Motorsport News Issue 241 - October 2-15, 2002

HUGE BATHURST PREVIEW ISSUE CO c/5 CO CO CO

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Australia $5.95 NZ $7.50 ind GST No. 241 October 2-15 2002

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TO Lin THE UD ON BA AT BATHURST

iJi'n Perrari's US foul-up? f Lowndes future settled?

from the official event merchandise collection Value

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BOB JANE T-MABTS

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Issue 241

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2-15 October 2002

6

First glimpse Ford fans, meet your new V8 Supercar

8

Stars, stripes and Gurney flaps FI legend to spearhead All-American FI effort

11 New warpaint Kmart machinery gets a touch-up for the Mountain 12 Move over Enge? Courtney due for Arden F3000 test

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27 Motor Mouth MN s Ed shares his travel tips 28 Box Seat Saward meets Costner. If you write it, they will come 92 Talk Converter Speak up!

features 30 Five Minutes With James Courtney James reflects on his F3 campaign 32 Ford's main man Howard Marsden on all things blue and oval-shaped 3S The countdown begins The Bathurst 1000 is almost here, and nine out of 10 doctors recommend that you prepare by reading our extensive preview.

The other doctor has been deregistered Testing times A day in the forest with ARC young gun Spencer Lowndes

race coverage n-

A 56 Accidental hero A bizarre win is still a win. Just ask Rubens Barrichello 64 Viper strike Morgan swoops to a Nations Cup win at Phillip Island 66 Island supports Manderson wins F3 crown, GT Performance down to the wire 68 Sanremo is my specialty Panizzi gets his Italian WRC hat-trick MIVIBI 72 Game over Possum makes it ARC title number seven in the Yarra Valley

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TO IIFT THE UD ON BA AT BATHURST

Photos: Cover: Bob Potts.

Contents: Marsh/BOTHWELL, Neil BlacKbourn.

Dirk Kiynsmith.

24 Bikes

70 Rallying

76 Speedway

78 NASCAR

80 Drag Racing

82 Histories

84 National Scene

86 Marketplace S

■3 i,

This Johnson to give

staying in black and silver: Despite a tough 2002 and the existence of alternatives, Craig Lowndes is now (Photo by Dirk Klynsmith) expected to remain at 00 Motorsport next season

Craig to stay at 00

Ingall set to become a Ford man at Stone Bros?

CRAIG Lowndes is expected to stay at 00 Motorsport in 2003, following a forthright series of discussions between the team and Lowndes last week.

The review specified in Lowndes’s contract, revealed exclusively by Motorsport News two weeks ago, took place at 00 Motorsport early last week.

Present were Lowndes, his manager/solicitor Philip Battye, team owner Bob Forbes and team manager Alan Heaphy.

MN understands the discussions were full and frank, but resulted in Lowndes committing to remain with 00 Motorsport for 2003. His contract with the team is a 3 + 2 one, which means it comes up for formal renegotiation at the end of next year anyway.

As MN closed for press, it was unclear whether Ford had rubberstamped the decision, motorsport boss Howard Marsden simply confirming that a review had indeed taken place: “There’s no doubt that the team has fallen short this year but, as in any business, anything that can be reviewed is up for review. All I can say is that the process is under way A number of personnel changes are planned to bolster 00 Motorsport's performance. A CEO is to be appointed to relieve team manager Alan Heaphy of some of the day-to-day running of the team business, freeing him up for more hands-on workshop input.

Also expected is the appointment of a workshop manager.

With Lowndes’s position at 00 confirmed, the remaining V8 Silly Season action will centre upon Russell Ingall and his yet-to-beformally-confirmed move to Ford.

MN understands, as reported some weeks back, that Ingall has joined Lowndes and Marcos 6

Looking for that Queensland Ford: (Photo by Dirk Klynsmith) Russell Ingall.

There'S no doubt that the team has fallen short this year... anything that can be reviewed is up for review

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- Howard Marsden on 00

Motorsport’s 2002 season

Ambrose as a directly contracted (to Ford Motor Company) driver and is headed to the Stone Brothers Racing team. SBR does not currently have the budget to run an additional car, so the move may be at the expense of David Besnard - unless Ford is able to assist SBR budgetarily.

However, Besnard has, we hear, had talks with 00 Motorsport’s Bob Forbes, who could provide a berth - but at the expense of Neil Crompton.

In the interim, MN’s spies are suggesting that there is a possibility that Russell Ingall may be stood aside after Bathurst in favour of Steven Richards’s 2003 Castrol Perkins team-mate expected to be confirmed as QSOO/Bathurst draftee Paul Dumbrell. Just a rumour ...

Of the remaining spots to be settled, Jason Bargwanna and Garry Rogers will discuss the former’s future after Bathurst and rumours persist about a sixth TWR-based car for 2003 ... and Paul Weel’s name keeps coming up (see briefs).

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AUSTRALIA

FORD legend Dick Johnson will be at the wheel when the prototype of Ford's all-new 2003 BA Falcon completes a demonstration run at Bathurst.

The demo laps, scheduled for the Sunday morning of the Bob Jane T-Marts 1000, on October 13, wi ll be the first public viewing of the car on which Ford's V8 Supercar hopes are pinned.

The car will be in pretty much the trim it is expected to race in during 2003, although there may be minor adjustments to the aero package as a result of forthcoming aero tests to comply with TEGA's new-for2003 requirements.

Nothing concrete at

THERE has still been no confirmation of Mark Webber's much-anticipated drive at Jaguar in 2003.

While Ford took the opportunity at Indianapolis to re-confirm its wholehearted support for Jaguar’s F1 programme (see other story), there was no announcement about drivers for the resurgent team.

While MN’s European sources remain confident that Webber will replace Eddie Irvine (rumoured to be heading to Jordan), the recent

entry of Williams test driver Antonio Pizzonia, right, into the picture has complicated the debate.

Pizzonia tested for the team at Barcelona two weeks back, right, and drew significant praise from Jaguar team principals. Latest speculation is that Jaguar may well pay out Pedro de la Rosa’s contract (which has a year to go) and release him in favour of taking on the young Brazilian.

Rumours suggest that releasing de la Rosa from the

motorsport news

NEWS

is The Barra

he BA Falcon prototype its first laps at Bathurst

Rumours in the world of TWR V8 rumours are rife at this time of the year, though the TWR one we heard this week was a beauty...

The story goes that Jason Bright will be in a CAT-backed Commodore, with Todd Kelly moving into his seat at HRT. Paul Weel would take the Kmart seat, while Rick Kelly, Mark Skaife and Greg Murphy remain in their current drives.

The issue of where Weel ends up is an interesting one, though the current crew of his Level 2 franchise, have apparently been told to seek alternative employment for 2003 ... n Holden has officially entered its Monaro for the Bathurst 24-Hour.

Listed as being entered by Garry Rogers Motorsport and sponsored

by Holden, Garth Tander is the only driver nominated.

The racing number '427' has also been applied for and we reckon you should add the names Skaife, Bright and Murphy to the list...

"Visually, th^ car vvil( be/as it v'/ill be raced," Ford Racirig'' '■ boss Howard Marsden told MN this week.

"Any changes will just be the odd angle here or there, nothing major."

The debut of the 'Prototype 1' BA race car comes at the end of a two-year design and prototype programme, conducted under strict secrecy at Ford's Broadmeadows base

by Ford engineers, using the same CAE computer design techniques utilised by the BA road car design team.

Computer predictions and optimisations on stress paths and chassis flex have converged with the first 'in the metal' prototype to the point O

where^the shell for Prototype 2 has now been built and is undergoing similar stress tests this week.

As Marsden told MN as part of an interview on the new BA (see '5 minutes with Howard Marsden on page 31), Prototype 1 will never race: "After it has finished its aerodynamic work, it wi ll become a show car, marketing car, demonstration car.

"The car wi ll never turn a wheel as a race vehicle although it is a total ly complete race car."

According to Marsden, all Ford competitors will acquire BA body shells from the same source - Peter Beehag's Gold Coast factory - and simply build

lag for Webber 4*

2 October 2002

7T11 team may cost as much as $4m ,1 but, with Ford's Richard ParryJones backing its F1 program 11 (see page 9), the Detroit giant is in no mood to settle for secondbest.

Even more intriguing were additional rumours over the weekend at Indianapolis that Ford, seeking to create interest and support in the crucial US market, is pushing for Indianapolis 500 winner Helio Castroneves to get a seat.

Castroneves raised eyebrows

up what is becoming more and more a 'kit car'.

"In that way, TEGA can, at any time, go and check and confirm that the modifications to the bodyshel l itself are strictly within their own regulations," he said.

Given the work completed on the new car and the provisions of TEGA's Project Blueprint technical equality programme, Marsden is confident that '2003 will see "Ford and Holden sharing racing success - which is what the punters want."

Protype 1, liveried as per the accompanying illustration, will complete a shakedown run this week prior to being transported to Bathurst.

yet

with a strong first-up test for the Toyota FI team a couple of weeks back...

The to-ing and fro-ing could well mean that any Jaguar driver announcement is delayed beyond next week’s Japanese Grand Prix, the final race of the year.

For its part, the Webber camp remains unable to comment on the exact state of any negotiations, but MN’s GP diarist (see page 63) is confident of a good spot in 2003.

n Allan Grice will be back at the Mountain this year. Grice will team up with Ross Halliday for the Bob Jane T-Marts 1000 in a Falcon to be propped by Nilsson Motorsport, who prepared the V8 BRute series leader of Warren Luff.

■ Another beast being readied for the 24 Hour.is the nnid-engined Mosler MT900R of British GT racer Martin Short.

Short debuted it in the recent last round of the British GT series at Donington and is "99.9 percent" sire of making it to Bathurst. The Mosler runs a Chev Corvette 5.7-litre V8 engine and Short raced this year at Daytona in a Saleen, at Le Mans in a Ferrari and at Spa in a TVR. Co drivers are expected to include Brits Charles Lamb and Mark Pashley.

■ There are all sorts of cars and drivers aiming at the Bathurst 24 Hour. Tony Longhurst will join Mark King, Trevor Haines and Trevor Sheumack in the Yamaha Tckford TE50, while the latest with PHR Scuderia is that they are looking at running one Ferrari 360GT and two Porsche 911 GT RSs. The overseas entries include a Porsche from Seikel Motorsport in Germany, Graham Nash Motorsport, two New Zealand Super Touring-spec BMWs, two E36 M3s from Duller Motorsport in Austria. There are also moves to entice Vic Rice to bring his Cirtek team.

The Freisinger team Porsche team is also keen to enter, with 2002 Supercup Champion Stephane Ortelli keen for a drive.

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Gurney backs Jan Dan plans US Formula

THE Ford Motor Company announced in Indianapolis that it is going to continue with Jaguar Racing as planned,following its threemonth review of the company’s FI program.

Richard Parry-Jones, the company’s chief technical officer told the FI media that Ford will not sell the team to Red Bull and intends to create an even closer relationship with Jaguar Racing than has been the case.

Parry-Jones also confirmed that the company will add the Ford blue oval to its customer engines « deals, providing Jordan and others with ‘Ford Cosworth’ engines.

“We have decided to add the Foi-d blue oval badge to our Cosworth customer engines,” he said. “The first team to benefit from this will be Jordan Grand Prix.”

Parry-Jones did not talk about the driver line-up for 2003 but there is expected to be an announcement shortly, probably after a Jaguar Racing board meeting which is due to take place this Friday.

Mark Webber is hot favourite to join the team while the other driver is still open to speculation (see page 7). Regardless, current Jag man Eddie Iiwine is expected to go to Jordan Grand Prix.

It is worth noting that at Indianapolis there was considerable friction between Jordan and Jaguar marketing personnel following the Ford announcement. There have even been suggestions that there was a scuffle between marketing men from the two teams although these have been played down by all concerned.

- JOE SAWARD

One team - for 2003!

by JOE SAWARD

AMERICAN racing legend Dan Gurney revealed at Indianapolis that he has plans for an all-American Formula 1 team in 2003.

With the support of long-time friend Phil Hill, Gurney, 71, is believed to be acting simply as front man for the organisation, which is being put together by businessmen Bob Balachowski and Russ Olsen.

“They have a very good business plan that will stand up to scrutiny to run a good business,” said Gurney at Indianapolis,“and they’ve done a lot of the planning and leg work. We will end up with

jjo ARROWS was not at the United States nor will it be in Japan.

But the team continues to stumble on, dodging the bullets and looking for a way of digging itself out of the financial mess in which it is stuck. It is a month since Tom Walkinshaw announced that the team had found a buyer and that 'heads of agreement' had been signed. Nothing has happened and all the signs are that the supposed investor has disappeared.

The next big hurdle will be the windingup petition coming from Heinz-Harald Frentzen, who is claiming US$115,000.

This is being supported by at least seven other creditors.

It is possible that Walkinshaw will be able to pay off Frentzen In cash (which he is allowed to do). That may buy him some more time and get the team to the end of the current season and thus avert the situation by which the team might miss a Grand Prix while in a state of insolvency.

This appears to be Walkinshaw's aim at the moment, as this will then get him into the four-month off-season period in which (in theory at least) he will be able to restructure the business and turn up next year with debts having been paid and new sponsorship in place.

The biggest issue, when all is said and done, is likely to be the practical problem of

major American sponsorship that wants to get global racing exposure and business.”

Hill and Gurney are among the most famous American FI drivers and their involvement in the program seems to be largely cosmetic.

Gurney said that the idea will be given a final go-ahead in the middle of October.

“The time is perfect for this to happen,” he said. “It’s going to require certain dominos to start falling pretty quickly, but it would be a monumental situation. One of the keys right now is engines. We have a commitment- not a contract-from Ford Cosworth, and we could have a signed contract in a couple weeks.”

no 3)J03}i building a car and having the staff to run it.

Since the team started missing races the staff of Arrows has begun to slip away to other jobs, particularly as the salaries have not all been paid up to date.

The designers are men in demand and most of the good ones have already departed to other jobs.

There is also the issue of engines.

Cosworth is a major creditor and even if Walkinshaw settles his entire bill it is now too late for him to negotiate a supply of competitive engines for next year as Cosworth is geared up to supplying Jaguar Racing, Jordan and Minardi in 2003.

- JOE SAWARD moiorsporl news

}

NEWS

The Eagle Man

Dan Gurney is one of the great achievers of US motor

racing and he is deadiy serious about his new Formuia One project. He spoke to MN’s ADAM COOPER MOTORSPORT NEWS:Who are your partners?

DAN GURNEY: Bob Balachowski has a Wall Street background, and Russ Olsen has more of a marketing background, and has quite a bit of contact with BAT and the BAR thing at one time or another. They both from different perspectives know quite a lot about the business. Bob is a long time fan, who lived within three or four blocks of the Speedway when he was young. They are both looking at it from a business standpoint.'

They are putting in their labour, and their thoughts, and they are going to engage investors and sponsors.

representatives. We have not talked directly to Dieter. They've indicated interest. If we're real, they'd probably like to be involved.

We would represent exactly what they've been looking for.

MN: Ultimately do you want something that's at least partly based in the USA? DG: I think you'd have to have a base of operations in Europe, probably in England, but also we'd be operating in the States. If we designed a car, wherever we designed it, we could still build it in California, if that was a requirement.

One Of the things we are reaching for, is that if we do it, well be in Austrafia next year. Thafs a tall order rr

Now and then: Dan Gurney leaves the pits in the first AAR Eagle (powered by a Ford DOHC engine) in 1965, and arrives at Indy for the 2002 US GP. (Photos by Ford Racing Archive and sutton-images.com)

- Dan Gurney MN: What has Bernie Ecclestone said?

DG: He's actually said if there's anything I can do to help, just let me know.

MN: When will this start?

DG: One of the things we are reaching for, is that if we do it, we'll be in Australia next year. That's a tall order, but we think all things considered it's a whole lot better than standing around until the following year.

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Gurney said that the project has been in the pipeline for more than two years.

Cosworth sources have confirmed that it is possible for a fourth engine supply for next year but added that it would be rudimentary at the start of the year because of the late nature of the decision.

But the engine is only a minor issue in the overall scheme of things. The idea of being to have a team ready by the end of February next year means that the only possible way forward is to buy a team.

It might seem that the obvious thing to do would be to buy Arrows but our sources within the US consortium say that there is not much value in the team and what is for sale “hardly makes a buyer want to rush in and pay millions.”

2 October 2002

MN:Is Arrows the most likely starting point?

DG: It's probably the most effective way of doing it, as opposed to starting from zero. These guys have been talking to the people involved in Tom's team and Morgan Grenfell.

MN:Is the availability of Ford engines the key to this?

DG: We couldn't do it without an engine supply. If you have a whole bunch of dominoes lined up, the first one is teetering: and if that one tips over, and we're at the point where it could, I think that would start the others going, the other American sponsors and investors.

And we've been assured that that's the case.

MN:Have you had contact with Red Bull?

DG: We have talked to their

MN:ts an American driver a requirement?

DG: Two! There are lots of names floating around. We would end up with drivers that would make the fans very proud.

MN:Could you use the Eagle or AAR names?

DG: Yes, but that would be something that might have to do with a major sponsor or something else. Historically, Eagle means something, but it might not be important as something else. We haven't crossed that bridge.

MN:Isn't this a big challenge to be taking on?

DG: Yes it is, and I wouldn't envisage a role for me other than as someone to get us in trouble, or an elder statesman or consultant.

One thing we have agreed is that I will pick the drivers! I haven't aspired to be a bureaucrat yet, so I probably won't be.

MN:Is it right that you have to get this off the ground in the next few weeks,or it won't happen?

DG: Much as I don't like it, I think that that's the case. Frankly I think that's the deadline for next season. But I also think that it could be the death knell for this, and we can't hold our breath. The same sort of stars might not line up next year.

Betta the Briggs you know BETTA Electrical has confirmed that it has decided to continue its involvement with Briggs Motorsport for another two years. n Paul Morris is going to miss the Gillette V8 Supercar Challenge on the Gold Coast, no matter how well the SIrromet Commodore goes at Bathurst. The 32-car field for the Indy event Is decided on the top 32 ranked cars in the championship (not drivers) and The Dude' isn't on that list.

"I am very disappointed to be missing my hometown race," said Morris. "Up to a month ago I would have had the chance to score more points at Bathurst, but the rules were changed and there is not much I can do about it. I would much rather be out there racing, but I will enjoy the party anyway." n The Queensland 500-wlnning Caltex/SBR Falcon will be at Bathurst, but not in the hands of 'David Besnard and Wayne Gardner.

The car has been sold to Kevin Mundy and will run It in the 30-lapper Konica race. He will team up with Michael Simpson in his existing Actron Air Ford for the main race, while Simpson will run his ex-SBR EL in the 30-lapper. n Another Konica team to upgrade its stock before the Bob Jane T-Marts 1000 is the Transtar Express outfit of Ron Searle and Jamie Miller. The former Super Touring duo will have the ex-Truckie Parsons/Gibson VT to run after the car was purchased recently by the team. n Andy Priaulx will be making a trip to New Zealand while in our part of the world. The weekend after Bathurst, the Brit will team up with BTCC rival Aaron Slight in a Ford Falcon for the Yellow Pages 500 in Kiwiland. The car will run under the Caltex Havoline banner. n We were wrong; in the last issue of Motorsport News, we stated that the Clipsal Adelaide 500 is promoted by IMG. While IMG Is involved with the event, the promoter is actually the South Australian Motor Sport Board. Apologies to all parties. n Frenchman Emmanuel Clerico is looking for a ride in the Bathurst 24 Hour. With experience in F3000 and F3, Clerico ran at Le Mans last year for Cadillac and drove the Lola movie car this year. n On the television side of the 24 Hour, FOX Sports 2 has joined in proceedings, with news that the pay TV sports channel will show the V8 Brute and Two-Hour Showroom Showdown live from noon to 3pm on November 16.

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home of a [motorsport]

Carrera coming?

by AARON NOONAN

V8 Supercar Championship* Oct 13 . . ..Bathurst .. .Rd 10 Oct 23 . . . Gold Coast

.Rd 11

Nov 10 . ,.Pukekohe .

.Rd 12

Dec 1 . . . .Sandown .

.Rd 13

Konica V8 Series* Oct 12 . . ..Bathurst

.(non Championship)

FIA Formula One World Championship Oct 13 . ...Suzuka

.Rd 17

CART FedEx Championship* .Rd 17

Oct 13 . ..Mexico City ....

Oct 27 . ...Surfers Paradise

.Rd 18

Nov 3 . ...California

.Rd 19

MotoGP Motorcycle Championship* .Rd 14

Oct 13 ...Sepang Nations Cup Oct 27 . ...Surfers Paradise ..

Nov 17 . ..Bathurst

.Rd 10

... .(non Championship)

World Rally Championship* Nov 1-3 ...Australia . . . .Rd 13 Nov 14-1 7 .Great Britain

Rd 14

World Series Sprintcars .Rd 1

Nov 16 - . .Bunbury Nov 23 - ..Kwinana

Nov 27 . . .Kalgoorlie Nov 30 . . Adelaide

,Rd2 .Rd3 .Rd4

2003 CART FedEx Championship* Feb 23 . ..St Petersburg

,Rd2

Apr 13 . . . .Long Beach

.Rd3

Apr 27 . - ..Europe

.Rd4

2003 V8 Supercar Championship* I Mar 9 .. . .Albert Park .. .(non Championship) Mar 22-23 .Adelaide .... ●Rd 1 Apr 13 .. . .Phillip Island

,Rd2

May 4 .. ..Eastern Creek .Winton May 25

.Rd4

June 8 .

.Rd5

.Barbagallo

Coming to a racetrack near you? The Carrera Cup show could be Ozbound, but there is a bit of red tape to deal with first ... (Photo by sutlon-images.com) can be updated to run next year) as well as cars already in New Zealand that are slated to run here next year.

The impact of the introduction of Carrera Cup on Nations Cup is also another issue. Considering the constant talk of parity in the PROCAR-run category has anger-ed some competitors, a move to Carrera Cup would make a level-playing field with identical cars and thus, severely diminish the number of cars in Group One of Nations Cup. If Carrera (3up goes ahead, cars

Bernie: "I’d buy i

,Rd3

,Rd6

2003 Konica V8 Series* Feb 23 . . .Wakefield Park

.Rd 1

Mar 22 . , .Adelaide

. Rd2

May 4 . . . .Eastern Creek

. Rd3

Juiy 6 . . . .Phillip Island

, Rd4

Aug 3 . . . .Winten

Rd5

Aug 30 . . .Mallala

Rd6

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1 ten L home of

motorsport] ■

All event dstss in this calendar were correct at the time of prirttmgi Please consult any individual tracks anchor assawMons for dale changes.

H I

Series or ©veils telecast on Network Ten are niarked vuHh an asterisk. Check your local guiides for screening details.

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and drivers from the existing A and B classes of the Porsche Cup will be invited to join the field as ‘Porsche Cup Champ Series’ competitors, but we hear Porsche Cup competitors aren’t too pleased with the possible introduction of the Carrera Cup concept, given the expense of the cars.

Motorsport News sources suggest that the PRAhad an agreement with AVESCO regarding 2003 and 2004, though the V8 group has instead elected to go with the Carrera Cup.

.Rd 1

Mar 23 . ..Monterrey

Jul 29 .. ..Hidden Valley

THE highly-successful Carrera Cup racing concept is looking likely to be coming to Australian racing tracks in 2003.

However, the future of Porsche racing in Australia is uncertain, with the introduction of Carrera Cup racing threatening the position of the current Porsche Cup. A new company Imown as ‘Cup Car Australia Pty. Ltd’ and the current Porsche Racing Association, which has run Porsche Cup for the past 16 years, are bidding for the' category management agreement with CAMS. A meeting was held last Thursday, with a decision to be made sometime after this issue goes to press.

The Carrera Cup has the backing of Porsche Cars Australia, and sources suggest it has a television package locked in for 2003 as well as an eight round series on the V8 Supercar support bill, including races at Bathurst and Indy as well as a non championship race at the Australian Grand Prix.

A total of 15 2003-spec Porsche GTS Cup machines are on order to complement the seven 2002-spec cars already in the country (which

“Then again, red’s not really my colour: Bernie has quashed rumours lhal he '</ like shares in Ferrari - by staling that he V/ tike to buy the whole team instead!

Iplu IUIgl-\ C

BERNIE Ecclestone has never been a man to have partners, preferring to keep control of his businesses. Even though he has sold a large chunk of the Formula One group of companies he retains management control for the next few years.

Ecclestone has responded to stories that he is keen to buy shares in Ferrari by saying that "it would depend on how the company was structured.

“I don't know if I want to buy shares," he said.

"But I am sure I’d be interested in buying Ferrari - if the price was right.”

Ecclestone said that the Ferrari brand is a strong one but asked the same question that many before him have asked.

“Ferrari spends much of its profits from car sales on paying for its motor racing. If it didn't do that, would the cars sell?”

This has long been a Ferrari motorsport oews

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NEWS

Kmart's mountain wear

New look for Toddler and the Murph for Bathurst KMART Racing will carry a new look when they take to Mount Panorama next week.

The revamped livery runs in conjunction with the retail giant's new 'Cutting the Costs of Living' advertising campaign, and will adorn both cars.

The colours got their first outing when the

team's international drivers Yvan Muller and Andy Priaulx got together with Todd Kelly and Greg Murphy for a test run at Winton earlier this week.

For the complete lowdown on who's going to do what and why in this year's Great Race,check our extensive preview, starting on page 35.

Max out, Mark in problem and In recent years, Ferrari President Luca di Montezemolo has been busy tryipg to diversify the business a little, with the acquisition of the Maserati car company to help supplement income.

He has also taken the company into finance and insurance and is currently working on the development of Ferrari as a consumer brand with plans for a network of shops selling Ferrari-branded merchandise.

Ferrari is producing not only the obvious racing-related merchandise but also luxury goods such as leather and perfume products. There is even talk of a Ferrari-themed resort in Las Vegas. The danger of this is that over-exploitation of the brand will result in thee loss of the exclusivity which one associates with the brand at the moment.

- JOE SAWARD 2 October 2002

More entries for the 24 Hour OF the local entries in the 24 Hour, there's four Future Tourers entered for Fiay Sidebottom, Geoff Parker, Steve Williams and the Terry Bosnjak Magna.

In GT Performance there's Peter Boylan's BMW M3, three Nissan 200SXs from Greg Haysom's team, a Mazda RX7 for Ric Shaw and another car for Bob Pearson. Pearson has Mark Brame along to co-drive, though is still working on a deal to bring a car from the All-Japan GT series for Group 1.

"The Mazda runs in the GT300 class and if I can get it - it depends on whether Bathurst clashes with a race in Japan - it should be a Group One outright prospect because it will certainly be as quick as a current Nations Cup car," Pearson said.

"It's got huge brakes, a heaps of engine torque for climbing the mountain and only weighs 1100 kg.

"If we can't get the entire car, plan B is to import all the parts to build an equivalent from a car I own already, although with a slightly less powerful twin-rotor engine."

Also on the list are Anton Mechtler's EVO VII, Nathan Pilkington's 350Z, Brett Peters's Subaru, Wayne Russell's 3231 (Russell is also preparing an M Coupe), Colin Osborne's two Toyota MR2s, Steve Grocl's VW Beetle, Mark Cohen's HSV, an AU XR8 for Darrell Dixon, and the RPM Honda S2000. n Kiwi James Cressey may spend the summer racing with a roof over his head. The Australian F3 front runner is currently trying a line up a deal to drive a Porsche GTS Cup car in the New Zealand Porsche Cup summer series. n Absent from the penultimate Australian F3 round at Phillip Island was Michael Caruso. The Sydneysider slapped the wall in testing at the Island a couple of weeks prior to the race and was unable to get the necessary bits to repair the car in time.

Photo hvDirk hli n.siiilili

IN the countdown to the Bob Jane T-Marts 1000 at Bathurst, Sprintcar ace Max Dumesny has been replaced by Mark Noske in the driving line-up of the Valvoline/Cummins squad.

The World Series Sprintcar Champ paired up with Formula Ford Champ Jamie Whincup at the Queensland 500, though has been replaced for the Mountain by the former Holden Young Lion.

The hectic upcoming schedule of Sprintcar racing as well as business acitivities are being cited by Dumesny as he reasons for not continuing with the team.

"It's good to have another opportunity of going to Bathurst, especially with the track record GRM has had up there," said Noske, who drove with Craig Baird in the Bud Ford there last year and again with the Kiwi in the Team Brock Commodore at the Queensland 500.

"I'll be happy to get a drive after missing out on Queensland.

Jamie and I are both in the same boat to go up there and do the job for the team and do it the best we can."

-AARON NOONAN

n New Zealander Matt Fitzgerald returned to the F3 field at Phillip Island after missing the Sandown round following his split from MSpeed.

Fitzgerald steered the third BRM car, an Opel-powered Dallara 98. n David Coulthard was a recent visitor to the Czech Republic, where the Scot demonstrated a 2001-model McLaren and became the first FI driver to take a current FI car to the 5.4-km track. The day was part of a competition set up by sponsor West, where winner Thomas Foeldi from Budapest, won a drive in the MP4/16 and ran five laps. The software development engineer might have to apply for a job at McLaren but stick to computers ...

11

iDavison Aussie

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Arden F3000 test for James JAMES Courtney will test for the Formula 3000 Championship-winning Arden Team,above, at Imola in the next few weeks.

The Australian, who ended up second in the British Formula 3 Championship after the final round at Bonington and will drive at Macau, is looking likely to spend 2003 in an F3000 seat while dovetailing those commitments with an FI test drive.

“I’m testing for Arden, the

Formula 3000 team, in a couple of weeks at Imola,” said James.

“I think Alan(Gow, manager)is lining up some testing in a Formula 1 car for a couple of days next week. There’s still a bit of stuff going on.”

Brit Robbie Kerr wrapped up the F3 title at Bonington, though it was’t all bad news for Australians, considering that his team owner is none other than expat Aussie, Alan Booking.

-AARON NOONAN

Marshall eadline extends eyes Bathurst 24 Hour a goer despite rumours FRenault

PROCAR has been able to persuade CAMS to extend the deadline for entries for the Bathurst 24 Hour in November and the event,they assure, is a goer despite rumours to the contrary.

Entries were due to have closed on Monday, as we went to press, though it has been extended to October 15 on the grounds that some local competitors have outstanding technical issues, particularly post-Phillip Island.

In a submission to CAMS, a degree of uncertainty among competitors about reliability, competitivness and suitability, mainly of GT-Performance cars, was the main reason.

Around 40 entries have been received by PROCAR at the moment, with the organisation "pretty confident" of having 50 cars on the grid come November.

Australian drivers have already been sorting out drives in the race, with the Austrian-based Duller Motorsport BMW squad to have both Melinda Price and Dominic Beninca among its driving crew in its two M3s. More 24 Hour news in our brief columns.

- AARON NOONAN 12

AFTER finishing third in the Australian Formula Ford Championship, Marcus Marshall is looking at extending his open-wheeler career in the UK. The Valvoline/Sonic driver is in England trying to put together a deal to race in the Formula Renault Winter Festival, following in the footsteps offormer Sonic team-mate Will Bavison.

Marshall completed a two-day test for the Motaworld team on the Brands Hatch Indy circuit last week.

“They’ve offered to run me in the Winter Festival so I just have to get the budget together,” he said.

“It’s at Brands and Bonington in the middle of November, with a view for next year. I struggled on the first day of fitting into the car, but it was good in the end. The sequential gearbox is a luxury compared to the Formula Ford.

He also has an offer of a free Formula Holden test at the start of November.

-AARON NOONAN

Will fc

by AARON NOONAN WILL Davison has rounded out his first year of racing overseas with a strong fourth place finish in the British Formula Renault Championship.

The Motaworld driver qualified sixth and 11th (after a

motorsport news

NEWS

Wins at Indy!

>upercup win in series finale

by AARON NOONAN

»ufth in title trip through the grass clogged his sidepods and overheated the engine) for the two races at « the season finale at Donington and finished fifth and sixth in the two races.

"We made the best of a hard weekend," Davison said.

"The end result was pretty good. We struggled a bit and didn't qualifying very well but had two good races. They were very tough races but we came through in both, "Going into the last race, my team-mate Rob Bell was three points behind me in the series and he was off pole and I .

2 October 2002

thought I'd definitely lost fourth in the series with me in 11th.

"I got a good start, he got a bad one and he fell back a bit, so that meant I held onto fourth in the title.

"I remember at the start of the year I said my aim at best was to finish in the top five in the title so realistically I didn't know how possible that would be. All in all, it was a good year."

The former Formula Ford champ is now busy with his management team MRS Management sorting out his 2003 racing program, with a Formula 3 test for Alan Docking's titlewinning team already sorted.

ALEX Davison has been building up to a big result in the Porsche Supercup and the 22-year-old Australian delivered on the weekend, scoring an historic first win at the series’s finale at the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Davison qualified on pole for the first race and impressed many by dominating the race to take the victory. Having qualified fifth for the second event, the Manthey Racing driver took his Porsche GTS Cup car to third spot by the end of the 16-lapper.

“I’m over the moon,” said Davison.

“It’s been a while coming but to finally break through for this first win in the Supercup is veiy special. And to do it at a place so famous as Indy is pretty I sensational. I don’t think it really I sinks in for a little while, but I’ve ^ got my last round of the Carrera »; Cup series in Germany this .1 weekend so I can’t have my head in the clouds too long!”

The result means that Davison ends the Supercup season sixth in the final points standings,though early season bad luck - where he scored three DNFs in the fii'st three races-stopped what could have been a championship winning season.

Id the last seven races, the Weissach-based Aussie has outscored everybody - even eventual champion Stephane Ortelli picking up 100 of his 117 points in the final six rounds of the 12 race title. He ended up just 10 points from third-placed Timo Bernhard.

Since round seven at Hockenheim, Davison has had a win, two nmner-up spots, two thirdplaces and a fifth in the final seven races. He also achieved fastest lap in all of the final three rounds.

Next season’s progi-am is yet to be determined for Davison, who has raced overseas for Porsche in 2000 and 2001. He has meetings scheduled for the end of October where his 2003 racing progi'am is likely to be decided, though his 2002 form should go far to guaranteeing him a good ride next year, possibly in Porsche’s GT I Sportscar racing program.

Toyota’s 2003 gear hits the road LAST week Panasonic Toyota Racing was on track for the first time with its 2003 FI engine and gearbox, in a modified TF102 at its test and development HQ at Paul Ricard, France. Test driver Stephane Sarrazin did the driving. n The members of GPWC reaffirmed their commitment to their own 'Grand Prix World Championship' series during a board meeting at the Paris Motor Show in France this week. Representatives of five of the major automobile manufacturers currently involved in Formula 1 - BMW, DaimlerChrysler, Fiat, Ford and Renault - are still working towards a championship with "significant improvements in the economic benefits to all the teams and manufacturers that participate."

The Concorde Agreement, which sets out the commercial arrangements in FI, is valid through 2007, so GPWC is now expected to concentrate on persuading all the signatories to invalidate it. Another priority must therefore be to get Honda and Toyota on board. n BMW WilliamsFI has recruited Dr John Davis as its new aerodynamic facilities development engineer.

Twenty years ago, Davis was studying for his doctorate at Imperial College in London and got to work occasionally in Formula 1. He went on to join Gerard Ducarouge and Ayrton Senna at Team Lotus and was also involved, with Peter Wright, in the development of the team's 'active' suspension system. He was head of R&D at Ligier between 1992-94, then moved on to Pi Research, Patrick Racing, Jordan and Arrows, and most recently has been with Minardi. n WilliamsFI has begun building a new,$50m wind tunnel which will comprehensively outperform its present facility and should be completed next year, in time to influence the design of its 2004 racecar. When Williams dominated Formula 1 in the mid-1990s, its wind tunnel was perceived as one of the best in the world. Technical director Patrick Head recently admitted that the team has been lacking in aerodynamic performance since 1998.

Williams lost its chief designer, Adrian Newey, to McLaren at the end of the 1996 season. n BMS Scuderia Italia intends to be among the first to race the new Ferrari Enzo 'supercar', in 2004. In the meantime, its will again operate two Ferrari 550 Maranello racecars in the 2003 FIA GT championship, and may also contest the Le Mans 24 Hours.

-QUENTIN SPURRING 13

Lady Wigram looks to Oz F3 Warm beer please? James Manderson is looking to Europe.(Pholo by Dirk Klynsmith)

nderson UK?

AUSTRALIAN Formula 3 Champion-elect James Manderson is working towards a berth in a European F3 series next year.

The Victorian, who sewed up the F3 title at Phillip Island two weeks ago, confii-med that while there were still a number of details to be worked out, the ultimate target was to follow in the footsteps of Ryan Briscoe and James Courtney with a drive in either the German or British series.

‘T’ve always dreamed of going to Europe and racing there,” said Manderson.

‘Tt’s a big scene, and you’re right up there on the world stage.

People from everywhere are watching what’s goes on. I’ve been

driving F3 cars for three years now, so hopefully I can get over there, sidestep the junior categories completely and go straight into F3.”

Manderson will fly to England later this year for a test with a leading British F3 team, most likely either Carlin Motorsport or Alan Docking Racing, as part of his reward for winning the Australian crown, and hopes to put his time in the UK to good use by lining up meetings with other influential figures within the sport.

“England is a long way away and it’s not a cheap place to get to, so you’ve got to make the most of it while you’re there,” he said.

- MARK GLENDENNING

A SQUAD of Australian Formula 3 cars will cross the Tasman next January to contest the prestigious Lady Wigam Trophy in Christchurch, New Zealand.

The event will take place on the January 17/18 weekend at Ruapuna Motorsport Park, and will feature a large field of cars from the Australian series as well as local entrants.

Run to a two 25-lap race format,the event marks a return of wings and slicks racing to the Land of the Long White Cloud, with drivers vying to add their names to a distinguished list of previous Lady Wigam Trophy winners that includes Stirling Moss, Jack Brabham, and Jackie Stewart. The revived Trophy was last awarded in 1994.

The meeting is currently planned as,a two-year project, with the possibility of a second circuit to be added alongside Ruapuna in 2004.

-MARK GLENDENNING

Photo by Dirk Klynsnillh

by MARK GLENDENNING THE GT Performance field was thinned out considerably at Phillip Island two weeks ago after a controversy surrounding tyre safety prompted the withdrawal of aU of the Holden GTS Commodores.

The furore began when PROCAE requested CAMS to allow the Holdens to upgrade to 18”x9” rims from the current 18”x8” in an effort to address the problem oftyre blowouts that have affected the Holdens during the season.

Concerns had been raised among competitors that the naiTower tyre/wheel combination on the super-quick Phillip Island circuit raised the risk oftyre failm’e to an unacceptable level.

CAMS toned the request down on the Wednesday prior to the race weekend, however a series of 11th-

Sarah plays F1 TAG ’^^hoios by suiton-iiiuises.com

INDY Racing League star Sarah Fisher had a run in the McLaren spare car on Friday afternoon in Indianapolis and although the times were not very significant, the 21-yearold enjoyed herself during her three-lap demonstration run.

Although there was much talk about Fisher being the first woman to drive a Formula 1 car since Giovanna Amati in 1992 it is not strictly true, as Ireland's Sarah Kavanagh has been racing modern FI cars for several years in the BOSS FI series in Europe.

Fisher's drive was arranged through TAG Fleuer, a sponsor she shares with McLaren.

- JOE SAWARD

motorsport news

NEWS Just spin if you 12 circuits can win form new alliance

I

hour negotiations involving competitors and officials from P.ROCAR and CAMS eventually resulted in the approval of two fitments on a one-off basis for the PI meeting only.

Tlie first option was an 18”x8” lim mounted with a road-legal Pirelli P Zero-C tyi'e, and the second was an 18” x 9” rim with suitable racing slicks, on the proviso that the move was met with the unanimous approval of all competitors in the field, and that the cars concerned started the race from the rear ofthe field.

However, none of the drivers were willing to run the slower road-legal rubber, and it was believed that the second option would fail to achieve the support necessary fi'om the resP of the field. Consequently, the Holdens failed to make it onto the gi-id.

The issue has ramifications beyond the immediacy of the race weekend, as it raises the issue of whether PROCAR or CAMS has the ultimate say in PROCAR’s technical

management. According to PROCAR Australia Chairman and Chief Executive Ross Palmer,the proposal from CAMS carried conditions that effectively cancelled out PROCAR’s technical management responsibilities for the remainder ofthe season.

“CAMS effectively said we couJd stand in the comer for the rest oof the yeat with a dunce’s cap on ouir head. That insults the intelligence of the entire PROCAR team,” Palmer said.

“I’m disappointed by the processes CAMS has in place fon dealing with such matters and aUso that PROCAR’s expertise and research on this particular issue has not been given due credit. Nothing short of a serious investigation into the processes and methods of CA4JIS Motor Racing Committee will satisfy me. The gloves are off.”

PROCAR has stated that it is “highly probable” that it will face legal action from competitors,in which case “CAMS could also fia,<l itselfjoined in the proceedings.”

TWELVE of Australia’s foremost motorsport venues have formed their own organisation, the Australian Auto-Sport Alliance.

The body, which met with CAMS President Colin Osborne, Directors Bob Glindemann and Kevin Moore and CEO Rob Nethercote last week in Sydney, seeks to take the sport to a new market.

The move has,in part, been prompted because if the increase in the cost of conducting race meetings, caused largely by the booming charges in liability insurance.

There is also the likelihood of the group imdertaking new marketing initiatives aimed at the 85 percent of motor racing participants who pimsue their motorsport outside the umbrella of CAMS and its affihated clubs.

“AAA was a representative organisation focused on the cost, quality and effectiveness of delivering goods and services to its members and its customers,” said AAA Board Member and Interim Secretary John Tetley.

AAA President Mick Ronke, of W’inton Motor Raceway, went further; “Given CAMS has a declared lack of interest in the commercial side of motor sport and its marketing, there has been almost universal recognition that some organisation would have to step into the breach. That is what AAA is doing.”

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DANNY Sullivan's 'Red Bull FI Driver Search', which is intended to pick up a young American driver and take him all the way to Formula 1, has named the first 16 candidates.

Seven are current drivers from the CART 'Ladder' system. They will initially participate in training and evaluation sessions in Formula 3 cars at Paul Ricard on October 14.

n The former Prost Grand Prix wind tunnel In France has been sold to two former Prost team engineers, Alexis Lapouille and Xavier Gerhaud.

They have formed a new company.

Aero Concept Engineering, to conduct aerodynamic research and development for customers. n Petrobras has pulled out of the FIA Formula 3000 series, citing new Brazilian taxes which have been imposed on overseas sponsorships, making it uneconomical to continue. n A new team set up by UK Formula Ford chassis constructor Van Diemen International will enter the 2003 British Formula 3 Championship -with a Mugen-engined Dallara chassis. n F3000 racer Mario Haberfeid has tested a Champ Car. The Astromega racer tested for Walker Racing at the Firebird road course in Phoenix, the same track used by Jason Bright in 2000 for his first Champ Car test. The Brazilian will be at this weekend's CART race at Miami as he attempts to get a drive in the series in 2003. n Another F3000 racer looking for a drive in America is Ricardo Mauricio. The Red Bull-backed driver has tested one of Eddie Cheever's machines at Kentucky.

- QUENTIN SPURRING

By Allan Schofield

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' The'brothers offunny looks; Carpenlier, left, will again leam-up with iPholu hys\ l●imll}it.'s.ctn») Tagliani in 2003. , AFTER looking elsewhere for a drive in 2003, Patrick . parpentier will stay with the Player's/Forsythe team next season, driving alongside Alex Tagliani and Paul Tracy. . , Carpentier, 31, wa.s looking like he may not be able to stay at t';th.e team and had looked at the Indy Racing League, considering i -that the Player's money had to stretch across the existing deal \ Tagliani.had and forking over extra money for Tracy's services.

Ca'rpentier has won races at Cleveland and Mid-Ohio and sits fourth in the CART FedEx Championship Series, having won his first CART race at Michigan last year.

- PHIL MORRIS »■

ANDRETTI Green Racing has confirmed what has long heen suspected - it will move to the Indy Racing League in 2003.

Michael Andretti will be joined in the driving line-up by Dario Franchitti and Tony Kanaan, who moves across from Mo Nunn’s team.

"We are excited to announce our entry into the Indy Racing League, and I am particularly happy to know that Dario and Tony will be my teammates,” said Andretti, who, along with partners Kim Green and Kevin Savoree, bought the team, effective from December 1.

The team will spearhead Honda’s move into the IRL, with support from Honda Performance Development.

“Honda’s history and commitment to racing are second to none and were a major factor in my decision to come to Team Green in 2001,” said Andretti.

“My experience with Honda the past two seasons has only

deepened my respect for their dedication and professionalism.”

While he was keen to remain in CART, Franchitti has signed to continue with the team under its new ownership structure.

“Fm excited to know that I’ll be with Andretti Green Racing and Honda in the coming seasons,” said Franchitti.

“I’ve always had a lot of respect for Michael, but working with him as a team-mate the past two years 5

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KOOLI

More of the same

'MAM

Off to Fontana? Darren Manning drove the team's Lola at Rockingham, and would have to be favourite for California should a deal happen.

(Photo by sutton-iniages.com)

Poms want another go Team St George aims at another CART oval start

TEAM St George, the organisation formed to run a ‘British’ Champ Car in the recent Rockingham 500, is seeking the funds to compete in CART’s next oval race, the Toyota California 500 at Fontana on November 3.

Its Lola-Cosworth was operated at Rockingham by Dale Coyne Racing and by RML, which is not involved in the Fontana initiative, but is nonetheless evaluating a full CART programme in 2003.

“It makes sense to push ahead with Team St George,” commented RML founder Ray Mallock. “It has an obvious marketing angle for UK companies doing business in the USA.” - QUENTIN SPURRING 16

AUDI has dominated the latest round of the American Le Mans Series at Laguna Seca.

Not surprisingly Emanuele Pirro and Frank Biela, above, led every lap to win after team-mates Rinaldo Capel lo and Tom Kristensen dropped put with broken suspension.

Johnny Herbert and Stefan Johansson took second in the Champion Audi, whi le JJ lehto and Max Angelelli finished third, one lap down, in the Cadi l lac Northstar LMP 02.

Tomas Enge and Peter Kox won the GTS class in a Ferrari 550 Maranel lo, v^hi le Sascha Maassen and Lucas Luhr won the GT class.

KOOL will not be back in motor racing in 2003.

The Brown & Williamson Tobacco brand has backed Team Green in the CART series since 1997, but has decided to bow out now, as the team heads to the IRL. “The decision to end our motorsport sponsorship progi’am was a very difficult one to make,” said Ludo Cremers, B&W’s divisional vice president.

“Our Team KOOL Green motorsport news

NEWS

IRL goes to MOTORCjS

Change that CART car for an IRL one: Andretti will remain in the seat with Franchitti and Kanaan, though there’s rumours that he will retire (Photos by sutlon-imagss.com] after the Indy 500 next May. has strengthened our relationship.

Adding Tony to the mix is the icing on the cake.’

Motorola,Archipelago, 7-Eleven and Klein Tools will remain backers of the team,though KOOL (see other story) won’t return to racing.

We had considered later timing

for this announcement when all program details were final, Andretti said.

‘However with all the speculation about Andretti Green’s direction, we felt it important to our partners and employees to announce these key elements of our 2003 plans.

Alfa goes all-out in ETCC DETERMINED to beat rival BMW to the Manufacturers crown in the 2002 FIA European Touring Car Championship, Alfa Romeo has drafted in Gabriele Tarquini for next week's round at Donington Park.

Tarquini will race a fourth works Team Nordauto Alfa 156 alongside defending champion Fabrizio Giovanardi, Nicola Larini and Roberto Colciago, Tarquini, a multiple Touring Car champion, was a Honda driver in 2001 when he finished runner-up to Giovanardi, but has not raced this year. n Actor and model Antonio Sabato Jr had a run in the Porsche Supercup at Indianapolis. The actor, who crunched a Mini in the Celebrity Challenge at this year's Australian Grand Prix, ran at the back of the pack.

Sabato's father, Antonio Sr, was an actor in the 1966 movie 'Grand Prix'. n Riley & Scott Racing has secured an agreement with Toyota Racing Development to use the new, TRD-built V8 in its first 2003 Daytona Prototype, and to badge the new racecar as a Toyota. Development of the new car, including Celica styling cues, is under way in the company's Indianapolis factory.

-QUENTIN SPURRING

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} i^SYDNEY^ctobeM^ 15th & 16th 2002 Wi V MELBOURNE: October 18th, 19th & 20th 2002 The end of those green and white machines: KOOL, Franchitti and (Photo by sutton-images.com) Tracy won’t be together again in 2003. sponsorship program has played a key role in the revitalization of the KOOL brand in the United States.

“However, the brand has evolved and the fit with motor racing has become less and less optimal, making it increasingly difficult to achieve an acceptable business return on our motorsport investment.”

During its time with Team 2 October 2002

Green, KOOL-backed cars, driven

by Dario Franchitti, Paul Tracy and Parker Johnstone, won a total of 16 races, including five l-2s.

“I am well aware of how hard this decision is for them and I appreciate the time and consideration they have given us throughout the process,” said Barry Green.

-PHIL MORRIS

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Watching the Toyota and Evans THERE was considerable manufacturer interest at last month’s Rally of Melbourne - and not just in the cars.

The debut of Neal Bates’s Toyota Corolla Group N (P)car drew many eyes, the first car built to the new ARC protoype rules drawing admiring glances from Hyundai, Ralliart(team boss Bob Riley seen having a peek) and Ford, which is believed to be looking at a similar program for its newlyreleased Focus.

But we hear that the Corolla (which finished seventh in Heat 1) was not the only object of Ford’s gaze. In fact, rumours suggest that the Blue Ovaleers were watching drivers as well and were impressed with the performance of Simon Evans.

The Victorian privateer won Heat 1 and had Heat 2 shot to pieces until his Subaru had engine problems within a kilometre of the finish line.

Evans’s driving, together with the standard of presentation in his Raceworxprepared Impreza, would potentially make a good fit with any of Ford’s plans to attack the 2003 ARC Super Series in a Focus.

by JON THOMSON

Well, it could be in Canberra: With the loss ofthe Canberra 400 race, will WRC cars head to the ACT- and will Simon Crean get another ride? (Photo by suium-imafies.com)

WRC to head to Canberra?

THE passing of Glenn Cuthbert and the Melbourne Major Events Company's apparent cooling on the idea of bringing Rally Australia east would, on the surface, seem to put the idea of it moving from Perth to rest forever.

However, new suggestions have surfaced that all is not well in the organisation of Rally Australia in Perth.

Motorsport News understands there have been some internal

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ructions in Perth and, with allnew management now in place at WA Eventscorp, the World Championship is viewed as just another event.

A key staffer is understood to be keen to leave and perhaps take his knowledge to another interested government on the Eastern seaboard, most likely the ACT. Canberra would be an ideal place for the World Rally Championship round to be staged, with great stages and plenty of them on the edge of the city and with a single Service park able to service all legs, something Perth is struggling with.

Canberra also has a huge well of accommodation and the event would be an enormous tourist attraction for not much more cost to the ACT than staging the ill-fated Canberra 400 V8 race.

The date change forced upon the WA event by WRC organisers for next year, when the event moves from November back to September, has apparently not been received very well by Eventscorp management With the WRC round committed to Perth until next year, the most likely scenario would be that Canberra may be groomed to host the event from 2004.

-JON THOMSON

FORD has chosen not to renew the contract of rally star Colin McRae for 2003 and beyond, and the Scotsman will be in a Citroen next year.

“Looking at the options, between Ford, Citroen and Subaru, I reckon that Citroen is going to be the car that’s the best of all of them,” said the former world champion.

“It certainly is on the tarmac at the moment and there’s no reason why it can’t be on the gravel.

“It’s just difficult to make a judgement, because there hasn’t been a gravel driver in it of any great experience, but performancewise, it’s the right move.

“It won’t be easy against Peugeot, but I think the team can win a World Championship next year.”

McRae denied that signing a one-year, rather than the customary two-year contract, indicated a lack of confidence in the team, stating that the 12month agreement simply gave both sides maximum flexibility without the complication of an option.

Ford released a statement last Friday outlining some of the reasons behind its parting with McRae at the end of this season.

“We hope that in advising Colin of this decision, it will enable him to plan for the 2003 championship season and will alleviate the undue pressure that has been disruptive, not only for Colin and his co-driver, Nicky Grist, but for the team as a whole,” Ford’s European Director of Motorsport, Martin Whitaker said.

The split has apparently come as a result of McRae’s high price tag and Ford’s belief that it can cut its budget and achieve better results with younger(and supposedly hungrier) talent.

“We will concentrate on our chosen strategy of building for the future of the championship with a line up focused on our promising younger generation of drivers, whilst continuing to develop the next generation of Focus World Rally Cars,” said Whitaker.

Ford’s axing of McRae is rumoured to have saved the company approximately $19 million, ensuring it achieves the significant budget cuts it needs to keep the rally progi’am going in response to massive losses in its European operation.

Citroen announced its signing of motorsport news

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inns for Citroen McRae on its stand at the Paris Motor Show last Thursday morning.

“Colin will bring to the Citroen team his valued experience from his many victories and World Championship success,” said Citroen rally team boss Guy Frequelin.

Citroen will enter its first full season in the WRC with an exciting driver line-up. Alongside McRae will be superstar-in-themaking Sebastien Loeb, the young Frenchman who scored his WRC wins in Monte Carlo (which he later lost on a technicality) and Germany last month.

Frequelin believes McRae will be on the pace in the season opening Monte Carlo.

“Sebastien is a rising star but he needs more experience and he can learn from Colin. Colin has never won in Monte Carlo, but 1 believe he can win there next January.”

Frequelin refused to be drawn on details of how much Citroen is going to have to pay the Scotsman.

McRae has been with Ford since 1999, but despite becoming the most successful World Rally driver ever, scoring 25 WRC wins, he has failed to add to his only World Championship, captured in 1995 title with Subaru.

See ya in a Citroen: Colin McRae has left Ford after four seasons.

03 WRex

NEWS FI chiefs after Frost money SEVERAL Formula 1 teams have decided that they are going to go to the International Chamber of Commerce in Lausanne to challenge the decision to give Minardi the TV money which should have gone to Frost Grand Prix.

We understand that McLaren, Williams, BAR, Jordan and perhaps others have decided to challenge the decision, under Clause 17 of the Concorde Agreement. If the teams win the process, which is likely to take several months, Minardi will have to pay back the money received and that will put the team into financial difficulties again.

The other teams are claiming that they should share the money between them. The Concorde Agreement is apparently rather vague on the subject and so is open to different interpretations.

The team bosses say (off the record) that it is a matter of principle and that they feel that the clauses in the Concorde Agreement have not been correctly interpreted. This is all well and good but, in the finest traditions of FI team owners, ignores some basic realities of life.

Whatever the arcane details of the arguments, there is a danger that if they win the case they will be seen to have put a smaller team into difficulties. And that will be yet another blow to a sport that is already seen as being ineffective and divided. It goes against all the conciliatory words that the team bosses have been spouting in recent months and opens up old wounds that might be best left closed.

- JOE SAWARD

Burns to see more butts SUBARU unveiled a prototype version of its 2003 WRC contender at the Paris Motor Show last week.

The new car has revisions to the engine, roll-cage, body panels and aerodynamic package, and Subaru is hoping that it will return to the team to its title-winning form of 2001.

"The WRC is now more 2 October 2002

competitive than ever before and winning rallies demands the very best at every stage. As far as I'm concerned this prototype represents another significant step forward in the development of the Impreza - it is absolutely on the cutting edge," said team principal David Lapworth.

"The prototype features a number of improvements over

the current model, for instance the bodyshell is lighter and stiffen the aero package uses the air in a far more efficient way and the reduced frontal area makes the whole package more aerodynamic. There are many more improvements under the skin, but until the design is finalised we're remaining tightlipped."

PEUGEOT'S new deal with Phillip Morris has prematurely ended Richard Burns's personal sponsorship deal with IMicorette, the nicotine replacement patches.

The World Rally Champion and co-driver Robert Reid appeared at last week's Sanremo WRC round with Nicorette's logo covered over on their racesuits.

Peugeot's three 206 WRC cars will run in the red and white colours of Marlboro next season.

19

r

Musical chairs at Sauber Pass

by JOE SAWARD

FELIPE Massa will return to the cockpit of a Sauber in Japan, despite Heinz-Harald Frentzen’s appearance at last weekend’s US GP. At the Italian Grand Prix, Massa was penalised by the stewards for causing an accident with Pedro de la Rosa.

As Massa was out of the race, the stewards had no sanction beyond a fine - except for the rule introduced this year that gave them the power to impose a penalty of the loss of 10 grid positions at the next race. This they decided to do. \^en the dust had settled and the Sauber team was back in Switzerland, the severity of the punishment hit the team.

Sauber is fighting for foiu-th place in the Constructors’ World Championship with Renault and the fact that Massa would,in effect, be starting from the back of the grid would mean that he would have virtually no hope of scoring points.

The penalty, however, applies only to the driver and not to the car and so Sauber realised that the best course of action in its fight for points would be to replace Massa with another driver for the one event.

Fortunately for the team Frentzen was currently available. He took part in the recent testing at Silverstone, lapping very quickly before making a mistake and crashing quite heavily.

Despite this, the team decided that he had enough to stand in for Massa at Indianapolis.

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FOLLOWING on from a report in Motorsport News recently, the wraps have now come off the new V6 Formula Renault The car, which wiil take to the track in it's championship next year, was unveiled at the Paris Motor Show last week.

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Photo by Marsh/BOTHWEa

THE Dutch moving in at Minardi?

Jos Verstappen will almost certainly join Minardi next year - but the Dutch are pushing hard for Jos to be joined in the team by Christjian Albers, who would act as the Minardi test driver.

The aim is for the two Dutchmen to be used to attract more sponsorship and there was stories in Holland that there could be considerable sponsorship for the pair from Lost Boys and other Dutch sponsors.

There are something like 20 drivers in with a chance at Minardi next year, but team boss Paul Stoddart is in no hurry to make a decision and is happy to see how things develop in order to maximise

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the,sponsorship he can get. fhe list of Minardi possibilites n .ificludes Verstappen, Mika Salo, '4llan McNish, Felipe Massa, l H^an Herta, Townsend Bell, ●^fhas Enge, Justin Wilson, ,',’^Tithony Davidson. Giorgio ;|Rantano, Enrique Bernoldi,

Ricardo Zonta, Tarso Marques and several current F1 lest drivers.

There are other drivers who may be looking for work by the end of the year, notably Takuma Sato and possibly even Pedro de la Rosa.

● ● ●

- JOE SAWARD

PPOFI

● ●●●

COLLARS

● ● ● MERCEDES-BENZ has increased its shareholding in Ilmor Engineering and will take over the entire company by 2005.

The German car manufacturer has owned a share of the engine company since 1992 when it bought the 25 percent owned hy General Motors.

For the moment, Mercedes-Benz has increased its stake to 55 percent but will buy out the other shareholders before 2005. The other shareholders are founder Mario lllien, the Morgan Family (which inherited the shares previously owned by Illien’s partner Paul Morgan, who was killed in a aeroplane crash in 2001) and Roger Penske, who provided the capital for lllien and Morgan when they went into business together in 1983 to build engines for CART. After considerable success building Chevrolet-badged CART engines, Ilmor expanded into Formula 1 in 1991. Mercedes then bought into the company and Ilmor built CART and FI engines badged as MercedesBenz. These engines powered Mika Hakkinen to two World Championships in 1998 and 1999.

Since then, the company has failed to match the power of the Ferrari and BMW engines and there have been an increasing number of rumours suggesting that Mercedes-Benz is taking more and more of the research and development work in-house in Germany and increasingly turning Ilmor into a production facility.

The engines will now become known as Mercedes-Ilmor VlOs, - JOE SAWARD

2 October 2002

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21

Max gets a Honda Thom

MAX Biaggi will quit Yamaha and race for Honda next season.

The Italian has signed a threeyear deal with Honda Racing Corporation and will ride for the Pramac team next season.

Pramac currently runs a twostroke Honda NSR500 for Tetsuya Harada in the MotoGP series.

"I was dreaming to race with Honda again and Pramac made my dream come true," Biaggi said in Brazil last week.

"I have visited the Pramac factory and I have not got the slightest doubt about my choice."

The only potential problem for Biaggi is that, with a number of new manufacturers entering the series next year, the Pramac team is not guaranteed a grid slot next season. As things stand, it may be forced to join with an existing team, like Tech 3 or Antenna 3, to obtain a 'franchise'.

And while HRC has

confirmed the Roman's deal, there are no details on whether Biaggi will run a factory-built chassis or a proprietary one built by Moriwaki, which will supply the WCM team with chassis for its Honda V5

engines.

Biaggi may not be the only Yamaha man changing brands.

Norick Abe was quoted in Rio as saying he was "surprised and disappointed" with the news that Tech 3 riders Olivier Jacque and Shinya Nakano will Yamaha's four-stroke for the last four rounds of the 2002 season.

Reports have linked Abe, who left Honda for Yamaha five years ago, with Kawasaki's news GP team.

And another man to switch camps is Warren Willing. The Australian has agreed to a multi-year deal with KTM, which will field a team in the MotoGP class in 2004. The Austrian manufacturer will run in the 125 class next season in preparation for the big bike class the following year.

Willing's current team, Suzuki, has told him that his services are no longer required.

Willing leaving with immediate effect.

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Rossi for BAR FI test

HONDA’S MotoGP World Champion, Valentino Rossi has accepted an invitation to test a BAR-Honda Formula 1 car.

The exuberant Rossi has been the winner of 10 of 12 MotoGP races this year. The test inspired Bernie Ecclestone to comment; “He should be the target of every team on the grid, because his fantastic character would be a boost. We need someone like him.

“Unfortunately I don’t have a team, or I’d get him on board straight away.”

- QUENTIN SPURRING

THE French ORECA team, this season’s top privateer at the Le Mans 24 Hours, has vowed not to return to the French enduro without the support of a manufacturer.

The French team believes it cannot better its 'best of the rest’ placing behind the VWj Audi group marques without backing from a major manufacturer.

“We will not go back to Le Mans like we did this year - we i have to have the backing of a manufacturer or we won’t go i back,” said ORECA boss j Hugues de Ghaunac. j “Without that we cannot really do any better, so there | would be little point in doing it again. It won’t be easy, because of the economic situation and the change in the regulations for 2004,” he said.

One option ORECA is examining is a switch to Champ !

Cars.

“We are investigating all opportunities at the moment.

CART is a good formula.”

-GARY WATKINS inoiorspori news

NEWS -0

pson is Champ

by DAVID ADDISON

JAMES Thompson has clinched the British Touring Car Championship, giving Vauxhall its fourth title in 14 successive years of racing 1 i ..

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in the championship.

Thompson arrived at Bonington with a slim championship lead over Yvan Muller, but lost that after a points-losing engine change under the new regulations.

However,Thompson forced his way past Muller to win the first race one and Mulle damaged his car in race allowing Thompson to ro home to take the crown. i “It’s a great feeling, l tinged with ^ relief,” he said.

However,the new champion doesn’t yet have a contract for 2003 in his pocket and is pestering Vauxhall to allow him to defend its crown.

The manufacturer itself has confirmed that it will be back asam in 2003 to defend ^

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were crowned FIA Sportscar Champions at Spa in late September in a chaotic weekend.

First, teams were informed that a subsequent German round had been cancelled and the Belgian race would be the last of the year. Then, the race was halted early when an apocalyptic cloudburst transformed Domes to dinghies and Courages to catamarans.

The race was won by JeanChristophe Boullion and an inspired Sebastain Bourdais, but second place secured the title for Lammers and Hillebrand. n Former BTCC champion Jason Plato made his Spa, and Sportscar, debut by racing Bob Berridge's Lola B98 in the last Spa FIA Sportscar Championship round. Plato took the car, used in the Michel Vaillant Le Mans film this year, to fourth place.

VAUXHALL

True Courage

I Danes win FIA I Sportscar title

THE Courage Competition Sportscar team is aiming to have two MG-engined 'baby' prototypes on the grid for next year's Le Mans 24 Hours.

Courage has revealed that the LMP675 design it has been working on for the past 18 months will be built around the AER-built two-litre that has powered the MG for the past two years. Courage wants to join forces with an existing team to mount an assault on next year's 24 Hours with the new car, which will be known as the C65.

Team boss Yves Courage said; "We are thinking of entering into an agreement with a team that would be considered as a semi factory team."

Its in-house team is likely to run one of its existing C60JX LMP900 prototypes next year.

- GARY WATKINS

n Tim Harvey is set to return to the Macau Guia race after an absence of 13 years. Harvey won the race in 1989 in a Ford Sierra but will drive a Peugeot 307 for the WK Longman team. n British F3 racer Mark Taylor wins this week's ‘Toys Out of Pram' Award. Having already signed for the US oval Infiniti Pro Series for 2003, he parked his car mid-way through the first Thruxton F3 race, declaring the car undriveable and announcing his instant retirement from the formula with three races remaining I n The proposed British F3 Winter Championship has been finalised with two races at Rockingham on November 2 being followed by the final two races at Silverstone a week later. n Nelson Piquet Jr is to race in the British Formula 3 Championship for the next two seasons. Father Nelson was at Donington in discussions with Trevor Carlin but there is still a chance that Piquet Sports could operate a UK arm.

- DAVID ADDISON

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Imola World Superbikes

Edwards takes the title

IT'S hard to begrudge a world title to anyone who wins nine races in a row, and that is what Colin Edwards did to seal his second World Superbike Championship title in three years.

In a final-round Showdown with Troy Bayliss, the American came out on top, taking Superpole and both races at Imola to take, what only three months ago, looked like an impossible dream.

Edwards took a narrow win in the first race, a small lead from the first of a two-part race (caused by a red flag) enabling the Texan to shadow Bayliss to the chequered flag. Bayliss's team mate Ruben Xaus, who always races strongly at the Italian track, took third. Fourth was Neil Hodgson, who fell right before the red flag, while Noriyuki Haga was fifth.

In the second race, the two title contenders battled to the flag and, despite the fact that second would been enough to take the title, Edwards forced his way through at Tosa and pulled away to a narrow win.

"What a day," said Edwards.

"On paper the two race wins were ours but the job's still got to be done. My team has done a fantastic job, especially today when we needed it most. Troy's been really good about it, a great guy and he's given it everything today when he knew we were in better shape. It's great that it's all over, there's nothing else left but

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I pulled a rabbit out of the hat in this morning's warm-up and got on the pace. The race was a real showdown, I did pretty good but it just wasn't enough. Whoever won today deserved it so congratulations to Coiin!

Points; Edwards 552, Bayliss 541, Hodgson 326, Haga 278, Ben Bostrom 261, etc.

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And he won the wet Tshirt contest too: Colin Edwards celebrates his second 'MFOg world title on the podium with arch-rival Troy Bayliss. As usual. the racing between the two rivals was intense in both races.

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0 nnpp » THERE were all sorts of numbers in play at Brazil’s round of the MotoGP championship but,in the end, only one counted.

Valentino Rossi scored his 10th win in 12 races to seal his foirrth world title in three classes in six seasons. He became the first winner in the new MotoGP class and took his 49th career GP win. But, at the end of the day, 1 was not the loneliest number as he rode a \dctory lap with that number covering up his usual 46.

For the second race in a row, Rossi watched as the leader succumbed to pressure and fell. In Portugal, it was Sete Gibernau who dumped his Suzuki while leading Rossi and,in Brazil, it was Yamaha’s Carlos Checa. The Spaniard was last into the first corner but, by half-distance, he was in the lead, having caught the leaders at around two seconds a lap in the slippery conditions. *1

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But he made a mistake, losing the front end of his Ml under braking, having gone into a corner in third gear instead of second.

“This is like a dream,” beamed Rossi after the race. “Difficult to explain. I cannot say now how it feels to be champion of MotoGP because I have been concentrating so hard on racing in these conditions that I will need time to think.

“When I saw the board on the second lap that said‘Ukawa out’, I realised that I could win the title here as long as I finished in front of Max (Biaggi). I was second then and it was hard to see because of the spray coming off Kenny's bike.

When I passed then it was easier to see, but Max doesn’t give up and keeps pushing,I see on my board.

Then amves Checa so fast he comes from another planet!

“I follow and then he crashes but still is Biaggi behind and I keep pushing to win.”

Biaggi took second, admitting that he was concentrating on trying to seal second in the championship from Tohm Ukawa. He congi-atulated his arch-rival and countiyman on his title, earning himself a round of applause at the post-race press conference.

Eai’lier leader Keimy Roberts took third (his first poium finish in a tough season) ahead of local Alex Barros, who took out honours for the two-stroke riders.

Garry McCoy qualified fourth fastest for the race but slipped to 10th place in the tricky conditions.

Points: Rossi 270,Biaggi 164, Ukawa 156, Barros 118, Checa 115.

YAMAHA returned to the 250cc winners’circle in Brazil, Sebastien Porto took classy for the opposition.

The Argentine, coming off three successive podium finishes, streeted the opposition to win by 14s.

Roberto Rolfo Was second on his

Hondas,leading home the Aprilias of Franco Battaini, championship leader Marco Melandri and Toni Elias.

Next came Casey Stoner. The Aussie teenager was less than totally at home in the conditions and admitted to making plenty of errors, but stayed on the track to record his third sixth-placed finish in his debut 250 season.

Points: Melandri 228, Nieto 183,Rolfo 160,Porto 135, Elias 116.

MASAO Azmna scored his first win of 2002,taking a weUeamed win after falling back as far as 12th on his Italjet-run Honda.

Amaud Vincent took second place ahead of Manuel Poggiali, who fell back 27 points(one whole race) behind the Frenchman in the title hunt.

Points: Vincent 214,Poggiali 187, Pedrosa 166, Cecchinello 132, Jenkner 122.

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OPINION

Carry-on luggage, Colin Edwards and Bathurst

I

travel a lot. One year, not long ago, I spent 28 weekends at racetracks in various parts of Australia.

There are several rules of thumb by which I traverse the country.

One is; never, ever queue. There always seems to be a herd of people who are quite happy to stand in line, but I am not one of them, so any airline or car rental company has to be able to offer a queue-free deal to get my business.

Another rule is; if you can't carry it onto a plane, don't take it. I have a cabin bag into which I can squeeze enough stuff for four days away, plus a computer bag that can carry an almighty array of garbage if you pack carefully enough.

But, as usual, there is an exception to the rule, and that exception is Bathurst. Look; I know I can get by with shorts and polos at Surfers and Darwin. One light jacket is plenty for Perth. But

Bathurst? Shorts, tees, jumpers, heavy cord dacks, light and heavy socks, gloves, beanies, sunscreen, caps and a jacket in which you could walk through a carwash, You just never know what the hell is going to happen at Mount Panorama.

And that is the beauty of the place. Common sense would indicate that the Holden Racing Team will win the race this year, but where was common sense last year when Mark Skaife had to put in, probably, his finest-ever performance to hold off the unfancied OzEmail Falcon? Where was common sense when Wayne Gardner took pole the year before?

Or Larko before that? Or Bright and Richards winning from grid 15?

There is nowhere like the Mountain. There is something strange, mystical about the place.

You go to Bathurst and, whether you are there for a day or a whole week, the race owns you. Every hour of every day, something happens.

Perhaps it is the mountain itself; perhaps it is the fans, divided into two tribes, one Holden red and one Ford blue (or, more likely, black). have been going there for decades and I still can't figure it out. actually like Bathurst best at night.

You sit in a restaurant, having a bite and a drink (only the one.

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Bathurst is Ma Sacred Site ^ in motor racing. Anyone who says different jusi

officer, honestly) and it always seems like the track is watching you.

And, if you get to drive a lap during the dark hours and, better still, stop at the top, you get to appreciate what a great place it is.

The city twinkles below, the cold envelopes you (and it is always cold) and the smells and the sounds permeate your mind.

Whether it is sausages sizzling away on a barbecue, or someone trying to drag his mate out of a barbecue, it never ceases to amaze me how different the place is - yet how much the same the place is.

Then you drive down from Skyline, through the Esses to the Dipper and turn in a Forrest's Elbow where, hopefully, there will not be someone 'irrigating' the concrete wall (that happened). Down past the driveways on Conrod (hopefully it will be 'Bin Night'), through the Chase (flat at 60 kays) and into the bright lights of the pits and the exit road which, sadly, returns you to the 'real' world.

There is never, ever, just another Bathurst 1000. They are all special. and all different. As much as we have one in this country. Mount Panorama is the Sacred Site in motor racing. Yes, it needs new pits; the paddock needs demolishing and rebuilding, the spectator facilities need to be upgraded (and a new media centre would not hurt, while we are at it).

But it is the homeland of our sport and anyone who says different just does not get it... hree moQjti.s ago, if you had placed a bet on anyone but Troy Bayiiss winning the World

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Motor Mouth witk pmi BfaaagaB Superbike Championship, you would surely have qualified for government-funded psychiatric care.

After all, the bloke from Taree won the first three rounds of the series in a canter and seemed to be assured of his second title before stepping into the MotoGP wars next year.

Colin Edwards is not crazy, or foolish. But he sure is determined and talented. And, while Bayiiss was taking all the wins, Colin was taking all the seconds, while the Honda engineers were working behind the scenes to reverse the situation.

Edwards's nine consecutive race wins to close the season allowed him to snatch the title. A brilliant effort, worthy of applause, and a decent demonstration, in microcosm, of the fact that the tide can turn in motor racing, even within a season that is being. apparently, dominated by one man and one machine.

So, congratulations to Colin Edwards and Honda. And, before anyone assumes that the Bob Jane T-Marts 1000 is going to be a red walkover, you may want to ask the Texanrfor his opinion ...

Winners are gnnncrs: Mark Skaife and Tony Lniighnrsi were Balhurstfavonriies Iasi year hut Colin Edwards, inset, won the 2002 World Superhike Championshipfrom hehind with a never-cput attitude. iPholn hvColtii Mt l

2 October 2002

27

The Great Plains^ app and Kevin Costner T

he Mid-West is flat.

Flatter than the proverbial pancake and, as you fly into Indianapolis, you wonder sometimes just how far those plains go on, out to the West.

The other day a pal of mine who likes to fly sent me a letter about flying his light aircraft across the United States, in ;’ -‘Company with two or three other n '.-' small planes, . , "The weather was bad right - across the US," he wrote. "We :,".^---{were flying under the clouds and '-ieventually we ended up.in single M n ''file following a freeway to avoid ^ '-the TV antennas. They are . everywhere in the Mid-West and ‘ l there.-are no convenient hills to !

- put them on. They can go up to / 1500 feet and we were flying at that or even lower so we worked

;. f ●' j’on the principle that they cannot ■ ’Ijljild therri in the middle of the foads. It seemed to work OK!" .The gist of his letter was that . Ufte was having an amazing time , -f^Shd -a's the letter went on I was -. ;v]:em.inded of the almost poetic

)-ydeScriptions of Antoine de Saint y 'fxupery's flights across the .' 'Sahara. . .

I was reminded-of this the i': I / '■ ‘other day when I had dinner in ?

^'^AParis with Bobby Rahal. ' . -/ Rahal was over doing an ' /h'istorjc event at Le Mans and so we went out to dinner. We did the usual racing gossip and then Bobby started talking wistful ly about Le Mans. At one point, he said, he found himself sitting snugly in the cockpit of his Porsche 917 sportscar in the pitlane in the middle of the night waiting for the next race to begin. The Porsche 917 is a thing of legend, a sportscar from 1970 that produced such staggering horsepower that even today it is impressive. Bobby owns one, "I was sitting there in a Porsche 917," he said, "looking up at the full moon and I thought: Does it get any better than this?" he ability in life to appreciate a good moment when it is happening, and not later on, is 28

something that racing people do very well. Life is all about living the moment.

I remember years ago visiting Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the first time and being amazed just amazed - that when the little old lady said "Gennelmen, Start your Injuns" that one could not hear 33 racing engines screaming above the roar of the crowd. And how small and insignificant those cars looked when they were surrounded by 400,000 cheering fans.

The Speedway does not pack them in like that for the Grand Prix but, if you stand on the grid before the race and look up into the grandstand, you still see nothing but people and flags and hats.

For some reason, people try to talk down the United States Grand Prix. The sniping has been happening each year but still the crowds come.

This year I thought it might be different because I really screwed up on my travel plans and yet I still managed to get to Indianapolis on schedule.

We crusty Formula 1 travellers have made just about every mistake one can make in air travel. We go to the right airport on the wrong day, or the wrong airport on the right day, and even at the wrong airport on the wrong day. We have all left vital things behind when we rush off to go to races.

Over the years I can claim two really remarkable achievements: I once left for a race leaving my suitcase behind (really!) and once I bumped myself off a flight.

Sounds impressive? Well, actually, it is easy. All you have to do is buy a ticket for a plane and then forget you have done it and attempt to buy another one.

When you find out that there are no seats left, you book a different flight the day before you want to travel. You then turn up at the airport, get on the plane in a rush, sit down in your seat as the plane taxies out to take-off and find the ticket for the flight that you real ly

want to be on. All you can do is laugh at your own stupidity ...

G

oing to Indianapolis I screwed up again. I was flying in on Thursday morning from New York. So on Wednesday night as I got ready for bed I checked the ticket just to make sure that I had got the time right. Yes, no problem. Ten o'clock. Perfect. Except that the ■flight was on Wednesday morning and it had long gone.

There is never much point in panicking at such things, so I went to bed, set the alarm clock for four in the morning - so I could call the travel agent in England to see if anything could be salvaged - and went off for a tour of the Land of Nod. I reckoned I had no chance. Flights to Indianapolis would be booked solidly in the days leading up the Grand Prix. I would probably have to walk.

But no; come 0400 the angel at the end of the phone tapped on her computer a few times and said: "OK, no problem. You are on the same flights this morning ..."

Elated as I was, it made me wonder. Were fewer people travelling to The Speedway? And then it struck me that this was a ridiculous thought. It really doesn't matter if there is a major recession and 10,000 people are not there. Indianapolis still gets the biggest crowd of the year and Formula 1 must be doing all right because David Letterman, the US’s most popular talk show host, was hosting not only Juan Pablo Montoya on his Late Show but also Murray Walker. Murray Walker is as well known in the United States as Baden Copeland ... ... and if you are wondering who he is (I think he is a FIE) you will get my point. Baden did however achieve something of note the other day - even if he did not get to be on the Letterman Show. Fie wrote an entire half page article in the New York Times about how the

TheWithBox Seat Joe Saward timing systems work at a Grand Prix. OK, so page G5 is not front page news but the idea that Formula 1 would warrant any coverage in any US newspaper is something that a few years ago would have been extraordinary. The sport is growing in the US. Column inch by column inch. veryone agrees that whatithe US needs now to really get the people going is a competitive American FI driver.

There is nothing like success to get the population of a country excited. Bernie Ecclestone has long understood the concept and so he is right behind the efforts of Danny Sullivan to promote a young American or two into FI using money supplied by Red ull.

Looking out across the plains as I flew into Indy was reminded of Kevin Costner's cinematic tribute to baseball called Field of Dreams. In it an apparently crazy farmer ploughs up his cornfields and builds a top-level baseball field. Fie keeps hearing voices: "If you build it, they will come."

And they do...

If FI builds the right foundations, the fans wi come .. . filling the roads across the endless plains of Indiana.

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Five Minutes With ...

Jmiws Couptney

The British Formula 3Championship looked like it was going to be a Courtney benefit a few months ago, but an FI Jag testing crash turned things completely around, AARON NOONAN spoke to James after his 2002season ended as a runner-up

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There’s still Macau to go: While his Monza testing accident cost him the British F3 title, Courtney remains upbeat about 2003 and beyond.

(Photo by sutton-images.com)

MOTORSPORT NEWS:Now <, that the British F3 series is over and you didn’t win as you were expected to, what sort of words describe how you feel about it?

JAMES COURTNEY:I don’t know really. Ever since the FI testing accident I’ve been on the back foot the whole time in the last part of the year.

We actually tested last week and found half a second, so that makes it even more annoying.

We really got left behind with development during the time that I was injured. Everybody else was out there and developing their cars and I wasn’t there to help out with our team (Carlin Motorsport) to get among it.

MN:So it was more a case of development within the team coming to a bit of a grinding halt that lost you the championship than the testing shunt at Monza?

JC: Yeah, especially the time that I was out for, particularly the tests 30

moreso than the race meetings themselves.

MN:Does it make it infuriating that your main rival, Robbie Kerr, with whom you banged wheels and words all year, ended up winning the championship?

JC: Yeah. A lot of people that are in ‘the know’know what went on and what happened (with the testing crash). They know how it is.

He actually came up to me and thanked me for testing the Jaguar, because at that point, I was 70 points ahead in the championship or something stupid. When I got back we were 10 behind or something ...

MN:Looking back at the F3 season, what were the highlights and the lowlights?

JC: The highlight was probably the turning point at Knockhill(where Courtney put a string of bad starts behind him in the early season races to win in the wet).

The low light was crossing the

finish line at the end of the first race of the final round when my championship hopes were over.

I had all my family and my girlfriend there to cheer me up so that was OK.

Ferrari is but that hasn’t come up yet! I’m just doing what’s coming up.

After Formula 3, there’s not really anything else to do but 3000s.

MN:Are you back to feeling 100 percent physicaUy now? Not many people realise just how much you were knocked around by that Monza crash.

JC: Well, I still get headaches pretty easily, but that’s about it.

MN:After two years with Jaguar, is the door completely shut there, considering that they didn’t take up their option on you on September 1? Any bitterness?

JC: Well they paid for two years of my Formula 3 racing so it’s not all bad! There are still meetings going on, certainly no bitterness.

My option was for the first of September and they didn’t know, at that point, whether Ford was going to pull the money out of the team. They weren’t sure if there was even going to be a team next year, so the fm'thest thing from their mind was what drivers they were going to have.

So they couldn’t offer me a contract at that point in time.

Alan’s still in talks with Niki (Lauda) and they’re still talking, motorsport news

MN: Where are you situated in terms of 2003?

JC: There’s testing and the like coming up. I’m testing for Arden, the Formula 3000 team, in a couple of weeks at Imola.

I think Alan (Gow, manager)is lining up some testing in a Formula 1 car for a couple of days next week. There’s still a bit of stuff going on.

MN:Is F3000 the only option that’s worthwhile?

JC: Well, the option to go racing at

INTERVIEW

Five Minutes vs^ith

mwanlImrsiten Ford's BA Falcon race car willappear In public lor the First time atBathurst. Howard Marsden has overseen the birth ol ne car crucial to Ford's V8Supercar luture and explains te CIHtlS LAMBBBV the signilicantly ditlerent way the car has evolved

MOTORSPORT NEWS: Given that the roU-out of the BA road car a couple of weeks ago was a big moment for Geoff Polites and Ford,the appearance of your prototype BA race car must be a similar buzz for you and Ford Racing?

HOWARD MARSDEN:Yes,for Ford, that’s for sm-e. We actually showed it to our dealers at the dealer launch three weeks ago, but this will be the first public showing.

MN:It’s a crucial car for you ...

HM:When Ford changed from the EL to the AU race car, we did not too a good job of supporting our teams into what was a new type of chassis and a new type of development process that was necessary to be competitive. So we were determined that we’d correct that situation.

It’s a very similar situation to the road-going BA;the engineers have put a huge amount of effort into the road-going car and we,in conjunction with the Ford Engineering group, have done the same thing on the race car.

MN:Who designed the race car?

HM:It’s been a combination; an interesting program. We’ve used Ford’s CAE(Computer Assisted Engineering) process. What we had to do was teach, educate the software and also the operators because obviously no-one had done a race car down here in Ford Austraha. We used the same massive computer power that Ford uses for simulated crash tests. We actually developed a solid model and then whittled away at the complete shape of the vehicle in solid to identify force paths. That information is fed in, along with data acquired from the AU race car, to the computer design.

That was one side ofthe job. The other side ofthe job was to bmld a complete race car from our own experience,in the metal. In other words, we ‘tubed up’a BA race car 32

and we then twisted and checked it on Ford’s rig, which is a bend and twist rig the like of which I don’t think there are many other in the country and we fed that information also into the computer simulation.

We then worked with the difference that the computer had calculated, versus reality, corrected the program and then set the program to refine the job that we had done in the metal.

The car in the metal we call Prototype 1. Prototype 2 has been buRt by Peter Beehag, and that that is the computer-designed refinement of our original product.

That shell is,funnily enough, with us today and again we will put it through the twist and bend test to confirm the information from the CAE work.

Then we’ve got a production item which, because it’s our policy to help as many Ford teams as possible, Peter Beehag will build for all the race teams.

MN:So any Ford team owner can tium up and walk away with a ‘factory’spec BA bodysheU and take it away to build up a race car?

HM:Correct. More and more these

cars are becoming shelfitems - you can buy an axle from Harrop, gearbox from Holinger, an engine from any one of our teams, brakes from any one ofthe three main supphers, wheels etc. It does very much become a Tdt car’-good value for money and with aU our technology, and we hope you can be successful.

MN:Over what period of time was Prototype 1 built?

HM:About 18 months. We sat down and started to do the planning approximately two years ago and we started into Prototype 1 on the parallel CAE path about 18 months ago.

We’ve worked very closely with the TEGA technical people. There were a number of changes that have been necessary from what is a “base’ Barra to Barra race car.

Because the company has so changed the base body ofthe road car- stiffer, longer wheelbase, heavier, chassis rail positioning and so on,things that they’ve done on the road car which are so good for the road car, are not correct for the race car program.

So at the time we were developing the design, we were developing the body as well to make

sure that it fitted entirely within TEGA regulations.

MN:They’ve given it the seal of approval?

HM:Yes. They visited us probably 7 or 8 times over this past 18 months and checked our development as it has been going along.

MN:WiU the ‘factory’shell, as we’U call it,form the basis of aU racing Falcons - including your major Ford-supported teams?

HM:Everybody will use it, because the deal we have with TEGA is to ensure that the changes that we’ve made are controlled and can be audited. Part of our agreement is that all body shells will be built and supplied through Peter Beehag.

In that way, TEGA can, at any time, go and check and confirm that the modifications to the bodyshell itself are strictly within their own regulations. We have been most co operative with TEGA,and they with us.

MN:Have you had ,or wiU you have,the chance to give Prototype 1 a shakedown before you take it to Bathurst?

HM:The shakedown is due this week.

Non-identical tw Changes to the al car required modi race car to meet" motorspori news

INTERVIEW MN:And what is the future for Prototype 1 after that?

HM: It will be the basis for our aerodynamic development for next season’s racing.

Again, TEGA have set down their requirements for next year for the new model Falcon and Commodore. We will do our work at the test track and, once we think we have achieved what they want, will have them come and check that our figures are accurate.

MN:Will the car then become a test car?

HM: No. After it has finished its aerodynamic work, it will become a show car, marketing car, demonstration car. The car will never turn a wheel as a race vehicle - although it is a totally complete race car.

MN:As you said, the BA is the culmination of two years worlc, with some aero still to do. How confidently do you now go into 2003 with your lead teams?

HM: We promised our race teams that we would present them with something like an ‘80 percent’ car; the final 20 percent will be back to each individual race team to get the most out of the car they have got.

However, the basis of that car, at that 80 percent position, is as good as the Ford Motor Company’s technology can give.

We’re talking Cray Supercomputer systems, the whole business.

This is an investment by Ford Motor Company using the same „ engineers and technology that went into the road car development on a race car program. This is the first time this has happened for 30 years ...

MN:Ai-e you nervous? It’s an important car...

HM: Nervous? No. I think we’ve done the work and surprised some of our teams with how far along the path we are. We’re delivering them a good car.

In fact Prototype 2 is on the twist and bend rig as we speak and I’m looking at some early figures, which are very, very close to the computer’s figures. That’s what we were aiming for, so now I’m quite relaxed.

Don’t forget that we also have Project Blueprint in force next year, which demands actual, complete mechanical equality. Ford and Holden should thus complete on measurably equal terms.

The rest is up to the teams. Our teams have gone through a tough period - they are pretty ‘hungry’ for success ...

2 October 2002

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Bathurst Preview - brought to you by Holdeu UliotorsDort

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when you’re hot,® you’re hot "■de' .

Hie Great Chase

sm

It's that time of year again - Bathurst tintip Will Holden Racing Team maintam m winning season? Can Ford strike back dh th¥| u Mountain? And what will Peter Brotk^?

Turn the page for MN's massive previ^of the 2002 Bob Jane T-Marts Bathurst : rzmm ■

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The

Magnificent Seven We reckon there are seven teams heading to Bathurst this season expecting to win the Bob Jane T-Marts 1000. Here are the cars to watch Holden Racing Team 1 2

The House of heads to the Mountain asClayton defending Champions and will take a power of beating.

There are no weaknesses worth

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Winners for each round will receive fabulous prizes of Team gear, Model cars, Magazine subscriptions and much, much more.

The overall winner will take off the mega prize which we will announce mid season.

Get your entries in now ... closes 5pm the Friday prior to each round.

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36

Skaife/Richards Brighi/Mezera

www.biante.com.au fBIANTEA V MODEL CARSy

mentioning in the team. The cars are fast in both qualifying and race trim and reliable to the point of boredom.

Yes, we know that the VTP Pet Foods 500 was,by their own standards, a disaster, but the cold thought running through the opposition teams' minds will be that TWR Racing boss Jeff Grech will be redoubling his team's efforts to ensure it does not happen again.

When was the last time HRT

Heavy Favourites: Mark Skaife and Jason Bright both expect big results, regardless of who they share their HRT Commodores with.

Anything less than a win will be considered a failure after the season they have had...

(Photos by Marshall Cass and Sutton-lmages)

was unlike him. As was his Adelaide wallbanger, though that was under pressure from Skaife, which is unlikely to happen at Bathurst, we suppose...

screwed up two races in a row ... ?

Driver pairings will be sorted before race weekend but the team's biggest consideration will be whether to play their PR ace and pair Mark Skaife and Jim Richards. Does it matter who Skaife shares with? Bright is on top of his game,Mezera is driving as well as he ever has and Richards is ... well,he is Jim Richards. Short of giving Francis the Talking Mule a stint, they can still win. And even if they do,Francis could make the podium.

Mistakes? Not many. This season, Skaife has restricted his to practice and,on occasion, qualifying, while Bright's rush of blood in Canberra

molorspori news

Bathurst 2002

I

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Strategy will be all-important.

HRT could, potentially, split its cars and run one on a 'sprint' schedule and the other on a conventional four-stop strategy and still have them together at the end. After last year's late-race 'fuel run' by Skaife, it could be something they would consider so keep your eye on their fuel windows.

About the only thing to criticise is the team's red trousers, which are magnificently awful. But, that apart, HRT is just about a flawless team. ^

m

month - he was four seconds away from the lead when he gave the Pirtek AU back to Ambrose. And his

that area) but do not assume Ross and Jimmy Stone have not thought of that.

And, for the numerologists out there, the Stones are due. They were at Dick Johnson Racing in 1994 when it won with Bowe and Johnson and won again with Bright and Richards four years later.

And four years after that is ... now.

stone Brothers Racing 4 9

he starts races like my mum, but that is hardly a factor in a 1000km race.

In the other car, David Besnard will bear watching. In everything he has ever raced, Bezzy has been a 'feel' driver and now he feels he can beat anyone. His confidence will be high and, don't forget, he almost won the race (on debut!) in 2000.

Wayne Gardner comes in to replace Simon Wills (or, to be accurate. Wills replaced WG at Queensland).

Gardner's limited outings this season have been pretty disastrous but he lacks no confidence at Bathurst and

i I

Ambrose/Weel Besnard/Gardner

First things first; don't bet Marcos Ambrose being onagainst pole position. The transplanted Tasmanian is shooting for four poles in a row and drives single laps with absolute, total commitment.It's great to watch,even if you are a Holden fan.

Next,Paul Week A number of people pointed to his 'quiet'form at

when you’re hot,# you’re hot

could be a factor (Falcons are slightly more critical than Commodores in

probably, under 100 laps of Bathurst experience in his life, but that fact has not held him back at other tracks. And

llvJ

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the Q500 but Weely fulfilled tire team's instructions to the letter last

Bathurst form last year was excellent (he did the sixth fastest lap of the race). He is up to it.

Ambrose's weaknesses? He has,

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'

has good form there from the past.

Yes, his history is littered with broken cars but, to be fair, many of those have not been of his doing.

SBR has had issues with pitstops during the season but the nature of the race lessens the impact of any errors in pitlane, and Queensland saw them step up in that department Fuel

Castrol Perkins Racing

16

S. Richards/Ingall

>^wo double Bathurst both hungry to win, with winners, the one team with a reputation for bulletproof reliability at Mount Panorama.

Can they win? Yep. Will they win?

Why not?

RusseU Ingall may be out the door at CPR at the end of the season but he would like nothing better than to take another Bathurst trophy with him.

Add to that the fact that he has had a lousy year, badly wants to win something and Bob Jane T-Marts is the race sponsor. Knowing IngaU,the 'King of Contra' will likely have a contract in his pocket and,if he wins, will sign Bob up for a lifetime supply of free tyres for the Ingall family and their descendants. continued on page 38

PIC

Best in class or Contenders? Look for Marcos Ambrose to star in qualifying but the battle with team-mate and VIP 500 winner David Besnard, left, 2 October 2002

may not be the foregone conclusion it was six months ago. (Photo by Bob Potts) 31

I

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when you’re hot,^ you’re hot "-de-; ,

d Preview

continued from page 37 Steven Richards's record at the track is unmatched. He always gets the thing home and, usually, is right in the thick of things when it is time to go fast. He is fit enough to drive a double, if needed,and smart enough not to trip over anything on the way to the all-important final sprint. He is mediagenic, has a lot of fans and should have a lot more. The perfect racing driver.

The only thing the team has to figure out is strategy, though having both drivers in top form (second at the VIP 500) helps. Either can qualify the car and,for this race, there are no egos in play. Good backup from the tearri, a wise team manager in Barry Abbotmeyer and their chances of winning a third race each look pretty damn good. Maybe not for pole, but they will not lose any sleep over that.

OzEmail Racing Team 21

Bowe/B. Jones

Last their second-place wasyear, a miracle.

The car was afinish pig in qualifying and a missile in the race.

A year on,it's a different game.Tl-ie anival of Jolin Bow'e at tire Albury-based

Forcing the Issue: Steven Richards and Russell Ingall are together shooting for their third Bathurst win and will be a formidable pairing.

Surfing the Web: Brad Jones and John Bowe count themselves stiff not to win in Queensland after the form that the OzEmail team has shown so far this season but then so does Kmart's Todd Kelly, far right.

(Photos by AF1-Images)

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^when you're hot, jut you’re hot »lOF

team has lifted their game to a new level and Brad Jones has responded. The form of the duo has been excellent of late and

mffOA DSAJi

it is a good indication of the team's expectations that they are kicking themselves over the VIP 500 result They thought that they could win the race and,without their mistakes,they might have.

In reality, the Ozes have become the second-best Ford team (behind Stone Brothers)in Little more than a season. They have good horsepower.

a useable car and two good drivers.

They expect to be a major contender for Bathurst and team manager Kim Jones will maximise the team's chances of a win by concentrating solely on the lead car.

The team has a great Bathurst record in both V8 Supercars and Super Touring and a win would be icing on the cake. And Bradley and Kim do like their cakes ...

continued on page 40

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Kmart Racing Team

51

Murphy/T. Kelly

Falcon is getting faster. Seton unobtrusively made his way through the pack in Queensland and no-one questions his speed at Bathurst. Owen Kelly is highly-rated by the team but they wiU still need things to fall their way to be a contender. And, after engine problems in the 500, reliability is a question mark.

i

T TnlikeHRT,its TWR Racing LJ cousin has the luxury of expecting one of its cars to blow away the other of its cars.

While we mean no disrespect at all to Andy Priaulx and Yvan Muller, it would be a shock to see KRT's Euros seriously challenge Greg Murphy and Todd Kelly in qualifying or the race.

The two Kmart regulars have driven strong seasons and are very evenly matched. If Kelly does qualify the car, as expected, it will be because it is his turn; Murf did the job in Queensland and the team loses (or gains)nothing by swapping its drivers' roles.

Again, reliability should be excellent. Even though there have been the odd glitches with the team's preparation this season, expect the best of everything for Bathurst. Team manager Rob Crawford knows what is what and one advantage that the team could have (even over HRT)is their lightning pit stops, though the effect of these could be negated somewhat at Bathiust, where the duration of stops is determined not by the time required to change wheels but by the time needed to fuel the car.

Weaknesses? Not many. Having three fuel pumps give up the ghost in Queensland was inconvenient, at best. Don't hold your breath waiting for it to happen again.

Castrol Perkins Racing

►

11

^1

Could Larry Perkins win his final Bathurst start as a fuU-time driver?

r

Maybe. But it will take some breaks. Perkins has shown flashes of

L Still smiling: Glenn Seton is still

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looking for his maiden Bathurst win. Can he do it

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this year?

00 expectations?

The 00 Falcon may go stone cold in qualifying trim but Craig Lowndes is always a factor in the race.

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How old is a Young Lion?

OK, Nathan Pretty is 29 now but be and Rick Kelly could still upset a few big reputations.

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(Photos by Marshall Cass andAFI-lmages)

ready to perform on the biggest stage of all. Maybe 2003 will be a better opportunity to win than in 2002 - but you never know.

Shell Helix Dick Johnson Racing

I

Lowndes/Crompton

‘'t seems strange to classify Craig - -Lowndes as anything but a favourite at Bathurst but that is the

40

In Paul Dumbrell, LP appears to have found a very good protege for the future, but it will be a big ask to expect him to take on the Big Kids in the biggest race of the season. Then again, PD has already made major strides this season and he could be

Johnson/Radlsich

t has been a terrible season for Paul Radisich and Steve Johnson. While Lowndes and co may have been miffed by qualifying so far back at times, there have been occasions this season when the DJR drivers must have looked longingly at grid positions ahead - in the 20s.

But, Bathurst may not be a disaster.

Good drivers, good backup and the fact that Dick Johnson is far too professional not to present a good

00 Motorsport

reality 00 faces this season.

After an impressive debut Ford season last year (when it was Gibson Motorsport), the team has taken several steps backwards this season.

Having Lowndes qualifying in the 20s is an anathema to most people but that is what has been happening. A lack of qualifying speed will hurt less at Bathurst than elsewhere, and Neil Crompton will have to hold up his end to have the car in good track position for the final dash.

But the team has things in its favour - excellent strategy, slick pitwork and, in many minds, the best driver in the field. If anyone can drag 00 home to a result, it is The Kid.

speed this year but always steps up for Bathurst. The car is always reliable and usually fast. As we have already said, the team backup will be firstrate.

17

The secondstringers 00

Perkins/Dumbrell

Holden young Lions

02

R. Kelly/Prelty

The 'fifth' TWR car has been doing wellRacing up against its senior cars this season, with Rick Kelly lifting his performance to close to that of his elders.

The former Gold Star winner had about zero V8 Supercar experience when he went to Bathurst last year, but still performed well. And for a 'once a year' driver, Nathan Pretty performs very well; he was actually faster in the race last year than Rickler

in the Kmart entry.

HYL team manager Pete Smith has done a good job all season and the Young'uns could be in contention for a podium finish.

Ford Credit Racing

5

Seton/0. Kelly

It's been aseason-long bad year forproblems Glenn Seton.

Crashes, with understeer and problems that have set back his ambitions to return to the pointy end of the field.

But the signs are there that the FCR

● V

motorsport news

r Bathurst 2002

1

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And you may want to watch for lll WHETHER you are at the track or watching from anywhere in the world, there are always plenty of things to keep an eye on at Bathurst. Here are 10 things that WE will be watching out for...

1. A five-stop race?

Brock compound all week and Brock will get a lot of air time. The other Holden teams will just tovethat,,,

A fuel load at Bathurst must take you 32 laps to make lOOOkms in four stops, But, with recent horsepower gains now making fuel economy critical, watch to see if any cars (especially from a two-car team) gamble with an early (in the teens) stop, followed by four stops from there,

6. Little(but big)errors

Last year, Bowe over-shot his pit and had a slow stop - and lost time, A stuck wheelnut, a stubborn fuel hose or a dropped brake pad can all lose time and cost critical track position,

7. Backmarkers

2.The late fuel window Simply put, if they pit before lap 129, they are not going to make it home without a cruise, a Safety Car and/or a splash. If someone pits on lap 127 and starts running 2m14s, you know why, show at IVIount Panorama, In the second car, Alan Jones has plenty of Bathurst experience to call on, while Greg Ritter will do the fast bits. Surely it has occurred to someone at Ford by now that Ritter is ready for a full-time drive and is a star in the making. In fact, the relative performance of the two cars, Ritter vs the full-time drivers, will be

Me and my Dickie seat: Can Paul Radisich and Steven Richards win for DJR? Will Jason Bargwanna get to drink champagne or water? And, with all the Peter Brock action going on, will anyone ask Craig Baird for an autograph?

(Photos by Marshall Cass and AF1-Images)

Yalvoline/Cummms Racing Team

T

Tander/Bargwanna

hey won one of the great Bathurst races two years ago but, like a lot of others, it has been a tough year for Garry Rogers Motorsport.

But Bathurst should treat the team better than other events.

The Commodore's race speed has been good (much better than its qualifying speed)and it has also been pretty reliable. Neither Garth Tander nor Jason Bargwanna lack any experience at the Mountain and the team almost always runs excellent sdategy.

Weaknesses? The car seems to lack

a little straight-line speed,compared to the opposition, and that may leave it vulnerable at the end of the race.

Motorola Team Brock

05

Brock/Baird

ook; on the face of it, a team that

ihas not had a podium finish all season, with a driver coming back from a five-year layoff, hasn't got a prayer in the biggest race of the season.

2 October 2002

The advantage in having two gun drivers in the one car is that either driver can finish the race, maybe with a double stint. That could potentially hurt someone like Lowndes, Ambrose and Ritter, who must be in their cars for the final stint to have a winning chance,

Last year. Team Kiwi had a crash disaster pre-race and almost turned in a fairytale performance on raceday.

This year, another 'minnow' could steal some headlines when they come good on Sunday, so keep a watch during the week and pick someone due for Some good luck,

05.The Brock Factor

10.The'overdue' drivers

1>

And there are some good reasons to put the entry among the list of 'possibles'. The TB Commodore has shown some genuine pace in recent races, Craig Baird is driving it well (when he is not getting hit) and the brain's trust for the team,led by Ron Harrop, is pretty impressive.

And this is Brock we are talking about. Even with a crook back,Peter Perfect will take about a handful of laps to scrape off the rust and, after that, anything can happen.

Will there be a miracle on the

Some time during the race, it is oddson that someone will cop a penalty for a pit line/speed limit/punt and his team manager will appear on TV barking about the injustice of it all. It happens all the time but, at Bathurst, everyone will be on knife-edge,

As we saw last year, reacting to changes in weather can win a team the race, but over-reacting can lose it for them. The Mount Panorama surface drains pretty well, meaning slicks still work in the damp. But don't forget: no-one has raced this year's Dunlop control tyre at Bathurst, Bathurst will run black and gold this year as Peter Brock returns to the track after five years away. Even if Brock does not lead the field away like he did five years ago, below, the fans will be 10-deep outside the Team

But this is Bathurst and the driver is Peter Brock...

sr Penalties

9.Touchy-feely stories

4. The weather

well worth watching, especially in qualifying.

34

3. A late double-stint

It's not so much how many backmarkers you catch, but where you catch them. The Top Guns are wary of even some of the regular V8 Supercar drivers, let alone the once-a-year enduro drivers,

isi'

Steerers like Seton, Gardner and both Joneses have done everything at Bathurst except win it. If any of those drivers takes the chequer, prepare for tears, blubbing and lots and lots of champagne ,,,

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41

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I Changing Places

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We tried and we tried - but we just cannot understand these New Zealanders! So, when it came to interviewing Holden Racing Team's Jim Richards, who better to do it that Kmart Radng's two-time Bathurst winner, Kmart Racing's GREG MURPHy? GREG MURPHY: The Holden Racing Team has had a young driver Thing' in the past, but they came to you for the big races of the season.

Does that feel good for you?

JIM RICHARDS: One of the joys of being involved was when (ITW Racing Manager) Jeff Grech came to me in November last year ask asked if I wanted to drive for him. Obviously, I said yes.

HRT is the best race team in the coimtry and Mark Skaife is seriously the best driver. The overall package is fantastic. They were not asking me because they thought I was a nice bloke; they were asking me because they thought that I could help them to win the race.

GM: So what is it like to drive an HRT car?

JR: It's great. But, because I do not drive a V8 regularly, I can't say that it does this better than that car, or worse that that one, or whatever. But everything about the car is good. It turns in well, it puts its power down well and it goes really well in a straight line. It's just a proper V8 Supercar.

It is just a joy to work with such a good team. But a team is only made up of individuals, like me and you, and probably no-one has massive, massive talent. They just do their job to their maximum ability.

GM: You are going to Bathurst with

a great chance to win. What are your goals?

JR: Obviously, my goals are to win the race. But I have been there many times and I am a realist. The race is won on the last lap and, if you are in front, you are probably going to win it. You never count anyone out.

But the team, and Mark, have been the ones to beat for the last two or three years. So that means that I am going to Bathurst with a genuine chance to win the race. This is probably one of the best chances I have had for many, many years. If I was asked to drive with that team and Skaifey, and they were not the best team, I would probably still take the drive.

GM: You are renewing your driving partnership with Skaifey after 10 “years. Have the roles changed?

JR: The roles are the same as tlney were in the latter years of Gibson Motorsport. Mark was the younger driver coming up and, in 1992, which was the last time we won Bathurst together, Mark was in his role and I was in mine. I was happy with that; it was the natural progression of youth over age. continued on page 44 Be Gentle with me, Jim: Richards finished fourth in Queensland with Tomas Mezera, below, but steps into the #1 HRT Commodore at Bathurst.

(Photos by Dirk Klynsmith and API-Images)

Bathurst 2002 k

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Factory installed Low profile scale tyres and rims 2 October 2002

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when you’re hot,# ; you're hot "●dp ,

d Changing Places

Bob Jane T-Marts'

Entries

00 Craig Lowndes/Neil Crompton 00 Motorsport Falcon AU 1 Mark Skaife/Jim Richards Holden Racing Team Commodore VX 2 Jason Bright/Tomas Mezera Holden Racing Team Commodore VX 02 Rick Kelly/Nathan Pretty Holden Young Lions Commodore VX 3 Cameron McConvilleAWarren Luff Lansvale Smash Repairs Commodore VX 4 Marcos Ambrose/Paul Weel Pirtek Racing Falcon AU 5 Glenn Seton/Owen Kelly Ford Credit Racing Falcon AU Motorola Team Brock Commodore VX 05 Craig Baird/Peter Brock 7 Rodney Forbes/Neai Bates 00 Motorsport Falcon AU Caltex Halvoline Falcon AU 9 David Besnard/Wayne Gardner 10 Mark Larkham/Will Power Orrcon Racing Falcon AU Castrol Perkins Commodore VX 11 Larry Perkins/Paul Dumbrell IMS Commodore VX 13 TBA/Christian D'Agostin IMS Commodore VX 14 Daryl Beattie/TBA 15 Yvan Muller/Andy Priaulx Kmart Racing Commodore VX Castrol Perkins Commodore VX 16 Steven Richards/Russell Ingall T7 Steven Johnson/Paul Radisich Shell Helix Falcon AU Shell Helix Falcon AU 18 Greg Ritter/Alan Jones 21 Brad Jones/John Bowe OzEmail Falcon AU 021 Jason Richards/Simon Wills Team Kiwi Racing Commodore VX 22 Dugal McDougall/Alan Gurr Pepsi Racing Commodore VX 24 Paul Romano/TBA Romano Racing Commodore VX Kitome/Lubrimaxx Falcon AU 25 Terry Wyhoon/TBA 29 Paul Morris/Wayne Wakefield Sirromet - Life/Style/Wine Commodore VX 31 Steve Ellery/Luke Youlden Super Cheap Auto Falcon AU Valvoline/Cummins Commodore VX 34 Garth Tander/ Jason Bargwanna Valvoline/Cummins Commodore VX 35 Jamie Whincup/Mark Noske 40 Cameron McLean/Tony Scott VIP Petfoods Racing Falcon AU 43 Mark Porter/Geoff Full Dupont/Hydralink Falcon AU 46 John Faulkner/Rick Bates Dynapack/GJ Gardner Homes Commodore VX 51 Todd Kelly/Greg Murphy Kmart Racing Commodore VX 56 Kevin Mundy/Michael Simpson Actron Air Racing Falcon AU 65 Max Wilson/Dean Canto Betta Electrical Falcon AU Betta Electrical Falcon AU 66 Tony LonghursVMatthew White 75 Anthony Tratt/Paul Stokell Toll Racing Falcon AU The Race Centre Falcon AU 87 Ross Halliday/Allan Grice 161 Greg Crick/Phillip Scifleet 3M/Coopers Pale Ale Falcon AU 195 Ron Searle/Jamie Miller Transtar Express Commodore VT 600 Steve Owen/Dale Brede Caterpillar Falcon AU 888 John Cleland/Tim Leahey OzEmail Racing Falcon AU

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44

'It'S Mark's team, it's Mark's car. I will do my part to help the team and Mark and I win the race'

jrnfmr

-Jim Richards

continued from page 42

the track and have a real good time.

The cars are fantastic to drive but

That is the same way it will be at Bathurst this year. It's Mark's team, it's Mark's car. I will do my part to help the team and Mark and I win the race.

totally different to the V8. When you hop in a V8, you have to adapt to the way that they want to be driven, and adapt pretty quickly.

GM: What about driving his set-up?

How does that work?

JR: It's fantastic. I have never had a problem driving Mark's car. That has been shown in the past.

When we were on the Yokohama

GM; So what cars, and what event, do you like the best?

JR: I like the Nations' Cup. The Porsche is very much like a proper racing car in a sedan body. I can afford to do that; the sponsors that I have mean that I can do that quite well. 1 could not afford to do some other

tyres, it required a totally different set up to the 'normal' tyre. I think that Mark is one of the best car sorters around and he got that car going on Yokohama tyres to the extent it was an advantage.

People might have said that they were pigs of things and only Mark could drive them. I would say that, if that was the case, Mark was doing a very good job.

At the Queensland 500, both cars were virtually the same and they were fantastic.

GM: You are still competitive at your age. How long can you keep going at the top level?

JR: I drive because I enjoy it, obviously.

If you do not enjoy your job, you go and get another one.

I’enjoy it more now than I ever have. But realistically, there will come a time when you have to say, "I can't keep going at that level". But I believe 1 can keep going competitively for another five years. Whether or not that win happen, I don't know. 1 take a year at a time but there will be a time when I stop driving, rather than "retire"!

GM: Driving the Porsche in the Nations' Cup must keep you sharp.

JR: Any sort of race driving keeps you sharp. I do a fair few races in the Porsche - they are terrific cars to drive and very reliable, so you know you can drive the wheels off the car and stiU bring it home. That is what I am doing now.

You put tire car in the truck, get to

tilings at the same level.

The fact that I get asked to drive at Bathurst with the best team, that excites me. It really excites me! But it is horses for courses; the Porsche is fantastic, the V8s are fantastic. That keeps me going?

GM: Any tips to help me win my third Bathurst?

JR: No. Any tips for me to help me win my seventh?

GM: Not likely!

Are you really still 'Gentleman Jim'?

JR: I like to think I am! 1 always give someone room when he is doing a good job and 1 expect a bit of room when 1 am doing a good job.

If you get involved in a bit of biff and barge, the secret is to go over after you take them off and say you are sorry. That always stops them in their tracks!

GM: If you win, which is not going to happen because I am going to, what wUl you say to the fans?

JR: I will get up and say, "It's a long time between drinks!" They are lovely, lovely people!

GM: One last thing. It's the last lap, I am one length on front, you are second and Skaifey is on your radio.

What are you going to do?

JR: I am going to try and beat you!

But I am not going to deliberately run into you and jeopardise commg second or third!

motorsport news

Bathurst 2002

I i n 'Oi.C

when you're hot,^ you’re hot iLor

The New Kid at MNews I

T seemed like a good idea to have a pre-Bathurst chat with Jim Richards.

Apart from being a great racing driver and a thoroughly top bloke, Jim heads to Mount Panorama carrying the title of race favourite with co-driver Mark Skaife.

But, we wanted something ... different. Yes, we could have had a

yarn with 'Jum', but maybe it would be better to have the six-time Bathurst winner interviewed by someone else - like two-time Bathurst winner Greg Murphy.

Apart from sharing similar backgrounds (their home towns in NZ are about two hours' drive apart) Murf was bound to have a slightly different slant on

things than we journalists and perhaps would ask things from a slightly different perspective to us.

And it also gave us the dastardly opportunity to throw a publishing 'rookie' into the mix. Ideally, we would have done a complete 'swap': Murf could do the story and layout, and Editor Branagan could be a racing driver for the day. But strangely, once the laughter died down, Kmart Racing was slightly, urn, conservative about letting me loose in their $300,000 Commodore V8 Supercar.

Also, asking yours truly to go about the other things race drivers do, like technical debriefs and sessions in the gym, was not really fair.

After all.

KRT team manager Rob Crawford was not really I! ;■

going to share his race data with a goose like me, and it's not that fair for me to go up against a full-time professional V8 Supercar steerer in the physical department. Apart from the age difference - Murf has just turned 30; I vaguely remember my 30th birthday (well, parts of it) -1 am a fa/f flabbier than he is, so what if I made him look like a loser on the rowing machine?

We don't want to shatter the boy's confidence.for Bathurst...

In the end, Richo had the chat with Murf, who we dragged into the office to demonstrate what a highpowered Macintosh looked like and what to do with Microsoft Word, Photoshop and Quark Express, And, just to simulate 'deadline' pressure, we gave him 45 minutes to do the whole lot. He had a red hot go, we cleaned up the mess and this is the result.

Not a bad first effort, young Gregory. Now, while you are here. get back to work with the rest of the editorial staff - oh, and get me a coffee. Now, misterl - PHIL BRANAGAN

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\ Supplying a control tyre is a daunting . task at the best of times^ but Bathurst takes things to a whole new level.

MARK GLENDENNING sat in on Dunlop's preparations for the 1000 There are, itand is said, two sides to every coin, few races demonstrate this more starkly than Bathurst. .

Think of all the things that make the 1000 kilometre race around the

Serious hardware: Getting the tyres on and off the rims is a trick job made slightly easier by these metal guys, below.

(Photos by Dirk Ktynsmilhi

Mountain special(apart from the fact tliat, well, it's Bathurst!). There's the layout of the circuit, an old-school roller-coaster strip of tarmac offering an array of different comers and elevation changes rivaled by few existing tracks anyvi'here.

Indeed,John Cleland, who has visited a few chruits in his time, teUs us elsewhere in this issue that it is "the best racctTack I hav6 evcr been at."

It's a circuit that would put a fair bit of stress on a race car over any distance, never mind one that demands competitors to spend just under seven hours at race speed. But again,that's why we love it.

Yet it's precisely these things tliat makes Mount Panorama such a potential nightmare for the guys responsible for the stuff that connects the car rvith the road.

Tiris year's Bob Jane T-Marts 1000 will mark a return to tire mountain for Dunlop, who spent three years away from the V8 Supercar frontline following the introduction of tire control tyre system. The company has loads of prior experience at the Mountain, but this is tire first time that they have had to supply the whole field.

It's not suprising, then, that Dunlop are preparing for a few new challenges when they arrive at Mount Panorama in just over a week.

"Normally,if it doesn't rain tlien things are pretty straightfoward, but Batlrurst is a case apart," confirmed Jeff Moorhead, Dunlop's V8 Supercar Program Manager.

"The distance is so long,(and) tliey carry fuel loads that they don't deal with at any other time of the year.

They go 34-37 laps around there; that's an hour on a set of tyres, and-

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Bathurst 2002

contact Digging in: The tyres are relatively easy to mount on the rims, but getting them off is something else altogether, above.

"You from around here?" The tyre fitters, right, are sourced locally at each round from Dunlop's retail outlets. (Pimios by dm Kiymmirn there's very long straights at very high speeds."

Fundamentally, tyre performance does not look like being a concern tire K5P5 has proven itself more than up to the task in all of the various climates and circuit configurations thrown at it so far this year. But the logistics are another matter.

Currently,41 cars are entered for The Great Race. Each car is allocated 24 tyres for the weekend. That's a total of 984 tyres. Add to that a similar number of wets. And on top of that, Dunlop also has to bring enough rubber for the Konica race as well...

"It's a huge undertaking," said Moorhead.

"We'll have two transporters up there, plus another will drop off a whole lot of stuff on Monday. Then well have to arrange for the scrap that has to go out after the race. And there's all the machines and staff..."

Dunlop normally gets by with around a dozen hands on deck at a normal V8 Supercar round, but that will swell to double the amount for the 1000.

"It takes on the dimensions of a small military operation in terms of trucks, tyres, containers, equipment, and all the sort of things that follow from that," Moorhead explained.

"And then of course there's the accommodation issue, which is always a lot of fun with so many people. We try to avoid jamming everybody in sardine-like, because they're there to work,and you've got to be careful about how you treat them!"

In terms of the workload,a race weekend for Dunlop essentially runs

2 October 2002

in reverse to that of everyone else. For the teams, the average meeting builds throughout the weekend and peaks in intensity as the race draws nearerparticularly at an endurance event.

But for Dunlop,things work the other way - most of the hard work happens at the beginning of the weekend,and then gradually gets quieter. Unless, of course, it rains.

"Yeah, the biggest day is usually the fitting up day, and then it tapers down after that, but of course we can't let any of our people go because if it does rain it's absolute chaos," said Moorhead.

"The weather's the only thing tltat really puts the impredictabUity into it.

Most people would walk into there on Saturday and Sunday,look around,and there's a lot of blokes sitting around watching TV. We can't let them wander off too far because we need them there. We've got to have them on-site, because of what might happen."

Fitting a new tyre to a wheel is not a massive job. At the start of the weekend, most teams front up to Dunlop's compound witli bare rims, and popping the tyre onto the rim takes around five minutes.

But very few teams carry enough rims to have all their tyres fitted up at once. Consequently,the Dunlop crew are regularly faced with rims that need to have the old rubber removed before the new stuff can be mounted, and this is where long-distance races, particularly Bathurst, make things a little more complicated.

"Getting these things off is a lot harder than putting them on," said

Moorhead.

"The bead of the tyre has to be broken off the beat seat on the wheel.

You have to push it down with a heavy air breaker. It pops it off and then they go onto the other fitting machine where the guy takes it off the top flange of the wheel and pulls the bottom bead up and takes it off.

"Our tyres have a very tight tolerance - the bead tolerance is very close to that of the wheel - and to drag them up,to get the sidewall of the tyre up into the well of the wheel is quite a significant exercise.

"We achially have the special fitting machines to assist them to do it. If you don't use those, you end up with about six blokes with buggered backs after the first hour."

Taking this into account, it's easy to see why a wet race- or more specifially, a wet/dry race - is such a daimting prospect for the tyre supplier.

"I think in the year 2000, when it was mainly wet with a bit of dry racing, our predecessors did something in the magnitude of 2100, 2200 strips and fits of tyres. Over a period of five days, that's just an enormous amount of work."

What makes it all the more remarkable is that instead of utilising a core squad of tyre fitters who fly to each race, the company sources staff on a round-by-round basis from one of Dunlop's local retail outlets.

"Tlie guys come in for the days of the working week when they are seconded to this, and then they come in for the weekend as well,"

explained Moorhead.

"It's usually been successful, because the guys are really keen, and it's a real morale thing as well, and that's one of the key parts of the whole programme. We've discovered some real artisans among those blokes ... who are incredibly fit, as well!"

Things in the Dunlop camp start getting serious on the'Tuesday prior to the race, when the tyres get selected and the sets of 24 per car are laid out.

Paul Taylor(AVESCO's technical chief)comes along to select the top 10 sets for the top 10 cars, which are then numbered up. Shortly afterwards the wheels start to arrive, signalling the start of what Moorhead describes as "the fitting party".

When fans talk about race car perfonnance, the tyre sometimes gets overlooked in favour of more glamorous or noisy bits, such as wings or the engine.

This is a shame,not least because the Supercar tyne of today is a vastly different beast to that of even five years ago. Huge strides forward have been made in both composition and construction, all geared towards weathering the considerable power delivered by the V8 Supercar engine and putting it to the ground in the most driveable way possible.

So when you're watching tire race, spare a thought for the black sticky stuff and the guys who keep it ticking over.

There's more to that rubber than meets the eye...

47

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Four-time Bathurst 1000 winner

1.

2.

3.

Look for...

Skaife/J.Richards Ingall/S.Richards Ambrose/Weel Murf if they remember to fill the tank up ...

Fred Gibson

Former Bathurst winner, as driver and team manager 1.

2.

3.

Look for...

Skaife/J.Richards Ingall/S.Richards Lowmdes/Crompton Murphy/T.Kelly

Frank Matich

Former Gold Star Champion

1.

2.

3.

Look for...

Skaife/J.Richards Ambrose/Weel Perkins/DumbreU Brock/Baird

James Courtney British F3 speedster

1.

2.

3.

Murphy/T.Kelly B.Jones/Bowe Lowndes/Crompton

Barry Oliver

V8 Supercar Series Commentator

1.

2.

3.

Look for...

B.Jones/Bowe Ingall/S.Richards Skaife/J.Richards Larkham/Power

Chris Lambden

Motorsport News, Publisher

1.

2.

3.

Look for...

Ambrose/Weel Ingall/S.Richards Mu:rphy/T.Kelly R.Kelly/Pretty

Phil Branagan

Motorsport News, Editor 1.

9

3.

Look for...

B.Jones/Bowe Bright/Mezera Besnard/Wills Ritter/A.Jones

Aaron Noonan

driving

Motorsport News, Assistant Editor 1.

2.

3.

Look for...

Skaiie/J.Richards Ingall/S.Richards Mu M.irphy/T.Kelly R.Kelly/Pretty

Mark Glendenning

Motorsport News, Staff Journalist

1.

2.

3.

Look for...

Ingall/S.Richards Skaife/J.Richards Mu rphy/T.KeUy J.Richards/Wills

Grant Denyer

Network 10 Pit Lane Reporter 1.

Murphy/T.Kelly

2.

3.

Look for...

B.Jones/Bowe Ingall/S.Richards Tander/Bargwanna

David Addison

Motorsport News, UK correspondent

1.

2.

3.

Look for...

Skaife/J.Richards Ingall/S.Richards Bright/Mezera Mu Lialler/Priaulx

Dale Rodgers

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Murphy/T.Kelly

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3.

Look for...

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I Bathurst 2002

Greved

He finished second from nowhere last year and wants one spot better in 2002.John Cleland is one of the bestcredentialled internationals ever to race at Bathurst.The two-time British Champion spoke to PHIL BRANAGAN

o

NE of the good tilings about this job is, sometimes, you get to interview someone like

John Cleland.

The method for getting words from a racing driver sometimes involves a blowtorch,pUers for pulling teeth and a lot of patience. For Cleland, you need only a question, a tape recorder and a late flight home.Sometime before the third question, you can find yourself wondering about how much tape you have and whether Telstra shares have gone up or down since you hit'record'.

Tlie tv\'o-time British Touring Car Champion is eminently quotable,always amusing and,possibly,the most popular international ever to race at Bathurst. Oh yes; he is also a very, very good racing driver.

From day one at the mountain,he has had a passion for the race and he has done everything but win it.

"I have been top privateer with a fifth place finish," he muses."I was second last year with Brad Qones), which was a fantastic achievement for the whole team. I have been coming here for a long time and I have always wondered what it would be like to stand on the podium and look at all the thousands of people. It was a fantastic feeling and to stand on the top step would just be unbelievable.

"Every race driver who knows about Bathurst wants to come here and race and it is, without doubt. The Great Race. It is the best racetrack I have ever been at; it's also the most dangerous racetrack I have ever been at! Across the top of the mountain there, you cannot take too many prisoners. If you go off, you usually 52

go off quite hard. You have to concentrate the whole way;it's OK going up Mountain Straight and down Conrod; you can relax a little and have a stretch. But you still need 110 percent concentration all the way.

"And then you have to watch who you are around and read the situations you are in. When you are going up Mountain Straight, you can see the weather coming across from Orange and,coming down the other way, you can see on the scoring 'pole' where you are in the field. There is lots to do on a lap at Bathurst."

to it on Saturday night. So I woke up Sunday morning,it was fastest by a second in the wet and it got stronger and stronger as the day wore on. And I am still not absolutely sure why! But that is the nature of the race; Kim Jones had a handle on what was going on and he does a good job in that respect and some other guys make some bad moves.

"The other thing is; I don't think that I have ever been to a race at Bathurst where it has not rained, hailed,snowed, whatever. A driver has to have the balls to say,'I have enough heat in these slicks and I can stay out ii I had to without wets'. Now that 1 have been there often

do my first-ever lap of Bathurst in pouring rain! It has been a passion ever sincerr

enough,I think that I can second-guess the weather.

Is it going to be heavy or is this a passing shower?

A few years ago, it was wet and everyone dived into the pits. I stayed out on slicks, the heat was in them and I kept going.

"The race is won by good calls. Watch what is ©Eanse going on,stay out of -John Cleland trouble, drive smart."

After 2001, when he and Brad Jones hauled a car from the His first appearance at Mount Panorama came a decade ago as a 11th row of the grid to within four high-profile co-driver to the legendary seconds of victory, a lot of people Peter Brock. suddenly remember what a good "The very first lap I ever did at driver Cleland is. And the best thing Bathurst was on the media day in that can happen to a race driver Brock's car. Brock went out and he did started to happen - the phone rang. all kinds of things and then it was my "I had two other options," he says. turn. As I drove out of pitlane, it "Both were with top-five teams, started to rain! I had to do my firstthough one of them is struggling a bit ever lap of Bathurst in pouring rain! It now. But after Bathurst last year, Kim and I shook hands and he said, has been a passion ever since.

"I have driven some good cars and 'Whatever you do, don't do a deal I have driven some shockers. And last with anyone until we talk'. I knew year's car was a shocker! It was a that with John Bowe coming here, his dreadful motor car until the Sunday experience with V8 Supercars and all morning and we did so many things other motorsport would be an asset. I

knew he,Kim and Brad would work together to move the team forward and they have certainly done that.

They have proven with their performances in qualifying and the races that they are capable of being at the sharp end of the field now.

"It makes such a difference. When you qualify way back where we did at Bathurst last year, you have to race past a bunch of turkeys to get back to the angry guys at the front. It's much easier when you are one of the angry guys at the front; there is no pissing about with the guys in the middle."

After more than two decades in international racing, and a great deal of success, Cleland retired from full time racing in 1999 but still the fire burned to win Down Under. Without racing full-time, how did he hemdle the challenge?

"A couple of years ago,I had not been in a car in a year and I thought, 'How will I go?'Three or four laps in, I was quicker than (co-driver) Rodney Forbes and I qualified the car.

"Each year since, I have been on the pace of the drivers who usually drive tlie car. It doesn't really botlier me that mucli;age and experience will always win over youthful exuberance! The young gims are out there, kicldng the

inoiorsport news

OlEMA/i Photos by AP1 -Images and Dirk Klynsaiilh

shit out of each other but look at Larry Perkins,Jim Richards... John Bowe!

There is a whole bunch of us with

plane to come to Bathurst last year and 1 said to my wife,'This will be the last time I will come to do the race. 1

thousands of years of experience and we get the cars home. Maybe not the quickest guys over a lap but that doesn't always matter..."

A few months ago, there was a party at the Cleland home in Galashiels to celebrate a birthday that ended in a zero. How did he feel?

am not sure how we are going to go'.

But after taking second, the top step of

"And I never thought I would reach 40! I don't know...I am quite enjoying other things at the moment. My son Niki is 17 and he is in the British Rally Championship and he is doing a good job. I lorow very little about rallying but I know enough about motorsport to guide him in the right direction.

Maybe I have to concentrate more than that; he doesn't want to go around in circles, he wants to rally."

Jamie, his 15-year-old son,shows signs of wanting to follow his old man onto the tracks and,between running his Jaguar and Volvo dealership, Cleland is making plans to have another generation take the name onto the tarmac, as well as the forests.

But he almost didn't make it to Australia for another Bathurst.

"1 have had a great career in motorsport,although I got on the 2 October 2002

an outdoor restaurant on a sunny Melbourne day,a fan asked him to sign a photo and,as usual, Cleland is happy to oblige. And she was not even expecting his autograph to read

Someone introduced me as a'Pom'and I said,'Whoa! I am not a Pom,I am a Scot and we hate the English just as much as the Australians do!"' ii

the podium was so close ... on the plane back I said,'Sorry,I changed my mind!'

"If I was uncompetitive in the races, and it was not easy to do,I would not do it any more. Motorsport was a paid job and I am not sure I would want to do it for a career any longer. I am enjoying my business and that and my family keep me busy."

From day one in Australia, there have been fans. Even during lunch at

'Rowan Atkinson'...

"The very first time I came here,I was welcomed with the other international drivers. Someone introduced me as a'Pom'and I said, 'Whoa! I am not a Pom,I am a Scot and we hate the English just as much as the Australians do!'Since that day, I have made a lot of friends here.

"Australia has a no-bullshit culture.

If you are full of shit, people see that.

If you are straight down the line and say what you think and, kind of make

sense, people respect that. In Britain, you can recognise a racing driver because he has so many dagger marks in his back. That is the way it is.

"It's the same in any motorsport anywhere in the world. There's more bullshit in motorsport than in anything else but, in Australia, bullshit is fun! I have lots of friends here and I will continue to come here long after I stop racing."

Cleland has an agreement to race with the OzEmail Racing Ford team for 2003 as well as this year. Even at a time when many drivers are thinking of hanging up the helmet for good,he still has plenty of ambition left; "One day,1 am going to stand on top of that podium. Getting second last year was probably the secondgreatest point of my career, after winning the British championship in 1995.1 won a lot of races and we genuinely won the championship. It may sound hard to believe but, after that,I was stuck for words!

Gobsmacked! That was the high point - but coming second last year was a close second. A great career high."

And,believe me;if, and when,John Cleland wins Bathurst, we will get to hear all about it...

S3

^when you’re hot,# 9you’re hot

.out

I Where are they newP

Mountain Climbers So where are they now - the V8 Supercars that have conquered the Mountain?

AARON NOONAN delved into his extensive research for the results lll

1993 - PERKINS/HANSFORD WITH the V8 Supercar 'celebrating' its 10th category Chassis PE017- Originally a HoldenAnniversary in terms of appearances at the Mountain,a lot has changed powered VP debuted by Perking at over time in terms of both the cars and Phillip Island in 1993,it won for tlie the technology in them.

Castrol team's and then went tlirough the hands of John Trimbole, Mark But being able to call your car the 'Bathurst winner' adds instant Poole, Owen Parkinson and Skippy credibility to the macltine, whether it is Parsons before ending up with exup for sale or resting in a museum or karter Wesley May. He's been racing in the Konica Series and will drive in workshop somewhere.

In the modern V8 class, it's very rare the 30-lapper at the Mountain tliis for a top-line team to return to the year. Now a VS model.

Mountain a year later with exactly the same car, though tliat's what the 1994 - JOHNSON/BOWE Holden Racing Team is doing this year.

Last year's winning VX Commodore Chassis DJR EB5- Built as an EB in (chassis TWR045)will again be Mark 1994 for John Bowe,it became the Skaife's weapon of choice in the Bob Bathurst winner before being updated Jane T-Marts 1000. After aU,it's the car to EF specs for Bowe in 1995. Won the he's dominated this year's 1995 ATCC and again returned with championship so there's nothing wrong Bowe in 1996 only to be written off in with it, even tlrough the TWR 'empire' massive accident at Phillip Island that has pumped out another two year.

Commodores since their success in October last year.

On the other hand, most of the other Bathurst-winning V8 Supercars are either in a garage or been destroyed. A shame to see such history waste away...

Given the chop-and-change nature of modem touring car racing, as well as the fact the cars are all so much similar, these cars are just that- cars. The ability to upgrade a chassis to the next model also guarantees a longer shelf life for cars further down in the pack.

Maybe in years to come they will be treated a little more like historical items, but for the meanwhile,here's what has happened to these cars that shook the Mountain from 1993 to now.

1995 - PERKINS/INGALL

1996 - LOWNDES/MURPHY

1999 - RICHARDS/MURPHY I Chassis GMS 008- Murphy's 1999 Wynn's VT Holden and liriked up I with Richards for enduros,including = Bathurst win. Murphy's Kmart car in S 2000, then became Rodney Forbes's.

Sold to Simon Wills and won 2001

Chassis HRT033-The original 'Supercar' VR Commodore which featured controversial Petty Bar. Craig Lowndes's car from Calder 1996, won Sandown and Bathurst. Greg Murphy's 1997 car(now a VS)before massive crash at Phillip Island. Slowly rebuilt over time and pressed back into action for Todd Kelly Young Uons in 1999, used by Lovtmdes at Winton before a crash at Indy that year destroyed it.

Konica Series. Retained by Wills, in Malcolm Ramsay's workshops in SA. 2000 - TANDER/BARGWANNA Chassis GRM VT02- Debuted by Tander at Winton in 1999 and run tluoughout 2000 when car finished secojid in the championsliip. Won Bathurst and retained in exact spec as it won. Stayed with GRM in Melbourne. Hasn't raced since Bathurst victory.

1997 - PERKINS/INGALL

2001 - SKAIFE/LONGHURST

Chassis PE030- Built new as a VS for Perkins and used by 'LP'in 1997 ATCC,Sandown and won at Bathurst.

LP's car in 1998 before VT came onI stream. Sold to Barry Morcom and ●| onto Matthew White to run Konica I Series 2000. Retained by White and I" run as customer car for Michael Turner in this year's KV8SS.

Chassis PE027 - Built new as VR and ran Sandown 500 before winning Bathurst. Ingall's 1996 ATCC car, then Castrol Cougars machine in '97 and '98. Then to Truckie Parsons for 1999 and sold to Kiwi Chris Butler who ran in Konica Series in 2000 and retains ownership of what is now a VS.

1998 - BRIGHT/RICHARDS Chassis AJR 96 ELI - Alan Jones's EF in '96 and '97, became Bright's when he joined SBR in '98. Used for handful of races that year and tlien won Bathurst. Sold to Greg Crick and then Craig Harris. Has been re-liveried in Pirtek colours and retained by Harris.

Chassis TWR045 - Built new in 2001 as a VX and debuted by Skaife/Bright at QLD 500 featruing 'hick' Pi system mounted on steering wheel. Won Bathurst last year and retained by team for Skaife to dominate championship in during season 2002.

Joined by Bright for QLD 500 again, and Jim Richards for Bathurst assault.

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6 Michael Schumacher was not perfect at IndianapoSis, his attempt to set up a close finish handing the win to Bubens Barrichello. JOE SAWARD reports from the USA JC

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Indy turns Red: The Ferraris of Rubens Barrichello and Michael Schumacher were sideby-side at the finish, top, the two sharinq yet another 1-2 result for the Scuderia. Red was certainly the dominant hue at Indianapolis among the fans and the winners ...

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

motorsport news

FORMULA ONE

T

HERE are some strange things that happen in Grand Prix racing - and Indianapolos showed yet another example ofjust that.

Michael Schumacher led for most of the United States Grand Prix. The two Ferraris were dominant again but, this time, they seemed to be fighting for position. And the team had said before the race that the two drivers would be allowed to battle one another.

The problem was that Rubens Barrichello could not do anything to pass Michael. And then at the final corner Michael moved over and went wide up in the dusty stuff on the outside of the corner.

What was in his head when he was doing this? Did he imagine a sideby-side finish with pictures of the two Ferraris filling the front pages of the newspapers in New York City and Los Angeles?

If he did, it all turned horribly wrong because when the two cars crossed the finishing line and the timing transponders registered what had happened, it emerged that victory had gone to Barrichello. Michael was happy until he began to field questions from the media in the post-race press conference and then he began to realise that his action had stirred up a storm and revived the bad memories ofAustria 2002. He seemed suddenly very weary ...

Was it a staged finish? Or was Michael letting Rubens win? It was hard to say. Afterwards Michael said that he was trying for a dead heat. Then he said that he was letting Rubens win to pay him back for what happened in Austria.

He seemed confused.

The one thing that cannot be argued by anyone was interference from the Ferrari pit. No-one

ordered Michael to do anything.

What happened was all his own work. In fact, he said himself that the Ferrari management on the pitwall told him not to do anything.

The big question was he meant to do rather than what actually happened. Was he, as some claimed later, confused as to where the finishing line was located.

Indianapolis is odd in that there is a start-finish line and the strip of bricks across the road. The two lines are 16 metres apart. Tony George was standing on the line of bricks waving the flag - this was the finishing line.

The start line was before that. It

r

looked as though he crossed the first line ahead but the second he crossed behind Barrichello. The irony of this of course was that the need for the second line came about two years away when Ferrari asked for the start line to be moved back away from the line of bricks sdthat they would not cause Michael to lose traction ...

The best thing for Michael to have done was to have admitted that he had screwed up and that he did not mean to hand victory to Barrichello. But he didn’t. His pride probably did not allow it.

And so it looked like a staged finish and that meant that the attack dogs of the local press corps

wanted answers. The public, they said, had been cheated.

Some people like conspiracy theories but,in general terms, 90 percent of supposed conspiracies are just mistakes that are made and badly covered up.

Who knows what the reaction will be in the next few days but it seemed on Sunday night that a lot of fuss was being made about very little.

It is such a shame for until that moment, Formula 1 had done not a bad job for the Americans. continued on page 60

n t

(Odatone

L.

and make sure that reverse is working ...

IT was not only at the finish of the US GP that Michael Schumacher looked less than perfect.

As the cars lined up on the grid at the start of the race, Schumacher overshot his grid position slightly.

He decided that the best thing to do would be to select reverse and put the Ferrari back where it should be, a couple of metres behind where he had stopped.

The rules state that during a race a driver is "strictly forbidden to drive their car in the opposite direction to the race" but if this happens before the actual start of the race it is not illegal.

2 Oclolier 2002

57

Qualifying /

speedway where the The Brickyar(f is the have Gods of racing lived and (Sed. And it is only recently that it was decided to expand activities with an FI track on the infield. In order to do this it was necessary for the designers to use the main straight as well.

Arid that created a very odd track as there are two very distinct elements to it. There is tne twiddly bacK section, where downforce is needed and there is the fast blast c-f the straight, where downforce is definitery not needed.

And that means that everyone was talking about compromise in getting the right set-up.

It did not help that there was no testing for anyone before the event. This tends to even out the playing field on the first day.

Friday was something of a wasted day in that it was wet to

,Grand United Sta Prix September 28 2002 > 1 M Schumacher ■Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro 1:10.790 2 R Barrichello Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro ■ 1:11.068 ' 0.268' 3 D Coulthard West McLaren Mercedes 1:11.413 +0.623 .

BMWWIliamsFI Team 1:11.414 -I-0.624 BMWWilliamsFI Team 1:11.587 0,797 l4 K Raikkdnei West McLaren Mercedes '1:11.633 -I-0,843 1 J VMIeneuve Lucky Strike BAR Honda 1:11.738 +0,948 Mild Seven Renault FI Team ●1:11.888

I

DHL Jordan Honda '1:11.902 -hi.112 |7 N Heidfeld Sauber Petronas _ 1;11.9S3 +1.163 Is H H Frentzon Sauber Petronas

Lucky Strike BAR Honda :1:12.161 +T371 16 E Irvine Jaguar Racing 1:12.282 -H.492' 15 J Buttoi Mild Seven Renaua F1 Team 1:12.401 ●H.611

:

begin with and then the track was so "green’ and slippery that there were few really meaningful times.

And there were lots of spins. As the rubber went down, so the track improved. But there was still an element of hit-and-miss about it and Jaguar, for example, was caught out completely on Saturday afternoon. The cars had impressed mightily until the start of the qualifying session but by the end of it they were back where they normally are - in the midfield.

Ferrari, however, was where one expects to see Ferrari after qualifying - one-two on the grid.

And that, despite the fact that Rubens Barrichello had had a huge shunt at the end of his first winding-up lap on Friday. Rubens's left rear tyre suddenly lost pressure and he spun into the wall and then bounced back across the road, spreading wreckage hither and thither and bringing out a red flag.

"I just closed my eyes and waited for the bang," said Rubens later.

It was a big one and the worrying thing was that no-one seemed to know what had happened. The tyre itself showed no signs of what had caused the failure. It was not a puncture. It was not a failure of the tyre itself.

It might have been a rim problem but there was no evidence to prove it one way or the other.

"We may never know for sure," said one of the Bridgestone men. It was judged to have been a one-off failure and so Michael Schumacher was quickly back in action on Friday.

Rubens missed the entire day.

He would get a new car overnight, built up around a new chassis.

In the circumstances, it was impressive that Ferrari was again 1-2, with Schumacher and Barrichello separated by nearly three-tenths of a second. Rubens was then three-tenths clear of the rest. .

L

“The qualifying session was rather a disappointment because it promised a lot and failed to deliver.

Initially, it was the two Williams men who were 1-2. This was in part due to the fact that Ralf Schumacher had a bad first run, running wide across the grass at the first turn and aborting his run.

On his second run Michael left little doubt as to what was happening.

He was instantly six-tenths ahead of the others and he was never beaten after that.

The closing minutes of the session saw only one major improvement: that of David Coulthard who put his McLaren third just ahead of the WilliamsBMW men. The session just never really got going - which was a shame for it had the makings of a good showdown.

Having a McLaren as the nearest challenger to the Ferrari domination was a bit of a surprise but it was a pleasant one for the people down Woking way.

"You will always find new challenges at this track," Coulthard said. "It is not easy to get the right set-up as you have to consider how to JH compromise."

Coulthard argued that Indianapolis was "a circuit a lot more difficult than it looks n and the challenge of n qualifying is to put together the « sector times to get the 1 maximum ".

This, of course, is what Schumacher does best.

"I lost about a tenth in the last sector," Coulthard said. "It might have been closer."

But what he did not say was that he might hav^^^5^g|

P/ioto by Marsh/Bothwell

—^

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DHL Jordan Honda _ 1:12.647 -k 1.857 25 A McNish Panasonic Toyota Racing 1:12.723 + 1.933 Jaguar Racing 1:12.739 +1.949 KL Minardi Asiatech 1:13.128 +2.338 ●Panasonic Toyota Racing 2.423 1:13.213 22 A Yooni KL Minardi Asiatech :i:13.809

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+3.019

' 58

Famous faces: Seen at Indy in the buildup to the race were Mario Andretti, left, Ivan Capelti, above, and former CART boss, Andrew Craig, (Photos by suUon-imagcs.com) right.

motorsport news

FORMULA ONE an engine on Friday and lost a lot of track time while Ralf backed his car into the wall, From then on it was a clear case of trying to catch up.

"We just could not get a good balance," Montoya said. "We just haven't got the speed to beat Ferrari today."

Indianapolis being a short track, the action was very tight and so the usual order was jumbled somewhat depending on who had suffered what injustice.

Jacques Villeneuve ended up seventh quickest and the Honda men were happy because the latest engine is much better than some of the units that have been employed this year. As usual however Olivier Panis got the bad luck and so had to settle for 12th.

Renault seemed to be suffering the usual horsepower-deprivation syndrome. The cars were reliable but not quick, Jarno Trulii was eighth on the grid and Jenson Button was 14th.

"Everything is going well," said

Trulii.

got closer to Barrichello but it was a waste of time even considering the gap to Michael.

It was nonetheless a good effort, particularly as DC had to go into the session with a new engine after an hydraulic failure on Saturday morning. Kimi Raikkonen too had troubles after a spin on Saturday morning and he was in his T-car for qualifying, a distinct disadvantage.

He ended up sixth on the grid.

The Williams-BMWs were the meat in the McLaren sandwich in fourth and fifth places and both Juan Pablo Montoya and Ralf Schumacher had their own troubles. Montoya lost

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"... apart from the engine," said the more cynical team members.

Giancarlo Fisichella confirmed Honda's progress with ninth place on the grid in his Jordan, while poor Takuma Sato was in the wars (as usual), an engine failure depriving him of his new specification VI0. The older engine was not as good and so he qualified 15th.

“The most exciting thing about the two Saubers was the battle between them. Nick Heidfeld has struggled in recent races to keep Felipe Massa behind him and, with Massa booted out of the team because of the penalty he was given in Monza, the Swiss team decided that Heinz-Harald Frentzen was a good call.

The problem was soon that Heidfeld was struggling to stay ahead of Frentzen as well. In the end they were 10th and 11 th, with a tenth between them. Heidfeld

had saved his pride and Frentzen had worried him. So both men were happy...

"I am about 15cm too big for this car," said HHF. "That is OK but I have to drive with the steering wheel closer than I would like. It is like how my grandmother used to drive!"

For most of Friday and Saturday morning, it looked like the Jaguar miracle at Monza would continue.

But it did not. The qualifying session was a rout for Eddie Irvine, who was in the top four in all the other sessions. This was good particularly as, at one point on Friday, he was pushed off the track by his team mate Pedro de la Rosa. It was apparently inadvertent but it was a bit of a coincidence that a few days earlier Irvine had been ranting and raving about Pedro's ability - or the lack of it.

The Jaguar men said they were shocked by how badly things went on Saturday afternoon. Irvine qualified 13th and de la Rosa was 17th.

The Toyota men were depressed rather than shocked, for their first n visit to Indianapolis was not a huge success. The team could not find the right balance and so Allan McNish ended up 16th on the grid and Mika Salo was 19th.

Minardi had a pretty good qualifying with Mark Webber 18th and Alex Yoong more confident but still seven-tenths behind Webber.

"This," said Mark Webber, who was also limping slightly because of a twisted ankle, "was the most difficult qualifying session of the year , for us in terms of getting what we wanted from the car."

Things were not helped by the fact that the entire rear end of Mark's car had to be changed in a hurry before qualifying after a morning gearbox failure.

"It is worth noting that both drivers qualified less than two seconds away from a top 10 position," said the ever-optimistic.

Paul Stoddart.

-JOE SAWARD

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59

United States Grand Prix

BMW: Bash Monty’s Williams THE first thing any driver wants to do is to beat his team-mate. The last thing he wants to do is to take his team-mate out.

Ralf Schumacher made a real mess of it on the second lap and spun into his team mate Juan Pablo Montoya. It was a dumb thing to do and Ralf will no doubt have his head torn off by Patrick Head, a man who is not always known for his sunny disposition and understated "rhanifer when Taced by a driver who has made a bad mistake.

The collision sent Ralf into the pits and Monty, who had been attempting to go around the outside of Ralf, wentfrom fourth to seventh.

Perhaps the pair would not have done much about the mighty Ferrari but after the

incidence any dream of such a thing was gone.

"It is always difficult to overtake someone on the outside," Ralf said later.

"There wasn't enough room.

I am going to have to watch the TV to get a clear picture of what happened."

When he does, it will be hard for Ralf to think that he was not to blame. He spun and rammed into Montoya.

For the second race running the two Williams boys had made a mess of it.

Montoya did what he could but at the mid-race pit stop there was a miscommunication and Juan Pablo came in earlier than expected. The team handled it well but the strategy was ruined and so Juan had to settle for fourth.

-JOE SAWARD

Germany and Colombia played a scoreless draw: RalfSchumacher and Juan {Photos hy stilloit-magcs.com) Pablo Montoya tangle on the second lap.

continued from page 57 The Ferraris were ahead and dominant but they were going hard at it. They were helped by the fact that the Williams-BMW pair took care of themselves(see breakout).

Third place on the grid and from the start belonged to David Coulthard, despite the fact that he had a very heavy fuel load. David then drove a very sensible race, looking after his engine all the way to the finish. It was a good solid result and one that David felt was indicative of progress.

“Overall our performance this weekend indicates that we have taken a step forward,” he said.

Sadly, the same could not be said for Kami Raikkonen. His engine lapsed onto nine cylinders and that meant that he lost some horsepower and so he struggled, and in time, Jacques Villeneuve and Montoya both managed to pass him. Eventually the engine blew up and Kimi retired from sixth place.

T

he misfortunes of Raikkonen and Ralf Schumacher meant that the door was open for someone else to get into the top six and score points and Jamo Trulli staked his claim at the start when,on a light fuel-load, he jumped ahead of Villeneuve and Raikkonen and ended the first lap in sixth place.

That became fourth when the Williams Demolition Team had finished their stuff on lap two.

The Michelin t}Tes enabled Jarno to run a one-stop strategy although he pitted early so that it looked as though he was going for a two-stop strategy. The extra fuel made life difficult and he lost a place to Villeneuve in the middle of the race but when Jacques stopped for his second time, Jamo went back to fifth.

Jenson didHe not have such aButton good day. was running in 10th early on (from 14th on the grid) but his position on the track meant that he was constantly stuck behind someone and could not exploit the strategy to the full.

It was enough to get him to the finish in eighth.

The final point thus went to Villeneuve, who might have achieved more but for a sluggish start that dropped him from seventh on the grid to eighth. The two-stop strategy, combined vrith the demise of Williams, and Raikkonen helped him out. Olivier Fanis’s plan to do the same as Jacques went wrong at the start when the automatic start device on the BAR malfunctioned and so

JL

Olivier ended the first lap in 17th place and starting a two-stop strategy from back there was a waste of time. He ended the day 12th.

The Jordanstrategy. team adopted different Most a Bridgestone users decided to go for two stops but Jordan went for one. This made the handling of the cars very difficult and both drivers complained of major oversteer. This meant that Giancarlo Fisichella could do no better than seventh.

Takuma Sato was 11th.

Sauber had to go for two stops in order to be sure about the tyres and that meant that Nick Heidfeld started the day ninth and finished seventh while Heinz-Harald Frentzen had a less successful time and went from 11th to 13th. Frentzen found that his car was oversteering too much in the race.

Eddie Irvine finished in 10th in his Jaguar after a strategy which called for a very long first stint. Traffic meant that this only took him up to 10th place and he lost a lot of ground at the pit stop (which is unusual), so despite running light in the last part of the race, Irvine was too far back to do much.

His race was better than that of de la Rosa, however, as he made a slow start and so was last at the end of the first lap. He picked off Yoong early on but then went out when his transmission seized up, causing a small fire in the back of the car.

The marshals got very excited molorsport news

FORMULA ONE about this and sprayed the car with their extinguishers. In the excitement Pedro was directed to the side of the track and told to jump over the wall. This he did and fell six feet into a small stream that passes under the track at that point. Ooops ... u I jumped because a marshal told me to,” said a rather damp Pedro later. “They did not tell me there was a river next to the barrier! Unbelievable ...”

The Toyota team came home 14th and 15th with Mika Salo ahead of McNish. The two men had different strategies but it seemed that it made little difference.

Best of the rest: David Coulthard, above, took third in both qualifying and the race. Former Indy 500 winner Jacques Villeneuve, below right, dragged the BAR Honda into the points in sixth. And there was a Doctor in the House, ER'S Anthony Edwards, below. (PtiolobyMarstVBothwelandsutton.images.com)

Minardi for once failed to get a car home although Webber’s performance in the early laps was very impressive given that he had a heavy fuel load. He was running 14th when he suffered a power steering failure on lap 39.

If it had not happened he would probably have ended the day in the top 10 as he was running behind Button at the time. That was an impressive effort. Yoong did less well and went out with a blown Asiatech on lap 47.

U3 GRAND Barrichello SEtCE RESULT -l:31m07.934s 73 LAPS 2 M. Schumacher l:31m07.945s l:31ml5.733s 3 Coulthard - I;31ml7.845s 4 Montoya l:32m04.781s 5i'ruin 6 Villeneuve l:32m06.146s 7 Rsichella 72 laps 8 Button 72 laps 9 Heidfeld 72 laps 10 Irvine 72 laps 11 Salo 72.laps 12 Panis 72 laps 13 Frentzen 71 laps 14 Salo 71 laps 15 McNIsh 71 laps 16 R. Schumacher 71 laps R R R R

Raikkonen Yoong Webber de la Rosa

50 laps Engine 46 laps Engine J 38 laps Steering 27 laps Transmission,i|

Fastest lap; Barrichello on lap 27, lml2.738s.

Mvers'points: M. Schumacher 134, Barrichello 71, Montoya 47, R. Schumacher 42, Coulthard 41, Raikkonen 20, Button ^13, Trulll 9, Irvine 8, Heidfeld and Flslchella 7, Villeneuve and Massa 4, Panis 3, Webber, Salo and Frentzen 2.

Consbudots' poWs:Ferrari 20S, Willlams/BiyiW 89i McUren/Mcrcedes 61, Renauit'22, Sauber/Petronas 11, Jaguar/Cbsworth 8^ ●!

BAR/Honda 7 and Jordait/Honda 7, .

Mlnardi/Asiatech, Toyota and Arrows/Cosworth: 2',

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2 October 2002

Teflon is a tnrde mark of dupont

61

United States Grand Prix Photo by sutlon-iimgcs.com

What they said Highlights of the post-pace press conference RB: We were.

Q: Michael, was it your plan that you win and Rubens finish a very, very close second and then did the plan backfire on you?

MS: There was no plan, in all honesty. There was no plan at all. It was just that I felt he deserves to win this race and the team asked

to pass? Could you clarify when you said they asked you not to do anything?

MS: In all honesty I did ask before whether I could let him by and could let him win the race and they said no. As again, there was no plan of this. So the team didn't basically want this to probably not happen, but has happened now. But I feel it's nice that this happened.

MS: And we were, yeah.(Laughter) Q: But even that, do you understand what I am getting at, you know,that you were ahead, Rubens was second and suddenly you close up at the end, and then you try and go across the line side by side.

MS: Again, I can only say there wasn't any plan of this. But in the end, for my point of view, I didn't feel particularly happy with what happened in Austria, but from the point of decision we had to make at the time, I understood and we both understood it.

me sort of not to do anything. And then we went side by side and in the end he was the winner.

We both didn't know actually who was the winner. He was asking me down the straight, you won, me won? And I didn't know either. So we had to wait until we saw some sort of screen who was.

Q: Rubens, if you could just kind of compare and contrast the way you felt after Austria to the way you feel'now, I mean, do you have sincere good feelings or do you feel, you know - just compare and contrast those feelings.

And to be honest, with now what

Q: Michael, did you feel particularly generous today?

(Laughter) MS: You know. I've said before we

has happened, I feel to some degree I equalized this and I feel I can give him back something where he deserved to win. We said we wouldn't do this and we hadn't

are such a good team and we understand each other very well.

Sometimes you may have to sacrifice, for me, in a couple of races this year. And to a certain degree, what goes around comes around. And maybe this was the day.

RB: I feel quite good, actually. I feel that I had a fantastic race. We were battling and I was pushing really hard after the first pit stop. I was on new tyres and I, you know, gave a really hard time to Michael. We were going for it. It isn't that we were planning to stay the way we were.

planned to do this. And it happened, it just happened.

Q: Michael, when you said a few minutes ago that the team had asked you not to do anything, could you clarify whether they meant don't slow down and

Q: You tried at the finish to have

Q: Yeah, Michael, I think everybody understands what you're saying when you say you wanted to pay Rubens back for what he did in Austria, but shouldn't you be trying your hardest to win all the time? Isn't

I mean, we were fighting, i pushed every button I could trying to pass him, but it wasn't possible.

But we had a good race together.

After the second pit stop, the team

create a situation like this; or did

a photo finish or something, didn't you?

MS: We tried to be side by side.

said just to save a little bit because, you know, we saw so many blow ups and everything. At the end I wasn't expecting, we were close together, but, like Michael said, I think if you purely think that I won Austria and he won Indy, that's it. ‘’There's nothing to complain.

(Laughter)

they ask you not to do anything, meaning don't resist his attempt

that your job?

MS: You know, I think life is to be honest and to be fair and, that's what I want to be.

end Position/D 1 Michael Schi I 2 Rubens Barrichello

BRA Ferrari |

3 David Coulthard

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4 'Juan Pablo Montoya COL Williams'Ci j 5 Ralf Schumacher

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6 Kimi Raikkonen

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14 Jenson Button

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15 Takuma Sato

JPN Jordan

i 16 Allan McNish 17 Pedro De La Rosa

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20 Alex Yoong

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FORMULA ONE

I

Web ●ier's GP Diary

don't know whether I would have made any further progress even if I hadn't been forced out of last Sunday's US Grand Prix at Indianapolis.

My retirement, on lap 40, was still three laps short of our planned single pit stop and 1 don't know whether we would have managed to get in and out ahead of Eddie Irvine and/or Mika Salo who, as you saw on the broadcast, were running right in front of me.

That would have been crucial, because - with the benefit of hindsight - my car set-up wasn't the best for getting past other cars.

I don't think we expected to be involved in so much ontrack dicing and I had a fraction too much wing and a fractionally 'short' top gear to be able to take advantage of the tow on the main straight - the prime passing opportunity. My car was, correspondingly, quite reasonable through the infield and I was able to close on them there, but with little opportunity to pass.

However, it all became immaterial when the steering went very strange and I had no choice but to pull in. It wasn't a power-steer problem but, as I had to leave the circuit quite soon after the race, I don't yet know what the guys found wrong.

'Again, a shame - we had

UmW STATES

the right strategy and it would have been nice to have a go at Eddie, especially as my Dad came over for this one.

He was blown away by the size of the place...

I

ndianapolis. What a mix. Part oval, part racetrack. And, as you would imagine, set-up is a compromise between front straight speed and the infield.

The banking was something new and is unique but, to be honest, the speed at which we come onto the oval itself means that it's not a particularly challenging corner. However there's certainly some load going through the car as the speed increases - which you can feel through the steering.

Friday went more quite well.

I completed laps than anybody and we ended up with quite a good balance in the car. Like all the Michelin runners, we went for the harder option. I was actually a fair bit quicker on the softer rubber, but with the likelihood of high temperatures on Sunday afternoon, hard was the way to go.

Saturday morningj^ however, was less successful.

My car broke an input shaft

with 43 minutes of the second session to go and so the team had to set to and make an engine/gearbox change in the time leading up to qualifying.

The difference between track temperatures in the morning and afternoon at Indianapolis is quite marked and it caught a number of teams out, including us, in qualifying. As soon as we went out for the first run, I realised that we'd lost the balance we had - it was probably the worst balance I've had all year going into qualifying, so we had plenty to do.

From what I could see, a number of other teams were struggling with the change, especially Jaguar, who had looked quite quick up until this point - although I suspect they spent most of Friday and Saturday on lightish fuel loads...

^phis track also seemsto extremely sensitive tyre pressure differences more so than anywhere else - so it was a case of taking a couple of educated guesses.

Initially we weren't running too much wing, in order to get a reasonable straight line speed down that long, long

straight, but the infield was, well, a nightmare. We put some wing on and the last run wasn't too bad.

It gave us a little bit of useful data in terms of Sunday, which looked like providing the same 15 degree disparity between warm-up and race time track temperatures. As you know, we're allowed to come in and out of the pits in the 15 minute period when we go out to form up for the start, so I told my guys to plan on doing a fair few laps in that short period to try and confirm a reasonable race setup I That we did but, as I said earlier, I think we just underestimated the need for straightline race speed a fraction.

H

ard to believe there's just one more race to go to complete my first season as a Grand Prix driver. Hopefully, we can put it all together car and driver-wise to make it a good one.

Then our thoughts turn to next year. It's probably getting frustrating for you guys back there as time drags by and there's no confirmation of what I'm doing. All I can say - again - is that I'm confident things are heading the right way and that I'll be in a good situation in FI next year. As the media guys say, watch'this space! :o-,!

Photo by siiiron-imugcs.coni

2 Ociober 2002

63

Phillip Island

Morgan's Islanc

The battle for the Nations Cup title will go down to the wire at Surfer's Paradise, after Geoff Morgan clean-swept the penultimate round ofthe series at Phillip Island.

AARON NOONAN was there to see the Viper wipe the floor with the Ferrari, Lamborghini and Porsche opposition THE fight for the Poolrite Nations Cup championship will be decided in the final round at the Honda Indy 300 after Viper driver Geoff Morgan dominated the penultimate round at Phillip Island.

The MAXFACTOR driver spent the weekend without regular car preparer Barry Jones, who was undergoing an operation, and, with points to make up on John Bowe, the former Porsche Cup champion went all out for three wins from three starts.

“There’s no other way to attack it - you can’t afford to hang back when you are racing John Bowe and Jim Richards or they’ll disappear into the distance,” said Morgan.

While Morgan went into the round looking to ensure that the gap to Bowe was as minimal as possible, particularly with the fact that the Indy layout will be moi-e suited to the Ferrari and Porsches, he actually came out of the event

wdth the series lead.

Bowe’s luck turned som’, the weekend easily the PHR Scuderia team’s worst of season 2002. Bowe put the Ferrari (which had its rev limit raised by 500rpm as well as having the front rideheight raised by 18mm at the rear and 5mm on the front) on the front row of the grid, but things went downhill from there.

Sitting third behind Morgan and Paul Stokell on lap eight, ‘JB’ ended up off the road backwards entering Gardner Straight, crunching the $750,000 machine.

Though he was able to continue and pick up title points in seventh, there was no chance to make it up in race two, for the 360 GT broke an input shaft and didn’t even take the start.

A fighting drive through the field netted Bowe fourth, but he heads to Indy some 17 points behind Morgan.

“This wasn't my day today, what more can I say,” said Bowe.

6 ● B

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“Geoff has taken a good lead and I'll have to win every race and he'll have to have a non-finish for me to have much chance of winning the championship.

“And then you have Jimmy Richards, who scores points wherever he goes and is closer to the lead than ever.”

Richards was his usual consistent self in the DAMPS Porsche GTS Cup car. Without the outright speed to out-do the Viper, the two-time Nations Cup Champion instead had to contend with dicing with Stokell’s Lamborghini Diablo GTR as well as a third and two second places which resulted in second overall.

His dices with Stokell in races two and three were nothing more than riveting. The V12 Diablo had the edge over the six-cylinder German machine down the straights, though the tyres quickly went away on the Crazy John’smobile and that left Richards to

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nail the passing move for second on the last lap of both races.

“It was a good day, the result was better than we expected,” reported Richards, the GT3 Cup car expected to be a handy weapon around the tight streets of the Gold Coast.

On the other hand, Stokell put in a strong performance in a car that simply couldn’t get its tyres to

O II

Dice of the Century: Richards timed his run to perfection in races two and three, taking the OAMPS Porsche past Paul Stokell’s Diablo on the final (Photos by Difk Klynsmith) lap of each race. moiorsport news 64

PROCAR SERIES

I Nation

On-board and looking back out-board: Stokell chauffered MN lensman Dirk Klynsmith around the ’Island and the speedo shows 240km/h. It’s (Photo by Dirk Klynsmith) enough to make anybody jealous ...

-..CDlfftire

Differing Ferrari fortunes: John Bowe, above, had a shocker of a weekend, while Group Two team-mate Sam Newman, right, continues to show more skill than he’s given credit for and added another trophy to his Sandown 500 pole. Three more tight tussles with Steve Beards and (Photos by Dirk Klynsmith) John Teulan, below, were the order of the day.

live on the 4.45-kilometre layout.

“It was tough from the word ‘go’ because we were fighting tyre and balance problems,” said Stokell, who ended up finishing third for the round,the GTR having been given an extra 200rpm before the rotmd.

The rest of the Group One runners were led by the Falken Porsche of Peter Fitzgerald (two fourths and a fifth), while Tony Quinn and Kiwi Kevin Bell traded the positions behind during the races.

Prior to the round,PROCAR had reduced the weight for the GT3 Cup cars by 20 kilograms, but on a power circuit like the ’Island, the Viper and Diablo were the cars to have - as long as the tyres lasted, that is.

A good sign for the category was the car count(18)of the PhiUip Island round, with the Vipers of Rusty French and D’Arcy Russell 2 October 2002

returning to the championship, despite a handful of problems.

Russell’s car had diff troubles, while French had power steering problems.

The Group Two battles were simply sensational,just as they have been all year. This time it was Sam Newman who came out on top ofPHR Scuderia team mates Steve Beards and John Teulan, though the latter continues to lead the championship chase in Group Two. “It’s a great circuit,” reported ‘The Footy Show” star. “It’s a pity I can’t drive it properly ...”

The Porsche GT3s of Max Warwick and David Scaysbrook joined the Group Two stoush for the weekend, while Murray Carter returned in the Corvette C5, though dramas forced it out.

So the scene is set for the

streets of Surfer’s Paradise. Which car is the one to have? Can Morgan or Bowe break the three-peat of Richards? Answers on the back of a postcard, thanks...

Points: Morgan 1047,Richards 1030, Bowe 982, Quinn 719, Bell 713, Stokell 700.

Groun Two:Teulan

The new championship leader: Geoff Morgan was merely looking to close the championship points gap between he and John Bowe at Phillip Island, but things turned out better than expected and he leads heading into series finale it the Honda Indy. to by Dirk Klynsmith)

Phillip Island

SlrCVTC^

It’s new, it’s blue and it’s a winner: Brett Peters is looking good to (Photo by Dirk Klynsmith) make it two GT-Performance titles in two years.

A BRiitiful performance: Brock made it back-to-hack wins in V8 BRute (Pholo hy Oirk Khmmith) racing, adding Phillip Island to Sandown.

Blues in GTP Brock with BRute force New car helps Peters back to top ofpoints

WHILE most of the attention in the GT Performance class at Phillip Island was centred around the HSV wheels controversy, defending Champion Brett Peters went one step closer to making to back-to-back titles.

Armed with a brand new Subaru Impreza STi that was making its racing debut, the Century Batteries driver took two wins and a second to go into the series finale with a points buffer over Geoff Full.

Full had another miserable weekend in his EVO VTI, only managing a sixth, fifth and fourth.

On the other hand, Bob Pearson had the Pro-Duct Mazda RX7 running at the front of the field,

winning race one only to have wheel bearing problems end his charge in race two.

The constant radius corners of Phillip Island, coupled with the fast speeds, took its toll on tyres, with many of the runners encountering tyre blow outs.

Former champ Mark King was the worst affected, having tyres blow like they were going out of fashion as he struggled with success ballast, while Dave Wood missed race three, after other drivers considered protesting his Subaru if he was allowed to run a smaller road car brake caliper.

Points: Peters 911, Full 880,Alexander 759, Wood 692, King 679, Floyd 677.

-AARON NOONAN

One of those weekends: Graham Alexander, above, had a solid run in the Lancer, while Mark King's tyre dramas, below, were a cause of many (Photos by Dirk Klynsmith) a headache for the Delphi driver.

■'S' B '" ■M -

by AARON NOONAN TEAM Brute Strength has continued on from the Great Aussie Lite Race at Sandown, with James Brock back on the winner’s podium in the penultimate round of the V8 BRute championship at Phillip Island.

The Holden driver qualified second, though was put back to ninth on the grid in the barrel draw for grid slots, prompting a busy afternoon of passing.

Warren Luff headed home race one, though Brock turned things around in the remaining two events and took two victories to win the round.

"I just got in front and it was the typical plan, increase the lead,” reported Brock.

“I was faster through Southern Loop and Siberia than a lot of the guys and was just carrying a bit more car speed than the others through the slower stuff.”

The second race was a closerun thing. While Brock went by

Gary Young’s Coopers machine.

Luff, Allan Grice and Grant Denyer w/ere busy fighting over the minor spots, which, in the end, went to Grice, clear of Gary MacDonald’s Holden and Young.

Luff clashed with Quirk’s driver Damien White and the duo slid right out of contention, while Brock blasted away from the outset of the final.

Nobody could touch the Holden, after Brock had forced race leader MacDonald into making a mistake and a subsequent spin at Honda Corner in the early stages.

It was a Holden sweep in the end, with Steve Robinson running second ahead of Charlie Kovacs, Luff, Denyer, MacDonald and Grice.

Robinson and Kovacs joined Brock on the podium, below, with the Ford drivers keen for revenge on the streets of Surfer’s.

Points: Luff 970, MacDonald 798, White 763, Denyer 727.5, Kovacs 707, Grice 685.

Phnlo hy Dtrk Khivmith :

Vmotorsport news

PROCAR SERIES

Mando wins F8 title

BUM Bpivep takes ilouble win at Phillip IslantI

by MARK GLENDENNING JAMES Manderson, right, was crowned the 2002 Australian Formula 3 Champion after sealing his claim to the title with a pair of dominant wins at Phillip Island two weeks ago.

Manderson's final run to the title was a rather lonely one.

The Zeulig/Oasis BRM Dallara 301 began both races from pole and was never challenged for the lead all weekend.

"It (winning the title) was more of a relief than an elation," said Manderson. " Everyone worked so hard for it. We were ahead the whole way, and it was just a matter of 'maintain the gap, maintain the gap'."

But while everything fell Manderson's way at the Island, the weekend was considerably more difficult for some of his rivals.

Will Power struggled with overheating problems in the older Cooltemp Dallara and could not get within a

Battle of the BRMs: While James Manderson, above, was busy celebrating his victory in the Australian Formula i Championship, his team-mate Darren Palmer, below, was busy fighting offfellow Queenslander Will Power in the ll'linlo hy Dirk Klyn\iuiibi Cooltemp Dallara.

Manderson in qualifying. Unable to challenge for the win. Power battled Darren Palmer for the minor placings, and the pair ended the weekend with a second and third

A

James Cressey, still smarting from hisdisqualification from the previous round at Sandown (see news pages), coaxed enough speed out of the flmberworld/Team Station Dallara 301 in qualifying to claim a front row spot alongside Manderson for bothraces, but-a recurring /, ^ electronic glitch in the rev limiter prevented him from capitalising on it.

The Kiwi bogged down ; badly in both starts, forcing a ●, pair of charges from the back. ,. . of the field to end the .. ●_ weekend with a pair ofTourth-'.-y: places and a nevv lap record of ^ 1m28.1015s.

It was also a tough weekend for Piccola Scuderi^" ■ ■ Corse. Defending F3 ^ i Champion Peter Hackett,again filling in for American Jeffrey Brewer who stayed home in New York, was thwarted by a Lambda sensor- ' failure which prevented the engine maps from sorting out the fuel properl^, I while Justin Watt,-.

I -who had struggled' ■ I with gearbox I problems during I practice, was forced to retire from race two after a battery bracket broke. ^

Points: Manderson 226, Palmer 176, Power 161, Cressey 131, Hackett 74.

Catch up with us at www.delphi.com DSL-PHIW 2 October 2002

Drivi ng "Tomorrow’s "Technology

Delphi Automotive Systems Australia Ltd 86 Fairbank Road, Clayton South, Victoria Australia 3169 Telephone: 03 9551 8700 Facsimile: 03 9551 8215

67

Glittering Gil

Not even a shoulder injury can keep Gilles Panin! from being the darling of the Tarmac lifosi after the Frenchman powered to his third-straight Sanremo wihr^ON THONISJPN reports

G

ILLES Panizzi proved that he is the master of tarmac in the WRC by taking his third-straight win on the RaOye Sanremo.

His win was made all the more remarkable by the fact that he had barely recovered from severe tendon damage to his shoulder, and his participation was in doubt just days before the rally.

Had Championship leader Marcus Gronholm not had some mechanical problems on the first day, the battle might have been more intense, but the result consolidates the Finn’s series lead.

Sanremo marked the sixth onetwo finish for Peugeot this year and its seventh ‘maximum’

Manufacturers Championship score.

Fetter Solherg took third place behind Gronholm, breaking up the Peugeot podium and adding some joy for Subaru.

Day 1

G

ronholm, as he has done so many times this year, set the early pace, showing his incredible ability to adapt from gravel to tarmac. But trouble was brewing for the lanky Finn.

His dominance lasted only until SS2, where he lost turbo boost and dropped to seventh, handing the lead to Panizzi and his brother Herve.

Meanwhile, Ford was having a

shocker, with Marko Martin the best-placed in sixth, while Carlos Sainz and Colin McRae were well of the pace and struggling to stay in the top 10. McRae had stalled the car at a hairpin and also had a puncture on the start line of a stage, costing him valuable time.

Bugalski started to challenge Panizzi, taking time off him and moving into second ahead of Bums. Panizzi was receiving physio treatment at each visit to the service park, but seemed to be coping with the pressure and holding off the Citroen charge.

Gronholm fought back to fourth, but also had a gearbox problem and a soft brake pedal to contend with. However, he was in a better

position than Sainz, who retired his Focus on the start line of SS4 with a major hydraulic leak.

As the day drew to a close a fog rolled in across the coastal mountains to add some extra spice, but Panizzi was in command, going to the overnight halt with a 22.8s lead on Bugalski.

Gronholm made up ground to be third ahead of Burns to complete a French lockout.

Tommi Maldnen broke a driveshaft on the final liaison stage and was stmck out of the rally, continuing the four-time champ’s miserable season.

Day 2 Bugalski was pushing Spanish-run Ctiroen the hard on the Colle Langan stage when he fired off the road in a big way, leaving wreckage along the stage that blocked the path for following cars, including Panizzi.

Panizzi lost over two minutes as a result, but Stewards awarded him the same time as team-mate Gronholm, which maintained his lead and gave Peugeot a mortgage on the podium.

Behind the French cars, Martin in the Ford and Solherg in the Subaru battled for fourth.

Burns had an off on some loose gravel while braking hard for a hairpin. He banged the wall and lost almost 40 seconds as a result, but he was still hanging on to third.

Saving the best until last: A late charge from Fetter Solherg was rewarded with third place and a rare bright moment for Subaru, motorsport news

WRC li

m

TOTAL

CAMPtONATO DEL MONDO RALLYES

44^ RALLYE SANREMO RALLYE D’lTALIA 1 2 3 4 5 6

Gilles Panizzi/ Nerve Panizzi Marcus Gronholm/Rautiainen Patter Solberg/ Phil Mills Richard Burns/Robert ReitI Markko Martin/ Martin Park Jesus Puras/ Carlos Marti

Peugeot Total Peugeot Total Subaru World Rally Team Peugeot Total Ford Rallye Sport Citroen Xsara

4;10:15.6 +00:20.9 +01:06.4 +01:18.9 +01:54.9 +02:39.3

Drivers' points: Gronholm 57, Burns 34, C. McRae 33, Panizzi 31, Sainz 26, Solberg 23, Loeb 18.

Manufacturers' points: Peugeot 131, Ford 86, Subaru 46, Skoda 8, Mitsubishi 8, Hyundai 6.

“SfeS"]

WRC Round 10 Rallye Sanremo

Mere blip on the radar: Early mechanical dramas slowed Gronholm, but he recovered to salvage second place for a Pug 1 -2. (Photo by sutton-images.com) Things at Mitsubishi were going from bad to worse, with Alister McRae out at the start of the day on medical advice after a training accident on a mountain bike, while team mate Delecour was struggling with turbo problems.

Burns’s times slipped, with an engine mapping problem slowing him significantly and allowing Solberg to close in on third place.

Further back, Colin McRae was fighting with Freddy Loix for ninth after a series of problems on the first day dropped him out of contention.

Solberg blitzed the last two stages of the day to take third from Bums and spoil a perfect day for Peugeot.

Panizzi went to the overnight halt with a 22.1s lead on Gronholm, while Solberg was a further 37s behind.

Bums was a further 21s back and only six seconds ahead of Marko Martin.

Day 3 Just four remained final daystages and Panizzi wason the looking awfully secure in the lead with Gronholm resigned to take second, particularly since his main opponent for the title was unlikely to score points.

Solberg was engaged in a battle with Burns, who took time off the Norwegian in the opening stages as he tried to give Peugeot a hat-trick.

However the Subaru driver pushed harder over the final two stages to stay ahead of Bums and again salvage pride for Prodrive.

Burns’s fourth place takes him a point ahead of Colin McRae in the Championship standings, but he now trails Gronholm by 23 points.

Nothing could be taken away from Panizzi, whose effort to come home 21s ahead of Gronholm was made all the more creditable by his shoulder injury.

“We were not sure that he could

You’ll notice he’s not smiling: A broken driveshaff continued \what has (Photo by Photo4/Bothwoll) been a shocking year for Tommi Makinen. drive at this level,” said Peugeot Sport’s Jean-Pierre Nicolas.

“I told him that I wanted him to finish ahead of the Fords. But I never thought that he would be in front of the other Peugeots. I never thought he would manage a recovery like that.”

Panizzi revealed that the pain became worse as the rally went on, and that he is now looking forward to some time to recover.

“It has been a great victory because

it has been difficult. I’ve had to concentrate very hard,” said Panizzi.

“Even if I have not always driven well. I’ve kept calm under attack from Marcus.”

The Ford effort was dented by Sainz’s retirement and by McRae’s series of mechanical bothers early in the rally. But Martin compensated with a strong fifthplace performance, giving encouragement to the team which has lacked tarmac form.

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SA

Focus Possum vs the world toward A STRONG rumour was circulating at the Rally of Melbourne that Possum Bourne maybe shaping up for a tilt at the World Rally Championship after seven straight wins in the Australian series.

It seems that Bourne, left, may be putting together a plan to go after the World Group N Championship, and confirmed to MNews that it was indeed part of the plan for 2003.

Photo by Peter Bury

"It is in the plan but nothing has been signed. The money is not in place yet," said Bourne.

While he has aspirations for the World Group N crown, it appears that he will still be shooting for an eighth Aussie crown despite suggestions he would switched his focus completely to the world stage.

"Yep, we'll be back next year," tke Kiwi confirmed.

Suggestion was that Subaru would give understudy Cody Crooker a cr-ack at leading the local team, and that Dean Herridge would move up to number two.

Rumours have long surrounded the moving the team base to Melbourne totally. Currently Bourne still handles the major preparation work in Auckland, while the team's new workshop at the Subaru Docklands facility handles pre-event preparation.

Bourne's world title aspirations would only have been fuelled by the success of Malaysian Keramjit Singh, who leads the Production car title at the moment. Bourne has consistently hosed Singh when they have met in Asia Pacific rounds in the past.

- JON THOMSON

Second Corolla looming ■J

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NEAL Bates was pleased with the performance of his new Group N Prototype CoroUa at its debut in Melbourne, despite failing to finish.

Bates said that he felt the car had the potential to be on an equal footing with the Subarus and Lancers, but needed to make up a second per kilometre.

“That is easier said than done, but I think we can find some more engine power and we have made a lot of progi-ess with turn-in this weekend,” said Bates.

The car was built in just 12 weeks in Bates’s workshops in Canberra and featured some beautiful fabrication work, including all new upright towers for the rear suspension, a changed transmission- tunnel and many 70

nice detail features.

“It’s not bad for a band of bush mechanics in a big shed,” said Toyota’s Mike Breen.

Breen said the success of the Corolla’s first outing will almost certainly lead to a commitment to a second car in 2003.

When asked about who will drive it, Breen said they would be shooting for safety. This could mean Neal’s identical twin Rick, with the potential to look at younger up-and-comers once the program becomes established.

Ben Barker the 24 year old tearaway from Bega in NSW who Bates has been giving some assistance to, is one driver who could be in line for a ride with the team, possibly in 2004.

- JONTHOMSON

ARC?

FOLLOWING the successful debut of Toyota’s Group N prototype,speculation gathered in Melbourne about the possible entry of Ford into the ARC with a Group N Proto version of the Focus.

Ford Motorsport boss Howard Marsden sent two engineers to the ROM to take a closer look at the Bates car, and has also reportedly had talks with a team about running a Focus in Australia.

How Ford would engineer the Focus is open to conjectm-e, but it may involve doing something very similar to what Bates has done, perhaps with an Escort Cosworth or a later model Ford 4WD driveline and a cmrent turbo engine.

With Proton set to join Toyota in 2003, Ford’s possible involvement could take the manufacturer count to five.

- JON THOMSON

li® DmiD MITSUBISHI has withdrawn Alister McRae from Rally New Zealand on medical advice, replacing him with Finn Jaani Paasonen, right.

McRae fell off his mountain bike about a week before Rally Sanremo, but started the Italian tarmac event only to be withdrawn after the end of the first leg due to his injuries.

He is suffering from bruising of the liver and has been ordered not to drive a rally car for at least a month.

“It was a fairly big fall, I went over the handlebars and landed on my back,” said McRae, below.

“I went to the Accident and Emergency (hospital) but was given the all-clear. I took it easy : before the rally but it took more ^of me than I thought it would.

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“The Team surgeon suggested ! have more checks when I got home and it was then that the bruising was discovered. I hope to be back in the car for Australia.”

- JON THOiyjSON

motorsport news

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Rally of Melbourne

Good Evans,T ifs Bourne It was a weekend that began with everything on the line in the title fight, and ended with a Subaru walkover after an array of distasters put the opposition out of contention and handed Possum Bourne an unprecedented seventh ARC crown.'

JON THOMSON reports from the picturesque Yarra Valley

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^HE late rally organiser Glenn Cuthbert’s motto was‘No is not an option’, and Possum Bourne has again demonstrated that his is ‘losing is not an option’.

The flying Kiwi clinched his seventh Australian Rally Championship and won the Rally of Melbourne overall despite being outpointed all weekend by privateer Subaru runner Simon Evans.

Bourne’s success meant Ed Ordynski failed in his quest to break the Kiwi’s grip on the trophy, with Ordynski’s late retirement on day two also costing him second in the Championship to Cody Crocker.

Evans blasted Bourne with some spectacularly fast stage times to take the opening heat on Saturday by 27 seconds, and was leading by 12 seconds in heat two only to hole a piston just 700 metres from the end of the final forestry stage on Sunday.

Evans’s misfortune handed Bourne the round win with a second and a first, while team-mate Cody Crocker was second overall.

The rally ran with the organising team dedicating it to Cuthbert, and in his tradition, the event ran like clockwork with thousands flocking to the forests of the Yan-a Ranges to catch the action.

An extra nod to Cuthbert’s contribution to the Rally of Melbourne came when his young daughters were given the honour of flagging the cars away at the ceremonial start on Fidday night.

Heat One

E

vans was on a mission and dominated the early stages, leaving Bourne in his wake. The

Early warning: First time out, the new Corolla looked like being a handy piece of gear for 2003.

(Photo by Neil Blackbourn)

privateer Subaru was quicker on every one of the opening three stages to open a 20 second gap.

Ordynski was battling a car that was not handling well or predictably. A driveline glitch was apportioning drive to the rear wheels on some corners and the front on others.

Team-mate Spencer Lowndes was faring a little better until a driveshaft problem put the EVO VI into three-wheel-drive mode for a full stage, costing a huge chunk of time.

Crocker, Scott Pedder and Michael Guest were battling for the minor placings, with Guest looking increasingly comfortable with the Evo VII Lancer which has proved a major sorting challenge for he and the Walkden team.

Neal Bates was back, with the

Hey babe, did I mention I won the Championship? A blue-haired (Photo by Peter Bury) Mark Stacey enjoys the benefits of victory. motorsRon news

ARC t

again t

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/

\ new Group N Prototype Toyota Corolla circulating just inside the top 10 behind Lowndes and Dean Herridge.

Bates was happy with the progi’ess of the new car, which was about a second a kilometre off the pace on debut.

As the day wore on, the wet conditions quickly dried with a strong breeze bringing up dust and reducing Evans’s early advantage.

But by then the die was cast, and only a slip-up would rob the local Subaru pilot of a win over the might of the factory team.

Sam Yamaguchi had an unfortunate debut in his new Evo VII Lancer, rolling the car four times on SS5 and putting him out, while Steve Winwood was sidelined two stages later with a damaged oil cooler.

Evans had it all wrapped up ahead of Bourne, with Crocker a solid third, having opened a 28 second gap on Pedder.

Guest posted a strong time on the final stage to leapfrog Ordynski into fifth. Ordynski’s crew diagnosed a front diff problem and would change it at the final service for an attack on Heat Two. Evans arrived back at the service park to wild cheering from his crew and fans. Wife and co drive Sue was ecstatic, not just because of the couple’s first AEG heat win, but also because her . team Collingwood had booked a place at the Grand Final just moments after they pulled into the service park!

Bourne’s second was enough to give him his seventh Australian title while Crocker’s third pushed him towards a Subaru one-two in the championship 2 October 2002

ahead of Ordynski.

Bates, for his part, was happy that nothing had fallen off the Corolla and it was close to the money in ninth.

Warwick Rooklyn brought the Daihatsu home as the leading F2 car ahead of Brett Comber’s similar car, with Todd Reed in third.

Heat Two Mist hung and low there over the Yarra Ranges, was a cool chill in the air as teams tackled the opening test on Mt Slide.

Bates believed that he could show what the new car could do in a tight and twisty stage that suited his style. Unfortunately, 800 metres in he spun the new car and became stuck just off the road over a steep bank.

“It was a case of ambition overcoming ability,” said Bates.

“It was a left five and a half becomes five, and I was flat in top trying as hard as I could but I ran out of talent.”

There wasn’t a scratch on the Corolla, but he would retire to take the car back to Canberra in search of the elusive speed to be on equal terms with the Subarus and Lancers.

Evans was slowed by Bates’s off and was third fastest, three seconds behind Bourne and Ordynski and one second off Guest.

Ordynski was still not totally happy with the Lancer’s handling.

“It is better, but still doing some strange things,” said Ordynski, who believed the problem was an electronic one.

Evans quickly made up the lost ground and again took the upper hand, pushing hard on every stage

as he chased his first round win.

The most intriguing battle of the rally was between Crocker and Pedder, who were locked together in equal third until the Lancer driver grabbed a small three second lead after five stages.

Crocker edged back in front with two stages to go when a last minute drama would change the complexion of the rally entirely.

Ordynski stopped on the start line of the penultimate stage with a cracked gearbox casing, ending a miserable weekend for the man who had led the championship for much of the year.

Then came Evans’s turn. Just 700 metres from the end of the Mt Slide stage, the Subaru blew its engine and was out of the rally, leaving Simon and Sue devastated.

Bourne now had the rally on a platter. After a faltering start to the season, the Kiwi had put the icing on the cake and came home to take the win and another title.

Crocker cemented his second place by four seconds from Pedder while Lowndes took fourth and

Cruel ending: Evans and Evans were set to be the first outright privateer winners in aeons untii the engine biew on Heat Two. (Photo by Neil Blackbourn)

Herridge fifth ahead of Guest and Mark Pedder.

“It feels bloody good to get here.

The team has worked perfectly to get us here this weekend, and you can’t believe that at the start of the year we would be walking away with our seventh title,” said Bourne.

“It’s a disappointing outcome for Simon, he deserved the result here this weekend.”

Chris Atkinson and brother Ben took the Privateer’s Cup after another pair of solid performances while Comber won F2 after Rooklyn rolled the Daihatsu three stages into the day.

So with another title under his belt. Bourne heads to Rally Australia to attempt to seal the manufacturers title for Subaru, while Mitsubishi will be redoubling its efforts to prevent another blue army rout.

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■;

HEAT 2 HEAT1 Subaru 00 :51.39 Subaru 1:06.04 1. Euans/Evans 1. Bourne/Stacey Subaru 00.52.03 1:06.31 2, Crocker/Foletta Subaru 2. Bourne/Stacey Mitsubishi 00:52.07 Subaru 1.07.05 3. Pedder/Humm 3. Crocker/Foletta Mitsubishi 00:52.25 Mitsubishi 1:07.33 4. Lowndes/Randell 4, S. Pedder/Humm 00 :52.29 Mitsubishi 1.07.36 5. Guest/Rabbett 5, Herridge/Macneall Subaru Points Bourne/Stacey 204, Crocker/Foletta 167, Ordynski/Stewart 136, Lowndes/Randell 121, Herridge/ Macneall 90, Evans/Evans 87, S, Pedder/Humm 75, Guest/Rabbett 65, Atkinson/Atkinson 47

ARC Round 6 Rally of Melbourne 73

Testing w/ffi Spencer Lov\^ndes

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Think the hard work at an ARC round starts at the shakedown? Think again.

MARK GLENDENNING ventured into the forest for a taste of pre-event testing, Raiiiart-styie.

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I

T has been raining steadily for some time now, and Spencer Lowndes and I are peering unhappily through the treetops at the heavy grey skies from beneath the shelter of the service bay canopy.

It’s the Wednesday prior to the start of the Rally of Melbourne, the day that the Ralliart Australia team have taken to the Toolangi State Forest for their pre-event testing.

Spencer is worried because the weather gurus have predicted a fine and sunny rally weekend, and the vastly different testing conditions put a limit on just how effective the team’s preparations can be for when the serious business starts on Saturday morning. My concerns are far more simple and immediate - I’m cold and wet.

“We’ve put new front shocks into the car, which means that if the weather does clear up for the weekend, we can’t use old data from dry ralhes,” Lowndes explains.

“We might have to go vrith a bit of guesswork.”

This one-day test represents the team’s single shot at getting some road time prior to the event.

Spiralling costs eventually led to ARC entrants being limited to one eight-hour test prior to each round, with the single exception being the team’s nominated home rally, at which they are allowed to test fi-eely.

Sydney-based Ralliart have selected the Harbour Rally as their home event, which means that here in Melbourne, what doesn’t get done between nine in the morning and five in the afternoon today, doesn’t get done at all. ‘"lyi-es and suspension are really the two main areas that we 74

concentrate on at a test,” said Lowndes.

“Every round of the National Championship is quite different the surface is different, the character of the roads is different, and normally the ambient air temperatures are different. So with the suspension, we’re not only looking for what’s going to give us the fastest time down the test road, but also what’s the most driveable.

“We only get to drive the course to make pacenotes at 60 kph, and if you’re arriving into some of these corners at 160 kph, you’ve got to be very confident in what the car’s going to do. The more confident you are, the harder you’ll push.

“Sometimes, you can actually compromise the outright speed of the car for something that's more

driveable, and will therefore build your confidence, therefore you’ll push it harder.”

On this particular day, the test is being run on Klondyke Road, a winding stretch of loose gravel extending off the end of the Plantation and Kalatha stages.

“We’re fortunate enough that we’ve been given a road that’s quite similar to what the rally’s going to be like,” said Lowndes.

“From what Subaru said, I don’t know whether it was the weather conditions at the time, but they were saying that their testing wasn’t exactly what they wanted.

Theirs was on Monday, and I think it was raining pretty heavily all day.

The cars complete a run down Klondyke in about lml7s, although it felt a good minute

shorter than that to me when I took a turn in the navigator’s seat (and spent the whole ride alternating between staring wideeyed at oncoming trees and resisting the urge to say ‘crest, four-left’ every five seconds).

B

ut timing, at least at a rally test, apparently isn’t everything.

“While we do take times, a lot goes on driver feel as well,” Lowndes elaborated.

‘We made some changes to the shock absorbers earlier on, and halfway through the run I thought, ‘oh, this is horrible’. I didn’t even ask for the time at the end of it, because I knew that even if it was the quickest run of the day, it would be a very slow way to drive the car in the event. We’re trying to see what’s going to give the best

moiorspon news

RALLYING

Just an EVO and a whole lot of nature: Lowndes pushes his way through the slippery Toolangi State Forest, above.

Getting down to business: Testing is done, reconnaissance is done.

Next stop, shakedown, below.

Pleased to be of service: The Ralliart Australia crew put the Lancer through its service program between rally stages, above.

“Have I told you the one about...” Lowndes and co-driver Chris Randell normally spend all of Wednesday through to Sunday in the car together at an ARC round, so a good sooial relationship is crucial.

(Photos by Neil Blackbourn)

grip as well as what's going to last.’

Spencer jumps back into the EVO VI and sets offfor another series of runs, leaving me to watch the crew beavering away at a change to the diff on the new EVO ’VII of team spearhead Ed Ordynski.

Both drivers get a roughly equal amount of runs during the day, however there is only one engineer on hand, which means that he frequently finds himself needed in two places at once.

With Ordynski’s car looking set to spend the better part of 45 minutes up on jacks, Lowndes is presumably making the most of having the road to himself The rain begins to clear after lunch, but this probably makes little difference to the mechanics who have so far spent more than 2 October 2002

half an hour lying on a muddy groundsheet under Odynski’s car.

A few had earlier joked with me about these sessions being the ‘glamorous’ side of rallying, and by now I had a pretty clear idea of what they meant. My fingers were so cold that even jotting down notes was a bit tricky, so I don’t even what to think about what it must have been like to fiddle with a differential.

It occurs to me that circuit racing teams who complain about cold pit garages really do take for granted such basic luxuries as walls.

Ordynski had started using a second section of road adjacent to Klondyke just prior to lunch, and after a while Lowndes swapped over to use the same stretch, leaving Klondyke to Michael

Guest, whose EVO VII turned up early in the afternoon.

Ed’s car was still not quite where he wanted it to be, so while the crew continued to make changes, his co-driver, Iain Stewart, slotted in alongside Spencer for a few runs to compare notes between the two cars.

Eventually, Ordynski’s car, which had virtually come straight out of the container after returning from Hokkaido, was set to go again.

For the next couple of hours, Ordynski and Lowndes complete run after run, stopping occasionally for a quick adjustment to the car or chat with the engineer. Looking on are team boss Bob Riley and ex-Australian rally champ Murray Coote, now of Proflex, who provides shocks for the Mitsubishis as well as several V8 Supercar outfits.

Then, at four o’clock, Lowndes’s machine rumbles back into the service bay. Lowndes jumps out.

There’s still an hour of testing available if he wants it, but as far as he is concerned there’s no need.

“The car was really good to start with,” he said.

“We went through about 15 combinations of shock settings, and eventually arrived somewhere back near where we started, but with a couple of very significant changes. We’ve really improved the way the car goes over the big bumps. It turns, it holds lines, and basically does eveiything it should.”

While Ordynski continues to rattle up and down the test road behind him, Lowndes sets offfor the transporter to change out of his race suit. His day’s work is done, but tomorrow is another thing altogether - reconnaissance day. For Lowndes, that means “13 or 14 hours” in an EVO V with co driver Chris Randell, driving the course and working out their pacenotes for the weekend.

It’s a big one for the mechanics too, who will totally strip down and clean up the race cars ahead of Friday’s shakedown.

Further proof, not that any was needed, that there’s nothing more glamorous than motorsport, right?

75

pec

k

^ insurance pre

i

by GEOFF ROUNDS ^ SPEEDWAY is preparing to 'confront one of its biggest crisis in its racing history, with spiralling insurance costs threatening to black flag its 2002/2003 racing season.

National Association of tifr/ Sprintcar Racing general manager Urn McAvaney said the cost of public liability insurance |T-

PCR cancels 02/03 opener PARRAMATTA City Raceway’s season-opening meeting scheduled for this Saturday night, October 5,has been cancelled.

With the crisis facing speedway due to public liability insurance, the management ofPCR had no option but to cancel the opening meeting of the summer.

“Obviously there is a public liability crisis sweeping across Australia and it’s not limited to speedway or even motorsport, it is affecting all industries,” said PCR Track Manager Steven Green.

“However there is no question we are affected severely by it nonetheless.”

New South Wales does have strict State Government-mandated insurance constraints that apply to all, with Green adding,“new licensing regulations placed on us by the NSW Department of Sport and Recreation are quite strict in the matters of public liability insurance coverage, hence our options are limited by stringent conditions. A select number of l brokers are currently exhausting all avenues for us.”

The first PCR meeting of the 2002/03 season with be on October 12, with Sprintcars headlining the night with the V8 Super Sedans, Litre Cars and Street Stocks.

- GREG BOSCATO 78

was threatening the viability of the industiy.

He said the sport was faced with massive insurance premium increases for the

A Weel

by GEOFF ROUNDS V8 SUPERCAR racer Paul Weel has thrown his financial support behind one of speedway’s most prestigious Sprintcar tournaments.

Weel's company, Paul Weel Radiators Performance Products, will sponsor the $114,000 Australian Sprintcar Championship to be held at Premier Speedway beginning January 30.

It will create a special partnership, as Weel spent his early years in the Western District and his father Kees raced saloon cars at Premier Speedway before the Weel family moved to Queensland 17 years ago.

Premier Speedway Club is also hopeful of extending a three-year agreement with The Standard Newspaper as major sponsor of the $105,000 Grand Annual Sprintcar Classic, to be held on January 25 and 26. The Standard has sponsored the Classic for the past three years.

The PWR Performance Products sponsorship deal is timely for the national titles, with the club learning it faces another massive hike in public liability insurance for the 2002-2003 racing season.

“We've had a lot of

Hang on, this isn’t a V8 Sprintcar: Well, no. but the guy driving it is backing (Photo by Dirk Kivnsmith) the Australian Sprintcar Championship. opportunities to go and sponsor different events but it’s (speedway)something we’ve been involved with in the past,” said Weel, who will team up with Marcos Ambrose in the Pirtek Ford at Bathurst in the Bob Jane T-Marts 1000 before reverting back to his own K&J Ford for the

remaining V8 Supercar rounds.

“It’s obviously a good choice, especially with the type of show they put on there.”

PWR Performance Products already has links with Sprintcar racing as a sponsor of highprofile drivers Max Dumesny, Robbie Farr and Stephen Bell. motorsport news

SPEEDWAY ! Farr to run three at I PCR before W5S

idway crisis

I 5-

nium increases hurting dirt track sport second time in 12 months.

"This is the single biggest issue to ever face our sport," he said.

"If the sport is unable to work as one with all tracks Australia wide supporting the industry insurance scheme to help spread the cost of insurance, then everything from the highprofile World Series Sprintcars events to the local entry-level sedan class event could be finished."

Mr McAvaney said NASR was continuing to explore all options to ease the crisis, including Federal Government

assistance. just sit back and hope will be The NASR board called a resolved," Hose said.

"This is an issue which is meeting of track managers in going to break some Adelaide recently to implement speedways. It's an added an urgent action plan. burden nobody needs.

Premier Speedway Club "Last year the issue was put manager Graeme Hose said the down to September 11. This club faced a 100 percent year I'm told it's to do with the premium increase after a 400 percent increase last season - , European floods."

"This speedway is more than from $600 a meeting to $2400 to more than $5000.

47 years old and this is He said this would be definitely the biggest crisis we've faced. compounded by a foreshadowed reduction in "We passed on some of our increases last year at the gates. coverage from $30 million to $5 1 don't know how much more million.

"This is an issue we can't we can pass on."

Tough stuff l^^kmubsan vums

ANY chance of an Australian winning the Speedway Grand Prix world championship appears to have been snuffed out by Tony Rickardsson, who took out the Danish GP in Vojens on the weekend.

His win gives him a 26 point advantage over Aussie Ryan Sullivan, who rode with a broken collarbone that he suffered two weeks ago.

Just one round remains,in Sydney on October 26.

Sullivan’s hopes went west when he failed to qualify for the final, while fellow Aussie Jason Crump fell in the final, leaving it all to Rickardsson.

“It still hasn’t sunk in yet,” said a beaming Rickardsson after the event, the last Grand Prix to be staged at Vojens.

GP to iHirtAussw lun^s

n Andrew Scheuerle will compete in selected World Series Sprintcars events this year rather than the whole championship. Scheuerle will domicile his #95 Lucas Oils machine racing commitments at PCR and selected Queensland events in between trekking off to WSS. "Look I'd love to be doing the w/hole World Series Sprintcars schedule but our budget doesn't cover that this year," says Scheuerle, "my crew chief Peg has work commitments too and we had to sit down and take a look at what we could really afford to do this summer." n At the PCR season launch on the multi-million dollar boat Magistic II cruising on the beautiful Sydney Harbour, PCR's new PR man. Dean Neal, announced the instigation of the Parramatta City Raceway Hall of Fame with the first and sole inductee for the season being PCR track founder Sid Hopping, n Pete Murphy has switched rides in the United States. After five years with the #0 Morrie Williams team, the Aussie has joined the #10 McMillen/Tom Rolfe Trucking Maxim team.

The Super Star: Tony Rickardsson crushed Australia’s hopes in the SGP in Denmark on the weekend. {Photo by Terry Dale)

Max Dumesny Motorsport Australian Distributors for

Xoo$ifr

n After a successful four-year campaign in the Microsprint division that saw a National Title, three track championships and the 2001 Club Championship, PTS Motorsports and driver Mark Richards have taken the step and moved into the Sprintcar ranks. The team is planning a full season assault at PCR plus running at selected interstate events.

-GREG BOSCATO/STAFF

2002 WORLD OF OUTLAWS SPRINTCAR.SERIES Williams Grove Speedway September 28

1. Lance Dewease 2. Danny Lasoski 3. Joey Saldana 4. Craig Dollansky 5. Todd Hestor ^^ RACING TIRE For more /nfbrmathn on Hoosier Drag and SpeedwayTyms calk 6. Mark Kinser NSW;02 9679 1990 l Fax 02 9679 /187 7. Fred Rahmer 8. Tim Shaffer VIC:03 9331 6477 l Fax 03 9331 7444 9. Sean Michael SA;08 8332 0800 l Fax 08 8364 0296 10. Greg Hodnett 2 October 2002 .

CURRENT Parramatta Track Champ Robbie Farr will be racing in the opening three Parramatta shows this month.

Robbie has done a deal which will see the PCR favourite line up in John Hart's machine for the first meeting before switching back into his familiar EWT Avenger from last season. While he has teamed up with the West Aussie team of Shane Krikke, their racing programme doesn't start until November so Robbie is free to compete in at least the first three PCR meetings.

11. Gris Eash 12. Brad Furr 13. Jac Haudenschild 14. Don Kreitz, Jr. 15. Daryn Pittman 16. Donny Schatz 17. Keith Kauffman 18. Steve Kinser 19. Brian Paulus 20. Johnny Herrera

Standings to Sep 28 .9133 1.Steve Kinser .... .8864 a.Danny Lasoski . . ,8837 3.Craig Dollansky . . .8791 4.Joey Saldana .. , .8744 S.Tim Shaffer ,8715 e.Mark Kinser .... ,8537 y.Donny Schatz .. . ,8504 8.Brad Furr .8476 9.Stevie Smith .... .7999 tO.Randy Hannagan 77

Gordon gets back 2

-

by MARTIN D CLARK

I AFTER two races without a o finish, Jeff Gordon,left, rallied

ifsm.

I back with a win at Kansas City on Sunday, holding off rookie Ryan Newman after a five lap dash to the flag following a late red flag.

“I kind of put my foot in my mouth last week and said we had to win,” said Gordon, who won the first Kansas race last year.

“1 had to back it up and we did.

That thing was on rails and 1 was' loving it. We went off a lot of notes we had from last year and this team really put a lot of effort into this race.”

Although Gordon’s Hendrick

Stewart cleared TONY Stewart has been cleared of assault charges filed by a female race fan after the August 24 Bristol night race.

The fan approached Stewart between the team’s transporters as he was going to get changed from his uniform through a side-door and he apparently pushed her out of his way.

When he left the transporter through the rear door the woman was there again looking this time not for an autograph, but an apology.

Apparently, Stewart told her he did nothing wrong and to leave him alone. A Tennessee grand jury cleared the driver of criminal charges.

“Just as I’ve contended all along, I did not assault anyone,” said Stewart in a prepared statement, “and I’m relieved to know a grand jury has come to the same conclusion.”

The case will bring certain changes to NASCAR’s open door policy on its garage and pit areas, as both the racing facilities and NASCAR make money selling garage and pit passes to sponsors for them to bring invited guests into the team work areas.

Changes limiting access to both areas and the possibility that each person present on pit road will have to wear a fire suit are possible for 2003 and in many cases welcome.

- MARTIN D CLARK 18

THE much-anticipated TRAC series has apparently come to a grinding halt.

The money pot has dried up and the much anticipated debut of the new team-by-city racing series looks set to be pushed back beyond the proposed autumn 2003 launch date.

who is back in the title hunt in stable mate - and new points leader - Jimmie Johnson finished fourth,just 109 points arrears of the lead. a lap down after cutting a tyre Just like the first Kansas race, late, he still finished 10th after an accidents were the major talking extremely high attrition rate that point. Marlin taking a heavy lick. included former points leader “That was a harder hit than Mark Martin, who broke valve Richmond,” said Marlin, who train components with 16 laps to finished 33rd. “I was still stiff at run while Sterling Marlin was the start of this race, but I think it involved in a heavy wreck. just knocked the stiffness out!”

“We were looking at a really Others involved in wrecks sweet finish,” said Martin. included Bobby Labonte, Ward “We just couldn’t make it all the Burton, Ken Schrader and Michael way, we babied it, but it just wasn’t Waltrip when he cut a tyre. Jeff our day.”

“I saw that Martin fell out and I Burton was running in the top 10 when his engine expired after he saw Sterling had a problem, every over-rewed on pit road, while Dale time those guys have had trouble so Jarrett and Ricky Craven also do we, so I didn’t want to put too retired with cooked powerplants. much into it,” continued Gordon, ^ the 11th and final caution - and I subsequent red flag - aired when J Johnny Benson tapped Jimmy I Spencer and wiped out the pair. = Benson’s contact was not rwiaoiyWOM^ I intentional and,like many of the other wrecks, was caused by the much talked about aero push on the one and a half mile tracks, where the car on the inside becomes loose to the point of out of control when another car is to its outside.

It could well be that things crumble totally, with the series dying before it gets off the ground as the proposed TV deal has not come to fruition.

Riley and Scott has put things on hold as they were building the first block of 20 cars.

- MARTIN D CLARK

Final result; Gordon (Chev), Neivman (Ford), R Wallace (Ford), Nemechek (Chev), Elliott(Dodge), Eainhardt Jr. (Chev), Kenseth (Ford), Stewart (Pontiac), Mayfield (Dodge), Johnson (Chev)266 laps.

Points standings; Johnson 3824, Martin 3813, Stewart 3788, Gordon 3715, Marlin 3703, R Wallace 2987, Newman 3670, Kenseth 3631, Elliott 3623, Rudd 3542.

Johnson tops the whi

JIMMIE Johnson,right, took the third win of his incredible rookie career on September 22 at Dover, now sweeping both Dover races and winning at California while heading runner-up and points leader Mark Martin to the chequered flag.

“It was a great run and we had great pit stops, we just got ourselves in a pitiful hole here Friday with a dumb qualifying effort,” said Martin.

Johnson headed 170 of the 400 laps, taking the lead for the final time on lap 240 - his crew performing flawlessly on pit road to get the lead - and from there he never looked back.

“We’re not supposed to be in this position,” said Johnson of his runner-up slot in points. “What got

-

motorsport news

NASCAR

Little E struggling

by MARTIN D CLARK

DALE Earnhardt Jr has admitted he has a head injury, apparentiy sustained when he took a hard hit in a wreck with Kevin Harvick at Caiifornia Speedway back in April.

‘Little E' has only now come forward to admit he had an issue with slowness in decisions and ability to drive, though he did not seek medical help, under the advice of fellow driver Dale Jarrett, who suffered a concussion in 2001.

Earnhardt’s hushed concussion has forced NASCAR’s hand in making changes to policies for checking drivers for concussion after wrecks. The changes came into effect at Kansas following Junior's notification to the press he had been suffering with a bad concussion.

“I was very surprised by it,’’ said Mike Helton, NASCAR President.

“I am disappointed in Dale Earnhardt Jr. I think in today’s environment that the competitors should share in the desire for everyone they’re competing against to be right.

“We will now ask the track doctor if there’s any shadow of a doubt to mandate testing and to be more involved in the process of the driver being qualified to re enter an event.”

“I kept it a secret because 1 was thinking of myself,"

Been hurting: Dale Earnhcinh Jr. with leam-imile Steve Park in mitui, kept his head injuries a secret and now it has all come out. N.ASOIR have acted ciiiickly to uiul \ltiiiin O CUirki alter its proceediire ofhandling injured drivers.

commented Earnhardt.

“I knew what Steve Park (DEI team-mate) was going through.

He was dealing with so many people putting him down and labeling him as damaged goods.

“I handled it wrong, especially not telling NASCAR. They pride themselves on having a handle on everything and it’s hurt that a little bit and hurt the trust between us. I’ll know better next time, I shouldn’t have kept it a secret as much as I did.

“I thought about it, but it was a situation where I made my own decision and I would have accepted the repercussions from that, no matter what they were.

The concussion was bad enough to knock us out the points chase for a few weeks.”

He has yet to sign his 2003 contract with Dale Earnhardt Inc and Budweiser due to the fact he is trying to limit the number of personal appearances in the small print of the contract to 40 each year.

te concrete of Dover us in this position was racing hard and not caring about it.”

Dale Earnhardt Jr looked a force to be reckoned with in the early going, leading 88 of the first 100 laps and being trailed by Ryan Newman until he lost control of his Penske Ford on lap 55. He spun and almost swept his stablemate Rusty Wallace in the melee.

Newman recovered without contact and finished a deserving eighth, the last car on the lead lap.

Martin padded his points lead with a great runner-up finish after starting a dismal 32nd. He headed some laps during a round of pit stops and led Johnson by 30 points exiting Dover.

Other points contenders Sterling Marlin and Johnson’s Hendrick team-mate Jeff Gordon didn’t fare

2 October 2002

so well either.

A disgruntled Marlin fought an ill-handling Ganassi Dodge to a 21st place, while Gordon braked for a spinning Todd Bodine on lap 66 and was nailed in the rear by Steve Park.

Gordon hit the inside wall, sustaining some heavy frontal damage,to wind up 37th.

Johnny Benson and Ricky Craven scored their second top tlO results in as many weeks, while Roush had all four cars in the top 10; Matt Kenseth fourth, Jeff Burton sixth and Kurt Busch seventh.

Final result; Johnson (Chev), Martin (Ford), Jarrett(Ford), Kenseth (Chev), Stewart(Pontiac), J Burton (Ford), Busch (Ford), Newman (Ford), Craven (Ford)399 laps, Benson (Pontiac).

- MARTIN D CLARK

Atwood under pressure CASEY Atwood's position at Ultra Motorsports driving the Sirius Satellite Dodge is in jeopardy with co-team owner Ray Evernham saying, "I've tried everything I can."

This includes the addition of exHendrick crew chief Tony Furr, respected as one of the top guys in the garage area. It's possible Atwood, 21, could return to the Busch team he came from as their driver Jamie McMurray is moving to Cup with Chip Ganassi Racing, n Jimmy Eledge, crew chief for Bobby Hamilton and currently Hamilton's injury substitute driver Greg Biffle, was suspended for one race after the Kansas race by NASCAR for some illegal aerodynamic aids found on the Andy Petree-owned Chev at Dover.

Eledge was on probation for a fuel cell infraction at Michigan in August so suspension was the governing body's option, together with a $10,000 hit to his wallet. n So can Christian Fittipaldi drive a NASCAR? He attempted to compete in the Kansas Busch race September 28, qualifying 32nd, but lost control of his Monte Carlo before the first lap was scored and spun into the outside wall to retire from the event. n Chad Knaus, crew chief for Jimmie Johnson, was fined $10,000

by NASCAR following his race win at Dover when the governing body observed some foul language during Johnson's TV interview and deemed it 'detrimental to the sport of auto

racing r n Jeff Gordon and his driver Jimmie Johnson are heading to Spain at the end of November to compete in the Michelin Race of Champions competing against other world racing drivers in a team event. Robby Gordon competed in the special event last year. n Hideo Fukuyama took one of the seven provisional slots at Dover.

Fukuyama was in his first Cup points event, having run the Japanese exhibition events in Suzuka, though finished a dismal 39th at Dover. He appeared to struggle to keep pace on the fast one-mile concrete track and retired with gearbox issues. n Tony Stewart, who often takes part in other races during the week or on the rare Winston Cup off weekends has been parked by owner Joe Gibbs from competing in anything but Cup events as the points race hots up.

- MARTIN D CLARK

79

Kalitta heats up TONY Pedregon cruised to his third consecutive victory on the NHRA POWERade tour, stopping Ron Capps in the final round of the Craftsman NHRA Nationals at Route 66 Raceway in Joliet, Illinois, last weekend.

Pedregon piloted the Castrol Syntec Mustang to a winning 4.92/310 to stop Capps, who spun the tyres at the start, allowing Pedregon a sweep of the three-race autumn swing.

Doug Kalitta and Jeg Coughlin each scored their second wins in the three-event swing in their respective Top Fuel and Pro Stock classes, making Kalitta, Pedregon, and Coughlin the hottest trio of drivers on the tour.

Pedregon’s win drew him to within 18 points of his car owner and current point leader, John Force. It is the closest that anyone has been to Force this late in the season since 1992, when Pedregon’s brother, Cruz, scored five straight wins late in the year to snatch the championship from Force.

“I’m done,” said Pedregon.

“John gave me a one-way ticket back to Mexico ... at least it’s first class. This points thing is far from over. We’ll enjoy this tonight and start getting ready for Dallas and try and repeat this. It starts in qualifying, then you worry about Sunday.”

Pedregon roared to his second straight pole in qualifying, posting a 4.76/312 on Friday night. On Sunday, crew chief John Medlen, tuned Pedregon to a string of 4.84/322, 4.88/320, and 4.86/321 passes in victories over brother Frank Pedregon, Del Worsham, and Scotty Cannon.

Capps,in making the final round, advanced past Tim Wilkerson, John Force, and teammate,Tommy Johnson Jr. Kalitta stopped Darrell Russell in the Top Fuel final round, posting a winning 4.59/323 when Russell lost traction at the start.

“This year started off so tough for us,” said Kalitta.

“We could not buy a break. Now we finally hit a point where the car’s been running really well and that’s satisfying. It makes it a lot easier on me when the car runs like this.”

Kalitta, the fourth qualifier at 4.56/318, sped to 4.58/326, 4.59/325, and 4.66/322 Victories over Jim Cavalieri, Jim Head, and low qualifier (4.51/324) Doug Herbert.

80

Joliet joy: Kalitta, above, made it two from three in Top Fuel, while Coughlin, right, was the man to beat in Pro Stock.

(Photos by David Ostaszewski)

Larry Dixon padded his point lead by a round as the Miller Lite dragster stopped Mitch King in the opening frame, in round two however, Dixon fell to Cory McClenathan in a close 4.59/317 to 4.63/323 race. In a round one full of upsets, Bernstein dropped a hole at a the hit and chased Jim Head to the finish line, dropping a 4.63/317 to 4.86/302 decision.

Australian’s Andrew Cowin and David Grubnic both qualified for the show. Cowin posting a third best 4.56/323 and Grubnic getting into the show eighth at 4.62/315.

Both drivers, however, lost traction in the opening round and fell to Joe Hartley and Rhonda HartmanSmith respectively.

Jeg Coughlin stopped Ron Krisher in the Pro Stock final round, taking a 6.87/200 to 6.89/200 wire-to-wire victory.

Coughlin has taken control of Pro Stock racing since winning in Madison last June.

The Teg’s Mail Order driver has won six of the last nine events and has taken a 65 point lead over closest pursuer, Jim Yates, who was tossed in round one on a 6.89 to 6.86 holeshot win by Tom Martino.

Raceday began on a tough note for Coughlin, as he lined up against

Warren Johnson in the opening round. At the green, Coughlin took a holeshot-aided win, 6.89/200 to 6.87/201. A round two 6.87/201 stopped Martino, and a 6.86/200 eliminated Kurt Johnson.

Point contender Greg Anderson blew a freeze plug out of the block during Friday night’s qualifying session, sending his Vegas Construction Cavalier to a sharp left, then on its roof.

The car continued to slide downtrack upside down never hitting the wall. Amazingly, the car only suffered minor cosmetic damage, and was repaired in time for Saturday. Anderson put the car into the field on his final shot and took a crowd-pleasing round one holeshot win over Allen Johnson before losing in the second frame

to Krisher.

The NHRA POWERade Series makes its next stop at the Tfexas Motorplex, Ennis, Tbxas, October 1113, for the O’Reilly FaU Nationals presented by Castrol GTX. - DAVID OSTASZEWSKI POINTS:Top Fuel: Larry Dixon Jr 1742, Kenny Bernstein 1615, Tony Schumacher 1270, Doug Kalitta 1200, Darrell Russell 1198, Cory McClenathan 1185, Doug Herbert 1125, Andrew Cowin 930, Rhonda Hartman-Smith 815, John Smith 751. Funny Car: John Force 1490, Tony Pedregon 1472, Gary Densham 1248, Del Worsham 1239, Whit Bazemore 1073, Seotty Cannon 1025, Ron Capps 999, Tommy Johnson Jr 933, Dean Skuza 911, Johnny Gray 848. Pro Stock: Jeg Coughlin Jr 1361, Jim Yates 1296, Greg Anderson 1229, Warren Johnson 1085, Ron Krisher 1041,1041. Pro Stock Bike: Angelle Savoie 1191, Craig Treble 1018, Antron Brown 895.

moiorsporl news

1

DRAG RACING

Dixon reigns in Memphis

LARRY Dixon returned to the winners circle for the first time since the Columbus event in June as he piloted the Miller Lite dragster to victory in the final round of the O’Reilly MidSouth Nationals in Memphis.

In the final, Dixon, right, posted a winning 4.60/318 to stop Tony Schumacher’s tyre-hazing 4.79/286 in claiming his eighth victory of the year.

Dixon started from the third spot on the ladder, qualifying in the show at 4.61/318. In the opening round he posted a winning 4.62/317 to stop Chris Karamesines and followed up with a 4.64/313 win over a tyre-smoking Bruce Litton, setting up a semi final round beer brand brawl with point rival, Kenny Bernstein.

In the key match-up, crew chief Dick LaHaie, gave Dixon what he needed as the Miller Lite dragster sped to a 4.63/315 pass for the victory, while Bernstein lost traction almost immediately and slowed.

In reaching his fourth final round of the year, Schumacher stopped Darrell Russell, Cory McClenathan, and Doug Herbert in the early rounds.

Andrew Cowin top qualified at 4.59/319 and took a 4.95/273 round one decision over Paul Romine, but fell in the second frame to Doug Herbert, 4.65/316 to 4.70/303.

Tony Pedregon dropped Del Worsham in the Funny Car final, 4.90/315 to 5.14/263, giving the

Castrol Syntec Mustang pilot his fifth win this season, a new career high. After qualifying low at 4.87/316, Pedregon recorded 4.93/294, 4.92/313, and 4.93/311 passes to defeat Todd Paton, Dean Skuza and Gary Densham.

Worsham advanced into the final round with a pair of 4.90/309 and 4.93/305 wins over the tyre smoking cars of Scotty Cannon and Tommy Johnson Jr., before taking a semi-final round win over John Force, 4.98/305 to 5.01/304.

The victory over Force was Worsham’s fourth in seven matches between the two this season.

Jeg Coughlin clocked a final round 6.84/200 in the deg’s Mail

Order Chevrolet Cavalier to stop first-time finalist. Gene Wilson, who trailed at 6.87/200 in the Mopar Dodge Neon.

The 2000 series champion won a major battle in the first round when he took out Greg Anderson, 6.82/201 to a redlighting 6.85/201.

He followed up with victories over Kurt Johnson and surprise semi finalist Kenny Koretsky.

Wilson, in making the final round, stopped Robert Patrick’s Ford in the opening frame, then took out Jim Yates in the second round, 6.87/200 to 6.89/199.

In the semis, Wilson overcame a .407 light by Mike Edwards to post a 6.85/200 to 6.89/199 win.

- DAVID OSTASZEWSKI

Jenkins Pro Mod man SHANNON Jenkins grabbed his fifth AMS event on the year and third in a row when he defeated Pro Mod pioneer Mike Ashley in the final round of the eight round of the AMS Pro Mod Challenge at Memphis.

Jenkins recorded a final round 6.28/221 to stop Ashley, who trailed at 6.36/220 in his blown Gotham City '41 Willys.

During qualifying, Jenkins became the quickest nitrous equipped Pro Mod racer in the world when he stormed the Memphis quarter mile in 6.221 seconds, easily landing him the pole for the eight car show.

In eliminations, 6.28/221 and 6.29/222 passes scored victories' over Bill Kuhlmann and Thomas Patterson.

Ashley, a New York mortgage banker,defeated a red-lighting Andy Neyer and Mitch Stott to advance into the final round.

- DAVID OSTASZEWSKI

2 Ociober 2002

DOUG Kalitta roared to his first victory this season, stopping Kenny Bernstein in the rain'^postponed final (eliminations of the Lucas Oil NHRA ilMationals at Maple Grove Raceway last month.

Kalitta recorded a'final round 4.56/320 in the MAC Tools dragster to stop Bernstein, who trailed at 4.58/322 in a thrilling side-by-side race.

Tony Pedregon, above, won for the fourth time in 2002 when his Castrol Syntec Mustang scored a finakound holeshot win over Whit Bazemore, 4.82/31.8 to 4.81/319.

Jim Yates became the 12th diifferent iPro Stock winner, wiinning for the first Biime siinee

last Msy when hd drove his SplitFire/Peak Pontiac to a 6.87/1199 to 6.91/199 win when opponent Mike Edwards redlighted at the start.

Angelle Savoie scored' her fifth' win of the season in the first alP female Pro Stock Motorcycle final round'in the sports history When she stopped!surprise finalist Karen Stoffer.

Savoie recorded a final round: 7.21/184 to stop Stoffer who redlighted and slowed.

It marked!only the second time that two females faced each other in an NHRA final round', the last being Shirley Muldlowney and Lucille Lee in Columbus 1982. ^ DAVID OSfASZEWSKl:

Grubnic’s back DAVID Grubnic, idle since John Mitchell parked the Montana Express Top Fuel car, will finish the season in Bill Miller's BME dragster.

Grubnic replaces Ken Zeal, whose radiator business in Nevada forced hinn to step out of the seat. At Joliet, Grubnic's first outing in the car, the team netted a 4.62/315 to qualify eighth in the show. In the first pair of Top Fuel cars on Sunday, Grubnic lost traction at the hit and fell in the first round to Rhonda Flartman-Smith. n With no alcohol classes being run in Memphis, Steve Flarker opted to run the final Division 3 meet in Columbus, Ohio. Flarker qualified number two at 5.79/247 and advanced to the final round, dispatching Drew Tarr and Mark White. In the final, Harker faced Chuck Cheeseman and while Cheeseman shook and drifted toward the centerline, he was able to l)pld off Harker in a close race, 5.91/242 to 5.96/247.

Harker then went on to compete at the Craftsman 75th Anniversary Nationals in Joliet, where he made the show in the eighth spot at 5.71/252.

In round one a 5.74 stopped Cy Chesterman, but tyre shake cost him a second round match with Von Smith. n Tim Wilkerson will compete on the full NHRA POWERade tour in 2003 after primary sponsor Levi, Ray & Shoup increased their comittment to the team.

Wilkerson had a 15-16 race schedule for 2002 and has been a threat anywhere the LRS Pontiac has shown up. The additional funding should make Wilkerson a threat in the POWERade point standings, as well as a contender for the eight spots in the Budweiser Shootout in Indy. n The CSK/Worsham Racing 'Blue Team' and Crew Chief, Dave Fletcher will part ways following the final event in Pomona. Right now, the red team is based in Anaheim, California and the blue team is based in Auburn, Indiana, close to Fletcher's home and family.

Next season, both teams will be based out of the Worsham Racing shop in Anaheim, and Fletcher's decision to stay in Indiana necessitated the move. n After bringing noted tuner, Bill Schultz, to the Advance Auto Parts Pontiac, Cruz Pedregon has announced that Bob Brooks will join the team for the remainder of the 2002 season.

Pedregon and former crew chief, Ted Fasching, along with crew members Gene and Troy Fasching, departed the team following the Memphis event.

- DAVID OSTASZEWSKI 81

FESTIVAL of Speed on Tweed Director Roger Ealand, with the help of the Rotary Club,the business houses, CAMS and the Motorsport Management Services, captured the imagination and support of the Murwillumbah township to make the inaugural event a truly memorable one for the community,spectators, volunteers and competitors alike.

The Friday night street carnival was reminiscent of Adelaide's East Terrace in 1985, with the exception being that the main street of Murwillumbah was filled with 150 competitors’ cars. Every shop's window and staff were dressed in theme and the place rocked.

A sprint event for Historic and Invited cars, competitors found the rise and fall layout around a section of the main town area

Sprea<

Jack's back: Jack Brabham's appearance was among the highlights ofa packed weekend.

(1‘lwtn hy Mtirniiill challenging bloody tough! More than a dozen cars found the waterfilled barriers easily, with some doing so on more than one occasion.

The spectators flocked to Taylors Corner and the Bus Stop

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hump area to see a car get airborne, but for the driver, it usually ended in tears.The almost unsighted right hander at the top of the main street caught many out, culminating in many barriers having to be replaced.

By Sunday, a meeting had already been held concerning alterations for next year’s event.

Throw in Sir Jack, driving one and signing autographs until dark, and this event is already a classic. of his famous Repco Brabham - MARSHALL CASS

Ju.st the like good old days: Racingfor thefun ofit, a party atmosphere - and straw hales as crash harriers. fPhoio Ar Manhull Cuss)

The golden

THE most famous of all Jaguar XK120s - LWK 707 is being remembered right now for a high speed endurance feat recorded at the Montlhery circuit in France 50 years ago.

1952 was the year of the first commercial jet service by the British Comet, and that same year the Jaguar XK120 established an amazing endurance record by averaging more than lOOmph (160km/h) for seven days and nights.

Already in 1949 the XK120 had written itself into the record books with its top speed Jabbeke run of 132.6mph (2i2km/h), followed by a 82

THE 50th anniversary of one of the all-time great sports cars the Mercedes-Benz SL - will be celebrated in grand style during this year's Classic Adelaide Rally.

The Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart will be bringing four special SL sports models from its collection, including a very rare 1957 300 SLS roadster.

The original 300 SL was not conceived as a production model, but rather as a race car aimed at regaining the glory achieved by the legendary Silver Arrows racers of the 1930s.

Because of the financial situation of Mercedes-Benz following World War 2, it was not ^possible to come up with a new Grand Prix car, so the decision was made to build a racing sports car based on current production line components.

Only nine months later the unique two-seater coupe, using the mechanical components of the 3-litre 300 Series saloon enclosed in its sleek aluminium bodywork, appeared in prototype form.

Because of the car's complex tubular space frame, it was not possible to have conventional doors, so Mercedes-Benz's head of testing, Rudolf Uhlenhaut decided on top-hinged doors, soon nicknamed 'gullwing' doors for their unmistakable profile.

After a famous second place first time out in the 1952 Mille Miglia, other major successes

24-hour run by Leslie Johnson and Stirling Moss at an average of 107.46mph (172km/h) in 1950, but the 1952 run was to be the car’s greatest achievement.

Meticulously prepared but basically standard, LWK 707 covered 16,851 miles (almost 27,000kms) around the Montlhery circuit in the seven days and nights of the attempt, shattering several other endurance records on the way.

The hardtop XK120 coupe was driven by owner-enthusiast Leslie Johnson, Stirling Moss, Jack Fairman and Johnson’s Le Mans co-driver Bert Hadley.

- BRIAN REED

moiorspon news

HISTORICS

d your gullwings - rn rrn came at Le Mans (twice), as well as the 3000km Carrera Panamericana road race.

It was never the intention of the company to make the 300 SL available as a road car, but such was the interest and enthusiasm Mercedes-Benz had little option but to give in to public pressure.

The 300 SL coupe went on sale in 1954 and became an instant classic.

Apart from the rare 300 SLS roadster coming to Adelaide, other SLs taking part from Stuttgart in the non-competitive Parade section of the rally include a production 300 SL 'gullwing' coupe, a 230 SL Rallye and a one-off racing version of the 190 SL roadster.

1986 Indianapolis 500 winner

and three-time CART champ Bobby Rahal wil l be at the wheel.

The other cars will be driven by the director of the museum, Wolfgang Rolli and the managing director of the Mercedes-Benz Classic Car Club, Dieter Ritter.

The fourth car wil l be in the hands of a celebrity driver.

Mercedes-Benz will be further represented by a new SL 500 convertible to be driven by three time world champion Sir Jack Brabham, while Australia's Le Mans winner and F5000 ace Vern Schuppan will be in charge of the latest CLK 500 coupe.

Up to 50 other SL models owned by other Australian enthusiasts, ranging from other 300 SL coupes and roadsters to the latest SLK models are expected to join them.

The highlight event will be the B.E.A. Motor concourse - a public display of SL nnodels spanning the past 50 years in Adelaide's Victoria Square on Sunday, October 13.

Event chairman and director, David Edwards has some great ideas in train for the set up of Victoria Square opposite the five star Hilton Hotel, which is the hub for the five-day rally.

Then on October 16, a group of significant SL models will join other important classic cars in the event for a parade through the centre of Adelaide to mark the commencement of the 2002 Classic Adelaide Rally.

The Classic Adelaide Rally, supported by the Mercedes museum for the fifth year, will be held from October 16-20.

FJuniors growing up

ALTHOUGH numbers are still down,Australian Formula Junior spokesman Kelvin Prior is optimistic that 2003 will see a number of F3 cars back on the tracks after spending years unwanted and unloved collecting dust.

“These cars are about to happen," says Prior. “It takes time - and we’re getting there!”

A static display of F3s at Eastern Creek included the refurbished ex-Leo Geoghegan Lotus 20B (now owned by Jim Sherringham), and two Rennmax BNls formerly campaigned by Kingsley Hibbard and Max Stewart.

Both cars have been fully restored and are now owned by Ken Ward and Dean Rainsford respectively.

Hopefully, the impetus of the recent Eastern Creek meeting will encourage more cars out of the woodwork andf offer something to challenge the dominance of Nick McDonald in his Brabham BT2.

“He’s embarrassingly quick,” said Prior, and a best lap time around the Creek of lm47.3s is testimony of 2 October 2002

the power being produced by his llOOcc engine.

“He has a well balanced car producing good hoi’sepower - and he’s a good driver,” Prior added.

With one round to go, McDonald has a stranglehold on this year’s series for the Leo Geoghegan Trophy. The final event will be at Wakefield Park on November 30-December 1.

- BRIAN REED

Briefly historic THE Group C touring cars category is growing, albeit slowly.

The July historic meeting in Queensland saw Group C Historic 5th category run without Group A cars for the first time with 13 starters taking part.

Next outing for the Group Cs will be the Tasman Challenge meeting at Sandown on November 9-10, where 20-25 cars are anticipated.

A marquee will be on site, and anyone wishing to reserve a space should contact Barry Thew on (02) 9638 0011. n Owners of Group C cars who are intending to race them next year must have their Certificate of Description applications lodged before the end of 2002, otherwise they run the risk of not being allowed to compete.

Tony Caldersmith from the Historic Commission will attend the October general meeting to outline the requirements and to answer member's questions about eligibility and relevant procedures. n The Southern Festival of Speed in New Zealand is gearing up for its 14th running in 2003 from February 1-23.

Four consecutive weekends of motor sport will take in four different circuits, including one city street race and a mountain hillclimb in the scenic South Island of NZ. Another inclusion next year will be a two-day race meeting at Levels Raceway at Tmaru. Other circuits to be used are Ruapuna.Teretonga and the challenging street circuit in Dunedin.

The hillclimb will be the sealed road up to Coronet Peak.

The great advantage of New Zealand is that distances between the various venues are relatively short - and there's plenty to see along the way.

Entry forms and supplementary regulations will be available soon on the web.

In the meantime, enquiries can bp directed to Barry Leitch on 0011 643 215 9791, e-mail b.leitch@es.co.nz n Plans are well underway for the Tattersall's Historic Sandown meeting on November 9-10.

Feature event will be the Tasman Challenge, reliving the great days of the Tasman Series, but other highlights will be the Mini Magic race for more than 30 original Minis, Group N touring cars and races for all other historic categories.

It is expected that 350 entries will be received for the Tattersalls Historic Sandown, including a strong contingent from across the Tasman.

Enquiries phone (03)9807 8552.

- BRIAN REED 83

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Kart Stars decision iooms

THE shortlist of Ford Kart Stars finalists should know who has won the drive in the 2003 National Formula Ford series some time in the next few days.

Final evaluations for the program were conducted last week when Clint Cathcart, Adam Graham, Scott Auld, and Jace Lindstrom., who occupied the top four positions in the Kart Stats standings after the final round in Queensland a few weeks ago, had their first taste of a Formula Ford when they took the wheel of a Spectrum for a test at Winton last Tuesday.

Joining them was Taz Douglas, who was awarded the test as a bonus after failing to make the top four by just three points, and NSW youngster Ian Dyk. “It went really well,” said Cathcart of the test, which was overseen by Spectrum boss Mike Borland.

“I was in an older car, so it was hard to judge competitive times between us all, so they’re going to look at the telemetry to see how we all went.”

Cathcart’s day was cut short when Dyk, with whom he was sharing the car, hit the wall.

“I went out once at nine in the morning, when it was wet, then again at four in the afternoon,” he explained.

“So while everyone else got two or three sessions, I only got one and a half, which was a

COLIN Osborne sealed his claim to the 2002 GT Production Championship with a pair of second places at Phillip Island two weeks ago.

Osborne brought his Celica VVTL-i home behind the Commodore of Scott Loadsman

t Best of rivals: The FFord / Kart Stars testers from left to right, Ian Dyk, Adam Graham, Taz Douglas. Scott Auld, Clint Cathcart, Jace Lindstrom. bit of a shame.”

The following day, the top four undertook the second phase of their evaluation at the Victorian Institute of Sport.

“That was really good,” Cathcart said.

in both races of the final round of the series.Leadsman's wins were enough to secure second in the Championship.

Two drivers shared the third step of the podium, with Aaron McGill (Celica) taking the race one honours, and Stephen White

“I thought it would be all physical, but it was completely the opposite. They were really concentrating on psychological and mental things.”

- MARK GLENDENNING

(Proton Satria Gti) claiming the minor placing for race two.

Behind them, a pair of fourthplaces saw Victorian Martin Doxey take out the Four-Cylinder Touring class Championship behind the wheel of his Astra.

- MARK GLENDENNING

OVER 150 racers from 34 teams of both pure and mixed marques were involved in the annual Winton Six Hour Relay Race two weeks ago.

Constant contrasts between cars and drivers performances, as well as an ever-changing field on track, is something that can only occur in such an event, as evidenced by the sight of an HQ, GT3 and Westfield together in n the Motorsport News Esses, Porsches were very much the club car for the event, with GT3s, 911s, 944s and a 916 mixing it with the group. A highlight was the dice between the early 911 of Anthony Jones and the HQ of Geoff Brown, with the Holden winning out.

Also good was the pink and grey Falcon XD 351 of Gary Downs, which leaned through the corners but powered past some Porsches on the straights.

BMWs were popular, with Nigel Montgomery's CSi running emeorably against Tony Moodie's 635, and the nimble Clubman Sports were always motorsport news

NATIONAL

Zavaglia

SAM Zavaglia picked up the 2002 Australian Superkart Championship at Phillip Island recently.

Competing in the 250 International class, Zavaglia, right,(Stockman/Honda) qualified fastest ahead of Wayne Crossland (PVP/Rotax)and John Pellicano (Zip/Yamaha).

Zavaglia went on to score a perfect four-from-four as Crossland encountered clutch trouble, and the expected challenge from Gerard Siebert (Zip/Rotax) came too late.

Siebert almost picked up a couple of wins, the first when Zavaglia almost spun in heat three, then in the final where he led for several laps before Zavaglia won the charge to the line by 0.1 seconds. Robert Oakley (Zip/Rotax) picked up enough points for third with Pellicano fourth.

Colin McIntyre (Anderson/KTM) won his first Austrahan Championship, dominating the 250 National class with Darryl Tobias (Stockman/Yamaha)second.

While the 250s were spectacularly fast, lOOcc non gearbox put on the closest racing.

Gary Pegoraro(CRG)won all the races, but on every occasion just managed to beat a snarling pack of six karts by just a few hundredths of a second. Daniel Bey (Monaco) and Darren Fortuyn (Speed)

Island Mirage GARY Young, below, and James Dutton shared the wins in the latest round of the Mitsubishi Mirage Series at Phillip Island two weeks ago.

Troy Flunt took second in both outings, with third being ciaimed

by Francois Jouy in race one and Grant Park in race two.

completed the podium.

Darren Dunn (Top KartTIonda) retained his 125 title despite making contact with Anthony Zulian on the last lap of the final as they diced for the lead. The incident popped Dunn’s front tyre off the bead and he limped across the line in second, but had enough points to keep the win. While Zulian retired in the sand trap, Paul Stebbing (Stoclunan/Honda) won the race to finish second overall.

Ross Hansen (Centreline/ Yamaha)took out 80cc as defending champion Anthony Lappas (Eliminator/Yamaha) struck trouble, not finishing the very first race.

The Rotax MAX class drew healthy numbers and the South Australian Viper Karts team finished one-two, Tim Scarman winning with a perfect score ahead of Shaun Jones with Victorian Ti'ace O’Rourke (Monaco)third.

- MARK WICKS

vunderbar at Winton

You want variety?: TFiere was a huge array of cars on hand, but nobody (Photo by Neil Hammond) could take the fight to the Porsches. quick, as was Mort Fitzgerald's MGB V8.

Alfas and Minis both provided strong turnouts, and tops for team efforts must go to the 'Roofless Racing' MG Midget team for a behind-the-garages, engine-out, thrust bearing change on Mike Trathen's racer..

The outright winning Porsche team were well set-up by a fast, consistent 90 minute openingstint by John Trende in his 911, and to top this off, another 2 October 2002

Porsche Club of Victoria team got the handicap honours.

- IMEIL HAMMOND Results: Outright - Porsche Club of Victoria - Weltmeister I - Lyle Potgeiter (911), Rob Baily (911), Rian Nott (911), John Trende (911). Second Outright and First Handicap - Porsche Club of Victoria - Team GT3 Plus - Ken Jarrett (GTS), Romano Piva (GTS), Phil Verwoert(GTS), Marc Cini (GTS),(Gary Tierney (GTS), Phillip Bernadou (911). Third Outright, Second Handicap - Porsche Club of Victoria - Team RS Plus - Greg Muller (911 RSCS), Ian Ross (911 RSI, Ian Knight (911 RSCS), Greg Cook (911 RSCS), Jan Jinadassa (964 RS), Paul Girt(911 Carrera).

Photo by Difk Wynanit^.-

No Power, but still Super THE Super Tour (formerly Power Tour) continued at Wakefield Park last weekend.

Fleadlining the Tour were the Super Tourers. Practice and qualifying had its own share of dramas, with both Sam Dale and Andre Morgan having their bonnets come loose and Peter Hills losing an engine. Alan Gurr took the point for pole by over one second.

Gurr comfortably won the first race from Peter Hills, who had a new engine brought down from Kempsie overnight. Dale finished in third.

Race two saw an amazing start by Hills to take the lead for the first lap. Gurr managed to squeeze past on lap two and pulled away for another win.

Hills was then slowed by fuel supply problems for the second race in a row, relegating him to sixth and, at one stage, being forced off the track by a battling Paul Leabeaterand Morgan.

The third and final race completed the hat trick for Gurr with Hills taking another second place and Morgan third.

MARCUS Zukanovic can be considered the luckiest person at the circuit after a jump start in the first Commodore Cup race.

But due to a red flag when Shane Gore spun and hit the pit wall at the end of lap one, the race was restarted and Zukanovic went cn to win.

He went on to win the second race and finish third in the final.

Geoff Emery won the last race from Andrew Mclnness.

- MICHAEL SHAW

Kart briefs BEN Horstman grabbed a top 10 finish at the third and final round of the CIK-FIA European Formula A Championship at Mariembourg, Belgium, recently.

Florstman (Biesse/Fox) took 10th in Final One, but retired from Final Two after a collision.

German David Flemkemeyer (Machl/KZFI) won both races to take the title. Florstman was classified 27th in the championship where 37 drivers scored points. n It has been reported on the internet that Michael Schumacher is once again contemplating competing in the final round of the World Karting Championship. This is not something new, as the FI Champion tackled the final round last year, taking second in one of the finals. Schumacher was spotted testing with Davide Fore and the Tony Kart team at the La Conca circuit in Italy, the scene of the finale on October 27. t,« Peter Prescott has taken out the long-running Ken Stanley Memorial at Numurkah's Australasian Kart Ttles recently. The special handicap event is open to senior drivers who have taken a placing in their respective class on the day, Prescott having finished second in Formula Australia Light. Albury's Peter Boys took second, having earlier won the Over 40s class, with David Thompson third. n The Australian Karting Association has pulled the plug on street meetings, effective immediately.

A brief statement read "permits will not be issued by the AKA for Street Meetings and/or Temporary Circuits until further notice".

It is believed that this is in response to the Coroner's report recently handed down regarding the fatality at the Wollongong street event last year. What this means for the sport in the short term is that the final round of the Ford Racing Road King series set for Swan Flill next month will not go ahead, and casts doubts over Portland's long running ^ karting extravaganza in February '03. n Australians drivers did well at the Laguna Seca World Superkart Challenge on September 22, but none could stop Eddie Lawson (Pi/Yamaha) from taking the win. NSW's Warren Mcliveen qualifyed his Stockman/Flonda on pole, sixth tenths faster than American Tom Woods (Pl/Yamaha), Unfortunately his form didn't continue in the racing, crashing out of the pre-final, Queensland's Stephen Tapper qualified 22nd but didn't finish the pre-final.

The best placed Aussie was Brian Stockman. Qualifying his own Honda powered chassis fifth, he went on to take an impressive third in the final.

- MARK WICKS 85

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Phone (07) 3808 1986

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)lawh Performance disc brake pads have Ibe slopping power and brake modulation to reduce lap times and pul RACINC5 PRODUCTS you io the winners' circle - with 8 dillerent race compounds, VIC 37A Fenton SI Ookleigh 3166 Ph: 03 9543 6222 Fox: 03 9543 6244 OLD 3/26 Expo Cr) Ashmore 4214 Ph/Fox: 07 5531 0181 NSW 2/109 Airds Si Minto NSW 2566 Ph: 02 9820 4255

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Crankshafts

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Alternately, you can still use the classified form on these pages (surcharge applies for the service of entering the ad onto my105.com)

LOG ON NOW,— IT’S THE SMART WAY TO SELL YOUR EQUIPMENT!

Sedans/Sports Cars

rge-

PORSCHE 944 CHALLENGE, This is the current series winning 944 Porsche, holding a number of lap records. All the best parts, bilsteins, coil overs, fresh engine and gearbox, secure the car now by deposit and take delivery after the final round of Vic state chamionships. $43,000 Call Brendan on 04 1 9 8 1 8 7 8 8 242 www.myl 05.com/43071

Porsche GT3, Perfectly maintained by PCM, Approximately $25,000 worth of spares available. Ready for Race / Rally / Road, Structured financing available. $210,000 Neg. Dean 0418 507 403 242 www.mv105 .com/7289

Mazda MX5, Finished 3rd in class for Production Sports Cars 2001 and 4th out right in the 1 Hour endurence race. Lap times; Eastern Creek: 1m 50- Oran Park: 1m 19- Wakefield: 1m 08- Winton: 1m 36Queensland Raceway (Clubman): 1m 04.

Currently 3rd in the 2002 Prod Sports Drivers championship. Easily converted to GTP specification. Trailer also available. $18,000. Zane 0414 402 410. 242 www.my105.com/17035

Mazda RX3 Improved Production Car, car #77 2nd outright 2001VMRC 100% finishing record. 13B Bridgeport 5 speed. 4.4 diff & new brakes. Heaps of spares. Fast reiiabie competitive car, ready to race. Phiiiip island 1.50, Winton 1.36, Calder 65 $10,000 with spares. 510,000 Neg. Paul 0408 550 677 or 03 9729 1 496 242www.mv105.com/22171

Datsun 1000, Very fast and light car, Queensland Raceway lap record, 55.7 Lakeside, Microtech fuel injected. Microtech dash, many new components, carbon fibre filter mount and mirrors, koni shocks, has had many wins and top 3 finishes, includes traitor to suit, ugent sale, will trade for formula ford. $12,000 ONO. Gary 07 4635 0272 or 0417 703 649 242 www.my105.com/88159

Fiat Spyder Convertible 73, Professional restoration, bare metal respray, rebuilt 1800 HC engine, new steering, brake and suspension, transmission components, dashboard timber and crash pad, console original carpets and upholstery, campagnola wheels, new windscreen, door rubbers and vinyl top, delightful to drive, attractive Italian classic, collectable investment, $21,750. Justin 0407 0 02 726 242 www.my105.com/4755

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I Nissan GTR V-Spec N1, Vehicle is ready for Targa Tasmania, Rally Tasmania, and other circuit events. 2 intercoolers, 4 turbos, N1 disc rotors. Engine just been freshened up and yet to be un in. Has not competed in any events since the engine been back together. $75,000 ONO. Leo 0418 145 111 241 www,my105.com/62981

XE 351 Street Sedan and Transporter, immaculate XE351 4 speed Street Sedan, steel bond cage, ground up rebuild, 4 meetings old, 52.0 Oran Park South 1st outing, full spares, motor and gearbox just refreshed, price includes immaculate restored classic 1966 F350 transporter, selling due to health, many thousands spent. $35,000 including F350 Transporter Or Best Offer. 0404 074 842 242 www.myl05.com/76135

I

Mazda RX7 Series 7, Ready for GTP or eligible for Bathurst 24hr ( no data ioga fitted) comes with a package of spare parts. Chrome Molly cage, MoTeC M4 Pro. $45,000 ONO. Paul (02) 4877 1677. 241 www.myl05.com/24864

Complete Package Supercar & Transporter, Ex Valvoline, Scania, 41ft anex & lighting , Sleeper cab, Roller ramps & winch. Chrome Rims, Vic Lie. V8 Supercar, Benson Motor, Motec Dash, Ohlin Shocks by 4, VT Uprights, Setups Endurance & Sprint rounds. Lots of good spares. $135,000 Neg. Gary 08 9397 0317 0419 935 107 241 www.my105.com/90299

Nissan GTR R33 V-SPEC,The ultimate road car or make it your ultimate race car.

Black/purple colour, excellent condition.

High end sound system. Will consider race car trade. $49,000 Neg. Richard 0419 412 828 241 www.my105.com/82903

2000 Aussie Car winner Commodore

www.my105.com/39638 Escort Mkll 2 Door Rolling Shell, Feb. 76.

3/3J log booked with 11 point alloy cage, very good standard shell with no modifications, never raced, various spares included, call Simon for any other details, $1900 ONO. (03) 9500 9073 or 0403 179 073 242 www.my105.com/52670

2 October 2002

■"

AU XR 8 Future Tourer Team for sale. Not a tired, worn out AUSCAR, New AU XR8 built from bare shell, new engine, big horsepower, air jacks, all hanop suspension, heaps of spares. Mitsubishi truck, 6 cyi, turbo diesel, dual cab, 30 ft pan. Plus EF falcon AUSCAR as a promotional car. This is a genuine "clean the shed deal" 5160,000 Neg. Tony 08 8250 1 90 3 242 www.my105.com/48094

r

Nascar Oldsmobile Rolling Chassis, With T-10 gearbox, only needs fuel cell and motor, spares available, including wheels,’ parts, etc. $10,000 ONO. Graham (03) 9898 8202 or 0418 344 067 242

Nascar Oldsmobile, 23 degree engine, T10 gearbox, set up for road course, top five car, comes with spares. $30,000 ONO. Graham (03) 9898 8202 / 0418 344 067.

242 WWW.my105.com/26836

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Ute, 23 Point cage, 300+HP V6, Proflex suspension, fully equipped, recently rebuilt.

Ready to race and meticulously maintained. Spares package negotiable. $26,000.

Paul 0412 259 207 241 WWW. my105.com/50810 Ford Cortina MK1, Lotus block and rods.

105e head, twin 45mm webers. log book, fresh engine, ready to go. Plenty of potential, must sell to make way for new project. $8,850 ONO. Leo 0410 474 238.

241 www.myl05.com/9 21 80

CELICA GT4 GRP A TARGA CAR, Run 3 Targa Tasmania's. Prior to these events it's had engine and gearbox rebuilds, new springs/struts, brakes. Three sets wheels, tyres, Terratrip, Terraphone, 6 point, Momo seats great car. Need garage space for new car, $25,000 Neg. David 0411 747 821 241 www.my105.com/58809

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Torana Sports Sedan LJ, Modified P76 V8 powered, borg wamer transmission and diff, 4 wheel disc brakes, 16 x 10 wheels, spares include engine, gearbox diflr, panels wheels. Oran park 2001 endure placegetter, reliable simple car. $11000 ONO,trailer to suit available $2000 Kevin 0417 405 590 241 www.my105.com/8075

Toyota Celica Sports Sedan, Rear wing, front spoiler, adjustable coilover suspension, disk brakes, slicks, extensively lightened, lexan windows, kevlar seat,6 point harness, roil cage, 45 DCOE Webers, extractors, 2.5" exhaust, lightened flywheel, extended & baffled sump, spares, trailer reg Feb 2003, CAMS logbook, Oran Park 51s, Wakefield Park 1.14s. Ready to race. $7,500 ONO. Matthew. 02 4283 7757 / 0402 428 089 240 Group C Cooper S 1300cc, split Webbers Mini Lites, original log book, very tidy, all the trick gear. $15,000. Garry.(02)6662 8111 /

Open Wheelers

www.my105.com/14725

m 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 www.mv105.com/2Q365

Cortina MK1 1963 Historic Race Car, 1600CC 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

Torana Sports Sedan, Log booked, Nissan L28 Turbo, Motec fresh paint, mounted wet’s, fresh motor and diff, heaps of spares, motor's difTs etc, tandem trailer. $18,000 ONO. Mark . (03) 9729 8241 240 www.my105.com/40538 t.iJT-LfOA

Porsche 944 challenge , Ready to race at the pointy end all the good bits Biistien coil overs, RSR lower control arms etc, with entry to Phillip Island round 31/8. $35,000. Rod 03 5988 6266 240 www.mylQ5.com/28278

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 toploader $11,950 - must sell. (02) 6374 1303. 240 www.myl05.eom/20367

Future Tourer EL Falcon, Ex GRM, Fresh engine, SVO block Cariliia 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 series, as raced by Kerry Wade, very tidy car. $55,000. (08) 9458 4586 or 0419 952 015.240 www.myl05.com/35475

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 struts, factory dry sump, etc.Can be pre or Post '71. Price Neg Depends on spec. 03 9817 1383 240 www.my105.com/79257

2Ltr Formula Libre Hillclimb Car, motor with all good gear,' centrifugal clutch, Falacon rods, Wisecos, Cams, etc. Microtech computer controlled alcohol injection, 1st in class + 2nd outright NSW HCC this year with 7 hillclimb class records, comes with freshly rebuilt engine, new tyres and seat belts, spare noses, moulds, wing and stays, dies, and much more. $14,900 ONO. Tom (02) 9606 9181 or 0407 167 397 242www.105.com/33664

HISTORIC MARCH 73B, Arguably the most successful group Q car. Fresh BDD Cosworth engine and Hewland FT200 gearbox. Significant early UK history. Many local lap records and wins. Spares include extra chassis and engine - will separate.

Price depends on package. Richard Carter 02 9999 3606. 240 www.105.com/20217

MANTIS AF2, A well presented car with many spares including two extra engines. $29,500 Or Best Offer. Tom on (02) 9588 9443 242 www.105.com/49JH1

4

ELFIN 630B FORMULA ATLANTIC, Fresh Cosworth BDD ,FT200GB. completely race ready. Complete with trailer and spares, must sell. $45,000 ONO. Jon 0419 777 229 241 WWW.105.CO m/30123

news Description:

□ Parts □ Engines □ Trailers

□ Wanted □ Photographs

I t

Lotus Super 7 STI Replica, 1500cc Ford Cosvrerth 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/8673

A 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.eom/20362

online classifieds Category: n Sedans □ Open Wheelers n Speedway

SUPERKART ZIP EAGLE 250 NATIONAL, Rotax 250 cc single Very reliable and fast.

Fully rebuilt Jan 2002 Comprehensive Spares Barbagallo long circuit 62.6 seconds $6500 ONO. Spare Engine, Rotax 250 cc Single, Fully rebuilt , includes pipe. Ignition, carburettor, spares. $2950 ONO David (08) 9298 8501(AH) 241 www.105.com/98380

n Drag

n Jobs

□ Other

Please keep ads to no more than 50 words, plus up to 6 photos if desired.

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

THCwaytosell your gear! rrom just$25* justlog on (*$25 applies to ads entered directly onto my105.com) Advertising can also be supplied using thisform ($10/$15 surchage to textonly/text + pic advertisements) Advertisements wili appearin next possible issue of f-'icici a;;:o rl News PLUS themy105.com websiteforsixmonths.

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CardnoDDDn □□□□ □□□□ □□□□ Signature _ Name _ Address Email Ph( 90

)

Exp

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Card Name_ Forward your classified to: fax 02 96471177 email mnewstgmyl 05.com postal address My105, 105 Carnarvon Street Silverwater NSW 2128.

NOTICE TO ADVERTISERS Please use the form provided and print clearly. Please note we are unable to return photographs supplied for use in classified ads. Ads will appear as soon as possible after receipt. MN/my105.com classifieds are for the sale of private goods and vehicles only, not business advertising Photos marked "proof’ will not bo used.

molorspon news

MARKET PLACE 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

UNICHIP, Increase your Horsepower by this add on Chip. This chip was used in Safari once only, Repacement cost $550+. $375 ONO. Russell 03 9579 2166 / 03 9836 7331. 241 www.myl05.com/27963

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

Koni Aluminium Racing Shocks, f8212 Special D . 4 off 350mm/240mm. Good order, checked by Koni. Suit Historic racing cars and others. Best offer over $2000.00 for the set. Peter 02 9873 1773. 24i

Transporters/Trailers

Tiga FA 83 Repco-Brabham, Ex Alf Costanzo Porsche Cars, Winner 1965 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 Hiilclimbing, Possibly eligible for Historic racing. All assistance given to new owner. PDA. Roger 0409 363 242. 240 www.105.com/8525

Speedway I

^

Fully Enclosed Tandem Trailer, Built 2000 and used 10/12 times stored under cover, weight around 550kgs, hydraulic brakes, lockable side access (both sides) new tires, 2part paint, internal dimensions Width 1.9mtrs, height 1,5mts, length 4,5mtrs.

Asking $5,300, contact at^ork (02) 9831 5140.

242 WWW.my105.com/35033 |!

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Litre Sprintcar NSW 95, Gerhardt Highbar, Kawasaki, Motec fuel injection, MTC head 8 plugs, Falican crank, Wiseco pistons, Kirkey seat, 16 wheels and tyres, as new and much more. All offers considered. POA

87 Isuzu Transporter and Trailer, New tyres6, 160L fuel x 2, ex stainless air tank, 240V setup, CB, CD, H/freephone (Norki), elec brakes, inter, aluminium bins, air seat, Hayman Toro, 21 Pen Bam door/side door, Stoneguard, plus trailer, 16x8 merchandiser with sidedoor. $25,000 complete. (02) 9831 241 5140. www.my105.com/73351

02 4973 1681 242 www.my105.com/16586 23 ft Fully Enclosed Tandem, With stmt tailgate and two side doors with reg, new brakes.$4,300 Shane (03) 9728 3241 or 0419 371 286. 240www.my105.com/87332

Super Sedan Pontiac , Ford 302 Cleveland engine, ready to race, spare include 3 gearboxes and tyres, diff and spare front bumper, for quick sale. $3,200 ONO Allouise (08)9410 0276 241 www.myl05.com/66982

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Sprintcar Engine, Chev l/w alloy block , Brodix 18o heads, Kinsler injector, Moroso alloy sump and oiler r/covers, JE pistons, jesel rockers, alloy Summers Bros gear drive, complete with pwr radiator, extractors and mufflens, DSR fuel pump and fuel system, new alloy universal, 20 shows from new, just been freshened $36,000 0410 493 242 or 03 9728 4839. $1,400 242 www.myl05.com/52492 Nascar 23 Degree Engine, Just been rebuilt, roller cam, new fop end, valve train, etc, around 600HP. $25,000 ONO, Graham (03) 9898 8202 or 0418 344 067 242 www.my105.com/53737

2 Oclolier 2002

(03)9310 1466 BH 0400 424259 AH. 240 www.myl05.eom/20342

Parts

MoTeC Dash Logger, MoTeC Advanced Dash Logger as used on Supercars. Brand new, never used. 2 MB Memory, Other upgrades and extras optional. New price = $6265.29 Buy the best there is. $4,500. Pete 0407 814 903 or 03 9700 0459. 242 www.my105.com/34516

4 X YOKOHAMA A032R 205/60x15, tyres (or similar), suitable for club level hillolimbs etc. Rodney 02 6332 4072. 241 www.my105.com/88254 TRAILER WANTED, Lightweight single axle Trailer to suit historic rear engine openwheel racing car. Car weighs only 450kg and need internal dimensions 14' x 6'.

Race Engineer Available, on a daily basis or full 2003 Season. Equipment available, including set-up platform, scales. Greg 0411 052 944. 242 www.my105.com/20477

www.myl05.eom/7073 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 afeo 73 $60. Craig 0417 823 866. 240 www.myl05.com/20364 Chev Manifold, 2.3" me kay magnesium F5000 injection manifold,ex original brock monza s/sedan.with fuel rails, trumpets & oldl motec computer,$3,500 ONO plus vertex mag used once since service. $650 ONO. Andrew 02 9618-3002 or 0403 118 856. 240 www.my105.com/8241 Super Sedan Parts, 2 x Tel Tac suit Magneto x Electric ignition, 15 x Weld Wheels W5 12" x 5" offset with Rim Log's, S/H tyres 28.5" to 32” American Racers.

041 2 399 020 239 www.myl05.com/7070

For Lease _- n T I

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Jobs

Drivers Required, Drivers required with sensible budgets for 2003 Formula Ford national and OLD Series. Fully prepared equipment, spares, pit crew and set-up data. Greg (07) 5446 7611. 242 www.my105.com/ 40825 INTERNATIONAL DRIVER AVAILABLE, for 24 hr Bathurst. Ex-NZ Nat. champion sports sedans / Group A. Bathurst experienced. Fast, safe and good on gear.

Night driving and wet weather capabilities.

Front or rear wheel drive. Big or small bp.

Outright / Class contender. Long distance specialist. Team player with best atlilude to win! Email Tony on autosbift@ihug.co.nz 241 www.myl05.com/42098 Motorcycles Sales, Motorsport and motorcylo 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. 241 www.myl05.com/994

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Lotus Exige For Lease, This car is available for lease for the entire 2003 season. Price Neg. Chris 0411 571 222, 242 www.myl05.com/78417

NEW Tiltable Triaxle Trailer, Inside dimensions are height 5ft, width 6ft 6 inches, length 22fl. Spring loaded rear door with extra ramps, 240 & 12 volt lighting.

Powerpoints, air compressor, black & white tiling and too many extra's to mention.

Stickers removable. $12,000

Wanted

MoTeC Data logger/dash, full system including Loom, etc, extra logging capacity up-grade, as new. Hardly used. Drew (03) 9480 1122 or 0418 31 2 587. 240

i

Mocfified'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 710 833 240 www.my105.com/95879

Magazines,480 x Auto Action $275, 150 x Motorsport News $175,100 x NZ Motoring News $100, 125 x Unique Cars $75. Glenn (09)5713 341. 241 www.my105.com/85965

Require some cover so can be fully enclosed or at least weather-proof. Please call (02)9949 3996 home or (02)9499 3911 work.

241 www.myl05.com/37982

i

DAF Prime Mover + 2 Car Pan, Must Sell. $60,000. Kosi 0419 524 752 241 www.myl05.eom/20346

www.myl05.eom/704

Hewland Mk 9 gear ratios, Mk 9 gear ratios 18-34, 19-32, 20-30, 20-31, 20-32, 21-29, 2228, 23-27, 23-28, 24-27, 25-27, 25-26, 24-24, $125-00 each. Quick lift jack to suit historic open wheeler $ 150. 03 5443 5720, 0419 371 289. 241 www.my105.com/18785

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91

OPINION

■oMrspoit EDITORIAL STAFF

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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, AF1 Images, Neil Hammond, Slipstream Photographic, Phil Williams, Allsport, 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.

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SUBSCRIPTIONS Australia (inci GST) Overseas (Air Mail): New Zealand, PNG, Malaysia, Indonesia, Phillippines, Hong Kong, Japan US, Canada, Europe

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Well, the battle is over. No, not the Holden versus Ford battle, the battle between the motor racing magazines.

According to a magazine I read last week, Prodrive’s bid to take over 00 Motorsport fell to bits in September 2002.

But I read that story in Motorsport News on September 4 - three weeks ago - and if you reported it, that means that any deal must have gone bad sometime in August at the latest.

How come you guys had the story way back then and the other guys didn’t? And why doesn’t your editor have his picture in every issue of the magazine?

Just wondering.

J. Taylor Dandenong, VIC ED: Hmm, a long hop outside the off-stump ... what should I do?

MN’s dictionary defines ‘news’as “Information about recent events or happenings, especially as reported by newspapers, periodicals, radio, or television”. It depends on what you think ‘recent’ means, 1 suppose.

And I am not that good-looking and I do not want to scare our readers ... well, maybe just this once.

Couch potato

As a long-time fan of Formula One, it was with what I can only describe as unrestrained glee that I read the story in your current issue (MN# 240) about Channel Nine dropping coverage of Grand Prix racing.

Your story quoted a Nine source as saying, “the Nine Sports management are not big motorsport fans.”

That much was obvious from having watched the network’s coverage of Formula One gradually deteriorate over the past few years.

Here’s hoping that the new deal ushers in a new era of FI coverage in Australia that will include freeto-air coverage of all the races live, plus qualifying.

Heck, surely an hour in the wee hours of Sunday morning can’t be that hard for the networks to set aside ...

Lee Price Castle Hill, NSW

converter Send us your thoughts: mail: PO Box 7072, Gardenvale, VIC 3186 fax: 03 9596 5030 email: mnews@mnews.com.au

1350 kg. Lariy Perkins said the Fords had light panels because they were winning the races, and in 1995 Fords were the first four cars across the line, and the Holdens whinged so the performance review committee stepped in and did their dirty deed.

WTiich reminds me, where are they now the Holdens are winning?

That’s a joke.

It’s a pity the AU Falcons aren’t allowed to use the aero kit they made when they first came out. No, CAMS wouldn’t allow that because they were too fast.

What’s the old saying? ‘Win races Sunday, sell cars Monday’.

I couldn’t care less if Holden won between now and doomsday. I wouldn’t have one as a gift, pieces of crap.

Go the Fords!

Peter Cunningham Kingston, QLD

Something good to report

A big thank you to Ross Dillon, chief of Paragon Motorsport, and Cameron McLean, driver of the VIP Ford Falcon, and all their crew and staff.

The team did something very special for one of my good mates. Butch.

Cameron took Butch for three lightning laps around Queensland Raceway in his Ford racecar; he really gave it a boot full. The grin on Butch’s face lasted for days. Butch has a terminal illness and has been given two to six months to live.

He is fighting his illness and I think it is good times like this that are the best medicine.

Good on you lads, thank you for the effort the team put into bringing a smile to a V8 Ford fan down on his luck. It was a fabulous thing to do.

Anthony Patterson Kernpsey, NSW

Weighty issues

A$195 A$250

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Post your cheque/money order to the address above, fax your credit card details (Bankcard, VISA, Mastercard, or Amex) to 03 9596 5030 or email to mnews@mnews.com.au

92

Some lead, others, well ...

Responding to Colin Marshall’s comments in MN#238, the Ford and Holden undertrays are the same 650mm front to rear, so you’re wrong there.

The Ford were the same weight as the Holdens when they were cut down - both makes were and are

Rush hour: Qualifying is arguably the most exciting part of Grand Prix weekend - and if readers like Lee Price are lucky, they soon might be able to see for themselves on TV ...

(Photo by Marsh/BOTHWELL) motorsport news

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