Motorsport News Issue 239 - September 3-16, 2002

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Australia $5.95 NZ $7.50 inci GST No. 239 Sept 3-16 2002

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Computer to decide Fopd/Holden impasse ■ Glenn Seton: ●IT n't write meofF' ■ Ouch! Why Toyota dumped both its FI drivers ■ Paul Stoddart: Flying High ■ Total ●lilmination: Schumacher at Spa ISSN 1320-9744

9 771320 974012

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This year s Honda Indy 300 promises double the racing, excitement and party.

The Champ Cars are back and for the first time, the V8 Supercars will be competing as a full round of their championship series. Catch the big names of Australia's most popular motorsport category as they practice, qualify and compete in two big races ano a Top 10 shootout. Race in for tickets and GO!for twice the action.

OOtO COAST, AUSTRALIA 24-27 OCTOOBR 2002

otoispoit

news

Issue 239

4-17 September 2002

news and opinions 4

Splitting headache Will AVESCO rule on ‘Aerogate’?

6

Prodrive? Nodrive But they are building a Barra racer

8

JV knocks back the bucks When $90m just ain’t enough

10 Young blokes on rise New rides for Davo and Whincup 12 CART commitments Team owners ante up for 2003 25 Motor Mouth Le Pilot du Kmart en Australie 26 Box Seat Please Bernie, don't take Eau Rouge away 1

82 Taik Converter We do award extra points for spellling and punktuashun

foaturos

28 This is your FI team owner speaking Stoddart even flies on the ground 30 Credit Limit Glenn Seton has confidence for the upcoming V8 enduros 34 Ove and Out Why Panasonic Toyota showed Salo and McNish the door 38 Dial 911 Noonan visited the Porsche Museum and is still babbling about it 45 Holy Gow The BTCC is behind him but Alan Gow still has plenty to do and say Mia

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race coverage

50 Double figures Schumacher takes his record 10th win. Sorry Nigei ...

60 Loeb Uber Alies Citroen ace dominates Deutschland 68 Historic FIs at Road America Yes. Yes please ...

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Photos: Cover: Bob Potts/Pottshots.

Contents: Potts, Suttonmnt Images, AFl-lmages

regulars 20 Motorcycies 66 NASCAR

58 Raliying 70 Histories

62 Drag Racing

64 Speedway

72 Nationai Scene

75 Marketplace 8

Com

by CHRIS LAMBDEN

Ju3t follow the 9 Perkins: AVESCO already has authority to add weight

by PHIL BRANAGAN CASTROL Holden team owner Lan’y Perkins has spoken out regai’ding the current controversy regarding parity in V8 Supercar racing.

Perkins has criticised a number of his competitors,AVESCO and Motorsport News over last issue’s story regarding Ford’s recent moves to redress an alleged imbalance in" the competitiveness of Holden’s Commodore and Ford’s Falcon.

Perkins took issue with the report in MN that stated he called for weight penalties for the dominant Holden Racing Team Commodores; “I am really pissed off that my views have been badly misrepresented,” Perkins said.

“The arguments about parity have been going on and on and it is apparent that the Ford teams,in particular, do not know the rules under which we all compete.

“Also,it is clear that AVESCO itself does not know the rules. If indeed AVESCO voted on the rule in question, they could penalise an individual car, cars or whoever they fancy,including myself,though I am not the target ofthe performance imbalance surely.”

Perkins points to Rule 3.1.4 fi'om the current AVESCO manual, which states that“AVESCO reserves the right at all times to amend the weights of cars in the interests of equitable competition”.

He says that, under that mle.

4

AVESCO has always had the ability to implement weight penalties, subject to Board approval, at any time and with minimal notice.

The AVESCO Board is comprised of Dick Johnson and Kim Jones (representing Ford V8 Supercar teams), Gany Rogers and Jeff Grech frepresenting Holden)and Tbny Cocha’ane and James Erskine ofSEE.

"It is apparent that the Ford teams, in particuiar, do not know the ruies under which we aii compete. Aiso, it is ciear that AVESCO itseif does not know the ruies II

-Perkins ‘They have had the authority all the time but they have sat on their hands and done nothing. All they have to do is to use their own rules ifthey think that there is ‘inequitable competition’.

“AVESCO’s definition of ‘AVESCO’is the CEO(Wayne Cattach). However,this rule was altered early in 2001 where the definition of‘AVESCO’is now ‘the Board ofAVESCO’. Mysteriously, it is not listed as such in the print of this year’s mle book.”

Perkins also took issue with another article in MN that stated, in part, that Cattach would be

bound to cast a vote on TEGA’s Board to determine whether or not TEGA would allow aerodynamic updates to the Falcon. He maintains that, under its own rules, Cattach has no such vote at TEGA level.

“Further major inaccuracies by individuals, and including those made in Motorsport News,that Cattach is Chairman of TEGA, with a casting vote, is just plain wrong,” he says; “He is not the Chairman and he has no casting vote. The constitution ofTEGA says that the Chairman will be a du’ector, and Cattach is not a director of TECIA. Therefore, he has no vote; end ofstory. ‘‘This was further reinforced and clarified by the members at the 2001AGM,they voted down a proposal that the AVESCO CEO has a chair vote at TEGA. “I have always fought hard to have the rules followed. I didn’t write the rules but I as sure as hell expect them to be abided by, by everyone.

“IfAVESCO or Ford think that they can operate outside the rules, with new components, it would not be the first time I have had to take out an injunction to have the rules followed.

“I urge all parties associated with the category to abide by the rules as they are written. And if AVESCO thinks that they are going to use Rule 3.1.4 against HRT,they should not even consider that it could be in place for Bathurst.”

COMPUTER analysis will now decide whether there will be any adjustment of the performance parameters between Ford and Holden for Bathurst!

As exclusively revealed in our last issue, TEGA Chairman Wayne Cattach has been advised to use his casting vote to break a 2:2 deadlock on the TEGA Board in relation to the issue.

At the same time, Ford teams OzEmail Racing and 00 Motorsport last week tested under TEGA supervision at Winton with two alternative front splitter options designed to give the Falcon an increase in front downforce, only to find the improvement negligible virtually immeasurable!

In a week of extraordinary lobbying and to-ing and froing, the upshot now appears to be a return to the ‘Performance Review Committee” concept which died once the V8 group headed towards its Project Blueprint mechanical equality path.

However,this time,the proposal (initiated by Ford teams)is that computer analysis of the race lap times of the top 10 Ford and Holden cars, over the past four meetings, be used to determine which marque - if any - has an advantage.

As MN closed for press on Monday night,the TEGA Board was on the eve of voting on the proposal.

If accepted,the data would be available within hours and a + or - figure available to show any race performance difference between the Ford and Holden V8 Supercars.

A new three-man Parity Group will be formed - of independent non-aligned personnel to oversee the procedure,in which TEGA’s brand new Technical Committee will be asked to “fix’ any disparity between the makes - much as the old Performance Review Committee used to do.

If the Committee fails to come up with a solution, weight will be added to the

motorsport news

outer Gains?

Testing inconclusive:Parity Committee to decide

NEWS A second Falcon for GSR in 2003?

WE hear that there could still be a second Glenn Seton Racing Falcon next season.

While Seton has confirmed that he will run a car for Ford Credit next year, the team has recently had discussions with a sponsor for a second entry, possibly in different colours and for Owen Kelly, The Tasmanian, who will drive with Seton in the endurance races, is highly rated by the team.

■ Paul Radisich and Steven Johnson will defend their Queensland 500 crown together. Junior and the Rat will share one Flelix Falcon in the race while Alan Jones and Greg Ritter will drive the other. The driving line ups will be the same for the Bob Jane T-Marts 1000 at Bathurst.

■ Aussie young gun Alex Davison has put in another charging drive in the Porsche Supercup at Spa on the weekend. In the 10th anniversary meeting of the class, the regular Supercup teams were joined by their German-based Carrera Cup 'cousins', making a huge field of 39 cars.

Davison, who races in both series, drove for his Carrera Cup team. Team Phoenix, and after starting a lowly 12th, ended up 10th by race's end, though was credited with fifth-place points towards each series. Two rounds remain in each series.

faster of the two marques to even up the race performance.

Chairman Cattach - the recipient of most of the lobbying - couldn’t comment on Monday as to the likely acceptance by the TEGA Board of the latest proposal, but was keen to have the matter resolved quickly.

However, MN understands from a pro-active Ford team source that such an exercise will show the Falcon teams to be down roughly 0.25 seconds per minute.

If so, TEGA’s Parity Group can expect a hectic few days ...

Time is running out for implementation of a change prior to the Queensland 500.

Ford team sources are suggesting that Holden is now simply stalling for time, but the signs are that change could well be on the way - well in time for Bathiust.

4 September 2002

Inconclusive: Lowndes, above, and Jones tested without great success at Winton.

Or, another Parity idea: 1. Fans design splitters.

2. Opposition fans hit them with hammers.

3. Teams must run whatever results.

■ Andrew Miedecke will return to V8 Supercar racing in the Queensland 500. Miedecke will team with Tony Quinn in the VIP Pet Foods Comodore campaigned by Matthew White during the Konica Series which will be attended to during pit stops by the Paragon Ford team, also backed by Quinn's VIP company. The deal isn't for Bathurst.

"I raced Formula Ford in Scotland during the 70s and thought I was all right until a bloke called Eddie Cheever came along and made an absolute arse of us," Quinn said.

"I got back into motorsport when a friend asked if I wanted to do Targa. Now I race as a bit of a release from making dog food. The 500 should be a bit of fun."

(Photo by Dirk Kiynsmith and suUon-images.com)

How it will work THE race lap times from the top 10 Ford and Holden finishers over the past four race meetings will be totalled up and averaged.

The result will then be converted to a tinne per minute figure, to enable direct comparison and implementation of any required adjustment.

MN's sources suggest that the system could be retained on an ongoing basis, providing an automatic review every four races, covering the possibility that Project Blueprint may have a glitch or two when it kicks off in 2003, along with the all new BA Falcons and XY Holdens.

■ One interesting name we hear on the look-out for a Bathurst 24 Flour drive is none other than 1990 Bathurst 1000 winner Win Percy ...

■ .The auction at Winton for Network Ten cameraman Gil Oberhoffer, who was injured in a car accident in Perth earlier in the season, was a raging success, raising $12,600. Included among the items auctioned was a Barry Sheenesigned helmet, hot laps with Marcos Ambrose at Sandown and the gloves worn by Peter Brock in his last Bathurst start in 1997.

5

Bright to stay at HRT JASON Bright will stay with the Holden Racing Team next season.

Despite Silly Season rumours linking the former Bathurst winner with a number of different teams, Bright said that he wanted to stay with the team and it was just a matter of both parties determining the length of his contract.

Has he actually signed a deal?

"No," he said, "but (I am) intending to. We are just getting the contract drawn up at the moment. It'll be two or three years - two at the moment.

"It's all as good as done."

Bright joined the team at the start of the 2001 season and has been the only driver able to dent the Mark Skaife steamroller all season. Most recently. Bright took TWR Racing's latest Commodore VX to a debut win at Winton, qualifying fastest and taking out both 32-lap races.

Bright is expected to settle his deal with the team in the near future, and is likely to share car #2 with 2001 Bathurst co-driver Tomas Mezera.

I^arcos OK after fall DESPITE panicky rumours, Marcos Ambrose is not suffering from injuries that could keep him out of the VIP Pet Foods Queensland 500.

Ambrose suffered a slightly bruised anterior cruciate joint in his left shoulder after taking a tumble during Stone Brothers Racing's skiing trip to Mount Buller in Victoria after the Winton V8SCS race last month.

"I was doing about 2km an hour when I just overbalanced," explained Ambrose.

"I could have done the same thing walking down the stairs at home or playing with the dog.

"I guess I am a little embarrassed I did it the way I did and not at a million miles an hour."

Ambrose, Ford's only race winner this season, was stretchered down the mountain and underwent physiotherapy on his return to the Gold Coast. He is expected to be fully fit for the QR race, where he wil l share his Pirtek Falcon with Paul Weel.

- PHIL BRANAGAN 6

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Vitebbep-Toyota? unil Jaguar miss out on Aussie FI star in 2003/4?

AS Australian Mark Webber inches closer to a contract with the Jaguar FI team, a surprise late alternative is looming in the shape of Toyota.

MN's European sources are suggesting that Webber's name is high on Toyota's list following the shock announcement last Thursday that both its current drivers would not be part of the 2003 race team.

BAR departee Olivier Panis has been confirmed as one Toyota driver for next year, while Toyota is "looking at its options" for a second driver, Webber, in his exclusive MN Belgian GP Race Diary (page 57) says: "All I can say is what I've said all along - Flavio Briatore and Bruno Michel, who look after me in

that area, are experienced, know what my views are, what my expectations are and what I want to achieve in my second year in FI. "Realistically, as I write, there are stil l probably three worthwhile seats that are yet to be settled for 2003 and beyond - at Jaguar, Toyota and Jordan. I would expect that my guys would be speaking to all of them right up until the time a decision is made - and they'll go for whatever is best for me in the long-term."

In the end, Toyota's interest may well simply stimulate Jaguar to conclude its negotiations with Webber's management a little faster than planned.

Webber hopes his 2003 deal will be finalised within a fortnight.

No Prodrive V8 Supercar But there still could be the following year - and Malcolm Oasi

THERE will be no Prodriveowned V8 Supercar team next season - but there could be a Prodrive Falcon.

Motorsport News has been told by reliable Ford sources that the British motor racing powerhouse, which controls the BAR-Honda Formula One team and Subaru’s World Rally Championship team, among others, will not be fielding a team in the 2003 events because the deadline to start-up a team and engineer a car for the start of the season has passed.

But it appears that Prodrive has taken, or is about to take, delivery of a Falcon BA bodyshell from which to build a racecar at its

Banbury, UK headquarters. The engineering team for the project will be headed by Malcolm Oastler, the former BAR FI and Reynard designer and brother of Network 10 commentator Mark Oastler.

Malcolm recently agreed to a position with Jaguar Racing, but we believe that this will be a part-time

position that will give him time to work on the Prodrive project.

We believe that Prodrive looked hard at acquiring a stake in either 00 Motorsport, Glenn Seton Racing

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motorsport news

NEWS

Couptney/Jag split

... but FI testing and F3mi}beckon in ‘03 that his charge would secure a testing role that would see hinn back in an FI car by the end of this month.

It is likely that, having been at the forefront of British F3 for the last two seasons, Courtney would be sought by a leading British-based F3000 outfit, which could indicate that Arden or Super Nova would be favourites to secure the Australian driver's services.

Courtney was leading the British F3 series by a huge margin until a FI testing accident at Monza that Gow described as "the biggest of the year" forced him to miss two races. It has taken the 21year-old some weeks to recover from the injuries he suffered in the shunt.

Meanwhile, it appears that Courtney may miss the Macau F3 classic in November. Testing for F3000 will start in October while his FI testing commitments will depend on which team secures his services.

by PHIL BRANAGAN JAMES Courtney looks set to take on the International Formula 3000 championship next season - but he will split with Jaguar Racing.

The Sydney driver, who lost the lead in the British F3 championship at Snetterton on the weekend, is believed to be close to a deal that would see him testing for a Formula One team and racing in the 'feeder' series.

"Two years in Formula 3 is enough," said Courtney's manager, Alan Gow, this week.

"The ideal scenario for James is to do a full year in 3000s with a competitive team and do FI testing."

However, Gow said that Courtney's option with the Jaguar team, for which he has raced for the last two seasons, expired last weekend, and that he had already entered into "chats" with two other GP teams, which he declined to name. But Gow is confident

New role for Gow AUSSIE Alan Gow wiU head a new motor racing ‘think tank’ in Britain.

The former Super Touring boss has been appointed to chair the Motorsport Strategy Development Group, which has been formed by the UK’s national sporting authority, the Motor Sports Association, and the Motorsport Industry Association, an independent group which represents the interests of the companies involved in the industry.

The new body’s role will be to coordinate the combined efforts of the sport and the industry in the years ahead.

“This is a major development for British motorsport,” Gow says, “and a sure sign of the new forward-thinking attitude of the MSA.I believe this group is vital for the future of our sport and industry. My prime objective is to ensure that we provide the sport with thorough, strong and even revolutionary plans which will greatly increase the profile and viahility of motor sport in the UK.” -JOESAWARD

Oastler too

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team for 2003

ler is going to build a Prodrive ‘Barra' or both, with a view to moving the new ‘Super team’to a base near Ford’s Tickford plant in Melbourne.

However, Seton has announced that he will continue with his own team next season, running a Falcon in Ford Credit colours and 00 looks fj

4 Septembsr 2002

set to continue operations from its Dandenong, Melbourne factory.

The budget for a full-house Prodrive team would have been enormous, with engineering facilities on both sides of the world, and it is believed that with no commercial sponsorship attached to such a deal, Ford Australia baulked at making such a large one-off commitment. .It appears that, with Prodrive’s assistance. Ford will take a wider view with supplying engineering information to its teams and that there could yet be a team fielded by the company - but not until 2004 at the earliest.

- PHIL BRANAGAN

PRINCE Khaled ai Waleed turned up for the Belgian GP at Spa and after courtesy calls to Bernie Ecclestone and McLaren the Prince settled down for a meeting with Minardi's boss Paul Stoddart.

Stoddart has been talking to al Waleed's emissary Brendan McGuinness about a possible purchase of the team but the talks have not got anywhere in recent weeks. Stoddart was kept busy as there was also a second group of potential buyers. n Juan Pablo Montoya is to get married on October 19 in Cartagena, Colombia. Montoya is marrying his longtime girlfriend Connie Freydel, another Colombian. The couple do not often go to Colombia because of the dangers associated with kidnappings in the state that is often rather lawless. n Michael Schumacher, Giancarlo Fisichella and others will join forces with big names from the fashion world in a football match in Italy on September 11 this year to raise money for the victims of the terrorist attacks a year ago. The game, which is expected to draw a crowd of 10,000 people, will take place in Monza, with all profits going to the fund established by the National American Italian Foundation. Some of the money will also go to a United Nations children's program. n The future of Antonio Pizzonia is looking clouded. The Amazonian Formula 3000 and Williams test driver had been among the candidates to race for the BARFlonda team next year but had any plans scuppered with the team's recent signing of Jenson Button.

Pizzonia has now done two years in F3000, the second being rather less impressive than the first. Fie has backing from Williams sponsor Petrobras and is now hoping to get a drive in FI next year.

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The Prince pops in at Spa

MALCOLM Oastler has joined Jaguar Racing as Acting Director of Engineering.

The Australian engineer will help the team during the development phase of the Jaguar R4 chassis but it is not clear whether he will be retained on a long-term deal.

Oastler has been out of work since he was replaced as technical director of British American Racing at the start of the year.

It is not expected that Oastler will be directly involved in the design of the new car but organising the production schedules to ensure that everything arrives on time.

-JOESAWARD

n The Malaysian government has exempted the FI GP from a national ban on all tobacco sponsorships next year. Any attempt to stop tobacco firms racing in Formula 1 are likely to put the race in jeopardy and the government is well aware that there are a number of rival projects which want to get a Grand Prix. n Steve Farrell, who has been in charge of mechanical design at BAR in recent months, has moved to a job with BAR'S sister company, the 555 Subaru WRC team. Farrell worked at Prodrive having been chief engineer of the company's BTCC team in 1993 and has been with BAR since he was hired by Malcolm Oastler in 1998.

-JOE SAWARD 7

Karting Shock

Racers test positive to drugs in NSW Titles AUSTRALIAN karting has been rocked by the news that seven drivers tested positive to drugs at the New South Waies Senior Championships at Eastern Creek International Karting Raceway at the beginning of August.

The drivers, who haven’t been named, tested positive to ‘party’ drugs, inciuding amphetamines and marijuana, according to a full back-page report in Sydney newspaper, ‘The Daily Telegraph’, last week.

Fifty drivers and officials were among those tested, with the Australian Karting Association taking swift action, immediately banning four of the drivers. The three other positive cases are still being investigated by the AKA. Drivers or officials had never been tested before the August 2 race meeting, though following

the results, another set of tests was conducted at the Coffs Harbour CIK round a fortnight ago.

The results from those tests have yet to be returned from the Institute of Clinical Pathology and Medical Research - the same organisation that performs drug testing on NSW police officers.

“It is a disappointing result,’ AKA Chief Executive Colin Wilson told the newspaper last week.

“We hoped our racers would be drug free. You would think they need to be alert in a sport like this.

“We took a decision on something that should have been done some time ago.

“Drugs is an issue for all motorsports. And motorsport is no different to other sports, drugs and doping can affect any sport.”

-AARON NOONAN

Toyota di

HHF goes back to Sauber

HEINZ-HARALD Frentzen has announced that he has signed a one-year contract to race for the Sauber Petronas team.

It is expected that he will line up alongside Nick Heidfeld and that., Felipe Massa will be dropped.

Sauber has an option on the young Brazilian driver but it looks like this will now be dropped.

"Sauber also has the best technical package of the teams available," Frentzen told the media. He is believed to have had other offers from Jaguar Racing and Jordan.

The news will be a big blow to Massa's ambitions, though he was been offered a testing role with the team next season, one he seems not keen to accept.

The youngster has been quick this year and has generally done better than the much more experienced Heidfeld in racing conditions but he has not qualified as well and has made a few mistakes which perhaps he should not have done.

Frentzen will continue to fight for the money which he is claiming from Eddie Jordan after being fired by the Irishman in the middle of 2001.

- JOE SAWARD

Villeneuve stays

by JOE SAWABD JENSON Button and Jacques Villeneuve, right, will drive for British American Racing next year in Formula 1 - but it is almost certain that the Canadian will not be retained in 2004.

Villeneuve is under contract for next year but BAR was not keen to pay the estimated $36m.

The Canadian said he would not accept a pay cut and BAR is

believed to have then tried to negotiate a deal in which Jacques would go to America in 2003 and then return to the team for the 2004 and 2005 seasons.

According to news reports in America quoting CART team owner Gerry Forsythe, there was a deal worth US$50m offered to Villeneuve. This was turned down.

Our sources in Canada say that Forsythe’s offer to Villeneuve was only US$5m for 2003. This is very good money in the United States

but is a fraction of what Villeneuve can earn if he stays where he is with his existing contract.

Fors3dhe told American reporters that Craig Pollock had asked for US$57m for the three years but this was denied by Pollock.

Whatever the case, Villeneuve will not he going to CART next year and so BAR will have to pay him as agreed, though one obvious candidate for the job in 2004 would be Takuma Sato, as it is unlikely that he will be retained by Jordan motorsport news

NEWS

imps drivers

Tatnell finally does a WSS deal TOO late for our speedway pages comes good news for Sprintcar fans.

Brooke Tatnell will be among the field for World Series Sprintcars this summer. He will again run in the colours of Shell Helix with support from Felsch Racing Engines and O'Brien Aluminium.

Signs Panis for 2003 as Salo retires and McNish is out of a ride

n David Auger had a tough time in his latest Super Production race at the Bira circuit in Thailand. The Brisbane driver's Peugeot 306 qualified second fastest but had an engine failure on the opening lap, while a new engine left him back in the pack in Race 2.

His next race will also be at the same track next weekend.

by JOE SAWARD TOYOTA Motorsport has proved itself to have its own views on a lot of different subjects and this idiosyncratic nature was highlighted again last week when the team announced that it is to drop both of its 2002 drivers - Mika Salo and Allan McNish -for next season.

The news came as a considerable shock to Salo in particular, whoo has a contract for 2003.

The team announced that it has signed a two-year deal with Olivier Panis, liberated by BAR when it emerged that Jacques Villeneuve will not be moving to CART next year.

It is anticipated that Panis will

n A week later, the Aussies again had mixed fortunes in the Sepang 12Hour race. The Proton Putra of Grant Johnson, Allan Letcher and Peter Hills ran as high as third outright before late-race contact left them with bent steering. They eventually finished third in class and ninth outright at the finish.

Hills is thinking that one or more of his Ford Mondeo Super Tourers may be a better prospect for the race next season...

Gone, gone, on his way there: Mika Salo, left, has decided to retire after being dumped by Toyota, while Alan McNish, above, has no deal for 2003. Olivier Panis, right, will join the team from BAR for next season.

(Photos by Marsh/Bothwell and sutton-images.com)

be joined by Cristiano da Matta from the Champ Car series in the United States.

Our sources say that Carl Haas and Toyota have already agreed a deal for the release of da Matta and that the only thing to do now is to agree terms with the Brazilian.

Toyota is understood to want a long-term deal to ensure that da Matta does not move on elsewhere if he proves to be as good as the Toyota bosses believe.

The Toyota management is aware that dumping both drivers is not such a good idea for stability but felt the move was necessary

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because they wanted some fresh ideas.

Salo has been paid off by Toyota and says that he will now retire from the sport. McNish's contract with the team expires at the end of the current season.

n Stephen White will be back among the field at Sandown this weekend but in something a bit slower than he's used to.

The former Holden Young Lion is joining Team Satria Racing for the final few rounds of the GT-Production series and will carry Clarion Car Audio backing on the Proton.

For a chat wdth Toyota’s main man, Ove Andersson, about the team’s changes for 2003, turn to page 34. n

in 2003 as it is losing its Honda engine deal for next season.

The big question is whether or not Villeneuve, who is 30, is an attractive enough package for one of the top teams to take interest in the future.

The performances ofthe former CART and Indy 500 champ when compared to those of Olivier Panis have not reaUy been value for money and his attitude towards promotional word is, at best, unrealistic.

4 September 2002

n General Motors has nof bought Mitsubishi Motors. Not that there was ever any suggestion that they would, save for our error in the previous MN. We wrote that Peter Brock and Wayne Webster were going Safari-side in a 'Holden Pajero'.

We should have said that those fine chaps at Holden make the Jackaroo, while the other fine blokes at Mitsubishi make the Pajero.

n CART has just filed its latest quarterly report and it makes for some interesting reading. The company is worth some $132 million based on its Wall Street valuation but according to the accounts, has about $270 million in current assets. Its significant costs have included TV on Speed TV, Fox and CBS, costing $9 million, while revenues have been $4.2m.

Other costs are a $6.2m loss on the Chicago race that CART promoted, and the payment of $3.4m to Chip Ganassi to field a third car for Scott Dixon. This has upset the majority of the teams who haven't received any other type of financial assistance.

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home of

[motorsport] vs Supercar Championship* .Rd 9

Sep 15 .. ,Qld Raceway Oct 13 Bathurst

n Rd 10

Oct 23 ....Gold Coast .

.Rdll

Nov 10 ...Pukekohe ..

.Rd12

Deo 1

,Rd 13

Sandown ..

Konica V8 Series* Oct 12 ....Bathurst

.(non Championship)

FIA Formula One World Championship Sep 15 .. .Monza ...

,Rd15

Sep 29 .. .Indianapolis Oct 13 Suzuka ...

,Rd 17

n Rd16

CART FedEx Championship* Sep 14 .. .Rockingham ...

.Rd 15

Sep 21 .. .Uausitzring

.Rd 16

Oct 13 .. .Mexico City Oct 27 Surfers Paradise

.Rd 17

Nov 3 ....California

.Rd 19

.Rd 18

MotoGP Motorcycle Championship* Sep 21 ...Jacarepagua Oct 6 .Motegi

.Rd 12

Oct 13 ...Sepang

.Rd14

.Rd13

SBK World Super Bike Championship* .Rd 12 Sep 8 Assen .Rd 13

Sep 29 ...Imola

Nations Cup Sep 8 . ...Sandown

.Rd8

Sep 22 .. .Philip Isiand ...

Oct 27 ... .Surfers Paradise

. .Rd9

Nov 17 ...Bathurst

n Rd 10

.(non Championship)

World Rally Championship* .Rd 11

Sep 19-22 .San RemO .

Oct 3-6 ...New Zealand

■Rd 12

Nov 1-3 ...Australia ...

.Rd13

Nov 14-17 .Great Britain

,Rd 14

Australian Rally Championship* ,Rd6

Sep 7-8 . . .Melbourne

World Series Sprintcars Nov 16 . . .Bunbury Nov 23 . . .Kwinana

.Rd 1

Nov 27 . . .Kalgoorlie . > Nov 30 . . .Adelaide

● Rd3

Dec 7 . . . .Avalon

. Rd5

Dec 14 . . ,TBA

. Rd6

Dec 26 . . .Adelaide

. Rd7

Dec 27 . . .Murray Bridge

. Rd8

,Rd2 ,Rd4

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All event dales in this calendar were correci at the time of printing. Please consult any individual tracks and/or associations for date changes. ■ Series or events telecast on Network Ten are marked with an asterisk. Check your local guides for screening details. ^

EXCLUSIVE by AARON NOONAN WILL Davison will test a Formula 3 car before the end of the year.

The British Formula Renault young gun and his management have done a deal with expatriate Australian Alan Docking for the 2001 Australian Formula Ford Champion to test one of the team's Dallara/Mugen-Hondas, above. It's all part of the process of organising his 2003 program.

"I met with Alan last week," Davison told Motorsport News.

"We've already organised a test with Docko just after the last round (of the Formula Renault title), so we're just starting to put things together.

"There's some good things on the go at the moment, we'll

Photo by Jakob Ehivy

try and organise a few tests for October and see if we can put a deal together. The plan is to stay for November and get some more testing rather than come home as planned."

Things didn't go quite as planned in the latest round of the Formula Renault series at the

Brands Hatch Indy circuit a fortnight ago when an engine failure put hinn out, after climbing from eighth to fifth.

In doing so, the Motaworld driver pulled off the move of the race, running around the outside of Ryan Sharp and Patrick Long at the tricky Paddock Hill Bend to take fifth, only for the motor to go on lap 12.

To add further frustration to the cause, Lewis Hamilton dominated the race and won, with championship leader Danny Watts second and Jamie Green third. Davison now sits fifth in the title, three points behind team-mate Robert Bell but 34 behind Hamilton in third.

In the meantime, Davison will land back in Australia this Friday for a 10-day trip home to catch up with family, friends and backers.

Whincup Double FFord title leader to run FF and V8 at QLD

AUSTRALIAN Formula Ford Championship leader Jamie Whincup will join Garry Rogers Motorsport for the VIP Pet Foods Queensland 500 and Bob Jane T-Marts 1000 at Bathurst.

The 19-year-oM will join Max Dumesny, right, in the team’s #35 Valvoline Commodore, though has a clash the weekend of the Queensland race. Not only will he be making his V8 Supercar debut, but he’ll also be trying to wrap up the Formula Ford championship as the class’s final round is the major support to the 500-kilometre enduro.

“I’ve been training flat out so it’ll be alright,” said Whincup.

“The Formula Ford races are short so they won’t take too much

out of me. We had a very good think about it before we made the decision. We’ve all come to the conclusion that we think it will work and that there’ll be more positives than negatives out of the whole exercise.”

“I don’t think my performance in the ’Ford will be affected by the V8.

I’ve pretty well proved myself to be a competitive inumer in Foramla Ford already but I’d be very disappointed if I didn’t win the title.”

Whincup leads the Formula Ford title by 21 points over Spectrum driver Mark Winterbottom with 41 points (20 for each race win and one point for pole position) up for grabs in the final round.

- AARON NOONAN

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NEWS Mario joins the CART Board CART legend Mario Andretti has been appointed to the Champ Car body's Board of Directors.

"While this is a business decision for me and my family, it has always been clear that my heart is in CART and it will be my pleasure to help the series to grow," said Andretti, a long time staunch supporter of the series.

by JOE SAWARD IT seems that the Arrows team is now in its death throes, with Formula 1 boss Bernie Ecclestone telling journalists at Spa that“enough was enough maybe a few races ago”.

Until now, Ecclestone has been a strong supporter of Arrows’s Tom Walldnshaw; the two men even flew to Spa together as they tried to sort out a deal to save the Arrows team.

On the Wednesday before Spa, Walkinshaw had announced that a new American investor had been foimd and that “heads of agreement” had been signed: But confirmation of the deal never came and, after sitting out Friday, the team packed up and headed back to Bi'itain on Friday evening.

The official explanation was that the team had “a mountain of paperwork to get through” but it was widely felt in the FI paddock that someone in power had told the team to go, to stop the bad publicity which the whole interlude was bringing to the sport.

Although the FIA made no official comment about the Arrows situation, sources within the federation reported that Arrows has been told to submit a written explanation as to what is going on

by Tuesday evening (ie, September 3) at the latest after which the FIA will decide what is the best course of action.

“We’U see what happens now,”

n Following on from the admission of former rival Al Unser Jr to a centre for alcohol abuse, four time Indy 500 winner Rick Mears has revealed that he has checked himself into treatment programs twice this year to fight his problem.

Mears said intense pain in his feet contributed to his drinking. He shuffles when he walks, and his feet were rebuilt after being crushed during a accident in 1984. He said he tried to avoid using pain pills for fear of getting hooked on them.

"So, I checked myself into a program for the drinking. I went through the program and got out just before Indy (in May)and felt pretty good."

What are you smiling for? Tom Walkinshaw’s Arrows team continues to go through the motions. Will you all just hurry up, please?

(Photo by sutton-images.com)

Ecclestone said on Sunday morning.

“They are saying they are not here because it’s ‘force majeure’. If they can prove that, maybe they’ve got chances to hang on. But if they can’t, they probably won’t go to Monza.”

The team has a large number of creditors but there has been no official figure of what is needed to keep the team alive. The minimum figure is probably around $30m

and that is just to get back to zero.

Then there is the necessary investment for the rest of this year, for the design of next year’s car (when the team has lost a lot of design staff) and, of course, a budget for tbe 2003 season.

Craig Pollock confirmed in Spa that he has given up his bid for the team. One way or the other, the future of Arrows should be decided this week.

Duty Sheene fighting

Former Bike champ tackling cancer

mmm 4 September 2002

I BARRY Sheene has been I diagnosed with cancer.

I The Network 10 motorsport I commentator is suffering from § cancer of the throat and I oesophagus for which he is currently undergoing treatment.

His illness was discovered during Sheene’s recent trip to the UK, where he was suffering from a sore throat and had difficulty swallowing.

“It's a pain in the arse but I'm going to deal with it,” he said.

Sheene, 52, won 24 Grands Prix in a 14-year career and was the world 500cc champion in 1976 and '77.

He is fighting the cancer with natural methods rather than tackle it via chemotherapy.

n Kiwi Fabian Coulthard has made his debut in the British Formula Renault Championship at Brands Hatch. Driving for Manor Motorsport in the final three rounds of the series via winning the Bruce McLaren Scholarship, the 19-year-old had to pit for a new nosecone and finished a few laps down once he had resumed. n Injured Infiniti Pro Series racer Jason Priestley continues to recover from injuries he sustained in a massive accident at Kentucky, though won't return to oval track racing.

"He does want to race again, but it will be in a Sportscar (on road courses)," Kelley Racing team manager Jim Freudenberg said.

"Oval racing at those speeds are a little too risky for those who are not going to make (racing) a career." n Elan Motorsport Technologies is to establish a new chassis design center in the UK and has appointed some new, noted, staff.

The manufacturer of the G Force IRL chassis, EMT's global motor sport group also includes Van Diemen, Panoz and specialist services companies Elan Power Products, Elan Precision and Elan Composites.

EMT will now open a new chassis design centre in Kimbolton, Cambridgeshire, England. In addition to the new facilities, EMT has also added key staff including new Chief Designer, Simon Marshall and new Chief Executive Officer, David Bowes.

Marshali was previously at Lola Cars where he was chief designer on the Lola CART program, while new CEO Bowes, was previously Managing Director of Lola.

11

Ford's future in FI

THE Ford Motor Company is expected to have on a major rethink of the structure of its Formula 1 activities in the course of the next few days.

It has now emerged that Eddie Jordan's deal, flagged by Jordan as being a factory supply of engines, is actually not quite as it seemed in Hungary, Jordan was being rather quieter than usual in Belgium and the implication was that Ford bosses were less than impressed by what had happened in Budapest.

However a deal is in place between the team and Ford Europe which will involve a commercial deal with Jordan sponsor DHL. This will help to pay towards the $60m which

I

COSWORTH So what do they have to do with it? Red Bull and Cosworth may play a signif!Photo hy sutlon-images.com) cant part in the overallfuture ofFord in Formula I. will be needed for the Jordan engines. These will be badged as Ford RS Cosworths.

This raises the question of whether or not it makes sense to continue with Jaguar or whether

Ford should take advantage of the fact that Red Bull is willing to buy into the team.

Our sources in Austria say that Red Bull wants to own at least 75 percent of the team

and,would like Ford to retain 25 percent to ensure that the engine supply was not disrupted in the long term.

According to our sources, the plan is for Jaguar Racing to run an all-new 90-degree Cosworth VI0 engine next year. Jordan will use the current 72-degree VI0 engines being used this year by Jaguar and any other customers would have the engines being used this year by Arrows.

Ford bosses have so far said that the company will stay in the sport but have not made any predictions about the branding. These discussions are expected to take place in the days ahead.

- JOE SAWARD

Bye4)ye Belgium? Teams commi

THE Belgian Grand Prix could face the axe, according to Bernie Ecclestone.

The FI impresario is mystified by the national government’s determination to introduce a law banning tobacco advertising next July - two years ahead of the worldwide ban in 2006.

The spectacular Spa-Francorchamps is one of the last remaining ‘classic’ circuits used by Fonnula 1 and is immensely popular with drivers and spectators. But, pointing out that several other nations (Bahrain, China, Russia, Turkey) ape bidding to join the Formula 1 calendar, Ecclestone said: “most countries are supportive of their Grand Piix. If there are problems, they try to find a solution. Each year I fight with the Belgians for their race.

It seems as if we’ve got to a position where they don’t want their Grand Prix any more.”

- QUENTIN SPURRING

I SIX teams have pledged that I they will return to the FedEx 1 Championship Series in 2003.

I At Denver on the weekend, Newman/Haas,Fernandez, Patrick, Players/Forsythe, right, Rahal and Walker Racing all announced that they will return to the Champ Car class.

Missing from the press conference were,the Ganassi, Green and Nunn teams, all of whom are expected to completely move to the Indy Racing League, or at least field cars in both series.

Chris Pook, president and CEO of CART, promised that a minimum of 18 cars will run next season, and possibly as many as 21.

“We will continue to gi’ow the series, we will continue to put it on new tracks, we will continue to go to new markets and we will continue to be the best sports-marketing deliveiy vehicle in North America,” Pook said. although he was briefly in “Absolutely there will be some charge of design at Arrows and new teams, two North America and most recently worked as a from Europe. There will be teams consultant with Prost Grand coming from other series in this Prix. country, moving up the ladder, and There has been talk in recent I believe that you will see the weeks that Niki Lauda, now in return of a past team. charge at Jaguar, would like to “As I told you, it might be we use Barnard, although JB may can we can we can see the 18 not be very keen on a specific without a problem and we could management role, preferring to see 21. And please remember that continue to develop new ideas I have recommended to our board on his own. that at this stage of our board - JOE SAWARD should be 22, and 22 quality cars.”

Barnard back?

JOHN Barnard may be returning to Formula One. The 56-year-old British designer, who built the first carbon-monocoque FI car while with McLaren 20 years ago and developed the semi-automatic transmission at Ferrari 10 years later, has been linked to a possible role with Jaguar Racing.

For the last five years Barnard has run his own B3 Technologies company, 12

by PHIL MORRIS £

Team owner Gerry Forsythe was resolute in his commitment, “CART racing is the best, most diversified type of open-wheel racing, and why wouldn’t we want to be involved in it? I want to confirm today: Two cars, reasonably sure a third car, and speculation on a fourth car. We are committed.”

CART co-founder Pat Patrick, above, plans to be back again as well.

“Patrick Racing is planning to be here next year with one car, which is pretty much funded, and we are working diligently on a second car.

I’d like to comment that I think CART has the best product in the world, racing product.

“We race on road courses, street com’ses, we race Indianapolis, superspeedways, short ovals, and I don’t think you can find any racing series anywhere that can set forth the diversity that’s right where you get a lot better than we are denying but that’s the right way to describe it.

“I know CART is here to stay. I know there will be 18 cars on the racetrack, and we expect to be one or two of them.” molorspori news

NEWS

Poms in for The Rock Team St. George to make one-off CART start in the UK ENGLAND will have its own Champ Car team for its home race at the Rockingham 500 later this month.

In a one-off deal to help boost interest in the race, ‘Team St. George' will run a 2002 Lola/Ford sourced from the defunct Sigma team, to be prepared by Dale Coyne Racing in the USA and run by Ray Mallock Ltd once in the UK. A driver is yet to be named, though Brits Darren Turner and

hr

Darren Manning, who both have ASCAR experience at the circuit, are contenders along with Johnny Herbert, left.

"I think the short list is probably Johnny Herbert and Darren Manning," said Coyne.

"There's been a couple of others mentioned that are also pretty good quality drivers.

"We're trying right now to piece together a couple of more races yet this year.

"We're looking at the domestic races and possibly Mexico City. And then we'll see for next year."

Rockingham

t to CART for 2003

Bentley and Dunlop part BENTLEY and Dunlop won't be partners in another attempt on the Le Mans 24 Hour. The two were exclusive partners for the past two seasons, though the tyre company has announced an overhaul of its motor racing programme, meaning that the Bentley team will run on Michelin in 2003. The new Lister prototype will be the only chance of an outright win in next year's race for Dunlop. n 1999 United States F2000 champ Dan Wheldon has passed his IRL rookie test at Chicagoland Speedway. The Brit will debut this weekend at the circuit in a second Pennzoil/Panther Dallara/Chevrolet as team-mate to Sam Hornish Jr. n Greg Ray has split with A.J. Foyt Racing in the Indy Racing League. The Texan, who was to drive for Kelley Racing this season until bumped out of the drive by Al Unser Jr, requested his own release after a lack of results. He remains under contract to the team.

"The reality of the situation is that right now we are a three-car team operating on a single-car budget," Ray said. "That means we are stretching people and resources way beyond their original intentions. n The Doran Racing squad, leader of the US Grand-Am series, has sold two of its new chassis designed for the championship's 2003 Daytona Prototype class. The first two examples of the JE-4 have been bought by US Sportscar veteran Oliver Kuttner and powerboat racer Forest Barber.

Kuttner's car will use the new powerplant built for the series by Toyota Racing Developments, while Barber's will be powered by a Chevrolet. Barber will take delivery of the first car.

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13

Brock and Harves!

Famous names combine again for Great Aussie Lite race THE famous Brock/Harvey combination is to be reborn this weekend at Sandown in the Great Aussie Ute race at Sandown.

James Brock and Gavin Harvey, right, sons of Peter and John respectively, will team up in a Team Brute Strength Holden for the two nine-lap sprints with a 15-lap final that includes a driver swap.

"It should be good fun," said Brock. "Particularly as we go up against old blokes like Allan Grice and Alan JonesI" Harvey meanwihle, who has experience racing in the Mirage Cup one-make series, thinks the duo are looking good for a win, "We're a good chance for a win," he says. "There's plenty of family experience to call on to get us home first."

Brock Sr and Harvey Sr formed the backbone of the highly successful Holden Dealer Team through the 1970s until its demise in early 1987.

But their 'lads' will have to be on full alert at Sandown, with some handy combinations in competition for victory.

Allan Grice will be joined by Alan Jones in his Falcon, while Brad Jones will join Grant Denyer in the VIP Pet Foods Falcon.

"Gricey is a golfing mate of

mine on the Gold Coast and when he asked if I'd like to have a drive I jumped at the chance," Jones said.

Former rugby league player Jack Elsegood will have Daryl Beattie along to drive in the former bike racer's first race on four wheels, while Paul Stokell will share with Gary Young and Konica Series racer Dale Brede will join Charlie Kovacs.

IN other V8 BRute news,the class will debut a new hard rear deck and wing at Sandown.

Joni

Victorian manufacturer Carryboy has supplied the new parts, which have been several months in development.

Also, the contract for control tyres for next year's series has been put out by series organisers PROCAR Australia.

PROCAR Australia General Manager Operations Chris Edwards said 2003 would be open to competitive tendering aher approaches by at least four suppliers keen to be part of the series.

- AARON NOONAN

IN a bid to provide Porsche with some more firepower in the Nations Cup fight for 2003, our sources are suggesting that organisers PROCAR Australia wiii allow the Porsche 911 GT3 RS into the class next year.

1991 mis a ivliile iiffo: Johnny Herhcrl was amonf’ the cliii inf; line-nj) lhal sieeivd Mazda to Le Mans f^lory in 1991.

The Japanese enmpany is lookin}( al reinrnin}’.

Mazda aims at Le Mans PRODRIVE Engineering in Britain is gearing up to take Mazda back to the Le Mans 24 Hours 13 years after it won the French endurance classic.

The race and rally specialist, which runs Subaru’s World Rally Championship campaigri’, admitted last month that it is 14

working on a prototype for a major manufacturer.

Now it has emerged that it is undertaking a design study for Mazda, which won at La Sarthe in 1991.

Prodrive has refused to reveal the identity of the car maker, but sources have revealed that the

More te

evaluation is for the Japanese marque.

What isn’t clear, however, is whether Mazda is just looking at the prototype division or if Prodrive's study encompasses the GT classes for road-based cars.

- GARY WATKINS moiorsport news

NEWS

iS joins PHR

g of Sandown 500 this weekend

by AARON NOONAN

S for 2003

Current HSV GT-Performance racer Peter Floyd has imported one of the cars and tested it at Phillip Island last week, with Pirelli man Rod Wilson also having a steer.

The car was entered for this

weekend’s Sandown 500 but was withdrawn and the duo are looking to run the Bathurst 24 Hour. They will drive Floyd’s regular HSV GTS 300kW machine at Sandown this weekend.

-AARON NOONAN

sting for Herta THE Minardi team is to test Bryan Herta,left, and possibly Townsend Bell as well in the months ahead.

Herta impressed the team at the recent Thunder in the Park event at Donington and has apparently got the taste for Formula 1 and hopes to be able to put together a deal to race for Paul Stoddart next year.

If either, or both, drivers actually test, it won’t be until the conclusion of the FI season proper.

4 September 2002

Bell is also keen to get into an FI car after being fired by Patrick Racing in CART. He is in the process of trying to put together a deal to allow him to test in September but it is not yet clear if this will become a reality.

That depends on whether Bell can raise some money to go running.

The team is also testing Russian Sergei Zlobin as part of its new deal with backer Gazprom.

-JOESAWARD

BRAD Jones will join PHR Scuderia this weekend in the team’s four car hid to win the Sandown 500.

The OzEmail V8 racer will join team-mate John Bowe in the team’s squad, though won’t he teamed up with Bowe.

Instead, Jones will drive one of the team’s 360 GT machines, left, with Maher Algadri, while Bowe will line-up with Steve Beards in another of the 360 GTs. It’s the 35th running of the Sandown endurance classic and, although the quantity doesn’t quite match the quality at the top of the entry list, there are plenty of wellcredentialed drivers capable of snaring a victory.

Paul Morris will join the PHR team in a 360 Challenge with John Teulan, while Lamborghini’s entry for Paid Stokell and Anthony Tratt had been up in the air prior to going to press though was expected to be among the line-up.

Porsche’s assault will be led by two-time 500 champion Jim Richards who will again team up with Tony Quinn the VIP Pet Foods GT3 Cup car, while Peter Fitzgerald will have Porsche Cup speedster Matt Coleman along to share his Falken T^es GT3 Cup. D’Arcy Russell wiU return to Nations Cup after some time away, sharing with Darren Palmer, while Geoff Morgan will not run his VIO machine. With the next round of the championship at Phillip Island just two weeks after Sandown, the Sydney-based racer has elected to focus his energies on that round.

Returning to racing is John Smith. Smith will team in a GTS Cup car and will drive with Porsche Cup racer Wayne Cooper and GT Performance racer Wayne Boatwright.

The GT-Performance field will be headed by Champion Brett Peters, who wiU have Gary Deane and Grant Denyer along to share his Subaru, while Phil Polites returns in his HSV, though this time as a driver, having sold the car to Mark Cohen.

GT Performance series front runners Geoff Full and Mark King will combine their efforts in an Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VII for the 161-lap enduro, which will be telecast live on SBS this Sunday from 10am.

McLaren go 'fast’ testing WEST McLaren Mercedes is scheduled to test its MP4-17 with major rear-end revisions at Silverstone next week. The changes, centred around the gearbox and rear suspension, are aimed at improving straightline speed for the upcoming 'high speed' circuits. It has been noticeable this season that the McLaren is harder on its Michelin tyres than the Williams. n Cosworth Racing, the Ford owned race engine manufacturer, has filed suit against the Arrows Grand Prix FI team for $16m in connection with its 2002 engine supply contract. Arrows is said to have planned to use 1999-vintage Flart engines for the rest of this season to save money, but Ford's Premier Automotive Group CEO Niki „ Lauda has other ideas. "[Tom] Walkinshaw has to pay for the engine leasing for the complete season," he said, "whether he uses them or not."

Arrows will also be in court shortly to defend a claim for $14m in back payments by its former driver, FleinzHarald Frentzen. n UK-based Flonda Racing Development has almost completed the design phase of the new FI Flonda VI0 for 2003, which will be an entirely new engine, confirmed company VP Otmar Szafnauer. The first prototype of the new VIO, which will be exclusively supplied to BAR, will be run on a dyno in Bracknell at the end of next month. Following upgrades and further bench-testing towards the end of 2002, the engine will be ready to run in a test car for the first time in early January, n Former FI and Sportscar driver Dr Fielmut Marko, now the owner of the Red Bull Junior team (formerly RSM Marko, established back in 1979), is to quit the FIA Formula 3000 series after next month's finale at Monza, and plans to sell the Austrianbased company. Marko's F3000 highlights include winning the 1996 title with Jorg Muller, and running Juan Montoya to the runner-up spot in 1997. n Well-known motor racing photographer Daniele Amaduzzi has died. The Italian, who each year published a book of GP photos entitled 'FI Magic', leaves behind his wife Miriam and son Simone. Fie was 54. n Flaving achieved a 1-2 in the fifth round at Dijon, Jan Lammers's Racing For Fiolland team has expanded to run two Domes for the rest of the 2002 FIA Sportscar Championship. The team is currently leading both the Teams and the Drivers championships.

-QUENTIN SPURRING 15

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luI KIWI Matt Halliday made a successful, if rather painful, return to the driver's seat after recovering from his massive accident at Kansas City in early July.

He finished seventh after running as high as fifth in the latest IRL Infiniti Pro Series round at Gateway last weekend.

It was a remarkable comeback for Halliday, who was only cleared to race a few days ago after suffering multiple injuries, including a badly broken wrist that required surgery, after slamming into a concrete wall at 170 mph. Halliday raced with a

specially-fitted cast on his still healing wrist.

“I wasn't sure I could go the distance but after practice and qualifying I was more confident,” said an exhausted Halliday after the race.

"My arm was really sore overnight but on race day it had eased up and I got through the 80 laps. I couldn’t really race the last 30 laps as the wrist was painful, so I basically drove with one arm then the car began understeering badly.

‘Tm thrilled to just finish in the, points and can now look at the nextobjectives.”

S8

38

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M SPEED Racing appear to be unlikely starters at the Australian Formula 3 Championship round at Sandown this weekend.

Team owner/driver Mike Beeley has sidelined himself due to outside commitments, while there is uncertainty over New Zealander Matt Fitzgerald's future with the team.

Beeley was reluctant to comment about the likelihood of the team taking to the track at Sandown or the following round at Phillip Island later this month,

however he did state that they would probably concentrate their efforts on the showcase final round at Indy.

One face that will be back at Sandown, however, is American Jeffrey Brewer. The New Yorker has returned from a trip home and will step back into his seat in the Alfa-powered Piccola Scuderia Corse Dallara 301, which was driven at Wakefield Park in a one-off appearance by reigning Champion Peter Hackett.

- MARK GLENDENNING

<3^ ?

3

8

HOPES that Cadillac's sportscar programme could get a last-minute reprieve were dashed last week.

Top brass within the General Motors brand axed the Northstar prototype project in the middle of August, but two weeks ago sections of Caddy management tried to get the progi'amme back on track for an American Le Mans Series campaign. That move was vetoed last week and the Anglo-Amercian 3GR operations Northstar LMP-02s will be parked at the end of 2002.

Jeff Hazell, one of the bosses of 3GR, said,“We have been advised that the door to the ALMS is now closed. We understand clearly that Cadillac will not be racing with the

prototype next year.”

GM has yet to make an official announcement of its decision to can the programme, which raced in both the ALMS and at Le Mans, but it has revealed that money was at the core of the decision.

‘We have looked at the level of resources that Audi has put into winning Le Mans and we weren’t ready to step up to that huge financial commitment,” Northstar programme manager Doug Duchardt said.

Part of that would have been to develop a direct injection engine like Audi. Duchardt explained that such technology had little relevance to the US market.

- GARY WATKINS

Question marks: M Speed should be ready to go at Indy, but it seems (Photo by Dirk Klyiismilh) doubtful that Fitzgerald, above, will be at the wheel.

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NEWS

Heppidge dpeam dpive

by MARK GLENDENNING ARC Subaru Rally Team Australia driver Dean Herridge will drive a Group N Subaru Impreza WRC for Subaru Rally Team Japan in this year’s Propecia Rally New Zealand and Telstra Rally Australia.

The team is backed by Subaru Tecnica International, which is the manufacturer's technical arm. "it's a great opportunity to compete again at an International level," said a delighted Herridge.

"This year's been a fantastic learning experience with the factory-backed Subaru team in the Australian Championship and I'm sure I can put a lot of those lessons to good use in these two World Rally events."

He was due to do the same events with SRTJ last year but had his drive pulled after the September 11 terrorist attacks.

He will be joined by SRTA team-mates Possum Bourne and Cody Crocker, who will drive Group N Impreza WRXs in their familiar ARC colours.

BTCC finale set for showdown THE British Touring Car n Championship has been set up for a showdown in the final round after team-mates Yvan Muller and James Thomson clashed at Brands Hatch.

It was a weekend to forget for Thomson as his healthy points advantage was eroded by a pointsmunching engine change (goodbye five points), a suspension collapse in race one and a clash with Muller in race two. He will go to Donington leading by four points with 35 on offer.

Japanese connection: Herridge will steer a Group N Impreza WRXfor (Photo by Neil Bliick hount) STRJ at the NZ and Australian WRC e ents this year.

ALSO on the rally front, Ed Ordynski is recovering well from the accident that put the Mitsubishi driver out of the Safari Tasmania last month.

Concerns that the cracked ribs that the South Australian sustained when the Group N

Lancer hit a telegraph pole would sideline him from his Asia Pacific Rally Championship appearance this weekend alongside title rival Bourne in the Rally Hokkaido, Japan, have been alleviated, with Ed having been declared fit.

A price on Tomas

n A Winter Series is being planned for British F3 teams with a race at Silverstone and Donington on successive weekends in November.

Some teams will be away at Macau and Korea, but the aim is to allow teams and drivers a chance to work together before deals are done for 2003. n Aussie racer Chris Robinson could be the next recruit for the UK's ASCAR series. The former AUSCAR V8 and then NASCAR racer was at Rockingham last month for driver trials and is looking to race the cars before the end of the season.

- DAVID ADDISON

www.kartstars.com.au

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Keeping the seat warm: Rice, left, now has a full-time drive after Scheckter, right, walked out on boss Eddie Cheever. (Photo by sutton-images.com) IRL team-owner Eddie Cheever is open for discussions regarding the future of rookie Tomas Scheckter, after the South African walked out on the team prior to the race at Gateway International Speedway in Madison,Illinois two weeks ago.

“We are sending letters to all the CAET and the IRL teams saying that should they wish to buy his contract, we are open to negotiations,” Cheever said.

“But if he tests in anybody's car or does anything with any team without our prior consent, we will sue (the team)and obviously him.

That’s pretty clear, isn’t it?”

Scheckter, who won at Michigan last month, is under contract to Cheever's technical partner TWR through to the end of the 2003 season.

He was replaced at Gateway by rookie Buddy Rice, who finished fourth.

He had driven in the previous two races when Cheever elected to entered a third car, and finished second behind Scheckter at Michigan.

-PHIL MORRIS 4 Sepiemtier 2002

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Luckless Nguyen McRae Focuses on V8 JJ 2 DTM ASCAR

Friends and Finns: JJ Lehto, right, with Finnhh FI driver Mika Salo.

JJ Lehto (aka Jyrki Jarvilehto) will return to the Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft with an Opel Astra V8 in next month's Austrian races.

Lehto (36), who had brief spells in Formula 1 with Onyx, Dallara, Sauber and Benetton in the early 1990s, has retained his Opel links since participating in the DTM and International . Touring Car series through 199596.

Having tested him on the Dijon circuit in France last week, Opel motorsport director Volker Strycek is keen that the Finn should make his comeback at the Al-Ring; "The cooperation during the test was very positive, and we now want JJ to race for us too."

- QUENTIN SPURRING

FOR the second time in a row, Rob Nguyen started a race on the back foot after being turned around at the first comer in the latest International P3000 round at Spa last weekend.

The 22-year-old Queenslander qualified 11th but got caught out in the turn one melee that began when Sebastien Bourdais hit the rear of Tomas Enge under braking, triggering an accordion effect through the pursuing field.

‘T made another good start and was running alongside Ricardo Mauricio going into the first comer, but then there were cars spinning everywhere and I ended up bring drawn into the mess,” said Nguyen, below.

“After that the car felt quite good, but it was a bit frustrating

to see that Mauricio finished fifth because I think I could have been up there, too. This is the second consecutive race that I have been knocked off at the first turn. I’m hoping for better luck when I get to Monza and I’m really looking forward to that because we had a very good test there.”

Nguyen went on to finish 14th.

At the front, Giorgio Pantano took the honours after a race-long duel with a recovered Bourdais, with Ricardo Sperafico completing the podium. Pantano’s win keeps the Coloni driver within shouting distance of the title, which Bourdais now leads by one point with just one round to go. Chief rival Enge struggled to regain ground after the turn one contact and finished fourth.

- MARK GLENDENNING

I’lioto by sulKm-wutycs.ci

WORLD rally star Colin McRae will take to the Rockingham oval next year to make his ASCAR debut.

The Scot came close to running a Ford Taurus last month but it was stopped due to a testing clashing with Ford’s WRC program and family commitments.

“Five-litre V8 engines would be really good fun,” he told UK-based Motorsport News.

“And when you’re doing ITOmph - and everybody else around is doing lYOmph,it wouldn’t really feel that fast.”

Earlier this season McRae said he wanted to try V8 Supercar racing at Bathurst but scheduling clashes put paid to the idea. But he still maintain a love for all things V8, so next year ... ?

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No Aussie GP wildcards IF you want a wildcard entry in the Phillip Island round of the World MotoGP Championship, don't be an Aussie.

That's the message coming loud and clear from Suzuki, ending speculation that multiple AMA Superbike champion Mat Mladin would race for the factory at the Island next month.

"There is not any capacity left in the system to do it," said Suzuki GP team manager Garry Taylor at Brno.

"The factory is not aware of any plans for a Phillip Island wildcard and, while this is by no means any criticism of Mat, if the opportunity did occur it would

appear logical for the factory to continue to run Akira Ryo, who is the official test rider as the wildcard."

Ryo made an impression in his first appearance at Suzuka but has been blown away by team mates Kenny Roberts and Sete Gibernau in the European races.

Meanwhile, Kawasaki's wildcard rider at the Island will be factory test rider, Akira Yanagawa.

The former SBK racer has conducted much of the testing on the marque's new MotoGP contender, but Australia's World Supersport Champion Andrew Pitt is still believed to be in contention for a full time seat in 2003. molorsoorl news

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MotoGP Ne\>^s

Red Bull goes for Honda V5 THE Red Bull team will be switching from Yamaha to Honda power next season.

Garry McCoy, bottom, and American John Hopkins will ride Moriwaki-framed bikes, powered 'by Honda's dominant RC211V four-stroke engine. The team is expected to remain on Dunlop tyres.

The move is part of a major expansion of Honda's MotoGP racing program that could see eight full factory-supported RCVs on the grid next season, as well as the Red Bull WCM team.

"We are planning to produce a n maximum of eight full machines and possibly two engines for another chassis-m.anufacturer but r;it depends bn the-demand," n announced Mr K Nakajima, HRC iManaging Director. * Mr Nakajima said that the four.fstrokes would be approximately f20 percent more costly than the ■NSR500 two-strokes currently raced by Team Pons and Team i-’Gresini. . However, there is a possible f sticking point in the return to the Honda fold of Max Biaggi. The ‘,'ltalian is said to be close to a deal : with Pj:amac, which currently ■' fields d Honda NSR500 for Tetsuya Harpda,. But'unlike HRC, Pons, j^fesiniandfWCM, Pramac does , inolhave a guaranteed spot on the J-2003 grid and, with Honda and '. Biaggi knocking, is looking at ■ acquiring a stake in the D'Antin team that currently runs Yamahas .-for Norick Abe and Pere Riba.

20

The 'problems' have been caused by the Ducati and Kawasaki teams, which both have guaranteed starts from DORNA and IRTA, which between them run MotoGP racing. While no rider announcements for those entries have been made, it is expected that Troy Bayliss and Eric Bostrom respectively will suit up for red and green next year when they make their return to GP racing.

Meanwhile, the future makeup of the Suzuki MotoGP team is looking doubtful after the team was delivered an ultimatum for the Czech Republic GP last month.

Team sponsor Telfonica MoviStar apparently warned team management that it was considering its options for the future and that now would be a good time to start producing results. Sete Gibernau did his part for the cause by finishing fourth at Brno but Kenny Roberts and wildcard Akira Ryo had disasters, the American finishing 11th (after qualifying problems left him 19th on the grid) and Ryo trailing home 14th.

With a number of teams still in the process of finalising line-ups for next season the company's Spanish HQ is bound to be a popular destination for some team owners during the silly season . . .

V

ALL good things must come to an end and, for Valentino Rossi and Honda, they came to an end at Brno.

Two laps from the end of the Czech Republic Grand Prix, the World Champion parked his Honda RC-211V for good, after earlier ha-ving made a stop to change a rear tyre.

But that was not the reason for Max Biaggi’s maiden 2002 -win. For the first time, the Honda was out run by the Yamaha Ml, the two Italians duking it out for the first 15 laps until the-Honda started to slow.

“This is a very important -victory at one of the circuits I like the most,” said Biaggi, who won his seventh GP at the track. “ The race was hard, but I felt good on the bike” and was trying hard to keep hold of first position throughout the race.”

Qualifying showed the promise of the two-strokes at the track, Garry McCoy securing a front-row spot on his WCM Yamaha, but it was all four-stroke in the race.

Rossi, Biaggi and Daijiro Kato put a gap on the field and raced away, the win settled when Biaggi’s rubber out-lasted his rivals’. He won by 2.75s from Kato, ha-ving his first race on Honda’s four-stroke.

Repsol Honda’s Tohru Ukawa was five seconds behind his counti-yman and ahead of Sete Gibernau on the Suzuki, while Biaggi’s team-mate Carlos Checa was fifth ahead of Jeremy McWilliams, who looked promising on the Proton KR3.

^ 1_

’ [13DS]f^D cPoGmuc It was another disaster weekend for the other Suzukis. After starting from the rear after a myriad of qualifying dramas, Kenny Roberts was down in 11th, nearly 33 seconds from the winner, while wild card Akira Ryo was 14th, this on a weekend when sponsor Telefonica MoviStar reportedly put the team on notice to perform, or else.

“I made a lot of places from the start,” said Roberts, “but the way we had the bike set up promoted hea-vy tyre wear, and the rear started to chunk from about the moiorsport news

BIKE NEWS

)

JUST when it was looking like Troy Bayliss was a laydown misere for another World Superbike title, Colin Edwards has kept the battle alive with another double win in Germany.

The American dominated both races on his revised and improved Honda VTR and took his winning streak to five, closing the points gap to Bayliss to 29 points. In both races, Bayliss was second, with Brit Neil Hodgson third.

Of the six SBK races run at the Oschersleben track, Edwards has now won five and heads into the this weekend's penultimate round of the series at Assen with a real chance of snatching a title that a month ago looked lost.

Edwards won the opening race in a canter, but Bayliss looked like having-a sniff at the Honda in Race 2, trying but not quite making an overtaking move; "I couldn't do anything more

otherwise I would have been in the gravel," said the Aussie.

"After two-thirds of the race, you know you're not going to make up three seconds in a couple of laps so I settled for second.

"I can honestly say my weekend started this morning, because I was just unable to get things right in qualifying. I couldn't do anything about Colin here, he's had a great weekend, but now we go to Assen, which is one of my favourite tracks."

Of the other Aussies, Broc Parkes made a brilliant start in Race 2 and held off a number of full factory bikes for a lap before fading to finish a still-impressive 10th on his privateer-spec NCR Parmalat Ducati.

And the other good battle was in the 'four-cylinder' class, Gregorio Lavilla (Suzuki) and Chris Walker (Kawasaki) staging a great Race 2 battle.

Points: Bayllss 481, Edwards 452, Hodgson 289, B. Bostrom 229, Haga 228, Xaus 204, etc.

Nieto for most of the race.

Melandri’s harder compound Dunlops kicked in, he made his move and that was that, taking Dunlop’s 250 class winning streak to 100.

Sebastien Porto took second for Rolfo, Nieto running off the road and falling to fourth.

Fifth place went to Casey Stoner.

The 16-year-old Australian zoomed past Roberto Locatelli and Randy De Puniet and chased the recovering Nieto to the flag.

“I just need a couple of horse power to be able to race with the works bike,” he said later.

Someone give it to him!

Points: Melandri 170, Nieto 145, Rolfo 127,Battaini 88, Elias 86, etc.

Q® ■aiD© 'jsyBmDQ©^©'’ @0[?©D© sixth lap. After that I lost a lot of my tum-in ability, and every time I touched the throttle the bike would snap sideways. I had to think about finishing rather than continuing to gain places.”

McCoy’s fourth qualifying spot went up in smoke on the first ■ corner, getting shuffled back to 18th and, from there, it was a matter of playing catch-up as best he could. “ It just shows you’ve really got to get a good start to stay in with a chance,” he said later. “Once I got through that I thought I just try 4 September 2002

and make some headway. This was the best I could do today.”

Despite not finishing for the first time this year, Rossi still holds a massive 80 point lead, 220-140, over Ukawa with six races remaining.

Points: Rossi 220, Ukawa 124, Biaggi 109, Barros 87, Checa 85, etc.

MARCO Melandri made it six wins in a row with a convincing performance in the 250cc GP. The Italian now holds a 37 point lead over Fonsi Nieto (Aprilia) after stalking Roberto Rolfo (Honda) and

IT was on for young and old in the 125s, with Lucio Cecchinello emerging from a heated battle with Daniel Pedrosa and Arnaud Vincent to take a narrow win.

But the star of the day was 15year-old Spaniard Hector Barbera, who stole fourth place from reigning 125 World Champion and current points leader Manuel Poggiali on the final lap. Steve Jenkner and Simone Sanna filled out the top six, all riders covered by a second after a typical 125 lottery.

The championship now looks like a three man battle with Poggiali and Vincent each on three wins, but Pedrosa, with a single win, still very much in the running.

Points; Poggiali 160, Vincent 153, Pedrosa 140, Jenkner 96, Cecchinello 91, etc.

Colin Edwards for Ducati SBK?

COULD Colin Edwards race for Ducati next season?

The Texan is reported to. have signed a letter of inte'nl n to partner Neil Hodgson in the Italian team's World’ Superbike squad next season. /j.

But any such move may y depend of Honda's decision whether or not to continue its own SBK program..

Edwards has ridden a lone . hand this year against the dominant Troy Bayliss, after Honda decided-to cut the Castrol-sponsored team from : two bikes to one at the end . of 2001. l n Now Honda'is reportedly considering terminating the' program altogether. The team is funded by Honda Europe, while its MotoGP team secures its funding directly from Japan. Should Honda end its SBK effort, Edwards would almost certainly move into the red corner, but if the team continues, he may stay.

Edwards, the 2000 World Superbike champion, currently lies in second place in the 2002 series, but while he lias excellent credentials at Honda, his name has not been mentioned in connection with any possible MotoGP rides.

Edwards's countryman Nicky Hayden looked to be the more likely candidate and now looks set to race in the premier class for Yamaha next season, partnering Carlos Checa.

21

IRL The luck is turniit}>; ' GU de Feircm got one hack on team- male Melio Casironeves at Gateway.

Just two rounds to go ...

Chi

Jumping

de Ferrari takes Gateway win in Penske 1-2

THE dice for the Indy Racing League points lead continues after Gil de Ferran led a Penske 1-2 in the Gateway Indy 250 to take his second victory of the season.

But team-mate Helio Castroneves, who finished second, has taken a one point lead in the championship by virtue of trailing his fellow Brazilian in the third one-to finish of the season for the team.

"I tell you it feels good, but there is a lot of work to be done," de Ferran said. "Helio is driving 100 percent, so is Sam (Hornish Jr.). Alex (Barron) was also very strong today. Felipe (Giaffone), I think, had a bit of bad luck, "There is still a lot of work to do. I have a lot of respect for my competitors," de Ferran drove past Castroneves for the lead exiting lap 184 of 200 and pulled away in the last 10 laps for a 2.10s victory, ahead of Barron's impressive Blair Dallara/Chevrolet and rookie Buddy Rice in the Red Bull Dallara/Nissan.

"He was much better planning in the traffic, and that's the way he went by me," Castroneves said of de Ferran.

"Gil, what a guy. I had a lot of fun racing against him. He is fun and very fast. It was his day today, so let's keep working hard because this championship's not over yet."

Sam Hornish Jr, who led the points entering the event, fell to third in the title chase after finishing fifth in his bad-handling Pennzoil Dallara/ Chevrolet, 22

Chasing those red and white cars: Alex Barron, above, impressed again in his chase ofrace winner Gil de Ferran, top, while the others simply had to follow. Brazilians Raul Boesel and Vitor Meira, below,finished eighth and (Photo.'! by suttonfimagcs.com) ninth respectively.

while Felipe Giaffone's championship aspirations took a serious dent, as he finished 21st in the Hollywood/Nunn G Force/ Chevrolet due to engine failure after 106 laps.

"For sure, it hurts, but we still have two races to go," Giaffone said. "Now we have to depend on the other guys and see how good they do."

The top 10 was rounded out

by Robbie Buhl, Al Unser Jr, Raul Boesel, Brazilian rookie Vitor Meira (driving for Team Menard) and Eddie Cheever.

"Buddy (Rice) did a phenomenal job. I was watching him in the race. He took a car that should have finished eighth and finished fourth," said Cheever of his young team-mate, following it up with a swipe at ex-driver Tomas Scheckter.

"Three races and three finishes. That is a new record for Red Bull Cheever Racing."

Points: Castroneves 437, de Ferran 436, Hornish Jr 429, Giaffone 391, Barron 318,Sharp 274, Dare 272, Unser Jr 261, Ward 253, Lazier 244.

A WEEK earlier, Champ Car racing made its debut on the FI circuit in Montreal, with Dario Franchitti taking his Team KOOL Green Lola/Honda to victory.

The Scot, above and right, driving the #27 at the circuit named after the legendary Ferrari driver of the same number- Gilles Villeneuve - won from Cristiano da Matta and Tony Kanaan, the Mo Nunn Racing driver's best result of the season.

Franchitti had struggled early in the weekend, but set-up changes launched him into a moiorsport news

CHAMP CARS

as and

Junqueira and Dixon score a 1-2 in Denver

‘OYOTA

SheliO Shell

Different paint-schemes, but the same resuit as the good ’oi days of Zanardi and Vasser: Junqueira, left, and Dixon, above, put Chip Ganassi (Photos by sutton-images.com) back in Victory Lane, da Matta, below, took third.

by PHIL MORRIS

dice for the pole with da Matta. A bungled fuel stop strategy by the Newman/Haas team left the Brazilian in second at the end.

We figured if any more yellows happened apart from the last 10 laps, the race would come back to us,” he said.

“If you look at the percentages that was likely going to be the case, especially since we’d had two yellows already in the first 10 laps.

Paul Tracy was fourth, ahead of Jimmy Vasser, Michel Jourdain Jr and Christian Fittipaldi.

4 September 2002

r

ONE-TWO finishes used to be quite the norm for Target/Chip Ganassi Racing,but Bruno Junqueira and Scott Dixon’s finish in the inaugural Shell Grand Prix of Denver put things hack ‘to normal’.

The Brazilian dominated the weekend, starting from pole position and led all of the 100 laps to cross the line 0.28s ahead of team-mate Dixon; The Kiwi, who was running in a one-off Coor’s Light paint scheme, trailed Junqueira by some 9.5 seconds prior to the final pit stop, though backmarkers helped him close^ Alate-race Safety Car period on lap 88, after Tora Takagi and Mario Dominguez tangled, set-up a shootout to the finish, though Junqueira had enough in hand at the restart to move away to victory.

“My team gave me a great car this weekend,” said Junqueira.

“We worked hard to have a car that would be consistent in race conditions, and that was the key today. We still have a shot at the championship, and keep trying as hard as we can to win it.”

Dixon meanwhile, had to get by the two Fernandez Racing cars of Adrian Fernandez and Shinji Nakano at the start of the race, “I was stuck behind Adrian for a while and just couldn't get enough momentum to pass him,” he said.

“The car was very good today and 1 thought we had a chance to

Cl

L i

get Bruno.”

Points leader Cristiano da Matta continued to add more points towards his title tilt with third place, while Fernandez was fourth.

Christian Fittipaldi was fifth despite problems with a faulty air jack, while Tony Kanaan, Kenny Brack,Paul Tracy, Michel Jourdain Jr (his 14th points finish from 14 races) and Jimmy Vasser rounded out the top 10.

Tracy again was in troubles, clashing with team-mate Dario Franchitti on lap one. The Canadian tried an optimistic move on the Scot, with all three Team Green cars straggling back in the field.

Franchitti’s suspension was folded back and he was forced out.

“There was no need to be crazy at the start or on the first lap here, but as usual, Paul came charging in,” reported Dario.

“The championship is gone for sure - time is getting short. When your own team-mate takes you out, what can you say?”

See you at Rockingham, we guess ...

Points; da Matta 175, Junqueira 123, Franchitti 106, Cai-pentier 101, Fittipaldi 98, Jourdain Jr 92,Tracy 86.

23

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OPINION

Planes,Pains ami Automobiles

I'M thrilled to be back here in Australia and driving for the Kmart Racing team in Queensland and at Bathurst, although last Friday for a while It looked like I wasn't going to make it back downunder due to a mix up with my visa.

T had already checked my 'bags in afthg airport in Paris '®#ien I was told that I didn't ^havg the right visa and I could . noT make the flight.

It was already six o'clock at night and everyone I spoke toj I includihg my travel agent, told me to'"come back Monday", -’but this simply would not do - if Tdidn't make,the flight and the , .Kmart'feeing test at Winton on f": Tuesday; there was no point in ,i^.>’e9ming at all. ^ thanks to technology . ●V’mf^.md|ile phone, a laptop cemiputer and the internet ■ . was able.to organise my visa . '.'ontine while sitting in my car in the carpark and here I finally am in Australia. . .-.

'm excited about our first race in the V8 next week in Queensland, as well as also visiting the beautiful beaches up there, but Bathurst is the race I am really looking forward to, especially after my visit there with the Holden Racing.Team in 2000.

During my career, I have been very lucky to race at the best racetracks in the world and Bathurst is one of the most, if not the most exciting circuit there is, especially in the wet like it was in 2000 and with these big, loud and powerfuI VS Supercars (these are the cars we should have in Europe!).

M

y season racing for Vauxhall in the British

Touring Car Championship has gone pretty good, the team has secured the Manufacturer's Championship, while my team-mates, James Thompson and Matt Neal, and I will settle the Driver's Championship at the last round of the season at Donington Park the week following Queensland.

There is only four points separating Thommo and me in first and second, so the last round will be exciting.

For me, it is a little unfortunate the championship is so close as technical problems have stopped me in four or five races this season while I've been leading, but for the championship it couldn't be better.

4 Everyone I sBBitggto. including my travel agent, told me to "come bajk iKldy'lbut this simply would not do ff

- Yuan Muller

Motor Mouth with Yvan Muller don't believe jumping from the V8 Commodore to the Vauxhall WIi present any problems to me, as in the past I have driven anything from rally cars to touring cars and ice-racers to prototypes literally within days of each other.

If there is anything that Wl need to watch for, then it will be jetlag as I'm sure the trip back to the UK will take its toll and I need to take precautions.

Before then, my new Kmart Racing team-mate, Andy Priaulx, and I have a lot to do.

First there wass a seat fitting on Monday, then there's testing at Winton today (Wednesday) before we head to Queensland for the 500.

Th ughtsfr Jj

l

:S.

F

ORMULA 1 is a funny world, I thought,the other morning as I was bouncing down a muddy track in a forest in Belgium in the company of a Viking with a hangover.

It was dawn and wisps of grey nnist were swirling in amongst the trees. We were being chased through the wood by a man in a fluorescent yellow coat .who was waving his arms wildly and grunting loudly.

If it all sounds like the plot of the kind of movie one watches at three o'clock in the morning (when indigestion strikes), it was actually not like that all. It was simply that in Belgium, traffic marshals have a strange attitude about authority. Belgians like to be given what they consider vitally-im.portant jobs (European Commission, etc, etc) and want everyone to obey them.

And that, of course, is something that FI people are not good at doing. The FI paddock is inhabited by free spirits and the Vikings (admittedly a small group) are a law unto themselves. For them, traffic marshals are there to be ignored and, if necessary, abused or run over.

‘l

With Bahrain and China and Beirut and Turkey bidding lor possible future races,there is suddenly a need for the likes of Austria, Hungary, Britain and France to justify their existence"

3#'

The Box Seat with 108 Siward

Will this be the end?

With thefinancial incentives offered by newer venues, will we soon see no more Formula One cars through the great comers like Eau Rouge, above, and La Source?

(Photos h\suiion-inui^es.com)

We were going the racetrack and to had passed through this Charlie's checkpoint without doffing our-caps in a suitable fashion.

My friend Freddy is a Viking (or at least, he says he is). I have never seen him wearing a hat with horns and find it odd that that he likes to impersonate English gentlemen. When we went out to dinner on Thursday at Spa, he was wearing a blazer which would have been decidedly out of place on a rape and pillage raid.

Freddy is relatively sane (for a Formula 1 person) but after a heavy night on the Aquavit, he has been known to be unreasonable to traffic marshals, particularly before he has seen Tracy and Ylva (another Viking) at the Jaguar motorhome and had his cup of tea and his bowl of porridge.

August, he was explaining as 26

we bounced through the wood, is the season when Scandinavians eat crayfish. So it is now a tradition at Spa that Swedes, Finns and Norwegians gather at the Mercedes-Benz motorhome one evening during the Belgium GP weekend to diminish the European crayfish stocks and damage a few brain cells with Nordic hooch. It had been a good evening, he said, as he glanced in the mirror and watched the mad Belgian chasing us.

"Silly fellow," said Fred as we went through another checkpoint.

"Out of the way canonfodder," I cried with a sweet smile.

"We're coming through ..." motorsport news

Qvodafjtne

>dafori9

“There was a time when Formula 1 weekends did not have as many traffic marshals as is now the case and when teams would pack us all off to fancy restaurants for dinners in an effort to make us write nice things about them.

These days, the checkpoint Charlies are trying to take over the world. And the FI teams tend to cater in their motorhomes, which is, apparently, more cost-effective.

We also have a much better time as we do not have to deal with stuffy waiters. FI motorhome folk are some of the finest people one will ever meet.

"Cost-effective", however, is not a term that has seen much use in FT until recent months.

But gradually, as the world suffers through an economic crisis, Formula 1 has started to feel the cold blasts of the financial freeze up its trouser leg.

First Prost Grand Prix went down with a crash and then team bosses started to fight over money. Now the knock-on effects are coming. Drivers are beginning to find that their salary demands are not being met and 4 September 2002

team members are worrying that if they lose their jobs there may not be another to go to.

And with these difficult times, we have seen more and more ruthlessness. And more and more lies. There is only so much money to go around and so the fights for what is available are becoming more and more intense. They say that when the going gets tough, the tough get going.

how things can be improved to keep the whole FI circus moving nicely along. People are asking questions: Does the show need to be improved?

Flow can the sport present itself better than it does? Is it now a good idea to be stretching into new markets?

This is notpeople necessarily because like topopular go to places they like. Spa is one of

Gradually, as the world suffers through an economic crisis, Formuia 1 has started to feel the cold blasts of the n financial freeze up its trouser leg FI folk are pretty tough. The beginners are gobbled up like August crayfish in the vicinity of Vikings.

This does not make the paddock as nice a place as perhaps once it was. People are much more sensitive to criticism so there is as lot less tolerance across the board. And yet, at the same time, there is now room for new ideas, because people are thinking about the sport and

the great venues left in Formula 1 but it is amazing in the paddock how little sympathy there is for the Belgians. The local politicians always seem to want to have their say and Formula 1 people refuse to doff their caps to the men in parliament in Brussels. So for years, the politicians have been chasing the FI people through the woods trying to ban tobacco advertising - just to make a

point. And FI people are bored with it all.

If the Belgians really don't want to have a Grand Prix, Formula 1 doesn't care any more. There are venues coming out of the woodwork every other day in exciting new markets. Spa is special but the Belgians have long assumed that they have some strange right to have a race. France is the same and Britain too. But they no longer understand that rights are things that must be paid for and that even the great races are expendable. Only Monaco is sacred.

With Bahrain and China and Beirut and Turkey bidding for possible future races, there is suddenly a need for the likes of Austria, Flungary, Britain and France to justify their existence.

People are asking why Germany and Italy need to have two races each. And there is no answer.

The times are a-changing and, if some of the people running some of the races are not careful, we will soon be looking back at them in the rear view mirror, muttering about what silly fellows they were ...

27

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Paul Stoddart

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A Man of many Faces: Stoddart still gets to drive his own cars, like at Donington’s Thunder in the Park meeting, top. He also gets to hang out with some of the great drivers, like world champions of the past Sir Jack Brabham, above, and Damon Hill, below, and current driver Mark Webber, bottom.

(Photos by sutton-images.com)

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MOTORSPORT NEWS: What's the verdict on this season?

PAUL STODDART: When 1 walked in last year, there was a clean slate, there was nothing there. We had to do the engine and the car. This year we only had to do the carl We have a very credible chassis, which is probably the sixth best in FI, and we've achieved our year two goal by scoring a few points. The overal l impression is good from the racing side. We've got yet another superstar in the making with Mark Webber, so we've had two good drivers in two years.

Now we've just got to take that step further, invest more heavily, and try to get into the midfield next year.

MN: Drivers like Jarno Trulli and Giancarlo Fisichella started with Minardi. Are you proud to still be helping young guys?

PS: Minardi has traditionally been one the places for young drivers to start, and there's nothing wrong with that. It gives you great satisfaction to give someone a start in life, and then to see that repaid by the fact that do incredibly well. I'm so proud of both Fernando [Alonso] and Mark. Long may the tradition continue!

MN: What are your thoughts on Bryan Herta - will you hire an American?

PS: Bryan did a fantastic job when we gave him a bit of a familiarisation run at Donington.

Although it was last year's car,

and he was only doing a demonstration, he seemed to take to it like a duck to water.

He's certainly a guy that we'll be keeping an eye on in the future.

The first FI team that takes an American as a tester or a full time driver is going to open themselves to enormous sponsorship opportunities, because the States is a vast market, and yet for one reason or another it doesn't seem to be heavily involved in FI. The fact that there is now an incredible race in Indianapolis has helped a little bit, and the next step is to bring on an American driver.

Bryan is one of the guys that could make it, and there are one or two others around, like Townsend Bell, who I've spoken to. There are quality drivers emerging in the States who could make it in FI. MN: How tough is it at the 'poor' end of the pitlane?

PS: Very tough, from a financial point of view. I'd like to say we have a tenth of some people's budgets, but in some cases it's a 20th. It's very hard to survive.

Having said that we've done it.

There was a lot of controversy earlier on in the year with the Prost and Arrows situations, but those things seem to have resolved themselves. We're here to stay and we've got to get on with life.

MN: How much do you actually need?

PS: It depends very much on whether you're paying for an engine or not. Clearly this year, moiorsport news

INTERVIEW

"When you're young enough and fast enough you don't have any money, and when you're past your sell-by date it's too late!n -Paul Stoddart the racing driver

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MB mm [ with Asiatech, we weren't.

But even last year when we were doing our own engine the budget was less than $50m. It's a drop in the ocean compared to some.

Unless you've got a bank or a major partner in there with you, you just can't compete with the budgets.

I'm going to have to follow the trend and take investment.

It's still going to be Minardi, but if we had a manufacturer come in, of course we'd change the name. But that's not on the cards today. At this moment I'm looking to secure the team's future.

MN: What's the plan for next year?

PS; To continue on the original five-year plan, which next year is to get it up into the midfield. We're looking at ways of doing that.

What has become clear is

"I have to accept that fact that I need investment in the team. I rr cannot do it on my own -Paul Stoddart the team owner

that I picked the worst time in history to buy an FI team.

We've done an incredible job just to still be here, and I have to accept that fact that I need investment in the team. I cannot do it on my own.

MIM: Will that happen in the short term?

PS: It will happen this year.

As someone pointed out. I'm the only team owner who owns 100 percent of his teami It's something I'm proud of, but what it's really telling you is the day of the independent team owner is gone.

4 September 2002

MN: Where do you stand on cutting costs?

PS: Sadly it's all gone by the wayside now. Max Mosley worked very hard to be sensible about the costs in FI, and with very little support. Frankly many of the teams don't want to see change, so we're stuck with how it is. If the costs are going to continue to be in the stratosphere, then we're going to have to find more budget.

MN: Does the lack of support frustrate you?

PS: I am deeply upset that some very good cost saving

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ideas weren't accepted, but I'm very happy that one or two have. We have stable chassis regulations until 2005, and we also have this one engine rule which, although it won't help the teams, will show a budget improvement to the manufacturers.

Ultimately it will create the environment where perhaps some of that may flow down to something like them providing two teams with an engine. Will that happen? I don't know.

MIM: You're in a unique position in that you get to drive your own cars from time to time. What sort of insight does that give you?

PS: It does give you an insight into what the drivers are feeding back in terms of technical data. Last year I drove the current car at Misano at the end of the year, and I regret it was so late, because it's a completely different matter if you get the feel for it yourself.

I'm close enough to get a real feel. The boys were doing low 1m19s at Donington and the best I could do was a 1 m22s. It keeps me in with a chance.

It's the old story-when you're young enough and fast enough you don't have any money, and when you're past your sell-by date it's too late!

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29

Glenn Seton

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Round 9-V8 Supercars Championship Series 2002

13th-15th September 2002 at Queensland Raceway

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TICKETS AVAILABLE NOW from Ticketinaster? on

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30

motarsport news

FEATURE \

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Glenn Seton has endured the toughest season of his career in 2002 hut, he tells PHIL BRANAGAIU, It'S full Steam ahead into the endurance race AU! In the Falcon!

Glenn Seton has endured a tough season in the Ford Credit Racing Falcon but it determined to make his way back to the front of the V8 Supercar grid.

(Photos by Dirk Klynsmith and Peter Bury)

1

T has been a tough two seasons for Ford’s Glenn Seton.

The Ford Tickford Racing driver looked to be on his way to a good season in 2001m until he got ‘trapped’ behind a Safety Car at Eastern Creek. Until that time, Seton and FTR team-mate Steven Richards looked strong, particularly in the longer races, but since then, times have been hard.

This season, there have been major changes in The Seton Show.

Richards has gone, back to Holden, while Seton(now in Ford Credit colours) has continued to struggle.

"It has been tough; the Dunlops have been pretty hard to get a handle on.

And then there was the crash in Adelaide... ff

- Glenn Seton

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4 September 2002

particularly in qualifying. It has become common practice to look for Seton’s name in the bottom half of the timing sheets in 2002, even if things are starting to look up now.

The cause has not been aided by the appearance of new control V8 Supercar tyre from Dunlop this season, and a crash which all but destroyed his newer race car in the series-opening race at Adelaide in March. Despite all the dramas, Seton remains upbeat.

“It’s not where I want to be,” admitted Seton. “But it has been tough; the Dunlops have been pretty hard to get a handle on. And then there was the crash in Adelaide ...

“It took us quite a while to get back from that. We had another

car here to run but it was not until the Perth ro-und that we got back into FTR4(note: the car Seton debuted at Bathurst last year) so it was some months before we got over that.”

But Seton is not prepared to lay all the blame on the tyre. It is, he says, a larger problem than that.

“There is no doubt that the Ford teams have taken longer than the Holden teams to get going with the Dunlop tyre,” he says. “It is a pretty hard tyre; when you have a grip problem at the front anyway and you go to a harder tyre, you have absolutely no grip! And that has been a problem for all the Fords this year, bar Marcos Ambrose’s.

“But it is not something that is just new this year. If you analyse . the performance over the last three years, really, we haven’t been challenging for championships or, even, winning a lot of races. There is no doubt that, realistically, ever since the Commodore VT came along, it has been a better thing. It is a much better racecar that the VS as; it has a wider track, and a number of little things that makes is a better car all-around than the VIWS. Ever since it hit the track, the Ford have really struggled to match its speed. And the championship results show that.”

Compounding the problem has been moving to single-car status this year. Halving the fleet has also halved his technical data, which had hurt his competitiveness.

“No doubts,” he says. “But at the end of the day, we just did not have the funding to run two cars.

Running only one car makes it pretty hard work, especially when you are getting to terms with a

continued on page 32 31

Glenn Seton continued from page 31 new tyi-e. We get one lot of information out of each race meeting that we go to, and cutting the practice sessions down has made it especially hard. Look at a result sheet; on most of the circuits we go to, we are lucky to get in any more than 10 laps in a session. If you do not get on top of it quickly, it’s tough.

“And it’s not just a matter of having to run the team as well as drive the car. Look at Dick Johnson’s team; Steven (Johnson) and (Paul) Radisich have had a terrible time. They are struggling to find pace as well. I have been doing both jobs for a long time so it makes no difference.”

One thing common among the Ford teams is the almost universal theory that the Falcon is not quite as user-friendly as the Commodore. V^ether they are at the front of the grid or the back.

Ford drivers have said that the AU has a narrow operating window in comparison to the larger ‘sweet spot’ on the Commodore VX. Seton agrees; “Absolutely. But the EL was no different. The EL was at the same time as the end of the \TWS era and then the VT came out and was pretty dominant straight away.

That dominance has, to a certain extent, made the AU look a lot worse than it actually was. It not a simple question of what might happen; if you built an EL today and put it up against an AU,it would not be anywhere near competitive. No way in the world.

“We are heading in the right direction but it is such a slow process. At the moment, we need to get there in a hurry.

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We are nearly always competitive there, we just have to go -Seton on Bathurst the next step to win if'

“But having said that, I am looking forward to the endurance races. As a package, the car will be a good endurance car. It has been very reliable and, at Bathurst, our cars have always been quite fast. I really believe that the car will be much more competitive than it has shown in the first half of the year.”

In his career, Seton has won almost ever5rthing there is to win in the class, from two Touring Car titles, any number of Winfield Triple Challenges and races wins around

the country. But there is still one win that eludes him; Bathurst.

“Every year we go there, we have had a very competitive motor car and this year should be no different. In qualifying and in the race, we have been at or near the top of the time sheets. But what is it that makes our cars quick at Bathurst? I can’t really say.

“I always go there looking at a possible win and it is never lost for a lack of trying. We have been close there a lot of times; in the last three

years, we have been fifth, fifth and ninth, and that was only after Steven (Richards) had contact and a guard rub on a tyre.

“Up until then, we were looking pretty good...

“We ai'e nearly always competitive there - we just have to go the next step to win it.

“Naturally, I have a passion to win the race. We have had some big disappointments there, none bigger than in 1995 when we were leading the race with nine laps to go and a valve spring failed. Bathurst is the icon ofAustralian motor racing and the one race that everyone wants to win. But it doesn’t prey on my mind.”

TOYO TYRES

Performance Quality Value

RAl D.O.T. approved.

CAMS approved.

As used by Rich Bates in 2001 Targa Tasmania

1 f Freecall Sydney 1800 897 379 Melbourne 1800 897 363 Brisbane 1800 897 327 Newcastle 1800 897 362 Townsville 1800 897 388 Adelaide 1800 897 323 Perth 1800 897 373 32

www.toyo.com.au motorsport news

FEATURE New Ford Bloke, Old(er) Ford Bloke: Craig Lowndes may have stolen many of the headlines but Seton is getting close on the track and, perhaps, among the fans. Maybe things are looking up ...

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A With the Silly Season in V8 Supercar racing getting earlier and earlier, Seton’s name had been connected to any number of drives on offer for 2003. The validity of some of the mmours was questionable, but the team did take the unusual step of issuing a media release when it was determined that he would keep racing for FCR next season. Usually, a media release is only put out to say something different is happening, not the status quo.

“There were lots of rumours that I was driving for this team or driving for that team next season,” admits Glenn. “For sure, there were some offers to drive elsewhere

in the future but I decided to keep doing what I am doing. I want to finish off what I have done, with Ford Tickford Racing and now Ford Credit Racing. I feel that I still have some good years ahead of me and that is what I want to do.

“But naturally, you always look at all the opportunities that you are offered. There was a lot of consideration given to all of them; they were pretty good offers, a couple of them. You do not turn away from those kind of offers without looking carefully at them.

One rumour connected Seton to Holden Racing Team, where he could have been reunited with former Nissan Motorsport offsider

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Mark Skaife. Far-fetched, surely?

“There were quite a few different offers and yes, they were from both sides ...” was the only light Seton would shed on the matter.

“It is always good to have those offers, when they come from the ‘other’ side of the fence. It is a good feeling that other people in the category want you to be a part of your show.”

There will be major changes on the V8 Supercar landscape next year. Apart from Ford’s BA (codenamed ‘Barra’) and Holden’s Commodore VY, all new cars will be built under Project Blueprint, which is designed to maximise the number of common components

between the marques. But Seton is not sitting on his hands in the meantime.

“I would have to say that the second half of the year will be pretty good for us. The endurance races suit myself so it is not just a matter of waiting for Barra although I do believe that Barra will be a better package and a better racecar.

“I believe that Project Blueprint will be a better thing for the sport, and a better thing for both manufacturers. There will be an equalisation of technology, and equalisation of parity between the cars. I am really looking forward to everyone have a similar kind of mousetrap.”

Despite his tough couple of seasons, Seton is still as popular as ever among the fans. While he may not have quite a Craig Lowndes sized crowd of punters outside his ctransporter, there is never a lack of people queuing to have an autograph or a photo taken with the man in FCR colours.

“I have always had good support from the fans,” he smiles. “I am a racing driver and all I can do is try and drive the best I can and then spend some time with them.

“I like to get out and do as much with the public as I can. It’s good to know that I still have support out there.”

In a recent poll among the public, the question was asked; who are the all-time most popular Ford drivers in touring car or V8 Supercar racing? The answers were pretty emphatic; the top two were Dick Johnson and Allan Moffat, both retired. The other most popular driver was Seton.

Good thing he didn’t accept any of those offers and go to Holden, then ...

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Toyota in FI

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ITH Heinz-Harald Frentzen replacing hotshoe Felipe Massa at Sauber,it looks like anything goes in this year’s silly season.

Nevertheless, it came as something of a surprise when Toyota announced that it was dropping both ofits drivers at the end of the team’s first year. And they are being replaced not by the likes of Jacques Villeneuve, Jenson Button or Giancarlo Fisichella, but

by Olivier Panis and AN Other who could yet turn out to be a Champ Car racer who can bring no FI experience whatsoever to the equation.

It’s incredibly hard on Salo and McNish, who have worked their butts off notjust this year but also in 2001, when they had to plod round in the awful prototype test car. Both men are mature and have their heads screwed on, and over the past two years they’ve quietly accepted all the failings in the fledgling operation, and put up with the apparent lack of progress since Melbourne. Only recently has 34

Salo finally expressed frustration with the situation. Now they appear to have been made scapegoats.

The man who cames responsibility for the decision - but whose hand may well have been forced -is team boss Ove Andersson. The quiet, bear-like Swede may be new to FI, but he’s shown that, right or wrong, he can be as hard as the other bosses.

“Why did we do this?,” he says.

“First of all I have to say the drivers we have have done a very good job this year, there’s no doubt about that.'TOy the decision was taken not to continue with the both of them ... Well, I think we need to have a new angle on things, some kind of new motivation. Something needs to happen. And also we need a different angle on the technical side of the car. We will see if it is stupid or not. It’s just the way we felt.

From the outside, the biggest risk appears to be a loss of continuity, something that would seem to be critical for such a young team. It’s not unusual for a team to

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In the Red Corner: Ove Andersson discusses things w/ith Micheiin’s (Pholos by sutton-images.com) Pierre Dupasquier, right, in Belgium last weekend.

change both drivers - Jordan did it this year - but usually at least one leaves of his own free will, so the team is forced to look elsewhere.

“This has been discussed obviously for a long, long time.

What is going to help the team

most? Is it keeping a driver who has been involved in development now for a long time, knows the car, feels he at the limit, or taking someone in from another team who has another angle on the whole thing, and maybe comes in with molorsport news

FEATURE

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different experiences and this kind of thing? I think if you are an FI driver you can drive any car, as the cars are pretty similar. Maybe in many ways you’re better off taking a complete different direction.

We’ll see if it is a good decision or not, I don’t know.”

But could it not have been done by keeping at least one of the current race drivers, and perhaps adding a test driver with experience from a major team?

“For sure we have also to bring test drivers in to the equation, but if you can achieve that your race driver is also doing the testing ... if you want to have effective and useful testing you have to bring the car to the limit. Again this is also a problem. Not many drivers are driving the car on the limit.

They tend to cruise.”

So is that what his boys have done this year?

“I’m not saying that. I’m just saying that it can be a tendency...”

What has surprised people most is the decision to take Panis. On occasions, the Frenchman was very impressive in his Ligier/Prost days, and McLaren was quick to pump him up when he tested in 2000. At times he has fared well alongside Villeneuve at BAR, notably in qualifying, but overall the Canadia,n has had the edge and has been the better racer.

Most folk would agree that while Panis still has good credentials, his

4 September 2002

claim to haring a top seat is not as strong as it once was, and what’s more he will be 38 when his twoyear Toyota deal ends. However, Ove is clearly a fan.

“He’s a good driver, he’s a nice guy, and I think he has a lot of technical know-how. Maybe he can bring something in terms of how a top team is operating in the field and so on. He has to get into our

□

Q deposed Sauber man Massa. If you think there’s a Brazilian flavour to all this you’d be right; some say that marketing forces have pushed Toyota in that direction, although Andersson denies that’s the case.

Last weekend, in fact, the name on everyone’s lips seemed to be Australia’s own Mark Webber! ...

Beyond those mentioned, there are not many available drivers

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Ifs not nice, ifs terrible, but we have to think of whars best for what we can achieve long term. And that's what we have to do"

- Ove Andersson on sacking both his drivers

car and try to feel what is wrong and what can be done to improve it.

I don’t know if a driver like that can bring with him the details, like at McLaren we did this and this and this - what’s he’s bringing is the way these top teams work.”

Andersson says that the second driver will be known “by the end of September.” Cristiano da Matta, who tested this summer, remains the hot favourite - despite a hefty ransom demand from team boss Carl Haas.

‘Tes, you’re right. He’s only one of the possibilities, but it’s by no means decided at the moment.”

Others thought to be on the list are Helio Castroneves, Williams tester Antonio Pizzonia and

with FI experience who can be regarded as serious candidates.

But contracts can be broken or bought out - maybe someone like Nick Heidfeld will crop up?

The Swede admits dropping Salo and McNish was a difficult decision to take, and there’s a clear hint that he had to take advice - or was it orders? - from his bosses in Tokyo. Folk who are not necessarily very close to the action.

“It was very difficult to make the decision in the first place. The decision wasn’t only mine, it was an agreement between Japan and us. It’s not nice, it’s terrible, but we have to think of what’s best for what we can achieve long terra.

And that’s what we have to do.”

Some months ago, it occun'ed to me that the unexpected pace of this year’s car - Sale qualified as high as eighth in Silverstone - might hurt its drivers. Toyota’s stated policy was to not hire a superstar in its formative years (Honda did the same in the sixties), because it wasn’t ready to provide them with a car. But with Salo scoring two sixth places in the first two races, the thought ‘what would a quicker driver achieve?’ obviously cropped up in key people’s minds.

Aiidersson admits those early successes created extra pressures.

“I think it raised the expectations of our top executives in Japan, and in the Tbyota family on a worldwide basis. It raised their hopes to such an extent that I think everybody now is deeply disappointed that we haven’t achieved more. How could you be so successful in the beginning, and why no more points? I understand their reaction, but they don’t understand the difficulties of trying to be good in FI!” So did it have a bearing on the driver decision? Apparently not.

“Not at all. It would be terrible if we said we didn’t do better because we didn’t have good enough drivers. This would be a very bad mistake.”

Tbyota might not say so, but I don’t see how else we can interpret it...

More ‘Toyota in F1’ over page 35

Toyota in FI ir@l||irei

Finnishing time

‘II

MIMEWS; Were you expecting this?

MIKA SALO: Well, I was, actually, for a long time already. Since Sllverstone I was pretty sure that I wouldn't be here. It's just a feeling. There's nothing more than what the press release really says - we agreed together that there's no point for me to continue.

MN:So why don't you want to continue?

MS: No feeling. Basically no feeling any more, drive because I enjoy driving, and when I stop enjoying, I stop. This is the point.

MN: You've not enjoyed it because you don't see progress being made?

MS: I. don't want to go for reasons. It's in my contract that I can't go into any reasons. I'm being paid next year, so it's OK. MN: But you won't race?

MS: I don't say no, but my feeling is I won't drive FI any more. But you never know what happens.

Last week I still thought I might drive here, and now I'm without a drive. Maybe next week I'm In some other team. You never know, but It's very unlikely. I'm 35, and I can't just go and drive for another team just like that - it's not that simple.

At the moment I really feel that's it over, and I know what's going on. I'm happy to be without anything.

MN; Basically have you just not enjoyed this year?

MS: enjoyed it until, let's say, mid-season. Since then, it's been a bit of a struggle. We didn't improve the car as much as we should have done, and that's why we've fallen off the train completely. We were fine until, maybe, Silverstone. Not much has improved since Australia, and we need to improve more to be more successful.

MN: Can you see the team making progress in the next couple of years?

MS: Oh yeah. I think the car is much better for next year already. / But I think it will still be a couple of years before' -, there are good results. n

MN: From the outside it just seems as though’ you've been dropped, but it seems that you weren't enjoying it anyway...

MS: It's a both ways situation. They need to move . on and I wasn't totally happy.

MN: Any regrets, maybe about leaving Saube'r when you did?

MS: made some bad decisions, but at least been in FI for more than eight years and I had a good time. ’,^ -ADAM COOPER J V. n 3

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motorsport news

FEATURE

ONE MONTH

allanmcnish.gone MOTORSPORT NEWS: How much warning did you have of the announcement?

ALLAN McNISH: I didn't know they were going to announce it before Spa until just before it happened, so it was a little bit of a surprise in that respect.

MN: But you knew it was on the way?

AN: You obviously hear things and you get feelings for it. But I didn't know it was actually going to be made public.

MN: Presumably you didn't know for sure that they were dropping Mika as well?

AN: Again, you get feelings, but nothing concrete.

MN: You've been very philosophical about it, but you and Mika have worked so hard, especially last year. How much does it hurt?

AN: It's frustrating. That's clear. We knew we weren't really going to get much benefit out of it this year, because it was a case of trying to put the building blocks down for the future, so that side of it has been a little bit frustrating. But it's their prerogative.

MN: Where does it leave you now - are there opportunities, maybe for testing?

AN: There are. But I'm a racing driver, and I don't necessarily want to test.

MN: You've had a lot of unreliability and some first lap incidents - do you feel you didn't really get a fair chance?

AN: You've got to balance out what you can do with your team-mate, really. If you look at the number of races where we've both finished and who's been ahead and things like that then it's been a very strong year for me. But situations like Imola and Silverstone and Australia ... what can you do?

MN: You don't get a chance ...

AN: You don't get any chance. I think I proved in race two [Malaysia] that I could race and that I could overtake, and on pure speed could run in the points. Through not fault of mine, we lost that. But that's one of the learning parts of the team. These things happen in the pits. From a personal point of view. I'm satisfied with the year. There are 4 Sepiemlier 2002

always areas where you can improve, and that the evolution of a driver. But I'm basically satisfied with the year.

MN:Inevitably people are going to point to qualifying and say you only beat Mika once ...

AN: I've beaten Mika once, but on average I've been about a tenth behind him. But at the end of the day on paper if you want to look at statistics it doesn't necessarily look good.

If you want to be a little more real about the world, then a tenth a second is probably under a foot, and that doesn't necessarily make you a good driver or a bad driver. It seems to be more important how you qualify rather than how you actually do in a race, whereas as far as I'm concerned a race has points at the end of it.

MN: Do you think you've been the victim of a bit of a political situation within Toyota? Somebody somewhere just wanted changes...

AN: I think changes probably had to be made, whether Mika and I are victims of that I don't really know, I can't comment on it. But all I'll try to do between now and the end of the season and next year in the future is just do the best job that I can.

MN: Where does the team stand now compared to the start of the year - has there been progress?

AN: There are obviously areas where there has been progress, and areas where progress has still got to be made. It's going to be a long hard road from here for them. But that's always been known. It's no new situation in that respect.

MN: We get the impression that development has stopped to concentrate on next year. That doesn't really help you guys, does it?

AN: We're always trying to compete as much as we can, and we're certainly competitive wise we were in a stronger position at the start of the year than we are at the end. But again they've got to look at the overall picture.

- ADAM COOPER

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Porsche Museum

I

’M still dribbling. Even though there is only room for some 50 exhibits at the Porsche Museum in StuttgartZuffenhausen, there certainly is enough to make you jealous.

There are ex-race cars from here-to-there, race exhibits, road cars and so much more. It’s more than a museum; it’s a living diorama of Porsche history.

Amazingly though, the small space only allows a selection of the Porsche collection to be on display at any one time, with the rest in a secret storage warehouse somewhere in Germany.

Understandably, Wolfgang Karger, the Museum’s PR man, won’t tell me where it is, though the contents are simply priceless.

So here I am, in the heart of Porsche in Germany, but I’m still surrounded by Australians! There’s a group on tour that drop in while Aussie Porsche racer Alex Davison is giving me the guided tour. I hear one say, “unless Vem Schuppan’s 1983 Le Mans-winning 956 is here, I’m not bothering to look.”

He stays when he sees that. while the 956 isn’t here, there’s lots of other eye candy on offer.

irai^eiie ms a racing history none and that means ihere's plenty ef exhibits in its Museum in Stuttgart. tooit the teur

■V^en Motorsport News dropped in, there was still a mouth-watering collection, headed by the 1998 911 GTl which won Le Mans in the hands of Allan McNish, Laurent Aiello and Stephane Ortelli in 1998, left. You can tell it was McNish’s car just by trying to squeeze my 1.92metre frame into it...

Just wandering around, it’s easy to see that even from its beginnings as a company, Porsche has kept everything. There’s no cutting up old cars or selling ex-factory race cars off. Everything is kept.

Perhaps the headlining car is the awesome sight of the 1973 Porsche 917/30 Spyder raced in CanAm by the late Mark Donohue.

It dominated the class in a manner not even HRT could imagine. Its 1100 horsepower, 12cylinder, turbocharged engine propelled it to six out of eight wins in that year’s championship and an easy title win.

Naturally enough, the imles were changed so much for the next year that the 917 was instantly excluded so it went on and established a 355.85 km/h average speed around Talladega’s super speedway.

A true weapon.

- . ●»

38

Er, excuse me, but this is Mr. McNish’s car... Heh, heh, Motorsport News’s (Photo by Alex Davison, yep. the Porsche racer...)

2003 Le Mans challenger! Er, not quite...

motorsport news

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FEATURE

The 917 machine, made famous

by Steve McQueen’s ‘Le Mans’ movie, also is represented. The 1971 Longtail Coupe, which was driven by Gerard Larrousse and Vic Elford, reached a mere 386 km/h on the Mulsanne Straight.

This was a development on the ‘McQueen’car from 1970, with the longtail variant proving quicker through the air.

A Porsche Museum wouldn’t be a Porsche Museum without a 911

and it’s the 1973 Carrera RSR that is present on our visit. Although not an outright car,'it still finished fourth outright in the Le Mans 24 Hour in 1973.

Porsche stayed with the closed car theme into the late 1970s, and that produced another ofthe displaysthe 935/78 Coupe commonly referred to as‘Moby Dick’.

With 750 horsepower from its continued on page 40

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(Photos by Aaron Noonan) il

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Like brand new: The cockpit of the very first Porsche produced, above left, looks like it has just been made for the latest Hollywood blockbuster, while a 917 frame, above right, shows how far race car construction has come in the last 30 years. Porsche’s Indycar involvement is also featured, below right, while the FI car that it designed but never hit the tracks - the Cisitalia - bottom, is a reminder of the marque’s pioneering ways.

(Photos by Aaron Noonan)

continued from page 39 six-cylinder turbo motor, it was the forerunner to the ultra-successful 956 that carried the marque right through the 1980s. The enormous fuel consumption of the car meant it struggled at Le Mans and it was retired to the museum in 1978, though privateer teams pushed on with the car.

While there are no 956s on display during our visit, there’s plenty more to keep us entertained. While the Porsche Indycars(and March chassis) which took to the tracks in the late 1980s are in the secret “hideout’, an example ofits engine is.

So too is a frame for a 917. It’s mounted on the wall and instantly it’s easy to see how far race car technology and safety has come. No wonder racing was dangerous back then. Carbon fibre rules ...

The very first-ever Porsche is on display. It’s no mock-up or replica.

The 1948 "lype 356 Roadster is the real deal. It looks like it rolled off the production line yesterday. The stats board next to it shows how far the Porsche gang has come. 35 horsepower out of 113Icc, drum brakes and a top speed of 135 km/h - not exactly a Le Mans pace-setter of 2002...

Then there’s the plain interesting stuff. An open-wheeler is of particular attention. Further investigation reveals it to be Porsche Design No. 360 - the 1947/49 Cisitalia Grand Prix car.

After World War II ended, Turin businessman Pierro Dusio was looking at entering the world of Formula 1, but his still-growing company didn’t have the technological know-how to design and build it. So he turned to Porsche’s design office, which was given the contract to carry out the work under chief designer Karl Rabe. A water-cooled 12-cylinder, supercharged machine was produced which was well ahead of its Grand Prix rivals of the time.

It had an'engine located in the middle of its frame and even had 40

optional four-wheel-drive, with the driver able to pull a lever in the cockpit to select additional traction through the front wheels.

It pumped out 385hp from just 1493cc and it had chins wagging at the 1947 ’Turin Automobile Salon, but Dusio ran out of money and the car never started a race.

Among the other marvels in the Porsche collection that aren’t in the museum are the 1970 Le Manswinning 917. It was the first Porsche to win Le Mans and made a trip to Australia in 2000 to the ALMS Race of a Thousand Years in Adelaide. It’s priceless, moreso than so much of the rest of the collection, considering the compan/s loveaffair with Le Mans.

And in the ‘secret’ hideaway is the stillborn VIO prototype that Porsche were readying for a Le Mans assault in 1999. McNish and the late Bob Wollek tested the car but it never raced and has barely been photographed, with secrecy surrounding its every move.

Given how much I’ve found that Porsche loves its racing heritage during this museum visit, I can’t help but think that it’s being moved to somewhere else to be prepared for another tilt at Le Mans ...

In 1981

BEFORE the 956 took over as Porsche's Le Mans strikeweapon in 1982, the 936/81 / Spyder gave an , / open-top Porsche f one last win in 1981.

In the hands of Jacky Ickx and Derek Bell, the car featured an engine that was designed for a planned Porsche assault on the Indy 500, though the

800hp alcohol-fuelled powerplant was transformed into a enduro-spec 620hp and it propelled to duo to a crushing winning margin of 14 laps in the 30th anniversary of Porsche's first start at Le Mans.

It was Ickx's fifth win and Porsche's sixth overall, and the car, chassis 936 003, sits in the museum, having taken to the track at Le Mans in 2000. molorsport news

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INTERVIEW

How Now tow?

During a recent trip ‘home’former BTCC boss Alan Gow told PHIL BRANAGAN about Britain’s ‘Think Tank’, touring cars in China and managing F3star James Courtney

MOTORSPORT NEWS: Tell us about the 'Think Tank'thing happening in the UK. ALAN GOW: I am surprised you know about that!

In a nutshell, the MSA (Ed: Britain's CAMS) had a consultant do a review of its operations. Then they had a company come in and do some checks and balances and find out where they were going wrong.

As part of the strategic review, it was seen that the motorsport scene in the UK had no development structure about it. It had just grown organically, things had been happening and it was going fine.

But like most sports, motorsport needs to have a strategic development plan to take the sport forward.

So, as part of the recommendation, the MSA and the MIA (Motoring Industry Association) got together and said, 'Yes, we need strategic development group that will get together and move the sport forward'.

MN:So the development there has been a bit ad hoc, like it has been here.

AG: Absolutely. But not a bit ad hoc, very ad hoc!

People have done their own things - clubs, promoters, individuals. The MSA, like CAMS, have approved certain things as they have gone along. But whether that those things have been good for the overall development of the sport, or bad, is a different matter.

Motorsport in the UK just developed in that way, with no strategy behind it.

MN: The other thing we hear about A. Gow is the development of the Chinese Touring Car business. What is happening there?

AG: I was involved in that. We had the contract to develop a touring car championship in China, but one of the people in that group went bellyup and that put an end to all that.

MN:So that means you have more time on your hands now.

AG: Have I?

One shunt of the year. Before he went to Monza to do that test, he led the British F3 championship by 40 points. When he had to miss two races, he ended up nine points behind. It was an expensive shunt in a lot of ways.

But he put it together at Oulton Park and he is now back in the lead.

Flopefully, he will be alright, but it all came at the wrong time of the year.

MN: Do you keep an eye on what is happening in the British Touring Car Championship, even though you are no longer personally involved?

AG: Not really. Since I sold it, I have never been to a race and never seen a race on television.

Perversely, this strategy group I am chairing now will look at things like the BTCC and will put some plans forward to take strengthen that and take it forward.

MN: If we assume he will win that championship, what will he do next year?

AG: Any ideas?

He will have done two years in F3 and that is it. For next year, we are negotiating with three different (Formula One)teams regarding a testing contract; just testing with, hopefully, an option to race after that. And we are currently negotiating with a team to run him in Formula 3000 next year.

The ideal scenario for James is to do a full year in 3000s with a competitive team and do FI testing.

MN: So tell us about young James (Courtney, above) then.

AG: Young James is going all right again, after his 'hiccup'. There was another race meeting this weekend and he had a pole for one of the races.

People actually do not realise what a huge shunt he had at Monza. It was the biggest Formula

MN: What is the current feeling over there? Is it still preferred to have people racing every second weekend? Ant Davidson has done a good job with Minardi after having 'just' been BAR'S test driver.

AG: True, but the feeling is that you should keep racing, if just to keep your racing skills up. Not necessarily

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to win a championship, but just to keep racing. Davidson has been trying to get some races up; he was going to do Macau (F3). You need to keep sharp.

Formula 3000 is not necessarily a great stepping-stone. But it is a good way to learn the Grand Prix tracks for an FI tester and to stay race-sharp.

MN: Has James's confidence taken a knock after his two big (FI)crashes?

AG: No. Fie has had only two runs in the Jag this year and, unfortunately, they both resulted in horrific shunts.

In the first one, he had a rear wing failure while he was about to take (Silverstone's) Bridge (Corner) flatout. That concentrates the mind a bit ...

The Monza test was a make-good for that. He had a suspension failure and that was even worse. His confidence didn't take a knock, not at all, but he was shell-shocked at how badly injured he was at Monza.

It took him weeks and weeks to come right.

As I said, people do not really realise how big an accident it was.

Luciano Burti's accident (Ed: at Spa 12 months ago) was less than James's and he sat out the rest of the year. That was a shock to him; a wake-up call. But his confidence is fine and he proved that at Oulton Park.

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PHR Scuderia

PrancinA with i Tli@ Sandram 500 is an aadiraace pace jroii have to be areoaped fop. AMON MQNAN jaineil PHR Scuderia fop a day at Philiii isM on the testing trail - with a hpaml new 300 OT

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T'S a beautiful day. The sky is blue, the sheep are in the paddock alongside the main straight. It means one thing there's testing going on at Phillip Island.

All you can hear is the buzzing of Italian power in the shape of four 360 Ferraris from the PHR Scuderia outfit.

This is the lonely part of motor racing. The one where there is no crowd, no grid girls, pomp, ceremony or glitz. Just a few cars pounding around a track in search of vital tenths of seconds.

It’s been a long day already.

The crew were up at Bam and the transporter was rolling out of the team's Sunshine base at 6am and there's some 120-odd laps for each car to run at the Island, with all the same gear that is taken to a race taken to the test.

The Sandown 500 is next on the team's schedule and, although not a championship race, is an important one to win.

They did it in 2001, but the bar has been lifted in the category, and this test is about preparation for not just Sandown, but the Nations Cup round at Phillip Island two weeks after the enduro.

Today is the on-track debut of the team's new Ferrari 360 GT, the third of its type to be brought into the country. After landing in the country direct from ace Ferrari tuner Michelotto in Italy, it has undergone a few changes before driver John Bowe dives aboard.

"We made some 'PHR' adjustments," says team manager Paul Cruickshank, who worked with Bowe during the successful days of the Shell 46

Sierras in the late 1980s.

"There's a few changes to the dampers and suspension, some pick-up point changes, we fitted a radio and did a few little tweaks to the gearbox.

"We put some weight into it to bring it up to the Nations Cup weight and the PROCAR data logger as well as 'the John Bowe' seating position.

"That takes a week in itself ..."

For a category like Nations Cup, where there aren't that many full-time professional outfits, the number of days of testing that you can do is unlimited. PHR Scuderia will clock up some 15 days by the end of the year. Cruickshank suggests that two day race meetings and a 10 day test day limit is adequate.

Bowe spends day around in thethe new redbelting machine, while his Sandown co driver, Steve Beards, works himself into a pace in the black 360 GT that JB has used during most of the season before team co-owner Maher Algadri takes it for a whirl.

Maher emerges with a toothy grin from ear to ear. He loves it.

He can't find the words to describe it. As Bowe goes out, does a few laps, comes back in and repeats the process a few times, Algadri wanders over to the pit wall railing where team co-owner Tony Raftis is sitting.

"You see, he is trying very, very hard to beat my time ..." he smiles jokingly, the first to admit that Bowe is in another league.

"Testing at Phillip Island is more like the European circuits," says Bowe between stints and chatting with engineer Keith Weir and chief mechanic Phil Hughes.

"Their brilliantly smooth

Plotting and planning: Team manager Paul Cruickshank, above, will help lead PHR Scuderia into the Sandown 500 this weekend.

Bowe. right with engineer Keith Weir, .yjent the day in the teams new 360 GT.

surfaces are something we don't have as much of here, so we have to get the car to adapt to our conditions.

There's no worries about setup for Sandown. The team has been there before so will go to Springvale with a base set-up and tune it from there.

It's a good chance to test the team set-up for the enduro too.

Cruickshank will look after the two 360 GTs in the race, while Hayden Morris will look after the two 360 Modena Challenges,

.> Snap*

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new wing for the 360 GT has landed from Italy the morning of the test and, with Motorsport News's fearless reporter in the Tullamarine region, it gets a ride with MN to the Island. But it doesn't get bolted onto the car.

After testing some different suspension settings, there's a question over what to try next tyres or aerodynamics.

In the end the rubber wins out, for the team wants to test the Pirelli D3 if the same scenario raises its head at Sandown as was the case in 2001.

If Bowe has to get into the car and run to the end on the same tyres, they want to know how they perform. And they also try running the car out of fuel, just

to see how far the 100 litre fuel capacity will take it.

In fact, Pirelli's man in Oz, Rod Wilson is at the test as well, keeping an eye on how his rubber is doing.

"We're at literally every test day and while they're a paying customer, at the end of the day, they're a professional team who want the best tyre," he says.

"I'm not running my V8 BRute this year because I feel I have to be seen to be more proactive with the product the whole time.

"We have an advantage in that the tyres are literally engineered to the car to begin with." motorsport news

FEATURE

I l c. n w'aiwig in helon' left, for the first run ofthe new machine, while Sam Newman, bottom, shared his 360 Modena Challenge with Sandown co-driver.

Photos /i_r Aaron Sinman) Scot! Shearman.

>

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John Teulan has his car all to himself with Paul Morris unable to make the trek down from Queensland, while Sam Newman and Scott Shearman share Newman's 360 Modena Challenge.

Newman departs at 3pm, two hours before the circuit closes.

He's got things to do so Shearman, who has raced a Porsche all year, has more of a chance to get back into the swing of things Teulan's day comes to an early end with an ignition trigger failure but he's looking forward to having 'The Dude' back 4 September 2002

alongside him at Sandowr “"h he day’s at an end. The team

bDegins to pack away equipment as the 5pm circuit closing time arrives. Departures are made, though Bowe wanders over.

"Look, just don't print what times we were doing, eh?" he asks, keen for his rivals not to know what the Faz can do before they get to the Island.

Use that rear wing that I waited two and a half hours for and wedged into a Honda Integra Type-R and we'll think about It ...

PHR Scuderia

away from the track PHR Scuderia has a workshop that’s second-to-not-too-many-at-all. The Nations Cup’s leading team, and defending Sandown 500 winners, let AARON NOONAN into its Sunshine base in Victoria where it prepares its 360 GTs, 360 Modena Challenges and Ford Mustang Cobras

A bay to itself: Bowe's Nations Cup racer is readiedfor its next race.

(Photo hyAnnm Nmman}

TOWARDS the end of 2001, Sunshine was a buzzing place to be.

The Prancing Horse team's workshop was a happening place. There was a V8 Supercar program getting up and running in addition to the Ferrari Nations Cup and Ford Mustang GTP programs.

There were 30 people buzzing around, making the now-PHR Scuderia team one of the busiest in the business.

But due to a variety of reasons, the V8 program fell over, leaving a Ferrari program for 2002 with infrequent appearances by the Mustang, now in Nations Cup, for this

season. Tucked away in a corner is a road-going Ford Mustang Cobra RA, a reminder of the 25 cars that PHR were going to build with Ford, but never did.

Nevertheless, while the numbers of staff In the workshop are down, the facility is one that would have many V8 Supercar teams green (or should that be red?) with envy.

The amount of machinery in the workshop would make the most ardent Ferrari fan go weak at the knees. There's separate bays for the two 360 GTs (taking the space where the V8 Supercar used to be), and both the team's Mustangs have their own area. There's a total of motorsport news

FEATURE

The Opposition So who does PHR Scudeha have to beat to win back-to-back Sandown 500 titles?

2001 winners: PHR’s Tony Raftis celebrates with Tom Waring after Waring partnered John Bowe to victory in last year’s race.

(Photo by Dirk Klynsmith)

THIS year’s Sandown 500 is a historic one -it’s the 35th running of the endurance event.

While the field at the front in the Nations Cup class is a little thin, there’s some changes in the rules this year that make for an interesting contest.

Unlike last year, there are no compulsoiy pit stops for Nations Cup cars, meaning that cars will stop as often as they think they require. Expect one fuel stop and a

splash and dash for the top cars.

Permission from CAMS and PROCAR had been given for the Porsche GTS RS to run in the hands of Peter Floyd/Rod Wilson, though the FIA N-GT car won’t run, leaving Porsche, Chrysler and Ferrari to fight it out. Geoff Morgan has withdrawn his Viper, while the Lamborghini team’s participation was still in the air as we went to press.

-AARON NOONAN

35th SANDOWN 500 Entry List

Nations Cup - Group 1 Car No Drivers Crazy Johns Lamborghini Diablo GTR 2 Paul Stokell/Anthony Tratt Falken Porsche GT3 Cup 3 Peter Fitzgeraid/Matt Coleman VIP Pet Foods Porsche GT3 Cup 5 Tony Quinn/Jim Richards Russell Chrysler Viper ACR VI0 7 D'Arcy Russell/TBA QBE Porsche GTS Cup 8 John Smith/Wayne CooperAA/ayne Boatwright PHR Scuderia Ferrari 360 GT 88 Brad Jones/Maher Algadri PHR Scuderia Ferrari 360 GT 888 John Bowe/Steve Beards You want Ferrari 360 parts? PHR Scuderia can help! After all, they have (Photo hr Aiiroit /Wiotian) eight cars in the workshop ... eight 360 Modena Challenges in the shop and more parts stacked high behind them.

The Ferrari V8 powerplants are actually worked on by the team, unlike many other racing classes where it's a 'pack it in a box and send it back overseas' when something goes wrong.

At $120,000 a pop, they're expensive but have proven to be quite reliable, A brand new one sits near the team's massive transporter, ready to be called upon for duty in John Bowe's Nations Cup racer.

There's also an engine room for development and a shock room, and that's only part of the PHR 'empire'. The race team 4 September 2002

had actually moved to where the Prancing Horse Automobiles business is in Richmond, but space restrictions meant it was better for all to have the cars run from Sunshine, Away from the actual workshop, the rest of the facility is equally impressive and professional. The sheer investment in racing made by co-owners Tony Raftis and Maher Algadri is huge. Full office areas upstairs (including one for Motorsport Director Bowe) make the base more than just a workshop, but a full motorsport planning centre.

Not that JB's ever in the office that much ...

Nations Cup - Group 2 17 Sam Newman/Scott Shearman 54 John Teulan/Paul Morris

PHR Scuderia Ferrari 360 Challenge PHR Scuderia Ferrari 360 Challenge

GT-Performance Century Subaru WRX ST 1 Brett Peters/Gary Deane/Grant Denyer 18 Gary Young/Michael Brock 'Coopers Mitsubishi Lancer EVO VI Yamaha Tckford TE50 19 Trevor Haines/Bob Hughes/Ed Aitken Mitsubishi Electric Lancer EVO VI 23 Steve Knight/Andrew Taplin Delphi Mitsubishi Lancer EVO VII 34 Mark King/Geoff Full Castran Gilbert Lancer EVO VI 38 Dennis Gilbert/Trevor McGuinness Cohen HSVVX GTS 300kW 47 Mark Cohen/Phil Polites 55 Barrie Nesbitt/David Lawson/Mal Rose Mortgage House HSV VX GTS 300kW 57 Graham Alexander/John Woodberry/Barry Morcom Parts Plus Lancer EVO V Pulver Nissan 200SX Spec-R 96 Don Pulver/TBA Donut King Nissan 200SX Spec-R 200 Greg Haysom/Michael Turner/TBA 220 Tony Alford/RodneyWoodg/Michael Robinson Donut King Nissan 200SX Spec-R Donut King Nissan 200SX Spec-R 222 TBATTBA/TBA Floyd Motorsport HSV VX GTS 300kW 300 Peter Floyd/Rod Wilson GT-Production Osborne Motorsport Toyota MR-2 13 TBA/TBA Poolrite Honda S2000 28 Darren Palmer/Damien White Osborne Motorsport Toyota MR-2 31 TBA/TBA NEC Mitsubishi FTO V6 44 Chris Poulton/Richard Hing 62 TBA/TBA Wakeling and Solace Commodore VX SS V8 66 Andrew Haberfield/Klark Quinn/Mike Kilpatrick Nilsson Honda Integra Type-R 49

Belflian GP

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F there was one racetrack on which Michael Schumacher would like all Grands Prix to be held,it would have to be SpaFrancorchamps.

The Belgian Grand Piix, the scene of the Geraian’s GP debut in 1991 and his maiden win a year later, succumbed to the five-time World Champion again, who set a new record for the number of wins in a single-season.

Nigel Mansell, who had shared the record with Schumacher with nine wins, was on hand to see Kei-pen’s favourite son hit double figures and wipe the Brit’s name from the record books.

It was Schumacher’s seventh ‘win’ at the great Belgian track, one of which was taken away firom him for a technical infringement(his Benetton-Ford was disqualified in 1994 after failing post-race scrutineering for an over-worn ‘plank’).

It was certainly the German’s weekend. He took his first pole position at the famous circuit, chose the right Bridgestone tyre for the conditions and romped away from the rest of the pack in the race.

This time, team-mate Rubens Barrichello was not in the same league, the number two Ferrari driver picking a different tyre and paying the price with less speed and blistering. Such is Ferrari’s dominance at present, however, that Rubens was able to finish a comfortable second.

Juan Montoya collected the final podium place for Williams with a determined drive against the McLaren drivers. The Colombian ' was delighted with the result, which meant he only dropped two points to Rubens in the battle for second in the championship.

A superb front row qualifying 50

Show us your support!

The post-race celebrations under the podium are getting pretty risque. This young lady set out to upstage Miss Hungary (see last issue). and succeeded in proving that Spa has the best curves...

(Photo by suttori'images.com]

effort by Kimi Raikkonen indicated that McLaren would be the team to challenge Ferrari most closely, but team boss Ron Dennis blamed the cooler temperatures on race day for a drop in performance.

Raikkonen dropped spot in the dash to the firstacomer and lost another to Montoya when he pushed a bit too hard and had a huge tank-slapper.

He was lucky to survive that one,but an engine problem eventually ended his race while running fifth.

David Coulthard pushed Montoya hard throughout the race but was never in a position to seriously threaten him and settled for fourth place.

Ralf Schumacher had a race he would rather forget, admitting to a few mistakes that consigned him to fifth place at the end. He was passed by DC on the first lap, had a spin and finally messed up the second pit stop when he “pushed the wrong button on the steering wheel by mistake”.

By contrast, the sixth-placed team and driver were delighted with their weekend’s work, Eddie Ii-vine claiming both his and Jaguar’s first championship point since he finished third in Melbourne.

And it wasn’t a fluke, either, as Eddie put his troubled Cat eighth on the grid -the team’s best qualifying performance of the year.

Eddie also withstood a fair bit of

pressure at the end, being pursued to the flag by Mika Salo (Toyota) and Jacques Villeneuve(BARHonda).

He may have had a more comfortable time ifteam-mate Pedro de la Rosa’s Jag, which was running closely behind in seventh place, had not speared off the road at speed when the rear suspension broke. He was lucky not to hit anything solid in the resultant accident.

A spate of engine failures left plenty of long faces in the Honda and Renault garages.

After the Honda engines in the back of Oliver Panis’s BAR and Giancarlo Fisichella’s Jordan blew -

continued on page 54 motorsport news

Photo Dv sutton-jmages.com

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f there is a racing circuit in Heaven, if indeed there is a Heaven, it will be a track like Spa, although it is hard to imagine that Heaven will be run by the Belgians. still, this curious nation likes to get involved in international organisations so nothing is impossible. In part this is probably because their own country Is such a political mess.

Half the country speak French and the other half speak Flemish.

And they never agree on anything.

It is not so much a nation as a bureaucratic anomaly that was created at a quiet moment during a big international congress when someone pointed out that the area between France, Holland and Germany was a bit of a mess. So they called it Belgium, dredged up a spare monarch (Europe always has a few to spare) and then made jokes about it and fought their wars on Belgian soil.

One can (and does) write about Spa being the last of the great racing circuits. Eau Rouge is the greatest corner in modern motor racing, it is left-right-left, you arrive going downhill and then suddenly the tarmac soars up in front of you and as you pop over the top the foot has got to stay in because it is followed by a long, long drag uphill. If you mess up Eau Rouge, you mess up your lap. If you mess it up really badly, you can mess up your health.

Spa is a driver's circuit and so it is not a great surprise that Michael Schumacher has been the dominant force in recent years.

But, oddly, Schumacher had never been on pole position at Spa until Saturday afternoon.

“Until Thursday,” he said. “I had

never realised I had never won the pole here.” And so he did.

What was clear in the course of the first day of running was that Michelin seemed to have an advantage over Bridgestone, but so powerful is the current Ferrari package that the red cars can even overcome a tyre issue. The McLarens were quick, but Michael was stronger and even Bridgestone admitted it.

“Other than Ferrari,” said Hisao Suganuma, Bridgestone's F1 technical manager,“we are a little bit behind.”

Michelin nine cars in the top 12 and,had interestingly, this was achieved with drivers using the two different Michelins compounds available.

“It will be interesting to see what happens with the temperatures on Sunday,” said Michelin's Pierre Dupasquier.

By having a driver on each compound, McLaren hoped to cover all eventualities on Sunday.

It seemed to be a similar story at Ferrari, where Michael Schumacher went soft and Rubens Barrichello went hard. The result was that Michael was on pole but Barrichello was only third, six-tenths behind.

The Williams story was a bit more complicated as it was not clear which driver was using which Michelin compound. Ralf Schumacher was fourth fastest with Juan Pablo Montoya fifth, three-tenths down.

What was clear was that both were having trouble getting the tyres to get up to the right operating temperature. When they got there they were good, but on short qualifying bursts this was difficult to achieve. The team did not feel hugely confident for Sunday.

Seventh and tenth on the grid were the two Renaults, with Jarno Trulli the quicker of the two men by six-tenths. Once again the tyre issue was not clear, but Jenson Button was a little disappointed because a car spun in front of him on his fastest run and then an attempt to change the wing settings backfired and the car went slower.

Trulli, too, did not have a perfect session as he never got his final run because of a glitch in the pits.

The team chose not to explain itself so one must presume it was silly and embarrassing.

Eddie Irvine was eighth, which was quite a good effort from Jaguar Racing. In part this was due to a new front suspension, but motorsport news

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Another career box ticked: Michael Schumacher may have dominated racing at Spa. but this - incredibly - was hisfirst pole there.

Irvine reckoned that “all credit must go to Michelin”. Pedro de la Rosa was 11th, just a couple of tenths slower than Irvine and admitted that he had made some mistakes.

Toyota was happy be aout on a fast track again to after series of twiddly tracks and so Mika Salo, somewhat gutted after being told that his FI career will end at the end of the season, was ninth fastest.

“The low-speed circuits are behind us,” he said. “Now we can use the power of our engines. We are back in the race again!”

Allan McNish was six-tenths slower and complained about tyre pressures.

The best of the non-Ferrari Bridgestone runners was Jacques Villeneuve in 13th and he had had a very big spin which turned into a good save as he selected reverse while still on the move and was able to motor out of the gravel without taking too much on board the car.

Olivier Panis had the bad luck as usual and had his engine blow

(Photo by sullon-intages.com)

in a very smoky fashion. The spare car also had an engine problem so Olivier ended up only 15th.

The two Jordans were 14th and 16th and Giancarlo Fisichella's qualifying included a big spin and a switch to the spare as a result. Takuma Sato was three-tenths slower, complaining that his car lacked stability.

The Sauber performance was hideous with Felipe Massa 17th and Nick Heidfeld 18th, the two being victims of Bridgestone. One car had understeer, the other oversteer and never the twain did meet.

Minardi monopolised the back row of the grid as normal, but with the disappearance of Arrows on Friday evening this meant that Mark Webber and Anthony Davidson were 19th and 20th on the grid.

Webber was sixth-tenths ahead despite having had very few laps before the qualifying session began because of a string of different technical problems. In the circumstances, he pulled out an excellent time.

- Joe Saward

Commitment with a capital Corrrr: Eau Rouge is the best corner in Ft requiring total commitment by the drivers. Here Takuma Sato gets the Jordan-Honda out of shape at full noise...

Now in our day... German ex-F1 driver Hans Stuck (now racing GT cars) chats with former world champ Nigel Mansell, who visited the race to see Michael Schumacher break his record for the number of (Photos by suUon-images.com) wins in a single season.

r continued from page 51 the latter in most spectacular flame and metal belching fashion - there was nowhere to hide for Honda race manager Shuhei Nakamoto.

Especially after another three blow ups earlier in the weekend.

“It’s been the weekend from hell and I’m just glad it’s over,” said the crestfallen Nakamoto-san. “We’ve got a lot of work to do before Monza.”

Honda’s two other cars finished, Villeneuve(BAH)eighth and Takuma Sato (Jordan) 12th.

Villeneuve was furious about being delayed by the fuel-heavy Fisichella early in the race and said that he didn’t have enough power.

He added that he was not looking forward to Monza, another power circuit.

The Renault men were scratching their heads of the engine failures in their two cars, when ended a good run by Jarno Trulli in particular.

The Italian driver has been under

The Brit Pack: Scot David Coulthard and Irishman Eddie Irvine both made it into the points at Spa - in Eddie’s case, the first

pressure from the press in recent weeks, but he followed up a typically strong quahfying effort with a less typical race drive in which he was battling for a points finish.

Ferrari also lost an engine, but it was a customer unit in the back of

time since the opening round at Albert Park. There was much relief in the Jaguar camp.

(Photos by Marsh/Bothwell and sutton-images.com)

Filipe Massa’s Sauber. The Brazilian, who has been dumped by the team for 2003, had the better of team-mate Nick Heidfeld, who finished 10th, behind Allan McNish in the second Toyota.

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With both cars finishing, though just out of the points, team boss Ove Andersson was content. His cars have failed too often of late.

For once, neither Minardi made it to the finish. Mark Webber’s qualifying heroics came to nothing when the troublesome transmission again left him stranded early in the race.

The team was therefore relying on Anthony Davidson to bring home the bacon, but the young Brit thi-ew it away for the second time in two starts with a huge lose.

As ever, the start was crucial for everyone, but any challenge Michael Schumacher may have faced was dealt with quickly. rf^ualifying star Raikkonen V^made a mess of his getaway, zigging across the track to try and block the advancing Barrichello. The Brazilian made it safely through to second, leaving Kimi under challenge from the Williams pair of Montoya and Ralf Schiunacher.

Rubens, however, was no threat to Michael, who was more than 2.2s clear after a lap and fast becoming a red speck in the distance.

In the opening melee, Trulli wasted a marvellous start(he passed the row in front of him)and. trapped wide at La Source,found Coulthard slicing down his inside.

So the order as they came up through Eau Rouge was M. Schumacher, Barrichello, Raikkonen, Montoya, Coulthard and Ralf.

Behind them Jenson Button made a good start and was able to jump ahead of Mika Salo to take ninth. behind Trulli and Eddie Iivine.

There was further action towards the tail of the field but, rather surprisingly, there were no collisions and no controversies.

Pressing on: Mika Salo may have been devastated by being dropped by Toyota, prompting his decision to retire at the end of the season, but he drove a strong race to finish just outside the points.

Critical mass: The aii-important first corner and Schumi has already cleared out, leaving the rest to battle for position. Barrichello heads Raikkonen, Montoya, Half and Coulthard while Trulli can just be seen running wide.

Surprise podium: Juan Montoya was delighted to finish third ahead of the MeLarens.

(Photo by March/Bothwell)

4 September 2002

While Kimi had his big moment and was passed by Montoya, Michael went into a string offastest laps that built up his lead to nearly 14 seconds in 15 laps. To make matters worse, Barrichello was also able to clear away from Montoya and led the Colombian by 18.5 seconds after 15 laps.

That meant that Michael's lead over the best non-Feirari was an incredible half a minute. Two seconds a lap. And it continued after the first round of stops.

Michael allowed the gap to narrow to just 1.9 seconds at the flag, but Barrichello admitted that there was no way that he could have kept up with Michael and so the issue of(whisper it) team orders did not come up.

Michael was allowed to win again and break another record. One can only wonder if there will be any records left by the end ofthe season...

55

Belgian GP

What they said

Highlights from the post-race press copfereoce Q: You make it seem so easy, I'm sure it isn't.

MS: I just enjoyed myself and I just went flat out as much as I could until I had to drive a little bit within a certain pace for a couple of laps to save the tyres and then I just went for it and just had fun this afternoon.

Q: Did you warn Nigel Mansell before the start that he was probably going to have to say goodbye to his record of nine wins in a year?

MS: Obviously we were sharing it. We didn't talk much about it; he was just there to wish me luck. I thought that was very nice.

Q: Was the car absolutely perfect?

MS: Yuh, really good, really fantastic.

Q: Rubens, tell us about the start. Did Kimi go wide or did you just go down the inside?

What happened?

RB: I got a good jump and by the time he tried to close the door I was already there, so he was just clever not to close any more because we would have touched. I was alongside him by the first corner, so I was quite tight on the way in and on the way out there was no way for him to be in front, so that made my race in terms of a result.

Q: And after that?

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BELGIAN , e;^lDPRIX^ '

Winners are grinners: RB: After that, I Even Juan Montoya mean, we made a was happy to be up on lot of changes because this the podium with Michaei, Rubens and the fat morning I wasn't happy with the car bioke who’s always up on the old tyres. I there, too.(Ooh, sorry, was on different Ross.) tyres to Michael but (Photo by sutton-images.com) this time it was the the rest of the weekend and that wrong choice. was very good.

Still, I have to be glad about the result, I am quite positive Q: Michael, was this race about it, but this time I had too boring for you or do you just many blisters on the front tyres like driving alone? which were a little bit dodgy. But still they were better than our MS: It was a very nice race for opposition so we were able to me, honestly. It is not always drive home. But i had this kind of necessary to have a good feeling a problem so Michaei was in a in the car and today I had a very good feeling because the car different league today, he was simply felt perfect and I just driving away, there was no way I could catch him. enjoyed the driving itself.

Q; Juan Pablo, what happened when you overtook Raikkonen? I think he had a bit of a moment didn't he?

JPM: I think he was trying to keep up with Rubens and he was just sliding all over the place and he made a mistake. I was quite surprised I could keep up with him after their pace this morning and everything, we thought we were going to really struggle.

Actually, we did make some changes on the grid and it was probably the best change we made all weekend. It was amazing. We still had a bit of understeer, but it was so much more predictable to drive than

Q: So you prefer glory and wins to sporting competition?

MS: No. I didn't say that.

Q: Rubens, the best way to secure your second place in the championship was to have the victory. Was it not possible for you to ask Jean Todt to switch the place?

RB: There was never a chance to ask or do anything like that because I think Michael was so dominant at the weekend. It would have been too much to ask for us to change positions. I think he deserved today and in any case I open up another two points, and that is how it should be anyway.

BELGIAN GRAND PRli^ l f RACE RESULT - A4 LAPS

M. Schumacher 2 Barrichello Ib21m22.661s 3 Montoya :lh21m39.079s 4 Coulthard Ih21m39.992s 5 R. Schumacher Ih22ml7.074s 6 Irvine Ih22m38.004s 7 Saio Ih22ni38.443s 8 Vilieneuve Ih22m40.489s 9 McNish 43 taps; 10 Heidfeld 43 laps 11 Sato 43 laps 12 Panis 39 laps Engine

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R Rsichella R de (a Rosa R Massa R Raikkonen R Trulli R Davidson R Button R Webber

38 laps

Engine 37 laps’ Suspensioft^ 37 laps Engine 35 laps Engine35 laps Engine 17,laps ■Spun~off.

10 laps Engine 4 laps - Transmission

Fastest lap; M. Schumacher on lap 15, lm47.176s Drivers' points: M. Schumacher 123, Barrkhelk) 51, Montoya 44, R. Schumacher 42, CouKhard 37, Raikkonen 20, Button 11, HekKeM and riskhella 7, TniUi, Irvine and Massa 4, Vilieneuve 3, Webber, Frentzen, Sato and Pants 2.

Constnictois' points: Ferrari 173, WIIIiams4BMW 86.

McLaren/Mercedes 57, Renault 15, Sauber/Petronas 11, Jordan/Honda 7, BAR/Honda 5, Jaguar/Cosworth 4, Minardi/Asiatech, Toyota and Arrows/Cosworth 2.

Contact your state's karting office for details

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TTie Australian Karting 4 Association Inc For information about karting & how to gel started call

yourself? Attend a race meeting at your local club and talk to the drivers and crew. There are

NSW

02 9623 4351

VIC

03 9362 1144 www.vka.asn.au

QLD

07 3844 8507 www.okaqld.asn.au

Juniors* 12-16 years in TWO

TAS

03 6272 6848

weight divisions Seniors*Over 10 classes of

SA

08 8242 3513

WA

08 9409 4441

classes to suit almost everyone from 7 years to 77 +.

Midgets 7-11 years Rookies 10-12 years

varying power & driver

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weights to choose from.

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* Other more powerful classes available for experienced racers.

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moiorspon news

FORMULA ONE

WEBBS'S GP BIARY elalan BP

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pa is a really great circuit, so it's a big shame that Belgium turned out to be my shortest Grand Prix of the season.

A string of problems in practice and qualifying, primarily related to gearbox electronics, meant that come Sunday morning we'd only done 15 flying laps.

The warm-up was trouble-free, but four laps into the race I felt a dodgy shift from fifth to sixth and before the lap was out that became a box full of neutrals.

None of the failures were gearbox internals. It was a problem with auxiliary stuff, like potentiometers and software.

As has been the trend lately, we had made quite a few changes to the car for qualifying and the race and over those opening laps I'd felt we had the basis of a good race car.

I took it quite cautiously off the line and into La Source for the first time - so often you see front wings damaged or knocked off there - and was just settling in behind Panis when the day came to its premature end.

You can't expect to finish every race. We've had a very good finishing record this season - it's just a shame Spa was one of those few DNFs.

\\

Given our modest horsepower, we tend to run less wing... so qualifying was quite exciting.

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he signs weren't good on Friday. Everyone lost an hour of the first session - thanks to fog - and when it got going my car stopped out on the track. I almost made it back to the pits,but had to park it...

Early in the second session, the electronics conspired to lock out first gear. I was so desperate to get some laps in, we plugged on without it, but it ground to a halt as I left the pits.

Saturday saw a hydraulic failure stop the car In the first session and, in a bid to overcome it all, the team grafted the entire rear end off the T-car onto my race car. It might be a small team, but they don't give up easily at Minardi!

For qualifying, I needed to overcome an understeering tendency (I hate understeer!) and so we went heavier on the front springs and down on the bars, which was an improvement.

Given our modest horsepower, we tend to run-less wing than many others and so, unlike a lot of the opposition, we weren't 4 September 2002

“The subject of 2003 was on quite a few agendas over the weekend.

Given that I haven't actually signed anything yet, the fact that Toyota announced that not one but both its drivers will be replaced created a lot of interest among the media - with my name being one of those bandied about.

All I can say is what I've said all along - Flavio Briatore and Bruno Michel, who look after me in that area, are experienced, know what my views are, what my expectations are and what I want to achieve in my second year in F1.“ Realistically, as I write, there

Fightingform: But Mark did not get as many laps ofSpa as he would have (Photos by sutton-imagcs) liked due to transmission electronics gremlins. able to take Eau Rouge flat ... not quite. So qualifying was quite exciting ...

I got one reasonable run in and was out there for a final run right at the end when everyone else was. Barrichello and I had a 'mutual misunderstanding', which mucked up both of our laps, so that was that.

The reduced wing was costing us a bit too much time in the infield section, so for race day we put some back on and, in the warm-up, with a fair bit of fuel, it was quite good,

A

s I said, I like Spa and it's a shame things panned out the way they did. It really is fast down that hill into Eau Rouge in

an FI car and the force pushing you down into the seat at the bottom of the hill is significant.

Around the fast bits leading up to the Bus Stop, even we were showing something like 320-330kmh, You will have got some idea of it from what I hear were some good in-car segments during the broadcast, but, believe me, there's nothing like actually being there ...

are still probably three worthwhile seats that are yet to be settled for 2003 and beyond at Jaguar, Toyota and Jordan.

I would expect that my guys would be speaking to all of them right up until the time a decision is made, and they will go for whatever is best for me in the long term.

People forget that I'm still contracted primarily to Renault and, as Flavio runs that team, this may all be part of a bigger-picture long-term plan.

Either way, I have the confidence in them that the right option will be negotiated. I'm feeling that my immediate future might be sorted in the next couple of weeks ...

57

Loeb for Rally Oz Flying Frenchman heading to Perth

HOT on the tail of Sebastien Loeb's dominant win in Rallye Deutschland two weeks ago comes the news that Citroen are now confirmed on the entry list for Telstra Rally Australia.

The French team, who originally intended Deutschland to be the final of their scheduled seven WRC appearances this season, have added Australia to their calendar to get some extra gravel experience under their belt as they step up their preparations for a full assault on the series in 2003.

Citroen will enter one priority

car for the 28-year-old Frenchman, who will undertake a testing program in Australia prior to the November event.

"I have a great deal of respect for (Citroen Team Principal) Guy Frequelin," said Rally Australia Clerk of Course Garry Connelly.

"Fie has a very successful competition history and leads the team by example with his high level of professionalism. It is fantastic to see another of the world's major manufacturers supporting Telstra Rally Australia by coming to our event."

- MARK GLENDENNING

Photo by suttorv-ifnages.coml

McRae linked to Citroen for 2003 AS summer starts to wane in Europe,the other annual September event - the ColinMcRae-to-leave-Ford rumours - are starting to flower.

Following Ford Rally boss Malcolm Wilson’s recent comments that the manufacturer may release either McRae or Carlos Sainz to fund the development of the new Ford Focus, the Scot has commented that he is keeping his options open for 2003.

“I don’t want to turn down good offers while hanging on and hoping that Ford is going to come up with something,” McRae told Britain’s Motorsport News.“The problem is, at the moment there’s no commitment from Ford, that’s for sure. Until that happens, I don’t know. If a good offer comes along then obviously it would be seriously considered.

McRae, whose Ford contract expires at the end of the season, has long-maintained that he wants a competitive ride and that would appear to indicate that Citroen 58

I Separation anxiety: Will McRae and Wilson, above, split up? may be the favoured marque to secure his services. . “My primary reason for joining a new team is to ensure I had the car and package most likely to bring me another world title,” said McRae. “I don’t have too many more years to mount serious challenges in the World Championship and I have to make sure I have a car capable of taking on the Peugeots.”

More Sala

by JON THOMSON

NOT even a helicopter crash could stop this year’s Australia Safari and, while critics were questioning the move to NSW, the 2002 edition turned into one of the epic events in its 18year history.

Bruce Garland raced to a record fifth victory in his Holden Jackeroo, stamping his name on the winners trophy in the Auto division alongside his wins in 1996,‘99, 2000 and 2001.

On Day 3 the Clerk of Course’s helicopter backed into a tree while filming a stage near Griffith. Pilot Peter Bird brought the machine down safely with no injuries and immediately had a new chopper brought in so the event could continue.

Garland’s winning margin was 15m57s , huge when compared with the narrow margins in WRC events these days, but it represents just 0.1s per kilometre advantage over 3000 competitive kms to second placed auto driver Stephen Riley in his Mitsubishi Pajero.

Garland had a day five rollover in soft sand near White Cliffs caused him some worrying moments but it only cost him six minutes and he was never headed.

Behind Riley, Safari veteran and Moree Cotton farmer Peter Glennie grabbed third in his Toyota LandCruiser.

“Every Safari is tough because it’s relentless hard work for everyone involved,” said Garland.

“The thing that won it for us was being consistent every day and not making too many navigation mistakes. We had our share of dramas, like you always do, but we were able to keep pressing on,” he added KTM rider Andy Caldecott won his third successive Moto Division title. The 38-year-old South Australian finished 25m02s clear of Paul Sinderberry on a Honda, while KTM-mounted South African legend Alfie Cox took third .

“This year was the most satisfying of my three Safari wins, mainly because the field was topquality,” said Caldecott.

Peter Brock won the Production Car class finishing 11th outright in his standard Jackaroo despite being hampered by a back injury, suffered in a ‘Legends’go-kart race in Darwin the day before the event started.

And the Winners are: Caldecott, above, and the Garland/Suzuki Flolden Jackaroo, right, dominated the 2002 Safari.

Nathan Pretty and Jon Thomson took second in class to Brock despite suffering fuel problems in the rally.

Just 45 of the 70 starters made it to the finish.

Schw

motorsporl news

1*1 success

RALLY NEWS

Date change for Rally Oz?

Cost-cutting could see events moved

THERE could be a date change for Telstra Rally Australia next season.

WRC team owners and management are looking at ways of reducing the costs of competing in the 'fly-away' events, and one of the ways of doing this could be to dove-tail the long distance rounds.

While Rally Oz currently is scheduled four weeks after the preceding round in New Zealand, it means a return trip home to their teams' European bases before embarking on another round-the-world trip.

There is not expected to be any announcement for some time, as the WRC calendar must fit into the 'off' weekends for Formula One. An FI calendar is expected to be announced in October.

Cv

WRC telly to go live

irz in doubt ARMIN Schwarz is in doubt for the next round of the World Rally Championship in Sanremo.

The German, left, barrel-rolled his Hyundai Accent WRC I I at high-speed in Rally Deuchsland last week, fracturing his third and fourth rear left ribs.

He is currently undergoing chiropractic treatment and physiotherapy three times a day in an effort to be fit for the event. In addition, he is receiving magnetic field therapy once a day, the same treatment successfully used in treating Michael Schumacher's broken foot in 1999.

"I am receiving treatment every day and each day it is strengthening," said Schwarz from his home last week.

"I am hoping to start some light training by Friday this week on my home bike as the blood circulation will also help the healing process - I don't want to risk getting back into the car too soon."

Co-driver Manfred Hiemer is suffering from chest bruising from the incident.

Should Schwarz not be fit for this weekend's Sanremo event, the team is likely to run two cars for Freddy Loix and Juha Kankkunen.

4 September 2002

THE World Rally Championship could be going live.

WRC’s media rights owner International Sportsworld Communicators is planning to broadcast worldwide live coverage from up to six rounds of next year’s championship.

ISC boss David Richards said that the recent 100-year commercial agreement with motorsport’s governing body, the FIA, allows the sport’s promoters to commit to live TV coverage next year.

“Next year we have committed to showing live television coverage from six rounds ofthe World Rally

Championship,” said Richards.

“And it’s important that we get the formula just right.

“Live coverage is made successful by the quality of content that you supply to the producer and we’re working on elements like extra camera angles, split times, data from cars and Virtual Spectator graphics to keep the viewer entertained.”

But the timing of the international events means that TV coverage is unlikely to change in Australia. Network 10, which cun-ently shows highlights packages of each event, looks set to continue with that in 2003.

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59

Rally Deutschland

The French Kick Sebastien Loeb put his Monte Carlo disqualification behind him with a stunning win in Germany’s first-ever World Rally Championship event

I

T took Sebastien Loeb all of three stages to stamp his authority on Germany’s maiden round of the World Rally Championship.

After Richard Burns and Marcus Gronholm split the opening two stages, the French youngster took the lead on SS3 and blasted away into the ether, taking his first WRC victory by 14s after cruising(a relative term)the final day of the all-tarmac event.

“In the two first loops, we were a bit stressed”, explained Loeb.“At the end of the first one, we extended our lead of three seconds.

We knew then that without a mistake, we could win.

“And we did it. It’s a great feeling because this rally is close to my home, and all my friends were here. To be honest, I haven’t realised what’s happening yet but one thing I am sure of is that we have a fantastic car and a fantastic team. No doubt we will win other rallies ...”

The good news for the opposition is that Citroen is running a limited program,for the time being. Next year, it will be full steam ahead.

For the second time, though, Loeb looked like losing a win after the rally concluded. He overshot a junction on the St Wendel stage and Citroen claimed he rejoined the stage and continued, losing around 10 seconds. But Subaru asked to have his on-board TV footage examined to ensure that he didn’t simply take the wrong route.

In the end, the win stood.

The other event that Loeb lost’ after winning was the Monte Carlo, where he was oddly reinstated before being DQ’d.

Subaru’s Tommi Makinen was declared the winner, but not until the week following the event, costing them publicity opportunities for Tommi’s(then) \^C record-setting win.

The closest Loeb looked to having a problem with his Xsara was when a stone got caught in his steering on Day 2, but that was quickly dealt with, leaving him to score a 1-2-3 for the French teams.

Team-mate.Philipe Bugalski was 60

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less fortunate. He had an oil pipe come adrift on Day 2 while in third position and, even though he kept going, a small fire cooked his engine and that was that.

l inmirs:u [IREL

Glass of white, Nicky?

Colin McRae, below, tried hard before settling for fourth behind the French cars.

As usual,second Peugeot was a factor, taking and third for Burns and Gronholm respectively.

The Firm suffered gearbox problems on the first afternoon and lost almost 90s, and-was forced to

'

’Ands in the ’air: Sebastien Loeb and Daniel Elena, left, celebrate their first ‘official’ WRC win after a dominant performance on German tarmac, right.

(Photo by Bothwell Photographic)

Sr'

play catch-up after that. He aced the first three stages of Day 2, halving his gap to the leader by the end of the day.

Gronholm’s charge continued on Day 3 but the margin to the front two was too great, the championship leader settling for third behind a concilatory Burns; “I pushed as hard as I could today but there was nothing I could do about Sebastien,” the Briton admitted. “He put in a great drive.

I’m a bit disappointed not to have won my first event for Peugeot but I feel I’m on top of the car now and with Sanremo coming up then I’m pretty confident.”

c

olin McRae simply didn’t have enough speed and took fourth after a relatively trouble-free run, the Scot complaining that the roads did not allow him to build a rhythm. Safe in fourth, he settled for points. n Team-mate Markko Martin finished sixth, but only after two big scares on one stage. After squeezing past Ham Rovanpera’s crashed Peugeot(which went off after he had lost a rear wing!), Martin came within centimetres of hitting a deer; “Half a second later and it would have hit our windscreen. What an exciting morning!” the Estonian understated...

Carlos Sainz’s rally (and maybe championship hopes)ended with a whimper when his car failed to start for SSIO, leaving him frustrated.

“As I pressed the accelerator the car just stalled,” said Sainz.“We pushed it to the side of the road but it wouldn’t start again for a couple of minutes.”

He got going again but, with the time penalties he incurred, eighth place was his only reward.

Tarmac expert Bruno Thiry took a great fifth for Peugeot, the Belgian on-song and holding off Martin by 14s.

No great fan of tarmac, Makinen led home the Subaru challenge in

motorsport news

WORLD RALLY

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Sebastien Loeb/Daniel Elena Richard Burns/Robert Reid Marcus Gronholm/Timo Rautiainen Colin McRae/Nicky Grist Bruno Thiry/Stephane Prevot Markko Martin/Michael Park

F/F GB/GB Rn/Rn GB/GB B/B E/GB

Citroen Xsara T4 Peugeot 206 WRC Peugeot 206 WRC Ford Focus WRC Peugeot 206 WRC Ford Focus WRC

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Drivers' Championship: Gronholm 51, C. McRae 33, Burns 31, Sainz 26, Panizzi 21, Solberg 19, Loeb 18, Rouanpera 18, Makinen 15, Martin 10, Bugalski 7, Radstrom 4, A. McRae/Gardemeister/Thiry 2, Eriksson 1.

Manufacturers' Championship: Peugeot 115, Ford 81, Subaru 42, Skoda 8, Mitsubishi 8, Hyundai 6

WRC Round 10 Rally DeutsclHand seventh, having had problems with his Impreza. He had the handbrake come off in his hand,forcing him into some three-point turns on some of the tighter comers, costing time.

Team-mate Fetter Solberg promised much early until he hit a road marker on SSll and lost a wheel, Subara guest driver Archim Moertl did likewise and Armin ' Schwartz barrell-rolled his Hyundai in the trees on the preceding stage, suffering a fractured and dislocated rib while co-driver Manfred Hiemer had a badly bruised chest. Team-mate Freddy Loix,was already out after his Accent was withdrawn due to an oil leak.

4 September 2002

And another Ford Focus caught fire. Armin Kremer had his car burst into flames after an accident, causing SS17 to be halted for 20 minutes. Kremer and co-driver Dieter Schneppenheim emerged unhurt.

With Citroen ineligible for Manufacturers’ points, Peugeot’s sixth maximum from 10 events takes them closer to the title.

Another big win in Sanremo(with tarmac ace Gilles Panizzi returning) would leave Les Lions within five points of victory, with New Zealand and Perth beckoning.

McRae is still in touch in the Drivers’ Championship but it would be a brave thing to bet against those Peugeots ...

Underimprezed; Subaru had a tough rally. Solberg, above, lost a wheel.

61

IHRA Sunoco World Nationals

Clay:9 World:0

by DAVID OSTASZEWSKI

CLAY Millican and the Werner Enterprises Top Fuel team continued their dominance of IHRA Hooters Drag Racing Series action, as they roared to their ninth win on the season at the Sunoco World Nationals at Norwalk Raceway Park two weeks ago.

In a familiar finale, Millican lined up with Indianapolis trailer mogul Bruce Litton for the seventh time this year with the same results, Millican driving away to post a 4.75/309 to 4.82/302 victory.

Millican again ran the board in Top Fuel,low qualifying at 4.766 seconds, posting top speed at 316.52, and leaving with a perfect 27-0 record for the year in eliminations. The Mike Kloeber-led team trailered Roger Dean in round one with a 4.87/258 and dusted off Josh Starcher’s Wix dragster in the semis with a 4.83/308 In the hotly-contested Pro Mod category. Shannon Jenkins took his third victory from the last

four events.

Jenkins’nitrous ‘69 Iceman Camaro used a final round 6.29/222 to defeat Mitch Stott, who chattered the tyres. Jenkins’s road to victory came at the expense of Harold Martin, Tim McAmis, and Billes.

Stott made his way to the final

Ice Ice Baby: Shannon Jenkins, above, continued his good form by notching up another Pro Mod win in the ‘63 Iceman Camaro.

Doug deep: Doug Vancil, below, was the Nitro Harley king, downing Steve Stordeur in the final.

(Photos by David Ostaszewski)

with early round victories over Alan Pittman, brother Quain Stott, and Thomas Patterson.

Australian Troy Critchley qualified the Headhunter Corvette solidly into the show at 6.33/221, and managed a first round 6.40/222 win over Billy Harper. In round two, he faced Billes ‘53 Studebaker, and lost on a holeshot, 6.37/223 to 6.35/221.

Canada’s John Konigshofer made it two in a row as he wheeled his Mercury Cougar to the Pro Stock win. Konigshofer stopped first-time finalist, Elijah Morton, 6.63/209 to redlighting 6.73/204 and became only the second two-time winner in the category this season.

After winning the first five events of 2002, Jimmy Rector returned to the winners circle in Norwalk, defeating Mark Thomas

So close, yet so far: Litton has had a great year w/ith seven finals appearances - but has had the misfortune to do it when Millican is crushing all comers, in the Alcohol Funny Car final, 5.84/239 to a tyre-shaking 6.03/233. Rector had earlier taken wins from Joe Cornelia, Laurie Canister, and Fi'ed Tigges.

Five-time series champion, and Ohio’s largest dairy farmer, Thomas had his best outing of the year, putting his Ethanol Performs-backed Dodge Avenger into the show with a fourth best 5.88/237 and had defeated Terry McMillen, Terry Monroe, and Dale Brand enroute to the final round.

Doug Vancil defeated Steve Stordeur in the Nitro Harley final round. Vancil used a 6.64/184 for the win when Stordeur redlighted away a 6.37/212.

Magic Montecalvo

Photo by David Oslaszowski

JOHN Montecalvo defeated Doug Kirk in an ali-Chevrolet final round to win the Sunoco Race Fuels Pro Stock Shootout, held on Saturday during the IHRA Sunoco World Nationals.

Montecalvo’s Chevrolet Cavalier sped to a final round

6.67/207 to stop Kirk, who trailed at 6.70/207.

Montecalvo opened the day with a 6.66/207 win over former IHRA champ Chris Holbrook. He followed that win up with a 6.68/207 victory over last year’s Shootout winner, Carl Baker.

- DAVID OSTASZEWSKI molorsport news

DRAG RACING Drag briefs ELIMINATIONS for the 48th Mac Tools NHRA US Nationals were just getting underway as this issue of Motorsport News closed for press.

Australian Andrew Cowin had qualified the NY Yankees dragster fourth in the show, and looked set to meet Paul Romine in the opening round of eliminations.

Cory McClenathan was top qualifier in Top Fuel, with Tony Pedregon taking similar honours in Funny Car. Earlier, Ron Capps had notched up a surprise win in the Funny Car Budweiser Shootout.

A full report of the US Nationals will feature in the next issue.

i.

by MARK GLENDENNING SUPPORTERS for a new drag strip in Canberra took their campaign to the streets on August 20 when more than 1000 people and 400 vehicles staged a rally on the steps of the ACT Legislative Assembly building in the city centre.

Due to the sheer numbers involved, only the lead group were allowed into the Legislative Assembly area, with the rest of the protesters left scattered around the outskirts of the CBD. The gathering was addressed

5a

by Jim Read, ACT Motorsport Council chief Leon Nolan and Liberal members Greg Cornwall, Steve Pratt and Bill Stefaniak, while inside the building, CID spearhead Geoff Develin and ANDRA CEO Tony Thornton were holding talks with ACT Chief Minister Jon Stanhope and Minister for Police, Sport, and Tourism Ted Quinlan.

While pleased with the public show of support, Develin was disappointed with the outcom e of the "robust and sometimes heated" hour-long meeting.

"The overall purpose of the rally

EARES

was successful," said Develin.

"It showed a good degree of support for CID, but I was very disappointed that the ACT government didn't show any commitment."

For now, the CID supporters are being forced to sit back and wait while the government works towards identifying and procuring a site for the facility.

"It doesn't replace out infrastructure, but it's a good first step," Develin continued.

"We'll give it a couple of months and see what they come up with."

The final sitting of the ACT Legislative Assembly is scheduled for December 10, and pending a positive response from the government, a "far bigger" second rally has been pencilled in "to let the government know we are serious."

The previous Canberra International Dragway was closed in 1998 after lease agreements were disputed by the government.

n Team owner John Mitchell has parked his Montana Express Top Fuel dragster, leaving Australian David Grubnic without a ride.

Mitchell has been seif-funding the tracing operation, and without proper funding, elected to park the car prior to the Brainerd event two weeks ago.

Grubnic was 10th in the NHRA POWERade standings.

B Victor Bray reset both the elapsed time and top speed Palmyra Dragway track records two weeks ago on his way to winning a four-car Top Doorslammer challenge event.

Bray drove his Castrol Formula R Chevy to a 6.600 second pass at 210.52 mph to defeat Gary Phillips's 7.49 at 192.02 mph in his Studebaker in the final.

Victor had earlier defeated his son, and Castrol team-mate, Ben Bray in the opening race, and local driver Chris Manera's Lamborghini in the second round.

Victor and the Castrol Team are curently headlining a series of shows with the Castrol Formula R burnout car at Kalbar and Pittsworth in Queensland and then Eastern Creek Raceway in Sydney.

- DAVID OSTASZEWSKI / MARK GLENDENNING

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4 September 2002

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Adams wins!

WORLD Championship speedway made a triumphant return to the Ullevi Stadium in Gothenburg on Saturday night with Aussie Leigh Adams, above and right, winning his first Grand Prix.

The huge attendance, bigger than that which watched the last World Final held at Ullevi in 1991, roared their approval for Adams even though he beat home favourite Tony Rickardsson.

It was a superb Grand Prix, fitting for speedway's return to one of its former spritual homes. Adams, one of the most popular riders on the GP circuit, has been without a win in his eight seasons of racing but this month has

already proved special for him.

"It has been a fantastic few days for me. This time a week ago I was at the hospital with Kylie ... now I have a daughter and a GP victory," said Adams.

Rickardsson can take consolation from the fact that although he missed out on victory, neither Ryan Sullivan nor Jason Crump, his two nearest championship rivals, reached the Final.

Rickardsson now has a nine point lead over Sullivan, with Crump a further 15 behind and Adams in fourth in the series. With three rounds - in Poland, Denmark and Australia - still to go, the title race is still wide open.

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4

Vale; Graham Merrett THE sport of Sprintcar racing has iost car owner Graham Merrett after a iong battle with throat cancer.

Merrett, with his loyal band of helpers and gutsy driver Blair Jones, were the true battlers of Victorian Sprintcar racing, towing their pride and joy to the races on an open trailer behind a well-worn Chrysler Ute. Merrett spent his life around Speedway as a former driver before a road accident forced him to become an amputee.

Undaunted, Merrett did return to driving briefly before handing the reins over to his good friend John Nugent.

64

Beat

This pair were one of the front runners of the Victorian OvalTrack Sprintcar Club (VOSC) which was the forerunner to the 360 Sprintcar division that exists today.

Merrett and Nugent, with their Zig Zag Racing Team, won many features including State Eties in often outdated and underfunded equipment. Other drivers to steer Merrett machinery included veterans Ray Maloney and Jerry Brown.

With the demise of the VOSC/VOSA, Merrett and Blair teamed up using such vintage frames and a Singer and an Edmunds and more recently a Foster chassis.

- BRETT SWANSON

KRIKKE Motorsport is leaving nothing to chance for its hid on the 2002/2003 World Series Sprintcar title, with two complete Avenger chassis to be campaigned by new driver Robbie Farr.

The new gear has arrived at Erikke’s Bunbury race shop and is being readied for the opening round at Bunbury later this year.

“We talked at length about whether we’d stay with the Maxims or Eagles and in the end it was Robbie’s familiarity with the Avenger Chassis and his loyalty to Quick Race Parts (the Australian distributor for Avenger) that swayed us to go with Avengers for the Championship,” said Krikke.

The Toyota Genuine Parts team owner believes that Farr’s experience with the Avenger chassis from the last few seasons will more than make up for the team’s lack of experience with the chassis.

“What we lack in experience with that style chassis ourselves we’ll make up for with Robbie’s feedback and the support we get from Rob Richardson from Quick Race Parts.

‘We know the chassis works, both Brooke (Tatnell) and Robbie have been very fast in them.”

Another change to the team for the new season is a change in crew chief.

Chris Ackland is moving away from the sport to pursue working opportunities, leaving a spot to fill. In his place is Pete Caporn, who has worked with Randy Hannagan in the USA and Australia, HM Motorsport in WA under the eye of Kim Buswell and with Kendrick Racing.

“We’re disappointed to see Chris go because he was so great to race with, and his work ethic was the most disciplined I’d ever seen,” said Krikke.

‘We’re lucky to pick up Pete though and looking forward to working with him. Certainly he was Robbie’s first choice.”

The word is that Farr will run the Avengers under the WA#2 livery in mainly black and white colours. Interestingly there is no mention of Pennzoil among the team’s backers for this season, as was the case last season.

-AARON NOONAN motorsport news

SPEEDWAY

ly to Avenge

Control tyre regs stay for 2002/ 03 World Series

switches chassis with new driver Farr for 2002/03

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Ready to Avenge defeat: With Robbie Farr taking over from Skip Jackson, above, the Krikke team is leaving (Photo by Peter French) nothing to chance in a bid for World Series wins.

Jackson wins at Knoxville FOLLOWING on from their disappointing Knoxville Nationals result, the J.T.R. Team of Skip Jackson have bounced back to score their second win at Knoxville.

The win was a real boost for the team as it launched Jackson back to second in the track championship points chase with just one more race to run.

Terry McCarl leads the championship comfortably but

Jackson is locked in a tight battle with Ricky Logan.

Skip began the night timing 14th overall and, after starting third in his heat race, a second place finish put the #21 on the

Max Dumesny Motorsport Australian Distributors for-

Xoo$itr

n Speaking of Schatz, the American has added another trophy to his cabinet by becoming aggregate points winner in the Sprintcar division at Premier Speedway for the 2001/02 season.

Schatz, who recently finished second in the Knoxville Nationals, was the victor in this year's Grand Annual Sprintcar Classic and the Australia/America Challenge.

The North Dakota native won the aggregate from Simpson's John Vogels who had a consistent season at the Allansford venue with popular veteran driver Phil Johnson in third.

- GEOFF ROUIMDS/STAFF

2002 WORLD OF OUTLAWS SPRINTCAR SERIES Calostiga Speedway August 31

1. Tim Shaffer 2. Mark Kinser 3. Brad Furr 4. Sammy Swindell ^^ RACING TIRE 5. Danny Lasoski For more information on Hoosier Drag and Speedway Tyres call: 6. Craig Dollansky NSW:02 9679 1990 l Fax 02 9679 /187 7. Jac Haudenschild 8. Daryn Pittman VIC-03 9331 6477 l Fax 03 9331 7444 9. Jason Meyers SA:08 8332 0800 l Fax 08 8364 0296 10. Randy Hannagan 4 September 2002

inside the second row for the 20-lap A Feature.

Skip took his time to pick off Mike Reinke, Justin Henderson to be sitting in second place when the leader, Brent Antill blew a tyre with only three laps remaining.

"I wasn't going to catch Brent but it was good that we put ourselves in a position to grab the win if something like that were to happen which it did," said Skip.

WORLD Series Sprintcar organisers have decided to keep the Control Tyre regulation from last season for this season's racing schedule.

After considerable discussion with the contracted teams and drivers, American Racer and Hoosier tyres yyill remain the alternatives for teams in this year's championship.

"Out of the 16 teams we spoke with only two said they'd prefer to go back to a one compound/one make tyre rule," said David Lander.

"Most agreed that having two manufacturers to choose from regulated prices of the tyre and gave drivers a choice."

Max Dumesny, above, of course is the Hoosier distributor in Australia and won the World Series crown last year, while Donny Schatz finished second on American Racer rubber.

This year's schedule is relatively devoid of abrasive surfaces so organisers are hoping that the hardest (legal) compound available from each manufacturer will not often be required.

11. Stevie Smith 12. Steve Kinser 13. Donny Schatz 14. Brent Kaeding 15. P.J. Chesson 16. Robert Farr 17. Andy Forsberg 18. Danny Wood 19. Joey Saldana 20. Mike Goodman

Standingis to Aug 31

1.Steve Kinser ....

2.Joey Saldana . . .

3.Danny Lasoski . .

4.Craig Dollansky ..

5.Mark Kinser ....

6.Tim Shaffer 7.Donny Schatz ...

8.Brad Furr 9.Stevie Smith ....

10.Randy Hannagan

.8083 .7793 .7782 .7754 .7689 .7650 .7549 .7502 .7491 .7070

65

Rudd goes Wood IN somewhat of a surprise move, Ricky Rudd has elected not to drive for Ganassi Racing with his current > sponsor Texaco.

“Chip (Ganassi) and I could not agree on terms,” said Rudd.

“It wasn’t over money.”

■’35 Instead, as rumoured in the last issue of Motorsport News, he will pilot a Taurus for veteran team owners the Wood Brothers with sponsorship from Motorcraft.

Rudd’s deal is for three years, but as has been proved in the past, most contracts in NASCAR are not always worth the paper they are written on when it comes to crunch time.

“I’m committed to three years, I hope,” remarked Rudd.

Rudd has 23 wins during his 28 year Cup career and says

17

S'! joining the Woods was not all I about money, although rumours ? to the contrary are circulating ^ and the bottom line is Ford did g not want to lose Rudd from their *■ roster.

“It was a really tough decision for me to make,” continued Rudd. ‘There were a lot of really great race teams that came to me. It was probably the toughest decision I’ve ever had to make in my life.”

Motorcraft’s deal with the Woods was also re-upped for three years and talk about Rudd’s possible retirement have been squashed.

“I thought about It during the winter, after my back surgery,” said Rudd. “I want to go out of here on top of my game.”

- MARTIN D CLARK

Gordon again

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Make those good adjustments: Gordon pits and ‘The Rainbow Warriors’ go to work,

by MARTIN D CLARK FRESH from his Bristol victory, Jeff Gordon was on a roll at Darlington on Sunday to win his fifth Southern 500.

Gordon now equals a record held hy Gale Yarborough for wins in the autumn race.

“What’s going on?” exclaimed Gordon in victory lane.

“These guys have come alive. We are coming up to tracks that suit us, we didn’t capitalise at Bristol or Darlington the first time around, but we sure are making up for it right now.”

Following a two hour rain delay and 19 laps of caution laps to further dry the track before the green flag, Gordon started the race third in points order due to a qualifying rain-out.

The Hendrick crew overcame a bungled pit stop on lap 191 when a 68

wheel nut got stuck in the left front air gun and a tight car early in the race, that the team kept working on.

He rallied back on the track and on pit road to take the lead on lap 240 and never looked back, holding off rookie Ryan Newman for the win by over two seconds and grabbing those important points for leading the most laps.

“The car was real tight at the beginning of the race and in traffic I was awful,” continued Gordon, “but once I got to third, I just blew by those guys and the pit stops kept me out front and in clean air, they made some great adjustments.”

Mark Martin slipped by Sterling Marlin for the lead on the first lap of green flag racing before Bill Elliott took up the running.

Ricky Craven’s PPI Ford was first off pit road during one of the nine cautions, but Saturday’s Busch

(Photo by Marlin D Clark)

Series winner, Jeff Burton, slipped under him on lap 129 of 367.

John Andretti blew the engine on his Petty Dodge, the trail of oil sending Kevin Harvick into the wall hard, with Burton, Steve Park, Mike Skinner and Jerry Nadeau all receiving damage of various levels.

Gordon’s 60th win moved him to second in points, trailing leader Marlin by 91 points.

“We’re gaining on him,” quipped Gordon. “It’s not easy to gain on Sterling, he’s consistent, we’re doing all we can.”

Eusqvama

SBB

NASCA.R Win StQ

Final result; J Gordon (Chev), Newman (Ford), Elliott (Dodge), IVlarlin (Dodge), Jarrett (Ford), W Burton (Dodge), Busch (Ford), Stewart (Pontiac), Johnson (Chev), J Burton (Ford).

Points standings; Marlin 3405, Gordon 3314, Martin 3280, Stewart 3243, Johnson 3238, R Wallace 3175, Elliott 3140, Rudd 3045, Jarrett 3024, Kenseth 3011.

motorsport news

tol bonanza

NASCAR Changing to a Pontiac Grand Prix

;back into Victory Lane after 31 races away

by MARTIN D CLARK FOLLOWING a 31-race drought,Jeff Gordon returned to victory lane with a hang for at the half-mile Bristol oval on August 24,shoving leader Rusty Wallace aside for the win with two laps to go in a race fiUed with hot tempers and controversy.

“It’s Bristol and I was real hungry,” said Gordon.

“It might be a little controversial, but I don’t care. Once he shut the door on me I said,‘OK it’s fair game,’he didn’t hit anything, so I though it was proper, I hope he’ll understand tomorrow!”

Wallace was less than amused as he was trying to end a 50-race victory slump.

This is more like it: Gordon leads Earnhardt Jr, above, and “I got nailed in the rear going into three and it knocked me out of the groove,” he said. celebrated with crew chief Robbie Loomis in Victory Lane, left, “I didn’t expect the hit. I still can’t believe for the first time in 31 races. The half-mile of fun, below, had its he did it, he did the same thing in ’97.1 tried (Photos by Marlin D Clark and Sutton-lmages) share of carnage as well, bottom. to knock the hell out of him, but I just couldn’t catch him.”

A race-record 15 caution flags uncoiled, all but one for wrecks, which led to many hand signals between drivers and saw Ward Burton throwing his shoe heat shields at Dale Earnhardt Jr. Gordon won the pole, but Junior led the first tour and headed the pack until Gordon ->i» 1 and Wallace finally hit the front, a cycle of late race cautions and pit stops saw the pair mired back in traffic and seemingly out of contention.

Robby Gordon received a two lap penalty when he punted Jimmie Johnson on a restart, sending the lapped Johnson and fellow points contender Mark Martin in for repairs. Johnson used his middle finger to show his displeasure at Robby.

Johnson commented,“It’s just typical Robby Gordon, he’s never wrong, I just know coming to the green he had my rear wheels ^ \ off the ground.”

Hut Stricklin gave the thumbs up to Jeremy Mayfield for putting him in the wall, ^^

T

¥\IV¥\Cr while previous Bristol winner Elliott Sadler w*l\lrvV thinks Joe Nemechek needs a new brain after he deposited Sadler in the wall.

Sterling Marlin finished seventh while his contenders had trouble, but even Marlin’s night wasn’t without incident. He drove from his pit with the jack still under the car and was sent to the back of the pack by NASGAR,eventually overcoming the deficit.

A mention has to go to Mike Wallace, who brought the A.J. Foyt Pontiac home a creditable 10th, the team’s third top 10 in history. Both Yates cars of Dale Jarrett, who was involved in an incident, and Ricky Rudd who destroyed an engine, were out of contention.

Final result^ J Gordon(Chev),R Wallace (Ford), Earnhardt Jr.(Chev),Harvick(Chev),Kenseth(Ford), Busch(Ford),Marlin (Dodge),Spencer(Dodge),B Labonte(Pontiac),Mike Wallace (Pontiac).

4 September 2002

MORGAN-McCLURE Motorsport's Kodak cars will be sporting the Pontiac badge next season as they become the latest team to switch from Ford to GM. The marque is attempting to replace the two teams lost by the switch of Joe Gibbs Racing to Chev, Ricky Craven and PPI Motorsports will also swap to Pontiac, above. n Chevrolet and Pontiac teams ran the same front spoiler configuration at Darlington they ran in Michigan earlier in August. NASCAR will decide during the week if the rule change will stay in place for later races starting with Richmond on September 7. n NASCAR has approved the 2003 re-styling of the Chev Monte Carlo for use next year. Body templates will soon be issued, This comes after the sanctioning body okayed the new Pontiac Grand Prix recently. n Andy Petree announced at Darlington that he will not form a partnership with Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones for Petree's Winston Cup team.

The operation was rumoured to be switching to Ford, but they will now stay with GM,although a switch from Chev to Pontiac could be in order.

Backers Square D and Schneider Electric will return in 2003, but Petree is searching for additional financial support.

Bobby Hamilton has made it known he will not drive for Petree in 2003 although he has nothing signed at this point with any other team. n Ward Burton has been fined $10,000 by NASCAR for his actions during the Bristol event where he threw his shoe heat shields at Dale Earnhardt Jr, after 'Little E' had spun him. Burton also had some strong words post-race, which NASCAR didn't take kindly to. n As reported recently in Motorsport News, Kenny Wallace will join Bill Davis Racing and run alongside Ward Burton for a two-year period with backing from Stacker 2 fat burner. The deal was for the 2003 season, but Wallace has joined the team early to run the Hill Bros Coffee-backed Intrepid and was in the car at Darlington in place of Hut Stricklin, who has been released.

- MARTIN D CLARK

67

Historic Grand Prix^

by MARK GLENDENNING

N

A great combination: Some of FI’s greatest machinery winds its way along one of modern racing’s greatest circuits, above.

Along for the ride: if you’ve ever wondered what it’s iike to drive an exRonnie Peterson 1976 March 761.below, weii now you know ...

O, your eyes are not deceiving you. Those are Formula One cars, and that is Road America that they're racing on.

Ever-tightening restrictions upon designers has seen the evolution of modern Grand Prix cars converging toward the same point. While FI design once drew upon varying degrees of skill, technology, black magic and guesswork, that has all been replaced by ultra-sophisticated design teams utilising wind tunnels, CAD systems, and simulations.

Nostalgia for the 'good old days' is alive and well, but while most are content to shell out for a book about the glory days of Lotus, there are a bunch of enthusiasts in the US who have taken things several steps further.

Based in California, Historic Grand Prix has assembled a staggering collection of FI machinery, mostly of the 19661983 vintage. Musuem pieces?

Absolutely- but the only time these cars form a static display is when they are sitting in the paddock.

Like the Thoroughbred GP series in the UK, HGP is about racing.

I The line-up boasts a roster of around 50 cars, ranging from a 1967 McLaren MSA that was once driven by Bruce McLaren himself, to an ex-Michele Alboreto 1985 Tyrrell 012.

The heritage and monetary value of the field is beyond comprehension.

Most of the drivers are the guys lucky enough to own the cars, but there are a few familiar names in the field. Former Lotus FI driver Pete Lovely is a regular, and Bobby Rahal was also on hand at the latest round at Road America last month.

The last of HGP's four-race 2002 series is later this month, when they support the US GP at Indianapolis.

And yes, an Australian visit is possibly on the cards - if the cost of bringing the world's fastest motorsport museum to our shores can be overcome.

An ex-Clark/Hill Lotus 49 at Phillip Island? Man, I'd like to see that...

motorsport news

K.t '■

still got it: Bobby Rahal shows the way in a 1977 McLaren M23, above, while Phil Harris swaps his Lotus 79 for some Formula 2 seat time, right.

{Pholos by David Huslon)

Good day for the Macs: A McLaren M19A/C leads through the Carousel, below.

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4 September 2002

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Leyburn's grand prize

IT was heartening to see that the 1949 Australian Grand Prix winner still owned his trophy.

At 83 years of age, John Crouch found the experience overwhelming when mingling with some of the 10,000 race fans at the recent Leyburn Sprints, "I cannot believe the attention I am getting after more than 50 years since the win," he said.

The organising committee, led by Mike Collins, was not only fortunate to obtain the company of the first placegetter, but also the man who came third, Arthur Rizzo. Coupled with the car which came second at the 1949 AGP, the Laddie Gordon MGTC Special, it was a feast of nostalgia.

This car competed in the 'Sprint around the Houses' by the current owner, Peter Gostelow of Victoria. As expected, he won his class.

Up against all classes of cars, it was a day for the very nimble Clubmans. Queenslander Ray Vandersee in his Van Demon Westfjeld was the outright winner, while Chris Barry from NSW in his PRB Clubman, took second.

- MARSHALL CASS

Back after S3 years: The MG TC Special, above, that was dri en to second place in the 1949 AGP by Ray Gordon was among the special guests during the weekend.

All crossed up:Incidents such as this one, below, suggested that you don’t need a lot ofrubber on the road to throw up a decent amount of tyre smoke. \ «

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“OK, tell me the truth. Were you using team orders?” 1949 AGP winner John Crouch, left, catches up with third place-getter Arthur Rizzo at Leyburn. The trophyfrom the race, which Crouch won in a Delahaye, sits between them. iPhoios by Marshall Cass)

The way it was Charles William Weir VALE:

CHARLES Weir(1922-2002) was a stalwart of the Light Car Club of Australia and served as president during 1968 and ’69, vicepresident in 1970, and treasurer from 1971 to ’74.

His terms of office took place during a very busy and successful era of the LCCA. In this time it organised the 33rd Australian Grand Prix plus two national meetings at Sandown, built the Lakeland Hillclimb, and promoted the BP Rally, the Clubman Trials, the Experts and Alpine Trials, as well as economy runs and gymkhanas.

Charles was active in the liaison with the Ballarat and Bendigo branches and in establishing the Junior LCCA. He was also instrumental in raising $50,000 for the LCCA Trust.

An accountant by profession, Charles Weir’s experience was also sought by CAMS. He became chairman of the CAMS Finance Committee in 1976 and was duly awarded honorary life membership of CAMS for services rendered.

In more recent times, Charles was a driving force behind the Olds and Bolds Christmas luncheons, an annual gathering of past LCCA members, the success of which can be measured by the fact that almost 100 people now attend.

Charles will be sadly missed by this group, his professional colleagues and many friends in motor sport. We extend our condolences, and also to his sons Greg and Trevor and to his daughter Leonie.

- BRIAN REED 70

MOTORSTPORTS enthusiast and writer Barry Green has produced a new book exploring Grand Prix racing at Albert park during the 1950s.

He traces all meetings from 1953 to ’58 and includes well researched thumbnail sketches of the leading Australian drivers of the day as well as the top overseas stars who raced at Albert Park Stirling Moss, Jean Behra, Peter Whitehead, Ken Wharton and Reg Parnell.

Green is the first to admit that his third book is far from a glossy, high quality coffee table production, but it’s a long overdue, easy read about a very important era ofAustralian motor sport.

The last hurrah at the Park was a double header, with the Victorian Tourist Trophy meeting on November 23,1958,followed by the Melbourne Grand Prix on the 30th. Moss dominated the Melbourne GP ahead of Brabham,

By Barry Groon

GLORY DAYS and the final meeting signalled the demise of the front engined race cars and the arrival of the new age, rear-engined Coopers.

‘Glory Days - Albert Park 1953 - 58’is published by B.W. Green, and should be available in specialist bookshops. RRP. $36.

- BRIAN REED motorspon news

HISTORICS Briefly historic

3 more sleeps!

THE HSRCA has'the big one' coming up on September 7-8 at Eastern Creek featuring an impressive gathering of Group N touring cars.

All up, a total of 350 racing, sports and touring cars have been entered for the meeting.

A major highlight will be the largest collection of Rennmax racing cars ever assembled in a tribute to their constructor Bob Britton. This modest Sydneysider built high quality sports and racing cars during the 1960s and 1970s, including Australian championship-winning Gold Star and Formula 2 cars.

The other feature of the weekend will be the Historic Touring Car Cup. EHs, XU-ls and Monaros will be pitted against Cortinas, Mustangs and GTHOs. The HSRCA will also host Round 5 of the Australian Formula Junior Championship on its 33event program.

The oldest car competing on September 7-8 is a 1927 1 lOOcc Salmson, and the most modern is a turbocharged 1985 Formula One Ferrari. Most valuable car could be the 1967 FI Repco Brabham V8 in which Denny Hulme won the 1967 World Drivers' title.

First race on Saturday, Sept. 7 starts at 1pm, and the program gets underway on Sunday 8 at 9am.

Admission is $10 on Saturday and $20 for Sunday.

For further information phone (02) 9489 8164.

- BRIAN REED

i To be Frank: Frank Gardner doing the business ih Bob Jane’s V8n powered Torana Sports Sedan at Calder in the early 1970s.

c

ALDER Motor Raceway celebrates its 40th anniversary this year.

Back in 1961, Melbourne master builder Jim Houlahan owned a piece ofland at the 16-mile post on the Calder Highway at Keilor where he had plans to establish a car wrecking yard.

One day, Houlahan called in on local racing driver Pat Hawthorn at his service station in Clayton and asked Hawthorn if he might be interested in helping establish the business.

Hawthorn, who raced a car powered by a Lycoming aircraft engine, had for several years tossed around the idea of establishing a new circuit in Victoria based on an American model- a short, one-mile track capable of accomodating 50,000 spectators and designed in such a way so that fans could see all the action. The program was to consist of short races and plenty of them.

The pair drove out to inspect the site, and Hawthorn was able to convince Houlahan that a motor racing circuit would be a far better proposition than a wrecking yard.

A private company was set up

headed by Melbourne bookmaker John Corr. In moved the bulldozers, and four months later, on Sunday, January 14,1962,the new venue (costing 100,000 pounds) was open for business with Pat Hawthorn as promotor and director.

126 entries were received for the inaugural meeting including Bib Stillwell(Cooper Monaco), Bill Patterson (Cooper Climax), Stan Jones (Cooper Climax), Bob Jane (Maserati) and George Spanos (Elfin GTS.)Other leading competitors were Barry Stilo, Peter Manton, Norm Beechey, John Roxburgh, Tom Wilson and Biyan Thomson.

Nine Sunday meetings were planned for the year, including three for motorcycles, and the organisers also had ideas of racing speedboats later in the year on the lake inside the circuit.

Calder Motor Raceway was away to a flying start- there was even a helicopter service on the day from the city heliport - and in it’s heyday it was one of Australia’s most popular motor sports venues.

- BRIAN REED

CO

THE Victorian Historic Racing .

Register wiil hold a special event for member and guests at their Box Hiil clubrooms on Friday, November 22 in honour of hiiiciimb legend Bruce Walton.

The Melbourne ace, who won the Australian Hiiiciimb Championship on six occasions between 1958 and 1964, will speak and show rare films of the events and cars of that era.

Several other hiiiciimb champions along with members of other motor sports clubs will be invited to celebrate the occasion, and the VHRR is also hoping to have a display of hiiiciimb cars outside the clubrooms on the night, it will be a full-on weekend for hiiiciimb fans, with the 11th Rob Roy Historic and Classic Hiiiciimb to follow on Sunday, November 24. n The North Shore Sporting Car Club celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, and it is holding a special dinner to mark the occasion.

The NSSCC 50th Anniversary Dinner will take place at Curzon Hall, Marsfield on November 30.

Tickets cost $50 per head, and there will be a 'recovery barbeque' the next day.

Places are limited so get in quick!

For more information, contact Kym Peck on 02 9684 2373 or email ckpeck@optusnet.com.au. n Kiwi FI fans, time to get excited. Murray Walker, the man known as the Voice of Formula One, will be making his first visit to New Zealand in October to promote his new autobiography.

Murray will be appearing at ticketonly lunches in Auckland on October 7 and 8, and will make his only South Island appearance at a lunch at Twiggers, Addington Raceway, in Christchurch on October 10.

Tickets are $100, with tables of eight for $800. Cheques to Eoin Young, PO Box 22-642, Christchurch.

GO GOGOI - BRIAN REED/STAFF

I I I n n I n I n I I -^ ^09

.com.au

Click onto our website, www.autopics.com.au to see a photographic history of Australian motor racing from 1964 L: through to the current day V8 Supercars. Our site has around 1200 photos from our collection of over 250,000, taken by David Blanch and Lance J. Ruting. These rare photographs are individually printed from original negatives on professional photographic paper.

Autopics RO. Box 1215, Ballina NSW 2478 Ph/Fax (02) 6686 9680 Email :info@autopics.com.au^ www.autopics.com.au

i-i-i

4 Sepiember 2002

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Long time coming

1

by MARK WICKS

ANDREW Tomlinson has finally won a round of the APS CIK Championship Series, the Sydney driver splashing his way to the Formula A victory in the third round of the cham pionship at Raleigh, NSW,on August 25.

Tomlinson, who won the APS Pro-Nats last year, has regularly been quick in Formula A, but reliability problems have ruined a potential victory on more than one occasion. Tomlinson’s Top Kart team were leaving no stone unturned, landing a new design chassis for the meeting and testing both Dunlop and Bridgestone wet weather t3rres in practice.

After proving fast in Saturday’s dry heats, they(along with many of the other teams)reverted to their ‘wet’ kart for Sunday when the heavens re-opened.

Fellow Top Kart driver Troy Hunt qualified fastest before Adam Graham (Arrow) took a couple of heat wins. Graham showed his consistency to run second in the final ahead of New Zealand’s Wade Cunningham (CRG), Geoff Grant (Top Kart) and Matthew Wall (Tony Kart).

Ryal Harris (Azzurro) pipped the master qualifier of 2002, Glenn Powles (Trulli), to snatch pole in Intercontinental A. Harris subsequently drove to a sensible race plan and ran at the front all weekend, taking a heat win, as did Tim Ball(from grid 15!). It was a shame Harris’ best showing of the season didn’t result in victory, that claim going to fellow Azzurro driver Cameron Farr. In only his third CIK event, the rookie pipped Harris in the closing stages of the final.

Third went to another of the CRG mounted Cunningham family, Wade’s younger brother Mitchell taking the bottom step of the podium ahead of the Tecno’s Of Karl Reindler and Timm Weitzel.

The return to form for Top Kart was confirmed when the brand took a one-two in the Junior ICA class. Benjamin Chong Sun qualified fastest and scored a well earned victory,over team-mate Nick Simmons.

The meeting started badly for Simmons, qualifying poorly in the 72

Top Kart, top result: Despite a number of competitive outings, it was not until Raleigh that Andrew Tomilson managed to get an APS CIK win in the bag.

(Photos by Sean Henshelwood) dry, but the slick track on Sunday saw him claw back into contention.

Paul Laskazeski was next for BRM,having taken a heat win.

Blake Mils(Kosmic) was another to recover from a shocking qualifying to take fourth in front of Ashley Walsh (Tony Kart) while Andrew Thompson (Birel) experienced trouble and fell out of contention.

The status quo of the support classes from the open rounds was shattered, Nick Agland(CRG)and Darren Clee(Benson)taking their first wins in Intercontinental C and Biland 250 respectively.

William Yarwood (Arrow) and Tyson Pearce(Omega)followed Agland home while Reif Corbett (CRG) moved to the head of the Biland points with second.

The final round of the APS CIK series is at Geelong on October 26-27.

Getting results: Rookie Cameron Farr, above right, took the win in Intercontinental A, while Benjamin Chong Sun, below right, won from pole in Junior ICA.

motorsport news

NATIONAL

In with the new

National briefs

VS bodies on target for Commodore Cup

by MARK GLENDENNING

A PROTOTYPE of the VE7VS body upgrade for Commodore Cup is close to being finalised.

The update, which was first mooted three years ago, looks set to be ready for testing during 2003, ahead of a full assault on the racetrack in 2004.

The final timetable will be worked out when series representatives meet for their AGM this evening(Wednesday).

Spokeperson Dave Gittus is optimistic about the new shells.

“I’d imagine that we’d get about 15-20 updates straight away (in 2004), and we might also see a few new people join the series,” he said.

“The old model holds back a few people from participating, so this might get some of them out of the woodwork.”

In an effort to keep costs under control, the updates will not require existing competitors to purchase new cars, but simply re-

ri \

Full steam ahead: A new look is on the cards for Commodore Cup is (Photo by Mick Fishbum) coming soon, shell their current vehicles.

“Ninety percent of the mechanicals will remain unchanged because it all works so well,” Gittus explained, adding that he expected the update to cost around $10,000.

“The cars will look a bit like VR V8 Supercars with more ground clearance.”

Planning is also underway for the 2003 calendar, which may feature support appearances at V8 Supercar meetings.

randt crowned Super 8

JOSH Arandt is the new Australian Champion in the Formula Rotax Light class, having taken an emphatic win at Melbourne’s Todd Road circuit on the weekend.

Arandt’s win not only gave him his first National championship, but also qualifies him for a fullyfunded entry into the World Rotax finals in South Africa early next year.

Arandt (Arrow) qualified fourth fastest before winning all his heats as well as the pre-final.

Local favourite Clint Cathcart (Arrow) had qualified fastest, but his controlled run came to a screaming halt in the third round of heats, when a collision with Taz Douglas injured Cathcart’s arm and put him out for the weekend.

Ben Savage (All Kart) had is strongest showing since making his comeback and claimed second after a race,long scrap with Reif Corbett(CRG).

Bart Price (Arrow) was next ' ahead of Scott Auld (Aurora) and Nick Parker (Arrow).

Darrell Smith was the highest placed over 35 year old driver and will now defend his World title earned in Malaysia earlier 4 September 2002

this year.

Outgoing Australian champion Matthew Wall had a tough weekend, blowing an engine in the pre-final.

Jason Hryniuk was another to suffer in the pre-final, a loose battery terminal taking him out of contention before charging back to seventh in the final, setting fastest lap on the way.

Brett Davidson won the Rotax Heavy Title. Davidson (Arrow), who was runner up in last year’s championship, qualified fastest but had to play second fiddle to Melbourne youngster Michael Pereira (Arrow) in the heats and pre-final.

However, after dropping back to third at the start, Davidson put in a charge and eventually took the win by 0.47s.

Second place went to Sydney’s Mick Robson (CRG).

Robson ran in the top three all meeting and threatened Davidson a number of times but couldn’t challenge in the closing laps.

Pereira held on for third ahead of South Australian Stuart Morrison (Arrow) and Aaron Shiels (Top Kart).

- MARK WICKS

1

NSW-based competitors had their first opportunity to look at the circuit for the APS Super 8 Series National Final at Dubbo over the weekend of August 24-25.

Victorian rookie Bret Mullavey took the win over Ethan Bentley and Darryn Piper.

Midget legend Steel Guiliana made it two on the trot, taking the win over Brad Hallett and Mathew Hart.

Mitchel Martin was first across the line in Junior National, Vv^hile Kristian Lindbom, pictured, took the Junior Clubman win.

KartOz Combined Light was again dominated by Ashley Slavkovic, and CRG's Carsten Tiedemann took the KartOz Combined Heavy win.

Sydney's Peter Lawler claimed his second Super 8 victory, and Damien Meyer took out Rotax Heavy.

CRG karts had a productive weekend at the European Championships on August 25, taking out both the Senior and Junior Intercontinental A titles.

After regional qualifying rounds in Portugal, Denmark and Italy, the top drivers converged on Angerville, France, to settle the score.

Belgian Jonathan Thonon narrowly scraped home ahead of fellow CRG/Maxter driver Filipe Albuquerque to take the Senior title, while Sebastien Buemi lifted the Junior Championship with a large win over Top Kart's Flenk Waldschmidt. n Dunlop has been announced as the naming rights sponsor for the City of Melbourne Titles in October.

It will be the T9th annual running of the classic event and organisers are expecting another strong interstate contingent. Cash and product prizes will be on offer for selected feature classes which will {)e announced soon. n Former junior Jay Verdnik has completed a successful Formula Ford test - in England! The South Aussie had his first run in the category with the Panasonic Team JLR outfit and tested at Silverstone, Snetterton and Brands Flatch. Despite the team signing Luke Fiines for the rest of 2002, Verdnik's involvement is said to be continuing ... n The proposed 24 hour kart race at Dubbo, NSW, has been cancelled.

A number of international teams and drivers, who race in similar events in other parts of the world, were to have been joined by local competitors, all running identical Bizkarts designed specifically for endurance style racing.

A replacement 24 hour race will now be run in Singapore next month. n Regular CIK frontrunner Ryal Harris looks set to swap his kart for a V8 BRute next year.

The 17-year-old has been linked to a drive alongside James Brock is a second Team Brute Strength Holden.

The outfit is run under the Team Brock umbrella. n Fiona Hamilton won the battle but series leader Karl Wilson won the war in the fifth round of the 2002 Popular Motors New Zealand Rotax Max Kart Challenge at Hot93 Raceway in Hastings last weekend.

Hamilton, a 22-year-old flight attendant from Christchurch, won a heat and the pre-final to win overall on the day, elevating herself to second in the standings.

Wilson, 19, who was returning to karts after a foray into Formula Ford, won the first heat but then struggled with handling problems.

- MARK WICKS/STAFF 73

Legends ef the north

by CHRIS RENEHAN

IF you've ever been a touring car or speedway fan then the 'Legends of Motorsport: The Last Showdown' meeting in Darwin two weeks ago was the place to be.

The event was the brainchild of Phil Brock and David Ling, who decided to gather as many touring car and speedway legends as possible and put them in HQs for the weekend.

With equal gear, they would have to rely on skill alone to win.

And why not put them in karts as well? And if that's not enough, put Garry Rush and George Tatnell in the ring for a no-holds barred Sprintcar match race?

Saturday at Hidden Valley consisted of two heats and a final. As expected, Jim Richards was switched on straight away and recorded a first-up win over local legend Brian Nixon. Phil Brock came home in third.

It was a reverse grid in the second heat and Garry Rogers bolted home ahead of Kevin Bartlett in second and John Goss in third. Richards, Alan Grice, Peter and Phil Brock all retired with mechanical problems.The final was more of the same action, with Richards finishing victorious ahead of Nixon, Grice and Peter Brock.

After belting around all day in the hot sun, it was Northline Speedway's turn to settle a few scores in the Saturday night showdown.

Rush and Tatnell were provided with two evenlymatched local Sprintcars in Castrol and Shell Helix colours.

With barely a cigarette paper between them, Tatnell and Rush

maniacally dashed around Northline, displaying the combined experience of 14 Australian Championships, At the end of the first three race stanza, it was Tatnell three.

Rush nil.

In the second set. Rush came out fighting and cantered home in all three over Tatnell to even the score from the earlier outing.

The last outing promised to be a stormer, and it delivered in full.

The combined 1200 horsepower rang through Hidden Valley as the pair made the ledger four-all before Rush went all out in the last race to claim bragging rights.

Intermingled with the speedway were the karts. Each Legend was paired with a local driver (mainly on the ability to fit in the seat) for what turned out to be the most incredible action imaginable.

Positions swapped continuously as drivers tried high, low and mid-track passes on each other. Rogers showed he still had it by taking the first heat over Peter Brock with Harrop in third.

In the second heat, all eyes were on Peter Brock who was on the rear of the grid. He carved his way through the pack to be running second by lap three, where he finished behind Harrop. Rogers was third.

The feature kart race saw equal-top point scorer Rogers pull out with a back injury, which left Harrop on pole.

At the flag, Harrop was swarmed by Peter Brock, Rush and Tatnell. The trio went on to change the lead eight times in a spectacular battle. At about mid distance, Rush gained the advantage and left Brock and

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All that motorsport royalty: Oh, and some of the dri ers weren't bad either.

The field of Legends grid up in their HQs; above. Later, Brock, below, swapped the Holden for something a little less powerful - but still capable of (PUotoy by Riduird doing some damage, as he found out the hard way...

Tatnell to fight among themselves for second place.

On lap eight, Tatnell swung the kart across Brock's line, which resulted in the nine-time Bathurst champ riding the rear wheel and becoming airborne.

He landed heavily, and while prompt medical attention confirmed that he was OK, the final was declared with Rush in the lead. The final pointscore placings were Peter Brock ahead of Harrop and Rush.

Sunday featured a two-hour enduro, which included a compulsory tyre change, fuel stop and a driver swap. The legends were paired with the car owner/driver. Few if any of the Legends had raced an HQ before, so it was a clean slate for everybody.

At precisely one o'clock the assembled grid took off for a two-hour sojourn in the Darwin heat.

A bit different to the Porsche; Jim Richards gets ready to nimble.

Rogers and Horsenell were running strong in fourth place until they pitted early with a brake seizure, while Ling and Kroonstuiver took an early shower when they broke a stub axle.

As the race wore on and driver changes were effected, Chivas/Porteous and Grice/Dennis moved up to be challenging the frontrunners.

In the run home, wily veteran Chivas and his partner, former national sidecar champ Gavin Porteous, came home with the victory.

Kevin Bartlett and Steve Bock were second with Nixon and Darren Bromley in third.

The general response from the Legends was overwhelming, and John Harvey announced that a committee had been formed to help with the fundraising for next year.

For local motorsport fans, it was an extraordinary chance to witness 14 heroes who people down south might take for granted. motorsport news

INDUSTRY NEWS

The Model Ute Muster On Move

OVER the last few years Classic Carlectables has been producing die-cast V8 Supercar models.

The growth of die-cast model collecting, particularly the popularity of the Australian cars, has led Classic Carlectables to branch into new areas.

The first in a new series is the 1:43 scale 50th Anniversary Holden Ute collection. The EX and FJ models were very popular and have now been followed up with an Infra Red and Lettuce Alone version of the HQ Sandman ute.

Each model has a high attention to

detail and accuracy. Opening tailgates, tonneau covers, spare wheels, mags wheels and fully detailed GTS interiors and dash complete the realistic look.

The undercarriage is also fully detailed, complete with suspension.

Each model is packaged in a custom box giving the history of the ute and details of each model.

All the utes in the Classic Carlectables series are fully licensed and endorsed by Holden.

With a limited production run of only 2500 of each models they are sure to go quickly.

For more details contact Pit Stop Model Cars on 03 9743 1100, Modelmania on 03 9650 8604 in Melbourne or Exclusive Models on 02 9746 3104 in Sydney.

DUE to the pending demolition of their current digs Earls Performance Products has moved premises, but not very far.

Previously on the corner of Stanely and Derby Sts, Earls has moved no more than 100 metres to 12 Stanley St, Silverwater.

The phone 02 9748 601 land fax 02 9748 6241 remain unchanged as does the great service and extensive range of performance products.

Earls stocks a full range of performance products including braided hoses, clamps, oil coolers, brake jluids and brands such as Tilton and Girling.

For more information contact Earls direct or visit their website at www.earls.com.

A right little bleederi

BLEEDING your brakes or clutch line has now become easier. Russell’s new Speed Bleeder replaces the original bleeder nipple in your caliper or wheel cylinder with a patented spring-loaded one way ball and check valve design.

The stainless steel check ball opens to allow the old fluid and air out, then closes automatically between pumps preventing the old fluid and air from re-entering the line.

Fitting and using is as simple as removing your old bleeder nipples and replacing them with Russell Speed Bleeders.

Russell Speed Bleeders use an OEM style sealing area to guarantee a positive leak-proof seal and are available to fit virtually any hydraulic brake or clutch system, regardless of country of origin. The Speed Bleeder permanently replaces your original bleeder nipple.

To allow for custom brake and clutch systems, Russell package their Speed Bleeders, in pairs which are readily available from better parts outlets.

If they haven’t got them in stock, ring Rocket(02)8825 1900 and they’ll put you on the right track.

4 September 2002

Willans Harness

/

WILLANS is a leading brand of competition safety harnesses to suit most motorsport applications,from club competition,to rallying to Formula One Since 1968 a host of World Formula 1 Champions have been secured by Willans harnesses. The safety technology that goes into those products at the elite end of the sport are shared by every harness produced in the Willans range.

Star of the Willans range is the new ‘Silverstone Alloy’ which use innovative and exclusive lightweight aluminium adjusters.

Like the rest of the ‘Silverstone’range, the ‘Alloy’ is available in three,four or six point fitments, each with turn-

buckle quick-release mecbanism, and 3 incb shoulder and lap straps.

Tbe Willans ‘Silverstone’ harness range reflects the high-tech upper echelon of the sport where the brand is predominant.

Constant development in Formula 1, Indycar and Le Mans sportscar competition has ensured that Willans has remained at the leading edge of product design innovation.

And Willans’ products universally exceed all recognised testing standards.

There is a Willans harness for most motorsport application available at your local Revolution Racegear store.

For your nearest store freecaU 1800 804 778.

75

mrace shop

nI 0 "

RACESHOP gives you the opportunity to promote your products and services to the widest possible range of motorsport nn 1# competitors and enthusiasts. Advertising in RACESHOP costs as little as $60 per issue! Call Brendon Sheridan on 03 9596 5555 now!

FIA HARNESSES 2007 expiry, lightweight buckle, 3" webbing, clip in ends Black, Red, Blue S point - $465 l 6 point - $495 FOR IMMEDIATE DELIVERY

HACHMG AIMD PERFORMAIMCE A

PRODDCTS

BRAKE PAINT n Record brake temperature n Accurate to +/- one degree n Easy application n Many uses

Aust 5tandard 4 point belts fr $145 B&M and the B&M Logo are trademarks of Rocket Industries P/L in Ph 02 9791 6001 Fax 02 9791 6002

Australia. All enquiries should be directed to: Ph 02 &025 1900 Fax 02 &8>251911 Email sales(9lrocketind.com

2-day CAMS C3/R2/R5 Licence Courses @ Oran Park monthly. $605 in your car, includes C3/R2/5 Observed Licence Test and C3 Leerture. R2 OLT can be completed in a single day for $385.

Peter Finlay's International Racing Drivers School

RACE PRODUCTS

sales@simpsonraceproductsxom.au

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Ph 03 9462 3210 Fax 03 9462 2516

www.ebcbrakes.com.au

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DrivePerform full-day program can double as your C3 licence, rstJllplacel^ evaluation - $330 available, filing fasm

Enjoy a great day with Championship level instructors in

Dynapack Dynometer Service Centres Jaustech Performance 08 8266 7244

small groups. PHONE for dates/availability

Hybrid Developments 02 9966 0899

Call 1300 720 666 to book. All credit cards accepted.

Widow Maker Speed Shop 07 5491 1869

For more info ph 02 9873 1773, fax 02 9871 1018 or email peter@finlays.com.au

www.finlays.com.au

Melbourne 44 Racecourse Rd North Melbourne 03 9326 6088

rpaFORMANCE PRODUCT^

RADIATORS, INTERCOOLERS & OIL COOLERS

l Offroad cars l Motorbikes l Boats l Hot Rods l Street Cars l Circuit Cars Contact Paul Weel on 07 55 981 499 or Fax drawings to 07 55 981 980 HANDBUILT AND ALL AUSTRALIAN MADl

UPRO

I'-,

raee£V brcilces

Sydney Unite 79 Newton Rd Wetherill Park 02 9609 1101

Competition disc pads l Race brakes l Pagid l Hawk l Endless l Performance Friction Over 10 years experience of brake modifications and upgrades for road and race. Caliper conversion 1, 2, 4 & e piston. Custom made disc rotors.

Manufacturers & distributors ofrace races High perform

Trade enquiries welcome

PrEmium Engine ^rts

A'/jsirS

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Ph. 02 9758 1966

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Pax.029758 1155

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^^gjPg|atton dYNO’S, FIOWBENCH, [C: DATA ACQUISITION n & DYNO SOFTWARE mkFORMANCE WHOLESALEIZ

Phone (07) 3808 1986

Holley Performance System Distributors

Visit our website for your nearest distributor.

|_Call^08^8132^^888Jo^youniearest^distribi£o^J

www.performancewholesale.com.au

76

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Rocket Industries is the Manufacturer's Appointed Distributor for Speed Pro in Australia. All enquiries should be directed to: Ph 02aS25 1900 Fax 02 33251911 Email sales^rocketind-com

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Williamstown Dyno Tune 03 9397 XHl Lagoon Engine Developments 0408 834 265 Bob Fisher Automotive 03 9743 5041 Rev Zone 03 9878 9299

^ PERFORMANCE /^CYLINDER HEADS & MANIFOLDS

^SuperFlow engine & chassis www.holley.com

l^napack Dynometer Service Centres

King disc brakes

Where sealing Is a science

'fJfH

CHASSIS ^DVNAMOMETER.S

Phone (07) 3808 1986 Visit our website for your nearest distributor.

www.performahcewhoiesale.com.au

T/Z4Cr/OA/

21 Kellets Rd Rowville 3178 Ph 03 9764 2811 Fax 03 9764 8740

^^OKOHAMA “THotofuiYiofit AV#N

RACING TYRES

Distributors for Victoria and Tasmania

Your high performance tyre and suspension specialists moiorspon news

I

MARKET PLACE Cutting Edge TFCHNOLCGY

ELPRO DIRECT

www.elettra.com.au

Tank Ends Ram Tubes 1'A" - 4" Alloy Donuts Oil Tanks L

Reducers

“

Wheel Arches

USED BY ALL LEADING TOURING CAR TEAMS

●ag togjHolRoddm^NASCARjSpr^^ Box 340 SorinewoodNSW 2777

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Hi How Alloy Heads

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PeRPOMUWCB BH0IMEWT8,

The ultimate power fix for your Holden ● AvaHable for early and VN Style V8 ● Super flow potential compared to ported iron heads ● Greater thermal efficiency and half the weight of iron

www.yellaterra.com.au Ph 03 9555 5522 Fax 03 9555 4152

COMPOMOT/VE MOTORSPORT WHEELS

VIC 03 9386 5331 NSW 02 9676 8655 SA 08 8387 3522 WA 08 9293 3500 TAS03 6273 7555 NT 08 8941 5388 jlUtXfcY QLD 07 3217 1188 fYW VICE www.stuckey.com.au

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W^OR

Phone (07) 3808 1986

Visit our website for vour nearest distributor.

www.performancewholesale.coin.au CRANKS, RODS, RACE CAMS & VAUrt TRAIN COMPONENTS

m

^^^kFORMANCE

Phone (07) 3808 1986

Visit our website for your nearest distributor.

www.performancewholcsale.com.au

DIFF GEARS from street duty ta professional level Rocket Industries is the Manufacturer's Appointed Distributor for Richmond Gear in Australia. All enc^uiries should be directed to: Ph 02 6625 ISOO'Fax 02 6625 1911 Email sales^rocketind.com

4 September 2002

g^RANE Sfafe Distributors

NSW: (02) 9678 9977 OLD: (07) 3808 1986 VIC: (03) 9794 5177 WA: (08) 9353 1155 Australian Importer and distributor:

r^CRAfS/E TECHNOLOCIES

Ph: 08 8363 5566 Fax: 08 8363 5633 www.cranecams.cotn.au

LTD.

PERFORMANCE & RACE DIFF GEARS & ACCESSORIES

VP

l Mocal l Aircraft Bolts l Girling l Goldine l Silverline

(03)9768 2383

Ph 07 3290 5911 Fax 07 3290 5933

giYourffl Soim:eForU.S.DiecaslandColleclables

Eastern Raceparts

Tel: (03) 9530 9011

l Custom ground roller, solid and hydraulic profiles using unique computer controlled machines for unrivalled accuracy'

a huge range of one piece super duty ^ pushrods

Ph 03 9357 0469 or Fax 03 9357 0001 Ws/t our website: www.crowcams.com.au

The USA's first choice m race valve springs now available In Australia ● As used by top US teams including Hendricks Motosport (NASCAR), John Force (Funny Car), Warren Johnson (Pro Stock) ● Specific super duly spring design Ibr endurance (circuit, speedway and marine) or Drag Race applications deliver consistent pressures and longer spring life.

Available from the exclusive Australian distributor

CROmfCAMS

Ph 03 9357 0469 Fax 03 9357 0001

HISIMPSOHj |[ Simpson Safety Equipment Australia 91 Rookwood Road Yagoona NSW 2199 Ph 02 9791 6001 Fax 02 9791 6002

Ferrea \7/\L\7HS

~ A I I ■ Balancers

● Extremely durable bonded dampening material ● Easy to read computer etched timing marks ● Available In economical cast iron Street, versatile iron/steel Street/Race and all steel SFi approved Race versions Ph 02 6921 S126 Fax 02 6921 7536 Visit oat website www.preclslonparts.com.au

Wartd^s Best Air,

t on & k Fue! f FiltErs

*

World's leaders in Motorsport Safety Technology Helmets ● Suits ● Boots ● Gloves ● Harnesses ● Crew Gear ● and all accessories for all motorsports QMality ● Price ● Service

AUSTRALIAN

UMSi

including PSi(USA) valve springs and

- posters - business cards - motorspoft proposals — hero cards — banners — large murals - websites

RACE PRODUCTS

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l Matching race valve train components ^

^^^The True Performance Alternative

pw ONiei£»

SPECIAUSTS In DESIGN for MOTORSPORT

CRomrcAMS

l Fast profile design service to your requirements

(&ai

CREATIVE ^ The

Ph/Fax 02 9526 6666 Ph Byran Miller'Mobile 0417 274 507 * Ph 02 9524 3389 l 1 Tamba Place Lilli Pilli NSW 2229 n Email easternraceparts@hotmail.com

DISTRIBUTORS

COMPETITION STAINLESS & TITANIUM VALVES, RODS & GUDGEON PINS ^h^FORMANCE YLWHOLESALE’fZ

Phone (07) 3808 1986

Visit our website for your nearest distributor.

www.pcrformanccwholcsalc.com.au

J}!

Washable & Re-usable ● 10 year/1.6 milHon km warranty R(x:kct Industries is the Manufecturers Appointed Distributor for K&N Filters in Australia. Enc^uiries to: Ph 02 66251900 fax 02 66251911 Email sales^rocket<nd.com PERFORMANCE FILTERS

’I DYNAGEAR America's premium oil pump S timing component manufacturer.

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ISO9001 reglsltred Every pump Is oil tsslud for corroct prossuro S voluma.

Quality assurecf.

3MMI AUSTBSL

Ph. 02 9756 1966

I

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Trade enquiries welcome Fax. 02 97S8 1155

motorsport oews

m race Shop RADIATOR

miSKYi

LOCK^DOWN SAFETY CAPS

RACINC3 CAMS

^ A

RACE CAMS, VALVE TRAIN TOOLS & COMPONENTS

Wy Enlerpmes can help you with ony

\ft^HOLESALE:S

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Phone (07) 3808 1986

American Tire S Baring Service 02 9790 7578 Performance Wholesale 07 3808 1986

Visit our website for your nearest distributor.

www.performancewhoiesale.com.au

JlotorsportConnections 02 9838 7272^^^^^

SIpeedflow [?

Contact your state distributor...

Hardimcm Auto Supplies (02) 9771 5877 Motorsport Connections (02) 9838 7272 (03) 9794 5177 Victorian Speed Pro Performance Wholesale (07) 3808 1986 (08) 8363 5566 Crane Technologies Gogear Racing Services (08) 9443 4400

3

SCOOP PURCH^^SE= 17 Kg. "I a 1.5 tonne, 6 pump, front roller Ph 02 9791 6001 Fax 02 9791 6002

cnr Mountain Hwy & Stud Rd Bavswater vie 3153 Tel 03 9720 8444 Fax 03 9720 8278

l Take manual conlrol or hnnds-free

l Local design, support, development inslollalion and on-sile training l Top names demand lop equipment(users inc NIZPRO, HSV, HRI & John Sidney Racing) l Engine, chassis, go-kart or motorbike For ner« InfbrmaHon andio

M/A|DYBoLoq Dynamometer

AREX Computing POfBoxISl Monlrose Vic 3765 i F1i03.975n!l«Fox0397512173 Mob0408i05S541 fmoil aeldBi@mBlbp(.org.ou

CuvmM ENGINE

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Ph. 02 9758 1966 78

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Steel Main Caps to suit most V8 applications

HAWKW P

Manufactured in USA by Pro-Gram Engineering 4

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0 Ph 03 5339 5iS9 rSX Fax 03 5339 2144

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Hawk Perlormance disc brake pads have the stopping power and brake modulation to reduce lap times and put RAcriNcs PRODUCTS you id the Winners' circle - with 8 dillerent race compounds.

MP

VIC 37A Fenton St Onklcigh 3I66 Ph: 03 9543 6222 Fax: 03 9543 6244 OLD 3/26 Expo CrI Ashmore 4214 Ph/Fox: 07 5531 0181 NSW 2/109 Airds St Minlo NSW 2566 Ph:02 9820 4255

Crankshafts Stranger crankshafts and canrads

wmvicstSt^r^c^^

PORTABLE FLOORING

/TlAfM

Marquee Floor :’J Workshop 4 Display Areas Installs quickly p Access Paths Rolls up for storage

VeHiCLE INSTBUMBNrAriON

l 4 programmable shilt lights l bar graph display/digilal tachometer l peak RPM recall l engine hour mete l waler/shock resistant l automatic lap liming l speed sensor l up to 4 thermo couple inputs l reads up to 8temperatures & pressure l data logging l made in South Australia

I

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Rocket Indu6tric5 is the Manufacturer's Appointed Distributor for Scat Crankshafts in Australia. All enquiries should be directed to: Ph 02 SS25 1900 Fax 02 SS25 1911 Email sales@rocketind.com

1 Avanaoie irom: Emtech Automotive Ph 08 8371 1500 Fax 08 8371 0500 Mobile 0418 600 751 Trade Enquirlet Walcoma

PERFORMANCE CAMS& VALVE TRAIN

i

www.pro-floor.com l ph 03 9804 3455 Race logistics RACE locistIcs interstate transport ALL ROUNDS ALL CLASSES

IIIIIHSSCAR.A0

Phone (07) 3808 1986

Contact Neil Griffiths

'-’SEEBmUrOarEI

Visit our website for your nearest distributor.

^ JStilSdmSLi_.

www.performancewholesale.com.au

race@tnt.com.au

FStTozorsanss

t

H New & used karts H Servicing H Spares H Heimets H Suits & aii your karting needs

5 0 (hi '^nmFORMANCE ' tf VIwholesale:,

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Fax. 02 9758 1155

Factory 9,19-25 Grange Rd Cheltenham viC Ph 03 9585 5340 Fax 03 9585 5320 .

it

l Accurate, Repeatable, Versatile

Trade enquiries welcome

A

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lUf^NSONS

«KeuaWBfFeplaeemntshans^ l Dyaa Serviaa

iemssrkcable Wmiows Opportunity for Engine Experts

I

Mwm Racing Tyres

Email sales@simpsonraceproducts.com.au

P: OZ B68B 4813 M; B4i47B112f: lililroliert8@ilial1.iiet

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UnmaesTone

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ALUMINIUM RACE JACKS

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Fully enclosed custom built race car transporters Professional race car logistic and event specialists Security for car and equipment on 0418 474 816

1

I:*motorsport news

MARKET PLACE

news

Classifieds online classifieds

Find hundreds more race vehicles and parts for sale at www.my105.com

SEU

from lust $25

your motorsport vehicle, parts, memorabilia with our all-new combined magazine/internet classified service.

Courtesy of an agreement between Motorsport News and internet classified service my105.com, your advertising will appear in both for as little as $25.

Yes 6 months on my105.com AND one insertion in Motorsport News for just $25! HOW?

Just log on to www.my105.com and follow the prompts!

Alternately, you can still use the classified form on these pages (surcharge applies for the service of posting the ad onto my105.com)

Sedans/Spdrts Cars

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Raschella Racing, Moly Chassis, Glass front, doors and 1/4 panels. 35 spline full floating rear. 4 link AVO shocks 4 spot Wilwood calipers. Mark Williams axles.

New Hoosier front runners. All moulds for glass panels. Left hand drive, Simpson Beits. Car has run 6.68 @208mph.

Neg. Nick.

0417 848 743 240 www.myl05.com/21358

TrrjT Group C Cooper S 1300cc, split Webbers Mini Lites, original log book, very tidy, all the trick gear. $15,000. Garry.(02)6662 8111 /0428 480 899. 240 www.my105.com/20366

Capri GT V6, original total rebuild by Mike Vandenrydt, rust free body, best in state.

NC log book. Cams reg cage, all new parts, never raced. Track tested only, ready to go, historic racing or classic rally. $44,000 0438 383 957.

240

&

LH Torana Club Car, Dry Sump, full floating 9 inch diff, big brakes, fresh paint, sell less engine and box $6,950, or ready to race with chev 327 and Tilton clutch plus must sell. toploader $11,950 1303.

240 (02) 6374

-^ ^ Toyota Celica Sports Sedan, Rear wing, front spoiler, adjustable coilover suspension, disk brakes, slicks, extensively lightened, lexan windows, kevlar seat, 6 point harness, roll cage, 45 DCOE Webers, extractors, 2,5" exhaust, lightened flywheel, extended & baffled sump, spares, trailer reg Feb 2003, CAMS logbook, Oran Park 51s, Wakefleld Park 1.14s. Ready to race. $7,500 ONO. Matthew. 02 4283 7757 / 0402 428 089 240 www.my105.com/14725

Future Tourer EL Falcon, Ex GRM, Fresh engine, SVO block Carillia rods, steel crank rebuilt by SVO, Super TIO Gear Box, PPG Straight cut gears, 3 x diff ratios, mini spool & d/locker, new Bilstein shocks, Harrop brakes, 2 sets of wheels, to placed Falcon in aeries, as raced by Kerry Wade, very tidy car, $55,000. (08) 9458 4586 or 0419 952 015.

240 www.my105.com/35475

Ford MK1 Escort Sports Sedan, space framed four link diff, Z18 non turbo A Bargain. $3500.00.0411 638 308 or(02)9672 4257 238 www.my105.eom/20330 Cortina MK1 1963 Historic Race Car, leOOcc crossflow 40mm Dellortos, LSD, roll cage, race seat, harness, new race tyre, can be road registered, very straight, original car In PC, brand new transporter inc. $16,000. 0414 397 609. 240 www.my105.com/23186 I

Championship winning Proton Satria GTI, Chrome-Molly cage, Recaro seat, $7,500 Proflex shockers, dry brakes, many extras, 15 wheels, $18,000 of spares, need to sell, can assist with crew at Sandown and Bathurst. $20,000 Kosi (03) 9524 9200 or 0419 524 752 238 www.my105.eom/20304 Modified Production EL Falcon, Ex Aust 2, Tilton Wilwood pedals, autometer gauges, aluminium radiator, spare panels and all moulds requires engine and computer to finish off, $6,500. Darren 0428 71 0 833 240 www.my105.com/52452

Porsche 944 challenge , Ready to race at the pointy end all the good bits Bilstien coil overs, RSR lower control arms etc, with entry to Phillip Island round 31/8, $35,000.

Rod 03 5988 6266 240 www.my105.com/28278

4 SeptemDer 2002

Volvo 142 GT, Targa LMS Webers stroked 2320CC FIA cage Terra TMP fuel cell $10,600 ono 0418 772 748 . 238 www.myl05.eom/20318

Torana Sports Sedan, Log booked, Nissan L28 Turbo, Motec fresh paint, mounted wet's, fresh motor and diff, heaps of spares, motor's diffs etc, tandem trailer. $18,000 ONO. Mark .(03) 9729 8241 240 www.myl05.eom/40538

www.my105.com/20367

1973 FORD RS1600 ESCORT, Original AVO car, now prepared for Tarmac rallies with choice of fresh BDE/G engines brake, and susp. setups.many original features plus 5 speed "dogbox", atlas axle. World Cup X member, compression stmts, factory dry sump, etc.Can be pre or Post '71. Price Neg Depends on spec. 03 9817 1383. 240 www.myl05.com/79257

BMW Z3 V8 Roadster, 1998 convertible black, black leather, quad cam alloy V8 15,000kms, auto reg EO 8581, electric seats, windows, mirrors. Awesome power, great car to drive. $76,000. 0417 778 188.

238 www.myl05.eom/20312

Future Tourer car No: 53, Future Tourer car No: 53 Mark Papendell . Fresh car fastidiously maintain and constantly improved by Podium Engineering.

Currently series leader, Succesfully and affordable sponsor magnet. Data and setup supplied. Including to track assistance. Excellent opportunity to enter this class now Pro Car Series. $55,000 Mark 0409 846 71 7.

238 www.my105.com/20322

EL FALCON XR6, Cage, AP Brakes, 300HP Engine, Locker Diff, C.Fibre T/Shaft, Fuel Cell. Spare Engine New, Gearbox, Rear End, Mlisc, 18 Wheelds & Tyres, Needs Front Guards & Bonnet.

239 $20,000 Llynden 02 9829 8700 www.my105.com/20343

Torana SLR 5000 , with sponsorship deals to $4,000 inclusive. 500+Hp alloy Head Chev, Tremec, 9inch, 4w/Discs, 10 Point Cage, Drop Tank, Manley, Crane, Venolia, BG, Acell, Mallory, Tilton, Willwood, Koni, Sparco, Simpson, Spares, Trailer neg.

Improved Production/Club Car, All Fresh.

239 $25,000. (08) 8280 5150 www.myl05.com/20335

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Rover Vitesse Sports Sedan, Mid mounted 350 Chev. Dart Cyl. Heads, Victor E Manifold, 750 DP Holley, dry sump.

Approx. 450hp. Ford Toploader Gearbox.

9“ Diff. full spool with floating axles.

15,000.

238 www.my105.com/20356

VR Commodore, new 5.7 injected, dry sump, motec, 5 spd, harrop front end and 6 pot brakes, 500+Hp, high torque low revving. Reliable + low maintenance, well sorted,easy to drive. $45,000 ono. Steve: 07 3397 7833 b/h 07 3398 4692 a/h. 239 www.myl05.eom/20354

!

Mazda RX3, "Improved Producfion"RX3 4 door,13B bridgeport, webber, electronic ignition, 5 speed, brass button clutch, vented disc brakes. Well sorted And Maintained, ultra reliable, very easy to drive. Some spares,Lakeside 63sec,QR 1 min.28s. Complete with trailer. $8,000.

Lee 07-3984692 / 0403048893. 239 www.myl05.com/20353

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3 %

FORD MUSTANG SALEEN S 351, 2000 Model, supercharged 351, intercooler, 6 speed, 500hp, 3 way proflex shook absorbers, chrome moly roll cage. All reasonable offers considered. For more details contact Kevin Heffernan 0413 733 407.

239 www.my105.com/20350

HONDA CIVIC VTEC, Class contender car.Chrome Moly cage, Profiex Shocks, Numerous parts available. All reasonable offers considered. For more details coritact Kevin Heffernan 0413 733 407. 239 www.myl05.eom/20351

RS 1600 Tarmac Rally Car, 2lt dry sump, alloy block 8DA, Motec injection, Duaife 5 speed SCCR box, Tilton clutch, Tranx LSD, Quaife floating axles, Bilsteins, Willwood 4 piston fronts Ford Motorsport rear discs, adjustable pedal box, seam welded, turreted, Panhard bar, compression struts, one meeting since built, reluctant sale, build cost over $100,000. $69,500 ONO. Colin 0438 441 480. 239 www.myl05.com/20360

HISTORIC FORMULA ATLANTIC, many spares incl. chassis and engine - easy to drive with all data supplied - Price depends on the package. Richard (02) 9999 3606.

240 WWW.1 05.com/2021 7

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news Description:

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□ Wanted □ Photographs

Open Wheelers

$29,990 0412 117 044 or (02)43 721489 238 www.myl 05.com/20307

Ex Gary Baxter Series Winner, Fresh car ready to race with extensive spare package.

Just get in and win. $23,500 Mark 0409 846 717.

238 www.my105.com/20323

□ Speedway

hillclimb Sports Sedan championship log book and spares, ready to race. $15,000 ono 03 9350 1728 or 0418 311 320 238 www.myl05.eom/20311

BMW Super Tourer, BMW 3181 Super Tourer 1993 German built. Ex Tony Longhurst 1994 ASTC winner, ex McClean Loads of spares Ready to race or suit BMW enthusiast. $45,000. Anthony 0408 868 306 -238 www.my105.com/203

Toyota Corolla Sports 4AGE 20V. Just b^n rebuilt, Motec Koni's, 4 pot brakes. Supra box, ready to race, spares. $14,500. Scott (02) 6621 3993 or (02) 6621 8131 - 238 www.myl05.com/20309

Category: □ Seiians □ Open Wheelers

Torana Sports Sedan, Six cylinder 202 + 40 Duggan alloy head 4 speed V8 M21 gearbox 48mm Webers 330+ HP, fresh rebuild no expense spared, well maintained winner of Australia 2000 NSW QLD SA

Ford Sierra XRI , 3 Door.2.3 turbo 5 speed no compliance plates. $4,000, 0428 267 375 238 www.myl05.com/20310

Holden Gemini, 13b Turbo, Dowelled, Mild Port, T04, MTX12, 500hp at wheels, tubbed, 9" diff, 31 Spline Billet axle. Convo Pro Wheels 15x12 - 15x3, All Dash with autometre gauges, Recaros, Memo steering wheel, custom interior, fibreglass bonnet, 2-pak respray, 10 point roll cage Potential 9 sec car. Immaculate. HSV12A.

U»0

Lotus Europa, damaged, no motor or gearbox, log booked, 1840cc Cosworth BDA, Porsche gearbox 640kgs. Fabricated suspension. ALG histories. $3,000. Colin 0438 441 480. 239www.my105.com/20361

Porsche GT3 Club Sport, Engine rebuilt by Fitzgerald Racing Services. Maintained with no expense spared. Bilstien shocks, GT3 Cup suspension, Uprated ECU, Motec Dash, GTP Logger, 2 X OZ wheels, 1 X GTS wheels, Airjacks, Dry Brake Fuel System, All Original GTS factory parts Ready for the ProCar Bathurst 24 hr race & Sandown 500. Tim 0416 077 057 $205,000 238 www.my105.eom/20308

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FORMULA FORD, NSW Championship winning 2001, '94 Swift, Peter Lamer race engine, with many spares, tyres, ratios, some suspension components, body mouldings, custom built trailer. $34,980 Neg Package. Duncan (02) 9707 1011. 240 www. 105. com/20362

riRFwaytosellyourgear!

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MARKET PLACE Sprintcar Avenger Roller, Winters diff. extra long spline, Nieids steering box, new Outlaw fueltank, Excellent condition. $13,500. (03) 5942 7126 or 0419 511 976 239 WWW.my 10 5.CO m/20349

Formula Ford, FF Vector MG95, Complete Race Package, Winner 1999 NSW Championship. Not raced since, 2 x fresh Lamer Engines, Ratios, Olins. adj. shocks, 3 sets wheels. Lomgacre scales,springs, everything needed to win. $32000. Wayne 02 4942 6177 / 0408 426177 239 WWW.105.eom/20348 Tiga FA 83 Repco-Brabham, Ex Alf Costanzo Porsche Cars, Winner 1985 AGP Formula Pacific support Race in Adelaide, Winner 1993 & 1997 Australian Hill Climb Championships plus numerous State Championships and outright track records.

Ex Formula 1. Aluminium Konis, DG 300 gearbox, Salisbury 70/30 LSD, triple plate clutch, many spares including 3 sets wheels, suspension, springs, uprights, engine parts, body, gear ratios etc.

Complete & very unique package, Awesome potential for Hillclimbing, Possibly eligible for Historic racing. All assistance given to new owner. PDA, Roger 0409 363 242. 240 WWW. 1 05 C_p m.lJ5 2 5

nrrar '"

Lotus Super 7 STl Replica, 1500cc Ford Cosworth engine, twin side Draught Webers, black, red trim, low mileage, better than the original, has been road registered, currently unregistered. $37,000. (03) 9799 1683 or 0408 359 610 240 WWW.105.com/86732

PUMA CLUBMAN 1300, toyota 3k,dry sump.twin Webbers,sprinter 5 speed,4 wheel discs.current log book,spare wheels, eastern creek 1.56,oran park gp 1.23,wakefield 70,very reliable. $6,900.(02) 427 21164 or 0417 665 238 240 www.105.com/15200

Formula Vee, Just had engine completely rebuilt by Australian VW Perfonnance (not raced since re-build). New paintwork, includes tandem trailer, Philip Island gearbox, spare chromed rims and tyres, Dorian timer and various shocks, brakes and suspension spares. Includes everything ready to race!

Can also supply RPM suit fireproofs and helmet. $8,900 Neal 0409 160 574 / (03) 5265 1073 239 www.105.com/20355

Dallara F3, 95/96, factory Novamotor Fiat, mounted wets, Stack datalogger dash,continuing full maintenance program, spares package negotiable. $68,000 Graeme 03 5881 4411 BH e-mail; 239 gkhraoing@agspares.com.au WWW.105.eom/20359 Formula Vee 91 Spectre, low kms, plenty of potential, ideal for Nationals, garaged in Queensland, trailer included. Mike $7,500 236 www.105.com/20313

Elfin NG Formula Vee, immaculate current 5th Victorian runner, top HP Elliot engine latest body, comprehensive spare parts,long gearbox 2 sets wheels, suspension, professional built enclosed trailer. $12,000.

(03) 9588 0087 239 www.105.com/20334

FORMULA 2, Fully Restored, Ready to run.

Originally Buiit 1972. Group Q. Fresh Ford Engine, Hollinger Box, New Brakes, Good Slicks & Spares. $15,900. Derek 0403 131 304 /(03)9870 5703 239 www.105.eom/20347

Super sedan chassis. New 101' super sedan chassis, leaf spring, afco upper and lower control arms,wide 5 all round, speedway eng QC, speedway eng rack & pinion. Alloy tank, engine plates suit chev, 180'rap-over headers, Willwood pedals.

Firebird body.Enough to make complete roller sell complete $8,000.00 ono Ed 0405-204-819 239 www.my105.com/20352 Super Sedan Ex NSW, auto meter gauges.

Charlyn Power Head Wilwood brakes reco, Bert Box fuel cell, Weld. Wheels Titon pedals, new Camaro body, light weight Franklin Diff, Fresh engine. Will sell without motor at $15,000 or with motor at $25,000.Russell 0419 692 677. 239 www.myl05.eom/20341

Avenger Sprintcar, Complete roller.

Winters diff, Nieids steering box, new outlaw fuel tank excellent condition. $13,500.

Raschella Racing, 496 JP1- 5/8 Velasco crank, Brooks rods, K motion springs, Titanium retainers, crane roller cam and lifters. Donovan gear drive, Hansen heads, 14:71 Littlefield blower. Bird injector, 990 pump, single plug, spares eight Venolia pistons, four new BRC pistons. Two sets rods twelve runs old. Spare roller cam, rings, bearings, gaskets and rockers. $28,000 Neg, Nick 0417 848 743. 240 www.myl05.com/9723

Transporters/Trailers 23 ft Fully Enclosed Tandem, With strut tailgate and two side doors with reg, new brakes.$4,300 Shane (03) 9728 3241 or 0419 371 286. 240www.my105.com/87332

NEW Tiltable Triaxle Trailer, Inside dimensions are height 5ft, width 6ft 6 inches, length 22ft, Spring loaded rear door with extra ramps, 240 & 12 volt lighting.

Powerpoints, air compressor, black & white tiling and too many extra's to mention. removable.

Stickers $12,000

4 September 2002

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Super Sedan, fresh, strong methanol engine. P/steering, AFCO quick-steer, Alloy seat, Simpson harness, AFCO coil covers, Rayburn leaf rear end with 5th Arm, Fresh rubber, recall tacho. Heaps of spares, Ready to Race. $6,500, (07) 5474 0109 or 0408 730 704 239www.my105.com/20358

S/H tyres 28.5" to 32" American Racers.

0412 399 020 239 www.myl05.com/7070

Other Autosport Magazines, Autosport Magazine 1985-2000, FI Racing 1996-2000. Include supplements, must sell, any questions call or email auskobe@optusnet.com.au AH (03)9309 3136-238 www.myl05.eom/20327

Wanted Open Wheeler - Hillclimb Car, Open Wheeler (Hillclimb Car), current or previously used, rolling chassis or complete car etc, prefer bike powered, anything considered, will travel. 02 4877 1507 - 238 www.my105.com/20314

Jobs An exciting sales position, is available at my105.com. Eligible person must have experience in one or more of the following fields: motorsport, performance car and auto markets. A car is essential, must have neat appearance and be well spoken.

Retainer and commission. Experience 2 years in sales essential. Please contact Veronica 02 9648 4777 240 www.myl05.com/68410 Motorcycles Sales, Motorsport and motorcyle accessory manufacturer/importer requires enthusiastic person for general warehouse duties, phone sales and shop sales. Some weekend work involved. For more information call Anthony at Race & Rally on Ph. 02 9709 4655. 240 www.my105.com/994

has launched a brand new website! i :

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■fcr DAF Prime Mover + 2 Car Pan, Must Sell. $60,000. Kosi 0419 524 752 239 www.myl05.eom/20346

Formula Vee 95 Sabre 01, in a brand new condition latest spec fresh engine 1 meeting old many of spares including a spare engine for spares. Latest body. Must sell due to moving to a new category. Best offer around $12500 04049 023 060 or 03 9790 6204 238 www.105.com/20328

Super Sedan Parts, 2 x Tel Tao suit Magneto x Electric ignition, 15 x Weld Wheels W5 12" x 5" offset with Rim Loo's,

(03) 9310 1466 BH 0400 424259 AH. 239 www.myl05.eom/20342

(03) 5942 7126 or 0419 511 976 239 www.myl05.eom/20349

i

Chev Manifold, 2.3" me kay magnesium F5000 injection manifold,ex original brock monza s/sedan,with fuel rails, trumpets & old! motec computer,$3,500 ONO plus vertex mag used once since service. $650 ONO. Andrew 02 9618-3002 or 0403 118 856. 240 www.myl05.com/8241

Engines Blue printed KT100S YAMAHA, KT100 S clubman motor, blue printed by J&A Tuning v/good engine raced once since last rebuild, C/W carby and headers. $1,400 240 www.myl05.eom/7064

Speedway

Street Stock(SSAV98)XF, Quick + reliable car ready to race, new Redline roll cage, spares + tyres $5,500, Tandem Ramp car trailer storage + tyre rack $2,800 ONO. Paul (03) 9401 3953 or 0438 336 346 239 www.my105.com/20336

Johnboy sprintcar chassis, etc, Johnboy sprintcar chassis, arms,stops,torsion bars,nerfs,fbi tank, filter & lines,front axle,engine plate,hood & panels $2,500 7 Proshocks 1-7400,3-7500,1-9500,19600,1-946 $125 each 1 steel afco 73 $60.

Craig 0417 823 866.240 www.my105.com/20364

Parts MoTeC Data logger/dash, full system including Loom, etc, extra logging capacity up-grade, as new. Hardly used. Drew (03) 9480 1122 or 0418 312 587. 240 www.my105.com/7073

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81

OPINION

BMorspon EDITORIJIL SUFF

Editor; Phil Branagan l editor@mnews.com.au Assistant Editor: Aaron Noonan l noonz@mnews.com.au Staff Journalist; Mark Glendenning l mark@mnews.com.au

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CDNTACTS 357 Nepean Highway, Brighton East Vic 3187 (PO Box 7072, Gardenvale, ViC 3186) Ph: 03 9596 5555 Fax: 03 9596 5030 Email; mnews@mnews.com.au

GDNTRIDUTDRS FI: Joe Saward, Adam Cooper Europe: Quentin Spurring, Gary Watkins, David Addison US: Phil Morris, Martin D. Clark Speedway: Brett Swanson, Julie Pearce, Geoff Rounds, Wade Aunger, Tony Millard (UK), Greg Boscato Rally: Jon Thomson Histories: Brian Reed Drag Racing: Greg Ward, Jon Asher (USA), Dave Ostaszewski (USA), Nick Nicholas, Steven White, Ken Ferguson National: Mark Wicks, Sean Henshelwood, Erin McCowatt, Mark Jones Photographers: Sutton Motorsport Images, Dirk Klynsmith, Bothwell Photographic, Marshall Cass, Nigel Snowdon & Diana Burnett, AFl Images, Neil Hammond, Slipstream Photographic, Phil Williams, Ailsport, John Morris/Mpix, Frank Midgley, Peter Bury, Mike Patrick (UK), Chris Carter, James Smith, Paris Charles, Bob Potts Cartoonist: Allan Schofield Motorsport News is published by Australasian Motorsport News - ABN 55 125 120 702 Publisher: C Lambden Printed by: Offset Alpine Printing Pty Ltd, Lidcombe, NSW. 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.

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82

OH

Weighty issues V8 Supercar weight handicaps, or ‘success penalties’ are race fixing. Simple as that.

Maybe the race winner won’t be known from meeting to meeting, but the race loser will be. He’ll be the driver who won the last race.

That’s still race-fixing, so anyone who scowled at Ferrari’s antics a while back should be scowling at this too.

Any kind of handicapping from race to race would produce a ‘random’ champion at the end of the year, with much of the field on roughly the same points and the champion driver and team possibly having much less skill and talent than the driver and team who came fifth or 10th.

I admit that I’ve been a bit bored with the series because of HRT’s dominance, but I still want to see the best team win - that’s what the record books should show in years to come.

Surely HRT won’t be the best team until the end of time.

The suggestion for individual penalties has come most recently from Larry Perkins, according to page five of the last issue(MN #238). I’ve always been a big fan of Larry, but if he won a championship under weight handicapping rules he would have to feel that it was a hollow victory when his opposition has been nobbled.

Carl Neilson Townsville, QLD

converter Send us your thoughts: mail: PO Box 7072, Gardenvale, VIC 3186 fax: 03 9596 5030' email: mnews@mnews.com.au

(who everybody should agree are the best Ford team out there), need to stop whingeing and have a good look at themselves and what they are doing.

With 1.27 seconds between the top 25 cars at Winton, I think HRT has got it all together as a team and good luck to them.

Marcus Arundel marra400@hotmail.com

Bathurst on the airwaves As one of the commentators involved in Radio Le Mans, Richard Dobson’s recent letter suggesting a similar idea for Bathurst seems an excellent idea.

Radio Le Mans isn’t a cheap exercise, although it has been able to attract sponsors and advertisers in recent years, but it remains a key part of the race for the thousands of Brits that flock to Le Mans.

The idea of Radio Le Mans was to broadcast an English commentary to the spectators throughout the weekend, and in recent years it has become a far more expansive idea, taking in the web as well.

Now,if you are in Melbourne or Mulsanne you can listen to us, either on radio or net.

And as we have a weekend off around Bathurst time, we’d love to come and play - and stay for the 24 Hours. And then for the V8 Ultimate and ...

David Addison Manchester, UK

Arrogance a killer

(where’s that VIO Mustang), and also AVESCO want to charge an appearance fee for them to come out on the track.

Where were the stunt riders on the road bikes? At least they kill time between races!

What about the arrogance of the Ford teams? Why do they cry about Holdens having an unfair advantage?

Just because Holden’s investment in Australian motorsport is pa5dng off, everybody forgets about the Holden VN Group A Commodore that nearly broke them. I can’t remember being able of purchase a Ford equivalent at my local Ford dealer.

How come one of the biggest Ford teams(DJR)qualified 32nd and 33rd at Winton? Surely they can’t blame the car for that.

I think that all the Ford teams except Brad Jones’s OzEmail Team

Arrogance is going to kill V8 Supercars.

Tony Cochrane needs to talk to Jeff Kennett about what happens when your big head gets in the way of the real world.

After spending the day at my local V8 round at Winton,(I noticed that) the entertainment value of the day has been getting less and less each year.

Porsche Cup - yawn!, MGBs or what ever they are - yawn. At least the old Touring Cars put on a bit of a show.

Cochrane wants the V8 BRutes to join his tour. I could only imagine that when they first appeared, AVESCO wanted a big appearance fee, so they have gone to PROCAR and now have their own huge following. I bet Tony is kicking himself now.

Where was the Holden Thunder Ute doing burnouts around the track? I hear a whisper that they would allow it because Ford haven’t got something similar

Daylight between them: The TWRmy is on another planet at the moment, but while some MN fans are over it, at least one doesn’t think that weight penalties are the answer.

(Photo by Dirk Klyns mith)

Ed:See page 4for a correction ofPerkins’s views.

MG:In addition to being an all round thoroughly good bloke, Addison is one ofMN’s correspondents in UKIEurope.

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