Motorsport eNews Issue 127 - October 20-26, 2009

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Issue No. 127 October 20 - 26 2009

E N O Z Y L ON

S R E F R U S R O F T U O P G 1 A : D E M R I F CON

V8

two’s company, three’s a crowd ...

but four is essential

Editorial 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

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MD / Publisher

Chris Lambden publisher@mnews.com.au

Contributing Writers F1: Will Buxton, Mark Glendenning, Paolo Filisetti Europe: Quentin Spurring, David Addison US: Martin D. Clark, Phil Morris Speedway: Greg Boscato, Geoff Rounds, Darren Sutton, Tony Millard (UK) 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. 127 | 20 - 26 Oct 2009

news 4 (A)Lone Rangers

7 Tander, Davo split?

15 Wagon Wheels 17 Brothers In ...

18 Drew to a close

chat 20 5 minutes with ... opinion 22 Branagan 23 van Leeuwen

race 24 Surfers Paradise 28 NASCAR 32 FFord Festival 35 Speedway

trade 36 Classifieds

V8s top the bill @ Surfers ‘Stick with your car’ plan Holden tests its Sportswagon MINIs???

Marget calls it quits Jamie Whincup A1GP collapse #1 A1GP collapse #2 Full Preview Who do ya reckon?

Palmer wins, Erickson eighth Farr too good

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

V8 SUPERCARS

V

8 SUPERCARS will contest the secondlongest event of the year – 600kms of street racing – at this week’s SuperGP to compensate for the last-minute failure of A1GP to make its debut appearance at the Gold Coast event.

The Gold Coast Motor Events Company, promoters of the SuperGP, bowed to the bleeding obvious on Saturday, when sheer time factors confirmed what had been suspected for weeks and first floated publically by eNews five weeks ago – that A1GP’s fleet of cars was not on its way to Australia.

Despite assurance after assurance from A1GP boss Tony Teixeira, who explained the final no-show as simply one of lack of time to prepare the cars after apparently winning a legal case to have them released from the hands of freight company DOT (which had monies outstanding from when the cars last raced, in May), the trail of unpaid bills affecting suppliers and teams from last year’s series proved terminal in terms of A1GP racing at Surfers.

On Saturday, GCMEC formally terminated its agreement with A1GP, at the same time confirming Plan B arrangements with V8 Supercars to turn two 200km races into four 150km races – two on Saturday and two on Sunday.

Final details were being put to the programme on Monday (see revised schedule in our event preview, page 24) based around that concept.

Additional team costs will be worn by the promoters – including supplies of additional fuel and six

The Gold Coast 600 additional Dunlop control tyres per car, as well as additional car running costs.

One team owner confirmed to us that the tough Surfers layout would require new front brake rotors for each race … eNews understands that an additional dollar number, per car, was agreed by the promoters over the weekend.

Queensland’s current Sports Minister Phil Reeves (appointed since the ill-fated contract with A1GP was agreed) has become directly involved, working with event PR consultants BAM Media, to put in place some additional on-track (albeit non-race) attractions to fill out the weekend.

Heading these will be a series of Australian Legends processions, featuring a dozen

of the most significant ‘Muscle Cars’ and drivers from the 60s and 70s – from Allan Moffat’s Coke Mustang through to Jim Richards’ JPS BMW 635. Ten of the 12 cars will come from the Bowden Collection. The cars and drivers will be on hand over the weekend for closeup viewing and autograph hunters.

The event will also celebrate Jack Brabham’s famous ‘push the car over the line’ at the US F1 GP 50 years ago to clinch the first of his three World Championships. Sir Jack, son Geoff, and grandson Matthew will be on hand as the latter literally re-enacts a moment of motorsport history.

GCMEC has offered to refund patrons who have prepurchased tickets should they wish to do so.

V8s ramp it u the pin on S

Motorsport eNews, September 15 First Blood: eNews exclusively predicted th

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

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Four to the Floor Teams scramble to group V8 SUPERCARS

Marshall Cass

AS V8 teams plan for 2010, more and more four-car marriages of convenience are taking shape as the ultimate means of staying competitive and cost-sharing.

Already, HRT (with Autobarn/Bundaberg), TeamVodafone (with Paul Morris Motorsport), Kelly Brothers (with four cars under one roof ) and, it seems FPR (as we reported last week, with Rod Nash’s Bottle-O deal imminent and possibly AN Other) are set up, or setting up, in four car squads. That accounts for 16 of the current 29-car grid.

Wilson Security Racing’s Paul Cruickshank appears to be heading the search for the next four-car deal, this week confirming that “in my view, it’s essential if you are to compete on equal terms and stay in the game.”

Cruickshank is juggling a number of

options and, as he said on Monday “all the balls are in the air – and some small part of each of the rumours you hear is probably correct!”

Early reports hinted at a liason between PCR and Dick Johnson Racing, while the Kiwi has also, logically, been linked with his geographic neighbour, Stone Brothers Racing – possibly bringing his single owned licence, along with one from Jason Bright – already running within the SBR camp – or even … Tasman Racing, itself looking for a better way for 2010. There has even been a suggestion that the latter deal could include Greg Murphy.

While not commenting on the speculation, Murph did concur that “that (four-car groups) is definitely the way things are heading – but what that actually means for us I don’t know right now.”

up at Surfers after A1GP pulls SuperGP

FPR is half way toward a four-car ‘collective’ ...

Marshall Cass

he A1GP fall-out five weeks ago.

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

Future A1GP replacement unl

SUPERGP EARLY indications are that the promoters of the Gold Coast SuperGP – or whatever it will be renamed in the future – are unlikely to seek another international open-wheeler category to make up the event’s programme in 2010.

With V8 Supercars stepping up to the plate to take on the primary drawcard role for the first time this weekend, without the international content alongside, the opportunity exists to prove that the local V8s can carry the event solo, thus saving the organisers the substantial costs involved in importing an act.

Having insisted on an international act to date, the signs are that government pollies are warming to the idea of a V8-led event.

One interested party, V8 Supercars Executive Chairman Tony Cochrane has no doubts: “The reaction to the non-appearance of A1GP has been interesting. As I speak (3pm Monday) there have been exactly six requests for a refund – and a spike in new ticket sales – so I’m confident it will be an excellent weekend.

“We have carried the corporate sales for a number of years, so I’ve no doubt we can – as we do in many other places – make this event work well.”

Cochrane questioned whether a suitable replacement international open-wheeler catgory exists: “How many genuine categories are there equipped to travel internationally, and are set up to do so? When we became ‘international’ it cost us something like US$1.4m to palletise and set up for overseas travel.

“And can you justify an additional expense of $5-8m to gain, maybe $500,000 to $1m in additional ticket sales?

“I think this weekend, and the professionalism of our teams in adapting to an increased race schedule will be telling.”

Meanwhile, the A1GP fiasco has claimed its first scalp, with news that former Queensland Deputy Premier Terry Mackenroth is to quit as chairman of Gold Coast Motor Events Company after this weekend’s event.

OPINION – by Chris Lambden IT took until Saturday for SuperGP officials to finally admit what had become obvious – that there was going to be no A1GP race at Surfers this week.

Until the very death, Tony Teixeira was telling SuperGP’s management that all was well – an ‘unconditional guarantee’ as recently as two weeks ago; a ‘refinancing deal’ three weeks ago … it was outrageous.

The world has, particularly in the past year, had it with socalled business gurus talking the talk, but failing miserably to walk the walk, and at the expense of the wider community.

In this case the SuperGP is the latest to be conned.

“I want to personally apologise to the people affected by this regrettable but unavoidable decision,” said Teixeira at the head of a statement.

Unavoidable? Just pay your bills mate!

There should be some sympathy for Messrs Hooton and Co for, yes, until the cars failed to turn up, A1GP wasn’t strictly in breach of its contract.

Deposits had been paid for accommodation …

But while the SuperGP office was dealing primarily with the fast-talking man at the top, Motorsport eNews was – when we were the first to seriously question A1GP’s ability to deliver five weeks ago – talking to the footsoldiers: the un-paid suppliers from the last series; the team owners who had no intention of being unpaid again; the team members getting “if you can find another job take it” texts. A1GP is drowning in debt.

It had been coming for weeks when we went public five weeks ago. The first real warning sign came when the traditional pre-season test was cancelled – because the cars were still in hock. From there it was excuse after excuse.

And still Mr Teixeira was telling SuperGP, all would be well.

In the end, it was the freight company that had flown the cars back to the UK in May which, understandably and admirably, on the basis of ‘possession being ninetenths’, hung onto them and demanded its cash. DOT has, in all likelihood, saved

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likely Phil Williams

No more gun pairs?

V8 SUPERCARS sutton-images.com

other promoters from equal embarrassment.

That Mr Teixeira still appears to believe that A1GP can survive and move on is incredible. A1GP is not an FIA championship, but it is FIA-sanctioned. That sanction should be withdrawn forthwith. A1GP has brought motorsport in general into disrepute. The finances underpinning A1GP have been

questioned from the start and are now revealed to be utterly fragile. The ‘World Cup of Motorsport’ was an interesting idea, but that should now be it.

Teixeira has promised to refund monies already paid. Good luck. Plus $50k to SuperGP’s favourite charity.

Whoop – that’ll make up for everything ...

And what of this week’s SuperGP (or should that

BATHURST winners Garth Tander and Will Davison may be separated in 2010.

Apart from its annual budgeting discussion, the subject of endurance race co-

now just be ‘Super’)? The Queensland Government might well complain that its ‘international’ content isn’t there, and opposition pollies will score cheap points, but with V8 Supercars expanding its on-track programme significantly, it’ll still be one of the good ‘weekends away’ in Aussie motorsport.

It’s such a shame that the deal with Indycar fell over ...

drivers is on the agenda for this week’s (Tues/Wed) V8 Supercar Board meeting.

There is a firm proposal that full-time drivers should stick with their regular race cars for the two big endurance races, forcing teams to partner each of their stars with a less-experienced co-driver.

“Yes, that’s up for discussion,” confirmed Tony Cochrane on Monday.

“The budget papers are something like 100 pages, and could easily fill up most of the two days, so there’s some chance other business might get held over – but yes, the subject of long distance co-drivers is up for discussion.”

Teams’ deal the barrier to Ambrose one-off V8 SUPERCARS DESPITE last-minute attempts to secure either a one-off licence, or the loan of an existing licence, plans for Marcos Ambrose to make a one-off return at the Sydney 500 have been abandoned – for this year at least.

As Motorsport eNews reported exclusively last week, plans for the USbased former champ, now slugging it out with the NASCAR stars, to run in an SBRprepared Falcon were well advanced – with sponsorship in place, reportedly from the company which adorned Marcos’ car back in his V8 days, Pirtek.

However, V8 Supercars’ own licensing (REC) system proved to be the stumbling block, with no means available to make

temporary use of the ‘vacant’ 30th licence recently reclaimed from Inta Racing, within the teams’ agreement.

“We’d love to have Marcos back,” V8 Chairman Tony Cochrane told us on Monday.

“There were two things needed: one, the fee he would require, and two, he would need to be driving one of the existing 29 cars. The teams’ agreement is specific, and the only events where provision is made for any additional ‘wildcard’ entries are the two endurance races.

“Our target is to have a 28-car field for all our other events, and so the 30th licence, which was handed back recently, is not available. It is off the table.

“So the only way this could have happened would be if negotiations were

successful to get Marcos into one of the 29 existing cars.

“To change the REC requires a 75 percent approval of existing licence holders. That is the teams’ business, and it is something that could not be changed for this year.”

Are one-off wildcards an option for the future?

“Again, that is the teams’ business, but, if you were to ask me personally, I don’t think they’d do it.” eNews understands that approaches were made to a couple of existing licence owners with a view to ‘loaning’ a licence (ie standing down a regular driver) for the event, but those too have not born fruit.

The idea, for this year at least, remains stillborn.

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Jeff Grech leaves Sprint Gas V8 SUPERCARS

JEFF Grech has parted ways with Sprint Gas Racing.

Grech, who was appointed to the position of Managing Director of the Melbourne-based team in August 2007, has left the team “to concentrate on his business interests outside of Motorsport”, according to a team media release.

Ironically, the news comes after SGR’s most competitive showing of the last few seasons.

Both the team’s entries showed podium speed at Bathurst, and the Greg Murphy/Mark Skaife entry looked in position to win until it got trapped by a late-race Safety Car. “I’ve enjoyed my time with the team and think it has some of the best people in pit lane, which was proven at Bathurst last weekend.”

Said Grech in the statement.

“I wish the team every success going forward.”

Mike Henry, who has been SGR’s Engineering Manager, has taken over the role vacated by Grech and remain in place for the remainder of the season.

More 2+4s for 2010?

V8 SUPERCARS

Marshall Cass

10

Cory Sleap

SUPERBIKES might become a regular fixture on the 2010 V8 Supercar Champioship Championship Series.

Motorsport eNews has been told that a plan that would see the Australian Superbike Championship join the nation’s top car racing series for four rounds next season, with Hidden Valley, Queensland Raceway, Symmons Plains and the L&H 500 at Phillip Island being likely venues.

Motorcycle racing sources reported that the deal was not confirmed, but that there was “determination on both sides” to see the 2+4 format reestablish itself.

One of the obstacles standing in the way of the deal is the fact that there are several teams yet to confirm their plans for next season. Despite the improved exposure of the Woodstock Boubon-backed series this year, a number of teams are expecting a reduction in backing for next season, one source suggesting that the series could morph into a privateer team-based championship.

There is also a suggestion that Superbikes’ second-level category, for Supersports, could join their bigger brothers on the V8SCS support program.

Holden welcomes Brock Trophy ‘home’ V8 SUPERCARS HOLDEN welcomed the Peter Brock Trophy to its Fisherman’s Bend headquarters for the very first time last Friday, in an official ceremony.

The celebration included interviews with all six placegetters from the Supercheap Bathurst 1000, led, obviously, by winners Garth Tander and Will Davison. Holden employees were then able to have a limited edition poster signed

by the Holden Racing Team stars. “[It’s] a fantastic honour to bring this trophy back to Holden HQ,” said Tander.

“When we actually got the trophy, it was a great feeling to be the first Holden drivers to win it. We were getting sick of Ford winning that race, so we were massively motivated.”

“It’s absolutely incredible,” added Davison.

“It feels like yesterday I was here at the launch, so to be sitting back here with the Peter

Brock Trophy, there are no words to describe how I feel.

This is the biggest highlight of my career, for sure.”

Tander and Davison’s win was a fitting way to celebrate a year that marked Holden’s 40th anniversary of factory involvement in motorsport, the 40th anniversary of Brock’s Bathurst debut, and the 30th anniversary of Brock’s crushing 1979 victory for the Holden Dealer Team.

The win was 26th in a Holden, the 14th for a Holden factory team, and the sixth for HRT.

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Adelaide: V8 SUPERCARS

ADELAIDE’S Clipsal 500 looks set to maintain its status as V8 Supercars’ premier weekend with a packed program of support events and entertainment for 2010.

Promoters announced the details of the March 11-14

event last week, and there is going to be plenty to do, see and hear over the four days.

Supporting the twin 250km races on Saturday and Sunday will be a huge support program, headlined

by V8 Utes, which will be celebrating a decade at the event. Joining the class will be

Fujitsu V8 Supercars, Australian GTs, Aussie racing Cars and the Touring Car Masters and, for the first time, the MINI Challenge and Supersports.

There will be four concerts at the track. Friday’s acts are yet to be finalised, but on Thursday, Eskimo Joe and British India will appear; on

Phil Williams

Go, Show and Quo!

Saturday, stars of Australian Idol Jessica Mauboy, Wes Carr, Tom Williams and Idol’s 2009 winner. On Sunday night, Ian Moss, Noiseworks and Mental as Anything will back up British rock legends, Status Quo. Race tickets are available through Ticketek, via ticketek. com, or www.clipsal500.com.au

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JUNIOR

Earnhardt admits NASCAR

Honda Racing

Needed: A Job

IndyCar Champ still has no deal for 2010 INDYCAR DARIO Franchitti has talent, looks, money, a happy marriage and two IndyCar championship titles – but he does not have a contract for next season.

Franchitti was “looking for motivation” when he took Chip Ganassi up on his offer to switch to NASCAR for 2008, competing half a season in the Nationwide series until the team ran out of money.

Still under his then two-year contract, Franchitti decided to return to IndyCars.

“For me, IndyCar is where it is at,” said Franchitti, who felt vindicated that he’s still

in his prime at 36, the oldest champion in IndyCar’s 14-year history.

“I’m doing what I want to do and with a unified series. I love driving the cars. I’m with a great team at Team Target. If Chip and Target will have me back next year I’ll be doing this again. I’ll do it as long as I’m enjoying it and as long as I’m competitive.”

Although Franchitti may not be considered the most aggressive race car driver, he displays great talent in car setup and patience on the track, often letting the race come to him. Perhaps that’s why leaving AGR at the end of 2007 (after winning the IndyCar

championship) explains why that team has struggled so much since.

Franchitti’s consistency was the key to the title, with five wins, 13 top fives and five poles, and that can only increase his value in negotiations with Ganassi for 2010.

Noteworthy is when Jackie Stewart attended the Kansas race as a guest of Roger Penske last August, he took the opportunity to tease Franchitti about his long hair. Franchitti responded that he modeled his long wavy locks after Jackie, his childhood hero, to which Stewart replied, “But you need much longer side burns.”

– MARY MENDEZ

THE mystery of why Dale Earnhardt Jr continues to struggle so badly continued at Lowe’s Motor Speedway at the weekend, and the most popular driver in NASCAR says that he is “about to the end of my rope.”

Earnhardt, right with owner Rick Hendrick, qualified 39th and was classified one place higher at the end of the race in Charlotte on Saturday night, and sits 22nd in the Sprint Cup points.

“I feel like I don’t have any control, you know,” Earnhardt said before practice for Saturday night’s race. “[Hendrick has] put me in a great position, but I haven’t made the most of it or for whatever reason we’re just not getting it done. I don’t know what to do. We were top-15 in practice and we go out to qualify and we were one of the worst cars here ... It’s like really encouraging one day and the next day it’s equally discouraging. That gets really old. I’m about to the end of my rope on it.”

The Hendrick team switched crew chiefs on the #88 Chevy earlier this season, with Lance McGrew replacing his longtime crew chief (and cousin), Tony Eury Jr. Earnhardt would not comment on whether

... but Dario does have a nice, waterproof watch NASCAR SPRINT CUP DARIO Franchitti was the big winner at IndyCar annual awards function.

In addition to Franchitti collecting a bonus US $1m and receiving the Ritmo Mundo diamond-encrusted champion’s timepiece worth $100,000, two other

12

driver standouts were recognized. Graham Rahal was honored with the Tony Renna Rising Star Award (Renna was killed at Indianapolis in 2003 in a tyre testing accident) and, J.R. Hildebrand, who took the 2009 Firestone Indy Lights title, received the Greg Moore Legacy award.

The awards were presented at Miami’s

new W South Beach hotel, poolside. As Franchitti was presented with his new watch, the announcer told Dario the watch was waterproof. Within minutes, Tony Kanaan and Scott Dixon shoved Franchitti into the oversized pool. Franchitti came prepared and changed into dry clothes soon after.

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R’S MYSTERY

Mixed Reviews NASCAR doubts over Danica

s he is “at the end of his rope” another change would be made in the final races of this season, or for 2010.

“I don’t have the credentials to make the call. If I told you that I wanted to be with Lance next year I wouldn’t be telling you that out of my knowledge of expertise and talent. I’d be telling because it’s fun hanging

time,” Johnson said. “That’s everything in learning these cars and these tracks. She ANY plans Danica Patrick may have raced at some of has to combine IndyCars these tracks, but not in a with a part-time Nationwide closed-body vehicle. So it NASCAR effort next season boils down to seat time.” will not have the support But IndyCar rival Dario of all in Stock Car racing’s Franchitti believes Patrick can garages. succeed doing both.

Patrick is believed to have “Absolutely, I think Danica re-signed with Andretti Green can make it in stock car Racing’s IndyCar team (which racing,” Franchitti said. will be solely owned by “Hornish and certainly Juan Michael Andretti at the end have proven right now, given of October) and, as reported enough time, they can all previously, has been linked adapt. A good driver in Cup with JR Motorsports, Roush car is a good driver in an Fenway, Michael Waltrip and IndyCar given time. But they Tony Stewart Racing. are so different. There has But NASCAR names such to be a plan in place and as Jimmie Johnson and Juan people have to allow that to Pablo Montoya, and team happen. I hope Danica sticks owner Jack Roush have in IndyCar a bit longer.” spoken out against her doing – MARY MENDEZ both programs.

“I wouldn’t be doing both cars,” Montoya told the Examiner.com.

“That’s my advice. The cars are so different. You will get comfortable in the Nationwide car and then go to the other thing, and every time you come back will be like night and day.”

“The overall thing she needs to accomplish is getting seat

INDYCAR

out with him. Hell, you don’t even know if Lance wants to do it. Hell, I wouldn’t want it. It’s a tough job.”

Hendrick’s team has won 11 races this season, none of them

by Earnhardt. His team-mates sit first in the points (Jimmie Johnson), second (Mark Martin) and fifth (Jeff Gordon).

Honda Racing

NASCAR Media

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BRIEFLY... n WA’s Collie Motorplex will host its first proper race meeting this Sunday.

The circuit has been used for sprints, regularity trails and hill climbs for years, but this weekend, an invitation race meeting for Historic Touring Cars, Saloon Cars, HQ Holdens and Street Cars and Improved Production will take place.

The circuit, located 200 kilometres south of Perth, was slated to host a full WA Sporting Car Club meeting in November, but the meeting’s proximity to the Bigpond 300 at Barbagallo Raceway killed interest. n Sadly, we must report the passing of former motorsport commentator and PR man Adrian Ryan at the weekend, after a battle with cancer. A former Ford PR manager, Ryan continued to operate Ford’s archives in semi-retirement, as well as assisting Mark Larkham during the early days of his V8 team ownership. n Sean Carter will swap Porsches for MINIs this weekend, debuting in the MINI Challenge on the Gold Coast for Jason Bargwanna’s team. The 18-year-old has been racing in Victoria’s Porsche 944 state series, but will contest the SuperGP, Barbagallo and Homebush MINI rounds as part of a three-car ROCK Energy outfit with Scott Bargwann and BJ Cook. Carter ironically started his career in a MINI – doing hill climbs! n V8 Super Sedan driver Wayne Miles will also make his MINI Challenge debut on the Gold Coast this weekend. Miles sampled a MINI at the Queensland Raceway MINI Roadshow event and, as a result, signed up for the SuperGP.

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Try before you buy: Jack LeBrocq, above, and Mitch Evans, below, were among the lucky kids who tried F3 on for siz

Kids sample F3 power FORMULA 3

A GROUP of young drivers had a taste of a Formula 3 car at Winton yesterday (Monday).

The Australian Formula 3 Championship organised a drive day in order to create interest in the category among young stars, with Astuti Motorsport, Team BRM, R-Tek, TanderSport and Scud Racing all bringing cars.

The drivers were Rhys Newman (South Australian Formula Vee), Steel Guliana (Asian Formula BMW), Jack LeBrocq (Victorian Formula Vee), Leigh Burgess (NSW Formula Ford), Mitch Evans (National Formula Ford), Sean Whitfield (karting), Tim Blanchard (2007 FFord champ), Josh Burdon (Aussie Racing Cars), Ben Gersekowski (karting), Chris Wootton (Asian FBMW), and Ryan Simpson (National Formula Ford).

Australian Motor Sport Foundation boss Martin Stillman was also present.

LeBrocq, who will be a CAMS Rising Star in 2010, said the experience was a good one.

“I had a really good day, it

was a great experience and very worthwhile,” he said.

“The cars are great to drive.

I was surprised at the grip and the power, they were just mind-blowing. Every little bit of driving helps – it doesn’t matter what car you’re in. You learn something different every time you get on track.

“I can see this as a progression after Formula Ford [with the CAMS Rising Star squad] next year. It’s the only way to go if you want to go to Formula 1. It makes sense and Australia is more affordable than overseas.”

Guilana confirmed that the test might be enough to sway him from Formula BMW to Formula 3.

“We’re weighing up our options for next year,” he said.

“There’s a chance we could do Formula BMW again, but we would be silly to not consider Australian Formula 3.

It’s been a good opportunity to come out today and make sure we saw what it was all about. We were very keen to be here and do the day and we’re definitely looking at Australian Formula 3 for next year.”

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Holden tests 12 Hour entry BATHURST 12 HOUR

HOLDEN has given the best indication it will campaign its Sportswagon at next year’s Bathurst 12 Hour by holding a proper test day for the car at Winton late last month.

It was the first time the Sportswagon has been properly testing, with all of its previous running happening at Mount Panorama over the two years it

has been used at the event. Regular 12 Hour pilot Nathan Pretty did the driving, while Mike Henray called the shots from pit-wall.

“It was good to actually have the chance to do some testing before we go racing with the car,” Pretty told eNews.

“We definitely improved it, but we’ve still got some work when it comes to making the car work with its damper package. That’s what you’re dealing with

when you’re working with a production car, though, you’re quite limited in what you can adjust.”

Despite the test, Pretty wasn’t in a position to confirm if the wagon would be making its third visit to Bathurst early next year.

“I don’t know what Holden are planning on doing,” he said. “But absolutely, it’d be a great opportunity if we get to go back.”

– ANDREW VAN LEEUWEN

ze.

John Morris/Mpix

sutton-images.com

Atko’s Monster Deal!

WORLD RALLYING CHRIS Atkinson is in the frame to re-join the World Rally Championship on a full-time basis in 2010.

The Australian has been out of a full-time drive since the Subaru World Rally Team shut its doors at the end of the 2008 season, but plans from extreme sports guru Ken Block to start a customer M-Sport

squad next year could see Atko back – in a Ford Focus.

Block is a regular competitor in the Rally America series, and is most famous for his You Tube-style rally videos, including an extreme motorkhana, and a 171-foot jump in a Subaru Impreza rally car.

For more on Atko’s potential return, check out eNews’ sister publication GPWeek at www.gpweek.com

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Sports Initiati SPORTS SEDANS

Joel Strickland

Reeves bounces back to form Akademos wins proves that speed is OK AUSTRALIAN RALLY BRENDAN Reeves has made a remarkable return to rallying, winning last weekend’s Akademos Rally in Victoria.

Reeves and his co-driver Rhianon Smyth were injured in a massive crash at Rally SA back in August, writing off the pair’s Subaru, and causing Reeves to miss his chance of contesting the Pirelli Start Driver award at Rally Australia last month.

But he proved the shunt hasn’t cost him any speed at the Victorian Rally Championship round, dominating the second loop of stages to win after a tough battle with fellow Australian

16

Rally Championship regular Justin Dowel. To make the win ever more remarkable, Reeves had to do it with a brand new co-driver – Ben Atkinson – with Smyth still out of action due to the injuries sustained in South Australia.

“It's fantastic to win on my first rally back,” Reeves said. “We were a little lucky that Justin punctured, but I'm happy to take a bit of luck!

“Ben did an awesome job today. I can’t thank him and all my team enough for their support.

It really was a great day with [my brother] Nathan finishing third, and to have Rhianon here watching in my first rally back was awesome. I know she was wishing she was in the co-driver's seat.”

THE Australian Sports Sedan Championship will launch a new class in 2010.

The Production Sports Sedan class will feature cars powered by engines up to 3.5 litres, and the chassis will be based more on Touring Cars, rather than the space-frame set-up typical of an outright Sports Sedan. The PSS cars will run with the outright cars, starting each race 10 seconds behind the main group.

“Motor racing is all about the spectacle, and Australian fans love spectacular looking, fast, noisy, flame-belching cars,” series manager Phil Crompton said.

“Sports Sedans offer this in abundance with a wide variety of body shapes and highpowered engines. Production

news

Sedan ive

Peter Bury

Sports Sedans will offer a similar spectacle, albeit at slower lap times, giving fans two separate races within each race.

“It will be a fun and entertaining class to watch, most of the cars will be overpowered and under-tyred with little aerodynamic assistance. As fields grow to beyond grid capacity, the two categories could be split and hold separate races.”

The Kerrick-backed series has also announced a five-round schedule for 2010, running with the Shannons Nationals. The season will kick off at Wakefield Park in March, before the prestigious Clem Smith Cup at Mallala. Queensland’s Morgan Park Raceway will host its first Sports Sedan round, before the series heads to Eastern Creek and concludes at Sandown.

KR takes the Challenge

MINI CHALLENGE KARL Reindler will make his MINI Challenge debut at Barbagallo Raceway next month.

The former Fujitsu Series regular will go into the meeting fresh off the back of an 11th place finish in the Bathurst 1000, and will share a car with his younger brother Chris Reindler, under the two-driver regulations.

The car will be run by Greg Murphy Racing, and gives the brothers a unique chance to race

in front of their home crowd at the Bigpond 300.

“Obviously, we’re rapt to have drivers of that quality on board,” GMR team manager Dean Lillie told eNews.

“We weren’t going to be going across to Perth, so it works out well that we have the chance.

We’re no strangers to the cars, so I’m sure we’ll be able to give the boys a competitive car.”

GMR ran MINI Challenge cars for another West Aussie brotherly duo – Paul and Todd Fiore – last year.

Seto + Nissan CLASSIC ADELAIDE GLENN Seton will tackle the Classic Adelaide tarmac rally next month – and he’ll be back in a Nissan!

Seton, who raced Nissans in the Australian Touring Car Championship during the 1980s, will drive a Nissan 370Z in the event, which kicks off on November 18.

He is the second former ATCC star to be named as a starter, with Win Percy set to compete in a Jaguar XF Sedan, which has been modified due to Percy’s paraplegia.

“We’re thrilled to be welcoming Win Percy, one

of the most popular British drivers ever to compete in Australia, as an entrant in Classic Adelaide,” said David Edwards, director of Silverstone Events.

“He’s a great crowd-pleaser and will be out to prove with his Jaguar that sophisticated diesel cars have a place in modern motorsport. We also expect to be able to announce another entry supported by a European manufacturer in the near future. I’m delighted to see manufacturers taking advantage of the wonderful opportunity Classic Adelaide provides to showcase the latest performance vehicles.”

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CIK goe

All Change in SBK

WORLD SUPERBIKES THERE are plenty of changes happening in World Superbikes, with Ten Kate Honda picking up Max Neukirchner.

The German, who split with Alstare Suzuki earlier this month after an injuryplagued season, will partner Jonny Rea in a two-bike effort from the Dutch-based Honda team. Carlos Checa, who was also a Ten Kate man this season, has been quick to

secure a ride, and has joined the Althea Ducati team, and while the Italian-based team has four 1098Rs and could run two entries, there is no word on whether the Spanish veteran will run solo or with a team-mate.

The news means that Ryuichi Kiyonari, who raced a third Ten Kate bike in Honda livery this year, is looking for a seat for the 2010 season.

As expected, Leon Haslam will join the Alstare Suzuki team, but his surprise team-

Honda Pro Images

Neukirchner to Ten Kate: Checa gets Ducati ride

KARTING

mate is Frenchman Sylvain Guintoli, who has spent a season in the British Series.

The other confirmed seats next season are Noriyuki Haga and Michel Fabrizio, who are staying at Xerox Ducati; Troy Corser and Ruben Xaus, staying at BMW; and Max Biaggi, who is locked in at Aprilia. James Toseland will partner Supersport graduate Cal Crutchlow at Sterilgarda Yamaha, while Chris Vermeulen will spearhead the SRT Kawasaki effort.

FOLLOWING on from its successful return to Australian circuits this year, the Australian CIK Championship is set to expand in 2010.

Designed to provide the Australian karting community with a distinct elite level of the sport, the 2010 Australian CIK Championship will continue the build on the foundation of the KF2 category from this year while also including the KZ2 (formerly Intercontinental C) and the KF3 (formerly Junior Intercontinental A) categories.

Also on the schedule for next year’s championship, which will run in stand-alone events to provide competitors with significant track time, is a Pro Clubman and Pro Junior National class.

The championship will be contested across four rounds, all evenly spread to ensure they don’t clash with already scheduled state and national title events, in three states.

The Mount Sugarloaf circuit in Newcastle will host the opening round of the series on March 5-7 ahead of round two in Ipswich, Queensland on May 7-9. The series will then head to Sydney’s Eastern Creek Raceway on June 18-20 with the final round scheduled for August 6-8 in Victoria.

“Since returning to Australian

Marget is hanging up the gloves BIANTE TCM BIANTE Touring Car Masters regular Drew Marget will retire from racing at the end of the 2009 season.

The Mustang driver will instead focus on his role as the category’s Technical Director, making his final outing of his career as a driver at the National Lube Historic Sandown event early next month.

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“I’ve been thinking about this for a while and the time is right for me to give racing away,” said Marget.

“Being the Technical Director of the series is quite a demanding role, and it has been difficult to combine the role with being just another competitor on race days. think it’s only fair to myself and to the other competitors for me to focus on one or the other role – as one of the series founders, I have a strong

commitment to the category and am eager to see it continue to grow in the coming years.

“It was not necessarily an easy decision, but certainly a straightforward one.

“Of course, I’m hoping for a strong result in my last race meeting; it would be great to wrap up fifth in the championship, but regardless I plan to enjoy my racing farewell at Sandown, before turning my full attention to the series’ technical issues in the future.”

news

es Large in 2010

Jason Varley pumped for Ipswich CIK Final KARTING

Ash Budd

tracks at the start of this year the Australian CIK Championship has built a fair bit of momentum and I’m excited to be expanding the series in 2010,” said Series Organiser Peter Galvin.

“The CIK Championship has always been aimed to provide an opportunity for the best drivers in the country to race at the top level. Now, by incorporating the KZ2 and the KF3 categories – along with the Clubman and Junior National classes the series is more attractive to a wider audience.

“We have worked hard in an attempt

to incorporate the championship dates around the existing state titles and major events to ensure the series is attractive to as many top line competitors as possible.”

2010 Australian CIK Championship Schedule Rd 1 Rd 2 Rd 3 Rd 4

March 5-7 May 7-9 June 18-20 August 6-8

Newcastle, NSW Ipswich, QLD Eastern Creek, NSW *Victoria *date and venue to be confirmed by the VKA

Dirk Klynsmith

DUAL Australian Champion Jason Varley is the latest top line driver who will suit up for the final round of the 2009 Australian CIK Championship, to be held at Queensland’s Ipswich Kart Raceway this weekend.

Varley will suit up for the final round, as will fellow dual National Champion Matthew Waters, Toowoomba’s Brendan Nelson and Victorian James Mills, who are all making their CIK debut at the event to prepare them for an all out assault on 2010.

While he starting his karting career over 15 years ago, next weekend’s event will be the first time that Varley has raced in the prestigious CIK Championship.

“I’ve always looked considered the CIK Championships as the upper echelon of the sport and aspired to compete in it but a lack of funds has generally got in the way,” said Varley.

“Now with everyone using a control engine and tyres, it is a very cost effective way to experience the top level of kart racing in Australia.

“I’m pretty pumped to see how much power the engines have got and looking forward to driving on the sticky tyres, I’ve never really raced on anything like an open compound tyre before.

“The last time I raced at Ipswich in a sprint kart event was over five years ago when I was competing in the Ford KartStars Series. I didn’t really have that good of a run, hopefully this luck won’t continue next weekend.”

Varley will be using the final round of the 2009 Championship to assist him to prepare for his schedule throughout next year.

“By racing in the final round of this year it will give me a good opportunity to get a head start if I can find the right backing to do the entire series in 2010,” said Varley.

“I’d really like to compete in the entire series next year providing I can get a budget together.”

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5 Minutes with ...

JAMIE WHINCUP

The defending Champion is looking for a good result on the streets of Surfers to propel PHIL BRANAGAN his title defence to the next level MOTORSPORT NEWS: Do you do anything differently from now, knowing that you have four races this weekend, not two?

JAMIE WHINCUP: It does change things up. It is a bit of a split thing, and as far as the championship goes, with me leading, I would probably rather have two races. There is less opportunity for something to go wrong in two races, but on the other side, I am a racing driver and I love racing.

I have said in the past, the more races we can do, the better. So, this weekend, with double the racing, double the starts and, hopefully, double the finishes, it is a good thing.

It is also double the chances for your opposition to make errors, doesn’t it?

Exactly right, but I am thinking worse case scenario and what I need to do to defend.

Of course, it is the same for everyone and it gives me twice the opportunity to lead.

It has been a crazy year, all around, when you think about the changes we have had. We have changed to the soft tyre; Bahrain is not on and now, there is a whole format change for the SuperGP. The teams have had to be on the ball, on their feet. The good thing is that it is the same for everyone.

It is all a part of the battle.

There is not a massive change for us, from a driving point of view, but of course, we do have to change our mentality. But this week, for the engineers, the guys

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looking after the tyre strategy and the fuel strategy, they have to do more work but I am sure that they are up to it.

So, you do not feel that you need to be any more conservative from the start, to look after the hardware?

No, not at all.

Do we know the grid format for the races? So far as qualifying for the race?

Three-part qualifying, with the single-car part on Saturday morning. Sunday morning, all-in, 20 minutes.

I believe that Part B of the two races will be gridded as Part A finished, but you need to check that with someone smarter than me.

Is that right?

I think that is what they will have to do; where you start is where you finished. If you have a bad run in the first race, and you start from the back, that is going to hurt a little bit. But it is the same for everyone, so the team that is best-organised, best-prepared and does the best job on the day will handle the conditions better than everyone else.

Are you also conscious of having the V8 Supercar drivers make a bigger effort with the fans, because of the

lack of the A1GP event?

I am. There is twice as much work and it is going to be an intense weekend.

As Cocho said in the papers up here, this is the longest event, outside of Bathurst, that we will go to. It is going to be a bloody tough weekend and I am already starting to get ready, to be prepared mentally for a massive week.

To be honest, I am so happy with the way that Cocho and the board have handled the situation. There are, obviously, some massive issues there and, in one way, with the A1s not turning up, if the V8s had said, ‘We are just going to do what we do’, it would be a massive black cross on motorsport, in general. I am really happy with the way that they have stepped it up and counteracted the issue that A1 has given us. For the thousands of people who have bought tickets already, we are going to give them plenty of value, that is the main thing.

Let’s talk Bathurst. It was not the team’s greatest result – are you glad to put that behind you, and get on with things?

Yeah, for sure. Bathurst was not the way we planned it to be – we are not happy with the result we got there. We are

mainly disappointed because we did not perform at our best.

The championship starts again now, as it does every year. Adelaide to Bathurst is one championship, that works out if your are in championship contention, which we are. Now, we battle it from here, until Sydney.

As a general rule, who does well at Indy ... SuperGP, generally they go on to win the championship. It is a really important weekend for the four of us.

Is there a part of you Jamie that is pleased that your old mate Davo scored his first Bathurst win? Or has that not come into it yet?

It does. Mainly, for Garth as well. He was like lightning up there is 2007 and Skaifey ended up hitting the wall.

Both of those guys has pushed hard up there and not had a result.

If we couldn’t win it, and I am not the person who deserved to win it … they did the best job over the weekend.

They have been slogging up there for years, so I am pleased that they got it over the line.

That is not including the championship! It would have been ideal if they went there and didn’t go any good, but I am not that selfish!

ADELAIDE TO BATHURST IS ONE CHAMPIONSHIP, THAT WORKS OUT IF YOU ARE IN CHAMPIONSHIP CONTENTION – WHICH WE ARE. WHINCUP IS PREPARED FOR 2009, PT II

chat

Rob Lange

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I WOULD like to come out at say that I am going to miss the A1s at Surfers this weekend – but I would be lying if I did.

Honestly, I do miss the glory days of Champ Car – the likes of the Unsers, the Andrettis, Nigel Mansell, Alex Zanardi and Juan Pablo Montoya lighting up their Champ Cars and going to war on the streets. But those things are well in the past. No A1s? Sniff.

Oh, well then ...

Look; this has become a mess. Elsewhere in the issue, we explain the whys and wherefores of a far-from-ideal situation. But, really, big deal.

We get more V8 Supercars.

Australia Legends. A timely homage to Sir Jack Brabham.

And, if you are not satisfied, you really had your heart set on watching A1 Team Fiji take on A1 Team Trinidad and Tobago to see who came out on top in a no-holds-barred battle for all the coconuts, the promoters are offering a refund on your tickets.

Short of having Jennifer Hawkins – and former podium finisher in the Miss Indy competition, no less – walk through the grandstands and personally apologise to each and every disgruntled fan, I don’t see much more than could have been done after the A1s pulled the pin on such short notice.

opinion Phil Branagan Executive Editor This week’s SuperGP is not going to be what was planned.

But it was not going to be what the event was 10 years ago anyway. Grey hairs like me might bemoan the good old days – everyone does that – but my gut feeling was that the A1s were never going to be that good a fit on the program anyway. I prefer my motor racing teams, by far, to be at each others’ throats for every single point and, to me, A1 just never ticked that box. It was just a bit too ... socialist for my tastes.

Times change. Let’s just hope that the people at the pointy of this event end learn their lessons, make better plans for next time and move on. The event has a 20th anniversary coming up, and after that, a 21st. There is not reason that those landmarks cannot be marked, and celebrated, appropriately.

As for what the solution is, young van Leeuwen has a view, opposite, and I am sure that I am not going to be the only one thinking it is worthy.

That is something for the future but, for right now, there is a race, and a party, to get on with.

Letters Bathurst revisited Thanks for Phil Branagan’s take on the Winterbottom/ Walter incident at Bathurst.

“Frosty” and FPR have surely used their last “get out of gaol free” card on this one.

I agree totally with the premise that had of Walter have caused the action, would the fine and reaction been the same? Surely better results are needed by Frosty/FPR before further “superstar” status is given.

Scott Whale Peakhurst NSW

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The End of t

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

... and again Just finished watching Bathurst and can’t believe the inconsistencies that are still around in this motorsport.

Initialy I felt the Lowndes pit realease could have gone either way and was just disappointed in the controller and forgot about it. Following the completion of the race I’m pretty peeved after what the stewards let go post the Lowndes drive through. Footage shown later in the race leaves me wondering what is going on

when on at least three occasions cars entering pit lane collided, and then, during the race Tander clips Kelly, unweighting the rear end of his car at nearly 200kmh and takes the position off him into Turn 2 and no penalty.

How can you be given a drive through for nearly making contact at 20-odd kmh in the pits and later no drive through when making contact?

K.Welsh Gladstone Qld

opinion

the World

sutton-images.com

I HATE to say ‘I told you so’, actually I love saying that, but in this case, I’m not taking a lot of pleasure in it.

Yep, eNews predicted a long time ago that A1GP was never going to make it to the Gold Coast, and we could have reported it even earlier than we did. As far back as the Townsville V8 round our A1GP insiders were telling us that the deadline was going to be impossible to meet, but we held off running the story to give the show its best chance of going ahead without a cloud of negative press.

So, as much as I love being right, I wish in this case I’d been wrong. Luckily, the event won’t suffer a huge amount for not having the so called World Cup of Motorsport on board, but it would have been nice if they’d bothered to show up.

The big question is, what to do now? Try and woo back the IndyCar series? Maybe the American Le Mans Series? All okay options, but, as the old saying goes, keep it simple, stupid. The answer is clearly Formula 3.

It makes too much sense; get in contact with the organisers of the Macau Grand Prix, and work out how to combine some travel costs to get 20 or so of the world’s best F3 cars, teams and drivers down under for Surfers Paradise. Add 20 Australian F3 cars, develop a heat race system, put a million bucks cash on the line, and the ‘Gold Coast Million’

opinion Andrew van Leeuwen Editor eNews concept is born, Australia versus the world. Perfect.

The cash is easy to come by – instead of spending $11m on a series that never shows up, the money goes into the prize pool and subsidising travel costs.

With the money on the line, teams would come. The biggest challenge might be finding 20 competitive Aussie F3 cars and drivers, but surely with a hallmark event to look forward to, Aussie F3 would flourish.

That would be the biggest ‘plus’ of the concept. The Gold Coast Million concept would give the Australian Formula 3 Championship the shot in the arm it desperately needs. I can see the flood of complaint emails from F3 personnel making its way to my inbox now, but it’s a painful truth – the series isn’t exactly experiencing a heyday at the moment. But, with a high profile event to finish the season, it would give young drivers a good reason to choose Australian F3 as a stepping stone in their career.

So V8 Supercars get the headlines, the Surfers Paradise event stays true to its openwheeler roots and gets international exposure, the cars would actually show up, and a local category gets a chance to grow. Everyone’s a winner.

eLETTER OF THE WEEK I fully endorse Chris Lambden’s comments in MNews126.

The decision to stop the one off drive by Marco Ambrose at Homebush is a missed opportunity to promote the event. It also hints at selective decision making, since we had “wildcard “ one off entries for the Bathurst

1000. I believe that both Marcos Ambrose and Mark Skaife (surely someone will lend him a car) should be allowed to race at this event – it would generate lots of interest and publicity, and ensure a full house.

Peter Hickey Shortland NSW

Peter Hickey is this week’s winner of the Mark Skaife: The Racing Years, a pictorial biography of Skaife’s career.

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

NIKON SUPERGP PREVIEW

Streets of Thunder A1GP will not be making the trip to Surfers – but there are plenty of reasons why you should. PHIL BRANAGAN looks at the changes that lie ahead for this weekend, and most of them are good

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John Morris

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A

races and covering the extra distance.

“Brakes and tyres and the main thing, as the Surfers Paradise street circuit is one of the most demanding circuits we visit in terms of brakes. It’s not only the hot temperatures, but also the fact that there are several heavy braking zones each lap.

“The next few days will be busy as we reassess our plan for the weekend and determine what race strategy we will employ.”

With the stresses of braking on the streets, some teams are expecting to fit new front rotors of each of the four races.

Driver fitness is going to be an issue. Surfers can be gruelling, but weather forecasts indicate expected top temperature of between 25 and 27 degrees with humidity in the 50 percent region, which are within acceptable limits.

FPR’s Mark Winterbottom is one driver taking his extra workload seriosly.

“I have been training hard, but that is normal,” he said on Monday.

“It is a physical event anyway, this will be the toughest race on the calendar now by far. The heat and the track takes its toll, all the hydration and recovery routines will start on Tuesday.

For the race, you end up more

two kilos heavier than you would be normally.

“We will have a room to do the recovery sessions, so that will be better and our physio will be working harder than ever. If you are sore after Race 1, you are going to be for a long weekend ...”

The absence of the A1s has been filled with some of the great names of Australian touring car racing driving some of the sport’s most famous cars.

Dick Johnson, Kevin Bartlett, Jim Richards, Glenn Seton, Colin Bond and Bob Morris are all expected to take part, and cars

Peter Bury

Dirk Klynsmith

26

Dirk Klynsmith

REVISED schedule will be in place for this weekend’s Nikon SuperGP on the Gold Coast and, in spite of the last-minute cancellation of the A1GP events, there is still going to be plenty to see and do in Surfers.

At the last minute, V8 Supercar teams were gearing up for four 150km races, to be held in two parts, on Saturday and Sunday. Race 19 will feature the familiar threephase qualifying procedure, with the first two parts on Friday and a single-car Shoot Out on Saturday morning. Part A of the first race will be at 11:25am, with Part B at 3:15pm.

On Sunday, the regular 20-minute, all-in qualifying session will be held at 9:15am, with Part A at 11:05am and Part B at 15:05.

The changes mean that the V8 Supercars will cover 600km of racing, and teams leaving from Melbourne made lastminute changes to their spares inventory.

“We’ve put more brakes and wheels in our two transporters before sending them up to Queensland,” said Jack Daniel’s Racing Team Manager Joe Bremner.

“We’ve also taken more panels and other equipment to allow for the cars running extra

preview

REVISED SCHEDULE NIKON SUPERGP

On the streets: There is plenty to see and do this weekend, whether it’s the four races for the V8 Supercars, stunt riders in the air of the full supporting program. The Aussie Racing Cars will take to the streets after racing in a deluge last season, and what says ‘Queensland’ more than the Miss Indy contestants? Okay, maybe Dick Johnson in a blue Falcon XD, but it’s pretty close ... expected to appear include Johnson’s Tru Blue Falcon XD, Richards’s JPS 635 BMW, Bartlett’s Channel 9 Camaro, Peter Brock’s A9X Torana, Norm Beechey’s Monaro, Ian ‘Pete’ Geoghegan’s Super Falcon and the sublime CocaCola Mustang made famous

by Allan Moffat.

The Legends will be in action on all four days, starting at 1:15pm Thursday.

The support program will be unaffected by the changes, and will feature Formula Fords, Aussie Racers and MINI Challenge.

Dale Rodgers

Thursday 9:00 -9:20 9:35 -9:55 10:10 -10:30 10:45 -11:15 11:30 -11:50 12:05 -12:25 12:40 -13:00 13:15 -13:40 13:55 -14:25 14:40 -15:05 15:20 -15:45

Formula Ford Practice 1 Aussie Racing Cars Practice MINI Challenge Practice On Track Entertainment Formula Ford Practice 2 Aussie Racing Cars Qualifying MINI Challenge Practice 2 Australian Legends Session 1 On Track Entertainment Formula Ford Qualifying Aussie Racing Cars Race 1

Friday 9:00 -9:35 9:45 -10:10 10:25 -10:50 11:05 -11:55 12:05 -12:30 13:20 -14:10 14:25 -14:50 15:05 -15:30 15:45 -16:10 16:25 -16:45 16:50 -17:05

V8 Supercars Practice 1 On Track Entertainment Aussie Racing Cars Race 2 V8 Supercars Practice 2 Australian Legends Session 2 V8 Supercars Practice 3 On Track Entertainment MINI Challenge Race 1 Formula Ford Race 1 V8 Supercars Leg 1 - Qualifying V8 Supercars Leg 2 - Qualifying

Saturday 8:30 -8:50 9:00 -9:55 10:10 -10:35 10:45 -11:05 11:25 -12:50 13:05 -13:30 14:05 -14:25 14:25 -15:15 15:15 -16:40 16:40 -16:55

Formula Ford Race 2 V8 Supercars Top Ten Shootout Australian Legends Session 3 Aussie Racing Cars Race 3 V8 Supercars Race 19 - Part A On Track Entertainment MINI Challenge Race 2 Pre Race Entertainment V8 Supercars Race 19 - Part B V8 Supercar Presentation

Sunday 8:10 8:35 8:35 9:00 9:15 9:35 9:50 10:15 10:25 10:45 11:05 12:30 12:45 13:05 13:20 13:40 13:50 15:05 15:05 16:30 16:30 16:50

On Track Entertainment Course Car Session V8 Supercar Qualifying Australian Legends Session 4 MINI Challenge Race 3 V8 Supercar Race 20 - Part A Aussie Racing Cars Race 4 Formula Ford Race 3 Pre Race Entertainment V8 Supercars Race 20 - Part B V8 Supercar Presentation

27

NASCAR SPRINT CUP ROUND 31 – NASCAR BANKS 500, LOWE’S

Contact Oriana Ruffini :

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Jimmie in Charge

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NASCAR Media

Three wins from the first five races in The Chase have put Jimmie Johnson back in familiar – and comfortable – territory.

By MARTIN D CLARK

J

IMMIE Johnson has put While Johnson stretched a hammer lock on his his advantage (with bonus fourth straight NASCAR points for leading the most Sprint Cup title with a laps) his Chase competitors win in Charlotte. struggled. Mark Martin finished “It was incredible,” said 17th fighting from a lap back Johnson, who shares after contact with Juan Pablo sponsor Lowe’s with the Montoya damaged the nose of track – although that 11-year his Hendrick Chev. Martin is still naming rights deal will end in second, but he’s now 90 points December. behind Johnson and Montoya “I wasn’t sure it was going slipped from third to sixth with to be our night tonight – we his 35th placing. started the race really well and After heading 54 laps Hamlin then in the middle we had to dropped out of the race and work on things. At the end I The Chase with a broken valve knew we had this thing in the to finish 42nd. bag. It was just an awesome, “It feels good to have the awesome night.” advantage,” continued Johnson, For Johnson it was his third “but you can lose 90 points in a win in five Chase races and it hurry.” came after he led 92 laps. But Marcos Ambrose had a great he didn’t have it all his own way qualifying effort in 13th and with Mark Martin heading the forged ahead to ninth in the first six laps before Johnson early laps, but a weak engine showed his hand. as the laps ticked by hampered Then Matt Kenseth, Denny what could have been a top 10 Hamlin and Jeff Gordon result. Ambrose finished 22nd a headed some chunks with lap off the pace and held onto much stronger handling cars 17th in points. than Johnson’s Hendrick “The car was very good today, Chevrolet through and beyond so it’s frustrating,” said Ambrose the midway point. who was in a brand new car.

On lap 224 of the 234 Kasey “It felt like there was Kahne looked to have the car something wrong with the to beat, opening up a sizeable engine from early on in the lead until a lap 291 caution for race. We need to get it back a spinning Max Papis. Johnson to the workshop and run it on beat Kahne off pit road by the dyno to see what is wrong. no more than an inch and The car was great. Early on it although several cautions in was close to perfect and later the final 50 laps and a hard on we had to work on it a bit. race with Gordon interrupted Disappointing we couldn’t get his momentum, Johnson was the most out of the car we had out front by 2.3 seconds at the tonight, but we got to the finish chequer. for the points.”

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Burning Busch ends 11-race NW drought NATIONWIDE

All images: NASSCAR

Jimmie on Fire: Hence, the water bottle ...

Johnson surged clear in The Chase for the Sprint Cup, taking his third win in five races. Denny Hamlin, above, looked to have race-contending speed until his Joe Gibbs Toyota suffered engine problems. Pitlane was a busty place, as usual, and Johnson’s crew, foreground, was the team to beat – as usual.

AFTER a dry spell of 11 races Kyle Busch steered his Joe Gibbs Toyota to victory number seven of the season on Friday night at Lowe’s where he’s won three of the past four Nationwide races.

“It’s been like a holding pattern,” remarked Busch who dominated to lead 137 of the 200 laps.

“This thing was on a rail tonight, it was a great race car.”

Just last week Busch had to exit his Nationwide and Sprint Cup cars early due to flu and he lost 90 points to Edwards in the title points battle, but with Edwards starting on pole and

finishing fifth he made back 40 of those and stretched his advantage to 195.

Matt Kenseth led the first 21 laps from the outside front row, but was swept into a wreck on lap 69 with six other cars including Joey Logano, Jason Leffler and David Ragan.

Veteran Mike Bliss in the CJM Racing Toyota (with technical assistance from JGR) finished second with a pair of Braun Racing Toyotas third and fourth with Dave Blaney and Brian Vickers behind the wheels. Third in points Brad Keselowski was the first Chevy home in sixth.

– MARTIN D CLARK

SPRINT CUP | NASCAR BANKING 500, LOWE’S 1 48 2 17 3 9 4 24 5 20 6 33 7 07 8 18 9 1 10 2

Jimmie Johnson Matt Kenseth Kasey Kahne Jeff Gordon Joey Logano Clint Bowyer Casey Mears Kyle Busch Martin Truex Jr Kurt Busch

Chevy Hendrick/Lowe’s Ford Roush Fenway/ Dodge Petty/Budweiser Chevy Hendrick/DuPont Toyota Joe Gibbs/Home Depot Chevy Childress/Cheerios Chevy Childress/Jack Daniels Toyota Joe Gibbs/M&Ms Chevy Earnhardt Ganassi/ Dodge Penske/Miller Lite

Q1 4 3 9 12 11 42 10 25 13

NASCAR | DRIVER’S points Johnson 5728, Martin 5716, Montoya 5670, Stewart 5644, Gordon 5623, Biffle 5607, Edwards 5536, Hamlin 5509, Newman 5505, Kahne 5422, Vickers 5377.

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Party Time: Chrissy Palmer, main pic, won the Festival, while Daniel Erickson, right, wa best placed Australian in eighth.

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race

Racin’ Jason!

as the

SPEEDWAY GP

FORMULA FORD

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CHRISSY Palmer has won the 2009 Formula Ford Festival at Brands Hatch in England.

On the same weekend that 1998 Festival winner Jenson Button wrapped up the Formula 1 World Championship, Palmer was the class of the international field, winning the prestigious crown for England’s form FFord team Jamun Racing.

Liroy Stuart was second, while recentlycrowned British FFord Champ James Cole was third – all driving Mygales.

There were two Aussies in action at the Festival, with AMSF Rising Star Daniel Erickson and CAMS Rising Star Scott Pye teaming up in

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Palmer wins Festival

Spectrums for Kevin Mills Racing.

Erickson, who has been racing in this year’s British FFord series, was sixth in his heat race, fifth (and fastest lap) in the semi final, and finished eighth, on old tyres, in the final, after being held up by Spaniard Jordi Cunill.

“I just didn’t have the grip to get past Cunill,” explained Erickson. “And even if I’d been on new tyres, I wouldn’t have been able to catch the leaders – they were too far ahead by then.”

Pye had an up-and-down weekend on his European racing debut. He narrowly pipped Erickson in qualifying, but was punted out of the first heat race. In the semi final he came from dead last to finish eighth, before being punted out of the final.

JASON Crump is the Speedway World Champion.

The Aussie had to overcome a recent injury to his arm – which required skin grafts – to win the title, which he clinched in the 13th heat of the latest round in Poland.

“Five weeks ago I thought my season was over after my crash at Belle Vue, but a fantastic team of people have got me back on track and I have to thank them all,” he said.

“The first half of the season went like clockwork, but I messed up a little in the second half when I became a speedway rider rather than a speedway racer.

“The injury never helped but things came good at the end and it was pretty special to win Heat 13 when I only needed a point. It’s an awesome feeling to be World Champion again.”

For more on Jason Crump, turn to page 37

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Dave Ostaszewski

Finally, Arnoud wins a title KARTING AFTER having twice finished on the second step of the World Championship podium, Arnaud Kozlinski has at last found his holy grail at the first Championship staged in Asia, on the circuit at Macau.

Three days after his 28th birthday, the Frenchman took victory despite rain beginning to fall shortly after the start of the race, which was finally halted after 75 percent of the race distance had been covered.

Young Finnish driver Aaro Vainio confirmed his standing as the revelation of the year

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and a real future prospect for motorsport in Finland by leading for the majority of the final before finishing runner-up.

“What a relief!” exclaimed Kozlinski.

“In 2008 I was leading the race until I had motor problems, just as I had one month previously when I was about to be crowned European Champion.

Emotionally, that was all very difficult! But I was determined to return even stronger and I dedicate this victory to everybody who has supported me, particularly my parents.

“When I saw the first spots of rain early in the final, I said to myself the race is going to be

long and difficult. There would be no room for error.

“I was lucky to have Vainio in front of me. He was very quick and in some respect, he showed me the tricky places.

Both of us had an opportunity to pull away from those behind us.

“Then I had an opportunity to take advantage of what I had learned and pass him.”

race

Brandon breaks his duck NHRA BRANDON Bernstein, Del Worsham, and Mike Edwards scored victories at the NHRA Virginia Nationals at Virginia Motorsports Park, the fourth event of the six-race NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series Countdown to 1 playoffs.

Bernstein, pictured, who had been winless in Top Fuel for more than two years and eight straight final rounds, clocked a winning 3.84/307 to defeat Antron Brown, who smoked the tyres in the final. Bernstein, who entered the event in seventh place, reached the fifth spot with the win.

Bernstein’s path to the final round included wins over Scott Weis, who had to be shut off on the line against him and second-round opponent Scott Palmer, who had upset No. 3 qualifier Spencer Massey with a fireballing pass in round one, was unable to make it back to the line to oppose the Budweiser/Lucas Oil dragster.

Bernstein then moved past an engineblowing Cory McClenathan in the semi finals to reach the final.

In Funny Car, Worsham played spoiler with his milestone 25th career win over title contender Tim Wilkerson, 4.09/305 to 4.17/281. Worsham’s Dickie Venables-

tuned Al-Anabi Racing Solara made three passes within two-hundredths of a second, besting tire-smoking Matt Hagan with a 4.10, blower-banging Memphis champ Arend with a 4.12, and a tractionless Ron Capps with a 4.11 to reach the 38th final of his Pro career and his third this season.

Pro Stock driver Edwards defeated Greg Anderson and the Summit Racing Pontiac team in the final on a slight holeshot, 6.52/211 to 6.52/212. He went wire-to-wire at Virginia, earning the maximum points, to all but clinch his first NHRA Full Throttle Series world championship.

– DAVE OSTASZEWSKI

Farr and away the best on the night ...

SPEEDWAY

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SPRINTCAR action returned to the Tyrepower Parramatta City Raceway last Saturday night for the season-opening Brian Healey 410 Sprintcar Club, and after holding out a very determined Max Dumesny, Sydney Robert Farr claimed a sensational victory.

Starting of the from row, Farr jumped into the lead on Lap 1, and while Dumesny did take the lead a couple of times, the yellows came out giving the lead back to Farr. The East Coast Pipelines J&J of Farr went on to take the win, with

Mitchell Dumesny coming out of a race long battle with Craig Brady with third.

“I didn’t do lapped traffic well enough, the car was fine just sometimes you’re a sitting duck leading in lapped traffic,” said Farr.

“Max certainly made us pay for that! It was just one of those nights we didn’t touch the car.

It was straight out of the trailer.”

A quality 48 Sprintcars packed into the TPCR pits, with Stuart Williams setting quick time. Heats wins went to Linigen, Glen Saville, James Thomson and Steve Gaunt.

– GREG BOSCATO

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rear of grid

Three Aussies, three Ois!

Ducati Corse

mike-patrick.com

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RULES are made to be broken, so we are breaking a few here at Motorsport eNews.

Y’see, we don’t normally cover such things as Formula 1, MotoGP and Speedway Grand Prix. The first two are covered, very well, in our sister title, GPWeek, and the last one ... well, it drops off the radar when things get busy after a race weekend.

But this race weekend, all we can say is, wow.

First, Jason Crump sealed his third Speedway World Championship (within six years) in Bydgoszcz in Poland.

The 34-year-old from Mildura was nursing an arm injury that required a skin graft, but he rode through the pain and did just enough to put the title out of reach of local hero, Tomasz Gollob.

Then, Sunday afternoon, Phillip Island time, was Casey Stoner’s hour. The Aussie may have swapped his trademark Ducati red for white bodywork on his GP9 and leathers, but he was too good for Valentino Rossi and took out the win, in only his second race back from a three-race hiatus forced by his mystery illness. It was Stoner’s third straight win at the track.

Then early morning Monday, but Sunday Brazilian time, Mark Webber dominated the Brazilian GP to take his second chequer of 2009. Red Bull’s slightly-unshaven ace took over after the first round of pitstops and was never threatened. Some English chap named Jason Bittern took the world title, apparently, but we were too busy celebrating to notice.

Quite a weekend. So, we broke the rule and turned over the back page to all three Aussie champs. For more on Stoner and Webber, see www.gpweek.com

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