Motorsport eNews Issue 109 - June 16-22, 2009

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Issue No. 109 16 – 22 June 2009

board games

V8s seek motorsport manager ... and a new CEO

Aussie Le Mans Victory Brabham re-writes history in classic 24 hour

The ‘A’ Team 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

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

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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)

Issue No. 109 | 16 June – 22 June 2009

news 4 V8 Board and Sword It’s been a big week ...

6 Wild ones 8 Bayliss tests ...

12 OP’s last words 17 Drewer’s GT2 test

chat 20 5 minutes with ... opinion 22 Branagan

Four V8 wildcards done ... and he was pretty quick Feb 2010, at very best Aussie expanding Steven Richards

23 Brabham

Brabham is the best Me, my bro and Le Mans

28 NASCAR 32 Race extra 34 Race extra

Aussie, Aussie, Aussie!

Busch Tucker Erickson shows speed Karts beat V8s to NT

race 24 Le Mans

trade 36 Classifieds

Retro Valley: At the very first Hidden Valley encounter in 1998, Russell Ingall won. Can he do it again this weekend?

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.

Dirk Klynsmith

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

CEO quits, The Chairman steps in, Tech chi ‘Motorsport Manager’ also on the agenda as V8SA takes stock V8 SUPERCARS A tumultuous week at V8 Supercars headquarters has seen CEO Cameron Levick quit.

The ex-Vodafone exec handed in his notice last week, citing family reasons, and has, as they say, left the building.

While eNews understands that Levick does indeed have some health-related concerns within his extended family, there is no doubt that the barrage of occasionally unsubtle ‘input’ from quarters within the teams’ organization – especially during the recent Splitter Controversy – tipped the balance in favour of a quieter life for the CEO of just 8 months.

While the departing press release

contained the usual niceties, and reference to “finishing some ongoing projects”, eNews understands that Levick is unlikely to return to the V8SA offices on the Gold Coast.

While the search for a replacement starts anew (with Bahrain circuit boss Martin Whittaker again a likely target), V8 Chairman Tony Cochrane will take the reins of the day-to-day management role until year’s end, under the Executive Chairman title.

It comes at a busy time for the group, with two new events in the second half of the year, and a tricky commercial environment.

At the same time, last week’s teams’ forum has paved the way for the appointment of a new position, that of

Motorsport Manager, for V8 Supercars.

It has been suggested that, while the commercial side of the V8 Supercar business has been going reasonably smoothly, the sporting side (previously handled by teams’ group TEGA before the amalgamation into a single organisation) needs attention.

If such a role is confirmed, the manager will report to the CEO (or, until such time as a new CEO is appointed, the Executve Chairman).

In further Head Office news, Category Technical Director Campbell Little, despite resigning last week, is continuing to work in his V8SA office, technically working out a three-month notice period on ‘special projects’ – particularly cost-containment ideas. He will, thus, be on hand when

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

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Historic victory for Aussie at Le Mans 24 Hour

Brabs wins 24H LE MANS 24 HOUR

John Morris/Mpix

ief works on

AT his 16th attempt, and at 43 years of age, David Brabham is a happy man to have won the Le Mans 24 Hour for the first time.

The British-domiciled Aussie, who was a ‘guest’ driver for the Peugeot Sport Le Mans squad, drove nine flawless stints in the #9 Peugeot 908 HDi FAP and, with co-drivers Alex Wurz and Marc Gene, took out the biggest prize in international Sportscar racing.

In doing so, he became the fourth Australian driver to win the classic and the first since his brother Geoff won it in 1993. Amazingly, the oldest of the brothers also won it in a third Peugeot entry, after a similarly perfect buildup and run through the race.

“It’s such a great feeling to have won,” said David, who won the GT1 class at Le Mans with Aston Martin in 2007 and ‘08, after the historic race. “Peugeot Sport did a tremendous job; they really did. It’s a great team, they gave us a 100 per cent reliable car and the three of us drove a faultless race.”

The Brabham/Wurz/Gene entry was not supposed to be a contender, with the all-French Sebastien Bourdais/Stephane

Sarrazin/Franck Monagny entry taking pole and dominating the race. But after Montagny built up a lead with a spirited four-stint sprint at the start of the race, the #8 entry stopped with a broken disc bell, costing 10 minutes. They fought back from 51st position to second by the flag.

Earlier, Pedro Lamy’s car, which he shared with Nicolas Minassian and Christian Klien, was hit while the Portuguese driver was exiting the pits. He lost three laps with a blown tyre.

Peugeot Sport Director Olivier Quesnel, who masterminded the win, had an interesting take on the roles of his three works entries.

“Before the start, I used a French cycling analogy to describe the crew of the No.8 car as ‘sprinters’, the No.7 crew as ‘road sprinters’ and the No.9 drivers as ‘warriors’.

Today, it was the ‘warriors’ who won. I really sense that the public and Automobiles Peugeot wanted this result.”

Brabham has no further commitments with the French team for the rest of the season. He and co-driver Scott Sharp will now prepare to race Patron Highcroft’s Acura ARX-02a in the next round of the American Le Mans Series at Lime Rock Park on July 18.

sutton-images.com

the forthcoming Stewards Hearing is convened into the Triple Eight splitters (see other story).

Since the highly emotive events of the past fortnight, some calm has entered the whole technical debate, and it would not be totally surprising to see circumstances evolve where Little was persuaded to remain in his technical role with the organisation.

In the meantime, a temporary CTD has been put in place for this week’s Darwin race – former team engineer Les Small.

And finally (see separate story) recently retired (well, full-time) driver and TV commentator Mark Skaife has been appointed as an independent board member at V8SA.

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

Wildcard e V8 SUPERCARS

Dirk Klynsmith

Skaife’s Board Appointment ... and it has no bearing on the endurance races V8 SUPERCARS MARK Skaife’s new role as a member of the V8 Supercars Australia Board will not have any bearing on his endurance racing plans – quite the contrary.

The former HRT ace was confirmed last week as the eighth member of the V8SA Board, and second independent, alongside Roger Cook. But while the term ‘Independent’ could be construed as an impediment to any racing ambitions Skaife might hold, he has gone to some lengths to ensure that he will have no restrictions on climbing into a Holden at Phillip Island and Bathurst.

“All things like that [independence] have a line,” he said on Monday.

“I am not going to go into any details with this, [but] I discussed that with the board and they have no problems.

With the TV hat on, they

[Seven] are of the same mind.”

Skaife says that his first priority will be to examine where the sport sits, from the point of view of a Board member. One of his initial tasks will be to head a subcommittee to continue development of the Car of the Future.

“I have been on the board before, in a couple of different eras, with Gibson Motorsport and with HRT and the business has moved on in the last few years,” he says.

“My first thing is to reacquaint myself with the status of the way things are, and the current state of play.

“Then it will be to contribute what I can. The Car of the Future program is a big part of what I am and that has played a big part in my time recently.

I want to contribute as much as I can as an Independent member.

“I would like to think that in the past, I have always tried

to look at it as a person with the best interests of the sport, not with a ‘Holden hat’ on. You cannot go into these things with any self-interest – you need to take a wider view.

Roger Cook, for instance, is a big part of the Adelaide 500, yet he is absolutely independent.

“In some ways, TV has been a good entree to this role, I have tried to look at what is happening objectively and give praise where praise is due.

I think I have done a fair job with that.”

Skaife does not want to talk about his endurance ambitions, with rumoured links to both Kelly Racing and Sprint Gas Racing for the September/October classics.

“I am a lot closer,” was all he would tell eNews.

But there does seem to have been a fair bit of effort and discussion about whether he will be clear of all obstacles come the spring …

THE four V8 Supercar ‘Wildcard’ entries have been confirmed.

Greg Murphy Racing, Matthew White Racing, Sonic Motor Racing Services and the Sieders Racing Team have been granted entries into the ‘Season of Endurance’ at Phillip Island (L&H 500) and Bathurst (Supercheap Auto 1000).

Teams from the Main Series and the Fujitsu V8 Series were asked to present submissions for one of four slots in the race, outlining the drivers, equipment and financial commitment that they have in place for the two races.

As outlined in eNews (#107), GMR’s entry will consist of Sam Walter, with a second driver TBA with a high level of interest in the seat. The team will run one of Sprint Gas Racing’s spare VE chassis, last used by Jason Richards in 2007.

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entries confirmed said, “but being in these races is what we’ve worked towards – it’s another stair in our case.”

The final team to be accepted is the Sieders Racing Team – set to be driven by Colin and David Sieders.

The family-run team has competed in the Bathurst 1000 before, back in 2000, with the father and son combination of Bill and Luke. Now, the younger generation will get their chance at the two races, leasing Triple Eight’s 2006 Bathurst-winning chassis.

“It’s very exciting,” David Sieders said.

“We’ve got a great car to use, Triple Eight’s chassis 10, it’s great to get our hands on good equipment.”

The Wildcards entries will feature in the first four garages in pit-lane of both tracks.

– GRANT ROWLEY

Dirk Klynsmith

Matthew White Racing’s entry has a vale of secrecy surrounding it as eNews went to press. Team owner White would not part with any information regarding the entry other than “We’ll be there.” It is believed that MWR has the opportunity to run a current spec FPR FG, if the right funds are available.

New V8 team Sonic Motor Racing Services has also secured an entry. Both drivers can not be confirmed after the team’s recent withdrawal of Bryce Washington’s entry from the Fujitsu Series. eNews understands that former Carrera Cup stalwart Rodney Jane is in line to replace Washington (see separate story next page).

“Our thoughts on the Wildcard entry have been put to one side while we resolve our current issues,” team owner Mick Ritter

Waiting for legals ...

V8 SUPERCARS THE V8 Supercar Board has sought further legal advice before allowing the sale of Team IntaRacing to proceed.

If approved, the Gold Coastbased #77 team will be owned

by Grant Sherrin of the Sherrin Rentals group.

Marcus Marshall will remain as the driver for the remainder of the season, with fellow Sherrin-back driver David Russell confirmed as a starter in the Falcon at this year’s endurance races.

As reported last issue, the

details of the sale were put in front of the board last week, with all the process now close to being finalised.

Note: Last week’s eNews reported that Marcus Marshall was the owner of the team and licence. The team is actually owned by Intabill directors Daniel Tzvetkoff and Sam Sciacca. When Intabill and its Access Cash company went into liquidation earlier in the year, Tzvetkoff and Sciacca remained owners until its ‘yet-to-be-approved’ sale this week.

– GRANT ROWLEY

Splitters to be tested V8 SUPERCARS

John Morris/Mpix

THE legality, or otherwise, of the front air dam mounting system on the Triple Eight Racing team cars is to be tested.

The V8 Supercar Court of Appeal met last week and accepted Walkinshaw Performance’s appeal against the ruling that its protest was lodged out of time.

It has therefore ordered that CAMS Stewards hear the

protest as to the eligibility of the mounting system.

While the original protest was lodged (incorrectly) by five teams – Walkinshaw Performance, Toll Holden Racing Team, Brad Jones Racing, Rod Nash Racing and Garry Rogers Motorsport – only Walkinshaw Performance appealed and thus it will be the only team contesting the protest from here on.

The hearing is expected to take place in July.

John Morris/Mpix

Bayliss stuns in V8 test V8 SUPERCARS TROY Bayliss raised a number of eyebrows in his first proper V8 Supercar test at Queensland Raceway last week.

The two-time World Superbike Champion got to grips with a TeamVodafone Falcon to great effect, running a series of competitive laps and culminating in a 1m11.8s lap.

Bayliss was relentless in his pursuit of lower lap times; his braking became more confident while his throttle application was measured and smooth, helping to maintain traction out of each of the seven corners.

After each five lap run he pitted, taking time to consider feedback from engineer Jeremy Moore while sharing his own thoughts.

His best time was an impressive 11.8 lap, less than half a second shy of the mark set by Craig Lowndes.

Bayliss said the experience had been immensely rewarding and said that the world-class touring

car category was a logical progression as he pursued a career on four wheels.

“That was a dream come true,” Bayliss admitted. “I have been a huge fan of V8 Supercars for a long time and to finally get some laps in one felt amazing.

“A lot of the on-track principals transfer between the bike and the car and once the excitement of the first few laps wore off I felt like I was back at the office trying to perfect my corners and reduce my lap times.”

“I can’t thank TeamVodafone enough, they have been fantastic and extremely patient with me as I worked my way through today’s sessions.

“I can honestly say I have the bug, I definitely want to do more laps and try and get out there in either the Development Series or the endurance races,” Bayliss added.

TeamVodafone Principal Roland Dane, a Ducati devotee and long-time supporter of Bayliss’ efforts on the world stage, said today’s evaluation showed the WSBK champion’s

natural aptitude for all forms of motorsport.

“Troy has really hit the ground running, he is the consummate professional.

He is used to working in the top league of European motorsport, therefore there is nothing more we can teach him about procedures.”

“He has fitted in with our team very well and is straight on the money lap time-wise.

If he raced at Willowbank tomorrow in our category

he would be mid-grid immediately.”

“There are probably a few drivers in the championship that will need to watch their backs now,” Dane acknowledged.

Seven-times World Surfing Champion Layne Beachley, above, also joined the team for a fully-fledged 20-lap hitout in Lowndes’ V8 Supercar, impressively manoeuvring the 1450kg 600 horsepower beast around the 3.15km circuit.

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Safety Car Spin FUJITSU V8s HSV has, for now, turned down the opportunity to supply the Safety/Course cars for V8 Supercars, leaving V8SA in a Safety Car spin!

With Nissan withdrawing its GT-Rs from the programme due to the company’s alcohol association policy (V8SA has sold the signage on the Safety Cars to XXXX), HSV emerged as the likely candidate to take on the deal.

Indeed, while HSV execs

FORMER Carrera Cup driver Rodney Jane will test a Sonic Motor Racing Services Falcon BF at Winton Motor Raceway tomorrow.

Jane, the son of touring car great Bob, will have his first stint behind the wheel of a V8 at the rural circuit with the intention of suiting up for the remainder of the 2009 Fujitsu V8 Supercar Series.

If Jane and Sonic can come to an agreement, Jane’s first meeting will be at the next round at Townsville (July 10-12).

Jane drove a Sonic-prepared Carrera Cup car from 2005-2008, and Ritter told eNews that the

Joel Strickland

FUJITSU V8s

James Smith

Jane prepares for Supercar make-over

were keen, it seems the same alcohol association concerns, from Mothership Holden, have scuppered the deal, for now.

Fans converging on Darwin, and the next few races, are likely to feast their eyes on a pair of rented Commodore SS cars, acquired and liveried by V8SA to fill the breach while something more permanent is sorted.

Apart from XXXX, we hear Red Bull has also provided some stickers for the bright yellow cars.

pair are close to finalising their plans.

“It’s not done yet, but from my perspective, it needs to be done tonight!” Ritter said.

“It’s close, but it’s not quite there.”

With a V8 Wildcard entry confirmed, Ritter said that Jane would be considered for the team’s entry in the two Main Series if he was capable and willing.

“We’ll see how he settles into the car,” he said.

“If he’s not ready, obviously there’s no point in doing it.

We’ll be going into the Main races to give it our very best crack.”

– GRANT ROWLEY

One more MINI outing for Webb Fujitsu Series regular decides to use Townsville as learning exercise MINI CHALLENGE FUJITSU V8 Supercar contender Jonothan Webb enjoyed his debut in the MINI Challenge class at Symmons Plains so much that he’s on the verge of competing again.

The Jim Beam Racing enduro driver is likely to enter in the series’ next round at Townsville.

Webb received a last minute call up to compete at Symmons Plains in the Motoline-prepared MINI, and is talking to them about racing it again at the new Townville street track.

“I’ve been speaking to the boys there about what we can do to make it all happen again,” he said.

“I’m keen to get back in it, have a run and have a bit of fun.

“And it’s the same reason

why I jumped at the chance to do Tassie. Townsville is a track where no one has any experience so if I can do some extra miles in the MINI, it’s all good time on the track.”

With both MINI and the Fujitsu V8 Series on the supports card at Townsville, Webb says that this won’t pose any problems.

“I don’t think that would be too much of a drama,” he said.

“The MINIs are only a couple of 20 minute practice sessions and some short races. There isn’t a hell of a lot to it, and generally, the Fujitsu is a short weekend as well.

If I was running in the Main Series with a couple of 200km races, I’d probably be a little bit more worried, but I think I’d be able to deal with it.”

– GRANT ROWLEY

Armor All ramps up V8 Ute commitment V8 UTES THE 2009 Yokohama V8 Ute Racing Series will now be “protected by Armor All’ following a new commercial arrangement which will see the car care products company take on a co-naming rights partnership for the remainder of the 2009 Series, with an option for 2010.

Armor All has been involved for the past three rounds providing the Best Presented Award. It will now step up to the “Armor All Pole Award” which will go to the fastest V8 Ute in Qualifying.

The Company has been involved

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in motorsport for many years through the V8 Supercars Series, Peter and James Brock, and Drag Racing.

Clorox Australia Marketing Manager Paul Blair is enthused about the V8 Ute involvement.

“It is a very exciting opportunity as the V8 Utes are a great category,” he said.

“I like how they are all independent teams and race for themselves plus they relate to the day-to-day driver as the cars are very much production based and therefore strike a strong chord with our customer base.

“V8 Utes have a massive following in Australia, you can see everyone run to the fence when they know the V8 Utes are about to race.”

Armor All will now be seen on the windscreen strips of all 32 V8 Utes heading to Hidden Valley Raceway, Darwin next weekend for Round 4 of the Series.

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Spectrum’s turning 12!

Aussie Formula Forders to have new chassis for next year’s AFFC FORMULA FORD

Dirk Klynsmith

Dirk Klynsmith

EXPECT to see a brand-new Spectrum Formula Ford chassis in competition next season.

The all-Australian built Spectrum, designed and manufactured by Borland Racing Developments, has been buoyed by the recent announcement that the Formula Ford regulations will remain the same after the FIA looked to impose a raft a new rules, (including five-speed sequential gearboxes), until 2012.

With no major rule changes on the horizon, BRD is expecting to debut a brand-new chassis – the Spectrum 012 – for the start of the 2010 Australian Championship.

The team’s commercial manager Paul Zsidy said that the Spectrum 012 will start to come together within the next month.

“With two years of regulations in place, we are now committed to getting a new, revised car together for next season,” he said.

“It gives us a sufficient opportunity for people upgrade cars, instead of waiting.

Now we can get into a new car before having to advertise cars with major

changes.

“Mike (Borland) has got some design ideas for the chassis, bodywork changes.

It’s early days, but he’s got some ideas.

“The other thing is, while we haven’t seen the revised changes for 2012, we have a good enough idea of what is going to be adjusted so we can incorporate some of them into the anticipated regulations.

“We’ll try and build the 2010 car so that

the 2012 revisions will still be current.

“We’ll need to make a start on in the next month so we can run around and do some testing with it before the end of the year so we know we’re on the right path.

“But there’ll be enough changes fore this be to get its own designation (012).”

The Spectrum 012 will replace the 011, which has been in circulation for the past three years.

– GRANT ROWLEY

Millett back after health scare Ute driver survives brain tumour operation, back for Darwin V8 UTES WARREN Millett will make a return to the Yokohama V8 Ute Racing Series this weekend after missing the last two rounds due to a brain tumour.

Millett, who has been racing in the V8 Utes since 2007, recently had the tumour removed by renowned Sydney surgeon Charlie Teo. A postoperative biopsy revealed the tumour was ‘low grade’, meaning it is not as critical as it might have been.

“Originally they thought it would be a grade three or four so I was so happy when it came back as a two,” he said.

“I feel good, however because of the

size of the tumour, I have about 6 to 8 weeks recovery time. I will have to have MRI scans every 3 to 4 months, and after 18 months, if there’s no further issues, the Doc says I should be all clear.”

Millett has just one more doctor’s check to get through before being given the all-clear ahead of this weekend’s fourth round in Darwin, and says he is looking forward to hopping back in the seat that his mechanic, Matthew Holt, has been keeping warm for him.

“Matty has been racing really well and has been looking after the car for me.

He has already overtaken me in the series, so I will have to get back behind the wheel soon to reclaim my rank.”

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2010: Oran Park’s final days lo GENERAL ORAN Park’s days remain numbered, despite recent rumours that the circuit could stay open until 2012.

The historic south-western Sydney track is committed to closing its racing doors in early 2010 when the urban sprawl descends on the track for the beginning of a new era – Oran Park Town.

Jeff Boulous, circuit manager

of Oran Park is now in charge of sales and marketing for Greenfield Development Company, Oran Park’s owner Tony Perich’s family property development arm which is in a joint venture with the Landcom – the state government’s development group.

Boulous told eNews that as soon as Oran Park Town’s display village opens, the racing track will close.

“Today, I think we’ll jag racing until January,” he said.

“Work started on the site a week before the V8 Grand Finale, and we’ve been working flat out since then. In fact, we’ve been going at an unprecedented pace. We’ve had some delays in the last few months with weather and a few other minor approvals.

“The minute we have our display village open – the biggest display village outside

of Home World – we’ll stop the stuff on the track.

“Running the race track will get into the way of the sales process. Years ago, we were talking about keeping the track going until people started to move into homes, but it’s become clear to us that we’re not going to be able to do that.

“The plan at this stage is to shut the track once the display village is up and running, and

Owen joins the CCup Crew COMMODORE CUP

Dirk Klynsmith

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STEVE Owen is the latest big name driver to be confirmed as a co-pilot in Commodore Cup’s upcoming endurance challenge at Winton Motor Raceway at the end of this month.

Owen will team up with Commodore Cup stalwart Tony Bates, driving Bates’ VS Commodore.

Owen, who will drive for the Holden Racing Team at Phillip Island and Bathurst later this year, had his first pedal of the Bates car at Winton last week and is looking forward to competing in the two-driver event.

“The test was good fun,” he said.

“I don’t think they’ll be a problem at all.

I thought they’d actually be harder to

drive. They are just like a dulled down V8 Supercar.

“It’s good to do events like this. It helps with Commodore Cup’s profile. For myself, I’m lucky enough to be in a place to do this type of race.”

Other entries to confirm co-drivers include Brett Holdsworth, who has secured Racer Industries’ Ryan McLeod as his team-mate for the race.

Adam Lloyd will share duties with Touring Car driver Darren Sailliard, while regular Commodore Cup drivers Josh Hughes and Phil Brock will combine their powers and share Brock’s VS. Also, confirmed in eNews three weeks ago, is the Nick Parker/Shane Price combination.

– GRANT ROWLEY

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AUSSIE NASCAR STAR MARCOS AMBROSE WRITES FOR MOTORSPORT eNEWS

Not our day Dirk Klynsmith

ooming it’s been looking like December, it might be January.”

With no confirmation of a final race date, Boulous says that the absolute ‘Grand Finale’ isn’t set in stone yet.

“We don’t have a very last date at this stage so we don’t have a final meeting,” he said.

“The plan is to keep the track open as long as we can.

If we can have it available for January, we will, if we can have February, we will as well. I’m

not prepared to commit to a final event or a final date just yet.

“I wouldn’t be banking on anything later than February 2010.

“We’re not going to do anything big like we did previously. Our big farewell was the Grand Finale, and that’s how we wanted it because we’re focusing our efforts on Oran Park Town.”

– GRANT ROWLEY

Michigan just wasn’t our weekend.

The cars really do string out on the long runs there, so if you’re car isn’t behaving, the cautions are often few and far between and it’s hard to get back track position.

We don’t want to make a habit out of results that are not in the top 20, but with 38 races a year it’s bound to happen I guess, especially given it’s my first year in Cup. I just don’t want to make a habit of it.

On Sunday morning before the race I started to get emails and messages about the 60 Minutes story. Pete Overton and his Producer Nick Greenway were great guys to deal with and I hope that the fans back home got a kick out of seeing their story.

We’ve got a link on my website if you missed the story (MarcosAmbrose. com).

Next weekend we have a very different race on our hands. I’m taking Sonoma very seriously, but in a lot of ways it is no different to any other race because most of the top Cup guys are as good at Infineon and Waktins Glen as they are anywhere else, so it’s up to us to be right on top of our game right from the first lap of practice.

Obviously, we are expecting a good result from that event as it’s on a road course. It will be my

i-marcos Marcos Ambrose Australian NASCAR driver first road course as part of this new team arrangement with Michael Waltrip Racing and JTG Daugherty Racing.

I shook our road course car down at VIR a couple of weeks back and everything went to plan. Now we have to see what we’ve for Sonoma.

Speaking of guys who are good on road courses, we’ve got three of Australia’s best karters on board to help with the push for iRacing.com in David Sera, Jason Hryniuk and Matt Wall.

I was staggered to learn that they have 18 national titles between them, I was lucky that I got one!

I definitely believe that the iRacing.com experience is one that will take off amongst the karters. If you’re looking to work your way up to open-wheelers – or you would love to but can’t afford it – you can start learning and racing those sorts of cars in an extremely realistic and accurate environment right from your loungeroom, and without having to fork out a few grand every time you take a corner off.

By entering ‘PR-AMBROSE’ as the promotional code when joining iRacing.com, you can get a three-month trial subscription for just US$25.

James Smith

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Danica-Gan

It’s NAPA time for Carpentier

Patrick to join three-car Target te INDYCAR

Toyota Motosrports

NASCAR SPRINT CUP MICHAEL Waltrip Racing might be flourishing but the man with his name on the door may step back from racing full-time in 2010.

Waltrip’s #55 entry is 32nd in Owners’ Points and, with the car flirting with dropping out of the all-important top 35 positions, which guarantees starts without the need to qualify, Waltrip is bringing in some help. Patrick Carpentier, who lost his seat in the merger between Petty’s and Gillett Evernham Motorsport at the end of 2008, will take over the Toyota at Infineon’s road course this weekend.

“If I see where I can improve my car’s performance then

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that’s exactly what I am going to do,” said Waltrip, who has two top-five finishes and 11 top-10s in his Cup Series roadracing career. “I am a good road racer, but Patrick is a great road racer.”

Carpentier will drive for MWR next month as well, the team’s #99 in the Nationwide Series race at Montreal on 30 August.

MWR has been one of the stories of the season, after a couple of troubled and controversial years. The team’s #00 entry of David Reutimann is 13th and a threat to make The Chase, with Reutimann scoring his first win at Lowe’s in Charlotte last month.

Marcos Ambrose, whose JTG Daugherty Racing entry is run

by MWR, is 20th.

Honda Racing

SHOULD Danica Patrick stay in IndyCar, she appears likely to join an expanded Chip Ganassi Racing team.

Ganassi’s IndyCar team General Manager, Mike Hull, has said the team could expand to a third car if they find sponsorship equal to that of current sponsor Target. A clause in their contract requires securing the same level of funding to prevent any dilution of resources in an expansion.

And, Danica Patrick could certainly attract a high level of funding from various female products sold through Target.

Current drivers, Scott Dixon

and Dario Franchitti, are on multi-year deals, and signing the media-savvy Patrick would require one of those drivers to move. Dixon has been linked to a Honda-inspired move by Gil de Ferran into IndyCar, but on the other hand, Ganassi also potentially offers Patrick a move

news

nassi Link

RHR joins AJ

eam? Or, Ganassi NASCAR? focused on driving and not talking to anyone about where she will race next year. Currently, the 27-yearold represents Go Daddy. com, Peak Performance auto products, Boost Mobile, “Got Milk”, and Secret. She’s letting marketing giant, IMG, represent her. Ganassi can offer a door to NASCAR, where there are much greater marketing opportunities through larger audiences on TV and in the stands. Patrick may be the best known IndyCar driver but could get a little lost in the sea of NASCAR stars.

– MARY MENDEZ

Honda Racing

into NASCAR. Talking to the New York Times, Patrick said, “Do I stay where I am? Do I try to change? It’s all about evaluating options, and I think that’s something any good business person does. The exposure level that you get in NASCAR with the ratings and viewership, their numbers are so much larger than ours (IndyCar) and with that comes a bigger following, comes more popularity, comes more demand for you to endorse other products. So I think it would be an exponential sort of growth.”

Patrick has stated she’s

INDYCAR THE revolving door of drivers continues at AJ Foyt Racing, with Ryan Hunter Reay joining his fellow Texan for the remainder of the season.

Paul Tracy (at Milwaukee) and AJ Foyt IV (at Texas) have subbed for the injured Vitor Meira but Hunter Reay is now the man in the hotseat in #14.

The deal has apparently been brokered by Tony George, owner of Vision Racing, who approached Foyt about the deal

so that George can “re-focus his team’s resources”.

“I have always had the highest respect for both Tony George and AJ Foyt,” said Hunter-Reay, currently 10th in the IndyCar championship. “So when they asked me to drive the ABC Supply car while Vitor recovers, I was happy to accept.”

Meira, who is expected to return for the final race of the season in October, will be in a second car at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

– MARY MENDEZ

MORE FOR PT INDYCAR

Honda Racing

PAUL Tracy looks set to race at Watkins Glen.

The Canadian, who raced for A.J. Foyt at Milwaukee and KV Racing Technology at the Indy 500, looks set to rejoin the latter at the famed track. The deal will happen because Tracy will drive for the team in the two Canadian races and, with engine life at 2000km – or three complete race weekends – it makes sense, and costs little, to allow the veteran driver to take in an additional round.

“Jimmy said he wanted me to have some preparation for the

two Canadian races I’m running for him later that month,” Tracy told Racer.com.

“I’d say we were 95 percent of the way to making it happen.

Watkins Glen is one of the races being shown on ABC (free TV), so the higher ratings (compared to subscription Versus network carrying 12 of the 17 IndyCar events) helps to make that kind of deal more attractive to sponsors.

“If this comes off, it will be my first race ever at Watkins Glen. It’s pretty weird to be racing at such a famous old circuit for the first time in my career at the age of 40.”

– MARY MENDEZ

15

Ash Budd

Scoble suits up for CIK KARTING WEST Australian karting stalwart Steven Scoble is set to line up for his debut in the Australian CIK Championship when the second round of the rejuvenated series roars into gear at Melbourne’s VACC Park next weekend (June 26/27).

Scoble has been eager to race in Australia’s highest powered category for many years after getting a taste for the CIK style of racing when his father Mark was crewing for fellow West Aussie Daniel

Elliott almost 10 years ago.

“As a Rookie and Junior I would go with Dad to help out Daniel when he was racing CIK and since then I’ve always wanted to race at the top level,” said Scoble, a 14year veteran in the sport.

“It is my first serious crack at anything other than Clubman racing so it is a whole new challenge and something that I am really looking forward to.

“The plan is to use this year as a test year before embarking on a serious campaign for the Championship in 2010.”

Scoble, a plasterer by trade, believes his job will benefit him when it comes to the higher level of fitness and strength required for the longer CIK style of racing.

The West Aussie will be using an Australian-made Arrow X-1 kart for his 2009 campaign while taking advantage of the lease option for the IAME Parilla KF2 engine provided by Series Organisers.

“The lease option was put on the table to allow drivers to get a taste of what it is like to race a CIK-specification engine without the outlay of

purchasing it outright and was seen in the opening round, you can be extremely competitive in one,” said Series Organsier Peter Galvin.

“I’m delighted to see Steve take up the option and encourage anyone that is considering the next step in their karting career to give me a call. The money from the lease of an engine comes off of the purchase price I they decided to buy it.”

Round 2 of the Australian CIK Championship will be run alongside the second event on the Rotax Pro Tour event at VACC Park on June 26/27.

Audi cops pre-Le Mans protest LE MANS THE pre-race preparations for last weekend’s Le Mans 24 Hour race were thrown into chaos by a Peugeot protest against Audi’s new R15 TDI. The French team protested the cars on the basis that its front aerodynamics did not conform to the race’s regulations and that it formed an aerodynamic device. After an investigation by race officials, the cars were cleared to race, but Peugeot has lodged an appeal, to be heard at a date to be determined.

Peugeot first pointed to the R15’s

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features at the Sebring 12 Hour, the only time that the two manufacturers raced this year before Le Mans.

“Our protest dossier was already ready at the [Sebring 12 hours in March], but the Automobile Club de l’Ouest made assurances that it would take the necessary steps ahead of the Le Mans 24 hours,” said Peugeot sporting director, Olivier Quesnel.

“When we came to Le Mans, I hadn’t seen the car since Sebring, and we saw an Audi which we don’t agree with.

The only thing we could do is make a protest.”

However, Quesnel did clarify that any such protest would not come at the expense of a potential Audi win.

“You will see if on Sunday that if the Audi wins, I will say that the Audi has won,” Quesnel said. “The point of the appeal is to get the rules clarified. I wanted the rule to be clarified before Le Mans, not afterwards, because after Le Mans it is too late for me.”

In the end, Peugeot scored both pole position and a 1-2 in the endurance classic, but clearly, the rivalry between the two diesel-powered makes’ racers is not confined to the racetrack …

news

Drewer tests GT2 Panoz AUSSIES OVERSEAS

AUSSIE Sportscar hopeful Tom Drewer had his first taste of American Le Mans Series equipment recently, testing a Panoz Team PTG Esperante GT2 car at Summit Point Raceway in The States.

Drewer is currently racing in the IMSA Lites 1 category in America, the feeder series for the ALMS. And he admits the GT2 test is a genuine indicator of where his career is heading.

“My main focus for 2009 is to make the transition from the feeder category to the main game,” he said.

“Both the V8 Supercars I drove [in Australia] and the Panoz have a high-power Ford V8 in the front. The V8 Supercar has around a 100 more horsepower, [but] the Panoz is a little lighter and has more grip with the wider rubber and traction control.

“My main focus for the test was to get used to driving a production-based sportscar again after driving high downforce junior prototypes.

“It was fantastic to be able to experience the team and level of their professional

operation, and gain insight into GT2 from the likes of Dominik Farnbacher, Ian James, Tom Sutherland and Tommy Milner. The guys were very encouraging and I was pleased they were impressed at my pace given the little time I spent in the seat.

“I nearly had a GT2 drive with another team at Sebring this year, but they ended

up not entering. Now I’ve checked the first box, actually driving one. The next step is getting on the grid.”

Drewer finished fifth last weekend at the first race of the Mazda Formula X meeting at Thunderbolt Motorsport Park, New Jersey. The second race was being run as eNews went live.

sutton-images.com

New rules for BTCC BTCC

THE British Touring Car Championship will introduce new technical rules that will see it move away from the FIA’s S2000 regulations.

The rules, designed to dramatically cut the costs associated with building and racing cars in the series, will take effect in 2011. S2000 cars, of the type raced in the World Touring Car Championship, will continue to be eligible to race in the series until 2013, under

a performance equalization formula.

The new BTCC cars, to be known as Next Generation Touring Car, will utilize 2-litre turbocharged petrol engines.

A control-spec NGTC motor will be available to teams to run ‘unbranded’, though manufacturers will be able to develop their own motors, subject to equalization via dyno testing. Motors will feature a controlledspecification turbo, wastegate, intercooler and ECU, with the

aim of allowing an engine to be used for an entire season without the need of a rebuild.

The cars, which will be larger than the current-generation cars, will see use a number of standardised components such as sub-frames, gearboxes, suspension and brakes. The aim of the changes is to reduce the cost of the cars by 50 percent of current costs, to allow teams to build a racer fort as little as £100,000 ($205,000).

Bad news for BMW and Seat,

respectively, is the banning of RWD cars and diesel engines.

“The broad concept for our ‘Next-Gen’ cars was that they should be larger than some current ones, be more exciting, faster, safer and also much cheaper to build, buy and maintain as well as provide a more ‘level playing field’, meaning even better, closer racing... if better and closer racing is possible for the BTCC!” explained BTCC Series Director Alan Gow last week.

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Top Marks TWENTY ANDRA National Records were reset over the four days of this year’s Castrol EDGE Winternationals at Queensland’s Willowbank Raceway last week.

Six Elapsed Time marks were lowered. Because all were in Group Two brackets where vehicles are handicapped on record based handicaps, the new ANDRA Class Index factors are shown also.

Reflecting the good conditions, fourteen new Terminal Speed records were set.

Class

ET Index TS

A/Dragster 6.851/7.35 AA/Altered 235.11 B/Gas Automatic 175.85 C/Gas Automatic 8.183 8.68/164.05 F/Gas Automatic 9.266 9.76 F/Gas Automatic 142.86 A/Altered Production 198.76 B/Altered Production 7.357 7.85/174.85 A/Modified Production 158.68 C/Modified Production 8.863 9.36 AA/Sport Compact 210.97 BB/Sport Compact 174.89 CC/Sport Compact 176.61 AA/Sport Modified 179.14 CC/Sport Modified 7.478 7.97/174.08 AA/OZ MOD 175.03 BB/OZ MOD 161.12

Driver Anthony Buckley Justin Walshe Paul Beauchamp Steve Norman Alex Panagiotidis Tony Caroscio Chris Valentan Ian Brown Kevin Magner Les Heintz Joe Signorelli Rocky Rehayem Colin Willshire Mark Jacobsen Rodney Rehayem Damien McKern Stan Kreis

New Jersey, Old winners DRAG RACING

LARRY Dixon drove to his third Top Fuel victory of the year at the United Association NHRA SuperNationals, at Englishtown, New Jersey.

Tony Pedregon and Jeg Coughlin, racked up consecutive NHRA Full Throttle Series wins and Craig Treble scored his second Pro Stock Motorcycle win of the year.

In Top Fuel, Dixon’s victory was decided when opponent, Antron Brown double-stepped the throttle and red lighted.

It was fortunate for Dixon as he hazed the tyres of his Alan Johnson/Al-Anabi Racing dragster on the run and slowed

18

to a 4.55. After defeating Rit Pustari, Brandon Bernstein, and Shawn Langdon in the early rounds, Dixon’s win in the final pushed him into third place in the standings.

In a rematch of the Chicago final one week ago, Pedregon once again defeated Ashley Force Hood for the win. They entered the final tied for first in points at the time, meaning the winner would take sole possession of first in the standings. Pedregon’s special edition Nitro Fish Chevrolet Impala took the win on a holeshot, as his 4.24/260 bested the quicker and faster 4.21/272.

For the day, Pedregon had trailered Cory Lee, Del Worsham,

and Tim Wilkerson.

As was the case one week ago, when Mike Edwards red lighted against Coughlin in the Chicago final, the Pro Stock final was once again decided on the starting line, this time on a holeshot. Coughlin took a slight reaction-time advantage and posted a 6.59/209 to 6.58/209 win. Coughlin had defeated Jason Line, Ron Krisher, and Allan Johnson to reach the final.

The Pro Stock Motorcycle final was also decided on the starting line when Treble posted another holeshot-aided final round win.

Treble’s 6.95/193 held off the 6.90/193 of defending series champion, Eddie Krawiec.

– DAVID OSTASZEWSKI

news

Williams’ fitting farewell DRAG RACING Athol Williams has had a season to remember in ANDRA Top Bike, simply obliterating the opposition with the speed and consistency that has become the trademark of the Stud Welding Team.

And just to add an exclamation point to the team’s success, they took home another Winternationals Gold Christmas Tree.

The big man of Top Bike was simply elated at what he and his small team had achieved.

“I have to thank all of my crew, they have been outstanding,” he said.

“Roger Bloor my Crew Chief, Bruce McGonnell the second

in charge and Crew Chief for the Winters 2009, Mike Gearing, Trevor Fellows, Daniel Booby, Sharon Williams the Team Mum as well as Steve and Margie Paris.

“They have been amazing.

I thank them for their total commitment they have given me and the bike for the four years during which I have had ‘The Beast’. The thousands of hours they have dedicated to the servicing and maintaining of ‘The Beast’ as well the building of ‘The New Beast’ after it went bang at Willowbank 14 months after we had bought it out of the UK.” But the Stud Welding team have come to realise though, that its time in the

championship has come to an end – for now.

A sponsorship shortfall will see Williams sit out the next season, unless a flurry of dollars comes flooding through his doors during the short off-season.

Regardless, Williams is honoured to have come to Australia and “kick Top Bike butt.”

“I genuinely have to thank all of the teams and racers that have made it so enjoyable to come across and race in Australia.

“It has been great to come from ‘Across the Ditch’ and give Top Bike a bit of a shake up.

“I will remember the last three years and more so the last two for the rest of my life.

“We own five of the six track records and both ANDRA Terminal Speed and Elapsed Time records. There have been seven ANDRA Gold Christmas Trees up for grabs over the last two years and four in the first year of which we grabbed two.

Of the three this year we’ve taken all three.”

The list of achievements goes on for pages but for the final word on his ANDRA experiences, it couldn’t be better put than by the man himself. “Keep your butterflies open and thanks for welcoming us with open arms, the support has been great.

“No seat belts, no roll cages, no fire bottles - just adrenaline on wheels and lots of CH3NO2.”

Reeds still gutted over championship loss DRAG RACING Entering the Winternationals on top of the table after leading the entire season, Steven Reed was expecting big things from the Queensland meeting.

Both Reed and his wife Debbie, right, were in the title hunt, but neither of them left the Ipswich venue with the championship in their trailers. That spoil was left to Gary Phillips, who notched up an unprecedneted 13th crown.

“The team really had the championship

on our mind this season so it is a bit hard to see past the disappointment of not winning at the moment, but to have both of cars inside the top three is a huge achievement that we should all be proud of,” Steven said.

“We had dreams of a one-two in the Championship and two-three result isn’t too far off, especially when there was only 25 points separating the top three.

“Overall it has been our best ever year for the team finishing with six final round appearances, including three wins.”

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5 Minutes with ...

STEVEN RICHARDS

At Hidden Valley last year, Richo and FPR were the class of the field. But the game has ANDREW VAN LEEUWEN changed thanks to the soft tyres, so can he do it again?

MOTORSPORT NEWS: A year ago FPR and yourself went to Darwin and smoked everyone. What’s the secret to going fast at Hidden Valley?

STEVEN RICHARDS: The key is having a good car, and last year we qualified first and second on the grid, which went a huge way to getting us a result. But clearly FPR cars have been very good there in the past, and I’ve had some reasonable results there myself.

So I suppose it is about having a combination of having cars that work well there, and a driver combination that works well there too.

bunches the field up, and there’s been guys who have come in, done a stop, and put the soft tyres on, then clearly they’ve got a better tyre to the end of the race, and there’s a possibility you’ll get passed.

That’s the thing; everyone is missing the point with this. What we’re saying is that your performance is going to pan out dependant on when you put the tyre on and if there’s a Safety Car. That’s what it comes down to. You could be the fastest car all weekend, as we saw at Winton with the first race and Jamie Whincup – had there not been a late-race Safety Car he would have won the race. But there was, and he didn’t. That’s all it was dependant on.

Don’t get me wrong, you are still going to finish in a competitive position if you have car speed, but you’re not necessarily Every time you use the ‘sprint’ tyre, do going to be the race winner if you start on you learn more about the best way to pole. use it? Or with such big differences What I’m saying is that there is no doubt between somewhere like Tasmania and somewhere like Darwin is it still a lottery? we have to get some results on the board – that’s for sure – and we have to stop the You do learn, and clearly if you use the little mistakes happening with fuel rigs ‘sprint’ tyre first , it’s the way to go because and on track stuff. If we can do that we’ll you have good pace right from the start be in the mix, and we are full of confidence of the race. But, if there’s a Safety Car that

20

Dirk Klynsmith

Things are a little different this year, because, comparatively speaking, Triple Eight are a bit more ahead of the game.

Is this the sort of place where you guys might be able to claw a bit back?

The way that the race formats are, and the options we have for strategy now through the soft tyre, it really throws the cat amongst the pigeons. In terms of car speed and how we’re travelling, we’ve had good competitive cars, there’s no doubt about that. But sometimes, particularly in the last couple of rounds, the results have been dependant on Safety Cars, and when you take the soft tyres.

So that’s become the million dollar question. First and foremost we have to qualify well, and we’ve been doing that the last couple of rounds. The last two rounds both cars have been in the top couple after qualifying, even if, from my perspective, I haven’t done quite as good in the shootout as I should have. We’ve had fast cars, so then it comes down to what strategy we decide to take and whether or not the Safety Cars fall our way.

because we had such a great result at Darwin last year.

Coming back to the artificial elements to the racing that have been implemented this year, it has made the racing quite exciting, but I get the feeling you’re on the purists side of things and would rather races weren’t decided like that. Is that a fair assumption?

No not at all. I want whatever is going to provide exciting racing for the people that come out to the track, and there’s no doubt that is happening.

We’re getting a good mix of different people standing on the podium, and that’s what the sport needs from a lot of perspectives. We just need to realise that sometimes it won’t be the fastest guys – the guys that have been most competitive all weekend – standing on the podium.

That’s just a fact of life with the regulations we have in place.

But I don’t think it’s a bad thing. I think its exactly what the category needs.

Everyone just has to accept that the top three might be the guys who were luckiest sometimes …

news chat

Dirk Klynsmith

21

Credit where it’s due AS soon as I sat down to write this, my brother SMSd me a phone number on which to contact him.

Y’see, he just stepped off an Airbus 380 at Heathrow and will be in the UK for the next four weeks. While he is there, he will be taking in the Goodwood Festival of Speed for the first time (the swine).

Before he left, he asked me if there was anyone in particular he should try to bump into at Goodwood, and say something like, ‘Whose brother do I look like?’ I suggested that most racing drivers would reckon if he did that, he was a dill, but gave him two names to chase up; Paul Radisich and David Brabham.

This was before, of course, Brabs was going to be feted at Goodwood as a Le Mans winner …

The reason was pretty simple.

Yes, he is one of the best Sportscar racers in the world,

has been for a decade, and Le Mans was the only hole on his CV. Also, he had performed with distinction in V8 Supercars here, holding his own against drivers with multiples of the experience in the cars that he has.

But, apart from being an absolute pro in his relations with the media, in my opinion,

Brabham is a ripper bloke. I went off to sleep on Sunday night genuinely pleased for the guy.

I was less happy when I awoke. Matt Hall finished seventh in the latest Red Bull Air Race. Also, there is a call for less grunting in Ladies’ tennis, some poor fella broke his leg

playing Rugby League, and one soccer team from half way around the world beat another soccer team from half way around the world. I know all this because I saw Seven’s morning sports news.

No Brabham. An Aussie wins one of the most recognisable sporting events in the world,

Letters

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

Solution: Add Beer I am now a fan of the V8SC Sprint Tyre, all I had to do was give up trying to work out who was where. And a few beers help.

Winton proved the concept works when two low budget guys almost won. Sadly, both races were spoiled by dumb driving and professional fouls.

But if the Officials enforce the BIG blue flag, say two blue

22

flags in one lap you get a black one, and a third a fine it will be fantastic.

Also shame on you MNews for promoting Le Mans on One HD when only two percent of Australia is in the HD coverage area. It is now June and SC10 still hasn’t shown us NASCAR, or even a game of IPL. D’oh.

PS. I did predict Will Davison would shine this year, but what is going on with the rest of the

Claytons (the teams you have when you don’t have a team) Holdens?

John Gray Taree NSW Congrats to SBR If MNews predictions are correct, then a big Congrats to SBR for having the courage to field Kiwi drivers John McIntyre and Daniel Gaunt in the endurance races this year.

And to the drivers, it is now time to show what they have got to offer.

Both are fast in NZ conditions but are yet unproven on the big stage in the Australia.

I wish them both the best of luck at this huge oppotunity with a factory team.

Matt Wilson Christchurch NZ

opinion news

Family Pride

opinion Phil Branagan Executive Editor in deserving fashion, and not one word. I suppose I should have been thankful that David was not elbowed for a pretend sport, like surfing and gymnastics, or vision of a dog walking on its front legs in Iraq.

For whatever reason, motor racing is not getting through to the media mainstream. Opportunity is knocking, because here is a story that is worthy of coverage – even before you throw in Sir Jack Brabham’s achievements and anniversary year, or Geoff’s win in the same race, for the same team, 16 years ago.

Fingers crossed that this time, Brabs gets the credit he deserves.

PS: Memo One HD – great decision to show most of the race. Encore 2010?

IT was a little bit hard to follow what was going on in the Le Mans 24 Hour race. You see, we don’t have ONE HD in my house, but I can pick it up in my car …

I followed the race on the internet, so I still had a good idea what was going on. What a race!

It’s funny. I had a funny feeling before the race, because there were so many things going on with David’s effort this year that were so similar to what I went through before the 1993 race. I felt like

opinion Geoff Brabham 1993 Le Mans winner

he had a really good chance, but I spoke to him just before the race and the team was really concerned about the Audis. They thought that they would be fast in the race, but it did not pan out like that.

Then, the other guys in the Peugeot team had a few little problems and Marc Gene, Alex Wurz and David had a troublefree run. That is how we won it in 1993; we set our own pace, stayed out of trouble and had no dramas. That is the key to winning the race.

When I won the race, the

Peugeot Sport

Peugeot Sport

other Peugeots had some problems, but not as early in the race as happened this year.

There was a cracked exhaust in one of the cars and all of us were running flat-out. There were no team orders, and the Toyotas were a little bit quicker than us.

They had problems and, with three hours to go, the last of them disappeared. Then we had the chance to take it easy.

I never particularly looked forward to 24 Hour races.

They were never my favourite races, and I think that I did three Le Mans races and five or six Daytonas. The good thing was that every 24 Hour race I did, we were basically in contention to win them. I only ever finished two of them but we were running at the front.

I spoke to my dad after the race on Sunday night and he was pretty excited about it.

He sat up and was following what was going on, and he was really happy when it ended.

eLETTER OF THE WEEK Guys, as a long time eNews reader, I have to agree with Mr Evans.

The driving standards observer Mr Mezera is not dealing with the biff and barge in the V8 category harshly enough, otherwise you wouldn’t be seeing the stupid behaviour on track that we are seeing now.

Like Mr Evans said, Richo took out Murphy and should have gotten a drive through. Similarly Todd Kelly should have been handed a 10k fine for his brain fade of banging into Courtney the whole way down the back straight until he punctured

Courtney’s tyre in Race 1 Tassie.

That racers can get away with this sort of unprofessional driving just brings the sport down for everyone. I’m glad I watched the race in the comfort of a Queensland home, as I would have been rather pee’d off had I travelled down there only to see Kelly banging into James until the inevitable happened.

Tomas, shape up or do us a favour and ship out.

K. Welsh Gladstone Qld

K Welsh of Gladstone 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

LE MANS SERIES 2009 LE MANS 24 HOUR

THE Peugeot Sport

24

news

HE DAY OF THE LION Finally, Peugeot dethroned Audi in the greatest endurance race of them all. David Brabham joined Marc Gene and Alex Wurz as winners on a French-dominated podium 25

Peugeot Sport

H

ISTORY repeated at Le Mans on the weekend, with David Brabham following in, almost exactly, the footprints of brother Geoff in 1993 by taking his first win in the endurance classic.

Brabham, Alex Wurz and Marc Gene went into the 77th 24 Hour race as the third and leastfancied of the works Peugeot entries, but when problems struck the more fancied French cars, and Audi’s trio of new R15s, the car took the lead in the sixth hour, and bolted home on what was for them was the right end of a Peugeot 1-2. Stephane Sarrazin/Franck/Montagny/ Sebastien Bourdais were second ahead of the Audi of defending champions Allan McNish/Tom Kristensen/Dindo Capello, who only just held out the first of the works Aston Martin machines.

The gap between the two

26

French cars was down to transmission problems that struck the #8. The car pitted for 10 minutes before carrying on, and with 25 minutes to go, Bourdais slowed to a jog to take second position in the team photo finish.

“Our strategy was really to take care of the car,” said Brabham, “the tyres, the brakes -- particularly the front brakes, which were wearing a bit more than we would have liked.

We just agreed to adjust our driving styles and keep within a consistent lap time target. We were running at a restricted pace but other cars were having problems, so it worked out ok.

We didn’t make one mistake and that’s what it takes to win this race.”

The lead entry from the German team was plagued by a number of problems, notably temperature and ECU-related.

The car had late problems that needed a driveshaft change, but managed to hold on for a podium finish ahead of the Aston Martin entry of Tomas Enge/Stefan Mucke/Jan Charouz.

Trouble struck some of the fancied entries as early as the first hour. Alexandre Premat started the alarm bells when he ran off the road in his Audi, but that was nothing compared with the drama that stuck the Peugeots. As Pedro Lamy was waved out from his first pitstop, he was assaulted by the Pescarolo-run 908, which was on its way in. Lamy struggled around to complete the lap on a flapping tyre, effectively putting the car out of contention. The trio resumed in 50th place and turned on the jets, but could only make it as high as fifth place.

Out on the circuit, there were

Les Winners are Les Grinners: 16 years after Geoff Brabham listened to the French National Anthem, David got to do it. The smile he shared with Alex Wurz and Marc Gene resembled a three-country split water melon. a number of not just shunts, but huge shunts, fortunately without injury. The second Audi was out at 9:30pm, when Lucas Luhr slammed his #2 R15 into the barriers at the Porsche Curve after either suspension breakage or a puncture. The German earned brownie points when he tried to restart the car, which was almost broken in two, before he clambered out.

The ill-fated Pescarolo Peugeot met its end when Benoit Treluyer fenced it in the Esses on his out lap, while Seiji Ara set up the final Safety Car when his Team Goh Porsche snapped away from him and slammed into the tyres at the first chicane on the Mulsanne.

One of the heroic efforts of the race was that of Andre Lotterer and Charles Zwolsman.

When co-driver Narain Karthikeyan was on his way from the pitlane to a restroom

news

LMS | 2009 24 HEURES DU MANS 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

9 Alex Wurz/Marc Gene/David Brabham 8 Stephane Sarrazin/Franck Montagny/Sebastien Bourdais 1 Alan McNish/Tom Kristensen/Dindo Capello 007 Tomas Enge/Stefan Mucke/Jan Charouz 11 Olivier Panis/Nicolas Lapierre/Sohail Ayari 7 Christian Klien/Pedro Lamy/Nicolas Minassian 14 Andre Lotterer/Charles Zwolsman 16 Christian Tinseau/Joao Barbosa/Bruce Joanny 15 Christian Albers/Christian Bakkerud/Giorgio Mondini 31 Caspar Elgaard/Kristian Poulsen/Emanuele Collard

Peugeot 908 HDi Peugeot 908 HDi Audi R15 TDI Lola Aston Martin B09 Oreca 01-AIM Peugeot 908 HDi Audi R10 TDI Pescarolo 01-Judd Audi R10 TDI Porsche RS Spyder

381 laps -1 lap -7 laps -9 laps -12 laps -13 laps -13 laps -14 laps -22 laps -25 laps

Q5 1 2 8 16 3 14 12 13 20

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Bad start: Pedro Lamy lost any chance of a podium finish when he blew a tyre after being rammed by the Pescarolo 908 in the pitlane. The legendary French driverowner, right, was not an ‘appy man after discussing the matter with Peugeot team members. Defending champs Audi struggled with its controversial R15, with Allan McNish, Dindo Capello and Tom Kristensen third, below.

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prior to the race, he tripped over a pit wall, falling and dislocating his shoulder. Doctors would not clear him to race so Lotterer, who only got the seat just before scrutineering when Andy Meyrick was forced to withdraw, and Zwolsman were forced into Iron Man mode. The two Le Mans rookies double-stinted their way through the race without apparent distress, to finish seventh.

In LMP2, the Danish Essexentered Porsche of Caspar Elgaard, Kristian Poulsen and Emanuele Collard ran away from the challengers to dominated their class, breaking into the top 10 by the end of the race, their cause aided by Ara’s crash.

The GT1 battle was all about Chevrolet’s Corvettes, with the two factory cars having a private race among themselves for almost the whole race until the #64 car stopped at the pitlane entry. In the end, the honours went to Johnny O’Connell/Jan Magnussen/ Antonio Garcia, the American taking the flag in what seems certain to be his final race.

In GT2, the Ferrari of Jaime Melo, Mika Salo and Pierre Kaffer held out a peleton of Porsches early on before establishing a dominant lead.

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NASCAR SPRINT CUP ROUND 16 – LIFELOCK 400, MICHIGAN

Number 5 is Alive!

Veteran Mark Martin has set his sights on a berth in the Chase for the Sprint Cup after taking a canny win at Michigan.

By MARTIN D CLARK

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NASCAR Media

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SNOOZER of a race on Sunday at Michigan Speedway was livened up at the end by the top two cars running dry of fuel, leaving Mark Martin the benefactor for his third win of the season.

“My car was good, but we didn’t make a lot of changes,” said Martin who led only the last lap after qualifying 32nd and for the second year in a row a Hendrick car won on fuel mileage.

“I thought I could run with them, but I couldn’t run their pace and save gas, we just really

needed to finish. When Jimmie ran out, I said ‘I’m gonna run hard, what’s gonna happen?’ But it ran out coming off of four.”

Martin jumped up from 13th to eighth in points with the win.

“We were on the outside looking in with this Chase deal, but this team deserves to be in the Chase,” he continued.

After taking the lead from Kyle Busch on lap nine from his third starting position, Jimmie Johnson headed the most laps, dominating the race until Greg Biffle won the race off pit road during final stops under caution three. Johnson steadily chased

Biffle down, taking the lead under the Roush Ford with six laps to run and looking every bit the winner.

But on the penultimate lap Johnson ran dry and dropped to 22nd, handing the lead back to Biffle – who ran out exiting turn two on the final lap. Martin shot past, dragging Jeff Gordon (who started last after blowing his engine in the first laps of practice on Friday) to third.

Points leader Tony Stewart maintained his lead with a rock steady seventh placed finish.

Marcos Ambrose had little to write home about after

qualifying 33rd and finishing two places better, two laps off the pace after running no better than the top 30 all race. The poor result dropped Ambrose to 20th from 18th in points, losing positions to Jamie McMurray and an improving Dale Earnhardt Jr, who finished 14th.

There were many empty seats at the track, and while NASCAR can blame that on the horrifying Detroit economy, they have to be taking a long hard look at the quality and lack of racing at the two-mile track and the larger speedways in general as another reason.

news Young at Heart: Mark Martin got to celebrate one more time after taking the Michigan win, left.

Brian Vickers led the field away after taking pole in the Red Bull car, below.

Greg Biffle had track position to win, but not enough fuel to do cash it in, below right.

It was not a great weekend for Marcos Ambrose or his mascot, bottom. Roll on Infineon and a road course.

Joey takes 3

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

5 24 11 99 16 42 14 2 83 33

Mark Martin Jeff Gordon Denny Hamlin Carl Edwards Greg Biffle Juan Montoya Tony Stewart Kurt Busch Brian Vickers Clint Bowyer

Chevy Chevy Toyota Ford Ford Chevy Chevy Dodge Toyota Chevy

Hendrick/Kelloggs Hendrick/DuPont Joe Gibbs/FedEx Roush Fenway/Aflac Roush Fenway/3M Earnhardt Ganassi/Target Stewart Haas/Old Spice Penske/Miller Lite Red Bull Racing Childress/Cheerios

32 27 14 29 20 7 11 5 1 9

NATIONWIDE

NASCAR | DRIVER’S points Stewart 2189, J Gordon 2142, Johnson 2047, K Busch 1961, Newman 1934, Edwards 1927, Biffle 1913, Martin 1868, Kyle Busch 1860, Hamlin 1849 (Ambrose 20th 1539).

Toyota Motorsports

FOR the seventh straight Nationwide Series race Kyle Busch led the most laps – 162 of the 200 – but team-mate Joey Logano snatched the lead with 10 laps to take his third series win.

Polewinner Logano was one of 27 cars of the 43 caught for speeding on pit road, but thankfully for him, it was early in the race and he was able to rebound after restarting 15th on lap 74. On the other hand Carl Edwards was caught three times, something he denied and like many accusing NASCAR of having issues with their electronic timing system.

Busch finished second, with Brad Keselowski third and rookies Brendan Gaughan fourth and Justin Allgaier fifth.

– MARTIN D CLARK

Ford Racing

Toyota Motorsports

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Martin continues 3.5 learning FORMULA RENAULT 3.5 JOHN Martin finished 19th and 13th in the latest round of the World Series by Renault at the Hungaroring in Hungary.

After finishing Race 1 on Saturday 19th of the 26 runners, the A1 Team Australia driver went into Sunday’s race hoping overnight set-up changes had transformed his Comtec Racing machine.

Martin found some joy with an improved car, moving up to 13th place after earlier qualifying eighth for the frst race.

“I didn’t make a really good start,” said Martin. “But then into Turn One I went around the outside and passed quite a few

cars. I was inside a couple of cars at Turn 2 and would have passed them as well, but then the ignition cut briefly.

“I came around to Turn Seven and there had been a really big shunt. (Greg) Mansell’s wing had broken off and was coming across towards me. I kept moving over to try and avoid it but I ended up in the gravel and lost all the spots I had gained at Turn 1.”

Martin pressed on from that point to record 13th place.

Martin has this weekend off before he makes his Superleague Formula debut for Glasgow Rangers FC at Magny Cours a week later.

Spectrums starting to do the UK business BRITISH FFORD AUSTRALIAN Daniel Erickson has enjoyed one of his most competitive outings in the British Formula For Championship at Knockhill last weekend.

Erickson finished with two top five results and going within a whisker of his maiden victory.

The New South Welshman, driving for Kevin Mills Racing’s Spectrum team, qualified fifth, second and sixth for the three races, finishing fifth, second in the opening two races before suffering an unfortunate DNF in the last heat.

Running second for most of the last race, Erickson took the lead with four laps to go before

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dropping a wheel off the circuit, allowing Krissy Palmer to streak back to the lead and eventually take victory.

Erickson was poised for another second place until being taken out of the equation by his team-mate Daniel Cammish who was running fourth until he tried an optimistic passing move. The result was a DNF for Erickson.

A minor consolation for Erickson was that he set the fastest lap of the last race.

Team principal Kevin Mills was pleased with the pace of the Spectrums at Knockhill, but knows they had the speed to have achieved better results.

“It was great to see the pace from the cars and drivers this weekend,” he said.

“We know we had the cars to have stood on the top step of the podium, but that’s racing, isn’t it?” said Kevin.

“We’re looking forward to Snetterton in a few weeks to see if we can put the whole package together,” he added.

After nine rounds, Cammish holds third place in the Championship and is the leading Scholarship Class driver; Erickson has moved into

seventh.

And while the Spectrum chassis runners are starting to be regular top three contenders, in Formula 1600cc Castle Combe Racing Club Championship, the Australianbuilt cars also saw success with victory in one of the races. Ben Norton, driving for Wilcher College, bagged a win and a third place, extending his club championship lead.

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Bottas gives F3 field a Master Class FORMULA 3 Valtteri Bottas led every lap on his way to winning the Masters of Formula 3 at Zandvoort last weekend.

In doing so, ART driver Bottas became the first Finn to win the converted crown.

The reigning Formula Renault Eurocup Champion qualified on pole and didn’t put a foot wrong, holding off persistent challenges from countryman Finn Mika Maki.

“It was a really tough race, maybe it looked easy but I was pushing so much,” Bottas told Autosport.com.

“The key for the win was the good start and in the first three laps I was pushing so much to get a gap to Mika so I could control the race. It was difficult to maintain concentration, there was a lot of pressure, but I was able to keep myself calm and do what I needed to do.”

The win for Bottas gave ART its sixthconsecutive triumph in the Masters race.

Chasing the leading Finns was Stefano Coletti (Prema Powerteam). Coletti was involved in an early clash with Spaniard Roberto Merhi and Jean Karl Vernay at the first turn, but resisted pressure from defending race Champ Jules

Bianchi (ART) to take third. Coletti’s third place meant he become the first Monegasque to finish on the Masters podium.

Fourth place went to Jules Bianchi, who secured pole but was penalised five places for weaving. He settled for fourth.

Alexander Sims (Mucke) settled for a fifth place and the first British driver home in the strong field.

Australian Daniel Ricciardo (Carlin) was fresh out of luck, failing to even start the race after gearbox problem sidelined him before he gridded up.

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Gumley wins again

Australia’s most prolific hillclimb champion Peter Gumley retained the Queensland Hillclimb Championship at Mount Cotton over the June 1214 weekend in front of a large field of open wheel hillclimbers.

Gumley, who has not raced since last year’s Australian Championship at Bathurst, came from behind in his Wortmeyer SCV to win in a 37.97s time, half a second outside his own track record.

Allan McConnell was runner up for the second time in a month at 38.09s (after the Cootha Classic) in his Van Diemen RF87 after leading early in the event. Tom Donovan (38.97 - Pilbeam

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MP82) was third fastest. Five new class records were established, Greg Ackland, who was also fourth outright in his motorcycle engined Ninja GA7, broke the long standing under 1300cc Formula Libre record.

Bill Norman (GEK Sports) took over two seconds off his class record in the fastest time ever recorded by a sports car.

Paul Masterson (PRB 7 Maximum), Danny Mischok (Ford Escort Mk.II) and Steve Purdy (MG Midget) also claimed class records.

Douglas Barry (Lola T8750) and Rod Johns (Norris Hawk) became just the 12th and 13th drivers to break the 40s barrier over the hill. Fastest sedan was Mark Trenowth in the ex-John McCormack Jaguar XJS sports sedan at 43.27s.

– MARK JONES

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Baron Media

HILLCLIMB

Chasin’ Smith BRITISH FRENAULT Fortec Motorsport’s James Calado and Manor Competition’s Dean Smith won Rounds 9 and 10 of the British Formula Renault Championship at Croft last weekend.

Calado beat home Smith in the weekend’s first race ahead of Oli Webb.

In the second race, Smith led every lap of the event, beating hom Dean Stoneman, Oli Webb, Jesse Krohn and Will Stevens.

Australian Josh Scott, driving for CRS Racing, had a solid meeting. The former AMSFbacked driver qualified ninth in the first race, and was running as high as sixth before eventually taking eighth by the end of the race.

After a hectic first race, the second event was quite mundain, with a limited amount of on-track passing.

Scott started eighth and finished eighth.

Scott currently sits eighth in the British Formula Renault title chase.

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Ash Budd

Wards on top in Top End Champs KARTING Brothers Damien and Lucas Ward both secured victory at the Northern Territory State Karting Championships last weekend.

For Damien, 17, his victory in Rotax Light marks the second state crown of his karting career, his previous win coming in the Rookies category six years ago.

During the heat races, Ward, above, was challenged by David Whitmore, who appeared to have the pace to match it with the Pacific Kartsport Arrow driver.

When Whitmore dropped back to fifth place during the opening lap of the final it allowed Ward to open a commanding lead and go on to claim the win. Whitmore recovered for second spot ahead of

Nathan Davis.

Not to be outdone by his older brother, Lucas Ward led from start to finish in Junior Clubman category. Local driver Kevin Norman was impressive, however, when he lost ground during the opening lap, it provided Ward with an unassailable buffer.

Paul Pittam made it two wins in the Top End in as many years in the Clubman Heavy before also getting the better of a weekend-long battle with Craig Stauner in Rotax Heavy.

Darwin drivers dominated the podium in the Leopard Light category with Royce Nott taking the win ahead of defending Champion Chris Gatt and Tony Willes.

The final lap of the Junior National Light class was intense. Tony Kart driver Chris Corbett led the way over the closing stages

but after a number of passing manoeuvres, it was Todd Hazelwood who crossed the line first ahead of Lachlan O’Relly, Caleb Wilson and Corbett. A post race stewards hearing saw the top two finishers reversed, handing O’Reilly the win.

Bunbury’s Jake Wright claimed a narrow win in the Midgets category from local drivers Bryce Fullwood and Jordan Smith.

A last corner pass by Tyler Morrison appeared to have secured his maiden State Championship over Victorian Jake Klein. However, officials later reversed the finishing order due to the last corner incident, handing the win to Klein.

Travis Kodric proved too good in the Junior National Heavy class while Ashley Pittard did the business in Clubman Super Heavy.

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After 109, it’s time for a well-earned break SICKNESS is everywhere.

Swine flu, man flu, regular flu … it’s a pandemic!

Even the V8 Supercar website published a (comical) story, stating the dreaded Swine had hit V8 circus – but the rest of the story assured us that the Hidden Valley meeting would go ahead (as if it even wasn’t going to …)

At Motorsport News, we deal with the flu pretty well. If you’re sick, you can have the day off, unless that day starts with an ‘M’ and ends with either ‘onday’ or ‘deadline.’

For the last 109 Mondays (except for our yearly Christmas break), MNews’s graphic chicky Jayne Uthmeyer has been here for every Monday deadline. That’s right, she has not missed one eNews deadline.

Why, you ask? Does she love her job so much that she couldn’t possibly live without being involved? Well, she tells the boss that she loves her job (we don’t believe her sometimes), but regardless, she has not been absent for a single eNews Monday – not one – despite her best efforts.

You see, this time last year, Uthmeyer had booked a month’s holiday, poised to trek through parts some of Asia’s most exotic destinations.

But just a week out from her adventure, she busted her leg, pictured right. It meant she wasn’t in a travelling state and elected to sit out her vacation and come to work instead.

“Phew” were the noises that were heard from editorial department. It meant that

COMMENT Grant Rowley Editor eNews us word monkeys could concentrate on copy, not the production side of publishing.

Since then, we’ve all ticked along nicely. I had some time off in February moving house, van Leeuwen’s been to Perth, England and Thailand, Branagan’s been everywhere from Coburg to Canada, Lambden’s enjoyed stints in China and New Zealand and our advertising lady Kennedy seems to spend more time in foreign parts than at home!

But poor Jayne has not had a week off – until now.

This issue marks Jayne’s last Monday deadline before she heads off on her much belated (and deserved) holiday to Asia’s finest resorts.

Surely, nothing could stop her from going this time. True to form, though, Jayne walked into the office this morning, glum faced, having had an allergic reaction from her mandatory tetanus shot.

Poor Jayne. We’re not feeling sorry for you. As I’m sure you don’t feel sorry for us while we’re on vacation.

So enjoy your holiday, Jayney – it’s the last one you’re getting for another 109 issues!

P.S – Please leave your phone on.

P.P.S – Bring me back something nice.

Battle of the Beards JOHN Bowe had the best beard in Australian motorsport – until we met this bloke.

Meet Rufus – the Biante Touring Car Masters’ latest driver.

No, that’s silly. The dog isn’t driving. Rufus will leave the driving for the other old dog ...

Bowe is lending his support to launch an important new awareness campaign with RSPCA Darwin to promote safe travelling with pets.

At this time of year, many Territorians head off on holidays while interstate travellers invade the NT ... but what will they do with their favourite pets?

According to an RSPCA survey, 55 percent of people will take their pets on holidays with them. eNews guesses that the other 45 percent wish they were on holidays with their families.

Odd Spot

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