Motorsport eNews Issue 59 - June 17-23, 2008

The world of motorsport every week – directly to your desktop

Issue No. 059 17 – 23 June 2008

F1 Star

for v8s?

Ex-Formula 1 driver looks for Australian future ...

Three Triple Eights?

Dual BAthurst Champs Consider Fujitsu Series Entry ...

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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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.

Issue No. 059 | 17 - 23 Jun 2008

news 4 F1 Star to V8s

Morbidelli wants in 6 HSV seat set Reynolds gets enduro drive 8 AGP contract Deal done?

11 Management change Sherrin’s big vision 12 Ambrose Cup debut Second time lucky

chat 18 5 minutes with ... opinion 20 Branagan race 22 Le Mans 26 Caratti extends lead 30 Small grid 32 NASCAR 36 Haga wins 38 Finke Rally

Marcos Ambrose Beer O’Clock Peugout didn’t win All the Shannons action AMRC at Winton Father’s Day win Bayliss retains lead Fun in the desert

trade 40 Trade and Industry / Raceshop / Classifieds

welcome Here’s George Miedecke the first reborn ManChamp ...

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

Morb

Will this former Gr

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

news

bidelli eyeing a V8 future

rand Prix driver be the next international ace to join the V8 Supercars?

V8 SUPERCARS FORMER Formula 1 driver Gianni Morbidelli is on the hunt for a ride in the V8 Supercar Championship Series.

The Italian was re-united with Aussie V8s in Bahrain last year while he was there for the Speedcar round, taking in the series for the first time since the Australian Grand Prix in Adelaide back in 1995. And he was impressed with what he saw.

Now, he is ready to start talking to teams about a test, and a possible drive in the championship.

“I saw [the V8 Supercars] race at Bahrain because I was there for the Speedcar series,” he told eNews, “and I was watching

the series and I thought it was very good.

I have seen every category, from Formula 1, to Sportscars to Touring Cars. I was very impressed. The series was very nice – the level of organisation, the level of drivers, the level of the cars.

“It is important for me to test so I can understand how the cars work, and to show the people what I can do. So if there was a chance for me to test then I would like to come there.”

Morbidelli is no stranger to tin top racing. Despite being best known for his Formula 1 exploits, he has previously raced in the Italian Touring Car Championship, the European Touring Car Championship, the World Touring Car

Championship, the FIA GT Series, and is the reigning Italian SuperStars Champion (and winner of the first round this season) for Audi. He was also the winner of the inaugural Speedcar Series race.

Morbidelli is also no stranger to success on Australian shores, having scored his first point-paying finish in a Grand Prix car at the 1991 AGP, finishing sixth in the rainshortened race while subbing for Alain Prost at Ferrari. He then took third place in the 1995 AGP in a Footwork, his best-ever finish in his Formula 1 career.

While he has expressed interest in V8 Supercars, Morbidelli said he is yet have formal discussions with any teams.

“No not yet. I only started to think about it after Bahrain. It was when I saw the cars there that I thought ‘that’s a car that I would like to drive,’ because they have lots of power, rear-wheel-drive, and I have already good experience with that kind of car.

“I’m still racing Touring Cars in Italy, because last year I won the championship with Audi RS4, but who knows? I am happy to do another championship, because it is good for my career to try different experiences.”

– ANDREW VAN LEEUWEN Then and now: In 1991, Morbidelli was in Australia as a Ferrari driver. Now, he wants to come back in a V8 ...

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

Next stop, V8SC? FUJITSU V8s SCOTT Loadsman is trying to gather the funds and resources to run in the V8 Supercar Championship Series in 2009.

Loadsman, who runs the Tint-aCar Commodore for Steve Owen in the Fujitsu V8 Series, wants to make the grade to the main series after a successful start to this year’s Development Series.

The most realistic proposition would be for Loadsman’s team to run a third Paul Morris Motorsport Holden Commodore VE, although there a still “a few boxes to tick.”

“We’re trying to piece something together,” Loadsman told eNews.

“We’d like to do something with Paul Morris Motorsport support.

We want to keep Steve Owen as our driver as well.

“This year, our sponsors are happy, and it’s just a matter of

seeing where we can go from here. They are definitely talking about it – it’s just a matter and pulling it off.

“Steve has always been an integral part of our plans and he wants to get into the Main Series, so do we, so we’d be happy to take him back.

“He should be in the main game.

He’s untouchable. Provided that he’s happy, and Racer Industries continue to support us like they have been doing – they’ve been a major influence in this – we can certainly achieve this.

“We’ve still got a few boxes to tick, but that’s where we want to be.”

Owen comfortably leads the Fujitsu V8 Supercar Series, which continues in the next round at Queensland Raceway (July 18-20).

– GRANT ROWLEY

GRM ready for grunt V8 SUPERCARS GARRY Rogers Motorsport is likely to debut its first genuine Walkinshaw Performance-spec engine at the next round of the V8 Supercar Championship Series at Hidden Valley in two weeks time.

If the team can ensure the installation of the new engine will be faultless, lead driver Lee Holdsworth will use the new powerplants up north.

“We have the opportunity to do so,” Rogers said.

“But because it doesn’t fit in our cars properly, it changes a few things and subject to having that done, then yes, we’ll run the new engine.

“I’d say it’s a nine out of 10 chance.”

Rogers said that the K-frames and chassis rail of his car need

to be changed to make the new engine fit the space and wants to test at Winton before Hidden Valley to ensure that the installation is a success.

But the Valvoline Cummins team owner was quick to say that the advantages of having the new engines will be “very minimal.”

“I had a meeting with my boys after Sandown and everyone was saying ‘how good it would be.’

“But the fact of the matter is, if you look at Sandown, which is one of the most power-prone circuits, we weren’t really far away anyway.

“It will certainly be a help, but we need to make sure we keep the rest of our house in order to get whatever gain is available, rather than just think that everything else from here on will be easy.”

– GRANT ROWLEY

news

Dirk Klynsmith

Reynolds in at HSVDT

Marcus Zukanovic stepped aside as former CCup Champ confirmed V8 SUPERCARS

Dirk Klynsmith Dirk Klynsmith

DAVID Reynolds will partner Paul Dumbrell in V8 Supercar’s ‘Season of Endurance.’

It was announced that the former Formula Ford and Carrera Cup Champion will suit up in Autobarn Racing colours at the L&H 500 (Phillip Island and the Supercheap Auto 1000 (Bathurst).

Marcus Zukanovic, 11th in the Fujistu Series, was originally announced in February as Dumbrell’s teammate, but a change of heart has seen Reynolds, second in the Fujitsu ranks, take the ride.

Dumbrell said that he doesn’t care who he drives with – he is simply looking forward to getting some results on the board.

“I am looking forward to the endurance races, no matter who I’m with,” he said.

“But now that it’s finalised that I’m going to drive with David, it’s good to be able for us to focus on that and get the job done.

“Dave’s doing a good job in the Fujitsu Series. He’s been on the pace in the past couple of rounds so we’re just pushing ahead. He’s raced these cars all year. I think we’ll be fine.

Bathurst is a tough place, but there’s no drama about his amount of experience. You get a lot of laps around there over the weekend anyway.

Reynolds will start the race a rookie, having not completed a lap in the 2007 version when his PWR Commodore expired on the warm-up lap.

– GRANT ROWLEY

Third entry for T8?

FUJITSU V8s

Dirk Klynsmith

from 2009. This is also likely to change the endurance TRIPLE EIGHT Race market, with a number of Engineering is looking to frontline FV8 drivers who run a team in the Fujitsu V8 would otherwise step up to Supercar Series next season. Level 1 teams likely to stay The dual Bathurst-winning with their existing team squad, which will update structures. to Falcon FGs for 2009, is Dane said that any working towards running decisions about drivers at least one of its current “is some way off” but BFs in the second-tier series, speculation links the team dependent on sponsorship with Supercross racer Chad and drivers.

Reed. The American-based Team principal Roland star has recently voices Dane said today [Monday] dissatisfaction with his that the key factor was two-wheeled career and going to be sponsorship. has tested with the team at “It would be something that Queensland Raceway in the had to pay its way,” he said. past.

“This is not a charitable Dane said that he had institution.” had not conversations with The FV8 Series is likely Reed this year but, with to be more attractive to TeamVodafone and Reed a sponsor next year, with sharing a number of things V8 Supercars Australia’s in common – like a PR innovation of allowing the company – it would appear leading cars in the series to to be a good fit, should the start in the Bathurst 1000 deal come with fruition …

When GOOD News is a headache

THANKS to the many thousands of new readers of Motorsport eNews – but you’ve given us a problem!

Such is the demand for eNews close to its publishing time, that it seems our host’s servers can’t keep up! Result – occasionally slow to open up …

Answer? Yes, we’re moving to a bigger, faster, higher-speed server – as soon as next week.

Thanks … for the headache.

news

AGP D-Day beckons Bernie and Ron set to nut out new deal for Formula 1 to stay in Melbourne until 2015 AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX TALKS between Formula 1 boss Bernie Ecclestone and Australian Grand Prix Chairman Ron Walker in London this week will determine the future of Australia’s race.

The two men are expected to either agree to a five-year deal that will see the race remain in Melbourne until 2015 or resolve that there will be two, and only two, more GPs at Albert Park.

But reports published over the

weekend in Melbourne’s Sunday Herald Sun, which suggested that an extended deal between the Victorian Government and Ecclestone was already in place, have been dismissed by the state’s Acting Premier, Rob Hulls.

One of the main sticking points is Ecclestone’s apparent insistence on having the race run under lights from about 7pm, to better fit in with the viewing habits of the predominantly European audience. But Hulls is equally insistent that the point in not negotiable.

“The Government has made it quite clear that it won’t be a night Grand Prix, and negotiations are proceeding on that basis,” he said.

“The Government will not back down.”

Hulls also said that the cost of staging the event, which has blown out from $1.7m in 1996 to $34.6m last year, was a major factor.

“Of course the Government want to keep the Grand Prix, but not at any price,” said Rob Hulls. “We don’t have an open cheque-book.”

BRIEFLY... n Brian Lawrence has resigned from his role as Commercial Manager of Stone Brothers Racing. After four years in the role, an announcement is expected on his departure later next week.

Lawrence will confirm his future plans soon. n JTG Racing has shuttered

its NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series team. The squad fielded Fords for Scott Lagasse, who scored a season best result at Fontana earlier in the year.

He was 28th in series points standings. JTG formed a partnership with the Wood Brothers over the past two seasons, but although they share the same building, the Wood Brothers/JTG Racing partnership was dissolved over the winter months. n Tony Stewart was not a happy camper post-race at Michigan on Sunday.

Asked how his car was enroute to a fifth place finish, the very sarcastic reply was, “It was awesome. It’s just a privilege for us to be here and according to Friday we’ve all got it a lot better than we think, so I don’t really have opinions now.”

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Ridge in the Q to buy CCup CARRERA CUP/MINI Q MEDIA has emerged as a front-running contender to assume the category management deals of Australian Carrera Cup and MINI Challenge.

The Melbourne-based company, owned by television personality Glenn Ridge, is investigating the feasibility of running one or both of the categories.

Q Media currently holds the category management agreement for the Biante Touring Car Masters, and is looking at expanding on its management portfolio.

“As category managers of the Biante Touring Car Masters, we, see the benefits and potential synergies to look at both Carrera Cup and MINI Challenge,” Q Media’s Doug Willersdorf-Greene said.

“We are aware that other organisations evaluating their

options, however we feel we are in a very good position, already involved in motorsport and being able to evaluate these on their own merits.”

For the benefit of both categories and its competitors, Willersdorf-Greene said that the sooner a decision can be made, the better for all.

“The earlier we make the decision, the better for the sport,” he said.

“We’re aware that for the continuation and future of both categories, a decision as soon as possible will help cement both.”

– GRANT ROWLEY

news

V8 SUPERCARS

WITH the impending sale of his Carrera Cup and MINI Challenge category management deals, Iain Sherrin Motorsport is considering a future in V8 Supercars.

Sherrin Motorsport currently enters as many as 10 cars in both the Porsche and MINI championships, but the Queensland team has longterm plans to enter the main V8 Supercar Championship Series, possibly as early as 2010.

“It’s definitly our goal and where we want to go,” Sherrin told eNews.

“We’re a long way off getting there, but it is our future.

“One of the reasons why I’m doing what I’m doing is because I’m passionate about the motorsport industry and that’s where I want to head and it’s where I see my team in the future.

“It’s not going to be an easy thing or something that’s is definitely going to happen.

There’s a lot of work that has to be done for it to happen, but

it’s our goal.”

Sherrin reiterated that they are definitely two years from being on the Clipsal 500 grid.

“Realistically, with everything that is going on, the earliest we’d be ready for is 2010,” he confirmed.

“While I’d like to be in there earlier, I’d want to make sure that all the Is are dotted and the Ts are crossed.”

While racing V8 Supercars is on Sherrin’s mind, he did say that he wants to focus on his current tasks …

“I’ve got to focus on what

Marshall Cass

While Sherrin looks to V8s

I’ve got at the moment. Once that is right, then I can move forward,” he said.

“There’s a lot of research to be done, talking to different partners about chassis deals and engine deals and all that.

There’s quite a bit of work involved.

“If I’m in a position in early 2009 to concentrate on running my MINI Challenge cars and the Carrera Cup cars, and then also focusing on the next step, then that’s what I’d like to do.”

– GRANT ROWLEY

Marshall Cass

11

AMBROSE READY NASCAR

THIS weekend will be a big one for Marcos Ambrose, as he attempts to qualify for his first Sprint Cup start.

To add to the adventure, the Tasmanian will attempt to make the field for two races, in two separate states and race for two teams. With the Cup field at Infineon Raceway in California and the Nationwide Series on the Milwaukee Mile, JTG Racing has veteran driver Robert Pressley to practice and qualify its Nationwide Series Fusion should Ambrose qualify for the Cup race.

If Ambrose makes the Cup field in the Wood Brothers Ford, he will partake in two Cup practices next Saturday before flying to Milwaukee in time for the Nationwide race.

The Wood Bros Ford is outside the top 35 in owners’ points, so Ambrose will have to

make it into the field based on his qualifying time. He attempted to do that once before, at Watkins Glen last year in one of Robby Gordon’s cars, but qualifying was washed out and he did not make in the field.

Ambrose has spared no effort to make the Cup field this time. Along with some RoushFenway Cup drivers, he spent some time at Infineon last week testing some late model Stock Cars, in an effort to gain a handle on the course.

Ironically, should he make the field, he has an excellent chance of doing well. Ambrose had his best Nationwide result in Mexico earlier this year when he chased down Kyle Busch to finish second at the end of the race. The red-hot Busch will be one of the favourites for the win, and Ambrose one of Ford’s best hopes to stop him.

– MARTIN D CLARK

NASCAR NASCAR TWO officials named in a US$225m lawsuit against NASCAR have been placed on administrative leave.

But NASCAR Chairman Brian France warned the media against assuming that the two unidentified men were being punished over allegations made by a former Nationwide Series official over alleged racial and sexual harassment.

Mauricia Grant, an African American woman who was released by NASCAR in October 2007, has filed suit against the governing body for US$225 million in damages, based on allegations of racial and sexual harassment.

In a 40-page complaint, Grant alleges 23 series officials made racial and/or sexual slurs, spread rumours she was gay and that on at least two occasions, male officials exposed exposed themselves to her.

Grant, who was hired in January 2005, contends she complained to supervisors regarding the hostilities, but France said no such complaints were made.

Her track duties included monitoring pit stops and assisting in the certifying of cars both pre and post race.

– MARTIN D CLARK

Petty takes on partner NASCAR PETTY Enterprises has become the latest team to take on a financial partner.

The 60-year-old operation has sold a majority stake in its team and successful Richard Petty Driving Experience

12

offshoot to private equity company, Boston Ventures.

Much like moves made recently by Jack Roush and Ray Evernham, the alignment was deemed necessary to gain new sponsor interest in the team generated by Boston Venture’s contacts in the corporate

world, along with the addition of extra funding. Neither of the Petty cars have primary sponsors for the 2009 season.

David Zucker has been named CEO of the two operations and Barry Baker its chairman. Richard Petty will continue his role overseeing

the race team’s day-to-day happenings.

At the same time, the team has confirmed a new fourdeal with Bobby Labonte that will see the 2000 Sprint Cup champion finish his career with the team.

– MARTIN D CLARK

news

R to fight sexism, racism suit ... and tells its drivers to stop the whining

sutton-images.com

NASCAR

NASCAR Media

NASCAR held a mandatory closed-door meeting for all Cup drivers and team owners last Friday at Michigan International Speedway.

The meeting chaired by President Mike Helton, right with Dale Earnhardt Jr, who, basically, told the drivers to stop there bitching about the new car and the lack of close competition, and to put on a more positive face and think about the fans.

“My interpretation was that the drivers should be thankful for the position they’re in and should be more positive in where this car is going to be in a year or two,” said Earnhardt.

“You’ve got be careful when you complain and whine, and act like things aren’t that great,” lamented Carl Edwards.

“It’s detrimental to all of us and the sport.”

The meeting was probably called after many drivers complained at Pocono the previous week about the heat buildup in the newer cars, which NASCAR is now investigating. However, with the added weight over the traditional car, the majority of teams either removed or lessened heat shielding on the cars to gain optimum weight savings. That area is where series officials will possibly start their investigation.

– MARTIN D CLARK

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Marshall Cass

More cars, more classes, more GT AUSTRALIAN GT

THE Australian GT Championship has taken some big steps forward in recent years to improve the category and the perception of GT Racing within Australia.

In a boost for the category, it has received two new GT spec cars, which will compete around Australia in the remaining rounds of the series.

Australian GT Sportscar Group (AGTSG) Director Martin Wagg has received delivery of a brand new Aston Martin DBRS9. Wagg will not personally drive the car in the series and a driver is yet to be named for the car.

Competitors who compete in Aston Martin’s in the category will also receive support from Prodrive who run the Aston Martin Race Team.

The other car, which has arrived in the

country is a brand new Lamborghini Gallardo GT3 which will be shared between Ted Huglin and another yet to be named driver.

Last week, the Australian GT Championship was officially relaunched with some significant changes being made to improve driver numbers at meetings and the image of the category, which were highlighted in eNews last week.

– PHILLIP MAHONEY

Three Aussies for Malaysian Aston SPORTSCARS AUSTRALIAN Sportscar racers Mark Eddy, Marc Cini and Dean Grant are off to Malaysia to compete in the next round of the Aston Martin Asian Cup this weekend.

Drivers compete in Aston Martin N24s with the next round being at Sepang.

Having competed in Malaysia many times before,

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Eddy is looking forward to his second run in the series.

“I’ve raced there for the last five years in the 12-hour,” said Eddy, “so I’m looking forward to going back, it’s a place I know pretty well actually.”

The format in the Asian Cup is slightly different to what drivers are used to in Australian GT, but according to Eddy that’s the least of you concerns.

“There are two races usually

around 30 minutes. So relatively long.

“The thing you have to contend with over there though is the heat, because the cars are so hot.

“A lot of the guys will be taking their cool suits over to combat the heat.”

The presence of Australian drivers in the Asian series is good for the Australian GT Championship as well with drivers expected to head

Down Under later in the year for the Phillip Island round of the series.

“There is talk that some of the Asian Series drivers will be coming over to race in the Australian GT Championship at Phillip Island,” said Eddy.

“After this weekend they’ll sit down with all the Asian drivers to see how serious people are about coming down to race in Australia.”

– PHILLIP MAHONEY

news

New A1GP car tests at Imola A1 GRAND PRIX TESTING has continued for A1GP’s new Ferrari-powered car.

The new weapon was tested last week week for two days at Imola – the first time the car has run outside the confines of Ferrari’s Fiorano test track – with Andrea Bertolini entrusted to steer it.

The car ran without fault, pleasing A1GP General Manager, Technical and Operations, John Wickham.

“We’ve completed about 900 kilometres of testing so far and everything is going relatively smoothly,” said the former Spirit F1 boss.

“We haven’t done as much testing as we hoped but that’s partly because we were waiting on the weather at Fiorano.

We ended up just running in the rain in the end but the car looked very quick in the wet!”

Testing continues this week, with five days running scheduled at the new Guadix Circuit in Spain.

Official pre-season testing for all the teams will take place at Silverstone on August 18-20 and Mugello on September 17-18.

Morris set for NASCAR race

Fatality at Finke Rally

NASCAR

FINKE DESERT RALLY

Dirk Klynsmith

PAUL Morris can’t get enough of racing cars in 2008.

Having driven HQs, Aussie Racing Cars and Production Cars (plus his regular V8 Supercar drive, pictured right), Morris will head to Sonoma, California to compete in this weekend’s next round of the Camping World West series.

Morris will leave Australia tomorrow (Tuesday) before strapping in for his first drive on Friday.

“I get two and a half hours of practice before racing on Saturday,” he said.

“Should be alright be a bit of fun.

“The car is meant to be good so I’m looking forward to it.”

– GRANT ROWLEY

A BIKE competitor in last week’s Finke Desert Race died on Sunday June 8.

Rider David Schmidt, from Dalby in Queensland, and was riding his Class 7 KTM 450 EXC when the accident occurred approx. 130 kilometres south of Alice Springs.

NT Police reported that it appeared that the rider, aged 37, crashed onto a tree.

“Motor sport has an element of danger and this weekend, it has claimed a life,” Finke Desert Race Committee President Mr. Antony Yoffa said.

“Competitors ride and race at the Finke because they love it’

15

news

Andersson killed in Africa OBITUARY

sutton-images.com

IN one of life’s great ironies, a collision with a Toyota has taken the life of Ove Andersson.

The likable Swede, the former WRC driver who turned his hand to management and led Toyota assaults on the WRC, Le Mans and Formula 1, was competing in a classic rally in Africa when he collided with a car as he rounded a corner on a transport stage. The 70-year-old died at the scene.

As a driver, Andersson won one World Rally event, the Safari, before standing down from competitive driving to focus on management. His Andersson Motorsport team became Team Toyota Europe, which in turn was transformed into the marque’s GP team in 2002.

The following year, he retired from the company but stayed with the team for several years as a consultant, before moving to Africa in 2004.

Married three times, Andersson leaves behind two sons and a daughter, many friends and a huge number of admirers. To all, Motorsport eNews extends its sincere condolences.

Ford returns to ARC after Fiesta Siesta RALLY

THE Britek Motorsport-built Ford Fiesta Super 2000 will return to action in the Australian Rally Championship this weekend in the Coates Rally Queensland on the Sunshine Coast.

Darren Windus returns to the series with co-driver John Mortimer in the Japanese Wholesale Spares-backed car, which Windus believes can challenge the Toyota S2000

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duo of Simon Evans and Neal Bates.

“John and I are delighted to get back aboard what we consider the most exciting rally car we have ever driven,” said Windus.

“We have had an excellent start to the 2008 season and many people would have thought it best to stick with the Subaru WRX. However, to catch those Toyotas, we need to be in the same type of machinery.”

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5 Minutes with ...

MARCOS AMBROSE

Ambrose could be the first Australian in a long time to make his NASCAR debut this weekend ...

MOTORSPORT NEWS: How’s your feelings ahead of your attempted NASCAR Sprint Cup debut this weekend?

MARCOS AMBROSE: There’s a level of excitement, trepidation and anticipation.

If I didn’t have to qualify that car in, I’d have a totally different mind set, I’d just be totally fizzed to get it there.

The very start of the weekend is the most difficult it’s going to get. I’m anxious about getting the car in on speed, get it solid in for the race and that’s what I’m focused on.

I’m really focused on that.

Running for the Wood Brothers is special and I just want to do them proud and hopefully put on a good for my first Cup start.

Are you a little more comfortable because it is a road course?

There’s no doubt that road racing is my cup of tea.

I mean, A.J. Allmendinger is qualifying in, [Dario] Franchitti is going to qualify in and maybe [Sam] Hornish as well.

There’s a lot of really good road racers – Boris Said is trying to get his car in.

There’s a lot of people who are going to try and get in the race. There’s no guarantee to get us in there. I’m anxious about it. I really want to do well.

I think I’ve done everything I can to get ready for it. We’ve tested with the #21 car a couple of weeks back at VIR. We feel like we’ve got a decent package underneath us. I went out to Sonoma on my own and drove the track in some west coast stock cars to try and get up to speed around that track.

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I feel like I’ve done everything I can; now it’s really just down to getting dubbed on. My focus is fully on just getting that car in the show.

Once I do that, I’ll be able to relax and enjoy my first Cup start. I’m really excited about it and hopefully it’s the first of more to come.

How do you find the Sonoma track?

It’s a small track. It’s a lot smaller than I thought. TV makes it look a lot bigger than it really is.

There’s a lot more undulation to it is well as some crazy corners in it. It is a little more technical, but everyone is a good road course racer at the Cup level, so I don’t expect to have any domination there at all.

I want to get my head around the track the best I can and get that Cup car in, sort of like I said. Each track is unique and different and I just have to learn the nuances of it in time

before qualifying starts.

You’ll have two races, flying between the Nationwide at Milwaukee and Sprint Cup at Sonoma. How are you going to handle it?

We’re going to play it by ear.

We’ve got all the planes and helicopters and stuff that we need to try and get it done. The first thing is to get that car (ED: #21 Cup Fusion) in the race in Sonoma and then we really activate that plan.

If we don’t, then I’ll just make my way to Milwaukee in time to practice and qualify the car and just do the weekend as per normal. We intend to try and do both.

But if I get the #21 Wood Brothers car in the race, my focus is going to be primarily on that package. I’ll stay for both practices out there in Sonoma and make our way to Milwaukee to get that race done if we can.

Do you have a back-up plan

for Milwaukee if you make the Sonoma race?

Yeah, Robert Pressley is going to do the practice for us and if I don’t make it in time, he’ll probably do the race for us too.

Where are your emotions thinking about going from Milwaukee Nationwide to Sonoma cup?

It’s a big week. It’s one of the biggest weeks of my career, logistically and the pressure and the expectation and everything. As professionals you’ve got to deal with all of that. I think it will be okay. I’m looking forward to it.

I’ve got a great week. I’m doing an ad, a TV commercial shooting in LA during the week for Little Debbie, which is going to be a lot of fun. Then we get out to California early, so we’re on the west coast time zone, which is going to help us.

I’m just looking forward to it.

I’m anxious about it, but at the same time, I’m really keen to get it going.

chat

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Let’s make V8s our a opinion Phil Branagan Executive Editor FORMULA 1 does look like staying at Albert Park for the foreseeable future, so there are some things that need to be addressed.

With the race set to kick off at 5pm (funny, I seem to remember Motorsport News

suggesting that as an ideal compromise to the European timezone saga some time ago) one thing we are going to need is some afternoon entertainment. I cannot see Kiss being torn away from the cryogenics machines two years in a row, so we may need something else to keep us from nodding off.

As usual, we have a suggestion.

Let’s watch the V8 Supercars.

So what, you may ask? The V8s are already at Albert Park?

Well, they are and they aren’t.

My suggestion is, let’s have REAL V8s, with points. Let’s have a championship round.

There are all kinds of reasons people put forward for this not happening. Formula One Management won’t allow it. Why not? GP2 runs its championship during GPs, so it

Letters

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

Thank you Channel 10 has taken a lot of flack over their broadcasts and quite rightly so.

But I'd like to acknowledge the fact that they are finally listening to the motorsport fans and broadcasting the French Grand Prix on HD at 9:40 this weekend! Thanks 10! I hope this is a permanent situation.

Geordie Pugh Brisbane, Qld

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Sandown Crowds Want to know why the crowds were down at Sandown?

Monday cost a gouging $70 just to get in. Plus, we mugs were handed a photocopied sheet, “no shelters or BBQ’s next year” and another afterthought sheet saying “grog search next year”.

Policing efforts at the Island last December almost caused ‘biffo’. I guess they’ll try to take the fun out of (Vale) Winton

too – no campfires. I know there are reasons for this stuff, but take us for granted and serve us up more tedious racing for points and you’ll end up with the V8s going the way of Basketball. name withheld Email address withheld Parity Since Sandown 2007 the Ford teams have had a clear horsepower advantage over

the Holden teams. The category needs closer competition.

The Fords were given blisted front guards to match the VE but the VE does not have the same speed as the Fords. Does parity adjustment only flow one way?

And don’t get me started on driving or lack of standards from Lowndes. One rule for some again it appears!

Peter Schafer Email address withheld

opinion

afternoon delight can’t be a philosophical thing.

Those cars use the F1 pitlane, so it can’t be a pitlane thing.

Sure, tyre stops are going to be a problem, so my imaginative suggestion is, don’t have them. Let the boys race around and do their best on one set of Dunlops.

For the sake of fairness, the F1 teams will have to be tucked away in their garages, out of the way, for a few

hours. But, since there will be a big time gap between F1 qualifying (notice how it stayed in the same time slot this year, despite the race being put back?) and the actual GP, and no raceday warmup, just leave the cars in parc ferme for a little while longer.

Television might present a problem. It is well-known that FOM holds all the rights

to moving images there but, surely, this is nothing that could not be sorted out between Bernie Ecclestone, Ron Walker and the networks.

Not long ago, there was similar talk that the Indy 300 could not host a V8 round.

After years of non-points race, there were obstacles – but they were overcome. Let’s get that mindset again, and make this happen.

eLETTER OF THE WEEK Change it up We are not racing over the Queen’s birthday weekend because of poor crowds?

Did anyone consider the price of a ticket might also be a factor?

A three-day pass at Sandown cost $120.

Heaven forbid you want to buy a hamburger, bucket of chips and a can of Coke for lunch. You need to see your bank manager first.

Punters want to see racing, not a one day event stretched out over three days.

You want the fans back, try this format.

Friday: Practice all day.

Saturday: Qualifying and top 10 shoot out. Plus a support race or two.

Sunday: Racing all day. Race 1, 150km, no pit stops. Race 2, 250km, pit stop for fuel and tyres.

If you are short of events for Sunday, take a round of a State based series and let them have a go as well. There

is nothing wrong with 40 HQ Holdens belting around.

And cut out all the rubbish we are forced to watch like dragster burn outs, corporate rides, ‘idiots’ doing wheelies on bikes etc. No one cares about this.

Look at the reaction of the crowd at the fence after a race. They all head off to the cars for something to eat and drink.

Stan Chasen email address withheld

Send your creative letters to mail@mnews.com.au, or Motorsport News PO Box 7072, Brighton, Vic 3186 21

LE MANS 24 HOUR SARTHE, LE MANS

Germany 1, France 0 With pre-race favourites Peugout failing to deliver, Audi took the spoils and added another Le Mans title to its list in a measured performance.

DAVID ADDISON reports.

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A

UDI triumphed yet again at Le Mans but only after the toughest fight yet.

Entering the race as the underdog against the faster Peugeots, a combination of better fuel economy and shorter, better-managed pit stops helped Tom Kristensen/ Allan McNish/Rinaldo Capello to victory for the diesel Audi R10.

The Peugeot of Nicolas Minassian/Jacques Villeneuve/ Marc Gene took second after a tremendous effort by all three.

It was never the fancied car, the entry of Stephan Sarrazin/ Pedro Lamy/Alex Wurz being the quickest of the three

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entries, but when Sarrazin hit gearbox problems on Saturday evening, Minassian stepped up to the mark.

A great stint by Villeneuve in the rain during Saturday night kept the car in contention, but it was not to be. Minassian tried his hardest, even opting for slicks on a half wet/half dry circuit in the last hour, but the gamble wasn’t the right one.

Third fell to the Riccardo Zonta/Christian Klien/Franck Montagny, but they lost time on Saturday evening when Klien dropped it in the gravel losing two laps.

LMP2 enjoyed its most competitive year yet. The new Porsche RS Spyders were

always expected to dominate, but the Peter van Merksteijn/ Jeroen Bleekemolen/Jos Verstappen car ran faultlessly against John Nielsen/Casper Elgaard/Sascha Maassen car, which was delayed by a puncture and a misfire early on.

History was made by Franky Cheng taking third, the first Chinese driver to race at Le Mans.

GT1 fell to Aston Martin for the second year in a row, the expected battle between Corvette and the British marque never being as tense as previous years.

David Brabham/Darren Turner/ Antonio Garcia triumphed by a

lap from Jan Magnussen/Ron Fellows/Johnny O’Connell’s Corvette, which lost time during a messy pit stop and an overshoot on Sunday morning when Fellows was at the wheel.

LM GT2 was dominated by Ferrari after Porsches private teams self-destructed early on.

The fancied IMSA Performance car (Richard Lietz/Raymond Narac/Patrick Long) went off with the Flying Lizard Motorsport car of Seth Nieman/Johannes van Overbeek/Jorg Bergmeister.

That allowed the Wolf Henzler/Alex Davison/Hortst Felbermayr Snr Porsche to fight it out with Mika Salo/ Jaime Melo/Gianmaria Bruni

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So close and yet so far: Peugout, above and left, looked to have the race sewn up, but trouble for the French and better economy and pit stops by Audi saw the title stay in Germany.

Alex Davison was on for a good result in GT2, top, but mechanical woes left them fifth, while fellow Aussie David Brabham, below, crossed the line first in GT1 to hand Aston Martin the win.

(Ferrari 430 GT2), but the German car was delayed by a clutch change on Saturday evening, then Felbermayr then went off on Sunday morning, with the car finishing fifth in class.

“It’s a shame we had the problem with the gearbox,” said Davison “We were on-track for a class podium and looking good to challenge the Ferrari for the GT2 win.

“Getting to the end is a huge achievement in itself, given the amount of cars and drivers that got into trouble out there, and was some consolation for the Team Felbermayr-Proton crew after

all of their hard work.

“Overall, it has been an awesome experience and something I’ll remember forever.”

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SHANNONS NATIONALS ROUND 4 – PHILLIP ISLAND

Cool for some, controve Nathan Caratti extended his championship lead, while his closest Gold Star rivals were busy getting tangled and in trouble 26

ersial for others 27

Dirk Klynsmith

Winners are grinners: Nathan Caratti, above, won a close Race 1 from Leanne Tander. Brit James Winslow, below, took Race 2.

Marshall Cass

FORMULA 3 NATHAN Caratti has edged ahead in the 2008 Kumho Tyres Australian Formula 3 Championship after the fifth round at Phillip Island last weekend.

Caratti edged out Leanne Tander by less than one-tenth to record a close Race 1 win before charging from seventh on the grid to second in Race 2, comfortably scoring the most points for the weekend.

James Winslow took the Race 2 win, making it a clean-sweep of wins for Team BRM. Caratti finished behind Winslow to extend his championship lead.

“It’s a great win and very important for the championship,” Caratti said.

Winslow’s weekend was put on the back

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foot right from the opening laps when Neil McFadyen made contact with his car on Lap 4 of the first race. Beached in the sand trap, Winslow’s chance of points was over.

McFadyen was later docked eight points for his part in the incident.

Winslow turned his fortunes around, though, when he stormed through to take the Race 2 win.

Tander and West Australian Stuart Kostera were on for a top weekend result, only to be penalised for overlapping at a restart of Race 2. Both were given drivethrough penalties. Tander recovered to sixth place, while Kostera could only get back up to 10th.

Honda-powered Mat Sofi had an impressive meeting, finishing fourth and

third in the two races. It also meant that he was the first of the non-Mercedez Benz cars home.

Former championship leader Neil McFadyen finished fifth in the first race, and had to recover from a first-lap off track adventure in Race 2 to comeback to fourth place.

The next round of the CAMS Gold Star will be held at Eastern Creek Raceway in Sydney, between July 11-13.

Championship points: Caratti 128, Tander 110, Winslow 110, McFadyen 99, Sofi 70.

National: Gilmour 154, Farrell 111, Radisich 58, Reindler 43, Schulz 41.

Trophy: Mill 159, Wakeman 113, Anderson 96.

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Dirk Klynsmith

Hyundai’s maiden victory Miedecke took Hyundai’s first Australian Championship race win at Phillip Island SHANNONS THE revamped Australian Manufacturers Championship for Production Cars kicked off at Phillip Island last weekend, with Class D Hyundai driver George Miedecke taking the first-up round win.

A promising 16-car field, including nine manufacturers, saw Hyundai take first blood, with Miedecke grabbing the outright win in Race 1 aboard his factory-entered Tiburon.

Second place in Race 2 secured him equal overall honours.

The Korean manufacturer

also secured the lead in Race 2. the maker’s race, helped by Des Wall won Race 2 in his Sonata driver Jamie Augustine, Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX as part who topped Class E. of a perfect weekend in Class “It’s been a fantastic weekend,” A, with Garry Holt (BMW 353i) Miedecke said. and Jake Camilleri (Mazda 3 “Hyundai have been MPS) topping Classes B and C incredibly enthusiastic in their respectively in each race. support of our program, to Darren Hossack took his repay that with a race win and Audi to two out of three Kerrick help them win the opening Sports Sedan race wins and round is a great result.” the round win. Only a jumpMiedecke shares the start in Race 2 blotted on his outright driver’s championship copybook. lead with Class D rival Colin Tony Ricciardello finished Osborne (Toyota Celica), who second overall and continues was second in class in Race 1 to lead the series. Luke Youlden before edging out Miedecke in was third for the weekend.

Former Commodore Cup series champion Marcus Zukanovic made a successful one-off return, winning two races and the round. Nick Parker also grabbed a race victory.

After finishing fourth for the weekend, Adam Lloyd now leads the series.

Benjamin Porter took out the opening round of the SAF Holland Formula Vee Series, leading home Victorian driver Daniel Reinhardt, while John Wise and Spud Wood split the Muscle Car Gearboxes HQ National Series race wins.

John Morris/Mpix

Marshall Cass

Winners and spinners! George Meideke, top, and Marcus Zukanoic, left, won their respective categories. Above, Charlie Senese had an off in his Sports Sedan.

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AUSTRALIAN MOTOR RACING CHAMPIONSHIPS ROUND 4 – WINTON RACEWAY

Numbers don’t stack up New series hurts Winton’s AMRC round with a poor field of cars ...

AMRC ROUND 4 of the Australian Motor Racing Championship could only be described as disappointing.

After the withdrawal of the Oz Boss and Production categories to pursue yet another new series (the Independent Race Series), the meeting was left with just over 30 entries over four categories.

The Pirelli GT class provided a field of seven cars, including Ted Huglin’s impressive new Lamborghini Gallardo.

David Stevens in his Ferrari 430 Challenge made a clean sweep of all three races ahead of Rod Wilson’s Maserati, which continually looked for ways to get passed Stevens, only to find the Ferrari pulled away down the straights.

Steve Kepper finished third in all three but couldn’t make ground on the leaders.

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Ted Huglin and Jim Manolios diced for most of Race 3 coming into contact just prior to the finish with Jim able to get going first and lead Ted home. Roger Lago hit the wall on Saturday and couldn’t make it out for Sunday’s races.

Nick O’Halloran had what could only be described as a catastrophic engine failure in his Ferrari 360. The plume of smoke, followed by various engine pieces shooting out of the engine bay, looked expensive.

The Australian Touring Car category only supplied the two Championship contenders, Darren Saillard and Darren Formosa. Race 1 provided a shock when Saillard pulled into pit lane during the warmup laps with a broken gearbox. After setting the fastest time in qualifying, it was disappointing not to see them fight it out.

With only the two entries, no points were awarded for the round.

In the Super TT class, Stephen Anslow (Mazda FD35) won the majority of the races, while Hayden Pullen won the final race in his Ford BA Ute. The Clearihan family of Terry and Chris fought out the honours in all races of the Thundersport Category.

Terry finished with two wins and four seconds while Chris also won twice with a second and two thirds.

Jade Barnes also finished with two wins after a weekend of problems finally improved.

Although most entrants enjoyed the extra track and race time, it’s hard to imagine the series can continue without a major revamp and increased support from entrants and category managers.

– JAMES SMITH

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James Smith

Thundering grid: Well, it wasn’t huge, but the Thundersports provided the biggest field of the meeting, above. Below, Stephen Anslow the majority of the Super TT races.

James Smith

James Smith

Neil Hammond

Touch up: Ted Huglin and Jim Manolios diced for most of Race 3. The pair later came together, with Manolios getting the upper hand.

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NASCAR SPRINT CUP ROUND 15 – MICHIGAN

SON SHINE

It took a fuel race and a touch of luck to get it done, but Dale Earnhardt Jr ended a two-year absence from Victory Lane in Michigan – and he did it on Father’s Day.

By MARTIN D CLARK

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NASCAR Media

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D

Eights and Aces: Earnhardt fought Carl Edwards for position early in the race, above.

Kyle Busch led the field away from pole, below, after wet qualifying determined that the race started in championship order.

SPRINT CUP

DRIVER’S points

Kyle Busch 2213, Burton 2181, Earnhardt Jr. 2129, Edwards 2007, Johnson 1959.

NASCAR Media

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who have struggled to date showed some speed. Sam Hornish, whose spin prompted the yellow with three laps to run, headed his first lap under race conditions in a Cup car after battling Jimmie Johnson past halfway for the lead.

The Vickers Toyota was strong for the second week in succession, taking the lead from Kyle Busch on lap 33 before battling Johnson and a strong RoushFenway pairing of Carl Edwards and Kenseth. Kenseth held off Vickers for third, the pair also saving fuel in the closing laps, but the Red Bull driver showed enough to think that a win may be just around the corner for him.

NASCAR Media

ALE Earnhardt Jr arrived at Michigan Speedway with a twoyear losing streak, running back to Richmond in 2006.

It was looking like that run was going to go to 77 straight races but fuel strategy – and quite a bit of good fortune – saw Little E take his maiden Cup Series win in the colours of Rick Hendrick.

Earnhardt won a fuel mileage race over Kasey Kahne, Matt Kenseth, Brian Vickers and Tony Stewart in a mundane race until the closing laps. The race was headed for a green-white-chequer overtime finish but finished under caution when Michael Waltrip and Patrick Carpentier wrecked on the final lap.

That was Dale’s saviour. Had he had to race to the line, it was certain he would have run dry, after nursing his fuel through the last 52 laps, while Kahne had enough fuel for seven more laps but never got to use it. In fact, Earnhardt was coasting when he crossed the line with the Penske Dodge behind and unable to pass.

“It was a lot of fun today,” said Earnhardt.

“I don’t want for anything, these Hendrick guys give me everything I need. This is very meaningful; Rick Hendrick is such a great man and he deserves so much. We didn’t have a chance to win the race, we were going to run fifth or sixth like we’d been running, but we made it happen.

They can write what they want, but we won one!”

The race was one in which some drivers

Welcome to the Joe Show NASCAR Media

Milwaukee, it was a vital error and, maybe, a turning point in the Series.

JOEY Logano took only three “You couldn’t ask for a better races to become the youngestFather’s Day!” grinned Logano ever winner in NASCAR’s in Victory Lane.

Nationwide Series but the fact “When I drove the car [in is, the wrong Joe Gibbs driver practice] I said, ‘shoot, that’s won in Kentucky. a top-five car’ .

But we worked While Logano set the new away and got pole and it all mark at 18 years 21 days, worked out.”

Kyle Busch should have won Scott Wimmer continued his the race. Having skipped Kentucky form (he was third qualifying (he was in flight last year) with second ahead from Michigan at the time) the of a pumped-up Mike Wallace, #18 Toyota driver started at the who twice came through the back of the pack. But on lap 39, field.

Brad Keselowski and he drove around the outside of another 18-year-old, Bryan Logano to take the lead.

The youngster took over later Clausen, were next from Marcos Ambrose, who carried and just when it looked like the famed STP colours (for the the two were settling down first of five races) to sixth place. to fight it out, Busch spun by “It’s just understanding what himself and hit the wall for these cars need,” he explained a DNF. With no plans to race later.

Nationwide this weekend in “I haven’t done a very good job of trying to get what I need and [crew chief ] Gary [Cogswell] has been good enough to listen to what I’m saying and make changes, and we’re heading in the right direction.”

Jason Leffler looked to be in top-five form but dropped to 16th with a final-lap puncture, while Carl Edwards put in what he described as “the worst drive of my career”, which included colliding with Steve Wallace – under yellow.

NATIONWIDE SERIES

NASCAR Media

Red Bullish: Brian Vickers scored a best result for Red Bull Racing with fourth, above. As usual, Kyle Busch led early; here, he leads Jimmie Johnson, below.

NASCAR Media

Points: Bowyer 2338, Keselowski 2166, Reutimann 2161, Edwards 2111, Busch 2093, Ragan and Bliss 2041, M Wallace 1994 [Ambrose 1709, 13th].

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WORLD SUPERBIKE CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND 7 – NURBURGING

Rain, hail and a broken collarbone were just words when Noriyuki Haga stormed to two wins in Germany

Yamaha Racing

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The HAGA RING

Ducati Corse

Chasing Nori: Troy Bayliss, above with Michael Fabrizio, and Troy Corser, top right, were the best of the rest – but Haga, opposite, was way too fast for everyone else in Germany. Apart from being fast, below, Max Neukirchner is getting to be a bit of a character, right. Carlos Checa, below right, was once again the best of the Honda riders.

Suzuki Racing

OTHING could stop Noriyuki Haga at the Nurburgring.

Okay; when we say “nothing”, we mean, “only rain”. Nitro Nori won both races but, just as the second was warming up to a Haga versus Corser all-Yamaha chestbeating match, the heavens opened, the riders held station and the race was called early for safety reasons. Corser was leading at the time but, as the results went back to the previous completed lap, Haga was declared the winner from Corser and Max Neukirchner, with Troy Bayliss fourth from Carlos Checa.

Haga had overcome Bayliss in Race 1, pouncing on a mistake on the penultimate

lap to take the lead, to hold off the Ducati ace and Neukirchner. Corser was fourth ahead of Checa and Ruben Xaus.

For Haga, riding with a collarbone broken in Utah that was repaired by famed US surgeon Art Ting, it all seemed so straightforward.

“During the race the collarbone was no problem, just some muscle pain,” he said.

“I had a great fight with my team-mate Troy in the second race, it was very exciting, fun and fair, I really enjoyed it.”

Bayliss, relieved to be back on the scoreboard after a zero in America, was full of praise for his Japanese rival.

“I’ve had a difficult day and have had

Honda Pro Images

Suzuki Racing

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to ride very hard, too hard, in Race 2,” he admitted.

“After seeing Nori’s consistency in this morning’s warm-up, I thought he was going to be the man to beat today and that proved to be the case. After about twothirds of Race 1, I was doing everything I could to stay with him and although at one point I thought I might be able to take the win, in the end Nori won fair and square.”

The series now moves to Misano in Italy and there is plenty of indication that there will be a lot of action …

Points: Bayliss 227, Checa 188, Neukirchner 176, Haga 172, Corser 154, Nieto 141, Xaus 110, Fabrizio 106.

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Catch me if you can AORC David Fellows and Andrew Kittle have continued their great 2008 form to convincingly win the Tattersall’s Finke Desert Race, held in Alice Springs over the Queen’s Birthday long weekend.

It was Fellows’ fourth outright victory from 14 starts at Australia's premier desert race and it was obvious from Saturday’s prologue, in wet and slippery conditions, that he had turned up to do business.

He set the fastest time of the morning and from this point, didn't look back, setting the fastest average time recorded on the race to Finke, 125kmh.

“We didn’t know how hard the others were going to push, so we set a pace and stuck to it,” said Fellows.

With a buffer of over four minutes on his nearest rival Chris Coulthard, Fellows was

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able to control the pace on Monday’s return to Alice Springs to take a well-deserved victory in the TRD Peter Kittle Motorsports Jimco.

Second outright was Coulthard and Rob Hawker in their mid-mounted V8 Jimco.

Starting third on the road behind Fellows and Owen in the first leg of the race, Coulthard was the secondquickest buggy into Finke. He then maintained his place on the run back to record his best result to date at the Finke.

Current AORC leader Brad Prout snared the final podium position after snapping at the heels of the leading pack all weekend.

“We were disappointed to see the Rentsch’s broken down less than 1km from the finish, but inheriting third position from them has meant we retained the AORC lead going into Mildura,” said Prout.

"The track was awesome

compared to prior years due to the rain having eased the dust and taking the edge off the whoops a little.”

In the Extreme 2WD Class, Brad Gallard, who drove the Sunday leg to Finke handed the keys of his Trophy Truck to his American co-driver Rick Geiser for the return race to

Alice Springs.

Geiser set the fifth quickest time on the return leg of the race, leaving them in sixth place outright.

The next event of the six round Australian Offroad Racing Championship will be the PWR Sunraysia 500, held in Mildura on July 11-13.

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sutton-images.com

Tarquini extends his lead WTCC IT was all about BMW in the first race of the WTCC is Brno last weekend.

Alex Zanardi lead the charge to win from pole position as the German manufacturer secured four of the top five placings.

Alain Menu was the best-placed nonBMW driver taking third for Chevrolet.

A clash between Tiago Monteiro and Gabriele Tarquini forced Tarquini down the order with a lot of work to do. But the Championship leader fought back to take sixth place and maintain his lead.

The reverse grid top eight saw Tarquini start from third and take a much needed win for SEAT. Tarquini was forced to hold off a hard-charging Zanardi, who came

from eighth in a great drive. A last lap dive from Zanardi almost secured him a great fight-back, but was not to be.

The win sees Tarquini extend his championship lead to 16 points of Yvan Muller after Muller lost a number of positions late in the race to wind up sixth.

Next up the championship heads to Portugal for Rounds 11 and 12 on July 13.

Tough day for the Aussies SPEEDWAY GP

Points: Pedersen 69, Gollob 58, Crump 48, Greg Hancock 44, Adams 42.

Mike Patrick

There was disappointment for Jason Crump in the Denmark GP at the Parken Stadium where the former world champion had looked back to his best with some inspired riding.

He comfortably won through to the final but made a mistake on the first bend and could not catch the two leaders Tomasz Gollob and Nicki Pedersen, with Gollob managing to clinch the win.

It means the 2006 world champion has now failed to make the first two in any of his last 19 Grand Prix.

However, with seven meetings to go he is still in touch for a title bid. He lies

third 21 points behind the leader and current Champion Nicki Pedersen.

It was also a disappointing night for Leigh Adams. He struggled in his qualifying rides and only made the semi-final with a last gasp heat win in his final qualifier to get through.

However he trailed in the semi after a poor start and now lies fifth in the overall standings with the British GP at Cardiff on June 28.

Also over the weekend, Australia finished third in the junior World Championships in England.

– TONY MILLARD

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rear of grid

It’s a Time of the Signs

ORAN Park Raceway only has 18 months before it gets bulldozed, but 40 years of history was stolen recently.

A number of signs that have greeted Oran Park guests for nearly half a century have been stolen. The signs were taken from both the Cobbity Road and Northern Road entrances.

Track manager Jeff Boulous said that he hopes that the thieves will return the stolen signs.

“Anyone should know that they aren’t worth a zack because they’ve been stolen,” he said.

“It’s $10,000 worth of signs. We’ve stepped up security now. The police are doing more searches around the track.

It’s a massive shame it’s happened.

“I would say that the signs are historic pieces. They belong to everyone. This place belongs to the motorsport fans and it’s a shame when people do things like this.”

Oran Park Management is offering a reward for the safe return of the signs, or

information leading to the signs being returned. Call Oran Park on (02) 4646 1004 if you have information.

At the moment, there is no official date for very last race meeting at Oran Park, but it is expected to come at the end of the 2009 season. The track is expected to be still open in 2010, but not for races.

Oran Park will be farewelled by the V8 Supercar franterity this year for the category’s season finale on December 4-7.

– GRANT ROWLEY

John Morris/Mpix

Odd Spot

John Morris/Mpix

WE could not let this go without a comment.

In the rush to get Motorsport eNews out last Monday – yes officer, we were online 4h30m after the last V8 race finished at Sandown – we missed out on commenting on this clever billboard ad at the track.

Like, no doubt, a bunch of other people, we wondered whether someone had delivered the signs to the wrong track. Then the penny dropped and we realised that it was all a jolly jape, and a play on having a street directory in your car. Ho, ho, ho!

Of course, the GPS generation might think this is so 20th century but, to us Luddites, hilarious. Well played.

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