Motorsport eNews Issue 177 - October 19-25, 2010

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Issue No. 177 October 19 - 25 2010

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SHOCK: ADRIAN BURGESS SET TO SPLIT WITH DICK JOHNSON RACING AS OWNERSHIP DISPUTE REMAINS UNSETTLED FULL GOLD COAST 600 PREVIEW EXCLUSIVE CHAT WITH ALEX TAGLIANI WHO WE THINK WILL MAKE THE V8 www.mnews.com.au GRADE, AND WHO WON’T!

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This special DVD presentation features almost two and a half hours of highlights from the 2010 Australian Muscle Car Masters at Sydney’s Eastern Creek Raceway, which played host to a special ‘50 Years of Touring Car Racing’ celebration.

Relive some of the best racing action from the nation’s premier annual muscle car event, featuring hundreds of cars competing in a variety of classes representing five decades of Australian touring car history. These include the Touring Car Masters (presented by Autobarn), Group N (1959-1972), Group C (1973-1984) and Group A (1985-1992) categories.

Also featured are some extra special events staged to mark this historic occasion, including the 50th Anniversary Handicap Race that combined cars from the 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s, plus a revival of the ‘best of three’ match races between Ford, Holden and Chrysler that were so popular with race fans in the early 1970s.

Plus there’s lot of interviews with famous drivers from the past, Master Blast and Heritage Hot Lap track demonstrations, Ultimate Race Replicas and much more.

Bonus material features colourful ‘Featured Muscle Marques’ road car track parades and some ONLY great in-car camera footage from a variety of competing race cars.

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Editorial Editor: Andrew van Leeuwen Executive Editor: Phil Branagan National Editor: Mitchell Adam Publisher: Chris Lambden

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Contributing Writers US: Martin D. Clark, Mary Mendez National: Lachlan Mansell, Mark Jones Speedway: Greg Boscato, Geoff Rounds, Darren Sutton Drag Racing: Dave Ostaszewski (USA), Ken Ferguson, John Bosher, Luke Nieuwhof

Honda Racing

Some of the finest and fastest from a century of racing at Indianapolis gathered to start the centenary of the race. See page 15 for more

Photographers Sutton Motorsport Images, Dirk Klynsmith, Marshall Cass, John Morris/Mpix, AF1 Images, James Smith, Peter Bury, Geoff Gracie, Joel Strickland, Rob Lang

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Issue No. 177 | 19-25 Oct 2010

news 4 Burgess on the move JBR Ops Mgr to move to Fones 7 My achey breaky ribs Davo feels the pain of shunt 8 Dad! I am borrowing Ingall Ingall gets another Perkins 13 Korea moves forward All ... most ready for F1 16 Davison around the clock ... 12 hours? With those ribs?

chat 26 Five Minutes With ...

Alex Tagliani

comment 28 Addison

27 van Leeuwen

race 30 Preview: Gold Coast 600 34 NASCAR: JMac on target

trade 42 Classifieds

BURGO’S NEXT PHASE V8 SUPERCARS

W

HILE the dust is yet to settle at Jim Beam Racing, one of the key members of the team, Adrian Burgess, will have a new role from the start of the 2011 season – with TeamVodafone.

Burgess will join the multiple title and Bathurst-winning team in the role of Team Principal. Current Team Principal and owner Roland Dane, who will step down from the role to concentrate on other areas of the team’s involvement, confirmed the move on Monday.

“I am making sure that I can be free to develop other stuff,” Dane told eNews.

“I want to develop the commercial side of the business, along with Peter [Jamieson, the team’s Commercial Operations Manager]. It has been in my mind for some time.”

The move means that TeamVodafone will have a formidable lineup of

experienced management. It recently announced that John Russell, who has V8 Supercar experience with FPR and BJR, will split with WilliamsF1 to bolster the team’s technical department. He will start as the team’s Director of Engineering and Production in January.

“Teams are people,” said Dane.

“You are only as good as your constituent ingredients.”

Burgess, who worked in Formula 1 with McLaren and Midland, joined Dick Johnson Racing in August 2006 as Sporting Director.

His period with the team saw substantial changes in its direction, and has included its change from DJR-developed chassis in favour of acquiring Triple Eight Race Engineering-built chassis, powered by DJR engines.

In the meantime, expect to hear plenty of speculation

surrounding the future of current DJR driver James Courtney.

The current V8 Supercar points leader has a long history with Burgess, the two having worked together when the Aussie raced in the British Formula 3 Championship with Carlin Motorsport in 2001.

For the record, both of TeamVodafone’s drivers, Jamie Whincup and Craig Lowndes, are contracted with the team until the end of 2012.

motorsport news

news

DJR STATUS STILL UNKNOWN

THERE has been no resolution on a possible change to the ownership structure of Jim Beam Racing.

As this edition of eNews went live, discussions were still ongoing on a proposed deal involving current co-owner Charlie Schwerkolt being bought out by mining entrepreneur Nathan Tinkler, as detailed in the last edition of eNews.

On Monday, rumours suggested that the deal had run past its initial deadline of close-of-business last Friday. eNews understands that it remains a fluid situation and discussions continue. In the meantime, Schwerkolt will attend this weekend’s Armor All Gold Coast 600 in hsi usual role as CEO of the outfit.

Dirk Klynsmith

www.mnews.com.au

V8 SUPERCARS

ALEX Tagliani expects that the latest technical innovations in V8 Supercar racing will make life easier for the internationals at the Gold Coast 600 this weekend.

The Canadian has previous V8 experience, competing at Sandown and Bathurst in 2005 alongside Marcus Marshall. This weekend he will be back behind the wheel, this time with Kelly Racing, and he expects the transition from open-wheelers to V8s to be a little easier than it was last time.

“The big challenge for open-wheel drivers

is getting used to shifting with your lefthand, and the H-Pattern,” Tagliani said.

“Now, the cars have changed. They have a sequential gearbox, which we’re used to, so the only thing to get used to is being on the right side of the road, and driving a sedan car as well as possible. It is about not applying what you know about openwheel racing to a V8, because that’s not going to work. The level of competition is very close, so the biggest thing with every car you drive is to get the set-up right.”

– ANDREW VAN LEEUWEN

For more with Alex Tagliani, see ‘Five Minutes With’ on page 26

Dirk Klynsmith

TAG: V8s EASIER TO DRIVE NOW

T8 REDi FOR SURFERS V8 SUPERCARS TEAMVodafone drivers will wear a different look this weekend – and it is all in a good cause.

Jamie Whincup, Craig Lowndes, Steve Owen and Andy Priaulx will suit up in Gold Coast 600 themed race suits and helmets, which will be auctioned off in support of Red Cross’ REDiSupport volunteers. The outfits will carry a lifesaving theme complete with swimmers on the suits and skullcaps on the helmets. The team’s Commodores will have also undergo a change and feature a red skullcap.

The attire will be auctioned off after weekend, with all proceeds going to the REDiSupport program.

motorsport news

news

V8 SUPERCARS

WILL Davison probably won’t be particularly comfortable as he pounds over ripple strips on the streets of Surfers this weekend.

The force and angle of Davison’s laterace Reid Park accident at Bathurst has not only sent him to a back-up chassis, it’s left him nursing a broken rib. He’ll race, and will turn some laps at Queensland Raceway during Wednesday’s pre-event test for internationals to assess whether any extra measures are required to get him through the weekend.

“I’ve got some rib cartilage damage and a bit of a bone broken in one of my ribs, it’s not ideal,” Davison, who’ll be joined by

Ryan Briscoe, told eNews.

“I hit at quite a bad angle. The car wasn’t very healthy, even the seat was damaged and it actually knocked me around quite a bit. My general health has come up quite well, but the ribs are quite an awkward injury, there’s nothing much you can do for them. It takes time.

“I’m alright, though, just trying to manage the situation as well as possible.

I’ve had some good assistance from the Olympic Park Sports Medicine Centre, one of the guys there. I’ve had a bit of a jab this morning [Monday], a cortisone jab, so that should last a little while hopefully and get me through.

“I’ll be doing some laps on Wednesday to make sure my ribs and the seat

Phil Williams

DAVO BUSTS A RIB

position are fine, and then I’ll be working with Ryan for the day.

“Some days I feel great and I’m like ‘yep, no dramas, I’ll be fine’, and other days I’m a lot of pain. It’s hard because I’ve still been doing some training because I’ve got the Noosa triathlon the following weekend, but I haven’t been able to do much training because I was knocked around quite a bit.

“I’ve been trying to do some, but that flares it up, it’s a balancing act at the moment. Really the focus is to be fine for this weekend and if I can do Noosa, great, if not, so be it.”

Davison’s chassis is expected to be repaired in time for Symmons Plains.

– MITCHELL ADAM

... WHILE WALKINSHAWS READY THE SPARES V8 SUPERCARS WALKINSHAW Racing engineers have been raiding the cupboards at Clayton, getting two spare cars ready for this week’s Armor All Gold Coast 600.

Accidents at either end of last week’s

Bathurst 1000 have left Toll Holden Racing Team’s Will Davison and Bundaberg Red Racing’s Fabian Coulthard, and their co-drivers Ryan Briscoe and David Reynolds, in older cars. HRT will revert to Walkinshaw Racing’s chassis 006 while Bundy Red will use 009 – both cars

that the teams raced earlier this season.

Davison’s car, which crashed at Reid Park eight laps from the end of the race, actually suffered more chassis damage that Coulthard’s, which barrel rolled at the Chase on lap 1, when a rear tyre went down.

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PERKIN REVISI

V8 SUPERCARS

DALE Wood will make his third V8 Supercar start of the year at this weekend’s Gold Coast 600.

Wood drove with Todd Kelly in the #7 Jack Daniel’s car at Phillip Island and Bathurst, but will switch to the #16 Stratco entry for the Gold Coast race, with Kiwi Scott Dixon to slot into #7.

Wood’s inclusion comes at the expense of Taz Douglas, who shared #16 with Tony Ricciardello at The Island and Bathurst.

Dixon, who races for Chip Ganassi in IndyCar, will have his second pedal of the Kelly Racing Commodore at Queensland Raceway on

Phil Williams

Wood returns, Dixon tests

Wednesday, as the whole field of internationals test prior to the GC600. He recently tested the car at Winton in a secret session, and while details are slim, he apparently lapped in the low 1:26s bracket.

He is only the second of the internationals without previous V8 experience to test prior to this week, the other being Tiago Monteiro, who also drove at Winton several months ago in Tony D’Alberto’s Centaur Racing Commodore.

In other GC600 driver news, Mark Noske will be replaced in the Lucas Dumbrell Motorsport entry by Nathan Pretty, with whom he shared the car at Phillip Island and Bathurst.

– ANDREW VAN LEEUWEN

V8 SUPERCARS THE famous Ingall/Perkins combination will ride again this weekend, with Jack Perkins suiting up in Supercheap Auto Racing colours for the Gold Coast 600.

Perkins will replace Paul Morris in the #39 Commodore, sharing with Russell Ingall. The

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motorsport news

INS, INGALL IT 1995 Triple F goes hi-definition V8 SUPERCARS

Dirk Klynsmith

occasion marks 15 years since Ingall and Jack’s father Larry Perkins took a famous last-tofirst win at the Bathurst 1000.

“I’ve known Jack since he was this pesky little kid running around Larry’s workshop, so I never thought that one day we’d be sharing a drive in a V8 Supercar,” said Ingall.

“But he has done a terrific job with the limited racing

opportunities he’s had to date, and I’m hoping I can give his career a similar kick along as the one that his dad gave me.”

Perkins works as a signwriter at Paul Morris Motorsport, but has been driving for Wilson Security Racing in the first two endurance races at Phillip Island and Bathurst.

“As with any kid, you always dream of someday going to

TRIPLE F Racing will carry this new look onto the streets of the Gold Coast this weekend.

The team has rearranged the sponsors, with Panasonic taking pride of place on the T8-built Falcon.

Dean Fiore will share the car with Italian Gianni Morbidelli – who is eNews’s tip to be one of the internationals to star in the hard-to-drive V8 Supercars. work with your dad and my dream was to race together with LP,” said Perkins.

“Unfortunately, that didn’t happen, but I grew up watching dad and Russell race and I’ve got fantastic memories of them winning Bathurst together.

“The opportunity to race alongside Russell in the Supercheap Auto Commodore

at such a significant event as the Armor All Gold Coast 600 is a pretty cool alternative – I’m very happy.”

Perkins Jr recently took his best ever result in the main game; fifth place at Phillip Island with Tim Slade. However, that was in a Stone Brothers Racing Falcon, so he will have to make adjustments for Ingall’s Triple 8 Commodore.

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JUNIOR MECHANIC

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NEW British Formula Ford Champion Scott Pye will return to Australia this weekend and attend the Gold Coast 600 as a guest of TeamVodafone.

The South Australian has been supported by team boss Roland Dane in 2010 and jumped on a plane after finishing second in the Formula Ford Festival at Brands Hatch.

Pye’s manager, Perry McCarthy, will also head to Queensland, where they’ll meet potential backers as Pye looks to find the dollars to contest British Formula 3 next year.

“It’s a good opportunity for Perry and myself to work with some potential sponsors that Roland’s helped put together and hopefully we can get a bit out of that for British F3 next year,” he said.

“I’m looking forward to getting back, watching these guys race and see how Roland does it with his team. At the same time, we’re very focused on doing British Formula 3 next year and Perry and I will be working very hard this weekend to secure some funding.”

As a prize for his Formula Ford title, Pye has been offered a Formula 3 test with Team West-Tec at Rockingham on November 18. His participation, though, will depend on the duration of his Australian trip and whether or not he already has a 2011 deal in place.

“For us, it’s a good chance to get a taste of an F3 car,” he said.

“Obviously we’ll have to see what our plans are, whether or not I’m able to come back for that or not. Hopefully we can, but I might be in Australia for that, which would be unfortunate.

“But we’ve got potential teams we’re looking at at the moment. For me, that’s key. A one-off test is brilliant, but we’re trying to sort something for next season.

“We’re hoping that within the next couple of weeks we can have some good news for everyone back at home and over here.”

– MITCHELL ADAM

BLANCHUTE V8 UTES

TIM Blanchard will debut in the Yokohama V8 Ute Racing Series at Surfers Paradise this weekend.

Plans to field an international driver in the Scott Jennings-owned Holden Ute, raced by Paul Morris at Bathurst, didn’t eventuate, with Fujitsu Series front-runner Blanchard drafted in for the weekend.

Blanchard raced with Paul Morris Motorsport, for whom Jennings now works, in the L&H 500 at Phillip Island and filled in for Morris in June’s

Commodore Cup Endurance Challenge at Winton.

“I’m looking forward to it, it’ll be heaps better than sitting at home!” Blanchard said.

“It’s a good opportunity to drive something different, race in another category and put it on the list. Obviously next year I want to do all three of the V8 Supercar enduros, so this weekend will be a good opportunity to learn the track.”

In other Utes news, Brendon Tucker will return to make his second start of the year, while Rod Jarvis will contest his 200th Ute race.

– MITCHELL ADAM motorsport news

news

FFORD TO BECOME FCUP FORMULA FORD

Dirk Klynsmith

FORMULA Ford will be re-branded in 2011, as part of Ford’s continuing support of the junior category.

In what is currently a confusing situation, the Australian Formula Ford Championship will be also known as the Ford Fiesta Cup in 2011, to pay homage to the car from which the category takes its engines from. However, as a way of preserving the identity of the brand on an international scale, expect the name ‘Australian Formula Ford Championship’ to be retained. Likely outcomes to the name change may be ‘Formula Ford powered

by Fiesta’, or the ‘Australian Formula Ford Championship for the Fiesta Cup’.

Therefore, a website report yesterday (Monday) suggesting that the category will only be known as the Ford Fiesta Cup is incorrect.

“The Ford Motor Company of Australia is very proud to announce our continued support of the Australian Formula Ford Championship powered

by Ford Fiesta,” said Christopher Styring, Group Manager of Ford Motorsport, Sponsorship and Events.

“Formula Ford is regarded globally as one of the finest proving grounds for young drivers, and has been the foundation for such world class drivers as Mark Webber, James Courtney and Mark Winterbottom.”

AFFC category manager Margaret Hardy said that the continuation of Ford’s support is important for Formula Ford.

“We are very pleased that Ford Australia is continuing to support Australia’s

premier junior motor racing category,” said Hardy.

“Ford Australia has assisted Formula Ford for more than 40 years, one of the longest sponsorship arrangements in the country, and the company’s support has been vital to the continued strength of the category.”

In the meantime, Trent Harrison and local Robert Hackwood will join the 2010 field at Surfers Paradise this year. Harrison joins Evans Motorsport Group, while Hackwood will drive a Spectrum fielded by a team formed by the Queensland University of Technology.

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THREE INTO TWO FORMULA 1

SAUBER: DREAM MAKERS FORMULA 1 SERGIO Perez has described his drive with Sauber as a “dream come true”.

The young Mexican will join Kamui Kobayashi at the Swiss team in 2011, following a deal for Mexican telecommunications company Telmex to become a major sponsor. Perez recently visited the Sauber factory in Hinwil, and completed a seat fitting ahead of his first drive of a Formula 1 car at Abu Dhabi in November.

“It is a dream come true,” he said.

“I started racing at the age of six and always pushed myself to make it into Formula 1. I had a very difficult time when going alone to Europe – to Germany actually – at the age

of 15. It was hard but I took my chances. Now I’m looking forward to succeeding in Formula 1.”

Perez will move from Germany to Switzerland before next season.

“I came here to meet my future team and also to find out where I am going to live here. I want to be very close to the factory and to spend as much time as possible with them in my first season.

“I’m looking forward to having this experience and succeeding with the Sauber team. I think they’re a great bunch of people; they received me very, very well, and I am really happy. I did quite a lot of work with the engineers as it is good to get to know each other. All in all it was a very nice experience.”

THERE are rumours that Grand Prix weekends could be shortened to two days in the future.

According to Autosport.com, the Formula 1 Team’s Association (FOTA) met in Japan to discuss ways to increase public interest in Formula 1, with one of the suggesting being a revamped format, perhaps even down to two days.

However, Red Bull Racing boss Christian Horner told the website that he expected Friday running to be altered, not deleted entirely.

“I think it [two-day format] worked well in difficult conditions in Japan, but what could be looked at perhaps is to condense Friday,” said Horner.

“Maybe we introduce scrutineering on a Friday and look at how we run on a Friday. I still, personally, prefer qualifying on a Saturday and race on Sunday.

“But with Fridays, there is more we can do with it, for sure. To have teams at races on Wednesdays does not make any sense. So perhaps if you bring scrutineering in for Friday, or perhaps give incentives for young drivers on Friday.”

Chevron has all your motorsport needs covered including classic race packages, Bathurst highlights as well as in-depth documentaries. See our website today for the full range of DVD’s available.

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FINALLY, KOREA GETS THE GO AHEAD! FORMULA 1

IT’S official; the Korean Grand Prix will go ahead this weekend.

After months of speculation that the circuit wouldn’t be completed in time, the FIA last week gave its approval of the track, meaning the race will definitely go ahead.

“We are delighted that all works are now finished to the complete satisfaction of the FIA, and we join the whole of Korea

in welcoming the Formula 1 fraternity to the Korea International Circuit for the first time,” read a statement from the Korea Automobile Racing Association.

“The KIC has been constructed to the highest standards, and will become the epicentre of motorsport in the country.

We believe the 2010 Formula 1 Korean Grand Prix will be the catalyst to ignite enormous interest in the sport across the nation. The FIA has played a crucial role from the very beginning, and provided

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Sauber driver Kamui Kobayashi said he was looking forward to the challenge of a new circuit.

“I have never been to South Korea,” he said.

“At some circuits this year, other drivers have had an advantage in terms of knowing the track, but this time it is the same for everybody. I am very much looking forward to discovering the circuit.”

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Brabham wants 500 shot Highcroft linked with IndyCar assault INDYCARS

Checa back to MotoGP with Ducati

Three for Ten

MOTOGP

Honda Pro Images

... but Kenan is keen on Moto2

WSBK/MOTO2 TEN Kate Racing is staying with Honda – but it will do it without Kenan Sofuoglu.

Honda Motor Europe announced last week that it has finalised a new three-year agreement to support Ten Kate Racing in the World Superbike Championship and World Supersport Championship, but 14

the Turk is moving into the new Moto2 category for 2011.

“In 2007 I was also world champion but this was different it was much more difficult and I have to say thank you to Eugene and Joan Lascorz because they push me to be a faster rider,” said Sofuoglu.

“Next year I am going to Moto2 and I have to be a very

strong rider. I think especially Eugene was fighting hard. It was maybe possible to take him but this was enough for me today.”

The Dutch-based team has won nine world championship titles, eight in World Supersport (including this year’s) and one in World Superbike, with James Toseland in 2007.

Patron Highcroft Racing

WHILE David Brabham’s team, Highcroft Racing, may be moving to IndyCar, it may not be with Brabham.

Reports continue to emerge in the USA that the Connecticut-based team, which has Honda support, is looking to expand into IndyCars in the future.

“It’s a bit premature to formally announce anything, but I will say we’ve always had our eye on the IndyCar Series,” Highcroft boss Duncan Dayton told speedTV.com.

“When Acura withdrew from the ALMS LMP1 program at the end of last year, we realized we needed

to broaden our horizons and to consider something beyond the ALMS. The ALMS is our primary focus; we believe it’s the most demanding proving grounds of any series in North America or the world.

The idea of participating in the IRL and the Indy 500 is something that is important to us.”

Brabham said that he is concentrating on continuing with the team’s Sportscar program, but that the Indy 500 interests him.

“There have been a lot of stories but I do not see that happening jkust yet,” he said.

“If they were to do it, it might not be with myself – but I would not mind doing the Indy 500.”

CARLOS Checa will make a MotoGP return for the last two races of the season.

Checa, who raced in the premier category from 1995 to 2007, will replace Mika Kallio at Pramac Ducati at Estoril and Valencia. The 38-year-old will race with the #71, rather than his usual #7, which is carried by Honda rider Hiroshi Aoyama.

Checa finished third in this year’s WSBK Championship for Althea Ducati. In his previous rides in 500cc and MotoGP, he has scored two wins and 24 podiums. motorsport news

WOW FACTOR = 100

Honda Racing

The Greatest Indy Racers of the last Century

INDYCARS TO commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Indianapolis 500, a selection of 33 winning cars were lined up in the traditional three-abreast, 11 row starting grid for the most famous race in the world.

This incredible array of machinery ranged from the Marmon ‘Wasp’ that Ray Harroun drove to victory in the inaugural Indianapolis 500 in 1911 to the Target Chip Ganassi Racing Dallara/Honda that Dario Franchitti drove to Victory Circle this year.

Row 11 Row 10 Row 9 Row 8 Row 7 Row 6 Row 5 Row 4 Row 3 Row 2 Row 1

1932 (Fred Frame) 1978 (Al Unser) 1992 (Al Unser Jr.) 1951 (Lee Wallard) 1950 (Johnnie Parsons) 1995 (Jacques Villeneuve) 2000 (JP Montoya) 1962 (Rodger Ward) 1952 (Troy Ruttman) 1982 (Gordon Johncock) 1983 (Tom Sneva) 1957-58 (S. Hanks/J. Bryan) 1922 (Jimmy Murphy) 1965 (Jim Clark) 1968 (Bobby Unser) 1953 (Bill Vukovich) 1947-48 (Mauri Rose) 1990 (Arie Luyendyk) 1970 (Al Unser) 1939-40 (Wilbur Shaw) 1961 (A.J. Foyt) 2010 (Dario Franchitti)

1946 (George Robson) 1977 (A.J. Foyt) 1928 (Louis Meyer) 1972 (Mark Donohue) 1912 (Joe Dawson) 1969 (Mario Andretti) 1964 (A.J. Foyt) 1980 (Johnny Rutherford) 1963 (Parnelli Jones) 1979 (Rick Mears) 1911 (Ray Harroun)

NASCAR goes for greener E15 in 2011 NASCAR

NASCAR Media

www.mnews.com.au

NASCAR will race with a E15 fuel blend in 2011.

NASCAR's Sprint Cup, Nationwide and Camping World Truck series are expected to use Sunoco Green E15 fuel at Daytona Speedweeks in February. The fuel is expected to be ready for testing when the Speedway reopens for testing in January.

Teams have already tested the 15/85 blend, some since May, and Hendrick Motorsports and Richard Childress Racing have tested the fuel on the track. Some teams have

already reported seeing higher horsepower numbers with the fuel.

E15 would require far less change to be included by the teams than E85, which is in use in a number of other categories, including V8 Supercars.

NASCAR use of E15 is expected to be a part of a major program called NASCAR Green Clean Air, which will include the planting of 10 trees for each green flag that drops during NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races, capturing 100 percent of the carbon produced by the on-track racing at the events.

15

Dirk Klynsmith

AUSTRALIAN GT

16

DAVISON LOOKS AT BATHURST GT Dirk Klynsmith

WILL Davison is eyeing a drive in next year’s Armor All Bathurst 12 Hour.

While it could all be thwarted with the announcement of dates for V8 Supercars’ Middle Eastern races in the 2011 calendar this weekend, Davison is keen to do the event, with February’s race the first for which sportscars are eligible.

Davison has links with GT, having appeared several times in the 2007 Australian GT Championship driving an Aston Martin then owned by John Kaias.

“If an opportunity presented, it fitted in with everything around the 12 Hour and it was a good car, I’d love to do it. I think it’d be a blast,” Davison said.

“We’re sort of on the case, having a sniff around, we’ll see what happens.

“The element of driving a GT car around Bathurst is very appealing. I’ve never hidden the fact that I love GT cars, I raced that Aston a couple of years ago.

“I’ve never really given it much thought at all yet, but I’ve spoken to Alex about all of his European endurance racing like Le Mans and I’ve got a massive passion to one day go and do some stuff like that.”

– MITCHELL ADAM

12HR SUPPORTS IN PLACE BATHURST 12H THE support program for February’s Armor All Bathurst 12 Hour has been finalised.

For the first time, Group C & A Historic Touring Cars will compete at the event, joined

by Group N Historic Touring Cars, Improved Production, HQs and Formula Vee. For the growing Group C & A ranks, it means taking their cars back to the place where many made their name.

“Our cars represent the halcyon days of Touring Car racing from 1974 right through to 1992 and Mount Panorama is really the spiritual home of them all,” Edward Singleton,

Group C & A Category Manager, said.

“The ownership group is very excited to have been invited to race at the Armor All Bathurst 12 Hour and we are confident that we are going to put on a fantastic show for everyone there.

“The grid will be full of variety like the ‘Big Banger’ Group C cars to the nimble BMW M3s, which should be great to watch across the top of the Mountain, and also smaller cars like Escorts, Gemini’s and Dolomites.

“Everywhere you look there will be action and we are all excited to return to the track where a lot of motorsport legends were born in these very cars.” motorsport news

Dirk Klynsmith

Pederson looks at Options V8 SUPERCARS KIWI Ant Pedersen is weighing up his Fujitsu Series options for the balance of 2010.

Pedersen contested the opening three rounds of the series with MW Motorsport, picking up a podium at Adelaide on debut. He missed Townsville due to budget constraints, but returned to the team as a wildcard driver at Phillip Island and Bathurst. From here, Pedersen is considering whether to contest the final two rounds at Sandown and Homebush, or consolidating his resources for 2011.

“The year’s not over and there’s still rounds to be run. They’re good miles and experience for me to gather,” he said of Sandown and Homebush.

“So, for sure, we’re going to look at it, but it’s just whether we’re doing a half-arsed job for the rest of the year, or whether we should put all of our energy into securing things for 2011.

“It’s a catch-22 in a way. I’m a racer; I want to go and race at those tracks, I haven’t raced at them before and it’ll help come next year. But we want to hit the ground running in 2011 and make a real go of it.

“So those are the decisions we need to

make, we’re all talking at this stage.”

In the meantime, Pedersen also has options to race in his native New Zealand over the summer.

“There’s two things we’re looking at,” he said.

“There are opportunities in NZV8s, which is such a different step to what these car, but it’s still racing. And there’s also the option of running a Porsche, which probably helps in a way because the speeds are closer.

“We’re pushing hard to run a car in NZ, and it’ll just be good miles and keep me race fit.”

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1800 132 213 17

ROC AUSTRALIA will again be represented at the Race of Champions by Mick Doohan.

The five-time World 500cc champion will race alongside other stars at the 2010 Race of Champions in Düsseldorf, Germany on November 27-28.

Doohan, who made his RoC debut last year in Beijing, will be joined by another Australian racer, to be named.

Drivers already confirmed for the event include F1 World Champions Michael Schumacher and Alain Prost, World Rally Champion Sébastien Loeb, Le Mans legend Tom Kristensen, Red Bull F1 star Sebastian Vettel, multiple World Touring Car champion Andy Priaulx, NASCAR star Carl Edwards and X-Games legend Travis Pastrana.

SHANNONS NATIONALS TASMANIAN youngster Josh Burdon will rejoin the Formula 3 Australian Drivers Championship for this weekend’s season finale at Sandown.

Burdon will again join RTek, driving one of their F304 Dallaras in a bolstered National Class, while a second driver for the team was close to being finalised as eNews went live. In

Mick to really go for it

his third event for the season, the 17-year-old will have title contender Tom Tweedie and 2007 Champion Tim Macrow also in F304 Dallaras as benchmarks.

Among an anticipated 12 car field, Queenslanders Chris Gilmour, Ben Gersekowski and Roman Krumins will all race, completing the three-round East Coast Shootout.

At the head of the field, eyes will be on the shootout

between Ben Barker, Mitch Evans and Tweedie, with just 12 points separating the three.

Also in action in the final round of the 2010 Shannons Nationals, reigning Champion Des Wall, pictured, will make just his second Kerrick Sports Sedan Series appearance of the season at Sandown.

Lee Castle, Michael Loccisano and Victor Zagame will all debut in Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge presented

by Mission Foods in a 20-car field. Former Champions Geoff Emery and Marcus Zukanovic are set to make one-off appearances in Commodore Cup, a field which will include newcomers Andrew Beams and Glenn Mackenzie.

Of the other categories, 17 Australian Manufacturers Championship competitors, 13 Shannons V8 Touring Cars and 27 Saloon Cars are expected to head to Sandown.

FIELDS SET FOR SHANNONS FINAL

John Morris / Mpix

18

motorsport news

news John Morris / Mpix

F3 sticks with current models until 2013 FORMULA 3 THE Formula 3 Australian Drivers Championship has elected to extend the life of the F307 Dallara as its newest model car by a further year.

Australian F3 – along with German and Spanish F3 – sits one chassis generation behind the F3 Euro Series and British F3, and was due to introduce a new batch of cars in 2012. However, Euro and

British F3 has added another year to the use of their current generation of Dallaras, based on the 2008 model, taking them through until the end of 2011.

Rather than compete with German and Spanish teams to purchase ’08-generation cars in 2012, Australian F3 will wait until 2013 to try and ensure an affordable supply.

“The European cars have gone to a four-year program now, so their current cars will

be in from 2008 until the end of 2011. We’ll go until the end of 2012 with everything we’ve got now and introduce a new model in 2013,” Formula 3 Australia’s Ian Richards explained.

“That puts us a year out of synch with the Europeans which will probably help us get cars a bit cheaper; if we put ourselves a year out of synch, it might mean they do one year in the German series and then we can get

our hands on them out here.

And it means anybody who’s got ‘07s, like me, will get a bit more life out of them. We don’t do the kilometres out here to wear them out.

“I would think we’d want to stick with a five year cycle, one year behind the European changeovers, for the foreseeable future. Anyone who buys a car at the start of a cycle will get at least five years out of it.”

– MITCHELL ADAM

Patton pending V8 UTES

www.mnews.com.au

Dirk Klynsmith

BRAD Patton hopes to build on his recent run of V8 Ute form by linking up with the front-running Sieders Racing Team.

The move gives Patton, who has become a more consistent top ten proposition this season, the opportunity to tap into the experience of frontrunner Andrew Fisher, as well as impressive rookie David Sieders, and take his driving to the next level.

“We’ve shown a bit of speed this year and we just don’t seem to be able to get that last

little bit of gain out of the car,” said Patton.

“I get along well with ‘Fish’ and I feel that if I want to go anywhere in this series, they’ve got the knowledge and they’ll be the ones who can bring me forward.”

The switch sees Patton leave Big Gun Racing, which he joined at Indy in 2007, and in which he has assumed the role of lead driver of late.

“I don’t want to be the number one driver in a team.

I’d rather be the driver that’s chasing the number one driver,” he said. − DANIEL HERRERO

19

face off against Mercedes-Benz and Audi.

AFTER months of speculation, “The return of BMW to the BMW has confirmed that it DTM is a fundamental part will return to the DTM in 2012. of the restructuring of our The company announced motorsport activities,” said last week that after an absence BMW AG board member Dr of 18 years from the German Klaus Draeger in a statement. series, it will field entries and “With its increased commitment to production car racing, BMW is returning to its roots.”

BMW Motorsport boss Mario Theissen said that the DTM will see the company’s full

DTM

Guess whose dad has an iPad?

20

we can now shift up a gear and give the green light for development.”

BMW last competed in the Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft in 1992, when its M3 raced against MercedesBenz’s 190E, before maker withdrew to concentrate on its Super Touring program.

Since then, BMW has raced at Le Mans, in Formula 1 and most recently in the ALMS with its M3 GTR, above.

Seton back for more

Peter Bury

ROD Sharp from Wacol in Queensland is the lucky winner of the Motorsport News Subscription competition.

Rod will shortly receive his Apple 32MB/3G iPad, courtesy of Motorsport News, after renewing his two-year eNews subscription during the competition period.

“I’m stunned,” a delighted Rod told us when we rang to tell him the news.

“I’ve never won anything other than a chook raffle in my life!”

Rod will now join the increasing number of Motorpsort eNews subscribers enjoying the crystal clarity of eNews via iPad.

resources brought to bear.

“The entire team at BMW Motorsport is approaching this exciting project with absolute commitment,” he said.

“We began making technical preparations following our declaration of intent in April, and established parameters for a high-performance vehicle concept for deployment in the DTM. The positive decision of the BMW board of management means

BMW Media

BMW BACK TO DTM

MINI CHALLENGE GLENN Seton is set to finish the Hertz MINI Challenge season as the driver of its Uber Star car.

Seton made two starts in the series last year and this weekend’s round on the Gold Coast will be his third of the 2010 season. The Gold Coast

resident is also likely to drive the Pizza Capers car in the season finale at Homebush.

The 16-car field in the penultimate round of the year will include a group of newcomers for 2010, with Tom Pickett, Allan Jarvis and Bill Gremos making their first starts of the year.

DecuRug boss Gremos will line up alongside Paul Stokell in his debut in the series. motorsport news

www.mnews.com.au

21

BRIEFLY n Australia will now have 10 representatives at next month’s Rotax MAX Grand Finals at La Conca in Italy, with confirmation that Queenslander James Macken has been offered another Junior spot. n The Geelong Club continues to grow its suite of major events. Next year, it has already been confirmed as the host of the Rotax Nationals and last week, the Victorian Karting Association announced Geelong will host the 2012 Victorian Open, which is considered the biggest event in Australian karting outside the Nationals. n The weekend after next (October 30-31), Newcastle will host the Rotax Pro Tour.

It will be the final IKD event of the year and the first event of the new rotation for Rotax Rankings points. n Definitive Racing has relaunched as the official BRM importer in Australia. After a re-structure and owner, Steve Pettaras bringing in Peter Bryant as Team Manager.

The team has confirmed its continued support for Justin Ruggier, a long time BRM

driver.

22

– MATT PAYNE

KARTING HEAVEN IN GEELONG KARTING AS most world motorsport is drawing to a close for the year, big events keep coming in Australian karting.

This weekend at Geelong, the second annual Horsepower Heaven event will be conducted, which doubles as the National Leopard Final.

Once again, Leopard importer Remo Racing has delivered a massive prize pool, which will see the winners in both Light and Heavy division receive a $2000 voucher towards competing in the Bruno Grana Trophy event in France next year. This year’s edition was won by an Australian, Lee Mitchener.

The class winners, and second and third in each Leopard class, will also collect a brand new IAME Parilla X30 engine.

Another major part of the event will be crowning the Formula 100 Australian Champions. After last year holding on to win the Australian Title with no water in his radiator, Matt Wall will be looking for much of the same in the Heavy division, while the Light Championship is expected to be a hotly contested affair, with many of Australia’s best making the trek southward. F100 utilises engines that were eligible for the former CIK classes in Australia on a slightly harder (but still high performance) tyre. Since being removed from the Easter Nationals, the F100 Nationals has really grown a life of its own and is now a premier stand alone event.

Supporting the Leopard Final and F100 Nationals will be the biggest gearbox

karting event in Australia – the Oceania Trophy. A $2000 cash prize is up for grabs for the winner and many top racers have put their hand up for the event. Last year’s event drew near 30 competitors from Australia, New Zealand and the UK. This year, the difficult Geelong circuit will add another element to the event, with a large number of competitors from around the country descending on the Victorian centre.

Also competing for the first time at Horsepower Heaven will be the elite KF3 Junior Class and the 200cc Twin Engined Open Class.

Action kicks off with qualifying and heat racing on Saturday, with Finals and the major prize draws on Sunday afternoon.

– MATT PAYNE

THE PRINCE OF MONACO KARTING MONEGASQUE driver Charles Leclerc was the big winner on the streets of Monaco yesterday, taking out the Monaco Kart Cup for Juniors (KF3).

He used local knowledge to steer his SodiKart to victory over Norwegian Dennis Olsen and Frenchman Pierre Gasly.

Leading Brit, Alexander Albon – who won the World Cup earlier this year – could manage fourth.

Leclerc dominated the final, winning the 24-lap event by 7.8s. Olsen was a further five seconds in front of Gasly.

The other big event on the circuit that uses parts of the Monaco Formula 1 street circuit was the KZ2 Monaco Kart Cup. Frenchman, Nato Norman took a narrow victory in his CRG over Italian Energy driver Paolo de Conto, and leading competitor Anthony Abasse. Other notable results were Bas Lammers back in sixth placing and Jeremy Iglesias in 10th.

– MATT PAYNE motorsport news

www.mnews.com.au

23

DRAG RACING DAMIEN Harris has become Australia’s latest licensed Top Fuel pilot after getting ANDRA’s sign off last week at Willowbank Raceway.

Harris and fellow team owner Paul Shackleton have decided to add a dragster to their existing Nitro Funny Car operation in order to provide

better coverage for their sponsors and more racing opportunities as part of the ANDRA Pro Series.

Their first event on the national tour will be the second round of the Australian Top Fuel Championship in Sydney next weekend. On his first full lap Harris ran a 5.02s, which was followed up by a later 4.86s, despite the supercharger

popping at about three quarter track.

Harris described the differences between the dragster and the Funny Car. “It’s very different to drive, it’s very quiet, there’s not a lot of noise up front,” he said, used to the enclosed nature of his Best Tractor Parts Monte Carlo.

“I felt a bit uncomfortable from not knowing what is

going on in the background, you can’t see the crew starting it up like you can in the Funny Car. “It’s very light and direct to drive, it doesn’t take much to move it around.”

After competing in Sydney, Harris will be returning to the seat of his Funny Car to have a match race in Mackay.

– LUKE NIEUWHOF

Luke Nieuwhof

Handy Harris Speedy Sydney times DRAG RACING

Dirk Klynsmith

SOME tough times were cut in Sydney over the course of the weekend at the second round of the Sydney Dragway Track Championship.

The Pac Performance Mazda of the Rehayem brothers stormed to a 6.70s/206mph pass, improving on their previous 6.74s best and reaffirming their title as the world’s quickest rotary sedan.

The nostalgia 1957 Chev Nitro Funny Car of the Cowin family made its debut, carding a 6.2s time, shut down early with some mechanical dramas.

– LUKE NIEUWHOF

ANDRA Pro Series news i

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motorsport news

news Luke Nieuwhof

WA drivers make the grade DRAG RACING TWO WA drivers got ANDRA approval to race Nitro Funny Cars on the weekend, though securing their licences on different sides of the country.

Anthony Begley raced the Bailey Bros Nitro Funny Car in Queensland to a 5.30s pass, a superb effort for a rookie driver. The team had to dodge rain showers to make the pass but it was all worth it when the strong number came up on the read out boards.

“We got rained out last week for a couple of days, so this week we went Thursday and Friday in a track hire,” Begley

said.

“We had some little issues with the car, we got one pass in on Thursday afternoon and it stood on the tyres.

“I had one more pass on Friday morning, my last shot at it, and the car went out nice and straight, it got out beautiful, it ran 245mph to half track in 3.47s, I got off of it at the 900 foot mark when it dropped a cylinder, but the job was done. It rolled through with a 5.30s at 220mph.”

Begley was very satisfied with the tuning efforts of team owner Rod Bailey.

“The car was definitely up there, it was probably on the

best number the team has seen,” he said.

“I’m pretty stoked with it all at this point, it has all worked out good. To get in them they feel the same [as a methanol Funny Car] but it’s a whole new learning experience.

“These things with no warning will give a bit of a shudder but then get straight on the tyres, it’s a lot more aggressive as far as that goes.”

Now that the official process is over, Begley is looking forward to getting into some match racing competition.

“We’re racing in Mackay on the 20th of November against Damien Harris,” he said.

“Then we will come to Perth on Boxing Day and go to the New Year Series in Willowbank.

“Hopefully we will have something in Sydney after that, something between New Year Series and the March run in Perth.”

On the other side of the continent, Matt Treasure, pictured, took the Allan Greeneowned Greene Machine Nitro Funny Car to a 5.36s/257mph licensing run.

Treasure’s smooth transition from methanol to nitro impressed many people, as did the smooth tune up in the car which kept it under control.

– LUKE NIEUWHOF

MORGAN GOES ON TOUR DRAG RACING DARREN Morgan and his AEG Top Fuel Dragster have been spending time on display at the Bunnings Pakenham

Trade Centre and the Annual Mildura Show between rounds of the ANDRA Pro Series.

“The people of Melbourne don’t get to see a Top Fuel

is proudly presented by:

Dragster very often,” Morgan said.

“The Mildura show is an important event for us. It gives us an opportunity to give back to the community

and show them what DMR is all about. DMR would not be what it is today without the support of the local community.”

– LUKE NIEUWHOF

Next ANDRA Pro Series Round:

Top Fuel & Top Alcohol Sydney Dragway, October 30-31 ANDRA Pro Series on TV: Top Alcohol, Pro Stock Friday October 22, 10pm

www.mnews.com.au

25

Five Minutes with ...

ALEX TAGLIANI

IndyCar star Alex Tagliani will return to V8 Supercar racing this weekend with Jason Bargwanna. He spoke to ANDREW VAN LEEUWEN about his GC expectations MOTORSPORT NEWS: What are your expectations for this weekend?

ALEX TAGLIANI: It’s a very different approach. We are all professional racecar drivers, and we’re all very competitive, so we want to do good.

What I would like to do is support Jason [Bargwanna] the best I can in his race weekend. He was the pole-sitter on the Gold Coast a year ago, so he is fast, and he can run up the front. I need to support him well, and the team strategy is to get the best result possible for the regular driver.

So my focus will be on Jason. If I can do that, then it will be mission accomplished.

You know the Surfers Paradise track very well; will that help this weekend, or will the fact that you’re in a V8 Supercar make it a totally different experience?

I think it will help. If you jump in a V8 and go on a track that you’ve never been, it’s double the challenge. You need to learn all the tricks and get used to the car, so knowing the track is a really good thing.

Plus, I love this track for many reasons.

I’ve been on the podium a couple of times, and I always qualified really well here, so I can focus mainly on the car, and follow the lead of the team. I’m sure they will support me as much as they can, to make sure I get used to the car.

I was at the Kelly Racing shop a couple of days ago in Melbourne, and I love those guys. I never though the Kelly Brothers were so nice! Because of that, I’m quite happy that I am driving for them, and hopefully Scott [Dixon] and I will do a good job for Jack Daniel’s and Rock Energy, and come out of the weekend with them being happy we were their team-mates.

You have raced a V8 Supercar before, but it was a long time ago now (ED: Bathurst 2005). Will that be useful experience, compared to the guys who haven’t raced these cars before?

I think it will be a little bit of a help. You know, the big challenge for open-wheel drivers is getting used to shifting with 26

your left-hand, and the H-Pattern. Now, the cars have changed. They have a sequential gearbox, which we’re used to, so the only thing to get used to is being on the right side of the road, and driving a sedan car as well as possible. It is about not applying what you know about openwheel racing to a V8, because that’s not going to work.

But yeah, the previous experience will help, although the cars have changed. If you listen to people they are saying that the cars have changed, the gearbox makes a big difference, and the series have evolved. The level of competition is very

close, so the biggest thing with every car you drive is to get the set-up right.

The Kelly team was really strong at Phillip Island – that’s the kind of track where they are really strong – but street tracks have not been there forte this year.

They are hoping to bounce back this weekend. They are still a young team, and I’ve been there – I’m there this year with out team (FAZZT Motorsport) in IndyCar. We put that all together in the last 10 months, so I know what they’re going through, and it’s good to be part of that process and try and help them through the weekend. motorsport news

chat

sutton-images.com

www.mnews.com.au

27

THE GREAT GOLD CO I

’VE just finished a second bottle of Gossips white wine. Perfect accompaniment, I felt, for lunch with the rest of the eNews guys, and one that fuelled debate about what to expect about Surfers this weekend.

For the last two years, my mates in the UK have been jealous of my annual sojourn to Mount Panorama – this year, the green colouring is about me heading to Surfers.

It isn’t just the weather, the bikinis and the partying, it is the entry. It’s stellar isn’t it? I mean, it’s like Cocho had a few VBs one night and came up with fantasy V8 Supercars!

There has never been an entry list like this for any event, ever.

I don’t care whether you have heard of Patrick Long or can’t pronounce Fabrizio

28

Giovanardi, make no mistake that this entry is top drawer.

And in some respects that has been a problem because back in Europe the buzz is about the Amor All Gold Coast 600, not the championship, not Bathurst.

Yeah, OK, Bathurst gets postevent coverage because it is Bathurst, but the AAGC600 is really grabbing the headlines.

Is it at the expense of a piece of Australian motorsport history? Is it at the expense of the ultimate round of the V8 Supercar Championship Series?

The answer perhaps comes with the expansion of the championship. OK, the Gold Coast round may take some shine of The Great Race but it puts a whopping great spotlight on the championship.

The V8 Supercars Championship, remember.

OPINION

David Addison – GC600 Commentator, UK Note, I haven’t said Australia in its title. Yes, shout at me if you want, complain that V8s don’t have as many rounds as previously on your doorstep. Then take a step back and feel proud, because you should. Proud that the teams in V8 Supercars are top drawer, proud that this is a championship that other parts of the world want to buy into.

Downside?

For 2011, how about giving everyone an international codriver rather than giving the primary drivers a V8-savvy wheeler and the second driver the less experience name.

Surely for equality it needs to

be all or nothing?

There is a massive spotlight on the category in Surfers and that has to be good for the championship and for sponsors.

But, what next? How do you top this year?

Part of it depends on calendars for 2011 but wouldn’t it be ripper to see David Coulthard on the grid?

Or Sebastian Loeb? Hell, Kimi Raikkonen likes a party? Or Jean Alesi. Now, he would be spectacular.

This weekend promises to be awesome, but you can’t help feeling that this event will only get better.

motorsport news

comment

COAST EXPERIMENT OPINION Andrew van Leeuwen – eNews Editor

C

RASHES. Expect to see a few of them on the Gold Coast this weekend.

The rate of attrition is going to be a big determining factor in whether this unique concept of bringing overseas drivers in for a round is going to be deemed a success, or failure.

If teams leave with big bills and broken title hopes, the toys will exit pram, and this might be a one-off. If it isn’t as bad as we are all thinking it will be, shunt-wise, then this could be the new Race of

Champions, with drivers from around the world scrambling to get involved each year.

As someone without a financial interest in the hardware out there on the streets of Surfers, I’m looking forward to seeing it, whichever way it goes.

What prompted me to think about crashes was that, while compiling our eNews GC600 preview (see page 30, by the way), I was trawling back through photos from the ’09 running of the GC race. Even with experienced, regular drivers

in V8 Supercars, the rate of attrition is high. Because of the demanding nature of the track, and the proximity of the concrete, small mistakes have expensive, weekendending consequences.

Look at Cameron McConville and Fabian Coulthard last year; both highly rated, experienced drivers, but they were both caught up in a start-line shunt that cost their crews plenty of cash and man hours.

None of the internationals are inexperienced in a broader context, but when it comes to V8s, there are some genuine newbies. The weather is looking a little craptacular, to add another degree of difficulty, so the chances of big crashes have to be high.

Late last week, I was talking

to Fujitsu Series driver Scott McLaughlin about his crash at Bathurst this year.

He said “I had a blind spot when I was behind Chaz [Mostert], and I just turned in a bit too early. It bites you; one minute I was going pretty quick, and the next minute I was in the wall and not racing again for the weekend.”

That sums it up perfectly.

If you’re used to sitting in an open-wheeler, with all the forward vision in the world, the ‘Larry Bar’ and APillars could cause some real concerns.

And because these guys are all professional drivers, who don’t want to be last, they won’t be rolling around and staying out of trouble.

In other words, look out for the fireworks. I can’t wait.

Peter Bury

www.mnews.com.au

29

R A C G N TS OURI T OURIS T

It’s finally time to see how the imports will stand up to the V8 Supercar test.

ANDREW VAN LEEUWEN studies the form

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motorsport news

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NTERNATIONAL drivers competing in V8 Supercars is nothing new.

However, in the past, drivers from lands afar have made one-off appearances, usually at Bathurst, at separate times to each other. Several drivers from overseas (New Zealand not included) competing in a single V8 Supercar race is essentially a rarity.

But on the Gold Coast this weekend, there will be 15 drivers from overseas, and David Brabham, Will Power, and Ryan Briscoe, taking part in one of the most unique Touring Car events ever. A big call, sure, but think about it; when did a domestic series ever import such an array of international talent? Aside from the Middle Eastern Speedcar series, which was a novelty category devised to support the Bahrain Grand Prix, nothing like this has ever been done – let alone made part of a championship.

Will the concept work? As it’s a first, that’s the million dollar question. Well, we’ll know this time next week. For now, lets take a look at the imports. #3 – Tiago Monteiro (Portugal) Driving with Tony D’Alberto Currently: Competes in the World Touring Car Championship for SEAT. eNews Says: Tiago has already tested D’Alberto’s Commodore, and was impressively quick at Winton. His recent Touring Car experience will be invaluable come the GC600, so expect him to be one of the faster imports. #4 – David Brabham (Australia) Driving with Alex Davison Currently: Competes in the American Le Mans Series with Highcroft. eNews Says: He was born in England, and has lived most of his life overseas, so we guess that’s why he’s classed as an international. Has already done Phillip Island and Bathurst, so has past and recent V8 experience. Hasn’t looked super quick at either of those races, however.

Dirk Klynsmith

www.mnews.com.au

#6 – Will Power (Australia) Driving with Steve Richards Currently: IndyCar Series driver for Penske. eNews Says: Again, not sure how someone from Toowoomba is an

‘international’, but its good to have Will back in a V8. He definitely knows the Surfers track; he’s been on pole there 415 times, or something like that. It will depend on how quickly he can get out of Indy mode and into V8 mode. One to watch. #7 – Scott Dixon (New Zealand) Driving with Todd Kelly Currently: IndyCar Series driver for Ganassi. eNews Says: Scott completed a sneaky test recently at Winton in the #7 Commodore, although the team has kept it very secret, so details on how he went are sketchy. As a career open-wheeler driver, any extra miles in a V8 will help come this weekend. #10 – Mika Salo (Finland) Driving with Andrew Thompson Currently: Not racing. eNews Says: The former F1 pilot has done some sportscar racing recently, but nothing this year. The lack of miles in anything might hurt him, but at least his recent outings have been in tin-tops. Will be interesting to watch, as he’s always been one of the sport’s enigmas. #11 – Alex Tagliani (Canada) Driving with Jason Bargwanna Currently: Driving for FAZZT Racing in the IndyCar Series. eNews Says: Tag has raced a V8 before, at Sandown and Bathurst in 2005. And he does have experience on the Gold Coast, so the ingredients of a pleasant trip to Australia are there. Won’t be the worst by a long-shot. #12 – Gianni Morbidelli (Italy) Driving with Dean Fiore Currently: Racing in the Italian Superstars Series. eNews Says: This guy could be one of the real surprise packages. He was fast in the Speedcar Series, and has spent the last few years racing in, and winning in, V8-powered Touring Cars. And against quality opposition. Gianni has wanted a V8 Supercar ride for a while now, and we can’t see him wasting this chance.

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#14 – Alain Menu (Switzerland) Driving with Jason Bright Currently: Racing in the World Touring Car Championship for Chevrolet. eNews Says: This guy is a Touring Car star, with invaluable experience. He could surprise plenty of the open-wheeler stars, even at 47 years of age. Also, he’s driven the cars before, so it will be a case of just slotting back in.

#21 – Fabrizio Giovanardi (Italy) Driving with Karl Reindler Currently: Racing in the British Touring Car Championship with Triple Eight. eNews Says: He’s a Touring Car specialist, and he raced at PI and Bathurst in 2008, so he has a head-start over a few of the guys in the field. However, he wasn’t very impressive back in ’08, so we don’t expect too much.

Won’t be the worst, won’t be the best.

#34 – Patrick Long (USA) Driving with Michael Caruso Currently: Racing sportscars for Flying Lizard Motorsports. eNews Says: Who? It’s funny, we’d never really heard of Patrick Long before the list came out for the GC600, however, we’re now starting to think that he won’t be the worst of the inters – by quite a stretch. Again, recent experience is in tin-tops, not openwheelers, so he could spring a surprise or two.

#17 – Dario Franchitti (Scotland) Driving with Steve Johnson Currently: The 2010 IndyCar Series Champion. eNews Says: The last time Dario decided to race something with a roof, it went poorly. That was 2007, in NASCAR, and he was quickly back in an openwheeler. NASCAR is different to V8s, but it’s an ominous parallel. For Dario’s sake, let’s hope it’s misguided.

#22 – Ryan Briscoe (Australia) Driving with Will Davison Currently: Driving in the IndyCar Series with Penske. eNews Says: Looked solid if not spectacular at Bathurst this year, but has proven in the past he can be fast in these cars. He’ll look better at the GC, and he did win the last (and first) IndyCar race there in 2008. One to watch.

#47 – Helio Castroneves (Brazil) Driving with Tim Slade Currently: Racing in the IndyCar Series with Penske. eNews Says: Okay, Penske haven’t retained this guy on their books since 2000 for the fun of it, and he has won them three Indy 500s in that time. He’s a heck of a driver, for sure, but how he will adapt to a V8 Supercar is going to be the question. We look forward to the answer.

#19 – Sebastien Bourdais (France) Driving with Jono Webb Currently: Not racing. eNews Says: You don’t win four Champ Car titles by mistake, and he knows the GC track, but here’s the thing; things haven’t been going great for Seb since he embarked on an F1 career in 2008, so there is a train of thought that suggests he might have too much to prove. Walls could beckon.

#30 – Scott Pruett (USA) Driving with Mark Noske Currently: Racing in Grand Am. eNews Says: Raced at Bathurst many moons ago, and has been an all-rounder throughout his career.

He’s 50, so not exactly at his prime, but should have enough experience to be solid and keep if off the wall, which is exactly what a small team like Lucas Dumbrell Motorsport needs.

One of the original ‘Supercarnivale’ choices.

#51 – Yvan Muller (France) Driving with Greg Murphy Currently: Driving for Chevrolet in the World Touring Car Championship. eNews Says: He’s a Sandown 500 winner, and may well have won the 2005 Bathurst 1000 if Craig Lowndes didn’t get a close-up view of a wheel through his windscreen. He can drive a V8 Supercar fast.

Dirk Klynsmith

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motorsport news

#55 – Jacques Villeneuve (Canada) Driving with Paul Dumbrell Currently: Not racing. eNews Says: He’s a Formula 1 World Champion, ‘nuff said. His tin-top experience is mainly NASCAR, which has been mostly unimpressive, but given his family lineage and that big trophy from 1997, we’ll hold judgment until we see him drive.

Dirk Klynsmith

#888 – Andy Priaulx (GB) Driving with Craig Lowndes Currently: Racing for BMW in the World Touring Car Championship. eNews Says: Talk about pressure; this guy has to hold up Lowndes’ title hopes for 2010. He should be fine; Andy is a World Champion, and has plenty of V8 miles, as recently as last year.

Will be one of the best of the imports.

Dirk Klynsmith

www.mnews.com.au

33

NASCAR Round 31 – CHARLOTTE, NC

Jamie McMurray lived up to his car number for the third time this season, passing Kyle Busch to win at Charlotte. By MARTIN D CLARK

Jamie, Win Cup

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A

LTHOUGH he led around the halfway point, Jamie McMurray saved his best for last, passing race dominator Kyle Busch with 20 laps to run to take the win in the Bank of America 500 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on Saturday night.

“It’s been an unbelievable year,” said McMurray who also won the Daytona 500 and Brickyard 400, the two biggest races on the NASCAR calendar.

“We’ve been blessed to have some really good runs in some of the bigger races. I’m really, really excited about our success this season.”

McMurray charged from his 27th starting spot and was hounding Busch for the lead when the ninth and final caution aired for debris with 24 laps to run. McMurray’s Earnhardt Ganassi Racing Chevrolet gained speed on the long green flag runs so passing Busch in the final short stint looked doubtful. However on the final restart McMurray held his inside line on Busch, taking his third win of 2010 by 1.866s over Busch.

“I don’t know what the caution was for,” remarked a frustrated Busch, who suffered a sticking throttle earlier in the race. “Apparently there was a mouse that ran across the racetrack or something.

Jamie got a good restart and he had good momentum getting into turn one.”

Jimmie Johnson spun unaided on lap 34, but in championship style he rallied back to finish third, leading for 15 circuits on lap 189 and pressuring Busch (who headed 217 of the 334 laps) for second.

Martin D Clark

Martin D Clark

www.mnews.com.au

Burning Busch: McMurray swept past the Toyota of Kyle Busch with 20 laps remaining to take out his third win of 2010. The Earnhardt Ganassi driver is having the best season of his career.

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“The finish was great, but man the first half of the race was a disaster for us,” commented Johnson who extends his points lead to 41 over Denny Hamlin and 77 over Kevin Harvick.

“I’m so relieved,” continued Johnson.

“I’m glad to be sitting here in third spot and leading the points. It’s amazing what goes through your mind when you’re sliding sideways on the back straightaway. I saw my hard work for the year and my dreams of being a five time champions go away. We knew the track would come to us it was just a matter of waiting.”

Jeff Gordon remains fourth in points after starting on pole for the race, a failed battery saw him loose and then regain a lap only to be nabbed for speeding entering the pits on lap 291, Gordon would finish 23rd a lap off the pace.

Marcos Ambrose had a very eventful race. The Tasmanian started 14th, moved up to 12th before slipping outside the top 20 and airing a sixth yellow flag on lap 204 when he spun – after getting a hit – exiting turn four. Ambrose also copped a speeding-inpitlane penalty and lost a lap, but came back strongly after receiving the free pass and finishing a solid 16th.

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Results :: Bank of America 500, Charlotte, Pos. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

No. 27 6 10 23 22 17 12 24 16 26

Driver Jamie McMurray Kyle Busch Jimmie Johnson Denny Hamlin Greg Biffle Matt Kenseth Joey Logano Kevin Harvick David Reutimann David Ragan

Make Chevy Toyota Chevy Toyota Ford Ford Toyota Chevy Toyota Ford

Team Sponsor Earnhardt/Ganassi Bass Pro Shop Joe Gibbs M&M Hendrick Lowe’s Joe Gibbs FedEx Roush Fenway 3M Roush Fenway Crown Royal Joe Gibbs Home Depot Childress Shell-Penzzoil Waltrip Aaron’s Roush Fenway UPS

Qual.

Q1 18 48 11 16 17 20 29 00 6

Top 10 Points: Johnson 5843, Hamlin 5802, Harvick 5766, Gordon 5687, Kyle Busch/Stewart 5666, Edwards 5643, Biffle 5618, Kurt 5606, Burton 5604, Kenseth 5587, Bowyer 5543.

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NASCAR Media

NASCAR Media

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sutton-images.com

Paul’s Di Winner DTM WITH two DTM rounds remaining, Paul Di Resta has moved into the lead of the series with his third-straight win.

The Mercedes driver ran fourth early at Hockenheim, but made ground throughout the pitstop cycles to emerge

EURO F3

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Canadian was involved in a first-lap incident but remained in the mix for points in the attrition-filled race before eventually succumbing to suspension problems.

“Today, it was a surprising victory,” Di Resta admitted.

“The start wasn’t great, but the car was unbeatable and the speed was simply

incredible. Fortunately, I was still able to catch Timo Scheider. Of course, finishing in front of him was particularly important.

“We hope that we can now stay on top. It is quite a close call between Bruno and me.

However, I am now full of confidence and I will do my best.”

on the penultimate lap, only to slide wide and lose time, leaving Mortara to cruise home by 1.79s. Behind the recovering Bottas, Marco Wittmann was third.

In the reverse grid Race 2, Juncadella took his maiden win in the series. From pole, Juncadella controlled the race, eventually winning by 4s from Roberto Merhi. Laurens Vanthoor held out Bottas for third, while Mortara failed to finish.

Euro F3 wraps up

sutton-images.com

ALSO at Hockenheim, newly-crowned Champion Edoardo Mortara and Daniel Juncadella split the wins in the final round of the Formula 3 Euro Series.

In wet conditions, Mortara, pictured, won the opening race, holding off a late challenge from Valtteri Bottas. Mortara led all the way, but Bottas reeled him in over the closing laps. Bottas made a move

in the lead after the field had completed their two stops.

From there, Di Resta never looked back, building a buffer and winning by 10.5s from Timo Scheider, with Mike Rockenfeller third.

Combined with a DNF for Bruno Spengler, the win gives Di Resta a three-point lead in the series over Spengler. The

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Lind wins Formula Ford Festival AUSSIES OVERSEAS VAN Diemen and Dennis Lind were the big winners in the 2010 Formula Ford Festival.

Lind won the 20-lap final at Brands Hatch after breaking

away from a group of three drivers fighting for second, eventually finishing 1.870s clear of Australian Scott Pye. The newly-crowned British Formula Ford Champion held out pole-sitter Tio Ellinas

and his 2010 title rival Scott Malvern in the Duratec class, with Rory Butcher rounding out the top five.

Earlier, Pye won his qualifying and heat races and despite failing to finish his

quarter-final, took second in his semi-final.

Pye wasn’t the only South Aussie on the podium, with Jordan Skinner finishing third in the Kent class final, driving a Ray GRK10.

I’m Juho. Who? Juho, the new IRC Champ IRC JUHO Hanninen has wrapped up the 2010 Intercontinental Rally Challenge title in style, with victory in the penultimate round in Scotland.

The Fin was set to head into the event needing only one point to wrap up the title from

team-mate Jan Kopecky, but with Skoda electing not to run Kopecky, Hanninen had it in the bag regardless of his result.

While he couldn’t match British drivers Guy Wilks and Kris Meeke early, Hanninen soon joined the battle for the lead and moved into top spot on Saturday as Wilks and Meeke struck problems. Wilks

hit a rock but was able to continue until being sidelined by differential problems, while Meeke endured brake dramas and punctures.

In the meantime, Hanninen built a lead at the head of the field, winning the rally by 25.2s from Andreas Mikkelsen.

“It was a fantastic finish to the season, a great weekend,”

Hanninen said.

“It’s been almost a perfect year and I’d like to thank the team for everything they’ve done.”

Wilks and Meeke headlined a long list of IRC drivers finding trouble, which saw Group N driver David Bogie finishing fourth and Two-Wheel drive class winner Siim Plangi fifth.

sutton-images.com

www.mnews.com.au

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Gumley

HILLCLIMB

makes it 10

Phil Williams

THE 2010 Australian Hillclimb Championships returned to Collingrove, the traditional home of South Australian hillclimbing on October 16-17.

A huge field of 120 entries, headed by defending champion Brett Hayward (Hayward) and nine-time national champion Peter Gumley (Wortmeyer SCV, pictured) attacked the 750m track. Kevin Mackrell brought his 6.5 litre Chev engined Nissan 260Z, which was automatically a crowd favourite.

The last time the Barossa

Valley venue played host to the Nationals was in 2005 with Gumley the victor.

Across two days of competition, with both affected early by rain, organisers managed a total of eight runs of the narrow and technical track. Gumley made his intentions clear by being the only one to break the 30second barrier on his first run.

The stage was set and the rest needed to step up if they were to have any chance of stopping the New South Welshman from adding another crown to his collection. On his next run, Gumley stopped the clock

with a 27.97s. It was a new track record that conquered his own record of 28.48s, set only four weeks prior.

It was going to be very difficult to better, given the weather wasn’t conducive to record breaking times. And so it was.

The remaining runs proved futile as Hayward with a 28.64s was the only one who came anywhere close to stopping Gumley from adding a 10th crown to his collection. Rod Moody (Cheetah M7) with a 29.36s pass completed the outright podium.

– PHIL WILLIAMS

the final race was a handicap race and the time difference was too great to overcome.

Johnson had the same results in the Under 3 Litre races. Bowe and the 2.2 litre Porsche proved

to be a darkhorse during the weekend, beating both a V8 Holden Monaro of Warren Bryan and a V8 Mustang of John Zeigler.

– DAVID CLIFFORD

of Group N set with two wins, while Russell Wright (Mustang) Bob Sudall (Mazda RX-2) and Peter Baguley (Torana XU-1) also won races.

Tony LeMessurier (Elfin 622) was the pick of Sports/ Racing Group 1 with two

wins and two seconds, with Barclay Holden (Van Diemen RF74) taking the others. The second group was dominated

by Peter Boel (Lotus 23B). The Datsun Zeds of John McKeon (240Z) and Michael McKelliget (260Z) shared the wins in

JB GETS OUT AND ABOUT HISTORICS

Historics fire up at QR HISTORICS THE Historic Racing Car Club of Queensland made its return to Queensland

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Raceway after an extended layoff to stage Historic Ipswich last weekend.

Ethan Lind (Torana XU1) was the best performed

David Clifford

TASMANIA’S Baskerville raceway turned back the clock over when the MG Car Club of Tasmania and event sponsor, Hobart’s Wrest Point Hotel, joined forces to once again stage the three-day Historic Race Meeting.

Even snow on Mt Wellington and icy winds did not deter the race fans of Tasmania coming out and enjoying the sights

and sounds of Historic Racing, featuring names like Elfin, MG, Porsche and Brabham.

John Bowe once again attended the event, this time racing an exact replica of Jim McKeown‘s Porsche 911 ST, pictured, in Over 3 Litre. The car is owned by Mark Johnson who raced the car himself over the weekend in the Under 3 Litre category.

Bowe won three of the four races for the weekend, while

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Mitch leads Dumsney 1-3 at TSS SPEEDWAY CURRENT Sydney Sprintcar track champion Mitchell Dumesny took out a great victory last Saturday night at the revamped Tyrepower Sydney Speedway.

Mitchell took control very late in the 30-lap race after then race leader Roddy Bellbowen crashed out of the event allowing Dumesny to claim his first win of the summer over former track champ Ian Loudoun and Dad Max Dumesny home in third.

A field of 27 Sprintcars were on hand for the second meeting of the new season with the rebranded Tyrepower Sydney Speedway (nee Parramatta City Raceway) again attracting a strong line up.

BellBowen, after starting from second, looked to have his Second sprintcar A Main in the bag but in the closing laps got tangled up with Kelly Linigen’s Aussie Forklifts machine, crashed and was out.

That gave the lead and the win to Mitchell Dumesny who had forged forward after staring

back in Position 10 but he had to fight off a determined Ian Loudoun who in turn had a fastfighting Max Dumesny right behind. Making up the top six was Martin Lawes, James Thomson and Queensland racer Brent Aprile. A Lap 1 incident saw pole-sitter Matt Young out and after another restart Craig Morrison, Anthony Vysma and Marty Perovich were also retirements without a single lap recorded.

The early heats saw wins going to Mitchell Dumesny, Glen Saville, Steve Gaunt,

Marty Perovich, Ben Atkinson (who won the first Sprintcar A Main of the summer) and Craig Morrison. The B Main was taken out by former Speedcar ace Peter Bourke, a race that saw the other Bowen Motorsports machine of young Toby BellBowen crash out after getting involved with former Litre Car racer Craig Geering.

Sprintcars are back on the program this Saturday night in Round 3 of the Tyrepower Sydney Speedway track premiership.

– GREG BOSCATO

Kevin squares the Ledger IP NATIONALS LOCAL Kevin Ledger took out the 2010 Yokohama Improved Production Nationals at Barbagallo Raceway, beating a host of drivers from around the country.

Ledger claimed victory in the 20-lap final, a unique fight between his Subaru Impreza,

Tasmanian Ray Hislop in his V8 Ford Falcon and Victorian Leanne Tander in a Mazda RX7. In the end, Ledger emerged victorious to claim the title from Hislop and Tander, with fellow West Australian Matt Cherry fourth.

Daniel Gate maintained his recent Formula Ford form to score two race wins and

the round, with Jake McNally second and impressive debutant Rhett Noonan third.

Over two classes, Clint Harvey was the pick of the Saloon Car drivers, winning the VT/AU class ahead of Nathan Callaghan and Dion Panizza and finishing second in the VN/ EA class to Rick Gill.

Leo Jameson took a shock

Historic Touring Car round win as his Mazda MX-2 upset its bigger rivals. John Bondi and Greg Barr won the races, but two seconds were enough for Jameson.

Rex Meechin bagged a pair of wins to Peter McKenzie’s one in Sports Cars, while Russell Sewell dominated Formula Classic in his Lola T800.

Production Sports.

A few Formula Juniors took part in the Sports/ Racing groups with Graham Brown driving his well-raced Brabham. Known retroactively today as the BT2, FJ-3-62 was the first works Brabham

racing car to make the journey to Australia. The car was Frank Gardner’s works car, powered by the Ford 105E Anglia engine.

“Brabham talked Gavin Youl into buying the car on a flight back from France,” explained

Brown. “Youl led most of the 1962 Australian Championship at Catalina Park being pushed very hard by Frank Matich in the Elfin. Matich got by on the final lap to win.”

After spending some time as a Formula 3, the car was

restored in 1993. Brown has owned the car since 2003.

In 2008 Brown won the Jack Brabham Trophy at the Taupo, New Zealand round of the 50 anniversary global Formula Junior series.

– MARK JONES

www.mnews.com.au

41

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rear of grid

MOTORSPORT GOES FRUITY

WHAT do pineapples and motor racing have in common?

Up until very recently, very little.

However, Queensland’s famous Big Pineapple is about to be become the best motor racing museum in the country.

The poor old pineapple has seen better days, but that’s about to change, with renowned motor racing car collectors The Bowden Family taking over the tourist site and remaining buildings. The big bit of fruit

will be retained, and the family’s extensive collection of historic race machinery will be put on display in the surrounding buildings.

The Bowden’s car collection is mostly based around Australian Touring Car Championship history, with cars such as the Dick Johnson Falcon that hit ‘the rock’ 30 years ago, and Allan Moffat’s famous Coca-Cola Mustang.

“This will preserve the site, retain the Pineapple and give the community

something to be proud of,” Spokesman Guy Gibbons of Bennett Carroll Solicitors told The Sunshine Coast Daily.

“And it will mean local jobs. The family is absolutely thrilled with the outcome. They have been holding small showcase events of some of the vehicles, but have been looking for somewhere to open up the collection to the public.”

The Big Pineapple is based at Woombye, near Nambour, in Queensland.

Odd Sp ot

www.mnews.com.au

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