Motorsport eNews Issue 77 - October 21-27, 2008

The v8 supercar Silly season continues ...

Issue No. 077 21 – 27 October 2008

EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY

CHANGES AT PERKINS

INDY TIME All the pre-race INDYCAR CHAT inside

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

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Contributing Writers F1: Will Buxton, Mark Glendenning, Paolo Filisetti Europe: Quentin Spurring, David Addison US: Martin D. Clark, Phil Morris Speedway: Greg Boscato, Geoff Rounds, Darren Sutton, Tony Millard (UK) Rally: Ryan Lahiff Drag Racing: Dave Ostaszewski (USA), Ken Ferguson, John Bosher National: Mark Wicks, Mark Jones, Aaron Shaw, Daniel Powell

Photographers Sutton Motorsport Images, Dirk Klynsmith, Marshall Cass, John Morris/Mpix, AF1 Images, James Smith, Peter Bury, Neil Blackbourn, Chris Carter, Coopers Photography, Geoff Gracie, Ash Budd, Paris Charles, Neil Hammond, Joel Strickland, Mike Patrick (UK)

Australasian

The ‘A’ Team

Issue No. 077 | 21 – 27 Oct 2008

news 4 Changes at JDR

6 Ambrose confirmed 8 SBR ...

13 Dancing to Oz 17 Oh what a feeling!

20 Getting Jiggy

chat 22 5 minutes with ... opinion 24 Rowley

Price out – Perkins in Toyota start this week No decisions yet Helio on his way TRD Aussie Racing Car Ant West to Supersports Jack Perkins

25 Tagliani

Look up ...

Calling Australia home

30 Festival 33 Ricciardo wins ...

35 Vic State Series

Jimmie looking for three Blanchard and Percat shine And loses Final round wrap

race 26 NASCAR trade 36 Classifieds

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.

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

Daniel Ricciardo has been the stand-out young Aussie overseas this year, winning the FRenault WEC title and placing second in Eurocup.

Congratulations!

Price flung, Perkins back w Jack Perkins returns to Main Game for the rest of the 2009 season V8 SUPERCARS JACK Perkins will replace Shane Price at Jack Daniel’s Racing for the remainder of the 2008 season. Price has been dropped from the underperforming squad, effective immediately.

Perkins will take over the #11 Commodore from this weekend’s Nikon Indy 300 onwards, having finished inside the top 10 at both the L&H 500 at Phillip Island, and the Supercheap 1000 at Bathurst.

“Late last week Dad (Larry Perkins) said I was going to drive at Indy, so I was really surprised,” Perkins told eNews.

“I wasn’t even going to Indy, and now I am, and I’m going back with the team. It will be great to work with Todd [Kelly], and we’ll be trying to carry on the momentum we have from two top 10 finishes from Phillip Island and Bathurst.”

It is a comeback of sorts for Perkins, who found himself in a similar situation to Price 12 months ago when he was benched for the final few rounds of the year in favour of then-JDR enduro pilot Marcus Marshall. He has since been honing his skills back in the Fujitsu Series, making just two main series starts at this year’s long distance races.

“I feel like I’ve stepped up my driving since last year, and I’ve been able to race against some well-rated guys in the Fujitsu Series,” he added.

“I was pretty happy with the job I did in the enduros in the races, and I only qualified a

couple of tenths behind Todd at Bathurst, so I was happy with the job I did there. And yeah, because of those results I’m excited about the rest of the year.”

Price, meanwhile, is naturally disappointed to so be suddenly out of a drive this late in the season.

“I guess I’ve found myself in a pretty similar situation to what Jamie Whincup and Mark Winterbottom were both in a few years ago,” Price said.

“There’s not much to say, and there are no hard feelings with Larry [Perkins]. He gave me a good opportunity and there isn’t really anything I can complain about, I just find myself in this situation. “[But] it’s been a bit strange – one day I’m good mates with everyone and driving for the team, and the next day I have nothing to do with them.”

Price said he was given no formal reason for the axing.

“It was a little bit confronting; I was basically told I was being replaced. I can’t hide that my results haven’t been the best, but that goes for the whole team.”

While Perkins’ FV8 campaign has been supported by personal sponsors Mack and Accu-Check, he confirmed that his main series drive will be in the standard JDR livery.

“The Jack Daniel’s deal is two cars, and that’s how it will be at least until the year’s end, and hopefully beyond. The appearance of the car won’t alter at all.”

– ANDREW VAN LEEUWEN

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

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with JDR John Morris/Mpix

What’s the future at Team Perkins?

V8 SUPERCARS LARRY Perkins is pressing ahead with his plans for 2009, and they include Todd Kelly as a driver and Jack Daniel’s as a sponsor.

But he concedes that there could be changes with either the signage on his two Holden Commodores or in the cockpits.

“Todd and I don’t even have a contract,” Perkins told eNews on Monday.

“Next year is yet to be determined. We both want to sit down, pretty soon, and talk about what we would like to do. I want him to run with me.”

Rumours continue to link Jack Daniel’s to other teams, though Stone Brothers Racing denies any links between the sponsor and its 2009 program (see separate story).

As usual, Perkins is frank when it comes to discussing the brand, which has backed his team for three seasons.

“We have an option of the next three years.

We will be talking about that soon, hopefully in the next month. Jack Daniel’s has been a terrific

sponsor and we get on fine, but there is no certainty about what will happen, with things the way that they are these days.”

One rumour doing the rounds connects JD and Kelly with his old team, now the HSV Dealer Team. According to eNews sources, it is possible that Todd will wear JD colours on one VE while brother Rick runs alongside in the colours of Red Bull.

Todd Kelly has also been mentioned as the driver of a single Perkins entry with JD backing, alongside Jack Perkins, who rejoins the team from this weekend (see separate story). That move may be dependent on the team securing a separate sponsor for the other entry, with pharmaceuticals giant Roche a possible contender. The company already has an association with the team via its Accu-chek brand.

But Perkins is adamant that he will continue to run two cars out of his Moorabbin, Melbourne base; “I own two licences and have done for a long time.”

Price considers a Fujitsu future V8 SUPERCARS

Dirk Klynsmith

SHANE Price is remaining bullish about his career in V8 Supercars, despite admitting that his chances of a main series drive in 2009 are slim.

The promising youngster will sit out the remainder of this season after being prematurely dumped by Jack Daniel’s Racing in favour of Jack Perkins, but is refusing to give up on his long-term motor racing career.

According to Price, a return

to the Fujitsu Series is likely, my head. I’ve already started and will hopefully be matched talking to as many people as I with a competitive endurance can, so I really want to try hard drive. to get a good enduro drive “I’m only 21 years old, so I’ve – that’s what I’ll be working still got a few good years in me,” on now. I’m flat-out at the Price told eNews. moment planning out which “I’m not going to disappear way to go about it.” off the face of the earth. I’m Price last raced in the Fujitsu going to give it everything I’ve Series back in 2006, when, got, and a bit more, to try and driving a Perkins Engineering salvage a career. I want to get Commodore, he finished another drive and turn all of second in the title to Adam this around.

Macrow.

“I’ve got my phone glued to – ANDREW VAN LEEUWEN

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

Davison: HRT Deal Done Will Davo locked in as Tander’s team-mate in 2009 Peter Bury

V8 SUPERCARS

Dirk Klynsmith

THE Holden Racing Team has sorted its 2009 driver lineup – and Will Davison will join Garth Tander.

Following our exclusive story last week that Davison and Lee Holdsworth were contenders for the factory seat, we can report that Davison and his management agreed terms with the team before co-owner Tom Walkinshaw returned to Europe last Thursday.

The 26-year-old is expected to return to his home town of Melbourne over the summer prior to his first test in the famous red Commodore at Winton.

The news ends the Ford chapter in Davison’s career.

After joining Team Dynamik in 2005, the demise of that team left him switching sides for the first time, joining Dick Johnson Racing later that season. After some impressive performances in the Development Series – in an older DJR Falcon AU – he graduated to the main series for the endurances races.

By the end of the 2005 season, Davison was signed by DJR to replace Glenn Seton. He finished 19th in his first year in the series and 10th last year.

This year, he has taken two race wins at Eastern Creek and Winton and currently lies fifth in the 2008 Championship.

Big decision looms for Skaife V8 SUPERCARS MARK Skaife has options for 2009 – but he is not yet saying what they are.

The Holden Racing Team veteran is considering whether he will race in a third HRT entry next season – as exclusively revealed by eNews some weeks ago – or whether he will take a different role in 2009. eNews believes that Skaife’s primary offer is to drive the Holden-backed third

entry, which will promote the maker’s E85fueled models, for a final season in the V8 Supercars Championship Series.

Skaife was not in a position to shed any light on what his options are on Monday.

“After Bathurst, I wanted to get my pen in order and think about what is best for the team, and what is best for me,” he said.

“Tom [Walkinshaw] has left it with me, to make my mind up about where I want to be. For the time being, it is get on with it, then take it from there.”

Exclusive: Motorspor t eN

ews, Issue #068

news

OH, WHAT A FEELING!

Ambrose ready to settle into a Toyota NASCAR Michael Waltrip Racing (MWR) announced the news you heard last week in eNews – that Marcos Ambrose is scheduled to drive for them in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Pep Boys Auto 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway in Hampton next week with primary support from Little Debbie.

“It’s a privilege to have the opportunity to come to Michael Waltrip Racing,” said Ambrose.

“There is a lot of synergy here and I am looking forward

to qualifying the #47 Little Debbie Toyota. Racing with the organisation gives me the chance to have an early start on getting to know my team, Michael Waltrip and how the company operates.

“I feel good about making the race at Atlanta. I qualified at Dover and Kansas in my two most recent attempts.

“Next weekend, we need to qualify, log some laps and gain experience. In preparation, we’re going to Kentucky to test to ensure that I am comfortable in the car.”

Stones questions remain

No word yet on sponsor or driver for the #4 factory Stone Brothers Ford V8 SUPERCARS

James Smith

THERE is unlikely to be any concrete news from Stone Brothers Racing on its replacement driver/sponsor for the #4 car for some time.

“We’ve still got a little way to go,” team boss Ross Stone told eNews on Monday, at the same time quelling rumours that the team was pitching for the Jack Daniels sponsorship, which comes to the end of its current three-year deal with Perkins Engineering in December.

“No, we’re not chasing that … it’s not our style, besides, our Ford contract excludes alcohol sponsorship,” he said.

The team is still seeking a primary backer for its #4 car – and has yet to confirm a driver.

Larkham returns to the Streets V8 SUPERCARS

John Morris/Mpix

MARK Larkham will be a pit lane commentator for V8 Supercar Television this weekend – for the fourth round in a row.

The former V8 Supercar driver, who is a former round winner around the streets of Surfers Paradise, will man the pit lane with Daniel Gibson and Mark Beretta, supported by the regular calling crew of Neil Crompton and Matthew White in the commentary box.

Larkham has received wide praise for his efforts in pitlane, offering a unique perspective to the pit call.

“I didn’t want to just be ‘another Crompton,’” he told eNews at Bathurst.

“I needed to put my own spin on it, and I’m enjoying it immensely. It’s given me a total new appreciation for how the teams work up and down pitlane.”

Also look for supports specialist Aaron Noonan to call the IndyCar event alongside former Indy 300 winner Scott Pruett.

Streetwise: Mark Larkham won in 1998, and this year, he returns as a pit lane commentator – the fourth time that he has been in pit lane this year.

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Marshall Cass

Thommo switches to Izzy PWR Racing has binned the Weel wreck and pressed its spare into service V8 SUPERCARS ANDREW Thompson will drive PWR Racing’s spare Commodore VE shell in this weekend’s round at Surfers Paradise.

The Commodore VE, nickenamed ‘Izzy,’ was last driven by Paul Dumbrell last year.

The car actually qualified 10th for the race, but did not score a decent result after an engine problem ruled him out.

The team’s spare car has been fired into action after Paul Weel’s horrific accident at Mount Panorama two weeks ago.

Thompson said it will be a challenge to

get the car up to speed as soon as possible.

“I went to Melbourne to get a seat fitting last week,” he said.

“The team has been fitting it out with the latest gear, they’ve worked pretty hard since Bathurst to make it happen.

“We need to understand the characteristics of this car because it’s going to be totally different. It makes Indy a bit of a test session. It might take us time to get our head around it. Hopefully it’s similar, but if it’s not, it will take some work and time to get it where we want it.”

While the PWR team has been working

hard to prep the new car for Thompson since returning from Bathurst, the early diagnosis on the car crunched on the mountain isn’t good.

“There’s nothing left in the other beast,” Thompson said.

“We got the engine out of it, and that’s pretty much the only bit. The rest, pretty much, isn’t it very good condition. Every time we look at it, it gets worse.”

Weel returned from Nepean Hospital, NSW, last Thursday, still feeling the effects of the accident.

– GRANT ROWLEY

In this issue of GPWEEK

By And

One more for the road

sutton-images.com

IF you thought Valentino Rossi would cruise through the remaining MotoGP rounds having already sewn up the championship, you’d be very, very wrong.

Rossi was unstoppable in Malaysia last weekend, over-coming a hard-charging Dani Pedrosa to take a well-earned win in 40-degree heat. It was a straight-forward win, with the World Champ blowing past Pedrosa’s Honda on the 11th lap, and riding into the distance for win number nine of the season.

“I was prepared, because we worked very hard at this track with Bridgestone in the winter,” said Rossi.

“I promised my tyre man Peter we would win the Grand Prix. This track is very good for the Yamaha, and the types of corner also suit my riding style.”

Andrea Dovizioso fought hard with Nicky Hayden to take third place (his first MotoGP podium), while Casey Stoner was a distance fifth, saying he was “absolutely rooted” thanks to his wrist injury.

Chris Vermuelen was ninth, while Ant West finished 12th on his Kawasaki.

Manufacturer pressure continues

Iss sutton-images.com

CITROEN has once again threatened that the strength of the World Rally Championship will depend whether the French manufacturer remains involved in the sport.

Gilles Michel, executive vice president of Citroen, was recently quoted in French

10

paper l’Equipe as saying “we will not make any decisions without assurances on three essential matters – an increased size of competition involving more manufacturers, a much bigger media coverage than at present, and a sporting agenda that corresponds with the interests

of manufacturers.”

Meanwhile, the FIA has released similar demands regarding tenders for a new promoter of the WRC. The major one? The chosen promoter must guarantee the participation of “at least three manufacturers” in the championship.

news

drew van leeuwen

Hamilton close to home TWELVE months ago, the Chinese Grand Prix was the downfall for Lewis Hamilton’s title aspirations. This time around, the situation couldn’t be more different.

While he didn’t quite clinch the title in Shanghai, Lewis did everything but, winning the race at an absolute canter and expanding his title lead to seven points over Ferrari’s Felipe Massa with just a single round of the championship remaining.

The gap might have even been slightly

bigger. Massa wasn’t even the fastest Ferrari in China, failing to match the pace of his team-mate Kimi Raikkonen, who is seemingly returning to form after a few rounds in the wilderness. But Raikkonen proved himself a team player in the closing stages of the race, slowing his pace sufficiently to allow Massa through into second place, limiting the damage inflicted by Hamilton.

Like last year’s finale in Brazil, Hamilton needs only a handful of points to take the title. But he told GPWeek that this time he

is determined not to let the big prize slip through his fingers.

“I think it’s a completely different year,” he said.

“I know going to Brazil will be a much better situation compared to last year and also we know that we will be a lot more competitive than we are here, so that is comforting. We know that we have got to do a good job.”

Mark Webber finished 14th, after qualifying sixth, but copping a 10-place grid penalty for an illegal engine change.

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w e nro sue #33 onlClin ick he e

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Air New Zealand

IndyCar winning in the Space Race INDYCARS THE IndyCars are here and the drivers are assembling for the first IndyCar race at Surfers Paradise after a giant logistical effort.

On October 14, 13 teams delivered to the Indianapolis airport 36 cars and their

allocated 4500kg of equipment for the 24 entries to be loaded on two 747 freighters. The two planes, one from Air New Zealand and one from Atlas Air, carried some 200,000kg of equipment to fuel stops in Los Angeles, Honolulu and Fiji, arriving in Brisbane on Saturday.

In addition, nearly 500

Firestone Firehawk tyres, 90 55-gallon drums of 100 percent fuel-grade ethanol and three Delphi Safety Team vehicles were trucked out to Los Angeles, where they were loaded onto a ship that left port on September 17 and arrived in Sydney on October 9.

“Our biggest challenge for

this trip is the space,” said John Dininger, IndyCar’s logistics coordinator.

“On our previous trips to Japan, we’ve typically had 18 entrants instead of 24. That’s why we shipped some things early, to free up space on the planes.”

– MARY MENDEZ

A CASE OF PANOZ ENVY American racer buys Atlantic and Champ Car stocks

sutton-images.com

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CHAMP CARS BEN Who? That’s what people are asking now that Ben Johnston announced he is the new owner of the previously known Champ Car Atlantic Series. The Atlanta media-buying businessman, 53, is also the winning bidder of 20 Panoz Champ Car chassis from the bankruptcy liquidation of the series earlier this year.

Johnston, who raced in a handful of Atlantic races as an amateur in 2005, has revealed he is planning a new singleseater series around the Panoz DP01, left, and the most recent Reynard Champ Car (of which he has acquired 17) in a two-class series powered by Cosworth engines in the 500-650 hp range. With details pending, Johnston did state that his first race would be held next March in Savannah, Georgia, for his ‘arrive and drive’ series.

His newly acquired Atlantic series continues to have the support of both Mazda and Cooper tyres.

– MARY MENDEZ

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Helio makes it sutton-images.com

INDYCARS HELIO Castroneves will race in this weekend’s Nikon Indy 300 but millions of dollars have been put on the line to allow him to do so.

It was not cheap to have the probation department modify his bail. As a Brazilian national, the US government considered

him a potential flight risk, and bail, and committed another a return home to Brazil would $8m from Fintage Licensing prevent extradition.

BV, a Netherlands company, as But the lucky ‘Dancing with collateral. the Stars’ winner committed His attorney’s motion for US$11.6million to make the international travel to Australia trip to Queensland. The Miami stated Castroneves had resident has agreed to pay “surrendered and encumbered $5m in taxes, a Personal Surety virtually all of his wealth.”

Bonds in the amount of $2m At issue is money held by for his bail, $1.6m for his sister’s Fintage, the company that is

scheduled to pay Castroneves deferred royalties in the amount of $15m. The U.S. government taxes residents on their world-wide income.

Castroneves has a U.S. workrelated visa expiring at the end of 2008. He will apply for its renewal at the U.S. Consulate in Australia before returning home.

– MARY MENDEZ

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Australian internationals fi

CARRERA CUP

14

sutton-images.com

CHRISTIAN Jones is likely to make his first race start in Australia in five years at this weekend’s Nikon Indy 300 on the Gold Coast.

The Carrera Cup Asia points leader is all but confirmed to drive a Greg Murphy Racing Carrera Cup entry this weekend, the Porsche which was vacated earlier this season by Kiwi young gun Jono Lester. And it won’t be Jones’ first start at Surfers Paradise – he finished second to Marcus Ambrose in the Young Guns race back in 2000, beating current IndyCar champ Scott Dixon!

“I know the track, but it’s been a long time since that race,” Jones told eNews.

“I’m relishing the chance to race back in Australia. One of the reasons I’m doing it is because the Gold Coast is my home town, so I’ll get to sleep in my own bed.”

Jones is no stranger to Porsches thanks to his CCup exploits in Asia, but will have to adapt back to the slightly older-spec cars used in the Australian series.

“We run the ’08 car in Asia, which has about another 20 horsepower and some subtle tweaks to the bodywork. But there’s not much difference. Last year we drove the same spec car as they use in Australia, so it really shouldn’t be an issue.”

While he hasn’t raced in Australia since a Formula 3 round at Wakefield Park back in 2003, Jones is planning on being competitive on his return to home soil.

“I really want to be on the podium. I mean, that’s why I go racing. I haven’t driven this particular car, obviously, so it might take some time to get the set-up right, but I think it is a realistic goal.”

– ANDREW VAN LEEUWEN

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fire up for Nikon Indy 300

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FORMULA 3

sutton-images.com

JOHN Martin will drive in his first Australian Formula 3 race this weekend on the Gold Coast at the Nikon Indy 300.

Martin will step into the Dallara F307 Mercedes Benz run by Piccola Scuderia Corse and driven this year by Justin Tate and Neil McFadyen.

The 24-year-old, who is part of the Australian Motorsport Foundation’s International Rising Star program, has been racing all year in the British Formula 3 championship for Raikkonen-Robertson Racing and is Australia’s lead driver for the A1GP World Cup of Motorsport.

“As a series we’re very pleased to see the likes of John Martin return to Australian soil to get the benefit of racing at the Nikon Indy 300 with Australian Formula 3,” series chairman James Rosenberg said.

“Congratulations go to Piccola for confirming John for Indy and we’re looking forward to seeing what one of the best Aussie talents currently racing overseas can do against our own class Formula 3 field including 2008 Champion

James Winslow, Leanne Tander, Nathan Caratti and a host of other very talented drivers from here and abroad.”

With the Australian Formula 3 championship done and dusted, the weekend at the Nikon Indy 300 will be a non-championship weekend for the category but according to Rosenberg running at the Nikon INdy 300 on the Gold Coast is a valuable experience for some of Australia’s up-and-coming drivers.

“It is an ideal opportunity to gain miles on a street circuit in front of a very big crowd at one of the biggest events in Australian Motorsport.

“Formula 3 Australia is very excited to be back there and to have John as part of the field.”

In other Formula 3 news, Chris Alajajian will suit up for his return to the Australian F3 series with Melbourne team Astuti Motorsport.

Alajajian is one of only two drivers in this year’s Formula 3 field to have competed on the Surfers Paradise street circuit with the other being Chris Gilmour.

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Aussie Aurion unve

Crompton to drive the first Toyota Aussie Racer at Indy this weekend – and there’s more of them to come AUSSIE RACING CARS TOYOTA will make its Aussie Racing Car debut at the Gold Coast this weekend with Neil Crompton at the wheel of the new Aurion.

Only one Aurion will be on the track, although as many as four cars will be on-track at the season finale at Oran Park in December.

A total of eight Aurions are being built, with four factory-backed cars, as well as four privateer entries.

This is the first official manufacturer involvement for the Aussie Racing Cars, and series creator Phil Ward is ectatic with the final product.

“This is nothing like we’ve built before,” he said.

“James and Brad (Ward) and CAD designer Russell Mapplebeck have spent thousands of hours making this car, and it looks terrific.

“We’ve got everything right in it. The detail is exceptional and I hope that it gets other manufacturers interested.

“The technology that went into it is the same technology that goes into building new Aurions. It’s like nothing we’ve built before and it’s really going to set the benchmark for future cars.”

Ward said that the look of the new Toyota Aussie Racing Car, a pint-sized replica of the real Aurion road car, can be confused as the real thing!

“Because it’s a caricature, there are no scaled dimensions. The whole thing is made to look good to the eye, while still carrying the major features of the road car. I feel that the design team has achieved that exceptionally well. From a distance, they look the same!”

Marcos for Oran Park?

AUSSIE RACING CARS

Ambrose drive an Aussie Racer at OP? ...

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BY the end of the 2008 NASCAR season, Marcos Ambrose will have competed in close to 45 races.

Compared to a regular V8 Supercar driver, Ambrose has made been a very busy boy!

But he might be able to make it 46 races for the year, if rumours about the Tasmanian driving a Toyota Aurion Aussie Racing Car are true. eNews understands that Ambrose, who will drive Toyotas in next year’s NASCAR Sprint Cup, has been approached by Toyota and Aussie Racing Cars to compete

in the season finale at Oran Park.

As we say, just a rumour at this stage, but a good one at that.

There will be at four factory-backed Aussie Racing Cars at OP, including one for Motocross star Chad Reed.

Other drivers in contention for the seats include Neil Crompton, Australian rally drivers Simon Evans and Neal Bates … and The Stig!

Adam Gowans is confirmed as one of the factory drivers. Gowans currently sits third in this year’s Aussie Racing Car Super Series, and also runs a Toyota dealership in Tasmania.

– GRANT ROWLEY

Or c

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Neil Hammond

eiled

Morcom gets early national race miles

Nathan Morcom to make early Formula Ford debut FORMULA FORD

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NATHAN Morcom will make his National Formula Ford debut in the penultimate round of the Australian championship at Symmons Plains next month.

Morcom, who was recently selected as a CAMS Rising Star for the 2009 season, will compete in the final two rounds, gaining some early practice for his first crack at the national title next year.

The 16-year-old finished fifth in the New South Wales state championship, and according to team marketing manager paul Zsidy told eNews that he expects a mature

showing in his maiden national race meeting.

“We’ve only worked with him for a few days at Winton, but he shows outstanding promise,” Zsidy said.

“He’s very mature for a 16-year-old. He’s well grounded and shows quiet a determination to succeed. He has all the hallmarks of going on to do the job.

“I’m sure that 09 will be a good year for the Rising Star program.”

Morcom’s Spectrum 011B will compete in Rising Star colours, making it four CAMS cars in the field, including Jake Chapman, Daniel Erikkson and Scott Pye. – GRANT ROWLEY

could The Stig step into a Toyota in Sydney?

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The Rat continues his recovery V8 SUPERCARS

Adam Richards

PAUL Radisich continues to recover from injuries sustained from his massive incident at the top of the mountain during practice for last weekend’s Supercheap Auto 1000 at Bathurst.

‘The Rat’ is currently in a Melbourne hospital and has asked for privacy during his six to eight week recovery.

It was the second big accident that Radisich has suffered at Bathurst in the past three years. Last week’s

shunt reopened his fractured sternum, while also fracturing his right ankle and fractured his left foot, which both required surgery in Orange.

Other injuries sustained were a fractured vertebrae in the lumber region, fractured vertebrae thoracic, cracked ribs and bruised lungs.

As reported last issue, the #15 car has been benched for at least the next two rounds, with Rick Kelly taking over the old WP002 chassis that hasn’t bern used since Round 5 at Sandown this year.

New AMSF GM GENERAL THE Australian Motor Sport Foundation has announced the appointment of Martin Stillman as its new General Manager.

Stillman joins the AMSF following a distinguished and successful career in football, currently holding the position of AFL Victoria Region Manager for the Calder Cannons.

“Martin is a high calibre individual in every sense of the word,” said AMSF Chairman Tom Warwick.

“We are delighted to have secured a candidate with such extensive experience who will work in partnership with the CEO of CAMS to advance development within the sport.”

Stillman will commence his position with the AMSF in late November 2008.

“I’m excited about the opportunity to transfer from Australian Rules Football to motor racing and utilise my skills with the AMSF,” said Stillman.

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Expanded GT3 Cup The GT3 Cup Challenge has confirmed an expanded series calendar for 2009.

The calendar will take in six rounds across four states and will run from February though to November next year.

Additionally, the GT3 Cup Challenge has confirmed it has accepted an invitation from Shannons Nationals organisers to become a ‘core’ category of the Nationals series. ”The GT3 Cup Challenge brings a lot to our organisation and the Shannons Nationals as a whole,” series director Rob Curkpatrick said. ”It’s great to have them on board

as we consolidate the future of the series and continue the forward progress that we are showing. The GT3 Cup Challenge is an exciting and fast-growing series and it’s great to have them as part of the Shannons Nationals.”

2009 GT3 Cup Challenge Calendar Rd 1, Mt Panorama, 20-21 February Rd 2, Phillip Island, 16-17 May Rd 3, Mallala, 6-7 June Rd 4, Eastern Creek, 18-19 July Rd 5, Qld Raceway, 8-9 August Rd 6, Sandown, 28-29 November

news

Best chance at a Bathurst win?

Seton and Jones want to break their Mountain hoodoos in the 12 Hour BATHURST 12 HOUR IS this Glenn Seton and Brad Jones’ best chance at Bathurst success?

The two Australian racing stalwarts have been confirmed for the 2009 WPS Bathurst 12 Hour Showroom Enduro and are set to line up with the Pro-Duct team, led by long-time production car racer Bob Pearson.

Seton and Jones will campaign a brandnew Mitsubishi Evo X, one of three Evo X’s being prepared by the team at Pro-Duct.

Seton’s last start in anything other than a V8 Supercar at Bathurst was in 1992

when he paired with Colin Bond in a SAAB 9000 CS to finish third.

“I’m really looking forward to the 12 Hour race,” he said.

“Anytime you get the opportunity to race around Bathurst, you never knock it back. With the years running out in my career it might be the best opportunity that I’ve got to stand on top of the podium at Bathurst.

“The main aim for me is to enjoy the racing and the experience. It is only the second time I will have raced in a 12 hour race and it will be in a car that can potentially win the event.”

Jones, who recorded an impressive fifth

placing at the recent Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 while driving alongside Max Wilson, is also excited about the prospect of contesting the race.

“Bathurst is a place that you can never do too many laps around and I’m really looking forward to the event,” said Jones.

“I finished third in a 12 Hour event with Geoff Morgan and Brett Peters back in 1994 in a Porsche at Mount Panorama, which was my one and only 12 Hour race at Bathurst.”

In total there are 11 different classes on the Vehicle Eligibility List with a total of 35 eligible brands for the 2009 WPS 12 Hour Showroom Enduro.

Red Ricciardo

DANIEL Ricciardo wrapped up the West European Cup last weekend at Barcelona, and went perilously close to taking the prestigious EuroCup crown as well.

To add to his top results, the West Aussie was awarded the ‘Red Bull Junior of the Year.’

“I’m very happy about the Formula Renault 2.0 WEC title, of course,” said Ricciardo.

“I’m obviously very pleased with my 15 wins in both series.

At this point I would also like to thank my SG Formula team for their great cooperation, which had a significant share in my accomplishments.”

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Ant gettin’ Stiggy wid it West back to Supersport WORLD SUPERSPORT

Yamaha Racing

ANT West is returning to the category that has given his most success, World SuperSport.

The current Kawasaki GP rider will return to the class in 2008, with Johan Stigefelt’s Stiggy Motorsports Honda team.

“I’m very happy to be joining the Stiggy team,” said West.

“Stiggy is a friend and old team-mate from 2003 in 250GP. I remember saying to

him one day that he should start his own team because none of the other teams knew how to do it right, and to my surprise he did!

The Queenslander resurrected his career in the category last season, taking two wins and another podium with the Yamaha World Supersport Racing Team before Kawasaki headhunted him mid-season to replace Olivier Jacque.

Stiggy Honda has run one Aussie, Josh Brookes, below, in the class this season.

Offiziale: Nit WORLD SUPERBIKES

DUCATI Corse has confirmed that Noriyuki Haga will join its Xerox-back World Superbike squad next season.

Haga, 33, will join Michel Fabrizio on a pair of 1098Rs to take on the four-cylinder opposition. The Japanese replaces his greatest rival in the SBK, Troy Bayliss, who retires at

Biaggi gets a head start on new Aprilia WORLD SUPERBIKES

Honda Proimages

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MAX Biaggi has had his first test on an Aprilia RSV4 – but he isn’t telling anyone how he went.

The firey Italian spent two days at Valencia last week, testing the bike on standard Pirelli SC3 road tyres, but as part of the deal he made with Sterilgarda Go Eleven team boss Marco Borciani, is unable to make any public comment on the testing until the end of the season. No times were released from the tests.

After a damp opening day, Biaggi settled in on Day

2, getting to know the fourcylinder bike as well as his new crew chief Giovanni Sandi and Aprilia engineer Gigi Dall’Igna.

“I want to say thanks to my Sterilgarda Team that has approved this test before the end of the Championship,” he said on his official website prior to the test.

“I write you these few lines to tell you that I cannot make any declaration regarding the test, so you will have to wait the end of the championship.”

Biaggi will test the Aprilia again following the seasonending round at Portimao in Portugal on November 2.

news

PARRAMATTA TRAGEDY Darley killed in C Main at Tatnell Legends PCR SPRINTCARS

trocati!

Anderson had set quick time from Craig Brady (having his first drive for Garry Rush) while Victorian star Matthew Reed, Robbie Farr, Kelly Linigen and James Thomson made up the top six.

Heat wins had gone to David Doherty, Grant Tunks, Jeremy Cross and Scheurele, at which point the meeting was stopped after Darley’s crash.

Scott Darley was very well respected and loved by his fellow drivers, officials and speedway fans, and will be greatly missed. To his fiancee Belinda, his family and many friends, Motorsport eNews offers its sincere condolences at this tragic loss.

– GREG BOSCATO

John Morris/Mpix

the end of the season.

“I am very proud to be able to welcome Noriyuki”, said Davide Tardozzi, Ducati Corse’s Superbike team manager.

“We are convinced he is one of the strongest and best loved of the Superbike riders, a talented and courageous man. He is a rider that has proved that he never gives up, in the true spirit of Ducati, and is a rider with the credentials to fill the place that Troy Bayliss vacates.”

Haga is a veteran in the series, having joined World Superbikes in 1997 while filling in for the injured Colin Edwards. Finishing in the top five on five occasions, it was little surprise when Yamaha announced that he would move into the championship full-time the following year.

Ironically, this will not be the first time that he has raced a Ducati.

Following an unsuccessful twoyear assault on GP racing – during which he moved from Red Bull Yamaha to Aprilia – he raced for the privateer Renegade Ducati team in 2004.

He finished third behind fellow Ducati riders James Toseland and Regis Laconi after winning six races.

TALENTED 28-year Sprintcar racer Scott Darley lost his life in a horrific crash last Saturday night at Sydney’s Parramatta City Raceway.

A star-studded field of 57 Sprintcars had assembled for the George Tatnell Legends night and, in his first run this summer, Darley had qualified 11th. But after a non-finish in his heat, his #19 Maxim was running well in the C Main until it veered off the track exiting turn 4 and crashed heavily in the outside concrete wall. The meeting was stopped as ambulance and crash crews rushed to the accident scene.

The venue was closed

and the accident is being investigated by the police.

Scott, the 2004 Australian Litre Car champion, came out of the speedway karting ranks and has been running a Sprintcar since late 2005. He had developed into one of Sydney’s promising Sprintcar drivers but had planned only a limited program in his Darley family entry due to impending marriage early next year.

The George Tatnell Legends night was shaping up to be a sensational night with Garry Brazier, Robbie Farr, Max Dumesny, Andrew Scheurele (Qld), Danny Reidy (NT), Grant Anderson (Vic) and other interstate racers joining the regular Parramatta All Stars.

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5 Minutes with ...

JACK PERKINS

A year ago, Jack Perkins was on the bad end of a driver re-shuffle at Jack Daniel’s Racing. Now, he’s on the good end of a similar situation ANDREW VAN LEEUWEN MOTORSPORT NEWS: Jack, you’re coming back to the main series!

JACK PERKINS: Yeah it’s a bit of a surprise, really. I’m really excited by it all, and I can’t wait to get to Indy.

That’s a good point – this has come at a good time for you given how well you and Nathan [Pretty] did at the enduros. Your confidence must be pretty high at the moment.

I feel like I’ve stepped up my driving since last year, and I’ve been able to race against some well-rated guys in the Fujitsu Series. I was pretty happy with the job I did in the enduros in the races, and I only qualified a couple of tenths behind Todd at Bathurst, so I was happy with the job I did there. And yeah, because of those results, I’m excited about the rest of the year.

Will you do the remainder of the season?

I believe so. I haven’t heard yes or no, but I assume that will be the situation. Unless I do a really bad job at Indy, of course,

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Marshall Cass

How has it all come about?

When and how were you told Shane was being shuffled aside and you were in?

Late last week, dad (Larry Perkins) said I was going to drive at Indy, so I was really surprised. I wasn’t even going to Indy, and now I am, and I’m going back with the team. It will be great to work with Todd [Kelly], and we’ll be trying to carry on the momentum we have from two top 10 finishes from Phillip Island and Bathurst. but I’d like to think that won’t be the case …

How important are these few rounds in terms of next year, and the rest of your career, in terms of breaking back into the main series full-time?

It’s definitely a big part. A couple of good results will definitely help my future, but it’s still hard to break back into the main series; that’s why there is only a handful of drivers winning races.

I’m just going to do the best job I can. Like I said, I’ve stepped my driving up since last year, so that should help. But I’ve never been to Symmons Plains before, so it’s always fun to go to a new track, and Oran Park will be great, doing double duties between the main series and the Fujitsu Series and getting those extra miles.

So you will do double duties at Oran Park then …

I’ll do both, for sure. At a track like Oran Park, those extra laps will help a lot. Given that it’s the last race, I’m pretty excited, because I will be doing more laps than any of the guys.

That’s what helped me a lot at Bathurst, because it is more runs on new tyres and all of that. It’s great experience.

Is it too early to assume this might link you to a full-time ride with Perkins Engineering next season?

It probably is a bit early, yeah.

There is plenty happening behind the scenes, and not just with our team, regarding drivers and teams and sponsors.

I don’t think we’ll know exactly what’s happening until a few weeks before the first race next year just because of

what’s happening with the global economy and how that is affecting the sport at the moment. There will be plenty of drivers and sponsors shuffling around.

But I’d love to drive for the team next year, and whether I’m the man for the job, well, only time will tell.

You and Shane obviously have a good personal relationship – will this business affect that?

Shane and I are good mates, and I’m pretty sure that is still the case. I spoke to him about it, and at the time I don’t think I was first in line for the job. But for whatever reason I got the drive, and I spoke to him, and there are no dramas between us. He’s a good kid, and hopefully he can get back out racing as well. We’ll still be mates.

chat

Phil Williams

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opinion Alex Tagliani IndyCar driver I CAN describe coming to Australia as like coming home.

It is very special to make the trip.

My wife Bronte and I have just spent three weeks in Adelaide at Bronte’s family’s house and that is why I like it so much. Just prior to the race weekend, we have the chance to come here, I can train every day and train in the gym, or run in the hills. It is an amazing place and it’s like being at home for me.

I really like the city. I feel good whenever I am here, and if it came to moving to Australia, I think that Adelaide would be my first choice.

I have raced on the Gold Coast before, and having looked at a couple of results in the indyCar Series this year, in general, the Champ Car transition teams have had an advantage on road courses. They seem to be more equal than they are against the established IndyCar teams on ovals. IndyCars have Friday practice, not qualifying like we used to have with Champ Car. That means we can have an hour and a quarter in the first practice and an hour in the second practice, and teams like Penske, Andretti Green and Ganassi are good teams with professional drivers. They can take back any advantage that we might have early in the session In terms of a street course, I raced in Detroit and I missed all of the first day because the team only called me up to race late. I had no chance to practice, it was not my practice and we still got the fifth fastest lap in the race.

So, with proper preparation, I am pretty excited and I think that we can pick up where we left off in Detroit.

We have worked very hard, and I have had two podium finishes here in Australia. When I met Bronte in 2001, she was the runner-up in the Miss Indy competition, and she got to award the trophy to Michael Andretti.

He is back now as a team owner, but I felt like the winner that year, for sure!

We have great race engineers and I think that, if we have a good run in the race, we can get a good result. I am really looking forward to getting out there on the streets!

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Making sense of th Surfers Streets

he

opinion

opinion Grant Rowley Editor eNews WOULDN’T it be great to see an Australian win this weekend’s non-championship IndyCar race at Surfers Paradise?

Oh yes, it would.

It seems like an obvious thing to say, given that I’m an Aussie, I like meat pies and I wear an Australian cricket T-shirt to bed, but considering a few factors, a local victory might be just the ticket to ensure that this race remains an integral part of the Amercian open wheel season.

For starters, we should be fairly thankful that the race is even going ahead. Due to politics noted in these pages several weeks ago, there was, at one stage, a real possibility that the IndyCar race wasn’t going to run this weekend.

Thankfully, they are coming, and for the first time in many moons, we get to see the best USAbased teams and drivers race on our narrow streets.

While this year’s race is secure, the future isn’t as locked in. Next year’s calendar is compete, subject to change, and right now, Surfers Paradise isn’t on it.

What does this mean for the race? V8 Supercars Chairman Tony Cochrane has said that the V8 Supercars will race on the streets in October next year – regardless. So, if IndyCar don’t come, the Gold Coast organisers may have to organise another international race category to continue the overseas theme that has been present since 1991.

However, it would be a shame not to have the ‘actual’ IndyCars on the bill. One of the key factors to them staying is the presence of Tony George at the track this weekend.

George is the boss of the IndyCar Series and is believed to be against the idea of off-shore races, saying that it adds little value to his series and its sponsors.

Tony, I hope by the end of this weekend, you feel proven wrong.

As Tony would know, this weekend’s crowd figures alone will make every single round of his series – except the Indianapolis 500 – look lame.

Add to that great television audience numbers, media exposure and the party-like atmosphere, hopefully, it will win him over.

And, fingers crossed, if an Australian takes a win this weekend, and if Tony George is any where near the circuit, surely then, the atmosphere alone will let him know the true value of IndyCar street racing at Surfers Paradise …

P.S: Tony, always keep your eyes open during race weekend. Look left, look right, look up, and then, have another look up!

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NASCAR SPRINT CUP ROUND 32 – TUMS QUIKPAK 500, MARTINSVILLE

JOHNSON’S LOW-RISK STRATEGY:

WIN NASCAR Media

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It wasn’t quite an all-Hendrick affair at Martinsville – but the toughest challenge Jimmie Johnson came from with his own team-mates.

By MARTIN D CLARK 27

Martin D Clark

JIMMIE Johnson continued Hendrick Motorsports’ domination at the half-mile Martinsville bullring on Sunday afternoon, taking his sixth win of the year over Hendrick teammate Dale Earnhardt Jr. Carl Edwards was second ahead of the man Johnson fought with most of the race, Jeff Gordon and Denny Hamlin.

“We were going for maximum points and thankfully, we did that today,” said Johnson who, with four events remaining, is hitting his stride at just the right time.

Johnson held off the pack over two late-race cautions, one with nine laps to run, the second (and 12th yellow of the race) leaving a three-lap overtime shoot-out to the chequers. But

28

Johnson pulled away with ease as Junior held off Edwards.

“The biggest mistake we could make was to try and protect something [the point lead]. We need to stay in the groove and to continue winning races,” said Johnson.

“Thankfully over my career, I’ve had a good balance of taking risks at the right time and hopefully, I’ll keep it up over the final four races. We were one of two or three cars that were really strong, a great pit stall and pit stops kept track position on our side and I was able to race for the lead each time.

“There were times when I overworked the brakes and overworked the tyres and we weren’t as strong as we wanted to be on the long haul. But the

car was really good on the short haul and thankfully, it ended up that way and I could pull away from those guys.”

Gordon battled most of the race with Johnson but Jamie McMurray, who took the lead on pit strategy after spinning earlier, gave Johnson a run for his money before breaking an axle, as did Aric Almirola.

Kyle Busch continued to kiss his title chances goodbye. After such a strong performance entering The Chase, he cut a tyre at the same time as two other cars. But Busch stopped on-track and NASCAR dropped him two laps for deliberately causing the caution.

Only two non-Chase drivers finished in the top 10. In the fourth Hendrick Chev, Casey

Mears rapped hard on Hamlin’s bumper for fifth at the end and Martin Truex Jr was in ninth.

The previous week’s winner Jeff Burton was penalised a lap when he pitted outside his pit box while trying to avoid Gordon. Burton finished 17th two laps off the pace.

This time last year, Johnson started a four-race win streak so the other chase hopefuls had better be on their guard as Johnson looks for his third straight Cup Series title entering Atlanta next week with a 140 point advantage over RoushFenway’s Greg Biffle.

“We can still lose this points lead,” continued Johnson.

“We have to keep our eye on the ball, and that’s what this race team is good at.”

NASCAR | TUMS QUIKPAK 500, MARTINSVILLE, VA 1 48 2 88 3 99 4 24 5 11 6 5 7 29 8 17 9 1 10 07

Jimmie Johnson Chev Hendrick/Lowe’s Dale Earnhardt Jr Chev Hendrick/Mountain Dew Carl Edwards Ford Roush Fenway/Office Depot Jeff Gordon Chev Hendrick/DuPont Denny Hamlin Toyota Gibbs/FedEx Casey Mears Chev Hendrick/Kelloggs Kevin Harvick Chev Childress/Shell Pennzoil Matt Kenseth Ford Roush Fenway DeWalt Martin Truex Jr Chev DEI/Bass Pro Shops Clint Bowyer Chev Childress/Jack Daniel’s

Q1 10 4 8 12 23 6 11 18 5

NASCAR Media

THE CHASE FOR THE SPRINT CUP | points Johnson 6073, Biffle 5924, Burton 5921, Edwards 5875, Bowyer 5827, Harvick 5817, Gordon 5798, Stewart 5735, Earnhardt Jr. 5694, Kenseth 5665, Hamlin 5653, Kyle Busch 5628.

NASCAR Media

Martin D Clark

All-Hendrick Affair: JJ got to download to team boss Rick Hendrick, above, after another emphatic performance from the Chev all-star team.

Johnson led the field away after qualifying was washed out, opposite, and had to fend off Jeff Gordon for most of the latter parts of the race, left.

Dale Earnhardt Jr, top with Carl Edwards, took second.

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Maserati’s fourth in a row FIA GT THE Maserati Vitaphone Team clinched the 2008 FIA GT World Championship in style last weekend.

Driver’s championship leaders Andrea Bertolini and Michael Bartels won the penultimate round of the season at Zolder in the Netherlands, taking an unbeatable lead in the championship – its fourth consecutive in the FIA GT World Championship.

“It was a team victory and solid proof that Bartels and I, when put under pressure, know how to react and give the

best of ourselves, offering brilliant results,” said Bertolini at the finish.

“The team worked all night to fix yesterday’s mishap, when the accelerator’s butterfly valve malfunctioned and caused us to go out of the track, damaging the car.”

Corvette Z06 drivers Mike Hezemans/

Fabrizio Gollin finished second, ahead of Karl Wendlinger and Ryan Sharp in their Aston Martin DB9.

Danish driver and local Australian star Allan Simonsen, with team-mate Philipp Peter in their Aston Martin DB9 qualified on pole and finished fourth.

Blanchard third at Festival FORMULA FORD

AUSTRALIAN Formula Ford representatives have shone brightly at the prestigious Formula Ford Festival at Brands Hatch last weekend.

Reigning Australian Formula Ford Champion Tim Blanchard finished in third place behind victor Wayne Boyd and Chris Maliepaard.

Blanchard started the race in fourth place and dropped as low as fifth during the race.

He diced his way back to a podium position, about nine seconds off the winner.

“To be on the podium at the festival finishes off the year on

30

a very good note, and I’m really looking forward to another new challenge next year,” he said “Second in the Championship was a very pleasing result after all the hard work we put in during the year, and to back it up at the Festival with another podium on a big stage at a circuit like Brands Hatch is very rewarding.

“Hopefully I can secure further funding and can continue to race in the UK next year in the British F3 Championship.”

Fellow Australian Nick Percat, driving for Joe Tandy Racing, started the final from second

place having taken a win in his semi final. Percat actually beat Blanchard to the line in that semi.

But when it came to the final, Percat had a puncture in the early stages. He held second place for the first few tours, but

eventually had to retire.

“It was a bit disappointing, but I was pretty pleased with the speed that we showed during the event,” Percat said.

In fourth place was Adrian Campfield, driving an Australian-built Spectrum.

race

Liverpool fights back SUPERLEAGUE LIVERPOOL and Al-Ain may have taken the race victories at the Estoril round of the Superleague Formula championship, but championship leader Beijing Guoan came away with the biggest smile on their faces after extending its championship lead.

After his Race 2 Zolder victory, Beijing’s Davide Rigon held a 14 point lead heading into Estoril but has now extended that out to 35 points with two rounds remaining.

Beijing finished fifth in both races and now leads PSV by 35 points with Liverpool FC a single point behind.

FC Porto’s Tristan Gommendy had a heartbreaking day after retiring from Race

1 with an engine problem while running in fifth place. Despite 30 bus loads of Porto fans making the trip to Estoril, Gommendy was unable to compete in the second race after the team ran out of time to make an engine change.

Liverpool FC’s Adrian Valles took the opening race victory over AC Milan’s Robert Doornbos and new AS Roma driver Franck Perera. However, in Race 2 the Spaniard clashed with Perera causing him to spin into retirement. Liverpool’s race was also ruined after he was forced to pit for a new front wing.

New Borussia Dortmund driver Enrico Toccacelo also had a heartbreaking day.

For the second race this year, Toccacelo held the race lead until the closing laps

but this time a oil pressure issue ruined his afternoon. A late race gearbox problem ruined his chance for victory in Race 2 at the Nurburgring.

However, new Al-Ain driver Paul Meijer benefited from the Italian’s misfortune to score his and his new club’s first Superleague Formula victory in the reverse grid race.

AC Milan’s Robert Doornbos scored his second runner-up finish of the day while Alessandro Pier Guidi took third place.

Points: Beijing 271, Eindhoven 236, Liverpool FC 235, AC Milan 216, Sevilla FC 199, AS Roma 190, RSC Anderlecht 189, Galatasaray 180, Tottenham Hotspur 173, SC Corinthians 169, Al-Ain 167.

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First time for everything RENAULT WORLD SERIES

IT was a day of firsts at Barcelona, with Julien Jousse and Esteban Guerrieri both claiming their first World series

by Renault victories.

Jousse, right, won the first race ahead of Mikhail Aleshin and Robert Wickens in tricky condition on a drying track.

“I have been waiting a long time for this victory this season,” beamed Jousse.

“It feels good, especially as it’s important for the team and driver standings. I saw Bonanomi’s roll. I was scared that he would crash into me.

“I then took advantage of a mistake made by Aleshin.

Then, the end of the race was calmer.”

Drivers opted for slick tyres in the semi-wet conditions creating some colourful racing, which ultimately ended with a few incidents.

Race 2 saw Guerrieri, below, start alone on the front row and race to an early lead.

After the round of stops he found himself behind James Walker, but a late pass sealed victory for the Ultimate Signature driver.

“I got off to a good start, but I was soon suffering from oversteering,” commented Guerrieri.

“On exiting the pit lane, I was fighting it out with Wickens, Aleshin and Jousse. I managed to move to the top of this group.

“I thought that I was in the lead but then they announced Walker’s position. I gave it everything and overtook in the last lap.”

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race

Highs and Lows ...

FRENAULT EUROCUP AFTER taking home the WEC title at Barcelona, Daniel Ricciardo narrowly missed out on also taking home the Formula Renault 2.0 Eurocup title in the final round.

Despite winning the final race of the season the Australian couldn’t quite overcome the deficit to Valtteri Bottas, above, after the first race and had to settle for second overall.

“By winning I achieved what I set out to do, I have no regrets,” said Ricciardo after the race. “”It’s been a positive season, I’ve won six races but it’s not enough. I’m a little disappointed.”

Bottas set up the title win

with victory on a wet track in the first race, while Ricciardo struggled to sixth after starting from pole. The Finn was then able to hang on to fourth in the final race with Ricciardo sealing victory to come home with the title.

“At the very least I needed to come fifth,” said Bottas.

“The start was difficult, but I finally managed to inch up to fourth place. That’s when I relaxed a bit. This race was particularly difficult because I was ill last night and slept very little.

“Winning the title is such an honour! The winter race was decisive. With this title under our belts, we can start to prepare my future with my manager. I’m very happy today!”

FRENAULT WEC AUSTRALIAN Daniel Ricciardo wrapped up the Formula Renualt 2.0 WEC title at Barcelona last weekend in a dominant display.

Ricciardo cruised to victory in the first race to take back the title lead from Roberto Merhi, meaning he only needed to finish second in the final race of the season to grab the title.

And he did just that, following Andrea Caldarelli home in the final race in a reversal of the Race 1 result.

“I’m very happy about the Formula Renault 2.0 WEC title, of course,” said Ricciardo.

“I’m obviously very pleased with my 15 wins in both series. At this point I would also like to thank my SG Formula team for their great cooperation, which had a significant share in my accomplishments.”

Roberto Merhi finished third in Race 1 and Race 2 in a consistent weekend but it wasn’t enough to take the title with Ricciardo at his dominant best.

Fellow Aussie Ash Walsh was involved in a big incident in Race 1 but fought back to finish his season with 25th place.

Points: Ricciardo 192, Merhi 184, Caldarelli 129, Jean-Eric Vergne 95, Albert Costa 85, (19th Ash Walsh 8).

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Captain of the Pacific

BMW PACIFIC

sutton-images.com

ROSS Jamison has been crowned the 2008 Formula BMW Pacific champion at the Shanghai International Circuit last weekend.

The Meritus driver fought back in Race 1 to take the last spot on the podium to clinch the title in a race won by BMW Junior Simon Moss.

“It has been a fantastic season.

It’s a relief to wrap it up here and still have two races to go,” said Jamison.

Race 2 saw the other

championship up for grabs go to Moss. He grabbed the Formula BMW Pacific Rookie Cup with a great drive to second place.

Ollie Millroy took his first-ever single-seater race victory after another action packed 10-lap race.

Aussie Chris Wootton finished ninth in Race 1 and improved slightly in Race 2 to come home seventh to find himself second overall in the Rookie Title with only the round in Macau to go.

Points: Jamison 218, Sean McDonagh 161, Moss 132, Gabriel Chaves 110, Ryuichi Nara 102, (7th Wootton 92).

Gollob claims the big cheque in Poland SPEEDWAY GP

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a place in the SuperPrix as the highest placed rider in the standings who had not won a SuperPrix qualifying meeting.

But it went wrong for the Dane when he broke the tapes off gate four and did not get the opportunity to go for the $120,000 top prize.

Gollob was hot favourite and from his favourite gate two, he duly converted it into race victory ahead of Jason Crump and Rune Holta, leaving the home fans delighted with their bonus event.

“The Final was really important to me to get the bronze medal, and everyone has done so much work in the last week. I’d like to thank everyone very much,” said Gollob after the race.

“I’m so happy with how this season has gone for me. Many people wouldn’t have expected it, but I hope next year can be even better.”

– TONY MILLARD

Mike Patrick

NICKI Pedersen joined the illustrious ranks of three-time World Champions on a vintage night of Grand Prix speedway at Bydgoszcz, with Polish hero Tomasz Gollob taking the honours on the night.

Pedersen clinched the title as early as Heat 7 as two early race wins erased any nerves in the Dane’s camp after his troubled outing in Lonigo three weeks ago.

“I’ve been working flat-out just to come here today and do my performance, and I’m so pleased it’s finished,” said Gollob.

“All the emotion comes out now because it’s been the toughest Championship so far for me. This is the third one which puts me up there in history with the good boys, I’ve been fighting for that and I’m absolutely delighted inside."

Gollob, meanwhile, recovered from mechanical problems in his first ride to dominate the remainder of the meeting for another Bydgoszcz triumph. For good measure, he added the 2008 SuperPrix crown by winning the big-money final race

of the season.

After his first-ride blank, Gollob embarked on a string of race wins for the remainder of the meeting, showing all of his usual Bydgoszcz speed and track craft.

Gollob’s meeting win allowed Pedersen

Points: Pedersen 174, Crump 152, Gollob 148, Hancock 144, Andersen 140, Adams 125, Jonsson 100, Holta 80, Nicholls 77, Lindgren 73.

race

Phillip Island Grand Finale FORMULA FORD

John Morris to clinch the title. The HQ battle was a seesawing event, with John Wood and Carl McHenry both suffering a DNF from the three races. In the end Wood’s Race 3 win gave him the title.

Neil Crowe stole the show in Improved Production, taking the title in front of a number of rotaries after a consistent weekend, while Corey Ludeman won Saloon Cars. Rod Smith in the famous Falcon EL took Sport Sedan

spoils and Ross Lilley took home the Sports Cars trophy comfortably. Ken Price won the MGs and Gary Edwards won Historic Touring Cars by a massive points margin.

– AARON SHAW

Robert Lang

CHAMPIONS were crowned during the final round of the Victorian State Circuit Racing Championships at Phillip Island last weekend, with battles going down to the wire in the final race.

Formula Ford had two championships up for grabs with Andrew Beams winning the four-round championship over Sandown and Phillip Island circuits, while Luke

Ellery claimed the club championship over six rounds in a duel that went down to the final race in changing conditions.

In Formula Vee, Daniel Reinhardt reigned supreme, once again clinching the championhip. Meanwhile in the final race, youngster Jack Le Brocq won his first race in only his third meeting.

Robert Lange found troubles in the important Porsche 944 final, leaving

Champions at the Rock IHRA

David Ostaszewski

UNDER ideal weather for racers and fans alike, the IHRA wrapped up their 2008 season at Rockingham International Dragway for the World Finals.

Spencer Massey locked up the Top Fuel championship, holding off Bruce Litton.

Terry Haddock held on to take the title in Funny Car. Jeff Dobbins scored the Pro Stock crown, while Kenny Lang won his first Pro Mod championship.

The only title decided prior to the event was in Alcohol Funny Car, where Laurie Cannister was able to wrap up her second career world championship, her first in an Alcohol Funny Car, when she won a round win at the Amalie Oil North American Nationals at Epping. She capped off her successful year with a World Finals victory over Tom Carter.

In Top Fuel, Tim Boychuk defeated Mike

Strasburg, clocking a 4.85/273. It marked the second consecutive win for the Canadian driver.

In Funny Car, John Lawson, piloting defending series champion Dale Creasy’s Chevrolet Impala, singled to victory when Jack Wyatt was unable to answer the call.

Scott Cannon Jr. claimed his first IHRA win of the year, clocking a 5.97/238 to

defeat the nitrous car of Burton Auxier.

In the Pro Stock final, John Montecalvo closed the year as he began, downing Elijah Morton this time, 6.31/221 to 6.33/218.

Frank Gugliotta recorded a 6.251/222.66 to establish a new Pro Stock elapsed time record.

– DAVID OSTASZEWSKI

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rear of grid

Greetings from Down Under

sutton-images.com

WE hope you will forgive us, but we are pointing this page squarely at Tony George.

Y’see, while we have been in the fortunate position of having a race on the Gold Coast for, crikey, donkey’s years, Mr George has been busy with other things over the last decade or so and that has prevented him from getting to one of the best venues on the planet for a motor race.

We reckon that the track is a ripper and that, when you get views like this one, left, or this one, below, the place is worthy of a National Trust listing. Paul Tracy and others have cleared some serious air over the chicane in years gone by, and the views are spectacular – and that’s before the ladies in revealing swimwear get to town.

The real reason we choose to schmooze Mr George in these pages is that, while it may be difficult for him to prioritise the wishes of a bunch of Aussies – and a state government – to host a round of the IndyCar Series on the other side of the world, we also reckon that he is enough of a entrepreneur to recognise a great event when he sees one, regardless of geography.

There are some things on the Gold Coast that you don’t even see at Indianapolis Motor Speedway – like sand (except in the bunkers on the golf course), the aforementioned ladies, V8 Supercars and ... er, Formula 3.

So, have a great time, Tony (we are pretty casual and on a first-name basis here). If you see him on the street, say G’day, and wish him a happy stay down under. And, hopefully, many more to come ...

sutton-images.com

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