Motorsport News Issue 177 - 14-27 April 2000 by V8 Sleuth

(NZ $5.95 inci GST)

NEWS

14-27April 2000

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14 April 2000

V8 Supercars reclaim October Sandown to host November Granil Finale in 2001? By CHRIS LAMBDEN THE V8 Supercar FAI 1000 will return to its traditional first Sunday in October date next year. A return to the traditional date follows recent developments with the struggling Super Touring event, which faces an uncertain future. Despite reports of a move to March, there are suggestions that Network Seven may not persist with the event at all. The change back to October for the V8 Supercars will remove the final round status from the Bathurst race. Instead plans are afoot for a Grand Finale event at Sandown, in November. l AVESCO Chairman Tony Cochrane confirmed on Sunday that he expects to meet with the Bathurst City Council this week to negotiate the return to October. “I’ll be meeting the mayor of Bathurst,” he said, “and we expect, no demand, a return to October in 2001. “The skirmish is over, we’ve all had our fun, that’s it,” he continued.

in reference to the three-year con test between AVESCO and Super Touring group TOGA over Bathurst. While not being specific, Cochrane confirmed that discussions are under way for a new Grand Final event “which will be in one of the major capital cities, which makes it possible for our fans, sponsors and corporate backers to be there more easily.” Tlie venue? “Watch this space. / Motorsport News believes negotia tions are under way for such an event at Sandown, in conjunction with IMG, which was in discussion with Sandown promoter Jon Davison prior to the venue losing its 500km race to Queensland last year. n Cochrane also flagged further lob bying for Federal Government sup port for major infrastructure at Mount improvements Panorama.“It’s an Australian icon,” he said. “Every other sport gets. Federal support and yet there is a sporting icon venue in dire need of some major work. “We have 2.5 million core support ers in Australia. We can deliver a strong vote...”

Coyrtney, Webber star in Europe

IT was a great weekend to be an Aussie in Europe, with James Courtney and Mark Webber featuring in great dri ves in England and Italy. While Webber qualified and finished third in the first round of the European F3000 champi onship [see p8 and p21] Courtney was in untouchable form in the opening round of the Slick 50 British Formula Ford Championship round at Brands Hatch.

The 19-year-old put his works Van Diemen on poie and led every lap of the race, cruising home to awin ahead of his Van Diemen team-mate Robert Dahlgren. Mygale's leading runner, Anthony Davidson, who had qualified third behind the Van Diemen duo, spun out of the race on lap six. The race was red-flagged on

lap 12 after a three-car pile-up at Paddock Hill bend, allowing the field to close up behind Courtney, but he soon re-estab lished himself when the race went green.

AT the same Brands Hatch meeting it was confirmed that Australian Alan Gow's 10 year involvement with the British Touring Car Championship will come to an end, following the sale of TOGA to new BTCC pro moter BMP. The sale was confirmed at the weekend, to take effect in a around a month. Gow, a TOGA shareholder, will not stay on and "after a bit of a break, will see what the options are. Gow won't be totally idle - he manages James Courtney and has a part share in an IRL team.

Brands aware: Courtney dominated at Brands Hatch. (Sutton-images)

Could Ten face a chalRumour of the week: does Network 10 face a challenge as V8 Supercar TV rights for 2001 and beyond come up for renegotiation? Ten has played a big part in the recent growth of the category, but the news that Seven may abandon its broadcast of the Bathurst Super Tourer race meeting altogether adds weight to rumours ofits interest, while there are those who believe that Nine may also be interested, following the demise of such winter programming as Sports Sunday...

Happy campers: AVESCO CEO Wayne Gattach and Chairman Tony Cochrane, Shell’s Ross Brodie and IMG’s Geoff Jones.(Photo by Dirts wynsmith)

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n Several new appointments have been announced at CAMS following the departure of, amongst others, former Admin Chief Jen Grant and media officer John Benson. Former automotive marketing man John Macdonald is Manager, Marketing & Communications, assisted by Jeromy Lohmann,while the admin functions have been grouped under new Company Secretary/Business Manager Jennifer Jones. ■ Octagon Motorsports has taken full ownership of Future Tourer Concepts, the company formed to manage the fledgling category, by purchasing the remaining share held in the company by originator of the concept, Bruce Williams. Williams' formal finks to the category are thus severed, although he retains ownership of two cars built to contest the planned series, which is expected to run in conjunction with the Super Touring Championship.

Foreign invaders: Greg Murphy (1), Glenn Sefon and co are returning to Pukekohe, where they last raced in 1996. (Photo by Di* Kiynsmiih) V8 Supercars will head, to Pukekohe, near Auckland, next March for their first ever overseas cham pionship round. AVESCO confirmed at the weekend that it has a five year agree ment with IMG to stage a round of the series at Auckland’s permanent race track. IMG and Motorsport New Zealand will oversee improvements to the circuit and its amenities in the lead up to the first race. 32 cars will be shipped (or flown) directly from their Australian GP appear ance in time for the Pukekohe meeting.

scheduled for 23-25 March, which will fea ture three 100km races, each with com pulsory' pit stops. The IMG/Pukekohe bid prevailed over an Auckland City Council street race proposal. The street race pro posal fell short because, according to AVESCO Chairman Tony Cochrane, “the Auckland Council doesn’t have the vision of the South Aus tralian Government.” Motorsport News understands the finan cial package for the street race proposal wasn’t as concrete or all-encompassing as the IMG package is

when it came to deci sion time. The dea l was finalised last Wednesday, according to Cochrane. IMG will underwrite the costs of the event, including the freight and travel costs for the teams, which will all be met. “This is probably the most important announcement relat ing to V8 Supercars since Shell has been involved,” Shell Motor Sport Manager Ross Brodie commented. “New Zealand is a key market for our core businesses and those of several of the category’s other lead ing sponsors.”

... but what will happen In Western Australia?

THE NZ race will replace the Indy support race in the V8 Supercar schedule in 2001, expanding the number of points-scoring championship rounds from 13 to 14. At the same time, the future of a round in WA is “uncertain” acording to Cochrane. However, while a first proposal

for a Perth street race has been turned down by the Perth City Council, Motorsport News under stands that the concept is not dead. Barbagallo Raceway is also con ducting a lobbying campaign to retain a race in the State and series sponsor Shell is known to favour inclusion of as many States and Territories as possible in the series. - CHRIS LAMBDEN

■ Bathurst winners Steven Richards and Greg Murphy will be at Parramatta City Raceway this weekend for the NSW Sprintcar Premiership on promotional duties. Both will do some quick laps in a 700hp Sprintcar but Murph isn't too keen to go all-out racing. "You've got to be bloody joking!" he said this week. ■ Speaking of Murph we were a little kind in our results box and forgot to take 10 points away like the officials did over the weekend for the contact he had with Rodney Forbes towards the end of race one. That drops him to ninth in the series on 218 points, Russell Ingall picking up eighth on the ladder on 220. ■ Brazillian Antonio Pizzonia has dominated the second round of the British F3 series, taking his Manor Motorsport Dallara to his second win of the year. Pizzonia, known as the 'Jungle Boy' as he hails fi-om the Amazon region, won by five seconds from Tomas Scheckter, Scheckter also repeating his first round performance. ■ Network Ten's telecast of the FAI 1000 is in the running for a logic in the category of most outstanding sport teleca.st. Woodsy, Bazza, Mark, Diff and Rusty are up against the Rugby World Cup, Pan Pacs swimming and Melbourne Cup, Don't let Barry make the presentation speech...

14 April 2000

n Formula Pordster Owen Kelly is due to test the Toll Falran AU at Phillip Island as we hit the newsstands. The Tasmanian, who lives in Melbourne, is backed by Toll in the Formula Ford Championship, a Pirelli's Australian motorsport tyi’e distributor MotorSport Concepts unveiled a new 46 foot pantec trailer at the Clipsal 500 event in Adelaide, the new imit, which is equipped with the latest tyre-changing equipment, designed to give their customers better service. □ Speaking of Pirelli, local man Rod Wilson has secured a deal to rim in the 1000 Years race in Adelaide on New Year's Eve. The deal was struck with long-time racer Neil Cunningham and wiU see the pair race a Pirelli-shod Dodge Viper in the 6 hour enduro. Wilson has a signed deal for the event but said a full and proper announcement will be made at a later date. n The Jonathan Byi-d/McCormack Motorsports Indy Racing League team has made the svaoch to a Riley & Scott chassis following the R&S chassis’ impressive with its perfoi-mances in the series' first two'outings. Ronnie Johncox will drive the team's new R&S, joining Buddy Lazier and Sarah Fisher on the grid with the now-Reynardowned Riley & Scotts. . la After a strong showing in the celebrity race at the Grand Prix, Richard Wilkins tried his hand at the Mitsubishi Mirage series on the weekend in Adelaide. Both he and Glenn Shorrock couldn't keep up with Warren Luff who again dominated the pocketrocket class, with Gavin Harvey close behind. a FedEx has exercised its option to remain the naming rights sponsor of the CART series through the 2001 season. Negotiations are underway between FedEx and CART in naming the ■ CART championship trophy the 'FedEx Cup' after PPG withdrew after last season. ■ Christian Fittipaldi has been fined US$5000 ($8600) for 'an unsafe act' in the pits during the March 26 Marlboro Grand Prix at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Fittipaldi, according to the stewards' review of the incident, struck a crew member during a pitstop in the race. The act was in violation of Rule 6.7.26 of the CART Rule Book. Fittipaldi was not issued a penalty during the race because the information from the pit official was inconclusive at the time.

Couhhiird loses Brazilian GP appeal

By JOE SAWARD THE FIA International

Court of Appeal rejected McLaren’s appeal against the disqualification of David Coulthard from the Brazilian Grand Prix the decision not greeted with much surprise in the FI paddock. Coulthard was disqualified after finishing second to Michael Schumacher when technical checks revealed that one side of the McLaren’s front wing was two millimetres too low. The team argued that the track was veiy bumpy, caus ing the wing to be damaged. The rejection of the argu ment means that McLaren scored no points in the first two races of the year. The team expressed its disappointment at the de'ci-

sion and made the point that the car had started the race in legal trim and was only illegal because of “substan tial damage” to the under side of the car which caused the front wing end plate to move on its axis, which resulted in one section being lower than the legal limit. FLA President Max Mosley said in Imola that the fact that there were bumps at Interlagos was not in itself an issue. l “In the tradition of road racing there is no reason why a track should not be bumpy,” he said. “Indeed there is nothing to prevent us putting a sleeping policeman at each end of the pitlane. The teams know that there are bumpy tracks on the championship schedule and they should set up their cars to suit the conditions.”

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Just trying to make two ends meet: David Coulthard and McLaren aren’t happy...

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Larkham and other single-car Level 1 teams move to twocar operations in 2001

Rumours suggesting talks on between four teams for 2001

JACQUES Villeneuve could be headed to McLaren, Frost or even Renault in 2001 if a number of scenarios being played out in Europe at the moment come to fruition over the coming months. The 1997 World Drivers Champion has been talked about leaving BAR for McLaren for some time, and this appears to have a strong chance of happening if Villeneuve’s Honda-powered BAR doesn’t become competi tive as he desires. The Frost equation comes into play with talk of the French team being supplied with MercedesBenz engines next season, with Peugeot more than likely to not be involved in FI next year. The Villeneuve/Prost link comes about from the thought that, with McLaren trying to fend off Ferrari and Michael Schumacher, the Woking team would hire the Canadian and then ‘trans fer’ him to a MercedesBenz-powered Prost team to strengthen its opera tion, while not destabilis ing their own line-up of Mika Hakkinen and David Coulthard - at least for the short term. There is considerable logic to a Prost/ Mercedes-Benz deal as it would enable McLaren to have some back-up in its battle to beat Ferrari by enabling Prost to take some points away

from Ferrari. In addition it would enable McLaren to keep an eye on Michelin tyre development as it is almost certain that Prost will switch to the French rubber. However, there are some in the paddock who believe that the rumours about Villeneuve and Mercedes/McLaren/Prost

are only a smokescreen for real talks which are going on between the Canadian and Renault. Jacques would be a good choice to lead the Renault FI team as he was the last Renault World Champion and is the nearest thing France will have to a top driver for the next few years. -JOE SAWARD

; I need more tools: Mark Larkham will expand the Mitre 10 oper ation in 2001, as will a number of other teams. (Phoio by Dirk KiynsmiUi)

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I’m just a lucky guy: Jacques Villeneuve could be driving for any one of four teams in 2001, if you believe the talk...

By GERALD McDORNAN HAVING again ventured out on to his own, running the 2000 SCS as a single car entrant, Mark Larkham is making moves towards running a two-car operation in 2001 - the move coming due to AVESCO’s decision that all Level 1 teams must operate as two-car teams from next year. Larkham told Motorsport News just prior to the Clipsal 500 in Adelaide that he was currently moving towards having a second car within the Mitre 10 camp by next year. “It’s something we’re actively working on now,” Larkham said. While not naming any potential drivers, Larkham said the team would prefer to go with a young talent, someone he said “carries no baggage" and who can be “moulded’ to our requirements”. Larkham said the team had already pinpointed a number of capable young drivers who could fit the bill, while having also tested some of the potential signings. It is known that reigning Gold Star Champion Simon Wills has already tested with the team, along with fellow Formula Holden driver Tim Leahey. Both have endurance experience in the V8s at Bathurst, Wills having briefly led last year’s FAI 1000 at the wheel of John Faulkner’s Commodore, while Leahey co-drove the Supercheap AU Falcon with team owner John Briggs. Larkham said he was currently working on sponsorship arrangements to enable the team’s expansion and it may be that the second car could run under different colours to his own Mitre 10-backed car, “Whether our second car will be backed by Mitre 10 or our co-sponsors, or even an entirely new sponsor is yet to be determined - that’s what we’re working on at the moment.” There are 13 Level 1 AVESCO franchises, the 13th and final franchise being ‘purchased’ by Bob Forbes prior to the beginning of this season.

14 April 2000

II admitstraction-control clioats

By JOE SAWARD AS we revealed exclu

sively a fortnight ago, at least one team (we believe it was three)

n James Kaye was the first, wioner in the Super Prwiuction class of the BTC C. The former Pri ateer champion took his Honda Accord to two wins in the first race of the year at Brands Hatch.

Ctrnig&s io be in place b^ore Eastern Cmek SCS rour^

were using illegal trac tion-control systems in : HOLDEN teams phfiosophical move to| “technical” parity, ; Grands Prix last year. I can expect to have The news was con which provides for : their front nndertechnical rather than firmed at Imola by FIA I trays trimmed President Max Mosley, performance parity i before the V8 makes: between although he refused to Snpercar circus (Holden has lobbied: name the team and even meets again at refused to say how many strongly that it: teams had been involved. Eastern Creek, in n should be able to; two weeks. “I am not going to name adopt a wishbone: 1 the team, but they were I front end, as used by | That’s the likely and traditional prepared to do something the Falcon j. | which was quite clearly method, following a “Any decision of;' outside the rules,” said ruling by the CAMS the PBC is thus like-; Mosley. ; Performance Review ly to be over-turned j “We became aware of it : Committee that and be disbanded," I Holdens must be over the winter, but we Larry Perkins com-; ^ future view: With the VT Commodores being slowed, it may be possi not have 100 percent slowed by threes ble the Fords can turn:around the win-loss ratio to their rivals, wohn Grate) mented at the week-'| tenths of a second per proof at the moment. end. ' minute. When we do we will have Holden, which con50®') in a category mation this week: In the mterim, the ; a word with them. But I I can’t really com- tributes some degree TEGA As predicted, the which pMilospohicMly Technical ! do,not believe it material PRC met last week to is expected to produce, ment, except to say of downforce to the Committee must comthat it’s an internal front of the car. The consider the current a 50:50 ratio. ly affected the course of It now falls to the TEGA thing and we Commodore under- ply with the PRC i situation and concludthe championship.” request. It is uncer-! ; ed that such an TEGA Technical have to have a recom- tray is currently The governing body tain whether any i appears to have decided Committee to propose mendation by next 12'Gmm longer than ’ adjustment was nec track testing will be i to publicise the situation to the PRC, by April Tnesday,” he said, the Falcon equivalent. essary. However, cost and Naturaly, lobbying done to support any: (without giving any It was swayed by 18, just how that proposal, or whether' details) to force the teams i the simple statistic adj:uistmient is to he ease of im.plementa- battle lines have been team data from previ-! ; that since the stmt of achieved. to accept the new election requirements drawn, ous previous uffider-1 tivnic regulations it is [1999, Holden had won mean that an adjustWhMe Ford’s case is Newly-affoinled feehnieal ment is likely to the simple agreement wing testing will be i proposing. The publicity 133 of 36 races (make TEGA i will stop the teams com that 35 of 38 after last Mianager Pawl Taylor length of the front with the PRC, Holden sufficient. plaining as they cannot weekend’s Clipsal could give little hifor- underwing of the points to TEGA’s ^CHEHS LMiBPEN be seen to be defending traction control without the public drawing the wrong conclusions. Mosley said that he was at the first round of the series at acting because he wanted By AARON NOONAN to avoid what he called “a MATTHEW Halliday’s first Formula Phillip Island to add a diverter to culture of infringement of Holden victory has been taken their new exhaust system in order the rules” which he said to overcome the noise restrictions, away after a technical infringement was “unpleasant” because thus adding the extra length. was protested upon following race “We gained permission at Phillip “when you get that you two in Adelaide. Stewards deliberated for 45 Island to do it and it hadn’t been are getting to a stage minutes afte NRC Interntational picked up before,” said Watson on where even the complete Tuesday. ly honest man has to team boss Arthur Abrahams lodged a protest against the exhausts of “I guess that’s what happens cheat to be competitive. both Halt Australia cars run by when you start winning.” “Our job is to look each Graham Watson and driven by Abrahams said that Halt had ample team principal in the eye Halliday and Chris Staff. time to change it with one round run and say we can guarantee between the ‘Island and Adelaide. Both cars were disqualified from to you no other team are the race, moving Simon Wills, Tim “It’s regrettable. Twrote my breaking the rules.” Leahey and Christian Murchison protest out as the race was going Mosley said that the on after I noticed it (the exhausts) FIA cannot afford to into the top three positions. The exhausts were found to on the grid so obviously it wasn’t allow teams to police extend 678mm from the centreline done because we didn’t win. I felt themselves. of the rear axles, while the Formula sick protesting about a team on this “We are not prepared to Holden rules state that nothing shall basis and Matthew Halliday who take anything on trust extend 600mm from the centreline drove so well to win but the fact any more,” he said. of the rear axles. remains that we are racing in a Mosley said that the Formula category and the rules are Watson has appealed the FIA became aware of the there fora reason.” decision which will be heard either problem during “a rou Murchison now leads the series tine winter audit” but our later this week or early .next week. The situation comes about after ahead of Wills, who was the major Blow it out your... Ralt have,apparently, been spies at the FIA continue the Halt team received dispensation benetactooof the diqsualification. going to far, although they have appealed. to insist that it was actu ally pointed out to the governing body by McLaren which somehow managed to get informa' tion about the systems being used by a variety of 1999 Formula Ford Commodores and AU light from our prospective the Queensland 500 and rival teams. Falcons are permitted. with Steve Owen to take sponsors but the car’s very Champ Greg Ritter is No-one at McLaren Ritter had also been nearly ready. There’s just ninth, and be first of the making the move to V8 would confirm that this was the case but no-one Supercars - but in a approached by other teams some finicky bits left to be ‘true’ rookies at Bathurst. done.” interested in running him Holden Commodore VT. There’s no doubting his denies it either. Ritter is believed to be in speed either. At the in the Shell Series and Lites The Victorian is a “50/50 Mosley said that he did not believe that the rule- chance” of beginning his Series respectively, but discussion with a major Queensland 500 he set the overseas conglomerate fifth fastest lap time of all, Shell Series assault at the decided to run his own pro brefiking had had any sig gram instead with the team involved in electrical goods team mates Tander quickest nificant effect on the out Eastern Creek sprint round who are keen to establish come of the 1999 World in a car prepared by Les running under the Imrie and Bargwanna third. Level 2 franchise. themselves m the Small. During the year of course, Championship. he had overcome tremen The teams will be As we closed for press Australian market. The car was originally Ritter has just ,two required to change their intended for use by Mike Ritter was still not sure dous adversity (namely a whether the team would be roll-over at VSSupercar starts to his sizeable electronics systems in Imrie, but instead will be time for the British credit for the Valvoline/ Queensland Raceway) to used by Ritter in the Shell at Eastern Creek. Grand Prix. The new Series while Imrie will wait “Yeah, it’s 50/50 at the Cummins team in last year’s win the Formula Ford rules include a ban on pitmoment,” he told us. until next year and have a endurance races, where he Championship for Mygale “We still have to wait paired lane speed limiters and a fully sorted car for the Lites with Matthew for the first time. variety of other cutbacks. series, providing VT before we get the green Coleman to finish 12th in -AARON NOONAN

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Ritter moves to Supercars

n Speaking offormer BTCC winners, John Cleland had made his British GT debut. The two-time champ shared a Porsche with Italian F3000 series driver Warren Hughes, making the podium after the Geordie spun their Porsche GTS during the second half of the race. Cleland had to start from the back of the grid after his rear wing was found to be 3mm too high. n Peter Kox has won the opening round of the European Super Touring Championship at Mugello. Kox led Alfa Romeo's Nicola Larini home in both races but, despite his success, he may not have enough budget to run his JAS Honda Accord in the rest of the German/Italian series. n A number of important members of Toyota Motorsport were present at Imola for the San Marino GP including Tsutomu Tomita, the director of Toyota engineering and head of motorsports, Makoto Matsui, the general manager of the motorsport division, Ove Andersson the president of Toyota Motorsport and Peter Ball,the recentlyappointed head of marketing. n Among the VIPs at Imola were Damon Hill, 'Thomas Haifa, the new owner of50 percent of Bemie Ecclestone’s FI company and a group of merchant bankers from JP Morgan who spent a lot of time with the FI boss. Another visitor was former Minardi driver Paolo Barilla of the huge Barilla pasta company. n The FIA introduced a new head and neck safety system for FI drivers at Imola. The Head and Neck Support system will be used by all drivers next yeai'. The prototype model, invented by Robert Hubbard, a professor at Michigan University, was developed by DaimlerChrysler engineers and is intended to minimise movement of the head and neck in a crash. The FIA will also introduce new aerodynamic rules in 2001 with a reduction of the number of elements allowed in a rear wing, the lifting of the front wings by 50mm and much more stringent side impact tests and bigger rollhoops. -JOE SAWARD

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■ Miche&n’s three days test at Miramas was a success with Tom Kristensen covering considerable mileage in the 1999 Williams-BMW which is being run by a Michelin-funded test team. The team is due to test again (probably at - Miramas) at the end of the month but will then move elsewhere in order to get more G forces on the tyres as Miramas does not have enough fast corners. Jaguar Racing is also expected to run a Michelin test programme this year with a 1999 Stewart-Ford car. ■ We hear that Ferrari electronics ace Tad Czapski is being offered a new job within Ferrari as he no longer wants to travel to all the races. Czapski joined Ferrari with Ross Brawn having worked alongside Brawn and Michael Schumacher at Benetton to which he was recruited by Tom Walkinshaw. He is believed to be one of the most highly-paid engineers in the FI paddock. ,*l The Imoja Formula 30t)0 podium ceremony turned into a festival of breaking glass. The race winner Nicolas Minassian was given a large glass plate for his win. He promptly dropped it. The second-placed finisher Bruno Junqueira was given his plate and he did the same. Third placed finisher Mark Webber managed to hold on to his trophy only to be told a few moment after the ceremony that there had been a mistake and Junqueira had been given the wrong trophy. The impressive Australian F3000 debutant had to hand in his trophy... ■ An Indianapolis tradition will be revived at the United States Grand Prix in September. In 1913 a Japanese-style pagoda was built on the start-

Minardi deal off?

may not complete its deal with the Spanish telecom munications company Telefonica. The two companies announced that they were in negotiations in October last year but nearly six months later the deal has still to be completed and we hear that Telefonica’s option to buy the team may have run out. If this is the case there are likely to be several groups in the imnning to snatch the lit tle Italian team. Last autumn there were at least two groups bidding against Telefonica for Minardi. The two known bidders were a group led by US auto motive- parts magnate -Tony Johnson and a European technology consortium involving the Dutch software company ICL. This group is being fronted by former Tyrrell commercial manager Rupert Manwaring. It remains to be seen whether Telefonica will allow Minardi to slip through its fingers but there has been little sign of any conclusion to the talks in recent months, during which Spaniard Joan Villadelprat and Giancarlo Minardi have each been trying to convince Telefonica that they should run the team and the other should not be involved. Villadelprat’s idea was to rename the team and relo cate the entire operation to Barcelona while Minardi argued that the organisation should remain in Italy and that Telefonica should build on the already well-estab lished Minardi brand. Telefonica is running an identical car to the Minardi in C.ART this year with one of Cal Well’s Precision Preparation Inc Motorsports Reynard-Toyotas for Oriol Servia. -JOESAWARD

Haug said that the team was satisfied with its current drivers Mika Hakkinen and David Coulthard. The rumours arose after British American Racing boss (and Villeneuve’s manager) Craig Pollock said that Mercedes was trying to hire the Canadian. -JOESAWARD

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Come fly with Mein

LARRY Perkins cannot usually be accused of having his head in the clouds, but that’s just what happened in Adelaide last weekend. The six-times Bathurst winner, who recently racked up a half century of blowing out candles, took to the skies above the Clipsal 500 track with the famed RAAF Roulettes. And, to show what a non-sexist he is, he flew with Flight Lieutenant Joanne Mein, the first woman to fly with the Roulettes and the

world’s only female military aerobatics pilot. It was an interesting experience for the long-time aviation nut to fly with Lt Mein who is not only a car enthusiast but a com petitor in the BMW Celebrity Challenge in the recent Australian Grand Fto. Perkins pulled up to 5G in Lt Mein’s Pilatus PC9 which has a top speed of 590kmh, double that of LP’s Castrol Commodore. Lt Mein, 29, finished seventh at Albert Park. .Another Castrol Cougar in the making? -PHILBRANAGAN

Vroom with a view X,

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DETAILS have been released of a new $35 million five-star hotei set to straddie Con Rod Straight at Bathurst. The complex, to be known as the Clarion Mount Panorama Hotel (part of the Flag Choice chain) will be situated at the exit of the Chase, with most rooms having a panoramic view of the circuit, interestingiy, each of the 126 rooms/apartments is separately titled

and will be sold individually to investors, who have the opportunity of sacrificing one percent of a guaranteed rental income for seven days accommodation a year. The rooms, the smallest of which is 4 0 square metres, start at $241,000, fully furnished. Construction is expected to be complete prior to the 2001 FAI 1000.

Sir Frank visits Juan and Chip

AFTER the Brazilian Grand Prix Sir Frank Williams flew home via the United States for a tour of the team’s sponsors in North America. Williams visited Compaq in Houston and Nortel in Montreal but we hear that he visited Miami to meet Juan-

Bernie staying

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5 Star rooms: For motor sport lovers, owning a suite in this new hotel would be equivalent to a lover of horses owning a suite overlooking the main straight at Hemington...

■ Mercedes-Benz motor sport chief Norbert Haug says that no approach has been made to Jacques Villeneuve about a McLaren drive in 2001.

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OUR spies in Italy tell us that the Minardi team

finish straight at The Brickyard. This burned down in 1925 but was replaced by a second although this later disappeared. A new 153foot, nine-storey pagoda is to house race control for the FI race. '● i

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Pablo Montoya and Chip Ganassi. Williams is understood to have the first option on Montoya’s services in 2001 but the startling performance of Jenson Button so far this year in Formula 1 has creat ed something of a problem for Williams as the team now has too many good drivers

under contract for 2001. Ralf Schumacher (24) has a contract with Williams until the end of 2002 and the team also has an option on 20year-old Button’s servi6'es imtil 2004. Montoya (24) has shown some dazzling pace in the United States but has never raced in FI and so his recruitment would be a risk

for the team. Williams refuses to make any comment about his dis cussions with Montoya but he may be trying to convince the Colombian to remain under option to Williams until 2003 rather than move to a rival FI team. Montoya could then replace Schumacher. -JOESAWARD

EM.TV confirmed recently that it had acquired a 50 percent shareholding in Bemie Ecclestone’s Formula 1 empire from the financial houses Morgan Grenfell and Heilman & Friedman. The deal perplexed the financial world as it made no sense for Ecclestone to have mastermind a sale which made the two firms large profits and appeared to do nothing for him. The feeling was that Ecclestone had been caught out and had ended up with a partner he did not want. This theory seems to be backed up by events in recent days as EM.TV boss Thomas H^a began the relationship by saying that he was negotiating to buy an extra 25 percent of the company in order to gain control of the commercial exploitation of the sport. He also announced a major initiative for television on the Internet, linking the coverage of Grand Prix racing with the deed. Ecclestone has responded by saying that he is still in control - and that he intends to remain in control. ‘Tm going to stay where I am,” Ecclestone said. T don’t ever plan to retire. I’m going to stay at this desk pennanently and they’ll have to cany me out in a box. We’re on track for a flotation within two to three years. Eventually EM.TV may buy an extra stake but it’s not on the cards for now. I’m stiU in control.” Ecclestone added that FI has no plans for the Internet at the moment. T don’t know what the big fuss is about,” he said. “It would probably take about 20 minutes to put Formula 1 on line. When we are ready, we will go on to the Internet.” This would aU seem to support the ai'gument that Ecclestone and EM.TV are unwilling bedfellows in FI but, at the same time, Ecclestone is reported to have orchestrated the deal with Heilman & Friedman in order to get the maximum amount of cash from the sale while also raising the value of the company. -JOESAWARD

ISI

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Photo by Sutlyf

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INTEREST in the Adelaide Race of a Thousand Years is on the up with the news that Don Panoz will be bringing another of the 6-litre V8-powered mon sters for an Australian crew in addition

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Changes in the wind? Eddie Jordan (R) knows what he will be doing in 2001 but does Jag FI’s Neil Ressler (R)7

Jaguar langes By JOE SAWARD

THERE were a lot of rumours in the paddock at Imola that there will soon be management changes at Jaguar Racing with the suggestion being that many of the old Stewart Grand Piix faces will disapnear and be replaced by Ford appointees. There is, however, no hint as to who will take over the actually day-to-day running of the operation as the people that Jaguar appear to want are not available until the end of the season - at the earliest. The speculation continues to suggest that ultimately the team will end up being run by Ferrari’s technical director Ross Brawn. The feeling in the paddock (whether it is correct or not) is that the team is actually not being run by anyone at the moment and this helps to explain the disappointing showing to date. This is probably an overlyharsh judgement as there are some highly experienced manager within the organi sation but they are not get ting the necessary guidance

Panoz, Pciiioz, Panoz Mario and V8 starsfor Adelaide ALMS?

.164^

14 April 2000

from top management' The team chairman Neil Ressler has other jobs in the Ford Motor Company and cannot spend all his time making the FI team work and it may be that Ford will decide to bring someone else in to run the team until Brawn is available. The problem is that there are few obvious candidates, although Martin Whitaker who has been looking after Ford’s rallying in recent months is an obvious candi date for that job. At the same time there are a lot of rumours suggesting that both technical Gary Anderson and driver Johnny Herbert may find themselves out of work. Replacing Anderson would not be a good idea because there is no obvious replace ment available at the moment and while the team test driver Luciano Burti might be drafted in to replace Herbert, the team cannot really blame the dri ver as Johnny’s car has been disastrously unreliable so far this year. Whatever the details there is no doubt that changes are ahead. The big question is when...

to the regular driver and car hne-up. We hear that the management of the Le Mans Series event plus Panoz driver David Brabham, who was in Adelaide for a flying visit before returning to the States, have been inundated with enquiries from Level 1 V8 Supercar drivers hs to the availability of

drives in the twilight event. There’s also the possibility of a fourth car as well as the in volvement of Mario Andretti. Don Panoz is known to be keen to have Andretti in Adelaide although a decision isn’t expected until after Le Mans in June. Panoz has a new car w'hich Brabham hopes will be ready for testing by the end of the . ^ ^^ar. It will use a 4-6-htre Ford jluch is - much lighter and powerful m a bid to take the fight up to the Audis and BMWs. -AAEON NOONAN

Ground control to Major Don: There could be three of Don Panoz’s cars in the Race of a Thousand Years in December - and one of them could be Aussie-driven. (PtiaoDysutton-images)

Brazil GP cops $100K fine

'THE Confederacao Brasileira de

The safety commission was asked to examine whether or not it is a good idea to allow signage to be hung over the track in the future. The small fine is curi ous in that Jerez de la Frontera is not allowed to have a Grand Prix because a local dignitary decided that he wanted to be on the podium. 'There was no safety issue involved and yet the Spanish circuit has been very harshly punished. Mosley said that the ban on Jerez had later been rescinded following meetings with the Spanish Minister of Sport. -JOE SAWARD

Automobihsmo, the Brazilian national sporting authority, which organises the race at Interlagos every year, has been fined US$100,000 ($170,000) for the incidents in qualifying in which sever^ advertising hoardings feU onto the race track when cars passed beneath them. The FIA World Council agreed that the problem had been caused by “a combination of different, quite exceptional circum stances” and that there were “mitigating circum stances”.

l']

PEDAL SETS GEAR KNOBS GLOVES KART

■ Former Grand Prix driver Henri Pescarolo has set up with own team to compete in this year’s Le Mans 24 Hours. The 57-

a pair of Peugeot-engined Courage chassis for himself, Ohvier GrouiUard, Sebastien Bourdais and Emmanuel Clerico. 'The engines are developments of a Peugeot V6 production engine.

All smiles: Schuey and DC were happy after the Brazil race but the organisers were fined $100K. (Sutton)

■ Toyota has signed up former Castrol sponsorship boss Peter BaU to head its FI marketing department. Ball has previously worked in motorcycle racing, rallying, powerboating. Castrol has long been a Toyota sponsor and the appointment of BaU would seem to suggestion that Toyota would like that relationship to continue, although Castrol is now a major sponsor of the WiUiams FI team. -JOE SAWARD

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Back on the podium

Motorsport News caught up with fWark Webber after his first BOM race and asked him for his own thoughts on how the weekend went.

Salo of the Century: Mika drove superbly at Imola, impressing new TM Willy Rampf.

saves Sauber's lace

By JOE SAWARD WILLY Rampfs appoint ment as technical irector of the Red Bull Sauber Petronas team has reaped immediate rewards. Rampfs promotion comes just a few days after Sauber’s embarrassing decision to withdraw from the Brazilian Grand Prix after a spate of rear wing failures, but Mika Salo scored a point at Imola la.'’t Sunday to save face for the team. Last month Salo was dis qualified from sixth place in the Australian GP because of an illegal front wing. Ress has only been techni-

cal director at Sauber since February 1998 but has been the team’s chief desigp'er for nearly 15 years. He will now take charge of Sauber’s research and development programme, leaving Rampf in charge of all technical mat ters. According to the team it was Ress’s decision to move to a new role. Rampf is a former BMW engineer who joined Sauber in 1994 to work as HeinzHarald Frentzen’s race engi neer. He stayed with the team for only three seasons before returning to BMW to work in motorcycle research. He rejoined Sauber at the

start of this season as head of track engineering. He will oversee the design of the Sauber-Petronas C20 chas sis for next year, work on which will begin next month. The team’s chief desigifer is Argentina’s Sergio Rinland. The transfer of Ress is no real surprise as Peter Sauber needs to show that he is making changes in the team as he renegotiates the Sauber deal with the Malaysian oil company Petronas. That deal comes to an end this season and Petronas has yet to decide whether to continue with the Swiss team.

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MN: What were your expectations going into the weekend? MW: I was really looking forward to this weekendfor so many reasons. Apart from the fact I’m sick of testing - don't get me wrong it’s not that I don’t like itbut I was itching to put everything we’ve done and learnt into competition. I still didn’t really know where we were going to end up in qualifying because although the test we had at Imola wasn’t too bad, we didn’t get the best out of the car. I would have been very disappointed had I qualified outside the top 10 and quite satisfied with the first six. That was my expectation but it was really only when we got into the middle of qualifying, we started to get the real picture and it was a good one! After qualifying, we set ourselves some goals for the race. Obviously, the first was to get av/ay cleanly and if possible, make some positions at the first chicane before settling down in the race. Even that was a new experience for me. I know we have tested the car with a lot of fuel but you really don’t know where you are in relation to the other guys until, again, the first tew laps. So, it was only after both the practice sessions and the early part of the race, I started to feel that it was going to be a fairly good weekend. MN: And afterwards? MW: I couldn’t have really asked for anything more from the weekend. It’s very easy to say that, in hindsight, we should have got onto the front row and got Bruno [Junqueira] at the start but I’m fairly happy with the way things panned out. = We could have quite easily qualified 15th and then it wouldn’t have been such a good trip out here tor us. To finish 2.5 seconds behind the winner was definitely one of my highlights so far. MN: You said after the race you really enjoyed yourself. Was that just because you were back in a single-seater? MW: No, it was just being back in a race, never mind what sort of car I was racing. But, when you have a good handling single-seater on a demanding little track like Imola and you’re totally in

Orange people; Webber was in fine form at Imola, taking third in qualifying and the race.(Photos by Suuon-images)

tOSTk i

control, it is a great feeling. Single-seaters are so enjoyable to drive when they’re behaving themselves. MN: Did it seem like a long race to you? MW: Not really. It went reasonably quickly for me but they always do when you’re trying to size someone up. However, I’m sure in Nicolas’s[Minassian]case, where he was leading for 42 laps, it would have seemed like an eternity to him. MN: Even in Formula Ford and F3 days, you always seemed to like the big occasion events, i.e. Grands Prix, Macau,etc. How much did it mean to you to be racing in front of a Grand Prix crowd again and to know that the F1 hierarchy was probably looking on? MW:Once those red lights went out and the three of us were off, it didn’t matter where we were racing! For sure, all the F3000 races are important but you can’t let that worry you. I do like the big atmosphere events but once you’re in the race, the blinkers are on! MN: We understand your qualifying performance and race result caused quite a stir within the Formula One paddock? Tom Walkinshaw and Alexander Wurz also came out onto the grid to wish you luck which must have given you a bit of a buzz? MW: Yes, that was nice. Some of the FI drivers I know were genuinely very happy to see me get a good result after what happened last year. Over the past few seasons, I’ve also got to know quite a few people who work tor the various Formula One teams, including a lot of the Aussies who are scattered through the paddock. I think they

were very happy to see a fellow countryman doing fairly well. MN: After what was a difficult first season for European last year, the result must have been particularly sweet for the team and Paul Stoddars. What do you put the improvement down to? MW: It’s down to ail round commitment- everyone in each comer. We have all put a lot of effort in over the winter and when you get good results in testing, it lifts the team, boosts its morale and gives everyone a sense of pride and wanting to improve even further. Both the team and myself have to be careful though, because Imola is now in the past and in this category like a lot of others - you can’t afford to rest on your laurels. We will definitely keep on pushing hard and fighting for what we can get but so will everyone else. You also have to be realistic and accept you might have a few rough weekends but that you try and keep those to a minimum. MN: You haven’t raced single-seaters since 1997 so your result must have surprised a iot of people. MW: It probably did. I have been out of single-seaters for a while and haven’t actually raced anything since 1998 but I still did a lot of miles in a race car last year prior to Le Mans and at Mercedes, tor sure, I learned how to rattle oft decent lap times lap after lap. It’s important for a race driver to be able to do that. You only have to look at qualifying where there’s 22 guys covered by a second but for some of the drivers, it’s a one-off lap. You’ve got guys who can do those kind of times for 50 laps and some who can’t.

14 April 2000

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Let’s hope he can Reid himself: Richard Burns is going road racing. (Photo by RaceAfcess)

4 WRC#1

911

CURRENT leader of the World Rally Championship Richard Bums will be tak ing to the track dming a break in World Rally commitments in April. The young British rally tyro will part in his first international track race at the British Grand Prix swapping his Subaru Impreza WRC for a Porsche 911 GT3 Cup racer, for the Porsche Supercup race. Bums \vill take paid as one of the two invit ed guest drivers who form a feature of the Grand Prix supporting series. “I beheve I am going to do it and it will be a lot offun,” said Bums. Bums was due to test one of the race cars at Porsche’s test facility near Weissach this week.

Very few WRC drivers have made the con version to circuit racing during the modern era of rallying since the WKC was initiated 21 years ago. On a one-off occasion Colin McRae raced a Prodrive BMW 318i in a BTCC race at Knockhill, causing enough damage to make sure no-one let him near other race cars again. He also tested an FI Jordan three years ago, wliile Tommi Makinen drove a WilliamsSupcikec at Barcelona in 1998. On notable exception has been Walter Rohl who drove for Audi in Trans Am racing in the US and now works as a test driver for Porsche at Weissach. -JON THOMSON

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Charlotte. He went on to win titles in 1958 and 1959,becoming NASCAR’s first three-time champion,and scored 54 Grand National(now Winston Cup) victories, then a record,through ekrly 1961, when he was seriously iiqured in a crash during a quali^ing race at Daytona International Speedway. Lee’s son, Richard, won the first of his record seven championships in 1964, the year Lee raced for the Iasi, time. Lee Petty

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of our sport,” said NASCAR president Bill France. “All of us at NASCAR are saddened to hear of Lee’s passing ahd extend our deepest sympathy to his famfiy.” Petty founded America’s most famous racing dynasty, with Richard’s son Kyle being a regular Winston Cup contender and Kyle’s sonand Lee’s greatgrandson -Adam embarking on his own quest to continue the family tradition just months before Lee’s passing.

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Jaguar grabs the Muhelin Man

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Jaguar Racing and Michelin have announced a partnership for the 2001 season.

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The David Leatherman Show

By JOE SAWARD

AS we predicted last issue,

shell Championship Series

/Kl(o)9®ffS[p®i70

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. -

Jaguar joins Williams and Toyota (although the new team will proba bly not appear until 2002) on Michelin tyres. Further deals are expected in the weeks ahead with Sauber, Frost, Benetton and Jordan all expected to confirm deals with the French

WORD has filtered out that David Auger’s Australian Super Touring Championship bid has received a considerable boost from two separate directions. When quizzed on news of a major sponsor and possible factory backing Auger would only comment that he has a verbal agreement from a major sponsor and is currently in discussion with a manufacturer with a view to the 2001 series.

t ■

tyre company. The switches are likely to be dic tated by engine manufacturers wanting to ensure that they have teams on both Bridgestone and Michelin so that if one tyre compa ny gets ahead they will still be in a position to win races. Sauber is cur rently acting as Ferrari’s second team and so a switch to Michelin next year in an obyious step which will allow Ferrari to monitor just how good the Michelins are. Jordan and BAR are both sup plied by Honda and we would expect one or the other to rud Michelins next year. It is more like ly to be Jordan as BAR has the fac tory Honda engine supply and a switch to Michelin might not be a good move. Frost is expected to get the sec ond Mercedes-Benz engine supply next year (although there have been a few rumours in recent days that a deal might be in the offing with Ferrari). One way or another, it is in Frost’s interest to be on Michelins and the French connec

And here’s the star of our show: David Auger...

Tyre supply: Michelin is expected to grab up to seven teams for next year. (Photo by sunon-images)

Keeping an HRTs triple treat eye on the

meco

tion will certainly help as Alain may be able to get financial support from Michelin as well. Benetton is also likely to go to Michelin given the recent take-over of the team by Renault. Michelin will be under commercial pressure to support the team in the future. According to the regulations, tyre companies must be in a position to support 60 percent of the FI field if called upon to do so and so Michelin could supply seven teams in 2001. Michelin started its testing pro gramme last week at the BMW testing facility at Miramas with Tom Kristensen driving a 1999 Williams-BMW FW21B test car which is being run from the old BMW Motorsport facility next to the main Williams factory at Grove.

<●

No, it’s not a V6 or a V12! Designed to overcome the heat/exhaust problems some drivers experienced in Adelaide last year, HRT ran a new system on their VT Commodores last weekend. All the pipesfrom the engine now sweep to the left hand side and into one giant muffler, with just three outlet pipes. “The area of the three is equivalent to one large outlet pipe, ” explained team manager Jeff Grech.

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14 April 2000

IVIonty Swift response,Forsythe dumped

rookie

JUAN Montoya has

produced the second quickest time around the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway during testing for next month’s Indy 5000, being bettered only by defending IRL champion Greg Ray. Ray topped the tests with laps over 220 miles per hour, with Montoya right on his tail with a best of 219.78 mph. Montoya wasn’t required to be in attendance at the speedway this week, with many diivers undertaking their rookie tests, but the reigning CART champion and his Chip Ganassi team elected to undertake further testing in readiness for their IRL

SWIFT Engineering has hit back after being stung

by reports from the cur rently on-hold Bryan Herta^orsythe team that their chassis was too slow and not race-ready, by running back-to-back test ing of their cars. The tests reportedly showed the opposite to what has been claimed by the Forsythe camp and Swift has now withdrawn support for the team. Swift took two cars to Phoenix, one prepared by Forsythe and the other by its own engineers, for Herta and CARl' newcomer Tarso Marques, with the Marques car turning times consider ably quicker than its coun terpart, “ihere was a basic disagree ment between us about the competitiveness of the Swift car,” said Swift Engineeripg president Gary Holmes. ,“So we proposed an oval te^t at Phoenix to prove the car could iim competitively.” Marques apparently

lapped quicker than the best laps of some of CART’s top teams at their previous PIR outing, the result leading the company to believe the team would enter the Nazareth race. It didn’t and Swift pulled the pin on its agreement. “In light of Forsythe’s con tinuing unwillingness to sup port the race and develop ment program we had both agreed to,” Holmes said, “we at Swift felt we would be bet ter off seeking another rela tionship to demonstrate the capability of our product in CART racing.” Holmes was quick to point out that he believed the result didn’t reflect badly on Herta’s ability, suggesting Swift engineers simply set up a better car. “While Tarso was faster ultimately, we don’t consider the results to be any reflec tion on Herta’s outstanding ability. Our engineers simply set the car up in a way that allowed the car to run very competitive times.” -PHIL MORRIS

debut at the speedway their run surprising many considering their inexperience with the normally aspirated engine/different chassis combinations used in the ‘alternative’ series.

Herta to sub at Walker’sfor injured rookie

ERL-spec GForce/Auroras at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway the week prior. “There are a lot more similarities between the two cars than differences,” Vasser said after his initial run in the IRL car.

FORMER FI driver Shinji Nakano will miss the next two FedEx Series races after he was injured in a testing crash at the Milwaukee Mile a fort

Vasser topped his Indy run with a best of 219.13

oval, besting with a four lap average of 214.38. Teenage female sensation Sarali Fisher passed her orientation tests without any dramas, best with laps of 207.02

mph.

-PHIL MORRIS

IT wouldn’t have been thought possible after blue skies shone brightly at Nazareth Speedway during qualifyingfor last weekend's FedEx Series round but race day was cancelled thanks to a storm covering the track in snow! The round, for which Juan Montoya qualified his Ganassi Lola/Toyota on pole, has now been transferred to May 27, the day preceding the Indy 500. While the change in dates will cause the Ganassi team some problems, thanks to their attempt to run at the Indy 500, the team isn't overly concerned about the dramas.

Nakano out for two races

Beth Montoya and team mate Jimmy Vasser also had a hit-out in their new

mph,ranking the former FedEx champion in sixth position. The Ganassi team has purchased three chassis for their run at Indy, along with 10 Aurora engines prepared by Comptech Engines. Rookie Memo Gidley surprised many by passing his orientation test in under 90 minutes, the American running consistently over 210 mph arotmd the 2.5 mile flat

Cup full of snow

night ago. Bryan Herta will replace the former Prost and Minai-di driver in the Derrick Walker team at Fast and feminine: Argentinean lanina Zanazzi. (Sutton-images) 18-YEAR-OLD female driver lanina Zanazzi is being targeted for a Champ Car drive by John Della Penna, the Argentinian dazzling many observed onlookers with her ability which may lead her all the way to the top. This season, in just her fifth year of racing, Zanazzi has moved to the South American F3 series. Della Penna, who currently runs fellow Argentinian Norberto Fontana in the FedEx Series, plans to help Zanazzi through F3, the Toyota Atlantic series and onto Champ Cars. “The fact lanina has won races against guys that I know are talented caught my eye,” he said last week. “The idea is that, with my guidance, she will take all the necessary steps to prepare for a ride in Champ Cars. “She’ll spend one or two years in Formula 3. Then, we’ll take advantage of CART’s ladder system, moving her through Toyota Atlantics and Indy Lights into CART.” ' Last season Zanazzi won two races and finished fourth in the Formula Super Renault Championship, becoming the first woman in Argentina to ever win an open-wheel race.

-PHIL MORRIS

Long Beach this week end, Walker having over looked Memo Gidley in favour of Herta who his torically has done well at the Californian street race. Nakano was released from hospital following the accident but further medical evaluations showed bruises on the brain, CART medical staff mandating him to fully recover before allowing him to race again. “While Shinji’s injuries are moderately severe, there is really nothing that can be done to speed' the: healing process along,” Dr Terry Horner

of the Indianapolis St Vincent Hospital said. “We’ll see him again in a week or so and re-evaluate how he is doing. This type of injury just takes time to heal.” Nakano’s first ever CART race, at the seasonHomestead opening round last month, pro duced an excellent eighth place finish. “We’re obviously disap pointed at not being able

to go to Nazareth,” said team owner Derrick Walker. “Shinji had worked very hard on ovals and we were looking forward to continuing the good progress he made at Homestead, but we agree with the doctors that it is best that he fully recover.” He should return for the Motegi race in midMay.

Nakano Herta in testing accident: Slight bruising on the brain has meant Shinji Nakano will be replaced for the next two races by Bryan Herta.

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14 April 2000

Dd.

Japanese dominate home GPs Roberts rains THE post-Doohan era is already producing some of the closest, most excit ing SOOcc racing seen for many years, with the first six riders at Japan’s Grand Prix last Sunday

rival Italian rider, Valentino Rossi, finished his first 500cc race in 11th. Points: Roberts 55; Chec 51; McCoy 48; Abe 34; Aoki 31; Barros 30; Okada 26; Criville 21; Capirossi 20; Laconi 16.

separated by less than three seconds. Suzuka hero Norick Abe emerged as the winner of his second GP at the circuit, Abe watching and waiting in the lead group before making his run of victory over the final few laps. “It must have been so, so exciting for everyone watch ing, for us too - but I don’t like races like that, they’re too scary!” he grinned. Kenny Roberts followed his Malaysian GP win the week prior hy finishing sec ond on his Suzuki, the world championship favourite having started from pole position, with Honda’s Tady Okada third. “There were so many of us together that I had no idea who was going to win,” Abe continued. “I was expecting Kenny’s attack at the chi cane on the last lap, but I guess he must’ve made some mistakes, so he couldn’t get close enough.” Abe chose the 16.5 inch tyre that has become favoured by many this sea son - the tyre choice prov ing to be the decisive factor in the closing stages. Australia’s Garry McCoy dropped from first to third in the points standings, having made the wrong tyre choice in Japan and finish ing only ninth. rival Championship Carlos Checa didn’t finish much further ahead of McCoy, the Marlboro Yamaha rider coming home fifth. Nobbie Aoki finished fourth with World Champion Alex Criville in sixth. Max Biaggi again crashed out of the race while battling for the lead, while

THE

250cc

AFTER a disappointing beginning to the season in South Africa, Kenny Roberts put his championship hopes back on track by taking the win in the second GP of the year at Malaysia's Sepang circuit - the race red-flagged due to heavy rain. “When Criville went down, I must’ve missed his bike by a couple of feet,” said Roberts. “Then Rossi went down when I was right behind McCoy. I wouldn’t want to do that again...” McCoy retained his championship lead out of Malaysia, bringing the Red Bull Yamaha home in third, second falling to Carlos Checa’s Yamaha. Max Biaggi scored his first points, riding the second Marlboro Yamaha home in fourth while Loris Capirossi, Alex Criville and Valentino Rossi all spectacularly crashed out. All four riders were battered and bruised, but otherwise unhurt.

saw

Japanese riders domi nate the race with Daijiro Katoh, Tohru Ukawa and Shinya Nakano taking the first three places - the first two aboard Hondas at the company’s home track. The win was the first for Honda this season and comes after Nakano domi nated the opening two races of the year in South Africa and Malaysia. Olivier Jacque, team ma^ to Nakano, finished fourth on his Chesterfield/BP Yamaha, ahead of 250cc rookie Marco Melandri. Anthony West continued to battle on despite still being severely restricted fol lowing his practice crash in Malaysia, a fighting seventh maintaining his fifth place in the championship. “It couldn’t really be a better result for me seeing how I’ve been going in prac tice,” said West. “I’m still in fifth position in the Championship so that is good.” Shell Advance team owner Jeff Hardwick was again impressed by both his riders. West and Ukawa. “Ukawa rode one of the best races of his life and even though he came sec ond, it could have easily been first,” said Hardwick. “Westy rode a terrific race after all the pressure he has been under. It can only get better for him as he learns the bike.” YOUICHI Ui won his first 125cc GP, also bringing home manufacturer Derbi’s first victory

THE 250CC race produced an impressive 1-2 for the Chesterfield Yamaha Tech 3 team as Shinya Nakano finished ahead of team mate Olivier Jacque, who had passed Daijiro Katoh’s Honda in mid-race. Our our rising son; Norick Abe won his second SOOcc Grand Prix at Suzuka, his Yamaha lead ing home a Suzuki at Honda’s home track. (Photo by RaceAccess) since their return to the sport. Ui led home fellow coun trymen Nobbie Ueda and Masao Azuma, both of whom were riding Hondas. Italy’s Roberto Locatelli looked to have the race won, but fell from his Aprilia just a few laps from home.

THE pre-season hype was right: Honda’s new 2000 World

●;i

Superbike contender is fast but it’s not that fast. While Colin Edwards took a thrilling win in the first race of the SBK season, he was not unbeatable, giving best to Yamaha’s Noriyuki Haga in Race 2. Best of the Aussies was Troy Corser, who took Aprilia’s first ever SBK pole. The former world champ went 4-4 in the two races, while Anthony Gobert was 12th in the second race on his Bimota after its Suzuki V-twin engine cried enough in Race 1. Edwards led most of the way in Race 2, overcoming determined late-race challenges from Haga and Carl Fogarty. All three were cov ered by a blanket, finishing 0.22s apart and almost 8s clear of Corser, who rode steadily to fourth.

The second race was all-Haga. The Japanese won the start and, apart from being Iqd by Edwards for less than a lap, that was the last anyone saw of the Yamaha, Haga pulling away to win by 6.4s. A sliding but happy Edwards was second from Pierfrancesco Chilli’s Suzuki, while Corser was a lonely fourth from new lad Haru Aoki (Ducati) and Gregorio Lavilla (Kawasaki), who rode gamely after breaking his right wrist in a preseason fall. Race 2 was a disaster for Fogarty, who played catch-up after a bad opening lap. He caught up to thirdplaced Chilli, only to lose the front end and crash., causing enough damage to put his Infostrada Ducati out. “I was in trouble in that second race,” said Edwards later. “From the second lap onwards, the rear t3Te was sliding around - I think we didn’t allow for the

YOUICHI Ui looked to have the 125cc race won for Derbi but was passed by Roberto Locatelli’s Aprilia on the second last corner, Ui just holding out Mirko Giansanti by 0.02s for second!

Oh, no.. Katoh couldn't hold out Nakano’s Yamaha. (Photo by RaceAccess)

Superbike super payouts

A major cash incentive of US$lmillion has heen offered to any Superbike rider who can win half of the 26 races on the world cham pionship tour this season. The offer, along with a further US$300,000 for anyone who can win six consecutive Superpoles and US$500,000 for anyone who wins six consecutive races, is not unobtainable as Carl Fogarty achieved the feat in 1995 on his way to the world title, “The prize fund will offer a huge incentive to riders and teams to pro¬

m increase track temperature between races one and two. r I stuck with Haga and could make time up on him in the final third of the circuit but I made a mistake in that section about lap 18 and Haga was gone, After that I checked the distance between myself and Chilli and went for the safe finish.” While Honda’s fi rst SBK twin won on debut, there was no good news for Simon Crafar. The kiwi brought his floundering 500 GP form to Superbikes, subbing for the recovering Aaron Slight, but wob-

duce consistent results,” said Paolo Flammini, head of Superbike International, which controls the WSBK series.

“The championship already produces consistently close racing and intense competition,” Flammini said. “The new prize fund will simply add to the appeal the World Superbike Championship has for teams, riders and spectators around the world.” The prizemoney,if any is won, will be equally distributed between the rider and teams. praying Aaron is right... Point^after one round: Haga/Edwands 45, Chilli 27 Corser 26, Add/LaviUa 20, Fogartj'/'Ben Bostrom(Ducati) 16,Juan Borja (DucatiVPujiwara(Suzuki) 15.

USA 1,Japan 1 B y JOOS VAN DER KUIP

It was Nakano's second victory in two races and gave him maximum points in the World Championship. Shell Advance Honda’s Tohru Ukawa crashed out, although Anthony West battled on under duress following a practice crash the day prior that left him battered and bruised. West finished an extremely commendable sixth.

Troy’s new Toy: Troy Corser, leading Chilli at left, went 4-4. Edwards’ new Hon-cati (below) won on debut.

bled around for two 14th places, about a minute behind Edwards. The former 500 winner says he has at least two more rides. Slight back at Phillip island on Easter Simday. Honda must be

14 April 2000

Oh, what a memory!

While Audis V

j TOYOTA’S sportscar pro gram may be ended with out ever having won at Le Mans but their final

EhasThigHifakdl _rab’haiin;(folio; P'edibiflilgaiig;. pbort afcharl^ LAtiidi'(left) strij (with a year-oi

weapon is still being put to good use. Toyota is to try some of the components intended for its Fomiula 1 racecar on a GTONE sportscar next week. Allan McNish, one of its former Le Mans team mem bers, is to conduct this test.

;:(,Ph'otdsby Sutton^

Although the 30-year-old Scot is racing for Audi in the ALMS series, he is likely to be called upon for much of the on-track development of Toyota's Formula 1 car. The Japanese contender is being built at Toyota Motorsport GmbH in Cologne, Germany, and the initial shakedown is planned later this year. - QUENTIN SPUERING

Brabham fails short in Charlotte DAVID Brabham lost vic tory in round two of the American Le Mans Series tat Charlotte to JJ Lehto and Jorg Muller after twice getting caught up behind the BMW drivers’ sister car. The Aussie’s team-mate, Jan Magnussen, led the early stages, of the race, but the number one Panoz fell behind both BMWs at the second round offuel stops. l Brabham lost 20 seconds to Muller while trapped bt:.cind Bill Auberlen, who Jean-Marc partnered Gounon. Brabham misheard his signal to pit during a final yellow flag period. The delay allowed Auberlen and the Rafanelli Lola of Didier de Radigues to get ahead of the Fordengined car. By the time the Panoz had made it past the latter, the winning BMW was 14 seconds up the road.

The 34-year-old was able to reduce the deficit, but failed to get within seven seconds when the chequered flags came out at the end of the two-hour, 45-niinute race. De Radigues and Mimmo Schiattarella were classified third, one lap down. Team boss Gabriele Rafanelli insisted that the Judd-powered car was on the same lap as the leaders, but it would have made no differ ence to the result. The race was something of a disappointment for Audi fans. After the dominating the podium in the Sebring race last month the Audi troops were well of the pace in their 1999-model R8Rs after deciding to keep their 2000 cars in Europe where they are being prepared for Le Mans Pre-Qualifying at the end of the month. - GARY WATKINS

1 Photo by Toyota media

Still the ONE: Toyota's GT-ONE is testing F1 parts.

Don't write off 2KQ: Weaver DESPITE having its troublesome 2KQ sportscar parked by the leading Dyson sportscar team, Reynard is pressing on with its ALMS programme. The British manufacturer is rushing through a series of modifications designed to solve the myriad of problems encountered with the 2KQ at Daytona and Sebring earlier this

TO LE MANS

P ANTHONY Reid will return to the Le Mans 24 Horn’s this June after an absence of five years. The BTCC driver will race a GT class Porsche at the French enduro. He has agreed terms with the Japanese Taisan squad, which has a guaranteed entry for its 911 GT3-R in the race on June 17-18. The event will be Reid’s fourth Le Mans start. He finished third on his

dehut at La Sarthe in 1990 driving an Apha-run Porsche 962C and his most recent attempt on the sportscar clas sic came with the Lister factory squad in 1996. The Scot(right) will be teamed with sportscar stalwart regular Hideshi Matsuda. Taisan regular and former Nissan works driver Hideo Fukuyama is a strong candidate for the third seat. -GARY WATKINS

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U April 2000

Ford and Vauxhall wins snare Did the Fords breed over the off-season? Well, actually yes. Menu and Rydell were quick to jump away and lead the sprint race (left), while Jason Plato had to contend with all three factory Ford Mondeosin the second race before*he went cm to win his first race for GM.

(Photos by Bothwell Photographic)

Menu made a perfect start in race one and never lookbd back. ,/ scored a win apiece in the Behind, Rydell and Muller opening two rounds of the provided the battle of the 2000 Auto new-look race for the next seven laps Trader British Touring as Muller attacked at virtuCar Championship, at ally every corner. Brands Hatch on the He eventually dived weekend. through on the inside at Menu was victorious in Surtees while the Swede was round one, after claiming . lapping a slower Class B car pole position and leading ,and set off after Menu, from the green light to the although he would finish in chequered flag while Plato, second, in his first drive for the “I think if I had three of Triple 888 Vauxhall team, four more laps I might have won round two thanks to been able to catch Alain. I slick pit-work from the am very happy with this Vauxhall team. result considering the posi-

FORD’S Alain Menu and Vauxhall’s Jason Plato

tion we were in when we came here last year. The Vauxhall is much improved,” Muller said. A four-car battle for third developed between Honda’s James Thompson, Plato, Rydell and reigning Independents champion Matt Neal. Neal dropped off a lap later after receiving damage in a colhsion with Rydell, the resulting oversteer slowing his progress. Thompson then attempted to overtake Rydell but spun as he got past and dropped two places, putting Plato into fourth and Rydell third. Plato tried everything to pass the Swede but Rydell defended his position to stay ahead at the flag. Neal held on for the Independents win coming

home tenth, just ahead of Cohn Blair in a simi lar Nissan Primera. The original 28-lap feature race distance was extended to 33 laps after the Safety Car was sent out three James times Thompson lost control of his Accord at Dingle Dell Corner, and it went into the barriers directly in front of a BBC film crew. Fortunately both the and cameramen

H ^ i'

Thompson escaped with minor cuts and bruises. Neal and Honda’s Tom Kristensen both retired from the action when Neal lunged down the inside to attempt a passing move at the same corner on lap three. Once the compulsory pit stops had been taken, it was Plato (who stopped earlier than the others) who was out in front and he opened up a one second break to take the

win over Anthony Reid. Muller still finished third despite two pit-stops, the sec ond to repair a damaged front spoiler, ahead of Rydell, Vincent Radermecker (in the third Vauxhall) and Gabriele Tarquini. Points: Plato 24, Menu 22, Muller 22, RydeU 19, Reid 19, Radermecker 9, Tarquini 8, Thompson 5, Kristensen 4,Blair 4.

Dingle Dell or,bloody hell? The high-flying Frenchman Yvan Muller didn't win at Brands Hatch but he sure saved the Vauxhall team on its account with Michelin. Triple 888 ran three cars for the first time in the BTCC with the field severely depleted following Renault and Nissan’s withdrawl. (Photo by Bothwell Photographies)

av without the cream APRIL 1 has come and gone but the humour of April Fools’ Day lives on. There were the usual number of jolly japes in the motorsport business, headed by current NHRA Top Fuel Champion Tony Schumacher ‘admitting’ that he drove with his eyes closed. NHRA joined in too, running all manner of sto ries on their website, like ‘Drivers thank sponsors at Press Conference’ and ‘Fortune 500 companies demand right to sponsor drivers’. Locally, the Melbourne Age suggested that Holden and Ford would swap ■>4^ proving gi'omids while on that bastian of respectable writing, the internet, Australian motor racing newsgroups tried to con vince us that Neil Crompton had been sacked from FTR in favom' of Wayne Wakefield. Not to mention the numerous hoaxes of a CART/IRL settlement which reckoned that we’d have the ‘FedEx Indy Racing Championship Car Series’ in 2001 with the Indianapolis 500

becoming a night race. In 1988, Ferrari built a prototype cai'for the CART Indycar series in an attempt to show the sport’s controlling body to con vince the FIA that it was serious aboutjumphig ship. In Italy the journalist pulled the photos back out of a dusty corner of the filing cabinet, played around with photoshop, added some Target and Energizer stickers and Chip’s your team owner — two of the most suc cessful teams in op.enwheeler racing are head ing to America to nm the Target Ferrari CART car. Another one concerning Ganassi was that Juan Montoya and Jimmy Vasser would be going to the Indy 500 this year in IRL cars. Whoops,that was real. But one of the best play on words though was the bulletin that suggested that American driver Lyn St James would have a crack at the world,land speed record for wheeldriven cars in a natural gas-powered machine at Lake Gairdner in 2001. The name of the team? Lessman Racing... Well played, guys.

...

Out of luck: Warren Hughes heads the pack with Pavicevic in the Durango machine two cars back. (Photo by sutton-images) ANDREJ Pavicevic has made a

Pavicevic’s Lola hit a concrete barrier

promising, if frustrating, start to the Italian Formula 3000

at around 200kmh, destroying all four corners and leaving his team with a fair bit of work before the next round at

Championship at Vallelunga. The Durango Benetton Junior Team driver took pole position in his fi rst drive in the category, but failed to fi nished when taken out by a des perate competitor late in the race. The Sydney driver had been running comfortably in fourth place when he had another driver, Brazilian Leonardo Nienkotter, clang into him.

Mugello this weekend. “I had a good start,” said ‘Pav’ after the race. “But unfortunately I got too much wheelspin because pole position was on the wrong side of the track, the right side which was the dirty side. “1 slipped b&ck to fourth position which 1 comfortably held until seven

laps from the end, at which p oint Nienkotter and I collided. “My car felt good and I was lapping consistently quick. I am very disap pointed to leave Vallelunga without points. The team worked wonderfully all weekend. Now I am looking forward to the next race in Mugello.” Italian Gabriele Lancieri won the race ahead of Rodrigo Sperafico, with Pom Warren Hughes third on the Arden Teaun Russiem entry.

14 April 2000

On Rat Air,Rindt,BMW, anoraks and Villeneuve always book late for my flights - in case things change - and so, sometimes, I end up going by strange routes and paying more money than those who book months in advance. This provides the people who book my tickets with much amusement(and more money). I think it was Monday (or it might have been Tuesday) when I picked up the phone and muttered that I really ought to get round to organising a flight to Imola. There wasn’t, by any chance, something in the computer that someone had organised knowing that I am an idiot? No, they said, no-one has been your safety net this time. I had a glum moment. But it worked out fine. I flew off to Paris long before the sun smiled and ended up at Charles de Gaulle airport waiting to climb on to an Alitalia flight down to Bologna. There were a bunch of people I knew in the departure lounge so that cheered me up and as the bus approached the plane we all commented that it looked an awful lot like Lauda Air, rather than Alitalia. I suppose there is a marketing synergy there, Niki having had strong Italian links during this racing career. And then we climbed the stairs and noticed that the plane was named ‘Jochen Rindt’ and underneath in very small letters it said God rest your soul’ in German. It seemed rather wonderful to be flying to the San Marino Grand Prix at the Autodromo Ferrari in a Lauda Air jet called Jochen Rindt. Here was a column that was writing itself... On could the plane have flown I discovered south on that a I Lauda plane called 'Enzo Ferrari’ or another called ‘Tazio Nuvolari’. That would have been better for the Ferrari connection but Rindt was good enough. I had never flown Lauda Air before and I was hugely impressed (and I was paying for my ticket!). It was like travelling in any normal Club Class. They treat you like human beings rather than sheep. They gave you metal knives and forks and china plates. The attitude was cleariy one of giving customers what they want and not what they can get away with. There was no skimping to make an extra profit. The bread was hot, the smoked salmon came in quantities that one could eat rather than as off-cuts that had been scraped off the floor and shovelled in the less than bitesized pieces onto the plastic trays that all other airlines use. And, as I sat that there reading the Rat Air magazine, the theme of which was success, I could not help but think to myself that I was sitting in the embodiment of the Formula 1 spirit. FI people will be "4 successful in any walk of life because they spend their time solving problems rather than thinking of reasons why the problems cannot be solved. 'There is no formula for success,” Lauda was quoted as saying in his magazine. “And no method for becoming a winner in 10 easy steps. The one thing I am certain of is that no-one is bom a winner.”

The Rat put his success down to “wiilpower and determination”, “more than a little bit of perfectionism”, “hard work and ‘ persistence.” I was wandering around the paddock a few hours later telling anyone who cared to listen that Lauda Air was a brilliant airline when someone said: “Niki’s catering is done by the same people who supply the Paddock Club at the races”. Yes, it all made sense... n the paddock Germanic hospitality was a topic of conversation thanks to the arrival of the latest generation paddock gin palace, a twin-towered affair with greenhouses attached, belonging to the BMW Williams team. My colleagues in the German press quickly found a nickname for it to join the McLaren Trolley Bus, the Ferrari Underground Train, the BAR Pompidou Centre (because it has wires and pipe$ everywhere and is hidden away in the corner of the F1 city) and, of course, the Benetton Bouncy Castle. This, I was informed was Schloss Neuschwanstein, after the Bavarian castle on which Walt Disney based his Magic Kingdom. “Was the catering any good?” someone asked. “Sure it is,” came the reply. You know what BMW stands for, don’t you? Bratkartoffein Mit Wurstchen. I wondered for a moment whether Gerhard Berger knew that he was actually running a catering company rather than a Formula 1 engine firm...

showing the Arrows drivers their pitboards... But like all F1 people, beneath the anorak, there is a steely ambition and Stoddart makes no secret that one day, if the right opportunity presents itself, he would like to be running his own Formula 1 team. When you own a few Jumbo Jets you can have such lofty ideas. Stoddart is also an Australian and although he operates in Europe there is a small element of nationalisrri in there somewhere. He is running Mark Webber in the F3000 team this year and, after F3000 qualifying on Friday and the Saturday race, it was Webber who had turned in the most impressive performance of all the F3000 rookies, qualifying third on the grid behind Bruno Junqueira and Nicolas Minassian (both of whom are in their third year in the series) and pushing both hard all the way. It is nice to be able to report that it looks like we will one day soon get some more Australian representation in F1. Let us not forget, and often we do, that the Antipodes have provided FI with some of its most famous names: notably the Brabham and McLaren teams. If Formula 1 needs anything, it is a wider spread of nationalities involved. There are too many European drivers and not enough from other parts of the globe. It is not the European nations have any more developed genetic speed, it is just a question of the fast boys being found and nurtured in the right way.

on ‘Jochen Rindt’ I found Later on I flight was trying remember Oitting the best I had to had before .O myself in conversation with a Lauda Air and I concluded thatFrench journalist who was amazingly enough - it was on the complaining about the lack of performance of French drivers in airline run by Formula 1’s only other airline magnate Paul Stoddart recent years, of European Airlines. Only Jean Alesi is left and Prost“Stoddy” is totally bonkers. He’s Flitching a ride: an absolute motor racing anorak with a bizarre fixation about Paul Stodd art isn’t so bonkers that Tyrrells. He iikes them so much, in he’d give Mark Webber a luxury ride into F I - he’ll have to earn it. fact, that he owns almost all the Tyrrells currently in captivity and he even races them in historic FI Walt Disney’s Magic Kingdom: events. BMW’s new hospitality suites have He was so mad about Tyrrell quickly earned tlie nickname ‘Schloss Neuschwanstein’- whatever that means. that a few years ago he started flying the team to all the races on (Photos by Sutton Images/AGP Corp) one of his VIP jets (normally used by corporate.dot.com millionaires) and started his own collection of classic Tyrrell FI cars so that he and his chums could live their dreams. As he started to become more involved with Tyrrell, he even agreed to build a windtunnel for the team. But then the Tyrrell family cashed in their chips and Stoddart did not feel the same passion for the folks at British American Racing and so he bought most of the Tyrrell equipment, old cars (to add to the collection), trucks and so on and bought the Edenbridge Formula 3000 team. This year he is a sponsor of (and running the Formula 3000 team for) Tom Walkinshaw’s Arrows FI Team. He has also been the man behind the Arrows two-seater (or one should say Arrows two-seaters because there are currently two of them and a third is one way). When he isn’t running his airline he is happily standing on the pitwall

Peugeot is not delivering the goods. Things are not what they used to be... Back in the old days there were French drivers coming out of the woodwork. Biit now there are Germans everywhere and the French rising stars usuaily end up in America and on the post-F3000 scrap heap in sportscar racing. How was it that Jenson Button could leap-frog over his entire generation and end up in F1 at such a tender age, the Frenchman asked. Why was there so much excitement abdut him? It is a question over which I have puzzied these recent months. When Jenson was named as a Williams driver he made the front pages of the national newspapers in Britain. Why? The only conclusion that one could reach was that there is a need (aHeast in Britain) for some new Formula 1 heroes. Mika Hakkinen and Michael Schumacher may be great racers but they lack the charisma of the stars of the 1980s. Formula 1 needs fewer of the plastic Action Men who say what they are told to say and do what is politically-correct. The sport needs a new Nelson Piquet, a new South American wild man or a new Rat. The sport needs Czechs and Japanese,

Indonesians and Swedes. A Mexican or an Indian. And why not a South African? In the paddock there is constant talk these days of Jacques Villeneuve’s likely destination next | year. That would brighten up the i front end of the grid a bit because since his detour into BAR country, Jacques has been largely wasted. He has pace and charisma and he’s still young. The word in the paddock is that he will be back in a bigger team next year. The rumours suggest it will be McLaren but that may be just a smokescreen for other talks and, indeed, there are some who think j that Viileneuve will probably end up ; at Benetton. The French do not have any rising stars these days and being a French-Canadian Jacques can easily be adopted by France (as he was when he won the World Championship in 1997). He looks like the perfect man to b‘e driving for Benetton in the years ahead. Not least because he was the last Renault World Champion.

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M April 2000

How on earth did Mika Hakkinen and McLaren had everything under control at Imola, taking pole in the dying seconds of qualifying and leading the race until thefinalpit stops. But somehow Michael Schumacher, Ross Brawn and Ferrarifound some magic to steal the racefrom under their noses. An amazed JOE SAWARD watched.

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ika Hakkinen drove a marvellous early stint in the San

Marino Grand Prix, match ing Michael Schumacher tenth for tenth, edging gradually away and he looked to be on course for a victory and then - with the flick of a wrist Schumacher turned the situation aroimd. Everyone shook their heads. How had he done that one? No-one knew. Just when it looked like the scarlet win ning strealc would be ended by McLaren, Michael stepped up and stole the race with a mix ture of brilliant strategy and stunning speed - again. McLaren solaced them selves with a second and a third on a day when *■ Hakkinen’s car hiccuped but survived and David Coulthard escaped from under the rear wing of Rubens Barrichello’s Feiraris, where he had been for two-thirds of the race. Jacques Villeneuve and Mika Salo picked up the crumbs for BAR and Sauber respectively on what was, Schumacher’s brilliance apart, a fairly boring race. Three races, three wins. It is not the end of the stoiy yet but not even McLaren can afford to give Schumacher a

21 point lead in the World Championship.

Practice and Qualifying

Triple jumper; Schumacher won his third Grand Prix of the season by pulling a rabbit out his hat and driving on the limit when he absolutely had to. The German celebrated with tech guru Ross Brawn (top right) and now leads the championship by a staggering 21 points. (Photos by Sutton-lmages)

Sometimes one been forgets how long we have coming to Imola because alongside the grand old lady Monza, the Autodromo FeiTari stiU seems to be a new kid on the Foi-mula 1 block. But this is the 20th year that the track has hosted a World Championship event and, in the quirky little family-run hotels in the region, all.the gawky httle girls who used to be children have grown up to become anything but gawky. And the boys have grown up to adopt the local look, which always suggests that the United Nations should airlift in emergency supplies of razor blades. The best sell ing items in the region are sunglasses, Ferrari hats and spaghetti. Nearby Bologna is a town famous for its sucking noises and every year miles and miles and miles and miles of spaghetti disappear into the locals, accompanied by the Bolognese sauce that has made the town famous. Just up the road at Pedrignano the Barilla factory turns 40 truck loads of wheat into pa.sta every 24 hours. It is

BAR room: A lightning start got Villeneuve past four cars and put him in con tention for points. So far, the Honda is showing signs of being fast and reliable. (Photo by RaceAccess)

the largest pasta factory in the world and employees are given bicycles to get from on^ end to the other. One of the joys of visiting Imola is the food. And then there is the wine which is so pm-e that you don’t get hang overs. The hiUs are beautiful and the weather is usually good. Hell, Imola is a great place to be whether you are racing fan or not. The thou sands of Ferrari fans may block up all the roads trying to get into the autodromo but you cannot go to Imola with out getting excited about Formula 1. This year the race was three weeks earlier than nor mal and there was a bite in the air in the mornings but otherwise it was business as

14 April 2000

DG.

did the job as he so often does I when the chips are done and his hack is to the wall. It was a brilhant qualifying and the crowds were going up and down like yo-yos on heat. Hakkinen was happy. “I was on the absolute limit during my final run,” he said. “I really pushbd.” The tyre situation was quite interesting as it appeared that Hakkinen was many and died. Tambay still the only one of the top four remembers that day as almost drivers to use the softer tyres, a religious experience, as if while Schumacher, Coulthard there was someone else with and Barrichello were reported to be on the medium tyres. him in the cockpit that day. Michael Schumacher said It was at Imola that he was disappointed and went Gerhard Berger was magical ly extracted from a fiery through the usual: “I could wreck in 1989 with no majdf have been a contender” rou injuries. But there have bben tine. The problem these days the dark days too and Imola is that the atmosphere of mis will, forever be the place trust in the paddock is such where Ayrton Senna died on that one cannot be sure an evil weekend in 1994. whether Michael was putting Oddly enough, after on a theatrical display to cre Tambay’s win in 1983, Ferrari ate the right impression or whether the car was really did not win again at Imola until last year when Mika capable of pole position. The one thing you do know Halddnen was leading when he smacked his McLai-en into is that with Hakkinen one never has such worries the wall opposite the pits. In because he is incapable of act the 15 years between the two Ferrari victories Williams ing. With Michael you just never know. won seven times, McLaren took six victories and Lotus “I am very upset with myself because I made a bad and Benetton took one apiece. mistake at Rivazza on my Today, however, the con ventional logic is that Ferrari third run,” he said. “I was is competitive and even if the four-tenths up. I could easily Feirari car- is not as quick as have been on pole today.” On this occasion there is no the McLaren in qualifying it is more reliable and so Ferraii doubt that Michael did blow it arrived at Imola this year and at a track where overtak with a monstrous 26 point ing is very tough - as was lead in the Constmctors’ title shown in the Formula 3000 with Schumacher having race on Saturday - his failure scored the maximum possible to get pole position was a in the first two races. major setback. Schumacher is Friday is always a TV day not supposed to make mis and so it was no sui-prise to takes like that. Hakkinen see the Fen-ari boys 1-2 at the rarely does in qualifying end of it. On Saturday there (which is why he has 24 pole V was the usual reahty check as positions to his name). 'i-l Mika Hakkinen blasted David Coulthard was also Schumacher aside with a disappointed and said that heBrotherly lerve: Michael played hard ball at the start, forcing Coulthard to lift and putting magnificent last-minute dash too had made a mistake at Ralf Schumacher on the grass.(Photos by Sutton-lmages and RaceAccess) Rivazza. In the end he had to to the flag, after the German had sneaked pole by a hint of settle for third place on the which insist that any official gone end over end and on this occasion by Ralf a couple of hundredths with gild, just three-tenths slower remark must be as positive as destroyed my car but I feel Schumacher in his soft-tyre less than a minute to go. than Hakkinen’s pole position. possible and so one becomes that in the spare we have a shod Williams-BMW. Ralf But the McLarens were out The FI teams have all used to reading things hke: “I good chance to win the race needed a bit of a boost after and running and Hakkinen developed PR strategies am very disappointed to have tomorrow from 22nd on the lus image as the bright young grid.” And thus it was with kid of FI was dented in Brazil Schumacher and Coulthai’d. by Jenson Button’s impressive Barrichello too did not perfoi-mance. make the most of his Ferrari. This time Jenson was He was half a second slower struggling. He chose the hard than pole after struggling er tyres but his major problem with the balance of the car. was getting to know Imola and to force himself to drive He also had to lift offfor a yel low flag on his fastest lap but over kerbs, something he has he said he was “not worried never liked to do. about the race because the “I am not quite w’here I wanted to be,” he said. “I have team is capable of solving the set-up problems”. found it very difficult to get The top four are not really familiar with using the kerbs in much need of so much posi and I must say that I am still tive thinking and they are not really confident.” very comfortably ahead of the He was not helped by tech rest of the field which was led nical problems which meant he had minimal track time on Saturday and so he ended up 18th. This did not stop the That’s better: team being quite impressed. Mika Salo has been dogged “I thought that his first run by controversy this season looked quite strong relative to but good driving got the lack of mileage he’d had,” Sauber's year back on track said Patrick Head, who is not

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usual. Like all great race tracks (Imola is not as good as once it was because of a blight of chicanes) one goes there with a mixture of different sentiments. There have been good times and bad times. Magic and tragedy. Those who remember back into histoiy will recall the day that Patrick Tambay drove Ferrari number 27 to victoi’y at the track, a year after his friend Gilles Villeneuve had been robbed of the race by his Ferrari team mate Didier Pironi. Villeneuve went to the next race, intent on beating Pironi. He took one risk too

BU..? UA.RSTF,f\'ER l BEER

at Imola with sixth place.

(Photo by Sutton-lmage)

Continued on page 18

U April 2000

Continued from page 17 a man given to glowing praise.” The a'im was to give him the Williams drivers reliable cars for the race and see what happened. There were 11 drivers with in the same second of Ralf Schumacher and that gives you an indication of the state of FI at the moment. Behind the two big teams, everything is very close and a blink or a splutter can make the differ ence between success and fail ure. The perceived difference between fifth and 16th places was not really deseiwed. Heinz-Harald Frentzen was sixth quickest in his Jordan and with Jamo Trulli eighth the team was looking rather good, although not as good as it would have wanted given the level of performance at the end of last year and the hopes that there had been for the new car. n “It was really tight,” said Frentzen, “with everyone fighting for those thousandths of seconds. We could not find that extra time.” The Jordans were running on soft tyres. Between the two yellow cars was the jolly green Jaguar of Eddie Irvine although things are not very jolly down in the green pit these days. Walk too close to the garage and you can hear the knives being sharpened in preparation for the impending bloodbath. Jackie Stewart was not around for the weekend and one must draw the obvious conclusions from the comment from a Jaguar man that the team was “a tartan-free zone this weekend.” Irvine was not overly delighted with seventh place, reckoning that if he had not made “a couple of mistakes” things would have been differ ent. I expect the captain ofthe Titanic was thinking much the same as the ship went down... On the subject of disasters, Johnny Herbert’s 2000 season continued. Either Johnny is the unluckiest driver in the history of the sport since Chris Amon or the Jaguar team is not up to miming two cars. As usual Herbert was beset with mechanical trouble and he ended up 17th on the grid. Herbert smiles and says all the right things but one gets the impression that if he was given a chainsaw he might do a little pruning of the team structure if given half a chance. Learning the hard way is something which British

American Racing is now beginning to get used to and while it might hurt the team bosses (of which there are, of course, still at least one too many) there are signs that things are beginning to meld in the right way and so Jacques Villeneuve (who rumours suggest is already plotting his departure from the team at the end of the year) was not looking too bad in ninth position (a time achieved with soft tyres). He lost a lot of time with mechanical trouble of Friday and Saturday morning and said he would have been four or five tenths quicker if he had not been slowed by a yel low flag. Ricardo Zonta went for the medium tyres and ended up 14th on the grid, seven-tenths slower than Villeneuve. “1 think we made the right deci.sion,” he said. Completing the top 10 was the Sauber of Pedro Diniz, showing once again that the size of a wallet is not every thing. Over the years Diniz has shown time and time again that he is capable of mixing it with the fast guys and here he was doing it again. He remains gloriously inconsistent and his qualify ing included a spin. Mika Salo was 12th on the grid. “I just couldn’t get a good lap together,” he said. “I kept hitting the kerbs too hard which made it very dilBcult to get the power down which just made worse the traction prob lem I was having.” After the flattering perfor mance in Brazil, Benetton was back in the midfield and looking very average with Alexander Wurz 11th and Giancarlo Fisichella 19th on the grid having used the medium tyres. The drivers complained of oversteer, imdersteer, lack of grip, lack of traction, and just about everjlihing else you can think of “I really got the maximum I could have got out of the car,” said Wurz. The Orange men at Arrows were also less impressive than it has looked on occasion with Pedro de la Rosa 13th on the grid and Jos Verstappen 16fh. The Dutchman would have been quicker had he not had a problem with a rear wheel on his fastest run. The Prost-Peugeot looked better than the Minardi but that is not really much to write home about given the relative budgets of the two operations. Jean Alesi was 15th on the grid and even Alain Prost admitted that

Ralfy.com: After a great qualifier Ralf Schumacher looked godd for points but he got trapped behind Trulli. The Jordans promised but didn’t deliver. Check the signs that the Schuey’s fans carry to the track ... (Photos by RaceAccess)

in hand over Schumacher’s Ferrari.''They were 3.1s clear of Barrichello and Coulthard. In those early laps the gap barely budged 1.0s, 1.0, 1.1, 1.1, 0.9.1.1 and so on. And then inch by inch Mika began to edge away by a tenth here and a tenth there. By lap 20 he had eased the gap out to 3.0s. Schumacher could not hold him. The McLaren was faster. Was it the fuel load? Was it the tyres? It was impossible to say. On lap 2'7 Hakkinen stopped to refuel. Schumacher followed him in. When they were back up to speed Hakkinen had an even bigger advantage. The Ferrari had been at rest for nearly 10s, Hakkinen’s for only 7.6s. That had to mean that Schumacher Race(58 laps) had taken on a lot more fuel. That would indicate that he thatmorning the McLarens were Race suggested was going for a long middle slightly faster than the stint. But the lap times did Ferraris but the crowds did not show it. A couple of extra not care. They had come to second worth of fuel at 12 see the red cars win. litres per second is about 25 At the start Schumacher kgs of extra weight and the did not make a good getaway men who know these things and, in order to defend his say that that lOkgs means position, he swerved across about 0.3s per lap at Imola. the road to the left into Michael should have been Coulthard’s path. It was not about three-quarters of a sec subtle. It was very Michael ond lap slower every lap. Half Schumacher. a second if you took into The two tussled for a account his new tyres. But he moment but then David had wasn’t. On some laps he was to lift off for a moment. He matching the times he had lost momentum and so, when been doing before the stop. On they arrived at Tamburello, others he was a few tenths Barrichello was on the outside„ slower. As the fuel began to and level with Coulthard. bum off and before the second Rubens was not going to give set of tyres started to go away way and so David had to. he was able to go a little faster It was veiy close. Once that but nothing suggested that he was done David was stuck. would have enough fuel to End of story. have a really quick final pitAll this had given stop. Hakkinen a good lead and he Hakkinen seemed to have ended the first lap with 1.2s everything under control. The gap was up to five seconds when Mika hit a piece of wreckage and damaged the air-splitter beneath the monocoque. He recovered and began to make up time again and by lap 39 the gap was nearly five seconds once again. And then Schumacher began to close in. On lap 41 -for no apparent reason - the gap came down by a second. Next time around another three-tenths had been chipped away. On lap 43 Schumacher had to deal with Diniz and lost a second as they two ofthem nearly collided. “Pedro tried to be nice and Reality Bite: Fisichella arrived in second place in the championship and left in third but, in let me pass but it was the between, the Benetton team had a bad, bad weekend.(Photo by Sutton-lmnages) wrong place,” Michael said. “I Jean had given the maximum in difficult conditions. Nick Heidfeld was 22nd (and last on the grid) having had to jump into the spare car. Even allowing for this, the German has not really impressed this year - either within the team or in the paddock. The Minardi team was happy at Heidfeld’s misfor tune as this meant they were 20th and 21st on the grid rather than 21st and 22nd as usual. T/he car is actually quite nice and the major prob lem is a lack of horsepower. Marc Gene went off on Saturday morning and had to use the spare car in the after noon and so he ended up behind Gaston Mazzacane.

very nearly hit him.” But on the same lap Mika was also in trouble. Something in the electronics had gone wrong. Suddenly Mika was without any drive. The system reset itself and he was going again. It had cost him two seconds, Schumacher had clawed back another seven-tenths. On the next lap Mika pitted for a second time. He came out 20 seconds behind Michael. The Ferrari would need at least 25 seconds to get in and out of the pits and so if Mika could hold that gap he would have the race won. For the next few laps Michael went for it. The lap times were OK, but they were not great. Everything looked to be under control. And then the magic came. On the lap before his pit stop Michael was 21.6s ahead of Hakkinen. He was in the pitlane for 22.88 seconds and yet when he came out of the pits he was three seconds ahead You try to wwk it out... It was magic. In fact the secret was in the IN and OUT laps and in the pitlane (as it so often is). Michael gained 1.5s over Hakkinen on the IN lap and a mammoth three sec onds on the OUT lap and because he did not need much fuel he was three seconds faster in the pitlane that the McLaren driver had been. As the stops took place at differ ent moments,the gain in time was not obvious until it hap pened. Even Ron Dennis did not believe it. He shook his head. “Is there somewhere you can cut the corner at this track?” someone said in total bewilderment. What had happened? Schumacher had won the race. The time he had gained had not disappeared. It had

just not appeared on the elec tronic lap charts. Real time and recorded time are different. The McLaren team said it would not have happened if Mika had not had the engine cut out but that was no excuse because Michael had lost almost as much in his inci dent with Diniz. After that the race was over. Hakkinen finished a sec ond behind but at Imola these days a second is a century. Overtaking after the start is just not an issue. The fans saw a marvellous battle with the best racing cars and the best drivers in the world, but they were running on a really useless circuit. There were only two over taking manoeuvres all after noon after the startUne hurlyburly. Alesi scrambled past de la Rosa early on and Diniz nailed Zonta on lap 23. The rest of the afternoon was just a questibn of high-speed queumg. Coulthard’s hopes were ruined by the time he was stuck behind Barrichello. He had hoped to get away at the first pit stop but he had a momentary first gear glitch and found himself behind BanicheUo again. At his sec ond stop on lap 46 he finally managed to get ahead, thanks to some nifty work by the McLaren boys. After he was ahead of Rubens he pulled out a 38 second gap in the final stint. That said it all. Barrichello was utterly overshadowed by Schumacher all weekend. His explanation was a marvellous piece of mangled English. “All weekend I was not on the pace as I was in Australia and Brazil,” he said. So who was the guy walk ing around the paddock pre tending to be Rubens

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Barrichello? In fifth place but a lap down was Villeneuve who had driven a very fine race “I got just an amazing start,” he said. Ihe birthday boy jumped from ninth to fifth. To get there Jacques had gone wide to the left, scooting quickly around Irvine and Ralf Schumacher and then, seeing a gap to the right where the two Ferraris had been and where Frentzen ought to have been but was not (because of a poor start). And that meant that he was braking for the first comer behind a Ferrari. After that it was just a question of holding off those on his tail and Jacques did exactly that for the rest of the afternoon. At first it was TruUi, then it was Irvine. After the pitstops it was Ralf Schumacher’s Williams and then in the closing laps it was Jacques’s pal Salo. Jacques held on and got a welldeserved brace of points. Salo was a gnat’s whisker beliind at the flag. Zonta had a less successful day. At the end of the fi rst lap the Brazilian was 12th. Just after his first, pit stop he suffered an engine problem. He kept going and finished 12th after one trip into a sandtrap. Salo’s sixth place was reward for a veiy fine drive. “It was absolutely flat out all the way,” he said. “The trouble was that Jacques is an experienced driver who doesn’t make mistakes. There was no way to pass him.” Diniz finished eighth, having been a victim of Salo’s success at the first comer. He later overshot his pit and lost some time during the pitstops. Seventh place went to Irvine in the Jaguar. It was a start. Eddie spent most of the race fighting with Jarno Tralli’s Jordan, initially for sixth place but later (because both Continued on page 20

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dike. U April 2000 Continued from page 19

Wiat they saM bMM* Michael Schumacher: That wds an exciting race and 1 hope the tifosi are happy with the result. I made a vdry bad start with massive wheelspin. But I managed to keep my second position. Our strategy remained as planned. We did not know what Mika would do and we had to guess. The four laps before the second pit stop was the decisive moment when I pushed very hard. Maybe we did not have the best tyre choice for today’s conditions. I had a worrying moment when I tried to lap Diniz. He tried to be nice and let me pass but it was the wrong place and I very nearly hit him. Apart from that, the race was good fun. it was like qualifying from start to finish. We have a good lead in the championship but we have seen it will be a tight fight and we must continue pushing Jean Todt; For the first time this season we have had a proper race from the first corner to the last. We knew that overtaking would be very difficult here and unfortunately we lost a place with Rubens in the pits. He also had a problem with his belts, which caused him some pain. After the first stop, we knew.the second one would be decisive. When we saw Hakkinen come in on lap 44, we thought we could get ahead. We tried and it worked. After three races, we are in an encouraging position in the championship. Today’s race has shown it will be a long hard road, but that is an incentive to workeven harder. The drivers did a great job, as did the whole team. Mika Hakkinen: I’m happy to score points, but I should have won the race. Just before my first pit stop 1 hit a piece of debris on the circuit which damaged the front floor of my car and made it hard to

drive for the rest of the race. Also, just before my second pit stop, my engine cut out on the main straight and I lost time to Schumacher which meant he was able to take the lead following his second pit stop.

Ron Dennis: We are delighted both cars finished and Mika and David did an excellent job. Mika suffered two problems, the first of which was a damaged floor caused by debris on the circuit sustained early in the race, putting his car out of aerodynamic balance. The second problem was an yet to be analysed electronic fault which triggered an engine reset which cost him three seconds a few laps prior to his second stop. These two problems, coupled to a late stop from Schumacher, lost us the lead. David’s race was frustrated by a somewhat over-zealous block / manoeuvre by Schumacher at the start, which dropped him behind Barrichello who was clearly struggling. A great second stop by the mechanics moved David to third. His subsequent speed was an indication what his true potential was. David Coulthard: I was squeezed a bit by Schumacher at the start and Barrichello managed to get by. He was pretty slow but still difficult to pass. I opted not to take a risk and wait and see if your strategy was right. My car got stuck in first gar in my first stop but I soon caught Barrichello again. At my second stop, the crew did a fantastic job allowing me to take third place in the pits. I have been quick throughout the weekend and believe that if 1 had not been held up by Barrichello I could have given Schumacher a hard time. Rubens Barrichello: I am happy for the team, but I am equally disappointed with my own

performance. The set-up was not ideal and it was hard work. We tried to change yesterday’s settings, but it did not help much. I was a bit unlucky at the second pit stop, when Coulthard passed me. He was quicker than me, but I could have kept him behind me as it is virtually impossible to pass here. I had a problem with the lower part of my belts and 1 could not maintain a good pace as my legs were moving around too much. All weekend I was not on the pace as I was in Australia andJn Brazil, and now I have to work out why. Fourth place is not good enough. Jacques Villeneuve: I got just an amazing start. The clutch took up perfectly, there was no wheelspin, and going into the first corner I had to brake to avoid hitting Barrichello’s Ferrari and the two McLarens immediately in front of me. The team also did a terrific job on the pit stops, particularly the first one, which got me out ahead of Ralf Schuniacher. I think today’s result show that we can be the best of the rest behind the Ferraris and McLarens. It also show that Ralf and Williams are likely to be our biggest rivals this season to keep that position. Mika Salo: I’m really happy to score a point, after the problems I had during qualifying. Today the car felt fine, with good traction and no understeer. 1 made a mega start, and was absolutely flat out all the way. The trouble is that Jacques Villeneuve is an experienced driver who doesn’t make mistakes, so there was no way to pass him even though I was quicker. But I’m happy that Sauber Petronas is at the same level we had in Melbourne, and I’m really looking to the Silverstone test this week.

were on the wrong strategy) for seventh. Irvine did not help his cause when he pushed the wrong button and managed to apply the pitlane speed limiter in the middle of the race. This enabled both Ralf Schumacher and Salo to hurtle by before Eddie was back up the speed again. It was not quite the flawless performance that Ford’s Neil Ressler suggested, but it was better than nothing. Herberl also managed to finish but 10th place was not great. Johnny had decided to go for one-stop race which was not the way to go. Benetton’s day is best glossed over quickly. The team decided to go for one-stop strategy all round and that was a major error. Ninth and 11th places were the result. After the good showing in Brazil, this was a hard blow for the team. Of the rest Jordan had the right to whinge a bit. Frentzen went out early on with a gear box problem while TruUi made a good start to grab sixtii place. The strategy of an early first stop did not work out and so by the end Jarno had slipped back to seventh. Four laps from home the car stopped with a gearbox fail ure. Minardi got one car home although a spin rather blotted Mazzacane’s hopes of glory. Marc Gene went off as well but he stayed in the sandtrap. This was caused by oil from Jenson Button’s WilliamsBMW, which expired in a oOy haze early in the race. Ralf Schumacher lost lot of places at the start and so dropped to ninth but he later profited from the retirements

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1h31m39.776s 1 M, SchumacRer Ferrari McLaren-Mercedes 1h31m40.944s 2 M. Hakkinen McLaren-Mercedes 1h32m30.784s S D. Coulthard 1 h33m09.052s Ferrari 4 R. Barrichello BAR-Honda 61 laps 5 J. Villeneuve Sauber-Petronas 61 laps 6 M. Salo 61 laps 7 E. Irvine Jaguar-Cosworth Sauber 61 laps 8 P. Diniz 61 laps 9 A. Wurz Benetto n-Supertec 61 laps 10 J. Herbert Jaguar-Cosworth 11 G. Fisichella 61 laps Benetton-Supertec BAR-Honda 61 laps 12 R. Zonta Minardi-Ford 60 laps 13 G. Mazzacane 59 taps 14 J. Verstappen Arrows-Supertec 59 laps 15 J. Trulli Jordan-Mugen-Honda Fastest Lap: Hakkinen 1m26.523s [205.249kph] Lap Leaders: 1-44 Hakkinen; 45-62 M. Schumacher Retirements: gearbox Lap 5 H.H. Frentzen Jordan engine Lap 6 J. Button Williams-BMW spun off Lap 6 M. Gene Minardi-Ford hydraulics Lap 23 N. Heidfeld Prost-Peugeot hydraulics Lap 26 J. Alesi Prost-Peugeot fuel pressure Lap 46 R. Schumacher Williams-BMW suspension/ Arrows-Supertec Lap 50 P. de la Rosa spun off World Drivers Championship points: M. Schumacher 30, Barrichello 9, Fisichella 8. Hakkinen 6, R. Schumacher 6, Villeneuve 5, Coulthard and Frentzen 4. Trulli 3, Zonta, Button and Salo 1. Constructors: Ferrari 39, McLaren-Mercedes 10, BenettonSupertec 8, Jordan-Mugen-Honda and Williams-BMW 7, BAR-Honda 6, Sauber 1. of Frentzen and Irvine’s but ton-pressing fever and so was seventh in the mid-race. That became sixth thanks to TruHi’s strategy and he looked like grabbing fifth from Villeneuve at the second stops but then pulled off with “a fuel pressure problem”. He was coming in at the end of that lap so it would not be outrageous to suggest that perhaps there was no fuel left in the tank to create the neces sary pressure. Arrows managed to get Verstappen home in 14th but this was nothing to write home about. Verstappen had made a remarkable start,

-Press the ‘return’ Button: Master Jenson walked in after an engine went ‘boom’ in the Williams. (Photo by sutton-images)

leaping from 16th to Hth. After 11 laps there was a prob lem with the right finnt wheel and Jos pitted for a check. Later he was given a stop-go penalty for not getting out of the way of the front-runners and so he lost more time and ended up three laps behind. Pedro de la Rosa’s race was not much better. He lost ground at the start and then ran into gearbox trouble. The adventures of Prost Grand Prix are barely wor thy of comment. Heidfeld’s car refused to set off on the parade lap. The team then tried to fix the car (illegally) and so when Heidfeld did finally start from the pits he had to come back into the pits for a penalty. Then the hydraulic pres sure started to decline and eventually it went so low that everything stopped working. Alesi’s race was about as exciting. He was stuck in the midfield surrounded by trolling Benettons but then the hydrauhc pressure grem lin gnawed a hole in the sys tem and (guess what?)the car stopped working. There was no Prost magic on this day. Schumacher had it all.

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By JOE SAWARD

THE opening round of the International Formula 3000 Championship took place at Imola and, while F3000 ‘third years’ Nicolas Minassian and Bruno Junqueira finished first and second in their SuperNova and Petrobras Junior Team cars, the star of the show was rookie Mark Webber, who quali fied third and chased them home, crossing the line in third place, just behind Junqueira. Qualifying resulted in Junqueira taking pole posi tion by two-tenths from Minassian with Webber just O.OOlsec slower than the Frenchman on his return to single-seater racing after a couple of years in sportscar racing. It was a very impres sive performance from the European Arrows Formula 3000 driver. “I did expect to be reason ably competitive,” he said. “I’m a happy to be back in single-seaters. It’s nice not to have a roof. “ The Australian driver was a tenth faster than the next rookie driver, Jaime Melo in the second Petrobras Junior team car, while the Enrique Bernoldi of the Red Bull Junior team shared the third row of the grid with Fabrice Walfisch in the leading Team Astromega entry. It was something of a sur prise to see the McLaren Junior Team (now renamed the Mysap.com Team) quali fying seventh and 18th and even more surprising that it was Czech Tomas Enge who

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/ 1 think I remember this bit; Webber may not have raced in 16 months but he hasn’t forgotten what the bubbly is for. His Eurobet/Arrows/ European Lola looked good and went great, even if he could not find a way past his opposite number at Williams, Brazilian Bruno Junqueira [#6]. >r

(Photos by Sutton-lmages)

outqualified championship favourite Stephane Sarrazin. The top 10 was completed by rising French star Bourdais Sebastien (Gauloises Formula), the sur prisingly fast Fabrizio Gollin (Colon!) and Mario Haberfeld (Fortec). Super Nova’s David Saelens was rather disap pointing in 14th place while former race winner Soheil Ayari was a miserable 22nd in his Colon! car while high ly-rated Frenchman Franck Montagny was a disappoint ing 23rd in his DAMS entry. With overtaking extremely difficult at Imola, the drivers knew that the start was going to be critical to the out come of the race. Minassian made the best start. “You cannot analyse what hap pens at the start,” Minassian said, “but I have to congratu late my leg.”

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The Super Nova car was alongside Junqueira within the first few hundred metres and slotted into the lead at the Tamburello chicane. Although Junqueira and Webber shadowed him throughout, Minassian made no mistakes. “The car was very consistent and stable,” he said, “but the start was really important.” Once ahead there were no major problems although he was not able to break away from Junqueira and Webber but nor did they look like being able to pass him unless he made a mistake. In the closing laps Minassian began to suffer a slight engine cut ting problem which left him a little worried about making it to the finish, but the car held together and so Minassian won his second Formula 3000 victory (after

Silverstone last year). “I lost the race at the start,” admitted Junqueira. “After that I blistered my hand and so I started to miss gears and the tyres were gone at the end and so there was a lot of pressure in the closing laps with Mark right behind me.” Webber also made a poor start but managed to stay ahead of Bernoldi on the run down to the first comer.“You didn't have to be Einstein to work out that the start was vital,” he said. “Overtaking was really difficult and I was not prepared to take too much of a risk because there is no point in throwing the car off at the beginning of the race. I just kept it nice and consistent. At the end I was very strong but I was all dressed up with nowhere to go.”

Melo dropped a place to Bernoldi at the start but the Red Bull driver soon dropped out with mechanical trouble and so Melo went back to fourth place although he never looked a threat to the three men ahead of him. Enge also made a good start to overtake Walfisch for sixth position but thereafter he was unable to make much impression on those ahead of him. Walfisch blew his chances when he spurn out on the fifth lap and so Gollin ended up in sixth position while Haberfeld had a couple of incidents which dropped him from contention. Saelens tried to make up for his poor qualifying with a good start, which put him up to 10th place and after Bernoldi and Walfisch went out he was eighth but shortly after half distance had an ill-consid¬ ered move on Bourdais at

Rivazza and went off, punt ing off the Gauloises Junior driver as well. It was the only major inci dent in what was otherwise a rather processional race, although Webber’s fine show ing kept the interest alive. The most impressive thing about Webber’s performance was that, while Minassian and Junqueira both looked like they had worked hard all afternoon, Webber had not even broken into a sweat. “I am really satisfied,” he said, “but it was a bit boring because it was very difficult to overtake.”

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My Brilliant Career: Skaife put in his best ever drive in Race 2, winning despite a stop/go penalty and a late race excursion Seton (above) was back in business, even on two wheels and even if Lowndes (right) got past late in Race 1.

The Old One Two Craig Lowndes won on Saturday and Mark Skaife on Sunday, but DNFs cost the HRT duo dearly, leaving Garth Tander with a handy series lead. CHRIS LAMBDEN reports on a wild weekend in Adelaide. HEEWD pit calls were the deciding factor in a spec tacular weekend of V8 Supercar racing in Adelaide which saw Mark Skaife win Sunday’s big points leg of the Clipsal 500, team-mate Craig Lowndes take Saturday’s 250 km leg after a stunning late-race duel with Glenn Seton, but Garth Tander extend his Shell Series points lead gap substan tially with a third and second in the two absorbing races. Pole man Tander copped probably the worst of the pit stop situations, making all his stops under full race ‘gi-een’ and losing significant time to the opposition, but (along with team-mate Bargwanna) put in ster ling comeback drives to earn his extended championship lead. Both Skaife and Lowndes could have scored heavily, but each dropped a race with mechanical failure. A series of dramatic exits, mostly at the fast Speed Stick comer, punc tuated Saturday’s race, while the elements conspired to turn Sunday into a testing wet weather slog.

Practice Friday at theand Clipsal 500 was a topsy-turvy frenetically busy day. Both Paul Radisich and Glenn Seton raised Ford hopes of en end to Holden’s recent front row domi nance, the pair topping qualifying but falling short when asked to put it on the line for the one-lap Top'Ten Shootout.

In the end it was a Holden 1-2-34, with Garth Tander continuing his stellar year and taking his first ever V8 Supercar pole position with a lap that surprised even himself... The issues confronting the teams were obvious as the 40-car field set out on the first of two practice ses sions, 40 and 30 minutes respective ly, with 45 minutes between both, then qualifying - all before one o’clock! The once-a-year circuit presents its own challenges - dusty to start with, no testing, the need for quick information gathering and set-up changes. Add to this the arrival of Bridgestone’s all-new YDG control tyre and you have a busy bunch of team engineers. And please, if you can, keep the car offthe walls...

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OS6LU9j|'couj: Brad Jones went over in Race 1 on Saturday when his BJR Falcon snagged a tyre barrier. Unlike Perkins andlngall he was through for the weekend. A few failed in this latter endeav our Paul Weel scraping the right side of the K&J Falcon, Crompton gently backing his FTR cai’ in and dislodging the bumper, and Steve Richards slip ping off and creasing the right-front among those to return to the pits in less than pristine condition during the first 40 minute thrash.

Even Mark Skaife, topping the sheets in the first stretch-out, had a minor moment to report: “Just misjudged the angle over a kerb - hit it head on!” The fiunt air dam ofthe HRT Commodore bore the tell-tale cracks. Otherwise, HRT’s qualifying specialist was happy: “The track was dirty, so it was a

good time. We need to try a few things to get it to ‘flow’ better, but it’s okay.” The new Bridgestones? “Good. They’ll be very good when they set tle down.” Team-mate Lowndes, looking very relaxed (as you can when you’ve won from the rear of the grid the year before!) was similarly com fortable with progress, fifth in the opening session before both spent the second session Continued on page 24 North pole: Tander was surprised to find pole on the ‘wrong’ side of the track, which allowed Skaife to beat him away in Race 1. {Photo by Cass)

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14 April 2000

Continued from page 22 on more race-related, full-tank stuff, along with differing spring, shock, and camber settings “just to give it a tiy.” Skaife’s 1:26.44 benchmark would remain unbeaten until the very last moments of the second session, when Paul Radisich took a further tenth off it and then promptly over shot the turn four right-hander. The Shell team leader looked com fortable in the street environment, working through chassis set-up and gradually dropping the times, but things were less nice’ for team-mate Johnson, who sat out most of the first session as his crew chased a misfire. However, among what was becom ing a lead’ group was another Ford Glenn Seton right back on the pace after his slow start to the season. “We arrived here with a few sig nificant changes in the spiing/shock set-up,” he reported, “then made some more quite big changes after the first session - and pretty much eveiything we did turned out to be an improvement,” he smiled. “The new tyre seems to work quite well on our car too.” By the end of the second session, the FTR car had a mid 1:26 to its name and Glenn Seton was right back in the frame. “We had to do something, or we’d be out of business...” he concluded. Crompton in the second car was sti-uggling a bit. After the team’s obvi ous problems in the early races Ford had supplied a couple of engineers to put in some input on Neil’s car as an exercise. Wouldn’t you know it - as soon as they turn up, Glenn’s crew starts to hit the bullseye... By race time,' car 6 would have adopted a fair degree of car 5’s set-up. Both Valvoline-Cummins Commo dores looked like being comfortable top ten runners, Tander virtually tied with Skaife at second-fastest at the end of the two sessions despite losing some time with a gearbox jammed in gear. Bargwanna too was near the pace, albeit a few tenths off his team-mate. The Castrol duo. Ingall and Perkins, were also in or near the frame, although each having minor concerns about a different end of their car, LP’s super under brakes, turn-in and corner speed, but lack ing on the way out. Rusty struggling a teeny bit with the front end of his. “If we could graft them together, we’d run 24s all day,” crew chief Barry Abbotmeier suggested... Of the rest, Bowe, Richards and Longhurst also looked somewhere near it and capable of pulling out a time, but struggling was Baird, the team which had set the pace a year earlier about a second and a half off it now. While Baird was indeed a newcomer to the Adelaide streets, you could sense the team expecting a tad more from their man. A few overnight set-up changes would help. Murphy too was struggling a tad, not comfortable with the Kmart car: “Our two cars were built differently

TOP TEN

The big winner fromTander. the one lap sprints was Garth Russell Ingall had been the early improver, his 1:26.37 best of the six cars to date (including Richards who had to miss the shootout) before Tander emerged. “I didn’t think my first half lap was that good,” Garth would say later, “so I got into it a bit on the second half.” Interesting comment, because both Skaife and Seton who followed, lost the bulk of their time to the Valvoline car on the first half of the lap! In Seton’s case, he was nearly eight-tenths off at the first split. Skaife’s run wasn’t helped by a BIG bounce over the chicane kerbs, which flicked the

Ouch: It was a tough time for Stone Brothers Racing, one of their mechanics getting a hand caught under a guard dur ing a pitstop.

(Photos by John Grote and Dirk Klynsmith)

and we just can’t get the same level of lat eral grip or power down with my car.” It would be a tough grind weekend for Murf. Among the priva teer and ‘newcomer’ Tomas teams, Mezera, Brad Jones and Steve Ellery were all in the mid1:27s, Mezera and Jones both happy to be making progress.

Qualifying

High horsepower: Check the FAIS’s air vortices ... (Photo by oirk Kiynsmith)

Commodore sideways and gave its pilot pause for thought: “I thought i’d better just keep it on the road after that,“ he opined. Fastest qualifier Radisich couldn’t believe his misfortune. The Shell Falcon coughed and died at turn two and, although he was able to restart it, any thought of a time was gone. The team dived into the elctronics, replacing much, but still unable to put an exact finger on the weird failure: “We think we know,” team manager Dean Orr reported. “We’re not sure, but we think it won’t happen again...” Either way, Radisich would drop to a grid nine start.

CLIPSAL 500- QyAUFYItyfi

Again, again, again: Lowndes took his third Adelaide wiry on Saturday.

~ n ’ot as cracial as in the three-race _ sprint format, but nevertheless a big plus to get away ahead of the mid-field traffic. Lowndes was still adopting his ‘save it for race day attitude’ and after a single out lap to scmb a set, pitted immediately for a green set, did a single warm-up'lap, one flier, then put it away for later. “I wanted to save the tyres, so one lap was probably going to be enough to get into the top ten. I did stay in the car in case, but didn’t have to go out again.” His 1:25.76 on that single lap would be good enough for fifth after eveiyone else had thrashed around for the full 25 minutes. That time held up until nearly half way through the session, when most were back out on their second runs. Radisich was best, of the rest at this point (1:25.78), hut he sat it out for a while at this point.

Garth rules

Tander went quickest on his sec ond run (1:25.47) and despite a third attempt, that was it for him. It would be good enough for fourth. Seton moved to second on his sec ond run, but then Skaife hit the top ofthe list(1:25.31) briefly. At the same time, there was quite a battle going on for the last spot in the top ten,for the shoot-out. At various times, Crompton, Bowe, Longhurst and Bargwanna were tenth, on the bubble, but Neil slipped back under a late session surge by several others, Bowe improved to seventh, Longhurst too shpped, to 13th, while Bargs held on for a nervous tenth. Richards made a strong ‘new tyre’ gain of about a second to get well into the ten early on, but then made life difficult for his crew with “a sim ple driver error. I tried to keep my foot in it with the back up on the kerb and J shouldn’t have...” The Kmart car arced around to hit the pit wall head on as Richo exited the last corner. He’d miss the top ten ran-off.

Pos Driver 1 Paul Radisich Glenn Seton 2 3 H4_ark Skaife Garth Tander 4 5 Craig Lowndes 6 Russell Ingall John Bowe 7 8 Larry Perkins Steven Richards 9 10 Jason Bargwanna 11 Mark Larkham 12 Cameron McLean 13 Tony Longhurst 14 Mark Poole 15 Steve Ellery 16 John Faulkner 17 Neil Crompton 18 Greg Murphy 19 Steven Johnson 20 Brad Jones 21 Craig Baird 22 Trevor Ashby 23 Tomas Mezera 24 Todd Kelly 25 Dugal McDougall 26 Paul Morris 27 Paul Weel 28 Cameron McConvMIe 29 Peter Doulman 30 Chris Smerdon 31 Rodney Forbes 32 Mick Donaher 33 Paul Romano 34 Anthony Tratt 35 Steve Reed 36 Matthew Coleman 37 Alan Heath 38 Garry Holt 39 Dean Canto 40 Wayne Wakefield

Car Shell Helix Falcon AU FTR Falcon AU HRT Commodore VT Valvoline Cummins Commodore VT HRT Commodore VT Castrol Commodore VT CAT Falcon AU Castrol Commodore VT Kmart Commodore VT Valvoline Cummins Commodore VT Mitre 10 Falcon AU Greenfield Mowers Falcon AU Caltex Havoline Falcon AU John Deere Commodore VT Supercheap Auto Falcon AU Asia Online Commodore VT FTR Falcon AU Kmart Commodore VT Shell Helix Falcon AU OzEmail Falcon AU Pirtek Falcon AU Optus/PPG Commodore VS Densitron Commodore VT MyCar HYL Commodore VT Pepsi Commodore VT Big Kev Commodore VS K&J Radiators Falcon AU Autopro Commodore VT Gatorade Commodore VT Hills Commodore VT Wynns Commodore VT Ultra Tune TDK Commodore VS Beaumont Tiles Commodore VS Toll Falcon AU Optus/PPG Commodore VS Colourscan Falcon AU Power Racing Falcon EL Eastern Creek Karts Falcon EL BMC Software Falcon EL Graphic Skills Commodore VS

Time 1:25.0687 1:25.2530 1:25.3195 1:25.4773 1:25.7645 1:26.0360 1:26.0714 1:26.1268 1:26.1273 1:26.3513 1:26.3527 1:26.4058 * 1:26.5145 1:26.6420 1:26.7688 1:26.7735 1:26.8969 1:26.9119 1:26.9714 1:27.0463 1:27.1150 1:27.2607 1:27.3999 1:27.4913 1:27.5477 1:27.6878 1:27.7794 1:28.0307 1:28.2129 1:28.2851 1:28.3638 1:28.4362 1:28.5526 1:28.6512 1:28.8639 1:29.2075 1:29.6491 1:30.5541 1:32.7865 No Time

Top Ten Shootout:

Tander 1:26.0315, Skaife 1:26.1962, Ingall 1:26.3731, Lowndes 1:26.7301, Bowe 1:26.7518, Seton 1:26.7958, Perkins 1:27.4627, Bargwanna 1:27.6687, Radisich No Time, Richards No Time. r

t ^

Cool for Rats: Radisich went hard in qualifying but, when it came time to grab pole, his DJR Falcon stopped dead on him.(Photo by Lyniev Rckd

Perkins too was comfortably in our car,” he lamented. “Some, like the ten (eighth) after popping in a Glenn, have gained, but we just 26.1, eight-tenths better than his don’t have the same lateral grip first ran. ‘ with the new tyre. It’s still balanced, Up front there was to be late front to rear, but there’s just less change as first Seton (1:25.25) then grip. Radisich (1:25.06) moments later “We’re working on it, but it’s not topped the list. really what we need at this point in That’s how it stayed. the season when we had got our car Just missing the ten by a thou working well...” sandth of a second (after Cameron McLean was the big Bargwanna’s late 1:26.35) was improver in qualifying, finding not Larkham. Interestingly, he is one to far short of two seconds in the have noticed a substantial change, Greenfield Falcon for 12th, from for the worse, with the new Longhurst and then local Mark Bridgestones. Poole, hurling the John Deere “It mustjust be the way we set up Commodore eiround for a second and

a half gain and grid 14. Ellery and Faulkner were next, from Crompton, Murphy, Johnson and Jones completing the top 20.

Race One (78 laps) The crowd whichstands packed into thebigAdelaide for Saturday’s first leg was rewarded by one of the most absorbing touring car races for a long, long time. It had everything - fast pace, inci dents, split-second pit calls and, to finish, a Holden versus Ford, factory team versus factory team, Lowndes versus Seton duel to decide the race.

14 April 2000

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To Ms dismay, Tander found that ‘pole’ was on the outside “they’ve moved it since last year!” and although he-^ot a reasonable start, so did Skaife and with the inside running, the HRT man led through the chicane for the first time. Ingall, Lowndes and a fast-starting Bowe filing through ahead of the pack. The action wasn’t long in coming, though, Tander slicing down the inside into the next right-hander, Lowndes doing exactly the same to Ingall. “I wanted to set the pace,” Garth would say later. Being stuck behind Skaife wouldn’t be at all productive. Richards slipped inside Perkins at the main straight hairpin for eighth in the opening melee and they filed through to complete the opener: Tander, Skaife, Lowndes, Ingall, Bowe, Seton, Radisich, Richo, LP, Bargwanna, Larkham, Murphy (quite a start from 18th!), Longhurst, Ellery, McLean, Poole, Crompton, Johnson, McDougall (from 25th), Baird et al. Crompton had already made a move and Seton had dived under Bowe when the first of the big moments came, on lap four. “Simple human error,” Larry Perkins would report later. I was right up Steven Richards’ bum and missed the brake point and it just slid wide and clouted the tyres...” Clouted? Absolutely hammered ‘em. Perkins’ car wasn’t immobilised, so he drove it in and there was no Safety Car, but there were to be two far more serious repeats of the same sort of incident involving the same tyi-e baiTier on the outer kerb of the fast right-hander before the day was done, both with major repercussions for the race itself... Brad Jones was to be one of those, but his day had already tmmed pearshaped, with a spin coming back into Victoria Park, a dislodged nose, an unscheduled stop, then a Stop-Go for speeding. That aside, it was going okay! Up front, the top six were sizing each other up, Tander easing away from the HR'T duo. Ingall, Seton and Radisich, with a veritable queue stacking up behind Bowe. Lowndes was feeling a bit dry already. His drink bottle had ‘mal functioned’. Yep, the simple things even strike at the best. It would be replaced at his first stop, adding time, when it came. In the mean time, he’d struggle on. Apart from Larkham (damaged front nose after ‘contest’ with Longhurst) and Crompton (into the gai-age with diff pump and thus diff seal failure) the first team to make one of its scheduled compulsory stops, for fuel or tyres, was the Shell team. Radisich dived in for fuel (‘the

What they said l l l Craig Lovmdes(Saturday): The biggest problem I had was the drink straw - rt wouldn’t work,so I was pretty keen to fix it at the first stop. It add^some time,but it was wc^ it... The first stint was really an ‘assessment’ of the tyres and how we were going relative to the rest. Mark’s early exit allowed us to look at his tyres and mine were as we expected when they came off... (On the contact with Glenn Seton during his pass for the lead): We were both running at the limit and you have to make what opportunities you can. With tyres in good condition you can back out of a situation if you need to, but when they’re worn -as they were for both of us- you’re pretty much committed to a comer. Glenn Seton (Saturday): We picked our pit stops perfectly and that’s what got us to where we were... | I thought I had Craig’s measure for the first five laps (of the duel), but then the rears got greasier and I had some rear drive problems ... (On Lowndes’ pass) it was fair, i We touched, but it was just one of ' those things.

Close, and a cigar: Bargwanna and Tander fought like blazes in race 2 and both finished on the podium, bringing home a major swag of points. After their near-altercatioh in Perth it was a great resulffor the GRM team. (Photos by Marshall Cass and Lynley Reid)

tyres were fine at this point”) on lap 28, followed a lap later by Lowndes (keen for a drink). This was fortu¬ nate timing for both as moments later Paul Romano’s Commodore was planted in the wall out of the final turn - the shunt brought on by rear hub failure. Several teams reacted quicker than Race Control and, predicting a Safety Car, dived in for a stop before pit lane closed - Bowe, Seton, and Richards among the lead group to do so, thus (along with Radisich and Lowndes) regaining most of the lost. pitstop time behind the Safety Car. In fact, Radisich and Seton were sixth and seventh respectively when it went green again on lap 34, with a stop under their belt. Tander, Ingall, Bargwanna, Longhurst and Murphy ahead of them could well have to stop under green. And where was Skaife? He’d actually pitted under the Safety Car, a no-no in terms of a compulsory stop, but that was the least of his problems. Car 2 had dropped a cylinder, A lengthy stop, a slow lap, then retirement. Valve train fafiui’e was the immediate thought, but 90 minutes later one of the crew found a faulty spark plug. A new set of sparks and the engine fired up healthily... The green lasted less than a lap and therein was the race’s controversy.

The cause was Ingall. The Castrol car got up on two wheels as it bounced the kerb at ‘Larry’s’ comer, leaping across the road, smashing into the same string of tyres before spinning round, into the wall. As a stunned Ingall climbed out to survey the damage, a number of quick-thinking following drivers radioed in, decisions were made, and several peeled into the pits before the lap was completed. Tander, Bargwanna and Longhurst didn’t, but Murphy, Seton, Johnson, Baird, McDougall and Faulkner ofthe following group did. The big loser from this would of course be the Valvoline duo and team boss Garry Rogers would later have extended chats with Race Director Tim Schenken about whether and how soon the Safety Car signs had “appeared at the pit entry. Deliberations were still going on next morning... In any case, it was this sequence of events which cost Tander the race, team-mate Bargwanna and Longhurst the chance for a good place, but came as manna from

(

And it’s Goberit: There may be a little grey in the beard these days but John Bowe can still get it going when it counts, here bouncing the CAT Racing Falcon over the Senna chicane. (Photo by John Moms/Mpix)

heaven for Seton, who emerged as the only driver to have got through both his compulsory stops immedi ately prior to Safety Car periods. In fact, when it went green again on lap 40, Glenn was 15th on the road. Tander, Bargs and Longhurst led, still with two stops to make, conceivably under green; Radisich, Richards and Lowndes followed (one each to go), from Kelly, Mezera, Ashby, McLean and McConville (all five yet to stop), then Bowe, Murphy, Johnson and McDougall, all with one to make. A bit complex at this point, but if there were no more Safety Car inci dents, Seton was well and truly in the box seat! Soon after the green, the leading three and all the rest of the ‘zeroes’ with the exception of Kelly, dived in for their first stop, leaving Radisich in the lead, with Richards right on his bumper and Lowndes a few sec onds back. Richo actually got past the Shell car at the final comer to lead briefly, before - in the period between laps 47 and 51 - most ofthe second stops were completed. And thus, hey presto, there was Seton - in front with 16 seconds to spare, from Richards, Lowndes on his tail, Radisich five seconds back,' Kelly (still to make his final stop), Bowe and Murf locked together, Faulkner, Johnson, Bargwanna, Longhurst, and the unfortunate Tander - not only sad dled with two ‘under green’ stops but also a rear wheel that wouldn’t budge that cost something like 30 seconds extra to boot... This left Tander 12th. 25 laps to go. While the battle for the lead would capture most attention. Garth’s progress to an eventual third was worth watching too... Lowndes was soon past Richards and began to close on the leading Ford. Four laps later the gap was down from 16 to 12.5 seconds. ’Then it went up to 13 seconds again. 20 laps togo. Seton wasn’t going to give it away and it could be close. Or could it?

Garth Tander(Saturday): We were going to do our first stop, for fuel, the lap the Safety Car came out, then we couldn’t get the rear wheels off in the second (tyre) stop... This was the one that got away. Our stops weren’t at the best time and then to dump 30 seconds to these guys (rear wheels unco operative!) isn’t going to help... (Sunday):212 points? Thafll do! To have a straight car and the points is good-though I’d really like to win one... As soon as I heard Craig was out, I went into conservation mode. The next few tracks are ones which suit our car... Mark Skaife(Sunday): That was the best race of my career. I thought at the start of the day that top five would be a good result, but eariy on Russell and I were passing pec^ in places where you shouldn’t and,with the way Me team called the stops, we got right into it... The call for the second stop was perfect -1 reckoned that as long as we could actually get to the pits(you couldn’t believe how bad it was!) we’d be looking good ... the Stop-Go really fired me up -luckily it happened at a reasonable time... Brad Jones became the third victim ofthe outside tyre barrier on lap 60 and it was spectaculai’. “I had a bit of understeer going in. then oversteer, but I had lock on and thought it was okay. I expected to maybe glance the tyres, but the front left tagged them ripped the wheel out of my hands and that was it...” Indeed it was. The OzEmail car pitched left, then rolled onto its roof. rotating a way down the road, grinding through some of the roll cage as it went. The Safety Car wasn’t what Seton needed, but it was good news for Lowndes and, further back, Tander. Garth was up to ninth, but closing up the field would help, as it would for Bargwanna who, in 11th, was only just realising how badly fate had dealt its hand to he and Tander on this day: “1 thought we were doin’ okay,” he would laugh, “but when we formed Continued on page 28

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U April 2000

ContinLied from page 25 up for that last restart I looked down the queue ahead of me and thought‘shit I must be 20th!...” Lowndes made short work of three of the four lapped cars between he and the leader. The remaining one was Seton’s team mate, Crompton, back on the road after repairs to check out his car for Sunday. Any thoughts of team driving were quickly dispelled as Craig thrust the HRT car down the inside of the final hairpin on lap 70. Eight to go, head to head. Tender, meanwhile, had flown past Faulkner, Johnson, Bowe and Murphy (who had survived contact with Forbes, the latter spinning into the outside wall exiting the chicane) and was closing rapidly on Radisich for fourth. The Valvoline car was the fastest on the track at this point, its young pilot throwing ever3rthing at it. Up front Seton wasn’t going to give anything away either. Craig was right there, feinting left, feinting right, probing. He made it through on lap 74, working either side through the right-left-right esses before poking alongside, inside as they headed off to the next right-hander. There was contact, and for a brief few moments smoke from the left front of the Commodore, but it was insignificant and Lowndes eased away over the remaining five laps to come home in front of a main grand stand to a man on its feet. The reaction and response was spectacular. There is no doubt that Lowndes is gradually occupying the place in Australian hearts previously occupied by his early mentor, Peter Brock. The late lap action came from Tander, Past Radisich, he loomed in on Richards with two to go. “There was no point in trying to hold him up,” Richo explained later. “He was going very quick... The other change to the order late in the race came courtesy of Kelly who, in trying to slice inside Bowe (who had been struggling badly with fading brakes for some laps) at the hairpin, took both off into the tyres. Both resumed and finished, but 11th and 12th. Cameron McConville worked the Autopro Commodore into a worthwhile 14th at the finish, while the ‘quiet achiever’ award went to the Lansvale team, Trevor Ashby and Steve Reed coming home almost nose-to-tail a few seconds apart in 15th and 16th - a ternfic effort for the guys who have real jobs durmg the week. Kace IWO

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laps;

If Saturday’s race had been ular, so was Sunday’s -spectacbut for substantially different reasons. While the teams had been warned that “there might be a shower late in the race” nobody expected the deluge which came after just 17 laps of the double points race. Again, a shrewd pit call was the V deciding factor. This time it was HRT who pulled the master-stroke, pitting both its cars for the second. compulsory stop just before the sheer ferocity of the deluge brought on a Safety Car period. Despite Skaife’s subsequent Stop-Go for speeding, it set the duo up for what could have been a 1-2, Lowndes clear out front and Skaife carving through fi-om the back much as his team-mate had done the year before. In the end it was a close nm thing, but by keeping Tander at bay after Lowndes’ retirement, Skaife moved to second in the championship and balanced the ledger - last year his Adelaide failure cost him the cham-

pionship, this year it may be the making ofit. The Lansvale team’s chances of a repeat of Saturday’s good result dis¬ appeared on the parade lap, Steve Reed pitting with a broken axle, Formula Ford: McLean had a tough weekend, here mixing paint with Adelaide rookie Matthew Coleman. Premier advice: So, John, I can stay within 15 percent of Tender’s points and win this championship on preferences. Sf

(Photos by John Morris/Mpix and Dirk Klynsmith)

Race 1 (78 laps)

Seton confirmed that grid two was better than pole by heading Lowndes, Tander, Richards, Johnson, Radisich, Murphy and Bargwanna thi'ough the first chicane. but out of the next right hander into the following Shell teams race was severely dented, the melee, whether or not there was much of a tap from Bargwanna, Johnson slid into the rear of his team-mate. Junior Versatile: Clipsal make fittings in was delayed a few places, but the n all sizes for all applications ... (Photo by Lynley Reki) Rat was turned around and had to sit it out and rejoin at the rear. Not a until a dozen laps after the lap 33 happy Rat... green. By then he had worked his Tander meanwhile was pulling off way to second, aided by fuel stops for a much cleaner move, inside most others, 20 seconds up on the Richards at the hairpin and soon following Murphy/Bargwanna/ onto the tail ofthe lead pair. Tander group (who’d made their sec Four laps later he did the same to ond stops under race conditions) and Lowndes and set about Seton, emerged without losing a place pulling off his third identical pass a just. handful of laps later, to immeiately This was lap 45 and,fundamental pull a gap on the FTR Ford.'The plan ly, that should have been it. Lowndes was obvious... was a healthy 30 seconds in front of Back down the road, Murphy, Skaife, who seemed to just have the Bargwanna and Faulkner were measure of the-Valvoline duo (who absorbed in a scrap for fifth, while fur- spent some time scrapping among ther back in the mid-field, Poole was themselves), Murphv (who had two making rapid progress - from 30th to three troublesome moments stopI2th in a dozen laps. Sadly, a recurfoj. the turn two right-hander!), rence of Saturday’s pinched nerve Bowe, Johnson, Seton, Faulkner, problem in his back would force the Longhurst, Ingall, Crompton and talented charger mto premature Perkins on the lead lap. retirementjust a few laps later. Richards had gone a lap down after Ingall,through Skaife in and pushing a Perkins pack fromwere the back, but then Larry feU foul of the advancing Radisich, who nosed inside at the hairpin and spun the Castrol car out. It would earn Radisich a Stop-Gk). Skaife had got by Ingall to lead the charge from the rear by the time the rain came and they poured into the pit lane on laps 21 and 22. The rain got heavier and heavier and an oily track became an ice rink. As one or two started to aquaplane off, the Safety Car was readied but before it could be dispatched, HRT made its play, calling both cars in for rapid fuel stops. Lowndes made it in and out only dropping a couple of spots(to fourth), whUe Skaife didn’t lose a spot - getting back out in the eighth place he’d got to before the ram. He was a bit too quick, though and was pinged for speeding in pit lane. It would cost him a Stop-Go, but one way or another, that didn’t come

slipping off the road and stalling, white Faulkner too was to drop out of the lead lap. Bowe slipped Murphy during one ofhis‘moments’and re^y, that whs going to be it. The rain went, then came, then went,then came. Cars shpped off the road, mostly under brakes, but there were no big hits, no late Safety Cars. But with 15 to go, Lowndes’ luck deserted him. The leading cm- headed pitwards with oil smoke billowing, “I’m not to sure what it is, but it’s getting onto the rear tyres and I don’t want to stick it in the wall,” he shrugged as he walked away, remarkably composed, The remaining HRT car reeled off the laps and, despite a brief moment at “Murfs’ corner with two to go, came home to grab the big points for the day. Late drama again involved Kelly, the Young Lion carving down the inside of Faulkner, breaking one of his own uprights in the process and delaying Faulkner, who was lucky not to hit the wall.

Pos Driver 1 Craig Lowndes 2 Glenn Seton Garth Tander 3 4 Steven Richards Paul Radisich 5 Steven Johnson 6 7 Jason Bargwanna 8 Greg Murphy 9 Tony Longhurst John Faulkner 10 11 Todd Kelly 12 John Bowe 13 Craig Baird 14 Cameron McConville 15 Trevor Ashby Steve Reed 16 17 Paul Morris 18 Dugal McDougall Peter Doulman 19 Michael Donaher 20 21 Tomas Mezera 22 Dean Canto Matthew Coleman 23 24 Chris Smerdon 25 Wayne Wakefield Alan Heath 26 Mark Larkham 27 28 Garry Holt 29 Anthony Tratt NC Mark Poole NC Neil Crompton NC Steve Ellery DNF Cameron McLean DNF Rodney Forbes DNF Brad Jones DNF Larry Perkins DNF Russell Ingall DNF Mark Skaife DNF Paul Romano DNF PaulWeel

Time/Laps 2:09:49.8295 2:09:53.4735 2:09:58.7412 2:10:00.9212 2:10:03.1404 2:10:12.5107 2:10:12.5417 2:10:15.1155 2:10:24.4116 2:10:30.4679 2:10:50.5216 2:11:01.8960 77 laps 77 laps 77 laps 77 laps 77 laps 77 laps 77 laps 76 laps 76 laps 76 laps 76 laps 75 laps 75 laps 74 laps 74 laps 73 laps 72 laps 56 laps 46 laps 28 laps 74 laps 63 laps 56 laps 37 laps 34 laps 32 laps 27 laps 5 laps

Fastest 1:27.3754 1:27.6027 *1 -.27.0352 1:28.1164 1:27.6435 1:28.3267 1:27.8931 1:28.7989 1:28.2910 1:28.3395 1:28.6615 1:28.4805 1:27.8179 1:28.4584 1:28.8752 1:29.0825 1:28.5477 1:28.9108 1:29.2890 1:29.7024 1:29.3506 1:30.0994 1:29.6788 1:30.0089 1:29.1768 1:31.6956 1:28.7684 1:32.2989 1.-29.4604 1:28.5139 1:27.6674 1:28.6591 1:28.7536 1:29.7544 1:28.5286 1:28.4815 1:28.0271 1:27.8163 1:30.6546 1:29.6624

On 68 72 53 45 51 53 54 8 71 67 68 10 51 65 67 71 55 5 57 68 13 67 66 20 74 40 8 10 65 31 30 3 64 44 56 20 8 12 22 5

Race 2 (78 laps) Mark Skaife 1 Garth Tander 2 3 Jason Bargwanna John Bowe 4 5 Greg Murphy 6 Russell Ingall Glenn Seton 7 Steven Johnson 8 Paul Radisich 9 10 Tony Longhurst 11 Larry Perkins 12 Neil Crompton Mark Larkham 13 14 John Faulkner 15 Craig Baird Paul Morris 16 17 Steven Richards Tomas Mezera 18 19 Cameron McLean 20 Michael Donaher 21 Chris Smerdon 22 Paul Weel 23 Trevor Ashby 24 Anthony Tratt Dean Canto 25 26 Peter Doulman 27 Matthew Coleman 28 Alan Heath DNF Todd Kelly DNF Craig Lowndes DNF Garry Holt DNF Dugal McDougall DNF Cameron McConville DNF Rodney Forbes DNF Mark Poole DNF Steve Ellery DNF Wayne Wakefield DNF Steve Reed DNS Brad Jones DNS Paul Romano

2:16:09.1030 2:16:16.2093 2:16:19.9354 2:16:44.5904 2:16:59.5291 2:17:06.7498 2:17:11.3390 2:17:37.7945 2:17:44.5445 77 laps 77 laps 77 laps 77 laps 77 laps 76 laps 76 laps 76 laps 76 laps 76 laps 75 laps 75 laps 75 laps 74 laps 74 laps 74 laps 73 laps 70 laps 70 laps 72 laps 62 laps 58 laps 55 laps 39 laps 31 laps 19 laps 12 laps 10 laps 0 laps 0 laps 0 laps

1:27.4670 *1:27.1658 1:27.7674 1:28.0271 1:27.9156 1:27.7868 1:27.3367 1:28.1975 1:27.8782 1:28.1670 1:28.3538 1:28.2259 1:28.3522 1:27.6755 1:28.2649 1:28.5889 1:27.7088 1:28.5644 1:27.9721 1:29.2717 1:30.1068 1:28.5776 1:28.6249 1:29.8269 1:29.1707 1:29 6366 1:29.8482 1:30.4182 1:28.2713 1:27.4311 1:31.5685 1:28.5907 1:28.7835 1:29.3956 1:28.3777 1:28.5424 1:29.4181 No Time No Time No Time

10 5 3 5 4 9 5 9 8 7 5 4 9 5 8 9 5 4 4 4 9 6 T

9 5 6 10 5 7 10 6 4 7 9 11 4 10

Points after round three: Tander 422, Skaife 368. Radisich 323, Seton 2«4, Lowndes 260, Johnson 256, Bargwanna 244, Murphy 228, Irtgall 220, Longhurst 216, Larkham 213, Bright 189, Bowe 184, Richards 167, Faulkner 154, Perkins 142, Morris 132. Crompton 112, Keily 84, Weel 83, McDougall 58, McLean 42, Ellery 41, Forbes 39, McConville 31, Jones 26, Mezera 22, Ashby 20, Reed 19. Donaher 6. Poole 5, Doulman 4, Romano 1.

U April 2000

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Italian supercars of Stokell

HE first season of Nations Cup made its debut on the weekend with no real surprises but plenty of interest. The flood of Porsche 911 GT3s were expected to domi nate the rest of the opposi tion, who were all deemed to be too new and under-devel oped to pose a serious threat to the Stuttgart stranglehold. Somebody obviously forgot to tell Mark Noske and the new Prancing Horse Ferrari team as the 360 Modena grabbed pole and a win in race two after a tight tussle with Jim Richai-ds’ Porsche GT3. Another new car in the Lamborghini Diablo SVR of Paul Stokell grabbed the headlines with a victory in a shortened race one, though the stopping power of the V12 put it out of the winning equation in the second, longer race.

Qualifying

' 1

WHILE category was brand the new, organisers at Adelaide didn’t give the new runners much time to get themselves comfortably, with qualifying on Friday morning and no practice whatsoever. The testing conducted at Calder prior to the first round of the series by Mark Noske and the Prancing Horse Ferrari F360 team paid off, the former Young Lion grab bing pole in lm31.6325s. “We dumped some air out of the tyres and went back out to try to knock Richo off and I JUST went across the line before the chequered flag came out to do the hot lap,” said Noske. “Pole’s a bonus - we came here this weekend just to gi-ab a bag of points.” With no computer to analyse and a limited amount of spares to play with as well as set-up components, he was only interested in outqualifying the Ross Palmerowned car, driven by Darren Palmer instead of Wayne Park, the second of the RPM cars not ready for the race. Jim Richards’ GTS was only two-tenths behind, ahead of another new car in Paul Stokell’s Lamborghini Diablo, which was good over one lap but due to the ballast it must caiTy, was giving the brakes a Viper-like caning. Palmer was fourth ahead of a flock of GT3s, Peter Fitzgerald (who had no reverse gear) leading Wayne Park (who had stepped into Peter Harburg’s GT3 with the second Palmer F360 due to land in Oz on the Monday after the race), Greg Keene, Steve Webb, Ed Aitken’s 911 RS/CS, Peter Bradbmy, Mark Williamson, Mike Reedy and Drew Marget’s 911 RS/CS. Many of the diivers in fact were paid a visit from the race director having gone past the entrance road to the paddock following the session, the problem of dissipating

heat from the cars the main concern of all of the drivers. Stopping suddenly would mean all sorts of dramas for the high-tech machines. Mike Conway was the first Viper in 14th, while the Team Viper Racing cars of D’arcy Russell and Rusty French struggled - both suffering gearbox problems, French in fact having the gear lever come out in his hand. Problems were quick to arise for Kevin Heffernan’s Saleen Mustang. The roaring Ford lost compression on his first lap and went onto seven cylinders, so the Price Attack crew set about ‘attacking’ the problem in time for race one. Not a good day to be dri ving a V8 muscle car... /

Race One (6 laps)

rivers and teams were only notified just before the race that it would be shortened to six laps but there was one man pleased with the choice — Stokell. The Lambo was pretty quick over one lap but anything more than six or seven was pushing it and the decision played right into his hands, but not off the starting fine. Richards took the lead off the line to head Stokell, Fitzgerald, Noske and Palmer through the first turn and the top two sprint ed away before the Diablo powered by on lap three and establish a handy gap to cruise to the chequered flag. Behind Noske was being held up by Fitzgerald until he moved by on lap four and set off after Richards. The Faz had made a shocker of a start as Noske explained. “We don’t have a clutch so I can’t just load it up, .you have to dump the accelera tor. Once it’s engaged in a gear and you’re sitting on the grid you have to wait for the light to go out and then accelerate from there.” A reset of the computer would hopefully rectify the problem for Sunday’s race. He had to settle for third behind the defending cham pion and the Lambo, but looked threatening in the new car. Stokell though was wrapped with the first up win. “I was the happiest man in the world when the race was shortened. We tried different pads but nearly had an off. However the car’s nicely bal anced — it’s promising.” Palmer took fifth in the Poolrite F360 ahead of Webb, Park, Keene, Bradbury and Aitken.

Race Two (14 laps) The longercounted race distance virtually out the Diablo unless something dis astrous happened to the Ferrari or Porsche and again Richards jumped from the

Showjumping: Mark Noske let his 'Italian Stallion’ jump past Jim Richards’ Porsche and into the lead in race 2. Give me a brake: A shortened race allowed the Lambo of Paul Stokell to run at full pace for the entire race distance and take the first ever Nations Cup win. (Photos by John Morris/Mprx and Marshall Cass)

line to take the lead. Stokell was in conserva¬ tion mode, any points obvi ously better than none, and had Noske go past to take up the Porsche-chasing baton. The F360 driver worked the gap down by half a second a lap and the Faz’s superior car speed had him on the back of the OAMPS Porsche quickly. Richards was making pass ing difficult and Noske had a lunge around the outside on lap seven at turn four.

Still getting used to the left hand driver, Noske simply didn’t see the yellow #1 and tomed in with a bump, lucki ly not slowing either driver. Back down the road

following and ran alongside Richards down the pit straight on lap nine, before cutting across the right hand side of the chicane to take the lead and he waltzed off into

Stokell’s six-seven lap win dow was shut and the the Lambo went down the escape road at the same turn, rejoining in seventh. Noske was growing tired of

the distance to win by 5.5s. Steve Webb was light years behind in third in what was still a strong drive on GTP debut, ahead of a recov

ering Stokell.

Nightriders: Ric Shaw and Geoff Full swap seats on their way to victory in Adelaide.

Shayv Full of GTF By AARON NOONAN THE lights of GTP illuminated the ■ streets of Adelaide in a two-hour endurance race but once again the car on the top step of the podium was no different. Ric Shaw and Geoff Full led a Mazda 1-2 with the team car of Barry Morcom and Mark Stinson home in second place, some five seconds behind. Grant Kenny drove solo to third in the Austar Subaru after team mate Scott Jacobs failed to start. A problem with the injectors was unable to be fixed and replacement parts sourced from a car in a local showroom weren’t compatible so Jacobs was a DNS. The start of the two hour race

resembled something more like a two lap dash, Peter Gazzard bursting into the lead in his STi Impreza with Tony Scott (in Ross Dillon’s HSV) In hot pursuit. Gazzard tried his best Richard Burns impersonation at the first chicane, launching into the air before crashing down with an increased lead! The punishment killed the 'Rex soon after and a dice for the lead developed between Scott and Shaw, only broken when the former was directed to the pits to serve a stop-go for jumping the start. The chase started again and after 40 minutes the two were back running nose to tail. With a multitude of passing over .consecutive laps, the big

“I had to hold Mark up for as long as I could,” said Richards. “I’m wondering whether you’re allowed to do that (commenting on Noske’s passing manoevure) but it was good racing.” Points: Noske 26, Richards 24, Stokell 23, Webb 15, Keene 9. — AARON NOONAN

HSV eventually failed, although not with overheating dramas as at Barbagatio; rather a loss of drive. Some consolation was the 1 m40.3707s fastest lap. Trevor Sheumack was charging through the field having started from the back due to a clip on the clutch plate which popped off and wouldn’t let the gearbox change cogs. Sharing with Dwayne Bewley, it too fell by the wayside. While Shaw/Fpll were too strong as well as Morcom/Stinson, Mark King and Rod Wilson took fourth in the Autopro Lancer ahead of Bob Hughes’ similar car. Colin Osborne's MR2 won the sports car class in sixth outright ahead of Wayne Russell’s BMW and the team car of Wayne Murphy while James Philip’s XR8 Falcon won the Pennzoil V8 touring car class comfortably over the V8 VT of Craig Dontas. Daryl Coon held off the Camry of David Ratcliff and Chris Kousparis in the battle of the sixes, while the Mitsubishi Magna challenge of Jim Myhill and Robert Chadwick was blunted by burning brakes. Kosi Kalaitzidis turned in a giant killing effort in the Proton M21 with victory in the four-cylinder class and 15th outright from the Peugeot 306 of Warren Luff and Peter Ross. Class pole-sitter Nathan Thomas retired in the early stages of the race.

Points: Class A: Shaw 47, Hughes 30. Stones 20. Class B: Wood 34, Russell 34. Boytan 33. Oass C: Loadsman 31, Mlltett 24, Phitip 15. Class D: Coon 39, Ratcliff 37, ChadwIcK 35. Class E: Kalaitzidis 42, Thomas 29, Price 28.

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After struggling early in his V8 career, Mark Lai back strongly in 2000 and he believes he know

Just prior to hitting the streets in Adelaide, MN’s GERALD McDORNAN took a look at how the Mitre 10 driver has turned his fortunes around. your minds back to SET November 13,1999. Ten

cars and drivers iine up for their one iap chance of juggiing the finai order for the start of the next day’s big race. All of Australia is watching, most quite content to expect one of the usual list of suspects to claim pole. In fact, before Mark Larkham’s stunning dash up, around and down the mountain, many on the ground were slapping Mark Skaife on the back saying he’d done the Job... No one ever expected Larkham to sit the Ross and Jim Stone-prepared Mitre 10 AU on pole, let alone run the quickest ever iap around the famed circuit - bar none. But he did and, while the race didn’t pan out to be the success he’d hoped for and so dearly desired, the attention garnered from the stunning performance was more than <enough to again point the attention spotlight directly towards one of the forgotten and, perhaps, most deserving souls of Australia’s V8s. The performance also came at a time where a conscious decision had been made for Larkham and his close band of sponsors and supporters to leave the comfort and security of the Stone Brothers camp and set the course for the future on their own. forward to the week Move leading up the race around

the streets of Adelaide. Larkham is currently sitting fifth in the

the ’97 season, had come out of necessity thanks to a horror twochampionship points for the 2000 season stretch which had many Shell Championship Series and, observers second-guessing the sure, it’s still only very early in the future of Larkham and his backers season, but it is by far the best in the sport. start he’s ever had to a season “Putting together the deal with since his V8 debut back in 1995. Ross and Jim dug us out of the While things have changed hole we were in, for which I take considerably, it’s a situation that full responsibility - I’m certainly Larkham envisaged prior to his thankful for our time together,” he mountain-toppling run and is quite says appreciatively. content with. He is quite matter of fact about “Bathurst was really the start of where he went wrong on the a new era for the Mitre 10/Ford team’s first foray into sedans. Racing team as we’d already “We built an incorrect car for consciously made the decision the category. I was quite happy to we’d be branching out onto our have a lighter, faster, stronger car, own and it set the tone for this year,” Larkham said in the lead-up but we pushed the envelope way too far.” to Adelaide. The point that troubles “We had an excellent Larkham about those years is . relationship with the Stone that, while they’d made a serious Brothers for the three years we blue with their equipment, the were there and we learned a lot, results reflected on his team. but what we’ve achieved by going “We didn’t have a bad out on our own is a 100 percent total commitment and focus on the organisation. Our team, our Mitre 10 car and its driver. personnel, our management and our organisation was all very “I think that already it has showed that what we’ve done has good, amongst the best, and worked out best for both us and that’s what was the sad point.” the Stones, who now have their Larkham is grateful that the n Stones, while overlooking the whole Caltex arrangement with Tony operation, allowed him to rebuild the [Longhurst].” Larkham strongly believes, in confidence and gather the the current V8 Supercar information, knowledge and environment, that that’s what is structure to go out on his own again. needed and that’s why he set ‘The greatest asset of our time with Stone Brothers was that we about leaving the.Stones learned a lot about what was organisation and creating a new environment for his team to really required to be competitive,” operate from. he says. “The game is so tough now that “We had the majority of our if you don’t have total focus and own team within Stone’s anyway, commitment, then you’re and, to Ross and Jim’s credit, doomed... simple as that.” they allowed us to rebuild our own The association with Stones, team and infrastructure within which began at the beginning of their organisation.”

Despite the helping hand, though, Larkham was always yearning for more... “To be honest, it’s difficult trying to work on someone else’s workshop floor, so to speak. So it was always quite obvious that it was logical to press on and set-up our own deal.” It seems as though it just may have been logical, with Larkham having already scored five top 10 finishes in the first five SCS points-earning races of the year. Points wise, he’s fifth, the second of the Fords and far ahead of more fancied punters, including Ingall and Murphy. The building of the first radical Mitre 10 V8, the subsequent move to Stones and then the creation of another stand-alone operation goes to show, though, that Larkham is constantly thinking of ways to move fonward, and he can see areas where things aren’t always rosy or improvements can be made. One area he has pinpointed at the moment is the disadvantage of a single-car team - the lack of drawing on more data and technical information from a second car. He is matter-of-fact about

believing he will quickly suffer in that area this year, although already the wheels are in motion to correct the numbers next year. “We’re the most successful single car team at the moment and I’ll be using that as a tool to grow us into a two-car team... it’s something we’re actively working on now. “In the meantime, we’ll just have to work doubly as hard to cover the amount of bases that two-car teams can with their racing and testing.” For the future, expansion Larkham doesn’t have any driver specifically in mind at the moment, although he knows what he wants. “Our preference is to draft in a really good, young hot property that carries no baggage - one we can mould into someone that will continue to carry this business forward,” he says. While he won’t identify anyone specific, the team has already tested a number of drivers and will also identify one or two others for a run in the AU XR8 Falcon before he makes a decision. ‘The primary concern is to be good in the car and to be able to give us more technical feedback to help the team advance, but I’d

didn’t have a bad organisation. Our team, our personnely our management and our organisation was all very goody amongst the besty and that’s what was the sad point. Larkham on his time before joining the Stone Brothers

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:ham has hit what time it is...

be backed by Mitre 10 or our co sponsors, or even an entirely new sponsor is yet to be determined that’s what we’re working on at the moment.” Larkham has had an incredible relationship with Mitre 10 and his associate backers for a decade now, quite incredible seeing the traumas and dramas of their first few seasons. “We've had a great relationship , with Mitre 10 and our co-sponsors and if 1 can identify one single element of our success it is th^t we do work closely together,” he also love to have someone around says proudly. here for some healthy, in-house “It’s not an isolated sponsorship competition,” Larkham enthuses. - they’re a pro-active sponsor and Funding is a concern for most we’re a pro-active team - and they teams these days with the high allow us lots of input, asking for cost of remaining competitive, so ideas on how best to capitalise on naturally, Larkham’s expansion the sponsorship and that, coupled plans call for additional dollars. with their own aggressive But, one can’t be surprised marketing stance, works very well.” when he says he’s already talking with his current backers about the Larkham also points to regular sponsor meetings at his Gold possibilities and opportunities. “Whether our second car will Coast base and the fact that Mitre

A grown man’s toy shop has to be a Mitre 10 tool shop: Larkham hopes this is the view of the Mitre 10 Falcon that will become more common this season. (Photo by Dirk Kiynsmith)

10 have employed a full-time motor sport promotions officer to exploit all aspects of their association. Naturally there were times when Mitre 10 and their accompanying associate backers could have walked away quite easily... “Around ’95/’96 they could have easily gone, but Mitre 10’s John Berwick had the foresight to recognise the longer the investment and commitment, the better the return, and I take my hat off to him for that." Despite his sponsors being loyal, Larkham insists there is no mates deals in the association and, like any other company that fails to get a return on an investment, if they didn.’t„ they’d

be gone.‘ “it’s a commercial arrangement and Mitre 10 have the sponsorship measured during the

agreement, so there’s no mate’s deals. I’m proud to say it’s come up trumps each time and I hope it will continue.”

I A. Home handyman^s guide to parity renovations | Tips qtiestion of how p^ty is measured '-●between the' Manufacturers and l'teams iin> the SCS is * alwMs going to be ;iMba^^d> Mark f 0arkham 'is quite firm M Msubefief that the r^situation that has ci^veloped over the jp^t 1=5 months should ribe'avpide# think there’s a genuine need for the

Performance Review Committee to meet regularly -e I wouldin’t mind if that happened every two or three meetings,” he said just hours before the PRC announced that changes to the VT Commodores were,indeed,on their way. “We must not lose sight that V8s are a parity foi’mula and 1 tMnk that there has been clear cut evidence over the last 15

months,since the introduction of the AU, that something needed to be done.” Larkham says the problem is much deeper than just Ford teams whining about HRT’s dominance. “I can never support a system that trims back someone who performs to the level of HRT,but this is much deeper than just HRT,TMs is about two cars where one happens

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to be slightly better in the current formula." The quickest driver ever around the Mount Panorama circuit believes the AU is too sensitive a race car, by \drtue of its aerodynamic design for the mass consumer,creating a set up window not as broad as the VT Commodore. “I can quite confidently say that, across the spectrum of the Ford teams, we have

the same level of drivere and personnel as any of the Holden teams,” he says of the blue oval brands’teams and results. "It gets back to the fact that the AU Falcon creates less downforce than the EL Falcon and the Commodore and the set-up window is not as broad as the Commodore." Larkham points to the inconsistencies of the AU

to back up Ms points. "You notice tbe Fol ds cart qualify on the pole one week and then qualify' 17th two weeks later- and that happens with most of the Ford teams at various circuits.” With the PUG having met and made their decision for change (or, for Mitre 10’s sake, renovations), the windows should now give a simiJai’ view.,.

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32 14 April 2000

urchuoso performance

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Halliday scrubbed from race two win,

Back to back: Halliday and Ralt team mate Chris Staff were going in opposite directions in Adelaide.

(Photo by Dirk Klynsmith)

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By AARON NOONAN the Holden Australian ADELAIDE’S round of Drivers’ Championship had it all, proving that the intensity in the category has hit an all-time high with an almost Holden versus Ford rivalry developing amongst Bimana, Ralt, NRC, and the rest. Christian Murchison’s race one drive to win with a bro ken front wing had everybody on the edge of their seats as the pack chased, while Simon Wills charged through to inherit race two after race winner Matthew Halliday was disqualified for an exhaust infringement, an appeal pending. Both Tim Leahey and Paul Dumbrell picked up a good bag of points but it was Mm-chison and the NRC team which grabbed the glory hav ing turned the comer, proving that Wills and Birrana can be beaten, and beaten on speed alone. *r-

Qualifying

ake one look at the timesheets and you’d think that once again Wills and the Birrana team had wiped the opposition. But Formula Holden isn’t like that anymore... While the quiet Kiwi was on pole, it wasn’t as easy as the earlier practice sessions had indicated. Eastern Creek winner Murchison was simply on fire.

Tim Leahey improved a car which initially had some dra mas and both Chris Staff and Dumbrell weren’t far behind. But for the top three in Wills, Murchison and Lealrey they all had one common thread amongst them - they all thought they could have gone quicker. Wills and Miuchison trad ed times all session, the for mer coming out on top with a lm20.5829s as opposed to the lattefs lm20.6768. “We were capable of a lot more,” said the defending champion. “I looked at the trace after the session and I lost fourtenths on the fast comer on the back straight, and I reckon seven-tenths over the fiill lap.” Murchison missed a gear on his ‘hottie’ and believed that the mistake had cost him^ a 20.5, and therefore, pole position. Making significant improvements was Leahey. After brake problems on Friday, an intermittent mis fire became one that wouldn’t go away right at the end of the session, his lm20.9073s another which could have been improved. Which begs the question. Are racing drivers ever happy with the way things work out? Only just behind were Staff and Dumbrell, who made no changes to the car over Friday. “Yesterday we got a base setup to work from and today I just pulled my finger out!” “Last year I was dead set out of control!” smiled the

Blurred resulf: Halliday went like a blur in race two, taking the win ahead of Wills and Murchison, although he was later disqualified. The Ralt team have appealed. We don’t want to look: Murchison’s NRC crew seem to not want to look at the damage to his Reynard, and think about the work ahead.

(Photos by Slipstream Photographies)

young Victorian, happy with his increased competitiveness. The top five were covered by half a second, sixth-placed Leroy Stevenson 11-tenths off team mate Wills. Returning for his first drive in a little while, Brenton Ramsay was seventh ahead of Andy Booth and Dale Brede. Brede stopped during the session in the second NRC car with a broken bevel gear to be ninth ahead of Halliday, who only did one flying lap before crashing. Charge time for the Kiwi... Completing the field were Roger Oakeshott, Peter Hill, Damien Les Digby, Crampton, Mark Ellis, ^ars Johansson, Ian Peters, Rohan Carrig, Akihiro Asai and Neville Wills. Asai was another to have only got a limited distance before a stud bolt for the mount of the rear arm of the suspension broke, leaving the right rear dangling at an angle Reynard didn’t build it for.

Race 1 (15 Baps) Put race one was the simply, best Formula Holden race since the category’s inception, with a full bucket of action, drama and sheer bravardo thrown onto the Adelaide circuit.

While Murchison and Wills both got good starts, it was ‘Murch’ who got the better and led the field through the first chicane from Wfils, Staff, Leahey, Dumbrell and a charging Halliday. „Birrana team mates Ramsay and Stevenson both came to grief in the early laps, Stevenson spiiming and Ramsay having an on-board barbeque which singed his right leg. Two Birrana cars in trou ble, what about the third? The see-sawing battle between the top two contin ued until half race distance when Wills made his move at

Mistral Hairpin when attempting to outbroke the leader. He finished fifth. That left Leahey to attack Murchison but Halliday slipped past on lap 13 to grab second (fiom tenth on the grid!) and set off after Murchison. He didn’t quite get there but it was a spectacular drive, only overshadowed by Murchison’s hang-on-forgrim-death, while Leahey and Dumbrell (who had main tained tabs on the front run ners all race) followed. Staff, Booth, Stevenson and Wills were next, with Asai again having the same prob lem as in qualifying — failing to start in the Hocking Motorsports Reynard 98D. Rohan Carrig was lucky to clear his ’89 model Reynard when it caught on fire, causing serious damage, while Brede’s crew were at the track until late in the evening rebuilding his Holden V6 engine.

Race 2 (15 Baps)

The dice forin turn one was resolved favour of Halliday and he led Murchison and Leahey in the early stages, while Wills made up a handful of posi tions only to get stuck behind Staff in sixth place. the end of the back straight.' Halliday squeezed out a Murchison gave him racing small margin while Leahey room but the two made con attacked the back of tact as they ran out of the Murchison, a big sideways turn, Wills’s attempt at slow moment on lap five at Speed ing Murchison off the comer Stick Comer proved how hard to jump away again had he was trying. failed - with disastrous A mistake by Staff through results for the Kiwi. the first chicane a lap later let Half of Murchison’s front Wills by and he set off after the leaders - Murcliison hav wing went west while Wills limped to the pits to replace a ing taken over the position. flat left rear after the two Then the lapped traffic made contact. He charged began and the race was back through to grab eighth turned on its head just as it and some valuable champi had been on Satm-day... onship points. The leaders approached the The NRC driver then had ancient Ralt of Neville Wills to contend with Staff who on the back straight and swai-med onto the back of the ^Murchison was the loser, leader but he too fell by the Halhday finding his way back wayside with a spin at into the front with the nar-

rowist of gaps to dive into. No more traffic to worry about? Yeah, right... On lap 10 the leaders approached Lars Johansson but he failed to see them. Halhday made it through but “Murch’ was severly held up. In the bottleneck behind, Leahey jumped down the inside of Wills at Speed Stick but was in too deep in the dirty air behind Johansson’s car and looped the M-ONE11 Reynard, allowing Dumbrell to hussle him to the flag. Just a handful of corners later Murchison spun, ahowing Halhday clear for a win. Or maybe not. Wills was running hot, breaking lap records and reeling in Halliday hand over fi st but failed by just 0.29s at the line. Leahey held off Dumbrell for third ahead of Murchison (who nailed Stevenson on the line) Staff, Booth, Hill and Crampton. The weekend took another twist with a post- race protest against both Ralt cars of Halliday and Staff being successful and the blue machines were booted from the results for exhausts which protruded over the rear of the car, illegal in Formula Holden niles. That gave Wills a win, Leahey second and Dmnbrell third - and Murchison the points lead in the champi onship - although the Ralt Australia team has appealed the results with a result due after MN went to press. So that leaves the teams with a bit of a break before round four in Canberra but Formula Holden is a changed category. Simon Wills can be beaten and there’s not just one driver capable, but six. The battle is bigror than ever.

Provisional Points: Murchison 87, Wills 83, Halliday 69, Dumbrell 48, Leahey 39, Booth 34, Stevenson 30, Staff 27, Hill 18, Brede 14.

14 April 2000

By JON THOMSON SUBARU dominated the first round of the 2000 Australian Rally Championship, with the Subaru Australia team cars of Possum Bourne and Cody Crocker claim ing both outright and Group N honours as their opponents struggled on both heats of the Forest Rally in WA. Held for the first time in the forests around Busselton (south of Perth) the field could only watch while the Pirelli-shod blue cars sped off into the distance. While Neal Bates had no problems his Toyota Corolla, he struggled to keep pace with the Subaru of Bourne finishing the first day ImOSs behind. .“We had no problems, which only makes it more dif ficult. We just don’t have any thing we can point to as to why we cannot match him,” said a forlorn Bates. Bourne has had a dream stai-t to his title defence, win ning all eight stages in Heat 1. Across 125 competitive kilometres, fans saw Bourne at his very best. Conditions were testing, with verj' slip pery roads and choking dust, but the four-time Champ was always in control.

sizeable lead. He eventually finished 36s ahead of the Group N veteran, with Dean Herridge (Impreza WRX) a further minute back, third in his class and fifth outright. Crocker was relieved to get through the opening heat with no problems and a strong win. “Wow; glad to get that done - what a relief. It is probably the same whether you are chasing or not hut the buffer we had in the end made it easier,” said Crocker With such a dominant per formance on Heat 1 Bourne was under pressure to do the same on Sunday and he didn’t disappoint. He started where he left off the day before, despite the fact that they really had a dust drama on the first stage. The stage started at 7.30 am and the air became thick after Bates went through and raised hell. “That stage was the only one we had a problem on today,” related Possum. “We still pushed and the times reflected that. But we had a great run and without any problems we'felt good aU day.” “We had a bit of fun on this event - the car is now a great fun car to drive. The Pirellis are not the best on the earth, but they are another year’s generation on from the ones

f ' » ;

Numbep 5 is » ve Four, and counting; Bourne started his quest for a fifth straight title by taking the Respect Yourself Forest Rally ●S

Driver Ed; Ordynski had two fourths and was second in GrpN.

Hava Havoline;

ARC Rd 1 Forest Rally (WA) Results Crew

Car

Boume/Stacey Subaru Impreza WRC98 Bates/Taylor Toyota Corolla WRC Crocker/Foletta Subaru Impreza WRX Ordynski/Stewart Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VI Herridge/MacNeall Subaru Impreza WRX MackenzieA/an der Mey Mitsubishi Lancer Evo III

Another Ross local. Mackenzie in his Mitsubishi

“It was a case of us having the perfect package today with both the car and the Pirelli tyres being spot on,” Bourne said. “That caused us some prob lems with the dust, but we made it through and we can’t wait to get out there tomor row.” Bourne was also impressed with the performance of his new co-driver, Mark Stacey, in his debut ride in the Impreza WRC. Crocker topped all-comers in Group N to take third out right. Crocker tied the open ing stage with Ed Ordynski’s Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VI but then went about building a

we used last year - and they feel it!” Bates and Coral Taylor had the Corolla WRC hooked up really well. Neal seemed to have the car at all sorts of attitudes and the former triple ARC champion was happy with all the settings of the new active diff. However the reason for the Subaru dominance was still a mystery to the Canberra driver, but he was happy with his own perfor mance and that of the car. The Group N contest was a little less one-sided than the first day’s effort, however the end result was the same. Crocker again started well

and continued to run well although,Ordynski pushed them, with the gap staying at aroimd 8s imtil the final cou ple of stages. “We really had to push today as Ed pushed us hai-d. He came back from the beat ing we gave him yesterday like he always does, and we had to fight dl the way,” said Crocker. Behind the flotilla of factoiy cars came the first of the WA crews home. The newly rebuilt car of Dean Herridge was hav ing a much better time of it on Sunday after the crew added another groove to the tyres, which delivered much better grip on the swept roads.

Lancer, suffered a 40s penalty on the way to the first stage when an intercooler pipe was blocking. Mackenzie set remarkable times on some stages to come home sixth on Day 2. Also up there over the open ing stages was-the ex-Cody Crocker Impreza in the hands of Brett Middleton, who was sixth early on before things deteriorated. Middleton suf fered four punctures and also had a problem with the right hand rear suspension. “We hit something and it wasn’t quite right after that.” The punctures cost the team over five minutes because they were forced to change two of them dropping the Sanyo car to 16th. Finishing a remarkable nm behind the Group A Evo 3 Lancer of Mackenzie was the Perth-based Kiwi Stuart Warren. Warren set consis-

Ht 1 (time) 1 (1:15:03) 2 (1:16:11) 3(1:19:40) 4(1:20:16) 5(1:21:16) 6 (1:21:39)

Ht2 (time) 1 (1:13.02) 2(1:13.52) 3(1:16-45) 4(1:16.56) 5(1:17.54) 6 (1-23.59)

tently quick stage times and placing the relatively mild Lancer Evo 1 Group N firmly into seventh place, 29s ahead of another Sydney-based driver, Martin Lintott. They beat the Queensland driver Steven Shepheard (son of George) into ninth with a learning run for the Lancer Evo V driver. “We really aimed for the finish this weekend so we didn’t take unnecessaiy risks. The roads here are a lot faster than the ones I am used to back home and it takes some getting used to not to back off in the cornel's,” he said. F2 was a little bit of a nonevent, with local driver Craig Bignell in a rear drive Corolla beating home fellow local Andrew Hannigan, in a Daihatsu. With Bourne now leading the point on 40 to Bates’ 32, the drivers title takes a long break before Queensland in early July.

Beckton back

MARTY Beckton has salvaged his entry in the Rally of Canberra and will pilot the Volkswagen Motorsport Golf F2 car which Simon Evans drove In 1999. “It was an amazing coincidence really! After being let down by the UK team over here with the F2 Escort. Tom Fyfe (VVJ Motorsport Australia Team Manager) called me at work on a totally unrelated matter. I explained our situation to him and we were able to strike a deal to run the old car.” said Beckton. Instead of his original entry, an Escort Kit Car, he will run the 2-litre, sequentially-gearboxed car which should prove an ideal weapon after a season in Britain. “Simon’s car Is excellent and in reality it’s probably a better example of an F2 car than the Escort that I was going to bring over Providing we can get a little bit of testing in prior to the rally then I'm hoping to be up there.” - JON THOMSON

COLIN McRae has a good memory. So, when a win ning opportunity present ed itself in the Catalunya Rally, he put a lousy sea son out of his mind and grabbed it with both hands. The Scot and navigator Nicky Grist put a disastrous six months behind them to ■win their first rally win since Portugal last year, finishing six seconds clear of Richard Burns. But as close as that seems, it was even closer McRae’s crew worked brilliantly to overcome a mechanical prob lem on the second stage of the final day. Ford rally boss Malcolm Wilson and his team overcoming a clutch problem before SS12, leaving McRae himself to finish the job outside the control. Arriving at control a minute late, McRae incurred a 10s penalty and he lost the lead but he fought back at once to overtake the Subaru. “I’d forgotten what it’s like to win,” admitted the Scot. The win came in the nick of time. McRae’s Ford drive had been the subject of much speculation over recent months, the 1995 world champion publicly criticising the team over his recent bout of unreliability. To complete Ford’s day Carlos Sainz continued his strong season with third, challenging Burns over the final day and finishing 19s clear of 'Tommi Makinen, the

World Champion clearly struggling for speed on the mostly wet Spanish tarmac. The Mitsubishis have never been noted for their sealedroad speed but Makinen, and team-mate Freddy Loix, both had rare problems in the braking department. The event was not a strong one for Peugeot. After an early challenge from Francois Delecour the 206s struggled for balance and grip. After falling down the order he recovered some time until SS6 when he was caught out by his lack of local knowledge, Gilles Panizzi and Marcus Gronholm both shooting past. Frankie fell to seventh, delayed by losing three gears in one stage, while the Panizzi brothers also had gearbox problems. The team also promoted Gronholm into fifth at the finish, Panizzi suffering a mysterious ‘fault’ that saw him check out of the final service area six minutes late and slip to sixth. Burns set the' pace early on Day 1, running first on the road and making the most of clean roads in the hea-vy rain before the stages were repeated in the after noon. Delecour initially gave chase but was soon over hauled by McKae, who seemed to be the only Michelin runner able to match the times set by Bums and his Pirellis. Burns lost time on the

Ford to the fore: McRae bounced back into the winners’ circle in Spain, taking a win after a titanic struggle. English, patient; Burns threw everything at McRae, but he had to settle for second in Subaru’s rocket-like WRX P2000.

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final Day 1 stage, then the lead on Day 2. On the opening the Gratallops Escaladei stage the WRX P2000 suffered hydraulic problems, handing the lead to McRae. The Prodrive team changed a gearbox and the chase was on. The two Brits and Sainz swapped fastest times but once back in the lead McRae was in control and Burns wary of his WRC points lead. knew it. “I can’t drive any faster than I am doing at the moment,” Burn said at the finish of SS13. “I’ve just taken 0.2s from Colin and that’s not going to be enough to catch him.”

But if you had offered me second place before the start. I would have taken it. McRae was delighted after the event. “To win a rally again is good, but to win when you have to fight with two very quick guys is special,” he said at the end of the final stage. “Richard is a very tough competitor and I think this is one of my best wins, particularly after the recent history.” Now trailing Bums by nine points in the championship, Makinen is not sounding con fident for the rest of the season: “I have to say, we need to find something,” he said. “The car feels OK and with-

WRC Round 5 Rally do Catalunya 1 C McRae/N Grist Ford Focus 4:07:13.0 2 R Burns/R Reid 4:07:18.9 Subaru impreza Ford Focus 4:07:24.7 3 C Sainz/L Moya ' 4 T Makinen/R Mannisenfnaki Mitsubishi Lancer 4:07:53.2 5 M Gronholm/T Rautiainen Peugeot 206 4:09:04.7 6 G Panizzi/H Panizzi 4:09:23.9 Peugeot 206 4:10:49.4 7 F Delecour/D Grataloup Peugeot 206 8 F Loix/S S meets Mitsubishi Carisma 4:11:25.5 9 A Navarra/S Fedeli 4:12:18.4 Subaru Impreza 10 M Martin/M Park 4:12:42.0 Toyota Corolla Group N: 1 U Nittel/D Ruf 2 G Trelles/J Dei Buono 3 M Stohl/P Muller

Tommi chasing; Makinen lost time on the first day and spent the rest of the event playing catch-up.

Mitsubishi Carisma 4:26:10.7 Mitsubishi Lancer 4:27:33.7 Mitsubishi Carisma 4:30:39.4

Overall championship; Burns 28, Makinen 19, Gronholm 18, Sainz 17, McRae 14, Kankkunen 11. Manufacturers: Subaru 41, Ford 31, Mitsubishi/Peugeot 23.

Czech the record books: Schwarz took SS5, the first time that a Skoda had won a stage of the World Championship, out the problems on the first two legs it would have been closer.” Loix continued to stmggle and was finally unable to add points to Mitsubishi’s points tally. The Belgian dri ver again had brake prob lems; “I lost them 30kms into the first stage and then had the same problem on the descent from the Col on the second.” One of the ‘feel-good’ aspects about the event came on SS5 when Skoda’s Armin Schwarz won the Alpen-Les Llosses section. As has become a common sight the Octavia was showing consid erable potential, but this was their first stage win at WRC level. Schwarz won the event in 1991 for Toyota. Brake problems affected his Spanish team mate Luis

Climent, who stopped on the penultimate stage when his Octa'via shed a wheel. Of the other notables, Kenneth Eriksson was out of contention on Day 1 with prop shaft problems with his Hyundai Accent, while Juha Kankkunen was delayed early when his P2000 suf fered hydraulic problems before suffering a Day 2 crash. Both played catch-up from there and finished 19th and 20th respectively. Uwe Nittel hung on to win Group N from Gustavo Trelles despite slowing in fog on the final morning when the stages. Mitsubishi domi nated the competition, end ing the event filling the top seven places. Manfred Stohl, however, continues to lead the series from Portugal’s Miguel Campos.

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M April 2000

Goodbye Kankkunen? Will McRae replace Kankkunen at Subaru? So long? Kankkunen and Repo (left) may be near the end of their career, while McRae (below, R) is making positive noises about staying at Ford with Malcolm Wilson.

Ringer for Rally of Canberra DEREK Ringer, the man who guided Colin McRae to the 1995 World Rally Championship, will compete in next month’s FAI Rally of Canberra. The Scotsman will sit beside Katsu Taguchi, the young Japanese star wh’o not only won the Group N category on last year’s event, but also won the Asia Pacific Championship outright. It will be the first time the 1995 World CoDrivers' Champion has competed in Canberra, "I’m looking forward to co-driving Katsu, who proved his talents to win the 1999 Asia Pacific Championship outright,” Ringer said. The FAI Rally of Canberra has already attracted 65 entries, including at least 20 from overseas. - PETER WHITTEN

COULD four-time world

rally champion Juha Kankkunen be at the end of his career? In Spain last week Subaru rally boss David Richards indicated that Kankkunen may be released at the end of the season. “It’s no secret that we have a vacancy for our second car next season. At the moment only Richard Burns is con firmed as sta}dng,” Richards said. While the Finn had a strong season last year with two wins, has not been able to match Burns this season. He finished 20th in Spain last week. One black mark against the veteran is that, even at his peak, he has never been fast on asphalt and Burns, who has always been fast on loose surfaces, won on the (admittedly wet) Catalunya tar last week. Earlier this year there were reports that the Finn could be replaced for the four

asphalt rounds this year but so far that has not happened. While casting doubts on whether Kankkunen would stay next year, Richards did rule out the possibility of a Colin McRae return'- even if the Scot would have to play second fiddle to potential 2000 World Champion Burns. “If Richard wants to be the best he has to beat everyone and the best way to show he can beat Colin is if they are both in the same car,” said Richards. However McRae was believed to be far happier with the Ford and the team after his win in Catalunya. "If the car performs like this from now on, we have a chance of the championship," said McRae. "I'm very happy with it — it's excellent. "This is the team I want to stay with," he added, scotch ing the rumours of an impending move. -DELGADO/THOMSON

Tough times for Guest

may be the saving grace. However with the MICHAEL Guest may have earned Hyundai team struggling with turbo and some brownie points with his class win handling problems, Guest's car may not be in the Hyundai F2 car in Portugal, but ready in time for the Greek event. he lost them aU in Spain with a big In Spain, the two WRC Hyundais both crash partway through the second day. ^ lacked boost pressure, and Alister McRae Guest claimed that he hit a rock and had a spin on the third stage, by which time damaged a wheel during the stage and reverse gear had become inoperative. while the anti-puncture mousse worked, the "The car's very hard to drive," said substance leaked out of the damaged rim Kenneth Eriksson. and he found himself understeering off the "As soon as you start to try hard the sumproad and into a tree. guard and diff guards are hitting the ground The car suffered quite bad damage and and the car tries tojump off the road." may cause some problems for the Hyundai It could be a real struggle for the young team with this car coming to the end ofdts Australian hopeful who was fourth in class competition life. A7 when he crashed in Spain. Guest is due to move to a WRC Accent for -JON THOMSON the Acropolis in Greece in early June which

Chinese taken away AS reported in Motorsport News previously, the China Rally will definitely not feature in the World

Championship this year. After some months of speculation the event, which was based north of Beijing, has been declared dead after just one year of life. After the withdrawal of sponsor British American Tobacco, the rally now has insufficient sponsorship to run this year. It is likely that few of the sport’s top drivers will be sorry, for the rally had little atmosphere, the roads cut

up very badly and the event’s organisation was clearly not up to the stan dard of most olher events, cancellation China's leaves a five/six week hole ;n the schedule, with no World Championship rallies from the end of Rally Finland on August»20 to Rally of France, Tour de Corse which starts on September 29. It is rumoured that China Rally may be run in south ern China as part of the Asia Pacific series but possi bly with a different organis ing team. -JON THOMSON

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555 and out: China is off the WRC program for 2000.

By Peter Whitten Editor-Australian Rallysport News $50 for first in each class on Testing times every stage (Conditions for Cuthbert Victorian Neil Cuthbert used the Fool’s Day Rallysprint as a test session before heading to South Australia for the Adelaide Rally on April 15th and 16th. Cuthbert (Subaru Impreza WRX)was easily the quickest competitor in the event, held 50km from Wangaratta in the Merriang pine plantation. Next quickest was the ageing Mitsubishi Galant of locals Robin Box and Steve Roman, 15s ahead of the Datsun 1600 of Louie Doon and Jeremy Quirk. Bendigo driver Brian Semmens and co-driver Dan Parry were a further 17s further back, followed by the second local crew home,that of David Hecker and Shane Duggan in a Datsun 1600. The event saw the debut of a Ford Falcon XR6, in the hands of Wagga driver Peter Price. Price and navigator Greg Day finished second in the big car class. Retirements on the day included that of local hotshots Terry Naish and Mick Fitzgerald, whose Datsun 1600 blew a head gasket after two stages, and the Mazda 323 4WD of Jody Mill and Jason Patterson, which broke the front differential. Final class placings: Class A: Ron Woodward/ Laurie Woodward (Datsun 1200) Class B: Matthew Carr/Grant Matthews(Toyota Sprinter) Class C: Louie Doon/Jeremy Quirk(Datsun 1600) Class D; Ro|)in Box/Steve Roman (Mitsubishi Galant) 4WD: Neil Cuthbert/Mike Cains(Subaru Impreza WRX).

apply). As always officials are in high demand, but short in supply, so.why not come down and enjoy the breathtaking views of the Strzelecki Ranges from your own personal forest spectator point and watch the best rally crews in Victoria do battle. Your private spectator point can be secured by phoning Paul Eccles on (03)59830264 ah.

New Skoda soon Skoda should unveil a new version of the Octavia World Rally Car in June on Europe’s toughest World Championship rally, the Acropolis. The Greek event is famously hard on cars and might seem an unlikely place to launch a new and potentially troublesome model, but the Octavia has proving impressively reliable and Skoda not only got both cars to the finish in Greece last year, but recorded a similar feat on its first attempt at the Safari a month ago. The new l version features a more powerful engine and revised suspension geometry, but it will probably be an interim car. The new Fabia, which is smaller and more manoeuvrable, is tipped to become Skoda’s front-line rally weapon.

Pedders win

Victorian Rally Champions Scott Redder and Paul Humm have made a very successful start to the defence of their title with a runaway win in the WIN TV Rally in The Strzelecki Stages is the Valley held around to be run on May 20 for Traralgon in Victoria’s the third consecutive year south east. in the South Gippsland The defending champs township of Yarram. made the most of the extra The event is to be the power provided by the first dual status event in newly-acquired Mitsubishi Victoria combining State Lancer Evolution 3 and and Club championships came home to win by just (also ARN Junior over one minute. Challenge) and as such. The team’s second Supplementary Regulations vehicle, the 1999 Victorian are proving to be a much Championship winning car, sought after item by both driven by Mark Pedder and VRC and VCRS co-driver Brian Asher, came competitors alike. home in sixth place, a very With the field limited to pleasing result considering 100, crews keen to - it was the crew’s debut in a experience the fast flowing four wheel drive, tourist roads the Strzelecki turbocharged vehicle. Stages have to offer are But it proved to be a advised to get their entries challenging weekend for the in early or risk missing out. entire Pedders crew. The To receive a copy of the media day proved to be Supp Regs call the event disastrous, yet somewhat director, Alan Mackay on fortunate for the Pedders (03) 59688105. Once again team, as both cars struck through the generosity of its major mechanical sponsors Trax-Kawasaki Air problems. The Pedder/ Tools, Tyre Seal, Simons Humm car broke piston ring Builders, Pistons Auto Parts and the Pedder/Asher and Trio Communications, Lancer broke fourth and the event has on offer over fifth gear. $6000 in prize money with

Strzelecki Stages

M April 2000 I

n Sydney radio personality Alan Jones has again lashed out at the NSW government over its continued non-action on the Western Sydney Motorplex proposal. Speaking on his talkback pi'ogramme on April 3, Jones said NSW Premier Bob Carr that he “should remember what happened to [former Victorian Premier] Jeff Kennett”, warning him that further ignorance of the public’s wishes wiU lead to him being dumped by the electorate. n The foi-mer NHEA record-holding C/Altered Chev Camaro of American racer Don Witmer is said to be heading downunder, destined for a new home in Adelaide. It is believed the Jerry Haas-built Camaro, which will be powered by a new 286 cubic inch Chev small block, is being targeted at Super Stock’s D/Gas class, amongst several others. Witmer frequented Australia several years ago,the former engine builder for‘Grump/ Jenkins quite enamoured with this countr/s small block formula Pro Stock class. ■ Speaking of Witmer and the ‘Grump’, it could be possible the two small block stalwarts could make the trip Irom the US for the Wintemationals at Willowbank in June. Pro Stock points deader Peter Ridgeway dropped the hint the two could be coming at the Nationals recently. ■ ANDRAhas refactored the class indexes for D/Gas and D/Competition Bike following a check of their relationship with lower classes. D/Gas has moved from 9.12 to 9.04 and D/Comp Bike from 8.79 to 8.75, effective April 5.

Bernstein wins big in Las Vegns

KENNY Bernstein defied

the odds by rolling out a new car and grabbing a big payout at the NHRA’s newest national event, the first ever Summit Racing.com Nationals, held at Bruton Smith’s impres sive new Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Bernstein, who hadn’t won since the ‘98 Winston Finals, never looked back after taking the pole with a 4.63/314, stopping rival Joe Amato in a tyre-smoking final round duel. “It’s been a bit of a dry spell for us,” Bernstein said. “I really feel like 1 earned this one. I had to beat the best guys out here, Scelzi, Amato and Schumacher to get the win, so it was truly earned. Lady Luck was smiling somewhat, Bernstein bene fiting from a Tony Schumacher red light in round two prior to downing Gary Scelzi in one of the best races of the day 4.71/312 to 4.72/305. Amato, also had some lady luck riding with him on Sunday as he took tyre haz ing wins in the opening two rounds over Robert Reehl and David Grubnic. In the Funny Cars, Lady Luck has been smiling since the beginning of the season on the WWF tag team of Jerry Toliver and Jim Epler, their roll continuing with Epler taking the win in his new ‘Kane “The Big Red Machine”’ Camaro - his first since the ‘93 Winston Finals. Epler powered to his quickest pass of elimina tions in the final at 4.98/302 to stop the tyre-spinning Castrol Syntec Mustang of Tony Pedregon. An amazing 27 Funny Cars fronted in Las Vegas, 32 having actually entered

the event and showing the fuel coupe class is on an incredible roll. Epler led qualifying for most of the event, finally ending up second at 4.94/305. In eliminations his co crew chiefs, Terry Manzer and John Stewart, had the Camaro hauling with con sistent 5.00/299, 5.02/297 and 5.00/302 victories over Cristen Powell, A1 Hofmann and Dean Skuza - Skuza having taken Toliver in the opening frame. “This car’s been running on a string all weekend,” said Epler. “Ever since we put on this new body and paint job, it’s hauling. “Six and a half years is a long time to go without a win. We just kept plugging and luckily this deal came together for us and now we’re on top of the world. How exciting to win the inaugural race in Vegas... this is great.” Pedregon had advanced into the final round with 5.41/268, 5.01/301 and 4.99/301 victories over Del Worsham, Todd Paton and Tim Wilkerson. Showing that competition is a great thing in the free economy of the US, event sponsor Summit watched as their chief rivals in the per formance parts stakes, Jeg’s Mail Order, took the win in Pro Stock. Jeg Coughlin Jr took his third win of the year, sur viving' a final round burndown with arch-rival Warren Johnson, and then a holeshot to win 7.07/195 to 7.10/195. Coughlin’s Dick Maskin tuned Otdsmobile displayed bracket-like consistency throughout eliminations rolling four straight 7.07s, all at 195 mph, to defeat Mike Trumble, Jamie Yates and

Mark Pawuk. “I couldn’t be happi er,” Coughlin said. “To win the first event atthis facility is a real accomplishment for us “We’ve been work ing hard and we’ve capitalised on the good things we’ve done. It’s great to be on the streak we’ve been on... we’ve worked for it.” It was WJ’s third final round appear ance of the year, com ing after taking wins over his son Kurt, Richie Stevens and Jeg’s brother, Troy. Bob Panella Jr. scored the Pro Stock Truck win, his second this year, defeating Randy Daniels in the final round, 7.68/176 to 7.71/175 - the two

Problem gambler: Kenny Bernstein gambled with a new car in Las Vegas and won, the Brad Hadman-built piece qualifying on pole and leading from the front. (Dave Kommel/Auto imagery) The Last Vegas Strip: Bruton Smith’s new drag racing facility at LVMS is extremely impressive, the venue in the desert playing to a packed house for the much of the weekend.

having accounted for all three wins in the class this season. Pro Stock Motorcycle saw Angelle Seeling defeat

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Brian DeLong, Geno Scali and Craig Treble before her final round victory over new point leader, Tony Mullen. Seeling’s final round 7.40/177 was more than

enough to stop Mullen’s slowing 11.86/66. Low qualifier, Matt Hines, was defeated in the semis by Mullen. - DAVID OSTASZEWSKI

■ Adelaide

International Raceway’s Caroline Millies, has left her position as track manager to take up the recently-vacated office manager’s job at ANDRA. Milhes replaces Irene Kampes, who recently moved on after 11 years in the job. ■ AIR has also been hit with a mass retirement of drag racing officials, with somie half dozen having officiated at their last event on April 1. Calder Park also lost around a dozen officials after the Nationals in February.

The black and white machine: EpIeFs big red Camaro looked great in Las

Vegas, both on the track and in the winner’s circle. (Dave Kommei/Auto imagery)

World’s fastest delivery truck: Bob Panella Jr again won in Pro Stock Truck, the second win of the season for the NHRA champ. (Dave Kommel/Auto imagery)

2000 WINSTON DRAG RACING SERIES CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS AT APRIL 9. 2000 Winston Top Fuel Championship 357 I Tony Schumacher 348 2 Gary Scelzi 301 3 Kenny Bernstein . 287 4 Joe Amato 2.50 .5 l.arry Dixon 223 6 Doug Kalilta 194 7 Cory Me Clenathan 1.56 8 Bob Vandergriff . . 152 9 Doug Herbert . . . . 146 10 David Grubnic .

2000 Winston Funny Car Championship 338 1. Jerry Toliver . . . 307 2. Tony Pedregon . 287 3. John Force 271 4. Ron Capps 237 5. Jim Epler 190 6. Del Worsham . . 177 7. Dean .Skuza . . . . 169 8. A1 Hofmann . . . . 167 9. Scotty Cannon . . 1.54 10. Whit Bazemore

2000 Winston Pro Stock Championship 40 6 1 leg Coughlin . . 35 9 2. Warren Johnson 23 9 3. Mark Pawuk . . 23 8 4. Ron Krisher . . 23 6 5. Troy Coughlin 21 0 6. Richie Steven.s 17 9 7.JimYate.s 17 4 8. K mi Johnson . . 17 4 9. Bruce Allen . . . 17 2 lO.Toin Martino .

sXi

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14 April 2000

Wally Parks Kwimm Ridgeway ready to hit back recovers go-ahead HAVING fallen in a shock loss in the Pro Stock final round of the Nationals to rival

LAST minute delays haven’t stopped Perth’s Kwinana Motofplex site receiv ing the final green from WA light Minister for Planning, Graham Eierath a fortnight ago.

Kierath told the WA State Parliament that Cabinet decided to pro ceed with the Kwinana site, construction on the $16 million venue begin ning last week with the possibility of a comple tion of November. “Obviously it would be preferable to have the complex in place by the start of the season but the delays we have expe rienced have not made that possible,” he said. a I think the motor sport public are a group that understands all this project has gone through and will accept the ini tial inconvenience.” Kierath said final approval had taken longer than first expect ed but the delays had been necessary to ensure the future of the project. He said there were concerns over public safety at the site and claims by some sections of the community that other sites could be used. There was no point going ahead ’ with Kwinana if five or ten years down the track someone discovers there 99 is a better alternative, the Minister said. “We are satisfied that the Kwinana site is the best place for the International Motorplex available in the metro politan area.” - GERALD McDORNAN

Bruno Cugnetto, Peter Ridgeway says he is neady to resume his place at the head of the class this weekend. “After the less at the Nationals, I’m hungrier than ever,” Ridgeway said on Monday while prepar ing for the rescheduled third round of the series at Willowbank Raceway this Satui'day. Ridgeway goes into the round as favourite, despite Cugnetto’s win at the Nationals, and the previ ous round in Adelaide -

ANDRA checks pitch conditions

Cugnetto’s number one powerplant being injured in a testing ‘hitout’ in Adelaide last week. “We’ve had a solid for preparation Willowbank while Bruno’s had some troubles, although he can’t ever be discounted,” he said. It is believed Cugnetto has already shipped the engines back to the US to its builder Randy Daniels, with the engine from his second VPW Mail Order Oldsmobiles being trans planted into the lead car for Willowbank. The move also means Queenslander racer John O’Kearney won’t take his place behind the wheel of Cugnetto’s yellow VPW

Olds.

Aside from Cugnetto, who is battling Ridgeway in a tight points race, the former Australian cham pion is quite wary of a

number of other racers in the field. “[Craig] Hastead and [Joe] Polito’s Fords have won four of the last five championships, so that tells you that we should never overlook the threat that they are, while Bruce Leake has also been run ning strong lately with his Olds.” Ridgeway also pointed towards Queenslander Tony Wedlock, the stal wart of the factory hot rod class qualifying second to the No Fear Oldsmobile at the Nationals. ‘Wedlock was back into the 7.7s in Melbourne and with cooler conditions at Willowbank, his Pontiac could produce a surprise. Only two rounds remain in the Australian Pro Stock Series, this weekend’s event, along with the Winternationals in June.

WALLY Pai-ks, the founder of the NHRA and one of the driving forces behind hot rodding, is recovering from a mild heart attack. Parks, 87, suffered the heart attack while at home on Friday, March 24, and immediately underwent surgery to remove an arterial blockage. The founding editor of Hot Rod magazine and the patriai'ch of drag racing was released from hospital following the surgery to recover at home, his family describing the attack as 'just a minor bump in the road'. Parks was expected to make an appearance at the innaugural NHRA Las Vegas national event last weekend. - PHIL MORRIS

US Pro Stoek Revolution

ANDRA will begin measuring blower pulleys on both Group One and Two supercharged vehicles following a revelation of a method that allows competitors to cheat the current overdrive limits. It has become known that teams, most definitely in the US and maybe some in Australia, have been using blower pulleys with both smaller and greater pitches (a technical measurement for a pulley’s teeth) that, while containing the correct number of teeth to give the mathematically cor rect overdrive, effectively raises the overdrive. The subse quent effect is that a blower will produce more vital boost. “In future, a tooth count will only be used where the pitch of the teeth on the belt matches the puUeys exactly, and the tooth depth of the pulleys is consistent with manu facturers specifications,” ANDRA technical director Morrie Huckel said last week. “When we’re not satisfied that it is consistent, the pulleys will be checked for effective diame ter. Where that is found to be incorrect, use of the compo nents will not be permitted.”

WHILE confirmation hasn’t been publicly issued as yet, as predicted in Motorsport News last November (issue #166), it is certain that the NHRA’s Pro Stock class will move to a common composite body rule next year. The rule will mean teams and chassis builders will be unable to, aerodynamicly enhance! the approved GM, Ford and Dodge models over and above what has been homologated by the NHRA. Each manufacturer will have approved models Ford - Mustang, Cougar; GM - Chev Cavalier and Pontiac Grand Am; Dodge - Neon, Avenger - and they will supply teams and chassis builders with full

composite bodies, the bodies conforming to the NHRA’s templates. The new rule will bypass all previous problems experienced with the class, while also pull in line the radical aero changes some builders have been making to the cars. Development by each manufacturer is already well underway for the 2001 models, with a number of the sport’s leading Pro Stock chassis builders,

including ^e number one constructor, Don Ness, and Rick Jones having spent considerable time in General Motors’ wind tunnel recently developing their 2001 models - Ness already believed to have 17 of the new cars on order.

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The great one: Walty Parks B Pro Stock racer Mike Thomas will wheel a second Valspar Pontiac for Richie Stevens following a testing accident that almost destroyed Thomas’s car. The deal between the two will last for just the Las Vegas and Houston races, with Thomas expecting to receiving his repaired and updated car back from chassis builder Jerry Bickel for its return at Richmond. Thomas supplied Stevens with engines last year.

38 14 April 2000

n TheANDRATi'i Series, an eighth mile series held at the Coonawara, Mildui'a and Whyalla tracks, has been ran with the support from racers and spectators delighting the sanctioning body. The March 28 Coonawara event attracted over 60 entries and the biggest crowd to the venue,located between Naracoorte and Penola, south east of Adelaide. PourANDRA eliminators are being contested - Modified, Super Sedan, Super Street and Modified Bike - with the next event to be staged at Mildura’s Sunset Strip on April 22. n Don Pradhomme has signed a deal to be the exclusive distributor of No Fear clothing at all NHRA national events this year. Lan-y Dixon, driver of the ‘Snake’s’ Miller Lite Top Fuel dragster, has had an agreement with No Fear for the past two season with the company ■expanding on the deal for 2000. B Pro Stock engine building guru Steve Schmidt has handed over the reins of his Pontiac to Pro Truck racer Brad Jeter. Jeter, who formerly ran the IHRA Pro Mod circuit before heading to the new NHRA truck class, has vacated the seat of Jerry Haas’s Chevy S10 in favour of the big block-powered, six second Trans Am. “Steve called me last week and asked if I was interested and I was floored, basically,” Jeter said before his Las Vegas debut. “This is the opportunity of a lifetime... it’s been my goal for some time to run NHRA Pro Stock.” ■ Castrol has signed on to sponsor the NHRA’s Junior Drag Racing League for the next three years, the oil manufacturer also becoming the official motor oil of the league.

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Critchley misses again Rachelle’s record Ravenswood

RAVENSWOOD Raceway closed its doors after 30 years of operation in fine style last Saturday night, with Rachelle Splatt re writing its record books for the final time. Match racing defending Top Fuel Champion Robin Splatt’s Kirby, Valvoline/Cummins dragster unwound the quickest ever pa.ss at the venue in the first round - a 5.15/257. Splatt won the match race 2-1, red-lighting in the sec ond round before running a 5.46 in the final. Perth nitro Funny Car racer Allan Dobson had the honour of running the last ever pass down the WA track, the Allan Greene-owned Chev Bcretta producing a wild, tyre-smoking pass in a fitting

RAIN cancelling the final qualifying again stopped Austr^ian Troy Cdtchley from making a certain last ditch attempt to make the Pro Modified field at the second IHRA event of the season last weekend.

end to the facility’s life. Driving Johnny Rocca’s While Splatt had a great time at Ravenswood, local Tronhorse’ ‘49 Mercury, doorslammer racer Debbie Critchley, who was one of the O’Rourke was probably pre-season championship happy to see the doors close favourites, was confident as she rolled her 6.5 sec heading into the last session, AA/AP LJ Torana - the third despite being outside the time in 12 months. field, looking in. He never got * O’Rourke escaped serious his chance... injury, as did Phil Vinci and Fred Hahn did qualify Jim Rob Pilkington when their Oddy’s Summit-backed ‘54 blown gassers came together Corvette the at at the half track mark. ^ Springnationals at Rocking Winners at the final ever' Dragway, and then di'ove all Ravenswood national open the way to the winner’s cir drag racing event were; cle, stopping Todd Tutterow Trevor Morrison (Comp), to take the win. Terry Stacy (Super Comp), Hahn had qualified second Mick Sargent (Comp Bike), at 6.357/224 ahd dominated Robert Woodcock (Mod), eliminations with 6.27/227,Graham Kennedy (Super 6.30/225 and 6.26/226 victo Sedan), Lance Carlisle (Mod ries over Carl Moyer, Mike Bike), Glenn Murray (Super Castellana and Rickie Smith. Street) and Matthew The 227.65 mph blast in Johnson (Junior Dragster). round two was backed up for a new Pro Mod speed mark. Bruce Litton scored his first victory of the 2000 sea son when his Wix Filters dragster posted a winning 4.77/303 to defeat surprising low qualifier and upset minded Clay Millican in the Top Fuel final. Having suffered serious problems in the semis,

Top Qualifier:

While Troy Critchley didn’t qualify, Al Billes did with his blown Stude. We get Sundays off; Johnny Rocca was again smiles, despite DNQ-ing (Photos by Dave Ostaszewski) Millican limped down track at the green and could only watch as Litton thundered to

the win.

Despite the loss, Millican had a great weekend, back ing up his 4.725 second low qualifying effort for a new IHRA et record. The Pro Stock record book also took a beating as Jerry Yeoman set a new et mark at 6.60 seconds enroute to a final round 6.64/209 to 6.70/208 victoiy over Jon Yoak. John Montecalvo set a new speed mark at 210.77 mph and had a shot at the et. mark as well, having run as quick as 6.605 seconds, but was stopped in round two by

Steve Speiss. Jay Turner re-wrote the record book for the second event straight in Nitro Harley as he rode his fuel bike to a stunning 6.443/212.36 enroute to the final where he defeated Johimy Mancuso. Turner posted a 6.65/179 for the event win when Mancuso crossed the centre line. - DAVID OSTASZEWSKI

Curfew ends AIR

By STEVEN WHITE IT may have been April Fools Day, but no one was laughing as oildowns and curfews saw Adelaide International Raceway’s SA v WA Wild Bimch Shootout and Andrew Rowe

Record-setter: Rachelle Splatt. (Photo by John sosnerr

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To order: Freecall

Memorial Super Stock 'Ti’ophy event incomplete. For the Andrew Rowe Memorial it was strike two, having been moved to AIR after being rained out at Calder Park. Same fate, no result... For the Wild Bunch Shootout it was strike three for final resvdts, with the two previous events having fallen to rain while this year event fell to time. . Same fate, no result... 'The Wild Bunch and a Victor Bray v Brett Stevens Top Doorslammer match race may have headlined the event, however the real racing was in Super Stock and Competition Eliminator. Super Stock was simply awesome with 21 runners fronting for the 16 car field, 11 qualifying under their respective class indexes - the field described by many as

tougher than the Nationals. Fresh from his win at the Nationals, Les Heintz led the field with fellow Victorians Grant Williams, Nick Xerakis and Bruno CavaUo not far behind. Unfortunately, this event went only two roimds... While the racing went pretty much to plan, XeraMs lost in a huge upset to Enzo DeMizio. Despite having the ability to run Tour weeks imder the index’, Xerakis made a real error in judgement by backing off early and allowing DeMizio past at the line. It was ironic that the last time the pair met, at air’s January event, both racers were disqualified for ignoring the starter’s orders. Heintz, Bob Sherry, Tony Ceravolo and Wayne Robson all advanced to the semi-finals, the Heintz/Robson match-up looking like a real heavyweight battle although, like a Tyson fight. Super Stock didn’t go the distance. It was a similar sotry in Comp. Nationals champ Rod Rainford continued with his great form, as did

local Sav Ali, both at the top of the 18 car qualifyring sheet. And, while there were plenty of stout numbers and personal bests recorded, again only two rounds of racing were completed. Red lights and breakages plagued the Wild Bunch, while Stevens’s two-nil sweep of Bray in the Top Doorslammer match race provided some highlights for the crowd... and they needed to. With the event behind from the start, there were only two qualifying sessions for all brackets and, with the exception of Super Gas and Modified Bike, all eliminators had completed just two roimd. Super Gas snuck in for one while Mod Bike never saw the track after

qualifying!

There were only a hand full of runs during the last hour and a half, the curfew ending proceedings at 11 o’clock. It was a disappointing end to what should have been a fantastic event the second event this season that failed to run to completion - the season having produced the best and worst in drag racing at AIR,

U April 2000

pXi

Claremont and Krikke bid farewell in finale

By WADE AUNGER “I THINK it’s appropriate that when Claremont Speedway finishes up,

Ron Krikke does too.”

Wanless Equipment: Former Aussie champ Todd Wanless leads the QSSS series into the final round.

Wanless leads into QSSS finale 'THE grand final of the Performance Wholesale Queensland Sprintcar Summer Shootout will now be held on May 6 at Lismore City Raceway after the scheduled event on the weekend was rained out after hot laps. With the tight prox imity of other events which QSSS teams intended on running, such as the Easter Trail, the event will not be held until May. A week earlier Todd Wanless emerged victo rious from Ai-cherfield Speedway describing it as “the best Sprintcar race I have ever com peted in.” Having started from pole for the 25 lap AMain thanks to an ear lier heat one flip, the Queenslander put in a white knuckle drive to force his way back through the field to the front with only five laps left to run and therefore took the lead of the QSSS pointscore heading into the final round. It wasn’t easy by any means either. Wanless had to race

with only partial for ward vision through out the last half of the race, thanks to a front wing which had come adrift and firmly wedged itself in the front of his roll cage. Then he had to contend with Ricky Cameron Mitchell, Gessner and Drew Ki’uck as well as lapped traffic which made it an ever greater victory. In the end it was the lapped traffic which helped Wanless get to the front, passing Mitchell, Gessner and Kruck in one foul swoop on lap 18 through turns one and two. John Kelly, Darryl Clem Hodges Hoffmans, Brock Dean, Dean McComb, John Lawrence and Adam McKenzie were the only finishers after 25 laps. Mathematically, any one in the top six is in with a chance of win ning the series when the final is run at Lismore. Points: Wanless 371, McComb 367, Gessner 365, Kelly 358, Hodges 344, Kruck 343, Bridge 333, Brazier 311, Schaffer 309, MitcheU 289.

tonight’s show.” Perhaps it was an appropriate motor change anyway, With Shane unable to get a doctor’s clearance and make it to Claremont’s last hurrah, Ron took a piece of his nephew in a way across the line to win his last ever Sprintcar main, in the last race of it’s kind at

That was the comment from the man himself as the clock ticked closer to the 7pm kick-off for the final race 'meeting ’ in Claremont Speedway’s 73 year history Claremont, on March 31. Qualifying on pole along“I’ve been thinking about side Maiolo for the 20 lap this for a long time and I’m^ main event, Krikke survived very comfortable with my the first restart when Grant decision to pull the pin. I think it’s time,” said the dual Australian Champion. “I’m looking forward to having some time on my hands for a change, but I don’t think it will hit me until I open up the shed one night and all the gear has been sold. Then it might dawn on me that racing is no longer part of my life.” Krikke was in a remark ably relaxed state of mind, considering he’d had to change motors earlier that day before he could even com pete on his retirement night. The Maxim had developed a rattle after a heat the night before and rather than risk hurting it further (the engine has been bought by fellow racer Luch Monte) he turned to nephew Shane Krikke for assistance with another motor. But Shane was thinking about more important things than Sprintcar racing. He was laid up in hospital after having his spleen removed after initial concern about the further spread of cancer. “We weren’t telling anyone about this being Shane’s motor,” Ron laughed. “We even painted the rocker covers a different colour so no-one would know where we got it fi'om. Shane offered me help last week end if we needed it, but it turns out we had trouble with our own motor one week later and needed it for

ited battle with Gavin Migro, when Jamie Maiolo crashed into the turn one wall. The 18,000 strong crowed drew one last breath before Krikke gassed up the #95 to meet his challengers. He wouldn’t be caught. Ryan Farrell was second, Gavin Migro third and Mark Wells fourth. In the end though it was a fitting reward for Ron Krikke - a man who had given his all to the sport, who had won so much but

Easter

Trail

IS on ENTRIES for this year’s three roimd Easter Trail series have led the respective promoters to believe it will be one of the hottest contested ever. WamambooTs Premier Speedway promoter, Graham Hose., told Motorsport News last week that multiple Australian and WSS Champion Max Dumesny has committed to run the three rounds and he was hopeful current Australian #1 Garrj' Brazier would also be seen on the ‘trail’. “It certainly is looking

Night of emotion: Ron Krikke bid farewell in style. (Photo by Peter French)

Bevan tore off his left front wheel, foi-ming the field back up. Again he smoked away from Maiolo, with Max Dumesny eventually slip ping by Jamie Maiolo to grab second several restarts later, Dumesny was obvi ously the fastest car on the track. He began making rapid progress and, as they came off turn four with six laps remaining he made his move. Dumesny zoomed around the outside of Krikke and pulled away to a two car length lead, then, just as quickly as Dumesny had raced away, a cloud of smoke erupted and the lead was Krikke’s again. Ryan Farrell had climbed up to the top three after a spir-

ultimately lost much more in many respects. No-one had said much about it, but Ron had to be thinking as he crossed the line, about the absence of his son Darryl and nephew Jason after their sudden passing over three years ago. Fittingly, Ron’s brother John and his nephew Ryan swung the spanners along with friends Keith Giles and long time crew man “Icky” on farewell run. A spectacular fireworks display, stars both past and present, dramatic race situa tions, raw emotion, great motorcycle and sidecar rac ing, fitting conclusions and a full house. It’s unlikely they couldhave sent Claremont out in any greater style...

as though it will be one of the best Easter Trails we have promoted to date,” Hose said. “Avalon, Borderline and ourselves at Premier are anticipating the racing will be as close as it’s ever been and continue the tradition that’s been established over 20 99

years. Hose also responded to rumours circulating that the Easter Trail may not run this year. “'There are problems with Western Auto Raceway, who looked as though they were going to be a part of the Easter Trail for the first time, and that has, unfortunately,kept them from running a round,” Hose said.

immrn 9^miNfeAH mAit 200H9 « A PMII .

Round 1 SPRINTCARS l SUPER RODS l FIREWORKS Round 2 SPRINTURS l SPORTSMAN l CLASSIC SUPER MODIFIEDS l FIREWORKS Round 3 SPRINTCARS l SUPER RODS ’JUNIOR SEDANS l FIREWORKS Avalon International Raceway Old Melbourne Road Lara (Geelong) l Track 03 5282 2352 l Office 03 5229 8778 * Fax 03 5272 1478

21 April l Good Friday 7 pm

Border line Speedway Princes Highway Mt Gambier l Ph 0418 826 717

22 April l Easter Sat 7 pm

Premier Speedway Princes Highway Warrnambool Ph office 03 5562 8229 track 0408 529 625

23 April l Easter Sun 7 pm

Judd's battle but Rankin's SRA war By BRETT SWANSON GEELONG veteran Rob Rankin has won his first SRA -Hoosier Series Sprintcar Championship — the second for the victori ous McCallum racing team — despite crash ing out on the first turn of the feature

Winners are grinners: Rob Rankin (left) may have failed to finish the feature race at Simpson Speedway, Jeff Judd’s Autopro #11 taking the A-man win, but the SRA Hoosier Series was his. Taking a battery-ing: Rankin added the ’99/’00 title with the Exide Batteries #60 to his '91/’92 victory. John Vogels took a fine third in he Simpson feature and fourth in the final SRA points series. (Photos by Brett Swanson)

1 1

event at Simpson Speedway on April 1. Rankin was disappoint ed at not winning the final of the series let alone finishing it, despite a mammoth effort by his crew to repair the car in time to make the restart. The individual glory on the night went to local hero Jeff Judd after rebuilding his car follow ing a huge crash in the penultimate round at Warmambool. South Australian veter an Darryl Downing, hav ing his first visit to the unique Simpson circuit, looked like making it a brilliant debut, but got bottled up behind a lapped car which opened the door for Judd to sweep aroimd the outside into the lead. Fellow former state Super Rod champ John Vogels held on to third despite a sick engine and a sealed over right rear / tyre. The 21 car field was split into three heats but series challenger Mike Van Bremen was in trou ble during hot laps with an engine that refused to run cleanly. After wrecking his chassis at Warmambool a few weeks earlier, Judd’s crew worked overtime to resurrect last year’s championship winning chassis and the improve ment was instantaneous. Judd scorched around

Barlee-sugar!: Young Mark Barlee and David Van Bremen found themselves sharing the same piece of road at Simpson... that was until Barlee found himself with his own landing zone. (Photo by Brett Swanson)

Max Dumesiiy Motorsport

Chippindall score the win from Swayn and Barlee, while Ramsdale took the next heat from Judd and Rankin who was strug gling with a broken shock absorber. Downing led heat six until Van Bremen hit the front with an inside pass through turn three. Downing countered the move out of tmm four and then Van Bremen spim in turn two. Downing took the win from Vogels and Ian Smith. By virtue of his perfor mances ih the heats and Van Bremen’s problems, Rankin had already amassed enough points to win the championship. Now he could go out and just concentrate on the race and win the title in the A-Main. As the pack thundered towards the start Van Bremen and Dalton touched and spun infield while Downing shot to the lead. Luckily for him ,all hell broke loose behind in turn one when Barlee and Rankin tangled and rolled. Judd clipped them and almost rolled, while Ramsdale’s #21 was caught up in the melee

without any damage at aU. Barlee was out while Rankin’s crew had some serious work to do if he was to make the restart. With the rest of the field lined up and restart ed, Rankin needed just another 30 seconds and he would have made it. Sadly, time beat them. Downing led away, while behind Mark Barlee rode over Dalton without any damage. Downing was doing a fine job and it looked like he was going to score until he got caught in some lapped ti-affic. Judd seized the chance and ran around the out side into the lead to win. Ramsdale was cruising around with some clay packed into a wheel and was surprised that he was able to keep up with the pack. He was hoping for a red light to remedy the problem and start a for ward chjarge. His prayers were partially answered when Barlee and Johnson, collided at turn three. Barlee - on the outside -ran a wall of death until the ageing OTR hit a fence upright and stopped in an instant before bouncing back onto the track. Young Barlee was okay while old Barlee, who was having a birthday that day, joked that young Barlee wasn’t getting any pocket money this week ... Ramsdale’s crew dug the clay out of the wheel but with time limits becoming an issue, the race was declared. This meant that Judd was the victor from Downing, Vogels, Swayn, Ramsdale, Johnson, David Van Bremen, Smith and Pitcher, who’d been driving well in sixth untR a flat left rear dropped him to the back. “My first title was in my own car, but this was just as good,” said champion Rankin. 66 There are some good guys getting around with some good gear, but then if it wasn’t for the low budget guys getting around we wouldn’t have a series at all.”

.2000 S.R.A. SERIES FLNAL POBfTS SCOM;

Australian Distributors for

Rd 9 Results'Simpson Speedway 114100 I. Jeff Judd, Vic I I 2. Daryl Downing, SA 97 3. John Vogels, Vic 70

^^ RACING TIRE

to win the opening heat by half a lap over David Van Bremen with Troy Shiells and David Swayn side by side as they took the flag. Shane Stephenson was driving Mark Walsh’s car while Phil Johnson was also back this time in Fred Edwards’ movmt for heat two, with Allan Barlee beating Johnson to the flag ahead of Vogels and Downing. Championship protago nists Rankin and Van Bremen were alongside each other in heat three. “I don’t mind that,” said Rankin, “because that way I can keep an eye on him.” Rankin would have needed eyes in the back of his head to do that because he went to the front while Van Bremen struggled to fourth Frank Ramsdale and Ron Dalton sandwiched in between. Heat four saw

for more information on Hoosier Drag and Speedway Tyres call:

NSW: 02 9679 1990 Fax 02 9679 1187 Via 03 9331 6477 Fax §3 9331 7444 SA' 08 8332 0800 Fax 08 8364 0296

I. Rob Rankin, Vic 60 2. David Swayn, Vic 6 3. Hike Van Bremen, Vic 20 4. John Vogels, Vic 70 S. Tim HcCubbin, Vic 13 .. 6. Ian Smith, Vic 57 7. Matthew Reed, Vic 92 .. 8. Jeff Judd, Vic II 9. Francis Ramsdale 10. David Murcott, Vic 71 ..,

Final Point Standings 2498 2379 2233 1975 1917 1706 1693 1649 1550 1237

A-FEATURE LAPS LEAD Rob Rankin, Vic 60 David Murcott, Vic 71 ...

LAPS ,50 .45

DASH WINS Chad Kemenah Vic 14 Allan Barlee

WINS ,2 ,2 I I

David Swayn, Vic 20 . David Murcott, Vic 71

U April 2000 differential “It’s disappointing but what can I say?” I “That’s racing I guess. We had a good car tonight and I feel sure we could have given Gari7 (Brazier) something to think about, but sometimes you come up short when it comes to luck,” he said at the scene. Farr’s disappointment didn’t stop there. In not finishing the main event he missed a major opportunity to score points in his attempt to pull in PCR Track Championship leader Peter Attard. Attard rolled the Supreme Poultry J&J after contact with Jamie Jones in his final heat, with the impact crack ing the chassis and forcing Attard to miss the remainder of the evening. Adrian Maher was quite the surprise’ packet at the restart, guiding into second before eventually slipping by early leader Mineeff with a neat pass on the outside of turn two. Not long after, Mineeff put

the #14 car to bed when a huge chunk of clay that wedged into the left rear tyre led him to the assumption the diffhad been bent, Maher jetted away but Brazier had worked hard to get by Andrew Scheuerle and would soon have the Capalaba Wreckers Mopar on the tail of the leader. To his credit, Maher had hardly made Brazier’s life easy before, the Australian and South Australian Champ eventually got by with a handful of laps remaining. Scheuerle too was putting in some good laps to haul both Maher and Brazier in, so a spirited three way bat tle was on. Brazier got by Maher, but the latter was able to keep the leader in his sights through lapped traffic until the yellows came on. “Until the restart I felt like we might have been able to put him under some pressure but when the greens came on that Mopar just drove away,” said Maher.

1111^

PiaRramalta iSity Raciaway^liK^Malnbi^itii^ > The Brash One Number One: Garry Brazier surprised many by actually turning up for an event at Parramatta, but his ' NSW title victory wasn’t much of a real surprise, especially considering his recent strong form. (Photo by John Morris/Mpix)

Aussie champ takes NSW title too with stirring Parramatta win! “I think I was the only one who wasn’t disappointed “I HOPE I surprised you when the NSW title was all by racing here rained out the weekend tonight,” Garry Brazier before,” smiled Pino, “It allowed me to stay told the Parramatta back in Bunbury on March crowd with the NSW 25 and collect points for the Sprintcar Title trophy Club Championship. If I held tightly in his hands. hadn’t have been able to do “This is only our second that, I don’t think I could NSW title win but then we’ve have won the points deal.” ' only raced in it thi-ee times JJ Mineeff started on the so I guess that’s not bad. front row in his own #14 We’re doing a lot of work Isuzuwreck Grizzly (the with the Kinsers on this Motor Up #29 Craft Brothers Mopar deal so winning this car was occupied by NZ dri race is more information and ver Phil Gane) alongside more results for them. It’s all pole-sitter Marty Perovich, adding up.” with Adrian Maher and Brazier’s appearance was Andrew Scheuerle sharing certainly more surprising than row two. actual his win in the 30 lap Robbie Farr was driving main event, though his last the EWT Auto Dismantlers minute nomination may have #56 Eagle occupied by Tim been overshadowed by anoth Kaeding earlier this sum er PCR non regular’s return. mer, and he started from Garry Rush ran the sixth alongside high points recently-acquired Tyler man Loadsman. Walker #35 machine (if you’d Rounding out the top ten arrived late you would have sworn it was Walker himself, were Mick Turner, Garry Brazier, Pino Priolo and with the car still dressed in Trevor Shields. his Airsep Warpaint) in his The remaining 11 through first race meeting in over to 20 positions were filled by three seasons. Grant Tunks, Bob Jackson, Rush had been testing the Ashley Anthony, Garry car for the last few weeks By WADE AUNGER

with sporadic two to three lap sessions at PCR race meetings, but the NSW title was the first time he had

Rush, Damian Abbott, Mark Blyton, Darren Saillard, Kevin Burton,- Warren Ferguson and Kelly Linigen.

actually entered an event. Highest pointscorer was Brett Loadsman in the #33 Van Man entry after the six heats were run by the 39 car field that featured interstate drivers Pino Priolo and Andrew Scheuerle.

Those final four positions were filled via the B-Main, with Darren Saillard looking strong in the #34 Signpro Schnee with a solid win.

Priolo had competed at Claremont’s final hurrah the

All of Warren Ferguson’s good work doming from eighth in the B-Main to run fourth and make the transfer) came to a screeching halt

night before and clinched the WA Club Championship in the process.

when the #19 Trylow Plant Hire Eagle rolled in turn one during the Championship

main, very nearly ending his night early. The team hurriedly repaired the damage though Ferguson’s very squashed main wing remained on the roll cage and he restarted the event with minimal side-bite. JJ Mineeff sailed off into the sunset at the green, with Robbie Farr zooming into the top four in typical immediate fashionBrazier remained around the position he started for

many laps before starting to pick off the opposition one at a time using the top half of the track. Farr blasted to the lead on one restart and looked for sure to be the hot favourite to run away and hide. A stripped gear-set only one lap later ended his run immediately - the #56 machine grounding to a sudden halt on the main straight infield, leaving a tell tale growing pool of oil under the

Attention Technical buffs - check out the bar work: Peter Attard’s wild roll over in the second series of heats was incredible, Attard’s mount flying high into the air after contact with Jamie Jones. Attard’s car, having bounced back into the air after landing, failed to return afterwards...

1. Garry Brazier 2. Adrian Maher 3. Andrew Scheuerle 4. Bob Jackson 5. Marty Perovich 6. Kelly Linigen 7. Mick Turner 8. Ashley Anthony 9. Brett Leadsman 10. MarkBlyton

11. Grant Tunks 12. Kevin Burton 13. Darren Saillard 14. Warren Ferguson 15. Garry Rush 16. Pino Priolo 17. JJ Mineeff 18. Robert Farr 19. Trevor Shields 20. Damian Abbott

42 V

pXil 14 April 2000

n Australian NASCAR fans watching Fox Sport’s live coverage ofthe Direct 'TV 500 from Texas last Monday got a little extra commentary from hosts Ken Squires and Buddy Baker when the official broadcast actually went to a break in the US. With live pictui'es and sound still being beamed to viewers across the Pacific, Squires let it known to Baker that he soon expected to be inundated with mail following his comments that Jeff Fuller had “stuck it hard into the wall”- FulleFs car sponsored by Viagra... “Oh,no, no I said he ‘stuck it in hai'd’, we’ll get mail,” Squires said while believing to be off air. Veteran racer Baker laughed offthe suggestions... n Dale Jairett’s #88 Robert Yates Racing Taums is expected to wear the colours oftransport giants UPS next year in a deal believed to be worth US$15 million. RYR’s current Ford CrediVFord Care sponsorship is reportedly heading towards the Jack Roush operation. n Exide Batteries has notified Roush that it will not renew their sponsorship of his #99 NASCAR truck at the end ofthe 2000 season. Exide originally pulled the pin on its contract with Top Fuel Champion Tony Schumacher at the beginning of this year, although it reversed its decision following legal advice that the contract, with two years remaining, was watertight and any cancellation would not save them money. It is believed poor market performances, coupled with shareholder pressures and a need to control marketing expenditure led to the decision. n Gateway International Speedway is reportedly preparing to hold a Winston Cup race next year, with the track management apparently already making plans for a major new grandstand to increase seating capacity from the current 60,000 to over 140,000 in anticipation of a race. The 2001 schedule will be released by NASCAR in August. n Changes all already being made at Robby (Jordon’s team, with much-lauded crew chief Fred Graves having been replaced by his assistant, Jerry Baxter. Richard Buck has joined the team as general manager, Buck coming from a management role at Cal Wells Cart f operation. n Apparently NASCAR is looking into purchasing a laser system to fix certain dimensions on the contours of the cars. The system is designed to stop some teams bending the sheet metal in an effort to squeeze any possible aero advantage.

GM cans NASCAR templates Mark’s REACTION to NASCAR’s

likely move to common body templates this sea son has been swift and negative with GM’s rac ing boss simply stating “We’re not going to do it.” Chevrolet field director Ken Van Everly said in Texas that GM boss Herb Fisher’s thoughts on the anticipated rule were quite clear. “Making every one spend himdreds of thousands of dol lars to switch bodies literally two months after they’ve changed from 1999 to 2000 models is ridiculous - we’ve got to find ways of trying to save the teams money, not spend more,” Van Everly said. ‘’The other thing is we can’t have common templates based offjust one car like the Ford Taurus. It wouldn’t be fair that our teams would have to start from ground zero again, but Ford’s wouldn’t. /' ‘’NASCAR wouldn’t let the new Monte Carlo come out last year because they said they were worried about upsetting the points race but, if they do this this year, they’re really going to have a problem.” Pontiac’s racing operations manager, Ray Smith, also weighed into the argument. ‘’NASCAR got tired of the complaining, and this is a simple way for them to fix it. But we don’t buy into that.” -PHIL MORRIS

WITH the track being in Martinsville, it should come as no surprise that Mark Martin claimed the win on Sunday, although it was his first ever at the half mile flat track. Martin’s win kept alive the streak of different winners each week on the Winston Cup tour in 2000 - the count now standing at eight from eight. Martin won by taking advantage oftrack position, the team gambling to not pit for tyres and gas late in the race. “Right now this feels like the biggest win of my career, heck I fell like I stole this one,” Martin, who needed Roush about: Ford man Jack Roush is apparently happy with the move to common templates. help from team mate Jeff Burton.in qualifying, said. Rusty Wallace looked to be the clear winner, leading 314 NASCAR heads down the the templates on. We’ve By PHIL MORRIS of the 500 laps, but trouble already done preliminary Taurus/common body JOE Gibbs’s drivers, Tony late in the race pushed him work towards building a template ruling in the long Stewart and Bobby down the order. Ford and, if we make this term, and also remain Labonte, could switch to The last 50 laps were fran a priority, we could do a competitive in the short Chevrolets, or even Fords, tic - Bobby Hamilton and car in two weeks.” term. within three weeks, if Wallace got into it and NASCAR’s recent wind "We’ve got a pretty NASCAR doesn’t give ^urned each other around tunnel tests showed the Pontiac’s Grand Prix some good car, but we know while Jeff Gordon and Dale Pontiac at a significant what Ford and Chevy have aerodynamic relief it was Jarrett banged it about and revealed in Texas. disadvantage to the Monte is better. If we don’t get by the time the chequered Carlo and Taurus, what we need, or get Gibbs Racing head dropped, there wasn’t a although NASCAR’s Mike things even, we’re going to Jimmy Makar has already straight piece of sheet metal Flelton said that Pontiac’s be forced to change,” said bought three sets of Ford left on any car! There were a on-track success this sheetmetal and the team is Greg Zipadelli, crew chief record 15 cautions, every one for Stewart said. season - taking two wins threatening to make the in the first seven races for a spin or wreck. “We obviously need to switch, despite their Pontiac Result; Martin (Ford) 71.161 look at the Fords if that’s proved the current rules contracts, in an effort to get mph, Jeff Burton (Ford), were right. what they’re going to base accustomed to the shape if Michael Waltrip (Chevy), Gordon (Chevy), Jarrett (Ford). Tony Stewart (Pontiac), Jeremy Mayfield (Ford), Bill Elliott (Ford), Dale Earnhardt (Chevy) Rusty Wallace(Ford). -MARTIN D.CLARK

Gibbs JPontiac-Fard SM^€tp?-\

Little E ‘bigger than Texas’

By MARTIN D CLARK PROVING that his future

looks ‘bigger than Texas’, Winston Cup rookie Dale Earnhardt Jr won at just his 12th start on the toughest professional tour in motor racing. Junior’s first win, which came sooner than his father’s (ironically, though, on the same weekend some 21 years later), came after he was never headed for the last 53 laps, having passed his Earnhardt Inc team mate, Steve Park, on the 282nd lap to take the lead. “I’m kinda overwhelmed,” commented Junior. “This here is awesome man, it’s incredible. We have been fast every where we went, it just didn’t last ‘till the end of the race. “We didn’t adjust anything on the car today, I just drove where the tyres would let me. I think the key was fit ting four tyres on each stop, some of these veterans slipped up today by just f changing two.” The first to greet Junior in Victory Lane was his father, seven-time Winston Cup Champion Dale Earnhardt, who came home seventh in Texas, Senior leaning into the car to talk with his son. “He just told me he loved me and he wanted to make sure I took the time to enjoy this,” Junior said of the fatherly advice. “He said you

can get swept into what’s going on around you and that you really don’t enjoy it per sonally, so he just wanted me to take a minute and do this and celebrate how I want to celebrate.” The win impressed many, including Tony Stewart, who won three times in his rookie season last year. “I don’t think it will be the only one he’ll win this year,” Stewart predicted. Jeff Burton finished sec ond in his Exide Ford, some 5.9s behind Earnhardt’s Bud Chev, Bobby Labonte filling in for third, giving NASCAR’s tech department the perfect three manufac turer top three - the win by Earnhardt also keeping the series’ streak of different race winners at each event alfve, the total now resting at seven from seven. ‘Texas Terry’ Labonte put his Kellogg’s Chev on pole, his 192.137 mph lap his first pole run in some 127 races. “I guess I like the state it’s in,” remarked Terry. “We seem to have a pretty good combination when we come to Texas.” Joining Labonte on the front row was Roush’s Kevin Lepage, while Indy car veter an Scott Pruett sat alongside Earnhardt Jr on the second row. Park and a third rookie, Jeff Fuller, next in line. Pruett’s qualifying was a blessing, the Tide driver hav-

ing failed to qualifying for three of his first six races. “We’ve been joking with the team that we’re going to start selling roller coaster tickets, up and down, up and down,” Pruett quipped. “My history is not on short track racing at all.” His history proved it was not in stock car racing either, after leading from lap four he aired the first caution of the race on tour 17, having hit the wall... For once Jeff Gordon was the slowest of the Hendrick cars, qualifying 23rd as his lull continues. Team mate Jerry Nadeau, who qualified eighth, spurred one of the days 12 major incidents when he tapped Dale Blaney, Gordon then hitting Nadeau and Bill Elliott'finding himself perched on top of Gordon’s hood! Gordon ended 25th, 14 laps down, ironically, his best result ever in Texas... As mentioned, there were 12 cautions, mainly for wrecks - the worst when Elliott Sadler cut a tyre and the carcass peeled off and slapped his shoulder through the side window. No bones were broken but he suffered major bruising and cuts. Results: Earnhardt Jr (Che\y) 131.152 mph,J Burton (Ford), B Labonte (Pontiac), R Wallace (Ford), Lepage (Ford), Mayfield (Ford), Earnhardt (Chevy), T Labonte (Chevy), Stewart (Pontiac),Rudd (Ford).

Thls little Bud’s for you: Earnhardt Jr (right) celebrates his first Winston Cup win with his Budweiser team. All washed up: Former Indy car star Scott Pruett led in Texas early before crashing. Here he leads Dale Jr’s #8 Bud Chev. (Photos by Sutton-lmages)

U April 2000

Bringing up Junior By BRIAN REED

FULL marks to the dri ving forces behind the fledgling Australian Junior Formula Association ivho are con tinuing to work hard to get wider recognition for the little open wheelers that fit the category. Several cars appeared at the recent Phillip Island Classic meeting spearhead ed by the beautifully restored Lola Mk 5A of Rob Hands. Behind the wheel of the Lola was Australian racing legend John Harvey who also had the honour of being the patron of the meeting. Some very impressive times were posted by young Glen Hastings who eventu ally got down to the mid 153s in practice in Kelvin Prior’s Brabham, and one or two others were not far behind. Chances of getting pro moters to put on ‘F3 only’ events at Historic meetings are slim, given the apparent reluctance for owners to bring out their cars. The sit uation is not helped by the

ongoing problems of the likes of Rob Hands for the issue of a Certificate of Description and logbook. It would now seem that efforts to negotiate a Formula 3 event at the 2001

Qantas Australian Grand Prix meeting will not be pursued. However, one interesting suggestion likely to be con sidered is for a combined Australia/New Zealand link in the hope that a Trans Tasman F3 series can be built into a future Speed Week on the south island. Penrite’s John Dymond has been an enthusiastic sup porter of the Kiwi’s Speed Week and is keen to see this come to fruition. Meantime, round 2 of the annual perpetual F3 trophy events will be staged at the 24th Historic Winton meet ing coming up on May 2728. The F3s will run part of the Group M events. Also, the annual meeting of the association will be held that weekend in the Driver’s Briefing Room next to the Shell Shop in the pits. Meeting time is 4pm on Saturday, May 27.

18 for 169: Classic Formula Juniors, like this ’60 Lotus 18, may get their own races soon.

Sutton gets Phipps Winton

IF you’re like us revheads at Motorsport News, you like images of classic racing cars. Then you’ll be rapt to know that Sutton Motorsport Images, which shoots much of our international race cov erage, has acquired Phipps Photographic and its superb archive of material from the ’60s through to the ’80s. The Phipps Photographic collection includes the work of David Phipps himself, as well as highly respected pho tographers Duncan Cubitt, Pam Rowe, Nigel Snowdon

and David Winter,

You c„^ buy that favourite shot directly from Suttons in a range of size which are quite reasonably priced. For further information contact Sutton Motorsport Images at The Chapel, 61 Watling Street, Towcester, Northants, NN12 6AG. Phone enquiries can be made on -i-44 (0J1327 352188, fax +44 (0)1327 359355 or, if you are a com mitted internet surfer, visit www.sutton-images.com and follow the prompts for more details. -PHILBRANAGAN

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No bodysuits, please: You could take home a genuine classic Monaro and help the kids of Camp Quality at the same time. Monaro Club of a 253cu.in. V8 and a CAMP Quality, the held at Drage Airworld, 18 with all proce eds Victoria to raise organisation whose 4-speed manual Wangaratta during the going to Camp Quality. some much needed Easter break. Tickets can also be motto is “Helping gearbox valued at Kids with Cancer funds. more than $9500. Tickets are only $2 purchased by phoning The car will be on each and the raffle will 02 6020 8421 or 6056 Smile Again,” is Surprise, surprise, show at Monaros in 9132 ah. conducting a raffle in the prize is a 1969 HT be drawn on. Monaro GTS fitted with the Millennium to be conjunction with the Wednesday, October - BRIAN REED

entries closing soon

ENTRY forms and supple mentary regulations havd now been circulated for the Austin 7 Club’s 24th annual Historic Winton, and given the popularity of this meeting there isn’t much time left to enter closing date is April 14. More than 280 cars are expected to contest 27 events and a swag of motorcycles will line up for the 17 bike and sidecar races over the full two-day progi-am. Overseas guests are Peter Giddings who really knows his way around the Winton track after several previous appearances. He will be back with his imposing 1947 Talbot Lago Grand Prix car, and after a disappointing trip down under for this year’s Phillip Island Classic and AGP carnival, Bill Morris will return with his ERA. An uncharacteristic engine failure put paid to his chances in Australia, but hopefully the problem has been remedied and Australian fans will get a chance to see and hear this pedigree racer in foil song. For car enquiries contact Brenda or Grant Campbell on 03 9592 9310 (ah) or 03 9596 2777 (bh), and for motorcycle enquiries phone Dave on 03 5429 6367.

Ford wins at Eddington

annual sprint meeting conducted by the Vintage Sports Cai- Club of Australia. What began as a layback club out ing in 1984 for VSCCA members has grown up considerably. It’s still very much layback, and this is an impor tant contributing factor to the success of the meeting. Competitors took part in three timed quarter-mile sprints along one of Eddington’s public roads and were invited to a fourth run which didn’t count towards the official times.

Dadds tmi Murray Richards ' the loss of two'great enthusiasts witMn the

A field of 54 cars— the biggest ever - converged on the tiny village of Eddington in central Victoria on Saturday, March 25 for the 17th

Vetk:

THE Historic movement j 1 in Victoria is mowming

MONARO

There were several excellent perfor mances, and some very interesting cars took part. Fastest time of day went to the WJ6 Wayne Ford Special, an open-wheeler which was once part of the Jim Crocker stable. It’s an interesting home-grown special - rear engined, with a Ford Falcon powerplant and triple Weber carburettors, and on this occasion it was driven by Bany Smith. The FTD time of 13.47s. was a very creditable performance, especially con sidering the WJ6 Wayne Ford Spl. was suffering from a badly slipping clutch, and Smith was haring his &st drive of the car. Last year’s outright winner, WaiTen Bonning was back, but this time his amazing creation, the former Gipsy

Moth Spl. had a bigger and more poweifiil aircraft engine under the bonnet. In place of the 8.5-litre unit, his car (which is now called the De Harilland Rapide), has a 10-litre powerplant that propelled him to a class win with a time of 13.83s.

The De Harilland Rapide however was dwarfed by Tony Osborne’s giant 18-litre Delage Hispano which quaffed lots of racing fuel on the way to record ing an impressive best time of 15.72s. The ex-Darid Seath Aarons Lotus 9 was back with new owner Peter McKnight behind the wheel. This well known sports car is powered by a supercharged early Hillman Minx 1500cc engine and continued its good form with a class-winning run of 16.35s.

Class Winners

19.79s Allan Tyrrell Austin 7 Ulster 15.61s Glen Bishop Austin 7 22.33s Pat Phillips Salmson 19.75s Mick Murphy Ford T-Model 18.84s David Price MG Magna/Magnette 19.20s RayLe\vis Singer 9 s/c Bernard O’Shannessy Lagonda Rapier 20.13s 15.72s Tony Osborne Deiage Hispano Warren Bonning De Havilland Rapide 13.83s 18.14s Richard Townley MG TC 17.82s John Dunkley Datsun Sports Alan Thomas Bolwell 17.23s 16.02s Ray Hickman MG TC 16.35s Peter McKnight Aarons Lotus 9 15.58s Graeme Wright Regah MG Barry Murphy WJ6 Wayne Ford Spl.

13.47s

j i

; past fortnight, both of i ; whom have fiinaly 1 : succumbed to cancer. Wherever there was a ; gathering ofold cars you ? could be sure Mike Dodd.s wouldn't be far away. Mike ' j was one of those old | fashioned fbiowers of J motor sport who loved the : i camaraderie and the not- i n too:-sertous side of the i I sport. He was therefore a j fmniliar figure at events i ; such as the Eddington | ; Sprints and Mt ; Tan-engower Hilelimb, j and two years ago drove I the late Robert Shannon’s ; impressive veteran ;● Locomobile to the start of ; farga Tasmania in Launceston. Last year, in spite of his i i illness, Mike made it to the i ; wharf to see off the rally cars as they left on the ; Spirit of Tasmania. ’ As a tribute to Mike, ; April 3 was gazetted for red plate use for membenj i of the Vintage Shorts Car : Club of Australia in order | to proride a fitting final : entourage for a loyal : member. j On AprM 3', one of the ; great identities of Historie ; motor sport in Victoria and a true lover of classic cars, i Mun-ay Richards passed away after a four-yeai’ ; battle with the disease. | In business and in life, j : Murray was the supreme optimist who always felt ! ; there was light at the end | of the tunnel, ha many I respects this turned out to i be the ca.se. He was a risk j taker in business, and for this we can be thankftil to ) I him for bringing many rare \ and interesting cars to this i couiatiy. In recent yeara be also decided to buy all the jigs ' and moulds of Elfin Spoi’ts Care when the company ; closed in Adelaide and had ; plans to resui-ract the mai-que in Melbourne. ! Even in fighting his ■ affliction. Murraj' , displayed incredible < forti tude and was : deteraiined to attend both

j .! ; | | i | i i j | i

; the Phillip Island Classic and the Qantas AGP : meeting last month. This he did and. although confined to a wheelchair, he clearly gained great : pleasure and satisfaction from being there : especially when he was ' lifted into ©avid Bowden's ex-.Allan Moffat Mustang ; for a spirited hip of the 'Island. His courage was inspirational. To the families and

j .: ; < i I ] i \ | ; | i

friends of laolh n>en we ‘ extend our deepest s\nnpathies.

j ! )

■

-BRIAN REED I

44 V

U April 2000

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n Both Ryan Briscoe and Andrew Tomlinson were,injured whilst competing in races in Europe recently. Briscoe was unable to take the start at the 11th annual Margutti Trophy meeting at Parma, Italy, after a crash in the pre final left him with bruising and a sore neck. Briscoe was running sixth at the time when Giuseppe Palmieri drove over the top injuring Ryan's neck and putting him out of the race. He managed to restart his kart and motored back to the pits before being taken to hospital for obseiwation. While sore, there was no permanent damage. Tomlinson was also hospitalised suffering a dislocated shoulder after an opponent ran into him during a heat of the first round of the Belgian Championships at Genk. While no bones were broken, Tomlinson has decided to sit out the second round to fully recover. He will be back to full fitness for the AKA Nationals at Easter, racing Formula 100 Light and Yamaha Light. H Daniel Elliot has confirmed his switch from Tecno to Tony Kai’t for this year's CIK series. Moving up to senior competition in the Intercontinental A class, the West Australian will also compete in Clubman Light at state championship events, plus the AKA Nationals. n Oceania 2000 has been approved by the FIA/CEK for November 12 at Raleigh International Raceway. Meanwhile, expressions of interest are open for a venue and promoter for the 2001 event. -MARK WICKS

Taking Stock at the ’Island BRIAN Stockman and

Luke May were the only two drivers to successfully defend their Victorian Superkart Championships at Phillip Island. Two lap records were bro ken, Dean Crooke (lOOcc Junior) and Michael Chiodo (lOOcc Heavy) lowering the marks for their respective classes, with 100 entries from South Australia, Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland. Darren Formosa knew that his title defence in lOOcc Light was going to be tough with Jason McIntyre right behind him in heat one, while race two was a cracker. Paul King won with 1.4s back to 15th placed Matthew Ebel. McIntyre again had the measure of Formosa in heat three, with Andy Ebel third and the dose was I’epeated in the final — the top three in the same positions. The lOOct Heavy class was also closely faught with Rod Clarke, Gary Pegoraro, Michael Chiodo and Ken Knight out in front. Thd same gi'oup raced at the front in heat two until Chiodo dropped out with a couple of . laps to go, leaving Clarke to make it two out of two. The final saw Clarke home first ahead of Knight, Pegoraro and Danniel Amadio crossing all in the same shadow. The Juniors started on the back of the Light field with Luke May and Dean Crooke both having strong runs, quickly getting up onto the main body of the Lights. Crooke - after a slower heat one - finished well back behind May but in the rest of the heats he was close by Trent McIntosh and Drew Hillman were both on the pace but experienced trouble at different times of the day. Len Ariano missed the start in heat one of the 80cc Gearbox, starting after the com-se car had gone past with

Two-peat: Brian Stockman made it back-to-back Victorian titles at Phillip Island in the 250cc International class, beating home John Pellicano and Warren Mcliveen (NSW).(Photo by Mark Goossens) the main field well into Southern Loop. Darren Dunn, Mark Vella and Robi Canuti set the pace out in front but Ariano had the bit between bis teeth and worked his way through the field. By the last lap he was up to second and then in the closing stages took over the lead for the win. Ariano drove off into the distance in heat two leaving the minor placings to Vella : Not a Holinger: David Holdforth leads Colin and Dunn. McIntyre before his gearbox broke. Chryss Jamieson got rid of his gremlins of the earlier heats to keep on Ariano’s tail for the duration of heat thi’ee as Dunn, Canuti, Vella and Paul Battle faught it out just behind them. '●V The final saw Jamieson get it all together and lead the field away with the race stay close company until coming his helmet after racing kaits “They’re back there into Honda Corner, ing close — imtil the last lap for 35 years. somewhere”: Gary — when Ai’iano made a small Troy Byron dropped out of Holdforth’s kart locked up Pegoraro takes the heat one with a chain failure mistake and the group with bits of geai’box escaping chequer in tOOcc Heavy. spread out a bit with Battle out the top of the casing, handing Pete Carter the win, (Photo by Mark Goossen s) gaining second with Ariano but boimced back in heat two handing the win to McIntyre. relegated to third ahead of to win, before heat three McIntyre led Rod Prickett Vella. where BjTon bolted away and (another up from lOOcc) and It seemed strange not to Greg King in heat two and appeared to have it sewn up until Matthew Aaron chased see Bruce Jolley out on the King and John Roberts in the track in the 125cc Gearbox third. The final saw Mclnt}rre him down and a great battle but he has finally hung up make it a clean sweep for the ensued up front as the pair title. swapped places several times before Aaron’s kart faltered Twenty-two karts faced the in the 250cc coming down the Gardner starter Internationals class and on Straight for the last time. 100CC Light Byron won from Carter and a the green Brian Stockman 1 Jason McIntyre (Vic) coasting Aaron. took control, leading Gerard 2 Darren Formosa (Vic) Siebert and Warren Mcliveen Byron did it again in the 3 Paul King (SA) with John PeUicano next. final, bolting away from Paul lOOcc Heavy Stebbing, David Barker, Stockman upped the pace 1 Rod Clarke (Vic) for heat two with Siebert sec Dave Smith, Carter and 2 Ken Knight (Vic) Formula Yamaha Light Peter Hageman. ond, while Pellicano had an 3 Gary Pegoraro (Vic) respectively while Mount off at Siberia, dropping him With the laps ticking by, Gambler’s local experts down the field. Stebbing pulled away clear in 100c Junior Malcolm Kilsby (Formula Stockman went even quick second and gaps started to 1 Luke May (Vic) 100 ^eavy) and Anthony er in heat three to win, while open up with Smith moving 2 Dean Crooke (Vic) Higgs driving in a he and Mcliveen cleared up to third. Carter stopped 3 Trent McIntosh (Vic) Clubman Yamaha Super on the last lap. away to take first and second Heavy will also be worth 80cc Gearbox Various problems dropped with a gap back to Pellicano watching. 1 Len Ariano (Vic) the 250cc National field back and Stephen Cash who Glen Dicks (of Adelaide 2 Darren Dunn (Vic) to six starters for heat one. swapped places on the last Grand Prix chequered 3 Mark Vella (SA) Colin McIntyre and David lap. flag-wavery fame) is the -GRAEME BURNS Holdforth were racing in 125CC Gearbox official finisher to wave off 1 Troy Byron (NSW) the 2000 National 2 Dave Smith (NSW) Champions. 3 Paul Stebbing (Vic) Practice commences on Monday March 17, while 250cc National qualifying will be held on 1 Colin McIntyre (Vic) the Friday, heats run on 2 John Roberts (NSW) Saturday, and finals on 3 Greg King (SA) Sunday. 250CC Internationa! The kart circuit is 1 Brian Stockman (NSW) opposite Mount Gambier 2 John Pellicano (NSW) Speedway on the Princes 3 Warren Mcliveen (NSW) Highway. Left or right? Jason McIntyre and Darren Formosa. (Bums)

Enster eggs

Mount Gambier plays host to Oz Title By MARK WICKS

AUSTRALIAN karting’s biggest meeting of the year will be held over the Easter weekend at Mount Gambler’s Glenburnie Kartway. The Australian National Sprint Kart Champion ships will be contested for 16 classes (five junior, 11 senior) including the reintroduced Formula Yamaha category. Close to 500 entries have been received for the 38th annual running of the Nationals with a number of classes oversubscribed for the circuit’s 30 kart limit. One of these is an excellent Formula 100 Light field which is oversubscribed for the first time in the history of

the event. A $1000 prize pool courtesy of sponsor DataBase has been put on the line with $200 going to the fastest qualifier while first to third in the final receive $500, $200 and $100 respectively. Reigning champion Troy Hunt will not be defending his title due to overseas commitments. ' His place in the Top Kart team filled by Neil McFadyen who must start as one of the favourites along with a dozen other regular CIK series drivers. Bart Price (Arrow) and Mark Winterbottom (Kosmic) will also be eager to defend their number one status in Clubman Light and

■

14 April 2000

J](X

Collectable Ceramics Collector's Piece: thing of interest to collectors for its beauty, rarity, value etc.(Oxford Dictionary). Today many companies are looking to build long term loyalty with their customers. One way of improving cus tomer relations is to give gifts showing appreciation of loyalty or as part of a prod uct launch. The problem facing mar keters is finding a suitable gift that will be appreciated, retained, displayed and will hold some value. Far too often gifts to clients either have little per ceived value and are given away or forgotten, or they simply wear out and are dis posed of To the marketer this

means that the purpose of the gift is lost beyond this point. Ceramic Innovations was

range is designed to be uniquely Australian and cel ebrate our culture.

incorporated in 1996, to solve these problems. The BarPiece range was launched. From scratch, they design, sculpt and eventually manu facture a ceramic decorative decanter that captures the spirit and image of the com pany. The Bar-Pieces come filled

Ned Kelly is Bar-Piece No.l. Standing 34 cm tall, Ned is filled with Bullocks Creek Old Tawny Port, a blend from central Victoria. Available from all good liquor outlets, Ned makes the perfect addition to any Aussie bar!

with quality Australian Alcoholic Beverages. Each Bar-Piece is unique in designed and produced in limited numbers to the requirements of the company. The corporate Bar-Pieces are only available from the company which have com missioned the piece, there-

fore making the receipt of any piece truly appreciated. Companies who have had Bar-Pieces made include Bosch (a spark plug), Castrol (Oil Can) and Macnaught (grease gun).

obs Wheel Rage

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ob Jane T-Marts has announced the The AMG Rage is available in your release of its own brand of Wheels local Bob Jane T-Mart store now. called the AMG Rage. Designed by Bob Jane T-Marts for exclusive use and manufactured by ROH on behalf of the Franchise. The Rage is derived from the Antera 163, which was voted the best new wheel at the Frankfurt Motorshow. Bob Jane T-Marts designed the AMG Rage in the 15 inch size to suit ail small front wheel drive cars and larger family cars, as opposed to the Antera 163, which is only available in 17, 18 and 19 inch. The benefit of the new onepiece AMG Rage is that it can be i offered to the motorist at a very competitive price. “The AMG Rage really is going to ' appeal to even the most fastidious motorist looking for a wheel that is a little bit different.” Bob Jane said.

Each Bar-Piece is allocated a number corresponding to its design, making the desire to collect each design greater. This means that the gift, which carries the corpo rate logo and can be designed in the shape of your product, will become a collectors item

Also produced by Ceramic Innovations and available to collectors is the Australian Grand Prix Decanter. Produced in the shape of an FI car, it contains 700 ml of Australian distilled

but proudly display it in their office or home. For the marketer long term exposure and promotion is achieved. Ceramic Innovations also produce a number of BarPieces which are available to the general public. Produced in limited quantities and numbered, to run in sequence with the corporate Bar-Piece, these have also become collectors items. This

Bullocks Creek Single Malt Whisky. A new model has been produced to commemo rate each Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne. There are now 5 in the

series and with only 500 of each produced, and with world wide appeal, these are becoming a much sought after collectable. All of Ceramic Innovations prod Bosch Spark Plug, Bar Piece No.11. Only available from Bosch. ucts are designed and manufactured in Australia. All areas of design and are production overseen by Laurence Wolfe, one of Australia's foremost industrial ceramic artist. For more infor

and be a much sought after and appreciated gift. The client will not only be compelled to keep the gift

mation regarding any of the Ceramic Innovations range or to find out more about the corporate contact range Ceramic Innovations Pty Ltd on (03) 9555 9011 or fax(03)9563 9793.

iithurst Winner CSA Enters Battle THE 1999 Wynn’s V8 Supercar Bathurst winner is now for sale, along with the Craig Lowndes, ATCC Championship car. The latest Classic Carlectables are now available in 1:43 scale. Three new models have been released including Dick Johnson’s last Bathurst car. Produced in limited numbers, these models are sure to become valuable collectors items. The new models have a number of improvements over previous years. They now feature plastic headlights and tail lights. Details such as the under-carriage of the car have also been improved. Classic Carlectables were first released in 1996 with a Peter Brock Bathurst car and have grown to include over 60 V8 Supercars. 'The cars come in their own individual boxes featuring the team colours and details of the cars and drivers. These now have become popular with collectors and motorsport fans alike.

One of the many Classic Carlectables available. Classic Carlectables have also established a club for V8 Supercar fans. For a joining fee of only $45.00 you will receive a gold coloured V8 Super car, 1:43 scale, and a newsletter keeping you up-to-date with the latest releases and discounts available

only to members, If you would like to own your own piece of Australian motorsport history then visit your local hobby shop, check out Exclusive Models website www.exclusivemodels.com.au or phone 02 9746 3104.

Australian Wheel Manufacturer Mullins Wheels has put its name to the latest Ford v Holden battle. The new category, the CSA Wheels Saloon Car Challenge, which fea tures six cyiinder EA/EB Falcons and VNA/P Commodores, made it’s debut at the m Clipsal 500 Adelaide. The CSA Saloon Car Challenge will see both Ford and / Holden vehicles /, manufactured in the period / M between 1988 and 1993 race H under rules d that are designed to ensure close and exciting racing. All cars will run a control tyre and CSA

wheel. The wheel cho sen for the category is the 16X8 CSA Prowler. Strict regula tions will also control modifications to body work, suspension, brakes and gearboxes. Mullins Wheels manufactures the CSA brand and oth ers in Australia and exports wheels to over 30

countries. Marketing manag er Noel Ryan said “Our wheels are made to suit the tough Australian con ditions. The Falcon and Commodores are heavy cars with plenty of power and our road conditions are tough on wheels." “All our wheels are heat treated to t6 for extra tensile strength and elongation” Noel ^ said. "This catego ry is designed to make ^ \\ f^ord versus £ ●, i Holden racing affordable, and theref fore attract more peo ple to the sport." Around 30 cars made their debut at Adelaide.

U April 2000

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U April 2000

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● Engine, chassis, go-kart or motorhike ● Local design, support, development, installation and on-site training ● Top names demand top equipment (users inc NIZPRO, HSV, HRT & John Sidney Racing) For mere iaformo tion and a

State Distributors

NSW: (02) 9678 9977

OLD: (07) 3808 1986

VIC: (03) 9794 5177

WA: (08) 9353 1155

UEHTWEIGHT Increase FLlfWHEELS Gctane Levels Tise ultimate in strength & safety

Ph: (08) 8363 5566

HI PERFORMANCE ENGINE PARTS

Street, Race, Off-Road Formulas Eliminate Detonatian Increase Octane levels of pump petrol by up to 7 points J

● Your choice of lightweight steel or alloy ® Available for all popular applications including Ford, Cleveland and Windsor V8, Holden 6 & V8, Chev SB & BB V8

Distributed nationaiiy by Rocket industries Phone (02) 9678 9977 Fax (02) 9678 9955

Ph 03 9555 5522 Fax 03 9555 4152

IHfcHt.-C E

R O C K E R S

The world’s strongest and most affordable shaft type roller rocker ● Available in twin shaft and unique single shaft designs for all parallel and cant valve engines ● Strongest race rocker available with unique lifetime warranty for road and race applications

Ph 03 9555 5522 Fax 03 9555 4152

Hose Ends a Adaptors.

QLD: NSW: SA: WA: NZ:

(07)3808 1986 (02)9771 5877 (08) 8363 5566 (08) 9443 4400 (09) 525 6858

Performance Wholesale Hardiman Auto Supplies Crane Technologies Gogear Racing Services Greenlane Speed Shop

^ Phone your state distiibutorforfurther information.

HAWK BRAKE I" All Hawk Broke [Pads are pre bedded In at the factory

m .

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CDW Steel 'Dibe "T^u-Wel CDW 350

Tubes exceeding 350 Mpa (UTS).

Burra Resources Pty Ltd

Sydney 0414 805 302 WA (Clubman Works, Bibra Lake) 08 9418 8775) Email; burra.tubes@blgpond.com Ask for our Data Sheet

Octane Boasters From

olS E

CROWCAMS

● Fast profile design service to your requirements ● Custom ground roller, solid and hydraulic profiles using unique computer controlledJ machines for unrivalled accuracy (y ● Matching race valve train components^ i including PSi (USA) valve springs and m a huge range of one piece super duty pushrods

4 programmable shift lights :● bar graph display/digital tachometer ● peak RPM recall ● engine hour meter ● water/shock resistant ● automatic lap timing ●speed sensor ●up to 4 thermo couple Inputs ● reads up to 8 temperatures and pressure ● data logging ● made in South Australia

' i

Ph 03 9357 0469 or Fax 03 9357

c:;t>sportscars

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Available from: Emtech Automotive Ph 08 8371 1500 Fax 08 8371 0500 Mobile 0418 600 751 Trade Enquiries Weicome

HOW TO GET

SPONSORSHIP

RACE DESiQNED AERODYNAMICS AND CARtON COMPOSITES

V8 Supercar race aero body kits available in - ^_J|(evlar/Carbon fibre composite and fibreglass (GRP). Repairs also .available.

GUARANTEED

THE WEB PAGE IS A MUST

gd2u .com

Global Direct 2U Publications

9738 1588

brake pads

Lunati Cranks, Rods, Race Cams & Valve Train Components ^WlFORMANCE in stock now! fVwHOLESALE

FERODO THE FIRST NAME IN BRAKES

Cultiag

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Visit our Website or call us for vour nearest distributor.

Hocfng Prodvefs

Ph 03 9543 6222 Fax 03 9543 6244

VlMICll IKSTSUMSHTATIOM

Carbon Metallic and Ferror Carbon

Motorsport Equipment & Rocegeor 37A Fenton Street Ookleigh 3166

High quality Cold Drawn Welded Steel

WWW. >

AREX Computing r06«il5IIMnB«Vk37i5 Ph0397Sin42Fnnf75T 2)73 Udt 0488 055 S4) bmi aiMMlpcjrgAi

Melbourne 03 9836 7536 Fax 03 9888 5531

Visit our website: www.crowcams.com.au

S^bEDFLOW 3399 jCa'iAttiiOOj'

Australian Manufacturer of ASuminium & Steel

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Trade enquiries welcome

PLATINUM

Si V3>

domoHStrafion contacf:

Dynamometer

Fax: (08) 8363 5633

Dynolog

Australian importer and distributor:

TECHNOLOGIES PTY. LTD.

f^RANE m^ams €

K«in

CRA.ISJE

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*1000APII«

Ph; (07) 3808 1986

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M April 2000

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FREE CLASSIFIEDS 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.

Segjgiis/SpQffts €^rs

Nissan Pulsar GTiR, silver, 1993, 2 Itr turbo 4WD, 106km, A/C, P/S, mags, ABS, rally rego, log book, $12,000 ono. Ph 07 32092073or0414646 755. its

Cimmodore Cup car, '99 spec, 1 meet on fresh engine, well maintained car. $18,500 ono. Ph 03 5149 2379. 173 Peugeot 405 Super Tourer, fresh motor, clutch and gearbox. (6 speed XTrac non-sequenlial), 18-inch centrelock wheels, AP brakes, suitable for 2-litre Sports Sedan with spares. $18,000. Ph 0414 735 512. ‘76 VH Commodore Cup car, as raced in '99 by Neville Haley, top 5 car. Rookie of the Year. Fresh James race engine. Super T10 gearbox, latest twin exhaust system, spare wheels, ratio, sway bars, rotors etc. Full assistance given to buyer. Ideal for National or Victorian series. $23,000. Ph 0418 133 274. itb

RX3 Coupe Club Cap, 13B Bridgeport, electronic igni tion , needs refresh, body straight, new Needham 4 sp, Mazda race LSD, Konis, adjustable suspension, Volvo/RX7 brakes, 14" alloys, two 13" $6500 ono. Ph 03 9509 7601

Torana GTR-XU1 9(73 Bathisst Special, good clean origi nal car as per the factory, inc. J.P. motor, close ratio gearbox - fine spline LSD, 336 rear end. All matching No.'s, Plates never removed from car. Ideal Targa Car. Has competed at Leytaurn Historical Sprints last 3 years. 12/00 reg. $25000. Ph Rian 0412 033 827 its H® EMonaro iS 197% 253, auto, grey veleur interior, gunmetal grey duco, alarm, very straight. Drives excellent, some paint dam age. $5600. Ph Justin 0413 619 759 or 03 9366 6046. its Peugeot 504 Tl, one of the most successful 504 rally cars down under. In the '95 Round Oz finishing 25th outrght 1st in 2 litre class. Ready to rally, no need for further prepa ration, many extras. $9,500 ono. Ph 03 9754 6492. 78 o’

Speedway

Triumph TR8 V8, Marque Sports car, immaculately pre paired front running car at a fraction of replacement value. E/C low 1:40s. $30,000ono. Ph 02 9971 1212 or 0412 084 062. 177 TP'-

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scales $1200. Ph 02 4572 5949. 176

Torana Sports Sedan, 202, c/r box, Detroit locker, Stratos seat. Bond cage, Webers, spares, wheels, tyres, includes rego trailer. $5500 ono. Ph 02 4952 5078. 17,Suzuki GTe 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. it?

« Porsche 911 Carrera RS Replica, 3.2 Carrera engine, race seats, half roll cage, 9" + 7” fuchs, fantastic club car, $45,000. Ph 07 3252 7300 or 0411 476 055. 173 Mkl Cortina GT Replica, NB log book and car, less engine, comes with spare body shell. Make an offer. Ph Rod 02 9871 3781 or 0414 491 819. 178

L4 Torana, hillolimb & autocross car. 179hp motor, triple 150 CD Strombergs, Toyota gearbox, Salisbury diff, 4 wheel discs, fibreglass bonnet & boot lid. $3,500 neg. Ph 03 5143 0175. i?? AUSCAR Sportsman VL Commodore, minimal work needed to be race ready, rebuilt motor, urgent sale. $2500 ono. Ph 03 9720 9026. 177 1978 Celica, 3.5 Rover V8 motor, Celica gearbox, Holden LSD, 4 wheel disc brakes, duel-axle reg trailer. $6500ono. Ph 02 6559 4002. 177

sar~.- -J*'

I Holden Fd Sports Sedan, 2.8 litre blue Holden motor, Toyota gearbox, LSD diff, has won many rounds of NSW Hillolimb C'ships, spare wheels, slicks, body S5500 ono. Ph 02 6644 9411 AH or 0428 661 284 BH. 178 VS Sports Sedan, chassis (new), cartxcn body kits x 2, carbon rear wing, big brakes, ind rear end, exhausts, alloy radiator, heaps of spares. SIO.CCO ono. Ph 33 6330 1881. itb

Mazda HX7 Sports Sedan, professionally built, 206 Peripheral Fbrt rrid rroiri! C/R box, huge 6 spot brakes, Watts rear end, Hilux LSD, 32 spines. A1 inside and out. $25,000ono. Ri 0413 383102. itb Batsun 1600, ready to rally, 1800 motor, 240K g/box, diff. Full roll cage, Terratrip, Terraphone, Momo seats, heaps of spares $8000 Ph 02 96361400 or 0412 263 345. .tb

VSSupercar VS Commodore, as raced '99. complete rolling chassis less eng and gearbox. $39,000. Ideal Lites/Shell Series car, 018 Perkir^ 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, roller, 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. m VK Group A, Perkins Enzed '87 car. New 4 bolt bottom end & Super T10 box. Harrop 9” diff (fully floating), front struts & brakes, $18,500. Ph 0418 339 004 BH or 03 6393 7034 AH, -.r, 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. it? Sidwru WRX sm‘99, 1 of 40, 2 doa, damaged front right and dentonRHqua/terpanel,willsupplymostparts.Ph0415499600. ■ 77

Toyota Celica, new paint, CRX Honda seats, 5 speed, twin carts, $4,000ono. Ph 02 4822 1563. 177 Alfa Romeo GTV Sports Sedan, new engine, new T04 turbo MoTec, Hdlinger, H'Wjp/AP lockheed. Auto Delta wishbones ,Koni, Simmons, Recaro seat, VDO, GP Sportscars, kevlar & car bon fibre body, wing, red. $59,000. Ph 03 9723 9618, m 1974 Galant, 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. m Monaro HQ GTS Coupe, rolling shell, painted, all glass, suit Group Nc. $1 200. Ph 03 9817 4324. 177

Super Sedan Gamaro, 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 depending on carby selection. Car has top setup and running gear. All goodies to go, help on setup. $3,000ono. Ph 02 6963 6367. 177

5 cum>i

Suzuki Swift GTi, rally oar, 2 times OLD class winner. Full Cromolly cage, fully seam welded, underbody protection, Bilstein aj susp, OMP seats, Terratrip, new engine, built to N1 specs. Lot of spares, ready to rally and legal to drive on the

Monaro Sports Sedan, body/chassis front suspension & steering pedals, balance bar. master cylinders, tank, fuel pump, engine plate etc. Ph 0412 156 766 anytime. 17a HQ racer, fully prepared, fresh motor & diff. Plenty of spares, log books. $3000 ono. Ph 02 4647 1896 or 0414 471 892.

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. 177

kSc1l Escort, fastest 2 litre Qub Car in Oz. 1999 Nationals winner, 14th outright Cosworth 16 valve fuel injected, Haltech F9, top HP, /^P clutch, 4 speed straight art gearbox. Hoosier drys, Bridgestone was. Plus much rrxxe. $15,000 ono. Ph 0419 008 708. its Torana GTR XU1 LC Bathurst, the most original Bathurst XU1. Last one made, 69,000 genuine mites. Never raced, completely unmodified, always garaged, original num ber plates. Documentation $14,500. Ph 0418 257 288. itb Capri HS3100 Sports Serial, unfinished project. Mid-nnount space frame chassis. 9" full floater 3.25 spool, full fibreglass body kit Bilstein coil overs, HaTOp brakes. $5500. Ph 0414 701 207. itb

. Midget Speedcar, Q61, Beats (USA), 4 bar chassis, 2.6 Mitsubishi engine. Winters spline diff, ready to race with all spares. $22,000 ono. Ph 07 3267 5211 after 4:30pm. 176 Super Sedan Bris #5, Pontiac Firebird Rayburn. Competitive car, sell less motor & box. With spares $13,500. Ph 0409 895 934 or 07 3888 5934 AH. ,7b Modified Production, TE Cortina. 250 X How methanol engine, just been freshened up, 4 speed p/steering, prodction steering, 15" wheels, adj suspension, spares, POA. Ph 03 5996 8509. its Super Sedan chassis, with Pontiac body. Run four meet ings, good condition, front spindles, upper & lower arms, rear sliders, single leaf springs $2800. Four grain or platform

AMCA car, LH drive, 4x8x15 rim, rolling shell and trailer one job for rego. Car $1500, trailer $1500. Ph 02 6881 8879. 176

# HoBden Torana XU1, ch no U29127, ex-Allan Grice Cessnock Motors oar from Balhutst 1973. Known history. Group Nc log book, race ready. $30,000. Ph 07 3252 7300 a 0411476 055. m

Torana L34 Ck» Car, recently resprayed. Very competitive many parts available, including fulfy-floaling rear end, Harrop rotors. 2 Toploaders, Hurst shifter, dry sump, big radiator, much much mae. Rolling shell with cage, dash etc. $8000. Ph 0418 257 288. its Club Car, Improved Production RX7. Log book, competitive car. injected motor, c/r gearbox, comprehensive range of spares ino body panels. $19,000. Ph 0409 224 975. m HQ race car 97, spec with new Pedders suspension and gauges. $3500 ono. Ph 03 5274 3040 or 0416 124 856. itb Holden EH sedan, yellowA'/hite, 350 Holley Aussie 4 speed, brand new carpet & upholstery, Premier bucket seats, American wheels, 179 hp stroked to 192, mild cam. $6000. Ph 02 9627 2151. ire Sports Sedan 105E Anglia, 12A Bridgeport 48mm Webers. Celica steel case 5 speed, Escort diff. CAMS log book. Ph 0409 522 980. $5500. 178

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

road. $14,000. Ph Tony 07 3286 2093 or 0417 ^9 462 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 Batsun 1600 2E Club Car, excellent cond, reliable, FJ20 2L motor, 4.6 locked diff, 4 spot front callipers, OMP seat, near new Yokohama A32RS. $4,900 (trailer also avail able). Ph 02 9969 6936. 177

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. 177 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. 177 Super Sedan Pontiac, top engine, 366 Chev, all good gear, alloy wheels, sparK. $24,000 neg, Ph 0412 599103 or 03 52414224. 177 Titan Racing Sprintcar motors, IxDash 12 372oi smooth and reliable $28,000. 1x18 degree 372ci light, weight, very fast $30,000. Full details. Ph 0419 787 031 . 177 ' Sprintcar, brand 1 lew Eagle chassis & fresh Wesmar engine, all running gear. $50,000ono. 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 in various weights. Halibrand Quickchange longsplined & caliper $1,300. 6 Pin L/R $280. Ph 03 5335 5196 or 0418 851 080. 177

Prqgs Fiat 1500 Club Car, 1608 Twin Cam, 5 speed, full cage, harnesses, Nissan buckets, Lovell springs, head port and polished, near new tyres, road reg, will deliver Melbourne. $4,200. Ph 03 6424 5637. it?

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 Ditfs, McDonald Bros. Will consider trade with transporter or Super Sedan Speedway equipment etc. $27,500. Ph 02 6297 5895 or 0412 487 771. 177

S'///-,

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Holden HQ pacer, #57 fitted with Ian McKee motor. $6,000. Ph 02 6555 5860 or 02 6554 6128. 177 HQ Thunderdome cap #98, set up by Centreline sus pension, mid 36sec car, 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. i?? TF Cortma Ck* 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 locker, steel cage, race ready, spares avail. $13,000. Ph 02 9792 4779 or 0419 489 465. 177 1969-1970 Mustang Fastback, Group No, seam weld ed with roll cage and pick up points & painted. Ready to go racing, spare parts the lot. $18,000. Ph 03 9329 0000. 177

Open Witeeiers

Hillclimb/autocross open wheelep, Rob Roy 25.6 sec, 4 times 0/R Vic Super Series Autocross Championship winner, complete with trailer & spares. $2995. Ph 03 9758 5931

Elfin Malmark Formula Vee, fresh engine, fresh tyres, new exhaust, new brakes, Koni shocks, enclosed traifer, some spares, exceSert oondition, ready to race. $7500 ono. Ph 03 5623 4263. 17B

PX?.

I Historic Kaditcha F2, all steel T" block, 4 spot calipers. Elfin wheels, good history, log book & cert of description, complete & ready to race with all spares & ratios $35,000. Ph 07 3800 5903. i7b Spectrum 06, "One of the best Formula Fords I've ever driven - Christian Murchison 29/3/00". Complete with top HP DAMEC engine, just 1 race meet new. 3 sets wheels, huge lisr of spares, 28 sets of gear ratios, Dorian. With MoTe and data $37,000, without MoTec $30,000, Lamer engine $4000. Ph Michael 08 9377 2999 or Jamie 08 9356 1415. .7»

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CR0852 Formula 2, Eligible for Historic Group R., full 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. Ph Ian 0417 851 716 BH 03 9878 9515 AH. 177 ■P .1 .'.'JET

Raft 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 02 9313 5766 BH. 177 Elfin 600B, cheap. Ph 08 8297 1030 or 08 8293 1908 AH . 177 Kart, Intercontinental Formula C, Swiss Hutiess 45hp motor, 6 speed gearbox, one season old. $5000. Ph 0418 184 456 . 177

Engines

m Reynard 92D, competitive car, good HP engine, Tickfad 500 winner. $55,000 with spares. Trailer available. Ph 0417 32f) 866. vs Halt RT4 Formula Pacific, 1982, C/n 313, complete car, comprehensive inventory of ratios, wheels, spare parts etc. NZ$40,000 firm. Ph Craig 0011 64 3 332 1781 (evenings), vb Drive available, OLD Formula Ford round, ex Bright RF95. only $1500 per day. All inclusive. Ph 07 5446 7611. 178

Chevron B34/1976, Historic Group Q. fresh 2 litre Nova motor twincam, all in excellent condition. This competitive ready to race car has interesting history, spares including wheels. $42,000 must be sold, Ph 07 3396 1624. 17a

350 Chew 010 4 bolt, fully balanced, Carillb rods, roller cam/rockers, rev kit. Magneto, bowtie heads, methanol carby, starter etc. $9900 ono. Ph 02 6685 7890 BH or 02 6684 7495 AH. m Ford SOHC 2L, GPI spec, alloy sump, German block & bv head, 520x cam. Vernier wheel electronic ignition, mahle pistons etc. $2300. Ph 03 9546 8342 or 0417 239 641. itb Super Sedan 366, complete engine 600hp, all parts, two years old, freshened last season, complete with C&S carb & extractors. $15,000. Ph 0409 895 934 or 07 3888

x..y

AX6 Arrow Ultima, less than 3 hours running lOOcc Yamaha, 35mm axle. $3655. (can arrange delivery) Ph 07 3269 5551 or0412 743 188. itb Formula Holden 92D Reynard, ex-Todd Kelly 2nd '98 championship, race prepared for 2000 season complete with spares, including ratios, computer, set-up data, trailer & all assistance. Ph 0413 769 433 or 07 3216 6861. l?7

Formula Ford Kookaburra 1991, complete with enclosed trailer and annex, excellent condition with ratios, wheels and spare body work. $16,500. Ph 07 3806 1465. itb lOOcc NGR KCA chassis, mounted wets, and tyres, total refurbish, too many spares to list. Complete spare engine. $3900. Ph 0407 411 232. 177 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. itt

4’ /

Go Kart, Kali Detroit '98, p.cond, 2 Superkart seasons old. 40mm dynamically balanced axld, new brakes, carbon fllor tray and boards, heaps of spares, incl axle & stubs, can convert to Sprint Kart. $2,600. Ph 03 9471 9992 or 0409 001 002, 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

Fully enclosed race car trailer, tri axle, electric Hewland DG300 gearbox, suit Off Road buggy. brakes with breakaway system, alloy chequer plate floor. $10,000. Ph 02 9627 2151, 177 240v lighting and power, 11 months rego, large fully Haltech computer, $600. Haltech computer complete with enclosed annexe, suit open wheeler or sedan, S18,500 wiring loom & irijectors $1200. Both brand new. Ph 029627 2151. ui neg. Ph02 9631 3156 or 0413 121 201. 177 Cheetah race wheels, suit MK 6 or MK 7, 4 inch PCD Tandem trailer, 5m x 1.73m, full checker plate floor, fold in very good condition, fronts 9 1/4 X 13. rear 11 1/2X13. down ramps, over-ride brakes, rego 8/00, suit small to Ph Ian 0417 851 716 BH 03 9878 9515 AH u? medium vehicle, good condition, as is. $1000. RWC $1200. Wet weather race tyres, (4) Dunlop Formula R D93J < Ph 07 3282 1404 or 0418 105 016. -.n as new Mounted on 14x7 Performance Challengers alloys, 40’ gooseneck, pro built, fully self-contained. 2 roof Mazda RX3 stud pattern. Suit Club Ca»s, $950. Ph Adrien mount ACs, sleep 5-6, H&C shower, toilet, stove, oven, 03 9528 1567 or 0411 528 163. ui microwave etc. Fully equip work shop. Suit pro bike racing, Group A oil tank, 2stage dry sump, hardly used with mod FFord, FHolden etc. $65,000 Ph 03 5248 7377 177 ify oil stick and breather.outlets. $500ono. Ph 026655 5715. r; Pantec purpose built, dual axle, electric brakes, alu Austin Healey 3000, crankshaft, rods & flywheel. Prepared minium checka plate floor trop tail door, side doors, tyre by crankshaft rebuilders, crankshaft ground 10 degrees nitride, rack and 240 volt light set up. Suit small Sports Sedan, machined to fit. Holden oil seal rods. Ph 02 9971 1212. m karts, motorbikes or a Speedcar $4,000. Ph 02 6655 5715 Porsche 914 transaxle, late suit 2-litre Sports Sedan or 0409 125 965. m Ph 039763 7898 or 0413 128 287. m 7*5 IX. 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 ■c' $1,800. Ph 02 6655 5715 or 0409 125 965. m V Chew 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. m At 3 19-inch touring car rims,centrelock. German made, good 177 condition. Regret sale $700. Ph 026655 5715 a0409125 965. FordXD, 120litrealuminiumdroptank$295. Ph0392553231. iv Fully enclosed 21ft, tilt car trailer. 4 wheel elec brakes VR Supercar,front bar, new. $500 onq. Ph 0408 327 671. 177 with breakaway unit. 6 new Sunraysia rims with light truck MSD Promag, ten times more output than conventional tyres. Full length awning, winch, 6 mth regq, hvy duty const Magneto. Built-in rev limiter. Like new, $2350. Ph 0418 will fit HQ Statesman inside. $6,000. Ph 0412 677 975. 177 514444 or 03 5176 2257. 177 ■

■

Transporters/Trqilers

5934 ah. 178

Chew 18 deg, complete, as new, ready to plug in, exJohn Faulkner NASCAR. 6 races from new, ex-USA, top HP, all latest components. $26,000. Ph 03 9562 6905. ns Pontiac 4 cyl, 166cu, Fontana block, Hilbom injection, exhaust pipes, 3 pamshafts. Priced to sell. Ph 02 6288 6924 ah. 170 454 LS7 Chew, 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 condi tion with cam tray. $3,500. Ph Tony 02 9313 5766 BH. 177 Chew 18 degree motor, dart, aluminium heads, bow tie block, T&D shaft rockers, crower crank, Oliver 6” rods, JE pistons, fully re-coed by Rob Benson. 650hp. $17,500. Ph 0418 514 444 or 03 5176 2257. 177

Parts

14 April 2000

Speedcar, FBI fuel tank complete $900 ono, 3 Duraiite rim 13”x10” spline/6 pin $350/$300 each. Sander hubs & rotor, complete $400, Simpson harness w/sternum $150, tel tac $300, various components. Ph Glenn 02 6288 6924 AH. itb Globe Bathurst rims, to suit Escort or Cortina 14x7 (4 of) GC $300. Ph 03 9546 8342 or 0417 239 641. its Super Sedan Parts, 18 degree, comp exhaust system with dyno fittings $1000. Brand new AFR 23 degree heads still in box, flow 595hp $3000. Crank just reground $1000, Ross psitons 30 thou (new) block bored to suit $1150. Plus lots of other parts. Ph 0409 895 934 or 07 3838 5934 AH. 17a 9” full floater, 3.25 full spool $2000, Indycar quick rack & pinion $300. New Harrop 4 piston calipers $1300. New rotors and hats $300 each. Foam filled tank $220 & assorted Sports Sedan parts. Ph 0419 171 200. itb BMW E30 (83-91), sports seats grey, cost $2000, coils for 4 & 6 cyl, front spoiler (318is) all as new. Offers required. E36 cross sake alloys & tyres. Ph 07 5525 3548 AH. itb Brakes, 14" rotors & callipers (Harrop) bargain at $1350. Chev wrapped extractors for AFR heads $200. Dry sump setup for Sierra/Ford 2 litre $500. Ph 0412 156 766 anytime. 178 Bosch DU4 Ma^ieto, pair Herm Riemam Germania gas lamps. Need glass & reflectors. Ph 07 5537 9780 cr 0418 784 992. itb Pair side draft manifolds, Weber to suit Renault. Exhuast system, upswept, to suit twin cam Ph 07 5537 9780 or'0418 784 992. 78 Goodyear Eagle drag slicks, 38x17x15 good condi tion $300. One set roller lifters to suit SBC $300, Mellings SBC oil pump brand new $40. Ph 07 3263 1192. itb BMW gearboxes, clutch, tailshafts etc. 1) 4 speed suit 3 Itr, 2) 5 speed suit 6 cyl, 3) 5 speed Getrag out of 635csi. Ph 08 8252 1339, itb Porsche 915 gearbox, close ratio 5sp dog box (straight cut) fully rebuilt as new with reinforced sideplate. Used to win Class B Porsche Cup 1999. $10,000. Ph 07 3368 2727 or 0418 753 256, e-mail: mike@gokarts.net.au. ua Sweet survo, & two hoses & ram $600, new Pro Shock $175, new Affco rear springs 275 & 250 $90 each. New coil over kit $70 and other springs 175,400,450 $60 each. Gear set 668,686 $40 each. Ph 02 4572 5949. its Yokohama 008 RS tyres, new set of 4, 195-60-15, mounted but never used. Suit Club Car or similar. $650 set.

Isuzu SBR 6 cyl, 5 speed diesel. Warn 60001b winch, alu minium ramps, 3001 fuel tank, good tyres, fresh paint & trim, suit large sedan, very reliable. $8500 Ph 08 8326 5775. 170 MRT tandem race trailer, floor space 6'6” by 12' with beaver tail, EC, always garaged. $1650 ono. Ph 03 9399 3300 BH. itb Tandem trailer, one car trailer $1000. Walk in, fully cov ered, suit karts, formula car, electric brakes. $1200 Ph 03 5274 3040 or 0416 124 856. its Box trailer, 6x4 closed in, locked compartments, light truck tyres, suit off-road, camping a work vehicle. $TO. Ph 02 9627 2151. its Mitsubishi Pantec, race transporter. Complete with full length annex. Good, reliable unit, suit open wheeler. 5 speed diesel. $25,000 ono. Ph 08 8234 8688.

’86 Isuzu FSR, 5 tonne, 28ft pan, very economical, benches, lockers, shelves, built-in compressor, generator, 240v wiring, 10x6m awning and walls, erect in 10 min. Ideal for karting, FF, sports car or small tourer. $27,000. Ph 02 9838 4944 BH. its

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 Isuzu SBR, air con, long range tanks, belly lookers, 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 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 Lightweight enclosed 6x4 steel trailer, fibreglass roof with gas struts and storage compartments. VGC $595. Ph 03 9255 3231. itt

Ph 026254 9154. 177

Chev forged racing pistons, suit 400 + 030 part #, Arias E4265 + 030R, makes 11.25:1 cordp on 5.7" rod and 400 crank. 1.4295 pin height, tool steel pins and locks, still new in box, $1000. Ph 07 3282 1404 or 0418 105 016. itt

Chew C20 1 2/79, 350 Chev, T400, Detroit Locker, duel fuel 160ltr 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 ,

Wanted

Pit crew, and helpers for Formula Ford team based on Queensland Sunshine Coast. Ph 07 5446 7611 itb Books, on Nissan 300ZX twin turbo about enhancing per formance for racing and where to purchase parts needed. Ph 02 4572 5949. ire Webers 45mm, x 2 carbs. Ph NZ 02 536210 Christchurch, itb Turiiam Clubman, last known location Hobart. Built by Peter Turnbull. Any Info. Ph 02 6685 7890 BH or 02 6684 7495 AH. itb Super Sedan early model, with or without engine. Ph 02 6242 6638 AH or 0412 377 961. m Driver, with budget to run Phillip Island and SA Lites rounds, then to share FAI 1000. Contact morky@v8racing.com or 02 4777 4320. va Chev speedway engine, or parts. Up to $5000 Ph 02 6242 6638 AH or 0412 377 961. i7e Ford Sierra 2.8 XR 4x4 gearbox, quicker shifter, air con suit 2.8 87-89 model. Ph/fax 08 8252 1339. 17B 13 inch wheels, or just split rims 7,8 or 9 inch wide. Ph Terry 07 3814 3762 AH or 0417 687 161 anytime, itb 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

other

Books, JH 1000 81/82 - 87/88 Bathurst y1-6. Motor Racing Yearbooks 8,9,10,11, Automobile Yearbook 7374. Ph: NZ 07 886 6169. Offers, .tb Racing Overalls, Prost FI team refuelling mechanic. Stand 21, triple layer 100% Nomex, with all sponsors, genuine article, size L. $500 ono. Ph 0418 894 880. m 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 DH. 177 Autocourse 1967-68 book, for sale. Ph 02 4261 5803. m RPM racegear, 2 sets, only used a couple of times blue S 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. .77 Magazine collection, all motor sports including drag racing, speedway & circuit racing. Over 7000 mags,good cond, back to 1967. Best offers. Ph 08 9459 7618. 177 30 motorsport videos, FI reviews, crashes etc) originals, not copies & 18 FI books. The lot $370. Ph 02 9662 7034. itt Motor race programs, 1960 to now, Warwick Farm, Catalina, Adelaide, Sandown, EC, PI, Calder. Bathurst, OP plus Histories. Ph 02 9627 3799 or 0402 068 289. .77

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U April 2000 Sensational Adelaide 500

Editorial Phil Braraagasi Assistant Editor Gerald McKornan Staff JournaSist Aaron Noonan GrapS»i€S Co-ordinator Viv Brumby

Advertising Advertising Manager Brendon SiseridaBi

Administration Managing Director Chris Lambden

Contacts 89 Orrong Crescent Caulfield North VIC 3161 (PO Box 1010 North Caulfield 3161) Phone: 03 9527 7744 Fax: 03 9527 7766 Email: msnews@ozemail.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 NZ: 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 Klynsmith, Bothwell Photographic, Marshall Cass, Nigel Snowdon & Diana Burnett, Tony Glynn, API Images, Neil Hammond, Slipstream Photographic, Thunder-Pics, Phil Williams, Alisport, 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

Dear Sir, I’ve just returned from the weekend’s Clipsal 500 in South Australia and thought that the first race was one of the best of the V8Supercar era. How about that dice to the death between Lowndes and Seton? It sent a shiver up my spine to hear the whole main straight grandstand get up and roar its lungs out as the red machine closed in for the kill and then took the lead. Plaudits too to Skaifey for the superb drive from the back. From where we sat, and listening to the course commentary, there seemed to be some confusion about whether some teams had gone in for a stop when the Pace Car was out on the track. Why not doing what NASCAR does and just close the pits to avoid the confusion? With the tightness of the pits and 40 cars, how about cars on the lead lap can pit first and lapped cars have to wait a lap? But the winner of the weekend was Garth Tander for sure. He pulled out a bigger championship lead^ but doesn’t get a victory laurel? Don’t worry Garth, the laurel will come at Bathurst in November... The weekend showed that while Seton did have a good run and led on Saturday, the Fords as an overall package aren’t quite a match for the Holdens and something does need to be done. A small adjustment is aU it would take to get the rest ofthe Fords up to the front and challenging for the lead. I heard, again on the course commentary, that a modification would be made to the length of the front spoiler undertray like 1996. Is that going to happen or will they do something with the rear wings? Thumbs up to everyone who organised the ’500. The Formula Holden races were fantastic, and the Nations Cup left me plain jealous!!!. Keep up the great magazine through the year. Michael Fletcher Donvale, Vic.

Printed by; Wilke Color 37-49 Browns Rd Clayton 3168 Distributed by: NDD Ltd Material published by MOTORSPORT NEWS is copyright and may not be reproduced in full or in part without the written permission of the publisher. Freelance contributions are welcome, and while all care will be taken. Australasian Motorsport News Pty Ltd does not accept responsibility for damage or loss of material submitted. Opinions expressed in Motorsport News are not necessarily those o/Australasian Motorsport News Pty Ltd or its staff.

|M I understand that the cameras ^ usually foUow the leaders ofthe race ! unless something interesting happens further back in the field, but I do expect to see where all cars placed at the end of each race, which Nine failed to do on both days. Send your letters to PO Box 1010 North Caulfield Vic 3161, On most other occasions, the fax to 03 9527 7766, or email to us at msnews@ozemail.com.3U current placings are shown even The staff of Motorsport News does not necessarily agree with opinions express fayreadeis.- when going to a commercial break, which Nine also failed to do. Not everyone follows the likes of Lowndes, l^disich and Skaife, and some of us would like to see where WesTrai everyone places. It is actually more interesting to see how the privateer cars are placing against the big money cars knowing it is a lot more difficult for them to get them cai's up to scratch for each race.

Crrnvf^ft^

Nicole Reynierse Albany Creek, Qld

Can we walk a bit further down the track? Could 2000 have been the last time?: Reader Oliver is concerned about the V8s racing in the west in 2001. This shot could be history. (Photo by Dirk Klynsmith)

Mapping the future and the past? Dear Sir, With the recent purchase of Benetton by Renault, I got to thinking that a family tree showing how various FI teams have evolved over time would be quite interesting. What chances of an article of this nature? Your magazine is great, keep up the good work. ● John Shei-riff Email: John.Sherrif^lwTc.govt.nz

Help keep V8s in Perth Deal- Sir, We are avid V8 Supercar fans, and we in Western Australia need some help. The Perth City Council has rejected a proposal to hold our WA round of the V8 Supercar SCS in Perth City. This could mean WA losing the round completely, with the round possibly going to New Zealand or

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Motorsport News is published by /Wscralasian Motorsport News Pty Ltd ACN No 060 179 928 Publisher: C Lambden

even Malaysia. Please, all you race fans out there, put pen to paper and voice your protest at this rejection to the Premier, Minister for Sport and Recreation and the Perth City Council, and help keep this fantastic sporting event in WA. If Adelaide and Canben-a can do it, why not Perth? Thanks for the great reading each week. Maxine Oliver. Email: <ajo@iinet.net.au> Assist Ed; What’s also wrong with writting to AVESCO and asking them to retain the event at Barbargallo? Gee, who’d ever think of holding a car race at a car racing track...

Lift your game Ninel Dear Sir, I am writing this letter to voice my disappointment in the way Channel Nine covered the V8 Supercar races during the coverage of the Australian 2000 Grand Pi-ix.

Mas fHiT 6m (SiWg «« liAP Sitoss IK

Dear Sir, I, like many FI enthusiasts, purchased my Grand Prix tickets early to qualify as a GP Advantage ticket holder so to be able to participate in the Pit Straight Walk. Much to my disgust, the Pit Straight Walk was reduced to one session (two in 1999) in whicfy the thousands of individuals who qualified were rushed through in a 45 minute session after queing for more than one hour. Many people missed the opportunity entirely as the demand was too great for the 45 minute session, Surely the GP Corporation can accommodate another one or two sessions during the GP for the paying public when corporate guests are given seven opportunities to do so! I am aware of many indiviaduals who are writing to the GP Corporation to voice their disgust in order to make changes for 2001. If we don’t stand up and voice our protest, nothing will change. Christina Koinegg, Email (address withheld by request.

...

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