Motorsport eNews Issue 85 - December 16, 2008-January 6, 2009 by V8 Sleuth

ALERT: Clipsal street track to change

Issue No. 085 16 December 2008 – 6 January 2009

COMEBACK JR’s Replacement at TASMAN is ...

e r e h t n i r a e b a s ’ e r e Th . . . o t s e o g h s ndy ca and the bu

Editorial Editor: Grant Rowley grant@mnews.com.au Deputy Editor: Andrew van Leeuwen andrew@mnews.com.au Staff Journalist: Phillip Mahoney philm@mnews.com.au Executive Editor: Phil Branagan editor@mnews.com.au

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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. 085 | 16 Dec – 5 Jan 2009

news 4 Tasman Bargs a star Bargwanna back for ‘09! 7 Rummy King Is Bundy going racing? 8 Formula $1 F1 gets a cost cut 13 Bright goes Old Skool BF for season’s start 14 Formula Brabham Famous name is back ... 18 Happy Birthday Mr ... Papadopoulis

chat 22 5 minutes with ... opinion 26 Rowley

Santa Claus (really!)

27 Lambden 26 MNews

BFFs Tighten those belts! Season in review

36 MOJO Enduro 40 Speedway

Who do you think? Some sort of boat race Farr Farr Away!

race 32 Race of Champs trade 42 Classifieds

One heck of a driving instructor! If you’ve got to have a ride with anyone at the Race of Champions, it may as well be Schumi ...

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

Chris Lambden Publisher CHRISTMAS is looming and it’s time for the eNews team to take a brief break. It’s been an interesting year, with a lot of movement and change in and around V8 Supercars, in terms of 2009 lineups, in the second part of the year. The super team of motorsport journalists (and motorsport fanatics), that we have here, allied with the speed and mode of delivery that is Motorsport eNews has allowed us to be first to tell you about most of those changes and many other big news stories: The Ford Dealer Team (it was on the agenda until ...) Courtney to DJR; Kellys to Kelly Racing; LP stepping back from running his team; Alex Davo to SBR, last week’s news that Jason Richards is leaving Tasman; and even this week’s news on who is replacing him. You read them, and many others, first, in Motorsport eNews. The A-Team, as someone wellplaced in motorsport calls the Motorsport News crew, really enjoys doing its job – keeping you up to date with what is going on in motorsport, along with the opinion and analysis which goes with it. It’s not a bad way to earn a crust … Our thanks for your support as subscribers to eNews – which remains a world-first – and we hope you continue to enjoy it. Indeed, an eNews subscription might just be THE perfect gift for your petrol-head friends/ relatives next week … We’ll be back on Tuesday January 6 (well, actually, 9pm the previous evening for you keen readers), with all the New Year motorsport news (you know, the contracts that expire on December 31!) and coverage from the big Christmas/New Year Drag and Sprintcar races. Until then, have a great Christmas, and safe New Year.

news

Dirk Klynsmith

Bargs across the Tasman? Jason Bargwanna favourite for full-time return with Sprint Gas Racing in 2009 V8 SUPERCARS

Dirk Klynsmith

JASON Bargwanna looks set to get back into a V8 Supercar seat full-time – and is the top contender for the vacant drive with Sprint Gas Racing in 2009. eNews understands the former Bathurst winner is most likely to partner Greg Murphy in the Tasman Motorsport Holden team, with backing from a new sponsor for the Dandenong-based team. Other contenders for the drive are reported to be Fujitsu V8 driver Dale Wood, who drove for the team in the enduros this year and, possibly, former PWR driver Andrew Thompson – though Bargs

does appear to be the red-hot favourite. This latest development follows our exclusive news, last week, that long-term Tasman Motorsport driver Jason Richards is to depart, moving up the Hume Highway to partner Cam McConville at Brad Jones Racing. Sprint Gas Racing confirmed that news on Friday, while Richo was pounding around in practice for Saturday’s charity endurance kart race at Todd Road (Melbourne). Bargwanna, 36, was extremely guarded when contacted by Motorsport eNews on Monday: “No comment,” said Bargs, before adding, “except Merry

Christmas to everybody. I am looking forward to 2009!” Ironically, Bagrwanna and Murphy have not been the closest of mates in pitlane since a particularly heated exchange between the two at Phillip Island in 2002. The two clashed at the start of a V8 Supercar race and, after Bargwanna extricated himself from his wrecked Garry Rogers Motorsport Commodore, the two had to be separated by officials. The news looks like ending a season of uncertainty for Bargwanna, who started 2008 with a WPS Racing seat but who found himself looking for a drive after the Queenslandbased Ford team withdrew

from V8 Supercars. Apart from driving in the endurance races with Tony D’Alberto Racing, Bargwanna has raced alongside his cousin Scott in a two-car team in the MINI Challenge, where he established himself as the fast man in the field. Bargwanna started his V8 Supercar career at a Holden Young Lion in 1997 and moved into the series with GRM the following season. After taking four round wins with GRM, including the 2000 Bathurst 1000, he ‘jumped the fence’ to drive a Ford for Larkham Motorsport in 2003 but, when Mark Larkham sold out of the team in 2006, he moved to WPS for two seasons.

BRIEFLY... n Well-known motorsport

‘names’ ADRAD and Harrop Engineering have merged to form an automotive manufacturing and engineering enterprise that will enable both organisations to expand their product ranges and market shares. “ADRAD and Harrop Engineering going forward have a huge potential,” said Gary Washington, Managing Director of the ADRAD group of companies. “Both organisations have established their reputations built on innovation, quality, and exceptional customer service. Those fundamentals will remain as the cornerstone of our merged operations” n Drift Australia has announced that its 2009 championship will consist of just a single event, to be held at Sydney’s Oran Park Raceway on September 19-20. The news follows Drift Australia’s major sponsor Toyo Tyre & Rubber Australia Limited’s withdrawing as naming rights sponsor in light of the current global economic climate. A five-round Australian Drift Championship was due to commence in February. Planning for the resumption of a full Drift Australia Series in 2010 continues. n New South Walesborn driver Dane Rudolph has gained two prestigious awards after a stellar debut season in the 2008 NASCAR Whelan All American Series. The 22 year-old from Wamberal, scored the Rookie of the Year Award along with the Most Improved Driver accolade, capping off an outstanding 2008 season.

The Safety Car is out! V8 SUPERCARS

CHRYSLER Australia has ended its role as supplier of V8 Supercar’s Safety Car. The beleagured American-owned company, which has provided 300C sedans for four years, made its last appearance as a series sponsor at Oran Park. “Chrysler has been a wonderful partner in our great sport,” V8 Supercars Australia CEO Cameron Levick said. “Their sponsorship has been fantastic for Chrysler and V8 Supercars Australia. We thank them for bringing the magnificent 300C to the sport for the last four years and their efforts in raising not only their profile but the brand of V8 Supercars.”

JD on the double? V8 SUPERCARS THERE are conflicting reports about whether there will be one or two Jack Daniel’s Commodores in V8 Supercar racing next season. US sources continue to tell Motorsport eNews that the company’s preference for 2009 is to run only one of the Kelly Racing entries in the famous black colours of the Tennessee whiskey. Were that to be true, we would assume that Todd Kelly, who raced in black this season for Perkins Motorsport, would continue to be the Man in Black. However, there are also reports that Rick Kelly’s car will also be in JD hues. No comment was offered by the team when contacted by eNews.

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Is there a bear in there?

Reynolds/Bundy tipped to be in/on a Clayton Commodore for season 2009 V8 SUPERCARS

DAVID Reynolds looks set to step up to a full-time V8 Supercar ride next season – and if rumours are true, may have the support of Bundaberg Rum. Motorsport eNews has been told that the Fujitsu V8 Series standout will be promoted to the second HSV Dealer Team entry next season, pending the acquisition of a fourth licence by Walkinshaw Racing. It is believed that WR will lease the Walden/Romano Racing licence. The 23-year-old, who has missed out on his Bathurst 1000 debut for the past two seasons (through no fault of his own!), finished fourth in his first full season of V8 Supercar racing after winning the 2007 Carrera Cup title.

But the fascinating part of the equation may be the Bundy Rum rumour.. The iconic brand has most closely been connected to team sports to date, like its long-running association with Rugby League and, so far, has avoided any link with motorsport. But the success of the Jim Beam deal with Dick Johnson Racing, and Jack Daniel’s link with Perkins Motorsport has shown how promotion of an alcohol brand can be conducted alongside a ‘drink responsibly’ message. Bundaberg Rum has been owned since 2006 by Diageo, the world’s largest producer of beer, wines and spirits. Diageo is already associated with motor racing through a number of its other brands, most notably Johnnie Walker’s backing of Formula 1 team McLaren-Mercedes.

Rapid change set for F1 FORMULA 1 THE Formula 1 community has reacted rapidly, and significantly, to the message being sent by Honda’s withdrawal from Formula 1 racing – announced just over a week ago. A meeting between F1 team owners,

2009 1. Engine Engine life to be doubled. Each driver will use a maximum of eight engines for the season plus four for testing (ie 20 per team). Limit of 18,000 rpm. No internal tuning. Adjustment to trumpets and injectors only. The three-race rule voted on 5 November remains in force. Cost of engines to independent teams will be approximately 50percent of 2008 prices. 2. Testing No in-season testing except during race weekend during scheduled practice. 3. Aerodynamic research No wind tunnel exceeding 60% scale and 50 metres/sec to be used after 1 January 2009. A formula to balance wind tunnel-

Longer Term THE FIA and FOTA will study the possibility of an entirely new power train for 2013 based on energy efficiency (obtaining more work from less energy consumed). Rules to be framed so as to ensure that research and development of such a power train would make a real contribution to energy-

in the form of the Formula One Teams Association, and the FIA, in Monaco last Wednesday, has resulted in a significant list of changes – some for 2009, some for 2010. The changes were announced on Friday, along with the claim that the 2009 changes would save manufacturer teams

based research against CFD research, if agreed between the teams, will be proposed to the FIA. 4. Factory activity Factory closures for six weeks per year, to accord with local laws. 5. Race weekend Manpower to be reduced by means of a number of measures, including sharing information on tyres and fuel to eliminate the need for ‘spotters’. 6. Sporting spectacle Market research is being conducted to gauge the public reaction to a number of new ideas, including possible changes to qualifying and a proposal for the substitution of medals for points for the drivers. Proposals will be submitted to the FIA when the results of the market research are known. efficient road transport. An enhanced Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS) system is likely to be a very significant element of an energy-efficient power train in the future. In the short term, KERS is part of the 2009 regulations, but is not compulsory. For 2010 FOTA is considering proposals for a standard KERS system. The FIA awaits proposals.

30 percent of their budgets, with greater savings for independent teams. The group did, however stop short of endorsing Bernie Ecclestone’s suggestion that championship points be replaced by medals – gold, silver, bronze – at each race. This will, apparently, be the subject of some ”public opinion research”.

2010 1. Power train Engines will be available to the independent teams for less than €5 million ($10m) per team per season. These will either come from an independent supplier or be supplied by the manufacturer teams backed by guarantees of continuity. If an independent supplier, the deal will be signed no later than 20 December 2008. This same engine will continue to be used in 2011 and 2012 (thus no new engine for 2011). Subject to confirmation of practicability, the same transmission will be used by all teams. 2. Chassis A list of all elements of the chassis will be prepared and a decision taken in respect of each element as to whether or not it will remain a ‘performance differentiator’ (competitive element). Some elements which remain performance differentiators will be homologated for the season. Some elements will remain performance differentiators, but use inexpensive materials. Elements which are not performance differentiators will be prescriptive and be obtained or manufactured in the most economical possible way. 3. Race weekend Standardised radio and telemetry systems. Ban on tyre warmers. Ban on mechanical purging of tyres. Ban on refueling. Possible reduction in race distance or duration (proposal to follow market research). 4. Factory activity Further restrictions on aerodynamic research. Ban on tyre force rigs (other than vertical force rigs). Full analysis of factory facilities with a view to proposing further restrictions on facilities.

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The big Freeze FORMULA 1 IT’S official – Renault’s Formula 1 engine fell behind the opposition last year, in spite of the category’s supposed engine ‘freeze’. The French company will be permitted to update its current V8 engine to bring its performance into line with the other engine units in use. The FIA approved the updating of the units at its World Motor Sport Council (WMSC) meeting last week. “Unanimous agreement was reached on a list of proposed changes to the Renault engine for 2009; all other engines will remain unchanged,” an FIA statement said. “Comparative testing will not be necessary.” The changes will apply to both the ING Renault F1 team and Red Bull Racing, which uses Renault engines on a customer basis. The performance of the engines was under

50/50 for Cosworth

scrutiny for most of the 2008 season, during which teams were supposed to run their motors in a specification approved during the 2007 season. A difference in performance became apparent in the disparity in speed between the Red Bulls and the cars of Scuderia Toro Rosso, which are identical except for the use, in the latter, of Ferrari engines. Renault boss Flavio Briatore was particularly scathing in the middle of the season: “The problem is that us, Renault, have stuck to the letter of the current regulations on frozen engines, and we’ve been buggered,” he said in July. “Others didn’t do that and are far ahead, while we suffer. It’s not fair.” Despite his protests, former World champion Fernando Alonso won twice late in the season.

FORMULA 1 COSWORTH’S future in Grand Prix racing could go either way, depending on what teams decide to do for the 2010 season. The British engine maker, which has scored more Grand Prix wins than any marque other than Ferrari, had looked set to become the engine of choice for independent teams, following the announcement by FIA President Max Mosley that the company was the preferred bidder for a standardized engine. But it now appears that makers will be given the opportunity to match the

5million euro ($10m) engine bill attached to the Cosworth deal, so long as a manufacturer agrees to supply a customer team. Ferrari, Toyota and MercedesBenz, all of which already supply engines to customers, are said to oppose the Cosworth plan. Other teams are thought to support the idea, subject to its financial viability. Cosworth withdrew from the sport in 2006, after losing out on an engine supply deal with Williams. Since that time, it has also lost customers from the now-defunct Champ Car World Series, and faces cutbacks and layoffs at its Nothamptonshire, UK base.

DALLARA DOLLARS

INDYCAR

Viso Back to HVM ... and Doornbos may return INDYCAR

sutton-images.com

DALLARA has moved to cut costs to its IndyCar teams. The category’s sole chassis supplier is lowering its cost for chassis and spare parts, allowing an 11 percent saving over the 2008 season. Dallara has supplied IndyCar chassis since 1997, with a price capped at US$309,000. “In light of the current global economic crisis, to see the effort Dallara has made to help all of our teams with an acrossthe-board cost reduction is truly the definition of a partner,” said Brian Barnhart, President of Competition and Operations for the Indy Racing League, the sanctioning body of the IndyCar Series. “They are just going out of their way to do what they can to ensure the stability of the IndyCar Series beginning in 2009.” – MARY MENDEZ

sutton-images.com

Italian manufacturer discounts chassis, parts to aid teams

EJ VISO will line up for a second season in IndyCar with HVM Racing. “I am very pleased to stay with HVM for 2009,” said Viso, 23, left. “We had a good season in 2008 given that it was our ‘learning’ year and having continuity is a good thing to pursue our progression towards the top.” The controversial Venezuelan, who had a highest finish of fourth at St. Petersburg, came under fire on ovals and several angry drivers complained about his aggressive driving on road courses. Dutch driver Robert Doornbos could return to HVM in the second car with support from Red Bull and ING. Doornbos managed two victories over Sebastien Bourdais to rank third in his rookie 2007 Champ Car season. Doornbos has also been linked driving for Newman-Haas-Lanigan. – MARY MENDEZ

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WRC-ALMS

Peugeot, Citroen combine: Loeb for Le Mans?

Peugeot Sport

All in the Family

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CITROEN and Peugeot are taking their motorsport programs under one roof. The French carmakers will combine its 2009 World Rally and Le Mans assaults under the direction of Olivier Quesnel, who oversaw Sébastien Loeb’s charge to a fifth WRC title in which he set a new record for the most wins in one season. The move has been made to ensure the continued success of the two brands in their

respective disciplines, while the technical synergies between the two teams will reduce the duplication of costs. Quesnel, 58, took over as Director of Citroën Sport in January this year. His motorsport career started at Peugeot Talbot Sport – working under Jean Todt – in 1980. And, for those of you thinking what we are thinking, yes, Loeb, right, did recently test a Peugeot 908 Le Mans racer; yes, he was fast; and no, there is no date clash between the 2009 24 Hour race and the WRC events.

Ash Budd

Dumbrell faces big challenge FORMULA FORD LUCAS Dumbrell’s condition has become clearer in the past week since his horrific Oran Park Formula Ford accident – and the news isn’t good. Dumbrell, 19, has been left a quadriplegic thanks to injuries sustained in his crash at the famous Dog Leg at the Sydney circuit. Lucas was transferred to Melbourne last Friday to the Austin Hospital via private Careflight jet. He will remain in the Austin Hospital ICU for approximately a week before moving to the Austin’s Spinal Unit to start his rehabilitation. The family released the following statement late today (Monday): “Lucas suffered severe spinal injures as a result of his crash at Oran Park on Friday 5th December during his Formula Ford race,” the statement said.

“As confirmed, Liverpool Hospital operated to stabilize the C5 vertebra on Friday evening, which was a success. “Lucas is a quadriplegic. He currently is being assisted to breathe, which will continue in the near future. “He is unable to speak, which should change in the coming week. “His family and friends have been by his side in Sydney and in Melbourne. He is mentally strong and realises that he has a huge battle in front of him.” The Dumbrell family has been inundated with offers of support and encouragement. Anyone wishing to pass on their best wishes to the Dumbrell family can do so by emailing getwelllucas@ automotivebrands.com.au Motorsport News would like to pass on its best wishes to Lucas and the Dumbrell family at this very tough time. – GRANT ROWLEY

Tom gets the big tick Walkinshaw Racing approved as new owner of HRT V8 SUPERCARS WALKINSHAW Racing has been approved as the new owner of the Holden Racing team. The V8 Supercars Australia board met last wek and has cleared the way for the Scot to assume control of the Holden factory team, following the settlement between he and Mark Skaife. Walkinshaw welcomed the board’s decision. “Having been involved in

motorsport in this country for almost 25 years I know the passion the public has for the Holden Racing Team,” Walkinshaw said. “And I’m just as passionate about the team.” Walkinshaw Racing is now clear to run the red team, with Will Davison joining 2007 champion Garth Tander. WR will also oversee the ‘other’ Clayton team, the HSV Dealer Team, which will run two cars, for Paul Dumbrell and David Reynolds.

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BF: Bright’s Falcon

Ford star to start new season in old model

V8 SUPERCARS

Dirk Klynsmith

JASON Bright will start next year’s V8 Supercar season in a BF Falcon. The Victorian won’t get his hands on one of the new FG models until the Hamilton round of the championship, thanks to his new alliance with Stone Brothers Racing. While he will race a car built, prepared and run by SBR, Bright’s entry will still officially be in the name of Britek. As such, Ford have asked that the two official Stone Brothers Racing cars – driven by Shane van Gisbergen and Alex Davison – be FG Falcons from the first round. “If you look back at the last time I did a similar thing, starting with a VX Commodore when I was with Holden, I led the championship,” said Bright. “It’s not a disadvantage. The aero is based on the older model anyway, so it’s not a problem at all.” Bright and Davison had their first hitouts in SBR machinery at Calder Park last Friday, both drivers doing laps as part of

a ride day. “[SBR] have good equipment at the moment,” added Bright. “I didn’t do many laps, and it’s hard to tell on a track you haven’t driven around in six years, but it all felt pretty good.

“There is a considerable difference in the car. It puts the power down really well, whereas our strength was always braking. It felt well-refined in the engine and running gear, so I’m happy about it.” – ANDREW VAN LEEUWEN Dirk Klynsmith

Stones already going green V8 SUPERCARS THE future of V8 Supercar engine development made one of its first ontrack appearances at Calder Park last Friday, with Stone Brothers Racing running an ethanol-powered car during its ride day. SBR’s engine department has been responsible for the legwork of the new environmentally-friendly fuel program,

and had Alex Davison pumping out laps in an E85-powered car. Earlier in the week, Shane van Gisbergen drove an E85 car at an Oran Park ride day. According to Ross Stone, the program, like the engines, is running smoothly. “It was all good,” he told eNews. “It smells a bit different, but from all the dyno work we’ve done we can see there is not difference in horsepower. The engine uses more fuel

on E85, so we’re now working through the mapping to work on that. Even with normal fuel, you are constantly checking the mapping, so it won’t be a problem when we integrate the new fuel.” V8 Supercar teams will all use the 85 percent ethanol blend for next year’s championship, with CSR Ethanol supplying the fuel. – ANDREW VAN LEEUWEN

Brabham for Formula Ford Brabham Mk III tests for Howard and Minda and considers move to open wheelers in 2009 FORMULA FORD

Both pis: Ash Budd

MATTHEW Brabham is considering a start in next year’s Australian Formula Ford Championship. The 15-year-old grandson of three-time Formula 1 world champion Jack Brabham received special dispensation from CAMS to test at Queensland Raceway with Howard Racing laast week, before heading down to Winton Raceway for half a day with Minda Motorsports. Matthew has enjoyed a successful career in junior sprint karting, finishing second (after starting 24th) in Junior National Light in Tasmania earlier this year. Brabham also won two state titles in the JNL class (Queensland and NSW). According to Matthew’s racing father Geoff, the family is considering all options for his young son. “The tests went really well, unfortunately for me!” Geoff joked. “I’m not rushing anything at the moment. It was an opportunity to do a couple of the laps. He went really well and we’re really happy with how he adapted. “As far as the future is concerned, I’d like to try and do something next year, but it depends on the licensing and where we stand with karting “At what point we trail off karting and concentrate more on Formula Ford, I’m not quite sure. It depends a bit on him as to how he goes and how he matures in the next 12 months or so.” Howard Racing team manger Warren Davis said that for the small amount of laps that Brabham completed, he was impressed: “He is very mature and did an very good job in the car,” Davis said. “He did a good, smart sensible approach to it. “I think like all young guys, he’d need some time. He’d need two seasons to come through. It takes time to get used to the new category and, with his last name, there’d be some expectation there, but he seems quite mature for a young kid.” – GRANT ROWLEY

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12H Super Team

Dirk Klynsmith

Turn Eight to change Clipsal 500 track to be modified in light of fatal crash CELEBRITY CHALLENGE THE layout of the Adelaide Parklands street circuit looks set to change. In light of the fatal Ashley Cooper incident in March this year, CAMS and the South Australian Motor Sports board will tomorrow (Tuesday) outline a minor yet significant change to the challenging Turn 8

corner, where Cooper’s fatal crash occurred. Although to be confirmed, eNews understands that the Coroners Report will recommend, and that CAMS will undertake, that Turn 8 be reprofiled to reduce speed – as well as utilising SAFER barriers on the outside wall. Just how much this will affect the character of a great circuit remains to be seen.

CELEBRITY CHALLENGE DON’T look for any Fiats at the 2009 Australian Grand Prix Celebrity Race. There will be none of the Fiat 500s that raced at Albert Park last March, as they were only intended to take part in the event on a one-off basis, according to ATECO spokesman Edward Rowe. “The cars were sold to dealers and then onto customers,” said Rowe on Monday. “As far as being racing cars is concerned, those cars simply do not exist any more.”

John Morris/Mpix

We can’t Fix It Again, Tony

WITH the Bathurst 12 Hour just around the corner, defending Champions Rod Salmon and Damien White have announced that they will be back to defend their crown. For next year’s assault, Salmon and White will be joined by Tony Longhurst in a three-driver entry in a Mitsubishi Evo. “Last year we were not expecting to win – we went up there with the idea of putting a pretty strong team together and running in the top 10,” said Salmon. “Last year we would have been happy with a top 10, but for 2009 we will be heading there with one intention – to win. Salmon was also excited to have Longhurst joining the team for their 2009 attempt at the title. “We are very happy also to see Tony join the team for 2009 – he has a massive amount of Bathurst and just general motor sport experience and when he approached me about joining the team at Mt Buller this year I was more than happy to welcome him aboard,” said Salmon. “With Tony joining the team, Mitsubishi Ralliart and Alan Heaphy preparing the car – which will either be the race winning car from 2008 or a faster, more technologically advanced EVO X – our average lap times will be faster, our technical knowledge will be upped and while it will be very, very, hard to go back to back, I think we have a chance.”

But a Grand Prix Corporation spokesman said that the AGPC was pressing ahead with plans that included the race. “We are in discussions with a number of potential sponsors and are still finalising support race categories, including the Celebrity Challenge,” he said. “We aim to have the event schedule and support race schedule finalised as soon as possible, but with the changes in timing to the event this is more complicated than usual and involves a number of our international stakeholders.”

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M3 want more!

MINI CHALLENGE M3 MOTORSPORT is searching for its next MINI Challenge champion following its inaugural success with Neil McFadyen. Team principal Peter Doulman is keen to replicate his team’s 2008 season by offering an up-and-coming driver a chance in his series-winning team. “Neil will move on in 2009. He had as many as seven offers to drive in two other categories within an hour of taking the trophy on Sunday at Oran Park,” Doulman said. “We will be looking for someone similar to Neil, someone with heaps of talent but who can take team orders – as Neil demonstrated in Race 3 on Sunday. “Neil knew it was the Championship we were all after, and yes he did race very, very conservatively, but he was told to do exactly that. That is hard for any racer and he showed maturity beyond his years. He kept his head, even down to the last corner when he could have become tangled up in an on-track battle between to other drivers. “Whoever takes the seat will have huge shoes to fill, but with the right driver we believe we can do it all again in 09. That’s the plan, anyway.” John Morris/Mpix

Brocks/HDT team up again CLIPSAL RALLY PHIL and Lewis Brock have signed with HDT Special Vehicles to field a five-car entry in the 2009 Clipsal 500 Adelaide Rally. The Brock’s HDT VC/VE Retro will be one of 60 cars entered in the rally to raise awareness for the Peter Brock Foundation, the official charity of the event. HDT Supremo Peter Champion will also be a part of the team with the rally set for it’s 10th start in 2009. The event will travel from Victoria to South Australia in the four days leading up to the event starting in Stawell. Competitors will compete in 25 sub-events including Circuit Sprints, Auto-Tests, Motorkhanas, Navigation and Observation sections, Hillclimbs and Team events with the final competitive events held at Collingrove Hillclimb and Mallala Motorsports Park.

Mosler monster GT CHAMPIONSHIP

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THE Australian GT Championship is set to receive an added boost ahead of the opening round of the series at the Clipsal 500 in Adelaide. Up to four MT900 GT3 Mosler race cars will join the grid following approval last week from the Australian Motor Racing Commission to allow them to compete in the championship. The GT3 Mosler has a rear-mounted Chevrolet V8 engine that produces 388 kilowatts, mated to a six-speed Hewland sequential gearbox. In other GT3 news, a second Dodge Viper GT3 is also bound for Australian shores to join the Viper raced by Ross Lilley in the GT enduro at Sandown.

New CAMS President 24 HOUR ANDREW Papadopoulos has been elected as President of CAMS. The former vice president of the Australian Racing Drivers Club has been a CAMS board member since 2001, and comes into the job with more than 30 years of experience in the sport. He is also a keen competitor, racing Sports Sedans and competing in classic rallies. “I am honoured that the board has

entrusted me with the position of President,” said Papadopoulos. “We have some major challenges facing our organisation but with our focus on service delivery and consultation with our stakeholders and members I am looking forward to leading our organisation into a confident future. “On behalf of the board, I wish to thank Colin Osborne for his leadership as President for the last seven and a half years and look forward to his continued involvement in the organisation.”

Rose set for Dubai 24 Hour race 24 HOUR AUSTRALIAN team Mal Rose Racing will make its debut in the Dubai 24 Hour endurance race next month. The introduction of a new class to accommodate Rose’s ex-GRM V8 Supercar will see him take the VY Commodore to the Middle East, using three drivers (Rose himself, Tony Alford and Peter Leemhuis). Each driver will do two hour stints with four hour rests in

the ex-Bargwanna/Whincup VY Holden. It will be the team’s third endurance race in a row after a recent successful seventh in the Merdeka 12 Hour at the Sepang circuit in Malaysia, following their fourth in class place in the Nurburgring 24 Hour. The Aussie V8 will race against other Supercars in class SP2 such as the Ferrari 430, Aston Martin V8, Audi CR8, Marcos Mantis, Ford Mustang, BMW V8s and Lotus.

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Ducati’s new man WSBK

A DUCATI topping the time sheets in a World Superbike test is nothing new – but the 2009 season is shaping up as a cracker. Michel Fabrizio topped the screens at Kyalami and looks like a man capable of carrying on where Troy Bayliss left off. The Italian was on top of the times for all three days in South Africa but, looking at the results, American Ben Spies may be the man to watch. The Texan took a day to get on top of his 2009-spec Yamaha R1 but showed that his ability to tune into the bike, and

a new track, will have him on rostrums this season. In fact, the current AMA Superbike Champion was the only thing preventing a Xerox redwash of the times, with Noriyuki Haga reacquainting himself with all things V-twin by taking third best time. With so many new rider-bike combinations on show for the first time, there was a lot of attention paid to the times. Jonathon Rea showed speed to lead the Ten Kate Hondas, while both Max Biaggi and Shinya Nakano impressed on Aprilia’s new V4powered machine.

WSBK test – Kyalami, South Africa 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13

Michel Fabrizio Ita Ben Spies USA Noriyuki Haga J Jonathan Rea GB Carlos Checa Spa Max Neukirchner Ger Yukio Kagayama Jpn Max Biaggi Ita Shinya Nakano Jpn Ryuichi Kiyonari Jpn Troy Corser Aus Tom Sykes GB Ruben Xaus Spa

Ducati Yamaha Ducati Honda Honda Suzuki Suzuki Aprilia Aprilia Honda BMW Yamaha BMW

1m39.714s 1m39.978s 1m39.984s 1m40.035s 1m40.170s 1m40.394s 1m40.675s 1m40.768s 1m40.968s 1m41.067s 1m41.102s 1m41.562s 1m41.996s

New South Wales to stay with Kent FORMULA FORD THE New South Wales Formula Ford series will remain solely powered by ‘Kent’ cars in 2009, despite a relaxation of the rules regarding ‘Duratec’ engines on the east coast.

While the Victorian series will allow the fuel-injected engines next year, their northern neighbours, along with the WA series, are sticking with the tried and tested ‘Kent’ engine. “Kent cars are very economical to buy and run – just a fraction of the cost of

the Duratec cars,” said NSW championship director Jeff Sernior. “There have only been 10 competitors running the entire National series in the past few years, so we can’t see any advantage to introducing the Duratec at state level at this

time, nor can our members, so we are remaining Kent." An incentive is also being re-introduced to the NSW series, with the winner being offered a test drive in one of the Seiders Racing Team V8 Supercars. – ANDREW VAN LEEUWEN

Five Nitros for Nightfire Local entries firm up for New Year Willowbank event DRAG RACING THERE will be no less than five nitro funny car dragsters on-track at Willowbank Raceway for the ENZED International Nightfire New Year Series. To be held over two rounds on January 2/3 and January 16/17, four Australian nitro funny cars will take on USA legend Gary Densham at the Queensland track, with the home-grown professional categories of Top Doorslammer, Top Alcohol and Pro Stock Motorcycle (Round 1) and Top Fuel and Top Bike (Round 2) also contesting rounds as part of their ANDRA championships. Flying the flag for Australia in the Nitro international showdown will be locals Ashley Bailey and Ricky Steffans in the two Bailey Brothers entries, prepared by Rod Bailey. West Australia’s Mark Sheehan will compete

in his own car and, also from the West, Damien Harris will saddle up inside the North Queensland entry of Paul Shackleton. The Bailey Brothers have spear-headed the campaign for more Nitro Funny Car racing in Australia, continuing to compete for the past decade despite the rather low opportunities for racing. Now their efforts seem to be paying off with no less than three events scheduled in a four week period for the team. “Perth has really been our mainstay of competition since we started running the first car in 1999, and while we have been racing for over a decade the amount of events we have done in that time is pretty low – we average about three a year,” said Rod Bailey. “Now we are looking at three in the space of four weekends which will be a challenge – but it won’t be one we will be shying away from as this is exactly what we have been asking for.”

Boxing Day testing match

John Bosher

TESTING has been completed by Top Fuel regular Terry Sainty in preparation for the Top Fuel International, to be held at Western Sydney International Dragway on Boxing Day. Sainty, pictured right, was joined by fellow Group 1 ANDRA driver Rick Gauci (Top Alcohol) at the test. Terry completed a couple of launches and shut offs – and the car sounded strong and left like a bullet. Rick Gauci did the same and recorded a 6.0s pass on the second run with the car launching hard and running straight. – JOHN BOSHER

news

Brett Stevens calls it a day

Drag racing personality Brett Stevens hangs up helmet and closes his team DRAG RACING THE Australian drag racing world was rocked last week with the announcement that Brett Stevens was retiring from full-time racing and has closed the doors on his own team. After a successful professional drag racing career, including three national titles in three different classes and owning the biggest drag racing team in the world, Stevens has decided to call it a day. “This is one of the biggest decisions of my life and it has not come easily,” he said. “I’ve put a lot of thought into it and for those that know me and my passion for the sport, my fans, my team and my sponsors would know how difficult this has been. “I am extremely proud of what I have accomplished

as a professional racer and I am at the point of my career where I am at the top. Retirement is not something that I have considered until recently, however I have always promised myself that if I wasn’t enjoying myself and the challenges that the sport presented, I would step aside.” Stevens recognised the growth of his team and the scrutiny of his racing and personal life as contributing factors to his decision. “Drag racing has taken an unprecedented toll on both my personal and professional wellbeing,” he said. “I have made the incredibly difficult decision to now look to the future for both myself and my family. While my decision ends one phase of my career, I’m confident it will also open doors to many new opportunities.” A motor mechanic by trade,

Stevens began his long and successful climb to the top of the drag racing ladder in 1990 after travelling to the United States to purchase

his first Nitro Harley Top Fuel Motorcycle. In 1993 his team became known as Jack Daniel’s Racing, in a relationship that would last for 15 years , right until Stevens’ retirement. Over this time Stevens built a reputation for himself as being one of the most competitive, skilled and innovative men on both two and four wheels – at the very least, a man spectators watched out for, and fellow competitors feared. By 2008, Stevens was the face of the largest motorsport team in the country and the largest drag racing team anywhere in the world with a total of 10 Group One vehicles. He is also the only person in the world to have competed in three professional drag racing brackets simultaneously; Top Bike, Top Doorslammer and Top Alcohol.

5 Minutes with ...

SANTA CLAUS

He drives a red machine – not a Ferrari or a Triple Eight Falcon – but he knows whether the movers and shakers in motorsport have been good and what they want for Christmas … MOTORSPORT NEWS: It looks like a tough year ahead for motorsport, both here and overseas – are you sensing that? SANTA CLAUS: For sure. Times are going to be tough everywhere. I even got a letter from a guy I haven’t heard for from years – just signs himself Mr E. Apparently, his wife has just left him and, as wives do, is going to get the lot. Anyway, the guy seems okay – he’s been paying off his debts – he said he’s down to his last bill … Er, I think that’s billion … what did he say he wants for Christmas anyway? Nothing I could give him, to be honest. He just wants the downturn to go on so some venture capital mob might go broke and he gets to buy something back pretty cheap that he sold them. Dunno what that’s all about. He said “same as Kerry and Bondy, Channel 9, all that stuff …” The world’s population is growing enormously, so you are under increasing pressure to get around everyone in just 24 hours. We hear you’ve been testing some new equipment – in fact you’ve had a couple of secret practice runs. Damn, how did you hear about that – I was going to put out a press release after Christmas … Can you hold off on that one for a week or so? News is what we do here, buddie – it’s our job! So, how did it go? Well, to be honest, Santa’s little helpers aren’t as good

as they used to be. They don’t concentrate so well. Two of them got in my way while I was on my hot practice run … but I’ve got a great race set-up …. oops I mean Christmas Day set-up. Sorry, been listening to Lowndesy too much ….

2008 didn’t work out remotely as he’d been told it would.

Anything else? Usual stuff. Sponsors. Everyone wants a sponsor. I ran out of them back in November. So, you end up becoming some sort of Introduction Agency. You You’re a fan? know “Bright enthusiastic team Known him for years. Always owner wishes to meet keen thinking of others. Has a mate – young racer with cash – some Jamie somebody – wants me to driving ability an advantage …” get him a test. Doesn’t matter Got an urgent email last what or where, as long as it’s week from England. Some overseas. people are having to lower their expectations – guy called And Lowndesy himself? Button had asked for a fast Doesn’t want anything! Just car; things must be tough – he look after that overseas deal for emailed to say that in fact he’d Jamie, he said … just like a car, any car! Who else? …. Mr Bargwanna. Must be hard coming up with You know, the little guy, been exactly what some people in racing little cars this year? motorsport want – some of Wants a big one again. Will go them are ‘doing okay’ cashanywhere to get one – even wise. Do you get any strange across the Tasman, apparently. requests? Here’s another. Jason Bright Funny you should ask. Skaifey? – another of your V8 blokes? Know him? He’s usually pretty Been making his own Chrissie predictable – few horsepower, gifts for the last couple of years. some trick shocks, that kind of Good guy, but you should stick thing. But this year … the dude to what you know – so he’s wants the best Horoscope book getting a ‘bought’ one this year. I can lay my hands on. Seems Reckon he’ll be thrilled.

And you? Must be pretty tough gig getting everything done on time, and all within 24 Hours. Ever thought of putting all that to a good use in June. –Le Mans? Any plans for Boxing Day? Boxing Day? Absolutely … as far away from anything on wheels or anything to do with reindeer as possible. It’s the MCG and The Test for me. Feet up, couple of coldies, you know how it goes. But you can’t escape! There’s always some disappointed soul out there. I should switch off the mobile, but I guess you’ve got to take the good with the bad. Couple of unhappy texts last year (during the lunchbreak): Mr Tander wasn’t sure about moving to the house over the road – he was quite happy where he was! In fact, got a ‘told-you-so’ from him a couple of weeks back. But he doesn’t want to move again! Apparently his flat-mate’s gone and there will be someone new sharing the place … And, oh yes, got a text from London. Mr Mosley wasn’t happy with his board shorts – prefers leather apparently …

chat

opinion Grant Rowley Editor eNews THE crew here at Motorsport News signed off on a busy 2008 with a Christmas lunch on Thursday, followed by two of us competing in the MOJO Enduro at VACC Park. In comparison, lunch was easy. An inspirational “we done good” speech from the boss, a few ‘dad’ jokes from the editor and a number of beers to wash down a hearty meal. A great way to end what has been a busy season. Team MNews is a small

but committed bunch – committed to bringing you the big stories each week and committed to eating more than our small stomachs should really be subjected to. The kart race was a little more taxing on the brain and body than a kilogram of medium rare steak. Not only were we up against the best karters and V8 drivers, the race was held on Melbourne’s wettest day in three years. Fun, but yuck! Imagine being wet and sodden all day, and then qualifying six seconds off the pace. Not good for the skin or the ego!

Ash Budd

Signing Out Anyway, Team MNews wasn’t there to win. We were there to finish, and that’s what we did. Phillip Mahoney and I finished in 30th place. Nothing that we’ll really put at the top of our racing CVs, but at least we got to the end. The leading duo of Jordie Lindstrom and Aaron Ivermee were some 13 laps up the road, which gave us a good indication that our career selection is safe for the time being. But while 30th doesn’t sound like a great result, getting to the end was a team triumph. Andrew van Leeuwen called the shots in pit lane,

making sure the #47 kart was on the track at every possible moment it could be (even if it was trundling around a lot slower than others). Mahoney’s dad James helped us spanner the kart, and my dear wife Donna made us terrific turkey and cranberry sandwiches. Delish! It was truly a team effort – reminiscent of how life goes down at the MNews office. To all our loyal readers, advertisers, contributors, teams, drivers, sponsors – and most of all my work colleagues (and mates), I wish you a Merry Christmas and a safe holiday period.

Letters

Have your say, email us at mail@mnews.com.au. Keep letters to the point! Precautions In regards to you asking how could the chances of Lucas Dumbrell's incident that he suffered at Oran Park be reduced? I must first start by saying I have been close with Lucas since I have been about 12 years old. I care about him and this issue and feel I have two things to bring to the table. The first thing is that I have

been competing in the Indy Racing League which has spent an enormous amount on safety over the past 10 years. All IndyCar and Lights cars are equipped with on-board yellow caution lights which flash side to side immediately once the caution has been deployed. It is always the first indicator that I have been given to slow down and has worked well. Secondly I enjoyed a

successful rookie season in Indy Lights driving for Sam Schmidt Motorsports. Sam Schmidt drove in three Indy 500s however while testing at Walt Disney World Speedway in January 2000, he suffered a heavy rear impact with the wall and was diagnosed as a quadriplegic. Since then the SAFER barrier has been introduced (however Sam went on to become the most successful Indy Lights

team owner in addition to running a car at the Indy 500 each year). Most significant was the creation of his paralysis foundation to which many, including Tony George donate towards every year (www. samschmidt.org). Sam's foundation would benefit Lucas and his recovery that we are all behind. James Davison Via email

opinion HONDA’s withdrawal from Formula 1 has produced the most rapid and decisive bout of cutting and slashing in the history of the world’s premier motorsport category. It took the collapse of a team funded by one of the world’s biggest manufacturers, with a long and proud history in F1, to burst the F1 bubble. Through the 90s and into the 2000s, the sport has forged on, growing ever-more elitist, ever more crassly expensive, ignoring the warning signs, tinkering around the edges in terms of dealing with reality and the real world. Now the real world has hit Formula 1, hard.

opinion

On a personal level, 2008 has been a shocker for FIA head Max Mosley but, perhaps in a bid to salvage something from that wreck, Mosley has leapt into F1’s financial crisis, with the urgent cooperation of the teams, and has got a result. The changes are, in most cases, logical. There will be a cost, in human employment terms, particularly in the UK’s Midlands ‘F1-belt’ where several teams and support industry are based. But, at last, F1 has, in broad terms, been forced to look outside the bubble. While a little of F1’s ‘innovation’ sales pitch has been compromised, for now (particularly in the engine department), survival, putting on a show at a fraction of the cost,

Chris Lambden Publisher

is the issue until the world slugs ots way through the Recession bog. The Show won’t be noticeably affected – it’ll be quite similar to the early 70s, when 90 percent of the grid lined up with the ubiquitous Ford Cosworth V8 engine in the back. Indeed, many still see that as one of F1’s golden periods. The message, and the challenge, should not be overlooked here in Australia, where our own top category, V8 Supercars, faces its own economic challenges. We haven’t had our own ‘Honda’ yet – though both Ford and Holden have significantly cut their direct investment. But there are sponsors who must also be hurting. The brains trust at V8 Supercars needs to look long and hard at what F1 is doing, take a deep breath, and get stuck in.

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And in late-breaking news … eLETTER OF THE WEEK Whinners Cup Hats off to JW on a stellar year of motor racing. A full on guts and determination attack on the championship even though it was in the bag after Tassie. Rather than run around conservatively collecting points you gave the fans, the team and outsiders who don’t regularly follow the sport

something entertaining to watch and enjoy, thanks. Hanging out for 2009 and another Mountain moment (no pressure though!), well done to Lowndes as well, I am proud to have a team like T8 to support. As for Skaifey, I was never a fan, didn’t like the man, but I will miss seeing him running around on the weekends.

All the best in whatever it is you end up doing. I was also glad to read last week’s letters and see that some Holden fans out there didn’t have their blinkers on about the true ownership of HRT but let’s not forget who always owned K/ mart/HSV/Toll racing also! Warren Furze Warren.furze@bigpond.com

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

s k c s i e T Cross +

s w e N e , , 8 r e 0 v 0 o 2 n n o i s a d e s e k e r h o t w Withs at what n’t ... look what did and

review

Dirk Klynsmith

What’s the points? SOMETIMES, the V8 Supercars points system leaves a lot to be desired. The generic 100 points a race, 300 points per weekend system utilised this season was, for the most part, fine. However, problems occured when the system changed. This year at the L&H 500, the system fell over completely. How could Jamie Whincup and Craig Lowndes leave the round with the most points and yet not be crowned the winners? Although it didn’t happen this year, the same confusion has happened at the

Clipsal 500 in the past, a fault in Clipsal’s original points format. It’s a crazy system that really, when you think about it, makes no sense whatsoever. The winner should be the guy with the points ... The frustrating thing is this could happen at almost every round next year if the proposed new system goes ahead. Next year will see a 100km race on Saturday and a 200km race on Sunday at the Sprint Rounds, with the winner of Sunday’s race, regardless of points, winning the round.

Let’s just hope that V8 Supercars comes to its senses and scraps the plan. The driver with the most points at the end of the weekend should be the winner of the round. So far, it’s a big cross and needs to be changed. On the subject of points, perhaps a reward for pole should be applied. Many other categories give points for pole position and in many cases it helps decide the round winner. A point score for pole could help avoid situations like Winton this year, with three drivers finishing the round on the same points.

Y all the fuss

the youngest-ever World Champion in GP racing and Whinners going on a lateseason tear that reminded us of Mark Skaife in the glory days of HRT to wrap up the V8 Supercar title. Busch did not take a title. He fell short in NASCAR’s Chase for the Sprint Cup, but only after pegging an astonishing 21 wins in NASCARs’ top three categories – stats that would represent a good CAREER to other drivers. At one stage, he was in contention for all three crowns before stepping back from Nationwide and Craftsman Truck duties to

a Dirk Klynsmith

MOTOR racing is an evolution sport. As each year passes by, there are younger and faster drivers moving to the pointy end of the grid while, further back, the greyhairs stumble, then fall, to be consumed by jackals. Okay, that is an exaggeration, but you take my point. The speed of the ‘Generation Ys’ was a major point this year. Lewis Hamilton and Kyle Busch were born four months apart in 1985, at a time when Jamie Whincup was approaching the Terrible Twos. Two of those three drivers won 2008 titles, Hamilton becoming

shoot for the top prize. That he fell short in the last 10 races does not stop him being NASCAR’s fastest man and, probably, the fans’ most hated. That indicates that the future of the sport is in good hands but, already, there are

signs that another generation will be coming through to continue the cycle. To Joey Logano, 18, Shane van Gisbergen, 19, and Sebastian Vettel, 21, the three blokes we mentioned at the top are starting to look ancient …

review

Ballasting Act

ALL the talk in motorsport at the moment is to reduce this and reduce that. But to improve the racing, why don’t we add stuff – like weight! Success ballast isn’t a new concept. The World Touring Car Championship has used it to great effect over the past few years, and Australia was introduced to it this year in the MINI Challenge. Both WTCC and MINI saw a good variety of winners over the year and the racing was always close and generally unpredictable. Australia’s three premier sedan categories – V8 Supercars, Carrera Cup and V8 Utes – are crying out for this technology. There is considerable debate that one or all of these classes would benefit from success ballast. Adding weight also gives the sport an extra media angle. “Jamie Whincup will compete at Barbagallo Raceway this weekend with an extra 50kg in the boot of his Falcon FG,” says the Daily Dump. Easy story angle, easy sell to the public. At the end of the day, the most consistent driver with the best results is going to the any championship. But adding a variable like this could just be the ticket to even more entertainment – and isn’t that what it’s all about.

Round and Black WHEN Garth Tander drove a Carrera Cup car as a PR stunt at Queensland Raceway this year, his first comments were telling ones. What impressed GT the most about the car was the superior grip offered by the front tyres, something that he said was going to be a necessary introduction to V8 Supercars should overtaking be improved. “The grip from the front tyre is unbelievable,” said Tander at the time. “That would certainly give you more confidence because

Dirk Klynsmith

Should V8 Supercars adopt a success ballast? GRANT ROWLEY gives the concept a tick, PHIL BRANAGAN gives it a cross

SORRY, success ballast does not work. It may have played a minimal role on the WTCC this season but let’s face it, as soon as BMW decided that they were not going to play the diesel game, SEAT and Yvan Muller were always going to be the combination to beat. But in previous years, there have been numerous occasions when teams and drivers have planned their seasons around success ballast. How many times have drivers tooled around, staying out of trouble, on tracks where they knew they would struggle, only to go like a blur next time out? The other thing is, success ballast confuses the fans. Not the I-can-name-Ross-Stone’s-favourite-wines fans (those who will follow the sport no matter what) but the casual sports fans who want to like motor racing, providing it does not get too complicated. KISS – Keep It Simple, Stupid – should be tattooed onto the pets of everyone who makes decisions involving the sport’s rules. So please, no success ballast for me.

you could get up the inside of somebody and the car would actually turn, rather than just locking up and sliding into the door. That would be much better racing.” That’ s the path V8SA is going down, having requested that Dunlop comes up with a ‘soft option’ tyre – which is likely to ‘go-off’ comparitively quickly. A softer option tyre is being tested at Winton and QR this week. And the target is a significant contrast between the regular rubber and the option compound.

Whether choce is optional, or teams will be required to run both at some stage, and at what races, has yet to be finalised. Tyres certainly didn’t make the headlines as often as they have in the past this year, which generally means Dunlop did a good job (drivers love to blame tyres when things go wrong, but don’t traditionally praise the round black things when they win). And if the option tyre is everything that it might be, it will add another element to The Show. A big tick from eNews.

The price isn’t right IF this were a school report it would read ‘C2 – reasonable effort so far, but needs to lift his game.’ Like Formula 1, something will happen soon that will jolt V8 Supercars into SERIOUS cost-cutting mode. To date, it’s pretty much been trimming around the edges in regulation terms – most serious savings coming from teams grouping together and collaborating on common parts. Recent decisions on standard camshafts, wheels etc were deferred when, really, it is time for action. There is a next step. Maybe not overnight, but it involves substantial further ‘standardisation.’ So that when a team owner tells us what he’s spending on his new cars for next year, our jaw doesn’t smash into the floor below … Incidentally, it isn’t just the premier category that needs to up the ante in the cost-cutting arena. It’s gonna need to be everywhere. It’s just a matter of scale. From F1 down, reality is biting. Hopefully it won’t last as long as some expect, but sports that consume big dollars – yes that’s us – need to think smart.

The show must go on OUR domestic touring car category remains one of the best of its kind, globally, and this year – and next year – sees a couple of subtle changes which have and will make positive changes to The Show, the way a V8 weekend entertains. It’s been subtle, but there has been a slight ‘step-back’ from the almost manic imposition of ‘bad-boy’ drive-throughs that characterised racing in 2007. Some of it is to do with a more relaxed

approach to Stewarding, but this in itself has come from a more realistic approach to on-track behaviour-monitoring by newfor-08 Standards Observer Tomas Mezera. Tomas was never big on bullshit, and his ‘let’s be real’ approach to what he expects from drivers has, after a couple of early-season tests of strength, has worked. Racing drivers have been able to race, they’ve rubbed panels – quite physically at times – but stupidity has been punished. The Show has been the

better for it. Coming for next year: bye-bye startline officials, hello start-line burnouts. Been that way in F1 for years. Remember how Craig Lowndes got a drive-through at Indy for doing one approaching the grid (yawn) in ’06 when the stupid rule was brought in? Well now it’s gone. Thank goodness. Another plus for The Show. All-in-all, The Show has, in our view, taken a solid step forward in ’08. Take a bow, boys.

Dirk Klynsmith

review

Happy New Year! AS eNews settles down to plate of turkey and lashings of gravy on Christmas Day, thoughts of 2009 may well inspire a jolt of excitement. You see, there is plenty to look forward to. And there are plenty of questions to which the answers will be intriguing. For starters, can the Kellys buck the trend of drivers making poor team owners? It

hasn’t worked out for Jason Bright and it certainly hasn’t worked out for Mark Skaife, so the boys from Mildura are certainly facing some tough precedents. But with Larry’s cars looking pretty pacey at the end of the year, they might have a fighting chance. Speaking of Brighty, will 2009 be the year he returns to the front of the field? Nobody has ever accused the

Stones of building or running a bad car, so if Bright himself can remember how to win, it could be a formidable combination. And what about those new tracks? The Townsville and Homebush street circuits will both be hoping to become the new Clipsal, but there is always the risk of becoming the next Canberra … Speaking of circuits, just as

we’ve started to get used to braving Winton in the middle of the year, the calendar has decided to throw Symmons Plains a May date. It was eight degrees in Tassie on the Saturday of thid year’s race, and that’s in November! Don’t think the office will fighting over that one. And it also means Barbagallo Raceway at the end of November. Bring your cool suits, everyone.

A word from the chairman

Tony Cochrane looks backward, and forward, with ANDREW VAN LEEUWEN MOTORSPORT NEWS: First things first; what are your impressions of Jamie Whincup being the series champion? Will he be a good ambassador for the sport? TONY COCHRANE: He’s a tremendous ambassador for the sport already, and a very fitting and deserving champion. I’m delighted that Jamie has had a breakthrough championship win, [because] he’s worked hard for many years and is a very dedicated individual. I think he’s going to be an outstanding ambassador in that role.

There have been a lot of new developments for the sport throughout the year. What is your highlight on the business side of the fence? There’s no highlight, we’ve just done a lot of things well and got ourselves well situated for what is going to be a tough financial year ahead. I think that V8 Supercars has got a very solid business. We have no debt, or basically no debt, and we’re in a good position to make sure we can provide good solid funding for our teams, to make sure they can continue. Just how big a worry is the financial squeeze to you? Are you confident that the sport is in the right position to weather the storm?

It’s an absolute worry for me, but I honestly think we’ve battened down the hatches well enough. We’ve done a good enough job over a number of years of getting the sport to where it is now, so we’re in the best possible shape to get through what is going to be a very, very difficult economic storm.

Dirk Klynsmith

One the sporting side, what has been your highlight of the year? No question, for me it was New Zealand. I thought the crowd over there, and the whole job that they did for a first-up effort was amazing. I also thought Bathurst this year was an outstanding event, and I thought Darwin

this year was a real highlight; another outstanding round of the championship.

RACE OF CHAMPIONS WEMBLEY STADIUM, GREAT BRITAIN

Once a Champion, always a

Sebastien Loeb dominated the Race of Champions at W

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a Champion

Wembley Stadium to secure his third title

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WORLD Rally Champion Sebastien Loeb has won his third Race of Champions title after defeating David Coulthard in the final at Wembley Stadium at the weekend. Loeb won the first round in the RoC buggies before Coulthard evened the score in the X-Bow, but Loeb was too good, winning the deciding round in the RoC buggy to win the title. Loeb made his way to the final by displacing Andy Priaulx in the semi and Sebastian Vettel in the second round, while Coulthard beat Carl Edwards in the semi to make the final. Edwards caused the biggest upset of the night by defeating Michael Schumacher in the second round over two laps in the Abarths. Aussie Troy Bayliss was knocked out in the first round along with Tom Kristensen, Jason Plato, Jaime Alguersuari and Jenson Button. In the Nations Cup contest, Germany defended it’s title after Schumacher beat home Mattias Ekstrom in the final. Vettel and Schumacher dominated in their run to the final, beating F1 Racing Team Great Britain and Team Ireland, while Team Scandinavia got the better of Team France, with Ekstrom beating Loeb in the Ford Focus WRC car. Bayliss and Alguersuari teamed up as an all-star entry but were knocked out in the first round by F1 Racing Team Great Britain. 33

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Champions day: Formula 1 World Champ Lewis Hamilton put on a show for the crowd, while former champ Michael Schumacher defended Germany’s crown in the Nations Cup with Seb Vettel. Carl Edwards, left, caused a big upset when he knocked Schumacher out of the single driver competition.

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MOJO ENDURO VACC PARK, PORT MELBOURNE

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The Big Melbourne Wet Jordie Lindstrom and Aaron Ivermee won a wet and wild MOJO Enduro

KARTING JORDIE Lindstrom and Aaron Ivermee were victorious on a cold and wet MOJO Enduro at VACC Park (Port Melbourne) last Saturday. In the wettest Melbourne day in three years, Pro Karting drivers Lindstrom and Ivermee won by two laps over the Bart and Shane Price. Constant rain fell through the day, making life interesting for the 45 teams competing in their 125cc Rotax-powered karts. “The weather seemed to work in our favour and after leading for the most of the race it was a big relief to cross the line for the win,” said Lindstrom. “Once again, I think the event was a huge success and look forward to defending our crown next year.” From the outset, the race was hard fought at the front with pole-sitters David

Sera and Kel Treseder leading the early running aboard the #1 Arrow entry. A spin by Sera dropped him to 10th spot but it wasn’t long before he was back in the race lead. Also running in close proximity was the CRG kart driven by Jason Pringle and the #6 Arrow kart with Jace Lindstrom at the wheel. Throughout the day, the race lead was exchanged on a number of occasions, with both the Ben Walter/Reif Corbett and William Yarwood/Nick Lakasas combinations spending a number of laps at the front. When the chequered flag fell, it was Lindstrom who slid his way across the finish line first aboard the #58 Arrow kart. Behind the Price brothers in second spot came Walter and Corbett. Tony Ciccione and Western Australian Steven Scoble, who was competing in his first event after recovering from a shoulder

injury sustained at the NSW State Titles two months ago, finished fourth in a CC Racing prepared entry. Pringle and Phil Lucas finished fifth. Of the non-regular karters, Fujitsu V8 Supercar drivers Taz Douglas and Tim Slade finished ninth after running as high as first during various stages of the day. Rod Nash Racing’s Tony D’Alberto and Supercheap Auto Racing V8 Supercar engineer James Small finished 13th, closely followed by event organiser Matthew Wall and Darren Hossack ahead of Garry Rogers Motorsport drivers Lee Holdsworth and Michael Caruso. Motorsport News representatives Grant Rowley and Phillip Mahoney finished 30th, 13 laps off the leaders. In the 90-minute Junior National Pro support race, Bradley Jenner took victory, three seconds clear of Liam Morey with Brenton Mountjoy rounding out the podium.

Pit this lap! Shane Price, left, signals to brother Bart to pit for one of their compulsory three stops. Right, Reif Corbett and Ben Walter finished in third place. Above, the calm and the storm. The field compete warm-up laps before the beginning of four hours of wet torture.

Paris Charles

Farr, Fast and First

Robbie Farr dominated Round 7 of the WSS in Latrobe. PARIS CHARLES WORLD SERIES AFTER being so close and yet so far, a determined Robbie Farr bounced back from last week’s disappointment to win Round 7 of the Wanless World Series Sprintcars in Latrobe, Tasmania. Farr was on a mission aboard the West Coast Pipelines/Orrcon supported J&J machine, winning the A–Dash to set himself up with the all-important pole position for Sunday night’s feature event. Farr raced away to a handy lead and from there on, he was unreachable. Behind Farr were the big guns of the series.

Brooke Tatnell proved to be extremely fast early in the evening to claim the Quick Time Award for the fastest qualifier. Max Dumesny moved from seventh to third to take the Hoosier Hard Charger Award and the final step on the podium, while Trevor Green and Alice Springs young gun James McFadden were next to round out the top five. Despite starting on the front row Adrian Redpath dropped back to finish sixth and was the first of the locals ahead American driver Greg DeCaires, making his Australian debut. Just behind him was Kerry Madsen, driving the Robyn Dawkins–owned car,

finishing just ahead of his son, Jason Dawkins, with Jason Redpath rounding out the top 10. The teams will now make their way back across Bass Strait and roll into South Australia for the next three rounds of the series, which will coincide with the first round of the Wanless World Series Sprintcars Speedweek. Speedweek contest will consist of five rounds of racing in just seven days finishing at the Sun Gold Stadium in Warrnambool on New Year’s Day. Points: Tatnell 886, Farr 842, Dumesny 840, Green 818, Lack 696.

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John Morris/ Mpix

NSW SPRINTCARS CURRENT Track Champion Ian Loudoun took out his first Parramatta Sprintcar victory of the summer last Saturday night, defeating Ian Madsen and Craig Brady to win the final TPCR A Main before the big Christmas/New Year International shoot outs. It was a clean sweep for the #18 Cool machine and, after setting quick time in qualifying, he scored a great win in heat one over Sammy Walsh and Darryl Campbell.

Starting from position on in the 30-lap A Main, Loudoun simply forged away from the pack to claim a superb win. Mitch Dumesny, the winner of the last three TPCR A Mains, looked to be Loudoun’s main challenger after setting second fast time, he also took out a heat win and shared the front row start in the Main. He ran second to Loudoun early on but slipped off the track exiting Turn 2 and dropped back a number of positions to finally greet the chequer in fifth, just behind

John Morris/ Mpix

Track Champ lights up PCR Sammy Walsh. Dubbo star Jeremy Cross was having his best Parramatta night, after also scoring a heat win. He was running second in the A Main and looking for a podium finish. Unfortunately Turn 2 also caught him out and he lost second before retiring late in the race. The battle for the minors in the closing stages was brilliant with Brady, Madsen and Walsh all trading positions while the only major incident saw Grant Tunks flipping over with Roddy Bell Bowen, Damien

Abbott and Martin Lawes also involved. Other winners were Danny Reidy, who took out heat three while the C Main, which saw James Thomson take out a confident victory with Abbott winning the B Main. WA star Luch Monte made a rare TPCR appearance and after leading the B Main, got caught up in a Turn 2 incident and retired. Sydney race fans are now focusing on the International races set to start on Boxing Day. – GREG BOSCATO

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Ash Budd

Peek-a-Boo! Where’s JR gone? JASON Richards has been in the news a bit over the last seven days, with eNews breaking the story last week that he’s likely to be heading to Albury for next season. But we reckon his attempts to shield himself from further media attention

at the MOJO Rotax Kart Enduro last weekend were a bit much. Pulling the front bar off his team-mate Adam DeBorre’s Arrow kart just to stop our snapper’s lens catching a glimpse was way over the top! Despite the loss of the nose cone (and

a couple of other problems), the Richards/ DeBorre entry managed to wade through the puddles to finish 25th. Meanwhile, the best of the race car driver teams (as opposed to the karting gurus) was Taz Douglas and Tim Slade, who came home ninth.

Odd Spot WHILE a heap of his V8 Supercar colleagues were busy playing in puddles at Todd Road last Friday, Shane van Gisbergen was out at Calder Park slaving away doing sponsor rides. And while eNews Dep Ed van Leeuwen doesn’t cough up for any of the signage on the SP Tools Falcon, he did manage to sneak into the passenger seat for a lap or three. He’s been pretty quiet about what actually happened, so let’s just say that the two ‘Vans’ aren’t likely to be teaming up for Bathurst any time soon. Thanks anyway, Giz ...