Motorsport News Issue 170 - 14-27 January 2000 by V8 Sleuth

Aussie lands (NZ$5.95incl GST)

m’●-27 January2000

MynMLll

F1: Williams

goes for youth a GP hot lap with Brock or Moffat! Main photo: Graeme Neander/Coventry Studios

■ Driving Sainz s WRC Corolla

■ World Series

HOCKENHEIM R

DRAG B02 «" 14” IS" IB" 17"

AMG RK STYLE

RACING DYNAMICS RGS 17" IB

U January 2000

Ringing the changes

■ Greg Murphy must be feeling pretty good at the moment... Not

only id he win Bathurst back in

TEGA to rule on Ford ring gear controversy

November, but Murfs also just had a win with his girlfriend, Monique who has agreed to marry the expat Kiwi, the pair now being officially engaged. Murf and Monique have also established a more-permanent

SEVERAL Fords have been

base in Melbourne, this week

running with what has been described as “technically ille gal” ring gears for the past two

moving into a townhouse they recently purchased in East Brighton.

seasons.

■ The wedding bells must be ringing loudly as former SOOcc GP winner Daryl Beattie due to

TEGA, the Touring Car Entrants’ Group, is about to meet to clarify a regulation regarding the placement of the gears within

be married on the Gold Coast this weekend.

the bell housing. The ling gears are usually mount ed on the flywheel but, in these instances, ring gears have been

mounted on the clutch, allowing a potentially lower reciprocating mass and, therefore, better engine accelera tion.

The placement of the ring gears appears to be a ‘grey area’ in CAMS’s touring car regulations. Rule 16.6 of the current rules says that “The starter motor is free, save that it must be exclusively electrically powered and it must drive through the flywheel ring gear.” There appears to be no concise definition of where the ring should be mounted

and several Ford

teams have expressed the view that even mounted behind the

clutch, the ring gear is still techni cally mounted on the flywheel. The teams that are believed to

have made the change are Ford Tickford Racing, Shell Helix/Dick Johnson Racing and Castrol Longhurst Racing, though Stone Brothers Racing, whose cars set the qualifying pace for much of the ‘99 season and took pole at Bathurst, has its ring gears mount ed ‘conventionally’. That fact would appear to enhance the claim that the change is not a performance-enahncing one.

Ford Racing Manager Howard Marsden says that he is aware of the matter and expects to see a clarification from TEGA.

But Marsden expects that changes in the Ford system, where Ford’s motorsport department will take the lead in developing techni cal components, will not allow such a thing to be repeated in the future.

■ Psst: want an interesting screensaver? Shell have unveiled their new screensaver which

captures “:all the action from the tumultuous 1999 Shell

Championship Series”. Providing

’"'Gfeaifleld

your PC hasn’t taken a Y2K dump, download it at http://www.racingwithshell.com. au/scs/tl_index_scs_freedownloads.html <

■ We stuffed up department. Sorry for the whoopsy in last

iif I

Which way? Fords old and new may need to change their ring gear mountings, (Photo by Marshall cass)

Volvo pulls out VOLVO has pulled out of Super Touring racing in Manufacturers’ title last season, Volvo Australia announced on

Director Jan Eriksson says that the decision has been in the wind for some time: “Our team’s future has been under consideration since last

August, when Volvo Car Corporation announced it would not take part in this year’s BTCC,”he said. Volvo, which is now owned by

through being on the TEGA techni cal committee,” he said. “A Ford individual asked for clari fication on the matter. I’ve directed them to the CAMS manual which

says ‘you CANNOT do this’ and that’s quite clear. A fist of car owners

who are running this has been tabled.

“I’d certainly expect to see the matter corrected before Phillip Island.” - PHIL BRANAGAN

TBN, QLD TBN, Tas

January 7, 2001 February 11,2001

Oran Park

Ford, has ‘loaned’ lead driver

Come in S40, your time is up: Jim Richards’ Volvo S40. (oirk Kiynsmith)

Rickard Rydell to Ford, for which

TOCA pushing ahead

he will race a third Mondeo in the

British Championship. There had been some rumours

TWR, which built and developed

“Without Volvo as a manufactur

the BTCC cars and maintained

ers entrant in Super Touring,” says Kelvin O’Reilly, Chief

engines for the Australian S40s. It is now likely that Volvo’s only international Super Touring

Executive of TOCA Australia.

“(But) they are still evaluating the possibility of running a Super

racing will be in Sweden with J[an ‘Flash’ Nielsson’s team, but Hong Kong racer Charles Kwan may

Production car or cars.” The Volvo S40 is one of 49 cars

mn an S40 in Asia.

spread across 25 manufacturers which is eligible to race in the

-PHELBRANAGAN

Super Production class of the championship. While O’Reilly would confirm that Volvo was look

ing at the class, it appears likely that there could be interest, if not in 2000, then maybe in 2001.

In the meantime O’Reilly is

pressing ahead with the plans for this year’s two-class championship. “We’re in year two of a five year agreement with Seven, and we have an ongoing deal with BOC Gases for the fourth year. We’re pressing ahead.”

WeEsber back for more Arrows testing MARK

Webber

undertaking his second

new

2000

Arrows-

Supertec.

scheduled Wednesday/ Thursday test.

test with the Arrows

As with a number of

El team at Silverstone,

new FI cars, the launch

The

weather

“There is still a lot of

work to do, all of which will help with the new car

has been put back until

Motorsport News hits the streets, Webber is expect ed to be part way through a two-day test in the 1999-spec Arrows at the British circuit, completing more electronics and sys tems testing for the all-

later this month. Webber was recalled to the UK earlier than after a planned, Christmas break at home

with family and friends,

“The last i-un was limit

and flew out of Canberra

ed by the necessity to get the gearbox software just

this

issue

date for the new Arrows

Saturday

for

the

right, so hopefully I’ll get a good number of laps in.

England has been unseasonally dry and there was every prospect of a mean ingful two days running: “It’s good to get another run in the car,” Webber told Motorsport News prior to flying out.

this week.

Sandown

Holden this year. However,

this week.

“I became aware of the matter

November 12 December 10

unlike 1999 where he drove in

BOC Gases Super Touring Championship?

Committee, for a comment:

Mallala Bathurst

■ Paul Dumbrell will again

WHERE does this leave the

member of the TEGA Technical

(GP Circuit)

return for a season in Formula

the Australian team, but Volvo has severed its racing ties with

MN asked Larry Perkins, as a

Lakeside Oran Park

■ After two seasons running out of the workshop of John Sidney Racing, Anthony Tratt’s Toll Racing team will go it alone in 2000, having set up their own shop in Melbourne recently. JSR will continue to supply its potent Ford power to the Toll team.

Super Touring Championship. Volvo Australia’s Managing

S40s would be made available to

Glenn Seton, one of Ford’s Technical Committee representitives, says that there is “no advan tage” in the change. “You could argue that, with the longer mounting bolts, it IS still mounted to the flywheel,” he said

June 18

July 9

(South Circuit)

pete in the 2000 BOC Gases

doing their own thing,” he said this

he would suggest that a ‘grace peri od’ be allowed to permit teams to make the change economically.

Oran Park

(South Circuit)

Tuesday that they would not com

that two of the three 1999-spec

Marsden added that, “if asked”,

as follows:

May 28

(non-championship)

the

winning

BOC Gases Australian Super Touring Championship dates are

October 22

Australia. After

issue’s Castrol calendar. The

August 13

“At the moment, the teams are week.

when it is finished.”

Webber remains hope ful of landing the main Arrows testing role for 2000. His representatives are still courting the nec essary backing fi-om with in Australia to help bring the deal to fruition.

NASCAR, AUSCAR and

VSSupercar, the Melbourne teenager will concentrate solely on the Holden Australian

Drivers’ Championship in the Wynn’s Reynard 92D. The car is

Scott Dixon’s 1998-championship winning car most recent ly used by Tim Leahey. Trevor Sheumack will again engineer the machine.

■ Speaking of Formula Holden, New Zealander LeRoy Stevenson will join Bin-ana Racing to partner Simon Wills in a Reynard 94D. Stevenson drove a Spectrum in last year’s Fonnula Ford series and wall

begin a testing program later this week.

■ Motor Up, an American manufacturer of engine treat ment products which has just moved into the Australian mar

ket, will back Wayne Murphy in this year’s GT-P series. Murphy will drive the second of Colin

Osborne’s Toyota MR2s. Murphy’s Motor Up deal also includes support for his Suzuki 4WD and Landcruiser which will contest the Australian Outback

Safari. Motor Up also supports Kerry Madsen’s Craft Grizzly Sprintcar.

14 January 2000 ■ Entries have been

pouring in for the Dutton Grand Prix Rally with numbers already around last year’s total of 201 participants, with a shifting trend towards more modern cars. The

rally has garnered much gi’eater interest out of New South Wales, the

interest thought to have been generated from the GP Coip’s display at the Sydney Motor Show late last year and increased

Williams shoot-out

manufactm-er interest. SI Former Marlboro

Formula 1 public relations gura Agnes Carlier has joined the Sauber team after a year with HeinzHarald Frentzen. Carlier

spent 18 years with Marlboro until she moved to BAR. She then moved

quickly on to Frentzen. Sauber is keen to

improve its image with sponsor Petronas and Carlier has developed strong links with Malaysia in recent years and acts as an adviser to the

Malaysian GP. She is also a PR consultant to the Cadillac Le Mans programme.

H The Telefonica-owned Minai'di team is still to make an official announcement about its

future engine supply and there is speculation that the team may not take up the chance to use Ford’s

1998 VIO engines and

Button, Junqueira test for race seat By PHIL BRANAGAN

has, at least in the interim,

number one driver for this

year in Ralf and so why

THE driver who will part

turned down. Both drivers have ‘fall

ner Ralf Schumacher at BMW.WilliamsFl this season will be decided in a

two day run-off at Jerez, tomorrow starting (Friday). Bruno

Junqueira

and

a Formula 3 drive for Button.

'Button has support within the Williams organisation though, at the launch of the team’s

2000

colours

for Button.

“I did it,’ he said, “Martin [Brundle] did it and Ayrton

Frank Williams said the test

[Senna] did it. If we can do it

was “quite a irsk.” “He says he’s definitely ready for FI, and many peo ple say he’s exceptional,” he

and if he has the talent, he

recent media rumours to the

“One of the reasons per sonally why I want to make this test happen is because like a lot of people in the pitlane in 1991, we felt idiots

contrary, has definitely left the team. The choice between the 23-

year-old

Junqueira

and

Button, who will turn 20

next Wednesday, will not be as simple as ‘fastest man wins’ The Brazilian already has considerable experience with the team, having tested last

month

alongside

Schumacher

and Darren

Manning, who has now signed as BAR’s test driver (see previous issue).

said.

when Eddie Jordan turned with Michael up Schumacher.

“We’d all been sleeping

But Button has no seat time in the Williams. He has

engine had little money spent on it last year and is

part of his Autosport ‘Young

believed to be about 50

Driver’ award) and Frost and

“No, I don’t think so -

horsepower down on its rivals. It would, however, help Minardi and Arrows

is believed to have been

actually I like this idea a lot,” he said. “We have a very strong

tested for both McLaren (as

offered a testing seat with the French outfit - which he

can do it too.” The last driver Williams

signed with no FI experience was Jacques Villeneuve, who signed in 1996 and won the championship the following year. As we said last issue watch this space...

Keen teen: Will Button partner Schumacher? (Button-images)

Bridgestone bans Williams

and he was wide awake, and I don’t intend that to happen again. “For the sake of a test, it may be a waste of time, but he may be a great driver. The purpose of the test is to see if he’s got it.” BMW Motorsport boss Gerhard Berger disagreed

its 2000 budget. The

other hand needs to top up

“It’s Frank’s decision, but we are discussing it and it could happen.” Berger also says the jump from F3 to FI is not too high

Spain with a full-time drive the prize for the ‘winner’. The unprecedented move confirms the departure of Alex Zanardi who, despite

the Williams-BMW FW21

the deal. Arrows on the

3000 drive for Junqueira and

Munich last Monday, Sir

Arrows ’99 VIO engines. be expensive and Ford is not particularly keen on

a Williams Junior Formula

should we not take a risk with the second one?

Jenson Button will face the clocks - and each other - in

could turn instead to the The Ford is believed to

back’ positions, in the form of

with Williams that testing Button was irsky.

survive and that would

probably make FI boss

Bernie Ecclestone very happy. H Jacques Villeneuve and Dannii Minogue have not manned, despite reports that they were

hitched in Sydney during the New Year-

celebrations. It seems that

Jacques and Daimii were not even in Australia at the time. The Australian actress has since revealed

that they were going to get man-ied but when her ex-

husband decided to get married on December 22, Dannii decided to

iiiW on diet BMW is heading back to the drawing board in order to lighten its new V10 in time for the Australian GP.

BMW’s new V10 attracted praise from driver Ralf

Schumacher, his only criticism being the weight of the engine. So, with the recent successes of Ford’s lighter blocks, and the fact that most of the top engines are near the 90 kilogram mark, the BMW engineers took Schumacher’s suggestions to heart. They are currently working to take as much as 13.5 kg off of the V10 in time for the AGP. Ford achieved increased performance with its CR-1 immediately after lightening its load last season, and after shifting its centre of gravity further down in the block. The BMW people don’t expect the process to interfere with the season-opener, but there likely will not be enough time to fully test the new engine prior to Australia. -PHIL MORRIS

postpone her date with Villeneuve. The two are

now planning a wedding in Mai'ch - when the FI circus is in Melboui-ne...

Bi Don Brown, the ch ail-man of BAT’s Canadian offshoot

Imperial Tobacco, has become chaiman of the

BAR (Holdings) Ltd., the parent company of the BAR Formula 1 team. He

replaces Craig Pollock, although the Scotsman remains managingdirector of BAR. - JOE SAWARD/STAFF

iH: Irani Baclng Army? DID a Ferrari fanatic offer to shoot Mika

typed in poor English read:

Hakkinen’s tyre during a

bullet in the tyre from Mercedes and the tyre bursts and tears to pieces. “Nobody can prove the

’99 Grand Prix?

That’s a claim made by world championship runnerup Eddie Irvine on TV in Britain last week.

“My idea is I shoot a small

shoot.

Hakkinen

doesn’t

make the finish. Would you

‘fan’ wrote to him before last

be interested?” The revelation wasmade in

season’s European Grand

a TV documentary called

Prix in September, offering to sabotage championship

‘Eddie Irvine - The Inside

rival Halddnen’s McLaren.

screened on Channel 4 last

Irvine revealed that the

The claim says a letter

Track’, which was due to be

Thursday.

BRIDGESTONE has banned BMW-Wilhams

Wilhams at the same

on an equal basis for the

time.

remainder of the season.

from taking part in any tyre development work following Michelin’s

According to Bridgestone’s technical director, Ashihrko Ichikawa,

“If we do everything for them, maybe it will be a disadvantage to us in the future,” Ichikawa said last

recent annoimcement of

the company fears that any

their return to FI, the French tyre

new development work

week.

undertaken between the two would benefit their

“We will be fair this year, that is om- philosophy, but

rival, although the Japanese company would continue to supply the team

they whl not do development tests.”

manufacturer

announcing their alliance with BMW-

- PHIL MORRIS

as Sir Frank talks dollars By JOE SAWARD

SIR Frank Wilhams is talking to invest ment banking company Warburg DiUon Read about the financial future of his Formula 1 team.

interest in FI at the irioment fi-om financial

institutions to ensui'e the long-term future of his family. WilliamsFl has a turnover of around

US$100m [$136m] a year and makes profits

WDR is the investment banking arm of

of around $15m. This could mean that the team could be worth as much as $500m.

companies in the world. Williams has con

Patrick Head - owns 30 percent of the

UBS AG, one of the biggest financial sei-vices

firmed that he has had meetings with the company but declines to say more.

There is speculation that he is taking a look at the sort of money he might be able to raise if he reduces his 70 percent sharehold ing in the team.

Despite many rumours in recent years Williams has always said that he has no intention of giving up control of the team which he founded in 1978. He is, however, in a good position to take advantage of the

Wilhams’s partner in the team - engineer shares and so Williams could easily sell 20 percent to a merchant bank and still retain his control of the business. This could raise

as much as $100m for Fi-ank and his family.

Such a move would not be a surprise as several FI team bosses have made similar moves in recent months, notably Bernie Ecclestone, Ron Dennis, Eddie Jordan and Alain Frost. Several other Fl teams are believed to be discussing deals with mer-

chant banks.

UJanuar/2000

New look for H RT, Seton Murphy

LOOK for red Commodores near the lead of the Shell

Championship

leaves FTR

Series this season from the Holden

Racing Team.

TONY Murphy has left Ford Tickford Racing.

HRT is changing its livery for the 2000

Murphy, who joined Glenn Seton Racing in 1994, has left the team to pur sue a career away from the sport. “Basically, he had had enough of rac ing,” said Seton this week. “We’d been together for a long time,

championship - as it does every year - but will reportedly run an all-red scheme in the

races,

starting

Phillip

Island

and he told me of his decision after

February 12. The move is believed

to be part of a strategy to reinforce the Holden

‘presence’ with the team. Holden

Reportedly, marketing

Old look: Lowndes keeps #1, but will run in Holden red this season. (Photo by afi images) The other notable now-departed Konica. Pete‘Junior’Smith, move is that the team

The other notable

Alex

change

Racing Team’,, dropping the ‘Mobil’ under which it has run

team is in the engineering department. Robbie Starr, who has previously engineered Craig Lowndes’ cars, has moved over to

Marchese, has moved to Holden Special Vehicles. Ironically, Starr will keep ‘his car’. Skaife and Lowndes have swapped VTs, meaning

Mark Skaife car, and Lowndes will work the newlywith Shigeru promted Kagimiya, as well as

that the next new car

ground

regain

which

had

been lost to Ford because of the link between Glenn Seton’s

Ford Tickford Racing Team and Tickford, which has recently been challenging Holden Special Vehicles

the

marketplace with its new, upmarket Tickford range.

in recent seasons.

Contrary to recent reports Mobil will still be sponsoring the team, but will have its

signage changed, taking over the rear flank and front bumpers, which have previously been the position given to the

the

Skaife’s

will be the ‘Holden

keen

within

engineer.

executives are said to

his previous mechanics Matthew Crawford and

built by the team will go to the defending Champion. - PHIL BRANAGAN

See page 14 for Craig

Bathurst last year.” Seton will be taking more of a ‘hands off role in Ford Tickford Racing this year. He has handed the day-to-day run ning of the team to John Matthews, who was previously Sales and Marketing Manager at PPG Industries. Matthews,

■ Worldwide communi

cations conglomerate Marconi Systems has signed on as title rights

sponsors of CART’s Cleveland Grand Prix.

The race, which is run

around a temporary cir cuit at the Burke

Lakefront Airport, was originally scheduled to become an IRL race, but

public outcry forced pro moters IMG to pay the exti’a license fees and re

sign with CART. ■ Wanting to concen

trate fully on his new Winston Cup career, Robby Gordon is believed to have abandoned plans to run the Indy 500/Charlotte 600 double

again in May. Gordon, John Andretti and Tony Stewart have all attempt ed to run the two races in

one day, all without gain ing the much sought-after

40, started this week.

winning success.

“I’ll just be a driver from now on,” Seton says. That is not the only change for the

■ Greg Ray has signed US insurance giant

team. The FTR cars will look a little dif

ferent this season, the team keeping its dark blue corporate colour but adding some white to make the cars look a little better on television.

Seton’s team, which is expanding, is

building a new Falcon AU to start the season, while Neil Crompton returns in an updated 1999 car. - PHIL BRANAGAN

Lowndes on 2000

Conseco to back his 2000

IRL campaign. Conseco had been primary sponsor of AJ Foyt’s Billy Boat-led IRL effort last season, but with Foyt’s move to NASCAR, the company wanted to continue with

its Indy presence and jumped on board with the reigning series champion. Conseco will continue to

ntroversy By DIRKKLYNSMITH/ GERALD McDORNAN THE Queensland Labor Government is

under fire following the fall of Queensland Raceway. Brisbane’s Courier-Maii reported last week that Premier Peter Beattie has given his for mer Sports Minister Bob Gibbs a $250,000 job as Trade Commisioner to Los Angeles, allegedly to keep him away from the media over his involvement in the matter.

The paper also revealed that Gibbs had pos sibly misled Parliament in relation to both the involvement of he and the Beattie Government

in the affairs of Queensland Raceway. The report has outlined serious questions

pertaining to the actions of the Government, including whether the Government had made an 'uncommercial transaction’ when loaning Motorsport Queensland some $2.9m in two separate loans back in June, enabling them to complete works to the circuit, as well as Gibbs misleading parliament over the role of Queensland Events Corporation in the organ ising of the Queensland 500. It also asks the question as to why the Government spent $800,000 of taxpayer’s money to pay out creditor Bank of Queensland after stating that the Government would not spend any more money to assist Motorsport Queensland. Despite Gibbs claiming that the Government had no role in the running of Queensland Raceway, Queensland Events appointed a commercial manager, Stuart

Craig, in June. Craig would be directly answerable to Queensland Events Corporation and is a co-signatory to cheques drawn on the com pany’s bank account as well as being able to approve budgets and business plans for events and capital works.

Craig also has access to all the monthly statements including balance sheets, cash flows and profit and loss. Importantly, he also made regular reports to Government departments of Tourism, Sport and Racing, Treasury Corporation and Queensland Treasury. According to Derrick Kennedy, a Director of Motorsport Queensland, Craig had a very much hands on involvement in the organising and running of several events including the Qld 500.

Reg Sparkes 1926 — 2000 AUSTRALIAN

motorsport has

be racing for Mercedes in

greatest

the Gei-man DTM series.

the passing of Reg Sparkes. Reg, 73, died in

be able to get a little more rest after two hectic sea

the early hours of Monday morning,

sons. The team is bidding for a third consecutive

in recent years

Diivers’ title this year with Hakkinen although if

he was best-known as the circuit

the team follows its recent

strategy there will be no

manager at MaUala Raceway,

team orders and Coulthard will be able to win the title - if he can beat Hakkinen.

working alongside seemingly unending program of upgrading and

the Government for extra funding after the disastrous rains had damaged what works

northern Adelaide track.

maintaining the

He began Ms working life

This assessment had indicated that repay

with the GPO in 1946 and,

ments on any principal and interest would not be possible until 2001.

during Ms career, he met VauxhaH racer Les March. He started to attend rallies and trials with March and soon became involved as a driver himself. He raced and ralhed in an

MGTC in the mid-50s, from where he became involved in the RedEx Trials. One of the drivers with whom he

competed in the classic endurance events was Clem Smith.

His Fiat Special became a regular feature at ColMngrove hfflclimb and,

■ The FI Commission

He was also a notable

competitor with John

Blanden in the Grand Prix rallies, and that and his work with Smith became

Ms best-known legacy.

Reg and Ms wife Margaret had two sons,

Craig and Grant, and a daughter Amanda, all of whom competed in club events.

Long ago regulars at MaRala became familiar

with Ms smiling face and Reg was never without an encouraging word or a helpmg hand for competitors, officials or even struggling members of

off-track, he became

the media.

secretary of the Sporting club as both Competition Secretary and President,

To Reg’s family, many fiiends and everyone who . has benefitted from Ms long involvement in the sport, Motorsport News extends

before he became its first CMef Executive Officer. The club awarded Mm a

tMs gi-eat loss to motor racing.

Car Club of South Austredia. He served the

Life MembersMp in 1982. One way traffic? Queensland Raceway is causing grief for the Queensland government.

mean that Mika Hakkinen and David Coulthard will

Ms Adelaide home of a heart attack in

PriceWaterhouseCoopers to look into Motorsport Queensland. This was in April, after Motorsport Queensland had approached

full nature.

The Frenchman will spend all his time testing for McLaren, which should

enthusiasts with

track owner Clem Smith in a

MEANWHILE, it has been reported that Queensland Newspapers' Show and Events business has lodged an expression of interest in running the facility. Queensland Newspapers’ Editor in Chief Chris Mitchell confirmed the company’s expression, although he was unaware of its

■ Olivier Panis will not

lost one of its

The Courier Mail states that the Government asked chartered accountants

had been done.

back Foyt’s Winston Cup efforts with driver Mike Bliss.

failed to reach agreement on a rules package for 2001 at a recent meeting but there are to be further

discussions in January although unanimous agreement will be needed if the rules are to be over

hauled. Some of the thmgs

being discussed are small er front wings, a ban on diffusers, larger sidepods, new underbody aerody namics and wider-track cars. The aim is to slow

dowm the lap times and encom-age overtaking but as usual the team bosses

can agree on very little... - JOE SAWARD/STAFF

HoiiapwiMaiegeiiii

om sincerest condolences at

-PHIL BRANAGAN

Coupon io.2 See page'21

14 January 2000

■ The Grand Prix has had a dramatic effect on

the growth of interest in motorsport in Malaysia. This year there will be a six-round Formula 2000

series (previously there was one round of an Asian

series) and a six-round

touring car championship backed by the government. In addition the Japanese GT and Formula Nippon Championships will visit Sepang in June. ■ This week’s Detroit

Motor Show is expected to lead to another wave of deals in the automotive

industry - and as usual, FI teams are watching development closely. The most recent

speculation links Renault to a deal with Korea’s

Samsung and Ford to a major bid to buy Daewoo which GM is trying to buy at the moment. In Europe DaimlerChrysler’s fortunes are being linked with the need for a deal to

expand into Asia and get into the small car market.

In recent days DC has been linked to a major bid for Honda - despite the recent Honda-GM

agreement while Fiat and Peugeot remain targets in Europe. BMW’s problems with Rover remain a source of interest as

speculation continues that the Munich firm will

eventually be absorbed by Volkswagen. Everything now depends on the success or failure of the

new Rover model range. ■ Michael Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello are due to attend the annual Marlboro-

sponsored FI skiing event at Madonna di Campiglio next weekend. The event

in the Italian Alps traditionally gives the Italian media a chance to talk to the Ferrari drivers before the Foimula 1

season begins. H Benetton has

appointed Kate Linnell as

its head of marketing services as part of the restmcturing following the departure of David Warren. The commercial

aspects of Warren’s job

have been taken over by Brian Sims but the rest of the work will become

Linnell’s responsibility. Wan’en is now working for Paddy McNally’s Allsport Management in Geneva, the company which organises the FI Paddock Club and sells all circuit

signage at FI races.

DTM test for Phillip Island? MERCEDES-Benz may

Bernd leads Benz attack

shake down their new CLK DTM2000 race cars

Phillip

Island

BERND Schneider leads

March. Sources in the UK have

the the entry for DTM2000 championship.

told Motorsport News that up to six of the new 4-litre, rear-wheel-drive coupes will

The former DTM, ITC and

International GT champion will lead an eight car Mercedes-Benz team in the

take to the famous Victorian

track for a sorting session just after the Australian Grand Prix meeting in

series.

Backing up the German will be the newly un-retired Klaus Ludwig, Marcel Tiemann, Pedro Lamy and

March.

Phillip Island Motorsport management would not com ment on track booking when contacted by Motorsport

flying Scot Peter Dumbreck -

but not Olivier Panis, who

News last week, but it is

will be restricted to McLaren

believed that a booking which was made originally for an owners’ day may have been “upgraded”.

test duties.

The choice of the Island for the test seems a little

Lohr, while Michael Bartels

Leading the Opel charge will be Manuel Reuter, Eric

Helary, Uwe Alzen and Ellen

extreme at first, but the track offers a number of

advantages to the team. The fast sweeping corners are most like many of the tracks

manufacturers’ and teams’ titles with

Nissan, will enter two cars in the new

Pan-European championship for frontengined DaUara chassis biult in Italy.

new cars.

March test

Mallock goes EUROC

DATES for the DTM2000 series have been confirmed

clean sweep of the 1999 BTCC drivers’,

raced this season, and March offers good weather for the test. It also offers good secu rity for the team to run its The

the Phoenix team which ran

RAY Mallock Limited, which took a

on which the cars will be

would

Speculation insists that the team could

allow plenty of time to return the cars to Europe and pre pare them prior to the first round of the series, on 28 May at Hockenheim.

also be involved in a second EUROC squad that has appeared on the provisional entry

It should be remembered that M-B conducted much of

while. 'The cars are fantastic and it’s a great

list as Mercury Motorsport. Team boss Ray Mallock said: “This is something we’ve been working on for quite a

idea. We are really happy to be part of EUROC.” He refused to discuss his involve

LMs

and CLRs at Homestead and Fontana before its disastrous assault on the Le Mans 24 Hour

Mallock said final details of the deal had

yet to be sorted out and wouldn’t talk about

potential drivers. However, long-time Mallock driver David Leslie immediately staked a claim to one of the seats.

Leslie would be in good company if he were to join the championship. Former Grand Prix driver Karl Wendlinger looks certain to race for Zakspeed, which has committed to the series.

-GARY WATKINS

Man, beast; Gian Paulo

Dallara poses

race.

with his creation,

As well as bringing a num

the front-engined

ber of the CLI^s south for the

EUROC. The cars feature a

test, M-B Motorsport man agement is said to be consid

variety of engines, all 560hp V8s, and

ering bringing out at least one Formula Three car for

the test, to enable a ‘Junior’ team member to get in mileage prior to the first race

weigh 1100kg. Voom-pah! (Photo by Sutton-Images)

of the season.

Super Production BTCC class cussion with representitives from some

The class, which is also being added to

wholesale switch to the BTCC. ,teamHowever, sihce then, a number of owners have indicated that they

Championship this year

the Australian BOC Gases series, will „ -j i.u c m ● X

mnnA ni,- r r' t.- ai TOGA Chief Executive Alan Gow says

that the class has been introduced after requests from potential competitors. “Before Christmas, we had a brief dis¬

competitors, but it was felt that their

^000 were too far advanced to

™.lly do want to compete in the big

^016, SO we have taken the decision to formulate a class for them within the BTCC.”

The move comes about after a decline

in the number of manufacturer-support-

rebuild its damaged reputation in Europe. New

, The British series is expected to attract a strong entry for the class because of its television deal with the BBC. The Class B cars will run in the

on the wane for severd years, and it had

been planned to combine it with the

company is expected to be

Italian championship this season.

inundated by proposals from FI teams...

A rolling Vos; South African Duncan Vos’s Super Production Nissan Primera.

with Porsche test CAMERON McConville arrived back from his

Daytona test on Tuesday, full of enthusiasm for the car he wiU drive in the 24 Hours later this month. The 25-year-old Melbourne

driver was impressive in lim ited laps in the new Porsche

The car qualified fifth

having been raced by their

Geimany, Holland and Scandinavia.

deal for its eight round championship. The German championship has been

management. 'The

Cam

two of the cars ahead of it

a pay-TV broadcast deal. The rival

replace a much older

Nurburgring

of 25 cars appearing in Britain last sea

DTM2000 series has secured a free-to-air

both in their 40s and

8 Oct

son and 40 and more in series in

Stephen Jones the task of strategy. The two men are

Oschersleben

Norisring Sachsenring Nurburgring Lausitzring

fastest in the GT3 category,

building a new marketing

Charlie Frenette and

18 June

9 July 6 Aug 20 Aug 3 Sept 24 Sept

wrap,” he said.

The series, which was won by Audi privateer Christian Abt last year, has been called off after it was left with only

Douglas Daft has given

3 4 5 6 7

By contrast, the lower-cost Super Production class has boomed, with grids

of the German S'TW championship.

chief executive officer

Track Hockenheim Oschersleben

this season.

SUPER Touring suffered another blow last week, with the cancellation

team in an effort to

28 May

GT3 he will drive in the race. “It was brand new when I arrived - still in the bubble

mandatory pit stops.

to rebuild its management

ed teams in the BTCC, which may be reduced to as few as 12 Super Tourers

■same format as Super Tourers, except that they will not be require to make

■ Coca-Cola continues

in Germany. The program is:

happy

II tl

SUPER Production cars wiU be ebgible for the British Touring Car

Opels in the STW in 1999.

Rd Date

ment in Mercury.

its pre-99 season testing in the USA, running its CLK-

SrV

and Amd Meier will drive for

Hi Ho Silver: Mercede-Benz could be. testing their DTM car at Phillip Island. (Sunon-images)

It now appears that the Itahan series will go it alone.

teams since the Le Mans 24 Hour race. McConville was within

0.5s of his co-driver, David

Murry, despite losing the first day when the weather turned bad.

“That was pleasing. David has a lot of experience in these cars and he had more

time that the 25 laps I man aged to get. “It’s the fastest Porsche I

have ever driven, by a long

way. It’s 1100kg, with 410 horsepower, and it’s much

faster than an RSCS. And

the track is awesome; very, very impressive.”

McConville is hoping for a good result in the race, and is hoping to drive for the

team in the Adelaide street race in December.

Mario tops another poll MAKIO Andretti and AJ

Fo3d have topped a recent

internet poll of the top racers of the 20th century.

Andretti, who won the

Indy 500, Daytona 500 and

Formula One championship,

led Foyt who was described as simply ‘an American Icon’.

NASCAE great Richard Petty was ranked third

Old car,

great John Force in 12th,

Giacomo Agostini (leading the two wheel brigade in 14th), WoW legend Steve Kinser (#16) and current titans, Jeff Gordon and Michael Schumacher in 17th

and 18th respectively.

VSs for the -s,- - Dude If

-i-

Mick Doohan’s eight com

bined world titles not enough

pion Juan Manuel Fangio. Dale Earnhardt led Ayrton Senna in fifth, while NASCAR’s David Pearson, Jim Clark, Dan Gurney and

to oust Nigel Mansell (#64),

Lyn

PAUL Morris is

lauBLclimg an all-out

-«

Willy T Ribbs (#93) or John Andretti (#99).

And

assault on the Shell

James

weighed in at #97, three spots ahead of Jochen Rindt. Please, just kill me now.

'Am

Championship Series.

The three-time Super Touring Champion has bought two Holden

Commodore VSs and will run the cars from his Gold Coast base.

-PHIL MORRIS

. and heads te Le Mans

●. ¥

t/ A

ANDRETTI aiming to make a comeback in this year’s Le Mans 24 Hours at the age of 60.

Morris has got the ex-

Garry Rogers Motorsport VS which Garth Tander

drove last season, and a HRT VS which was used

in the Young Lions

The 1978 Formula 1 World Champion and four-time Champ Car title winner says it is “90 percent certain” that he will start his first race in three years at this year’s French

€

“It’s veiy likely that I will do Le Mans this year. I’m talking to two top-line teams and I should be driving for one or the other,” said Andretti, who celebrates his 60th birthday next

program last year.

enduro on June 17/18.

■

l> !

Morris tested one of the cars at Calder late last

month, and expects to run both cars at Queensland Raceway tomorrow (Friday). There is no news yet

\ y f. fL

■ -

month.

The American said he was motivated to race again after driving again in the two-seater Champ Car built by Ganassi

12.

whether there will be another driver in the

Racing last season.

second car.

“As soon as I was back in that environment, I felt like I’d never left it, which surprised the hell out of me. That made

NI7RTEL

me think: ‘If the proper opportunity comes for Le Mans, I’m going.

»)

Andretti said he would only take part in the race if lands a competitive ride with a chance of overall victory, but he

denied he was motivated solely by the prospect of winning the

only major race missing from his CV.

-GARY WATKINS

Two

No Australians made the list. Sir Jack Brabham and

ahead of five-time FI cham

Bobby Allison rounded out the top 10. Other notables were drag

U January 2000

Alongside the VSSupercar program,

-J

Morris intends to defend

networks

his 1999 Super Touring title in his familiar BMW

Smile for the cameras, Rolf: The internet ‘launch ’ of the new BMW. WilliamsFl car last Monday was the dud of the century. Despite much anticipation (and hype) the team did not announce a new driver or sponsor, or even show the FW22, using instead a ’99-spec FW21 in new paint. Expect to see the real car-and maybe Compaq sponsorship - at the end of the month.

320i.

For more news, see pages 16/17.

New Kill ©n th© bl©€k ♦

DON’T be afraid. It’s just Motorsport

News’s new reporter, Aaron Noonan. After being one of our contributors for the

last two seasons, the annoying youthful, Noonan started in our offices this week and

is already making plans to bother race drivers, team managers and officials around the country throughout 2000. Noonan brings an exhausting level of

enthusiasm to the job and, after knocking over his high school finals in a breeze last

November, has chosen journalism, motor racing and coffee-making as his career. For one so young (he’s not even as old as

30 Years of success in

Motorsport

Jenson Button) he displays a great knowledge of the sport and respect for all things traditional, even motorsport that was history before he was bom. So far, he’s not even asked if David Brabham's father used to race too. Not once. Welcome aboard, Noonan.

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UJdnudry2000 ■ Gerard “Jabby”

Crombac, the doyen of the Formula 1 press corps after 50 years of reporting on Grand Prix races, has

just undergone a triple heart bypass operation in France. Crombac started out as an amateur

reporter, working as a mechanic for Raymond Sommer in the late 1940s but went on to establish

the magazine Sport Auto. H There has been much

interest in Germany in

the appointment of foiTner BMW president Bernd Pitschetsrieder as the new

head of Volkswagen’s Seat subsidiary. Pitschetsrieder is close to

the Quandt Family which controls BMW and his switch to

Volkswagen is being seen as an indication that the

Quandts may agi'ee to a merger between the two companies. At 51 Pitschetsrieder is likely to be a major candidate to be head of the entire

Volkswagen Group when

mbrose signs works French F3 drive Ambrose will fly back to France on

MARCOS Ambrose will drive a

January 17 to begin testing before

Mygale in this year’s French Formula 3 Championship, the

the first round of the series in April.

With circuit experience at a mini mum, the Mygale team has sched

announcement coming after the Tasmanian enjoyed a superb sec ond half of 1999, where he won

uled an estimated 20 days of testing at all of the circuits used in the

the European Formula Ford Championship and dominated

championship, which are scheduled to start in February.

the Formula Ford Festival.

“The lack of laps will be the least

Pennzoil will be the main backer of

of my worries,” he said. “It’s just a matter of learning the car.” are While open-wheelers Ambrose’s focus, he is enthusiastic about driving in the VSSupercar

the car, while Mygale has purchased the latest Martini chassis from Graff

Racing and will use Sodemo tuned Renault engines. Ambrose is looking forward to the challenge of not only the eight round/sixteen race championship, but also the five major international F3 events at Pau, the Zandvoort Masters, British title round at Spa, and the Macau and Korean GPs.

“At the moment it’s pretty hard going, the team owner’s English is

endurance races later in the year. “If the dates don’t clash with my

Blowing my gale: Ambrose has a works F3 drive in France this year. (suHon) limited, however the engineer who is moving to the team to work with me is a fluent speaker,” said Ambrose. “The only problem is the people I’m

working with. I’ve never worked with them before and until you work with someone one-to-one, you don’t really know.”

been overseas for the last two years

so I’d love to do it,” he said. -AARON NOONAN

IMfiiiiiii urders out

■i

TONY Kanaan looks set to

cmTent boss Ferdinand

drive through Jerry Forsythe’s McDonald’s drive-thru pit and

Piech retires in 2002.

■ Benetton will launch its new B200 at the Museum Nacional d’At

order a seat with the new

de Catalunya in Barcelona, Spain, on 17 January. Next, BAR will

And, as a result of Kanaan’s expected departure, Bryan Herta,

Mercedes-powered Mo Nunn team.

who was also on the list of consid

show its new car in

ered drivers at Nunn’s, looks likely to be invited to drive Forsythe’s

London on 24 Januaiy. Ferrari will show its new

Swift/Hondas. Both teams are scheduled to receive their new 2000 cars within weeks and will test before CART

F320 at Maranello, Italy on 25 January, when Jaguar will also unveil its R1 at the Lord’s cricket will launch the EJIO

Spring Training on February 9-10. None of the team principals

(named by team boss

were available for comment as

Eddie Jordan to mark his

MN went to press but Kanaan did admit that his future is not yet

graund in London. Jordan

10th anniversary in FI) on 31 Januaiy. Sauber

settled.

will launch the C19 in

“This is a very important time

Zurich, Switzerland on 2 Febmaiy. McLaren, Prost

for me, so I need to be careful I

don’t say anything that would make things difficult down the road,” said the 25-year-old

and Minardi have not yet committed.

Brazilian

a Sir Frank Williams

Herta too was playing the politi

recently visited the cruelly

“To be honest, I’m not quite sure what’s going on. I’m still talking to a number of teams and I’m confi

Williams went to Denmaik

dent of being able to secure a top line drive this year,” he said. Herta was dropped by Bobby

to console Watt, who was

paralysed from the waist down in a road accident

IRahal at the end of last season,

last September. Williams is similarly afflicted following a car accident in

Yd# jumbo coke, sin feriy Kanaan. (RaceAccess) ,

Knightrider: Sir Stirling Moss at Albert Park in 1958.(PcierD-ab bs)

Arise Sir Stiriing STIRLING Moss, the most

having won just twice in four years, taking back-to-back victo ries at Laguna Seca in ’98/’99.

Championship, has been knighted for his services to the motor racing industry. The 70-year-oid British driver was runner-up in the Worid Championship for four consecutive years, Manuei Fangio (1955-5657) and once to Mike Hawthorn (1958). He won a

6EINIERAL

his status as a motor

racing “legend”. The annual New Year’s

Day Honours List also included John Cooper, who was appointed a Commander of the Order

of the British Empire. Cooper pioneered the rear-engined revolution in FI and won the World

Championship in 1959 and

Grands Prix - including

I960 with Jack Brabham.

three wins at Monaco and he remained the most

Frank Williams as motor

Moss joins Brabham and

successfui Engiish driver

racing’s only knights while

in Formula 1 until he was

Cooper joins March’s

overtaken by Nigel

Robin Herd as a CBE.

Mansell in the 1990s.

- JOE SAWARJD

350 Springvale Road Glen Waverley 3150 Ph 9560 4711

FOR SALE Spares to suit Holden MS Commodore

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British Empire in 1959 and has had to wait 40 years for further recognition of

total of 16 of his 66

Garry Rogers Motorsport Garry Rogers have tvro positions available - immediate start

Moss was appointed an Officer of the Order of the

successful Grand Prix driver never to win the Formuia 1 Worid

three times to Juan-

cally correct drum.

injm-ed Danish fonner Formula 3000 star, Jason Watt, at his home.

France in 1986.

F3 racing. I’d love to return for the Queensland 500 and Bathurst. I feel I’ve lost presence in Australia having

RH mirror ass ext

Camber wedges

Fuel Tank pump filters

Be Quick ^

with crowns

Front indicators

the lot tVtfilliic(t self separately)

INI

Race by the Bay?

Shaw thing for Lites

SAN Francisco’s Mayor

COMMODORE Cup champion Tim Shaw has joined a growing list of com

Willie Brown’s recent re-

Brown is keen for the city to

host a Grand Piix and contact ed Bemie Ecclestone in 1996

Beach GP promoter Chris Pook to develop the idea.

reportedly preferred the opportunity to work with Schumacher than an offer

readiness for the new racing season.

from Ford to rejoin Irvine at Jaguar racing. Rubens Barrichello’s race engi

UANtaNO

neer will be Carlo Cantoni.

way for this year’s race was thought to have ended San

danger of being upstaged

“After having a taste of a V8 Supercar at Bathurst, I’m looking forward to making

Wyhoon Lites up too...

by Jaguar team mate

said this week.

make the transition from oval track

the transition to the Lites series,” Shaw

Francisco’s hopes but specu

lation is now rife that anoth

NASCAR racer Terry Wyhoon will

“I believe we can be extremely competi

er race could be held on the

to circuit racing this season with

tive and, the great thing about the Lites series is that we have a chance of making it to the podium, and that’s something, unless you’ve got the budget to rival the factory teams, is almost impossible for anyone out

man-made Treasure Island, giving magnificent views of the city skyline. Already a number of facili ties on the former air force

base are in place, making a race a little easier, although

confirmation that the country Victorian will contest the five round

V8 Lites series.

Wyhoon purchased an ex-HRT

Commodore,

side the top 20 in the Shell series.

scheduling would be difficult

the move.

Speaking with Motorsport News

“It’s a great opportunity for myself and everyone in my team - we’re all looking for

on Monday, Wyhoon’s wife and

partner Sue said the couple had been encouraged with the limited

ward to the experience and the first sea son,” he said.

the full market.

While utilising Parkinson’s car, Shaw will

The possibility, though, of

also be taking his Commodore Cup crew.

a race in 2002 or 2003 should

including Alan Joyce and brother Andrew

not be excluded, especially

Shaw, with him.

with this year’s US GP at

“Without them I’d still be running club cars. It’s a team sport and I’m sure they’ll

Indy sure to re-ignite excite ment in FI in the US.

excell with the technology in Lites.”

-JOESAWARD

- GERALD MCDORNAN

six months ago and is set to make

careers.

broadcasts into Europe and Asia not starting at the most preferable times to capture

updated to

specifications, from Michael Hart

“Lites makes it possible for a lot of capa ble racers to make something more of their

thanks to the west coast US time with live television

■ Eddie Irvine is in

You can bank on it: Tim Shaw will run V8 Lites this year. (Lynieyneid)

advertising specialists Salefest to handle his marketing.

Indianapolis Motor Speed

CiOLU

Craig Hams, is currently seeking funding

signing

Shaw has committed himself to running in the series and is currently negotiating with Owen Parkinson regarding running

for his campaign and has signed on Melbourne-based national motor industry

ther discuss the idea. The

Irvine’s former race engi neer, Luca Baldisseri, who

the ’98-winning EL Falcon of Queenslander

city in ’98 with Brown then travelling to Monaco to fur

Lunetta has been promot ed to the post of chief

this season.

The Tasmanian, who ran at Bathurst in

Ecclestone even visited the

race engineer, Ignazio

now work with Eddie

his VS Commodore, Parkinson’s car sched uled to undergo extensive refurbishment in

to discuss the possibilities, along with also enlisting Long

■ After four years as Michael Schumacher’s

engineer at Sc-uderia Ferrari. Schumacher will

petitors signalling their intent on run ning in the inaugural V8 Lites series

election has help specula tion resume on a possible GP race in the city.

contact they’ve had with AVESCO and the reaction to their

participation. “There’s been a firm calendar

out for six months already, the television is booked and a series

sponsor is expected to be announced shortly, so the Lites series is looking positive. Sue

Wyhoon said.

“It’s amazing the response we’ve had from people when we’ve mentioned it, considering we haven’t officially entered

Johnny Herbert in 2000, according to Eddie Jordan, whose comments

were prompted by a Jerez test in December in which

Herbert set the fastest

lap-time in a hybrid

anything yet.

Stewart SF3.

“We’ve tried to support the NASCAR series but ,with what’s

Jordan remarked, “Eddie has gone in there

happened recently, it’s really

in a blaze of publicity and

and don’t want to go anywhere

won’t like being beaten by Johnny. He’ll get frustrat ed. It could be very inter

taken the wind out of our sails. “We love the Thunderdome

else, but there isn’t much choice

the

moment.

And,

with

NASCAR looking like it was heading towards so many road races, we thought we might as well just race in the [V8] Lites series.’’

The Wyhoons are currently seeking support and are hopeful of finding backing to enable them to run the entire Lites series. - GERALD MCDORNAN

on a big contract. He

esting. Johnny killed Eddie in the test down at

Jerez, and there’s every chance he will surprise him again when the sea son starts. Johnn/s been there for a year, he knows the team and the car, and he finished the season on

a high.”

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| °

●e

New 2000 FI cars in action I

■

Calendar

was rather less successful in its

have both run their new cars in

first runs on Wednesday and Thursday with the team’s test dri ver Luciano Burti being stopped after just a few laps because of oil pressure problems. The Jaguar features a low-nose

the other 2000 Formula 1 cars. Although British American Racing won the prize for the first 2000 car, running the BAR-Honda

Shell Championship Series V8 Supercars* Feb 13 .. .Philip Island Mar 19

.. .Wanneroo

Apr 8-9 .. .Adelaide Apr 30

Rd 1

02 in the first week of December,

Rd 2

Sauber gave the new C19 its first shakedown at Fiorano on December

,Rd3

29 and the new Jaguar-Cosworth R1 made its first appearance last Wednesday at Silverstone. The Benetton-Playlife B200 is

.. .Eastern Creek .. .Rd 4

May 21 .. .Hidden Valley .. .Rd 5

2000 FIA Formula One

due

World Championship Mar 12 .. .Melbourne

Rd 1

Chameleon: While having driven the new Ferrari-engined Sauber, Mika

Mar26

,Rd2

Salo will also soon test the new Ferrari for the Fiorano team. (Sutton-lmages)

...Brazil

Apr 9

,San Marino

,Rd3

Apr 23

Britain

Rd4

■San Marino

Rd 1

May 7

Spain

,Rd2

June 3

.. .Monaco

,Rd3

Jul2

France

,Rd4

shaken

down

expected to unveil their cars until

week of February. Ferrari, McLaren and Wilhams are not giving dates,

Oils ain’t oils: Luciano Burti had a troubled run in the

International C'ship Apr 9

Silverstone on January 14 but all the other major teams are not the end of the month or the first

2000 FIA Formula 3000

Jordan has announced a launch on

January 31 and Frost is looking at a first test in early February.

new JaguarCosworth last week at Silverstone.

The first test of the new Sauber -

which wiU be launched on February 2 in Zurich - was undertaken by

(Photos by Sutton-lmages)

Mika Salo and the Finn reckoned

that the new car was a great deal better than the old C18B. The car ran without too much trouble and

2000 FIA World Rally Championship*

ning before being packed up and

Feb 13

...Sweden

Rd2

taken back to Hinwil.

Rd3 ,Rd4

Drag Racing Series Feb 6

... .Pomona

Rd 1

Feb 27 .. .Phoenix

Rd 2

D Mar 19 .. .Gainesville D' Apr 9 ●Las Vegas

Honda but his best time was 1.6s slower than the Ferrari. Frost continues to test in

Barcelona with its old chassis, the team intent on using it and Stephane Sarrazin for the next week, while Jordan is to run an old 199 chassis at Silverstone for Czech

Rd 1

Mar 19 ...Portugal

nents to be used on the F320.

Michael Schumacher joins the team for their next big test next week. Jacques Villeneuve completed 32 laps at Barcelona in the new BAR-

driver Thomas Enge. Enge will con tinue his development work of the

.. .Monte Carlo

Feb 27 ...Kenya .

and an unusual rear wing arrange

ment which has been developed in association with exhaust pipes which exit through the top bodywork. The car was running in a green livery without any sponsorship with the full package to be revealed on January 25. Ferrari has been testing in recent days at both Fiorano and in Barcelona - Luca Badoer driving an ancient ’98-spec F300 as he did verification runs with new compo

completed around 60 miles of run

Jan 23

2000 NHRA Winston

SAUBER and Jaguar Racing recent days and the next fortnight will see the unveiling of most of

2000

albiet slower than the BAE-Honda.

The new Jaguar-Cosworth R1

Motpir Rating

By JOE SAWARD

vvorld of Sport

It reappeared on Saturday at Barcelona with Pedro Diniz driving, the Brazilian completing 25 laps.

new TAG electronics system which will be used on the new Jordan

Mugen Honda EJIO.

Tora,Tora,Tora

Rd 3 ,Rd4

2000 Fedex Cart Mar26

Apr 9

Nazareth

Apr 16 Apr 30

Long Beach ... Rd3 Rio De Janeiro ..Rd4

...Homestead ...

.Rd 1

■Pv

L.rl

.Rd2 ti

2000 Australian Rally Championship* Apr 2

Forest W.A

I May 5 ... .Canberra ..

t'.-

Jun4

Rd 1 ,Rd2

Queensland

-ft-'

Rd3

J Jun 25 .. .Coffs Harbour .. .Rd 4

Sun sets over Minardi: A third bidder for the Italian team has been revealed. (Sutton)

From out of the shadows

SOOcc World Grand Prix

Motorcycle C'Ship*

DETAILS

,Rd 1

Apr 2

.Argentina

Rd2

secret third bidder

In the last few years Johnson has developed an interest in racing

Apr 9

.Japan

Rd3

Apr 30

Spain

for the Minardi Grand Prix team in

and he is now the chairman of American

Feb13

Phillip Island Adelaide

Setting son: The will be no Japanese drivers in FI this year. By JOE SAWARD

Rd 1

Mar 26 .. .Eastern Creek .. .Rd 2

Apr 9

emerged

Rd4

Championship

,Rd3

THERE will be no Japanese

following the decision by

recent years has been a

Takagi hopes that success in Japan will enable him to relaunch his FI career after two

unsuccessful seasons with

Check your local guides for

Takagi was not backed by

It will be the first time since

1986 that Japan will be

not expected to last for long with the reviving interest in the sport in Japan as a result

Check your local guides for screening details.

Tyrrell test driver in ’97. Nakajima’s close relationship with deposed

in ’99.

All event dates In this calendar were

Series or events telecast on Network Ten are marked with an asterix.

He finished runner-up to Half Schumacher in FNippon in ’96 before becoming the

Tyrrell in 1998 and Arrows

without an FI driver but this is

consult^any individual tracks and/or associations for date changes.

protege of Saturo Nakajima.

Honda boss Nobuhiko Kawamoto meant that

screening times correct at the time of printing. Please

Shizuoka has been racing since he was 12 and in

championship this year.

Categories marked * are telecast by the Ten Network.

Toyota FI team. The 25-year-old from

drivers in Formula 1 in 2000

Tora Takagi to race in the Formula Nippon

have

Mar 19 .. .South Africa

2000 Formula Holden

Championship

[

Honda for a drive with BAR

and the move back to Japan

about

December - Spainish telecommunications

company Telefonica

eventually winning the contest to give it first options on the team.

ists Saleen Perfor mance, which has been

developing machinery in the American Le Mans Series. Johnson’s interest in

Formula 1 appears to have come about because of his Hidden

backed by American

Creek company’s ambi tion to become a major player in the world’s automotive component

multi-millionaire

Sankey Johnson, a for mer

auto

industry

executive who has signifcant holdings in a number of companies which are primary sup pliers to automobile manufacturers around

given them the idea to establish an American FI team?

performance special

Sources say the third

bid for Minardi was

Grand Prix racing to return to America has

business.

Our sources suggest that Johnson is a part

ner in the new Mo

Nunn Racing, alongside

Nunn,

Bruce Rod

MAX Wilson could drive for Minardi this season.

The Brazilian, a for mer

test

driver

for

Williams, had a preChristmas test with the team alongside former driver Fontana.

Although

Norberto

slower,

Wilson is believed to be the favourite for the season because Tele

fonica wants a South American driver for commercial reasons.

Minardi is yet to

Motors,

had interests in Grand

of the increased involvement

suggests that Takagi is hoping that success at home will bring him to the attention of Toyota bosses so that he

Honda, Toyota, Nissan,

can land a drive with its

Prix racing in the past

of Honda and the forthcoming

planned team.

Fiat,

announce an engine supplier, but IS believed to he in the running for Ford’s 1999-spec units.

Perhaps the plan for

-JOE SAWARD

the world, including Ford, DaimlerChrysler, General BMW

Volkswagen.

and

McCaw

and

Campbell - all having

through various outlets.

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Russell Ingall was voted by readers last year as the

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at the

2000 Australian MotorSports Awards

The Australian Motorsport Awards Dinner is a co-promotion by ^saiTlS and

with thanks to our associate sponsors;

It's the one major award voted by motor sport fans themselves - that's you, the readers of Motorsport News. Six lucky voters will win a FREE year's subscription to Motorsport News, simply by voting for their favourites! Just fill out the official voting coupon and mail it/them to us before the counting of votes on 18 January 2000. Remember, we're looking for your view on the Australian motor sport PERSONALITY of the current year. Start voting now ... You may submit more than one vote, but they must be on the oflicial voting coupon (no photocopies)

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U January 2000

IRL Schmidt critical Suffers paralysis in Florida testing accident -future too early to tell INDY

Racing

League

driver

Sam Schmidt is in a serious but stable condition

following an acci dent while test

Walt ing at World Disney in Speedway Florida

last

Thursday that left him suffering some paralysis. Schmidt lost con

trol of his ’99-spec G-Force/Aurora between turns two and three in the

open test session, impacting the wall hard. Schmidt was air lifted to Orlando

Critical: Treadway Racing's Sam Schmidt

Regional Medical

Centre where he later underwent

expected. The 35-year-old,

surgery, doctors inserting pins and using a bone graft

who has run in the

IRL for the past three seasons, had again signed with Treadway Racing, the team this year returning to a full time, two-car team with ’99 Indy 500 rookie of the year Robby McGehee also signing with

to fuse Schmidt’s C3 and C-4 verte

brae, which fered

suf

contusions

and bruising in the accident. Schmidt

was

alert and respon sive following the surgery although doctors said the determination of the extent and duration of the

paralysis he is suf fering cannot yet be made. Schmidt remains in the intensivecare unit and addi tional tests are

the team. At the time of the accident Schmidt

was still recovering from significant foot injuries sus tained at the IRL season finale at Texas Motor last Speedway October. -PHIL MORRIS

he Sting Dr Jack’s fire drill ACTOR Paui Newman bruised his

By PHIL MORRIS

ribs after crashing while testing for next month's Rolex 24 race at

QUICK action on the part of “the world’s

Daytona International Speedway. Newman, 74, was examined by a doctor in the infield and later went to Hallifax Medical Center for fur-

fastest dentist” Dr Jack

Miller and his wife, Liz, prevented damage to their home during a New Year’s Day fire, according to the Westfield Fire Depart

fher evaluation following the acci dent last Thursday. He was treated for bruised ribs

and was in obvious pain when he left the track.

"I got over confident on a fresh set of tyres,” Newman said. ‘The tyres weren’t warm enough and I slipped.”

ment.

s ever seen and Eddie Lawson (9).

WHILE Australian

motorcycle electronics

Suprisingiy, Mick

guru Matthew Casey has

Doohan finished ninth

rated the man he works

overall, one spot behind

for, Carl Fogarty, as the best rider on the scene

(see story on page 21), it’s good to hear that Foggy himself agrees

Max Biaggi with the only rider to nominate five time world champ

Doohan as the best being 1993 250eG world champ

with him!

In a recent poli of 36 current and former world

champions, Fogarty was the only one to nominate himself as the greatest racer of all time.

Tetsuya Harada. Doohan himself nominated Eddie

Lawson, then Wayne Rainey and Kenny Roberts.

Barry Sheene finished

The poll was

dominated by nine-time world champion Mike Hailwood with 40 votes, from Giacomo Agostini on 27, Wayne Rainey and Kenny Roberts finished equal third with 17 votes from Kevin Schwantz (16)

11th in the poll with six votes(one less than Doohan) and nominated Angle Nieto, Kenny Roberts and Mick Grant

as his top three of ali time.

- DARRYL FLACK

The ins and outs of Sarah HAVING lost contracted driver Sarah Fisher to

Derrick Walker’s proposed new Indy Racing League outfit, the IRL’s Team Pelfrey has signed USAC midget standout Sarah McCune. McCune, who raced midgets in Australia last year, was scheduled to undergo her IRL rookie test as Motorsport News went to press. If all goes to plan, McCune will run the team’s 1999 Dallara/Aurora at the season opening race at Walt Disney World Speedway in Florida on January 29. Fisher’s IRL debut for Walker is still clouded. Walker and the Pelfrey team are yet to have come to an agreement for her release.

“Sarah Fisher doesn’t want to drive for Team Pelfrey and she’s waiting for a decision to be made between Mr. Pelfrey and Derrick Walker,” said Team Pelfrey’s Gilbert Lage last week. “Now we’re focused on running with Sarah McCune and that’s the goal we are shooting for.” Competing in just 10 events, McCune finished the USAC series last year in 19th position, earning a pole and five top-10 finishes.

A spokesperson for the Westfield Fire Depart

- PHIL MORRIS

ment said the MiUers dis covered a fire in a closet about 6:20 am.

Newman’s Porsche 996 GT3R

suffered superficial damage. “Paul was the unlucky one

Miller, a three-time IRL

today. It’s not the first time I’ve seen a great driver crash a car. It

version of the Indy 500 participant, extinguished much of the blaze, which began in a light fixture, before firefighters

happens to everyone,” said team manager Kevin Jeannette. "This is a hiccup, that’s all...” Newman, an accomplished dri ver, plans to run the Daytona 24-

arrived on the scene. Neither of the Millers

hour race next month with Gunner

was injured and they

Jeannette, Michael Lauer and

were able to remain in their home.

Michael Brockman.

“I’m angry at myself,” Newman said. “It was a stupid thing to do."

I am the greatest the

Open up and shout “fire”: Dr Jack and his drill.

Damage was estimated at about $5,000.

Who’s who? Sarahs Fisher and McCune. (Photo: irl)

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swerved to avoid them. The machine crashed into a crowd of

spectators. Further south another car left the road and went into a

group of spectators. Two people in

^Ij the crowd were killed. ‘ The accidents continued 7^

By Joe Saward

egular readers of this column will know that I live in a house which is lost in the

French countryside. This is very

nice but there are some

disadvantages to the lifestyle. We are a long way from anywhere and, so, journeys to Grands Prix are longer, more expensive and more complicated. For Christmas Iwas called back

to the family fold in England and, so, we headed north up the old Route Nationale N10 towards Paris. Just after the little town of

Couhe we passed a small and

rather innocent memorial in a lay

by. Ididn’t even notice it.

A few metres further up the road the car died on us. The steam

coming out from under the bonnet was not because of the cold. The

battery had boiled and was about to explode. The alternator had been working overtime - which is a rare thing in France. We spent the rest of the

afternoon sitting in a truck stop before we deserted the trusty old car and took a taxi to Poitiers and from there a hire car to Paris and the Eurostar train to London. It

was all a great adventure.

The return journey turned out to be even more exciting because of two remarkable storms which, Iam

told, carried the unsavoury names of Lothar and Martin. We arrived

back in France the day after Lothar had battered the north. We

managed to acquire one of the last remaining hire cars in Paris and drove south, admiring fallen trees and felled electricity pylons with a five-year-old boy in the back going “Wow!” every time he saw something which had been mangled or scrunched. The radio said that there was

another big storm coming that

throughout the day: cars hit trees and disintegrated, they overturned and caught fire. That night in

rces out to be roofing insolation. What would we find at home?

We stopped at a supermarket as night fell. People were panicking. When we reached

I must say that Iam impressed

by what the FIA has done in recent

years. They keep up the pressure

on the Ft teams to slow down the

home it was dark and rain was

pouring down. There was time for only a brief reconnaissance with a torch. There was no power but the phones worked and the water was

cars while, at the same time, preparing the ground in case of a

major motor racing disaster. Rallying has been tamed to some extent. The shorter stages may be less exciting for the purists, but it was essential to do something.

Bordeaux the race was called off. Half the cars had crashed and at

fine. We cooked on the fire and

least eight people were dead probably more. Many more were injured.

The following day the phones went dead when emergency battery power failed. The water pressure began to drop as the

Atbody the same time athelot governing has done of work on

that city-to-city races must stop. The British banned all road racing.

water towers ran out, unable to

to build up in the minds of the

The French later decided that events could be held on sections of road which were closed and so

them.

The French authorities declared

listened to the radio.

road car crash testing and on

ecological causes. This has helped

have more water pumped into

Daylight revealed thatwere we about had been lucky. There untouched. Outside our front door

every incident. There will be crises,

but motor racing will survive, just

speedway at a place called Brooklands.

I became was mulling all this whenofI aware that over the cries

about what one had seen, it was

“wow” from the back seat had increased in number. And in the hours which followed we saw

violent forces exist in nature and when we are reminded we are

trucks overturned by the winds,

cars flattened by falling trees and hospitals without roofs. Every road sign had been twisted to the ground and at every Shell petrol

unnatural speeds and expect to emerge unscathed from each and

It was a similar story in 1928

FI were made to remember that

motor racing is a violent business and that no matter what we do

about it, there will always be

yellow Shell sign had been blasted out by the 140mph winds. In places we were zig-zagging down roads through fallen trees a one-car path having been cut by firemen to get the road open again.

violent accidents and there will

We saw entire forests where trees

complacency. The cars are safe. Very safe. But fate will always contrive a way to get around precautions. Stable doors are

always be death and injury. It has been five years since the last FI fatality - in case you need reminding - and once again we are drifting off towards

never bolted before the horses escape...

heard barking and there, emerging

from the mists, was a small car

with a light on the top. It said ‘Taxi’. “What on earth...?’’ I thought and

had come with an envelope for me. It was an invitation to the launch of

Jaguar Racing... ...and, at the same time, it was

more than that. It was a message from the motor racing world which told me that come what may the sport was still going strong. And I

have to say is that it warmed my chilled bones and I laughed at the absurdity of it all. France was

closed - but Istill had my invitation. New Year came and there was

people were killed.

still no power and so that night we ate dinner huddled up in front of the fire and then we snuggled up in bed and went to sleep. It was just

The fact are is thatfolkmotor racing people who make

as generations before us had done

things happen. They do not wait and hope. They go in and they grab. They achieve what normal people think is impossible. A few years ago France was

were no fireworks, no music and

somewhere in the region of 100

It was for me a reminder of the

Ripper would have loved. Suddenly, out in the murk I

spectators and then, of course, there was the terrible Le Mans ‘disaster’ in 1955 when

Spring of 1994 when the people in

the kind of weather that Jack the

when Emilio Materassi crashed at Monza and killed himself and 27

shocked.

station the centre of each red and

had been torn to pieces 15 feet off the ground. There were barns which had exploded. And hanging from the hedgerows was this strange yellow stuff - which turned

are inevitable. You cannot travel at

as it survived the 1903 disaster.

amazing. We forget that such

cold and fog had taken over the

world when I got up to let the dogs out for a run in the morning. It was

to be somewhere else. But no, he

This will be important one day because accidents in motor racing

was a ladies bedroom slipper somewhere in the neighbourhood. We wondered what had happened to the lady... When one stopped to think

days after the storm. We were

holed up with no light, no heat, no hot water and no phone. It was

went to see if he needed directions

less willing to compromise and so British racers had to go to Ulster or

which had been blown in from

impossible to get through. I had an example of that in the

public a reputation for caring about

the power line - but the house was

15 trees down - two of them over

skirmishes but the FI truck drivers

would not accept that it was

safe and the environment.

developed the idea of cars completing a number of ‘laps' of a circuit. The British government was the Isle of Man until rich folk decided to build a closed

blocked by a different kind of disaster when all the truck drivers

decided that they had the right to do as they pleased and closed all the roads with their trucks. The police shrugged and did nothing. They said that the French GP would not

happen but the FI trucks came in and went out and only a couple were caught in the blockades. They were a few scrapes and minor

and somehow it was right. There no partying. Just a wife, a small boy who says “Wow” a lot and a teddy bear called Ferrari... ED: The Saward household was,

at last notice, still recovering from the weather-driven carnage in rural France. Saward spent his New Year's break running off to find electricity to recharge the battery of his Macintosh Powerbook computer, before running home to work for five hours at a time. Let’s hope he has a good year in 2000; he certainly deserves it...

In the Spring of 1994^ people in FI were made to remember that motor racing is a violent business and that no matter what we do about it, will always be violent accidents and there will always be deathand in^^’l^

night and so, as darkness and rain fell, we gave up the idea of trying to get home and holed up in a hotel near Orleans. The next

morning we set off for Poitiers to pick up the trusty rusty old car and as we continued south we entered

the zone through which the storm called Martin had passed.

Itaway was from only asthewegarage accelerated that I noticed the memorial beside the

road. It was in memory of Marcel Renault, one of the three brothers who in 1898 began building their own cars in workshop at the end

of the garden of the family house

;

in the French suburb of Billancourt. He had been killed at

that spot during the ill-fated 1903 Paris-Madrid road race.

The story of that evil race has never been fully told because it was so horrendous. It began in Versailles with 216 cars and 59 ■i'

motorcycles setting out at regular intervals. The first accident

occurred only 45 miles from Paris when a woman was struck by one of the cars as she ran across the road.

At Chatellerault a man and child were hit as one of the racers

1^- The much-missed Ayrton Senna, McLaren/Honda, Monza, 1991. {photo b> Sunor.-inagco

14 January 2000

Once upon a time ... older,

experienced drivers dominated

Australian touring car racing. But, in 2000, Craig Lowndes is THE driver of the V8

Supercar era. PHIL BRANAGAN

caught up with Lowndes on the

eve of his bid for a fourth Shell title. Motorsport News: First things first; how’s the knee?

Craig Lowndes: Pretty good. It’s coming along really well. Every couple of weeks, I notice a difference and I can do a little bit more with it.

Ican't kneel on it but, at least, now Ican run, so Ican do some more fitness work

that Ihave been doing. MN: What percentage is it -80, 90, close to 100

percent? CL: I reckon it’s about 90

percent right. It doesn’t worry me, though a month ago I’d get off an aeroplane and hobble around for a couple of minutes until it warmed

up. But I can sit in one position for a lot longer without worrying about it now.

MN: Did it get to the stage where it was affecting your driving even at the end of the season?

CL: Not really. At Bathurst the only concern was getting in and out of the car. With the little movement we did do

Master Racer: Lowndes is looking for his fourth title in four attempts with HRT - but with a slightly different look this season. (Photo by Dirk Kiynsmith and AFi-images)

Y2Cpaig compliant normally, but it took me a little while through practice and qualifying and the first race to get my confidence back. That’s when Istarted

90 percent. That was

In a way I approach the whole year rather than take it per weekend. Ijust try to be as

to feel pretty normal again.

something that woke me up.

consistent as I can

that, you’re virtually driving at Hopefully, that will be the

worry me.

MN: Obviously confidence is a big part of your driving. How bad did it

MN: Any other effects? It

get? CL: Ihope that’s the worst

with it in the car, it didn't

To go fast anywhere. especially in street races, it's a confidence thing. Without

last time Ifeel like that...

over the whole year. As to getting my confidence back... if

MN: You’re at the stage of your career where you have experience as well as youth. How do you mentally prepare yourself to get your head right to

you believe in yourself and your equipment, it just takes time to get through something like that.

drive fast?

back in the car at Winton,

Phillip Island in ’96; that time, I was able to get back into the car and continue on our

how much it did affect me.

before a race when I sit

way. But this time, it shook me up a little bit more than

down by myself and think

MN: Other athletes spend time with sports psychoiogists and the like, is that something you do?

was one of the ‘Hall of

Fame’ crashes of the year. CL: Ithink Ipulled up pretty well. It surprised me a

little bit, at Winton when Igot Iexpected to jump in the car and do what I did

I ever see it. It can shake you up.

The accident I had at

that.

CL: I go through a routine about what we want to achieve.

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your diary with them, looking at your goals from the start of the year and sorting out

CL: I have dealt with them

a little bit. Just going through

in Canberra) when CAMS do those camps. That was very interesting; getting fit to drive a car is one thing, but this is

what you have achieved and so on. What can you fix and what can you change to

with the mental side. It was

make that happen?

very beneficial.

I’ve been to the AIS

(Australian Institute of Sport,

something that is more to do

It’s really up to the

individual, how you accept it

0 learn from the

Winners ● Luke Youlden (Bathurst & Phillip Island Formula Ford winner) ● Christian D^Agostin & ● Brett Youlden

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Roll over Beethoven: Lowndes’ Calder shunt

one the biggest of the domestic season, but he bounced back to seal the title in his usual fashion. (Photos by John Moms/Mpix and API-Images)

different

angles? CL: We’re similar in some

respects, but different in others. We work as a team and all the information we both find in the

car, we share. Before a race we like to

and I’ve been able to use

parts of everything that I

spend some time by

you need confidence in the

I expected to jump in the car and do what I did normally, hut it took me a little while to get my confidence back. (C

team.

have been told.

MN: Having said that, your

MN: Does a lot of what

team-mate Mark Skaife

they do - which, I guess, is aimed at tennis players and athletes from ‘physical sports’ - carry through to

won six races iast year and

motor racing? CL: Ithink it does. Motor

racing is getting more competitive every year and, every year, so are the drivers

- getting much fitter. I believe it helps. We’re not out there

bashing and crashing, we’re out there putting a strategy together which is better than

the next guy. To win races now, you need everything to go your way; you need the car to perform well, you need

the driver to perform well and

wasn’t a contender at the end of the season because of dramas in the two 500km races. CL: That came down to

Mark having three bad races through the year, in races which were a big part of the points system. In that respect, it was awkward for Mark to get back (into the title chase) because he lost so many points in those events. Unfortunate, really. Idon’t really agree with

ourselves so we can get our frame of mind right, and we both sit in the car quite early. We’re slightly different in our driving technique. It works from circuit to circuit;

some circuits suit my style, some suit Mark’s. When we

get to a circuit which suits his

style, Ican look at his style

Lowndes on his Calder crash

and his set-up and that

really well in the three major championship.

understand, the original reason for the double points was going to be for 50 points

MN: What would you change? The actual points system itself, or the points for the long-distance events? Or would you

per race, not 150 per round. The amount of points that are up for grabs in the distance races is something I don’t agree with. It can make or break the championship.

races. That won the

the points that are up for grabs in the long-distance

rather see the distance races not reward the drivers with double

races. I had some bad races

points?

in sprint races, but we went

CL: From what I

MN: Do you and Mark approach races with the same frame of mind, or do you come at it from

benefits me, and vice-versa. It works well for the whole

alone a championship. From where Istarted and where

I’ve ended up. I’m extremely happy. We have had three

fantastic years with the team; three shots at it and three

championships. You can’t complain. But I didn’t really expect to be standing here with three championships, that’s for sure.

team.

MN: You had your first race with the team as a full-time driver at the Peter Brock Classic at Calder.

Did you expect this level of success so quickly? CL: No, I didn’t. When I started, and that was ’96, a

lot of the competitors said that Iwouldn’t win a race, let

MN: What were your expectations? CL: My expectations were to finish in the top half dozen in ’96 and build on from there. When we won in ’96 and moved overseas in ’97

we tried just to keep that leap-frogging going but, unfortunately, it didn’t work overseas! MN: Let’s talk about 1997.

Looking at your career; Formula Ford series

winner. Silver Star winner in Formula Holden, then an

ATCC title in your first year. You were already used to winning titles. How difficult did that make ’97?

CL: 1997 was very much a learning curve. At that stage, if Isat in a race car, I was competitive in it. It was the hardest year I’ve ever had to deal with.

Mark-ing time: Lowndes still holds ambitions to race internationally despite his tough 1997 Formula 3000 season with

Not just the car; the whole environment of living outside Australia, Juan Montoya was my team-mate and he was very competitive and he had his own way of preparing himself for a race weekend.

the autocratic Dr Helmut Marko (above, left). (Phows by Nigci snowdon)

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Continued from p. 15 At a race he went a little

different to me, but I

struggled. Iqualified for every race, which I’m still proud of, knowing that at most races there were six or

so guys who didn't. But the race results didn't

come our way. That was something Igot a little frustrated with. That was my downfall. MN: There were comments made here at the time about the circumstance

under which you tackled the season and they have basically echoed by Montoya’s family. It seems Dr Helmut Marko operated his team in a harsh environment. Fair?

CL: Iguess it is, a, little bit. Dr Mark runs his team how he sees fit and it was

differeni to anything I've been used to or involved with.

He used to call us Into his

office after every event and he wanted to know how, why, when, and how come

we didn’t go faster. It’s obviously easy to go to an Australian circuit you know and drive the car fast, but not

knowing a circuit - and

Montoya and Iwere learning the circuits - makes a big difference. It was the whole

environment. There is some

credibility in what was being said at the time - and the

experience made both

Montoya and myself stronger drivers. We’ve both dealt

with people, and problems, well since then ...

MN; It must be gratifying to look at the success

Montoya and you have

sJd

CL: He was very competitive, as Isaid, and very determined. He hated losing. Drivers like to win and he is one of those drivers. I

always thought that he would do very well in what he does. But Istill believe his dreams are in Formula One. At the

moment, Ithink he is just filling in time. But it is gratifying to bounce back from bad

The Super !n the last five seasons, Paul Morris and Brad Jones have split the BOC Gases Super Touring Championship 3-2. Now they are bringing their race teams to the Shell Championship Series. Will they continue winning? AARON NOONAN asked.

situations. Ilearned a lot, gave me experience and made me a better driver.

MN: Did you learn anything

BETWEEN them they have virtually owned the victory podium in the Australian Super Touring series since its inception.

from Juan?

CL: Idid, a little bit. You learn from team-mates. Mark

has helped me in a lot of respects - some of which he doesn't realisel

One flying the flag for Audi, the other wearing rival BMW warpaint. The often intense competi

MN; Not with starting. CL: No, not with starting! No, Juan is very intense and, if a problem does arise,

tion between Brad Jones and

Paul Morris and theft- respec

he works damn hard to try

tive teams has become one of

and fix it, whether it's with

the real attractions of Super

set-up or with him. There's a few things I’ve learned from

Touring in recent times. However, 2000 will be dif

him; one of them was

ferent, when both will line-up on the VSSupercar grid at Phillip Island in February Jones in a Ford Falcon,

dealing with a team-mate who is very, very competitive. He was young,

he was eager and he pushed

Morris in Commodore.

me to my limits.

At that stage the only team-mate I had had was

Peter Brock. He helped me enormously with dealing with situations in and out of motor

racing, so they were two different scenarios.

“It’S definitely going to be a hard year and I Paul Morris suppose we’ll learn a lot as we go. jj

Holden

.But don’t jump to conclu sions, VSSupercar’s gain isn’t Super Touring’s loss. Both

still intend on continuing in the 2-litre series.

“It’s business as usual, well be there,” says Morris. “We just started the team last year and we achieved what

MN; Brock, Montoya, Skaife. Pretty good team mates.

we wanted to achieve and we

CL: Individually, they’ve all given me something to remember and helped me

could expand our racing com mitments. V8s was the logical

were looking as to how we

expand my experience in motor racing.

choice.”

Continued on page 38

I’m still unsure how (the Audi

Jones sees racing in both classes as viable. “I think so.

both enjoyed since leaving Marko.

deal) it’s all going to work at the moment but it’s like run

ning any business. If you’ve got the manpower, I don’t think it’s a problem to be run ning in two classes.” Combining a schedule which win see both teams rac

ing, on average, every second weekend, is something not new to both as well. If any

body can do it, the BJR team can. Will it be a drain on

resources which may affect the impact that both have on V8 racing?

“I’ve been racing all sorts of cars all my life, the level “No, not at all, it’s just a Brad Jones of competition will be extremely hard. matter of having yourself a

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14Janud[y2000

(tars are comin organised and getting the right people around you. We did the same thing in 1994 with the Diet Coke team so

it’s not something that we haven’t done before,” said Morris. Jones agrees. While both are new to full

time V8 racing, each has approached the move in dif

ferent ways. On the one

hand, the Albury-based Jones purchased not just the older of Tony Longhurst’s AU Falcons, but the Longhurst

AVESCO Level 1 franchise.

Meanwhile in Queensland,

Morris has opted for Holdens but a Level 3 franchise. A lack of available VTs

meant that Monis purchased two

older

model

will prepare its own Ford

benefit from the input of shock ‘guru’ Tim Neff, who oversaw Morris’ victorious

1999 BMW program from his

base in Indianapolis. For 2000, Neff will be based in Queensland frll-time.

“It should be a really big impact, shock absorber-wise, which is his speciality. He’s a really good race engineer as

the first time he sees one.

says Morris. When asked what the

“Dunno mate, that’s why we’re going to go do it, we don’t know until we tm-n up. We don’t know what you have to do with the tyre. We’ve got some good set-up guides from the people we

Touring champ. “We have the capabilities of building a VT, it’s a matter

of time and seeing what you need to do, but our first

choice would be to buy and existing car,” said Morris.

Jones’ entry to V8 racing though was more opportuni ty-based. “The way the opportunity arose with the

franchise - it just bobbed up, so we grabbed it,” he says. “We spoke to Holden and to Ford, and Ford offered us a

better package, basically. With the Ford I’m not sure

that it’s reached its potential. All the Ford teams seem fair

ly even at the moment, whereas you look at the Holden teams, HRT seem to

be a little bit higher than the others. I think that the Ford

way was the way we proba bly would have gone anyway.

.* f

j^udi SpiiT V V

bought the cars off and we’ll

start there and get some good data acquisition on the car, look at what it needs and try to work our way forward

V A

with the short amount of

time we’ve got but it’s defi nitely going to be a hard year and I suppose we’ll learn a lot as we go,” he says. Forget any talk about the two not being on the pace come Februaiy too. While V8 testing is heavily restricted in terms of new tyres, both Jones and Morris are experi enced in not just V8 racing, and are kno\\m as hard rac

ers making the transition rel atively smooth. Jones is rel ishing the chance at showing the V8 fraternity what he and BJR can do. Having won

in Super Touring, NASCAR7 AUSCAR

and

GT-

On the technical front,

Production, VSSupercar rac

Morris’ team will prepare

ing is next on the agenda of

engines in-house under the eye of long-time BMW man

success.

Arch McMurray, while BJR

■■■

toughest thing to adapt to in usual self.

We’ll just see how we go, I think he’ll be a great asset,”

effectively during 1999 and Lions machine. A move to a

one of these cars before so

when we start testing will be

V8 racing, Morris was his

VT however is still an option for the three-time Super

well. He’s never engineered

Commodores, one of which is the car Garth Tander used so

the other an ex-Noske Young

powerplants. Morris will also

“I’ve been racing all sorts of cars all my life, the level of

Veterans and rookies: Jones (left) and Morris bring enormous experience to VSSupercars. (Photos by Noei Papeiera and pm wiiiiams) competition will be extremely and there would be no point we’ll have done a pretty good ter of getting as much inforhard. We’ve got a really great in doing it because we’d run job. As far as driving the car mation as we can.” group of people here and there’s a lot of expertise in the place. I don’t think any one’s too intimidated by the whole thing.” With only a month remain ing before the series begins, the new boys have a lot of ground to catch up on with the existing and experienced V8 teams. With no new tyres to test on, it will be a la Wynn’s 1999. “Hopefully we should be out testing in a week. The thing is though that it wouldn’t mat ter if we went out testing every week, you can’t get (new) tyres to go testing with. We could go testing irght now

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out of tyres in two hours and we’d have to go home any way,” says Morris. “It’s a little bit hard. I’d like to see some sort of dis

pensation for new people coming into the category in order to get up to speed. It’s something which needs look ing at but it’s the same.for everyone. We knew the rules when we got into the catego ry,” states Jones. Both Morris and Jones know that the move will be

tough but where do they expect to be in the V8 order? Monis - ‘We’d like to be in

the top 10, and if we can achieve that, I think then

goes I don’t think it’s a prob

Jones - “My goal is to run

lem it’s just a matter of get-

in the top ten but I don’t

ting all of the other systems in place. ‘We’re definitely imder no illusion that it’s going to be easy, it’s going to be very hard especially with the availability of tyres and the testing restrictions you can’t just go and test, you’ve got to

think we’ll have much of an idea exactly where we’re going to level out until we start. There’ll be almost 20

good cars out there and I think one w'eekend you could be irght up the front and the next weekend you could be to the back of that group.” They’ve banged door-han dles, traded paint and also

do it at the circuits (races). It

all depends on what sort of runs we have in the races, whether we can get through cleanly. “If we get involved in acci dents and sitting on the side of the track we’re not going to learn anything, so it’s a mat-

shared the closest finish in

Super Touring history (in 1995, the margin a mere 0.01s). And funnily enough, that was in round one of the

1995 Championship, which started at... Phillip Island.

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After guiding Williams and McLaren to World

Championshipsy Adrian Newey is recognised as the best designer in motor racing. ADAM COOPER spoke to him.

]

r \

T'S hard to disagree with the premise that Michael .Schumacher is the greatest FI driver of the era, because the statistics give a pretty good indi cation of just how talented the German is. But who is the top designer or engineer in the sport? The stats again point the way. With Williams and latterly McLaren, Adrian Newey has achieved remarkable success during the past decade. Indeed, for the past few

seasons

the

World

Championship has essentially been a battle between Schumacher’s tal

ent behind the wheel, and Newey’s talent behind the scenes. If the two

ever get together, the combination

will take some beating. Newey celebrates 20 years in FI this season, having started with Fittipaldi back in 1980. He con tributed to the massive success

achieved by Williams between 199196, and as technical director of McLaren he steered Mika Hakkinen

to the title for the past two years. Newey’s career reflects the way he works; a series of carefully chosen and very logical moves, each one

making him better at his job.

His passion for racing started at an early age.

“My father was a vet,” says Adrian, “so there’s no obvious con nection there! But while he wasn’t

so much a fan of motor racing, he was an amatem- engineer. He had a workshop with a lathe and a weld ing equipment and so forth. He used

to do a lot of model engineering, and he also had a succession of Mini Coopers and Lotus Elans. I became

interested in racing when I was young, and I think the first FI race I went to was when Peter Revson won

and Jody Scheckter lost it at Woodcote.”

That trip to the 1973 British GP

clearly fired up the 14-year-old Newey, and some four years later he headed off to university with a view to making a career in the sport. “I studied aeronautics and astro

nautics. The aim of doing that was to get into motor racing. I basically figured that racing cars were more closely related to aircraft than they are to road cars. They’re linked in many ways; not just the aerodynam

ics, but construction methods, sys tems, and now of course the way

they use electronics and so on.”

Adrian chose to study in Southampton, the quiet British coastal port best known as the home of the 'Titanic. It was a smart deci

sion; the university had a world

renowned wind tunnel used by

many top British racing teams.

“That was the reason for using Southampton. At that time March, Brabham and McLaren were using the wind tunnel, and it was a good way to see what people were doing. Southampton had quite good con tacts with the motor racing fraterni ty. Because of that interest, choosing a motor racing orientated final year project was allowable, so I did gi'ound effect aerodynamics.

“I started looking for a job (in 1980) by doing the usual thing of writing round all the teams I could

, West, young man: Newey’s McLaren MP4/14Mercedes was the class of the FI

field, taking Mika Hakkinen to his second successive drivers’ title.

The two men have built up a strong rapport. (Photos by Sutton-images) u

To have the

chance to work

find addresses for. Most didn’t reply, and those that did said no vacancy. Actually it was the usual Catch 22; they only took people with experi

with Mario

ence. I went to see Tiga, who were

obviously not a

making F2 cars, and they were quite interested. But they didn’t have the

[Andretti] was chance to be turned

money to employ me. I was actually on the verge of staying on to do a PhD on helicopter rotor blades, when Harvey Postlethwaite rang me

away easily

up, a good two or three months after

turning up for the interview on a

I’d written a letter to Fittipaldi. So I went up for an interview and he

offered me a job the next day.” For someone with Newey’s ambi tion, it must have been like meeting God.

‘It was, very much so! I remember

we spent the first hour chatting about bikes rather than cars! It was

Ducati 900SS, and Harvey had a Moto Guzzi Le Mans. They two were

a good start.

great irvals at the time. Before we stai-ted on the interview he looked at

team, but I didn’t realise that I was

the Ducati and said can I take it for a irde? I said fine. He went for a irde

round the trading estate and I think

“I was joining the aerodynamics going to be the aerodynamics team! The F8 was a quite a good car, but

really there was no money for devel opment.”

Eventually the Fittipaldi team splintered and its management

team split up.

“Then Haiwey went off to FeiTaii,

Peter Warr went off to Lotus and Peter Macintosh went off to March.

I had an offer to join Lotus from Peter Warr, and Peter Macintosh

gave me an offer to join March. I

sXl

H January 2000

thought I’d get more experience more quickly going to a production car maker rather than an Fl team.”

Again, Newey made a smart

career move.

“I joined in two positions, firstly

as race engineer. I was originally

going to be with Christian Danner in F2 in 82, but he fired me from the position after the first race. But Johnny Cecotto said he’d take me. I had one test session before the first

race, and then it was off we go! At the same time I was working in the

The March of Progress:

Newey broke the mould with March’s 881,

allowing the Leyton

House team to challenge

the Big Boys in 1988 and ’89. The car set the trend

for 1990s design, with ultra-narrow cockpits and high airboxes. This is

@ FOSTER’

Ivan Capelli at Spa. (Photo by Pascall Rondeau)

drawing office during the week as a

detail draftsman.

“The GTP sportscar was a very

unloved project, lying on the side, and because my final year project

had been on ground effects, and gi-ound effects applied to sportscars, I thought I should be able to do something with this. I went to Robin

Herd and asked, and he said, ‘Be my

guest,’ but there was no budget to

“That gave it a bit more credibility, and then A1

Holbert got involved and it became a serious effort.

We did a Porsche engine

installation and in his hands it won most of the races he was entered in

for the rest of the year.”

build a model and go wind tunnel

Adrian oversaw the 84G IMSA car before

testing.

heading off for a season in

“The car was designed by Max

Sardou, and I modified it just by eye, using the results from my final yeai-

project, and took it off to Daytona. That was a helluva an experience.” So in Januai-y 1983, the 23-yearold and still very gi-een Newey sud denly found himself running an IMSA GTP car in a 24 hour race.

“The car was finished about a

week before the race, and I went with it, along with two or three mechanics from March. We anived

CART, where March loaned him out to one of its top teams.

“I went to Truesports and Bobby Rahal, where I assumed the job of race engineer and development engineer. We

developed the car fairly heavily throughout the season, and got a lot of weight out of it. I enjoyed that year, but again I was very wet

behind the ears as fai' as race engi

neering was concerned. I went to

there to find that the guy who Robin

one oval test session before the sea

had sold the car to was a wealthy pretty good in his FeiTari road car, and fancied a go at Daytona. We

son! It’s a whole different ballgame. But I’ll always be very grateful to Bobby. He taught me a lot about how to engineer the car, and it was a

managed to persuade him that this

very friendly series.”

wasn’t a good idea. He had a couple of reasonable drivers, Marty Hinze

in Columbus, Ohio, (“that was the

American who reckoned he was

and Teny somebody (Wolters), and a third driver (Randy Lanier) turned up who was completely myopic and had glasses like milk bottles! “We started the race, and I sort of assumed the role of team manager, because there wasn’t anybody else. We hadn’t got any timing system, so we didn’t know where we were. We’d

been working through the night before the race so we were dog tired, and the feeling was it doesn’t really

He spent much of his time living downside!”), but also logged up thou sands of air miles.

“Ralph Bellamy had done the 84C,

and I think he was showing less interest in doing the 85C, so Robin

asked me to do it. It certainly won’t go down as one of the cars I’m par ticularly proud of, but it was my first clean sheet of paper car - the spoi-tscar had been an adaptation of

matter, two hours into the race it

an existing car. But it was done while commuting, so I didn’t have the time to do it properly.”

will break dowm anyway and we can all go home. “We got to about lam, and the

Nevertheless Adrian soon estab

before the start of the year that I’d

lished a reputation as the hottest young engineer in CART. He contin

like to get into Fl. Robin was trying

thing was still going. We didn’t real ly know where we were, and I went off for a pee. Like Indianapolis, Daytona has this tower with all these numbers on it, and 88 was at

the top. I thought that’s familiar! We actually led it until it rained and we got water in the distributor cap at about 8am, but we eventually fin ished second.

Family resemblence: After leaving March, Newey settled in for a successful stint at Williams. In the hands of Nigel Mansell (leading at Monza) and Riccardo Patrese, the active-suspension cars dominated. (Photo by sutton-images)

ued with Rahal thru 1985, before

to get an Fl team together, but I had an offer from Beatrice through

joining Michael Andretti at &aco the following year, where he over

ready to do Fl yet, so take it.

saw his own 86C. He then decided it

was time to start looking at Fl once more, and in the middle of 1986 he

joined the Beatrice/FORCE team, initially as engineer to Patrick Tambay. “I made it known to Robin (Herd)

Carl Haas. Robin said he was not

“So that became my first race engineering job in Fl. The timing was unfortunate in hindsight. I

office. Unfortunately the manage ment style of Teddy Mayer seemed to be to tell Ross Brawn, Ned Oatley and myself that we were boss, and then let us fight it out! The atmos phere wasn’t as congenial as it might have been. It wasn’t actually a period that I look back on with any fondness. They announced their

think my first race was the French

withdrawal in November, which

GP, and very shortly after that Carl decided to wrap the team up. It was certainly a very talented drawing

from a design point of view was too late to do anything. So I decided to sit back and see what happened.”

Haas invited him to retmm to the

States to engineer Mario Andretti (“To have the chance to work with

Mario was obviously not a chance to be turned away easily”), but it wasn’t long before an Fl opportunity came along.

Wealthy Japanese Akira Akagi had linked up with March to set up the Leyton House team, and Adrian was invited to join as technical Continued on page 20

Race Team GIBSON

Personnel

BVI0T0RSPORT

Gibson Motor Sport requires for it's 2000 V8

Supercar campaign the foliowing personnel: ● iHechanics ● Fabricators

» iVlachinists

e Engine guilders « Engineers

Formuls Holden/Endle 3M Australia Racing Team offers for sale its 1991 Reynard 910 Rolling with endless spares. This would have to be one of the "best 91D’s in Australia”. The car has been kept and maintained regardless of cost. ‘Vie only

This is a

fantastic opportunity to purchase this

vehicle at a

"super cheap cost.

History

Formula

" Ex Birrana Racing -Jason Bright ex Alex Zanardi F3000

Holden to

● Winner 1999 Silver Star Championship " Winner 1998 Australasian Cup

completed

have

" Runner-Up 1998 Silver Star Championship » 8th outright 1999 gold Star Championship

every race

= 3rd 1998 Tickford 500 support race

totalling

Reply in writing to:

$49,500

Team Manager, 1/13 Kitchen Road, Dandenong Vic 3175

Phone Les Crampton on 03 9824 4944 or 0413 879 989

entered

38 races.”

UJanudry2000

Continued from page 19 director. It was just what he was looldng for. “It was a good little outfit. Most of the people there had come out of the production side of March, so I knew them. What took me a while to understand was the differ

ence between working for a team which is already organ ised, and joining a team which is brand new, and building it up. It’s quite dif ferent. In designing the 881, where we fell down was in

understanding how to man age and gi-ew that team.” Ivan Capelli and Mauricio Gugelmin were the drivers, and for a while Leyton House really shook up the establish ment.

“Later Akagi was having

designer. The British team was in its second year with Renault power, and the pro ject was beginning to gather momentum. Patrick Head

recognised that Newey had a lot to offer, but despite no longer having the technical director’s role, Adrian didn’t see it as a step down. “I didn’t. I’d never had

experience of working with a big team, apart from the brief thing at Beatrice. I wanted that experience. I was also offered the technical director’s

job at Aitows for quite a lot more money than Williams

offered me, but I decided to go there for the experience. “The areas I worked in at

Williams weren’t any differ ent than at Leyton House; the difference was that the rest of the team was so much better

financial problems, and we

organised and better run,

were having a tough time with the car technically. We were using the Southampton tunnel, and it had problems with the boundary layer and the belt was slowly degrad

which maybe was a failing of

ing, and we didn’t realise

that. We started developing a car round a wind tunnel

which had flow quality prob lems, and really that led to a very uncompetitive 1989 and

first part of 90 before we finally got our own tunnel running, found the problem

and changed the aerodynam ics for the French GP.” In that memorable race

both Capelli and Gugelmin ran near the fi-ont, and after

mine at Leyton House,

Physician, heal thyseif: Newey gets personal with one of his creations, the Williams-Renault FW16, at Goodwood in 1995.

because I didn’t get involved

Vfj-

in the other side. “Generally

^ j,

Patnck gave me a pretty fiee that I m doing a different lou at reign on the design. Obviously he was involved, McLaren than 1 was at Williams.

particularly on the gearbox,

but on the aerodynamics and

general layout of the front end of the car I had a free

ly winning the first race in Mexico was quite a milestone

I’eign.

for me.

Adrian would stay with the team for some six seasons, playing a major part in titles for Nigel Mansell (1992), Alain Prost (1993) and

“Obviously the champi onship in ’92 was pretty amazing, and the way we won it, so early in the year. And the active era I find tremen-

Damon Hill (1996). What were the highlights of that

dously interesting. That was the most technically exciting

leading 45 laps the Italian

period?

eventually finished second.

“In

But within weeks Adrian had moved on to Williams as chief

speaking

iH many woys I don t really feel

’91

started

become competitive but the car was unreliable, and final-

time for sure.

to set-up. Having said that

from a race engineering point of view Nigel only really needed a librarian. Along with Prost he was the last of the breed of drivers that real

ly engineered the car from the cockpit. “Now it’s much more a case

of the driving coming, telling the engineer what the car is

Nigel was a very talented

driver, and had a very good

feel for the car when it came

doing, and then the engineer works with the driver. As I

said, Prost was a httle bit like

Nigel. A very capable driver who was able to do a lot of the

engineering for himself. I

have a lot of respect for him.

“The closest relationship with a driver at Wilhams was

with Damon. Probably he was the longest-serving Williams driver dming my period, and our relationship in ’96 became particularly strong because his engineer David Brown left for McLaren, and we decided to promote a young lad out of the drawing office. Because it

was his first season I really sort of oversaw the race engi neering on that car, which I enjoyed, because I’d become

slightly less involved with race engineering than in the

old days. Going back and doing it again I enjoyed. If I take away the current dri vers, the three drivers I have

the closest relationship with are

Rahal,

Mario

and

Damon.”

Newey also worked briefly with Ayrton Senna, and long after leaving the Williams team was still involved in the

complex legal case which it engendered.

“It was such a tragically short relationship. With all

driver/engineer relationships

you need time to understand each other and know how to

work with your partner. That time didn’t materialise with

Ayrton. It was veiy difficult. What can I say? It’s the sort

of thing that one hopes will never happen, but is always aware that it can happen.

The feeling I still have more ■tOtSCHt

than anything is what a waste. The guy was not only a great driver but would have

been a fantastic ambassador for Brazil.”

In 1996 the FI world was

Master and pupil: Newey and Williams technical director Patrick Head were a formidable teapi, and are now rivals.

shocked when Newey quit the Wilhams team after getting a

might be. 'That was the thing that wasn’t being offered to

McLaren. Inevitably Frank and Patrick were not too happy and he spent much of 1997 on a ‘gardening holiday”.

Last season started badly when the MP4-14 had problems with reliabihty. Was there any pattern to

chance-of-a-lifetime offer from

unable to officially take up his new role, until finally join ing the team in August. Was it reaUy a chance he couldn’t turn down?

“I had turned it down for a

few years! What appealed to me

particularly

about

McLaren was that they had

me at Wilhams.”

it?

“In some ways the pattern stems from last year. We got locked into a very tight battle last year. Developing last year’s [1998] cars pushed this

[’99] car late in the design and hence the manufacturing and testing process. Certainly

operated without a technical

when

director for some years. Which meant that they had

Melbourne we just weren’t

the management structure

just hadn’t got enough

that didn’t need that position. That I felt would allow me to

come in and create my own

job description. And it’s really worked out that way. It’s allowed me to be veiy handson in the design and engi neering of the car, and not be a manager of engineers. It’s a good balanced team.”

In his first year Adrian

helped the team to regain the

championship. For the first time he got full credit for a

World title season, having been overshadowed by Head in the Wflliams days. Was ’98 the title year he enjoyed most?

“It was the most stressful

championship! It was hard work. Mid-season you had that feeling that you were throwing it away. I don’t real ly think it’s the one I’m proudest of “In many ways I don’t real

ly feel that I’m doing a differ ent job at McLaren than I

was at Williams. The thing

which has changed is that I now have a part in the deci sion making process of the

company; drivers, engine manufacturers, whatever it

arrived

ready for the first race. We mileage on it.”

The team intends to put that irght in 2000.

As he said earlier, Newey enjoyed the challenge of the ‘active’ era, which ended when the FIA banned driver

aids at the end of 1993. Now, a designer has very little lee way, and Adrian admits it does affect the motivation.

‘There is so little space to do anything new, that it does

feel restrictive. When you do try to dd something new, such

as the regenerative braking

we were working on last year,

or the third pedal braking

system, then it gets banned either shortly after it’s run or

before it’s even run, which I think is a shame.”

So what’s next on the career agenda?

“I don’t know. It’s a good question. I won’t carry on indefinitely. Ultimately you start to get burned out, and at some stage you should

move over for younger blood. And for personal reasons. It is

very time consuming, and yom- family tends to suffer.

“But at the moment, I haven’t thought about it.”

UJdnuarylOOO 21

\ Back in the saddle: Gobert’s last regular SBL race was at PI in 1996, where he won ... AUSTRALIAN motorcycle racing’s ‘wild child’ Anthony Gobert has signed a two-year, AUSTRALIAN Matthew Casey reckons Carl Fogarty is performance-based the man in Superbike World championship, and for good reason. Casey worked closely with the four-time contract to ride a factory

Foggy tops, says Aussie

Bimota SB8K in the 2000 World

Superbike

Championship. After two years racing in the \s'ilderness, racing in the American Superbike series, the 24-year-old ‘Go Show’ now finds himself back in the SWC with the Italian manufacturer. It was rumoured that

Gobert was being groomed by the Ducati factory to take over the number one mantle

from Carl Fogarty and would move from the Vance&Hines-

run US team to the factory outfit, although Motorsport News sources indicate that it

was as early as September last year that he was dumped from their 2000 plans. Gobert won five rounds of

the US series, but tbe final

plans of the manufacturer now go a long way to explaining his absence from the final round of the US

Superbike Championship at Pike Peak, and his lack lustre times at a team test in

the run-up to the event. Sources close to Gobert say he sees this as his last chance on the international stage

and, with that in mind, Gobert has been in serious

training for the past four weeks.

The Bimota team, which hasn’t raced full time in the SWC since ’89, will be

managed by Virginio Feirari, who split acrimoniously from Ducati in ’98.

Powered TLIOOOR

Suzuki’s

V-twin,

the

engineering development of the Bimota SB8K will be

undertaken by fomer Ducati racing chief Franco Fame, who was responsible for the evolution of the eight-valve Ducati engines first used in the late ’80s. Gobert’s

After receiving a late call up to the team, Casey admitted could see the brilliance in his work.

“I just thought Carl would be a bit stressed out, a bit hyper and intense - intense to the point where you couldn’t communicate with him,” Casey explained. “And I also thought he’d be a bit rough on the bike, but all of that was completely unfounded. He’s actually really smooth, opening the gas evenly, which may surprise some people. The concept of just slamming it open is alien to him. All of this was backed up by the data logging.” It was an interesting comparison with team-mate, Mr Smooth himself, Troy Corser.

- but he doesn’t get to a point a go ‘bang’ with the power. “He’s feeding it in, to maintain a level of grip throughout the race. He really uses his head when he’s on the bike. He knows if you spin the tyre up too much, it’s not going to last.

Even though he knows he can control the bike by spinning it, he’ll just hold off because he knows he’s got to get to the end of the race with tyre in half reasonable condition. It all flows on, in that his styles works the suspension less and it also maintains his own physical and mental condition better, and minimises things like arm up. He really uses his head.”

One of the most experienced riders in SWC, Fogarty has learned that smooth is fast. He has also developed maintains is his real secret to success.

“I think Carl has worked at a system to get the best combination with the bike for race day. And even if a

problem occurs, even if the tyres goes off, he’s still finds away to ride around it, and Ithink that’s his strongest point.

will

Does a hot lap around the Albert Park circuit at the 2000 Qantas Australian Grand Prix in Brock’s XU I or Moffat’s GTHO sound like a dream? It could be

reality! Just enter this fantastic Motorsport News competition. Simply collect four Brock or Moffat tokens that will appear in each issue of Motorsport News

until February 20, stick them below, fill out the entry form and send them to us. Enter as many times as you like (original entry forms and tokens only).

WHAT YOU WIN! ● A Hot Lap with the legendary Peter

GO¥ TO

● Pit Lane Walk for 2.

● 2 Grandstand seats to the 2000 QAGP.

● 2 Qantas airfares to and from Melbourne

(from nearest capital city). ● 4 nights twin share accommodation.

fllMILA ONE

I think one of his biggest advantages last year was being so

● Event merchandise.

Casey has switched teams for 2000, and will be working with Anthony Gobert in the all-new Bimota outfit. “It’s a big challenge, but also a big opportunity for all of us involved,’ said Casey, who worked at Bimota in the mid ’90s. “I’ll be working with the team at all the races, then I’ll

ENTRY FORM: WIN A HOT LAP WITH A LEGENO

be going back to the factory at Rimini ot help with the

development. I’m looking forward to it.”

- DARRYL FLACK

NAME:

ADDRESS: P/CODE:

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Mail completed form to: ‘‘Win a Hot Lap with a Legend” Competition, PO Box 1010, Caulfield North,VIC 3161 by 5pm 20 February 1999.

ic J ,j‘

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I would like a hot lap with (please tick):

'<5i

■“A-.:

Brock

Moffat.

traditional

elect

A'*

calm and mellow, he’s not stressed out by it at all.”

Ducati

tests

Phillip Island in February, privately.

Brock or Allan Moffat.

contingencies when things don’t to plan, which Casey

Casey has indicated that

but

and maintaining a high comer speed, whereas Carl squares

the new Bimota team will not

the

■

the corners off in traditional Superbike style. He also brakes harder and later, and stands the bike up earlier and gases it

Perfomance squad.

ttend

■i.

‘Troy’s got a different riding style,” Casey adds. “It’s a

Team Bimota employee who worked in Carl Fogarty’s

* rr*

smoothness of a different sort, getting it in to the turn fast

Matthew Casey, a former

Flammini/SBK

"V'-' r

to harbouring some pre-conceptions about the often mouthy man from Blackburn but it wasn’t too long before he

engineer will be Sydney-bom

’99

saw.

electronic

successful

world champ during season '99 as Performance Ducati’s electronic engineer. Responsible for Foggy’s on-board telemetry data acquisition, Casey was given a rare insight into the working of a multi-time champ and was impressed with what he

test

-DARYL FLACK/

GERALD MCDORNAN

Four-time winner: Fogarty is tops, says Matthew Casey.

2 3 4 Classifieds page 48 for details.

SOMAGP0463

CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO

MODEL:

MICHELLE CORBAN

<rs

14Jdnudiy2000

he best rally car in the world in 1999 wasn’t the newest, fastest or flashiest - it was

the Toyota Corolla WRC. The stumpy speedster short

changed Subaru’s Impreza WRC,

matched the Mitsubishi Lancer

that Tommi Makinen took to his fourth drivers crown and pushed

Stumpy Speedster PAUL COVER drives TTE’s Carlos Sainz Corolla WRC

past the newer and bolder Ford

Focus and Peugeot 206 to snatch the manufacturers title as a

farewell present from the World Rally Championship.

The Corolla claimed the crown

using a

tasty techno combo banned

from Formula One - everything from active differentials to a tur

bocharger with anti-lag and launch

control - married to the sideways

skills of former champions Didier Auriol and Carlos Sainz.

Their extreme machines cost the thick end of $800,000 a time, have

a working life of just a few desper ate days and blast a long way past

the Canberra-based Corolla that Neal Bates has campaigned in Australia for the past few years.

Yet a stonking Sainz-mobile is surprisingly easy to drive - so long as you’re not searching for the final fractions on a Rally Australia spe cial stage. The turbomotor is all action from

idle to the red zone, the gearshift is

a fingertip treat, the brakes are brilliant and the electronic aids

tame the tough stuff almost before you know it’s coming. Compared to driving the Bathurst-winning Wynnsmobile V8 Supercar, or even Brad Jones’ Super Touring Audi, the Corolla is

S’

./>■

a snack. Up to a point. It has more tech toys without the

W..U,:

slippery control tyres and Homerstyle weight of the V8 Commodore, or the razor-edged cornering and narrow powerband of the A4. It’s been designed and developed to chase tenths of seconds on long and gnarly special stages, so it’s a fairly user-friendly speed machine - but cross the line, or do a dumb one

and the

outcome

will

instant, nasty and very expensive. Sainz found the edge in season ’99 when he fired off the I’oad in

Italy’s San Remo Rally - it was an instant, 140km/h trip off a cliff that could have put him and co-driver Luis Moya onto the missing-inaction list. But Sainz also was best of tbe

rest behind Richard Burns in Rally Australia in November, finishing just’short of Auriol’s single WRC success in the China Rally and

Look, Ma, one hand: Typical Cover pose, one hand on the wheel, the other on the knob, in this case the sequential unit’s. (McKiein pics) putting together a string of regular top-three results to underline the Corolla’s potential before heading

but if you scare me. I’ll stop you. Straight away. Got that straight?” he barked... and it wasn’t a ques

off to a Ford Focus drive for 2000.

tion.

The one-time champion driver hates handing the controls to any one else, especially when they’re connected to one of his super-costly

ainz’s Corolla was still hot and

heavy when he parked it after Perth, handing over the con trols for the last guest drive of the season - and Toyota’s official global rally program - on part of the pun ishing Helena special stage. “Have fun,” Sainz smiled, as he

circuit breakers is not unusual, but

teams soon.

the toggle-change supershift defi

The car they’re getting, like the

Corollas. But Donaldson also knows how and when to have some fun.

The huge bank of switches and

on the menu in 2002 - plans to put a lot more cars through private

Sainzmobile in Perth, is one that

proves money and brainpower can overcome most hurdles on the way to rally success. The Corolla wasn’t the ideal way for Toyota to go rallying when it

made its comeback from a year-long

nitely is.

Toyota was first to use a fully electronic gearchange in the world rally championship and - although there’s still a manual lever for the

sequential box, with a quick fit emergency link - it’s got it right after more than two years of devel

“Let’s give it the business. This will be the last time,” he laughed,

sentence for Celica cheating — it’s still best if you don’t mention the

opment.

headed for the airport. But team manager George

at last.

turbo at TTE - but it was the irght way for a company whose global

idle and, thanks to a huge readout

Donaldson, whose neck was on the

nly a handful of drivers got

strength is built on the foundations

their hands on one of the

provided by the top selling name plate in the history of motoring. The Corolla is too short, too wide

block while the Corolla was on the

stage and he was in the hot seat, had some other advice.

“You can go as fast as you like.

Corblla extreme machines in

’99, although Toyota Team Europe - now Toyota Motorsport, with FI

Bells and whistles: Corolla sports two shifts, the floor-mounted stick system acting as a back-up.

and too tight in the engine bay for an ideal rally car.

And, unlike the new Peugeot 206 and new Hyundai Accent - which

have been given an exemption on their overall length and fitted with an in-line gearbox behind their East-West engines - it wasn’t total ly repackaged to fit the latest World Rally Car regulations.

But it’s still a handy little beast,

with its regulation 300 restrictor-

strangled horsepower, but around

It will upshift on demand from on the steering column, removes

cmy doubt about the gear in action on a special stage.

Sainz is sponsored by Sparco, so that’s his seat choice, with the same bucket for Moya, but set down

and well back on the (right) passen ger’s side and the wheel is a meaty

Momo.

But the cabin also has a huge

carbon fibre air duct down from the

roof - complete with slick eyeball adjustment vents — door pockets for gloves and water bottles, helmet

hooks in the back and a pair of intercom systems, with one patched into the TTE radio system.

Jammed in behind the wheel —

600 Newton-metres of V8 Supercar-

Sainz, like most rally drivers, likes

wheels.

the five-point belt down tight,

style torque to feed to all four

The Corolla looks surprisingly

stock, from a distance.

It has a small wing on its hatch

back tail and a chunky front spoiler

to sit close to the tiller - and with

there s also a little time to note details like the carbon fibre door

panels and electric windows, the

- expendable in action and still

huge fire bomb and Koralba naviga

made from costly carbon fibre - but

barked the commands.

the giveaways are the huge alloy

tion computer, before Donaldson

Right, let’s get going. That

wheels, a bunch of bonnet vents to

switch, that button,” he bellowed.

Get up close and you can see the wafer-thin body panels, the remov

let air out and a drainpipe exhaust.

able side window glass - super thin and fitted for access to the car’s

computers - a boxed-off tail with a

safety fuel cell and a cockpit that’s more complicated than a jet fighter.

he engine fires easily and idles as smoothly as possible with so much urge on tap, but

the gear readout is out and that

means things could be a bit tough.

The hardest thing about driving

the Corolla is getting started.

14Jdnuary2000

Benchmark; Toyota Team Europe Corolla package proved to be

more than capable of besting its peers in the Worid Rally Championship and Cover - a credibie off-roader in his own

right -relished the opportunity to sample the superlative machine driven by champion Carlos Sainz.

Backing out of the service tent -

no garages in the bush - is a fiddly job that requires plenty of concentration. Or some brutality. Once the engine is running, it’s clutch in, push the button on the top of the supershift, push it for-

ward for reverse - without letting the revs drop, because of the hydraulic drain - then smooth and easy on the heavyweight clutch. And you have to keep an eye on

The latest Corolla is help the latest engine, snitched fro Lexus IS200 before being developed and a fully-active train in place of the “ha

clutch” that TTE had previ used as its active rear diff.

The changes since ’98 also some aero differences, a difi

turbo and engine managemer tern, as well as the red launc trol button - “don’t touch that

the mechanics, because one is guiding you backwards - there’s no vision out the tail - while you do the gearbox dance.

the steering wheel. It gives the engine massive on the startline, but hold it

It’s satisfying to get it right, then touch-change forward for first to really get going. And it doesn’t take long. Even with a leisurely takeoff and a brisk - not brutal - run up

you risk melting the engine b of the huge underbonnet heat

through the gears, the Corolla is

extra gear in most places, the Corolla was just as poised and con

into sixth before the first short

straight is under the wheels. Donaldson says it will catapult from O-lOOkm/h in around four sec

onds on gravel if you’re really serious.

But this is just the learning mn. Learn the road, learn the gearbox, learn the brakes and learn how

much the passenger will tolerate on a mtted gi-avel track. Even so, the car is so-o-o quick.

Zap-pow-bam up through the gears, then rat-a-tat bang down through the box with brakes that bite so hard they make a V8 feel like an HQ Holden on crossply mbber.

Sainz likes his Corolla set for slides and feedback, which makes a car with his set-up much more

responsive than a car tweaked for

his team-mate, Auriol.

A year earlier, on the same piece of road, Auriol’s rock-hard Corolla had been twitchy, unresponsive and downright nasty.

for more than three second

up.

ack for a second blast

track, with more revs and an

fident as the first time around -

Pulling power: Turbo four cylinder produces prodigious torque, with levels exceeding that of a V8 Supercar.

unlike the driver, who had to battle one massively sideways moment on

the chance for a real wag before the

a bard-packed left-hander with a skatey scattering of gravel.

turn action into traction.

TTie Corolla is so good because it

The run showed how much WRC

It’s not something you really feel,

cars have changed in just a year -

except that the car is less suscepti ble to surface changes and needs

lets you drive. And drive hard. Without having to worry about the perfect set-up for each comer, or the right time to squeeze the gas, you can concentrate on searching

less wheel in almost every comer.

for seconds.

It also helps on hook-up out of slow corners and the high-speed balance and grip, which is almost

are doing all the time. And they get the set-up perfect most of the time,

bitumen-secure even on slippery Perth gravel.

lisecond and extract maximum go

the engine was grunting harder everywhere and a couple of short chutes, which had been a single upchange blast a year earlier, were now a two-gear trip. With harder braking at the other end. And that’s when the fully-active driveline showed what it can do.

These systems are tailored to each driver, as I first learned dri

ving a Juha Kankkunen Escort

WRC that was tweaked to handle like a tail-sliding 1970s RS1800.

But they now react so quickly that they almost anticipate the action.

The system only has to sniff some

understeer and it pulls the car

straight, while the tail doesn’t get

microchips are tweaking the diffs to

It’s not fool-proof, though and, if you overstep the grip, then it gets very messy and very slow. “Well, you really screwed that one,” Donaldson chipped, after a

And that’s what the WRC stars

squeeze the gas at the right mil in every gear all the time. It’s an awesome thought, stopped at the start line and wondering

what Sainz, or Auriol, would be

finishes and panel damage in the world championship these days. “They have to go flat out, because

somebody will take the risks and make it through without a mishap. That’s what it’s like these days,” said Donaldson.

“Now, get going. And get up the thing, for goodness sake.” With the fresh-air system pop

ping and banging, the brakes still

safe and secure and the huge

dampers soaking up ruts that would dismount a motocross star,

the final lap was fast and fun.

But the Corolla still wasn’t close

doing.

slide that slowed the Corolla from

A gear higher everywhere,

to the edge. It was just doing what it was told, the way it had been

fourth to second in a single swoop.

almost certainly and much later on

designed.

the brakes, something proven by

that brilliant boost from less than

the skid and slide marks from

The sun shone, we threw rocks and raised dust, slid and jumped

2000 revs, that most people

Sainz’s sprints earlier,

and had fun.

they checked the clock.

which explains the high rate of non-

But it recovers so quickly, with

wouldn’t know it was so bad. Until

But even they make mistakes,

It was a great day and a great way to say goodbye.

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14Janu3fy2000 i

JERRY Toliver’s WWF

Funny Car team will

attack John Force’s

championship favouritism

with an armada of crew chiefs following the confirmation of Dale Armstrong, Terry Manzer and John Stewart all

John Force signs aero-expert JOHN Force’s desire to

signing with the team.

win a tenth Funny Car championship in 2000

Jim Spier’s fuel coupes ’ attempt to wrestle the fuel

by the signing of engi neering and aerospace expert Tim Gibson to

in an

coupe crown from Force. Armstrong, with clutch

Toliver’s car while Manzer

and Stewart will tune EpleFs. Armstrong’s record is almost second to none,

“Double A Dale” leading

consecutive Funny Car and

Top Fuel titles, the first 260 mph Funny Car pass and

one

the first ever 300 mph run. After his split from

worked for Don Prudhomme,

tuning the ‘Snake’s’ driver Lairy Dixon to the sport’s first ever 4.4 second pass. He is also a 10-time member of the “Car Craft All-Star

Team”, Armstrong being

AMERICA’S ‘other’

“In the last two or three

sanctioning body, the IHRA, has confirmed its 2000 Top Fuel rules and while the fuel content rule is similar to the

years, by a sizeable mar gin, Gibson has spent

more time in the wind

tunnel than anybody. Coil said of Gibsons

NHRA’s, Bill Bader’s

organisation has varied in a

appointment.

number of specific areas.

2000 Ford Mustangs. It is ironic that Gibson, who has a degree in aero nautical engi-

As per the NHRA, the

enced in dealing with the

IHRA has capped the

Rules

NHRA’s

nitromethane content of fuel

Committees, which is very

at 90 percent, but they have

important as well.”

also ruled that the maximum

The team also intend

supercharger overdrive be

using Gibson in for a vari ety of engineering jobs

reduce from its current unlimited level to 25 percent. Any car causing an

Gibson will continue to

drive the BME fueller for

interruption to the event (ie.

oildown) during qualifying will lose 15 championship

12NHRA events in 2000.

points and the run will not

has

count. During eliminations

more recently been employed by GM-backed teams in re-engi neering their

one offence will bring a

US$500 fine and the loss of 15 points; a second offence

doubles the monetary fine and loses a further 25 points and a third oildown brings a massive US$2,500 fine and

Pontiac Firebird and Chevrolet

Camaro bodies,

noted for his innovative

Petersen’s Publishing ‘Ollie Award’ with Bernstein for a

instituted a five point ‘bonus’

effect this year.

for clean runs.

will

The fines will be

join Force’s tal

achievement in ’97. Manzer and Stewart both

ented

have a long history in the sport but most recently the pair

gained recognition for their tuning efforts with Tim

accumulated and the team which has the ‘cleanest’ record for the season will receive the total sum.

team

working on the Ford Mustangs, including crew chiefs

WUkerson’s Funny Car efforts.

Further rules limiting

engine compression and fuel

Blowing hot air? Tim Gibson has

Austin Bernie

Coil, Fedderley and

line flow will be considered

joined John Force’s camp.

during the season.

(Photo by Gerald McDornan)

ID.

[©j

The IHRA has also

which will take Gibson

lifetime of drag racing

the loss of 50 points.

making changes

engineering and won the

Miller Engineering Top Fueller, will perform “inhouse Funny Car develop ment,” looking to further enchance the aerodynamic

neering,

Bernstein, Armstrong has

A teamj^chpfhiiibris:|@rr^||liyer’S team of champions is

rules

John Medlen.

“Gibson’s also experi

Gibson, driver of the Bill

flow and effects of the team’s Jack Roush-built

Kenny Bernstein to four

X'_tieady,to taekie Force’s chajipidf>'‘t6am. (Photo by Getaw McOoman)

has been underscored

the team.

guru Bob Brooks, will control

TOP FUEL GHAMPiONSHIP

ero-Force confirms

Tim Gibson to team for 2000

The talented trio will call all the shots on Toliver’s and

IHRA

h AMEM.MNrptMG SIKi ASSOCMTION

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14Jdnudfy2000 27

Cruzer's scud primed and ready Da/e Pulde signed as crew chief for limited2000

CRUZ Pedregon has

crew chief and we’re fortu-

Pontiac Firebird in which

i^ate that someone of Dale’s

he will contest the 2000

ability was still out there,

NHRA Funny Car cham-

pionship

Pedregon,

36,

also

driver and tuner Dale Pulde

a major sponsor, the

crew

chief, replacing

meeting at Willowbank

every day this week with pre-event testing going on

difference in funding deter-

unabated. Included

running were Victor Bray, Peter Kapiris, Brett

rnining whether his team is

Tm thrilled about Dale joining our progi'am,” Pedregon

capable of challenging for the championship,

said. “We sat down and talked

If we can acquire the proper funding then we’ll be able to compete for the

pretty much go in sync.

■ You would have

thought there was a race

Pa^^’^gon is still looking

Ronnie Swearingen.

about our philosophy on mnning the car and our ideas

Gilmore, 49, is survived by his wife Karen.

chief

While having limited sup-

amongst the teams

Stephens, Bruno Cugnetto and American Randy Daniels. Testing was continuing until tomorrow (Friday) in readiness for

Winston title.

Shirley’s “Cha-Cha with “Big Daddy

this weekend’s race meet.

IN a battle of drag racing’s legends, Shirley Muldowney downed arch-rival “Big Daddy’ Don Garhts in the first Top Fuel race of the new millenium at the Autofest 2000 event at Moroso

4 T

Motorsports Park in Florida on January 1. Muldowney and Garlits received the green literally seconds after the new year had begun, Muldowneys holeshot-aided ride last ing just 4.98s to take the win over Garlit’s

pedalling 5.23/285 - “Big” coming out of retirement and returning to the seat for just this one appearance. For her winning efforts, Muldowney was presented with a cheque for US$10,000 from

with Sidchrome. Easton’s

colours of the “grander

event Grand Marshall John Force, Garlits surprised about the presentation.

“I thought we were match racing like the old days, best out of three,” he said after wards. Welcome to the new millennium...

The disappointment for Garlits continued as the event, apparently, attracted less than 10,000 fans total over the four days and that has resulted numerous drivers being paid with bad cheques by the promoter. Garhts was reportedly amongst those receiv ing "bad paper" from the event promoter. “Big Daddy” told one reporter that "the paper the cheque was written on was worth more than the check itself."

Traffic branch: Now, after I sign here, where do I go to get

my photo taken for my license? Also, can I have a better shot .

NHRA

full attention towards find-

Schumachers

Winston Top Fuel champ

ing his son financial backing.

returned from the disaster-

Schumacher

Florida (see separate story)

Tony

In response to the letter,

Schumacher

received a serious blow to

called Exide and informed a

his title defence last week

Sceizi to run

AJ fuel (oupe Licensing leads to two-car

Funny Car speculationfor 2001 TWO-time Winston Top Fuel Champion Gary Sceizi

will license in team owner Alan Johnson’s new Funny Car in Phoenix next week, starting speculation that

Johnson is considering running two Funny Cars next year.

Sceizi will cross-grade his license in Phoenix next

week, jumping into the E-Moola.com-backed car after new team mate Bruce Sarver has licensed and become accustomed to the confines of a fuel coupe.

“If everything goes well with Bruce I’ll jump in and

burn off a few squirts,” Sceizi said last week.

reportedly

had

just

ous AutoFest 2000 event in and, with the full team on

when his father, 1970 US Nationals Funny. Car

company executive that he hand, the expenses for the would like to negotiate a set- 'outing had to be in the low tlement, rather than pay six figure area, according to

registered letter from

battle. As of our deadline, it

champ Don, received a sponsor

attorneys a fortune in a coui-t

some observers. That, obvi-

ously, ivill set the team back

Exide

even further in their

Batteries inform

attempt to defend

ing them that their existing sponsorship agree ment, said to be valid through 2000, would not be

their

honoured

specific reason being cited.

The Schumachers

will reportedly field

the ;team for the Wintemationals and

the following event

in Phoenix and then reevaluate the situa

Schumacher, CEO of

1999 NHRA

Winston Top Fuel championship.

SmRasRAt^

tion for the rest of

Schumacher

at Adelaide International

Raceway on January 15. Warpaint ace Shane

Abbott was finalising the new look for Easton as

Motorsport News went to press

■ Possibly upset with the proposed Top Fuel rules, 1999IHRA Champ Don Lampus is rumoured to be leaving the IHRA competition and heading his expressauto-parts.com dragster. ■ Now unemployed Funny Car driver Tommy Johnson Jr will drive

Kenny Bernstein’s Budweiser Top Fuel car at next week’s pre-season test session in Arizona.

Bernstein hasn’t yet recovered from recent

shoulder surgery, undertaken for an injuiy Bernstein suffered back in June.

■ Larry Meyer, the man who wrenched Cruz

Pedregon to the FunnyCar title in 1992. has

signed as co-crew chief to Gary Densham’s operation, joining current crew chief Greg Amaral. “Larry has such a vast and varied backgi-ound and he was available and

willing to come join us and I think his input will

help us tremendously,” Densham said.

the 2000 season.

Electric Corporation in Chicago, was caught completely off guard and, with just about three weeks remaining

spanner” makers will be

for the NHRA tour with

- PHIL MORRIS/JON ASHER

Sponsor quits with three weeks notice REIGNING

■ Drag racing’s “wild man” of blown alky altereds, Tom Easton, has signed a new major sponsorship agreement first appearance in the

Super Shoe’s Shock this time? (Plioioby DaviU Osiaszcwski)

during the ’70s and Top

away on December 13.

elevate this team to

announced last week that he

Charger Pro Stocker

Bob Reischl, sadly passed

has hired veteran Funny Car

his partnership in a

Fueller in the ’80s with

“It’s hard to find a good

unveiled his ‘Cruz Missile’

a VALE: Bill Gilmore.

Bill Gilmore, known for

Schumacher joins the likes of Eddie

Hill, Bob Vander-

griff, Jr., Mike Dunn

1 \

■ Super Comp racer Rob Slavinski i^dll move

into the professional Pro Stock Truck ranks this

Head

year, signing on to drive

among those Top

and

Jim

season

until the Winterin nationals

Fuel

who have either lost

one of John Kessinger s two Chevy SlOs. Slavinski brings with

alcohol Funny Cars to three national event wins in the

Pomona, the team

or failed to come up

him valuable Castrol

now has little or no

with sponsorship backing for the new

“Hopefully, I can run enough laps before the

starts to earn my Funny Car license.” Sceizi is no stranger to floppers, having driven

early ‘90s.

“I don’t think I’ll have a problem getting licensed in

nitro Funny Car, but the whole point of the exercise

is to broaden my horizons.

“Right now my contract with Winston is to drive the dragster through the end of 2000 but after that, there s no telling what might happen.

‘Alan might like running Funny Cars so much that

end up with a two-car Funny Car team next year.

-PHIL MORRIS

chance of finding

new backing in time for the season opening race meeting.

Where to from here: Top Fuel champ Tony Schumacher is reportedly stunned at Exide’s sudden departure. (Photo by Geraw McOoman)

Sources close to the team

jg believed no settlement

report that rather than trying to deal with the Exide situation right now, the elder Schumacher has turned his

offer had been tendered, Also adding to the disappointment of the notification was the fact that the

competitors

millennium,

All

have talked about limited schedules for

this year, which

doesn’t bode well for the

NHRA’s on-track Top Fuel show in 2000. -JON ASHER

Super Clean backing. Castrol having supported

the eight-time national event winner for 15 years.

Slavinski joins Steve Johns in the team and

replaces Mark Osborne who was unable to find

sufficient funding to keep his spot.

U Jdnuaiy 2000

■ With new US tobacco

laws coming into force, look for Ron Capps’s Camaro to

be bannered in standard US Tobacco colours and

lettering and not the

Copenhagen brand.

will be NHRA Division 5

Competition champion, John Fairleigh - Fairleigh having raced in the similar, but indexed B/A Comp class.

“It’s really going to add to our race progi’am and we’re

■ Warren Johnson’s

excited about the new per

Pontiac Pro Stocker is also

spective this brings to the

Mamuso eyes Easyrider World Top Fuel Harley title JOHNNY Mancuso, win

about to undergo an

team,” said Schmidt.

identity change, WJ’s

“There are more and more two-car teams showing up

ner of both the IHRA’s

at the racetrack, and it does

Nitro Harley and ADBA’s nitro Harley Champion

Firebird returning to its traditional black scheme in 2000, although silver

stripes (looking similar to

his white^lue look of last

year) will signify WJ’s 25th year in the class, a WJ and son Kurt,

impressed with KJ’s 6.77 testing in his five year old, but slightly modified car recently, have both ordered new cars ft'om builder Don

Ness. The Johnsons, like a number of other

competitors, are returning to the Ness camp. ■ Jim Yates has

appointed winning Pro Stock racer Rickie Smith as crew chief to his

championship-winning team.

"We are veiy happy to have Rickie working for our team," said Yates. "He's

proved he can win as a driver and win as a crew chief

"Rickie’s a tremendously

1998 Screamin’ Eagle

offer a better opportunity to

gain data at the track. ■ Mike Thomas will also field two Pontiac Pro

ships, is eagerly awaiting the boarding call for his plane trip to Australia to

Stockers this year - the second for Kenny Koretsky. Koretsky, who semi-

Easyrider Top Fuel World Championship Series.

contest

the

ADBA’s

so at Phoenix in 1989.

Mancuso said prior to leav ing'the US last week he was looking forward to running in the Easyrider Series which will pit 16 of the world’s best nitro Harley rid ers against each other to

Thomas and Koretsky

determine the first ever offi

begin testing this week. racer A1 Corda, famous for his series of Dodge Dart s, is

cial World Drag Racing Champion. We are really excited to get to race against the best rid ers in the world,” explained

doing what some consider

Mancuso of the series which

retired from the sport in 1991 to concentrate on

business, is the only man to

have ever qualified at the same event in both Pro

Stock and Top Fuel, doing

■ Champion US Stock

Pontiac Firebird. Corda,

will comprise the four best American riders against four Canadians, Europeans and

\rith Pontiac backing, will

Australians.

run the hi-tech, multi-point

“The competition is going to be tough and I’m going to

the unthinkable and

trading up to a 2000 model

fuel injected car in the indexed, dial-under D/Stock

over the world have actually

got in the one place, at the one time to battle it out,” Mancuso said. “I think we have the best

drag racers in the world in the US and I hope I can bring the title back home - it sime

will be an honour for me, or

whoever may win the title, to be the first, true World Drag Racing Champion.”

iHil isls

Wniowbank and Adelaide Charlie Karling and Willem International Raceways,

Been.

Melbourne - will be Brett

^he Spiderman McBride

beginning on January 29 in Stevens Ian Ashelford, Joe

Edmund, while the an?Brett legendaryjinas Bill

“First in the

Larry

who became the first into the

“:io°n"l“ateiS cycle at Houston late last

Furr Mark Connor and year, will also be making the Stev; Moore will join trip to Australia as a guest of Mancuso as the US’s riders. the ADB ■ m,n,wi\jAivr Canada’s representatives

- GERALD McDORNAN

turn up the wick to try and

resourceful individual who

Auto class at 15 national

make a mark in this series.

has a wealth of knowledge.

events this year.

It’s exciting to be racing

He was a good seat-of-thepants racer who has

this is really the first time in the history of drag racing that competitors from all

against these foreigners.”

evolved with today's more technical sport."

racer Lex Joon will race in the US this season. Joon will soon take

■ Yates has continued

Mancuso is unofficially the world’s quickest Harley irder following a 6.471 second/215 mph blast during testing at

deliveiy of his ex-Bucky Austin alky coupe and get

Houston in November. “I feel this is an honour to

accustomed with the Pontiac at Tuscon next

represent my country and

week before heading to

Symmit reaches for the pinnacle

testing during the off season, recording some impressive runs with his new' Don Ness-built Pontiac

at Bradenton - besting with speeds of 201.66, 201.59 and 201.40 mph. "We have been impressed w’ith the quality of the new Ness chassis," Yates, who had been Jerrj' Bickle's number one customer until

recently, said. "The car is very aerodynamic and

worked really well during initial testing. It's going to take a little time to get used to it, but it does

produce a lot of speed." ■ Having impressed with his late ’99 season fom, Mark Pawuk has signed Mateo Tools as major associate sponsor for his Summit Racing Pro Stock

■ Dutch alky Funny Car

Pomona for the Wintemationals.

Joon will attempt to become the first ever

Dutchman to qualify for an NHRA national event.

goal with driver John Casal ninning a best of a 6.10 in his Top Fueller. European Top Fuel team owner Knut Soderquist, who produces the majority of carbonfibre injector hats and components used in drag racing in the US,

Pontiac. A 13-time NHRA

national event finalist,

concrete, conditions were

almost impossible.

season with Summit in 2000.

AVe think we could mn a 5.8 but that’s about maxi

9 Pro Stock engine builder Steve Schmidt, the

mum for that track,” Soderquist said.

man who initiated Pro

A number of alcohol cars

Stock engine leasing

have run in the 6.1s range in Malta, although Casal’s

progi-ammes, will field two Pontiacs of his own in 2000.

Joining forces with Schmidt

Mail order giant steps up with both IHRA and NHRA in 2000 SUMMIT Racing Equipment, the largest mail order high performance outlet in the United States, has

■ A recent attempt to run the first five second nin in Malta fell short of the

supplied the nitro-burning engine for the attempt but, despite the track being half

Pawulc enters his eighth

The real World Champion? America’s Johnny Mancuso (Photo by Davidostaszewsko

run was the quickest ever recorded.

dramatically upped its stake in American drag racing within the last month, signing on as major sponsor of the NHRA’s new race at Bruton

those to be moved back and

eventually replaced with permanent stands when the additional two lanes are added.

bodies, with former Pro Stock

Track management informed us that the original budget for the facility was US$12 million but that

being joined by John Lingenfelter in

Smith’s Las Vegas track, major sponsor of the NHRA’s grass roots ET drag racing series and as major sponsor of the IHRA. Smith’s Las Vegas facility and the Summit Nationals already looks to be a winner. Eventually slated for a four lane drag strip, the facility will be completed in time for the April event with just two ultra-wide racing lanes and a dramatic uphill

Smith had reduced that to US$9

shutdown area that terminates

sees their series being labelled the IHRA Summitracing.com Series.

within sight of the nearby Interstate Highway 15. Spectator amenities will include a double deck grandstand similar to those seen in the latest stick and

ball sports venues, with the VIP suites situated along the top of the stands.

Temporary grandstands will abut the other side of the track, with

on with its extensive sponsorship of race teams in both sanctioning

million thanks to the ground having been prepped by its original owners.

The Summit sponsorship of the Las Vegas event joins its presenting sponsorship of the Pontiac

Nationals, held at Columbus, Ohio,

national record holder Mark Pawuk

Pro Stock Truck and Dan Fletcher in

Stock and Super Stock in NHRA competition and Jim Oddy’s Fred

Hahn-driven Summit Corvette (Pro Modified) being joined by mountain motored Pro Stock racer Carl Baker

and Super Rod’s Mark Horton in IHRA competition. The political ramifications of the

one of the most popular races on

Summit announcements are

the NHRA tour.

obviously significant, as the company now has major stakes in

Summit signing on to become the overall sponsor for the IHRA now

The agreement is reportedly for

the success of both racing associations.

In order to improve and enhance

its exposure for both groups the

two years and includes increased points payoffs in each of the IHRA

Summit FastNews Network of

eliminator categories. They have also taken over the sponsorship of

web site’s “Drag Race Central section will be expanded for the

IHRA’s ET series, which will be

called the IHRA Summit Racing Series.

The company will also continue

reporters for its summitracing.com »»

coming year, and we’re hearing reports of the company designing an all new web site to handle the expected traffic.

1999/2000 ANPRA AUSTRALIAN DRAG RACING SERIES CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS 1

Australian Top Fuel Series 185 Darren DiFillippo Redback Performance Exhausls/Hadman

2 Rachelle Splatt

130

VaWoline Cummins/Hansen

3 Jim Read 125 . .Gregory’s Automotive Publications/Uyehara 4

Steve Read 100 .Santo's Cranes/Hi-Tcc Oils/McKinney

5 Robin Kirby .

100 .PeimzoilA'DO/Swindahl

Australian Top Doorslammer Scries 1 Dave Koop, Koop De Ville .. .190 2 Victor Bray, Castrol Chevy ...178

3 DavidSimpson.SimpsonRacing ,.158 4 Robin Judd, Studebaker Racing .120 5 Les Winter, Winter Smash Rqrairs. .100 6 Peter Kapiris,Kapiris Bros. ...100 7 Andrew Searle, ACME Fglass ...100 8 Marcus Chambers

.80

9 Brett Stevens, Jack Daniels

.60

10 Ben Gatt, Super Flow Fleads .. .40

Australian Pro Stock Series 1 Peter Ridgeway, PR .200

2 BnmoQignetto.VPW Mail Older ..140 3 Bruce Leake, Thuema/Leake .,120

4 Joe Polito, Polito Racing

.80

5 John Andriopoulos, PRE

.60

6 Rob Tucker, Three Amigos 7 John O’Keamey,Three Amigos 8 Gerry Parente.PaienteE’prises

60 40 40

Australian Top Bike Series

1 Jeff Smith, Harley 2 Brett Stevens, Harley

.330

3 Ian Ashelford, Harley ..

175

4 Joe Edmund. Harleys .. 5 Jay Upton, Triumph ... 6 Brett Jonas. Harley ....

160

7 Steve Kitchen, Kawasaki

100

8 Mark Connor, Harley .. 9 Craig MePhee, Yamaha 10Steve Little. Harley ....

100

310

140 140

.90 .60

PAO.

Kiwis victorious in

NZ vs USA Midgets THE annual NZ vs USA

Kendall with driveshaft fail-

Midget Series has been

ure-points were 80 to 57.

run and won at Western

Springs, the Americans going down to the Kiwis by 154 points to 124 in the Tip Top International Midget Series. For the American team of „

Clay Klepper, Jerry Coons Jnr, Jay Drake and Marc

DeBeaumont, things started badly right from the first eight-lap race on Boxing Day. Although Coons scored from pole in the opening race, Drake faded to finish. The Kiwi team were led

home by Jason Insley, who finished second, with

Graham Standring (Team

Captain) fourth, Lance Beale fifth and last year’s NZ Champion Michael Kendall sixth - Klepper took third and DeBeaumont seventh, giring the locals a score of 19 points to 16. Drake’s bad run continued when he failed to finish in

race two - however, neither

did Beale, who had an almighty crash which saw the car destroyed.

Insley and Coons put on a

gi-eat battle, until Insley got the upper hand with just over a lap to run -

Standring, Kendall, Klepper

The last series race of the night saw NZ reserve driver

Matt Thompson replacing Kendall and quickly repay ing the honour by winning from Standring, Who again shot from sixth to second.

Klepper grabbed third.

ahead of Coons, DeBeaumont and Insley, while Beale and Drake both failed to score

any points.

At this juncture, NZ had a 26-point lead (98 to 72).

The 25-lap non-series fea ture was led all the way by Coons - in fact, the Yanks were to the fore, with DeBeaumont second from

Standring and Drake.

■ The USA Team made a

positive start to the new cen-

tuiy by winning all three of the final series races on

January 1, but it was a case of too little too late.

Drake finally scored some serious points after winning race

six

from

Standring, Insley, Klepper,

Beale, DeBeaumont and Coons, He followed that up with a jjj j-acg seven, downing team-mate

Coons

from

insley, Kendall, Beale, Klepper, DeBeaumont and Standring, who went backwards irom the front row.

and DeBeaumont completed

The final race was another

the race, giving NZ a score of 38 to 30. In the separate feature event, the Americans were out

win to team USA, with Coons taking the win ahead of Standring, Insley, Kendall, Drake, DeBeaumont, Klepper

of luck, Insley winning from Kendall and Kevin Hyde.

and Beale.

The winning margin in the

@ Two days later and the action continued and, incredibly, Beale was back after a

end was 30 points, with Insley, the youngest driver in the two squads, topscoring

massive rebuild.

individually with 47 points. ahead of Coons (44) and

Drake, however, was still

struggling, finishing only one

Beale proved the rebuild was effective when he won race three from DeBeaumont, with Standring blasting from seventh to third - Insley,

Kendall, Drake, Coons and

Klepper followed, with points

now 61 to 43. Race four saw Beale repeat his earlier success, this time

from pole, heading Insley, Coons, DeBeaumont, Standiing .nnd Klenner

Drakfwas a DNF, as was

INCREASING his already

staunch support for Austi’alian Spiintcar racing. Bill Mann has announced

that his Queensland-based Perfonnance Wholesale has

signed alongside Richmond Towing and leading FM rock station Adelaide’s

Tiiple M as a major sponsor of the upcoming Aushalian Sprintcar Championship to be

run

Adelaide s

Speedway City on Febmaiy 3-5.

“I like what promoters

Wendy Turner and Bob

Sincock are doing, not only for local Sprintcar racing in South

Standring (42). ■ It was Thompson, in a

of the three races.

Australia,

but

Sprintcar racing Australia wide,” said Mann, who already supports the highlysuccessful Queensland Sprintcar Summer Shoot-out (QSSS) and the popular Sprintcar World web site.

US star Danny Smith had hiiotie than enough traction at Parramatta 'Gity Raceway.

Kendall,

borrowed car, who won the prestigious 30-lap World Midget Derby, a race which was first run in 1967. Thompson started ninth and took the lead from

American Brice Kenyon just

before half-race distance and was never headed - Klepper finally showed some form by

working his way to second from DeBeaumont, Insley, Hans Boere and Kendall.

- BRETT SWANSON

(John Morris/Mpix photo)

Madsen pumtures— Smith's O'Brien Nats Runner-up Brooke Tatnell consolidates WSS lead Smith’s 11th career WSS victory, his first since

HAVING dominated both nights of the O’Brien Aluminium Nationals at Parramatta City Raceway Rmmd 14 of the 17-race WSS Championship - Kerry Madsen suffered the misfortune of a deflating right

Warmambool in 1997, was a revelation for South Australian car-owner Chas Calandro, who stepped aside from driving; duties to put the American into his car.

rear tyre and was passed two laps from the finish of the 30-lap A-Feature by American Danny Smith on January 8.

Having set quick time, topped the opening night’s qualify ing and then won the Goodyear Eagle Trophy Dash on the following night, Madsen seemed destined for a long overdue maiden WSS win.

“I don’t know what to say,” lamented Madsen. “It is such a sbamie for all the Motor-Up Walker Engines Craft Differentials Grizzly Team. We virtualy dominated for 68 of 70 laps over the two nights. The tyre started going down five laps before the last yellow, which came on for no reason and I just couldn’t hold on to the finish.”

In only his second drive for Calandro, Smith was suitably happy: “I couldn’t race anybody, so I thought I’d just finish! The race car wasn’t perfect, but I had to be up front if am

opportunity came along - and I took it.” Defending WSS Champion Skip Jackson departed the race with a split oil tank on his Pennzoil Skilled Jackson.

At the chequer. Smith led home Brooke Tatnell, Robbie, Farr, Nathan MacDonald, Phil Gressman, Donny Schatz,

Max Dumesny, Jamie Jones, Peter Murphy and David Anderson.

WSS points standings: Tatnell 10180, Schatz 9010, Skip Jackson 7390, Dumesny 6900, Garry Brazier 4165, Drew ’ Ki-uck 3760, Andrew Scheuerle 3705, Ti-evor Green 3670,; Darren Jensen 3545, MacDonald 3440.

Mann offers support

for Sprintcar Title “They are trying very hard to lift the profile of the sport

and have run some big-dollar shows this season in an effort to achieve added pub-

licity for the division - so my support is really in apprecia-

division’s profile, as well.” Mann also confirmed that

the QSSS will continue into next season, with the winner of this season’s series feato-

ing on all QSSS promotional material and appai-el.

tion of what they are doing, . He stated that there will because as far as I’m con- be several changes made cerned they’ve put their relating to the points system necks on the line to assist and the prizemoney payout, the gi-owth of this sport.

“I also want to help them achieve their dream of run

ning not only one of the best

titles in many years, but help

them with the gi’owth of the sport in South Australia. I

have told them that Performance Wholesale will

although the basic racing for

mat will remain the same as this season.

He has also indicated that

One of Four Motor

Up packs valued at $99 each, write on the back of an envelope in 12 words or less why you would like your car to run

smoother, cooler and

there may be an increase in

the number of rounds run and the company is looking

seriously at ways of ensimng that the series doesn t clash

support them next season in with other major Sprintcar any way we can to lift the

events.

Include your name, address and phone number and send your entry ot: Motor Up Competition

PO Box 66 Brookevale NSW 2100 closing dote: 24 Jonuory 2000

14 January 2000

IN front

the

largest

Archerfield crowd of the season,

multiple Queensland Sprintcar

Champion John Kelly finally made up for what had been a

year of disappointment when he steered

American

Brent

Kaeding’s Maxim to a strong win at round six of the

Queensland Sprintcar Summer

First blood: QSSS Round 6 victor John Kelly opened

Shoot-out on December 28.

Kelly led the last half of the

event and went on to win narrowly

from Todd Wanless and Steve

Mortimer, although the second-genoration star later admitted that it

his 1999 card at Archerfield.

(Tony Loxley pics)

S\ V*/

wasn’t as easy as it seemed.

“I knew Todd (Wanless) was

there, but I didn’t really know how

close he was,” Kelly said. “And I had to work hard, because in these

events you never know what’s going to happen next.

“Steve (Mortimer) and Tim

Kaeding were also fairly close and,

if I’d made a wrong move, the race could have been anyone’s - so, yes,

I really had to keep the pedal to the metal all the way.

“I’m glad I’ve got this one in the

bag, though and I guess having the Kelly name as the winner of the last Sprintcar race of the millenni

um in Queensland is a fitting reward also.”

Well-pleased: John Kelly

-■RlSrfgi

lap

The QSSS event, postponed until the following night after its sched

not good news for Titan Garages

car while in

after conact-

uled date was rain-affected, was

ing a slower

driver and current QSSS series

second spot,

leader Dean McComb.

Greg

After winning the 3x3 Dash - in

Wright, now

events run thus far - McComb was

vehicle cam-

But, while charging down the back straight during the opening

Dean stable.

what was one of the best Shoot-out

set to put in a good showing from position 12 in the A-Main.

driving the

paigned by Phil Foster for the John

lap, McComb attempted a bold out-

also

Tim Kaeding and unfortunately

early in the

side move on American teenager into contact with his right rear wheel and rode out one of the m ost horrific Sprintcar crashes

came

seen for some time.

up-

ended his car

feature and was an early retirement,

along with Clem Hoffmans (difD,

twisting and turning the length of the back straight before ending up

Ricky Mitchell (motor) and Tony Michell (flat tyre), But the bad luck award for the

Thankfully, the likeable racer

main - after drilling Gessner in a

McComb’s car end for ended,

a tangled, steaming mess midway through turn 3.

night would go to Darrell Hodges, who was unable to even start the

was uninjured in the wild incident,

hot lap incident after Gessner

felt that the car’s racing days were now well nd tmly over.

opening heat, came back to win his

although car-owner Reeve Kruck

broke an axle, Hodges missed his

While much was said later on in

second and was then forced to retire from the 3x3 Shoot-out Dash

the evening relating to McComb’s

when a tie-rod end punctured his

wild ride, nothing could detract from Kelly’s performance on the night. He simply drove a calculated race

to take over the lead after early leader Cameron Gessner pulled out

with magneto problems and the impressive Sherri Schaffer in the

#10 Ace Fireworks machine spun

inside front tyre before the first lap of the event was run. To make matters even worse. while he and his long suffering father, Rick, were working on his engine only moments prior to the A-Main, an injection arm broke, forcing the young charger to miss the feature completely.

LISMORE’S Paul O’Neill returned to

competition in triumphant fashion with an all the way wui in round eight of the Coastline Vehicle Transport Super Sedan Series at Toowoomba’s Charlton

Raceway on December 26. In his first competitive outing for the sea son aboard an immaculate new Danny

Smith-built Lismore Nissan-sponsored Camaro, O’Neill started from pole position and remained in control throughout to clinch an impressive win. Despite leading from the outset, O’Neill endured plenty of pressure fi'om a pack of pursuers, who remained in close combat through to the finish of a thoroughly enter taining 30-lapper. Wayne Randall enjoyed the switch from his rotary-powered Mazda RX7 to the V8 gi-unt of a Pontiac Grand Prix and piloted his new mount to a strong second place finish. On more than one occasion, Randall drew alongside O’Neill in a bid to take over the top spot,

only to have O’Neill defend his position eadi time.

Aftermath: Dean McComb’s wild ride

reduced the resale value of his Eagle. Heat wins on the night were

recorded by an ever-improving

Mitchell in the #19 Premier Stealth, McComb in the #21 Titan Garages Eagle, Hoffmans in his #3

Sponsor Wanted Avenger and

third and second placings over the

Schaffer, who’s proving that con

place $1000 cash.

sistency may well be the key to suc cess, is running a close third on 264, with Gessner on 259 and John

of the Hard Charger Award, thanks

Kelly now on 250 points - next are Hodges (243), Garry Brazier (229),

three races earned him the first

Mortimer wa a worthy recipient

to his strong_ drive from the rear of

Mitchell 224, Mortimer 215 and

the chequer in first place during

the A-Main to third by the end of the 25-lap feature. Amazingly, McComb still leads the QSSS pointscore after six

the 3x3 Shoot-out - McComb, Mitchell and the wheelstand Icing,

rounds with 304 points, although Todd Wanless (285) is closing the

Tim Kaeding - but McComb’s first.

gap.

NBN Lismore February 12.

Hodges in his #5 Rick Hodges Motorsports Maxim. Three drivers managed to greet

Kruck (202). The next

round

the

Queensland Sprintcar Summer Shoot-out is scheduled to run at

Speedway

O’Neill returns in style Marshall moves to third In Coastline Vehicle Transport points Continuing his incredibly consistent run of results with a third place finish was popular veteran Ian Marshall, whose Federal Tyres Commodore has performed solidly through

The four preliminary heats were won by

Tania Smith, Shane Paulger and O’Neilll. who clocked a new eight-lap record in the process.

contact from Granger - from this point, the leading gi'oup of O’Neill. Randall, Marshall, Gough and Brims had established a small

buffer over Gee and Paulger and this oi’der

out the season and has carried the former

The Westhens Finance Top Ten Shootout

remained unchanged when the chequer

Australian Champion into third place overall in the series standings. Rounding out the first five were Rod Gough (Hi-Tec Oils Pontiac) and Murwillumbah’s Ross Brims (SEQ Fuels Pontiac), with Michael Gee finishing sixth despite a fire beneath the rear of his Weatherall Prestige Autobody Taurus. It was no coincidence that the biggest field of the season produced the best racing seen so far in front of a very healthy crowd.

produced a few surprises, with Granger clocking fast time of 14.787 seconds. Marshall, Paulger, Randall and Brims

Graeme Lehmann. Kelvin Hamilton. Bob Domjahn, Brian Missen and Rob Irwin com

were

next best, ahead of O’Neill, who

dropped five spots after topscoring from the

appeared.

pleted the field.

Coastline Vehicle Transport Super Sedan

heats, but then found himself back on pole

Series Pointscore: John Leslight 986, Jamie

the first three rows of the grid in the pre-

Gough 713, Michael Gee 649, Geoff Phillips 611. Wayne Randall 607, Paul Geaj-y 584,

position for the final when Granger inverted

race draw.

The only caution period in the leature came on lap 5, when Gee spun in turn 3 after

McHugh 958, Ian Marshall 790, Rodney

Blair Granger 448, Kelvin Hamilton 424. - CHRIS METCALF

Kinser signs

with Hoosier

O c

hX) o CL

CO T3 C

STEVE Kinser has stepped

CL CL

back in time for his 2000 World

of Outlaws campaign by signing with independent tyre manufac

turer Hoosier. Kinser - who has won the WoO series a record 15 times - and

Hoosier are renewing their winning relationship from the ’80s when

Bendigo g titli for ChiiIJhmdall SPRINTCARS headlined the program at Bendigo’s first meet

ing for the new century and, as

with the last time these cars

were on the show here, it was

Ga^ Chippindall who took the

major honours on January 1.

Rookie racer Allan Pitcher, in only his third Sprintcar race, was second after leading the opening five laps, but the drive of the night belonged to third place finisher Bob

Barlee’s South Eastern Trucks

Avenger, Chippindall moving

quickly to third and taking second just after the end of lap one. Pitcher was driving well and it took the vastly experienced Chippindall some laps to close on

the rookie, who led the first five

laps until he drifted high in turns 1-2 and Chippindall was through. Dalton was circulating in third, as Forbes was struggling to pass

Forbes.

both Sally Barlee and Farrer.

Forbes had the Culpan New Steel Stealth howling and, if not for

Barlee and for a moment the cars

being bottled up for many laps behind a pair of cars while Chippindall and Pitcher cleared

out, the result may have been very different.

Blasting from a mid-pack start, Forbes scorched away to an easy win in the opening Sprintcar heat, defeating Ron Dalton (East Ringwood Panels Gambler) and Chippindall’s Hussey Performance Gambler.

Heat two was a great three-way dice

which

saw

Rob

Farrer

(Matheson’s HiFert Gambler) nar

rowly beat Forbes and Chippindall. Heat three fell to Chippindall from pole, beating Forbes and Dalton.

The feature line-up saw an inverted grid, with impressive 16

As Forbes sized up his pass on Farrer, Farrer moved out to pass were three-wide past the judges box.

The pair crossed the fine nose to

tail, but adrift of Chippindall, with Farrer fourth from Mark and Sally Barlee.

■ This season’s standout per former in the SDAV Hot Rods, Jason Kavanagh was well and truly conquered in the feature when Dean Walsh led all the way. Kavanagh and Ted Alabacus bat tled for second, the veteran crossing the line ahead of Kavanagh - how ever, both were disqualified for some spirited passing moves

applied on each other with the aid

ing to start from the rear. This elevated his step mum,

In the end, it was VIC#1 Phil Jenkins and Ray Welsh who com

Sally Barlee (nee Chippindall) to pole from Pitcher, Farer, Dalton, Forbes, Chippindall and Barlee but Mildura’s Darryl Bottams

pleted the top three positions,

power steering belt. Pitcher, in the Kevtam Transport OTR, burst into the lead from Sally

n A small field of Super Sedans (five) saw some cut and thrust rac

ing, but in the end it was local racer Darren Hickman who won all the heats and then took his maiden fea ture win from Darren Clarke and

Ian Paige. -BRETT SWANSON

THE new alliance between Ballarat businessman John

Brewer and the previously side

round two of the SRA Hoosier Series and round six of the

Brown & Skinner Transport Series

Western

Auto

Raceway in Bacchus Marsh, Victoria.

American import Chad Kemenah had a troubled run in the USA# 14

■ Pro Shocks ■ All titanium parts Mail order available - all credit cards accepted

Ph: 02 4332 8755 Fax: 02 4385 8395 Mobile: 0411 470 712 21 Sanctuary Place, Bateau Bay, NSW 2261

- PHIL MORRIS

the clock to set the inaugural one lap record for Western Auto Raceway, his first timed lap being a 15.80-second pass, while his second, which looked slower, was quicker at 14.40 seconds.

which point both Ramsdale and Saillard retired.

Murcott knew Kemenah was

Behind the top six cars in the fea ture line-up were Ian Thomsen, Rob Rankin, Dave McFadden, Blair Jones, Swayn, Darryl Downing, Rod Matthews, Peter Telford, Paul Bastow and the B-Mainers, Kemenah, Mike Hanlon, Matthew

Reed, Ian Smith and Chris Evan’s. At the drop of the green, Murcott went straight to the lead from Ramsdale,

clipped the infield kerbing hard on a couple of occasions. Bastow was the final spinner, at

Van

Bremen

and

Saillard, with Kemenah into the top ten at the end of the opening lap. The first caution occurred on lap 2, when Thomsen spun in turn 1 and the next caution was on lap 6, when Thomsen spun again in the same spot - at this point, Kemenah was up to seventh. Three laps into the restart and

there, but drove a smart race over

the final five laps to take a welldeserved win, the American second

from Chippindall, Rankin, Judd, Downing, Reed, McFadden, Swayn (who now leads the SRA Series), Hanlon, Jones, Matthews, Smith, Bastow and Evans.

“I overcooked the tyres a little bit in the trophy dash, so I just kept telling myself to just run a smart

race, look after the tyres and the

failure and retired and a few laps

A good field of 30 cars was on hand on a beautiful, almost tropical night and, despite the heat, the track held up very well.

later turn 1 claimed Telford.

in the SDAV Hot Rods.

Another stoppage occurred two laps later for a triple spin involving

Kavanagh won the opening heat, but then surprisingly ran seventh in the next before winning the fea

when he took the wheel of the #24

car of Steve Knight to win the BMain, before working his way to second in the main event. 'Third across the line in one of the

best, most consistent years of his career was Darnum veteran Garry Chippindall in the Hussey’s

Murcott had topped the points, but Frank Ramsdale placed Wmself on pole from Chippindall, Mike Van and Jeff Judd.

Ramsdale led the first five laps until Murcott ran around the out

S.O.S. RACEPARTS ■ Weld Wheels ■ Eagle chassis

WoO championship.

Kraig, who plans running local mid-west events, will also run Hoosier tyres.

Performance Penrite Gambler.

Foster, but won over many fans

side on the last lap to take the win and pole for the feature from Ramsdale, Van Bremen, Saillard, Chippindall and Judd. As trophy dash victor, Murcott was given two timed laps against

Suppliers of quality race parts

Knoxville Nationals championships

Kinser’s brother, Randy, who will run the WoO support series and son

car and maintain a good line,” Murcott said in victory lane. “I’m really grateful to car-owner John Brewer for giving me this drive, otherwise I’d be on the hill, watching it hke everyone else.” ■ Jason Kavanagh bounced back from his last feature race disqualifi cation at Bendigo on January 1 to once again be the dominant driver

other overseas drivers interstate entrants include Garry Brazier, - DAVID McNABB Robbie Farr, Ron Krikke and Keny Madsen.

the season,” Kinser said.

Tassie Tiger rlaims Aue~AM Challenge

:SA Sprintcar Spectacular SPEEDWAY City’s Sprintcar Spectacular is attracting plenty of interest, three Americans have already nominated for the January 22 event -

vers to put them on, then it may give me an edge, especially early in

- and his series title in ’98 made him the first driver-owner to win a

Bremen, Murcott, Darren Saillard

re^ar tourists Randy Hannagan and Danny Smith, along with Brad Furr, who will be on his first visit to Adelaide en route to the Classic. Promoter Wendy Turner reports that negotiations are continuing with

now and, if I’m one of the first dri

#11 Quaker State car. Despite winning 11 races and fin ishing in the top five 36 times in 1999, Kinser finished third in the

fruit in the team’s third race, “The Tasmanian Tiger” being undefeated all night to win the Austrahan-American Challenge on January 8, which was also

the tail of Pitcher.

“I feel the Hoosiers are as com

petitive as any tyre out there right

Kinser has won 435 feature wins in his WoO career and a record 11

the hammer down and reeled in

and passed Dalton and closed onto

Lasoski, who won 16 races (10 on Hoosiers), will also run Hoosiers this year.

16th title for Kinser and his famous

Once into clear air, Forbes got

of the infield.

Plant Hire JSR when it dropped a

ufacturer’s tyres, both hoping for a

lined David Murcott has borne

year-old rookie Mark Barlee elect

failed to start the Consolidated

Kinser ran the Indiana-based man

WoO standings behind cousin Mark and Danny Lasoski.

Van Bremen suffered valve train

Telford, Bastow and Matthews. Kemenah was now fourth, behind

Murcott, Ramsdale and Saillard, with Chippindall, Rankin and Judd dicing hard just behind. Chippindall and Judd clashed in turn 4, but luckily for them Telford had spun in turn 1 at the same time for another caution.

Sadly, Ramsdale’s left rear had

ture from Victoria #1 Phil Jenkins,

Shane Michell, Ray Welsh, Russell Hovey, Dean Greenham, Dean Walsh and Mario Nastasi. ■ The Modified Production final

was decimated by one incident that claimed half the cars, leaving five surviving runners who put on a

great finish, nonetheless, with

deflated and he was swallowed up

Darren Cotterill taking the win

on the restart and Saillard was

from Ashley Parkinson and Peter

soon demoted after breaking the panhard rod mount when he

Dowling. - BRETT SWANSON

AUSTRALIAN SPRINTCAR CALENDAR VICTORIA S.R.A. Avalon Western Auto

...

Bendigo 360 Series Mount Gambier .. Warnambool .... Western Auto ... Western Auto ... Western Auto Avalon

...

.Jan 15 .Jan 22 ●Jan 23 .Jan 28 .Jan 29 .Feb 12 .Feb 19 .Feb 26 .Mar 4

SPEEDWAY CITY S.A.

QLD SPRINTCAR

AMCA National Titles . .Jan 15

Archerfleld

●Jan 14

Sprintcar Spectacular .. .Jan 22

Lismore . . .

.Feb 12

Australian S/car Title

Archerfield

.Mar 11

.. .Feb 5

All-Star Show

FebS2

Toowoomba

.Mar 18

S.A. Sprintcar Title

Feb 26

Archerfield

All-Star Show

Mar 4

Archerfield

Sprintcar Gold Cup

Mar 11

Archerfield

Burn Out Comp ...

Mar 18

Archerfield

●Apr I .Apr IS .May 6 .May 27

pj&

U January 2000

Brooke tops World Series with three rounds left A thi-ee-straight winning streak backing up his earlier victory in the 1999/2000 World Series

Sprintcars Championship put Brooke Tatnell squarely at the top of the pointscore, the Sydneysider now heading US import Donny Schatz and defending WSS Champion Skip Jackson after Round 14 of the 17-round series.

Tatnell opened his card in Adelaide on December 27 with a

Round 7 defeat of the astounding American super star, Schatz, who looked a good bet for his seventh straight win in the current series. But Schatz broke his front axle

five laps from home and Tatnell took the gold, ahead of Jackson,

tally,with leader Schatz on 6980 and Jackson on 4830.

At Nyora two nights later, a resurgent Max Dumesny became the fourth different WSS winner

this summer after holding out Tatnell and Jackson - Schatz

Mite

flipped in the feature and limped home tenth.

requirements of the

Pointswise, Schatz (7200) still held the lead from Tatnell (5520), Jackson (5490) and Dumesny (4260). The next three rounds were all

Tatnell’s, the crowd at Premier

Speedway in Warrnambool on January 1 witnessing Tatnell limp home ahead of Garry Brazier and Jackson, a stuck bleeder valve causing Brooke grief as the laps

Dumesny (6190) and Drew Kruck

wound down.

(3540). Brazier bounced onto the wiimers

podium at Newcastle on January 5 to claim his first WSS victory this

who claimed his third runner-up

Tatnell then did it again at

finish in succession. The win saw Tatnell break his 21-race winless WSS streak and

Borderline in Mount Gambier,

season, Tatnell the runner-up ahead of Kerry Madsen, Schatz, Scheuerle and Dumesny.

bouncing off the last turn wall to lead Dumesny and Andrew

night affair at Parramatta City

grab second spot in the pointscore (4310), behind Schatz (6150) and ahead of Jackson (3830). Jackson then took out the next round in Horsham ahead of Schatz and demoted Tatnell to third in

points, the latter coming home in sixth spot for a 4690 points

Scheuerle across the line. And he made it a trifecta of wins

at Murray Bridge during Round 12 on January 3, holding out Jackson, Brazier, Dumesny and Phil March to grab the pointscore lead with a total of 8520 points - Schatz (8080) was next, ahead of Jackson (7120),

Bugger: Mike Hanlon bites the dust hard at Premier Speedway on New Year’s Day - he got as far as the B-Feature. (Geoff Grade pics)

Round 14 of the series was a two-

Raceway on January 7-8 (see story on page 29), Tatnell coming home in second spot behind American Danny Smith, with Robbie Farr third.

With three rounds to go - Round 15 at Archerfield in Queensland on January 12, the penultimate round (the Australian Sprintcar Open) on January 14-15 also at Archerfield and the Series Grand Final at

Parramatta on January 22 - it remains to be seen whether or not

Tatnell can retain his lead, but it is

a certainty that he will prove to be very difficult to dislodge from his position of complete superiority.

Good times: Apart from feeling good after four WSS wins, Brooke Tatnell (right) has signed for a full 2000 season of Outlaws raoing Stateside and also become

engaged to Laura. (Tony Loxiey pic) n,''

H^®0®[?S[p(o)[FO

U January 2000 .V

Marshall's fiery i ●

»●

■ Aussie star Jason Crump, currently back home in

Queensland and racing a few meetings during the

■

Australian season, is about to set a new record for a transfer between British clubs.

■

Crump has asked for a trans

fer from British Elite League Champions Peterborough and is expected to join East Anglian rival Kings Lynn for around $100,000. Belle Vue had hoped to sign the Grand Prix rider, but sponsorship could be the key

England this year.

The ruling allows top pro moters to bring over riders to Elite clubs and loan them out

to the Premier League. Jason Hawkes, not offered terms by Belle Vue for the

to him joining fellow Aussies Leigh Adams, Shane Parker

who could benefit.

and Travis McGowan at the Saddlebow Road track.

to race again for Belle Vue and

coming season, is one rider

Kevin Doolan is already set

He will replace world cham pion Tony Rickardsson, who

Travis McGowan for Kings Lynn - if they fail to pick up points regularly, the new

has retired from British

Super Swan BBQ pic by Tony Loxley ;

BRISBANE

veteran

Ian

Marshall was a worthy victor in the final Super Sedan event of the millenium at Brisbane’s

Archerfield Speedway when he powered his Federal Tyres Commodore to victory in an action-packed Round 9 of the

Coastline Vehicle Transport Super Series. Having been one of the most pop ular competitors in the category throughout his long and illustrious career, Marshall has been in excel

lent form throughout the 1999/2000

racing season, with a series of podi um finishes prior to this event.

Gold Coast charger Nick Girdlestone, making his season debut

aboard

his

brand-new

Bandag Monte Carlo, finished in second spot, ahead of series leader John Leslight, with Ross Brims and Jamie McHugh rounding out the first five.

The race was marred by a multi car pile-up on lap 16 that resulted in a wall of fire engulfing those involved when a ruptured fuel tank sent flames shooting across the cir cuit and high into the air. With fire crews slow to react, other drivers became involved in

alerting their stricken rivals to the danger and, fortunately, everyone involved escaped without injury. The event, which suffered a 48hour postponement due to persis tent heavy rain throughout the region, attracted the biggest field of

yCTORIA’s Leigh Adams, ridliig a Series 500 Jawa, extend

ed his lead in the Skilled International

Speedway

Masters Series by winning round six at Wayville Showground in Adelaide on January 8. Adams, the top pointscorer fol

lowing the preliminaiy heats, was

the season so far, with 23 cars in

tested and resulted in wins for Paul

fourth in the series standings. Entering turn 3 on lap 16, fifthplaced McHugh was attempting to put the ill-handling AutoOne Camaro of Anthony Lambert a lap down when they made contact. Lambert was pitched into the path of Randall, O’Neill and Blair Granger, who piled up before being hit hard by Bob Domjahn’s

O’Neill, Wayne Randall, Phillips, Leslight, Girdlestone and McHugh, who also clocked a new eight-lap

Commodore. Des Korn then arrived on the scene and slammed into the rear of

record.

Domjahn, rupturing the fuel tank and triggering a very spectacular

attendance.

Despite the quantity and quality

of the field, it was rookie sensation

Geoff Phillips who topped qualify ing aboard his Caloundra City Autos Pontiac in a pohshed perfor mance in difficult conditions.

Six qualifying heats were con

The Westhens Finance Top Ten Shootout resulted in some major changes to the qualifying order when O’Neill topped the timesheets with a lap record time of 14.394

fire.

With just nine of the original field still circulating, the final 14 laps were completed without inci dent as Marshall charged to the chequer to score an impressive win.

seconds.

Leslight was next quickest, fol lowed by Girdlestone, Brims, Marshall and Phillips. Justice prevailed in the pre-race grid draw, though, when O’Neill inverted the first three rows, putting Phillips back on pole for the

Girdlestone held onto second

spot, surviving a last comer swoop from Leslight (Hi-Tec Oils Camaro) that almost paid off, but ultimately failed to advance the defending series champion beyond third place.

main event.

Brims finished fourth, ahead of

A stoppage ensued on lap 2 when Geary, who had just demoted Nelson with an excellent outside

pass, and Gee, who was attempting a similar move on Domjahn, clouted the back straight fence in separate incidents that put both cars on the infield.

As the field regrouped for the restart, Phillips headed infield with

a rear brake problem to bring his great night to a disappointing end, although he has now moved into

McHugh, Shane Paulger, Graeme Lehmann, Mark O’Brien and Graham Connolly. Coastline Vehicle Transport Super Sedan Series progressive pointscore (top ten): John Leslight 1131, Jamie McHugh 1087, Ian

Marshall 963, Geoff Phillips 725, Michael Gee 722, Rodney Gough 713, Wayne Randall 710, Paul Geary 664, Blair Granger 531, Kelvin Hamilton 502. - CHRIS METCALF

Adams extends Series lead Other riders to qualify for the

Final were Queensland’s Jason

Crump, England’s Joe Screen and Norway’s Rune Holta. “Wly bikes are running perfectly at this stage of the series and, if I can maintain mechanical reliabili-

ty, I’m sure we’ll prove hard to

Raceway, Bacchus Marsh, in Victoria and the seides then moves

to Borderline Speedway in Mount Gambier on January 15. Series pointscore: L Adams 102, B Hamill 90, T Wiltshire 79, J Screen 64, R Correy 63, J Crump 62, S Ermolenko 61, S Johnston 56, R Holta 53, M Ferjan 46, J

never headed in the Grand Final and now leads the series by 12

beat,” stated Adams.

“Having said that, there are still

Lyons 44, A Smith 35, M Poole 32,

points. Behind Adams were reign ing Australian Champion Todd

seven rounds to go, so it’s far too early to be thinking we’ve won it. Round seven will be staged on January 14 at Western Auto

A Svab 31, N Sadler 29, M Lemon 15, C Watson 12, D Watt 6, R Han’ison 2, T Platt 1, T McGowan 0.

Wiltshire and America’s 1996

world champion, Billy Hamill.

Max Dumesny Motorsport

jfoo$ier i ®

For more information on Hoosier Drag and Speedway Tyres call:

NSW: 02 9679 1990 Fax 02 9679 1187 03 9331 6477 Fax 03 9331 7444 VIC: SA:

League racing, as the Kings

arrangement will allow them

Lynn number one.

to continue racing in the UK.

■ World Championship runner-up

■ Craig Watson has become hot property for top British clubs with his Premier League average reduced by 50% for the Elite

Tomasz Gollob will, after all, be racing again for Ipswich in the British Elite League next season. Gollob - the highest paid sports man m Poland - and Ipswich skip per Chris Louis were signed up immediately John Louis tied up a

League. Already Eastbourne and Peterborough have shovm an

interest in signing the Sydney 23 year-old, who impressed with both clubs when racing as a ‘guest’ last

deal with stadium owners

Spedeworth for racing to continue at the FoxhaU Heath circuit. There had been doubts about the

year.

future of the sport in Ipswich when

only English riders for next sea

a rent increase looked to make the

son, with internationals Joe Screen, Dean Barker and David

Eastbourne has so far signed

whole thing uneconomic - this has

Norris already signed and Martin Dugard likely to join them. It would leave them just 13 points for the remaining three places, so Watson’s assessed 4.6 would make him an ideal target.

now been resolved and the 1998

League champions will be looking to regain their title in 2000. ■ The British Elite League will again he televised live regular ly, with a meeting a week being shown on Sky Sports from May 18 until the end of September.

■ Former Australian team cap tain Craig Boyce will, after all, be racing in the British Elite League this year. Boyce, from Sydney, is an

The action will also be

shown in several European countries, including Sweden, Czech Republic and Poland and Fox Sports wiU be taking Sky’s coverage to Australia, along with the six GP events featuring Jason Crump, Leigh Adams, Ryan Sullivan and

asset of Poole, but was surplus to their requirements last sea son and rode on loan for

Oxford, alongside fellow Aussies Todd Wiltshire and Steve Johnston. He is to race on loan for

Kings Lynn this year, after agreeing a deal shortly after Christmas with Lynn co-pro

Todd Wiltshire. i

■ Plans are moving ahead to bring speedway GP racing to Australia

moter Brian Griffin.

Again he will feel at home, as

and New Zealand.

three other Australians have

Former world champion Ivan Mauger, whose Jack Daniels series has again been staged this season in Australia, has been having talks with British-based Benfield Sports International about bringing a Grand Prix to Sydney. 'The key to this would appear to be sufficient sponsorship, but the Gold

signed to race for the East Anglian club and a fourth, superstar Jason Crump, is expected to do so. Leigh Adams, Travis McGowan and Shane Parker are all definite starters.

■ Nigel Sadler, 21, from Adelaide, has agreed terms to race again for Peterborough, with whom he enjoyed a successful season and scooped League and cup honours.

Coast-based New Zealander has more connections than most in this

field and the staging of a GP may beconie a reality before too long.

The current Australian Under-

■ The decision made by the British Promoters’ Association to allow Aussie riders to race

regularly in the Premier League (effectively the second division in the UK) could open the door to a number of young

riders trying their luck in

21 Champion put pen to paper

shortly before Christmas and will join Ryan Sullivan among the team members at the Showground - but, with Jason Crump definite ly leaving, there will be new faces lining up for the champions.

1999-2000 S.R.A. SERIES POINTS SCORE

Australian Distributors for

^ ^ RACING TIRE

08 8332 0800 Fax 08 8364 0296 |

Rd 2 Results, Warnambool 8/1/2000 I. David Murcott 2. Chad Kemenah

3. Gary Chippendale 4. Rob Rankin

5. Jeff Judd 6. Darren Dowling

Point Standings At December 50, 1999 LAPS

...

.532

A-FEATURE LAPS LEAD

2. Rob Rankin, Vic 60 3. Francis Ramsdale, Vic 21

.504

David Murcott, Vic 71 .

.25

David Swayn, Vic 20 ..

Mike Van Bremen Vic 6

I. David Swayn, Vic 20

4. Jeff Judd. Vic f I 5. Rod Mathews, Vic 9 ....

.492 .484 .468

7. Matthew Reed 8. Dave Mcfadden

6. Francis Ramsdale, Vic 21 7. David Murcott, Vic 71 .. 8. Ian Smith, Vic 57

.452

9. David Swayn

9. Peter Telford S.A. 40 ...

.336

10. Mike Hanlon

10. John Vogels, Vic 70

.370 .355

.336

DASH WINS

WINS

David Swayn, Vic 20 .

David Murcott, Vic 71

lij!^®OCo)[F8[p®[FO

14Jdnudiy2000

■ Multi-championship

winning team owner Rick Hendrick is now back at

Hendrick Motorsports

Calder cancels Thunderdome

after a battle with cancer. It was announced on Christmas eve that

Management claims lack of support while the teams hit back

Hendrick’s Muelogenous

CALDER Park Raceway

Leukaemia is now in total remission and no further

chemotherapy is necessary.

■ While on Hendrick, it has become official that he and Jeff Gordon have

bought out Ray Evemham’s share of the GEM Busch team.

■ Dale Earnhardt has

undergone similar back surgery that Mark Martin

management has can celled January 15’s second round of the Australian

Superspeedway Series,

Manager Warren Howard and Motor Sport Manager Peter Bridge cited the reason for cancelling the event was due to lack of competitor sup

AUSCAR/Sportsman class -

the viability of the

which in itself has created

changing the rules, you’re the ones who schedule races

duce enough entries to fulfill

controversy with its speed discrepancies - attracting

Calder Park’s contractual

only 20 competitors.

week

NASCAR category to pro

the

port. “We have [therefore] been

obligations for events at

forced to accept that the com

February and at the Grand Prix in March. “We are most concerned about our commitments

In a letter to competitors

petitors are not prepared to give us the unqualified sup port this season that is nec essary to make your sport

and officials dated December

viable at the Thunderdome,”

23, Calder Park’s General

the letter said.

for scheduled Thunderdome

Saturday night, drawing outrage from competitors about the decision.

Wanneroo

Perth

where contracts demand minimum numbers of cars to

compete. Failure to reach satisfactory numbers for these events will force us to cancel them also.” There is also some doubt about the final round of the

recently underwent, Earnhardt had surgery December 17 for a

series, scheduled for April 1,

ruptured disk and trapped

being run with Calder Park management requesting all

nen'e, the result of a hard Atlanta wreck last March.

A full recovery is

entries be submitted by last

expected but DE won’t

Friday, January 7 - almost

The HQ Holden field had only 20 entrants, a far cry from the 45-plus cars of past seasons.

A number of drivers and team owners have reacted

angrily to the lack of sup port suggestion, some saying the management’s continual rule changes, lack of credi bility with sponsors, falling prizemoney, a 100 percent increase in fees, shortened races and track time and

constant date changes and cancellations have pushed

superspeedway to the brink of collapse in Australia. “How dare you blame us for your mess,” Rose-Marie

drive until Daytona in February, missing winter

three months in advance. Just over a dozen

testing.

NASCARs were present for

and former NASCAR driver

the first round on December

Tony, said in a letter to

18, with the now-combined

Howard.

■ For the third time in

a year Hall of Famer Cale Yarborough has had a deal fall through with a possible partner to co-own his Winston Cup team. This time Superbike

TH» 'aiQERDDME

‘Big’ Bill in 1970, has been diagnosed with

with former truck racer

Stacy Compton expected to drive for the team.

Melling lost the Cai-toon

The NASCAR corpora tion issued a brief prepared

NASCAR's African

statement last week that

Freeway Safari NASCAR racing is soon to be laimched in South Africa with the opening of the 1.5 mile “Phakisa Freeway” super speedway, modelled on Bruton Smith’s Las Vegas track, set for March. The track, at Phakisa in the Free State, joins the soon-to-be-completed Rockhingham track in the UK

and the up-and-running Twin Ring Motegi in Japan as new facilities having been built outside the US for the burgeoning stock car sport.

A 12 round series, to be run at the government-fund ed Phakisa facility and six road circuits, has been con

firmed for SA with 15 starters already confirmed.

Another two super speedway ovals are planned for South Africa, one for Cape Town and the other for Gauteng, with both expected to be completed within

■ Brett Bodine, who was to sell part of his

two years.

NASCAR-SA will run the series with the South

African-built cars identical to Winston Cup cars with the exception being the bodies will be fibreglass. - GERALD MCDORNAN

team to Californian Winston West team owner

11th hour. Bodine did

however manage to salvage sponsor Ralph’s

entries for the January 15

meeting didn’t close until the following day - many

receiving the forms at the track on December 18 and in the rush of Christmas.

and confidence in his med ical team.” France handed over the

day to day running of the burgoning NASCAR opera tion to Mike

Helton in

February last year, the move following France’s hos pitalisation earher last year and a mild heart attack which he suffered while in

Japan for an exhibition Winston Cup race in 1997. - MARTIN D CLARK

Looking for Wall Street: Since taking over NASCAR in 1970, Bill France Jr has taken the sport to places no one ever thought possible, including Wall Street.

rAi iT'R

P ggGRg^gtagflaiggagreaioiita

, The second cotoitagi

■ After runtung wife'' Felix’SabatbsJn 196%

ashes. Greg Ely has been

T Bobble Goidbir returns

chief.

■ Mike Ford, jack man, front brake and

suspension specialist on Dale Jarrett’s #88, has departed the

championship-winning Robert Yates team.

- MARTIN D CLARK

A number of competitors were concerned with was the fact that Calder Park mailed the cancellation notice on December 23 when

France’s son Brian, senior vice president of NASCAR commented, “My father is in good spirits. “He is currently receiving expert medical care and we all have the utmost respect

named Bodine’s new crew

jack work.

relied upon?”

France in the statement.

supermarkets from the

Ford has joined Bill Elliott’s camp and will perform the same duties, excepting the physical

calendar - one that can be

did not reveal the type of cancer, only that it was

Richard Hilton, has had

the deal fall apart at the

port you when we can’t go to sponsors with a confirmed

“I am anxious to begin treatment and get on the road to recovery,” said

Hedrick is rumoured to

the other being Exxon.

“How can Calder Park

seriously expect us to sup

treatable.

Television has also been confirmed, with Australia’s Foxsports also expect to broadcast the rounds.

mentioned Universal and

letter said.

cancer.

Remember when: Calder Park’s Jan 15 meeting is off.

Network sponsoi-ship to Galaxy at the end last year. have two possible deals in the offing - the afore

Christmas,

that took daily control of

Misuraca from Florida has backed out of the sale. Rick Mast is still slated to drive the Universal Studios-backed Fords but rumours are that he will

B Although nothing is yet official, indications are that Melling Racing have picked up Kodiak from Lany Hedrick’s operation

before

you’re the ones who wipe out classes and you’re the ones who can’t guarantee the next meeting will be held, so how dare you blame us,” the

Bill France ill with cancer NASCAR from his father

effort...

Hewlett, wife of AUSCAR

on public holidays and the

BILL France Jr, the man

team owner Tony

leave to drive Larry Hedrick Che\7S, taking the sponsorship with him. Apparently the Universal deal is a percentage on souvenir sales and, by all accounts, it isn’t enough to finance a full Winston Cup

“You’re the ones who keep

The letter also cast doubt on

twib ■' ■

ir -^(lOQ mbbelb for its debut bebsofiV ●

■

S>l?®Z7S/X>(2

U January 2000 Hyundai

, cne

progress ■ Hyundai drivers Kenneth Eriksson and Alister McRae are

By Peter Whit't'^

Citroen rethink sees Xsara set for 2001 WRC

Championship in 2001, it has been

reported in the British press. The French manufacturer began testing a

World Rally Car version of the Xsara earlier

this season, but the project was canned to avoid in-house competition with sister com pany Peugeot.

The Xsara WRC has now been granted a reprieve and will enter three asphalt rallies (Corsica, Catalunya and San Remo), plus one

drive Xsara - Bugalski won both the Catalunya and Corsican rounds of the World Championship last year in the Formula 2

gravel event in 2001 - the team could then

version of the car.

contest the full series in 2002.

Other WRC teams welcomed the news, which would bring the number of teams com peting in 2001 up to eight. -P WHITTEN

French national champion Philippe

Bugalski is expected to drive the four wheel

Temmi's Lancer WRCar MITSUBISHI expects to debut a brand-new World

chance of adding to his tally of four World titles.

Rally Car for the World

It has been reported in

Rally Championship 2001 season, in the hope of giving reigning champion

Europe that Mitsubishi will abandon the old Group A formula, to which the current

Tommi

Lancer is built.

Makinen

the

§®vt backs pstralian fari 2000 THE Northern Territory

one else, will set the Safari

Government confirmed its commitment to the Australian Safari interna

course for the 14th time.

tional cross-country motorsport rally for the next three years recently, thus securing the event for the Territory. The 2000 Safari, from August 20-27, will be fully sanctioned by the world-con trolling FIA and FIM. Defending champion Brace Garland, who has competed in the prestigious ParisDakar international race, believes that the revised and

upgi-aded course for the 2000 Safari will be as exciting and

challenging as any off-road enduro in the world. “The format that

the

Octagon Motorsports (event promoters) team is planning to introduce this year is look ing fantastic. Of course. I’ll be defending the title in 2000,” said Garland, outright auto winner in 1999 in a Holden Jackaroo.

“In the past, the tracks have been a really good mix of tough and fast. I’ve done some inter

esting rallies - we did the Paris-Dakai-, Dubai and I still think the geography of the Teiritoiy is the most exciting

In 1999, competitors faced over 2800km in competitive stages and many felt it was as testing as they had faced. Carpenter said the course for 2000 would be tougher still.

“I’ve been asked to tweak the course a little from last

year,” said Carpenter. “It will be tough, fair, and most of all fun.”

course for 2000 will be from

Springs,

Tennant

through

Creek

and

Katherine, to Darwin.

In the past, the route from Alice Springs to Darwin pro vided some of the most excit

ing and challenging competi tive stages in international

cross-country rallying. The economic benefits of

the event for the Northern

Territory will be considerable - in 2000, over 1000 people will travel with the event as

it passes through towns from Alice Springs to Darwin. However, the greatest value of the event is the

international exposure it pro vides

for

the

Northern

Territory - in 1999, the event was telecast to more

there is.”

than 500 million people

Bob Carpenter, who arguably knows more about

worldwide and in 2000 that

off-road Australia than any¬

introduction of a World Rally Car was one of the provisos that Makinen made before

signing a new two-year con tract last year. While most other manufac

turers have gone the route of World Rally Cars, Mitsubishi has stuck with Group A for much longer, as the Lancer has been a huge seller to pri vateer drivers and Group N competitors the world over. While the possible loss of sales would no doubt affect

Mitsubishi economically, Makinen’s place at the team was obviously of greater importance. Changing the Lancer to World Rally Car regulations would help to extend the rear suspension travel on the car

and tilting the engine rear wards would help improve weight distribution. -PETER WHITTEN

Evans A/P F2 attack

event. A capacity field of 50

Anders, Lancer Evolution 5, 1322.99 seconds

2. Bill Ng/Jonathan Khua,

cars had entered the all-day-

Impreza WRX, 1347.45

testing, in temperatures

light event, which consisted

ranging from minus 15 to

of eight special stages

Impreza WRX, 1373.49

minus 28 degrees Celsius. “The handling and bal

around the national stadium

ance of the car is very good. We’ve got a really good base set-up,” McRae said. ‘We

The event started early on Sunday morning with three laps through the odd-shaped

need more work on the

A1 car park.

engine, but I think every driver wants more power.”

car parks.

3. Ben Lim/Leon Yeong, Championship results; 1 Jeff Beaumont (86 points), 2 Ian Lee (68), 3 Terence Soh

(53), 4 Possum Bourne (40), 5 Brian Whillock (36).

Forest CSassic

Lee, in his Subaru

make its debut at the

Impreza WRX, opened pro ceedings with a quick subthree minute run, stopping the clocks at 178.04 seconds,

February 10-13 Swedish Rally.

half a second ahead of Beaumont’s Mitsubishi

beautiful north east of

Lancer Evo 5.

Victorian on April 15-16.

The Accent will miss the

Monte Carlo Rally, but will

Skoda signs Climent ■ Skoda has signed 1999 Teams Cup Champion Luis Climent as its second driver for the 2000 World

Championship - the Spanish driver will team with former Toyota and Ford driver Armin Schwarz. Climent is rumoured to

have brought £350,000 in sponsorship to Skoda, which secured the drive for him -

other fi-ont runners, includ ing Bruno Thiiy, Thomas Radstrom and former

British champion Martin Rowe, were out-bidded for the drive. The Czech team will con

test eight, or nine.

Championship events this year, including the Safari Rally - it is also thought that the team will contest

Rally Australia.

Skoda also hopes to devel op a young Czech driver in a third Octavia World Rally Car.

Beaumont Champ □ Australian driver Jeff Beaumont has won the

Singapore Supersprint Series after winning the final round on December 12. Beaumont and local dri

ver Ian Lee were separated by just two points going into the final round, the Falken Rally of Singapore, which became a winner-take-all

'The positions were reversed on the next test,

2000 ■ After its successful run

ning in 1999, the all-bitu

men Forest Cllassic Rally will again be held in the

Conducted by RaUysport

with Beaumont over two

seconds in front of Lee, with Bill Ng third.

The fast ‘FI’ stage pro duced a similar result,

Promotions, last year’s event attracted a quality field and was won by former

Australian Rally Champions Bob Watson and Monty Suffem in a Porsche 911.

which gave the Australian a

The navigation event uses

four second lead.

open public roads and is

But then Lee struck prob lems in the next stage and

based in Wangaratta. Last year’s event included

crawled out with a 57-sec-

ond deficit after fuel pump

a run up Mt Buffalo, which is again planned for this

problems.

year.

The Team Falken crew of

Ben Lim and Leon Yeong were leading the Clubman class, ahead of young star

Full details on the event are now available and can

be obtained by phoning the organisers on (03) 57221250.

Andrew Goh.

Lee Chih Fei, who nor mally pilots an Air Force F16, started strongly, but gearbox problems halted his rapid progress. The afternoon stages used the same car parks, but dif ferent patterns with similar complexity. ; Partnered by navigator and locally domiciled Scotsman Rod Anders, Beaumont in the Team Mitsubishi-Shell Evo 5

maintained the leading pace with fast time on aU the

remaining four stages, chnching the event win, as weU as his third Singapore drivers’ championship. Bill Ng finished second, with Ben Lim third, both driving Impreza WRXs. Lester Wong, driving a Honda VTEC, put up anoth-

Junior Challenge ■ Australian RaUysport News has announced details

of this year’s ARN Junior Rally Challenge, the series that launched Cody Crocker’s career in 1994. 'The 1999 Junior

Challenge offered competi tors over $16,000 in cash and prizes and organisers expect a similar prize pack age to be made available this year. The series is open to dri vers 25 years old and under in cars that are 2 litres or

under, two wheel drive and normally aspirated.

Regulations, registration forms and event dates can be downloaded from the ARN web site:

www.am.rally.com.au - or by phoning (03) 57221250.

AUSTRALIAN Formula 2

At this stage, the proposed Alice

It is also thought that the

1. Jeff Beaumont/Rod

E(Jitor-Australian Rallysporwws

The team completed more

CITROEN will enter the World Rally

Final Results

than 650km of successful

Bi^ear: Michael Guest wrings the neck of his F2 Hyundai Coupe in testing.

and finishing a creditable seventh outright in an event cars.

of the new Accent

Sweden.

er outstanding performance, winning the Formula 2 class that included 18 turbo 4WD

excited by the progress World Rally Car after recent testing in

Champion Simon Evans looks likely to contest the Asia Pacific Rally Championship in a Version 4 Volkswagen Golf Kit Car in 2000.

Evans and co-driving wife Sue are expected to take delivery of the ex-Mark British Higgins

Championship i car in February, before debuting it in May’s Rally of Canberra. Evans’ program means that-he will probably only contest

one

Australian

Champoinship round, the

Rally of Melbourne, meaning that the Formula 2 category in the national championship could be a bit of a non-event in 2000.

Former

Champion

Brett Middleton also has his car for sale and will contest

audience figure will increase

the ARC in Cody Crocker’s 1999 Subaru Impreza WRX.

even further.

-PETER WHITTEN

140

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plus

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14Janud!y2000

Briefly Historic THE Victorian Historic

Racing Register will be conducting its Multi-Club Practice Day at Calder Park Raceway on Saturday, January 30, a great way to prepare for the Historic racing season ahead. A maximum of 100

enti’ies will be accepted on a first-come, first-served

basis and the practice day is conducted on similar

It was agreed that the present application foihn (T18) has some shortcom

ings and needs to be redesigned. Another matter dis cussed was the fitment of scatter shields on Historic cars. The Committee

agi'eed that fitment in cars “where disintegration of the flywheel/clutch/bell housing may constitute a

Dr Porsche Engineer of the Century DR. Ferdinand Porsche has been named Car

Man and Machine:

Dr Ferry Porsche, here with

Elections Foundation - an

son Feminand Jr (L), pioneered a long line of classics, culminating in the

organisation made up of 132 leading members of

(Photos courtesy Porsche Cars)

Engineer of the Century by the Global Automotive

1998 Le Mans winner

lines to a regular Historic race meeting. Scrutineering is fi'om 8 until 9-30am, where cars

be recommended, but not . compulsory.”

will be checked for safety as well as class eligibility. (The VHRR reminds poten

B Gaiy Ryan, the associa tion’s driving force in Victoria will be missing for

tial entrants that

much of 2000 as he is

ing journalists as well as

equipment and supplies. Appointed technical direc

BCF/Halon fire extinguish

preparing for a six months stint in Europe with his

enthusiasts, and the panel’s

tor of Austro-Daimler in

ers are now illegal). Cluh membership cards and CAMS licences must be

presented to the pit office before cars \rill be scruti nised. The event will con sist of fifteen-minute ses

sions throughout the day of non-timed practice for cars

of the same style and per formance, with refresh ments provided for drivers and crew members at the

conclusion of the day in Calder’s old VIP room.

Entries close on Januaiy 21, and for further infor mation contact the

Secretary, Brian Simpson, 89 Anderson Rd., Sunbury, 3429 (phone 03 9744 7309).

hazard to the driver should

Lola Mk3. His Formula

Junior will he shipped out" in February, and the Ryans will fly out in mid March. Gary plans to race at

the automotive communi

ty from 33 countries. Category finalists and win ners were determined by votes from world-wide motor

decisions were announced

recently in Las Vegas. Born in Bohemia in 1875,

Porsche’s first major engi neering feat was to design an electric wheel hub motor

Monaco and will run a num ber of the Lunari Series

which was used to power the first electric car built by the

races during the year. It’s good to have such an

Vienna based Lohner & Co. in 1899. Over the next 18

enthusiastic Aussie flying

years Porsche also coupled

(below).

the design with a petrol engine for cars and created a design hybrid for the

Austrian army to move heavy

1906, Porsche designed pio neer aircraft engines as well as a 90hp, 140km/h car that won the Prince Henry Trials. His first small car, the in-line four cylinder Sascha won 51 of the 52 races contested dur

ing 1922.

The following year Porsche became technical director and a board member of what

became Daimler-Benz and created the famous Mercedes

S, SS and SSK compressor models.

In 1929 he was named

technical director of Steyr-

the FJ flag for six months or so in Europe.

Historic Eligibility Committee has already had a number of nettley issues to confi'ont including the matter of cars with a

split history. This involves the cloning of a second car

from an existing car by utilising some of the com

ponents from the original car, which is being restored.

famous Type P rear engined Grand Prix Auto Unions dominated formula races drrr-

event spokesman Frank Douglas. A maximum of

ing the 1930s, and rear engine designs remain a

400 veteran, vintage, clas the tour fi-om Melbourne to

Red Hill on Sunday 23,

have a prerious existence or line of history.” This is a problem not unique to Australia. Let’s

hope the suggested solu tion by our Historic Eligibility Committee can

be administered effectively. Group N in also in the

news with the Committee

reviewing perceived short

comings in the revised reg ulations covering roll cages and the question of retrospectivity.

The Committee agreed that “all cars are to comply

with the new regulations by 01/01/2000, but that individual cases for dispen sation will be considered on application.” ■ Certificates of

Description are also to the fore, and the Committee

has discussed “the present shortcomings of a fair pro

portion of Certificate of

Description applications with the view to engender ing a better standard of

presentation and complete

ness of applications in the future.”

famous Volkswagen, the car that eventually surpassed

Host club, the All British Classics Car Club has extended invitations to all

the Ford Model T in 1972 as

history’s production leader. The VW platform also formed

club registered vehicles, and after a display in Swanston Walk the partici pants will be flagged off to Frankston to join irp with 70 cars starting from that

drive in convoy along Nepean Highway to Red

acceptable as it does not

in 1934 and resulted in the

2000.

tory is the critical point in acceptance of an historic car, and would mean the cloned car would not be

Porsche trademark today. Another Auto Union pro ject involving Porsche began

vehicles will take part in

The entire field will then

Hill Recreation Reserve for

a picnic lunch followed by a jazz concert commencing at 5pm. Frank Douglas has ordered “nice weather” for

the rally on January 23 he claims to have “good connections.”

overhead-valve

engine for Auto Union. The

Rally are “significantly up on last year,” according to

location.

cylinder engine.

In 1931 Porsche founded

■ Entries for the 2000 RACV Great Australian

The Committee has reit erated that “the line of his

Werke AG in Austria where

he designed both the Type XXX with rear swing axles and a 5.3-litre, lOOhp, eight

his engine and vehicle design consulting firm that designed the 16-cylinder compressor

sic and modem classic

■ The newly-constituted

T)(o

the basis for the rear engined amphibious all-wheel drive

Kubelwagen nulitaiy vehicle, and all-wheel drive has car

ried over to today’s 911

Harves is a 'Junior' GOOD news from the Australian Historic Formula Junior Association is

Carrera 4.

Dr. Ferdinand Porsche

died in Stuttgart on Januaiy

30,1951.

-BRIAN REED

nity for a static display - all the things the

Ami the 311 Phillip Island meeting coming up Not such good news was the fact that the March 3-5, will drive a Lola Mk5 association received only 23 responses to its gets a nod Formula Junior belonging to Rob Hands. post paid questionnaire, the guaranteed This is a gi-eat morale boost for the of cars running is somewhat light on, tion, as is the news that separate gilds for number and the Historic Commission is loath to ten Car of Formula Juniors have been offered by the that John Harvey, the patron of the

association has been striving for.

The Phillip Island meeting will be the first

round of the AHFJA 2000 series.

associa-

■ Organisers of the Phillip Island Classic

(March 3-5) are hopeful of some impressive overseas vehicles to feature at the

meeting. An E.R.A. is a probable starter for British

driver Duncan Ricketts (a

second E.R.A. was being

acknowledge Formula Junior as a recognised category, believing that the current Group M

At worst, the FJs will run as a gi'oup behind

position is adequate.

the Century

If the Formula Junior fraternity can rally sup^rt from 10 or 12 entries for the Island,

The association is disappointed by this stance, given that Formula Junior is specifi cally recognised and regulated virtually

IT comes as no surprise that the legendary

promoters, provided numbers are sufficient. the Formula Fords.

it will have not only separate giids for three races, but garage allocation and the opportu¬

throughout the world.

-BRIAN REED

negotiated but is now

unlikely) and well known international Historic com

petitor Peter Giddings with take part in his Lago Talbot.

Fingers are also crossed

that a very rare light

weight Maserati 250F

believed to have previously belonged to the Hon.

VSCCA leaves CAMS By BRIAN REED AT a time when the administration of motor sport is

becoming a more

Patrick Lindsay will also

complex and

As the meeting is the weekend before the Qantas

operation, CAMS has been dealt a

be a starter at the Island.

AGP a number of the more significant cars will also be

seen at Albert Park in spe

cial demonstration events. -BRIAN REED

demanding blow with the announcement that

the Vintage Sports Car Club of

Australia is severing its ties with the

controlling body.

The VSCCA was one of the

foundation clubs when CAMS was formed in 1953 and

after 46 years has informed CAMS it is ending its membership.

also claims that decisions on motor

sport policy are made without regard

for motor sport clubs input.

Other points of

claims were “introduced without discussion from

motor sport clubs. “....When CAMS

returns to a position

of credibility and

contention include

relevance to motor

the recently

sport, the VSCCA

VSCCA, “CAMS no longer fulfils Its

introduced driver medical standards described as

will be happy to

original purposes of

“unrealistic,” and new

CAMS to assist and

According to the

helping motor sport clubs run their events.” The club

mandatory standards

for driver clothing, which the VSCCA

bring its vast

experience back to

Porsche 911, which was designed by Porsche’s grandson ‘Butzi’, was nominated for the Car

of the Century award. Introduced

September 1963 at the International Auto Show in Frankfurt as a succes-

sor for the Porsche 356, the 911 has provided many

memorable

ver

sions during its 36-year history, from the original 148hp model through to the 1995 twin-turbo, 400hp 911 Turbo. The latest all-wheel

develop motor

drive model, due for release in Australia short ly, will continue the fine

sport,” the letter

tradition.

concluded.

-BRIAN REED

Du.d

9X0.

14 January 2000

Briscoe's shock

Tony Kart move Just fine: Adam Graham looked good against Poncelot. (Hensheiwood)

Qraliam impresses Eyro Champions 1999 Australian and Oceania Junior Intercontinental A

Champion Adam Graham more

Graham spent 25 laps on the cir cuit in an identical Swiss Hutless chassis with a 125cc Komet reed

Champions Julien Poncelet

valve engine and Bridgestone YEQ tyres in a mock race with champion

(Formula A) and Guiseppe Palmieri (Formula Super A) on

The drivers swapped positions almost by the lap and were never

than

impressed

European

their recent visit to the MakoTrac circuit in Cairns.

driver Poncelet.

more than a handful of inches

apart, neither gaining the advan

The two Swiss Hutless factory team drivers paid a quick promo

tage.

tional visit to Australia the week

receive all-round congratulations

following Poncelet’s victory in the World Cup at Suzuka in Japan and were very positive about Adam’s chances in his Formula A debut for Swiss Hutless in 2000.

Adam returned to the pits to

from the accompanying Swiss Hutless factory team members. “Watch out for this guy in 2000 he’s good,” commented Poncelet. - SEAN HENSHELWOOD

CIK/FIA appoints Caro IN yet another surprise move, the CIK/FIA world ruling body of kai'ting has appointed Belgium’s Vincent Caro as the Executive Secretary of the association. Caro, a world-renowned jornmalist, was somewhat of a surprise choice, having been poached by Max Mosley and his team. Current President Ernest Buser was due for retirement by mid-2000,

having served, in sometimes controversial fashion, since 1978.

Caro is best known for his exceptional karting images and his work as a coiTespondent for almost all of the world’s karting journals - he is also one of Europe’s leading Formula E (Superkart) drivers, having won most i-ecently at the famous Nurburgring. Caro was the obvious choice as Secretary, given his immense knowl edge of the sport and his fantastic rapport with the European industry. - SEAN HENSHELWOOD

nt Champion f Champions Podiums for May and Winterbottom EUROPE-BOUND Formula A

star Troy Hunt made amends for his disappointing loss in the NSW State Championships to take a resounding victory against an invitational field when Australia’s best karters

came together at Eastern Creek for the Champion of Champions

In fact, Ryan was recently given a test session in a Palmer Audi as

from CRG to Tony Kart to con test the 2000 European and World Championships in Formula Super A alongside 1998 World Champion David Fore.

“This will also be my first real chance to try Bridgestone tyres, so I’m looking forward to spending the

Briscoe was to have started his

was made partly available due to

eighth season with CRG alongside reigning World Champion Danilo Rossi, but finally succumbed to pressure from Tony Kart to join ‘Team Green’ with equal number one status - with CRG, Ryan took out the 1998 North American and

1999 Italian Championships in Formula A “It was a hard decision for me to

leave CRG,” Ryan said last week from his home in Sydney, “but the offer was just too good to join a team which has seen a number of

its drivers progress to others forms of the sport (Trulli, Courtney and Magnussen). “Leaving CRG is like leaving family. We all live together at the races, work together and eat together and they’re a team which

has won many championships, but

majority of the time in front of the eight ball, instead of behind it.”

Briscoe’s position in Tony Kart the resignation of Mariembourg’s World Championship ‘bad-boy,’ Ronnie Quintarelli. He clashed with Birel driver Ronnie Bremer two corners from

home in this year’s World Championships while battling for the lead, allowing CRG former world champion Danilo Rossi through for the win. Commentators suggested later that team boss Roberto Rabazzi

was immensely disappointed in his driver post-race, despite Quintarelli’s second-placed result Quintarelli is rumoured to be join ing the Formula Ford ranks. For 2001, Briscoe looks likely to contest the new five-round World

Championships again for Tony Kart, despite rumours recently which linked him with a switch to cars. “We’ve received a number of

the meeting to compete against Garry McCoy, Anthony West and

great irvals for a number of years.

firm.”

Shaun Geronomi on a Moriwaki for a three-hour endurance event. The final class on the full card

fastest lap of the event on lap two,

of the class and his son, Shogo Moriwaki) alternating with the

ward to be second on lap 13, pass

was Resa Light. Recently graduated

ing Matthew Muller. Three laps later, Abbott inherited

Junior

Intercontinental A driver Dan

Light, the entry list included nota

Originally entered, former world

newly-crowned Pettaras Press Resa Cup Champion Kris Laue. Winner of all three heats, Peter Lawler started the final from grid 11 after engine failure in the pre final, but immediately made his

500cc GP motorcycle champion Wayne Gardner was forced to watch nervously from the sidelines

in the opening laps. Laue set the pace early with the

and Andrew Tomlinson.

announcement that he will move

so it will be interesting to see how my former team-mates react on the circuit; but I don’t see that there will be any problems.

offers recently,” Geoff Briscoe (Ryan’s father) said, “but nothing

Abbott was making his debut in Seniors and lined up alongside

Nick Agland, Wesley May, Bart Price, Neil McFadyen, Jason Varley

IN a sensational shock develop ment, Sydney’s Italian-based Ryan Briscoe has made the

I am really looking forward to the change. “Tony Kart and CRG have been

as he awited news of the birth of his second child - he was also at

event on December 11. Scheduled to be run as Clubman bles such as Mark Winterbottom,

Mover and shaker: Ryan Briscoe, with his mother, Marion and father, Geoff. (Sean Hensheiwood pic)

presence felt and was up to seventh

while Abbott started to move for

junior irders for an all points count system of competition. In the end, victory went to

the lead after Laue rolled to a stop

West/Takuya Tsuda over McCoy/

with a broken chain.

Josh Foster and Mitchell Hatton/

By race’s end, Abbott held a 4.6second advantage over Muller, with Lawler third, ahead of Jack Lynch, Lan-y Diamond and Dean Nicolo. To avoid pitting mishaps, the

Josh Brookes.

Moriwaki enduro (the brainchild of

Elfs tony Hatton) was divided up into six half-hour sprints using the same circuit as the karts, with the senior riders (including the founder

Gardner and partner Russell Holland claimed eighth. Hunt led from the start of the

Champions race, with May, Winterbottom and Agland in hot pursuit.

After starting the pre-final last, Tomlinson was up to fourth by lap eight.

part of a prize for winning the Italian Championships, the outing in the UK producing promising results.

“It was a few days after a number of barters who placed in the World Championships had a run (Bremer, Pantano and Qunitarelli, to name but a few), but we didn’t get the testing they did,” Ryan said. “Our times were pretty competi tive, but, due to changeable condi tions at the circuit, our laps were limited.

“It was difficult in some repects, a lot more technical, although the lack of grip (despite slicks and wings) compared to the Super A kart surprised me. It wasn’t daunt ing, just different.” Keeping a close eye on young Ryan was former Aussie FI entre preneur Peter Collins. Collins had been heavilly involved with both the Benetton and Lotus Formula One teams in

past years and had brokered the deal for the barters to test the Palmer Audi - he was also on the

lookout for new talent and Ryan was high on his list. Look for an announcement mid-

year, was all that Geoff Briscoe would say. - SEAN HENSHELWOOD

May tried all the tricks in the book to take Hunt, but without suc

cess, so he adopted a different tack on lap 17 and allowed the closely following Winterbottom through for ago.

When this failed to work. May

regained second two laps later, though Winterbottom reclaimed the spot on lap 21. All this time. Hunt continued to

pull away, eventually carding a fivesecond victory over the 30 laps from May, Winter-bottom, Tomlinson, Price, Varley, McFadyen, Ben George, Jason Hiyniuk and Agland. - SEAN HENSHELWOOD

14 January 2000

Y2Craig Compliant

family interest and we put

Continued fmiv page 16

any recognition when you are running go-karts and Formula Ford but, once you get into Supercars, that’s when the general public make their own opinion as to whether they like you or not. It’s a matter of

everting into it. You don’t get

Peter was, and still is, a

living racing icon. To be part of his life for a couple of years was something that was fantastic. It wasn’t long before

I was driving with him that I was sitting in a lounge chair, wishing Icould. From sitting in a lounge chair to sitting alongside him in a race car was not that long. It was fantastic to be beside a

push as hard as Ican and

but this year, with Bathurst showing the speed of the

want other people to earn their stripes.

Fords, that’s a little bit of a concern.

MN: What was the highlight

I’m looking forward to it. This is going to be another tough year; every team has done of work to get better and bigger things. The Valvoline

which way it goes. Walking down the street and having people come up

team will be expecting more now, and so \Arill everyone else.

and say hello, that makes me happy. But it also amazes me; there are a lot of people

MN: There are changes within the team, on the

of last season?

CL: Adelaide, definitely. It turned on Sunday morning from starting on pole position to starting at the back of the field. A high turned into a low - and then into a high again, when Iwon the race. At the

start Ispoke to Robbie and we decided i’d push as hard

engineering front.

as Icould and score some

master, an incredible

out there who are very, very

CL: There have been

experience that I don’t think that Iwill ever have again.

dedicated race fans and to

changes. I’m working with the same group of people,

points. He called the pit

but I’m missing Robbie Starr as a race engineer. He’ll be engineering Mark’s car. I’m not 100 percent sure how it happened. Robbie was maybe looking for a change. Alex, who used to

conservative as i could and we came out in front. We couldn’t have asked for

engineer Mark’s car, has left to join HSV because he has a young family now. Robbie is looking at that as a bit of a

MN: What will Craig Lowndes be doing in five years time? CL: Five years? Hopefully, enjoying what I am doing now. It is a sport and seeing

relate that to me - and they only see me with my helmet onl - that makes me very

MN: Do you still have the international bug in your system? CL: As each year goes on, it’s fading away. I’d love to go

humble.

MN: No, no, no Craig; we see you on television, chasing Mark around for a Gatorade sports bag! CL: You would bring that up!

over there and still achieve

something. The only thing I’ve ever achieved over there was in ’93 when I finished third in the Formula Ford Festival. I’d like

MN: Why were you chasing him, by the way? CL: That was the script.

to go over there and try and make a name for myself like I have managed to do in

stops, Iran as hard yet as

anything more. That memory will stay with me forever.

challenge. I’m working with Matthew

the likes of Peter Brock and Dick Johnson retire has been

Crawford and Pete Smith, so

I’ve still got the same guys

Australia.

MN: And who wrote the

around me, so I can’t see

script?

that changing. All it does for me really, is to change the people I speak to over the two-way radio. I can’t see it changing any of the results I

CL: I don’t know!

MN: What is your name in Australia? Maybe, if I stopped 10 people in the

MN: MS? CL: No comment!

street and asked them to

name 10 sportsmen, your name would be on that list.

MN: We’re in 2000. New

Are you used to that? CL: Iguess you do. It’s something that you need to step back and take a look at. I get a good feeling in myself, knowing that people get enjoyment from watching me racing on the track, doing something that I’ve always loved. Now, I get paid to do it! That’s changed the way I look at motor racing from when

century, new millennium, whatever. Are you approaching this season any different to the past? CL: We’ve had a good break over Christmas, with

friends and family, and I’m looking forward to getting

Istarted. When Istarted, it was

don’t. I’ll have a hard look at

MN: You look at other

what I do. But Ican’t see any reason why Iwon’t enjoy it in five years time.

drivers’ strengths and weaknesses. What are

yours? CL: Starts are one of my biggest strengths, i have struggled a little with the VT,

hand and a little Lowndes in the other.

back in the car. I can see the

want to try and change my

CL: We may do! We both

Fords being harder than in previous years. Last year, the teams didn’t really know what to expect from their new car

method a little bit to suit the

love kids ... But we want to be more settled before we do

car.

Iguess Ihave good consistency through a race. I

Lowndes on his Adelaide 500 win

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HQ race car #18, one of Victoria's fastest and most con sistent, Lap record Phillip Island 2:01.6 May 1999, heaps of spares. Can assist driver. Ready to race, must sell. $7,500 ono. Ph; David Wood 03 9587 3226 (BH) or 03 5998 7358 (AH) 170

Lancia Fulvia, HF1600 Sports Coupe. Classic Historic (SB) Successful Comp record prior to $20,000 rebuild. V4 engine, 5-sp box, 5 point harness and race equipt. Econ to Lotus 7 Mk.3, fully restored with 1600 cross flow engine, 130 bhp. Ford running gear. BRG paintwork, concourse condition. $38,000 ono. Ph: 03 9682 2466. 17.

Targa Tasmania 2000. Regrettable Iam unable to compete. For sale Toyota Celica Group A Rallye. Fully pre pared, entry fee, accomodation, ferry accomodation and frieght paid. $60,000. Ph: 07 5530 5248.170 Datsun 1600, current 2E Club Car, FJ20 motor, Webers, 4 spot front discs, 4.6 locked diff, OMP seat, near new Yokohama AD32Rs, 12 point cage, spares. $7,900. Including 4 wheel trailer. Ph: 02 9969 6936. 170

Holden WB Kingswood Ute, July '84, 4.2 litre V8, gas research, extractors, 2.5 exhaust, reco auto, 3.08 diff, GTS

Historic Group R Sports Car, Kaditch bodied ex Group A, rotary powered, Mk9 Hewiand gearbox, AR calipers, Ellin rack, all fully restored, $30,000 ono. Ph: 03

dash and ster wheel, air/con, power steering, polished hotwires, Bridgestones, new 2 pak metallic indigo blue, new pads and control arm bushes. Flat tarp, h/r tow bar.

Escort Sports Sedan, sell as roller, log booked with mid mounted 2-litre Ford motor. Very tidy and presentable, many spares. $6,500. Ph: 02 6652 2099. 170 Hyundai Lantra, Super Tourer,rebuilt car. Ready to race for 2000 championship and beyond with an XTrac 6 speed sequential gearbox, Motec M8 engine manage ment system and system 2 Pi dash. $30,000. Ph: 0419 287 150. .70

Mitsubishi Lancer Ewo 3, GTP race winner, MoTec & spares. Contact Mark King. Ph: 07 5539 6700 or 0418 189 068. $35,000 ready to race, uo

VK Calais, recently been fitted out with suede upholstery. New exterior paint, 11.7 second quarter mile street regis tered car. Includes orig Calais rims and full set of weld rac ing rims with M&H tyres. Can be used as street, or drag car. $34,000 spent, reluctant sale at $12,000 ono. Ph: 0402

seats, good historic project. $7,500. Ph: 07 5546 3526 or 0419 700 534 anytime. .70 1978 Holden TD Gemini, in good condition, suit build up for Sports Sedans, rally or just road driving. $700 ono. Ph after 5.00pm ask for Ben on 03 5821 6853. 170 808/RX3 Coupe, no eng, gearbox. Suit 6-8 cyl Chev, recessed firewall, weld wheels. Mini tubs, 9 inch LSD, cus

2/2000. Ideal for Marque racing. $25,000. Ph: 07 3266 6001 or 0414 901 612. vi

Datsun 1200 Coupe Club Racer, A-1400 motor, Webers, 4-spot front discs, 4,8 Nissmo LSD rear-end. 5speed 'box, full cage & many spares. $5,200 ono. Ph: 0408

Subaru Legacy, PRC rally car, chrome moly cage, FIA Sparco seats, 3" harness, pro drive 5 speed gear set, h/duty center diff, 1220kgs, Motec M48 pro with ALS, ADL dash logger. From $20,000. Ph: 0412 351 232. 170

043 953 (Adelaide) .70 Ford Falcon Futura '64 Coupe, USA model, RHD, cert drag link, import approval, disc brakes, body ready for paint in 2-pak primer, complete roller less bumpers and

9682 2466, 171

Porsche 911 1972, turbo body. 2 4 Itr 40 IDA Webers, hall roll-cage, F&R Koni adj, cross drilled rotors, F&R adj svray bars, strut brace, Simmons wheels, Yok A008P. Reg

run. $28,000. Ph: 02 6336 1172. iro

Toyota MR2 1989, 1.6 Turbo, equipped with roll cage, stout racing seat, harness, locked diff, 9" rear and 7” front rims. Ph: Ron Evans 07 5445 8365.

tom interior, roll cage, immaculate condition, too much to

Triden Historic Group Lb, early Holden engine, gear box, diff. Triumph 1800 roadster chassis. Fibreglass body. Full history log book. Cert description. $12,500. Ph: Ian Gear 08 8370 2773.

mention. $8,000. Ph: 03 9812 6853,

Commodore VL Sports Sedan, space frame car, fresh top HP 350 Chev, dog box top loader, 9’ diff, huge brakes, new radiator, spx shocks, all assistance given to new owner. Get in and win. $19,000. Ph: 02 6355 5995. ito

V8 Supercar, VS Commodore for sale or lease. Ready to race with all spares package. Ring Simon 0418 449 139, 170

592 273 or 03 9735 4679. 17.

Mk.l Cortina Sedan, '66 auto, very clean, straight, origi nal vehicle always kept maintained, 56,000 genuine miles, driven daily. 3 owners since new, regrettable sale, need bigger car due to additional family member. $2,500. Long reg and RWC. Ph: 03 9511 4205. 171 Historic Group R Sports Car, T.R E. 1981. Roller, good condition, log book, needs 1600cc Ford engine.

Toyota Levin AE92, 4AGE engine, 2 doors, roll cage, fully imported for racing only. Suitable for club race. $4,500 Audi Quattro Turbo, 20 valve, 1990, white, very rare. Last model produced, 2 owners, full history, low Ks, immac cond. genuinely appreciating in value. $NZ49,000. Ph; New Zealand 0064 3 3551242 or 337 3205. 170

$5,500 ono. Ph: 03 9742 5277 or 0412 308 788. .71

Corvette 1988, 350 TPI red, tan interior, good clean car, one owner only, want to sell for $33,000. Ph: Timo Huikko

Peugeot 405 Super Tourer, fresh engine and gear box, large spares inventory. $19,800. Re-advertised due to

03 9729 7644 or 0407 864 551 . 17'

time-wasters, Ph; 0414 623 251.

Torana LJ XU-1, wrecking 2 door. V8. reg, LSD diffs, axles f/ends. Lightweight (ex-HDT) doors, Sprintmaster mags, gearboxes. 2x worked 186s, RX7 5-speed, triple 45mm Webers. Many more parts (Vic rego number LOT

Escort Twin Cam, 1970, original condition. Sydney

980). Ph: 0428 535 245..

171

Holden Torana LJ XU-1, Appendix J, fresh motor, M21 box, Detroit locker diff, steel cage, race ready, spares

$12,000. Ph: 0418 899 982. 170

Corolla KE20 Club Car, EFi 1500 motor, eng no 5K 0382538, currently club plate registered, very reliable, class winner, tandem trailer, extensive spares, must sell. $5,500. Ph: 0407 261 105 or 03 9833 4271 AH.

available. $15,000. Ph: 02 9792 4779 or 0419 489 465. 171

V8 Supercar Commodore, competitive, reliable car, set up & ready to race, includes comprehensive pit equip ment & spares package, ideal for V8 Lites or Shell Championship Series, $105,000 ono. Call Rod Salmon or

Paul Taylor lor detailed specification (02) 9898 1111 or 0419 285 248 email: rsalmon@showtech.com.au 171

Lotus Cortina '65, Group Nc log book, eight wheels & tyres. Cobra seats. Bond alloy cage. CR box, L block, immaculate, road rego N/T. $20,000. Ph: 02 9599 3726. 171 Escort Mkl GT, project with 1700 Twin Cam, bullet

gearbox, V6 Capri brakes plus much more. For complete details phone 0418 140 652 or fax 03 6423 5222

. 171

Club Car Cortina, good HP engine, competitive car, 0/P 50s. Ready to race with spares and trailer. Priced for quick sale at $10,000. Call Ken on 0412 820 741 . 171

Subaru WRX/GTP '98, Second in Class B, Bathurst 3 Hr 98; 2nd Class B Oran Park 99; 2nd Class B Gold Coast

Indy 99; fastest qualifier Indy 99. New engine, many spares and extras. Ph; 02 9672 7530 or 0413 879 879.17.

170

1. The Promoter is Australasian Motorsport News Pty Ltd, PO Box 1010 North Caulfield. Vic. 3161.

2. Information on how to enter and prizes fdrm part of these conditions of entry. 3. Entry is only open to residents of Australia. Employees and their immediate families of the Promoter, Ticketmaster 7 Australia Pty Ltd,

Genera! Travel Group Pty Ltd, Singleton Ogiivy & Mather, Australian Grand Prix Corporation and their agencies associated with this promo tion are ineligible to enter. To enter, con sumers must purchase Motorsport News between 30/12/99 and 17/2/2000 and complete the official entry form and enclose four official competition images of Allan Moffat and/or Peter Brock and nominate either Allan Moffat

or Peter Brock as their preferred driver on the [entry form and send entry to PO Box 1010

Ford XR6 AU Falcon, Century Batteries Autobarn pro motion as raced by Tony Longhurst at Bathurst '99 Nov 13 with kit details on application. Ph; 0419 791 443. 170 VS Commodore, Sports Sedan chassis. Push Rod sus pension, quickchange diff. 2 body kits, 'big brakes, unfin ished project, all parts to finish are supplied. $10,000. Ph; 03 6330 1881. ar

170

1991 Chevrolet K2S00, 454ci, 4WD, one owner, ail options, private import. 63,000 miles, $45,000. Ph; 0417 240 101. 169

as the entrants preferred driver will each win a trip for 2 people to Melbourne valued at up to $5,000 depending on point of departure, including return economy airfares from the win ners nearest capital city to Melbourne (if nec essary), 2 four-day grandstand tickets to attend the 2000 Qantas Australian Grand Prix and 4

nights twin share accommodation. The prize also includes the opportunity for each winner to

mines, in its absolute discretion, that the win

ner is not in the mental or physical condition necessary to safely participate in the prize. As a condition of accepting the prize, the winners must sign a waiver of liability and indemnity form as required by the Promoter. Notwithstanding any other conditions set out herein, the Promoter and the Australian Grand

that motor racing and related activities are dan gerous and accidents can happen, and that participation in any prize has a degree of dan ger. To the extent permitted by law. the prize winners exclude, release and forever dis

charge the Promoter and the Australian Grand

Prix and their respective personnel from all lia bility for claims, loss, damage, costs or

their preferred driver in the vehicle the relevant

Prix Corporation at all times reserve the right to prevent any individual from participating in the Hotlap with the Legends Prizes for any reason

driver will drive at the 2000 Qantas Australian

whatsoever.

otherwise) arising from or in connection with

Grand Prix. The prize must be taken to coin

7. In the event of the unavailability of the Hotlap with the Legends Prizes for any reason

the participation in the relevant prize or atten dance at the event or otherwisehowsoever arising. 11. All entries become the property of the

be driven around the Albert Park circuit with

cide with the 2000 Qantas Australian Grand

Prix from 9/3/2000 to 12/3/2000 and the lap around the Albert Park circuit must be taken on the date and at the time determined by the

outside the control of the Promoter the winner

Promoter in its absolute discretion and the win

the 2000 Qantas Australian Grand Prix from 9-

ners must be available to take the prize at this time. The prizes are subject to booking and flight availability and flights may not be changed once the tickets are purchased, Flights are on Qantas Airways Limited only and not its subsidiary airlines (ie Sunstate, Eastern Australian. Southern Airlines and Airlink) and flights do not accrue frequent flyer points. Upgrades cannot be purchased either with cash or frequent flyer points.

12 March 2000 valued at up to $3,190. Airfares

will be granted 2 x syndicated (shared) Pit Exit Suite hospitality tickets (the iTicket Prize?) to

and accommodation are not included in the Ticket Prize and the Ticket Prize must be taken to coincide with the 2000 Qantas Australian Grand Prix held from 9/3/00 to 12/3/00.

expenses (whether arising under statute, from

negligence, personal injury, death, property damage infringement of third party rights or

Promoter. All entries will be entered into a

database and the Promoter (or any third party nominated by the Promoter) may use entrants’ names, addresses and the winners image and their comments relating to the prize for future promotional, marketing and publicity purposes in any media worldwide without notice and

Prize must comply with all directions of the Promoter, the driver and race officials at all

as cash.

lished in Motorsport News on 2/3/2000. 5. "Hotlap with the Legends Prize". The first valid entry drawn which nominates Allan Moffat as the entrants preferred driver and the first valid entry drawn which nominates Peter Brock

times. The winners must wear all safety equip ment and passenger restraining equipment as requested. The Promoter reserves the right to refuse to allow a winner to take part in any or all aspects of the prize, if the Promoter deter¬

the prize.

9. All prizewinners and their companions attending the 2000 Qantas Australian Grand Prix agree to comply with the Conditionsof Entry to the event. 10. The prizewinners acknowledge and accept

NSW Permit No. TC99/11483,.Vic. Permit No.99/3939 issued on 16/12/99, A.C.T. Permit No. TP99/2264, N.T. 99/3626, S.A.T99/4260

4. Promotion commences 30/12/99. Entries

close 5pm 20/2/2000. The draw will take place

boxes etc. $35,000 the lot. Ph: 07 5546 3526 or 0419 700 534 anytime. i7o

4956 6411 or 0412 677 786. ™

notified by mail and their names will be pub

rected mail.

ward control, banana back, alloy ramps, tyre rack, tool

V8 Supercar, VS Commodore complete roller. Koni adjustable shocks, 6 Harrop pot brakes, Pi system. Ph; 02

8. Spending money, meals, transport to and from departure point, transfers and all other ancillary costs incurred as a result of taking a prize is the responsibility of the winners. The Promoter accepts no responsibility for any vari ation in the prize values. Prizes are not trans ferable or exchangeable and cannot be taken

responsibility accepted for late, lost or misdi

spool rear end, fully sorted. Also available Nissan 6 cyl for

02 9484 6640 (BH),

Terms and Conditions of Entry (see competition advertisement elsewhere)

nals and no photocopies will be accepted. No

NC XT GT Falcon, competitive 5 Itr also club car class.

Cortina GT Mk.l, 4 door, excellent condition, very origi nal. needs paint. RWC, $4,800. Ph; 02 9484 6127 (AH) or

HOTLAP WITH THE LEGENDS

North Caulfield 3161. Multiple entries accept ed but each entry must be on a separate entry form and in a separate envelope. All entry forms and competition images must be origi

Lakeside 61.3, QR 1:24s, strong 302W, 400bhp, all the best components, steel rods, roller cam etc. Top loader,

ono. Ph; 0413 717 826 or 03 9877 9652, leo

at 11am at 61 Christie Street St Leonards NSW 2065 on 23/2/00. The winners will be

6. The winners of the Hotlap with the Legends

without any fee being paid. 12. If the winner is under the age of 18 years, the prize will be awarded to a member of the

winneris immediate family (as nominated by the winner) provided such person is 18 years of age or over and such person complies with all of the conditions set out above in relation to

Ijl£®O®[F0P®[fO

U January 2000 07 3888 5934 or 0417 789 053. t?i

current log book and cert of description. $25,000 ono. Ph:

1 Comer 1999 model, ICAS piston port engine. Comes with clutch, carby and muffler. $2,400. Ph: 03 5250 2994 ah

0419 777 229.

or 03 5275 2305 bh.

17'

Computer - Inject EM3, top of the range, no lap top required lor tuning, just serviced, $1,100 ono and injected

3K 1500CC race motor, Kombi adaptor and flywheel $900 ono. Ph: 0407 983 143.

171

Chev 18 degree motor, dart aluminium heads, bow tie block, T&D shaft rockers. Grower crank, Oliver 6‘ rods. JE

pistons. Fully recoed by Rob Benson, 650hp. Sell $17,500. Ph: 0418 514 444 or 03 5176 2257.

171

Ford 351 Windsor, and top loader, fresh engine just run

The Hume Rotary Mini, fully sorted and straight 450kg roller. Ideal 2 litre Sports Sedan, Adjustable wishbone susp front & rear. Lt.wt, detachable glass body front and rear. Complete. $14,000 ono. Ph: 03 9742 5277. leo

in, fully studded, mech cam, performance sump, highly modified heads, roller rockers, new steel flywheel and clutch assy, Victor jnr intake graphed dist, extractors, would suit Nc Historic racing. $8,000. Ph: 07 5546 3526 or 0419 700 534 anytime, m 350 Chev Alloy heads, roller cam, Cosworth crank, Carrillo rods, Cosworth pistons, dry sump, triple plate clutch, Haltec EFi fuel Inject system. Top engine $12,000

80cc Eliminator Superkart YZ80 engine, blue printed & ported, close ratio gearbox, 125 clutch, Kelgate brakes. Some spares come with kart. $2,800. Ph: 0408 170 365. 170 Formula Ford, Van Diemen RF96K. 2 engines, 2 sets of wheels & tyres. Fresh 2 pack paint, ready for 2000 series. Stands & various spares. Priced to seil. $27,000. Ph: 02 4421 5471. 170

TopKart 98 model, FMK chassis complete with Rotax 125cc. Comes with many spares eg. tacho, temp gauge etc. $5,800. Ph: Troy Hunt 0414 444 364. 170 Arrow AX6, Ultima. Complete with blueprinted Clubman engine (Hurst). Also comes with many spares, kart is as new. Still has original tyres, suit helmet included. $3,600. Ph: Troy Hunt 0414 444 364. 170 Formula Vee, new lor 1999 Nationals. Includes trailer

$4,000. Ph: 07 5539 3079. i7o Tyres, four Falken 235/40ZR18 used once $250 ono each. 2 Falken 235/4.5 ZR17 RX-04GRB and 2 Falken 255/40ZR17 RX04GRB. $320 the lot. Ph: 0409 258 371.

HQ Sedan parts. Bonnets, boot lids, radiator supports, 3 speed g/boxes for HQ racers, including doors and mud guards, all at good prices, Ph: 03 9841 6994 ah or 0414 842 662, ,70

Carillo rods, 6 inch, large journal, brand new never used. $1,500 neg. Ph: Danny 0407 328 108. ,70

Tr^iispeffters/fff^iiers Fully enclosed, tandem trailer with annex, tyre rack. Suit Formula Vee/Ford/Holden. Internal dimensions: 4820(+)L 1920W 1020H. $2,500 ono. Ph: 0411 724 297. ,7,

and some spares. Fast good handling car that will win races in the right hands. Ph: Greg 08 9490 9539. 170

P^rts

ono. Ph: 03 6330 1881. ira

Falken race tyres, all used once or twice.4 - 235/40 ZR18 RX 04GB $200 each. 4 - 235/45 ZR17 RX04GRB $150 each. 4 - 255/40 ZR17 RX04GRB$200 each. 4 -

235/45 ZR17 Azenis $150 each. 4 - 255/40 ZR17 Azenis $200 each. 4 - 195/60 HR14 Azenis $80 each. Contact Chris on 0409 258 371.

Honda Prelude VTi-R, ’97, 56,000 kms. Car is dark

,7,

Datsun L16 Carillo Rods, new in box $1,000. Arias

wheelers. $15,500. Ph: 08 8252 3414 or 0418 819 759. .7.

12.6/1 forged racing pistons, new in box 86mm, $1,000.

Ph: 07 5446 6145. 171

green, in immaculate condition, with rear spoiler, carpets,

Dodge Prime Mover, and Panteo. 1970. New (not reconditioned) 318 motor. 5-speed, air conditioned, three spares. Registered URT 903. Takes large sedan or 2 open

New/Used Hewland FT20O ratios, new dog rings, new selector forks - (set) - rod ends etc. Call 08 8234 8688

10 stack CD etc. Never thrashed, raced etc, terrific road

car. $34,900ono. Ph: Chris 03 9527 7744, 0418 580 700

for details. ,7,

(Melbourne).

Tyres Michelin wets, 210/650/19x4 new $500 the set. Ph: 03 9872 4522. 171

HK Monaro, fuel injected 355 Chev. Bob Grant glide with transbrake and crossover delay box, twin step, runs 11.04 at 119mph. Spare slicks and tools $20,000 Neg. Ph: 0411

Speedway

407 432.

jUiJOOe

‘ ttwk

.70

scuffed only $1,000 the set. Ph: 03 9872 4522. 171 Tyres Pirelli slicks, sizes range from 15" to 19" select ed stock reducedto clear. Wets & P-Zero-calso available MSD Promag, ten times more output than conventional

magneto, built-in rev limiter. LI new. $2,350. Ph: 03 5176

Fully enclosed, lockable motorcycle trailer, racks, takes

2257 or 0418 514 444.

3 bikes and gear, 2100 wide, 2830 long, excellent condi

171

Group A rims, 4 BBS aluminium rims, five stud pattern.

● 4,-1

fc*

$2,000. Ph: 02 6355 5995. m

Hewland FT 200, with XTrac LSD, mated to rotary 13B PP. May separate, all excellent condition. $23,500 com plete. Ph: 03 9742 5277 or 0412 308 788. 171 Group A VP body kit, racing style with large rear wing used only on promotional oar, $1,000. Ph: 02 6355 5995 171 Sprintcar parts, rear end parts, lower shafts, 10-10 cou plers, inboard caliper, tailshafts. Ph: 03 9728 4834 or 0410

Super Sedan, Pontiac Firebird as driven by Blair Granger. Girdlestone built 600 hp 366 Chev, woodv^ard rack, all AFCO suspension. Complete competitive car which is ready to race. $30,000 or sell less engine $15,000.

condition, $500 the set. 230/640/18x2 260/655/18x2,

in limited sizes. POA. Ph: 03 9872 4522.17,

Tyres Dunlop wets, 215/645/18x2 260/655/18x2 fair

’ m

Ph: 07 3888 5934 or 0417 789 053. .7.

Sprintcar chassis, Drake Hi-bar USA. VGC, $600. Ph:

493 242.

Speedcar, Gardner hi bar, very quick and reliable Nissan FJ20, heaps of spares plus fully enclosed tandem axle trail

Donovan alloy block, 350+, ail main caps, head studs and nuts, good bore, good cam bearings and all plugs and caps. Cracked bearing tunnel repairable. $800. Ph: 03

er. The lot for $19,000 or will separate. Ph: 07 3824 7339 or 0411 479 821.

I71

TE Cortina, "A" modified. 250 nav ringxbearing, 350

1624. ,71

Holley Avgas. 12 tyres, mag wheels, spares, reg 99/00 wilh

Formula Ford Van Diemen RF86. Competitive Victorian State Series car complete and ready to race.

trailer. Will Separate. $6,000 ono. Ph: 03 5221 6135.

Power steering box, 2F left hand drive, suit speedway

car $175. Chev 350 drysump $375. Ph: 03 9743 9962. Litre, fresh A15, McGee insection, Barry Powers quickchange, Gardner bars, arms, stops, auto meter gauges, as new Vortex wings. Quick car, all spares and registered trailer. $13,000neg. Must sell. Ph: 0414 557 056. 170 Super Sedan chassis, '85 Pontiac body. Done 4 meet ings. Has front spindles, upper and lower arms, rear sliders with Afco single leaf springs. $2,800. Ring Frank 02 4572 170

Lamer engine. 2 sets of wheels and tyres, ratios for all Victorian tracks, quick lift and alignment bars. Set up data and assistanceavailable.$11,000. Ph MichaelWeber03 9850 8677 17,

Spectrum 06, Formula Ford available to lease for the Vic

9728 4834 or 0410 493 242. .7.

Tyres, second hand 15 inch A008Rs D98Js. Slicks, Avon, Dunlop, Yokohama from $50 as set. Also wheels 15x6.5 5 stud to suit Mazda. Ph: 03 9306 5715.

170

Quickchange, streader type, strengthened case, offset axle, one piece birdcages, hubs, brakes, four sets of gears. $800 ono. Ph: 0414 557 056.

1TO

Webers, Twin Sidedraughts 45mm, suit 2.6 Sigma with or without manifoid. Excelent condition $500. Ph: 07 3882 1726 AH. 170

Keith 0408 066 106. ,71

Azzurro 1999 model, ''M6H" 40mm axle. Fox Reed

change, single leal rear end, 351 Cleveland methanol. Newcastle 17, best offer over $5,000. Ph: 02 4969 1175. 170

Ph: 02 6258 9358 or 0419 411 527. ,70

Super Sedan, Ford Thunderbird, Pyne chassis, quick

17.

Slate Race Series 2000. Call to discuss packages. Ph:

valve engine. $2,450 or will separate. Ph: 03 5275 2305. 171 Formula Ford, ‘93 Van Diemen, 2 sets of wheels, ratios, complete with engine and trailer. Competitive car, $25,000.

5949. 170

Wanted Historic Group Q Racing Car, prefer Elfin/March/Chevron/Ralt, any condition but must be com plete. Ph: David 03 9682 2466. 171 Cortina Mkl Remote gear shifter, Ph: 03 9799 1683. 171

03 9728 4839 or 0410 493 242. .7.

Chevron B34 1976, with Historic logbook. Recently rebuilt 2-litre Nova motor. Outright winner Leyburn, class wins in record time Mt.Cotton and Noosa Hillclimbs. Spares including wets. Excellent condition. $42,000. Ph: 07 3396

tion. $2,500. Ph: 02 4284 6997 or 0414 468 767. 170

Pit crew, wanted for all GTP races. QLD based, must have a lot of time (free everything but no pay) Ph: 07 3263 4906.

171

Race engineer, for 2000 Shell Series. Sydney based. Fax resume to 02 9686 1399 stating experience and remu neration. 170

To buy, small Melbourne based business in motorsport or

high performance. Or buy into active partnership. Ph: 0419 388 075.

170

Video tapes, '83 Bathurst 1000 & Hardies Heroes. Any ATCC rounds fcom '81 and '82. Good money paid. Contact Mike on 07 3285 2244 or 07 3408 4025.

170

Desperately seeking the April edition of Motor maga zine, prepared to pay over face value. Ph: 0418 736 619. .to HELP! anyone who ran a 1965 HD Holden with a Powerglide between 1965-1967 in Improved Touring or Series Production. Reward of $50. Ph: 03 9439 7667.

170

Drive wanted, by keen 16 year old. Never driven com petitively. Based in NSW, will try anything. Ph: Adam on 02 9820 4616 10am-6pm weekdays. 170

Modified Production TE Cortina, 250 X flow

methanol engine. Just been freshened up, 4 speed, p/steering, production steering 15" wheels, adj suspension, heaps of spares. No reasonable offer refused. Must sell,

Otiaer

Magazines, Autosport - 190 of from 1976-83. Cars and

POA. Ph: 03 5996 8509. no

Car Conversions - 126 of from 1976-87, S.C.W - 24 of from

JSR Sprintcar, Hi-bar roller less engine. Heaps of spares, comes with 24ft trailer. Priced for urgent sale. For

1976-90 Offers. Ph: 03 9397 6750.

Speedcar, USA 62. 1998 Gaerte, KSE Wilwood, Sanders Carrera adjustable shocks. Gilliam splined wheels. All as new condition, very fast car. Spares include Winters diff, front end complete, bars, neri bars, swaged rods, wheels, engine parts. All VGC and more. Ph: 07 5546 8732 or Fax: 07 5546 3868. uo

Race engine Hume rotary Mini, new from Selectmaz. Few races, 13B PP, lt.wt rotors, ceramic seals, 320 hp. $5,500 ono. Ph: 03 9742 5277 or 0412 308788. m

Formula Holden V6, race engine. Not raced since thor

Centerline Billet Wheels, 8 lug, suit Chevrolet or Ford

i-'-l

Clubman Barp 1977, Just had complete rebuild. Good hillclimb car or club car, currently running Nissan 1500cc, spare 1200CC, new shocks etc. New slicks/wets, trailer.

Ph: 07 4779 5009.

170

Phone for details. $7,900 ono. Ph: 08 9302 3992. 170

Swift SC95K, 1999 Victorian State Championship win

suit HQ, WB $1300. Ph: 03 9546 2765 or 0408 357 080.

ning car. Maintained by Peter Banfield Motorsport. Lamer race engine. Enclosed trailer w/annex. $28,000. Ph: Timo

Gearbox, M21 close ratio LJ XU-1 plus spare close ratio gear set as new. $750. Ph: 03 9439 7667. 170 Automatic Powerglide, 2 speed manual change plus

03 9729 9644 or 0409 864 551.

170

Formula Holden, 1991 Ralt RT23, chassis no 934, car bon fibre, 3 sets of wheels, mounted wets, spare nose &

wing assembly & heaps more. $60,000 complete, $40,000

heads. Cola crank, full roller c&s carb veltex magneto, com

Elfin 623 F3, ex condition, everything fqlly maintained to the highest standard. 1300 Holbay all steel engine. Low Ks,

plete engine by Jack Bros. Cost $45,000, sell $15,000. Ph:

pick ups. 16‘x8', brand new still in boxes. $1,200 the set. Chev B/B, Roller Cam roller lifter & springs $650. Enderle 80A fuel injection pump $275. Ph: 03 9743 9962. 170 Wheels and tyres, weld pro stars 7 and 15, 8 with near new 235 BF Goodrich tyres complete with nuts and caps,

ough rebuild. $8,000. Ph: 0411 724 297. Chev 366, 600 hp Super Sedan engine, track 1 alloy 71

17,

Veto Racing Seat, GP 90 used for 1 race meeting only.

more information phone Richard 03 5282 2792. uo

roller. Ph: 03 9761 4737 or 0418 531797

170

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Magazines from 1981, include Chequered Flag, AA, Motorsport News and some Grand Prix publications. Complete lot from $250 or ono. Please call Barry or Paul on 03 9870 9189. .70

Damon Hill's, autographed seatbelts signed on back of each belt from 1994 Aust GP. $1,000ono. Ph: 08 8269 5749.

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MotOEMpiM Editorial Editor

Phil Branagan TechnicaJ Editor

Tony Glynn Assistant Editor Gerald McDornan

Staff Journaiist Aaron Noonan

GragsfBics Co-ordinator Viv Brumby

Advertising Advertising Manager Brendon Sheridan

Administration Managing Director Chris Lambden

Without Prejudice

Dear Sir,

As the supplier of component lifing software to Holden Racing Team, I take personal insult to the references to the HRT’s reliability and the Y2K bug! My company assures our current clients and any future customers that this software is free of any Y2K problems that would cause failure of equipment and are cun-ently persuing legal avenues to restore our good name. I demand that you print an apology to this scandalous piece of journalism. PS; Only joking! The almanac, as always, was brilliant, made me laugh for hours after reading it. PPS; Yes, I know, this message has a couple of mistakes in it, but my spell checker isn’t Y2K compliant...

Contacts Caulfield North VIC 3161

(PO Box 1010 North Caulfield 3161) Phone: 03 9527 7744 Fax: 03 9527 7766

almost impossible to watch this tremendous sport on the box? Please, Bob, do something - and please do it now!

■

Reg Hill Lake Mundi, VIC

Send letters t# iTalk Converter, to PO Box 1010 North CauffieW

our E-maD address, or fax to 03 9527 7766.

The staff of Motorsport News does not necessariy agree with opinions ex

readers.

with the answers.

Firstly, I would like to know if seasonal passes are available for the Shell Series and, if so, at what cost?

Also, I am after a CAMS rule book on V8 Supercars. How much would one cost and where can I get one?

team less competitive than HRT.

Beyond Thunderdome

Hypothetically, if Lowndes left HRT today, would the other teams be after his services? I think so. I believe Lowndes should start

Dear Sir,

Help me if you can,,. Dear Sir, I am after the following information and, so far, have been unable to have anyone supply me

Managing Director, NoskeComp

Email: msnews0ozemail.com.au

CompuServe: 100237.116S

coverage, which used to be so good?

[}0l Who was the bunny who made it

Superman, Super Car, Super Coverage: Reader Jeremy Sim says Motorsport News provides the best drag coverage (Photo by oave ostaszewski)

Tim Noske

89 Orrong Crescent

—

David Saunders

Palmerston, NT

anything to go by. No competitors, no spectators what’s happened here? The Dome was the only place in Australia which attracted big motor

Assist Ed: Season passes - we doubt they’re available, but try AVESCO on 07 5526 3177. For a

CAMS rule book, call CAMS on

Now that the Thunderdome is

looking early for overseas drives in 2001 and leave HRT at the end of

Contributors

dead, it is time for the V8 Supercars to roar around the

racing crowds for years and the racing was terrific, particularly in

the coming season.

NASCAR and AUSCAR.

banked oval, just hke in America.

Life’s no drag

General: Brian Reed. Grant Nicholas,

Dear Sir, Being a fan of the brilliant

If he does so and again fails to

Mike Kable, Mark Jones

Greg Downes

get an overseas drive, he’ll have no problem getting a drive with

FI: Joe Saward, Adam Cooper ■ Europe: Quentin Spurring, Gary Watkins

Email <ddownes@msn.com.au>

Don’t get me wrong - I’m not putting down the Sportsman and HQ competitors, but it was the

another team here.

faster classes that we all came to

Darryl Flack, Jon Thomson,

see go door handle to door handle.

If you’re so good...

Warren Grzic

US: Phil Morris NZ: John Hawkins

Dear Sir,

Speedway; Brett Swanson, Dennis Newlyn, Sue Hobson, Geoff Rounds, Tony Millard (UK), Rally; Peter Whitten, Jon Thomson Drag Racing: Greg Ward, Jon Asher (USA), Dave Ostaszewski (USA),

I am rather disappointed that Craig Lowndes is staying with

Nick Nicholas, Steven White,

Ken Ferguson Super Speedway: Martin Clark (USA) Karts: Sean Henshelwood, Graeme Burns, Frank Viola,

HRT, the class of the field at present. I

would

Looking back through my racing library, I reckon the sport started

Carlingford, NSW

have

liked

see

someone with his talent driving elsewhere; if not overseas, perhaps with one of the lesser touring car

Assist Ed: “The Kid” prove he’s good by driving for a team less competitive than HRT? Is that the same HRT which had never

won a championship until “the Kid” came along - and has won

to go off the rails when the prizemoney was first cut and then followed by later cuts, as was reported in the specialist media. The numbers of competitors that can actually pay for some serious

- if Lowndes is as good as his nickname “the Kid” suggests, then

Australia - have now become

V8 Dome racing looks to be quite small, the rest obviously relying on the prizemoney to make the budgets add up. There was Mso apparently a new approach to promoting the sport, as the usual outlets no longer carried any advertising about upcoming events and, if you weren’t listening to the radio or watching 'TV at some ungodly hour of the morning, you’d never know when the next meeting

he should prove it by driving for a

distant memories, particularly if

was on.

the last Thunderdome event is

teams.

In fact, I think he should have

John Morris

cut ties with HRT before his recent

Photographers: Sutton Motorsport Images, Dirk Klynsmith, Bothwell Photographic, Marshall Cass, Nigel Snowdon & Diana Burnett,

Indy Lights test, which was in the

Tony Glynn, API Images, Neil Hammond, Slipstream Photographic, Thunder-Pics, Phil Williams, Allsport, John Morris/Mpix. Frank Midgley, John Bosher, Lynley Reid, Mike Patrick (UK), Daniel Wilkins, Wayne Nugent, Peter French, Chris Carter

which are not the class of the field

end unsuccessful.

They say the most talented drivers can get results in cars

three since?

Spirits sagging Dear Sir, I can’t believe that I’m even

thinking it, but it now seems obvious even to me, a dedicated fan, that the glory days of Bob Jane’s

dream - NASCAR racing in

And what happened to the TV

Artist: Bernie Walsh

03 9593 7777.

quarter-mile sport, I thought I should write and congratulate Motorsport News on a job well done.

Your coverage of both the Australian and American drag racing news is second to none. Less boring meeting reports and more news and rumours is what it’s

aU about and you do it perfectly. Congratulations must also go to MN for your feature articles on the racers trying to do it the hard way in the US. What about a feature on

Steve Harker and Troy Critchley soon?

Jeremy Sim Pascoe Vale, VIC Assist

Ed:

Thanks

for

the

compliments. Features on Troy Critchley and Steve Harker are planned soon. 'Co’S

mi? Klf/T

Cartoonist: Allan Schofield

feTA

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