Motorsport eNews Issue 237 - January 17-24 2012

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Issue 237 | January 17 - 24 2012

SECURED! NEW DRIVER, SPONSOR AND LOOK FOR BJR

Editorial Editor: Mitchell Adam

Opinion

Executive Editor: Phil Branagan

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Editor Mitchell Adam

mitchell@mnews.com.au @DrMitchellAdam

C

AN I start with a goodbye?

Andrew van Leeuwen and his wonderful wife Anne are now off to take on Europe, which brings an end to AVL’s stint at MNews.

He started here in 2006 and he’s been a great Editor of this magazine since late 2009. When AVL stepped up, I joined the team, and I couldn’t have asked for a better co-worker or mate in that time. I wish AVL and Anne well.

With van Leeuwen’s departure, I’m the new Editor of eNews and I’m excited about it. I think we make a good magazine each Monday (hopefully you agree) and I’m looking forward to getting stuck in.

You may have already noticed some changes. I’m not going to roll out the buzzwords, but we’ve given the design a bit of a tweak, and there’ll also be changes to the way we present news and race coverage. One other change you may note, is that eNews is no longer downloadable in pdf format; advances in internet technology – namely bandwidth – have made that redundant.

Change is one of the few constants in life, and we feel like these changes are in the right direction. Be sure to let us know what you think through Facebook,

Contents news 4

Twitter, email, etc. But, anyway, enough of the preamble ...

The new year brings a whole host of new questions, waiting to be answered throughout the upcoming motorsport year. Can anyone stop the dominance of Red Bull and TeamVodafone? Will an IndyCar title finally go Will Power’s way? Will the new IndyCar work? Will the ongoing changes to the Australian Rally Championship work? I’m looking forward to finding out the answers to these and many more questions during the year and talking about it with you.

While Sprintcars, those crazy Dakar cats and New Zealand have been active since our last edition of eNews, a lot of the sport – namely V8 Supercars – has been in its traditional Christmas / New Year slumber. But now, everyone is firing back up.

Starting with our lead news story on the next spread, look for a host of V8 Supercar team, driver and sponsor announcements in the coming weeks ahead of the pre-season test at Sandown on February 11.

By then, the V8 and F1 seasons will be just around the corner and, before you know it, we’ll be knee deep in another busy year ...

Issue No. 237 | 17-01-12 to 24-01-12

Wall-bury | Wall joins Brad and Kim

6

Break a leg ... oh, wait (1) | Frosty’s injury scare

9

Northern Exposure | Complications for WRC

10 Erebusiness time | Hackett, Slade team up for 12 Hour 12 Break a leg ... oh, wait (2) | More strife for Robert 14 The music is slowing down | IndyCar seats filling fast

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16 Camshift | Tech changes for V8 DVS

28 Toyota Racing Series

20 Going the distances | ANDRA’s change

30 World Series Sprintcars

chat 24 Five Minutes With ... David Wall race 26 2012 Dakar Rally

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CHAT NEWS

WALL STEPS UP TO MAIN GAME WITH BJR AND WILSON SECURITY

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V8 SUPERCARS DAVID Wall is confident that his experience in other categories will stand him in good stead in his first season in the V8 Supercars Championship.

Wall signed a deal last week to join Brad Jones Racing in the Main Game, joining veteran Jason Bright and Fabian Coulthard in a revamped lineup. Wall, who raced in the enduros with BJR for the last two years, will carry the colours of Wilson Security on his Commodore VEII. He will also be backed by long-time sponsors Payce, Paynter Dixon and Astrontech.

“I can’t believe this opportunity has actually come together,” said Wall, who is based in Sydney. “I have worked with BJR for the past two years in the enduros so I know how committed they are.

“The whole crew and engineering team is a great group to work with and I am looking forward to putting everything I have into this opportunity. I think it is awesome to be joining Brighty, Fabian and the BJR crew.”

The rookie is looking forward to getting to grips with the nuances of the series, like the Sprint Tyre.

“That’s closer to what I’ve come from,” he told eNews, “I’ve come from Porsches that have run on a very sticky tyre, so hopefully that will be down my path.

As … you get more time in the cars, you obviously get more ride days, and everything that goes along with it gives you more experience and it fast tracks the learning process of trying to go fast in these cars consistently.”

Wilson Security is in its sixth year in the category, and has been a sponsor of BJR in the past. It backed Coulthard when he drove for Paul Cruickshank Racing in 2009, and most recently sponsored Tony D’Alberto’s Commodore.

Wilson Security CEO John McMellan says V8 Supercars is the company’s key branding platform.

“We’ve always focused on young, developing drivers who are traditionally with non-factory teams because, in business, we know you need a level of quality ‘personal’ service where the customer deals with the decision maker,” he said.

“When we bring our customers and staff to the track it’s good to see a similar ethos from the teams and drivers that we are associated with, as it reinforces a consistent commercial message.”

For more on the Wall-BJR deal See 5 Minutes, page 24

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

CHAT NEWS

V8 SUPERCARS SAMSUNG will take over as TeamVodafone’s mobile phone partner this season.

The Korean maker of mobile phones and tablets will replace Nokia, which has been with the team since 2008. Sony Ericsson backed the team for the 2007 season, prior to the company realigning its sporting branding behind tennis, when Nokia took over.

It is expected that Samsung, which is currently promoting its Galaxy tablet in a highprofile marketing campaign, will use the team in a number of promotions.

Samsung is the world’s second-biggest maker of mobile phones – ironically,

behind only Nokia. But in the high-end smart phone market, fuelled by the mega-successful Galaxy SII, Samsung is outselling all brands, including Apple.

With projected sales of 235 million in 2012, and with Nokia in the process of realigning its high-end phones with Microsoft’s Windows platform, telecommunications analysts expect Samsung to take number one this year.

The Galaxy SIII, which will be the first Samsung-branded Android 4.0 phone, is expected to hit the market in about two months’ time. Expect Jamie Whincup and Craig Lowndes to be early adopters – and team boss Roland Dane to trade his familiar iPad for a Galaxy Tab ...

Dirk Klynsmith

Coming Soon: A Galaxy Not so Far, Far Away

WINTERBOTTOM BREAKS HIS LEG V8 SUPERCARS MARK Winterbottom expects to be fit for V8 Supercars’ official pre-season test at Sandown on February 11 despite breaking his leg in a water skiing accident just before New Year’s.

Winterbottom suffered a broken left tibia and has had two screws inserted into the fracture.

“After we got back from America we went water skiing after Christmas as we always do,” Winterbottom explained.

“I was using a lock-in boot and unfortunately my ski went one way and I went the other and that’s when I heard the click.

Initially I though it was ligament damage though that didn’t prove to be the case.”

Frosty is using the facilities of the Essendon Bomber AFL team to assist with his recovery.

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A REAL MELBOURNE DAY TO FAREWELL JASE

Rob Lang

V8 SUPERCARS fans bid a farewell to Jason Richards at Sandown last week.

The came and went and the sun shone on the Melbourne track, the scene of one of JR’s most stirring drives when he chased down Mark Skaife for the lead in the 2003 Sandown 500.

The day was attended by many drivers from the series, with people driving from as far away as Queensland to pay their respects to the much-loved, Melbourne-based Kiwi.

HOLDSWORTH IN BLUE V8 SUPERCARS LEE Holdsworth acknowledges it’ll take time to adapt his driving style to the Stone Brothers Racing Falcon he’ll race in 2012.

Holdsworth heads north to the Ford squad after six seasons driving Garry Rogers Motorsport Commodores, and had his first taste of the SBR Falcon at Morgan Park late last year.

While the initial impression was positive, the 28-year-old said the test was only the start of the work, which continues

at Sandown’s pre-season test day next month.

“It's hard to set any concrete goals at the moment because I need to see how I fare up compared to the rest,” said Holdsworth.

“I need to get my head around this Ford.

It’s brilliant, it is quite different to what I’m used to and it requires me to drive differently to what I’ve done in the past.

“As soon as I get my head around it I'll know where I stand. I would have thought that a top five (in the championship) would be a good start and we'll take it from there.”

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CHAT NEWS

JML AND PETTER’S NEW LOOK

FORD will carry this new look into the 2012 World Rally Championship in Monte Carlo this week.

The Fiesta RS World Rally Cars will be driven by Jari-Matti Latvala/Miikka Anttila and former world champion Petter Solberg/Chris Patterson.

With more than 433km of special stages, the event is the longest WRC event since Kenya’s Safari Rally in 2002.

PADDON/KENNARD GET A CZECH, MATE WORLD RALLY

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AFTER winning the 2011 Production World Rally Championship, Hayden Paddon will step up his involvement in the WRC for 2012, after he and co-driver John Kennard announced they will contest the FIA Super 2000 World Rally Championship in a Skoda Fabia S2000.

After months of talks with various European outfits, New Zealander Paddon settled a deal with Barcelona based ASM Motorsport. Paddon and his long-time navigator will also be making the move from New Zealand to the Catalonia

capital.

“I am ecstatic about the move to Super 2000; it’s a fantastic opportunity,” said Paddon of his promotion in the WRC. “I was lucky enough to test the Skoda Fabia S2000 in Europe a couple of months ago and it was an incredible car to drive. The S2000 is a full blown racecar and is basically a WRC car without the aero and turbo.”

As eNews went live (Monday) Paddon was on a plane bound for Barcelona to continue his preparations for the 2012 season.

The Kiwis will be in action at the Rally of Sweden, February 10-12.

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WRC GOES ON WITH NEW PROMOTER, TV THE World Rally Championship starts under a cloud in Monte Carlo this week after late changes to the series’ stakeholders.

After Convers Sports Initiatives went into administration at the end of last year, its subsidiary, North One Sport, had its rights as promoters terminated by the FIA. “Last Friday, the FIA served notice to terminate its contract with North One Sport, the promoter of the FIA World Rally Championship,” said a FIA statement.

“The FIA sought urgent unequivocal assurances from NOS that it could fulfil its contractual obligations and deliver the promotion of the upcoming Rally of Monte

Carlo and the championship for 2012 and for the future.

“It is with regret and disappointment that no such assurance has been given to the FIA and, therefore, today the FIA has been driven to terminate its contract with NOS. NOS has conspicuously failed to deliver its contractual obligations and is in fundamental breach of contract.”

As part of the deal, broadcasting of the event was moved to Eurosport, but the FIA has assured that the remainder of the season’s events will not be impacted.

“At the start of the 2012 season, the FIA wishes to take this opportunity to reassure all its stakeholders of its full ongoing commitment to the World Rally Championship and its determination to see 2012 take place as planned.”

ATKO, SUBARU REUNION WORLD RALLY

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CHRIS Atkinson will return to the World Rally Championship at Rally Sweden next month, driving a Subaru Impreza R4 along the famous snow stages.

Atkinson had raced for the Prodrive run Subaru factory team for three-years, previous to his last World Rally Championship outing in a Citroen C4 WRC at the Rally of Ireland in 2009.

Atkinson’s return to the WRC comes off

the back of the news he had departed the Proton Works S2000 team.

The experienced Australian Rally star lined up alongside Alistair McRae in the factory Proton squad last season, competing in the FIA Asia Pacific Rally Championship.

After a season chocked by mechanical problems, Atkinson only just missed out on the 2011 APRC

crown.

In his three years of running in the WRC with Subaru alongside Petter Solberg,

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CHAT NEWS

BRABS BACK IN ‘HONDA’ SPORTSCARS Highcroft Racing

JRM MOTORSPORT has announced a full attack on the 2012 WEC, armed with an HPD ARX-03a – with David Brabham as one of the drivers.

JRM has impeccable credentials, stepping up to LMP1 after its win in the 2011 GT1 World Championship with Lucas Luhr/ Michael Krumm. Although the team has strong links with Nissan, they have chosen a petrol-powered HPD for their campaign.

Notwithstanding that Honda announced its withdrawal from the category during 2011, now at least two teams (JRM and Strakka) will be running HPDs in the top category, as the WEC continues to gather real momentum.

With neither Luhr nor Krumm available for the seat, JRM has named the strong driving lineup of David Brabham, Peter Dumbreck and Karun Chandhok. Brabham and Dumbreck had

previous associations with the team in GT1, and for Brabham it is also a reunion with the car (“I like to think it has some of my DNA in it”), since he had a great deal to do with its development when he drove for Highcroft in the ALMS. It had been thought that Brabham was an obvious candidate to drive the innovative Deltawing which Highcroft aims to run this year, but a full WEC campaign with JRM proved irresistible, Brabham saying that he was “absolutely thrilled” to be part of JRM’s ambitious programme.

– DAVID GREENHALGH

BLACK FALCONS FOR MOUNTAIN BATHURST 12HR LOCAL outfit Erebus Racing will team up with German squad Black Falcon Racing for next month’s Armor All Bathurst 12 Hour.

As previously reported, the two squads have been working towards a joint venture for the race, and that has now materialised with one of Black Falcon’s two Mercedes Benz SLS AMG entries to be run by the Australian GT Championship squad.

Regular Erebus Racing pilot Peter Hackett will be joined in the driver lineup by V8 Supercar driver Tim Slade former A1GP driver and now sportscar regular Jeroen Bleekemolen and

American Bret Curtis.

“For Erebus Racing it is just about the ideal way to tackle the race,” Hackett said.

“It will be a good thing to blend Black Falcon’s international GT racing experience and the local experience that Erebus Racing has to form the strongest team we can. We are really excited to be part of the Event, even if it took a bit longer than expected to put the deal together, and want to go out there and represent for our sponsors and supporters as best we can.”

It will be Slade’s second start in the 12 Hour, his first coming in 2007 in a Mini Production Car. “I can’t see why we won’t be going for

a win,” he said of the car’s prospects.

“I’ve watched Bleekemolen for years in (Porsche) Supercup and A1GP, and Pete has been going really well in the GT Championship so it is a strong combination.

“It is great to be able to work with one of the most professional GT teams in Australia, Erebus Racing, and take it up to the Internationals that are coming down.”

Meanwhile, Paul Freestone has announced that he’ll be joined by Barrie Nesbitt and Hayden Pullen in his Class C Corvette Z06 for the February 24-26 event.

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The 1980 Hardie-Ferodo Bathurst 1000 was the debut of the all-new racing VC Commodore. Many VCs started in the Top Ten and with perfect weather, the stage was set for a great race. Towards the end of the race with a good result on the cards, Peter Janson and Larry Perkins couldn’t pass eventual winners Peter Brock and Jim Richards. The number 4 VC entry was Peter Janson’s best ever result at the Bathurst track and to beat every car in the 60-car field, except the quick HDT entry, was a testament to the quality of the small privateer team’s slick pit work, mechanical preparation and some superb driving. A thoroughly deserved second place.

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CHAT NEWS

KUBICA BREAKS LEG... AGAIN FORMULA 1

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THE medium-term future of Robert Kubica changed significantly last week when the Pole broke his leg in a domestic accident.

Kubica, who sustained a fractured right leg in a crash during a rally a year ago, broke his tibia in the same place. The break, which he suffered when he fell on ice near his home in Italy, is expected to substantially set back his recovery.

The former Sauber and Renault driver, who is now out of contract, had been expected to return to the

cockpit in the next few months, in a bid to return to the sport.

It is thought that Ferrari is keeping a watching brief on Kubica, with a view to considering who will partner Fernando Alonso next season. Felipe Massa’s current contract concludes at the end of the season.

“Robert is the best driver around and he will prove that when he returns to racing, something I am sure he will do,” Alonso said recently – though he also added,” I am very happy to have Felipe alongside me.”

SUTIL TO STAND TRIAL FORMULA 1

Suttons Images

Suttons Images

ADRIAN Sutil will face court over an alleged assault in China last year.

The German, now out of a seat with Force India, has been charged with causing grievous bodily harm after an alleged clash with Lotus-Renault coowner Eric Lux in a Shanghai nightclub last April.

At the time, there were reports that Lux was cut with a glass in the alleged incident. Sutil has denying any wrongdoing.

“We are convinced that the court will come to the conclusion that there was no intentional attack,” Sutil’s manager, Manfred Zimmermann, told The Daily Telegraph.

“We feel good. So the truth will come out.”

The trial will start in Munich this Thursday.

LOTUS LOOKS FOR AN ADVANTAGE FORMULA 1

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Suttons Images

A RIDE height system developed by Lotus could be copied by other teams, if a report in Italy is correct.

According to Italian sports journal Gazzetta dello Sport, the FIA has ruled that the

system, which reacts to brake torque and then adjusts the car’s ride height, has been passed as legal after technical inspection by the FIA. Another version of a system that sought to perform similarly, known as a mass damper, was outlawed by the FIA in 2007.

motorsport news

FERRARI RECRUITS EX-BRIDGESTONE BOSS

Ferrari has recruited former Bridgestone F1 boss Hirohide Hamashima to work in its technical department. The Japanese is part of a major overhaul of the team’s technical department, now under the command of former McLaren man, Pat Fry. Ferrari’s 2012 racer will be unveil on February 3.

BUEMI’S LIFELINE

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THE FINANCIAL STRAIN IN SPAIN FORMULA 1 THE latest event to come under a financial question mark is the Spanish GP. In an interview for RAC1 radio in Spain, Catalunya’s minister for economy, Andreu Mas-Colell, has questioned whether the race has a future.

“We might reconsider if we can hold the F1 or motorcycle Grands Prix,” he said.

“It is not clear to us that we can afford them in the current situation.

“It is not the first thing we will reconsider.

But at times we have to look very closely, line by line, at where we spend the money. There are contracts [sometimes] that are more expensive to maintain than

to break.”

The words come only a week after comments from Jose Cisco, vice-president of the Generalitat Valenciana, said that while the immediate future of the other Spanish race, in Valencia, was not under threat, he was seeking to negotiate a better deal for the event with Bernie Ecclestone.

Last July, Victoria’s Tourism Minister, Louise Asher, released an economic impact statement that estimated the economic benefit to the state at between $32m and $39m. She said that with the cost of the race to taxpayers at more than $50m, “this is a very, very large taxpayer subsidy about which I am not comfortable.”

MICROPHONE MEN

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KIMI SET FOR LAPS

Lotus has announced a date for Kimi Raikkonen’s return to an F1 cockpit.

The former World champion will drive a 2010 Renault R30 at Jerez on January 23/24. It will be the Finn’s first laps in a GP car since the end of the 2009 season.

LOLA LAUNCHES WOMEN INITIATIVE

Top race car manufacturer Lola has launched an initiative to attract women into engineering. Launched at Autosport International, the scheme takes the form of a competition open to women aged 25 and under and entrants will be required to produce an original and revolutionary design for a product that is compatible across Lola’s motor sport or aerospace portfolio. DA

MIDGET NATIONALS RUN AND WON

FORMULA 1 THE commentary equation for Formula 1’s 2012 broadcasts has become a little clearer.

With Ben Edwards joining David Coulthard in the commentary box for BBC’s 10 events, former Jordan designer and well-known technical pundit Gary Anderson will join BBC’s crew to explain some of the finer points of the cars.

Sky’s Martin Brundle, David Croft and Ted Kravitz will host the first two races of the season, including the Australian Grand Prix, before the first ‘BBC’ race in China.

Sebastien Buemi is not out of the loop at Red Bull altogether. The former Toro Rosso driver has been named a reserve driver for both STR and Red Bull Racing “in case something happens”, according to comments made to 422.race by RBR’s Dr Helmut Marko.

Kevin Swindell has won the annual Chili Bowl Midgets Nationals in the Tulsa Expo Center in Oklahoma. He led the 55-lap final from wire to wire, on the 0.2mile indoor track, to take his third win.

Swindell’s father, five-time Chili Bowl champion Sammy Swindell was second, while Sprint Cup Champion and Chili Bowl regular Tony Stewart was 10th.

Five laps were added to the race distance in memory of Chili Bower driver Donnie Ray Crawford, who died in a shooting incident on Saturday.

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CHAT NEWS

WHELDON AUCTION RAISES FUNDS FOR FAMILY INDYCAR

INDYCAR Media

SUSIE Wheldon collected the Borg Warner Trophy last week – and also picked up a cheque.

The widow of the two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Dan Wheldon was on hand to collect the cup that the Brit earned by dramatically snatching the win in the final metres of the race, after rookie JR Hildebrand crashed on the final corner.

An online auction of racing collectibles, which was organised by Indycar driver Graham Rahal, raised US$627,203 for the Wheldon family.

“From the very beginning, I have been so overwhelmed by the outpouring of sympathy and the unwavering support of Dan’s friends, his fans and from the racing community,” Susie Wheldon said in a statement.

“When Graham reached out to me with the auction total today, I was very touched by everyone’s generosity. I want everyone to know how grateful I am and how much I appreciate everyone’s kindness and their love.

“It means the world to our family, and I hope one day to personally thank all those who donated and purchased the auction items.”

INDYCAR SEATS FILLING UP INDYCAR

Borg Warner

The 2012 Indycar grid is getting sorted, with a number of seats filled in the last few weeks.

The driver of the plum GoDaddy-sponsored seat at Andretti Autosport will be James Hinchcliffe (above).

The rookie Canadian finished 12th in the 2011 points, and became available after Newman Haas withdrew from Indycars.

Former Champ Car champion Sebastien Bourdais has made no secret of his ambitions to get back into open-wheelers, and looks set to join Jay Penske’s Dragon

Racing. His likely team-mate is former CART driver, Katherine Legge.

Veteran Alex Tagliani will join Bryan Herta Autosport for a full program. The Canadian, who took pole at Indy in May, will drive a single Lotuspowered entry for the team that won the 500 with Dan Wheldon.

Oriol Servia is expected to be confirmed at Dreyer & Reinbold in the next week, while veteran Paul Tracy is hinting at having a deal. The Canadian tweeted that he has signed a contract, and ordered helmets, last week but with whom, and to drive what, remains a mystery.

BUSCH FINDS FRONT ROW SEAT NASCAR

NASCAR Media

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KURT Busch has landed a drive at Front Row Motorsport but there is a lot of work to be done by the former NASCAR champion to rebuild his reputation.

Busch, whose seat at Penske has been filled by AJ Allmendinger, looked to be in line for a straight swap with the Richard Petty Motorsport driver. But Petty said last week at Daytona that his sponsors didn’t want the controversial driver in his team.

“Nobody at the time wanted to pay the bill for him. That’s how simple it was,” he said.”

Petty has announced that Smithfield Foods will be the primary sponsor for the #43 Ford this season.

“Everybody has to protect their brand,” Petty said.

“Smithfield has a pretty laid back, pretty good down-home persona in the general public. If they had taken him on it would have changed their ... they just didn’t like the personality.” motorsport news

LOTUS TESTS NEW POWERPLANT INDYCAR

IZOD INDYCAR Media

LOTUS has tested its new Indycar engine on a track for the first time.

Simona de Silvestro drove HVM Racing’s Dallara DW12, fitted with John Judd’s Engine Developments-built engine,

at Palm Beach International Raceway last week, the first time that the 2.2-litre V6 turbo has appeared on a track.

Lotus is the third of the three suppliers to track test its motor, Honda and Chevrolet having unveiled their new units late last year.

NASCAR Media

AMBROSE RUNS HOT AND COLD IN TESTING NASCAR

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familiar with new teams and team-mate and ironically, it was a driver who switched teams who set the fastest time of the test. Kurt Busch topped 206mph in James Finch’s Chevy, aided by a draft from Ragan Smith – who was a regular drafting partner last year with Busch was with Penske.

The Shootout will be held February 18, with the Daytona 500 set to take place on February 26.

NASCAR Media

TESTING speeds were up at Daytona’s three-day test – and the news was not all good for Marcos Ambrose.

With speeds well over 200mph, the Aussie was in the second half of the pack in his Richard Petty Motorsport Ford, after being third fastest in the Friday morning session.

“It’s just good to get behind the wheel, get back in the swing of things and see my

guys again at the race track,” said Ambrose, who spent the Christmas/New Year break in Tasmania.

“It’s been a fun day, the first day of the test is basically just single car runs, nothing too serious yet. It’s great to get back in the driver’s seat, go 200 miles-per-hour and be here at Daytona International Speedway, I feel like the season is really upon us now.”

The test was a chance for many of the drivers to get

15

CHAT NEWS

TECH CHANGES IN DVS V8 DVS A PAIR of technical changes will be introduced throughout the 2012 V8 Supercar Development Series.

Introduced to the Main Game in mid2010 to increase engine life, the control camshaft will become mandatory in the

second-tier series this year. Initially, the use of the camshaft was due to be a requimant for the season opener at the Clipsal 500, but teams will now be given until the third round in Townsville in July to adopt it.

From the outset of the season, however, the use of dual springs in suspension set-ups will be outlawed. The practice

has become increasingly common in the Main Game and has filtered into the DVS through Level 1 teams. The move is designed to limit the two-way exchange of data between Level 1 cars and their DVS stable-mates, and to reduce the technical advantage held by some Level 1 teams over standalone DVS outfits.

SKINNER & MASON IN FORMULA 3 JORDAN Skinner and Hart Mason will be among the Formula 3 newcomers when the 2012 championship kicks off at the Clipsal 500 in March.

Both drivers will make their debuts with Team BRM, in what are currently one-off deals, but they’ll be driving cars from different manufacturers. Skinner has completed several tests with the team in one of their regular F307 Dallaras, above, and is aiming to do the full season, while Mason will drive a Mygale M-07 owned by local Mygale distributor Greg Woodrow.

“We’re going to be at Clipsal, no doubt,” Skinner, 19 told eNews, “and hopefully after that it’ll keep going forward.

16

“I’ve been testing this year, I’ve done a few test days at Mallala, and we’re actually heading across to Phillip Island this Friday.

I want to do F3 this year, it’s shaping up OK, we’re just trying to finalise it all.”

While Skinner has done a range of Formula Ford at home and in the UK in recent years and spent the early part of 2011 racing a Ginetta sportscar offshore, Mason’s recent outings have been few and far between. After winning both the national and Victorian Formula Vee titles in 2000, Mason dabbled in Formula Ford and GT-P Production Cars in the following years, but has been largely idle since.

With only one brief hitout in a Formula 3 car, a decade ago, under his belt, he’s keen to test before Clipsal. The car he will

race was imported by Woodrow last year, but is yet to turn a wheel since its stint in British F3.

“For winning the Formula Vee Championship, it was through BRM actually, I got a prize to have half a dozen laps out at Calder, that was it, so I’ll try to get over to Mallala at some point before,” he said.

“I’m very excited about it. At the moment, it’s a bit of a one-off. Greg’s helping us out on that front. He owns the car but doesn’t want to do the whole championship.

“The car is still literally being assembled from being put in a crate. There’s a bit of a race on from that respect as well.”

– MITCHELL ADAM motorsport news

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17

CHAT NEWS

THE WHITE CALL AUS RALLY THE opening round of the Australian Rally Championship at Rally Calder will have a slight Italian feel to it.

Two-time Targa Tasmania winner Jason White has confirmed he will be lining up in his 2011 spec Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera in a bid to conquer the opening round of the CAMS Australia Tarmac Rally Championship, which coincides with Rally Calder.

Teaming up once again with his uncle and co-driver, John White, it will only be

the second time the Gallardo has made an appearance since it crossed the line at the Targa High Country on fire.

After repairing the required $20,000 worth of damage, White admits he is excited to be back in competition, and looks forward to the challenge that the unique Rally Calder has to offer.

“I’m very excited for a few reasons.

Rally Calder is a completely different environment and a new challenge,” said White.

“It’s a very different event to the Targa events we usually compete in. In some

places it is much tighter than the roads of Targa so it gives us the chance to tune the car for lower speeds and there is also the opportunity to see how fast we can hit on the banked Thunderdome.

“We have over 600 horsepower so hopefully we can go quick enough to scare us.

“It’s an event with real character and it’s great to see both types of Rally come together for one event. Instead of sitting out in the bush all day there are three days of action, which are easily accessible for the fans.”

JUNIORS TO BE CHALLENGED AGAIN AUS RALLY FOLLOWING a successful maiden year in 2011, the Rallyschool.com. au Australian Junior Challenge will continue alongside the Australian Rally Championship for the 2012 season.

The Junior Challenge will have an increased presence in the ARC, growing from three rounds to four. Along with the expansion, there are a number of regulation changes set to make the competition closer, and more 18

competitive.

Out for 2012 is the 2011 qualifying system that saw three two-wheel drive entries and one four-wheel drive entry from each round qualify. New for 2012, one two-wheel drive and one fourwheel drive entry from each of the four qualifying rounds will go through to the final at Coffs Harbour, along with two additional wildcard entries in both categories.

The way in which winners are decided has also changed, with times, not

accumulation of points, the deciding factor in ultimate success. This is aimed to reward consistency, and also allows teams who have a lacklustre stage to catch up.

The two-wheel drive qualifiers will battle it out at the Coffs Coast Forest Rally for an all expenses paid drive at the final round of the ARC at the Rally Victoria in November. The four-wheel drive competitors meanwhile will fight to get a free entry, and a healthy assistance package for the final round. motorsport news

DOWEL BOWS OUT AUS RALLY

Michael Vettas

JUSTIN Dowel and Matt Lee will not defend their Australian Rally Championship title in 2012.

The pair have made the decision to focus on his business, Natures Organics, in which Lee is the Operations Manager, and to develop a new 2WD car for 2012.

“We really wanted to be able to defend our title this year, but a number of factors mean that won’t be possible,” Dowel said.

“But rest assured, we are in rallying for the long term, and will use the latter half of 2012 to develop a car ready for the 2013 Bosch ARC.” This will be Dowel and Lee’s first break from competition since 2003, however they may still do selected events in Dowel’s Lancer Evo IX, or a classic Ford Escort that is nearing completion.

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19

CHAT NEWS

JOHN MORRIS

ANDRA GREENLIGHTS CHANGE DRAG RACING ANDRA has introduced new regulations over the summer in a bid to diversify the premier Drag Racing series in Australia.

The Australian National Drag Racing Association board has given the green light for shorter race distances to be recognised lengths for championship racing. Eighth mile racing (201.1 metres) and 1000 feet (304.8 metres) have now been approved by the board, and will allow more drag racing facilities around Australia to accommodate championship racing.

Traditional quarter mile facilities that comply with current safety regulations will continue to run the quarter-mile format.

The decision also highlights Australia as one of the only nations to recognise different distances within the same championship.

ANDRA CEO Greg Humphreys says the change will add excitement to the championship for both the fans and the sponsors.

“Championship racing has traditionally been reserved for only the quarter mile strips,” said Humphreys.

“But to maximise the strength of our series it is essential that we reach into new areas.”

Meanwhile, ANDRA is continuing work on plans to hold a round of the Pro Series at Adelaide International Raceway this year.

Sellout crowds are one of the aims from ANDRA as they plan to run the round from April 14-15. It will be the first time in a decade that championship drag racing has been held in South Australia, and details of the event will be confirmed no later than January 31.

TK: IT’S STEVE. ABOUT OCTOBER ...

NZTOURERS

20

sutton-images.com

NEW Zealand may be going through some tough times at present but that has not discouraged the motor racing sector from snapping up the 20 franchises for the new V8 SuperTourer series.

Former CART team owner Steve Horne, local team owner Colin McLennan and former racer Bill Farmer took the last of the franchises recently. Their cars, and a 20th one sold subject to sponsorship, will join the series in time for the endurance races for the series, which start in August. The split between Holdens and Fords will be even at 10-10.

“When one considers none of the production cars have even had the opportunity to turn a wheel in anger yet, the interest has exceeded all of our

expectations” said Paul Radisich, V8 SuperTourers CEO. “We made the decision to cap the field at 20 cars for Season One earlier than was first envisaged so that we could focus on the championship itself. We are actually still receiving regular enquiries of the very highest quality from potential entrants

even in these tough economic times but there comes a point where you have to focus on the main objective, and for us that was always about putting on the best motor racing series this country has seen in years.

The aim of the promoters it to have 22 cars in year two and 24 in year three, with the possible introduction of a third manufacturer in 2013.

The series will start at Hampton Downs circuit on February 17-19, with races at Taupo, Manfeild and Ruapuna. The latter circuit will feature a 500km two-driver enduro in October – and with a number of international drivers in the region for the Gold Coast 600 V8 Supercar event, and Horne’s sure-to-be-impressive contacts book, there could be some interesting peddlers making the trip ... motorsport news

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21

CHAT NEWS

Tristen Murray

HIT FOR SIX AUS. RACING CARS THE FW1 Aussie Racing Cars will have an increased presence at V8 Supercar meetings in 2012, through their recently announced 2012 calendar.

The calendar consists of six rounds, getting underway at the Clipsal 500,

March 1-4. The only round away from the V8s as a support bill will be at the Bathurst Motor Festival, over the Easter weekend.

2011 Champion Adrian Cottrell and series runner-up Tyler Owen are expected to return to the grid for 2012, along with selected races to be televised live on Channel 7.

V8 TOURING CARS THE 2012 V8 Touring Car Series calendar has been announced, boasting an expanded race schedule that will grow from five rounds to six.

This will be the series’ fifth year of running since its inception in 2008, and the series will for the first time travel 22

to Queensland where they will take to Queensland Raceway.

The V8 Touring Car Series will once again be a headline category on the growing Shannons Nationals Motor Racing Series bill.

Meanwhile, making his return to the V8 Touring Car Series will be 2010 champion, Tony Evangelou, who has taken purchase

John Morris / Mpix

V8TC ADDS ANOTHER

2012 FW1 Aussie Racing Car Super Series 1. Clipsal 500 March 1-4 2. Bathurst April 6-8 3. Phillip Island May 18-20 4. Townsville July 6-8 5. Winton August 24-26 6. Gold Coast October 19-21

2012 Kumho V8 Touring Car Series 1. Eastern Creek March 9-11 2. Mallala April 13-15 3. Winton June 22-24 4. Qld Raceway August 10-12 5. Phillip Island September 21-23 6. Sandown November 23-35 of an ex-FPR BA Falcon, the sister car to his title winner, pictured. motorsport news

: P U C N I H W 10 MORE YEARS IN THE LATEST ISSUE OF MOTORSPORT NEWS, THE 2011 V8 SUPERCAR CHAMP REVEALS THAT HE’S STAYING PUT FOR ANOTHER DECADE ...

AND A WHOLE LOT MORE! PLUS: WE GO UNDER THE SKIN OF V8’S CAR OF THE FUTURE, TAKE A LOOK BACK AT THE

ON SALE NOW!

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CHAMPIONS OF 2011, SPEAK TO FORMULA 1 JOURNEYMAN TONIO LIUZZI, HAVE DINNER WITH JORG BERGMEISTER, THE FAMOUS MN XMAS QUIZ, AND MUCH, MUCH MORE!

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23

CHAT

FIVE MINUTES WITH ...

DAVID WALL

BRAD JONES RACING’S DRIVER LINE UP GETS A WHOLE LOT TALLER IN 2012 WITH THE ADDITION OF DEBUTANT DAVID WALL, ALONGSIDE JASON BRIGHT AND FABIAN COULTHARD. MITCHELL ADAM SPOKE TO THE DUAL AUSTRALIAN GT CHAMPION ABOUT STEPPING UP TO THE MAIN GAME MOTORSPORT NEWS: First things first, you’re in! How does it feel?

DAVID WALL: It feels unbelievable. It’s always been a massive goal to get there, and we’ve finally done it. Things like this don’t normally go my way, I’m not normally the luckiest kind of guy, but I feel very fortunate to be in the position that I’m in, to not only get a go, but to get a go with a good team and some great people involved to go along with it.

When did it all start to look like it was going actually go your way?

Probably just before Christmas, or early January, was the time it looked like it was going to go my way.

As I’ve said, I’m still getting over the fact that it has gone my way. It’s something we’ve been working on for some time, to try and get to the Main Series.

I’ve been an endurance driver for the last three years and two of those with BJR, so I’ve been in their cars, I know what to expect and I know all of the guys in there. It’s a great fit and a great opportunity.

You mentioned having done the enduros with BJR alongside Karl Reindler for the last two years, what do you already know about the team and the car?

Obviously a lot of the inside workings of the team itself you learn over the time you’re

with them. Even though it’s for a short time, two meetings, you get to know the way that everyone works and how passionate they are about what they want to achieve in the sport, which is obviously a great thing to have behind you.

Also, the cars, you get used to driving the cars, what makes them work and obviously working with Brighty and Fabian this year will help that along as well.

Definitely. For yourself, having done just the one year of DVS, having Jason and Fabian and their experience to learn from is only going to help.

For sure. Brighty’s obviously got a hell of a lot of experience, as does Fabian, both in these cars and in others. Their opinions and also data and everything else that goes along with it will be invaluable.

Compared to a lot of the guys coming into V8s, you haven’t had that almost traditional career path of Formula Ford followed by a couple of years in the DVS. You’ve done a couple of years in both Carrera Cup and Australian GT, and just the one year in the DVS – do you feel prepared? Would you rather be going in there having done a little bit more DVS? As I said to a couple of people before, I think the only way you know you’re prepared is when you’re actually there, 100

percent. I’ve done a lot of racing, as you said, in other classes, a lot of sportscar stuff and I’ve driven high horsepower cars beforehand. I feel that I am ready, personally.

It’s by no means going to be an easy task, to go into such a competitive series with the elite of the elite drivers in Australia competing in it, it’s going to be very difficult, but that’s what the challenge is all about, and that’s what excites me about going into it. I want to put myself up against everyone else in the class, learn as much as I can as quick as I can, and see how I go.

We had a conversation late last year, I think at Sandown, where you mentioned that a big part of the lure of getting into the Main Game was that you spend so much more time in the cars and you get to run on things like the Sprint Tyre.

Actually being in the Main Series now is only going to accelerate the whole learning process.

For sure. You mention the Sprint Tyre, that’s closer to what I’ve come from; I’ve come from Porsches that have run on a very sticky tyre, so hopefully that will be down my path.

As you say, you get more time in the cars, you obviously get more ride days, and everything that goes along with it gives you more experience and it fast tracks the learning process of trying to go fast in these cars

consistently.

Overall, aside from learning, have you thought about any goals for the season?

I was talking to some family friends about it the other day, the biggest goal that we were talking about initially was to make sure I finish every race.

Bearing in mind it is my first year in the Main Series, the first goal is to finish all of the races, and then try to fill up our other goals that we’re setting along the way with the team and sponsors.

Obviously the test day is coming up on February 11, between now and then and the start of the season, what’s your plan? Lots of visits down to Albury, wearing a hole into the Hume Highway?

Yeah! (Laughs) It’s probably easier to fly down. There’s actually a little Rex plane that we jump on that’s quite quick and easy, so it’s not actually a big deal to go down there. I can spend some time there when needed and get everything organised for the test like seat fittings.

I already know my engineer, I’ve worked with him before and I’ve been talking to him on the phone about a couple of bits and pieces that we want to try and do as get everything ready for the test.

February 11 can’t come quick enough, to tell you the truth.

I’m really looking forward to jumping in the car at Sandown and seeing where we’re at.

I want to put myself up against everyone else in the class, learn as much as I can as quick as I can, and see how I go.

24

motorsport news

Dirk Klynsmith

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25

RACE

2012 DAKAR RALLY ARGENTINA-PERU

MINI RULES THE DAKAR Peterhansel makes it 10 after challange from the Hummers

26

motorsport news

Desert, Stormed: Stephane Peterhansel led the Mini assault and took out his 10th win after a challenge from the Hummers of Robby Gordon, below. Cyril Despres, above, took out the bike title for the fourth time

Dakar.com

sutton-images.com

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even bigger lead, Gordon rolled the American V8, but kept going to finish the stage. He eventually finished fifth outright.

It was a double celebration for France, Cyril Depres taking his fourth win ahead of KTM team-mate Marc Coma. The Spaniard led the event until taking a wrong turn, handing the title to Depres. Dutchman Gerard De Rooy beat the Russians in the Truck division, while the Patronelli brothers dominated the Quads division, Alejandro taking his second title ahead of brother Marcos on their Yamahas.

Dakar.com

THE 2012 Dakar has ended in controversy, with Stephane Peterhansel claiming victory for an astonishing 10th time.

The Frenchman, who previously won the classic six times on two wheels and three times on four, led a 1-2 result for the Mini team, finishing 43 minutes ahead of team-mate Nani Roma. Former winner Ginel De Villiers was third in a Toyota.

“When you think of how hard it is to win a Dakar, it’s incredible that I’ve been able to win 10 of them,” said Peterhansel.

“It’s been a long time, I’ve been waiting for five years to win again! To take the victory in South America is a huge relief, it ranks among my best triumphs.

“Moreover, the race was very close during the first week and there was always a lot of pressure.”

With the withdrawal of the previously dominant Volkswagen team, and the 1-2 result, one could conclude that the event was a walk in the desert for the Minis team, led by Sven Quandt, whose successes with Mitsubishi have been well documented. But the event was, literally, a David and Goliath battle. The big-innumbers Mini team was challenged by Robby Gordon’s Hummers, with first defending winner Nasser Al-Attiyah taking the challenge up to the 4WD Countrymans. The Qatari looked to have winning speed, in spite of losing 10 minutes on the opening stage, until his Hummer stopped later in the event with terminal alternator problems.

Gordon took up the challenge but controversy is never far away from the American. While running fourth in the event’s second week, officials deemed that his Hummer’s engine was illegal. Gordon, never one to be shy, continued in the event under appeal and, after winning a stage by 15 minutes, said that officials could “kiss my ass”!

On the penultimate competitive stage, with an

27

RACE

TOYOTA RACING SERIES ROUND 1 – TERETONGA RACEWAY, NZ

IN SAFE HANNES

The equation is simple. Add water and watch the pot stir itself. The new TRS season got underway on the weekend, and a wild mix of winners emerged.

28

motorsport news

I

T was Josh Hill who made the headlines of the Toyota Racing Series at Teretonga on Saturday, but it was ultimately the weather that took centre stage on a chaotic Sunday.

Following a consistent round with a high place of second in Race 1, local driver Damon Leitch now holds the championship lead ahead of fellow countryman, Nick Cassidy.

Third generation racer Hill, son of 1996 Formula 1 World Champion Damon Hill and grandson of World Champion Graham Hill, made the most of the calamities suffered by his main rivals in Race 1, namely capitalising on the mistake of Lucas Auer who was on track to take the opening race win until a shower saw him finish the race on the sidelines.

Hill won the opener ahead of fellow BRDC Rising Star Jordan King in second place, and Leitch in third.

The unpredictable rain then made its hard-felt presence for the second race, striking the Invercargill circuit just one lap from the finish.

Hannes van Asseldonk (pictured left) found himself in the box seat to win the race after a hard-fought battle with Cassidy, Hill, Auer, Bruno Bonifacio and Ferrari Driver Academy member, Raffaele Marciello.

Race 3 was scheduled to be a 12-lap affair, but the dreadful weather meant the drivers had zero visibility, and the race was called off.

Australian Jason Bargwanna applied his extensive V8 racing experience to take Round 3 of the BNT New Zealand V8’s Championship at Teretonga on the weekend.

The weather was cold and the rain hit the circuit hard, but Bargwanna

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was the man who best judged the conditions to take a comfortable race win in Race 1, and backed up that solid performance with two-second places in the following two races.

Bargwanna’s driving heroics meant he has now closed the gap to championship leader, Angus Fogg in the point’s race. 53-points separate the duo, while Tim Edgell sits in third position, with Martin Short in third position after he too had a consistent weekend at the Invercargill circuit.

Andre Heimgartner took a comfortable win for the second round of the Formula Ford championship.

The developing Formula Ford pilot never looked to be bettered all weekend as he took pole position, and three race wins from as many starts at the 2.62km circuit.

17-Year old AJ Lauder has extended his points lead in the Suzuki Swift Sport Cup over his main rival Chris Cox following a solid weekend that saw him win two of the three races.

Lauder looked extremely comfortable in the horrible conditions, steering his Swift all the way to a new 58-point lead in the series.

Chris Hanley was a late bloomer in the UDC V8 Utes Championship, as he seemingly enjoyed the wet conditions of Sunday to finish the round on the top step of the podium.

The solid round for Hanley brought him to within 21-points of series leader Andrew Waite, who had a slightly slower weekend in fourth overall.

Gary Duncan and Geoff Short meanwhile were the men to beat in the in the Production GT and Sports GT categories respectively.

29

RACE

SUMMER SPRINTCARS WORLD SERIES SPRINTCARS – ROUNDS 4-10

Geoff Gracie

NO PASSING MCFADDEN JAMES MCFADDEN HAS WON EVENTS, PRIZE MONEY AND A CAR AND BUILT A LEAD IN THE ‘11/12 WORLD SERIES SPRINTCARS IN RECENT WEEKS. GEOFF ROUNDS REVIEWS HIS HOT STREAK

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motorsport news

P

Geoff Gracie

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Paris Charles

RIOR to last weekend, James McFadden was seemingly cruising in the 2011-12 World Series Sprintcars Championship. But then Brooke Tatnell jumped up and reminded the emerging star of the sport he’s still the man he has to beat if he wants to win the crown.

McFadden (2953 points) had won six from nine races before the 10th round in Adelaide last weekend and despite not finishing in the Top 10, still holds a sizeable 423 point-lead over closest rival Tatnell (2530), with defending WSS champion Robbie Farr (2507) the only other real challenger a further 23 points back in third.

Tatnell’s, right, first WSS victory of the season is also timely at the venue where he will defend his Australian sprintcar title in just 11 days time.

“It’s definitely a good confidence boost. We’re looking at it and knowing that this is the roll that we needed going into the Classic and the Title. We’ve been fast here, I know we can keep on rolling on, and there’s lot of races left to win this year,” Tatnell said.

But the real buzz of this season’s WSS chase has been McFadden.

The 22-year-old Queenslander has been simply masterful with wins since Boxing Day at Warrnambool, Avalon, Mount Gambier and Adelaide.

His efforts also earned him victory in the coveted Speedweek during this festive period, banking $50,000 along the way, along with a very cool Shelby Ford Mustang, after betting his team owner he could win the week.

In winning his sixth WSS main event in eight rounds McFadden, now has the keys to his car owner Scott Milling’s 2009 Shelby Cobra road car. Milling made the offer prior to the series kicking off, challenging his driver to win Speedweek with his Shelby as a lure.

Milling has met his end of the deal, with McFadden now set to take delivery of the Cobra.

“I’m not sure I should do that,” McFadden said.

“I’d be dangerous in that thing. You see kids, take my word, drive carefully on the road.”

But, on the track McFadden has been nearly unbeatable.

“Everything’s just falling into place,” McFadden said.

“The car is awesome, the whole team is just gelling. I feel really confident that I can run almost anywhere on the track. Things are just amazing right now. Glen (Beaton, crew chief) has done a phenomenal job with this Totally Workwear Cool. “Every time I go out there I know we have a good shot at the win.

“Things are good right now, what can I say? We’ve got a great package and we’re winning races. We can’t seem to do much wrong at the moment.”

He has recorded three fastest times for the year and was only

downed at Murray Bridge when multiple Australian champion Garry Brazier, above, also sent an ominous warning to his younger competitor by winning there, while World of Outlaws star Donny Schatz won the Brisbane round.

“It’s so good to be back in victory lane. You sometimes wonder, when you’ve been to the top and been away for a while, if you can really get back to the top again. It’s confirmed that I can still get in one of these cars and win in a World Series event. That’s a great feeling,” Brazier said.

World Series Sprintcars has five rounds left to run and will wrap their season up in Western Australia during February, with the next round in Kalgoorlie on the 1st and the finale of the season at the Perth Motorplex on the 17th.

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RACE

SUMMER SPRINTCARS TYREPOWER SYDNEY SPEEDWAY, NEW SOUTH WALES

RED HOT

JASON MEYERS WAS THE STAR ATTRACTION IN SYDNEY OVER SUMMER AND HE DIDN’T DISAPPOINT, GREG BOSCATO REPORTS

D

UAL World of Outlaws Champion Jason Meyers made it look so easy as he took on and won all four of Tyrepower Sydney Speedway’s summer feature races.

His final race, the weekend’s Scott Darley Challenge, saw only one night of the two run after the rain that had lashed Sydney saw the final evening cancelled. A total of 40 Sprintcars lined up on Night 1 of the Darley Challenge, with six-time Aussie Champ Garry Brazier kicking it off with the fastest time in qualifying over Meyers, Ian Madsen, Mitchell Dumesny and Lynton Jeffrey, with impressive Queenslander Brent Aprile making the top six.

The five heat races saw wins to Roddy BellBowen, Steve Caunt, Glen Saville, Meyers and Brazier, while ignition troubles saw Madsen finish down the order in his heat after leading comfortably.

An easy victory in the B Main over Campbell and Delemont booked his spot in the final, though.

The preliminary A Main saw Ian Loudoun lead early, but by Lap 6, Meyers, who had started fifth, had blasted into a lead he would hold until the chequered flag. Loudoun finished second while Brazier claimed third after a great battle with Jeffrey mid race.

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Dumesny was fourth, ahead of Jeffrey and April, while Madsen was the big mover, finishing seventh from the rear. Roddy BellBowen crashed heavily early in the race in an incident involving Ferguson and Goldini, far right.

Going into the final night, Meyers led the points tally over Brazier and Loudoun, but a rainstorm hit the track on Saturday night. The meeting was shuffled to Sunday, but rain continued to fall and it has now been postponed to a later date. Meyers, though, won’t be part of it; his stint in Sydney has finished ahead of a run of big meetings in Victoria.

The circuit’s feature races started on Boxing Day for the annual Valvoline Australian Sprintcar GP, with Meyers setting the pace in qualifying with quick time over Loudoun and Warren Ferguson. It was a relatively quiet night, but nine laps into the GP A Main, rain hit the track, forcing the promoters to reschedule the race to New Year’s Day. That meant fans got two A Mains to kick off 2012, but it was all about Meyers, who won both the rescheduled Sprintcar GP and the Coca Cola Stampede. In the GP race, Meyers took the win

motorsport news

John Morris / Mpix John Morris / Mpix John Morris / Mpix

over Loudoun and Lynton Jeffrey, with Tunks, Atkinson and Little rounding the top six. Little was the early leader but fuel problems slowed him late in the race.

The third leg of the run, on January 7, was filled with drama, as Meyers, Atkinson and Jeffrey all crashed during the night. Jeffrey set the fast time with Meyers, Ian Madsen (in his first drive at TSS after running WSS), Abbott, James Thomson and Mitchell Dumesny the top six. The four heats saw wins to Jon McCorkindale, Blyton, Loudoun and Adrian Maher, but all eyes were on Heat 3. A startline incident saw Meyers and current TSS track Champ Atkinson crash into Turn 1 and instant retirements. Their crews worked hard to have the cars ready for the B Main, along with Jeffrey, who had crashed in Heat 4. Meyers won the B Main over Dumesny, Jeffrey and Atkinson with all four going into the A Main field.

Tunks ledearly, but by Lap 16, Meyers – from 21st – was leading and looking good. Madsen came on strong with around 10 to go, almost taking the lead in traffic, but Meyers was again too strong.

Madsen spun at Turn 3 on the final lap, giving Loudoun second, followed by Tunks, Madsen, Maher and Darryl Campbell.

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33

RACE

FALCON DOMINATES DUBAI SPORTSCARS THE Dubai 24 Hours was claimed by the Black Falcon-run Mercedes SLS AMG GT3 – the first 24 Hour race to be won

by Mercedes since the 1989 Le Mans 24 Hours.

Driven by Khaled Al Qubaisi, Sean Edwards, Jeroen Bleekemolen and Thomas

Jäger, the car completed a total of 628 laps to establish a new record distance in the Dubai 24 Hours.

Heico Motorsport took second and third, with Bernd Schneider, Maximilian Buhk, Christiaan Frankenhout, Max Nilsson and Andreas Zuber finishing second from the sister car, driven by Bernd Schneider, Kenneth Heyer, Andreas Simonsen and Rodolfo Gonzalez.

Last year’s winning team, Saudi Falcons

by Schubert, had its drivers Abdulaziz Al Faisal, Faisal Binladen, Edward Sandström, Jörg Müller and Claudia Hürtgen with the BMW Z4 in contention for a podium finish for most of the race, but debris in the air intake with some three hours remaining made them drop to fourth, where they finished.

– DAVID ADDISON

DILLON ON TOP IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA SPRINTCARS ADELAIDE’S Speedway City was a busy haven for Sprintcar action over the Christmas and New Years holiday period.

The venue had three scheduled rounds of the Revolution Racegear Sprintcar Track Championship Series, two of which were incorporated within the Hi Tec Oils World Series Sprintcars, with the best of the Australian and American imports taking on the locals.

Unfortunately, Mother Nature washed away the other, standalone event, scheduled for January 7, but the locals still had plenty of running.

Last weekend, a stout field of 42 Sprintcars featuring six of the big guns from America were out in force, and while it was the Australian Champion Brooke Tatnell who claimed the victory, the drivers flanking him on the podium were local entries Luke Dillon, pictured, and Matt Egel, who had made the most of their home track knowledge. Fourth home was fellow South Aussie and contracted WSS driver Dylan Jenkin, who is having a better

than expected season as a rookie driver contracted to the national series.

In the first leg of Speedweek on Boxing Day, the South Aussies didn’t fair as well, but once again it was Dillon and Egel leading the locals to claim seventh and eighth while Ryan Jones and Trevor Green rounded out the top 10.

Dillon leads the Speedway City Track

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Championship points, with a handy break over his nearest rivals; Daniel Pestka, Jamie Cobby, Mark Reuter, Jones and Egel.

After the upcoming Warrnambool Sprintcar Classic, Adelaide’s Speedway City will once again be the focal point of Sprintcar racing, as it hosts the national championship on January 25-28.

– PARIS CHARLES

motorsport news 4/04/2011 3:37:05 PM

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