Motorsport eNews Issue 78 - October 28-November 3, 2008

SKAIFE TO REVEAL ALL ON WEDNESDAY

Issue No. 078 28 October – 3 November 2008

LOOK OUT, HERE COMES THE

ang G Kelly

RYAN’S HOME RUN

Dixon: V8s an Option

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)

Australasian

The ‘A’ Team

Issue No. 078 | 28 Oct – 03 Nov 2008

news 4 Brotherly love

Kelly v Kelly at Kelly ...

6 Grand Marshall New home for Marcus 8 Dixon A V8 future?

10 Cruickshank Take two?

14 Decision in 14 days ... Will the IndyCars be back?

18 John Martin Weighing up the options

chat 22 5 minutes with ... opinion 24 Branagan

Steve Owen

25 Crusher

Calling it quits My love, my life

32 IndyCar 38 Carrera Cup 42 NASCAR

Status Quo Home-town hero Moff man wins The Edwards Show

race 26 V8 Supercars trade 48 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

We love Indy. Always plenty of action and plenty to look at ...

Kelly Racing: Combine a

With a championship and three Bathurst wins between them, Kelly Racing will be a formidable combination in FOUR COLUMNS TODD and Rick Kelly will combine at a new team – Kelly Racing – in 2009.

Kelly Racing will compete using the licences owned by John and Margaret Kelly that are currently used by HSV Dealer Team.

It is expected that many of the current HSV team personnel will move across to Kelly Racing, while the HSV ‘brand’ may well reappear with the

Holden Racing Team.

Kelly Racing is set to be located at a new factory base in Dandenong. While eNews understands that there may have been options, the duo is expected to field a pair of Walkinshaw Racing-supplied Commodores.

At the same time, the current Autobarn entry, run by

HSVDT for Paul Dumbrell, will reportedly move across to the HRT workshops alongside the two ‘factory’ HRT cars for Garth Tander and new recruit Will Davison.

It will be the first time that the Kelly pair has raced in the same team on a full-time basis – although they did drive together in the 2006 endurance races.

One of the most intriguing questions that remains to be answered in relation to the

new team is the sponsorship make-up.

As revealed recently in eNews (Issue #074), Red Bull has been linked to supporting Rick’s V8 program next year. The Austrian energy drinks company is currently a personal sponsor, and is believed to be prepared to increase its involvement with the 2006 V8 champ.

The primary sponsor for Todd’s car is apparently up in the air but, if you believe pitlane chat, the older

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

news

and Conquer

The end of the HSV Dealer Team V8 SUPERCARS

n 2009 and beyond Kelly will continue to have Jack Daniel’s support. Kelly has driven for Larry Perkins’s Jack Daniel’s-backed Holden team this year, and Perkins’s threeyear sponsorship deal with the company ends at the end of the season and is subject to negotiation.

As we reported last week, there is no shortage of teams keen to get their hands on the whiskey

company’s backing, but we believe Kelly may head the list. One source told eNews that as many as four proposals were with the iconic brand’s management.

Further details are expected over forthcoming weeks, but licence-holder John Kelly told eNews on Sunday that that there were elements of the project that were far from finalised, but “It’s what we’re working towards.”

– GRANT ROWLEY

THE HSV Dealer Team was born out of the old Kmart Racing team, after the retail giant pulled its sponsorship at the end of 2004.

For the start of 2005, the Clayton-based factory team ran almost identical livery to that of the Holden Racing Team. Under the leadership of Rob Crawford, HSVDT didn’t have a great 2005 but, come 2006, things turned around.

With sponsorship input from the transport giant, the Toll HSV Dealer Team was an immediate contender, and Rick Kelly won the team its first championship. A year later Garth Tander matched it, securing the team back-toback titles.

Until this point, the team had benefited from substantial ‘underwriting’ backing from Holden (harking back to the time when the Kellys acquired the licences that Holden, as a manufacturer, could not), but at the end of last year, that

deal expired.

For 2008, Tander, his engineer Matt Nilsson, Crawford and sponsor Toll were moved across to HRT, leaving Erik Pender to run HSVDT, and needing to find new commercial backing.

A sponsorship arrangement with fund managers Opes Prime went down with the company, although Autobarn’s backing of the second car, for Paul Dumbrell, has got the team through 2008.

Sponsorship is critical to any team’s fortunes and, with the NEC and Orix deals tied to Toll’s, all three look set to be in the red camp next season.

Hence, the way is clear for some new deals to move the Kelly team into the future.

But, after two championships under the HSV team ‘brand’ – not to mention two Bathurst 1000 victories as the Kmart Racing Team – V8 Supercars’ most successful championship team of the modern era is about to come to the end in its current form.

– GRANT ROWLEY

Days of old: Rick Kelly leads Garth Tander at Pukekohe in 2005.

Dirk Klynsmith

sutton-images.com

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

Marshall’s 2009 change Gold Coaster to set up his own team with T8 chassis for next season V8 SUPERCARS MARCUS Marshall will spearhead his own V8 Supercar team next year.

The current Britek Motorsport driver has secured Kees Weel’s Level 1 V8 license, and will compete with a competitive engine and chassis Triple Eight Race Engineering.

He will run his new team from a base in Queensland.

Marshall, 30, will start the 2009 V8 Supercar Championship Series with one of Triple Eight’s current BF Falcons, before switching to the new-model FG Falcon mid-season.

He would not comment on his 2009 plans when contacted by eNews.

Marshall has driven in the V8 Supercar Championship Series for he past three years after a season with Team Australia in Champ Car in 2005.

In 2006, Marshall drove with Paul Cruickshank Racing in that team’s first foray in the V8 Main Series, before sitting the first part of the 2007 season out. He was snapped up by Jack Daniel’s Racing for the endurance races and replaced Jack Perkins for the final two rounds.

Marshall currently drives the #26 Irwin Tools Britek Falcon and sits 25th in the championship.

– GRANT ROWLEY

news

Skaife to retire

Racing hero to hang up the helmet V8 SUPERCARS

Owen to be a Blue Oval Boy? V8 SUPERCARS IF Steve Owen drives in the V8 Supercar Championship Series next year, it is almost certain to be in a Ford.

The current Fujitsu V8 Series leader has a number of strong options for next season, and eNews believes that they are with Dick Johnson Racing, Jim Morton’s Ford Rising Star outfit and Britek Motorsport.

With doubt surrounding Steven Johnson’s DJR future, a slot alongside recent signing James Courtney is one of Owen’s chances.

Current Ford Rising Star driver Michael Patrizi is almost certain to move on from the team at the completion of the season, and Owen’s name has been mentioned as a potential there.

And with a slot becoming available at Britek with the departure of Marcus Marshall (see story left), Owen is said to be high on the team’s short list.

But Owen is just one driver who is waiting by his phone for a call-up for next year – and the call that everyone wants is from Ross Stone.

The Stone Brothers Racing team owner has continued to remain tight-lipped over his driver, although pit-lane pundits continue to say that Alex Davison will be the driver there.

The other high-profile team that needs to secure a driver now is Larry Perkins’ team. With Todd Kelly leaving, LP needs a driver to race alongside Jack Perkins.

– GRANT ROWLEY

MARK Skaife’s will front a press conference on Wednesday to announce that his decorated racing career is set to come to a close at the end of this season.

According to eNews sources, the Holden Racing Team driver will announce that the final three rounds of this year’s championship will be his last as a full-time V8 Supercar driver.

It now seems unlikely that the long-time V8 star will undertake a ‘farewell’ season in a third HRT car, as initially rumoured.

Whether that is an economic decision, given the current outllook, or not, is unknown.

What does now appear to be the case is a switch by the Autobarn sponsorship and driver Paul Dumbrell to run as a third HRT-based car, given the Team Kelly news (see separate story).

Skaife’s seat at HRT will be taken by Will Davison, as exclusively reported in eNews #076.

news

The reigning IndyCar Champ and Indy 500 winner says ...

“V8s an option” INDYCAR

Dirk Klynsmith

SCOTT Dixon has outlined his potential future options, and V8 Supercars is part of the plan.

The two-time IndyCar Champion and reigning Indy 500 winner has labelled Australia’s number one racing category as the place he’d like to see out his successful career.

The 28-year-old New Zealander exclusively told eNews that V8 Supercars is “definitely an option.”

“I’ve always been interested in the Australian V8s,” said the Target Chip Ganassi driver.

“They have a huge following down here and in New Zealand, it’s close to home and it’s somewhere my wife and I could probably live so I think that’s definitely an option.”

Dixon also said that V8 Supercars is higher on his list than NASCAR, which he had been rumoured to be considering this year.

“NASCAR, to be honest, is not something that appeals to me too much,” said Dixon eNews believes that Dixon’s current Ganassi contract will see him racing at the famous team until at least the end of 2009, but it is likely he will be in the IndyCar series beyond next year.

His current Ganassi deal has allowed him to race in selected Sportscar events this year and he has signalled that other American racing like the ALMS Sportscar series is certainly an option.

“ALMS Sportscar racing, either in Europe or in America, which I’ve just been running a little bit, is a lot of fun just

because the technology comes back a lot. There are plenty of options I think for a lot of guys later on in their career.”

Dixon’s racing in Australia was limited but successful.

The Brisbane-born Kiwi started racing initially in New Zealand, winning the 1996 New Zealand Formula Ford Class I Championship before crossing the Tasman to win the 1998 Australian Gold Star Crown in what was then Formula Holden.

– PHILLIP MAHONEY

No Word on Parity Report V8 SUPERCARS THERE will be no changes to the aero kits of any of the V8 Supercars prior to next week’s round of the Championship at Bahrain or, it is likely, for the rest of the season.

The V8 Supercar Australia Board was due to discuss the results of an investigation by Andy Bartley. V8SA’s Technical Director was commissioned to investigate matters raised by a submission made in June by the Holden Racing Team but no comment on its considerations, or even whether any investigation was tabled, will be released by V8SA. “The Board will not make any comment on its discussions,” said V8SA spokesman Cole Hitchcock on Monday.

Regardless of what was determined by the Board, with cars due to be flying out of Australia for the Middle East by the weekend, time constraints would make it unlikely that changes could be made prior to the Bahrain races, even if the board decided to act in that direction.

Holden Motorsport Manager Simon McNamara said on Monday that he was “awaiting official confirmation” from V8SA. “I would have thought that if you are running a sport, you would be clear on this,” he said.

“If you measure any number of cars between one and six, you get multiple triggers [for a parity adjustment]. If you measure 10 [cars], you still get one [trigger].

“But until I know, we just have to get on with it.”

10

Jim Boom V8 SUPERCARS

JIM Beam has ramped up its involvement in V8 Supercar racing.

The spirits company has extended its sponsorship of Dick Johnson’s Ford team for the next three years, and also of V8 Supercars Australia.

With the new deal, JB will become the ‘Official Spirit of V8 Supercars Australia’.

The deal is particularly crucial for Dick Johnson Racing. Next season, the iconic Queensland team will race for the first time in almost two decades without overt support from Ford and, with that potentially creating a funding shortfall,

Johnson will now be able to move forward with its two FG racecars, with James Courtney joining the team next season.

Jim Beam’s Sponsorship and Events Manager Kel Constantine pointed out that the brand’s association with V8 Supercars played a big role in its message of responsible drinking.

“The V8 Supercar Championship Series is also an important platform for Jim Beam to continue our Where Do You Draw The Line? campaign which focuses on personal responsibility and the importance of knowing what’s right for you when drinking,” he said.

PCR clos on Expa V8 SUPERCARS PAUL Cruickshank Racing is edging closer to confirming a Main Series expansion for 2009. eNews understands that Glenfords Racing driver Fabian Coulthard is likely to have a teammate next season, assuming the appropriate license, driver and sponsors can be locked down.

Team owner Paul Cruickshank told Motorsport eNews, “We’re getting closer.

“We’ve got a lot of boxes ticked, but a couple of things aren’t

news

Lights! Camera!

Addison!

V8 SUPERCARS LOOK for a new face in next week’s V8 Supercar telecast from the Middle East.

With Matty White unable to travel to the Gulf because of his commitments to his new role with the Seven Network’s Today Tonight, David Addison will slide into the host’s chair alongside Neil Crompton.

Addison, who has extensive television experience in the UK and Europe, was a recent visitor to Bathurst, where he was guest commentator on the circuit coverage, alongside regular Paul Marinelli.

Phil Williams

ses in ansion Dirk Klynsmith

progressing as fast as we’d like them at this time of the year.

“Most of the operational issues are pretty straight forward and sorted, it’s just a matter of tying up the commercial contracts.”

Cruickshank, above right, was tight-lipped on the sponsorship and driver for the proposed second car, although eNews believes that Fujitsu V8 driver Karl Reindler is one of three drivers under consideration.

Reinder has had a competitive debut season with Howard Racing in the FV8 Series and is

keen to step up to the Main Game.

On the sponsorship front, Wilson Security has been tipped to up its involvement with the Queenslandbased team next year, although all Cruickshank would say in that regard was “I think my team will look something different to how people imagine it will be …”

– GRANT ROWLEY

Of course, Addison is a longtime contributor to Motorsport News and an enthusiastic visitor to V8 Supercars’ first journey to Bahrain two years ago.

Bright on Board V8 SUPERCARS JASON Bright has replaced Ross Stone on the V8 Supercars Australia board.

Bright, 34, was nominated last Thursday at the V8 Supercars Annual General Board meeting.

“I’ve got experience as a driver and as a team owner, and someone who has competed in different categories, and I think I’ve got something to add to it,” he said.

“It’s not about trying to change everything, it’s about looking after the sustainability of V8 Supercars. We need to make sure the racing is good, we need to reduce the costs of the category and make sure that we have a product that we can generate more sponsorship than what you need to build a competitive car. That’s the way I view pretty much any motorsport category in the world.

“If you have all that, you can have all good cars out there with the best drivers and the right budgets to do the right job.”

Fellow board member and Ford Performance Racing team boss Tim Edwards told eNews that Bright’s appointment on the board is a positive for the sport.

“I actually nominated him for it,” Edwards said.

“He’s owned his team for four years now and he wants to play a part in the future of the sport. We’re pleased to have him with us.

“The board has also now got a good balance now, with both the big teams and small teams represented.”

Other V8 Supercar board members include Paul Morris, Larry Perkins, SEL’s Tony Cochrane (Chairman) and James Erskine, and independent Roger Cook.

– GRANT ROWLEY

11

In this issue of GPWEEK

By And

One more win for #1

CASEY Stoner has ridden through his wrist injury to take his sixth win of the MotoGP season at the final round in Valencia.

While it was hardly an epic race, the lightsto-flag win was a good way to cap off what has been a see-sawing year for the Aussie.

“I don’t think anybody knew how the race would be,” he said, speaking of the rain that had plagued practice and qualifying.

“In warm-up I seemed to destroy my tyre, so I was worried. I decided to go as hard as I could and see how long it lasted. In the end, everything worked perfectly.”

Dani Pedrosa was second while Valentino Rossi came from the fourth row of the grid to finish third.

Chris Vermuelen finished 13th, while Ant West’s last GP ride for now ended in 17th.

Title could go down in Japan WHILE it’s not quite the do or die title decider that the Brazilian Grand Prix will be, this weekend’s Rally Japan has the potential to have a huge effect on the World Rally Championship title fight.

With Sebastien Loeb holding a 14point lead over Mikko Hirvonen, and this being the penultimate round of the WRC, the Frenchman will steal the title if he finishes in the top three. And remember, he is coming off the back of a five-rally winning streak …

The Japanese event will essentially be a new rally this year, with the stages moving from central Hokkaido to western Hokkaido. Like New Zealand, the service park will be stationed indoors, and will feature a Super Special Stage.

This week’s GPWeek features a comprehensive Rally Japan preview.

12

Iss

news

drew van leeuwen

It’s title time!

THIS is it – in six days we will know who will be the 2008 Formula 1 World Champion.

Lewis Hamilton goes into the final round with the upper hand points-wise, taking a seven-point advantage over Felipe Massa to Brazil. However, heavy on his mind will be the fact that it was exactly seven points that he led Kimi Raikkonen by heading into last year’s final round …

As expected, the pair have been in the media talking up their chances, and down the pressure.

“Obviously my aim for Brazil is slightly different from the other Grands Prix,” said Hamilton.

“What I am hoping to achieve in Brazil [is] a straightforward weekend that allows me to just focus on my car and my driving.”

“Yes it’s true I have a tougher job than Lewis in terms of the points situation but my own objective for the weekend is much more straightforward than his,” Massa rebutted on Ferrari’s official website.

“I only have to focus on winning the race on Sunday afternoon, hopefully with my team mate second behind me. The only thing I am thinking about is winning.”

For Massa to win the title, he needs to win or finish second, and have Hamilton lower than sixth position. All Hamilton needs to do is either out-pace his rival, or finish fifth or better.

w e nro sue #34 onlClin ick he e

13

Indy: W

IndyCar and Gove INDYCAR

NASCAR MARCOS Ambrose will finish the Sprint Cup season in Michael Waltrip Racing Toyotas.

The Tasmanian will race the remaining three races to prepare for JTG Daugherty Racing’s 2009 program with a technical alliance with MWR. Fran Kerr will continue as his crew chief.

Just he did in Atlanta last weekend, Ambrose will sport the number #47, using the #00 car owner points that allowed him to start 38th after qualifying was rained out. Confusing ...

Courtesy of Toyota Motorsports

Ford? What Ford?

He finished the race in 29th position, two laps behind winner Carl Edwards, and moved up to 36th in owners’ points, 80 out of the top-35.

The #00 car will not be seen for the remainder of this year, so Ambrose will seal his own fate.

Keeping the car inside the all-important top 35 in owner points will guarantee him a spot in the Daytona 500 and the first handful of races.

David Reutimann will drive the #00 in 2009, using points he’s accumulated in the #44 he’s driven with Dale Jarrett this season.

– MARTIN D CLARK

Raining on The Joe Show NASCAR

14

Courtesy of Toyota Motorsports

THE changing world weather pattern could have an affect on Joey Logano’s NASCAR Sprint Cup plans for 2009.

For the third consecutive week, qualifying for the Sprint Cup Series was rained out in Atlanta on the weekend and, while Chase leader Jimmie Johnson was pleased to be starting from the pole, again, it did Logano no favours.

The teenager, who takes over the Gibbs-Home Depot entry form Tony Stewart at the start of next season, lacks

starts on the larger speedways, and NASCAR’s policy to this point has been to prioritise experience over profile on the fast and dangerous tracks.

Atlanta was the 10th event this year to have its qualifying rained out. The previous record was five, in 2002.

Logano, 18, was not the only driver to have his Sunday plans cut short. Bryan Clauson, who was to run for Ganassi Racing, missed the 43-car field though, ironically, Marcos Ambrose made it, to make his first start in a Toyota.

– MARTIN D CLARK

THE future of Australia’s Nikon Indy 300 will be known within two weeks.

The big question is whether the IndyCar series will return next year – or whether its officials want it to.

The US-based racing series inherited the Gold Coast event as one of the conditions of Kevin Kalkhoven and his partners surrendering Champ Car and merging with the Indy Racing League’s rival IndyCar series late last February.

Following the Conrad Jupiter’s Indy driver breakfast, a special press conference was held with Terry Mackenroth, Chairman of the Nikon Indy 300, and Terry Angstadt, the IRL’s President, Commercial Division.

Mackenroth confirmed that meetings would be ongoing with IndyCar officials throughout the weekend to resolve the date conflict, and that no other series, such as the A1GP, was currently being considered.

“It’s not an issue of money,” said an optimistic Mackenroth.

“We are looking for a long-term, five-year deal through 2013. I don’t believe it matters if this is a points race for the championship or not.”

“We are a US-based series that also races internationally,” explained Angstadt.

“We are not looking for a lot of international expansion. Costs are a big consideration. It has to make sense for the drivers, the teams, the promoters, the league, everybody.

“We have some sponsors who have no interest in an overseas event in Australia and, therefore, contribute no team budget. But we also have those sponsors that want the international exposure.”

Angstadt indicated three dates were in discussion but refused to

news

We’ll know in 14 Days

ernment officials look for common ground clarify them when asked. They are likely to be late March, as the first race of the season or as a joint overseas jaunt that includes Japan, and either just before or just after the AFL finals in September.

But a September date looks unlikely, and not just because V8 Supercars’ host broadcaster (the Seven Network) is committed to the AFL finals.

“Why would we want to finish our season outside the US?” said John Griiffin, Vice President of IndyCar Public Relations.

“We really don’t want to race past September because we don’t want to compete with the NFL (American football).”

Should the IndyCar series not return, Premier Anna Bligh has rejected the idea of a stand-alone V8 race. But she has indicated there could be a compromise on the dates, as long as they suited the Gold Coast, V8 Supercars Australia and the media, predominantly Seven.

Queensland Sports Minister Judy Spence declared “the government is committed” and that may indicate that the state’s contribution, currently over $11m, may be sweetened.

Perhaps the people with the least say in what will happen are the drivers.

“Every driver and team owner is keen to see this stay on the calendar,” said Scott Dixon, whose sentiments were echoed over and over by fellow drivers.

“But it is plain and simple. It has to be financially viable. At no point should it cost the series or teams money to come here. That is what it comes down to. This is our best street circuit with lots of passing zones.”

– MARY MENDEZ

15

news

Circuit dramas prompt TRS delay TRS THE 2008/2009 Toyota Racing Series schedule has been reduced to six rounds due to a combination of New Zealand’s new Hampton Downs circuit not being finished, and a renewed costcutting initiative from series’ organisers.

With the new circuit’s construction being delayed,

the TRS was faced with doing two rounds at Pukekohe instead, but decided to cancel the opening round completely, saving competitors money.

“Doing two rounds at Pukekohe wasn’t ideal for us, and that’s why we’ve made this decision,” said TRS director Barrie Thomlinson.

“It’s going to be a tough series this year because of the financial problems around the

world. You have to remember we are a country of four-and-ahalf million, not 26 million.”

To help encourage entries for the series, the prizemoney structure has been changed for the new season. The prize pool has been increased to about $130,000 and will not only include a winner’s fee (to the healthy sum of $20,000), but also appearance fees for Australian and Kiwi drivers at

2009 Carrera Cup calendar locked away V8 SUPERCARS

16

CARRERA CUP CHAMPIONSHIP 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Clipsal 500 March 19-22 Australian Grand Prix March 26-29 Symmons Plains May 29-31 Townsville July 10-12 Phillip Island September 11-13 Bathurst October 8-11 Surfers Paradise October 22-25 Homebush December 4-6

John Morris/Mpix

CARRERA Cup Australia’s 2009 calendar has been locked away, and it is the most impressive schedule of its sevenyear history.

Eight rounds will be contested over five states, with six of the all-Porsche rounds to be held on street or road courses, with just two on permanent race circuits.

Carrera Cup has secured support roles on the inaugural Townsville and Homebush street races, and will also make its debut at Tasmania’s Symmons Plains round in late May. – GRANT ROWLEY

four of the six rounds (Rounds 1,3,5 and 6). According to Thomlinson, it is about “spreading the funds across the competitors.”

In other TRS news, later this week Brit William Buller will be confirmed for the International Trophy segment of the series.

Buller is currently racing for Fortec in the Formula BMW Europe championship.

– ANDREW VAN LEEUWEN

17

Surfers Formula 3 winner looks for bigger challenge

FORMULA 3

Dirk Klynsmith

18

JOHN Martin’s career as a Formula 3 driver ended at last weekend’s Nikon Indy 300.

After a frustrating second year in the British Formula 3 Championship, driving for RaikkonenRobertson Racing, Martin is looking outside of Britain and Europe to continue with his racing career.

The former Australian Formula Ford champion said that Japan and America are two of his likely options for 2009 and beyond.

“I’m looking at World Series by Renault for next year, or Formula Nippon or Indy Lights, they’re the options, really,” Martin told eNews, who made a successful return to local racing at Surfers on the weekend.

“The one that looks more likely or more logical to go to is the ‘States because it doesn’t cost as much and you can earn a bit of money.

“It’s getting harder and harder to get into IRL

Dirk Klynsmith

East or West?

so, if Indy Lights is a step to that, then it’s a good option.

“I’ve talked a little bit to Andretti Green Racing.

They won the championship this year, so that would be a good starting point.

“If you can get into a team like that that runs a few other things, you’re sort of in the family really.

“They run Sportscars and IRL and a few different things, so it could lead to anything.”

The US would appear to be the most attractive option for Martin, but he also has potential option in Japan.

“My engineer in A1 runs a Formula Nippon team in Japan and they’re quite successful.

“Maybe if I can get a free test there, then we’ll go and have a look.

“But at this stage, I just really want to concentrate on A1. Last year it really hurt swapping between the two cars [F3 and A1GP].”

– PHILLIP MAHONEY

news

MINDA LOOKS UP

It’s a Camp Truck World NASCAR

Britek satellite team looking at Fujitsu V8 program V8 SUPERCARS THE existing alliance between Britek and Formula Ford team Minda Motorsport looks set to expand, with the two teams discussing a joint venture into next year’s Fujitsu V8 Supercar Series.

Minda currently forms a big part of Britek’s scholarship program, running three Formula Fords in the national championship on behalf of the team.

And with new FG Falcons coming online next season – and that means a surplus supply of BA/BF Falcons – an expanded relationship is on the cards.

“It makes sense and it’s logical

that we’d have discussions with Minda,” said Chris Jewell, Britek’s General Manager.

“And it would make sense for us to have an all-encompassing program. I would support it, because I think the Formula Ford program is good, but we can’t bring guys from Formula Ford to the main game, we need that extra step in the staircase.

“We’ve got assets to move, sponsors to look after, we’ve got a driver in the Fujitsu Series (Damien Assailat), and we’ve got a relationship with Minda.

So yes, we’ll look at it, but no, nothing is definite.”

Jewell also confirmed that Minda isn’t the only team inquiring about Britek Falcons

for next season.

“We are looking at what we might be able to do with our current stable of BA/BFs, and the inventory and surplus equipment,” he said.

“Matt White has had some preliminary discussions about potentially doing something with us next year, Prodigy Motorsport had as well, and now Minda has indicated that it might be able to bring a driver and some budget to the program, and their expansion would make sense to involve the development series.”

A firm decision is not expected until after the year’s final meeting at Oran Park in December.

– ANDREW VAN LEEUWEN

CAMPING World will take over as sponsor of NASCAR’s thirdtier series from 2009.

What has been known as the Craftsman Truck Series since its inception in 1995 will evolve after Camping World agreed to a seven-year agreement with NASCAR to title the series starting next year.

While the series has some of the best racing in NASCAR, it has it share of problems.

Dodge recently announced it would offer no financial or engineering support for the series in 2009 and Ford has also just pulled the plug on financial ties with teams, although ir will still offer engineering assistance.

It’s not known at this time how many teams will switch brands or pull out of the Truck Series.

– MARTIN D CLARK

Papis Back NASCAR

Phil Williams

FORMER Formula 1 and Champ Car star Max Papis is expected to compete in 18 Sprint Cup races in 2009.

The cheery Italian will join Germain Racing, which currently runs two entries in the Craftsman Truck Series for Todd Bodine and Chrissy Wallace/Justin Marks, and a Nationwide Series entry for Mike Wallace.

The graduation to the top level comes because of the team’s main sponsor Geico.

The insurance company will not be able to continue in the Nationwide Series because of NASCAR’s policy of not allowing competing insurance companies to interfere with Nationwide’s title sponsorship.

– MARTIN D CLARK

19

NSW state champ set to drive for Synergy in Australian Formula Ford FORMULA FORD RECENTLY crowned New South Wales Formula Ford Champion Ryan Simpson is poised to debut in the Genuine Ford Parts Australian Formula Ford Championship next season.

The former Formula Vee frontrunner is currently working on a deal with Synergy Motorsport.

The customer Spectrum team only debuted in the national series this year, but is about to wrap up the championship with Paul Laskazeski, who holds an almost unassailable

lead in the AFFC with two rounds remaining.

“The plan at the moment is definitely to go national series next year, but it’s not confirmed yet,” Simpson told eNews.

“The state series has been a great learning curve this year,

but obviously the Duratec cars are a bit different, and there are better quality drivers in the National Series, so it will be a lot more of a challenge. But that’s what I want, I want to be racing on the V8 Supercar program.”

– ANDREW VAN LEEUWEN

No British racing for Crump SPEEDWAY GP

20

Mike Patrick

JASON Crump will not be riding in the British Speedway League next season.

The former world champion has decided to concentrate on reclaiming the world title and will race domestic league speedway only in Poland and Sweden to supplement his World Championship Grand Prix commitments.

In making his decision Crump said “I’m really sorry that I have had to do this because I have been happy at Belle Vue and get on very well with the promoters. It was very difficult for me to tell them of my decision.

“The simple truth is that I am doing too many meetings and the time has come to cut back. I can’t go on like this or I’ll burn myself out and that wouldn’t be any good for anyone.

“I’m riding in three leagues as well as the

Grand Prix and something had to give. It’s hard riding in England because I have Belle Vue on a Monday and meetings at other tracks during the week.”

Crump, who did nearly 40 meetings for Belle Vue this year wants to focus on beating arch-rival Nicki Pedersen and reclaiming the title.

“I am desperate to win the world title

again next year,” he said.

“I’m 33 now and feel this will help me to have a more regular routine, which I need at this stage of my career.

“I’ve enjoyed my time in England and I know I could get to next year and discover this is the worst thing I’ve ever done. But this is what I have to do at this time.”

– TONY MILLARD

John Morris/Mpix

Simpson prepares for Nationals

news

Titles up for grabs at Mallala Shannons Nationals SHANNONS NATIONALS THE penultimate round of the Shannons Nationals will be held this weekend at Mallala Motor Sport Park.

Two-time Australian touring car champion Glenn Seton will be running his Ford Capri in the Group N Historic Touring Car races.

This weekend marks the fifth and final round of the Tankworld Supertruck Nationals. John Falk holds a 10-point lead over SA driver Bob Middleton, who is aiming for his fourth-consecutive title.

Falk’s son Ben is in the box seat to win the co-drivers title.

Southern Star Windows Commodore

Cup will hold their feature/marquee event of the year at Mallala. They’ll have two, 45-minute races. Each car will have two drivers and there’s two compulsory pitstops – one for a driver change and one for tyres – in each race.

Among the pairings of note, Brett and Glen Holdsworth will team up, Darren Hossack joins Nick Parker, Simon Wills will partner Nathan Collins and Gary Baxter lines up alongside Marcus Zukanovic.

Current series leader Adam Lloyd will debut a new VS Commodore, having run an older VH until now. Entering the penultimate round, Lloyd holds a onepoint lead over Michael Tancredi.

It’s also the penultimate round of the Supaloc Saloon Car Series, with the top five drivers in the championship all from SA. Steve Kwiatkowski (344 points) and Matthew Lovell (329) are fighting it out for the title.

Current Sports Sedan points leader Darren Hossack is looking to win two national titles this year. He leads the Australian Superkart Championship going into their final round. Hossack has a 19-point advantage over Sam Zavaglia.

NSW driver Benjamin Porter will be looking to make it back-to-back Formula Vee National Challenge crowns in the final round of 2008. He leads Daniel Reinhardt by 12 points.

James Smith

21

5 Minutes with ...

STEVE OWEN

The Fujitsu V8 Series leader turned into a Kiwi at Surfers Paradise

So we won’t see you in the car for the rest of the year?

No. I might be involved in test days, just come along and try and help out, as I do with a few Development Series teams.

If everything goes to plan, they’ll have another guy in the seat at the next round.

TKR has struggled both on the racetrack and with its reputation this year. From the inside, what’s your opinion?

I guess, from my point of view, I know what the

22

James Smith

MOTORSPORT NEWS: You drove for Team Kiwi at Surfers. You don’t look like a Kiwi, so how did the ride come up?

STEVE OWEN: It’s been no secret that the team has been struggling this year and they’ve had some young and inexperienced guys in the car – and then the car crashed at Bathurst.

To be honest, it didn’t look like many people wanted to drive the car because it was starting to develop a bad reputation.

We knew that the equipment in the car was reasonable, and I think I’ve got a bit more experience in these cars compared to the other guys. So it made sense to put an experienced driver in for one round and hopefully get the team back on the map and show that it’s not as bad here as what some might think.

And going forward for the rest of the year, hopefully it gives them a head of steam to get to the next few rounds.

GRANT ROWLEY

THE TEAM IS VERY KEEN AND PASSIONATE ABOUT BEING HERE STEVE OWEN ON DRIVING FOR TKR difference is between running with a HSV or DJR, to running in the Fujitsu Series.

This team is very keen and passionate about being here, so once you’ve got that, it gives you a very good base.

But it is tough. When you’ve had some setbacks like they have, with one, three or four guys, and a big crash at Bathurst, it’s hard to make it happen.

With all those sorts of things, you’re flat-out getting the car on the track, let alone going through data or making set-up changes.

At the moment, they know they’re not at the competitive days where The Rat (Paul Radisich) was running in the top 10. But there are some experienced guys working for them now, and that’s all part of the bigger picture.

years now. Out of 10, how do you rate your chances for a seat in 2009?

Well, if you believe the press reports, it’s nine and a half (laughs). I like to be a little more cynical about these things.

I like to go to bed know that it’s happened, rather than it’s going to happen.

It’s been very positive. It all started with momentum from Phillip Island. To qualify fifth and finish the first race in second was the icing on the cake for some people, I think.

I’m at the stage now where I’m at the top of a couple of teams’ list. They are telling me that if they can get their budget sorted, I’ll be straight in the car. If they can’t, then they’ll look at Plan B, but that’s the way the game is.

You’ve been on the brink of getting a competitive Main Series drive for a number of

You’re in a purple patch at the moment. Dominating FV8s, starring performances

in the enduros. Are you driving the best you have ever driven?

When we got halfway through this year, there were some options opening up overseas in Japan and the US, and while I’d love to go and do that, I feel like it would be a massive waste, because as you say, I’m going OK now.

If you look at some of the leading drivers – Whincup, Davison, Winterbottom – it was their third year that they’ve really started to kick on. And that’s where experience comes into it.

I feel like I’m at the point where I’m ready to go. I did a couple of hard years at Autobarn (Marty Brant’s team) and showed that we were quick. I’ve come away from that, we’re having a purple patch at the moment, a few wins, poles.

It would have been a waste to throw this away and start from scratch.

chat

Dirk Klynsmith

23

sutton-images.com

Hanging up the lid opinion Phil Branagan Executive Editor

in the world of international touring car racing this week.

For one, I will miss Bernd Schneider, and wish him a

Dirk Klynsmith

24

sutton-images.com

SO, it comes to this.

A veteran racing driver sees the writing on the wall and decides to call time. This is big news; a man who has made a massive contribution to the sport, who is akin to a national hero, will race no more. Sure, there may be the odd special appearance in the future but, as far as seeing him teach a thing or two to those youngsters, those days are done.

No-one can suggest for a second that he has not earned it. By a mixture of talent, will and sheer hard work, he rose right to the top of the sport and won five championships.

Five! His name has been synonymous with one marque

for a decade-and-a-half, and in that time, no conversation about who might constitute the top five touring car pilots in the world could fail to mention his name for consideration.

But, times change. Last year, a younger man, 30-ish, took the title. In their 40s, racing drivers inevitably begin to slow down. These days, guile will only get you so far; there are too many good drivers, in too many good cars, in the championship.

He has earned some downtime. After all, there is a family to consider; the alwayssupportive partner, a son and two daughters. They have earned the attention that the sport has always stolen from the family. Time to make that good.

Yes, no matter which was you look at it, there is big news

happy retirement from the cockpit.

Sorry. Did you think I was talking about someone else ...

opinion

opinion Brett Murray BAM Media WHAT the Nikon Indy 300 means to BAM Media is not as much as what it means to Brett Murray I guess.

I’ve made this show my life since Day 1, being a journalist here and then working on the event since 1998.

We’ve ridden every ride, and every wave, every crest and every trough and battled our way through it. Every year, we’ve managed to come out the other side bigger and better despite all the negativity talked about it.

We fought terrorist attacks, and we’ve fought World Cup Rugby, and we’ve fought Olympics, and we’ve fought everything else.

If you looked at every other motorsport event in the world, bar none, there wouldn’t be one that’s had an increase in

numbers, or revenues in the last 15 years.

It’s the second biggest event to the Indy 500. We have 300,000 who come to this event each year.

There are obviously a lot of people that work on the event who are very passionate about it and who have put a lot of time into it, including my staff.

CEOs have come and gone, but they’ve all been passionate about the event and they’ve all put their mark on it.

I’ve made it my baby and I take everything personally and a lot of people know that.

There have been some considerable turning points in the event. One was in 1997 to ‘98, when we ran in October for the first time.

But the ability to get Australian drivers into the race was something we always lacked.

Craig Gore’s contribution to this cannot be underestimated.

He’s put almost 20 million

bucks of his own dough with Team Australia and sponsoring the event and has had an enormous role in getting Will Power here, Marcus Marshall and having an Australian flavour to the event.

Now to have two guys in Ryan Briscoe and Will in the series is quite remarkable.

The sad thing is, after weathering the storm with all the Champ Car stuff, going into bat and defending it, turning a small bit of steak into a large bit of steak, this year should have been another turning point for this event.

Unfortunately we have to go through it again, and hopefully, next years event can be what this year should have been.

With a six-year structure we can go forward and have the best race and the best cars, both V8s and IndyCars on the streets of Surfers Paradise.

The event’s going nowhere.

The fact that IRL may or may not be here is another issue,

sutton-images.com

Taking it personally

but the event itself is going nowhere, so if they have to replace that with another international formula, then the powers that be will work that out and go on to bigger and better things.

But I think that it is a very wise decision by the Chairman Terry Mackenroth and the Premier to get the IRL to come here and actually experience the event before any decisions are made on going forward.

If they can’t see how good this event is, then they’ve been walking round with their eyes shut, and they’re a lot smarter than that.

Guys who have come out here for the first time are just blown away by the event. Guys have told them what it’s like but they’re still blown away by the whole thing.

I don’t know if you’ve ever been to Milwaukee. Well it beats the hell out of Milwaukee, and it beats the hell out of Idaho.

25

V8 SUPERCAR CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES COFFEE CLUB V8 CHALLENGE, SURFERS PARADISE

Form Finish Jamie, Garth and Mark have been the form drivers of 2009. They are fighting for the championship, and they battled for victory on the streets of Surfers. GRANT ROWLEY was there

26

race

27

K

EEPING tabs on the V8 Championship Series contenders was an easy task last weekend at Surfers Paradise in the Coffee Club V8 Supercar Challenge.

Jamie Whincup won the round by virtue of scoring pole position and winning all three races. Garth Tander finished second overall with three runner-up finishes, and Mark Winterbottom, you guessed it, finished third overall with three third places.

The trio ran away from the field in each of the races, setting almost identical times and executing three clean, fair … and slightly processional races.

But regardless, the result ensured that the championship is far from over yet between the leading trio, and that the final three rounds should be a promoter’s dream.

Whincup had more things on his mind, though. The championship is important to him, but after making an error in last year’s

28

Surfers race while in a winning position, he was there to make amends.

“For me, to get pole and win three races here is pretty special,” the series leader said.

“I’ve won at Clipsal, Sandown and Bathurst, but this is one that I’ve always had trouble with.“ Whincup’s round victory earned him his 10th round victory, as well as securing the Manufacturers’ title for Ford.

Race 1 was a tame yet hard-fought affair.

From pole position (the fifth of his career), Whincup led every lap ahead of Tander and Winterbottom.

Tander snatched the lead from the start in Race 2, despite a punching match with Whincup at the first turn, but his good work was soon ruined after his compulsory pit stop. Tander was let out into traffic and subsequently held up on his outlap by Tony D’Alberto. It was the weekend’s turning point.

Whincup took the lead and eventually the win, while Winterbottom completed another watching brief in third place.

Behind them, a combination of a Safety Car (for Fabian Coulthard at the last corner) and the pit stop shuffle elevated some guys from the back to the front. Lee Holdsworth finished fourth ahead of Steven Johnson and Rick Kelly, who all benefited from the race’s interruption. Kelly’s sixth place was remarkable, given that he started from the back of the grid due to an engine problem in Race 1.

Race 3 was all about Whincup. It was another start-to-finish result, although he did have to contend with Holdsworth.

The Valvoline quick man was the only driver beyond the Championship Three to be inside the top three over the whole weekend. Holdsworth bounded into second place at the start and was putting pressure on Whincup, only to make a mistake at

race

Marshall Cass

Surfers chicanes: Above, Russell Ingall and Todd Kelly got past top qualifier Paul Dumbrell at the start of Race 1. But no-one was near the top three, left.

V8 Supercar | ROUND 11, SURFERS PARADISE, QLD Pos# Driver

Dirk Klynsmith

turn four, graze the wall and narrowly miss the rear of Whincup’s car.

After Holdsworth’s demise, Tander and Winterbottom resumed their regular service in second and third.

Fourth overall went to Todd Kelly. The Jack Daniel’s Racing driver finished inside the top seven in all three races and proved to be Holden’s second best.

Russell Ingall may have been in line for that honour, but continued brake dramas over the weekend plagued the former champ.

James Courtney ran inside the top 10 in the first two races, but an engine issue in the final cost him an overall result.

The HSV Dealer Team had an up and down weekend.

Paul Dumbrell qualified third, ahead of his team-mate Rick, but a poor start and a stall in pit lane cost Dumbrell.

A clash with the turn two tyre wall in Race 2 put another dint in a weekend that held much promise.

And there were others, like Steven Johnson, Craig Lowndes, Will Davison and Steven Richards who all penetrated the top 10, but there was hardly any competition for the Championship Three.

Team/Car

Q

R1 R2 R3

1 88 Jamie Whincup Team Vodafone Falcon BF 1 1 1 1 300 2 1 Garth Tander Toll HRT Commodore VE 2 2 2 2 276 3 5 Mark Winterbottom FPR Falcon BF 4 3 3 3 258 4 7 Todd Kelly Jack Daniel’s Commodore VE 8 4 7 6 212 5 39 Russell Ingall Supercheap Auto Commodore VE 6 5 8 7 198 6 17 Steven Johnson Jim Beam Racing Falcon BF 19 15 5 4 194 7 888 Craig Lowndes Team Vodafone Falcon BF 5 6 9 9 180 8 18 Will Davison Jim Beam Racing Falcon BF 7 7 10 10 168 9 33 Lee Holdsworth Valvoline Cummins Commodore VE 12 10 4 17 168 10 6 Steven Richards FPR Falcon BF 11 11 12 8 154 11 15 Rick Kelly HSV Dealer Team Commodore VE 9 DNF 6 5 142 12 3 Jason Richards Sprint Gas Racing Commodore VE 15 13 17 11 128 13 2 Mark Skaife Toll HRT Commodore VE 16 16 16 14 118 14 4 James Courtney Jeld-Wen Motorsport Falcon BF 10 9 11 DNF 104 15 16 Paul Dumbrell Autobarn Commodore VE 3 8 DNF 16 98 16 11 Jack Perkins Jack Daniel’s Commodore VE 17 18 15 23 98 17 34 Michael Caruso Valvoline Cummins Commodore VE 26 20 18 19 96 18 021 Steve Owen Team Kiwi Racing Falcon BF 24 23 21 15 92 19 51 Greg Murphy Sprint Gas Racing Commodore VE 18 DNF 14 12 88 20 111 Fabian Coulthard Glenfords Racing Falcon BF 20 14 DNF 13 86 21 9 Shane Van Gisbergen SP Tools Racing Falcon BF 13 17 13 DNF 80 22 26 Marcus Marshall IRWIN Racing Falcon BF 28 26 23 20 72 23 14 Cameron McConville Team WOW Commodore VE 14 12 22 DNF 72 24 12 Andrew Jones Team BOC Commodore VE 21 19 DNF 21 60 25 55 Tony D’Alberto Rod Nash Racing Commodore VE 27 DNF 24 18 56 26 50 Andrew Thompson PWR Commodore VE 23 22 20 DNF 56 27 777 Michael Patrizi Ausdrill Ford Rising Stars Falcon BF 29 21 DNF 22 54 28 67 Paul Morris Supercheap Auto Commodore VE 25 25 19 DNF 52 29 25 Jason Bright Fujitsu Racing Falcon BF 22 24 DNF DNF 22 Whincup 2616, Winterbottom 2541, Tander 2510, Lowndes 2103, W. Davison 2033, S. Richards 1988, R. Kelly 1934, Courtney 1906, Johnson 1665, Ingall 1662, Holdsworth 1567, T. Kelly 1559, Skaife 1480, Coulthard 1419, J. Richards 1306, Van Gisbergen 1288, Murphy 1264, McConville 1090, Dumbrell 1054, Caruso 1053, Bright 1042, Morris 1036, A. Jones 889, Price 843, Marshall 839, D’Alberto 714, Patrizi 636, Thompson 607, Besnard 459, Perkins 436, Scott 362, Owen 351, B. Jones 343, Wilson 343, Pretty 338, Macrow 320, Luff 259, Canto 252, Youlden 252, Ellery 245, Ritter 245, Noske 226, Wood 226, Halliday 225 etc.

29

Larkham: High Standards I WAS quite overwhelmed with the high standard of race driving over the weekend from Jamie Whincup, Garth Tander and Mark Winterbottom in all three races.

However, as a former race driver, I think it’s kind of sad that the general community sitting at home in front of their television set would find it quite hard to gauge what was going on inside the race car.

The level at which those guys were functioning – mistake-free mind you – I think is an absolute credit to them.

But it’s hard to communicate that. That was the highest-

opinion Mark Larkham Pit-lane reporter level motorsport at its highest standard and when you start thinking about all the implications, there was enormous pressure there.

Those guys did it mistake-free, though, and went around and around and around and left the field behind them. That was a first-class display of race driving, even if it lacked the edge-of-your-seat passing moves.

When you speak to the championship contending teams, they’ll usually tell you

that they’ll just keep hanging in there to get some points.

But for those three guys last weekend, they only had one position they wanted to be in – and that was position one. I’ve never seen a driver as dejected as Mark Winterbottom coming third!

Generally with third, you’d be pretty rapt. I understand at this end of the season where the championship is, third place has no real value – it’s win or nothing.

To me, this all means that the next three races are only going to be better and now, it’s not going to be a matter of who wins the races, it will be who can best minimise misfortune.

Luck and speed not enough to please Steve MOTORSPORT News approached Steven Johnson after the last race at Surfers Paradise, offering its congratulations.

Having fought back from a dud qualifying session and a Race 1 penalty, Johnson was threatening for a top five finish mid-way through the meeting.

MNews assumed that Stevie J would be pleased with his day’s work – it was his best individual result since the Clipsal 500 – but he wasn’t happy at all.

“I’m disappointed, to be honest.

Small things went against us this weekend,” he said.

Johnson started from 19th, having got caught out in qualifying by circumstance, rather than lack of pace.

“The first race was good, we had great car speed. We had one of the fastest cars out there. We actually did six or seven fastest laps in a row. I went from 19th to 12th, but then got pinged for running through a chicane

30

and they put me back.”

Sunday’s first race was where things started to get better for the #17 Jim Beam racer.

“The only thing that did go our way was the Safety Car in Race 2. I’d already made up a few spots before then anyway, I was about 11th, so we were going pretty good.

“The expectation is high here,” he said.

“I want a good end to the year. I want to press on and stay in the top 10, and hopefully get into the top six or eight in the championship. Yeah, we finished seventh this weekend, so it’s not too bad, but there was certainly a lot more in it than where we finished.

“We probably had a car that was capable of top four. Outside of Winterbottom, Whincup and Tander, we were probably the next fastest car.

We just didn’t have the best of runs.”

– GRANT ROWLEY

race

John Morris/Mpix

Bringing black back to the front Dirk Klynsmith

TIMING is everything, especially in motor racing.

With pit lane chat rife at Surfers Paradise about what is happening with Todd, Rick and Kelly Racing next year, it was a guarantee that the Kelly family was going to be in the news this week.

But if you forget 2009 for a moment and look at the weekend’s results on the Gold Coast, you’ll notice that both Todd and Rick deserve race coverage, as well as news coverage.

After what most top-line drivers would consider a wayward season, Todd Kelly dragged the Jack Daniel’s Racing

COMMENT Grant Rowley Editor eNews Commodore VE up to the front of the field.

We haven’t seen the black #7 at the head of the queue this year, but Todd’s hard work behind the scenes at JDR is starting to become more and more evident.

Fourth place for the round (or first behind the Championship Three) is evidence that Todd is still, and always was, a contender.

There’s never been a doubt about Rick’s ability, but after a shocking Bathurst, a good

result for the hard-working HSV Dealer Team was essential. Driving the team’s spare chassis, Rick’s weekend didn’t start well when his engine detonated in Race 1.

Starting from the back around the tight streets, not much can be expected, but a solid race, as well as a stroke of luck with the Safety Car, elevated him to an eventual sixth.

Fourth in the final race, one place ahead of his brother, was a just result for all.

Next year, the Kelly brothers will be team-mates, and while we’re some time away from seeing that officially, for the time being, the boys are working their way towards the front again.

TV world, looking from the outside

Dirk Klynsmith

SCOTTY Pruett talks as well as he dances.

The former Gold Coast winner slid into the TV booth alongside Aaron Noonan for the Indy 300, and both did a polished job. Noonan was simultaneously enthusiastic and Australian when Ryan Briscoe won the race but, somehow, sidestepped the hysteria. I wonder if James Allen will be as balanced should Lewis Hamilton defeat both Ferrari and the stewards to win the World Championship this weekend

in Brazil?

On the V8 side of the pits, Neil Crompton managed to embarrass all his mates at HRT in one of his pitwalks, which are always fun, and Matty White was, as ever, the host with the most. But once again, Mark Larkham was the man on a mission; his technical insights were spot-on and his interviewing is getting better, even if Garry ‘King of Bling’ Rogers seems to be becoming his muse.

V8 Supercars TV faces some interesting choices for

Race 3 about hiding in the

FROM THE shade shows how comfortable he is getting in the role.

COUCH We usually only mention

Phil Branagan

next season, like the limited availability of White (Today Tonight will, understandably, take precedence) and what to do in the pits. Bahrain next week may give some insights on the former, and as far as the pits is concerned, it’s a nobrainer; more Larko! He really is filling the niche nicely, and his comment at the start of

technical aspects when there is something to criticise.

This time, no brickbats, just bouquets. It is hard to find much bad; the use of the slomo was considered and all the important tactical moments were ticked. It would be picky to point out that Tander behind D’Alberto was one of the turning points of the weekend, but V8TV was on to that fairly swiftly. Top marks.

31

INDYCAR SURFERS PARADISE

Australia Day Ryan Briscoe clinched a famous hometown victory after Will Power faltered. PHILLIP MAHONEY reports

32

race

Dirk Klynsmith

33

F

OR the first time, an Australian won on the streets of Surfers Paradise, but it wasn’t Team Australia’s Will Power.

Sydney-born Ryan Briscoe stepped out of Power’s Surfers shadow to record a famous victory and the second for Team Penske on the Gold Coast after Emerson Fittipaldi won in 1992.

“It’s very exciting to win here at home,” said Briscoe “I think Will with the name of the team, Team Australia, I think there’s a lot more attention on him here.

“I was probably a little bit in the shadows but it’s as home a race to me as it is to him, that’s for sure.

“I felt bad when I saw him hit the wall and go out because he’s been nothing less than dominant all weekend. It’s a shame for him because he was hands-down the quickest guy here this weekend.”

Home-town boy Power dominated the weekend from the get-go, recording the fastest time in all but one practice session and then qualified on pole in a last-ditch effort.

It all ended without reward for the Towoomba-born driver as he hit the wall

34

exiting the Bartercard Chicane on lap 17, ending his hopes of victory with broken left front suspension.

“Obviously, I’m very disappointed,” Power said after the race.

“It was a really bad mistake, the worst of my life. It was a very bad day for me and I am very disappointed.

“But, I want to thank KV Racing Technology Team Australia for all their hard work this weekend they gave me a really good car and it’s a shame we could not finish this race.”

Briscoe went about his business, improving throughout the weekend to qualify in third position before a bold move on Scott Dixon at the start elevated him into second place before inheriting the lead after Power crashed out.

“We pulled into the pits just a lap early and we were able to maintain track position from there,” Briscoe said.

“We had some good restarts and some good stops, kept it clean and didn’t make any mistakes and that was the key thing today.”

Briscoe was forced to defend heavily from Dixon in the closing stages as the Kiwi piled on the pressure, eventually

finishing just half a second behind.

“It wasn’t too bad, but I had to give me spot back to Ryan [at the start],” Dixon said.

“I figured I was in front going into the chicane and then obviously two of us weren’t going to fit through there so I decided to set it up and then I had to get back behind.

“He [Briscoe] was super quick, especially on the longer runs.

“It was a bit of a mixed up race in the middle part there. But obviously I feel bad for Will, I think he was really quick and if he hadn’t made the mistake I think he was going to be very tough to beat.”

Former Indy 300 winner Ryan HunterReay finished in third position after a solid battle with Alex Tagliani. Only a late-race fuelling mishap for Tagliani secured the final spot on the podium for the Rahal Letterman Racing Team Ethanol driver.

“It was a nice way to end the season,” said Hunter-Reay.

“We’re back here in Surfers and I really like this place it is a blast to race here I just hope to come back, it is a great place to be, a great place to race and I had a blast this week.”

race

Dirk Klynsmith

Taking control: Ryan Briscoe, left, celebrated the first Aussie victory on the Gold Coast in style, while Will Power, above, was again left to ponder what could have been.

Scott Dixon, below, already has a Championship and Indy 500 win this year., but that didn’t stop him from pushing Briscoe all the way to the line.

INDYCAR | SURFERS PARADISE

Dirk Klynsmith

1 6 2 9 3 17 4 36 5 5 6 33 7 3 8 27 9 06 10 15 DNF 8

Ryan Briscoe Aus Scott Dixon NZ Ryan Hunter-Reay USA Alex Tagliani Can Oriol Servia Esp E.J Viso Ven Helio Castroneves Br Hideki Mutoh Jap Graham Rahal USA Buddy Rice USA Will Power Aus

Team Penske 60 laps Target Ganassi +0.50s Rahal Letterman +9.12s Conquest Racing +19.98s KV Racing +20.44s PDVSA HVM Racing +33.72s Team Penske +34.49s Formula Dream +55.75s Newman Haas Lanigan +80.06s EMU Dreyer & Reinbold +91.90s KV Racing 16 laps

Fastest lap: Franchitti on lap 54, 1:35.155s (170.17kmh).

35

Dirk Klynsmith

Just like riding a bike ...

DARIO Franchitti is the 2007 IndyCar Series and Indy 500 champion but after a year out of the series and into a new team, the Scot came to the Gold Coast with little expectations.

He may have had low expectations, but the new Ganassi driver proved from Practice 1 that he had lost none of his speed.

“I think my expectations were pretty low coming in,” Franchitti told eNews.

“I knew that the car was going to be good. The Target Chip Ganassi boys have been pacesetters since ‘06 and ‘07, well not so much ‘07, but certainly in ‘06 and they gave us a hard time in ‘07 and this year they’ve been really good as well.

“So I knew the car was going to be really good, but whether or not I could get back up and get immediately get back into it was a question.

“I was quite surprised that immediately out there it felt natural and I was just driving the car how it needs to be driven.

That was a nice surprise, really.”

Franchitti has driven all manner of cars this season – from his NASCAR campaign in both the Sprint Cup series and the Nationwide series to his stint in the ALMS series later in the year.

“Driving the ALMS car helped a lot. I did a bunch of testing and that really helped to go back and get in the IndyCar it helped jumping out of driving the Stock Car.”

With the Nikon Indy 300 being a nonchampionship event, it signalled the start of the 2009 season and teams like Ganassi wasted no time in getting their new drivers in the cars. For Franchitti, stepping into Team Target Chip Ganassi is a strange coincidence.

“It’s kind of funny putting on the Target suit. I went through that when I first went to Ganassi this time last year in NASCAR and I was wearing a Target suit for the first time, it kind of made me laugh.

“We’ve been battling with the Target guys since back in ‘97 and ever since, so to be part of the team now is cool. It’s a great team and I’m really happy to be a part of it.”

– PHILLIP MAHONEY

Experience counts at Surfers Paradise

36

and we were fighting with the big teams and running third all day. I even made a pass on Franchitti. So I think it was good for the motivation of the team heading into the winter.

“I think now it’s a sign that whatever we did in one month we need to do it for the next four in preparation for 2009.

The Canadian’s knowledge of the race helped him maintain a cool head as others around him faltered under pressure.

“I think it’s not an easy track.

“It’s pretty tough physically, but overall I think we did everything right.

“What cost us going from third to fourth on the last pitstop was we had a really bad problem with the fuel going in and we got leapfrogged by Hunter-Reay.

“That one little thing against

top teams that don’t have these problems it’s really difficult to get by them.

“You need to be perfect all race long and we just had one little issue and that was all.”

– PHILLIP MAHONEY

Dirk Klynsmith

AT a place like Surfers Paradise experience counts for a lot.

Just ask Conquest Racing’s Alex Tagliani.

Tagliani is no stranger to the streets of the Gold Coast, having scored a podium for Team Australia back in 2006.

A fourth place finish in 2008 for the small Conquest Racing operation is an achievement, especially in the competitive reunited IndyCar series.

“Yes it’s very nice. I’m very excited about the result,” said Tagliani.

“I think the team did a fantastic job.

“We came here to Surfers

race

2008

Dirk Klynsmith

The new and the old IndyCar driver Graham Rahal offers a comparison between the Champ Cars and IndyCars around Surfers Paradise streets

opinion Graham Rahal IndyCar driver WE came here last year in the Panoz for the Champ Car Series and I think we were expecting the IndyCar to be a lot different but, surprisingly it’s not that much different from last year.

This car’s a little harder over the kerbing and because of the fact you have to use the kerbs so much around here that actually makes it a little bit slower, but we’re not talking about a big gap, it’s really pretty close.

I really enjoyed the weekend. The cars worked really well for us. Both my team-mate [Justin Wilson] and

myself were pretty quick over the whole weekend.

Truthfully, I’ve got really no downside to the IndyCar at this place and I certainly thought that there would be.

The car is obviously a little bit slower over a lap but where you notice it’s slower is on the straightaways not necessarily cornering.

The cornering speeds are very similar between the Champ Car and the IndyCar. The Champ Car had a little more downforce so it was a little bit quicker in certain areas like turn seven [XXXX Chicane on the back straight], but they’re very similar really.

It has taken a little while to get used to the new car. I mean it was built for ovals, so it’s kind of unnatural for the

car to be at places like Surfers Paradise.

I think that they’ve done a good job converting it from an oval racing car to something that we can race on street and road courses.

It’s one of the things that we always talk about amongst us drivers. The first time everybody got in these cars we thought they were trucks, but after a while as we always said, everything starts to feel racy.

The cars are only a couple of seconds off what we did in the Champ Cars around here, but truthfully I don’t think the speed is what really matters, it’s the show.

The Champ Car, because of how fast they were, it was quite hard to follow each other

at times and in this years car, I think it really makes that a bit easier.

In turns like turn seven, you can follow pretty close behind someone, which you couldn’t do in the Champ Car. Some guys struggled a little more here this weekend but that’s just because of one thing, and that’s this place is tough!

I love coming down to the Gold Coast.

I really do hope they come back because next year because I’d certainly like to make more of a vacation out of it and come down earlier.

I hope we come back. But we’ve got to make it so that it works for our sponsors.

That’s the biggest thing and logistically, does it work?

2007 Dirk Klynsmith

37

CARRERA CUP ROUND 8 – SURFERS PARADISE

Ending on a High

James Moffat avoided the carnage to take his first round victory on the streets of Surfers Paradise . PHILLIP MAHONEY saw it all unfold

Dirk Klynsmith

38

race

Marchall Cass

Staying out of trouble: James Moffat, above, took his first race and round win after Craig Baird and David Russell, below left, made contact. David Wall, below right had a consistent weekend to grab second for the round.

WITH the championship done and dusted, it looked to be a Craig Baird walkover on the streets over Surfers Paradise.

That was until contact in Race 3 with team-mate David Russell handed James Moffat his first race and round win of the year.

“I couldn’t be happier to finish the year off on this note,” Moffat said.

“Moreso for the team as well, because they put in just as much effort as I do and it’s great to give them back a reward as well.

“I knew it was going to be tough this year, and part of the reason I decided to go to Carrera Cup this year was to chase guys like Bairdo and it’s been good.”

Baird grabbed pole by the best part of a mile and proceeded to walk away with the first two races in typical Bairdo style, building a gap and then consolidating it in the final laps.

Only Sonic stablemate Russell looked to have any of the Kiwi’s pace and followed him home on both occasions.

That was until Race 3. Baird failed to get the jump from pole and Russell leapt into the race lead. On the streets of Surfers Paradise passing was always going to be difficult and, with Moffat and Aaron Caratti pressuring from behind, Baird made a move on the run down to Turn 3.

Russell squeezed Baird and the two touched, gifting the race win to Moffat.

The contact forced Russell to pit for a left rear puncture, while Baird limped home with a slowly deflating right front to salvage third for the round.

“I dropped the start and I had to find a way past David Russell,” said Baird.

“I sort of passed him and then he just came across, we just rubbed wheels and I popped a tyre. So end of story, really.

“I guess I didn’t have anything to lose.

He sort of dropped it on the second chicane and I had a bit of a run on him,

James Smith

Dirk Klynsmith

CARRERA CUP

but I think it was a racing incident.

“I’m really happy for Moff to get the win.

Won a race and won a round, it’s good for the category.”

Moffat ended the weekend equal on points with David Wall but won the round thanks to his victory in the final race.

Wall’s second place came thanks to his three third place finishes and a troublefree run arond the tricky circuit.

Championship runner-up Dean Fiore had a weekend to forget as electrical problems hampered his progress early in the weekend and he never really managed to recover.

The Pilatus Challenge went to James Koundouris over Theo Koundouris, while Russell finished third in the overall championship.

Points: Baird 1458, Fiore 1122, Russell 1017, Moffat 939, Bryce Washington 906, Caratti 876, Wall 870, Rodney Jane 615, Rodney Forbes 606, Barton Mawer 510.

39

AUSSIE RACING CARS

A customary Surfers Paradise downpour allowed Paul Morris to take out Round 5 of the Aussie Racing Cars Super Series last weekend.

With results of third and fifth in the first two races, Morris’s victory in torrential rain in Race 3 gave the Queensland local his first Round win since the 2007 BIMF. “We sort of struggled with a bit of straightline handling,” said Morris.

“The lighter guys really have an advantage with the long straights, so when the rain came out I thought, ‘we’re in with a shot here,’” Morris was forced to look out the side windows to navigate his way around the soaked Gold Coast streets, so poor was

40

the visibility.

David Lawrence and Richie Rapa had a tight battle for second and third respectively in Race 3, results which were mirrored in the round standings as Lawrence tightened the gap to Paul Kemal at the top of the Championship.

“We’ve been going well this year and Indy’s just another feather in the cap,” said Lawrence.

“We were wheel-spinning at 170kmh in fifth gear, all fogged up, could not see a thing, spray everywhere. I couldn’t even make out the walls on the side. I didn’t even know if I was close to a wall or not, so it was just absolutely horrendous.”

Nick Simmons was looking good for a clean sweep of the weekend until he was excluded from Race 2 after an

infringement was discovered during scrutineering post-race, while Tom Vucicevic managed to extend his lead in the Masters Cup despite experiencing difficulties in both of the first two races.

Vucicevic spun and kissed the wall at the XXXX Chicane in Race 1 after losing third gear on the way through, then lost second and fourth later in the race. In Race 2, his Ford Coupe caught fire after blowing a conrod and spilling oil.

The next round of the championship is at Symmons Plains in four weeks.

– DANIEL HERRERO

Championship points: Kemal 244, Lawrence 238, Gowans 229, Clews 223, Rapa 219, Simmons 218, McCashney 215, Phillips 215, Lowe 213, Carr 205.

John Morris/Mpix

Dude rains supreme

race

Martin’s homecoming FORMULA 3 John Martin has taken the spoils in the nonchampionship round of the Kumho Tyres Australian Formula 3 Championship on the Gold Coast.

Martin put together a near-perfect weekend, with first in every session except Race 3 for his first round in Australian Formula 3.

“It’s been great to come here to Australia for Formula 3 for this one race and do so well not having been here before,” Australia’s A1GP driver said.

“It’s the first time I’ve been here, apart from PlayStation of course!”

James Winslow led off the line in Race 1, but gave up the top spot after running wide at the end of the beach on Lap 4. He held off Chris Alajajian for second in Race 2, and got the jump on Martin from the lights to win the final race.

“It was a good result for me. We had some pretty good pace right through the weekend,” Winslow said.

“I felt like I could have probably won the first race if I had have not made the

mistake that I made.”

Despite recording a DNF each, Leanne Tander and Alajajian tied for third for the round. Tander looked like taking a clear-cut podium after Alajajian retired from Race 3 with steering problems, until she too suffered from mechanical difficulties and was shoved into a wall by Nathan Caratti.

“I think I got stuck between gears or something and I had no drive so going into Turn 2 I was sort of floating,” explained Tander.

“I think probably Nathan didn’t expect me to be not on

the power.”

In an otherwise fairly procedural Race 2, Mat Sofi provided the entertainment, launching his Dallara at the XXXX Chicane after running wide half-way through the complex.

“The first thing I saw was the mound in the middle of the chicane,” he said. ”When I saw that and I saw the front-left going right for it, I knew I was in a bit of strife.

The next thing I saw was a few planes going past and some clouds and then bang, back to earth, bit of a thud.”

– DANIEL HERRERO

John Morris/Mpix

41

NASCAR SPRINT CUP ROUND 33 – PEP BOYS AUTO 500, ATLANTA, GA

GEORGIA ON MY 42

Ford Racing

Y MIND

The only thing Carl Edwards wants more than a Nationwide title is a Sprint Cup crown. At Atlanta, he put himself in contention for both

43

NASCAR Media

THERE were plenty of reasons why Carl Edwards should not have won the Sprint Cup race in Atlanta on Sunday night.

A rare pitlane penalty set him back a lap and, when he did get back into the lead pack, it took a brave dive past Denny Hamlin’s Toyota to take the lead. But the Ford ace held his nerve and took his seventh win of the season, and third at the Georgia superspeedway.

The funny part was, Edwards did not know where Jimmie Johnson was. He also earned a pitlane penalty, for speeding, and with 13 laps remaining, his crew chief Chad Knaus called his man in for tyres – and not two, four. With eight laps remaining, he was 11th but roared through the traffic to second.

44

But even that was close. As he ranged around Denny Hamlin on the final lap, the Gibbs Toyota got loose and missed taking out the Hendrick Chevy by a few millemetres.

“Man, I feel like I went 12 rounds with Tyson today,” beamed Johnson said after the race. “That was just a great call, a risky call, but it just goes to show that Chad is out there racing. He’s not trying to ride around and get points. He’s out there to earn them.

He called me in for tyres and told me to put my cape on and off we went.”

Edwards’s reaction to the news that he had gained hardly anything to the two-time Champion was predictable; “Are you kidding me? You’ve rained on my parade. I could have done without that one.

That’s unbelievable, he does a great job.”

Hamlin was third ahead of Matt Kenseth, while Kyle Busch fought off his brother Kurt for fifth. David Ragan, Jeff Gordon and Greg Biffle followed.

All the fun of pitlane: Pit strategy played a big role in deciding who won in Atlanta. Both Carl Edwards and Jimmie Johnson earned and then overcame penalties.

The two ran side-by-side later in the race, below, but Edwards prevailed.

Carl Closes on NW Leader NATIONWIDE

NASCAR Media

ON Saturday morning, Clint Bowyer led Carl Edwards by 196 points. But by winning the race, Ford’s star cut that to 116 with three races remaining.

Edwards and Bowyer both missed qualifying due to Sprint Cup practice in Atlanta and lined up 42nd and 41st respectively. But by lap 69 of the 250 lap race, Edwards had taken t he lead from Mike Bliss and never looked back. He held off a heavy late race challenge from David Reutimann (who fought back from two laps down at one point) with an overtime green/white/chequer two-lap dash to the finish line.

“I can’t say enough about David Reutimann,” commented Edwards.

“They told me his guys were trying to talk him into bumping me, he took about a year off my life that last restart.”

Reutimann countered, “I should have moved him, he would have moved me for

sure, but I try not to drive that way.”

Bowyer came home 16th, three laps off the pace after a mid-race spin and a race that had long green flag periods that left only six cars on the lead lap at the end.

Kenny Wallace finished third, his best result since 2005, followed by Austin Dillon, 18-year-old grandson of Richard Childress in just his second series start.

Joey Logano took fifth for Joe Gibbs.

Marcos Ambrose had an eventful day, but soldiered onto a 15th place result after being spun by Bowyer on lap 27 to air caution two. Ambrose dropped a lap then the untimely caution dropped him and most of the field another lap down, only for him to be involved in a late-race fracas with 10 laps to run that saw some major right front damage and a cut tyre to boot.

Points: Bowyer 4667, Edwards 4551, Keselowski 4378, Bliss 4168, Ragan 4155 (Ambrose 10th 3692).

NASCAR | PEP BOYS AUTOS 500, ATLANTA, GA 1 99 2 48 3 11 4 17 5 19 6 2 7 26 8 6 9 24 10 16

Carl Edwards Jimmie Johnson Denny Hamlin Matt Kenseth Kyle Busch Kurt Busch Jamie McMurray David Ragan Jeff Gordon Greg Biffle

Ford Chev Toyota Ford Toyota Dodge Ford Ford Chev Ford

Roush Fenway/Office Depot Hendrick/Lowe’s Gibbs/FedEx Roush Fenway DeWalt Gibbs/M&Ms Halloween Penske/Miller Lite Roush Fenway/Crown Royal Roush Fenway/AAA Hendrick/Nicorette Roush Fenway/Dish Network

Q4 1 10 11 12 19 20 13 7 2

NASCAR Media

THE CHASE FOR THE SPRINT CUP | pointS Johnson 6248, Edwards 6065, Biffle 6063, Burton 6030, Harvick 5941, Gordon 5936, Bowyer 5934, Stewart 5847, Gordon 5798, Kenseth 5835, Earnhardt Jr. 5829, Hamlin 5823, Kyle Busch 5783.

45

GLOBE TROTTER Kart Stars

F3 EUROSERIES ALREADY confirmed as the 2008 Formula 3 Euroseries, Nico Hulkenberg reaffirmed his dominance of the series by taking victory in Race 1 at Hockenheim.

He led home Renger van der Zander and Mika Maki in another dominant display to

record his seventh victory of the year.

“Yesterday’s pole position was just awesome, I am really proud of that lap,” said Hulkenberg.

“In today’s race, it went just as well. We have made up for what should already have been at Le Mans and we have shown here to everybody who is the

champion.”

Jules Bianchi became the final winner of the 2008 season, beating home Koudai Tsukakoshi and Hulkenberg in the weekend’s second race.

Edoardo Mortara finished sixth the clinch second in the championship, while the award for best rookie went to Erik Janis.

Coronel wins as SEAT wraps up the title WTCC TOM Coronel took his first WTCC win in Japan last weekend, holding off a hard-charging Augusto Farfus.

After starting from pole in the reverse grid race Coronel, right, lost positions early but recovered to take the win on a drying track.

Championship leader Yvan Muller finished sixth after struggling for pace all race, while Robert Huff gained some valuable points to keep his hopes alive for third in the

championship.

Earlier in the weekend Rickard Rydell took victory in the first race to hand SEAT Sport the Manufacturers’ Championship.

On a wet track, Rydell chased down Jorg Muller and passed him late in the race to take the victory, while Andy Priaulx fought through to take third place.

The final rounds of the championship will take place at Macau on November 16.

Points: Muller 100, Tarquini 86, Huff 73, Rydell 72, Priaulx 67.

sutton-images.com

46

Hulkenberg too good

sutton-images.com

AUSTRALIAN Superkart stars filled the podium at the Superstars of Superkarts held at Laguna Seca on October 19.

Sam Zavaglia and Mike Wayne finishing in second and third position behind winner, former World Motorcycle Champion Eddie Lawson.

Both drivers campaigned Honda RS250 powered Australian built Stockman MR2s and found their way to the podium ahead of over 30 racers from the Untied States and Europe.

Zavaglia fought out the race with Lawson and only lost the lead in the Corkscrew with a couple of laps to go. However as a consolation Zavaglia did establish a new lap record for Superkarts at the famous Californian venue.

Zavaglia flew back to Australia last week to prepare his Yamaha powered Stockman MR2 for the Australian Superkart Championship finale to be held at the Mallala Motor Sport Park near Adelaide on November 2, while Wayne stayed in the US to celebrate the weekend.

Zavaglia sits in second place in the series, 19 points behind series leader Darren Hossack.

race

Scheider Champion for Audi DTM

sutton-images.com

TIMO Scheider clinched the DTM title in style, with victory in the final race of the year at Hockenheim.

The Audi pilot grabbed the lead form the getgo, having started third on the grid, and built a gap that Paul di Resta could never bridge.

“This is the most beautiful day of my life in motorsport,” said Scheider.

“The final lap was full of emotions, a feeling one can hardly describe.

Di Resta’s second place finish handed him second overall in the championship, but he was never quite close enough to pressure Scheider.

“Of course, first of all, I want to congratulate Timo,” di Resta said.

“We have made a strong comeback during the season, but unfortunately, we just weren’t strong enough. But I am happy with second place as well.”

In his final DTM race Bernd Schneider finished in sixth place to cap a sensational career.

Points: Scheider 75, di Resta 71, Ekstrom 56,Green 52, Spengler 38.

Yould grabs WA FFord title WA STATE THE first of Western Australia’s state championships were wrapped up yesterday at Barbagallo Raceway, with Jason Youd clinching the Formula Ford title.

Youd and Chris Reindler went into the final round in a heated battle for the title,

but while Youd was ultra consistent, winning all three races, Reindler was out of sorts, spinning in all three races.

As the winner of this year’s championship, Youd became the first recipient of a new award – the ‘Tim and Barney Award.’ The perpetual trophy has been introduced to honour the lives of late Formula Ford

identities Tim Wheeler and Roger ‘Barney’ Lupton.

Most of the other categories had 30-minute races, making up the ‘Wanneroo 300’ endurance meeting. Winners of the longer races included Rod Jenzen in HQ Holdens, and Clint Harvey in both the EA/VN and AU/VT classes of Saloon Cars.

Ashley Barnett was sublime in Street Cars, beating a competitive field to three race wins, while Michael Henderson did likewise in the Historic Racing Cars class.

The WA season will close on November 15 with the Smarter Than Smoking Night Masters Grand Finale.

– ANDREW VAN LEEUWEN

47

48

rear of grid

Odd Spot

sutton-images.com

WE could not quite resist running this image from the final round of the DTM in Germany at the weekend.

No, we are not making comparisons between Hockenheim and Surfers Paradise.

One is cold and sparse, the other hot and claustrophobic. One features babes in bikinis, the other bratwursts and beer.

But the GC weekend is often pockmarked with all kinds of officials tuttutting racing drivers about the evils of putting tyres over kerbs, lest they widen

the racetrack and, you know, go faster.

We would think that Timo Scheider would know a thing or three about piloting a DTM weapon, since he went and won the 2008 title and all, on the weekend in a showdown with Paul Di Resta’s Benz on the ‘Ring.

We could not help but notice that Scheider appears to take a very, very wide line in Turn 1, so much so that his A4 is about 1.5 car-lengths from the exit kerb, the spot where the officials would, no

doubt, prefer him to drive.

But that is not what prompted us to run the image. Far to Timo’s left, and about 5m from the exit kerb, is the racing line, as defined by all those tyre marks left around the parabolic curve of the actual line.

Of course, with the DTM title on the line, perhaps that is why Scheider was being conservative and staying inside the exclusion zone. Just imagine if he got pinged and Mercedes-Benz took the title on a technicality …

More teeth than The Osmonds

CELEBRITIES were thick on the ground on the Gold Coast – and some were thicker than others.

Somehow, the media almost missed out on catching Randy Corners, who took time out of his busy holiday schedule to do what he does best. Which is, by all accounts, race.

The American dirt track legend kept it off the cement wall to win Sunday’s inaugural Sugarbowl Invitational race at Sugarbowl Speedway. Corners overcame vehicle performance deficiencies – possibly parity-related – to claim the win over a field of locals including Russell Ingall, Steve Owen and Ryan McLeod.

Corners was not surprised to take the chequered flag; “I knew I was going to win, it

was always beyond doubt,” said America’s racing pretty-boy in a geographically-hazy accent.

“I mean, what other driver is capable of racing around a speedway in a white driving suit without getting dirty? ‘None’ I say.”

Corners, who enjoys a large following in Sydney’s Oxford Street precinct, will enjoy the traditional winner’s trophy – made of actual sugar cane – at least until the USA’s Department of Homeland Security pounces when he returns to his home town in Kavitee County, Louisiana.

American Choppers: Our snout snapped Randy Corners celebrating another win after taking out the Sugarbowl on Sunday.

49