4 goes like a rocket”, said Ekström.

The win was Ekström’s 11th DTM victory of his career and Audi’s 43rd race win.

Best-placed Mercedes-Benz driver was last year’s runner-up Bruno Spengler in fourth place.

Former Toyota F1 driver Ralf Schumacher delivered a respectable performance by finishing 14th in his maiden DTM race.

Wet and Wild @ The Rock BTCC

34

Points: Giovanardi 63, Mat Jackson 56, Gordon Shedden 50, Matt Neal 47, Darren Turner 38, Jason Plato 35.

sutton-images.com

THREE different winners shared the spoils at the second round of the HiQ MSA British Touring Car Championship at a wet Rockingham last weekend.

Scotland’s Gordon Shedden led all of the first race from pole position, taking the win, ahead of Darren Turner ahead of Matt Neal.

Race 2 went to Mat Jackson.

The factory BMW driver took advantage when series leader Fabrizio Giovanardi made a mistake.

The final event went to Neal, pictured right, who led home Tom Chilton and Adam Jones.

race

Premier League F3 EURO SERIES

sutton-images.com

PREMA Powerteam’s Renger van der Zande (Prema Powerteam) won the second round of the Formula 3 Euro Series at Hockenheim last weekend.

The 22-year old Dutchman finished 4.556s ahead of Christian Vietoris (Mücke Motorsport).

Volkswagen drivers Edoardo Mortara and Franck Mailleux (both Signature-Plus) occupied third and fourth place.

Van der Zande made the best of his pole position and romped away to the win, never touched throughout the race.

A start line incident at the start saw proceedings run under the Safety Car for three laps when Charlie Kimball stalled at the start. Jens Klingmann and Henkie Waldschmidt ran into the American’s car.

Van der Zande was pleased with an early season victory.

“Throughout the winter, we have been working every day almost until midnight. Today, that has paid off,” he said.

“The key to success is a little bit of luck and a quick car.”

Points: Maki 10, Mortara 10, Kimball 8, Mailleux 8, van der Zande 7, Vietoris 7.

Fine: I want three-in-a-row!

DRIFT AFTER winning last month’s Toyo Tires Drift Australia Series season opener, Leighton Fine has made it two wins from two starts, with victory at Queensland Raceway last weekend – and he’s now aiming for three in-a-row.

Fine (Nissan 180SX) now holds a sizeable lead at the top of the Australian Drift Championship standings, while Queensland drivers Danny Kenneally (Nissan Cefiro) and Robbie Bolger (Holden Fine, almost perfect: Leighton Fine is in great form this year, winning the opening rounds.

Monaro) wrapped up the podium.

After topped the field in qualifying, Fine secured his spot in the final after strong Queensland crowd.

Fine said. beating 2006 Champion Beau Yates The 22-year-old will head to his home “We gained a lot of confidence from our (Toyota AE86 Sprinter) in the top eight round at Mallala Motorsport Park – where Symmons Plains result, the car is working and defending series Champion Bolger in he has never finished lower than second really well and there’s a good atmosphere the top four showdowns.

– next month, having scored 999 out a among the team – things couldn’t be A perfectly executed passing possible 1000 championship points so far going any better at the moment. manoeuvre on Kenneally in the final in 2008.

“Now we’ll head to Mallala and try to sealed him the win in style in front of a “It’s been a dream start to the season,” make it three wins in-a-row.”

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Brian White

Fancy a Cherry Rob Appleyard.

Matt Cherry had a field day at Barbagallo, winning two of the three Street Car races before taking out the main event – the Auto Trader Trophy multi-class handicap race.

To win the prestigious event he had to fight off multiple ATT winner Kerry Wade, and a fighting strong performance from Michael Greene in a tiny Ford Fiesta.

The Formula Vee class was dominated by Jez Hammond,

who won three from three, while Ron Moller did likewise in the Historic Tourers.

The AU/VT Saloon Car field had a surprise entry in V8 Ute regular Glenn McNally, who won the second race on debut. Jeff Watts won the other two, while Garry Hills was the pick of the EA/VN bunch.

Rod Jenzen took round honours for HQ Holdens despite only winning one race to Stephen Raisin’s two.

– ANDREW VAN LEEUWEN

Brian White

THE West Australian state racing reason hit its straps last weekend, with the Auto Trader Trophy taking place at Barbagallo Raceway.

The state Formula Ford championship had a massive 21-car grid, with Jason Youd winning two of the three races, and William Hall winning the other. The second race was marred by a frightening Turn 1 crash which resulted in Allan Beats losing his helmet when his Palliser was driven over by

Cherry, main, had a field day at Barbagallo, while ‘A-Team’ member AVL, above, made a return to state FFord.

McIlveen, on the jet plane MORGAN Park hosted Round 2 of the Queensland Championships over April 12-13 weekend.

Warren McIlveen (Stockman-Honda) won three out of four races and the Pacific Superkart Challenge, Russell Jamieson (Stockman-Honda) was second Mark Jones

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with Carlo Chermaz (PVP) taking the other win.

Ashley Jarvis dominated the Geminis taking a perfect points haul for the weekend. Michael Dawes was second ahead of Ben Tomlin.

Justin Keys (Mazda RX-3) dominated

Improved Production with Tony Isarasena (Mazda RX-7) second and David Skellender (VC Commodore) and David Waldon (RX-3) sharing thirds Paul Mantiet (Rapier) cleaned up Formula Vee with Mike Smith (Gebert) and John Doidge (Elfin) taking a second each.

Barcley Holden (Van Diemen AF2) won two Racing Car races with Nick Foster (Van Diemen RF02K) winning the last race. James Mann (Van Diemen RF04) took three seconds.

Historic Touring saw Bob Sudall (Mazda RX-2) take a pair of wins with Tim Whitten (Ford Capri) and Bruce Dummett (Torana XU1) sharing seconds.

Dion Cidoni and Darren Aspinall shared HQ Holden wins. Troy Hoey (AU Falcon) won both Saloon Car races with Bob McLoughlin (VS Commodore-Chev) winning Sports Sedans. Paul Antonieff (Westfield SEi) and Grant Watson (Prosport Mulsanne) each won a Sports Car race.

– MARK JONES

race

John Morris/Mpix

The Fords Grow Wings

GOULBURN’S Wakefield Park Raceway hosted the opening round of the NSW State Motor Racing Championship last weekend, with Ryan Simpson making a devastating Formula Ford debut.

The ex-Formula Vee gun kicked off his career in Formula Ford by taking pole position and all three races. Simpson was kept honest by Tom

Tweedie over the weekend, but in the final race the pressure was really on as the two diced all race long with Simpson claiming the chequered flag by the narrowest of margins.

Bruce McCabe finished third for the weekend In Formula Vee it was outsider, and former national champion (1200cc) Nick Herford that claimed the round

victory in a rain-affected final race. Until the closing stages of the final it looked as if Michael Kinsella would go undefeated all weekend, but a late spin cost him dearly. The misfortune of Kinsella fell into the hands of Herford, who claimed the win ahead of Adam Proctor, and Kinsella, who managed to recover for a third place finish.

Others winners over the

weekend included Tim Mackie (Production Sports), Anthony Macready (Sports Sedans), Jacky Yick (Under 2 Litre Improved Production), Ryan Brown (Over 2 Litre Improved Production), Darren Novek (HQ Holden’s), Robert Choon (AF2 / Supersports / Clubman Challenge) and Jim Policina (Combined Touring).

– DANIEL POWELL

Four from Four

Neil Hammond

ROUND 2 of the Victorian Motor Racing Championship was held at Winton Raceway last weekend and it was Mort Fitzgerald who dominated two categories in his 5 litre V8 MG, winning all four races in MGs and Sports Cars.

Fitzgerald was untouchable in all of his eight race starts and won both classes comfortably.

John Wood clean swept HQs but had to defend hard against Carl McHenry in each of the four races.

Paul Stephenson notched up his first Porsche 944 round victory on a countback when he and Robert Lange ended the meeting equal on points with two wins and two seconds apiece.

Basis Stratos won his first Saloon Car round with consistency, as front-runners Corey Ludeman and Ryan Millier suffered separate issues that prevented them from finishing races one and two respectively.

Stephen Ford controlled the BMW E30 class in the absence of Craig Munro winning Race 3 and finishing second in the final to score the round victory. Daniel Reinhardt won the Formula Vee round with two race victories as he overcame a close battle at the front.

– AARON SHAW

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rear of grid

Not quite a Clean Sweep Gary Hounson

Gary Hounson

IF you thought that running a V8 Supercar team was a dirty business, you ain’t seen nothing yet.

What does Britek General Manager Chris Jewell get up to on spare weekends? Moving dirt, it seems!

Jewell was competing in the

second round of the Victorian Superkart Club’s series at Calder Park on Saturday when he had to take to the scenery to avoid colliding karts ahead.

Gary Trounson captured these images as Jewell bounced through the rough created by recent earthworks on the edge

Odd Spot

of the circuit.

Jewell (Hyper Racer) recovered for second overall in the 125MAX Heavy division with a win and two second placings. Colin McIntyre (Monaco) won Heavies while Dean Crooke (Hyper Racer) made a clean sweep of

125MAX Light. Victory in the gearbox classes went to Mick Bakker (125s), Roger Polak (250 National) and Gary Pegoraro (250 Inter).

Jewell will be hoping that this trip through the grubby stuff is all the team suffers this week …

Send GPS. And Braille

sutton-images.com

FAR be it from us to talk down the miracles of British weather.

But, a month into spring, we cannot help but wonder how/why the Poms put up with living in a place with weather such as this. The weekend’s round of the British

Touring Car Championship at Rockingham was stricken by some precipitation that would be valued here in Victoria, where the drought continues.

We picked an image of Colin Turkington for this shot, because of the fact that his

RAC-sponsored Beemer is a nice, safe, walkacross-the-High-Street orange.

It really was pretty dull over there. Mind you, it often rains in New Zealand, so we will have our fingers crossed for Hamilton this weekend.

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