Motorsport eNews Issue 114 - July 21-27, 2009

The world of MOtorsport Directly to your desktop

Issue No. 114 July 21-27 2009

NEW JUSTICE

Why Whincup wasn’t PINGED

a r t Dash for cash Exiles Richest-ever Aussie FFord race M ReindLer gets pre-enduro v8 miles

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

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

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

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

Issue No. 114 | 21 - 27 July 2009

news 4 Better late than ...

Wrong! New penalties for V8s 6 One the nose $10K race for FFord 1600 9 Practice = perfect Reindler gets FV8 miles 11 Party like it’s 1997 Tander wants another AFFC 16 A Weely good chance Paul Weel ready for Safari

chat 18 5 minutes with ... opinion 20 Lambden

David Brabham

21 Clark

Down with nappies Ambrose: Super, speedway

28 British Formula Ford 30 ALMS 32 Pikes Peak

Aussie, Aussie, Aussie Pag, de Ferran do the J-O-B ‘Monster’ beats ‘Gronny’

race 22 Shannons Nationals Wall nails it! trade 36 Classifieds Henry Surtees :: 1991-2009

New-wave justice for V8 Grid spot, point penalties more likely than drive-throughs V8 SUPERCARS SUGGESTIONS that a new ‘anything goes’ V8 race stewarding policy has been created, to boost on-track excitement, have been dismissed.

Rumours that V8s Driving Standards Observer (Tomas Mezera) and IPO (Independent Prosecuting Officer) Peter Wollerman had been told to ease up grew following an incident in the second race at Townsville, where defending champion Jamie Whincup received no penalty – either instantly in the form of a drive-through, or post-race – after nudging the lapped Dodo Commodore of Jack Perkins into a spin.

Mezera in particular has come in for a bit of stick.

However, Motorsport eNews has this week been able to clarify both that single

issue and that of driving standards policing over-all.

Following a meeting at Darwin, between V8SA Chairman Tony Cochrane, Operations Manager Kurt Sakzewski, Board member Paul Morris, Mezera, Wollerman and Series Steward Steve Chopping, eNews understands it was agreed that driving penalties would tend more to post-race points and future race grid positions rather than drive-throughs.

“There is a wide range of penalties available to the stewards,” Wollerman told us on Monday, “and, in line with a request following the recent V8 Teams Forum, as well as feedback from race fans, we’ve been asked to consider those options.

“They are keen for the results on the day, the race itself, to be unaffected by these things … it makes it clearer for the fans.

“That doesn’t mean to say that a clear and blatant indiscretion won’t attract a drivethrough, but we’re now in a position to use the technology – data and vision – to review things immediately after a race, to ensure the right decision is reached.

“The one-race in a day we now have helps this. You are thus more likely to see a driver who deliberately takes out others fined points, or team points, or even grid spots at the next race. In a serious case, a driver could find himself qualifying on pole at the next race, but starting from the back of the grid. If an indiscretion is particularly bad, a driver could find himself excluded from the next meeting completely …”

The change in process means that DSO Mezera will still pick up on race incidents but, unless the infraction is utterly indisputable, justice will wait until race end.

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

news

8s more likely ‘post-race’ John Morris/Mpix

THE move by V8 Supercars to hand out Chris Lambden justice once mNews Publisher a V8 race has finished, thus pretty much heralding the end of the ‘drivethrough’ penalty, is a plus.

As cricket fans will have observed in the past few days, umpires – especially those from South Africa whose initials are RK – can get things wrong, badly wrong, and look even sillier when they spurn the available technology to help themselves.

There is no doubt that in times past, some years back in particular – drive-through penalties have been awarded inconsistently and, in some cases, wrongly.

Drive-throughs are not a part of on-track justice for both F1 and NASCAR. I say on-track: knock over a mechanic in a pit stop and you’ll be back in pit lane, but in terms of on-track justice, it’s all about championship points and grid spot penalties.

Race fans will know the V8 judiciary is serious when they first see a driver sent to the back of the grid for the subsequent race. As long as the Stewards are protected from frivolous appeals over such sentences, it will be a good thing.

opinion

Why Jamie wasn’t pinged for Townsville tap V8 SUPERCARS THE Whincup/Perkins Race 2 Townsville incident provides a clear example of the more considered approach to race incidents, according to IPO Peter Wollerman: “We had the in-car footage flashcards and data from both cars within 10 minutes of the end of the race. They can be overlayed with previous laps and so on, to get a full picture of any incident, so we are in a clear position to judge what has happened.

“In this case, Jack (Perkins) had pitted

twice and, at the restart, was lapped, but in among cars on the lead lap just after the Safety Car restart.

“The data showed that Whincup did nothing different from any other lap but that, in fact, Jack turned across at the last moment.

“There was a flood of ‘why haven’t you done anything’ messages/emails, but if we had given Whincup a drive-through, we would have been wrong.

“And at the same time it clarifies a message we need to get across to the drivers: if you’re being lapped, get out of the way.”

John Morris/Mpix

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

BRIEFLY... n Kelly Racing has launched its own membership program, appropriately named ‘The Kelly Gang’.

Benefits include a pit tour at a selected V8 Supercar event, online driver discussions, discounts on team merchandise and hot lap rides and offers on V8 Supercar Events tickets.

As it’s the team’s first year in operation, Foundation Membership also carries extra benefits and exclusive merchandise.

To join The Kelly Gang, visit the team’s website at www. kellyracing.com.au n Quick correction. In our data simulation news story from last week, we wrote that James Courtney set the lap record at Townsville. It is in fact Fabian Coulthard who left the Townville circuit with the fastest lap. There are no points for that honour, but even less points for us incorrectly reporting that … n Danica Patrick, who has been rumored to be considering a move to NASCAR, visited five Charlotte, North Carolina, based race shops last week: Stewart-Haas Racing, Roush Fenway Racing, Michael Waltrip Racing, Joe Gibbs Racing, and Richard Childress Racing. n For the first time, a special New Zealand v Australia Muscle Car race will headline the September 6 Muscle Car Masters at Sydney’s Eastern Creek Raceway (yep, that is Father’s Day).

The Australian team will feature drivers from the Biante Touring Car Masters up against the best from the New Zealand Central Muscle Cars.

The Best in the West

Barbagallo’s $10K-to-win FF race FORMULA FORD

AUSTRALIA’S richest single open wheeler race will be held at Perth’s Barbagallo Raceway later this year – and it will be for Kent-powered Formula Fords.

The WA Formula Ford 1600 series has secured a spot on the support card for Barbagallo’s V8 Supercar round in November, due to a lack of interest from national categories in making the trek west. As a way to try and lure FF1600 competitors from the east into crossing the Nullarbor, Fastlane Racing’s Brett Lupton, along with various other key FFord personnel in the west, have created the ‘WA Dash For Cash’ concept, with upwards of $10,000 in prize money likely to be available.

But here’s the catch – it will be winner takes all …

“Basically, we’ve got ourself a gig at the V8 Supercar round in WA, courtesy of the fact that nobody in the national series wants to come to Perth anymore,” said Lupton.

“We’re working on prize money, and we’ve got a fair bit together now, but we’re not going to stop until we’ve got more. The final figure will be released closer to the meeting.

“It’s turn up, go, win, get paid, go home. I want a full grid of 32 cars, and the richest open wheel race in Australia.”

Lupton has run cars at recent state rounds in New South Wales and Victoria, and has been working hard on drumming up business.

TanderSport, who is looking

at a Formula Ford program in 2010 (see separate story) will have two cars on the grid in November, and there is significant interest from other eastern staters.

“We did a race last week at Eastern Creek, and there’s a lot of interest – for instance Tim Beale from Anglo is talking about rocking up with three cars.

“We’ll do whatever we can to make the meeting user friendly for people from the east coast.

We’ll put them up, help with transportation, whatever we need to do to make the race successful.”

The WA Dash For Cash will held in conjunction with the Bigpond 300 at Barbagallo Raceway on November 20-22.

– ANDREW VAN LEEUWEN

news

Splitter – it’s going on

Feds consider alcohol sponsorship ban

V8 SUPERCARS THE next instalment in the ongoing V8 Supercar Splitter matter will happen at Sandown next week.

A panel of CAMS stewards will hear an appeal over a previous decision to allow a time limit to be extended, to allow a protest to be heard over actions at Winton during the V8 Supercar Championship Series round there in May. Five teams lodged protests over Triple Eight Race Engineering’s method of mounting front splitters to Falcons.

Initially, the protests were disallowed because they were not submitted within the stipulated time limit for doing so, though Walkinshaw Racing successfully appealed the decision.

Dirk Klynsmith

LAST DRINKS? NOT YET V8 SUPERCARS

Dirk Klynsmith

A COORDINATED response to a proposed ban of alcoholrelated sponsorship of sport is one of the options being considered by V8 Supercars Australia.

Such a ban, which would reportedly effect sporting sponsorship that add up to $300m, hit the headlines last week, with reports that the Federal Government was intending to look into implementing a policy in the future.

Because of the relatively recent reporting of the matter, and with V8SA Executive Chairman Tony Cochrane out

of the country on business, V8SA is yet to take the steps necessary in determining a possible response.

“At the moment, we are establishing a position on behalf of V8 Supercars Australia and, to some degree, or teams,” said V8SA spokesman Cole Hitchcock.

“We are talking to all of our stakeholders, incliding the teams and our broadcast rights holder, to ensure that we have all of our positons covered. We will establish our position as a sport on behalf of all these stakeholders and them we will respond accordingly.”

V8 Supercar teams feature sponsorship from Jim Beam

(Dick Johnson Racing), Jack Daniel’s (Kelly Racing), Bundaberg Red (Walkinshaw Racing) and Bottle-O (Rod Nash Racing). V8SA includes Jim Beam and brewer Lion Nathan among its sponsor partners.

Kelly Racing made this response; “We are aware of the reports and understand this is a report to government and not a change of legislation at this stage. While this will no doubt be debated for some time Kelly Racing and Jack Daniel’s will continue to promote our ‘Pace Yourself, Drink Responsibly’ message which is at the core of all we do.”

Crompton returns to Aussie fold Neil back on wheels for Aussie Racing Car’s Superbike support role AUSSIE RACING CARS FORMER racer turned television presenter Neil Crompton will make his return to the race track in the next round of the Aussie Racing Cars Series at Eastern Creek.

Crompton will drive the Toyota Aurion Aussie Racing Car at the Sydney event, to be run as a support class to the Australian Superbike Championship.

It is the first time since 1993 that bikes and cars have been run on the same program.

But this is not the first

time that Crompton has steered the Aurion-inspired Aussie Car. The V8 Supercars commentator gave the car its world debut at Surfers Paradise last year, pictured below. Crompton has been a long-time advocate of the series.

A field of over 30 cars is expected to line up at Eastern Creek, which is also Round 4 of the Aussie Racing Cars series.

Round 4 of the Woodstock Bourbon Australian Superbike Championship will be held at Eastern Creek from August 7-9.

– GRANT ROWLEY

Forget The Tour. Forget The Ashes. There’s only One ...

TELEVISION IF you ever want an all-night motorsport festival, you look like getting one this Sunday night.

ONE HD kicks off a huge night of racing action with ‘Marcos Ambrose – Standing Out’, a 30minute documentary about Tasmania’s own NASCAR racing star.

“There is very little voiceover in this story,” ONE’s Greg Rust told eNews.

“It is told largely by Marcos and his key team people, along with some comments from Ross Stone. It touches on his early days, his success in Australia, the transition to America and cementing his place in one of the biggest sports in the world.”

But that is just a start. The documentary (which airs at

8:30pm) is followed by ONE’s F1 coverage of the Hungarian GP, then the MotoGP race from Great Britain and (a little later the next morning) the Brickyard 400 Sprint Cup race.

So, Webber, Stoner, Ambrose.

Red Bull, Ducati, Little Debbie.

Sounds like we might need coffee, more coffee, and then, some coffee …

news

Phil Williams

Bright’s old BF back on track with McElrea Motorsport

Reindler’s pre-enduro miles FUJITSU V8s KARL Reinder will make his first start in the Fujitsu V8 Supercar Series for 2009 after striking a deal to run Jason Bright’s Stone Brothers Racing Falcon BF in the next two rounds at Sandown and Queensland Raceway.

Reindler has sat on the sidelines so far this year, but since securing his place alongside Bright for the Phillip Island and Bathurst endurance races, Reindler is taking the opportunity to get some V8 miles under his belt before the key long distance races.

The West Aussie will drive the Falcon that Bright campaigned in the first part of the Championship Series. The car (SBR BA6) will be prepared

by McElrea Motorsport and will appear in Bright’s fluorescent green livery with support from Wilson Security and Fujitsu.

Last year, Reindler competed in the Fujitsu V8 Series with Howard Racing, finishing eighth in the title.

Team manager Andy

McElrea told eNews that while he hasn’t yet met Reindler, he is looking forward to adding the second car to his stable alongside the improving Daniel Gaunt.

“I actually haven’t met Karl yet but I’m well aware of his track record and the class of the guy,” he said.

“I’m very much looking forward to working with him.

“It’s certainly a good car – it’s the sister car to the one we’re running Daniel in now.

All our spares inventory is interchangeable which will make life simple.

“I’m looking forward to giving Daniel a quality teammate which should benefit both of them. Both are of a simple calibre. Karl has some experience in these cars, and with Daniel showing signs of being a regular top three contender, as an outfit, I think we’ll be ready to challenge for some good results.”

McElrea is cautious, but optimistic about his expectations for Reindler.

“I think he’ll easily be top five,” he said.

“That’s our expectation, bring in mind that his priority is to get mileage, rather than outright victories. But I’d certainly love to have both our guys on the podium – that’s one of our objectives.”

Reindler will compete in the two rounds before concentrating on Phillip Island and Bathurst. The BF Falcon will remain in the hands of

McElrea and he says that he’s searching for a driver to use it after Reindler’s stint.

“I would love to find someone to run the car for the rest of the season and next year. If we can show some good results with it, then hopefully that will attract some interest.”

– GRANT ROWLEY

Ta

FORMULA FORD

Formula Ford administrator Margaret Hardy said that racing Formula Fords at Homebush would be great, but having at least one meeting in New South Wales is more important.

“We’d love to be there,” Hardy said.

“In the form that it will be in this year, our cars aren’t licensed to be there and it’s a process that we want to work with V8s through to see if we can have it changed for next year.

“We don’t have a New South Wales round and that’s a big shame for us.

“Our television deal is with V8 Supercars, so naturally all our rounds are with them, which is great, but we’d like to have one of our rounds in NSW. And if that round was at Homebush, you couldn’t find a better way to finish up the season.

“Having said that, wrapping up this year’s title at the Gold Coast is going to be pretty special as well.”

– GRANT ROWLEY

Corey Sleap

10

Corey Sleap

THIS year’s Australian Formula Ford Championship does not have a round in New South Wales, and unless debris fencing is upgraded at Homebush in 2010, it won’t have a round in NSW next year either.

That is why the Formula Ford Association is pressing ahead with plans to submit a proposal to V8 Supercars to consider using open-wheel standard debris fencing at the Homebush street circuit next year to allow the junior openwheel formula to compete in Sydney.

And V8 Supercars operations manager Kurt Sakzewski says that V8SA will be all-ears to the idea.

“That idea hasn’t been put forward to CAMS yet, and the circuit’s configuration wasn’t designed to accommodate that in Year 1,” he said.

“When you’ve got open wheelers, you have to have the appropriate debris fencing. We’re open to it, but we haven’t even run the first Sydney event yet so in terms of what we do next year, the door is still open.

“We’re open to anything.

For this year, we had an idea of what classes were going to run there before we even finalised the engineering drawings. We knew at that stage we weren’t going to run open wheelers, but that’s not to say we won’t review those plans for 2010. We certainly haven’t ruled it out.

“Once we’ve got the place up and running and once we have some feedback from CAMS as the track inspectors, then we’d be able to make a call on whether it would be suitable for open wheel cars.”

Marshall Cass

AFFC want Homebush round

news

anderSport to run FFord in 2010 FORMULA FORD FASTLANE Racing Team is set to make a comeback to the Genuine Ford Parts Australian Formula Ford Championship in 2010, with a technical alliance with TanderSport, and a brand new chassis.

The Perth-based Formula Ford team is currently in the latter stages of development with it’s first ground-up chassis build (see separate story), and plans to run two of the Stealth S3 cars in the national series next year. But rather than trek across the Nullarbor for each round, the cars will be run through Garth and Leanne Tander’s TanderSport operation in Melbourne.

“At the moment its just a toe back in the pond exercise, but we’ll have a Duratec in the back of one [of the new cars] soon, and hopefully we can run a couple of cars out of Melbourne next year,” said Fastlane boss Brett Lupton.

“If we do something it will be the national series, and we’ll tie in here with Garth and Tandersport. Obviously that

narrows the gap of coming across the desert, so we’ll be doing it differently to how we’ve done it in the past.

“But we need people to be interested for us to be able to do it. It all boils down to whether we can get customers.”

There is an element of serendipity about the arrangement; Tander won the Australian Formula Ford Championship with Fastlane back in 1997.

“It’s something we’d love to do together, because Brett and I have worked together for years now,” added Tander.

“It make sense for Brett to hook up with us just from a logistics point of view. We’ve got the equipment, we’ve got the truck, and we’ve got the personnel, so Brett would be the factory and we’d be the racing team. If we can get two cars and do it properly, then we’ll come out swinging straight away.”

Fastlane has won two national titles; the first was Tander’s back in 1997, before Daniel Elliott won again in 2005.

– ANDREW VAN LEEUWEN

Stealth Mission: Fastlane’s first car FORMULA FORD

THERE is a new Australian Formula Ford on the market, with Brett Lupton’s Fastlane operation recently completing the build of its first ground-up chassis – the Stealth S3.

The Perth-based team has long been remodelling Van Deimen chassis under the Stealth name, but has now built its own car, from start to finish. The difference is, the car has been built with taller racing drivers in mind, with the team’s latest two hot shots – Rhys and Jake McNally – both exceeding 6” in height.

“Basically, I’ve got two drivers, and one is 6”5’ and one is 6”4’,” Lupton told eNews.

“It was either build them a new car, or

go and buy a Touring Car. I thought ‘hey, there’s got to be a market for tall guys with big feet.’

“It’s longer in the chassis, and generally just more roomy. We had two guys who were tall and that made them uncomfortable driving the other cars, so we’re working around them.

“It’s the same group of people. Peter Davies from Damec Engineering is the brains behind the computer side of it, Brett Burvill from Windrush Motorsport Composites does the bodywork, and we have an absolute genius building the cars, a guy by the name of Mark Bourne.”

There is only one S3 at the moment, but Lupton plans to build more cars should there be a market. The car is

currently fitted with a Kent engine, but will soon be tested with a Duratec power plant ahead of the team’s impending return to the Australian Formula Ford Championship (see separate story).

The car has already finished second at a round of the WA Formula Ford 1600 series at Barbagallo Raceway with Rhys McNally at the helm, who then repeated the feat at a round of the NSW Formula Ford 1600 series at Eastern Creek. He was also a top-two finisher at last weekend’s Victorian state racing round at Sandown.

– ANDREW VAN LEEUWEN For more details on the Stealth S3, check out the August issue of Motorsport News magazine, available on July 29.

11

Quinn’s new challenge SAFARI MOTORSPORT’s perennial allrounder Tony Quinn will once again take to the roads, this time of Western Australian, in the 2009 Australasian Safari.

Quinn, who has already won Targa Tasmania, raced at the Nurburgring 24 Hour and competed in the GT Championship this season, will drive in his VIP Petfoods Mitsubishi Pajero, the same car in which he competed in the 2008 event. The short wheelbase, 1996 model 2WD car, which is fitted with a 6-litre V8,

will be co-driven by Adrian Bolton, who shared the outback adventure with the Scot last year.

Event Director Justin Hunt said that Quinn was an asset to the event.

“From the event director’s view, Quinny is the perfect competitor,” he told eNews.

“He is enthusiastic from a competitors’ point of view, and he is a very sound businessman. We will be talking about something and he will say something that is completely relevant to the event, and that is a combination that is invaluable.”

Holden backing for Briffa’s HSV attack MAN CHAMPS

James Smith

AUSTRALIAN Manufacturers Championship driver Steve Briffa has secured Holden Motorsport backing for his Eseries HSV Clubsport R8.

Holden Motorsport will be involved as a sponsor of Briffa’s Manufacturers Championship campaign, and also his assault on the Bathurst 12 Hour.

“I’m absolutely over the moon,” Briffa said. “I had been

having some conversations with Simon McNamara, and the deal only came together a very short time ago, but to have official Holden backing is absolutely fantastic.

“Last year, the Holden Motorsport Clubsport R8 Wagon came 15th in the Bathurst 12 Hour, and I finished seventh in an unbacked entry, so Holden Motorsport decided it was worth their while backing our

car.”

Briffa will be running his car in next year’s Bathurst 12-Hour, and while he was

yet to confirm co-drivers, he suggested Lee and Brett Holdsworth are likely candidates.

“Lee and Brett are both very talented drivers, and I wouldn’t hesitate for them to drive my car again. It was an unfortunate mistake in the 2008 12-Hour when Brett crashed my old VZ Commodore, but I’m sure he learned from it.”

– LACHLAN MANSELL

Reed readies for an early return to drag strip DRAG RACING

12

Ken Ferguson

TOP Alcohol runner-up Debbie Reed has committed to the opening round of the championships at Willowbank Raceway (August 8-9).

The fast femme went within a whisker of winning last season’s title, only to be denied in the final race of the year, handing the title to 13time Champion Gary Phillips.

Questions surrounded her entry into the new season, but the Queenslander has committed to running in the

first round.

While she doesn’t expect to contest every Top Alcohol event in the 2009/2010 championship, she’s keen to get back on track and make up for the title she saw slip through her fingers.

“We will be just taking each meeting as it comes, as we will only be racing the local events it means the title is out of contention,” she says.

“Maybe I will get another chance in a couple of years, we will just have to wait and see how it pans out.”

“We really put a lot of time

and resources into last season and the results spoke for themselves with either Steve or myself in the Final of every round, including one all Reed Racing Final at the Perth Motorplex in January.

“It is fantastic that our existing associate sponsors are going to be back with us for the 2009/2010 season and we would like to take this opportunity to thank them for their commitment.”

news

James Tomkins set to make MINI Challenge debut

Swapping oar power for horsepower MINI CHALLENGE Multiple Olympic Gold Medallist James Tomkins will make his national motor racing debut at Sandown Raceway during the fourth round of the MINI Challenge.

The 43-year-old Olympic champion will drive the Uber Star car as a guest of MINI Australia.

“I’m pretty excited,” he said.

“Motor Racing has been a passion of mine for as long as I can remember. I have memories of getting up

early Sunday mornings to watch the black and white TV coverage of Bathurst. All those awesome HO Falcons, those were the days!”

Tomkins, below in yellow, has previously raced in various the Celebrity Challenges at the Australian Grand Prix, but this will be his first proper hit-out in a national racing category. The only other motorsport event that he has entered is a Targa Tasmania road rally back in

the 1990s.

“I won both years I entered,” he said.

“But I doubt that will matter much when I take on Sandown. Of course there is one connection there, they (F1 organisers) trained us up to race at the GP around the Sandown track, so at least I know the place pretty well.”

James will saddle up in

the Stillwell MINI Garageprepared JCW R56 MINI. Another driver set to make his debut in the category is South Australian John Magro.

The former Australian Formula Ford and Formula 3 driver will make his debut in the one-make class at Sandown on July 29-August 1.

Ken Ferguson

13

HARVICK

Daytona winner

sutton-images.com

Bourdais Indy Return?

Dumped by Toro Rosso, Seabass looks to US INDYCAR IS Sebastien Bourdais IndyCar bound?

The news that Bourdais is no longer driving in F1 for Toro Rosso has created a stir in the IndyCar series. Some team owners have an interest in the four-time Champ Car champion.

Newman-Haas-Lanigan, the team which had a long and successful relationship with Bourdais from 2003 to 2007, earned half of its eight championships since the team began in 1983.

The team is keen to talk to Bourdais about his plans for next year.

“We have a successful history with Sebastien that showed that our partnership can bring wins and championships,” said Kathi Lauterbach, Newman-Haas-Lanigan Racing’s Director of Public Relations.

“Right now we are focused on getting Graham (Rahal) and Robert (Doornbos) strong results for the rest of the season as well as continuing our string of podium finishes. We are always happy to speak to Sebastien, and if we are in a position to run an additional program, he would be at the top of our wish list.”

Should Bourdais return to racing in America in the IndyCar series, it likely won’t be until the 2010 season. His archrival, Paul Tracy, welcomes him back in his Racer.com blog, “The guy was a misery even when he had the best car and was winning everything. So I guess he’s been pretty unbearable this last 18 months. He’s a great driver, but I bet his attitude didn’t exactly encourage the (Toro Rosso) team to solve his problems.”

“I’m dreaming of the day that I’m able to give

14

Bourdais the gears again. But I will be mightily pissed if he walks back into a deal when I’ve been working my tail off doing promotions, and helping to sell tickets for race organizers, and don’t get a ride.”

Perhaps co-owner of KV Racing Technology, Kevin Kalkhoven, remembers being beat race after race by Bourdais during his five seasons as team and series owner in Champ Car. It so happens that’s the team where Tracy is running a partial season this year, just four races, hoping to expand to a full season in 2010.

Even when Bourdais physically out drove the Canadian, Tracy often succeeded upsetting the Frenchman using mind games. Teammates or not, the fireworks will continue, which is something the IndyCar series could really benefit from since they may lose Danica Patrick to NASCAR. And, based on his statements, Tracy has already started the affectionate trash talk, back to mental sparing, welcoming Bourdais’ return.

Bourdais was successful on both ovals and road courses in North America. Team Penske already has two regular drivers, Helio Castroneves and Ryan Briscoe, and is running a partial season for Will Power. Target Chip Ganassi Racing has a full stable with two recent IndyCar champions, Scott Dixon (2008 & 2003) and Dario Franchitti (2007). Ganassi is also linked with adding Danica Patrick to his team if she doesn’t race for another NASCAR owner. But there could be an opening at Andretti Green Racing which has really struggled this season for results and teamwork.

– MARY MENDEZ

news

K WANTS OUT

seeks exit from Childress team NASCAR SPRINT CUP

sutton-images.com

NASCAR Media

KEVIN Harvick has made it known he wants out of his contract a year early at Richard Childress Racing.

Harvick’s contract, and that of sponsor Shell, aren’t up for renewal until the end of 2010, but even after switching crew chiefs and crews earlier in the year, his team – indeed, three of the four RCR cars – are nose diving in the points. Harvick sits 25th entering Indy this weekend, a race he won back in 2003, while Clint Bowyer is 15th, Jeff Burton sits 17th and Casey Mears is a hopeless 22nd.

Childress says he is not releasing Harvick from his contract early, despite

rumours driver and sponsor to Stewart Haas Racing.

Childress, pictured left with Harvick, offered a statement last week; “Richard Childress Racing has a multi-year contract with Shell-Pennzoil that includes the 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season. Shell-Pennzoil remains a great partner for RCR and Kevin Harvick as well as our sport overall. RCR also has a multi-year contract with Kevin Harvick that includes the 2010 season. That said, Shell will be the sponsor and Kevin will be the driver of RCR’s No. 29 ShellPennzoil Chevrolet Impala SS in 2010.”

This story could be far from over …

– MARTIN D CLARK

How did Dario do that?

said Briscoe after finishing second for the fifth time this season.

RYAN Briscoe has raised an “Dario did get a bit lucky on eyebrow over how Dario that caution. It’s similar to what Franchitti got into a winning happened to me in Watkins position at Toronto.

Glen, only they didn’t let me Franchitti took the lead from pit.” the pole in Toronto only to fall Briscoe still came in for a back on a fumbled first pit stop. splash a fuel when the pits But when the officials called a were closed at The Glen, ‘local’ yellow for a blocked race resulting in his rejoining the track, it permitted Franchitti to dive into the pits for his second field much farther back, having to pit again for full service and final stop before the pits when the pits were opened were closed for a full course during a full course yellow. yellow. Franchitti leapfrogged The questionable officiating over nine drivers who pitted gave Franchitti a 13-point once the pits were opened, advantage over Briscoe, both to regain the lead ahead of tied with 294 points.

Briscoe and Will Power.

– MARY MENDEZ “I don’t know what happened,”

INDYCAR

Truex gets pinged NASCAR SPRINT CUP

NASCAR Media

MARTIN Truex Jr has been penalised over a technical infraction at Chicagoland.

In the first rule infraction since May, NASCAR has fined Truex 25 points and his Sprint Cup Series crew chief Kevin Manion $25,000. Manion was also placed on probation until December 31 after the right

rear quarter panel of their Earnhardt Ganassi Chevrolet was found to be too high during post race inspection at Chicagoland Speedway.

Truex finished 16th and sits 24th in points after announcing the previous week he would join Michael Waltrip Racing and sponsor NAPA in 2010.

– MARTIN D CLARK

15

news

Nothin’ like a Dane NASCAR

AUSSIE Dane Rudolph is showing speed in NASCARS’s Whelen All-American Series.

Rudolph took his first pole – three years to the day after Marcos Ambrose took his first American pole – but engine problems stopped Rudolph in the races, held at South Boston

Weels back in Action

in the crash, tested his V8engined racer on a test loop in Mildrua recently.

THE Weels are in motion, and “The test was brutal,” he said, will take to the Australasian “10 laps of a 50km track on Safari on August 1-8. station near Mildura – it was a Paul Weel, who stepped out great workout, but I pulled up of V8 Supercar racigng after with no real issues.” a serious practice crash at The Safari starts with a Bathurst last October, will team Prologue in Perth, and features up with his father Kees in the 3600km event, the two sharing overnight stops in Geraldton, Mt Magnet, Leonora and a Holden Colorado 4WD. Laverton, before finishing in Weel, who is now recovered Kalgoorlie on August 8. from the injuries he received

AUS SAFARI

16

in Virginia.

The Aussie is campaigning a new Hedgcock chassis for Sellers Racing in the series.

“Tonight should have been our night, but this is a cruel game and we’ll return to win on another night,” shrugged Rudolph, whose next race is also at South Boston on August 1.

17

5 Minutes with ...

DAVID BRABHAM

Fresh from victory at the Le Mans 24 Hour, David Brabham almost won last MARSCELLE TULLY weekend’s ALMS round at Lime Rock MOTORSPORT NEWS: First things first tell us about life after winning Le Mans.

DAVID BRABHAM: Nothing really changes, to be honest. You go home and you open the mail and you have to pay the bills.

It’s been a bit of a whirlwind tour since winning Le Mans. It was pretty hectic leading up to it, but you think “right, do the race and then I’ve got a couple of weeks to get my head around American Le Mans Series again”, but of course we won the 24 Hour and I’ve just gone backwards and forwards to France the whole time.

It was only just before I left to come to the US that things started to quieten down, which is good because now I can focus on what I’ve got to do here. You’ve got to think about the next race, not what happened yesterday.

This weekend at Lime Rock, you were leading the race, but a flat tyre robbed you of the win with 13 minutes remaining. You finished second place, but how much would it have meant for you to back up Le Mans victory with a win here in the ALMS? I think more so for the Patrón Highcroft team. We didn’t perform that well at Salt Lake and we really worked hard at trying to improve all the areas that we needed to. We came here and did exactly that. We had a good strong car in the race and the pit stops were very strong, the strategy was good, we got into the lead and had control of the race and then we had a flat tyre, so there’s not much we can do about that.

How different are the Le Mans 24hr Peugeot and the ALMS Acura?

The differences are quite a lot. For one thing, the power is massively different – turbo diesels have such an advantage. In the ALMS, we’re still in the early part of our program, so we probably don’t have as much power as we would like and know is capable. So there is quite a gap.

The way the engine off-throttle / onthrottle feels is completely different. The

18

Acura is certainly more nimble because it’s got a lot smaller engine and gear box, compared to the V12 turbo diesel which has a big gearbox on the back and big drive shafts because there’s so much torque that goes through it. Both feel quite different.

You’ve won in all four classes in the ALMS. You obviously have an affinity with the series. What’s the attraction for you?

First and foremost it’s the people. I’ve been here a long time and it feels like a second family.

The racing is good, hard racing and, because you’ve got so many different classes, regardless of what car you’re in, traffic is an issue and it can make or break your race. It’s not a procession at all – you watch an IndyCar or Formula One and there’s no real passing, but here we’re passing all the time. That’s something I’ve always enjoyed in this series.

Having added the Le Mans win to your list of achievements, do you still have any unticked boxes in your career?

I’ve been fortunate enough to have a very good career. I’d like to have a good crack at the Indy 500 just to say that I’ve done it. But if I don’t do it, I’m not going to lose any sleep.

You are helping develop young drivers in the UK – do you have any plans to expand that program to Australia?

I have a deal with the Motor Sports

Association, which is like CAMS, to run a program which brings on young British drivers. It’s quite in-depth and something I really enjoy doing.

Whether I do something in Australia – at the moment I can’t see that happening in the immediate future, but you never know how these things grow.

You last raced at Bathurst in 2006 – would you like to come back for a V8 enduro drive again?

I’m involved in a lot of projects outside of driving that I simply don’t have the time to go to Australia to do Bathurst or Phillip Island. I’m so busy now that it would be unfair to do something down there if I’m only half into it. I’ve either got to be fully into it or not all.

Mark Webber scored his maiden F1 win – did you watch the race?

No, I was travelling to the United States so it wasn’t till I landed and got a text message saying “Webber won!” which is fantastic. I’m so happy for him.

You need absolutely everything in place to win in F1. Probably for the first time he’s got a car that’s capable of winning. Sebastien Vettel is the strongest team mate that he’s ever had, and he’s had to dig deep. Now Mark’s had that win it could be the catalyst for him to win the world championship. It will install a much stronger belief about what he’s capable of doing and I think he’s got a very good chance – we could see Australia’s next world champion.

chat

Peter Bury

19

Watch Out! The Nannies are Closing in!

THE suggestion that alcohol advertising and sponsorship will be the next target of the Fed do-gooders should get V8 Supercars Australia on the offensive.

The banning of advertising of cigarettes (a perfectly-legal, tax revenue-raising product) was one thing – the health implications and cost were clear – but the bid to extend it to alcohol is a step too far, and the cost to Australian sport will be huge. And it is no surprise that Australians love their sport.

Yes, people can drink too much; yes, there is a current problem relating to alcoholfuelled violence among a stupid minority; but will banning advertising of alcohol fix it? No it won’t. Remember prohibition?

There are many other steps which can be taken to curb

opinion Chris Lambden eNews Publisher violence. New York did it with a ‘Zero Tolerance’ approach to policing. A good friend of mine is currently campaigning for a (scientifically proven, every bit as much as .05) .08 alcohol limit for pedestrians (step out of a night-club over it and you’re pinged!) Either has some appeal.

Simply banning advertising of the product achieves nothing … sorry, it does: the slicing of a great deal of funding from Australian sport.

What next? Cheese? It does promote cholesterol …. Car advertising? People do die driving cars (don’t get me started on speed cameras …).

Beware. The Nannies are coming. Slowly, but surely.

THE VIEW FROM CHARLOTTE

NOT ROAD WARRIOR. JUST, WARRIOR

Letters

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

Tomas. Mk I Is Tomas Mezera on the Triple Eight Racing payroll or what?

He cannot honestly think the Jamie Whincup incident did not warrant a drive thru penalty.

Use your bloody brains Jamie, you have a championship to defend, you would think you might be driving a little smarter than that.

But that’s beside the point really isn’t it? Poor Jack got shunted and there was no penalty given, as Jamie was not far enough up the inside to pull it up in time to take a tighter

20

line he should have been given the drive thru and Tomas Mezera … you should bloody know better than that!

On a more positive note, kudos the all those involved in the birth of the Dunlop Townsville 400, what a great race, what a great track, the vibe, the atmosphere. I feel quite strongly I will now be making Townsville as well as Bathurst an annual event for me.

Darren Short Via email ED: Check our p4/5 lead news story re the Whincup incident.

We are iddiots [sic] I expect better reporting from your magazine, which is why I purchase it over your rival’s.

Like most Ford supporters, we are non-plussed at the corporate decision to financially support Stone Brothers before Vodaphone [sic] and DJR, but I do get concerned when your magazine fails to report honestly and adds GMR/Sprint Gas Racing to your report but ignores the efforts of Stephen Johnson [sic].

I now realise that your magazine won’t print this letter,

but I hope to see you return to un-biased reporting. (Maybe these reports are reflecting the bias of your new editor).

David Turner Dulong ED: From ‘old editor’ Grant Rowley’s race report: Adding to the glee for Dick Johnson Racing was Steven Johnson’s fifth place. It was a typical Johnson drive on a circuit where grit and perseverance usually triumph over raw speed.

BTW, it’s OK to bag us, but you might want to learn to spell Johnson’s first name correctly.

opinion Martin D Clark NASCAR Editor

Toyota Motorsports

R.

opinion

AS we pass the halfway point of the time-consuming 36-race Sprint Cup season, Marcos Ambrose stands 18th in the points. By itself, that is impressive – but, the closer you look, the better it gets.

Marcos’s stats tell some of the story. He has finished 17 of 19 races, with his two DNFs both engine related. No raceending crashes, no ‘rookie’ mistakes (OK, Ambrose is not strictly a Cup rookie, but in his first full season, you know what I mean).

He’s the only driver in the top 26 not to have led a lap this season. Some drivers stay out during pit sequences to lead a lap (and get the extra fivepoint bonus that goes with that). Ambrose is not worried about such things, nor is his crew chief Frank Kerr, a real racer if ever there were one.

Just check some of the names behind him; McMurray, Mears, Harvick, Labonte, Waltrip, Sadler, Truex, Hornish and (whisper it) Earnhardt!

It could get better. The next tracks on the schedule

suggest that Ambrose will places, respectively. Thanks improve his position in to his semi-rookie status, he the title chase. After a rare received little to zero help weekend off, the series travels in drafting and most of the north to Indianapolis for the grounds he makes up comes Brickyard 400, arguably the at the end of the races. That second largest event of the is also something noticeable year. Providing Goodyear has about his performances on the addressed the extreme tyre ‘regular’ ovals, where he hangs wear issues that plagued the around until the waning laps race last year, before showing his full hand.

Ambrose is well-placed to If the tide turns and he gets do well there. A blown engine a dancing partner, that allin practice last year limited his important driver, team-mate track time, but he was truly or other to help you draft and competitive in the race. visa versa, at the next ‘plate’ The Speedway, and Pocono race on the 2.66-mile Talladega the following week, are both Superspeedway on November flat and can favour ‘road racers’. 1, I believe he could take his Ambrose finished sixth at first oval track win.

Pocono in June he has to feel Ambrose is becoming a star. confident about his chances.

Of the foreign drivers that And the following race is at have tried to make it in what Watkins Glen, where he won in was the land of ‘Good Ole Boys’, Nationwide a year ago. only Juan Pablo Montoya has A noted road racer, and bettered Ambrose consistently after his 43rd-to-third effort to date. The US media, his at Infineon, he will, in all driving peers and the fans are likelihood, start favourite at beginning to take notice of his the Glen. consistency.

But that is not the story So it’s time for him to stop here. This is; two of his thinking like he’s not one three ‘restrictor plate’ of ‘them’; he has arrived and Superspeedway races, at proven himself in the land of Talladega in April and three left turns. Marcos, you are now weeks ago at Daytona, have one of ‘them’, and don’t let netted him fourth and sixth anyone tell you otherwise!

eLETTER OF THE WEEK First off I would like to say congratulations to all involved in the inaugural Townsville 400 – the track layout is fantastic and highlights the poor design of some of the F1 circuits.

As a keen fan of V8 Supercars, I was rather perplexed on the decisions of the stewards regarding the Whincup/Perkins incident. I have no issue with the outcome but it would be nice if we didn’t have to rely on the commentators’ interpretation of the incident, as entertaining as it was though. I’m sure it wouldn’t be that difficult in this computer age to enlighten us the viewer of what was

found during the investigation, possibly a full sentence explanation rather than let’s just move on as seemed to be the case.

There are a lot of rules to V8 Supercars, if the officials explained why they came to a conclusion would be not only be interesting but we wouldn’t be left in wonder as is the case.

Keep up the good work here guys, love your work.

Jeremy Sharp Email address withheld

Jeremy Sharp 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 21

SHANNONS NATIONALS ROUND 6 – EASTERN CREEK, NSW

Up the Creek, Up a Wall The sixth round of the Shannons Nationals saw seven categories appear – the largest of the season. LACHLAN MANSELL was there

22

race

John Morris/Mpix

23

David Wall continued his impressive Australian GT form at Eastern Creek AUSTRALIAN GT

D

avid Wall has continued his domination of the 2009 Australian GT Championship, winning the round at Eastern Creek on the weekend for Round 6 of the Shannons Nationals.

It was Wall’s third straight GT Championship win, and the Paul Cruickshank Racing V8 Supercar endurance driver was ecstatic with the result.

“I’m really pleased with how the weekend went,” Wall said.

“The car was fantastic, our guys did a great job.”

After struggling to produce a fast lap during the preliminary practice sessions, Wall found some pace out of his Porsche GT3 Cup S in qualifying, scoring

24

pole. He then took a flag-toflag victory in Race 1, as the Lamborghini Gallardo entries of defending champion Mark Eddy and his team-mate Dean Grant swapped positions behind him.

Veteran Jim Richards also mixed it with the front-runners, but his Porsche 997 ex-Carrera Cup car did not have the straight-line speed of the Italian machinery.

Race 2 was a more interesting affair, with Dean Grant beating David Wall off the start and leading for the opening half of the race. Mark Eddy spun on the opening lap and spent the rest of the race recovering, allowing Richards into third. Grant and Wall swapped positions repeatedly in the final few laps, with Grant eventually taking the win by the barest of margins.

Race 3 was situation normal

again, with Wall taking a comprehensive race win after overtaking Grant on Lap 2. Eddy also overtook Grant on the very last lap to finish second in the race, but Grant’s Race 2 win was enough for him to finish second overall ahead of the consistent Jim Richards.

In the GT Challenge Class, Andrew Barlow (Ferrari 360 Challenge) and Jordan Ormsby (Porsche GT3 RS) battled all weekend, with Ormsby winning two of the three races to win the round.

Tony Alford attracted plenty of attention in the GT Production class in his bright pink Nissan GTR, but mechanical problems hampered his bid for the round win, which instead went to Paul Freestone in his Corvette ZO6.

sutton-images.comDirk Klynsmith

Wall takes it for Granted

race

John Morris/Mpix

Someone old, something new: Above, Tony Alford created a stir with the debut of his (very pink) Nissan GTR in the GT Production class. Below, Ian Palmer pulled out his trusty Corvettte at Eastern Creek. Left, Tony Quinn saw the world spin around him in his Aston Martin on the opening lap.

James Smith

John Morris/Mpix

Swapsies

Dirk Klynsmith

Dirk Klynsmith

Marc Cini and Ross Lilley created one of the most interesting news stories over the course of the weekend.

Cini drove his recentlypurchased Aston Martin DBRS9 in practice, only to decide he wasn’t happy with its handling characteristics. After a chat to Ross Lilley, the drivers decided to swap cars, with Lilley taking possession of the Aston Martin and Cini acquiring Lilley’s Porsche GT3 Cup S. Cini found the Porsche much more to his liking, while Lilley elected to race his other race car, a Dodge Viper GT3. It’s a tough life for some …

– LACHLAN MANSELL

25

Swapping rally for road Steve Glenney proved that he can drive cars straight and fast AUSTRALIAN GT Australian Rally Championship privateer Steve Glenney proved that rally drivers can adapt to circuit racing, taking the Australian Manufacturers Championship round win in Round 6 of the Shannons Nationals at Eastern Creek on the weekend.

Glenney drove his Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X to victory in Race 1 from the similar cars of Rod Salmon and Mark King, with Salmon and King swapping positions in Race 2. Glenney then finished second behind Garry Holt’s BMW 335i in the final handicap race to seal the round.

Several of the NSW

26

Combined Touring Car drivers contested the round and surprised some of the series regulars, with Anthony Loscialpo qualifying an astonishing third outright in his VY HSV GTS. Loscialpo and fellow NSW drivers Jim Pollicina and Steve Briffa battled with Jake Camilleri and Barry Nesbitt, Camilleri winning the Class B battle in his Mazda 3 MPS. Honda Integra driver Terry Conroy took out Class C. The Commodore Cup national series featured action aplenty, but Brett Holdsworth survived some of the midpack mayhem to win Race 1, Race 3 and the round, also moving into the series lead.

Tony Bates finished second overall after taking advantage

of the inverted top-10 in Race 2, while Nick Parker rounded out the podium.

Young-guns Scott Andrews and Josh Hughes both raised some eyebrows, with Andrews attracting plenty of attention in pit-lane after qualifying third in his first visit to Eastern Creek.

Defending champion Michael Tancredi was excluded from Race 1 when his car was found to be underweight, and spent Races 2 and 3 battling back through the field en route to a lowly 14th overall, virtually precluding his chances of winning back-to-back titles.

Jason Domaschenz also experienced a nightmare weekend, a differential failure in Race 2 dropping him from

first to fifth in the series points.

Tim Macrow reduced Joey Foster’s Formula 3 championship lead to 11 points, taking advantage of a stall on the grid for Foster in Race 2. Mat Sofi took his firstever F3 win in Race 1, while Ben Crighton also impressed with second in Race 2. Tom Tweedie continued his National Class domination with two wins.

Matt Kingsley won the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge round despite a stall in Race 1, although Race 2 was declared null-and-void after a massive pileup on the opening lap, which eliminated the cars of Jeff Bobik, Jan Jinadasa and Graham Gorman.

John Wood won all four HQ Holden Nationals

race

Dirk Klynsmith

The new and the old: Shaun Juniper in his 997 Porsche (leading above) a race win, as did Matt Kinsgley in his older 996 model.

Below, Sam Zavaglia wrapped up the Australian Superkart Championship, while John Wood, below, secured the HQ Nationals.

James Smith

John Morris/Mpix

Dirk Klynsmith

Bridging the gap: Victorian Tim Macrow edged closer to Joey Foster’s F3 championship lead, while local driver Mat Sofi took his first victory in the class.

Dirk Klynsmith

races, as Gary Bonwick, the champion for the last two years, finally relinquished his title. Bonwick fought valiantly, beating Wood off the line in all three preliminary heats, but ultimately didn’t have the pace to hunt down the Victorian driver. John Wise finished third after capitalising on problems for Greg King and Brendan Avard.

Sam Zavaglia won the national Superkart series with a round win. Last year’s champion Darren Hossack had a tough weekend but still finished second in the series points, while Walkinshaw Racing V8 Supercar endurance driver Shane Price experienced all sorts of dramas throughout the weekend’s four races.

27

Repaying the faith Erickson takes his first win in British Formula Ford Championship FORMULA FORD

A

ustralian driver Daniel Erickson took his maiden British Formula Ford victory in Round 13 of the championship of Great Britain at Donington Park last weekend.

Erickson qualified on pole for both Rounds 13 and 14, going on to take a lights-to-flag win in the first of the weekend’s races.

He backed up that result with a tough third place in the 14th race of the year, making it his best British weekend so far.

After a successful fundraising night here in Australia last week, this was the best way possible for Erickson to repay the faith shown by his many supporters.

28

“I am so pleased to be able to secure pole position and the win today,” said an ecstatic Erickson after the race.

“This is the best way I know to thank everyone who has supported me. My family, the AMSF, Borland Racing and Spectrum cars, Kevin Mills Racing and my friends back home who have provided funds and ongoing encouragement,” Erickson led every lap of the race to win by a comfortable margin, having qualified his Australian built Spectrum chassis.

The race turned out to be an outstanding one for the Erickson’s Kevin Mills Racing team-mates as well. Alex Jones and Daniel Cammish finished third and fourth respectively, with Cammish once again

claiming the win in the Scholarship class.

Erickson was also pleased that his team-mates weren’t that far behind.

“It’s even better that my teammates were right up there with me to showcase how good the KMR team and Spectrum chassis are.

“We’re a small, close team and I don’t think anyone in pit lane works harder than our guys.”

Team owner Kevin Mills was beaming.

“That is mega!” he said.

“We have been promising this for quite a while and it is terrific to deliver. Dan C has been solid all season and is dominating the Scholarship class, but Dan E and Alex have had more than their fair share of bad luck so far.

“It’s great for them to have

a good, clean run and to see them on the podium where they deserve to be.”

On the flipside, Round 14 of the Championship was a far more torrid affair for the KMR team. Six cars fought for the lead for most of the race, and on the 11th lap, Erickson and four of his rivals crossed the line five abreast! After being shuffled back in the pack, he was able to fight back to third at the finish and record another strong podium finish.

After the weekend, Erickson has advanced to sixth lace in the title chase, while Cammish remains fourth and a comfortable leader in Scholarship.

The next outing is at the famous Silverstone Circuit on the weekend of 15 and 16 August.

race

Martin’s Super Second SUPERLEAGUE

sutton-images.com

JOHN Martin had his best international racing weekend of 2009, qualifying second and racing to second place in the second round of Superleague Formula at Zolder last weekend.

Driving for Randers FC in the ‘football’ themed racing series, the 25-year-old Queenslander finished a close second in Race 1, but was struck down by a gearbox problem in Race 2.

Martin missed out on pole position by a mere 0.078s in the Qualifying Final on Saturday and at the rolling start for Race 1, it was polesitter Kasper Andersen (FC Midtjylland) who got the jump and led him into the first corner.

As he settled into second place, all hell broke loose behind, necessitating a Safety Car period.

At the restart, the gap from Martin in second to race leader Andersen stood at 0.749s.

By lap 7 the Australian had brought it down to 0.653s before a minor error cost him time.

“I made a little bit of a mistake before the pitstop and (Adrian) Valles got me,” admitted Martin.

“Fortunately I was pitting that lap anyway.

“But then we lost a little bit of

time in the pits. I hit the front jack a bit hard; it was probably only half a wheel out. The car dropped down on the jack, just like it did at Magny Cours, this time though it was when the crew almost had the front wheels on and to make it worse we lost a wheel nut.”

Despite the slow stop, Martin was still looking at potential win and resumed in eighth place. By the time all of his rivals had cycled through their pit-stops, Martin was second place with a gap of 2.334s to race leader Craig Dolby in the sister ADR car for Tottenham Hotspur.

Another Safety Car made an appearance, but Martin couldn’t get enough heat in his tyres and failed to mount a challenge on Dolby.

The reverse grid for Race 2 saw a rain shower hit the track before the start, however a gearbox problem meant his race was virtually over before it had begun.

“It just lost system pressure,” he said. “It started to play up on the second green flag lap before the start. It wouldn’t shift and I couldn’t go to manual mode (from semiautomatic) because there wasn’t enough pressure. So I was stuck in fourth gear.”

Series newcomer Esteban Guerrieri took the victory in Race 2 for Al-Ain FC. Valles increased his lead in the championship with a total of 159 points, while Martin has moved up to 14th on 66 points.

The next round is at Donington Park (August 1-2).

29

When things go your way ...

ALMS DE FERRAN Motorsports can do no wrong in this year’s American Le Mans Series.

Team drivers Simon Pagenaud and Gil de Ferran won again, their third straight on the year, in the American Le Mans Northeast Grand Prix at Lime Rock Park last Saturday.

Pagenaud crossed the line in his Acura 43.776s ahead of David Brabham, who appeared to be on his way to a secondstraight Lime Rock victory with Patrón Highcroft teammate Scott Sharp. However, a punctured tyre with 13 minutes

left ended those hopes.

Victory for de Ferran Motorsports means that De Ferran and Pagenaud haven’t lost since the St. Petersburg street race in early April.

“We started in the middle of last year; not only do we

have a steep learning curve in Sportscars, but we started a team from scratch,” said team owner de Ferran.

“We are just over a year old, and we really used these last two months to our advantage.

“I am quite happy about the

evolution of the team. We had a little good fortune today. But it was good. We had a good race.”

Brabham and Sharp continue to lead the title ahead of de Ferran/Pagenaud. Clint Field, Jon Field and Chapman Ducote are third.

third Pro Stock win of the year, stopping Jason Line in the final round 6.58/211 to 6.60/210, and ended a frustrating streak of runner-ups in his last four final-round appearances.

Edwards’ final-round win moved him to within 20 points of frontrunner Jeg Coughlin.

The A.R.T/YoungLife Pontiac was strong every round, clocking a 6.55/210 to eclipse both ends of the track record and send Ben Watson packing.

He followed with a pair of 6.58s to stop Greg Stanfield and Houston champ Ron Krisher.

– DAVID OSTAZSEWSKI

NHRA Antron Brown raced to his second-straight win on the NHRA Western Swing with a Top Fuel victory at the 22nd annual NHRA Northwest Nationals at Pacific Raceways near Seattle.

Brown scored his sixth career Top Fuel win and fourth of the season by denying Schumacher a second straight win in Seattle, 3.98/301 to 3.99/300. Brown, with co-crew chiefs Brian Corradi and Mark Oswald, took the Mike Ashley Racing/Matco Tools dragster to earlier wins over Clay Millican, Morgan

Lucas and Spencer Massey.

Tim Wilkerson, right, notched a Funny Car win by defeating low qualifier Tony Pedregon in the final round, 4.21/291 to 4.28/291. Wilkerson powered his Levi, Ray & Shoup Mustang to low e.t. of the first round at 4.18, to defeat Robert Hight.

He then sent Mike Neff home before trailering point leader Ron Capps in the semifinals.

Pedregon moved to within 30 points of Ron Capps, and Ashley Force-Hood, by trailering Grant Downing, Force-Hood, and John Force to reach the final.

Mike Edwards scored his

Advertise for as little as $75 per issue - special monthly packages Contact Oriana Ruffini oriana@mnews.com.au

30

David Ostazewski

The Western Swing continues

race

Farfus on the Menu Farfus and Menu split the wins at Brands Hatch WTCC Alain Menu and Augusto Farfus split the wins at Brands Hatch in the World Touruing Car Championship last weekend.

Menu’s Chevrolet Cruze won Race 1 despite being headed away by Rob Huff.

A pact between the two drivers allowed Menu to assert himself on lap three to grab the race lead, whie drama at Druids on lap one accounted for the leading drivers from SEAT and BMW – Yvan Muller hit the back of Augusto Farfus and turned him around but delayed himself and was hit from behind, breaking the SEAT’s suspension causing the car to retire.

Farfus recovered magnificently to secure ninth, only for Nicola Larini’s Chevrolet

to suffer a puncture starting the last lap. That elevated Farfus into eighth and therefore pole position for Race 2, as Menu, right, and Huff celebrated a onetwo for Chevrolet with Andy Priaulx glued to the rear of his fellow countryman’s Cruze.

With Farfus on pole for Race 2 and his team-mate Jorg Muller second, there was no doubt as to the winner. Farfus fled, Muller shadowed him, while Tiago Monteiro held third before SEAT teammate Rickard Rydell (who was quicker) moved ahead. Monteiro fell back behind team-mate Gabriele Tarquini, crucial for the Italian’s hopes in the championship, Gabriele then being allowed past Rickard to beg third and narrow the points to Muller.

Ah, yes, Muller. A stunning drive from 24th moved him into contention and team tactics allow him to seventh to maintain his lead, albeit a slender one of just five points.

– DAVID ADDISON

Grubmuller closes in on Ricciardo FORMULA 3

sutton-images.com

Walter Grubmuller and Wayne Boyd shared the British F3 International Series wins at Donington Park last weekend, with Australian driver Daniel Ricciardo suffering a disappointing weekend.

Grubmuller won Race 1 from Hitech team-mate Renger van der Zande but Ricciardo took third place after a troubled race, podium pictured.

Ricciardo made a less-thanperfect start with too much wheelspin and lost ground,

and in his haste to recover, overdrove on the opening lap which cost him more places.

He worked his way into third with some impressive passing manoeuvres but could never find a way past the defensive van der Zande.

Wayne Boyd finally delivered the goods in Race 2 after a lacklustre season to date. He mastered the treacherous conditions to win from his T-Sport team-mate Adriano Buzaid.

From 10th on the grid, Boyd dropped to 12th but carved his way through the field in

the greasy conditions. After an early Safety Car, Ricciardo was mugged by van der Zande and spun down to seventh as Boyd

coped better than everyone in the wet and worked his way into the lead.

Van der Zande faded near the end and was later awarded a 25 second penalty for his clash with Ricciardo, who took fifth at flagfall.

The results mean that West Aussie Ricciardo continues to lead the prestigious championship by 13 points from Grubmuller.

The next two races in the series are less than a week away at the famous Spa circuit in Belgium.

– DAVID ADDISON

31

PIKES PEAK 87TH RACE TO THE CLOUDS

The Mountain and The Mo Tajima and Suzuki tamed Pikes Peak for the fourth year in

32

race

onster a row

Ford Racing

The Big Fellas: Monster-san got to grips with the Suzuki SX4, if not the loose surface on the course, to take his fourth Pikes Peak title. Marcus Gronholm gave it everything in his Ford Fiesta, above, but came up short for fifth overall. Hopefully, the Finn and the Ford will come back next yea.

Monster Sport

NOBUHIRO Tajima always has a grin on his face. So not getting the record at Pikes Peak left him … smiling.

The man known as Monster won the race to the top of the Colorado mountain on Sunday, but loose gravel on the road stopped him from bettering his 2007. Tajima’s partSuzuki, part-Transformer flew up the course in 10m15.368s, well short of his two-year-old mark of 10m01.408s. Two-time world rally champion Marcus Gronholm had engine trouble and finished second in the Unlimited Division at

11m28.963s, but nobody can accuse the Finn of not giving his best. He finished his with flames spitting off the right-rear tyre of his Ford Fiesta, and was fifth fastest overall.

British Rallycross star put a troubled buildup to the event behind him – his Ford RS200 failed to make a single practice run before the race – to take third place in Unlimited.

Paul Dallenbach, a three-time winner of the event, was second overall and first in the Open Wheel Division in 10m52.097s in his Chevy.

Jimmy Keeney was second from Spencer Steele.

33

The Big Men fly down south Blustery Sandown turns on big fields, big action in Vic State round VIC STATE SERIES DESPITE the constant annoyance of Melbourne’s wintery cool wind, Round 3 of the Victorian State Circuit Racing Championships at Sandown showcased extraordinary track action.

And with only one round left in the series, it’s certain that many series titles will go right down to the wire in Phillip Island.

Andrew McFarland did his championship bid no harm by

running away with the round honors of Formula Vee series. In the 944s, veteran John Morriss showed the field that there’s no substitute for speed, and easily cruised home for the round win in Race 3 of the all-Porsche series.

The Saloon Cars were combined with the E30s, and Simon Tabinor took the overall win in his VT Commodore. Craig Munro dominated the E30,s winning all three races easily.

Rob Whitwell had it his own way all weekend in the MGs

and invited British Sports Cars, dominating the proceedings with a win in all three races.

The Improved Production Cars couldn’t do anything about Anthony Wallis at the front, with the South Australian making it a clean sweep. Just like in Round 2 Rod Raatjes dominated the HQs, winning races one, two and three.

Jonathan Miles was quick when it counted and won the Formula Ford 1600 Class, while Scott Pye made it his own way in the Duratec Formula Fords.

Both Paul Whitmarsh and Tony Hubbard dominated their respective categories, with Whitmarsh taking the Sports Cars honors with ease, as did Hubbard in the Historic Touring Cars.

– CALLUM BRANAGAN

Who said Formula Vees can’t fly?

Certainly not Richard La Velle, whose Jacer came back to earth with a crunch. John Dean got a good view of the action in car #2.

Chris Carter

34

race

Heaven’s Gateway NATIONWIDE SERIES KYLE Busch dominated the latter part of the Nationwide Series race at Gateway Speedway near St Louis on Saturday night to take his sixth race win of the year as his race rival Kevin Harvick ran dry of fuel after leading a race-high 106 laps.

“It was good, hard-fought race,” remarked Busch, who has three wins and four runner-

up finishes in the last seven Nationwide races. “It was a real battle there with Kevin Harvick. He had a real good car tonight.

Unfortunately, we didn’t get a chance to race him there at the end. He ran out and had to come to pit road.”

Brad Keselowski led the first laps from pole before Harvick took over, then Busch led the mid. Harvick took over and stretched out a healthy lead over Busch before the fuel error and ended his night

17th after the crew had trouble re-firing his own team’s Chevrolet in the pits.

In a rare Nationwide Series appearance Reed Sorenson finished second in a Braun Racing Toyota with Carl Edwards – now 212 points behind Busch in the standings – good for third. Sorenson and Keselowski tied for the pole, but Keselowski was awarded the front starting slot based on car owner points.

– MARTIN D CLARK

Toyota Motorsports

Soucek wins, but nobody is smiling at Brands FORMULA 2 ANDY Soucek came away from Brands Hatched with an enhanced lead in the Formula 2 Championship, but it came in tragic circumstances.

After Austrian Philipp Eng won the first race, Spaniard Soucek won Race 2 after the race was stopped three times

by red flags. Unfortunately, one of those was for a freak accident that claimed the life of Henry Surtees (see news pages).

Eng became the fifth winner in five races, when he sped from pole to a narrow win from Soucek and Surtees. The son of the 1964 World champion John Surtees scored his first podium of the year after speeding past

Kazim Vasiliauskas, who ran wide at Paddock Hill Bend.

Race 2 was stopped three times, the first red flag coming when as early as lap 2 when Milos Pavlovic clashed with Vasiliauskas when drizzle started, the second when Sebastian Hohenthal and Germán Sánchez clashed.

Soucek’s crew initially had

difficulty restarting his car, but once they did, he managed to peel off the five green flag laps remaining to win from Robert Wickens, Mikhail Aleshin and Eng. Points: Soucek 46, Wickens 39, Eng 27, Jousse, Bortolotti and Hegewald 25, Aleshin 23, Pavlovic 19.

35

36

rear of grid

Odd Spot

I

FFord history to be celebrated

ATTENTION all Formula Ford history buffs – make sure you’re at Sandown for the V8 Supercar meeting in two weeks time.

To celebrate 40 years of Formula Ford racing in Australia, the Australian Formula Ford Association is putting on a special display at the very circuit where the first Aussie FFord race was held back in 1969, featuring some of the noteworthy cars that have raced across the four decades.

Included will be John Bowe’s Elfin 600, Russell Ingall’s title-winning Van Diemen RF89, Luke Youlden’s Mygale SJ2000, and Mark Winterbottom’s Spectrum 06.

Leading the current Australian Formula Ford Championship field on it’s parade laps will be Larry Perkins’ original Elfin 600, which has been restored into it’s original colours (as pictured above).

T’S funny how life goes sometimes.

About two decades ago, Jean Todt/Ari Vatanen were pretty good. Vatanen was at the height of his powers behind the wheel, and was busy winning the gruelling Paris-Dakar four times for Peugeot. Todt, at that time, was heading up Pug’s motor racing program, and would have had great pride in showing the company’s money-makers the trophy cabinet. Life was good.

Now, Vatanen and Todt are the first two confirmed candidates for the FIA presidency, which is about to be made available by the outgoing Max Mosley, and already it’s on between the two, Vatanen unimpressed

by Mosley’s unconditional support of Todt well before voting has begun (check out today’s GPWeek for more details).

It’s a co-inky dink and a half, as well as a great excuse to run this photo of the two from the 1989 Dakar, straight out of Peugeot’s archives. Classic.

37