Motorsport eNews Issue 81 - 18-24 November 2008

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Issue No. 081 18 – 24 November 2008

Renaissance

V8 Legend to shut down team in new ‘super-team’ alliance

Dude, Where’s my v8 ride?

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. 081 | 18 – 24 Nov 2008

news 4 Happy as Larry

6 Webb for PM? 10 Bright’s new spark 13 Winged Wonder 21 Northern Stars 22 The Price is Right

chat 24 5 minutes with ... opinion 26 Letters

Perkins/Kelly team up Not Prime Minister ...

SBR engines for Britek Williams roll out 09 aero Qld gets Pirelli chance Arrow boys team up Neal Bates

27 van Leeuwen

Is A1/GC good, or bad?

Race Sunday, sell Monday

32 Three in a row, baby 38 Japanese Surprise 40 Flipper Wins!

Eli, Eli, oh, bad joke Johnson wins The Cup Shock F3 Macau win Roll over, win anyway

race 28 Coffs and splutter trade 46 Classifieds

This photo was 13 years in the making.

Congratulations, Neal and Coral.

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.

Joel Strickland

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

Perkins to step back Perkins Engineering alliance with Kelly Racing signals the end for LP’s race team V8 SUPERCARS LARRY Perkins is to step back from day-to-day control of a V8 Supercar race team for the first time since 1986, instead playing an engineering supply role in a newly-formed alliance with Kelly Racing, which will field four – or even five – cars in 2009.

Perkins Engineering will remain as a builder and supplier of V8 cars and parts, primarily supplying the Kelly team, which is to be based in an all-new Dandenong factory

(see other story), where fit-out work has already begun.

Jack Daniel’s, which has backed Perkins’ team for the past two years, will appear on the flanks of Todd Kelly’s Kelly Racing Commodore.

While not wishing to formally confirm details of the change, Perkins did allow that the story was “pretty accurate” when eNews spoke with him today.

“These are changing times,” he told us, “and yes, we have been working with Todd and the Kellys for some time on a structure which will

allow them to form a racing operation which can go forward strongly, for the next 10 years.

“There are still some things to be finalised, but I’d hope there would be a formal announcement as early as later this week.

“It’s a very positive move.

At a time when some teams are feeling the effects of the economic downturn, the resulting entity will be hiring, not laying off, staff.” eNews understands that Perkins intends to retain

ownership of the two V8 licences he currently holds but that, operationally, everything will be run by the all-new Kelly Racing team.

At this stage, there are no confirmed drivers for cars other than those of the two Kellys, but eNews confidently expects Jack Perkins and Autobarnbacked Paul Dumbrell to be part of the equation, when the team and its structure are formally revealed. Further, the team’s new facility will reportedly allow a fifth car to be based there.

news

House of Kelly V8 SUPERCARS

Dirk Klynsmith

Change follows 22 years of team ownership V8 SUPERCARS LARRY Perkins formed his own team, and engineering business, in 1986 after leaving Peter Brock’s HDT race team, having engineered and codriven to three Bathurst wins with Brock.

With long-term backing from Castrol,

THE Kelly Racing team has secured a workshop in Braeside, Victoria.

At approx 1000 square metres of workshop space, the Kelly Racing facility will house its cars, boardrooms, office space and a large merchandise showroom, where fans of the Kelly brothers will be able to purchase anything and everything Kelly-related.

“There’s a fair bit of stuff to go in there,” Todd, below, told eNews.

“As far as the offices and the layout goes, we couldn’t ask for a better place.

“I could see that you could fit, if you had to, eight cars in there. There’s plenty of room – about 1000 square metres of workshop. On top of that, there’s about a quarter of that in mezzanine, and 850 square metres of boardrooms and office rooms. There’ll also be a big area behind reception that will be a full-blown merchandise shop.

“It’s a culmination of all the stuff we’ve learnt in Australia, plus what we’re learnt from NASCAR team layouts. Anyone will be able to walk in off the street at any time to buy a hat or a shirt.”

The team will begin fitting out the shop immediately before officially moving in at the conclusion of this year’s V8 Supercar season.

– GRANT ROWLEY

Perkins owned and raced his own cars into the modern V8 Supercar era, racking up three more Bathurst wins, partnered with the late Greg Hansford and Russell Ingall (twice), before retiring from full-time driving in 2004.

The past three years, with Jack Daniels backing, has seen the team slip back a little as it blooded new, young drivers.

Dirk Klynsmith

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Webb maintains confidence ...

Fujitsu Series race winner is in the running for a Main Series drive – with PMM?

Caught in a Webb: Jono Webb, right, is close to a deal for 2009.

... And Thompson is close Is Andrew Thommo a Rising Star in 2009?

V8 SUPERCARS

Dirk Klynsmith

ANDREW Thompson is close to securing a drive for the 2009 V8 Supercar Series – and the leading contender for his signature is Ford Rising Stars Racing. eNews expects that the current PWR Racing driver will head to the factory-aligned team in 2009, replacing Michael Patrizi.

Thompson would not discuss his future driving plans, only saying: “There are things happening, but they’ll be nothing confirmed for this weekend.”

Thompson has a strong past with the blue oval manufacturer, winning the Ford Rising Stars Karting championship in 2004.

In 2005, he raced in the national Formula Ford title, before stepping up to the Fujitsu

V8 Series with Dick Johnson Racing, winning the final two rounds of the year at Bathurst and Phillip Island.

Last year, Thompson raced in the Fujitsu V8 Series with Howard Racing and made the final step up to the Main Series with outgoing PWR Racing this year.

While a final decision on his plans is still at least a week away, Thompson admits that 2009 is likely to be a “make or break” year for him.

“2009 is definitely a critical year for me,” he said.

“It is pretty close to a make or break year. It’s a year where I have to go and show what I can do and what I’m capable of. That might not be podiums, but I want to be in the top 10 consistently.”

– GRANT ROWLEY

Dirk Klynsmith

FUJITSU series contender Jonathon Webb is still hopeful of a V8 Main Game drive in 2009.

The Queenslander is currently talking to teams with a possible seat available – including, intriguingly, Paul Morris Motorsport.

While nothing is close to locked in, talk of the PMM discussions has intensified speculation that Morris himself may be considering stepping back from full-time V8 Supercar driving.

Morris himself dismissed the rumours when eNews contacted him on Monday.

There remains the option of acquisition of an additional licence to run a third car, but all of a sudden, those are relatively thin on the ground ...

– GRANT ROWLEY

James Smith

V8 SUPERCARS

BRIEFLY...

n Team Vodafone driver Craig Lowndes will appear on Channel 7's Out of the Question quiz show next Monday night, November 24. The Glenn Robbins-hosted show airs from 10:30pm-11:00pm. n Toyota Genuine Parts has extended its sponsorship deal with Australian speedway ace Brooke Tatnell. This means that newly-crowned Australian Rally Champion Neal Bates might get a chance to level the score between he and Tatnell after the Sprintcar beat his Group N Corolla in a promotional shoot-out at Parramatta City Raceway back in February … n IndyCar driver Mario Dominguez was involved in a traffic accident and subsequent fisticuffs last week in his home town of Mexico City. Dominguez was forced to defend himself after inadvertently hitting a taxi, and finding himself being attacked by another taxi driver who stopped at the scene. n Dreamworld has announced a partnership with V8 Supercars to launch the first ‘full-motion’ virtual V8 experience on December 17.

Racing fans and gaming enthusiasts will have access to all the behind-the-scenes details of the attraction launch – via a Dreamworld blog – http://v8supercars. dreamworld.com.au.

sutton-images.com

GLENFORDS Tool Centres has confirmed the news, revealed in eNews last week, that it is to withdraw from motorsport sponsorship at the end of the year. After a start in Carrera Cup, the company supported a three-year programme with Paul Cruickshank’s V8 Supercar team, which assisted in the team’s move from the Fujitsu series to the main game.

IndyCar out, A1GP in for Surfers A1GP AN inability to agree on an event date, plus a likely $3m increase in required dollars from the Queensland State Government has scuppered hopes of retaining IndyCars on the October Surfers race bill.

Instead, as first suggested in eNews some weeks back, a

deal has rapidly been agreed with A1GP for the ‘Motorsport Olympics’ to provide the open-wheeler content for the Surfers event for the next five years.

Neither the Queensland government, nor V8 Supercars, were prepared to move the event from its late October date to accommodate the increasingly expensive US

category – seeking to raise the financial ask from $11m to $14m.

And so, after 18 years of Champ Car (and this year IndyCar) presence, the last 11 on the late-October date, US open-wheeler racing is walking away from the event which has provided a raceday crowd second only to the legendary Indy 500 itself ...

A1 Team Oz supports diabetes A1GP

A1 Team Australia has announced a promotional partnership with Diabetes Australia.

Having met a number of people in motorsport dealing with the disease, Team Australia seat-holder Alan Jones became aware of the need to find the undiagnosed, to help prevention of the disease: “240 million people globally have Type 1 or 2 diabetes; 350 kids in Australia under the age of 15 have Type 2 – that’s not good,” said AJ at the announcement in Sydney earlier today (Monday).

The Team Australia car will carry Diabetes Australia awareness promotional signage throughout the A1GP season.

Matt O’Brien, CEO of Diabetes Australia, and Team Australia seatholder Alan Jones announce their promotional partnership.

news Dirk Klynsmith

Gaunt Debut V8 SUPERCARS Dirk Klynsmith

TWENTY-three year old Daniel Gaunt will make his V8 Supercar debut in Tasmania this weekend.

The two-time Lady Wigram Trophy winner will pilot the Team Kiwi Racing All Black Ford in the penultimate round of the championship at Symmons Plains, near Launceston.

“This opportunity is a dream come true for me,” Gaunt said.

“I know that may sound like a cliché but I know so many drivers would give anything to drive in the V8 Series.”

Gaunt has won the New Zealand Toyota Racing Series twice, the New Zealand Grand Prix and the 2003 Australian Drivers Championship in Formula Holden.

Fort Roland V8 SUPERCARS

TEAMVODAFONE is on the move.

The team is close to completing a new state-ofthe-art workshop in Banyo, just north of Brisbane, meaning an end to the time at its traditional Bowen Hills facility.

The opening of the new workshop will be celebrated with an open day for fans on December 13.

“The new building is the

result of months of planning and construction and it takes into account all the particular needs of each department within the race team," said team principal Roland Dane.

"Our loyal fans will get their first look at our headquarters in December when we throw open the doors for everyone to see where the real preparation for race day occurs.”

The address is 40 Depot St Banyo, and all merchandise will be discounted, so bring your Christmas stocking …

Bright’s early SBR present Jason Bright to use Stone Brothers engine at Symmons Plains this weekend V8 SUPERCARS

John Morris/Mpix

JASON Bright’s technical relationship with Stone Brothers Racing will start early – at Symmons Plains, this weekend.

Bright, who will move into a partnership with SBR next year, will use an SBR-built engine in the #25 Fujitsu Racing Ford Falcon BF at the Tasmanian circuit this weekend, as well as the final round of the series at Oran Park.

And, at a circuit where horsepower is paramount, Bright is looking forward to getting his first taste of Stone

Brother’s grunt.

“Last year, we struggled there a little bit for different reasons and at that stage of the year,” he said.

“We were just weren’t strong at that point of the year – Symmons, Indy, Bahrain. We really struggled.

“I think we’ll be a lot stronger in all departments in Tassie this time.

“The installation of the Stone’s engine shouldn’t be too big a drama. We ran a BJR engine at Winton. We’ve got all the parts from that installation – it will be only slightly different to that. We’ve had other

engines in our cars, so we’ve got some experience adapting different engines into our cars at Britek!”

Only Bright’s car will have

an SBR engine. His team-mate Marcus Marshall’s Irwin Tools Falcon will keep the Britekprepared donk.

– GRANT ROWLEY

Bowe: “I struggled with depression” V8 SUPERCARS

10

Dirk Klynsmith

JOHN Bowe has confirmed that up-coming retirement from V8 racing saw him experience the lows of clinical depression.

“When you’ve been absorbed totally in something for 24 years, to see the end coming isn’t easy,” JB told us on Monday.

“Looking back, I first had the symptoms three years out – and I raced that last year clearly feeling the effects of depression.

“I sought professional help – and I’m sure I’m not the only one for whom that’s been the case.

“It’s something that has been an integral part of your life and when you are faced with the fact that it’s coming to an end … but things are okay now.

“One of the great things, apart from the work I now do with Dunlop, and Westrac – who back my car in the Biante Historic series – is the fact that, this year I’ve driven seven different race cars, including an F3000! It does allow you to get out and get among racing people, which is something that I really thrive on.”

JB will line up this weekend at the Symmons Plains round of the Biante series.

news

Independent Stones

Dirk Klynsmith

SBR to maintain a stake in the Fujitsu V8 Series with Independent Race Cars FUJITSU V8s STONE Brothers Racing is likely to keep its presence in the Fujitsu V8 Supercar Series, despite not entering a car itself.

Marty Brant’s Independent Race Car team is set to field at least two ex-SBR Falcon BFs in next year’s FV8 Series, receiving engine and engineering support.

At this stage, it has not been confirmed which drivers are in the frame to steer the cars that will be handed down from SBR’s Yatala, Queensland-base to IRC’s Dandenong workshop.

While the deal hasn’t been

completely signed off yet, Brant told eNews that it is waiting for a few more boxes to be ticked.

“We are taking over Stone Brothers Racing’s Development Series business – that is the plan,” Brant said.

“We were close a while ago to getting the deal across the line but with the economic downturn, people just tightened the budgets a bit. We were close to having people signed, but they just need a bit more time to sort out where they’re going in business.

“Ross and I are trying to make it happen and it’s close.”

Part of the deal will see a Stone Brothers Racing engineer

support the team at the track during every round of the Fujitsu Series.

Dean ‘Curl’ Orr has also been employed at Independent Race Cars, and will be a vital addition, considering his wealth of experience with Ford Falcons.

Orr was the team manager of Dick Johnson Racing for a number of years.

“I’ve always been working with Holdens,” Brant said.

“When I was at Gibsons, I was only there for a month of 2001 when they switched from Holdens to Ford. I left at that time, so I’ve only ever worked on Holdens, but with ‘Curl’ he has good grounding with Fords

so I think we’ll be fine.”

Results-wise, Brant says that the driver will depend on where the SBR cars end up in the pack.

“We’ll obviously always be giving it our best shot, but we just don’t know who’ll be driving yet,” he said.

“As we’ve seen with Steve Owen and Dean Canto, the experienced guys always lead the championship. The drivers are a major part of it, it doesn’t matter what they are driving.”

Brant’s has entered two cars in this year’s Fujitsu Series (Michael Trimble and Jack Perkins), although Perkins recently left the operation.

– GRANT ROWLEY

11

Denis drafted In the Mika time into Stobart WORLD RALLYING STOBART driver Francois Duval will compete at the upcoming Wales Rally GB, and he will be taking Denis Giraudet along for the ride.

The veteran co-driver, pictured, will replace Duval’s usual navigator Patrick Pivato, who was seriously injured when the pair crashed out of the recent WRC round in Japan. Giraudet, a personal friend of Pivato’s, was one of the first on the crash scene in Japan, and was instrumental in the recovery.

“This is a great gesture by Denis and I believe that François couldn’t have a better person sitting next to him for GB considering what they both went through in Japan,” said M-Sport boss Malcolm Wilson.

“Denis will also bring a wealth of experience with him and his presence will give François more confidence than anyone else. I’m also looking forward to him building on his last performance from Rally GB in 2006, which really impressed me.”

MIKA Hakkinen is the latest former Grand Prix driver to jump the divide to driver management.

The two-time World Champion has joined his own manager Didier Coton at Aces Associate Group, where he will be responsible for discovering new driving talent.

Is the sun setting on FORMULA 1

sutton-images.com

12

THE future of the Chinese Grand Prix is in doubt, with race officials weighing up whether or not to extend their Formula 1 contract beyond 2010.

With increasing speculation that title sponsor Sinopec is unlikely to re-sign, and ticket sales not as forthcoming as expected, the organisers are reportedly seriously considering not going on with the event.

“We’re doing the assessment,” Qiu Weichang, deputy director of the Shanghai Administration of Sports, admitted to AFP. “By next year we should be able to give you an answer.

“We want to create a win-win situation, for our side and for Bernie (Ecclestone) and the F1 organisers as well. If this is something we can do, and our cooperation is very happy and smooth, we will consider it.”

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Williams shake a wing feather Frank’s boys become the first team to shakedown clipped ‘09 wing package FORMULA 1

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WILLIAMS has won the race to shakedown 2009specification aerodynamics, becoming the first team to do so at Kemble Airfield recently.

The team fitted an interim FW30 with front and rear wings complying with 2009 regulations, giving F3 star Jonathon Kennard his first taste of F1 power in the process. The new wings are lower and wider at the front, and taller and narrower at the rear. They have been designed to reduce overall downforce levels.

The team will test the new wings properly when testing resumes at Barcelona this week.

“It’s been a good day today and it’s great to be able to drive the new-spec Formula 1 car for the first time,” said Kennard.

“I would like to thank Frank [Williams] and the team for the opportunity. I enjoyed working through the test program and assisting the team with their preparations

China?

for the 2009 season.”

But Williams won’t be the only team testing something new at Barcelona. Renault will have a new driver on board, Dutchman Giedo van der Garde taking the wheel as a prize for winning the 2008 World Series by Renault.

The now-GP2 Asia driver will spend today (Monday) and tomorrow at Barcelona, a circuit he has raced on before.

“It’s a real positive to be driving on a circuit where I’ve driven quite a lot in the past. But in a Formula 1 car, everything will be different. It’s

another world!

“The most important thing for me will be to learn as much as I can. I’m going to do all I can to meet the team’s expectations and follow the programme that the ING Renault F1 Team sets out for me. I can’t wait!”

sutton-images.com

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NASCAR Media

Chip and Dale Merge …

Two of NASCAR’s iconic names have linked together in light of tough economic times NASCAR IT has been a wild week in NASCAR circles as the downturn in the US and world economies hit the sport for the first time since the 1970s oil crisis.

It started last Tuesday with Dale Earnhardt Inc laying off more than 100 employees.

That was followed by the announcement the next day of a merger to form a new team named Earnhardt Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates.

The merger will see layoffs at Ganassi in addition to the 70-plus earlier this season.

The remaining DEI employees will join the remaining Ganassi employees at the Ganassi facility.

Ganassi team manager Steve Hmiel and former team manager at DEI is the man responsible for hand-picking DEI staff for the merger.

Ganassi will switch to Chevrolet and build engines in its own engine facility however, the Daytona restrictor plate engines will be supplied by Earnhardt

Childress Racing Engines.

The DEI-RCR engine partnership that formed ECR around 18 months ago has an unknown future at this point as RCR will build all its engines-both Nationwide and Cup in-house in 2009. This year’s Nationwide engines had been built at one of the three DEI facilities.

The team is expecting to field four cars for Juan Pablo Montoya, Martin Truex Jr., Aric Almirola and one additional car for an unnamed driver.

– MARTIN D CLARK

... as Black Monday looms NASCAR

14

effort next season.

It now seems likely that the team will field one parttime team unless sponsorship comes fourth as all the current sponsors move to fund Marcos Ambrose’s Cup program with Michael Waltrip Racing partnership.

Many other smaller teams

are also facing closure within NASCAR and other series such as ARCA and USAR, the latter lost long time sponsor Hooters recently and what many consider to be the countries premier asphalt short track racing series may unfortunately die a death.

– MARTIN D CLARK

NASCAR Media

SPRINT Cup team members in Homestead were referring to today (Monday 17) as black Monday, with many employees expecting to lose their jobs as teams trim overhead via payroll.

Cup team Hall of Fame Racing failed to qualify for the Homestead-Miami race and look likely to shut the team in the coming weeks after a possible merger with the Wood Bros failed to come

together recently.

Bill Davis Racing laid off the majority of its Cup team and shut its engine shop on Tuesday. Unless sponsorship can be found over the winter months, the team will be mothballed for 2009.

Roush Fenway Racing’s Truck and Nationwide teams laid off 17 employees on Monday and JTG Daugherty Racing laid off around a dozen Nationwide team members as they search for backers for what they had hoped would be a two-car

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Castroneves to lose Penske seat?

INDYCAR

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HELIO Castroneves, the two-time Indy 500 winner and 2008 title runner-up in the IndyCar Series, is between a rock and hard place.

The Team Penske driver is scheduled to be tried for tax evasion on March 2. If found guilty, the 33 year-old driver could face up to 35 years in federal prison.

Castroneves' lawyers filed a motion to postpone the trial date for eight months, until after the IndyCar season, to be held next November. The initial trial date was set for July 2009 until one of Castroneves' attorneys requested a March date.

Now the judge has denied the postponement request.

"This court tried to accommodate all

attorneys in the case by having them consult their work calendars, personal calendars, etc," explained the judge in a written motion.

"At the request of defendant Castroneves attorneys, the trial was scheduled to commence on March 2, 2009. Since the date was agreed by all counsel, it will not be altered."

The uncertainty of whether the Brazilian driver could compete may force Team Penske to sign another driver for the first IndyCar race on April 5 in St. Petersburg, Florida.

Alternatively the team may decide to hire another driver to avoid any negative publicity that could embarrass sponsors or the Penske Corporation.

– MARY MENDEZ

NASCAR testing bans NASCAR NASCAR announced last Friday (14th) that they will suspend all 2009 testing at NASCAR sanctioned tracks in an effort to help Sprint Cup, Nationwide and Truck Series teams manage costs.

Teams will be able to test at other short tracks around the country, however the only track remotely similar to any

tracks they currently race on is Rockingham Raceway Park, North Carolina.

But even it has suspended testing for its three national and two regional racing series for the 2009 season.

Andy Hillenburg who purchased the track earlier this year has also built a replica of Martinsville Speedway outside the one-mile track for teams to use for testing.

Lakeland Speedway in Florida was a popular track for teams to test at but it closed suddenly in the fall and has been raised.

With the ban comes the possibility of more job losses at teams as many of the larger Cup operations currently enjoy stand-alone test team personnel.

At Miami, Bobby Labonte summed it up best.

“This is an unprecedented time in NASCAR,” said the 2000 Cup champion.

“It makes sense that NASCAR had to do something different to try and help the teams.

“They can’t control the cost of the teams and what they spend, but I hope NASCAR can help control a major chunk until the storm is over. Hopefully this rule will accomplish that.”

– MARTIN D CLARK

NASCAR Media

15

Why are we running a photo of a golfer?

MINI CHALLENGE AFL STAR Jason Akermanis and eighttime PGA event winner Stuart Appleby will make their circuit racing debuts in the MINI Challenge at Symmons Plains Raceway next weekend.

Akermanis and Appleby will run the two UBER-Star cars for the event.

“I’m excited about the opportunity, for sure,” Akermanis said.

“In many respects, lining up on the grid is totally different to being on the MCG in front of 90,000 screaming fans, but there are similarities between racing and AFL, too.

“It will be a big mental test racing in MINI Challenge.”

“Obviously, I want to perform well and put a show on for the crowd, but also

use it as a learning experience for a potential future in motorsport.”

Appleby on the other hand has had some racing experience, competing in Targa Tasmania the last few years.

“I have fond memories of competing in Tasmania through the Targa event, so to return with MINI Challenge is going to be an absolute thrill,” Appleby enthused.

Also joining the MINI Challenge field for the event will be V8 Supercar driver, and team owner, Paul Morris.

Morris will drive the car left vacant by Australian Sprintcar Champion, Todd Wanless, who has dirt track duties on the same weekend.

Morris will have a busy weekend in Tasmania, competing in the Aussie Racing Cars and the V8 Supercars as well as the MINI Challenge.

Drewer stepping up AUSSIES OVERSEAS

16

“The series is adding a few ovals next year so it makes it a good option alignining itself a little bit more with Indy.”

Comprent Motorsport Team Owner Kevin Kloepfer was impressed with Drewer’s test in the team’s Elan DP-02 Lites 1 car.

“I have watched Tom all year. He had an unbelievable rookie season, especially as he was turning up to virtually every circuit without ever even seeing them before the race weekend,” said Kloepfer.

“From his performances this year and today I am convinced we can repeat our Championship winning performance next year with Tom at the wheel.”

– PHILLIP MAHONEY

Dirk Klynsmith

SOUTH Australian Tom Drewer looks likely to drive in IMSA Lites 1 Championship next year after a successful test with championship winning team Comprent Motorsport at the Road Atlanta circuit.

Drewer dominated the L2 category this year driving the West, winning 10 of the 12, and qualifying on pole every round.

“I have not decided my path for next year, but I think progressing to Lites L1 is certainly a possibility,” said Drewer.

“It would be a logical step and I have certainly enjoyed racing in the IMSA Lites Series this year. It’s a very

competitive series and being associated with the American Le Mans Series it provides a great stepping-stone to Le Mans prototypes.

“I’m pretty excited about the élan at the moment. It’s potentially a new challenge.

“We won the L2 championship and the L1 championsip is a little bit stronger in terms of competition so it’s an obvious next step and a definite possibility.

Drewer has also been in constant discussion with Rahal-Letterman Racing about the possibility of testing and potentially racing a Star Mazda series car next year.

“Star Mazda is a great series and is also an option,” Drewer said.

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Jones eyes Speedcar start AUSSIE OVERSEAS

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CHRISTIAN Jones has moved into contention to secure a Speedcar Series seat for the new season.

Jones, the son of 1980 Formula 1 champion Alan, tested one of the cars in Dubai last week, sharing the two days with former Champ Car star Paul Tracy, pictured.

Jones said he was a “50/50” chance of locking in a drive for the season, which starts on the first week of December.

“I haven’t raced Speedcar before. I tested last season but I couldn’t get a deal together with them, but I’m hoping to sort something for this year,” he said.

“The test was pretty good. I was a little quicker than Paul on the first day and he was a little quicker than me on the second.

He was a good fun guy to hang around with and share ideas with. We mucked around with the set-up and it was good fun.

“Hopefully I’ll know what’s happening this next week, I’d like to iron out a deal with them. It’s looking 50/50 at this stage.

Everything went very well at the test, so

they are trying to fit me in. They’ve got some big names that they want to sign up, and hopefully I can get a gig there as well.”

– GRANT ROWLEY

Quinn heading back to Porsche GT3 CUP CHALLENGE TONY Quinn will join the GT3 Cup Challenge ranks in 2008.

The popular Queensland businessman is set to drive his existing 996 GT3 Cup car in the six round national series.

Joining Quinn as newcomers to the GT3 Cup ranks is V8 Utes driver Matt Kingsley, Victorian driver Michael Lentini (996 GT3 Cup), Western Australia’s George Bradbury and former Saloon Car racer Shane Smollen.

South Australian Simon Gardiner has also committed to run at least four rounds next year after making his debut at Phillip Island this year.

GT3 Cup Challenge Category Administrator Jodi Zylstra is pleased about the early interest in the new category.

“We are very pleased to welcome the newcomers to the series and also confirm the return of a host of strong drivers from the 2008 season,” she said.

“It is a great shot in the arm for the category to have someone like Tony Quinn join us, and to also have drivers like Matt Kingsley and Shane Smollen commit so early to the new season.”

While there will be some new blood next year, the 2008 regulars Terry Knight, Brad Rankin, Ray Angus, Graham Gorman, Ryan Flynn and inaugural series winner Sven Burchartz have already lodged their full-season entry applications with the GT3 Cup Challenge series organisers.

The first round of the series will be held as a support race to the WPS Bathurst 12 Hour at Bathurst in February.

17

Four second-runs down Caville Avenue? Probably not, but ANDRA cars to lineup at the Gold Coast DRAG RACING

PLANS are underway for a major drag racing display on the Gold Coast in mid January.

The event, sponsored by Shannons Insurance, is set to have a number of vehicles from leading teams including Nitro Bikes, Funny Cars and

Top Fuel dragsters.

Details are still to be confirmed but an ANDRA spokesperson said that it is likely to be held inside the main Surfers Paradise precinct and will be one of the biggest drag racing promotion ever held on the Gold Coast.

Activities won’t be limited to displays, with team

competitions and multiple firing of nitro engines on the agenda.

Shannons will support a number of ANDRA Championship ‘Roadshows’ during 2009 with a top fuel dragster event at the Summernats Car Festival in Canberra on January 4 also locked in.

Race pass discounts and prize DRAG RACING

18

John Bosher

FROM Frday November 21 until December 4, all Auto One stores in Western Australia will be providing Silver Two Day Passes for the only Perth Motorplex appearance of the Top Fuelers, the National Open, at a genuine 30 percent discount.

Thanks to deal put together between Motorplex Management and Auto One’s WA arm, drag racing fans across the western state can pop into their local Auto One store and save $21 on the two-day Silver Pass for the December 5 and 6 event that features the 7500 horsepower, nitro burning top fuel dragsters.

“Not only are all Auto One stores on Western Australia offering the exclusive 30 percent discount on the Silver Passes but we are also running an in-store promotion where any person that makes a

purchase from now until the National Open can go into the draw to become an honorary crew member to current Australian Top Fuel Champ, Phil Read,” said Auto One General Manager Peter Henry.

Ken Ferguson

Dragsters on The Coast

news

DENSHAM PREPARES FOR OZ Gary Densham turns his attention to International Nightfire New Year Series DRAG RACING WITH the NHRA season now over for US Nitro Funny Car star Gary Densham, attentions are turned to the logistical effort required to get car and team to Australia for January’s ENZED International Nightfire New Year Series rounds at Willowbank Raceway Densham jets into Australia next month, bringing with him his Chevrolet Funny Car, pictured above and right, and a full contingent of people and parts which will see him compete against local Nitro Funny Cars on January 2/3 and January 16/17 in a USA vs Australia battle – an experience he is very much looking forward to and one that started some 35 years ago.

“In 1974, I was invited to come over to Australia and race, and I didn’t know much about the place and whether you had kangaroos delivering the mail or what, but it sounded like a great idea so I

came across,” chuckled Densham.

“At that point I had had a Nitro Funny Car for a few years and on that same trip was John Force, who I had to help out a bit because back then he was new to his Funny Car. “We were lucky enough to go very, very well at that time and were invited back a further nine times during the 70s, 80s and 90s, and I am really proud of what we have done in Australia – hopefully we were able to help a lot of racers.

“In those days we (the NHRA) were 10 years ahead in the sport than the racers in Australia were at the time, although now with the world a much smaller place it’s more like 10 days if we are lucky!

“It is just so much easier to interchange information these days, which is why I think the two meetings at Willowbank are going to be so good because it’s not like we have the advantages we used to – this whole US vs Australia battle is going to be close.”

19

Honda not giving up on ARC in ‘09 AUSTRALIAN RALLYING HONDA Australia is still considering an involvement in the Australian Rally Championship next season, despite the economic downturn slowing the manufacturer’s plans.

Having done two rounds of the ARC this year, Honda originally declared that in 2009 it would back an effort for the whole season. But the looming recession seemingly put paid to those plans.

However, following Guy Wilks’ giantkilling second place at Coffs Harbour last weekend, Honda Australia’s Managing Director Yasuhide Mizuno has admitted that all bets aren’t quite off.

“I already declared, and told

journalists, that yes, we wish to compete in 2009,” Mizuno told eNews.

“I don’t want to say, ‘give up!’ We will try to find another way to continue, even at a smaller level, to compete in the Australian Rally Championship.

“This is in Honda’s DNA. So even if our budget and the economic squeeze is causing a lot of problems for us, we will try and challenge for some rallies next year.”

Wilks and co-driver Phil Pugh took the front-wheel-drive Group R-spec Civic Type R to second place in the first heat at Coffs Harbour, beating a full field of four-wheel-drive cars fitting the Group N and Super 2000 classes.

– ANDREW VAN LEEUWEN

Rallying for old time’s sake Coote/Stewart together again AUSTRALIAN RALLYING

Safari ‘back on track’ AUSTRALASIAN SAFARI THE Australasian Safari is set for a bigger international contingent next year, according to event director Justin Hunt.

The re-born event has now been run twice in Western Australia, and the recent second running has pricked up some overseas ears.

“The thing that has really blown me

20

away is that after an ordinary event in 2007, and a very successful event in 2008, our international reputation went from being very bad to very good very quickly,” Hunt told eNews.

“The event is back on track. We are now fielding interest from Dubai, Europe, Japan and New Zealand.”

Early bird expressions of interest for the 2010 Safari open this week.

– ANDREW VAN LEEUWEN

FORMER Australian Rally Champions Murray Coote and Iain Stewart, pictured right, are getting the band back together.

The pair was recently reunited with the same Datsun 1200 that they used to rally in the ARC in the early-to-mid 1980s, and are gearing up to compete at the upcoming Goodyear Autocare Rally Gallangowan.

“It’s an exciting little motor car,” Stewart told eNews.

“It’s a past winner of the event, so even though it won’t stand a chance against the four-wheel-drives, it will be great fun. And Murray is still a lovely driver to be sitting next to.

“I’m really looking forward to it. At the end of the day it has Coote/Stewart on the side window, so for us, it is a great piece of history.”

Coote and Stewart won the ARC back in 1988, having upgraded from the Datsun to a four-wheeldrive Mazda 323. Stewart won the ARC a second time in 1990 with Ed Ordynski.

The Gallangowan event kicks off on December 5.

– ANDREW VAN LEEUWEN

news

Rally QLD to get Pirelli incentive AUSTRALIAN RALLYING

Joel Strickland

YOUNG Australian rally drivers will have a huge boost in 2009, with Rally Queensland set to be a qualifying round for the Pirelli Star Driver Shoot-Out. While the Rally of Indonesia will be the actual qualifying round for the Asia-Pacific region, the Queensland event (which will be an ARC/APRC joint round) is likely to be the nominated event for extra funding. That means a good result in Queensland will reap a financial incentive to head to Indonesia, and a good result in Indonesia means six fully-funded rounds of the World Rally Championship in 2010.

This Pirelli program started this year, with the Rally of Whangarei the first qualifying round, and Rally Malaysia the actual shootout for the WRC starts.

With an Australian Rally Championship round as part of the program, young Aussie drivers that wouldn’t normally have the opportunity to travel overseas will now be able to realistically try for a place on the world stage.

“It certainly makes it easier money-wise,

because we’ll be doing the [Queensland] rally anyway,” said 23-year-old privateer Glen Raymond.

“We’re a proper privateer team and we have a tight budget, so we can’t afford to go rallying overseas. But if this happens then we actually have a chance to hit the big league. It opens up a huge opportunity.”

The coup will also be a strong incentive to get other young drivers from the AsiaPacific region to Queensland for the round, especially prizemoney chasers from New Zealand, meaning Raymond and co are likely to have even stronger competition for the event.

“It’s nice that we’ll have the home ground advantage for once,” added Raymond.

“Any extra competition is great for our series.

And besides, we should be rating ourselves against the best guys in the region.”

The Pirelli Star Driver program encompasses all of the FIA’s rallying regions; Asia-Pacific, Europe, Middle East and Africa.

New Zealander Mark Tapper will represent the APRC in 2009, having been the best of the young bunch in Malaysia earlier this year.

– ANDREW VAN LEEUWEN

Joel Strickland

Joel Strickland

21

news

Ash Budd

Price Brothers combine for enduro

Bart and Shane commit to VACC Park enduro – and they want to win KARTING BART and Shane Price will compete together in this year’s ‘End of Season’ karting endurance race at VACC Park, Port Melbourne.

The four and a half hour endurance race will see some of Australia’s best karters compete against other motorsport identities in the second-running of the race.

The Price brothers competed last year, with Bart and Matt Wall taking fifth while Shane paired with Jack Perkins, finishing sixth.

The sons of Drew Price (Arrow Karts founder) will race one of the Australian chassis manufacturer’s brand-new X1 karts, and the former Jack Daniels V8 Supercar driver Shane hopes that the pair can pull off a good result.

“We’ve raced against each other, but we’ve never raced together,” he said.

“I guess that’s a good thing – we’re probably not going to argue as much!

“It’s going to be difficult to beat a lot of the guys out there. I went to the Formula 100 Nationals at Geelong on the weekend, and in the short time that I’ve been away from karting, I can’t believe how

much the sport has progressed.

Each category is so close.

“All the best drivers are going to be in this 4 Hour, so it’s going to be really interesting.

“I’m doing the race for a bit of fun, but I’d like to win as well.

I love to win with my brother.

That will be the aim.”

The race will be held at VACC Park (Todd Road) on December 13.

– GRANT ROWLEY

Speedway Grand Prix calendars confirmed SPEEDWAY GP

22

2009 CALENDAR FIM SPEEDWAY WORLD CUP July 11 Event 1 Vojens July 13 Event 2 TBC July 16 Race Off Leszno July 18 Final Leszno

Denmark Great Britain Poland Poland

mike-patrick.com

THE 2009 Speedway Grand Prix and Speedway World Cup calendars have been announced and amidst speculation Australia will not host a round of either series.

As was the case last year there will be 11 Grand Prix’s and four rounds of the World Cup, with Italian track Terebzano making its debut in 2009.

The season will begin in April and wrap up in mid-October and as ever will see Australian right in the mix for overall honours.

2009 CALENDAR FIM SPEEDWAY GRAND PRIX SERIES 1 April 25 FIM Czech Republic Speedway Grand Prix Prague 2 May 9 FIM European Speedway Grand Prix Leszno 3 May 30 FIM Swedish Speedway Grand Prix Gothenburg 4 June 13 FIM Danish Speedway Grand Prix Copenhagen 5 June 27 FIM British Speedway Grand Prix Cardiff 6 August 1 FIM Latvian Speedway Grand Prix Daugavpils 7 August 15 FIM Scandinavian Speedway Grand Prix Malilla 8 August 29 FIM Nordic Speedway Grand Prix Vojens 9 September 12 FIM Slovenian Speedway Grand Prix Krsko 10 September 26 FIM Italian Speedway Grand Prix Terenzano 11 October 17 FIM Bydgoszcz Speedway Grand Prix Bydgoszcz

23

5 Minutes with ...

NEAL BATES

Once upon a time, Neal Bates won three-consecutive Australian Rally Championships. In Coffs Harbour he ANDREW VAN LEEUWEN won his fourth ... and it was 13 years in the making.

MOTORSPORT NEWS: Well Neal, you and Coral Taylor are finally Australian Rally Champions again …

NEAL BATES: And we’re very happy about that!

You’ve won four titles now.

Where does this one fit in the scheme of them all?

The others were so long ago, so this one feels pretty good (laughs).

So we’ll rate it as the most recent …

Exactly.

You’ve put a lot of work into your own team to get Toyota to where it is on the Australian rallying scene today, with you and Simon as the pace-setters. Personally, how proud are you of that as an achievement?

I am incredibly proud of the team, and the cars that we have developed and built. But there are other people here in the championship doing a very

24

Joel Strickland

With Simon Evans being the man to beat for the last couple, as well as your teammate, was there ever a time when you thought you might not win another title?

Yeah, for sure. That thought does go through your mind.

But this year, you know, it went our way. It was a fantastic year, and the cards fell our way.

But in saying that, there were plenty of times when Possum [Bourne] was here that we should have won the championship and didn’t through various reasons and problems, so it nice to have one work out and go our way.

There were plenty of times when we should have won the championship and didn’t, so it is nice to have one go our way good job as well, especially this year.

But we’ve got a good package – a good driver lineup and a good team.

Speaking of driver line-ups, is it nice to get one back on Simon after he’s had the edge for the last two seasons?

Yeah it is, for sure. But if you go back through the year, he could have just as easily won it if a few things had gone his way. He had a shocker of a year in the scheme of things, so it is nice to win the championship instead.

To win championships you have to beat everyone, and that includes Simon.

But still, if you look at it

speed wise, he is still the man.

What about the first heat Saturday. You needed 15th to seal the title, Simon was right up the front, and you, well, weren’t. Was it just about bringing it home?

Absolutely. We had the revs turned down low and we were driving around very, very slowly.

And hearing every noise the car made, I can imagine.

That was definitely the case (laughs).

Was there a particular moment of the year when you thought ‘I think we’ve got this thing won?’

Tasmania, after that event.

I thought, ‘this is ours.’ So definitely then.

From a year in review perspective was that your favourite rally of season 2008?

Probably, yeah, because it was one that we seriously dominated from a speed point of view. That was a nice feeling, so for sure, that would be my favourite.

And the good news is that the championship kicks off in Tasmania next year, so you can make a good start on that fifth title.

Yep, it gives us a good chance to kick things off on the right foot.

chat

Joel Strickland

25

A Wilks and a way

Letters

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

Letter to the Premier On ya Ms Bligh, you just proved that the Gold Coast Indy race is about money not motorsport.

Sure Champ Car was becoming miserable. IRL is and has been the main game for a few seasons now.

Just as all my dreams came true with the combining of the two series and we finally get to see the real teams and drivers, you choose to throw it all away.

26

The fact that IRL has the Penske, Ganassi, Andretti Green, Newman Haas and Rahal Letterman really boosted my interest again.

An Aussie wins the Aussie race (points or no points).

However for all the effort there is no more, thanks to politics.

My wife Bec and I were married in Pit lane in the 2000 race with the Ford team of Patrick Racing and Adrian Fernandez (thanks to Brett

‘Crusher’ Murray and Ford Motorsport).

I’m not sure the general consensus of A1GP, I just never found the interest.

I will miss the Gold Coast race and hope to hell there is TV coverage to replace IndyCar. I have no plans to see A1 but do wish it success. I feel you’ve made a big mistake Queensland Government.

Wayne Mair via email

Your words not ours Where did Channel 7 get that Pommy commentator from for last weekend’s Bahrain round?

His voice was a constant distraction. Thankfully we had Neil Crompton on board with some good commentary again.

Even one of the Aussie expatriates in Bahrain would have been better than the Pommy.

Peter Hickey Via email

opinion

Joel Strickland

THE world is a pretty scary place right now – especially for Australian car companies.

With the Aussie dollar weakening and a couple of the big automotive finance companies pulling the pin, importing and selling cars is going to be a tough old gig over the next couple of years. Luxuries are unlikely to be afforded by car companies, and unfortunately, motorsport programs are likely to be classed as luxuries. So, just as the Australian motor racing scene is crying out for more manufacturer involvement, the opposite is likely to happen.

But last weekend, at tropical Coffs Harbour, there was a glimmer of hope. Honouring the second leg of its first real four-wheeled factory motorsport program, Honda Australia was supporting a Civic Type R in the Coffs Coast round of the Australian Rally Championship.

And it created waves of excitement.

Even on Friday’s media day, before Guy Wilks had had a chance to slay some giants in the first heat with the underpowered FWD Civic, the focus was on the hot hatch. At one point, when Guy was taking me for a burn on one of the stages, a group of rally fans trudged out of the bush, opened the Civic’s door while we were staged at the start, and excitedly told him how sideways he was.

And so it continued. Every

opinion Andrew van Leeuwen eNews Deputy Editor spectator point we went to, people were talking about the Honda; how great it sounded, how fast and nimble it looked compared to the Group N cars; how hard Wilks was driving it. These were rally fans, people who usually buy Subarus and Mitsubishi, salivating over a Civic Type R. It proved that there is relevance between involvement in motorsport and selling cars. To be honest, I’ve never thought about buying a Honda in my life. But if I had $40,000 to spend right now, I’d be test-driving a Type R as we speak.

Up until recently, if I had been going to buy a Toyota, I’d have bought a Corolla over a TRD Aurion. The Aurion is faster, but with no racing heritage, why would I, as a motorsport fan, buy one? I’ve never seen one race; there is no relevance to me. Now they have a hot-looking Ausse Racer, and all is forgiven. In saying that, I’d still buy a Corolla, because I like rallying more than Aussie Racers ...

That’s the impact that motorsport has on me as a consumer, and I can’t be alone. So please, big car, companies don’t give up on our little sport just yet.

eLETTER OF THE WEEK A1GP is, well, A1!

It’s great to see the A1GP replacing the (largely boring) IndyCars at the Gold Coast round of the V8 Supercars from next year.

I am a varied motorsport fan, enjoying the F1s, V8s, MotoGP and A1, and enjoyed the Champcar World Series, up until its demise/merger with the IndyCars.

The A1GP cars produce a greater racing spectacle, compared to the IndyCars, especially if it is raining and on a street circuit, would provide a great race.

I think A1GP has done a good job in dealing with the V8s to return to Australia, but I just hope that it doesn’t make the same mistake that IndyCars did – that it needs to deal

with the V8s, rather than dictate the schedule.

The IndyCars weren't doing the best here in Australia, and only gained a larger audience due to the V8’s.

Now if only we could convince Alan Jones to put Will Davison in the A1GP seat …

Rhys Goodwin Via email

Send your creative letters to mail@mnews.com.au, or Motorsport News PO Box 7072, Brighton, Vic 3186 27

AUSTRALIAN RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND 6 – COFFS COAST

Joel Strickland

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race

Family Matters The Evanses took a heat win each on the ARC’s return to Coffs Harbour, but when Simon couldn’t make the end of the second heat, Eli became a first-time round winner.

ANDREW VAN LEEUWEN was there 29

T

HE final round of the Australian Rally Championship at Coffs Harbour was like a rear in review.

Neal Bates showed the same consistency that has netted him a fourth ARC title; Simon Evans showed the same misfortune that denied him a third ARC title; Eli Evans showed the same maturity that has seen him become a proper contender on ARC rallies.

We’ll start with Bates.

Needing only a handful of points to wrap up the title, Toyota’s veteran was obviously playing the numbers game in the first heat. He needed 15th, and finished eighth, while his team-mate was off winning the heat. It wasn’t spectacular, but, by Saturday night, the title was his.

“We were very conservative but I wasn’t going to throw it

30

away after 13 years,” said Bates.

“I didn’t enjoy driving that way, but the end result is what we came here for.”

S Evans, meanwhile, should have walked the event. He was 30s clear of the field in the first heat (after dropping five seconds on the opening stage), and had a comfortable margin early in the second heat, only to have his Toyota Corolla’s gearbox shed its oil on SS10.

Once again, it was a case of what might have been for the outgoing champion.

But what one Evans couldn’t do, another could. Eli Evans backed up his heat-winning form from earlier this season to record the second heat win, and, thanks to third in the first heat, the outright rally victory. It was his first ARC round win, and one that came in increasingly difficult conditions (which resulted in the cancellation of the final

two forest stages).

“It’s a big relief for both me and the team to finally break through for this win,” said Evans.

“Mum and dad have put a lot of time and effort into me to get to this point, so it feels great to be able to pay them back; it’s all worthwhile.”

But Eli might just have dodged a two-wheel-drive bullet in the second heat.

Honda Australia was back for its second tilt at ARC competition in Coffs, bringing Italian team J.A.S Motorsport and reigning British Rally Champions Guy Wilks and Phil Pugh back out to run a Civic Type R. And, despite having no turbo-charger and only frontwheel-drive, the pair was ultra-quick, splitting the Evans brothers for second place in the first heat. That included winning the first stage of

the day, and out of the 30s margin to Evans Sr at the end of the heat, 15-odd of the second were lost on a single stage with a bad tyre choice, and the other 15 seconds were lost on the last stage of the day when the heavens opened.

So, when the Evans Corolla limped out of contention early in the second heat, a FWD rally car was in contention for the outright round win. That was, of course, until Wilks pushed a little too hard on the same stage and sent the Civic endover-end. Game Over.

So, along with Michael Guest’s Heat 2 retirement with gearbox failure, the final results were a little shaken up.

Behind Evans Jr in the outright standings was Coffs local Nathan Quinn, who kept out of trouble throughout the rally, with Glen Raymond third in his privateer Corolla.

race

Jeremy Rogers

Joel Strickland

Joel Strickland

Eli and Murph, sitting in a tree: There was lots of kissing going on after the heats in Coffs Harbour; Eli gave his co-driver Chris Murphy a smooch, far left, while Neal and Coral planted their lips on the Possum Bourne Memorial Trophy after wrapping up the ARC, below left. Simon Evans’ rally finished on the back of a trailer, above, while Guy Wilks’ rally finished upside down, albeit after a storming performance in Heat 1, left.

COFFS COAST Heat 1 1 Simon Evans Sue Evans 2 Guy Wilks Phil Pugh 3 Eli Evans Chris Murphy 4 Nathan Quinn Ben Atkinson Heat 2 1 Eli Evans Chris Murphy 2 Glen Raymond Matt Raymond 3 Michael Boaden Helen Cheers 4 Nathan Quinn Ben Atkinson

Toyota 1:05:07.4 Honda +30.1 Subaru +40.1 Mitsubishi +1:21.4 Subaru 47:12.2 Toyota +23.9 Mitsubishi +1:01.7 Mitsubishi +1:17.3

Joel Strickland

Points Bates 445, E Evans 337, S Evans 320, Spencer Lowndes 284, Raymond 246.

31

NASCAR SPRINT CUP ROUND 36 – HOMESTEAD-MIAMI SPEEDWAY, FL

History-making Performance Jimmie Johnson sealed his third-consecutive Sprint Cup crown at Homestead despite a cautious run to the flag.

By MARTIN D CLARK

32

race

NASCAR Media

33

Kenseth when he sputtered out with three laps remaining.

“It was exciting down to the wire for me,” said Edwards.

“I didn’t think we were going to make it on fuel, but my guys did a great job.

“Jimmie will be a great Champion and you can’t help but be happy for the guy and it sounds like he’s got some fuel left too. I wish Daytona was starting in 20 minutes.”

Pole-sitter David Reutimann headed the first lap before Edwards took over upfront, Edwards went on to lead Kevin Harvick, Jamie McMurray, Jeff Gordon, who failed to win a race in 2008, and Clint Bowyer to the finish.

Tony Stewart ended his 10th and final season with Joe Gibbs Racing in the ninth position before he embarks on a career as owner-driver.

Red Bull Racing swapped drivers between their two cars putting Brian Vickers in the 84 Toyota usually driven by Scott Speed to get the car number back into the top 35 in owner points after being knocked by Marcos Ambrose the previous race. However Vickers encountered two issues on pit road. The first when he was caught for speeding and lost a lap and

the second made contact with Kurt Busch, ending his day 32nd.

Ambrose qualified on race set up and started 41st. He ran close to the rear most of the race moving up to 31st, but two laps in arrears when disaster struck with 99 of the 267 left to run.

Reed Sorenson made contact with Ambrose sending the Aussie into the wall with severe damage and back to 43rd position.

Unfortunately the mistake cost Ambrose the 35th position in owner points and the guarantee of making the Daytona 500 and the next four races in 2009.

NASCAR Media

34

NASCAR Media

J

IMMIE Johnson drove his Hendrick Chevrolet home to a cautious 15th place finish at Homestead Miami Speedway on Sunday, but that was all he needed to clinch his thirdconsecutive Sprint Cup championship.

His third championship victory by 66 points over Carl Edwards also equalled a record set in 1978 by Cale Yarborough.

“I’m so proud of this race team,” said Johnson.

“There were times this season we weren’t even in the ball park and this team knuckled down and worked hard. This is so cool, growing up in California, racing motorcross I never thought I’d be in this position, I am so thankful.”

Johnson’s crew chief Chad Knaus became the first-ever crew chief crew chief to win three-consecutive titles and Rick Hendrick now owns eight Cup titles with only Petty Enterprises having more.

Carl Edwards took his ninth win of the year and went on to lead the most laps receiving the all-important 10 additional points.

Edwards stayed on track for his second fuel mileage win of the year, running dry as he crossed the finish line after passing Matt

race

Victory not enough ...

NATIONWIDE SERIES

Martin D Clark

Truck title decided TRUCK SERIES

JOHNNY Benson won his first NASCAR Truck Series title at Homestead last Friday.

Benson entered the race three points ahead of defending Champion Ron Hornaday Jr, the margin post race just seven points.

Benson finished the race seventh after leading following a two-tyre stop midway, while Hornaday who also lead to gain the valuable five points finished eighth.

A yellow flag with three laps to run hampered any chance Hornaday had of catching Benson in the closing laps.

After giving owner Bill Davis his first-ever NASCAR championship, Benson ran his last race for the team and will possibly join Red Horse Racing in a Toyota two-truck effort for the upcoming 2009 season.

2006 series champion Todd Bodine won the race over rookie Brian Scott.

– MARTIN D CLARK

NASCAR Media

NASCAR | Homestead-miami speedway, fl Carl Edwards Kevin Harvick Jamie McMurray Geoff Gordon Clint Bowyer Kasey Kahne Travis Kvapil Casey Mears Tony Stewart Martin Truex Jr

Ford Chevy Ford Chevy Chevy Dodge Ford Chevy Toyoto Chevy

Roush Fenway/Office Depot Childress/Shell/Pennzoil Roush Fenway/Royal Crown Henricks/DuPont Childress/Jack Daniel’s Gillette Evernham/Budweiser Roush Fenway/All Sports Hendricks/Kellogg’s Joe Gibbs/The Home Depot Earnhardt/Bass Pro Shops

Q4 5 7 37 27 18 19 12 13 10

Points: Bowyer 5132, Edwards 5111, Keselowski 4794, David Ragan 4525, Mike Bliss 4518, (10th Ambrose 3991).

NASCAR Media

99 29 26 24 07 9 28 5 20 1

NASCAR Media

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

CARL Edwards’ took his seventh victory of the season at Homestead Miami Speedway but still fell short of stopping point leader Clint Bowyer from becoming the 2008 Nationwide Series champion by just 21 points.

Bowyer and his Richard Childress Racing team were the model of consistency all season and his fifth place finish just followed that trend.

The only race his Chevrolet won was at Bristol in August.

He finished no worse than 25th and had 29 top 10 results in 35 races to beat Edwards to the flag.

“Carl was last year’s series champion and it feels really good to be able to beat him,” commented Bowyer.

“This team has done a great job all year long, we’ve been real consistent and done the things it takes to win championships.”

Joey Logano’s 10th placing in the race was enough to secure the series owners title for Joe Gibbs Racing in the number 20 Toyota that used a roster of four drivers, Logano, Kyle Busch, Tony Stewart and Denny Hamlin to rest the title.

Busch came home second, falling short of a recordachieving 11th series wins in the same season. Even a late race caution leaving a four

lap run to the chequers was not enough to stop a strong Edwards.

Brad Keselowski finished third in the race and the title chase while Jason Leffler’s fourth place sealed ninth in the series standings.

“That was a great win,” said Edwards who entered Homestead 56 points in arrears. “Especially as we held off Kyle Busch as strong as they are. It’s no good to finish second in the championship, but I know he will be a good champion.”

Marcos Ambrose had a rough race qualifying 25th on a race set-up under his JTG Daugherty Racing Ford – a marque he drove for the final time.

“Today wasn’t quite the way I wanted to finish off my twoyear stint in the #59 Kingsford Ford,” said Ambrose.

“But on the positive side of things, our goal at the start of the year was to win our first race and to finish in the top 10 in points and we’ve now achieved both of those goals.

While today wasn’t the best way to finish the season, I think we can look at the year as a good one for everyone who has supported us.”

– MARTIN D CLARK

THE CHASE FOR THE SPRINT CUP | points Johnson 6681, Edwards 6615, Biffle 6464, Harvick 6408, Bowyer 6381, Burton 6335, Gordon 6316, Hamlin 6211, Busch 6207, Stewart 6198, Kenseth 6196, Earnhardt 6127.

35

MACAU GRAND PRIX Guia, CHINA

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Surprise Macau winner Kunimoto steals win amongst more fancied rivals on the streets of Macau FORMULA 3

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ran into the back of Daniel Campos-Hull under braking for Lisboa on lap 13, putting them both out of contention.

Mika Maki finished fourth, ahead of Renger van der Zande, Laurens Vanthoor, Oliver Turver, Walter Grubmuller, Jules Bianchi and the recovering Alguersuari.

A number of the leading contenders were eliminated from contention due to a large amount of carnage.

Early in the race, Roberto Streit closed the door on Sam Bird. Streit was tipped into

Brian Young

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KEISUKE Kunimoto took a surprise victory in the 55th Macau Grand Prix last weekend.

It was a surprise victory, despite leading from start-tofinish in the famous Formula 3 race. Driving the TOM’S team, Kunimoto started from second on the grid and withstood immense pressure to take the win – his debut at the street race.

Polesitter Edoardo Mortara sat in behind Kunimoto for the majority of the race, only losing the spot once when he locked his brakes and dropped to fourth. Mortara got back up to second and tried to challenge Kunimoto after the last Safety Car period. But his attempts were in vain after he clipped the wall and damaged his Signature Dallara, settling for second.

Coming home in third place was New Zealander Brendon Hartley. The Red Bull-backed driver had to pick his way through the field from 20th on the grid, setting the fastest lap of the race in the process.

Hartley benefited from the first lap chaos and later from a collision when Kei Cozzolini

Kiwi hero: Red Buller Brendon Hartley was third, while there was a good level of carnage on the streets, top. the barriers and suffered a major impact. Both cars were immediately out of the race.

One of the pre-race favourites Jaime Alguersuari had made his way up to

second, but was pinged for a jump start, costing him a chance at victory.

Australian F3 Champ James Winslow failed to finish, only completing five laps.

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ANDRA CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES GOLDENSTATE CHAMPIONSHIPS

Local knowledge wins out DRAG RACING

LOCAL knowledge proved to be an advantage at last weekend’s 37th Goldenstate Championships at Kwinana, Western Australia.

Both of the ANDRA Championship Series brackets were taken out by WA locals, with Top Doorslammer going to John Zappia and Top Bike won by Jay Upton.

In Top Doorslammer, the signs for the rest of the field were ominous, with local legend Zappia recording 5-second elapsed times on every pass. But it wasn’t enough to guarantee him the performance points bonuses, upstaged by fellow West Aussie Robin Judd, who topped the sheets with an

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amazing 5.868s.

Eliminations were extremely tight, and Zappia managed the conditions best to get past Peter Kapiris and Ben Bray on his way to the finals. Predictably, given his recent form, Zappia met Judd in the final round, who managed to put away Mathew Abel and Gary Phillips.

Zappia took the tight final over Robin Judd. The consolation for Judd however was that he managed to lower his ANDRA National Record – a 5.86s in the first round backed up by a 5.91s in the semi finals.

In ANDRA Championship Top Bike, it was the man who had to travel further than anyone else who set the pace. New Zealander Athol Williams topped the time

sheets ahead of local ace Jay Upton and Victorian young gun Sam Parker, who after recording his first 6s pass in qualifying, continued to go faster throughout the event.

The final saw Williams go up against a resurgent Upton, after the pair dispose of Sam Parker and Mark Ashelford respectively in the semi-finals.

The final was an easy one for Upton however, when Williams’ bike refused to start in the final after the second mad thrash to repair the bike in as many rounds.

The ANDRA Championship Series stays in Western Australian when the ground will shake to the tune of ANDRA Top Fuel cars at Perth Motorplex on December 5/6.

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Brian White Media Brian White Media

Brian White Media

White is right: Jay Upton, left, won a competitive Top Bike class, while Robin Judd, above, couldn’t stop the might of local driver John Zappia, top.

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WORLD SERIES SPRINTCARS ROUND 2 – PARRAMATTA CITY RACEWAY

Crashin’ victory

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WSS SECOND-generation racer Mitchell Dumesny took out a sensational victory, crashing across the finishing line last Saturday night in winning his maiden World Series Sprintcars feature.

Dumesny’s #77 machine, left, led most of the Parramatta 30lap A Main, but on the final lap, Robbie Farr’s J&J forged by to take control.

It was a very determined 21-year-old Dumesny, below, who took the high line as they exited turn 4 drawing alongside Farr, insert, as they charged to the checker. In a very conversional incident, the pair tangled sending Dumesny into a series of cardestroying barrel rolls.

Fortunately for Dumesny, he reached the line first and scored the win.

Defending WSS Champ Brooke Tatnell, below right, was third with early race leader Adrian Maher fourth Grant Tunks and Craig Brady

completed the top six.

“It was great to win but that’s not the way to do it!” Mitch told eNews.

“I thought my car was great and we would be looking good at the finish. I held it together until the last lap when Robbie got under me.

“I just thought, I hadn’t raced for the 25 or so laps leading, only to lose it on the final lap. I went back around him, in front by about a wheel then he turned right at the chequer.”

Farr’s helmet had been struck with something late in the race hitting his nose and damaging his visor. Robbie tried to stay mid track but the pair touched causing the controversial finish.

After the opening Brisbane WSS round was rained out, over 50 Sprintcars nominated for Round 2.

Former multiple WSS champ Max Dumesny retired in Heat 8 after being involved in an incident damaging his Maxim’s front end.

Warren Ferguson had flipped over which saw NT star Ben Atkinson and local Peter Gordon also involved.

Max started 11th in the main and picked up eighth position finishing just behind Roddy Bell Bowen who was impressive all night.

Tatnell stormed by Ricky Maiolo to win the final heat added to a third in the dash, Brooke held fourth for most of the A Main but came on strong in the closing stages.

The other heat wins went to 17-year-old Taylor Johnson, Darryl Campbell, Todd Wanless (two wins), Daniel Needham, Mark Blyton, Jeremy Cross with Danny Reidy (D Main) and Paul Jeffrey (C Main).

Aussie Champ Brazier was fast-winning the B Main but he retired mid-race in the feature after running towards the tail of the field.

The WSS heads west to Kwinana for the Western swing next weekend.

– GREG BOSCATO

John Morris/ Mpix

John Morris/ Mpix

John Morris/ Mpix

John Morris/ Mpix

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Enduring the heat Queensland Raceway played host to the Queensland 500 Club Enduro relay race last weekend in searing temperatures. MARK JONES was on hand to check out the action

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Mark Jones

QUEENSLAND ENDURO

Mark Jones

IN a surprise result the Sherrins Rentals team of Grant Sherrin and Dave Russell have won the Porsche Centre Gold Coast Queensland 500 Club Enduro twilight relay race.

Using their Howard Group AU Falcon V8 Supercar, the duo overcame a strong Porsche contingent to win the event.

Tony Quinn (Porsche 997 GT3-RSR) and Kent Quinn (Porsche 996 GT3 Cup) were first across the line and took the chequered flag at almost 8pm on Saturday.

However a cost containment rule, which saw four minutes added to race times for teams with two cars relegated the teams that finished first and second to second and third respectively.

The Sherrin entry, which was the only one-car team, didn’t recieve the penalty due to them being forced to do longer pit-stops.

The Porsche teams were able to fling a second car straight out on the track so the four-

minute penalty was designed to even up the competition.

Russell Kempnich (Porsche 956), and Roger Lago/Wayne Park (Porsche 997 GT3 Cup) finished second, classified ahead of the Quinn’s, with the team of Steve Kepper, Matt Coleman, Terry Knight and Peter Mills, sharing a pair of Porsche Cup Cars, won a fierce three-team Porsche battle for fourth.

The Gemini/HQ Holden 1Hour race held in 30 degree heat on Sunday saw Dave and Cheris Hinton bring their Gemini home for the win ahead of Melissa Thompson and Ben Wilson (Gemini) and V8 Supercar racers Barry Tanton and Rod Dawson (Gemini).

Mike McCloud and Bart Stanfield were the best of the HQ Holden’s in fourth place in a drama charged race.

Bevan Carrick (Dallara-Opel) won racing cars from Glenn Lynch (Dallara-Golf ) and Barry Elbourne (Dallara-Golf ) with David Lawrence (Spectrum) winning Formula Ford. Paul Jacobs won the Sidecars.

– MARK JONES

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Team Spirit KARTING THE Australian karting teams competing at the IAME International Challenge in Spain two weeks at the Alcaniz International Circuit have both finished within the top five.

The drivers competed in identical FA Victory karts, designed by two-time Formula

1 world champion Fernando Alonso, and powered by 125cc Leopard X30 engines in two three-hour endurance races.

Ryan Sanderson, Adam Hughes and Grant Smith finished second overall after finishing sixth in Race 1 and winning Race 2, just one lap behind eventual winners Canada.

“I was like a kid in a candy

shop all weekend, it was fantastic,” said Sanderson.

“I’ve raced all across Australia and in Japan but this event was undoubtedly the best one I’ve competed throughout my career. The facility was just out of this world.

“I was a bit bummed about finishing second because I know we had enough pace to win overall, but that’s just

the way it goes I suppose. In saying that though, we were the fastest team all weekend and finished on top in practice, qualifying and set the fastest lap in both races.”

The second Australian team of John Grother, Lee Mitchener and Brett Fortanier finished fifth overall only two laps behind the leaders after fourth in Race 1 and sixth in Race 2.

From Spain to Geelong

KARTING FRESH from competing in Spain, Australian karter Adam Hughes took a commanding win in the Formula 100 Titles at Beckley International Karting Raceway in Geelong.

The 19-year-old from Mentone, Victoria, comfortably won the 21-lap final ahead of some of his more fancied and experienced rivals.

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“It’s an awesome feeling to get this win,” said Hughes.

“I’ve never won an Australian title, so it’s great to get the victory here.

“This win definitely caps off the best year of my career and I feel that the Kosmic chassis has moved me up to the front of the field.

“I haven't done much racing in Formula 100, but it all went to plan and I have to thank everyone that got me to this point

after so many years of karting. I can’t wait to run that green and gold number one plate next year.”

Second place went to Daniel Richert, while Hayden McBride was third after two of the event favourites, David Sera and defending Champion David Burns, crashed out in the first corner.

Last year’s Formula 3 champion Tim Macrow made a successful comeback to Karting taking 10 place in the final.

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This time around ...

AFTER losing the title just one year ago in the final round, Yvan Muller made up for the disappointment by sealing the WTCC title in Macau.

He clinched the title in the first of two races after finishing third behind Alain Menu and defending champion Andy Priaulx.

“One year ago exactly I came here and I was very sad,” said Muller.

“Finally one year later I am here on top of the world. When you lose a race you are reminded of it for weeks and months, and

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even more.

“When you win, you forget quite quickly, but I shall remember this for a long time.

“You have to do your best to win the title, but at the same time you have to have a great team to give you that opportunity. SEAT gave me that opportunity.”

Muller took a 14-point advantage into the final round and it seemed only a terrible run of bad luck could deny him the title.

With the title all wrapped up it was all to play for in Race 2 and it did not disappoint.

Robert Huff was basically handed

Title wrap in Pomona NHRA

Points: Muller 114, Tarquini 88, Huff 87, Priaulx 81, Rydell 77.

Force and low qualifier Mike Neff.

Larry Dixon came away with the Pomona Top Fuel victory by besting Rod Fuller in the final.

Dixon’s U.S. Smokeless Tobacco dragster recorded a winning 3.83/300 to stop Fuller's 3.83/310. The win, his second of 2008, also gave the two-time champion a second place finish in the final point standings.

Fuller, driving the Caterpillar dragster, with one-event signage from Australian companies Hastings Deering and WesTrac, advanced to the final after defeating Steve Torrence, 2008 Champ Tony Schumacher and 2007 FAA Top Fuel champion Urs Erbacher.

Greg Anderson scored the

Pro Stock win clocked over Kurt Johnson, who red lighted.

Chris Rivas, with an outside shot at the title, raced to the Pro Stock Motorcycle event win by defeating new champion Krawiec, 6.92/191 to 7.00/190.

With his win, Rivas finished second in the final standings.

– DAVID OSTASZEWSKI

David Ostaszewski

CRUZ Pedregon, Jeg Coughlin Jr and Eddie Krawiec locked up their respective 2008 Funny Car, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle NHRA POWERade World Championships at the season finale in Pomona.

The three join Tony Schumacher, who locked up his sixth title two weeks ago in Las Vegas.

Pedregon notched his second title in 16 seasons during the opening frame when closest pursuers Tim Wilkerson fouled and Cruz’s brother Tony trailed Robert Hight.

Coughlin clinched his secondconsecutive and fourth NHRA

Pro Stock world championship title on Saturday by qualifying for the Auto Club NHRA Finals, while Krawiec stopped teammate Andrew Hines in the semis to take the crown after Matt Smith was eliminated in Round 2.

Krawiec became just the second driver in NHRA history to win a championship without winning a national event after Rob Bruins won the 1979 Top Fuel crown without winning a single event.

After clinching the title, Pedregon went on to capture his third-straight victory on the tour by defeating Ron Capps on a holeshot, 4.08/303 to 4.07/304. The Advance Auto Parts Toyota Solara had earlier eliminated Jerry Toliver, John

victory after the three leaders crashed out in the final two laps.

Leaders James Thompson, Augusto Farfus and Gabriele Tarquini all had incidents within the last two laps with Thompson hitting the wall, Farfus crashing on the final lap and Tarquini hitting a wheel dislodged from Farfus’ car.

The win also handed Huff third place in the championship after a consistent year, while Muller and Priaulx came home second and third in the race.

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rear of grid

John Morris/Mpix

Symmons by numbers

Odd Spot

THERE’S every chance that Mark Skaife won’t finish second at this weekend’s V8 Supercar round at Tasmania, and there’s even better betting on the fact that John Bowe won’t finish first.

But JB and Skaifey will leave Tasmania sitting 1-2 on one particular list – the list of most round starts in ATCC/V8SCS history.

Skaife has actually knocked off some pretty big names on his way up the list this year. He started the season fifth, and is now equal second, ahead of Dick Johnson and Glenn Seton. Who is he equal with? Peter Brock, natch.

But as the circus rolls off the Apple Isle next Monday, he will be second, 12 rounds short of Bowe. The question is, can he get to pole position? To do so, it will take six ‘Seasons of Endurance,’ and that is just to equal JB. Possible, but he’s looking at 2015 until it happens.

Meanwhile, Craig Lowndes will make his 150th round start at Symmons Plains, below, joining all of the names above, plus Tony Longhurst, Larry Perkins, Russell Ingall and Steven Richards in 150+ club.

Dirk Klynsmith

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