Motorsport News Issue 176 - 31 March-13 April 2000

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31 March 2000

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3

Walker after AVESCO stake?

1 r

Hot and wild ramour of the week (unconfirmed): Did AGP Corp Chairman Ron Walker really enquire about taking a 25 percent stake in V8 Supercar group AVESCO? Walker himself left for England on Friday and couldn't be contacted for comment.

Also unconfirmed is the

Closing, but no cigar: Does the Falcon need help, or are the Ford teams just dropping behind the Holden teams? (pnoio by dia Kiynsmith)

es Ford need hen?

^iPfiPiiaiice judges set to meet before Adelaide ANOTHER Holden whitewash at last week

end’s Perth round of the Shell V8 Supercar series has set the scene for a review of the

Indeed, the seeming disappearance of the pace demonstrated by several Falcons at Bathurst last November is apparently bemusing the leading Holden teams.

parity between Ford and Holden.

“We’re really scratching our heads,” HRT team AVESCO CEO Wa3me Cattach confirmed on manager Jeff Grech conceded this week.

Tuesday that a review was imminent: “Technically, the Ford should be right there "Although neither manufacturer has formally requested a review, we've been inundated by mail and, frankly, I hope they are soon, because one from teams and fans like you wouldn't believe," he make dominance isn’t good for the category. said.

“They [the Fords] have got the package - I just don’t think any single team is getting it all together 'Even Holden fans are asking for it!

"Regardless, the charter of the Performance l at the moment.

Review Committee is automatically to look at the “They were clearly'dominant at Bathurst, where situation after three races. I think you'll find you need all the elements - straight line speed, they'll meet within the week." brakes, comer speed etc - but that pace doesn’t Both Ford and Holden camps are adopting pre-. seem to have been shown so far this year...” dictable stances.

Leading Ford team owner Ross Stone, whose “Some teams are hot, some teams'are not,” team took Ford’s sole race win to date this year[at Holden’s John Stevenson said this week, Phillip Island] disagrees: “ft’s so close -19 cars within a second in qualify “If there was just one Holden team running ing-that parity isn’t the issue. around at the front, there’d be no case,” he said on “It’s about people such as GarthGTander coming Tuesday. on and doing so well and teams such as FTR not “But now there are three running regularly at doing so well. Where’s the pole man from Bathurst the front before the first Ford team. It couldn’t be [Lai'kham]?” clearer. It should be looked at, and soon...

“Sure, we won a race at Phillip Island, but frankly that was primarily because they [the Holdens]shot themselves in the foot.

“I remember a few years back, when the shoe was on the other foot,” he continued.

“I was in a parity meeting when a Holden team owner came in, virtually in tears, saying that his business was going to be ruined, and so on,ifthere wasn’t some adjustment made. Some ofthese guys have a short memoiy...”

Ford’s head of motor sport, Howard Marsden, hasn’t pushed the case to date, pressuring his teams to “up the act”,- but this week he conceded that “if things continue as they are, then certainly the issue of parity vdll automatically come up.

“Certaiidy the issue shouldn’t simply descend into a slanging match between manufacturers. I’m still unsure whether the category itself is comfort able with its parity arrangements - whether it is about ‘showbiz’ or whether individual brilliance is stiU part ofthe mix.

“But certainly there are certain times and places where the Commodore is a well-sorted package. It’s taking time for results [for Ford] to come...” he concluded with understatement.

V, -CHRIS LAMBDEN

ifithard disqualified

kwf ferrmif md others^ estape penalty over worn planks

By JORGE DELGADO .

DAVID Coulthard faces an appeal next week over his Brazilian Grand Prix disqualifi cation.

The 29-year-old Scot was penalised after his McLarenMercedes MP4/15 was found to have its front wing 7mm too low at the end of the race. McLaren has appealed the disqualification, stat ing that the car failed technical inspection due to excessive wear of the car’s bottom over the rough Interlagos track.

Coulthard’s disqualification ended a controversial weekend in Sao Paulo. Five of the first six cars those of Michael Schumacher, Coulthard, Heinz-Harald Frentzen, Jarno Tmlli and Ralf Schumacher failed post-race inspection due to excessive wear of their under-car wooden planks. All five were initial ly reinstated, ostensibly to save face for the FIA, which would not have relished the prospect of mass dis qualifications, but then Coulthard’s car was further found to have had the front wing endplate infringe the ‘no-go’ zone of 20mm in front of the front wheel.

This is the second time that the

imle has come into play in two races.

Mika Salo was disqualified from the Australian Grand Prix for a similar offence, the Sauber team admitting that there was an error on their behalf. They did not appeal and Salo was disqualified from sixth spot.

It is also the second time that there have been technical problems

caused by excessive wear of a car’s underside plank. Ironically, it was Michael Schumacher who was involved in 1994 when his Benetton was disqualified from first place for running too low to the ground.

Equally ironically, the Brazilian Grand Prix marked the return to Benetton of Flavio Briatore, who

n AVESCO is 'cautiously optimistic' about V8 Lites following last weekend's first meeting at Eastern Creek. At a venue which struggles to pull a big V8 Supercar crowd, CEO Wayne Cattach claimed 3000 people in attendance: '"The competitors were delighted to be the focus of attention, the racing was pretty good, and I expect the TV coverage to be pretty good," he said. n As we went to print, we heard that Lakeside is about to be confirmed as the venue of the fourth round of the Konica V8 Lites Series on August 20. n Rumour has it that a second Falcon AU V8Supercar is very nearly close to completion at 'Toll Racing's workshops and that Alan Jones will be the driver. Jones co-drove with regular driver Anthony Tratt in the enduros last year and we hear there was talk of him driving the Toll car at the AGP as a wildcard until, of course, fellow Channel Nine personality Sam Newman scored it. n Formula Holden Eastern Creek pole-sitter Tim Leahey tested for Mitre 10 Racing at Queensland Raceway on Tuesday as we closed for press.

In hot, overcast conditions, he completed some 12-13 laps while Formula Holden rival Simon Wills tested for Stone Brothers Racing in the Caltex machine at the same time. n The Ten Network will this weekend telecast a half-hour highlights package of the Sebring 12 Hour race on Sunday, April 2from 12.30pm.

Former Network Ten'

w win [BOSS

commentator Leigh Diffey will host the opening race of the American Le Mans Series.

ISIEMcNS

JLr

Night moves: Ferrari, and others, escaped penalty in Brazil but Coulthard must plead in case in Geneva.(Photos by sunon-images)

rumour that Walker played a major part in brokering the purchase of a significant stake in FI group FOA by German TV company EM TV (see story page 8)and, along the way, used the deal to guarantee the CP for Melbourne for a long, long time...

was team principal while Schumacher drove for the Enstone team - and Giancarlo Fisichella’s Benetton was the only car in the top six which passed ride height checks, despite running a heavy fuel load for much ofthe race.

And, to add to a miserable week end technically, Sauher did not even get to race, having had both cars lose rear wings, prompting the team to pack up and return home.

See page 16 for our full Brazilian GP coverage

n Brenton Ramsay will return to the Formula Holden cockpit in Adelaide in a third Birrana Racing machine. It will be the first race for the team's recently-built Reynard 95D. The team is under pressure at the moment to repah LeRoy Stevenson's car after Eastern Creek in time for Adelaide as well. n Akihiro Asai is highly likely to be in a third Hocking Motorsport- Reynard 94D atAdelaide as well. Asai has tested a Formula Nippon car and a Honda NSX GT car recently at home in Japan.

4

3] March 2000

n Dick Johnson Racing has appointed a new Business Manager to oversee the running of the Queensland operation.

Stephen Horton brings with him 20 years of management experience , and will work in conjunction with Managing Director Dick Johnson. n At the Konica V8 Lites launch in Sydney last week, AVESCO’s Tony Cochrane announced that the top four cars in the Lites series will gain automatic entry in two SCS rounds — the Clipsal 500 and Queensland 500 — while the top eight will be eligible for the FAI 1000 at Bathurst(see separate stoi-y). n Vauxhall dominated a two day BTCC test at Croft last week. Yvan Muller was quickest on day one until team mate Jason Plato bettered the . time on the second day.

Overall, Plato was twotenths quicker than Tom Kristensen (Honda).

Muller was third, ahead of Anthony Reid (Ford), Matt Neal(Nissan), Rickard Rydell (Ford), James Thompson(Honda), Gabriele Tarquini (Honda), Vincent Raderaiecker(Vauxhall), and Independent Colin Blair (Nissan).

1 Paul Stephenson (Dallara F395/6 TOMS Toyota) dominated the opening round of the Australian Formula 3 Championship on the ' weekend at Eastern Creek, qualifying on pole, winning both races and setting a new lap record.

He leads the Level 1 championship over Peter Rees and Chris Coombs and has how won 11 of the 15 F3 races he has contested. n Shannons Corporations Pty Ltd has been sold to Royal & Sun Alliance Insurance Australia Ltd. The two have been corporate partners for nearly 10 years and negotiations for the sale had been in train for some months before the untimely death of Robert Shannon on March 6. a Kevin Curtain will cany the number plate at the upcoming Easter Motorcycle Festival at Bathurst. He will ride in the Bathurst Tourist Trophy, Formula Xtreme and Formula Bathurst events for Radar's Team Yamaha with Marty Atlee as team mate. n Fabio Zafarti has won the Ipswich 300, the first round of the 2000 Australian Off—Road Championship in a Mitsubishi Pajero.

Current Off-Road Champion Terry Rose in a buggy was lm37s behind.

Round two is at Griffith on June 24 and 25.

N© wings, no race, no Sauber

race

THE Red Bull Sauber Petronas team withdrew from the Brazilian Grand Prix on Saturday afternoon after a series of rear wing failures the cause of which the Swiss team decided could not be analysed in the time available.

Gone home: Sauber’s garage was as quiet as a mouse on Saturday. (SuRon-lmages)

A CONSORTIUM of five

Lites stars skip 500

purchased Queensland Raceway for $3.5 million.

The consortium, consisting of Russell and Gina Cronk, Reeve Kruck, and John and Amanda Tetley, have also secured the rights to host the seventh round of the Shell Championship Series which had been in doubt pending the circuit’s future.

The consortium’s aims for the circuit are to provide a ‘fun, family facility’ and will be looking to improve facili ties for both spectators and the Motorsport Queensland members, including a tree planting operation to provide increased shade to spectator areas.

A primary concern was the protection of the privileges of the Motorsport Queensland members. This has been achieved at the cost of an annual fee for members.

The traffic problems from 1999 Shell the Championship Round, which were largely solved by the time of the 1999 Queensland 500, should be cured by the completion of major road works to the Champions Way access road and the adjoining Cunninghan’s Highway.

Extra lanes and the diver sion of highway traffic around the venue will be in place prior to the Konica Winternationals, to be held at neighbouring Willowbank Raceway, on the Queen’s Birthday Long Weekend in June and Julys round of the Shell Championship Series.

The Cronks had been involved in catering for the circuit while Kruck and the Tetleys had been involved in the construction of on site garages. Kruck and John Tetley are also both state level competitors in Sports Sedans and Formula Ford respectively.

The new ovmership will be officially launched on April 14.

-MARK JONES

unsecured creditors has

And with no time for new parts to be produced in Switzerland and sent out to Brazil the team was forced to conclude that it could not continue on the grounds of safety.

The problem could not have come at a worse time for the team as it hopes to conclude a new long-term deal with major sponsor Petronas at the end of this week. The current US$33m ($55m) a year deal runs out at the end of the season and the loss of the sponsorship (and the engine supply) would be a major blow to the Swiss team.

There have been signs in recent months that Petronas has been re-evaluating its strategy for the future with the suggestion being that Petronas, which now owns Proton, the parent No Clipsal: Ryan McLeod will miss the Adelaide 500. (Photo by Lyniey Rew) company of Lotus, will fund the design and construction of a Lotus Formula 1

By AARON NOONAN to continue racing, said that he simply VIO engine in order to promote sales of BOTH the runner-up and third- would’ not be organised and that the event was too close.

Lotus cars which are now being built in placed getter at last weekend’s “We’re just not prepared. I’ve been Malaysia.

Eastern Creek Konica V8 Lites busy enough searching around to get a We have heard suggestions that round will not be taking up the car and funding and selling ofFNASCARs Lotus is already making discreet starts they earned with their efforts and all sorts of things,” he said. approaches to engine designers at the “I hadn’t raced since Bathurst(up until moment. Certainly the Sauber Petronas for the Chpsal 500 in Adelaide.

'AVESCO rewarded the top four overall last weekend) and my fitness would be Engineering FI programme is not going to be designing and building engines. on the day with automatic entries into an issue as well. I don’t think our car That idea stopped although an experi the ’500, although Ryan McLeod, who would be competitive enough either in a ran second at Eastern Creek in the field of VSSupercars.” mental V2 (onerfifth of a VIO) was Kmart Commodore VS prepared by John While McLeod and White are both designed and built in Hinwil.

Faulkner Racing, and Matthew White committed to running the full five Lites . If the^decision is to no longer use the who ran third, won’t be heading to South series rmmds, both are still relying on Sauber Petronas Engineering facility Australia. finding additional funding. for Formula 1, there is no obvious rea “Adelaide is not a realistic option, “We’re there for the whole series son to continue with Sauber, except we’re focusing on the championship,” unless I can’t find the funds. We’re hop that Peter Sauber appears to have a said McLeod. ing that the momentum from Eastern very close relationship with the “While it might give us a warm and Creek will help stir the money pot,” said Malaysians.

There is no doubt that if Petronas fuzzy feeling to run in, it’s more sensible McLeod. for us to conserve our budget and concen wants to take the next step in FI it trate on the (Lites) series which will The^Adelaide race, being just two weeks after the opening Lites round, has must build it own engine or find back hopefully open some doors for us to left little time for teams to be organised, ing from a major manufacturer. greater fimding.” and with the two Commodore drivers -JOESAWARD White, who is still searching for money declining their invitations, this leaves the way open to other Lites drivers in order " of overall finishing position on the day at Eastern Creek.

Round winner Dean Canto and fourthplaced runner Garry Holt are both head ing to the Chpsal 500, with sixth-placed man Wayne Wakefield and seventhplaced runner Geoff Kendrick ehgible for the remaining two Lites wildcards.

Kendrick will not be going, his place given to Adelaide’s Alan Heath (Falcon).

Button’s point

Hard work: Webber has been busy testing in his F3000. (Photo by sutton-images) MARK Webber’s first scheduled test for Arrows in the team's new A21 at Silverstone has been cancelled.

Webber was to have spent the first of a thi-ee day test session in a new fourth car on Monday, but the first day of the test was cancelled following the late ai’rival of some parts in transit from the week end’s race in Brazil.

The team's race drivers Jos Verstappen and Pedro de la Rosa were due back in the UK for days two and three and under orders from team boss Tom Walkinshaw to get as much mileage as possible following Brazil, where both faded in the race, due in part to a lack of conditioning.

On the up side for Webber though was

hi.':! form in official Formula 3000 testing at the same circuit where he was fourth quickest, team mate Christijan Albers not far behind in sixth.

“I’m really satisfied with the progress we made on the second day,” he said.

“It was a completely different car from the first day, which was nice. I’m ceitainly happy with how we ended up.”

Ricardo Mauricio was fastest ahead of Bruno Junqueira. Webber trailed the former by just two-tenths of a second, while the top 16 cars were covered by one second.

The European Aviation team will begin its 2000 F3000 season at Imola, supporting the San Marino Grand Prix next weekend (April 8/9).

JENSON Button the became youngest driver in the history of the Formula 1 World Championship to score a point after David Coulthard was disqualified from his second in the place Brazilian Grand

Prix at Interlagos.

Button, 20, had finished seventh in the race - his second Grand Prix - but moves to sixth as a result of Coulthard’s disqualification (see

Future pointer: Button’s first point may be only temporary.(Photo by Bu#on-lmages) whether Coulthard story on page 3).

An appeal, which will be reinstated therefore. will be heard next and, week in Switzerland, whether Button will will determine keep his point.

V

3Warch2000

Bathurst

n At a rain-soaked Thruxton,the man tipped to be the 'next big thing', Antonio Pizzonia, led from start to finish in his first ever British F3 race.

While Tomas Scheckter ●Started from pole, Pizzonia lined up alongside on the front row and led the from start to finish.

● lOOOifil race iiacic on neit ^ear ●Super ToyrarsMire Tourers comiiineil

By PHIL BRANAGAN

THERE are to be major changes to the ‘traditional’ October Bathurst race meeting, with the event likely to be moved from October this year to March, 2001.

Motorsport News understands that there will also be a return to the 1000km endurance format.

With a combined grid of Super Tourers, V8powered Future Tourers and, perhaps. Super Production cars.

The impetus for the move is said to come from the sports department at Network Seven, which will be heavily committed to its coverage of the Summer Olympic Games which runs in September/October. In conjunction with the Bathurst City Council Seven conducts the event, which is run by sports management group Octagon (formerly Advantage International).

All three groups are believed to be in advanced discussion regarding the 2001 4-ace.

The Games have already forced the network and its sporting partners to move major events. The AFL started its 2000 season early, scheduling games in early March in a move which has been roundly condemned by fans and which has led to smaller than usual gates.

Football will return to its usual schedule next season, meaning a late March start. That gives the revised Bathurst ‘1000’ a ■ date of 16-18 March, which fits well into Seven’s schedule. AFL football will be blacked out, with no pre-season games from mid-March, and Seven’s golf commitments end

with the Australian Masters in late February.

The 2000 event, which had been scheduled for October 13-15, was originally due to follow the same format as the 1999 event, which included a 500km endurance event for Super Tourers, a 300km race for Bathurst Tourers (now Future Tourers) and a number of support events. More than 400 competitors entered last year’s races.

5

■ Kirk McCarthy has taken out the first round of the British Supersport Championship. The Aussie veteran was fastest in qualifying and, after the race was red-flagged and restarted, led all the way to win on his Castrol Honda CBR600.

Just add Future Tourers: The October Bathurst date looks like moving to March. (Photo by Cass)

Renault and Briatore return to FI i

By JOE SAWARD THE Renault car company says it has spent US$120m ($200m) to buy the Benetton Formula 1 team.

The price is. what would have been expected although Benetton has extracted extra value from the deal with an agreement to remain on the cars for' the next two years. This will be worth around US$40m in advertising exposure although it is doubtful that the company will actually be paying.

Renault took over the management of the team prior to last weekend’s Brazilian GP, but will not take over the colour scheme until 2002.

This will give the team the chance to develop a new Renault VIO engine which is expected to appear at some point next year.

Benetton says that the decision to sell came abolit as a result of the rising costs of Grand Prix racing and the need to have a manufacturer behind the ' team, ’fiiis makes sense but it does not explain why the family did not sell only a part of the team to Renault (as McLaren did recently with MercedesBenz) and continue to reap the benefits of the advertising the team has provided for the Itahan clothing company.

The only obvious reason for Benetton not wanting to be involved with Renault

is the French company’s extraordinary decision to put Flavio Briatore back in control at Enstone. The Benetton family dumped Briatore at the end of 1997, apparently because of his failure to m^e the team successful after the departrue of Tom Walkinshaw in 1994 and Michael Schumacher in 1995.

Briatore has enjoyed an amazing influence over the Renault Sport management since Benetton and Renault first did a deal for engines back in 1995. Renault Sport bosses Patrick Faure and Christian Contzen appear to do whatever Briatore advises, which is testament to the Itahan’s persuasive talents if not to his long list of successes in FI.

■ Six degi-ees of separations? Well, try two from Motorsport News to the winner of the Oscar for Best Actor in a supporting role, Michael Caine. Caine's gardens at his luxurious English mansion were formerly looked after by now Australian-based Top Fuel drag racer Steve Read.

Read's win at the recent round of the Australian Top Fuel Series at Willowbank is covered on page 32 of this issue.

Spooky, huh?

Mew Bridgestone ready BRIDGESTONE will introduce its all-new con¬

trol tyre at next week's Clipsal 500 in Adelaide.

Extensive testing of the new production-line tyre sug gests it will prove at least as durable as the established rubber, but no-one will know for sure until Saturday after noon in Adelaide.

Use of the revised rubber could well thus be the defining and deciding factor in one of the more crucial, in points terms, races of the season.

It’ll be a good test to see which teams are on the ball in

HRT VT, Neal for Morris

match for the 190cm Morris.

The only problem for Monis is that Neal wiU not be available for the Queensland 500 due to the clashing Oulton Park BTCC race. Monis is believed to be looking for a local co-driver.

PAUL Morris will race an ex-

Holden Racing Team VT Commodore after the Canberra round of the Shell Championship Series.

Morris will move into the Holden Young Lions VT for the Queensland Raceway round of the SCS on July 2.

And the three-time Super Touring Champion has also been quick to grab a co-driver for the FAI 1000 in November. . Morris will share his Big Kev’s VT with Matt Neal, who starts the British Touring Car Championship this week end as red-hot favourite.

Morris, who ran inside the top 10 in all three races at Perth, is looking for ward to moving up from his current Commodore VS. “I think we’ve more than shown that we can be competitive and the Todd Kelly cal' should be another step up for us.”

Morris and Neal are long-time friends, with Morris testing for Neal’s

7.

■I .

I

'0 Ha,

Team Dynamics Nissan outfit in Spain at the end of 1998. Plans for the pair to field two Primeras in the ’99 BT(5c fell through at the last minute when engine supply limitations restricted the team to one entry.

Neal has raced at Bathurst twice with Steven Richards and finished sec ond in the 1998 Bathurst 1000. He has never driven a V8 Supercar but would seem to make, at almost 200cm, a good

MORRIS has also criticised the cur rent tyre testing strategy of TEGA. The Level 3 racer, who has consider able tyre testing experience with both Michelin and Yokohama in Super Touring racing, is less than happy that he has been locked out of the Queensland Raceway test session.

“It’s Level 1 teams only, which doesn’t make sense to me,” he said.

“They should be making sure that the best people do the job and Tim Neff (Morris’s race engineer) is probably more experienced with tyre testing than most people in the class.

“I don’t want to seem like Fm having a whinge but, to me, it doesn’t make sense.”

adjusting their set-up,” HRTs Jeff Grech said this week.

“A pair of 30 minute ses sions isn’t much time, so you can take it as read that everyone will be changing their cars on Saturday night [after the first 250 km race].”

While a number of leading teams have been involved in

the pre-production testing of the new, stiffer side-walled tyre, Level 1 teams who have not run on the rubber were to be given that chance this week at Winton (Tuesday though it was rained out) and Ipswich (Wednesday) in special pre-Adelaide tests.

“Our priority was safety,” Bridgestone’s Graeme Brown told us when outlining the philosophy behind the new tyre.

“While demands for FI and CART meant that we had to move to a production (rather than hand-produced) tyre, we were keen to avoid tyre failures as well as pro ducing something which would perform.

“It’s taken a few revisions, but in the last tests at PhUhp Island the new tyre proved to be as fast as the old one and in fact produced better aver age times over a distance.

“I think it will work well.”

At the same time AVESCO has decided to allow new franchisees, desperate for testing miles but short of good-condition used rubber, to be given eight new tyres for testing purposes.

-CHRIS LAMBDEN

■ Speaking of the Academy Awards, guest presenter, the luscious Ashley Judd [above], was dateless for the night of nights with her boyfriend.

Champ Car star Dario Franchitti commuting home from the opening round of the FedEx series at Homestead, Florida where he finished 11th.

■ Fonmer Volvo Super Touring and Queensland Raceway media consultant Chris Nixon has been appointed by Procars as its Public Relations and Media Consultant.

In his new role, Nixon will not only being attending all rounds of the GTP and Nations Cup championships, but also will act as editor of the new GTP Motor Racer magazine - the first issue which was recently released.

■ While on the Nations Cup subject, whispers have the Brisbane-based V8 Supercar Colourscan team, owned by Geoff Osborne, looking at heading towards the Nations Cup. Rumours have Osborne looking at i-unning a Mercedes-Benz CLK55 AMG coupe for brother Danny in the series before the end of the year.

r 6

31Mdrch2000

IMdO®I7S[^[FO

n Just a quick reminder about Steven Richards’s interactive website at www.richosworld.au.nu.

The site currently features a great story on what Richo and team mate Greg Murphy go through to be fit for racing, and there’s also a fantastic No Fear clothing give away. n If you haven't had enough of Nations Cup yet, how 'bout this...

Look for an inclusion of the category on the Indy Car GP support bill in October - the Nations Cup cars complimenting the V8s on the schedule. n We hear an apparent approach to IMG from a number of disgi’untled Australian NASCAR teams has been met with an extremely negative response for the take-over of the category management. n HalWhitefordhas been named as president of racing at CART. Whiteford is a 25 year veteran of the automotive industry and comes to the newly created position from his previous job as vice president of operations for MercedesBenz USA. Whiteford will be responsible for all racing activities at CART and will report directly to CEO Andrew Craig, ffl Sears Point Raceway in Sonoma, California has been granted approval of its US$35 million ($58m) modernisation plan by the Sonoma County Board of Supei-visors.

The approval ends a three-year process for the track, which holds rounds of the Winston Cup NASCAR and NHRA Drag Racing series, where local residents objected to any expansions.

1 Visiting the'opening round of the CAR'T Championship at Homestead last weekend was film director Renny HarUn, who has been confirmed as the director of Sylvester Stallone's movie 'Champs'. Harlin, formerly married to Geena Davis, was scouting locations for the film. Also in attendance was tennis star Monica Seles.

X

F1 engine double-ups?

By JOE SAWARD THERE have been rumours cir culating for some time that Formula 1 bosses want to intro

duce a new regulation which forces Formula 1 engine manufactmrers to supply two teams if they are called upon to do so.

Previous attempts to introduce a rule have been blocked by the big ger teams as they do not want to lose their exclusive positions with car manufacturers.

One of the reasons that a rule may now get through is that a new tyre war is about to begin as Michelin takes on Bridgestone. Car manufacturers want to cover the possibility that one tyre company will have much better products than its rival and so the logical thing to do is to have one team with one tyre company and a second with the other.

Several of the car manufactm-ers involved in FI are already supply ing two teams although the names

of the engines involved are different - Ferrari provides its old VIOs to Sauber, Ford supplies Jaguar and has sold its old VIO engines to Minardi; Honda supplies BAR and Jordan, Jordan’s engines carrying the Mugan name. In addition Renault is involved in the Supertec programs.

Subsequently, there are only three manufacturers which do not supply two teams: BMW, Mercedes and Peugeot, although it is widely expected that Peugeot will with draw from FI at the end of the year and Prost will get a secondary sup ply of Mercedes-Benz engines.

“It’s no good if the manufacturers come in and then three or four teams get left behind,” said FI boss Bernie Ecclestone recently. “We’ve got to urge the manufacturers to help a little bit in supplying engines.

“My concern is that if the teams slip behind with their technology or engines, then suddenly they’re not competitive and that’s not good.”

Give ’em the old one-two: Will engine manufacturers have to supply one than one team soon, like is mandatory in CART? (Su«on images)

Nations Cop Explodes

GTP’s new Nations Cup is ready to explode with the response to the soon-to-debut series taking category organisers Procar by surprise.

On the eve of its official debut, category manager Steve Bettes said Procar is delighted by the response with 53 teams already registering their intent to participate.

“It has been quite amazing and, as a result, I belieye the teams will put on some terrific racing in Adelaide and during the year,” Bettes said.

All of the available Ferrari (360), Dodge (Viper) and Honda(NSX) ‘franchises’ have already been taken, with limited numbers of BMW (Z3), Chevrolet (Corvette), Ford (Saleen Mustang), Jaguar (XKR), Lamborghini (Diablo) and Lotus (Esprit) franchises left.

The reaction from teams intending to run either the new Porsche GT3s and the older model RSCSs has also been so strong that Porsche Cars Australia has committed to attending

Jaguar Racing setfor move to Silverstone?

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tions are continuing but it has become increasing ly clear in recent months that the new owners of Brands Hatch are that, realising although they have a contract for the ities refused plan ning permission, race in 2002, there and the team is is no way that they are going to get now looking at two alternative through all the nec essary legal battles further and construction sites afield. work in time - if One of them is at ever.

Silverstone where The BRDC is there have long aware of the prob been plans for a lems at Brands new “Technology Hatch and so is not Park”. To date this keen to move on has not been built other programmes because the British until it knows for Racing Drivers’ certain what is hap Club has been wor pening.

However, if the rying inore about Motor holding on to the Ford British GP. Company were to . Quiet negotia- ,^offer to develop a Jaguar Racing has given up on its plans to build a motorsport near campus N orthampton after local author

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technology park at Silverstone it might he an option that is acceptable to the club.

Jaguar Racing needs to move fast because it is well aware that it will be two years before it will have an opera tional wind tunnel of the necessary quality to make the team a competitive force in FI. Cosworth Racing also needs to relo cate but this is less urgent than the wind tunnel.

And, while the long-term plan is for Jaguar Racing to settle alongside its sister compa nies, it may be some time yet before that happens.

-JOE SAWARD

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Explosion: Response to the Nations Cup has been staggering,(siipsiream)

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Available by mail-order to; Mark Webber Supporter T-Shirt c/-Australian Grand Prix Corporation Grand Prix House, 220 Albert Road, South Melbourne VIC 3205 (add $6 for postage and packaging).

every round to support its customers.

“Porsche will have representatives at each round with a motorhome and direct links to the factory in Stuttgart, providing technical support - which is all quite amazing,” Bettes said.

Sources in the industry have suggested that Australia’s Ferrari concessionaires, intent on also having winning representatives in the series, are also considering offering similar support to its customers.

Bettes said one area of concern for the organisers was parity, although Procar will constantly monitor performances to ensure a strong competition.

“We’ll be working hard on maintaining parity between the marques and their performances, trying to maintain a strong balance, but I’m sure Adelaide would show that we’ve got the basis of an excellent series already.”

- GERALD McDORNAN

STOCKS SOLD OUT AT THE GP! Thanks to all our supporters - new supplies available now!

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n The battle between Tom Walkinshaw and Volvo over their joint venture, AutoNova AB,is coming to a head with both parties trying to get control of the factory, but neither willing to accept defeat.

Volvo is reported to have offered Walkinshaw US$11.5m for his shares while Walkinshaw turned down the offer and went back with an offer that a Volvo spokesman said was "at a level we were not even able to discuss."

Swedish trade unions have called on Walkinshaw to sell out but Walkinshaw wants to hold on to the factory so he can use it to produce a sport version of the Renault Clio.

1 Keke Rosberg has taken on the management ofBelgian driver David Saelens, who is racing this year for the SuperNova Formula 3000 team.

Rosberg currently manages Mika Hakkinen and Olivier Panis. Saelens is expected to be a front-runner in F3000 this season. n In what could be an n important legal precedent, a British court has ruled that a wheel manufacturer - should be liable to pay damages following a motor racing accident at the Castle Combe circuit in March 1996.

Erling Jensen crashed his Lotus Esprit-bodied Tiga at 150mph after his right rear wheel collapsed due to poor machining.

The case was heard at the County Court in Bath in December but it took the judge 12 weeks to make a decision. n Former McLaren and Benetton aerodynamicist Bob Bell hasjoined Jordan.

The former head of Benetton's aerodynamics department,James Allison, has also moved, and is now working at Ferrari alongside other former Benetton colleagues.

■ Among the visitors to the FI paddock in Brazil were the Brazilian Minister of Sport Pele, a string of former racers including Nelson Piquet, Chico Serra, Eliseo Salazar and Paolo Barilla.

Ken Tyrrell was also present, while Bernie Ecclestone made his first trip to a non-European race for over a year, but he stayed only a day before retm-ning to Europe.

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German EM.TV buys half of FI

By JOE SAWARD GERMAN EM.TV

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Merchandising company has bought 50 percent of the Formula 1 holding company SLEC in a deal worth nearly US$1.6bn.

The company purchased the shares of US investment house Heilman & Friedman, giving the company a report ed profit of US$200 for its investment in 37.5 percent of SLEC shares bought just five weeks prior, along with Morgan Grenfell Private Equity’s 12.5 percent stake MGPE making US$75m on its five month investment.

The deal is understood to have been brokered by Bernie Ecclestone, who has also done well from the deal as the 50 percent of the com pany which his family still owns is now valued at US$1.6bn - giving the Ecclestone family an extra US$300m in paper worth.

The EM.TV purchase con sisted of US$712.5m in cash and 10m EM.TV shares, which are currently worth

around US$88 each.

EM.TV was established in 1989 by Thomas Haffa, a former Kirch Group execu tive who bought control of the rights to German lan guage versions of cartoons produced by the Hanna Barbera company.

His empire has grown dramatically in recent years and he now controls four times

the amount of cartoon programming as Disney, with such famous names as The Simpsons, Tom & Jerry, the Pink Panther, Popeye, Peanuts, Woody Woodpecker

and Betty Boop under his control, A month ago he bought the Jim Henson Company, of the Muppets and Sesame Street fame,for US$680m.

Haffa has begun to produce his own cartoons and has launched his own

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Big brother is watching: Germany’s EM.TV has purchased a 50 percent stake in Formula 1, although its future direction is not yet clear. (Sutton)

German-language version of the Cartoon Network called Junior TV, which he expects to take global.

Other properties under his control include the European rights to Elvis Presley, James Bond and Nintendo.

The company has been listed on the Neuer Markt in Frankfurt for the last two and a half years, during which times the shares have shot up in value.

Haffa says that his future strategy with FI is not yet settled but it may end up being floated on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange.

Announcing the deal, EM.TV said that it was nego tiating to buy control of SLEC from Ecclestone with in the next 12 months.

It is hard to imagine that Ecclestone will agree to such a deal and there have been suggestions that he may orchestrate another buyout within a few months, once he has increased the value of the company by estabhshing a more effective merchandis ing operation for FI.

Interlagos changes ahead

THE refurbishment work carried out on

the Interlagos Circuit, which hosted la^' weekend’s Brazilian Grand Prix, is only the beginning with plans to completely renovate the track

AF! Images

: Gros.sing the bridges: Michelin will join Bridgestone in ; ft next year with Williams, Toyota and, maybe. Jaguar.

By JOE SAWARD MICHELIN is due to begin testing its ' Formula 1 tyres today : (Thursday) at the BMW test track at Miramas, : near Marseilles. ; The tyres will be run on ; a 1999 Williams-BMW ■' FW21B', which will be driven by Tom Kristensen.

The Dane is expected to do all the early develop ment work as Bridgestone has made it clear that any driver who has run on Mkhelins cannot test Bridgestones.

As Wiliams wants to use : test drivers Bruno : Junqueira and Jorg Muller later .this year, it was decided that Kristensen should be pven the job.

Michelin is due to f be supplying Jaguar Racing with tyres next year and it is expected that Frost, Sauber. Benetton and Jordan will join Williams using the French products, The new Toyota FI team will also use the French tyres when it begins test ing in 2001.

according to sources.

It is understood that the renovation program will see the demolition of the existing pit buildings and the construction of a better facility.

In addition, the track is to be substantially altered to create a new infield section to give spectators in the huge grandstands along the high-speed straightwhich runs downhill from the Senna “S” to the Descida do Lago left hander-better spectating.

If all goes to plan,the current wasteland infield will see the Descida corner become a hairpin and a return leg of track will run parallel with the straight up the hill to a new 180-degree curling right-hander, which will lead onto another downhill section with a kink -the new section rejoining the current track at the fast

left-hander after Descida,turning this into another hairpin.

The new section is expected to extend lap times by around 10 seconds per lap.

The Prefeitura, owner of the track,is probably investing in the facility, which has been chronicaOy underfunded over the years, because the long term aim is to sell itrumours having Bernie Ecclestone interested in taking the venue over.

Interlagos has always suffered from bumps, which is not surprising given the fact that the circuit was built on land

wMch was deemed to be unsuitable for the construction of houses because of subsidence problems.

There was some excitement during the Grand Prix weekend as the Prefect of the city, Dr Celso Roberto Pitta do Nascimento,spent the weekend trying to avoid being served with papers to suspend him from office, while there is an investigation into allegations from Pitta’s embittered ex-wife that he received money inexchange for political favours. ,-JOE SAWARD

Roadworks ahead: Dramatic changes for Interlagos.

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31 March 2000

Carrera Cup for Davison

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STEERING WHEELS

Company runabout: Alex Davison (R) with Porsche Australia l\/ID, Michael Winkler.

ALEX Davison has earned a place in the leading German Valier Motorsport team contesting the 2000 European Porsche Carrera Cup. The grandson of four times AGP winner Lex Davison will drive a 380hp Porsche 911 GTS Supercup car in the nine-round Carrera Cup, which is the principal support category for the German Touring Car Championship.

Davison’s first race will he on May 28 at Hockenheim. Other races will he held in var ious parts of Germany and France, including

one round at the famous Le Mans circuit.

“I was negotiating for a Formula Ford drive in the UK,” said Davison, “but this is a fantastic opportunity.

“The Carrera Cup will put me in front of huge audiences and Europe’s top talent scouts in one of the world’s most competitive one-make racing series.

“If I do well, the sky is the limit.”

Davison will be sponsored by HewlettPackard, Porsche Car Australia and Mobil Australia.

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ill wants a V8

MARTY Cmggill is back in Australian and looking for a competitive seat on two wheels - or four.

The double Australian Superbike champion, who has been without a ride since ie^ving the Suzuki GB Superbike team at the end of iast season, wants to test his taients in V8 Supercars, with one eye on making a fuii-time move to four wheei racing in the future.

“I’m sure that there’s a No Fear: Marty Craggill may be going V8 Supercar racing, fair bit of comm'on ground finished.

I have been between racing a Superbike “I tried driving karts and racing a V8 Supercar,” taiking to a few peopie and proper racing karts - a few he said this week. there’s a chance if years back and I was quick, “When you iook at the something happening on so everyone said. I realise that front. careers of Gregg Hansford, there is plenty to learn but I’d like to start.

Mike Dowson and, “But I’d like to look at “I won all those obviousiy, Wayne Gardner, racing cars seriously when I it appears that what works finish with bikes, and I want Superbike races a couple of for people on two wheels years ago in front of the to get a head start on things can work for them on four.” touring car team managers, by getting as far as i can in cars whiie I’m still on bikes.” so it’s not like they don’t But Craggill has not know who I am. If I’m able The 1997 and ’98 ended his bike racing career. to get a test. I’ll be there Superbike champion has no “This doesn’t mean that - actual four-wheel with my learning cap on.”

- PHIL BRANAGAN my Superbike career is experience, apart from karts.

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Judicial system under threat

home of

IN.successfully appealing the fine and suspension imposed by Stewards at the Grand Prix fol

Shell Championship Series

lowing his incident with Neil Crompton, Paul Morris has placed the all-new V8 Supercar judicial system at an early cross-roads.

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V8 Supercars* ,Rd3 Apr 8-9 ...Adelaide Apr 30 Eastern Creek ...Rd 4 May 21 ...Hidden Valley ...Rd 5 Jun 11 .. .Canberra ,Rd6

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World Superbike Championship* Apr 2 South Africa Rd 1 Rd2 Apr 23 Australia Rd3 Apr 30 Japan .

■b May 14 . .Great Britain Rd4

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Championship ,Rd3 Apr 9 . . .San Marino ,Rd4 Apr 23 . . . .Britain ,Rd5 May 7 Spain

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International C'ship Apr 9 San Marino Rd 1 ,Rd2 May 7 . . . .Spain . .

June 3 . . .Monaco ,Rd3

ing rumours that there ivill be a major shake-up in the Formula i calendar in 2001 and 2002.

With the likelihood of a Chinese Grand Prix fading fast, it seems more likely that Dubai will win a place on the FI calendar in 2002.

South Africa is also looking like a strong candidate despite the problems with currency exchange which have blighted Kyalami’s ambitions to hold a

FIA World Rally Championship* ,Rd5 Apr 2 Spain ,Rd6 May 14 . . .Argentina ,Rd7 [T ^ Jun 11 . . .Acropilis . t

^3

' July 16 . . .New Zealand

^3

By JOE SAWARD

THERE are' increas

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Las Vegas

^ Apr 16 . . .Houston, t Apr 30 . . . .Richmond

Rd 4 ,Rd5 ,Rd6

Flaming, angry: Crompton is critical of the recent judicial decision, bunal was faced primarily with evi dence on Morris’ behalf from former

FI calendar moves

FIA Formula 3000

■5^ ■

The new system, involving reports from Driving Standards Advisor Colin Bond, had found Morris guilty of careless driving in initiating the incident which severely damaged Crompton’s FTE Falcon and the cars of Cameron McConville and Todd Kelly.

However, an appeal before the CAMS Appeal Tribunal was suc cessful on the grounds that “the decision of the Stewards was against the weight of evidence.”

In coming to its decision, the tri-

race in 2001. The fact that the' Phakisa Freeway circuit at Welkom in the Free State is backed by the local government means that this is now the most likely venue for a race.

Rumours in Brazil suggested that Bernie Ecclestone may decide to drop the troublesome Belgian Grand Prix at Spa in favour of a race in South Africa.

The other big rumour at the moment is that Hockenheim is increasingly likely to lose the German GP when the current con-

tract expires after the 2001 race.

The current specula tion is that the German GP tag will go to the Nurburgring (which has a deal until 2004) and the European GP will move to the vast liew motorsport facility at Lausitz, between Dresden and Leipzig in the old East Germany.

The aim is to have a 2.7 mile road course and a two mile oval and a secondary threequarter mile oval. 'This has been financed in part and supported by the state government of Brandenburg.

racing .international and driving instructor Frank Gardner, having seen a video of the incident.

Missing was any of the high-tech information which can so easily be downloaded from the modern race car... The successful appeal joins a long line of supoessful appeals against Stewards decisions t^en at tracks - something the new system was

supposed to overcome.

The decision has stunned Crompton, who has until today (Thursday) to consider the worth of an appeal against this latest find ing. Interestingly, CAMS itself is also able to appeal the decision and is reportedly considering just that.

“Nothing personal against Paul I can’t blame him for using the sys tem - but this is crazy,” Crompton said on Tuesday.

“Pursuing it further isn’t going to get the guys their sleep back, or the cost of repairing cars, but the out come is wrong and we obviously still have work to do to get the sys tem right.

“At the end of the day, there has to be a point where the umpire’s decision is given, and accepted.

“And with respect, the people involved in this latest decision weren’t there, didn’t see the actual incident and have no access to the data which is crucial to the outcome.

“This isn’t just me whingeing either - every diiver, team manag er I’ve spoken to thinks it’s wrong...”

- CHRIS LAMBDEN

58 starters for Le Mans

Fedex Cart Championship Rd2 Apr 9 Nazareth Apr 16 Long Beach . . . ,Rd3 ,Rd4 Apr 30 . . . .Brazil :.Vi

Australian Rally Championship* ,Rd1 Apr2. . ., . .Forest W.A ,Rd2 May 5 . . . .Canberra

The Germans are coming: Audi will run three Res at the Saithe in June,

Jun 4 . . . .Queensland Rd 3 Jun 25 . . .Coffs Harbour . . .Rd 4

SOOcc World Grand Prix Motorcycle C'Ship* ,Rd2 Apr 2 Argentina ,Rd3 .Japan Apr 9 ,Rd4 Apr 30 Spain May 14 . . .Great Britain

Rd 5

Formula Holden Championship , Rd3 Adelaide Apr 9 ,Rd4 Jun 11 . . .Canberra ,Rd5 .QLD Jul2

Welkom back Checa: South Africa could get FI to match its 500 GP.

RUE IN A V8 SUPERGA iwmrsjie /A

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home of

[motorspon 1^

I

All event dates in this calendar were correct at the time of printing. Please consult any individual tracks and/or associations for date changes.

Series or events telecast on Network Ten are marked with an asterix. Check your local guides for screening details.

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THE Le Mans race organiser last week announced its selection of 58 cars (from an entry of 100) which it has invited to attend ‘preliminary practice’ in France on 30 April 2000.

Controversially, the ACO has rejected a number of sportsprototypes in order to retain competitive GT divisions, and has also exposed itself to accusations of favouring French teams.

Factory entered sportsprototypes from Audi, DaimlerChrysler and General Motors head the list, along with LMP cars from Panoz Motorsports which some observers favour for the win.

The ACO accepted three of the turbo 3.6-litre Audi R8 cars from Audi Sport Team Joesl, four turbo 4-litre Cadillac Northstar LMPs (two from the works team and two from DAMS), and two 6litre Mopar engined Reynard 2KQ sports-prototypes from Mopar Team ORECA. There will be five of the 6-litre Ford-powered Panoz cars, two from the works team. Courage Competition was successful with its new C60 sports-prototype, which will be powered by the 5litre Nissan V8, and a privately

entered, 4-litre Judd engined C60 has also been accepted, along with Henri Pescarolo's turbo 3.2litre Peugeot powered C52.

The 24-strong LMP-900 division will be completed by two Lola B2K/10 cars (from the Konrad and Ratanelli teams), Risi Competition’s Ferrari 333SP, Thomas Bscher’s 1998-vintage BMW VI2 LM, the US-based Johansson team’s Reynard-Judd, and two UK-built racecars, an Ascari-Judd and a HarrierPorsche.

There will be only seven sports-prototypes in the lighter (675kg) division, including the ROC team’s two turbo 2-iitre VW engined Reynards. Seven Chrysler Vipers (including three works ORECA entries), the two works Chevrolet Corvettes and three GT2 Porsches have been accepted in LM-GTS, but only one of the new Ferrari 550 Miiienio racecars.

The LM-GT category has one BMW M3 - and 13 Porsche 911 GT3-R cars. Overall there will be 20 French teams at Le Mans next month, against 11 from Germany and the USA. Only one British team has made the grade, and only one Italian.

- QUENTIN SPURRING

R

31 March 2000

11

The not-so-glamourous side of Grand Prix racing so you think that being a Formula 1 (test) driver is pretty glamourous?

Once the status of superstars like Michael Schumacher is attained, it’s

possible to pick and choose how time away from the track is spent, but when you’re jostling to get through that narrow door into FI it’s a differ ent ball-game.

Our own Mark Webber didn’t see

much of racing cars during Australian Grand Piix week. Apart from the need to keep to a stringent fitness regime, his time was spent in a never-ending series of appear ances, media interviews and sponsor commitments, all under the whiphand of manager Ann Neal.

“Have you seen him - we were supposed to be at Yellow Pages 10 minutes ago!” was a typical cry as the duo, still seeking that major Australian corporate backing which may be needed to take the final step to a full-time FI race drive in 2001, sped from one corporate facility to the next.

It came as part of a hectic week, which also included meetings with lawyers (the personal FosteFs spon sorship deal was inked just hours before the Arrows FI team launch) and sponsorship tai’gets.

In the end, it was a good week for' the Webber career - the Foster’s deal, the official confirmation of the Arrows test drive...

■But it was a relieved Webber who flew out on the day after the GP to get back to the real business - drivmg: “That’s the easy bit!” he quipped.

“This Stuff is hard work...”

Monday, March 6 OlOOhrs Arrive Melbourne from London 1030hrs Meeting with Paul Stoddart and crew from ABC’s 7.30 Report.

1200-1400hrs Media interviews/photo shoot at Albert Park circuit 1630hrs Fitness/training - ABC crew in attendance 1800-1900hrs Supporters club function, Ail Star Cafe, Crown Casino Tuesday, March 7 1130-1200hrs Photo shoot with Coilingwood AFL team 1730hrs Drinks with Yeilow Pages' CEO and staff, Burwood HQ Wednesday, March 8

1300-1 SOOhrs Yellow Pages/Foster's corporate facilities 1555-1705hrs Corporate visits 1730-1830hrs Orange Arrows Formula One Team - official launch at Fox Museum

110Ohrs TV interview with Premiere World (German pay TV channel) 1130-1230hrs Shannons corporate facility 1235-1305hrs CAMS corporate facility 1315-1430hrs Yellow Pages/Foster's corporate facilities 1435-1520hrs Autograph session with Formula Ford drivers at GP Expo 1530-1630hrs Corporate visits 1900hrs Tag-Heuer dinner

Friday, March 10 0700 - 0900hrs AM Breakfast Club, Hilton on the Park 1100 -1120hrs WIMSA function 1130-1200hrs CAMS stand at GP Expo 1200 - 1415hrs Yellow Pages/Foster’s corporate facilities 1425-1535hrs Corporate visits 1540-1600hrs Autograph session, Tattersall’s Historic Garage 1900-OlOOhrs Grand Prix Ball,The Palladium, Crown Casino

Sunday, March 12

0645-0815hrs Pit Straight Walk autograph/photo session 0710 Marty Haines (104.7FM) phone Saturday, March 11 0830-0900hrs Orange Arrows interview Formula One hospitality suite 0945-101 Shrs Mark Webber T-shirt 1000 RPM interview (Greg Rust^ 0915-1000hrs Yellow Pages and 1200-1400hrs City Parade & V8 signing session (Official GP Foster's corporate facilities merchandise outlet - Golf course Supercar Pitstop Chalienge, Swanston 1030-1050hrs Mark Webber T-shirt Walk south) signing session (Official GP , 1730-1830hrs CAMS merchandise outlet - Gate 1) stand, Melbourne Motor 1055 -1155hrs Corporate visits show (Paddock Club suites) 1900-2000hrs BMW 1155-1230hrs Interview P Cocktail Party, Melbourne session - Tattersall’s Historic Motor Show Garage 1235hrs Hot lap of the track Thursday, March 9 with VIP guests 1000-110Ohrs Shannons 1250-1310hrs Channel 9 'Show n' Shine' judging interview, Orange Arrows (Golf course area, Albert Formula One Team pit garage.

Park) 1315hrs Inten/iew with Mike 1115-1125hrsGPTV Kable (The Australian) Interview, message re t1330-16.30hrs Yellow Pages. shirts t Foster's and Orange Arrows 1230-1235hrsGPTV Formula One Team hospitality Inten/iew, pit lane suites.

Busy Me n; Sir Stirling Moss and Mark Webber.

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12 3lMarch2000 CART is reportedly think ing atout changing its technical regulations so that the driver is included in the minimum weight of the car, as is done in Formula One. n Juan Montoya said at Homestead that he has “no contract with Williams” and he is “not on loan” to Team Ganassi. It would appear that Montoya will likely stay in CART for much longer than anyone has been expecting. It had been rumoured that Montoya was just biding his time until he could go with Wilhams or find another FI team.

H The Penske team has apparently taken delivery of a Riley & Scott IRL chassis. Speculation is that the chassis will be used both by the Penske CART team and for testing with Casey Mears. It will likely not make it to this year’s Indy 500, but it could be at the Brickyard in 2001.

H Road Atlanta may still be in CARTs future. There have not been any talks between Road Atlanta’s Don Panoz and CART,but Andrew Craig, CARTs , CEO,reportedly is con vinced that a Champ Car race “on the right road course, with the right pro moter” could be successful in the Atlanta area.

■I This year’s Reynard chassis has a heavier gear box. The result is that the weight balance has been shifted rearwai’ds and t^ams with heavier engines (Toyota, Honda) are struggling to make the new car handle. If this is tnie, it may mean an advantage for the lighter Lola chassis.

■ CART has apparently decided on a chassis monocoque freeze, which means that any chassis used this year must also be used in 2001. The chassis manufactmrers will be able to provide update kits to everything, including the' underbody, sidepods, wings, transmission and suspension, with the exception is the tub itself.

By PHIL MORRIS HONDA threatened and Toyota looked good, but Ford drew first blood in the 2000 FedEx CART Championship when the previously luckless Max Papis powered past Paul Tracy in the closing laps to claim the first Champ Car victory of his career.

After the first half of the race was dominated by poleman Gil de Ferran, the Italian closed on leader Paul Tracy and moved past him going into Turn One with just 10 laps left.

Roberto Moreno was also quick to see an opportunity and followed Papis around Tracy. Moreno closed in the final two laps as Papis was forced to slow behind the lapped car of Norberto Fontana and threatened to take his first career win, but Papis held on the take the chequered flag by just 0.620s.

“I’m really, reMly glad to be here for my first win and to be here with two people that I respect a lot like Roberto [Moreno] and Paul [Tracy],” Papis said through an ear-toear grin. “They both have been teaching' me a lot of things that I applied actually - to beating them today.” . «As soon as Paul ran out a little bit in traffic, I was just waiting for that moment,” said ‘Mad Max.’. “This is one of those moments that you cannot'really calculate. He just ran a little wide to come off the throttle and I was right there to take the opportihiity.”

“It was a great race up front,” said an enthusiastic Moreno. “It’s just a sensation that’s so emotional inside of me and one that I will share with my family.”

'Tracy drove a brilliant race

Justice is done

after struggling all weekend and starting way back in 17th on the grid. He carved through the field with preci sion and gained several posi tions with a spectacular early pit stop.

“We didn’t have a great car in the race, but we made the best of it,” said Tracy. “To get third is a huge achievement for us. My guys gave me great pit stops. I can’t say enough about the job they do.”

Tracy’s team-mate, Dario Franchitti, managed to score an 11th place finish, and two championship points, despite starting in 22nd position.

Jimmy Vasser finished the day in fourth place, followed

by Patrick Carpentier.

Defending series champion, Juan Montoya led the race in the early stages but was out after only 23 laps with an engine failure in his first race with Toyota.

“Today was a big disap pointment,” Montoya said.

“When the race started we

New paint: Poleman de Ferran was an unlucky sixth.

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were running really quick.

It was one of those tough but the engine had a failure days,” said de Ferran who and that was it.” ultimately finished sixth. “We Polesitter de Ferran fell had a very, very unfortunate back to fifth place after the yellow. After that, I tried very green flag waved and took the hard to come up through the lead after Montoya, Michael fi eld, pushing as hard as I Andretti and Adrian could all the way to the end.”

De Ferran’s team-mate Fernandez all fell by the wayHelio Castro-Neves’ luck side with engine problems.

'The Brazilian, who was hopwasn’t any better. Just nine ing to bring Marlboro Team laps into the race, his car Penske its first win in nearly slowed and finally came to a three years, controlled much of stop as smoke belched from the middle portion of the race.' ' the engine.

But his luck, and his chance of The only incident in the winning , ran out when he was 150-lap race was when Luiz caught in pit lane when the Garcia, Jr. hghtly tapped the course went to a yellow flag wall, causing damage to the condition after Mauricio front suspension and putting Gugehnin ran out of fuel. him out of the race.

At long, long last: Papis took his breakthrough win at Homestead, hugging the heli out of Moreno on the podium,

Mo Nunn Racing, making its debut this year, served notice that they will definitely be in the championship hunt as driver Tony Kanaan ran briefly at the front of the pack, He lost his advantage when he was forced into the pits during a yeUow flag and was then penalised for breaking the pit lane speed limit.

Kanaan finished the race in 10th place.

Pomts: Papis 20, Moreno 16, Tracy Ferran lo, Fittipaldi 6, Nakano 5, TagUani 4, Kanaan 3, Franchitti 2.

Who’s your Buddy now?

BUDDY Lazier had one of those weekends

in the MCI WorldCom ^at Phoenix.

Not only did he win the race, but he did it having started 26th and last, after qualifying a lowly 24th and relegated to the back of the field for switching to his back-up car which had never run on a race track until final practice on race rfiorning.

And he won on a track where he shattered his back in practice in 1996. At the same time, his brother Jaques has a broken back after a crash at the first round of the series at Wait Disney World.

“I’ve got no pain whatsoever and I’m ready to go uphold our family tradition,” said the younger of the Lazier boys.

“You know, break your back, win the Indy 500...”

“It’s a very uncomfortable trend, one that I don’t want to keep up,” Buddy [below] said with a smile. He was still limping when he won at Charlotte in ’97.

“We couldn’t do anything with the primary car. I have to tell you I was frightened in the car and I don’t normally frighten easily.

‘This was just a tough week -1 had a nasty stomach bug. I couldn’t eat or drink, and each day while we were here I would go back to the hotel and try to recover.”

The 1996 Indy 500 champion’s win in the 200-lapper was also the first win for Riley & Scott since it entered the IRNLS in 1997 and took him to the top of the Indy Racing Northern Light Series pointscore after two rounds.

Lazier grabbed the lead on lap 161 after Orlando winner Robbie Buhl pitted and gradually pulled away from Scott Goodyear to win.

“He was strong down the straightaways,” Goodyear observed.

“He has Speedway engines just like I do, so we didn’t have any horsepower advantage. His car was handling well in the first and second turns, but I could get through three and four better. It was a case of trying to get the best out of the car.”

The Canadian finished second ahead of Donnie Beechler (his best career finish), Eliseo Salazar, Scott Sharp, Billy Boat, Buhl, Stephan Gregoire, Al Unser Jr and Eddie Cheever.

Defending series champion Greg Ray started from pole and led the first 18 laps but was eliminated in an accident on lap 106.

Rookie Sarah Fisher was 13th in her first drive for Derrick Walker’s team, delayed by a long pit stop, as well as a stuck throttle.

‘Little Al’ led for the first time in the all oval series, leading 22 laps before he surrended the lead to make his final stop under green conditions. Any hope of pulling back through the field was quashed by a yellow flag period for rookie Sam Homish Jr who crashed two laps later, thus putting Unser off the lead lap.

Another to crash was inaugural Orlando winner Buzz Calkins. Calkins, [whose team announced a deal with ‘ER’ actor Anthony Edwards and Team CAN (Cure Autism Now] to promote support for a cure for autism over the race weekend) crashed and was admitted to hospital with back pain.

X-rays were negative so Calkins will be fit for the next round of the series at Las Vegas on April 22 which could see the IRNLS debut of Chip Ganassi’s team with Juan Montoya and Jimmy Vasser.

Points: Lazier 90, Buhl 78, Goodyear 72, Beechler 63, Salazar 62, Cheever 55, Boat 50, Sharp 48, Ward 45, Gregoire 36.

Going one batter

Audi took revenge for BMW’s 1999 win in the Sebring 12 Hour, taking a P2 of their own, GARY WATKINS reports.

AUDI may have finished first and second in the 2000 Sebring 12 Hour, yet the German marque’s allnew prototypes far from dominated a race that

went right down to the wire.

The twin-turbo R8 proved the fastest thing around the bumpy Florida track, but the best of BMW’s V12 LMRs kept the Audis honest nearly all the way.

The lead Dimmer driven by JJ Lehto and Jorg'Muller fought tooth and nail with the two Audis through the second two-thirds of the opening round of the American Le Mans Series.

Only a change of front brake 'discs with little more than an hour to go dropped the V12engined car off the lead lap.

A three-horse race sudden ly became an inter-team Audi battle between the pole-win ning car of Frank Biela, Emanuele Pirro and Tom Kristensen and the sister R8 driven by Rinaldo Capelio, Allan McNish and Michele Alboreto. The former had been delayed with just over four hours to go when a long middle pedal forced the team to bleed the brakes.

Kristensen brought the car back up to second and then Pirro set about closing the gap to the leader over the final hour and a half.

McNish and then Capelio, who brought the car home.

Silver takes Gold: Audi avenged BMW’s 1-2 last season by out-lasting the opposition with the 2000 version of the R8R. This is the winning car, with Tom Kristensen up.

Caddy lacking: America can put a man on the moon, but they still can’t win their own sports car classics. This is Wayne Taylor’s R&S-built Cadillac Northstar.(Photos by Sutton-images)

had brake problems of their own, which allowed Pirro to steal victory despite having to make a last-gasp splashand-dash for fuel.

“I was having to pump the brakes really hard,” said McNish, “because if I hadn’t the pedal would have gone to the floor.”

The second Audi, which ended up nearly 40s behind, had been experiencing these problems since just over three hours into the race. Alboreto lost time with.a tyre blow-out that followed a,number of brake-locking incidents dur ing what even he admitted was a tardy double stint.

Lehto and Muller ended up third, a lap down on the two Audis. The V12 LMRs were never quite a match for the Audis during qualifying or the race, but the unstinting efforts of the lead car’s hardcharging drivers and some quick pitwork by the Schnitzer team kept the car on the lead lap.

The second Schnitzer, dri ven by Bill Auberlen, Steve Soper and Jean-Marc Gounon, led BMW’s charge early on after Lehto had been delayed when he almost ran out of fuel and with a loose rear diffuser. The number two car lost the chance of a podium mid-race when Gounon sustained body dam age after colliding with David Brabham’s Panoz.

Gounon end his team mates ended up fourth, two

DAVID Brabham endured a disastrous start to his American Le Mans Series campaign in the Sebring 12 Hours.

After struggling in qualifying, the Brabham/Jan Magnussen/Pierre-Henri Raphanel LMP Roadster S (pictured above challenging Auberlen’s BMW) lost five laps with a suspension problem before dropping out of fifth place with engine failure in the ninth hour.

“We would have been right there but for the suspension problem,” the Aussie said later. “We got in among the BMWs early on.”

The car led several times during the first three hours and was consistently ahead of the third-place finisher, the BMW VI2 LMR

SEBRING 12 HOURS 1 Frank Biela(D)Tom Kristensen (DK)Emanuele Pirro (I) Audi R8 360 laps 2 Rinaldo Capelio (I) Michele Alboreto (I) Allan McNish Audi R8 360 laps 3 JJ Lehto(SF)Jorg Mulier(D) BMWV12LMR 359 laps 4 Bill Auberlen (USA) Steve Soper (GB)Jean-Marc Gounon (F) BMW V12 LMR 358 laps 5 Didier Theys(B) Fredy Lienhard (SF) Mauro Baldi (I) Ferrari-Judd 337 laps 6 Eric van de Poele (B) Wayne Taylor(ZA) Max Angelelll (I) Cadillac Northstar IMP 331 laps 7 Olivier Beretta(MC) Karl Wendlinger(A) Dominique Oupuy (F) Chrysler Viper GTS-R 327 laps 8 David Donohue(USA)Tommy Archer(USA) Marc Duez(B) Chrysler Viper GTS-R 326 laps 9 Jean-Philippe Belloc(F) Nr Amorim (P) Anthony Beltoise (F) Chrysler Viper GTS-R 321 laps 10 Dirk Muller(D) Lucas Lohr(D) Porsche 911 GT3-R 313 laps Time of race 12hr02m00.160s Margin of victory: 39.111s.

laps down on the winner and a massive 21 laps up on the fifth-placed car.

The Judd-engined FeiTari of the Doran team was in turn a long way ahead ofthe only one of three Cadillac Northstar LMPs to finish the race.

The GTS class was domi nated by the ORECA Chrysler Vipers, which swept all three podium positions.

Olivier Beretta, Karl Wendlinger and Dominique Dupuy, overall winners at Daytona last month, narrow ly claimed the top spot. The other two GTS-Rs had both experienced delays after colli sions with other cars, but the number one Viper lost a three-lap advantage when it required the brakes bleeding.

of JJ Lehto and Jorg Muller.

Brabham was impressed with Audi’s effort.

“I think we can call them favourites,” he said. ‘They are well prepared and spending a lot of money, certainly more than anyone else in the pitlane.

‘The Joest team [which runs the Audi R8s] runs an extremely good ship. We are up against the best, but I don’t think they are unbeatable."

The ALMS resumes at Charlotte on April 1 when Audi will rely on last year’s R8R while its 2000-spec cars are readied for the Le Mans test day at the end of April.

- GARY WATKINS

-■'u

i

14

3Ward!2000

/jjik)0®[FSU)®[fi]

Time for the Go Aussie charges from 12th to first to take 500s in South Africa Show

Your Welkom Garry

Report by JOOS VAN DER KUIP in South Africa

'

JUST when they thoughtqt was safe to return to the track...

Despite the retirement of five time world champion Mick Doohan, Australian motor cycle racing has continued with its winning tradi tion with Garry McCoy takign the season opening 500cc Grand Prix.

The 28-year-old from Cambden, NSW, stunned the world with his first ever 500cc victory, coming from as far back as 12th, having started in ninth, to take the chequered flag ahead of fellow Yamaha rider, Carlos Checa.

“I felt good right from the start and when I got into third place I knew I just had to keep my pace and get past as soon as I could,” McCoy said afterwards.

“I started the race just wanting the best result possible so to win is fantastic. Last year we couldn’t really test the bike as I came in

mid-season, but this year we’ve done a lot of testing and tried a lot of different settings. I’m really con fident with the bike especially now I have it set-up how I like it.”

McCoy’s victory for the Red Bull team comes after a tumultuous off season where the team first lost their backing, then regained Red Bull’s financial support.

His ride earned the praise of Red Bull Yamaha team director, Peter Clifford.

“One of the great races of all time!” Clifford said, For Garry to come from so far behind and pass World Champions is as much a tribute to Hamish Jamieson (Garry’s Chief Mechanic) and the team as it is for Garry’s talented riding.”

Checa’s Marlboro Yamaha team mate. Max Biaggi fell from his bike early in the race, as did arch rival Valentino Rossi - the colourful Rossi making his first appearance on a 500 with the new Mick Doohan-led, Honda factory team. ;t i iI

r ●:

get it right," said West.

"The tyre went off about 10 laps into the race which made it inter esting. I would be half way thi-ough a comer and suddenly it would let go. It was a bit scary. But I am real ly happy with my opening weekend and the bike is terrific, I just need more time on it. By the time I get to Japan I should have the hang of it," he said.

SAH team mate Tohru Ukawa put the second of the Jeff Hardwick-owned bikes on the front row as well, with the Japanese rider finishing third behind fellow countryman Daijiro Katoh’s Honda.

"My tyre didn't feel that good and I had to let Nakano get away from me at the start," said Ukawa.

"I thought I was right for second place as I thought when my engine went off song and I had too slow. I was then worried about holding on to third. In the end it's not a bad result, but with no problems, I will win in Malaysia."

SAH team boss Jeff Hardwick was pleased with the season opener. l M It wasn't exactly what I wanted but not too bad. With Ukawa a The Mask: third isn't a bad way to start the Garry McCoy contemplates using season, especially as he will have his trophy to see if he can get any¬ better races than this one. He where with Cameron Diaz. .knows there is a long way to go yet The Australian rode a brilliant race and I think he would still have to on the Red Bull Yamaha, charging be favourite for the title as he is from 12th to first. just so consistent," said Hardwick.

(Photos by RaceAccess) "Anthony did really well. I thought maybe a top 10 would be a Rossi had impressed in his debut good result, but to get fifth is just in the big bike class, qualifying the terrific. He's only a second off the Honda in fifth, ahead of the now- pace already so it won't be long 500 experienced Biaggi, in 10th. before you'll see him leading, I'm In the 250s, ‘Super’ Shinya sure," he said.

Nakano took a far less surprising Olivier Jacque completed a fine victory with the Chesterfield weekend for the Yamaha team with Yamaha Tech 3 team rider leading the French rider finishing fourth.

Frenchman Arnaud Vincent from the pole and never really claimed victory in the 125cc categobeing challenged.

Australian hopeful Anthony West ry^the Aprilia rider leading home impressed with his first ride on a the Hondas of Mirko Giansanti and true factory machine, the Shell reigning world champion Emilio Advance Honda rider qualifying on Alzamora. the front row, then finishing fifth.

I didn't get the usual good start and had to cop a few knocks by passing bikes. The clutch is a lot different to last year's bike and I just didn't Shell be right: Mick Doohan and SAH team owner Jeff Hardwick chat about things in South Africa (below, left) while Clyde Wolfenden advises Anthony West prior to the race (right).

West impressed in his debut aboard a true factory bike, qualifying fourth and finishing fifth on the #14.

AUSTRALIA’S’Go-Show’, Anthony Gobert is in for the fight of his life at this weekend’s opening round of the Superbike World Championship at Kyalami, South Africa.

The always-controversial Gobert is making his longawaitedl return to the WSB on a Bimota-the boutique Italian manufacturer also making a comeback to the series after a long abscence-with both having had very little testing.

Gobert only had his first hitout on the Suzuki TLIOOORpowered Bimota in a private test at Misano two weeks ago,in contrast to the other top riders who will have all logged some 20 days of testing prior to Kyalami.

Indeed,Bimota’s opening day of the test was thwarted by battery problems,while the foUowing day was open to the public,forcing Gobert to circulate amongst a gaggjle of varying riding standards and machinery.

Lapping some three seconds off the pace set by Colin Edwards’s Castrol Honda RC51, the Go-Show, who recently turned 25,is confident that the Levi Strauss-backed Italian team will be competitive.

“I’E be racing a bike that a few weeks ago didn’t exist, but I’m confident in aU the Bimota staff,” said Gobert.

“We will need some races to improve our set-up, butstay tuned because Bimota wiE be a surprise.”

Indeed,the Bimota team is made up of several key exDucati staff who will going all out to humble the most dominEint manufacturer in Superbike history.

One-time Ducati team manager Virginio Ferrari departed the Scuderia on far from amicable terms at the end of 1998, while Bimota’s new chief engineer Franco Fame was surprisingly let go by Ducati in the same year having joined the factory in 1961.

Speaking in the Italian press, Ferrari said because his new squad will have only three days testing under its belt, it wiU only begin to show it’s real potential by the fifth or sixth round at the super fast Monza and Hockenheim circuits.

Ferrari claimed that the bike has surpassed their expectations in its initial outting, adding that the Suzuki powerplant is already proving to be extremely fast.

Australia’s only other full time SWC entrant,Troy Corser, is quietly confident of his chances after finishing seventh fastest on his Aprilia RSVIOOO in recent a multi-team test at Misano.

Lapping quicker than Noriyuki Haga (Yamaha), Katsuaki Fqjiwara (Corona Suzuki) £uid AMra Yanagawa (Kawasaki), Corser was all the more happy that his time was set on a race compound Dunlop.

-DARRYL FLACK

31 March 2000

15

Pheromones,Heaven,pure paradise and ourfavourite places

shake of the head and then noticed the cover. It was picture of a yellow deck chair on a beach, with surfers blurred in the background in a bright blue sea. It looked very appealing. At the top of the page it said: “Sao Paulo, Flight 93, arrived 7.30am”.

Back inside the magazine, my mouth now wide open in shock, I found the article about Sao Paulo under the headline “Surf City”. The next page said “Pure Paradise”. his is the time of year when But I thought that was members of the Formula 1 Cleveland... circus earn the right to be When you read the small print It calied jet-setters and globetrotters. was clear that the articles were Right now, we are living on trying to attract passengers to the aeroplanes. After the trip to Sao Paulo flights. Reading Australia most people headed between the lines one was finally back to Europe. For some it was a able to find a grain of truth. The rush to Silverstone, for others beaches, it said quietly, were Rotterdam, Valencia or wherever. “outside Sao Paulo”. About 50 I went to London, then Paris, miles outside actually. And then London and then New York.

And then i flew down to Sao Paulo. because of the traffic jams that afflict the city it takes about six Jet-lag has ceased to be a hours to get from the airport to the problem (he types at 02:21) beach. Getting from the race track because when you get to a certain' to downtown was never less than point you cannot get any more and 90 minutes and has been known to so you grab your sleep in little cat take four hours, naps when and where you can. it referred to the city as being V. And you survive.

“Brazil’s premier urban No matter how much sleep you destination”. Yes, I thought, urban get, however, there are still many is good. Places with 11 million hours to kill on aeroplanes. The people jammed together in tower reading material inevitably runs out blocks and shanty and after seeing the same movies towns are usually several times over (I did one flight quite urban. It is recently when they showed six “ultra-modern” it films one after another) you are left said, it didn’t feei iike that as we reading the Safety Instruction taxied in and cards. Anything, in-flight magazines are a minor passion for looked at the VASP me because they aiways seem to planes which had be filled with absurd things, usuaily been left in a advertisements, maybe i am graveyard on one getting old, but who buys of the taxiways, temporary tattoos? I don’t see being cannibalised anyone in the paddock wearing for parts. You don’t often see that at them and if ever there was a place that follows fashion it is the FI paddock.

And who buys million dollar bills? And what strange folk invest $99.50 in pheromones? I guess it is bored people like me, wondering The Paris end of whether these strange liquids town: really do turn quiet librarians into Sao Paulo is bestraging nymphomaniacs when you known as the home take in your overdue books with a dab of the stuff behind each ear. of Senna and Barrichello. The track (right) needs On there the flight was an down advert to Sao in the Paulo in upgrading; so too do flight magazine for a company the surrounding calied www.storeforlovers.com. suburbs ...

They were offering “new ways to (Photos by Siuton-Images) enhance your romance: on-line!”.

Lingerie, lotions, romantic games '1, and “remote control marital aids”.

My mind was all a-boggle. Were ■■‘Ti they selling telephones?

I wondered where these “romantic” folk came from. y f “Also available at six locations K in north east Ohio,” it said. I had time to kill. What is there in north east Ohio? And so out came the computer and there on a virtual map I discovered that they were talking about the glamorous industrial towns of Cleveland (which is famous for its rib roasts) and Akron (the rubber capital of America).

Funnily enough in the same magazine there was an article about what a wonderful place Cleveland is. The headline on one page was “is this Heaven?”

Cleveland? Heaven? I blinked.

I closed the magazine with a

/.

T

international airports.

They usually try to make you forget that these monstrous flying machines actually come apart.

Itra-modern was not the word Uthat leapt to mind as the taxi

banged and bounced along roads which would have made the Africans proud and then sat for hours in the never-ending traffic surrounded by acres of graffiti, sucking in that curious Sao Paulo smell: a mixture of dust from construction work, raw sewage, cooked meat and exhaust fumes.

Oh well, I said, at least the race track is a good one. Built in 1939, based on the design of a track at Roosevelt Field, just outside New York, interlagos was a fabuious track. Outside the circuit the construction signs said that they were rebuiiding the Autodromo Carlos Pace. Times have changed.

Carlos Pace has been forgotten.

There are a few old lags from

those days who survived and are still knocking around the F1 paddock, i was telling a man from the Prost team about the fabulous old banked first corner at Interlagos when one of them, Jacques Laffite (who won for Ligier at Interlagos in 1979) came wandering by, looking a iittle older than he did on that extraordinary day when the sky blue Ligier trounced the opposition for the second consecutive race.

“It is a long time ago,” he said, rather wearily.'Twenty one years.”

And then he smiled, as Jacques is prone to do, and added gleefully: “But we had big balls then, no?”

Oh yes, they did. Very big ones.

-And then i heard that by next year the fast streak down the hill from the.Senna S to the quick left hander is going to be bulldozed away and a new wiggly section of track is going to be put in so that the people in the grandstands can see a little more of the cars and

^‘Why is Silverstone being hounded out ofthe World Championship because it is not up to standard = and yet Interlagos survives?^^

less of the speed. And the same thought kept coming back to me: why is Formula 1, the glamorous, corporate, jet-set, billionaire world still coming to this place?

Yes, there is a wonderful passion among the Brazilians for Grand Prix racing. They come to the track in their thousands (although the capacity is seriously limited). They dance and they sing in the grandstands.

They have a great time. There is so much passion in fact that I am sure that most of them would travel a little further to see the racing. And out there, there would be space to build twice as many grandstands and perhaps, if it were down by the sea, we

Europeans would give a totally different picture of what life is like in Brazil and perhaps by doing that we would help the country achieve its aim of attracting new tourists.

Brazil is an important place in FI history and Rubens Barrichello is a popular boy, but all over the world circuits are being upgraded, new ones are being buiit. A purge is coming in Europe. Imola will probably not survive. It does not have the space to become a modem FI facility. The Malaysians spend millions to build their new track - and very nice it is too - and yet we still keep going back to Sao Paulo.

If the Brazilians want a race why shouid they not have to rebuild like everyone else? Why is Silverstone being hounded out of the World Championship because it is not up to standard - and yet Interlagos survives? Once there was an excuse because the track was so good but when wiggly-itis strikes, Interlagos will be just like all the other circuits made for television tracks.

There are times when F1’s curious double standards make no sense at all. There is nothing glamorous about Sao Paulo.

Interlagos is not the track it once was. The only reason FI keeps

going back is money.

Somehow I cannot see Brazil investing in a new circuit. There are too many other things that still need doing, like sorting out the traffic jams.

Sao Paulo is not Surf City, ifs not Paradise. Hell, it’s not even Cleveland.

They are doing it all wrong.

Every year I feel a little guilty about Brazil because I am sure it is a lovely country away from the horrible city of Sao Pauio.

There is only one place I love, to which i go with a smiie.

The departure lounge.

1 don’t even mind that i am going to be getting on another flight...

16 3Warch2000

Contpoversy ules in Brazil

Schtimacher wins and escapes penalty but Coulthard gets kicked out of second

Report by JOE SAWARD CONTROVERSY and contension ruled the day in South America when Michael Schumacher won

n

a second consecutive victoiy by winning the Brazilian Grand Prix.

It looked like a dominant victory but it was never really clear whether he would have won if Mika Hakkinen’s McLaren had not broken down again. The two cars were on different pit stop strategies and so direct com parison was still impossible.

David Coulthard finished second, struggling with gearbox troubles. He was later excluded for a technical infringement which McLaren said had been caused by the horribly bumpy Interlagos circuit. The Stewards did not agree...

Take that!

Michael was in peerless form in frazil, using superior strategy to get ahead of the McLarens and stay there. Sounds familiar, doesn’t it?

A/owwhat?

‘What are we checking again?

Barge Boards?”

'No, that was Malaysia.’

“Ah yeah.

Brakes?”

“Nope, Silverstone.”

“Electronics?”

I*!,';

“Shhh-hhh. Just pull out the plank and get on with it.”

(Photos by RaceAccess and Sutton-lmages)

Practice and Qualifying e first races in Sao Paulo

on May 12, 1940

Tu _ took place in 1936 and although the whole event was over

they were so popular that when two years later a couple of property developers began building on a huge tract of land to the south of the city they decided to stick a race track on a small parcel of land which was deemed xmfit for housing because of the dangers of landslides. And so, as they had road-making machines available, they decided to build a racing cir cuit.

Rather than spend money on a track designer, they took the design from Roosevelt Field racing circuit in New York and plonked it down in the natural bowl they had available.

The new Interlagos (which means “between lakes”) was ready in time for its first race

shadowed some the what by redefining of borders that was going on that day in Europe where German armies were pouring into Holland and Belgium.

It was lousy timing for the Brazilians.

The original owners off loaded the circuit on the city in 1950 but then nothing much happened to it until 1966 when the first work was done on the track. It was not long before a youngster called Emerson Fittipaldi was making a name for himself in Formula 1 and that led to Brazil getting a Formula 1 race in 1973.

The event has been in the World Championship event

since then at Interlagos (1973-80) and then at Rio de Janeiro (1981-89) before it returned to Interlagos in 1990. When the FI circus returned to the old autodromo it had been shortened and upgraded but the work was still going on as the teams unpacked.

Ten years later it was ” much the same story.

Interlagos had finally got down to doing some serious upgrading work with the whole track having been resurfaced since last year. In the finest traditions of South American planning they were still finishing the work when

the first FI people came stumbling off the planes from Australia.

You can paint the place and resurface the track but you cannot make a Rolls Royce out of Austin Seven parts. Interlagos remains a rather curious fixture in modem Fl. It is an exciting (but extremely bumpy and rudi mentary) track but the city has about as much glamour as a dustbin in Bombay (or Mumbai as you are now required to call it).

The truth is that Formula 1 only goes to Sao Paulo because it has to go some where in South America and

nowhere else is willing or able to pay. There are other countries with ambitions but the races become uneconomi cal because of the need to bribe cornipt local officials to provide the necessary clear ances and services. Brazil is trying hard to stamp out cor ruption. Or so they say.

When you opened the offi cial programme this year you were greeted, as always, by a photograph of a local digni tary and a spiel about how good FI is for the city/region/cormtiy. In Brazil this year the man in the pho tograph spent most of the race weekend trying to avoid court officials who were pm-suing him, trying to hand over papers suspending him from office because of an investigation into allegations made against him by a scorned ex-wife.

It was just the kind of image that FI is trying to create.

But despite all this the people in FI have learned one thing. You do what Bemie tells you to do and you get rich and so everyone goes every year to Sao Paulo and puts up with the place which no-one likes (apart from those who seek earthy con tentment in the brothels that lurk in darkened corners).

Most people drink as many caipirinhas as it takes to anaesthetise them to the sur roundings and stumble through the weekend waiting for the planes to go home.

Most of the time is spent at the race track and there is always plenty to keep one busy and this year was no exception. The' McLarenFerrari battle continued (on and off the track) and every one else tried to get their cai-s sorted out.

In the end, however, the slap-happy Brazilian organi sation destroyed what looked Uke being an exciting quahlying session. Three times dur ing the official session the red flags had to be shown because the wind and the passage of cars which was causing advertising signs which were hanging over the track to tear clear of their mountings and fall onto the track. One fell into the path of Jean Alesi and the Frost demolished it. It was fortu nate that the sign was made only of laminated cardboard.

Eventually it was decided to take down all the signs but by the time that had been done the rains came and quahfjdng was over.

So the grid was a bit of a mish-mash although there was no big surprise on the

31 March 2000

n

front row where Mika Hakkinen and David Coulthard were one and two, separated by a tenth of a second, the Finn as always just a smidgen of an iota ahead. There was then a gap of threetenths back to Michael Schumacher and a tenth between the German and Rubens Barrichello in the second Ferrari.

Brazil was happy.

Rubinho was doing well.

Whether that would have been the order if the session had reached its con clusion one will never know but there was a vague feeling that Ferrari might have done a lit Imagine there’s no heaven: tle better. It was ironic, Fisichella was prompted to therefore, that the falling second after the race, after sponsorship hoardings were a fight with Arrows’s Jos all in Marlboro colours, Verstappen. Just imagine Ferrari’s major sponsor. how much Walkinshaw Hakkinen was cool and wanted to beat Briatore ... relaxed.

“It was a complicated qual I know the way by now; ifying,” he said, “but I think I Hakkinen walked in again. could have been even quicker Two races, zero points. if the session had not been (Photos by Sutton and HaceAccess) disrupted.”

Everyone said the same.

His presence had absolutely “It does make me angry nothing to do with the team’s what happened,” said leap forward in performance Michael Schumacher. “But but it was a typical piece of I’m sure it was not done on Briatore luck. It made him purpose. What does surprise look good. me is that we have been here If the session had run its for one and a half days and it course Fisichella would probonly happens now.” .ably hpv.e been behind at The Ferrari driver was least one BAR and probably a clearly having to push very Jordan as well. But it didn’t, hard to keep up with the so he wasn’t and the official McLarens and this explained timesheet is the only thing a very bouncy moment when that matters. This was bad Michael went off on his sec news for Alexander Wurz ond run-and had to switch who was right back in 13th into the spare. Schumacher place after each of his flying said he was confident for the laps was ruined by a yellow race and with the weather or a red flag.

“I know I could have been forecast looking decidedly dodgy on Sunday he was in the top six or seven,” he well-placed to take the fight said. to the West cars.

Ah,if only...

Behind the big four at the Irvine’s performance in the front things were rather Jaguar was a bit of a surprise more complicated with the given the continuing techni unlikely third row pairing of cal problems which afflicted Giancarlo Fisichella’s the team on Friday and Benetton and Eddie Irvine’s Saturday morning. Irvine Jaguar. was fairly happy although he The Benetton team was did point out that the car did without Rocco Benetton and have “a few handling issues”. in his place came Flavio Johnny Herbert was in the Briatore, sometime team boss wrong place at the wrong and professional celebrity. time as usual and so ended

up down in 17th position on the grid having not managed to get a good time sorted out before the rains came.

The fourth row of the grid was also a bit of a surprise with Heinz-Harald Frentzen’s Jordan and Ricardo Zonta’s BAR. Jordan was again frustrat ed by events. Frentzen felt that he should have been up with the Ferraris but the tumbling hoardings and the rain made it impossible.

Jarno Trulli had to accept a little more of the blame, hav ing spun off on his first fl.3dng lap at the start ofthe session.

He then jogged back to the pits and took off in the spare car. Electronic problems meant that the car ran into gearbox trouble and he was unable to go out and do a proper time. So he was down in 12th place.

BAR did another pretty solid job which is good to see

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after all the rubbish last year. There is no doubt that the cars benefited from the problems of others but a result is a result and this was a good one.

“It’s great!” said Zonta, who missed his first home GP last year when a suspension failure stuffed him into the wall and left him limpiqg for several months. Here was.a chance to make up for the disappointment of 1999.

Jacques Villeneuve was 10th and was not particularly happy about it because he had been quicker than Zonta is all the other sessions.

“The car was a lot quicker than the lap times indicate,” he said.

Sitting between the two BARs was the real sensation of qualifying - Jenson Button. And it was not a fluke. In fact Jenson reck oned that he might have gone quicker if he had been able to

have a last run. Given that he was only a tentft slower than Fisichella he might have been as high as fifth on the grid. As usual he was as cool as a cucumber in Greenland.

“I am sure I would have gone quicker if it had not rained at the end,” he said. “I was in sixth place when most of the drivers had done six or seven laps, and it would have been great to stay there, but I have to be pleased with my performance. My best lap did not feel that special. I was just trying to get used to the track really.”

And that was the most impressive thing about Button’s job on Saturday afternoon. It was his first visit to Interlagos and only his second Grand Prix. On Friday he had problems with a leaMng oil cooler and then an engine failure. On Saturday morning he had another engine failure. At the time Half Schumacher was saying that he was pretty happy with his car and was reckoning that he would be able to qualify around 10th on the grid. Jenson did not look like being a threat.

Button went out early in the qualifying session and on his first run he went fourth fastest. Bang!

Schumacher is used to being the rising star in FI n and his brow was somewhat furrowed when he found that after three runs without dis ruption he could not get clos er than a tenth of Button.

In the paddock teams are already beginning to slip business cards in the direc tion of Williams’s new boy.

Ralf ended up 11th on the grid.

In the unofficial sessions the Arrows cars always go well. On Friday Pedro de la Rosa was fifth and Jos Verstappen seventh. On Saturday morning Jos was eighth and Pedi'o 11th.

And then,just as happened in Melbourne, when it came to official qualifying the cars failed to live up to the appai’ent promise. Jos was 14th and Pedro 16th.

The cynics in the FI paddock were asking if perhaps this was going to develop into a pattern. It is not unknown for cars to run fast in every session except the ones that matter. The Arrows drivers

repeated that the cars were quick in race trim, im any case.

That put them in the same company as Prost. The blue cars were no quicker than they had been in Australia and looked no better.

Then again it would have been hard to look worse.

Alesi ended up 15th on the grid with Nick Heidfeld 19th.

Alesi said that the car will get better and better as it gets more developed and he is probably right because the cars were late arriving and did not do much pre-season testing. The Peugeot engines continue to fail rather too often and it was not good to see Alesi lose a rear wing in the warm-up on Sunday but the team is making progress.

The two Minardis were more or less where one would expect to see them with Gene ahead of the troubled Prost of Heidfeld (who had a string of technical problems in prac tice and qualifying). The team knows that it can only do so much and tries to achieve the best level of per formance it can within those restrictions. The car is quite useful but lacks horsepower and Gene has shown con stant promise.

Gaston Mazzacane is rather less convincing at the moment and going off did nothing to help his chances.

He was 21st on the gild.

In fact this became 20th when Sauber announced that it was pulling out of the event because of structural failures of the rear wings on both Mika Salo and Pedro Diniz’s cars. Salo had a fairly big shunt as a result of his failure while Diniz avoided hitting anything.

Whatever the case the team had no explanation for the failures and so did the only acceptable thing and withdrew. Peter Sauber said that there was “no alterna tive”. It was sad to see but an honest decision.

Race(71 laps) Come Simday morning the FI circus was surprised to see crowds bigger than anything from the old days when Ayrton Senna was king at Interlagos. Was it the Fen'ari effect? Or was it that Continued on page 18

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18 3] March 2000 Continued from page 17

before he finally nailed the McLaren and set off after FI has grown so much since Schumacher who was nearly Ayrton departed?

17s ahead by then.

Whatever the case it was a By lap 20 Michael had 20s sell out and with Hakkinen on the McLarens when he and Schumacher separated peeled off into the pitlane. It by 0.005s in the warm-up was not a surprise. He got everyone looked ahead to an out of the pits ahead of exciting dayrat the races. The Coulthard in third place. We weather was going to be diffi expected him to begin to close cult to judge... on Hakkinen but it did not The warm-up session had happen. Barrichello led for seen Wurz in trouble with his only two laps-before he too anti-stall device while he was came in, but he was not far trying to make a practice enough ahead of Coulthard to start and as the cars got avoid dropping behind the ready to go away from the Scotsman. pre-grid, the Austrian driver He didn’t make much was again stationary. It was progress and on lap 27 the very clearly not his weekend. second Ferrari began to trail The stalled Benetton did smoke. The crowds heaved a not help Alesi and Herbert sigh of disappointment and who found themselves stuck Rubens did too. behind while the rest of the With Barrichello gone all grid went away as normal. eyes were on the gap between Both were able get back to Hakkinen and Schumacher. their correct places on the If the strategy was going to grid but Wurz went into the work Michael needed to be pits and had to start from catching Mika fast. Very fast. there. A few laps later his He was not and in fact the engine cooked itself.

Finn was edging away. The When the lights went out Ferrari challenge was fading.

Hakkinen and Schumacher “I had a tyre turn on the both made good starts but rim,” Michael explained later, Coulthard had a little too “just as it did in Australia. much wheelspin and came off That caused a vibration, the line rather slowly. In a which didn’t feel too good. It flash Schumacher was ahead was a little more difficult.” of him and looking for a way And then on, lap 30 to get ahead of Hakkinen. Hakkinen came into the pits.

Michael is always forceful in It seemed strange but then it the early laps of a race but' was clear he was travelling this time he looked a little at less than his normal more aggressive than normal. speed. The Mercedes-Benz It looked, in fact, as though engine had gone wrong again he was needing to get ahead (but, of course, it is an Ilmor and that suggested that he when that happens). must be on a two-stop strate- l “Obviously the word disap gypointed cannot describe how I “In order for the strategy to feel,” said Hakkinen. “We work,” Jean Todt admitted havejDeen quick throughout later, “we had to make a good the weekend so I am not start to quickly get past those happy to leave Brazil without in front of us. It worked.” any points.”

At the end of the first lap Even without the tyre Michael went to pass Mika at problem, the Ferrari strategy the first comer and he made would probably not have it. He put the hammer down worked if Hakkinen had kept and by the end of the second going. Once he was gone lap was already 1.9 seconds Michael was not under ahead. It was confirmation of threat. Coulthard did what the strategy. he could but he was never As Hakkinen was unable going to be able to catch up. to keep up it was fairly clear Even when Michael ran into that he was on a one-stop trouble in the closing laps strategy. Barrichello was with an oil pressure problem able to scramble ahead of he was never really threat Coulthard at the start of the ened. second lap but then Rubens “I was driving quite slow made a mistake and David- ly,” said Michael, trying to went ahead again. Rubens gloss over it.

In the end he got away recovered and by the end of the lap was ahead again. with it. You take the wins That was odd. How had he when they come to you and done that? Or did David have Michael did exactly that but a problem? In fact he had lost do not start thinking that the third gear (and thus first and Ferraris are dominant. They second as well) and that are not. Schumacher may meant that he was in trouble have won the first two races in the low speed comers. He but we have yet to see which is the faster car. had also lost his radio com Coulthard closed up to munication with the team.

“I thought my team was within four and half seconds finally not speaking to me,” by the finish. It looked like a he said, “but then I figured drab result but when it out that the radio was not became clear what he had to overcome to get there, the working.” drive took on a new stature.

He would have a lonely McLaren boss Ron Dennis time for the rest of the after noon as he was well clear of called it “remarkable” and the chasers but not on the Mercedes-Benz’s Norbert pace of Schumacher, Haug reckoned it was “fan tastic”.

Hakkinen and Barrichello.

“I think it is a miracle that With David out of the way I was able to finish the race and Schumacher disappear ing into the distance at the at all,” said David.

The race at the front was front, Hakkinen and one thing. The battle of the Bamichello were soon provid ing the fireworks as Rubens chasers quite another. At the tried to figure out how to get start it was Irvine who led, ahead to make the most of having made a good start. On his two-stop strategy. It took lap 16 he was pushed back by him until the start of lap 15 Trulli’s Jordan, the Italian

was 11th at the end of the first lap. He then overtook Villeneuve, Zonta, Frentzen and FisicheUa to climb up to third place in the mid-race.

He stopped on lap 35 and dropped to 10th but as the two-stoppers came in again he rose back up the order to seventh. The strategy flat tered the Arrows a little because it was running lighter than most of the other one-stoppers but you do not overtake as many cars as Verstappen did and not have a good car.

De la Rosa made less spec tacular progress than Verstappen but he was up to sixth when he pitted on lap 37. Towards the end of the race both drivers seemed to run out of steam as they got Running like a Swiss clock - cuckoo: It was a dreadful weekend for Sauber. Both cars tired. De la Rosa had a spec crashed when rear wings fell off (this is Salo) and they packed up after qualifing. (Sutton-images) tacular off but managed to going fast because of keep going and the his two-stop strategy. pair finished eighth and ninth on the On lap 21 Irvine road. crashed. The logic of the accident was Zonta came home 10th for BAR. beyond most of the Neither car looked people in the paddock.

“Thinking I was very competitive slower than I actually early on and the 1 Michael Schumacher Ferrari FI 2000 1h31m35.271s was, I was pushing pair dropped back DQ David Coulthard McLaren-Mercedes MP4/15 1h31m39.573s harder than I should 2 Giancarlo Fisichella in the early stages.

1h32m15.169s Benetton-Supertec B200 3 Heinz-Harald Frentzen Jordan-Mugen-Honda EJ10 1h32m17.539s have been,” he On the 16th lap 4 Jarno Trulli Villeneuve retired Jordan-Mugen-Honda EJ10 1 h32m48.051s ‘explained’.

5 Ralf Schurnacher Williams-BMW FW22 Eh? 70 laps as a result of a gear Williams-BMW FW22 70 laps If Eddie’s lack of 6 Jenson Button box problem which Arrows-Supertec A21 7 Jos Verstappen 70 laps understanding of his had been plaguing 8 Pedro De la Rosa Arrows-Supertec A21 70 laps him from the start. own speed was a BAR-Horida 002 9 Ricardo Zonta 69 laps Zonta had a similar bizarre reason for Minardi-Fondmetal M02 10 Gaston Mazzacane 69 laps problem (and a long retirement, Johnny Fastest Lap - Schumacher on lap 48, 1 m14.755s (207.509kph) pit stop) but he Herbert’s story was rather more mimdane.

Retirernents: managed to keep He circulated in the 51 laps DNF Johnny Herbert Jaguar-Cosworth R1 going and made it to Minardi-Fondmetal M02 DNFMarc Gene the finish.

31 laps midfield and retired McLaren-Mercedes MP4/15 DNF Mika Hakkinen 30 laps Also there at the with a gearbox prob Ferrari FI 2000 DNF Rubens Barrichello 27 laps end was lem after 50 laps.

DNF Eddie Irvine 20 laps Jaguar-Cosworth R1 Trulli did not Mazzacane, picking BAR-Honda 002 16 laps DNF Jacques Villeneuve up his first finish in remain fifth for long DNF Jean Alesi 11 laps Prost-Peugeot AP03 a Grand Prix. It because he was on a DNF Nick Heidfeld 9 laps Prost-Peugeot AP03 was more than DNF Alexander Wurz two-stop strategy and 6 laps Benetton-Supertec B200 could be said for so he pitted on lap 28.

Lap Leaders: 1. Hakkinen; 2-20 M. Schumacher; 21-22 Barrichello; 23-29 Hakkinen; Gene who retired This dropped him to 30-71 M. Schumacher. seventh but he rose with an engine fail World Drivers Championship Points: M. Schumacher 20, Fisichella 8, Barrichello, R. back up the order to ure after 31 laps.

Schumacher 6, Frentzen 4, J. Villeneuve, Trulli 3, Button, Zonta 1.

After the celebra (Points and placings subject to appeal). be fourth when he pit tions and the ted again on lap 56. he crowds had drifted off, word dropped to fifth and finished there, just behind his team came from the scmtineering mate Frentzen who had cho bay that all was not well. sen a more conventional oneInitially the FIA said that stop strategy, which proved five of the top six cars had to be half a minute faster. problems with their wooden When Trulli stopped for floors having been worn the first time, his position away because of the bumpy was taken briefly by Interlagos surface. The cars were later declared to be Verstappen’s Arrows. The Dutchman stopped on lap 35 legal but Coulthard was and so what had become thrown out because one of third place fell to Fisichella, the front wing endplates was who drove a full 50 laps 7mm lower than it was before making his one and legally allowed to be. only pit stop. He was able to McLaren said that the rejoin without losing a posi problem had been caused by metres but Button was stuck tion and he came home third places down from his grid structural damage caused by behind the Arrows for 12 laps position. after a very good weekend. “the heavy amount of bot “It was a bit hectic right before he pulled off a very “It was very difficult at the toming and vibration after the start,” explained the neat overtaldng manoeuvre. start of the race,” he admit induced by the nature of the “That was really impres ted, “because the strategy 20-year-old. “My start was Sao Paulo circuit”. This meant that the car had a very probably the worst I have sive,” reported BMW boss argument was rejected by Gerhard Berger after the heavy fuel load and was veiy ever made.” the FIA stewards but It was clear early on that race. hard to drive. After about 15 McLaren appealed the deciBy then Ralf was too far up laps the handling and the both Williams-BMWs were Sion. the road to catch and so level of grip were much better running a one-stop strategy The exclusion of Coulthard so I was able to keep pushing and they went eventually to Jenson settled for seventh meant that Button moves up 44 and 45 laps, a distance place. A vrise head on young right up to the end.” to sixth place, and in doing exceeded only by Fisichella. shoulders.

It was a great effort. so becomes the youngest Ralf ended the day to have Rounding off the top six By the time they stopped man ever to score a World was Ralf Schumacher. He they were running fifth and picked up a point because point.

Championship such a result did not very had started the race in the T- sixth, with Button sitting Impressive stuff, at 20. car which was fitted with a merrily on Schumacher’s tail likely when they lined up on Michael Schumacher is 11 the grid. slightly less powerful engine as the pair attacked Trulli’s years his senior and has 20 The two Arrows-Supertecs than the latest versions of Jordan. points. As we left Brazil, finished eighth and ninth Button pitted first and had the BMW VIO. Neither which doesn’t really give a before the legal eagles get Williams di'iver did very well the misfortune to emerge, fair picture of what was a involved, that is 20 more just behind Verstappen’s at the start, Ralf being over than McLaren has. very impressive performance taken by Verstappen and Arrows. Schumacher stopped - and final confirmation that Early days indeed, but it Trulli, while Button was on the next lap and emerge looks like he is the man to the Arrows is a good car. swamped and ended the first just ahead of Verstappen. beat.

The difference was only a few Verstappen started 14th and lap in 13th position, four

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WHAT do you do when you are cash-rich, have a proud heritage in Formula One, and control Japan’s Number Two car company? You buy an F1 team.

That is exactly what French state-owned Renault has done with its purchase of Benetton Formula.

Of course, the French company was always going to return to F1 - if one discounts its Supertec interiude, of which more anon - but in which capacity was the question.

As proof, just consider briefly that the company has just opened a new plant in Brazii to buiid the Megane and Clio.passenger car ranges. It named the factory after Ayrton Senna...

Renault entered F1 in 1977, using a loophole in the reguiations: when engine capacities were upped from 1500cc to three litres in 1966, the FIA permitting the smaller capacity engines to run with superchargers and rating them as nominal 3000cc powerplants through a 2:1 equivalence factor.

For 11 years no team availed itself of the opportunity and the clause lay dormant. Renault, meanwhile, had entered Formula Two with a V6 built to that category’s 2000cc rules and ran that engine, too, in the 2-litre category in.the Le Mans 24 Hour, a race where it harboured outright victory ambitions.

The 24 Hour classic had an interesting regulation: it allowed naturally aspirated engines of 3000CC or blown motors of 2.1 litres - an equivalence factor of 1.4:1.

Renault bolted a turbocharger onto its Formula 2 engine and did more than run Le Mans, it won handsomely.

French minds went into overdrive, figuring that a ISOOcc turbocharged engine could win in FI, and persuaded the FIA that turbos was nothing other than superchargers driven by exhaust gasses. The FIA, being Parisbased, agreed, although Tyrrell, for one, protested against the ruling on the basis that the car had normal engine and turbine. The Brits lost...

As though to rub victory in, Renault debuted its RS01 at the 1977 British Grand Prix, entering a singleton entry for French journeyman Jean-Pierre Jabouille.

The pairing qualified (just) but retired after 12 laps with a blown turbo. Of equal import, though, was the fact that Renault had brought with it Michelin and radial-ply race

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Evolution of Renault: (Clockwise from above) Frenchman Jean-Pierre Jabouille took the Regie’s first GP win at Dijon in 1979.

Alain Prost had race wins, but no titles, at Renault.

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#

The last man to win a GP in a Renault-powered car was Gerhard Berger, now BMW’s Motorsport boss.

Michael Schumacher and Flavio Briatore have played a big part in the marque’s success. Now Briatore, who headed Supertec,is back in charge at Renault-owqed Benetton.

-

(All photos by Suuon-Images)

"4r.

tyres. Michelin would ultimately win titles with Ferrari, McLaren and Williams, but not Renault...

Thereafter smoking Renaults (nicknamed Tea Kettles’ by the Brisih media) became a feature of FI until the 1979 French Grand Prix - J-PJ qualified on pole and held off the wheel-banging duo of Gilles Villeneuve and his own te§m-mate, Rene Arnoux to score an historic victory: the first Frenchman to win in a French car in France since the inception of the championship.

Others saw the light - notably Ferrari and BMW -and turbos soon became the currency of victory. By the 1983 championship finale at Kyalami it was that trio fighting it out for drivers’ and constructors’ titles.

BMW’s Nelson Piquet took the

former, Ferrari the consolation prize (for the last time until 1999) and Alain Prost was highly critical of Renault, saying it was too stately and lethargic too compete in the fast-moving world of FI. He was fired for his outburst, and moved on to McLaren where he won three titles in six years; Renault never again won a race in its own right, and pulled the plug on its involvement in 1985. It decided thereafter that chassis engineering and management would be best left in the hands of specialists, and turned its attentions to engine design.

The company returned in 1989 with Williams, and, again, it chose an unusual route. Turbos had been banned, and replaced by 3.5-litre

engines. V8 or VI2 was the norm, but Renault went for plumb centre with its VI0, reckoning it gave the ideal compromise between size, harshness, fuel economy and power. Now everyone runs VI0 engines. Renault also introduced air-actuated, pneumatic valves; everyone runs those, too.

The company was not wrong: in its debut year the format won two races; in 1990 it scored another two, and in 1991, in the hands of Nigel Mansell and Riccardo Patrese it won seven. In fact, only early season unreliability robbed Williams-Renault of titles.

It would not make the same mistake again: Mansell wrapped the title up by Hungary, and Patrese finished way ahead of Senna. It was

the start of a steamroller that saw Renault, partnered by Williams or Benetton, win every constructors’ championship from 1992, even though Michael Schumacher reigned supreme in the drivers’ race with Ford power in the wake of Senna’s fatal accident in 1984-the only blip in six straight years.

In 1997 it withdrew from the sport but, even there, it was only partial: Renault Sport supplied engines to Benetton and Williams on a customer basis via associate Mecachrome, which had been a component supplier during the halcyon days. Mecachrome could technically handle the assignment but not paddock politics and did a deal with Flavio Briatore.

‘Flav’- generally credited with

3Wdrch2000 establishing role of superstar team boss, and a colourful characterhad come into F1 during 1989 on the back of stunning fashion successes with the Benetton Group in the US of A. He joined the FI division as Marketing Director and, within a year, had grabbed the reins.

Briatore it was who poached Schumacher from Jordan so quickly it seemed he had used mirrors and, whilst the German played no small part in the successes of Benetton between 1992 and 1995, the Italian must be credited overall with bringing a sense of motivation and organisation to the team.

He found budgets by the million, facilitated superb resources, hired excellent people, and threw the lot behind Schumacher. The result?

Two drivers’ crowns and a constructors’ championship for the family-owned team.

Then it went wrong: Schumacher left for Ferrari and money in 1996, key personnel (notably design and tactical guru Ross Brawn)followed and Briatore was at loggerheads with new drivers Gerhard Berger and Jean Alesi, who had expected title-winning cars and found only mediocrity. Dissent set in, sponsors reduced in spend, and results slid.

By mid-1997 Briatore had reached severance with Benetton, and many thought FI had seen the last of his perma-tan, but had reckoned without his supreme survival skills.

Briatore took on Mecachrome’s commercial headaches by creating Supertec, which effectively buys R&D from Renault and services from Mecachrome, then leases . them on to engine-less teams such as Williams, Benetton, BAR and Arrows.

But the engine world was not enough for the man with 007 lifestyle, who wanted more.

Knowing Benetton and Renault intimately from either side of the barrier, he massaged a deal.

Renault was cash-rich, with US$2.4b [$4bn] in reserves as at end of 1998 and had acquired a controlling 36 percent of Nissan, which was in danger of being swamped by Toyota and Honda; Benetton had excellent facilities despite its downward spiral, had long term commitments it needed to honour, and owners who wanted OUT. For the last two seasons the team has been run by 29-year-old Rocco Benetton, and as keen as and theoretically qualified he is, stills lacks the piranha instinct that is . necessary at the sharp end of the pitlane.

The motor company had learned during its initial foray that mixing business and sport at its Billancourt headquarters did network: union and civil servant interference had caused slow decisions, or, on occasion, none at all.

The team, meanwhile, had grasped bitterly that a technical partner was a must in 21 st Century FI if it was to survive against FiatFerrari, Mercedes-McLaren, Stewart-Ford-Jaguar and Toyota (where the car companies owns team equity), and Williams-BMW, BAR-Honda and Prost-Peugeot (where the latter is a full contractual partner).

In one swoop the hawkish Briatore solved both dilemmas: Renault gets Benetton’s offshore chassis base for less than 5 percent of reserves; Benetton gets cash [US$120m is welcome even in that family] and two years at the helm whilst Renault builds a new state-ofthe-art engine and reshapes Nissan.

And Michelin returns in 2001 ...

Of course, cementing the whole lot is the flamboyantly successful style of Flavio Briatore. Any wonder that even Mercedes is taking this development very seriously indeed?

21

Miracle Men

Your car's in the wall, the next race is in Perth and you've got 60 hours to be ready. PHIL BRANAGAN reports on a week in the life of Ford Hckford Racing.

I

T’S a nightmare. You’ve got two cars running in the V8 Supercar races at Albert Park. Straight after the week end you have to freshen the cars and take off straight away for Perth to race in the second round of the Shell

Championship Series at Wanneroo.

In race three, there’s suddenly dust flying and the sight of cars hit ting cars. The dust clears. You take a deep breath - what colour is the car? Is it yours?

From most of the team managers at Albert Park, there’s a sigh of relief. For Peter Ryan, team man ager of Ford Tickford Racing, there’s a terrible realisation. It’s a Ouch: Crompton’s Falcon had been hit in the tail very hard but, by Ford; it’s blue; it’s NeU Crompton; Tuesday morning, the body shell was straight again. (Photos by ftr) and it’s buggered.

And there’s no time to fix it. But, he has to. There’s no spare Ford Falcon AU sitting in the shop ready to bung into the pantech. You’ve got to fix this one, and you have less than 60 hours to do it before the equal longest haul of the season.

That Cromley was able to step into a 99 percent race-ready car'for the media rides on Friday was nothing short of a miracle which was borne from seemingly endless hours of sweat in the Dandenong workshops of FTR and nearby at JPS Panels.

Ryan has nothing but praise for his crew as he explains what hap pened: “From all reports, Neil got hit and bent, we lost all four wheels. around 90 minutes stripping it at from behind by Paul Morris, it went With the car on the way to the the track. We put the car on a flat to the stewards and we know the panel shop there was plenty to do. top truck and took it away, outcome from that at the moment.

“The car was back at the panel ^riie panel beaters were great, “If it had been a road car, you beaters around 7pm on Sunday All their guys came in. They were would have written the thing off. night. That was after we spent at work, anyway; we rang Paul “The damage to the car was fair (Sgro, the co-owner) but ly extensive in the rear. he already knew about it Everything in the rear we were from his brother-in-law, able to repair, from the floor panel, who was watching the race on television. That’s which was creased and pushed not unusual; he seems to right up. It got squashed up the back ofthe window. know about our acci “The diff housing was bent, all dents pretty quickly.

“Four of Paul’s guys the panels were bent, obviously, but the fuel tank we saved. Fuel and four of our guys worked on the car until cells are a good thing. about four in the morn “The front rails were damaged ing. Paul and his crew, five of them all up, Happy together: The hard worked all the way working FTR team pose in through Sunday night, Perth with the fixed car, while morning.

Monday Cromley offers them one beer.

TTl-

ia

i: T~rr

Photos by WrklOiTtsWiSr

through the night again until Tuesday afternoon. They worked in shifts and took the odd catnap all the way through.

“Oui- guys got involved again on Tuesday aftei-noon, with about 12 or 14 of them going all th.e way through to Wednesday morning.

It was finished about 7:10 AM. The car went on the truck and left just before 8:00.”

That meant that the accident had, in effect, cost the team only 24 hours.

“Our plan had been to service as much as we could for the cai's at the Grand Prix, put them in the truck, bring them back to the workshop for a brief session and put them in the truck again on Monday night. We intended to leave early on Tuesday morning.

“Geoff Shepard and Neil Curry went over the in truck, taking it in turns to drive and sleep. They came straight across. They got here about 9:30 on Thursday night. The car was ready to go.”

Ryan was full of praise for his crew.

“They did a great job. We have a great working relationship with our panel beater and we had a couple of contract fabricators who came in on their own volition to help as well.

What would an accident like this cost?

“I haven’t had much of a chance to think about it. It just had to happen, and it’s more of trying to find the right people to do it in time. That doesn’t come cheap.

“It’s starting to happen in our whole industry. There’s a real shortage of people; in Australia, we’re really short of people. At the moment, we’ve got a couple of young guys who are really good, but there’s not enough of them coming through. They’re taking the roles from the guys who are retiring.

This particular industiy is ginwong so fast that we are struggling to keep up.”

The FTR crew packed up two healthy cars from Wanneroo and, apart from the truckles, headed home for two days R’n’R before getting the Falcons prepped for Adelaide.

These guys have earned their Easter eggs.

Footnote: Even JPS Panels boss Paul Sgro’s wife played her part.

She got through the crisis and went into labour on Thursday, having theii’ third child that night.

Who did what Ford Tickford Racing General Manager; Jon Matthews,Team Manager; Peter Ryan Crew; John Gray, Steve Smith, Scott Owen,Paul Moneta,Phil Amott,Clem Zimbardi, Daniel O’Connor, Tim Hope, Ke^^n King, Geoff Shepard, Ash Campbell, David Orchard, Jason Harris, Geoff Thompson, Neil CuiTy, Jason Savory, Matthew Anderson.

JPS Panels Owner;Paul Sgro, with Joe Sgro, Alex Dolman, Bill Mdaras,Peter Shere.

22 3Warch2000

RIE3

In a class of his own: Pole went Skaife’s way, but Lowndes won everything else in Perth. Even when it came to spraying champagne (above) Craig was in front of Skaife and Garth Tander.

(Photos by Dirk Klynsmith)

Report by ^ n "^HERE may be someI one who is capable A. of beating Craig Lowndes at Wanneroo Raceway.

Michael Perhaps Schumacher could manage it.

Perhaps, on a good day, Ralf.

Maybe even Juan Montoya.

Problem is, none of the above race in V8 Supercars.

The 31 other drivers who headed to the west sure as heck couldn’t do it, even if Mark Skaife skimmed enough off at the end of qual ifying to take pole. But, at the start of the first race, Craig took the point and that was the last anyone saw from him. Twelve careers starts at Wanneroo, 12 wins. Amazing.

Skaife went 2-2-3 in the three races, losing the spot to a fired-up Tander in the final encounter after the tall local had almost had a contretemps with team-mate Jason Bargwanna after race two.

Tander left the track with his championship lead over Skaife trimmed to two points.

Melbourne, Garth felt the wrath of the reds when first Lowndes and then Skaife blasted by.

Like most of the teams, HRT and VCRT spent the morning making sure .that their rear tyres would live.

Tender’s 57.18s was eclipsed

by Lowndes’s 57.04s, a 56 going begging with a sprintcar slide onto the pit straight.

He was top, but looked vul nerable.

Skaife sniffed and pounced with a 56.97s, one of those meteoric laps that the quali fying master pulls out on a semi-regular basis.

Western Star

Russell Ingall, who arrived in Perth pointless, was,fourth overall for.the weekend, while best of the Ford runners was Paul Radisich in the Shell Helix car on what was one of the Dark Days for the blue oval.

Ford Tickford Racing had an absolute shocker. Glenn Seton and Neil Crompton fighting their unbalanced AUs and mid-fielders after qualifying 16th and 21st.

John Bowe also struggled in the CAT Falcon, which com bined an appetite for tyres with no corner speed.

But the Falcon drivers could have had their cars right on the money and still not beaten Lowndes.

In the west, especially, the Kid really is a phenome non.

Qualifying

arth Tander is the Eddie VjTlrvine of V8 Supercars at least in Perth.

Everywhere you looked or listened the Tall Guy was on the air - in newspapers, on the radio, on the TV, talking about fighting the good fight against the Forces of Darkness from ‘Over East’, as the local are wont to call those you live in the populous states where the Olympics are, where Grands Prk hap pen and where there are land prices unimaginable to those who habitate the ‘other’ side ofthe big brown land.

Tander looked good in qualifying, putting in a flier on his second lap but, just like the McLarens felt the heat of the Ferraris in

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First at first; Lowndes’s great starts won him all three races. (Photo by Dirk Kiynsmith)

WAN INI

JKo. “I feel that the car is a topped the early practice ses half-second quicker than it sion and said that the time was last year,” he said later. was “not bad though, looking “It actually feels a better at the grid, the Fords are race car than it is a qualify probably due a parity adjust ment”. ing car.”

Lowndes, as usual, took it It was the first mention of all in his stride, unconcerned the ‘P’ word for almost a sea that he was starting from the son. He was joking. We unfamiliar (for him) second think.

He led a train of seven spot.

“The inside and the out Fords. Radisich topped side doesn’t seem to matter Johnson but only by 0.01s, a here. This is an awkward good effort for the young’un place to start, probably the racing the AU in the west for worst track to go to from that the first time. Longhurst fol point of view. My (throttle lowed after being at the position) start percentage sharp end of the practice ses here is half what I normally sions, while McLean was 10th. use.

Alarm bells. Cameron led Tander wound up third, looking forward to keeping an assault from the ‘slower’ his points lead, while Ingall session, bouncing four ‘faster’ was fourth. The Castrol car cars down the order. Morris was struggling in practice was 13th, Murphy 14th, but, helped by rear suspen Perkins(who had rear set-up sion changes between ses problems in practice) was sions, he managed a 57.21s 15th. Unusual that; better lap, despite having a late- still, all were within 0.8s of session spin out of turn one pole. In older times, when which blocked the track and perhaps 12 fast cars showed up for a race, the slower ses prompted a red flag with only a few minutes left in the sion was nicknamed ‘the session, caused by a Holinger wankers’ by some of the which decided to grab third Pros. Not any more. and fifth at the same time. . McLean felt that he could “That was the best it was have gone a little quicker but going to go,” he said some almost tangled with Morris what honestly. on his next lap, the two for Bargwanna was fifth, run mer BMW racers spinning ning a set-up which was “one . harmlessly. Murphy bumped click (on the dampers)” away his own team-mate, Steve from Tender’s, while Richards losing 0.1s when he Larkham was sixth. The went onto a supposedly leading Ford driver had quicker‘green’tyre for quali¬

3Warch2000

23

Bargs Wars: Jason Bargwanna had a hard weekend. He almost came to grief with his team mate, then tangled with Perkins, then got scolded by the stewards.

Meanwhile, in his fans’ eyes. Garth could do no wrong.

(Photos by John Morris/Mpix and Phil Williams)

fying. He was almost speechless.

“If anyone has any ideas.

I’m open,” he said at the post-qualifying meet the pub lic session.

For the rest there were some woes. The FTRs were, relatively speaking, nowhere.

Both Seton and Crompton were fighting the Battle of the Damned, the blue Fords looking positively evil with sloppy turn-in and no trac tion from the apex out. Glenn was perplexed in 17th, two spots and 0.1s clear of a frus trated Crompton who was nursing the sores of Albert Park but, as usual, refusing to put a dark angle on things.

Continued on page 24

All-Ford battle: There was an entertaining all-Ford battle in the final race, Weel challenging Longhurst untii this happened. Longhurst was later docked 10 championship points. (Photo by oirk Kiynsmith)

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24 3Warch2000 It was a bumper weekend in Perth for penalties. John Bowe was fined $500 for passing the cheqiiered flag twice at the end of qualifying, Anthony Tratt copped $500 for passing Mark Larkham under red flag conditions and Cameron McConville was warned after an incident when his car was recovered after its Race 2 spin.

Jason Bargwanna received a three month suspended sentence of a loss of 10 championship points over the incident with Lari^ Perkins in Race 3, while Paul Romano(who was also involved with Perkins) received a $2000 fine, suspended for three months.

Tony Longhurst was docked 10 championship points for carting Paul Weel offthe road in race two, and farther severely reprimanded for leaving the circuit before the matter was dealt with on Simday. n Ford Tickford Racing had a shocking weekend on a number offronts, and was severely reprimanded for scraping their race tyres in contravention ofthe regulations. n Holden Racing Team has changed imiform suppliers, the reds walking around with the‘WFTW’ brand on their rumps. The letters actually stand for“Working for the Weekend’ but it didn’t take long for it to change to Working for Tom Walkinshaw’.

■ There’s been a fair bit of construction work in the west. The V8 Supercar circus arrived to see new pit garages which-meant that, instead of being spread out around the paddock Uke Brown’s cows, they were now centralised in their own area. That, together with other improvements, cost the WASCC $400,000.

■ There was a glitch in the supp regs for the Wanneroo. The second Saturday practice session, which is usually set at 30 minutes, was listed for 45 minutes, a point which Lany Perkins raised at the Drivers’ Briefing. It was

decided that it could be changed ifthere was unanimous approval, but two teams wanted it left as it was, so that’s how it stayed. n You’ll never amount to anything Dept: Garth Tander had a guest for the weekend,the Principal from his old high school in Perth.

Tander, who headed west with the series’ points lead, must have been a little chuffed to know that he was now a professional race driver and his principal was still a principal. n Even after AVESCO’s B-double transporter docks at a race, the series shakers will continue to travel in style. Gilera has supplied The Film with two 180DD scooters which combine performance with class.

Apparently, the Italian weapons are good for around 150km/h... n Lariy Perkins is eligible for the Senior Tour.

The Castrol team leader racked up the big 50 on Saturday in the west and said that he didn’t feel any different for starting his sixth decade - but that was before his birthday party on Saturday night. n Geography Dept; The SCS entry list had some interesting ‘nationalities’for the drivers. Mark Larkham, who.was bom in Victoria, once lived in'Sydney and is now in Queensland, was an “NSW; Cameron McLean, a Ufe-long Banana Bender, was also an “NSW; Brad Jones was a Vic’, despite living in Albury, not Wodonga; Paul Radisich, Greg Murphy and Steven Richards were still NZers; and Tomas Mezera was a Czech, despite 17 years racing on an Aussie licence. n Safety first: After beaching his Optus/PPG Commodore VS in Race 2, 'Trevor Ashby almost got to see the car- meet its maker when John Faulkner barrelled towards it. Faulkner missed,but the still-helmeted Ashby was showered with so much dirt that he actually closed his visor.

-PHILBEANAGAN

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Continued from page 23 The rest were spread out. with the whole field breaking the 60s barrier, Mick Donaher bringing up the rear on 59.66s, 2.7s off pole.

Romano was 31st, running without a front sway bar as a legacy of his AGP crash (it won’t be fixed until the team returns to Queensland). He was straggling under the circumstances.

There were three nonqualifiers, Matty Coleman not managing to wring enough speed out of the Colourscan Falcon, Peter Doulman missing out in the Gatorade VT and Alan Heath, whose EL missed prequalifying by five minutes after a late engine swap. By Saturday afternoon, they were all gone.

Race 1 (extended to 22 laps) Red lights are pit a funny thing.

When lane closes, the light comes on and it did this time too - but Mark Poole drove through it anyway...

Lowndes needed a good start to keep his record intact. He made a shocker.

So did Skaife but, as the sec ondary part of their starts kicked in, Lowndes had less

Blues with the Blues: Glenn Seton and Neil Crompton had a ‘character building’ weekend. struggling to break into the teens.

(' Molorspori

Half a ton: Larry Perkins has left the teens well behind as his 50th birthday cake shows.

Battlers: Bargwanna, Ingall and Radisich ran hard and had some reward.

(Photos by John Morris/Mpix and Phil Williams and Bob Potts)

wheelspm and led away.

Tander looked at the rear of the red cars through the first corner but that was all he saw. Lowndes pulled out one of those magical first laps to build a buffer; Skaife was Is clear of Tander after a lap. Game Over - almost.

There were better starts.

Larkham and Radisich made great getaways, both getting Ingall in the first corner with the aid of a slight brush. There were bound to be more battles between them as the race wore on.

●rsB! Cumnjifiss.

●1

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Rusty enforced his way by at Ingall Rat-aliated on lap.^ turn one. Larkham would two, taking fifth and zeroing fall back to Bargwanna and in on the tail of old FF sparRadisich, who both filed ring partner Larkham. past.

Mark was intent on sta3dng The gap to the front par with Tander, who was got over 4s before something already keeping one eye on happened. Ashby spun at his tyres, but by lap six turn two after a tap from

Shell Championship Series Wanneroo Qiiali^inp Pos No 1 2 2 1 3 34 4 8 5 35 10 6 7 18 17 8 9 9 40 10 4 11 12 600 29 13 12 14 11 15 46 16 5 17 18 31 6 19 20 7 13 21 66 22 43 23 16 24 21 25 54 26 3 27 75 28 32 29 23 30 24 31 50 32 DNQ 26 DNQ 22 DNQ 500

Team Car Driver HRT Commodore VT Mark Skaife HRT Commodore VT Craig Lowndes Valvoline Cummins Commodore VT Garth Tander Castrol SLX Perkins Commodore VT Russell Ingall Valvoline Cummins Commodore VT Jason Bargwanna Mitre 10 Falcon AU Mark Larkham Shell Helix Falcon AU Paul Radisich Shell Helix Falcon AU Steven Johnson Caltex Havoline Energy Falcon AU Tony Longhurst Greenfield Mowers Falcon AU Cameron McLean Pirtek/SBR Falcon AU Craig Baird CAT Falcon AU John Bowe Paul Morris Big Kev Racing Commodore VS Kmart/Castrol Commodore VT Greg Murphy Castrol Perkins Commodore VT Larry Perkins Asia Online/JFR Commodore VT John Faulkner FTR Falcon AU Glenn Seton SuperCheap Autos Falcon AU Steve Ellery FTR Falcon AU Neil Crompton Kmart/Castrol Commodore VT Steven Richards Wynn’s Commodore VT Rodney Forbes John Deere Commodore VT Mark Poole K&J Thermal Products Falcon AU Paul Weel Pepsi Commodore VT Dugal McDougall OzEmail Internet Falcon AU Brad Jones Cameron McConville Autopro Commodore VT Optus/PPG Commodore VS Trevor Ashby Toll Falcon AU Anthony Tratt Densitron Commodore VT Tomas Mezera Steve Reed Optus/PPG Commodore VS Sabco Commodore VS Paul Romano Ultra Tune TDK Commodore VS Mike Donaher Gatorade Commodore VT Peter Doulman Colourscan FalconAU Matthew Coleman Power Racing Falcon EL Alan Heath

Time 56.9709 57.0439 57.1231 57.2172 57.2354 57.3063 57.4573 57.4636 57.5094 57.5225 57.5609 57.6354 57.6813 57.7053 57.7081 57.7344 57.8124 57.8771 57.9187 58.1720 58.1974 58.2070 58.2469 58.2861 58.3924 58.4904 58.5583 58.5913 58.6224 58.6959 58.7300 59.6602

Romano, the PPG VS spin ning to a halt. Trevor hopped out but almost had heart failure when the bat tling New Zealanders, Baird, Murphy and Faulkner, bore down.

Murphy found space at turn one, Faulkner tried to fol low, got around the corner and found the Ashby car (which had been sitting there for two laps) in his gun sights.

Chaos ensued but, when Ashby opened his eyes, all were intact. But Baird was bogged, half-off the track.

Summon the Safety Car. The field trailed around for two laps, which was added to the race distance.

Lowndes won the restart and the race, Skaife held off Tander and that was that.

Ingall held onto fourth from Bargwanna, Radisich, Larkham, Longhurst (who was full of running after mid-race), Johnson and Morris, who capitalised after a strong opening in a mature and timely drive.

McLean threw everything at him but couldn’t get past.

Next was Murphy, after an entertaining battle with Richards and Perkins.

FTR? Ugly. Both car suf fered enormously, looking no better than they had in qualifying. Seton was 16th, Cromley 21st.

Bowe had early trouble, a smoking CAT Falcon park ing with a broken power steering hose.

»J(S

V)fCo_

Race 2(Extended to 22laps) Sunday wasitdifferent to Saturday; was much cooler and there were more people there - but much fewer than in 1999 - but the race was the same.

Again, both HRT cars wheelied off the line but, again, they did enough to hold out the pursuers, led this time by Ingall, who made a much better start than Tander.

And, again, there was a Safety Car, despatched when McConville looped the Commodore into the final corner bunker when the gear box seized while challenging the strugghng Bowe.

And, again, Lowndes and Skaife did enough at the restart to hold the lead and have another HRT 1-2. It wasn’t exactly boring - it just looked that way.

The action was behind, and early. Bargwanna’s start was as good as Ingall’s, and he was threatening the Castrol man in the first comers. But from the outside, he had little chance and Tander, on the line and not one to wait to be

n

asked, dived past his off-sider.

For a split second it appeared that the Valvoline VTs kissed and Garth emerged from the left-right climb in fourth, with Bargwanna losing enough momentum to lose another spot.

Afterwards in pit lane, there was some finger point ing between the two drivers.

The team suggested that they keep things out of public. It didn’t exactly look like an episode of Disneyland.

“There was a touch,” Tander said later. “We got on with it and raced on.”

They sure did; later in the race Bargs was right on Garth’s tail and looked capa ble of going past. He looked at Turn 1, failed - and Radisich got past. They swapped positions again a lap later by which time Tander was out of reach in fourth.

The other player in this battle was Larkham. The Mitre 10 car had been the second best of the Fords but his challenge was derailed when the Safety Car appeared on lap 12. He fin ished right on The Rat’s tail.

Any ideas that there would be further changes in the

I

I

Race 1 (22 laps) Pos Driver Time/La'ps Fastest On 23:11.3930 58.1531*3 1 Craig Lowndes 2 Mark Skaife 23:12.8136 58.2171 2 .3 Garth Tander 23:13.4856 58.6640 4 23:16.1038 58.3378 2 4 Russell Ingall 23:16.2988 58.4848 4 5 Jason Bargwanna 6 Paul Radisich 23:16.8067 58.6981 3 23:17.3920 58.7081 4 7 Mark Larkham 23:18.2738 58.8463 4 8 Tony Longhurst 23:21.0507 58.7853 4 9 Steven Johnson 23:21.2891 58.6364 3 10 Paul Morris 23:21.9404 58.9945 3 11 Cameron McLean 23:22.5212 59.1851 4 12 Greg Murphy 23:23.0168 59.0394 8 13 Larry Perkins 23:23.5215 59.3542 4 14 Steven Richards 23:25.8366 59.3292 6 15 Paul Weel 23:27.2024 59.2308 3 16 Glenn Seton 23:27.5245 59.3735 6 17 Steve Ellery 23:28.0380 59.5055 4 18 Dugal McDougall 23:29.9201 59.6480 4 19 Steve Reed 23:31.4087 59.5426 4 20 Mark Poole 23:32.5904 59.4692 4 21 Neil Crompton 22 Cameron McConville 23:33.2122 59.6976 4 23:33.5370 59.9164 4 23 Brad Jones 23:35.9953 59.4620 4 24 Rodney Forbes 23:36.4365 59.9680 4 25 Anthony Tratt 23:37.8961 59.7176 4 26 Tomas Mezera 23:38.6064 60.334918 27 Mike Donaher 19 laps 59.1451 4 28 Craig Baird 17 laps 59.7174 4 29 Trevor Ashby DNFJohn Faulkner 13 laps 59.1546 7 DNF Paul Romano 11 laps 59.7924 8 DNFJohn Bowe 10 laps 59.1613 3

1

order were kyboshed when McLean and Richards sepa rately beached their cars at the final comer in quick suc cession, leaving yellows out for most ofthe rest ofthe race.

Further back, the FTR struggle continued, Seton holding out Faulkner for 15th and Crompton following Steve Reed home, Big Bird driving the ex-CromleyAVGR/ Coke VS. The only good news was that Neil was ahead of Bowe, whose progress was hampered by a lack of grip and excessive t3Te wear.

Looks like we got ourselves a convoy: The team pantechs made the long haul west in tandem. No sign of HRT’s, though ... (Photoby pwi wiiiiams)

Race 3(20 laps)

T

ander and Skaife were equal on points and the championship lead was up for grabs. Again, wheelspin was the order of the day at the start but Lowndes won the first comer, the race and the day.

Ingall looked around the outside of Skaife and missed

out, allowing Tander^to pull alongside for a drag race up the hill. Ingall won that bat tle and kept.third.

But, warning bells. Skaife had made changes and the car felt great; “Too good,” he said later.

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Mini Grand Prix Group bookings Minimum 10 people Corporate days Race under lights Endurance racing

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8

Race 2(22 laps) Pos Driver Time/Laps Fastest On 23:20.5943 58.2001 2 1 Craig Lowndes 2 Mark Skaife 23:20.9992 58.1141*2 23:22.4445 58.3672 2 3 Russell Ingall 23:22.9774 58.5144 6 4 Garth Tander 23:23.3160 58.5104 5 5 Paul Radisich 23:24.5451 58.3679 6 6 Mark Larkham 23:24.7314 58.5989 5 7 Jason Bargwanna 23:24.8679 58.6824 7 8 Steven Johnson 23:25.4472 58.4543 6 9 Tony Longhurst 23:26.1152 58.801216 10 Paul Morris 23:29.6741 59.0663 5 11 Greg Murphy 23:30.2804 58.8404 5 12 Paul Weel 23:30.6539 59.0269 7 13 Steve Ellery 23:34.6499 59.0069 6 14 Craig Baird 23:35.1127 58.6343 5 15 Larry Perkins 23:36.0427 59.0766 6 16 Glenn Seton 23:36.3120 59.3042 5 17 John Faulkner 23:38.0370 59.4482 7 18 Mark Poole 23:38.6688 59.0145 6 19 Dugal McDougall 23:39.7848 59.7501 5 20 Steve Reed 23:39.8665 59.6620 5 21 Neil Crompton 23:40.5509 59.3237 5 22 John Bowe 23:41.5122 59.625617 23 Rodney Forbes 23:43.4038 60.0729 3 24 Trevor Ashby 23:44.7693 59.7110 6 25 Brad Jones 23:48.7526 60.0594 6 26 Anthony Tratt 23:49.3127 59.8321 6 27 Tomas Mezera 23:49.5892 59.7327 6 28 Paul Romano 23:50.0185 59.7495 6 29 Mike Donaher DNFCameron McLean 18 laps 58.9743 6 DNFSteven Richards 18 laps 59.0286 5 DNFCameron McConville 10 laps 59.9142 6

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the last half of the race.

Longhurst looked like he was straggling, Ellery flying past and Weel looked like folHe soon passed Ingall and lowing him when Tony had a then streaked past Skaife, slide coming onto the straight who knew Garth had superi- at the start of the third lap. or speed. The local chased But Tony defended the line, Lowndes but had to settle for then the middle of the track, second. All the tyres were then the right-hand side ofthe feeling the pinch, especially track and almost the grass.

Lowndes’s after he burned Weel’s choices were, basi‘efti out at the end of the face cally, hft or crash, and he hftin a CAMS-approved donut ed, losing spots which he session at Turn 1.

'-soon regained. Longhurst At least Skaife had the bet- would finish 10th, Weel 11th, ter of Ingall, who had but it was a fairly ordinary Radisich shadowing him for display of driving.

1

RACE YOUR MATES ●-S.

When a car feels good early you go, ‘uh-oh’. You know it will fall offlater.”

Tander echoed his words.

Race 3(20 laps) Pos Driver Time/Laps Fastest On 1 19:55.0774 58.5589 2 Craig Lowndes 2 Garth Tander 19:57.3842 58.8686 9 3 Mark Skaife 19:58.1326 58.5641 2 4 19:59.6584 59.0414 2 Russell IngalS _ 5 Paul Radisich 20:00.3739 59.0426 3 6 Mark Larkham 20:06.0197 58.9321 4 7 20:07.0999 58.9516 5 Greg Murphy 8 20:07.8140 58.9495 5 Paul Morris 9 Steven Johnson 20:13.8479 59.6651 16 10 Tony Longhurst 20:14.3883 59.431510 20:17.0086 59.379410 11 Paul Weel 12 Craig Baird 20:18.2633 59.6451 5 20:18.7587 59.5407 7 13 Dugal McDougall 20:21.2140 59.4269 6 14 John Faulkner 15 Steven Richards 20:24.4123 59.5646 9 20:25.8768 59.7936 6 16 Brad Jones 20:31.2700 60.127414 17 Tomas Mezera 20:32.7798 60.075914 18 Cameron McLean 20:33.3947 59.3392 6 19 Glenn Seton 20 Cameron McConville 20:41.2722 60.038714 20:42.4574 60.4440 4 21 Mike Donaher 20:42.9759 60.3085 4 22 Anthony Tratt 20:43.2563 59.4104 6 23 John Bowe 20:44.3536 59.941014 24 Paul Romano 20:56.5490 60.0789 7 25 Trevor Ashby 20:56.8035 59.5573 6 26 Larry Perkins 19 laps 60.0958 7 27 Rodney Forbes 19 laps 58.7937 5 28 Jason Bargwanna 11 laps 59.6672 3 N/C Steve Ellery 13 laps 59.0126 6 DNFNeil Crompton DNF Steve Reed 11 laps 60.6470 7 DNFMark Poole 8 laps 59.6133 6

www.*ast«fncre#kkart*xom.au Contact Jacky Boogaard Ph 02 9672 7530 Email: info@easterncreekk orts.com.au

Points after 2 rounds Tander 210; Skaife 208; Lowndes 180; Radisich 175; Larkham 157; Baird 121; Seton 108; Johnson 104; Longhurst 92(includes penalty); Ingall 98; Morris 88; Weel 83; Richards 79; Perkins 70; Faulkner 66; Murphy 60; Bargwanna 56; McDougall 50;'Kelly 48; Crompton 48; Ellery 41; Forbes 39; McLean 34; Jones 26; Bowe 24; McConville 7; Mezera 6; Poole 5; Reed 3; Romano 1.

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The stewards agreed. After the race, Longhurst was fined 10 championship points.

The rest was more of a pro cession, albeit a close one.

Radisich chased Ingall ahead of Larkham, a Murphy/ Morris battle(the Big Kev VS running 10-10-8 in the three races), Johnson and Longhurst.

Bargs was last, hampered by a spin one lap and an inci dent with Perkins the next when Jason went for a gap at Turn 1, locked up and helped the Castrol Senior Tour member offthe track.

More misery for Ford, with Seton 19th after looping the AU while challenging Baird and Bowe 23rd.

The blue oval will have its day in the near future, but most of the teams left the west relieved to be out of ' there. If there’s a team-by team vote whether to have a Perth street race or return to Wanneroo in 2001, it’ll be a shoo-in.

Unless, after his recent performances, Craig is allowed to vote 12 times ...

QUADRANT

.SUSPEWSIOWS,

race

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Web: www.quadrantsuspensions.com.au Email: mQtorsport@quadrantsuspensiohs.com.au

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28 31 Mdrch 2000

WAIMIM

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Kost effe<tive Stuart Kostera won on home soil, withstanding all sorts of pressure. PHIL BRANAGAN reports.

STEALTH is the car of the moment in Formuia Ford, with Stuart Kostera adding to Fastiane Racing’s unbeaten streak in 2000.

In the same car as Christian Murchison drove in Melbourne, Kostera took two Wanneroo wins, narrowly beating Leanne Ferrier.

Kostera used his local knowledge to good use in qualifying, taking pole with a 61.85s lap, just clear of Stuart McColl’s Van Diemen (62.04s), Owen Kelly (Spectrum, 62.07s), Chris Dell and Rick Kelly (VDs, 62.13s and 62.18s respectively).

Series leader Ferrier was sixth, suffering from a migraine which laid her low while she was out of the car.

Rotary round-up: Rio Shaw dominated the down-specced GTP races. (Photo by oirk Kiynsmiih) RIC Shaw went on a rotary rampage to completely dominate Class A in the first round of. the Century Batteries GT Production Championship.

Except the second qualifying, where Shaw failed to bother the timekeepers, he was the fastest car out there, taking pole position and both wins.

It was hot weather too on Saturday and in a weird twist the New South Welshman decided to run his Mazda with the heater on to cool his engine (?) Strange as it seems it worked and he simply dominated proceedings.

After Saturday’s first qualifying session it looked as if the meeting was going to become a Mazda benefit. The top three cars were all rotaries with Shaw setting a quick 65.874s, with Barry Morcom almost Is in arrears with 66.772s and Graham Stones third with 66.987s. Following on from that was the first of the 4WD cars, with Scott Jacob’s WRX and then the two Evo Vs of Bob Hughes and Mark King with all thi'ee cars in the low 67s bracket.

In the lower classes we had David Wood’s Honda leading Class B, Scott Loadsman (Commodore VT SS V8) in Class C, Daryl Coon (Falcon XR6) in Class D and Nathan Thomas (Suzuki) topping Kosi Kalaitzidis (Proton)in Class D. The first race on Saturday though was a cracker. Peter Boylan, in the Honda Integi-a R, was forced to start from the rear of the giid for being underweight in qualifying and he made a stirring drive through the field. From the lights Shaw cleared out but the Mazdas of Morcom and Stone soon fell foul of the 4WDs of Hughes, Jacob and King.

Stone recovered some lost ground on the veiy last lap when the exciting duel for third between King and Jacob saw the pafr into the dirt on the last corner. King was not impressed with Jacob’s effort in turfing him

and was securely stuck whilst Jacob was able to back out and keep his third place. Stone was some 20s in arrears ofShaw at the flag.

Chadwick had a tendfic race in his Magna to win the Class D from David Ratcliffs Toyota and collected another feather in his cap when he passed the more powerful AU XR6 of Daryl Coon, who held him up for a few laps.

Boylan finished an astonishing third in class and 16th outright from 32nd and was the mover of the race. Thomas and Kalaitzidis were never far apart all the way to the flag in Class E. The GTPs were to have three races but, when the program ran behind time on Sunday,they had their second race canned.

Conditions on Sunday were considerably cooler than Saturday and presumably Shaw was able to turn off his heater...

It didn’t make any difference to the result though. Shaw breezed it in, although Hughes closed up in the closing stages to finish less than Is behind.

King appeared to get square with Jacob going through Shell, putting the latter’s WRX onto the grass, however both were trying to deal with Wayne Russell’s BMW. While Jacob was out afl;er only a lap. Stones made up a place to finish third with Gilbert putting his Evo V into fourth and Don Pulver making it three makes in the top five with his SubamWRX. Peter Boylan got by Wood and Russell with relative ease and finished first in class and 13th outright and first ofthe non-class A cars.

Loadsman turned the tables on Ratcliff and Chadwick with a defensive drive in Class D. Class E rivals Thomas and Kalaitzidis swapped positions to finish the day equal on points with a win apiece. The Proton driver possibly in his last drive in that model with a Satria GTI almost ready in the workshop!

-DIRKKLYNSMrra

Robert Jones was also suffering, having been stung by a local wasp 20 minutes before the start of race 1.

In the first race Kostera won the start, taking Kostera and Owen Kelly with him. A good jump got Ferrier one spot off the grid and she started looking for a way around Dell, while Rick Kelly made that another three car battle.

There was a stalemate in the two trios for the first half of the race. Ferrier moved on Dell on lap 3 to take fourth but with both cars staying on her tail, she wasn't making any impact on the gap... ... until Rick and Dell tangled at Shell on lap 7. Kelly pressed on but the main effect was that Ferrier, now free of pursuit, zeroed in the boys.

She put Owen Kelly to the sword on lap 9, sweeping around the outside of Novus (the last corner) then, three laps later she Xeroxed the move on McColl. Impressive stuff.

But Kostera was just too cool, winning by 0.15s. McColl took third from the WheelerA'oulden/Agland/Hanger/Cotter battle. The stung Jones followed ahead of Fastlane’s Clint Harvey.

Owen Kelly spun by himself a lap after being passed and DNF'd.

In the Sunday race Kostera bounced away to lead Ferrier, McColl and Wheeler, but the was a brouhaha at the second corner and Youlden, Marcus Marshall and Jason Nastas to tangle. All ended up off the track.

Kostera, seeing yellows the next time around, slowed substantially but Wheeler was still accelerating and bounded over Power, clanging to a halt. There was now a fair amount of carnage to clear up and the Safety Car(a Holden!) appeared.

After three laps, the action started again, with McColl attacking Ferrier straight away (unsuccessfully), leaving Power to take third off the Kmart car next time around.

They broke into pairs, with Ferrier throwing everything at Kostera but, once again, the Kallamunda driver didn’t flinch and took the double. Power took third after an equally engrossing battle with McColl, while Hanger found a way past Agland for fifth.

Agland lost one more spot - to Rick Kelly. From grid 19, the Mildura youngster had had an epic drive, staying out of trouble and picking off drivers almost at will. At 17, there’s plenty of talent around at the moment.

But with the score Stealth 4, Rest 0, the Waussies still hold the upper hand. Kostera and Ferrier may have won all the races, but this looks like a great season ...

Boy Zone: Kostera was perfect - pole position and two all-the way wins.(Photo by Dirk Kiynsmithi

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% 31 March 2000

29

Strong Will-ed Christian

By EDWARD KRAUSE

D

E F E N D I N G Formula Holden champion and series leader Simon Wills is finding the 2000 series a tougher prospect than 1999.

While he made it three from three hy winning the opening race at Eastern Creek last weekend, in the second it was Christian Murchison who led into turn one and kept Wills at hay until two laps from the end when the Kiwi made a rare mistake, spinning and beaching the Birrana at Turn Nine.

That gave Murchison an unassailable lead and the victory moved him into second, only three points behind Wills.

Car problems at the test day, and then again in practise on Friday limited his set-up time, and in qualifymg he described his Birrana Reynard as ‘evil He gradually improved the car and his times through the session and right on the death put himself on the row with ; front a lm21.8547s. With a new, more powerful, engine installed, Murchison qualified third in the NRC International Reynard, ahead of the Ralt Australia entry of Matthew Halliday, whose weekend hadn’t ‘t started well. Second in the championship after Phillip Island, Halliday had been plagued with the flu all week, he then lost valuable set-up time on Friday when his flight was cancelled, missing the first session.

He recoveired well to even-

Qualifying

tually, on his last flying lap, , qualify fourth 'ahead of the Having been one of the second Birrana of Leroy pace-setters at Phillip Island Stevenson, who found 1.5s and then shattered Jason overnight with set-up Bright‘s Eastern Creek lap changes. record at an earlier test day, Chris Staff was sixth in Tim Leahey continued his the second Ralt Australia fast form in qualifying, car, the final driver to qualiputting his Mill-sponsored fy under the lap record. He Reynard on pole with a^ was hampered by a broken lm21.8195s. front roll bar on his third Wills was coming from the lap. The second NRC car of other end of the spectrum. Dale Brede was next, fol-

lowed by Paul Dumbrell in the K Mart Reynard, with the two Chris Hocking-prepared cars of Andy Booth and Craig Bastian rounding out the 10.

1

1^-

RaC© 1—15!apS Leahey couldn’t‘t get the start right when the lights went green and was quickly swamped, dropping back to fourth. Wills jumped best to lead them away >from Murchison, who was quick est in the warm-up, and HaUiday.

Leahey wasted little time in getting past Halliday, getting his nose in front as they crossed the line to complete the first lap. His third lap reset the lap record to a lm22.6914s. And then on the fifth he was gone, “I went too deap into Turn Eight and went off and got bogged “, explained Leahey^ afterwards.

He joined Stevenson on the sidelines, the Birrana driver getting his front wing hooked on a ripple strip at Turn Three which spun off the track and into the wall, It would take a heroic effort by his crew to get him back out for race two.

Murchison continued to chase Wills, the gap staying constant at about a second

Tim’s excellent adventures: Tim Leahy put the M-One-11 Reynard on pole, although a little over-exhuberance cost him valuable points.

(Photos by Dirk Klynsmith)

until they hit the lapped traffic. Wills had a better run and the gap blew out to over three seconds by the end of the 15 lapper. Wills taking his 15th Formula Holden victoiy, only two shy ofPaul Stokell'‘s record, Halliday had a good dice with team mate Staff until three laps to go when Staff‘s gearbox stuck in second gear. He circulated for points until the flag to pick up points, finishing seventh, Booth took fourth from Dumbrell and Hj^ll, with Garry Haywood amd. Ian Peters the only remaining finishers.

Race 2-15 laps

Human error: Defending Gold Star Champion Simon Wills ran strongly in the first race, taking yet another win, although an uncharacteristic error just two laps from home in race (Photo by Dirk Klynsmith) two cost him dearly.

Murchison out jumped Wills at the start of the sec ond race, with Halliday again slotting into third.

Murchison and Wills began to edge away from the rest of the field. Wills trying to pressure the teenager, but Murch stood his ground well.

Meanwhile Leahey was tearing through the field. By lap two he was up to seventh and within another two into fourth. He was only 4.1s behind Mm-chison and easily quicker than him. His first

clear lap saw him lower his own lap record to a lm22.5131, fol lowed by another 22.5 and 22.6.

He cut the gap to Murchison down to 2.8s and had caught Halliday.

Then on lap eight Halliday had a gearbox problem.

Having already lost two gears he came into 'Turn Nine and the gear box found neutral. He plucked a too-low gear and spun. Leahey took evasive action but just clipped Halliday, damaging the sus pension and putting him out of the race.

This put Staff into third with Halliday back to fouiTh and Leroy Stevenson was into fifth having forced his way past Dumbrell.

'Then with only two laps to go Wills made an uncharac teristic mistake.

With air turbulence mak ing it hard to stay close to Murchison, he saw the upcoming lapped traffic as his chance and pushed a lit tle harder.

Coming into Turn Nine he lost downforce at the front and went in “a bit hot” and he lost the rear end.

He kept the engine run ning, but the car was beached and unable to get traction.

That left Murchison with a gap of over 13s to Staff, with Halliday third. Leroy Stevenson upheld the Birrana honour for fourth from Dumbrell, who was suf fering from an underpow ered motor that had a miss.

Booth, Bastian, Peters and Brede rounded out the nine finishers.

Points; Wills GO, Murchison 57, HalMday 54, Dumbrell 26, Booth 22, Staff 19, Stevenson 18,Brede 16,Leahey 12, HUl 12,

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30 3Warch2000

%

In a life Canto Run bmc: Consistent results and one race win enabled Dean Canto to claim the round win for the Konica V8 Lites series debut at Eastern Creek, the Ford driver topping Ryan McLeod and Matthew White.

Lite heavyweights: Richard Mork and Daniel Miller both earned points.

(Photos by John Morris/Mpix and Dirk Klynsmith)

oas«roi Report by STEVE NORMOYLE HREE races, three differ ent winners, and some furious action from a' group of hard-charging young drivers'— the opening round of the Konica V8 Lites Series at Eastern Creek delivered much of what AVESCO promised although regrettably there were few spectators there to see it.

Dean Canto was a narrow overall winner in his ex-FTR Falcon, downing Ryan McLeod in the final race to seal the points win.

McLeod, in a K-Mart-hacked JTFR Commodore, had won the second race after race one win ner Wayne Wakefield retired with a steering failure.

Practice/Qualifyinig The weekendwho begantook in finepole style for McLeod, at lm33.3287s. What made it all the more impressive was that the car had turned its first wheel only that morn ing since its Bathurst shunt, McLeod having spent the previous three

●weeks repairing it as part of his onerace deal with John Faulkner.

Alongside on the front row in his ex-Stone Brothers carssales.com.au Falcon at lm33.4415s was Craig Hariris, who had had a sleepless night dealing with a break-in that had occurred at his Brisbane car sales yard.

Former AUSCAE racer Matthew ^Vhite was an encouraging fourth on lm34.0174s in the unsponsored VS last raced by Barry Morcom, ahead of the VS of Wayne Wakefield (lm341242s). The Graphic Skills team had refur bished the old Daily Planet Commodore (the one rolled by Mezera in 1997) and it carried lit tle signage apart from a ‘Thanks Graham McKenzie’ on the screen.

McKenzie was the spectator at Bathurst last year who organised the donations to the team after the car’s fiery crash at The Cutting.

Eastern Creek Kart complex boss Garry Holt was next in his exLonghurst Falcon (lm34.8006s), ahead of the similar car of Rod Salmon, the Commodore of Perth driver Daniel Miller, debutant Chris Butler VS, the Commodores of Richard Mork, Geoff Kendrick, Neil Schembri, Bill Attard, Terry Wyhoon in another virgin white VS

(four in total) and Peter Field.

Truck racer Bill Sieders was 16th in his ex-Willmington EL, followed

by Robert Smith’s' VS, the Falcons of Ross Halliday and John Falk and Tim Rowse’s VP Commodore.

Race 1-15 laps

M

cLeod was best away in the opening race, heading Harris, Canto, White, Wakefield and Salmon. Wakefield went straight onto the attack, diving inside White at Turn 9 to take fourth. But fourth became third moments later as Harris spun as they exited the corner. The Falcon was clobbered

by Butler, his white Commodore sustaining heavy damage.

Out came the Safety Car...

Racing resumed three laps later, McLeod heading Canto, Wakefield and White. Again Wakefield was keen to get on with it, nabbing Canto under brakes at Turn 2.

Closing on McLeod, Wakefield neat ly outbraked the leader at Turn 9.

As Salmon pulled off the main straight onto the grass after the One World Falcon’s engine failed, Wakefield began to stretch away from McLeod, Canto, White and Holt, who was being chased by the

You’re a MARTIN Wagg totally dominated the opening round of the Pirelli Porsche Cup in his 993 Supercup Porsche - a performance so dominant from Wagg that it wouldn’t have surprised anyone if all the new GTSs had been shipped back to Germany for modifications after the race!

Wagg topped the time sheets in each of the important qualifying sessions to start both races from pole, his sensational last lap dashes bumping the GTSs of Simon Froude and Greg Keene.

The only times Wagg didn’t win on the weekend with his potent 993 was at the green, each time being led from the line and needing to come from behind to take the chequered flag first.

In the first race he passed Keene with relative ease and in the second was pressuring Keene hard when the latter was black-flagged for a jumped start.

Froude capped off an excellent weekend with a superb second in race two to be second overall while Steve Webb scored enough points to be third outright.

Defending champion Peter Bradbury was one who certainly wished he had retained his old car when he was excluded from race one and then did not start race two when it was found his GTS was running Motec engine management system as opposed to the required Motronic unit.

David Scaysbrook took the honours in class B in his 911 while Don Tryhorn also in a 911 finished second.

The hard luck story went to Winston Kim who improved on each outing in his PBR GTS only to retire it against a wall in race two.

- DIRK KLYNSMITH

recovering (but lapped) Harris. But a lap later the blue Ford was out for good,.a front hub failure pitch ing Harris off the road and into the wall.

Meanwhile McLeod had taken the fight back up to Wakefield, try ing the outside of the sweeper as they began lap eight. But next lap McLeod was down in fourth and barely ahead of Holt, the K-Mart Commodore having run wide at Turn 2.

With McLeod out of the picture, Canto moved up to pressure the leader. The youngster had a big look at Turn 2 on lap 10, but next lap throu^lj^lTurn 7 the blue Ford slid wide. Ob' _ jliterating a trackside Konica sign before returning to the track, Canto scrambled on just in front of McLeod.

In the meantime Matthew White had been trying to stay out of trou ble and he now found himself in second and closing fast on the leader.

Wakefield’s early charge had come at a price, and his tortured rear tyres were forcing a drop in pace by more than a second per lap. Luckily, the last ended and the Queenslander held out White to take a popular win.

“I’m down about 50 horsepowerdown so I had to go for it at the start,” Wakefield said. “There was no way I was going to pass anyone on the straights.”

Some eight seconds behind Canto and McLeod came Holt, who was a long way clear of a spirited fight for sixth - and pole for race two, the top six grid positions being reversed - that was won by Schembri over Miller and Wyhoon.

Race 2-12 laps Holt joined Schembri on but the front row for race two, both bogged down with wheelspin as McLeod sui-ged past to grab the lead. Wakefield was at it again at Turn 9, flying down the inside to take Canto and Holt in the one move! Schembri was second, but next time through Turn 2 the Commodore was Gearbox ambushed by Wakefield and Canto.

That sealed Schembri’s fate in fourth place, but only after he with stood a race-long attack from Holt, the Falcon often getting alongside but never making it stick. Tagging along behind in the closing stages were Kendrick and Wyhoon.

Wakefield’s straightline speed deficit was exposed in this race as Canto steamed by through the sweeper on lap five. White did the same two laps later in a brave move that saw the two white Commodores side-by-side through the sweeper. There^er Wakefield fell back untU a steering rack fail ure forced him out a couple of laps from home.

i

The dominator: Martin Wagg decimated the Porsche Cup ranks.

Ki>n.™i.hi

31 Merch 2000

Need a new car and it’s easy to come to carsales.com.au: Craig Harris knows where to look if he needs a replacement...(Photo by John Morris/Mpix) Out front, McLeod hung on until the end to score his first V8 Supercar win, Canto and the impressive White shadowing him across the line.

The Schembri-led fourth place train of cars was close to half a minute further back, and behind them Mork managed to hold out a determined Miller.

Race 3-12 laps 'akefield was back for race three but would start from the rear. Up front, McLeod made an awful getaway as Canto rocket ed into the lead. That was as much as it took for Canto, the youngster unmoved by the pressure of McLeod.

White was third from Holt arid Schembri, while Wakefield put in a storming opening lap to be up to

seventh when they got to Turn 9.

But that was as far as he got, a col lapsed front left hub forcing the Queenslander to the pits.

As Canto and McLeod circulated in formation. White was unable to stay with the leaders. The car was not responding to a setup change and, while it got faster as the race wore on (his last lap was his fastest). White lost about five sec onds during the first half of the race.

Behind him Holt was equally lonely in fourth, well ahead of Schembri who again had a busy race, this time holding out Mork, Miller, Kendrick, Sieders and Wyhoon.

Only two points separated Canto from McLeod on the day, but with McLeod operating on a race-byrace deal. White struggling also for funds and Wakefield coming from behind. Canto is already looking like the\young man to beat in V8 Lites.

Pole man: Ryan McLeod put the Kmart/JFR VS Commodore on pole and took a win in race 2 to narrowly come away second for the weekend.

Calls for parity: All of the owners of plain white VS Commodores in the V8 Lites category will be calling for a parity adjustment if the more colourful. or signwritten, cars continue to run at the front...

(Photos by Dirk Klynsmith/Bob Potts)

iHPlIieA V8 LITES- RD1 Eastern Creek: Raceway, March 26

V8 Doorslammer: Wayne Wakefield won the first ever V8 Lites race, but then failed to finish the following two. (Photo by Bob Potts)

I

Pos Driver Car 1 Dean Canto Falcon EL Commodore VS 2 Ryan McLeod 3 Matthew White Commodore VS Falcon EL 4 Garry Holt 5 Neil Schembri Commodore VS 6 Wayne Wakefield Commodore VS 7 Geoff Kendrick Commodore VS 8 Daniel Miller Commodore VS Commodore VS = Terry Wyhoon = Richard Mork Commodore VS Falcon EL 11 Bill Sieders 12 Tim Rowse Commodore VP Commodore VS Robert Smith Falcon EL Ross Halliday Falcon EB John Falk Commodore VS Peter Field,' Falcon EL Craig Harris Falcon EL Rod Salmon Commodore VS Chris Butler Commodore VS Bill Attard

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R1 3 4 2 5 6 1 9 7 8 12 10 11 14 15 16 13 dnf dnf dnf dnf

R3 1 2 3 4 5 dnf 7 8 9 6 10 dns 11 12 14 13 dns dns dns dns

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For more information,contact Event Management Specialists on (02) 96791000- or visit www.eventms.com.au

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n Dual Australian Super Sedan champion Jason Grimma debuted his brand new Jerry Bickel-built Ford Probe Pro Stocker at Calder Park last Sunday.

With Ford guru Joe Polito on hand to advise, Grimma produced a best of 8.5S/157 in the stunning new rjde. n Having suffered a spate of traction problems in recent, Willowbank Raceway is believed to be bringing out two officials fi’om the IHRA’s Darlington Raceway to help with preparation for the upcoming Winternationals.

Anything they can do: Ashley Bailey continued with his licensing in Funny Car. Unfortunately oil on the track after a burnout meant he was castigated by track management.

(Photo by Nix Pix)

n Kate Creasy, daughter and sister of Funny Car racers Dale Senior and Junior, who was injured in a road accident during the weekend of the Gatornationals, has passed away as a result of here injuries.

A win’s a win: It was far from pretty, but Steve Read took the win in Top Fuel anyway.

n US Pro Stock Motorcycle racer Craig Treble was luck to survive a vicious dog attack just prior to last week’s Gatornationals in Gainesville.

Treble, who was attacked by a 90 kg Mastiff, underwent plastic surgei-y to treat his injuries and was released from hospital the following day.

“The worse thing about the whole deal was the massive swelling on my face and it took a long time to get my helmet on and off.”

II US Ford dealer Stu Evans has pulled the pin on his IHRA Pro Stock program, leaving driver Chris Holbrook out of a drive for the time being.

Holbrook, the reigning IHRA champion, has been offered the team’s entire operation, although funding the purchase is said to be a problem.

S Out-of-work Funny Car racer Tommy Johnson Jr was in Darlington for the IHRA season-opener, the former Joe Gibbs driver behind the microphone for broadcaster TNN. Johnson looked as though he would have had a permanent drive with the Force camp for the rest of the NHRA’s season, with a sponsor willing to back his campaign in a third Mustang, but Force’s decision not to mn an extra car (see separate stray page 34) vetoed any chance he had. n Pro Mod racers Quain and Mitch Stott, along with Charlie Carpenter and WaUy Bell, have been signed to run at the five ‘Hot Rods and Harley’s’ national events being held by the American Drag Bike Association this year. The 2000 series begins in Shreaveport on April 1.

Less pressure: Darren DiFiiippo has all but wrapped up the Top Fuel series witha Willowbank semi-final finish.

(Photos by Marshall Cass and Nix Pix)

speed the fastest ever ing, but Phillips snatched recorded for the class. defeat from the jaws of vic Phillips put his Lucas Oil tory when he touched the Products car in second with centre line near the finish. a with Paul 5.77, Unlike Top Fuel, the Shackleton, Newby and championship in Top Dean Oakey all following in Alcohol is still open, the fives. although Brew will need to Steve Reed sat outside the gather an extra 15 points to fives with his Funny Car, surpass Phillips for the title. while wife Debbie and Dean John Payne took a well McClennan were brought deserved win in Top Comp into the field to make up the with his GDM Wreckers ’63 numbers. split-window Corvette, Lady Luck again disap defeating Robert McKiterick peared on Reed when the in the final.

Reed Transport Olds Funny Top qualifier was Peter Car suffered violent tyre Gratz in the Valvoline shake during qualifying, /Cummins/Milodon Dodge and then was unable to find with an off-trailer 6.53/224, reverse after his first round but Gratz’s luck ended there burnout the former with a very expensive, Australian champion hav engine-banging burnout on ing no option but to idle his next run.

5.18/282 ahead of the only other five second runner, Steve Read.

The ‘Pom’ was the eventu al winner on the night with wins over recent Nationals champion Roy Smith and DiFiiippo before meeting defending Australian cham- down track. pion Robin Kirby.

DMsbie Reed and Read recorded just a 10.56 McClennan aren’t really a on his solo final run, Kirby’s threat to the top alky runPennzoil machine having ners, and both were put on been shut down with an oil the trailer early. leak. '' Shackleton earned a solo The Top Alcohol runners when Steve Reed had troufared much better than their bles, while Newby took out much-lauded Top Fuel coun- Oakey in a close 5.86 to 5.95 terparts, with five of the race. eight cars in the five second Another Brew v Phillips zone during qualifying. final was looming when In a major surprise, nei- Phillips defeated Shackleton ther Gary Phillips or Mark in the semis, but proving Brew accepted the winner’s that ‘if you live by the cheque for a change, with sword, you die by the sword’.

Wayne Newby taking an Newby downed Nationals upset win winner Brew, his slower Brew and Phillips contin- 5.80 beating Brew’s 5.79 ued with their Nationals Brew losing out to a form Browns Romsc/ProforcG holGshot, tiiG oppositG of how dragster qualifying first he won the Nationals. with a 5 73/245.77 - the The final should have been over as soon as it begun with Newby red light-

Once again thefuellers struggled to findform,the show very much like y, the poor Nationals peiformance

Report by KEN FERGUSON DARREN DiFiiippo has virtually wrapped up the 2000 Australian Top Fuel Championship, with the Redback Performance Exhausts dragster’s semi at finish final Willowbank on March 18 almost securing the title.

DiFiiippo lost to eventual winner Steve Read’s Santo’s Cranes fueller in the second round, but he stretched his points lead over his closest rival, Jim Read, when he

downed the Gregory’s Automotive Publications fueller in the first round.

He now only has to qualify at the season-ending Winternationals to claim the championship.

Once again the fuellers struggled to find form, the show very much like the poor Nationals performance, with just five 5-second runs being recorded - a long way short of what is expected and promoted.

Rachelle Splatt grabbed the top qualifying spot at Willowbank, the Valvoline/ Cummins fueller running

Jon Sting took his potent Buick-powered A/Dragster to another win in Supercomp - half of the 12 cars present qualifying under their respective national indexes.

Sting, who qualified fourth, overcame top qualifier John Barbargallo in the second round, setting up a final round battle with Trevor Maas’s G/Gas Celica.

Sting recorded a .10-under 7.16/184 to defeat Maas’s .07-under 8.78/152.

Other winners for the second round of the Castrol New Year Series (Ed: New Year in March?)on the night included iMthur Tel^ford in hio(iiii6d.j Iiiclty StotiGiis in Super Sedan, John Adin in Comp Bike, George Wegener in Super Street and Andrew Le Dilly in Modified Bike.

First or worse rule: Wayne Newby won Top Alcohol after Gary Phillips hit the centre line - Newby having earlier redlighted away the race before having it handed back.

Winning’s a Payne: DYO king John Payne took out Top Comp with his ’63 split-window Con/ette.

(Photos by Marshall Cass)

3Ward!2000

By David Grubnic Telling youper about 300 mile houra crash during qualifying in Gainesviiie, Florida last week is not reaily the way I wanted to start my first coiumn for the year but that’s the way it’s got to be...

We’d had this a tough already yeartime the first my team owner, John Mitchell, has committed to run the entire NHRA schedule - and we didn’t think it could get much worse but, unfortunately it did (see the full Gatornationals report on page 34).

I wasn’t qualified in the Top Fuel field for the Gatornationals and, with one shot out of four attempts left, the car made a nice run to put us in the field. The Montana Express pulled all the way to the finish lights but, as we hit the traps, the engine let go...

T

hese cars move so fast now days and, while I , lifted off the throttle immediately, I was quickly up against the concrete safety wall, then across the track and spinning around before finally finding myself driving backwards down the other lane at 300 mph - all before I knew it.

Thankfully, the car came to a stop without hurt me, although all I could think about while I was sliding backwards was how much work the boys would have to do repairing the car

N

aturally, we’d had a spare car sitting in the trailer for quite some time and, seeing we’d never needed it, we recently sold it to Funny Car racer Mitch McDowell.

When the time came to pull it out of the trailer, it wasn’t anywhere to be

found! Isn’t that always the way?

The crash caused way too much damage for us to even think about repairing the car for eliminations the next day, so we packed up and began the haul from Florida to Seattle (that’s like going from Melbourne to Broome - it just isn’t possible to drive further across the US)so our chassis builder Brad Hadman could front and back half the chassis in time for Las Vegas this week.

It’s going to be tough on Brad and the crew but I’m sure we’ll make the event without too many more dramas. Really, the time has come for our luck to turn around, so I’m hoping for only good things from now on.

The new 90 percent nitro rule that the NHRA introduced at the beginning of the season appears to be working well and we’ve seen race day finish at a respectable hour each time, instead of it being dragged out by a mass of oildowns.

Whether it’s actually because of the reduction of the nitro percentage or not it is probably a little too early to tell but, if it is, then it’s great what’s happened.

Apart from theJim dramas, John’s hired Brissette as crew chief this year and Jim’s a great guy^wlth immense experience who will only do wonders for us.

Jim’s turned the screws with Amato, Doug Herbert and Cory Mac in recent years, all who have been ultra competitive, so I know we’re on the up and up.

T

he Gainesville crash has probably cost John US$100 grand so all we can now say for the next race is ‘Come in spinner’ and ‘Viva Las Vegas’.

Cheers,

Funny Cars to return? Paula runs 575k

NITRO Funny Cars are expected to return to the track next summer with a plan put together by Melbourne racer Garry McGrath believed to have been accepted by Calder Park management.

McGrath is believed to have offered Calder Park a Top Fuel v Funny Car match race series, running on a Chicago Shootout formula.

The vehicles would also be handicapped on national records.

The format is virtually identical to what former Calder Park manager Steve Bettes ran in 1991, with the NHRA picking up the con cept last season for the show case Winston Showdown event at Bristol.

Some team owners and drivers have let their feelings known that they believe the match race concept, which restricts field numbers, can be counter-productive to the sport, although many have conceded the opportunity for more runs is highly sought.

While signalling his accep tance of the format. Top Fuel team owner Charlie DiFilippo has said the prizemoney levels would need to

be significant.

“It’s been spoken about and Fd say we’d be interest ed in running, although the payouts would have to be sig nificantly higher than what we’re currently receiving,” he said last week.

“The current payouts real ly haven’t changed in years and, without a true champi onship as the lure, they real ly need to increase to, at

least, reflect the level to which our investment in the sport has increased over the last five years.”

For the Funny Car catego ry (of which there are cur rently seven ready-to-race cars in the country), the life line of racing may just help the besieged class which has again, despite not having nm over the last two season, come under fire.

Showdown: Will we see the fire-burning fuellers taking on the nitro Funny Cars.next season? (Photo by Marshall cass)

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CORY Lee will return to the wheel of a nitro Funny Car at the inaugur al NHRA national event in Las

“Having missed three races we’re behind a bit in the points but Tommy Johnson showed us all last year that you can catch up,” Lee said last week.

“We really want to establish ourselves as a competent, contending team that can win any race we enter. We have to learn how to battle the [Austin] Coils,

Vegas this weekend.

Lee, runner-up at the ‘99 Gatornationals, has signed to drive the Pro Motorsports Dodge Avenger driven in selected races last year by Tim Wilkerson, with funding coming from a [Wes^] Cernys, and Ace [McCullochs] of merchandising deal done between Lee the world.

“For the first time in my career I can and Rat Fink.

Also linked to the deal is rock group concentrate solely on driving and I’m lead singer Steve Harwell of Smash excited about taking my driving to a Mouth, Harwell’s ‘Team Nasty Racing’ higher level.” ^ Lee’s ‘Rat Fink/Team Nasty’ Avenger clothing line providing backing.

Lee lost his drive when previous team will appear in a multitude of paint owner Tom Hoover pulled the pin on his schemes during the season, the oppor operation when sponsor,electronics giant tunity to offer a varying range of collec tables through Racing Champions to Pioneer, didn’t renew for the new season. subsequently raise the budget of the The team has already hired the expe rienced Fasching brothers - Ted, Gene operation the key factor.

Lee drove the Team USA Funny Car and Troy - to run the car, with Ted working as crew chief. Fasching’s at Adelaide International Raceway three season ago. appointment will enable Lee to concen -PHIL MORRIS trate on driving.

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Fastest: Paula Elstrek

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EARL'S PERFORMANCE PRODUCTS AUSTRAUA PTY LTD

PAULA Elstrek has begun her quest to become the fastest woman on earth with a 575 kilometre per hour run across the Lake Gairdner dry salt lake on the weekend.

The run, measured over the flying kilometre, was the fastest speed ever recorded by a woman on four wheels, although it wasn’t backed up for an official record.

The eight km long run, in Ross McGlashan’s Invader 3 jet-powered land speed record car, was Elstrek’s first full powered pass in the vehicle, having earlier made a four kilometre run to get the feeling of the car and the salt.

“I didn’t know what to expect, but it’s an amazing feeling,” Elstrek said later.

“It got a little loose halfway through the run when the afterburner was lit, but after that I just hung onto it and it was fine.”

McGlashan, who had earlier also run up to 600 kmh in the new car, was impressed with Elstrek’s performance.

“Paula has done a fantastic job ... a hell of a job, very impressive,” he said later.

American woman Kitty O’Neill’s world record of 825 kmh, set in a three-wheeled rocket car, is the next target for Elstrek, while McGlashan will shortly attempt to pass Andy Green’s history 1223 kmh, supersonic record.

1

Cory Lee turns nasty.

EARIS KmmuicspR

33

34 3Warch2000 n Rumour in the US has Ford almost ready to debut a new nitro-burning engine. The word is that the blue oval company, while happy with John Force's program, aren't overly pleased about the Mustang body being flipped up on his car to reveal an engine with a Chrysler heritage.

Ford was involved heavily in Top Fuel and Funny Car in the 1960s with its SOHC fuel engine. n In an effort to recover lost ground in performance, a number of major US fuel teams are reportedly now using new fuel pumps which pump an amazing 80 gallons of fuel per minute.

It's become apparent since the switch to the lower fuel percentage that the engines aren't dropping cylinders as much,thanks to the extra methanol being easier to ignite.

As a result, a number of tuners are now looking for ways to load the engines even further and regain some lost performance, with the answer lying in the bigger fuel pumps.

S Pro Stock Truck, while not being a huge crowd favourite, is beginning to provide more interest to the industry with eight different engine builders providing power for the 16 qualifiers.

Warren Johnson's first small block cracker, being used by Mark Whisnant, missed the cut by just .002s in its first outing.

S On the flip side, many of the IHRA nitro tuners are expecting more engine damage once the US summer rolls around, thanks to the new 25 percent blower overdrive rule.

Apparently, the lower boost they're now getting from'the extra rule won't help when the temperatures rise - many preicting that not enough blower boost will result in richer engines, more dropped cylinders and... boom! n Pro Mod driver cum Pro Stock chassis builder Tommy Mauney has apparently split from the Jeg's camp.

Mauney, who late last yeai’ signed a deal to supply the NHRA team exclusively with new cars, was expected to front at Darlin^on for the first race of the season with Jeg's sponorship backing his Pro Mod campaign but word has it that two weeks before the seasonopener the deal was cancelled.

Rumours are suggesting late delivery of Jeg Coughlin's new Pro Stocker was the reason behind the split, although both parties are remaining tight-lipped.

Toliver body-slams Gators Report by DAVE OSTASZEWSKI

JERRY Toliver’s WWF team body slammed John Force’s recent Phoenix win and let the rest of the flopper contingent know that they are for real with a convincing win at the Mac Tools Gatomationals in Florida on March 19.

Toliver posted a final round 5.07s/296 mph win over Ron Capp’s wheel standing and tyre-smoking US Tobacco Camaro to take his second win of the season and third in the last four NHRA events.

“Wire to wire, we’re on fire and don’t you be calling me no liar,” boasted Toliver in typical WWF fashion. “We’ve got a great hot rod right now.

[Crew chief Dale] Armstrong is so stout and we’re just get ting started...”

The Funny Cars, of which there were 23 in attendance, in were electrifying Gainsville with A1 Hofmann qualifying in 13th with a 4.999 - Force’s 4.83/320 sit ting on the.pole.

In Top Fuel Doug Kalitta bounced back from his Phoenix DNQ with a victory over Tony Schumacher in the final round - Schuey having made eveiy final this season.

Kalitta, with uncle Connie calling the shots on the MGM Grand machine, stepped up in the fin^ round to take a 4.61/313 to 4.67/314 win.

“We had nothing but shak ing and smoke in Phoenix so we came here and tested,” said Kalitta. “We thought we had done enough with the fuel system and clutch to at least qualify well.

“We got off to rocky start this year, but this win is really going to help the team. Connie threw a lot at the track and it was able to take it.”

Only 17 Top Fuel cars fronted in Gainsville with Dave Grubnic qualifying in the field, although a fiery accident on his final qualifyrun meant the mg Australian was a no-show for the first round.

Warren Johnson and the GM Goodwrench Service Plus Pontiac returned to their familiar role in Pro Stock, dominating the event from start to finish.

WJ’s black and silver Firebird was simply stun ning, running over 200 mph three times in qualifying and, along with son Kurt’s Camaro, was the only car to top the mark.

In the final WJ downed Troy Coughlin, brother of points leader Jeg, WJ’s 6.90/199 enough take the win over the troubled Olds.

“We’re still not really 100 percent with our program,” claimed Johnson afterwards.

“It’s one of those things where we have been slowed by some mechanical glitches in the off-season, but I feel we should be back to full strength by Las Vegas.”

The rivalry between WJ and the Coughlins intensi fied following the five-time champion’s successful protest of a roof-mounted camera on deg’s car, the move incensing team owner Jeg Coughlin Snr. “All they did was make me mad,” WJ said. “[Jeg Snr] Coughlin came over to my pit yelling and screaming at me every chance he had. It was uncalled for and we don’t need that out here.”

“These guys proved it [the camera] gave them an aero dynamic advantage and I just wanted to keep it fair.”

In the supporting profes sional categories, Dave Schultz and Randy Daniels scored the wins in Pro Bike and Pro Stock Truck respectively.

Thermonuclear Funny Car: Scotty Cannon again made the fuel coupe semis with his wild ‘Nitro Mater’ Oakleybacked Chev Camaro.(Photo by Dave Kommel/Auto Imagery)

I’m back, I’m black, I’m bad and I’m mad: Warren Johnson dominated Gainsville with his Goodwrench Service Pontiac, WJ downing Troy Coughlin in the final round.

Is that reporter Peter Parker in cognito?

No, it’s Larry ‘the Spiderman’ McBride.

McBride’s ‘first in the fives’ fuel bike was one of four bikes in Florida for the Gatornats. McBride was quickest, running a shut-off 6.32.

(Photos by Dave Kommel/Auto Imagery)

Tl/7 U JOHN Force has canned Ms plans to ran a tMrd Ford Mustang in NHBA competition, the nine-time champi on bowing to peer pressure.

Speaking in Gainsville last weekend, Force said his plans have now been altered, although he will still continue to use the third team car as a test vehicle, and the chance to try out new drivers.

“The bottom line is we won’t have a third team in Funny Car, at least not this year,” Force said.

“My plan for having three teams was to build for the future like [Jack] Roush [NASCAR Winston Cup team owner]. I want to build teams and have some of

these kids out here a chance to drive.

That’s all I’m building for.

“I don’t need a third car to gather data or win a 10th championship. I’ve got enough data already. But, to sum it up, it’s over [for the third Force team car]for the time being.”

While also saying that he intended to do something with the third team in the future, Force also said he was still interested in running in Top Fuel and, for himself as a driver, that’s where he was looking.

“I’ll guarantee you that one day I’ll go to Top Fuel,” Force said. “That’s where my focus is going.”

-PHIL MORRIS

A^lderman qualifies Hemi

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Dave Kummci/.Autn liii.igoi-y

Putting out the laundry: Mopar’s Darrell Alderman.

MOPAR’s new Hemi Pro Stock engine qualified for its first race last weekend.

Three-time NHRA champion Darrell Alderman used the new hemi motor to qualify in 15th place at Gainsville -32 cars running six second ets - the motor having made its competition debut at Pomona just six weeks prior.

Despite losing in the first round of competition, Alderman was pleased with the progress of the nev; motor and the Nickens Brothers-owned team.

“All in all, it was a step forward,” Alderman said. “We would have loved to win here, but we didn’t.

“But, as the year goes on, we’re going to

be more competitive... it’s not going to be long before those win lights come on.

Alderman said the team’s goal now is to continue with the positive developments and advancements the team have made with the new motor.

‘The goal is to run as many good runs as possible. We weren’t fast enough here, but we learned a lot that we’ll put into the program for the next race.”

It was the first time a Mopar hemi engine has qualified since John Hagen's Chrysler made a field almost 20 years ago.

Fellow Mopar runner Larry Morgan will use the hemi engine for the first time in Las Vegas in two weeks.

vd

31Mdrch2000

Certainly not a lite weight: Rusty Wallace proved just that with his 50th Winston Cup victory at the tough half-mile Bristol oval.

Power charge: Jeff Burton brought the Exide Ford home in ninth spot.

Report by MARTIN D.CLARK ONE year ago when Rusty Wallace won the spring Bristol race no one, Wallace especially

The Miller Lite pit crew has also made great strides over the first few events and

this helped at Bristol, although on one occassion a photographer slowed one of their stops down by two sec onds when he stepped on an expected to wait a full airline.. year before he scored his Wallace’s Penske team 50th career win. mate, Jeremy Mayfield, came But, that’s what happened ^ home fourth, but the finish om March 26 at Bristol, '"overshadowed a strong perdelighting the former formance in which he led 124 Wiuston Cup champion. laps - the two having run the “It’s going be a party same set-up as they continue tonight,” said Wallace. “We to learn to again work as a love it here - to win number team.

50 at the track where I got Unfortunately for my first victory, and to win it Jeremy, a front air wrench at my favourite track, is a locked up during the final dream come true... it’s some pit stop and he lost valuthing I’ll remember for a long able track position. time.”

“I think we could have Wallace, who started sixth given Rusty a run for his and won by over two seconds money if we hadn’t had trou - a huge margin at Bristol - ble in the pits,” said a disap set a goal last year that he pointed Mayfield after the would beat Jeff Gordon to race. the 50th win and, with the Johnny Benson was the pair tied at 49 wins, -he surprise runner-up with the accomplished the feat - the Lycos.com Pontiac after he 10th driver to do so. moved around Ward Burton And, his Bristol win backs for second with just seven up his record of just how laps remaining.

For Benson and the Tyler strong the veteran is on short tracks, having taken 23 Jet Motorsports team, it was of his 50 wins, including a career-best finish.

“I knew leaving Roush last eight at Bristol, on the small er ovals. year was the right thing to Wallace doesn’t waste any do,” he remarked. “I wanted of the seven valuable test the right situation and now dates on such tracks, but I’ve found it... I couldn’t be earlier this season he tested happier.” at both Bristol and Had Benson started nearer Martinsville - the tests obvi the front on the final restart, he may have had something ously paying off.

for Wallace, but that we’ll never know.

He still fared well from the tricky back stretch pits after a poor 33rd qualify ing effort.

Steve Park won his first career .pole with a new track record of 126.370 mph at the 0.533 mile concrete bowl in the Tennessee mountains,' with Kenny Wallace to his outside - the two front-rowers lead ing the first 40 laps in com manding style.

Wallace became the sixth different winner in six events this season in a race that saw 18 lead changes among nine drivers and a multitude of cautions, The first yellow aired on two when Dale lap Earnhardt got into Elliott Sadler, who had qualified a great ninth in a Wood brothers car - a car originally built way back in 1989!

Sadler was also the fastest in final practice so the team were naturally disappointed, although so was Dale Junior, who started alongside his father in 12th.

“Dad hit the 21 (Sadler) and I got taken out,” said ‘Little E’.

Earnhardt Snr would lead once on lap 206, after a heated battle with Mayfield and Gordon, but his lead was short lived as two laps later Kenny Irwin spun and came down the track in front of him.

‘The Intimidator’ hit Irwin and the wall full pelt...

With badly damaged front and rear suspension, Earnhardt would stop for repairs and return to finish a distant 39th.

Gordon also had q- car to win, he led the most laps 225 in total - but clobbered a tyre from Steve Park’s car on pit road.

“I blasted that tyre. It’s a shame because the guys were clicking off some great pit stops,” Gordon said.

“Thankfully, we were able to come back and finish eighth.”

Gordon has now run 11 races without a top five fin ish - his worst run ever.

Tony Stewart was charg ing through the field early on and was into the top 10, but a broken water pump belt caused his Gibbs engine to over heat and suffer irreparable damage. He wound up 42nd.

Wallace passed Dale Jarrett following the final pit stop, but not before the two traded paint and possibly ended Jarrett’s day although Jarrett didn’t really have a car capable of win ning.

Just after the pass, Jarrett suffered a slow puncture and the champ finishing 21st, one lap down.

Coming off his Darlington win a week prior, Ward Burton moved to second in the Winston Cup points with a fine third place result, while Wallace moved from 10th to sixth with the win.

35

n Scott Pruett’s debut Winston Cup season is going from bad to worse with the former Champ Car star failing to qualify for his third race in six attempts.

Despite having recently tested at the infamous Bristol half-mile, Pniett still couldn’t make the cut with the Tide Ford, spLuning on his second qualifying attempt.

“I was just going for it,” said Pruett.“We had a good session this morning and this was going to put us in the field, but it got out from underneath me coming offour and that was it.”

Pruett remained philosophical.

“There’s a bright spot here somewhere and we’re gonna keep looking until we find it.” n Ed Berrier, Dave Marcis (fourth time in six races) and Ricky Craven (fourth time in five races) were the other drivers who failed to make the Bristol field.

BiU Elliott, Kevin Lepage, Robby Gordon, Kenny Irwin, Rick Mast and WaUy Dallenbach took the seven available provisional starting slots. n While not many would find it interesting that Dallenbach was without his usual crew chief, Wayne Orme,in Bristol - Orme having been moved to other duties within the team most would find it interesting that former Australian NASCAR racer Walter Giles was calling the shots on Dallenbach’s Butch Mock Taurus.

Giles,famous for his metallic pink #91 Chevy Lumina down under,is currently acting as co crew chief with Alex Aster. n Chad Little crew chief Jeff Hammond has been fined US$7,500 by NASCAR for the use of unapproved weight at the Darhngton event.

Little’s John Deere Ford Taurus had ballast strategically placed in the driver’s refreshment bottle - the weight easily removable dm'ing a pit stop! The water bottle weighted in at an amazing 14 pounds. n Biistol final results; R Wallace(Ford), Benson (Pontiac), W Burton (Pontiac), Mayfield (Ford), 'T Labonte(Chevy), B. Labonte (Pontiac), Park (Chevy),J Gordon (Chevy),J Burton(Ford), Marlin(Chevy)

Now this is a record crowd: Bristol’s attendance topped 140,000 paying spectators.

2000 WINSTON DRAG RACING SERIES CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS AT MARCH 23, 2000 Winston Top Fuel Championship 304 1 Tony Schumacher 273 2 Gary Scetzi 206 3 Larry Dixon 190 4 Joe Amato 183 5 Kenny Bernstein .

171 6 Doug Kalitta 123 7 Bob Vanclergriff ..

120 S Doug Herbert ....

118 9 Cory Me Clcnatlian 114 10 Don Lampus ....

2000 Winston Funny Car Championship 307 I. Jerry Toliver ..

233 2. John Force ....

217 3. Ron Capp.s ....

214 4. Tony Palregon 158 S.Del W'or.sham .

13,5 6. Scotty Caimon .

1.35 7. Gaiy Denshain 122 8. W'hit Bazeinore 120 9. Jim Epler 116 10..A! Hofmann .

2000 Winston Pro Slock Champioaship 290 1 Jeg Coughlin . .

264 2, Warren Johnson 180 3. Ron Krisher .. .

163 4, Troy Coughlin , 162 o.MarkPawuk 156 6. Richie Sleven.s 147 7. Jim Yates . ...

143 R.KunJohiwon ..

142 9. Bruce Allen ...

140 lO.Tom Martino .

36 31 March 2000 n The new Dodge Intrepid Winston Cup car’s first on-track tests have been put on hold, with the company and teams awaiting NASCAE’s decision on whether it will adopt the so-called ‘common template’ as rumoured.

Plans had called for the first track tests, at latest, the beginning of April.

The templates would, effectively, make Winston Cup a ‘spec’ body series with all cars equal aerodynamically. n Former FI and Indy Car driver Roberto Guerrero will race in the Busch Grand National series.

Guerrero, who sat on the pole at the Indy 500 while driving for Kenny Bernstein's team in the early '90s, will drive a Chevrolet Monte Carlo for the newly-created Hispanic Racing Team in 11 races this year.

He will share the car during the season with his brother.

11 Wally Dallenbach was disappointed to learn he didn’t make the field in Darlington after one of NASCAR’s three timing systems didn’t correspond with the other two - the two.systems showing Dallenbach would have set a new track record.

Dallenbach wasjoined outside the field by Scott Pruett,Ricky Craven, Ed Berrier and former Da3dona 500 winner Denike Cope.

Darrell Waltrip and Kyle Petty both used provisionals to make the field - both having used jrovisionals at four of the ast five races.

Joining the pair on the back ofthe ^id were Stacy Compton, Rick Mast, Chad Little, Ted Musgrave and Robby Gordon.

B Plenty of empty seats were again visible at Darlington,the third time in five races this year that a race has failed to seU out.

Seat expansions, high ticket prices, poor weather and a lack of ‘real’ racing continue to be the combination of reasons for the lull. n Although rookie Mike Bliss remains under contract with the legendary AJ Foyt, Dick Trickle drove Foyt’s cal' at Darhngton on the weekend.

Bliss is expected to be bought out of his contract, with Rick Mast rumom'ed to be heading Foyt’s way Mast leaving Larry Hedrick’s ‘Big Daddy’s’backed team as no cash has yet been handed over by the sponsor. n Having waited more than four years to return to Victory Lane, CAT team owner Bill Davis and his wife, Gail, didn't even get to enjoy the winner's spoils with their driver, Ward Burton, dropping the crystal trophy and smashing it!

"I got a hig old hug from Dale[Eai-nhardt], but I didn't get to hold the trophy," GaH Davis said later.

The track will repair the trophy, which came offits base when Burton grabbed it, and send it back to the victorious driver.

More control?

NASCAR mandates further changes

Standardised engines may be introduced

Exclusive report by PHIL MORRIS RUMOURS are abound ing in the US that NASCAR is not only on the verge of announcing a common body tem plate, but also ready to advise the manufactur ers of a ‘spec’ engine configuration.

While NASCAR haven’t confirmed anything as yet, sources are suggest ing that Dodge, who had planned on introducing a new engine, has been instructed to follow the GM small block/SB2 con figuration, and Ford sup¬

posedly would be told to do the same at is next revision.

Dodge has apparently shown the sanctioning body a new engine block that allows for significant ly more overbore than the Ford and Chevy engines can do. The sport’s engine gurus are increasingly looking to increase bore and shorten the engine’s stroke in the search for more horsepower.

The possibility of the engines becoming a com mon design does not sit well with Ford team owner Jack Roush.

“That might be, but if

96PONT.smoEcnmmmi

they standardise the engine, the car, every thing, Jack will go fishing, because there’s no room left to race,” Roush said.

Despite Roush’s protests, soon-to-be Dodge driver Kyle Petty said the move might be in the interests of the sport, which has come under intense criticism recently thanks to the lack of‘real racing*.

“They’ve standardised the drivers, they’re looking at standardising the cars, so why not the engines?” Petty said at Bristol last weekend.

It is believed the common body templates, which are expected to be modelled on the Taurus which, apparently, has the best wind tun nel munbers, will be introduced in time for the 2001 season, although some are predict ing that they may, in fact, be distrib uted to teams over the next four weeks.

NASCAR has mandated two rule changes in time for its April 16 race at the biggest and fastest race track on the tour, the Talledega International Speedway.

Teams were notified at Darlington last weekend that an alteration to the new super speedway control shock-spring rule would be made, with teams regaining ‘control’ of the front suspension, while the second sees NASCAR mandating smaller openings on the restrictor plates as predicted in MN last issue.

The previous ‘springshock’ rules came under intense criticism at Daytona with many drivers, while not upset at the absence of the previously harsh ride thanks to the use of ‘no-

rebound’ shocks, as it left little room for changes in handling.

“After Daytona, hearing how some competitors had problems making adjustments to make their cars handle better, it made enough sense for us to make this kind of move,” NASCAR’s competiton director, Gary Nelson said.

Nelson said the second rule change with the restrictor plates was in an effort to keep speeds at Talledega under 200 mph.

The change in the opening size of the restrictor plate holes, from 29/32nd of an inch to 7/8ths of an inch, should reduce power output a further 10-15 horsepower.

Dodge - has already delayed its first runs oTthe new Intrepid, for waiting NASCAR’s direc

V. - A

Templates: Common body templates are not the only thing on NASCAR’s mind with rumours of common engine designs. (Aiispon)

tion on its body rules.

Boss: NASCAR’s Gary Nelson announces the changes.

Burton's Catch 22 WARD Burton and the CAT-backed Bill Davis

Pontiac team performed almost flawlessly to domi nate at the track too tough to tame, Darlington, on , March 19 - Burton’s victo ry stopping his brother, Jeff, from winning three in a row at the 1.36 mile egg-shaped oval.

Ward led 188 of the 293 laps in taking his second career victory - his first com ing back in October ’95!

Burton’s crew chief Tommy Baldwin chose to pit the #22 early in proceedings and, after a final 15 second green flag stop just 36 laps from home. Burton maintained his advantage to run home and take the chequered.

“What a car the CAT team gave me today,” said Burton afterwards. “We’ve got some good things to look foi-ward to.”

Burton said his car was balanced for the entire race, the set-up enabling the car to run hard every lap.

“I ran about as hard as I could every lap,” he said. “I lost my line a few times in the closing stages and had to

pull myself together, but I knew I had the car today.”

Burton was thankful of his team’s work in getting him back out on the track and in front.

The win was Burton’s first over his brother, having fin ished second to Jeff three times in 1999.

“I’m real proud of Ward and his team - they’ve had this win coming for some time,” Jeff Burton said later.

The win was also Pontiac’s first win at Darlington since Joe Weatherly’s back in 1963.

Dale Jarrett came home in second, 1.4s in arrears, Jarrett believing the weather was the deciding factor.

“That cloud cover got us there at the end,” said Jarrett, who headed 26 laps.

“We just needed some more sun.”

Dale Earnhardt finished in third, while Tony Stewart brought his Pontiac home in fourth.

“I tried chasing Burton down when I was in second but I burnt the tyres up doing it,” Stewart said later.

Yellow fever was the story early in the race, an amazing four cautions within the first 50 laps, many drivers seeming-

ly taking chances in an it effort to out race the impending rain ... which never materialised.

Jeremy Mayfield, who always runs well at Darlington, Joe Nemechek, Ken Schrader, Jeff Fuller, Ted Musgrave and Kenny Irwin were amongst those involved.

Both Bobby Labonte and Matt Kenseth missed the new pit road entrance during their final green flag pit stops, Labonte locked up his brakes, subsequently blow ing his right front tyre and dropping Labonte to 13th at the chequered flag.

“It was just one of those deals,” he remarked.

Kenseth gathered it up to finish sixth while his fellow rookie, Dale Earnhardt Jr slammed the wall to air the final caution on lap 204.

“I just lost it,” he remarked. “I felt like some thing was wrong with the car, it was just so loose.”

Jeff Gordon ran a last minute hero’s lap to take the pole in qualifying from Kevin Lepage, although an eighth

You were really hard on the CAT last night Ward: Ward Burton drove his Pontiac hard all weekend, bringing home his second Winston Cup win.

s

Time to catch #22: Burton jumps for joy after his Darlington win.

(Photos by SuttonImages/Martin D. Clark)

place finish in the race extended his career-long top five drought to 10 events.

Gordon’s pole appeared to give NASCAR its desired parity in qualifying, with a Chevy on pole, a Ford in second and TO ^ > D Burtons Pontiac third.

The parity contmued in the race with Pontiac, Ford and Chevy filling the first three places, so there really isn’t anymore to bitch about in regards to aerodynamics.

Now, all there is to worpi about is some side-by-side racing...

Results: W Burton (Pontiac) 128.076 mph, Jarrett (Ford), Earnhardt (Chevy), Stewart (Pontiac), Burton (Ford), Kenseth (Chevy), Hamilton (Chevy), J Gordon (Chevy), -MARTIN D.CLARK

A

' r< %

WESTERN

Auto

Raceway,the venue for the recent Australian Midget Speedcar Title plus the Victorian Sprintcar and Hot Rod Titles on March 10/11 has voluntarily appointed an adminis trator.

In the week following the triple title race meeting, Geoffrey Trewin, the Director of Western Auto Raceway Pty Ltd circulated a media release advising the close of the 1999/2000 speed way racing season as of March 13.

The remaining five sched uled night events plus the club days and The Apple

Festival Day race meetings have beep cancelled.

The basis for the decision stems from operational issues impacting Western Auto Raceway’s capacity to me^ the Moorabool Shire’s permit conditions.

At the Midget Speedcar event, the A-Main didn’t fin ish until 1.30am on Sunday — three hours after the raceway’s curfew time.

The speedway is in its first year of operation and has experienced a number of teething problems with pro gramming and operational issues affecting spectator attendances.

On March 22, the directors of Bacchus Marsh Motor Sports Pty Ltd, the company

that owns and develops all of the motorsporting facilities (including the speedway) at the Parwan South Road com plex, announced that the speedway licensee Western Auto Raceway Pty Ltd had voluntarily appointed an administrator to manage its business affairs.

A initial creditors meeting was held on Monday this week at the Hawthorn office of Dye and Rennie Chartered Accountants where the Administrator, Mr. Peter Rennie, chairing the proceedings.

At that meeting Trewin tabled a director’s report cov ering the circumstances leading up to his company’s financial position.

He believes the race calen- expectations. At the same meeting conducted on April dar of 26 scheduled speed way events for the 1999/2000 24 last year, the crowd atten season was too many, ivith a dance was approximately host of factors influencing 9500.

The Australian solo and and leading to their financial woes. sidecar motorcycle series Five race meetings wei;e meetings resulted in crowd run on the same nights as -figures that were well below Avalon expectations as well. the nearby With hindsight, fewer Speedway, two meetings clashed with events at race meetings, (in the Calder Park Raceway and region of 12 to 15), with no several other night meetings Friday night shows, no ran on the same dates as motorcycle racing and no both Avalon and Calder. events run against Avalon Two major race meetings Speedway and Calder Park were stopped by rain and Raceway combined with three other events were rain- more conservative budget effected with downpours in ing of crowd sizes may have Melbourne and nearby resulted in a more positive financial outcome reported regions.

Trewin.

In addition, the crowd fig A second creditors meeting ure for the Saturday night of the triple title meet was wiU be held in approximately approximately 3500, which two weeks with over 30 cred was 6000 below budgeted itors expected to be advised

of Western Auto Raceway’s assets and liabilities.

Mr Roger Leask, a Director of Bacchus Marsh Motor Sports Pty Ltd, has reassured all competitors plus the relevant motor sporting associations and race fans that the long term viability of the Bacchus Marsh Speedway is not in question.

“The venue will remain open for practice and hire during the winter break and a calendar of events for the 2000/2001 speedway season will be published in due course,” he said.

“In the meantime we are reviewing our licensing ai-rangements, plus meeting with representatives at the Moorabool Shire and having discussions with other motorsporting venue own ers.”

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Over and out for the moment: Western Auto Raceway has cancelled the remaining events on the 1999/2000 calendar. The last event held at the ‘WAR Zone’, the Australian Midget Title left many tired fans and fell short of expectations. (Photo byionyoiynn)

lOHN SIDNEY RACING (Australia)

19 Treforest Drive Clayton VIC 3168 p 03 9543 5064 f 03 9543 7274

38 31 March 2000 Lasoski packs the beef at Joplin DANNY Lasoski is a man on a mission.

Lasoski opened a 48point lead over Jac Haudenschild when he completed his sweep of the series’ inaugural World of Outlaws event at Joplin 66 Speedway over the weekend.

“I have to give this one to my crew,” Danny said graciously. “It real ly came down to tire selection tonight. These Hoosier tires worked really well for us.

Finishing in the top four on a preliminary night gives you the luxury of really being able to watch the track and see what’s happening.

“If we can just keep finishing in the top five and win a few, we’ll defi nitely be one of the con tenders this season.

The victory was Lasoski’s third and his fourth top-five finish in the first five “A ti Features in 2000.

Lasoski drove the #83 Beef Packers Eagle into the lead as the green flag fell in the 30-iap main event. Steve Kinser, who also had Hoosier tires on his #11 Quaker State Maxim, took over second place with an inside move past Daryn Pittman between turns one and two.

“The Dude”was a half-straightaway ahead of Kinser when he entered lapped traffic six laps into the race.

“The King of the Outlaws” narrowed the gap to ten car-lengths within two laps, but Lasoski lapped up to 10th place en route to the 26th “A” Feature victory of his Pennzoil World of Outlaws Series career.

Kinser climbed from sixth to third in the poinfstandings by fin ishing second, Blevins tied his career-best fin ish by claiming third place. Dale Blaney fin ished fourth, ahead of Dollansky, Swindell, and Randy Hannagan.

Australian Brooke Tatnell had an off race meeting, qualified a lowly 39th in the 45 car field (some 1.5s off Brian Paulus’ pole time of 14.64s) before run ning 12th in his first heat and 11th in the CMain, failing to qualify for the Feature race.

IjiS®{}®U‘SUXo)[FO

Late models for East Coast Australia?

In a Motorsport News exclusive, BRETT SWANSON reports that a group of businessman from Victoria as well as disgruntled Super Sedan racers are bringing Late Model Sedans to the East Coast DISENCHANTED with the current Australian Super Sedan scene, a group of Victorian businessmen and Super Sedan com petitors are push ing ahead with plans to introduce Late Model Sedans similar to those established a few years back in Western Australia — onto the East Coast.

A company has already been formed ^ Australian Late Models Pty Ltd (ALM) — and links have been estab- ,n fished with America’s premier Late Model Sedan chassis company GRT. In fact, Australian Late Models Pty Ltd is the Australian agent for GRT and as such a GRT “house” car is already on the water.

“Late Model Sedans can be purchased straight out of the USA ready to race for the

same price as it costs to build a Super Sedan,” said spokesman Rowan Beasley, Late However, Models are real racing cars which means they handle like a racing car should and that means closer racing, a better spectacle and more entertainment for the paying public.”

One of the other major benefits of Late Models is that being left hand drive, there is an increased level of safety for the drivers if they should hit the wall.

“It’s amazing how much support there is out there for this new division.” Beasley con tinued.

One prominent Tasmanian competitor and his car owner have already committed to the idea and will shorta ly purchase Masterbuilt chassis.

Another prominent Queensland car owner is enthralled with the idea and there has

Another Aussie V8 shoot-out; VT Commodores and AU Falcon body shapes will be encouraged with additional incen tives for those who run them as opposed to the American-based bodies as pictured to the left.

>^

' - iS>

been a lot of interest prise to see the likes of from .

Adelaide, Steve Kinser, Sammy Tasmania, Victoria, Swindell, Tony Stewart New South Wales and and Dave Blaney running a late model in Queensland. ' It’s no wonder there that event.”

Roberts, who in is a lot of support for the idea with this class recent years is better of car in the USA know as the constructor already having run of Grizzly Sprintcar races paying $166,000 Chassis and John to the winner and now Shore’s crew chief, actu the ante has been ally cut his teeth in upped to a cool sedan racing and won $1,660,000. Not even many championships in the almighty World of the USA as part of Outlaws have a race American legend Kenny that pays $1 million to Brightbill’s "N^RA win and as such, (National Dirt Racers according to Caltex Association)team.

“Joe Garrison from Havoline Racing’s Bill Roberts.

GRT has been very “It will be no sur- supportiva and when

we get this class off the gi-ound we’ll be looking to bring out a number of GRT drivers and said their cars, Beasley.

To foster the interna tional rivalry, ALM has adopted the rules of the Stars 2000 series or Have-A-Tampa rules, which is the number one Late Model series in the USA. ALM, as pai-t of its push in Australia will also have its own web site which is currently under construction.

From all reports, when Late Models were introduced in Western Australia as a direct rival to Super Sedans, the action form the Late Models was far superior despite the initially smaller fields.

Unlike the West Australian version, where engines of up to 410 cubic inches are permitted, (with weight penalties) the east coast cars will

1999-2000 S.R.A. SERIES POINTS SCORE

Australian Distributors for

Rd 8 Results, Premier Speedway 20/3/00 I. Mathew Reed, Vic 92 2. Mike Van Bremen Vic 6 3. Tim McCubbin, Vic 13

^^ RACING TIRE

four years, “We’d like to try to restrain costs and one way to do that is with engine specifications and tyre size restric tions,” Beasley explained.

“Initially we will be looking at some of the Super Sedan competi tors coming over and if they could use their current engines than that would be a sensible thing to do.”

Only professionally built cars from the of likes GRT, Masterbuilt, or Rocket will be allowed - the long term objective to build them locally under license.

In order to encour^gg promote the Australian Holden versus Ford V8 battle, there will be additional incentives for those competitors who run VT Commodore or AU bodied Falcon machines.

Stateside racing: Late Models in the USA

Where to now? Are Late Models around the corner for Super Sedan runners? (Photo by seott Graoie)

Max Oymesny Motorsport

be capped at 375 cubic inches, with a review in three to

®

For more information on Hoosier Drag and Speedway Tyres call:

NSW: 02 9679 1990 Fax 02 9679 1187 VIC 03 9331 6477 Fax 03 933f 7444 08 8332 0800 Fax 08 8364 0296 SA:

Point Standings At March 20s 2000 I. Rob Rankin, Vic 60 ....

2. Mike Van Bremen, Vic 6 3. David Swayn, Vic 20 ....

4. Tim McCubbin Vic 13 ..

5. Matthew Reed, Vic 92 ..

6. John Vogels, Vic 70 7. Ian Smith, Vic 57 8. Jeff Judd, Vic 11 9. Francis Ramsdale, Vic 21 10. David Murcott, Vic 71 ..

2305 .21 11 .2092 1823 1693 1666 1473 1288 1249

1237

A.FEATURE LAPS LEAD Rob Rankin, Vic 60

LAPS .50

David Murcott, Vic 71 ...

.45

David Swayn, Vic 20

18

Garry Chippendale Vic 43 DASH yyiNS

13 WINS

Chad Kemenah Vic 14 ..

.2

David Swayn, Vic 20 ....

David Murcott, Vic 71 ...

I

I

31 March 2000 39

1

By DAVID McNABB GARRY Brazier’s perfect scorecard in South Australia was extended on March 25 when the 27-year-old ran off with the

back in SA SOUTH

Australian Speedcar racing has been in the doldrums for quite a while but one keen sup porter is doing every thing he can to try to kick start the division back to its

Australian Sprintcar Stampede his fourth win at Speedway City in four starts this season.

Prior commitments kept Bunbury’s Ron Krikke from defending the Stampede race he won last year, but the $10,000 winner’s purse still attracted 20 entries.

Brazier began well, again dominat ing time trials with a demon lap of 11.98s, closely followed by Phil March, Andrew Scheuerle and David Anderson.

Max Dumesny’s 12.27s would have netted him third fastest but the time was disallowed as his quick lap had been recorded out of running order.

Another driver striking early trou ble was Pete Smith, who failed to register a time after tacho electrical problems kept his Twister from fir ing. However the local hero, on his last outing before retiring, proved a point later by winning both his heats - a similar scenario to another Adelaide veteran announcing their retirement. Darryl Downing’s swan song outing saw him win his first heat in record-breaking style, bump ing Mark Reuter’s name from the record books.

Other heat winners were Darryn Maggs, Darryl Wright and Dumesny who also demanded fresh ink for the record books in his last preliminary outing. Drivers dropping heats were March (who was forced to switch engines after his motor misfired), and Anderson, whose Foster suffered rear suspension damage after heavily tagging the wall in his first heat.

Tasmania’s David Murcott missed the A-Main after his Gambler lost oil pressure in the opening heat.

Dumesny began the 30 tap Stampede race from the front after winning the pole shuffle but was out-

Brazier bags another win and k $10,000 in S

gunned by Brazier at the start. The National Champion led the first six laps until dudded by traffic when Dumesny seized his chance and shot into a handy lead. \ Further back Scheuerle, Trevor Green and Maggs were holding down the next placings, with March the big mover from near the rear.

On lap 10, Reuter tangled with Victorian Francis Ramsdale, bringing out the yellows at the same time

as Anderson pulled infield with a nerf bar jammed onto his right rear t3rre.

DumesnyTed the restart for a cou ple more laps before traffic worked in Brazier’s favour and once he reclaimed the front running, was able to gradually draw away from the Victorian State Champion.

March grassed his Maxim with a handful of laps remaining, after striking brake problems.

#21 not #28:‘The Brash One’ was on the money to win the money in South Australia with his fourth win from four starts. Here he runs down the inside of Darryl Wright. Or should that be ‘stampedes’?

(Photo by Frank Midgley)

“We didn’t have time to fully sort out throttle linkages after the motor transplant,” he said. ' “The throttle stuck open during the race and I had to ride the brakes heavily-to slow down.”

Brazier stormed home to his $10,000 payday, ahead of last year’s runner-up Dumesny and Scheuerle, while fourth-placed Maggs had man aged to relieve Green of that placing at half race distance in traffic.

Green was able to bring home the Adrad Radiators J&J in fifth place, just ahead of Downing, but full credit to Brazier who currently seems able to do no wrong in Adelaide. .

Well thisbeen is my first column ofracing the century have extremely busy in all and I comers of the country as well as looking after our racing wheels, Hoosier tyres and speedway components businesses.

I finished fourth in the World Series Sprintcars title chase, which is kind of disappointing because I believe we could have gone better if I had been able to improve or hold my position in several of the feature events.

In Brisbane as the series was winding down to its finish, I was ahead of Skip Jackson in third on the pointscore. I started up at the front in one of the races and backed-up and that was disheartening, V so we dropped to fourth behind Skip.

After the WSS races we went back to Warrnambool for the Annual Sprintcar Classic where I had another eventful weekend, I ended up tipping over and having all sorts of other problems.

It was first time in ages that I didn’t make the AMain, even via the B-Main.

The following weekend it wasSpeedway the Australian Sprintcar Title at Adelaide’s City where I almost won, I was leading until Brazier got by me again. He won the title so I took second again — dej& vu. I was quite happy to be leading the race as I was driving the West Australianbased Maxim of Sean Carren. It is the ex-Danny Lasoski Beef Packers car that he used to win this years Classic.

It was back to Sydney for the $50,000 Sprinter race at Parramatta City Raceway where I qualified on the front-row next to Brazier. Unfortunately it was canned due to the wet weather which was very disappointing for all parties.

The following Saturday night we were back in Adelaide for the South Australian Sprintcar Title, where I crashed Sean’s car. It was then repaired and Robbie Farr used it to grab the $10,000 winners cheque at Bunbury several weekends ago.

Following Bunbury, I put my own Maxim

F

- BRETT SWANSON

Sealey stampedes FOLLOWING the cancel lation of round five of the Breeders Choice Formula

chassis together and took it down to Western Auto Raceway for the Victorian Sprintcar title on the Qantas Australian Grand Prix weekend. The car was awesome considering it was brand-new and I went on to score my sixth Victorian title.

Last weekend it was Adelaide where we Sprintcar were thirdStampede quickest inintime trials, but they gave us 10th, which started us up near the front in our two heats where I managed a first and a second that qualified us in fourth spot on the points tally.

In the pole shuffle for the top eight cars I got through to take pole position over Garry Brazier for the 30-lapper later in the night.

In the feature he got the start but i managed to get past him as we started running through the traffic after five or six laps. Then with 10 laps to go, he re-took the lead as we worked our way through a pack of eight lapped cars.

He got the $10,000 winners cheque but it was really intense as went through the lapped traffic, and it was a most enjoyable race with a couple of good dices.

This Saturday I’ll be running Sean’s once again atnight the final race meeting at Maxim Claremont Speedway followed by the Easter Trail that kicks off at Avalon Speedway on the Friday night. I may do a couple of shows at PCR, it just depends on how things go at the other events.

Until after the Easter Trail

Photo by Tony Loxley

former glory.

The individual in question, who wishes to remain anony mous, deserves a huge pat on the back for organising a South Australian Speedcar Championship in relatively short time.

The title is set to be run on April 8 at Speedway City thanks to the support given to the idea by the venue’s manager Wendy Turner.

The event is being spon sored Tecalemit by Australasia P/L who are manufacturers of Garage Equipment and Industrial Lube Systems.

There will be $10,000 in prize and tow money with $3,000 to the winner.

Competitors will contest two rounds of heats, a pole shuffle and then the 25 lap feature.

Super Sedans, Street Stocks and Junior Sedans will support the meeting which will conclude with a monster fireworks display.

Competitors from NSW, Victoria and Western Australia are currently being negotiated to tackle the locals.

Jason Gates and Mark Brown are just two of the guns who are very keen on contesting the championship.

500 Stampede Series at Darlington due to fire restrictions, Mount Gambier’s Grant Seadley took out round six at Portland’s Southern 500 Raceway.

Starting from fourth on the grid, Sealey grabbed the lead by the exit of turn two on the opening lap and left the field in his w^e to win by half a lap.

The battle of the race was for the remaining podium positions between Damien Lee and veteran Mark Sinclair.

Sinclair got the upper hand to take the runner-up position from Lee, with Warmambool’s Shane Hicks fourth ahead of Bill Ryan.

Series leader John Pearson failed to finish the feature with a broken throt tle cable which may prove costly in his title chase.

Pearson’s main rival in the series Darryl Willsher didn’t race in round six though and the points missed may not therefore be quite as critical come the final round in April.

Round seven of the series will be at Laang International on March 26.

40 31 March 2000

Hodges wins Toowoom ba MiComb grabs points le

FOLLOWING

an

incredible night of action and drama at Toowoomba’s Charlton Dean Raceway, McComb has now forged his way back to the front of the QSSS point standings, despite both he and arch-rival Todd Wanless failing to fin ish the event in sensa tional circumstances.

Both drivers had fought out a titanic, seesawing duel throughout the A-Main that had lasted for almost 20 frantic laps — that was until chaos erupted with the race hanging in the balance.

It all came undone in the

biggest possible way with only seven laps remaining, when a wild, multi-car crash entering turn three instantly eliminated the cars of McComb, Brock Dean and Sherri Schaffer.

But the drama continued even after the wreckage was being cleared, when Wanless — the man Chief Steward Neville Pezzutti stated was responsible for the aforemen tioned incident — was given the black flag, excluded, and subsequently pushed infield and out ofthe event.

The decision to black flag Wanless handed McComb back the series lead and Wanless will have to work extra hard from now on if he has any chance of winning back his top

f n

i

ofthe table position.

However, regardless of McComb’s and Wanless’ stunning performances in the A-Main, and the drama that ensued, the class driver on the night was in fact, Darrell Hodges.

The #5 Maxim chassis pilot showed the field — including National champ Hodges the Hurricane: Darrell Hodges simply drove aroun d them, but here he goes Garry Brazier amongst oth ers — a thing or two about underneath Wanless. (Photo by Tony Loxley) driving the high line.

Following Wanless and were the only remaining fin In fact one leading driver Brazier and Tony Bridge off three and four, most thought McComb throughout the race ishers from what was a was heard to say after wit the top four cars would sim- was Kelly and at the restai-t, superb, action-packed QSSS nessing Hodges’ perfor he led the field until Hodges, event. mance: “He made us all look ply just run away and hide.

How wrong they were. l who had come from position In victory lane, Hodges like boys out there tonight!”

In fact it was Wanless who 12, surged past on the out- summed his elation up by In simple terms, Hodges was in a class of his own for initially led from Kelly, but side and in no time had saying: “I’ve been wanting the running order changed established a commanding this for a long time, and I most ofthe night. dramatically on lap five lead. Kelly then came under can’t thank my mum and He won both his heats in spectacular fashion, took out when a red light was shown attack from Tony Bridge, who dad enough for letting me race this fantastic race car. the three-by-three Shoot-out following a violent Steve had passed both Gessner and “We wanted this one real ^Mortimer flip on turn two.

Brazier to challenge Kelly.

Dash, and ran away from the Mortimer had contacted.'

Bridge then used the same bad, and I know we can pro field in the A-Main following Clem Hoffmans, sending him tactics as Hodges, and used duced the results — this, I the demise of.the race leaders. , For Hodges and his long^he outside line to great hope, will be the end of the suffering father Rick, the finally ended on the entiy to effect, leaving Kelly to hold bad luck we’ve been having win was the icing on the cake the back straight. The Day-Glo off Gessner and Brazier — a for so long.”

Round 9 of the QSSS is at for a team that was — by pink, #6 Steve Mortimer feat he achieved despite their own admission — just Wholesale Cars/Ch 10 Eagle being under enormous pres- Archerfield Speedway on was given a thorough work-out sure for several laps, April 1, with the series finale about ready to give it away. in the crash, and the colourful Hodges remained unchal- being run at NBN Lismore Thankfully those prema ture retirement plans have driver — although well shaken lenged and went on to win Speedway on April 8. now been put aside for the and stirred — walked away from an impressive Bridge QSSS Pointscore: McComb 322; fi’om the car uninjured. and a fighting John Kelly.

Wanless 311; Gessner 310; Kelly time being, with the team now Cameron Gessner, Garry 305; Bridge 303; Hodges 293; Kruck At the restart Wanles^ nearly $3000 richer following again blasted away but Dean -grazier, consistent Ricky 286; Brazier 281; Schaffer 278; the young racer’s efforts.

Mitchell 258.

The $2500, $1,000 to win McComb, who had started Mitchell and Clem Hoffmans out of five and worked his three-by-three dash was also a Darrell Hodges benefit, way past an ailing Garry Brazier and Tony Bridge, although there was nothing in it between Drew Kruck and now started to put the.pres sure on Kelly. A lap or so Hodges going into the third later McComb blasted around and final three lap sprint.

With the team cars of Todd the outside of Kelly and then started to reel in Wanless.

Wanless and John Kelly on McComb and Wanless Gessner withstood the the front row of the 25 lap

By CHRIS METCALF then raced side-by-side, nose Main (both had swapped cars best efforts of Tony to tail looking for ways to for the night) and Garry Bridge and Todd Wanless make their moves work TOOWOOMBA young ster Cameron Gessner to move into third place until, with seven laps to go, in the series.

Is that a tear 1 spy? the two, after having just scored an impressive Darrell Hodges was a popu Drew Kruck was fourth lapped Sherri Schaffer, came feature race victory at lar winner (left) while Steve across Brock Dean. despite a damaged front Archerfield Speedway a Mortimer’s new Eagle flew In an instant Wanless axle and broken shock week earlier, with victo ... for a little while until it dived hard into the turn absorber with Darrell ry in a curfew-short crashed back down to while McComb followed Hodges fifth. ened round of the earth'. thi'ough. But he and Wanless In his first meeting QSSS. (Photos by Tony Loxley) came into contact with each back after a brief After qualifying third other, forcing the #77 Pro injury break, Dean for the (reduced to 20 Lube-sponsored driver’s front McComb charged from end to collapse, instantly laps) feature Gessner the rear of the field to sending Schaffer up and over inherited pole following finish sixth followed by Dean’s right rear wheel and a series of spectacular into the fence at full noise. opening lap crashes that Ricky Mitchell, Sherri At the same time eliminated Brock Dean Schaffer, Clem Hoffman McComb’s car felt the full and John Lawrence. and Adam McKenzie. impact of Dean’s inside rear after he had thrown his car sideways to avoid the crash.

The impact left McComb with some serious damage, and yet another sore head.

A" ' Opposite the Steward’s Box on the main straight, all hell was breaking lose, with it.

Wanless and his crew plead ing to MSAQ officials to let him restart.

His pleads went unheard and he was unceremoniously pushed infield, leaving the then series leader with steam pouring fi-om his ears and in Come fly with me: Adam McKenzie goes over and out.

(Photo by Tony Loxley) a fairly unhappy mood.

Gessner gets round seven

31 March 2000 41

Clarke clinches NSW title

By WADE AUNGER

ADAM

Clarke

swooped on every opportunity to win the 1999/2000 NSW Spe edcar Championship at Parramatta City Raceway on March 18.

“The Hunter Valley Hurricane” guest-drove the #13 Smith and Woods machine (his #76 Infinity was still dam aged from the Australian title the weekend before) and took little time to dial himself in during the 30 lap main, despite having to stai-t from the rear.

Clarke required two starts after a plug lead fell off and it began to miss as the field formed up for the feature.

“He pulled up on the edge of the track in turn four hoping that one of us would notice and fortunately we did.

It’s very unusual for a plug lead to come off with that motor config uration so I’m a bit baf fled,” said Adam’s father Roger after the event.

Two time defending champ Steven Graham

and live-wire ‘thirtysomething’ racer Brett Morris were both sent to the tail after sepa rate incidents and faced the difficult task of blasting back through to the front.

The luck wasn’t with Troy Jenkins. Motor problems in the #6 Dominator Engines machine prevented him from competing in a heat, and he started the BMain from the back before limping home in second with a bad misfire.

This was despite a mercy dash to the nearby

Guildford workshop for a spare magneto midway tlu-ough the meeting, The opposite was the case for Ian Black, who is something of a revelation this summer, Driving the potent #11 Smith & Woods Fontana, he leads the Track Championship (a collective pointscore between PCR and Newcastle) and he started strongly from pole in the feature but Craig Brady sizzled into the lead with the Esslinger and looked very much like-the man to beat.

Feeling lucky: Adam Clarke (right) stepped out of his green machine to the #13. He can’t be superstitious ...

Jason Gates meanwhile, chased Clarke hard but had to settle for a strong second.

Despite the high level of restarts the former pint-sized Aussie champ would steam away at every green and open up a sizeable advantage.

Going into turn one on one occasion though the Esslinger

Mr Speid wins and nils it n day

MATTHEW Reed majrhave won round eight of the SRA Hoosier Series at Premier Speedway, Warrnambool, but he shocked media and fans alike with the announce ment that the race would likely be his last.

“It’s really great to win, but to be honest I wasn’t even coming down tonight. My crew had to beg and hoUer to get me down here and I guess now I’m glad I came,” he said.

“Tonight is possibly my last night in Sprintcars. I have other things in my life that are more impor tant.”

Rain curtailed the feature race forcing officials to declare the race. After a short deliberation Reed was declared the winner ahead of Mike Van Bremen and Tim McCubbin.

Van Bremen though was fortxmate to take the runnerup spot.

During a red light stop page early in the race, the-

then race leader had smoke pouring from his engine and was fortunate to finish when the race resumed.

With three laps left to run Van Bremen was delayed after contact between Peter Telford and John Vogels, both of whom he was about to lap.

He slowed momentarily anticipating an accident, but somehow Telford landed on all four wheels and the splitsecond it took for all this to go on was enough for Reed to blast by.

“The motor felt great for the first few laps, but after that we were struggling.

I’m just rapt it lasted to the end and we were able to get second, said Van Bremen, Local Darren Walsh continned his horror run when he rode the wheel of Telford and came to rest upside down in the turn three/four fence on lap three.

Walsh has finished upside down in the same spot in his last four outings...

Rob Rankin still holds onto the SRA series lead despite failing to finish the feature race when the front left the wheel departed McCallum-owned car on lap seven.

Van Bremen sits second with David Swayn third ahead of McCuhbin and Reed.

Vogels, Ian Smith, Jeff Judd, Francis Ramsdale and David Murcott round out the top ten pointscorers.

Reigning SRA champion Judd was another to go away from the meeting with a damaged car.

He flipped during heat three when he got the car up on two wheels. With his foot firmly planted to the floor, the right rear dug in and sent the car towards the wall in a ferocious flip.

The new-for-season 99/00 car was totally destroyed.

The ninth round of the series will be held at Simpson Speedway on April 1.

coughed a cloud of blue smoke, and the situation would linger for the next ten laps, occasionally growing worse.

Morris moved to the top four where he bus ied himself with the challenge of passing Bishop.

Going into turn one though he tagged Bishop and rolled reasonably gently, bringing on the red lights.

This senriboth dri vers to the tSil with Morris remarkable escaping any signifi cant damage.

Inside ten laps reniairiing, Brady slowed dramatically at turn four and left Steven Graham with no option but to rear end him, stalling the #14 machine in the process.

This sent the defend ing champ to the tail.

Brady broke a valve guide earlier in the event (hence the smoke) and it eventually led to a dropped valve.

“We knew that it was going to be a problem but we hoped the motor would hang on because the car felt so good and the track wasn’t really a big horsepower deal,” said a dejected Brady.

“I thought we had them tonight.”

Ian Black assumed the lead position — imtil Gates made his play.

Clarke and (iates passed Black, and Morris was on a mis sion.

He sliced through the field to amazingly come back to fourth, with Black only metres ahead.

Clarke started to get really loose with only three laps remaining, and Gates had a couple of serious attempts at getting by.

Morris edged Black out of the top three to claim a fantastic third place, though he looked like he’d worked for it after the race.

Black placed fourth, with Darren Jenkins fifth and Steven Graham swashbuck ling his way back to sixth.

Shayne Alach disap pointingly suffered a flat right rear tyre and withdrew from the event before the che quers flew.

“I knew someone was back there but I didn’t realise it was Jason,” said Clarke.

“I tried it up high myself a few times and realised there wasn’t much up high so I stayed on the bottom and hoped that whoev er was in second couldn’t get enough bite to go by.”

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n While Jason Loveday took out the final round of the Tucker Time Series 2000 for Formula 500s at Horsham’s Blue Ribbon Raceway, Luke Dillon managed to win the series.

Loveday led the feature race from lap two and was never headed to the che quered flag ahead of Tasmanian Kane Cruse, Dillon, and Darryl Willsher, after Dillon had won round seven ofthe series at Western Speedway, Hamilton on the proceeding evening.

Final pointscore; Dillon 409; Cruse 358; Willsher 325; Ian Burrows 274; Trevor Harding 260; Lindsay Trotter 208; Darren Mollenoyux 197; Barry Burrows 191; Garry Bruce 179, Michael Wise 161. n Victorian Mark Weaver continued his dominating form with vic tory in the 2000 Trailer Ads AMCA Nationals title at Nyora Raceway.

With a total of 40 entries featuring every state champion bar Western Australia, the competition level was high throughout 15 heats.

Queenslander Wayne Lemon and Tasmanian Will Turvey transferred into the A-Main but they, and the 16 other runners, couldn’t keep pace with Weaver over the 30 laps.

Even despite a number of caution periods, Weaver simply dominated and pulled away over the last seven laps to win fi-om fel low Victorian Chris Campbell and John Cartwright.

The latter however was stripped of a podium fin ish by scrutineers for an irregulai-ity, promoting Euan Sell to thii’d, making it a Big V1-2-3. n Steve Agars won his second SA V6 Sprints Championship in three years after he took victory in the 20 lap final at WhyaUa Speedway on March 18.

Agars, in the Cut Price Auto Rentals Murphy, started the final on pole after six heat races and when he beat outside front row starter Craig Van Der Stelt into the firet turn he was never headed,leading all the way to the che quered.

Unfortunately for Van Der Stelt he retbred with overheating problems at the half way mark while 19 -year old Ben Wiese was able to finish in sec ond behind Agars.

42 31 March 2000 San Remo date change THE Sanremo Rally, Italy’s round of the World Championship, will take place one week later than originally scheduled.

It will now be held from the 19th to the 22nd of October.

The move is to avoid the feast day for the patron saint of the area, San Romolo, but Automobile Club Sanremo is apparently keen to avoid running at the weekend as well to minimise the risk of spectator problems.

It is also possible that the rally might consist of as few as four different special stages, each of them run three times in the course of three days.

Sfatey joins Possum Cx-Ordynski navigator repia€es Vingont POSSUM Bourne starts

New Citroen WRC flies CITROEN’S brand new Xsara T4 World Rally Car convincingly won the Lyon-Charbonnieres Rally, the first round of the French

Any dis-ad-Vantage: No Craig Vincent- will Possum make it five with Mark Stacey?

Championship.

Last year’s Catalunya and Tour de Corse win

AFTER his 11th retirement in 12

ner, Philippe Bugalski, the French Champion for the past two years, brushed the privateer opposition aside to clinch a hand some victory and set fastest times on 14 of the rally’s 15 stages.

'The car’s less physical and more fun to drive than the kit car of last year. I believe it’s got a.great future,” Bugalski said.

The new Citroen won’t contest a round of the World Rally Championship until 2001, with the team planning a full championship attack in 2002.

- PETER WHITTEN

Colin frustrated Photo bv- Siirton-fmagea

rallies, Colin McRae is find ing it hard to remain motivat ed at the moment, but has renewed his commitment to winning the World Championship for Ford as spec ulation groivs that he could be on the move when his contract expires at the end of the season.

The 31-year-old Scot led the Rally ofPortugal in the early stages, only to run into power steering trouble, lose fifth and sixth gears and

then retire when a connect ing rod punched a hole in his Focus’s engine block.

“It’s getting to a very hard stage now. You almost expect it to happen and that’s bad,” he commented.

“I stm very much want to win the World Champion ship and at this stage of my

career, it’s not a question of how much you’re being paid.

Ijust want a car that can do that. I hope we can do it with the Focus, because I’m very happy with the team set-up.

“Ijust hope they can sort it out, but time is running out,” he said.

-PE’TER WHITTEN

his Australian Rally Championship defence in Perth this weekend (April 1 and 2) with a new co driver.

After winning the last four national rally titles with Craig Vincent, Bourne will contest the 2000 ARC season with vet eran Mark Stacey at his side in the Subaru Impreza WRC. Vincent, a director of Team Subaru sponsor Vantage International, has had to leave the best seat in Australian rallying to manage his expanding business com mitments.

Bourne considered that selecting the right person to replace Vincent was critical to his aspirations of winning a fifth consecutive Driver’s Championship.

“The teamwork between driver and co-driver is the most vital element of rally ing,” Bourne said.

“The reason for our run of success is that we’ve got a great car and a great team, and Craig and I worked together brilhantly. I’m soiry to lose him but I have no doubt that Stace (Mark Stacey) and I can operate together at the same level.”

Stacey is Australia’s most experienced co-driver. He has spent years working with Ed Ordynksi, a season with Michael Guest and last year sat in several cars, including that of Cody Crocker in Canberra.

“Stace fitted into our team really well at the Rally of Capberra and that experi ence, and his own outstanding record, made him an obvious choice.”

For his part Stacey is delighted.

“SubaiTi are without doubt the most professional rally operation in this country.

“Their record speaks for itself - the last four outright titles and two Group N titles have belonged to them,” Stacey said.

“Possum is an incredible talent, totally professional and easy to work with.

“Operating in the Group A car will be a new experience for me with things happening a httle quicker than what I’ve been used to in the Group N cars.”

Subaru’s Group N cam paign vfill once again be led by the wirmers of the last two production class champi onships, Cody Crocker and his co-driver, Greg Foletta.

They will face a strong challenge from Group N vet eran Ed Ordynski, but will have a new Impreza WRX to help them in their title defence.

Tossirm has been building the new car for us at his workshop and we are really looking forward to taking it out and testing it ready for the Forest Rally,” Crocker said.

“We know we are in for a tough year but Greg and I are really looking forward to lock ing horns with Ed and the other Group N guys and, hopefully, coming out on top.”

Last year Bourne became the fii-st man to win fom- con secutive ARC titles, but he has now set his sights on equalling Ross Dunkerton’s record of five Championship victories.

“Getting level with Ross is certainly the motivation this year,” Bourne said.

“I know it won’t be easy.

Neal (Bates) has obviously spent the summer working on his car and they will be des perate to come out early and beat us. But we also have done a lot of little things to the car which I know will make it better.”

iiiiii gets i licking Pinker third in Wales

FOUR-times World Rally Champion Tommi Makinen has been honoured in his native Finland with his own postage stamp.

The set of two stamps show Tommi hard at work behinu the wheel of his Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution, in action on a stage from Rally of Finland 1999.

At the launch of the stamps in Helsinki, 35-year-old Makinen said: “I am very proud to be a Finnish sportsman with my own stamp. I think this is a very unique honour for Mitsubishi and myself.”

A total of 2.5 million stamps are being produced, with a limited-edition run of first-day covers already sold out.

- PETER WHITTEN I mage by RaceAccess

'.J 10SO 1MJB

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p.hotw o.P.P.T^ LiWJKuvaOy

Lick the back of a Champion; Tommi has his own stamp.

ANDREW Pinker has debuted strongly in his RallyCorpentered Hyundai Kit Car in the opening round of this year’s British Rally Championship, taking third in class behind the leading works Vauxhall Astras of Mark Higgins and Neil Wearden.

Tinker’s team-mate Jarmo Kytolehto retired from the event and Pinker’s run wasn’t without its prob lems but the young Perth flyer was impressive when the car was run ning well, finishing 13th outright with many of the leading Group N four-wheel-drive turbos finishing between him and the Vauxhalls.

The British title is only open to two-wheel-drive F2 cars so Pinker has picked up valuable points in the opening round.

Pinker was beaten home by the Super 1600 Proton of Mats Andersson who finished 10th but, as the Hyundai pilot comes to grips with his new charge, he will increase his speed and should be an outright contender.

-JON THOMSON In the Pink; Andrew Pinker finished third in class in Wales. (Photo by sutton-images)

0.

3l M' drch2000

43

Suber stars

Richard Burns debuted Subaru's latest WRC car in Portugal and ^on^ taking the series lead. And iVlichael Guest won 12for Hyundai.JON RICHARD Bums has shot to the top of the World Championship with anoth er gritty and determined drive to win the Rally de Portugal.

By securing victory after a tense battle with Peugeot’s Marcus Gronholm, Burns gave Subaru’s new P2000 Impreza a stunning debut.

Gronholm again showed both the potential of the Peugeot 206 (and his own as a contender in the WRC)with a fine second,just 6.5s behind Burns, while Carlos Sainz had his best result for Ford so far this year with third.

Michael Guest had a great run in his first F2 drive for Hyundai, the NSW driver dominating the class to win by 29 minutes to add the class win to his previous Group N victories in New Zealand.

But while the ‘New Generation’ drivers were set ting the standard, the old guard struggled. Tommi Makinen started with a wrong tyre choice and climbed to eighth with some top three stage times before he damaged the suspension on stage nine, limping out to retire.

After winning the opening Super Stage, Colin McRae had power steering problems, then lost fifth and sbrth gears before the engine let go. putting the Ford driver on an early plane home to Monaco, Juha Kankkunen was the fii'st hig name to go out, crashing his Subaru on stage fom’.

Red Hot and Blue: Burns was invincible in Portugal, dominating the event. Guest (below) was the man to beat in F2, taking his maiden win for new employer Hyundai. Volkswagen Motorsport’s Tapio Laukkanen had no such luck in his Golf (left).

ir --i n i'

f*

Despite Guest’s form, it was a hard day for Hyundai’s WRC team. Alistair McRae stopped eally with transmission failure and Kenneth Eriksson’s rally ended on stage 14 with an under bon net fire in the Hyundai, possibly caused by fluid from a broken clutch, But it was all Burns. He gained the upper hand almost immediately, winning the first four proper stages to build a 40s lead before power steering problems of his own

n

cost lm20s, dropping him to third behind Gronholm and Sainz.

“I thought we could make some top times, but we are lucky that Richard had trou ble, but anything can happen, just like it happened to Richard,” said Gronholm.

After his trials on Day 1 Burns stormed the opening stages on Day 2, three fastest times taking him ahead of Sainz and within 12s of Gronholm.

“It’s more than I expected, I

prophetically.

Sure enough, Gronholm snatched the lead back on the penultimate stage of the day thanks to his trail of dust which slowed Burns, setting up a dramatic final leg.

Burns started the short third leg with a 14.6s deficit and took 12.5s off Gronholm on the first stage, and another 3.8s on the second to grab the lead with two stages to go.

The Subaru driver then reeled off another fastest stage times on the final test to grab the win by 6.5s.

“I was confident I could do it, I was pushing hard all the way, driving as hard as I could on every stage.

“There ai-e Subaru Impreza P2000 4:25:47:1 1 Bums/Reid still 10 raUies 4:25:48:8 2 Gronholm/Rautiainen Peugeot 206 WRC to go and a 4:27:41:4 Ford Focus WRC 3 Sainz/Moya1 4:28:42:1 lot will hap 4 RovanpeiWPietilainen Toyota Corolla VVRC 4:29:31:4 Peugeot 206 WRC pen, but we 5 Deleoour/Grataloup Mitsubishi Carisma GT 4:32:58:2 6 Loix/Smeets have a very 4:33:08:3 Skoda Octavia WRC 7 Schwarz/Heimer good car.” #4:31:34:0 8 Martin/Park Toyota Corolla WRC said Burns 4:33:47:4 9 Gardemeister/Lukander SEAT Cordoba WRC after the final 4:38:00:6 SEAT Cordoba WRC lOAuriol/Giraudet stage. # includes 90s penalty Sainz DRIVERS POINTS could not Bums 22, Makinen/Gronholm 16, Sainz 13, Kankkunen 11, McRae/Auriol 4. challenge the two ahead of MANUFACTURERS POINTS him but Subaru 35, Mitsubishi/Peugeot 20, Ford 17, SEAT 7, Skoda 5. thought we could have Carlos for breakfast, but didn’t expect it to be this good,” he said.

By stage 17 Bums was back in front, dodgy shock absorbers slowing Gronholm on stage 16 and 17.

But Burns was at a disad vantage. The rally was delayed by an early accident to a back marker, a problem which would cause the final three stages of Day 2 to be run in near-darkness.

“If they run the stages it’s a big advantage to Marcus as he’s first on the road. It will be very dusty and in the dark that could hand him a 30s advantage,” said Burns

Results PORTUeAL RALLY WRG Round 4

’W<7fJAr>»CAft

No flash in the pant Once again, Marcus Gronholm’s Peugeot impressed.

brought the suiwiving Ford Focus home a strong third to go third in the Championship.

“A podium finish is a podi um finish which is good, I think it has been good, but obviously the new Subaru looks incredibly fast, and Richard too,” said the Spaniard.

Harri Rovanpera brought the private Corolla home in fourth, ahead of Francois Delecour in the second Peugeot. The French team, with the Manufacturer’s title its objective was the only team to get two cars in the points.

Markko Martin (Corolla) was sixth in spite of a number of problems, but was then bumped down the leader board to eighth with a 90s penalty for topping up the car’s brake fluid in service.

Martin’s bad luck lifted Freddy Loix to sixth place, sal vaging something for Mitsubishi.

Armin Schwarz picked up the final Manufacturers point for Skoda - their third points scoring outing ofthe season.

The Championship now moves on to the all-tarmac Catalunya Rally in Spain later this month.

44 31 March 2000

3Brabhams

LA Scala may have The Three Tenors, but Adelaide has The Three Brabhams appearing for the first time in the Historic Formula One Race of Legends at this year’s Clipsal 500 meeting.

For the first time in the history of motor racing, race fans will have the unique opportunity to see The Three Brabhams race together in one event driving cars bearing the family name.

Sir Jack Brabham holds a unique place in motor racing history, having been the first and only man to win a world championship in a car of his own design and construction. The feat was achieved in 1966-the year Sir Jack won his third F1 world title as well as the constructors’ championship.

For the race through the streets of Adelaide, Sir Jack will be reunited with a Brabham BT24/3 FI chassis built in 1967 by the Brabham Racing Organisation as a spare car. In that year Denny Hulme narrowly won the world title from his boss while the Brabham team won back to back constructors’ titles.

This spare chassis became an experimental car for Brabham on which he attached a ‘jet style’ perspex canopy for the GP at Monza. Although helping to improve straight-line speed, the device was discarded because it impeded cornering vision.

BT24/3 was then raced by a young Austrian, Jochen Rindt, and was driven by Dan Gutney in the Dutch GP. Neither driver achieved any success in the car and in 1969 it was sold to Frank Williams, whose driver,'Piers Courage contested the Tasman Series winning atTeretonga and finishing third overall in the series.

Grand Prix driver Silvio Moser campaigned BT24/3 for much of the 1969 FI season, and after being out of circulation for a number of years it has reappeared with Seattie enthusiast John Dimmer. Currently BT24/3 is being rebuilt for Sir Jack at ‘Pete’ Lovely’s workshops in the USA (even down to the original Brabham livery of green and gold) in readiness for the Adelaide race.

Joining Sir Jack on the grid will be his oldest and youngest sons, Geoff and David Brabham, both of whom have carved out impressive international reputations in the sport.

Geoff Brabham based his motor racing career in the USA for almost 20 years. He has contested several Indianapolis 500 races, won the I MSA GTP Championship four times, the Sebring 12-hour race twice and the CanAm Championship in 1981.

He was voted ‘American Driver of the Year’ in 1988 and won the Le Mans 24-hour for Peugeot in 1993.

David Brabham started his career in Australia winning the Drivers’ Championship in 1987. He moved to Europe, winning the 1989 British F3 championship and the Macau Grand Prix. In 1991 he won the Spa 24-hour race, and teamed with brother Geoff to win the 1997 Bathurst 2-litre race in a BMW 320i.

David currently drives for the American PanozTeam at Le Mans and will return to Adelaide in December for the Le Mans sports car race on New Year’s Eve around the old FI Grand Prix track.

The Three Brabhams will drive in one race only at the Clipsal 500 meeting (April 14-16). The event will be the Race of Legends scheduled for 12.05pm, Saturday 15 April and will include several other international entries, some of whom will be making a welcome return to Adelaide after the inaugural event last year.

%

I

ustralia Day

By BRIAN REED

AUSTRALIAN Specials were centre of attention in this year’s TattersalTs Historic Demonstrations at the Qantas Australian Grand Prix - a fit ting tribute to the skill and ingenuity of our pioneer racers, and an opportunity for those who have lovingly restored and raced these creations to show case them in front of an enthu siastic pubhc at Albert Park.

Back in the early years of last century, Australia’s geographic iso lation from the rest of the world meant that if our forebears wanted to race they generally had to build their own cars. Later, World War 2 led to a serious shortage of raw materials and when peace was restored Aussie innovation again emerged as a key factor in restart ing motor racing in this country.

The TattersalTs Historic Demonstrations were a fitting trib ute to our motor racing pioneers Eldred Norman, the Chamberlain brothers, ‘Charhe’ Dean and many others who are now household names in the annals of Australian motor racing history.

The most famous of all Australian ‘specials’- the Maybach took part,,driven by its owner and custodian Bob Harborow. This amazing car began life as a German half-track scout car whose military campaign in the African desert was ended by a British shell.

After the Australian Army had investigated it, the scout car fin ished up in a wrecker’s yard in Melbourne where it attracted the interest of Repco’s chief engineer,

May Day: The fabulous Maybach (at left, with Stan Jones racing at Parramatta) and Peter Giddings’ Lago Talbot pose at Albert Park.

(Photo by Brian Reed)

Lago Talbot GP, and British enthusiast Bill Morris with his E.R.A.C-Type had been invited to give race fans an idea of the sorts of cars our Australian ‘specials’ raced against in their heyday.

Unfortunately the overseas cai-s had a disastrous weekend. Clive Charlie Dean. The wreck was pur- gearbox, Studebaker front suspen- Smith pranged the replica chased for £40 and the powerful sion and Lancia differential that Maserati 250P (and somehow con 4.3 litre engine became the basis of went oS^to win the 1954 New tinued to drive the car back to the a home-grown ‘special’ with Fiat Zealand Grand Prix against the pits with all four' wheels pointing might of Ferrari driven by in different directions!), the Englishman Peter Whitehead, Maserati 250F for Sir Stirling Tony Gaze in his H.W.M., three Moss and the B.R.M. H16 didn’t eventuate, and the E.R.A. of Bill Cooper Bristols and a B.R.M. The late Doug Whiteford, three Moi-ris suffered serious engine ail times winner of the Australian GP, ments at Phillip Island the week also campaigned a famous end before. Even Peter Giddings Australian ‘special’ known as had troubles, but in spite of gear‘Black Bess.’ It was a Ford V8 selection problems was able to con Special that took Whiteford to his tinue.

Regular visitor to the AGP., maiden AGP victoiy at Nuriootpa, Stirling Moss returned for his S.A. in 1950 and these days is dri ven by Frank Moore of annual pilgrimage downunder but this time with a slightly differ Queensland.

Another of our most famous one- ent name. Almost four decades off cars was the 1935 Kleinig after his incredible racing career Hudson Special which had been ended with a near fatal accident at Goodwood, Moss was honoured originally based on an MG L chas sis and was later fitted with a with a knighthood in this year’s Give me a Wink: Doug Partington and his 78-year-old Ford f supercharged Miller 8 motor from honours list. During his cai-eer Sir Model-powered Wikner Special at Calder. (Photo by snan Reed) Stirhng drove 84 different types of the USA. In this guise it dominat cars, and won 222 of the 496 ed at Penrith Speedway, but fol lowing a big accident was rebuilt events he contested, yet the World as the Kleinig Special powered by a Driver’s Championship somehow 4-litre Hudson engine for the 1938 eluded the winner of 16 Grands Prix.

AGP at Bathurst.

As usual, Moss had a busy The car was dogged with ANOTHER Australian ‘specif’ raced by Captain Geoff Wikner mechanical troubles and history schedule signing countless auto from 1922 to 1925 at Penrith that has just emerged after repeated itself this year at Albert graphs, posing for photos and Speedway, Gendgong Beach, being lovi.ngly restored is the Park, reducing the Kleinig Hudson chatting to lots of fans in between Kiama and the Oljinpia Wikner Ford Special, a driving Mike Trengove’s 1956 WM Special to a static display piece.

Speedway at Mai-oubra. Apart modified Model T chassis built Waggott Holden Spl. and Tim The gremlins attacked several from his motor racing exploits, Byrne’s beautifully built H.W.M. other Aussie icons including Geoff originaly m Leura, NSW by Wiknei' was a pioneer Australian Russell’s 1945 Russell Morris Spl. Jaguar replica. The H.W.M. cer Geoff and Roy Wikner way aviator whose stoiy is told in the and the ex-Lou Molina Monza tainly made an impression on the back in 1922. book ‘Flight of the Halifax.’

Sports - at least the huge crowds racing legend - and Moss left, his Powering the car is a 1918 As a young motoi'sports that were drawn like magnets to impression on the car when he Model T engine with a lajo enthusiast Doug Paitington the Historic Garages throughout selected neutral instead of first overhead valve conversion, Bosch purchased the Wikner Ford Special the four-day carnival had the gear and was duly thumped by a DU4 magneto and a Stromberg in 1958 for the princely .sum of£14 following paidicipant! opportunity to see these master M3 carburettor with a suitably and tucked it aw'ay in his shed as a To the delight of the crowd Sir pieces of ingenuity close up on modified oiling system. The lutui'(‘ pnject.'flic remains ofthe Stirling Moss was then chauffered show. powerplant i.s linked to a standard car apjjeared on a trailer in a rather Not all cars in the field of 36 around the Albert Park track on Model T two-speed planetary Sony state at the Hi.storic \Mnton were Australian Specials. Several, Sunday morning in the latest open transmission and difl’erential, and meeting, but nttei'a total rebuild is top Aston Martin as part of the such as Clive Smith’s newly con now a reality. this impressive looking ‘special’ structed Maserati 250F lookalike, Exotic Car Parade. No newcomer sits on 23-inch Budd centre lock Its proud owner gave the rock idol Nick Mason’s B.R.M. H16 to the marque. Moss achieved wire wheels fitted with 30" x 31^2" Wikner Fold Special il.-i first from England, a 250K Maserati for great success as a works driver for beaded edge tyres. outing at the VHRR’s Practice Day Sir Stirling Moss, globetrotting Aston Martin in the late fifties in at Calder on .lanuaiy 30 this year.

The Wikner Ford Special was Peter Giddings aboard his 1947 long distance spoi-ts car races.

illy

t

31 March 2000

45

State champs a family outing Briefly Karting

By MARK WICKS

n Ryan Briscoe suffered gearbox problems at the second round of the Italian Championships at Pomposa.

Running in the 125cc Formula C geai’box class, Briscoe qualified eighth after his gearbox broke on his hot lap. Briscoe made a blinding start in the first final moving to second in the first comer before finishing sixth.

The second final saw Briscoe finish fourth, experiencing gearbox problems.

He finished the round equal fourth, tied on points with his Tony Kart team mate Davide Ford.

WHILE brothers Michael and Ralf Schumacher may have taken first and third in the Australian Grand Prix, the Douglas brothers — Jess and Taz — went better than that at the Victorian Championships tak ing a win a piece!

Jess, 19, took victory in Clubman Heavy while younger brother Taz, 16, won Junior Clubman.

The brothers have been karting since 1996 when Jess took up the sport as a junior after his dirt bike had been stolen, purchasing a National class kart from a family friend.

Jess quickly moved to seniors and last year won both the Victorian Country Series and the Melbourne Star Series in Clubman Heavy before claimmg the State Championship at Oakleigh last month.

“I think Dad wanted to keep us off the streets,” said Jess about his begin nings in the sport - his father Stewart a former Sports Sedan racer.

“I’m always out in the shed working on the karts,” “I do Taz’s too. I want to make sure it is all right and spend a lot of time on them.”

' ' n

Brothers in karts: Taz Douglas took up the sport in 1996 after he had his dirt

bike stolen. They can’t catch him now ... (Photo by Sean Henshelwood) Both brothers came under immense pressure from seasoned campaigners to win their respective finals at Oakleigh.

Taz was hounded the entire distance of the Junior Clubman final by Jace Lindstrom.

“I wasn’t really thinking about him behind me,” said'Taz. “I had low tyre pressures but Jess

While Taz will race Junior Intercontinental A in this year’s CIK them up before the race and the series, Jess has no immediate plans kart didn’t come on the whole race.”

Despite his grip problem, Taz to compete, preferring to maybe do some other state championships im 'fought back after Lindstrom manClubman Heavy and' the local aged to get by on the final lap only Formula K series. for Douglas to re-pass at the pit cor“I’d like to race (CIK) too, but it’s too ner.

Similarly, Jess had a very experiexpensive. I like to help and see Tq,z do well, Taz could, in fact, move to Seniors enced pursuer the entire race. Clubman this year, but will give JICA one more expert Ben Savage the only other driver in the field capable of matching Douglas goWeve got a good Italsistem engine in the final, for juniors, so I’ll run another year in But the meeting didn’t start out Juniors instead of buying more that way for the Azzurro-mounted driver. engines.

On Thursday I was a bit slow — three to four tenths off. That night I pulled the kart to bits and talked to Kevin (McKinnon, engine builder) and Mike (Skinner, chassis distribu tor). I didn’t know what to do (for set up).

“On Friday it was a lot easier to drive and thought I might be in the top ten arid then I poled it, so I just left the kart the way it was.”

Douglas won the start in the final and didn’t crumble under pressure, pulling away from Savage for a number of laps to win.

What of the future? Both brothers have their karting plans for 2000 which include the Victorian Formula K series and the Nationals, while Taz will take in the CIK series in JICAwith Jess and John Gleeson as the mechanics.

While both have ambitions of going further in the sport, they have also expressed an interest in having a steer of their father’s Holden EH Sports Sedan.

“I’d like to get into cars some where,” said Jess, “but Sports Sedans are not really the place to get noticed. Formula Ford would be good but with Dad’s business and work its a big ask.”

There’s no harm in asking...

Big brother can do it just as well: Not quite as much head-leaning as his brother, but Jess Douglas’ style still works. Formula Ford is next on his list after karting.

(Photo by Sean Henshelwood)

i

You’re invited to be part of Australia’s fastest growing motor sport Why not see what it's all about for yourself? Attend a race meeting at your local club and talk to the drivers and crew. There are classes to suit almost everyone from 7 years to 77 +.

Midgets 7-11 years Rookies 10 - 12 years Juniors* 12-16 years in TWO weight divisions Seniors* Over 10 classes of varying power & driver weights to choose from. * Other more powerful classes available for experienced racers.

n Qantas-sponsored Phillip Cheng recently won the Santos Corporate Kart Challenge at the Albert Park Australian Grand Prix.

Trevor Marmalade (in lucky kart number 13)of “The Footy Show”fame placed 12th out of 28 starters. n Troy Hunt has already received his first promotion in international karting.

Hunt, originally to be Top Kart’s official Formula A entry, has now been confirmed as one ofthe company’s Super A drivers alongside Belgian Bruno Vroomen.

Hunt will continue with Comer engines and Bridgestone tyres.

n In what is shaping up to be one of the richest stand alone karting events in this country, the JJ McDonald & Sonssupported Townsville Great Barrier Reef Kart Prix is offering a $10,000 cash prize to the winner ofthe combined Formula A/Intercontinental A race.

Junior Intercontinental A will race for a $5000 prize pool.

n Drew Price Engineering in association with Bridgestone have agreed to invest sponsorship dollars into the promotion ofthis year’s CIK Championships.

The first of the four rounds is at Bolivar, South Australia, on May 6

and 7.

-MARK WICKS

Yamaha is “yee haw”for titles National Championships are not at a disadvantage, the deci sion was made to add Formula Yamaha.” ’This effectively means that drivers who may have aban doned the Nationals will now be able to contest the Formula Yamaha classes with their existing Clubman engines.

Many competitors believe the Yamaha KTIOOS vrill not be competitive at the Nationals.

'This has in turn promoted a further rush of orders for new ARCs and thus the ciu-rent shortage.

'The decision to reintroduce Formula Yamaha is a one-off for the natiorral champi onships only and the AKA indicated the class would not be automatically approved for other events during the year.

-MARK WICKS

THE Australian Karting Association (AKA) has re introduced the Formula Yamaha classes for the 2000 National champi onships.

Formula Yamaha Light, Heavy, Super Heavy and Juniors will be added to the existing 12 classes that will contest the Nationals at Mount Gambler over Easter.

In a prepared statement, the AKA said the decision came about “due to the unex pected popularity of the ARC watercooled engine since its introduction into Clubman.”

‘Demand has exceeded sup ply and there has been a short age of the ARC watercooled engine in some states. To ensure that competitors who have not been able to piuchase the watercooled engine for the

Meet two Northern Territory karters DOB

27 March 1986

Club

Darwin Karting Association Class Junior Clubman Commenced racing in August 1998 in junior National Class 1999 R/Up Club Championship series over 5 rounds.

R/Up Pointscore series over 4 rounds. First Interclub Challenge over 4 rounds 2000 junior Clubman - first round of the Championship 1st.

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Donri#'^ VIC 03 9362 1144 www.vka.asn.au Flsh^

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DOB 6 January 1990 Club Darwin Karting Association Class Rookies Commenced January 1999 in Midget 1999 First Club Championship Series over S rounds. First Piontscore Series over 4 rounds. Third NT State Championships.

Club Rookie of the year. Second Tennant Creek Grand Prix 2000 Rookie Class - First in the first round of the Club

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48 30 March 2000

CLASSIFIED

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Motorsport.News Classifieds are FREE for private sales. Classifieds from motor sport traders are accepted (marked with a #)and must be prepaid, at the following per issue rates: $5 per 10 words (min $10 per ad), photo $10. Further enquiries to our advertising department.

Sed^iis/Sports Cars

V8Supercar VS Commodore, as raced '99, complete rolling chassis less eng and gearbox. $39,000. Ideal Lites/SheO Series car, 018 Perkins chassis, never crashed.

Centre lock wheels(2 sets), air jacks, current log book, major spares package included. Ph Mike Imrie 0418 551 170. m Gemini Coupe Sports Sedan, rolled, eight 16" wheels and tyres, big brakes $4500, Rover 3.5 thick wrb s.motor, new heads $1250. 2 new steel AP four spots $400. Ph 02 6732 3353 BH. ,77 VK Group A, Ex-Perkins Enzed '97 car. New 4 bolt bot tom end and Super T10 box. Harrop 9" diff (fully floating), front struts and brakes. $18,500. Ph 0418 339 004 BH or 03 6393 7034 AH. 177 Holden Monaro HG Group Nc, one meeting old, high HP 350 Chev (James Race Engines) best presented Group N car at recent Phillip Island Histories. No expense spared.

Ph Jeremy 03 9425 9443 BH or 0418 545 185. 177 Subaru WRX STi ‘99, 1 of 40, 2 door, damaged front right and dent on RH quarter panel, will supply most parts, Ph 0415 499 600. 177

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J Toyota Celica, new paint, CRX Honda seats, 5 speed, twin carbs. $4,000ono. Ph 02 4822 1563. 177

AUSCAR Sportsman VL Commodore, minimal work needed to be race ready, rebuilt motor, urgent sale. $2,500 ono. Ph 03 9720 9026. 77 1978 Celica, 3.5 Rover V8 motor, Celica gearbox.

Holden LSD, 4 wheel disc brakes, duel-axle reg trailer. $6.500ono. Ph 02 6559 4002. 177

Suzuki Swift GTi, rally car. 2 times OLD class winner.

Full Cromolly cage, fully seam welded, underbody protec tion, Bilstein aj susp, OMP seats, Terratrip, new engine, built to N1 specs. Lot of spares, ready to rally and legal to drive on the road. $14,000. Ph Tony 07 3286 2093 or 0417 609 462. 177 HSV VN Group A, immaculate, completely original, build no 313, genuine 36,000kms with books, service history, video. $37,000ono. Ph 03 5147 3270. 177 Lotus Cortina, absolutely immaculately prepared & maintained by Peter Hopwood. Fully rebuilt new motor with dyno sheets. Multiple first & second in class. Fully sorted data included as well as some spares. $23,000. Urgent sale, also trailer $1,900. Ph Anton 0408 164 821. 177 Datsun 1600 2E Club Car, excellent cond, reliable, FJ20 2L motor, 4.6 locked diff, 4 spot front callipers, pMP seat, near new Yokohama A32RS. $4,900 (trailer also avail able). Ph 02 9969 6936. 177

Speedwny

Subaru WRX '98 GTP, 2nd Class B Bathurst '98, 2nd Class B Oran Park '99, 2nd Class B Gold Coast Indy '99, fastest qualifier Indy '99. Many extras, new engine, this car is very easy to convert to STi. Ph: 02 9672 7530 or 0413 879 879. .76 HQ Holden, has won 9 Bathurst races & 3 NSW State titles. Inc all spares & spare car. Very competitive, sensibly priced. Ph: Peter 0414 575 451. m

Fantastic road reg club car, Targa, Dutton or Porsche Cup. Aus delivery, current owner 13 years. 9933.6ltr, 280hp engine, 5 speed with LSD upgraded brakes and suspension. OP GP circuit 1:19.1, Bathurst 2:35.1. $60,000. Ph:0414 911 901 or BH 03 9318 7515. ire BMW 63S CSI, ex Frank Sytner UK. Left hand drive factory built, spare Alpina engine plus wheels and loads of spares.

Chassis no: E24RA1-22. $AUS $60,000. Ph: Ken Smith New Zealand. Ph: 649 274 8646 or Fax: 64 9 274'8642. ire Mazda Savanna RX3 Coupe, Turbo 12A, MicroTech,5 speed. Simmons, new tyres, cambered rear end, big vented 'discs, 4 spots, immaculate. Road reg and RWC. www.intercar.com.au. $10,500. Ph:0407 543 006 or 03 6394 3541. m '72 HQ SS 4 door, correct wheels, dash trim, guards etc. 308 fitted, original motor also. Fair condition.

Statesman grill, lime green, unreg, suit collector. $4,500 ono. Ph: Michael 02 6733 3269. ire Brabham BT16 F2 1966, original condition. Chassis no: F2-12-66. $AUS $45,000. Ph Ken Smith New Zealand.

Fiat 1500 Club Car, 1608 Twin Cam, 5 speed, full cage.

Ph 64 9 274 8646 or Fax: 64 9 274 8642. ire harnesses, Nissan buckets, Lovell springs, head port and Mitsubishi Lancer EVO Dl, suir race/rally use, simple polished, near new tyres, road reg, will deliver Melbourne. repair. $14,500 ono. Ph 02 4953 7277 or 0415 252 342. ire

Super Sedan Camaro, built by Danny Smith. Aus 1 1998, two seasons old, proven car, too much to mention. Sell com plete ready to race. Ph 03 5176 1355 or 0418 514 444. 177 Mitsubishi Sigma Sedan, will run any division depend ing on carby selection. Car has top setup and running gear. All goodies to go, help on setup. $3,000ono. Ph 02 6963 6367. ,77

3lt Sedan, VSC Vic #2 VK. Gene Cook Race Engines motor, Bilsteins, AFCO 2:1 reduction, Quartermaster, Kirkey seat, VDO gauges & spares $10,000. Ph 03 5781 0732 or 0409 774 440. <rt Sprintcar,'92 Maxim #V18. Fast, reliable car, complete rac ing package. Sander, KSE, Winters long spline. 360 Chev, strong reliable, many spares and tools, Ph 03 9544 4415. m Super Sedan Pontiac, top engine, 366 Chev, all good gear, aloy wheels, registered, heaps of spares. $24,000 neg. Ph0412599 103or035241 4224. 177 Titan Racing Sprintcar motors, IxDash 12 372ci smooth and reliable $28,000. 1x18 degree 372ci light weight, very fast $30,000. Full details. Ph 0419 787 031. 177 Sprintcar, brand new Eagle chassis & fresh WesmaF engine, all running gear, ready to race. $S0,000ono. Will Separate. Ph 02 9757 3755. 177 Sprintcar, Jenkins 30” roller in immaculate condition. $10,000ono. Urgent sale. Ph 02 9757 3755. 177 Sprintcar chassis, '91 JSR Hi Bar, complete with f/glass panels, tail tank, engine plates, brake lines, floorpan and radiator $2,200. 29" torsion bars, 16 of in vari ous weights, Halibrand Quiokchange longsplined & caliper $1,300. 6 Pin L/R $280. Ph 03 5335 5196 or 0418 851 080. 177

. SMttW

f Triumph TR8 V8, Marque Sports car, immaculately prepaired front running oar at a fraction of replacement value. E/C low 1:40s. $30,000ono. Ph 02 9971 1212 or 0412 084 062. m Alfa Romeo GTV Sports Sedan, new engine, new T04 turbo, MoTec, Hollinger, Harrop/AP lockheed. Auto Delta wishbonesm Koni, Simmons, Recaro seat, VDO, GP Sportscars, kevlar & carbon fibre body, wing, red. $59,000.

Ph 03 9723 9618 . 177 1974 Galanl, 2 litre Astron, twin 45 Webers, 5 speed 'box, 4.6 locker, 4 wheel disc brakes with bias valve. Marsh seats, harness, race or rally suspension. $3,500. Ph 0417 871 918. 177

■ ■—!T' -

Holden HQ racer, #57 fitted with Ian McKee motor. $6,000. Ph 02 6555 5860 or 02 6554 6128. 177 HQ Thunderdome car #98, set up by Centreline sus pension, mid 36sec oar, will sell complete or less engine.

Full AUSCAR roll cage. $6,000. Ph 0418 547 143. 177 Group A Sports/Racing car, built 1981, fully restored, MK9 Hewland, AR calipers, all the best components. Has Historic COD. Sell less engine. Best offers. Ph 0409 603

749. 177

TF Cortina Club Car, 6 cyl 350hp, Top Loader, XF rear, XB/HQ front brakes, full cage, log book, ready to race. With trailer & spares, or will separate. Offers around $9,500. Ph 0403 011 924. 177 Holden Torana LJ XU-1, Appendix J, fresh motor, M21 'box, Detroit looker, steel cage, race ready, spares avail. $13,000. Ph 02 9792 4779 or 0419 489 465. 177 1969-1970 Mustang Fastback, Group No, seam welded with roll cage and pick up points and painted.

Ready to go racing, spare parts the lot. Must go. $18,000.

Ph 03 9329 0000. 177

Torana Sports Sedan, 202, c/r box, Detroit locker, Stratos seat. Bond cage, 3 Webers, some spares, wheels, tyres, includes rego trailer. Ideal first car. $5500 ono. Ph 02 4952

LJ Torana, hillclimb & autocross car. 179hp motor, triple 150 CD Strombergs, Toyota gearbox, large Salisbury diff, 4 wheel disc brakes, fibreglass bonnet and boot lid. $3,500 neg. Ph 03 5143 0175. 177

MK.2 Escort, total rebuild 1998. Fresh 2-litre SOHC, 5 speed Sierra gearbox and 4.11 LSD. CAMS log book. Two sets rims, tyres and lots spares. $6,500 plus $1,500 for tan dem trailer to suit. Ph Barry 0407 266 688. ire Mazda RX7 Series 6, 2 available, easy repair, suit GTP or rally, $12,000/$15,000. Consider deal for pair or will sepa rate. Also WRX heavy damage. $6,000. Ph 0415 252 342. ire Datsun 2402 1973, 2.8lt motor, auto or 5 speed, new struts, sway bars, good condition, rego 8/00, plus second oar for parts, good 2.4ltr motor. Two for one, $3500 ono. Ph 07 5446 4294 or 0419 176 928. ire VL Group A shell, all hang-on panels, no fibreglass panels, ex Yellow Pages. $1000 ono. Ph 0408 327 671. m

I

hi

Mustang SVT Cobra 1999, electric green, charcoal leather int, 320hp, 4.6 DOHC alum V8, 5 sp man, all options. Only done 700kms. $98,000. RHD. Ph 03 9467 7917. 176

5078. 177

Monaro HQ GTS Coupe, rolling shell, painted, all glass, suit Group Nc. $1,200. Ph 03 9817 4324. 177 Suzuki GTi Club Car, CAMS reg, proven under 2lt per former. Ready to race, 108kW motor, many spares $7,000ono. Complete Revolution 'Mondel' race suit, all accessories. XL including never worn helmet. $650ono, Ph 02 4388 4297. 177

'?3S

■a.-r Super Sedan Commodore, Dave Best chassis. Winters quick change diff, 4 aluminium beed lock rims, ready to race. Less engine & gearbox. $9,900. Ph 0418 134 174 or 03 51761352. m 1998 Avenger Sprintcar, less engine. $12,500 ono. Ph 02 6882 5091 BH or 02 6882 6090 AH. ire

V8 Dirt Modified, 350 Chev, Dart 2 heads, Magnito. 486 quick change, full set of spare wheels and many other spares. Very fast, reliable car, SA 3, driven by USA's Tim Fuller. Reg Victoria 22. $22,000. Nothing to spend. Ph 03

5659 0111. 176

Modified Production TE Cortina, 250 X flow methanol engine, just been freshened up, 4 speed p/steering, 15” wheels, adj suspension, heaps of spares, no reasonable offer refused. Must sell POA. Ph 03 5996 8509. ire

Drags

Holden HQ racer, #57 fitted with Ian McKee motor. $6,000. Ph 02 6555 5860 or 02 6554 6128. 177 Toyota MR2, AW11 sports, supercharged 1600 4AGZE. C/R box, CAMS log book, Bilsteins, never raced, suit Targa, Prod Sports 2E etc. $7,500 firm. Ph 02 6254 9154. 177 Original homologated converted, LX SS Torana to A9X Hatchback by Harry Firth 27/6/1977. CAMS Group C log book,' 308 L34 motor 380HP. Ian Tate HDT sump. Super T10 Borg Warner, vehicle has never been in any accident, origi nal panels. Full original touring car trim. Ph 0417 775 507. m 1972 Escort Twin Cam, completely standard, all orignial equipment including air cleaner, all matching numbers, immaculate condition, new tyres. One of the best. $12,000 ono. Ph 0408 783 245. 176

1968 Mini Cooper 'S', Group Nc 1330cc. Comes with spare motor, wheels, too much to list. Have to make room for new race car. Sell $14,000 ono. Ph 02 9747 6100 AH or 0411 878 886 BH m RS2000 Escort, Mkll genuine rubber nose hillclimb car.

Lowered, six point steel roll cage. Cobra seat, harness, goes well, good cond. many spares. $2,500 ono. Ph 02 6562 8994. m

■J*

Top Doorslammer, complete roller, ready for paint.

Show quality, no expense spared, no drag strip in NSW, ACT - forced sale. All work done by Terrys Oiffs, McDonald Bros. Will consider trade with transporter or Super Sedan Speedway equipment etc. $27,500. Ph 02 6297 5895 or 0412 487 771. 177

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30M3fch2000

%

Eiigiiies 454 LS7 Chev, std bore & crank sizes, carrilos, crane roller, K motion, fluidamper, Yella Terra, uses Avgas, does 8.6 et @ 154mph. $8,000, Ph 02 4580 8151 BH. 177 Renault 5 Alpine, cylinder head, crack tested and in very good condition. $450. Ph 07 3366 7423. 177 Cosworth BDA,4 bolt cylinder head in as new condition with cam tray. $3,500. Ph Tony 02 9313 5766 BH. 177 Chev 18 degree motor, dart, aluminium heads, bow tie block, T&D shaft rockers. Grower crank, Oliver 6" rods, JE pistons, fully re-coed by Rob Benson. 650hp. $17,500, Ph 0418 514 444 or 03 5176 2257. 177 Ford Sierra Cosworth, works cylinder head, ex-Brock as new, unique opportunity. $1500 ono. Ph 0408 650 357 or 035168 1371. 176

Wlieeiers

4'

Unique historic car, 1972 Bowin P8 monocoque, ex-Bob Jane, Leffler. Complete less engine, FT 200 g/box, fire extin guisher system, fuel injection system, plus spare wheels, pan els, new twin plate clutch, as new drivers suit, helmet, shoes in storage last 18 years. $25,000 the lot. Ph 07 4129 0391. 178 Go Kart, Mike 1, chromoly chassis, Yamaha TK100S motor, trolley, never raced. Immaculate condition. $3,800.

Ph 035964 7580. .76

Ph 03 9318 7515. ™ Simmons 15 x 7, suit E21-E30 BMW, Gemini etc with new 205x55x15 GT redials. Set of 4. $1650, Ph 0407 542 006 or 036394 3541. 176 Genuine Bathurst Globe rims, to suit Escort/Cortina.

One set (4) as new, with A032 tyres (80%) 205/60R13. $1200 the set. One set (4) bare rims(2 good. 2 scratched) $450 set. Ph Barry 0407 266 688. m Injection, factory K Corolla, with throttle body. Inject EM3 computer & loom. No lap top needed for tuning. $1300 ono the lot. Ph 07 4632 7448 or 0407 983 143. 176 Ford Escort, fuel-inj-ram tubs-uni filters $690, ultra light rims 13x8 to suit Escort $280. Haltech F-7 programmable fuel injection ECU $350. Ph 0417 475 409. 176 Two new Yokohama A008IRS tyres, 205/60R13 $180 each. Ph Barry 0407 266 688. i;e Four XW/XY Falcon chrome, 12 slotters (fair condition) with new hub caps & Dunlop Le Mans A4. 225/60R14 tyres (80%)$500 the lot. Ph Barry 0407 266 688.

Formula Ford 94-95 Van Diemen, rear uprights new bearings & brake rotors less wheel studs $2,900. Transaxle Lotus Esprit Turbo, low kms, exoell cond, less bell housing $3,700. Ph 0418 974 351. 176 T5 EBGT 5.0LT, 5 speed gearbox $1000 ono. Ford 4 speed Top Loader gearbox just rebuilt, 11-inch centre force clutch, flywheel to suit Cleveland or Windsor, XY genuine shifter suit Top Loader $800. 16 gal fuel cell, foam filled brand new $200. Ph 03 9503 9973 AH or 03 9564 3718 BH. 176

0^^

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49

33ft tri-axle trailer,8 ft wide. 7 ft high, electric brakes,Iwiig & workshop area, will carry 2 FFords or sedan &'84 FlOO LWB on gas & fuel complete. $30,000 will sep.Ph 0363265555 -j

Fully enclosed race car trailer, tri axle, electric brakes with breakaway system, alloy chequer plate floor, 240v lighting and power, 1,1 months rego, large fully enclosed annexe, suit open wheeler or sedan. $18,500 neg. Ph 02 9631 3156 or 0413 121 201. m Isuzu SBR, air con, long range tanks, belly lockers, elec tric winch, fold up workbench, tyre racks, new batteries, $25,000ono. Must be sold, will consider trading trailer. Ph Peter Boylan 02 9428 4188 or 0411 359 990. 177 Lightweight enclosed 6x4 steel trailer, fibreglass roof with gas struts and storage compartments. V6C $595 Ph 03 9255 3231.

fraiisporters/Tffqiiei-s Go Kart, Kali Detroit '98, p.cond, 2 Superkart seasons old, 40mm dynamically balanced axle, new brakes, carbon fllor tray and boards, heaps of spares, inci axle & stubs, can convert to Sprint Kart. $2,600. Ph 03 9471 9992 or 0409 001 002. 177 lOOcc NGR KCA chassis, mounted wets, and tyres, total refurbish, too many spares to list. Complete spare engine. $3900. Ph 0407 411 232. .77 Jimco Off Road, racing frame. “A" arm front end, with Stubbs, CNC front brakes, rear arms with Summers Bros floaters. Aluminium panels. Ph 02 9627 2151. 177 Hillclimb Racer, Formula Libre 0-750, Suzuki GSX-R 750, slicks, f/glass body, spare wheels, covered trailer, '94 & '95 Class Champion. $7,000. Ph 02 6254 9154. 177

CRD852 Formula 2, Eligible for Historic Group R., fun histo ry available, very reliable and race ready with fresh Ford engine, Hewland gearbox, mounted wets,"spares include ratios, suspension, engine parts, wings, nose, plus many more. $14,500 neg. Phlan 0417 851 716 BH 039878 9515 AH. 177 Formula Holden 92D Reynard, ex-Todd Kelly 2nd '98 championship, race prepared for ^00 season complete with ' spares, including ratios, computer, set-up data, trailer & all assistance. Ph 0413 769 433 or 07 3216 6861. 177

Ralt RT4,1986 Group R, ex-Scott Goodyear US Atlantic Series winner. Fresh Jennnings BDA,25 ratios, many spares, everything rebuilt. Best offer over $50K secures. Ph 0293135766 BH. 177 Elfin 600B, cheap. Ph 08 8297 1030 or 08 8293 1908 AH. 177 Kart, Intercontinental Formula C, Swiss Hutless 45hp motor, 6 speed gearbox, one season old. $5000. Ph 0418 184 456. 177

1966 Elfin Mono MKIIC, Chassis MC6652, 1598CO Twin Cam, ex-Johnny Walker. Car is fast & immaculate with an excellent racing history, log books & certificate of description. $49,000. May consider trade. Ph Ron 03 5332 9888 BH or 0409 322 187. 176 Ralt RT4 ’82, complete minus engine. Chassis number 292. $AUS 25,000. Ph Ken Smith New Zealand. Ph 64 9 274 8646 or Fax: 64 9 274 8642. 175 Elva Formula Junior DKW 1959, front engine, origi nal condition, stored for 30 years. Bargain $AUS 27,000.

Ph: Ken Smith New Zealand. Ph: 64 9 274 8646 or Fax: 64 9 274 8642. ire

m

Dncomplete Lotus 7 Replica, fabricated by ex-Elfin, Brabham man. Includes bonnet, fuel tank fibreglass, guards, windscreen frame, superlites, but less engine. $4000 firm. Full details Ph 03 9799 1683. m Kaditcha F2 1979, Golf engine, ratios, two sets wheels,make an offer. Ph 03 5881 4411. ve Go Kart, Yamaha RC100SD, 1999, Yamaha chassis & KT100S motor. One race old. Imported from Japan, As new cond $3,200. Ph 03 9459 3239. 1.76 Formula Vee, built new for 1999 Nationals & not raced since due to III health. Includes licenced trailer &some spares. SIOOO's below replacement value. $8,000. Ph Greg 08 9490 9539. ire Swift SC93F, Christian Jory offers for sale, ready to race, heaps of spares, top finishes Nat, 4 state series. Lamer engine. $18,000. Ph 03 6326 5555 or 0418 130 133. 176 Lotuz Clubman,. Group 0 Historic, top H/P motor, Quaiffe diff, close ratio g/box, ex-John Pitt. Contact Andrew 03 5443 0810 or 0418 510 462. 175

36 ft tri-axle racecar trailer, little use since new, heavy dity springs,,all electric brakes, alarm system & security grate, 240 and 12 volt lighting and power, full length canvas canopy, tool cabinets, internally lined, $16,000. Optional 1993 Ford F250, low kms with heavy dity axles and brakes. Ph 0418 346 749. 177 Tandem trailer, 5m x 1.73m, full checker plate floor, fold down ramps, over_-ride brakes, rego 8/00, suit small to medium vehicle, good condition, as is. $1000. RWC $1200.

Ph 07 3282 1404 or 0418,105 016. 177

Grand Prix international, magazines. Issues 1-5, 8 & 9, must be excellent condition. Top prices paid. Ph Bill 03 5243 3660 AH. 176

Otiter

Yokohama 008 RS tyres, new set of 4, 195-60-15, mounted but never used. Suit Club Car or similar. $650 set.

Ph 02 6254 9154. 177

3231. 177

VR Supercar,front bar, new.$500 ono.Ph 0408 327 671.177 MSD Promag, ten times more output than conventional Magneto. Built-in rev limiter. Like new, $2350. Ph 0418 514444 or 03 5176 2257. 177 l Porsche, Brembo large 4 spot callipers, new $1600 pair, used from $1250 pair. Gearbox 915 5 speed $2400.

W@iiit@d Photos, of Dick Johnson's black B&H Mustang in NZ and John Peebles' white Mustang 1965 at Sandown. Plus any race programs. Ph 02 9627 3799 or 0402 068 289. 177 Books, Autocourse, Automobile Year, Rallycourse, World Rallying. Any cond or quantity. Ph Mike 0412 904 638 or email: speedsigns@interact.net.au. 177 information, & photos of Mini Cooper raced by Ern Abbott 1964-65 Vic, Greg MoEwin & Les Jesser 1966-69 SA. Developing history of car. Ph 08 8440 1632 BH,08 8336

3498 AH. 176

Parts

Chev forged racing pistons, suit 400 + 030 part #, Arias E4265 + 030R, makes 11.25:1 comp on 5.7" rod and 400 crank. 1.4295 pin height, tool steel pins and looks, still new in box. $1000. Ph 07 3282 1404 or 0418 105 016. 177 Hewland DG300 gearbox, suit Off Road buggy. $10,000. Ph 02 9627 2151. 177 Haltech computer, $600. Haltech computer complete with wiring loom & injectors $1200. Both brand new. Ph 02 9627 2151. 177 Cheetah race wheels, suit MK 6 or MK 7, 4 inch PCD in very good condition, fronts 9 1/4 X 13, rear 11 1/2X13.

Phlan 0417 851 716 BH 03 9878 9515 AH 177 Wet weather race tyres, (4) Dunlop Formula R D93J as new. Mounted on 14x7 Performance Challengers alloys, Mazda RX3 stud pattern. Suit Club Cars, $950. Ph Adrien 03 9528 1567 or 0411 528 163. 177 Group A oil tank, 2 stage dry sump, hardly used with mod ify oil stick and breather outlets. $500ono. Ph 02 6655 5715. 177 Austin Healey 3000, crankshaft, rods & flywheel.

Prepared by crankshaft rebuilders, crankshaft ground 10 degrees nitride, machined to fit. Holden oil seal rods. Ph 02 9971 1212. 177 Porsche S'!4 transaxle, late suit 2-litre Sports Sedan.

Ph 03 9763 7898 or 0413 128 287. 177 Porsche AVS rims, 17 x 8s, polished with alloy caps, brand new Pirelli P700 tyres 245x45 series, never used.

Top class show rims, also fit VW with Porsche stud pattern. $1,800. Ph 02 6655 5715 or 0409 125 965. 177 Chev titanium exhaust valves, 1.60 + 200 $600.

Holden exhaust valves 1.60 $600. Yates titanium valves 2.10 and 1.60 $1200 the set. Ph 0419 655 701. 177 3 19-inch touring car rims, centrelook. German made, good condition. Regret sale $700. Ph 02 6655 5715 or 0409 125 965. 177 Ford XD, 120 litre aluminium drop tank $295. Ph 03 9255

Kart trailer, will take 4 karts with room for spares6 tools.

Bogie axle with brakes, easy access with large doors. Ph 026884 4204 BH or 02 6882 3245 AH m

Fully enclosed 21ft, tilt car trailer. 4 wheel elec brakes with breakaway unit. 6 new Sunraysia rims with light truck tyres. Full length awnihg, winch,6 mth rego, hvy duty const will tit HQ Statesman ins&e:$6,000. Ph 0412 677 975. 177

Motoring books & magazines, large run of Autosport 1988-1998, full set of Sports Car World 1957, set of Modern Motor. Ph 08 9279 7003 or Fax 08 9377 3939. 77 Intercomp, SWII corner scales with 4 spares pads. $1950. Ph 03 9480 4040 BH. 177 Autocourse 1967-68 book, for sale. Ph 02 4261 5803.

177

Model car swapmeet, including V8Supercars, Nascars, Rallying plus motorsport collectables. Sat April 1, 6.30pm-9.00pm Baptist Youth Centre, Cnr Rthesay Ave & Dorene St, St Marys(SA). Ph 08 8276 5649. 177 RPM racegear, 2 sets, only used a couple of times blue & white Nomex III suits, size M, shoes 8 1/2, gloves M, Bell SR-PRO helmets, cost $4000, reasonable offer will sepa rate. Ph 07 5532 1400 or 07 5577 3077. 177 Magazine collection, all motor sports including drag racing, speedway & circuit racing. Over 7000 mags in good cond dating back to 1967. Best offers.

Ph 08 9459 7618. 177 30 motorsport videos, FI reviews, crashes etc) origi nals, not copies & 18 FI books. The lot $370. Ph 02 9662 7034. 177

Chev C20 1 2/79, 350 Chev, T400, Detroit Locker, duel fuel leoitr gas tank, engineered towbar, rear step, no rust, torneau cover, canopy, elect trailer brakes, CD player, 300W amp, tint windows, p/steer, new tyres, trimmed interi or. $13,000. Ph 0412 677 975. 177 Tri-axle fully enclosed, goose neck trailer, 30x8x8, new tyres, electric brakes, sleeping area, drop down rear door, side door. $10,750, Ph 0412 599 103 or 03 5241 4224. 177 40’ gooseneck, pro built, fully self-contained, 2 roof mount ACs, sleep 5-6, H&C shower, toilet, stove, oven, microwave etc. Fully equip work shop. Suit pro bike racing, FFord, FHolden etc. $65,000. Ph 03 5248 7377. 177 Paniec purpose built, dual axle, electric brakes, alu minium ohecka plate floor, drop tail door, side doors, tyre rack and 240 volt light set up. Suit small Sports Sedan, karts, motorbikes or a Speedcar. $4,000. Ph 02 6655 5715 or 0409 125 965. 177 Chev crew cab dually, 1990 model, 454 auto, central locking, cruise control, bucket seats, cloth trim, excellent con dition. RHD. $38,000. Ph 035176 1352 or 0418134 174. 17a

t

Motor race programs, 1960 to now, Warwick Farm, Catalina, Adelaide, Sandown, Eastern Creek, Phillip Island, Calder, Bathurst, Oran Park plus Histories. Ring for list. Ph 02 9627 3799 or 0402 068 289. 177 Burago FI models, 1:20 scale,Benetton-Alfa-Romeo $30, Canon Williams $30, Olivetti Brabham $30, Tag Denim Williams $40 or $100 the lot. Ph Bill 03 5243 3660. 176

Large range of motoring magazines, inc full set Sports Car World, Racing Car News & 1000s of others.

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50

31 March 2000

5jl]®D®[?SfJXD[F0 Po!e not block...

Editorial Editor Phil Branagan Assistant Editor Gerald McDornan Staff lonrnalist Aaron Noonan

:I

Dear Sir,

^

Australian Grand Prix.

/

Myself, along with three friends, have now seen the pinnacle of

i

1 refer to your interview with Jenson Button on page 33 ofissue 175.

There is a photo of Jenson having an ice block and the caption says he is having a choc wedge.

Now come on, any overweight person like me can see it’s not a

Send your letters to PO Box 1010 North Caulfield Vic 3161, fax to 03 9527 7766, or email to us at msnews@ozemail.com.au The staff of Motorsport News does not necessarily agree with opinions express by readers.

Graphics Co-ordinator Craig Christerson Email;<bambam@virtual.net.au>

Advertising

Drink more Fosters!

Advertising Manager Brendon Sheridan

Administration ManagSng Oairsctor Chris Lambden

Contacts 89 Orrdng Crescent Caulfield North VIC 3161 (PO Box 1010 North Caulfield 3161) Phone: 03 9527 7744 Fax. 03 9527 7766 Email: msnews@ozemaU.com.au

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Contributors General: Brian Reed, Grant Nicholas, Darryl Flack, Tony Glynn, Mike Kable, Mark Jones, Jon Thomson FI: Joe Saward, Adam Cooper Europe: Quentin Spurring, Gary Watkins US: Phil Morris IMZ: John Hawkins 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), Nick Nicholas, Steven White, Ken Ferguson Super Speedway: Martin Clark (USA) Karts: Sean Henshelwood, Graeme Burns, Frank Viola, John Morris, Mark'Wicks Photographers: Sutton Motorsport Images, Dirk Klynsrhith, Bothwell Photographic, Marshall Cass, Nigel Snowdon & Diana Burnett, Tony Glynn, AFl 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 Artist: Bernie Walsh Cartoonist: Allan Schofield

I left the track with no intention of returning for the next night, but, my three friends talked me into

Dear Sir,

going back. I should have stuck to my original decision...

I was so pleased to read about Mark Webber’s progress in your latest issue (MN#175), particularly with the Foster’s deal - so much so, I came up with a possible great idea.

If all of your readers (or even a large sum of them) wrote a letter to Foster’s brewing congratulating them on their support of our number one FI hopeful, and pledging to change brands (if need be) to Foster’s as their favourite

A point is a point: Reader Craig Christerson correctiy points out that ifs an icy poie that Jenson was scoffing on in Australia.(Photo by sutton-images)

brew, it would help.

Surely the brass at CUB would see this Mark Webber guy has a lot of drinking fans here in Australia and it might even up his sponsorship a bit. All it would take would be a few

for photos and chit chat whenever possible and we found him to be a warm and friendly person.

Thanks Rusty - we think you’re the best and look forward to the

The track on Saturday resembled more of a motorcross track and, combined with the lack ofoiganisation, made the feature ‘Australian Speedcar Title’finish at 1.30am!

return of your SLX livery (Come on Castrol!).

GO INGALL in Adelaidel-

hundred letters. I’m sure.

What do you think?

Andrew McMullen Mt. Huton, NSW n Assist Ed: I reckon if we run a bit of a campaign, we might even get a few slabs of the blue brew delivered directly to our door. We’re not interested in cash foi" comments here...

Silvercarmanfan Dear Sir, A huge bouquet for Russell Ingall who always gave time out of his busy schedule at Barbargallo to entertain the public.

It was the first opportunity we had to meet Rusty and he made our weekend unforgettable, especially om- six year old grandson who Rusty offered the driver’s seat and a quick instruction in the ‘silver buUet’.

Russell made himself available

Australasian Motorsport News Pty Ltd ACN No 060 179 928 Publisher: C Lambden

Dear Sir, A couple of weeks ago, after being overseas for a while, I realised that I had missed this year’s Castrol motor racing calendar, so I called your office to see if they were still available.

I was informed that I had indeed missed by a couple of months but there was a possibility of some posters still being available.

After a couple of minutes, the guy returned saying I was in luck because the only ones he had were actually in the dumpster, which he promptly posted to me.

In a world where the catchcry

37-49 Browns Rd Clayton 3168

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>

shareholders’, it’s great to find somewhere that stiU cares about those of us whose only interest in shares is to share an interest in a great sport and a bloody good magazine.

Thank you for your help, it was much appreciated.

Gordon Mitcham, Clontarf, Qld. Assist Ed; Thanks for the letter

Satisfied customer

i

Printed by: Wilke Color

increasingly seems to be ‘stuff the customer, -what about the

Maxine Oliver.

Email: <ajo@iinet. net. au>

'HMki A - Txe-.J/fisSsfotr iIieFARCvW Vi KVR tkl'Cf2 7eKCATeP PxSSiO*!

Motorsport News is published by

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Opinions expressed in Motorsport News are not necessarily those of Australasian Motorsport News Pty Ltd or its staff.

professionalism of Mike Figliomeni and the Speedcar teams was not met by the track with the atmosphere being the equivalent ofa morgue.

Friday night’s heats turned into a procession, generally at a snail’s pace and on the bottom of the track.

choc wedge, but an icy pole...

Viv Brumby

motorsport and the absolute bloody disgrace at Bacchus Marsh that they called the Australian Speedcar Title.

It was quite obvious that the

Hfl,-

\7 lAV

Gordon. Unfortunately, I forgot to put the invoice in the envelope, so please forward a cheque for $1,200 within seven days to the address below. We need to incorporate the figures in our annual report to shareholders due next week...

Disappointed customer Dear Sir, I felt compelled to write to your magazine after visiting Melbourne a feLii weekends ago.

I decided to make a weekend of it in Melbourne to catch both the Australian Speedcar Title and the

Naturally, I questioned why I had paid $25 for the second night...

The crowd were agitated and many left in disgust.

I thank the drivers and crews for attempting to be part of what should have been a memorable event, but the governing body (who ever that is) must ensure that such an important event is held at a track which is Y2K compliant.

In terms of track presentation, prep and facilities, I think Bacchus Marsh needs to take a look at a few of the more established tracks.

I now appreciate the tracks I have attended in New South Wales.

Rest assured, I will never attend Bacchus Marsh again.

Steve Gooch, Rydalmere, NSW Assist Ed: Steve, many of your points about the night are extremely valid, although I question the bit about the facilities.

There is no doubt that Bacchus Marsh is a step above any speedway facilities Melbourne fans have enjoyed in the past and, hopefully, with new management and a goal to presenting a fast paced show of close racing, the venue will show its true colours.

ArouirsmM-/ mH^r/

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