PHOTOS: AN1 Images archive, Supercars (Mark Horsburgh, Jack Martin), Nathan Wong / Speed Shots Photography, Ross Gibb, Matthew Paul Photography, Toyota, Matt Stone Racing, PremiAir Nulon Racing. PUBLISHER:
Shane Howard Chief Executive Officer, Supercars
Welcome from Supercars
Welcome to this historic 60th anniversary of the Penrite Oil Sandown 500.
Our return here in 2024 to Melbourne’s most historic venue, pays respect to the 1964 running of an international six-hour race which evolved into the Sandown 500.
It’s a double celebration, with the second milestone being that this year is the 50th running of the event, which first achieved Australian Touring Car Championship/ Supercars Championship round status for a brief period in the 1970s before becoming a fixture on the championship calendar in the 2000s.
Over six decades we have watched legends etch their name into history here at this venue and we can’t wait to see what the 2024 edition has in store.
As the CEO of Supercars, I thank all the passionate fans, esteemed partners, and racing enthusiasts gathered here in Melbourne for this historic event.
This weekend, fans are in for a treat with legends like Supercars Hall of Fame inductees Craig Lowndes and Jamie Whincup returning to the track, along with the celebrated Bathurst 1000 champions Garth Tander and Lee Holdsworth, who are among the list of co-drivers vying for line honours at this famous event.
We are also amid one of the most competitive championship battles in recent
times, with Will Brown, Chaz Mostert, Broc Feeney and Cam Waters all here this weekend trying to gain maximum points, ensuring this year’s drivers title is going to go down to the wire.
Our event would not be possible without the exciting support card and on track entertainment we have in store, and I thank all of the competitors taking to the track this weekend for helping to make this event one to remember.
To our volunteers, marshals and officials, thank you on behalf of Supercars for your hard work this weekend, to bring this event to life for our fans here in Victoria.
I want to express my heartfelt thanks to our series partners and event naming rights partner, Penrite Oil.
Your dedication to Supercars and unwavering support have made this event possible.
We are proud to have you as key partners, and we are excited to witness the thrilling racing action unfold under the Penrite Oil banner.
The Penrite Oil Sandown 500 sets the scene for one of the most anticipated endurance seasons in the history of Supercars and I am thrilled to join with you, our fans for what will be another memorable event at this beloved circuit.
Toby Dymond CEO, Penrite Oil
WelcomefromPenriteOil
On behalf of the Dymond family and staff at Penrite Oil, I’m thrilled to welcome you to the 60th anniversary of the Penrite Oil Sandown 500.
This iconic event holds a special place in our hearts, not only for its rich motorsport heritage but also for its deep connection to our company’s history.
The Sandown International Raceway, just 12 kilometres from our Dandenong head office and main production facility, has been integral to the development of Penrite’s racewinning lubricants.
Over the years, this track has served as a proving ground for our products, pushing them to their limits and helping us refine the high-performance oils and lubricants that have become synonymous with Penrite. It’s here that we’ve tested and perfected the very products that now drive teams to victory on tracks across Australia and beyond.
For nearly 100 years, Penrite Oil has been a trusted name in the automotive industry,
Wayne Bryant Chief Executive Officer Automotive Division, GPC Asia Pacific
Welcome from Repco
Welcome to the home of horsepower for what is the start of an exciting period in the 2024 Repco Supercars Championship season – enduro time.
After a bumper eight sprint rounds, the Penrite Oil Sandown 500 officially gets Supercars’ endurance season goin’, a popular and famous element of the calendar where Australia’s best drivers are put to the ultimate test.
And what better way to start off this hugely exciting period than racin’ at an iconic metropolitan Melbourne circuit boasting a rich history of motorsport – a staple of Victoria’s world-famous sporting culture.
That long and illustrious history will be on display as Supercars celebrates the 60th anniversary of the first endurance race at Sandown International Raceway, having debuted long-distance racing here in 1964.
Not only will this year’s edition mark the 60th anniversary, but also the important milestone of 50 endurance races run at this storied venue.
A lot has changed in those 60 years, but this circuit has constantly delivered highs and lows, unforgettable memories and historic moments during that time, and I have no doubt that will continue as long as the great
continuously innovating and developing lubricant solutions that cater to a wide range of applications.
As a family-owned business with a proud Australian heritage, we are honoured to support an event that resonates so strongly with motorsport enthusiasts and embodies the spirit of competition.
The Penrite Oil Sandown 500 isn’t just a race, it’s a celebration of passion, precision, and the relentless pursuit of excellence values that are at the core of everything we do at Penrite.
As the official event sponsor, we would also like to thank all the volunteers, officials, teams and fans who help put on this great event.
Thank you for joining us in celebrating this milestone 60th year. We hope you enjoy the weekend’s racing and all that makes Sandown such a special place.
Here’s to another unforgettable chapter in the history of the Sandown 500!
circuit remains a motorsport venue.
Last month’s NED Whisky Tasmania Supersprint saw the outright title fight heat up despite the frosty weather conditions wreaking havoc across the weekend, as Chaz Mostert slightly closed the gap on Will Brown on the standings.
Young gun Broc Feeney was in the thick of that drama, but the Triple Eight driver will be looking to bounce back at the event he won last year alongside Jamie Whincup – the accomplished champion leading the star-studded line up of co-drivers who join the fray.
Whincup isn’t the only heavy hitter to be in attendance as a co-driver, with the likes of Lee Holdsworth, Todd Hazelwood, Scott Pye, Tony D’Alberto and Fabian Coulthard just some of the familiar faces on show.
Whether you’re a Ford or a Camaro fan, the beauty of the endurance season is that many fan favourites return to play a pivotal role in the season and we at Repco can’t wait to see how it unfolds.
So no matter where you are watchin’ from, be it at the famous Sandown or from the comfort of your own home, enjoy the stars of Australian motorsport struttin’ their stuff at the iconic Sandown Raceway.
Friday 13 September
Saturday 14 September
Sunday 15 September
8:40
2024 PENRITE OIL SANDOWN 500
BRODIE KOSTECKI
DRIVER DETAILS
AGE 26
FROM Perth, WA
LIVES Gold Coast, QLD FACEBOOK @brodiekostecki57
@brodiekostecki
TODD HAZELWOOD
DRIVER DETAILS AGE 28
FROM Adelaide, SA
LIVES Gold Coast, QLD
@ToddHazelwoodRacing
@toddhazelwood
Mobil 1TM Truck Assist Racing
Ford Mustang GT
RYAN WOOD
DRIVER DETAILS
AGE 20
FROM Wellington, NZ
LIVES Melbourne, VIC
FACEBOOK @ryanwoodracing
INSTAGRAM @ryanwood40_
FABIAN COULTHARD
DRIVER DETAILS
AGE 42
FROM Auckland, NZ
LIVES Gold Coast, QLD
FACEBOOK @FabianCoulthard
INSTAGRAM @fabiancoulthard
CoolDrive Racing
Ford Mustang GT
AARON LOVE
DRIVER DETAILS
AGE 22
FROM Perth, WA
LIVES Melbourne, VIC
FACEBOOK @AaronLove
INSTAGRAM @aaronlove78 CHAMPIONSHIP
AARON CAMERON
DRIVER DETAILS
AGE 24
FROM Ferntree Gully, VIC
LIVES Kilsyth, VIC
FACEBOOK @AaronCameronRacing
INSTAGRAM @aaroncameronracing
SP Tools Racing Chevrolet Camaro ZL1
CAMERON HILL
DRIVER DETAILS
AGE 27
FROM Canberra, ACT
LIVES Canberra, ACT
FACEBOOK @cameronhill11
INSTAGRAM @cameron_hill4
CAMERON CRICK
DRIVER DETAILS
AGE 26
FROM Camden, NSW
LIVES Camden, NSW
FACEBOOK @cameroncrick7
CHAMPIONSHIP
INSTAGRAM @cameron_crick CHAMPIONSHIP
Monster Castrol Racing Ford Mustang GT
CAM WATERS
DRIVER DETAILS AGE 30 FROM Mildura, VIC
s Melbourne, VIC FACEBOOK @camwaters94 INSTAGRAM @cam_waters
JAMES MOFFAT
DRIVER DETAILS
40
Melbourne, VIC
Melbourne, VIC
@jamesmoffatofficial
@j_moffat
BE RYCO READY
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Ryco is proud to be the Official Filtration Partner of the Repco Supercars Championship.
Along with being engineered, developed, and tested at its Melbourne Laboratory, Ryco’s range of GEN3 Control Parts deliver outstanding filtration and extended engine life without compromising flow or performance.
So, when your everyday passenger, 4x4 or commercial vehicle needs the same protection as a Supercar, be Ryco Ready.
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Technology proven in Supercars, available for your daily drive.
DRIVER DETAILS AGE 21 FROM Lancefield, VIC LIVES Lancefield, VIC
@jayrobotham
KAI ALLEN
SWAP YOUR KEYS FOR AN ELECTRONIC PIN.
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Tried and tested on the boss’s caravan. He thought it was brilliant.
External side PIN CODE ACCESS
Watch the video YOUTUBE: EPEC Cylinder or follow the QR Code link
MARK WINTERBOTTOM
DRIVER DETAILS
43
Sydney, NSW
LIVES Melbourne, VIC
@markjwinterbottom
@markjwinterbottom
MICHAEL CARUSO
DRIVER
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BROC FEENEY
DRIVER DETAILS AGE 21 FROM Gold Coast, QLD LIVES Gold Coast, QLD
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Matt Chahda Motorsport Chevrolet Camaro ZL1
MATT CHAHDA
DRIVER DETAILS
AGE 31
FROM Albury, NSW
LIVES Albury, NSW
FACEBOOK @mattchahdamotorsport
INSTAGRAM @mattchahda
BRAD VAUGHAN
DRIVER DETAILS
AGE 20 FROM Angaston, SA
LIVES Angaston, SA
FACEBOOK @vaughanracingteam
INSTAGRAM @bradley_vaughan5
Supercheap Auto Racing
Chevrolet Camaro ZL1
CRAIG LOWNDES
DRIVER DETAILS
AGE 50 FROM Melbourne, VIC
LIVES Brisbane, QLD
@craiglowndesofficial
COOPER MURRAY
DRIVER DETAILS
AGE 23 FROM Melbourne, VIC
LIVES Melbourne, VIC
Kai Allen continues to lead the Dunlop Series field as it heads to Sandown but, as WILL DALE reports, it’s a round that shaped last year’s title chase ...
Kai Allen’s pursuit of back-to-back Dunlop Series crowns is ramping up as the 2024 season enters its second half. The annual Penrite Oil Sandown 500-supporting round marks the fourth of six rounds this year, and a good run during the Repco Supercars Championship enduro-aligned events can make or break a title challenge.
Allen knows this all too well. His charge to last year’s title gathered crucial steam on this weekend last year. He didn’t win either of the races – Ryan Wood steamrolled Saturday’s affair, while Cooper Murray emerged the victor of a carnagefilled Sunday sprint – but Allen’s pair of fourths, allied to a penalty for then-points leader Zak Best, shifted the momentum in the Eggleston Motorsport driver’s favour.
This time around he is the one being hunted. Allen holds a 114-point lead in the standings with four race wins across the three rounds held to date.
A fresh cast of faces leads the chase. Aaron Cameron made his Dunlop Series debut 12 months ago at last year’s Sandown round. Although he is still looking for a breakthrough race win, he has been off the podium just once so far in 2024 to sit second in the standings.
Zach Bates – third in points, 153 adrift of Allen – has stepped up to lead Walkinshaw Andretti United’s secondtier effort in his second Super2 season. It has been boom and bust for the latest product of the Canberran motorsport dynasty, though; he claimed his first race and round win at Wanneroo and his first pole position in Townsville, but lowly finishes at Mount Panorama (post-race time penalty) and on the Saturday in North Queensland (damage from a lap-1 incident) have hurt his title challenge.
Porsche Carrera Cup convert Max Vidau
and Erebus Academy junior Jarrod Hughes have also had impressive rookie campaigns to date to sit inside the top-five in the standings at the season’s halfway point.
Several drivers will be pulling double duty with co-drives in the Sandown 500, led by points-leader Allen, Eggleston teammate Cooper Murray, and last-start round winner in Townsville Jack Perkins,
who receives an exemption to race at Sandown due to rules that ordinarily prevent co-drivers from driving in Super2 unless they’ve competed in a certain percentage of the season to date. The trio will be joined by ‘main game ’ debutants Cameron, Brad Vaughan, Cameron McLeod, Matt Chahda and Cameron Crick, the latter pair sitting out the Sandown Dunlop Series round to focus on their main race co-drives.
There have been a few changes in the field since the most recent Dunlop Series round in July AIM Motorsport has withdrawn its two-car Ford Mustang entry from the remainder of the season, but the Super2 field welcomes a rookie this weekend in the form of Porsche Sprint Challenge racer Aron Shields, who takes Chahda’s place in the Albury-based, family-run Matt Chahda Motorsport Holden, which adopts Shields’ usual race number of #116
The Super3 fleet has also expanded with Tony Auddino’s return and Antonio Molluso making his debut aboard an Image Racing-run Ford Falcon FG. ■
2024 DUNLOP SERIES, ROUND 4
This year’s Sandown round rings up a major milestone for Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia, reports WILL DALE…
This weekend is a special occasion for Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia, with its races on the Penrite Oil Sandown 500 support card marking the championship’s 150th points-paying round.
The category has built a rich catalogue of history since its debut in 2003. The legendary Jim Richards won the inaugural round at Phillip Island on his way to securing the first Carrera Cup Australia crown.
Remarkably, all of the category’s milestone races have fallen at Victorian circuits. The 50th round also took place at Phillip Island, won by five-time Carrera Cup champion Craig Baird, while the 100th round took place at Albert Park in 2017 and was won by Cameron McConville.
A total of 45 drivers have claimed
overall wins across the 149 rounds held to date, with Baird topping the list on 21. 2004 champion Alex Davison is next closest with 17, while Richards (10) is the only other driver to have reached double figures.
When it comes to longevity, no driver can match Pro-Am racer Marc Cini. Set to make his 132nd round start this weekend, Cini is the only driver in Carrera Cup Australia history to reach a century of career appearances.
Sandown has played a large role in Carrera Cup reaching the 150-round milestone. This weekend will mark the championship’s 14th visit to the iconic Victorian circuit, tying it with Albert Park in fourth on the list of the category’s most-visited venues; only Adelaide (15), Surfers Paradise (18) and Mount Panorama (19) are above it.
Sandown also sees Harri Jones poised to add another chapter of his own to Carrera Cup history. Crowned as the 2022 champion at this circuit, Jones dominated the recent Sydney Motorsport Park round, a clean-sweep of all three race wins extending his points lead to 145 after nearest rival Jackson Walls’ costly non-finish in the opening night race, while David Russell sits a further nine points adrift in third.
A handful of the field are in for busy weekend with Russell, Fabian Coulthard, Dylan O’Keeffe and Dale Wood combining their Porsche duties with co-driving in the Sandown 500.
A wildcard in the pack will be Zak Best. The Repco Supercars Championship polewinner and multiple Dunlop Series bridesmaid makes his Carrera Cup debut this weekend with EMA Motorsport. ■
PORSCHE PAYNTER DIXON CARRERA CUP AUSTRALIA, ROUND
Toyota’s junior racing series enters a new era in 2024. WILL DALE previews the action…
Toyota’s entry level class for young racers has been around for nearly a decade now, and it enters a new era with its 2024 season.
The first obvious change is to the name. Formally, the series is now called the Toyota GAZOO Racing Australia GR Cup, a change that further highlights the manufacturer’s sports and performance brand.
The other obvious change is to the cars themselves. A brand-new model GR86 made its racing debut in the opening round
of the 2024 GR Cup on the Townsville streets in July, with more power and less weight than the model it replaced.
A bumper field of 33 cars is entered for the third leg of the five-round series, which appears on the Repco Supercars Championship undercard throughout the second half of this year. It’s an appropriate link, given the class has been a step on the ladder for many current Supercars stars, headlined by Triple Eight duo Will Brown and Broc Feeney.
One element of the category that has remained this year is the presence of two star guest drivers in the field at each round, serving as both benchmarks and mentors for the category’s young chargers. This weekend, Dunlop Series winners and Repco Supercars Championship veterans Steve
Owen and Chris Pither take on the guest driver roles.
Matthew Hillyer arrives at Sandown on a hot streak. The Walkinshaw Andretti United-backed driver swept all three races at Sydney Motorsport Park to win Round 2 and close to 12 points behind series leader Bradi Owen, with third-generation racer Max Geoghegan a further 36 adrift. Others to keep an eye on at SMP are former race winner Clay Richards, leading woman racer Alice Buckley, last year’s Kaizen Award winner Ryan Tomsett and 2022 series champion Lachie Gibbons.
The Toyota GAZOO Racing Australia GR Cup appears on the Supercars support card at the Penrite Oil Sandown 500, Repco Bathurst 1000 and Boost Mobile Gold Coast 500. ■
TOYOTA GAZOO RACING AUSTRALIA GR CUP
Touring Car Masters is back bigger and better in 2024 with familiar faces and cars set to storm Sandown, reports WILL DALE…
The signature retro rumble of Touring Car Masters is set to shake Melbourne’s eastern suburbs this weekend.
The fifth round of the 2024 season takes the TCM field to Sandown, where the ‘home of horsepower’s long straights give the category’s V8-engined beasts plenty of room to stretch their legs.
The traditional Ford vs Holden rivalry ended in a split decision last time around with the ‘blue oval’ getting the nod at Sydney Motorsport Park. The closeness began in the Trophy Race, in which Danny Buzadzic edged Marcus Zukanovic by just 0.038s. The round itself ended in a perfect draw, with Jamie Tilley and Ryan
Hansford both locked on 192 points apiece, the win going to the Ford pilot courtesy of his victory in the third and final sprint of the weekend.
The pair resume battle this weekend, each leading a horde of contenders. Steven Johnson returns to the Ford fleet, having been a late withdrawal from the Sydney round due to illness and his place aboard Russell Hancock’s stunning Mustang taken by TCM legend John Bowe. Although the absence has scuppered his bid for the title, Johnson will be out for silverware this weekend. He’ll be backed up by Zukanovic in his popular XD Falcon, along with Mustang runner Tony Karanfilovski. Joining Hansford
in the General Motors brigade is Adam Garwood and his Holden Commodore VP, assisted by category stalwarts Jim Pollicina, Andrew Fisher and Danny Buzadzic aboard their Toranas, while Bob and Sharon Middleton’s venerable #95 Chevrolet Camaro has been in the mix all season with Aussie Racing Cars star Joel Heinrich behind the wheel.
Johnson’s absence from Sydney allowed Garwood to build a handy lead atop the Pro Am class points standings, with Tilley now moving to second place just 43 points adrift. In Pro Master, Hansford’s strong result moves him into the class lead, 51 points ahead of Heinrich with Zukanovic third and Johnson slipping to fourth. ■
TOURING CAR MASTERS, ROUND 5
CORRIGAN ROAD
OFFICIALS OF THE EVENT
NATIONAL SPORTING AUTHORITY
Motorsport Australia
PROMOTER / ORGANISER
Supercars Australia Pty Ltd
ORGANISING COMMITTEE
Matt Gegg, Phil Shaw, Kimberly Hughes, Matt Balcombe
SUPERCARS OFFICIALS
VCS & DS2/3 STEWARDS
Bradley Tubb (Chair), Steve Lisk, Trevor Neumann
VCS RACE DIRECTOR
James Taylor
VCS DEPUTY RACE DIRECTORS
David Mori, David Stuart
DS2/3 RACE DIRECTOR
David Mori
DS2/3 DEPUTY RACE DIRECTOR
David Stuart
CLERK OF THE COURSE
Matt Balcombe
SECRETARY OF THE EVENT
Kimberly Hughes
MEDICAL DELEGATE
Dr Carl Le
HEAD OF MOTORSPORT
Tim Edwards
DS2/3 CATEGORY TECHNICAL MANAGER
Scott Campbell STARTER
James Delzoppo
DRIVING STANDARDS ADVISOR
Craig Baird
TIMING CO-ORDINATOR
Ian Leech
Riya Agrawal
Windjana Ambatali
Sienna Amos
Mark Anderson
Frank Arduca
Michael Armstrong
Rebecca Armstrong
Roy Armstrong
Michael Arnott
Suzanne Arnott
Craig Baird
Mariam Baitieh
Matt Balcombe
David Baldock
Natasha Baldock
Dulvin Bandara
Rebecca Barnett
Zac Barsdell
Attila Bary
Simon Baston
Ruby Bates
Andrew Bazeley
David Bazeley
Andrew Beattie
Jeffrey Beatton
John Beck
Steven Becker
David Bellenger
RECOVERY CO-ORDINATOR
Alistair Walker
SAFETY CAR DRIVER
Jason Routley
SAFETY CAR COMMUNICATOR
Jacqueline Devereaux
MEDIA MANAGER
Paul Glover
SUPPORT EVENT OFFICIALS
SUPPORT CATEGORY STEWARDS
David Bellenger (Chair), Matthew Halpin, Glenn Pincott