Motorsport eNews Issue 73 - September 23-29, 2008

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Issue No. 073 23- 29 September 2008

e C a l p e r l l i w o Wh

Denyer?

eNews reveals the COntenders

Junior 888s Sonic confirms V8 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

Production Graphic Design & Web: Jayne Uthmeyer design@mnews.com.au

Advertising National Sales Manager: Oriana Kennedy oriana@mnews.com.au P 03 9596 5555 F 03 9596 5030

Administration 357 Nepean Highway, Brighton East, VIC, 3187 (PO Box 7072, Brighton, VIC, 3186) P 03 9596 5555 F 03 9596 5030 admin@mnews.com.au

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

Australasian

The ‘A’ Team

Issue No. 073 | 23-29 Sept 2008

news 4 Sonic boom

6 Denyer done 8 JeldWen gone ...

12 Busch Tucked 14 Bear in there 16 MINI news feature

chat 22 5 minutes with ... opinion 25 Branagan race 26 Shannons Nats 30 Speed on Tweed 32 NASCAR 36 Superbikes 40 Drift

Ritter’s mob to use 888 gear Who gets the FRSR seat? ... and SBR still need driver “Game Over” says Kyle Sieders sells a teddy or two Big plans for small class James Winslow When bad news is good Winslow wins, LT smokes The final fling Biffle brings his best Haga denies Bayliss ... for now Fine and dandy

trade 44 Classifieds The flag falls on another F3 season. Here, Leanne Tander crossed the line first. But James Winslow was the man with the biggest prize ...

Copyright: Material published in Motorsport eNews is copyright and may not be reproduced in full or in part without the written permission of the publisher.

Freelance contributions are welcome, and while all care will be taken, Motorsport eNews does not accept responsibility for damage or loss of material submitted.

Opinions expressed in Motorsport eNews are not necessarily those of Australasian Motorsport News or its staff.

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

BRIEFLY... n Men in Black Dept: Todd Kelly was a welcome guest at Dover at the weekend. The Holden ace caught up with his fellow Jack Daniel’s driver Clint Bowyer in the second race in the Chase for the Sprint Cup at the Monster Mile in Delaware. He would not have appreciated watching a Ford 1-2-3, then …

Bowyer was eighth. n Craig Gore was robbed last week. A thief broke into his Gold Coast home last week and helped himself to between $350,000 and $500,000 of cash, jewellry and other items last week.

The former WPS Racing boss and his family and a business colleague were sleeping into the house at the time of the robbery, according to the Gold Coast Bulletin. n For the 2009 season, Panther Racing tabs current F3 Euro Series driver, Martin Plowman, as one of their Indy Lights development series drivers. Panther ranks second in all-time in Indy Lights victories, including the 2003 title, with 13 in 58 starts, trailing rival Sam Schmidt Motorsports.

Formula Ford and Carrera Cup Champions to step up to Fujitsu V8 Supercar Series. GRA FUJITSU V8s SONIC Motor Racing has confirmed its entry into the world of V8 Supercars from 2009 onwards.

Having conquered the Australian Formula Ford Championship four times, as well as winning its maiden Carrera Cup title with David Reynolds last year, Sonic will step up to the Fujitsu V8 Supercar Series next year with a two-car team, using Triple Eight’s current chassis – exclusively reported by eNews #064.

Sonic has purchased the current chassis of Jamie

Whincup (0014) and Craig Lowndes (0012a). As part of the purchase, the team will receive product, engineering and technical support from Triple Eight Race Engineering.

The team will take delivery of the cars immediately after the final round of the championship at Oran Park in December.

Bryce Washington has been confirmed as the team’s first driver, while the prized second seat remains up for grabs.

Team owner Mick Ritter told eNews that stepping up to V8 Supercars has been many years of planning, but now, the hard work really begins.

“We gave ourselves a deadline

of September to lock it away and we’ve managed to do that,” he said.

“Striking a deal with Triple Eight was the key to making sure it all worked out.

“Having access to the highest level of equipment that we could put our hands on, including engineering support was the key to the whole deal.

“We haven’t been in a position in the last year or two where we’ve been able to get that, and that’s what’s held us back from entering the V8 Supercars sooner. Now, we’ve got ourselves in this position where we’ve been able to strengthen our existing link with Triple

Washing FUJITSU V8s

James Smith

n Honda is back in the Indy race sponsoring business. Andretti Green Racing, the new promoter of the Toronto Indy race, signed a multi-year deal with Honda Canada for the series debut July 10-12, 2009.

The extremely successful Toronto race has hosted CART and Champ Car from 1986 through 2007. Honda is also the title sponsor of the St. Petersburg race that AGR promotes and will open the 2009 IndyCar season in Florida.

– MARY MENDEZ

Sonic confirms 2009 Fuj

SONIC Motor Racing’s first confirmed V8 Supercar driver is Bryce Washington.

The Carrera Cup driver, currently fourth in this year’s series, said that there was no other team that he would have made his V8 Supercar

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Work as a team THE majority of stories you read in a magazine like Motorsport eNews Andrew van Leeuwen are about drivers. Who mNews National Editor is going to what team, who is stepping up to the big time, who is heading back to go karts …

That’s what makes this Sonic/Triple Eight/Fujitsu Series story such a great one. Not only is the new venture helping Bryce Washington take his career to the next level, but Sonic Motor Racing Services is also ramping things up.

Sonic has been synonymous with success in Formula Ford since, well, forever, and more recently, they have come and conquered Carrera Cup. They are a smooth operation, led by Mick Ritter, a bloke who likes to win.

And if you think they are heading to the V8 Supercar scene to do anything but, then set your face to proven wrong.

At the start of the year, Grant Rowley and myself sat down with Mick to talk shop. He told us, quite candidly, that if he went to the Fujitsu Series, it would be with a setup that could win pretty much straight away. Triple Eight gear, his capable blokes on the spanners, Bryce in one car and a list of hot-shots lining up for the second – sounds like Mick has made good on his promise.

You couldn’t possibly predict that Sonic will win the FV8 title in their first year, V8 Supercars is too close for that kind of forecast, but you can bet they won’t for a single second look outclassed.

COMMENT

jitsu Series entry

ANT ROWLEY reports the right deal will have to be in place to run Carrera Cup beyond this year.

“As it stands, Formula Ford will not be affected,” he said.

“That’s at the core of what we do so that’s going no where. We are always continuing to find drivers and develop talent in that area.

“Carrera Cup at the moment, we’ve got some decisions to make over the coming months. It will depend on where we believe and where our customers believe the series is heading.

“I sincerely hope that we can put a package together to run two cars in that series again next year, because it’s another element in the ladder that we’ve created.”

John Morris/Mpix

Eight.”

“We’ve secured the two cars. At the moment, Bryce is the only driver locked in, and there is certainly a high-level of interest in other drivers looking to run in the second car.

“By securing the equipment, we’ve bought ourselves a lot of time to get the correct deal together with the right budget and so on, rather than being forced to wait for someone to come along with the necessary budget.

“Hopefully now, we can pick and choose and end up with the right deal.”

Ritter said that he will definitely keep his Formula Ford team, while

gton: Sonic’s first V8 driver debut with.

“It’s pretty exciting,” he said.

“Before signing off on the deal, I wanted to know that I was doing it with a team that I could trust, and Sonic is the only team that I was totally comfortable with.

“It’s good having the Triple Eight assistance. That’s

something that Mick can take full credit for. He’s worked extremely hard on it, and I’m just lucky to be involved with them.”

Washington is under no illusions about the challenge that the Development V8 Series is going to present.

“It’s obviously going to be a big challenge,” he said.

“The first few rounds will be hard. There will probably only be one or two test days before the start of the season, so realistically, a top five or six place will be where we aiming at in the first few rounds.

“I’m generally pretty consistent and if I’m finishing races, I’m scoring points, especially in that category.

“It’s going to be at least two years to get comfortable in the cars, I have no doubt about it.”

– GRANT ROWLEY

Denyer’s i

Grant’s back break puts a halt to his 200 V8 SUPERCARS GRANT Denyer will be out of motor racing for the rest of the year after breaking his back in a freak Monster Truck accident in Sydney last Wednesday.

The incident means that the likeable television personality will miss the Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000, driving alongside Michael Patrizi in the Ford Rising Stars Ford Falcon BF. Denyer was at the wheel of a Monster Truck, jumping over five cars in a demonstration at Wollongong ahead of the annual Dapto Show. Upon landing, Denyer crushed his lower vertebrae, and will spend the next two weeks, at least, at St Vincent’s Private Hospital in Sydney.

The Channel 7 personality will not require surgery at this stage, although it has been reported that he will be a centimetre shorter due to the injuries he sustained.

According to his father Craig Denyer, Grant won’t be doing much more than “watching DVDs” for the rest of the year.

“It was one of those freakish things that happens,” he said.

“His L1 vertabrea was shattered into six different pieces and the doctors are trying to do is get it to knit without surgery, and they’ll monitor that with MRI scans over the next few weeks,” he said.

“He’s likely to be in hospital for 10 days to two weeks, but that will depend on his pain management. After that, he’ll be in a back brace for eight weeks and won’t be able to drive cars, walk up stairs, etc.

“If all that goes to plan, there’s no reason why he won’t make a 100 percent recovery, but it’s unlikely that he’ll work for the rest of this year.

“While he’s extremely disappointed, Grant is in good spirits and grateful for all of the wellwishes that he has received.”

The incident comes as a great shame for Denyer, who will not only miss the Supercheap Auto 1000 and the Fujitsu V8 Series round at Bathurst, he will also surrender his comfortable lead in the MINI Challenge Series (see separate stories).

– GRANT ROWLEY

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

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injury opens up enduro slot

09 racing plans – McIntyre or Reindler set to replace him at FRSR V8 SUPERCARS

John Morris/Mpix

ONE drivers unfortunate injury will inevitably be one driver’s big break.

With Grant Denyer ruled out of the Supercheap Auto 100 at Bathurst, the race is on to secure the prized seat alongside Michael Patrizi in the #777 Ausdrill Ford Rising Stars Falcon BF. Team owner Jim Morton has fielded no less than “40 phone calls” about taking the seat alongside regular team driver Patrizi.

MNews understands that a shortlist has been devised, with PCR Phillip Island endurance man Johnny McIntyre and

Fujitsu V8 Series driver Karl Reindler looming as the favourites for the seat.

“We’ve got a shortlist, but we haven’t made any decision,” Morton said.

“There’s plenty of options, it’s just a matter of picking someone who we think would be best at the race meeting.

“We want someone who has some V8 experience, but not necessarily someone who’s been in there for a million years.

“We’re not in a great rush. The drivers aren’t going anywhere because we’re the only team looking for a driver at the moment.”

When a driver is selected, the team will complete a day’s

testing at Winton next week for the new driver to get settled in.

While having to finding a new driver, Morton offered his sympathy for Denyer.

“The team is very disappointed that Grant won’t be with us,” he said.

“He’s done all the rookie days and test days with us. We’re only

a small team and everyone gets along all well. Unfortunately, he’s in the best racing form of his life and it’s a shame that he’s not going to be there, but the good news that he’s doesn’t have any movement issues and hopefully he’ll make a full recovery.”

– GRANT ROWLEY

FUJITSU V8s FUJITSU V8 Series team owner Matthew White is likely to take the reins of Grant Denyer’s Ford Falcon BA entry in the FV8 Series at Bathurst.

Subject to Denyer’s commercial partners signing off on it, White, who has prepared and maintained Denyer’s entry in this year’s series, will make his first start of the 2008

season, having acted as Denyer’s crew chief this year.

“The whole deal isn’t 100 percent signed off, we’ve got to finalise it with the Denyers, but they definitely want the car to run.”

White competed in last year’s Fujitsu V8 race at Bathurst, qualifying second-fastest.

He’s looking forward to getting back to The Mountain.

“There’s no better track to do it in. We’re

John Morris/Mpix

White likely to fill Denyer’s Fujitsu shoes

hopeful of going ok,” he said.

“Grant has been having a pretty good year.

He’s recorded his best finishes and we’ve been really happy with him and I know he was desperately looking forward to getting up there.”

White is also expected to run a second Falcon entry at Bathurst for a yet-to-beconfirmed starter.

– GRANT ROWLEY

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

New-look SBR for 2009

Driver decision some way off V8 SUPERCARS

Dirk Klynsmith

STONE Brothers Racing will take a whole new look into 2009, with a new sponsor to match the new driver in car #4.

And, despite the speculation which has rumbled on for some weeks, the team is some way from naming its replacement for James Courtney – who will move to a satellite FPR-run Ford team for 2009.

With Will Davison set to confirm (as reported in eNews last week) that he will stay with Dick Johnson Racing, speculation has centred on brother Alex, or even Jason Bargwanna, as possibles for the seat.

However, eNews understands that a decision, or a driver deal, is some way off.

In the meantime, JELD-WEN Windows and Doors will end its five-year partnership with the three-time titlewinning team at the end of the current season.

“We’ve enjoyed a great relationship with Australian motor sport through our partnership with SBR, first with Marcos Ambrose taking the championship twice and in the last three years with James Courtney,” said JELD-WEN Australia spokesperson Bruce Tosello in a statement on Monday.

The company is expected to continue a personal sponsorship deal with James Courtney, and with the St Kilda AFL football club.

“We have known about this for some time,” team coowner Ross Stone told eNews.

“We have had a good run with JELD-WEN but things move on.”

Typically, Stone would not be drawn on whether he had a replacement sponsor for the car, to run alongside Shane Van Gisbergen in the SP Tools/Ford-backed Falcon FG in 2009.

“We are working away, but we do not expect to have anything to say until the New Year,” he told us on Monday.

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Not easy being green ...

V8 SUPERCARS V8 SUPERCARS Australia has been forced to tone down claims made regarding its treeplanting programme to offset V8 racing’s carbon emissions.

After the revelation that the program had not included international events, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) also pointed out that the trees planted during the V8SA programme would not absorb the emissions created until they had grown to full size – which could take several decades.

“If businesses want to make claims that planting trees will offset carbon emissions, they must explain that this will only occur over the full life of the trees,” said ACCC Chairman Graeme Samuel in a statement.

“It is not until the trees are fully grown that they can maximise carbon absorption.”

The ACCC has accepted an

undertaking from V8SA to amend its V8 Racing Green Program and its announcement that 10,000 native trees would be planted to offset carbon emissions from its series, transport and other activities.

In a statement, V8SA said, “V8 Supercars obtained and relied on independent expert reports before making its claims. We had three agencies assist in the calculations. As it turns out, there were errors in the calculations that required us to amend our claims. The ACCC accepted that we relied on third party experts at all times in defining the boundaries of the claims.”

V8SA also pointed out that more than 15,000 native trees were planted in 2007, many more than the 10,000 required by the program.

Of course, all V8 Supercars will race on E85 next season, an 85 percent blend of ethanol, which is produced from a renewable source.

Ambrose news wide of the mark NASCAR

REPORTS that Marcos Ambrose was to announce his NASCAR plans for 2009 today are wide of the mark.

The reports suggested that the Australian was about to announce a deal to run a Toyota next season, in preparation for the introduction of a rule in 2010 that would limit teams to a maximum of four cars in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. This would

limit dominant teams like Joe Gibbs Racing or Roush Fenway Racing – which had a 1-2-3 finish at Dover on Sunday – to supplying technology but not entries into the series’ events.

“Definitely not,” said Ambrose spokesman Chris Jordan on Monday.

The other part of the rumour had the Tasmanian moving to Michael Waltrip’s team next year, together with sponsor Little Debbie, to race a MWR Toyota.

“Unless someone has said something different, no way,” said Jordan.

“Marcos has a deal to race with JTG Daugherty [Racing] in 2009 and 2010.”

What is not certain is what brand of car he will race next year. Team coowner Brad Daugherty has said in the past that he would be looking for the best deal possible with a maker but, until there is any announcement, the only certain part is that Ambrose will be in JTGD colours next season.

In this issue of GPWEEK

By And

Schedule change mooted Back in t at WRCC meeting THE new World Rally Championship rotation calendar is already under fire, and may be changed, following last week’s World Rally Championship Commission meeting.

From next season onwards, there will be only 12 events each year, on a rotation system over 24 months. But the manufacturers are calling for it to be stretched to 14 events in 2010.

“Nobody seems happy with the calendar rotation system that has already been approved by the World Council, but the FIA’s decision to run 12 events had been made at their behest of the manufacturers,” said Morrie

Chandler, WRCC President.

“Now they are saying this was all a misunderstanding.”

Also on the agenda was a world ranking system for the WRC competitors, as well as a request from Volkswagen to allow some technical changes to make its Sirocco platform suitable for rallying.

To miss Valencia, or testing?

CASEY Stoner is in danger of not finishing the MotoGP season thanks to the impending surgery on his left wrist.

The recovery time for the shattered scaphoid bone (which has been broken since 2003) is approximately two months, meaning that waiting until the season-ending Valencia GP will force him out of the end-ofseason testing. It might also affect him during the crucial winter testing program.

Stoner has thus far remained quiet on the subject saying only “I want to finish the season” at Indy.

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TAKUMA Sato took a step towards restarting his Formula 1 career with a successful test for Toro Rosso at Jerez last week.

The Japanese ace, who has been out of a drive since Super Aguri folded earlier this season, had to deal with rain during his day with the team, but nonetheless reportedly impressed.

“It’s one of the fastest Grand Prix cars I’ve ever driven,” Sato enthused in an exclusive interview with GPWeek.

“You can’t directly compare between the years, but I must admit, this is a top contender’s car, so I really enjoyed the drive.”

The question now is whether or not the test could lead to a fulltime drive, with Sebastian Vettel bound for Red Bull Racing, and Sebastien Bourdais’ drive under threat for next season.

“Obviously it will depend on the team’s decision. The driver market is still open and it all depends on who moves where.

We felt it was a really good test but now it’s just a matter of how things develop. I don’t think they will hurry with their decision so we will probably have to wait

Iss

drew van leeuwen

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the saddle until the end of the season or maybe even the end of the year.”

A full and exclusive interview with Sato features in this week’s issue of GPWeek.

w e nro sue #29 onlClin ick he e

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BUSCH CONC sutton-images.com

The Heartbeeat of America: Will Chevrolet return to IndyCar?

Five makes look at Indy

Technical framework “70 percent” ready for 2011 INDYCAR INDYCAR’S future is taking shape, and five manufacturers are showing interest in the proposed engine formula.

Last week engine manufacturers met for two days at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway with the Indy Racing League to define their new engine specification and attract competition for Honda, its sole IndyCar series engine supplier since 2006. The new engine regulations are said to be 70 percent defined, with a six-week window for settling on the final package of what is likely to be a turbocharged formula using ‘green’ or alternative fuel sources.

“We’re still looking at areas that would be open and closed for development and the homologation period,” said Brian Barnhart, the IRL’s

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President of Competition and Operations.

“We haven’t completely defined what the RPM would be. The manufacturers are to make sure they have a comfort level with the power required to meet those performance levels in addition to the durability requirements and cost parameters we’re looking for.

“We’re going to work with Dallara and Firestone in terms of the chassis and tyre portion of the package to see what can be done in terms of grip levels, downforce, and drag levels, to create the performance we’re looking for. It’s important for us to integrate all of it with the diverse schedule that we run.”

The IRL hopes to have at least two or three new manufacturers ready to compete by the 2011 season.

– MARY MENDEZ

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CEDES CHASE NASCAR

Dirk Klynsmith

KYLE Busch has conceded that he cannot win the NASCAR Sprint Cup. In a season in which he had established himself as the fastest man in the sport, and won 19 races in Cup, Nationwide and Craftsman Truck, his dream of racing his Joe Gibbs Toyota to the title has ended two races into the 10-round Chase, with a broken valve spring putting his #18 car out of the Dover race before half-distance.

It was only his second DNF of the Cup season and leaves him 210 points behind leader Carl Edwards.

“At this point, it doesn’t matter [whether I think I

have a chance to win the championship],” Busch said during the race, which continued without him.

“Same thing happened two years ago – [the] exact same thing: Wrecked at Loudon, blew up here. So where did we end up [in 2006]? Dead last.”

While Busch’s fortunes have waned, the irony is that he gave up the seeminglypossible quest to win all three series mid-season because he wanted to concentrate on winning the Cup title.

‘All’ he has to look forward to now is the chance to win another eight Sprint Cup races and to test a Formula 1 car in Japan in November.

Red with Envy: Franchitti, left with Juan Pablo Montoya in 1999.

Dario, Dan, Done Deal INDYCAR

DARIO Franchitti and Dan Wheldon will join their 2009 teams for the Nikon Indy 300 next month.

As exclusively reported in eNews two weeks ago, the Scot will join Target Chip Ganassi Racing and drive on the Gold Coast, where he won for Team Kool Green in 1999.

The man he replaced in the the #10 Dallara Honda will rejoin Panther Racing at the event.

“I’m really looking forward to

getting into the Target IndyCar and to do so in Surfers Paradise, which is one of my favorite tracks, is a big bonus,” said the Scot.

“I’m excited to start working with the team, and Scott [Dixon] as my new team-mate.

I think this will give us a good jumpstart on the 2009 season.”

While much of Ganassi’s sponsor lineup is well-known, Panther is still working on both its sponsors for next season and its testing schedule.

– MARY MENDEZ

NASCAR Media

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Grin and Bear USUALLY at Bathurst, you’ll see kanagaroos bouncing around the track, but this year, expect to see bears!

Colin Sieders has unveiled the ‘CareFlight V8 Supercar Bear’ – to be sold at the Supercheap Autos Bathurst 1000 next month.

The CareFlight bear, an official product of the V8 Supercar Championship Series, will be on sale in most of the team’s merchandise areas at the Mount Panorama circuit (October 9-12).

“We’ve been trying to work out a way of helping Careflight and work it in the with V8s, and the Bear is the perfect thing,” Sieders said.

“The Bear is CareFlight’s mascot, so we put a replica of my race suit on the Bear to tie the two together.”

Sieders is an ambassador for CareFlight after being involved in a fatal incident when he was 15.

The team at CareFlight (an air medical retrieval service in New South Wales) saved Colin’s life that day, and now, the 26-year-old is heavily involved in fundraising and charity work for the NRMAsponsored organisation.

The V8 Supercar CareFlight Bear will be available for $50 at Bathurst, through the CareFlight website <http://www.careflight. org> or the V8 Supercar website <http://www. v8supercar.com.au>

Sieders buys ex-Br FUJITSU V8s FUJITSU V8 Supecar Series driver Colin Sieders has purchased the exBritek Motorsport Ford Falcon BA that he campaigned at Sandown in June.

Having leased the car for Sandown, the Sieders team has decided to buy the car and will run it in the next round of the series at Bathurst next month.

Sieders will race it at Bathurst

sporting the same Gulf Western Oils livery as the other Sieders Racing Team Falcon BA of Colin’s younger brother David.

It will be the first time that Colin will compete in a BA Falcon in any V8 Supercar race.

The team will test the car at Oran Park the week before Bathurst, with assistance from former car owner Jason Bright and his engineer Geoff Slater.

“The new car will be a breath of

Walk with Jack FUJITSU V8s

JACK Perkins will lead at least one extra lap of Bathurst this year, heading the ‘Walk to Cure Diabetes’ for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF).

Perkins, who was diagnosed with the condition in 2007, will lead the walk around the famous 6.2km Mount Panorama circuit on Wednesday, 8 October at 2.00pm.

“I hope a lot of V8 drivers, teams and fans can join me at Bathurst to raise awareness to diabetes and also much needed funds for research,” he said.

Perkins will compete in both the Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 with Jack Daniel’s Racing, while also driving his Mack Trucks Commodore in the Fujitsu V8 Series support races.

To take part, simply head to www.

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jdrf.org.au/walk and sign up as a member of the Jack Perkins team, then start fundraising and raising local support.

Those who are unable to make it to Bathurst can still make donations to the JDRF on the website.

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Fisher’s V8 debut

ritek BA fresh air for me,” Colin said.

“It will be faster, stiffer and better in all areas that my former car.

“Britek will be giving us as much input as possible to help us go faster. Jason’s cars are much stiffer than anything else.”

Sieders’s ageing Falcon AU, that was heavily damaged in the 10-car accident at Wakefield Park in April, will be rebuilt and sold at a later date.

FUJITSU V8s ANDREW Fisher and Jesus Racing has completed its first test in a V8 Supercar at Wakefield Park last week.

The Yokohama V8 Ute

regular will officially launch his V8 Supercar program tomorrow (Tuesday) at Oran Park.

The ex-Damien White Commodore VZ will be prepared by Wollongong

Performance Racing.

“It is an extraordinary car to drive,” Fisher said.

“Driving the Supercar is very different to driving the V8 Ute. The speed and power just don’t compare. It’s amazing.”

15

MINI CHALLENGE THE MINI Challenge is on the move and it looks as though a round of the series could take place in South-East Asia in the near future.

With the MINI looking to bring worldwide MINI competitions under the same guise, known as MINI Challenge, it could open up the possibility for some overseas races.

“It is on our radar,” National MINI Manager, Justin Hocevar told eNews.

“MINI brand management in the head offices in Germany is making attempts to globalise the race series.

“There is MINI racing in other markets which is yet to fall under the same brand identity as MINI Challenge and that’s progressively going to happen throughout 2009.

“We’ve had some interest out of SouthEast Asian markets to host a round of the Australian series or to even hold a regional series.”

The interest from South-East Asia was further strengthened at the latest round of the series at Phillip Island.

“They don’t have a series in South-East Asia yet but we had a representative from Malaysia come down and attend the round of MINI Challenge at Phillip Island

and we’ve had a long sit down and talk with them about what the possibilities are,” said Hocevar.

In addition to a possible round in Asia, MINI Challenge Australia has been looking at the possibility of creating an alliance with the New Zealand series.

“We’ve spoken to our colleagues in New Zealand about moving forward and whether we can work closer together.

“There is obviously a (technical) difference in the two cars that are being run at the moment with them running the cars with the supercharger, while we’re running the newer cars with the turbo engine. So there’s a bit of work ahead of us there but

More than a MINI futu

Australia’s MINI Challenge looks towards racing in South-East Asia, a Trans-Tasman challenge and other MAHONEY investigates

16

news it’s not to say that other categories haven’t run with a two-tiered field before.

“Given that they’ve got around 19 cars and we had 18 cars at our last round so it could be good to combine the two.”

The MINI Challenge has struggled of late following the previous Category Manager’s, Sherrin Motorsport, going into receivership however the category looks to have strengthened rather than faltered.

“We have been through a lot of turmoil, there’s no doubt about it but we’ve come back stronger with our biggest numbers yet.

“We had 18 cars on the grid [at Phillip

ure

er overseas possibilities. PHILLIP

Island] and I think other categories came back with less.

“Our drivers and teams all pulled together and we’ve found a very strong partnership with the guys at Toleman Motorsport and Spherix.

“We just need to focus on getting the fundamentals right and so far so good, we’re really on a good path there.

“I hope that everybody can identify that despite what we’ve been through, as a manufacturer, we come through with what we’ve said we would do and stand by the series.”

As the category looks forward to 2009 there could be a few high-profile events

on the calendar.

“At the moment we’re working to nail down our calendar with the V8s next year,” said Hocevar.

“We’ve already got an agreement in principle over a number of rounds and that just needs to be refined.

“The prospect of doing the 12-Hour race is something a lot of our drivers expressed interest in because they get to do a lot of 20-minute dashes and they’d like to have an endurance race, so that’s interesting from that point of view.

“We have to speak with Spherix to see how that would work and fit into our calendar [for next year].”

We’ve had some interest out of South-East Asian markets to host a round of the Australian series or to even hold a regional series.

Justin Hocevar

Dirk Klynsmith

17

Who will be the next Australia AMSF Risin AUSSIES OVERSEAS

AFTER a successful pilot season, the Australian Motor Sport Foundation’s International Rising Star program will continue in 2009, and the successful candidates will be notified this week.

Three circuit racing drivers are expected to be selected for the 2009 season, while for the first time, a rally driver is likely to be included as a beneficiary of the Foundation’s support.

John Martin (British Formula 3, pictured), Tim Blanchard (British Formula Ford), Ashley Walsh (West European Cup) and James Davison (Indy Lights) are this year’s International Rising Stars.

In terms of results, Blanchard and

Davison have secured race wins, while Martin and Walsh have shown glimpses of form in recent rounds.

All of the current International Rising Stars have submitted entries to be included in next year’s program, while other circuit racers in the running for the AMSF support will be Aussie standout Daniel Riccardo, Formula 3 improver Sam Abay and current Australian Formula Ford driver Daniel Erickson, who has indicated interest in heading overseas next year.

Aussie rally drivers looking at heading overseas, who may be eligible for AMSF International Rising Star backing are Eli Evans and Molly Taylor.

– GRANT ROWLEY

Warne turns down Bathurst drive for Cricket legend says no to 12 Hour, but WA team says yes BATHURST 12 HOUR WEST Australian businessman Kym Illman will back an entry in next year’s WPS Bathurst 12 Hour – and he almost had Shane Warne in the driver’s seat.

Illman owns phone company Messages on Hold, for which Warne is a major spokesperson.

And with a couple of seats up for grab in the Illman 12 Hour entry, he couldn’t resist asking the King of Spin.

“I asked him, for sure,” confirmed Illman.

“When he was out of cricket a few years ago, he said he wanted to do two things – get his golf handicap to single figures, and become a great driver. And he’s achieved both. But he won’t be racing with us, unfortunately.”

The only confirmed driver at this point is local hotshot Peter Major, with Illman himself (who

18

won the challenge class at the recent Targa West) opting to sit Bathurst out. He revealed that Targa West winner Steve Jones, Fujitsu Series driver Matt White and former V8 Ute driver Kerry Wade are all in the frame for a drive, although he “hasn’t settled on anyone yet.”

Illman also revealed he had put a call through to Eric Bana’s management …

The car is the Mitsubishi Evo IX that tarmac rally ace Matthew Heskins used to campaign, and, according to Illman, will be fast enough to win.

“I think we can win it. We have a good car, and we’re talking to Ralliart about preparing and running it at the event. I’m willing to pay to get the right people working on it.”

Along with MOH, the team will be supported

by Tyrepower, Hipwood Constructions and Ivan Pavlovic & Associates.

– ANDREW VAN LEEUWEN

news

Dirk Klynsmith

an Idol ng Star Winslow eyes Le Mans LE MANS

sutton-images.com

2009

NEW Gold Star Champion James Winslow is planning for the future, and wants to compete in the V8 Supercar Championship Series and the Le Mans 24 Hours.

Before securing his drive in this year’s Formula 3 Championship, Winslow was close to inking a deal with an American and European Le Mans Sportscar team, with the assistance of Opes Prime.

When the financial company collapsed, his drive went with it, and he was forced to come and race in Australian F3.

Now, with the F3 Championship and Gold Star in his pocket, he wants to settle in Australia and race V8 Supercars – but his Le Mans dream is far from over.

“I’m quite into Sportscars,” he said.

“Driving at Le Mans is a dream of mine since I was a kid. That race is definitely on the races that I want to do.”

While he has aspirations to compete at Le Mans, conquering Australia’s V8 Supercars is his immediate priority.

At the moment, the Englishman is applying for

permanent residency in Australia and talking to V8 teams about Fujitsu V8 drives about 2009.

“I want a career in Australia and my main thing is to try and get into V8s,” he says.

“I’m hoping that this (winning the F3 title) will help me promote me now and put me on the radar of some of a few V8 teams and work on getting some tests and work towards getting a deal together 2009.”

– GRANT ROWLEY For more with James Winslow, click to page 22

The prize is a steel!

CREATIVE JUICES

circlework.com.au

IF you’ve ever glanced at the paintwork on a V8 Supercar and thought ‘I could do better than that,’ then here is your chance!

Orrcon Racing is offering someone the chance to design the new livery for its V8 Superschool car. All you have to do is download the template and logo from www. orrconracing.com.au, and get creative.

The winning entrant will get a free ride at the V8 Superschool on the Gold Coast, including flights, accommodation and meals. Entries close on October 20 at 5pm.

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Biaggi signs Aprilia deal WORLD SUPERBIKE

Sterilgarda Go Eleven

MAX Biaggi will race for Aprilia next season.

The Roman, who had raced for Suzuki and Sterilgarda’s Ducati team since he moved to World Superbikes at the end of his GP career, will race the Aprilia RSV4 in the Superbike World Championship in 2009 and 2010.

Biaggi, 37, will partner a rider yet to be named.

“Biaggi was our number one choice, I’m delighted to have him back with us,” said Leo Francesco Mercanti, Director of Product Development and Sporting Activities of the Piaggio Group, Aprilia’s parent company.

“Today, with Biaggi and the Aprilia RSV4 we begin a new challenge. We are convinced that with him, we will be able to put to the best possible use all of our passion, our expertise and desire to win”.

Aprilia’s new bike is a 990cc V4 which is rumoured to produce 200 horsepower in stock trim. Biaggi raced for Aprilia in the 250 GP class between 1991 and 1996, winning three world titles, scoring 23 GP wins and 37 podiums. His other 250cc world title came on a Honda.

SBK: GETTING MORE LIKE MOTOGP

New Q rules plus rain bikes in 2009

WORLD SUPERBIKE

Suzuki Racing

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THERE will be a lot of changes in the World Superbike and Supersport Championships next season.

Series organisers FGSport and the FIM announced last weekend that the series would move to adopt many of the changes already seen in the MotoGP series in recent years. This will include a ‘graduated’ qualifying system, as seen in Formula 1 and V8 Supercars, that will see the field cut down to 20, then 16, then eight. The grid will then be made in rows of four.

As well, wet races will see the riders allowed to pit and change to an identical, wet-weather-tyred bike, as in MotoGP. Teams will have to nominate a single test track, and no more than two Wildcard entries will be permitted at each round.

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5 Minutes with ...

JAMES WINSLOW

Another Brit has conquered the Australian Formula 3 Championship, and in doing so, adding his name to the illustrious list of Gold Star Champions GRANT ROWLEY

You’ve certainly got no money troubles now. You’ve

22

James Smith

MOTORSPORT NEWS: You’re the Gold Star Champion. It looked a bit sketchy there on occasions, in regards to finances, but this obviously makes it more rewarding, securing the championship.

JAMES WINSLOW: Yeah, for sure, it’s been a massive struggle all year. I’ve never worked so hard on anything – ever. If I’d put this much effort into a business, it would probably be a very successful business!

It’s just been a struggle.

After the first couple of rounds, there was obviously a few sponsorship issues (ED: the collapse of Opes Prime), but I’ve found different people to support me in different rounds, I’ve borrowed and begged, swapped teams. It’s been the biggest struggle ever.

But since I’ve been back at Team BRM, the car has obviously been really quick and we’ve won a race in every single round since I’ve been back with them.

Yes, just winning a race and just hanging in there in the championship, with the possibility of winning the prize money, it’s kind of help me find the sponsor for the following round. For the rounds where I couldn’t find a sponsor, I’ve borrowed the money, so each round’s prize money has gone to paying back everyone who has helped me out.

But yeah, it’s fantastic I’m really honoured to have won the Gold Star.

I feel honoured to have my name on the same list as those guys winslow joins the likes of Davison, bartlett and matich got a big $80,000 cheque!

Yeah, it is a big cheque. Yeah, it’s awesome. I’ve never won any money from racing before because prize money like that doesn’t come up every day. Nah, it’s great.

That was a big lure to doing the championship and without that, I wouldn’t have continued in the series.

I guess the inevitable question now is do you want to continue racing in Australia?

I do. I want to have a career in Australia and my main thing is to try and get into V8s.

I’m hoping that this will help me promote me now and put me on the radar of some of a few V8 teams and work on getting some tests and work towards getting a deal together for 2009. That’s my key. If I can get myself an endurance seat, or a Fujitsu

car, I know getting straight into the Main Series is a bit tough, but if I can use the Gold Star to promote myself here and, fingers crossed, get myself a career in Australia in the V8s.

Team BRM has talked about competing in sedan racing – V8s or Carrera Cup. Would you like to progress up the ranks with those guys?

Yeah, for sure. We’ve been talking about a few things.

We haven’t really figured out a way to do it, but for BRM to run me in a Fujitsu car would be great, but it’s all about funding, really.

The money I’ve just won obviously can go towards next year, but it’s no where near enough, but I’d be more than happy to do it with them.

I’ve been speaking to a couple of other teams about

it as well. Due to funding, I’m probably going to be in a position where I’m going to have to go with the best available deal, but BRM has supported me a lot this year.

The Gold Star is Australia’s highest honour. Forget the Australian F3 Championship, was competing for the Gold Star a lure in itself?

Yeah, I knew about the Gold Star when I first came over. I didn’t know too much about it, but I’ve learnt a lot about it since.

It’s obviously a very prestigious award and there are some big names who have won it in the past. I feel honoured to have my name on the same list as those guys.

I just hope I can do it proud and go on and win V8 championships, win Le Mans and do some great things in the sport from here on.

chat

23

Safe and Sorry

Dirk Klynsmith Dirk Klynsmith

Letters

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

Strange things Well, we now have another round of the championship with a bizarre point scoring system.

Just like the Clipsal 500, the L&H 500 has thrown up a strange result. The car that was awarded the event and round win, actually didn’t score the most points for the weekend. If the organisers want to award points to all races, they should all be counted toward the

24

round result.

If Mark Skaife ever whinges again about the bad luck he keeps getting in races, he needs only to be reminded of the inaugural L&H 500.

In the middle driving stint, Skaife was nowhere near the pace and going backwards. It was only through a huge slice of luck regarding the timing of pitstops when the rain came, and the superior pace of Garth Tander, that achieved the

result for car one.

And as far as HRT’s call for a parity review, surely that now has to be buried and forgotten.

Winning the last two rounds, and now with an increased lead in the championship, shows that the Holdens are on pace. Ford teams may as well pack up and stay home if there is any adjustment to slow them down.

Paul Winter Loxton, SA

Speed on Tweed I was fortunate enough to make my way down to this year’s Speed on Tweed and let me tell you, I’m glad I did.

What a great event it is and i can’t quite believe that is over.

The chance to see the cars of yesteryear in all their glory is priceless and I can only hope the event makes a comeback in the near future.

Garrett Douglas Coolangatta, Qld

opinion THERE are times when, due to human nature, Big Things tend to get taken for granted.

I was thinking about that on the weekend. Last week, Grant Denyer suffered a serious back injury when driving a Monster Truck. Even though the type of incident did not raise any immediate alarm bells – the truck ‘landed heavily’ rather than ‘crashed’ – Denyer suffered a bad injury to a vertebrae in his back. A close friend who works in orthapaedics told me it is what is known as a ‘burst fracture’ and is very dramatic indeed.

I could not help making a mental comparison between the vision of Denyer’s accident and Ryan Briscoe’s wall-banger at Chicagoland in 2005.

Briscoe’s was about the most visually terrifying crash of the past decade yet he got away with ‘only’ a hematoma on his back. Okay, it was a huge bruise about the length of a medium-sized dog, and it took Briscoe two months of intense physiotherapy to overcome it. But, thankfully, he suffered no broken bones and came

opinion Phil Branagan Executive Editor back full of speed as soon as he could.

I am not attempting to downplay the seriousness of either of these incidents.

What I am saying is that the consequences of incidents in motorsport can be random, and out of proportion with the images of the crash. The fact

that these things are relatively rare these days is a tribute to the diligence of those who mandate the safety standards of the sport.

Grant Denyer is a familiar face to all of us and is annoyingly good at many things. Even if he were not one of the most enthusiastic and friendly blokes in the sport, we would be wishing him a speedy and thorough recovery.

Because we do know him, we offer this; Grant, hush up, listen to the medicos and do as you are told! Motor racing will miss you but mate, we ain’t going anywhere …

eLETTER OF THE WEEK Vote 1 Owen Why hasn’t Steve Owen got a full-time seat?

I think he showed heaps of grit last season in the smallest team with an awesome Bathurst result. His Fujitsu results so far this year prove he is in the wrong category, along with an

outstanding performance at Phillip Island.

Yet this year’s Autobarn representative is in a championshipwinning team and car yet has hardly set the world on fire.

It would appear V8 Supercars is becoming more like Formula 1 where

the best drivers are those with the thickest wallets rather than buckets of talent.

I reckon I know how to make an Irwin Tools Falcon faster, if not a DJR racer.

Warren Furze warren.furze@bigpond.com

Send your creative letters to mail@mnews.com.au, or Motorsport News PO Box 7072, Brighton, Vic 3186 25

FORMULA 3 ROUND 8 – SYMMPONS PLAINS

All over, Red Rover

James Winslow secured the Formula 3 title after mechanical misfortune struck Leanne Tander at Symmons Plains

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race

Dirk Klynsmith

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Dirk Klynsmith

Triumph and tragedy: Above, Tander walked away from her broken car and broken championship. Left, Winslow was the winner. Below, Mat Sofi was on fire, literally, while bottom, Chris Gilmour wrapped up the National crown.

John Morris/Mpix Dirk Klynsmith

Dirk Klynsmith

FORMULA 3 JAMES Winslow has won the CAMS Australian Drivers Championship – granting him the prestigious Gold Star award – after securing victory in the first race at Symmons Plains during the final round of the Kumho Tyres Australian Formula 3 Championship in Tasmania last weekend.

The victory made him the second British driver to win the Gold Star in its 52-year history, joining Ben Clucas who won the title in 2006.

Winslow secured the title on the final lap of Race 1 after a late shower cost race leader Stuart Kostera the win.

Winslow’s championship rival

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Leanne Tander was denied a challenge at the title after her engine failed after 13 laps of Race 1, but she picked up a handy win in the 30-lap Country Club Tasmania F3 SuperPrix. ”It’s just fantastic. Amazing,” said an elated Winslow.

“The team has done a great job and thanks have to go to them and everyone that has been supporting me. After last season I was so determined to come back this year and win the series so I am just relieved and happy.

“It has been an amazing championship and very, very competitive. It’s obviously disappointing for Leanne to have an engine go but she has been a great rival this year.”

Winslow won five races in

2008, finished on the podium nine times from 10 races, scored three pole positions and three fastest race laps.

Tander was diplomatic in defeat.

“Obviously it’s disappointing to not have been able to win the championship and that is what we came here for,” Tander said. ”It has been a challenging season and we came from a long way behind to challenge for it. My team is the best team in the business and just fantastic. I didn’t win the championship but this win (the SuperPrix) is a good one.”

Nathan Caratti finished third in the championship after leading the series early, only to

endure a few tough rounds.

Caratti was involved in a highspeed Race 1 incident with surprise pole-sitter Mathew Radisich. Caratti went on to finish 10th, while Radisich failed to finish.

Caratti turned it around in the Race 2 SuperPrix, finishing everso close behind Tander.

Outgoing champion Tim Macrow finished third in both races, while Mat Sofi’s results in the second half of the season, including two fourth places at Symmons, boosted him to fourth in the championship.

In the Formula 3 National Class, Chris Gilmour wrapped up his long-awaited title and the $40,000 prize after a pair of fourth-place finishes.

National Champions Crowned

James Smith James Smith

Supporting a good cause: Sven Burchartz, top, wrapped up the GT3 Cup Challenge. Above, Keven Stoopman was too good in HQs, while below, Lee Castle and Des Wall fought out for the Manufacturers Championship.

SHANNONS NATIONALS

Dirk Klynsmith

THREE national champions were crowned in the eighth round of the Shannons Nationals Motor Racing Championships at Symmons Plains last weekend – James Winslow (Formula 3), Sven Burchartz (GT3 Cup Challenge) and Keven Stoopman (HQ Holden).

Burchartz, a co-founder won the inaugural Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge presented by Porsche Insurance title, wrapped up the crown with one race to spare, completing the season with victory in all three races.

“It’s been a brilliant year, and wrapping up the title with three wins from three races is a great feeling,” Burchartz said.

“I’m really thrilled with the first year for the series, we’ve had good support from teams and drivers and it’s looking really positive for the future.”

Terry Knight and Jeff Bobik shared the podium positions at the Launceston circuit, with Bobik snaring second in the series.

Tasmanian debutant Ryan Flynn failed to finish a race after enduring mechanical problems.

Victorian driver Keven Stoopman sealed the 2008 Ironfarmers HQ Holden Racing Australia National Challenge Series with victory in three of the four races in the season finale.

Gary Bonwick scored three second places and a race win to secure second in the series.

In other racing, Lee Castle (Subaru Impreza) and Des Wall (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX) slugged it out for outright race wins in the penultimate round of the Australian Manufacturers Championship.

The pair were closely matched all weekend, with Castle emerging victorious in each race to take the round win.

Class D driver Colin Osborne (Toyota Celica) has displaced George Miedecke (Hyundai Tiburon) at the top of the driver’s standings, after Miedecke was forced out of the opening race with a brake problem.

The penultimate round of the Shannons Nationals will be held at Mallala Motorsport Park in South Australia, November 1-2.

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SPEED ON TWEED MURWILLUMBAH – NSW

The final Tweed This year saw the final Speed on Tweed after seven-straight years. MARK JONES was there to soak up the action SPEED ON TWEED THE final Speed on Tweed took place at Murwillumbah over the September 20-21 weekend with seven years of historic sprint racing coming to a close after event director Roger Ealand took a last lap in his Alvis.

In an event featuring Tyrrell, Brabham, Lotus, Maybach and Elfin there was also many Jaguars on display. Three immaculate C-Type replicas sat alongside Digby Cooke’s XJ13 replica, E-Types, XJS and Mark I touring cars with the jewels in the crown being a pair of D-Types.

The only two genuine DTypes in Australia sat side-byside in the Murwillumbah paddock.

“I’m very proud of it,” said Keith Berryman of his D-Type.

One of four D-Types imported to Australia in the mid 1950s, this car went to Westco Motors and was raced by Queensland’s first Australian Touring Car Champion, Bill Pitt.

“Sandra and I have owned the car since 1967. It certainly had a lot of damage in its racing career.

“At Albert Park in 1956 at the Tourist Trophy he inverted the car and was thrown out. The officials were immediately on the scene and used a telegraph pole and about 10 men to try and lever the car away from Pitt

30

and they were straining to lift the car when Pitt walked from behind them and told them not to worry about it.”

The car went on to further success in the hands of Frank Matich, winning the 1961 Australian GT Championship.

Berryman raced it himself for years after acquiring it and it was a star attraction at the beginning of organised historic racing in Australia.

The second D-Type, owned by bandmaster Warren Daly, raced at Le Mans and across Europe before making its way to Asia and finally into Bib Stillwell’s hands when he raced in the US in the 1980s in historic competition. Daly acquired the car in 1997.

Fastest time of the weekend was recorded by Peter Gumley in his Wortmeyer SCV, beating home Neil Farr’s Bowin-Hay P6 and Ron Hay’s RH Honda.

The fastest production car was Jon Siddons new Datsun 240Z. Speed on Tweed’s combination of social activities and competitive racing has been very popular, and while Ealand and his team now look forward to new challenges after seven years of running the event there is a strong desire for it to return, with the possibility of running it in the off-year from Rally Australia, which will move to the region for 2009.

race

Mark Jones Mark Jones Mark Jones

On the Tweed: We had to pick some of the cars to show you so we went with these beauties.

Clockwise from left, Max Pearson's Mildren-Waggott, just one of the Jaguar D-Types, The ex-Stan Jones Maybach and an ex-Stefan Bellof Formula 2 car.

Mark Jones

31

NASCAR SPRINT CUP ROUND 28 – CAMPING WORLD RV 400, DOVER, DE

Bring Back the Biff!

Greg Biffle made it two wins when he headed a Roush rout at Dover

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NASCAR Media

33

YOU just can’t please some people.

Greg Biffle hung in there all season long and made it into The Chase for the Sprint Cup without winning a race. Then, just like that, he wins two in a row.

Biffle was fast when it counted. With 48s laps left in the race, most of the leaders took four tyres but Carl Edwards took track position by only taking two. He held off his Roush Fenway team-mates for as long as he could but first Matt Kenseth went past, then Biffle followed.

“I knew I had to race Matt [Kenseth] clean, as the last

thing I wanted to do was to knock him out of the way,” the victor said.

“Matt is so smart, and he wouldn’t give me a chance to go by on the outside, so I just sat back watched Carl [Edwards] and Matt battle it out. Carl gave me help when he got Matt loose and I decided to go three-wide with them and try to get the upper hand. I went through the middle and got outside of Matt to take the lead. We were really battling it out.”

The three Fords led home veteran Mark Martin, who had to come through the field, while Jimme Johnson was fifth.

Kyle Busch fell back to earth after his dominant NW win, taking 34th place after his Toyota had engine problems.

“Something broke inside the engine,” he said.

“We're out of the title hunt; that’s for sure. Same thing happened two years ago. We wrecked at Loudon and blew up here.”

It was also a frustrating day for Dale Earnhardt Jr, who had a tyre go down and throw him into a spin on lap 142. He ended the race 24th.

Marcos Ambrose made his sixth Cup start and finished the race 32nd, after starting his Wood Bros Ford from 29th.

Roush Racers: Greg Biffle, Matt Kenseth and Carl Edwards were the class of the field at Dover, top.

Jeff Gordon started on the pole, above, but faded during the race.

Greg Biffle had hit his straps at the right time of the season, right.

Danny Hamlin, left, had a strong run but veteran Mark Martin came from behind in the US Army car to win the ‘nonRoush’ class.

NASCAR Media

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NASCAR | CAMPING WORLD RV 400, DOVER, DE 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

16 17 99 8 48 29 24 07 31 55

Greg Biffle Matt Kenseth Carl Edwards Mark Martin Jimmie Johnson Kevin Harvick Jeff Gordon Clint Bowyer Jeff Burton Michael Waltrip

Ford Ford Ford Chevy Chevy Chevy Chevy Chevy Chevy Toyita

Roush Fenway/DISHNetwork Q5 Roush Fenway/DeWalt 8 Roush Fenway/Office Depot 22 DEI/US Army 2 Hendrick/Lowe’s 20 Childress/Shell/Pennzoil 24 Hendrick/DuPont/Nicorette 1 Childress/Jack Daniel’s 6 Childress/AT&T 21 Waltrip/NAPA 40

THE CHASE FOR THE SPRINT CUP | points Fod Racing Media

Edwards 5390, Johnson/Biffle 5380, Burton 5308, Harvick 5289, Bowyer 5284, Stewart 5277, Gordon 5272, Earnhardt 5261, Kenseth 5223.

NASCAR Media

Z Cars sutton-images.com

NATIONWIDE

Fod Racing Media

THERE have been 24 races in the Nationwide Series this year and Kyle Busch has won a third of them.

But even by his standards, his victory on the Monster Mile at Dover was pretty impressive.

His Joe Gibbs Camry led 157 laps and was never seriously challenged. Even when he dropped from the lead when he pitted and other drivers didn’t, he charged through the field to take the win.

“This has been a phenomenal season and something to cherish,” he said.

“This car would go high, low or anywhere I wanted it to. Once I got into second place, I

just took my time and tried to be patient.”

Even when the race ran an extra six laps, while the aftermath of a Steven Wallace v Landon Cassil battle was cleaned up, Busch could not be touched.

Three Chevrolets followed, Mike Bliss taking his best result of the year in second from Brad Keselowski and Scott Wimmer. Defending Champ Carl Edwards was fifth in his Roush Fenway Ford.

Marcos Ambrose started the race 13th and ended it 16th after battling a problem with the power steering of his JTG Daugherty Ford.

Points: Bowyer 4222, Edwards 4036, Keselowski 3974, Bliss 3779, Ragan 3721, Reutimann 3676, Busch 3673, Wallace 3381, Leffler 3348, Ambrose 3321.

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WORLD SUPERBIKE CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND 12 – VALLELUNGA, ITALY

Ducati Corse

Not Yet

36

T

HE inevitable is still the inevitable but Troy Bayliss is going to have to keep the champers on ice for a little while yet.

Noriyuki Haga gave Ducati fans a preview of what to expect in 2009 with two flawless wins at Vallelunga.

In the opening race, the Japanese ace held off Max Biaggi and Troy Corser with superior straightline speed and, in the second, there was a classic battle between the two Yamahas and Bayliss. The Ducati man fell on the final lap and Michael Fabrizio zoomed through to second place on the other Ducati, from Corser.

Bayliss recovered to finish 16th.

“I could hear Biaggi’s bike all the way but my bike was working very well and I am very happy with the result,” Haga said about the opening race.

“In Race 2, I had a very big fight with Troy Bayliss, and

I am sorry for his crash. But I enjoyed our battle while it lasted. It was a great day today for our team and thanks to all the team and the fans for the reception. For sure we will be pushing hard at the next round, as we did at this one.”

While his fans expected much, Biaggi could not deliver a Race 2 win after clashing with Corser and Kenan Sofuoglu on the first lap. He was fired off the Sterilgarda bike and out of the race.

If it was a good day to be on a Yamaha or a Ducati, the news was noth so good for Honda and Suzuki. Recent hero Ryuichi Kiyonari had falls in both races, as did Sofuoglu, and it was left to Carlos Checa to take two fifths home for the Ten Kate team.

Likewise, it was left to Max Neukirchner to take two fourths for Suzuki as the GSXR1000Rs struggled at the Roman track.

WSBK

RIDER’S points

Troy Bayliss could have sealed a third World Superbike title in Italy. But Noriyuki Haga, who will replace him next season, was in vintage form in Rome

Team Sterilgarda/Go Eleven

Bayliss 369, Corser 290, Haga/ Neukirchner 280, Checa 262, Biaggi 212, Nieto 206, Fabrizio 210, Kiyonari 193, Xaus 160.

Like my seat? Troy Bayliss and Nori Haga fought out a tense Race 2 battle, main pic, that ended with the Aussie on the carpet. Max Biaggi, above, chased hard and took second in the opening race.

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One step closer F3 EURO SERIES

his maiden Euro Series victory to become the ninth different winner this season.

He started from pole position and led all the way from lights-to-flag to finish ahead of Christian Vietoris and Jules Bianchi.

Hulkenberg failed to finish the second race after damaging his front wing in the opening stages.

Christodoulou takes decider at Brands FORMULA RENAULT UK THE British Formula Renault Championship went down to the final round after Adriano Buzaid took his fifth win at Brands Hatch.

Buzaid led all the way from pole in Race 1 to take the win, but couldn’t back up his performance in Race 2 finishing down in fourth position.

38

However the main interest for the weekend was behind the leaders with Alexander Sims and Adam Christodoulou battling it out for the title.

With neither driver taking top spot on the podium for the weekend Sims finished in third and second respectively to force the decider, while Christodoulou was only able to conjure finishes of fourth and fifth.

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NICO Hulkenberg clinched his sixth F3 Euro Series victory of the season at the Circuit de Catalunya to draw one step closer to the championship.

The win moves Hulkenberg 24 points clear of Edoardo Mortara after the Italian failed to score points down in ninth.

“I had some difficulties getting away at the start and managed to stay out of the chaos in the first corner,” said Hulkenberg.

“I didn’t want to take too many risks. Yann Clairay in front of me was considerably slower and I succeeded in forcing him into an error. Then, I safely drove to victory.”

Race 2 saw Kazuya Oshima celebrate

Christodoulou’s fifth place finish was enough to hand him the title from Sims just falling short in a dramatic finish.

Dean Stoneman drove to victory in Race 2 but the result was slightly overshadowed by the battle for the title.

Aussie Josh Scott didn’t have his best round of the year finishing down in 17th in Race 1 and recorded a DNF in Race 2.

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Two’s a charm for Giovanardi “A second BTCC title is very special for everyone in the Vauxhall team and we won also the Manufacturers’ and Teams’ championships,” said Giovanardi “The BTCC remains one of the most prestigious championships to win in motor sport. I am really aware of its history – this has been the championship’s 50th year

BTCC FABRIZIO Giovanardi wrapped up his second British Touring Car Championship in the first race at Brands Hatch last weekend.

Despite only finishing 14th in the race following an off on lap two, it was enough to secure the title for the Italian.

– and of some of the great names on the Champion’s trophy. It makes me very proud to be among them.”

Mat Jackson took out the race to lead home Steven Kane, Rob Collard and Colin Turkington in a BMW sweep.

Mat Jackson added another win to his tally in Race 2 ahead of Matt Neal and Turkington to stay in contention for second

in the championship after Jason Plato failed to finish the race.

The final race for the season went to Tom Chiton, who led all the way from the start in a slightly shortened race.

Jackson continued his good form with fourth position enough to vault him ahead of Plato to take second in the title at season’s end.

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A tough weekend: Josh Scott struggled at Brands Hatch finishing the season with a best result of 17th.

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GLOBE TROTTER

Bamber wins NEW Zealander Earl Bamber has had some success in only his second Formula Masters race in the penultimate round of the series at Imola last weekend.

After qualifying in sixth position, Bamber ended Race 1 in seventh but came back in Race 2 to take his first victory.

“The car was very good, particularly in the early laps and for that I'd like to say a big thank you to the guys in the ADM Motorsport team,” said Bamber.

“Because the car was so good, I was able to put my head down and build a bit of a buffer.

“I didn't quite get the start I wanted but I got a good run on Josef [Kral] at the end of the first lap, which allowed me to draft up to him on the straight and outbrake him into the first corner. Then it was just a matter of keeping an eye on the times and being consistent."

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A Fine performance DRIFTING SOUTH Australian Leighton Fine has taken out the 2008 Toyo Tyres Drift Australia Championship after finishing second in the final round at Oran Park Raceway.

Beau Yates beat Fine in the final event of the season but the second place was enough to ensure the Nissan 180SX driver the title.

“It’s a great feeling, I’m ecstatic,” Fine said.

“It was a tense weekend, we just tried to focus on the individual battles rather than worry about the championship picture and it’s gone our way.

“We’ve had a fantastic season, we’ve been competitive everywhere which is a credit to Team CTS and the work they’ve done all year.”

Fine went into the round with a 70-point lead over Luke Fink and with the two set to meet in the semi-final it looked to be an intense day of racing.

Fine managed to beat Fink in the semi after Fink spun on the first pass.

As a consolation, Fink was able to go on to finish third for the round after taking out the small final.

“Unfortunately we couldn’t quite get the championship, but for a small team we’re proud of what we’ve accomplished this year,” Fink said.

“We won an event, finished on the podium at three other rounds and ended up second in the championship, which is a good year in anyone’s book.

“Full credit to Leighton and Team CTS, they’ve done a great

job all year and it’s been a lot of fun battling with them.”

As a result both Fine and Fink will each receive an invitation to compete in the Red Bull Formula Drift Championship event in America in November.

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Win number one for Honda WTCC AFTER taking Honda’s first podium in the World Touring Car Championship in the first race at Imola, James Thompson went on to take its first race victory in Race 2.

An incident at the start saw

Felix Porteiro run into the back of the stalled SEAT of Gabriele Tarquini, with both drivers escaping relatively unharmed.

Both Thompson and Race 1 winner Yvan Muller were lucky to miss the stricken Tarquini, with both forced to avoid the

car by taking to the grass.

Thompson initially lost spots but charged back using the superior straightline speed of the Honda to his advantage eventually overtaking the leader mid-race.

Earlier in the weekend,

Muller extended his championship lead by taking the win. Muller passed his team-mate Rickard Rydell into the first turn and the two never looked back recording a relatively easy 1-2.

The next round of the series will be at Monza on October 4.

Di Resta wins as controversy reigns DTM

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A HEAD-to-head fight with championship leader Timo Scheider rewarded Paul di Resta with a win, keeping the DTM title fight alive at the latest round of the series at Catalunya.

Di Resta was forced to work for his second career win after he had to chase Scheider for the first part of the race, eventually making the move at the end of the back straight.

Scheider’s second place means he still

leads the championship by seven points with two races remaining in the series.

Bernd Schneider finished in third place after being overtaken by the two leaders early on and had a relatively lonely race through to the finish.

In a controversial end to the race, Mattias Ekstrom and Jaime Green were both penalised following numerous clashes.

Ekstrom was initially penalised 50s but was later excluded after an Audi appeal, while Green given a 30s penalty for his part in the incident.

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Todd snaps Schumacher’s streak NHRA J.R. Todd ended Tony Schumacher’s Top Fuel dominance and Greg Stanfield scored his first career victory in Pro Stock to highlight final eliminations at the 23rd annual O’Reilly NHRA Super Start Batteries NHRA Fall Nationals at the Texas Motorplex.

Tim Wilkerson took back the points lead David Ostaszewski

he’s enjoyed since early in the season in Funny Car by defeating Tony Pedregon in the final while Chris Rivas defeated points leader Matt Smith to claim the win in Pro Stock Motorcycle.

Todd ended Schumacher’s amazing win steak at 31 rounds and seven-straight NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series wins.

Todd piloted the John Stewart-tuned Lucas Oil Products dragster to his first win in more than a year, upsetting Schumacher on a holeshot, 3.91/309 to 3.91/310.

Schumacher’s final-round loss ended the greatest run in the history of Top Fuel, as he went undefeated since the Denver event in early July. Schumacher still increased his points lead and now is ahead by 97 points.

Wilkerson’s Funny car win, the 10th of his career, came at the expense of Tony Pedregon, 4.17/297 to Pedregon’s 4.20/295

to grab an 11-point lead in the standings.

Wilkerson’s Chevy Impala took out Ron Capps, Bob Tasca III and John Force to reach the final.

Stanfield scored his first Pro Stock win after coming up short in six previous final rounds. Stanfield clocked a final round 6.67/206 to stop Jeg Coughlin Jr, who trailed at 6.68/205. Coughlin did take over the point lead, with Kurt Johnson, Greg Anderson and Jason Line rounding out the top five.

Rivas, who scored his first career win earlier this season in Chicago, rode the Drag Specialties Buell to his third final this season and the fourth of his career besting Smith, 7.02/183 to 7.09/187. Rivas’ win boosted him into third place, just one point behind Steve Johnson, both still trailing Matt Smith.

– David Ostaszewski

Reindler too good in the West STATE WA

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three to win the round.

Nathan Vince won the everincreasing V8 Supercar battle in Sports Sedans, leading the way in his AU Falcon over Isi Ambrosio’s Commodore, while Jez Hammond was again the class of the Formula Vee field.

Just as dominant was Ron Moller in Historic Tourers,

while Kerry Wade beat a bunch of Mazda RX-7s to the Street Car honours. Garry Hasler made up for the Mazda defeat with a win in Improved Production.

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BRYCE Moore made a stunning debut at the latest round of the WA Formula Ford Championship at Barbagallo Raceway – but it wasn’t enough to stop Chris Reindler taking another round win.

Moore came into the series as a replacement for the injured Jordan Oon, and was second fastest in a wet/dry qualifying session, behind series leader Jason Youd.

Moore then proceeded to lead

the first race, surprising many with his wet weather pace on debut in a racecar, before slipping off the road, handing the race win to Youd.

When the track dried out Reindler was too fast, winning the remaining races to make more inroads on Youd’s title lead.

In Saloon Cars, it was youth versus experience. Youth drew first blood with Hayden Patrizi taking pole, but experience won out in the end, Grant Johnson taking three from

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Dumesny takes first blood Max Dumesny made a stunning start to his season by taking out the re-scheduled NSW State Titles in emphatic fashion at Parramatta Speedway SPEEDWAY THE first Parramatta meeting of the summer and Valvoline star Max Dumesny completely dominated the 35 lap rescheduled 2008 NSW Title to claim the crown.

Adelaide’s Trevor Green and Western Australian hard charger Ryan Farrell picked up the minor podium positions.

Dumesny was lucky to be racing after a crash the previous week sending the former WSS and Aussie Champ to hospital while his team had to build up an almost brand new machine.

“A good way to start my PCR season but it wasn’t good last week. The guys fixed up the

car, it’s all brand new and great,” said Dumesny.

“It was beautiful tonight.

I wasn’t worried about Green, plus we’re back to my regular Valvoline colours. It wasn’t lucky with that 25th anniversary silver colours and I’m glad to be away from it.”

With no rain in the forecast, it was a hot summer-like night that greeted the strong 36-car field and after winning the opening dash from WA racer Ken Sartori, Dumesny started the A Main final from pole sharing the front role with Dash 2 winner Trevor Green.

At the green, Dumesny simply blasted away. Green did get alongside the V5 Maxim at one stage before

Dumesny took control, scoring a sensational win. The battle for third saw defending NSW Champ Garry Brazier trading places with Sartori, Farrell and early in the race an impressive Martin Lawes. Brazier did try to attack Green at one stage but his machine didn’t look hooked up to the highline and dropped back into fifth at the checker, behind the WA duo of Farrell and Sartori with Lawes claiming sixth.

Former Australian chap Todd Wanless was running in the top six early but after spinning out, restarted from the rear and in a brilliant effort saw his JEI storm into ninth. TPCR Track champ Ian Loudoun, fresh after a month racing in

Darwin, looked good early and after picking up a heat win his machine was running inside the top six until a late spin saw him finishing 12th.

Brazier showed that he meant business, setting quick time in qualifying with Green, Loudoun, Wanless, Sartori and a fast Warren Ferguson the top six. Sharing heat wins were Grant Tunks, Ian Madsen, Loudoun and Kelly Linigen while Wayne Skipper took out the B Main.

There is another practice night next week at Parramatta before the rescheduled Australian Sprintcar Title is run the following weekend on October 4.

– GREG BOSCATO

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John Morris/ Mpix

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rear of grid

Odd Spot IT was all happening at Glorious Goodwood on the weekend when the rich, the famous and the ... ancient gathered to remember motor racing the way it used to be.

Some of the drivers were fast, like Jochen Mass in this Ferrari, #14, and some were slow, like Rowan Atkinson in his Jaguar Mk VII, #7. There was a queue for treatment from the medicos – hopefully not using leeches – and the grid was bathed in atypically British sunshine.

Murray Walker was there, but we don’t know about a chap wearing a pink shirt!

Such hues are best left to the grid gels, dressed in Swingin’ Sixties fashions. Of course, there were some foreign chappies there as well, some cove named Jacky Ickx cutting a fine figure in a shady and

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