Motorsport eNews Issue 97 - March 24-30, 2009

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Issue No. 097 24 – 30 March 2009

“we will have four” 1

2

eNews reveals the v8 team that is set to up the ante in 2010 3

4

HUGE CLIPSAL 500 COVErAGE

why number 1 is on his window whincup, T8 and fG’s fabulous season start

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

Australasian

The ‘A’ Team

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Administration 357 Nepean Highway, Brighton East, VIC, 3187 (PO Box 7072, Brighton, VIC, 3186) P 03 9596 5555 F 03 9596 5030 admin@mnews.com.au

MD / Publisher

Chris Lambden publisher@mnews.com.au

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

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, Paris Charles, Neil Hammond, Joel Strickland, Ash Budd, Mike Patrick (UK) Motorsport eNews is published by Australasian Motorsport News ABN 55 125 120 702 Publisher: C Lambden

Issue No. 097 | 24–30 March 2009

news 4 Four of the best 7 The Voxing Ring 8 Hot, Hot, Hot 10 West-in-Front 15 United Front 18 Hop on a bike!

chat 22 5 minutes with ... opinion 22 Walker

Big V8 team will get bigger Heavy hitters speak out Why V8 drivers felt the heat Barbagallo upgrade likely Not the GPDA, the V8DA A Superbike, that is, for John David Richards

23 Fish

Why I love Adelaide Sebring = Le Mans

34 Fujitsu V8s 38 Clipsal supports 44 NASCAR

Jamie: King of Klipsal Rookies run riot All the action from 500 Kyle’s double up!

race 26 V8 Supercars trade 52 Classifieds

You reckon Jamie Whincup’s the form man in V8 Supercars? Dirk Klynsmith got up early to show us he’s in good touch too ...

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.

Dirk Klynsmith

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

Four Perform

Factory Ford team wants to build its emprire in 2010 to ensu V8 SUPERCARS FORD Performance Racing is committed to running more than two cars in the V8 Supercar Championship Series, and Prodrive boss David Richards has named 2010 as the year Ford’s factory outfit is likely to expand.

FPR is a lone two-car outfit at the pointy end of the grid, with Triple Eight supplying cars for two other teams, Stone Brothers Racing running three cars, and Walkinshaw Racing having a comprehensive customer

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

news

mance Racing

Morris commits to enduros

ure its in the best position to challenge for title According to Richards, that decision will be left to those involved in the Australian-based management of the team.

“That’s really up to Tim (Edwards, FPR team manager) to decide what he wants to do there. We have the option of running two other cars within our own team, or we could support satellite teams with engines and chassis and whatever.

“But the focus has to be to get our own organisation working absolutely correctly before we stretch ourselves in other areas.”

FPR did run three cars last season, with the Ford Rising Stars Racing entry coming out of the Campbellfield factory.

And there were realistic discussions to create the ‘Ford Dealer Team’ to run as third and four FPR cars this season, before James Courtney, who was poised to join the team, decided to sign for Jim Beam Racing instead.

– ANDREW VAN LEEUWEN

Dirk Klynsmith

program and a new all-inclusive set-up for the four ‘factory’ cars at the track (see separate story).

Now Richards, who was in Adelaide for last weekend’s Clipsal 500, is calling for FPR to follow the other big team’s lead.

“My view has always been that we should be running at least four cars out of Campbellfield,” Richards told eNews.

“But, if we’re going to do it, we’re going to do it right.

“For a couple of years we’ve been working with the team getting it organised, and now we’ve got a good product and we’re on top of the process. I think we’ll use this year to organise it so we can take on a couple more cars.”

But whether the team will run more cars as FPR entries, or set up an AGrade customer car program, is still unknown.

V8 SUPERCARS

For more with David Richards, see ‘Five Minutes With …’ on page 22

Dirk Klynsmith

PAUL Morris will drive in the 2009 V8 Supercar endurance races at Phillip Island and Bathurst.

The Supercheap Auto Racing team owner has committed to the twin enduros, but isn’t sure who will be the fourth driver, or which combinations the team will employ.

Morris did admit, though, that depending on new recruit Tim Slade’s improvement curve, the 23 year-old has a chance at pairing up with Ingall in the lead #39 car.

“If Sladey is up to the job, by the time the enduros come in, we’ll definitely consider that,” Morris said.

“Size wise, it’s a better fit because it’s a bit of a compromise for me. They seem to fit better, but if he’s not ready for that kind of pressure then we won’t do it to him.

“Last year, being Russell’s co-driver, I didn’t get many miles. I think I’d done about six laps before the start of the race.

For me it doesn’t matter – I can just get in and go and live with what I have to live with.

“I understand the job that needs to be done, get the car to the next stop, without losing position, and keeping the car in really good condition so Russell can get on with the job.”

The fourth driver in the SCAR enduro team is being considered now. Mark Skaife’s name has popped up in the rumour mill on a number of occasions.

Could old arch-rivals Skaife and Ingall team up in September/October?

“He would be great for our team,” Morris said.

“I’ll probably speak to him about it, but I’m sure every team will as well …”

– GRANT ROWLEY

SS GPWEEK – THE WORLD’S FIRST INTERNATIONAL ‘VIRTUAL’ MOTORSPORT MAGAZINE ...

V8’s grid allocation ru V8 SUPERCARS V8 SUPERCAR identities have voted unanimously – the new-for-09 grid allocation rules is a dud.

The new start format, which sees qualifying determine the starting slot for both of the weekend’s races, has come under fire from the V8 paddock, with all of the drivers and team members quizzed expression their disappointment and concern. eNews conducted a random pit lane ‘vox pop’, below – the responses speak for themselves.

Cameron McConville: It’s stupid, and we paid a massive price this weekend. I came from the back to third here [at Clipsal] last year, but to think of having to do it twice will give me nightmares …

Paul Morris: I don’t agree with it. Personally, I’d like to see two qualifying sessions. From a team’s point of view and from what I’ve heard from others, it doesn’t have any supporters.

Michael Caruso: Progressive grids should be the way, but if they wanted to change it, then they should have two qualifying sessions.

Tony D’Alberto: It doesn’t reward consistency. For us, if we finish Race 1 well, it does nothing.

Garry Rogers: Well, it’s really irrelevant if I like it or not. Personally, I don’t like it, but they are the rules and we play by the rules.

Greg Murphy: It makes reverse grids look like a genius thing to do. It doesn’t even sound like the board members knew what they voted for. I am at a complete loss as to why they thought this would make the racing better.

Simon McNamara: I’m not sure what is trying to be achieved. Look at Cam McConville; you get someone who is

quick, comes from the back to finish ninth and then they have to start from the back again.

David Richards: It’s swings and roundabouts. I can understand why that did it, because I presume it was to encourage more opportunistic driving in the first race. But on the other hand, it does screw your entire weekend if it goes wrong.

Fabian Coulthard: I think it’s a s*** rule! Even though we got an advantage out of it this weekend, there will be times when we won’t. It’s not always going to be like this.

Rod Nash: I think that qualifying is like a race in its own right. If you make gains, you deserve to start where you finish. I don’t see the logic in the rule.

Steven Richards: I’m not a fan of it, but it worked for me at Clipsal …

Dale Wood: I can’t see how it helps the show or the fans. Most of this year’s changes are good, and V8s are trying to add excitement, but this takes away from it.

Paul Cruickshank: The people who’ll feel it the most are the guys who haven’t qualified so well and have moved up through the field, and then they have to go back.

John Bowe: I don’t think that it’s right.

In a 250km race it’s probably not so bad, but in shorter races it will be impossible.

Kevin Murphy: I’m not in favour of it at all. I hope it gets looked at it quickly. There are some young drivers in this field that finished well up on their qualifying position and have been sent back.

Lee Holdsworth: I think it’s ridiculous.

Basically, it’s a championship that doesn’t reward the hard racers.

Provisions to make a forma

Change befo V8 SUPERCARS V8 SUPERCARS Australia could overturn the controversial qualifying grid allocation rule as early as the next round, at Hamilton.

In light of the widespread criticism of the system, the matter is likely to be brought up at board level before Hamilton, where it is possible that a change could be implemented.

V8SA operations manager Kurt Sakzewski told eNews that a change would have to go through all of the right board-level channels.

“V8 Supercars is capable of changing things, if there’s a need to do so,” Sakzewski said on Monday.

“It’s been done in the past. Things can be changed.

As to whether, if and when this gets looked at, that’s to be decided.”

If the current rule was abolished, there seems to be two clear ways to sort the grid slots for the second race of every two-race round. Either have progressive grids (where each driver finishes the first race is where they start the second), or introduce another qualifying session, perhaps on Sunday morning, giving drivers two chances at producing

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ule comes under fire!

Looking good, but a change or two needed

So many good things about the opening bout in the V8 Supercar championship. Great event, great Chris Lambden crowds, quality racing, good mNews Publisher ‘theatre’ good TV … all promising an interesting 2009.

But amidst it all, there always has to be one thing that stands out like the proverbial dog’s knackers as being not right. In fact, wrong, wrong, wrong.

You know where I’m heading – it got enough attention on the TV. Yes, the qualifying system, which sees failure (in Race 1) rewarded and effort (in Race 1) shunned.

This week, Formula 1’s governing body came out with a stupid championship-deciding system, the teams (and the fan base) reacted and, to its credit (although it was painted into a corner having not sought the teams’ input into it, required for such a late change), had by week’s end done a U-turn and put the ‘winner-takes-all’ decision on ice.

Sometimes you just have to admit you screwed up. V8 Supercars Australia needs to do the same. Admit it isn’t right and fix it – now!

There are two distinct solutions. Either run a second qualifying session on Sunday mornings (more value for the punters?), or revert to starting Sunday’s race where Saturday’s finished, like it’s always been.

Not everyone has a qualifying rocket. If a great driver can take a modest car and work it up through the field on Saturday, there needs to be reward for it. That’s what racing is.

For me, the most logical option is thus to start on Sunday where you finish on Saturday. It worked fine, no need to ‘fix’ it ...

Will V8SA have the wherewithal to do what F1 did and put it right? I hope so.

At the same time, to hear of drivers with burned feet; dehydration, and so on, after so many years, is dreadful. Cool-suits failing all over the place; boiled drivers. Not good enough.

Solution? Add one more ting to the ‘compulsory’ list – air con. Add 10 kilos to the car minimum weight and install a ‘control’ (yeah!) air-con system in all cars. Surely …

opinion

Dirk Klynsmith

at change sooner rather later

ore Hamilton? their one-lap screamers. eNews reported in January that there was a chance that two qualifying sessions would be used in 2009, but according to our sources, the concept was rejected due to cost considerations.

Regardless, you can bet that a change to the new system will certainly be discussed in the coming weeks.

– GRANT ROWLEY

V8 SUPERCARS

Peter Bury

THERE are renewed calls to improve conditions within the cockpits of modern-day V8 Supercars after a spate of heat-related issues during the Clipsal 500.

James Courtney, Steven Johnson, Rick Kelly, Russell Ingall, Alex Davison and many others had little or no coolsuit assistance during the first race, with cabin temperatures exceeding 60 degrees.

Courtney pitted midway through the race to remove his driver and passenger windows after his cool-suit and drink bottle failed.

Still overcome by heat stress, Courtney later pulled into pit lane where he was treated by crew and medical staff. At the end of the race, he got back in the car to at least finish the race and be classified.

The Jim Beam teamster certainly made the right decision by coming in when he realised he couldn’t go any further – but, yet again, drivers are asking whether there is a better way to solve the heating issues in the car.

Wilson Security Racing’s team owner Paul Cruickshank: “This is one of the hardest races in the world,” he says.

“So, yes, the cabin

temperature needs to be looked at because we can’t get to a point where we are putting a driver into a race car knowing that it’s going to be dangerous.

“Clipsal is certainly the worst race for heat. Darwin certainly gets warm, but with the threerace format we’ve had in the past, it hasn’t been too bad.

“The category has to be proactive to make a safe work environment for our drivers.

There are enough clever people around here, we should be able to do something.

“The air conditioning option needs to be explored. The FIA GT cars now have something up and going in their cars, so I’m going to do a bit of research on that. I think that’s the avenue we need to look at.

It’s time we did something.”

During Saturday’s Sebring 12 Hour race, Peugeot’s #7 entry had its air conditioning fail and, as the drivers could not manage more than 20 minutes driving in the car, the car was pitted while it was fixed. The enclosed prototype lost nine laps, dropping it from contention.

SCAR team owner and V8SA board member Paul Morris said that the fitness and experience of the drivers needs to be considered.

Peter Bury

Clipsal heat takes its toll

Hot stuff: The temperatures inside Courtney’s car at Clipsal were out of control – posing questions about the safety of the cars.

“The thing you have to realise is that the guys who finished first, second and third were guys who have all been here before, and they paced themselves and are conditioned for it,” Morris said.

“For Tim (Slade), it’s probably the toughest thing he’s ever done. Maybe we could mandate an air conditioner system for when it gets over a certain temperature. That would make it more bearable.

(Having air conditioning) is better for the driver, but you compromise performance.”

But for Morris, the heat issue is all about experience and mental preparation.

“Tim runs 15km a day. Mate, I couldn’t run five kilometres!

But I could do that race because I know what to expect

and there’s a bit more of me,” Morris said.

From a driver’s perspective, Jack Daniels driver Rick Kelly had to compete without the assistance of his cool-suit for all of Race 1. By the end of the race, he was totally spent.

“The cool suits are a little bit of a temperamental item in the cars – it’s not the first time I’ve had problems with them,” Kelly said.

“It heats up quite quickly in the cars, so the conditions were far from ideal.”

A selection of other driver’s affected by the hot conditions were Steven Johnson (foot blisters), Alex Davison (cool suit failure and vomited in his helmet) and Ingall (foot blisters and cool suit failure).

– GRANT ROWLEY

news

Four on the floor V8 SUPERCARS THE Toll Holden Racing Team and Walkinshaw Racing shared work space inside the new Adelaide pit garages, becoming the first V8 Supercar team to run four cars from within the one space.

With Tom Walkinshaw’s offseason acquisition of HRT, plus an extra license for WR, the factory Holden team has been allocated the first four pit slots in pitlane for 2009, giving them the opportunity to, literally, break down the wall.

The Clayton teams have decided to do this at every meeting – where possible.

Only Winton and Hidden Valley will pose a problem, as their permanent structures won’t allow for it.

WR team manger Erik Pender told eNews that with the reduction in crew allowed to work on the car (seven), it was an opportunity to bring the teams closer than ever before.

“Every crew member has got to have at least two roles, so why have two people with the same roles when you can have

Holden Racing Team and Walkinshaw Racing are one big happy family

one?” Pender said.

“Obviously you’re going to have your own car engineers and car crew, but for things like electrics and radio, we just have one specialist who will be able to carry out their duties over the four cars.”

And by removing the wall, there is quite simply more work area.

“It’s amazing the extra space you have,” he said.

“You don’t realise until you do it. If you look at some of the single car teams besides us, it’s really narrow and tight. Here,

Dirk Klynsmith

we can spread out and share space.”

Pender also offered comment on Adelaide’s new pit structure.

“They’ve done a great job on these garages,” he said.

“I think these rank just behind Bathurst and Bahrain. Obviously the paddock is a bit tight behind, but all of the things that we had issues with before, like the angle on the floor has been fixed. There seems to be adequate power and its very safe too with the fire system.”

– GRANT ROWLEY

WA gets the Green Light V8 SUPERCARS THE future of V8 Supercar racing in Western Australia is beginning to look more secure, with the GHD report investigating upgrades for Barbagallo Raceway being tabled by the state’s Sport and Recreation Minister Terry Waldron.

As predicted back in January (eNews #086), the report has identified two options involving upgrades at Barbagallo Raceway. Now, a detailed master plan of the redevelopment options will be compiled, with a final decision expected by the end of the year.

“Both options will meet the technical specifications demanded by the V8 Supercars and offer a better strategic direction for WA motorsport than a street circuit,” Mr Waldron said.

“While the V8 Supercar race is the biggest fixture on the local motorsport calendar, the fact is Western Australian motorsport operates all year round.

“What has been identified is that Barbagallo can, with extensions to the leased area and upgrades to infrastructure, continue to successfully host the V8s and provide for the needs of Western Australians involved in motorsports.”

V8 Supercars Australia CEO Cameron Levick will now fly to Perth for a series of meetings to better understand whether or not the proposed changes could in fact lead to an extension of the circuit’s sanction agreement, which expires this year.

“We were involved early on in [this] process, but we’ve been out of it for some time now,” he told eNews.

“In terms of the details of the two proposals, I haven’t seen those yet, so part of the reason I’ll be meeting with the minister when I’m over there is to go through and understand the proposals.

“The important thing for us is that it sounds as though the government in Western Australia is serious about V8 Supercars for our fans, so while ever they’re serious about that and they want to make an investment in making a great show, then we’re open to conversations about how to make that happen.

“I’ve got a pretty open mind as to what the future looks like in Perth, whether it’s a street race, or investment at Barbagallo.

We’re certainly engaged in conversations about that, and the trip over there for me in the next couple of weeks will help that move forward.”

– ANDREW VAN LEEUWEN

... and a new V8 Hero Marshall Cass

V8 SUPERCARS DEAN Fiore is expecting to drive the #021 Commodore for the rest of the season – but he is not in talks to buy the license from Team Kiwi Racing, as has been reported elsewhere.

Fiore made his V8 Supercar Championship Series debut at the Clipsal 500 in the TKR car, his first competitive outing at

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any level of V8 Supercar racing.

And the former Porsche ace made a solid start, ending the weekend 15th overall.

But, while he says he has a one-year deal with TKR, which will operate on an alliance with Paul Morris Motorsport, Fiore is adament that he isn’t buying the license.

“That was wrongly reported, I think,” he told eNews.

“I’ve signed a contract with

the team for a year. I’m here wholly and solely as a driver.”

Fiore will drive the ‘Hercules’ PMM VE Commodore, the first VE that the team built. PMM and TKR will work closely together, with PMM CEO Nigel Barclay taking the team manager role for #021 at Clipsal last weekend.

While TKR has had a turbulent couple of years, Fiore is not worried about the team’s

somewhat unstable recent past, despite ongoing speculation regarding license holder David John’s financial situation.

“I’m aware of what people are saying, of course, but I really don’t see it as a problem,” said Fiore.

“At the end of the day the opportunity was too great to pass up. What happens in that area is totally beyond my control.”

– ANDREW VAN LEEUWEN

news

The Rat confirms: it’s The End

... but Radisich takes on coaching role at Walkinshaw

endurance races. Maybe it could be done in a car that doesn’t require too much PAUL Radisich will be seen at physical activity. I should be V8 Supercar race tracks, but able to look at that, but at the he will never compete again. moment my concentration is in Radisich has called time the rehab and being involved on his involvements in Main in a small way with the team.”

Series driving after his Bathurst Any competition, though, accident last year, but hasn’t for Radisich won’t happen ruled out other events, such as for the next 12 months as he the Le Mans 24 Hours. continues to recover from “It’s the end of the day for me.,” the accident that broke six the recovering Kiwi said. vertebrae in his back, amongst “I’ve had a tremendous other injuries. career of winning and racing While Radisich won’t race a internationally. It’s a shame V8 Supercar – he could drive that it had to end that way, but one. Walkinshaw Racing has I’m still here to talk about it. offered him a drive in one of “I would have liked to do the team’s ride cars.

Le Mans and a few of those – GRANT ROWLEY

V8 SUPERCARS

Dirk Klynsmith

V8 SUPERCARS PAUL Radisich has taken the role of driver mentor and motivator at Walkinshaw Racing.

The former World Touring Car champion will offer guidance, coaching and mentorship to the two WR drivers Paul Dumbrell and David Reynolds.

Radisich was injured during practice at last year’s Supercheap Auto 1000, and has spent the past six months recovering, but this new role allows the New Zealand star to remain at the circuit, offering a guiding hand.

“It’s an opportunity for me to be around and ask any questions or give them assistance with me 25 years of motor racing,” the Kiwi said.

“The team wants me here to coordinate and help with issues that drivers have prior to the event and also go through some data with them. That’s really the extent of my role.”

Radisich’s main role at the Clipsal 500 was to liase with and guide WR’s new racer Reynolds. While the Bundaberg Rum driver has plenty of experience around the Adelaide Parkland’s track, Radisich says the he still needs to be “nurtured.”

“He’s got a great temperament, he’s got the ability, and we’ve seen that before with everything he’s done before,” Radisich said.

“He’s got the talent to be very successful, but like all talent, it needs to be nurtured, it takes time.”

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NASCAR SPRINT CUP MARCOS Ambrose looks to have cleared the first hurdle in his 2009 Sprint Cup program by firming his place in the top 35 drivers.

Ambrose, who gained a guaranteed start in the opening six races of the season after a number of teams merged over the northern winter, is

solidly in 24th position in the Owners’ Points, and his strong run at Bristol over the weekend indicates that he is becoming a contender in the series.

“We’ve been sneaking up there getting more confident,” he said after the race on the half-mile oval.

“We’ve had good runs every single race this year. We’ve just had problems. Problems during

the race – might have blown up at Atlanta and then we had some other issues with our deal at Vegas and here we are.

We’re finally hitting our form and showing everybody what we got. I just can’t wait to start hitting these tracks the second time.

“This is my very first COT [Car of Tomorrow] race at a short track – first time at Bristol in a COT and

I’m just really excited with the result today and hopefully it leads to better things.”

Ambrose’s #47 JTG Daugherty Racing entry has 500 points, and even if he has a bad round this weekend at Martinsville, he is 144 points clear of the allimportant 35th spot.

The battle for the top 35 will be just as intense as that at the front of the field. Earnhardt

AMBROSE SET FOR TO

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news

Dig Deep for Appeal

Ganassi has a couple of challenges this weekend, with the #34 (driven by John Andretti) in 33rd, and Aric Amirola’s #8 in 36th. Hendrick big off-season signing Mark Martin is 31st in his Chevy, Joey Logano’s #20 is 34th in Joe Gibbs’s Home Depot car and Scott Speed is in 37th in Team Red Bull’s #82.

Paul Menard is also in trouble, his #98 Yates Ford is in 38th.

NASCAR SPRINT CUP MARCOS Ambrose is doing his part to raise funds for the Australian Red Cross Bushfire Appeal.

Ambrose raced at Bristol over the weekend in an Impact helmet painted in a specialty CFA paintscheme by American Nick Pastura. The helmet and a CFA jacket, which has been signed by a number of Sprint Cup Series drivers, will be auctioned through his website, www.marcosambrose.com As Motorsport eNews went live, bidding for the helmet had hit $8800 and the jacket was up to $2000. The total amount raised will be awarded directly to the Yarra Glen Volunteer Fire Brigade.

OP 35

Dig Deep times 2 V8 SUPERCARS

THE Holden Racing Team is also doing its part to raise awareness and money for the victims of the Victorian Bushfires.

The bonnets of the Toll HRT VEs of Garth Tander and Will Davison will feature this special commemorative Victorian Red Cross Bush Fire Appeal logo and call to action this weekend.

With the fires affecting the lives and livelihoods of so many Australians, the Toll Holden Racing Team, management and sponsors have donated the space on the most prominent part of thier V8 Supercars to remind spectators and viewers of the AGP – in Australia and around the world – of the continued need for donations and support.

Donations can still be made at www.redcross.org.au

Toyota Motorsports

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FOXTROT GOLF GETS RAVE RE

V8 SUPERCARS MID-corner speed is the biggest advantage the FG Falcon has over its predecessor the BF, according to some of Ford’s leading drivers.

Shane van Gisbergen says his Stone Brothers Racing FG is more willing to respond to driver inputs in the middle of a

corner than the BF ever was.

“You can really push it into a corner,” he said.

“It brakes really well, so you can drive it deep into the corner.

It is quite different to the BF. With that car, you’d wait, let it sit, and then drive it out. It was quite lazy at the front. With [the FG] you just fire it in and push.

“It’s more rewarding, because

you spend less time waiting for the car.”

Fabian Coutlhard, driving a Triple Eight-built FG for Wilson Security Racing, agrees that the car can be driven harder into a corner.

“Definitely, it stops a lot better,” he said. “Compared to the BF, it’s actually visually different when you’re sitting in the car, because

Honours for the First Family ALMS-A1GP

IT was not a great result for David Brabham’s Acura entry in the Sebring 12 Hour race, but it was still a memorable weekend for the Brabham family at the famed Florida track.

Sir Jack Brabham sealed his first World Championship for Drivers at the track 50 years ago and, while the circumstances were much different, the three-time titleist was honoured when David drove the 1959 Cooper-Climax T51 at the track.

Black Jack clinched his first title in the 1959 US Grand Prix. Leading the title race on points, he qualified second fastest behind Stirling Moss,

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and looked to have the title sewn up when rivals Tony Brooks and Moss struck trouble. But on the final lap of the race, his Cooper ran out of fuel and, while team-mate Bruce McLaren sped on to his first GP win, the Aussie climbed out and pushed the car 800m to the flag, collapsing after finishing fourth and beating Brooks, who took second, to the title by four points.

The famous family will become the first ticketholders for this year’s Nitro SuperGP Conrad Jupiters on the Gold Coast, tomorrow.

Jack, son Geoff and grandson Matthew will will be announced as the number one, two and three ticket holders for the October A1GP and V8 Supercars event.

of the lower console and cool suit box. And it’s just nice and new. It’s the first new car I’ve had since karting.”

Steven Richards says the FPR FG doesn’t feel much different to the BF, but admits there is still plenty of time to be found in his car.

“I haven’t really found a massive difference,” he said.

news

EVIEWS Drivers seek more say V8 SUPERCARS

MARSHALL CASS

“We’ve still got a lot more room for ours cars to move forward in terms of competitiveness. It feels very similar to BF, but it’s a work in progress.”

But it’s not all positive, according to van Gisbergen …

“The only negative is that it’s too hard to climb into the bloody thing,” added the lanky Kiwi.

– ANDREW VAN LEEUWEN

EXPECT V8 Supercar drivers to have more of a voice this season, with the drivers vowing to form an unofficial ‘association’ similar to the Grand Prix Driver’s Association that exists in Formula 1.

The driver’s forum has been instigated by Steve Richards and Greg Murphy, in a bid to give the guys behind the wheel more say in the running of race weekends. Like the GPDA, the key issue will be safety, however unlike the GPDA it will not be an official association.

“It’s not that technical at the moment, it’s just a forum for the drivers to have correspondence between one another,” Richards told eNews.

“There’s no official thing going. All it is, for years no one has talked to each other about certain issues that arise over a meeting, so it is purely a way to get everyone’s opinion on things, whether it be safety, or appearances or whatever. It’s just to formulate our opinion.”

According to Richards, Marcus Zukanovic’s testing crash at Winton, in which he was

seriously injured (see story below), has instigated the movement.

“The last couple of years we’ve had some instances where people have been injured at race meetings, to the point where at the Winton test day the same thing happened,” said Richards.

“In some aspects the safety is not being looked at hard enough, and we are to blame for not getting together. We want to put some emphasis on that.”

The effects of the combined front were obvious at the Clipsal 500, with some paint being applied to part of the new Turn 8 wall that appeared to be narrowing the middle of the corner too much.

“During a race meeting, we’ll always talk to the officials about certain things. And because that was such a big change to the entry, the wall jutting out was a bit of an issue. It felt like you were blind behind the car, it didn’t feel like there was a great deal of track between you and the wall. But the reality is there is quite a bit, so that was to give us a visual cue.”

– ANDREW VAN LEEUWEN

Zukanovic out for ‘09

After testing crash, he’s already planning his return

Dirk Klynsmith

sutton-images.com

FUJITSU V8 Supercar driver Marcus Zukanovic is currently confined to a wheelchair and will not compete in V8 Supercars in 2009.

The Victorian was involved in a damaging crash at Winton during the official V8 test day in early March, where his car suffered brake failure at the end of the back straight. His car collided driver’s side to the concrete wall, breaking his leg, shoulder and ribs.

A successful on his operation on his tibea, where a steel rod was placed in his right leg (and the fact that he has a broken collarbone) has kept Zukanovic wheelchair bound for the next month while he continues his rehabilitation.

For 2009, his V8 season is

prematurely over, but the Melbourne resident is keen to get behind the wheel of his Commodore Cup car later in the year to get some miles before making a full return to

the Fujitsu V8 Series in 2010.

“I good now, on the mend,” he said with high spirits.

“I’m keen to get back in the car but I’m restricted physically.

The doctors have said that I won’t be racing for 12 months – they’ve said that I can’t race until the pin is removed.”

Zukanovic admitted that 2009 is going to “kill him” sitting on the sidelines.

“They said that it will be two months before I can walk properly again, probably a month and a half before I’m in the pool doing extra physio and on the bike,” he said, “I’m going to miss racing this year, but I’ll do a couple of tests in the Commodore Cup car to get back in the swing.”

– GRANT ROWLEY

15

In the wake of Carrera Cup’s demise, Australian GT could benefit

GTs could race at Bathurst and Homebush AUSTRALIAN GT

John Morris/Mpix

AFTER the demise of the Australian Carrera Cup Championship last month, a slot has become available as a support class at Bathurst and Homebush – and the Australian GT Championship look like filling the void.

An Australian GT representative said that the category had been approached but hadn’t finalised a deal yet with V8 Supercars or V8TV. One of the issues that GT competitors have is available

track time – especially at Bathurst. Aus GT regulations stipulate that the class gets two 20 minute practice session, one 20 minute qualifying and an hour’s worth of racing. In recent times, Carrera Cup was restricted to just one 20 minute practice session – a situation that many competitors at the time were disgruntled with.

If GTs compete at Bathurst, it will be the first time since the WPS Bathurst 12 Hour in 2006 that the class has raced at the famous Mount Panorama circuit.

– GRANT ROWLEY

F3: All OK FORMULA 3

Marshall Cass

Kemal returns for GP AUSSIE RACING CARS

REIGNING Aussie Racing Car Champion Paul Kemal will make a one-off return to the pint-sized field at the Australian Grand Prix meeting at Albert Park this weekend.

The three-time series Champ says that he is looking forward to his return: “I thought what the hell, why not!”

Kemal said.

“I love the track. It’s a really fast, open track. It’s not every day you get to run around Albert Park, so I thought I’d take the opportunity.”

One big difference for Kemal at the Grand Prix will be a change in colour

16

scheme. After quitting the series, he did not retain his ties with VIP Petfoods – a sponsorship relationship that he held for six years. Kemal’s series-winning car (which is still for sale) will feature support from Independent Motor Auctions.

Compared to the Clipsal 500 grid, there will be an extra six Aussie cars at Albert Park, including Kemal, his long-time ontrack rival/good friend Sheridan Phillips and motoring journalist Paul Gover. The Herald Sun writer will drive the Toyota Aurion-inspired racer that fellow writer Peter McKay drove at Clipsal last weekend.

The class will compete in two races at Albert Park, all vying for series points.

– GRANT ROWLEY

THE Australian Formula 3 Championship is facing a bizarre concept – fielding more cars for its Wakefield Park round than it did at the Clipsal 500.

Just 10 cars made up the F3 grid in Adelaide, the smallest field of any class on the support card. It was four cars short of the average grid size the category expects for 2010, although category officials are expecting a better turn-out for the next round at Wakefield.

“I think that will be the case,” said F3 board member Richard Craill. “We’re looking at averaging 14 cars this year. That’s what we’ve budgeted for.

“I hate to use the global financial crisis as an excuse, but that’s what people are telling us. That’s why we’ve been conservative with out budgets this year.”

The 10-car field at Clipsal came at a financial cost for the category, with 20 entries being underwritten for the meeting.

But while it wasn’t an ideal start to the year, Craill is quick to point out that it isn’t dire times for Formula 3.

“It hurt,” he admitted, “but we can cover it. We’re not in any financial dramas. It was cover the entries or not rock up, and we didn’t want to pull out, because we can still put on a good show.”

The Wakefield Park round kicks off on April 24.

– ANDREW VAN LEEUWEN

news

John Bosher

Big MINI

Australia’s only one-make class has survived the economic crisis, fielding a strong 20 cars at the AGP MINI CHALLENGE

MINI is celebrating 50 years in Australia in 2009, and the celebrations will start with a 20car MINI Challenge grid at this weekend’s Australian Grand Prix at Albert Park.

The grid is stronger than many would have predicted for the series as it starts its second year, with the financial crisis expected to affect numbers. But that doesn’t seem to be the case, with the likes of the DecoRug, Bargwanna and Motorline teams

returning, running seven cars between them.

Joining them in the multi-car teams will be a Donut King team, fielding three cars for Tony Alford, Barry Nesbitt and Peter Leemhuis.

Perth-based Glory Team Racing is back too, with two new drivers, young guns Nathan Caratti and Nathan Callaghan.

Other noteworthy additions to the grid include Geelong Football Club 300-gamer and former Sandown 500 (for GTs!) pole-sitter Sam Newman, and Fujitsu V8 Supercar driver Chris Allajajian.

MINI Challenge Entry List Albert Park, Australian Grand Prix Team DecoRug Racing DecoRug Racing M3 Motorsport Glory Team Racing Glory Team Racing Stillwell Motorsport Stillwell Motorsport Motorline MINI Garage Motorline MINI Garage Motorline MINI Garage Bargwanna Motorsport Bargwanna Motorsport Prosurv Racing Uberstar Alajajian Racing Bruce Lynton MINI Garage Geier Racing Donut King Donut King

Driver Grant Denyer Paul Stokell Grant Doulman Nathan Caratti Nathan Callaghan Gary Young Michael Stillwel Brendan Cook Andrew Mill Damien Flack Scott Bargwanna Brendan Cook John Modystach Sam Newman Chris Alajajian Beric Lynton Nathan Geier Peter Leemhuis Barry Nesbitt

17

news

HOPPER ON STIGGY WSBK

WORLD SUPERBIKES FORMER Kawasaki star John Hopkins will race in the next round of the World Superbike Championship in Valencia next month.

The American, who lost his MotoGP seat when the manufacturer pulled out of the series during the off-season, will join the Stiggy Honda team. He replaces Roberto

Rolfo, who raced for the team in the first two rounds of the series, and who appears to have split with the team on amicable terms.

“Kawasaki and I worked it out where both parties left the relationship happy, and I am thankful to Kawasaki for letting me ride their bikes and race in their program,” Hopkins via his own website.

“I’m excited about racing in the 2009 season and solely putting my focus on

moving forward.”

Hopkins is believed to be bringing major sponsorship from Monster energy drinks, which backed the Kawasaki team last season, and which already backs Leon Haslam. He joins Haslam in Stiggy’s firstyear WSBK team, while the move will also reunite Hopper with his former Kawasaki team-mate Ant West, who races for Stiggy in the World Supersport Championship.

Sera does the business in Florida KARTING DAVID Sera has continued his winning ways with a victory in the Formula Kart Weekend at the Ocala Gran Prix circuit in Florida, USA over the weekend.

Sera, 20, was forced to charge through the field from the back of the grid, after problems prior to the main event.

“After seizing a number of engines during practice and qualifying, I didn’t finish the pre-final forcing me to start from 17th in the final,” said Sera.

18

“I knew it was going to be tough from that deep in the pack but I simply pushed hard and found my way to the front.

I hit the lead with about eight laps to go before holding on for the win.”

Sera had a late-race problem with the exhaust on his Australian-built Arrow kart, but still held on for a convincing win.

His next race will be the 47th National Sprint Kart Championships sponsored

by Yamaha to be held in Townsville over Easter (April 8-10).

Take a current V8 star and the front-running Biante Series Mustang and you have ...

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BRIGHT The ‘Brighty and The Beast’ showdown headlines the very latest motorsport news, opinion and features from home and abroad

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Grant Berry

Bishop’s Willowbank test crash DRAG RACING QUEENSLANDER Stuart Bishop was involved in a testing accident at Willowbank Raceway last Wednesday.

During the second run of his Diamond Doorslammer, a left-rear wheel malfunction saw the car into the left wall

just after the 60 foot mark before crossing the track and making contact with the right hand wall.

Bishop was transported by the attending ambulance to the Ipswich hospital for precautionary checks and treated for a mild concussion before being transferred to Brisbane’s Wesley Hospital

for observation, from where he was released on Friday morning.

Bishop hopes to have the car repaired in time for the Castrol EDGE Tin Top Titles at Willowbank Raceway on April 18 and 19, and would like to thank everyone for their well wishes and offers of assistance.

Reality Drag Racing DRAG RACING 1320X Drag Racing event series and television show is proud to announce it will be filming at Alice Springs Inland Dragway on the 18 July 2009.

Launched in the USA on 4 July, 2008, 1320X is the latest drag racing venture to come out of Disruptive Studios in Los Angeles, and is being produced in Australia by Frazzica Productions.

Disruptive Studios is responsible for the Pullin Television produced series ‘PINKS All Out’, which is currently filming its third season. The 1320X brand focuses on grass roots drag racing and is an action packed family friendly event.

Stephen Pullin, co-founder of Disruptive Studios recently said, “Australia has a drag racing market which, for the most part, has been untouched and unrecognized by the rest of the world. Being an Australian native myself, I look forward to being able to not only represent this fast-growing sport, but to also showcase Australia’s racers and all of their glory.”

Frazzica Productions, who recently signed

20

the deal with Disruptive Studios to produce 1320X, will be responsible for bringing 1320X to Australian TV towards the end of the year. “We are delighted to be able to bring this event to Alice Springs this year. This will be the second event of the 1320X Australia series.

“Imagine the footage you will see on the show. It will be fantastic to show our American colleagues that we have a first class track in the desert, in the centre of Australia,” says Joe Frazzica, executive producer for Frazzica Productions.

“Alice Springs Inland Dragway is looking forward to hosting 1320X and excited about been showcased on television in Australia and the USA.” - Guy Watts, Vice President.

1320X is the first and only drag racing event series designed to appeal to the “Average Joe” and focuses on a celebration of the Australian made muscle car and the sport of grass roots drag racing. Along with 1320X, 1320Xaustralia. com is a social networking website for any car enthusiast to connect with fellow racers in a place designed for them.

news

Judd ready to attack

Running second? No way! Robin Judd wants to overhaul his western rival DRAG RACING Despite an unexpected first round loss at the Perth Motorplex’s recent Westernationals making a heavy blow to his 08/09 ANDRA Top Doorslammer Championship aspirations, Australia’s quickest Doorslammer racer Robin Judd is anything but defeated as he prepares for April’s Castrol EDGE Tin Top Titles at Willowbank Raceway.

Judd, who is currently second on the championship ladder behind fellow West Australian John Zappia who won the Perth Event, has seen his points chase extend from Ken Ferguson 30 to 128 points (Perth events offer 50 percent bonus points) Ready to go: Robin Judd is looking to take the fight to John Zappia in the next round of Top with three ‘East Coast’ rounds Doorslammers at the Castrol EDGE Tin Top Titles at Willowbank Raceway next month. remaining in the hunt – two of them at Willowbank Raceway.

“Having a good result at the great to win.”

“I know it is going to be tough ENZED International New Year Series, the Perth racer is on Castrol EDGE Tin Tops would The Castrol EDGE Tin Top (to win the championship) but a roll when it comes to the be a great way to thank our Titles will take place on we haven’t given up yet. It will Ipswich facility. sponsors William Buck and Saturday the 18th and Sunday be business as usual for the “Over the past year we K & B Exclusive – we really the 19th of April, and will William Buck/K & B Exclusive seem to have been able to appreciate their continued feature all the sedan action Studebaker and the team get the combination right support during these tough from Top Doorslammer and Pro behind it,” said Judd. at Willowbank and that has times as pursuing this Stock as well as two-wheeled “First we need to qualify, and seen us get a handle on championship without them show from the Pro Stock then just take each round as it the track and some good would be difficult. It would be Motorcycle category. comes. Willowbank Raceway has been good to us and is one results – evidenced by the Winternationals results of two of our favourite tracks, so we five second passes!” said Judd. are looking forward to a good “We were able to make it to race meeting.

ICE forks. The rear wheel is a “Consistency is the key word – the finals in January also so DRAG RACING black Kosman spun rim with a hopefully the good streak can that is what is going to win out brand new Mickey Thompson continue – we love coming to Thieves struck Adelaide at the end of the day and we slick fitted. The V300 Racepak Willowbank, it is a great track based Pro Stock Motorcycle will be aiming to run as quick logger and MSD4 ignition – it has a family feel with the team owner Trevor Birrell, as we can consistently and were also in place. stealing his Toyota Hi-Ace hopefully that is good enough. management and staff and is The Toyota van is white very racer friendly. When the van from a Henley Beach We will be doing everything in with alloy wheels except for track is at its peak I would rate driveway today (Monday). our power that is for sure!” the front right, which is the it as probably the quickest Inside the van was the Willowbank Raceway was steel spare. The registration in Australia – there is just team’s Dale Gilbert chassied the scene of Judd’s 5.90 number is VTD 107. something about it!

Suzuki, complete except for second pass (a world record Anyone sighting the van “Of course I have a few upper body panels. at the time) at the Castrol or the race bike is asked to records and awards from The bike retained its white EDGE Winternationals in June contact the South Australian Willowbank so there is a bit of front mudguard over the BST of 2008, and with a finals police or ANDRA immediately. sentiment there also! carbon-fibre front wheel and appearance during January’s

Stolen Suzuki

21

5 Minutes with ...

DAVID RICHARDS

Prodrive’s boss wants four FPR cars on the grid in 2010

So FPR could be a four-car team as soon as next year?

Yes. How disappointing was it to get so far down the line with James Courtney and not end up with him in the team?

I was extremely surprised. I’d had a lot of conversations with Alan Gow and agreed everything, and we were given no warning whatsoever.

We were just told “sorry, he’s going somewhere else.” I was extremely disappointed.

What about customer cars?

Triple Eight might run two cars on race weekends, but they are hardly a two-car team …

That’s really up to Tim [Edwards] to decide what he wants to do there. We have the option of running two other cars within our own team, or we could support a satellite team with engines and chassis and whatever. But the focus has to be to get our

22

Marshall Cass

MOTORSPORT NEWS: FPR is a two-car team, although it was almost more than that this year. Is running it that way going to be viable on an ongoing basis?

DAVE RICHARDS: My view has always been that we should be running at least four cars out of Campbellfield. But, if we’re going to do it, we’re going to do it right.

For a couple of years we’ve been working with the team getting it organised, and now we’ve got a good product and we’re on top of the process. I think we’ll use this year to organise it so we can take on a couple more cars.

ANDREW VAN LEEUWEN

IF WE ARE GOING TO DO IT [RUN FOUR CARS], WE’RE GOING TO DO IT RIGHT DAID RICHARDS own organisation working absolutely correctly before we stretch ourselves in other areas.

Speaking of things working correctly, you’ve got one of the best driver line-ups in the category, and some of the fastest cars. But the big win hasn’t come FPR’s way. Is this the year when a Bathurst 1000 or a title has to happen for the team?

Every year is the year where it needs to happen. It’s no different this year to last year.

There have been circumstances; you have to remember that Mark [Winterbottom] led the championship a long way into last season, right up until a few races from the finish. If I’d asked you three-quarters of the way through the season, you

probably would have said he was the favourite for the title.

So it’s not because we haven’t been there. And you have to remember that FPR is one of the youngest teams on the grid, and these things don’t happen overnight …

How has your perception of V8 Supercars changed since you’ve been involved?

I don’t think it’s changed too much from my original impressions. There’s obviously a lot of head-scratching going on to do with what has to happen in the future to maintain this iconic race series.

There’s nothing like this anywhere in the world, with two manufacturers and the level of interest. British Touring Cars has fallen off the pace now, but this has such

an extraordinary following throughout the whole country.

What does have to happen to maintain that?

I don’t know enough about it to comment, really. But I think the main thing is to try and keep true to the roots. The danger will come with any radical change. Any change should come in very small steps, very carefully chosen and very carefully thought out.

The car manufacturers will all be saying that the cars are becoming smaller and the market is going a different way, but it’s not about marketing the car itself, it’s about marketing the brand. So, for all the financial pressures that will be on the series, everything has to be done in small steps and very cautiously.

chat

23

WHEN Formula 1 came to Adelaide in 1985 for the first time, most of us had never been to Australia before, and to be brutally honest, I had to get out my Reader’s Digest atlas to find out where Adelaide was!

It was the other side of the world and we didn’t know what to expect.

We’d seen a lot of Australians over in Britain, and when we got to Adelaide, we found a city of the ideal size – it wasn’t too big to swamp the GP, and it wasn’t too small to be swamped by the Grand Prix.

We had a wonderful welcoming atmosphere and the culture was virtually the

same as what we have in the UK. Flying here, you crossed Europe where the culture is a bit different, then you cross the Middle East where it is totally different. Then India, Indonesia, both totally different, and then you land in Australia and it’s much the same, so that was great from our point of view.

Formula 1 had been subconsciously patronising about Australia. The attitude was that there had never had a Grand Prix before so it would probably be a bit ragged.

Well, the boot was on the other foot when we got here.

What the organizers of the Australian Grand Prix had very

sensibly done was to appoint committees to handle each of the various disciplines like the pit lane and the control tower and the medical aspects. They sent people from those committees to all of the different Grands Prix around the world to suss out what they did so they could work out the best way to do things and even affect some improvements.

When the meeting got underway, it was as though Australia had had a Grand Prix for 50 years and they’d had time to work all of the bugs out of it.

There were innovations, like the machine shop in

opinion Murray Walker F1 commentary legend pit lane, which had never happened in Formula 1 before.

On top of that, we found marvellous organisation and administration, a very friendly and laid back atmosphere, great restaurants, great wine, good food, nice hotels, an excellent circuit, and on top of that the AGP was the last race of the year, and it was also the best. We literally kept the best race to last.

That, in a very large nutshell, is why I love coming to Adelaide so much …

What’s Not to Love?

sutton-images.com

24

opinion

WHEN GIANTS STIR

LAST weekend’s Sebring 12 Hour Sportscar race was a great insight into what Le Mans might be like later in the year.

It was a little surprising that the race was so good. I was surprised to see the new Acura on the pole – from what I saw during the week, I actually thought that the Audi was going to grab the pole from the Peugeot. In race trim, the Acuras were about a second, or 1.5s a lap off the front-running pace.

It was a big risk for cars making their debut here. Audi has done it before with the R10, but the new R15 did not have anything like the mileage

that the other two cars had done. I think that everyone, including the teams, were relieved that the R15s had the pace.

It was a close battle but Audi did the job. Allan McNish just had the edge at the end of the race, and when Franck Montagny was in the Peugeot, it just seemed to lose its edge.

He went off on his opening lap and that was decisive.

Both cars are very quick. Last year, we saw that Audi was superior in some areas and was ahead on fuel strategy but this time, I think that we will see a head-to-head battle.

We will see three Audis take on four Peugeots in France,

and that will be a great fight.

This week, the Peugeots had a little advantage in top end, but not much, maybe two to three miles and hour, and while they do not have the same design as the Audi, in terms of lap times, they were very close.

It will be fascinating to see what happens over there.

Le Mans is a much different track to Sebring, so the advantages may be slightly different. There will be different regulations in pitlane, where instead of allowing two tyre changers, you are only allowed to have one. I think that things will not be as conservative, I think that you will see the drivers double-

opinion Calvin Fish Commentator, SpeedTV stinting, and in the next three months, the teams will get a handle on what they need to get right for Le Mans.

It will even out. The cars will be very close on pace, and a lot will depend on what happens in pit lane. The Peugeots did have the edge in tyre wear, double stinting their tyres, but at the end, the Audis had the edge in pace. It was a very strategic games that the teams played and both stuck to their guns. Bourdais’s puncture, and Montagny’s lack of speed at the end, cost them the victory.

Audi has the success there, but Peugeot really want to win there. So Le Mans will be something really special.

25

V8 SUPERCAR CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES ROUND 1 – ADELAIDE

26

race

Dirk Klynsmith

The Adelaide

1000

No, we have not got our Marches and Octobers mixed up.

But when Jamie Whincup took out his FOURTH successive 250km race in Adelaide, the mathematics were irresistible.

GRANT ROWLEY reports 27

I

T was the ideal debut for Ford’s new FG Falcon, and it was the perfect start to Jamie Whincup’s V8 Supercar title defence.

Whincup became the first person to win three Clipsal 500s last weekend during the opening round of the 2009 Championship Series last weekend, qualifying on pole and winning both legs of the Clipsal race. His dual wins also equalled Marcos Ambrose’s record of five race wins at the famous track.

“I didn’t know if I was going to run 25th or up the front. So to have pole and two race wins means more to me than it might look from the outside,” he said.

“It was a great battle with Will (in Race 2). A little bit of me wanted to give him a win on debut, but I snapped out of it pretty quickly!

“We’re not doing it easy. When Will was reeling me in I was trying to keep the gap as big as

28

possible. Luckily my tyres were a bit better at the end.”

The meeting turned out to be a battle between TeamVodafone and Toll Holden Racing Team – with both team’s cars finishing first to fourth in the second race. On the flipside, both teams had a dud result in Race 1, when both Garth Tander and Craig Lowndes suffered power steering failures.

Tander took fourth in Race 2, Lowndes third, but HRT’s new recruit Will Davison was the most impressive driver – beyond Whincup’s professional performance.

Davison placed third and second in the two races, ensuring that he is going to be one of only a handful of title contenders this year.

“I’m thrilled; I could not be happier with how this weekend has gone,” Davison said.

“I just wanted to get through the two 72 lap races and learn. This has exceeded my

expectations.

“I started Race 2 with a bit more confidence, and I just picked them off one-by-one.

It was a tough race, very cutthroat and no one made a mistake. Very enjoyable.”

Best of the rest was Lee Holdsworth. The Valvolinebacked dynamo left Adelaide third in the points. Finishing well at the Adelaide circuit isn’t uncommon for Holdsworth – he took a podium there last year, but now, the test for him and the Garry Rogers Motorsport team is to continue this form for the next 13 rounds …

Holdsworth would have qualified second, if not for taking too much kerb at turn two on his shoot-out lap. From 10th in both races, he took second in Race 1 and fifth in Race 2, and credited his car’s kindness on its Dunlops as the key.

“We are going to need more consistency from here on to be

title contenders,” Holdsworth said.

“The longer races really help us out. The tyre life on our cars is so good. I still don’t believe that we’ve found the qualifying pace that we need, and that’s because we can’t get enough out of our tyres in that session, but I guess that helps us with better rubber for the race.”

Another impressive overall result came from Steven Johnson, finishing fourth overall ahead of Team BOC debutant Jason Richards, Lowndes, an impressive Shane van Gisbergen, Rick Kelly, Russell Ingall and Jason Bright.

Paul Dumbrell had one of his best race meetings in recent memory – even though he left the circuit 14th in the championship. The Autobarnbacked driver qualified sixth and ran impressively in Race 1 before being involved in a tangle with James Courtney.

Advantaged by the

race

The T8 and HRT Show: Whincup leads Davison in Leg 2 of the Clipsal 500. These boys used to live in a share house, fighting over rent payments. This year, it looks like they’ll be fighting over the V8 Supercar title.

V8 Supercar | ROUND 1, CLIPSAL 500, SA

controversial grid allocation, Dumbrell fought to run well inside the top 10 in Race 2 until a late splash and dash for fuel after the team miscalculated the fuel consumption.

Speaking of fuel, the introduction of the newfor-2009 E85 fuel was one of the big talking points of the off-season. All of the leaders were able to make it through both races with just one stop, while some contenders at the back took splash and dashes.

Teams did admit, though, that getting through the 250km races was ‘close’ on consumption.

Ford Performance Racing, quite simply, had a shocker. Mark Winterbottom was penalised for leaping over the turn four kerb in the shootout and demoted

to ninth place. He raced well to be in contention for a podium in Saturday’s race before a clash with van Gisbergen. In Race 2, Winterbottom had more contact with rivals and finished well down.

Even worse for Steven Richards in the second FPR Falcon. He failed to make the distance in Race 1 after steering issues forced him out. He finished ninth in Race 2.

And the surprise of the round, in terms of championship position, is the man in 15th. V8 Supercar debutant Dean Fiore only secured his driver with Team Kiwi Racing’s PMM Commodore VE last Monday, but in Adelaide, Fiore was steady on his way to two race finishes.

Can’t ask for much more than that …

Pos #

Driver

Team/Car

Q

R1

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

Jamie Whincup Will Davison Lee Holdsworth Steven Johnson Jason Richards Craig Lowndes Shane van Gisbergen Rick Kelly Russell Ingall Jason Bright Fabian Coulthard Garth Tander Cameron McConville Paul Dumbrell Dean Fiore Todd Kelly Greg Murphy Mark Winterbottom Alex Davison Steven Richards James Courtney David Reynolds Marcus Marshall Dale Wood Michael Caruso Michael Patrizi Jason Bargwanna Tony D’Alberto Tim Slade Jack Perkins

TeamVodafone Falcon FG Toll HRT Commodore VE GRM Commodore VE Jim Beam Racing Falcon FG Team BOC Commodore VE TeamVodafone Falcon FG SP Tools Racing Falcon FG Jack Daniel’s Commodore VE Supercheap Auto Commodore VE Fujitsu Racing Falcon BF Wilson Security Racing Falcon FG Toll HRT Commodore VE WOW Commodore VE Autobarn Commodore VE TKR Commodore VE Jack Daniel’s Commodore VE Sprint Gas Commodore VE FPR Falcon FG Irwin Racing Falcon FG FPR Falcon FG Jim Beam Racing Falcon FG Bundaberg Red Commodore VE Team Intaracing Falcon BF Hi-Tec Oils Racing VE GRM Commodore VE Wilson Security Racing Falcon BF Sprint Gas Racing Commodore VE Bottle-O Commodore VE Supercheap Auto Commodore VE Dodo Racing Commodore VE

1 7 10 14 8 2 12 17 16 13 5 3 29 6 28 24 18 9 26 11 4 22 21 30 15 27 23 20 19 25

1 1 3 2 2 5 4 6 5 7 19 4 6 13 10 10 8 15 12 11 11 12 DNF 3 9 21 17 17 16 18 7 DNF DNF 8 18 22 15 25 DNF 9 20 24 13 DNF DNF 14 14 DNF DNF 16 DNF 19 DNF 20 DNF 23 DNF DNF DNF DNF

1 22 33 17 8 888 9 15 39 25 111 2 14 10 021 7 51 5 4 6 18 24 77 16 34 333 3 55 67 11

R2

Points: Whincup 300, W. Davison 267, Holdsworth 249, Johnson 222, J. Richards 207, Lowndes/Van Gisbergen 168, R. Kelly 156, Ingall 150, Bright/Coulthard 141, Tander 129, McConville 126, Dumbrell/Fiore 108, T. Kelly 96, Murphy/Winterbottom/A. Davison 90, S. Richards 84, Courtney 78, Reynolds 66, Marshall/Wood 63, Caruso 57, Patrizi 48, Bargwanna 45, D’Alberto 36.

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BJR’s get out of jail free card McConville crashes and comebacks, while new boy JR has top weekend

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and I had no time to catch. It was a small mistake, but it bit us hard.”

As it turned out, even McConville’s weekend was pretty good. He cut through the field to finish ninth in Race 1, an effort reminiscent of his storming drive in Race 2 last year.

Race 2 this year was almost the same, too. Thanks to some nifty strategy, McConville was on for a fourth or fifth place finish. But a stuck wheel nut during his final splash-and-dash put him back to 12th. Still, a top 10 was on, before McConville got a bit excited chasing down Shane van Gisbergen and nudged a tyre bundle, dropping back to 21st.

Despite the Race 2 result, McConville said it was a positive weekend for the team.

“Absolutely,” he said. “To have two cars in the top 10 nearly all weekend is great.

Brad and Kim [Jones] have a pep in their step I’ve never seen before.”

– ANDREW VAN LEEUWEN

sutton-images.com

FOR Brad Jones Racing, the Clipsal 500 was a pretty good save.

The Team BOC entry having a good weekend was never in doubt. Jason Richards, on debut for the team, was fast in qualifying (may have been on the front row had it not been for a mistake), and finished the weekend with a fifth and a seventh from the two races.

But for the WOW Racing car, it was almost a different story. Cam McConville made a big blue leaving the pits for qualifying, grabbing some kerb through the first chicane and slammed his Commodore into the wall. And with the new grid allocation rule, that meant two back row starts.

“It was just a case of cold tyres,” admitted McConville.

“I got up on the kerb, but no differently to how I had done during practice. The problem was the tyres were cold, so as soon as I got sideways the tyre let go

Larko says that last year’s Champ has what it takes to be a legend

Whincup has multiple championships in him TO me, the most profound thing that’s come out of this weekend is the intensity that Jamie Whincup has continued to show.

There’s been a lot of talk, a lot of scuttlebutt, about whether he could maintain it after winning the championship, but the body language of the car has left me with no doubt about his application to the task.

What his performance shows to me is that he has multiple championships in him. He is clearly hungry and very good at his craft.

Coupled to that, I was quite gob-smacked by the pace of the FG Falcon out of the box.

Qualifying is the clearest demonstrator of

opinion Mark Larkham V8 pit commentator outright speed, and with four of them in the top five, it was telling.

The car is very different – aerodynamically and in construction – so I think that’s ominous for the season.

What’s going to be interesting is this; if the FG goes on a dominant winning streak, there’s no parity model in place to address that quickly. There’s no formal measurement of the difference between cars and teams. That’s going to be very

interesting to watch as that emerges. Let’s hope it doesn’t, but to be honest, I’ve never seen a car come out of a box like that from multiple teams and be so dominant.

While Round 1 might show the Fords to be very strong, don’t write off Holden yet, or more to the point, the Holden Racing Team. Will Davison put the writing on the wall to Garth Tander that this is a two-man show. I think that’s going to be good for both of them.

It was interesting to hear Will’s comments after the race, saying “he’s never driven a car as good as that.” In one foul sentence, that tells you so much about the sport and what it really takes to succeed.

The new, improved Stevie J STEVEN Johnson is a changed man – and we’re not just talking about the size of his waist.

Yep, it’s that “weight” thing again, but now down in the 90kg division, there are MORE layers to Johnson’s craft.

The #17 Jim Bream Racing driver left Adelaide fourth in the points with a pair of strong top 10 places, and he puts the results down to hard work – both on and off track “I’m feeling fitter, more confident than I ever have before,” he told eNews.

“I had a good relationship with Will (Davison) last year, and I’ve got a good relationship with James (Courtney) this year. He’s a tough nut. He just wants to win and is really aggressive.

I’m hoping that showed a bit today. I just want to get out there and I’ve got a bit of a point to prove.

“I feel more energized and feel more confident. It’s hard, you have a couple of bad rounds and you lose a bit, but I think this year, my mind is in

a better space. I’ve just got to keep training and keep trying to lose more body weight and get down as far as I can, considering the size of me anyway.

“I’ve upped my work ethic at DJR as well. I’m in there every day, doing work, looking at data, looking at tracks, looking at where I was weak last year and why.

“There’s a lot more thought going into it – rather than just turning up to the track and

driving my arse off.“ Johnson also admitted to taking a greater “theoretical” approach to his driving “I’m doing more theory on driving – looking for answers like why are certain things faster and trying to put it into practice. It’s hard to change your ways after 15 years of driving.”

Armed with brand-new T8built FG Falcons, Johnson has got his season off to the perfect start – and as he

testifies above, there is more to come.

On the other side of the DJR garage, Courtney had a horror first round. Heat exhaustion in Race 1 and a shunt in Sunday’s short practice session sees him down in 21st in the championship. On the positive side, when he has the car is facing the right way (and he’s not battling dehydration), Courtney is as quick as anyone.

– GRANT ROWLEY

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Rick: Teething problems, but we’re pretty excited KELLY Racing will look back on its first V8 Supercar round with mixed feelings, but an air of confidence.

Rick Kelly was the best of the KR boys, taking two top 10s to run eighth in the series. His older brother Todd started well, finishing eighth in Race 1 before a clash in Race 2 damaged his chances.

On the other side of the KR pit petition, Jack Perkins and Dale Wood both tasted the turn eight wall over the weekend, but proved they won’t be battling near the back of field.

According to Rick, all in all, a positive weekend.

“There were a lot of teething problems

that we couldn’t really avoid but to have a car which felt that good and to get two top 10 results – we’re pretty excited about it, to be honest,” Kelly said.

“The team has done a fantastic job as far as the level that we’re at after only having the team for two months. The guys have done a stellar job to get them here and make them that quick.

“We couldn’t ask for much more. We probably need to keep the car a little straighter than what we have, tidy up a few areas which we were weak and we should be pushing towards a top five.”

Kelly did admit to feeling a little frustrated, knowing that there was a

Skaife on debut

FROM THE COUCH

FROM the Couch, the most anticipated aspect of Phil Branagan the Clipsal 500 Show was the first-up appearance of media rookie, M. Skaife.

He did well. Yes, the Skaife-and-Crompton banter was a bit ‘matey’ for international television – but to expect those two to set aside more than two decades of bromance and bloke-isms and get the mix right overnight for a commentary box is a big ask. Doubtless, Skaife will sit down with a recording this week and analyse it to death, and smooth it out for next time. It will settle down.

Overall, though, ‘MS’ was an incisive and perceptive observer.

There were goods and bads. Crompton’s Sunday pit walk was great, and anyone who has seen Martin Brundle waltz an F1 grid knows that the potential for that to kick on is huge. More in Hamilton please – and then, let’s throw Skaifey in the deep end and get him to do the one after that …

Was Harold Ramis directing the telecast? On Saturday, we got colour yarns from Crompton on the new fuel, and Mark Larkham on the team staffing limits. On Sunday, it was different versions of the same stories. It was a bit like watching Groundhog Day. One more thing. Who was the goose who gave Larkham a toy? Did someone tell him it was a hairdryer, or is he now to be known as The Man with the Golden Thermal Gun?

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better result to be had in Adelaide.

“In both races, we had a lot of problems, but we managed to finish 10th in both,” he said.

“I’m leaving the weekend a little frustrated. With the car speed we had, we could have finished in the top five – but I’d much prefer to leave here knowing we had the car speed, rather than getting the most out of the car and only finish 10th.

“I think it’s very positive for the Jack Daniel’s team and what we’ve achieved so far. There’s no negativity so far about what we’ve achieved and where we are going.”

– GRANT ROWLEY

Van Giz, PD star; but JC ...

I know he rated a solid mention in the Clipsal leadup, but young Shane van Gizbergen again confirmed his potential star status to me with two strong performances over the weekend.

The kid just is not scared or intimidated by those around him; he’s not scared to put his nose in; he’s a bit wild, but above all, a genuine racer.

There are no excuses if things don’t go a hundred percent (a nudge with a tyre bank in Race 1), and the bottom lip doesn’t hit the ground as it does with some of his competitors.

I can’t wait to see him on home turf for the next title round.

The overall winners and issues (yes, qualifying – it has to change or, one-by-one, the championship contenders will have one qualifying dud and it’ll be enough to take them out of contention) will be covered elsewehere, so, with Van Giz as my star pick from the weekend, who else shone?

opinion CHRIS JEWELL V8 commentator Paul Dumbrell is one who deserved better. In both races his final result was compromised by things that were out of his control.

But in the first half of Race 2 especially, before it went haywire, he was every bit a match for Tander for pace. His day will come.

Downers? I’m not sure what is going on with James Courtney. Rags to riches, then back to rags. He grazed the Turn 8 wall three times over the weekend – the third, in Sunday’s warm-up, breaking a Watts linkage. But he, and the team, pressed on (it was only the warm-up, remember) and crashed a few corners later.

In contrast, team-mate Steve Johnson starred – his sixth in Race 2 was a superb result for someone whose spot in the team was in question.

Davison Family Affair WHAT’s it like being the father of two V8 Supercar drivers? Stressful! That’s the best word I could use for it!

It’s very gratifying to be in this position. When you start out on this path in such a hard game, and just because your name is Davison or Perkins or Johnson, it doesn’t guarantee you anything.

To have them both in the premier motor racing category in the country I find quite humbling.

I think with anything in life, unless you aim at the top, you are only ever going to reach mediocrity.

When Alex and Will started out, they both wanted to be Formula 1 world champions – that’s every boy’s dream – and you’ve got to try and live that dream.

What you have to do to try to get to the pinnacle prepares you extremely well for what ever might eventuate. Both of them went overseas – from a personal point of view, I think it’s an essential part of

opinion RICHARD DAVISON Father of Alex and Will

any young driver’s preparation. They’ve got to leave home, as hard as it is to see them go away, they grow up very quickly when they leave these shores.

But you’ve got to aim for the top, and if you can’t make Formula 1, I don’t think there’s a better category other than NASCAR that’s worth competing in than V8 Supercars.

I’m looking forward to seeing how the season unfolds for my boys.

For Alex, he’s giving himself half a season to get settled in there to his new environment. He’s had one unfortunate stint in V8s, in 2005, and there’s a lot of people waiting for him to fail. But he will do the job.

He knows he can do it.

Will’s obviously been in the category for three years now and has established himself. There’s a far greater expectation on him and he is HRT’s man to assume the mantle.

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FUJITSU V8 SUPERCAR SERIES ROUND 1 – ADELAIDE

Expect the Unexpecte David Russell, James Moffat and Jono Webb all grew up in ‘racing families’.

They were the pick of the crop in the Fujitsu V8 opener ANDREW VAN LEEUWEN reports

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race

ed

Dirk Klynsmith

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I

F the first round of the Fujitsu V8 Supercar Series in Adelaide is any indication, then the three-way title fight between Dave Russell, James Moffat and Jono Webb is going to be a belter.

Russell and Moffat surprised the more established FV8 drivers at the Clipsal 500.

Moffat, who had never raced a V8 Supercar before the weekend, set the pace in both practice sessions to the surprise of everyone – including himself. Then, Russell, who did a single season of development series back in 2003, stuck his ageing Howard Racing Falcon on pole position, just edging out Moffat.

But that was nothing compared to the race the two would stage during the twilight outing on Friday evening. Russell made the best of the start, which meant he had track position when the Safety Car came out on the first lap thanks Mark McNally and Chris Alajajian coming together after McNally copped a tap from Brett Hobson.

When the mess was cleaned up, Russell controlled the pace. But when he dropped a wheel coming onto the main straight with 17 laps to go, Moffat took the op-

36

portunity to sneak into the lead. Once in front, he gapped the field, until he made his own mistake which allowed Russell to make his ay back under the Sonic Motor Racing Falcon’s rear wing.

The race was building to a crescendo, and it came with four laps to run when Russell pushed a bit too hard and ran well wide. The pair were far enough ahead that he didn’t lose any more spots, but the race was all Moffat’s, making for a win on debut for both driver and team.

Race 2 would have been just as good as the first, had it not been for a Moffat mistake on Lap 1. Again Russell got the start, and Moffat went for the kill at Turn 4. He ran wide, dropped back to fourth, and had to spend the rest of the race fighting back to third while Russell sprinted into the distance. And with first and second beating first and third, the round was Russell’s.

Russell later attributed the win to his two good starts, but admitted to being baffled as to how he actually did them …

“I don’t know where the starts came from because to be honest I haven’t practiced them at all,” he said.

“The team and I really gelled in testing, and we were confident. But in a new series

you have to see where you fit in. We had a dream run.”

Meanwhile, Moffat was left to rue the Race 2 mistake, which cost him a chance of winning his debut round.

“Like Dave said, we got a really even start,” he explained. “I was a bit over ambitious trying to get on with the job at Turn 4, and we all saw the result of that.

“I’m frustrated because we started so we started so strongly, and then we either lost a bit or Dave and the boys found some.

We need to sit down and work out why that happened.”

Webb was third, and might have challenged the leaders harder if it hadn’t been for his ex-FPR Falcon’s alternator packing up at the start of Race 1. That meant he had to fight through the field, ending up second in Race 2. He might not have been running with the leaders all weekend this time, but take out the mechanical gremlin and he probably would have.

Bring on Round 2 at Winton …

Points: Russell 288, Moffat 279, Webb 258, Gaunt 216, Price 213, Walter 201, Douglas 186, Denyer 168, Emery 147, Egglestone 144.

race

Phil Williams Dirk Klynsmith

Marshall Cass Marshall Cass

Everywhere you looked, it was Fords: James Moffat picked up Fujitsu as a sponsor for Sonic’s ex-Triple Eight Falcon BF, left, between qualifying and Race 1. Craig Denyer returned to V8 Supercars, and Dick Johnson Racing, above, while Jono Webb was fast and consistent in Matty White’s ex-FPR Falcon, below.

Dirk Klynsmith

37

BIANTE TOURING CAR MASTERS ROUND 1 – ADELAIDE PARKLANDS

James Smith John Morris/Mpix

James Smith

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Running with the Bullas: Gav was too fast for the Masters in Adelaide, right, although John Bowe did give him a fright, top.

Steve Makarios gave himself a fright, above, while Drew Marget went for lift off at Turn 1, left.

race

Dirk Klynsmith

Bullas still the Master ...

There were some handy names to beat to Round 1 honours in the Biante TCM, but Gavin Bullas showed why he is the reigning Champion. By ANDREW VAN LEEUWEN

James Smith

GAVIN Bullas has made a lightning start to his Biante Touring Car Masters title defence, emphatically winning the opening round of the series in Adelaide last weekend.

Bullas’ weekend actually started horribly, the Victorian finding a damp bit of bitumen during Thursday morning’s early practice and backing his Mustang into the concrete. But it was hardly an omen, Bullas fixing his car and going straight to the top of the times for qualifying.

From there on in, Bullas was untouchable, winning all three championship races and Saturday evening’s non-points RSPCA trophy after a gripping battle with Jim Richards, John Bowe and Steve Mason.

Bullas did encounter a bit of trouble from second-place finisher Mason, the latter momentarily leading the final race, but it was essentially a trouble free effort.

“The other guys pushed me harder and

harder, but it was a great weekend,” said Bullas.

“Yo can’t celebrate too hard unless you win all the races. And its quite rare in our category for one person to win all three [points] races.”

The words trouble free certainly didn’t apply to either Bowe or Richards, the two drivers expected to push Bullas the hardest for this year’s title. Having pushed the leader hard in the first points races, Bowe suffered a differential failure in the second. He recovered to third in the final, but the damage on the scoresheet was done.

Richards, meanwhile, had a shocker of a weekend. In the first race he had a problem with a brakeline, and while he was third in the second, it was all in vain thanks to an engine failure on the warmup lap for the final.

Points: Bullas 180, Mason 160, Rod Wilson 135, Drew Marget 126, Tony Hunter 120, John Nelson 114, Bowe 108, Trevor Talbot 90, Greg Waddington 86, Rory O’Neill 69.

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Clewed up on the streets Is Kyle Clews the new Paul Kemal? Judging by the first round at Clipsal, Clews could be the man to beat

Marshall Cass

AUSSIE RACING CARS THE Aussie Racing Car Super Series kicked into life at the Clipsal 500 last weekend in Adelaide.

And with reigning Champion Paul Kemal out of the series, it’s time for a new man to step forward. The one who step forward the furthest in Adelaide was category stalwart Kyle Clews.

Clews qualified fastest and came through with a pair of victories in the last two races to get on top of round rival David Lawrence who won the first

40

two races.

To secure the round win, Clews had to fight of Lawrence in the final race after the pair were embroiled in a tough street fight.

Clews came out on top, and he was pretty happy about it.

“It is an awesome start for the year, it gives me a lot of confidence,” Clews said.

“I got a good break at the start of the (last) race but they eventually reeled me in for a big dice in the last few laps.

“Lawrence was a bit side to side on the last lap but I

managed to get past him in the end.”

Adam Gowans finished third overall and dedicated his podium finish to his grandfather who passed away on Saturday night.

“He was a great sportsman in his own right, a champion at tennis, snooker and table tennis,” Gowans said.

“I raced for him today and came from seventh to second.

“It was our best race of the meeting in our first event in the Aurion, hopefully it is the start of a good year.”

While the racing was, as usual, hectic and entertaining, the Aussie Racing Cars were making the big headlines. Ash Samadi and Dan Evans were involved in an incident at the final corner of Saturday’s race where Samadi rolled over the top of Evans car.

The pic of the car inverted made the front cover of Adelaide’s main newspaper The Advertiser.

Sorry J.Whincup – not good enough!

Round 2 of the Aussie Racing Cars Super Series is this week at the ING Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix.

race

FORMULA 3

John Morris/Mpix

JOEY FOSTER’s debut in the Formula 3 Australian drivers Championship was, literally, perfect.

The driver from Cornwall became the first driver in four years to clean-sweep a round of the championship, taking all 44-points available to him in a commanding performance at the Clipsal 500.

Foster scored pole for both races at the weekend but had to tackle Tim Macrow, the 2007 champion, in the process. The pair engaged in a close fight in qualifying one but in the second session Foster was king, hanging it all out to take the top spot by a fair margin.

Foster then went on to win race one, though it took a miscue from Macrow to do it.

The Victorian crashed his Scud Racing Dallara on the eighth lap, basically gifting the win to his rival and doing a fair amount of damage to his own car in the process.

Macrow would recover – with the help of a borrowed engine, gearbox and rear suspension assembly from Team BRM – to finish second in race two but with a patched up car he had no contest for the flying Brit.

With a pair of near-lap record fastest laps, Foster added those bonus points to the ones he scored in qualifying to lock in a crushing perfect weekend.

“It’s been an absolutely perfect start. From the moment I turned up and got in the car it has been perfect,” Foster said. “We have had to make a few alterations just to keep up with the

Dirk Klynsmith

The next Brit arrives

changing conditions but apart from that it’s been basically trouble free. A great weekend.”

Mathew Radisich leaves Adelaide second in the championship; thanks mainly to a stunning second-place finish in race one whilst Mat Sofi is third after a podium finish in race two.

Impressive F3 rookie Tom Tweedie won the National Class and featured on the outright podium in race one, finishing third.

Points: Joey Foster 44, Mathew Radisich 25, Mathew Sofi 24, Ben Crighton 18, Tim Macrow 15

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He did the Mosler Mash CRAIG Baird has proven he is not just a Porsche specialist, by winning the first round of the Australian GT Championship, in the all-new GT3-spec Mosler, at Adelaide last weekend.

The car might have only landed in Australia a week ago, but Baird took little time getting used to the sporty racer, qualifying fastest. From there he was untouchable, taking three comfortable wins ahead of the Cup S Porsche of David Wall.

“Obviously I’m very with the car,” he said.

“But the nice thing about this category is that different cars will suit different circuits. The Cup S had two of the fastest sectors here, but I could pull six or seven car lengths through Turn 8 just because of the aero.

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“It’s a fantastic car to drive, and it will really suit the Grand Prix circuit next week. We only got it a week ago, but I did some testing in the sister car, so I knew what to expect.”

Wall was second in all three races, with James Kondouris finishing third for the round, mirroring the qualifying results. But behind the top two it wasn’t as simple as the final results suggested, the likes of Klark Quinn running with the top three. Tony Quinn was also in the hunt early in the first race in his Aston Martin, but gearbox failure caused him to withdraw from the meeting.

This round of the AGTC was significant as the first meeting since Carrera Cup folded, and the Cup

Cars featured heavily in the results.

Led by Kondouris in third, Klark Quinn, Max Twigg and Peter Hill locked in positions three to six for the round.

The AGTC continues next weekend at Albert Park as a support event for the Australian Grand Prix.

– ANDREW VAN LEEUWEN Points: Baird 114, Wall 105, J Kondouris 98, K Quinn 95, Twigg 94, Hill 87, Dean Grant 85, Marc Cini 82, Mark Eddy 82, Jordan Orsmby 76.

race

Pommy Petfood Performer: Tony Quinn has a tough run first-up in his Aston Martin, left, but even if he did not ahve dramas, he may have had a hard time chasing the Mosler of Baird and Wall’s Porsche, main pic.

James Smith Dirk Klynsmith

43

NASCAR SPRINT CUP ROUND 5 – FOOD CITY 500, BRISTOL, TN

Concrete Evidence

Until Sunday, Kyle Busch had never won twice at the same track. He put that right at Bristol, even if he had to move his own team-mate aside to do it.

By MARTIN D CLARK

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Toyota Motorspots

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K

Toyota Motorsports

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NASCAR Media

YLE Busch took his owner points, so he has to finish second win of the year well at Martinsville Speedway on Sunday at Bristol this weekend to be guaranteed Motor Speedway, heading 378 a starting slot in Texas the of the 503 overtime laps at the following week. half-mile banked concrete oval.

Dale Earnhardt Jr’s sour His Joe Gibbs Racing teamseason continued when his mate Denny Hamlin – whom Hendrick team changed a Busch moved aside for the lead transmission prior to the race, earlier in the event – followed forcing him to start at the rear him across the finish line, with of the field. He was lapped Jimmie Johnson hounding

by Busch with 68 laps to run, Hamlin for second, but coming but made it back to the 14th up short. position, the lowest of the “This car really came to light Hendrick cars with Jeff Gordon today,” said Busch, who started finishing fourth and pole sitter 19th and took the lead around Martin fifth. the outside of Johnson with Gordon leads the points with 133 laps to run and lead the defending Champion Johnson remainder of the race. moving into the top 10 for “Our car was fast when we the first time this year and needed it. We knew we were again looking to be a threat. fast in practice, but we weren’t Earnhardt’s finish moved him sure exactly how fast. It was up five places to 19th in points. a good day for us and we’re The Joes versus The Ricks: The Gibbs Toyotas and the Hendrick Chevrolets were the pick of the field on the proud to be in victory lane.”

Bristol concrete. Denny Hamlin fought off Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson, above, for second, while Kyle Up until this race, Busch’s 13 Busch hardly looked like a man heading to Formula 1, below, in Victory Lane.

Cup Series wins had been at 13 different tracks, so Bristol NASCAR | FOOD CITY 500, BRISTOL, TN became the first track where he has doubled up.

1 18 Kyle Busch Toyota Gibbs/Snickers 19 Pole sitter Mark Martin 2 40 Denny Hamlin Toyota Gibbs/FedEx 24 headed the first two laps, with 3 24 Jeff Gordon Chev Hendrick/DuPont 10 fellow front row starter Ryan 4 48 Jimmie Johnson Chevy Hendrick/Lowe’s 3 5 9 Kasey Kahne Dodge Richard Petty/Budweiser 5 Newman then taking the lead 6 5 Mark Martin Chevy Hendrick/Carquest 1 until Jimmie Johnson headed 7 39 Ryan Newman Chevy Stewart Haas/US Army 2 the way through lap 69, when 8 31 Jeff Burton Chevy Childress/Caterpillar 40 Busch blew by on the outside 9 42 J P Montoya Chevy Earnhardt Ganassi/Target 12 for the first time.

10 47 Marcos Ambrose Toyota JTG Daugherty/Kingsford 13 The final caution aired when Joey Logano blew his Gibbs NASCAR SPRINT CUP | pointS engine and ending the race in a green-white-chequer three-lap Gordon 794, Kurt Busch 718, Bowyer 715, Kyle Busch 709, Edwards 665, Kahne 639, Stewart 633, Hamlin 631, Johnson overtime finish. Logano’s issue 627, Kenseth 610, Reutimann 607, Ambrose 500 [24th] dropped him to 34th in car

I did it

MY WAY

IF any doubts remained about Marcos Ambrose’s speed on short ovals, they were swept away at Bristol.

After qualifying 13th, Ambrose gained valuable track position when, along with Jimmie Johnson, he elected to stay on track when the remainder of the field pitted under the first caution on lap 27.

The move gained him valuable track position and he continued in the runner-up slot for several laps, looking comfortable as he posted the same lap times as Johnson and remaining in the top five through halfway, twice battling Denny Hamlin for the third slot.

With 140 laps remaining, he was passed by Mark Martin for fifth and reported his Toyota engine had developed a miss. Sure enough, as the laps wound down Ambrose dropped down the order, but remarkably keeping his JTG Camry in the 10th position behind Juan Pablo Montoya, who had two run ins with Jamie McMurray.

One of Ambrose’s most memorable finishes in his Cup career thus far moved him up four positions to 24th in series points.

“It’s just great,” he said after the race.

“I’m really keen to trying to break that mentality thing of a ‘road racing guy’. I know I’m good on road courses, but I want to be good at every single track we go to and today was a big step to really validate why I’m here on a full-time Cup ride. Just really excited for my guys. I’m just so proud of them for giving me a great car today and for just working so hard.

“We’re going to celebrate tonight because it feels like a win to us, considering the adversity that we had today.”

NASCAR Media

Ambrose Cements Position

NATIONWIDE KEVIN Harvick has won his first Nationwide race in his team’s own car.

“It’s really special when you see something rise up out of the dirt,” commented Harvick on the ‘Kevin Harvick Inc.’ team he and his wife Delana started from scratch.

Harvick has won two series titles and 32 race in cars owned by Richard Childress his Sprint Cup Series owner.

Kyle Busch headed 156 laps while holding off Carl Edwards until fifth running Brad Keselowski brought out the caution when he spun while attempting a pass under Matt Kenseth and was then tboned. Harvick who battled alternator issues took the lead for the final time during the Keselowski caution when he beat Edwards off pit road with 44 of the 300 laps remaining.

During that pit stop Busch’s Joe Gibbs team let a rear wheel rebound off the pit wall and outside the teams pit area.

Busch pulled away before the wheel was retrieved and was served a penalty by NASCAR. With the penalty Busch gave up the lead restarting 14th and fighting back to finish sixth.

Edwards leads Harvick by 114 points in the series championship with Busch 124 back in third, however only Edwards and Busch are running the full schedule, with Harvick turning over the keys to his entry to Tony Stewart at Texas.

Penske rookie Justin Allgaier had his best run of his short career finishing a creditable fifth, Steven Wallace posted one of his best finishes in seventh ahead of Scott Speed in a Michael Waltrip Toyota.

– MARTIN D CLARK

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Audi’s Thriller

When the Big Guns of the ALMS faced off, it was a great fight that went all the way to the flag

All Images: American Le Mans Series

New car, old faces: Audi’s R15, top, was too fast once Allan McNish built a solid lead in the final stint of the race. McNish joined Tom Kristensen and Dindo Capello, right, on the podium. Scott Dixon took pole in Gil de Ferran’s Acura, above, which faded in the race.

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AS many anticipated, the Sebring 12-Hour came down to an Audi v Peugeot battle, and was decided by a tyre, a splash of fuel and Allan McNish.

The lead cars of each marque ran within seconds of each over the first none hours of the race, but when Sebastien Bourdais picked up a puncture in the 10th hour, it cast the tone for the end of the race. In the final stint, it was McNish ahead of Franck Montagny, and the Scot was able to build a lead big enough to stop for a late fuel stop and resume with a lead of 20-plus second.

McNish, Tom Kristensen and Rinaldo Capello led Bourdais, Montagny and Stephane Sarrazin, while Audi celebrated its R15’s race debut with third for Mike Rockenfeller, Lucas Luhr and Marco Werner.

“It was a really, really tough charge,” said McNish. “We knew we had a big uphill struggle in the last hour and a half, and we managed to do it a little bit easier than we thought it was going to be.”

Bourdais was stoic in defeat, and complimented McNish.

“The puncture didn’t help but Allan McNish just killed us,” he admitted.

Acura’s new LMP1 car set tongues wagging by taking pole in qualifying, Indy 500 Champion Scot Dixon snatching the honour on the final lap of the session by an impossibly narrow margin over Kristensen.

But both of the radical new cars had problems, Dixon’s De Ferran car retiring with suspension problems after eight months, while the Highcroft entry of David Brabham/Scott Sharp/ Dario Franchitti had a number of incidents before a transmission drama forced it out after 10 hours.

Acura had to be content with fourth, Adrian Fernandez and Luis Diaz taking the spot when all the other LMP2 cars fell out, both fancied Dyson Lola-Mazdas retiring within five hours. Johnny O’Connell, Jan Magnussen and Antonio Garcia gave Chevrolet’s C6-R honours in its final Sebring appearance, while Mika Salo, Jaime Melo and Pierre Kaffer won GT2 for Risi Ferrari after the Porsches were plagued by problems.

Best SEATS in the House WTCC SEAT remains undefeated in the World Touring Car Championship but the diesels had a much harder time of it in Mexico.

Rickard Rydell and Yvan Muller took the wins at Puebla, but the pair were pushed all the way by BMWs. It took Rydell 12 laps to find a way past Augusto Farfus in the opening race, while it took a clash between Gabriele Tarquni and BMW’s Jorg Muller to open the door for Yvan Muller in Race 2. Even then, the

World Champion was forced to fight off his predecessor in a stirring petrol v diesel battle.

Priaulx had turned the tables in then opening race, beating the French to third place ahead of Jorg Muller and Tarquini, while Rydell, below, was third in Race 2 ahead of Farfus, Sergio Hernandez and Alex Zanardi. The Chevrolets had a miserable time, the only high point of the weekend being Nicola Larini putting his new Cruze on pole position.

Points: Y Muller/Rydell 30, Farfus 20, etc.

ALMS | SEBRING 12 HOUR, SEBRING, FLA R. Capello, T. Kristensen, A. McNish Audi R15 TDI 383 lap S. Sarrazin, F. Montagny, S. Bourdais Peugeot 908 HDI -22.279s L. Luhr, M. Rockenfeller, M. Werner Audi R15 TDI -2 laps A. Fernandez, L. Diaz Acura ARX-01B -23 laps N. Minassian, P. Lamy, C. Klien Peugeot 908 HDI -27 laps J. Magnussen, J. O’Connell, A. Garcia Chev. Corvette C6. R -34 laps O. Beretta, O. Gavin, M. Fassler Chev. Corvette C6. R -35 laps J. Melo, P. Kaffer, M. Salo Ferrari 430 GT -51 laps L. Companc, M. Russo, G. Bruni Ferrari 430 GT -53 laps D. Farnbacher, I. James Panoz Esperante GTLM -54 laps

WTCC

1 2 P1 2 08 P1 3 1 P1 4 15 P2 5 07 P1 6 3 GT1 7 4 GT1 8 62 GT2 9 95 GT2 10 21 GT2

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VICTORIAN SPEEDWAY TITLE PREMIER SPEEDWAY

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Reeding the Riot Act Matt Reed’s been on a roll lately – and he’s got a Vic Title MATTHEW Reed has added the Victorian Sprintcar title to his recent domination of the Eureka Sprintcar Series, winning at Premier Speedway, Warrnambool, last Saturday night.

It was Reed’s second Victorian championship, defeating a fast finishing Steven Lines, with Trevor Trevor Green in third.

It was also Reed’s fourth win from as many starts in his new Maxim chassis, and he nearly didn’t compete in the event due to illness.

“I actually woke up really sick this morning and I was lying in bed thinking do I go or not,” Reed said.

“So it was a whole bunch of Panadol and away we go. A couple of years ago when we won this race we came in with a bit of a similar winning streak. I knew I had to time [trial] decently, get a good starting spot, and we just got it done.”

Reed came off position two behind Green, and led every lap, withstanding numerous late race stoppages, before grabbing the $5000 first place prize money.

The eye-catching drive of the race was from David Murcott, who started sixth. He raced around the top, picking off Luke Dillon, Matt Egel, then Lines and finally Green until rookie driver Tim Morse rolled his new car and brought on the red lights.

The field would go back a lap and Murcott was back to where he started in sixth. Then his fortunes really nose-dived when Domain Ramsay crashed in Turn 2, and Murcott tagged him and rolled out of the race.

Murcott’s drive even had the attention of the eventual winner …

“At the first stoppage my guys said you have a good gap,” added Reed.

“The next yellow they were signaling that the gap was closing and I could hear the guys on the PA system [saying] that ‘Cyclone Murcott’ was coming, so my Dad was telling me to move up.

“So I moved up, then someone was rolled over in front of the terrace and I actually stalled the car when I hit the wall. Then Dave [Murcott] re-fired me when he hit me and I somehow managed to keep it going. I was definitely lucky there is no doubt about that.”

“I am just really proud as a Victorian to win the Victorian state title, and there was an awesome field out there tonight with a lot of big names.

The only thing is I would have loved to have raced Dave right to the end.”

– GEOFF ROUNDS

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What F1 could learn from V8s

For 10 years, MNews’ Grand Prix photographer Keith Sutton visited Adelaide for the Australian Grand Prix. In 2009, 14 years since his last visit, he came back ...

T

opinion Keith Sutton Formula 1 Photogrpaher sporting events.

I went out to the end of the straight to see where I got ‘the’ Nigel Mansell picture in 1986 when his tyre exploded.

I was the only freelance photographer to get that shot.

It’s a good memory.

A lot of memories have been flooding back. Yesterday I saw a girl in a straw hat, and she looked a bit like Elle McPherson. And then I remembered Elle McPherson going out onto the grid to see Ayrton Senna one year …

The one thing I miss is the old market. It used to make for such a great photo. I’ve heard there is talk of bringing the old circuit back one day. I think the drivers would like it …

Dirk Klynsmith

HE Clipsal 500 is more of a show than Formula 1 is these days.

The organisers here seem to put a massive effort into that. What I’ve seen that has really impressed me is the way that the crowd are involved as well, with the teams’ merchandise. You see everybody here wearing the different shirts of the teams they support.

And the girls – they are just beyond me – I’ve never seen anything like it in my life! It’s all a part of the package that goes with it. As a photographer, that’s what we want. Unfortunately, in Formula 1, it’s been taken away from us.

Formula 1 could learn a lot from this. I was speaking to Tony Cochrane in Adelaide and he was saying that he’s learnt a lot from NASCAR, at the end of the day, and he’s bought it into here. I think Formula 1 needs to learn a lot from both NASCAR and V8 Supercars.

It’s been great coming back to Adelaide after 14 years, and seeing some old friends and catching up with people.

Everyone has been very welcoming and very friendly; you don’t get the feeling in the paddock that you aren’t welcome. That’s important as an international visitor.

Looking back, the one thing that appealed to me in the 10 years that I came here for the Grand Prix, was obvious from day one, and that was that the people in Adelaide were happy to see you. Everyone was into the race. Every person in the city wanted the race.

The difference when we go to Melbourne is that it’s a bigger city, and it has so many

t o p S d d O WHEN times get tough, the tough get smart.

And it doesn’t come much smarter than combining the noise and fun of going to the track with the convinience and, errr, comfort, of staying at home.

The big question is, if someone official saw these guys, would he

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