Motorsport News Issue 191 - October 27-November 9, 2000 by V8 Sleuth

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No. 191 27 October - 9 November 2000

Why he IS staying with HRT U

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Bright sparks at Indy Crash-test imss=~ f

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/A 27 October - 9 November 2000

INSIDE News and Opinion

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10 27 28 82

Fizzying at the mouth? Could Giancarlo get the boot? Lowndes set to stay Hurry up and do something, please! Official Bathurst entry list We reveal all Motor Mouth The Ed takes the stand The Box Seat Joe, Tom and Jerry Talk Converter Boy, Channel Nine are popular..

Features 30 61

Paul Radisich A chat with The Rat' Troy Critchley Doing it in the IHRA

Race Coverage

50 RADISICH: NOW FOR BATHURST

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Formula Ford Festival James misses out Laguna Seca ALMS Audi clinches one title, one left Pacific BOOcc GP Kenny was just making sure Indy Racing League Lazier clinches title Surfers Champ Cars Adrian, ole, ole, ole! Surfers V8 Supercars The Rat and Rusty Malaysian FI GP Getting wiggy with Schu! San Remo WRC Panizzi's Pug in Italy

Regular Departments Why he IS staying with HRT i

V i It] Photos: Cover: AF1 Images. Sutton-lmages and Marshall Cass. Contents; Sutton-lmages. AF1 (mages, Bob Potts.

22 56 61 64 70 72 76 77

Motorcycles Rallying Drag Racing Speedway Histories National Scene NASCAR Marketplace S

Is Fisichella on notice? The Grand JPrbc door appears slighdy ajarfor Webber ANOTHER lack-lustre showing from Benetton team leader Giancarlo Fisichella at last Sunday's Malaysian Grand Prix has lent weight to rumours that his position with the team for 2001 may not be as strong as assumed. And while Mark Webber is shortly expected to formally confirm a test role with the team in 2001, it isn't unreasonable to speculate that, while some FI observers are claiming that Briatore is paving the way for an early return of Jarno Trulli to Benetton (the Italian is 'on loan' to Jordan) Fisichella's possible demise could see the Australian on the grid for the team a lot earlier than expected... At the time when the team needed him most- to defend the team's fourth spot in the Manufacturers Championship Fisichella put in a shocker at Sepang, qualifying 13th (outgoing team-mate Alexander Wurz grabbing a superb fifth) and running outside the top ten throughout the race, eventually lapped by the leaders. For the second time in three races, team boss Flavio Briatore went public with his view, commenting in the team's official post-qualifying press release that "I'm quite disappointed with Giancarlo's qualifying position. We don't understand what happened to his car as it was quick yesterday, so we need to

look into this now..." Briatore is a 'takeno-prisoners' kind of operator who has twice in the past dumped non performing drivers and, with the team gradually adopting its full Renault identity, there will be increased pressure to perform in 2001 and beyond. While premature and inaccurate reports elsewhere have Webber already signed with Benetton, negotiations are still proceeding on the details of a contract. An announcement is not expected to be too far away. Webber this week downplayed the rumours surrounding Fisichella's future: "1 don't think they United stance of Benetton: With the pressure on would [replace Fisichellafrom Flav. is the door open for Webber? him]," Mark told Benetton must wait until Motorsport News on Monday. "Sure he's had a bit of a bad December to begin a run late in the year, but he still comprehensive test programme finished sixth in the Drivers with the all-new 110-degree Renault engine. Championship. Subject to contract "The off-season testing will negotiations being successfully be a good time for him to get concluded, Webber will take things going again." With the FI November part in all three planned tests during that time. testing ban now in place.

Lownd Future rests A '■ \ t

The end for Napoleon?

Ferrari's mastermind Jean Todt may call it quits at the end of VI

HAVING achieved his ambition of securing Drivers’ and Constructors’ titles for Ferrari, team manager Jean Todt has hinted that he may be considering retirement. The Frenchman has told British magazine Autosport that, after seven years at the helm of Formula One’s most famous team, he may step down once the 2001 season is complete. “I love motorsport, I love motor racing and I love having a challenge,” the 54-year-old said. “But there are other things in my life and the intensity of this joh is not something that you want to do forever. “I don’t want to be working as 4

hard as I have been for the rest of my life. I would prefer to retire early. I have to think carefully about my future. “We will try to win it again next year. But after that, we will see...” 'Ibdt joined Ferrari in 1993,

straight after masterminding Peugeot’s 1-2-3 in the Le Mans 24 Hour race. Before that Tbdt, whose start in the sport was as a rally navigator, headed Peugeot’s successful Group B World Rally program, taking titles in 1985 (with Timo Salonen) and ’86 (with Juha Kankkunen). Tbdt was responsible for rebuilding the technical department at the Fiorano-based team, recruiting Ross Brawn and Rory Byrne to the team. Both of those men remain contracted to Ferrari until May 2001, but whether they will stay with the team should Tbdt retire - and the identity of'Ibdt’s successor - are questions Ferrari will have to address quickly.

Nowhere to run, baby, got no where to hide; Craig ’the Kid' Lowndes is feeling the pressure from all sides, but he'll announce his decision soon. ●*' ^ ■ I'M' = ■

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motoriport nsws

News

es set to stay put With Holtlen Racing Team management '

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by PHIL BRANAGAN

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THE future of Craig Lowndes rests with the management of Holden Racing Team. This week,the other likely contenders for the three-time ATCC Champion’s services in 2001 started to make arrangements which excluded Lowndes. Latest information to hand this week confirms that Ford teams are now “out of the loop” in the Lowndes saga. For his part, Lowndes has told HRT and Holden management what he wants to do and is waiting for confirmation that he will stay with the team for the next two years. “I’ve said what I want and I believe I have the support of Holden,” Lowndes said on Tuesday.“As far as that is concerned, nothing has n changed. One of the points which will potentially be sorted out with Holden’s support is the management contract Lowndes has had with TWR (which co-owns Holden Special vehicles and HRT)since 1996. Lowndes would not comment directly on the matter, but MN believes that the resolution of the contract is one of the matters which will be resolved with Holden’s support. “Things change,” said Lowndes when we asked about the contract.“People change. But,sometimes what happened in 1996 doesn’t reflect those changes. It appears certain that Holden’s wishes will override anything TWR may want. Reports in England suggest that TWR chief Tom Walkinshaw is in the process of reorganising the motor racing divisions of his business so that he may devote more attention to i-unning the troubled Arrows Formula One team. The inference from that is that Walkinshaw is in a position to be easily convinced that the Lowndes/HRT combination is more valuable than any five-year-old management deal. Lowndes also discounted

recent reports that he would run his own ‘satellite’ Commodore team under the umbrella of HRT, perhaps based at HRT’s Young Lions workshop. “I heard that one, too,” he said.“I don’t know where that one came from. Of the existing Holden teams, discounting the varied versions of an aU-new team which have been the subject of speculation, that really leaves just HRT as Lowndes’most viable option. A rumoured link with the Kmart/Gibson Motorsport team has been discounted by team owner Garry Dumbrell. As one fringe party to the recent events concluded this week: “It’s gone full circle. It’s been messy, but I think that it’s allowed Craig to see that it really isn’t any greener over the hiU...”

'i'm happy to stay with the team. We've been successful and, as soon as we can sort things out, I'll be pleased to announce what I am doing" - Craig Lowndes Lowndes himself said that his preference was not hard to figure out; “I’m happy to stay with the team. We’ve been successful and,as soon as we can sort things out. I’ll be pleased to W announce what I am doing. The personal in-team differences which have emerged can also be smoothed over - remember the initial internal ructions two years ago when Mark Skaife’s full time role with HRT was first announced,replaced over time by what has become a successful and professional partnership. An officiM announcement could be some time in coming, but you could bet yoiu- house on it - Lowndes will be staving with HRT...

AVESCO testing re-think V8 group AVESCO is re-thinking its testing rules for 2001. Latest option looks to be a number of official AVESCO test days, at various circuits throughout the Eastern States, to which all teams will be invited - a bit like FI. The advantages include the ability to provide full safety backup and even the possibility of throwing them open to the public. n A Drivers Safety Committee has been formed following Glenn Seton's recent close shave at Phillip island. With AVESCO Operations Manager Tony Manson as convenor, drivers involved include Seton, Mark Skaife, Neil Crompton and Larry Perkins. The group will look at vehicle, as well as track safety. n The two year Wayne Gardner Racing versus Donut King court case has been decided in favour of ' Gardner. The case went to the Sydney District court last July and was ruled on last Friday. Gardner received the sponsorship fees that were due from the 1998 and 99 season and received court cost, plus interest. ’I'm glad it's over and I've been proven to be right,’ said Gardner this week. n Octagon Marketing's Richard West is the new man at the helm of the British Touring Car Championship. The Briton has long experience in the commercial side of motor racing, having been with Williams-Renault when the team was backed by Rothmans. He has also worked with McLaren and Arrows. n Peugeot has confirmed a twocar entry in the 2001 BTCC. The factory has not confirmed which cars it will run in the series, but announcements regarding cars and drivers are expected soon. n November 8 and 9 are the dates that Marcos Ambrose will have circled on his calendar. That's the scheduled date for his Indy Lights test with Dorricott Racing, with the likely venue being Firebird Raceway in Phoenix, n The crowd figures for the Honda Indy 300 were well up on 1999. A total of 248,000 people attended the four day event, an increase of about seven percent. n We hear that Michael Kranefuss is the prime candidate for the CEO job at CART. The American-based German, who sold his share of his NASCAR team to Roger Penske last month, has taken over favouritism for the race from Long Beach promoter Chris Pook, who is believed to have turned the job down. 5

AePi tests

No changes scheduled for now - but expect them in 2001 by CHRIS LAMBDEN

WHILE nothing wiU change before Bathurst and further tests are to be done,initial aerodynamic comparisons carried out recently by V8 Supercar group AVESCO do indicate interesting differences between Commodore and Falcon. Details of the initially secret tests, conducted at Corowa Airport, have become available to Motorsport News which show that the organisation is serious about

its technical equality programme Project Blueprint - and that a number of widely held assumptions are far from correct. The tests measured downforce at front and rear axle centrelines of an HRT Commodore and Shell Falcon and then used "coastdown" testing to compare drag between the two. While weather conditions weren’t perfect - and further tests are to be done to provide more information - the tests produced some inescapable conclusions. In no particular order:

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FOSTERS^

1. There is virtually no aero benefit below lOOkmh. 2. While a Falcon rear wing produces more downforce than a Holden one, with wings in place, both cars have virtually equal rear downforce. 3. While the Commodore has a degree of front downforce,the Falcon actually generates lift under most circumstances (less than the standard road car at that speed, but nevertheless lift). 4. The recently modified (to Holden pattern)front underwing for the Falcon actually produces less downforce than the old one. Ford teams will however tell you that it has improved the sensitivity of the car to changes in front/rear pitch, which used to provide significant switches from downforce to lift through corners! The next batch of tests are likely to look further into pitch sensitivity. 5. The trimming of 100mm from the Holden front underwing reduces front downforce by 38kg. 6. The Falcon has significantly less drag than the Commodore - although the exact degree requires further testing. Given the obvious disparities between the cars in these tests, it becomes clear that other factors, such as engine power and suspension geometry, contribute to the recent virtual on-track equality of the leading Falcons and

Commodores. All will, AVESCO tells us, be addressed as part of its policy to move both cars towards technical equality. Expect a number of changes prior to the start of the 2001 season.

COMMODORE V FALCON AERO TESTS

Original AU frontA/T with 100mm cut New AU frontA/T with 100mm restored New AU front/VT with 100mm restored Raise front 20mm/ lower rear 20mm Lower front 20mm/ raise rear 20mm

Kph 200 200 100 200 200

DOWNFORCE(Kg) Commodore Falcon F R F R 29 161 24 152 67 156 -17 155 9 22 1 21 3 153 -70 132 75 121 16 134

Re-establish benchmark settings Minimum rear wing Maximum rear wing Remove rear wing

200 200 200 200

33 38 33 107

Car Set-up

DRAG 200 150 100

121 91 136 -34

-24 -9 -15 64

129 122 149 -71

Rate of Deceleration (Kmh/second) 18.0 10.5 12.0 7.5 7.5 5.0

We have lift-off: Apparently. Look for a revised Falcon AD in 2001. (Photo by Marshall Cass)

Who is with FORD'S Bathurst pairings were being finalised as Motorsport News closed for press, with most speculation over which drivers will drive which Shell Helix Falcons. Former Bathurst winner Jason Bright, who tested for the team last Wednesday at Queensland Raceway, was due to leave Australia last night(Wednesday) for the final round of the Indy Lights championship, but the team was yet to finalise its driving pairings. However, Paul Radisich has given a strong indication that Bright will share the #18 DJR AU with him and that Steven Johnson and Cameron McLean

will share #17. "The deal is, you put the fastest drivers with the fastest drivers and that's what will happen," Radisich said. With The Rat and Johnson confirmed in #18 and #17, respectively, that would seem to indicate that Bright will share with Radisich. The team is expected to make an announcement this week.

MEANWHILE,Ford lickford Racing will run Glenn Seton and Neil Crompton in the #5 lead AU at Bathurst- we think. During the week, there were two versions of the official entry list, the first of which partnered moiorspon newt

NEWS

Ambrose closes in on FTR drive MARCOS Ambrose missed out on his test with Ford Tickford racing at Winton iast Tuesday, but the signs are that the young Tasmanian is about to agree terms with the team for 2001. Team manager John Matthews said on Tuesday that the team, which skipped the test because of rain, was in the process of settiing what FTR wanted from him and what Ambrose wanted from the team. "Of the drivers which are on our list, he's the only one yet to drive the car," Matthews said. "But my understanding is that he is set on pursuing a career in V8 Supercars." Ambrose will fly to the USA soon to take part in the Indy Lights test, which he won in the Honda Young Guns race at the Gold Coast. The test, with Dorricott Racing, will take place on November 8/9.

Jason pushing for 2001 Great debut, but Aussie still needs the dollars THE odds of Jason Bright getting a Champ Car drive in 2001 are better than they were last month,following a strong debut in the Honda Indy 300. Bright, who ran a strong fifth before being taken out with suspension damage, said this week that he was talking to a number of teams about next season. “There’s between five and seven teams who are doing the talking, but it still comes down to money,” he said. “I’ll have a better idea after I sit down and talk to

some people at Fontana this weekend.” The Queenslander said that the reaction from the corporate sector in Australia was positive after the race. “There are quite a few people who have said some positive things, but it is still a matter of getting someone to put up some support. “Gillette and Budweiser supported me for the Honda Indy and they were great, but it is still a major exercise. We’re working away and we know it’s tough, but we will keep going.”

Yes, BaChurstr is looming again. Don't miss our full and special preview of the FAI 1000: l Who's going to win? l The Shocking truth Everything you need to know whether your going to Bathurst or simply watching on TV

who? Wayne Gardner with Seton, the second of which had Wayne in #6 with Neal Bates. "Search me," said Gardner on Tuesday, "I haven't been told yet.” "First I've heard of it,” said Crompton. But team manager John Matthews said that it was an administrative error that caused the two different entries. y\Je wrote the drivers names down vvith an 'and' between them and they read it incorrectly," he said. There's no drama. Glenn will share with Crompton and Wayne will be with Bates." But, in these days of cross entering drivers, who knows... V Oetomr 2886

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SPECIAL LIPT-OUT Could this be the lift-out poster of the Year? Find out what Larry and his Holden mates have been up to - only in the next, extra special issue, of Motorsport News. k

Staying pul: Jason Bright tested HI8 last week, but wilt he get to race it?

fO NOVEMBER 1

AMT reveals itself ASIA Motor Technologies has finally given some more details of its plans for the future, although specifics of the company, other than it is headed by Hideo Morita, son of the founder of Sony, still remain sketchy. Our understanding is that AMT has a long-term aim of running a team in FI and concluded that the best route towards this was to buy an engine and build from there. AMT technical director Enrique Scalabroni is understood to be a partner in the business and the first connections with Morita were made several years ago when Scalabroni was trying to establish a team for Tbtzu Ikuzawa. AMT has given details of its management structure, with John Gano (another partner in the business) looking after finance and Belgian Didier Debae managing the fonner Peugeot facility at Velizy. Debae is a highly experienced motor racing manager who started his international career as a truck driver with TWR in the early 1980s. After spells with the Nissan and Bigazzi touring car teams, he moved to become team manager at Schubel Motorsport in Germany. He later moved to Williams Iburing Car Engineering, where he first worked with Scalabroni. He led the Williams-Renault team’s assault on the Bathurst 1000 in 1997. MEANWHILE, the AMT has had its first run in the back of a 2000-spec Arrows. Pedro de la Rosa shook down the new combination at Silverstone between the Japanese and Malaysian GPs, the car completing the sessions without any major problems. Interestingly, the car and team were running devoid of any sponsors' livery, with de la Rosa himself wearing plain white overalls. It is known that Arrows sponsor Orange’s involvement is up in the air for 2001 and rumours had potential new sponsors present at the test. - JOE SAWARD 8

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Ron Dennis receives a 'please explain’ serve from Max Mosley FIA President Max Mosley has released copies of a letter that he sent to McLaren's Ron Dennis above after the Japanese Grand Prix complaining about Dennis' consistent public criticism of the way in which the FIA runs FI and his suggestions that the governing body has been favouring Ferrari. Iho f.amc to a head in Suzuka when Dennis questioned whetlier tiie FIA should have an Italian stev/ard at the Japanese GP, Mosley )usiified the appointment of Rofterto Causo and asked Dennis to send a letter of apology lo ttie Italian lawyer. Mosley also ;,iifjr)f;',ierl lhat Dennis’s aotioivi in Suzuka eould be seen as "a fjiear.fi of the Intfiniatiorial Sfxxtinrj Code " What iiio letter did not say was tfiat, in addition to wntincj a letter to ifie FIA Stewards in Stizuka Iwhioh was delivered only an hour before the rar.ei, Dennis visited the stev/ards )ust tiaif an hour before tfie ra'.h becjaii arifJ they are believed lo fiave felt rather intimidated by tfus, Whatr.wer the case, Mosley did not reveal all in lire letter and, |iirlt)int) by Dennis's lesponse lo it, the McLaren boss tias r.onduded Ibai It IS l)est tr> back rlr.;wn and not fjusfi the FIA too tiard, for fear lhat ibere mirjbt be a lear.iion ori tins issue Dennis look ttie line that Ins (.ijinii iont', bar) tjoen inisinifi'rprritod by it\e media Itie Mclaion boss said he had tfiourjfit "lorig arid tiard" about bis irr'.p'xisr, after rer.eiving Mosley’s letter, but felt that tfie best course rj ar.iion v/as lo niake no fuiibor commorii This der.isiori will bopelully iiirxin that tlirjre will be less bad feeling brjiween tlicvaiions paitios in the future, wtiicli will heljj to lighien itie niinosptiere in FI - JOE SAWARD

The fii Reynard looks ti

THE ownership of the embattled British American Racing team could be decided within the next few weeks. It is believed a consortium led by Adrian Reynard believed to include BAR technical director Malcolm Oastler, former team manager Robert Synge and CART team owner Barry Green - is currently trying to purchase migor shareholder British American Tobacco’s 50 percent stake in the team. If successful, the group is expected to immediately replace the controversial Craig Pollock with Green expected to be announced as team manager. Reynard’s group would need to raise around US$100m ($190m) to buy out BAT and, with the company reportedly tired of FI, they are expected to take the money and run. The deal could be subsidised by BAT’S Lucky Strike continuing as mtgor sponsor for an extra year. The group woidd also need to find the budget to run the team next year, but Reynard’s connections at Honda could

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NEWS

f iVlygen’s grey FI future w

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0 BAT buy-out, will oust Pollock result in the Japanese manufacturer not requiring to be paid for the team’s engines. Sources suggest BAT has already made the decision to return to the WRC,where the 555 brand enjoyed considerable success in the 1990s with Prodrive and Subaru. If so,that could explain why one of Pollock’s closest allies at BAT,Tom Moser,resigned recently. Rumours have also suggested that Reynard would sell his share in Reynard Motorsport to David Richards’ Prodrive organisation. Reynard’s business bas done it tough in the last few years; an attempted float on the New York Stock Exchange called off, the return to competitiveness in CART of Lola and the subsequent effects on profit, the loss of sportscar deals with Cadillac and Chrysler, along with a number of large engineering contracts with car companies coming to an end. Reynard also feU out with former sales director Rick Gome,who was very much responsible for the company’s success in the 1990s. 21 Ociofetr 2800

All this, plus the recent laying-off of a large number of staff, has meant the company value had dropped, with sources suggesting Reynard will sell his 85 percent holding for US$45m. The price would suit Prodrive... While some suggest Adrian Reynard is finished in motorsport, others believe if he is able to pull of the BAR deal, Honda’s known want to own the team (not now,but in the future) could lead to a considerable profit in a few years time. It is hard to image the deal not going ahead. Pollock is still fighting, but matters will come to a head in the next 10 days. The most interesting thing will be to see how Jacques Villeneuve reacts. He might, of coixrse, consider that he would prefer to move elsewhere next year. In which case, Benetton would be willing to welcome him with open arms. All of this might help to explain the recent attempts to destabilise Giancarlo Fisichella... -JOESAWARD

MUGEN had been expected to make a big announcement about its plans for the future at Sepang, but the only news that came was in a bizarre press statement which indicated that the company has not been able to do a deal with Honda, but is still in the process of negotiations and hopes to be able to supply engines in F1 next year. There was speculation that Mugen would do a 're-badging' deal with AMT for the old Peugeot engines. This was denied. The only other potential source of engines for the 2001 season would be some kind of a deal with Toyota to run prototype versions of the Toyota engines, so that they would be welldeveloped by the time Toyota was ready to enter FI in 2002. This may sound an odd suggestion, gven that Mugen is owned by Flirotoshi Flonda, but it makes sense. The increased restrictions on testing in FI mean that Mugen could provide Toyota with a huge resource of information. The mention of Satoru Nakajima in the Mugen statement is also rather odd. Nakajima is trying to help Tora Takagi rebuild his FI career. Both are said to be very close to Toyota and, according to our sources, are trying to put together a CART deal partnering Roberto Moreno at Patrick Racing next year (using Toyota engines), before switching to FI in 2002. Could the statement be hinting at Mugen's future involvement with Toyota in FI ? - JOE SAWARD

Unclear san: Will Mugen end up with Toyota? Maybe...

n The public hearings for the World Health Organisation's planned Framework Convention on Tobacco Control have now concluded and were followed by the meeting of the 'Intergovernmental Negotiating Body', which has begun to make proposals about text for the planned global anti-smoking treaty. The earliest point at which anything could be finalised is 2003, but it is almost certain to take a great deal longer to hammer out a deal which will please everyone. The proposals under discussion include internationallydetermined tobacco tax rates, a ban on duty-free sales, a clampdown on sales to teenagers, a ban on all cigarette vending machines, measures to protect the health of non-smokers in public places and a ban on tobacco advertising, marketing and sponsorship. The FIA has said that it will ban all tobacco advertising in motorsport from 2006, if the treaty is agreed. n Stories suggesting that one of Mika Hakkinen's pilots had been killed in the recent train crash at . Stevenage in England came as a surprise to Hakkinen, Mika does not own his own plane and simply charters jets when he needs one to fly around Europe. n Hakkinen, incidentally, is reported to have said that, if he had won the World Championship this year he would 'definitely' have retired, but he says that losing the battle with Michael Schumacher has given his new motivation to continue winning races. 'I don't want to stop now,' Hakkinen said. n The town of Kerpen In Germany has decided to name a street after Michael Schumacher. The local council has voted to rename Chrysler Strasse after Schumacher, because the DaimlerChrysler company decided to relocate Its offices in Kerpen to the new federal capital in Berlin. DaimlerChrysler, incidentally, is an important shareholder in the McLaren team - Schumacher's big rival in FI. n The Arrows team has signed a technology partnership with RG Tecq, a Californian-based encryption software company. The team is worried that other teams have been trying to discover why the car is so fast from its data transmissions. According to our sources, the rival teams would be better off looking at the Arrows gearbox. n John Nichol, who in recent years has been the clerk of the course at the British Grand Prix, has died from cancer at the age of 45. Nichol was a well-known figure in British racing circles, and was the leading member of his generation in the organisation of events. -JOE SAWARD

home of

n [motorsport] , '^ shell Championship Series VS Supercars* Nov 19 ...FAI1000-Bathurst ....Rd 13

FIA Worid Rally Championship* Nov 12 ...Australia ...

.Rd 13

Nov 26 .. .Great Britian

.Rd 14

NHRA Winston Drag Racing Series Nov 12 ...Pomona

.Rd 25

FedEx CART Championship Series* Ocl 29 ... .California

n Rd20

57 iatliupst entries Few surprises in fail field for Mount Panorama !\lo

Drivers

;1 ;2 ;3 4 ;5 6 :7 8 :9

Craig Lowndes/Mark Skaife Jason Plato/Yvan Muller

: io Australian Rally Championship* .Rd7

Nov 12 ...Rally Australia

SOOcc World Grand Prix , Motorcycle Championship* Oct 29 Australia .Rd 16

American Le Mans Series* l Rd 11

Oct 29 Las Vegas Dec 31 ...Adelaide .

●Rd 12

Shell Championship Series V8 Supercars 2001* Mar4 ■Albert ParX . . .(Non Championship) Mar25 . . . .Philip Island ●Adelaide Aprs

.Rdl

Apr 29

Eastern Creek

■Rd3

May 12 . . .Hidden Valley Jun 7 .Canberra

.Rd4

.Rd2

.Rd5

FIA Formula One World Championship 2001 Mar 4 . . . .Australia

. Rd 1

Maris . . .Malaysia .Brazil Apr 1

. Rd2

Apr 15

. . .San Marino

. Rd4

Apr 29

Spain

. Rd5

. Rd3

SOOcc World Grand Prix Motorcycle Chompionship*2001 .Rd 1 Apr 8 Japan .Rd2 Apr 22 South Africa .Rd3

May 6 . . . .Spain May 20 . . .France . . .

.Rd4

June 3

.Rd5

Italy

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'11 ;i2 i 14 ;i5 : 16 ; 17 n 18 ;20 21 I 22 ;23 124 :25 ^26 ■28 ;29 ■30 31 34 35 36 37 38 42 43 44 I 45 46 50 54 55 56 57 |61 67 72 75 76 77 87 96 97 150 500 600 777

Trevor Ashby/Steve Reed Craig Baird/Simon Wills Glenn Seton/Wayne Gardner Neil Crompton/Neal Bates Steven Richards/Greg Murphy Luke Youlden/Christian Murchison Tony Longhurst/David Besnard Mark Larkham/Alain Menu

Car Holden Racing Team Commodore VT Holden Racing Team Commodore VT Lansvale/PPG Commodore VS Pirtek SBR Falcon AU FTR Falcon AU FTR Falcon AU Kmart Commodore VT Castrol Commodore VT Caltex Havoline Falcon AU Mitre 10 Falcon AU Castrol Commodore VT Kmart Commodore VT

Larry Perkins/Russell Ingall Terry Finnigan/Darren Hossack Rodney Crick/TBA Carplan Commodore VT Todd Kelly/Nathan Pretty MyCar Young Lions Commodore VT Dugal McDougall/Andrew Miedecke Pepsi Commodore VT Steven Johnson/TBA Shell Helix Falcon AU Paul RadisIch/TBA Shell Helix Falcon AU Eastern Creek Karts Falcon EL Garry Holt/Garry Willmington Brad Jones/Tomas Mezera OzEmail Falcon AU Brett Peters/Rick Bates Colourscan Falcon AU Lansvale/PPG Commodore VS Geoff Full/Philip Scifleet Paul Romano/David Parsons Romano Commodore VS Biante Commodore VS Terry Wyhoon/Jamie Brock Gatorade Commodore VT Peter Doulman/John Cotter Rodney Forbes/John Cleland Wynn's Commodore VT Paul Morris/Matt Neal Big Kev Commodore VT carsales.com.au Falcon AU Craig Harris/Stephen Voight Steve Ellery/Paul Stokell Super Cheap Auto Falcon AU Garth Tander/Jason Bargwanna Valvoline Cummins Repco Commodore VT Greg Ritter/Tim Leahey Valvoline Cummins Repco Commodore VT Neil Schembri/Gary Quartly Bettergrow Falcon EL Bill Attard/Roger Hurd The Xerox Shop Commodore VS Peter Field/Shane Howlson South Pacific Commodore VS Bill Sieders/Luke Sieders All-Trans Trucks Falcon EL K&J Thermal Products Falcon AU Paul Weel/Greg Crick Mai Rose/Christian D'Agostin Supercar Experience Commodore VS Dean Canto/Ian Moncrieff Canto Racing Falcon AU John Faulkner/Adam Macrow Asia Dniine Commodore VT Ultra Tune TDK Commodore VT Mick Donaher/Tyler Mecklem Cameron McConville/Geoff Brabham Delphi/Wynn's Commodore VT Rod Nash/Paul Dumbrell Autopro Commodore VT Rob Russell/TBA All-Trans Trucks Falcon EL Crittenden Commodore VS Chris Butler/Miles Pope 3M Falcon EL Ross Halliday/Adam Wallis Owen Kelly/TBA Big Kev Commodore VS Robert Smith/TBA Smith's Trucks Commodore VS Toll Falcon AU Anthony TratVAIan Jones Matthew White/Steve Owen Challenge Commodore VS Richard Mork/Steve Williams V8 Racing Commodore VS Rod Salmon/Damien White Oneworld Falcon AU Chiko Commodore VS Ryan McLeod/Wayne Wakefield l Tim Sopp/Shane Beikoff Graphic Skills Commodore VS Melinda Price/Dean Lindstrom Ultra Tune TDK Commodore VS Alan Heath/TBA Power Falcon AU John Bowe/Jim Richards CAT Falcon AU Team Kiwi Commodore VT Jason Richards/Angus Fogg

AVESCO has released the entry list for the final round of the Shell Championship Series,the FAI1000. There are no surprises amongst the Level 1 teams, with the majority of them confirming their driver line-ups weeks ago, prior to the first endurance race at the Queensland 500. Fifty-seven entries are listed for the race, which will see the race winners earn an extra $200,000 Irom event sponsor FAI should they break the race record set by Jim Richards/Mark Skaife in 1991 (6hrl9ml4.80s), on top of the $100,000 up for grabs to win the IMG-run enduro. The insurance company offered $100,000 last year for the same feat, although it failed to go off. It’s not the first time Bathurst organisers have used cash incentives in their lead-up to the V8 classic. A $100,000 bonus was posted for Peter Brock in 1994 if he was to win his 10th Bathurst, with a choice of $30,000 or his father’s 1965-winning Cortina offered to Glenn Seton a year later. All three bonuses failed to go

off.

The list features 13 Bathurst winners, while the spread of cars is pretty even. Holden have 34 cars(19 VT, 15 VS) while Ford will be represented by 23(17 AU, 6 EL). However, as the race date draws nearer, more teams and drivers have been scurrying to fill seats and secure drives. The gaps and changes include: n Driver line-ups for Shell Helix Racing yet to be confirmed. MN expects Radisich/Bright 2md Johnson/McLean. n Rod Nash Racing to run two cars. Lead driver Cameron McConville will be joined by former Super Tburing arch-rival Geoff Brabham in the #54 car in Delphi and Wynn’s colours, while team owner Nash will combine with 18-year-old Formula Holden driver Paul Dumbrell in the Autopro VT #55. n Big Kev to enter its ex-Tander VS for Owen Kelly/TBA, Matt Neal to join Paul Morris as originally planned in the VT. n Layton Crambrook will make his return to V8s, pairing with former Commodore Cup champ Gary Baxter in Alan Heath’s EL Falcon. A full preview of the big race in our next issue. MKt

News t<|come

c xN.

Silver Dream Racer: Wurz (centre) had the rare-in-Fonnula One chance to pose with his 2001 team-mates, Coulthard and Hakkinen. THE West McLaren Mercedes team has confirmed that Alexander Wurz will join the team as its third driver next year. The deal has been expected for some time and may result in a sponsorship deal between the team and Wurz's backer D2 Mannesmann.

pressure off racers Mika Hakkinen and David Coulthard. A number of teams are now looking for experienced drivers to their testing work and Johnny Herbert,for example, has been offered a similar role at Williams, although he has turned it down.

The only problem is that McLaren currently has a small deal with D2's rival

Williams is expected to talk to Mark Blundell, who is looking for work having lost his drive in the United States with PacWest Racing. Blundell's drive is expected to go to 20-year-old New Zealander Scott Dixon. - JOE SAWARD

telephone company, Deutsche Telekom's TD-1. Wurz is expected to do the bulk of the team's testing and development work next year, helping to keep the

Gardner sixth in Japanese GT finale WAYNE Gardner had a tough weekend in the final round of the Japanese GT Championship at Suzuka last Sunday,finishing in sixth place. The Aussie, who shared a factory Toyota Supra with Hideki Noda, qualified ninth fastest, boosted by the fact that all the cars in front of him had used soft tyres. On medium rubber, Noda took off and made ground to sixth before heading into the grass, taking a McLaren-BMW with him. He was 13th when he recovered before handing the car over to Gardner, who made it up to eighth by the finish of the race. But two of the leading Honda NS-Xs were deemed to be illegal and disqualified in post-race scrutineering, moving Noda and Gardner to sixth. “It wasn’t a great result and I think we could have got a little higher,” said Gardner on his return to Australia. “But Honda has put in a lot of work this season and the results are starting to show.” Gardner will remain in Australia until the FAI 1000 at Bathurst and is looking forward to resuming his Japanese racing for the first round of the 2001 season. - PHIL BRANAGAN

Bridgestone faces future IN recent days, there have been stories in newspapers around the world suggesting that Bridgestone wiU, as we have suggested, pull out of Formula 1 at the end of 2002, when aU its current contracts run out. The stories report that the management of Bridgestone in Japan have decided that they want to revive the Firestone brand, rather than killing it off and want to concentrate their marketing efforts on Firestone in CART. If this is the case, one must expect to see a rush of Bridgestone teams to Michelin, as there is no point continuing with the Japanese company if it is not committed to FI and it would be better for teams to begin building their relationships with Michelin. But Bridgestone seems to have been a tittle wiser than Goodyear, which announced it was pulling out before the end of its existing commitments, which enabled the major teams to claim a broken contract and leave immediately to join Bridgestone. The danger is that Michelin will now decide that it is not really interested in competing against itself and will bring its FI programme to a swift end. -JOESAWARD 21 SelMw 2MI

n Alain Prost's links with an Indonesian-Singapore consortium continue to develop quietly and, if all goes to plan, Indonesian driver Ananda Mikola will test a Prost-Peugeot early in December. Mikola has been racing in Formula 3000 this year with the World Racing Team, but is expected to move to another team in 2001. Mikola and Singapore-born racer Christian Murchison will both test for Team Astromega in the next few weeks and Murchison is then expected to have a second test with the Prost Junior Team. Both men are believed to be connected to the consortium negotiating to buy into Prost. n Although there have been rumours that Toranosuke Takagi may be considering a return to Formula 1 with a Minardi-Mugen deal with sponsorship from the PIAA company, we are hearing other stories which suggest that the Formula Nippon Champion will race in 2001 in CART as Roberto Moreno's team mate in the Patrick Racing team. Patrick is planning a switch from Ford engines to Toyota power next year and the rumours from the United States suggest that Takagi may be aligning himself with Toyota so that he can move into Formula 1 with the company's factory team in 2002. n This week should see the announcement that Chevron and Texaco are to merge their operations to create the fourth biggest oilproducing firm in the world behind Exxon/Mobil, Royal Dutch Shell and BP Amoco. The French company TotalFinaElf will have a higher market value, but will have less output. Texaco and Chevron are already partners in the Asian Pacific region (including Australia) as owners of Caltex. It will be interesting to see if the merger has any effect on the sponsorship policies of the two companies. Chevron owns the Gulf brand, a famous racing sponsor in sportscars and in the early days of the McLaren FI team, while Texaco supported Team Lotus and McLaren in the 1970s before deciding to back Ford Motor Company programs. n Most of the Formula 1 drivers stayed in Asia for a rest last week, although both Pedro de la Rosa and Jos Verstappen flew back to Europe to test the Arrows-AMT at Valencia. Also in action in Valencia was Olivier Panis, doing his last test for McLaren. Ferrari ran test driver Luca Badoer at both Fiorano and Mugello, while Williams held a private test at Magny-Cours for Bruno Junqueira. This was held in great secrecy and it is believed that it may have featured the first runs of the 2001 BMW VI0 engine, the first of which arrived at the Williams factory in England while the race team was away in Japan. British American Racing was in action at Vairano with test driver Darren Manning. -JOE SAWARD 11

Changes by PHIL MORRIS

FIRESTONE may be facing a problem with the Texas’Fort Worth Speedway roimd ofthe 2001 FedEx Championship Series. The tyre manufacturer has concerns about supplying tyres for the ultra-fast, 24 degree banked 1.5m oval, despite a proposed cut in engine boost for the Champ Cars next season. At the IRL final, poleman Greg Ray qualified at 215mph in his 600 horsepower Oldsmobile-powered Dallara. But, even with a reduction of boost from 40 inches to 37.5 inches next season. Champ Car engine manufacturers are expecting to be back to the cuirent level of about 900 horsepower in time for the April 29 race. That could mean that, unless major engine or aerodynamic changes are made for the event, the Champ Cars could qualify in the 235-240mph range. Firestone’s manager of race tyre

development, Dick Davis, commented on the concerns at Surfers. “When we were first asked about a CART race at Tbxas,it was going to be held on a Saturday night, and the engines were going to be putting out around 700hp,” said Davis. “We said ‘no problem.’ “Then, when the schedule came out, the race was scheduled for Sunday afternoon. Athough the boost reductions for 2001 will bring the power down initially, by May we'll probably be near where we are now (over 900hp).” “We run successfully at Tbxas Motor Speedway with the IRL at 215mph and if CART can get its downforce and power package to the point where we're running in the 210-220mph range then we'll be fine,” said Joe Barbieri, Firestone project supeivisor. “But it's not up to us to define how that is done.” -PHIL MORRIS

AS if the season-deciding shoot out- and the million doUar purse - at the final round of the FedEx Championship Series at California were not enough, several important announcements regarding 2001 are expected to be made at Fontana this weekend. According to sources at the Gold Coast during the Honda Indy 300, Chip Ganassi is expected to confirm Bruno Junqueira and Nicolas Minassian as his drivers for next season. The 2000 Formula 3000 Champion and runner-up are expected to race for the Target team for the next two years. This seems to strengthen the relationship between Ganassi and the BMW.Williams FI team. Ganassi driver Juan Montoya has followed Alex Zanardi to the Grove outfit, while Junqueira, like Montoya when he moved to the US series, is already a Wilhams test driver. The expected move has already drawn criticism from several quarters. Some members of the American media were already expressing disappointment at the signing of yet another South American and the Frenchman, neither of whom have raced on ovals before. The sentiments were echoed by another team owner, who spoke

TEEATE

off the record; “Just what we need,” he said. “Another two guys no-one at home has ever heard of.” Aso expected at Fontana is the confirmation that Adrian Fernandez and Ibm Anderson will form their own team for next season. The Indy 300 winner is expected to run a pair of Reynards, to be based in a new race shop in IndianapoMs. His potential engine problems have been solved with the imminent arrival of Shinji Nakano, who

llmor staying? ILMOR may still be represented on the grid for the 2001 FedEx Championship Series. The withdrawal from the series of Mercedes-Benz has left a number of teams struggling for engine supply next season and llmor is said to be considering supplying up to three one car teams next year. "Given our existing engine stock, we can supply up to three cars, but to expand to any more would only increase our exposure," llmor Engineering Vice President Paul Ray said recently. "Each additional engine or car we take on costs more than we will get in return." Demand for llmor's engine may be forced by the number of teams which are yet to settle on engine suppliers for next year. Currently Walker Racing, Della Penna 12

Racing and Project Indy are yet to announce engine partners for the future. No new engine suppliers are on the immediate horizon, though Audi is said to be continuing its bench testing program for an engine which could be used for 2002. llmor has a long history in Champ Car racing. Between 1986 and 1993, the English manufacturer's engines were badged as Chevrolets but, when GM ended its Indy Car involvement, the units ran under the llmor banner for the 1994 season until Mercedes-Benz took over the program for 1995. But, while its Mercedes link was initially successful, the engine had been generally uncompetitive over the last two seasons, with the manufacturer's last win coming at Homestead in 1999 with the late Greg Moore.

Going, staying? Mercedes may be going, but llmor Engineering could still be in CART. (Photo hy Lyntty Rtid) ■●lirtRan mwi

NEWS

in CART I

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aspwrChanging camps; Adrian Fernandez will run his own team next season. (Photo by Marshall Cass)

brings with him a supply of Honda engines. Sponsors are expected to be, as usud,Tecate(beer)and Quaker State (oil), as well as Nakano’s sponsors, led by major Asian recording label Avex. There are also likely to be one or two other matters cleared up at Fontana. Newman-Haas Racing may confirm an all-BraziUan Une-

up, with Christian Fittipaldi joined by Cristiano da Matta after a US$2 ($3.9m)buyout ofthe latter’s contract from PPI Motorsports. PacWest is expected to confirm Scott Dixon(though tWs may come after the race), while Honda should confirm that they will supply Mo Nunn Racing with engines for two cars next season.

Who’s got what in ’01

WHILE llmor's future is up in the air, a number of teams have already settled on their 2001 engine partners, and drivers. But there is still a number of teams making big changes for 2001 and yet to settle on engines, drivers or both. Here's what we know - or think we know: Driver #7 Team Engine Flonda Gil de Ferran Penske Patrick Roberto Moreno Toyota Flonda Green/Kool Paul Tracy Rahal Ford Kenny Brack Ganassi Bruno Junqueira Toyota Forsythe/Player's Ford Alex Tagliani Michael Andretti Green/Motorola Flonda Newman-Flaas Christian Fittipaldi Toyota PPI Oriol Sen/ia Toyota Forsythe Champ Ford TBN (Casey Mears?) Fcrnandez/And'son Flonda Adrian Fernandez PacWest Toyota Mauricio Gugelmin Flonda Mo Nunn Tony Kanaan Ford Tarso Marques Dale Coyne Max Wilson Ford Sigma Racing TBN(llmori) TBN Walker Racing Della Ponna TBN (llrnoi?) Memo Gidley TBN(llmoi?l I iiiz Garcia Jr Proioct Indy 21 Qclslltr 2ee«

Driver #2 Flelio Castroneves TBN (Bryan Fleita?) Dario Franchitti Max Papis Nicolas Minassian TBN (Lee Bentham?) Cristiano da Matta TBN (Jimmy Vassei ?) Shinji Nakano Scott Dixon TBN (Antonio Pizzonia?) TBN (Alex Barron?)

TBN (Jason Bright?) TBN

Mears Jr gets Rahal CART Fontana ride ANOTHER of Dorricott Racing's Indy Lights drivers will make the step up to Champ Cars for a one-off appearance. After Jason Bright's race at the Gold Coast, Casey Meats will drive a third Bobby Rahal car in the CART season finale at California Speedway this weekend. Backing will come from MCI WorldCom and Mears will run with the #91 plate on the team's test Reynard/Ford. The nephew of Indycar legend Rick Mears, Casey will drive in both the Indy Lights and Champ Car races at Fontana. "I promised Casey he could have a chance to test one of Team Rahal's cars this season and Casey helped us out by testing at Fontana a couple of weeks ago," said Rahal. "Fie certainly proved he is at home in a Champ Car during the test and, through his own dedication and hard work, he has assembled the necessary resources with MCI for a ride in our test car at Fontana. "We are thrilled to help him launch his Champ Car career near his home in California and I am confident that Casey will be a fixture in CART for years to come. He has developed his skills in the CART ladder system and now he is ready to take the step to racing in the world's fastest, most powerful cars." Mears has certainly picked one of the tougher events to perform a Champ Car/Lights double, the Champ Car race being of 500 miles, bringing his racing day tally to just over 600 miles. "When Bobby promised me the opportunity to test a Team Rahal car during the 2000 season I was thrilled, but honestly it just fuelled my desire to race a Champ Car even more," said Mears. "It has taken a lot of hard work both on and off the track to get to this point and I owe a lot of thanks to a lot of people for helping me get here." - PHIL MORRIS

n A name worth watching out for in the future is Britain's Jordan Wise. The 13-year-old from Woodford in Essex has recently become the youngest man ever to win a round of the British national karting championship. Wise is being coached by Allan McNish and by former world sports car champion Derek Beli. n After years being a voice in the wilderness, Jacques Villeneuve has finally decided to join the Grand Prix Drivers Association. Fie is frustrated that his opinions are ignored by the other FI drivers because he has refused to join the organisation. The GPDA is not a very effective organisation, as its members have a tendency to fight amongst themselves rather than working together for a common cause... n Bernie Ecclestone has been working on putting Formula 1 on the World Wide Web for some time but says that he does not see the need to hurry things along. It is better, he says, to have the right product and that is currently being defined in Formula 1 circles. It is worth noting, however, that NASCAR has just done a deal with America Online to crosspromote one another's activities. AOL will get trackside promotion at NASCAR events; the sanctioning body organises over 2000 events a year in the United States, including the Winston Cup. In exchange for this NASCAR will feature on AOL internet sites. The deal makes a lot of sense to both parties. n There are rumours in the United States this week that Toyota Atlantic Champion Buddy Rice has signed a contract with Chip Ganassi Racing and will be sent across to Europe next year to see how he does in Formula 3000. For the last few years, Ganassi has been hiring European talent and may have decided that to avoid losing the stars he creates it is better if he gets control of them early in their careers. n Donington Park owner Tom Wheatcroft has rejected a bid by American entertainment group SFX to extend its lease on the circuit from the current 25-year deal to 50 years. SFX is considering spending $40m to redevelop the track for Formula 1, but Wheatcroft rejected the offer because he was not being offered enough money. Wheatcroft described SFX's offer as "an insult." n All 22 Formula One drivers have agreed to supply a set of their racing overalls for an auction to raise money for the family of Paolo Gislimberti, the fire marshal who was killed during the recent Italian Grand Prix at Monza. The date and location of the auction have yet to be announced. -JOE SAWARD 13

2001 VD FF for Davison THIS new Van Diemen will he the car to beat in British Formula Ford Racing next season - but Australians may get to see the car before that. Will Davison is due to give VD’s RF2001 above its world debut at Bathurst next month. The Melbourne-based 18-yearold will run the car at the mountain before a full program in next year’s Australian FF Championship. The car features a number of changes to the successful 2000 car,including revised suspension settings and weight

AUSSIES Janie-s Courtney, Luke Youlden and Brett Francis have had a tough weekend at the Formula Ford Festival at Brand.s Hatch. Courtney was challenging for the lend in the final when he tangled with idval Mark Taylor, while Youlden only made it to the second comer of his heat before he was caught up in another accident. He recovered, but could only finish l!>th in the

both Uai to get past.'

On lap 15 the

flagged after Finni Olli Kaurala and l)uhi)|i|^ Ferdinand Kool came' together at Paddock. Onoe the WTcekage and the unht drivers were cleared away. ' ” the field lined up for a five lap restart. Davidson and Dnhigren

distribution which is said to be more firiendly to Australia’s lOOOcc Kent engine than Britain’s Zetec unit. The car was being prepared to be airfreighted to Australia last Tuesday and was due to arrive in Melbourne next Tuesday. A second car is due before the end of the season,for NSW driver Barton Mawer. There may be as many as three cars for the class, which will be in its final year before Ford Motorsport updates to a single-chassis category in 2001.

Just call her Danny WHILE aU the boys were duking it out for the Formula Ford ‘World Championship’title, American Danica Patrick brought her Mygale home second in the biggest race in the business. The 18-year-old equalled the best-ever finish for an American HHi in the event, matching the effort offormer Indy 500 winner Danny Sullivan 26 years ago. It was a great effort from the graduate of the British Formula Vauxhall Championship(in which she raced in 1998)and this year’s Formula Ford Championship. “I have learnt so much during 14

Move over, AntiDavidson leads Courtney and Dahlgren

my first season in Formula Ford Zetec,” she said,“and I approached today by not going into each comer thinking it was the last one.” Patrick’s next mission is the British FF Winter Championship, which kicks off at Donington Park this weekend. She will continue to race a Mygale for the Haywood Racing team. molortport mwi

NEWS 1

Endangered species: Indy Lights is to receive a major shake-up in 2002.

(Photo by Sunon-lmages)

V8 Lights

Big changes coming for CART feeder class by PHIL MORRIS INDY Lights will undergo sweeping changes for the 2002 season. CART is planning to introduce V8 engines into the Champ Car feeder category and will change from its current chassis supplier, Lola. It is also examining the reintroduction of ground effects, which are allowed in The changes will make the class more like European Formula 3000 cars and will move the performance of the cars further away from the Toyota Atlantic series which. like Lights, is owned by CART. While details of the changes are not expected to be announced until the end of November, US sources have told Motorsport News that chassis manufacturers Reynard and G-Force have tendered for the deal. The chassis will be all-new and are expected to be influenced by the Formula Nippon cars that the manufacturers currently produce for Japan. Power will be aimed at the 450 horsepower level, up about 50 on the current level provided by a modified Buick, stock-block V6 unit. The unit will be similar to the 3-litre V8 27 Oclobsr 2000

currently supplied by UK manufacturer Zytek into Formula 3000 and may actually be the Zytek engine. The specification for the motor and chassis will be set for a four-year period, as it has been for the last two evolutions, which will continue to contain costs in the class. CART officials have been concerned that the popularity of Lights has been waning in the last two seasons, while the Atlantics class has enjoyed large grids and a healthy level of corporate support from Toyota. Former CART CEO Andrew Craig outlined a 'ladder' of Atlantics-Lights-Champ Cars when the organisation bought both series, but recently, some drivers (like Alex Tagliani) have by-passed the Lights series and arrived at the top rung straight from Atlantics. The move is said to have the support of most of the Indy Lights team owners. No changes are being planned for the Toyota Atlantic category. Despite having only about 250 horsepower,the cars produce lap times which are similar to the current generation Indy Lights cars.

n How much is Ferrari's World Driver's Championship worth? A lot if the estimates of what it cost are correct, with various media outlets last weekend reporting the Italian company had spent more than US$1 billion over the last five years. New Drivers Champion Michael Schumacher is reported to have taken home around US$200 million of what was spent! n Actor/comedian Eric Banner and dual Olympic Gold Medallist Keiren Perkins will 'feel the passion' at this weekend's Qantas Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix, when the pair take their turns on the back of Yamaha's two-seater YZR500 Grand Prix bike. Perkins is no stranger to speed, having taken a ride in McLaren's two-seat FI car at Albert Park earlier this year. n Veteran Sydney motorcycle rider Peter Galvin has withdrawn from this weekend's 125cc Qantas Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix due to injury. Galvin sustained three broken toes as well as muscle and ligament damage in a crash at the recent South Australian round of the national championships. The 36-year-old had been granted a wildcard entry for this weekend's event. n New Zealander Stephen Griggs has the only wildcard entry for this weekend's 500cc QAGR Griggs will ride the Auckland-built three-cylinder BSL bike, which Mark Willis rode early last year. The BSL team entered the recent Pacific Grand Prix at Motegi, Japan, although Griggs failed to qualify within 107-percent of pole and didn't race. n Ford has won the Winston Cup Manufacturer's Championship for the second successive year. Dale Jarrett's win at Rockingham last weekend securing the title. The title was Ford's fifth of the modern era in Winston Cup, each coming in the last 10 years. n Veterqn NHRA Funny Car racer Ray Higley passed away on October 21 after a long battle with cancer. Higley, 63, was best known for his series of independent Funny Cars which ran competitively, despite a relative lack of funding. n TheNHRA's O'Reilly Fall Nationals, scheduled for the Texas Motorplex in Dallas last weekend, have been postponed until November 3/4. The event failed to get off the ground, with five days of predicted rain curtailing any chances of running the race. n Attitude Clothing has signed four young drivers as part of a youth push into V8 Supercar racing. Cameron McConville, Adam Macrow, Paul Dumbrell and Matthew White have all been signed by the clothing brand. IS

NEWS

Winfield butts out Aussie Michael Guest loses cigarette money, looks for a backer for 2001 by JON THOMSON

'i't ●A

Where there’s no smoke, there’s no fire: Guest’s WRC campaign looks over with the loss of Winfield.

Rally Oz still heading east? by JON THOMSON

IT may have been off the agenda for the past couple of months, but Rally Australia will be held in Melbourne from 2002, according to the word around the World Championship at Rallye Sanremo last week. David Richards, the head of ISC, the TV rights holder for the WRC, would not comment, avoiding the question when asked what was happening with Rally Australia. "It is still there, isn't it?" said Richards when quizzed at Sanremo. However, more and more indicators point to the fact that the move will take place in 2002, leaving just this year and next for the rally in Perth before it moves to the Victorian capital. Many of the WRC media corps believe the deal has been done between Richards and Melbourne Major Events boss Ron Walker and that the main reason is money. "Richards paid $US250 million for the TV rights for 10 years and he has to make it back and charging more for the right to hold 16

Melbourne WRC on tap

■ ■ ■

MEANWHILE, beer giant Lion Nathan may be in line to take naming rights sponsorship for any Melbourne-based WRC event. The Melbourne Heraid-Sun reported last week that the brewer, which markets the Tooheys and Hahn brands in Australia, has a $40m 'war chest' to grab some major Victorian sporting events. Ron Walker said that one of the targets for Lion Nathan was the Formula One GP. "Lion Nathan are very interested in being the major sponsor of the Grand Prix, but, at the moment, Qantas has it," he said. Qantas's deal to sponsor the FI race is nearing the end of a fiveyear deal with the Grand Prix Corporation and both the Albert Park and Phillip Island GPs are prime targets for Lion Nathan. But the international airline may wish to continue its support of the two events and a new WRC event in Melbourne could be ideal to introduce the Tooheys or Hahn brands to major motorsport. a round like they do in FI will be the way he can help recoup that," said one prominent rally scribe. "The WA Government pays around $350,000 for the TV rights at the moment, but the price is going to rise rapidly and it all comes down to the ability and desire to pay wbat will be close to $US2 million ($3.9m) a year," he said. "Melbourne would see that as a bargain compared with what they pay for the Australian FI GP, while lunderstand it would be hard for Perth to justify the extra

spend," he added. In August, MME supremo Ron Walker flew by helicopter to the final stage of the ARC Rally of Melbourne in the Yarra Valley to view what could be a part of a WRC course in two years time. Ford WRC boss Malcolm Wilson told Motorsport News that he didn't care where Rally Australia was held, as long as Garry Connelly was the Clerk of Course. "I think Garry is Rally Australia and is the driving force behind why it is so good," said Wilson.

AUSTRALIAN driver Michael Guest has lost the Winfield money which gave him a shot at the World Rally Championship and is currently seeking money and opportunities in different series in 2001. Guest has had the tobacco money for the past three seasons and was looking to run in up to 12 rounds of the WRC in 2001 with the Hyundai team. But BAT,owner of the Winfield brand, recently announced a global repositioning of the Winfield brand and an end to the Guest sponsorship. “It is a real pity because I would have been able to get a chance to build on this year’s experience, but it is not to be,” said Guest. “We are out looking and our aim is to perhaps do the British Championship or the European Championship, but neither might come off.” Guest is not keen to return to the ARC because he says it would be a backward step which would not teach him much. Meantime, Guest said hopes of getting an Aussie a full time seat in the WRC are a long way off reality. No Australian will get a full time drive in the WRC in the next 10 years, according to Guest, who has contested four WRC events this year. He believes the only way an Australian will make it on the world stage will be for them to be taken out of the ARC by the time they are 19 or 20 and then drive in the European Championship or British Championship to learn the ropes as quickly as possible. “They need to be driving left-hand-drive cars as soon as possible and have plenty of corporate backing,” he added. “1 would like to help a young guy make it into the WRC and I would like to help them achieve that using some of the experience I have gained to help whoever is the one get into a WRC drive.” noigrtpert ■■mt

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DUCATI has confirmied its 2001 World Super^jltt|ine-iip]'l;i' Aussie Troy Bayliss Will lead the Italian faicfo^i'iBssduil on the title next season, hacked up by Atnenbah>Ben Bbstrom and Spaniard Ruben Xaus. All three will ride a new version of Ducati’s V-twin, designated the 996 Factory 2001, Bayliss and Xaus have already tested the new bike, which features a ‘narrow-angle’ 998cc engine.

BaylisS)^^hd won two SBK rounui'tlfiS^'easbn after stepping

f ■ into th’e team for'the ihjured (and now retired) Carl Fogarty,

will undertake his Brst full SBK season with the team after successful efforts on the American and British scries in the last two years. Xaus will be making his debut in the senior category after having success on Ducati’s factory 748cc Supersports racer.

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GLENN Seton, still looking for his first ever win on 'the Mountain' at Bathurst, has unveiled his latest Ford Tickford Racing AU XR8 and the dual Touring Car Champion believes this might just be the car that carries him to victory at Mt. Panorama. The new #5 FTR Falcon, which is said to be far more rigid than any of the previous V8 Supercars that have rolled out of Seton's Dandenong, Melbourne workshops, replaces his previous mount, which now becomes the team's number #6 car the previous #6, driven by Neil

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Crompton over the last two seasons being written off by Seton in a testing shunt at Phillip Island five weeks ago. The new car, of course, now carries the 'mandatory' 'Larry' bar, the first time Seton's cars have been fitted with the structual device. Who Seton drives the car with at Bathurst next month is currently a point of contention, with two entry lists distributed by AVESCO listing Seton driving with either Crompton, who leaves the team after Bathurst, or 1987 World BOOcc GP Motorcycle Champion Wayne Gardner.

By Allan Sclrolleld

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FEARS that the 2001 BTCC regulations would lead to a bunch of low-rent taxis lurching around the tracks were put aside when Vauxhall unveiled its Astra racer in Birmingham last week. HRT Bathurst pairing Jason Plato and Yvan Muller will drive the car. Nice, ain’t it?

MARK Handford is to leave Lola Cars International to join the design team at Jaguar Racing. Handford has not worked in Formula 1 since the early 1990s when he was employed by Benetton and Tyrrell. He then worked as an aerodynamicist with Newman-Haas Racing until he joined Swift to work with David Bruns on the design of the Swift CART car. When Bruns left Swift in 1998, Handford was appointed technical director of the company and, in addition to doing CART development work, he oversaw development work for Ford's NASCAR cars. Handford's name is probably best known because while at Swift he developed a rear wing for CART which was designed to reduce the speed of the CART cars on the fast oval circuits. - JOE SAWARD

Villadelprat close to Prost deal negotiations. The Spanish telephone company has now decided to leave FI completely. Villadelprat and Prost go back a long way in Formula 1. He was a mechanic with Ron Dennis's Project Four when it took over McLaren. Joan then worked with McLaren when Prost and Niki Lauda won three consecutive World Championships. In 1987, he was lured to Ferrari by former McLaren technical director John Barnard(who is

JOAN Villadelprat is expected to be named as chief of operations at Prost Grand Prix within the next few weeks- but only if Prost can put together a sensible budget for 2001. The Spaniard has been out of Formula 1 since he left Benetton in January, his intention being to put together a Formula 1 team for Ttelefonica. This effort failed. Telefonica was in talks with Prost in recent months and we hear that Villadelprat acted as the middle man in

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also currently involved with Prost)and he stayed there until 1990 when he moved to Tyrrell for a couple ofseasons before he joined Benetton as factory manager. He was appointed operations director in 1993 and ran the team for Flavio Briatore throughout the late 1990s. The team's sporting director, John Walton,is expected to remain at Prost working with Villadelprat. -JOESAWARD

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Lagvna 5a€a WITH the manufacturers title now in their grasp,Audi have just one championship left to win - the driver’s championship - after their domination of the latest round of the American Le Mans Series at Laguna Seca. Again Allan McNish and Rinaldo Capello picked up a victory, but it was a battered Audi R8 which took them to the win. Capello wasjumped by Jan Magnuessen’s Panoz and JJ Lehto’s BMW from the start and then hit hy the other BMW of Jean-Marc Gounon. But the faster prototypes encountered all sorts of problems with traffic and it hampered their outright success. The Panoz hit a slower GT Porsche, for which the Dane was handed a stop-go penalty, while Capello and Lehto ‘tag-teamed’ another GT Porsche. 'The incidents not only raised the issue of the dramatic closing speeds between the prototypes and the GT cars, hut also the level of officialdom from SportsCar officials, for neither Lehto or Capello were penalised. The Porsche which Capello had hit later dumped a pile of oil right in front of the leaders and both BMWs spun off, handing the lead to the other Audi of Frank Biela. McNish took over finm Capello and was the car again in the wars, being pushed offthe track by Gounon. “Some driver’s behavior is 100 percent unacceptable,”fumed the Scot. “It’s hard enough to fight with drivers who are solidly driving for position or points, without having to fight with other not-soexperienced drivers. They call themselves professionals, but you wonder...

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I “When drivers do something i wrong I accept being penalised -1 I was penalised at Mosport and I I accept that, but it needs to be fair I across the board. Bad driving “■ needs to be penalised for everyone (that does it).” 'The Panoz challenge ended with an engine trouble for the Magunssen/Brabham car which eventually became terminal, while Hiroki Katoh crashed the team’s second car heavily on the run up to the Corkscrew. “Jan lost power and came in,” reported Brabham. “We had a look and I went back out just to tiy and get to the finish, but it got worse and worse. There wasn’t enough left in it to get me around the track.” Through all of the carnage, the Audis continued at the front and the Biela/Emanuele Pirro car was victorious over the McNish/Capello version, with the BMWs of Lehto/Jorg Muller and Gounon/Bill Auberlen behind. The speed of the Reynard 2KQ continued to improve, Stefan Johansson and Guy Smith in fifth, albeit three laps behind the leaders. Olivier Beretta and Karl Wendlinger took Dodge’s Viper back to the top of the heap in the GTS class, while Boris Said and Hans Stuck took their BMW M3 to a win over the Porsches in the GT class. With just two rounds of the series to go, at Las Vegas this weekend and then Adelaide, one retirement from Audi may be Hard fought victory: McNish was enough to open the door to back-tounderstandably excited about back titles for BMW in their winning Laguna Seca. Driving elderly 1999 model car. What an standards of some were brought into question... upset that would be though... moisrtiiert newt

SPORTSCARS

me returns to Le Mans

JOEST looks certain to mastermind Audi’s sportscar campaigns in the American Le Mans Series and the Le Mans 24 Hour next year. An announcement has yet to be made, but Audi and Joest are both sending out signals that their twoyear arrangement will be extended into a third season. Marque motorsport boss Dr Wolfgang Ullrich says he expects to continue “with the existing partners if the project is ratified.” Reinhold Joest, meanwhile, is pushing on with the construction

of a large workshop in Atlanta as though the deal has been done. Audi is also aiming to sell two of this year’s R8 prototypes to a privateer team to run in either the ALMS or the new stand-alone European series. Tbp ofthe list to land these cars is former FI and CART driver Stefan Johansson’s team. Ullrich says no decision has been made about the destination of these chassis, but Audi insiders have indicated that JohanssonMatthews Racing is a clear favourite to land the cars. JMR team manager John

JJ/Brabham Superteam

Lehto could Join Panoz in 2001

Wickham admits that the Indianapolis-based squad, which is running Reynards this year, is in the running. “We are pushing hard and have good cash flow, so I believe we are in with a good chance,” he said. One stumhling block to a deal with JMR could be Audi’s desire to be represented in the ELMS. Ullrich said that ifAudi ofAmerica decided to continue its support of an ALMS programme, he would favour selling the cars to a team wanting to contest the European series. -GARYWATTaNS

THE Japanese operation that masterminded Toyota's first Le Mans 24 Hours campaigns in the early 1980s is going back to the French sportscar classic. Dome Cars built Toyota's Group C Le Mans contenders in 1985-1988 and is now producing an all-new prototype that it is aiming to sell to privateer squads for next season. The Dome SI 01 is due to run for the first time with Judd VI0 power in February. The car has been built to comply with both Le Mans regulations and the rulebook used by the re-named FIA Sports Car Championship and Grand-Am. Dome believes it can build between two and four cars for next season. The target weight for the SI 01 is 850kg, with Dome also considering producing a version of the car for the 'baby' prototype class. - GARY WATKINS

MOTORSRORT

by GARY WATKINS FORMER Le Mans 24 Hours winner JJ Lehto could link up with David Brabham to form a sportscar‘superteam’at Panoz next season, with the Finn admitting he has been approached by the American team about driving its radical 2001 contender. Lehto is out of a drive next season, with BMW having called quits on its V12 LMR program in the ALMS. “They [Panoz]said that we should talk about things,” Lehto told Autosport. “I have to look at all the alternatives and think hard about the options.” What other options Lehto has are unclear. He could probably remain with BMW,but a drive in one of its GT class M3s is unlikely to appeal. A full-time seat with the Audi factory §quad is also difficult to envisage, given that Tom Kristensen is expected to take Flbound Allan McNish’s ride. Panoz race director Dave Price remained non-committal about the 21 oeiabar 2000

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Talking: Team 6wnaOon Panoz above and JAebto possibility of Lehto joining the team for the ALMS,or possibly just Le Mans. ‘You wouldn’t turn down lightly the opportunity to take on one of the best sportscar drivers in the world if you felt you needed more drivers,” he said. Price has already said that he expects to again run two cars in the ALMS next year, although he has suggested that only one car might race early on as the team prepares for Le Mans. Another name in the frame is Cadillac driver Max Angelelli, who is known to have had an approach from the team. He impressed Panoz in a one-off appearance at Le Mans in 1999.

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Our favourite Martin returns TWO-TIME Australian Superbike champion Marty Craggill is back in Melbourne after contesting the latter half of this year's British Superbike Championship Series for Team Kawasaki. Craggill is hurting slightly as he hobbles around his home, with fractured metatarsal bones in both feet. "Five weeks ago on the Brands Hatch Indy circuit. I came off the Kawasaki and broke the five metatarsal bones in each of my feet," explained Craggill. "We couldn't get the rear-end in the bike to work properly and as a result of that I had some pretty horrific tumbles." At four different series rounds, Craggill ended up injuring his back, breaking a collarbone plus two ribs and got knocked unconscious, before going over the handlebars at Brands Hatch. "The pace was pretty hot over there. The top 15 or 16 riders were covered by less than seven-tenths of a second and, if you didn't have your bike really working well during qualifying, you had a battle to get through the mid-fielde/s." At present, Craggill is recuperating and working on his fitness while he works through the various options on offer for next year. "Both Kawasaki and Yamaha have asked me to ride their machines in the 2001 Australian Production Superbike Championship plus I'm also looking at the US AMA Superbike Series plus the World Supersports Series," he said, "There is a lot happening out there with rider changes in all of the championships, and I would like to take in either the US or World Series races if possible." In the short-term, the '97 and '98 Aussie Superbike champion will be travelling down to Phillip Island this weekend for the Qantas Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix. "I'll be catching up with a lot of my mates and supporters at the Island. Then, hopefully in several weeks time. I'll be able to announce what is happening next season. "I don't want to go back and do the British Series once again. I'm looking for a fresh challenge, as I still have the hunger and the desire to win more races and championships." -GRANT NICHOLAS 22

Biffi

wards does it in

IF you have to win your first World Superbike title in England in October, you could do a lot worse than to do it as Colin Edwards did. After falling almost to last at the start of the first race, the Texan stormed back into contention, threatening for the win until he slid off in the damp conditions. But, in a drier Race 2, the Castrol Honda racer right made no mistake, taking the lead from Neil Hodgson and pounding the field to lead all the way to the flag. The battle for the first race win was between British Superbike veteran John Reynolds and 'Troy Bayliss. The Aussie hunted down and passed the local’s Red Bull Yamaha late in the race, only to be repassed for the win. He finished 0.5s ahead of the

Infostrada Ducati at the flag but, in the process, Bayliss sealed the prestigious manufecturers’title for the Italian manufacturer. Another local, Chris Walker, took third on his Suzuki, ahead of the Ducatis of Hodgson(GSE)and Juan Boija. In race 2, Hodgson led from lap five, but the Honda V-twin was quickly past and pulling away. Pierfrancesco Chili, who struggled home 10th in the first race, was charging after him, but fell short to finish second. Bayliss made it to fifth before running off into the gravel at the daunting Druids. “Pity about my crash in Race 2, I wanted to win at all costs,” said Bayliss. “In the first race, I made the right choice of tyres and I was fighting for the win. In race two, I made a small mistake, which I paid for dearly

All-the-way KRJR

KENNY Roberts celebrated bis first World Cbampionsbip in style at Motegi by dominating tbe Pacific Grand Prix. Despite giving best to Max Biaggi in qualifying, the Suzuki star led from start to finish, winning the race by 6s. “After Rio, we came here to win and we did the job,” he said. “My bike was perfect from start to finish; now I want to do the same at Phillip Island.” While the American fled from the opposition, the battle of the race was between Valentino Rossi and Biaggi. The two Italians, not noted for being the best of buddies, went wheel to wheel after Rossi recovered from a disastrous start. Rossi only secured second in the final comers of the race. “I shut all the doors on him,it was a great race,” Rossi said. “I said last week that we didn't see the tme Kenny in Rio, but I think I prefer the Rio Kenny, because he was so fast today and I think he'll be hard to beat in 2001.” Behind Biaggi, who turned his head away from Rossi on the line, came the rejuvenated Carlo Checa, who celebrated his 28th birthday with fourth place on the Yamaha YZR500. Norick Abe was fifth,just getting the best of outgoing World Champion Alex Criville’s Honda. It was a bad race for Garry McCoy. The Aussie had a heavy fall off his Red Bull Yamaha in qualifying, leaving him in pain and in eighth place. McCoy ran off the track on lap 13, tumbling unharmed into a sandtrap. Points: Roberts 249, Rossi 193, Checa 166, McCoy and Barros 150, Biaggi 146,Abe 137.

THE 260 World Championship is set for a thrilling showdown at Phillip Island this weekend after Daijiro Kato beat the dominant

More stars and stripes: Roberts celebrates. Yamahas of Shinya Nakano and Olivier Jacque. All three riders are now covered by 11 points and can now win the title at PI. Aussie Anthony West was sixth on his Shell Advance Honda after a race-long battle with Ralf Waldmann (Aprilia). ROBERTO LocateUi took the 126 title in fine fashion,storming to an all-the-way win at Motegi. His only challenger for the title, Youichi Ui, challenged early before dumping his Derbi in the dirt, motorsport nswt

BIKES

Style

“I’m really satisfied with my first year in the Superbike World Championship and I can't wait to begin the winter tests with the new bike to prepare for 2001.” Countryman Troy Corser was worse off. After being caught out on full-wets on the drying track in the first race, in which the Aprilia star claimed seventh, the provisional pole-sitter was back to his best in the dry second leg, but was too far back to challenge Chili or Edwards. But he still claimed third, tying up third in the championship in Aprilia’s second year. “The weather didn't do us, or anybody else, any favours and tyre choice for the first race was a lottery,” said Corser. “We should have used cut slicks instead of full wets. The wets were good in the early part of the race, but then it was a struggle when a dry line appeared.” Final Points; Edwards 400, Haga 335, Corser 310, Chili 258,Yanagawa 247, Bayliss 243.

- DARRYL FLACK

Next year? Will Biaggi win for Yamaha in 2001?

ITAUAN Max Biaggi and Spaniard Carlos Checa will stay on Marlboro-Yamahas amid a long list of possible changes to the MotoGP line-up for 2001. The Roman racer, who has had two disappointing seasons on Yamaha's YZR500, is said to be determined to win the title in the final year of 500cc two-stroke GP racing. The Netherlands-based team will continue to be run by current Marlboro men, Lin Jarvis and Geoff Crust. Phillip Morris will expand Its support to two,two-bike Yamaha 500 teams. Current 250 title contenders Shinya Nakano and Olivier Jacque are expected to move into the premier class, carrying their Chesterfield branding currently seen in 250 racing. The WCM Red Bull Yamaha 500cc GP team is also to undergo some changes, with Noriyuki Haga set to join Garry McCoy in the Austrian-based, Peter Clifford-run team. The Japanese ace, currently serving a three-week suspension for testing positive to a banned substance at the South African round of the World Superbike Championship, has raced competitively on GP bikes in the All-Japan Championship and has had a number of wild card rides in the world series. Honda are said to be again supplying five NSR500s in 2001, but the combinations are far from being made public. The most likely line-up is that long-time Repsol/Marlboro man Alex Criville will run with Honda HRC,while Loris Capirossi and Alex Barros will remain with Emerson Pons, and Valentino Rossi will continue where he is (Nastro Azzuro/Doohan). The remaining NSR is said to be secured for Dutchman Jurgen van der Goorbergh, with backing from Shell. Outgoing Honda men are Sete Gibemau (to Suzuki)and Tadyuki Okada (to the Castrol Honda SBK squad or, possibly, to retire). Haga's replacement in the SBK is less clear. The factory is said to be favouring a Japanese rider, though Regis Laconi, having lost his Red Bull 500 ride, may also be in contention.

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’s IRL title

I’m the man: Lazier celebrates his title success after a fourth (indyradng.com photo by Ron McQueeney) place finish at Texas.

WHILE Scott Goodyear said goodbye to the Pennzoil Panther team in fine fashion with victory in the final IRL round of the season at Texas Motor Speedway, it was Hemelgarn Racing’s Buddy Lazier who scooped the championship and the US$1 million bonus from series sponsor Northern Light that went along with it. “We’re just thrilled,” Lazier said.“We had a great day today. This has been a long time coming. This team has been fighting hard for several years. This is the culmination of a lot of hard years of work.” Lazier becomes the first driver to have won the IRL championship as well as its jewel, the Indy 500. Goodyear had staged a thrilling dice with Eddie

Cheever in the closing stages of the 208 lapper, eventually getting the lead at turn three on the last lap to hold on by 0.14s. “The car was better as the tyres wore,” Goodyear said. “It was really close to the end and how we battled all year. I’m really happy for the guys at Panther Racing. They worked hard and it paid off.” Billy Boat, driving for Dale Pelfrey in a car prepared by the Panther team, was third, ahead of new champ Lazier. Lazier actually clinched the title after 181 laps, as the attrition rate made it impossible to finish low enough for Goodyear or Cheever to overtake him in the championship standings. “This is as big as winning the Indianapolis

Goodyeap/Cheevep to team?

TWO of the Indy Racing League’s most experienced and successful drivers could be joining forces for a ‘dream team’ in 2001. It all hinges on the decision of Scott Goodyear. The Canadian has an offer from Eddie Cheever to drive a second Team Cheever car, the offer made when Goodyear and his Pennzoil team announced they wouldn't be together next year. “I’m considering it a lot,” Goodyear said. “Of all the things that have come to me since about midJune, Eddie’s probably is the most intriguing. I have a lot of respect for Eddie, not only for the way he can drive a race car, but the way he has assembled his team and runs his business. “Another intriguing factor is I believe the new engine is going to be very strong that Nissan is bringing out next year. Goodyear said earlier in the season that he had lost his desire to race, although his pole and second at Kentucky and win at Texas may have re-ignited the competitive urges. - PHIL MORRIS 24

500,” Lazier said. “It is great to have my family here with me. The Indy Racing League has been good to me. I’m so happy to be out there. It’s great.” Lazier has been with Ron Hemelgarn since the League was formed in 1996, the team owner thrilled with the win. Brazilian Airton Dare ended up 12th, but that was enough for him to clinch the Rookie of the Year award from American Jeret Schroeder and Sarah Fisher. Pole-sitter Greg Ray fell back from the start and lasted only 1.8 laps before an electrical problem brought his horror 2000 season - and reign as champion - to an end. Points: Lazier 290, Goodyear 272, Cheever 267, Salazar 210, Dismore/Beechler 202, Sharp 196, Buhl 190, Unser Jr 188, Boat 181.

de Ferrari tests at Indianapolis

Testing: Gil dc Ferrari. (n».,> by carti

A number 51 and a number 52? Cheever has made the offer and is waiting on Goodyear’s reply. (indyracing.com photo by Ron McQueeney)

... and Pennzoil takes Hornish WHILE Goodyear muUs over his 2001 plans, his old seat at Pennzoil Panther Racing will be filled by Sam Homish Jnr. The 21-year-old former Toyota Atlantic rookie of the year only ran in eight of the nine IRL races this year, but was fourth in the rookie standings in the underfunded

PDM Racing entry. His best finish was third at Las Vegas in April. An impressive test session some months ago paved the way for Hornish to get the nod over the more experienced Billy Boat. Boat is being linked with a second Panther car, albeit in different sponsor colours.

WHILE the IRL season is now over, its teams have been busy testing at Indianapolis. New champ Buddy Lazier was quickest in the test, clocking a 221.8 mph run, with the Kelley Racing cars of Mark Dismore and Scott Sharp close behind. Greg Ray was fourth quickest, while current CART points leader Gil de Ferran had his first taste of the Daliara IRL chassis. The Brazilian drove a brand new 2000 model car with no signage (bar Mobil 1 on his helmet) and clocked 218.1 mph. noiortport nawt

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Cattle-ytic converters, crows and racecars COWS may soon be fitted with mufflers,according to comparisons betweeen the noise of motor racing with other activities. In the build-up to this weekend’s fourth roimd ofthe BOC Gases Super Iburing Championship at Wakefield Park, studies have revealed that the 95dB(A)limit imposed on racing is regularly exceeded by emissions fi'om ‘normal’rural activities. Wakefield Park managing Director Gany Holt said last week that measurements taken with the same equipment that ensures cars comply with the limit at Wakefield Park revealed some interesting results. “Even a crow flying overhead can register 120dB (A),” Holt said. “And,if a background hmit of 55dB(A)was introduced, the farmers would not be able to even start up their machinery.” “Even the sound ofa cow calving is well over 120dB (A), and the 3am train from Canberra, plus semi-trailers on the road, also has background noise well over the 55dB(A)and some over 95dB (A).” Local response to the BOC round has been strong, with the local print and electronic media featuring coverage of recent tests by'Ibny Newman’s Peugeot and Paul Leabeater’s Hyundai.

Hariin, globetrotter

RENNY Hariin made a quick visit to the Honda Indy 300 last week to complete filming of his new racing movie. The Finnish director flew straight to Surfers from Vancouver, where he had wrapped major shooting for the film, which will now be called 'Driven'. The trailer for the Warner Brothers movie, which had been produced under the working title 'Champs', was due to air in US cinemas this week. It is due for release in America on April 27 next year. The film stars Sylvester Stallone as a retired Champ Car racer and Kip Pardue as a 21-year-old rookie driver. The Finnish director, whose previous movies include 'Die Flard', 'The Long Kiss Goodnight' and 'Deep Blue Sea', said that plans to base the film around the Formula One championship came to nothing. "I am much more familiar with Formula One,” he said. “It turned out to be impossible because Bernie Ecclestone made it impossible for us to shoot the races. "But CART immediately welcomed us with open arms." Flarlin and his crew did

Surfece Paradise BMW Williams is reportedly developing a revolutionary braking system in league with a British company called Surface Transforms, which has been established by three former ICI scientists. The company is developing new materials to improve the performance of lightweight brake discs. The company hopes that, in the longer-term, it can expand into other areas of business, notably aviation, high performance road cars and high-speed trains. The news has leaked out as Surface Transforms is trying to raise US$1.2m ($2.3m)for further research and development. - JOE SAWARD 26

much of the filming throughout the 2000 FedEx Championship season and shot much of the footage for the movie at Toronto and Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal, where CART does not actually race. But Flarlin is to include the Gold Coast in the movie, having shot Stallone and other actors in front of 'blue screen', which superimposes backgrounds behind the actors. Flarlin said that race fans would find it difficult to identify which scenes were shot at which race tracks. "We went to a lot of trouble to make everything look right," he said. “I bet even you guys (the media) have trouble spotting which track is which." Renny, you're on ...

Hollywood on the Gold Coast: Renny Hariin at Surfers.

Fox shows GP FOX Sports broadcast the Malaysian Grand Prix live last Sunday. "The cable broadcaster showed the race as part of Channel Nine’s response to the criticism it received for its delayed coverage ofthe Japanese GP. With the scheduled start ofthe Sepang race clashing with Nine’s 6pm news,the network ‘gave’the event to Fox to show live. It was the first time that the cable network, which broadcasts the MotoGP and World Superbike Championships, has shown an FI GP. “Channel 9 weren’t able to show it live,” explained Fox Sports Producer Soames Treflry on Monday. “The opportunity came up when

Nine offered it to us and we accepted.” As a bonus for race fans. Fox showed the event without interruption for commercials. Even better, the broadcast started 30 minutes before the race, with the ‘world feed’starting as soon as the cars were on the grid, and continued with the post-race interviews of Michael Schumacher, David Coulthard and Rubens Barrichello. But the race may be a one-off Fox, which is co-owned by Nine’s parent company PBL and News Limited, is not sure whether there will be other FI coverage in 2001. “Who knows?” said Treffry. “Wait and see for 2001. Far be it for me to comment.”

Nine does the right thing

IN the seven years or so since Motorsport News started,few issues have elicited the response that we had to the Nine network's decision to delay the broadcast of the 2000 Japanese GP. You bombarded us with anti-Nine propaganda, with letters, e-mails and phone calls pouring in to MN's offices. We gave Nine a right old slagging, and deservedly so. As we gave Nine brickbats, we now offer bouquets. The network did the right thing by allowing Fox Sports to broadcast the Malaysian event live. It may have been prompted by guilt, or just enthusiasm for the race, but it was refreshing to see a response of that manner from the network. For the future. Nine and Fox must be comforted to see the positive response from the viewers. Word of mouth of the coverage may even prompt more people to sign up as Fox subscribers. Let's hope Nine's response to future problems is as positive. - PHIL BRANAGAN motgrsgori nsMs

OPINION

Wake up to a Brand New Day

Motor Mouth Hi Hill ■wMgn

■

T was about the time that the band started its third INXS song at the 2000 Honda Indy Ball at Conrad Jupiters that the penny dropped. Not about the band; they were, in fact, the rea/INXS, aided, as they had been at the closing ceremony at the Olympics, by Jon Stevens on vocals. In Sydney, they had a live audience of 110,000plus and around 3.5 billion watched on TV. Now, there were around 1000 of the bold and the beautiful listening to them, in the words of David Letterman, lift the roof off the dump. It was hard to not be impressed; unless they rolled out the Stones (Mick and Keith, not Jimmy and Ross) this was about as good as it gets. It was a name-dropper's heaven. Bobby was there (Rahal), so was Mo (Gugelmin), Mark (Blundell), all the brass from Indy, IMG, pollies like Nick (Greiner), Pauline (Hanson), showbiz types and more cleavage on show than MN's photographers could shoot in a month of racedays. Almost... It was, according to many of the Americans there to Vv'hom 1 spoke, the highlight of the Champ Car social season. Apparently, Long Beach has a similar knees-up, but there are only about half the number of people there, no INXS and nowhere near the glam. And this shindig had someone else, for the first time in ages; a home-grown driver. Looking only slightly uncomfortable in his dinner jacket, Jason Bright slipped as smoothly into the CART glitterati as he had into the Della Penna Reynard-Toyota and, just like he had on the track, he stayed off the walls and settled in. By the time Jon Stevens was advising us that sometimes you kick, sometimes you get kicked, JB was gone, off to bed, with a damp Saturday qualifier to dream about.

right has plenty of dreams. Unfortunately, being a race driver, his dreams will not be 21 OcIoMf 2000

minutes before the TV director picked up car #10 in the background and decided to focus on him. Then they followed him for much of the session, but The Moment had been missed. How much coordination would it have taken to ensure that 'Queensland's Own' received as much coverage as possible on his opening laps?

If,

facilitated by popping down to the local sports store and putting a tennis racquet or set of golf clubs on the credit card. His dreams will rely on getting a full-time seat in an 800 horsepowerplus Champ Car, with a good team, so that he can continue to make progress in his career. His dreams will take mucho moola. We wish him luck. He will need It, if the reaction to his first day on the track was anything to go by. Queensland Premier Peter Beattie guaranteed himself max media coverage a few months ago by pledging $300,000 to underwrite Bright's drive. Unfortunately for him, the wolves were waiting. About the same time as Bright was battling the damp and a dodgy clutch on the track, Beattie was copping a serve off it over spending taxpayers' money on a race driver. Such is life; Beattie took the good press, he will have to take the bad. But here we were, in a ballroom filled with powerful and influential people with, maybe, a billion dollars in annual earnings between them, and the press was baying over S300K. Sure, that money was supposed to be boosted by

corporate input to match and allow Jason testing and two races prior to heading home. But, apart from some support from Gillette and Budweiser, Brighty and Beattie were flying solo on this one. And, even having got him to this level, there were some things which could have been handled better. On Friday morning, 'Our Jason' (you know, like 'Our Cathy' and 'Our Don') was getting ready for his first run. He climbed into the car, got belted in, had the Toyota tickled, plucked a gear and rolled out onto the track. A product of our own motorsport system - karts. Formula Ford, Formula Holden, V8 Supercars had made in into the big time. 1 know this, because I had privileged access to allow me to see it happen. Indy FM TV, providing the pictures to the numerous screens around the track and video for the evening news services around the country, was following some mid-fielder as he bedded in his brakes. They might as well have been showing ads. On the timing screens, we watched Bright click off his first Champ Car lap times for 20

'IknowtMs, because I had ppivlaged access te slew mete seen happen. hdyfMTVwasfolewbm somemkHMdpioddBPas he bedded in Ms brakes. They night as vtfol have oeon snewiiB ana

Ever since CARTincircus arrived in the Australia 1991, the Indy race has won deserved accolades for running the best event of the year. The same thing happened in 1985, when Formula One arrived in Adelaide and left with their jaws hanging and new standards for other GPs to reach. It happened again with the Olympics. Without wanting to sound cocky, we're the best in the world at this stuff. But we're the worst in the world at supporting our drivers when they need supporting. If and when Bright makes it to the Big Time and stays there, he will have opportunities without number to make more money than he could ever spend. So will Mark Webber. So will James Courtney. Hell, New Zealanders are bexxer at this stuff than us. Scott Dixon has more support than Bright and will ride that backing into PacWest next season. But, unless we change our ways. Bright must continue to look overseas to make the contacts he needs. We need to ride the wave of nationalism that the Games has delivered to ensure that our drivers get their chances on the world stage. Looking around the room at tfie powerful people, it was hard to believe that we couldn't sort all this out if everyone was working in the same direction. Others have done it. Even INXS has done it. Someone who should know mentioned that the band would have received around $150K for the night's work, but noone would say it was not deserved. It's too bad racing drivers can't sing like Jon Stevens. I've heard Brighty sing. He's terrible. But, there's no doubt; he sure can drive .. . 21

Tom an Jerry, toy w n ft..'.,'

War of Words: FIA President Max Mosley and McLaren boss Ron Dennis are not getting on, and the chances ofthe two of them sitting down and sharing a Happy Meal are almost zero. (Photos hy FaccAccess andSutton-lmages)

hen I was a kid I loved Tom & Jerry cartoons. There are probably a few Masai warriors and wandering Aborigines (or should I say 'Indigenous Australians'?) who have not encountered Tom & Jerry, but there are not many in the world. The concept was simple. Two completely incompatible individuals (Tom the Cat and Jerry the Mouse) lived in the same house. The cartoons consisted of the battles they fought. They devised the most bizarre ways of hurting one another. They flattened, poisoned, minced, electrocuted, stretched, blew up and generally abused one another beyond the realms of possibility but, no matter how awful their demise, they would pop back into recognisable animal form and resume the fighting. The whole process was accompanied by the necessary music to fit the mood of the moment. If I was a sociologist (and thank goodness I am not) I would probably suggest at this point that Tom & Jerry is simply an extension of the old Punch & Judy Show which used to be found at fairs and fetes across the world. People like to laugh at the misfortunes of others. Oddly - and probably significantly - the only language that has a word for this concept is German. They call it 'schadenfreude'. Everyone likes to laugh at someone else's expense. And thus. Formula 1 's own version of Tom & Jerry is very popular in the paddock. It is called 'The Max & Ron Show' and, in essence, is no different at all to the more famous cat and mouse. The two individuals involved are completely incompatible and spend their lives attacking one another. The Max & Ron Show has been going on for years. Some will tell you that the fight dates back to 1969 when they first met in a Formula 1 paddock and had a dispute over how to use knives and forks. I have no idea if that story is true, and nor do I care. Such personality clashes have little place in the modern world of Formula 1 and I feel very strongly that, as Max

Mosley and Ron Dennis throw knives at one another, they are in danger of damaging the sport that they both love. Both men have a lot to be respected for. In their individual ways, they have achieved great things and, yet, they allow themselves to be drawn into this silly feud which does nothing for the credibility of either. It keeps the FI media amused (which is not hard). Max has a lovely writing style and his insults are beautifully-crafted. Elis threats are as smooth as silk. Dennis, on the other hand, is rather more clumsy in the way he expresses himself, but the passion burns stronger and you can feel the fury bubbling just below the surface. It is like watching a black mamba fighting with a wounded lion.

"To my mimi, The Ron & Max Show is an irrelevance. They are cartoon characters who seem to have imssed the point that the Formula 1 show is about the drivers and not about them. Their games are n not important. The letters that they fire between them, leaked to the press or simply issued in press release form, adopt a formal tone, using excessive politeness to hide their mutual distaste. They treat the FI media like fools and blame the press for misrepresenting them whenever it suits them to do so. But, when they want help, they are suddenly very pleasant company. In fact, they are usually very pleasant company. It is just that they cannot abide one another. What they fail to understand while they are using and abusing the press is that most of the men and women in the Media Centre at a Grand Prix do not give a toss what they are saying moiorsDort news

FORMULA ONE

cars nd nuggets or doing. It is a few column inches. The only people who write seriously about the feud are those in the specialist press and, as we are often told in FI, the opinions of this small group are not relevant because the only people who really matter are the beautiful people of television who have the power to beam thrusting and incisive coverage to every corner of the globe. Usually, however, the real issues involved are far too complicated to be explained in a sound bite and so they are glossed over.

“T“o my mind. The Ron & Max Show is an irrelevance. They are cartoon characters who seem to have missed the point that the Formula 1 show is about the drivers and not about them. Their games are not important. So what is important in FI ? The sport? Fair play? A good show? Yes, all of them. But the most important thing of all is a good image. It is all in the presentation. Gloss is boss. Formula 1's attraction is glamour, and there is nothing glamorous about two people (who are not even competing) hitting each other over the head with frying pans. It's just silly. The other thing that is vital for the future of the sport is the creation of a strong commercial structure which will be needed one day when Bernie Ecclestone does not come to work. The current structure would crumble into a civil war between the main competitors. The sport has to realise that it is not about McLaren versus Ferrari or the FIA, but rather about FI versus every other leisure activity. The battle in the years ahead will be for people's attention. If FI cannot hold on to them, the sport will suffer. Ecclestone has had the vision to take FI from being a sport of very limited and local appeal to being a prestigious global form of entertainment with an audience of billions. He has done it using television and the result of it has been massive commercial success for all those involved. Bernie has taken the biggest slice of the pie but everyone has had their crumbs, t!

itoo

The Will BoxJOBSeat Saward Captive audience: The kiddies just love Ferrari, and so does everyone else, as shown by Shell’s astronomical sales ofits Ferrari model cars. (Phnios by Sunon-lmagts and MNetvs Digiiali

~or me, the most important thing in the last few weeks in FI has not been Michael Schumacher's 'historic' World Championship victory in Suzuka. No, what was most important was the fact that all over Europe, kids went into McDonalds hamburger restaurants and when they ordered their 'Happy Meals', the free toy that came with the chicken nuggets and the french fries was a model Formula 1 car. One week there were Ferraris on offer, the next it was Williamses, then McLarens, and then Jordans. It was all down to a cross marketing deal between the McDonalds Corporation and the huge American toy company, Mattel. McDonalds wants people to eat more food (and, judging by the size of the average American, the company is doing very well) and Mattel wants to sell more toys. By giving away a series of toys as free gifts, both companies gained an enormous amount of business. Kids know that the free gift changes once a week and so they bully their

parents into returning to McDonalds until they have a full set of cars. The McDonalds-Mattel Formula 1 promotion lasted for a month and, in that time, 21 million FI cars were handed out. It is amazing, the power of such a promotion. There are millions of new FI fans out there as a result. The frightening thing is that I discovered about the McDonalds FI promotion by walking into one of the restaurants and buying a Happy Meal for my son. You would have thought that someone in Formula 1 might have thought to tell us what was going on. But no, they are too busy worrying about what Max has said about Ron and vice-versa. Ron is always going on about the FIA favouring Ferrari. Well, I think that one should pay a little bit of attention to a statistic which came to light the other day. I discovered that the name of the company which sells the most toy cars in the world. Would you like to guess? Mattel? No way. Matchbox? Hot Wheels?

Actually they are both Mattel brands. Do you give up? Well, the answer is Shell. Shell has sold 25 million Ferrari models through its 48,000 forecourt shops around the world. Ferrari is the biggest brand in Formula 1 by far. By miles. It will take years for anyone else to catch up. So, let's get serious. Max and Ron. The time has come to stop throwing sponges at each other. It is time to push the sport further into the Fligh Street and get some more fans. It is time to sort out a system of central marketing for FI so that fans can buy what they want to buy in a single store. The big American sports already do that. They are clever. They make billions every year from merchandising. Millions of people say that baseball, football or basketball results play an important part in their lives. It may be weird but it is a reality. The side-effect of all this growth is that the team bosses would become richer and richer. And so would the governing body and so Max and Ron could one day buy their own islands and battleships. They could even have private armies and bombard one another with more than abuse. And everyone else could get on with the sport and give The Max & Ron Show the attention it deserves. None. 29

Paul Ratlisieh

Dick Johnson Racing is coming on strong at tho right timo of the year and it's been Paui Radisich who has been doing the winning, first at Sandown and then at My. AARON NOONAN took time out to speak with 'The Rar. Motorsport News; The momentum for DJR is building at the right time of the year with Bathurst in mind. I suppose that there are parallels with last year, where you came on strong at Indy and went to Bathurst and nearly got the win. What's the same and what's different between the two years? Paul Radisich: The fact that we introduced a new car into the program at Sandown has been advantageous to the change of result. We've been there, or thereabouts, during the year and I think we've had a few non finishes which has probably reflected in the championship so far. From Sandown, the car, the whole team and the package has come on and the last elusive few tenths we've needed are there.

Flying high: Don’t you think that perhaps we should have asked Radisich to wave the flag the other way around? Nevertheless, the Sandown result was one which left everybody in Shell colours smiling.

d’hote by Dirk KJynsmith)

MN; Power is the biggest key at Sandown and you obviously had it, while power-down at Indy is important and you had that. You appear to have both ends of the spectrums as covered as anybody else. PR: Well, there's no such thing as 'covered'. I'm still not 100 percent happy with power down and that's an area we're still working on. As far as top speed goes - the Ford has always been very quick at high-speed tracks. Last year it was with Mark Larkham with pole (at Bathurst), this year with

Steve Ellery at Sandown. The Fords are a very slippery car and they work well on the high-speed tracks. You talk about power advantage - sure, we're not lacking anything. The combination of not lacking anything and the faster tracks puts us in a good light for Bathurst, as well as it did at Sandown. MN: And the new (TEGA) bumper has played a minor role? PR: Well, it didn't make the car go any faster. What it enabled the car to do was (to) be better balanced, which, in turn, makes it a little more consistent between each track. It's made the car easier to work with rather than continually chasing something that is nontuneable, as it was. MN: Now that the results (wins at both Sandown and Indy) are coming, does that give you more confidence and does that reflect in your driving? PR; It gives the whole package confidence. It shows the guys that, for all the hard work they've done, that there is light at the end of the tunnel. It motivates everybody to do more practice and to get on with the program, because the end result will be there. For myself? Sure, it's always good to see the fruits of your labour and getting the results for it. I've always known that, if we noiorsDsn ■●wt

INTERVIEW

Fore flag m

could get the whole package to work, and with going into Bathurst, it gives you the confidence that you need.

MN: Why did it take so long to have a new car come on stream? It's been nearly two years since the two original Shell AU Falcons were built and other teams, particularly Perkins and HRT, have churned cars out in that time. PR: For sure, it was longer that what we wanted. It was a matter of getting things right. It was no good building a car the same as what we had and it was a matter of doing the right amount of homework and putting it together, and that's the reason it was so late. MN: We have to ask, what's the difference between the new and the old? PR: I can't comment on anything about that. As if I'd ever tell you anyway! (laughs). There's a lot of hard work that's gone in to improve the car. MN: Were there times last year and, perhaps this year, when you regretted the move

to the series as the results weren't coming? PR; I don't have any regrets. I had a spectacular career in the UK and that came to an end. I decided that I wanted to take the challenge on down here and it's probably worked out a bigger challenge than we thought it would be. If I had regrets, I would have never come down (to Australia). MN: How's the adaption been to Australia. You've lived here, there and everywhere during your career. PR: Yeah, there's been no surprise. Australian competition was where I cut my teeth and it was tough in the mid 80s, and it's tough in 2000. You could take any of the guys

"R was a maner of getting things right. It was no good huilding a car the same as what we had -Paul Radisich on his new car

l ll 't:-

Lifting the skirts: Radisich uses all of the road, as well as the tyres, on the streets of Canberra. The Kiwi has become Ford’s number one man in the Shell Championship Series since his arrival from the British Touring Car Championship last year. (PtuHos by Noel Paplcra and I.ynley Reid)

from over the course of the last decade and take them to anywhere else in the world and they would be competitive. MN: But in terms of living in Oz, you've settled in? PR: Yeah, I've enjoyed it. It's pretty hard not to like living on the 'Coast and Patricia and I are both enjoying a lot of things that we continued on page 32

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Paul RatlisUh continued from page 30 could never have done living in Europe and the UK. MIM: And you get to go for a ride on Dick's boat in Australia. PR: Well, I've got my own boat, so I go myself! MN:The 'Rat' moniker has started to take off and it's giving you an identity amongst the fans, who tend to warm to nicknames and the like. You've obviously gone along with it. PR: I guess there were a few people reserved about having that as a nickname, but it seems to have taken off well. If the public are identifying 'The Rat' with me, then I'm quite happy about that. How they identify it with me and for what reason, then I'm not worried about it. If the fans are happy to follow it, then that's great by me. MN:So they haven't asked you yet to do a Shell ad with Barry Sheene? PR:(Laughs) No, we're leaving that with Dick! MN: Is Bathurst your only motorsport goal left? Anything else left you want to do? PR: There's lots of things that I

want to do. At the moment the goal in front of me is to finish off what we nearly did last year (win Bathurst). That's the current goal. MN:So does it worry you who you team up with for Bathurst? PR: With the four drivers we have a very good combination. The deal is you put the fastest drivers with the fastest drivers, and that's what will happen. MN: And who are the faster drivers? PR: That's for us to know and you to find out! Cameron did a good job at Willowbank and Steven's coming on strong and, of course, Jason Bright is going to be right on the money, so it's a strong team in both cars. MN: Do you approach the race this year any differently to last year? PR: I don't think so from my point of view. Everything's on schedule as far as the team's concerned. We haven't discussed strategy yet. You can make the absolute plan before you get there but it doesn't always work and you have to roll with the punches. We'll just wait until we get there and see what everyone has to dish up.

MN: With the way the cars continually are improved each year, can you envisage anybody in the 2m08s bracket in qualifying this year, even considering the new Bridgestone compound has generally been a slower tyre than 1999's? PR: To wind half a second off around there is probably achievable. The new tyres, even though they are a bit slower at some tracks, have proven to be there or thereabouts on the

"If the fans are happy to follow It, then tfiat^ great by me tt

- Radisich on ‘The Rat’nickname faster tracks. Anything's possible, but I would say that looking at everything, it would be pretty unlikely (to do a 2m08s). But, you know, anything's possible. It's great to do a low-nine in qualifying at Bathurst, but it's all about the race. MN: Realistically, how many cars can win this race? 32

PR:(Pause) Without looking at the full list, it's a little hard to say, but there could be 10 cars. That's the unpredictable thing though about Bathurst. Anything's possible. There's 10 cars that can win it just on speed. We were the fastest car last year and we didn't win, so you have to have speed as well as reliability, teamwork, strategy and of course a little bit of pace to go with it. MN: The hype of the Murphy/Richards win overshadowed the Lowndes championship last year. Which do you count as the more important; Shell title or Bathurst title? PR: Bathurst is one race. They both are important but, in terms of the amount of work you have to put in - the championship. With the way the championship is, the long distance races, co drivers and different formats, it's extremely difficult. In my mind, the championship is above Bathurst. Bathurst should be a stand-alone event and it's big enough, but having said that they both have enough kudos. MOlOrSBOM ■●ws

INTERVIEW

I ili

Bathurst, in the public's eye, has nnore kudos than the channpionship, which is not really correct. MN:The change of format for 2001, with longer races and pit stops, will be a change. Your impressions? PR; Going away from the sprint races will take away some of the racing, I guess. Because it is long distance, you can't afford to lose any time in the pits and the whole team is going to have

Bathurst, in the publiG's eye, has more kudos than the championship, which is not realiy correct"

-Paul Radisich

to step up to the plate and that'll mean more money spent on machinery and personnel. If it makes the racing more exciting, I would doubt it. it's a very tough calendar. I know they(AVESCO) have to try different things, but I think the thing that will put a lid on the aggression is the fact that 80 percent of them are endurance races. Let's give it a go and see what happens.

Almost like yesterday: Radisich will be heading to the Mountain for his 10th start in the 1000 kilometre classic. ‘The Rat’ sat on pole in 1994 co-driving with Glenn Seton and finished second with Jeff Allam in 1990 for the Shell team in a Sierra. He has also been behind the wheel of Super Tourers at the Mountain, sharing a Peugeot 406 with Tim Harvey in 1997, below.

m^vmpu)

Number 18 back in front: Radisich broke through to take the round vic tory at Sandown, the first round win for Ford since Jason Bright’s win at Hidden Valley last year. Radisich wouldn’t be drawn, but expect to see the duo in #18 on the Mountain in November. (Pholo by Jdin Moms/MpU)

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race@tnt.com.au 33

Honda Indy 300

The Start, The End: The drivers were into it even before the first corner at Surfers. Top left, Gil de Ferran taps Juan Montoya, who spins hard into the wall below. The Target car was left stranded on the track bottom left, forcing team-mate Jimmy Vasser (who had hit Dario Franchitti) to straight-line the chicane (note his broken front wing). De Ferran below was out on the spot, while the two Rahal cars were fortunate to avoid damage, Kenny Brack avoiding the stricken Penske car below, while Max Papis just dodged Montoya’s bouncing wheel bottom.

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QWiiifKttf7fh?wed to Keep |eui* dtle liopes alive? Miracles happened at Surfers Paradise and Adrian Fernandez became the 10th winner in 10 races in Queensland. PHIL BRANAGAni reports

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Honda Indy 300 continued from page 35

Practice and Qualifying The battle for pole position had a number of variables in play long before the cars ever actually hit the streets of Surfers Paradise. De Ferran, naturally, wanted the extra point to stretch his points lead to 20; every Honda driver wanted pole to stretch Honda’s run in Queensland to five straight; and Montoya,in his final Champ Car road race,just wanted to rain on everyone’s parade. Rain on the parade it did. In both Friday and Saturday’s morning session, Huey decided to end south east Queensland’s 100 day-plus drought,tipping precip down upon the assembled weapons. Not the ideal conditions in which to come to terms with 800-plus Toyota horses for Bright. Stfil, out they went, plodding around in the Friday murk until a dry line appeared late in the going, allowing the cars about 15 minutes on slicks. Max Papis led the sheets from Houston winner Vasser, Tracy and Alex Tagliani. Bright was 24th, keeping the car clean and intact, which pleased the team no end. At least it was fine when the clocks started to run for real. There were numerous stoppages,forced mostly by cars slipping wide into the un-rubbered off-line and stalling. But when the going got tough, the tough went at it. Inevitably, the battle for provisional pole was between de Ferran and Montoya and the Brazilian took the honours with a lm32.05s, a massive 0.6s up on the opposition. “We’re happy,” he understated. “If we have rain tomorrow ...” Behind Montoya was Vasser, but that was a little flattering, as he was a whole second from pole. Saturday dawned wet; no, worse than that, bloody wet. The cars went out and splashed around until some semblance of a racing line appeared in the final 10 minutes; Monty led fi'om Vasser and Papis. An indication that the track would be better came in the slower qualifying session. Helio Castronevesjumped from 14th to seventh, picking up 0.8s on the way to vault up through the ‘faster’ group. By the end of qualifying, he would be eighth, a good result after being hampered by low boost on Friday, which the crew suspected was a pop-off valve problem. For the first 25 minutes,the faster group was a mess. In terrible wind, first Alex Barron stopped the session when he took to the Conrad Jupiters escape road (on three wheels, the other having been discarded on a handy wall), then 36

Fittipaldi repeated the trick when he locked the rears in the same place and smote the wall hard. He would be ninth in the final washup. Then the second Newman-Haas car had its tiirn. After having sat out the first eight minutes of the session for cutting short the Friday session, Andretti had the gearbox go ‘clunk’on him. He had to be satisfied with sixth on the grid. The team suspected a ’box or driveline failure and set to changing it. “Maybe he can take it with him for next year,” said one N-H team member,clearly not that delighted that Mikey is off to Green, Honda and Motorola for 2001. The cars were called in again when a cover from one of the tyre barriers escaped in the wind and landed before the first chicane. With all the stoppages, CART officials had to invoke the rule that guaranteed the drivers 20 minutes of green track time in the half-hour session, so qualifying would run late. Thank goodness. Thirty knot

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"I got into a tank-slapper during the iap and I did a 31.8.1 hoped it would be enough, and there was silence on the radio it

- Dll de Ferran on losing pole Different Strokes: While de Ferran below was duking it out for pole with Montoya, Bright was challenging Luiz Garcia Jr for the right not to start last, the Aussie getting home by 2.2s. (Photos by Dirk Klynsmrth and Sutton-lmages)

wind or no, they settled down to bring out a classic. De Ferran and Monty left together at the restart and the Colombian was on it straight away; his first flier was within 0.1s of GU’s Friday time. While they duelled, the challengers were coming. Franchitti went third with a lm32.059s, dragging Tracy with him, making an all-Green second row. Then Montoya grabbed pole. His lm31.924s bumped the Penske off pole by a tenth and the red and whites quickly got the word to their ! driver that now was the time. All eyes were on the Brazilian when he started his lap. He locked the rears and slid wide at ANA but kept the hammer down,sliding in a lm31.827s. Bang. “I knew I lost the pole when Roger told me on the radio,” he said. “I got into a tank-slapper during the lap and I did a 31.8.1 hoped it would be enough and there was sOence on the radio.” With good reason. Montoya’s qualifying technique is usually to run fast on his second or third lap, then cruise to save the tyres, then hit it again.

CHAMP CARS But this time, he had stayed on it. While de Ferran was running his 31.8, Juan was a few hundred metres behind on the road and immediately bounced him with a 31.722, snatching back the pole. In the time it took de Ferran to listen to the radio, his crew saw him back in P2. Montoya was, naturally, delighted. The car was about perfect, affected little by the wind. “There’s so much downforce,it doesn’t seem to affect it,” he shrugged. But it had not been a perfect day for Williams’ new boy, Juan shaving a wall at ANA in the morning when he misjudged a gap inside Fernandez by about a centimetre. A bent steering arm resulted; no big deal. Considering what problems Team Green had had, the results were pretty good. Tracy lost a lot of running on Friday when he locked up and stopped the session, forcing a mandatory eight minute penalty, while Dario managed just two dry laps. Both drivers made dramatic set up changes overnight and the Scot got close first up,though Tracy set his time after some more changes mid-session. Vasser had to stand on his Friday time for fifth, the American showing continuing strong street race form in his penultimate race for the reds. Between Andretti and Castroneves came something of a shock. A year ago,the best Mercedes-Benz at Surfers was

car was visibly more stable than some of its M-B brethren and

Nunn’s set-up, doubtless learned in two Surfers victories with Ganassi, allowed Kanaan to register a lm33.165s on Friday. A slide in Turn 3 cost him dearly on Saturday. “It was my fault. I screwed up,” he said.“I thought for sure I had a top five car.”

da Matta, followed. Christian’s car was being rebuilt after his wallbanger, while the PPI/Pioneer Reynard driver was unhappy after

continued on page 38

Qualifying

2000 Honda Indv 300 DRIVER 1 Juan Montova 2 Gil de Ferran 3 Dario Franchitti 4 Paul Tracy 5 Jimmy Vasser 6 Michael Andretti 7 Tony Kanaan 8 Helio Castroneves 9 Christian Fittipaldi 10 Cristiano da Matta 11 Patrick Carpentier 12 Kenny Brack 13 AlexTagliani 14 OriolServia 15 MaxPapis 16 Michel Jourdain Jr 17 Adrian Fernandez 18 MauricioGugelmln 19 Alex Barron 20 Roberto Moreno 21 ShlnjiNakano 22 Mark Blundell 23 Tarso Marques 24 Jason Bright 25 Lulz Garcia Jr

CAR Lola-Toyota Reynard-Honda Reynard-Honda Reynard-Honda Reynard-Toyota Ula-Ford Reynard-Mercedes Reynard-Honda Lola-Ford Reynard-Toyota Reynard-Ford Reynard-Ford Reynard-Ford Reynard-Toyota Reynard-Ford Lola-Mercedes Reynard-Ford Reynard-Mercedes Lola-Ford Reynard-Ford Reynard-Honda Reynard-Mercedes Swift-Ford Reynard-Toyota Reynard-Mercedes

FRIP lm35.763 1m37.836 1m40.700 1m34.894 lm34.75l lm35.546 1m36.747 lm36.099 lm36.474 1m37.498 lm55.417 1m35.480 lm35.459 lm36.843 lm34.709 lm37.589 lm38,759 1m37.025 lm37.585 lm37.510 lm35.80O lm38.047 lm36,801 lm40.962 Im45.388

FRIQ 1m32.684 lm32.057 1m33.380 lm33.572 lm33.052 1m33.123 Im33.165 1m34.295 1m33.490 1m33.761 lm33.798 1m33.856 1m35.436 1m35.101 Im34.l32 1m34.282 1m34.333 lm34.514 1m34.558 1m34.992 1m34.972 1m35.399 1m35,668 tm38.768 tm38.689

SATP 1m35.121 lm41.106 lm35.907 1m37.l23 lm35.782 Im36.920 Im39.696 1m39.472 1m38.366 lm37.419 1m38.110 1m35.879 lm40,386 1m38.404 lm35.906 1m43.073 lm37.240 lm41.715 lm40.198 1m39.600 1m36.382 lm39.845 lm40.717 1m39.468 lm48.870

SATQ 1m3l.722 1m31.827 lm32.059 lm32.328 1m36.021 lm34.556 1m33.973 1m33.474 1m35.259 lm33.939 lm36.327 lm41.810 lm34.024 1m34,059 1m34.983 1m34.448 lm35.575 !m35.563 lm45.457 lm34.835 1m38.630 lm41.083 1m37.313 lm36.432 1m39.744

Round 19 Surfers Paradise 37

Honda Indy 3©0 With this piston ring, I thee wed Ever wanted to get married at a Champ Car race? Sydney couple Rebecca Chade and Wayne Mair did, choosing pit lane on Thursday to take the plunge. Their favourite driver, Adrian Fernandez, was there to lend moral support."Why not get married at Indy?" said the bride. T/Ve love Champ Cars, and the best thing we could think of was to get married in pit lane.' No, the wedding car was not a Reynard-Ford, though that is

Green Light: Once the chaos was cleared, Tracy took over the role of fast man, powering away from the pack. (Photos by Sutton-lmajes and Noel Papelera) Team-mate Franchitti was less lucky, walking in after the first lap accident, Ford Racing PR man Steve Copping in the wedding pic ... ■ While lerve was in the air at Indy, so was Roberto Moreno. The Brazilian went for a run with the RAAF’s Roulettes and was a sorry sight afterwards, after having taken advantage of the in-flight paper bag. 'Pupo' was ill for some time afterwards and was gently repatriated by road from Coolangatta airport after recovering. ■ Send more Brazilians Dept: Seen wandering around the track was Rubens Barrichello. The diminutive Ferrari FI star was taking some R&R between the Japanese and Malaysian GPs and thought the Gold Coast was the ideal place to spend his time before the final race of the season. ■ Flonda continues to support CART'S Pace Car program. Along with the regular 'Acura' NS-X, two Integra Type-Rs were pressed into service, as well as a specially-prepared Odyssey people mover. The red rocket featured upgraded Flarrop brakes, 17 inch alloys with Yokohama tyres and a race interior, which shed about IBOkgs. The next appearance for the car will be at the Sydney Motor Show, starting November 17. ■ We are sad to report that a marshal died during the Indy weekend. Christopher Bell, of Canungra, died after suffering an apparent heart attack at the track at around 2:50pm on Saturday Bell, 35, was a 10 year volunteer for the Indy event. 31

continued from page 37 changes, only to have the water temp go off the clock during the Saturday session, costing him the end of the session. Fernandez was in all sorts of problems; so was Roberto Moreno. Both Partick Racing cars were, basically, awful. The Ford engines were fine, but everything else power down, braking, handling was off the pace. The team has had an awful time qualifying since the middle of the season. Both drivers made changes overnight, but the cars were little better. They were resigned to their lot for raceday, but both were race winners in 2000. But during 2000, races had been won from as far back as this ... and 17th gave Fernandez plenty of incentive. Mauricio Gugelmin was 18th, Mark Blundell 22nd which, not to be unkind, is about right for the PacWest team. While no-one was making any official statements, it seems sure that Mercedes-Benz didn’t bring any of their gun qualifying engines, which had boosted Mo onto the second row at Cleveland, with them to Australia, Blundell was having a terrible time. The Motorola ear went up the escape road on Friday and again during the Sunday morning warm-up and the Brit had problems getting reverse. It was kind of sad. Motorola is moving to GreenyHonda/Andretti, Mercedes-Benz is off for good (it seems)and Blundell is looking to FI testing for the future. Three years ago,PacWest was the coming

force in Champ Car racing. Mo’s name is probably writ in concrete with the team, but the rest is up in the air. A pessimistic future for Bruce McCaw’s team. Pity. Barron was 19th in the Sports Today Lola-Ford, and his main complaint was a lack of track time in the car after an escape road trip and the previously mentioned concrete thump on Saturday, which meant a late night for Dale Coyne’s lads. Still, the American was looking forward to a good race. Behind Moreno, Shinji Nakano was running well, especially when he was in the damp stuff but, when it came time to go hard in the dry, the Walker Racing car was caught short by lack oftrack time and the Japanese was stuck in 21st. Two Brazilians surrounded Bright, Tarso Marques lurching around in the solo Swift, while Luis Garcia Jr took on the mantle of tail-end Charlie. There are two almost identical, Hollywoodbacked Reynard-Mercedes cars in Champ Car racing. One was driven hy Kanaan and one by Garcia. The difference between them was 6.53s and 18 grid spots. But,if you’re Brazilian and have sponsors, anything is possible, it seems. Not so if you are an Aussie. Bright was struggling with air in the Reynernd’s clutch on Friday, which meant,in part, when he went straight on at the end of the slower qualifying session, the clutch would release fully and the car stalled, forcing him to sit out eight minutes of track time. On Saturday morning he looked

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CHAMP CARS much more at home, the car twitching out of corners as Jason got more comfortable with the speed of the thing. In afternoon qualifying, the last thing he needed was all the stoppages, but he got the job done, picking up 2.3s and staying in 24th position. On paper, it was a little disappointing. He had been looking for more, saying on Friday night that there was 2s in the car and 2s in him. But the car was straight and, considering the extensive test program and two start-up races didn’t happen as planned, it wasn’t such a bad way to drive a Champ Car for the first time.

Race(65 laps)

The Drought was back for Sunday. Warm,little breeze, sunny. Track temps were in the mid 30s by the time the cars hit the track for the warm-up.

Papis led the times with a 34.709(running on fumes,

presumably)from Vasser,'IVacy and Montoya. De Ferran was 25th (the list including spare “X’ cars) while Bright was ahead of him, running virtually as fast in race trim as he had in qualifying. After the RAAF FA-18s scared the collective hell out of everyone for a while and the national anthems(US first, us second), the cars rolled out for the start. Montoya led the charge down to the first chicane but, when he got there, all hell broke loose. De Ferran had a run on him and looked at the right of the Lola. His left-front hit the rear of Montoya and, suddenly, the red car rocked to the right and nosed into the wall. Montoya’s left-front comer was tom off and he was walking in.

Queensland loads Brazil: Bright lead Roberto Moreno mId-race after making an early pit stop. Smokingl Victor Bray,‘navigated’ by MN ASS Ed Gerald McDornan, fired up the crowd.(PhoK,by Mamwc™and pma,Bury) But not alone. While Tracy snuck through the mess,'Vasser got into the back of Franchitti, spinning him 180 degrees into the wall. He was out on the spot also, while de Ferran straggled in for a new corner and Vasser continued (with a dinged front wing)in third. Gil was hoping for a new front corner and a point for 12th at the end. After trying to fit it for about seven laps, the team rolled it away. After three laps behind the Pace Car. Tracy faced the green and stood on it. After a lap he was 3.3 clear; after two he was 5.66s in front, with Michael clearly struggling to match the speed of the Green Honda on full tanks.

Barry Green had given the Canadian a ‘go’for fuel mixture and it was showing. Kanaan had his hands full with Fittipaldi. The Ford had too much grant for the Benz and, at the start of lap 8, Christian shot past just where he had his big accident

Andretti^ radio was on the fritz and, whiio the team was caliing him in, he Gouidn't hear them. He stayed out; Vasser, Fittipaldi, Kanaan, da Matta and Carpentier covered him"

Rare sight; Once the pits closed, Vasser was in trouble, the Ganassi crew needing to put more fuel in the leader's car than his rivals’. (Photo by Dirk KlynsmHh}

three years ago and took off after Vasser, closing at 0.6s a lap. Tracy was Is a lap better than the rest until lap 12. Charging down into ANA, he had the throttle stick open and, as he wrestled the car to a stop in the escape road, the engine cut out. “I don’t know what the problem was!” he told Green. He hit the reset button and got going again, not losing a lap before pitting under yellow while the Pace Car was summoned. It turned out to be a throttle cable problem and didn’t happen again. But new leader Andretti wasn’t having a perfect run either. His radio was on the fritz and, while the team was calling him in, he couldn’t hear them. He stayed out; Vasser, Fittipaldi, Kanaan, da Matta and Carpentier covered him and lined up behind, while those behind pitted. Servia was running well, getting continued on page 40 39

Honda Indy 300

Max wfhacks; After getting a clip from Tracy, Papis nailed the wall. Team-mate Brack just missed him. (Photo by John Morris/Mplx)

continued from page 39 to sixth, but the charge was coming from Tracy. Still on the lead lap and with a stop under his belt, he was mowing down the tailenders at around one per lap. After 24 laps, the non-stoppers had to pit under green. Andretti led in Fittipaldi, Mike resuming in 16th, while Vasser went around again, pitting a lap later. The Targets did their job and Jimmy beat Mike out by about 1.7s, with Fittipaldi about 2s back and closing. But the threat was now ahead of them. Tracy was sixth, then fifth, and was only 7s behind new leader Brack, who led the ‘under-yellow’ stoppers. And he was cruising; he had charged as far as he could and, with the identical car of Nakano tucked about 1.5s back, he wound down his fuel to try and make the finish of the race with one more stop. He was aided by Barron; the Coyne car was third, about 1.5s a lap off Brack’s pace and the group in front(which included Castroneves’lapped car) was under threat from Tracy, the Canadian content to sit and wait. The early stoppers were led in for their second refuel on lap 35 by Bright(from 13th), who resumed in 18th but, the next lap, leader Brack came in ahead of Nakano, Moreno, Papis and Fernandez. The Patrick crew turned Adrian around fast and he led the group out,-taking what would turn out to be vital track position. Those stops put the Vasser/Andretti/Fittipaldi trio back in control, but that was shortened to a pair when the Andretti Ford went kaboom at Conrad Jupiters on lap 39, the Lola covered in flames even before it came to a stop. That prompted the Pace Car, but 4S

Barron spun Into the pit lane on lap 55, tragically short ol Coyne's host-over finish, on the way to retiring with an engine failure caused, no douht, from the lack of oil the pits were closed on the first two laps before Vasser could lead them in. With 23 laps to go, they needed a little yellow and a cruise, but that was not on the mind of the crews when the cars hit the marks. Vasser was slow, but Tracy, with more fuel in the car and a shorter fill, boomed past, as did Fittipaldi. It was bad news for Vasser. The order was Fernandez, Barron, Moreno and Papis(who had slid wide during his first stop, tagged one of Castroneves’ wheels and earned himself a drive-thru, which he served on lap 16), v«th Bright Every drivers wants one: No, we’re talking about the chequered flag ... The secret of Adrian’s success: Fernandez’s cockpit features adjustable roll-bar, brake bias, radio, overtake button - and a road map!(Photos by Lymsyssidi

in fifth (oi, oi, oi)from Brack and Tracy, with Fittipaldi, Vasser, da Matta and Servia following. But, at the restart, it all happened. Barron slid out of the final corner and Moreno had to lift and smacked into the wall. Right behind him, Papis stopped hard and, right behind him. Bright whacked him. He pitted at once, but the damage was too bad. Jason Bright’s first Champ Car race was over. For his part, Moreno was mystified. “The car in front of me (Barron) was leaking oil, but I don’t know whether there was any on the track,” he said. “It just went.” After four laps, it was green again and Tracy charged down to the first chicane hot on Papis’s hammer. He gave it a nudge and the Italian lost it and crunched the wall backwards. The Canadian snuck through the mess, but Servia got past when he was forced to straight-line the chicane and was ready for a fight, ignoring the drivers’ pre-race agreement that, should a position be gained like that, it would be handed back asap. When the Kool car lined him up at Turn 6, the Spaniard took the faster exit line and had half a car’s width at the Fosters Chicane on the back straight. In a trice, the yellow car belted the green and Tracy was out with a wrecked Reynard. Despite getting some air under the car, Servia’s car survived and continued -in fourth. While all this was happening, Fernandez and Barron led Brack, and the Patrick crew were doing their sums, confident of making it to the end without a top-up. There were 16 laps left, but only 12 minutes when the green flag flew. Fernandez was under the heat from Barron, but Brack had a run on both of them and banged wheels with Barron, straight lining the chicane and taking second temporarily. It didn’t matter. Barron was forced to park into the pit lane exit on lap 55, tragically short of Coyne’s best-ever finish, the car retiring with an engine failure caused, no doubt,from the lack of oil. Shortly after, Vasser, who had lost a front wing endplate in a skirmish with Fittipaldi, shot past Servia on the back straight into third, somewhatjustly. Servia was in trouble; da Matta followed past half a lap later. But, with Yasser’s wing-induced understeer forcing him to cruise home, the two Fords would settle the race. Brack charged after Fernandez, closing the gap 0.7s with two laps to run, but the Mexican stretched it to Is over the penultimate lap. But the Swede wasn’t done, fliotorsport nsiiit

CHAMP CARS

What they said later

Easy as ABC: Alex Barron was en route to second before his engine quit. With the bit between his teeth he charged out of the final corner under the Tecate car’s wing, but failed to register his first career CART win by 0.324s. Behind Brack came Vasser, da Matta, Carpentier(who had a trip down the ANA escape road on lap 26), Castroneves(who had been sixth early, lost the spot with a flat tyre, pitted and then charged), Jourdain, Kanaan, the fading Servia(whose car had a number of battle scars and who had some serious chats with other drivers [and stewards] after the

Not bloody Collingwood fans: Everyone pot into the spirit of the

race) and Gugelmin. Blundell, Garcia and Marques were the only other finishers. Blundell’s race was a nightmare, outbraking Papis(and himself) at the ANA chicane, spin-turning the car and stalling it. He got going again, the last car on the lead lap. Marques was just outeveriAhinged in the Swift. The bang with Vasser at the final restart took care of Fittipaldi, while Castroneves, who moved to sixth during the early stops, had a flat at ANA,necessitating a long cruise in, dropping him off the lead lap. Tagliani, who briefly led through the second pit sequence, stopped with a dead engine at the first back straight chicane on lap 37, while Nakano’s solid run ended with a dead Honda on lap 39 (about the same time as Andretti’s) One race to go. Five points makes it a straight fight between de Ferran and Fernandez(who won at Fontana in 1999)but, as this race shows, you can’t take your eyes of anyone, no matter where they qualify. And there’s $USlm to win. Should be a classic.

Results FedEx Ctiampionsliip Series TEAM DRIVER RACE TIME Adrian Fernandez# 2h01ml4.605 Tecate/Patrick 2h01ml4.929 Shell/Rahal Kenny Brack 2h01ml8.664 Jimmy Vasser Target/Ganassi 4 Cristiano da MaRa 2h0lm19.418 Pioneer/PPl 5 2hOIml9.836 PlayePs/Forsytha Patrick Carpentier HONDA 6 Helio Castroneves 2h01m24.945 Marlboro/Penske INDYSOO 7 MichelJourdain Jr 2h01m25.6I4 Hardez/Bettenhausen 2h01m30.375 Tony Kanaan Hollywood/Nunn ooTocnr zMoo 9 Oriol Servia 2h01m31786 Telefonica/PPI 10 2h01m33.186 Nextel/PacWest Mauricio Gugelmin 11 Mark Blundell 2h0Im33.328 Motorola/PacWesl 12 Luiz Garcia Jr running 58 laps Hollywood/Arciero 13 Panasonic/Swift Inc running Tarso Marques 14 Alex Barron 54 laps engine Sports Today/Coyne 15 KmarVNewman-Haas 51 laps damage Christian Fittipaldi 16 accident Miller/Rahal 48 laps Max Papis 17 accident Kool/Green Paul Tracy 47 laps 18 DirecTV/Dalla Penna Jason Bright 44 laps suspension 19 accident Roberto Moreno Visteon/Patrick 43 laps 20 Michael Andretti Kmart/Newman-Haas 38 laps engine 21 Uvex/Walker 38 laps engine Shinji Nakano 22 engine Alex Tagliani 36 laps Player's/Forsythe Gil de Ferran accident 23 Marlboro/Penske 1 lap 24 accident TargeVGanassi Juan Montoyat Olaps 25 Dario Franchitti accident Kool/Green Olaps # Fernandez scored bonus point for most laps led, # Montoya scored bonus point for pole position Points: de Ferran 153, Fernandez 148, Tracy and Brack 134, Moreno and Vasser 131, Andretti 127, Castroneves 125, Montoya 123, da Matta 112, Carpentier 101, Franchitti 92, Papis 87, Fittipaldi 76, etc POS 1 2 3

OOLD COW,AUmtAUA

Round 19 Australia. October 13-15 V ecMar 28B8

Adrian Fernandez: I tell you, you have to finish to be able to win (the championship). Patrick Racing has struggled the second half of the season, for both Roberto and myself to be able to qualify up front. We know we can win races if we can qualify at the front, but we continue to fight even when we don't, and we get great fuel consumption. I didn't get a good start, but it helped me with the mess in Turn 1. 1 was able to gain four positions there. The biggest moment I had was trying to pass Max Papis. We almost crashed, but we managed to stay up there and stay focused. Under the last situation with the yellow, almost everybody pitted but myself, Alex Barron and Roberto didn't pit. At the end, those yellows really helped us, as well as the two-hour limit. It's just fantastic that this series offers the opportunity to win from that far back (17th). So many things can go wrong, but we've been consistent and that's why we've been able to stay in the championship. I'm very, very excited to win here in Australia. This is one of the best races we come to. It's not a race, it's a party. The people here treat us really well all week. It's just a great place to win and I'm looking forward to coming back for many, many years to come. Kenny Brack: Every time I look up and I see the wing on that damn Quaker State car, I don't know what to do. We had trouble in qualifying, but we made some good changes before the race. It was a tough race. The start was kind of a mess, but I had a trouble-free race. I tried everything I could, but if you're running within half a second or a second of the car in front of you, you're not going to get past. Unfortunately, Adrian didn't make any mistakes. Unfortunately for me,fortunately

for him.

Jimmy Vasser: There was a lot of crazy driving out there. I don't know what happened at the start, but it was a huge mess. I've got to apologise to Dario; I hit him in the back. From my standpoint, it was a controlled race to the halfway

point. I had a little too much understeer, but we fixed it on the first stop and the car was really good. When the pits were closed, it ruined my race. I had to take on 30 gallons of fuel and everybody else took 10. That dropped me down to 10th. From that point on, it was absolute chaos. Every once In a while we have races like this. I lost my right front wing in an incident with Christian Fittipaldi and the car was understeering badly. I was catching Kenny and Adrian toward the end, but with two laps to go, the right front tyre gave up, so I had to back off. I didn't want to make any mistakes. Congratulations to Adrian and Patrick Racing for calling a great race. Their race strategy and race craft was perfect, so congratulations. Paul Tracy: I had a good start. I don't know exactly what happened up front, but I made it through that okay. The car was good and I was pulling away when the throttle stuck going into a braking area. The electronics shut it down, but then the safety crew got me restarted, I took off and was working my way through the field. We had a top three or four finish in sight when I got hit. I don't know what happened, I had the inside line going into the chicane and I got hit by somebody. I'm disappointed for the team. Today should have been our day. Now, we just have to go to Fontana and go for the maximum 22 points. 41

FAI Showd&wn

The Rat Race Report by GERALD McDORNAN

aul Radisich continued the Shell team’s preBathurst momentum with over-aU victory on the rough and tough streets of Surfers,racking up two wdns and a second from three starts. And while most of his serious opposition had the luxury of fronting with a spare car, Radisich didn’t, risking the team’s brand new AU which a week earlier had taken him to Ford’s first Shell Series win in over a year. He needn’t have worried unduly (it’s fairly safe driving round in front!) although there were some up-close moments with the Enforcer to endure before the weekend was done none more so than the third race when some muscle-flexing contact preceded Ingall’s pass for the lead and his third heat win. Of the rest, the HRT duo more or less raced each other for third - until Skaife bounced off the tyres in race three. The Indy carnage was pretty much as normal,race one sidelining Richards, Murphy and Ellery for the diu-ation, while Garth Tander crumpled his Valvoline car early in practice and spent his weekend in Channel lO’s commentary booth...

Practice and Qualifying

Naturally, a number of teams were wary of creating problems prior to Bathurst and took precautions. HRT, with a stockpile of four VTs, brought out their two oldest cars, preferring to leave the #1 and 2 cars in the workshop, while CAT Racing also found team owner John Briggs’ old EL Mkll Falcon behind the shop and entered it for John Bowe. Paul Morris, while new to the V8 Supercar series this year with the ‘Big Kev’team, was also among the lucky ones to have a ‘spare’ at home, a 'V'S taking the place of the recently acquired VT for his home race. Again, the HRT duo of Mark Skaife and Craig Lowndes dominated the practice and qualifying sessions, the red cars 42

only denied a front-row by Russell Ingall and Radisich after a top 10 shootout. To be honest, in the practice and qualifying stages there really weren’t very many surprises or incidents, the only one of note being Garth Tander’s contact with the wall on his first lap out; Tander clipped the inside wall on the way into Conrad Jupiters, the steering breaking and sending his Bathurst mount spearing into the wall opposite. The car was headed back to

"My main priority is to make sure I waik away from here with a straight $r car on Sunday, -Paul Radisich Melbourne within hours... “I just went a little too hard too early,” Tander offered. “The car is hurt, but not too bad, so we’re out for the weekend. Thankfully, we’ve got plenty of time to rectify the problem before Bathurst.” Paul Morris also had major contact with the cement, although plenty of elbow-grease and gooremover had the VS back in business for race day! 'The Top Ten was run in dry, but cool conditions and, with Tander sidelined, someone else was going to win a shoot-out for the first time this year! Big winner from the single lap contest was Ingall,jumping from fifth to pole with a gung-ho tail-out lap that had the crowd at ANA hopping. To be fair it was getting a bit murky when Skaife, King of the Killer Laps,came out last for his go and HR’T’s qualifying specialist fell a tenth or so short ofjoining Ingall on the front row.. That honour would go to Radisich - who had just one aim in mind: “This new car is working well, but to be honest, my main priority is to make sure I walk away from here with a straight car on Sunday,” he said. “I’d love to back up last weekend’s result at Sandown with three wins,just as long as the car is straight...”

Race 1(10 laps) While the teams, drivers and

sponsors had hoped for a quiet race, the fans love the V8s for the ‘biff and barge’and it took less than a lap for the cheers to rise from the stands. Yes,less than one lap... The first incident,just the sweeper and hairpin away from the front straight, saw the demise of both the Kmart/Castrol Commodores of Murphy and Richards and the Super Cheap Falcon of Steve Ellery, while Mark Larkham and Steve Johnson were lucky to escape. The incident, which started a concertina-effect between the three and Johnson’s #17, began with Murphy tapping the tail of Larkham’s Falcon as the Mitre 10 Falcon turned into the last right hander. Larko appeared destined for the wall, until Murf’s Kmart car made further contact, bouncing into the concrete. Ellery, Richards and Johnson simply had nowhere else to go - the nose-to-tailer putting three out, as well as leaving Johnson’s mount severely damaged. Naturally, Kmart team owner Garry Dumbrell wasn’t too impressed: continued on page 44

POS DKIVER 1(51 Russell Ingall 2(31 Paul Radisich 3(1) Mark Skaife 4(41 Craig Lowndes 5(7) Mark Larkham 6(6) Steve Ellery ●7(2) Steven Johnson 8(8) Greg Murphy 9(9) Tony Longhurst 10 (10) Steven Richards 11 Jason Bargwanna 12 Larry Perkins 13 Neil Crompton 14 Rodney Forbes 15 Brad Jones 16 John Bowe 17 Craig Baird 18 PaulWeel 19 John Faulkner 20 Dugal McDougall 21 Cameron McConville 22 Steve Reed 23 Paul Romano 24 Anthony Tratt 25 Rodney Crick 26 Paul Morris 27 Trevor Ashby 28 Garth Tander 29 Tyler Mecklem 30 Christian D'Agostin

CUR

fQualifying^

Castrol Commodore VT Shell Helix Falcon AU HRT Commodore VT HRT Commodore VT Mitre 10 Falcon AU Super Cheap Falcon AU Shell Helix Falcon AU Kmart Commodore VT Caltex Havoline Falcon AU Kmart Commodore VT Valvoline Commodore VT Castrol Commodore VT FTR Falcon AU Wynn's Commodore VT OzEmail Falcon AU CAT Falcon EL Pirtek Falcon AU K&J Thermal Falcon AU Asia Online Commodore VT Pepsi Commodore VT Repco Commodore VT Optus/PPG Commodore VS Betta Commodore VS Toll Falcon AU Carplan Commodore VT Big Kev Commodore VS Lansvale Commodore VS Valvoline Commodore VT Ultra Tune TDK Commodore VT Logical Commodore VT

TIME

1:53.0879 1:53.2224 1:53.3209 1:53.6226 1:53.8322 1:54.0736 1:54.3616 1:54.6151 1:54.6690 1:54.8098 1:54.6912 1:54.7663 1:54.9319 1:55.2311 1:55.5068 1:55.6538 1:55.6765 1:55.9922 1:56.1553 1:56.2171 1:56.4708 1:56.6663 1:57.7802 1:58.2150 1:58.2531 1:58.6327 1:58.7681 NTT N/T N/T

moiorsDort news

M-*

The Survivors; While there was carnage behind, Paul Radisich and Russell Ingall were sharing the wins on the Gold Coast. (PhotobyoirkKiynsmith)

Cebco Brakes Cebco Brakes have developed DIY performance brake upgrade kits to suit Falcons aud Commodores.

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"tflte came here(or a quiet weekend and to go out on the first lap... this is our worst result ol the year" -Kmart Racing team owner Garry Dumbrell

FAI V8 SUPERCARS I Gold coasm SZ UCtl-ltlMS Pos Driver Radisich Ingall Skaife « 3 4 Lowndes Bargwanna 6 Larkham 7 Longhurst Jones Weel 9 10 Forbes 11 Baird 12 McDougall 13 Reed 14 Johnson 15 Morris 16 Crompton 17 Perkins 18 Romano 19 Tratt 20 Mecklem 21 Ashby 22 D'Agostin 23 Crick 24 McConville 25 Bowe 26 Faulkner DNF Ellery DNF Murphy DNF Richards

Racet'me 27:22.7948 27:23.2073 27:27.2154 27:27.5765 27:32.2251 27:33.2411 27:34.0161 27:37.8627 27:38.8416 27:39.4680 27:40.4262 27:47.5527 27:48.6436 27:48.8508 27:53.5632 27:54.8489 27:57.0250 27:58.6730 27:59.3811 28:00.0988 28:07.2481 28:16.6833 28:29.8156 28:30.2744 29:43.9641 30:09.4988 Olaps 0 laps 0 laps

F/lap 1:54.1638 1:54.2293 1:54.1937 1:54.1017 1:55.6093 1:55.7864 1:55.7717 1:56.0896 1:56.2130 1:56.6057 1:56.1838 1:57.4144 1:57.3715 1:55.6803 1:58.0027 1:56.6536 1:57.2362 1:58.8823 1:58.8224 1:57.2508 1:59.4181 2:01.8291 2:00.5499 1:57.1907 1:56.8707 1:56.5212

UM2-MMPI 1 Radisich 2 Ingall 3 Lowndes 4 Skaife 5 Bargwanna 6 Larkham 7 Johnson 8 Longhurst 9 Baird 10 Reed 11 Forbes 12 Crompton 13 Morris 14 Faulkner 15 Mecklem 16 Tratt 17 McConville 18 Romano 19 McDougall 20 Ashby 21 Crick 22 Jones DNF Perkins DNF D'Agostin DNF Weel

21:02.1446 21:03,9071 21:04.2784 21:06.6788 21:12.1012 21.12.8449 21:13.2957 21:15.1389 21:20.9658 21:26.7992 21:27.5128 21:29.3450 21:38.2553 21:38.9015 21:39.3979 21:43.1770 21:43.4285 21:50.6126 21:51.5706 21:52.5746 21:55.4564 9 laps 5 laps 4 laps Olaps

1:54.2822 1:54.2456 1:54.0582 1:54.5819 1:54.8636 1:55.1760 1:54.3504 1:55.0675 1:55.8942 1:56.1331 1:56.2667 1:55.7403 1:57.2967 1:57.1178 1:57.2014 1:57.8815 1:57.7179 1:58.3724 1:58,7034 1:58.0579 1:58.8670 1:55.9838 1:57.0961 2:00.8956

hal-llhw 1 Ingall 2 Radisich 3 Lowndas 4 Bargwanna 5 Larkham 6 Longhurst 7 Crompton 8 Baird 9 Morris 10 Forbes 11 Faulkner 12 Reed 13 Mecklem 14 Tratt 15 Bowe 16 Jones 17 Ashby 18 Romano 19 Crick 20 McDougall DNF Skaife DNF Johnson DNF Porkins DNF McConviUo

19:14.5758 19:16.3664 19:24.4021 19:33.0665 19:33.2677 19:33.9299 19:34.2570 19:34.5744 19:45.0633 19:45.5181 19:45.9578 19:46,6837 19:48.3360 n 13.51.3792 19:51,8483 19.56.5062 19:585698 19.59.2363 20:23 1842 20:49.7413 laps 6 la(5 t lap O laps

1:54.2628 1:54.1523 1:53.7529 1:55.3296 1:55.4347 1:55.5406 1:55.2339 1.55.2861 1:56.6949 1 ●56.5984 1:56.6711 1:56,6571 1:56.9068 1:57.4744 1:56.7638 1:57,0379 1:57.5225 1:57.7064 1:57.6686 T57 5817 1'54,1858 V55,3031 2:13.4493

CO 21

4«

Beautiful one day, perfect the next: Greg Murphy’s Kmart Commodore wore the scars of contact with the concrete in practice. Before the end of the first racing lap, both Murf and team-mate Steven Richards were out. (Pholo by Marshall Cass)

continued from page 42 “This weekend is over,” he lamented about the demise of both his cars. “We came here for a quiet weekend and to go out on the first lap ... this is our worst result of the year.” Murphy was also quite distraught with the incident, the two-time Bathurst winner leaving the Gold Coast within hours to get his mind focussed back on the bigger picture. It hasn’t been a good year, but just when it looked as though the corner had been turned... Ellery’s Super Cheap Autos car wasn’t damaged too severely, the Sandown surprise packet electing to head home and begin preparation for next month. The race restarted at the end of the fifth lap and it was understandable to see the field stretched out considerably. Really, there wasn’t a whole lot to the race, or the following ones for that matter... Radisich, who had quite easily

passed Ingall on the first lap heading up the back straight into the beach chicane, eventually took the win ahead of the Commodore driver, with Skaife and Lowndes a little further back, Bargwanna

fifth.

The usual top 10 Falcon runners of Larkham and Tony Longhurst finished next, while Brad Jones capitalised on the missing bunch ahead, with the Ozemail Falcon moving up to eighth and raising hopes of a solid weekend. Little did Brad know what was to come...

Race 2(10 laps)

The second 10-lapper obviously looked a little depleted at the beginning, 26 cars making the start, and it didn’t take too long for the field to look even worse. Jones’tough initiation into V8s continued when the Ozemail AU appeared to be squeezed by Paul Weel’s mount heading into the first chicane, Jones turning around and backing into Weel and Rodney Forbes’ Wynn’s Commodore. Brad

A slip of the Crick: Rodney Crick loses the VT in front of Trevor Ashby.

(Photo Lynley Raid)

was unamused... “You’d think we were fighting for sheep stations instead of fighting for seventh and eighth on the first lap, wouldn’t you,” an angry Jones said. After a brief pit visit, he made it back out onto the track,just in front of the leaders. The Ozemail Falcon did at least receive some prime TV exposure. You’ve got to hand it to those Jones boys... As in the first race, the field settled down and, while some were putting the heat on those in front, little if any passing was occurring - Radisich was out front, with Ingall and Lowndes hounding the #18’s rear, while Bargwanna was all over the back of Skaife for fourth. Longhurst was trying to find a way past Larkham, while Johnson did actually move past Baird for seventh. That was pretty much how things finished, with the only other incident being Larry Perkins’touch with the concrete when the Bathurst-bourid Castrol Commodore locked-up the rears, John Faulkner lucky to miss LP’s car after it came sliding by. Radisich took his second win ahead of Ingall, Lowndes and Skaife, who held out Bargwanna, Larkham, Johnson, Longhurst and Baird, being joined in the top 10 by Steve Reed. The Rat’s win now gave him a record of five straight at the Gold Coast, having won all three of last year’s races in one of DJR’s EL

You'd tUMk we were nghting for sheep stations instead of fighting (or seventh or 0^ on the first lap"

-Brad Jones

■alsriRait mws

V8 SUPEKCARS Mklls. At the same time, DJR itself had racked up an impressive ninth win out of the 13 V8 races contested on the Honda Indy support bill...

Race 3 (10 laps)

The result looked likely to be the same in Sunday’s sprintuntil Ingall actually passed Radisich on the eighth lap to take the lead and go on and win. The Castrol Commodore gave the AU a little tap as the pair came onto the main and the resulting slide plus some power-down problems gave Ingall the momentum he needed to pull past heading into the first chicane. A prudent Radisich put up Uttle resistance. Ingall didn’t notice his boss had earlier impacted the wall with their Bathurst mount, LP suffering a rear brake lockup on the second lap that again put him out of the race. Late in the race, Skaife had brake problems in the #2 HRT Commodore,going into the first chicane just too quickly, clipping the tyres on the way out and rotating to a halt in the middle of the road. Lowndes, who had set three lap records during the course of the weekend, onlyjust pulled up to avoid his team-mate. Ingall took the win, ahead of Radisich, with Lowndes third, Bargwanna fourth. “The car was great. We made quite a lot of changes and it felt good for the entire distance,” said the victorious Ingall.

“I knew from watching yesterday that Paul [Radisich] was going to have some power down problems, so I just was kind to the brakes in the first half of the race and went for the gap [for the lead] when I saw it.” Radisich was in agreeance for most parts... “I agree with Russell about the whole race, except about him forgetting to tell you he tapped me!” Radisich offered. Still, for Radisich, the weekend had been almost as perfect it could ever be; two race wins, a second and a weekend victory, while also still having a car intact. It seemed as though there

were no slip-ups - although there was one... “I thought I was going to go over the edge,” he said. refeiTing to the bizarre moment when he almost lost his footing in a pool of champagne on the podium, the barriers hardly sufficient to restrain an over¬ balanced Rat.... “But, if that’s the only slip you’re ever going to have on a race weekend, I’d gladly risk it anytime.” For Radisich, the risk was understandable. For the others? Well, next year Bathurst is before Indy, although the new championship round at Pukekohe is just two weeks later...

Hey, look what we found under the trees out back: The CAT team found owner John Briggs’ old EL for John Bowe to use at Indy. This year, the EL wasn’t the answer... What demographic?: Some came to watch the cars, some to wear them, some to look at the scenery... (Photos by Difit Klynsmith)

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Summer holiday: Having won the first two races, Jim Richards eased off in the third when title rival Mark Noske crashed out, third enough to take the title.

When the pressure’s on: Peter Fitzgerald had a great battle with Noske in the second race, coming home second, before winning race three.

",,5:3521(3: SWMOW8 WHEELS

(Photos by Marshall Cass)

nnoiner race Another title

—'

Jim Richards wasn't in Surfers Paradise for a holiday. The veteran used the opportunity and his experience to claim yet another Australian Championship. GERALD McDORNAN reports...

GENTLEMAN Jim Richards used the opportunities presented to him by the Nations Cup category’s debut appearance on the Gold Coast to perfection, tying up the first championship in the series with a typical performance in his Porsche GT3. As expected, Richards, who has raced at the Gold Coast in various categories for nine of the 10 years the event has been run, kept his cool while his championship rival, Mark Noske’s campaign ended with the Prancing Horse/Budweiser Ferrari 360 badly damaged in the barriers after an altercation with Peter Bradbury in the third race. Richards recorded two wins and a third to secure the title with Bathurst’s extra round remaining. Fellow Porsche driver Peter

Fitzgerald set the pace in qualifying, the long-time Falkenbacked driver putting his GTS on pole with a time of 2m0.03s; the time surpassing Noske’s previous best run by just two-hundreths, and with moments to spare. “Late in the session, all of a sudden I found myself virtually on my own and I had the opportunity to go for it,” an elated Fitzgerald recalled. “I was aggressive without being untidy and I ‘urged’ the car on. “Coming down the straight I was saying ‘Come on baby, come on baby...’ and when the time came up I couldn’t believe it,” he said. Despite being knocked off pole, Noske was pleased with his lap, believing it to be his best ever lap. “I thought no one would be that ... it was perfect until Fitzy went out again!” Noske countered.

/ MARCOS Ambrose, thought to be headed back to Australia after a couple of tough years in Europe (and due to test for FTR in the next two weeks), may just have resurrected his openwheel career with a strong win in the Honda Young Guns program. Pitted against nine other hopefuls, Ambrose held out all challengers to take the win, earning himself an Indy Lights test with leading Lights team Dorricott Racing. Ambrose won comfortably from an impressive Christian Jones and Steven Johnson. Earlier, it appeared as though it was a little deja-vu for Ross and Jim Stone, with recent-signing David Besnard looking as though ho would 4«

be heading to the US for the test (like Jason Bright last year) Besnard leading Ambrose until gearbox troubles ended his race. Former FHolden Champion and current Indy Lights points leader Scott Dixon was a surprise and controversial withdrawal from the program on the first day, the Kiwi and his US team PacWest citing contractual problems as their reason for withdrawing. Dixon was considered among the favourites for the event, although his expected signing with PacWest for a Champ Car drive in 2001 perhaps negated any reason for involvement anyhow. - GERALD McDORNAN

Glad lo sec the back of me: Marcos Ambrose will lesi an Inch' Lii’hls car with Dorricott Racing tucxt month, haring earned the te.<n with his Honda I j.c ft r V ,-rr7« -at Yotmg Guns riermy on the Gold Coevit. ffloisrsBoit news

HONDA INDY SUPPORTS Race 1(6 laps) Fitzgerald’s qumifying eiTort appeared to be all for naught when his Porsche seemingly slipped out of first on the green, the fumble Noske’s Ferrari having one of its (and the marque’s) patented slow starts and with the wet track also not helping matters for the high horsepower stallion - allowing Richards to pounce and take the lead by the first turn. It was an position that Richards wouldn’t relent, never being headed before the chequered flag. Former Volvo Super Touring team-mate Mark Williamson drove a strong race, moving from sixth on the grid to second, while Bradbuiys TNT-backed GT3 filled in for third, Williamson holding off a strong late challenge from Bradbury - the two bringing home a Porsche trifecta. Noske recovered from the start to finish fourth, while Fitzgerald’s fifth was little consolation for such a fine effort in qualifying.

Race 2(6 laps)

Richards’chances of moving closer to the Nations Cup title were bettered with Noske having to start on the second row, the expected slow start meaning the potential challenge would have to come from further back in the field... Noske was quick and spectacular, pushing a sliding Ferrari past Bradbury’s Porsche for third in a stunning move on lap three, but the charge was halted with a rather defensive Fitzy, the Porsche driver’s experience helping maintain his position. “I was anxious to catch up to Jim. The Ferrari was going like a train and Fitzy was holding me up. I’m sure I could have challenged

for the lead,” Noske said. Challenge he couldn’t in the end and Richards, enjoying a clear track and unhindered run, drove home for an easy win. After a tough first race, Paul Stokell’s Lamborghini Diablo appeared where expected, finishing fourth,just ahead of Bradbury, while Christian Jones finished sixth in his Ferrari 360. Williamson’s efforts the previous day ensured a better starting position for race two, although a seriously slipping clutch at the green dropped the GT3 to seventh by the first turn.

Race 3(6 laps)

The third and final Nations Cup race on the Gold Coast was a cruise for Richards, with the veteran happily coming home third behind Fitzgerald and Stokell to secure the title. Fitzgerald led the six lap sprint from start to finish, Stokell pressuring with the Lambo, although the Porsche’s lighter weight was a distinct advantage

around the braking system-reliant tight street circuit. Fitzgerald’s win and Noske’s failure to finish after the Ferrari driver came to grief in a lap two passing manouvere on Bradbury (similar to the previous da/s) was a bonus for the Porsche driver, with Fitzy moving past Noske for second in the series. “I had the line and all he [Bradbury] did was move over on me and put us both in the wall,” an extremely disappointed Noske said. “That’s the championship for us, which really is sad for the team after they’ve worked hard all year. We didn’t deserve to lose it like this.” With Fitzgerald, Stokell and Richards claiming the podium spots, fourth was filled by Jones, Williamson and Bradbury claiming fifth and sixth. Naturally, Richards was happy with his win, although as usual, well reserved: “Yes, it’s great to wrap up the title here, now we can go to Bathurst and worry just about racing,” he said. Pure class...

Ah,the Gold Coast... The sand, the sea and the ANA hotel basement...

Cotter Powers to victory WILL Power dominated the Gold Coast appearance of Australia's rising stars in the Formula Ford category, although Justin Cotter took overall honours when mechanical problems robbed Power at the crucial moment. Cotter, pleased to have won, wasn't blinded to the fact of Power's efforts and graciously acknowledged his rival. "I am pleased we've won, but Will certainly had the race until he struck a little bad luck," Cotter said. Spectrum chassis dominated the weekend with Cotter, Power - who eventually was classified fourth after finishing fourth in the second race - and second placed Marcus Marshall all driving Mike Borland creations. Andrew Jones, who helped the red flags fly in both qualifying and the second race, was classified as third, ahead of Power, Veijo Phillips, Damon Hancock, Steve Groci, Lowe, Quinn and Partridge. - MICHAEL SMITH

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I Red, red, bloody red: Schumacher and Barrichello let their hair down on the podium after another McLaren-beating effort at Sepang t>y ftunon Imagoo)

FORMULA ONE

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21 ootohar 200Q

have more fun Report by JOE SAWARD

Qualifying Malaysia has been busy in recent

ONE of the most famous cars ever built by Ferrari was the Testarossa. Translated into English this means‘Redhead’. After the Malaysian Grand Prix, Michael Schumacher, Rubens Barrichello, Ross Brawn and even Jean Tbdt were spotted wearing lurid red wigs to celebrate the Italian team's victory in the Constructors' Championship - to add to Michael Schumacher's World Drivers’ Championship won at Suzuka. It was a suitably good-natured and rather silly way to end to what has not always been a goodnatured season but it was what the sport needed. A bit of fun after too much heavy-handed politicking, too much bad feeling and too much controversy. Michael Schumacher is not a saint, but he is an exceptional racing driver, and one would have to be very bitter and twisted not to salute a great Champion.

years telling the world about its future technology. It has built vast buildings and paper-free cities are being constructed; it has built an amazing airport but, as you head off from there towards downtown Kuala Lumpur, there are plenty of signs indicating that, for the moment, at least, a lot still depends on the price of palm oil. Stretching away in all directions in neat and ordered rows are oil palms in their thousands. The vast plantations date back to the old days, when the British Empire ruled the waves and the country was called Malaya. It was a hard place to live back then, with hot and humid conditions, fevers and other tropical nasties. Then came independence, and now comes transformation under Dr Mahathir Mohamad. People in the West seem to think that he is some kind oftotalitarian ogre but, having visited Malaysia and seen what he is doing, one has to be impressed. continued on page SO 48

iMalgysiaft GP continued from page 49 In a part ofthe world where most rulers are busy sending as much money as possible away to numbered accounts in Switzerland, it is nice to see someone putting some money back into his country. And it is not a smaU amount of money. The works going on are simply vast. Mahathir may not be fully appreciated until 25 years from now, and much still depends on whether his ideas are continued by his successors. Formula 1 is an important element in Mahathir's plan to show the world that Malaysia is a country moving towards an industrialised future, while also being a nice place to visit. All of this went clean over the head of the Formula 1 circus when it turned up in Sepang to see the last Grand Prix of the 2000 season. If the truth be told, for most people it was simply a question of getting it over and done with, because it has been a very long season. The World Championship was over, and no-one really cared who won the Constructors' title. No-one, that is, apart for a few team bosses. It was time to go home and there was a very strong end-of-term feeling. The Malaysians did a good job last year and had learned a few lessons as well, so most things ran smoothly. Down in the pits, the Ferrari and McLaren teams were limbering up for their final battle of the year. Ferrari had a 13 point lead and so it was going to take a miracle for McLaren to take the title. A 1-2, with no Ferrari finishing above sixth place, would do it. That was about as likely as The Pope dropping in for a cup of tea in the paddock. But,in motor racing you never know. Michael Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello might collide at the first comer, and both retire... Qualifying proved to be quite an interesting battle between Schumacher and Hakkinen - as

one would expect. The Ferrari was a long way ahead at the end of it all, however, and in the last five minutes it looked like we might even have a Ferrari 1-2 on the grid. Then David Coulthard banged in a quick one to grab second and he was bounced back seconds later by Hakkinen. So we had the two McLarens in a Ferrari sandwich. None of the teams had had it easy. Schumacher had aborted one of his qualifying runs, so as to avoid wasting tyres. “The car was handling well,” he said.“We have gradually improved it through the weekend. We have done a good job with it.” Hakkinen was a little disappointed to be second. “You need a car to have a very stable exit, a very stable entry and to have good traction. We weren't able to get the maximum from the elements today and that's why we weren't the quickest.” Hakkinen's time was only a fraction quicker than Coulthard's best.

QUAIIFYING Malaysla/Sepailg POS DRIVER 1 Michael Schumacher 2 Mika Hakkinen 3 David Coulthard 4 Rubens Barrichello 5 Alexander Wurz 6 Jacques Villeneuve 7 Eddie Irvine 8 Half Schumacher 9 Jarno Trutli 10 Heinz-Harald Frentzen 11 Ricardo Zonta 12 Johnny Herbert 13 Giancarlo Rsichella 14 Pedro de la Rosa 15 Jos Verstappen 16 Jenson Button 17 Mika Salo 16 Jean Alesi 19 NickHeidfeld 20 Pedro Diniz 21 Marc Gene 22 Gaston Mazzacane

CAR

Marlboro Scuderia Ferrari West McLaren Mercedes West McLaren Mercedes Marlboro Scuderia Ferrari Mild Seven Benetton Playlifo Lucky Strike BAR Honda Jaguar Cosworth Compaq Williams BMW B&H Jordan Mugen-Honda B&H Jordan Mugen-Honda Lucky Strike BAR Honda Jaguar Cosworth Mild Seven Benetton Playlife Orange Arrows Supertec Orange Arrows Supertec Compaq Williams BMW Red Bull Sauber Petronas Gauloises Prost Peugeot Gauloises Prost Peugeot Red Bull Sauber Petronas Telefonica Minardi Fondmetal Telefonica Minardi Fondmetal

TIME

lm37.397s lm37.860s lm37.889s lm37.896s 1m38.644s lm38.653s lm38.696s Im38.739s lm38.909s lm38.988s lm39.158s lm39.33Is lm39.387s lm39.443s lm39.489s 1m39.563s lm39.591s lm40.065s lm40.148s lm40.521s lm40.662s lm42.078s

“I don't think we have really got the car working 100 percent around this track,” David explained. “We might have been quicker if we had had a better balance.” Barrichello was sick, but he felt he had done a great lap and was disappointed to be beaten by the two McLarens. “I gave it my all at the end of the session to do a great lap,” he said, “and I think I succeeded. It is a shame that both McLaren drivers went quicker.” So, at the front there were no real surprises- but fifth place was strange indeed, for there was Alexander Wurz, Benetton scapegoat for most of the year, with rumours suggesting that he did not always get the same equipment as Giancarlo FisicheUa. Wurz is out of the team next year as a result, and has just signed to be McLaren's test driver - and suddenly he is competitive. Why? Peuticularly when FisicheUa

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¥ORNiULA ONE was down in 13th place and off the pace. Who can tell? In the past, the Benetton team has often had mysterious differences between the drivers

added a rather cryptic comment. “I want to thank the people who work with me and who have supported me for the last three years in the team.”

and so it was not really a surprise. The cynics said that it was obvious that the team is trying to get rid of Fisichella so that next year there will be a vacancy for - who knows? Who knows? There was probably some political agenda involved. Team boss Flavio Briatore cannot

The words read as though they were very carefully chosen. Sixth on the grid was a good result for British American Racing, given the fact that the team bosses are now in a state of open warfare. Thankfully, there were no hand grenades rolled across the garage. That will come soon in the boardroom. Villeneuve said he was

have breakfast without a plot being hatched. Ultimately, all this sort of stuff is irrelevant, until the team gets a bit quicker. But for Wurz it was a boost after a completely dreadful season. “I hope this helps to put paid to rumours that have followed me this year,” he said. And then he

disappointed to be sixth because, on ids final run, something went wrong with his engine and he lost a lot of power and he had to abort the lap. Villeneuve was keen to get as

many points as possible to grab fourth place in the World Championship from Benetton. Jordan too was in the hunt, with the three teams separated by only three points. Ricardo Zonta did not do quite as well as Villeneuve, but 11th on the grid was not a bad effort at all, and he reckoned he would have been faster if he had

corner because I was conscious of

got his act together. Compheating the battle for third place in the Constructors' Championship was Eddie Irvine in his Jaguar, who lined up seventh on the grid. This was a better than usual effort for the team but Irvine

with a bang. From that far back on the grid, it did not look very likely. Williams was not very happy to have Half Schumacher eighth and Jenson Button back in 16th. The team was not under threat for

was disappointed, because he felt that fifth would have been possible. “I could have nailed a quicker time on the last run, but I just backed off slightly at the last

needing to keep it all together,” he said. Johnny Herbert was 12th and also disappointed because he had been much faster in the morning session and had been a match for Irvine in most of the qualifying session. It was Johnny’s last Grand Prix and he wanted to leave FI

third place in the Constructors' Championship, but still wanted to do well. “I could have been fifth,” said Ralf, “but I made a mistake,” he explained. Button's hopes were hurt badly by an engine problem on Saturday morning when he lost a lot of time on the track. Up to then, he had been a match for Ralf. At the start of his final lap, he was alongside Jos Verstappen and in the run down to the first corner they slowed one another down. Ninth and 10th on the grid were the two Jordans of Jamo Trulli and Heinz-Harald Frentzen. This was

Benetton. The cars were once again not performing very well in qualifying trim. Things were not helped by the fact that Frentzen had a throttle problem in the morning, which meant he did not get as much running as he would have hked.

Last time with #1: Mika Hakkinen took the number 1 plate into battle for the final time, but gave best to Michael Schumacher in qualifying. The Barmy Army: Wherever the Mikas race, the fans follow. Not much to do in Helsinki, in Autumn ... (Photos by SuttoH'lmages)

not great, given the team's ambition to take fourth in the Constructors' title from BAR and

'1 hope this helps to put paid to rumours that have vr followed me this year

-Benetton’s Alex Wurz after qualifying a season-best fifth

Behind the rather jumbled mid grid there were the two Arrows, with Pedro de la Rosa again beating Jos Verstappen. There was not much else to report. The two Saubers were very disappointing, given that they have Ferrari engines, and that this was the home race for Petronas. If you drove around Malaysia without continued on page 52

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Malaysian OP knowing anything about FI, you would have thought that it was the Mika Salo Grand Prix, because the Finn featured in all the pre-event advertising but he was only 17th on the grid and Pedro Diniz was 20th. Salo said that he would have been better if he had managed to combine his best sector times. But he did not, so it was an irrelevant point. Diniz blamed his poor showing on understeer. The two Prost-Peugeots were 18th and 19th, with Jean Alesi beating Nick Heidfeld. And at the back, Marc Gene beat Gaston Mazzacane to be top Minardi driver.

--7m

Race(56 laps)

It was warm long before the warm up in Malaysia. In fact, it was baking hot and,leaving the security of air-conditioned buildings, one was hit by a wave of soggy heat. It was real tropical weather. The locals may be used to it, but for the visiting Europeans,it was hard-going. The race was scheduled for late in the day, to be on television in Europe when people were getting up on Sunday morning. This meant that the warm-up did not happen until 10.30 and so, temperatures were higher than is normally the case in a warm-up in Europe. The result was rather strange, because Zonta was fastest in his BAR-Honda, ahead of all the usual hotshoes. No-one really expected Zonta to be challenging for victory, but it was interesting nonetheless, and a further sign that the BAR team is becoming a serious contender. All it now needs to do is to decide who is in charge and everything will be perfect. That will come in the next few days. There was lots of pre-race entertainment, with dancers, flag wavers. Prime Ministers,jet fighters and all the usual sort of stuff, and then it was time for the big game and out came the FI cars, screaming and mean as ever. As the lights were still on and the engines were screaming, Hakkinen's McLaren jumped forward. Mika stopped it before the lights went out, but he had jumped the start. Michael Schumacher made a poor start and was behind Mika, while Coulthard came up the outside and was alongside but on the outside of Michael as they funnelled into the first corner. It was a McLaren 1-2. Behind Hakkinen and Coulthard, Schumacher was followed by Barrichello, Wurz and Villeneuve. In the midfield, there was trouble. Several different kinds of trouble. The second comer saw S2

What d/d they put in his cereal? Alex Wurz went like a blue blur at Sepang, qualifying fifth and running with the big kids in the race. A bit late though, Alex ... Malaysian technology: Not really, we just thought we’d run this pic of two silver arrows sportscars from different eras. Lights, cameras, Action lotion: Benetton-bound Master Jenson gets ready to appear on The Young and the Restless’. (Photos by Sutton-lmages)

Diniz trying to overtake Heidfeld, who was alongside de la Rosa. It did not work and the result was that they all collided, and Diniz went into Alesi and spun him around. Diniz, Heidfeld and de la Rosa were out on the spot. Alesi spun but was able to rejoin. The Minardis had to pick their way through the wreckage.

It was not going to be a good day forProst... Further around the lap, there was another bingle involving Irvine, Half Schumacher and

Trulh.

“I was forced onto the grass when I was alongside a Jaguar,” said a disappointed Raff. He dropped to the back of the

field. Things were worse for Trulli. “I touched Irvine and damaged my front wing,” he explained, “so I had to come in and change it.” A little further on Verstappen had a spin all by himself . All the carnage meant a Safety Car and so, for the whole of the second lap. the field was held back while the wreckage was cleared away, and then it was off again. and almost immediately Hakkinen and Coulthard swapped

places. “He obviously knew that he would have to stop because of the stop-and-go penalty,” said David, “and he let me pass him going into Turn 3. I didn’t know when he would have to pay his penalty, but I was naturally hoping he would be able to keep Michael back a httle

Miiiarsiiart ■●ns

FORMULA ONE bit, because I didn't know at what pace he would be able to run. But, about five comers later the team told me that Michael was second, so I just tried to pull away as best I could.” Hakkinen had,in fact, dropped behind both Ferraris and, when he pitted, he went from fourth to the back of the field. He spent the rest of the afternoon charging back. He was never going to be able to make up such a huge disadvantage and so had to be happy with fourth place, 35s behind the winner. That was pretty much what his stop-go penalty cost him so he would have been competitive. “I could have won,” he SEud afterwards. It was an irrelevant point. The McLaren torch had been passed to Coulthard and he set off to build a lead over Schumacher. He set a series offastest laps but, on lap 10, he went wide in Turn Six and ran half the car over the grass. “I slightly misjudged the exit and ran off the track,” he said.“ I didn't think it had been enough to do any damage, but it was because of that that the team called me in early. I was not scheduled to stop an)Twhere near as early as that, so I thought it was going to be terminal.” David was called in on lap 17. The stop was nice and quick and he was soon out on the track again, but he was sixth. “I knew that probably meant any chance of winning the race was gone,” admitted David later. Out in front, Schumacher piled on the pressure. He set four consecutive fastest laps and then pitted on lap 24, leaving Barrichello in the lead for a lap before he stopped. When both Ferraris were back on track Michael was nearly 5s ahead of Coulthard. David admitted that he should not have made the mistake. He tried to make up for lost time and,in the laps that followed, he clipped Michael's lead from five to just under two seconds, but then he

had to pit again on lap 38. Michael followed him in on the next lap and the race was won. In the final stint, Coulthard closed on Schumacher and, for the final 12 laps, he was within a second of the Ferrari. “When you get into the dirty air, it immediately makes it much more difficult to drive the car. So you have to be very careful,” said Coulthard. “You're trying to stay close enough to make the leading driver be aware that you're there, but you're really hoping he'll make a mistake. That's unlikely to happen, so it was a case of accepting second place.” n

Attheendofttie season,! wanted to apologise to him for that, and to say he is a great champion and that I iook forward to competing with him again next season H

- David Coulthard on Schumacher

Schumacher's victory was his ninth of the year, matching the record he already shares with Nigel Mansell for the most wins in a single season. “It was a very tough race,” said the red-haired Schumacher afterwards.“DC really pushed from the first lap to the last. So did I, and that meant a flat-out race which was very tough physically. But we did it!” After the race Coulthard had a quiet chat with Michael. “As you know, we have had some differences and I am embarrassed that sometimes I said things too publicly instead of going to see him and to talk face to face,” David said. “At the end of the season, I wanted to apologise to him for that.

and to say he is a great champion and that I look forward to competing with him again next season.” It was a nice gesture, and Schumacher appreciated it. The pair ended the race just 0.7s apart, while Barrichello was 18 secs behind. “I had a lonely race,” Rubens explained,“but I think it was my second best race after Hockenheim, because I was not feeling well. My only problem was during the second pit stop, when I could not get first gear and lost a few seconds.” Behind the front three, the battle raged only briefly between Broken Arrows; Pedro de la Rosa outWurz and Villeneuve, qualified Jos Verstappen yet again, but a Lap 1 and then the Benetton accident put him out. The Spanish driver moved clear of the BAR. walked towards 2001 and AMT-Peugeot. The first pit stops did (Photos by Sutton-lmages) not change that, but then Villeneuve was able to get ahead when Wurz began to struggle with brake trouble. From then on, Villeneuve held the position until Hakkinen challenged him for it in the mid race. Jacques tried to fight back but it was a pointless exercise. He had to settle for fifth place and two points. It was enough to put BAR equal on points with Benetton but, because Benetton had better finishes,fourth Given the internal politicking that place in the Constructors' has been going on, one has to Championship went to them. salute Craig Pollock and his men There was disappointment at for their achievement. BAR but it was still a very good It would be ironic if now Pollock effort from a team which is still only in its second year of existence. continued on page 54 £ *■»

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Malaysian OP was ousted by his partners. Only time will tell. A coup d'etat now would probably do more harm than good but, as the people at British American Tobacco have done very little right to date, they will probably now make the next mistake, and screw themselves completely. Zonta drove a impressive race as well, particularly in the early stages when he moved from 11th to seventh. In the middle stint, he went off and bounced over a sandtrap, which did not help his cause. He was running ninth when his engine blew in the latter stages of the race. Wurz’s brake problems meant that sixth place went in the end to Irvine, who survived the first lap hurly-burly without a problem. When Haliinen stopped for his penalty, Eddie moved to sixth. During the second stint he lost out to Hakkinen and so slipped back to seventh place, but he was able to get ahead of Wurz during the second pit stop sequence and he was not then challenged. Herbert would probably have finished in that place if the electrics of the car had not caused it to stall during his one pit stop. At the time, Johnny was running fourth and looked to be on course for a points finish. After that, Johnny was

condemned to running around in the midfield until his rear suspension failed at high speed and he was pitched into a nasty accident which left him with a very nastily bruised knee. “There is nothing like ending your career with a bang,”joked Johnny later, but there was not much to joke about. These sort of things should not happen. It was deeply ironic that Johnny's career ended as it began 12 years ago. Then he was carried to the car because of leg injuries. He left FI being carried from tbe car... Wurz's seventh place was a disappointment for Benetton but the team just managed to hold on to fourth place in the Constructors' title. Fisichella had a one-stop strategy and it did not really work. He did not help his cause when he went off on lap 39, but he managed to finish 10th. Between the two Benettons was Salo's Sauber. He drove a good race, going from 17th on the grid to 12th at the end of the first lap. He then charged through to eighth, but then became bogged down. His second set of tyres did not work well and so he dropped away and ran 10th in the final laps until Jos Verstappen's Arrows went wrong on the penultimate lap and so Mika jumped up a place. Verstappen's race had been

'Tja ●‘iT

■]

The Home Team: Sauber’s Mika Salo and pretty remarkable, given his spin on the first lap. He raced up from 18th to fourth before his mid-race stop. He rejoined 11th and looked to be well-placed for a points finish until he began to experience handling troubles and slipped away from the pace. He was eighth until the penultimate lap when the hydraulics went wrong and the car

What the drivers Michael Schumacher: We wanted to win the Constructors Championship and we have done it, not just by getting three points, but by winning and by coming third, it was a very tight and tough race, and DC was pushing me aii the way, so it was tough physicaiiy and on the car, i did not know Mika had jumped the start as i was concentrating on the iights, i did not have a very good start and struggled to get off the line and, so, I was third as David out-braked me round the outside. He was pulling away and I was concerned, because I could not go any faster. At that point he was definitely quicker than me. I was hoping he would pit early. He did and our strategy did the rest. David put me under pressure at the end, but I had looked after the last set of tyres so that I could have defended myself if I had needed to fight him off. Then I just concentrated on not making a mistake. After the team has finished packing up, we will have a big, big party tonight and then we can go into a winter holiday which the whole team deserves. They have worked so hard and delivered a perfect car. It's superbi

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Drag Racer? Anne-Marie Schumacher (Phoia by Suaon-liniigrs}

David Coulthard: I managed to move from third to second at the start and took

the lead when the team told Mika to move over on lap three as they realised he had jumped the start. Unfortunately, I went wide at the exit of turn six picking up some grass, which went into the radiator inlets causing the engine temperature to rise. As a result, the team decided to call me in for my pit stop early to remove the grass. I rejoined the race and was stuck behind Michael but was putting him under as much pressure as I could without getting into the dirty air created by his car. If he had made a mistake I would have got past him, but unfortunately he did not and I had to settle for second. I would like to thank the team for their work during 2000 and am already looking forward to Australia.

Rubens Barrichello: The conditions were very hot and, at first, I was worried the heat might affect me, as I still have a bit of 'flu. But the car felt good all the time and so I was able to maintain a good pace. I also did not make a very good start and Wurz and Villeneuve came outside me. I was lucky not to hit anybody. I went into the corner really fast and managed to come out of Turn 2 ahead of Villeneuve. Boiorspon news

FORMULA I

Pedro Diniz got a lot of local attention before the race. Salo finished eighth. (Photo by Sutton-lmages)

jammed in fifth gear. He lost two places. “It was good to finish the race,” said Jos, rather pointedly. Behind him were only the survivors. Alesi was 11th with nothing much to report after his spin. It was a typical Frost race. Trulli made it home in 12th but it was a disastrous event for

Jordan. Trulli's hopes were gone on the first lap but he plugged away. Almost immediately he had a slow puncture and so had to pit again and then the car handled badly. “TTiis has not been our season,” he said. Frentzen went out early with a power steering failure.

said later I had a lonely race, but I think it was my second best one after Hockenheim, because I was not feeling well but still raced at qualifying speed almost the whole time apart from the last ten laps, when the team told me on the radio to back off. My only problem was at the second pit stop when I could not get first gear and lost a tew seconds. I am very pleased. The season has gone very well for me and to finish in a strong position like this means we can start next year in a strong position too. Mika Hakkinen: Not an ideal way to finish the season. My car moved a little before the start, but I was stationary before the lights went out. My one stop strategy would have been correct and my car was working well, so I believe I could have won. The team did a fantastic job and I want to thank everybody for their great efforts during the year. I'm generally happy with the season and have some good memories. I'm now looking fonward to a break before we start testing in December to prepare ourselves for 2001 when we want to renew our championship challenge. 21 OctallBr 2808

Jacques Villeneuve: We have made good progress and improved the car throughout the season. We have got to know the car better in terms of set up, which has allowed us to push harder in races and challenge consistently for points. The Honda engine started well and the guys have worked hard throughout the year, but more importantly we have had a car and an engine package that was able to finish races and that has allowed us to finish fifth in the championship. Eddie Irvine: I'm glad Johnny is OK. It's a shame his career had to end with an accident. Unfortunately that seems to be the story of his life. I wish him all the best, he deserves it. He has provided a load of laughs in the short time we were team-mates. Formula One will miss him. It's pleasing to end the season with a point: a very hard-earned point at that. Whenever the top four finish, the battle for the crumbs is tight so we can be proud of our efforts today. Everything clicked. We didn't make one change to the car and our strategy was spot on. In the latter part of the season, we have begun to understand the problems with the car.

No-one else finished, although Mazzacane was classified 13th, despite going out with six laps to go when he suffered a major engine failure. Gene had gone out earlier with a rear wheel failure. The only other team to fail to get a car home was Williams. Kalf Schumacher's race was compromised as a result of the first lap incident. He then suffered handling trouble and this did not improve and in the end the team called him in to retire. Button's race promised a little more. The first lap incidents saw Jenson go from 16th on the grid to 10th. The car was a handful as Button was going for a one-stop strategy. This might have been quite successful but, on lap 19, his engine blew up. It was a hard-fought race, which one suspected should have been won by McLaren, but once again httle mistakes opened the door for Michael Schumacher. It is not something one can afford to do in FI these days.

RESuus Malaysian GR October 22 2000, 156 Iaps/3l0.4kms

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rot Dfivtr 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 12 13

M. Schumacher Coulthard Barricholio Hakkinen Villeneuve Irvine Wurz Salo Fisichella Verstappen Alosi Trulli Mazzacane

Id!

Raci llms Ih35m 54.235s Ih35m54.967s lh36m 12.679s 1h36m29.504s 1h37ni04.927s 1h37m06.803s Ih37m23.549s

55 laps 55 laps 55 laps 55 laps 55 laps 50 laps(ONF, engine)

FASTEST tAP Hakkinen Im 38.543s |202.498kph) on lap 34 RETIREMENTS 14 Herbert 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22

48 laps

Zonta 46 laps R Schumactier 43 laps Gena 36 laps Button 18 Laps Frentzen 7 Laps de la Rosa OLaps Diniz OLaps Heidfold 0 Laps

(Suspension/ Accident) (Engine) (Engine) (Engine) (Engine) (Hydraulics) (Accident) (Accident) (Accident)

DRIVERS POINTS (FINAL) M. Schumacher 108, Hakkinen 89 Coulthard 73, Barricholio 62. R. Schumacher 24, Fisichella 18, Villeneuve 17, Button 12, Frentzen 11, Trulli & Salo 6, Verstappen 5, Irvine 4, Zonta 3, Wurz S do la Rosa 2. CONSTRUCTORS POINTS (FINAL) Ferrari 170, McLaren Mnreudes 152, Williams BMW 36, Bonollon Supoitoc 20 8i BAR Honda 20, Jordon Mugon Hondo !/, Arioivs Stinortoc 7, Saiibor Polroiiris 5, Jaguar Coswonh 4.

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The Lions on the Line: On tarmac, Peugeot’s 206 is unbeatable. Gilles Panizzi and Francois Delecourtook their second straight 1-2 but, this time. the fingers were pointed not at team orders, but at Panizzi’s behaviour during the recce.

by JON THOMSON in ITALY GILLES Panizzi has taken a controversial win in round 12 of the World Championship,the Rallye Sanremo Rallye d'ltalia, after the Frenchman had engaged in extra illegal practice on the rally route in the weeks leading up to the rally. It was Panizzi's second WRC win, coming hot on the heels of his first in Corsica last month. He beat home team-mate Francois Delecour to give Peugeot another 1-2, affirming the French car's status as the fastest WRCar of the moment.

Day 1

After torrential rain during the recce, sunshine and a warm change was welcome relief as the rally got undei-way from the Italian Riviera town of Sanremo. The thousands of fanatical spectators poured into the Italian mountains overnight to secure the best vantage points to watch their tarmac rally heroes. Bums set the pace on the opening stage, but Panizzi showed the benefit of his good local knowledge to take the lead after the second stage, while Italian Tbyota Corolla driver Pierro Longhi was in a surprise third ahead of Simon Jean Joseph’s Subam and Marcus Gronholm in the Peugeot. Michael Guest was out on the second stage, clipping a stone wall exiting a tunnel onto some slippery tarmac. The hit was small causing SB

(Photos by RaceAccess and Sutton-lmages)

holding down third place another 11.1s down, while Sainz was next ahead of Liatti.

Day 2

no panel damage but, with the wheel on full lock the steering broke, sidelining the Australian. Delecour moved up into third with a blindingly quick run on special stage 4, which was in fact the re-run of stage 2, where many of the drivers were complaining of the damp patches which were causing some worrying surprises and lack of grip. Bums was confident as a result; “I feel very confident on the dry but, when you get simprise damp patches, you can'tjudge your braking and steering,” he said. Colin McRae and Tommi Makinen were both having suspension problems and were down the leader board, Makinen in ninth and the Scot in 10th. McRae was also complaining of pain in his cheek and nose, following his operation to repair

damage suffered in his big Corsican crash. Italian title leader Longhi was out on stage five, his Corolla firing off on a fast comer, putting him out of the rally and allowing Liatti and Sainz to move up a place. Sainz was not surprised by the dominance of the Peugeots and in particular Panizzi after the opening stanza. “When you have a good car, a good driver and a good practice, this is what you can expect,” said Sainz, who was into fourth after overtaking team-mate Piero Liatti and Gronholm by the end of the leg. Alex Fiorio was dominating Group N,leading from the start of the day to head Galli and Trelles all in Mitsubishi Lancers. But it was all Panizzi on the first leg, leading at the end ofthe day by 15.4s from Delecour, with Bums

Leg TVo started with a gruesome incident for Makinen. The Firm was crossing from his hotel to the Service Park on the main road of Sanremo when a police motorcyclist sped through the crossing. The bike hit the team physio while the policeman hit a parked car and was killed instantly. Makinen was unharmed while his physio suffered a broken leg. Bums went out early on day two, hitting a stone wall and damaging the Subaru's radiator, which overheated the engine by the end of the test. “I can still win the championship,” said Bums.“The best thing for me is if Panizzi and Delecour stay where they are at the moment.” Sainz moved up to third with Burns's demise but it was Makinen who was much happier, powering through stage 10 to be fastest and move from seventh to fifth in the process.

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Sainz preserve us: Carlos Sainz kept his title hopes alive vyith a fighting fifth place.

(Photo by McKleitVFotd Molorsport)

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continued from page 56

Day 3

Just two stages faced drivers on the final leg, with a single pass in Makinen was closing in with a both directions on the same piece series of good times, leapfrogging of road. Gronholm to take fourth behind But it would come to nothing Sainz on the next stage and then with the stage cancelled following into third on stage 12. Liatti was the next victim, out an accident after the passage of just 13 cars. with a blown engine at the end of In another farcical situation, the SS12, the Focus having final stage was also nullified when overheated through the stage. Estonian Marko Martin crashed With the two 206s well in his Toyota into some spectators command,the rally was and the rest of the field developing into an intense threetransported through the stage and way battle for third, especially when Gronholm took fastest time were given a notional time. The result was a controversial on the final stage of the day to win for the Frenchman Panizzi move within 1.7s of Makinen, who was third. after blatantly breaking recce This left the leaderboard with limits. However,it is a win which enables Peugeot to go to Australia Panizzi on top, 21.4s ahead of Delecour. Behind the Finns, Sainz with a slight edge in the had tumbled to fifth, another 12s Manufacturers' Championship down. while Gronholm, who took fourth, leads the drivers' title in a tight battle just five points ahead of Burns. Makinen's third place behind Delecour gives the 1 PanizziPanizzi 3:52;07.3 Peugeot 206 WRC Finn a slight chance 3.52.24.1 2 Delecour/Grataloup Peugeot 206 WRC 3 Makmen/Mannisenmaki Mitsubishi Lancer EvoVI 3.53.00,3 at another title. He is 3.53.09.6 4 Gronholm/Rautianen Peugeot 206 WRC 17 points behind Ford Focus WRC 3 53.18.6 5 Sainz/Moya Gronholm and it Ford Focus WRC 6 McRae/Grist 3.53.47.3 would require a Drivers Championship points: miracle for him to Gronholm 49, Burns 44, McRae 43, Sainz 43, Makinen 32, Panizzi 21 pull it off. Manufacturers Championship points: Australia in a Peugeot 90, Ford 88, Subaru 70, Mitsubishi 39, Skoda, 8 SEAT 8, Hyundai 5. fortnight's time is a challenge all the WRC Round 12 San Remo drivers are relishing.

mid Fanizzl cheat? THE Rally Sanremo was abuzz with stories that some local drivers were apparently caught out doing extra recce runs on the rally stages in the weeks prior to the Italian round of the WRC. Gilles Panizzi was seen on the stages in the days prior to the event, with allegations that he tried to hide his and his co-driver Herve Panizzi's identity by wearing a wig and false moustache. The French Peugeot driver, who took his 206 to victory on the recent Tour de Corse, lives just across the border from Sanremo in the French Alps

added.

-JON THOMSON

Colin McRae, Bubble Boy

Scarred: Colin McRae. (Photo by Sutton)

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town of Sospel, less than 40 minutes from the Italian round's stages. Despite many knowing that Panizzi completed the illegal extra recce, Sanremo organisers refused to do anything about the problem. "Fie knows that he has done it and, if he wins, he will know he didn't do it on his own. It will be a sham win," said Nicky Grist. "I think it shows up the problems with the 'two pass' recce system, and it really needs to change which might see this problem eliminated,” he

COLIN McRae spent many hours in the week leading up to the Sanremo and during the rally sleeping in a hypoxic tent. The hypoxic tent simulates high altitudes hy reducing the oxygen levels which,in turn, raises the heart rate, and speeds the healing process. McRae sported only the smallest of scars on his cheek following key hole surgery to rectify the damage suffered in his massive Corsica crash. McRae reported being extremely tired at the start of the rally, hut gradually improved along with his stage times to finish in the points, and keep his title chances still very much alive. McRae may have been less tired at the end of Sanremo, but people in rooms close to his were,the noise of the pump running the hypoxic tent keeping many of them awake through the night. - JON THOMSON

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Lintott in Italy MICHAEL Guest wasn't the only Australian in Sanremo. Targa Tasmania winner Ray Lintott leased an Evo VI Lancer from Britain's ADR motorsport and had a lash at one of the most difficult tarmac events of alt. The 57-year-old Sydneysider and his co-driver Tony Jackson from Tasmania stayed out of trouble on the often slippery mountain roads to finish in 55th from a starting line-up of 116. It was an effort which can't be discounted and, while some may be critical of Guest for his early departure, if you haven't been to Sanremo you simply can't imagine how difficult this rally is.

Italy: great rally, pity about the spectators... This year was the first time the Sanremo had been held across a weekend. Forced by the FIA to fall in to the standard format of a three day event starting on Friday and finishing on a Sunday, the organisers brought in a strict 'no cars' policy for spectators, with car parks and bus transport to get them to the stages. This worked on day one but, on day two and three, the idea was obviously too difficult - or they couldn't care less and it was open slather. The result was chaos, with walks of up to five kilometres to the stages through a sea of parked cars blocking the narrow mountain roads. The one solution to getting around was a helicopter taxi service for the media. The only catch it was a small price of $180 each way for a 10 minute flight. We walked the five kilometres instead. -JON THOMSON

SUBARU will wheel this version ot the WR-X into battle in the World Rally Championship next season. The car, based on the 2001 model now in the showrooms, is based on the four-door version of the car, unlike the two-door P2000. Richards Burns and Prodrive will start testing the car in the next month.

Grist: I was pretty spooked COLIN McRae's diminutive co-driver Nicky Grist was "pretty spooked" by the crash he and McRae suffered during the tour de Corse last month. The little Welshman was faced with the prospect of trying to get an unconscious McRae out of the wrecked factory Ford Focus, as petrol poured into the cabin from ruptured fuel lines. "It was pretty scary stuff, really," said Grist. "Colin was unconscious. I

was able to scramble out of the car and just had to pull it all together and work to get Colin out as the fuel poured in. "Part of the scare was that I could very easily have been trapped myself and we wouldn't have been able to get help. It took some time for help to arrive. It was a worry." "I have to admit, it fills me with a lot more confidence knowing our next stop is Australia, where they really worry about safety." -JON THOMSON

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Going it aione Troy Critchley has lived in the shadows of two great racers, Victor Bray and Johnny Rocca. Now, having taken his first professional win in the US, as well as having finished fourth in the IHRA Pro Modified points, Critchley is looking to hit out on his own in 2001. GERALD McDORNAN caught up with Troy earlier this week...

MOTORSPORT NEWS: After a fairly successful couple of seasons working for Johnny Rocca, word has it that you are now looking for another drive in 2001... TROY CRITCHLEY: A friend of mine, Darren Meyer and myself want to go out on our own. We think we have the talent and the skills to do it all ourselves. The other drivers respect me as a driver, which I think is a major achievement. Gaining acceptance as a driver is hard in the US; there's plenty out there that the leading guys don't want to run against. So that works in our favour... We're just looking around for a deal. There's a little bit of interest around, not only in running a car, but also our engines too. I build Johnny's engines and we've impressed people with the power we make. A number of the nitrous guys are supposedly going with blower motors next year, so there's interest in buying engines off Darren and me. MN: You've been in what many would consider the plum situation - a paid drive. It might seem a little strange to some back home that you'd want to leave that... TC: I'm getting a little older and I now believe I've got what it takes to represent a major corporation over here on a professional level. My years with Victor (Bray) taught me a huge amount and I believe on my own I can do it. 27 Ociobar 2080

It's time to go from being the worker to the boss. With Darren and myself together, I believe we can take a company to the level they require... MN: If you find that dream backer, having driven US-built cars as opposed to Australianbuilt cars, would you considered placing an order for the equipment here, or would you just go with the flow in the US? TC: If we get cashed up, without a doubt I'd definitely ring Murray Anderson and order a car. Without a doubt, Murray is the guru with these types of cars. Alan Pittman, who built Johnny's car, builds a nice car, I can't take that away from him, but I believe Murray's cars have continually evolved and got better and better. If Murray couldn't build one in time, then I'd buy one here, but he'd be the first choice. I'd actually love to have cars in both the US and Australia, that would be the ultimate dream... MN:The relationship with Johnny Rocca appears to have been good for you, but looking from the outside, you would hardly know that Troy Critchley actually drives at all. Has it been tough trying to create your own identity with a car owner who won't step out of the limelight? TC: I race to race, I don't really care whose name is on the car or on the press releases and the posters. I go to do my best. Its Johnny's car, Johnny's equipment...

Johnny's talking about driving again and that's one of the main reasons why I want to move on. It would be a major demotion if I became head wrench again. He's helping me decide that it's time to move on. Johnny likes all that stuff, the limelight, which is great because that's him. I wish him all the best and I thank him for giving me the opportunity to drive. It's been a good stepping stone for me to move forward and now, hopefully, someone will recognise my efforts and enable me to become a team owner as well. MN:Is it harder to get the recognition not having had your name promoted as much as the team owner? TC: I don't think so. The people that matter know what's going on. A lot of the other drivers, who know I'm going off to do my own thing, have offered whatever help I need. They're all prepared to give personal references, so that's recognition in a good way. Johnny promotes himself very well, so I really don't think it's been too much of a negative for me at all. MN:The highlights of your time with Johnny ... your first evernational event win,fourth in the points... TC: Absolutely. We've been to the finals three times this year at IHRA events. Just getting to a final is a huge achievement. Last year we wanted to finish in the top 10 in the points and we finished ninth. I wanted to improve this year and reach the top five. It's a prestigious place to finish if you finish in the top five, so our aim was to reach the top five. Hopefully, with one event to go, we'll stay in there. The win at the Northern

Nationals in New Hampshire was pretty sexy! I've now got an ANDRA Gold Christmas Tree from the Winternationals a few years back and an IHRA 'Ironman' from New Hampshire. Maybe I need to go NHRA Pro Mod racing and get one of their 'Wallys'... MN: What are the chances of Troy Critchley running in the NHRA's recently announced Pro Modified class? They've said Pro Mod will be incorporated into Competition Eliminator, although rumours continue that they'll be a professional class within two years. Also, would running NHRA open up more doors for you? TC: Running NHRA would give us more to sell to people. The NHRA provide a really good platform for professional race teams to promote themselves. I've heard a strong rumour that we'll be running six-eight races next year, ones that don't clash with IHRA races, and it will be a paid show for the top runners. That's got to be better than Comp. That would be a plus... The IHRA is a different market. Everyone goes to an NHRA event to see the nitro cars, whereas people come to IHRA shows to see something different. They are two different shows, if Pro Mod is handled right, it will be a major show 'over there' in a couple of years. That's on the mind of the IHRA at the moment, so I don't think the rule makers will be as harsh on the blower cars next year. A few of the teams have threatened to jump ship and make it a good show, so I think you'll see the IHRA take that into account. Whatever happens, just look out for us. I'm excited about the future and I can't wait... 61

Rules were made to be broken... ANDRA have released the ne\w 2000/01 Drag Racing Rule Book. Comprising 140 pages of information and regulations, the ANDRA Rule Book is the biggest ever produced and provides a great reference for any true drag racing fan. Call ANDRA on 08 8271 5355 for your copy. Price remains at $16.50

Kwinana delay World class drag strip/speedway complex to open Dec 15/16 PERTH’S sttinning new Kwinana Motorplex’s opening,scheduled for two weeks, has been delayed until December 15/16. Slight delays in construction have meant the facility managers have preferred to delay the opening, preferring to present a completed venue in December. “Everything is going along nicely, but the possibility of having a few things not quite complete for the original scheduled opening really wasn’t how we wanted to open the complex,” Kwinana drag racing manager Peter Pike told Motorsport News last week. “The facility is world class and we want everyone to enjoy the facility to its fullest upon opening. I’m sure the wait of a couple of weeks will be.well worth it.” The 500 metre speedway will open on Friday, December 15, while the state-of-the-art concrete and asphalt drag strip will begin operations the following night, with both events expected to attract capacity crowds of 15,000. The new opening date means the Western Australian round of the Australian Tbp Doorslammer Championship will move to January 13, with a second round of the series scheduled for the Marlows Westemationals on the March 3/4. - GERALD McDORNAN

n The final round of the Australian Nostalgia Racers Pointscore Series will be held at Warwick Dragway on December 2. Having already run events at Calder and Mildura, the ANR will award championship trophies in all of its brackets - Top Eliminator, Top Gas, Junior Gas, Middle Eliminator, Muscle Car, Street Rod, Nostalgia Bike and Junior Dragster - as well as also presenting the 'Don Garlits Racer of the Year’ award. For more information, call Rhonda Longfield on 02 9639 8000. n The much talked about Adrenalin International Powersports complex, which is planned to be built near Deer Park in Melbourne, received approval from the Brimbank Council last week. A local newspaper reports that 86 conditions were placed on the development by the council, relating to noise, traffic management, lighting and drainage and environmental and archeological concerns raised by council officers and objectors. The developers of the project were quoted as saying they hoped the complex received full approval by early next year, with construction scheduled to start soon after. Construction would take one year. - GERALD McDORNAN

position

Better late than never: Slight delays in finalising construction has meant the new Kwinana Motorplex opening has been moved to mid-December. The world-class complex will open with a two-night Speedway/Drag racing extravaganza.

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Calder/AIR set AFTER a lengthy delay. Bob Jane has finally announced the drag racing calendars for his Calder Park and Adelaide International Raceways,the seasons kicking off in Adelaide this weekend and at Calder Park on November 4. The delays in releasing the calendar came about due to concerns Jane held regarding insurance levels offered by ANDRA, negotiations between the two parties now having been successfully completed. “Our reason for withholding the release for the calendar has, at the end of the day, resulted in a positive outcome for drag racing and motorsport in Australia in general,” Jane said. “We have had an issue with indemnity and driver accident claims, which has been a complex

issue to sort through. Currently, issues of this nature are making operations extremely difficult for promoters around the country and it is a situation that threatens to cripple motorsport. “The outcome that we have reached, together with ANDRA, will benefit not only ANDRA and the two tracks I own, but also all other tracks around the nation and our drag racing competitors.” Next weekend’s AIR event will be highlighted by the annual SA V WA Wild Bunch Shootout, while Calder Park’s season opener also coincides with the opening round of the 2000/01 Australian Top Doorslammer Series.

Rdelaide Iniarnationgl Raceway

Calder Park Raceway November 4 Top Doorslammer Series Decembers Victorian Championships January 27 Top Alcohol Series February 24 T/F v F/C Shootout March 15/17 2001 Nationals

October 28 SA v WA Wild Bunch S’out November 18 Springnatlonals December 16 Top Doorslammer Series Australian Jet Cars January 13 Top Alcohol Series February 3

The Nationals will again be held at Calder Park, the event moving to the March 15/17 weekend.

- GERALD McDORNAN

neiartdort aews

DRAG RACING

Top Fuel driver killed IHRA veteran Wayne Bailey dies after 289mph accident by DAVID OSTASZEWSKI

Tony & Lany on the mend TONY Schumacher and Larry Dixon continue to heal from the injuries sustained in separate high-speed accidents during the NHRA Memphis event. Schumacher broke his left fibula, along with also injuring his right ankle, but was released from hospital the day following the event. Further examinations by specialists revealed the injuries weren't as severe as first thought and, with screws and a plate inserted, Schumacher will return for the season-ending AAA Finals at Pomona. In the meantime, Melanie Troxel, who joined the Schumacher team at Indy, will fill Tony's seat in the Army car for the Dallas and Houston races, while former Joe Amato 'test pilot' Bill Walsh will drive Troxel's Exide Batteries car. Dixon also suffered injuries to his left fibula, breaking it three inches above the ankle. He underwent successful outpatient surgery on the Wednesday following Memphis, where a small pin was inserted. Dixon was back at Don Prudhomme's Snake Racing shop in Indy the following day, helping ready a new car for Dallas. Dixon was to return to his normal driving duties in Dallas, but will get one more week of rest thanks to the event's postponement. - DAVID OSTASZEWSKI

Rest in peace: Wayne Bailey. (Photobyoavkiosuszewski)

JUST a week foUowing the spectacular 300mph crashes from which Tony Schumacher and Larry Dixon walked away, veteran IHRA Top Fuel racer Wayne Bailey was killed in a similar accident. Bailey,47,sustained the fatal injuries while taking part in the Mopar Parts World Finals in Shreveport, Louisiana, his Gene Gaddychassised car breaking apart at the conclusion to a 5.01s/289mph qualifier. It appears Bailey’s car broke in the joint between the driver’s compartment and the motor,sending the stricken car out of control, the impact with the guard-rail sending the driver’s capsule

bouncing along the top of the wall before coming to rest on the other side. Bailey was transported by ambulance to a nearby medical centre,from where he was then taken by helicopter to the Louisiana State University Science Trauma Centre. He was pronounced dead on arrival, the cause severe trauma. Bailey competed on both IHRA and NHRA circuits, winning twice on the IHRA trail, in Bristol (1996) and Norwalk (’90). He finished second in the IHRA points in 1990, fourth in ’91,fifth in ’92, sixth in ’93 and eighth in ’96. Despite competing on a limited basis this year, Bailey had secured a top 10 finish.

IHRA title chase to the wire THE IHRA Top Fuel and Pro Modified title chases should have been decided with last weekend’s Mopai- Parts World Finals at Shreveport, Louisiana, but Rockingham’s rescheduled race on November 4-5 will see the season’s champions decided. Bruce Litton jumped to the head of the Top Fuel standings with a final round victory over his closest rival, Paul Romine, in the final at Red River Raceway, Litton laying down a perfect 4.74/308 to take the win over the tyre-blazing Romine. Litton now holds a slim 6 point advantage heading into Rockingham’s title-decider. “It was a trying weekend,losing

break when points leader Quain Stott was defeated by his brother, Mitch,in a stunning first round upset. t . 1 Mitch went on to beat Hahn in S the final, 6.33/223 to 6.41/218, S the win moving him to third in the points, but Quain’s first round loss has severely hurt his chances of winning the title, Hahn enjojdng a 67 point advantage heading towards Rockingham. Aussie Troy Critchley qualified sixth best(6.33/222) and looked Box seat: Top Fuel’s Bruce Litton. to be a strong chance, but his ’49 Wayne(Bailey),” said Litton. “I Mercury failed to fire for his second round race with Steve know it’s a dangerous sport, but a man’s life is gone ... our thoughts Vick. Critchley fell to fourth in are with his family.” the points, but can still finish third. In Pro Modified, Fred Hahn and - DAVID OSTASZEWSKI team owner Jim Oddy received a

2000 WINSTON DRAG RACING SERIES CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS AT 8 OCTOBER 2000

Winston Top Fuel Championship 1663 1, Gary Mzi, Winston ,1537 2. Tony Schumacher, Exide Batteries ,1440 3. Larry Dixon, Milter Lite/MBNA ,1 281 4. Joe Amato, Tanneco/Dynomax 5. Doug Kalitta, MGM Grand Hotel .. ,1 269 1 177 6. Kenny Bernstein, Bud King Racing .1008 7. Cory McClenathan, MBNA .876 8. Bob Vandergrilt .807 9. Doug Herbert, Snap-On Tools 10. David Grubnic .733

Winston Funny Car Championship 1. John Force, Castrol GTX Mustang. 1659 2. Ron Capps, US Tobacco Camaro... 1369 3. Jerry Toliver, WWF Racing Camaro 1353 4. Tony Pedregon, Castrol Synlec M/tang 1201 1142 5. Jim Epier, WWF Racing Camaro 998 6. Scotty Cannon, Oakley Camaro 7. Whit Bazemore, Kendall GT-1 Camaro ....949 8. Del Worsham, CSK Pontiac .937 .874 9, Dean Skuza. Mateo Tools Avenger 10. Bruce Sarver .871

Winston Pro Stock Championship I.Jeg Coughlin, Jeg's Olds Cutlass 1827 1295 2,Kurt Johnson, ACDelco Camaro ,1277 3. Ron Krisher. Eagle One Pontiac ,1239 4. Warren Johnson, GM Pontiac. 5. Mark Pawuk, Summit Racing Pontiac ..1052 6. Troy Coughlin. Jeg's Olds Cutlass ,1009 .957 7. Richie Stevens, Valspar Pontiac..., .926 8. Jim Yates, Splilfire/Peak Pontiac.. 9, Darrell Alderman 811 10, Bruce Allen .768 63

MaxatPCR

League star tries Super Sedan NRL star and Aussie Kangaroo winger Adam MacDougall survived his baptism of fire in Bernie Roberts' VT Commodore as David Robertson blasted to an impressive win in round one of the Gough and Gilmour V8 Super Sedan Series at Newcastle Speedway on October 21. MacDougall, who was due to fly out the next day to Brisbane en route to England for the World Cup, took up the offer to make a visit to the speedway and drive a V8 Super Sedan, ■| enjoyed it, but I'd rather tackle Wendell Sailor than tackle one of these things again,’ was the verdict after his 10-lap session. David Robertson took command of the serious competition, storming to victory in the 25 lap Gough and Gilmour Series opener. The confident 19-year-old second generation racer steered the Kurri Spare Parts Pontiac to victory ahead of ACT driver Scott McPherson in the PEG Technology Pontiac, Keith Sims in the self-destructing Sims Group VT Commodore and Steve Jones in the G-Force Engines Dodge Avenger. Australian Litre Car Champ Andrew Wright threw everything he had at Carlingford teenager Scott Darley in the Terrace Hire 15 lap Litre Main, but the youngster was too fast in the right places to be caught. Darley took the win in the #13x Van Man Pulsar, leading home Wright and Sean Barnett. Wollongong AMCA National driver John Cartwright completed a rare hat-trick by winning his third main event in as many events, leading home Gary James and Sheldon Oling. The Street Stocker main event was claimed by Gary Morris, whilst Aaron Norrie scored the Junior Sedan feature. -WADE AUNGER

LHLH

1 .'I

LAST issue’s Titan Garages Queensland Sprintcar Summer Shootout centrespread unfortunately encountered some technical dramas. The white space should have been filled by Sherri Schaffer, pictured above. 64

by WADE AUNGER SYDNEY Sprintcar hardcharger Robbie Farr won the Pavement Salvage Sprintcar Stampede at Parramatta Speedway on October 21, in the process scoring some serious points in round three of the Proton Satria GTi Driver of the Year Series. Farr took the #56 Standox Stealth to a satisfying win ahead of vastly improved Canberra wheeler Darren Saillard and an impressive Kelly Linigen. Max Dumesn/s horror mn of unpredictable bad luck continued. He spun without warning after a torsion bar stop came off and he was collected heavily by the hapless Trevor Shields and Jason Begg. What made matters worse for Shields was that it was his birthday and it was his second major wreck in as many weeks. Both Linigen and Saillard desperately needed points for their assault on the new Proton Satria GTi up for grabs in the Track Championship - neither had enjoyed a particularly lucky start to the series until round three. Points: Priolo 890, Farr 880, Saillard 740, Jackson 690, Loadsman/Attard 670.

- rNo luck: Max Dumesny has had the speed, but not the luck at PCR.

(Photo courtesy ot PCR)

A WEEK earlier, Bob Jackson was so close he could almost taste it. His first feature win at PCR was only seven laps from reality, but he slammed into the lapped car of Gary Rooke and destroyed the #12 Sydney Express Couriers machine. “A $28,000 road-car as the prize for the Track Championship does tend to inject a bit of intensity into situations like this,” said car owner Gilbert Kennedy ruefully. “It would

have been cheaper, I think, just to go out and buy a Proton, but that’s not the point, is it?” Dumesny had hounded Jackson for the entire race and charged through the ruts to record a convincing win. Brett Leadsman scored a season-best runner-up position, with Pino Priolo blasting around the outside of Peter Attard and Linigen to grab third at the chequer. Saillard finished fourth, with Attard fifth.

WSS no go in WA THE World Series Sprintcar tour will not be visiting Western Australia during the 2000/2001 season. The new Kwinana Motorplex, which is currently under construction as a replacement for Clarement Speedway, will not be finished in time for the WSS’ visit. Construction delays combined with concerns over the high cost of travel have caused the series organisers to suspend all rounds in WA this summer, including the planned two-night Bunbury show and the NASR-promoted round at Kalgoorlie. All other rounds will run on the dates scheduled. Defending WSS champion Brooke Tatnell is expected to miss the opening rounds while he fulfills his commitments in the US, but will return for the rest of the series. There is talk that Tatnell in fact may not run the WSS schedule, in order to give him time

No go to WA: Brooke Tatnell will miss the WSS opening rounds due to US commitments. He won’t be the oniy one not to go to WA ... (Bridge) at home, and to rest, particularly following his nasty crash some months back. In other WSS news, the series will use a Hoosier control tyre. The tyre chosen is identical to the one

to be used next year by the All Stars Sprintcar series in the US and is being supplied especially for the WSS. The WSS previously had a deal for a Goodyear control tyre. noiorspon newt

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Steve’s sweet IGth THE job’s done. Steve Kinser is clearly the King of the Outlaws, clinching his 16th WoO championship last weekend hy winning the Lone Star Classic at Houston Raceway Park over long-time rival Sammy Swindell. "We've played it conservative here the last month or so and got in pretty good shape (to win the championship)," said Kinser. "So now we're going out to try to win races to finish off the year." Kinser was on the money from the moment the engines fired. His claimed only his second Fast Qualifier award of the season

before taking victory in the first of the eight-lap heats, with Danny Lasoski, Brian Paulus and Craig Dollansky victorious in the rest. Kinser was sixth in the dash and would have to start from there in the fi nal, while Swindell, who had won the preliminary final on Friday as well as started on pole for the dash and won it, had pole for the 30-lap fi nal. While Swindell made a quick get-away, Kinser was charging through from the third row, quicking getting by Jac Haudenschild, Lasoski, Stevie

Smith and cousin Mark Kinser within a mere four laps. An enthralling duel between Kinser and Swindell developed, the two trading the lead until lap 15, when Kinser broke free for victory, sealing the title in the process.

Swindell held on to second ahead of Haudenschild, Dollansky, Smith and Lasoski. Brooke Tatnell’s return to the cockpit continued, the Aussie qualifying 17th, fi nishing sixth in his heat and fifth in the BFeature, missing out by one spot

Darren’s second

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I don’t want to get out: Jensen grabbed his second feature trophy last weekend. (Photo courtesy QSSS)

Max Dumesny Motorsport Australian Distributors for

Xoostrr

^ ^ RACING TIRE

For more infonnation on Hoosier Drag and Speedway Tyres caJL

NSW 02 9679 1990 ● Fax 02 9679 1187 VIC: 03 9331 6477 ● Fax 03 9331 7444 SA: 08 8332 0800 ● Fax 08 8364 0296

27 QclBktr 2fl«a

DARREN Jensen claimed his second feature race win from two starts on Saturday night at Brisbane International Speedway in round two of the Titan Garages Queensland Sprintcar Summer Shootout. The Serco/Wiseco Maxim driver started from the front row in the shortened 23-lap feature after finishing fourth and sixth in the two heats and made the best of the start, racing away from the field in the company of Todd Wanless. “You gotta be happy to win a race.” said Jensen. Rivalling Jensen for the biggest grin on the night was Darrell Hodges. The Valvoline Recochem Maxim driver qualified for

the 3x3 Shootout with a pair of seconds in the two heats, before blitzing the House of Auto Styling Time Trial with a 12.16s lap. Hodges then claimed the 3x3 Shootout finishing second, first and first in the three 3 lap sprints. He also snared the Hard Charger award for his feature race charge through the field from 12th to finish third. Defending series champion Todd Wanless (Metalcorp/ABC Auto Gear Stealth) salvaged a fighting second in the feature race after the heats didn’t go to plan. Wanless finished third in the first heat and seventh in the second after a half spin induced by a flat tyre

put him to the rear of the heat field. Starting from third in the feature, Wanless stuck with Jensen and was challenging for the win when the race was declared early after the late race retirement of George Galea (RCM To^otti), who retired with driveline failure. Next to Hodges in the ‘drive of the night’ category was Nathan Macdonald in the Frazer Shores MACl. Trouble struck Macdonald in the first heat with a failed fuel pump and, with it all to do, Macdonald lit the race up, coming from 13th to finish fourth.

Points: Jensen 140, Hodges 1.S8, Macdonald 130, Bridge 125, McComb/Lindberg 122, Wanless 120.

2000WORIX) OF OUTLAWS SERIES POINTS SCORE Point Standings to 21 October, 2000

I. Steve Kinser. . . . 2. Sammy Swindell. 3. Mark Kinser 4. Danny Lasoski . . 5. Stevie Smith. . . . 6. Joey Saldana. . . . 7. Dale Blaney . . . . 8. Andy Hilicnburg. 9. johnny Herrera . , 10. Jac Haudenschild

9411 9192 9185 9109 8982 8676 8627 8588 8413 8370

11. Donny Schatz . . l2..Tlm Shaffer l3.Daryn Pittman . 14. Danny Wood . . . 15. Greg Hodnett . . 16. Brian Paulus . .. 17. Dean Jacobs. . . . 18. Brooke Tatncll. . 19. Randy Hannagan 20. Paul McMahan. .

Houston Raceway, 21 October 2000 8294 8095 7099 7703 7398 6293 6273 5596 4434 . 4325

I.Steve Kinser

I I. Paul McMahan

2. Sammy Swindell 3. Jac Haudenschild 4, Craig Dollansky 5. Stevie Smith

12. Joey Saldana 13. Ronald Laney 14. Shane Stewart

6. Danny Lasoski 7. Brian Paulus 8. Mark Kinser

15. Danny Wood 16. Dale Blaney 17. Jason Meyers 10. Brad Furr

9. Johnny Herrera lO.TIm Shaffer

19. Donny Schatz 20. Dean Jacobs

Euro bike briefs JASON Lyons and Steve Johnston have both failed in their attempt to win through to next year's World Championship Grand Prix series. The duo raced in the GP Challenge at Abensburg in Germany, with Lyons finishing last. After a third place in his first race, Lyons had to finish in the first two in heat five to stay in the meeting, but a fall saw him crash out. Johnston fared little better; a last place in heat three meant he had to race again in heat six to stay in the meeting. A second place behind England's Gary Havelock took 'Jonno' to heat nine, where his third place ended his hopes. Both riders could still compete in the Australian GP in Adelaide next March if they are awarded the two wildcard places. Riders to join the GP from Abensburg are Peter Karlsson, Mikael Karlsson and Jimmy Niisen (Sweden), Nicki Pedersen and Brian Andersen (Denmark), Carl Stonehewer, Joe Screen and Andy Smith (England), Rune Holta (Norway) and Piotr Protasiewicz (Poland). n Lyons suffered another blow when it was learned that the future of speedway at Belle Vue, his British club, is in doubt. The Greyhound Racing Association, who own the Stadium, have decided to race dogs on Friday and Saturday nights and that means that, realistically, speedway would have to move to VVednesdays. Current Belle Vue boss John Perrin, in charge for 13 years, is far from happy, but also reluctant to sell his interest in the club. Two other promoters are interested in taking over the reins at Kirkmanshulme Stadium; Alan Ham who formerly ran the sport at Bradford and Halifax and Tony Molle, who promotes successfully at Workington in the British Premier League. n The money-making possibilities for top riders in Europe could be drastically reduced by a move in Poland to restrict clubs to just one foreign rider. Traditionally, Poland has provided massive earnings opportunities for the top men and Aussies Jason Crump, Leigh Adams, Ryan Sullivan, Craig Boyce and Todd Wiltshire have all regarded Polish racing as a vital part of their European package. Many feel that Britain should also start to restrict overseas stars, as some clubs now have as many as five overseas riders in their teams. However, it is still the only truly international league in the world and the BSPA is unlikely to change the rules. -TONY MILLARD 68

start your eng The 2000 SRA Autoppo Super Sprint Series is set to be the tightest ever. BREn SWANSON previews the action.

THE SRA’s Autopro Super Sprint Series is set for a fair amount of change in the 2000/2001 season, with a new name and a host of new faces hoping to walk away with the championship crown after the 12 rounds. 1998/99 champion Jeff Judd will utilize a new Avenger chassis in Autopro colours to try and snare his second crown after a frustrating defense last season. Current champion Rob Rankin will not defend his title at this stage, having retired victorious. The winning car, however, has been purchased by Ian Lewis, who plans on making a full-time return to Sprintcars. David Anderson is keen to contest the championship nowthat it has television coverage of each round on the Optus and Austar cable networks. Anderson has a near perfect record in SRA rounds and would have to be considered the title favourite, should he chase the full series. David Swayn should score that maiden feature win after being

ill

Trying to ‘Avenge’ defeat: 1998/99 champion Jeff Judd will have a new Avenger chassis to try to take back the SRA Series crown. (Phowby sretiswansonj runner-up last year, as well as being voted the National Sprintcar Hall of Fame Rookie of the Year. Mike'Van Bremen has been a perennial championship chaser, but has failed to take the title for various reasons. Last season should have been his year with a concerted effort on the championship and good equipment. It's time for the ‘Flying Dutchman’to stand up and achieve the results that he is capable of Like his good mate - dual champion Matthew Reed - Darren Walsh is full of talent, but not budget. Last season, the Walsh

team fettled Swayn's car while building up a brand-new Maxim of their own. Darren has been in the USA in the meantime crewing for Pete Murphy and will return home for the season. The level of professionalism and presentation in the 'Victorian ranks has improved markedly since the series' inception. Two of those outfits are the McCubbin and Flocon Engineering teams. Tim McCubbin looked extremely fast last year, especially at Bacchus Marsh. Frustratingly, that speed didn't transfer into the results that it should have. With a growing family and a new business, expect to see a more mature McCubbin convert that speed into wins. Flocon Racing presented three cars last season and brought out American Chad Kemenah. Kemenah's only win was at Warrnambool, Set for a big year: Tim McCubbin’s PPG machine will be one to watch as the Autopro Series runs into 2001. (Photo by Brott Swanson)

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but he had undoubted speed everywhere he raced. Part of the American experiment for the Flocon team was to learn quickly from the Ohioan's vast experience. Lead driver Steve Knight was occasionally a match for Kemenah in speed and has always N been fast on occasion. With the lessons learnt from the Yank, expect to SlTKlWll see Knight scoring top results with more consistency. Frank Ramsdale is another expected to challenge for race wins, while Daryn Maggs only knows one speed in everything he does - flat out. The only question is will the team stay and play in Victoria, or will the frequent trips to Adelaide hurt his championship chase? Also hning up for a win will be Cobden's John Vogels after a year oflearning and Ian Thomsen who now has an aluminium powerplant under the hood. Paul Bastow may also surprise if things go his way. Older fans will remember Portland's Garry Warren in the #24 machine form years back. Warren now lives in Perth and his son Jeremy races on the West Coast. The team have done a deal with Ken Veal that will see Jeremy racing in Victoria. A host of rookies including Brent Hough - cousin of Aussie Sidecar Champ Glen Hough Marcus Nelson, Scott Cahir, Tony Moule, Graham Dougherty and others will help bolster the ranks of Jeff Drew, Ian Smith, David Smith, Peter Knight, David Brown, Blair Jones, Butch and Charles Hunter, Alan and Mark Barlee and others. Round one is at Nyora on November 4.

The Farr Side MUM Robbie farr

WELL, greatand to be back in theit's saddle winning Sprintcar races again after the traditional winter break - two victories out of three features at Parramatta City Raceway is extremely pleasing, considering we were in a position to be a contender at the other event until a steering rod broke. At the season opener our new EWT Auto Dismantlers team came from 13th to win the feature. The following week I was in a good position to win the feature when the steering rod broke due to the roughness of the track - a result of rain prior to the race. Last Saturday night, we took our Stealth chassis / Felsch engine combination to the winner's circle once again, which is great for our new team. We won our first heat

then finished third in the next one, before winning The Dash' from position five. In the 30-lap feature I started out of position fifteen and stayed on the bottom line as the track was heavy, going past Max Dumesny early before he had a moment with several others and that put him out of the event. It was pretty uneventful for us. I paced myself during the race and took the lead about six laps from the chequered flag, so I was pretty happy, as I'm not known for displaying patience on the track!

e've been fortunate enough to sign Standox Auto Paints, Central Districts

Smash Repairs and Valvoline as corporate sponsors and that certainly allows us to take in more race meetings over the summer. We have a brand-new Avenger chassis plus a Gaerte engine sitting in the race shop in readiness for the Sprintcar Classic and the Australian Title. We'll need the best of equipment to beat the visiting US exponents and our top locals. I've spoken to Gavin Leer and he has a Stealth Chassis with a Fontana powerplant and we could hook up later in the season to run some of the bigger Midget Speedcar shows. In the meantime though. I'll see you at the track!

Farr and the cliickcn farmer: Two feature wins at Parramatta in three weekends has been a good start to the season. (Pholo by John Morris/Mpix)

PCR and Proton join forces PARRAMATTA City Raceway has signed a deal with Proton Cars Australia for the Proton Satria Gti Sprintcar Driver of the Year award, awarded to the driver who wins the PCR Track Championship. The winner of the series will receive a brand new Satria, valued at $28,000. Points from the Track Championship will be counted, although the three WSS rounds which the track will run will not count for points in the Proton Series. “There’s no doubt that Sprintcar racing is an exciting sport and the Proton Satria GTi is an

exciting car, it’s an appropriate marriage for both parties I think,” said Proton marketing manager Robynne Flail. “First and foremost we’re looking at the Speedway as a new market to expose our range of vehicles. We want people to take test drives in order for them to enjoy the experience of getting behind the wheel of a Proton. We see the Speedway audience as an excellent means for which to do that, and at the same time we get the benefits of aligning our company with a spectacular sport like Sprintcar racing," Flail continued.

2000/2001 SPRINTCAR RACING ASSOCIATION OF VIC CALENDER QSSS 2000/2001 CALENDER NON CHAMPIONSHIP EVENTS Nov 4 Brisbane Rd3

S.O.S. RACEPARTS CHAMPIONSHIP ROUNDS Suppliers of quality race parts n Weld Wheels n Eagle chassis n Pro Shocks n All titanium parts Marl order avarlable - all credrt cards accepted Ph: 02 4332 8755 Fax: 02 4385 8395 Mobile: 0411 470 712 ai Sanmunry Place Bateau Bay NSW 8261 21 OciBkar 2B08

Nov 4 . Nov 11 Nov 18.

.. Nyora ....Rd I . Avalon ....Rd 2 B/Marsh Rd 3 Nov 25 ... Mt Gambier Rd 4 Dec 16 . Bacchus Harsh Rd 5 Dec 26 . Avalon ....Rd 6 . Avalon ....Rd 7 Jan 13 Jan 20 . Simpson ....Rd 8 Mar 11 . Avalon ....Rd 9 Mar 24 n VTagga ...Rd 10

Dec 2

Bacchus Marsh ...360 ser

Jan 3..

. Warrnambool ..Vic Title

Jan 28.

. Warrnambool ...Classic

Feb 24.

Bacchus Marsh ...Fireball

Apr 7..

Bacchus Marsh . , .360ser

Apr 13

Avalon ..EasterT

Nov II ... Toowoomba Nov 18 Brisbane

.Rd4

Nov 25 .... Bundaberg Dec 2 Brisbane

Rd 6 Rd 7

Dec 16 Dec 26

Apr 14

.. Mt Gambier ..EasterT

Apr IS

. Warrnambool ..EasterT

Feb 24 Mar 3 .

Apr 21.

Bacchus Marsh ..EasterT

Mar 17

Rd 5

Brisbane

Rd8

Brisbane Lismore

Rd 9 Rd 10

Brisbane Brisbane

Rd 11 .Rd 12

Leslight too strong by CHRIS METCALF JOEDN Leslight extended his lead in the QVR Super Sedan Championship Series pointscore when he triumphed in the 30-lap feature race at Toowoomha’s Charlton Raceway on October 21,to add to his round one victory of a week earlier. Leslight(American Truck Parts Camaro) was engaged in an early scrap with polesitter Michael Gee and then had to recover from a superb outside charge from Jamie McHugh, before reclaiming the premier position on lap 19 and charging to the chequer. Wayne Randall continued his steady progress aboard his spariding new Mazda RX7 with a strong third place ahead of Mat Pascoe, Nick Girdlestone and Gee, who spun to a halt with just six laps to run and had to restart from the rear. The six preliminary heats were won by Gee (2), McHugh,Pascoe, Girdlestone and Randall. In the pre-race grid draw, everybody selected in accordance with their qualifying position, keeping Gee on pole position for the main event with Leslight alongside. When the green flag flew. Gee and Leslight hit turn one together and stayed that way for the first two laps until Leslight was able to slip ahead. McHugh was immediately on a charge from sixth, charging around the outside line past Girdlestone, Pascoe, Randall and Gee to slot into second with just five laps completed. On lap 17, McHugh swept into the lead through turns three and four and looked set to record his first feature win for the year until he removed all his tear-offs in error just two laps later and relinquished the lead. Leslight took full advEuitage of the opportunity and cleared away to secure victory, while McHugh had to survive a late charge from Randall to remain second. When Gee spun to a halt in turn four on lap 24 whilst running third, the field bunched for a six lap sprint to the finish. The battle for fourth intensified at this point, with Pascoe keeping Girdlestone and Gee at bay in the dash to the flag. Points: Leslight 423, McHugh 347, Randall 346,Pascoe 314, Brims 293.

Brady breaks the hoodoo

CASTLE Hill Speedcar driver Craig Brady has broken a hoodoo that has in the past cost him vast amounts of money. In the past three seasons, he's wrecked a new car on the opening night in as many tries. “It was getting to the point where I considered just starting the season on the second night, but I didn’t want to give away the points to anyone who’d make No wrecked cars here: Craig Brady scared away the ‘first meeting of the season’ blues me pay later,” he with a win at PCR. (Photo counesy PCR) smiled after victory at Parramatta City had earlier collected two heat recent tweeks, Morris too was Raceway on October 14. wins in his #42 Rondalee determined to get the season It was far from smooth sailing Stealth. opener win. to get the trophy, however, with Dave Lambert celebrated the “A couple of times I thought I’d fellow Castle Hill hard charger have him for sure, but he was debut of his ex-Wayne Cover faster when he needed to be and Brett Morris giving his younger Stealth/Gaerte with a solid fourth counterpart an enormous I couldn’t get by,” he said. place, while Darren Jenkins headache for the entire 20 laps. Following Brady (Thompson placed fifth in the Metalcorp Having taken delivery of a new Mowers TCR)and Morris home Recyclers Stealth. - WADE AUNGER Stealth/Brayton combination in was a distant Mark Brown, who

Plaisted brothers win at Gosford

Inside line: Justin and Mark Plaisted run down the inside of Bob Turner and George Rickard.

(Photo by David Lamont)

THE Sidecar Grand National at Lynx Gosford Showground Speedway brought together the top outfits from around the country on October 7. Reigning National Champions Glenn and Nathan O’Brien (WA)lined up against experienced crews, including Grant BondA/ictor Gavenlock(NSW)and Andrew Cleave/Dave Power (Vic). Teenage sensation Justin Plaisted (SA)teamed up for the first time with his brother, Mark. The A Final was a cracker. When the tapes went up. Cleave, Plaisted and Bond were side-by-side into turn one. Cleave nosed ahead briefly, before Bond and Plaisted found drive out of the turn to go ahead on the back straight. Houston and Turner could not match the leading three outfits for pace. The order remained Bond, Plaisted and Cleave until the final lap, when the Plaisteds got inside Bond/Gavenlock and took a half-length lead down the straight to hold on for a close win. - DAVID LAMONT Moiorsport gawi

SPEEDWAY

rmoured with Shields A

Ben Shields is an IS-year-old speedway bike rider with a passion for making it to the top. DAVID LAMONT profiles one of the fastest and hungriest two-wheeled young guns around. IN its brief history, Gosford Showground Speedway has been the home ground of some exciting young speedway talent. It has seen the rise of Craig Watson, who now rides for Elite League club Poole, as well as Adam Shields, former under 21 champion, who is now playing a leading role for his Premier League club Isle Of Wight. And now a major new player has emerged. A third generation racer whose passion is speedway bikes. Ben Shields, son of ex-Cradley Heathen David and cousin of Adam, has the right mix of talent, determination and self-belief.

'1 like the chase -1 love it when I beat them" -Ben Shields He began last season, his second, in B grade and finished it by beating the best Gosford had to offer. Mick Poole and Stephen Davies are the benchmarks for performance there, and Ben is poised to better them. The 18-year-old began racing speedway bikes at the age of 16. His grandfather Matt taught him the tjasics on their banked oval track constructed on the family property. Ben’s speedway racing career began at Nepean in New South Wales. A Korean film crew was making a film about speedway and he was drafted in as the stunt double. “He couldn’t ride, so I rode for him,” said Ben of the leading man. “Each time I came off the track, I would pull all my stuff off and he would put it on. He would do one 21 Oetokwr 2«SI

lap and they would film him coming in.” The Nepean experience was followed by a race meeting at Tamworth, and then his first full season at Gosford. The hours and many laps of coaching that began with his grandfather and continued with his father saw Shields make an immediate impression. By the end of his first season he was beating other riders with much more experience. In his second season he was regularly up against A-Grade riders. When he lined up in a race with Davies and Poole, he admitted to being nervous. “I wasn’t really sure what to expect,” he said. “I wasn’t expecting to get a place. I would have been happy coming last. I just wanted to race.” And that is the sentiment that comes through whenever he talks about speedway. He wants to race, and can’t wait for the new season to start. He is on the way with his goals mapped out. Material support comes from Out Of Control Surf Shop, Wurth, East Side Trims and Dave Mills, who tunes his engine. Shields works as a brickie’s labourer and all his earnings are put into his bikes. His next step is to get a financial sponsor, someone who will put up the money needed to further his aims, but in the meantime he keeps practicing. When he is not on the bike he might be watching football or playing tennis. Speedway won him over though

The during and the after: Shields has quickly proved to be one of the next generation of Aussie bike riders with his strong and constantly improving results at Gosford Showground Speedway. In the photo below, the three pictures at the top right are of Ben's father. (Photos by David Lamixil)

because “it’s such an adrenaline rush.” “I like the chase -1 love it when I beat them,” he says. His aim for this coming season, according to his plan, is to finish in the top two at the NSW championships. He wants to qualify for the Australian title and get to the UK. He knows that if he can’t consistently beat people here, then he can’t make it overseas. “It’ll be hard. If I make that... I can get there [UK].” Shields has already had approaches indirectly from the UK and he is ready to go. But it will be on his terms. He won’t get into debt to do it. ‘Tf they want me, give me a plane ticket and the other things so I can survive over there, and I

would go now,” he declares. Without patriality, he will need one of the scarce work permits, but is confident that if a league club wants him, they will find a way to get him there. He wants to go and he wants to do it before he is 20. “I don’t want to go if I’m 20,” he

said.

“The aim is to get there before I’m 20, like Jason Crump and the others. They went there when they were 17,18 or 19.” Right now though, Shields is itching to get back in the saddle. “I haven’t raced in months. I can’t wait to get back. At the track, you watch other riders, then you roll down the ramp onto the track and everything lights up. I love it.” 69

Big time hits Camperdown by BRIAN REED

THANKS to the co-operation of the local townspeople and the Victoria Police, an expanded program of events has been planned for the third annual Vintage Motorsport Weekend scheduled for November 3-7, 2000. The west Victorian town of Caimperdown has become the location for the event because it has a hillclunb venue(Mt. Leura) of national championship standard, ample accomodation and, most of all, a sympathetic and innovative Shire Council. As well as a quarter-mile sprint, a motorkhana and a dash up Mt. Leura, the Vintage Motorsport Weekend will now include for the first time a rally style street stage through the streets of Camperdown. The event is on the Melbourne Cup long weekend to encourage visitors to travel to the picturesque town, and coincides with the local Heritage Festival. Registration and scrutineering will be held on Saturday morning(November 4)at Mockridge Park (the local cycling velodrome), and the motorkhana will run during the afternoon in the centre of the facility. The quarter-mile sprint and street stage will be run in Little Manifold Street in conjunction with the Heritage Festival on Sunday (November 5) with a variety of bands, activities, amusements and a craft market, then the hillclimb at Mt. Leura will take place on Monday(November 6). A presentation dinner will be held at the conclusion of the event. The Vintage Motorsport Weekend is sponsored by Shannons, and is the brainchild of two keen vintage enthusiasts John Cox and Wes Wilkinson and their wives Margaret and Dianne. The group was bemoaning the demise of timed competition events for cars such as theirs from the 1920s and remembered the thrill of competing in speed events as part ofthe re-enacted RACV Reliability Trials of that era under the banner of"The Spirit of the 20s.’ And so the Shannons Vintage Motorsport Weekend came into being in 1998, and this year the event will cater for standard production cars, specials and commercial vehicles. There is also a separate category for vintage motorcycles. Proceeds from the 10

Ready for action: Highlights from the 1999 Shannons Vintage Motorsport weekend - Wes Wilkinson’s ’28 Chevy Special above, Bianca Bonner on a ’28 Indian Scout left and Len Jenkins’ 1926 Amilcar E Series Sports below left(get that elbow in, Len!)

Morwell entries available

meeting will help support the local community through donations to the Apex, Lions and Rotary clubs who assist with the running ofthe weekend. Other organisations including

the Pastoral and Agricultural Society and the Hospital Auxiliary will also benefit from the event. For further information contact Paula Doherty(03)9661 6942 or Wes Wilkinson (03)9558 2323.

ENTRY forms and supplementary regulations are now available for the Victorian Historic Racing Register’s hillclimb to be staged at Morwell on Sunday, November 12. It will be a multi-ciub event for members of the Lotus Club, Victorian Morgan Owners Club, V.S.C.C., MG Club, Austin Healey Owners Club, Sprite Drivers Club, Bolwell Car Club and the H.T.C.A. as well as members of the V.H.R.R. A track familiarisation session will be held for new drivers. Entrants and drivers must be financial members of one of the aforementioned CAMS affiliated clubs and hold a current Level 2 Competition Licence or higher licence. All major Historic classes will be catered for and there will also be a Road Registered category. The Event Secretary is Ray Da Costa (03) 5940 1647. - BRIAN REED motorsport nows

HISTOmCS Big day at Mt Tarrengower

On the way: Greg Cusack on his way to winning the Australian title at Lowood in 1964.

Cusack Elfin saved THE 1963 Elfin Formula Junior originally purchased by David McKay for his Scuderia Veloce team has been acquired by the National Motor Racing Museum in Bathurst. The car was first campaigned by Canberra's Greg Cusack, who drove the Elfin-Ford to victory in the 1964 Australian Formula 2 Championship at Lowood, Queensland. Later, the Elfin was driven at Mt. Panorama, Katoomba and "Warwick Farm by Sydney's Mike Champion and well-known motoring writer Barry Lake, and after passing through the hands of several other NSW owners, finished up in a delapidated condition until rescued from a hayshed in Burrumbuttock in 1982. The Group M openwheeler was returned to the Elfin factory in S.A. where it underwent a total rebuild by Garrie Cooper and Doug Trengove with the finishing touches being made by Rex Colliver in Melbourne. The car has been upgraded to Catalina specifications (ISOOcc pushrod engine, 5-speed gearbox and disc brakes), and a further major rebuild has been undertaken recently by former Series Production driver and Toyota Team manager, Tony Niovanni. The purchase of Elfin Catalina (No. 6310)by the Museum is a major step forward in displaying 21 Ocltbcr 2006

vehicles other than touring cars that have competed at the mountain, and came as a result of an advertisement which appeared

in the Classified section of Motorsport News. As they say, it pays to advertise! -BRIAN REED

Dad, can I borrow...

35-: WE thought it would be a good time to run a picture of Jody Scheckter, the last man to win the world drivers' title for Ferrari until Michael Schumacher won in Japan. The 1979 champion wheeled a Ferrari 312 out of his garage in England recently to help familiarise his son Tomas with Formula One cars the way they used to be.

Scheckter won three GPs 21 years ago and took the title despite the efforts of the Williams team, which came on strong mid-season. Alan Jones and Clay Regazzoni took out five of the last seven GPs. Scheckter Jr, 20, will get regular FI miles in 2001 as test driver for the Jaguar GP team. - PHIL BRANAGAN

WITH motorcycle racing at Ravenswood,the V8s at Sandown, the Bay to Birdwood Rally and Motor Mania at Castlemaine on the weekend of October 7-8 it's a wonder the organisers of the 2000 Mt. Tarrengower Historic Hillclimb attracted any spectators at all! There was even the Japanese Motorcycle GP to keep the couch potatoes away, yet a sizeable crowd was on hand to witness a day of nostalgia at Maldon's famous venue. Seventy entries were received by the joint organisers from the Vintage Sports Car Club of Victoria and the Bendigo Car Club and the meeting was held in ideal conditions with five new class records being established on the day. Most outstanding performance was that of Melbourne's Stephen Lunn, who was the only competitor to break the magic 40second barrier. According to meeting secretary Roger Boehme,"his last run was a blinder," and he took his Elfin Mono to the summit in the time of 39.46sec. He also set a new class record on his third attempt. Lunn should know his way up the 1457-metre course - he has now woti. Fastest Time of Day for the past five years. Winner of the Historic competition at this year's Targa Tasmania, John Lawson, lowered his own class record by more than 2s in his wonderfulsounding Alfa Romeo. George Goad's Group L record for 1940-60 sports racing cars fell to the flying Redpath Oldsmobile Special driven by Bill Redpath, while Lindsay Siebler (Cooper S)and Peter Mcknight(Aarons Lotus 9) also broke records for their respective classes. Luckily the organisers stuck with their policy of starting the meeting on i time as there was a considerable delay following a rollover involving Alan Cardwell's Austin Morris contesting the Group J racing car class. Cardwell lost control at Turn 3 and ran up a bank after clipping the Armco. The ambulance and safety team were quick on the scene and Cardwell was taken to hospital, shaken but not seriously hurt. In the meantime, racing was abandoned until another ambulance arrived from Inglewood, and Cardwell later returned as a spectator to watch the remainder of the meeting. There was a further delay when John Hardy blew the clutch on the start line in his Alpine Renault, and the stubborn French thoroughbred played hard to shift. The day concluded with a shootout amongst the top three competitors - Stephen Lunn (Elfin Mono), Jim 'Stumpy' Russell (Nedloh) and Peter Turner (Grantinni), but nobody was able to improve on their times recorded in the three official runs. - BRIAN REED 11

scene

etBedby

Aaron Noonan

Winton readies for HQ enduro

Naiiii

Nothing like ‘three on the tree’: The HQs will head to Winton on December 2/3. (Pholo by James Smith)

This time last year: The 1999 Nationals were a raging success on the October long weekend at Bathurst. This year the title of the tiny (Photo by Marshall Cessi open wheelers will be decided at Oran Park. NEARLY 50 of the best Formula Vee drivers from'all over Australia will converge on Oi'an Park for the annual Formula Vee Nationals on October 28/29. The highlight of the event is set to he the dice between five-time Nationals winner Frank Hairc (Elliot), current Formula Vee National Series leader Shane Hart (Jabiru), Super Scries winner Phil Moyes (Jacer), Victorian State leader Hart Mason (Jacer) and 1997 Nationals winner Jason Cutts (Jacer). Newly-crowned NSW State <-hampion Gary Ogden will also be out to win for the factory Mako team, while other NSW drivers include Bruce Colhey, Glen Firth, Tammy Douglass, Stephen M

Butcher,Ken Smith, Clem Fama and Phil Lewis. Multiple WA State champ Anthony Lees w ill lead the Sandgropers assault, w'hile Paul Tucker and Rob Jezicr.ski will lead the South Australian runners. Victoria will also he represented by Andy and Rob Nethercote as well as Daniel Reinhardt. The 2000 Nationals will also feature the return fi-om retirement of former NSW champ and Jacer factory co owner, David Cutts, who will drive Ian Chivas’second Jacer chassis. The 35th anniversary of Vee racing in Australia will he celebrated at the Nationals by a parade of Formula Vee champions, past and present.

WINTON Motor Raceway will host the HQ Enduro, now in its third year, on December 2/3. Following a well-supported series during 2000, the final round is set to be tight, with Masters series front-runner Guy Thompson a favourite along with last year’s winner Richard Whyte. One of the interesting combinations in the race is the uncle/nephew combination of Phil and James Brock. The two will team up for the event which will be run over the two days. A two-hour race will be run on the Saturday of the weekend.

followed by another two-hour race on the Sunday. In both races there will be compulsory pit stops and driver changes, leaving team success just as much in the hands of the pit crews as it is in the drivers. The meeting also incorporates round three of the Winton Motor Racing Masters with the usual support categories of Club Cars, Sports Sedans, Formula Ford/Libre, Marque Sports and the annual Doug Byrne Memorial Race for Super Mini. For further details, contact Winton Motor Raceway on 03 5766 4235.

Formula Vee goes 1600 FORMULA Vee will undertake its greatest evolution since the category’s inception in Australia in 1965,following a decision by the members of the New South Wales Association to allow four wheel disc brakes, ball joint suspensions and ISOOcc engines from next year. The decision is in direct response to the ‘CAMS Beyond 2000’ report of 1998 which encouraged the category to undertake a review of its rules and image. The new specification 1600cc cars will be designed to compete with the existing 1200cc cars, which will remain unchanged. A Jacer Formula Vee chassis has been converted to accept the modifications and a testing program is to commence shortly to finalise specifications, including minimum weight of the vehicles. The testing program will be completed over Christmas and the parity specifications determined in time for the first meeting in NSW in 2001. South Australia is expected to introduce the new cars during 2001, while Victoria and Queensland are expected to retain the existing cars as an historic class. molsrtiitrt news

NATIONAL

Simpson's Surfer's CSA WHEELS SALOON CARS

Slipping and sliding: Queenslander Michael Simpson was simply too strong in the Saloon Car support races at the Honda Indy 300. (Photo by Marshall Cass)

by MARK WALKER MICHAEL Simpson (Falcon) put an end to Tim Sipp’s (Commodore)dominance of the Saloon Car class at the Honda Indy, with pole and three convincing race wins. Simpson won the first race start, and skipped away to a three second lead, which was drawn out to 14s after eight laps. Luke Norris broke third gear off the start and retired. This left Sipp second, with a gap back to the battling pair ofAndrew Simpson and Lorry Gatt, the top four finishing in that order. On a wet track, Michael Simpson again won the start in race two and gained an 8s advantage over Sipp and Gatt, who swapped positions several times before Gatt spun back through the field. At race end,it was Simpson the victor from Sipp, Tony Rubis, and Drew Kruck. Simpson streaked into the sunset during Saturday afternoon’s final race, winning by some 15s. However, the drive of the race must go to Norris, who improved from ninth to be second by the chequered flag. He was aided in his charge by Sipp dropping back with a gearbox problem, and Rubis, who pitted, with a fuel leak.

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With eyes on FI LOOK down the entry list of many motor racing meetings and one thing is very apparent in 2000. The drivers are getting younger. But it isn’t just the drivers who are getting younger; there are a number of young engineers and mechanics who keep the cars going. One of them is 21-year-old Matt Nilsson. "I got into motorsport via Chas Jacobson (long-time Formula 3 identity) who is a family friend," said Nilsson. Nilsson, who combines studies at RMIT with a part-time role at Gibson Motor Sport, began in motorsport in 1997. working for SH Racing on Jason Bargwanna's Formula Flolden and Jacobson's F3. He headed to Gibson Motor Sport, along with Trevor Sheumack, to help run Paul Dumbrell's Formula Holden

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in 1999 and this year is involved with Rodney Forbes' Wynn's car run out of the GMS stable Nilsson's role include data, tyre preparation and mechanic duties. However, his ambitions lie overseas. Nilsson spent over two months in England over the Christmas/Nevv Year break working with Jordan, "On the second day we went to Barcelona for a four day test and I got to woik with Jarno Trulli It was the hardest four days I've ever worked' "The boys certainly know how to have a bit of fun. While I was in the car bleeding the brakes, the boys stole my shoos. They followed me out of the garage as I went looking for them and there they were, superglued to the ground I I think I left my mark on Barcelona, I ripped them up! I really owe a lot to Alati Heaphy. Fred Gibson and Chas for the trip to England It wouldn I have happened without them.' Nilsson spent time iii a number of the GP team's deoartments, spending ti “ last two weeks m composites "The biggest bu/z I've ever had ,vas seeing rtarts that I'd made on the tar in Melbo.iine." he said Frrnir.'. 1 is the ultimate goal at.d lead'.iQ stuff receiiHv about Sam Mii,i'.ar "v. to' t'eading toWi'llianis) nas n ii's|).- -i ne even tf ough I didn't yet to nirtui hiin wh -31 waf - Joidai l.iiisor heails bac'r i" U.K d' ■n- nnd j( the yuili to NV- ■.. '. !. t) BAR twin r:., i-.optn ''s '.n ; tiuij.nr'.iF

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- AARON NOONAN

McFadyen's by MARK WICKS

NEIL McFadyen has captured the Australian APS Racing CIK Formula A Championship, with a solid second position at the final round at Geelong on the weekend. McFadyen wrapped up the title with a strong pre-final victory, but couldn’t match the pace of eventual winner Michael Caruso in the 40lap final. Brendan May bounced back from some poor heat results to claim the win and the title in Intercontinental A and Tim Slade took victory in Juniors as Andrew 'Thompson clinched the series.

Pettaras Press Formula A

Barring a catastrophe, the FA title would be McFadyen’s and pole in qualifying plus a heat win reinforced the fact. Richard McLeod (Azzurro/Fox/Bridgestone) and Troy Hunt ('Ibp Kart/Comer/ Vega) also won heats. Up to this point, Caruso (Tony KartAfbrtex/Bridgestone) had not really featured and third in the pre-final still gave no indication of what was to come. The final, however, was all Caruso, Michael working his way past McFadyen

on lap five and winning easily. "We’ve been trying to get a win all year," Caruso said. McFadyen held on to second, 4.9s behind, with team mate Hunt third. McFadyen’s series win sees him take an unprecedented third straight CIK title; Junior ICA in 1998, Intercontinental A in 1999 and now Formula A. He claimed the title with 224 points, with Caruso second on 190 and the consistent Joshua Pontello third with 163. "It’s been a tough year, with Michael and I fighting all season," a reheved McFadyen said. "It’s been a good result."

APS Racing Intercontinental A

ICA was shaping up to be a brilUant battle between series leaders Brendan May (Mike Wilson/Italsistem/Dunlop) and Barclay Holden (Azzurro/Fox/ Vega), the two gracing the front row after qualifying. Holden was able to enjoy consistently good placings in the heats with two wins and a second, while May was in the wars with colhsions and mechanical problems. May turned his weekend around

with a brilhant 13th to third drive in the pre-final to line up behind Holden for the final. Once May had returned to the front of the field, it was apparent that Holden had no more pace in reserve and had to watch from behind as Brendan and pre-final winner Jonathon Reid (Kosmic/Rotax/ Bridgestone) battled for honours. Reid appeared to hold the upper hand in the early laps, the Kiwi looking to take his first ICA win in Austrdia. May eventually himted the Kosmic driver down to take both the win and the APS Racing title with 213 points to Holden’s 202. Reid displaced Jason Hryniuk for third (174) after Hryniuk’s engine failed to start,

KartOz Magazine Junior Intercontinental A

Andrew Thompson (Ibny KarWortexA^ega) led the JICA points going in to Geelong and had only one mission: collect a few more to finish the job. ’Tim Slade (Tbp Kart/Comer/ Vega) set the ball rolUng, qualifying fastest and taking a heat win. Ryal Harris (Azzurro/ Italsistem/MG) and series returnee 'Ibny D’Alberto (Haase/Parilla/ noiorspan rphis

NATIONAL

Gumley’s Oz Hillclimb Title

Don’t waste anyl The Formula A podium trio celebrate their success, left, while, above, Tim Slade was a winner in Junior Intercontinental A. (Photos by Sean Henshelwood)

title

Vega) won the other two. D’Alberto showed impressive form, winning the pre-final from Simmons and Powles. Harris jumped to the lead at the start of the final and led for five laps before D’Alberto made his way through. Slade started to pick up the pace and inherited the lead on lap 12 when D’Alberto pulled off the track after an electrical failure cut the engine. 'This resulted in a Top Kart onetwo as Slade led home Nick Simmons. Glenn Powles(Tecno/Parilla/ Vega) put together another consistent performance for third, just holding out the third Top Kart driver Ryan Monaghan. Thompson’s seventh was enough to secure the tile(183 points) ahead of Simmons(171)and Powles(169). Geoffrey Grant slipped to fourth (162)after a troubled weekend. n Kenton Ferguson (TibiKart) won the ReSa Cup support series by taking a comfortable win on his home circuit ahead of Ricky Occhipinti. Top Kart claimed the AON Manufacturer’s Cup ahead of Tbny Kart and Azzurro. V aeitbw 2MI

Lucky there’s no V8 Supercars coming the other way! Peter Gumley was again simply too good in the AHC at Bathurst. {Photo by Peter Robinson) PETER Gumley demonstrated his absolute dominance of Australian Hillclimbing by completing a hat trick of wins to add to his 1996 title at the Reliance Australian HiUclimb Championship at Bathurst on the October long weekend. Eric Barnes from Tamworth presented his Supercharged Farrell Tbyota in a magnificent black and gold livery reminiscent ofthe J.P.S FI cars and was determined to win, having used 2000 to develop it for this event. Sydney’s Peter Finlay had also invested much effort into his March 77B Cosworth this year and thought he was on schedule after taking the lead on the second run an amazing 0.01s in front of Gumley, with Barnes 0.01s further back in third. Neil Farr’s new fuel-injected Bowin V8 sounded fabulous, but

Gumley put down a sizzling 23.30s to be in front. Barnes snatched second in his last run with a 23.67s, while Finlay followed with a very close 23.74s. Farr was fourth (24.75s) and was followed by Queenslander Bill Norris on 25.57s in his self-built Hawke Mkll. West Australian Champion Gary West was possibly disappointed to place sixth in his F3000 Lola, while Tbm Donovan surprised many in his supercharged motorcycleengined Van Diemen Formula Ford to narrowly lead Warwick Hutchinson. Gumley’s fourth title now places him equal second in the all-time list of winners with Kim Rohrlach, but still two short of Victoria’s Bruce Walton, who won his six consecutive titles from 1958 to 1963. -PETER ROBINSON

Pedder’s North Eastern THE Victorian Rally Championship wili go right down to the wire after last Saturday s Silverstone Tyres North Eastern Rally around Bright was won by Mark Redder and Paul Humm. The duo. in their Mitsubishi Lancer Evo III. take a slight lead in the VRC, with the final round to be run at the Cooper Memorial Rally on November 18, Brett Thomson and Rob Vanderee (Galant VR4) were

two minutes and 20 seconds behind in second place, who in turn were 35 seconds ahead of the third-placed duo, Mark Fawcett and Tony Boyd (Subaru Impreza). Graeme Gambold/Chris Randell (Celica GT4)grabbed fourth, while Philip Messer and Rachel Bruty (Lancer GSR)took fifth. Local Wodonga driver Ben Beckton brought his crowd pleasing Suzuki home for a class win and 11th outright.

Gold Coast Kart Prix AFTER an absence of five years, the Gold Coast Kart Prix was revived in the Broadwater car park, Southport, one week prior to the Honda indy 300. William Yarwood proved the dominant force on the high speed temporary circuit, crossing the line first in all three classes he entered, Rotax Light, 125 Gearbox and the hotly contested Clubman Heavy where he fended off challenges from Luke van Doom and Damien Meyer. Barclay Holden won Clubman Light ahead of Nick Agland and Ryal Harris took out Junior Clubman after James Mann was speared into the barriers. Other winners included Queensland veteran Russell Vellacott (Over 40s), Bradley Brown (Formula 100), Victor Zavidil (Rookies), Brent Reading (Midgets) and Jake Beattie (Junior National).

Aussie MAX Rnals SIX Australians have qualified to race at the Rotax MAX World Challenge Final at Puerto Rico next month. Matthew Wall and William Yarwood qualified via the Ford MAX Challenge, while Brett and Mark Davidson, Damien Meyer and Joe Pasquale made the cut as a result of their performances at the Australian MAX final at Puckapunyal two weeks ago. Brett took victory in the Rotax Light class ahead of Tasmania's Shane Bond, brother Mark, Meyer and Pasquale. Bond, however, is ineligible for the World Finals as he is under 18(as too are Ford MAX winners Michael Caruso and Neil McFadyen) and receives substantial cash prizes instead. Gavin Walker won Rotax Heavy from Nigel Stones and Murray Edgar. - MARK WICKS

Formula 3 fix TO correct a minor error in our report from the Victorian Motor Racing Championships at Sandown from last issue, we referred to the national Formula 3 series as the 'Australian Formula 3 Championship'. The series is not a CAMS championship at the moment and thus, doesn't go under that title. - AARON NOONAN IS

NASCAR Hornaday to replace Mast? RICK Mast will not be back to drive the AJ Foyt-owned Pontiacs in 2001, Mast confirming the rumour at Rockingham. It looks likely that ex-Truck Series champ and Busch Series rookie driver Ron Hornaday Jr could fill the seat, with his championship-winning crew chief Fred Graves along for company. Hornaday is set to finish fifth in his first Busch series title campaign.

Rock me gently

AFTER finishing second six times previously at Rockingham,Dale Jarrett finally went one better on October 22,Jarrett also scoring his first win in 29 races - his last coming in the season-opening Daytona 500. “Finally ... no more bridesmaids here,” said Jarrett, who led only the final 40 laps. “Daytona was a long time ago. Thanks to Thdd [Parrott, crew chief] who made some great calls. The team deserve this win.” The break for Jarrett came on lap 350 when Michael Waltrip spun to air the ninth and final caution flag, Jarrett pitting and heading out on track in first. After a brief challenge from runner-up Jeff Gordon, Jarrett was never pushed again... Pole sitter Jeremy Mayfield and Jeff Burton dominated the race, although a flat battery cut Mayfield’s chances, while a slow stop cost Burton any chance he had of winning. Fourth was the best Burton could muster. Also falling foul to a pit error was Rusty Wallace, who eventually finished sixth, one spot behind Ricky Rudd - Rudd’s finish his fifth top-five in six races. Three people were taken to the infield care centre and the fueller for Matt Kenseth was taken to hospital after fire in Kenseth’s pits. It’s not sure what caused the fire following a pit stop, but the injuries to all were believed to be minor. Points leader Bobby Labonte finished 20th, after a leaking tyre caused a late stop, while points rival Dale Earnhardt finished 17th, a strong nin curbed with understeering problems.

n Steve Park's Dale Earnhardt-owned team posted the fastest pit time during the World Pit Crew Championship at Rockingham on October 21, but a loose lug nut cost them a three second penalty, leaving Jeff Burton's Roush team to take victory. John Andretti's Petty crew finished second, followed by Dale Jarrett and Dale Earnhardt's crew. n Larry McClure, owner of the Kodak Chevy team, has yet to make a decision on a replacement for driver Bobby Hamilton, who will depart at season's end. Rick Mast is the latest to be mentioned for the ride. n Several good drivers missed the Rockingham event due to poor qualifying, among them Stacy Compton, Hut Stricklin and Steve Grissom. n Goodyear brought along a new right side tyre at Rockingham that would withstand the greater wear seen at the abrasive Rockingham oval. n Confirming a recent rumour, veteran crew chief Mike Beam has left the Wood Brothers to join Galaxy Motorsports and driver Wally Dallenbach, effective immediately. n Brad Parrott, brother of Winston Cup-winning crew chief Todd, has officially departed Cal Wells' PPl Motorsports operation. Scott Houston has taken over duties as crew chief for Scott Pruett, the former Champ Car star struggling in 36th in the Winston Cup points chase. n NASCAR impounded the Ford Taurus of Ricky Rudd, the Pontiac Grand Prix of Tony Stewart and the Chev Monte Carlo of Joe Nemechek following the recent Talladega event. All three cars are currently being subjected to wind tunnel and dyno-testing. n While contracts in NASCAR are, apparently, made to be broken, it is worth noting that Jeremy Mayfield and crew chief Peter Sospenzo are currently believed to have in place agreements with Penske through the 2002 season. - MARTIN D CLARK 16

Result: Jarrett(Ford) 110.418 mph,J Gordon (Chevy), Rudd (Ford), J Burton (Ford),R Wallace(Ford), Park (Chevy), Stewart (Pontiac), W Burton (Pontiac), Hamilton (Chevy), Nemechek (Chevy).

- MARTIN D CLARK

buy-out

IN a not-too-surprising move,Roger Penske,Don MiUer and Rusty Wallace have bought out Michael Kranefuss’ 50-percent stake in Penske-Kranefuss Racing. The two Penske camps - Penske South and Penske-Kranefuss - have had trouble working together over the past two years, with relationships between the team drivers - Wallace and Jeremy Mayfield strained at the best of times. Penske’s push to buy out Kranefuss and end the split between his two Winston Cup operations began when Mayfield’s team was found to be using illegal fuel at Talladega in April. The finding apparently incensed Penske and so the buy-out has just been a matter of time.

Truck death TONY Roper, a driver in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, became the third NASCAR driver killed this year, when the 35year-old succumbed to injuries sustained in an accident while competing at Texas Motor Speedway on October 14. Roper's truck was clipped by Petty driver Steve Grissom's Dodge, the contact sending Roper's truck head-on into the wall at around 160mph. He never regained consciousness.

Roper was in only his fifth truck race of the year, having earlier quit an attempt to run in the Busch series due to lack of funding. Roper is the second driver killed in the Truck series, the first being John Nemechek, brother of Winston Cup star Joe, who was killed at Homestead-Miami in 1997. Greg Biffle became the series champion during the Texas event, giving Jack Roush his first NASCAR series win. - MARTIN D CLARK iMiarsRtn Mwt

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SBI Canterbury Road Surrey HllltVic 3127 Ph 03 9B36 ISI9Fax 03 9830 1779

V8 Supercar race body kits.Available in Kevlar/Carbon Fibre.

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Sedans/SDorts Cars

Sports Sedan RX7, half completed project comes with lots of Mazda spares. Also available P76 V8. $5000 ono. Ph 0417 880 899. 191 Terrapin hillclimb/race car, BMC 1275 engine, wings & slicks, new coil over shocks, new wheels, dismantled. $4000. Ph 02 9379 8390. isi

Gemini Series Coupe, fresh engine and gearbox, excellent steel cage, new exhaust, Sparco seat, pedals, comes with late model tandem axle trailer. $6200. Ph 07 3372 3609 or e-mail: sk@ozlinx.com.au 192

Gemini Series Sedan, good top Hp engine, excellent steel cage, fresh paint, new front bushes, good tyres, many spare parts. $4000. Ph 07 3888 3203. 192

HQ Holden, 1997 NSW Div 2 championship win ning car. Professionally built & maintained, new engine, tyres and brakes and heaps of spares. $7800 ono. Inspect competing at Oran Park 27-29 October. Ph 02 6554 7369 or 0412 135 439. 192 Gp A F2 Peugeot 306 S16, built 1996 by Peugeot Sport UK, custom cage, aero equipped, Bilsteins with adj platforms, mild 2 litre, chipped manage ment, P/Sport CR 6 speed box, kevlar seats, Terratrip, onboard extinguisher, Momo wheel, light pod with 6 Hellas. Fully compluant with FIA Grp A regulations. Ready for 2001 F2 champs! NZ$35,000 (freight neg). Ph Justin Julian 0011 64 3 379 7304. 192

Ford Falcon XA GT, this original car is immaculate ●ight through. Engine by Jeff Barnes, too many items to list. Even Allan Moffat has been in it and signed it! First person will buy. Ph 07 3851 1242 or e-mail: margreg@one.net.au $15,000 ono. 192 Porsche 944, full weld-in cage, Bilstein coil overs, ready to race in Porsche Cup. $27,000. Ph 03 5988 6286. 192

Capri V6, Club Car or Group N, highly developed, lots of spares. $9500 ono. Ph John 03 9801 9907 or Neil 0418 517 257. 192 HQ Aust #1 car, current National title winning car, fresh motor, all good bits, $10,000 ono. Sister car, 3 meetings old, $5000. Ph Peter 0414 575 451. 192 HQ #20 NSW, new engine, excellent condition, only done 15 meetings, comes with spare panels, wheels, brakes etc. $6500. Top HP spare also avail able. $2000. Ph Mark 0408 965 182. 192

MG Midget, Gp 28 Marque sportscar 1979, total rebuild 1999/2000, current regs rollbar, new 1320 engine, dyno and 1 race. Quaife diff, factory C/R gearbox, 0/H shockers & wishbone, new uprated hubs, disa, stub axle assys and calipers. 2 sets slicks (1 new), 3rd set rims, various diffs and swaybars. Nothing to spend. $13,500 ono. Ph 03 9787 3050 or fax 03 9787 1776 or email:

HQ Holden, #1 as raced by Tim Rowse in 1999 season. Winner of 1999 HQRA pointscore, Victorian State race Series champion 1999, winner of final HQ Nationals at Bathurst 1999. Just resrayed and ready to race, comes with complete spares package, also setup and driver assistance if required. $10,000. Ph 03 5626 1319. 192

Future Tourer, built for Bathurst, fresh mechanicals, all Harrop gear including cambered rear. 3 sets of wheels & tyres, Motec etc. $60,000. /kbo, complete VS Auscar, easily converted to 2nd Tourer, and all spares are induded. Ph Tim O'Ombrain 03 5346 1495, 192

27 OctObH 2000

-r! Nissan 'Godzilla' GTR V Spec, 1996, stunning con dition throughout, 42,000 genuine kilometres, fas tidiously maintained. Fully optioned, complianced, consider turbocharged car as part trade. Private sale. A true rocket. $62,500 ono. Ph 0403 377 189. 192 VS Commodore race shell, suit V8 Lites, tubs, four link boxes, muffler, panels, air jack mounts, moly cage, 90% complete. Inc doors, bonnet, guards. All new, $10,500. Ph Ian 0409 762 053. 192 '92 N14 Pulsar SSS, factory prepared '92 Bathurst 2 litre class winner, spares valued @ $10,000 and including LSD, race suspension and too much to list. Road registered. $13,000 ono. Ph 02 6562 3100. 191 Gemini Coupe Sports Sedan, roller, eight 16" wheels & tyres, big brakes, log book, $4000. New steel APfour spots $150 each. Ph/fax 02 6734 2259 or 02 6732 3353. 191

i Falcon EB Sports Sedan, Auscar 5.0 Windsor, c/r top loader g/box, Harop brakes f&r, alloy Group A radiator, Koni shocks, strong reliable car. $22,500. Ph 0416 204 947 or 03 9772 0941 ah. m

Porsche 930 Turbo look-a-like, white, 2.7ltr Carrera engine with Weber carbys, 220hp, elec tronic ignition, 5 spd 915 gearbox, SC brakes with twin master cylinder. Simmons wheels, 8x16 front and 9x16 rear. Interior upholstered in black, 10 stacker CD player, central locking & immobiliser. 22,000kms in last 6 years. $27,500. Ph Gordon 0418 325 745 bh or 03 5964 2909 ah. 192

E fe

Lotus Super 7,1961 52,1500 Cosworth Grp M, near concourse, history, spares plus tilting trailer. $42,500 ono the lot. Ph 03 9818 0551 or 0419 524 398. 191

1964 FID Flolden, mint condition throughout, original paint, never crashed, always garaged, ideal for auto museum exhibit or collector. Reluctant sale, comes with 1 year rego. $7000. Ph Michael 02 9130 4877 or 02 9398 8420 after 6pm. ,91 HQ Monaro, 1972 LS Coupe, 253 auto, gunmetal grey, velour interior, very straight, paint needs atten tion. Vic rego, RWC. $5000 ono. Ph Justin 0415 622 563. 191 Ford Escort, 76, mod gen, one owner, 79,565 kms, new tyres, as new cond, $2750. 83 WB 1 tonne air, pwr/str, alum tray, 6 cyl, 4 spd, 176,220 kms, tow vehicle, as new condition. $8750. Ph 03 5852 2232. 191

Open Wheelers

Mazda RX3 Sports Sedan, 138 turbo race engine, ex-Ric Shaw car, Needham C/R box, LSD, 4 wheel disa, 10x15 slicks (near new). Ph 0413 383 102 or 02 4945 8968. 191

Hay Honda, hillclimb car, supercharged 6 cyl Honda motorbike motor, very good car. $10,500 ono trailer and spares also available. Ph Neville 02 6862 4155 bh or 02 6862 3422 ah. 192 Formula 2 Reynard 893, Golf engine, many spares, 1994 Vic F2 championship winner. $20,000. Ph 03 5988 6266. 192

jrrjrobertson@optusnet.com.au. 192

1990 Lotus Sport 190,1st one of 50 in the world, 0-100 km/h in 4.4 sea, suit road or race, potential 2001 GTP winner, perfect condition. $120,000 ono. Ph 0418 207 600. 192

FJ Holden Sports Sedan, blue Holden motor, Toyota gearbox, LSD diff, has won many rounds of NSW Hillclimb Championships. Plenty of spares, wheels, panels etc. $4000 ono. Ph 0428 661 284 or 02 6644 9411 ah. 191 Torana Sports Sedan, 202, C/R box, Detroit lock er, Stratos seat. Bond cage, triple Webers, some spares, wheels, tyres, includes rego trailer. Lost interest. $5000. Ph George 02 4952 5078. 191 EB Falcon Sports Sedan, dry sumped Clev, 5 speed, Harrop floater, rotors and calipers, Bilstein coilovers, 19 piece moly cage. 2nd 2000 Vic Titles. Phone for details. Ph Rod 03 5792 2527. 191 Club Car TE Cortina, 6 cyl 350hp, top loader, one meeting since refresh, quick and reliable car with heaps of potential. Comes with trailer and spares. $9000 ono. Ph Ken after 5pm on 02 9605 7517. 191 RX7 Sports Sedan, 138 PP, 300hp, 5 speed turbo gearbox, alloy roll cage, spoilers 81 flares, 10 and 12 wheels, Volvo disc brakes, log book. $8999 ono. Ph 03 9792 9526. 191

Historic Formula Ford, 1972 Bowin, complete recent rebuild, engine 3 meetings old. Additional gear sets, spare wheels and tyres. $25,000. Ph 0413 051 454. 192

Formula 3, urgent sale, currently 2nd in national series, state winner, loads of spares. $33,000. Ph 02 9743 5357

Formula 3, Dallara F3 95/96, extensive spares, enclosed trailer, spare engine also available. Total package or separately. Ph 0418 310 571. 191

March 732/A FSOOO, recent ground-up restora tion, log books, certificate of description, Australian history, some spares, lightweight trailer. Offers invit ed for serious sale. Ph 02 4456 4519, fax 02 4456 4619 or Email twinfalls@shoal.net.au 191 Go kart. Arrow chassis, new plastics, new powder coating, Kartegh super seat, very little use, best looking Arrow around, immaculate condition. $1300 ono. Ph 0409 219 032. 191

(0 Formula Vee, NG Elfin, fresh motor, new chrome wheels & tyres, new floor, seat and harness. Ready to race, nothing to spend. $7500 with registered trailer or $6500 without trailer, ono. Ph 02 4871 3940 ah or 02 9604 7680 bh or 0408 112 652. isi

Swift SC95K, complete $23,500. Rolling chassis $20,000. Previously owned by Marcos Ambrose, Christian Jones. Top HP Speedtech engine, includes ratios, Ohiin adjustable shocks. Ph Ron 02 9524 0995 or 02 9542 1038. 191 Formula Ford Van Diemen RF96, race ready, . fresh two pack paint, 2 sets wheels, jacks, stands and some spares. Ph 02 4447 1855,0410 471 855 or 02 4421 5471. 191 Formula Ford Spectrum 07/'99, rolling chassis for sale with Motec dash. Exc condition with spare wheels and ratios. $34,000. Also looking at possi ble lease packages for 2001 National and Vic State Series. Ph 0408 066 106. 191 Formula Ford Spectrum 06, fresh Lamer engine, ratios for Viaorian tracks, '98 Bathurst winner. $25,000, trailer also available. Ph Karl Bond 03 9741 7302 or 0428 540 670. Available end of November. 191

Parts Ford

Cleveland

3.310'

stroke, nitrided crankshaft, 5.950" Ridgecrest alloy rods, 4" std Glidden design Venolia pistons, internally balanced set up, as new. $1700. Ph 03 5472 4116, fax 03 5470 6966 or email: farrell@iacces5.c0m.au 192 Sprintcar parts, huge range of parts, new and used. Eagle hoods with air intake scoop. Eagle hoods. Eagle panels, fuel tank coolers, hood blanets etc. Feel free to call for a parts price list. Ph 0419 787 530. 192 Chev, AP Racing 7 1/4" triple piate dutch, near new, and explosion-proof flywheel. $800 ono. Ph 08 8270 5921. 192 Chev SB, 5.7 Childs & Albert alloy rods, L/J brand new. $780. Ph 07 3888 5934. 192

Fuel pump belt drive, A.F.C.O brand, suit drag or dirt modified, brand new $600. Methanol Holley carb, fully rebuilt $500. Ph 07 3888 3232. 192 Chev SB, AFR 23 degree alloy heads, brand new, 590hp (flow report), complete with valves and springs. $3000. Ph 07 3888 5934, 192 Chev SB, 5/8 cola crank, just reground & crank tested. $1450. Ph 07 3888 5934. 192 Chev, Edelbrock super victor manifold, suite SB Chev, new. $400. Ph 08 8270 5921. 192 2 3/16 Hilborn fuel injection, with pump and air cleaners. $2000. 1 near new Stealth crank. $2000. 1 set Oliver rods 8. $1200. Ph 08 9452 2808. 191 MSD Promag, ten times more output than con ventional magneto, built-in rev limiter, like new. $2350. Ph 0418 514 444 or 03 5176 2257. 191 Tilton/AP, twin plate clutches, 7/8 x 20", Earls oil coolers 25 row#12 $250,13 row#13 $175. Terratrip 303, used once. $775. Ph 08 8278 5988 evenings. .91 Brembo 4 spot calipers, red, off 928 GTS x 4, $2500. Ph 03 9555 5969 or 0410 699 296. 191 Rebel rims,(5) 15x10 with nuts and valves to suit Torana. $500, Ph 08 8581 1560 ah. 191 Mini Cooper S, SCCDR box & diff, reco $875. Mawer composite mags & Bridgestone tyres, four, perfect cond 10x7 $585. Bond alloy roll bar $150, Repco full harness race belt, new. $120. Ph 03 5852 2232. 191 Helmets, x2. Spectra o/face with intercom. $500. Harnesses 3", 4 pt, Securon $250. RPM 2", 4 pt $100. Air jacks x 3 $100. Discs 2x14"x1.25", new $900. Ph 03 6234 4563 or 0403 097 423. 191 Commodore Cup car, complete shell only. Glass, doors, etc. Full roll cage, suit race or rally. $2000. Ph 08 8522 5541. ,91 Reynard 1990 bodywork,complete. 2 noses, 2 radi ators and brackets. $900 ono. Ph 02 4774 2267. 191 l Air jacks, new/used, large range, most applications, quick release handles avail able, top quality. C.C.I. Ph 0418 925 767. l Clutches, 7.25, 5.5, 5.0 single, twin, triple plate, sintered or carbon, AP-Tilton-QM, new/used. Spare covers, rings, plates also available. C.C.I. Ph 0418 925 767.

eifO RACING FUEL & LUBRICANTS

l ELF racing brake fluid, dot 5.1 + full range of synthetic race lubricants, 2 stroke, 4 stroke and octane booster. Ph BMR 03 9793 5555. 1 l Brake calipers, discs, pads. Mega range, new/used, exc condition - AP, Alcon, Brembo, Outlaw, Willwood. Overnight delivery. C.C.I. Ph 0418 925 767. l Pedals, brake/clutch, floor mount/hanging, new/sued. Also available, bias valves, bias cables, master cylinders, reservoirs etc. C.C.I. Ph 0418 925 767. l Hewland, DGB, 5 speed transaxie, top condi tion, new 9:31 CWR ratio choices and spares avail able, $14K ratios, over 300 in stock to suit DGB, GFGB, TPT, FT200. C.C.I. Ph 0418 925 767.

l Oil coolers - heat exchangers, Earls, Setrab, Serck, 6-70 row, new/used, also used water to oil heat exchangers, over 100 in stock. C.C.I. Ph 0418 925 767. l Racecar parts, brake parts, chassis stands, diff oil pumps, exhaust collectors, fuel cell accessories, oil filters, quicklift jacks, ratio boxes, radiator caps, springs, spoilers, wings etc. C.C.I. Ph 0418 925 767. l Uprights, fabricated/cast, fronts/rears, various sizes, new/used, also CVs, driveshafts, wishbones, rockers, pushrods, all top quality, exc condition. C.C.I. Ph 0418 925 767. l Radiators, aluminium, new/used, single/dual pass, top quality, large range, various sizes, suit all applications, from $300. C.C.I. Ph 0418 925 767.

Speedway Chev 366 Super Sedan, Super Sedan engine, 600hp, ex*Blair Granger Brisbane #5. built by Jack Bros (all new parts, no junk). Track 1 heads, Ross pistons, L/A rods, BAG crank, C&S aerosol carb. good torque, complete. $15,000. Ph 07 3888 5934. 192 Modified Production TE Cortina, 250 X flow methanol engine, 4 speed, power and reductioon steering, Koni adk shockers, adj suspension com plete, ready to race with plenty of spares. Urgent sale, no reasonable offer refused. Ph 03 5983 6393 or 0419 388 192. 192

XD, turbo XF engine, 4 speed, power steering, rally tyres, 2 seater, full Nascar cage, spares. $3000. Will separate. Ph 03 9706 9633, 192 Cylinder heads, Brodix 10, just recond. $2250 ono. Ph 08 9355 4000 or 0419 995 505. 191 Mini Sports Sedan, competitive car, many good bits, hear running, may consider wrecking. $3500. Ph 02 9773 1909. 191 Speedway Mini Sprint, Datsun 1200, twin 45mm Weber carbys, on methanol. GX head _ lot of work done - much more, independent sus pension, spare fuel, spare tyres & more. Very competitive car & ready to race as last season. $5000 ono. Ph Damien 0407 559 519 or 03 5996 3552. 190 Speedway Super Sedan SA2G, car built by Kim Cottrell & SASCAR Engineering. Constant podium finisher and has won many races and champi onships. Recent complete rebuild including sand blast and powdercoat. Updated running gear including Torque Link with soft / hard springs, 5 near new Eagle Wheels and fresh rubber. $11,000 ono or consider swap for 360 Sprintcar roller. Ph Alan 0419 030 911. m

'97 Maxim, tall boy, roller, complete less engine. All the best running gear, bolt kit & other compo nents. Titanium direct mount front end, Nields steering box. Winters diff. Sanders driveline & wheels etc. Only done 15 race meetings. $16.000. Ph 0419 787 530. .92 '99 Eagle, roller, complete new car less engine. All the best new gear from US, titanium bolts and other components. Direct mount front end, KSE pro-life steering box. Winters diff, Sanders drive line & wheels etc. $22,000. Ph 0419 787 530. 192 '99 Eagle, roller, complete less engine. All the best running gear, bolt kit & other components. Titanium direct mount front end. Nields steering box. Winters diff, Sander driveline & wheels etc. Done 10 meetings. $ 19,500. Ph 0419 787 530. 192 Compact Speedcar, complete car, Suzuki engine, Schroeder steering box, chain drive, coil front & torsion rear, direct mount Sander front end, weld wheels and spares. Motor needs attention. $6000. Ph 0419 787 530. 192

Litre Sprintcar, fuel inj 1500cc Laser Sport engine, quickchange diff, 6 point Simpson belts, good beginner's car, complete car with trailer. $5000 ono. Ph 07 4121 2061 or 0418 798 777. 191 Super Sedan Pontiac Trans Am, 327 Chev, 4 spot calipers, wide 5 hubs, quick change diff, new alum seat, tell tail techo, p/steer rack, spares. $14,500 ono. Ph 08 9355 4000 or 0419 995 505. 191

EL Falcon Mod Prod, 1/2 built, costs only $4000. Ph 07 4164 3085. 191

Speedcar, 94 Cox hi-bar, Hallibrand diff, power steering, bladder tank, all alloy 2.4 Itr, fuel inject ed Renault, dry sump, carillo rods, forged pistons. Motor dismantled & damaged. Complete car with spares & enclosed trailer. $6800. Ph 07 3204 5786. 191 S.D.A.V. Hot Rod, car and all spares. Proven win ner, holds 2 track records, methanol, 350 Chev, just rebuilt and sealed for legality, Lee power steer ing box, quickchange gearbox, ready to race, very reliable. $15,000 ono. Ph Peter 03 9746 7640 after 7pm. 191

Super Sedan '9S Corvette, strong 327 Chev on methanol, 2 spd box Q/C, p/steer, body moulds, spare new chassis, heaps of spare parts, ASCF rego. $16,000 ono. Ph 0416 241 006 or 02 9622 1264. 191

Send us your classified ads and we’il run them for FREE* CRIRBOIH: □ Sedans □ Open Wheelers □ Speedway DOrag □ Parts □ Engines □ Trailers □ Wanted □ Photographs □ Other

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NOTICE TO ADVERTISERS Please use the form provided and print clearly. Please note we are unable to return photographs used in classified ads. Ads will appear as soon as possible after receipt. ‘FREE Classifieds are for the sale of private goods and vehicles only, not business advertising (Trade advertisers see Classifieds header for rates). Photos marked "proof will not be used.

moiorsoori mws

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Other

PtiotoBraphs

Exhaust tube bender, 3 phase binnie, computer controlled, as new condition, $9000. Can inspect in Castlemaine, Victoria. Ph 03 5472 4116 or fax 03 5470 6966 or email: farrell@iaccess.com.au im

.0.1

Mobil 1/43 scale, diecast Craig Lowndes Mobil HRT VT Commodore. Mobil NZ release only, ex cond, still in boxes, AUS$150 each, includes P&H from NZ. Ph Steve 0011 64 9 571 0393. 192

'iiMf

'On a mission dragster", car has run 7.95s@165mph, 630hp Chev 370ci by Headsense, brand new AFR heads. Cola crank, billet rods, Hilbourn inj, best of everything. Bob Grant Glide, A-1 6200rpm converter, 35 spline billet rear end. $20,000. Ph Phil 0412 315 889. 191 Cortina Mk 2, 400 SB Chev, alloy heads, engine set back TH 350, 3.7 axle, Holley M5D, MalloryWeiand, runs mid 12s, also car trailer. $5500. Ph 07 3356 8483. 191

Transporters/Trallers Trailer, fully enclosed, 6.5 x 2.3 x 2.4, tri-axle, electric brakes, side access door, back ramp, 240v power, workbench, tyre racks etc. $4000. Ph Shane 07 3224 8730 bh or 07 3263 4510 ah. 192

Mazda 20B, triple rotor, Harrop flywheel, twin plate Macleod clutch, 6 speed Mazda dog box. Ph 03 9460 7481. 192

Tandem car trailer, 12 mths rego, tool and parts boxes, mag wheels, tyre rack, tows well. $1500 ono. Ph 03 9873 0046 bh or 03 9725 4844 ah or 0413 141 485, ask for Darryl. 191 Ford F250, reco 351 Cleveland, new clutch. 6 new tyres, dual fuel, 5th wheel, tow bar etc, truck in VGC, 35 ft trailer, 5 beds, sink, stove, microwave, fridge, lots of storage, fully enclosed canopy in excellent cond. Ph Mike 03 9793 9113 bh or 0414 730 018. t9l Chev 5uburban, Silverado 4x4, 8 seater, 400 Chev, front 8 rear a/I, power steering, dual fuel, Hayman Reese towbar, very clean truck, tows large trailer extemely well. Ph Mike 03 9793 9113 bh or 0414 730 018. 191 Ford FIDO, ex-Ambulance, 84/85, 12 mths reg, 4 new tyres, new bed, stove etc. Bull bar, 2400kg tow pack. Excellent tow/storage race transporter $12,500 ono. Ph Mark 0408 965 182. 191 Isuzu 5BR Dualcab, updated drivetrain, new Pantech, checkerplate, rear ramp door, Duratorque tow bar, electric brakes, tyre rack, just passed RTA inspection, low kms very clean. Must sell, $15,000. Ph 0414 248 855 or 02 9527 1901. 191 Transporter, 8x2.5x3, electric brakes plus break away, aluminium cladded, wired with full lighdng and powerpoints, superwinch, work bench, cup boards, aluminium checkerplate floor. Full length enclosed awning. $13,900. Ph 0414 248 855 or 02 9527 1901. 191

Formula Ford engine, very fast, top national quality, complete, recent rebuild. $3750. Ph 0419 895 692. 192 Dash 12 Sprintcar motor, Rodec block, Ross pis tons, Jessell rocker gear, Barnes oil pump, Hiiborn 2 7/16 injection. Vertex external coil mag, Canlio rods etc. 680 horsepower. $28,000. Ph 0419 787 530. 192

The Great Race books, volumes 14-17 covering the years 1994-1997. Offers. Ph Aaron 0438 316148.191 HM Headers/Crow Cams exhaust system, com plete twin-cat high-performance exhaust system to suit 5.0ltr VN-VS Commodore. Stainless steel head

Mallala Masters 2000 photographs, most Club cars, HQs and Group N. Some photos of other cars. Ph David Batchelor 08 8634 5310. 191

Wanted 42 DCOE Webers, 1,2 or 3. Ph 03 9787 3050 or fax 03 9787 1776. 192 Flathead Ford V8 1939, Offenhauser heads, Scintella Vertex Magneto, Rootes type supercharg er, 2x2" SU methanol carburettors. Built by Mike Davidson. D ports, Chev inlet valves, steel fly wheel. Ex-Amilcar ford Special- Many spare parts included. Ph 0407 501 629. 191

Trailer, 6.4m x 2.5m x 2m tandem axle, electric brakes, 2 side access doors, rear door, car ramps, display door. Insulated roof, 12v/240v power, 3 windows (with screens), professionally built, never used. $11,900 ono. Ph 02 4464 3565. 191 33ft tri-axle, trailer 8ft wide, 7ft high, electric brakes, living and workshop area as new, wired for 240 8 12 volt, fridge, cupboards, fitted for 2 Formula Fords or would take sedan. $15,000. Would consider trade. Ph Tony Jory 03 6326 5555 or 0418 130 133. 191

Bolts and fasteners, huge range, GR-8, GR-5, 8.8, M/steel, rivets, unbreko, washers, comes in 20x8 shipping container that is shelved and has carpet and lighting. $8000 ono, can inspect in Castlemaine, Victoria. Ph 03 5472 4116 or fax 03 5470 6966 or email: farrell@iaccess.com.au 192

ers, all bolts/frttings. New, sdll in plastic wrap. Adds about 15% extra power/better fuel economy. Cost $1,400, sell for $1,200. Ph Gerald 0419 898 954. 191

Single axle trailer, open, suit Formula Vee, builtin ramps, mech brakes, new tyres & lights. $450 ono. Ph 03 9435 7082 192 Fully enclosed tandem trailer, 22ft x 8ft x 8ft, side and ramp door, workbenches, cupboards, 240v power, electric brakes, set up for Sprintcars with shock, wheel, wing, radius rods, torsion bar, racks, professionally built. $7000. Ph 0419 787 530. 192 Ford FI50 1989, walkthrough integrated, air 8 stereo. Carpeted, rear luggage area, red arid white, excellent inside and out. $25,000 ono. Ph 02 9791 0797 or 0417 029 397. 191

Photographs for sale, from QLD 500 10/9/00. V8 Supercars and support categories. Also OLD sprint round V8s. Ph Chris or Lynne 07 5483 8360. Some signed by drivers, authorised. 191

18 degree Sprintcar motor, lightweight Donovan block, Ross pistons, Jessell rocker gear, Barnes oil pump, Kinsler 2 1/2 Injection, Mallory Sprint II Mag Crower Max-lite rods, LA Kryponite ultra lite crank etc. 680hp. $30,000. Ph 0419 787 530. 192

Chev Blazer '81, KS, rebuilt, 350 turbo auto, bull bar, side steps, big wheels, tidy inside and out, great for towing with Hayman Reese and vac/air trailer brakes. No further use. $11,500. Ph 07 3888 5934. 192

27 Ocioktr 2«I8

Rotary 13B PP, ex-Sports Sedan, ind 51mm Weber, hear running. $3800. Ph 0407 992 390. 191

Auscar front end,and rear axle assembly, ex-VR/VS Commodore, would consider complete roller, also Auscar Falcon rear axle assembly. Group A 10x17 VITVN 5 stud wheels. Ph Rod 02 6562 7762. 192 VH5 tapes, of Bathurst VBSupercar race for 1999. Must include Saturday's telecast. Ph Ken 08 8649 2951 or 0402 167 056. 192 Videos, ATCC Amscar/Better Brakes races from 1980 to 1990 from Amaroo or Oran Park. Ph Bill 02 9626 1830 or 0414 499 066. 192

j Alloy small Block Chev, Air flow cylinder heads, TSD Rocker, Cosworth pistons, Lucas mechanical injection. EX-F5000 Hillclimb Car. 600hp plus. Ph 07 3846 5230. 191 Chev 18 degree, motor, dart head, aluminium heads, bow tie block, T8D shaft rockers, Crower crank. Oliver 6" rods, JE pistons, fully recoed by Rob Benson. 650hp. $17,500. Ph 0418 514 444 or 03 5176 2257. 191 Aluminium 18 deg, Chev heads, Jessel roller rockers, bow tie manifold, complete top end. $7500. Brand new Brodix dash 1 aluminium heads, complete with valve and springs. $2600. Ph 03 5176 1355 or 0418 514 444. 191 Chev engine complete,010 block, dash 8 heads, carillos rod, 9/16" hank TGE crank, dry sump, headers 8 mufflers. $8000. Ph 03 6334 1385. 191 Chev 327 U, pro built roller race motor, carrillos etc, unstarted since being built, owes over $13,000, must sell, with spares $7,500. Ph 03 5144 5293 ah. 191 Toyota Twin Cam,3SGE, rear wheel drive, motor perfect for 2 litre Sports Sedan, complete with harness, injection, plus Phill Ryall Weber manifold if required, also bell housing. $900 ono. Ph 0418 736 619. 191 Quick change, Reynard 920, large seleaion of gear ratios, complete brakes, shafts. Will suit Formula Holden. $18,000 ono. Ph 0417 880 899. 191 Nissan JFJ20 turbo, race engine. Fully race pre pared. Competition clutch, T04 turbo, Cosworth pistons, inci g/box. $6850 ono. Ph Phil Howe 03 9449 5221 or 0418 131 428. 191

1988 Adelaide Grand Prix, lam seeking any videos, magazine articles etc on the Premier's Trophy Race for Sports Sedans, specifically featur ing the Veskanda. Ph Doug Jendry 0411 464 444 or 08 9214 2590. 191 NASCAR sheetmetal, used quarter panels, bon nets, rear spoilers, front clips etc, required by nos talgic collector. Ph Ben after 7pm 03 5261 3438. 191 AP racing, 5 1/2" clutch centre rings and plates with 10 X 1 1/8" splines. Worn-out AP or Tilton plates with these splines will also be OK. 15‘ x7" jap import 4 x 114PCD wheels, suit front wheel drive. Prefer 2 or 3 piece wheels or just split rims. Ph 07 3814 3762 or e-mail esp@hypermax.net.au 191 Toyota MR2 and 3SGE, competition parts. Anything considered to upgrade GTP car to Sports Car class. Need LSD, 3SGE or GTE complete engine for rebuild, or possibly jap import 1/2 cut. Ph 07 3814 3762 ore-mail esp@hypermax.net.au 191 Flowbench, 6000, and reliable, in QLD only. Ph 07 4164 3085 ah. 191 Historic Open Wheeler, Formula 2 or 3, prefer ably with log book 8 COD. Must be basically sound, minor cosmetic repairs OK. No unrealistic prices. Ph 02 6367 3222 ah. 191 Quickchange differential, centre section 8side covers for 3" C.A.E. pin drive, or complete unit. Ph 03 9850 3267. 191 Sponsors wanted, for driver in VBSupercar and GTP for Bathurst 2000 and series 2001. Ph Daniel 0419 257 921 or Mark 07 5485 4713 or e-mail : natoli7@hotmail.com 191 Sponsorship wanted, for GTP Nations Cup car for Indy 8 Bathurst and full season (or round by round) for 2001. Ph 07 3325 0489 or 0417 775 507 or e-mail: impex@ozlinx.com.au 191 Toyota Sprinter AE86, set of orange Koni shocks wanted. Have TRD Tokico shocks for exchange or will buy. Ph 03 9889 1149. 191 Jawa 4 valve engine, for F500. Prefer 898 with carby and ignition but all deals considered. Ph Bob 0429 915 994 or 02 9679 1499. 191 AP lockheed,4 piston brake caliper, 1 1/2" diam eter pistons, part number CP2361. Ph Barry 03 9796 4588. 191

USA NASCAR postcards, will buy or swap early or current driver handout postcards. I have late 1990s and current postcards signed & unsigned to swap. Ph Ben 03 5261 3438 after 7pm. 191 Large range, of motoring magazines, inc full set Sports Car World, Racing Car News and many thousands of others, also motoring books. Ph 08 9279 7003 or fax 08 9377 3939. 19. Great Race books, numbers 5 (1985), 6 (1986), 7 (1987), also original Great Race book (1960-1980). Excellent condition. Ph /VithonyOB 8351 4801 ah. 191 Michael Schumacher/Eddie Irvine, 1998 1/18 Minichamps Ferraris. A1 boxed condition. Sell together $550. Largecollectbn 1/43 scale FI. Private collection. Ph 0408 680 243 or 02 4268 0243. 191 Bell helmet,sports 2, forced air, large, good con dition. $490. Ph 0412 779 999. 191 Drivers suit Revolution-RPM triple nomex layer XL, white top with navy blue bottom and navy blue stripes on arms and chest. No advertising on suit and in good condition. $600. Ph 0412 779 999. 191 Radio equipment Motorola two-way, 4 hand helds, 1 in-car and three portable with 3 aviation headsets. Spare batteries and desktop charger, microphone for helmet and button for steering wheel, plus cables. $1900. Ph 0412 779 999. 191 Grand Prix ports, mint condibon in unopened boxes. Adelaide 89/90/91/92/93/94, Melbourne 96/97. $600. Ph 03 9720 2472 ah or 0418 546 216 bh. ist Large collection, of posters and prints of all types of Fords, Holdens, old and new. Dick Johnson and John Bowe limited & cert. I have 2 of these rare prints at $150 each. Ph 07 3359 4081 or 0412 011 700 for list. 191 Holden HQ, one ton ute tow vehicle. VP SS in) 5.0L, 5 speed, top unit, white two pack paint. $8500. Ph 02 4447 1855 bh. 191 PI system 1, with mini dash, suit car or gokart. 10 channel beacon. Heaps of extras and hard case for storage. $3000. Ph Simon 0410 500 007 or 02 9959 5117. 191 Engine dyno, will hold big HP, complete with pumps, exhaust etc. Can supply as manual con trol or fully automatic & computersied. Can also assist with installation etc. Call for more info. Ph Mike 03 9793 9113 bh or 0414 730 018. 191 FI Racing magazine, April to Dec 96 $20, Jan to Dec 97 $20, Jan to Dec 98 $20, Jan to Jul 99 $10, or $60 the lot, plus post. All in excellent condition, no offers. Ph Andrew 02 4948 4472. 191 Jaguar XK220, handbuilt model in Aust, 100 only, $200. 49 Mercury Brooklin $100, both mint boxed. Ph Andrew 02 4948 4472. 191 Books wanted to sell. Autocorse Indycar year books. Istedibon 1993,2nd edition 1994. Excellent condition. $50 each. Ph Scott 03 5025 7293. ist Bell M3 helmet, brand new $1100, Tranzam suit, brand new $750, 2 layer Mondial suit, brand new $550, 1 set red race boots, worn once, size 9-10, $100. Ph 0419 242 025. m Dorian timing, transmitter with charger and sedan mount. The transmitter was only used once, original packaging, perfect condition. $440. Ph 07 3372 3609 or email: stevek@ozlinx.com.au 191

OPINION

motorsport

news

EDITORIIkl STUFF Editor: Phil Branagan Assistant Editor: Gerald McDornan Staff Journalist: Aaron Noonan PRODUCTION Adv & Graphics Co-ordinator: Viv Brumby RDVERTISIN6 Advertising Manager: Brendon Sheridan RDMINISTDITION Managing Director: Chris Lambden CONTRCTS 89 Orrong Crescent North Caulfield Vic 3161 (PO Box 1010 North Caulfield Vic 3161) Ph:03 9527 7744 Fax: 03 9527 7766 Email: msnews@ozemail.com.au CONTRIRUTORS General: Grant Nicholas, Darryl Flack, Tony Glynn, Mark Jones, Jon Thomson FI: Joe Saward, Adam Cooper Europe: Quentin Spurring, Gary Watkins US: Phil Morris Speedway: Brett Swanson, Julie Pearce, Geoff Rounds, Wade Aunger, Tony Millard (UK) Rally: Peter Whitten, Jon Thomson Histories: Brian Reed Drag Racing: Greg Ward, Jon Mher (USA), Dave Ostaszewski (USA), Nick Nicholas, Steven White, Ken Ferguson Super Speedway: Martin Clark (USA) National: Mark Wicks, Sean Henshelwood, Michael Shaw Photographers: Sutton Motorsport Images, Dirk Klynsmith, Bothwell Photographic, Marshall Cass, Nigel Snowdon & Diana Burnett,Tony Glynn, AFl Images, Neil Hammond, Slipstream Photographic, ThunderPics, Phil Williams, Allsport, John Morris/Mpix, Frank Midgley, John Bosher, Lynley Reid, Mike Patrick (UK), Daniel Wilkins, Wayne Nugent, Peter French, Chris Carter Artist: Bernie Walsh Cartoonist: Allan Schofield Motorsport News is publisJied by Australasian Motorsport News - ABN 55 125 120 702 . Publisher: C Lambden Printed by: PMP Print 37-49 Browns Road 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 does not accept responsibility for damage or loss of material submitted. Opinions expressed in Motorsport News are not necessarily those of Australasian Motorsport News or its staff. SURSCRIPTIONt (1 year - 26 issues) Australia (price inci GST)

$121.00

Overseas {Air Mail): New Zealand, PNG, Malaysia, Indonesia, Phillippines, Hong Kong,Japan US, Canada, Europe

A$ 180.00 AS230.00

Posi your cheque/money order to the address above, fax your credit card details (Bankcard, VISA, Mastercard, or Amex) to 03 9527 7766 or email to msnews@ozemail.com.3u 82

On ya Ten!

if you buy a satellite dish and receiver and point it towards South-East Asia.

We must congratulate Channel Ten for its commitment to this year’s Gold Coast Indycar race coverage. They delayed the 5pm news service by a full 15 minutes to televise the race live and to its conclusion! I was getting worried at 10 to five, as from recent events and past history I thought we were going to have the coverage abruptly cut at 5pm. However, as we have seen recently, Channel 10 has shown commitment to both motorsport and motorsport fans by showing increasing amounts of quality motorsport programs. Will the management at Channel 10 please bid for the rights to show the Grand Prix live as Channel Nine no longer deserves to have this privilege they treat us and the sport with disdain, as was observed last Sunday. Robert Miljko, Endeavour Hills, Vic

On ya Carl! I would just like to congratulate future world champion Carl Mudgeridge on winning the Super Sports race at Brands Hatch. Without doubt, this was one of the best races I have ever seen. A. Grant E-mail: walkinshaw@austarnet.eom.au

He’S Welsh, but that’s all Just a quick note to ask if Nicky Grist was also hurt in the horrible crash during the Tour of Corsica. Ml the information I’ve read only mentions Colin. It seems that no-one ever thinks about the poor old co-driver. Rallying is a team sport and it takes two to get a rally car around a course. Sure, Colin is a good

r nn

The Channel is Star Sports Asia / ESPNstar. There are

many vendors around Australia that sell and install the

components. It cost me about $700, however we did the installation ourselves. For full

converter driver, but it also takes a good co driver to make a world champion team. When there’s two people in the car and it crashes, it’s good to know that they are both okay, not just “The Star.” Troy Philpott E-mail address withheld

Foxy coverage ‘Live and uninterrupted Formula One.’ That has a fantastic ring to it and, after watching the final round on Fox Sports, I believe the Nine Network has adopted a ‘what they don’t know won’t hurt them’ attitude. Everyone who saw Fox Sports’ coverage now knows that when Murray and Martin go for a break, they are gone for a maximum of 30 seconds (mostly about 15s). The Nine Network not only needs to pull their socks up, but get them out of the laundry basket, wash them, dry them and put them on. Stuart Thorp E-mail: bauer@austamet.com.au

And then there was light! I just thought you might like to know and pass this information on to your readers, although I guess it’s a bit late for this year.... You can watch all FI races live

installation it could be up to $1200. I have installed a dish recently. You get LIVE coverage of qualifying and the race. It is a one off cost, plus you can pick up heaps of other channels. The channel is based in Hong Kong or Singapore on the satellite ASIASAT3 and it shows the regular ITV pictures, although with different British commentators. I think it is a good alternative to Channel Nine’s pathetic delayed coverage and worth the investment until someone else improves on Nine, if ever. Imran Shah Glen Iris, Vic

A thank you I appreciate the opportunity, through your publication, to thank the many people who gave of their time to ensure the success of the 10th anniversary Honda Indy 300 on the Gold Coast. I refer specifically to the 1400 officials and volunteers who came from many parts of the country to be involved.'Their professionalism, enthusiasm and friendliness were there for all to see during the four days of racing. They certainly made our job of running such an event so much easier. Of these people, 81 have been with us for all 10 events. We are especially grateful to them. Unfortunately, one of this special group of people, Christopher Bell, a flag marshall, passed away while Christopher's death at such a young age touched all involved with the Honda Indy 300. Our sincere condolances go out to the Bell family at this time. Geoff Jones General Manager Honda Indy 300 Ion duty at the event.

He's in there somewhere: While Colin McRae's injury was well-documented, reader Philpott asks whether Nicky Grist was OK. He was and can be seen in this SuttonImages shot peering into the right rear door.

(Photos by Sutton-lmagss)

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