Motorsport eNews Issue 108 - June 9-15, 2009

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Issue No. 108 9 – 15 June 2009

E L A S FOR lddssoolldd sol

l o o s s d d l l o dsso

l a v o r p p a d r a o b ... pending

enduro rides filling fast latest island & bathurst combinations

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

Production Graphic Design & Web: Jayne Uthmeyer design@mnews.com.au

Advertising National Sales Manager: Oriana Kennedy oriana@mnews.com.au P 03 9596 5555 F 03 9596 5030

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

MD / Publisher

Chris Lambden publisher@mnews.com.au

Contributing Writers F1: Will Buxton, Mark Glendenning, Paolo Filisetti Europe: Quentin Spurring, David Addison US: Martin D. Clark, Phil Morris Speedway: Greg Boscato, Geoff Rounds, Darren Sutton, Tony Millard (UK) 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)

Issue No. 107 | 9 June – 15 June 2009

news 4 Going, going ...

Sherrins to secure MM licence 6 Campbell out V8s need new tech chief 8 Datsun for a HSV New V8 Safety Car 12 Mini Major Two drivers for Townsville 16 Sepang or The Creek? Teulen weighs options

chat 20 5 minutes with ... opinion 22 Rust

James Courtney

23 Addison

Live to Le Mans Live at Le Mans

28 Shannons Nats 32 IndyCar 46 NASCAR

Champions crowned Controversial Sports Sedan Helio won, Briscoe close Smoken’ the field

race 24 Winternationals trade 42 Classifieds

I wanna rock and roll all night, and smash guitars every day: Kyle Busch won the Nationwide race at Nashville, won the traditional guitar and get about destroying it on the dias ...

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

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

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

NASCAR Media

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

John Morris/Mpix

Marshall team set to be sold to

After sponsor collapse, Marshall chooses to offload his team to the Sherrin family V8 SUPERCARS MARCUS Marshall has sold his V8 Supercar team to the Sherrin Group, pending V8SA board approval.

The deal with the Sherrins will go in front of the V8 board meeting this Wednesday where it is expected that transfer of ownership of Marshall’s licence will be approved.

The change of ownership comes just four rounds into Marshall’s short tenure as a V8 Supercar team owner.

Marshall established the IntaRacing team at the start of this season, purchasing an ex-Triple Eight Ford Falcon BF with engines from KRE. The Gold Coast resident was hamstrung after just one

round when his start-up sponsor Access Cash went bankrupt.

Marshall competed at Hamilton and Winton with no sponsors on his Falcon. Two weeks ago at Symmons Plains, a late deal saw Marshall’s car signwritten in Sherrin Rentals livery – the same colour scheme which adorns David Russell’s Fujitsu V8 Supercar entry.

The Symmons Plains deal has since transformed from sponsorship to ownership. eNews understands that all technical alliances that Marshall had with his suppliers will remain for the rest of the season, and all current staff at Marshall’s Gold Coast base will retain their

jobs.

Sherrin currently sponsors Russell’s Fujitsu V8 Supercar, prepared by Howard Racing.

Sherrin’s acquisition of the team will see Russell join Marshall for the V8 Supercar endurance races at Phillip Island and Bathurst. Grant Sherrin was also meant to compete in the Fujitsu V8 Series this year, but withdrew before the start of the season, citing the downturn of the economic climate.

The Sherrin family has been involved heavily in Australian motorsport in different ways in the past. In recent times, the family were regulars in Targa events and Carrera Cup competition. Sherrin Motorsport was established

as a motorsport retailer and soon became the category managers of Carrera Cup and MINI Challenge. The Sherrin Motorsport company, headed

by Iain Sherrin, went into liquidation last year, ultimately ending in the demise of the Carrera Cup class while MINI Challenge was sold to Toleman Motorsport.

That failure (of a Sherrin company) may be a factor in the V8 board’s approval process, although eNews understands that this should only prove a minor hurdle before being signed off.

Marshall or the Sherrin family could not be contacted for comment as eNews went live.

– GRANT ROWLEY

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

news

Dirk Klynsmith

Only three Mains remain!

V8 SUPERCARS

Marshall Cass

o Sherrins

JUST three drives remain open in the regular Main Game V8 Supercar seats for this year’s ‘Season of Endurance’ at Phillip Island and Bathurst.

Tasman Motorsport, Britek Motorsport and Kelly Racing all have one slot each available.

This list below should not be viewed as concrete – as we know in this game, things change – but this is as close as you’ll get to knowing who is driving with whom in the two biggest races of the season.

Driver pairings are the next issue to sort, and eNews understands that Kelly Racing’s international recruit Ben Collins (otherwise

known as ‘The Stig’) will team with Nathan Pretty in the #15 Jack Daniels Racing Commodore, leaving Todd and Rick Kelly to share the #7 car.

Recently, Paul Morris told eNews that his team’s four drivers, plus the two drivers for Triple F Racing were sorted, although expect those combinations (below) to be juggled for the races.

Stone Brothers Racing is expected to shortly announce that Kiwi Fujitsu V8 racer Daniel Gaunt will drive with the team, while David Besnard has been confirmed in the second GRM seat alongside Greg Ritter.

But there’s still news to come. This week’s V8SA Board meeting will sort the ‘Wildcard’ entries to fill the last four grid places.

Dirk Klynsmith

Triple Eight Race Engineering Jamie Whincup Craig Lowndes Allan Simonsen James Thompson

Ford Performance Racing Mark Winterbottom Steven Richards Dean Canto Luke Youlden

Garry Rogers Motorsport Lee Holdsworth Michael Caruso Greg Ritter David Besnard

Walkinshaw Racing Garth Tander Will Davison Paul Dumbrell David Reynolds Craig Baird Steve Owen Shane Price Andy Priaulx

Kelly Racing Todd Kelly Rick Kelly Jack Perkins Dale Wood Ben Collins Nathan Pretty Tony Ricciardello To be confirmed

Paul Morris Motorsport Russell Ingall Tim Slade Paul Morris Boris Said

Tasman Motorsport Jason Bargwanna Greg Murphy Mark Noske To be confirmed

Brad Jones Racing Cameron McConville Jason Richards Max Wilson Andrew Jones

Team IntaRacing Marcus Marshall David Russell

Stone Brothers Racing Alex Davison Shane van Gisbergen Johnny McIntyre Daniel Gaunt

Dick Johnson Racing Steven Johnson James Courtney Warren Luff Jonathon Webb

Britek Motorsport Jason Bright To be confirmed

Triple F Racing Dean Fiore Owen Kelly

Rod Nash Racing Tony D’Alberto Glenn Seton

Wilson Security Racing Fabian Coulthard Michael Patrizi David Wall Leanne Tander PLUS! Wildcard #1 TBC Wildcard #2 TBC Wildcard #3 TBC Wildcard #4 TBC

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

BRIEFLY...

Racing from the 2009 Shannons Nationals can now be viewed online, through SBS’ brand-new Speedweek website Full episodes of Speedweek, which features the Shannons Nationals, can be viewed on demand at www.speedweek.com.au n

Little Resigns

Frustrated Technical Director splits with V8SA V8 SUPERCARS V8 SUPERCARS Category Technical Director Campbell Little has resigned following the storm over his handling of the front splitter controversy.

Little, a top race engineer of many years’ experience, appears to have walked away in frustration after just a few months in the job. He is the third person to hold the job in the past year.

While V8SA announced on Monday that it has accepted the resignation, there are still details of Little’s departure to be finalised. eNews understands he has a couple of offers from V8 teams to return to pit lane.

“I’m a racer,” he told eNews on Monday, “and I guess the ‘get on with the job’ approach you develop doing that hasn’t proved the right thing in this case …”

“It’s disappointing. The Board talks about change, and implementing change, yet if things aren’t done in their way …

“To be honest, in my view there needs to be some restructuring if the whole thing is to go ahead as it should. Right now, we’ve spent weeks talking about a brake pad …”

V8SA will now, it seems, seek another Technical Director.

n Once you’ve finished viewing eNews, Steven Johnson has unveiled a brand-spanking new website – www. stevejohnson.com.au – but only after you’ve read eNews! n Formula 3 has found a replacement venue for its Symmons Plains round (which was cancelled along with the Shannons Nationals round).

The sixth round of the 2009 Formula 3 Australian Drivers Championship for the CAMS Gold Star will now be held at the Ipswich circuit (August 21-23) as part of the Queensland V8 Supercar event. n The Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Australia Series has raised more than $18,000 for the Ronald McDonald House Charities this year.

In February, a premiere screening of Eric Bana’s Love the Beast made nearly $4500.

A charity auction held Saturday night of the Phillip Island Shannons Nationals round – round two of the 2009 GT3 Cup Challenge series - raised more than $11,500 for the charity that helps seriously ill children and their families lead happier and healthier lives.

A further $2000 (Approx) was raised over the weekend from other donations taking the yearly total closer to $20,000.

Splitter appeal for Tuesday V8 SUPERCARS THE latest chapter of V8 Supercars Splitter controversy, which started at Winton in May, is scheduled for Tuesday night.

CAMS has confirmed that the appeal lodged by Walkinshaw Performance over the decision of the steward not to hear a protest in Tasmania will be ruled upon at a National Court of Appeal Hearing, to be held at CAMS’s Melbourne HQ. The panel that will preside over the

matter will comprise of Walter Sofronoff QC, Graham Gibson QC and Barry Pilgrim.

At a Stewards’ Hearing at Symmons Plains, stewards Steve Chopping, Peter Drew and Brian Richardson ruled that an appeal was outside the normal time limits and that the circumstances of the case did not justify the extension of the time limit for lodging such a protest. The appelents were Brad Jones Racing, Garry Rogers Motorsport, Rod Nash Racing, Skaife Sports (HRT) and

Walkinshaw Performance P/L. The protests were lodged following questions over the eligibility of the TeamVodafone Falcons of Jamie Whincup and Craig Lowndes, and other Fords built by Triple Eight Race Engineering. The cars in question underwent changes to the mounting of the front splitters between the two Winton rounds of the championship. All of the cars ran in similar specification in the two races at Symmons Plains.

news

The Inmates are still in charge to support him the first time there was an issue. Little’s handling of the splitter problem may not have suited some, but it was reasonable and honest.

The CTD’s ongoing brief is to ramp up the cost-reduction programme … but at this rate there is little chance of anyone surviving long enough to start the job, never mind finish it.

No wonder Little has quit. It is a disgrace.

The Board probably doesn’t have too many more chances to get it right, or the category’s progress to a more cost-effective sport will fall apart. It can start with a restructure that further reduces the dominance of team owners, delegating the running of what is now a collective big business to people skilled in running big businesses.

Chris Lambden eNews Publisher

Dirk Klynsmith

JOB Vacancy: Category Technical Director. Applicant must be superbly qualified in race engineering, but prepared to be over-ruled by Big Brother. Limited support offered.

Campbell Little’s brief tenure as Technical Director at V8 Supercars exposes ongoing faults in the V8 Supercar Board and its structure, and the process for ‘running’ V8 Supercar racing.

While independent members have been added to the Board, the balance of power remains with the members representing licence owners. And, with the best of intentions, it doesn’t work.

The V8 Board employed an experienced and successful V8 Supercar engineer to take on the role – not the easiest in a highlycompetitive environment – yet failed

opinion

“The V8 Board failed to support Little the first time there was an issue”

Prepare for Oz-zilla V8 SUPERCARS THE next V8 Supercar Safety Car could be an HSV vehicle. eNews understands that discussions are in progress that could well see a Holden Special Vehicles model – likely to be the new 7-litre, 370kW W427 – leading

the way at the head of the field, following V8SA’s recent withdrawal from a two-year deal with Nissan Australia.

Nissan company policy did not allow for the alcohol sponsorship (XXXX) sold

by V8SA to be used on its cars. Signage which had been applied to the cars prior to Tasmania had to be removed.

An industry observer told eNews this week that the incorporation of a similar deal with Lion Nathan to livery any Safety Car with XXXX may complicate negotiations, but would not necessarily make the deal “less likely to come to fruition”.

V8 owners Forum this Thursday V8 SUPERCARS

Phil Williams

V8 SUPERCARS’ team owners will get together this Thursday, with an owners’ forum set for the Gold Coast.

The Marriott Hotel, adjacent to the former Indy 300 track, will host the forum, which will see “15 or 16 items” discussed, as part of the normal business of the category. The forum will be preceded by a V8 Supercars board meeting, due to be held on Wednesday.

A likely item for discussion is the position of the Category Technical Director, after the announcement that Campbell Little was vacating the position (see separate story).

news

It’s G’day, Goodwood

sutton-images.com

As well as two-wheeled World champions Mick Doohan, above, and Troy Corser, Garry McCoy and Broc Parkes will fly the Aussie flag, the latter three all riding their current race bikes.

American actor and noted bike aficionado Peter Fonda is expected to ride a replica of his famed chopped Harley

Allstar/Cinetext/Columbia

AUSSIES and New Zealanders will be thick on the ground at the Goodwood Festival of Speed next month.

Alan Jones, Mark Webber, David Brabham and Vern Schuppan will be in action over the course of the three days, the theme of which is ‘True Grit

– Epic Feats of Endurance’.

AJ will be reunited with a Williams-Ford FW07, of the type in which he won the 1980 Drivers’ championship, top.

Brabham will once again drive a Cooper T51, in which his father Sir Jack Brabham won the first of his three titles, while Webber is expected to demonstrate a current RBR-Renault RB5.

Honda Pro Images

sutton-images.com

GOODWOOD FESTIVAL

Davidson from Easy Rider, above, while Taylor Earnhardt will attend the event for the first time and drive one of her father’s famed #3 Chevy NASCARs. Current GP stars Jenson Button, Lewis Hamilton, Timo Glock are all expected to demonstrate their racers during the July 3-5 event.

Courtney’s FG fixed ...

... but he’s unimpressed with some of the driver’s standards

Two driver MINI fo MINI CHALLENGE

John Morris/Mpix

V8 SUPERCARS

said Courtney’s damaged FG Falcon arrived back at the team’s workshop last Wednesday.

“The car was stripped and put on a jig, and the chassis and suspension points were okay,” said Burgess.

“Things that needed replacing included chassis rail extensions, radiator, and panels, plus we gave everything a good clean out because the car picked up a lot of dirt when it went off the track.”

Courtney has been vocal about the driving standards of drivers in the series, namely Wood, labelling the V8 main series rookie a ‘hobby racer.’

Courtney currently sits 20th in the championship chase.

JAMES Courtney’s battered Jim Beam Racing Falcon FG will be repaired in time for the next round of the V8 Supercar Championship Series at Hidden valley in two weeks time.

Courtney’s car was bashed from top-to-toe at Symmons Plains, involved in two hits, the second (involving Dale Wood) ending his meeting.

“It was quite a big hit, but once we got the car back to the workshop we found the damage was not as bad as first thought,” said Courtney.

“Everything will be put back together by this Friday (June 12), and the car will be packed into the transporter which leaves for Darwin the next day.”

For more with Courtney, click to Jim Beam Racing Sporting page 20.

Director Adrian Burgess

10

THE 2009 MINI Challenge will see a two-driver per-car format permitted at the next round of the series at Townsville in July.

The step to the new twodriver format was tested with considerable success in a recent round of the Spanish MINI championship.

Sharing a car will not be compulsory, but it’s expected to be taken up by most crews.

The format for the event will

see each driver get a 20 minute practice session, followed by a 20 minute qualifying session for drivers to either share (or the teams can elect to use just one of its drivers. Three races will be contested, with Driver A competing in Race 1 and Driver B in Race 2. A longer 35 minute finale will feature a compulsory pit stop where a driver change is permitted, if two drivers are entered. Regardless, during the pit stop, the car will need to be stationary in pit lane for

Washingston pulls “I know this probably comes as a bit of a shock to some people but I have known since that BRYCE Washington is unlikely Adelaide that Winton would most to return to the Fujitsu V8 Supercars Series, citing business likely be my last drive this year,” he said. commitments for his immediate “Right now it’s important to withdrawal. focus all my energies on our The South Australian has business. The time it takes to decided to take a break as demands on his time at his family- go racing is increasing by the day. It’s got to the point where owned ADRAD Group have one has to go. It’s an important outweighed his desire to race. decision and a responsibility I The ADRAD-Harrop business fully accept.” employ close to 600 staff in Washington pointed out that various plants in Australia and his relationship with Sonic Motor overseas.

FUJITSU V8s

news

A SUPER SUPER SHOW V8 SUPERCARS

Dirk Klynsmith

ormat announced “MINI Challenge already represents great value for money motor racing for prospective drivers,” says Toleman, “and that value is increased dramatically for Townsville.

“I think this is a great thing for the series, for the spectators and the teams. The ability for teams to invite named drivers or even their mates to co-pilot with them allows for increased popularity of the series and profile of MINI in Australian Motorsport”

Traders interested in securing space should contact info@ exhibitionmanagement.com or phone 03 9699 4699.

John Morris/Mpix

a minimum of 60 seconds. The final race will be televised live on Channel Seven.

A provision has also been implemented if two series contenders pair in a car. If one (or both) have success ballast from the previous round, then heaviest ballast applies for that car.

MINI Challenge principal Ted Toleman says that the major benefit of the two-driver system will crews to offset the costs of going racing.

ONE of the additions to V8 Supercars’ Grand Finale, the Sydney Telstra 500, will be the first V8 Supercars Supershow.

The exhibition, which will be staged in the fully enclosed Dome, centrally situated next to the pit garage complex opposite the Olympic Park railway station, will feature a wide range of automotive performance products and services. Exhibitors that might have otherwise been involved with the postponed Sydney Motor Show, are expected to support the event.

Former V8 champion Mark

Skaife said it was appropriate that a dedicated expo be introduced to major V8 events.

“With some $20 million being spent annually on team/ sponsor apparel and merchandise alone, it’s not before time that an onsite expo has been created to promote associated products and services within the actual race environment -- and where better than at Homebush -- in conjunction with Sydney’s first ever street race! “

s out of FV8s Racing Services will continue.

“Mick, Maria, Moff (James Moffat) and all the boys at Sonic are like a family to me,” he says.

“They have been tremendous and delivered everything I asked for. My decision to withdraw from racing is nothing to do with Sonic in any way. I’m disappointed for Mick (Ritter) and everyone but this is not a decision I have made lightly. It’s been on my mind for some time.”

Washington’s decision to withdraw from the series makes Sonic’s ex-Jamie Whincup Triple

Eight chassis available on a number of levels, with the car available for outright sale or lease.

Sonic boss Mick Ritter says that Washington’s withdrawal is a significant blow to his team.

“I won’t lie, it’s a significant bump in the road but we’ll move forward,” he said.

“Bryce has been a great friend to our team and an important part of the Sonic family through Formula Ford, Carrera Cup and V8s. It’s not easy on many levels to see him go.”

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NOW, NASCAR SUES MAYFIELD NASCAR THE ongoing NASCAR vs Jeremy Mayfield saga has taken a new twist, with NASCAR suing Mayfield.

The latest case, now in a federal court after NASCAR stated the two parties are in different states, was due to be heard in a North Carolina court last Wednesday.

Then on Friday NASCAR, not surprisingly, countersued Mayfield, who claims he took a mixture of attention deficit prescription medication – albeit a brand name amphetamine – and over the counter allergy pills.

The suit states that Mayfield knowingly competed in races using a combination of drugs in violation of NASCAR’s substance abuse policy, one he agreed to follow.

“And in doing so violated his contract with NASCAR and the standards of care for other drivers,” said NASCAR spokesman Ramsey Poston.

“You will see in [the suit] he competed in a number of races that had we known he had been on a medication he was on and certainly known there were illegal substances involved we wouldn’t have allowed him to compete.”

Apparently drivers sign a contract that says they have to report any prescription medications they are taking to Dr. David Black, who is in charge of NASCAR’s drug testing policy. The counter suit alleges Mayfield did not notify any NASCAR official that he was on a prescription drug until the May 1 drug test, after he had already participated in two races while on the drug.

The suit says that Mayfield wrecked in three of the five races in which he competed this year, including races in which he was under the influence of the drug he failed to report to NASCAR. A combination of drugs and the illegal drug that has been blacked out in the suit and neither party have named. The suit also

said Mayfield earned in excess of $150,000 in those races that purse would have gone to other drivers.

NASCAR’s drug policy states “It must be recognized that there are some medications, that even when properly used may adversely affect safety in high speed events.” It continues, “Misuse of a prescription or over the counter medication is forbidden.”

Of the other six Nationwide and Truck Series drivers who have been suspended in the last seven years, Mayfield is only one to defend himself. One driver is now deceased, one admitted he took drugs before competing and another rwas einstated by NASCAR twice before being suspended for life.

That prompts the question, were the other drivers really guilty of substance abuse, or did they lack the fight, or means, to want to take on NASCAR? – MARTIN D CLARK

Toyota Motorspoorts

Long penalty stands – but he can work NASCAR SPRINT CUP CARL Long’s fines and penalties have been mostly upheld by NASCAR. The National Stock Car Commission last Tuesday upheld the record $200,000 fine and 200 point penalty for running an oversize motor, but he will be allowed in the

12

Nationwide and Truck Series garages. Long, who works for Front Row Motorsports during the week, will be barred from the Cup areas for the next 12 events.

NASCAR told him he will not be liable for the fine, which technically should be paid by his crew chief Charles Swing, and Swing will not get a license

until the fine is paid.

“Big Bill [France, NASCAR founder] and Bill Jr. ruled the sport like a father,” commented Long.

“At the end of the day they took care of their family. These guys don’t care, they don’t have any heart. Basically, it seems like they don’t care about the sport, they just want

to make a dollar. I truly have a sour taste of the management in our sport. They’ve forgotten the roots of how this sport was created, and who are the people buying the tickets, sitting in the stands. The people in the stands are me.”

Meanwhile Long is looking into a further appeal.

– MARTIN D CLARK

news

Restart Redo a Success NASCAR SPRINT CUP NASCAR’s Pocono race featured double file restarts for the first time – and the concensus is that they worked.

Previous races have seen the lead lap

cars to the outside of lapped cars. Now races will be held with all the lead lap cars starting double file up front, with the lapped cars to the rear of the field.

“This addition to the race format is good for competition and good for the fans,”

remarked NASCAR chairman Brian France.

Plans are for the format to be introduced into the Nationwide and Truck Series as early as this weekend.

– MARTIN D CLARK

NASCAR Media

And, we can watch Le Mans on TV!

Lion in Wait LE MANS 24 HR DAVID Brabham will be in good company at this weekend’s Le Mans 24 Hour race.

The Aussie Sportscar ace will join Marc Gene and budding Formula 1 principal Alexander Wurz in one of Peugeot’s three cars for the classic, the trio driving the #9 entry.

The other two 908HDi FAPs

will be crewed by Stephane Sarrazin and Sebastien Bourdais, who finished second last year, and Franck Montagny (#8), and Nicolas Minassian, Pedro Lamy and Christian Klien in the #7 entry.

The team’s engineers have faced a number of challenges, including a smaller air restrictor (down from 39.9mm to 38.3mm), revised aerodynamics forced by a mandatory reduction in

size of the rear wing, and the imposition of 30kgs of ballast.

Along with those changes, close-cockpit cars will be fitted with air conditioners, which will limit the temperature of the cars’ interiors to 32 degrees C. Cars will take to the circuit this Thursday night for practice. Qualifying starts at 6pm Thursday, and the race begins at 3pm, French time.

LE MANS 24 HR

sutton-images.com

LE Mans fans in Australia will be able to do something they have never done before – watch the race live on free-toair television.

ONE HD will broadcast the race, which will feature a battle between Audi, Peugeot and Aston Martin for outright honours. Viewers will be able to get into endurance mode starting at 3:30pm this Thursday, with the Official Film of the 2008 race.

The broadcast of the race starts at 10:30pm Saturday and ONE will show the first three hours. The coverage will continue at 6:30am Sunday for four hours and then the final stanza of the race will be shown at 8:30pm.

13

PENSKE BUYS SA

The Captain buys GM brand afte

INDYCAR

DANICA Patrick’s future looks to be in the hands of sports management giant, IMG. Patrick’s third-place finish at the Indy 500, followed by a fifth at Milwaukee and sixtth at Texas, makes her a contender for the 17-race IndyCar title fight, just 32 points behind leader Briscoe in fifth. With 2009 being the final season on her contract with Andretti Green Racing, who she joined in 2007, her value has risen.

“This year I have a new agent representing me, IMG,” said Patrick. “It has given me more brand direction. We must take what comes as well as push the endorsement side and media coverage. The opportunity for me to do a ‘Got Milk’ TV commercial and being featured on the cover of ‘Shape Magazine’ are great avenues outside of racing.”

14

Honda Racing

Danica is in IMG’s hands

When asked about her being interested in F1 or NASCAR, Patrick answered, “There’s no way to know if you are ever ready until you try it. I’m exploring all kinds of options for next year and beyond. It’s a process of evaluating what teams are interested, what do they want, and what do I want. As a driver who competes in the top level of North American Open Wheel racing, I want to drive for a top team whether it be Nationwide or Cup racing. I drive to win.”

“I have a big group around me that advise me. I’m not making or receiving calls. I’ve been told not to worry about next year but to let others do their job. I’m focused on driving. I’ve lived in England and Europe but I prefer to live close to my family. So if a good opportunity comes up here, I’d prefer to remain in the U.S.” – MARY MENDEZ

Springbok Toma INDYCAR TOMAS Scheckter is back in the IndyCar Series.

The South African, who finished 12th in the Indy 500 driving for Dale Coyne Racing, has signed a 10-race deal with Dreyer & Reinbold, again sponsored by Mona Vie, a health drink. The third car effort will omit the permanent road courses, Watkins Glen, Mid-Ohio, and Infineon.

Scheckter came under fire for holding up Ryan Briscoe at last week’s Milwaukee Mile race. The South African responded, “It was his job to get by. I didn’t come down on him or cut him off. When Roger [Penske] says something, you always take a look at it and make sure. I feel I was in the clear.”

– MARY MENDEZ

ATURN (NO, NOT THE PLANET)

er bankruptcy

INDYCAR

Honda Racing

Honda Racing

ROGER Penske owns an IndyCar team, a NASCAR team and a GrandAm team – as well as the USA’s second largest auto dealership group, Detroit Diesel, a trucking fleet and car service centres.

And now, he has his own brand of car. After last week’s announcement of General Motors filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, Penske Automotive Group has purchased Saturn, which has been part of GM’s line since its inception in 1990.

The new Saturn will continue to sell the GM-built Aura sedan, the Vue and Outlook crossovers for at least two years. Beyond that, Penske said he is in discussions

with “a number of worldwide manufacturers” to broaden the lineup.

Saturn has never turned a profit, but Penske says he expects that brand to be in the black “from day one”.

Saturn has 358 dealerships throughout North America,

and employs 13,000 people.

The acquisition of Saturn is not expected to have any short-term impact on his manufacturer alliances with Honda (IndyCar), Dodge (NASCAR) or Porsche (Sportscars).

– MARY MENDEZ

as Springs Back Foyt, Tracy split AJ’s grandson raced in Texas INDYCAR

Honda Racing

THE partnership between AJ Foyt and Paul Tracy lasted one race – but not because of a falling out between two of racing’s most volatile characters.

Foyt has excused the Canadian from racing as a substitute for the injure Vitor Meira until his team can field a more competitive entry.

Foyt’s grandson AJ Foyt IV drove the #14 car at Texas.

“I’m embarrassed about the car we gave Tracy in Milwaukee,” A.J. Foyt told Racer.com.

“I can’t afford to be putting Tracy in my equipment until we’ve got ourselves up to par. Having Tracy in the car puts our team under the microscope, and I want to get

our team better before we do that again.”

Tracy struggled with the ill-handling car at the Milwaukee Mile but says that he’d be willing to drive other races this season.

“It’s frustrating it is to be with such an enthusiastic bunch of racers at Foyt’s team, who don’t have the budget to do all they want to do,” said Tracy.

“I told Foyt that at KV Racing, there are about six engineers for the one car.”

Tracy is committed to drive for KV Racing Technology at the two Canadian rounds but acknowledged he could work well with Foyt’s engineer, Adam Schaechter, even though he has limited oval experience.

– MARY MENDEZ

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Busy tim

AUSTRALIAN GT

THE Australian-based Moslers will return to GT racing soon, but where they competes remains up in the air.

The popular American Sportscars were brought to Australian shores by John Teulen for this season’s Australian GT class and, after making a stunning debut at the Clipsal 500 meeting by Craig Baird, the car copped a number of controversial parity adjustments for the second round at Albert Park. Teulan withdrew both the cars for last month’s Phillip Island round, and Teulen is now weighing up whether to enter it at the fourth round of the championship at Eastern Creek next month, or enter the Sepang 12 Hour on the same weekend.

There is also a chance that Teulan could enter one car in each race, with Teulan likely to steer the car at Eastern Creek and Baird at Sepang.

As eNews went live, Teulan was unsure of what direction he’d send his Moslers.

“We’re looking at doing both races,” he said.

“It would be interesting to run the car in the Super GT in its true race form.”

To bring the Mosler back to the rest of the Australian GT field, the car was handed close to 400kg in ballast, a ride height increase and a 2.3mm restrictor, reducing its potential power

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James Smith

The Return of the Maxxed Mosler

output significantly.“When you put those three things in place, why would you want to run a car in that form?

“It doesn’t seem to make sense to have an excellent car and compromise it in that way.

The public don’t get to see what the car is really capable of. It seems silly to drag it back to the performance of a Porsche 996 that is nearly six years old.

“We bought the car to go motor racing, and we’re looking for the best opportunity to see the cars at their best potential.

“The team will be operating that weekend, but we’ll decided soon what events we’ll run. If the car doesn’t run at Eastern Creek, it’s unlikely the car will run again in that series.”

If the Mosler competes at Sepang, Baird will be installed as the lead driver, with one or two co-drivers yet to be selected.

“Bairdo is our preferred driver. We’ve had other drivers like Steve Johnson, but we’re just trying to work something that will be good for the team long-term,” he said.

“We will need to make a decision within a week.”

The fourth round of the Vodka O Australian GT Championship and the Sepang 12 Hour will be held on the July 18-19.

– GRANT ROWLEY

FRENAULT 3.5 JOHN Martin is expanding his 2009 racing season.

The Queenslander will compete in two more Formula Renault 3.5 races in the next four weeks, after making his debut in the category at Monaco last month. Martin, who finished 12th on the street circuit, will again driver for Martin Donnelly’s Comtec Racing at the

Vodka O si AUSTRALIAN GT THE Australian GT Championship has secured Vodka O as its title sponsor for the rest of 2009.

Originally slated as the major backer for the first three rounds, the Australian-owned vodka company has signed on the remaining rounds of the championship, currently led by Porsche driver David Wall.

Category administrator Terry Little told eNews he was delighted with the news.

“It is a really good, enthusiastic

news

me for Martin THE PROOF

OF BURDEN

Tassie kart teen steps into CAMS Young Guns racer for Winton they turn well and they stop.

You can’t ask for much more from a race car.”

TASMANIAN Josh Burden Despite his rookie status, is the latest addition to the Burden says that he isn’t Aussie Racing Cars Series. fazed about mixing it with The 16-year-old karter will the series regulars. drive a second CAMS Young “I think it will be fine. I’ve Guns car, starting at the series’ raced Junior Clubman and next round at Winton Motor Clubman light and I think I’ve Raceway (June 27-28). learned the basics in karting, Burden joins Garry now I’ll just try and carry that Jacobson in a two-car CAMS through to car racing. squad, with Burden driving “I’m looking forward to it, the Falcon-bodied car and I have to say I’m grateful that Jacobson used in the for the assistance that I’ve first round of the series in received from Phil Ward Adelaide. and CAMS. Without them I Burden got his first taste of wouldn’t be here. an Aussie Racer at Oran Park As part of the CAMS last month in preparation for competing at Winton and the Young Gun deal, Burden will remaining rounds of the 2009 get to take part in regular visists to the Australian Series.

Institute of Sport at Canberra, The Hobart resident working with Australia’s was impressed with the best phycologists, trainers, performance of the Aussie nutritionists and media Racer. specialists to prepare for “I think it’s an exceptional national-level competition. little race car,” he said.

– GRANT ROWLEY “They’ve got good power,

AUSSIE RACERS

Hungaroring this weekend and at Silverstone on 4-5 July.

Martin will fit the outings around his Superleague Formula commitments for Glasgow Rangers at Magny Cours on 2728 June and Zolder on 18-19 July.

“At the end of the day it is all seat time really, you can’t beat race laps,” said Martin.

“The World Series by Renault is quite a good, competitive series.

So it definitely can’t hurt.

“The tyres are Michelin, the same as Superleague Formula and A1GP, and they work in a similar way.”

Martin is expected to continue racing with A1 Team Australia, with a test session sceduled for mid-August. Season five of the championship starts at the Nitro SuperGP on the Gold Coast on 25 October.

igns on for 2009 sprint races, while the new and deciding rounds at Bathurst and Homebush will see the Sportcar category compete in two 30 minute race.

“We surveyed our competitors and its an even spread about what they want in terms of race formats,” Little said.

“The majority actually wanted to go back to a sprint format. The one hour races works really well., but it’s a good to have variety. It keeps our drivers an teams on their toes.”

– GRANT ROWLEY

John Morris

sponsor,” Little said.

“It does a lot to promote our class on its own. It is a pleasure to have them on board for the rest of the year, and it is already talking to us about next year which is also very positive.

“And Vodka O a good drop on top of that!”

It has also been confirmed that the remaining three rounds of the Australian GT Championship will have different race formats. The next round at Eastern Creek will see a return of the familiar three 20-minute

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Damn Fast!

John Morris/Mpix Ken Ferguson

Harris becomes first man to break into four-second Nitro Funny Car zone at Winternationals exhibition run V8 SUPERCARS AT the wheel of Paul Shackleton’s Nitro Funny Car, Damien Harris created a part of history for Australian drag racing, becoming the first Australian team to break into the elusive four-second zone for that class.

On their last pass of a three round match race against Ashley Bailey, Harris piloted the

18

BTP Chev Monte Carlo nitro beast to a 4.98s at 297mph.

In other match races, V8 Supercar Champion Jamie Whincup took a three-blot win over Team Vodafone team-mate Craig Lowndes in their three round exhibition match race in their Ford Falcons FGs. The best pass of the night belonged to Lowndes in his third round loss, with a 10.81s at 134.9mph.

For Lowndes, losing was an

afterthought. He was thrilled to be at his first drag race ...

“That was just amazing, I have never experienced anything like that in my life before,” said Lowndes.

“I think that experience touched every sense in my body, the ground was shaking, my eyes were watering and my stomach was trembling – it was a great experience.”

– KEN FERGUSON

news

Championship titles decided at Willowbank DRAG RACING ALTHOUGH some of the Group 1 titles were already signed and sealed before the season-ending Winternationals at Willowbank Raceway last weekend, there were still a number of championships on the line.

The title of most interest was Top Alcohol. Gary Phillips was eliminated in the semi-finals, leaving Debbie Reed the chance to become the first female to win an Australian Group 1 title. All Reed had to do was make it to the end of the stripe after her finals opponent Aaron Hambridge made a red-light start.

But Reed made a meal of the start and made contact with the concrete wall at around the 330ft mark while travelling at over 200 kmh. The contact resulted in her exclusion, handing the Winternationals win to Hambridge and the Championship to Phillips.

And it may be the last time we see Reed in the near future, with funding issues possibly ruling her out of future

competition.

In Top Fuel, Phil Lamittina had already won his maiden crown, as had John Zappia in Top Doorslammer.

Zappia actually went through the entire 2008/09 season without losing a race, “We have now run 18 races with no defeats, and only need to run two more undefeated meetings to beat Benny Bray’s record of 24 straight wins,” said Zappia.

“It is the perfect end to the perfect season, the championship and event Gold Christmas Trees as well as the Karcher High-Pressure cleaner from bracket sponsor Karcher – which the crew is already lining up to use!

“At the end of the day without everyone involved – especially the crew who just work so hard and the sponsors including Striker Crushing and Screening, Mickey Thompson and Fuchs – we couldn’t do what we do and I am just really thankful to all of them for their efforts.”

When Tyronne Tremayne was defeated

by eventual runner-up Lee Bektash in the semi-finals it handed the ANDRA Pro Stock Championship to his younger brother Aaron, pictured below, for the second year in a row.

Shane Tucker secured the Pro Stock victory at the Castrol EDGE Winternationals with a holeshot win in the final over Lee Bektash where both drivers completed the quarter-mile pass in 7.13s.

Athol Williams won Top Bike, while other crowns went to Michael Gilbertson in Pro Bike, Phil Otto in Competition, Nino Cavallo in Super Stock, Kevin Gummow in Comp Bike, Damien McKern in Super Compact, Christine Steffens in Supercharged Outlaws, Mark Eadie in Modified, Greg Fowler in Super Sedan, Jason Hammelswang in Modified Bike, Paul Dilley in Super Street, Blaze Hansen in Junior Dragster, and Darryl Stephen in Super Gas. The annual John Storm Memorial trophy was won by Jason Hammelswang.

– KEN FERGUSON

Ken Ferguson

19

5 Minutes with ...

JAMES COURTNEY

Two fastest laps, one podium finish and two big accidents is not how James Courtney wanted to start the 2009 V8 Supercar season GRANT ROWLEY

You’re currently 20th in the championship. Considering where your team-mate is running, you must be disappointed?

We’ve had really good speed.

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Dirk Klynsmith John Morris/Mpix

MOTORSPORT NEWS: You just seem to be attracted to crash damage so far this year …

JAMES COURTNEY: Yeah, I think blind Freddy could have worked that out …

Two accidents so far this year is not what I wanted. The first one at Clipsal was me, but at Symmons Plains ... there’s a lot of morons driving around there. You can only do the best you can.

I think enough has been said about the driving standards – something needs to happen about it. In Race 1, to be driving at 250kmh and to have Todd (Kelly) drive into the side of me seven times down the back straight, the last time cutting my tyres, was a little bit ridiculous … and for nothing to come from it ...

I’m lucky that there is a lot of run-off there. If there wasn’t run-off, I could have been hospitalised, crashing at that sort of speed. People just don’t think.

Then in Sunday’s race with Wood (I don’t even know his first name) – it shows how much I worry about the guy.

He’s nobody. He’s just a hobby racer and his dad’s paying.

We are serious out there and this is our career. We’re not out there mucking around like they are. We’re trying to do the best we can for the sponsors we have, and that kind of thing just ruins it. It’s very disappointing.

WE’VE HAD THE SPEED, but we’ve had shit luck while his team-mate runs third in the championship, james courtney has had no major reward so far ...

I’d be a lot more disappointed if we didn’t have the speed and we were 20th. We’ve had the speed, but we’ve had shit luck. At Winton we had a couple of things go wrong with the car which cost us two top six positions.

In New Zealand we were second in Sunday’s race, but in Saturday’s race Will got on the brakes, everyone went everywhere and I either had Garth to hit or the wall.

Regrettably, I decided that Garth was the better option!

I had to do the last five or six laps with 100 percent throttle so I lost a heap of track position there. We were running top five there as well.

We’ve been quite strong and had good speed. I’ve been in front of Steve (Johnson) a number of times, but Steve’s

done a fantastic job. He’s Mr Consistency. He drives around and finishes in and around sixth position and accumulates points. He’s been pretty lucky to get out of a few instances that he’s been in this year. Luck comes and goes …

that was pretty positive. We’ve had a couple of fastest laps as well so the speed has been great. We’ve just had really shit luck. It’s gotta turn sooner or later, otherwise I’m going to have to consider doing something else!

Is the championship out of the question?

It would be an amazing end to the year from hell if I could win the championship from here!

We’re just going to go for the realistic option of race wins. If we finished at the front of the championship, that would be fantastic. But this far back, I think it’s a bit of a long shot.

And while the Motorsport eNews team slave away on a public holiday, what have you done on your three-day break?

We’re just been cruising around at home, spending time with the family.

Before Tasmania, I was in Sydney for my sister’s wedding, so all up we were gone for about two weeks. On the way home we had a ride day in Sydney, so we’ve just had a quick break with Caris and Zara – a bit of down time.

If there was one positive to drag from the first four rounds, what would it be?

Oh, New Zealand, second –

chat

Dirk Klynsmith

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The ONE to watch opinion

Greg Rust Network 10

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THIS weekend, ONE HD is broadcasting the Le Mans 24 Hour race and, like a lot of other motor racing fans, I cannot wait to watch the action.

I am actually quite excited about hosting the race broadcast of the race, as I have never been to the race in person. Others have – Leigh Diffey always tells me what a great event it is – and it is firmly near the top of my ‘One of These Days …’ List of things to do.

I will not be in the studio for the whole race, and a lot depends on what the feed of the race will be. But regardless, it is a great event to watch.

Craig Baird is going to be in the studio with us. He has worked with us at the Albert Park Grands Prix in the past and he is a good fit in the team. With that, and having driving experience with some of the cars in the race, he will be invaluable.

On top of this, there will be a quick change to MotoGP on Sunday night. The tyre scenario has shaken up the series, and the racing is as good as we have seen. We get great feedback from all the MotoGP viewers, so it is going to be a pretty busy 24 Hours or so for us!

Letters

Have your say – email us at mail@mnews.com.au.

Double Talk #2 In the last issue, Andrew van Leeuwen referred to Walkinshaw Racing’s “protest against Triple 8’s splitter”.

In response to my letter in the same issue you pointed out that it is the splitter mount and not the splitter itself under protest. My point is that it doesn’t matter if they are protesting the grub screw that holds the gear knob on; the governing body has now twice

22

decided no regulations have been breached.

If this is what HRT have to do to get attention, then you are in a lot more s**t than you’re letting on.

Warren Furze Via email Safety First I was reading the Top 10 of racing driver’s names in my latest copy of Motorsport News, and what struck me was the

amount of promising F1 racers that passed away back in the old days.

Thank goodness for our striving for excellence in safety that has seen accidents with drivers burning to death a thing of the past. Sure we get the freak accidents (which are no easier to deal with), but at least they are few and far between.

Scott Whale Via email

Richo and his biffo I can’t understand why Steven Richards did not earn a drive through or a stop/go penalty when he decided to have a brake and brain fade and turn Greg Murphy around at the hairpin at Symmons Plains.

He nearly hit Jason Richards at the same time. I just don’t understand because I thought it was a blatant mistake.

Neil Evans Via email

opinion

The magic of Le Mans AS I write this, I am packing my things before I head out the door and go to Le Mans.

This will be my 10th Le Mans 24 Hour, plus there have been a few 24 Hour races at Snetterton, Silverstone, Bathurst and Spa over the years. I will be working on the ACO World Feed that goes to most of the English-speaking nations that get the race.

Even after all these years, I just cannot miss the race. It’s partly the race, partly the magic of the event itself. The race is always special but the experience of being there is mega – watching cars at night, seeing the emotions of teams going through the week, the sudden drama when a car has a problem, the pissed up fans who never watch the track and just go for a party, everything. Oh yes, and another program for my collection!

We get the chance to see top drivers, a chance to drive around most of the circuit on the Friday when the roads are open again, the build-up to the start is like no other race on earth, as every driver is introduced (that takes a while) all the flags of the competing nations are displayed, all the national anthems (including noisy support from Dutch, Danes and Poms) are played.

It’s a bit like the Bathurst 1000 in many

opinion David Addison Commentator ways. It gets into your system and that is it, you have a life sentence.

As we have seen over the last couple of years, there will be a titanic AudiPeugeot fight. That should be good but the other questions are, what Pescarolo can do with a works-assisted 908, and how far the Lola-Aston Martins will go before they strike problems?

In GT1, what has been a good battle in past years may be unlikely this year, as there are relatively few entries. GT2 is a bit Porsche-dominated this year, as the teams that run Ferraris are struggling a bit with a gurney flap that they have to use so it may not be stunning ...

No matter what happens, there are always parts of the race that are a mustsee. The first half-hour, when the pace is on, then it settles down into a rhythm.

Then, no matter what happens during the night to sort out the contenders, the last half hour, particularly if it is like it was last year when the lead Peugeot was chasing the lead Audi for the win.

Enjoy the race. I always do!

eLETTER OF THE WEEK Make Bathurst a sprint round!

I sincerely hope that V8 Supercars Australia seriously reconsider their decision not to allow teams to use the ‘sprint’ tyre at Bathurst.

I’d love to see each car allocated just one set – to be used at any time over the weekend. Some would blast around for a dynamite qualifying or Shootout lap, others would go for a lightning race start, some

might buy a ‘get out of jail’ ticket by unlapping themselves, while others would save them for the demon finish.

Of all the races to throw clever strategy into the mix, this is the grand-daddy of them all. The real beauty of it is that the tyre will last about as long as a stint with E85. I’m crossing my fingers.

Matt Treacy Via email

Matt Treacy is this week’s winner of the DVD Transporter 3, starring Jason Statham, compliments of Icon Film Distribution Australia.

Send yours to mail@mnews.com.au, or Motorsport News PO Box 7072, Brighton, Vic 3186 23

ANDRA CHAMPIONSHIPS WINTERNATIONALS, WILLOWBANK, QLD

ampionships Ch g in ac R g ra D n ia al tr The final round of the Aus and there – s al n io ta rn te in W s k’ an b was fought out at Willow USON reports G FER N KE ... y ed ag tr d were stories of triumph an

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n o W r e b Num

race

Ken Ferguson

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race

Ken Ferguson

Ken Ferguson

Luck plays its part: Gary Phillips, far left, was eliminated before the final, but was handed his 13th Top Alcohol crown when Debbie Reed failed to win – despite the odds stacked in her favour. Above, Shane Tucker won the Winternationals Pro Stock class. Left, mighty Kiwi Athol Williams added another victory to his dominant Top Bike season, while John Zappia, below, deated Robin Judd to secure victory in every round of the 2008/09 season. Now he’s got Bray’s win record in his sights ...

Ken Ferguson

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WINTERNATIONALS

T

HE ecstasy and agony of competition drag racing were never more apparent than in the mind of Debbie Reed after the final of the Top Alcohol bracket at the 2009 Castrol Edge Winternationals.

Reed, aiming to become the first female Group 1 national champion, in what may be her last season due to lack of funding, needed only to win the final after a superb effort throughout eliminations.

The win was handed to her on a platter when Aaron Hambridge left early with a red light start, only for her to come down off a big wheelstand in her Reed Transport dragster and bang the concrete wall at about 330 feet down the track.

Reed was disqualified from the final and the win handed back to Hambridge, which allowed Gary Phillips to secure his 13th Top Alcohol Championship in his Lucas Oils Products Funny Car, despite being defeated

by Reed in the earlier rounds of eliminations.

It was a shattering end to Reed’s title bid: “I am absolutely heartbroken,” said Reed.

“I would really love to come back next season and fight for it, to have it over again.

“Unfortunately at the moment though, as much as I want to keep going, with our current funding situation it just isn’t looking possible without a corporate partner, but you never know – I guess we will just have

to wait and see.”

Disappointment for Reed, but jubilation for Phillips who couldn’t have been happier: “It is Debbie’s birthday today and Cheyne’s birthday tomorrow (Phillips’ wife and son) and I asked them what they wanted for their birthdays and I have been able to give them what they asked for,” he said.

“We had a lot of sponsors out here today including Lucas Oil Management and Orix Trailers and to get this result for them is just brilliant.”

Phil Lamattina doubled up in the Top Fuel class with his sixth-consecutive four second pass for the event to take victory in his Fuchs dragster over Allan Dobson in the Santos Cranes entry in the Top Fuel final.

Lamattina’s 4.70s at 320mph secured an easy win over Dobson’s fireballing 6.90s pass. Lamattina also claimed his maiden Top Fuel national championship, needing only to qualify at this event.

John Zappia continued his dominance over the remainder of the Top Doorslammer field with another win in the highlycompetitive class.

Once again, it was another Zappia verses Judd final and it was Zappia who took the victory to claim the gold Christmas tree and snap up his second-consecutive national crown in his Striker Crushing and Screening HQ Monaro.

Following his undefeated season, Zappia is now eying off another record.

“We have now run 18 races with no defeats, and only need to run two more undefeated meetings to beat Benny Bray’s record of 24 straight wins,” said Zappia.

Newly crowned Top Bike Champion Athol Williams doubled up on the gold Christmas trees at the event as well with another superb effort to take victory in the final.

Williams survived a big start line holeshot by opponent Chris Porter to take the win with his 6.33s at 229mph.

Despite being defeated in the first round of eliminations with a 0.001 red light, Aaron Tremayne survived with results going his way to take another Pro Stock national championship.

It was a night of upsets with the number seven and eight qualifiers facing each other in the final. Shane Tucker took a fabulous win in his Monaro over Lee Bektash in his Dodge Avenger. Both drivers recorded 7.13s passes, but it was the start line advantage which gave Tucker the win.

Other winners at the event included Phil Howard in Pro Bike, Justin Walshe in Competition, Alex Panagiotidis in Super Stock, Geoff Kempe in Comp Bike, Stanley Kreis in Super Compact, Christine Steffens in Supercharged Outlaws, Dave Mullins in Modified, John McKnight in Super Sedan, Jason Hammelswang in Modified Bike, Paul Dilley in Super Street, Kaine Schwarz in Junior Dragster, and Darryl Stephen in Super Gas.

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SHANNONS NATIONALS ROUND 4 – MALLALA, SA

The Tension Mounts Tony Ricciardello wins Clem Smith Cup, but two clashes with Darren Hossack provides the talking point. RICHARD CRAILL reports

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race

Marshall Cass

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James Smith

I

T was perhaps the most controversial round of the Kerrick Sports Sedan Series following Round 4 of the 2009 Shannons Nationals, held at Mallala last weekend.

While Tony Ricciardello, above, was the big winner by virtue of his success in the featuring Clem Smith Cup and Des Wall took his Corvette to the overall round honours, the ever-growing rivalry between multiple champion Ricciardello and Darren Hossack took over the headlines after the pair controversially came together on two separate occasions in two of the races.

The pair first collided while staging an epic battle for the lead in Race 1. Hossack went on to take the win with Ricciardello third (after the contact) before the Audi driver incurred a time penalty for his indiscretion that dropped him to the bottom of the results sheet. Des Wall was elevated to first to take the win in Hossack’s place.

A hit from behind on the opening lap left Hossack struggling to match the Alfa’s pace in the early laps of the Clem Smith Cup race, the Audi eventually settling for second in a mundane affair.

In Race 3, however, the pair again made contact while fighting for the lead with Ricciardello again the one to come off second best. Hossack was given a drivethough for the contact with Wall coming though to win the race and the round, though results remain provisional following the third race dramatics.

Despite the controversy, Ricciardello was justifiably pleased to have again won Sports Sedan’s marquee race.

“We had some problems with the car early on, but after we got that sorted it was perfect, it didn’t miss a beat,” Ricciardello said.

“Winning the Clem Smith Cup again is an honour, big thanks go to Clem for his

support of the race and Sports Sedans.”

In the third round of the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge, Matt Kingsley completed a stunning comeback to Adelaide, over a year after his massive V8 Ute crash that left him hospitalised, when he won the round and extended his championship lead over Sven Burchartz in the process.

Rain interrupted Race 3 and – after a five minute interruption to switch to wet tyres - Kingsley again showed his capabilities by easily pulling away from the field to take another commanding race win. Electing to stay on slicks, Mark Krashos’ was unable to replicate his outright pole position and wins in the first two races, though he still managed to win the 997 Trophy class.

Jeff Bobik and Paul Bolinowsky completed the top three, Terry Knight and Sven Burchartz just off the podium.

SA driver Adam Wallis took a convincing clean sweep in the V8 Touring cars while

race

Marshall Cass

Shannons Stars: Michael O’Donnell was a victor in Formula Vee, above; Adam Wallis, below, was convincing in V8 Touring Cars; Des Wall won the Sports Sedan round, bottom; and Matt Kingsley was too good in Porsche GT3 Cup, left.

James Smith

Marshall Cass

James Smith

fellow Adelaidian Chris Smerdon finished second in a 1-2 punch for the local drivers. Wallis’ performance extended his championship lead and Smerdon leaped to second in the championship. Terry Whyoon finished third for the round from Michael Bartsch and Ben Eggleston who also scored race podium finishes.

A depleted Kumho Saloon car field saw a weekend long battle between eventual round winner Shaun Jamieson and Steve Kwiatkowski, who jumped ship to the Holden camp for his home round. The pair were rarely split by more than a few seconds in each of the three races.

Sam Zavaglia took out the Australian Superkart championship round over reigning champ Darren Hossack and Yiani Harpas, while Michael O’Donnell and Asher Johnston fought out a competitive local Formula Vee Battle, the score ending two wins to one in favour of O’Donnell.

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INDYCAR ROUND 6 – BOMBARDIER LEARJET 550, TEXAS

TEX EVADER 32

HONDA RACING

Helio Castroneves beat Ryan Briscoe out of the pits, and to the chequered flag at Texas Motor Speedway

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T

HIS win was all about the team.

For the second week in a row, Ryan Briscoe was the fast man in IndyCar, the Australian leading most laps of the Bombardier Learjet 550. But for the second week in a row, Briscoe had to be content with second place.

Briscoe drove around the outside of polesitter Dario Franchitti early in the race, and led as he liked from then, but it all came down to the final pit cycle, triggered when AJ Foyt IV stopped on the track with damage. Briscoe led the contenders into pitlane, but Helio Castroneves led them out. The Aussie threw everything at the Brazilian over the final 50 laps but Helio refused to blink, and took his second win of the year.

“It feels fantastic,” Castroneves said. “The last pit stop, I jumped in the front and that was it. That was incredible. ... It was pedal to the metal, let’s drive like we stole it.”

There was not a lot of smiling going on, on the other side of the Penske garage.

“It was so evenly matched that it was so hard to pass. It was frustrating knowing I was going

to come in second,” Briscoe said. “It’s bitter when you come so close and it falls away.”

Scott Dixon was third, with the Ganassi cars outrun for pure speed by the Penskes, and Marco Andretti was fourth. Therein lies a tale; for much of the final sector of the race, the thirdgeneration racer fought a bitter war with teammate Danica Patrick, who seemed to delight in giving her rival zero margin for error. When Marco made a pass stick, he rocketed onto the tail of Dario Franchitti, who dropped back on the last lap with fuel comsumption problems.

Later, the Scot made comment that he had not been informed of the problems by his crew.

Ganassi leads to gets its ducks in a row if they are going to take the fight to Penske.

Dan Wheldon was seventh ahead of Tony Kanaan, who came back from a lap down. Ed Carpenter and Mario Moraes rounded out the top 10.

Third time a charm: Helio Castroneves took home his third Stetson after sneaking past Ryan Briscoe during the final round of stops. The Aussie led Scott Dixon in the early laps, below.

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INDYCAR | BOMBARDIER LEARJET 550, TEXAS 1 3 2 6 3 9 4 26 5 10 6 7 7 4 8 11 9 20 10 5

Helio Castroneves Br Ryan Briscoe Aus Scott Dixon NZ Marco Andretti USA Dario Franchitti GB Danica Patrick USA Dan Wheldon GB Tony Kanaan Br Ed Carpenter USA Mario Moraes Br

Team Penske 1h55m45s/228 laps Q4 Team Penske -0.3904s 2 Target Ganassi -2.2461s 3 Andretti Green -4.3745s 8 Ganassi/Energizer -4.7695s 1 Andretti Green/Boost -5.2980s 5 Panther/National Guard -7.6203s 7 Andretti Green/7-11 -8.5009s 16 Vision/Menards -18.7088s 10 KV Racing/Azul -1 lap 6

Fastest lap: Briscoe on lap 60, 24.4870s (213.909mph)

INDYCAR | DRIVER’S points

Briscoe 199, Dixon 196, Franchitti 188, Castroneves 186, Patrick 167, Wheldon 152, Kanaan 146, Andretti 141, Rahal 126, Hunter-Reay 116.

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Friendly Fire: Marco Andretti and Danica Patrick spoke pre-race, right, and, most certainly, post-race.

Tony Kanaan, below, fought his way back from a lap down to finish eighth.

Honda Racing

IndyCar Media

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NASCAR SPRINT CUP ROUND 14 – POCONO 400, POCONO, PA

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MOKE WITHOUT FIRE

Tony Stewart took his first points win as an owner by suppressing his racer’s instincts and playing the fuel game at Pocono.

By MARTIN D CLARK

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T

ONY Stewart is a born racer, and will drive any NASCAR, IndyCar, Sprint Car or Midget to its mechanical limits.

So it must have been frustrating for Stewart to sit and play the fuel game at Pocono. He did, rolling out of the throttle early for each corner in the final laps, to take his first points win as an owner-driver.

“You hate to race like that,” commented Stewart on the fuel gamble, after starting at the rear in a back up Chevy when he wrecked his primary car in practice on Friday.

“I’m ecstatic, it’s so nice to get that first points win and to extend the point lead at the same time.”

Stewart, who won the non-points All Star Race last month, beat home Carl Edwards

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and David Reutimann, and becomes the first owner-driver to win since Ricky Rudd in 1997 at Martinsville.

Edwards dominated the race, leading the most laps, but the Stewart Haas crew beat Edwards’s Roush Fenway Ford off pit road the final time, giving Stewart all-important track position. Prior to that Jimmie Johnson, Edwards, Matt Kenseth and Greg Biffle looked to have cars capable of winning, but Johnson ran dry on the final lap while battling Edwards for the win while the Roush pairing of Kenseth and Biffle both had to pit near the end.

Twice Pocono winner Denny Hamlin had the fastest car in final practice, but a fuel pump and cable issue cost him a third, while David Stremme was the only other car to bring out a caution when he was punted

into the wall by a frustrated Dale Earnhardt Jr, who finished 27th.

The race was the first under NASCAR’s new double file restart rule, which improved the competition on the restarts, with all lead lap cars at the front of the pack after cautions.

“It was nice not to have to race lapped cars on restarts,” said Stewart, “you knew the guys you were with you were racing for position and as we get to smaller tracks it will become more important, this was the perfect place to try it out.”

The double file restarts appeared to favor Marcos Ambrose as he dived low on every restart. With qualifying rained out, the Aussie started 20th and moved up to ninth on one aggressive mid-race restart, but he slipped up into team mate David Reutimann

One for the Kyle File

SPRINT CUP | POCONO 500, POCONO, PA 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

14 99 00 24 39 47 48 42 31 77

Tony Stewart Chevy Carl Edwards Ford David Reutimann Toyota Jeff Gordon Chevy Ryan Newman Chevy Marcos Ambrose Toyota Jimmie Johnson Chevy Juan Montoya Chevy Jeff Burton Chevy Sam Hornish Jr Dodge

Stewart Haas/Old Spice Roush Fenway/Aflac Waltrip/Aaron’s Hendrick/DuPont Stewart Haas/US Army JTG Daugherty/Clorox Hendrick/Lowe’s Earnhardt Ganassi/ Childress/Caterpillar Penske/Mobil1

1 11 13 2 5 20 3 15 10 26

NASCAR | DRIVER’S points Stewart 2043, Gordon 1972, Johnson 1940, Newman 1840, Kurt Busch 1819, Edwards 1762, Biffle 1753, Kenseth 1745, Kyle Busch 1731, Burton 1725, Reutimann 1701, Hamlin 1679 [Ambrose 1469, 18th]

Toyota Motorsports

NASCAR Media Toyota Motorsports

and lost three spots swiftly.

However his crew made the call to top off with fuel under the fifth caution, which was lengthened by rain, this and some fast driving moved Ambrose up to sixth at the finish when others stopped, ending a great day where he jumped to

NASCAR Media

Hendrick Party: Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson led the pack away, after poleman Tony Stewart was forced to the back of the field in his backup car. Johnson lost a fuel battle with Carl Edwards, above right, while Marcos Ambrose, right, continues to shine.

NATIONWIDE KYLE Busch finally won at Nationwide race on Saturday night at Nashville Speedway, taking the win easily over defending race winner Brad Keselowski and Carl Edwards.

Busch led 179 of the 225 circuits.

After qualifying first Busch lead the first 67 laps en route to his fourth series win of the year adding to his three Cup and two Truck Series wins this season, Mike Bliss finished fourth followed by Jason Leffler, the pair of Nationwide only racers continuing their recent success.

– MARTIN D CLARK

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The title fight closes up ...

Ericsson and Grubmuller take wins, while Ricciardo left to rue another tough round BRITISH F3

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ARCUS Ericsson and Walter Grubmueller scored British F3 successes at Hockenheim as the series had its first overseas foray of the year.

Swede Ericsson, above, won race one from Dutchman Renger van der Zande with Daniel Ricciardo struggling to match the pace of the leaders as he took points for fourth place behind Grubmueller.

The Austrian scored his first win of the season in race two as he led from pole position keeping team-mate van der Zande at bay to make it a one-two for Hitech Racing.

Robert Wickens, the FIA F2 Championship leader, took

third on a gust outing for Carlin Motorsport.

Ricciardo, above, tangled with Wayne Boyd and Max Chilton and lost three places, the Aussie ultimately being passed towards the end by

Nick Tandy who was also recovering after a spin.

Ricciardo eventually took eighth and still heads the championship lead on 89 points to Grubmueller’s 74.

The next round of the British

F3 International Series will be held at Snetterton on July 5.

Points: Ricciardo 89, Grubmuller 74, Tandy 68, Ericsson 65, Daisuke Nakajima 57.

race

Crocker retains perfect score ASIA PACIFIC RALLY THERE was Aussies everywhere at the front of the field for the International Rally of Whangarei in New Zealand last weekend, but they couldn’t stop Kiwi Hayden Padden taking outright honours on home soil.

Padden won the outright portion of the event by just over a minute from Aussies Cody Crocker and Brendan Reeves. But Crocker still left with some first place trophies, winning the battle between the Asia-Pacific Rally Championship-registered cars and leaving the land of the long white cloud with a handy APRC points lead.

“We’re really pleased with the result,” Crocker said.

“We struggled a bit [on Saturday] with the set-up of the car, but today was much better and it

meant I could drive with a lot more confidence.

“It is only the second time out in the car, so it is still a work in progress, but today we saw a big step in the right direction.

“We now go to Japan, Subaru’s home event, in good shape. You can’t really ask for more than maximum points from each round, and we know that the car will only get better the longer the season goes.”

Katsu Taguschi, complete with Australian co-driver Mark Stacey, was second in the APRC results, while Kiwi Emma Gilmour, also with an Aussie co-driver, Rhianon Smyth, was third.

Crocker now leads the APRC by 11 points after three of the six rounds. The championship now heads to Hokkaido in Japan for Round 4, to be held on July 11 and 12.

How to defeat the leader NHRA

David Ostaszewski

NHRA Top Fuel rookie Spencer Massey raced to his first career victory on Sunday at the United Association NHRA Route 66 Nationals at Route 66 Raceway near Chicago.

Tony Pedregon, Jeg Coughlin and Matt Guidera also were winners in their respective categories at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series event.

Massey, who drives for NHRA legend Don Prudhomme, defeated Top Fuel point leader and the event’s low qualifier Antron Brown. Massey’s U.S. Smokeless Tobacco dragster posted a winning 3.85 at 308 mph to take the win over Brown, whose Matco Tools dragster trailed with a 3.87 at 301. Massey had earlier defeated Troy Buff, Terry Haddock, and Larry Dixon.

After early round wins over Ron Capps, Robert Hight, and brother, Cruz, Pedregon recorded his first Funny Car win of the season and moved to second place in the point standings by stopping Ashley Force Hood, whose Ford Mustang lost traction

at the start in the final round. Pedregon’s Quaker State Chevy Impala posted a 4.11 at 303 mph to earn his 41st career victory and second straight at this event.

Coughlin increased his series lead in Pro Stock by claiming his fourth victory of the season. Coughlin drove the Jeg’s Mail Order Parts Chevy Cobalt to a winning 6.66/207 when final round opponent Mike

Edwards fouled at the start in his Pontiac GXP. Guidera claimed his first victory of the season in Pro Stock Motorcycle by defeating series point leader Eddie Krawiec. Guidera’s Mohegan Sun Buell clocked a winning 7.09 at 181, while Krawiec’s Harley-Davidson trailed with a 7.18 at 179.

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rear of grid

The old meets the new A TOUCH of nostalgia hit Mallala Motorsport Park last weekend.

Over the past few seasons, Race 2 of the Australian Sports Sedan Series at Mallala is known as the Clem Smith Cup, awarding the winner of that race a nice trophy and a bit of extra pocket money.

race in the Sports Sedan category back in his day.

Clem also owns his Clem Smith Motors in nearby Edwardstown, SA. Tony Ricciardello won the Clem Smith Cup while Des Wall won the round outright.

Odd Spot

IndyCar Media

V8 SUPERCAR drivers Jamie Whincup and Craig Lowndes got a case of quarter-mile fever at the Willowbank Winternationals last weekend.

But the reigning Bathurst Champs weren’t there just to spectate. The pair brought with them their Vodafone V8 Supercars, competing in three shoot-outs.

The winner of the exhibition runs? Whincup won all three races convincingly, dusting his more experienced team-mate.

“The drag strip provided an amazing amount of grip, definitely more than I’ve ever experienced on the starting line of a V8 Supercar race,” said Whincup.

“I did a 10.8s pass across the quarter-mile in my second attempt and was slightly quicker in the final run. It was a great experience.”

To celebrate this year’s Clem Cup, the South Australian stalwart brought out his popular old red Charger, posed for this photo with Darren Hossack and led the field around before the start of ‘his’ race.

Smith is a bit of an icon around Mallala.

He actually owns the circuit and used to

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