Motorsport eNews Issue 93 - February 24-March 2, 2009

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Issue No. 093 24 February – 2 March 2009

e f i a k s e v o l a t got e l o r v t r o f d e d a e h p m a E x -c h

WtIoNth!e

Go AGP in Style

GAS ’Em UP

New look for Sprint Gas Racing

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. 093 | 24 Feb – 2 March 2009

news 5 Thanks, Kochie 7 Red Gas 9 Super Sonic Kiwi 11 Coming and Going 14 Audi’s new R15 16 Oliver’s Army

chat 22 5 minutes with ... opinion 24 Branagan 25 Bargs

What role for Skaifey?

SGR’s new look Gaunt gets FV8 seat Honda, USF1 D-Day WARNING: Wow factor Biante’s new voice Daniel Gaunt Vale: Celeb Race !2 Hours ...

race 26 Evo X makes XII hours Bathurst 12 Hour report 32 Mount Panor Drama All the B12 supports 34 It never rains in Cali ... Mattman wins twice 38 It’s just not cricket A1GP hits the ‘Veldt

trade 46 Classifieds

Motorsport eNews is published by Australasian Motorsport News ABN 55 125 120 702 Publisher: C Lambden Copyright: Material published in Motorsport eNews is copyright and may not be reproduced in full or in part without the written permission of the publisher.

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

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

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

It doesn’t matter what sort of cars you put on the starting grid at Bathurst, they just look great ...

TKR throw the vote to the public ...

Should our driver be Aussie o

Team boss says All-Blacks need an Aussie to be near the front, but is that what the people want?

V8 SUPERCARS THE New Zealand public is in the driving seat for Team Kiwi Racing.

According to team boss David John, the driver of the #021 AllBlack Commodore will be partly decided by the Kiwi public.

While punters won’t actually decide who drives the car, John and the team are taking an unofficial poll as to whether New Zealanders want to see an up-and-coming Kiwi driver cutting his teeth, or a more experienced Aussie challenging for top 10s in the car.

“The question is, what do the public want?” John told eNews.

“There are two trains of

thought; we’ve always been about a young Kiwi driver having a place to kick-start his career in V8 Supercars, but the reality is that a rookie is always going to run 20th or worst for the best part of his first season.

“If you put a young Kiwi in the car, you have to be prepared to run back there.

“Now we’ve copped a fair bit of criticism over the last year or so, so maybe it’s time to look at the other option, choosing a more experienced Australian driver.

For that to happen, the Kiwi public would need to get their

head around having an Aussie in the car.

“Don’t get me wrong, there is plenty of good up-andcoming talent over here [In New Zealand], but there is no one at the moment who would be fast enough to run right near the front.”

There is one exception to the rule – Craig Baird. As exclusively reported in eNews a fortnight ago, Baird has been in the frame for the TKR drive. However, John says if he is committed to his endurance duties for Holden Racing Team, which, under V8

Supercars Australia rules would preclude him from a TKR deal, then talks are unlikely to come to fruition.

“If he is indeed signed to HRT, and that’s what he’s telling us, then there is no point continuing talking about a deal,” John confirmed.

TKR is currently involved in a radio campaign to gauge the Kiwi public’s opinion over the concept of an Australian driver, as well as keeping an open feedback email, talking to the sponors and their databases, and “asking everyone we see.”

The Kiwi public always have a say in the makeup of our team, that’s how it works – TKR boss david john

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Dirk Klynsmith

or Kiwi?

Should the All-Blacks go for an Aussie, there are plenty of options available, including Steve Owen, Dean Canto and Jonathon Webb.

Owen is an obvious link to draw, thanks to the team’s new deal to return to Paul Morris Motorsport hardware in 2009, an operation Owen was involved with last season during the Fujitsu Series.

However, John would not be drawn on potential candidates, saying only “we have a long list.”

So now it’s up to the public to decide what side of the ditch they want their driver to come from …

“The Kiwi public have to have a say in the make-up of our team, that’s how it has always worked,” said John.

“But if they want the All-Black car to be up the front, then we need to be looking at an Aussie driver.”

– ANDREW VAN LEEUWEN

Skaife set for Seven role V8 SUPERCARS

Peter Bury

Dirk Klynsmith

LOOK for Mark Skaife to appear on the V8 Supercar telecasts this season – and probably quite a bit more.

The commentary team that will work on V8 Supercar Television’s and Seven’s 2009 Championship Series telecasts has been settled and, while nobody associated with the programming wanted to talk to Motorsport eNews, we believe that there is clarity about what will happen.

We expect that Skaife, who stepped out of the Holden Racing team Commodore at Oran Park late last year, will partner Neil Crompton in the commentary box at all events (which will mostly be two rounds) of the series. The two former team-mates will be partnered at the major rounds by host and co-commentator Matty White but, as reported last week, Aaron Noonan will fill White’s commentary role at rounds at which the latter’s ongoing Today Tonight commitments prevent him from being involved.

But while Seven declined to comment on Skaife’s further roles, we believe that so highly is he thought of that there are discussions in progress about expanding his role to one that takes in non-V8 Supercar roles. Skaife could not be contacted for comment prior to eNews going live, but our sources suggest that he is being considered for a variety of roles beyond

the V8 telecasts.

The other changes for V8 Supercars telecasts will be in pit lane. Sunrise sports presenter Mark Beretta will return, and is expected to act as host on the ‘non-White’ events, and alongside him will be Mark Larkham, whose addition to the team was a highlight last year.

The two Marks are expected to share pitlane between them, as we believe that former Prime reporter and, for two years, V8 Supercar pitlane reporter, Dan Gibson will not return to the series.

Curtain call: Dan Gibson, left, is unlikely to be seen on V8 telecasts in 2009.

BRIEFLY... n Tickets for the Falken Tasmania Challenge – the Tasmanian V8 round, brought forward to May – have gone on sale via Ticketek. Among upgrades to the Symmons Plains circuit, both the Turn 2 and John Bowe Straight grandstands will be covered.

n The tyre battle at the Bathurst 24 Hours provided a comprehensive win for Dunlop. The company’s DZ03G ‘tarmac’ tyre was fitted to the race-winning Salmon/ Longhurst/White Mitsubishi EVO X, as well as the similar runner-up car driven by Crimp/ Ricciardello/Kostera, and the fourth and fifth-placed cars. n The Victorian Open Sprint Kart Championships, postponed due to the recent bushfire threat in Victoria, will now be held on May 810 at the Hume International Raceway.

Dirk Klynsmith

n Following Melbourne’s lead, the start of the Malaysian F1 Grand Prix has been delayed until 5pm local time, as a compromise solution to the push by Bernie Ecclestone for a night race. The later start may be interesting – the area is famous for rain storms, which often sweep through late in the afternoon …

Makes’ future Up in the Air

Format for Manufacturer’s prize yet to be V8 SUPERCARS THE format of the V8 Supercar Manufacturer Championship is undecided, and may not be settled until after the start of the V8 Supercar Championship Series.

Changes to Ford and Holden’s support of its teams have meant that the traditional method of awarding the title to the brand that wins the most rounds (or this year, events) may change, subject to a decision by the V8 Supercars

Australia Board.

V8SA spokesman Cole Hitchcock said that a decision would be made “later in the year”.

“For the time being, it is status quo,” said Hitchcock.

“Whether there will be a Manufacturers’ title has not been raised or discussed.”

Both makers now aim their direct support at a smaller number of teams, though most of the teams receive some level of support, whether it be directly (by payment) or via the

supply of parts and technical support. Ford Performance Racing and Stone Brothers Racing will carry Ford branding, while the Holden Racing Team and Walkinshaw Racing receive the equivalent support on the red side of the fence.

In the meantime, there will be a number of racewinning teams, like TeamVodafone and Jim Beam Racing, that are expected to race without any manufacturer branding this season.

– PHIL BRANAGAN

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Guess who’s Reddy?

JDav for Vision

IndyCar Media

INDY LIGHTS JAMES Davison will race a second season of Indy Lights for Vision Racing.

Melbourne’s Davison, who competed in 15 races last season driving for Sam Schmidt Motorsports in IndyCars’ development series, has signed on to drive this season for Vision Racing.

Owned by Tony George, the CEO of the Indy Racing League, this will be the team’s first Indy Lights effort.

George’s team currently is only planning a single entry in both Lights and IndyCars with stepson, Ed Carpenter, as driver.

CHECK HERE 1030 TUESDAY FOR COMPLETE LIVERY V8 SUPERCARS SPRINT Gas Racing has turned red.

Here is a sneak peek of the livery that the team will unveil in Melbourne today. [For the rest of the car, look here late on Tuesday morning].

“For the first time in the team’s history we’ve gone red,” SGR’s Jeff Grech said.

“Red is one of Sprint Gas’ corporate colours and a colour that stands out well on and off the track. Our focus was to

design a livery that was clean and stylish, we’ve definitely achieved this. The cars have a nice flow to them.”

Greg Murphy and his new team-mate Jason Bargwanna are both enthusiastic about the new look.

“I love the look of the team and the cars, we look sensational,” Bargwanna said.

“We’ve made a big step forward in presentation; today we look like a professional team,” Murphy said.

“The sport has made some

really interesting format changes that will spice things up a lot. We want to deliver this year with some good results.

Podiums are definitely on the agenda.”

SGR has made some changes during the off-season, notably recruiting former HRT engine man Mike Henry to the Dandenong-based team. The team is due to test at Winton on March 9-10, and its team apparel will be available at all V8 events during the year and on-line.

Wall gets enduro chance V8 SUPERCARS DAVID Wall will drive for Paul Cruickshank’s Wilson Security Racing team in this year’s V8 Supercar Season of Endurance.

Wall has been signed to the squad for the L&H 500 at Phillip Island and the Bathurst 1000 at Mount Panorama, although it is not yet known whether he will drive with Fabian Coulthard, Michael Patrizi, or whoever is signed as the team’s fourth enduro driver.

It won’t be Wall’s first experience with Cruickshank; he spent two seasons as part of Paul Cruickshank Racing’s Carrera Cup line-up back in 2006 and 2007.

“David is a great young talent,” said Cruickshank.

“He was a pleasure to work with in 2006 and 2007 and we are very glad to welcome him back to the team. At this stage, we haven’t confirmed which car he’ll drive in, but whatever the pairing,

I’m very confident that he’ll be a valuable asset to our endurance line up.”

Wall agrees that it doesn’t matter who he is driving with, and says being part of the team is a dream come true.

“Racing a V8 is something I’ve been working toward ever since I started driving and when I began racing at a high level with PCR in 2006 it became a realistic, achievable goal,” he said.

“This drive with WSR is kind of a dream come true and I’m doing everything I can to give myself the best shot at it. My fitness training has doubled; I’m working twice as hard in the gym and doing whatever I can to make this work and hopefully repay everyone behind the scenes who have helped me get this far.”

Wall will climb back behind the wheel of a V8 Supercar for the first time at the Queensland Raceway test day on March 11. His regular gig for the season will be racing a Porsche Cup S in the Australian GT Championship.

Trimble: I’m out for 2009 FUJITSU V8s

MICHAEL Trimble is getting set for a season on the sidelines, despite having a break-through season in the Fujitsu V8 Supercar Series in 2008.

The Victorian was originally in line to join Bryce Washington at Sonic Motor Racing Services for this year’s Fujitsu Series, but was unable to come up with the budget. Now, for the first time in

eight years, he is faced with the prospect of not racing anything on a fullt-ime basis.

“I’ve pretty much given up on a full-time ride, so we’ll be sitting this one out,” Trimble told eNews.

“I’d like to do a couple of rounds of the Fujitsu Series with a good team if I can, and I’ll be working hard for an endurance drive, but as far as a full-time gig goes I’m not even close.

“It’s shattering. Everything

started so well last season, so I’m not sure what went wrong. For the last eight years or so I have been preparing to start a season, whether it has been Formula Ford or Formula 3 or V8s or whatever.

Now I’ve got nothing in the works. It feels really weird.”

Trimble finished ninth in the Fujitsu Series last year, after running as high as second in the mid-part of the season.

– ANDREW VAN LEEUWEN

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Gaunt gets SBR FV8 deal FUJITSU V8s KIWI sensation Daniel Gaunt has scored a plum full-time Fujitsu V8 Supercar Series ride for season 2009.

The 23-year-old will join forces with Andy McElrea to run an ex-Stone Brothers Racing BF Falcon in the entire FV8 Series.

And the deal includes support from SBR (plus an engine), and a chance to drive with the factory-backed team in the L&H 500 and Bathurst 1000 endurance races.

“This is just a great opportunity for me,” Gaunt told eNews.

“I’m going to be learning with guys who are around my level, and the plan is to get the right experience so I can move up

one day to the main game.

“There is also the chance to drive for Stone Brothers Racing in the main game, so that would be two really good outings at the top level.”

Gaunt will also have support from Triple X Motorsport, the New Zealand team that has been running him in Porsches across the ditch.

“It hasn’t all been worked out yet, but I guess that Stone Brothers will supply the car, the engine and an engineer, as well as doing all the sub-assembly.

McElrea will run the program, and Triple X will more than likely have an involvement somehow, at the track.”

SBR boss Ross Stone is also excited about working with the young driver.

“I’ve kept an eye on Daniel’s racing,’ he said.

“When we ran him in a driver evaluation test he was really impressive. He knew what he wanted – it left a good impression on us, to the extent that if he does this program he’s on a list that I’d like to have as him as a co-driver in

the endurance races for us.”

Gaunt got some valuable miles in a V8 Supercar late last year with a couple of one-off outings for Team Kiwi Racing in the main series.

– ANDREW VAN LEEUWEN For more with Daniel Gaunt, turn to page 22 for ‘Five Minutes With’

Sonic begins Supercar testing FUJITSU V8s SONIC Motor Racing Services has begun its testing program ahead of its first foray into V8 Supercar racing.

The team is testing at Winton today (Tuesday), following on from its first test with its ex-Triple Eight BF Falcons last Tuesday. Confirmed driver Bryce Washington will be in the driver’s seat, as will James Moffat, who is likely to be

named as the team’s second V8 signing.

According to Washington, the first test went off without a hitch.

“The Falcon is a lot different from what I’m used to; it’s a lot different to a Sportscar,” he told eNews.

“It’s all about getting my head around the gearbox and sitting back on the right hand side of the car. I need to make the most of every opportunity in the car at this stage, mainly so I can understand

how the car reacts to set-up changes.

“You hear people saying the cars aren’t great to drive, but it was so much better than I was expecting.”

Washington also said that the support from Triple Eight has helped Sonic, who has never engineered a V8 Supercar before, get on top of the cars fast.

“We’ve been given so much information, which has been really helpful,” he added.

– ANDREW VAN LEEUWEN

Allemendinger to stay put FORMULA 1 IF and when USF1 announces its drivers, AJ Allmendinger, top right, is not going to be one of them.

The future of the Americanbased Formula 1 team is expected to be clearer tomorrow when Peter Windsor, below, reveals some details of the team on

SpeedTV on Tuesday US time, but the former Champ Car star said over the weekend that he was focused on staying in NASCAR’s Sprint Cup Series.

“I’m not focused on that [F1],” Allmenginer, 27, said.

“I love being a part of NASCAR. Going to all these races and being around the fans, I enjoy being here. I

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enjoy the racing ... I enjoy all that.

“I’m a true American at heart; I like to in-between races ... watch my NFL on Sunday and all that. I’ve learned in this sport, after everything that has happened to me the last couple of years, don’t deny anything. Just nod your head and smile and say there’s a chance.”

But Allmendinger did admit that F1 cars interest him and he did not rule out testing one in the future.

“It has intrigue for sure,” he added.

“Driving a racecar, no matter what it is, has intrigue to me.

That [F1 car] is something that I haven’t driven before, so it’s intriguing, but it’s not my focus either.”

The California-born driver has been the revlation of the Sprint Cup season, taking third at Dayton in his Richard Petty Motorsports Dodge.

Tabloid reports have linked IndyCar driver Danica Patrick and third-generation racer Marco Andretti, right middle, to one of the seats in the team – however our sources indicate that one man who may be in line for at least a test is Ryan HunterReay, bottom right, currently without a drive after the end of Rahal Letterman’s program.

Hunter-Reay is only expected to compete in the Indianapolis 500 at this stage.

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Allmendinger will stay in NASCAR as the USF1 plans become clearer

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Massa tops testing

Decision time FORMULA 1

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FORMULA 1

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A DECISION over the future of the Honda Racing Formula 1 team is expected this week, after recent speculation about Virgin’s interest in the team.

Virgin boss Sir Richard Branson added to the speculation that his company was about to buy the team when he told the BBC at the weekend that saying anything was difficult.

“If we are in discussions then I wouldn’t be allowed to say because there would be some kind of clause which would prohibit me talking about it,” he said cryptically.

“I love grands prix.

“If Bernie Ecclestone can make it more cost-effective for the likes of the Virgin brand to come into the sport, and if he can champion clean motor-car racing, which is possible to do by making sure all the cars run on clean fuels, at some stage we might be interested in getting involved.”

But when pressed, the entrepreneur stated only, “If there were I wouldn’t be allowed to tell you, so I can’t clarify it I’m afraid.”

Meanwhile, Ecclestone has told The News of the World that he tried to assist with the management buyout of the team.

“I tried to help with the management

buy-out,” he said. “They should have taken what I offered.

“It was a very good offer for everybody concerned. It gave them complete protection but they wanted to do things on their own.

“Now all we can do is hope and pray.”

The team is believed to have a supply of Mercedes-Benz customer engines available, and eNews believes that Jenson Button’s training regime recently stepped up.

FELIPE Massa has topped the final day of testing in Bahrain ahead of Nick Heidfeld and Timo Glock.

Massa lapped just under one tenth faster than the BMW Sauber F1 driver after completing 113 laps of the Bahrain International Circuit.

It signals the end of the latest four-day test in Bahrain, attended by Ferrari, BMW Sauber and Toyota.

“Today was a good day apart from some minor problems that held us up a bit,” Massa said.

“We have to work on that to avoid that they come back. And the strong wind bothered us a bit. We drove many kilometres to improve the car and I think we’re heading in the right direction.”

After two weeks in the Middle-East the next test for Formula 1 teams will be in the first week of March, in Valencia.

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Emmo l

What happens in Vegas ...

NASCAR SPRINT CUP MARCOS Ambrose has emerged unscathed from an aircraft scare in the USA. The Tasmanian was travelling in Michael Waltrip Racing’s private plane to the Ontario, California airport close to the Fontana track last Thursday when the pilot reported oil pressure problems.

With the left engine shut down, the plane made a safe landing, and there were no

injuries or further concerns.

Ambrose, his JTG Daugherty Racing co-owner Tad Geschickter and the rest of the MWR crew members, including David Reutimann, were forced to complete the rest of the 380km trip to the Auto Club Speedway in a chartered bus.

“There was an issue with one motor that lost oil pressure, so they shut it down,” remarked Ambrose, “but everybody is safe and sound.”

– MARTIN D CLARK

Dale Jr owns up

Earnhardt admits he screwed up at Daytona NASCAR DALE Earnhardt Jr has admitted that he caused the melee that took multiple cars out of the Daytona 500.

American racing’s biggest name at first deflected accusations of blame in the crash, but at California last week, raised his hand and owned up to triggering the lap 124 crash.

“I definitely could have used better judgment coming back on the racetrack,” he admitted.

“There was rain coming. I was a lap down. I had to get my lap back if I was going to try to win the race.”

But he maintained that his competitive instincts remained intact.

“It is called a race. There always is urgency no

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matter what your situation is. It is the Daytona 500 and everybody knew we weren’t going to get the whole race in. When there is no determined lap when you know it’s going to be over with, you have to take all the risk, man.

“It’s a big race. So you race hard. I hate that they wrecked all the cars, and I hate that me and Brian had to get on bad terms with each other. Those things I regret, but I’m out there racing. I’ve made mistakes before, and it probably won’t be the last one I make.”

Earnhardt has had a tough start to the season, falling a lap behind at Daytona when his missed his pitbox and dropping out at California with a blown engine. The Hendrick driver is currently a lowly 35th in the drivers’ standings.

Martin D Clark

Ambrose in plane scare on way to California

Fittipaldi-Castrone have led IRS to Tax

INDYCAR DETAILS of just how Helio Castroneves was came to the attention of the US government’s Internal Revenue Service are emerging – and it appears to involve former World champion Emerson Fittipaldi.

Prominent US magazine Car and Driver has reported that the two Brazilians were involved in a court battle over a five-year period, involving a contract Fittipaldi claimed to have with the two-time Indianapolis 500 winner. When Castroneves was runner-up to Tony Kanaan in Indy Lights in 1997, Fittipaldi offered to manage his career, and assisted in getting him his first CART ride in 1998 with Bettenhausen Motorsports and then Hogan Racing in 1999, before the latter folded at the end of the season.

When Greg Moore was tragically killed at Fontana in 1999, Castroneves signed with Team Penske, and his substantial earning became the subject of the dispute.

Fittipaldi USA, Emmo’s company, claimed that

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linked to case

eves management law suits may Evasion investigation

Castroneves broke their management agreement by signing with Penske (for which Fittipalid, ironically, used to race), claimed a management fee of US$3.3m, and sued him in 2000. Castroneves countersued over eight separate claims, including a claim that Fittipaldi failed to raised $1m in sponsorship as promised, and all suits were dismissed in a Miami in 2004.

Fittipaldi appealed the decision, ultimately all the way to the Supreme Court of Florida, but the appeals

were unsuccessful. According to a Car and Driver report, Fittipaldi was even ordered to pay Castroneves’s legal fees of US$60,000. Did Fittipaldi turn Castroneves in to the IRS? Hard to prove but the lawsuits caused public record documentation of his earnings now being used by the IRS as evidence against him.

In the meantime, Will Power will test the Penske #3 Dallara this week, and Castroneves faces his day in court, starting March 2.

– MARY MENDEZ

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Happy Days: Fittipaldi, centre, with nephew Christian was on the losing end of several legal actions against Castroneves, right.

Door Open

Doornbos joins NHL this week INDYCAR

will be tough, but I’m training as much as possible and am in IT’S official; Robert Doornbos good condition. I’m ready to has joined Newman Haas achieve results. I’m also excited Lanigan Racing. to race in the legendary Indy The 27 year-old Dutchman 500.” will join Graham Rahal in the Despite recent difficulties in team, with Milka Duno still yet the financial sector, we believe to be confirmed. that ING will join the team “I’m very happy and proud as Doornbos’s sponsor, with to get this chance to race with McDonalds and Citgo featuring Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing,” on the other two entries. said Doornbos. “The history of NHL is due to appear at this the team and the big success week’s test at Homestead, and they have had in the past really Duno is also scheduled to attracted me. Racing on the appear. ovals should be very exciting. It – MARY MENDEZ

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Bernie and Lewis back UK Kart series KARTING

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IN a major coup for young British drivers bidding to follow in his footsteps, Lewis Hamilton, in company with the sport’s supremo Bernie Ecclestone, has lent his support to the UK’s premier karting series, Formula Kart Stars (FKS).

The championship – formerly known as BRDC Stars of Tomorrow – is the same one in which Hamilton first sprang to prominence more than a decade ago. The nine-time Grand Prix winner triumphed in the cadet class in 1996, which would prove to be the catalyst for his meeting with McLaren team principal Ron Dennis. The rest, as they say, is history.

Now, FKS has been given the highest possible seal of approval following Ecclestone’s endorsement,

with hopes that – with the patronage of Hamilton – it will provide a road from karting all the way up to the very pinnacle of international motorsport through its dual focus on racing and education.

Even more notably still, from 2010 onwards the championship will be part of the support programme for European and international F1 Grands Prix.

The new initiative was launched at the UK’s leading karting track PF International, with both Hamilton and father Anthony present to meet the current crop of budding young talents.

“For me it was fantastic to be back there and have the opportunity to catch-up with today’s Formula Kart Stars,” remarked the 24-year-old.

“It was really cool to see how determined and competitive

they are – I can remember being exactly the same!

FKS director Carolynn Hoy explained that the deal will include a new, F1-style logo, televised coverage on non Grand Prix weekends and links from its own website (www. formulakartstars.com) to the official F1 site.

“It’s very exciting news,” Hoy stated. “Bernie adopting the championship is absolutely fantastic. In 2010 Formula Kart Stars will be supporting the European Grands Prix, and from probably 2011 onwards we will be supporting international Grands Prix all around the world.”

The covers are off Audi’s challenger

Audi Sport

LE MANS COULD Audi’s new R15 TDI Le Mans racer have KERS? That is the question being asked after the first version of the all-new car was caught being tested at Vallelunga in Italy.

The new diesel-engined roadster will take on arch-rivals Peugeot and Acura in the Sebring 12 Hour on March 21.

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Audi has maintained a low-profile about the new car, and the official line is that details of the car will be revealed only when it is officially launched by the company.

It is said to feature a smaller engine than the R10 TDI, which has a 5.5-litre V12 with twin turbochargers.

Audi Sport goes into the race with proven lineups, with the same driving

combinations as last year – 2009 Le Mans winners Tom Kristensen/Allan McNish/ Dindo Capello and the all-German crew of Lucas Luhr/Mike Rockenfeller/Marco Werner. If the opposition expects an easy ride into the opening round of the season, think again.

Audi’s previous two cars have won on debut, with the R8 taking the win in 2000 and the R10 in 2006.

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Tough test for Corser SUPERBIKES BIRDS and bikes make a great combination, but Troy Corser does not think so.

The Aussie will go into this weekend’s opening round of the World Superbike Championship nursing a sore left shoulder and arm after nailing a bird at 230kmh on his factory BMW. Corser had a tough test at Phillip Island, taking a fall and having some teething problems with the new S1000RR, with makes its debut this weekend.

“I had seen the bird on the track and tried to avoid it by going up the inside,” said Corser.

“But instead of staying put, or

WSBK Test Phillip Island 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

Jonathan Rea Honda Michel Fabrizio Ducati Ben Spies Yamaha Noriyuki Haga Ducati Troy Corser BMW Tom Sykes Yamaha Ryuichi Kiyonari Honda Yukio Kagayama Suzuki Max Neukirchner Suzuki Ruben Xaus BMW Carlos Checa Honda

flying away from my bike, it flew up right in front of me.

Hitting a one kilo or so bird at over 230 kph is like hitting a brick wall, so I’m lucky that my injury isn’t any worse.”

1m31.8s 1m32.1s 1m32.3s 1m32.3s 1m32.9s 1m33.1s 1m33.1s 1m33.1s 1m33.1s 1m33.5s 1m33.5s

The test threw up an intriguing scenario for the weekend, with WSBK rookie Jonny Rea topping the timesheets on his Ten Kate Honda. The Irishman was the

only rider to break into the 1m31 brackets and heads into the weekend full of confidence.

Ducati was consistent, with Michel Fabrizio and Noriyuki Haga right on the pace, and some timing had the Italian bikes topping the fours.

What is unquestioned is the impressive speed of Ben Spies. The Texan appears to be making the transition from the AMA series to the world stage seamlessly, and his Yamaha R1 was third quickest in the test.

The new-look championship kicks off with practice this Friday, and the elimination Superpole could spring a surprise, with rain forecast for Saturday and Sunday.

Silverstone changes revealed MOTOGP

AFTER Silverstone announced that they would be taking the British MotoGP from Donington they set about making some changes to the existing track.

As part of the revamp package, the MotoGP track will leave the F1 layout at the Abbey chicane and travel up the towards Becketts. It will then join the National circuit via a tight left-hander to be known as the Arrowhead.

15

news

Oliver returns to the microphone

James Smith

BARRY’S BIANTE GIG Safety First BIANTE TOURING CARS

16

John Morris

BARRY Oliver will make his return to the commentary box as the BIANTE Touring Car Masters series commentator this year.

Oliver will replace Wade Aunger in the position thanks to his existing relationship with Shannons Insurance, who has increased its sponsorship in the category.

Shannons Insurance has been involved in the series through Jim Richards as his personal sponsor, but in 2009 will become a secondary sponsor for the growing series.

It is one of many boosts for the category with ongoing sponsor Rare Spares stepping up its sponsorship in the category, while Hoosier Tyres and BIANTE Model Cars will also continue to support the series.

Oliver was the long-time voice of V8 Supercars until Paul Marinelli replaced him in the role a year ago. Consequently, there has been another change, with Chris Jewell taking the role for 2009.

FORMULA VEE THE Shannons Nationals had a red-hot start to the season at Bathurst last weekend, with a fire scare interrupting one of the Formula Vee races at The Mountain.

The final Formula Vee race on Saturday afternoon was red-flagged when smoke was detected from an oven in the catering section of the Bathurst pit building. The activation of a fire alarm caused the entire control tower being evacuated,

meaning the race was stopped.

A three-lap ‘replacement’ race was run at 5:45pm on Saturday.

“It’s one of those things,” said Rob Curkpatrick, Shannons Nationals series director.

“We understand the situation and that it needed to be taken seriously. Unfortunately Formula Vee was on-track and racing at the time and the race was red-flagged, but we’re grateful that management was able to organise another chance for the Vee drivers to

get on track at the end of the day.”

Curkpatrick added that he was wrapped with how well the start to the 2009 Shannons Nationals season went.

“It was sensational seeing the big grids over the weekend and great for the categories.

Racing at Bathurst was a good way to start the 2009 Shannons Nationals, we’re looking forward to the rest of the year with our biggest and most-diverse program yet.”

– ANDREW VAN LEEUWEN

17

V8 SUPERCARS

Townsville okay despite wet

THE annual Gold Coast 300 event will now be know as the ‘Super GP’ to reflect the addition of the A1GP World Cup of Motorsport as the new international category on the schedule, alongside V8 Supercars.

The event, which will run on October 22-25, will be one of the first rounds of the 2009/2010 A1GP World Cup of Motorsport. V8 champion Jamie Whincup joined Australia’s A1GP seat holder Alan Jones and Team Australia driver John Martin, above, for the offical unveiling of the new-look Gold Coast event name last Tuesday – as per our issue ‘Stop Press’.

Tickets go on sale on March 23, and are available through the event’s website, www.SuperGP.com

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Dirk Klynsmith

QUEENSLAND’S recent bad weather will not impact on Townsville’s V8 Supercar event in July, according to Leighton Contractors.

The company responsible for building the race’s infrastructure said on Monday that the inaugural Townsville 400 would be unaffected by floods that have beset much of northern Queensland.

“Leighton Contractors faces wet weather obstacles on projects across the State,” said Darren Weir, General Manager, Leighton Contractors Northern Region.

“We have implemented a range of measures to accelerate construction of the track and facilities for the Townsville 400 once the wet weather subsides. These measures will include increasing the size of the workforce, extending work hours and accelerating the building of the internal pit area once the roof is in place.”

More than 800 concrete barriers have already been completed, and piling for the Pit Building was completed ahead of schedule. The site has been prepared for the cement slab to be poured as soon as weather permits.

The final $10m funding from the federal government was confirmed by Minister Anthony Albanese last week.

news

NSW says no to 14 ...

FORMULA FORD

THE minium licensing age for circuit racing in NSW will stay at 16, not 14, as recently introduced elsewhere.

After the announcement earlier this month from the Confederation of Australian Motor Sport (CAMS) that the minimum licensing age

requirement for circuit racing would be reduced to 14, the bill has been opposed by the NSW Motor Vehicle Sports Licensing Advisory Committee (MVSLAC).

As a result no person under the age of 16 will be able to compete in circuit racing events in NSW. However younger NSW drivers can compete in other states.

Both the MVSLAC and the NSW Police have decided they were unable to support the proposal without further information.

The MCSLAC has requested that CAMS provide further documentation outlining the conduct of medical and roadsafety research that supports the minimum age change.

Dirk Klynsmith

“This is a disappointing outcome which will adversely affect both the national application of this policy and the potential for young drivers,” said CAMS CEO Graham Fountain.

“We will continue to pursue this objective in the interest of fostering our young talent across Australia.”

AGP supports confirmed AGP THE Australian Grand Prix Corporation has officially confirmed the support categories for the FORMULA 1™ ING F1 Australian Grand Prix.

As revealed by eNews last week (Issue #092) both the MINI Challenge and the Aussie Racing Cars made the cut and will appear at the event, which for the first time will have six categories supporting the Formula 1 cars.

MINI Challenge and Aussie Racing Cars will join the V8 Supercar Championship Series, Formula Ford, Formula 5000 and Australian GT Championship when the event kicks off on March 26.

Dirk Klynsmith/Marshall Cass

19

Hot, cold ... hot DRAG RACING

P RE S E N TS . . .

TOP FUEL Po. Driver Points 1 Phil Lamattina 425 2 Phil Read 310 3 Martin Stamatis 305 4 Allan Dobson 280 5 Darren Morgan 270

THE Team Mopar Australia Dodge Stratus Pro Stock team was hoping last weekend would be third time lucky.

Last week, Crew Chief Con Sideris told eNews, “This will be the third time in three weeks we have attempted to get some laps on the new car.

“Firstly, in Sydney, we were plagued by a heatwave, then the following week the heavens opened up and it was like Niagara Falls at WSID. We are hoping the weather in

Melbourne is not as extreme as what we have encountered in recent times.”

However, driver Lee Bektash told us on Monday that the team had, again, been thwarted: “It was just too hot ... we waited and waited for it to cool down a bit, but in the end we didn’t get a run.

“At this rate, we may have to organise something during a Street Meet! ...”

Bektash’s next ANDRA Championship event will be at the Castrol EDGE Tin Top Titles at Willowbank Raceway, on April 18 and 19.

P RE S E N TS . . .

TOP ALCOHOL Po. Driver 1 Steven Reed 2 Debbie Reed 3 Gary Phillips 4 Wayne Newby 5 John Cannuli

Points 380 370 345 220 160

TOP DOORSLAMMER Po. Driver 1 John Zappia 2 Robin Judd 3 Gary Phillips 4 Ben Bray 5 Deno Brijeski

Points 290 260 195 195 145

P R E S E N TS . . .

Wednesday February 25th Inside Speed (Fox Sports) 8.30pm ENZED International Nightfire Series Top Doorslammer & Top Bike

38th Annual Westernationals

28th Feb & 1st March Perth Motorplex

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Rocket, ANDRA sign long-term deal DRAG RACING THE hugely successful Rocket All Stars Racing Series has been confirmed for another three ANDRA Championship seasons after a meeting between Rocket Industries management and the Australian National Drag Racing Association.

ANDRA CEO Tony Thornton was delighted to confirm the continued support of Rocket Industries.

“It’s a great result for all parties,” he said.

“To be able to offer a cash purse of over $50,000 to the ANDRA Sportsman racers is amazing. Graeme and Wendy Cowin are great friends of drag racing and the relationship between Rocket and ANDRA is testament to the strength of both organisations.

“The new agreement has secured the Rocket All Stars

Championship until the end of the 2011/2012 ANDRA Season. And that gives racers a sense of surety when talking to sponsors or backers, which is important in planning and other logistics.

“Rocket Industries is a brand synonymous with quality and we are proud to have the Rocket name associated with ANDRA Championship Drag Racing.”

Based in Western Sydney, Rocket Industries is a performance warehouse that distributes some of the biggest names in the aftermarket automotive sector. Stocking over 250 different brands on the shelf, such as Weld Racing, Auto Meter, B&M, K&N Filters, MSD Ignition, World, Arias Pistons, Crower, Edelbrock, Holley, ARP, Mickey Thompson and Simpson, Rocket Industries can supply immediate delivery for almost anything.

Graeme Cowin was also pleased to confirm the details of the new, long-term agreement.

“Wendy and I owe an awful lot to drag racing. We started with very little and the success of our business has been built around not only drag racing but the friends and relationships that we have made along the way.

The Rocket All Stars is a great way to get our brand name into the public arena but it’s also an opportunity for us to invest in the sport we love help to give something back to drag racing, especially to the sportsman racers.”

The new agreement for the Rocket All Stars Racing Series will see the top five point scorers in each of ANDRA’s Group 2, 3 and 4 brackets taking part of a large end of season pool worth over $50,000 for the 2009/2010 season.

news

WA breaks the 300 barrier

Westernationals hit a triple-ton in the entry stakes – this one’s going to be big!

DRAG RACING ANDRA Championship Drag Racing heads to the west coast for the Westernationals at the Perth Motorplex on Saturday February 28 and Sunday March 1.

And, for the first time in the event’s 38-year history, the 300 barrier has been broken, with 303 teams set to compete in 2009.

The previous record of 279 entries for a Western Australian Drag Racing event, set at last year’s Westernationals, was easily surpassed with a whopping nine percent increase.

In addition to the oversubscribed fields in Top Doorslammer and Top Bike, all three Group 2 Eliminators are oversubscribed, including a massive 18-car field in Competition Eliminator as a part of the Rocket Allstars Racing Series.

As has become the norm for WA’s biggest drag racing meeting, a large contingent of eastern states-based race teams will converge on the Perth Motorplex, along with interstate spectators and media.

Rocket All Stars Qualifying starts at 11:00am on Saturday with Group 2 and 3 racers.

ANDRA Top Doorslammers

and Top Bikes hit the track in three torrid qualifying sessions commencing at 6:00pm, returning again at 8:00pm and the final do-or-die qualifying session at 10:00pm.

The second action starts on Sunday at 11:00am with a last shot qualifier for Group 3 racers prior to the first rounds of Group 2 and 3 Eliminations starting at around 2:00pm.

Top Doorslammers and Top Bikes will begin their Eliminations at 6:00pm, with Semi Finals around 8:00pm. The Final rounds will commence at approximately 9:30pm with Top Bike and Top Doorslammers out at 10:00pm

for their finals.

The field will feature all your favourites in ANDRA Top Doorslammer, including the defending Australian Champion John Zappia in the Striker Crushing HQ, the Bray Racing Team with Victor and Ben Bray and team-mate Matt Abel in the Karcher ‘57 Chev.

Add to that Gary Phillips in the Lucas Oil Studebaker, Deno Brijeski in the All Over Cranes Camaro, Victorian Peter Kapiris in the Kapiris Bros Studebaker and the inform Robin Judd in the ‘Moonshine Bandit’ Studebaker and you have a massive drag racing meeting.

The ANDRA Top Bike field also looks sensational with West Aussie Jay Upton on a brand new bike. The formidable Attitude Racing Harleys of Ian Ashelford, Mark Ashelford and Wildcard Racing’s Mark Drew will be flying the West Aussie flag along with the return of Kim Stevens, who had a monumental top end crash at this event last season.

Giving the event an international flavour will be New Zealander Athol Williams, below, whose awesome RBP Special has been recording seriously low 6s times at recent events.

21

5 Minutes with ...

DANIEL GAUNT

He’s a former Gold Star winner, and now Kiwi Daniel Gaunt is going to have his first proper chance in a V8 Supercar with an SBR-backed Fujitsu Series campaign. It ANDREW VAN LEEUWEN might even lead to a drive in the Bathurst 1000 ...

MOTORSPORT NEWS: You’ve finally got a full-time V8 Supercar program; it must be like a dream come true!

DANIEL GAUNT: Well it’s definitely something that I’ve been working towards for a couple of years now. And I finally have the opportunity to do it, which is great news.

How important is it that you get that opportunity? And does it put any more pressure on you for the early rounds of the Fujitsu Series season?

I’m not thinking about it, so it’s not more pressure. Its an added bonus if it happens, but I think I need to just focus now on Adelaide and getting through that with no marks on the car and a competitive result.

It’s all come together pretty late, but I’ve got Andy McElrea there with me and I believe in him, and I’m confident that together with Stone Brothers we can get it all together and have a pretty competitive go at it.

It looks like Triple X Motorsport in New Zealand are going to be involved as well; how is the exact make-up of the team going to work with them, McElrea and SBR? It hasn’t all been worked out yet, but I guess that Stone Brothers will supply the car, the engine and an engineer, as well as doing all the sub assembly. McElrea will run the program, and Triple X will more

22

Jump for Joy: Gaunt will race an ex-van Gisbergen BF in the ‘09 development series.

than likely have an involvement somehow, at the track.

You had those few outings with TKR at the end of last year, and you did a good job. Do you therefore feel ready for this?

Yeah. I think it was definitely an advantage doing those rounds with TKR. V8 Supercars are an animal to drive, so to get 1000 kilometres worth of racing and that time in the car will stand me in decent stead for this year.

Will you move to Australia, or stay based in Auckland and fly backwards and forwards?

I’ll commute for the first month and a half, because I have to finish the championship here [in New Zealand] with the GT3 Porsche. We’ve got a round this weekend, then testing in Australia, and then Pukekohe for our final round. The week after that is Adelaide for the Clipsal 500.

But after that I’ll be looking to spend a fair bit of time over there [in Australia].

Marshall Cass

I’m sure you would have been on the list for Team Kiwi Racing after racing for them late last year. When and why was the decision made to go down this path instead?

This is just a great opportunity for me. I’m going to be learning with guys who are around my level, and the plan is to get the right experience so I can move up one day to the main game.

There is also the chance to drive for Stone Brothers Racing in the main game, so that would be two really good outings at the top level.

Speaking of racing in New Zealand, you’re a late signing for the New Zealand Grand Prix with Triple X. You’d be a pretty good chance of winning it, wouldn’t you?

Yeah, and it would be awesome to win it for Triple X. They’ve helped so much this year in the Porsche, and going to Australia as well, so it would be a big thank-you if I could win the New Zealand Grand Prix.

But it will be tough. It will be the first time I have driven two categories in one weekend, but Bairdo (Craig Baird) always proves that you can do it, so I’ll be trying to get some knowledge form him about it so I can do the job. Some of the sessions are back-to-back as well, single-seater to a Sportscar. But I mean, Bairdo does V8 to a Porsche, which is right hand drive front engine to left hand drive rear engine!

Would be a nice confidence booster to win the GP before you jump the ditch again …

It would, but I’m thinking more about it being a nice thank-you for the team.

chat

MDC

23

One hour, 12 times

John Morris/ Mpix

opinion Jason Bargwanna V8 Supercar driver I REALLY enjoyed my third experience of the Bathurst 12 Hour (I did two 12 Hours back in the 1990s).

I think that when a race has such a diverse mixture of fast and slow cars, it produces such a different race for so many competitors. There are battles within battles, and it gives a lot of people who might otherwise not get the opportunity the chance to race at Bathurst. And when they battle, it is on for all 12 hours.

To see so many cars on the track, and the growth over the last three years shows what a great future there is for a race like this one. The level of driving improved each day – you could see the drivers applying themselves as they got more comfortable with the track.

We pushed hard to try and beat those cars in front of us and it was a really exciting race. I love the fact that the BMW was faster than us down the straight and that we were stronger under brakes. We had more grip, so we had to plan our strategy across the top of the mountain and then attack when you could afford to attack.

We only ran two drivers in each car, and some of the other drivers were feeling the strain a little bit, but to me, that gave us a bit more continuity and predictability. Besides, I love doing all those laps around there …

There is a real future for race of this nature in the sport. It is not V8 Supercars and it does not try to be, but there is definitely a niche for a race. I think that it has a great future. With a few more competitive cars, and the involvement of some more manufacturers, the event would take another step forward.

Will the 12 Hour ever become a real showroom showdown? Sounds great to me. It’s all good!

Dirk Klynsmith

24

opinion

James Smith

Lights, camera, hair, make-up opinion Phil Branagan Executive Editor

Marshall Cass Marshall Cass

I AM going to miss the celebrities at the Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix this year.

In saying that, I must admit that I failed Celeb 101 over the past few years. I could not even tell the punters who won their drives at auctions from some of the celebs, but hey; until recently, I thought that Home and Away was about football ...

Having celebs make idiots of themselves racing is important. Not to me, mind, or most people involved in ‘real’ racing, but it expands the GP’s coverage from out of the sports pages into the gossip and social pages of the newspapers.

I have seen most of the stars in cars events since 1985 and reckon some awards are due. And Mark Knopfler smashing at the first corner and breaking his collarbone is way too obvious; besides, my awards have to be given anonymously …

The Bronze: To The Rock Star. Arriving at Sandown at 11am – on the second day

of training – he asked the question, “So, what do I have to do to win this thing?” An instructor advised, “Be here yesterday, at 10am.” “But I don’t get out of bed that early.

I’m a rock star!” The instructor says, “Mate, I guarantee that you aren’t as big a star as John Farnham, and he was here at 8:30!” Farnham was strong in the race, The Star faded.

The Silver: To the Champion.

Turns out that being exceptional in one field makes one an expert in everything, and Champ would not take instruction from any of the driver trainers.

Soon, all the toys came out of the pram, and champion’s father knew someone at [the brand of car involved] and you are all going to be fired! Champion struggled on alone, finished the race last and looked like a goose. The instructors shouted the drinks.

And the Gold: It turns out that not all TV newshounds can drive. In fact, one smiling presenter was, point blank, refused a CAMS licence because none of the testing observers – who has overseen licences tests for such as Lowndes, Richards and many Davisons – would sign off that this person was safe, even at

suburban speeds.

In the end, a deal was hammered out; Here is the News was issued a CAMS licence on the express grounds that it was handed back immediately after the

race. News finished stone motherless last that day.

So, to all the ‘celebs’ who miss out; bad luck. And to the ‘real’ celebs, make a note; there is a ‘real’ celeb race, at Long Beach, in April …

25

WPS BATHURST 12 HOUR MOUNT PANORAMA

26

Around

race

d the clock, then ‘round again Rod Salmon and Damien White are now two-time WPS Bathurst 12 Hour winners. And this time, they took Tony Longhurst along for the ride. LACHLAN MANSELL reports

Dirk Klynsmith

27

28

Dirk Klynsmith

D

AMIEN White and Rod Salmon have combined with Tony Longhurst to take back-toback victories in the 2009 WPS Bathurst 12 Hour, driving a brandnew Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X prepared by Team Mitsubishi Ralliart Australia.

The trio ran a consistent race and capitalised on problems for their main rivals to be ideally positioned to charge to victory in the last hour, fending off the well-driven Tony Ricciardello/Stuart Kostera/Glynn Crimp entry, also prepared out of the TMRA stable.

V8 Supercar drivers Jason Bargwanna and Brad Jones came home in third position, despite suffering fuel problems and making a record 19 pit stops.

“This was a sensational win, better than the two V8 Ute championships,” White said.

“The momentum this event has built over the last few years has made it really special to win. The competition was a lot tougher than last year, and Graham Alexander did a great job last year, but Tony obviously has a lot more experience and it made a big difference.”

Tony Ricciardello was similarly ecstatic about finishing on the podium after several Bathurst 1000 starts.

“The car was really good this weekend, and we got faster as the race progressed and we became more familiar with the track,” he said.

“In the race, we were lapping two seconds quicker than our qualifying time on full tanks.”

Bargwanna and Jones were happy to salvage a result for the Bob Pearsonowned Pro Duct Mitsubishi team, which suffered a variety of technical problems throughout the event.

“The tank wasn’t filling all the way up, so we had to stop every time there was a Safety Car to top up the tank,” Bargwanna said.

David Wall, Des Wall and Trevor Symonds finished fourth in their Mitsubishi, ahead of the BMW 335i of Barry Morcom, Luke Searle and Paul Stubber, which raced well throughout the day but didn’t have the outright pace to run with the Mitsubishis. The Beemer was also delayed by tyre problems.

Garth Walden/Brian Walden/Michael Auld took back-to-back Class E wins in their Commodore SS, a couple of positions ahead of Class F winners Peter Conroy,

Carl Schembri and Richard Gartner.

The factory Holden entry of Russell Ingall, Nathan Pretty and Andrew Jones came home 15th after a lengthy pitstop to solve clutch problems on their Sportwagon.

In a race of attrition, there were some big-name retirements early. The polesitting Mitsubishi Evo of Steve Owen/ James Koundouris/Theo Koundouris retired early in the race with gearbox problems, as did the VIP Petfoods entry of Grant Denyer/Tony Quinn/Klark Quinn.

The Wilson Brothers Racing Subaru Impreza STI team endured a shocking weekend, with all three of their cars retiring from the race due to crashes. That wasn’t the only bad luck for Subaru; The STI of Jim Hunter/John Bowe/Gavin Bullas also failed to finish after an altercation with Crimp at Reid Park.

race

Marshall Cass

John Morris/Mpix

John Morris/Mpix

Mountain ups and downs: There was some bent machinery by the end of the 12 Hour; Simon Evans missed a pace note and hit the wall, top, while both the Holdsworth/Douglas Astra and the Wood/Delfsma/Tierney Subaru got a knock, above. The all West-Aussie Mitsubishi was second, left, while Bowe’s Bathurst return was not so great, below.

Dirk Klynsmith

Dirk Klynsmith

29

The same tyring issue ...

Just like the 1000, tyres failures played a big role in deciding the 12 Hour John Morris/Mpix

THE tyre problems that afflicted many competitors in last year’s V8 Supercar Bathurst 1000 reared their ugly head again in the 12 Hour, with a number of competitors suffering blown tyres and tyre delaminations.

Rod Dawson and Dave Heath were two victims of tyre delamination in the Saloon Car races. However, the problems became much more severe in the 12 Hour race. The V8 Holden Ute of Grant Johnson/Jeff Watts/Greg Willis hit the wall after suffering a blown tyre in the Dipper, and subsequently retired from the race.

The 2007 12 Hour-winning BMW 335i of Garry Holt, Paul Morris and Ric Shaw blew two tyres, ending the team’s chances of victory and also causing Shaw to take a high-speed excursion off the track. The second, Barry Morcomowned BMW 335i had two tyre failures near the end of the race, which ended Morcom’s chances of a podium result.

Morcom was unsure whether the

Deflated: The Morcom BMW missed out on a podium thanks to tyre failures. problems were caused by car set-up, the tyres themselves, or track conditions.

“We made some changes on the run to try and reduce tyre wear, and we were very gentle with the car; we weren’t running over kerbs,” he said.

“I think that the accidents that

happened during the race left a lot of debris on the track, which probably contributed to some of the problems, but we seemed to be affected worse than the Mitsubishis, so we’re not really sure what went wrong.”

– LACHLAN MANSELL

John Morris/Mpix

30

race

John Morris/Mpix

Family holidays ... at Bathurst!

TWO family teams took part in the WPS Bathurst 12 Hour, both driving Holden Astras.

The 1987 Bathurst winner Peter McLeod teamed up with his two sons, Ryan and Gerard, to contest the race in an Astra SRI Turbo, while V8 Supercar driver Lee Holdsworth was joined by his brother Brett and father Glen, with Taz Douglas also going along for the ride in a CDTI diesel.

Both entries ran well early in the race, but suffered problems that ultimately precluded their bid for class victories. The McLeods battled with the Conroy Motorsport Hondas for many laps before a drivethrough penalty and niggling suspension and brake problems slowed them.

The Holdsworth entry made just one pit-stop in the first

four hours of the race as the team tried to take advantage of the diesel engine’s economy, but retired from the race when Father Holdsworth hit the wall after a tap from another competitor.

Despite the ultimately disappointing results, both families were thrilled to race as a team.

“We did this for pleasure, enjoyment and satisfaction,

and had a great time,” Peter McLeod said.

“We came here for Dad, and it was great that he was able to drive around Bathurst,” Lee Holdsworth added.

“It was disappointing that we didn’t finish, but now we can say we’ve raced at Bathurst together, and that’s my Bathurst DNF out of the way for this year!”

– LACHLAN MANSELL

Set it up for Monaco: The McLeods went for a high downforce setting on the turbo Astra.

John Morris/Mpix

31

Dirk Klynsmith

Caratti wins, and so does Quinn GT3 CUP NATHAN Caratti won two out of three Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge races at Mt Panorama, steering clear of incidents in all three races.

Caratti, a Carrera Cup refugee driving a 997 Porsche

GT3, finished runner-up to Tony Quinn in Race 1 before winning the second and third races. Quinn was the best-placed of the GT3 Cup Challenge competitors and thus took the round win in his older-model 996 GT3.

The weekend was marred

by crashes in all three races.

In Race 1, Matt Kingsley, participating in his first race since his V8 Ute crash last year, stalled on the starting grid and was hit from behind

by Max Twigg.

Race 2 was cut short when Porsche 944 Challenge

competitors Justin Tate and Sean Carter collided spectacularly in Griffin’s Bend, with Tate’s car rolling.

Race 3 also featured a Safety Car intervention when Russell Kempnich speared off in the Chase.

– LACHLAN MANSELL

Marshall Cass

It’s always nice to share IMPROVED PRODUCTION TASMANIAN racer Ray Hislop and South Australian competitor Tony Wallis each won one of the Improved Production support races at the WPS Bathurst 12 Hour.

The Improved Production races both featured large fields, with an assortment of rotary, turbocharged and large-capacity

32

cars all taking part.

Hislop qualified his BA Falcon on pole ahead of Wallis, and took a comprehensive win in Race 1 after Wallis spun off the track mid-race. Leigh Forrest finished second ahead of Leanne Tander.

In Race 2, Hislop once again opened up a substantial margin over his rivals, while Tander worked her way past Forrest. Hislop slowed after five laps, and eventually

retired with mechanical problems, handing Tander the race lead, ahead of Forrest and Wallis, who had charged through from rear of field.

A late Safety Car allowed Wallis to close up onto the race leaders, and he took a stunning final corner victory, while Forrest recaptured second spot ahead of David Skillender, who relegated Tander to fourth.

– LACHLAN MANSELL

race Dirk Klynsmith

Winning Ways HQ HOLDEN GARY Bonwick has continued his supremacy in the HQ Holden category, winning the support event at the Bathurst 12 Hour on the weekend.

The two-time national champion was simply unstoppable in qualifying and the races, and won all three races

comprehensively, despite several Safety Car interventions.

John Wise and Greg King battled throughout the weekend for second and third positions, while Paul Morris and Keven Stoopman also figured in the top five in qualifying, but came together in Race 1.

While Morris was able to continue,

Porter Dominates

Stoopman retired with problems.

Former Victorian HQ champion John Wood had a very strong run in the opening race, finishing third, but he retired from Race 2 with mechanical problems. He charged from the rear of the field to seventh in the weekend’s last race.

– LACHLAN MANSELL

FORMULA VEE

Dirk Klynsmith

BEN Porter has continued his domination of Australian Formula Vee racing, winning all three support races at the Bathurst 12 Hour after qualifying on pole position by well over a second.

Stephen Butcher was the only driver able to challenge Porter, beating the reigning national champion off the line in each race before being overhauled.

Michael Kinsella overcame illness to finish third overall

after running consistently in the top five throughout the weekend. Paul Sharman was the highest-placed of the 1200cc class entries.

The event’s second race finished under safety car after an incident in the Cutting involving Kevin Hill and Daniel Pauperis.

However, worse was in store for Race 3, which was red-flagged due to a fire alarm in the pit complex. The race was postponed and reduced to three laps.

– LACHLAN MANSELL

First ever win SALOON CARS SHAWN Jamieson took his first-ever Saloon Car round victory at Bathurst on the weekend, winning both 10lap Saloon Car races.

Jamieson qualified on pole position in his VT Commodore ahead of Kris Walton and Rod Dawson, and then won the

opening race after a close battle with the AU Falcon of Clint Harvey.

Defending Champ Steve Kwiatkowski came home third after only just scraping into the top 10 in qualifying, thanks to an incident with another competitor, while Kris Walton ran strongly early in the race but then fell back through the

field with gearbox problems.

Matt Lovell retired from the race after brushing the wall at Griffin’s Bend.

Jamieson also won Race 2, holding off a late charge from

Steve Kwiatkowski to score maximum points.

Clint Harvey finished third to snare the weekend’s final podium spot.

– LACHLAN MANSELL

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NASCAR SPRINT CUP ROUND 2 – AUTO CLUB 500, FONTANA, CA

And the Oscar goes to ...

Matt Kenseth for

Rain Man! Matt Kenseth overcame fickle weather, Jeff Gordon and a bunch of fast Toyotas to take his second win in a week in California.

MARTIN D CLARK was there

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NASCAR Media

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NASCAR Media NASCAR Media

Martin D Clark

M

ATT Kenseth broke a season-long winning drought at Daytona and, a week later, made it two starts, two wins with a raininterrupted race at the Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California.

After beating Jeff Gordon after showers slowed the field four times, Kenseth became the first driver to win the first two races of the year since Gordon did it himself in 1997.

“If anyone had said I was going to win the first two races I would have said they were crazy,” remarked Kenseth.

“We had a great pitstop that got us in front and clean air was obviously key. I didn’t think we were going to hold off Jeff, he made a heck of a run and got right to me, but we were able to

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keep digging and we stayed out front.”

“That last run we made one little adjustment and as we got to him the car got tighter and tighter,” said Gordon. “I kinda knew with 20 [laps] to go we probably weren’t going to get him. I drove as hard as I’d driven in a long time and he didn’t slip up.”

Brain Vickers won pole in his Red Bull Toyota, but had to change an engine so was forced to start at the rear of the field, leaving Jimmie Johnson to head the first 43 laps through two cautions for rain.

Then it was Gordon who took over up front, leading through green flag pits stops around halfway when Greg Biffle’s team helped get the Roush Fenway Racing driver out front.

Traditional Rivalries: Carl Edwards and Kyle Busch picked up where they left off at Daytona, top. Tony Stewart, left, continues to impress in his new Chevy team, while Hugh Laurie was in the House, above, to suggest that drivers start eating properly (and their engines).

A third caution for rain on lap 142 saw Kenseth beat his team-mate Biffle off pit road ahead of Gordon and Kurt Busch, but Johnson and Gordon soon moved into second and third.

The fourth caution again for rain came around the time Dale Earnhardt Jr and Mark Martin’s Hendrick engines went south, both with valve train issues on lap 171.

Kenseth was again first off pit road ahead of Johnson, Gordon and Busch. It didn’t take long for Gordon to overwhelm Kenseth taking the lead on lap 197 before the fifth and final caution aired for Kevin Harvick.

“The motor blew up and I just got in my own oil going into the corner there,” said Harvick, who hit the turn one wall hard.

From there is was plain sailing

for Kenseth stretching his lead out over Gordon and leading 84 of the 250 laps second to Johnson’s 74 who suffered with his Hendrick Chev jumping out of gear. After winning the Truck and Nationwide races the previous day Kyle Busch came home a commendable third, with Biffle fourth after running over his air wrench hose in the final pit stop dropping him nine places.

“I’m famous for doing that,” said Biffle. “I lost them track position on the last stop of the day, I feel really bad for the guys they gave me such a great car and I didn’t win with it.”

Marcos Ambrose qualified a healthy 14th and brought his JTG Toyota home in one piece in 24th place, one lap off the lead, having run in the top 20 for most of the race.

Win. Collect.

Repeat Kyle does a Saturday Double NATIONWIDE-TRUCK

Martin D Clark

That Roush Fenway Feeling: Kenseth took his second win in seven days, above, while team-mate Biffle came through to fourth, below.

IN 61 years, no driver had ever won two races in NASCAR’s top divisions in the one day – until Kyle Busch did just that on Saturday at Fontana.

On the final pit stop of the Nationwide race, Carl Edwards’s Roush Fenway crew beat Busch’s Joe Gibbs team off pitroad for the first and most important time during the race. However it took less than a lap for Busch to nudge and then dive under Edwards for the lead, bringing Kevin Harvick with him and drop kicking Edwards back to sixth.

“I had trouble on restarts all night,” remarked Edwards, “but it was just racing.”

Edwards won pole from Busch, who took the lead on lap one and only relinquished it during pit stops and under the fourth and final caution.

After winning the Truck race – from pole – earlier in the day, Busch had led 238 laps in both events and driving 500-plus miles including his Sprint Cup Series practice on Saturday.

“To win here twice in one day is even more special,” beamed Busch.

Harvick in his self-owned Chevrolet just held onto second from a hard charging Joey Logano in a second Gibbs Toyota, with Edwards and rebounding back for fourth and Brian Vickers coming back from a spin on lap 90 when passing under Biffle to air caution two.

– MARTIN D CLARK Results: Busch (Toyota), Harvick (Chevy), Logano (Toyota), Edwards (Ford), Ragan (Ford), Burton (Chevy), Reutimann (Toyota), Vickers (Toyota), Gaughan (Chevy), Wallace (Chevy).

NASCAR | AUTO CLUB 500, FONTANA, CALIFORNIA Matt Kenseth Jeff Gordon Kyle Busch Greg Biffle Kurt Busch Denny Hamlin Carl Edwards Tony Stewart Jimmie Johnson Brian Vickers Marcos Ambrose

Ford Chev Toyota Ford Dodge Toyota Ford Chevy Chev Toyota Toyota

Roush Fenway/Carhartt Hendrick/Nicorette Gibbs/Interstate Batteries Roush Fenway/3M Penske/Miller Lite Gibbs/FedEx Roush Fenway/Aflac Stewart Haas/Office Depot Hendrick/Lobalt Tools Red Bull Racing JTG Daugherty/Little Debbie

NASCAR SPRINT CUP | pointS

Kenseth 385, J Gordon 304, Stewart 294, Kurt Busch 294, Biffle 268, Bowyer 266, Waltrip 264, Ragan 262, Montoya 256.

24 6 10 5 4 23 25 11 2 1 14

NASCAR Media. Digitally altered

1 17 2 24 3 18 4 16 5 2 6 11 7 99 8 14 9 48 10 83 22 47

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A1GP KYALAMI, SOUTH AFRICA

Record performan Neel Jani (Switzerland) equalled the all-time A1GP win record at Gauteng (nee Kyalami)by taking out the feature race, while Team Australia was desperately unlucky not to finish on the podium

A1GP

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race

nce

RACE SHOP

Where the motorsport industry advertises CLICK on the centre of any advertisement for more information ADVERTISE for as little as $75 per issue – special monthly packages Contact Oriana Kennedy: oriana@mnews.com.au

03 9596 5555 or 0422 624 349 39

W

HILE Swiss star Neel Jani claimed an easy victory in Sunday’s South African round of the A1GP Championship, a disastrously unlucky pit lane incident ruled Australia out of an almost certain podium finish.

The win means Jani equals the all-time win record for a driver, Nico Hulkenberg’s record of nine wins for Germany.

Jani finished 13.176 seconds ahead of Brazil’s Felipe Guimarães, the 17-yearold putting in a mature drive to record the team’s best result of the year at the Kyalami circuit despite crashing heavily at

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the end of qualifying.

Pole-sitter Clivio Piccione finished in third for Monaco after losing the lead to Switzerland in the first round of pit stops and then dropping behind Brazil after making a mistake.

Jani made a fantastic start to move from fifth to second into turn one, which was four-wide, with Aussie John Martin showing some discretion and backing out – completing the opener in fifth.

Ireland’s Adam Carroll was making a move around the outside of Malaysia for fourth when the pair touched resulting in the championship leader being beached

in the gravel and out of the race.

The Brazilian youngster had made a good start, running in sixth by the end of lap one, while the battle for third was on as Malaysia began putting pressure on New Zealand’s Earl Bamber.

Bamber’s defensive driving kept Malaysia at bay until lap four when the Malaysian car touched the rear wheel of the black Kiwi machine, spinning it into the gravel.

Martin had been zoning in on this pair and emerged in third, only for things to go horribly wrong in the first of his two compulsory pits stops, at the end of lap 7.

race

A1GP A1GP

A1GP

With tyres changed and ready to go, Team Germany arrived a lap early, and parked across the bows of the Aussie car, forcing Martin to stop dead. The anti-stall failed and the engine died. A push from the crew failed, and the car went a lap down by the time a starter was brought to the car.

“We had Brazil covered and Monaco – all I had to do wasd keep the car going as it was quick and running perfectly …” reported a shattered Martin.

By half distance the order was now Switzerland from Monaco, Brazil, Netherlands, Great Britain, Portugal,

Unlucky break: Team Australia, top, had genuine podium pace in South Africa, but an unlucky pit lane incident ruled them out of contention.

Neel Jani took the Feature win, left, while Team Netherlands, above, won the Sprint Rcae

Lebanon, Germany, Indonesia and China.

As the race reached half distance, Brazil began closing the gap to Monaco. The Brazilian car was only 0.466-seconds adrift on lap 24 with the 17-year-old finally capitalising on a mistake by Piccione to take second position.

Jani took the chequered flag 13.075seconds ahead of a delighted Felipe Guimarães who recorded the team’s best result of the season and become the youngest ever A1GP medal winner. Clivio Piccione finished third getting Monaco’s first ever podium in its debut season.

Switzerland is now top of the 2008/09

A1GP World Cup of Motorsport standings with A1 Team Ireland crashing out on lap one after an incident with Malaysia.

The Sprint Race was won by Team Netherlands in the hands of Jeroen Bleekemolen, while Portugal finished second ahead of Jani for Switzerland.

In a great drive Martin came from the back of the grid to finish in 12th position for Team Australia, giving an indication of the speed to come from the team in the Feature Race.

Points: Switzerland 73, Ireland 70, Portugal 64, Netherlands 56, France 41.

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KINGS OF WINGS PERTH MOTORPLEX

The Comeback Kid It hasn’t been a great season for Mark Wells, but last weekend he returned to form in style by winning the Kings of Wings.

DARREN SUTTON was there

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race

Darren Sutton

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All’s Wells: Mark Wells, left, led the field, while Tim Shaffer, right, and Steven Lines, below, both had strong runs as well.

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Darren Sutton

‘T

he Geraldton Jet’ Mark Wells shrugged away his recent run of bad luck by dominating the 30-lap King of Wings at the Perth Motorplex on the weekend.

Wells was in awesome form as he shot to the front from the front row of the A-Main, going on to win the epic battle in the 24-car field.

“We have struggled all year,” he said.

“I just love this race track and could run here everyday. Dad has struck with me through the bad and the good times and hopefully this one makes up for some. This one is for you.”

Wells started the season in a new yellow paint scheme, making the long haul from Geraldton each meeting. Only recently Wells returned to his normal paint scheme and has started making amends since.

Ryan Farrell ran a strong second after passing American Tim Shaffer with 17 to go and held station till the end.

“I reckon I am in pretty good shape but when the power steering went I just about died in the process,” Farrell said.

“I gave it everything I had I am just very fortunate to just drive this car.”

Shaffer’s third was a good result for the American who took over the seat from Ken

Sartori, who vacated the ride just over a week ago to return to his own team.

“We were really tight and the yellows did not fall into place …it was just not my night,” he said.

“I was not really set up for that and was committed to run two feet off the cushion.”

Bryan Mann was the big winner in the main race, only making the cut when American Wade Nygaard dumped the car big time on the first lap, which allowed Mann as first reserve to enter.

Robbie Farr was lucky not to have been taken out of the race when Max Dumesney torched an engine and went infield, carting Farr with him.

Farr finally returned to the track a number of positions down and fought his way to fourth by the race’s end.

Steve Lines again showed he is a force to be taken seriously when he finished sixth behind Ken Sartori.

Sartori himself was also a lot happier since returning to his own ride and his results showed immediate effect, setting fast time on the Friday night and taking a heat win.

Several drivers came to grief, including Kanne Manuel, who flipped his car again. Warrenne Ekins was unceremoniously moved aside by Jamie Maiolo, which ended in his car crashing the wall.

race

Geoff Gracie

Darren Sutton

Meanwhile, in Victoria ...

Darren Sutton

TIM Rankin has also put a terrible run of luck behind him with a strong win in Round 7 of the Eureka Garages and Sheds Sprintcar Series at Hamilton’s Western Speedway last Saturday night.

Rankin, who has been plagued by driveline problems this season, did everything right to win from Brett Milburn and Mike Van Bremen.

Going into the meeting all eyes were on the battle for overall points, with leading duo Matthew Reed and Darren Mollenoyux separated by only 50 points.

Mollenoyux, the last start feature winner at Horsham, had engine dramas and then swapped to a borrowed Simon Van Ginneken car to circulate in the B-Main to pick up valuable points.

But it was Rankin who came off the front row for the feature, beating Milburn by half a car length to assume the early lead and was never headed.

“Lap traffic was pretty good to me; I only had to pass a couple of cars,” he said.

“I knew I had to get a good start and come in hard on the first turn and it paid off. I knew I had to time trial well, and that was the case here to give me a front row start.

“It’s a long couple of rounds coming up and we are still in it for the points, so I’ve got to be careful not to do some crazy stuff and start thinking about points over the next three rounds.”

Behind the leading trio was John Vogels, Reed Simon Amato, who recovered brilliantly after a heat race rollover, Quentin Tanner, BMain winner Darren Russell, Glen Sutherland, Ryan Davis, Dennis Jones, Rod Matthews, Ian Thomsen and Van Ginneken.

The next round of the Eureka Garages and Sheds Series is this Saturday night at Heartland Raceway, Moama.

– GEOFF ROUNDS

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rear of grid

Troy can still pull the Birds

Odd Spot

THERE are two things Branagan is fond of: a Superbike and some poultry.

So, the planets lined up in his rather … distinctive universe when this image arrived in our emails.

Seems that Troy Corser was wringing the neck of his new BMW S1000RR at Phillip Island’s World Superbike Championship test session on the weekend when he came across this pluvver at Lukey Heights. The German missile hit the bird at around 230kmh and the rest, like the bird, is history.

“I guess I’m lucky that I didn’t crash and hurt myself badly when I hit the bird,” said Corser.

“I’m really not sure how I managed to stay on the bike, because it’s not easy when you’ve only got one hand on the bars, but somehow I was able to recover.”

Corser will go into this weekend’s World Superbike opener with some bruising – and, we would assume, the hope that the bird in question does not have mates.

And we would be remiss not to report that the bird was … pluvverised.

Just a Shot in the Dirk ...

Dirk Klynsmith

LEADING MN photographer Dirk Klynsmith has suffered for his art (again!). And now it’s our turn.

Seems that DK was not well pleased when all manner of incidents were happening up the top of Mount Panorama and images were being snapped left and right – and not just by our crash photo expert, John Morris.

So, Klynsmith felt the need to create a little mayhem of his own and turned on the claret in pitlane.

Well, maybe it was an accident.

“I was doing a shot with a big lens on a monopod,” explained the shutter jockey, “When I stood up, I swung around and it smacked me in the face. I was not happy at the time ... and I got no sympathy from eNews at all!”

Of course, the quick-thinking Klynsmith quickly recognised the photo op that the injury created, and turned the lens on himself.

He promises to be match-fit by the time the cars fire up at the Clipsal …

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