Motorsport eNews Issue 145 - March 9-15, 2010

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Issue No. 145 March 09 -15 2010

World Cha mp for V8 endu ros

Muller’s ba we reveal wck, and driving wit ho he’s h!

UNDER CONTROL V8 Supercars to introduce key standard engine component ... this year! www.mnews.com.au

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Issue No. 145 | 9-15 Mar 2010

news 4 Murph’s French Connection Yvan Muller’s coming back 7 Lift, control, separate More control parts rollout 9 White and Russell A threat in the FV8s?

10 Spain? Si! Serbia? Um ...

HRT heads for Bahrain 12 Will they have grid boys?

The girls light up IndyCar

chat 22 Five Minutes With ...

Shane van Gisbergen

comment 24 Lambden: A cunning plan

25 Brabham: Atlantic Memories

race 26 WP Nationals: Good Evans

32 WRC: Loeb wins, Kimi crashes 36 NASCAR: Burning Busch

trade 42 Classifieds

Follow Motorsport eNews on Twitter! Breaking news and opinion from yo

Yvan Muller back to V8 The former World Touring Car Champion – and Sandown 500 winner – is on his way back to V8 Supercars. His likely partner? Greg Murphy and the Castrol Racer ...

EXCLUSIVE

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motorsport news

ou, our readers. CLICK HERE – or search for motorsportenews

8 Supercars Y V8 SUPERCARS

EUWEN ANDREW VAN LE

ort eNews. new-look Motorsp otorsport News WELCOME to the ok t out new-lo M ea gr w ho en se was time that Having out, we decided it e m ca e in az ag m notice a new monthly atment. So you’ll tre e m sa e th t go ter all, change eNews and a fresh feel. Af n, sig de w ne d, masthea blic holiday we (although the pu ay lid ho a as od is as go od). pretty darned go ever, is our had yesterday was d, sn’t change how ha at th g in th e The on first ... just like u all the big news, yo g in br to n tio dedica is week. s, out cover story th k our loyal reader is chance to than th ke ta w to ne e r lik Ou . st I’d ju team the entire MNews of lf ha e, be er on th t so ou and I do m welcome ceived a very war look mags have re work we’ve put ha after all the rd e se to t ea gr ’s at and th al period. into this transition we hope you publications, and r ou of d ou pr e We’r h as we do. enjoy them as muc

M

eanwhile, Greg Murphy will get his mitts on his new Triple Eight Commodore this weekend at Adelaide.

The Castrol Racing ace shook down his new ride at Queensland Raceway yesterday, and liked what he saw and felt.

“After only a handful of laps, I’m feeling very confident,” he said after 20 laps of The Paperclip.

“The new Castrol Edge Commodore feels ‘complete’ and performs all parts of the processes very well.”

The car, which was finished early on the morning of the test, ran without fault.

PMM ran the car without losing one of its allocated test days, under V8 Supercars’ ‘shakedown’ testing regulations.

Back for more: Yvan Muller has a good history in V8 Supercars, having won the Sandown 500 with Craig Lowndes, above. This time, it’s understood he’ll be sharing with Greg Murphy, below.

Dirk Klynsmith

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OR FROM THE EDIT

Dirk Klynsmith

VAN Muller looks set to return to V8 Supercars for the endurance races at Phillip Island, Bathurst and the Gold Coast.

The Frenchman, the only international driver to win a round of the V8 Supercar Championship Series, will join Paul Morris Motorsport for the races. While eNews has not been able to definitively uncover which of the two PMM cars he will drive, we believe the likely scenario is that he will join Greg Murphy in the Castrol Commodore, leaving Paul Morris to join Russell Ingall in Supercheap Auto Racing’s entry.

Muller will add some touring car quality to the ‘international’ element of the third event, the Gold Coast ‘Supercarnivale’.

The list of international drivers who will compete in the event, which is due to be announced by V8 Supercars Australia later this month, is believed to be largely based around previous participants in the Gold Coast Indy event, which for more than 15 years featured Champ Car and IndyCar drivers.

Muller has never competed in that event, but his achievements in touring car championships around the world – including a World Touring Car victory while driving for Seat – make him a prime pick for the ‘showbiz’ V8 event.

While his Seat drive precluded a V8 deal, his move to Chevrolet’s WTCC squad in the northern winter removes the obstacle.

Muller, 40, started his GM association by leading a Chevy 1-2-3 in torrential conditions in the opening race of the season in Curitiba, Brazil, over the weekend. He was fourth in the

second race, behind current WTCC titleist, Gabriele Tarquni.

Muller also has a long association with Triple Eight, having won the 2003 British Touring Car Championship in a T8 Vauxhall, and finishing runner-up in that championship on no less than four occasions.

But with TeamVodafone already having already named its endurance drivers in Mark Skaife and Steve Owen, PMM appears to be an easy fit for Muller to once again head south for the endurance races to race one of the team’s T8built Commodores.

Muller won the 2005 Sandown 500 with Craig Lowndes. The pair overcame appalling conditions to steer what was then Team Betta Electrical’s Ford Falcon to the win.

He has also won the Andros Trophy in Ice Racing a record 10 times, is a former French Touring Car champion and competed in the Dakar Rally in 2009.

news

Dirk Klynsmith

FROSTY: THIS IS MY BEST CLIPSAL CHANCE V8 SUPERCARS MARK Winterbottom is expecting to break his poor run of results in Adelaide this weekend, when the Australian V8 Supercar season kicks off at the Clipsal 500.

‘Frosty’ is yet to have a great result on the streets of Adelaide, but is full of confidence after running Jamie Whincup close in the Middle East. He told eNews that the new-and-improved Ford Performance Racing will be competitive this weekend.

“I think this my best chance of success at Adelaide, because of how the car is to drive,” he said.

“In the past I’ve struggled to do 78 laps

at a good speed. I could always put it on the front row, or be quick over 10 laps, but now the car, over a distance, is very strong.

“I think this is my best shot at Adelaide.”

While the track surface in Adelaide will be radically different from the ultra-smooth Middle Eastern circuits, Winterbottom says that he feels the FPR Falcon will suit just fine.

“It’s a different track to the Middle East, so it’s a different challenge. [But] the car rode the bumps that were in the Middle East very well, as well as the kerbs. These are things we’ve struggled with in the past, so we can have a good run.”

But while Winterbottom is keen to take some points away from archrival Jamie Whincup – who is famously

strong at the Clipsal 500 – he denies that this is a make-or-break weekend in terms of a title tilt.

“It’s important to keep getting points like I’ve been doing,” he said.

“I can’t control what [Jamie] does, so I just need to keep pushing. Abu Dhabi we came close, Bahrain we came very close, and I’m sure we’ve improved between Bahrain and here. We saw in race 2 in Bahrain that he’ll make mistakes if I put pressure on, so we’ve just got to keep pushing.

“Our time will come; hopefully it’s now and we can start our winning streak. If I can’t, I’ll just keep getting podiums and points.”

– ANDREW VAN LEEUWEN motorsport news

Key V8 Supercar engine equaliser close V8 SUPERCARS

Dirk Klynsmith

TEAMS grasping at straws to bridge the gap to dominant V8 Supercar squad TeamVodafone take heart – help may be on the way.

As V8 Supercars heads further into its cost-cutting standardisation of parts, eNews understands that plans to introduce standard spec camshafts for both the Chev-based and Ford engines are imminent.

US camshaft manufacturer

Comp Cams is currently close to finalising testing and recommendations for the category, to the degree that introduction of a standard camshaft could come as soon as the seventh round of this year’s series – Winton, in mid-May. One of the biggest cost centres in engine development under current V8 regs centres around valve-train development and, according to one team boss we spoke with,

standardisation will save a fortune – at the cost of only some 15 bhp on current topof-the-class engines.

“It might just take the edge off the teams who are currently enjoying a small

advantage in that area,” added another.

“In the end, though, it will benefit all teams – but especially those who can’t afford expensive engine development work.”

HRT confirms Briscoe talks WILL Ryan Briscoe be suiting up in red again for the V8 Supercar endurance races?

As exclusively revealed in eNews two weeks ago (Issue 143), Briscoe is in the frame for all three endurance races this year – Phillip Island, Bathurst and the Gold Coast. But at the time the story broke, the IndyCar star was unable to comment as to which teams he was in discussion with,

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saying only that there was “a couple of teams in the mix”.

Now, eNews can further reveal that one of those teams is the Toll Holden Racing Team.

Briscoe has a history for the team, sharing a HRT car with Jim Richards at Sandown and Bathurst in 2006, and Walkinshaw Racing boss Craig Wilson told eNews that Briscoe is back in the frame.

“Yeah, we’ve discussed [the endurance races] with him,” said Wilson, who then added

that no deal was yet in place.

“We’ve just had discussions, that’s all.”

Currently, Walkinshaw Racing only has three drivers on board for its four cars (two HRT and two Bundy Red Racing) – Cam McConville, Craig Baird and David Reynolds. Should Briscoe sign, it is likely he will satisfy the criteria for an ‘international’ driver for the Gold Coast race – despite being Australian.

– ANDREW VAN LEEUWEN

Peter Bury

V8 SUPERCARS

THIS is the sneak peak of the SBR Transporter that will be about to arrive in Adelaide.

The truck has a brand new look, which will be on display for the first time at this weekend’s Clipsal 500, as none of the trucks were, of course, present in the Middle East.

19 FV8s for Clipsal season opener FUJITSU SERIES THE Fujitsu Series will kick off in Adelaide this weekend with a 19-car field.

Confirmation of Matthew White Motorsport’s three drivers, see separate story, and a deal which will see Steve Owen in a Greg Murphy Racing Commodore have completed the field.

TeamVodafone enduro pilot and 2008 Fujitsu Series Champ Owen will race one of GMR’s new VE Commodores, raced last year by Jason Bargwanna in the Main Game.

Owen tested with the team at Winton last week, while GMR will prepare Geoff Emery’s VZ Commodore, as previously reported.

“They needed someone to drive and I needed to get some laps for the enduros,” Owen told eNews.

“After that, we’ll see what happens, whether we can get some budget to keep going or do some other stuff later in the year.

“It’s a good opportunity to do some running before Phillip Island and Bathurst, and to run on good tyres. I’m

doing all of the ride days with TeamVodafone, but to run in race conditions with good tyres will be very helpful.”

John McIntyre will race with Stone Brothers Racing, filling the seat in the Fujitsu Falcon while Scott McLaughlin completes his licence requirements.

Tim Blanchard will start his campaign with Sonic Motor Racing with a minimalistic livery, pictured. Like James Moffat’s entry last year, Blanchard’s Falcon will sport plenty of white, with CPS Products and Sanden on board at this stage for his debut V8 season.

Drew and Aaren Russell will race under the Adrenaline Motor Racing banner, a new kart hire venture for the Newcastle family. Their Falcons, which were tested at Wakefield Park last Thursday, will feature backing from computer security product Zemana AntiLogger, right.

The round will feature seven debutants; Blanchard, Nick Percat, Ant Pederson, Matthew Hamilton, Aaren Russell, Paul Fiore and Nathan Vince.

– MITCHELL ADAM motorsport news

news

Russell returns, three for MWM FUJITSU SERIES DAVID Russell has emerged as a late pre-season contender for the 2010 Fujitsu V8 Supercar Series title, having done a last-minute deal with MW Motorsport.

The team, which won the series last year with Jonathon Webb, will field three Ford

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Falcons in the Fujitsu Series, with Russell and Ant Pederson in MW Motorsport entries, and Matthew Hamilton in a Team Kiwi Racing entry – marking the return of the brand to V8 Supercar Racing.

According to team boss Matthew White, Russell, who will drive Jayco-backed car, will have a good shot at the title.

“That’s the aim,” White said.

“When we tested four drivers recently, Dave loved the car We know he can hustle a car, but it’s hard to know where he was at equipment wise last year. That car (a Howard Racing Falcon) had a good pedigree, but it was getting on in age.

“I suspect he will have a good

showing this year.”

White added that the Team Kiwi entry was a good way of making his business a viable one.

“Operationally, three cars is the only model that works in the Fujitsu Series. And it’s nice to help bring the Kiwis back as well.”

– ANDREW VAN LEEUWEN

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It’s HRT, but not as we know it!

Hispania heads to Bahrain FORMULA 1

10

... and Stefan stays put FORMULA 1 DO not look for anything looking like a Stefan in this weekend’s Bahrain Grand Prix.

The FIA shut the door on the team, based on the former Toyota F1 base in Cologne, even trying to make it to the Gulf for the season-opening race of the 2010 season. The team has hopes of taking the slot allocated to USF1, which will now not race until 2011, if at all.

Jacques Villeneuve had had a seat fitting in the team’s factory but told SpeedTV that he was disappointed not to be returning to the sport.

“The car and team looked very promising, but we always knew there was a risk without having the entry, and it was running late,” said the 1997 World champion. “So it’s not a full surprise, but it’s still disappointing.

“There was a lot of potential with the car. It was built and

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HRT is going Formula 1!

No, there is not a new carbon fibre shop and windtunnel at Clayton, but the former Campos Meta team has morphed into the Hispania Racing Team. The Spanish team unveiled its Dallara-built, Cosworth-powered car to the media in Murcia last week, with drivers Karun Chandhok and Bruno Senna, below.

Grupo Hispania is the name of Jose Ramon Carabante’s company, the Spaniard now the sole owner of the team

after buying out Adrian Campos last month. Hispania was the name given to the Iberian Peninsula, including modern-day Portugal, Spain, Andorra, Gibraltar and some of France, by the ancient Romans.

The team has also confirmed that it has appointed Jacky Eeckelaert to be its technical co-ordinator. The experienced and respected engineer, most recently a member of the BrawnGP team, will have his work cut out, as the cars have yet to turn a wheel in any form of test session, let alone in a competitive environment.

it was a full-blown project. It wasn’t something started from scratch, and it was going to be competitive. It’s a shame because it would have been a new team which could have run properly, but that’s the way it is.”

The news means that 24 cars will take to the grid at the BIC this weekend, providing the untested cars of HRT make it through practice and qualifying … motorsport news

news

ONE Vision

Ten and ONE planning more Formula 1 coverage – and James Allen joins the team FORMULA 1

sutton-images.com

NETWORK Ten and ONE HD are planning the biggest year yet of Formula 1 Grand Prix coverage in Australia.

Greg Rust will host the season’s broadcasts, starting with a onehour preview of the 2010 season on Wednesday night at 7:30pm.

Ten will show the races on delayed coverage while most of the 19 rounds will be shown live on Sundays on ONE HD. Joining Ten’s veteran F1 man is Craig Baird, the multi-talented Kiwi racer who turns his hand to TV after making a positive impression with the network management with his efforts in the Le Mans coverage last year. Baird and Daryl Beatiie will join Rust for each broadcast.

“We have expanded the feel of the show, so it is a bit like standing and talking around a barbecue,” Rust told eNews.

“Bairdo, Daz and myself will be working hard on this, and our preview show will be a chance for the fans to look at the cars for the first time.

“Everyone we have spoken to is A. Pumped about the Schumacher factor – it would be like Roger coming back to tennis after a few years away, but this is a different thing. There are so many strong drivers who are wanting to take him on.

“B is Mark Webber. He looks really strong. He rose to the challenge last year, and he would have learned a lot by being in the hunt for the title last year. The rest of the stuff around him is so stable, and the car looks good from testing. When we get to Albert Park it would be great to see an Aussie win at home.”

Ten’s new man on the ground, replacing Peter Windsor, is James Allen, formerly the host of ITV’s coverage and now a respected and insightful writer on all things F1-related.

This season’s calendar features one new event, the Korean Grand Prix, which will be held at a new track at Yeongam on October 24. The construction of the Tilke-designed tyrack continues on schedule, below.

Stirling Moss hurt in fall British legend in hospital after lift mishap FORMULA 1

sutton-images.com

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SIR Stirling Moss has been seriously injured in a fall down a lift well in his home in England.

The racing great fell down three floors when his lift doors opening while the lift was one floor above him. Moss broke both ankles and four bones in his feet, plus suffered further damage to his vertebrae, in the fall.

After treatment at the scene, Moss was admitted to

the London Hospital before being moved to the Princess Grace Hospital. Medical staff have said that he did not lose consciousness during the incident, and that the 80-yearold was “comfortable and recovering”. He is expected to be moved out of intensive care later on Monday.

Moss won 16 Grands Prix in his career, but never won the World Championship. Most recently, he has been known as the narrator in Roary the Racing Car. 11

LADIES, START YOUR ENGINES! de Silvestro and Beatriz join the IndyCar Sisterhood INDYCARS

competitor of two seasons, right, tested with the team at Sebring last week.

There will now be as many as five drivers using the ladies’ room at races. Apart from Andretti Autosport’s Danica Patrick, Dale Coyne Racing has announced Milka Duno as his driver of the #18 car for the full 17-race season. The Venezuelan driver has competed in only partial seasons for the past three years.

Meanwhile, Sarah Fisher will complete a partial program, including the Indianapolis 500.

– MARY MENDEZ

sutton-images.com

THE balance between the male drivers and females in IndyCar has evolved, with two more members of the fairer sex signing deals.

Simona de Silvestro, below, so impressed the owner of HVM, Keith Wiggins, that the Swiss driver is now signed to compete for the entire season with sponsorship from Stargate Resistance, Bernard Richards Manufacture (luxury timepiece named after founder), Firesky and Cardinal Technologies.

HVM Racing planned on

being a two-car team with Dutch driver Robert Doornbos who left Newman-HaasLanigan after 12 races last year to finish the season with HVM, the team where he won two Champ Car events in his rookie 2007 season. Doornbos signed a contract to include the 2010 season but may have financial issues which could make de Silvestro the only driver for the season opener on March 14.

Ana Beatriz will make her IndyCar debut in a third Dreyer & Reinbold entry at the season opener in her home town of Sao Paulo. The Indy Lights

The Paulistas are ready sutton-images.com

INDYCARS TWENTY four cars are expected to race in this weekend’s IndyCar opener in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

On March 6, two 747-400s 12

loaded with 200,000kg of cargo, including 35 cars, flew south for the event. The cars are expected to arrive at the circuit by truck on March 10 to race at the street circuit, which features a 1.5km straight.

Tony Cotman, who formed his own company, NZR, to design race tracks working as a consultant for the IRL and Sao Paulo Indy 300, says the track is on schedule for its first event.

– MARY MENDEZ motorsport news

Atlantics: The End

Two weeks ago, all good: now, Series promoters call a ‘pause’

sutton-images.com

FORMULA ATLANTIC ONE of the world’s longestrunning open-wheel series, the Formula Atlantic Championship, has cancelled its 2010 season.

Just a week after the Cooper Tires Presents the Atlantic Championship Powered

by Mazda announced they expected a solid field for 2010, the series now admits it lacks enough cars to compete this

season. Citing the economy’s ripple affect, the series will take this year off and plans to resume next year.

“It is with a heavy heart and only after deep consideration that I have accepted the recommendations to pause efforts related to the continuation of the 2010 Atlantic Championship season,” said Ben Johnston, Owner, Atlantic Championship.

The teams that had

committed to this season may consider joining the Firestone Indy Lights series, which have 18 cars committed to date and hope to gain another six.

FAtlantic started in the UK in 1971, and the first race held in North America came in 1974.

The series ran on both sides of the Atlantic – hence its name – and foreign spin-offs, including Formula Pacific/Formula Mondiale, were a success in Australia and New Zealand in

the 1980s.

After a period of dominance

by Ralt, the series evolved into a single-make formula, using first Toyota then Mazdabadged Cosworth engines.

The Series counts drivers such as World Champions Keke Rosberg and Jacques Villeneuve, his father Gilles Villeneuve, Michael Andretti and Greg Moore among its graduates.

– MARY MENDEZ

Marcos stays up SPRINT CUP

Toyota Motorsports

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A LATE-race melee at Atlanta’s Kobalt Tools 500 has lifted Marcos Ambrose out of the danger zone in terms of Owners Points in NASCAR’s Sprint Cup. Ambrose finished 11th on the 1.5-mile oval after steering clear of a sevencar crash on what was to be the penultimate lap of the race, which ran well past its scheduled 500 miles. The Tasmanian, who started 12th,

was suffering back pain during the course of the weekend, and ground out the race to finish on the lead lap.

The result lifts JTG Daugherty Racing’s #47 entry to 28th on the Owners Points, which guarantees starts for the top 35 in the first five races of the season. A solid result next time out at Bristol Tennessee on March 21 will cement Ambrose’s slot in the top 35, meaning he will stay clear of the drivers who need to qualify for each race on speed.

13

Rob Lang

New looks for Mark and David AUSTRALIAN GT THE two most-recent Vodka O Australian GT Champions have

shown off the liveries they’ll use in 2010.

Mark Eddy, 2008 Champ, will debut his new Audi R8 at

Clipsal this weekend and will run with backing from Penfold Audi.

Meanwhile, David Wall will

Zoom Zoom TARMAC RALLY

FF gets Richo on board FORMULA FORD STEVEN Richards has joined the board of Formula Ford Australia.

The 1994 Champ and current FPR driver will join Chairman Rod Barrett, Dale Rodgers, Michael Ritter and Paul Zsidy on the board which oversees the Genuine Ford Parts Australian Formula Ford Championship.

“Formula Ford is Australia’s premier junior development 14

category and a something that I have followed very closely for many years,” Richards said.

“The championship provides young drivers with the necessary skills to succeed in motorsport and I feel fortunate to have the opportunity to contribute to that.”

Formula Ford has also joined the world of Twitter.

They’ll be posting race updates during each round to twitter.com/ffordaustralia.

MAZDA Australia’s tarmac rally team will make the global rally debut of the new Mazda3 MPS at Targa Tasmania next month.

The road-going version of the car went on sale in Australia late last year, but at next month’s Targa Tasmania, rally fans will get to see young gun Brendan Reeves give the racecar version it’s first hit-out.

With 190kW of grunt, Reeves is expecting to be competitive in the MPS. He is also expecting his co-driving sister Rhianon Smyth, who was seriously injured in a crash at Rally SA last year, to be back to full fitness.

“Rhianon and I are really excited about this year’s

stick with the Porsche GT3 Cup S he took to the 2009 title. His new livery shows backing from Wilson Security.

Targa,” said Reeves.

“Despite last year’s setbacks, we’re both stoked to be back in the racing seat. Rhianon, due to her incredible fitness and determination, has made a full and remarkable recovery, and we both can’t wait to get back to what we love doing the most – rallying.

“And racing at an event like Targa Tasmania for a professional outfit really is the pinnacle. Allan (Horsley, Mazda’s motorsport chief) and the team at Mazda have spent a lot of time developing the new car, so all of that, along with the improvements made at the factory level, are going to make for a really competitive car.” motorsport news

It is with great pleasure that the Australian Motor Sport Foundation (AMSF) invites you to honour a true legend of Australian and international motorsport.

The Australian Motor Sport Foundation is delighted to celebrate and honour the career of Tim Schenken; a true legend and personality of motor sport.

Tim Schenken’s Career Tim Schenken’s contribution to motor sport extends far past his driving days and transcends generations of drivers and fans alike. Tim’s racing career spanned over 20 years, racing sports cars, Formula Ford, Formula 3, Formula 2 and eventually Formula 1. Following a move to the UK in 1965, Tim made a stunning impact on international racing in 1968; dominating the categories he raced in. In that year Tim won both the British Formula Ford Championship and the British Formula 3 Championship – a feat never achieved before and has not been emulated since.

Tim was only the second Australian, after Sir Jack Brabham, to score World Championship points in a Formula 1 race. With Alan Jones and Mark Webber, Tim is still only one of four Australians to do so.

In recent times Tim has established himself as one of the most respected motor sport administrators in the world; holding the position of Director of Racing Operations at CAMS, as well as Race Director for the V8 Supercar series. Tim was also a Clerk of Course at both the 2008 and 2009 Formula 1™ Singapore Grands Prix; as well as the Formula 1™ Australian Grand Prix since 1985. Tim still remains the Clerk of Course and Chairman of the Organising Committee for the Formula 1™ Australian Grand Prix..

About the Event Hosted every two years in the prestigious Ball Room at Melbourne’s Park Hyatt on the Thursday evening prior to the Australian Formula 1™ Grand Prix, the AMSF has previously honoured true legends of the sport; in Sir Jack Brabham and the late Frank Gardner.

Guests will be treated to a three course meal, live entertainment and a number of motor sport personalities honouring and paying tribute to Tim Schenken. With Bill Woods as the evenings MC, guests will be entertained by comedian Trevor Marmalade; as well as a number of rare pieces of memorabilia that will be auctioned on the evening. Limited to only 450 places, make sure you secure your tickets to celebrate the career of Tim Schenken.

Event Details: Venue: Park Hyatt Hotel 1 Parliament Square www.mnews.com.au Melbourne

The AMSF All funds raised through the sale of tickets and auction items will go to support the AMSF. The AMSF is a not-for-profit body set up to nurture and support our young Australian motor sport stars of the future. The AMSF aims to ensure that Australia’s young drivers and other motor sport personnel are assisted in every way possible to make them, and Australia, once again a dominant force in international motor sport.

Thursday March 25, 7.30pm Dress: Lounge Suit Tickets: $175 per person or $1700 per table of 10

CLICK HERE TO BOOK YOUR TICKET(S) 15

BRIEFLY

n As predicted in last week’s eNews, the Formula 3 Australian Drivers Championship has announced the new Meguiars Pole Position Award. Each pole winner will pick up $150, a Meguiars Pole Position jacket and car care products. Mitch Evans got the ball rolling with his pole at Wakefield. n Ever wanted to look like Will Davison? Well, you probably can’t. But you can show your support for Davo with his new range of merchandise. A hoodie, polo shirt, t-shirt and cap will be launched at this weekend’s Clipsal 500. Head to www. willdavison.com.au for more info. n Former Indy Lights

driver James Davison is recovering in hospital in Denver, USA, after a snowboarding accident.

According to the young Aussie’s Facebook page, he was admitted into intensive care due to internal bleeding and a lacerated spleen. He is expected to make a full recovery; more details available at www. facebook.com/visionracing 16

Marshall Cass

n Registration has opened for the 2010 AMSF Motorsport Camp. The camp runs over a week at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra, and all of the CAMS-backed drivers will be in attendance. The cost is $2,990, which includes accommodation, meals, use of AIS facilities and apparel. There will also be a presentation from a V8 Supercar driver, in what is being described as an all new program.

The camp kicks off on April 5. For more details, head to http://ggg.com. au/clients/amsf/reg-camp/

UTES GRID SET FOR OPENER V8 UTES

THE field for this weekend’s V8 Utes 10 Years of Legends race has been finalised.

Seven-time World Series Sprintcar Champion Max Dumsney was due to make a temporary return to circuit racing, lining up with Rob Jarvis. However a licence wasn’t able to be sorted in time, and he will be replaced

by Tim Leahey in the Falcon Ute.

Former Fujitsu Series driver David Sieders joins the series this weekend in a Falcon Ute and will be joined by Ford Performance Vehicles General Manager Rod Barrett.

Another newcomer is 19-yearold Western Australian Rhys McNally, who’s previously raced Formula Ford and will step into older brother Glenn’s Ute for the year.

The legend and regular driver will each contest a sprint race, before a 12-lapper on

Sunday featuring both drivers with a compulsory 60-second pitstop to change drivers.

The group of co-drivers for Ute regulars includes Cameron McConville, Paul Morris, Steve Owen, Leanne Tander, Tony Longhurst and stunt rider Robbie Maddison.

In other Ute news, Wilson Security has signed on as the naming rights sponsor of Charlie Kovacs’ Commodore Ute for the 2010 season.

– MITCHELL ADAM

Batey leaves Holden for Chev GENERAL ANOTHER change at the top of Holden’s management team will have no effect on its motorsport activities.

Alan Batey, who was named at Holden’s managing director in September, has been appointed sales head for the Chevrolet brand in the US. His new role commences with immediate effect.

“This has come as a shock,” he said last week.

“Going to the US to head up Chevrolet from a sales perspective is one of the biggest sales

jobs in any industry in the world, so I’m very flattered.”

Holden’s chief financial officer Mark Bernhard will fill in as managing director until a permanent replacement is named.

Batey is the second Holden executive to be headhunted by Mark Reuss, who was Holden’s GM before he returned to the USA in late August. Reuss, now a vice-president of the US auto giant, grabbed Jason Laird in February to be his executive director of GM North American product and brand communications. motorsport news

news

IV to the Floor

MASTERS LEANNE Tander will join the Touring Car Masters presented by Autobarn this year, debuting the Phase IV, 1973 Falcon GT. The car, owned by Mark Moore and built by Phil Morris, is believed to be the Phase IV’s

competition debut, 37 years after it was shelved in the supercar scare. Tander tested the car at Winton last week, ahead of the season opener at the Clipsal 500 this weekend.

“I’m thrilled to be racing in the in the Touring Car Masters.

It’s one of the more exciting categories with all different

cars competing. It’s one that I’ve liked to watch in the past,” Tander said.

“The history of the Phase IV makes it more interesting, too.

Although it was made before I was born, I do really like big muscle cars of that era. It will be really interesting to see how this legendary car performs.”

While Tander is a newcomer to the series, one driver who won’t be on the grid is Bob Middleton.

The five-time Supertruck Champ was due to debut his newly-purchased 1970 Camaro at his home round, but delays with import permits and shipping will sideline the car.

Kumho fights back over ARC tyre AUSTRALIAN RALLY

Michael Vettas

www.mnews.com.au

AUSTRALIA’S Kumho tyre distributor has labelled criticism of the product by Honda’s ARC team as “unreasonable”.

Honda’s Civic Type-R rally car debuted on the opening ARC round in Tasmania just over a week ago, and struggled with tyre delamination problems.

And while Honda’s team pointed to tyre deficiencies, planning to “seek answers” from both ARCom and the Kumho importers, the latter – in the form of FSport Managing Director John Mills – has responded with his

own take on events: “To be honest,” he told eNews, “the team had not done enough testing of both the tyres and the local conditions.

The car wasn’t well set up for the tyres – in the end we made a significant camber adjustment on the first night and that made a substantial difference.

“Honda may well have brought engineers from overseas, but without sufficient testing of the tyre here, under local conditions, there’s always potential for difficulties.”

On the same medium compound tyres, but 20mm wider, rally winner Scott Pedder suffered no similar problems.

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WAKEFIELD Park one weekend, Spa-Francorchamps the next ...

Not quite, but the winner of this year’s inaugural Industrie Radical Australia Cup will indeed get to race at the Belgian circuit in 2011.

The prize for victory in the six-round series, sponsored

by Industrie Clothing, is an allexpenses-paid drive in a factoryprepared Radical SR3 in the Spa round of next year’s Radical European Masters series.

Alternating between Eastern Creek and Wakefield Park, the new series will run in conjunction with the Sports and Racing Car divisions on the 2010 NSW Motor Race Championship calendar.

However, Radical Australia aims to establish it as a stand-alone one-make series in 2011.

With a 1.5-litre 185kW engine, light weight – 560kg – and high downforce configuration, the SR3 is a fairly rapid machine, lapping Eastern Creek at around a second under the V8 Supercar lap record.

The Industrie Radical Australia Cup is the 14th Radical series now held around the world.

Radical aims to link its global community of owners via initiatives such as the Spa drive.

With Radical series now operating in so many parts of the world, Radical owners competing in their domestic series have the opportunity to secure a drive in an SR3 overseas.

– STEVE NORMOYLE

Fujitsu Series. He explored options to race in the series again, before ultimately deciding to return to America.

“The goal is IndyCar,” he said.

“I had an offer to do V8s this year, but I want to give IndyCar one more shot. I’m hoping to be on the Firestone Indy Lights

grid in 2010, and we’re just working through the details.

“I can’t reveal which team I’ll be with just yet, but I’m close to a deal. Sam Schmidt Motorsport did a great job at the test, and it was great to be in such a good team, which does things right.”

SPORTS CARS

Radical, man USA! USA! USA! INDY LIGHTS JAMES Winslow has set his sights on IndyCar, and is closing on a deal to contest the Firestone Indy Lights Series.

The 2008 Australian Formula 3 Champ tested with Sam Schmidt Motorsport at Sebring last week, completing two, half-days behind the wheel of their Dallara. Wet weather plagued the second day, but the Englishman impressed in

his first Indy Lights hitout.

“I was really happy to be as quick as anyone – and possibly quicker – but it’s a shame that I didn’t get a new tyre run,” Winslow said.

“The team have tested at least four times before this, but it was my debut in an Indy Lights car and I actually went quickest on old rubber.”

Winslow raced in the now-defunct Atlantic Championship last year and contested a round of the

Hallilujha SUPERCUP MATT Halliday will drive for an all-Kiwi team in this year’s Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup.

The squad will be known as Giltrap Racing, and will contest all 10 rounds of the series, each of which play support at a Formula 1 Grand Prix. The series kicks off at Bahrain this weekend, then runs at the Spanish, Monaco, European, Great British, German, Turkish, Belgian and Italian Grands Prix.

18

“I am really looking forward to the coming season, with such a highly regarded team with whom I have previously enjoyed some success,” said Halliday.

“It is significant that we have a real New Zealand effort behind us, which will continue to maintain the high Kiwi motor racing profile in Europe.

“I am grateful to the Giltrap Group, who have placed their faith in me to challenge for the prestigious Supercup.” motorsport news

Now at Newsagents!

The all-new, bigger, better and glossier ...

Incorporating all your favourite MNews features ... and loads more!

Everything the real motorsport fan needs to know. * How did they do it? We talk to TeamVodafone's engineering guru Ludo Lacroix about T8’s transition – to racewinning Commodores! * Comebacks – can Michael Schumacher succeed? Some have made successful comebacks, others have failed miserably * Williams 30 Years on – AJ won in 1980 ... Patrick Head reflects * Fabulous – rising V8 star Fabian Coulthard at home. * New Blue – James Moffat on life with the factory * The Next Big Finn – rally star Mikko Hirvonen AND MUCH, MUCH MORE!

Grab your copy today! www.mnews.com.au

19

Luke Nieuwhof

Phillips heading up DRAG RACING GARY Phillips is taking a new attitude into the remainder of the ANDRA Pro Series Top Doorslammer season – pushing the limits of his Lucas Oils Studebaker to see what is possible.

Phillips has come back from a big accident at the opening round of the championship where he blew a tyre in the braking area.

He made it to the semi finals at the Westernationals in Perth, but had to watch as John Zappia lowered the national record to 5.81s.

He now needs to find the pace the championship frontrunners Zappia and Robin Judd have, and that means

DRAG RACING

he rebuilt the car after the accident.

“It’s a matter of getting it sorted, the 60 foot times and the speed are good it is just the bit in between,” he said.

“The car handles like a dream now, even when it’s shaking.”

Tyre shake proved a problem for Phillips in almost every run at the Motorplex and is something he needs to get his head around in order to continue going rounds and running consistent five second passes.

“The horsepower is there, we need to sort out the suspension, there is a sweet spot I haven’t found yet with the four-link,” he said.

“We’re going to do some testing before I go to Sydney

to race.”

Phillips currently runs without a lock-up clutch in his Top Doorslammer, which allows drivers to fully lock the clutch by pressing a button during a run. He said he would sort the suspension first before again enabling the system.

While his runs were a little troubled, Phillips at least escaped the mechanical carnage among the field at the Westernationals, where several racers blew motors during qualifying in hot conditions.

“There was no carnage, that’s the way I run my stuff,” he said.

“All we had was a cracked body from the shake.”

– LUKE NIEUWHOF

Sydney feels the burn

Ken Ferguson

SYDNEY Dragway has announced it will be hosting a Nitro Funny Car event on July 4.

Incorporating sportsman brackets as well into a tight one day event, it marks the first time the crowd favourite category has been on display at the track in several years.

– LUKE NIEUWHOF

coming up with 5.8s times.

“It’s 80s or nothing now and 6.0s might not even make it into the field in the future,” he said.

“John Zappia is so consistent right now and it’s not long before he is running 70s, it was impressive what he did at the Westernationals.”

To get into that zone means a change in attitude for Phillips, one more aggressive than he has used in the past.

“We have everything to gain and nothing to lose and our approach is to attack,” he said.

“I’ve never taken that approach but we need to learn for the next season.”

Phillips changed the Studebaker’s suspension system to a four-link when

ANDRA Pro Series news is proudly presented by:

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motorsport news

news

Auto One renews major sponsorship DRAG RACING ONE of Australia’s most prominent automotive parts and accessory groups, Auto One, has renewed its major associate sponsorship of the ANDRA Pro Series Drag Racing.

The automotive company has renewed their sponsorship contract until the end of the 2011 season. Auto One’s slogan, ‘Right Gear! Right Advice!’ rings strong through its 70+ retail outlets across Australia as well as on the track, represented by former Australian Top Fuel champion, Phil Read.

Auto One’s General Manager, Peter Henry believes that renewing their contract as major sponsors of the

ANDRA Pro Series will again produce direct benefits for the company.

“We’re excited about the opportunity to further build on the wonderful partnership that we’ve shared with the ANDRA Pro Series over the last 12 months,” Mr Henry said.

The sponsorship has also

Caleb leading the way

Luke Nieuwhof

ANDRA Pro Series on

had a positive impact on Auto One as a brand.

“I have no doubt that our exposure through the Pro Series has influenced brand perception and awareness in the marketplace,” Henry added.

“We look forward to further building opportunities and growing the Auto One brand

as well as growing awareness amongst our customers of Pro Series drag racing.”

The company believe that the renewing of the sponsorship is a great start to the year as they intend on growing the store-base and their brand in 2010 through new franchisees.

DRAG RACING

seconds handicap start. I was catching him so fast I thought I got there but his win light came on. I felt really bad but at least I got runner up which is pretty good.”

His father Rod Oberg said Caleb was down after the loss but he pointed out the achievement of making it two the finals of two major events.

“I keep having to remind myself he’s only 11 years old because I can’t believe how well he’s driving in his first crack at the championship,” he said.

– LUKE NIEUWHOF

THE Junior Dragster bracket in the Rocket Allstars Racing Series is as tight fought as any other, with teams needing to attend events around Australia to claim a title.

Caleb Oberg, 11, has shown his emerging talents this season with two runner-ups, at the Australian Nationals and the recent Westernationals.

“After getting so close at the Nationals I really wanted to win this time,” he said.

“In the final I had to give Jeremy (Dixon) almost two

Sunday, March 14, 9pm

Next ANDRA Pro Series Round: ENZED Top Fuel Championships, Willowbank Raceway, April 17-18 www.mnews.com.au

21

Five Minutes with ...

SHANE VAN GISBERGEN

‘The Giz’ is a regular podium finisher in a V8 Supercar now, and is third in the championship after the Middle Eastern swing. He spoke to ANDREW VAN LEEUWEN MOTORSPORT NEWS: Four races gone and you’re third in the championship; could you have imagined that the season would start so well?

SHANE VAN GISBERGEN: (Laughs) No, I certainly hoped for it, but realistically I didn’t think so.

We knew we would be a lot stronger.

We made some good changes to the car through the off-season and even at the last couple of rounds last year. We had a really good car for the test day, so we knew we’d be stronger, but not as strong as we were.

So it was pretty encouraging. All the boys were pretty stoked, and we’re trying even harder again to get a result at Adelaide.

It’s quite uncommon that someone goes fast in testing and then backs it up with race pace, but that’s exactly what you’ve done. Could you tell at Queensland Raceway that the car was better than it was in 2009?

Yeah. We worked on the car all day at the test day and we didn’t have any good tyres at all. Everyone was in the same boat with tyres. We put the best of what we had on the car at the end of the day, like everyone else did, and the car was unreal.

I’ve never had a car so good around Queensland, so I was pretty happy with it.

I knew it was looking good. When we got to Abu Dhabi it was a track that suited our cars; a few high-speed corners and then all the 90 degree stuff as well. We had a good balance and it worked. We got a bit lucky on the Saturday to get third, but in Bahrain, coming from 14th to third showed we actually have the pace.

That was an amazing drive, but why were you so far back in the first place? Was it a mistake in qualifying?

Yeah it was. You only get one lap at Bahrain on the tyres, because it’s such a long lap and the surface is so hard on the tyres. I went into one of the corners too hard and lost the rear of the car, so I backed out of the lap. I had another crack, 22

but by the time I got back to the corner where I’d made the mistake, I was sixtenths down – and that was at the end of the first sector.

We could have been third or fourth in qualifying, and that would have saved a lot of hard work.

matching the guys behind, but the guys at the front were in a league of their own.

For Saturday we changed a few things, and the car did look after the tyres better, but also I focussed on driving a lot smoother and making the car last to the end of the stint. It made the difference.

How hard was it? You passed a lot of cars on the road ...

We got lucky in first turn with a few guys coming together, but that only put us about 11th. We had good pace, passed some cars, and then Rick Kelly and I had a good race. We qualified together, and both had good pace. We had a really good race in the second stint, and he got ahead of me. Then in the third stint we jumped him in the pits, and we stuck together to get past [Lee] Holdsworth and fight it out.

I just had a little bit extra speed in the last stint. It was a tough race, but we’d improved the car from the day before.

So the Shane van Gisbergen of 2010 is more mature, then?

I suppose so! It’s a whole combination of things. Last year we didn’t have the best car speed, so when a passing opportunity came up, I just had to take it – and that meant I was taking too many risks.

This year I feel I can afford to think twice about it and make sure it’s going to stick.

I’m thinking things through a lot more. It’s a long championship, and I want to be in the top six at the end of the year, so to do that I can’t be doing stupid things.

It looked like you ran out of tyres during the first race in Bahrain; was the second race about improving the car to look after its tyres better, or about you driving the car to look after its tyres better?

It was a bit of both. On Friday, the car wasn’t as good as a race car, so I made it to about Lap 6 or 7 on Frosty’s (Mark Winterbottom) tail, and then they simply drove away.

I just struggled to keep up. I was

Can you chase down Jamie Whincup and Frosty and steal the odd race win this year?

You know, at the moment, it will only happen if we get lucky. Those guys are a step ahead. But realistically, by halfway through the season, we want to be challenging for poles and wins.

We’ve still got some things to come on the car, and there’s more to come from myself as well. It all takes time, but we’re a lot closer, and we have to keep doing what we’re doing; keep our heads down and work hard. motorsport news

chat

www.mnews.com.au

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T

HEY have a rather weird professional running race every year in the Victorian country town of Stawell. The Stawell Gift is run across a grass oval, must be about 120 metres, and it’s a handicap race.

Yup, a 120 metre handicap race. A bit like the Melbourne Cup – different weights for better horses – but in this case some of the runners get to start up to 10 or more metres ahead of the best athletes. So winning isn’t necessarily about being the best ...

There are probably those among our V8 brigade who’d prefer the two parts of the Clipsal 500 to be handicap races. You know, start Jamie Whincup a lap down and see how he’d go then, mate!

No-one is seriously suggesting such a thing (before people start emailing!), but that appears to be just about the only way anyone – with the possible exception of Mark Winterbottom – is going to get on terms with the rampant Whincup.

Which is a bit of a problem for V8 Supercars. Going to Clipsal – the real start of the season for most fans, I suspect – with one driver metaphorically around

Personal the first corner and out of sight already, might put a small dampener of the championship ‘sell’. But will it affect the turn-up at this weekend’s Adelaide classic?

I doubt it.

Will HRT’s faithful give it away because the team is already, well, er, down among the also-rans points-wise? I doubt it.

If there’s one event on the calendar that can stand alone, championship or no championship, it’s Adelaide. A challenging, classic street track, with a well-evolved format and supporting act, it’s a great weekend, and sure to be its usual sell-out.

But for Aussie race fans just one small thing will be missing – twice – in this and coming weekends. That sense of anticipation. Who’s going to nail it at the opener? Who’s going to come from nowhere, and the prospect of being there to see it unfold – all that stuff that feeds into the opening round of a major series.

In the case of our own V8s, it was wasted by the overseas kick-off. In the case of Formula 1, it will now also be wasted on a modest Middle Eastern crowd. With all the new ingredients in F1 this year, Melbourne should still pull a pretty good crowd –

Chris Lambden Publisher, eNews but it would be that much better if it was surrounded by the hype of the opening round, as it has been until this year.

In the case of the V8s, it is being said that the Middle Eastern events have to run at the start – or end – of the season for climatic reasons. Okay; but are we so inflexible, as to overlook other obvious options?

Our intrepid photographer Dirk Klynsmith rolled back from the Middle East and, unannounced, came up with possibly the most logical – on the surface – solution.

Why not run Clipsal a couple of weeks earlier (it used to be in Feb once upon a time anyway), he said, then pack the cars off to the Middle East? (And, as an aside, you might consider running the Bahrain round in conjunction with the F1race. Might even pull a crowd, not to mention wider TV audience). Then back to Melbourne for the GP. Regardless, Clipsal first, then the Middle East. Surely it makes sense?

In the meantime, it’s looking like 30 degrees and fine all weekend in SA. Enjoy.

Dirk Klynsmith

24

motorsport news

comment

Personal WITH the closure of the Formula Atlantics Series last week, we thought it timely to ask Geoff Brabham his memories of racing in the American open-wheel series.

I

DID not race a lot in Formula Atlantics, but I enjoyed the races that I did.

I only ever ran about three events and they were all at Long Beach. The first year we raced there, we had some kind of problem but in the other two races – in 1981 and ’82 – we had two wins.

I was doing Super Vee in 1979 and I went to CanAm, but the reason I ended up driving was because the Ralt importer, Brian Robertson, had brought in the first of the RT4s, the ground effects cars. It had all the things that you saw on Formula 1 cars – the sidepods and so on – and he wanted to have someone in the car with some sort of experience with that, to prove that the car was worth buying. So I ended up running in those races.

The thing that I remember was that there was always some strong competition. In one of the races, I had a good battle with Roberto Moreno, and then it was with Danny Sullivan

in the other year. It’s a while ago now and I can’t remember which year was which …

There were always some good drivers, and that continued for years after I had moved on to other things. Formula Atlantic always hung around as a stepping-stone category to Champ Cars and IndyCars, but I think that as time went on, things just became less and less clear.

Other categories started and, instead of just Super Vee and Atlantics, there were quite a few other categories, like the Barber series, Formula Mazda, Indy Lights and so on.

So for a driver choosing where to go in their career, it became difficult.

In today’s climate, it is not surprising to see people falling by the wayside because they choose the wrong category at the wrong time.

You used to get the good drivers funnelling into the one series, but recently, that has not always happened.

Geoff Brabham 3-time Formula Atlantic race winner [among other things]

sutton-images.com

www.mnews.com.au

25

SHANNONS NATIONALS ROUND 1, WAKEFIELD PARK

Perfect start Mitch Evans opened his 2010 Formula 3 Australian Drivers Championship account with a hat-trick of wins at Wakefield Park, as the Shannons Nationals turned 40. LACHLAN MANSELL was there.

26

motorsport news

race

John Morris / Mpix

www.mnews.com.au

27

John Morris / Mpix

FORMULA 3 MITCH Evans took out the opening round of the 2010 Formula 3 Australian Driver’s Championship at Wakefield Park on the weekend, following on from his stunning victory in the F3 Super Prix at Sandown last season.

The 15-year-old Kiwi now leads the Formula 3 Championship, having finished second in last year’s Australian Formula Ford Championship. The timesheets show Evans at the top of the list for qualifying, the two sprint races and the longer feature race, but he was pushed very hard for his victories by fellow New Zealander Ben Crighton. TanderSport’s Crighton and Evans’ lap times 28

were separated by barely hundredths of seconds throughout the three races, but Crighton came away with the outright lap record in the first sprint race, also setting the fastest lap of the second sprint race.

“It’s been a great weekend, Ben drove so well all day and put huge pressure on,” Evans said.

“Huge thanks to the team for their efforts, the car has been perfect and it’s great to have been able to give them this success this weekend.

It’s a quality field and it was very tough out there so this is a very good start to our championship.”

Second in the three races was Crighton’s best result in the championship.

“Obviously it would have been nice to have won a race

this weekend but it’s been a good weekend overall,” he said.

“To be able to come away with the lap record is nice and we put a lot of pressure on Mitch. The car was fantastic all weekend and the team has done a superb job as always so thanks to TanderSport. It’s a good start to the season.”

Tom Tweedie was the best of the National Class competitors with third place outright.

“We have a new mechanic from the West-Tec Formula 3 team in England,” Tweedie said.

“He did a really good job of setting the car up. Even in the long feature race, its performance didn’t drop off towards the end.

“I like the new race format.

You have to be consistent in the two sprint races, it’s not like last year where if you had a problem in Race 1 you had

another chance from a good grid position in Race 2. The longer race brings a bit of strategy into the game as well.

“You have to decide whether you set the car up to be strong early in the race or come on later in the race.”

Tweedie was chased hard in all three races by Englishman Ben Barker, who suffered some absolutely rotten luck in qualifying – an off-track excursion at Turn 5 caused a stone to fly up and puncture a hole in the airbox of his Team BRM car. Under Formula 3 regulations, airboxes must pass a suction test to ensure no extra air can enter; Barker’s airbox failed the suction test and he was subsequently excluded from qualifying.

John Magro finished fifth in all three races, ahead of Chinese driver Zhang Shan Qi. motorsport news

race

John Morris / Mpix

John Morris / Mpix

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www.mnews.com.au

James Smith

KERRY Baily has landed the first blow in the 2010 Kerrick Sports Sedan Series, taking the opening round win ahead of reigning champion Des Wall and Darren Hossack.

Baily qualified on pole position and won the weekend’s opening race from Wall and Hossack, before Wall gained the upper hand to win Race 2. However, Race 3 was the most exciting of the lot, thanks to a shower that started just as the cars rolled out on their formation lap. Wall led early, but as the rain became heavier, his Corvette became gradually less competitive and he dropped back several places.

Trent Young took full advantage of the wet weather to work his way into the lead in his less powerful, but lighter and more nimble Mazda RX7. Young charged on to an eventual 26-second win over Hossack.

Baily and Wall both battled hard for third place, swapping positions and running off the circuit multiple times in the closing laps as they fought for the round win. In the end, Baily took the ascendancy and held 30

on for the round-win.

In the S2 Class, Damian Johnson took out the round in his Torana while Daniel Natoli won the Heavy Metal class driving his distinctive V8 Magna.

One of the highlights of the Sports Sedan round was the four-lap, top-six reverse-grid ‘Dash for Cash’ on Saturday afternoon. Scott Butler claimed the cash by winning the race, while Baily was the big improver, moving from sixth to second.

Commodore Cup also produced its share of surprises, with three different winners from the three races. Adam Beechey came away with the overall round win in an outstanding debut in the category, with results of third, first and fifth in the three races.

Pole-sitter Scott Andrews finished second in the first two races before struggling to seventh in Race 3’s wet conditions, but he still scored enough points for second overall. Meanwhile, Tony Bates recovered brilliantly from an altercation with Nick Parker in Race 1 to round out the podium.

Jason Domaschenz won Race 1 but fell down the order with gearbox problems in Race 2 and spins in Race 3, while Matt Chick did the opposite, becoming involved in incidents in Races 1 and 2 but driving brilliantly in the wet Race 3 to claim his first Commodore Cup race win. Chick and Domaschenz finished fourth and fifth overall, ahead of Nick Parker, who was penalised for his contact with Tony Bates in Race 1.

Returning driver Geoff Fontaine suffered a tough weekend in his Axent Commodore, ultimately withdrawing from the weekend’s final race with panel damage, while Adam Lloyd showed plenty of pace with second in qualifying but was unable to translate the pace into race results – he finished 10th overall.

The Mazda MX5 Challenge competitors were treated to a generous amount of tracktime, with five races across the weekend. Matilda Mravicic won three races and Chris Tonna won two, while Shane Otten and David Raddatz were the best of the title contenders.

Kerry Baily, above, won the opening Sports Sedan round, after a final-race battle with Des Wall, top right. Trent Young, above right, took his RX7 to victory in the wet Race 3.

Tony Bates recovered to third for the Commodore Cup weekend after a R1incident, right, while newcomer Adam Beechey, below right, took the round win.

Chris Tonna, far right, and Matilda Mravicic shared the Mazda MX5 wins.

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John Morris / Mpix

John Morris / Mpix

James Smith

James Smith

James Smith

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WORLD RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND 2 – MEXICO

BACK TO HIS BEST After failing to match Mikko Hirvonen’s pace in Sweden, Sebastien Loeb came out and smashed the opposition in Mexico, leading a Citroen 1-2-3

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EBASTIEN Loeb is back in business, after a stunning win in Mexico last weekend.

As expected on the dry and dusty roads of Mexico, tactics played a big part in the rally – because running first on the road was a major disadvantage. That’s why, after the first day of running, Petter Solberg led Sebastien Ogier by 15s, the pair having made hay with their running order.

But as the first day drew to a close, the danger was obviously Loeb. Solberg and Ogier opted not to slow at the end of Leg 1, despite the fact that road conditions were meant to be even worse on Leg 2, and the World Champ was sitting third, just 27s off the lead, and with nice, swept roads ahead.

As it happened, Solberg’s 27s at the end of Leg 1 wasn’t enough, but Loeb’s 55s lead at the end of Leg 2 was. With only two fulllength stages on the final day, Loeb cruised

to the win, and the WRC points lead. ”This victory’s done us a power of good,” Loeb said.

“We controlled our race well and I think that we can look forward to the next events with confidence, as they’ll be run on similar surfaces. Thanks to this victory we’ve taken the lead in the championship and opened up a small gap over Mikko Hirvonen. It’s a good situation even if we’ll have to sweep the road in Jordan.”

The battle between Solberg and Ogier became for second place on Legs 2 and 3, but it was just as fierce as it had been for the lead on Leg 1. In the end, it came down to the final superspecial stage, Solberg just hanging on to second place.

Hirvonen finished fourth after a miserable rally, and even that was only because Ford’s number two Jari-Matti Latvala slowed on the final day to let his team leader through.

After a Citroen whitewash, the boys in blue (and green) were left licking their wounds.

“It was a very difficult weekend for the whole team,” admitted Hirvonen.

“We never really had the speed and there were lots of small mistakes from my side too.

I’m glad in the end we got the points we could. I just want to leave it behind now and move on to the next rally.”

World Rally’s high profile newcomers both had difficult weekends. Kimi Raikkonen was out of the rally on the first day, when he rolled his Citroen C4 on SS7. Meanwhile, Ford’s Ken Block – on his WRC debut – was running as high as eighth on the first day, but was caught out by a bad note on the first stage of Leg 2 and retired.

In the S-WRC class, Xevi Pons took the win after an event-long battle with Martin Prokop, who decided to settle for the points on the final day.

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Good day to be Norwegian, bad day to be Finnish: Mikko Hirvonen, above, and Kimi Raikkonen, left, had shocking rallies in Mexico. But Petter Solberg, below, was over-joyed – to the point of tears – with second place. It wasn’t a bad day to be French, either, with Sebastien Ogier following Solberg home in third place, above right.

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Results

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Sebastien Loeb Citroen Daniel Elena 3:42:41.7s 2 Petter Solberg Citroen Phil Mills +24.2s 3 Sebastien Ogier Citroen Julien Ingrassia +25.2s 4 Mikko Hirvonen Ford Jarmo Lehtinen +1 :47 .5s 5 Jari-Matti Latv ala Fo rd Miikka Anttila +2 :15 .1s 6 Henning Solber g Ford Ilka Minor +2 :48 .0s 7 Federico Villagr a Fo rd JP Companc +10:13.4s 8 Xevi Pons Ford Alex Haro +1 8:4 4.4s 9 Martin Prokop Fo rd Jan Tomanek +1 9:0 2.0 s 10 Armindo Arau jo Mitsubishi Ramalho Miguel +21:32.5s Points: Loeb 43, Hirv onen 37, Latvala 25, Ogier 25, P Solb erg 20, H Solberg 16, Sordo 12, Wilson 6, Villagra 6, Ostberg 4.

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NASCAR SPRINT CUP ROUND 4, ATLANTA, GA

NASCAR Media

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The further the race went in Atlanta – and it went a long way – the more it looked like a Kurt Busch win.

But it was what happened behind the Miller Lite Dodge that snagged the headlines

The Speed of Lite

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Keselowski incident, which came after the two clashed earlier in the race. Keselowski’s car flew for a moment, but not as high as Edwards did last year at Talladega – when he was tapped by Keselowski. The two are building a no-holds barred rivalry, and there are calls for officials to step in before something serious happens.

“We will hurt someone, either in the cars or in the grandstands,” Keselowski warned.

Meanwhile, the Dale Earnhardt Jr mystery continues. The Earnhardt Nation was elated to see their man qualify on pole position, but by the end of the first lap, he was back in the pack.

He pitted under green on lap 114 with a tyre problem but the crew found nothing wrong with the tyre. To add to the Hendrick team’s woes, just as he was set to resume, Mark Martin blew a tyre, Junior was a lap down and he struggled to finish 15th.

Tyres were a talking point in Georgia. The track is notoriously tough on rubber, and a number of drivers suffered problems, notably Newman and Jeff Gordon. The pair got back on the lead lap, to finish 17th and 18th, respectively.

Marcos Ambrose finished 11th, one spot ahead of his qualifying position. The Toyota driver was suffering from a bad back all weekend, and did his best to soldier on without getting involved in all the wrecks.

And once again, Dave Blaney and Michael McDowell qualified, started and parked their Prism Motorsports Toyotas.

Ford Racing Media

T was not pretty but you can bet that Kurt Busch will still take the W at Atlanta.

The Kobalt Tools 500 went 16 laps past its scheduled finish as crash after crash extended the race, but Busch made the best restart when it counted to give Dodge its first win of the season.

Juan Pablo Montoya was looking to be the strongest challenger to the Penske car, but when Carl Edwards attacked Brad Keselowski – literally – and sent his car flying, the race was restarted. Busch grabbed the lead from Clint Bowyer, held it until another crash-fest in Turn 3 and that was all she wrote.

“Even with all the restarts, I thought we had the strongest car,” said Busch after the 21st win Cup win of his career and first with Steve Addington, who used to crew chief for Kyle Busch at Joe Gibbs Racing until an offseason change.

And while Penske had a good/bad day, it was all good for Richard Petty Motorsports.

Kasey Kahne was fourth, just ahead of Paul Menard and AJ Allmendinger, showing that the team’s switch to Ford in the off-season is paying dividends.

Kahne led 144 of the 325 laps, and looked like a contender all race long.

For once, it was not good news for Hendrick Motorsport.

Jimmie Johnson ran as high as third until a bad pitstop put him back in the pack – where he encountered Ryan Newman.

Edwards was eventually blackflagged and parked by NASCAR officials over the

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RESULTS :: KOBALT TOOLS 500 1 2 Kurt Busch Dodge 2 17 Matt Kenseth Ford 3 42 Juan Montoya Chevy 4 9 Kasey Kahne Ford 5 98 Paul Menard Ford 6 43 AJ Allmendinger Ford 7 83 Brian Vickers Toyota 8 16 Greg Biffle Ford 9 29 Kevin Harvick Chevy 10 82 Scott Speed Toyota

Penske Miller Lite Q11 Roush Fenway Valvoline 14 Earnhardt Ganassi Target 3 Petty Budweiser 6 Petty Menards 23 Petty Best Buy 25 Red Bull Red Bull 26 Roush Fenway US Census 13 Childress Shell 35 Red Bull Red Bull 32

POINTS: Harvick 644, Kenseth 618, Biffle 585, Johnson 570, Bowyer 558, Burton 538, Martin 521, Stewart 510, Menard 505, Kurt Busch 502, Gordon 482, Speed 482.

NASCAR Media

Toyota Motorsports

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It’s Miller Time! Kurt was a happy Busch after taking victory in Atlanta for the third time. Much of the story of the race was about the Ford drivers; Matt Kenseth finished second for Roush Fenway, while AJ Allmendinger backed up his Petty brothers Kasey Kahne and Paul Menard with a 4-5-6 finish. Marcos Ambrose ran in the colours of Lance Fresh on the weekend and battled a bad back to finish 11th.

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Sleek Meeke IRC A LITTLE over 12 months ago, Briton Kris Meeke was preparing for his first proper tilt on the Intercontinental Rally Challenge.

Since then, he has become the series’ champion, and after Round 2 of 2010 in Brazil last weekend, he is the most successful driver in IRC history.

The Peugeot UK driver had a remarkable rally in Curutiba.

He was barely challenged, didn’t put a foot wrong all weekend, and named the only

difficulty he had at any point a flooded river during the second day.

In the end, he led home Guy Wilks in a UK-backed Skoda by nearly 47s, with another Skoda driver – Juho Hanninen – in third.

“Peugeot UK have been absolutely incredible, and I think their commitment also got Škoda UK interested in supporting a car for Guy Wilks this year,” said Meeke.

“To have two UK importers finishing first and second ahead of the factory cars is very

good for everyone, and shows the benefit importers can get from doing the IRC.”

Hanninen, who won six stages during the rally, and now leads the series from Wilks.

Muller and Tarquni win opener FIA WTCC IT was a case of déjà vu in the FIA World Touring Car Championship, with Yvan Muller and Gabrielle Tarquini splitting the wins in the season opener at Curitiba in Brazil, for the second-straight year.

Muller led a Chevrolet 1-23 in the wet first race, leading home team-mates Rob Huff and Alain Menu. The race

started from behind the Safety Car following a downpour just before the race start, with Muller taking full advantage of his pole position.

“The race was complicated because at the beginning there was some standing water,” he said.

“Then the track dried out and to be on the wet tyres on a dry track was not easy.

“After five laps I wanted to save the tyres because I knew

it was drying but I was saving a bit too much and when Huff came up behind me I had to wake up.”

Reigning Champ Tarquini was fourth, before leading a dominant performance for Seat in Race 2. Pole-sitter Tom Coronel was in the wars early, following a Turn 1 clash with Huff. On Lap 3, Tarquini passed Gene for the lead and never looked back, taking the win ahead of his team-mate,

with Menu third, a further five seconds behind.

“We have no team orders so it was a great race,” Tarquni, who shares the points lead with Muller, said.

“I had a tough time over the winter but in qualifying the car was great. The plan was to get a podium and maybe a win and I did that so it’s a fantastic start to the season.

“I feel really satisfied and this victory is special.”

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Great Wall KARTING

MATTHEW Wall has made a brilliant start to the 2010 CIK Stars of Karting Series, by winning last weekend’s opening round in Newcastle.

The 31-year-old won both races of the Pro Gearbox class; the first was a whitewash ahead of Chris Hays and Kel Treseder, but the second was very close, after Wall slowed down to celebrate the win prematurely, and almost forfeited it to Treseder.

“That was a rookie error that almost cost me the win,” said Wall.

“I guess that I’ve been watching too much Formula 1 over the years where they slow

down to celebrate and am very lucky to have got away with it.

“This weekend has just been fantastic to see the CIK style of racing back on track in Australia, and it has got a lot of people in the sport excited. I can’t wait to get to Round 2 in Ipswich.” MATTHEW Wall has made a brilliant start to the 2010 CIK Stars of Karting Series, by winning last weekend’s

opening round in Newcastle.

The 31-year-old won both races of the Pro Gearbox class; the first was a whitewash ahead of Chris Hays and Kel Treseder, but the second was very close, after Wall slowed down to celebrate the win prematurely, and almost forfeited it to Treseder.

“That was a rookie error that almost cost me the win,” said

Wall.

“I guess that I’ve been watching too much Formula 1 over the years where they slow down to celebrate and am very lucky to have got away with it.

“This weekend has just been fantastic to see the CIK style of racing back on track in Australia, and it has got a lot of people in the sport excited. I can’t wait to get to Round 2 in Ipswich.”

Vic Series kicks off STATE RACING YOUNG Formula Ford talent shone through in the opening round of the Victorian Motor Racing Championships at Winton last weekend.

Jesse Fenech and category debutants Josh Hunter and Matthew Hart shared the

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wins in the Duratec class, with Hart’s feature race victory giving him the lead over Evans Motorsport team-mate Andre Heimgartner. Richard Goddard was the pick of the Formula Ford 1600 drivers ahead of Mark Samson.

Daniel Reynolds picked up top spot in Formula Vee, after sharing the wins with James

Simpson and Sam Power.

Kane Vereker took his Mazda RX7 to a clean sweep of Improved Production wins, with Mark Ruta (Mazda RX7) his closest challenger, while Dick Howe and Ivan Klasan left the weekend tied at the top of the Porsche 944 points.

Stan Armstrong took out BMW E30 over Robert Braune.

Greg Hewson didn’t win an MG race, but consistency took him to the round win, ahead of Ken Price and Jason Holmes.

Under 2 Litre Sports Sedans and Super TT shared a grid for most of the weekend, with Anthony Koch and Hayden Pullen the respective victors of each class.

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School’s In, Enforcer style This weekend, a new series of V8 Supercar-related SuperCheap Auto commercials will air on the box, with Russell Ingall and Paul Morris. According to our spies, The Dude and The Enforcer have created a ‘new agency to protect cars’.

Odd Spot

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