Motorsport eNews Issue 63 - July 15-21, 2008

The world of motorsport every week – directly to your desktop

Issue No. 063 15-21 July 2008

Super POwer

Morris hires ENGINE specialist to speed up supercheap AUTO commodores

INDY TIME?

Sponsor close, but is penske coming?

TANDER IS DRIVING WHAT This weekend?

GARTH

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. 063 | 15 - 21 Jul 2008

news 4 New engine man

6 Is it or isn’t it 8 An eye in the sky ...

10 Stewart/Haas 14 RF00 16 Another Harker win

chat 18 5 minutes with ... opinion 20 van Leeuwen race 22 Tander 26 IndyCar 30 NASCAR 35 DTM 36 OS

Benson at PMM Indy on the Coast Well, a Carrera Cup car All the news Stateside No more Van Diemen’s Aussie NHRA success Tony Stewart QR – not so bad All the Shannons action Dixon gets lucky The Kyle Busch Roadshow Audi white-wash Aussies in action

trade 40 Classifieds

welcome The current Formula 3 championship leader wants some more trophies to add to his collection ...

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

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

news

New engine man to help Ingall fly!

V8 SUPERCARS SUPERCHEAP Auto Racing has sent a clear message to the rest of the V8 Supercar paddock that it is serious about winning by upgrading it technical department.

A major part of that is the recruitment of Rob Benson to join its engine department.

The vastly-experienced V8 expert will return to Australia next month after a recent stint with NASCAR team Dale Earnhardt Incorporated, which had its engine department combine with that of Richard Childress Racing recently.

Benson will leave his base in America within a month to take up work alongside Jamie Noonan, who joined the Paul Morris-owned team from Stone Brothers Racing recently.

Together, their experience reaches the length of the V8 Supercar pitlane.

Benson is one of the most experienced engine builders in the business. His most recent V8 Supercar experience came with Ford Performance Racing, joining the team in mid-2004 to put to an end its struggle with reliability and speed after a disastrous Prodrive UK-based development program.

Prior to that, Benson headed the Holden Racing Team’s

engine shop, and had a stint with Brad Jones Racing and had his first engagement with a NASCAR Winston Cup team, with Hendrick Motorsport. He also ran his own V8 Supercar engine program RED (Race Engine Developments) in the late-1990s, with customers such as Wayne Gardner Racing.

The recruitment of Benson to join Noonan means that the Supercheap Auto team is building a deep technical department, with the fatherand-son pairing of Les and James Small overseeing the development of Morris’s and Russell Ingall’s two Commodore VEs. The Queensland-based Holden team has another VE Commodore under construction at the moment, with its debut expected later this year in the hands of Ingall.

‘The Enforcer’ is proving to be one of the fastest Holden runners this season, finishing fifth overall in the past two rounds. And with the team’s home race this weekend at Queensland Raceway, the team will be hopeful of continuing Ingall’s rising 2008 stocks.

The addition of Benson to the team is only likely to move the yellow, red and white cars further (and faster) up the field …

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

Details to sort, but still Go

Sanction still unsigned but all in order for Indy – sponsor deal soon INDYCAR PLANS for the Surfers Paradise Indy 300 on October 23-26 are running at full throttle – despite some detail ‘clouds’ over the event.

Organisers of the race, which will feature IndyCars for the first time, are in the process of working through some of the changes prompted by the shift from CART/Champ Car to the IRL, but remain confident.

“All systems are marching ahead for the race,” said Gold Coast Indy 300 General Manager Greg Hooton.

“Tickets are on sale, as they have been for the last three months, and both they and

corporate sales are tracking well.”

One sticking point has been a delay in confirmation of the event from the American end, brought about by a delay in the sanctioning agreement.

“We hope to make an announcement very soon about Australia,” Terry Angstadt, the IRL’s President, Commercial Division, told Motorsport eNews.

“We don’t announce a race until the sanctioning agreement is officially signed.

We have discussed all the key business issues. There is nothing to keep us from doing that and we don’t anticipate any issues. I’m very optimistic.”

Hooton says that the delay is part of the normal process of a new relationship.

“We have been negotiating that for the last three months,” he said.

“There are things like the TV coverage, the amount of equipment that the teams bring, that need to be sorted. We haven’t had to deal with a new body for five, six, seven years and such things take time.”

Hooton reaffirmed that the host broadcaster for the race is the Seven Network, with technical facilities provided

by V8 Supercars Television.

He also said that he expects to announce the event’s naming rights sponsor “in the next few weeks”, following the conclusion of the deal with previous sponsor, Lexmark.

– PHIL BRANAGAN/MARY MENDEZ

October locked in for 2009 V8 SUPERCARS WHILE plans for the 2008 race are well in hand, the 2009 IndyCar round will not be moving from Queensland’s spring.

The IRL may seek to run the race back-to-back with the Japanese round of the IndyCar Series at Motegi, and if that happens, the Motegi race

would have to move from its current date (the 2008 race was April 17-19).

V8 Supercars Australia has confirmed that its date for the race is locked in.

“In Australia, the motorsport calendar is determined

by Formula 1 and then V8 Supercars Australia,” said V8SA Chairman Tony Cochrane.

“It is a V8 Supercars decision on their calendar. As it stands, we already have an agreement for 2009, which is October 22-25.”

That would appear to place the Japan race the preceding weekend – and Australia could host the final race of the 2009 season.

“One of the options for next year is to go from the Japan race to Australia,” said Terry Angstadt, the IRL’s President, Commercial Division.

“Chicagoland has relaxed their requirement to be the final points race next season. Even though this year’s Australian race won’t determine the title, there will be an increased bonus, probably for the top five finishers. We are asking the teams’ cooperation to participate.”

Gold Coast Indy 300 General Manager Greg Hooton said that talks were continuing.

“We are talking to the IRL about what the dates are, and we are looking at a similar date to what we have now.

Until we see the dates for the [2009] calendar, we won’t be announcing anything.”

– BRANAGAN/MENDEZ

HONDA RACING

news

HOW MANY AUSSIES?

Indy Big Guns may stay home this year INDYCARS

HONDA RACING

ONE more question remains; how many cars will turn up for the 2008 Gold Coast Indy 300?

According to rumors around the Nashville paddock, the promoter is only offering to provide the standard assistance with travel expenses such as equipment freight, hotel rooms, and airline tickets to supply 18 of the 26 regular IndyCar teams.

And, there are indications owners of the top teams, Penske, Ganassi and Andretti Green, aren’t interested in making the jaunt when the last points paying race for the championship is at Chicagoland in mid-September.

“We can take up to 26 cars and that’s our goal,” said Terry Angstadt, the IRL’s President, Commercial Division.

“It’s in our agreement that we have two 747 jumbo jets. The fact that we have an

Australian team owner, Kevin Kalkhoven, with the Aussie Vineyards AU brand as title sponsor, makes the Australian race very important to us. Even the team incentive package (US$1.3m) includes Australia.”

Gold Coast Indy 300 General Manager Greg Hooton said that he expected “between 22 and 26 cars” to race on the streets.

But one of the Aussies who would line up in the race did not sound optimistic over the weekend.

“Obviously, being Australian, it would be nice to race back home,” said a guarded Ryan Briscoe.

“The reality is we have to do what is best for the series. I’m not going to make a fuss that could jeopardise the future of the Indy Racing League. The heyday of the Australian race ... it was always a great success. If it is not the right thing to do, it’s not the right thing to do.”

“I have raced there. It is a lot of fun. We are in a big transitioning stage for the IRL. Some big decisions have to be made for the future.”

The other Aussie, Will Power, was more optimistic.

“I’m looking forward to going back to Surfers. It’s going to be great to have all the top teams compete there now that open wheel is unified. I hope they can work out the contract for the next three years.”

– MARY MENDEZ

James Smith

Giving Larko 20 CARRERA CUP MARK Larkham’s role as Carrera Cup’s Driving Standards Observer has instantly become a lot clearer.

From Queensland Raceway onwards, each Carrera Cup car will carry onboard cameras, used soley for judicial matters.

Larkham told eNews that the new system will sharpen up the

blurred lines.

“Sometimes, because of a lack of evidence you just haven’t been able to make a decision,” the former Touring Car driver said.

“One of the fundamental problems of the current process, which many in the past have had to deal with, is that the lack of cameras means you have to make decisions based

news

Tander for Carrera Cup! V8 Supercar hero to sample Porsche power at QR this weekend CARRERA CUP

Marshall Cass

GARTH Tander will drive a Carrera Cup car at Queensland Raceway this week.

No, the reigning V8 Supercar Champion is not considering a career switch, but the Holden hero will step into one of Stuttgart’s products on Friday for a few laps as part of a piece for Channel 7’s coverage of the event.

Tander, right, has never driven a Carrera Cup Porsche 997 before, but he told eNews that he is looking forward to the chance at ‘The Paperclip’.

“I’ve never driven one of the Carrera Cup cars so it will be nice to have a drive,” he said.

“We’ve considered going into Carrera Cup with my team (Tandersport) so this is

a good opportunity to know what the cars are like from a driving point of view.”

A category change may not be in the wings, but he did joke about having bigger fish to fry …

“This is also part of me taking over from Cameron McConville as being the television expert on all things motorsport!

“I’m getting more and more opportunities on television. They (V8 Supercar Television) keep asking me back, and I enjoy it, but I don’t know if it will be a career for me after driving.

“It’s good to work with the TV people and understand how that side of it works.”

Tander will drive the #51 Porsche of Kiwi Jono Lester, pictured left.

– GRANT ROWLEY

Dirk Klynsmith

0 extra eyes ... on either network footage, or a combination of driver’s hearsay and a field report from a flag marshal’s point.

“Failing those things, it makes it very difficult to make decisions and all too often, you have an inability to make a decision based on a lack of evidence.

“To me, that is a fundamental issue so this will provide sufficient evidence so we don’t

come across these dramas again.”

Being a former race driver himself, Larkham knows how hot the racing can get, and how oneeyed a driver’s perspective of an accident can be …

“I used to own a race drivers handbook myself, and I’ve never known any drivers personal handbook to be 100 percent correct!”

– GRANT ROWLEY

No Place like Home

Smoke to leave JGR a year early for own Chevrolet team in 2009 NASCAR

10

GM Racing

USUALLY, where there’s smoke there’s fire and in this case, it proved true.

As first reported in Motorsport eNews on April 21, two-time Sprint Cup series champion Tony ‘Smoke’ Stewart announced last Thursday that he is now a 50 percent owner Haas CNC Racing. From 2009, the two-car Cup Series team will be named Stewart Haas Motorsports.

“Obviously this is a huge day for me and a huge turning point in my career,” said Stewart, who did not pass any money to Haas for the ownership stake.

“It was a huge decision making process, something that was not made overnight, the opportunity to have ownership in a race team was in my opinion a once in a lifetime opportunity. I’m really excited about our future at Stewart Haas Racing. What I’ve discovered about racing is it’s not equipment that wins races its people that win races and we’re going to assemble a strong group of core people that we feel like will work together.”

Stewart was never offered part ownership to stay at Joe Gibbs Racing, where his contract was through the 2009 season. It’s possible General Motors would have helped with any contract buy-out to return him to the Chevrolet fold.

Members of the Haas team (which has one topfive result in 250 starts) were informed of the change the evening prior to the news conference at Chicagoland

Speedway and many current employees were told they will likely lose their jobs to betterqualified personnel from other teams, or the current long unemployment line in and around the NASCAR community.

Stewart apparently has a gentlemen’s agreement with Gibbs not to poach employees, including his only crew chief in Cup, Greg Zipadelli, who will remain with JGR. The Haas team is a customer of Hendrick Motorsports, buying chassis and leasing engines. It is based just outside Concord, North Carolina in Kannapolis in a US$15 million, 140,000 sq ft factory, purpose built 18 months ago. Apart from chassis and suspension rigs in the shop, Haas also owns the new full-scale 300kmh Windshear rolling road wind tunnel at Concord airport, the only one of its type commercially available for use in the world.

Stewart would not reveal the driver for his second team, but it’s likely to be Ryan Newman, whose contract is up with Penske at year’s end [see right].

DEI drivers Martin Truex and Paul Menard are in the same situation.

Sponsors also were not mentioned, but those floating in the garage area include Office Depot, Old Spice, UPS (who are leaving MWR), Jack Daniels and Bass Pro Shops, which sponsors Stewart’s World of Outlaw Sprint Cars, USAC Silver Crown and Midget cars – which are also backed by Chevrolet.

Stewart, 37, is not the first to try the owner/driver role, but in essence Robby Gordon is the only other at the Cup level fulltime in that position. The last person to win in that role was Ricky Rudd back in 1998,

so the odds are stacked against Smoke. But with 32 race wins in nine seasons and two championships, he’s not your average Joe. I believe he will return to victory lane in a Chevrolet again in 2009. And while he is winless so far this season, maybe we uncovered the reason why back on April 21 …

– MARTIN D CLARK

news

MORE INDY RACES FOR 2009 Former Champ Car events prompt a revised IRL calendar INDYCAR TRACKS are lining up to have an IndyCar race in 2009 – and that may cause a problem.

Now that unification has created one open wheel series in North America, attendance and TV audiences are up and the IRL is looking for larger sanctioning fees. In addition, former Champ Car events like Long Beach, Edmonton, Surfers Paradise and now Toronto have to fit into the traditional IRL schedule.

Tony George, founder and CEO of the Indy Racing League, has stated he could see as many as 20 races in a season but 2009 will likely only have 18 to 19 events.

That means the IndyCar Series may not be returning to one or more of its current tracks.

“We’re not going to please everyone,” said Terry Angstadt, Indy Racing League’s President, Commercial Division.

“We do have to make a decision balancing all considerations and making the best call for our business. We seek a lot

of input.”

Rumors have circulated that Homestead, Iowa, Milwaukee, Nashville and Richmond, all ovals, might not make the cut. The schedule could be released as early as the end of July, allowing the IRL to analyse attendance figures.

The team owners have already been told the goal is to have no more than four consecutive races, with the season starting in March and ending in October, probably in Australia [see page 6].

– MARY MENDEZ

IndyCar Media

Ryan thinking NASCAR

NASCAR Media

RYAN Newman has admitted that he is talking to Tony Stewart about joining him at Stewart Haas Racing next season.

“Driving for Tony’s team is an option,” Newman said on Saturday. “He’s got an open seat. Obviously you guys [reporters at Chicagoland] marked me as a lead candidate to get in there, so it is an option.”

The Daytona 500 winner, who has only raced in Cop with Penske, admitted that friendship would play a role in his decision.

“He’s [Stewart’s] been a good friend on and off the racetrack.

Specifically off, he’s done a lot to help me and guide me.

In general he’s just a hardnosed racer and have always appreciated him for that.

Whether we argue on the race

track or not, we’re two hardnosed racers.”

Adding to the intrigue is the fact that the current competition director at HaasCNC Racing Matt Borland was formerly Newman’s crew chief.

“Matt’s always been a good friend,” Newman said.

“Obviously we had a parting of the ways from a competitive level a couple years ago. He’s a great friend. Does it impact it [his decision]? Yeah. There’s a friend over there, that’s something to consider.”

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BRIEFLY... n MORE than 20 of V8 Supercar’s top drivers will turn out to meet their fans at Redbank Plaza shopping centre on Thursday 17 July before they hit the track in the City of Ipswich 400 at Queensland Raceway this weekend.

Craig Lowndes, Russell Ingall, James Courtney, Shane van Gisbergen and Rick and Todd Kelly will be among those lining up from 6.30 pm to 7.30 pm on the level three stage for the popular annual meet-and-greet at Redbank Plaza.

All stations to Denyer FUJITSU V8s THE journalists at Motorsport News have an affinity with all things computer games, so, in that case, Grant Denyer is our new best friend.

The television star is now a console carrier, having secured major sponsorship from PlayStation 3 for the remainder of the Fujitsu V8 Supercar Series – starting this weekend at Ipswich’s

Queensland Raceway.

Accompanying PlayStation 3 will be Dick Smith Electronics, as well as his regular sponsors Summit Fleet Leasing and Just Cuts.

Denyer’s deal includes appearances with the car at Dick Smith Electronics across Australia, giving away PS3 units.

– GRANT ROWLEY

n IRWIN Racing has made a change in the engineer department with Marcus Clarke now taking the responsibility for tuning Marcus Marshall’s #26 Falcon.

Former engineer Greg Foletta has departed the team, leaving Clarke to make his debut at the City of Ipswich 400 at Queensland Raceway. n Snap-on Tools and ANDRA Championship Drag Racing have announced a major sponsorship partnership that will see the hand tool company feature heavily in the 2008/2009 Australian drag racing season.

As part of ANDRA Championship Drag Racing’s commercial push for the up and coming season, Snap-on will become the official hand tool of the championship as well as taking on the naming rights sponsorship of a newly generated segment on ANDRA TV called ‘Snap-on Tech Talk.’

“We are delighted to be welcoming Snap-on as one of our inaugural TV sponsors and official suppliers. They have been a wonderful supporter of Australian drag racing and this new commitment cements their relationship with our sport even further,” said Drag Ltd’s Tony Beuk.

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There’s a Baird in there ...

Carrera Cupper gets Fujitsu V8 chance at QR FUJITSU V8s CRAIG Baird will make his Fujitsu V8 Series debut at Queensland Raceway, driving one of the ex-WPS Racing Falcon.

Baird has prior experience in the cars, having driven for WPS Racing in 2005/06.

The car will be run by Racer

Industries proprietor Ryan McLeod, using the ANT Racing #30 licence.

Baird will drive the newest of the WPS cars – Max Wilson’s WOW entry that was debuted at the Sandown 500 last year.

The car competed in the rest of the season before being off-loaded to Racer Industries when WPS Racing dropped out

of V8 competition at the start of this season.

The car will car sponsorship from www.v8clearance.com.au.

It will be a busy weekend for Baird, contesting in the Carrera Cup Championship (which he currently leads), as well as driving in the half-hour V8 Supercar co-driver session on Friday afternoon for HRT.

news

We’re going to FNQ in July V8 SUPERCARS KEEP July 10-12 vacant on your calendar for next year.

That is the date that the Townsville street track will make its debut as a V8 Supercar Championship Series.

With the final V8 Supercar calender for 2009 set to be confirmed in the next month or so, one would predict that the Townsville event would be Round 6 or 7 of the Championship due to the compression of next year’s

calendar, compared to this year.

The build of the Townsville track got underway, with the first soil tests taken of the land that will house the permanent pit structures that are being erected especially for the

track. The designs of the pit buildings are said to have a distinct ‘North Queensland’ feel.

Construction on the site will start in the next couple of weeks.

– GRANT ROWLEY

Davo for Italian Le Mans LE MANS ALEX Davison will compete in a round of the Italian Le Mans Series this weekend at Mugello.

This drive adds to his busy 2008 calendar, which has included the the European Le

Mans Series, Le Mans 24 Hour, American Le Mans Series and a round of German Carrera Cup. Davison is in Australia at the moment, heading back to Italy to compete in the fifth round of their domestic GT Championship.

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Bolivar could be on the move?

KARTING

Ash Budd

South Australia’s premier karting facility, the Bolivar Raceway in Adelaide’s North, looks likely to be on the move courtesy of a proposed new highway in the region.

Under plans unveiled recently, it is understood the Northern Connector road, which is currently the subject of a feasibility study, will consist of a four-lane highway along with a train line in the middle. The initial plans for this road have it running straight through the iconic South Australian circuit.

“At the moment we have been advised there is a road that is proposed to go through the track but we will not know if this is definitely going ahead until the government receives the feasibility study in October,” said Southern Go-Kart Club President David Kissock.

Over the past few years the venue has received almost $500,000 in upgrades,

however, Kissock believes that even if the club is forced to move many of these facilities will be able to be relocated.

“Should the feasibility study come back and the project gets the green light, it is expected that the compulsory land acquisition could begin as early as next year,” said Kissock.

“While it would be disappointing to have to move from our current site, the positive side of it would be that the majority of our infrastructure is transportable and we may end up with an even better track and facilities than we currently have.”

Since it was first established in 1960 the Bolivar Raceway, the home of the Southern Go-Kart Club, has groomed some of the best young drivers from the state – including 2005 V8 Series Champion Russell Ingall.

Kissock and the Club Executive have been working closely with their local Member of Parliament, Trish White, on the possible relocation plans.

The venue will host its largest meeting of 2008 later this month when stages the annual City of Adelaide Titles. At this event over $6,000 in cash and prizes will be up for grabs – including $1,500 for the winner of the Senior Clubman Pro and $1,000 for the winner of Junior National Pro.

Young Guns development camp KARTING A DOZEN young Queensland kart racers were provided a boost when they attended a Junior Development Camp at Toowoomba’s Greer Park Raceway last Friday.

The drivers, aged between seven and 12 years old, spent time with former

Australian Champion Matt Greenbury amd experienced karting officials Ralph Van Doorn and John Lane.

One of the stars of the day was eight-year-old Melissa Wilcox.

Attending with her brother Ben and their parents Melissa, who has been racing for just over six months, she benefited

immensely from the day to improve her lap times by almost six seconds.

While pleased to see the improvement by Melissa, event organiser Lane indicated that the program was as much about the off track experience as the on track racing.

“It was great to see the improvement by the kids but

the most important thing was that they took away a heap of experience of all things karting, not just the racing side of it,” Lane said.

“We discussed such things as technical aspects and feedback on set-up changes, presentation speeches, communication with people in the sport – we certainly covered a variety of areas.”

Lots of change as Utes head to QR V8 UTES THE Yokahama V8 Utes will see a lot of changes ahead of the next round of the championship at Queensland Raceway this weekend.

Former Fujitsu driver and Holden Young Lion Kurt Wimmer will step into the V8 Utes in the number 18 Hi Tech Motorsport VE Holden for the round.

As previously reported by eNews, Alan Jarvis will make his debut in the series driving Matt Kingsley’s VE, while his father Rob will be in the BVC Ford.

“I’m excited that he is moving over to Utes,” said Rob.

14

“It should be a good weekend with a bit of a father and son arrangement. Allan has been racing for six years now but it is his first time racing a V8 Ute.” Kingsley is expecting to be back for the Bathurst round of the championship and has tested recently with good pace in his brand new VE. CAMS will open an enquiry regarding the Clipsal incident that injured Kingsley at QR this weekend.

In other driver changes Colin Dunn will take over the drive in the Storage King Ford from son Ben Dunn, while Rhys Hansford will return in the Charlie O’Brien Ford after a round off.

news

Not a Van Diemen in sight THERE will be Formula Ford history of sorts made at Queensland Raceway this weekend, with no Van Diemen chassis in the Australian Championship field for the first time in almost 30 years.

The final nail in the coffin for the former powerhouse manufacturer was youngster Nick Foster making the switch to a Mygale chassis for the Queensland round. Foster and Yudi Doyle were the final two drivers running Van Diemens in the field, and with Doyle not racing and Foster switching brands, the field will be all Spectrums, Spirits and Mygales.

The Foster switch is also significant in that BF Racing, which runs Foster and has been a long-time supporter of Van Diemens, is also now a Mygale customer.

Van Diemen has been a significant fixture in Australian Formula Ford since the late 1970s, clean sweeping every Australian title between 1987 and 1997, and then again between 2001 and 2005. Peter Verheyen and Daniel Elliott book ended the amazing run of 16 titles in 19 seasons.

While the last AFFC round to feature no Van Diemens is a sketchy statistic to come by, the last season that featured a round at which a VD didn’t score points at was in 1983,

Marshall Cass

FORMULA FORD

Glory Days: Tony Pugliese leads a gaggle of Van Diemen’s back in 2003. and the first appearance of a VD in the then-named Driver to Europe Series was in 1977.

That was the final round of that year’s series, and the driver, Andrew Newton, took maximum points.

There have been signs of

dwindling support in recent times, such as former ‘factory’ squad Sonic Motor Racing Services switching to Mygales, and a bid to start a new factory team this season, which failed to materialise.

– ANDREW VAN LEEUWEN

Letcher and Jeff Watts.

“The car won’t have the outright speed to keep up with the Mitsubishi Evos, but if we keep going around and around, a top 10 is where we are aiming and a top five would be nice.”

The V8 Utes were permitted entry into the race earlier this year, but due to the close gap between the 12 Hour and the opening round of the series at the Clipsal 500, the event received no Ute entries. The 2009 race has a three week gap, allowing competitors a

better chance of having the cars ready for both events.

In other Bathurst 12 Hour news, full event regulations will be released in the next few weeks, including complete specifications of the new new SUV class (to be run in conjunction with the V8 Utes).

And this begs the question – who will be the first team to race a Hummer on The Mountain?

The WPS Bathurst 12 Hour will be run on February 20-21.

– GRANT ROWLEY

Johnson B12 in Ute Dirk Klynsmith

12–HOUR REIGNING Ute Series Champion Grant Johnson is the first V8 Ute competitor to lock in an entry for the WPS Bathurst 12 Hour entry for the V8 Ute/SUV class.

Johnson is set to drive his old VZ Commodore that he won last year’s Ute Series in.

The West Aussie has competed in the Sepang 12 Hour before, and he likes the idea of racing around The Mountain for 12 Hours.

“Normally you wouldn’t think that a Ute would be an endurance vehicle,” he said.

“But it’s something that’s come up and we’ve got a chance to do it. The VZ was going to sit in the shed all year so we thought we’ll get it out and have a run with it.

“Any chance you can have chance to do laps at Bathurst is a good thing.”

Johnson’s VZ will be prepared by his regular HiTech Motorsport team, and will be co-driven by Alan

15

news

Keeping it in the family DIANA Harker became the second Harker Family member to score a national event win in NHRA competition at the Lucas Oil NHRA SuperNationals at Englishtown.

Harker drove Randy Meyer’s A/Fuel Dragster to victory in the Top Alcohol Dragster final to clock a final round 5.57/251 to defeat Dave DeAngelis, who shook the tyres and slowed.

After qualifying fifth on the ladder at 5.39 seconds, Harker recorded 5.55/253,

5.43/256, and 5.39/259 round victories over Jackie Fricke, Richard Bourke and Ken Winward to send her into the final. She is currently seventh in the national standings.

Her father, Alcohol Funny Car standout Steve Harker, is currently second in the National standings and first in Division 4.

Harker scored his second career NHRA National Event victory at Topeka, and took runner-up honours in Chicago at the third Division 3 event. Harker also made it to the final round at Norwalk, where he was defeated by Bobby Martin.

– DAVID OSTAZEWSKI

David Ostazewski

NHRA

sutton-images.com

FORMULA FORD ADRIAN Campfield became the first driver to win for any chassis other than a Mygale this season with victory in Race 1 of the British Formula Ford Championship at Brands Hatch.

After qualifying in third position Campfield drove a great race to take the win. His team-mate, Australian Glen

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Wood continued to learn the ropes in the UK with some promosing pace.

The Kevin Mills Racing pilot delivered the Spectrum chassis its first win in 2008 as the Borland built chassis’ continue to make an impression internationally.

“That is mega,” said team boss Kevin Mills.

“Everyone has been working really hard and to get the

results is just fantastic. The lads have driven very well and we knew it was only a matter of time before we would get this win.”

With the Spectrum chassis being developed in Australia by Borland Racing Development, Sales Manager Paul Zsidy was equally happy with the result.

“That is brilliant,” said Zsidy.

“This is a well deserved result for Kev and his team, the

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Aussie Spectrums on top

drivers and our agent Mark Bailey for the work they have put in.

“It seems fitting that the win comes at Brands Hatch, where John Martin won the first UK race for Spectrum on its debut appearance in 2006.”

Back home in Australia Spectrum chassis have been dominant, with Paul Laskazeski leading the local championship.

17

5 Minutes with ...

TONY STEWART

Smoke has taken a deep breath and leapt into the fire, as a co-owner of Stewart Haas Racing QUESTION: Tony, why is ownership so important to you at this time in your career?

TONY STEWART: Eight years ago, when people asked me if I’d consider ownership in a NASCAR team, I said, ‘no way’. I said I wouldn’t be able to deal with the politics. But, you know, after owning race tracks and having race teams, now I think it’s a side of me that I really enjoy.

And having the opportunity to have a new challenge and to help build an organisation and be a part of it, and know that whatever the results are, at the end of the day that I’m directly responsible for that as a part of it is something that’s important to me.

And, you know, it’s hard when you guys have always asked in different conversations, ‘What do you do when your career’s over?’

When you stop as a driver you don’t want to … you talk to drivers that have retired in the last three or four or five years, it’s hard to just walk away from the sport. And this gives me an avenue, if the day comes that I can’t drive a race car or don’t want to drive a race car anymore, I can still be involved heavily in NASCAR. And I know what that feeling’s like, obviously, at the smaller levels, with USAC and the World of Outlaw Series.

And this is something that I really feel like I want to do the rest of my life.

Tony, tell us about your ownership in the team. Are you buying it? Is it being given to you? Did you go

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to the bank and take out a mortgage?

Actually, I got into your piggy bank over your cupboard and I didn’t realize how much money you really had. I’ve actually got some left over, if you want me to take you to dinner tonight on your dime.

No. I think this is the only detail of the agreement that I think we’re willing to talk about as far as the terms and everything, but I was offered half of the team in this deal.

That was something that doesn’t make this a lateral move from where I came from to where we’re going next year.

Will you be announcing another driver soon?

We hope so. Obviously, we would like to announce this sooner than later.

As far as drivers are concerned, we’re looking – just like any other car owner does now – looking at who is available, where they’re at in the stages of their contract, who is available, who is not available, who is interested and who is not. So, you know, it’s kind of the same process that I’m use to doing with our World of Outlaw teams and USAC teams.

And [co owner] Joe [Custer] and I will work together to try to secure drivers as soon as possible, and hopefully not only a driver but sponsors, and we’ll be able to announce everything hopefully soon.

Tony, the way this whole thing evolved prior to the connection with Haas CNC, had there been an option for you to perhaps buy into Joe Gibbs Racing [JGR]? We’ve

seen guys like Rusty Wallace – he got a quarter of Penske Racing. Jeff Gordon owns Jimmie Johnson’s car. Had that been an opportunity for you originally, or was that inability to do that what led to you do this?

No, it wasn’t offered. JGR is a family business and I respect them for that. I don’t think you can ask a family business to give away part of their race team.

But it wasn’t offered.

That didn’t turn me away from Joe Gibbs Racing, by any means. This was just a unique offer. I don’t know that I’ve ever heard of any driver offers that have had this involved in it, so that’s just what made this a very appealing offer.

Tony, can you talk about how much it weighed on your decision to make this part of your legacy? You’ve already got a strong legacy in the sport. How important was it to continue and help build NASCAR and help make the sport even better like you’ve done with open wheel racing?

To have that opportunity to do that here with Haas CNC Racing, and now form this new entity, is something that I’m excited about, having that opportunity.

I’m excited about the fact that I feel like we could go to Daytona and we have the opportunity to go there and win the Daytona 500 and stand there and climb out of my own car with my own guys and my own operation and be there as champions that way.

So that’s an aspect that I’m hopefully going to get a chance, to experience that and enjoy that.

Your name’s on top of this deal. Will you be calling the shots? Will you be bringing in your own people at all?

How will the structure of the organisation work?

We’re 50/50 in the entity. So, we’ll work together. It’s not about who ranks where. It’s not a ranking issue. It’s matter of goal issues and what our goals are and sitting down and working together.

The one thing I think I’ve learned from Joe Gibbs Racing is that it takes people to win.

And it’s not equipment that wins races. It’s people that win races. And, we’re going to assemble a strong group of core people that we feel like will work together – not somebody over top of anybody else. It just made the logo look really good. That’s how it got stacked up that way. It wasn’t really an ego issue by any means. (Laughter.)

I think everybody can understand why you want to do this long-term, but have you reconciled in the shortterm you might not be as competitive next year as you’re used to being? And if so how would you handle that?

Well, I haven’t won a [Sprint Cup] race this year and I think we’ve handled it okay, considering the circumstances we’ve been under in some of those losses.

I really feel like when you look at this program, we have support with Hendrick engines, Hendrick chassis and Hendrick technical support. So with those variables, I feel like that we have the variables in place to go out and be competitive right away.

chat

NASCAR Media

19

Letters

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

Show some support I feel compelled to act as an Australian motorsport fan, to give support to Troy Critchley.

This man volunteered his time, equipment and knowhow to a charity event in a country that he had chosen to live in and raise a family, much less teach them a thing or two about drag racing.

A very unfortunate and totally unavoidable accident occurs, and all of a sudden he

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goes from legend to defendant.

We all love our sport, but to stand on the sidelines and enjoy up-close action one minute, and blame drivers for that privelege when it turns sour just pisses me off.

I personally pledge financial support to the Critchley family, as little as it may be, to help clear the name of an Aussie pioneer, God knows he needs it.

Tony Baily Narooma, Qld

Sitting Still Grant, you ‘sit at your couch’ and bleat about the lack of ‘scoop’ warning you got of the Ford announcement before the Darwin round.

Mate, I'm still waiting for the ‘ins and outs' of the full story regarding the Skaife v TWR ownership rangle.

When this subject was in our spotlight, Motorsport News and yourself did nothing in regards to

investigative journalism.

If it was an AFL scandal, you can guarantee that every sports journalist would have beaten down the doors just to find out what the real story was.

I suggest you get off the couch and try your bit (seeing you earn your living from the sport) to get the public the unbiased news.

Rod Stevens via email

opinion

Permanent courses aren’t so bad ... opinion Andrew van Leeuwen mNews National Editor IT’S probably all thanks to how recent the Hidden Valley round of the V8 Supercar Championship Series was, but the run-up to the Queensland Raceway version been pretty quiet.

This time a year ago there was a spate of press releases caning the boring lay-out of the circuit, the ageing facilities, and the bumps, or should I say canyons, that challenge drivers of all categories heading into Turn 1. I even remember one press photo of Jason Richards sitting in a bulldozer ready to dig the joint up, although it makes sense that he would despise the place that forced him to go for Olympic gymnastics gold when he ran his Dodo Commodore a bit

wide a few years back …

The plainness of the corners, old pits, and bumps are a fact of QR, no doubt about that. But does that mean the place shouldn’t be part of the championship? In recent times, I have been a big campaigner of keeping Barbagallo Raceway. My argument is that a nice, short circuit keeps things interesting for the drivers. It is not, contrary to some opinion, because I am an overly patriotic West Aussie.

And to prove so, I wish to extend my argument to Ipswich.

The pits are old? Poor diddums, they only need to house the whole V8 field for one weekend a year.

The track is boring? Well it sure isn’t Bathurst, but if every track was, the mountain wouldn’t be so special. Variety is the spice of life, and that

goes for racetracks too.

And as for the bumps, consider this; while watching the Nashville round of the IndyCar series last weekend, I listened to the commentators discussing the old concrete superspeedway. The place has next to no banking, they were saying, yet drivers find it a real challenge because it is so, wait for it, bumpy.

Fancy that. They saw the unique challenge of a bumpy surface as, well, unique.

Anyway, what do you do?

Replace it with a street race?

Because street circuits aren’t bumpy …

I for one am looking forward to heading north to the old Paperclip this weekend, even if it will be dusty and Garth Tander will probably win by eight laps. Because Ford won in Darwin, and a bit of variety isn’t bad.

eLETTER OF THE WEEK Blue Blooded I am saddened by the reported statements by Tony Cochrane that Sydney will miss out on a V8 round next year.

Admittedly, the promotion of rounds in recent years leaves a lot to be desired, but I feel that with a bit of goodwill on each side and better promotion, and more

big screens around the course for spectators, the event can be successful.

The biggest losers in all this are the people of New South Wales, who travel to the Sydney round for their annual fix of V8s.

Perhaps the ARDC can follow the lead of the Oran Park promoters for guidance.

Inflammatory statements by Tony Cochrane like “couldn’t organise a root in a brothel “ do nothing to help, and spending millions each year to set up a track at Homebush, where spectators will only be able to see on part of the track would be a waste of money.

Peter Hickey via email

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

SHANNONS NATIONALS ROUND 5 – EASTERN CREEK

Game on

The Australian Formula 3 Championship is on for young and old. LACHLAN MANSELL was there

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Dirk Klynsmith

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Dirk Klynsmith

FORMULA 3

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Marshall Cass

EANNE Tander has grabbed a share of the Kumho Tyres Australian Formula 3 Championship lead after taking overall honours in Round 6 at Eastern Creek, with a win in Race 1 and a secondplace finish in Race 2.

After struggling in Friday practice, Tander qualified third for both races and took full advantage of her rival’s misfortune in the races to be positioned right in the hunt for the 2008 F3 title with two rounds remaining.

James Winslow was the other race winner, and he did it in style, winning by almost 12 seconds. Winslow also led the field away in Race 1, but a drive-through penalty for jumping the start severely checked his momentum. Nevertheless, the Race 2 win kept Winslow well in the title chase, just eight points off the lead.

Nathan Caratti, who held an 18-point series lead entering the round, qualified fastest in both the Saturday sessions.

However, Caratti made a poor start in Race

1 and dropped down the order, sparking a charging recovery drive to fourth at the finish. Race 2 was much worse for the Team BRM driver. A tangle with Mat Sofi dropped him right to the rear of the field, from which he could only recover to 12th place and watch his series-lead disappear.

Team Lebanon A1GP driver Chris Alajajian made a consistent return to the Australian F3 category, with a second and a third-place finish.

In the National Class, Tim Macrow

continued the impressive form he displayed at Phillip Island, scoring maximum points for the weekend and challenging some of the drivers with newer machinery at their disposal.

Andrew Mill wrapped up the Trophy Class with two rounds remaining, and, like Macrow, punched well above his weight in terms of outright race results.

Points after Round 6 of 8: Caratti 145, Tander 145, Winslow 137, McFadyen 99, Sofi 88.

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Two classes, two wins

Darren Hossack proved that racing two classes ain’t an impossible task ...

SHANNONS NATS.

DARREN Hossack had a busy weekend in Round 5 of the Shannons Nationals at Eastern Creek, but that didn’t affect the Victorian driver’s results.

Hossack dominated the Sports Sedan round, winning all three races from Tony Ricciardello and Bernie Gillon in his Audi A4. However, that wasn’t enough for the former V8 Supercar competitor, who also took out the opening round of the Superkart series.

As a result, Hossack now leads both championships.

The Australian GT Championship made a welcome return to the Shannons Nationals program, with a good variety of exotic machinery. An entertaining battle between the Lotus Elise of Peter Lucas and the Aston Martin DBRS9 of John Kaias was ultimately resolved in Kaias’ favour; he won two races to Lucas’ one. Peter Hackett made a strong debut in his Aston Martin to finish on the podium overall, ahead of the

Lamborghini Gallardo duo of Mark Eddy and Ross Lilley.

The Saloon Car series once again produced close racing, with Steve Kwiatkowski extending his series lead by taking the round win, and also setting a new lap record.

Kwiatkoski’s closest challenger for the round win was Matt Lovell, but Lovell dropped out of contention after a controversial collision with Kevin Weeks in the final race, for which Weeks was penalised post-race.

Marcus Zukanovic sent a

warning to his rivals with a dominant round victory in the Commodore Cup, followed by a declaration that he plans to contest the remainder of the series. Zukanovic won all three races from series returnee Stephen White, with thirdplaced Michael Tancredi taking the series lead by just one point from Adam Lloyd.

Zukanovic’s round win has elevated him to equal third in the points with Ross McGregor, despite the ‘Z Man’s’ absence from the opening round.

– LACHLAN MANSELL

Marshall Cass

James Smith James Smith

A case for a dark-coloured car: Clockwise from top, Hossack, Zukanovic and Kwiatkowski won Sports Sedans, Commodore Cup and Saloon Cars respectively.

25

INDYCAR ROUND 11 – NASHVILLE

If Scott Dixon had heard right the first time, he would have finished third. Instead, he missed his pit call, stayed on the track and won his fourth race of 2008

Say What?

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S

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scored a rather embarrassing 12 finish.

The red-faced pair finished ahead of Kanaan and Penske’s Helio Castroneves, who qualified on pole and who looked set to pounce late in the race as he, typically, bided his time.

The Brazilian veterans and Dixon were joined by a firedup Danica Patrick early in the race, the quartet racing clear of the pack. Kanaan took the lead in traffic and, as lightning flashed above, drew as much a 4s clear of the chasers. The yellow erased the lead on lap 133, handing the lead to Dixon and promoting Wheldon five places.

Patrick came home fifth behind Castroneves and Kanaan, and ahead of Vitor Meira and Buddy Rice.

It was an average day for the Aussies, with Will Power finishing 11th and a lap down, but Ryan Briscoe ending his day early [see breakout].

IndyCar Media

OMETIMES, it pays to be good. And sometimes, it pays to be lucky.

Scott Dixon was both, in equal amounts, at Nashville.

Tony Kanaan was leading the race from Dixon, with Dan Wheldon back in seventh.

The field was under yellow for a passing shower and the Ganassi team called both its drivers to follow Kanaan into pitlane.

Problem was, Dixon did not hear it right the first time.

“My guys told me to follow Kanaan,” Dixon said. “But by that time, I was way past pit lane. There was no coming back in.”

So, Dixon and Wheldon found themselves at the head of the queue, sitting ducks, with the rest of the field feuled to the end of the race when the track went green. It did but the rain soon returned, and heavier than before. Out came the red flag and Ganassi

Hero to Zero: Watkins Glen winner Ryan Hunter-Reay crashed back to earth a week later, above. The weather was a talking point before, during and after the race, right.

Flying Visit IndyCar Media

RACING drivers flying all over the place to take in two races on the same day is nothing new.

So it was not groundbreaking that Marco Andretti did just that last Saturday. After the somewhat controversial firing of Bryan Herta and Christian Fittipaldi from Andretti Green’s ALMS squad, Marco joined Franck Montagny for the first time at Lime Rock.

The third-gen driver completed the opening stint of the race in the Acurapowered Sportscar, flew from Connecticut to Tennesse and lined up for the 8pm start.

Perhaps he should have stayed in the east. Only three laps into the race, Marco dropped the handle on his Dallara and speared it into the wall. Worse, he managed to tangle Ryan Briscoe into the mess and ended the Penske man’s day for him, before it really began.

For the record, Andretti and Montagy finished sixth at Lime Rock after losing ground early in the race. Marco was forced to start from the back of the grid due to him missing practice and qualifying because – you guessed it – he was in Nashville.

Rizla Suzuki IndyCarRacing Media

INDYCAR | FIRESTONE INDY 200, NASHVILLE 1 9 2 10 3 3 4 11 5 7 6 4 7 15 8 20 9 14 10 19 11 8 DNF 6

Scott Dixon NZ Dan Wheldon GB Helio Castroneves Br Tony Kanaan Br Danica Partick USA Vitor Meira Br Buddy Rice USA Ed Carpenter USA Darren Manning GB Mario Moraes Br Will Power Aus Ryan Briscoe Aus

Target Ganassi Target Ganassi Team Penske Andretti Green Andretti Green Panther Dreyer & Reinbold Vision AJ Foyt Enterprises Coyne KV Racing Team Penske

171 laps +1.0680s +5.6679s +6.4612s 7.8301s 9.5615s 13.2509s +16.0567s +24.9236s 170 laps 170 laps 3 laps

Fastest lap: Kanaan, 27.1308s, 206.341mph

INDYCAR | DRIVER’S points Dixon 420, Castroneves 357, Wheldon 351, Kanaan 339, Patrick 266, Mutoh 254, Andretti 253, Briscoe 243, Hunter-reay 232, Carpenter 222 [Power 213, 13th].

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NASCAR SPRINT CUP ROUND 19 – CHICAGOLAND

CHICAGOLAND, While others complain about the power and speed of Joe Gibbs Racing’s Toyota, Kyle Busch is keeping his head down and the win count ticking over.

By MARTIN D CLARK

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THE MUSICAL

NASCAR Media

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A

FTER leading 164 laps from a raininduced pole, Kyle Busch put a classic move on reigning Sprint Cup Champion Jimmie Johnson on the final restart of the night at Chicagoland Speedway on Saturday to take his seventh win of what best be described as a dream year in his Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota.

Johnson edged under Busch for the lead within two laps of a lap 248 caution and was stretching out his advantage as David Gilliland blew his RoushYates Ford engine to unfurl the yellow flag for the ninth time,

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with six laps to run in the 267 lap affair.

This left a non-overtime twolap shootout, with Busch literally pushing Johnson on the restart and then sweeping to his outside as they took the green flag.

Busch held on high and had the point by the time they entered the final lap. Kevin Harvick took third with Greg Biffle and Tony Stewart completing the front five.

“I didn’t think I could do it, but I had the momentum,” said Busch of his pass for the win.

“I got to his outside there and then drove off into turn three and was able to complete the pass by (turn) four. It’s

RACE SHOP

an unbelievable year and something to be really proud of.”

The move was something Johnson had produced wins from in his two championship seasons.

“I should have given him the inside on the last restart,” commented Johnson.

“There was no way. I thought with how good my car was that I couldn’t have pulled away from him in (turn) one and two.

Somehow he got to the outside and I knew I was in trouble. Sure enough, I was.”

Carl Edwards took the lead from Busch early in the race, but had to pit when leading with

what he thought was a flat tyre.

That turned out to be a broken front splitter and brace, and Edwards ended his day in 32nd a lap off the pace.

A fine can be expected for J.J. Yeley’s Hall of Fame team after NASCAR discovered two water containers filled with lead during pre-race inspection. Yeley was given a stop/go penalty at the start of the race.

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

Thirteen, and counting NATIONWIDE

NASCAR Media

KYLE Busch and Joe Gibbs Racing continued their winning ways in the Nationwide Series last Friday, but it did not come easy.

“We weren’t that good early in the race,” remarked Busch, “but we made some adjustments, and this car just came to life.”

Busch started 10th and hit the front on lap 95 of 200 – and from there, streaked away.

He finished the race close to four seconds up on team-mate Denny Hamlin, this week in a Braun Racing Toyota, Brad Keselowski (JR Motorsports Chev), Brain Vickers (Braun Toyota) and David Reutimann, while series point leader Clint Bowyer came home seventh.

It was the 13th JGR Nationwide win of the season, equaling the total by Richard Childress Racing last year, and the fifth of the season for Busch.

“It’s definitely been a phenomenal year,” commented Busch. “It’s the kind of thing that doesn’t come along very often. We’re looking forward to getting some more wins, the season isn’t over yet.”

Tony Stewart missed a shift at the start of the race and was slammed in the rear by his buddy Kevin Harvick, ending any chances the two had of contending for the race.

Marcos Ambrose qualified 24th and finished 15th, having run in that position for the latter part of the race. There were no cars one lap down and Marcos was the first car two laps off the pace, had the caution waved he would have gotten his laps back via NASCAR’s free pass system, but it was not to be.

“We were okay on the long runs,” admitted Ambrose after the race. “Not great, but okay.”

– MARTIN D CLARK

NASCAR Media

Points: Bowyer 2965, Keselowski 2782, Reutimann 2748, Edwards 2711, Ragan 2633 (13th Ambrose 2166)

Ooops: After leading from pole, Busch’s biggest problem was bogging his car in a post-flag burnout, above.

SPRINT CUP

Kyle Busch 2881, Earnhardt Jr. 2619, J Burton 2590, Edwards 2509, Johnson 2494.

NASCAR Media

DRIVER’S points

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GLOBE TROTTER Plato Charges JASON Plato has grabbed two wins in the latest BTCC at Snetterton.

The SEAT driver led from start to finish in both races to comfortable win from Colin Turkington in Race 2 and teammate Darren Turner in Race 1.

After controlling the early races, SEAT had to yield to BMW as Mat Jackson won the third and final race for the weekend ahead of BMW stable-mate Steven Kane.

Fabrizio Giovanardi recorded two third places in Races 2 and 3 after a slow start to the weekend to take a handy sway of points away from the weekend.

The Triple Eight enduro pilot increased his championship lead at Snetterton to a healthy 34 points over team-mate Matt Neal.

Winner of the first two races, Plato failed to finish in Race 3 after being black flagged for diesel smoke, which came pouring out of his car mid-way through the race. n

WTCC TIAGO Monteiro has taken a popular win in front of his home fans in Round 6 of the World Touring Car Championship at Estoril last weekend.

Monteiro lead a SEAT 1-2 in the second race with Yvan Muller in second.

“This is a very special weekend, especially coming off three bad meetings with lots of crashes and no points,” said Monteiro.

“To be honest, qualifying didn’t go well either, but

I would like to thank the team for their never give up approach.”

Monteiro started from the front row of the grid for the second race and edged past Felix Porteiro to take the lead.

Andy Priaulx was third for BMW. Monteiro’s win made it two out of two for SEAT at Estoril after his team-mate Rickard Rydell dominated the first race to take his first win for the season.

Rydell powered past Nicloa Larini at the start to take control of the race.

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Home town win for Monteiro

“There have been two keys to winning today,” said Rydell.

“The first was qualifying well, because I started down in 14th in both Brno and Valencia, and the second was the start.

“Larini was good on the straights and in the braking, so if he had been ahead of me into the first turn then it would have been very difficult to get by. It also helped when Muller was behind in the early laps, because it meant I didn't have to push and overstress my tyres.”

Muller came home in third place, while Race 2 winner Monteiro finished in seventh.

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Total Domination DTM MATTIAS Ekstrom and Audi dominated proceedings in the latest DTM round at Zandvoort sweeping the top four places.

The reigning champion controlled the race from the front withstanding pressure from the championship leader Timo Scheider.

“A great weekend,” said Ekstrom.

“First pole position yesterday, then victory today. Just perfect. My car was great and there was absolutely nothing to

complain about today.

“Timo kept me under pressure all the time, so that I had to be on the limit throughout the race.”

Scheider was equally happy with second.

“That was a sensational weekend for all of us,” said Scheider.

“In the end, it was a fantastic result because after 38 laps I was two tenths behind Mattias.”

Tom Kristensen finished third while Martin Tomczyk made a great start to move from sixth to fourth.

Lat round winner Jamie Green was the highest Mercedes qualifier but got off to a terrible start in the race that eventually saw him come home in sixth behind top Mercedes finisher, Bruno Spengler.

Ralf Schumacher still struggled to get on top of the car and finished down in 12th position.

Following Green’s poor weekend, Scheider extends his championship lead, while Ekstrom moves into second in the title standings heading into the Nurburgring round of the championship.

35

First wins on track David Ostazewski

NHRA TONY Schumacher and Tim Wilkerson became the first fuel racers to win on the new NHRA 1000 foot long racing surface mandated for the two premier classes in Drag Racing.

Greg Anderson and Matt Smith also came away with wins in their respective Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle classes to kick off the three-event western swing.

Schumacher dominated the action at Denver, as he has for the most of the

season. He clocked a 4.00/304 in the final round to stop former U.S. Army teammate Antron Brown, who hazed the tyres to a 4.17/276. He has claimed six wins this season, taking three of the last four, and four of the last six events contested.

Wilkerson has also taken over in his respective Funny Car class. The Levi, Ray, and Shoup driver recorded win number four, stopping Jack Beckman in the final round, 4.39/262 to 4.66/205. Outside of John Force, who was knocked out in Round 1, Wilkerson took care of the remaining

Team Force cars and drivers Ashley Force, Mike Neff, and Robert Hight.

Anderson has become unstoppable in Pro Stock, taking his third consecutive victory, and fifth of the year. In Denver, Anderson’s Summit Pontiac defeated the Mopar-backed Stratus of Allen Johnson, 7.02/196 to 7.02/195.

Reigning POWERade champion Smith rode his NitroFish Buell to a 7.32/180 to 7.34/180 victory over Steve Johnson for his third win of the year.

– DAVID OSTAZEWSKI

T Sport squashes the opposition BRITISH F3

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Australians John Martin and Sam Abay had mixed weekends at Brands Hatch.

Martin came home ninth in Round 13 after coming from well down the grid following a grid spot penalty for a yellow flag infringement in qualifying.

But he struggled to 18th position in Round 14.

Abay fared slightly better, with finishes of 12th and seventh in the two races.

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IT was all about T Sport at Round 14 of the British Formula 3 Championship, with Sergio Perez leading home his team-mates at Brands Hatch.

Perez was under constant pressure all race long from Marcus Ericsson until the Swede made a mistake with two corners to run, letting

through Atte Mustonen and Oliver Turvey to the final spots on the podium.

The weekend’s first race was red-flagged prematurely after a big incident involving Alistair Jackson at the exit of Surtees.

That left Jaime Alguersuari to take the win, having started from pole position while, Turvey made it two podiums for the weekend coming home in second position.

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INDY LIGHTS ANA Beatriz has become the first female to win a Firestone Indy Lights race by taking victory at Nashville Superspeedway last weekend.

The Brazilian overtook teammate, Australian James Davison mid-way through the race and held on for the win after Davison, started from pole position, his first in the series.

“I just can’t be more thankful for Healthy Choice/Sam Schmidt Motorsports for bringing me to the US (from Brazil),” said Beatriz.

“I thought I would win at St. Pete. We were almost there. I’m with the best team and they have so much information on oval. I won my first race on an oval. It’s amazing.”

Bobby Wilson finished just behind Beatriz on the

run to the flag, with Arie Luyendyk finished third and J.R Hildebrand fourth.

Beatriz started from the front row for the first time in her career and remained cool following a caution caused by an incident involving Davison and Jonny Reid and a lengthy delay caused by a thunderstorm.

“We had the rain in the afternoon and that surprised

IndyCar Media

James Poles, but no Lady Luck

everybody, so the track was green again,” Beatriz said.

“At the beginning, I wanted to make sure that the car would be fine, and it was OK. But I got passed by two cars.”

The win moves Beatriz to third in the championship standings behind Richard Antinucci and Raphael Matos as the series heads to the MidOhio Sports Car Course for a double-header on July 20.

Maiden wins all round at Brands BRITISH FFORD

BRANDS Hatch saw the arrival of two new winners in the British Formula Ford Championship, with Adrian Campfield and Victor Correa sharing the wins.

Campfield’s win was also the first for a Spectrum chassis this season.

As ever, the Brands Hatch Grand Prix circuit provided some extremely close racing with plenty of slipstreaming from the front runners.

“It’s unbelievable,” said Campfield.

“We have had such a bad run of luck all year that finally to win is just amazing. I found it a real struggle to keep up with Wayne [Boyd] and Victor early on, and then when they went off it was a case of holding my nerve to the end.”

Championship leader Boyd failed for the first time to win a race on a race weekend after a collision with team-mate Correa in Race 1, although his championship lead remains at 54 points.

Aussie Tim Blanchard finished second in Race 1, capatalising

on Boyd’s incident.

Race 2 saw Correa lead home Boyd after a close battle.

“It was a very hard race,” said Victor.

“It’s my first win and I am very happy. I hope to have more.”

Blanchard came have in seventh after a tough race, while compatriot Glen wood placed seventh and 13th in the weekend’s races.

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APRC

Australian driver Dean Herridge has recorded his fourth podium finish out of four attempts in the Asia Pacific Rally Championship on the weekend, taking third outright at the Rally Hokkadio in Japan.

Herridge, above, is sitting third outright in the series behind seasoned APRC contenders Japan’s Katsu Taguchi and Australian Cody Crocker, right.

With torrential rain falling throughout Heat 1, organisers were forced to cancel three of the eight stages, meaning a loss of almost 75 kilometres of competitive distance.

While the weather conditions were better on Sunday, deep ruts in the road surface made for some difficult driving conditions.

Japanese drivers Toshi Arai, Hiroshi Yangisawa and Katsu Taguchi were dominant across the weekend, but with Arai not registered for the APRC, the battle for first and second came down to

APRC

Herridge holds third

Yangisawa and Taguchi.

Taguchi and his Australian co-driver Mark Stacey won the battle, taking full points from the weekend just ahead of Yangisawa and Herridge.

Australian Scott Pedder was unable to escape the mechanical dramas that have thwarted his efforts in the first three rounds. He broke the selector in the gearbox on the second stage of Heat 1, forcing his retirement.

However after a gearbox replacement, he came out firing in Heat 2, setting top two stage times throughout the day.

Crocker struggled throughout Heat 1 and while he was quick (topping the time sheets on numerous occasions) he was unable to get back enough time to make it onto the podium. Crocker is sitting in second outright in the APRC, just three points behind Taguchi.

– ALISON MACQUEEN

race

Australia advances

Aussie Speedway GP team gathers momentum for this weekend

SPEDWAY GP

Mike Patrick

AUSTRALIA is the first nation into the World Cup Final after defeating hosts Poland in a run-off at the end of a thrilling tournament opener at Leszno last weekend.

Aussie skipper Leigh Adams was pleased with his team’s efforts.

“We’re delighted, all the boys put such an effort in and rose to the occasion,” he said.

“We were here to come away with the win, and we’ll take the week’s rest ahead of the Final.

“We’re expecting a lot from some pretty inexperienced guys and it was a tough meeting, as the Poles are renowned to be very good on their home turf.

“Everyone rode their socks off, we had a great atmosphere and now we’ll look forward to next Saturday.”

– TONY MILLARD

Drewer wins before spins IMSA LITES TOM Drewer won Race 1 at the Northeast Grand Prix at Lime Rock Park, extending his lead in the IMSA Lites L2 Championship, before an off-track excusion cost him in Race 2.

“I was faster than Anthony Nicolosi but the extra torque of the L1 was making it difficult to pass,” Drewer explained.

“I decided that somewhere between turn one and turn three was where I had

the best run on him.

“I was going to take him coming into turn three, but as I set up my car to the outside of (turn) two he seemed to brake hard and I thought I could get him around the outside.

“Instead, this forced me onto the dirty part of the track and I had to straighten the wheel as the car tried to snap sideways. I aborted the corner and took to the grass.

“Unfortunately the car’s front splitter

dug into the infield, demolishing itself and my entire front bodywork in the process. Anywhere else and I probably would have got away with it but the undulation in the grass bit me.

“I tried to keep going but had no front down force and the engine started to overheat as the radiator ducts were compromised. I had to finish my race in the pits.”

The next round is at Mosport in Canada.

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rear of grid

sutton-images.com

Forty years, loads of wins, and some pretty cars ... Odd Spot unleashed the almighty 917, and, thanks to its eight-and-abit-litre donk, which pumped out 740-odd ponies, was the first of its class to break the 1000bhp/ton. In other words, a pretty impressive motor.

So why are we publishing a picture of this car? Three reasons; one, it shows just how freaking cool the Goodwood Festival of Speed is. Two, because we couldn’t let the fact that 2008 marks the 40th anniversary since the team won the first of its 158 Grands Prix pass by unnoticed. And three, because the car is just so darned pretty!

Regardless of all this, you

sutton-images.com

WHILE a modern game of word association might have ‘McLaren’ and ‘British’ closely aligned (thanks Ron), it’s worth noting that Bruce McLaren was, of course, from New Zealand.

And as a proud Australian publication, it would be untrue to our nation to not claim some of our neighbour’s glory.

Anyway, Bruce is an Aussie name, mate!

Pictured above is a gorgeous McLaren M8F CanAm car, the same model campaigned

by Peter Revson and Denny Hulme back in 1971. It was the last of the successful ‘Macca’ CanAm cars before Porsche

can be sure that Michael Dunkel, pictured here driving the M8F last weekend, is glad that the good people at McLaren were less concerned with rear downforce and more focussed on driver protection

than, say, the makers if the AVS Shadow Chevrolet Mk1, pictured inset.

And yes, that is a 700+ hp Big Block Chevy sitting right behind Dennis Losher’s rather exposed head.

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