Motorsport eNews Issue 216 - August 2-8, 2011

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Issue No. 216 August 02 - August 08 2011

S S E N I S U B O T N W O D DOING IN E B L IL W L L E R B M U D UL WE REVEAL WHAT PA

2012

DR MARKO SPILLS THE BEANS

NO DARIO FOR SURFERS

DANIEL RICCIARDO

THE INSIDE LINE ON AUSTRALIA’S NEWEST FORMULA 1 DRIVER - ONLY IN THE AUGUST ISSUE OF MOTORSPORT NEWS PLUS: RYAN WALKINSHAW ON TAKING OVER HIS DAD’S BUSINESS, WE TALK TO ASIF KAPADIA, THE DIRECTOR BEHIND THE SENNA MOVIE, REVEAL ALEX ZANARDI’S OLYMPIC DREAM, SPEAK TO THE LATEST KIWI TO TAKE ON THE FAMOUS #51, LEARN ABOUT A V8 SUPERCAR THAT RACES AT THE NURBURGRING AND GET THE LATEST ON AUSTRALIAN RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP LEADER RYAN SMART ...

AND MUCH, MUCH MORE!

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Issue No. 216 | August 02 - 08 2011

news 4

The Dumbrell Decision PD decides to call it quits 8 And the new lap record is ...

Formula 3 confirms Bathurst 10 Loeb’s Awesome Finnish Second 1000 Lakes win 13 Sky is the limit How BBC/Sky will affect us 17 Richo back in a Beemer Jim aims for Albert Park

chat 22 Five Minutes With ...

Chief Executive Officer, David Gardiner Commercial Director, Bruce Duncan Motorsport eNews is published by nextmedia Pty Ltd ACN: 128 805 970, Level 5, 55 Chandos St, St Leonards NSW 2065 © 2009. All rights reserved. No part of this e-magazine may be reproduced, in whole or in part, without the prior permission of the publisher.. The publisher will not accept responsibility or any liability for the correctness of information or opinions expressed in the publication. All material submitted is at the owner’s risk and, while every care will be taken nextmedia does not accept liability for loss or damage.

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Kevin Fitzsimons

comment 24 Branagan: Woose 25 Bowe: Back in a V8

race 26 Rally SA 30 Hungarian Grand Prix 34 NASCAR 38 World Superbikes 40 CIK Stars of Karting

trade 48 Classifieds 3

DUMBRELL TO RETIRE AFTER SYDNEY

Paul Dumbrell set to concentrate on business commitments in ‘12 V8 SUPERCARS

P

AUL Dumbrell will drive his last race as a full-time V8 Supercar racer in Sydney in December.

Dumbrell, who is in the second year of a three-year deal with Rod Nash Racing and Ford Performance Racing, will leave the team at the end of the season, though he may stay on for the duration of his original deal (ie, until the end of next season) as an endurance driver.

In his ‘day job’ role as CEO of Automotive Brands, the parent company of retail chains Autobarn and Autopro, and other companies, Dumbrell confirmed last week to up to 400 assembled guests at Jupiters Convention Centre on the Gold Coast that he would stand down from driving at the end of the year. eNews believes that FPR and RNR plan to confirm the decision within the next week, and that Nash and FPR management are soon to start deliberations on who will drive the car next season. We also believe that Nash’s long-established sponsor Bottle-O will remain in place, as will his partnership with FPR, meaning the team needs only to retain a frontrunning driver.

FPR would not comment directly on

4

Dumbrell’s decision.

“We are in discussion with Paul about what his plans are in 2012,” said FPR’s Mark Roworth. “He is contracted through the end of 2012. That will require a release from his 2012. If we choose to release him, that will come with certain obligations he must fulfil in 2012.”

While Roworth would not elaborate what those “certain obligations” might be, it would appear that FPR will maintain first call on his services as an enduro driver in 2012 – or possibly even beyond, should the parties negotiate a long-term endurance driver role in place of his full-time program for one more year.

Speculation now turns to who Nash and FPR may look at to drive the #55 Falcon next season. Obviously, the teams’ three endurance drivers, Steve Richards, Dean Canto and Luke Youlden, will be considered, while drivers who are out of contract with other teams will appear on the radar – notably Lee Holdsworth from GRM. Dumbrell, who will turn 29 just before the endurance races, made his Main Game debut as a co-driver with John Faulkner Racing in 1999. He is a former winner of the Development Series, and scored his first V8 Supercar Championship race win last November at Sandown Raceway.

motorsport news

NEWS

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DOCTOR, DOCTOR, GIVE ME THE NEWS

Red Bull’s Doctor Marko says Webber will retire in 2012. eNews’ Formula 1 correspondent MATT COCH followed the story up in Hungary FORMULA 1

Dirk Klynsmith

www.mnews.com.au

MARK Webber will be replaced

by Daniel Ricciardo at Red Bull Racing in 2013, if comments made by Dr Helmut Marko during ONE HD’s telecast of the Hungarian Grand Prix are true.

While being quizzed on why Ricciardo has been loaned to Hispania Racing Team for the remainder of the 2011 season, the RBR consultant let slip that Webber will retire from Formula 1 at the end of the 2012 season.

“As with the other Australian, he is probably going to retire in 2012,” Marko told ONE HD. “We need to find one of our juniors who can replace Mark Webber.”

Marko’s comments suggest he believes two things; one, that Webber will re-sign with RBR for another year, and secondly that Webber will give the sport away at the end of next season.

After the race, Red Bull Racing boss Christian Horner attempted

to deny that the comments were even made – despite them clearly being made on national television in Australia.

“I don’t think he said that,” said Horner.

“I think he said possibly. To be honest, I think Helmut was probably focussing on Ricciardo, and things can obviously get lost in translation.

“We’re talking with Mark about next year. I’m expecting him to be here next year, he’s a popular member of the team. He could have another two, three, four years. That’s down to him. He’s still very competitive, very hungry. I think something’s been lost in the translation.” eNews also approached Webber’s management after the race, who were unaware of the comments.

Marko also confirmed during the TV cross that the aim was for Ricciardo to be in a more competitive seat in 2012.

Given that the West Australian

underwent a body scan at Toro Rosso’s HQ on the Monday following the British Grand Prix in preparation for the ’12 car, eNews expects him to replace one of STR’s current drivers at the end of the season. Then, Ricciardo would be placed alongside Sebastian Vettel at RBR in 2013, with young Frenchman Jean-Eric Vergne likely to slot into Toro Rosso’s line-up after another year of either Formula Renault 3.5, GP2, or a 2012 F1 seat with Team Lotus-Renault.

“It would be very nice!”

Ricciardo told eNews.

“We’ll see, there’s always a lot of rumours going around. I think the end of 2012 is a long way away to be honest.

“If I am in that position by that time then I think I’ll be very happy, but I think one step at a time and just focus on each day rather than a year and a half or something ahead.”

– WITH STAFF

5

MOST OF GOLD COAST 600 DRIVERS CONFIRMED AND AT WSR, IT’S ...

Falcon at Surfers Paradise in October, and he says he should TONIO Liuzzi will headline the have no drama adapting from a 2011 Armor All Gold Coast 600, Formula 1 car to a V8 Supercar. which was officially launched in “I had a good look at the [Tony Queensland late last week.

D’Alberto Racing] car when I As revealed by eNews back in was at the Australian Grand May, the Hispania Racing Team Prix earlier in the year, and I was driver will partner Tony D’Alberto really impressed,” said Liuzzi. in the Wilson Security Racing “There isn't much difference in

V8 SUPERCARS

DARIO TO MISS OUT

DARIO Franchitti will not be racing a V8 Supercar on the Gold Coast.

The defending IndyCar Champion, who raced with Jim Beam Racing in the GC600 last October, is to miss out on the event because of the likelihood of a number of postseason commitments. However, eNews believes that there were also a number of commercial difficulties between the driver 6

including Sebastian Bourdais (TeamVodafone), Mika Salo (Ford Performance Racing), Jan Magnussen (Supercheap Auto Racing), Christian Klein (The Bottle-O Racing), Gianni Morbidelli (Triple F Racing) and Stephane Sarrazin (Team BOC). All of these signing have previously been predicted by eNews.

All bar three of the drivers have now been confirmed, with a wave of confirmations taking place around the launch. Those left to have a partner confirmed are Jason Bargwanna, Jono Webb and James Courtney (see separate story).

GC600 CONFIRMED DRIVERS LIST sutton-images.com

V8 SUPERCARS

size between myself and Tony and our seat position should be comfortable together. We will be a good team.

“I don't think it will take me long to adapt to the car. The one-day testing before will be good. I have experience with powerful saloon cars and I really enjoy driving them. I see the V8 Supercars being very similar.

“After finding out that I was coming to Australia to race, I have followed the V8 Supercars a little closer. It looks like very exciting, close racing.”

The Italian leads a host of Formula 1 confirmations made public last week,

sutton-images.com

TONY and TONIO

and the Holden Racing Team that could not be overcome to allow the Scot to make the trip to Queensland.

The challenge for HRT is now to secure a driver to partner James Courtney. One option would be to move Patrick Long, who is currently listed as codriver for Fabian Coulthard in the Bundaberg Racing entry and who was one of the standouts from last year’s event, into the red team.

– PHIL BRANAGAN

# 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 11 12 15 16 17 18 21 30 33 34 39 47 49 55 61 88 888

Team Holden Racing Team Wilson Security Racing Stone Brothers Racing Ford Performance Racing Ford Performance Racing Jack Daniel’s Racing Brad Jones Racing Stone Brothers Racing Kelly Racing Triple F Racing Jack Daniel’s Racing Kelly Racing Jim Beam Racing Jim Beam Racing Brad Jones Racing Gulf Western Oil Racing Fujitsu Racing GRM Fujitsu Racing GRM Paul Morris Motorsport James Rosenberg Racing Paul Morris Motorsport Rod Nash Racing Bundaberg Racing TeamVodafone TeamVodafone

Regular Driver Garth Tander Tony D’Alberto Alex Davison Mark Winterbottom Will Davison Todd Kelly Jason Bright Shane van Gisbergen Greg Murphy Dean Fiore Rick Kelly David Reynolds Steven Johnson James Moffat Karl Reindler Warren Luff Lee Holdsworth Michael Caruso Russell Ingall Tim Slade Steve Owen Paul Dumbrell Fabian Coulthard Jamie Whincup Craig Lowndes

International NAT Ryan Briscoe AUS Tonio Liuzzi ITA Marc Lieb GER Will Power AUS Mika Salo FIN Jörg Bergmeister GER Stephane Sarrazin FRA Scott Dixon NZ Oliver Gavin ENG Gianni Morbidelli ITA Richard Westbrook ENG Alex Tagliani CAN Dirk Muller GER Joey Hand USA Fabrizio Giovanardi ITA Marino Franchitti SCO Simon Pagenaud BRA Augusto Farfus FRA Jan Magnussen DEN Helio Castroneves BRA Boris Said USA Christian Klien AUT Patrick Long USA Andy Priaulx GUE Sebastien Bourdais FRA

motorsport news

NEWS

SURVEY: GP2s AT CLIPSAL? GP2 DON’T expect to go to the Clipsal 500 next year and see GP2s and International GTs.

That is despite the two categories’ inclusion in a survey conducted over recent days, to gauge fans’ reaction to several changes being considered for the traditional V8 Supercars event.

The survey, conducted via internet, sought fans’ input into several categories and

innovations, including concerts, twilight races and expanded undercover seating.

“The survey to was gain some reaction from the pulic in a number of areas,” said race spokesman, Mike Drewer, on Monday.

“It was done to gauge reaction to whether people have any interest in international categories, and what that level of interest might be. To do that, it is better to give examples of categories and be specific, and that is what was done.”

GP2 organiser Bruno Michele is believed to be in favour of the series running strictly alongside GPs next season, but there does appear to be an opportunity for GP2 to run somewhere in our region in future years. The potential changes to the 2012 Formula 1 calendar, and the demise of the GP2 Asia series, leaves the European-based series with a later start to its calendar than it has had in previous years.

Should a promoter, in Adelaide or anywhere else, show interest in the F1 feeder category, March 2012 might not be a bad time frame to look at.

Located at our impressive facility in Campbellfield, FORD PERFORMANCE RACING has a number of vacancies. These key roles will suit those who seek a challenge and strive for excellence in their field, producing highly competitive cars for the team’s V8 Supercar programs.

Fabricator We are seeking an experienced Fabricator to join the FPR team in Campbellfield. The responsibility of the Fabricator is to produce the chassis of the race car, suspension components, cooling system and any other required fabricated components.

The candidate would require qualifications or experience in a similar role including prototype welding, material welding, including tig welding.

Quality Technician We are seeking a mechanically minded person to fill the challenging role of Quality Technician within the FPR team. The Quality Technician is responsible for ensuring all parts are in accordance with the engineer’s specification and safety requirements. This involves the inspection of all parts, investigation into any discrepancies and liaising with relevant departments to overcome any quality issues. Experience working with engineers and qualifications as a motor mechanic or equivalent is essential.

Build Mechanic The New car Build Mechanic is responsible for the preparation and assembly of all new cars, ensuring that the car is built to engineers build specification and ready for hand over to the Race team or customer. Qualifications as a motor mechanic or equivalent is essential. Experience working with engineers and strong communication skills are desirable as well as experience working in the motor sport industry and experience working in a fabrication and general workshop.

OH&S training is also favourable.

All candidates must demonstrate a “can do attitude”, be a team player, have flexibility in work hours and approach, along with the ability to work under minimal supervision and adhere to strict deadlines. You will be joining a world class racing team who has the passion and drive for on track success where the drive for performance is relentless, offering new challenges every day. A competitive salary package will be provided based on the successful candidates' qualifications and experience.

Please apply via email: recruitment@prodrive-asiapacific.com or fax: (03) 9300 7336

www.mnews.com.au

www.fpr.com.au 7

F3 LOCKS IN EASTER FOR BATHURST DEBUT FORMULA 3

FORMULA 3’s debut at Mount Panorama will come at the Bathurst Motor Festival next Easter. eNews understands that with the Armor All Bathurst 12 Hour having already confirmed all four support categories, Formula 3 Management has agreed to terms with BMF promoter Yeehah Events to join the April 6-8 event next year.

When contacted, Formula 3 officials would not confirm the date, though indicated a formal announcement about the category’s Bathurst debut would be made “within a week”.

8

Event promoter James O’Brien was unable for comment, taking in action at the Spa Francorchamps 24 hour race on Bathurst 12 Hour business.

However, irrespective of the date Formula 3 teams believe the series’ debut at Bathurst could be the kick Australian Formula 3 needs.

“Without even having a date confirmed we have had enough interest to fill all four cars,” Team BRM manager Mark Rundle told eNews when contacted today.

“The place just has so much appeal and recognition internationally that we have had a lot of very positive feedback since it was announced F3 was going to race there. We’re

obviously waiting on details, but as a team we are already chatting to potential drivers, both from Australia and from overseas.

“I’m not particularly fussed about what event we’re on,” Rundle added.

“The 12 Hour works better from an international standpoint because it’s earlier in the year but racing at Easter means the category probably gets more of a chance to headline, plus get more track time, which is a big factor there.

“Formula 3 is an international category and Bathurst is highly regarded as one of the world’s best tracks, so I’m not surprised at the level of interest we have had. It could be very good for F3 here.”

motorsport news

NEWS

NEW V8 TYRES TO LOB IN OCTOBER V8 SUPERCARS

DUNLOP Motorsport expects to have prototypes of its 18-inch V8 Supercar tyres ready for testing in October.

The company was last week named as the supplier for the category until the end of 2017. It will continue to supply 17-inch tyres for the Fujitsu Series cars until that category also switched to 18s, proably in 2015.

Dunlop’s V8 Supercars Operations Manager Kevin Fitzsimons told eNews that the company

had already manufactured its first 18s.

“We had production space available in June and we had to roll the dice,” he said. “Basically, we had the space and we had to decide whether it was worthwhile to make the tyres to test. We needed to get the production done. We had a bit of an idea what we wanted, compound-wise, so they ran off a lot of test tyres.”

Dunlop expects to test variations of its Control and Sprint tyres, and wets, on the Car of the Future prototypes later in the year.

BOWE BACK IN A FALCON. AND A COMMODORE. V8 SUPERCARS JOHN Bowe ended a four-year absence from the cockpit of a V8 Supercar last week at Eastern Creek by driving both a Holden Commodore and a Ford Falcon.

The former ATCC champion and Bathurst 1000 winner played chauffeur for the day, ferrying passengers around Eastern Creek in Tony D’Alberto Racing’s two racecars.

D’Alberto was unavailable because he was on his honeymoon with his wife, Steph. www.mnews.com.au

“I had never driven a V8 Supercar with a sequential gearbox,” said Bowe. “From a purely curious point of view, I wanted to do it.”

JB was impressed with the engine development in both the Ford Performance Racing FG and the Walkinshaw Racing VE, and compared the front grip of the Ford to the DJR car he raced 15 years ago, which had the benefit of purpose-built Dunlop tyres in the pre-control tyre days.

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For more on Bowe’s unique day, see page 24 9

NEWS

WORLD RALLYING

SEBASTIEN Loeb has won his second Rally Finland, and says it may be his greatest win in the World Rally Championship.

Loeb and Citroen team-mate Sebastien Ogier fought it out for the lead for the majority of the event, along with Ford’s hometown hero Jari-Matti Latvala. But despite being first on the road on the final morning, the World Champion stretched

his lead and won the event, becoming the first non-Scandinavian driver to win the event twice.

“It feels very good,” said Loeb.

“A very difficult race. We cleaned the road for three days and finally we were still the fastest in the end. We had to really fight until the end so it may be the greatest win.”

Latvala stole second from Ogier on the final day, when the Frenchman suffered a puncture.

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LOEB TAKES RECORD WIN

Throughout most of the rally the pacesetter was Ford’s Mikko Hirvonen, but he did his thrilling stage times while recovering from an early crash, which left him unable to fight for the win. Still, he came from 36th to finish fourth, just over a minute behind Loeb.

Meanwhile, the two MINIs were back in action in Finland, but after Dani Sordo and Kris Meeke both ran comfortably in the Top 8 early on, overheating issues forced them both to retire before the finish.

MEYERS AND SMOKE SHARE WoO WINS SPEEDWAY REIGNING World of Outlaws Champion Jason Meyers has added another milestone to his impressive racing career by grabbing his 50th World of Outlaws A-Feature win in Canada last weekend.

It was Meyers’ third victory of the season, which saw him finish July with 11 Top 5 finishes in 14 events, and now sees him on top of the championship standings.

“The month of July has just been awesome for us, and so has Canada,” Meyers said.

“We almost got the win last night at Brockville, but broke 10

through tonight.”

Meyers came off pole after winning the dash, but it was Lucas Wolfe on the charge early as he loomed large aiming for his first win by leading for five laps before Meyers got him.

“They watered the low groove so it took some time in the feature to get it worked in,” Meyers said.

“Once it did and we got the wing pulled back and the fuel load off, the car was simply amazing.”

Meanwhile, NASCAR superstar Tony Stewart has finally achieved something he always wanted – victory in a World of Outlaws event.

The win last week at Ohsweken Speedway, Canada, came in just his eighth career AFeature start.

Starting the feature from position three, Stewart passed Brad Sweet, who drives for Kasey Kahne, on Lap 9 and went on to lead the final 21 laps to take the chequered flag ahead of Outlaws veteran Sammy Swindell.

“Wow, this is big,” Stewart said.

“I saw Sammy dive below me once and that was one too many. We had such an awesome car tonight and I still just can’t believe we won this thing.”

While Stewart is no stranger to the World of Outlaws,

winning three championships as a car owner in the series to go with his driving titles in the NASCAR Cup ranks and the IndyCar Series, it is a victory he has always claimed he wanted.

“I grew up watching a lot of these guys like (Steve) Kinser and (Doug) Wolfgang,” Stewart said.

“My career path didn’t take me into a lot of winged sprint car racing but it’s certainly something I enjoy. This just isn’t something that Kasey (Kahne) and I do for the heck of it. We’re passionate about putting together great teams and winning races.”

– GEOFF ROUNDS motorsport news

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The year looked grim for the Holden Dealer Team when Holden announced in December '79 its withdrawal from motorsport. Peter Brock went directly to the Holden Dealers for support, getting 56 to commit. But the big advantage over the competition that year was the developmental headstart they had with the new car. Peter Brock and Jim Richards won their third consecutive great race and it was the VC Commodore's maiden Bathurst victory.

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PEREZ LOCKED IN FOR FORMULA 1

SAUBER has confirmed that Sergio Perez will drive for them in 2012, despite an upcoming test with Ferrari.

The young Mexican has enjoyed a solid debut season with Sauber, earning himself a test with Ferrari, which supplies engines to the Swiss squad. But despite persistent rumours that Felipe Massa may not be resigned at Ferrari, Sauber has already locked in Perez, along with his team-mate Kamui Kobayashi and test driver Esteban Gutièrrez, for 2012.

“I want to thank Peter [Sauber] and Monisha [Kaltenborn, Sauber CEO] that they trust me,” said Perez.

“Of course it is very good to have continuity and this way I can intensively prepare with my race engineer for what will be my second Formula 1 season. But for now I’m concentrating on finishing this season on a high. The summer break will be very good for me because since my accident in Monaco it has been a busy time.”

“Sergio has achieved more than one could expect from a rookie,” added Peter Sauber.

“From the very first race he proved that he is capable of driving not only fast but consistently as well. And after the accident in Monaco he demonstrated that he can handle difficult situations too. From the outset we had already signed a contract with Sergio that went beyond 2011. With a rookie that always entails a certain risk, of course, but clearly it has paid off.”

UP AND DOWN WEEKEND FOR AUSSIES FORMULA 1 ANY chance of a potential podium at the Hungarian Grand Prix went out the window following a wrong call on tyres by Mark Webber.

He, and McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton, gambled on a brief shower and went for intermediate tyres late in the race, only to have the rain quickly disappear, forcing an additional stop to get back onto slicks. In the end, Hamilton, who had also copped a drive-through for a spin-turn in front of oncoming cars, caught Webber in traffic and snatched fourth from the Red Bull driver.

“It was a good race – quite enjoyable; I made the right call to go for the slicks at the right time, but when the rain 12

came I thought it was going to be heavier – so I went for the intermediate tyres, but it didn’t come, said Webber.

“The team didn’t say too much about the rain, so I thought it was a bit of a surprise shower, but I made the decision to go for the intermediates. It didn’t work out for Lewis and I with this gamble – and it looks stupid in hindsight when the track dries out, but if it had rained strong enough for another few minutes, then it would have been the right tyre.

“So, it’s a fine line and to get yourself back in the game sometimes you have to role a dice. I’m fine with the decision I made, it’s on my head and the team did a good job this weekend.”

At the other end of the

field, WA’s Daniel Ricciardo took another step forward by driving away from teammate Vitantonio Liuzzi in the mixed conditions. Liuzzi was handicapped by an early spin and front wing damage, but nevertheless couldn’t keep his young team-mate in sight: “Overall, I’m satisfied with my race and the best finish in three races,” said Ricciardo.

“During the race, I wasn’t really sure where I was on track because a lot of cars made quite a few pit stops so in all honesty I didn’t really know how I was doing. Towards the end I felt we had quite a good balance in the car and I was able to do some good times. I’m sure there are things I could have done better so we’ll look into that to keep on improving. But again I feel we

are progressing well; Silverstone to Nurburgring was a very big step and this time we have taken another good step.

“I want to be ahead of our main rivals and prove I can go the distance in the race. The most positive thing today was that we made the right decisions with pit stops, so we need to try and stay in this path.

Today’s race certainly gives me something to smile about coming into the summer break.”

motorsport news

NEWS

OR ‘12 ONE HD NOT

CONCERNED BY SHARED F1 RIGHTS FORMULA 1

sutton-images.com

ONE HD’s visual feed is unlikely to change, but its commentary might, as a result of the weekend’s announcement that Sky TV and the BBC will ‘share’ F1 coverage from 2012.

It has been announced that UK pay TV company Sky will take over as primary broadcaster, with virtually everything live to air, while the BBC will retain a secondary role, broadcasting around half of the more key (to UK viewers) races.

The deal, which goes against

the long-held free-to-air mantra for F1 broadcasts around the world, has attracted a lot of initial criticism from UK fans who, like their Soccer counterparts, will have to take out a Sky subscription if they are to be able to follow F1 properly.

Teams seem less concerned, having been convinced that the deal will increase their revenues while, because of the ‘double’ outlet, actually increasing viewers. The UK currently has 10 million Fox subscribers.

Whether Fox and the BBC will share production facilities, or

even on-screen personnel, is yet to be decided, so the fate of Messrs Brundle and Coulthard will be up in the air for now.

Network’s Ten’s involvement will be to continue with whatever comes out of Britain.

“Sky Sports and BBC have acquired the international television broadcast rights for Formula One from 2012-2018,” said network spokesperson Catherine Donovan. “In Australia, Network Ten will continue to broadcast the international feed, which includes the commentary.”

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AGP BACK ON POLE NEXT SEASON FORMULA 1

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www.mnews.com.au

AUSTRALIA is set to regain its spot as the opening F1 Grand Prix of the season following release of a revised, albeit provisional, calendar

by Bernie Ecclestone.

With Bahrain moved to the tail end of the year, the F1 season will again kick off in Melbourne, on March 16.

The other significant change is the move of the US Grand Prix (Texas) from mid-year to November, to avoid the mid-summer Texas heat..

However, Ecclestone’s list of dates is likely to undergo further change following reaction from teams over the weekend – in particular in relation

to the seven ‘flyaway’ races crammed into the last 10 weeks of the season.

However, any changes seem unlikely to affect the season-opener.

Bernie Ecclestone’s proposed calendar: 18 March Australia, 25 March Malaysia, 8 April China, 22 April India, 13 May Spain, 27 May Monaco, 10 June Canada, 24 June Europe, 8 July Britain, 22 July Germany, 29 July Hungary, 2 September Belgium, 9 September Italy, 23 September Singapore, 7 October Japan, 14 October South Korea, 28 October Abu Dhabi, 4 November Bahrain GP, 18 November United States, 25 November Brazil.

13

MENARDS’ INDY MILEAGE MARATHON

NASCAR

IT is almost ironic that Paul Menard won his maiden NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Indianapolis on Sunday in a fuel mileage race.

In his 167th Cup start, Menard managed to stretch 35 laps from his final tank of fuel to win his first race, in his first season with Richard Childress Racing. The win was just reward for Menard and his father John Menard, who for years tried to win at the track, in the famed Indianapolis 500.

Team Menard entered the

Indianapolis 500 from 1991 to ’96 using their own Buick stock-block V6s, which were notable for their horsepower and considerable fuel usage, both products of higher boost allowed under the rules of the day. But despite strong performances, pole positions in 1995 and 1996, and even an IndyCar title in 1999 with a more conventional engine. But in 16 attempts, no Menard entry ever triumphed at the Brickyard, until Paul won the Brickyard 400.

“This is just great,’’ said John Menard, whose 256 Menards homeware stores have made

CARL: BLUE OR THE GREEN? NASCAR CARL Edwards is poised to join NASCAR’s wealthy elite – but Ford wants to keep its man in blue.

Edwards is caught in a tug-oflove between Roush Fenway

FORD media

FORD media

14

Racing, which has Ford Racing in its corner, and Joe Gibbs Racing and Toyota. Rumours suggest that JGR and Home Depot are willing to part with a US$10 ($9.1m) signing bonus and US$8m a year for Edwards to replace Joey Logano in the

orange #20 Camry.

But Ford is determined to see Edwards stay in RFR’s #99.

“We’ve helped out with an offer we have never done before for another driver,’’ Kevin Kennedy, the director of Ford Racing communication, told ESPN before qualifying for the Brickyard 400.

“If he’s around, it’s something that will help him in terms of continuing to promote Ford products. We’ve been in racing for 110 years and I don’t think we’ve ever done this before.’’

RFR’s may also be concerned that Edwards’s sponsor Aflac could, potentially, follow its driver to JGR. Crown Royal, which sponsors Matt Kenseth’s #17 entry, has already confirmed that it will part ways with RFR at the end of 2011. motorsport news

NEWS

DALLARA INDY TESTS

WHEL-DON INDYCAR NASCAR media

him a billionaire. “It was Paul’s day, but, in a way, our whole family has been at the Speedway for so long.

“Paul came down here as a very little guy. I remember smuggling him into the garage because he was too young to be in there. He would be sitting on the workbench back there behaving himself. He had to be quiet or the yellow shirts [track security] would throw him out.’’

The win also puts Menard Jr in contention for the Chase. He has moved to 14th in the Sprint Cup points, two places from a spot in NASCAR’s ‘playoffs’.

DAN Wheldon will climb back into an IndyCar next week, as testing for the new generation car starts at Mid-Ohio.

The 2011 Indy 500 winner will test the new Dallara, which has been fitted with a 2.2-litre Honda V6 for the program. The car was shaken down in Italy last week prior to be shipped to Indianapolis for final assembly.

Five other two-day sessions on both road courses and ovals are scheduled before the engine manufacturers – Honda, Chevrolet and Lotus – commence on-track testing in early October.

“It’s really a systems check of everything, but we’ll slowly get

the car up to speed and take it from there,” said Will Phillips, Indycar’s vice president of technology.

“If on day one there are no issues then day two you start pushing a bit harder. We’re not out to achieve any goals but shaking the car down and making sure we’re ready to go testing.

“We need to make sure the parts from all aspects of the car are achieving their goals so we’ve got aero targets and straight-line speed targets that we’re looking to see. We want to make sure the basics are right first before we go pushing for those targets.

However, you have a really good day and might end up with those targets from day one.”

NOT HIS BEST TRICK NASCAR

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With sizes and offsets to suit performance cars from early sixties up to current models, Watanabe are perfect for production racing and many other classes Watanabe alloy wheels are very light, while even lighter magnesium wheels are also available for racing only For more sizes and colours please look at our website:

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TRAVIS Pastrana missed his planned Nationwide Series debut because of a broken ankle.

Pastrana Waltrip Racing withdrew the #99 Boost Mobile Toyota from Saturday’s event at Lucas Oil Raceway after the action sports star broke his right foot and ankle after backto-back crashes during the Moto X Best Trick competition at the X Games in Los Angeles.

“Like fans everywhere we were so excited about Travis’ debut Saturday night,” said team owner Michael Waltrip.

“We have a long term vision

with Travis which includes lots of NASCAR. “We can’t wait to get him healed and in our racecars. We talked to our sponsor Boost Mobile and agreed to withdraw from Indy and delay our debut.

We’ve waited a long time for someone like Travis Pastrana. I guess we’ll just have to wait a little bit longer.”

Pastrana had planned to compete in Best Trick and Freestyle in LA on Thursday and Friday, fly to Indianapolis to make his NASCAR Nationwide debut Saturday, then return to Los Angeles to compete in RallyCross on Sunday.

Legendary Watanabe racing wheels from Japan are now available in Australia!

Ph. (02) 8677 4890 Fx. (02) 8677 4892 15

GT AIMS FOR 20 CARS AUSTRALIAN GT

Dirk Klynsmith

SPHERIX is hoping that more than 20 cars will be on the grid for Round 5 of the Vodka O Australian GT Championship at Phillip Island next month.

The new GT category managers have set their sights on a bumper grid for the two one-hour races at The Island, and with more than 20 expressions of interest already lodges, Craig Denyer says things are looking good, “The longer races certainly appeal to the competitors more than the sprint type races, and that is why we’ve had more drivers indicate they will be there in September,” he said.

“Drivers can either bring in a co-driver for the event, or elect to drive each one hour race on

their own.”

“The Vodka O Australian GT Championship is here to stay and with new cars, great race formats, and a stable parity system moving forward, I expect the category to go from strength to strength.

“We would like to finalise our plans on regulations and eligibility for 2012 nice and early, so everyone can plan for the future with confidence knowing that once they make a commitment, the rules will be consistent and stable.”

One of the cars getting ready to take on Phillip Island is Dean Grant, whose Mosler MT900 was almost destroyed in a huge crash at Bathurst during the 12 Hour back in February.

“The car had a mechanical failure at more than 300km an

hour down Conrod Straight, and I can tell you it did a massive amount of damage,” Grant said.

“We’ve spent an enormous amount of time and money repairing the Mosler, and I can’t wait to roll out of pit lane

JOHNSONS TO HEADLINE V8 EVENT AT LEYBURN HISTORICS THE Johnson family is going up against each other at this month’s Leyburn Sprints in Queensland.

Dick and Steve Johnson will be two of the drivers to take part in the V8 Supercar Drivers Challenge, with the rest of the line-up to be announced soon. But the V8 drivers won’t be in V8 Supercars, instead lining up in three very different Fords from past eras – a 1934 Indy-style single-seater with a flathead V8 engine, a 1971 Ford Escort Mark 1 and a 1971 Ford Falcon XY GT HO with a ground-shaking NASCAR race engine.

“The V8 Supercar Drivers Challenge is going to sort out whether the most versatile driver is Dick Johnson or one of

the young contenders,” said race director Dennis Brown.

“Since Dick is the only one ever to have raced a GT HO in its heyday, don’t expect Steven or one of the other young guns is necessarily going to beat him. Dick has also been coming to the Leyburn Sprints and driving the Falcon and Escort for several years and that could give him a further advantage.

“Whoever wins, the V8 Supercar Drivers Challenge is going to be a great new attraction for spectators at this year’s Leyburn Sprints. The V8 drivers are highly competitive and whether they’re pushing a wheelbarrow or a Bathurst Falcon they always go out to win.”

This year’s Leyburn Sprints will celebrate the 1949 Australian Grand Prix.

for the first time and really get acquainted with it again. Phillip Island should really suit the car with its long radius corners and of course Gardner Straight, which gives me a chance to really open her up.”

TEAM THAI FOR 12 HOUR BATHURST 12 HOUR THE international interest in the 2012 Bathurst 12 Hour is continuing to grow, with a Thailand-based team the latest to sign on.

Team The Pizza Company will run a Honda City at the ’12 running of the Bathurst event.

Founded by owner/driver Thomas Raldorf, a Danish expat based in Thailand, Team The Pizza Company is now involved in developing young talent in Thailand, and will also compete at next year’s Dubai 12 Hour. A full driver line-up for Bathurst is yet to be revealed.

Meanwhile, British team Birchwood Racing is also set to race at Bathurst next February.

The team runs an Aston Martin V8 Vantage N24/GT4 in long distance races around the world, with Saif Hassan, Mark Griffiths, Ibrahim Salloum and Mike Whatley the regular drivers.

However the drive-up for Bathurst is not yet confirmed.

VIC STATE RACER NOW ONLINE THE LATEST ISSUE OF VIC STATE RACER IS NOW ONLINE, WITH ALL THE LATEST FROM THE RECENT ROUND AT SANDOWN. CLICK HERE OR HEAD TO WWW.MNEWS.COM.AU TO CHECK IT OUT FOR FREE! 16

motorsport news

NEWS

RICHO’S AGP PLANS HISTORICS JIM Richards has confirmed that he will be on the grid for the ‘Touring Car Revival’ at next year’s Australian Grand Prix at Albert Park, which will see Group A and C Touring Cars on the support grid.

With Shannons sponsoring the Group A and C races, Richards has been named an ‘Active Ambassador’ for the event, and says he will be on the grid.

“This is a celebration of an era that was an important part of my life,” the four-time

Australian Touring Car Champion said.

“I drove Toranas, Commodores, an XB Falcon, BMWs and Nissans ,and the variety of makes and models created fantastic racing for both drivers and spectators.

“I am currently restoring the first Group A BMW M3 that I raced in the 1980s and I’ll be competing in the revival at the Grand Prix, either in my own car if it is finished in time, or another car from that era.”

Victorian Historic Racing Register President Ian Tate added that the addition of Historic Touring Cars will be great for the Grand Prix.

“We know from experience at Phillip Island and Sandown that the food stalls and coffee booths empty when these Touring Cars take to the track,” he said.

“They are exciting vehicles that raced within the living memory of many fans and the variety of makes and models provides an exciting spectacle.”

Drivers will have to ‘pre-qualify’ for the Grand Prix by racing at the VHRR events at Sandown and Phillip Island between now and the AGP.

MAKE YOUR DREAMS A REALITY It is quick, easy to drive and lots and lots of fun. The car flatters the driver, which is a huge achievement in a low volume car. The experience of the Roaring Forties engineers, formerly of Holden, is very plain to see. This is a special car!

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(John Bowe, 2009)

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www.roaringforties.com.au www.mnews.com.au

17

A more comfortable Island for MotoGP MOTOGP PHILLIP Island will be more weather-friendly come the Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix this October.

The Australian Grand Prix Corporation has announced upgrades at Phillip Island in a bid to offer spectators a more comfortable experience in the likely event of inclement weather. The upgrades include weather shelters for general admission and grandstand patrons at Gardner Village, Lukey Heights and Siberia, a free shuttle bus service inside the circuit for grandstand patrons, better surfaces through pedestrian thoroughfares and better drainage for the Motorcycle Club’s structure.

“Following on from adverse conditions at last year’s race, we have worked hard to identify problem areas and improve facilities to minimise the weather’s impact on patron comfort,” AGPC CEO Andrew Westacott said.

“Patrons felt the effects of the wild weather last year, both from above and underfoot, so we have increased weather shelters, improved drainage and introduced all-weather pathways and bus shuttles.”

OLD HEADS RU

Veterans win Honda’s 24th Suzuka SUZUKA 8 HOUR

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World Superbikes to stay on Pirellis 1000 FIM Cup and the UEM Superstock 600 European PIRELLI will continue to be Championship, until the end of the official tyre supplier 2015. for the Superbike World “We are delighted to be able to Championship for the next renew the contract with Pirelli further three . until the completion of the 2015 WSBK promoters Infront Motor season said Paolo Flammini, CEO Sports announced last week of Infront Motor Sports. “Once that the Italian company will again we can count on a tyre supply rubber for the Superbikes, supplier, whose commitment and the Supersport World to the product, service and Championship, the Superstock development is second to none.”

WORLD SUPERBIKE

18

AGE has proven no barrier as age and experience triumphed in the Suzuki 8 Hour.

To no one’s great surprise, Honda triumphed in the event, with the FCC team of Kousuke Akiyoshi, Shinichi Ito, above, and Ryuichi Kiyonari taking the flag, the three riders’ combined ages being 108. Second was Yukio Kagayama, right, Aussie Josh Waters and Nobu Aoki, the Yoshimura Suzuki trio adding 100 years to the mix, and Takumi Takahashi, Makoto Tamada and Tadayuki Okada weighed in at 101 years in third. All three teams finished on the lead lap.

But the race was not all smooth sailing for FCC. Kiyo dropped from first to third in the opening stint after pitting for repairs after a fall and Ito, now 44, clashed with Team Bollinger’s Roman Stamm in the second hour.

Ito and Kiyo tie Wayne Gardner now as four-time winners of the race. Tohru Ukawa remains the all-time Suzuka master with five wins.

Ellerys pla FORMULA FORD LUKE Ellery has made significant steps towards expanding his Victorian State Racing operation for 2012, after announcing he is in the market for a new transporter to accommodate at least two Formula Fords.

The multiple Victorian motorsport news

HODGE GRADUATES FORMULA FORD

Honda Pro Images

ULE

ADELAIDE high school student Simon Hodge could make his Australian Formula Ford championship debut as soon as November this year, after impressing in his maiden Victorian state championship event last weekend.

The Team BRM driver beat a host of national championship drivers to win the feature race at Sandown last week in his first ever race meeting in Victoria, leaving the Year 12 student looking at stepping up in the short term future.

“At this stage we are just keen to get as much experience as possible in these cars,” Hodge, 17, told eNews.

“Certainly the results last weekend show that anything is possible but I’m very aware you’re only as good as your last race. I need to keep learning and getting miles in the car this year,

but (winning at Sandown) does give a lot of confidence that you can do the job especially against that kind of field.

“We are planning to continue with our program this year but potentially do the Sandown National round in November, plus our state level stuff in SA and Victoria.”

With Team BRM recently confirming an expanded attack on the New Zealand Toyota Racing Series in January, Hodge could also head across the ‘ditch’ for his first taste of wings and slicks racing.

“It’s something we’re looking at,” he admitted.

“It obviously requires a lot more budget and sponsorship but we are looking at that for summer. It would be great to have a crack at that before coming back here to run the full National Formula Ford championship, but as always it comes down to funding.”

a: Waters second

Robert Lang

Suzuki Racing

anning twice the fun in Formula Ford Formula Ford champion already runs Adrian Lazzaro in the Victorian Formula Ford championship along with his father, John Ellery, but Ellery believes the time has come to expand their home operation.

“Basically, I’ve got plans, and it will happen, but I have too many drivers for next year and I’ve now got to choose who www.mnews.com.au

I run next year.” Ellery told eNews.

“So I’ve got the potential to run two Kent Formula Fords, so we’ll definitely run more than one car next year, and a truck to transport them will be involved.”

Ellery believes that the move will not only benefit the teams in terms of fostering

extra young talent, but also financially when running test days.

“It’s got to the point now where we can take one car up to Winton for test days, but it’s hard work, and it costs a fair amount of money, so I’m going to get a truck, a three car truck, and start spreading my wings a bit more, getting a team up

and moving, so I’m looking forward to it!” eNews also understands that a third car is very likely, with Ellery refusing to rule out running a Duratec.

When asked if he had his drivers picked for next season, Ellery replied, “Yes, yes I do.”

– CALLUM BRANAGAN 19

NEWS

STEIN AWARDED QLD TITLE KARTING DANIEL Stein has been awarded the Leopard Heavy victory following a recent appeal hearing regarding an incident that occurred at the Queensland Open State Championships held at the Warwick Kart Club in early July.

Stein was the class pacesetter all weekend and led the field for the entire journey during the final, however last lap contact from Lucas Price ended Stein’s hopes of victory as he was spun off the circuit leaving Price to cross the line first.

Following the race Price was disqualified and Stein was reinstated as the victor despite crossing the line well down the order. The decision was made with stewards using rule 6.02 2 (also known as the ‘God’, rule which allows stewards to alter

finishing positions) to reinstate the Exprit driver as the winner, however an appeal was put forward by the AKA Queensland.

“I’m stoked, it’s definitely always a relief especially when something has been drawn out like this has. It has gone on for so long so it’s good to have it finalised,” said Stein.

“The kart was quick all weekend and we were the pace there but to be honest I was shocked to be reinstated. I knew of one event with David Sera where the rule had been used but didn’t’ think it would happen again, especially to me, so to be awarded win I was speechless and very happy as we felt we deserved the win.”

“My Exprit kart was perfect from the moment we hit track, it was so easy to set up and was fast from the get go which was awesome.”

The rule is a very controversial one and has seen David Sera a beneficiary on a previous occasion but eNews now believes the rule will be removed from the Australian Karting Association rulebook in the coming week.

“I think there are fors and againsts for the rule,” added

Stein. “All in all some people like it, some don’t, it’s a controversial one and to be honest I thought the rule had been taken out of the book already so it was relieving to get the win but if we hadn’t we know that is motorsport and that it goes that way sometimes.”

ROBSON TAKES CIK SUPPORTS IN NEWCASTLE KARTING

ENERGY MAKES COMEBACK IN CIK KARTING AFTER several years away from the spotlight at the top level of Australian karting, the Energy brand made a return to the CIK Stars of Karting Series at Newcastle on the weekend.

Leading Pro Gearbox KZ2 competitor Scott Auld and Housing Investments Australia team-mate Troy Bretherton took to the grid in a pair of karts that only landed in the country one week ago.

Despite having limited testing, the pair showed glimpses of the potential of the 20

chassis that has been a significant frontrunner throughout Europe over the past couple of years.

“We spent much of the weekend tuning the chassis and finished the weekend very happy,” said Auld.

“A big thanks must go to Doug Mapperson from Precision Motorsport, the Australian importer of Energy Karts, for all of his help over the weekend. I think there is a lot of potential in the chassis and will be aiming to for a top five finish in the final round during September.”

JAIE Robson took out the Yamaha Clubman Challenge final, the support class for the CIK Stars of Karting Series and Newcastle Kart Club’s Mount Sugarloaf Raceway on the weekend.

Aaron Borg had been the pace all weekend in the Clubman ranks, however come final time it was Robson who took the lead late in the race to greet the chequers first ahead of Borg, with Brett Robinson rounding out the podium.

Series leader Lydon Dodge had a weekend that he’d rather forget and as a result he saw his commanding points lead diminish from 50 to eight points.

Stefan Stankovic won the Junior National Yamaha Challenge final over Andrew Kahl and James Duckworth to pass James Abela in the points standings.

Jayden Ojeda proved too good on his way to victory in the Rookies category ahead of Joshua Car and Isaac Vaccarella.

The final round of the 2011 Series is scheduled to be held at Sydney’s Eastern Creek International Karting Raceway on September 17/18. motorsport news

Fathers Day NEW RELEASE AVAILABLE AUGUST

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$ Classic Austrlain Touring Car Races vol 9

Vol .9 revisits the 1981 Australian Endurance Championship races at Adelaide International Raceway and Surfers Paradise International Raceway. This was the time when the legendary Peter Brock faced renewed competition from old rival Allan Moffat in his Mazda RX7, new Ford force Dick Johnson and Kevin Bartlett’s Chev Camaro. Also from the vaults of ABC are television three classic races, once again from Warwick Farm with Sports Sedans action in 1969 followed

by Improved Production touring cars, along with Series Production both from 1970.

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21 Years of Holden Racing Team 2 disc set

Disc One This DVD was orginial released in 2004, and examines the origins of the HRT with Tom Walkinshaw Racing. You will meet the drivers who brought the team so much success, recapture the great moments in the Championship and at Bathurst, along with the people behind the team.

Disc Two This DVD is a very special tribute to the founder of HRT, Tom Walkinshaw, who passed away in December 2010.

On this DVD hosted by Will Hagon, we look at Tom’s first visit to Bathurst in 1984, and then his triumphant return the following year.

Celebrating 40 Years of the GT-HO Phase 3 Armorall Bathurst 12 Hour race highlights

Ford boasts a rich heritage both in Australain motor racing and in the performance road car and muscle car scene. This single DVD contains three classic documentaries that showcase this Australian automotive icon, the Falcon GT. The Racing History of the Australian Falcon GT-HO. 30 years of the Falcon GT The Legend.

Ford Australia 75 Years.

These three landmark documentaries are a must for all Ford fans - three great Ford documentaries for the price of one!

Twelve hours around the punishing 6.2km Mount Panorama – that’s about as tough as it gets in world motor racing. But this year the Armor All Bathurst 12 Hour took things up a notch higher, with the switch to full FIA GT3 Sports Cars. So it was that the 2011 race featured iconic sports car names such as Ferrari, Porsche, Lotus, Corvette – and Audi, with the German manufacturer taking on the race with a two-car factory effort. Another classic Bathurst 12 Hour, this time featuring some of the most expensive, most glamorous and fastest supercars in the world.

HOW TO ORDER: Visit www.chevron.com.au

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111968

CLASSIC AUSTRLIAN TOURING CAR RACES VOL 9

$35.00

111965

21 YEARS OF HOLDEN RACING TEAM (2 DISC SET)

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111966

CELEBRATING 40 YEARS OF THE GT-HO PHASE 3

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ARMOR ALL BATHURST 12 HOUR RACE HIGHLIGHTS

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FIVE MINUTES WITH ...

KEVIN FITZSIMONS Dunlop will remain the sole tyre supplier to V8 Supercars until at least 2017 and the company’s man at the coalface has a lot to do. By PHIL BRANAGAN

The new tyres are 18 by 11 [inches]. Did Dunlop already have a tyre in that size available?

It did but it is not that simple.

You need new moulds. The actual tread plate won’t change from the current [17 inch] tyre. The tread width and the diameter of the tyre stay the same. The sidewall plate will be the same. Once that is signed off, they will make new moulds and that is the tyre that goes into production.

But it is a totally new tyre. That [18 inch] tyre is in the range, in Japan and in the UK, but that tyre is not built the way we need one built for a V8 Supercar. It is a 1250-kilo car, we need the drive tyre to be the steer tyre, there are as many 22

Dirk Klynsmith

MOTORSPORT NEWS: The next little while is going to be a busy time for Dunlop Motorsport.

KEVIN FITZSIMONS: Yes, it was a good thing to win the tender.

We had production space available in June and we had to roll the dice. Basically, we had the space and we had to decide whether it was worthwhile to make the tyres to test. We needed to get the production done. We had a bit of an idea what we wanted, compound-wise, so they ran off a lot of test tyres. They are on the water and they will be here in August.

We will have three compounds of the soft tyre, a harder compound tyre and some wets available. We intend that those tyres will be tested at the end of October, after the Gold Coast races.

These tyres are to get a bit of a handle on what we want to do with the construction. We want to make sure that we are in the ballpark. We will get some feedback and then build the next development tyres from there.

We have a long lead-in on this project.

We do not have to be in production, probably, until October next year, to be ready for the start of 2013. We have time to get this right, with a lot of miles under our belts.

as 18 different track surfaces and a big temperature range. There is a lot of work that has to go into the development.

Safety is paramount; it has to be as safe as you can make it.

Then we will have to know what the type of event formats there are, how we will use the soft tyre. With more soft tyres [events] it seems that they want to them to go off quicker. So, they need to tell us what they want; that might want a tyre that is dynamically fast for 10 laps, then fall off and become really dire and not recover. Everyone has learnt how to drive on the current tyre now, but they [the drivers] do not race it to destruction. They take it easy for the first few laps, they stick to a lap time for a while and they go with the flow. You out a guy at the front of the race on a soft tyre and he dictates the pace.

There are very few situations where someone has done what we did in testing – where they put on soft tyres and drive it like they stole it. The races are not like that; they need to be within striking distance with 10 laps to go, and then have a crack. It is a bit like the Bathurst race is these days, where you wobble around and get to lap 120 – when the race starts.

I guess that you are still supplying the Fujitsu Series, and they are staying with 17s.

They are, until 2015. Then there is a possibility that they will change over to the 18-inch.

So another part of the challenge is that you can’t make the 18 slower than the 17.

It won’t work if a Main Game car is slower than a Fujitsu car.

I guarantee that they won’t be slower!

There will be multiple meetings before we get to that point. If you run up pitlane and speak to 28 drivers, there will be 28 different views. The same with 28 engineers, there will also be 28 different views if you ask 28 fans. There is an array of what they want to see, what they like in a soft tyre and which driver can do what.

That is different to what you want a hard tyre to do; you have to take the distance of the races into account.

And you can’t go to Bathurst or Phillip Island with a soft tyre. Townsville was always going to be a challenge, because of the temperature and the surface there, and the Sprint tyre did a great job there. I think it would probably work everywhere but there is a bit of water to go under the bridge yet. motorsport news

CHAT

Dunlop Motorsport

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One of the Best has left us, too soon I AM sure I speak for many in the motorsport media of the sadness I feel at the passing of Ken Wootton.

Ken, best known as the man who steered the muchrespected Australian Motor Cycle News (known as ‘The Green Horror’) as its editor over many years, passed away in the Czech Republic last week. He had a fondness for Eastern Europe, built over many trips over many years, and was combining his vacation with trips to MotoGP and World Superbike events when he suffered a suspected heart attack in his hotel.

‘Woose’ was also, for a time, the editor of Auto Action. When the parent company of both magazines moved the titles to Sydney, Ken went with them. He missed Melbourne, where much of his family was, and when he left his full-time role with AMCN a couple of years ago, it was no surprise when he came home.

I came to know Ken when the Superbikes were a regular support category on the ATCC program. He was friendly and outgoing, and while I was an enthusiast about motorcycles, it did not take long to figure out that his knowledge of the sport and the business of motorcycling was well up the batting order ahead of mine.

But at the same time, he never made a big deal of that; he was too much of a gentleman.

When I heard he had been appointed the editor of AA, I wondered what might change.

After all, we were now direct professional adversaries, he the editor of one title and me of MN. At the next race, there he was, and nothing had changed; still the grin, still friendly and funny.

He may have been slightly out of his comfort zone so far as car 24

OPINION Phil Branagan – Executive Editor

TWO B racing was concerned, but he just got on with it. He knew a fair number of people in the ‘car’ pitlane and to the others, he introduced himself and just did his job.

Ken was an enigma. He loved his prized Honda RC30, which is virtually a road-going racing bike that Honda built, in very limited numbers, in the mid1980s. But you would never pick that the guy in the floppy hat, driving home in his Volvo station wagon, with a small Fred Gassit sticker on the rear window, was a bloke who raced motorcycles for three decades, had the phone numbers and ears of the titans of the sport or was the most influential man in

his arena in this country.

You would also never pick that he was 57 when he passed away; yes, the hair was grey, but he retained a young man’s enthusiasm for his work and his life, and did not seem quite grown-up, let alone middle-aged.

Elsewhere on the web, you will read the words of those who worked closely with Ken for years, and his comrades, many of whom, I am sure, knew him far better than I. To all those people, Ken’s family and many friends, we offer our sincere condolences from all at MN. People like Ken Wootton are original and rare, and we will miss him.

LAST week, I got to drive a Ford and a Holden V8 Supercar, on the same day at Eastern Creek.

This was the first time that I have driven a V8 Supercar since December 2007. Brad Jones has always said to me, ‘Come up and have a drive’, but I have never really wanted to.

If I did, I would have stayed driving them.

But John McMellan from Wilson Security asked me, and as a company, they have been very good to me. With Westrac, they have been pivotal in me continuing with racing. Young Tony was on his honeymoon, so I said yes. Al D’Alberto said it would be okay, so I did it.

I had never driven a V8 Supercar with a sequential gearbox. From a purely curious point of view, I wanted to do it. motorsport news

COMMENT

Dirk Klynsmith

BRANDS, IN ONE DAY I drove the Holden first. You need to bear in mind that on a ride day, you always have a passenger. That has an effect, though some are bigger than others. You also always have second-hand tyres on it. They need their best tyres for a race meeting.

I had never driven a Walkinshaw car before. I know that they have built a few since they built this one, and they have evolved in that time, but it was what I expected it to be, having watched them for a long time. It is stronger on drive than it is on turn. It doesn’t have enough front grip – nothing like enough front grip for what you want it to do. The cars have developed over a long period of time, and Mark Skaife led the development and I could feel www.mnews.com.au

‘Mark Skaife’ in it. The car moved and braked like you expect, and it was a bit numb in the front. It had a nice engine – gee, they have developed a lot since I stopped racing them!

The sequential gearbox has made it a much easier exercise as well. It is like it’s foolproof – no, make that, it is foolproof. It frees up the 10 or 12 percent of your brainpower that you used to use to change gears. I am not saying that is a positive thing or a negative thing, but it makes the job easier.

The Walkinshaw car had a machined, billet-like gear lever, with absolutely no flex in it. I have watched it on TV and thought that it looked like a pretty good idea. The FPR car has a normal-looking gear lever, a steel rod. That looked to me

OPINION John Bowe ATCC and Bathurst winner like it was not going to be as good, but it actually is.

The basic philosophy of the Commodore did not suit me but it was still quite a nice car. They are more refined than when I drove them.

I got into the Ford, I did one lap, with a passenger, and I had no idea where anything was – the switches, anything! I asked the guy I was with if he had taken any brave pills, and the first lap was ... interesting.

It holds its front grip, its corner entry speed is impressive and

it hangs onto its speed. The car that I drove at DJR, going back probably 15 years, was a bit like that, but that was when Ross and Jimmy Stone were there and we had Dunlop making tyres for the front and tyres for the back!

It gave really good messages; it feels like it has a lower centre of gravity, it was economical in its pitch and roll.

The engine was very nice, no better or worse than the Walkinshaw engine, but it was my sort of car. It put a smile on my face.

25

BOSCH AUSTRALIAN RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND 3 – SCOUTS RALLY SA

DOW

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motorsport news

RACE

WEL MAKES A SPLASH 0[»Z [HRLU H ^OPSL I\[ 1\Z[PU +V^LS OHZ ÄUHSS` IYVRLU through for his maiden round win in the Australian Rally Championship. And, as RICHARD CRAILL reports, he did it in style

Phil Williams

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A

Finally! Justin Dowel, above, took his first win after four years in the ARC. He did so at the expense of a hard-charging Mark Pedder, above right, and former points leader Ryan Smart, right. Eli Evans pulled off third for the weekend thanks to consistency, below.

Michael Vettas

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Michael Vettas

S UNLIKELY as it sounds, a non-competitive media stage held the Thursday before the Scouts Rally South Australia could have been responsible for Justin Dowel and co-driver Matt Lee breaking through for their first Bosch Australian Rally Championship victory last weekend.

The pre-rally event saw the Victorian driver heavily clout a post during a shakedown stage around the Woodhouse Scout complex, denting not only the car but perhaps some of his competitive ambitions as well.

The result of that tempered attitude was a dominating weekend that – for all but four stages on Sunday morning – saw him dominate the event and take his first heat win and overall victory in the ARC. Determined to be ‘smooth and controlled’ on Saturday morning, Dowel set up his Heat 1 victory with a crushing 17-second victory on the first stage of the rally, a 32-kilometre epic called ‘Tweeden’ held on fast, open council roads that snake their way across the ranges that surround the Barossa Valley.

From there it was more an effort of maintaining the lead rather than attacking for the remaining eight stages, the Mitsubishi Lancer driver winning five of the next seven stages to sweep the day by almost 40 seconds.

On Sunday, Mark Pedder threw up an early challenge to Dowel, and for a while things looked racy: the pair traded stage wins early in the second heat and were split by just two seconds going into the lunchtime service and regroup. However, Pedder’s engine let go soon after the break, leaving Dowel and Lee to sweep the day by a similar margin to the first heat and take the weekend overall with a perfect score.

To make things even sweeter, the Victorians jumped to the lead of the Bosch ARC standings to boot. “[The Thursday contact] certainly helped settle things down,” Dowell said.

“We spent the rally trying to drive it as smooth as possible and now we’ve got a car that’s capable of winning a rally. It’s really pleasing.

[Saturday] was a trouble-free run and we were really able to exploit the speed of the car.

“It’s great after four years in the championship to win a round, we’ve come so close a few times so it’s a relief. I’m really happy.”

Pedder proved to be Dowel’s closest contender on raw speed all weekend and was seemingly never without a battle on his hands in every stage. On Saturday he spent most of the eight stages fighting with Ryan Smart’s Corolla, the pair split by less than 10 seconds for most of the day despite Pedder ruing a poor tyre selection early in the day that, he said, cost him a shot at the heat victory after giving away too much ground to Dowel.

But it wasn’t just Pedder – second in the championship prior to the weekend – as a key title contender suffering mixed results all weekend.

Former championship leader Ryan Smart was cruelly robbed of a Heat 1 podium when his Corolla broke a diff in the final stage on Saturday.

Smart and co-driver John Allen rebounded on Sunday to finish third, but never really showed the pace to win outright.

Second overall was Michael Boaden and Helen Cheers in another Mitsubishi, a solid fourth in Heat 1 backed up by a last-gasp second in Sunday’s heat to give them enough points for the round podium.

In fact, it was an inspired win on the final stage of the rally – a second run through Tweeden – that saw Boaden jump the Smart/Allen Corolla for second in the heat at the last minute.

Eli Evans and Glen Weston finished third overall after a series of consistent performances in their works-supported Honda. Stewart Ried and Ian Stewart combined to win the Classic competition in their BDA Escort, while Rowan Wollard (two-wheel-drive) and Sandy Nott (four-wheel-drive) shared the wins in the Junior ARC.

motorsport news

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Michael Vettas

Phil Williams

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FORMULA 1 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND 11 – HUNGARORING, HUNGARY

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motorsport news

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THE RAINING WORLD CHAMPION

Jenson Button proved once again that when the heavens open – even for a breif period – he’s a tough man to beat

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J

ENSON Button has cemented his place as the ‘Raining World Champion’ with a stunning win in Hungary on Sunday night.

With light rain coming and going, it was Button’s kind of race. In fact, it was quite a lot like Button’s win in Hungary back in 2006, except that was his 115th race start and first win, and this was his 200th race start and 11th win (plus he’s racked up a World Championship in that time, too).

Like in Australia last year, and Canada this year, Button played to the changing conditions perfectly in Budapest. The racewinning moment came on Lap

47, when Button was running second, behind his team-mate Lewis Hamilton who had dominated the early stages of the race. A freak shower, which quickly soaked part of the circuit caused Hamilton, and plenty of others, to scramble into the pits for wets. The problem was that the rain disappeared as quickly as it came, so by the time it was Jenson’s turn to come in for wets, he’d decided he didn’t need them. And not having that extra stop gave him track and position and, ultimately, the race win.

“They said ‘in this lap for inters’ then round the second to last corner they said ‘Lewis

is coming in, stay out, stay out’,” said Button.

“I was never really going to come in for inters anyway. I didn’t think it was the right choice personally. We weren’t going slowly enough, to start with. We were struggling on the tyres, it was difficult keeping the car on the circuit but we weren’t that slow, it wasn’t inter pace really.

“For some reason I like these conditions, don’t ask me why, but it worked out again. A great call by the team to put me on the prime tyre when they did and a great call by all of us when we decided not to go to the inter.”

Sebastian Vettel finished second, having run as high

as first and as low as fourth during the race. Having started from pole, it was clear in the wet opening laps that the McLaren’s had the pace, with Hamilton gluing himself to Vettel’s gearbox before storming past. But Vettel kept his head in the tough conditions, and added another 18 points to his whopping tally.

“I did feel I had more speed in the car but I had a couple of problems with the brakes and it was difficult to know, 20 laps to go, how the car would be in the end, so I couldn’t push as hard as I would have liked to,” explained Vettel.

“But still, second today is an motorsport news

RACE

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Flaming Heck: Nick Heidfeld’s race went up in flames, above, while Felipe Massa went into the wall early, right. Seb Vettel lacked pace on the wet tyre, below.

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Results :: Hungary Grand Prix

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important step. Nevertheless, I think the win was within reach but we didn’t get it.”

Meanwhile, Fernando Alonso was third after at one point jumping Vettel due to an early switch to the super softs.

But, while he didn’t make the unnecessary stop for inters, Alonso still couldn’t nail his tyre strategy enough to challenge Button, and had to settle for third.

Hamilton’s afternoon took a turn for the worse right as the rain arrived on Lap 47. Having dominated the race to that point, Hamilton was first to hit the rain storm, and immediately spun. The spin not only put him in a battle with Button, but he www.mnews.com.au

was later penalised for a silly flick spin right in the path of Paul di Resta, taking a drivethrough penalty on the chin.

Still, he was able to out-pace Mark Webber, who qualified a disappointing sixth and could only improve one place during the race. Webber was one of the drivers who made the unnecessary late-race stop for inters, costing him a podium place.

At the other end of the grid, Daniel Ricciardo had a great day out in the HRT. He didn’t put a wheel wrong all afternoon, and comfortably beat his team-mate Tonio Liuzzi and Virgin Racing’s Jerome d’Ambrosio.

Pos

Driver

Team

Qual

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 DNF DNF DNF DNF

Jenson Button Sebastian Vettel Fernando Alonso Lewis Hamilton Mark Webber Felipe Massa Paul di Resta Sebastien Buemi Nico Rosberg Jaime Alguersuari Kamui Kobayashi Vitaly Petrov Rubens Barrichello Adrian Sutil Sergio Perez Pastor Maldonado Timo Glock Daniel Ricciardo Jerome d’Ambrosio Tonio Liuzzi Heikki Kovalainen Michael Schumacher Nick Heidfeld Jarno Trulli

McLaren-Mercedes Red Bull Ferrari McLaren-Mercedes Red Bull-Renault Ferrari Force India-Mercedes Toro Rosso-Ferrari Mercedes Toro Rosso-Ferrari Sauber-Ferrari Renault Williams-Cosworth Force India-Mercedes Sauber-Ferrari Williams-Cosworth Virgin-Cosworth HRT-Cosworth Virgin-Cosworth HRT-Cosworth Lotus-Renault Mercedes Renault Lotus-Renault

3 1 5 2 6 4 11 18 7 16 13 12 15 8 10 17 21 23 24 22 19 9 14 20

Top 10 Points: Vettel 234, Webber 149, Hamilton 146, Alonso 145, Button 134, Massa 70, Rosberg 48, Heidfeld 34, Schumacher 32, Petrov 32.

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NASCAR ROUND 20 - INDIANAPOLIS, IN

Menard’s Indy win It’s the headline John Menard has been dreaming of for decades – but the breakthrough Indy victory came not from one of his cars in the Indy 500, but via his son in the Brickyard 400 Sprint Cup race

NASCAR Media

I

F Paul Menard was ever going to win a Sprint Cup race – and no doubt there are many who would have expected it never to happen – then the place for Menard to get it done had to be Indianapolis.

“I can’t believe we won Indy,” said Menard, after his victory in the Brickyard 400. “This one is for my dad.”

Menard Snr has been a long-time car owner and sponsor at the Indianapolis 500. But in all the years of trying, Menard has yet to score a victory on the Brickyard.

If Paul Menard couldn’t believe he had won the Brickyard 400, he was not alone.

Early on, Menard did not figure at the front of the field as the likes of Jeff Gordon, Jimmie 34

Johnson, Denny Hamlin, Kasey Kahne and others battled it out.

The turning point came when polesitter David Ragan and Landon Cassill got together for the fifth caution period of the race. Menard was one of a handful to refuel, leaving him with an economy drive to get through to the end.

It was a gamble made by Menard’s crew chief, Richard ‘Slugger’ Labbe. They’d run 22 laps on a tank in practice; there were 35 laps to go. He sent Menard out with firm instructions to save fuel wherever possible.

“Seems to be a trend in the Cup Series, that people take gambles on pit road,” Labbe said. “It was our turn to get aggressive. I told Paul he had to support me. He supported me motorsport news

RACE Kiss the Bricks: His father hasn’t been able to manage it as an entrant in the Indy 500, but as a driver Paul Menard got the job done in the Brickyard 400, below, inset.

NASCAR Media

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35

a hundred percent. Three times he had an occasion where he could have said ‘No, I don’t want to do that,’ but he did. Fortunately it worked out.”

Sure enough, as those ahead of him began to peel off one-by-one, the yellow Chevrolet – running close to two seconds a lap off the pace as Menard short shifted in his economy drive – came through to the lead.

Then it was a question of whether those with fuel had enough pace to run Menard down. With a charging Jeff Gordon bearing down on the leader, Labbe gave his driver permission to go for it on the final lap – and there was just enough fuel in the tank to see Menard home.

“Congrats to Paul,” Gordon said. “I knew short of him running out of fuel we weren’t going to catch him in time.

“There’s nobody in this business who knows how much it means to win here like Paul does. He grew up here, watching his dad try to win at this track.”

In third place, Regan Smith was also pleased that if he couldn’t have won, that it was Menard who did.

Fourth was last year’s Brickyard 400 winner Jamie McMurray, also on an economy drive at the end, ahead of the first Ford, and the first nonChevy, of Matt Kenseth.

“Us and [Gordon] probably had the two best cars overall for the day,” Kenseth said. “It’s a shame one of us couldn’t get a win.”

Marcos Ambrose did not have the best car, however, the Stanley Tools Ford suffering a broken fourth gear. They changed the gearbox and Ambrose finished 34th, three laps down.

“It’s a shame we had the gearbox problem, we had overcome some earlier problems to put ourselves back into contention,” Ambrose said.

“The race was decided on fuel consumption, and I think we would have had something for them at the finish.”

Transfusion Fusion: Greg Biffle’s Ford Polesitter David Regan and Kasey Ka good day for Toyota runners like Joey Chevy driver Tony Stewart was seven

NASCAR Media TOYOTA Media

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motorsport news

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Results :: Brickyard 400, INDIANAPOLIS IN

NASCAR Media

ran in special Red Cross livery, above. ahne lead them away, centre. Not a y Logano and David Reutimann, but nth, bottom.

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Pos. No. 1 27 2 24 3 78 4 1 5 17 6 14 7 16

Driver Paul Menard Jeff Gordon Regan Smith Jamie McMurray Matt Kenseth Tony Stewart Greg Biffle

Make Chevy Chevy Chevy Chevy Ford Chevy Ford

Team Childress Hendrick Earnhardt-Childress Earnhardt Ganassi Roush Fenway Stewart Haas Roush Fenway

8 9 10

Mark Martin Brad Keselowski Kyle Busch

Chevrolet Dodge Toyota

Hendrick Penske Joe Gibbs

5 2 18

Sponsor NIBCO/Menards Drive to End Hunger Furniture Row Companies Bass Pro Shops/Tracker Crown Royal Mobil 1/Office Depot American Red Cross/ Type O “Give Blood” Quaker State/GoDaddy.com Miller Lite M&M’s

Qual.

15 8 27 16 9 24 18 12 5 29

Top 10 Points: Edwards 682, Johnson 671, Harvick 670, Ky Busch 666, Kenseth 666,

Ku Busch 664, Gordon 630, Newman 618, Stewart 609, Earnhardt Jnr 606, Ambrose 505 (22nd).

37

WORLD SUPERBIKE CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND 9, SILVERSTONE, ENGLAND

In England, it’s 301 for 7 Carlos Checa took a double at Silverstone to stretch his points lead before the summer break

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Gee Bee Images

MAX Biaggi and Marco Melandri Leon Camier was the other man showed in recent races that to feature on an Italian bike, taking Carlos Checa is not going to his works Aprilia to 15th and fifth have things his own way in the – but the Brit was in the fight for Superbike World Championship – the Race 1 podium positions until and at Silverstone, Checa showed his bike slowed with a mechanical them that he just might. problem.

The Ducati man was The other man much talked untouchable around the GP circuit. about over the weekend was A pair of wins, clear of Eugene John Hopkins. The Californian Laverty and Marco Melandri, has came out to play as a wildcard extended the veteran’s lead to 62 entry with his regular British points, on a weekend when the Superbike Championship team, four-cylinder bikes had no answer Cresecent Suzuki, topped practice for the flying Althea V-twin. and qualifying and then took “It was a wonderful day,” said Superpole. He was right in the Checa, after giving Ducati its 300th battle in Race 1 before he faded and 301st WSBK wins. to fifth, and was seventh in Race 2.

“I didn't believe that it would He looked completely at home in be possible to win here, but we the WSBK, by far the fastest Suzuki managed to do it twice over!” rider – and he has a MotoGP Indeed, it was Biaggi that had wildcard ride coming up later this to do the fighting. The defending month.

World Champ was 11th in the first race after suffering, of all things, a Points: Checa 343, Biaggi 281, bent brake lever. He fought back Melandri 272, Laverty 208, to fourth in Race 2, dicing with Haslam 158, Camier 146, Fabrizio Melandri, but the damage had 141, Badovini 118, Guintoli 109, been done, falling back to more Haga 99. than a round’s points behind Checa.

CHAZ Davies took his fourth World Supersport win of 2011, after a crashfest in Britain.

The Yamaha rider broke away when Gino Rea and Florian Marino clashed. David Salom and Fabien Foret was second and third. Broc Parkes was fifth on his Kawasaki.

Suzuki Racing

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I bet Hopper has a great phone: John Hopkins shook up the World Superbike regulars on his BSB Samsung Crescent Suzuki, left. But Carlos Checa ruled Silverstone on his Althea Ducati, main pic.

39

CIK STARS OF KARTING ROUND 4 – NEWCASTLE, NSW

GREENBURY MAKES TITLE

T

YLER Greenbury continued his recent winning form, breaking through for his maiden Castrol Edge CIK Stars of Karting Series victory in the Pro Gearbox KZ2 category at Newcastle Kart Club’s Mount Sugarloaf Raceway on the weekend.

Throughout the weekend the Intrepid pilot battled with the likes of Top Kart driver Macauley Jones, Monster Energy-backed Arrow driver Dave Sera, Vodafone Tony Kart racer Chris Hays and defending series Champion Matthew Wall in his BRM. Final 1 saw Greenbury lead home Jones and pole sitter Hays, while Wall showed impressive speed to come through from 10th to cross the line fourth.

Greenbury then dominated the second 25-lap final to claim the round win, and with it the New South Wales State Title.

“The Bolt Pro Intrepid was really working well this weekend, it’s a great feeling to have finally broken through to win a round in such a competitive field,” said Greenbury.

“This championship is super tight, every place really matters now and hopefully we can keep this speed going as we head to the final round.”

Wall’s strong pace continued to claim second ahead of Jones and Sera while Tracksa driver

40

John Grother was impressive on fresh tyres charging through the field from P25 to cross the line seventh.

Kel Treseder finished eighth in final two but it was enough to move him into the lead of the championship standings with a mere 10 points separating the top seven drivers heading into the final round at Eastern Creek

on September 17-18.

Jake Klarich proved he is a force to be reckoned with by claiming his second round win of the year in the Pro Junior KF3 category upstaging his more fancied rivals.

After greeting the chequers in second behind Brock Plumb in Final 1, the West Aussie took the spoils in Final 2 over Plumb

and Mawson, however after a post race hearing Mawson was elevated to second over Plumb.

“I had a drama in qualifying with a deflating tyre, which meant that I only qualified 18th and had a lot of work ahead of me, so to get this win is amazing,” said Klarich.

“What makes this win even more special is the fact that I

motorsport news

RACE

CHARGE

CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS AFTER ROUND 4 of 5 Pro Gearbox (KZ2) 1. Kel Treseder – 229 2. Tyler Greenbury – 225 = 3. Jason Pringle – 222 =3. Macauley Jones – 222 5. Matthew Wall – 220

Jake Squared: Jakes Spencer, top right, and Klarich, right, were unstoppable, as was Tyler Greenbury, above. beat two of the best guys in the country (Pierce Lehane and Joseph Mawson) on what could be considered as one of their home tracks.”

Tracksa driver Cian Fothergill was the dominant driver in the Pro Light KF1 category throughout the weekend comfortably winning all three heats and Final 1. However

when his engine fuelled up off the start line in Final 2 he dropped back to last leaving him with a big task.

It was a task he nearly pulled off too, crossing the line third behind series leader Jake Spencer and winner Damien Radosevic. Unfortunately for Radosevic his timing transponder came adrift from

his Top Kart during the race and he was later excluded, elevating Spencer and Fothergill while Luke Rochford scored third.

“This was a very lucky one, there is no doubt about that,” said Spencer.

“While I feel disappointed for Damien, it is good to get the win and maintain the lead in the championship.”

Pro Light (KF1) 1. Jake Spencer – 266 points 2. Cian Fothergill – 260 3. Grant Smith – 219 4. Matthew Waters – 213 5. Adam Hughes – 203 Pro Junior (KF3) 1. Pierce Lehane – 297 points 2. Joseph Mawson – 270 3. Jake Klarich – 269 4. Brock Plumb – 245 5. Jake Coleman – 241

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SYDNEY (02) 9556 6012 MELBOURNE (03) 9394 3150

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ENGSTLER TAKES MAIDEN WIN ...

MERHI SHOWS NO MERCY IN BF3 AT SPA BRITISH F3

WTCC

MAKING is two wins from three starts at Spa Francorchamps was Roberto Merhi who looked more like he was giving his British Formula 3 rivals a lesson in driving.

Perhaps more impressive than winning the races themselves was the way he dominated them, leading his brethren from pole to make it two convincing lights to flag victories.

Kevin Magnussen was the only other man to take the spoils in Race 2 at the weekend, adopting Merhi’s style of winning by leaving his rivals no chance of closing a mighty gap.

Australian Scott Pye conversely struggled at the famed Belgian circuit, with a top finish of 15th in the second race.

Franz Engstler took a maiden WTCC win in the reverse grid race at Oschersleben as Yvan Muller won the opening race to close on Rob Huff in the title race.

Muller’s Chevrolet scooped the honours in the opening race while an encouraging fourth was the ever-improving Volvo

of Robert Dahlgren, despite a Lap 1 clash with Alain Menu that dropped the Swede down to eighth.

Race 2, with its reverse top 10 of qualifying, was headed by Engstler for a career first win in the WTCC. Muller is now just six points behind Huff in the championship.

–DAVID ADDISON

BOTTAS HUNGRY AT HUNGARORING Sutton images.com

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GP3 Valtteri Bottas and Rio Haryanto found the racing easy in the GP3 Series at the Hungaroring on the weekend, taking wins in Races 1 and 2 respectively.

Meanwhile, New Zealand talent Mitch Evans retired from both races as his recent slump in results continues.

Running out of the ART outfit, Bottas started the opening race from pole position, where despite enduring pressure from Michael Christensen behind, continued to dominate his

brethren from start to finish.

Rain then struck the GP3 runners for the second race of the weekend, and it was Haryanto who again showed his brilliance in the slippery conditions. Starting from ninth, Haryanto made his way up to second, setting up a brilliant challenge for Nigel Melker’s lead with three laps remaining.

Following a Safety Car restart, Haryanto snuck up the inside around Turn 2, running Melker off the racing line.

Race 1 winner Bottas finished in second place, ahead of James Caldo who started in 25th place.

to advertise in Raceshop call us now Oriana Ruffini 0422 624 349 or Luke Finn 0423 665 384 motorsport news

RACE

GP2 WITHOUT a Formula 1 drive, Romain Grosjean continues to decimate his rivals in the GP2 Series after winning the opening race at the Hungaroring on the weekend.

The rain interrupted Race 2 thriller meanwhile was taken out by Stefano Coletti, who started from 21st on the grid.

Grosjean was up to his usual tricks in

the opening race of the GP2s, capitalising on his less experienced rivals mistakes to take his fifth win of the 2011 season.

Marcus Ericsson was leading for the majority the race, but following an investigation into an unsafe release in the path of Luiz Razia, he was handed a late race penalty, allowing Grosjean through for the win.

Meanwhile, brilliant tyre strategy saw Coletti start his race on slick tyres,

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GROSJEAN, YOU’VE DONE IT AGAIN! allowing him through on his rivals while they were forced to remove their wets in the pits. Already in 12th place, Coletti then charged his way up to sixth place following a Safety Car intervention, but rain would again play its crewel card. Coletti’s main rivals ahead of him began to fall off the circuit, elevating the Trident driver to the lead, with only the chequered flag in his way of the silverware.

AUDI WINS 24 HOURS OF SPA. SPA 24 HOURS Audi claimed honours in a 24 hour race.

Wow. Shock ...

In fairness, this was a historic moment as it was the first time in the 63rd running of the Spa 24 Hours that Audi claimed victory, the R8 LMS of Timo Scheider/Matthias Ekstrom/Greg Franchi claiming victory in a 62-car grid.

Audi threw huge resource at the project, and it paid off, with the car never missing a beat in contrast to the other three Audis that ran in the Pro-Cup. The sister Belgian Audi Club car of Stephane Ortelli/Filipe Albuquerque/Bert Longin was fourth after losing half an hour on Saturday night with suspension

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damage when Ortelli tagged Thomas Jager’s Mercedes; Andrea Piccini/Mike Rockenfeller/Marcel Fassler lost time with a gearbox problem and Christopher Haase crashed his race-leading car that was shared with Marc Basseng and Frank Stippler.

Behind the winning Audi came two excellent privateer efforts. Second was the BMW Z4 of Claudia Hurtgen/Edwards Sandstrom/Dirk Werner while Kenneth Heyer (son of triple Spa 24 winner Hans) was third with Jager and Belgian journalist Stephane Lemeret.

Belgian hero Marco Goosens led early on until he was savaged by teammate Ludovic Sougnez in a ludicrous move, effectively wiping out both of the

Prospeed Porsches. Another early leader Peter Kox watched his Lamborghini go up in smoke with Blancpain boss Marc Hayek at the wheel.

The Pro-Am Cup was headed by the Ferrari 458 Italia of Michael Bartels/Andrea Bertolini/Niek Hommerson/Louis Machiels but a pit regulation infringement on Sunday morning handed Machiels a drivethru penalty. Unfortunately, with a dead radio, it took many laps and even more arm-waving for the Belgian to get the message, by which time he’d passed the board seven times and was disqualified.

That allowed Guillaume Moreau/Ludovic Badey/Franck Morel/Jean-Luc Beaubelique to win the class.

–DAVID ADDISON

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motorsport news

ODD SPOT!

rear of grid

IT took a while but MINI returned to the hills and jumps of Finland on the weekend.

One of rallying’s most famous marques was reunited with one of the sport’s greatest events on the weekend, when the

two-car MINI WRC squad returned to the site of Rally Finland. It had been 44 years since Timo Makinen gave the marque a hat trick of wins in various Mini Cooper Ss. Neither car made the finish this year, Kris Meeke/Paul Nagle stopping after 19 of the

BMW Motorsport

Nothing MINI about this Yump 22 stages, and Dani Sordo/Carlos del Barrio out on the very last stage. Both DNFs were precautionary after sand and dirt was sucked into the cars’ cooling system.

This is Sordo, getting some X-Games standard air, before he stopped ...

ON THIS DAY 1 AUGUST 1976

IT is 35 years ago that Niki Lauda suffered one of the sport’s most infamous crashes. The Austrian started second on the grid at the German GP, but crashed heavily when the suspension of his Ferrari broke on lap 2. His car hit a fence and bounced across the track, where it was hit by Brett Lunger’s car. His helmet torn off, Lauda was trapped in the burning car for 40 seconds before drivers stopped to assist him. He suffered lung and facial injuries and was given the last rights, but returned to the cockpit 42 days later, finishing fourth at Monza. He won the world title the following year and the Nordschliefe circuit never hosted the German GP again.

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