Motorsport eNews Issue 221 - September 6-12, 2011

THE WORLD OF MOTORSPORT DIRECTLY TO YOUR DESKTOP

Issue No. 221 September 6 - 12 2011

R E T F A S E D N LOW ORE YEARS M E E R TH ...

K L A T T N E M E FORGET RETNIRDES WANTS A THREECRAIG LOWNSION AFTER 2012!

YEAR EXTE

CODY CROCKER’S BACK IN THE ARC!

AND YOU WON’T BELIEVE WHAT HE WILL BE DRIVING. FULL ANALYSIS ON AUSTRALIAN RALLYING’S NEW LOOK INSIDE

www.mnews.com.au

1

A SPECIAL SOUVENIR EDITION OF MOTORSPORT NEWS

MARCOS AMBROSE ON HIS BREAKTHROUGH WIN JUST HOURS AFTER WINNING AT WAKINS GLEN, AMBROSE SPOKE TO MN ABOUT MAKING THE LONG TREK TO VICTORY LANE

ber 2011

5 NZ $8.50

m.au

inc GST

mnews.co

No. 411 Sep tem

Australia $7.9

PLUS: DAVID REYNOLDS’ GUIDE TO MOTOR RACING FITNESS, GARTH TANDER GOES TRUCKING MAD IN THE HRT TRANSPORTER, AN EXCLUSIVE CHAT WITH MCLAREN’S MARTIN WHITMARSH, LOEB V OGIER: INSIDE THE CIVIL WAR AT CITROEN, IRISH V8 SUPERCAR DRIVER ROBERT CREGAN, INSIDE THE CAMS RISING STARS, THE CIK STARS OF KARTING, AND MUCH, MUCH MORE

ON SALE NOW! motorsport news

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

andrew@mnews.com.au editor@mnews.com.au mitchell@mnews.com.au

Editorial Enquiries

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

Michael Vettas

357 Nepean Highway, Brighton East, VIC, 3187 (PO Box 7072, Brighton, VIC, 3186) P 03 9596 5555 F 03 9596 5030 admin@mnews.com.au

Ken Block is a man of many talents. At Calder last Friday, while practicing for his show, he invented a new sport – Gymkhanage Fiesta 10-bin bowling ...

James Smith

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

Advertising National Sales Manager (Melbourne): Oriana Ruffini: oriana@mnews.com.au P 03 9596 5555 F 03 9596 5030 Sydney Office Director, Advertising Sales: Jon Van Daal jvandaal@chevron.com.au Advertising Sales Manager: Luke Finn lfinn@chevron.com.au P: 02 9901 6100 Circulation Director: Carole Jones

Subscriptions: www.mnews.com.au CHEVRON GROUP

Level 6, Building A, 207 Pacific Highway, St Leonards NSW 2065 Locked Bag 5555, St Leonards, NSW 1590

Issue No. 221 | 6-12 Sept 2011

news 4

Triple Years Ahead Lowndes wants more wins 7 Changes at V8 Supercars New CEO, Whitaker goes global 8 Revised Rally Champs New events, cars for 2012 ARC 12 Renault: Nick Off Heidfeld parts company 14 Brazilian for ‘thanks mate!’

Kanaan’s huge Indycar crash

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.

Privacy Policy We value the integrity of your personal information. If you provide personal information through your participation in any competitions, surveys or offers featured in this issue of Motorsport eNews, this will be used to provide the products or services that you have requested and to improve the content of our magazines. Your details may be provided to third parties who assist us in this purpose. In the event of organisations providing prizes or offers to our readers, we may pass your details on to them. From time to time, we may use the information you provide us to inform you of other products, services and events our company has to offer. We may also give your information to other organisations which may use it to inform you about their products, services and events, unless you tell us not to do so. You are welcome to access the information that we hold about you by getting in touch with our privacy officer, who can be contacted at nextmedia, Locked Bag 5555, St Leonards, NSW 1590.

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

Scott Pedder

comment 24 van Leeuwen: New ARC toys 24 Craill: Men with Muscles

race 26 Australian Rally 32 Muscle Car Masters 36 Touring Car Masters 42 Ken Block Gymkhana 46 Indycars

trade 58 Classifieds 3

LOWNDES: I WANT ANOTHER THREEYEAR DEAL V8 SUPERCARS IF CRAIG Lowndes has his way, he’ll be fulltime driver with Triple Eight until at least the end of 2015.

Lowndes’ current deal with T8 expires at the end of 2012, but the five-time Bathurst winner is keen to extend his stay at Banyo beyond that, having joined the team in 2005. Discussions on the topic between Lowndes, his management and Triple Eight boss Roland Dane are already underway.

“We’re talking, and I say we, (manager) David Segal and I are in negotiations with Roland, and obviously that whole process has started,” Lowndes told eNews.

“We’re still working out the goalposts and doing a few things. But the team is obviously the best team in the championship to be with, locationwise its perfect, so it’s one of those things that we’ll obviously go through the process. We’re trying to work out where Roland’s goalposts are and where our goalposts are, and make sure we can come to some sort of an agreement.”

Lowndes turned 37 in June and despite giving away 15 years to the series’ youngest driver, Shane van Gisbergen, is in a rich vein of form,

with a clean sweep at Queensland Raceway a fortnight ago moving him to within 97 points of TeamVodafone stable-mate and championship leader Jamie Whincup. While acknowledging the challenge ahead, Lowndes is keen to continue as a full-timer into his 40s.

“I’d love another three-year deal, but whether that’s achievable, who knows? That’s something that we’ve got to work with Roland on and see what happens,” he said.

“Every year that goes by, it’s getting harder and harder, I’m getting older and younger drivers are getting involved.

“I’m 37 now, I’d love to be driving until I’m in my early 40s, but at that point you have to be realistic and work out whether you still have that same desire to be in the car and pushing hard like a 25-year-old.

“Mark [Skaife] has probably been able to achieve the perfect scenario in terms of being able to step out of the [Main Game], but still be involved in the day-to-day stuff, still be involved with and through race teams and be involved for at least another couple of years on the longdistance side of it, which would be perfect.

“But there’s a few more years yet to get to that.”

– MITCHELL ADAM

FROSTY SAMPLES NEW RIDE V8 SUPERCARS MARK Winterbottom has had his first taste of the Ford Performance Racing FG Falcon that he hopes will win him the 2011 Bathurst 1000.

Winterbottom had his first test in the last non-Car of the Future FG that will be built by FPR at Winton today, giving the brand new car a workout ahead of its race debut the L&H 500 at Phillip Island.

“It’s always nice to have a new car,” Winterbottom told eNews.

“The guys have done a really good job. Its good when you can debut a car at a test day, you don’t evebn need to shake it down. It was on 4

the money straight away, and you can push hard from Lap 1. That comes from having confidence in the guys who have built it.

“You’ve got to be reliable [for the enduros], but that’s been a big strength of ours this year. We need that going into these races.

“We had a pretty average tyre bank, so it’s hard to set times, but when we tried things we got good gains. We finished the day well, we finished stronger than we started, and that is actually a really good sign. When you go home happy it means it was a productive day, rather than leaving scratching your head.”

Winterbottom shared the testing duties with his enduro co-driver motorsport news

NEWS

MAX POWER! INDYCAR WILL Power has vowed that the remainder of the 2011 IndyCar season will be full throttle – and nothing less.

The Queenslander took his sixth win of the season in the inaugural street race at Baltimore on Sunday and, with points leader Dario Franchitti finishing fourth, is now within five points of taking the series lead. Three races remain in the series, starting with the race in Japan in two weeks’ time.

“To me in the championship, second means nothing, second, third, fourth, fifth, who cares, I want to win, you know?” Power said after his Baltimore victory. “It’s a disappointment to lose out by five points. The whole team felt like that, we had such a lead to lose [last year]. We’re determined this year.

“Anything can happen, but all we can do is control what we can control, be mistake-free, be quick in every session that we need to be quick in, like qualifying and execute on race day. That’s what we’ve done for the last two races.”

Power is also counting on getting a good result on what will be a new track at Motegi. For the first time, the teams will race on the road course at the Twin Ring circuit, after cracks in the oval track, cause by recent earthquakes, were detected. Power points out that he has an excellent record on new tracks.

“When I think back to all the new tracks that the series has gone to, I generally win, so it was a good thing for me,” said Power in Baltimore. “First time I went to Vegas, in Champ Car, I won. First time to Brazil, I won. First time here, I won. So it’s usually good for me to learn a track because we get on top of it quicker than most.”

Dirk Klynsmith

Steven Richards, with both drivers happy with the new Falcon.

“Richo actually got the first taste of it, because he ran it in for me,” Winterbottom added.

“I think it’s good to have someone in the car that you trust, and has a lot of experience, to back up your feedback. He knows how I drive, and I know how he drives, and we had very similar feedback all day.

“It’s always nice when you have to drivers saying the same things, because drivers can differ. At the enduros that is very important, and for the team its good we’re all pushing in the same direction.”

– ANDREW VAN LEEUWEN www.mnews.com.au

5

NEWS ANALYSIS - P

V8 SUPERCARS THE Tasmanian Government remains keen to keep V8 Supercars at Symmons Plains, as work to seal a new deal for 2012 and beyond continues.

Doubt has been cast over the future of the event in recent months, but in an exclusive interview, Tasmanian Minister for Tourism Scott Bacon told eNews “the Premier and the Tasmanian Government are 100 percent committed to see the V8 Supercar Round remain in Tasmania past the 2011 event.”

After a four-year hiatus, V8 Supercars returned to the Launceston circuit in 2004, and the circuit’s current deal expires with this year’s Falken Tasmanian Challenge on November 11-13. Mr. Bacon hopes a new deal will be put in place in the next couple of weeks.

John Morris / Mpix

SORTING SYMMONS

“There are two agreements that must be signedoff and satisfied, one with V8 Supercars Australia and one with Motorsports Tasmania, and only after both of these agreements are satisfied and ‘locked in’ can we make a public announcement regarding the future of the event,” he said.

Other key stakeholders are also confident.

“We are working very hard behind the scenes to achieve a continuation of the event in Tassie and I believe the minister, on behalf of the Government, V8 Supercars and ourselves, will be making public announcements in the near future,” Motorsports Tasmania Manager Dick Caplice told eNews.

“That there were no stumbling blocks or anything standing in the way of the new agreement,” V8 Supercars Australia’s Chief Operating Officer Shane Howard told Tasmania’s The Mercury recently.

– DAVID CLIFFORD

CHANGE is nothing new in motor racing – and the CEO’s office at V8 Supercars has seen a few in recent times.

With the recent, and major, changes in the ownership of the category, perhaps it is not a huge shock that another change is coming. The majority stakeholder in the category is now an entity with its roots not in the sport itself, as was previously the case, but in the financial world. In that sense, V8 Supercars is now not unlike Formula 1, or MotoGP or World Superbikes.

When ownership changes, it is not uncommon that changes happen shortly thereafter at senior management level. It has been made very clear that Tony Cochrane’s role as Chairman is one that remains pivotal to the new majority stakeholders, and the obvious position for the spotlight to

CHANGE @ SBR WILDCARDLESS V8 SUPERCARS PAUL Forgie has left Stone Brothers Racing.

Forgie has been working as Shane van Gisbergen’s engineer but, despite the Kiwi having a stand-out year – including two race wins – a breakdown in the relationship between the two has resulted in Forgie leaving the team.

“While it is a great shame to lose someone of Paul’s experience and talent, we have to look at the bigger picture in our chase for another championship,” Ross Stone said.

“Drivers and engineers need to have a certain chemistry, and unfortunately in Paul and Shane’s garage, the collaboration probably wasn’t as good as it should be. We appreciate all the hard work and success Paul has brought the team over the last two years, and wish him all the best – no doubt we’ll be seeing him again in pit-lane soon.”

“Since returning to SBR in 2009 and working with Shane we have set goals each year which we have not always met,” added Forgie.

“Although the #9 Falcon is the only Ford to win this year, our poor qualifying has really let us down … so when you’re performing below expectations some frustration’s creep in to the relationship.

“V8 Supercars is a very competitive commercial business, and like any professional sport if things aren’t working as well as they should be, changes need to be made – you see football coaches, players and drivers all get changed when performance expectations are not met.

“I have enjoyed my time and successes over the last 10 years working for SBR and wish Shane and the team all the best for the future.”

Team Manager David Stuart will replace Forgie in the interim.

6

V8 SUPERCARS THERE won’t be any Fujitsu Series outfits running as a wildcard at Phillip Island or Bathurst.

Miles Racing had been the only successful applicant, with drivers Chaz Mostert and Ash Walsh set to make their Main Game debuts at the L&H Phillip Island 500. However, the Queensland squad has withdrawn from the two meetings, and will instead focus on their Fujitsu Series campaign.

It means Phillip Island will have the usual, 28-car field, while there’ll be one more at Bathurst – a fifth Kelly Racing Commodore for Grant Denyer and the winner of the Shannons Supercar Showdown competition.

“It’s with great regret that we had to withdraw our Wild Card entry in this year’s L&H 500 and Bathurst 1000,” team owner Wayne Miles said.

“To be considered good enough to run in the ‘main game’ on our sport’s biggest stage is a real credit to our young team and drivers, but unfortunately some unforeseen circumstances beyond our control will prevent us from ‘living the dream’ this year.”

“The positive we can take from this is that Chaz and Ash will now be able to continue their great run in the Fujitsu Series races with the help of some added resources we had lined up for the endurance races.

“This should see them improve on the pace they displayed at the Queensland Raceway round a few weeks ago.” motorsport news

NEWS

PHIL BRANAGAN

MARTIN’S NEW ROLE V8 SUPERCARS V8 SUPERCARS is hunting for a new Chief Executive Office, again, after a restructure that has removed Martin Whitaker from the role.

Whitaker, who took the role on in April 2010, was moved to the newly-created position of International Director, with immediate effect, last week. His new role will be to, in the words of V8 Supercars Chairman Tony Cochrane, “focus entirely on opening new doors for V8SA’s world-class TV and motorsport offering.”

V8 Supercars has not had great stability in the CEO’s office, since the retirement of Wayne Cattach in October 2008.

Former Vodafone executive Cameron Levick, who joined V8SA when Cattach left, himself

departed the position in April 2009 due to health and family issues, and during the period before Whitaker’s appointment too effect, the CEO duties were fulfilled by Cochrane, who took on the role of Executive Chairman, and Howard. Levick is now with CUB, overseeing the national brewer’s Queensland sales.

At the same time as announcing Whitaker’s new role, V8 Supercars announced the appointment of Peter Trimble to the newly-created role of General Manager – Systems and Finance. Trimble brings recent experience with ABC Learning and CSR to the organization, and will start his new role next month.

Shane Howard will act as CEO while another world-wide search for a new CEO is conducted.

Dirk Klynsmith

turn to was that of CEO. For many years, Wayne Cattach filled that role admirably; he was well-known in the sport before he took the position, and when he left it, he did so with the respect and affection of just about everyone in the paddock. It seems unfair to apply that standard to either Cameron Levick or Whitaker and judge that they came up short; neither gentleman was wellknown in the sport in Australia when they took the job and both had tenures in the role unexpectedly shorter than they might have anticipated, in which to make mark of their own.

So, the next man faces the same challenge; to live up to the legacy of Cattach. The right man is bound to be out there, somewhere. Let’s hope that the search is decisive, and swift.

REVOLUTION RACEGEAR HAS JUST LANDED A FANTASTIC RANGE OF THE HIGHEST QUALITY RACE TAPES USED

BY TEAMS ALL OVER THE WORLD NEW PRODUCT’ X-FLEX RACERS TAPE – large sheets of crash repair tape designed for that quick racing repair to get your car back on the track after an accident. Reinforced with a layer of aluminium, making it very durable and strong. X-Flex has a highly aggressive adhesive that will adhere to any surface. Available 30” x 11..75” sheets – Black, White, Blue, Yellow and Red EXTREME DUTY RACERS TAPE – Premium Industrial Grade, co-extruded cloth duct tape Available 2” x 90’ Rolls in 4 colours

ST STANDARD DUTY RACE TAPES – Available A v 2” x 90’ Rolls in a large choice of colours ch

NEON DULL FINISH GAFFER TAPE – Available 2” x 90’ Rolls in Yellow, Green re een & Orange Orang ge

ORIGINAL NON SKID TAPE – a course sandpaper type non skid is the easy way to prevent slipping and falling – Available in 2” x 10’ Rolls - Black Only

‘NEW PRODUCT’ RUBBER NON SKID TAPE – this rubberised traction tape is not as aggressive as our original non-skid tape. Has a smoother, soft rubber surface. Will not scratch or ruin race boots. Many applications. Available in 4” x 7.5’ rolls – Black only

FREECALL 1800 804 778

www.revolutionracegear.com.au www.revolutionracegear.com.au

www.mnews.com.au

7

NEW LOOK FOR ‘12 ARC AUS RALLYING

Joel Strickland

A BRAND new event will kick off an expanded Bosch Australian Rally Championship in 2012.

Melbourne’s Calder Park Raceway will host the season opener on March 1-4, with Rally Calder to be the first of six rounds, up from five in 2011. It will be the first time the ARC has visited the precinct, and the first time an entire round has been staged within a single venue.

The rally will be held over three days, with over 100 competitive kilometres on seven stages to utilise various elements of the Calder Park precinct, including the Thunderdome. One stage will be exclusively tarmac, one entirely gravel and the other five on a mixture of the two.

In a new format, the top four competitors in each category will take part in semi-finals and a final shootout on Sunday afternoon to determine the victors. The weekend will also include Round 1 of the Modern and Classic

Tarmac Rally Championship and Rallyschool. com.au Legends and Celebrity Shootouts.

The season opener wasn’t the only major announcement made by ARC CEO Scott Pedder at last Tuesday’s 2012 launch.

Technical regulations for the new TwoWheel-Drive format and Sports Utility Class were unveiled, with the two set to run for the first time at Calder. Dubbed ‘Group G2’, the new 2WD format will run alongside existing ARC cars in 2012 – with 2WD and 4WD Champions crowned – before becoming the championship’s focus in 2013.

Group G2 is open to front or rear-wheeldrive models manufactured within the last seven years, with competitors given a range of engine options, while vehicles in the SUV

Class will be production-based.

A proposed Australian Side by Side Rally Challenge is also set to start at Rally Calder.

All terrain vehicle manufacturers Polaris and Can-Am will battle it out, with former ARC champion Cody Crocker spearheading Polaris’ challenge.

Classic Rallying is also set for a boost, with the ARC to take over the promotion and marketing of the Classic Rally Car Category with a view to creating a full national championship.

For more detail on the ARC’s range of announcements, see 5 Minutes with Scott Pedder on Page 22, and eNews’ exclusive News Analysis starting on Page 26.

Joel Strickland

DAVID SEIDERS BACK IN A V8 V8 SUPERCARS

TWO CARS FOR ORDERS AUS RALLYING THE Summit Rally Team will expand to two cars in the 2012 Bosch Australian Rally Championship.

Will Orders’ rear-wheel-drive Nissan Silvia will be joined by a second Silvia, which will be built for Victorian youngster Ross Allan.

While the Silvias fall outside of the ARC’s newly announced Group G2 regulations, they’re keen to lead the two-wheel-drive pack next year, and attract manufacturer support in 2013.

“We’ve got some pretty good funding from our long-time sponsor Summit Innovations, so we’re going to run two Nissan Silvias,” Orders told eNews.

“Our plan is to try and prove that we can run a fairly successful two-car team in 2012, 8

and potentially try and get a deal with a manufacturer. The current car, we’ll spec it up for next year, and the sister car will come online in December.

“Because they’re a little bit older, and not in the seven-year window [for Group G2], we have to build them up to PRC regs, which is OK, but we’ll just be lacking a few of those little finer details that the G2 cars will have.

“But it’s an absolutely fantastic car, it’s really the last of the rear-wheel-drive sportscars that Nissan made, aside from the 370Z, which is more of a tarmac-built car. Still, a 370Z would be fantastic, but a bit dear!

“These things are fantastic, rear-wheeldrive sportscars. Hopefully we can take it up to the Honda next year.”

– MITCHELL ADAM

DAVID Seiders was set to return to V8 Supercars today (Monday).

The New South Welshman was testing with Paul Morris Motorsport at Queensland Raceway today, his prize for winning the Rookie of the Year title in last year’s V8 Ute Series.

The former Fujitsu Series regular was supposed to test with Grant Johnson last month, but postponed his test because of the birth of his second child.

“I’m really looking forward to getting behind the wheel of a Supercar again, as I haven’t really been in one since I raced in the Fujitsu Series at Homebush in 2009,” said Seiders before the test.

“It doesn’t matter how long you’ve been driving, you never stop learning, and this will also be the first time in a Holden for me, so I’m expecting it to be a pretty eyeopening experience.”

“We’re in the middle of a pretty big break for the Utes at the moment, so no doubt this will also give me some great motivation heading into the next round at Bathurst in October.” motorsport news

NEWS

WRC DRIVERS READY FOR NEW RALLY OZ WORLD RALLYING

sutton-images.com

WORLD Rally Championship drivers are preparing to go into the unknown ahead of this weekend’s Rally Australia.

The 10th round of the 2011 season will be the first time teams have visited Coffs Harbour in northern New South Wales, following the switch from Kingscliff further north in the state, where the controversial 2009 event was held amid resident protests.

While the Coffs Coast has held numerous rounds of the Australian Rally Championship, it will become just the third venue since 1988 to hold Australia’s WRC round, meaning presenting a fresh challenge to competitors.

“It’s going to feel strange going to a completely new rally location as we’ve not had one since France last year,” Stobart Ford driver Matthew Wilson said.

“It’s not going to be easy as we have to prepare new pace notes from scratch, but everybody has to do the same so it’s a good challenge and will make it a level playing field for everyone competing.”

Seven-time World Champion Sebastien Loeb is no stranger to new events, but will have the added challenge of sweeping the road on the first day, as the championship leader.

“We don’t know these stages, but it looks like we’ll have dry weather so I expect to lose a lot of time [cleaning the road] on the first day,” the Citroen driver said.

“But we’ve also proved that we can win despite this handicap, and we’re determined to score the maximum number of points in this rally. Thanks to our lead in the world championship, we don’t have to take a lot of risks.”

WRC teams are already assembling in Coffs Harbour, with the event to kick off with a Super Special Stage on Thursday afternoon.

congratulates Andrew Miedecke for winning the TCM round at Muscle Cars Masters using the new racing material from Ferodo Racing, DSUno. “I definitely had the best and most consistent pads in the field” Andrew Miedecke

info@compfriction.com.au | 02 6226 8877

www.compfriction.com.au www.mnews.com.au

9

NEWS

RODGERS THAT FUJITSU SERIES DALE Rodgers will be the official category representative for the Fujitsu V8 Supercar Series on the newly-created V8 Supercar Commission, it has been officially confirmed.

As previously reported, Rodgers will represent a working group, which will

consist of Chairman Aaron McGill, Kevin Murphy, Michael Ritter, Matthew White and Taz Douglas. Former Australian GT category manager Rachael Wagg will be the secretary.

“We wanted someone who could take an overall view of the category and represent us in a professional way,” McGill said.

“Dale spoke to us, outlined his

experience and put forward a plan that encapsulated the various team opinions.”

“I am really pleased to be able to take on this role,” Rodgers added.

“The Fujitsu V8 Supercar Series is poised for some great things in the future and the new structure allows us to work closely with V8 Supercars to achieve that goal.”

Dirk Klynsmith

Richard Craill

PRODUCTION CARS PRODUCTION Car competitors will tackle a unique format in this weekend’s Dial Before You Dig AMC 500 at Sandown.

The 500km race will be split into a pair of 250km legs, one each on Saturday and Sunday. And the races will be closely linked, with time restrictions imposed on how much work each team can do on their car between the 80-lappers.

While there’s likely to be 21 hours between the conclusion of Saturday’s leg and the start of Sunday’s race, teams will be afforded a single 15-minute window.

Teams can purchase extra time, but it’ll cost them ...

“We’re trying something different, it’s an overnight parc ferme,” AMC Category Manager Aaron McGill explained.

10

AND YOUR TIME STARTS ... NOW!

“They’ve got 15 minutes that they’re allowed to work on the cars after Leg 1.

When the horn sounds, they’ve got 15 minutes, then another horn will sound and everyone’s got to be out of the garage.

“They can purchase extra time to work on the car, one hour is one drive-through, any further than an hour is three drivethroughs. So you can work on your car all night if you want, but you then have to do three drive-throughs during the Sunday race.”

A total of 28 entries have been received for the race. Runaway championship leader Stuart Kostera (Evo X Lancer, pictured) will be joined again by Inky Tulloch, while Greg Symes has enlisted Glenn Seton as his co-driver in an Evo IX and Tony and Klark Quinn will also run their Evo IX. Beyond the Evo ranks, challenges are

expected to come from the Cam Wilson / Peter Burnitt Subaru WRX STi, Jake Camilleri and Scott Nicholas (Mazda 3 MPS), Peter O’Donnell and John Bowe (BMW 335i), Jeremy Gray and Barton Mawer (FPV F6) and Ryan and Gerard McLeod (Holden Astra).

Three former MINI Challenge cars have been entered, while organisers of the Swift Racing Series have entered two of their Suzukis for the weekend.

The Australian Formula Ford Championship, Formula 3 Australian Drivers Championship, Kumho V8 Touring Car Series, Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge, Commodore Cup, Saloon Cars and Swift Racing Series complete the card on this weekend’s penultimate round of the 2011 Shannons Nationals.

– MITCHELL ADAM motorsport news

SEPTEMBER 9, 10 & 11, 2011

Time trials Friday Racing Sat & Sun

Kids under 12 FREE! Ladies FREE Sunday!

Over 300 race teams 7500hp Top Fuel dragsters 3500hp Doorslammers plus lots, lots more...

NO LIMITS

sydney dragway

www.sydneydragway.com.au www.sydneydragway.com.au www.mnews.com.au

11

NICK AND RENAULT CALL FORMULA 1

IT is officially over between Lotus Renault GP and Nick Heidfeld.

The German was dumped by the squad before the Belgian Grand Prix, with Bruno Senna stepping in as a replacement. But with Heidfeld believing that he had a contract in place for the remainder of the year, a legal battle seemed set to be ignited.

However, a settlement was reached during the Belgain GP weekend, with Heidfeld and LRGP announcing that Senna will partner Vitaly Petrov for the remainder of the 2011 season.

“Our disagreement with Nick has been the subject of much media coverage lately, and we are pleased to have reached a swift and reasonable solution,” said LRGP team boss Eric Boullier.

“Our separation process was already a painful one, and neither of us wanted to go through

another legal hearing. We’re very grateful to Nick for the highly valuable contribution he’s made to the team. We certainly had good times together, in particular remembering our podium finish in Malaysia. He is a very strong and determined racer and we wish him every success in the future.”

While Heidfeld confirmed that a settlement had been reached, he did admit to being disappointed with the outcome.

“Obviously I’m disappointed to be leaving Lotus Renault GP in the middle of the season,” he said.

“I thought I could still make a big contribution to the team, but I have to see things as they are, and I want to turn my attention to the future. We have taken the right decision by choosing to end our collaboration today. I would like to wish all the friends I made at Enstone a successful end to the season. One thing is for sure – I’ll be back racing at the highest level soon.”

WHITMARSH: McLAREN READY FOR ‘ FORMULA 1 McLAREN boss Martin Whitmarsh says his team is keen to see if this weekend’s Italian Grand Prix will see some old school slipstreaming, thanks to the Drag Reduction System.

With the long straights at Monza, Whitmarsh is expecting plenty of passing, something he says will be in keeping with the circuit’s proud history of close and exciting Grands Prix.

“Perhaps it’s a bit premature to be discussing the return of the epic ‘Monza Slipstreamer’, but I think the whole team is going to Italy keen to see if DRS will create the sort of exciting and unpredictable Grands Prix that we either watched or read about when we were younger,” he said.

“At the very least, going to Monza is always a very evocative and historic occasion – perhaps more than any other circuit. You can really feel the sport’s past here, and it’s become the perfect venue to bid farewell to the European season before we head to the final flyaways.”

Whitmarsh added that, despite the glut of ‘new world’ Grand Prix events, retaining the traditional races is important.

“I think it’s very important that Formula 1 keeps hold of these ‘classics’ – which also includes circuits such as Spa, Silverstone and Monaco – while also investing in new venues for the future,” he said.

“Despite its age, Monza certainly never gets any easier; selecting gear ratios to cope with the demands of DRS through both qualifying and the race will be tricky. At Spa, the DRS ban through Eau Rouge meant that maximum velocity at the top of the hill was pretty much the same through qualifying and the race. For Monza, there are no limitations, so it will be very different, and getting it right will require a lot of thought and experimentation.

“It’s rewarding to know that, even after 61 Grands Prix at Monza, the circuit is as much of a challenge as ever – that’s a great testament to the enduring appeal of the place, and the restlessly competitive nature of Formula 1.”

12

motorsport news

NEWS

IT QUITS sutton-images.com

sutton-images.com

OZ SECURES FIRST ROUND FORMULA 1

THE Australian Grand Prix will officially be the opening round of the 2012 Formula 1 World Championship.

The FIA has revealed a final 20-race calendar for ’12, with a few surprises.

Australia will open the season on March 18, with Bahrain being dropped to the fourth round, swapping with the Indian GP. Organisers of the Indian round welcomed the date swap, fearing hot

‘OLD’ MONZA

weather for its initial April date.

“There is something exciting and special about a new season in any sport and we can’t wait to showcase our race and city to the world in 2012,” said Australian Grand Prix Corporation Chief Executive Officer Andrew Westacott.

Meanwhile, the inaugural US Grand Prix in Austin will be held on November 18. Turkey, however, has been dumped from the calendar entirely.

2012 FORMULA 1 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

sutton-images.com

www.mnews.com.au

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

Australia Malaysia China Bahrain Spain Monte Carlo Canada Europe Britain Germany Hungary Belgium Italy Singapore Japan Korea India Abu Dhabi United States Brazil

Albert Park Sepang Shanghai Manama Barcelona Monaco Montreal Valencia Silverstone Hockenheim Budapest Spa-Francorchamps Monza Marina Bay Suzuka South Korea Greater Noida Yas Marina Austin Sao Paulo

March 18 March 25 April 15 April 22 May 13 May 27 June 10 June 24 July 8 July 22 July 29 September 2 September 9 September 23 October 7 October 14 October 28 November 4 November 18 November 25 13

LITTLE E STAYING PUT NASCAR

NASCAR Media

DALE Earnhardt Jr will stay with Hendrick Motorsport until at least 2017.

NASCAR’s most popular driver, who turns 37 shortly, has inked a five-year extension to his current deal that will, in all probability, see him finish his driving career with Sprint Cup’s powerhouse team.

Earnhardt, who has ben voted NASCAR’s most popular driver eight years in a row, has not won at Sprint Cup points race since 2008, or 117 starts. He is currently ninth in the Sprint Cup points standings, with two races remaining until the 12 drivers for The Chase will be settled. He starts 29th at Atlanta on Tuesday.

KANAAN HITS HELIO, DODGES BULLET V8 SUPERCARS TONY Kanaan has emerged from a huge crash in Baltimore with only bruising.

The veteran Brazilian became a passenger in his KV Lotus Dallara when the brake pedal went to the floor during the warmup. Faced with the prospect of a 260kmh crash, he deliberately ran into

Helio Castroneves in an effort to scrub speed from his car before it made contact with the concrete barriers. His GEICO car rode over the rightside wheels of the Penske entry before it landed and plunged into a tyre barrier.

“I was actually lucky that

Helio was there; he saved my life,” Kanaan said after the crash. “I lost my brakes, and I was heading straight to the wall. I’m glad that both of us are OK. The car is being fixed, and that’s exactly what we’re going to do right now ... try to

get it done.”

“He was very apologetic, but there’s nothing to apologise for,” Castroneves said. “It was a mechanical issue that wasn’t his fault.”

Both drivers made the race, Kanaan in a backup car. The Brazilian finished a remarkable third, behind Will Power and Oriol Servia.

IndyCar

14

motorsport news

NEWS

RAIN DELAYS ATLANTA NASCAR

NASCAR Media

NASCAR has delayed its Atlanta round until Tuesday.

When rain threatened to delay the AdvoCare 500 on Sunday night, NASCAR officials first tried to bring the race forward by 20 minutes, in order to get at least some running in before the weather struck. But rain arrived before any engines were fired, and even when it stopped and jet dryers were used to dry the surface, there was no chance of getting any dry running completed before midnight.

With weather forecasters predicting a 100

percent chance of rain, and as much a 75mm expected in the area in the next 24 hours, officials had no choice but to abandon any hopes of a Monday race. Start time is now set for 11am, local time (1am Wednesday, AET). ONE HD will broadcast the race at 1am in all markets, live on the east coast and delayed in other centres.

Kasey Kahne will start on the pole, ahead of Clint Bowyer and Kyle Busch. Marcos Ambrose, the last man to win a rain-delayed Sprint Cup race, will start in 18th position in the Kwikset-liveried RPM Ford.

Four previous Atlanta races have been postponed by weather, in 1991, ‘98, 2000 and ‘03.

UPS ups the ante – for Edwards NASCAR

RACE&RALLY

NASCAR Media

THE only way is UP for UPS – and the logistics company may be changing its sponsorship strategy in 2012.

UPS, currently the backer of David Ragan, looks set to stay with Roush Fenway Racing next season but it likely to become a part of the sponsor list backing Carl Edwards, by far the team’s most successful and high-profile

driver. There are suggestions that Edwards would carry the company’s branding in up to eight races next year, with Aflac covering most of the rest – though there continue to be suggestions that Home Depot may want to get on the #99 as well.

This season, UPS has been one of only seven sponsors to have its colours on a car for all 36 Cup events.

SERVING MOTORSPORT SINCE 1967

CORALBA

CORALBA C – RALLY

Features illuminated keys and clear LED-display s 2EMOTE RESET FUNCTION FOR TRIPMETER STANDARD s #ALIBRATION VALUES STORED WITH WITHOUT BATTERIES s 4RIPMETER TOGGLES COUNTING DIRECTION WHEN REVERSING s 5NIT /NLY

CORALBA C - GIANT & C - VIEW CONNECTOR C-Giant s &EATURES ILLUMINATED KEYS AND CLEAR ,%$ DISPLAY s #ALIBRATION VALUES STORED WITHOUT BATTERIES s 4RIPMETER TOGGLES COUNTING DIRECTION WHEN REVERSING s 4HREE DISPLAYS WITH INDEPENDENT OPERATION s /PTION FOR TWO REMOTE CONNECTIONS C-View s 3HOWS ALL VALUES AND TEXTS AVAILABLE FOR #ORALBA # 'IANT s 5SEFUL PLACEMENT INFRONT OF DRIVER

PELTOR PELTOR FMT 110 AMPLIFIER BASIC MODEL SUPER RELIABLE s 6 BATTERY s /PTIONAL 6 ADAPTOR AVAILABLE s /PTIONAL RADIO AND PHONE ADAPTORS AVAILABLE s 2#! AUDIO OUTPUT

PELTOR MT 632 OPEN FACE HEADSET OPEN FACE HEADSET FEATURES METAL BOOM s !NTI NOISE MIC s &ITS MOST OPEN FACE HELMETS s 3UITS ALL 0ELTOR AMPLIlERS

PELTOR MT 63 FULL FACE HEADSET FULL FACE HEADSET s !NTI NOISE MIC s &ITS MOST FULL FACE HELMETS s 3UITS ALL 0ELTOR AMPLIlERS

CORALBA C - VIEW UNIT Remote display unit showing all values and texts available for Coralba C - Giant s 5SEFUL PLACEMENT INFRONT OF DRIVER OR AT FUEL TANK INLET s #AN BE LOCKED TO SHOW ONE VALUE WITH NO POWER SUPPLY CONNECTED

Importer/Distributor VIC Race & Rally 03 9768 2444

www.mnews.com.au

PELTOR MT 72H PRACTICE HEADSET RECCE HEADSET FOR ALL PELTOR AMPS s !NTI NOISE MIC s ,IGHTWEIGHT CONSTRUCTION

NSW R&R Speedsports 02 9709 4655 QLD Extreme Motorsport 07 3630 4377 SA Autosport 08 8332 8811 WA Colly’s Race Equip 08 9344 4444

15

JORGE AWAKE TO HONDA THREAT

sutton-images.com

MOTOGP JETLAG played a role kin determining the winner of the Misano round of MotoGP on Sunday.

After dominating practice and qualifying, Casey Stoner shadowed Jorge Lorenzo for the first half of the race but when it came time to go, it was the Spaniard who upped the pace, cruising to an impressive win. To add insult to injury, Dani Pedrosa overtook the Aussie to take second place, in the process cutting Stoner’s points lead to 35.

After the race, Stoner explained that his speed drop-off was down to the fact that he had rushed back to Europe from racing at Indianapolis the week before.

“At the beginning of the race I was cautious as there were a few spots of rain, once this cleared up I was pretty comfortable behind Jorge, I didn’t feel the need to push and then the tiredness suddenly hit me,” he said.

“It was hard to find the braking points and change direction on the bike, there was nothing wrong with the tyres, nothing wrong with the bike, the team did a great

job and gave me a fantastic package, I’m just worn out.”

Marco Simoncelli emerged from a spirited battle for fourth, ahead of Andrea Dovizioso and Ben Spies, the three swapping positions throughout the last five laps of the race.

Valentino Rossi struggled in front of his adoring public, sith on the Ducati, ahead of Alvaro Bautista, who sported a new silver look on the Suzuki.

Points: Stoner 259, Lorenzo 224, Dovizioso 185, Pedrosa 150, Spies 135, Rossi 133, Hayden 105, Simoncelli 93.

Colin’s Claim MOTOGP

16

sutton-images.com

COLIN Edwards looks to be the man to lead the charge of the new Claiming Rule Teams in 2012, and will stay in MotoGP. The veteran Texan will race for Forward Racing next season, with Yamaha supplying R1-based engines. Edwards is keen top have his current team, Tech 3, involved as a chassis supplier.

“I’ve always been a good test rider and I’m happy that this will be my next challenge,” said

Edwards in Italy last week.

“We will be riding a Yamaha engine. As far as a chassis, Hervé you want to answer this?” said Edwards, deferring to Tech 3 boss Hervé Poncharal.

CRT bikes will feature modified production-based engines in aftermarket chassis. CRTs will be allowed several concessions over the works teams, most prominently 12 engine changes during a season (as opposed to six) and 24 litres of fuel per race, compared to 21. motorsport news

CAPIREX EARNS HIS LONG SERVICE LEAVE

Motorsport Stocktake Sale Pattern

MOTOGP

R800 185/60 R15 (soft, medium) $150 $59

www.mnews.com.au

media rights for seven football federations and events like World Cup Skiing, and the deal has been valued at US$825m ($760m).

Bridgepoint acquired Dorna, the promoter of the World Motorcycle Championships, in 2006, and is expected to encourage the further development of Superbike and MotoGP, although it has said that both series will continue to be organised and managed separately.

XDESIGNS (FSP020)

sutton-images.com

THE futures of MotoGP and World Superbikes may converge, with the news that the owner of MotoGP will acquire the owner of the WSBK. European private equity firm Bridgepoint has reached an agreement to acquire Infront Sports & Media AG, the Superbike Series’ parent. Swiss-based Infront controls the

$150 $70

R800 195/70 R15 (medium)

$165 $55

R800 205/65 R15 (hard)

$150 $81

R900 195/70 R15 (medium)

$165 $55

S700 225/640 R18 (medium)

$275 $92

TW01 180/580 R15 (soft)

$121 $121

TW02 210/645 R17 (super soft)

$130 $130

TW02 210/645 R18 (soft)

$130 $130

V700 185/60 R14 (medium)

$138 $69

V700 195/55 R14 (medium)

$145 $73

V70A 205/50Z R15 (soft)

$251 $84

V70A 215/50V R13 (soft)

$225 $75

V70A 225/40Z R18 (hard)

$255 $128

V70A 225/45 R16 (hard)

$200 $125

V70A 225/50Z R15 (medium)

$256 $85

V70A 225/50Z R16 (medium, hard) $253 $126

BRIDGEPOINT TAKES CONTROL MOTOGP/WSBK

R800 195/65 R15 (hard)

V70A 205/40Z R17 (soft, medium) $293 $146 sutton-images.com

AFTER 22 seasons, Loris Capirossi will hang up his helmet at the end of the year.

The 38-year-old has confirmed that he will leave the sport after the final race of the 2011 season at Valencia in November, after more than two decades of Grand Prix racing. He has knocked back several offers to continue, in World Superbikes.

“It is difficult for me to say this after 22 seasons but this for sure is my last race in Italy,” he said at a press conference at Misano.

“I won’t go to a different championship and I will stop racing completely.

“I have been thinking a lot about stopping and I’ve kept saying yes and no, but I’m sure I’ve made the right decision.”

Capirossi, a world champion in both the 125cc and 250cc classes, made his GP debut in 1990. He has ridden in 324 GPs, winning his last race with Ducati in 2007.

Sale Price Save

Size

V70A 235/40Z R17 (soft)

$234 $234

V70A 245/45Z R16 (medium)

$329 $110

V70A 255/40Z R17 (medium)

$260 $240

V70A 305/30 R18 (soft)

$286 $143

V70A 315/35Z R17 (medium)

$275 $275

V70A 335/30Z R18 (medium)

$304 $304

V710 245/40 R17 (medium)

$342 $114

V710 245/45 R17 (medium)

$342 $114

V710 265/45 R16 (medium)

$240 $130

V710 295/40 R17 (medium)

$225 $125

V710 335/35 R17 (medium)

$255 $130

S700

V710

KU36

V70A

V700

R700

R800

R900

See www.fsport.com.au for your nearest Kumho Motorsport Dealer

or call 1300 4 Kumho National Enquiries John Mills ACT Notaras Racing New South Wales Peak Performance Fsport Queensland Hornibrook Motorsport South Australia Kensington Park Tyrepower Tasmania Tas Tyre Distributors Tas - Launceston Beecheys Service Centre Victoria Tyrepower Essendon Western Australia Exleys Tyres and Brakes

0418 404 945 0405 509 943 02 9683 5577 02 9679 8044 07 3865 1072 08 8431 5856 03 6274 1640 03 6631 2948 03 9379 2616 08 9354 7855

17

NEWS

sutton-images.com

QUINN EYES AUSTRALIA’S FIRST McLAREN AUSTRALIAN GT THERE may well be another new exotic manufacturer on the Vodka O Australian GT grid in the near future, as Australian GT stalwart Tony Quinn looks to succeed his ‘dated’ Aston Martin DBRS9.

The VIP Petfoods pilot is keeping his options open in browsing for a new GT

replacement, with his potential list including a McLaren MP412c GT3, an Aston Martin V12 Vantage and a GT3 spec Nissan GTR. Unfortunately, current regulations prevent Quinn from an immediate move to any of his listed dream machines, but 2012 Australian GT regulations offer a window for Quinn to acquire a Nissan

GTR GT3.

“I want the fastest car in the world” Quinn jested.

“But the McLaren or the new Aston won’t be eligible until the following year. The McLaren could be eligible, but getting one is the trouble, and the Aston won’t be, so that rules them out.”

“If I can get a Nissan, I’d probably like to run a Nissan,

and I’ve got a Porsche at home as well, but I don’t know if would run the Porsche, I’d rather sell it to someone who wants to run a Porsche.”

Quinn already runs a Nissan R35 GTR in Targa style rally events, and has recently bought a Nissan R32 GTR to run in the Classic Adelaide Rally.

– CALLUM BRANAGAN

LONGER RACES FOR AUS GT AUSTRALIAN GT THE Vodka O Australian GT Championship is looking to introduce more endurance running for the 2012 season as it considers drafting in a threehour race format for selected events.

Although discussions are still in their early stages, eNews understands that there could be as many as two three-hour races 18

in the next season, but potential rounds are yet to emerge.

The longest races currently in the GT Championship are one-hour events.

Australian GT runner Tony Quinn was excited about the prospect of more endurance-running, saying that it could mix the championship up for the better.

“It’s being talked about, and I think it’s a good thing!” Said Quinn.

“I think for the GT series, at least one or two, one at the start and one at the end of the year.

“You can buy these machines, and they’re not cheap, but they can do three hours, and 12 hours, so why not. It gives the crews a lot to think about, the crews would enjoy it and the fastest car won’t necessarily win.”

–CALLUM BRANAGAN motorsport news

Subscribe to Australia’s No 1

motorsport magazine Motorsport News and Motorsport eNews are the complete source of motorsport knowledge in Australia: monthly print magazine Motorsport News is a super read, covering everything from V8 Supercars to F1 to Speedway to Drag Racing to Models - insightful features to digest in your leisure time.

Motorsport eNews (by subscription only) is the cuttingedge, weekly, digital magazine, direct to your desktop every Monday evening, with all the very latest news, opinion, analysis, and weekend coverage from the world of motorsport.

21st century motorsport media! Check it out (sample issue) on our www.mnews.com.au home page.

PORT D OF MOTORS THE WORLD

22 August 16 -

IRECTLY TO

OP YOUR DESKT

2011

RTH O W S D L O LEE H TED AT GRM

Issue No. 218

AN ON THE MARKET, STLDISWLOLRTW H MIGHT BE TELLS US HO ROGERS BE OVER BUT GARRY IGHT NOTGRM M IT T A TH LEE AND BETWEEN

+

WHY SUBSCRIBE?

ON Y TO TAKE DAVO READ AND HRT THE EIGHTS

TS IN ER GOES NU WILL POW PSHIRE! NEW HAM

NEVER miss an issue FREE delivery to your door BE THE FIRST to get the latest in motorsport news, opinion & coverage!

Bonus DVD!

*

Subscribe for two years to either Magazine option and recieve the bonus DVD “Skaifey - The Mark Skaife Story” *Offer not valid to eNews only subscriptions

No. 411 Septe mb

er 2011

95 NZ $8.50

Mnews_410_C

over.indd

5

.au

CLICK HERE!

inc GST

mnews.com

Australia $7.

HJ7H8G>7: 6I lll#bnbV\Vo^cZh#Xdb#Vj *BONUS DVD ‘Skaifey - The Mark Skaife Story’ (109595) offer is available to Australian and New Zealand residents only.

Please allow up to 4-6 weeks for seperate delivery of your bonus DVD. Expires 19/15/2011.Includes GST. MA/ENEWS www.mnews.com.au

19

NEWS

NEW FACES FOR FORMULA FORD FORMULA FORD

Dirk Klynsmith

JESSE Fenech will return to the Australian Formula Ford Championship this weekend at Sandown.

Fenech started the year with Borland Racing Developments, grabbing second in Adelaide’s season opener, but a budget shortfall sidelined the 18year-old. As reported in last week’s eNews, Fenech has linked with Evans Motorsport Group, winning on debut in last weekend’s VMRC round at Winton.

Having missed the most recent round at Queensland Raceway, Fenech has found the budget to return to the National Championship for his local rounds at Sandown and Phillip Island in one of EMG’s Mygales, alongside Elliot Barbour and Jordan Lloyd.

Fenech is aiming to secure the funding to contest the other two remaining rounds, at Surfers Paradise and Symmons Plains.

“Luckily we were able to use a state series round for me to get used to the car and working with the engineers and things have clicked straightaway,” Fenech said.

“I’m still getting used to the car as it is quite different to what I am used to, and I’m really happy with the progress we’re making.

It’s disappointing to not be able to continue with BRD, but I’m focused on trying to secure the Rookie of the Year award, so

hopefully I can finish the season off strongly.”

South Australian Simon Hodge will make his National debut, driving one of Team BRM’s Mygales. Hodge won a race in the Victorian Formula Ford Championship at Sandown earlier this year, in his first Victorian outing.

“To have that weekend at Sandown under my belt, and know that I can race and compete with the national

championship guys, makes it easier going into my first championship round,” he said.

“It’s amazing to be making my debut in a national round this early in my career but as this year is all about learning, we thought there was no better place to do it than against the best Formula Ford racers in the country.

“This is where I want to be next year so this is an opportunity to get some miles and experience ahead of next season.”

UP THE CREEK WITHOUT A TRACK KARTING THE delays keep on coming for the resurfacing of the Eastern Creek circuit, however an end is in sight.

It was announced last week that the New South Wales Open State Championships and the October round of the Castrol EDGE CIK Stars of Karting Series would have to be moved as the

circuit resurface won’t be ready.

Engineers have indicated that it should be now be treated as a brand new circuit rather than a resurface. As a result, it is now unlikely karts will hit the track before the end of the year given the time required for the bitumen to settle prior to enduring high powered machinery.

The costs to date for the project, which is believed to be originally at around $200,00,

have now blown out to somewhere in the vicinity of $500,000.

The upcoming New South Wales State Championships will now be held at the Newcastle Kart Racing track. The International Karting Committee is currently evaluating the options for the final round of the CIK Stars of Karting Series with a high priority of importance on finding a suitable venue.

ANOTHER WIN FOR NYCK KARTING THE third round of the KF1 World Championships were held in conjunction with the KZ1 and KZ2 World Cups at the Genk circuit in Belgium over the weekend.

The event attracted a crowd of 8,000 people over the two days, with everyone witnessing Dutch sensation Nyck De Vries at his very best as he charged through the 20

pack from the rear of the grid on Saturday to take fourth behind Tony Kart driver Flavio Camponeschi and Brits Jordon Lennox Lamb (CRG) and Alex Albon (Intrepid).

On Sunday, the two KF1 victories were shared between Albon and De Vries, with the duo now the two to catch in the Championship standings.

CRG driver Jonathan Thonon emerged after a great battle that saw numerous lead

changes in the battle for the KZ1 world Cup. Thonon made a late lunge with two corners remaining to take the victory over Yannick de Brabander (Parolin) and David Fore (CRG).

It was a slightly more dominant performance in the KZ2 class with Lenzo Kart pilot Joey Hanssen victorious over Yard Pex (CRG) and European Champion Fabian Federer (CRG) who climbed from P17 on the grid to score third. motorsport news

Pre-Order Your copy Today!

2011 AMC Masters DVD More than two hours of highlights from the 2011 Australian Muscle Car Masters at Sydney’s Eastern Creek Raceway. Held every Fathers day as a celebration to Australian Motorsport.

Relive some of the greatest moments from the nation’s premier annual muscle car event, including anniversaries of the 40th Years of the Falcon GT-HO Phase 3, 2o Years of VN Commodore and of course 30 Years of the Charger - these are just some of Australia’s greatest Improved Production race cars on display and on the track..

Also featuring interviews with many famous drivers, a feast of power-sliding Historic Touring Car racing, ‘Master Blast’ and ‘Heritage Hot Lap’ high speed track demonstrations, ultimate race replicas and much more. Bonus material features colourful track parades and great in-car camera footage.

This DVD is a must-have for any motor sport enthusiast and muscle car fan.

Show

Special!

$25.00 Includes Postage and Handling Australia and New Zealand only

Orders must be placed by 28th October VISIT: www.chevron.com.au POST: The form below HOW TO ORDER: CALL: 1300 361 146 or (02) 9901 6111 FAX: (02) 9901 6116

YES!

Please Pre-Order the Following

CAT No. DESCRIPTION 2011 AUSTRALIAN MUSCLE 112300 CAR MASTERS DVD

QTY

PRICE TOTAL $25.00

OVERSEAS AIRMAIL: A$5.00 Per DVD Please tick if you do not want to receive special offers or information from Chevron Publishing or its partners via mail email, refer www. chevron.com.au for the full Privacy Notice. Please allow up to 4-6 weeks for delivery. Includes GST. Overseas Airmail $30 including postage and handling. Expires 28/10/11. Chevron Publishing Group is a division of nextmedia Pty Ltd ABN 84 128 805 970

Name Address Postcode Daytime Phone (

)

Email: I ENCLOSE:

O Cheque O Money Order FOR (TOTAL) $

OR CHARGE MY: Card No.

made payable to nextmedia

O Mastercard O Visa O American Express O Diners Club

O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O

Name on card

Expiry

O O O O

Signature MA/eNews

www.mnews.com.au Send to: Chevron Publishing Group, Locked Bag 3355, St Leonards NSW 159021

FIVE MINUTES WITH ...

SCOTT PEDDER After the Bosch Australian Rally Championship announced a new event, new technical formats and a new class, MITCHELL ADAM spoke to the boss about it MOTORSPORT NEWS: I’ll start with the curly question; you announced four or five big things in the press conference a short time ago, is there one that you’re most proud of?

SCOTT PEDDER: That is a good curly question. The one that I’m most proud of ... I think it would have to be Rally Calder, I think this is what the sport needs.

We need to adapt to the market and this, the Ken Block phenomenon, is what we need to capitalise on. Fortunately or unfortunately in rallying, you’ve got a market that believes rallying should be five-hundred kilometres through the forest, and another market that thinks it should be five kilometres around buildings and airfields and that sort of stuff, so we need to adapt to that and have events that represent that need for the customers.

I think Rally Calder, it’s a big risk, a bit undertaking to do an event of this size and utilise the vision we’ve got, but it’s the right way to go.

It’s really the street circuit of rallying, Calder’s 20odd kilometres out of the Melbourne CBD, it going to all be in one location. It’s something completely new for the ARC in taking a whole event to the public.

Yeah, that’s always been the weakness of rallying. We’re generally a sport where spectators can see two or three

points a day and they can see the cars for maybe five or 10 seconds at those points.

Even though the action is very good, when you’re in a market and comparing it to V8 Supercars and track competition such as that, where you can see the cars for long periods of time, it’s difficult to come up against. Rally Calder provides the spectator with unlimited options to see the cars; you can see the car on the tarmac and walk literally three or four hundred metres and see them on the gravel.

As I said in the press conference, this is not a Mickey Mouse event, some of the drivers here today have said there are some very technical parts out there, and even though there is an expanse of space at Calder, the walls and the gutters and telegraph poles tend to get pretty close.

Now that the regulations for the two-wheel-drive format and the SUV class have been sorted, how’s the reaction been so far from manufacturers?

Sensational. We’ve seen almost all of the major manufacturers and the feedback’s been very good.

We provide a market relevant and high value option for motorsport and certainly the feedback we’re getting is that there’s strong interest, possibly not for next year. Those companies work on two and

three year plans, and our job is to make sure that we’re in the hunt there to get some manufacturer-backed cars in 2013.

How’s the calendar for next year shaping up? Obviously kicking off here at Calder, with a five or six round season?

We’ve increased from five to six for next year, obviously Calder being the new one.

We’ve got Western Australia in April, Queensland in May for the round of the Asia Pacific Championship again, and then a nice brisk Rally of South Australia in winter in the Barossa Valley, which is a magnificent event.

We’ll be back for a repeat of the Rally Australia event in the off year – it won’t be a World Rally Championship event, but an Australian Rally Championship event at Coffs Harbour in September – and we’ll finish up with the Victorian Rally in November or December.

In the presentation, you mentioned that they’re still works in progress to a degree, but the Polaris and Can-Am ATVs, how many of those events, at this stage, are they likely to be a part of?

Calder Park is pretty much locked away from a Polaris and Can-Am perspective, the other events are really just a matter of looking at the vehicle and what we can do with the vehicle and from an operational point of

view with the events.

Obviously we’re restricted because they’re not road registered, so it limits us from a normal rally point of view. But certainly the organisers I’ve spoken to are excited about the prospect of these vehicles and I think we can generate a hell of a lot of excitement with this.

The vision for that sort of category is that AFL has the NAB Cup and V8 Supercars has the Fujitsu Series; I think that could certainly be the go-karting of rallying, if you like. The options are enormous and it’s absolutely fantastic that companies like Polaris and Can-Am, which are worldwide brands, have looked at the ARC as an avenue for selling their vehicles.

And it’s a nice little touch having Cody Crocker back in the fold with Polaris, and also Neal Bates in the Classic ranks.

Besides the entry numbers, which are up, the level of people who are getting involved is certainly very comforting. It proves that the direction and exposure we’re providing is generating value not only for the spectators but also for competitors.

I’d personally hope that Cody is in a car, and same with Neal, I hope that Neal is piloting a Toyota or a Lexus soon. In the meantime, we’ve got Cody in a Polaris and we’ve got Neal in a Classic Car, which is fantastic for the championship.

THE KEN BLOCK PHENOMENON IS WHAT WE NEED TO CAPITALISE ON 22

motorsport news

CHAT

Joel Strickland

www.mnews.com.au

23

PUTTING THE ATV INTO ARC

T

HERE’S a lot to like about the Australian Rally Championship at the moment.

Okay, the date clash for the new-for-2012 Rally Calder and the Clipsal 500 is unfortunate ... but there’s little point dwelling on it. At the end of the day, Scott Pedder and the ARC crew are working hard to make the series as market relevant as possible, in the bid to bring manufacturers back. And their work has to be admired.

One aspect of the new-look ARC that I really like is the side-byside All Terrain Vehicle class that is being proposed. Now, I have a personal soft spot for ATVs – growing up on a farm, my first toy was a 70cc Honda three-wheeler. A few years later, it was four-wheelers.

Now, these side-by-side rigs are a little different to the threewheel and quad bikes that I grew up on, but the basic principles are the same; bike engines, go anywhere traction, and plenty of grunt. Having been for a burn around the banks of Calder with Polaris factory driver Cody Crocker (yeah, the ARC/APRC guy), I can say first hand that these are cool things, and they will make for a good spectacle.

Now, aside from my personal fondness for ATVs, there are potentially some very positive outcomes from introducing these units to the ARC. At around $30,000 for a race-ready Polaris or Can Am, it might sound expensive – but compared to an outright challenger in rally car terms, it is quite cheap. And for that cash, and very low running costs, you could run four ARC rounds, the

OPINION Andrew van Leeuwen – eNews Editor Finke desert rally and whatever other events that the side-by-sides are available for. Its actually pretty cost effective motorsport.

And what a great way for people to be exposed to the ARC. Young drivers wanting to get into rallying, from motocross or dirt karting, might use the ATVs as a way to make the transition to rallying.

As Scott Pedder says elsewhere in this magazine, “the vision for that sort of category is that AFL has the NAB Cup and V8 Supercars has the Fujitsu Series; I think that could certainly be the go-karting of rallying, if you like.”

In those terms, it makes perfect sense.

As I said at the start, there is a lot to like about the new-look ARC. The Rally Calder is a brilliant concept, the two-wheel-drive regulations look exciting, and the SUV class has the potential to bring new manufacturers to the sport.

But for my part, it’s the ATV class that is really exciting. I’ll be watching with a great amount of interest.

Joel Strickland

24

motorsport news

COMMENT

James Smith

THE MUSCLE CAR EXPERIENCE

I

HAD an epiphany at the weekend’s Muscle Car Masters, and it was all thanks to a 1600cc Lotus Cortina.

I was there commentating for the Autobarn Touring Car Masters series , but with other commitments out of the way early I found myself sitting in the top corner of Eastern Creek’s massive grandstand doing some I’d not done for a long, long time – being someone there just to watch a race and enjoy it for what it was.

What unfolded was incredible, both on the track and off it. A 10-lap Group Nb feature race and a race long battle between Bill Trengrove in his Ford Mustang and Scott Fleming in a 1600cc Lotus Ford Cortina.

Talk about David and Goliath! Down the straight, the Mustang would power past and would lead by 10 carlengths into the first corner.

Then they would disappear out of view on the run up to Turns 2 and 3, the massive www.mnews.com.au

crowd not knowing who would come out in front.

People complain about Eastern Creek’s lack of sightlines to all corners of the circuit, but in this case it added great theatre to an already great bit of racing entertainment.

Then, into view they came, the plucky Cortina now stuck to the back of the Mustang before the crowd would cheer as he snuck past through the twisty bits at the back of Eastern Creek. And on this went, for 10 laps, without respite.

On the last lap Fleming gave his all, throwing the little Cortina up the inside at the penultimate corner and drawing side-by-side with the ‘Stang, before it powered past again and won the race by a narrow margin.

These were two drivers probably only a handful of people knew, but as one the crowd stood and cheered. This was a racing crowd, at a nonV8 Supercar event cheering like they were at the footy –

OPINION Richard Craill – Commentator & eNews Contributor with all the ‘ooh’s’ and ‘ahh’s’ that go with it. It was great stuff.

Podium emcee John Smailes said when presenting trophies it was “one of the best races he’d seen” and I couldn’t disagree. But the reaction the crowd gave them was the clincher for me.

I don’t think anyone has received a louder cheer at ‘the Creek for finishing second than Fleming did on that podium. It served as a reminder to me – as a fan of motor racing, first and foremost – that you don’t need name drivers and million-dollar sponsorships to entice a crowd to become involved a motor race.

There are times, working in the sport, when you can become a bit jaded about

the business and its ability (or lack thereof ) to pull a crowd outside of V8 rounds.

But Muscle Car Masters – and the estimated 20,000 who enjoyed perfect conditions at the weekend – served to remind me otherwise and I’m glad it did. It was nice to be a fan again.

Oh, by the way: for a track some people said could never draw a crowd, Eastern Creek did a pretty good impression of a packed house at the weekend, with some suggesting it was 5-10% larger than any previous (already massive) Muscle Car Masters crowd. It is, without doubt, the best event of the year and I implore you to go next year. Who knows, you might rediscover your inner fan as well.

25

THE ARC, IT IS A CHA

26

motorsport news

NEWS INSIGHT

ANGING

THERE MAY STILL BE TWO ROUNDS OF THE 2011 BOSCH AUSTRALIAN RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP LEFT, BUT THE FUTURE WAS THE TOPIC WHEN 2012 WAS LAUNCHED AT CALDER PARK LAST TUESDAY. IN A SPECIAL ENEWS FEATURE, WE LOOK AT THE ANNOUNCEMENTS IN DETAIL

Joel Strickland

www.mnews.com.au

27

CALDER PARK: THE JEWEL IN THE CROW NEXT year’s Bosch Australian Rally Championship will kick off with a number of firsts.

A new event, Rally Calder, will be the championship’s first visit to Calder Park Raceway, and the first time an entire round of the ARC has been held within a single venue. In short, the 1-4 March event is a bold move, as organisers look to take the ARC to the masses.

Kicking off on the Friday afternoon, more than 100 competitive kilometres will be contested over seven stages – one each on tarmac and gravel and the other five on a combination of the two – all within a one kilometre walk from the Calder carpark. A variety of elements within the precinct will be used, and there’ll be a new format on the Sunday afternoon, in which the top four cars from each class will contest semi-finals and then a final to determine the category winners.

28

In addition to the regular rally action (including the debut of the Group G2, SUV and ATV classes with the ARC, and the Tarmac Rally Championship), a number of other unique concepts will appear, namely Legends and Celebrity Shootouts, passenger rides, test drive areas and car club activities.

“The 2012 Rally Calder is the most important event in the 44 year history of the Australian Rally Championship, an event designed to bring rallying to the people and usher in the most successful period of the ARC,” ARC CEO Scott Pedder said.

“Rally Calder will enable people to get up close and personal with the sport of rallying with outstanding facilities, amazing entertainment and plenty of motorsport and non-motorsport action.

“Rallying traditionally has been a sport that thrived on variety

motorsport news

NEWS INSIGHT Michael Vettas

WN? throwing ever changing conditions, using different surfaces, with events ranging from short sprints to long distance marathons.

“In recent years the variety has gone out of the sport and it has become very homogenised and tightly formatted. However we believe there needs to be a range of rallies in the Bosch ARC from arena rallying such as Calder Park to three-day endurance events with perhaps a tarmac rally, a rally in the snow, or a desert based event along with the traditional forestry based rallies.

“As rally gymkhana video star Ken Block has shown there is huge interest in what I would call ‘urban’ rallying using a totally new rally environment combining a range of elements from concrete walls to junkyards, tarmac aprons, through tunnels and around car parks and that is what Rally Calder will provide.”

NEW LOVE FOR OLD SCHOOL CLASSIC Rally Cars will receive a renewed push in the 2012 Bosch Australian Rally Championship.

ARC organisers will take over the promotion and marketing of the category, with the Australian Classic Rally Association to continue to as the overall category manager. While Classic Rally Cars are already a part of ARC events, running at the front of the field, an Australian Classic Rally Championship is likely to be introduced in 2012.

“Assuming control for the promotion of the Classic Rally Cars category will allow us to commit the resources necessary to take the heritage formula to the next level expanding awareness as well as sponsorship and marketing opportunities,” ARC CEO Scott Pedder said.

“In Europe the classic rally movement is massive just as other nostalgia categories such as the Touring Car Masters are in circuit racing here in Australia and while it is not a replacement or rival for the modern cars in the outright Bosch ARC it is another element that adds to the sport’s revenue and entertainment value.”

Machinery such as Ford Escort RS1800s, Datsun Stanzas, Porsche 911s, Falcon GTs and V8 Commodores are already in Classic Rally action, and a range of new cars and competitors are expected to join them next year.

“The Classic Rally Cars give the opportunity for some of our great champions of the past to continue in a competitive form of the sport in cars that are fun and challenging to drive,” Pedder said.

“Some of our great drivers such as five times champion Ross Dunkerton who is already campaigning an Escort RS1800, twice champ Barry Lowe who drives aV8 Commodore and four times champion Neal Bates who is building a TTE replica twin cam Celica will feature prominently in the proposed Australian Classic Rally Championship.

“The great thing is that the other drivers in the Classic category such as Stewart Reid, Jeff David and Dave Thompson can will now hopefully be able to compete with and against their heroes and fight for the inaugural Australian Classic Rally Championship.” www.mnews.com.au

29

INTRODU

Joel Strickland

ALL EN-TERRAIN-MENT THE Australian Rally Championship’s push for diversity and market relevance will see the addition of an All Terrain Vehicle class in 2012.

The ARC and ATV makers Polaris and Can Am are currently working towards creating a CAMS-sanctioned class for side-by-style off-road buggies. Up to four rounds of the ’12 ARC will see the ATVs in action, with the format likely to be a mix of the same ARC stages as the rally cars, and specialists routes designed to cater solely for the ATVs. “We want to have driver and co-driver compulsory at all times, and we are also considering some events where the driver and co-driver will have to share the driving responsibilities,” said Can Am’s marketing manager Kym Pardey.

“In our first year, we’re not trying to make it too elitist. We’re trying to bring as many new people into the sport as possible. We foresee that we’ll be running some of the stages with pace notes, along with the ARC cars, but we’re still in the formative stages. We would also like to add some more exciting elements, such as jumps, to show the capabilities of the units.”

While the buggies are closely related to four-wheel-bikes, they are controlled by a conventional steering wheel, with a non-gearbox belt driver system. The Can Am features an 85 horsepower 1000cc Rotax engine, while the Polaris has 900cc twin EFI engine, making around 88 horsepower. Both have an on-the-run switch between two-wheel-drive and four-wheel-drive.

“They’re very quick and they have amazing traction and suspension,” added Pardey.

“One of the elements is to try and keep them fairly standard, although there will have to be a 30

number of changes, which we’re working through with CAMS at the moment, to get them ready for recreational racing. But we want to keep costs low.”

The Polaris v Can Am saga has a long history in North America. The two brands still argue whether Polaris, or Bombardier Recreational Products (which owns Can Am, along with Ski Doo), invented the snowmobile. It is essentially the powersport maker’s answer to Ford v Holden.

When the ATV class kicks off next year, both teams will have factory entries ... with big name drivers. For Can Am it will be former World Rally Championship driver Michael Guest, and for Polaris it will be multiple Australian and AsiaPacific Rally Champion Cody Crocker.

“We’re setting up the rules and regs with CAMS and getting it all sorted,” said Crocker.

“Both Polaris and Can Am are keen to get a series going that shows good competition between the two.

“I’ve been involved with Polaris for a few years, and we’ve done quite a few events. We actually ran out of Motorcycling Australia for one event, which was at Pinnaroo, running on the tracks that the quads run. It opened a few eyes and showed the potential that these things have. We did the Cliffhanger, which is a serious off-road event, and we got through that and had a ball.

“There are some similarities between these cars and rallying. It’s a crossover. We’ll go and do the rally stages and have an absolute ball on them because you can really chuck it around, and at the same time we could stop halfway through the stage, turn up a hill and do a witch challenge or something like that. That’s what will make this a good spectacle.”

– ANDREW VAN LEEUWEN

THE next step towards the Australian Rally Championship becoming a two-wheel-drive series will kick off in 2012, with the introduction of the Group G2 regulations.

ARC head honchos have recently finished drawing up the new-for-2012 regulations, with cars confirming to Group G2 eligible for a separate twowheel-drive Australian Rally Championship.

The G2 rules will allow cars to be either front-wheel-drive or rear-wheel-drive, with car models not able to be more than seven years old. There will be four engine options – the original head and block that came standard with the car, a substitute engine from the same manufacturer of no more than two litres capacity,

motorsport news

NEWS INSIGHT

UCING GROUP G2 extension of the Bosch ARC’s ‘Unrestricted’ mantra, and is about creating cars that look and sound great, are able to be built to a realistic cost, and are more relevant to the cars Australians are driving on our roads,” said Scott Pedder.

“Our first priority was cars that look, sound and go fast with great spectator appeal.

Our second priority was that the cars would be market relevant, and I believe we will achieve thee objectives with these rules.

“The rules have been formulated by a panel of experts including leading drivers, teams and administrators to ensure we created a set of rules that are fair, realistic and cost-effective.”

The Group G2 rules are available at www.rally.com.au.

Michael Vettas

a substitute FIA-approved 1.6 litre turbo engine meeting S2000 regulations (including turbo restrictor) which is from the same manufacturer and FIA Group R. Options 1 and 2 both allow mostly free internals, with a maximum rev limit of 8500rpm. However, Option 1 must use the original intake manifold, while that is also free on Option 2.

As for transmissions, Group G2 cars will be allowed to use either a H-Pattern or a sequential gearbox up to a maximum of six forward speeds, with the choice of ratios being free. The differential can feature a mechanical limited slip with a free choice of final drive ratios and drive shafts.

“The new Group G2 is an

SUVS STEPPING IN SIMPLICITY and market relevance are the words the Australian Rally Championship are using to describe its new-for-2012 Sports Utility Vehicle class.

The regulations have now been published by the ARC, with eligible vehicles to be either two-wheel-drive or four-wheel-drive, and no more than 10 years old. The SUVs can be either powered by turbo diesel or normally aspirated engines, with ECU modifications allowed, along with a free exhaust system beyond the catalytic converter.

While some modifications, mostly relating to vehicle safety, will be allowed, the SUVs will be mostly left standard.

“SUVs are perfectly suited to the sport of rallying,” said Scott Pedder.

“They are built for rugged conditions, but are often not full offroaders. They are marketed as vehicles that crossover from normal road conditions to dirt tracks, and most importantly there is currently no other form of motorsport that provides an arena for SUVs to compete in.

“The new SUV category will enable more manufacturers to become involved in rallying, utilising vehicles that are quickly becoming the most popular sector in the Australian car market. The rules which have been formulated will keep the cars close to standard, with only minor wheel, tyre, brake, suspension and exhaust modifications allowed along with the mandatory safety equipment.

“This means that the SUV rally championship will be a relatively economical way for manufacturers to become involved in rallying and to showcase their product in the heat of competition.” www.mnews.com.au

31

2011 MUSCLE CAR MASTERS EASTERN CREEK, NSW

MASTERS OLD AND N

32

motorsport news

RACE

NEW

EASTERN CREEK HOSTED THE ANNUAL MUSCLE CAR MASTERS OVER THE WEEKEND, WITH A BIG CROWD TURNING OUT. AND THEY WEREN’T DISAPPOINTED. STEVE NORMOYLE AND RICHARD CRAILL REPORT

Danny Bourke

www.mnews.com.au

33

I

T was a day for fathers and sons at Eastern Creek at the Australian Muscle Car Masters, both in the crowd and on the track.

Harry Firth was chatting to John Smailes as the former Holden Dealer Team boss signed memorabilia for the fans, but the interview was abruptly curtailed by the sound of Peter Brock’s 1987 Bathurst 1000 Commodore VL (the 05 car, not the number 10 in which he won his ninth Great Race) being fired into life in the marquee adjacent to Harry’s.

There aren’t many occasions on the 2011 motorsport calendar where these types of random occurrences are the norm. But such is the way of things at NSW’s biggest annual event outside of the two V8 Supercar meetings, the Australian Muscle Car Masters at Eastern Creek.

A few years ago the event was shifted, with some reluctance, to Father’s Day to avoid a clash with the Sandown V8 Supercar enduro. But what originally seemed like a scheduling disaster has come to be a defining theme of this touring car retro festival – somewhere dad really does want to go on Father’s Day. The Dad’s Day resonance was strong in 2011. It kicked off with the Saturday night Legend’s Dinner, where guests were regaled by tales from Jim and Steven Richards, Allan and James Moffat, and Allan Grice.

On Sunday the fathers and sons were at it out on the track. Bo Seton was there with his Capri, while son Glenn was giving the long-awaited Speed FX Racing Falcon XB Coupe its debut in the Touring Car Masters event.

It wasn’t a huge success, the car only turning a wheel for the first time on the Friday, but Seton enjoyed himself.

Driving the big Hardtop reminded him of his father’s run at Bathurst in the factory XA Coupe in 1973. Young Glenn was there that day, aged seven.

Glenn’s own son, Aaron, was also at Eastern Creek with his dad and grandfather. In a few years Aaron might well have graduated 34

from the kart the 13-year-old races today to the Group Nc Capri that Glenn has especially stored for him in the garage.

Elsewhere off the track at Eastern Creek there was plenty to see. This is a festival of static displays as much as it is a race meeting, and best in show this year was probably a dead heat between the 1970 Allan Moffat XW ‘Super Falcon’ Improved Production racer – a car that’s become retrospectively much more famous than it ever was back in the day, because in its day it was something of a failure – and another Improved Production touring car from that era, Des Wall’s Bob Jane Monaro HQ. The latter, presented in original 1972 trim in that classic orange livery that featured on all of Bob Jane’s cars in that period, is the result of a painstaking five-year restoration.

It’s been more-or-less finished for some 18 months but its ontrack debut has had to wait until it received the thumbs up for historical accuracy.

This, not surprisingly, has been a cause of some frustration to Des – especially given that he’s had two of the men responsible for the car in the first place, John Sheppard and Pat Purcell, heavily involved in the restoration.

Also featuring both on and off the track were the two Le Mans Porsches that had ventured down under earlier in the year for the Phillip Island historic meeting.

It was the only NSW appearance for the cars on their way back to the Stuttgart museum, and it was a thrill to see the 1978 Porsche 935 ‘Moby Dick’ and the 1987 Hans Stuck/ Derek Bell/Al Hobert Porsche 962 – with Jason Richards getting an opportunity to jump behind the wheel – circulating even at moderate pace.

The 962 was the sole factory that outlasted the three Jaguars that year to eventually win by a mammoth 20 laps – or 270km.

That’s more than the distance between Sydney and Mount Panorama.

– STEVE NORMOYLE

There was plenty to see at the 2010 AMCM – on and off track. Jason some behind the wheel of a Group C Torana, above, and a Porsche 9 Famous machinery, below, was joined by contemporary Sports Seda Dameon Jameson, below right.

motorsport news

RACE

James Smith

James Smith

James Smith

35

www.mnews.com.au

Jon Van Daal

Rob Lang

Jon Van Daal

Richards spent 962, right. ans, won by

TOURING CAR MASTERS ROUND 5 - EASTERN CREEK, NSW

T

HE Autobarn Touring Car Masters tide is steadily turning towards Andrew Miedecke.

Whilst Mustang pilot John Bowe continues to show dominant speed and win more races than anyone else, Miedecke’s relentless consistency and ability to be in the right place at the right time has seen him jump to the lead of the standings after taking out the fourth round of the series, held at Eastern Creek at the weekend.

In front of a massive, potentially record crowd at the Sydney circuit, Miedecke won the third race and finished on the second in the other two, creating what was already a good weekend – but when Bowe’s battery failed on the formation lap of the finale things got even better.

Bowe had dominated to that point, winning the first race from pole position and carving his way through from 10 place in the reverse-grid second

36

sprint race to take another win.

Three times in the four rounds contested this year has Bowe has won from 10 in the reversegrid affair and the Tasmanian has won at least two of the three races in every round but one – but the battery issue cost Bowe the round win and the series lead at the weekend, proving consistency is critical with the TCM point score.

For his part, Miedecke took his second round win in a row, though he joked – amongst fellow company on the podium – that he would have preferred for Bowe to strike dramas at the series’ next round.

“It would have been nice for JB to have issues at Bathurst, rather than here, so I can finally win there but we’ll take it!” he grinned.

“It’s been a very enjoyable weekend and the car is getting better race by race. We’re really pleased with the speed of the car and its consistency and our ability to keep scoring points which is good for the

championship. Roll on Bathurst because the car has been good there in the past.”

Jim Richards was second in what was a quiet weekend for the defending champion, but now sits just one point behind Bowe – and just 27 from the overall series lead at the series half-way point.

Third overall and on the podium for the second time this year was Eddie Abelnica, who used great consistency in his XB Falcon Hardtop to edge out Steve Mason, Brad Tilley and Glenn Seton for the final podium position.

Seton’s debut in the Speed FX Racing Falcon showed plenty of promise with the Touring Car Champion qualifying fourth, before finishing in the same place in Race 1 and second in Race 3 – a particularly good result from 10th.

The similar new-car debut for Cameron Tilley was going even better at the weekend with the Sydneysider’s new Mustang charging to the race lead in

Rob Lang

MIED ALL ABOUT IT

the finale after running in the top five all weekend. Tilley’s weekend would be undone, however, after being penalised for rolling at the start at the beginning of the race. After failing to spot the black-flag, Tilley was disqualified for the meeting.

Gary O’Brien won Class B, a remarkable achievement given his HQ SS was close to being withdrawn after the first practice session on Friday. A herculean effort from his crew saw the engine removed, repaired and re-installed before Saturday’s action. Ian McAllister and Andrew Whiteside were second and third in class, respectively.

The incredible husband and wife battle between Greg Keene and Amanda Sparks in Class A continued, Sparks again taking the round win to extend her class lead. John Nelson was third in his similar Porsche.

Points: Miedecke 813, Bowe 787, Richards 786, B. Tilley 687, Keith Kassulke 522, Steve Mason 466 – RICHARD CRAILL motorsport news

RACE

Rob Lang Jon Van Daal

A battery issue cost John Bowe, top, another 2011 round win and the championship lead. The ‘new’ Fords of Glenn Seton, above, and Cameron Tilley, below, showed plenty of speed in their TCM debuts.

James Smith

www.mnews.com.au

37

AUSTRALIAN GT CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND 5 - PHILLIP ISLAND, VICTORIA

ISLAND GETAW

MARK EDDY HAD A PRETTY GOOD WEEKEND AT PHILLIP ISLAND. H RACE, THE ROUND AND THE CAMS TOURIST TROPHY. HE EVEN MOV OUTRIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP LEAD. CALLUM BRANAGAN WAS THERE

38

motorsport news

RACE

WAY

HE WON A VED INTO THE E

Dirk Klynsmith

www.mnews.com.au

39

John Morris / Mpix

O

N a day celebrating the Dads, Mark Eddy probably left from Phillip Island with the best present of anyone, winning the CAMS Tourist Trophy after a bumper fifth round of the VokdaO Australian GT Championship.

In a pair of one-hour races, the Penfold Audi Sport driver split the spoils with Peter Hackett, who broke through to win in his striking new Mercedes SLS, in only its third race appearance in the southern hemisphere.

The Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit could almost be labelled a home ground for the Audi R8 of Eddy, with both the team and driver holding a wealth of data around the fast, sweeping track after copious amounts of testing. And it came to fruition almost immediately, with Eddy coming from nowhere to snatch pole from the wily Tasmanian, Greg Crick, by half a second.

Leading the Tourist Trophy championship on points heading into the round, Eddy got away well at the start of the opening onehour race. Opting however for soft tyres in the hope for eventual rain, Eddy began to fall back into his rivals clutches with his depleting tyres on a dry track, allowing the likes of Crick and the Lotus Exige of Barton Mawer and Angelo Lazaris past.

40

Following the round of compulsory pit stops, Eddy fought back from third place with commanding pace, setting consistent lap times to easily pass Hackett and close on the leading VIP Petfoods Aston Martin of Tony and Klark Quinn with two laps remaining.

Unfortunately for the Quinns, their rear Michelins had passed their best, meaning they were no match as Eddy stormed past with minutes remaining on the clock, with Hackett third and Crick fourth.

Second to Hackett in Race 2 gave Eddy the round win, his first since debuting his Audi R8 LMS last season.

“I could not have asked for a better weekend for the Penfold Audi Sport Team,” said Eddy.

“The R8 LMS performed faultlessly as did the team and to take home the TT Trophy is simply the icing on what’s been a very sweet cake.

“For my name to be amongst the greats like Moss, Matich, Geoghegan and Stillwell is very humbling, and I as an individual and the team don’t take it lightly.”

Although a little less action-packed than the opener, Race 2 at Phillip Island threw a few curveballs at the GT runners.

The race got underway on a mostly dry track, but the opening lap battle between

Tony Quinn and Eddy got heated heading into Turn 4 after Quinn locked a brake, sending him off into the grass, above.

Then, the Audi of Eddy began to fall of the pace of Hackett and Crick, who both passed the R8 to begin a battle for the lead, which would last for most of the race.

But supreme pace and great pit strategy saw the ever-smiling Hackett gap the field by 17s at the chequered flag, easily clear of Eddy in second, and a consistent Crick in third.

The Quinns would fail to finish the race when mechanical dramas struck the Aston, dropping Klark from first in the standings to third. It could have been even worse, though, considering his Mosler succumbed to electrical problems on Saturday. Fortunately, he could slot in with Tony in the Aston to share the Father’s Day races.

Problems on Saturday also sidelined Mosler of Dean Grant and Daniel Gaunt, their weekend ending after practice. As it was, Ash Samadi was the sole Mosler to finish a race, grabbing fourth in Race 2.

Current Carrera Cup championship leader Jonny Reid, meanwhile, joined John Modystach in his Carrera Cup 997 to take a dominating win in the Challenge class.

Points: Eddy 566, Crick 548, K. Quinn 519, Samadi 418, Grant 382, Hackett 362 motorsport news

RACE

Dirk Klynsmith Dirk Klynsmith

Peter Hackett, top, grabbed his first win aboard the SLS in Race 2, after a battle with Greg Crick, above.

www.mnews.com.au

Dirk Klynsmith

A number of leading contenders struck mechanical trouble on Saturday, including the Mosler of Dean Grant and Daniel Gaunt, right.

41

KEN BLOCK GYMKHANA WORLD TOUR #3, CALDER PARK, MELBOURNE

The Day Cald

BLOC 42

motorsport news

RACE

der Park got

www.mnews.com.au

Rhyees Wedes

CKED

43

T

44

Rhyess Wedes

HE Ken Block Show may not have quite sold out at Calder Park over the last few days but there was plenty of entertainment for the fans to see, hear and feel.

The American, famous more for his gymkhana videos than for his prowess in the World Rally Championship, headlined a Monster Energy vision of motor sport, with the green-on-black logo front and centre on cars, motorcycles and people. In motor racing terms, it may not have strictly by the rule of thumb, and there were some inaccuracies along the way. Jamie Whincup, looking slightly out of place in Monster black (rather than teutonic Vodafone red and silver) and driving Andrew Thompson’s Fujitsu V8 Series Commodore, was possibly surprised to be announced as the current V8 Supercar Champion – though maybe not as surprised as James Courtney and Ford might have been ...

On Thursday, Block and Ford Performance Racing’s drivers swapped rides, the American have a skid in the FPR Falcon and wondering out loud just how the usual drivers managed to get the car to turn, with its big slick tyres and a spooled diff. Will Davison s and Mark Winterbottom took turn r to drive Block’s 600-horsepowe Ford Fiesta, the latter leaving the team with some homework after a gearbox broke within 100 metres.

Come Saturday, it was oversized flat-peaked caps all around, with Kawasakis flying through the air in freestyle motocross, trials bikes tricksters and drag racers Carving It Up and/or Keeping It Real, and s good old-fashioned corporate ride for the lucky few. King of the kids in was Block who describes his form can the WRC as “mediocre” but who place a wheel-spinning, gyrating rally car to within a few millimetres of a target and, seemingly, keep it dancing to whatever soundtrack he has in his head.

“I am a lucky bastard,” he grinned in front of the faithful, “people pay me to drive these cars and create smoke!”

Block will be performing on dirt in a role more familiar to eNews readers in the WRC round in Coffs Harbour this weekend. motorsport news

RACE

John Morris John Morris

www.mnews.com.au

John Morris

Rhyess Wedes

Burnouts – in the Nanny State?

As many as 7000 Blockheads came to Calder on Saturday to see their man in action, and he did not disappoint. The YouTube sensation’s Ford Fiesta tore through the Pirellis, above, while Block and his Segway-mounted buddy came to grips with being socially responsible, left. There was plenty to see, including one of the off-road Trucks, top right, while Block got to know some of the locals, including V8 Supercar stars Jamie Whincup and Will Davison, and Nathan Pretty, centre. FPR and T8 got to face off in a Ford v Holden drag race, right.

45

IZOD INDYCAR SERIES ROUND 15 – BALTIMORE, MARYLAND

46

motorsport news

RACE

AND THEN THERE WERE

(UV[OLY ^PU MVY >PSS 7V^LY W\[Z OPT ^P[OPU Q\Z[ Ä]L points of Dario Franchitti with three races to go. It is, in a phrase, game on

www.mnews.com.au

E V I F

47

R

ECENT outburts aside, Will Power is usually a pretty low-key kinda guy.

So when he says his win at the inaugural Baltimore Grand Prix is one of his best ever, it is a good indication that it really was something special.

For starters, the win puts Power just five points behind Dario Franchitti with three races to go, but it wasn’t just the championship implications that made the win so special. There was also the fact that the street circuit was tricky – to say the least – as well as a mid-race strategic emergence that threatened to take Power’s weekendlong advantage away.

The potential problem for Power occurred on Lap 37, when his team-mate Ryan Briscoe tagged Ryan Hunter-Reay while trying to get past. The incident triggered a pile-up,

and a caution period, which gave all bar the top nine drivers a chance to make their last fuel stops. The opportunistic strategic call gave Power a headache, with the leader needing to make a big enough gap to be able to make his own final stop without relinquishing the lead. But, in what he described as a “championship run”, Power got the job done.

“Oh man, that was the toughest race I’ve done all year,” said Power.

“I’ve never driven so hard in the whole life.

[The team] said ‘you’ve got 10 laps to get a gap if you want to win this thing’. I just gave it everything I have. That’s a championship run, that one. That was me thinking in my head that I want to win this championship.”

Oriol Servia and Tony Kanaan were second and third, both driver having to last a whopping 32 laps in the final stint

Top 10 Points: Franchitti 507, Power 502, Dixon 430, Servia 367, Kanaan 340, Briscoe 328, Hunter-Reay 305, Andretti 292, Castroneves 290, Rahal 284..

on a single tank of ethanol. The result was particularly impressive for Kanaan, who had to start from the very back of the field after wrecking his car during the Sunday warm-up.

Championship leader Franchitti could only manage fourth, a place ahead of his team-mate Scott Dixon, while Danica Patrick finished sixth, another result helped by a long final stint.

“What a great way to finish a challenging weekend,” said Patrick.

“We took a chance on the fuel strategy and it worked in our favour. We ran out of fuel coming into the pits after the checkered, which is fine by me. We will use [this] as momentum going into the road course in Japan.”

Alex Tagliani was seventh, Hunter-Reay recovered to finish eighth, and Vitor Meira and Graham Rahal rounded out the Top 10.

Will Power jumped for joy for the second week in a row, right.

The Baltimore chicanes were troublesome, above, while Tony Kanaan staged a massive fight-back, below.

Results :: Grand Prix of Baltimore

48

Pos.

No.

Driver

Team

Q

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

12 2 82 10 9 7 77 28 14 38

Will Power Oriol Servia Tony Kanaan Dario Franchitti Scott Dixon Danica Patrick Alex Tagliani Ryan Hunter-Reay Vitor Meira Graham Rahal

Team Penske Newman/Haas KV Racing Ganassi Ganassi Andretti Autosport Sam Schmidt Andretti Autosport AJ Foyt Ganassi

1 14 27 4 9 23 19 6 12 2

motorsport news

RACE

www.mnews.com.au

49

WORLD SUPERBIKE CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND 10, NURBURGRING, GERMANY

German for ‘Summer’ With Max Biaggi injured, Carlos Checa took Race 1 at the Ring, and Tom Sykes gave Kawasaki a welcome victory in Race 2

50

motorsport news

RACE

Suzuki Racing

Gee Bee Images

www.mnews.com.au

CARLOS Checa is closing in on his first Superbike World Championship, but the results at Nurburgring are not the only reason for that statement.

The absence of Max Biaggi, who injured his foot when he struck debris on the track on Friday, has almost assured that the Ducati rider will claim the title. It was another Aprilia rider, Noriyuki Haga, who took the challenge to the Althea rider in the opening race, but by the end of the race it was Marco Melandri – once the Italian shook off his Yamaha team-mate, Eugene Laverty.

Haga was third ahead of Leon Haslam and Sylvain Guintoli.

The second race was utterly different.

On a track so wet that visibility was limited, Haga won the start and cleared out – only to aquaplane off the track at Turn 1. Tom Sykes took over and looked set for the win, which came when the race was red-flagged because of the worsening conditions.

It was the first win for the marque since fellow Brit Chris Walker won at Assen in 2006, and its first podium finish since 2007. Guintoli was second ahead of Jakub Smrz, with Jonny Rea

The Big Wet: It rained very hard at the start of the second race, wich was a great win for Kawasaki and Tom Sykes, above. The first race featured a thrilling dice betweem Checa, #7, and Noriyuki Haga, #41 celebrating his re-signing with Castrol Honda with fourth, ahead of the two Yamahas. Checa was a very careful eighth, 50 seconds behind Sykes.

The results give Checa 74-point lead in the championship over Melandri, with Biaggi now virtually conceding his title.

Points: Checa 376, Melandri 302, Biaggi 281, Laverty 232, Haslam 176, Camier 154, Fabrizio 141, Guintoli 139.

CHAZ Davies has the World Supersport title within reach after winning a great battle in German.

His ParkinGO Yamaha held off the Bogdanka PTR Honda of James Ellison by only 0.091 seconds, with third placed Sam Lowes (Parkalgar Honda) a 3.7s back.

51

ROTAX NATIONALS GEELONG, VIC

NEED TO JOIN A CAR CLUB TO GET YOUR CAMS LICENSE? No matter what car you drive, Formula Ford Association membership is a cost effective way to get you on track.

CLICK TO FIND OUT MORE> 52

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

RACE

WHO ELSE BUT DEADLY DAVE?

VICTORIAN David Sera and New South Welshman Joseph Mawson continued their respective class domination to both be victorious at the 11th running of the Rotax Nationals held at Geelong over the weekend.

For Sera, the victory in the Rotax Light class marked his 12th Australian Karting Championship as the Monster Energy driver dominated the 30-lap final. Driving an Australian made Arrow Kart, Sera proved unstoppable off the front of the grid.

However, behind him the battle for second went down to the wire, with Daniel Rochford eventually getting the better of New Zealander and World Number 2 Josh Hart.

For Joseph Mawson, the win marked his third National crown, but it was the Junior MAX Light class title that he had been chasing for the last couple of years.

Also driving an Arrow chassis, Mawson – a Fujitsu Cool driver – proved dominant throughout the weekend to continue the winning form that sees him undefeated in a Rotax promoted event in 2011.

Juce backed Wright Kart driver James Golding got the better of CRG pilot Pierce Lehane after a race long battle for the minor positions.

Mawson was also victorious in the Junior MAX Heavy class, having to come from seventh on the grid after spearing off in the wet pre-final.

In the Rotax Heavy category, it was Melbourne driver Troy Woolston who dominated the main event to claim the second national championship of his career.

Woolston showed superior speed aboard his CC Racing-prepared Intrepid kart to cross the line 3.8 seconds clear of 10-time Australian champion Matthew Wall, with Rick Pringle third.

There was another Pringle on the podium with Rick’s brother Jason victorious aboard his CRG kart in the DD2 class over Lucas Ward and Kyle Ensbey.

Another victory for the CRG marque came via Mick Robson, who was victorious in the Rotax Over 35s class, greeting the chequers ahead of Hamish Leighton and Shane Karandrews.

The final class went to David Aldersley, who took the top step on the podium for the Super Heavy category, leaving Bruce Otter and Anthony Ciccone to round out the minor placings.

www.mnews.com.au

53

Chilton’s new Focus at Knockhill BTCC Paris Charles

HQ ROCK AROUND THE CLOCK SA HOLDEN HQ THE HQ Holdens took to the Mallala Motorsport Park for their annual HQ Holden Endurance race, staged over the course of two separate one-hour events.

This year’s boasted over 20 entrants.

Under fine, warm conditions Graham Mason showed his fellow competitors the quickest way around the track in the opening leg, edging out Gavin Porteous by four-seconds after a hard fought one hour. Rounding out the top-six was Graham Boulter, Michael Pratt, early race leader Neil Corey and Darren Jenkins. The opening leg however had taken its toll, with only eighteen drivers going the distance.

Happily though, twenty HQ’s made the grid for the all-important final stage where all eyes were focused on the battle between the frontrunners. However, the battle would only last

54

a few laps before Boulter was forced to retire, followed by Pratt just a few laps later. With two of the top-four missing, Porteous was able to turn the tables on Mason when it counted most to go on and claim the victory. Corey made the most of the opportunities that were presented to take the final step on the podium despite a late race spin. The top-six was rounded out by Darryl Crouch, Darren Jenkins and Dean Nicolo.

Tony Wallis proved the ever-dominant force in the Improved Production category, scoring three of the four victories aboard his Mazda 808. Adam Allen was second for the weekend ahead of the Toyota Corolla of Clint Sharpe.

Robert Surman was unsurpassable in the Formula Vees, claiming all five wins ahead of a pressing Morgan Mutch and Victorian Andrew Nethercote.

– PARIS CHARLES

TOM Chilton gave the new Ford Focus its maiden win in the BTCC at Knockhill, while Gordon Shedden and Tom Boardman took Races 2 and 3.

Chilton comfortably won the opener, after being chased home

by Matt Neal and ‘Sheds.’

But, unfortunate for Chilton, Race 2 was initially being led by the Ford driver until his tyres went off late in the race, allowing Shedden to nip by and take the win.

Race 3 gave Tom Boardman’s Special Tuning Racing SEAT Leon its first win but it came in controversial circumstances. First Boardman collided with Jason Plato’s Chevrolet while dueling for the lead and Plato was fired off into the barriers. That prompted a Safety Car, but Boardman then stacked up the field in anticipation of the restart, causing a further accident behind him. He hung on to win, while Shedden leads Neal by a solitary point in the title race.

– DAVID ADDISON

motorsport news

RACE

THE SHIPTONS LOOK SHIP SHAPE IN INAUGURAL MUSCLE CAR RALLY TARMAC RALLY GARRY and Daniel Shipton have combined to win the inaugural Muscle Car Rally, held as an unofficial precursor to the Muscle Car Masters event last week.

The four-day rally was a mixture of touring stages and timed sprint or auto test sections. Beginning last Monday at Winton the event crossed through stages held at Corryong Airport (near Albury) and the Sutton road complex in Canberra, before finishing at Wakefield Park, near Goulburn, on the Thursday prior to Eastern Creek’s big

event.

The inaugural event attracted sixteen entries including Touring Car Masters competitor Tony Edwards. And although the entries were mainly classic vehicles, some ‘modern classics’ – like several Nissan GTRs - were also entered though the ‘outright’ trophies were reserved for the classic vehicles.

The Shipton duo, in their 1965 Ford Mustang, headed home the similar car of Robbie Tuckett and Mark Privador and the 1969 ‘stang’ of Bob and Anne Lorich.

Colin Ward won the ‘overall’ drivers

trophy in his Nissan GTR, scoring the lowest number of penalty points over the various trials staged over the four days, whilst Robin Knaggs and William Parsons began strongly in their A9X Torana before a mechanical failure after two days saw them swap to a Nissan GTR to complete the event.

Russell Hailey (Falcon Sprint) was awarded the co-drivers trophy.

Based on the positive initial competitor reaction, event organisers’ Motoring Events Management are confident of attracting upwards of thirty cars next year.

– RICHARD CRAILL

OUTSTANDING PIT DISPLAYS BY OCTANORM MANY OTHER DISPLAY OPTIONS AVAILABLE PLEASE CALL US TO DISCUSS REQUIREMENTS

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

www.mnews.com.au

55

CHEVROLET SHOWDOWN WTCC

FOR the second consecutive year, Chevrolet has cleaned up in the World Touring Car Championship.

With three events still on the calendar, the Cruze cars built and run by RML have already secured both the Manufacturers’ and Drivers’ titles. In what will be a record season for its domination, Chevrolet has built a gap of 304 points ahead of BMW with only 258 points

still at stake.

As for the drivers, Tom Coronel is currently fourth, but his gap of 175 points means he is mathematically too far back from the fight is exclusive to the Muller-Huff-Menu trio.

Yvan Muller has taken another step towards a third WTCC crown. The reigning world champion had arrived in Valencia sixpoints short of Rob Huff and now leaves Spain with a 16-point lead. Muller came out of a first lap scrum to win the opener, before

taking advantage of BMW mayhem in Race 2.

Javier Villa clipped Tom Coronel as they battled for the lead but Coronel made contact with his aggressor and in the melee, Muller nipped ahead while third-placed Norbert Michelisz just missed out on the lead.

Scoring a double victory, Kristian Poulsen has jumped on top of the Yokohama Trophy, only four-points ahead of Norbert Michelisz.

– DAVID ADDISON

WTCC Media

MAKING THEIR MARK IN ORDOS FIA GT1

56

FIA GT1 World Media

FRED Makowiecki and Maxime Martin did the double at Ordos in the FIA GT Championship.

Their Marc VDS Ford GT also took victory in the Championship Race to add to their Qualifying Race success the previous day. They withstood a sustained effort from the JRM Racing Nissan GTR of Richard Westbrook/Peter Dumbreck for the second consecutive race.

Stef Dusseldorp/Clivio Piccione in the Hexis Aston Martin finished third ahead of teammates Christian Hohenadel/Andrea Piccini.The drivers’ championship leaders Lucas Luhr and Michael Krumm had an eventual race. Starting from the sixth row, Luhr had worked his way up to eighth at the driver change. However, just as in the Qualifying Race the previous day, the duo were plagued by wheel nut problems at the stop, rejoining in 13th. By the end Krumm had taken the Nissan to ninth place and two-points.

– DAVID ADDISON motorsport news

RACE

AUDI AGAIN ON TOP IN UK ...

Sutton Images

DTM MARTIN Tomczyk took over the DTM championship lead, after taking a third win of the season in his Audi A4 DTM. Tomczyk mastered a soaking wet Brands Hatch to leap into the lead from fourth during the opening lap. And, once ahead, was unstoppable as fellow Audi star Mattias Ekstrom chased him home to second.

Edoardo Mortara took third for Audi ahead of the best

Mercedes, Gary Paffett who had started on the front row, but never had the pace of the Audis.

Pole-sitter Mike Rockenfeller (Audi) was punted into a spin

by Ralf Schumacher’s Mercedes and fell to sixth while erstwhile championship leader Bruno Spengler (Mercedes) struggled home seventh at a track he dislikes, having been docked two places on the grid for using an unmarked set of tyres in free practice.

– DAVID ADDISON

MIEDECKE IN WITH A FIGHTING CHANCE AUSSIES OVERSEAS GEORGE Miedecke has made the most of a trying situation in the latest round of the UARA Stars Late Model Series at the Lonsome Pine Raceway.

The Australian, racing for the Marcos Ambrose Motorsport outfit, was the standout performer leading up to the race, placing his JELD-WEN Ford Fusion in a comfortable pole position.

But overnight-rain washed away any www.mnews.com.au

grip the track held, along with adverse temperature variations compounding the Australian’s setup issues.

Racing consistently however through long green-flag periods saw Miedecke charge onto a well deserved sixth place, elevating him to second in the championship race.

“We took a different approach to practice and qualifying in the way I was driving and the car’ set-up, and it really paid dividends,” Miedecke said.

“With the track conditions changing, the

car just didn’t want to work, and it was like a freight train coming past me in the opening laps.

“Unlike NASCAR, we can’t dive into the pits and make adjustments; there is just no opportunity for a break.

“I have to thank JELD-WEN for their continued support, that first win is just around the corner.”

The UARA Stars Series continues at Ace Speedway in North Carolina on September 17.

57

(,-+ %#+! ! *

*(/!* #*, ( #0 ! +

-'#(* ! '

2 x Troyer cars QLD 83 and Q 81 approx. 3 shows old, cars are specked up same as A1 car, no expense spared, complete turn key and race, (will consider selling less engine) $70 000 each car.

0421 062 004

Up for sale is Kye Walters Redline 46 Toyota Corolla junior sedan.

Built by Scooter Nawn. Scooters Metal Fab. Reco motor has done 7 meetings. New pistons, rings, bearings, valves, valve guides, valve springs, timing chain. Large port head with twin outlet exhaust manifold. Reco starter motor, 8m.

0411 869 851

F250 7.3 diesel 4 speed o/d auto xlt supercab lwb logbooks air p/ steer, captains chairs, 5 seater electric windows, keyless entry, alpine stereo, sliding rear window, side steps, polished alum bullbar, driving and running lights. HD Hayman Reece towbar excellent condition, QLD reg RWC and safety certificate. 0408 886 066

Full carbon fibre body Minister Engine Roller barrel throttle bodies. Cosworth forged pistons Forged steel crank & rods CDI ignition, Autronic ECU Close ratio gearbox.

Lotus Motorsport uprights & driveshafts, Dynamic shocks, AP brakes, Adj pedal box.

Registerable Aust delivered car Plus more. 0417 424 600

... &/ (&

... &/ (&

... &/ (&

(*+ "!

-)!* * #, ' * #%!*

Porsche 996 Tiptronic built by T&D Brisbane - no expense spared, all rally gear, built in fire extinguishers.

Highly reliable, complete with tilt trailer and spares. Registered import and not road registerable.

0408 722 852

V8 supercar Titan Trailer excellent condition all round, fits 3 to 4 cars, air con drivers room, fridge, microwave, kitchenette etc stainless bench & vice, roller draw toolboxes, water tanks, 240/generator, hydraulic tailgate loader full door, too much to mention, genuine enquiries only Price incl GST. 0421 062 004

... &/ (&

#!+!%

# $'!%% #*, ( #0 ! + 2 x Bicknell Dirt Modifieds. Car 83 2009, done approx. 20 shows, car 81, 2008, done approx. 30 shows, require diff centre, Bert box and steering box to make roller, lots of new equipment in both cars and lots of Bicknell spares. Car 83, $14000. Price listed for car 83 only, Car 81 available for $12000.

0421 062 004 ... &/ (&

... &/ (&

... &/ (&

58 30

- % ( 345 V8, dual fuel, 2x 150L gas tanks, belly lockers & ample storage, 12v & 240v. New paint, tyres, brakes & carbie. Ideal for wingless or sedan.Drives well & reliable.

0438 620 547 ... &/ (&

motorsport news

rear of grid

ODD SPOT!

IN late-breaking news, James O’Connor has made it to a photo shoot.

O’Connor, one of Australia’s brightest hopes for the upcoming Rugby World Cup, inexplicably failed to show up late for the photo opportunity, held in Sydney.

“We were all standing around wondering what we were going to do without James,” said a keen-eyed eNews reader, “when suddenly, there he was, on-time too!”

The Wallaby even posed for pics with Ford Rally star Mikko Hirvonen, above.

BMW Motorsport

Wallaby on time, in time Of course, Castrol Edge was a key sponsor of the recent Tri-Nations rugby series, and will also be front and centre in Coffs Harbour’s WRC event this weekend.

Now, young O’Connor, if you can manage to kick straight, as well ...

ON THIS DAY 5 SEPTEMBER 1971

MOTOR racing history was made 40 years ago, today, at Monza. For 34 years the 1971 Italian Grand Prix held the record as the fastest race in the history of the World Championship. This is how the cars finished the race after 78 minutes of slipstreaming; L to R, Francois Cevert (Tyrrell-Ford), third place, 0.09s behind; Ronnie Petersen (March-Ford), second place, 0.01s behind; Mike Hailwood (Surtees-Ford), fourth place, 0.18s behind; Peter Gethin (BRM), winner; Howden Ganley (BRM), fifth place, 0.61s behind. Gethin, who never won another GP, started 11th and averaged 150.75mph for the race. Juan Pablo Montoya eclipsed his record, again at Monza, in 2005.

sutton-images.com

www.mnews.com.au

59