Motorsport eNews Issue 61 - July 1-7, 2008

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Issue No. 061 1-7 July 2008

SAME BUT DIFFERENT new compressed v8 Calendar for 2009

r o y a w y M y a w h g i h e th stewart considers NASCAR options

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

Chris Lambden publisher@mnews.com.au

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. 061 | 1 - 7 Jul 2008

news 4 Calendar

7 Extension 9 Earnhardt/PMM 10 Smoke!

14 Rising Stars 16 Youlden out

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

race 22 NASCAR 26 IndyCars 30 Superbikes 32 DTM

V8s start annual juggling Barbagallo to get longer Would have been nice ...

Hendricks, maybe?

Get 50, get a sticker Star loses his Sports ride Mark Winterbottom Diary Dates Feel the flow?

Busch wins (the other one) Kananarama X marks the spot Britain beats Canada

trade 38 Classifieds

welcome Your current Fujitsu Series leader just wanted to say g’day ...

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

Smarter, tighter calendar V8SA to implement a condensed calendar for more frequent V8 racing V8 SUPERCARS EXPECT to see the same amount of V8 Supercar Championship Series rounds squeezed into a shorter time frame next year.

V8 Supercars Australia indicated to eNews that the long gaps between rounds this year, designed to accommodate Channel Seven’s commitment to the Beijing Olympic Games, will change next year, giving V8 teams an extended off-season.

With the Grand Prix securing

its March 29 date (see separate story), the V8 season looks likely to kick-off two weeks beforehand at the Clipsal 500.

V8 Supercar Operations Manager Kurt Sakzewski told eNews that the 2009 calendar won’t need to be as compromised as this year’s schedule.

“We’d like to see the championship compressed a bit,” he said.

“We know the gaps aren’t an ideal situation, so we’re working on that with next year’s

calendar.

“Not having the Olympics helps, and we’re seeing what else we can do to try and reduce the gap between events and shorten the length of the season. That obviously helps out the teams.”

The series has scheduled 15 rounds this year – an Australian Touring Car record – which includes the non-championship event at Albert Park’s Australian Grand Prix.

“This is the longest season V8 Supercars has ever had – from

the third week in February to the first week in December,” Sakzewski said.

“Our aim is to try and shorten that up an bit and reduce the gap between events which is what’s preferred by fans, teams and television commitments.

“We’re not going to have more or less events, just reducing time between races.”

All of the tracks of this year’s calendar will remain, except for Oran Park, which will be replaced by Townsville’s new street circuit.

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

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for 2009 V8 Series Dirk Klynsmith

The order of the events is a long way from being decided, however, there has been suggestions that the final round could remain in Sydney at Eastern Creek, or move back down south to be run at Sandown.

Sandown held the final round of the V8 Series (called the V8 Ultimate) from 2001 to 2002, while Eastern Creek was the venue for the Grand Finale in 2003/04.

The 2009 calendar is scheduled to be announced at Phillip Island’s L&H 500.

– GRANT ROWLEY

Increase, Decrease?

FUJITSU V8s

Dirk Klynsmith

THERE could be one more, or one less round of the Fujitsu V8 Supercar Series in 2009.

With no stand-alone Fujitsu round at Wakefield Park, V8SA is weighing up its round options for the development series.

Operations Manager Kurt Sakzewski said that the FV8 calendar is ultimately dependent on the calendar for the Championship Series.

“Next year, we’re not going to have a stand-alone round at Wakefield Park. The idea is that we’ll have all of the Fujitsu rounds run alongside the Championship Series. That’s the intention at this stage,” he said.

“We’ve got to review whether it will be a six, seven or eight round championship next year, but that is something that we’ve got to sort out after the Championship Series calendar is finalised.

“Holding an extra round is an extra cost to all the teams involved. If we make it an eight round series, it’s going to cost them an extra bunch of cash. The teams would have to work out whether there is any benefit from running an extra round.

“We’ve got to wait until we’ve got the Championship Series in a position where we know it’s almost locked into place, and then we can place the Fujitsu Series and the flow on from that is the support categories.”

– GRANT ROWLEY

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

AGP date confirmation avoids clash V8 SUPERCARS

A CLASH between the 2009 Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix and the AFL football appears unlikely, at least as far as television is concerned.

With March 29 confirmed as the date of the GP next year, it appears that Network 10 and the AFL will work together to ensure that there is no clash that would prevent either sport being shown at the same time.

While no comment has been made by the network, it appears that the co-operation that saw a potential clash averted in 2006, when the GP was moved to April to avoid the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, will be repeated when scheduling is arranged for next season. The current situation would see any Sunday AFL games broadcast on free-to-air on the Seven Network, though Ten is likely to be committed to a Saturday game, which would have to be scheduled around qualifying.

Two years ago, games were scheduled for late Saturday and Sunday nights, and a Geelong home game was the only Victorian game on Saturday afternoon.

While the details are yet to be hammered out, what does appear certain is that both qualifying and the race will be broadcast on Ten’s Standard Definition and HD channels.

Both the AFL and the Grand Prix are protected by the Federal Government’s anti-siphoning legislation, which ensures that events of national importance and cultural significance remain on free-to-air television. Under that legislation, Ten would not have the option of showing either sport only on HD.

Clipsal needs a boss V8 SUPERCARS THE Clipsal 500 is looking for a new boss after the resignation of Andrew Daniels last week.

Daniels, who has been the Chief Executive of the South Australian Motor Sport Board since 1999, is leaving the post to become the Chief Executive of South Australia’s Motor Accident Commission. Prior to his 500 post, he was the Deputy Chief Executive Australian Grand Prix Office and was involved with eight of the 11 Formula 1 GPs held in Adelaide.

SA Motor Sport Board Chairman Roger Cook praised Daniels’s contribution to the 500’s success and confirmed that a national search to find a replacement CEO would being at once.

Clash jumper: There will be no need for an away strip for either the AGP or the AFL next year thanks to the late-March date.

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Longer Barbagallo could be an option ...

V8 SUPERCARS IS an extension to Barbagallo Raceway the answer to securing the future of V8 Supercar racing in Western Australia?

That may well be the case, with rumours surfacing late last week that the existing 2.41km layout will be extended to just over 3km as part of a major redevelopment. While details are scant, it would appear likely that the work, should it happen, would take place

during the construction of new pit facilities, which are being mooted as a sweetener to extend the current sanction agreement with V8 Supercars Australia.

The WA State Government recently appointed international consulting company GHD to conduct a feasibility study at Barbagallo Raceway, to decide whether an upgrade to the existing facilities, or building a whole new circuit at an already targeted site in Bullsbrook, is the most cost effective option.

WA Sporting Car Club spokesman Rob Janney said the GHD study could lead to a number of options, but it was too early to make any big predications.

“The feasibility study is underway now, and its going really well,” he said.

“There could be improvements like that, should the government see that as the best way to go.”

In other news from the

Marshall Cass

Is WA taking the long road?

west, long-time WASCC member Peter Thornell has been appointed the new General Manager of Barbagallo Raceway. The position has been up for grabs since Craig Duffy and the club parted ways earlier this year, and will be filled by Thornell, a successful businessman in his own right, until later this year, when a long-term decision will be made.

– ANDREW VAN LEEUWEN

Marshall Cass

BRIEFLY...

Knight in Fujitsu Ar

Kiwi to make Fujitsu V8 Supercar debut at Queensland Racew FUJITSU V8s

n The World Cup of Motorsport will go High Definition next season. The A1GP 2008/09 series, which is expected to be shown in up to 180 countries, will now allow its broadcasters to show the races in HD, with a new, dedicated broadcast facility travelling to each round.

As many as 60 cameras will be used for each round, and telecasts will still be able to be watched in Standard Definition (SD). n It was good and bad news for Australia in Misano’s SuperSport race, with Andrew Pitt picking up the pieces when Broc Parkes came off just after waving his rival into the lead. Parkes was preparing to sit behind his Honda rival but his Yamaha R6 punched him off a few corners later.

Craig Jones and Jonathan Rea followed, while Parkes recovered to 10th. Pitt leads Fabien Foret by 16 points in the championship. n Michael Patrizi is the latest V8 Supercar driver to get engaged.

The West Aussie popped the question to long-term girlfriend Janine, and, for some crazy reason, she accepted. Motorsport News passes on our congratulations to both.

NEW Zealander racer Andy Knight will drive a third Howard Racing Ford Falcon in two of the final four rounds this year in the Fujitsu V8 Supercar Series.

Knight will contest the next round at Queensland Raceway in the ex-Adam Sharpe Falcon BA, as well as the penultimate round of the series at Bathurst.

The intention is for Knight to use these two rounds as a prelude to the 2009 series, in

which he plans to contest the entire championship.

Knight completed the second of two tests with the team at Queensland Raceway last week, and despite some mechanical woes, Knight said he’ll be ready for his debut next month.

“I did a decent amount of laps at the test, but it wasn’t anything really meaningful due to some problems,” he said.

“But I’ve got more of an idea now. Something was going funny with the car. We’ve got

one more test on the 9th (July), so that will give us some more laps and we’ll be right for the meeting.”

Knight, who has driven in the Toyota Racing Series with past success, says that his aim for the two meetings this year will be to finish in the top 10.

“I’d like to get a top 10 result in these two,” he said.

“Even though this car isn’t the a same as Howard’s other two cars, I think it can still run towards the front.

“I think Adam qualified

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rmour

way next month

Dirk Klynsmith

seventh or eighth at Queensland last year. The car has some good form around there.”

While Andy’s immediate focus is on his next two rounds, the major plan is to compete with Howard Racing in 2009.

“That’s the plan,” he acknowledged.

“Doing the couple of rounds this year will give me an idea of what’s going on.

“I know that when I get into their front-running cars, I know it will be competitive.”

– GRANT ROWLEY

PMM denies Earnhardt V8 entry Informal talks, but no deal for Dale Jr to race at Oran Park FUJITSU V8s

Dirk Klynsmith

DON’T expect to see Dale Earnhardt Jr compete in Australia this year.

A far-fetched news story originating in an Australian magazine last week, and now doing the rounds of some USA websites, claimed that the American racing hero would make the trip ‘Down Under’ to race the last round of the Fujitsu V8 Supercar Series at Oran Park in December.

According to the story, Earnhardt was to drive a Paul Morris Motorsport Commodore in the race, with the Hendrick Motorsports driver already having links with the Queensland team after a visit to Australia last December.

But the story, which quoted nobody directly associated with PMM, has been dismissed by the team.

“No one from that magazine called the team to check the story. No one rang PMM for any clarification,” team manager Nigel Barcley told eNews.

“There were informal discussions about it over a beer earlier this year, but there’s hasn’t been any further discussion to my knowledge.”

Another twist to the story is that NASCAR’s end-of-season

awards dinner for the Sprint Cup is scheduled for the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York on Friday December 5.

That means that the dinner will approximately at the same time as the FV8 qualifying.

Attendance at the dinner is

mandatory for the top 10 Cup drivers, and with Earnhardt currently third in the series chase at the halfway point, there’s a very real chase that he will have to be there – maybe even accepting his Sprint Cup crown!

‘

‘

Beat em or Join em?

NASCAR JUST when it looked like Tony Stewart was set to confirm that he would buy into his own Cup team comes a new wrinkle – with the possibility of him joining a fourman Hendrick ‘Superteam’.

Far from announcing that he was about to buy into an ownership partnership for the Haas CNC team, news that Hendrick’s is to part ways with Casey Mears at season’s end has fuelled speculation that the twotime Cup champion would join Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon and Dale Earnhardt Jr in an all-star Chevrolet squad.

Any move is dependent on Joe Gibbs, Stewart’s current boss, agreeing to release him from his current deal one year early.

“There are a lot of variables to look at,” Stewart said Friday, after the Mears news broke in the NASCAR media.

“We’ve got all the information except for what’s happening today. The good news is

that we have time to look still. We’re going to have to make a decision at some point.

“After this morning’s announcement, I don’t know [when a decision will be made].

It may be pushed back even more now.

We’ll wait and see. It’s however long it takes to make the right decision.”

Whatever decision Stewart makes, it will have a knock-on effect on the NASCAR driver market. Favourite for a potential second Tony Stewart seat was Ryan Newman, currently with Penske, while sponsorship was thought to be in place.

Long-time Stewart sponsor Old Spice is expected to join Office Depot, which has a deal to sponsor the #99 Ford of Carl Edwards until the end of the season.

Stewart confirmed at the weekend that he would consider a Hendrick seat.

“Absolutely. You’ve got to. There’s no-one

in this garage area that’s not going to look that direction, so you’ve got to look at that.”

There is one more option in play. Stewart has not yet asked for, nor been granted, permission to leave JGR. Indeed, some sources report that team boss JD Gibbs is seeking not just for his driver to stay but to commit to a contract extension.

“I hope Tony stays and I hope he decides to stay [longer,” team-mate Kyle Busch said.

“He’s been a great friend and a great team-mate this year and we have really had a lot of fun. I’m hoping that he gets all the things worked out with JGR where he can continue to drive that #20.”

Whatever Smoke continues to do, a very interesting month lies ahead …

NASCAR Media

10

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FROM EAGLE TO WOOD DUCK NASCAR

Ford Racing Media

MARCOS Ambrose has felt the highs and lows in a tough week of Sprint Cup racing.

Ambrose got a taste of success in last week’s Cup race at Infineon Raceway in the California wine hills, passing the likes of Jeff Gordon – a five-time winner at that road course – Jimmie Johnson and recent winner Dale Earnhardt Jr. He stepped off the elevator into the penthouse when he ran second in the race, only to be knocked down a floor or two by Elliott Sadler, who punted the Aussie under late braking.

Last Friday, Ambrose was in New Hampshire to attempt his second Cup series start, and going out last in qualifying should have helped him. But unfortunately he recorded the slowest speed of 125.566mph in the Wood Brothers Ford.

That made him one of only two drivers (with Tony Raines) not to make the 43-car show.

To make matters worse, pole fell to a Cup rookie, Patrick Carpentier setting a lap of 129.776 mph in his GillettEvernham Dodge.

“It’s amazing,” quipped the Canadian.

“If you would have told me

Walking the Walk: It was a tough – and short – short weekend for Ambrose and the #21 team.

I would struggle on the road course last week and get the pole this week, I would have told you that you were crazy.”

So for the first time in history in a sport as American as apple pie and baseball, one foreign driver qualified fastest for a NASCAR race and another foreigner slowest. The effort has to be a humbling experience for Ambrose and proof of how much work he, the Wood Brothers and his JTG team have to undertake for him to make the remaining Cup races this season.

“It’s really disappointing,” said Ambrose.

“I just feel bad for the Wood Cup drivers are up there in Brothers, I’ve had limited quality with the best of the experience in the COT and we ‘ringers’, and with someone as just didn’t roll off the truck that well traveled as Juan Pablo great, and I haven’t had enough Montoya recently calling experience to really give them NASCAR drivers ‘the best in direction to tune it. I tried as the world’, Ambrose may hard as I could there, but it just be looking at a few more wasn’t to be, unfortunately. I’ve outhouse doors on his way to got a hero to zero story I can tell.” future stardom in the series.

At one point ‘Road Course Although some may be Ringers’, as they affectionately lagging on the road courses, became known in NASCAR, they are as sharp as tacks on proved to be successful in the the ovals and in heavier, longer Cup Series. Although Robby and more powerful cars than Gordon is still the only ‘ringer’ the Nationwide Series to boot, to win a road race, they usually something else he has to place well. adjust to.

But now the majority of – MARTIN D CLARK

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sutton-images.com

INDY ENGINE WARS Honda faces competition from 2011 INDYCAR INDYCAR may not remain a single-engine formula for much longer.

Last Tuesday, representatives from Audi, BMW, Fiat (Alfa Romeo and Ferrari), General Motors, Honda, Mazda and Volkswagen met in Indianapolis in a round table discussion to decide what the future IndyCar series engine formula should be, starting as soon as the 2011 season. Also in attendance were engine building representatives of Cosworth, Cummins, Ilmor, Judd and Speedway Engines.

“The reaction was very positive and everybody was enthusiastic about the discussions that took place,” explained Brian Barnhart, IRL President of the Competition and Operations.

“The next steps are to digest the information that we received. This was a

great opportunity for us to listen to what the manufacturers had to say about the future direction of automobiles and their thought processes on what the specifications should be for race engines.”

With the increased number of drivers as a result of unification, engine manufacturers have inquired about North American open wheel racing. Barnhart hopes to have three to four engine manufacturers competing in the series. When asked about considering a turbocharged formula, Barnhart indicated that the benefit would be the ability to control engine performance but the downside would be the extra cost.

Barnhart has indicated that Firestone and Dallara will remain as sole tyre and chassis suppliers, respectively, and their representatives also attended the meeting.

– MARY MENDEZ

ALMS IN a surprise announcement, Bryan Herta and Christian Fittipaldi have been relieved of their driving duties for Andretti Green Racing in the American LeMans Series.

Instead, Franck Montagny was announced as the new primary driver to team up with Marco Andretti in the remaining seven events.

The Frenchman, most recently a part of Peugeot’s Le Mans squad, has some

The Captain is off the Bridge INDYCAR

sutton-images.com

12

RYAN Briscoe had to do without his regular voice on the radio at Richmond last weekend.

Roger Penske, left, missed his first race as a team owner in the CART, Champ Car or IndyCar Series due to ill health.

The legendary team owner has previously missed events only when he got married, or

was unable to fly to Germany in 2001, when the Lausitzring race was held on the weekend following the 9/11 terrorist attacks, which prompted the US government to close all the airports.

Penske, 71, recently underwent an undisclosed medical procedure, so remained recovering at home for both the Iowa and Richmond IndyCar races.

Nevertheless, Penske was in full communication with the team and Briscoe.

“I really missed having Roger at the races but Clive [Howell] filled in very well,” said Briscoe.

“He’s done this a million times.

We had our usual strategy meeting before the race, only this time Roger was on the speakerphone. It’s the longest meeting I’ve ever had.”

– MARY MENDEZ

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Andretti swings the ALMS axe Herta and Fittipaldi gone as Montagny arrives at AGR Acura

sutton-images.com Dirk Klynsmith

Formula 1 experience (seven starts with Super Aguri) and competed in Champ Car’s season finale at Long Beach.

The news came out of the blue for Herta, who had been with the team for five years and who gave Acura and AGR their maiden ALMS victory in their debut at the 2006 12 Hours of Sebring.

“It was a complete shock to me,” said Herta, as reported by the LA Daily News.

“I don’t think it’s very good treatment in return. I’m at a loss for words. It’s their sandbox. Right now it’s all kind of a bit of a surprise. I’m not going to jump at something. I want to see what happens.”

“We’re looking forward to seeing what Franck can do in the XM Acura,” said team coowner Michael Andretti.

“Making a change in the middle of the season isn’t something you enjoy, and I think it’s even tougher in this case because we’re talking about Bryan and Christian.

Bryan has done everything we’ve ever asked him to do since he joined Andretti Green in 2003.”

Mears Makes Way NASCAR WITH the news that Casey Mears will not return to the #5 Chevrolet next season, the Silly Season has hit high gear.

Mark Martin has been rumoured to take the ride for a final push at the series title, and Tony Stewart [see separate story] and Ryan Newman has also been linked to the seat. Veteran Martin

appears to be out of a ride, as DEI has confirmed to ESPN.com that Aric Almirola, who shares the ride with Martin, will run full-time next season.

Greg Biffle and Clint Bowyer have signed new contract extensions with their respective RoushFenway and Richard Childress teams. Biffle had been pushing to leave the only team he’s driven for in his Nationwide and Cup career.

– MARTIN D CLARK

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Congratulations on 50 wins FORMULA FORD THE CAMS Rising Star program is celebrating 50 race wins with a commemorative sticker that will be displayed on the team’s three Formula Fords at the next round in Hidden Valley.

The 50-race win milestone was reached when Jake Chapman won Race 3 at the last round of the Australian Formula Ford championship at Sandown.

“I was only aware of this milestone after I had won my race and it made the victory extra sweet,” said Chapman, pictured right.

This achievement comes after only three and a half years after the program’s inception.

Other CAMS Rising Stars who have contributed to the win tally include Ashley Walsh, Paul Laskazeski, Kristian Linbom and John Martin, with both Martin and Tim Blanchard winning races over in the British Formula Ford championship as well.

The Australian Formula Ford championship will be making its first appearance at the Hidden Valley circuit this weekend.

– CALLUM BRANAGAN

Time for a smoko, boys

Council workers certainly aren’t known for moving too fast.

But Chaz Mostert will be hoping that’s not the case when he roles out his new hyper-coloured Formula Ford at the next round of the Genuine Ford Part Formula Ford Championship at Hidden Valley this weekend.

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Youlden now without a ride SPORTS SEDANS

Marshall Cass

LUKE Youlden’s Australian Sports Sedan Championship campaign looks to have come to a premature end, with the TraNZam Mustang he was racing being sold my owner Derin Greenslade.

Youlden is currently leading the championship after two rounds, bit is unsure whether he will race in the rest of the rounds now the Mustang has been sold. Greenslade is building a new Sedan in New Zealand, a Jaguar-based car that won’t be ready until the final round at Oran Park – and that’s at the earliest.

“I certainly don’t blame Derin for this, he just got an offer he couldn’t refuse,” said Youlden.

“But it screws me for the Sports Sedan championship unless something else comes along. I don’t know, maybe the new owner will want

me to run it, but it is all a bit uncertain now.

“The biggest disappointment isn’t that I was leading the championship, but that I really enjoyed driving and racing the car! It’s been great to take the fight to [Tony] Ricciardello, because not many people

have done that in the last few years.”

Youlden may be facing a similar problem with his return to the Fujitsu V8 Supercar Series, with former team ANT Racing recently putting its BA Falcon up for sale. But Youlden admits

that, while it was the obvious avenue for a return, it’s not the only one.

“All is not lost there. We’re still hopeful of doing a couple of rounds, and there’s a lot of stuff going on in the background.”

– ANDREW VAN LEEUWEN

Increased eligibility for V8 Tourers SHANNONS NATIONALS ELIGIBILITY for the new Shannons V8 Touring Car Series has been expanded ahead of its second round at Eastern Creek on July 13.

A new V8 Touring Cars Group 2 category has been established to enable pre-V8 Supercar Group 3A cars, which raced in the Australian Touring Car category

between 1993 and 1996.

Also eligible, but through invitation only, will be other Ford and Holden V8 Touring Cars which will run in a separate Sports Sedan class in a shared grid arrangement.

“It will help fill the gap for the 1993 to 1996 Australian Touring Car Championship cars which aren’t yet eligible for historic competition, with a number of significant

Dirk Klynsmith

16

cars out there sitting in sheds,” said Series Director Rob Curkpatrick.

“The Sports Sedan class has been created primarily for cars built to Future Tourer regulations with these cars now eligible to run in the series until the end of 2009.”

In other Shannons news it has been confirmed that the opening round of the series will take place at the WPS Bathurst 12 Hour on February 20-22.

Shannons will run five support categories at the event that will include, the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge that will share a grid with the Porsche 944 competitors, Saloon Cars, the HQ National Series, Formula Vee and Improved Production.

“It’s a good partnership with the 12 Hour and the categories are really excited about going to Bathurst,” Curkpatrick said.

“All five categories will go to Bathurst with strong grids for what’s set to be a great start to the 2009 Shannons Nationals.”

– PHILLIP MAHONEY

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GT CHAMPIONSHIP THE brand-new DBRS9 broke cover at Phillip Island last week.

The DBRS9, owned by series director Martin Wagg, underwent a shakedown last week at the Island circuit and

gave several possible drivers a chance to test the car ahead of the next round at Eastern Creek.

Wagg told eNews that there were several interested parties.

“John Briggs had a drive of the car and is looking to get involved in the championship,

possibly before the end of this year or early next year,” Wagg said.

“Geoff Fontaine and Peter Hackett were also at the shakedwown, so there is a couple of interested parties in driving the car.”

The car will be offered as part

James Smith

Aston Shakedown

of a sponsorship arrangement for the remainder of the year to get someone behind the wheel with support from Wagg and the interested party.

A decision on the driver for the car is expected in the near future.

– PHILLIP MAHONEY

Brock in a Ford, Bowe in a Chev!

BIANTE TOURING CARS PHIL Brock will make his debut in the third round of the Biante Touring Car Masters Series at Hidden Valley Raceway this weekend.

Brock, a Darwin resident, has accepted an offer from Biante series leader Gavin

Bullas to drive his 351 Falcon.

‘Splitpin’ has been keeping match-fit this year, driving in the Commodore Cup Series and should be a top 10 contender in the competitive class.

Joining Brock in the hot field will be John Bowe, who returns to the series behind the wheel of Tony Hunter’s 1969

Xaus signed to BMW

Chev Camaro.

Another entry to watch out for will be that of Jim Richards, who will finally debut his brand-new 1964 Falcon Rallye Sprint.

Three races will be held over the weekend, with the first on Saturday afternoon and two on Sunday.

WSBK

BMW Media

BMW has struck a blow in the World Superbike rider market by signing Ruben Xaus for the next two seasons.

The Spaniard, a long-time Ducati racer, will leave the Sterilgarda team at the end of the current season to take a seat in the German marque’s new S1000RR. “When I met the BMW guys, I was very impressed by their commitment, their passion for racing and their ideas about the future,” said Xaus, an 11time winner on the SBK trail after Sunday’s victory at Misano.

“We discussed how the WSBK project was going and I realised that I wanted to be a part of it straightaway.

“It is not often that you

get the chance to start a completely new project, but I am really looking forward to the challenge. Although it’s going to be tough racing a new bike, I believe BMW will give me a good bike and great support and that’s all I ask for.”

Speculation is now roaring through the motorcycle world as who will partner Xaus.

Despite the fact that two Aussies, Steve Martin and Kevin Curtain, have already tracktested prototypes, favourite for the ride is Aussie Troy Corser, whose development skills have played a big role in the speed of the Yamaha Italia bikes over the last two seasons.

It would also lead to symmetry in the numbers, with Corser taking his #11 to line up alongside Xaus’s #111 …

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5 Minutes with ...

MARK WINTERBOTTOM

Darwin may be hot, but Frosty is keeping cool as he prepares to head north to defend his championship lead at Hidden Valley CALLUM BRANAGAN MOTORSPORT NEWS: You’re coming into Hidden Valley as the championship leader for the first time, how does it feel?

MARK WINTERBOTTOM: Good, it feels good to take the lead of the championship. Darwin’s a good track for us and, it’s good to let other guys chase you, and not be the chaser.

Last year at Hidden Valley, you showed some pace, however luck wasn’t on your side. Do you think you’ll display the same kind of speed and run at the top end?

I think we will. Last year, I only made it to Turn 4 in Race 1, so we had plenty of speed, came from 27th to sixth in Race 2, and we’ve come a long way since last year. So, I’m really confident going up there, and I guess a week and we’ll tell whether or not we’re right or not. But I feel really confident.

What critical things do you and the FPR team look at

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FPR Media

FPR is also leading the championship for the first time. Do you feel there’s a different vibe within the team?

There is, I think that there is a vibe because of how well we’re going, not just because we’re leading the championship.

We’ve got a lot of confidence within the team. Whether you’re leading or coming second, we’d still feel really confident with the form we’ve had. But it’s the first time I’ve ever led and I don’t want to let go of it either, so we’re going to be pushing pretty hard!

when setting up for a track like Hidden Valley?

It’s all about using last year’s data. Whatever the weaknesses are, you try and improve.

So last year we had a bit of inconsistency with the brakes, but this year, we’ll go up there and try and work on making sure you have a consistent heat range when you go through Turn 1 and Turn 4. It normally changes, so you just work on your weak points and hopefully, you’ve fixed them in a year. But that’s all you can really do.

Each track is different, and there’s 12 months between rounds, so you’ve got a long time to work on it. And you’re always making developments as well, so it’s a bit strange, the way you work on the car.

Dunlop is supplying a new compound for the Hidden Valley round. Will you be taking a conservative

because of that?

Not really, you get two sets of brand new tyres for each practice session, so that’s two good qualifying runs you can do, and everyone’s in the same boat.

The tyres aren’t really much different at all, but it’s the same for everyone, so we’ll be going out there trying to win and no excuse if you don’t.

You live in Melbourne where it’s 12 degrees, and you’re about race in 30-degree heat, how does this make you feel?

Not too bad. The thing about sport, and I know that the football [AFL] guys are up over the weekend, it’s hot regardless.

Football players play in two degrees at the G [MCG], and then they go to play in 35 degrees in Darwin. We go from 40 degrees in the cabin to 60 degrees, so it’s not as big a shock to the body as what

other sports feel.

I never suffer up there, we wear a cool suit and you feel pretty good, you cope with the heat pretty well, you don’t really feel it too much.

So the cool suit does make a huge difference?

Yeah (laughs), massive!

You’re going up to the Northern Territory earlier than usual, on Tuesday, does this help when acclimatising to the conditions?

It’ll help, but it’s not the reason why we’re going up.

You get the media side out the way as well, and all your personal sponsors and team sponsors, and then you get to Friday and concentrate on the race.

So it’s more focused on that, more so than acclimatising, it’s probably the perfect place to go to if you had to get somewhere early.

chat

FPR Media

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NASCAR SPRINT CUP ROUND 17 – LOUDON, NEW HAMPSHIRE

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THE

OTHER BROTHER

Tony Stewart should have won in New Hampshire – but yellows, rain and carnage saw to it that Kurt Busch took his first win of 2008. By MARTIN D CLARK

NASCAR Media

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T

ONY Stewart dominated much of what was a 284lap race on Sunday at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, but when the caution waved with 30 laps to run, and 13 cars stayed on track, Stewart’s first 2008 Cup win evaporated on pit road.

When the yellow flag waved again for a wreck eight laps later, and then heavy rain started, Stewart was back in 13th and Kurt Busch became the race winner.

“This is unbelievable,” said Busch, whose last win was 29 races ago in Michigan.

“We might not have had the fastest car, but we put ourselves in contention to take advantage of our fuel strategy.

We would have been three laps shy on fuel. We had old tyres at the end, a flat-spotted left front and everything going against us. But we had some great luck though and we were able to pull it off. I’ll take the win any day. When it comes to fuel mileage, sometimes you’ve got to take it when it’s going as rough as it has been.”

Busch held off fellow gamblers Michael Waltrip, J.J. Yeley, Martin Truex Jr and Elliott Sadler.

The final two cautions were the most interesting and changed the outcome of the race. Dale Earnhardt Jr was running slowly on the pit apron when he was slammed into at full speed by Jamie McMurray, lifting the rear wheels of his car off the ground. McMurray then spun into David Ragan.

When they went back to green flag racing, Sam Hornish spun Clint Bowyer into the wall and, while under caution seven, Juan Pablo Montoya spun points leader Kyle Busch – who, in turn, looped Montoya!

“He tried to wreck me when

Different experiences: It was all about the open-wheel graduates at New Hampshire.

Tony Stewart, right, had the race in his grasp until a late yellow handed the advantage, and the win, to Kurt Busch.

Juan Pablo Montoya won no fans at Joe Gibbs Racing after clashing heavily with Kyle Busch, bottom.

A week after failing to qualify on the Infineon road course, Dario Franchitti made the race, only to smack the wall after 84 laps, below right.

Patrick Carpentier led the race after starting from his maiden pole position, opposite below.

we came to the last corner (before the caution),” said Montoya of Busch.

“I slowed down and the next thing, he started to hit me. He runs good, yeah, he’s got great cars, yeah, but there’s a fine line and he just crossed it. I turned into him the same way he did to me.”

“I got by him earlier in the race and barely touched his quarter panel,” countered Busch, who finished 24th and gave up 36 points.

“But he ran me up the racetrack. We came to the caution flag and he thought he beat me to the caution flag. I touched him on the door and he just turned left and spun me out down the straightway. I don’t know what his beef is.”

Pole sitter Patrick Carpentier, the first rookie to start from pole since Denny Hamlin in 2006, and the first Canadian in 55 years, headed the first five laps before Kevin Harvick, Earnhardt and Casey Mears led the way. Stewart hit the front on lap 93 to dominate until lap 275, when Busch stayed on track under caution.

Point standings; Kyle Busch 2499, Burton 2432, Earnhardt Jr. 2355, Edwards 2262, Johnson 2220.

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NASCAR Media

SPRINT CUP | DRIVER’S points

Smoke and the Bandits Stewart led a Toyota rout on Saturday NATIONWIDE

NASCAR Media NASCAR Media

TONY Stewart became the 22nd different winner in 22 races dating back to 1990 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on Saturday, leading Joe Gibbs teammates Denny Hamlin and Kyle Busch to Toyota’s first one, two three finish in the series.

Hamlin’s Braun Racing Toyota closed in on Stewart in the final few laps, but when Greg Biffle got loose and hit the wall under Brad Keselowski while fighting for 10th, the race ended under the white and yellow flags.

Stewart’s crew chief Dave Rogers, who has guided the #20 Toyota to eight 2008 race wins, elected at the last moment to take two tyres on the final pit stop under caution. The decision proved to be the winning move, as race leader Carl Edwards and Roush-Fenway teammate Biffle (neither of whom

took tyres) were quickly overwhelmed by Stewart on the final restart with 68 of the 200 laps remaining.

“It’s hard not to trust this crew chief when you’ve won five races this year,” said Stewart “It’s not me, there has been four of us win in this car. It’s not the drivers by any means, we’re the fortunate ones that get to drive these great things at Joe Gibbs Racing.”

Marcos Ambrose started 19th and hung inside the top 20 all race, electing to take two tyres under the final yellow. He rose to 10th on the restart, but he dropped back to 14th after being passed

by Scott Wimmer and Dario Franchitti’s Ganassi Dodge in the waning laps. Ambrose was the second of cars across the finish line not with an affiliation to a Cup team.

Point standings; Bowyer 2648, Reutimann 2467, Edwards Keselowski 2452, Ragan 2351, (Ambrose 13th 1945).

NASCAR Media

NASCAR Media

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INDYCAR SERIES ROUND 9 – RICHMOND INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY

The Boys from Br Tony Kanaan led home countryman Helio Castroneves to turn his luck around after early season disappointments at Richmond International Raceway last weekend

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IndyCar Media

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ONY Kanaan has made his first step to turning his season around with his first IndyCar victory for the season at Richmond International Raceway.

Kanaan was able to avoid a host of single-car incidents that led to nine caution periods on the shortest oval of the season.

The Andretti Green driver led home Penske pilot Helio Castroneves and series leader Scott Dixon to show signs that the bad luck that has plagued him this season my finally

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have changed.

“I’m going to enjoy my win for sure,” said Kanaan.

“I knew that I had to keep fighting. There’s nothing else I can do. If you’re going to have the season you expect every year, then it’s going to be pretty boring, I would say.

“I knew it was going to turn around. I didn’t know when. I thought it was last weekend and I made a mistake. When those kinds of things happen, I have a tendency to actually have more strength to turn the situation around.

“I think I work better when I put a lot of pressure on myself, and I came in determined to win this race, and it worked out.”

Kanaan led a race-high 166 laps to take victory after his team mate Marco Andretti had to pit under green-flag conditions.

Following Round 9 of the championship, Dixon maintains his series lead over Castroneves, with Dan Weldon in third.

Following his win, Kanaan maintains fourth position in the standings.

It was a tough day for the Australians at Richmond, with Will Power crashing out early on lap eight and Ryan Briscoe being caught up in an altercation with Vitor Meira, Darren Manning and Bruno Junqueira. Briscoe managed to return to the track after a lengthy pit stop and ended the day down in 15th.

The series heads to the permanent circuit at Watkins Glen next weekend as it continues its busy mid-season schedule.

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INDYCAR | IOWA MOTOR SPEEDWAY

IndyCar Media

Short-track carnage: The shortest oval of the year caused all sorts of problems, left, with no less than nine caution periods.

Ryan Briscoe, above, and Will Power, below right, were both involved in incidents that saw them finish well down the order.

Tony Kanaan, below, was more than happy with the result as he celebrated in victory lane .

1 11 2 3 3 9 4 10 5 5 6 7 7 02 8 23 9 26 10 33 15 6 25 8

Tony Kanaan Br Helio Castroneves Br Scott Dixon NZ Dan Weldon GB Oriol Servia Br Danica Patrick USA Justin Wilson GB Townsend Bell USA Marco Andretti USA EJ Viso Ven Ryan Briscoe Aus Will Power Aus

Andretti Green Penske Target Ganassi Racing Target Ganassi Racing KV Racing Technology Andretti Green Newman Haas Lanigan Dreyer & Reinbold Andretti Green PDVSA HVM Racing Penske KV Racing Technology

300 laps +4.769s +6.650s +7.727s +10.77s +10.92s +16.31s +17.52s 299 laps 298 laps 158 laps DNF

INDYCAR | DRIVER’S points Dixon 351, Castroneves 308, Wheldon 299, Kanaan 269, Patrick 220, Mutoh 216, Andretti 211, Briscoe 210, Servia 194, (11th Power 179).

IndyCar Media

sutton-images.com

RACE SHOP

Where the motorsport industry advertises

CLICK on the centre of any advertisement for more information ADVERTISE for as little as $75 per issue – special monthly packages Contact Oriana Kennedy: oriana@mnews.com.au

03 9596 5555 or 0422 624 349 29

WORLD SUPERBIKE CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND 8 – MISANO

The X-Files Yep, it was a Ducati 1-2 in Italy.

Nope, the bikes were not red ...

Yamaha Racing

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Red on Red: Bayliss won the Battle of Troys, after Corser had prevailed in qualifying, left.

The Suzukis had to chase the Italian bikes, right, but no-one had an answer to the black beauties of Sterilgarda, Ruben Xaus taking a superb win, above.

Sterilgarda Go Eleven

A DUCATI win is nothing unusual in Superbikes. Even a 1-2 is not that odd.

But, a Ducati 1-2, with the private Sterilgarda team beating the works bikes, in Italy? A well-known commentator would call that ‘special’ …

That is what happened at Misano in Race 1. Ruben Xaus led Max Biaggi to an all-black finish, with Troy Bayliss third.

Yep, third.

“Today’s win is special to me,” said Xaus. “I fought against the rider I have learnt more from, a hardcase as only Troy Bayliss can be. I did it in Italy in front of the people which I consider to be ‘my’ followers and I gave a big result to my team.”

If the team and Biaggi, in particular, were thrilled, it could have been better. Both

Sterilgarda bikes were wellplaced in Race 1, leading away in formation, but Biaggi was taken out by Michael Fabrizio and Xaus suffered tyre wear, dropping him to fourth behind Max Neukirchner, Troy Corser and Bayliss.

It was one of those weekends for Yamaha, with Corser taking Superpole but he and Haga not quite having the speed to take on the Italian V-twins in the hot conditions. Nori crashed in Race 1 but came back for fourth in Race 2, while Neukirchner had a rear tyre problem that dropped him down to seventh in Race 2.

WSBK

RIDER’S points

Bayliss 259, Neukirchner 210, Checa 207, Haga 191, Corser 185, Nieto 151, Xaus 148, Biaggi 117.

Suzuki Racing

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DTM ROUND 5 – NORISRING, GERMANY

Mercedes domination

Mercedes continued its dominance at the Norisring with Jamie Green withstanding the pressure to take the Audi’s main man had to settle for third as the championship continues to tighten at the top

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AMIE Green has survived intense pressure from pole-sitter Bruno Spengler to record his second DTM victory of the season at the Norisring.

Green jumped Spengler at the start and withstood the pressure to ensure a Mercedes 1-2 with the final gap no more than half a second.

“That was a tough race,” Green said.

“At some points, Bruno came really close.

“I had some trouble with the balance of my car and made two slight mistakes in the chicane. Probably, that was motivating for Bruno.

“Two years ago, I already had a chance of winning here, but back then, it didn’t happen. I am proud that I now have the strength to get it all right.”

Even under the constant pressure, Green controlled the race and looked solid with only

one real scare after his second pitstop when he left the pits with the fuel can still attached.

Timo Scheider finished third for Audi and was happy with the podium result after struggling in past visits to the Norisring.

“A good day for us, after all, we are on the podium,” said Scheider.

“Now, we are able to attack Mercedes-Benz here at the Norisring as well. Somehow, I still managed to overtake Mattias in the final corner. I just messed up the start, but in the race, the car was great.”

The podium ensures Scheider maintains the championship lead, but his advantage has been reduced to just one point over Green.

Ralf Schumacher was set for his best DTM finish of ninth until he spun with four laps to go with an apparent brake failure.

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Mercedes Park: It seemed, quite literally a walk in the park for Mercedes at the Norisrisng with Jamie Green, above, taking the win from Bruno Spengler, main. Audi was left to pick up the scraps with Timo Scheider finishing third to keep his title hopes alive.

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GLOBE TROTTER

Doing it in Threes

The Incredible Hulk

Hartley dominates Thruxton sutton-images.com

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Mike Patrick

NICO Hulkenberg claimed his second victory of the season at Norisring in the latest round of Formula 3 Euroseries.

The 20-year-old finished six seconds clear of Koudai Tsukakoshi after starting from pole.

A small mistake on the first lap was his only real drama as he powered towards the victory.

“Today, it is a great day for me with this perfect result,” said Hulkenberg.

Championhsip leader Edoardo Mortara came home in fourth place.

The weekend’s second race saw Christian Vietoris take his maiden victory in the Euroseries, finishing ahead of Robert Wickens, with Mortara in third.

“Today, I had luck, but the title is still a long way to go.”

Mortara’s third place extends his championship lead to 15 points after Hulkenberg retired early following a collision with Martin Plowman.

The race was ended prematurely and a restart took place after a pile-up that involved several cars.

However another incident late in the race saw the red flag come out for good with only half points awarded.

BRITISH F3 BRENDON Hartley has dominated the latest rounds of the British Formula 3 Championship at Thruxton.

The Carlin Motorsport driver won both races over the course of the weekend, leading home Marcus Ericsson in the first race and team-mates Oliver Turvey and Jaime Alguersuari in the second.

Hartley’s main challenger for the weekend came

from Turvey, who finished third in the first race.

However the challenge was short-lived with both races effectively being decided in the first turn.

Australian Sam Abay, above, had a strong weekend with a fourth place finish in the first race, which he backed up with a fighting ninth in Race 2.

Meanwhile, fellow Aussie John Martin struggled in the opener placing down in 17th, but a better run in Race 2 saw him come home in seventh.

race SPEEDWAY GP

Mike Patrick

JASON Crump has won the British Grand Prix for the third time in front of nearly 50,000 fans at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium.

The Gold Coast rider, who was actually born within 80km of the Stadium when his father Phil Crump was racing in England, led the scores after the qualifying heats and continued to head home the American veteran Greg Hancock and championship leader Nicki Pedersen in the Final after Britain’s Scott Nicholls was excluded.

The night provided some great entertainment but some bizarre

decisions from referee Wojeck Grodski ruined the night for many competitors.

One of those decisions excluded Aussie Leigh Adams following a first bend crash in his final qualifying ride.

This left Nicki Pedersen in a race when it seemed it was his fault the incident happened.

At the end of the night Crump’s effort means he is now just 10 points behind Pedersen who leads the title race, Hancock is a further six points adrift, with the Pole Tomasz Gollob eight behind Crump. Adams lies fifth in the overall standings after five of the 11 rounds.

– TONY MILLARD

An emotional weekend for NHRA NHRA

Doug Herbert raced to an emotional Top Fuel win at the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals, dedicating the victory to the memory of his two young sons who were tragically

killed in a highway auto accident in January.

Tony Pedregon, Greg Anderson and Hector Arana were also victorious at Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park.

After defeating Troy Buff, Dave Grubnic and

David Ostazewski

Rod Fuller, Herbert drove his SnaponFranchise.com dragster to a 4.63/311 holeshot victory against finalround opponent Brandon Bernstein, who posted a 4.61 at 313 in his Budweiser/Lucas Oil dragster.

It was Herbert’s 10th career victory.

Pedregon piloted his QHorsepower Chevy Impala to his third win of the season and moved to second in the POWERade Series points standings, by defeating low qualifier Robert Hight in the final.

Pedregon recorded a 4.88/306 to defeat Hight, who trailed in his Auto Club Ford Mustang at 4.90 at 304.

Pedregon dedicated his win

to the memory of Scott Kalitta, who died tragically in a crash at Englishtown last weekend.

Pro Stock winner Anderson collected his fourth win of the season when Larry Morgan fouled with a red-light start in the final. Anderson clocked a 6.70/206 in his Summit Racing Equipment Pontiac GXP. In Pro Stock Motorcycle, Arana won his first career race in his 18-year career with a 7.02 at 187 on his Lucas Oil Buell, to stop Craig Treble, who clocked a 7.06 at 187.

The NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series continues with the 29th annual Mopar MileHigh NHRA Nationals, July 1113, at Bandimere Speedway near Denver.

– DAVID OSTAZEWSKI

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DRIFT AUSTRALIA SERIES ROUND 5 – EASTERN CREEK, NSW

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Three-way fight Fine beats Fink as the Drift Series goes down to the wire

speedshots.com.au

speedshots.com.au

THE fight to become 2008 Australian Drift Champion has come down to three drivers, after Leighton Fine took claimed the fourth round of the Toyo Tires Drift Australia Series at Eastern Creek Raceway last weekend.

First, second and third in the championship entering the weekend, Fine, Luke Fink and Beau Yates claimed the same positions at the Sydney circuit, setting up a showdown for the championship in the season finale at Oran Park in September.

The win is Fine’s third of the season in the Commercial Truck Sales Nissan 180SX. After topping qualifying and defeating Robbie Bolger, Adam Trewhella and Khudar Elhaouli, Fine lined up in the final against Fink, whose scalps included Darren Appleton and Yates.

A series-record three reruns were required before the judges could split Fine and Fink (Holford Motors Nissan Silvia), with Fine eventually taking the win. His victory extended his series lead to 70.

“After the disappointment of Mallala, we really wanted to come here and get things back

Second, sideways: Luke Fink, above, finished second behind championship leader Leighton Fine, left.

on track,” Fine said.

While he fell just short of victory to accompany his Mallala win, Fink remains well within reach.

“Full credit to Leighton, it was a great battle with him in the final,” Fink said.

“We gave it everything we had and our car was fantastic, the work we did between rounds paid off.

“It would have been great to win, but second is a good result – we can’t wait until Oran Park to fight for the title.”

At his home circuit, Yates

(Toyota Racing Developments AE86 Sprinter) defeated Elhaouli (JDS Auto Imports Nissan Silvia) to take third and complete an all-Toyo podium.

Yates remains third in the standings – 229 points behind Fine – while Elhaouli jumps from ninth to fifth behind Adam May (WheelWorx Nissan Skyline), who is now fourth after a strong seventh-place finish.

The 2008 Toyo Tires Drift Australia Series will conclude at Oran Park Raceway, NSW, on September 20-21.

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rear of grid

THIS is one of those images that make you sigh.

Okay, we know that GPWeek had Formula 1 covered but this is an historic F1 car. It seems that Lewis Hamilton and Sir Stirling Moss made appearances at the weekend’s ‘The Double Twelve’ THEY say that Time Heals all Wounds. And sometimes, it turns up some pretty cool images, too.

Such as this one. For almost 30 years, Tim Pemberton thought that this pre-Sandown pic of the Holden Dealer Team drivers ready for the 1978 endurance races was lost, as ‘Plastic’ could put his hand on no print, no negative, no nothing.

Then, quite recently, a punter contacted his office and asked whether the poster, with the same image, which had been on his garage wall for almost three decades, was worth anything.

It was. The image had to be tidied up digitally but still features – no, not the Tracy boys from Thunderbirds – Peter Brock, an impossibly young Jim Richards, John Harvey and Charlie O’Brien, ready to take on those evildoers in Fords at The Mountain.

History shows that the quartet did pretty well.

Brooklands Motoring Festival but that both appear to have been upstaged by Heikki Kovalainen.

Apart from the usual attractions – a Concours d’Elegance, with GP and other single seater racing cars from all decades, and the Mercedes-Benz Silver Arrows

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Some Finn Borrowed

Display Team – all three drivers got to pedal a Mercedes-Benz W196. The Finn took the honours for giving the most beans and drifting a car that is worth, roughly, the same as some cities.

It would be nice if today’s F1 cars went sideways too. Hence, the sigh.

Odd Spot

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