Motorsport News Issue 320 - October 12-25, 2005 by V8 Sleuth

POWER PLAY OZAIGP star for gold coastindy fHE NEWS BEHIND fHE NEWS

No. 320 12-25 October 2005 Australia $5.95 NZ $7.50 inci G5T

Allan Moffat Russell Ingall Chris Atkinson

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news and opinion 4

Murph vs Marcos II And they haven't even arrived at Indy yet ... Power Games There’ll be a Champ Car at Indy with Will's name on it

10 FI’s New(est) Rules Here comes another set of regs 11 Dropping the BAR From 2006, it’s pure Honda 25 Motor Mouth Moffat’s view of the Mountain 26 Box Seat Why motorsport journos are underpaid 90 Talk Converter Unsurprisingly, you lot have a bit to say about Bathurst

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featnres 28 Five Minutes With Russell Ingall Suddenly, The Enforcer is leading the series 30 Five Minutes With Chris Atkinson How to score a WRC podium in your first year

race coverage

32 MASSIVE BATHURST 1000 COVERAGE 34 So what did you do last Sunday? Words from the guys on the podium 36 We’re back at the Mountain! Chill out, it’s only practice 44 Saved By The Weather Only an overnight downpour stopped Craig Lowndes from pinching Murphy’s qualifying lap record 46 Hitmen Ford’s big guns misfire when it counts most, and HRT swoops in for the kill 56 1000km,161 Laps and 5 Key Moments How the Great Race was won and lost 58 Japan Maketh the Man Part 1 Kimi wins one of the great Grands Prix of the I. i III modern era

inOtOfSIlOn

BigHIJpST JAPAN

Fll/S Best GP for years?

Maketh the Man Part 2 Atko gets his first WRC

podium. Who cares who won?

regulars Photos: Cover: Marshall Cass Contents: Peter Bury, John Morris/Mpix & sutton-images.com

74 Speedway

23 Stateside 72 Rallying National Scene 83 Drag Racing 78

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We Agree te Disagi

Ambrose and Murphy were not that Mendly before Bathurst so, not much has changed... by CHRIS LAMBDEN NEITHER driver involved in the initial collision which brought on a 13-car shunt at Bathurst on Sunday is to be penalised. Both Greg Murphy and Marcos Ambrose were interviewed by V8 Supercar IPO Peter Wollerman, who also looked at in-car footage from three cars (the two combatants, plus Bargwanna's Orrcon Falcon) plus Channel 10 track footage. Wollerman "recognised that it is a difficult part of the track to overtake on" and, after consulting with Driving Standards Observer Colin Bond and looking at observer reports, determined that it was not likely to be clearly established that there had been a breach of the rules by either driver. ^ Accordingly, no further action was ; taken on the incident and the investigation was closed and a statement issued at 7.45pm Sunday. Unsurprisingly, neither driver was stepping back from his interpretation of the incident 24 hours later. "After Murph messed up the previous corner, I got alongside and past on the way up the hill," Marcos explained.

"1 turned across in a wide arc, not to the apex. I gave him a car and a half's width,I gave him racing room, and he chose not to take it. "You can't just drive into somebody under those circumstances - even though they'll claim that, following the ruling in Perth (where Marcos and Mark Skaife collided at Turn 1), you have to be completely past before you can turn across..." Murph, unsurprisingly,saw it differently; "Yes,I stuffed up the previous comer,and yes he was ahead of me, but he just carc'ed across aggressively, towards the apex, as if 1 wasn't there. I was. Our fate was sealed. I couldn't back out!" On one thing, the two agree - the Stewards have made their decision and everyone has to move on. Bearing in mind the decision reached in Perth, and the subsequent one following another Ambrose/Skaife collision (this time into a corner - Turn 3, Eastern Creek) where the cars were accelerating, and now tills, where the cars are in transition from acceleration to braking, could tlie rules of combat just be getting too complex?

Too Complex to Call?

THE Murphy/Ambrose collision at Bathurst on Sunday suggests that the increasingly complex interpretations of racing 'etiquette'- especially, it seems, going into corners - is close to getting beyond even the most experienced and talented of our V8 racers. Although there was clearly some overlap between the two cars involved on Sunday, the discussion (or thought process) now involves sufficient parameters that both drivers are convinced they were correct. Was it under brakes - certainly not acceleration - or was it in transit between the two? Or what? And what about 'racing room'? No wonder MNews’ guest observer at Bathurst, former winner John Goss (see page 54) was left hankering for the old days when the onus was simply on a passing car to complete the pass safely, "and people just didn't run into each other like they do today." Now life in general isn't that simple any more, but you see his point. Under the circumstances; the IPO made the only possible decision. And at the end of the day, both drivers were out of the Bathurst 1000. Maybe less regulation and a bit of 'self-policing'is the answer after all ... - Opinion by CHRIS LAMBDEN 4

Okay then - Who AS the race-defining significance of Sunday's'Balaclava incident'began to sink in on Monday, questions were being asked as to where the initial impetus for the scrutiny of the Pirtek Falcon came from - and the

suggestion is that it came from an opposing team. Wliile all parties concede that 'rules is rules', there is bemusement that the enforcement of balaclavawearing should become such an issue in the midst of the Bathurst 1000- the biggest V8 race of the year - and hit a single car vying for the lead of the race. And,MNews can reveal, the original impetus did not come from race stewards. "The original query came from an AVESGO official in pit lane," Chief Steward Steve Chopping told us on Monday. "Now,we didn't know who it was that alerted him,but once the allegation had been made, we had no option but to act. "The in-car TV images were inconclusive,so we stationed an observer down at the team's pit and he was no more than a metre or so away when Luff removed his helmet. There was no balaclava." A drive-through was the deemed penalty for Luff's infringement while - after a comical radio interrogation team boss Ross Stone called Ambrose

in to put one on before Stewards intervened and did the same anyway. Penalties for safety equipment infringements start at a $2000 fine, but the Stewards chose to implement a

Stop-Go. Why?

"The general process is one of 'fixing' the fault - ie a window safety net out of place usually draws a pit stop to fix it," confirmed TEGAGEO Kelvin O'Reilly on Monday,"so under that regime, a Stop-Go penalty is less than the time it would take to pit and fix the problem - as Ambrose did himself a few laps later." Ghopping concurred:"We don't allow teams to 'buy' their way out of a safety issue. The penalty is all about rectification." So why would this team - and others who seemingly went undetected take such a risk at such a big event, and on such a cold day? It is a fact that at Adelaide 18 months ago, the requirement for drivers to wear full fireproof underwear as well as the regulation 3layer suit was a hot topic. Dri\'ers were being roasted inside a steaming hot V8. In the end, practicality led to an 'understanding' betw'een drivers and officials that, as long as everyone was sensible, it wouldn't be policed vigorously from there on. Is that the gentleman's agreement that Ambrose referred to post-race on

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■ee, then?

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Rxing#d.

STONE Brothers Racing is racing the clock to have Marcos

Ambrose's Falcon ready for next week's V8 Supercar round at the Gold Coast Indy. SBR co-owner Jim Stone said that at first look, the damage to the car was not sufficient to prompt the team to prepare the team's new but as-yet unraced Falcon BA in its 'home' event. On Monday afternoon, Ross Stone was confident the car could be refettled in time: "It'll be no problem," he said. "The car is about to arrive at the

ilew the Whistle? Sunday? Did it apply to balaclavas Marcos is sure that it does.

did bring the alleged infringement to the AVESCO official's notice? Was it a

The more sinister question, and it's one that Marcos was happy to pose again when he spoke with MNews on Monday, is why SBR's lead car was singled out, in the midst of the Bathurst 1000, for scrutiny. "If you examine footage throughout practice, qualifying, other races, you'll find plenty of guys who choose not to wear a balaclava at

rival team or teams? Has it really come to that? And really, why, given this was the biggest V8 race of the year, would not a $2000 post-race fine have been appropriate? The best summation of the entire

times," he told us. "Why us? And why then?" Indeed. A couple of questions remain: who

sorry saga came from a petrol-head MNews business contact who, like an average 1.3 million Aussies, sat rivetted to the box on Sunday: "Mate, it's a parking attendant mind-set, isn't it ?" Couldn't agree more, mate. -CHRIS LAMBDEN

workshop now and the boys, will n | be straight into it. It looked spectacular, but we don't think the damage is too great." However, Stone said that having the race on 'home' turf near its Yatala HQ was not a particular time advantage for the two-time Champion team. "We have to have the cars in [at the Indy track] by Tuesday," he said. "It will be a busy time." The team has a particular ^ affection for the Pirtek BA. Ambrose has driven the car in every race since the start of the 2003 season, even when he shared with Russell Ingall in the Sandown 500 and Bathurst 1000 that year. , Ross Stone said recently that he intended to retire and keep the car at the end of the current season. The team is expected to field a new Falcon BF at the season opening Clipsal 500 next March. -PHIL BRANAGAN

Me tp your

RUSSELL Ingall may have left Bathurst without his much-wanted third 1000 title but he did leave with something else - the championship lead.

The Bathurst classic marked the point in the series at which a driver's worst score is dropped. After that process is completed. Ingall leads team mate and defending Champion Marcos Ambrose by a mere two points. "It is good to lead the Championship, but it is not a good way to do it," said Ingall after the race. "I would rather do it by sitting up there on the podium, which we should have been." Despite the fact that he is the man to chase. Ingall heads to one of his best track. Indy, with no change in attitude. 12 0clolier2005

"There is a lot of pressure on now. It is a true fight. It would be nice to have a lead of 100 points to cruise the last three rounds but that it not going to happen! "It is going to be an interesting few races." For more, see 5 Minutes with Russell Ingall, pages 28-29

Points: Ingall 1488, Ambrose 1486, T. Kelly 1412, S. Richards 1367. Lowndes 1339, Skaife 1334, Bright 1206, Tander 1198, Seton 1141, McConville 1137, R. Kelly 1116, Johnson 1108, Whincup 1067, Bowe 1055, Radisich 1022, Murphy 1008, Ellery 1000, Ja. Richards 971, Morris 839, B. Jones 831, Baird 804, Besnard 752, A. Jones 733, Weel 720, Bargwanna 713, Wilson 663, Ritter 649, M. White 523, Winterbottom 490, Tratt 459, Owen 434, A. Davison 431, Wills 403.

THE Bathurst rumour mill reheated the idea that the Holden Racing Team would run a third car n 2006 for James Courtney. However, even before the rookie tasted the wail at Reid Park, MNews sources suggest that a Japanese Super GT deal is only days away. We believe that manager Alan Gow will soon be speaking with the Toyota brass - but we keep hearing another manufacturer's name mentioned as well. ■ Hot tip of the week: V8 Supercars will continue to be at the Australian Grand Prix beyond the end of their current contract to 2006. But we also hear that the AGP round could become a round of the championship and that the Fords and Holdens will have their own pit lane. The site is around the back of the track, behind the support paddock. Stay tuned. ■ AVESCO is no mdrel No, the end of the world as we know it is not nigh. Instead, the Australian corporate overseer ASIC has posted the news that the Australian Vee Eight Supercar Company has notified its intention to change its name. We believe that from the start of '06, the organisation will be known simply as 'V8 Supercars'. ■ The Bathurst crowd was down this year, due largely to the inclement weather. A four-day total of 166,000 braved the chill, about 6000 down on last year. No reco'd Sorry. ■ Also down was the number of incidents on the mountain, AVESCO Events boss Shane Howard praising the fans for their exemplary behaviour. ■ Ford Performance Racing is a happy team that play together - and travel together. So it comes as no surprise that the lads from Broady will be flying to the Lexmark Indy together and in style. The Frappers will journey in one of OzJet's first flights, all Business Class and with that man Stoddy along for the ride. ■ The Best Western development at Mount Panorama has its first guest. Peter Brock unveiled the plans for the new 5-star complex last week and has signed up to be the resort's first apartmentee. In fact, the building site currently features a stand in the exact spot where Casa del Brock offers a crystal clear view of... the pits. ■ Jacques Villeneuve was stung with a 25 second penalty after race stewards judged that he was to blame for the crash that put Juan Pablo Montoya out of the race on the opening lap of the Japanese GP. The penalty drops the Canadian from 11th to 12th on the results.

Aussi Cameron s Lionmearted < CAMERON McConville looks likely to stay a Holden man next season - despite an offer to join a Ford team. The Garry Rogers Motorsport driver will sit down with his team owner next week to discuss the future and "hopefully" sort out a deal to stay with the Melbourne team. "1 need to sit down with Garry and we both want to do that before Indy," he said."That is our first priority and if we go away from there, it is then that we take that step." McConville would not comment on his 'other' offer.

which is believed to have come from Ford Performance Racing. While a number of drivers have'jumped' brands, he is believed to be highly valued at Holden for not just his driving talent but media experience. There were suggestions on the weekend that Holden would contribute funds to keep him in red but McConville dismissed them. Matters are somewhat complicated by the fact that a number of teams, including GRM,are still in the process of establishing their Holden deals for 2006 and beyond. - PHIL BRANAGAN

m9 an Autobarn-backed entry for Independent Race Cars, the team with which he won the Konica Series in 2002. Prior to the incident that saw Dumbrell hit the wall in the race, Perkins said that he will retain Dumbrell to partner Steven Richards next year. I picked up the option on Paul last week," Perkins said at Bathurst, "and I am moving forward with plans to run two cars next season for Paul and Richo. However, Perkins would not elaborate on whether he had secured a sponsor for next season to replace Castrol, which will cease to be the naming rights sponsor for his team after the Phillip Island final round of the series. But it appears that Perkins does have some backing; "I am used to doing things in a logical manner and I would not do this [pick up Dumbreil's option] for no reason," he said.

Will Power joi

WILL Power is heading into the Champ Car World Series I - starting at home next weekend. ' The 25-year-old ■ Queenslander will drive a : third Team Australia entry in I ■ the Lexmark Indy 300. He will ^ I line up in the 800 horsepower I i Cosworth-powered Lola i alongside Alex Tagliani and : Marcus Marshall.

Neither would Perkins rule out the possibility of running more than two entries. This season,four cars have come put of his Moorabbin, Melbourne shop, with the Autobarn car that Dumbrell has shared with Alex Davison and the Toll Racing entry of Anthony Tratt. While Perkins did rule out running four cars again, MNews believes he wants to maintain the Toll connection, which 5 would, presumably, leave Davison without a drive. - PHIL BRANAGAN

I As well, US sources have ; told MNews that Power will race for the Derrick Walker: run team for the next two ‘ seasons. He is expected to ; move from his current base ; in England to Indianapolis in i the off-season. Speculation suggests that, ! from the opening race of next : season, the team will continue to run two cars and

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motorsport news

Hie Green Coi

Fujitsu V8s have seven rounds-one standalone AS expected,there will be seven rounds in the 2006 Fujitsu V8 Supercar Championship. The Development series will have its full calendar confirmed at the launch of the Clipsal 500 in Adelaide on November 18. Four of the rounds will follow the V8 Supercar Championship Series, with just one stand-alone meeting at Wakefield Park, which means that Mallala Motorsport Park will not get a Development series round for the first time. Adelaide (March 23) kicks off the newly-named series, followed by Wakefield (May 28) Queensland Raceway (July 23), Oran Park (August 13), Bathurst (October 8) and Phillip Island (December 10). The final round will again be at the Grand Final at Phillip Island.

THE TEGA Board has ratified the technical regulations for the 2006 V8 Supercar Championship Series. Teams were given notice of the new 'cost-cutting' regulations late last month, which will provide teams with strict minimum weights, plus specifications for components that will be compulsory for competition in 2006.

CCup: Apply Within TEAMS and drivers wishing to contest the 2006 WPS Carrera Cup Championship will get the chance to submit their applications for the new cars this week. The submission process coincides with the launch of a new eight round, nine event calendar, supporting the V8 Supercar Championhip Series. This Friday, existing Team's Agreement holders have to present their desire to run in the popular one-make series. Two weeks later, potential new outfits will have to submit their claim, and teams will be ad\lised one week later as to who will gi

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the new 911 GT3s, which is based on the 997 model. The grid will be restricted to only 25 cars. The Porsches will dock on Australian soil early in January, before a two-day training session is held to educate teams on the idiosyncrasies of the cars. Meanwhile, the current-spec Carrera Cup machines will contest a newly-branded championship in 2006. The 'GT3 Challenge' will run in conjunction with the Australian GT Championship. The class will run as a main drawcard of the new CAMS Series. - GRANT ROWLEY

The list of technical changes include specified brands and models for the clutch, brake pads, rotors and discs and shock absorbers, while gearbox internals, front uprights, crown wheel and pinion sets and tail shafts are subject to standard specifications and minimum weights. The changes are designed to

Steve to I STEVE Owen will be Britek's lead driver and contest every round of the 2006 V8 Supercar Championship Series, assuming one of the team's current licences can finish in the top 30 at the end of this year. At Bathurst last weekend,the team were on track to place both their licences in the top 30, which if the current rules are employed for 2006, would have guaranteed the Melbourne-based squad two full-time entries. However, an engine problem late in the race for the Owen/Matthew White entry halted the early celebrations. The #25 licence has now dropped to 33rd place At this point, the #52 licence campaigned by White sits 28th, which is earmarked for Owen to use full-time in 2006. "Steve will be the guaranteed .

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NEWS

t-cutting Paper is Go reduced costs, reduced component development, remove technical freedoms and limit the number of suppliers. So, for example, V8 teams can select from nine models of clutches from four brands (AP, Tilton, Alcon and Sachs). Flywheels, while free in brand, are restricted to a minimum

weight of 2kg, while front uprights must be 10.5kg. Crown wheel and pinions will also have mandated weights. Flowever, the addition of ballast to the pinion is prohibited. Lightweight materials will increasingly be an item of the past, with some components being restricted to control

materials, like the tail shaft, which can only be constructed from ferrous material. AVESCO officials said at Bathurst that a decision is yet to be made on whether or not the Development Series will run with the controlled regulations. - GRANT ROWLEY

The second driver will come from a

n Panasonic has announced that it has agreed to renew its title sponsorship of the Toyota FI team until the end of 2009. What is interesting is that the company has chosen to make an announcement a year ahead of when the current deal runs out. This may indicate that there is interest in FI from rival firms.

n There were stories in Japan that Ross Brawn will replace Jean Todt as Ferrari team principal in 2007. The stories tie in nicely with bizarre rumours which suggest that Jean Todt will ioin the FIA and replace Max Mosley a couple of years into his new mandate as the FIA President. All such stories should be treated with care ...

New clonks

BJR links with SBR for more grunt

BRAD Jones Racing will join the teams using Stone Brothers Racing engines next year. The Albury-based team announced a three-year deal with the Gold Coast-based team at Bathurst last weekend. The partnership will be subject to TEGA approval. BJR joins Triple 8 Race Engineering and Larkham Motor Sport as customer teams in the main series. Paul Cruickshank Racing, which is believed to be stepping up from the Development series next season, is also an SBR engine customer. “Both Ross [Stone] and I both know that V8 Supercars is getting more competitive every year,” said BJR team co-owner Kim Jones last week. “By Team BOC joining the SBR engine program, it provides an even greater platform for increased development and that’s crucial for both of our team’s futures.”

12 October 2005

RENAULT FI is expected to nominate Heikki Kovalainen as the Renault FI test driver in 2006, following the news that the current incumbent Franck Montagny is leaving the role. The Frenchman has been with the team for three years but has never been considered as a racer for the Enstone operation. Montagny hopes that his FI experience might be of value to another team and is being linked to talks with Jordan. That, however, will probably require money.

n There were rumours in Suzuka that the Emirates Airline, which is owned by the ruling family of Dubai, is looking very seriously at a Formula 1 sponsorship deal. This may be related to stories of a second Mercedes-Benz team, although we hear that the price tag is so high that it is hard for the German company to find any takers.

\aa Bntek combination of a number of things. It will depend where the #25 licence finishes. When we know where it places, we'll start to close out our discussions with a number of different people. Jewel could not confirm if the experienced White would drive for the team again in 2006. Jewel did say however that White has the opportunity to continue with the team in the same capacity that Owen did this year. Matthew will be given the opportunity to drive with us next year," he said. "And he has an option in his agreement to continue. We'd be happy to have him on board, but if he chooses not to, then that will open the opportunity for a number of other people who potentially could be t in the funning. * = GRANT ROWLEY

Ta Ta Franck

n The Greek government has confirmed that it is seriously considering a bid for a Formula 1 race and is evaluating sites for the racetrack. Tourism Minister Dimitris Avramopoulos says that his staff is now drawing up a draft law that will enable an event to take place and has confirmed that he is in discussions with the Formula One group about a race. n India's Karun Chandhok has signed a management with the CSS Stellar company, which manages the careers of Juan Pablo Montoya, Dan Wheldon, Dario Franchitti and Sebastien Loeb among others. Chandhok is currently driving for India's A1 Grand Prix team and in the World Series by Renault. n AP Racing has appointed Charles Bolton as its managing director. Bolton joins Coventry-based AP from Cosworth Technology Ltd in Northampton where he was previously employed as managing director. -JOE SAWARD 9

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THE Honda Motor Company has agreed to buy the remaining 55 percent of the shares of British American Racing that it does not own and will take over the running of the team from January 1. The purchase is not unexpected, although it was thought that it would not occur until the end of 2006 when tobacco exits Formula 1 completely. The new restrictions in the European markets mean that FI makes less commercial sense than

M. FUJI TCI

Let's Change The Regs Again

1 '

THE FIA has proposed a raft of changes to next year's Formula One sporting regulations. According to nutosport-atlns.com, the governing body sent an email to teams last weekend containing proposals for a radical revamp to the series including the return of tyre changes, a new qualifying system, restrictions on personnel used in pitstops and a ban on spare and third cars. A vote on the changes will be made at a meeting of the Formula One Commission in London on 24 October. Among the proposed changes are a revision to the race weekend schedule, which would see cars on the track for practice on Friday between 10am11am and lpm-2pm, and Saturday practice from lOam-llam followed by

qualifying between lpm-2pm. Qualifying would follow a hiockout format divided into three segments. The first two segments would be run on light loads, and would see the slowest five cars knocked out in the first 15 minutes, followed by the next five slowest in the next 15 minutes. This would be followed by a 20 minute, 10-car shootout for pole, with the cars running race levels of fuel. Cars previously knocked out would be allowed to refuel prior to the race. Given that the new system is structured around 20 cars, it is unclear how an extra two would be accommodated if the rumoured new Honda-backed team came to fruition.

Tyre changes would be re introduced to the races, however

space cars and the third cars used on Fridays by tlie bottom six teams would be banned. Unsurprisingly, the latter of these points is expected to face some stiff opposition from teams that stand to benefit from the third car next season. Additionally, pitstop personnel would be limited to 14, with just one for each wheel, and tyre heaters would be banned.

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Finally, the pre-race build-up would be changed, with pitlane opening for just five minutes 45 minutes prior to the race start. The drivers' parade would take place once the cars are on the dummy grid. - MARK GLENDENNING

Bad Taku. Bad, Bad Taku.

Eeckelaert Moves On

SAUBER'S head of vehicle engineering, test team and research and development, Jacky Eeckelaert, has left the team. After five years with Sauber, which included race engineering Kimi Raikkonen, Eeckelaert will move to the Honda Formula 1 team next year, his role being to coordinate technical development between the team and the Japanese engineers. Eeckelaert Is unusual in FI circles, in that he is qualified as both a chassis and a motor engineer and also raced himself up to Formula 3 level in the early 1980s. After various management positions in F3 and F3000 he was, in 1994, offered a job by Peugeot Sport to run the company's French Touring Car Championship operation and, after Laurent Aiello had won the championship, Peugeot Sport boss Jean-Pierre Jabouille asked Eeckelaert to oversee the Peugeot FI testing program in 1996. This led to another role as coordinator between Jordan and Peugeot. When Peugeot began a new alliance with Prost GP in 1998 Eeckelaert joined Prost as the team's chief engineer before^ moving to Sauber at the start of 2000. 10

- JOE SEWARD

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TAKUMA Sato has been reprimanded and excluded from the results of last weekend's Japanese Grand Prix after a ragged performance highlighted by a crash with Toyota's Jarno Trulli. The Japanese driver ploughed into the side of the Toyota while attempted a badly-judged passing move. Trulli was out on the spot, however Sato managed to soldier on to finish 13th. He had earlier had an encounter with Rubens Barrichello when both drove into the gravel at the first corner. Japan was Sato's penultimate race with BAR Honda, which will be replacing him with Barrichello next season. molorsportnews

NEWS

ndred Percent Honda before for BAT, although Lucky Strike will remain the team's title sponsor until the end of next season. There has been no announcement as to what the 'new' team will be called. While Honda Racing or something similar would be the obvious choice, there is a possibility that the Japanese company may go for something a little more exotic. Given Honda's history, there is the possibility that the new team will have some allegiance to dreams. Soichiro

Honda,the company founder. although Yasuhiro Wada will was a great believer in the probably have more profile than before. power of dreaming and the company’s first major success Honda's chief operating was a motorcycle called the officer Hiroshi Oshima said Dream, which was launched that negotiations to take back in 1951. There is already control of the team began mid a Honda Dream Racing team in year. The team is heavily bike racing in Japan but it involved in negotiations with would not be surprising if Vodafone and Petrobras for there was some reference to the future. Vodafone is dreaming in the name of the currently sponsoring Ferrari, FI team. while Petrobras has a deal with Williams. It is not expected that there will be any change - JOE SAWARD i n the management structure of the team.

Double-Up R>r Honda?

WILL Honda have a second, all-new, team running its engines in 2006? The biggest story of the weekend in Suzuka was a mysterious announcement that Honda is

planning to supply its V8 engines to a second Formula 1 team in 2006. The company said that the team would be a new operation in Grand Prix racing but offered no other clues, although sources say that there is a strong Japanese element in the plans. "It's an independent team already involved in racing and hoping to enter Formula 1," said Honda Racing's President Yasuhiro Wada, right. "I wish I could tell you more but they are finalising details and I don't expect an announcement is too far away. We will have a contract to supply engines and also technical assistance." That technical assistance will have be considerable because of the timescale involved. It is far too late for a new team to be designing and building new cars, opening factories and hiring new people. The only way that such a move is possible is by using existing (BAR)facilities at Brackley, where there is a second composite department which is currently not being used. The new team could then buy the

12 0ctolier2005

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intellectual property rights to the current BAR chassis, and modify that design to house the new V8 engine. This will be possible as the current team owner, British American Tobacco, will be selling the team to Honda on December 31. The signs are that the team will probably be fronted by former FI driver Aguri Suzuki and we have heard suggestions that the money will be coming from his long-time sponsor Toshiba. In recent years Suzuki has been running a series of teams as part of his ARTA project to promote Japanese drivers. Suzuki currently has teams running in the Indy Racing League

(with Honda), the Japanese GT Championship (with Honda)and Formula Dream (with Honda). The Dome-prepared NSX team in Japanese GT racing is entered by Team Honda Racing and features drivers Daisuke Ito and Ralph Firman. It is sponsored by Autobacs, Honda, Mobil and CocaCola and runs on Bridgestone tyres. It has been suggested that the chief purpose of the team is to find a home for Takuma Sato but it seems more likely that it has come about because of the fact that by 2007, rival Toyota is going to be running two strong FI teams, with Panasonic Toyota being joined in the attack by Williams. -JOESAWARD

Minardi claims its first Pole! POLAND'S Robert Kubica is set to drive the third Minardi at the Japanese and Chinese Grands Prix, if all goes to plan. Kubica currently leads the way in the Renault World Series. The 20-year-old from Kracow drives for the Epsilon Euskadi team, which is run by former FI operations man Joan Villadelprat. Kubica has raced in Formula 3 before he moved to the World Series by Renault this year. n In an effort to increase knowledge and interest in motor racing, the Shanghai International Circuit held a racing car carnival recently as part of a week-long national holiday which is known as 'Golden Week'. The organisers hope that the event will increase interest in the days before the second Chinese Grand Prix. The show included the chance to drive around the Grand Prix track and karting on a recently-opened kart track. n Formula 1 engineers are evaluating an FIA proposal for the ' equivalency formula that will restrict " the power output of 3-litre VI0 engines when they are raced next season against the new, 2.4-litre V8s. The formula under discussion calls for a 77mm diameter air inlet restrictor coupled with a rev-limiter set at 16,700rprm. Some of the VI Os under test at Jerez, Spain, prior to the Japanese Grand Prix were fitted with such devices. n Toyota Motorsport CEO Tsutomu Tomita has confirmed that its Koln, Germany, based Formula 1 team will switch from Michelin to Bridgestone for its tyre supply, starting in 2006. n The BRDC, the owner of Silverstone, is proposing a redevelopment of the British Grand Prix venue, at the awesome cost of £600 million (over $1,4bn). The BRDC has commissioned finance firm KPMG to raise funding that will transform the much-criticised former wartime RAF bomber base into a state-of-the-art, 800-acre complex combining motorsport with business, residential and leisure facilities. The BRDC is willing to lease the land to investors for up to 125 years. n Bernle Ecclestone has recently Invested in a ski resort called Glacier 3000-Les Diablerets, near Gstaad, where he already has property. Ecclestone is one of three partners to have bought the troubled resort for US$3.8m. Glacier 3000 currently caters for 120,000 visitors a year but the plan is to double that number, -SAWARD/SPURRING 11

Bathurst In April And Thei

BATHURST is cool. So is the Goodwood Festival of Speed. So can you imagine what they'd be like if someone combined them? Next April, you'll be able to find out, when a new event is launched at Mount Panorama. Organised by IMG's James O'Brien, the event will attempt to replicate the famous motorsport showcase event at Goodwood. While there might not be as many Formula One and WRC cars as our friends in the UK get, the word is that the new April meeting (which is still to be officially given a name) will

feature an array of cars and bikes, both modern-day and historic, to rival anything previously seen in this country. And it's at Bathurst! There is also talk that a number of national categories may time one of their championship rounds to coincide with the event. MNews understands that both the Historic Touring Cars and Lotus Trophy have investigated the idea, while the door is also open for other exotic series such as the Australian GT Championship to make an appearance. Additonally, the comparatively

relaxed format could open the door for series such as the Lotuses to offer hot laps to fans or sponsors. When was the last time you got to ride around the Mountain at speed? Speaking of Lotuses, the series appears likely to make its first appearance at the Clipsal 500 next year. While the calendar is still yet to be finalised, you can also expect to see the popular one-make series supporting the V8 Supercars at Sandown, Bathurst, Barbagallo, Symmons Plains,.and the Fujitsu V8 Supercar Series round at Wakefield Park.

THE contenders for the Australian round of the World Rally Championship appear to be down to two Canberra and Adelaide. WRC supremo David Richards, who was at Bathurst last weekend to watch his Ford Performance Racing team, said that an announcement regarding the’new hohne of Rally Australia was imminent and may be made this week. MNews has been told that the favoured site for the ^ event is Canberra, but with

Christian’s Homecoming

CHRISTIAN Jones Motorsport is likely to run a one-car Formula 3 team in Australia next year. CJM currently owns three Dallara chassis-two 2001 models and one 2004-spec machine. Depending on circumstances, the team is likely to use the F304 in our domestic championship, while keeping his team based in the Philippines. If these plans come to fruition, Christian will drive the car in Australia. The two F301s are earmarked to stay in Asia to contest the local series. CJM's return to Aussie F3 could be at the next round of the F3 championship, which supports Australia's A1GP round. Christian himself is likely to take the driving duties. Jones, right, contested the 2003 Australian F3 Championship before entering the Asian F3 Series. - GRANT ROWLEY 12

ECreek F3

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THE Australian Formula 3 grid at Eastern Creek next month looks to be getting deeper and deeper,if paddock rumours are anything to go by. Sources suggest that Piccola Scuderia Corse will bring some extra firepower to the A1 GP support round, with 2003 champion Michael Caruso thought to be jumping back into a car for the first time since

motorsport news

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There Were TWo an added wrinkle. Should the national capital get the nod, there will be a Thursday night Super Special under lights in Sydney. The following morning, the teams and cars would assemble in Canberra for the first 'proper' stage. However, there is another version that suggests that the event could be relocated to the Barossa Valley outside

Adelaide. A similar Super Special would be built in the local arena prior to the cars blasting off into the wine country. The event is said to have heavy" support from local f businesses and the. council.

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■ Mygale is rumoured to be building a chassis for the Indy Racing League and has already negotiated itself a place as one of the series's approved chassis, alongside Dallara and Panoz. The French chassis manufacturer has been building racing cars since 1988.

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Caratti SampiBS Atlantics

AARON Caratti has become the latest Australian driver to test a Toyota Atlantic car with the view of joining Team Australia in the revamped Champ Car Atlantic Championship in 2006. Caratti, the clear leader of the 2005 Australian F3 Championship, joins James Davison, Michael Patrizi and Peter Hackett in having tested in the past few weeks. Team Australia had originally planned to unveil its complete 2006 driver line-up at the Lexmark Indy 300 in two weeks time, but MNews understands that the Atlantics team will not be finalised until after the Gold Coast event. Caratti was due to fly to England from the United States to test a Hi-Tech F3 car.

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Spices Up

Mallala in April, above. Word is that the second PSC seat could be filled by Leanne Tander, who also guested with the team at Phillip Island earlier this year. With 2004 series Champion Karl Reindler already confirmed for a comeback with BRM, chances are that some of the current series regulars might be in for a tough weekend ...

12 October 2005

THE Champ Car race due to take place in Korea earlier this month was cancelled because the Koreans are not ready for the event. The race at Ansan was scheduled to take place this weekend but ran into trouble with money not having been paid to Champ Car and the facilities not even close to completion. The plan is to hold a race in Korea early next year but another cancellation would be a blow to Champ Car's ambitions to expand its operations in the Pacific.

■ The Indy Racing League is to lose one of its key management players, Senior Vice President of business affairs Ken Ungar having decided to leave the series. Ungar has been with IRL since 2001 after serving for five years as the chief of staff at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Ungar was number three in the IRL organisation behind Tony George and Brian Barnhart. ■ A.J. Foyt IV, the 21-year-old grandson of A.J. Foyt, will move over to the NASCAR ranks from IRL at Memphis on 22 October 22. Foyt will drive for Akins Motorsports in the Great Clips Dodge formerly driven by Kasey Kahne, wiJi power from Evernham Motorsports. ■ Four of Ford Australia's apprentice program students won the opportunity to be involved with selected blue oval V8 Supercar teams at Bathurst last weekend. Second-year mechanics Ashley Davies (NSW-DJR), Daniel Carr (VicBritek), Brock Velenti (WA-Triple 8) and Reese Hannant (Qld-FPR) learnt the art of crewing with a Supercar team at The Mountain, having topped their classes in their respective states last semester. Ford's apprentice program places young wannabe mechanics, engineers and technicians in Ford dealerships all across Australia. Over 350 people are involved in the unique program, which does most of the theory lessons through Ford's internal satellite television network, FordStar. ■ Quirky Bathurst fact; John Bowe drove car 21 car Bathurst, and it was his 21st time at The Mount. Bowe's team-mate John Cleland steered the #12 machine, and guess what, it was his 12th Bathurst appearance. -SAWARD/CLARK/STAFF 13

World Series Pole Kubica clinches World Series title while Power is luckless WILL Power has endured a tough weekend at the latest round of the World Series by Renault at Estoril two weeks ago. The round saw Poland's Robert Kubica clinch the Championship with one round remaining. From 11th, Power had encouraging start to Race 1, but in avoidance of an accident dropped to 13th. —-s

Stuck behind the ailing car of Fernando Rees for much of the race, Power persevered to eventually gain one point with 10th. Race 2 saw Power begin from seventh, but a pit stop to replace a damaged front wing put Power down to 25th. The young Aussie recovered to finish 12th. "Qualifying stung me this weekend," said Power, who now drops to sixth in the points with one round remaining at Monza - which incidentally, is the same weekend as the Lexmark Indy 300 ...

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Points; Kubica 154, Gommendy 90, Vaiies 89, Winkeihock 88,Zuber 67, Power 64, Porteiro 55.

R8: ALMS Champ THE mighty Audi R8 has again won the American Le Mans Series title, after Frank Biela and Emanuele Pirro's win at the Petit Le Mans two weeks ago at Road Atlanta. The R8 has now won sixconsecutive Petit Le Mans crowns. Pirro and Biela are now assured of the 2005 ALMS title, giving Team ADT an extra trophy to add the Le Mans 24-Hour it earned in June. The R8 will be retired at the completion of this season.

KaptStai AT the Red Bull Formula BMW test at Estoril were Motorsport News KartStars winner Jason Pringle and Junior Blitz Champ Luke Ellery. Both drivers acquitted themselves quite well at the test, having never driven a wings and slicks car before. Ellery made it to the end of the first day, while Pringle, pictured right sampling sponsor's product, completed the full two days, but in the end missed selection. Both drivers won the prize courtesy of Red Bull and Drew Price Engineering for winning their respective karting series. In the lead-up to the test, both drivers tested Borland Racing Spectrums at Winton. For Ellery, it was his first experience driving a manual-gearbox car.

James Davo fifth Bart misses out Mawer falls short in British F3 title hunt

BARTON Mawer has fallen short in his bid to become the British Formula 3 National Class Champion. At the final rounds held last weekend at Silverstone Salvador Duran wrapped up the title in the first race, in which Mawer placed third. Mawer failed to finish the second race. In Championship class, Karl Reindler finished seventh in the opening race and 15th in the second in his Alan Docking Racing Dallara. Charlie Kimball won both races for Carlin Motorsport, while 2005 Champion Alvaro Parents was over in Germany racing for Portugal In the second round of A1 Grand Prix. 14

JAMES Davison has scored a podium at the finai event of the 2005 Formuia BMW USA Championship at the Road Atlanta circuit. Davison, right, gained another podium in the first race, taking third. In the second race Davison encountered an early spin, but was able to recover. As he battled with Robert Wickens for seventh on the final lap, the young Victorian and Wickens made contact, pushing Davison back to 15th. “I’m not satisfied with the results but I am proud of what I have achieved,” said Davison, who will now turn his attention to the Formula BMW World Final in Bahrain in December.

At the event, Davison is likely to drive for Team Meritus, the team for which Perth’s Michael Patrizi currently drives for in the Formula BMW Asia Championship. Patrizi will be aiming to win the FBMW Asia title this weekend, the final round supporting the Chinese F1 GP at Shanghai. motorsport news

J /fdrAntunes in '06 NATHAN Antunes has become the first Australian to be selected as a part of the Red Bull Junior Team of drivers after successfully competing in a two-day evaluation test at Estoril, Portugal. |E-Antunes went straight to the test, conducted in Formula BMW cars, from the final round of the Formula BMW UK Championship, where he has finished the year seventh in the standings. Becoming a part of the Red Bull squad will most likely see the 17-year-old placed in the FBMW ADAC Championship in 2006, although Red Bull also , places youngsters in the Formula Renault Eurocup. Antunes will remain with the Motoworld team for the FBMW World Final in Bahrain in December.

A dream ride at the Island with Dick I lehnsen er lohn Harvey-in a GTHO Falcon or XU-1 Torana respectively. I The nostalgic ride of a lifetime!

8 boys test too I King Nico I I I I 1= Bahrain Internati IS I , motorsport (

NICO Rosberg became the inaugural GP2 Series Champion in emphatic style at the Bahrain International Circuit two weeks ago. Rosberg became the first driver to win pole and both races in a weekend when he and his ART Grand Prix team clean swept the 12th and final round, GP2's one and only stand alone event for the season.

"This is an unbelievably happy moment for me," said Rosberg, son of 1982 FI World Champion Keke. Rosberg led home team mate Alex Premat and title rival Heikki Kovalainen in Race 1. With positions reversed for Race 2, Rosberg was again too good, charging to the lead. Premat had to settle for third behind BCN's Ernesto Viso, while Kovalainen spun. Final Points: Rosberg 120, Kovalainen 105, Scott Speed 67.5. i

Two lucky MNews readers and/or Historic Touring Car spectators - one Holden fan, one Ford fan - will win this superb prize courtesy of series sponsors Biante and MNews. We’ll fly you from interstate to the Grand Finale at Phillip Island, provide n overnight accommodation and track access, and sit you down for the ride of your life - with a legend of Australian motorsport. In a legendary car, at one of the legendary circuits. Wowl Simply fill out the official entry form below (or an entry form available in the ~ AHTCA paddock area at race meetings) and mail it to us prior to any of the " round-by-round entry deadlines. Enter as many times as you like, but only on official entry forms(no photocopies). One entry will be drawn at each entry deadline to win an AHTCA merchandise pack. All entries received throughout the season will go into the barrel for the final draw for the two major prizes.

n The ride of your life! Venue Barbagallo(WA) Eastern Creek(NSW) Mallala (SA) Bathurst(NSW) Eastern Creek(NSW) Phillip Island

Interim prize closing date June 30 Major Prize July 29 entry Sep 22 Oct 20 closing date Nov 10 November 10

●Ford & Holden pictured above for illustration purposes only

Mail this form, including the BIANTE Model Cars logo, to Motorsport News BIANTE AHTCA Competition, PO Box 7072, Brighton, VIC 3186 by the interim prize closing date (above) Name ■ M Address Email Phone I am a FORD / HOLDEN fan (circle your favourite brandl)

■30 September

IFull competition entry terms and conditions on the Motorsport News website, www.mnews.com.au. Winners will be notified by phone/mail/emaill. For more information on Historic Touring Car Racing, check out the website www.historictouringcars.com.au

12 October 2005

Date Mays July 10 Aug 21 Oct 9 Oct 30 Nov 27

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Ladajoins WTCC as Alfa halves program LADA Avtovaz will enter a factory team in the 2007 FIA World Touring Car Championship. Russia's biggest automobile manufacturer confirmed its entry this week ahead of an official launch on November 3 during the Moscow Sport Motor Tuning show. "Our objective is to improve our brand image in all the European and other export markets," said Lada president Vitaly Vilchik. "Lada has a 35-year tradition in motorsport, mostly in the home market and not visible to international audiences. That will now change and our three-year commitment to the WTCC will allow Lada to promote this campaign aggressively." In collaboration with an expanded motorsport division of the Lada factory, the cars will be prepared and operated by MTEC Sport. Tl'ie new WTCC team will spend 2006(Lada's 40tli anniversaiy' year)in tesbng and

development and w'ill start racing cars based on the new Priora model in 2007. MEANWHILE,Alfa Romeo is still uncommitted to an ongoing programme in the FIA World Touring Car Championship but a positive decision looks more likely as time goes on. Motorsport director Matilde Tomagnini rated the chances 50-50 a month ago but last week put it at 8020 in favour of a reduced, two-car programme with a car based on the new 159 model. The drivers can be expected to be Fabrizio Giovanardi and Augusto Farfus, leaving James Thompson and Gabriele Tarquini without drives for 2006. Alfa Romeo is looking at reducing its costs by basing the WTCC inhouse at Maserati Corse, rather than the current arrangement at the external N-Technology facility. -QUENTIN SPURRING

:M#ifdarama Nealseals BTCC title at Brands Hatch

MATT Neal has been crowned the 2005 British Touring Car Champion at the series final at Brands Hatch. The 38-year-old secured the title with third place in the second of three races, earning him his first title and making Team Halfords the first independent team to win the BTCC since 1991. It's an emotional moment, said Neal.

"It's fabulous. Everybody involved with backing this team has won today." Neal's Halfords Honda Integra team-mate Dan Eaves won Race 1, Jason Plato won Race 2 in his Seat Cupra, while Rob Collard ended MG's tough season on a high with a win in Race 3. Final Points:. Neal 316, Yvan Muller 273, Eaves 269, Plato 208, Tom Chilton 175, Colin Turkington 174.

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motorsport news

Advantage Paffett GARY Paffett led home a Mercedes quartet at the penultimate round of the DIM Championship at the Istanbul Otodrom two weeks ago. The win has given Paffett a firm grip on the title won last year by Audi's Mattias Ekstrom, who endured a disastrous race to surrender his points lead. "This was a perfect weekend and a major step on the way to the title," said Paffett, who was followed home at the wet Otodrom by Mika Hakkinen, Bernd Schneider and Jamie Green in a formation finish. Audi's Tom Kristensen was next home in fifth and the Opel of

Laurent Aiello sixth. While Paffett controlled the race, Ekstrom endured his first non-points finish since Donington in 2003 as a result of a collision with Green on the opening lap while battling

for third. The subsequent excursion sent Ekstrom to last place and the damage incurred meant his A4 lacked the pace to bridge the gap. Points: Paffett 78, Ekstrom 69, Kristensen 51, Hakkinen 30, Alesi 22.

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New World Beater JORDI Gene gained his and the Seat Leon's debut win at the penultimate round of the World Touring Car Championship held two weeks ago at Valencia. "This is the happiest day of my life," said Gene."The first race was amazing but it actually felt longer than a 24 hour endurance race because I was so nervous ... the car is fantastic and for it to win a race on just its third outing is great." Gene won Race 2, while Jorg Muller dominated Race 1 in his BMW.Entering the final round on the streets of Macau, Dirk Muller leads fellow BMW driver and 2004 European Champ Andy Priaulx by a solitary point, with the Alfa Romeo of Fabrizio Giovanardi also in contention.

Gene and Seat Cupra get debut WTCC wins on home soil

Points: D. Muller 86, Priaulx 85, Giovanardi 81, J. Muller 59, Tarquini 55, Thompson 51, Garcia 51, Rydell 49.

Goodyear Blue Streak Vintage Racing Tyres Extensive range in stock. Historic patterns & siicks. Original tyre molds, compounds & constructions used. Suit mid 60s to the early 1980s vehicles. I t‘

Facelift for La Sarthe OVER 230,000 people attended this year's Le Mans 24 Hours but, in anticipation of an upturn led by the return of Peugeot and Porsche factory teams, the AGO and its partners have embarked on a twoyear upgrade programme for their historic Circuit de la Sarthe in north west France. In time for next year’s race, the Dunlop Curve (the first turn) and Tertre Rouge (the entry to the Mulsanne Straight), will be modified, and there will be a new paddock overlooked by a large balcony incorporating a restaurant. A new VIP club will be built, and another new restaurant overlooking the Dunlop Curve, Before June 2007, the pit-lane will be extended to accommodate 55 cars. n There was testing action at Paul Ricard and Jerez before the race in Japan, with Ferrari on its own in France for four days, during which Marc Gene and Michael Schumacher each did two days of running. At Jerez Williams ran for two days with Mark Webber and Antonio Pizzonia being joined by Nico Rosberg and Sebastian Vettel, who last year won the Formula BMW ADAC Championship in Germany. McLaren ran Pedro de la Rosa and Alexander Wurz, BAR had Anthony Davidson, James Rossiter and Tony Kanaan; Toyota fielded Ralf Schumacher, Jarno Trulli and Ricardo Zonta, while Renault ran Franck Montagny and new boy Lucas de Grassi. Red Bull Racing was also busy with David Coulthard, Christian Klien and Tonio Liuzzi all in action. - SPURRING/SAWARD

Improved Production Racing Association of Australia Tyre Supply Requirements State t& Club Race Meetings 2006 The Improved Production Racing Association of Australia (IPRAA) invites tenders for the national supply of tyres for all state championship and club level 2006 events (and other years as appropriate). This covers an approximate total of 40 rounds.

Proposals from suppliers in accordance with the tender requirements are to be submitted to the IPRAA by COB November 4 2005.

VWLL

Ph:08 8362 4417 Fax:08 83628811 racing@nttyres.com.au 12 October 2005

Please contact the IPRAA National Administrator for tender documents and submission details on 0419 403 155 17

NEWS

Film nuts NASCAR continues to lead the way with its involvement with movie projects. Following an involvement in the recent Herbie movie, NASCAR is now in the process of helping Will Ferrell shoot a new comedy movie to be called 'High, Wide and Handsome', a send-up of the sport and its fans. Ferrell, known for work on Saturday Night Live, will play the lead role and it seems will look a lot like Dale Earnhardt Jr. In the script his dominance will be challenged by a French Formula 1 star played by Sacha Baron Cohen of Da AN G Show. The NASCAR scene threw itself into the task with enthusiasm last weekend with cars bearing sponsorship messages for some weird and wonderful invented companies, including 'Julio's Thongs for Men'. n Richard Childress's engine department is reported to have found considerably more power from its Chevrolet engines in recent weeks with stories of a gain of as much as 35 horsepower. The gain in performance is largely down to the arrival of Nick Hayes, the former FI engine designer who left Cosworth last year after a decade as the chief designer of FI engines. - JOE SAWARD

Masters Emerge

Former Bathurst greats confirmed for Muscle Car Masters MANY of the big name cars and drivers who took on Bathurst in the 60s,70s and 80s are heading to Eastern Creek on Sunday October 30 for the inaugural Australian Muscle Car Masters. Nostalgia fans can rub shoulders with some of the biggest names in Aussie Muscle Car racing history. The

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cast of Bathurst winners attending includes Peter Brock, Allan Moffat, Bob Jane,John Goss, Colin Bond, Fred Gibson, Kevin Bartlett, John French, Harry Firth and Barry Seton. Some will be reunited with their famous cars. Moffat will be back with his Coca Cola Mustang,Jane is turning up with the orange Chevy Camaro and Bartlett has rebuilt the Camaro he rolled at Batliurst, Otlier star and car combos include Bob Morris/Ron

Hodgson Torana,John Goss/Falcon and Jaguar, while Leo Geoghegan will get to check out a replica of his Valiant Charger. On track race action includes the final round of the Biante Australian Historic Touring Car Championship, while hot lap sessions are planned for owners of classic touring cars that are too valuable to race. Off track, 300 road cars have registered for a show 'n'shine.

Beaclisports

EXPRESSION OF INTEREST

THE Grand American Road Racing Association will add three new events to its 2006 calendar, including the recentlyannounced race at Long Beach. Apart from the 90-minute race around the streets of the LA city, the highlight of the 15-round series looks to be the final round at the Miller Motorsports Park for a nine-hour race that will end in darkness.

The Globalstar Australian Rally Championship is calling for Expressions of Interest for FIA Control Fuel Supplier for the Championship Series for 2006-2008.

Eligibility:

OBJECTIVES:

"We sincerely believe this is the best schedule of events m the six year history of the Grand American Rolex Sports Car Series," Roger Edmondson, President of Grand American."It is safe to say that this calendar offers something for everyone from legendary and new endurance races to our familiar sprint races and our street racing debut at the historic Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach."

The series will start with the traditional Daytona 24 Hour at the end of January.

Any recognised and duly authorised supplier of automotive fuel who demonstrates full compliance with the objectives, specification and requirements will be considered.

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To provide to the competitors in the GARC, a fuel of excellent consistency and quality, compliant with FIA regulations, available and deliverable when and where reasonably required by competitors. To provide a fuel which meets or exceeds community environmental and safety standards. To deliver the selected fuel to competitors at an acceptable cost.

To receive an Expression of Interest brief, please contact Brett Craft at IMG by email - bcraft@imgworld.com - by 5pm 21 October 2005.

- PHIL MORRIS

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Iflist you thestars major attractions at the Car Masters any better, just take a look the ot thought legendary who’ll be joining usAMC on theMuscle big day. Don’t misscouldn’t a uniqueget chance to tub-shb'urders with at some ot the biggest names in Aussie muscle car racing history - all on the same star-studded day at The Creek!

ALLAN MOFFAT PETER BROCK BOB JANE HARRY FIRTH

COLIN BOND BOB MORRIS LEO GEOGHEGAN JOHN GOSS

KEVIN BARTLETT FRED GIBSON JOHN HARVEY JOHN FRENCH

GROUP C TOURING CAR INVASION!

I All ticket sales direct from Eastern Creek Raceway 96721000 www.eastern-creek-raceway.com or at the gate. I 02 Adults:$30 I Students/concessions:$15 12 and under; Free! Grandstand: Free! I Kids Competitors paddock; Free! Trackside parking: Free!

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JIM HUNTER JOHN SHEPPARD CHRISTINE GIBSON BOB SKELTON

AMC MASTERS TO HOST HISTORIC TOURER GRAND FINAL! v Following a late calendar revision, the final round of the Biante Model Cars Historic Touring Car Series will now be held at the AMC Masters. Although originally scheduled to run.as.a support event for the V8 Supercar Championship Series closer at Phillip Island on November 27, the Biante boys will now take centre stage at Eastern Creek on October 30 for their thrilling series decider. So get ready for some red hot Historic muscle car warfare at The Creek.

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Lapierre drives to an impressive double win in A1 Grand Prix as Brazil crashes and Australia struggles

RAIMCE has jumped to within a point of the lead in the A1 Grand Prix series after Nicholas Lapierre put in a commanding performance last weekend in Round 2 at the Lausitzring in Germany. Team-mate Alex Premat impressed with his speed at Brands Hatch, but on this weekend, A1 Team France had the luck as well as the speed, taking pole position and winning both the Sprint and Feature race. "After the start to get away from Brazil and Switzerland, I used the PowerBoost button," said Lapierre. "The team then did a fantastic job with the pitstop and with a new set of tyres I was able to really push." Neel Jani was second to Lapierre in the Sprint race for Switzerland, the former Sauber FI test driver holding out Round 1 winner Nelson Piquet Jr and New Zealand's Jonny Reid. The Feature race was largely decided by which teams were able to affect their pit stops problem-free. Many teams encountered problems with the

wheel nuts on the still relatively new cars, giving the second half of the Feature race an interesting twist as fast cars were forced to make up lost ground. This situation caught out Piquet, who was launched into the air at the first corner when pushed wide by Japan's Hideki Noda. Noda tried to squeeze the advancing Brazilian, only to nudge him into the Czech Republic's Tomas Enge. Piquet was out on the spot. Jani was another to lose time at his stop, handing Great Britain's Robbie Kerr second place in the Feature. Kerr drove brilliantly to reach the podium, as Le A-Team: Lapierre, below, has given France a problem - two very fast drivers. Neel Jani proved quick for Switzerland, right. Alex Yoong made a remarkable start in the Feature, diving inside Round 1 winner Nelson Piquet Jr. Christian Jones, bottom, found the going tough in the absence of Will Power, never threatening the front.

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n German Soil

At CRANO PRIX Al Grand Prix Lausitz, Germany Feature

PQS j Country [ Driver

France

2 Great Britain 3 Canada 4 5 6 7 8

New Zealand Switzerland Ireland Netherlands Indonesia

what where I would end up." With the late withdrawal of Will Power, see news pages, driving duties were entrusted to Christian Jones, who struggled to reach the pace of the front runners. Jones qualified 22nd, finished the Sprint race 15th and the Feature 16th. If Power was the find of Round 1, Canadian Sean McIntosh was the find of the German round. The 20-year-old, who has run in the British Formula Renault

Who needs Tracy? Young Sean McIntosh was impressive with thrid for Canada in the feature, holding out NZ's Jonny Reid. Championship this year, was a solid seventh in the Sprint race, but shone in the longer feature. McIntosh claimed third, holding out the fast-approaching Jonny Reid - who was one of several held up in the pits - for the final laps to give Canada its first Al podium.

Nicolas Lapierre Robbie Kerr Sean McIntosh JonnyReid Neel jani Ralph Firman

10 Germany 11 Portugal 12 Pakistan 13 Mexico 14 Australia 15 Austria

ios Verstappen Ananda Mikola Hideki Noda Timo Scheider Alvaro Parente Adam Khan David Martinez Christian Jones Mathias Lauda

16 Malaysia 17 China 18 Lebanon

Alex Yoong Tengyi Jiang KhalilBeschhir

9 Japan

he had started the Feature from the rear of the grid as a result of he and Team USA's Scott Speed colliding at the first corner, both retiring from the race. "The first and second race were a contrast," said Kerr. "I came together with USA in the first race but the second race more than made up for it. 1 drove 100 percent and had no time to rest and overtook a lot of cars on the first lap. I had an early pit stop and pushed very hard afterwards not knowing

35 LAPS

19 Czech Republic Tomas Enge 20 Brazil Nelson Piquet Jr 21 India Karun Chandhok 22 South Africa Tomas Scheckter Enrico Toccacelo 23 Italy 24 USA ScooSpeed l Al Team Russia did not attend Round 2

I Race Time 58:45.700 58149*406 58:51.158* '*58:51.674 58:52.771 5^53.781 58:55.322 59:02.406 59:01044 59:07560 59:10.440 59:10.966 59:14.878 59:16.590 59:11832 59:31.081 1:00:03.141 I 33 laps I 27 laps S 26 laps I 19 laps ^ 15 laps V 11 laps -

GP POINTS

Brazil 30, France 29. New Zealand 29. Switzerland 17, Australia 16. Mexico 16. Great Britain 15, Canada 14. Malaysia 11, Germany 8. Ireland 8. Netherlands 8. Japan 6. South Africa 5, Pakistan 4. Indonesia 3. Portugal 3.

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12 October 2005

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The Kentucky Derby Hendrick Shock(s) MARK Martin led the most laps to end a 52 race winless streak with a

victory at the Kentucky Speedway last Sunday. Roush dominated a lacklustre event, claiming the top three positions as Martin held off Greg Biffle for the win. Carl Edwards finished third ahead of points leader Tony Stewart, with early leader Matt Kenseth the fourth Roush driver in the top five. "This team made a winner out of an old man today," said Martin."I always say, you get me the lead with fresh tyres with the end in sight and you won't get a fight tike you'll get from me." "I'll finish second to Mark Martin any day of the week," said Biffle."He drove his butt off out there."

Quick Kinser KRAIG Kinser, 20,son of soon to be 20-time World of Outlaw sprint car Champ Steve, won his first ARCA Series race at Talladega two weeks ago in just his second start for MB2 Motorsports.

The win moved Martin moved up two slots in the title chase after an early wreck the previous week at Talladega cost him dearly. Stewart threw an alternator belt before halfway and then suffered a

cooked battery,forcing a switch to a back-up. Nevertheless, he continues to hold the points lead after what could have been a disastrous day. Rusty Wallace fought back from a broken jack and still managed a seventh placing, but with six other Chase contenders rurming in front of him he slipped a position in the points to fourth behind his Penske team-mate Ryan Newman and Biffle. Newman started at the rear of the

field when his quarter panel height failed to meet the height requirements. The team made adjustments, but was forced to the rear and eventually finished 23rd. - MARTIN D CLARK Final result: Martin (Ford), Biffle (Ford), Edwards (Ford), Stewart(Chevy), Kenseth (Ford),Johnson (Chevy), R Wallace (Dodge), Mears(Dodge), Rudd (Ford), J Gordon (Chevy). Point standings: Stewart 5684, Newman 5609, Biffle 5596, Wallace 5594,Johnson 5592, Edwards 5589, Martin 5571, Kenseth 5568, Mayfield 5527, Busch 5460.

Kinser, above, was penalised halfway through the event for a pit road infraction and sent to the rear of the field, but hit the front again within 10 laps. - MARTIN D CLARK

VETERAN Dale Jarrett survived a wreck-fest at Talladega two weeks ago, ending a 98-race winless streak and giving Ford its first win at the 2.6 mile Speedway since Jarrett's last win there in 1998. Jarrett beat out Tony Stewart, who led the most laps, for the win with an outside move after a late race caution caused a two-lap shoot-out over two extra laps, and then a Kyle Petty wreck to end the race under yellows. Jarrett's win comes on the back of a reshuffle at Robert Yates Racing that saw him reunited with crew chief Todd Parrott just one race earlier. After qualifying second alongside team-mate Elliott Sadler, Jarrett hung

12 October 2005

^ Martin P Clarit

toward the rear of the field for most of the day, avoiding two major wrecks on the front stretch tri-oval.

Also involved in the first wreck was Dale Earnhardt Jr., Michael Waltrip(who rolled multiple times) and Chase contender Mark Martin. The second incident occurred

The first restrictor plate 'big one' occurred early. "The #48 car 0immie Johnson)just completely lifted my back tyres off the ground," said Sadler. "I'm not sure where he was going. I don't understand at lap 18 why we're racing this way. We have three pedals in the race cars for a reason. "We can blame this on restrictor

when Ryan Newman bump drafted the rear of Casey Mears,damaging the cars of Greg Biffle, Rusty Wallace, Jeff Burton,Johnson and Gordon, while Scott Riggs went for a wild barrel-roll. Thankfully, all emerged unscathed. - MARTIN D CLARK

plate racing, but when you completely run over somebody it has nothing to do with restrictor plates. The brake pedal is there to be used. That was really stupid, what he did."

Final result; Jarrett(Ford), Stewart(Chevy), Kenseth (Ford), Newman (Dodge), Edwards (Ford), Vickers (Chevy), Marlin (Dodge), Kurt Busch (Ford), Nemechek (Chevy), Harvick (Chevy).

THE Hendrick pairing of Jimmie Johnson and Kyle Busch, who finished one-two at Dover took a while for their cars to pass post race inspection as the shocks had to settle. The team had found a way to make the shock work in reverse and effectively hold the rear of the race car in the air, creating more downforce on the rear spoiler. The team was not penalised as no illegal parts were used, but. NASCAR issued a technical bulletin at Talladega after seizing the shocks when the two cars in question took time to settle before meeting the minimum height requirements. The bulletin outlines the amount of gas pressure that can be used in the shocks and the size of the gas holding area.

n Pikes Peak Raceway has been sold to International Speedway Corporation, a division of NASCAR, and will be leveled after equipment from the track has been moved to other ISC-owned facilities. The track's 1200 acres will then be sold. The one-mile flat oval built in 1996 was used for Busch, IRL, IMSA and USAC races. ISC will apparently lobby NASCAR to move the sole Busch Series date to Martinsville a track ISC purchased in 2004. n In a surprise move, Michael Waltrip's 25 point penalty and $10,000 fine given by NASCAR for a one finger signal during the New Hampshire race has been quashed by the National Stock Car Racing Commission under the appeal of DEI and Waltrip. The Commission reviewed the broadcast footage numerous times and different Commission members saw different things. Two of the three members found the footage inconclusive. n NASCAR disallowed Kevin Harvick's Talladega qualifying time, which would have seen him starting from second, after rules violations were found in the rear of the RCR Chev after qualifying. Harvick's crew chief Todd Berrier was asked by NASCAR to leave the track, fined $10,000, suspended until October 19 and placed on probation until the end of the year. Harvick's car was found to have no fuel vent tube exiting the rear panel of the car and the rear shock absorber access panels in the trunk were open, thus allowing air to flow inside the trunk to help keep the rear of the car low something of benefit at restrictor plate tracks. Berrier was suspended for four races in March at Las Vegas when he was found to have a changed the fuel vent hose. - MARTIN D CLARK 23

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motorsport news

How did that

one get away? G iven that the car had been the fastest all week and looking at the way Craig Lowndes was finessing his way forward from the pack on Sunday, I must say that I didn't expect anything to jump up and bite him. I thought this was it - a Ford win. But like me, Craig Lowndes probably woke up on Monday morning still wondering how it got away. He'd come off a brilliant Sandown and, as far as I could see, was destined to do well at Bathurst if they pretty much took it home and polished it which of course they don't anyway, but you know what I mean. He drove the hardest qualifying lap of all and, when he pulled away to that early 8 second lead from Marcos, he was in what is usually his best mode - controlling a race. But, as we all know, Bathurst is a place that can just bite you ... and it bit Craig - along with another four or five drivers who, shall we say, exhibited a certain lack of driving finesse so early in such a long race. Among them, James Courtney joins a long and increasing list of

12 October 2005

internationally-based and experienced drivers who don't give the place the respect it deserves. You know ... it's just a race track, it can't be that difficult. They don't understand what an animal the track can be ... In Craig's case, things went from bad to worse - he has the strength of a modern safety cage to thank for the fact that he doesn't have one big headache.

race driver's briefing? Regardless, making it an issue on Sunday was not what I would call serving the sport well. I can understand the steam I saw coming from under Marcos' helmet... (Of course,for those with a long memory, I remember a 'gentleman's agreement' relating to roller rockers that went out the window once we got to a serious race meeting ...). The Ambrose/Murph shunt

As we all know,Bathurst is a place that can just hite rr you... and it hit Craig - Moffat reinforces the respect Bathurst demands

guess Ross and Jimmy Stone will be wondering what they have to do to get another win up there. On this occasion it all started to go downhill long before the big Ambrose/Murph shunt, with the 'balaclava' incident. If what Marcos said was true that there has been some sort of gentleman's agreement about it - then it's doubly outrageous that officials should choose Sunday afternoon of our biggest race to make it an issue. If it was that important, why wouldn't you emphasise it at the pre-

itself - apart from the fact that the Falcon came close to going over the wall - is hard to analyse from the TV images we got, but at the end of the day I think they'll both have woken up the next day, looked in the mirror and asked "how the hell did that happen ..." So, it and, was Skaifey andlook Todd's day when you back at it, the signs were there early that they would play a major part in the final result. Even though the team was still getting some things, like

Motor Mouth with Allan Moffat tyre pressures, right early on, I noted that Mark was twowheeling through McPhillamy on Lap 21 - he was pushing hard even then. They also got through to Lap 31, 1 think, before their first stop, which set them up for a potential 4stopper and good long-term strategy options. They took the lead,from Murph and Ingall on Lap 70 and on Lap 97 Mark set the car's fastest lap of the race. Basically, it was all coming together better and better as the race went on. Despite the late Safety Cars, I think he had everyone covered. The only downside I could see was poor old Todd's thoughts on an uncomfortable seat. You'd think they'd make sure the guy was comfortablel Anyway, excellent work HRT. Despite the fact that the car wasn't going to catch Skaife over those last 10 laps, I was delighted for Ron Harrop and the Dodo Racing guys. It just shows all those young guys out there what a team that doesn't have anything like the budget of some of its rivals can do if they make some smart decisions and approach the whole business logically. Great effort. 25

Five minutes with

amm

RussellIngall

He may have finisheti 'eniy'fifth at Bathurstfast Suntiay, hut The Bitorcer is now nanrowiy ieading Hie V8 Sufiercar Championship. PHiL BRANAGAIV nahheU him for a chat after Hie race MOTORSPORT NEWS: Is leading the championship a good end to a less-than-great day? RUSSELL INGALL: Not really. It is good to lead the Championship, but it is not a good way to do it.The race, the circumstances with Marcos [Ambrose], he was pretty hard done-by. I would rather do it by sitting up there on the podium, which we should have been. MN: Everybody always says that they focus on Sunday but you, visibly, did. Rl: Absolutely. We were in good shape but we struck a few problems on the way through. Things always get in the way at Bathurst, which is why we ended up in the position we were in. We are actually pretty surprised to finish up in the position that we did. We made about 48 pit stops and we still finished fifth, which just shows how bad the others were going. MN: Is a day like today more taxing that if it had been a flatout sprint for six hours? Rl: It is taxing, not so much with the driving but more not knowing where things are starting to fall. The strategies and doing the right things at the right time like choosing when to pit, when to put what tyres on, all the rest of that - it really wears you down. The racing side of it is something else; it is hard and fast out there, it is not the cruise-along Bathurst of the old days all the way through. In dodging other people's accidents, the rain, all the variables that go along with a race like this one, that is what wears you down. MN: Were your expectations at the start of the day nothing less than a win? 28

Rl; We thought we were going to win it, yes. At the very least, we thought that we would stand up on the podium, going on what I have seen over the last couple of years at Bathurst. We have had pretty average cars in the last two years. Both Ross and Jimmy [Stone] have squarely admitted that. We were going through tyres as fast as we were going through fuel and we have rectified that problem. Last year, we finished fourth or fifth and we made four more stops than anyone else. We thought, "Gee, if we fix that, and make only four stops, we are going to romp this in". And we probably should have. It is disappointing. We knew the tyre problem was licked and the rest of it was going to be reasonably easy. The co-drivers stayed out of trouble, we stayed out of trouble. MN:Talk us through two things; first, the visibility problem.

Rl; That was one of those stupid little Bathurst things that happens. I made a decision to try to clean the windscreen and it didn't work. That cost us an extra pit stop, and that cost us a podium. It is as simple as that. We had enough car speed to ... maybe not win it in the end. Hang on, we probably did. MN: Also,the brake rotor change when the Safety Car was out? Rl: That was the other problem we had. Whether it was a dud set of pads, or something else was wrong with the pads, we don't know. We did our mandatory pad change and both Luke [Youlden] and I had the pedal going to the floor. So that was a problem that we had, anyway. Luke did really well to battle through his two stints with the pedal close to the metal, so we decided to change both pads and rotors.

Those two things would have kept us from winning the race, but we still would have been on the podium. MN: Does leading the championship,even by a handful of points, change anything for the last three rounds? Rl: There is a lot of pressure on now. It is a true fight. It would be nice to have a lead of 100 points to cruise the last three rounds but that it not going to happen! It is going to be an interesting few races. MN: Have you given any thought about, if you get the right to choose, whether you would like to run #9 or #1 next year? Rl: One! Of course! MN: But some people keep 'their' number when they win a championship. Rl: They do. But you know me, I am a show-off. motorsportnews

Five minutes with

Chnis Atkinson

M every reokie manages to score a potllum in their first year m the WRC, hut SWUT's Aussie Chris Atkinson lihijust that at Raiiy Japan. MARK EimDEnamG got him out of hen on a Sunhay morning to taik ahout it MOTORSPORT NEWS: You said at the start of the season that you weren't expecting podiums this year, so did you take yourself by surprise in Japan? CHRIS ATKINSON; Yeah, a little bit. I guess the thing is that we were still on for fourth, and we were quite happy with that on the Sunday morning. So to get a podium in the end just shows what sort of sport rallying is, and why you've always got to be in there and trying. It was a bit unlucky for Better [Solbergl, but we've also had our share of bad luck this year. MN: At the end of the rally, all of the guys around you had won championships ... CA; Yeah, it's a pretty strange feeling to be on the podium next to those two guys. They are both multiple world champions now, so it was a strange feeling ... a little bit surreal. And I don't think it has even sunk in yet. 1 just haven't had time to think about it. It’s something that you hoped would happen one day, and it has happened already. And that's quite strange. MN: It sounds like it has almost happened ahead of schedule for you, like this wasn't really in the plan. CA: You'll always take these things, but ... not too many people have got podiums in their first year, and it's quite a tough competition this year. We didn't want to put too much pressure on ourselves in our first year. MN: Third place must be pretty gratifying, but there's also how you did it - the way you came out of the gate on the first day was incredible. CA: Yeah, it was cool. To set some quick times on the first and last day and just consolidate 30

we're right on the limit, and wrecking cars, or throwing cars off the road. We're just finding our way. The mistake in GB was a mistake that people in British rallying would probably make quite early in their career. But we'd never driven there before, and we were trying to run in the top five in a championship round. And that sort of puts you in the situation where you are liable to make that sort of mistake.

on the middle day and make sure we got through - I thought we played a pretty good tactic. That was the strategy I was looking at from the start, anyway, it all went a bit to plan, which is a nice feeling.

the event before gave you that little bit more confidence. I think people have been underestimating how tough it is to go and do events for the first time, and also try to get a top result, like we've been trying for.

MN: Is there a change of mindset when you are leading a round of the WRC, or do you try not to think about that when you are in the car and just concentrate on the road ahead? CA: I guess you're thinking that it would be nice to be able to continue like that. But we were helped a little bit by our road position on the first day. Then again, we were hurt in the afternoon of the first day by our road position. We knew we had an advantage there, and we had to make the most of it. And that's what we tried to do.

MN: What kind of people? Are you talking about the media in Europe, or just people outside the sport in general? CA; Just generally, I think. The fact that we made some mistakes and have had some problems in rallies has a lot to do with our experience level, I guess. Rallying is probably one of the sports that relies most on experience. Most of these guys have done the events a lot of times, and the fact that ... OK, we haven't led a rally before, but we’ve set some good times on other rallies. And 1 think that was not bad, considering that he hadn't done the rallies before.

MN: So how did it all come together last weekend? Was the result something that you had been building up to, or was it just one of those weekends where everything fell into place? CA: That was the frustrating thing - it could have happened on a number of other events. 1 guess the experience of doing

MN: You said that you've had a couple of dramas this year, but it's not like you've been turning cars into balls. At Rally GB,the car was fine - it was just stuck in a ditch. CA: Yeah, that's quite frustrating. And it's been like that a couple of times, with not much damage at all. It's frustrating. It's not like

MN: So is there a release of pressure now that you've got that result? I don't know whether you felt that you needed to prove anything to yourself, but do you feel like you have proved something to other people? CA: Personally, I was quite happy with where I was leading into Japan. 1 don't know what other people saw, but I thought I'd shown that I had potential for the future, and I had the speed, and now I just needed a little bit of time. Japan just consolidated those feelings. MN: So you'd be optimistic about next year, and having the chance to attack the same roads with a bit of experience under your belt... CA: Yeah. I'll be looking forward to doing events for a second time, and hopefully getting some more good results. MN: In that context, given that you are presumably in the midst of discussions for next year, does the Japan result come at an especially handy time? CA: I think a result like this at any time helps you. It is a good time to have it, but like I said before, I was also happy with how I'd been going up until now. So I don't know how much it changes things.

motorsDonnews

BATHURST 1 I

Dirk KlyTttmHb

12«iailier?B8S

GMRYtiS MOTOR8PORT TYRES

GIVES YOU THE EDGE

In The words Mark SkaifB/Tadd KGlIy QUESTION: Congratulations on a great win. How do you feel? TODD KELLY: It was unbelievable. When you get up there and look out, after all we have been through over the last two years, you cannot explain it. MARK SKAIFE: If I am going to win a round, I want to win this one! To have won five Bathursts now and for Holden to have won seven in a row is pretty special. Q: How difficult was it? Were there times when you were struggling for speed? MS: No. We were being fairly conservative. Greg [Murphy] passed me and Steve [Richards] did [too], so I did not fight that. As Todd said, we tuned the car this weekend to get better and stronger. I did a 2m08.6s in the third stint.

IIN36+I

Q: The battle with Jason Richards, were you surprised by the speed of the Dodo entry? MS: Not really. He was in the top 10 [in qualifying] and that was a very good effort. He has driven well today, I came up on him and he had used the rear tyres a bit, but I still had to sneak past. Q: One of the pit stops did not go to plan, did we see you go into the wrong pit? MS: There was place with red uniforms two bays down. I felt like bit of a dickhead when I did that! I was buggering around, getting the belts right, I pulled the radio lead out and was resetting the fuel pressure switch and I looked up and pulled in. And no-one changed the tyres!

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motorsport news

BATHURST 1000

Of The Conqueraps

QUESTION: Third place Steve Ellery, your third third-placing at Bathurst.

STEVE ELLERY: I am getting pretty used to them! Any step of the podium at Bathurst is special and I am happy to have been here three times. We came close today, we set ourselves up for that final stint and we were 1-2-3 behind the Safety Car but during Adam's stint, we had a gearbox problem. It was jumping out of second and sixth gear and we had to hold it in gears. It took a lot of effort and that was why we could not have a go at the two cars in front of us. We are very happy and Adam did a terrific job. Just to finish this race is tough. This was a tough weekend for me, I was not well on Thursday and Friday and I was getting a bit of a belting from my team-mate. Qualifying was not what we wanted so we knew we needed a good start, and we did. We were the team's backup plan and we came close to winning it.

Jason Rictianis/ Jamie Whincup QUESTION: I think that the next team must be about the happiest here, congratulations to Jason Richards on your best-ever result at Bathurst and in the championship. JASON RICHARDS: It's amazing, isn't it? We were the underdogs and the battlers and it was an amazing experience to be leading the Bathurst 1000 in the last stint. This man here [Jamie Whincup] gave it to me and I pulled out in the lead! The team has done an amazing job, we have sneaked up on the championship. The growing pains are going and I'm enjoying the taste of champagne, by the way. Q: To walk away from that horrendous crash in Queensland to be third and second in the two endurance races is pretty special. JR: It is. Sandown was an amazing achievement. Success promotes success. The guys have had the taste of the champagne that we gave to them - I went out and bought 30 bottles in the week after Sandown. I am probably going to have to do it again!

Q: This your eighth time here Adam,and your first finish. This must be very special. ADAM MACROW: Not a bad way to start finishing at Bathurst, on the podium. It has been a bit frustrating through the years since 1998. Today I was with one of the best teams and with one of the nicest persons, the guy next to me [Ellery]. I have been doing the HPDC with Howard Racing, I have been on the front row there every race but one and we have had two strong finishes at Sandown and Bathurst. Roland [Dane] and everyone put a lot of faith in me and I have shown I can do the job.

Third Place Steve Ellery/Adam lyiaomw

Q: The strategy worked as planned? JR: Picture perfect. We had a plan and we stuck to that plan. It was a great effort. The shoot-out lap was pretty challenging and the car did not have a mark on it, apart from one of the old Fords giving me a hit up the bum. We really put our best foot forward, but Skaifey and the Holden Racing Team were too quick for us. Q: Jamie, did you imagine you would finish on the podium when you started out this morning? JAMIE WHINCUP: Not at all. It is a dream come true. Not long ago, I was looking at different careers and it was pretty tough. There were not many spots available in the championship. To be on the podium 12 months later is a good feeling. Q: How did you feel at the start? It was pretty racy there for a while. JW: It was good fun. There's 161 laps but it was like a sprint round, there were cars going everywhere for a while there! There was a lot of pace and I put my head down. I could not help myself but to push pretty hard! It was faultless ail day. 12 October 2005

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FTER weeks of anticipation, predictions and hype,34 V8 Supercars finally rolled onto Mountain Straight to have their first look at the circuit on Thursday morning, and when the two hour session was over most of the teams had some idea of what kind of weekend lay ahead of them. Four support categories had already been out to lay some rubber down before the Supercars made their first appearance, but even so there were a few raised eyebrows when Craig Lowndes banged out a 2m08.1715s at the last moment, knocking Mark Skaife's 2m.08.2194s off the top of the timesheets. Last year, the best anyone could manage on Thursday was a 2m08.5s. "The team rolled the car out and it was almost 100 percent right," said Lowndes,complete with perma-grin."We went through the procedure of what we wanted to do, and then went out and were able to do that time. We're happy with where we are at this stage." Skaife was satisfied with going second-quickest, despite feeling that his fastest lap was not especially clean, and was keen to point out that he hadn't yet seen the best of his green tyres. "We were only able to get one lap on the greens, but we did a 2m08.6s on the older set which was encouraging," he remarked. Ambrose was third-fastest, and said that the Stones had also been caught on the hop by the sudden end to the session. "We got caught out at the end," he admitted."We threw new tyres on,and then the guys said,'you've got four minutes',so we really didn't get the car set up." Things may not have gone completely to plan for Marcos and co-driver Warren Luff, but they were in a far better position than their colleagues on the Caltex side of the SBR garage, where the team was looking at a long night of work after Russell Ingall pinballed into the wall at Forrest Elbow. Cosmetically, the car didn't look too bad, but the left-front and right-rear wheels had taken the full impact, wiping out an assortment of other important bits at the same time. The fact that a veteran driver had already done a very similar thing probably came as little consolation for Dale Brede, who followed Ingall's example by clipping the inside wall at the same spot a short time later and skating the second BOC Gases Falcon into the barrier. Sometimes they are scoring podiums,sometimes they are sending cars home in boxes, but Bathurst weekends are never dull in the BJR garage. This Hme around, they would have

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BATHURST ‘

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Pushing 3 HERE at MNews, we try not to get things wrong too often. But depending upon who you believe, it may have taken just one session for one of our pre-Bathurst predictions to be blown sky-high. With the help of SBR chief engineer Ken Douglas, we analysed the implications of the new 3.15 diff ratio and decided that the magical 300kph down Conrod was not going to happen. Castrol Perkins Racing had other ideas. Most of the top teams were still hitting the rev limiter on the way into the Chase - a few with the help of a tow, but a significant number doing it off their own bat. And at the end of opening practice, word came from the Perkins cave that Steve Richards had.

apparently, just blipped beyond the 300kmh barrier. The following day, the team released data showing Richo nudging over the 300 mark on three consecutive laps, the highest speed being 302.4 kmh. Paul Dumbrell got the same numbers out of the car during his stint at the wheel. While there were many sceptics up and down pit lane, Larry Perkins himself said that he was not at all surprised. "I think it’s quite clear who got it wrong, isn't it?" he grinned when asked about the figures we got from the Stones. Perhaps. But like statistics, data can be made to say all sorts of things. Technical brilliance or PR stunt? We'll leave that to you -MG to decide.

BOC Walkies Impcar

<5^ Dirk Klynsniilh

THE realities of having to work at Mount Panorama means that a journalist cannot always wander up the hill to see what is going on. Going up with two V8 Supercar drivers is even less common. So when the opportimity came to visit the MacPhilliamy-to-The Dipper stretch with Dale Brede and John Cleland, we grabbed it. With the #12 BOC Falcon still being straightened from Brede's Thursday crash, the two idle V8 Supercar pilots took advantage of the chance of watching others at work. "'It's exclaimed Brede. "It does not seem to be like that when you are sitting low in the car."

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MotmW

Larry's car did what? Jimmy Stone looks puzzled as brother Ross looks on. Don't worry boys, we were just as surprised.

The Flying Scotsman concurred. "A lot different when you are in the car," he

mused."It does not seem to be that fast in the car; The Dipper feels pretty slow but from here, it isn't." Thereafter came a dissertation of how the cars were looking; both HRT cars nailed to the road,same for Lowndes, the Pirtek Ford fast but nervous and so on. That was the good news; the bad was when the BOC car was good again, for the qualifying session, it was ugly. Not ugly as in still hurting from the crash but ugly and slow. John Bowe and Brad Jones had the same problem in the other car, which was 26th; the Cleland/Brede car was three spots and three-tenths back. There was a lot of head-scratching going on that evening. - PHIL BRANAGAN

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N light of the times that the frontrunners had been cranking out during practice earlier in the day, the stage was set for fireworks when the pit exit opened to signal the start of qualifying. But there was a catch, and it came in the form of one of the Mountain's

greatest variables - the weather. There was no immediate sign of rain

as the cars went through their final preparations, but the skies were overcast enough to convince the powers-that-be to combine-the two scheduled qualifying sessions into a single 75 minute outing. There were plenty of fast cars out there, but it's not easy to get the best out of them when you are sharing the track with 33 others.

FOR many of the co-drivers, Friday morning's practice was the first opportunity to clock up some serious mileage around the Mountain. Mindful of the repercussions of trashing a car a couple of hours before qualifying, the session passed fairly uneventfully with only Paul Weel opting for a bit of drama by locking up at the Chase and slipping off the track. The #51 car was undamaged, but the session was briefly red-flagged to allow it to be retrieved and returned to the pits, where a sizable percentage of the gravel trap was emptied out of its intakes. Things were also not quite going to plan for Craig Baird, whose WPS Falcon was briefly crippled by an electrical problem. OtherwlT^6, the half hour session passed quietly, and ended with Garth Tander topping the times ahead of Paul Dumbrell and James Courtney. When the session ended,the lead drivers returned to their cars for a final 30 minute run before qualifying, with Mark Skaife getting the ball rolling by being the first driver to dip into the 2m07s range. But in a precursor of what was to come, it was Craig Lowndes who came out on top courtesy of a 2m7.3741s. The new diff ratio had certainly changed the way that the cars drove around the Mountain - but there was no sign that it had made them slower. -MARKGLENDENNING

ally r; 'll

8's technical director Campbell Little, who revealed that at least one of the

Mark Skaife wasn't messing around though and set the bar fairly high with an early 2m07.9s, only to have Garth Tander go 0.02s quicker. Tander was actually not meant to be in the car at all, but Rick Kelly had woken up that morning with a virus and,after struggling through a few laps in practice, he was sent home to bed. Most of Tander's previous time in the car had been on heavy tanks, but just to prove that he was equally happy on the lighter load he improved his time to a 2m7.07s shortly afterwards. Skaife found yet another couple of tenths, but before anybody started getting any ideas about Holden having the upper hand, Craig Lowndes played his cards. The 888 car had flirted with the top of the timesheets a couple of times, having at least two quick laps thwarted by traffic on Conrod. Finally he got a clear run, and a 2m07.1322s was the result. "With the combined sessions, it was very hard to get clean air," remarked Lowndes."But I guess everybody has their own story about that. We were fairly confident that there was a 7.1s in the car - the car is working really well." Just how well was not apparent until a later conversation with Triple

laps that Lowndes was forced to abort was substantially quicker. How much quicker? Quite possibly something in the region of 2m06.8s. If the Shootout was held in remotely good conditions, Greg Murphy's qualifying record from 2003 would be a sitting duck. "We think that the car has got Murph's time in it," Lowndes agreed. "It's just a matter of getting that lap out of the car." Despite being forced to settle for second-quickest, Skaife was satisfied with how things were looking. "The car feels good," he remarked. "As a race car, I think that it could be half a chance." Marcos Ambrose was third, suggesting that the team was more interested in getting the monkey off their back in race trim than chasing outright qualifying speed. "We've thought a lot about why we haven't been performing after lap 100 over the past couple of years," he admitted. "It has cost us race wins. So this weekend, we've tried to focus on the period from lap 100 onwards. If we can start from somewhere near the front, the race could be really good for us.

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"But I don't know where a 2m7.1s is going to come from. We'll look for improvements, but finding 0.6s would be pretty tough." Garth Tander was just behind him and declared himself pleased with the car, while fifth-placed Murphy was adamant that the Super Cheap car had nothing left in the tarJc. "That was tapped," he said. "I've got nothing left. We've got a lot of work to do to try and find more car speed. Tm not sure what kind of race car we've got at this stage." There were furrowed brows on the other side of the Super Cheap garage too, where Nathan Pretty and Owen Kelly's car suffered engine problems on its out lap and missed the entire session. "Looks like we're starting from the back," said Pretty. "We've got to turn it into a positive - we wanted a challenge anyway!" Actually, he would start from second last. Rear of grid would belong to the Team Australia car, which was excluded from the session after Marcus Marshall missed the weighing station in pitlane. A pair of Richards' sat just outside

the top five, with Steve R going marginally quicker in the Castrol Perkins Commodore than Jason R's Dodo Racing car. Russell Ingall, Glenn Seton and yet another Richards - Jim - completed the top 10. We're not sure whether anyone keeps stats on the most Richards's ever to make it into the Shootout, but if they do then three would have to be a record. If it's not, don't bother writing to tell us - we don't really care that much ... Not for the first time this year, Cameron McConville just missed out on a Shootout spot, and the two FPR Falcons were similarly unlucky. The session was effectively shortened by around 20 minutes when it began to sprinkle with rain, sending everybody back to their pits and denying a few drivers a chance to try one last set of greens. Meanwhile, Jason Bargwanna gave himself a fright when he lost the Orrcon Racing Falcon at Griffins Bend and tankslapped the inside wall. Luckily, he escaped with nothing more than a red face and some cosmetic damage to the car. - MARK GLENDENNING

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AT the end of qualifying, Glenn Seton was a happy man. Race speed has not been a huge problem for the Westpoint Racing DJR Falcons this year, but getting the tyres to work properly in qualifying has been another matter altogether. Going into Bathurst, Seton had not been in a Shootout since last year and,by finishing the session in ninth place, he was more than happy to break the drought. "I'm rapt!" he beamed. "Apart from those couple of years where I didn't qualify the car, 1 have not missed a Shootout since the inception of V8 Supercars,so it was great to be able to keep that going this weekend. Hopefully we can keep this up and maybe it will finally end up with us standing on the top step of the podium!" Seton said that the car's performance was something that the team had been building towards throughout the weekend. "We had a test after Sandown,and we definitely made some progress there," he explained, "All weekend the car has been working well - although there is still a fair way to go before we can get

near Craig's 2m07.1s." The last year or two has seen the DJR cars struggling to get heat into their green front tyres in qualifying, a problem which is exacerbated in the Shootout. While the problem has not

FOR most Bathurst debutantes,the Mountain is a daunting place - especially if the driver in question has spent their entire career racing overseas and is not especially familiar with V8 Supercars. James Courtney is not like most drivers. OK, he has an unusual pedigree, having left Australia at an extremely tender age and gone on to be precociously fast in just about every kind of race car that you'd car to name. He was certainly the only driver on the Bathurst grid to have almost been killed in an FI car. But nobody expected him to be just 0.2s shy of Jim Richards, a guy who has seven wins from 34 starts under his belt. Clearly, Courtney is not an easy man to faze. "I thought today went quite well," he shrugged. "I did six laps yesterday, but it was good to have a good run today, to put a few laps together. The 24-year-old said that he liked the circuit. but found that he was coming to terms with it fairly quickly - a sentiment ultimately borne out by his lap times.

been fully solved, Seton pointed out that Bathurst's exceptionally long layout could help to neutralise it a bit. "The longer track absolutely makes a difference," he declared. "On some of the shorter tracks.

"The track is pretty good," he said. "It is quite challenging. But I've raced a few different things at lots of places now, so after a while you don't get too bothered by going somewhere new. I think I'm starting to come to grips with it, which is what I am paid to do. I am here to win, not to come 10th. "There was no part of the track that I found particularly hard to learn - it was more about trying to get into a flow. It's hard to find a rhythm when you still don't know which way the next corner goes. But once you work that out, you can start peeling the time off. "I guess I am very lucky. I have a very good team, a very good car and a very good team mate. I'm just being a sponge this weekend, absorbing information." - MARK GLENDENNING

you would battle to get heat into the tyres for the whole flying lap. Here, you have these long straights that give you a better opportunity to get the heat into them." - MARK GLENDENNING

Best for Britek

STEVE Owen has turned into something of a Bathurst specialist. In 2003, he did things he really shouldn't have with a Smiths Trucks Commodore.

In 2004, he threatened the top 10 in Kmart Racing. And now in 2005, he gave Bathurst debutant Britek Motorsport its best V8 qualifying with 14th. "Steve is a bit of a legend," team manager Adam Laws said. But Owen cannot claim all the glory. Britek strapped in a new-spec engine after practice on Thursday and it produced the goods. "There was no point having one second sitting in the truck," Laws explained. "In comparison to what we've had, it's a great engine." But Britek engine man Scott Owen had mixed feelings. He put his long locks on the line and bet pre race that if the car made the top 15, he'd get a hair-cut... GRANT ROWLEY

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/I/0 Pnoblem Lowndes continued his hot run with a flawless Shoot-out performance. PHIL BRANAGAN reports

IT all looked so easy. Craig Lowndes was slower up the Mountain than both Marcos Ambrose and Greg Murphy. It looked bad. Well, it would have looked bad had it been almost anyone else, and if the car had not been the #888 Falcon. But the car had been The Weapon of Mass Destruction over the Mountain since the time the Betta Electrical team dragged it out of the truck. Craig put his head down and lit the

afterburners, pausing only to survive the damp patch at The Dipper. In the middle split, he was stunning. Down the hill, he bounced the car clumsily off the entry kerb at The Chase but even that could not derail his lunge for pole, his fourth of the season, "1 was conscious of the cold tyres and did not want to make any mistakes," Lowndes said through his trademark grin."We put the car back to where it was when we did the 7.1."

The middle sector really was one of the greatest we have seen. Consider this; including the damp Dipper, Lowndes covered the Reid Park-to-Forrests Elbow blast in 34.4758s, In 2003, Murphy's split for the same span on his famed pole lap was 34.3190s. The '03 lap was in near perfect conditions, while this Saturday afternoon was chilly and damp. And for the kicker ... the T8 brass confirmed that Lowndes had

run some low 34s for the split during Thursday practice. He had nerfed the time easily and often. "Conditions today were not right [for a 2;06]," said Murph later. "I am glad it hasn't been done." Enjoy the exclusivity, Greg. Unless it rains next year, you are about to get company in the 'Six Club'. For the rest, there was a lot to complain about. Murphy apologised to his team after his lap, despite the

Enffo RUSSELL Ingall said all week that he was looking at a Sunday result at Bathurst this year. What happened in the Shoot out did nothing to change that. The Enforcer was looking good for maybe a mid-10 spot, being third out and the first man to go for slick tyres. The decision was proved right at once when his opening split was almost 3s faster than Seton’s but when he got to the Chase, it all went wrong. The Hollinger H6S in the car jammed solid, the rear wheels stopped turning and off he went. “I was pushing pretty hard going

motorsportnews

The 2005 Great Race was a classic case ofsticking to The Game Plan. For Mark Skaife and Todd Kelly, it all worked a treat PHIL BRANAGAN reports

F you were to read a race report that featured a Bathurst 1000 with no Safety Car periods in the first 30 laps, no weather changes of note and Mark Skaife speeding to a fifth win in the final laps of the race, there would be no reason to think that the 2005 Super Cheap 1000 will live in people's minds for a long time. But that would be selling the race a long way short. This was a race with everything in it and, even if some of the pre-race favourites found themselves handcuffed at the end of

the race; there was a death-defying escape involving a national icon, a bouncing wheel and a windscreen. 46

There was a stunt show, with almost 10 cars piling into the same piece of road. And there was a classic Little Guy-makes-good story. No, there were several of those. Skaife looked satisfied at the end of his great drive. Co-driver Todd Kelly will never celebrate a birthday any more happily than his 26th. In second was the Dodo Tasman VZ of Jason Richards and Jamie Whincup. The two smiling underdogs are now growing into fully-fledged contenders and the multi-coloured car looked a match for pretty much everything else on the track. Third was the Steve Ellery/Adam

Macrow Triple 8 entry, salvaging a result from the rubble despite a low starting spot and a dodgy gearbox. Ellery may be driving for his career (again) and was in fine form; Macrow made his first finish at the mountain count and is becoming a go-to oncea-year driver. And their team-mates? Craig Lowndes drove the opening stint like he had an early flight but overstepped the mark in uncharacteristic fashion. A scrape with the wall set him back but was nothing compared to the bouncing wheel that all but came in through his windscreen when Lowndes was climbing to The Cutting.

The errant device had fallen off the Steve Richards/Paul Dumbrell Commodore after the latter had crunched the wall not once but tv\'ice. It was a tough day for the favoured pairings. The Stones had a day to forget. Marcos Ambrose was recovering from the unbelievable blunder (and subsequent drive-through penalty) caused by co-driver Warren Luff forgetting to wear his balaclava. Worse, the amnesia also struck Ambrose,forcing him to pit to have the matter, literally, redressed.

continued on page 49

motorsport news

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THE Reid Park concrete has not been ti'ind to some of the most creditialled names at Mount Panorama. Brock and Lowndes are two big names that have tasted the not-so delightful delicacy that is the Reid Park wall. And now, two young stars of Australian motorsport. Courtney and Davison, can add their name to that list. James Courtney was the first to hit, but his was barely enough to nfiake a mark on the wall ... but more than enough to rule the car out of the event. "It's never a good feeling to be out so early," Courtney, right, said. "From the second lap, there were problems with my dash, lights were flashing everywhere, and Matt (Cras^ord) was chatting to me to try and cancel the problem. Our dash is on our / steering wheel, so it's right in your face and while I was concentrating on fixing the problem, I grazed the wall. "I actually only just clipped the front wheel nut, the body work is fine, but the end result is very disappointing." Nearly 70 laps later. Will Davison, pictured top, was feeling the same distress. "I couldn't relax," he explained after the incident. "The leaders were just in front of me and I was keeping pace with them. I was pushing on. The car began to 48

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be a bit loose in the rear and,' because we were a lap down, I just overstepped the mark. Most of all. I'm shattered for the team." Compared to most in the V8 Supercar field, Davison is still fresh and, despite the non-finish pain, he has come away with knowledge for the future. "The balance of the car changes as the fuel goes down," he said. "I was starting to learn how to drive around it but I just overstepped the mark. I'm gutted." - GRANT ROWLEY

Up, down, turn it around: From the top, Bathurst Champs Skaife and Kelly; runners-up Ja.Richards and Whincup; luckless lap one losers Ritter and McLean; out of action Noske; and below, Owen and White.

motorsport news

L continued from page 46

The race, as ever, needs to be examined backwards to make sense.

While recovering and,remarkably, in contention for the win, Ambrose tangled wdth long-time adversary Greg Murphy, prompting a nearblocked track, harsh w'ords, a stewards' hearing and a lot of finger pointing at the end of the day (see breakout and new's pages). Likew'ise, Russell Ingall overcame much to finish fifth and, on the nowmandatory corrected points, takes the lead in the championship by a scant two markers. It W'as a day of salvation for the Stone team, which still has to add a second Bathurst trophy to its bulging cabinet...

Skaife started, a decision derided by some,but after a stout getaway and a conservative opening stint, handed the car over to Todd in good order, with the track tuning into the car's set-up as the laps ticked by. So one HRT entry was getting a ticket to the last 30 laps. The other was not (see breakout) and neither was Lowndes. The errant wheel could have caused a disaster, but instead simply prompted the car to pit for repairs that included, among other things, the removal of the front a rear screens.

Race(161 laps)

ou know' it is truly cold w'hen Triple 8 co-ow'ner Peter Butterly, a man intimately familiar w'ith the harsh tundra of Ireland, complains about the weather in language best kept between men who surnames indicate similar Gaelic forebears. It was cold. It was the kind of cold that seeps into the bones. At pit straight level, it was just above zero. On the mountain, it was minus five. Add some windchill and the result is Matt Coleman, a man whose day job is teaching people how not to fall off snow skis, commenting about sharpening edges and downhill racing. The result of the laughably-named w'arm-up gave some indication of what was coming, with Jamie Whincup topping the sheets for the first time in any V8 session in his whole life.

[Many people in the motor racing busmess compare Lowndes to Peter Brock and Skaife to Allan Moffat. It is somewhat just that, if tliis hard to happen,it came 20 years after Peter did likewise, dormed a visored helmet, as Lowndes did, drove an 'open-wheeler'.] A guideline used by, among others motorcyclists,says that for every lOkmh, the windchill factor drops the felt temperature by 10 degrees celcius. Using that formula, Lowndes and Muller got to experience cabin temperatures of-15C, prompting both to don two racesuits at a time for the remainder of the race.

BATHURST

ICocking the front left: Above, Ellery scored his third Bathurst podium, while team-mate Adam Macrow took his first. Below, Youlden and Ingall came home fifth after a race that had more dips than The Dipper.

Remarkably, after losing 10 laps, the #888 machine motored on to 15th place. It could have been w'orse but it could have been better. Clearly, this was the fastest car in the race but at Bathurst, that is not always enough. The other w'allbanger was

continued on page 50

Amateur hour? OUR cricketers copped a heap of flak recently for losing a very closely contested Ashes series but, by comparison, their professional sins pale against the rash of inexcusable errors made by a number of highly-paid V8 Supercar elite in the early stages of last weekend's Super Cheap 1000. Every professional, his team manager and team, knows that this race really doesn't get serious until over 100 laps have ticked by - so why were so many drivers doing inanely stupid things so early? There ought to have been some very hard questions asked in the post-Sunday debriefs by those very team managers and, indeed, team sponsors. They're putting in mega-bucks and, quite reasonably, might expect more 120clolier2005

from a group of highly-paid professionals. What was Garth Tander thinking? Okay, he duffed the start, but getting into an argument at the end of the opening lap smacks of panic. It cost him his race - as well as FPR's Greg Ritter, Tony Longhurst and a distraught Brad Jones ... How can such an experienced international racer as James Courney get so distracted by faulty rev-limiter lights that he makes a basic error and walls the car? And Lowndes ... fastest car all week. Why press on quite so hard so soon ... and thus risk a simple error? And why would Paul Morris take such a low-odds punt on Alain Menu's good grace in a 50:50 move at Forrest's Elbow?

Manhall Cats

The last blast: In final Bathurst start, Tony Longhurst became an innocent victim of tbe lap one crash-fest

And what was Paul Dumbrell thinking - second lap into his stint and squeezing Mark Noske car so tightly into Turn 2? Larry Perkins' extraordinarily restrained (for him) summation still left no doubt as to his deeper feelings ....

All that in the first 40 lapsi There was more as the first half of the race wound out but, honestly, has there ever been so many basic driver errors in the early part of a race which goes for seven hours? - CHRIS LAMBDEN 49

continued from page 49 Dumbrell. Richards got to see his car visit the tyres at Griffins for the second year in a row and his winning hopes were gone in a minute. Whincup had started the Tasman car, and did a great job not just keeping up but making ground through the traffic. The Westpoint cars had also maintained a spot in or just outside the top 10 for most of the early going but a misfire (Seton/ Canto) and a loose wheel(Johnson/ Davison) put them back, the latter just missing a lead lap-restoring yellow flag by a single lap. So some of the contenders took care of themselves,and some others were out in groups, like Garth Tander and Rick Kelly. That,and the fact that the cars that were left with varying levels of pace, distilled the leading group to Skaife/Kelly, Murphy/Weel,both Stone cars, Pretty/0. Kelly [see breakout], Ellery/Macrow(who started off holding in second gear and then were forced to do likewise for sixth) and the Dodo duo. And when the balaclava brouhaha happened and stacks on the hill at The Cutting, it all came down to *; Skaife versus Jason Richards for the f Great Race. I As it did at Sandown in 2003, Skaife prevailed. Kelly led Whincup The battle for the minors: into the final stop and Richards led A podium place really could have Skaife out, the latter taking a few gone to any of the cars, above. seconds to make sure that his HANS device was fitted perfectly so that he After a less-than-happy weekend. would need no additional stops to Brede and Cleland, left, picked up a Top 10 place for Team BOC. tidy things up. And, with the Tasman car running Car 18, bottom left, was another hard and fast, rather than dominate threat until a clash.

Pretty OK

motorsportnews

Winners Skaifey and Todd Two years of frustration ended for the former, while the latter finally gets bragging rights at family barbecues. They stuck to their plan and it paid off big. Tasman Motorsport A second podium result is arguably bigger than the first because it silences any mention of a fluke. JaR and Whincup came up aces at contract time.

Betta Electrical Racing Okay Lowndes stumbled on Sunday but Ellery and Macrow, above, dragged a third out of the wreckage. The 2006 title winners? No problem. Network Ten The best Bathurst broadcast ever. AVESCO, please leave everything where it is.

Losers Stone Brothers Racing They got the big things right but fell down on the little , ones, things like balaclavas, windscreens and back spasms ... H5V Dealer Team Any hopes of a three-peat

Doin'it -like in'81 IT started back at the previous corner and ended at 7.45pm when the race stewards pronounced they could not clearly establish a breach of the rules by either driver. For a few moments it looked like a repeat of 1981 and an early shower, but in the end swift work by marshals cleared a path for the Safety Car and the field to weave its way through the carnage. Unsurprisingly, the two combatants had polarized views; those following more concerned for their own cars than in apportioning blame. Both had been brought back into outright contention by the Safety Car and both were intent on going for it. As guest columnist Allan Moffat suggests (see page 25), both may well have had cause for reflection on Monday morning. This is what the interested parties had to say to MNews.You be the judge:

the pass. I'm not just going to give way just because he thinks he's something special, "Very disappointing. And he's stupid because he's got a championship that he's got to win and I'm not trying to win a championship - so he's the idiot for not thinking about it. Marcos Ambrose:"Greg had a terrible run out of Griffin. He punted me wide. I was 99 percent of the way past him and I gave him plenty of room,just in case. "1 left a car length and a half's gap and he could have avoided that incident." Nathan Pretty; "I just saw cars going everyw'here. I was going to be alright, but as it turned out, someone belted me from behind. Unforhmate for Murph, who had a car that could have finished in the top three. Bit blesssed we got away with it."

Jason Bargwanna:"Part of the Greg Murphy:"I made a balls-up out of Griffins and Marcos got a run problem was that I was about 100 metres from the car. 1 was giving up the outside, which was all fine. myself plenty of room and that's Unfortunately he thought he'd what finished it. done enough and I should get out "All we had to do was complete of his way and he turned across me another five or so laps to be and tine rest is history. "Tm not going to roll over and let classified as a finisher, I came around the left hand kink and the him do what he wants. He's got no track was completely blocked. I was respect for any other driver and that's the problem, you know. He doing 160-170kmh. I aimed for the needs to have respect for other car that was still moving because I drivers. figured that it would be the softest "You've got to give racing room. target. The worst bit was getting hit from behind. I'll be stiff tomorrow." You can't just carve people up, and he did. We know the rules, and he chose not to abide by them. All he Lee Holdsworth:"The guys were had to do was give room - we frantically waving the yellows and I would have got around the corner. I started slowing down early because I saw the cars across the track. I don't know, maybe he would have got past. would have been okay but got a massive hit from behind." "I had the inside line and you can't squeeze someone over and not give them room. And he didn't give me room, it's pretty simple. It ' ! wasn't a pass - he hadn't completed

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lasted two short minutes. Ouch. Brad Jones Racing The Bathurst perennials took a big tumble this year. The 52

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Impressc THERE'S much to be impressed with when you have a walk around at the venue which hosts the modern day Bathurst race. You can't help but be staggered with the overall facility and the seamless management style of the people running the weekend. It's very well done. But as the race itself panned out I have to say I was left shaking my head. I don't want to be seen as some bloke from a past era being critical of the modern driver, but - as someone from an era where we drove 500 miles solo - I'm genuinely concerned at the number of collisions that took place in this race. I'm concerned at the philosophy of the contemporary guys, who seem to adopt an indestructible approach from inside their cars. Maybe there's too much leniency from stewards in terms of what's happening on the way into corners, but there's clearly a lot of drivers pushing inside when the other guy clearly has the line for the corner. Does the old 'the onus is on the passing driver' rule not apply any more? I understand there's terrific pressure on modern drivers to get a result - but to me there's no better result than staying clear of your competitors and being in a position to fight for the win late in the day. The Safety Car is a modern

motorsport news

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Former race winner JOHN GOSS demonstrated his refurbished Jaguar at Bathurst, then roamed around the Mountain, keeping an experienced eye on proceedings for MNews. Some of the antics of left him wondering...

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Championship in turmoil: Entering Bathurst with a chance at the title, Steven Richards dropped a spot after team-partner Paul Dumbrell was involved in what Larry Perkins would have described as an 'avoidable incident at CAT Corner.

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#2 Skaife set a new lap record on lap 95. The eventual winner pitted on lap 98 to hand-over to Todd Kelly, but Skaife actually pulled up in the Team BOC pit, who are prodominently kitted in 'red' uniforms! #6 All chance of a top 10 result gone on lap 105 when Jason Bright collected the Simonsen car at The Chase. The incident broke the suspension upright. Car finished 14th.

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#7 Simonsen visited the scenery at The Chase when the steering "went light". The incident might not have been so bad if the Autobarn machine didn't bounce over the grass and damage the spoiler. But there was more steering issues to sort and the car stayed in their pit bunker for eight laps. Simonsen, lap 105, hit by #6 car at the Chase. #8 Team Australia's Marcus n Marshall and Alex Tagliani finished an uninspiring 13th, but if you combine that with the eighth place from the sister Besnard/Baird car, WPS Racing were actually the second best Ford team at BathurstI

fulls," Brede said after the race. #15 Mark Noske and Paul Dumbrell clashed at CAT Comer, which pitched Dumbrell into the wall. Noske then tried an ambious move on the #33 Valvoline car through the Esses and was turned backwards into the concrete. He emerged groggy but okay. Tim Leahey did not get a stint in this year's Great Race. #16 The engine coughed on the start line, which caused Tander to be swamped. He collected the pit wall after a touch from the back-markers. Worse was to come when he was involved in the lap one dust-up at Murray's Corner. Three laps were lost initally, and besides a minor off, 14th was points ... at least. "It was one of those days, but at least Garth and Rick got some points," team manager Rob Crawford said. "It is disappointing, and we now have a lot of work to do before Indy."

#17 Driver error saw the Steven Johnson/Will Davison entry fall many laps down. Having gone down one lap early with a flat tyre, that stop was followed by #11 The D'Agostin/Coleman another stop to replace the tyre again due to a vibration. entry didn't break any records, but it turned out to be the race's Johnson handed the car to deciding factor. While running in Davison one lap down, but on a 16th, an engine problem at the different fuel strategy, they top of the mountain forced them were in a position to salvage out on lap 136 with D'Agostin at some glory. Davison was the wheel. The striken car steadily taking time out of the caused the Safety Car period front guys until he ran wide at Reid Park and broke the front which went some way to decided to race's fate. right. #12 The saying'there is light at #18 braked a bit late and was the end of the tunnel' was the going to run wide, but when I war-cry of Team BOC at went up the inside, he hit my Bathurst. Dale Brede and John wheel and broke the steering Cleland salvaged something for straight away," Dean Canto said after his clash with Andrew the Albury team with seventh place. "Good result, car wasn't Jones at Forrest's Elbow on lap 97. Glenn Seton set DJR's super-fast, but it had low tank pace. It wasn't so quick on fastest race lap on the 20th tour. motorspori news

but their chances of winning were negated when a intermittent misfire slowed them from lap 63 onwards. The car could not run at full throttle from then on. #20 Orrcon's main hope nosed into the wall at CAT Comer mid race, which Jason Bargwanna said could have cost them champagne. "We could have been fighting for the podium today," Bargs said. "In the second stint I passed six cars and I was up to sixth." #021 Solid top 10 result for second PMM/TKR machine. John Faulkner and Alan Gurr slotted 10th outright, three laps off the lead. "We basically |ust circulated," Gurr told MNews. "The MoTeC kept turning itself off, and the brake lights and other stuff was being faulty. It cost us an extra two pit stops." #23 Tony D'Alberto clashed with the Team Australia entry in first stmt, and the car went down 10 laps while Team Dodo replaced the upper and lower control arm. More trouble occured when D'Alberto had brake pad knock-off at The Chase and slammed into the back of Dale Brede. Car #23 copped a drive-through penalty. Coulthard also had problems at The Chase when he popped a tyre in his first stint on lap 60. #25 Steve Owen and Matthew White were certainly on track for their best-ever result. When the race settled, the red and blue Britek car was in the top 10 and looking comfortable. An engine problem caused them more grief than they could imagine. The bonk got hot and lost all its water, and they couldn't get the car to restart until the dying stages of the race, which would have been enough for the entry to be classified as a finisher. Owen drove it to the end of pit lane but with a bunch of water pooled in the splitter and liquid falling out, AVE'SCO deemed that car could not go onto the circuit. The team were gutted. 12 October 2005

#33 Lee Holdsworth and Phillip Scifleet had an up, down, up. down race. Holdsworth didn't pump the brakes after a pit stop on lap 64. When teh HPDC racer he got to CAT Corner, the brake pedal went to the floor and he hit the tyre wall. Not much time was lost there and the pair were knocking on the door of the top 10 until the bonnet popped up and smashed the windscreen during Scifleet's stint on lap 123. Both rear and front screens were removed. Their race ended when Holdsworth was slammed by Bargwanna in the late-race shunt at The Cutting. The car will need a pretty-up before Indy. #44 Lap 57. Already many laps down thanks to his first lap crash with Ritter, Tender and Co, Wilson speared into the Forrrest's Elbow wall and was out on the spot. #48 David Besnard gave WPS the most TV coverage of the year with a great opening stint. The car was inside the top five, but locked his rear brakes at Murray's and we went into the wall. Baird drove conservately for a gutsy eighth place.

LL>Jil&£CL IT is not hard to find out what overseas viewers think of V8 Supercar racing. All you have to do is log on to the internet and have a look.

start, live, at lam. "V8 Supercars in France is virtually unknown," said Bollee, above centre. "We are specialists in motorsport, but the V8 is the most important series we That is, providing you are talking show. People in France are still about England, the USA or some finding out about it, and it is the only other country where English is the series that we show exclusively. Not NASCAR,not Busch, not DTM. mother tongue. For the rest of the world, you better have your "People do not know it, then they phrasebook at hand. see it and ask,'What is this?' They love the action and the cars. Drivers would Or, watch MotorsTV, La Television like to come and do it, but it is so far, Grande Vitesse (High Speed Television). The French cable network it would take a long time and a big caters for all manner of fans, on tar or commitment to come here and do it dirt. But its ace in the hole is this; it properly" shows the V8 Supercar Championship And if it is any indication of the Series. level of enthusiasm, Bollee and Rivet So it was no surprise when Yvan rock. They could name every driver in Muller had Laurent-Frederic Bollee the paddock on sight and recite his and Patrick Rivet to talk to. The two Bathurst record. Of course, having MotorsTV commentators went into Muller to focus on helps, but do not the race knowing that, despite the jet be surprised if more Euro drivers, and press, are at Le Mountain in 2006. lag, there was a hardcore bunch of -PHILBRANAGAN fans at home waiting for the race to

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Todd Kelly/Mark Skalfe Jason Rlchards/jamie Whincup

3 4 5 6 7

Steven Ellery/Adam Macrow Cameron McConville/Andrew Jones Russell Ingall/Lui^^ulden Owen Kelly/Nathan Pretty Dale Brede/John Cleland

0 9 10 II

Craig Baird/David Besnard Dean Canto/Glenn Seton John Faulkner/Alan Gurr Mark Porter/Kayne Scott

#67 Erenchman Alain Menu collided with Paul Morris after 20 laps. The lead SirrometTTKR entry was out; and the team's birthday boy Paul Radisich (43) did not get a start.

12 13 14 15 16" 17 18 19 20 21

Alain Menu/Matt Halllday Marcus Marshall/Alex Taglianl David Brabham/Jason Bright Craig Lowndes/Yvan Rick Kelly/Garth Tander Jose Fernandez/Damien White Cameron McLean/Greg Ritter Will Davison/Steven Johnson Alex Davison/Alan SImonsen John Bowe/Brad Jones

#75 Anthony Tratt went a lap down after a cautious opening stint. Before the second Safety Car period, the Toll car was in the right position to pick back the lap it lost. B1000 debutant Tony Evangelou double stinted, and lapped comfortably in the 2m12s. Remained on the lead lap until a dud engine valve stopped the car on lap 92.

DNF DNF DNF DNF DNF DNF DNF DNF DNF DNF DNF DNF DNF

Greg Murphy/Paul Weel Marcos Ambrose/Warren Luff Steve Owen/Matthew White Lee Holdsworth/Phillip Scifieet Matthew Coleman/Chrlstlan D’Agostin Jason Bargwanna/Mark Winterbottom Fabian Coulthard/Tony D'Alberto Anthony Tratt/Tony Evangelou Mark Noske/Tim Leahey Tony Longhurst/Max Wilson Steven Richards/Paul Dumbrell Paul Morris/Paul Radlsich James Courtney/JIm Richards

#52 Jose Fernandez started, and the car developed a misfire for early. Britek team rectified the problem and both Fernandez and Damien White lapped respectably. More misfire issues slowed them down. 17th not bad considering.

06:37:17.0012 06:37:19.4889 06:37:32.8053 06:37:36.5767 06:37:37.7586 06:38:08.0591 159 laps 158 laps 158 laps 158 laps 158 laps 157 laps 155 laps

149 laps 148 laps 138 laps 129 laps 125 laps 144 laps 144 laps 136 laps 136 laps 122 laps 108 laps 92 laps 32 laps 32 laps 28 laps 26 laps 7 laps

I Fastest Lap 2:08.65t52:09.1327 2:08.9931 2:09.5000 2:09.0974 2:09.9*690 2:10.8055 2:10.1210 2:09.2921 2:11.2976 2:12.0877 2:10.4994 2:10.6724 2:10.3801 2:08.6969 2:09.7156 2:13.0988 2:09.5710 2:09.8521 2:10.3951 2:10.4473 2:08.7586 2:09.0244 2:10.5350 2:10.9304 2:12.5147 2:09.9982 2:11.4949 2:11.1693 2:10.0062 2:12.3789 2:09.1517 2:10.2535 2:11.5800

jON Lap 95 92 27 24 87 24 21 29 55 131 26 71 16 11 21 52 75 20 67 25 26 57 23 87 22 70 16 26 24 17 23 6

BATHURST 1000 A

The5Critical Moments They saici it...

These are the five key issues that decided the 2005 Bathurst 1000

What some of the Bathurst drivers said "I have two options for tomorrow: I am a big star or the number one n public enemy. \x

The only problem is that there are too many people at the autograph sessions. I want him to be more like me... but he can't!"

taps the wall. A graze of the concrete at the exit Griffins Bend was enough to break the #888 Falcon - and HRT's greatest challenger was out. 2. The track 'comes to' #2 Fine adjustments to things like tyre pressures made sure Skaife had a fast car I when the clock struck I four.

Yvan Muller an life as a Craig Lowndes co-driver

"No, he is just having a ri bludge.

Garth Tander, MD, expiains Rick Keiiy’s symptoms

Are you wearing a balaclava?rr u I think so.II

SBR engineer Paui Forgie and Marcos Ambrose discuss men’s fashion 11

John, you would be used to this weather, where you are from? "No, you would be thinking of England. It never rains in Scotland.ir

3. To wear or not to wear? Having a balaclava potentiall decide the Bathurst 1000 does sound a little odd. And who noticed the gaffe first - an official or a rival?

E,G1EflA:[Rr ISiTiEIGIBIAIR! . f.

r Solid Ell

JohnCieiand. Cardeaier, V8 Supercar driver and meteoroiogist 11

I was just wishing him the best for his move to America. Mind you, I may have suggested that he go right now." Dreg Murphy repeats what he said to Ambrose

There w///be some beers drunk tonight."

Mark Skaife had a pian for pretty weii every eventuality 56

5. The Shunt The stewards allocated no blame to Ambrose or Murphy. Two drivers went for the same piece of road and neither finished. Jason Richards was brave but Skaife was home

4. Holdsworth prompts a Safety Car The sight of #11 in the sand on lap 142 sent out the 300C for the seventh time. Suddenly Murphy made his splash under i: yellow and Ambrose got t back in touch with the s’ leaders.

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If every FI race was like last weekend’s Japanese Grand Prix, nobody would watch any other sport ever again. JOESAWARD was lucky enough to be at Suzuka

HE Japanese Grand Prix "I was turning in and Montoya was a great motor race touched my rear wheel and I got and resulted in an sideways and he went by me, astonishing victory for Kimi but luckily we did not damage the Raikkonen. cars." And then Kimi ran wide at the It was astonishing because up chicane. Still, that was not too until race day, everything had bad apart from the fact that as he gone wrong for the Finn. Flis accelerated down the hill to start engine had gone bang on Friday morning, guaranteeing that he the second lap he was able to would fall 10 places on the grid. watch the wreckage of Juan And then the rains came in the Pablo Montoya's McLaren middle of qualifying and the bouncing off the wall after the McLaren drivers were Colombian had gone off while condemned to start 17th and trying to drive around the outside 18th on the grid. It does not get of Jacques Villeneuve's Sauber much worse than that. on the run down the hill after the chicane. Ron Dennis would probably have keeled over with a cardiac "I never even saw him," said arrest if the TV coverage at Villeneuve, "so I really have no Suzuka has been better because idea what he might have been in the course of the first lap of trying to do when he went off." the race no-one knew that Kimi Montoya suggested that and Juan Pablo Montoya collided. Jacques had pushed him off. The "There was quite a lot stewards agreed and formally happening," admitted Raikkonen reprimanded Villeneuve and gave after the race. him a 25-second time penalty.

One must assume that the stewards had better TV coverage than the rest of us from which to make such a judgement. The important point was that Montoya was gone, and with him went a chance of McLaren to win the Constructors' title in Japan. It also opened up the chance that Renault would bite back. Giancarlo Fisichella was up at the front (although not yet leading) and Fernando Alonso was going through the field as though a herd of Pamplona bulls were on his tail. After a lengthy period of Safety Car, the race was on again and Half Schumacher was off and away again. The cynics of the FI paddock had been pretty convinced that Half had only a small fuel load in his car, and when he headed into the pits after just 13 laps (five of them which were run at slow speeds behind the Safety Car) it was clear

that all was not as it seemed. There are two ways to look at the problem, and neither is very flattering. Either the whole thing was a Toyota PR stunt because a three-stop strategy made no real sense - if only because of the risk of a Safety Car - or there was no better strategy, in which case the car must be worse than we thought. Toyota argued that Ralf lost his chance with the Safety Car. Once the Toyota was gone, we had Fisichella at the front and

moiorsportnews

formula one

mon>muigc5^com

Now or never: Kimi swoops around Fisicbella to take the lead on the final lap.

[iifTnn i iiiiji I iTn

he looked strong. He had less fuel than most of the other serious cars (pitting on lap 20) but he had the advantage of being at the front while most of his rivals for victory were tangled up in the midfield. By the time the second pits stops came round, Fisichella had a 19s advantage. In the 15 laps that followed he lost that - and lost the race - and one has to wonder what team boss Flavio Briatore must have thought of that, given what happened last year with Jarno Trulli.

12 October 2005

"Honestly, I was pushing 100 percent," Giancarlo said. "He was much quicker than me. I did my best. We are ahead again in the Constructors'. Championship." And the race was lost. The race was lost because Raikkonen was just too fast. The fastest laps of the race suggested that this time Fernando Alonso was as quick as Kimi, but that did not take into account one important factor. Raikkonen's fuel load took him to

Dammit, dammit, dammit: It's never a good weekend when your team-mate wins and you end up like this, above. For the discerning fan: Your very own Taku bunny, right.

lap 26 when Alonso stopped on 22. In the second stint Kimi did 19 laps to Fernando's 14. The McLaren is just quicker. Kimi drove like a demon all afternoon and yet with eight laps to go Fisichella was still ahead by around five seconds. "Just before the last pit stop I was able to go fast and so I thought maybe I would have the chance to overtake him," said Kimi. "On the last lap I was able to get him. I started to hit the rev limiter as I was passing him but I just held it there. Luckily I made it through." It was an awesome move, around the outside of Fisichella on the first corner of the last lap, and were it not for a couple of moves by Alonso it would have been the move of the race. In fact it was the second time he gone around another driver at Turn 1, having done the same thing to Schumacher in the middle of the race. It was a great victory. The move of the day, however, went to Alonso for his outside pass on Michael Schumacher in 130R. Yes, read that again and appreciate what it means. The fearsome 130R. On the outside. Michael Schumacher,

"That was very nice," said Fernando. "He closed the door on the inside so I was on the outside, flat out and risky - but I had nothing to lose." It was one of several brave moves from the Spaniard, who admitted that now the World Championship is over he is really going for it, having been rather conservative for most of the year. The problem was strategy. Alonso would get ahead of the men in front and then have to pit and do it all again. That happened three times. He was unlucky to be told by the FIA to allow Christian Klien to re-take him at one point because he had already done that after driving across the chicane on lap 8. He lifted off and let the Red Bull by and then disappeared up the road only to be told to allow Klien to pass again a few laps later. The delay was such that we all thought Fernando had broken continued on page 62 59

Winners Kimi Raikkonen Loses an engine early in the weekend, starts the race from Korea, and passes a Renault on the final lap to win. Classy.

Fernando Rlonso With the title in the bag, he pulls the cork out and goes bananas. Anyone who can go around the outside of Schumacher at 130R and then pass Webber on the grass is a worthy Champion. Mark Webber Fourth was not what he was looking for, but at the moment any step forward for Williams is encouraging. Suzuka Spectators Whatever the tickets cost, it would have been worth it. Best race in years.

continued from page 59 down. Then he set off again. Towards the end of the race he came up behind Mark Webber, who was running third after a good day. Webber looked pretty strong. "The car was clearly Improved," he said, "but I could not keep Alonso behind me." The denouement of this battle was very exciting as Alonso got a run on the Williams and went for the inside going down to Turn 1, "The asphalt ran out," said Fernando, "and I had to use a bit of grass!" The move took Webber completely by surprise and by the time he had gathered his thoughts the demon Spaniard was third. But fourth was a good result for Webber after what has been a very tough year. "I am not completely happy with my position," he said. "This is not the result we wanted." But any result is better than no result. Webber did considerably better than his team-mate Antonio Pizzonia, who spun off on lap 10. "I hit a kerb on the inside, which I shouldn't have done and lost the rear of the car," he said.

‘-r

wnon-inuge^.cotn n

Ferrari had a moment of glory "That was it, really. All I can in the middle of the race when take from this is the experience Michael Schumacher briefly led, of learning the track and putting but once he pitted he was another race under my belt." Williams did rather better than struggling and had to watch the BAR-Flonda. Young Turks of FI passing him left and right. Seventh place gave "I'm obviously very Ferrari third in the Constructors', disappointed to finish fifth after starting from second on the grid," Championship. Nothing to be said Jenson Button. proud of from such a great team. The Saubers did their usual "At my first stop the fuel flap trolling around to little effect and failed to open and the crew had at the back Minardi and Jordan to do it manually, which did their thing as usual, although lengthened my pitstop by over six seconds. After that we were Minardi hotted thing up a bit by struggling for pace and then I lost setting fire to Christijan Albers during a pit stop. The fire was put another position in the second out and Albers got back in his car stop. It's very frustrating." and finished the race. Red Bull Racing struggled to compete with the fast guys and All things considered, Christian Klien went from fourth on however, it had been a classic race. All that FI now needs is the grid to ninth at the finish and David Coulthard from sixth to sixth. another 18 of them next year.

Your Handiwork, Jarno’s Head

£37 Takuma Sato Charming bloke, and immensely popular. Which meant that there were plenty of adoring fans on hand to see him make an idiot of himself in what could be his last F1 race on home soil. liufron-imajcs. n

r .* *

Maribom

lla^riiwn)

Jenson Button Flaving jumped through hoops to get out of his Williams deal, it must have grated to see Webber go past in the pits. Especially at his team's new home race... Ralf Schumacher Pole proved to be a bit hollow when it turned out he had about three laps of fuel on board. We hope Toyota got the coverage it was looking for. 62

TOYOTA'S Jarno Trulli was sporting a special hemlet design last weekend, designed by the winner of a competition in Japan. Considering the treatment dished out by Takuma Sato though {see breakout), we're not sure how well-disposed he will be to the Land Of The Rising Sun in the future ...

You’ll Miss Me When I’m Gone JENSON Button may not have had a great afternoon, but he did a lot better than Takuma Sato. The hometown hero went off at the first corner and was hit by Rubens Barrichello, who was having an accident all of his own at that point. Sato then rejoined at the back and then blotted his copybook again by running smack into Jarno Trulli, who had started from the pits after his mess in qualifying. "Sato tried a manoeuvre that was obviously impossible," said a grumpy Jarno. "Fie just tried to overtake me, but instead he hit me and pushed me off. There was no reason to try that move, so I don't know what he was thinking. Fle's been causing problems for a long time and the FIA has to take action to stop it." The FIA gave Taku a light tap on the wrist with a reprimand and an exclusion from the results, which reallly does not matter when you finish 13th. - JOE SAWARD

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If Alonso, Barrichello, Raikkonen, Webber and Schumacher have their way, next year’s FORMULA 1 TM Foster’s Australian Grand Prix promises to be another huge adrenalin rush. And this GP Advantage special offer - designed exclusively for Formula One enthusiasts - gives you special tickets at special prices! But you only have until 31 October to grab them! So act now! Here’s what you’ll get with GP Advantage: l GRANDSTAND 4-Day reserved seats at 2005 retail prices. l EXCLUSIVE walk along the Main Straight to view the FI Team Garages. l EXCLUSIVE access to the GP Advantage Bar on all event days. l EXCLUSIVE 2006 GP Advantage Souvenir ticket - a fantastic 'collectors' Item.

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Conditions of Sale and Conditions of Entry apply: Concession prices only apply to General Admission tickets for Children 15 years of age and under, holders of a State Government Seniors Card, Pensioner Concession Card and Full-time Students. Family tickets only apply to General Admission tickets. For the purposes of this Event a family is considered to be two children (15 years and under)accompanied by two adults, or three children(15 years and under)accompanied by one adult. Please note a Family Grandstand ticket is not available. 1 GP Advantage benefits do not apply to General Admission tickets ’Date subject to FIA confirmation in November 2005.

FORMULA ONE

f IVIamentum?

Japanese^ Grand Prix RACE RESULT

Going Native: Sometimes, we're kind ofglad that Webber doesn't drive for a Japanese team ...

Kimi Raikkonen 2 Giancarlo Fisichella 3 Fernando Alonso 4 Mark Webber 5 Jenson Button 6 David Coulthard 7 Michael Schumacher 8 Ralf Schumacher 9 Christian Klien

the first stint. "But the guys, especially my fuel rig guy Matty, did a brilliant job with both stops. David and I pitted together, but we short-fuelled a fraction compared with what we'd planned and t beat him out. We caught Button through the second stint, then jumped him as well when we both pitted together//- the team were just brilliant.

10 Felipe Massa 11 Jacques Villeneuve 12 Rubens Barrichello 13 Takuma Sato 14 Tiafio Montiero 15 Robert Doornbos 16 Narain Karthikeyan 17 Christijan Albers }NF Antonio Pizzonia :nf|Jarno Trulli

The order going into the last nine laps was thus Fisichella, Raikkonen, Webber and Alonso for what appears to have been a successful late-season test at and, as the Finn hunted down Jerez. the Italian, so the Spaniard honed in on the Aussie - and "Yes, it was a good test. We when it came to it, on pit made some good progress with straight, Alonso had what both front suspension and aero. But also, Suzuka is a bit like counted, even if he did have to go onto the inside grass to do it. Spa, which suits our car a bit The result rewards Williams more than most other places.

INF Juan Pablo Montoya sufron-/fnJS«.<J<

"But you can also see the difference between the McLarens and Renaults and us here - particularly in the way that they can use the kerbs, especially at the chicane. We're not as good over kerbs, and that's one of the things that's costing us time."

Ibr29m02.212s Ihr29m03.845s I Ihr29ml9.668s Ihr29m24.486s I Ihr29ni31.719s Ihr29m33.813s I Ihr29m36.091s Ihr29m51.760s I Ihr29m54.137s Ihr29m59.721s I Ihr30m00.433s Ihr30m02.845s I 52 laps

52 laps I 51 laps 51 laps 49 laps 9 laps 9 laps 0 laps

Fastest Lap Kimi Raikkonen on lap 44 lm31.540s Drivers Championship points: Alonso 123, Raikkonen 104, M.Schumacher 62, Montoya 60, Fiskheila 53,TnjS; 43, R. Schumacher 39, Bairichetlo 38, Button 36, Webber 34, HeidfeM 28, Coulthard 24, Villeneuve 9, Massa 8, Montiero 7, Wuiz 6, Karthikeyan 5, Klien 5, Albers 4, de la Rosa 4, Fiiesacher 3, Puzonia 2, Sato 1, Uuzd 1. Constructor's Points: Renault 176, McLaren Mercedes 174, Ferrari 100,Toyota 82, BMW.WIIIiams 64, BAR Honda 37, Red Bull Racing 30,Sauber 17, Jordan 12, Minardi 7.

Sleep

and diffuser and therefore increasing the downforce. McLaren,in comparison to the aforementioned changes, was very conservative,just adapting the car's set-up to the track specifications. It is interesting to note that over recent races the rear bodywork has been narrowed around the mechanical elements inside, notably engine and gearbox, so as to affect even less the airflow directed to the rear wing. This is clearly visible in the area behind the engine exhausts that utilise a wide opening, to improve the hot air extraction. This is the only opening in the rear end bodywork,thereby providing superior airflow in this area.

12 October 2005

B TS = TSato

B AP = A Pizzonia

B FM = F Massa

B RS = R Schumacher B CA = C Albers 65

One Race Rain, damage and some enthralling battles were the highlights and lowlights of a difficult HPDC round at Bathurst GRANT ROWLEY made sense of it all

CONFUSING and frustrating penultimate round of the HPDC V8

Supercar Championship unfolded at Mount Panorama last weekend. Championship leader Dean Canto was the fastest car at the Mountain, and to noone's surprise, won the first race by a comfortable margin. But Race 2 was a different story. On the opening lap it was spitting rain and Canto ran wide at the Chase.

"The first lap was pretty hectic," Canto said of Race 2. "There were no spots of rain on the window,and the back stepped out. We were fortunate that I arrested the car so we didn't hit the wall on the other side of the Chase. I got some good air under the car... it was a pretty wild ride." Warren Luff ensured that he'll be a

i.r..

fev u.

championship chance in the final round at Phillip Island next month

●V

But there was some disgruntled teams in the paddock when the session was called off 5m48s from the end. Dean Wanless looped his Smartskip Falcon into the pit straight wall at the exit of Murray’s Corner. As the day was already running behind schedule, the fast group were denied their

last shots at glory. But there was no one upset at Team Canto - or was there?. The DJR star nabbed his time early in the session - his fifth pole from six rounds this year however he said post-qualifying that he wanted a quicker time. “I’m disappointed that I didn’t

Can-Do Canto DEAN Canto, Adam Macrow and Warren Luff have consistently been the three fast men in the 2005 HPDC V8 Supercar Series, so it was no surprise to see those three Falcon drivers at the top of the tree after qualifying at Bathurst last Thursday afternoon.

Dirk Klynsmilb

^ CPUALIFYIIMCB^^^

HPDCVBS

Pos/Nd I Dr i ver |

Car /team | t i me

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

pi J._ ^^^4:

●acrBIMti

^ i^^4-BITTES

● i;

● MEi

^■i4 V

Bathurst,

NSW

71 27 60

Dean Canto Adam Macrow Warren Luff

41 99 72

Gary MacDonald Tony D'Alberto Lee Holdsworth

Gatorz Racing Ford Falcon BA Betta Electrical/Breakfree Ford Falcon BA Decina Racing Ford Falcon BA Kanga Loaders Racing Ford Falcon BA Tony D'Alberto Racing Holden Commodore VY Smiths Trucks Holden Commodore VY

65 31 98

Phillip Scifleet Mark Porter Grant Elliott

Doric Racing Ford Falcon AU Hyundai Construction Racing Ford Falcon BA MacArthur Fleet Service Ford Falcon AU

9 10 81 Grant Denyer 11 30 Tony Evangelou 12 28 Dean Wanless 13 69 Robert Jones 14 66 Adam Wallis 15 37 Mark Howard 16 26 Jose Fernandez 17 42 JayVerdnik 18 32 Aaron McGill 19 68 Shane Beikoff 20 56 John Henderson 21 62 Scott Loadsman 22 91 _Gary Deane 23 86 Greg Smith 24 57 Dean Savage DNQ 40 Mark Papendell DNQ 19 Steve Volght

Summit/Jax Racing Ford Falcon BA Dexion Racing Ford Falcon BA Smartskip Ford Falcon AU Spies Hecker Racing Holden Commodore VX Warrin Mining & Const Holden Commodore VX Betta Electrical/Breakfree Ford Falcon BA Fujitsu Racing Ford Falcon BA Hi-Trans Holden Commodore VY Dux Hotwater Holden Commodore VX Shane Beikoff Racing Ford Falcon AU Messertech Racing Ford Falcon AU C & L Racing Holden Commodore VX Custodian Wealth Builders Ford Falcon AU Fujitsu Ford Falcon AU Jim Beam Racing/JPS Holden Commodore VX Country Hide & Skins Holden Commodore VX Howard Racing Ford Falcon AU

2:10.4891 2:10.8219 2:10.8261 2:12.4263 2:12.4596 2:12.4616 2:13.4238 2:13.5850 2:13.7158 2:14.0502 2:14.3447 2:14.5819 2:15.1900 2:15.7006 2:16.0964 2:16.3836 2:16.6265 2:18.0665 2:18.2649 2:18.8056 2:20.1985 2:20.6809 2:22.5460 2:23.9391 no time no time

get another shot at a faster lap,” the pole man rued. “Our data said we were on track for a 2m09s, but pole is still OK.” Luff was another to set his time early in the piece, while Macrow had a couple of shots at it, and only out-timed Luff by 0.02s. Kanga Loaders man Gary MacDonald was impressive in fourth place, and even claimed he could have gone quicker if not baulked by Phillip Scifleet. He used fresh tyres at the very start of the session to slot himself onto the second row. Leading Holden man Tony D’Alberto was the most affected by the early close to the session. He didn’t get a clean lap on his first set of tyres, and didn’t get a chance to post a time on the second set. Beside’s Waniess’s bend-up, the only other incidents came when the Mack Trucks Commodore of Lee Holdsworth grazed the wall at the Cutting and Mark Howard beached his Betta Falcon at Skyline. Grant Denyer put in his fastest time right at the end of the shortened session for 10th place. He said that his first few laps in a V8 Supercar around the mountain were at the speed of a “remote control car!” -GRANT ROWLEY

motorsportnews

Uirk Klynsnvth

.BELLMONT c

MjnMI C.

Winning without winning: D'Alberto, above, led various incarnations of Race 2 before the race was called as a non-event. He was third in Race 2, behind Luff, below, wbo kept his championship alive with second. after an up-and-down meeting. "I had an interesting start to both races," Luff said. "But I don't think I've ever been so excited to see a red flag in the last race! In terms of the championship, anything can happen at PTdUip Island, but we'll need to find more speed." Leading Holden driver Tony D'Alberto secured his third podium for the year, yet it could have been a lot better, if not for the confusion and controversy in Race 2. But before the overall podium was decided, there was a lot of stuff to chew through.

Race 1(13 laps)

T A Tithout making the HPDC VV drivers soimd irresponsible or incompetent, most at the track were expecting to see a car launching into a concrete wall in the first few laps of the first race. Tony Evangelou was in strife before the event even started when a wheel fell off at Caltex Chase on the warm-up lap. The Dexion car started from pit lane, but the start was delayed anyway. The starter motor on Lee Holdsworth's Commodore malfunctioned, and the race was reduced from 14 to 13 laps. Canto made a slowish start and was threatened by Macrow on the

12 October 2005

outside of Hell Comer. That was the only time that any car really looked like being in front of the Gatorz machine. Beside a couple of mistakes at the top of the mountain on the first two laps,including a wild slide at Reid Park, Canto was not touched. When Canto had his major slip up on lap two, Macrow saw an passing avenue at McPhillamy. Canto held his ground and slightly blocked Macrow,which baulked the Betta car enough for Luff to make an exceptionally inspiring pass around the outside of Macrow at the 200kphplus corner. Exiting stuff. Not as exciting as the rest of the dicing over the first laps, though. D'Alberto was aggressive at the start and pushed MacDonald,before tagging the back of Luff after a punt from Mark Porter. MacDonald settled into third place for most of the first lap, but was passed by Luff at the Chase. D'Alberto lost spots on lap two when he was nailed by Mark Porter at turn one, and Grant Denyer took advantage of a better exit up Moimtain Straight. All hell (nearly) broke loose at the Chase on lap two. Macrow speared off, returned to the track in a huff and hurry and held up the SER pair of MacDonald and Porter. This allowed

D'Alberto to guzump them all and take third. Third became second for the Bellmont Commodore when he pulled off a tidy pass on Luff at Forrest's Elbow on lap three. Like anything in this race though, nothing stayed the same. Luff gathered his thoughts and repassed him half a lap later at the end of Mountain Straight. There was no chance to take a breath. From there, the field spread out. Canto was well gone. Luff consolidated for a solid second and

D'Alberto was happy enough in third after holding off Macrow's rapid

fightback. The race for fifth was won by MacDonald,from Porter, Denyer, Holdsworth, Grant Elliott and Jose Fernandez(who ran as high as sixth after a great start and some gallant driving during the opening dices). Having started at the rear of the field after a post-qualifying rev-limiter infringment, Phillip Scifleet had a

continued on page 68 67

HPDC U8 SUPERCARS continued from page 67 clash with Dean Wanless at the Chase mid-race. He recovered for 11th. Robert Jones and Jay Verndik were incredibly lucky to not hit a kangaroo. Obviously 'Skippy'found the view from behind the fence at The Cutting unacceptable.

Race 2(14 laps) ace 2. Take 1. Canto made

another ace start and was making a break in drizzling conditions on the first lap. When he got to the Chase, it was wetter than he expected. The Gatorz car speared onto the grass and went frighteningly close to rolling over. He rejoined in seventh. That wasn't the only drama. Luff was poor off the line and tagged Porter at Hell. That clash cut Luff's

front right tyre and forced him to pit, but when he rejoined the track, the Safety Car was already out due to the increasing rain. The red flag appeared and the race stopped. Other drivers to get caught up in the first lap incidents were Scifleet at turn one,and Porter, Verdnik and Jones at the Chase. Race 2. Take 2. The grid positions were taken from the positions at the end of lap two in the first attempt. For the first time in his career, D'Alberto would start on pole,from Macrow,Porter, MacDonald,Denyer and Holdsworth. Canto, Elliott and Fernandez elected to pit for wet tyres and started the race from pit lane. Holdsworth's race didn't go further than 100 metres, though. MacDonald

HPDCVB3 Rd 6 Bathurst, NSW Pos ] Driver [ Race Time|Fastest

Race

Lap

1 3 UAI=S

Canto

28:54.4213 2:10.7623*

Luff

29:01.8095

2:11.3118

D'Alberto

29:08.5016

2:11.8781

Macrow

29:08.8392

2:11.1571

__29:16.9775 29:29.5898

2:12.7904 2:13.0243

9 10

MacDonald

Porter

7 8

Denyer Holdsworth

29:31.7582

2:13.0307

29:33.1992

2:12.4016

EllioU '

29:41.8393

2:14.2074

Fernandez

29:47.1373

2:14.8504

Scifleet

29:4'8,3034

2:13!49i9

1l’

Jones

29:49.8792

2:15.2897

Verdnik

29:54.4490

2:15.4893

14 15

Voight Wallis

30:02.5223

2:15.6184

' 30:05.2483

2:16.1539

Deane

30:25.0372

2:18.2827

17 , Beikoff 18* McGill

30:45.1033

2:19.4858

12 9 6

Loadsman

30;51.8794_ 2:18.1152 3i:'ll.475b 2:21.2652

Smith

29:01.0003

2:22.6705

Savage

29:02.4509

2:21.8044

22 Evangelou DNF Henderson

30:23.9712

2:15.4923

28:31.1016

2:18.3177

DNF Hovyard DNF Wanless

25:17.4629

2:30.0444

7:31.6357

2:19.3557

PDCVBS POINTS

Canto 912, Luff 891, MacDonald 864, Scifleet 852, D'Alberto 822, Macrow 815, Porter 743, Fernandez 683, Denyer 668, McGill 646, Elliott 555, Howard 524, Deane 492, Loadsman 477, Evangelou 465, Holdsworth 439, Papendell 435, Wanless 402, Smilh 400, Verdnik 396, S. Beikoll 357, Wallis 334,Jones 329, Brede 314, Henderson 238, Savage 208, Davison 184, Tanton 154, J, Beikoff 108, Voight 57,

Non-Race Win

TONY D'Alberto is a race winner in the HPDC V8 Supercar Series - unoffically. The Holden driver, who in fact is the only Commodore man mathamatically capable of winning this year's Development Series, led every lap of Race 2, but due to the weather and a number of incidents, was denied the offical spoils of victory. Had the race not been abandoned, he would have won the round. "I'm disapointed with the result," non-race winner

D'Alberto said. "The track was so slippery across the top of the mountain, I was fighting to keep the car on the road. The conditions were absolutely diabolical." Although there was a tinge of disappointment with his 'win', D'Alberto says that he showed the onlookers that his Bellmont team is not just there to make up the numbers. "We've had a good weekend, and we proved that we can do the business in this category in Race 1. - GRANT ROWLEY

FABIAN Coulthard regained the lead of the WPS Carrera Cup Series at Mfount Panorama last weekend. Coulthard spanked the pack in Race 1. The Kiwi made a textbook start and simply streeted the field from there. Even a two lap Safety Car period for Ash Samadi's stranded car at Reid Park didn't allow anyone near Coulthard. Samadi's Porsche was stalled on the blind approach to Reid Park during the first lap. There was no Safety Car though, and when the pack reached the top of the hill from the second time, the race was well and truly in motion. How an incident didn't occur was beyond a miracle. Jonathan Webb held second place briefly before Klark Quirm passed him

made a slow start and moved across on Holdsworth, the pair touched and Holdsworth nosed into the outside pit straight wall. And you'll never guess ... a Safety Car came out. When the yellows fluttered, Mark Howard,Denyer and a bunch of others stopped for wets as well. But it was all for naught. On the first lap of the restart. Dean Savage understeered on the approach to the Dipper and nudged the wall. Scott Loadsman had little option but to hit him - both Commodores were beaten, bruised and out. So the race ended, with D'Alberto leading every lap of the non-event. It would have been an interesting race with some drivers on slicks, some on wets, parts of the track dry, and parts of the track wet. Regardless, history books will say that a lot of cars got damaged for absolutely no outcome ... The HPDC V8 Supercar Series now heads to Phillip Island for the final round of the championship. Canto only extended his championship lead by three points, so the title is basically poised to be a two-way fight between 'Lean Dean' and 'Puff'n' Luff'- however, MacDonald,Scifleet, D'Alberto, Macrow and Porter all have a mathematical chance at snatching the title. Whatever happens, the series won't have to put on a better show than the events of Race 2 at Bathurst...

Shannon's 4

motorsport news

CABRERA CUP

I at the end of Mountain Straight. Quinn held second and scored his best result of his career - and there is no better place in the world to do that. Bryce Washington was another to pull out the heroics on the Mountain. He seemed to have third in the bag and clearly had the measure of most of the regular Porsche rurmers, until Richards fought through right at the end of the last lap. Cameron McLean and Tony Quirm endured separate incidents the Chase. Both were through driver miscalculation. Quinn's car was not repaired until the final race, while Cam's incident was similar to the 'off' he had in the Kmart Commodore during practice at Bathurst in 2003.

Race 2 didn't last all that long. On the first lap at CAT Comer, Freestone and Cressey clashed, which saw almost all of the trailing cars bump nose to tail. Then, a piece of Ian Dyk's passenger window broke off his car down Conrod Straight. On the next tour, Webb hit it at speed, and shot bits of it into David Reynolds's intake, which punctured his radiator and spread fluid all over the approach to The Chase. Carrera Cup debutant Shannon O'Brien was next to file through, but his Greg Murphy Racing Porsche snapped sideways and the car ground along the road on its roof before quickly pitching into a spectacular rollover, below. O'Brien emerged shaken but unscathed.

Big Ride

12 October 2005

spitting gravel and rocks out of his mouth. The boy is tough! The final eight tapper was an entertaining affair for the sodden Sunday morning crowd. Dyk got into the rear of Klark Quinn at turn one and turned him around in front of the field. Dean Grant was the irmocent victim, and both were out by the end of the lap. Dyk also spun after the clash, which spoiled the rookie's progress. Richards, Coulthard and Youlden embroiled themselves in a tight dice for the first few laps. Youlden took the lead, but almost immediately took a wide line to The Cutting, touched the white line and turned his car in the wrong direction. This left JR, Coulthard and Webb

to duke for the win. On lap five, Coulthard got the best exit onto pit straight and nailed first at Hell. Coulthard raced on untouched to snare the win and retake the series lead. Richards was second from Webb,above, and Youlden, who made up two positions on the final lap. Fitzgerald was fifth from Rodney Jane and Reynolds. Paul Freestone was having an impressive run before spinning at Hell Comer. The championship now heads to Surfers Paradise for the penultimate round of the series in two weeks time. - GRANT ROWLEY Points: Coulthard 945, Richards 939, Youidon 704, Webb 668, Reynolds 558, Fitzgerald 531, Cressey 420, McLean 405.

Carrera Cup rookie Shannon O'BrienJiad quite ^ a fright when he endured this roilover at thid. Chase.Sequence by John Morris/Mpik ;

Gronholm wins the rally, Loeb wins the title, Solberg crashes while leading and Atkinson gets himself onto the podium. Rally Japan offered JON THOMSON plenty to talk about

HIS year's Rally Japan would have been a fairly routine round of the WRC without too much to excite, had it not been for Sebastien Loeb clinching his second consecutive World Rally Championship, Chris Atkinson capturing his first-ever WRC podium and Marcus Gronholm taking a surprise last-minute victory. After the tragedy of Great Britain, the WRC bounced back with a rollercoaster ride through the dense forests of Hokkaido, where Fetter Solberg snatched defeat from the jaws of victory when he hit a rock and retired just a few kilometres from the finish after leading from early on the opening leg. Although Gronholm claimed the win, his victory was overshadowed by Loeb claiming his second consecutive World Championship, as well as the performance of Atkinson. The Queenslander drew praise from Subaru boss David Lapworth after leading the rally after four stages, capturing three fastest stage times and scoring his first podium. "I want to congratulate Chris

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on such a great result, he's put a tick in all the boxes here in Japan," said Lapworth. "He has driven fast and consistently under pressure and on some extremely difficult roads." For Atkinson, third is a confidence-inspiring boost after a season in which he has shown enormous speed and promise but few strong finishes. "We needed a result, and even though we had shown a bit of potential, we didn't have the result that we wanted, and it's good to have that finally come through," said Atkinson. "It's very hard to come straight into the world championship and not make mistakes when you are trying to push. So it's good to come to an event we have done before and I think that showed." Atkinson burst out of the blocks on Friday, taking fastest on the opening test to be the overall leader of a WRC for the first time. He backed that up with another stage win two stages later to regain the lead before relinquishing it to team mate Solberg. The young Aussie lost over 40 seconds on the

longest stage of the rally late on Day 1 after being caught in the dust of the stricken Ford of Anthony Warmbold for over 15 kilometres. But he fought back, taking another fastest stage on the final day to net the wellearned third. Loeb appeared to be totally focused on securing the title and not that fussed about winning the Japanese event. Solberg comprehensively out-powered him over the opening two legs, while Gronholm was also faster than the man who has dominated the WRC for the past 24 months. "To be honest, it didn't matter if I was first, second or third in this rally - I just wanted to win the Championship," said Loeb. "I didn't want to get involved in the battle with Fetter and Marcus, because I would have been very annoyed with myself if I'd gone off as a result of me chasing them and then making a mistake." It was Gronholm's second win of the year, and he dedicated the victory to the memory of the late Michael Park after taking the lead just one stage from home. "The most Important thing for me is that this victory is in memory of Michael, we want it to be for him," said Gronholm.

"It is quite emotional, because two weeks ago it was a really bad thing that happened for everyone in the team, so it was really good to win here." Atkinson had close battles with a number of drivers over the closing leg, fighting off Francois Duval's constant attacks as well as seeing off the fast but erratic Gigi Galli and his Mitsubishi team-mate Hard Rovanpera. Duval finished fourth after leading Atkinson early on the final day, the pair swapping stage times to the end. Both Galli and Rovanpera were ahead of Atkinson at the start of the third leg, but both succumbed to problems during the day. Rovanpera stalled the car on the start line of the opening stage of the day and lost a minute while getting the car going. Later, he clipped a rock hidden in the grass and damaged his suspension. Galli also damaged his car's suspension and limped out of the second stage of the final leg only to retire on the liaison stage, leaving Mitsubishi with only one point-scoring finish on its home event. Mitsubishi nominated tarmac ace Gilles Panizzi for manufacturer's points, however he had a difficult time on his first event back since the Cyprus Rally in May. Running well down the order and some way off the pace, he ultimately finished a disappointing 11th. It was a gut-wrenching end to the event for Solberg, who was understandably devastated to have lost an almost certain win in such an important rally for Subaru. It also was the first rally Solberg had led on merit since Mexico in March "It's shocking, I almost can't believe it," said Solberg. "I don't really know what to say. Things had been perfect for IMIVfipVt MWS

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the 24 stages before and we were so close to the result we wanted, but then It just went in an instant. I'm absolutely gutted. There's nothing more to say." Toni Gardemeister and Roman Kresta continued the Blue Oval's run of point-scoring results taking sixth and seventh respectively, with Kresta edging out Peugeot's new draftee Daniel Carlsson. It was also a good result for Australia in the PWRC, with Cody Crocker taking second in the Group N category to Toshi Aral, although the Aussie Subaru driver is not registered for Production points. The series now moves back to the tarmac of Corsica and then Spain during October before the final round in Australia, where Atkinson must be considered a chance given his form.

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Drivers' Points: Loeb 107, Gronholm 71, Solberg 65, Martin 53, Gardemeister 50, Rovanpera 31, Kresta 18, Atkinson 8. Manufacturers' Points; Citroen 150, Peugeot 128, Ford 81, Subaru 78, Mitsubishi 58, Skoda 12.

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Privateer Superteam

IN a move expected to be finalised in the coming fortnight, Sebastien Loeb and ^ Marcus Gronholm are set to r contest next year's World Rally Championship in a pair of privately-run Citroen Xsaras. Both Loeb and Gronholm have found themselves in limbo this season after the announcement late last year that sister manufacturers Citroen and Peugeot would withdraw from active competition at the end of 2005 following a request from parent company PSA. Speculation over the eventual placement of Loeb and Gronholm for 2006 has taken a number of forms over recent months, with rumours of a move by both to Ford seen as the most likely outcome, although a privateer effort by either Loeb or Gronholm was always viewed as a distinct possibility. The privateer team will be run by French tuning outfit Oreca, who has a solid background in international rallying including claiming the 2003 Junior World Rally Championship with Brice Tirabissi, with strong sponsorship support expected to come from Japanese electronics giant Sony through its Playstation brand. Loeb has always maintained a desire to retain links with 72

Citroen, the team that propelled him onto the world stage as a junior driver, in particular with potential plans for the French manufacturer to return to the World Rallying in 2007 with an all-new WRC car. Meanwhile Gronholm, above, is looking for a temporary home for 2006 ahead of an anticipated move to a works Suzuki team in 2007. To adhere to the 2006 regulations governing World Rally cars, which bans active differentials and engine water injection, Citroen recently began testing a revised Xsara that will be made available to privateer teams. - RYAN LAHIFF/STAFF

THE WRC is likely to undergo the most radical overhaul ever for season 2007 with the championship likely to be split into two calendars. While running the WRC from August to May has been mooted on several occasions, the prospect is now very real and appears likely to be ratified by the FIA World Council in late October. The proposal put forward by the World Rallies Commission is that the 2007 Championship will kick off in January, with eight rounds running during the first five months of the year. This shorter championship will include rallies from the first half of the current calendar and could possibly include some of the

HAVING wrapped up his second consecufroa WRC title, Sebastien Loeb has set himself three goals to fulfill over the final three rounds. \ "Now that the Championship has been decided, it will be tough for the rest of the year because everyone else will be going all-out for wins," said Loeb, whose first goal is to better his current tally of eight victories. Loeb is also determined to claim his maiden victory on home soil at the next round in Corsica, a feat that has so far evaded the Xsara driver who had to settle for second at his last attempt in 2004. The third and final aim though is to ensure Citroen leaves the World Rally Championship with a fourth manufacturers' title to their name. "Each time out, Citroen has given us a competitive and reliable car," he said. "We now intend to do all we can to make sure the team keeps the Manufacturers' title. They really deserve itl" - RYAN LAHIFF motorsporinews

RALLYING

Winter? Get Used To It candidate rallies currently lobbying for full WRC status. Following the eight round series there will be a two month break before the reconstituted 2007/08 series starts again in August. The 07/08 Championship will then feature a 16 rally program running through until the following May. The idea of running the series as a 'European winter' championship has been proposed to reduce clashes with Formula One and Moto GP. "For me, the winter season idea would work very well," Ford Boss Malcolm Wilson said. "From a PR and marketing viewpoint it would take us away from clashes with FI and the Motorcycle World

AMIDST the fanfare of Toyota's re commitment to Australian rallying last week, the team spearheaded by Neal Bates received an unexpected award for their engineering efforts.

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Championships, and make rallying the premier motorsport category during a time when people in the northern hemisphere watch the most TV. In addition to the re-alignment of the WRC, the Commission has also broached expansion of the 'pairing' concept, which could

see the teams forced to use the same engine and chassis for three or even four rallies in a row. The Commission has also put live TV back on the agenda, suggesting that all rounds should look to run a live TV stage as the final test. - JON THOMSON

Expanding Horizons

DEAN Herridge remains quietly confident that he can secure a Production World Rally Championship (PWRC) programme for next season following two successful excursions to the recent Rally Argentina and Rally GB. “The response from most of the PWRC teams has been very positive,” said Herridge. “Obviously they are all in different positions preparing for next year, so it’s a case of waiting and seeing what develops over the next month or so." A finalisation of the World Rally Championship calendar, expected to be delivered later this month.

Boys, Take A Bow

and word on Subaru Australia’s rally plans for 2006 are the major hurdles for Herridge before he can begin the task of tying down a programme for the six-Round PWRC series. “We were able to further our discussions in Great Britain that we’d started in Argentina and the outlook Is very positive,” Herridge continued. “We’ve had some very positive interest from a number of teams about driving for them. ’’For me, right now it’s a case of waiting patiently for our immediate plans for next year to fall into place with Subaru (Australia) and then begin

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negotiating with the PWRC teams to see what they can offer us and what we can offer, financially, in return.” - RYAN LAHIFF

At a black tie dinner in Sydney last week Bates, co-driver Coral Taylor and team manager Darryl Bush were surprised when they won the NSW Engineering Excellence Awards for the design and development of their Group N (P) Corolla Sportivo. "It is just such fantastic recognition for what the team has achieved," said Bates. "All the guys have worked so hard over the last three years, and to get this sort of recognition from out of left field is amazing." ■ The British round of the WRC is set to remain in Wales for at least another six years following the continuation of the sponsorship of the event by the Wales Development Board. Wales agreed to continue its title sponsorship and its agreement with International Motor Sports Ltd (IMS), the commercial arm of the British Motor Sports Association, after hosting the rally for much of the last decade. The deal is estimated to be worth the equivalent of $120 million to the Welsh economy. - RYAN LAHIFF/JON THOMSON

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Rilat and Little to usher in new name at Bacchus Marsh

TREVOR Green scored a superb but lucky victory at the Parramatta season opener,the Tyrepower Spring Nationals,two weeks ago. While running a close second to leader Mark Blyton,the Lewis/Green Team Eagle started to run low on fuel and with the Adradbacked car coughing and starving for fuel. Green was just about to retire as the reds l came on for a stoppage. The team were able to refuel Green and when Blyton retired with engine problems. Green continued on to,score a great victory. Second was an impressive Ian Loudoun, pictured right, who just held put a fast l finishing Troy Little. I knewT had to fight hard against Blake .Robertson," said Green. n "I've raced against him in the US and I got ,hirn before thgj;i/,st stoppage. I then thought n 'did we put fuel in the car?'.j:got-tq,IV|aj;k (Blyton) but before that last stoppage the car started coughing and ran out of fuel,falmost pulled in (to the pits), but the reds came on. It ' was the luckiest win I've ever had." Defending PCR Track Champion Troy Little, l debuting his new JEi Sprintcar, set quick time ; in qualifying, a second placing in heat one and i was running strongly in the A Main, but spun out InTurn.3. Coming from the rear of the field. Little stormed forward and in an electric ,.-performance over the final 10 laps. Little had t forged into thircKplace. On the fintri-lap’^Little "made a lunge at Loudoun, but just missed out. . Fifty six Sprintcars qualified in time trails ' with Green setting second quick time to Little with Loudoun, visiting American Blake Robertson, Blyton and young Scott Darley making up the top six. Former Litre Champ Darley looked good

debuting his own Maxim after a third placing in his heat. Darley was racing a strong third in the A-Main but mid-race taggled with the iapped Ian Burrows, seeing both flipping over and out of the race. American racer Robertson, in Australia for the weekend Speedway Expo, ran weil all night, winning his heat in the John Hartowned machine. Robertson ran up with the leaders in the A-Main but the Californian was slowed due to a lack of brakes. WSS Champ Max Dumesny had a night he'il rather forget. Qualifying 12th fastest. Max got tangled up with Joel Knott during the opening lap in Heat 4, retiring with a damaged front end. This put Dumesny towards the rear of the shortened B-Main, giving the large crowd the rare sight of seeing Max sitting out a feature. - GREG BOSCATO

ROLLING Thunder Raceway is the new name adopted for the latest reincarnation of Bachus Marsh Speedway. The rekindled venue, which has also been previously known as Western Auto Raceway, will have its opening event on November 26 for Super Sedans and AMCA National in a low-key affair. December 17 will mark the first Sprintcar show, with Travis Rilat, right, and Troy Little already confirmed starters for the $5000-towin event, John Shore and many SRA competitors are expected to join Little and Rilat, who both share a crew chief in common in Bill Roberts. Rilat's Eagle will run in the colours of Rolling Thunder Raceway,as it is owned by RLR's new promoter, Ray Solomon. A second Sprintcar event, this time worth $10,000 for the win, will be held on January 3, the night after the final World Series Sprintcars Jumbuck Speedweek round. It is expected that many of the WSS frontrurmers will take part, and Late Models will also run at this show. February 18 will see a $3000-to-win Speedcar event, however,Solomon did sight the Victorian SRA as a sticking point to RLR not running

Radio

ALL Sprintcar drivers racing at the Tyrepower Parramatta City Raceway this season will have radio contact with the officials. Using the same system employed by the World of Outlaws and the Knoxville Raceway, each driver's helmet will be fitted with a radio, enabling the Chief Steward to advise the drivers while out on the track of any problems, especially at race restarts. One major problem has been drivers not lining up in order, but now the Sprintcar officials can tell the drivers exactly where they are running, which should speed up this summer’s racing at the PCR. Drivers will also know why they have received the black flag, but as the radio communication is a one-way system, drivers cannot air their greivances to the stewards. - GREG BOSCATO

motorsportnews

SPEEDWAY

Thunder Kerry Kahne Is the Mad Man Kasey’s man in NSL?

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more high profile events. "Three other race dates during February and early March were rejected by the SRA on the basis that the dates clashed with other

RECENTLY crowned Knoxville Track Champion Kerry Madsen is being mentioned in US Speedway circles as a hot conteder for one of the prime seats in the 2006 National Sprintcar League. With his Knoxville season over, Madsen has being driving a Kasey Kahne-owned #9 JEI Sprintcar in selected World of Outlaws events. Kahne is one of several NASCAR stars set to run a car in the newly-formedJSISL

next year, so could Madsen, affectionately known as the Mad Man, be the first Australian driver confirmed for the NSL? As well as being the reigning Grand Annual Classic and Knoxville Track Champ, Madsen, below, has consistenly been the bestperformed local at Outlaws Downunder and this season became the most successful Aussie at the Knoxville Nationals with sixth place.

NSL’s Oz flavour FURTHER to our report last issue, the new National Sprintcar League is gaining momentum in United States racing circles. While Richard and Kyle Petty appear to be the public faces of the NSL, two Australians are emerging as the driving force behind the breakaway series, in Richard Petty Driving Experience owner Barry Graham and Parramatta City Raceway owner Brian Healey. "Brian and Barry are the ones who are actually going to do the circuit'," Champion car owner Karl Kinsertold The Times Mail. Kinser also suggested that the list of NASCAR stars adding their names to the team owner's group could still rise. "I've also heard - and it's all hearsay for now-that Dale Earnhardt Jr and Jeff Gordon are going to put cars in it. That's a lot of clout." n American ace Brian Brown will venture to Australia this summer to join Tasmanian Robin Dawkins in a two-car assault on Rounds 7 to 16 of Proton World Series Sprintcars. Brown, nephew to Outlaws star Danny Lasoski, impressed two years ago in selected WSS rounds. The Kart Magic-backed pair will use Maxwell motors and Cool chassis.

Sprintcar meetings in Adelaide and Brisbane," said Solomon. "This is most disappointing from a promoter and car owners point of view as this leaves a six-week gap of Sprintcar racing in Victoria from the Classic in late January to March 11. "Even more incongruous is the fact that nine other approved Sprintcar dates in Victoria, most of which are SRA Series dates, clash with other Sprintcar meetings in Adelaide or Brisbane."

n At the PCR season-opening Spring Nationals, a record (for a club show) of 39 410ci-engined Sprintcars made up the 59-car field.

Changes such as the relocation of the main entrance and the widening of the racing surface will be in place by opening night, while some changes will be implemented over the next 12 months.

Shack Max hits back LAST Saturday night, Max Dumesny made up for the previous week’s disappointment by winning the Lord Mayor’s Cup at Tyrepower Parramatta City Raceway. Dumesny’s Valvoline machine was in hot form, but like most of last summer, had Robbie Farr’s Titan Maxim right with him, the pair trading positions a number of times. But it was in lapped traffic

that Dumesny was able to take the advantage leaving Farr to finish second and a very impressive Ian Loudoun picking up another third. Trevor Green challenged Loudoun early on but faded to sixth, giving Mark Blyton fourth ahead of Troy Little and Green. A big roll from Garry Rooke caused a mid-race stoppage. - GREG BOSCATO

n Speedcar racer Mike Rinkin had a night he'll rather forget after having a huge crash coming into Turn 3 at the season opener at the PCR. Rinkin was knocked out for a few minutes and awoke complaining of back pain, forcing the PCR crash crew, paramedical officer David Higgins and the local ambulance officers to request a rescue unit. Rinkin had to be cut out of his car, taking roughly an hour and forcing PCR promoters to cut some races. Fortunately Rinkin wasn't severly hurt in the nasty roll, pictured below. - STAFF/GREG BOSCATO

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12 October 2005

Dodge City Raceway 8/10/05 , .Danny Lasoski .. .Steve Kinser . .Daryn Pittman . .Donny Schatz . .Jason Meyers . .Brooke Tatnell .Craig Doilansky .. .Terry McCarl .Paul McMahan .Shane Stewart

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Adelaide Alive Drag Racing makes return to Adelaide International Raceway with successful Charity event

NDRA DRAG Racing in Adelaide is back - the Drag Racing for Charity event two weeks ago, without doubt, exceeded all expectations. The generous support of many local South Australians, (plus a heavy television and radio advertising campaign) made the event a huge success. The Julian Burton Burns Trust, the Mary Potter Foundation and the Masonic Foundation were the Charities that received the support from the drag racing community. All proceeds of the day went to the three charities to help continue the magnificent help and support services they provide. Competitor numbers were good for the return of drags to Adelaide International Raceway - the first time an ANDRAsanctioned meeting had been held there in over five years. The weather was also a bonus and the spectators, showed their support, with estimates between 18,000 to 20,000. Car parks were full, and there was plenty of creative parking ... Around 80 drivers competed in the six eliminators, and five exhibition brackets. The Top Doorslammers of Brett Stevens and Paul Greghini led the action. Stevens also ran his Jack Daniels Flarley Davidson in Top Bike alongside local rider Dennis Grant. For many racers, this was there first time down AIR's quarter mile in almost five years. There were the usual local suspects, some new faces and new cars seen for the first time by many. The racing was tough and close, with many personalbests set and even ANDRA National Records topped. It was undoubtedly a great day for Drag Racing in South Australia, and a step towards ANDRA Championship Drag Racing returning to AIR, "What can I say? What can I say? Today exceeded my wildest dreams," said AIR Venue Manager Anna Micheel. The winners on the race track were Simon Miller in 76

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Competition and Renee Cockerill in Super Gas. Ross Macheda won Super Sedan and Darren Mallisan won through in Super Street. Gary Busch claimed Modified, and Toni Keating was the winner in Modified Bike. The match-race winners were Stevens in Top Doorslammer and Top Bike, Nevil Langley rode away with the win in Pro Stock Bike, Enzo DeMizio in the stunning Chevy Lumina won Super Stock and Neil Mellett was the victor in Junior Dragster. Future drag racing events are now set to be announced for AIR. Track-talk suggested that Nitro Funny Cars, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Bikes could return to AIR in the near future, while Nostalgia Drag Racing is confirmed for November. - STEVEN WHITE

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Taking the right Route TONY Schumacher padded his lead in the NHRA POWERade Top Fuel standings with a victory at Route 66 Raceway two weeks ago. After stopping Bobby Lagana, Morgan Lucas and Brandon Bernstein in the early rounds, Schumacher recorded a 4.53s pass at 328mph in liis U.S. Army dragster to defeat a tyre-spinning Doug Herbert in the final. During the event,Schumacher set a new national record of 4.437s, earning him a valuable 20-point bonus. With his two closest competitors being eliminated in the first round,Schumacher is headed toward a third overall and second straight POWERade Series championship. With just three events remaining, he has a 205-point lead over Larry Dixon. Ron Capps defeated a tyre-spinning Tony Pedregon in the Funny Car final with a 4.76s/327mph to jump from fifth to third in the standings and pull to within 45 points of team-mate and series leader Gary Scelzi, who lost in the semis. In reaching the final, the Ed McCulloch-tuned Brut Dodge Stratus recorded a string of 4.75s/328mph,

4.79s/324mph, and 4.78s/328mph passes to stop Robert Right,low qualifier (4.68s) Cruz Pedregon and John Force. In Pro Stock, defending event Champion Jason Line used a 6.71s at 205mph to defeat Erica Enders, left mid above, who fouled out at the starting line. It was Line's fourth victory in 2005. The Summit Racing CTO had to get past Greg Stanfield, Kurt Jolmson, and Dave Connolly to reach the final. With her performance Sunday,Enders became the first female in NHRA history to advance to a Pro Stock final round. Enders

picked up her first round-win in her Slammers Ultimate Milk Chevy Cobalt just one event ago at Reading,impressed with wins over Ron Krisher, Mike Edwards and Pro Stock legend Warren Johnson, who fouled in the semifinals. - DAVID OSTASZEWSKI Points: Top Fuel: Schumacher 1630, Dixon 1425, D.Kalitta 1422, Grubnic 1232, Lucas 1192. Funny Car Scelzi 1326, Force 1283, Capps 1281 Pro Stock: Anderson 1633, K.Johnson 1451, W.Johnson 1372 Pro Stock Motorcycle: Hines 966,Tongley 924,Sampey 817.

Brisbane to Columbas AUSTRALIAN Steve Marker drove to victory in the last round of the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series at National Trail Raceway in Columbus, Ohio. Harker, a Brisbane resident, used a final-round pass of 5.78s at 248mph to defeat nine-time TAFC national champion Frank Manzo, who recorded a 5.81s at 253mph. Harker also competed in Joliet, qualifying 12th at 5.69s/253mph. He ousted Steve Gasparelli in the opening round with a 5.78s/ 250mph and lasted until the second round where he was defeated by Mick Snyder, 5.69s to 5.83mph. It is understood that Harker may compete a full U.S. program in 2006. ,VID OSTASZEWSKI

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MORGAN Lucas will venture out on his own next season in NHRA Top Fuel competition. Lucas Oil Products man at the t -

David Ostaszcivski

12 October 2005

top, Forrest Lucas made it clear in Joliet that they will venture out on their own in 2006. It is unclear as to whether they will purchase Joe Amato's complete operation or pursue other options. - DAVID OSTASZEWSKI

CLAY Millican clinched his fifthconsecutive IHRATop Fuel World Championship when he advanced to the final at the President's Cup. Heading into the event, Miliican held on to a 193 point lead over second-place driver Doug Foley, and only had to put a pair of round victories in the books to close the mathematical door on Foley, who lost in the semifinals. Mike Castellana ended the Torco Pro Modified points race when second and third placed runners Shannon Jenkins and Cari Spiering both lost in the first round of eliminations. The 2005 title is Castellana's first career World Championship. Millican and Castellana joined Torco Pro Stock driver Steve Spiess, who clinched the World Championship in Epping recently. In the event's Top Fuel final, Millican defeated Bobby Lagana, 4.70s/312mphto4.81s/317mph. He had earlier stopped Roger Dean and Todd Paton. Castellana was able to win his fourth Torco Pro Mod Ironman of the season on a single when Mike Stawicki broke. Castellana's Western Beef Chevy Cavalier posted a winning 6,22s/229mph. He had earlier defeated Ed Hoover, John Russo, and Billy Harper. After setting a new mph record at Epping of 236.46mph, Steve Bareman, driving Jim Oddy's Summit Corvette recorded the quickest legal Pro Mod run in IHRA history when he clocked a 6.050s at 235.64mph. Brian Gahm claimed the Torco Pro Stock victory when Spiess was unable to fire his car for the final. Gahm took a slow 12.89s/65mph on the single pass to secure the victory. Earlier in the day, Gahm had defeated Pete Berner, Elijah Morton and Frank Gugliotta. Jim Sickles tightened the the IHRA Funny Car World Championship points race with his victory in Budds Creek. Sickles entered the event trailing Rob Atchison by 66 points and left Maryland trailing by just five. Sickles clocked a winning 5.78s/244mph in the final to stop Chris Foster who left too soon with a red-light. - DAVID OSTASZEWSKI

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King Sdlwell Cpowned A MASSIVE entry of Biante Historic Touring Cars fronted for the annual retro blast around Mount Panorama last weekend. A record 54 cars took to the track at the start of the weekend, featuring many of the types of vehicles that have conquered The Mountain in its glorious past. Chris Stillwell was the man who took the top step of the podium after a weekend of close racing. In qualifying, Brad Tilley steered his Ford XY Falcon to ah impressive pole position. The New South Welshman clocked a time nearly two seconds faster than his closest rival Stillwell, who was a similar margin in front of Garry Trelor, Jack Elsegood and Steve Travica. Race 1 saw Stillwell cruise to the Friday morning win. Elsegood offered a spirited challenge to Tilley in the opening exchanges, and actually held second place for the opening tour, but fell into the clutches of Treloar's Chevrolet Camaro in the closing laps. Elsegood maintained guard for the runner-up spot. In Race 2, Tilley got one back on Stillwell with a close victory. Elsegood was a distant third from Monaro driver Darrin Davis and Steve Mason. The final race on Saturday was the only race out of any at the circuit that day that actually went the full distance without being red flagged! Stillwell sealed the round with victory in the six lapper from the impressive and improving Davies. Tony Hubbard upset the other Chevrolet runners with third place from Trelor and Greg Toepfer. But the most exceptional manoeuvre of the weekend came from Ford Cortina driver Scott Fleming, who almost tipped his car over at the high-speed Chase on Conrod Straight during Friday's second race. The Cortina clipped the left hand kerb at speed and went perilously close to rolling. Play of the day by a long way...

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DAVID Sieders came out on top in the fifth round of Lotus Trophy at Mount Panorama, Bathurst, last weekend. With the win, the 20-year-old also grabbed the series lead with two rounds to go. Sieders set the pace in qualifying and Race 1, before claiming a last-to-first win in the reverse grid Race 2. But Sieders's weekend was tarnished in Saturday afternoon's third race. The event was called off when he bent his Lotus against the inside wall on the exit of The Dipper on the first lap. The race was red flagged, but still, his round win stands. Richard Buttrose had a consistent meeting, finishing 78

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second and third in the two races for second place overall. Sam Walter was another to post an overall podium with third and seventh. Tim Poulton had his best result for the year with second place in Race 2. Class B honours were shared by the rapid Matthew Kingsley and Dean Evans. Points: Sieders 972, Fisher 960, Harrigan 956, French 946, Walter 800.

Oz Hill Climb title to Gumley

WOLLONGONG’S Peter Gumley saved his best performance for last to snare the 2005 Peter Lehmann Wines Australian Hiil Climb Championship on his final run of the weekend at Collingrove in South Australia’s Barossa Valley. Gumley took his eighth national crown with a best time of 29.63s, edging out defending Champion Gary West, who missed the win by a slender 0.23s. Victorian Andrew Howl made the most of his Pilbeam machine to claim third outright. Andrew Ford faired the best of the locals, taking his Reynard to fourth while Brett Hayward rounded out the top five outright placings. Other notable performances saw class records fall. Kevin Mackrell made the most of his all-wheel-drive Chev-powered Datsun 260Z to lower the Closed Sports Cars over 2001 cc record. The HQ Holden record was claimed by Steve Laybourn and Tom Drewer snared the Saloon Car class record aboard his EB Falcon. - PARIS CHARLES

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NATIOMAI.SCENE MORE V8-liveried Aussie Racing Cars will invade the unique series in 2006. A second Garry Rogers Motorsport Commodore looka-like will hit the tracks in an eight round ARC series, along with a Team Australia entry backed by Craig Gore. Young karter Richie Rapper has been entrusted with the

GRMA/alvoline drive, while former V8 Ute racer Danielle Argiro has an audition with the Team Australia squad at the next round of this year's championship on the streets of Surfers Paradise, supporting the Lexmark Indy 300. The Team Australia car will contest the entire 2006 ARC season. Meanwhile, negotiations

continue with three other major V8 teams. The Aussie Racing Cars will embark on an eight round calendar, highlighted by a stand-alone meeting at Tasmania's Baskerville Raceway. Teams will feature in their own street parade through the town in the week leading up to the race in May.

The ARC circus predominantly follows the V8 Supercar program, but is likely to run its final two rounds with the new CAMS Series at NSW venues. The order of events is; Clipsal 500, Baskerville, Darwin, Oran Park, Sandown,Indy, plus two CAMS meetings. - GRANT ROWLEY

Old and Bold at NSW Kart Champs

Karting contro

THE Confederation of Australian Motorsport announced last week that it plans to move the delegation of karting away from the Australian Karting Association to a newly-formed body. Karting Australia. "The AKA has managed karting in Australia proficiently over several years, however, its current constitutional structure does not comply with the requirements of CAMS or the FIA," CAMS President Colin Osborne said. "The purpose of Karting Australia is to provide the karting fraternity with a new organisation which complies with the requirements of the FIA and which will enable orderly operational management of karting in Australia." A special meeting was held between CAMS and AKA representatives on October 1 when an interim Board was appointed for Karting Australia. A Memorandum of Understanding was also approved which outlines how the AKA's responsibility for karting will transfer to the new entity. "The objective is to have a karting organisation in Australia which is managed by karters and eventually owned and controlled

12 October 2005

by karters in exactly the same way the AKA currently is," he said. "It will then get to a situation where the only relationship between Karting Australia and CAMS is via the delegation agreement which is similar to what we currently have with the AKA." Flaving initially received positive support from several within the AKA system (the interim Board is, in fact, made of many AKA state Presidents, plus National President Donald Wells) there now seems to be a significant amount of resistance to the change. The various state AKA associations have been having meetings over the last seven days to decide whether to support Karting Australia, or not. There is also talk that the AKA might in fact be able to fast-track its constitutional reforms within the next few months, thus satisfying CAMS' FIA requirements. No doubt there are more develops to come on this issue, but one thing is sure; karting in this country can not afford further fragmentation or political upheaval at this time. - MARK WICKS

A BUNCH of current and former state champions ruled the asphalt at Lithgow's NSW State Championships on September 23-25. David Sera and Jason Hryniuk continued their state championship rampage. Sera grabbed yet another Rotax Light title, leading home Scott Auld and Hryniuk. Hryniuk won Clubman Heavy after a close race with Clint Cathcart. Fastest qualifier Peter Lawler was third. Lawler backed up with an easy victory in ReSa Heavy. Hryniuk also took the challenge to James Sera in Clubman Light but James won the title ahead of Kyle Clews. In Junior National Light, Chaz Mostert was undefeated all weekend. Dean Oven achieved the same feat in Clubman Super Heavy. Mathew Hart got the upper hand in Midgets after a weekend long battle with Joseph Mawson. Mitch L'Estrange overcame a DNF in the heats to win Rookies with Christopher Hayes and Matty Brabham filling the podium. One of the few 'new winners' was Brendan Nelson who saved his best for the Junior National Heavy final. Despite winning the pre-final, national champ William Yarwood had to concede defeat to fellow Queenslander Kel Treseder in Rotax Heavy. Daniel Stein (Heavy)and Terry Cobb (Light) won the Senior National classes. JICA champion Joshua Scott Qunior Clubman)and Jason Burns(ReSa Light) also had wins. -MARK WICKS

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David Sera spoke to MARK WICKS about his amazing season MOTORSPORT NEWS: Would you say that 2005 has so far been the best year you have had in the sport? DS: Yeah, I think it is. I'm starting to achieve what I really wanted, like the Rotax Light Australian Chantpionship.

DS: Rotax and Leopard are ; pretty much the same, speedwise, but Leopard has more grip with the tyre. Clubman is pretty ' good because you just put your ' foot down out of a corner and go compared to a Rotax where ' you have to ease the throttle on. i But I like Rotax the best.

MN: How does that title compare to the three-in-a-row junior titles you won? DS: Heaps better. The class, and seniors, is a lot better. I'd take that one over the three junior titles any day. MN: At the Rotax Nationals, you had been the pace-setter all week. How much pressure did you feel prior to the final? You didn't seem real happy with things after the pre-final. DS: Yeah, the motor wasn't going right (a partially blocked jet was found after the pre-final), i was getting a bit nervous because I had top qualified and had won every heat ... everything had gone right, but I had been in that situation a lot of times before and hadn't pulled it off. So I was a bit nervous, but luckily everything came through. MN: Are you doing any special preparations for the Rotax World Finals? DS: We couldn't get a kart (the senior MAX category will see everyone on a spec CRG Road Rebel chassis supplied by the promoters) but we're going to get some Mojo tyres from DPE and do some testing on them and see how they compare to the YGKs (Bridgestone). MN: What about the Japan Yamaha race, how did that come about? DS: Yamaha had their eye on a 80

MN: How is your Formula Ford program coming along? DS: I've done three test days, all at Calder. We'll move on to Winton next time to get more experience because Calder, there's not much to it. But we're just testing at the moment. Once we get on the pace, then we'll go for it and try to secure a deal to race next year. few drivers and a representative of Yamaha was at the Golden City Power Series round at Oakleigh. He had a rough idea who to pick (from) and he just came down to finalise it. MN: How do you think you will go at these international events? DS: I'm more confident for the world titles because I've been in a Rotax a fair bit over the last few months, while with the Clubman I've almost given it away. And everything has been going pretty good in Rotax. But in Japan - who knows? MN: Will these international events be the first time you have ever raced a kart that was not an Arrow? DS: Yes. I don't think I've ever raced anything else. MN: This year you have raced Clubman, Leopard and Rotax. How do they compare, and do you have a preference?

MN: And you had a good test in the wet last week? DS: Yeah, it's kind of the same as a go kart - you don't go on the racing line. I found it better on a go kart line in the wet. MN: What is on the schedule for the rest of 2005? DS: Japan, then the Tasmanian Championships, the Leopard (national) final and Malaysia. After that we'll try and do the Viccy Closed as well and try to get all four (colour) plates. MN: And your plans for 2006? DS: Try and get a deal going for Formula Ford and hopefully do the (Vic) state series. I'd still like to do some karting because there are not that many Formula Ford events. But mainly just the major events. I've cut back a lot on club days because, some people you race, you feel - not sorry for them, but they always come second or third. And (at club level) that's probably not good (for the sport).

by CHRIS JORDAN AFTER losing his Saloon Car title to Clint Harvey in 2004, Bruce Heinrich this year reclaimed the mantle as'numero uno'in the CSA Wheels Saloon Car Series. The South Australian Saloon Car stalwart was the clear champ of 2005 in what is always a large and competitive grid, and he is keen to keep the title in 2006, when the category undergoes a raft of changes. "Definitely, with the new model next year 1 will be very keen to defend the title," said Heinrich. "Being a full Australian Championship for next year will also make it worth chasing."

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THERE are some obvious (and not so obvious)similarities between V8 hero John Bowe and 20-yearold Brad Lowe.

For starters, their surnames carry the same last three letters. Also, their names collectively have eight letters each. We break the big stories here at MNews... But seriously, if you dig deeper, both Bowe and Lowe love racing cars - lots and lots of cars. In 2002/03, Bowe drove in both the V8 Supercar Championship and PROCAR's Nation Cup Series. A heavy schedule for a wanted man. Lowe has been in the same situation in 2005,given, on a National Scene level. He contested the New Soutli Wales Formula Ford State Championship, the Aussie Racing Cars Series, and a one-off race in the national FFord Championship at Oran Park. It was at OP that Lowe registered his presence on the local motor sport radar. "I wasn't too sure how I was going to go," he said of his debut in the national class. "I was hoping to be in the top five, but I felt comfortable that

molorsportnews

NATIONAL SCENE

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Initially it was John Goodacre that was my main rival... but in the end my greatest threat was Clint Harvey" - Bruce Heinrich, pictured above with Harvey

Reclaiming the Cmwn The competitive nature of the category saw Heinrich have to overcome several rivals throughout the year as different drivers and cars came to the fore as the series unfolded.

"Initially it was John Goodacre that was my main rival at the front," said Heinrich. "But in the end the greatest threat turned out to be (defending champion) Clint Harvey." "It was definitely a tough year. You just have to bring the best car you can

to each track and keep the car up to scratch with the brakes and tyres and things like that. "All I wanted to do is front with the best car I could and have car 100

percent for each circuit- the rest is up to the meathead behind the wheel!" Heinrich's mechanical background has not only seen liim front up with a well-prepared car at each round, he is one of the minds entrusted with steering the categories transition to new model cars in 2006, with AU Falcons

"For the first 12 months the

and VT Commodores to be phased in over a one to two year period. "The new cars will be pretty good," said Heinrich. "I wouldn't say the new car is as quick as my current car just yet, but there is still a lot more development to go into the new cars." The current category formula has been fined tuned to the point of great parity between makes. Heinrich sees the same being adiieved with the new formula, after adjustments are made.

Commodore may struggle," said Heinrich."The Falcon at this stage has more power but also more weight,so they tend to cancel each other out. At the moment the Commodore seems to fall over a bit in the corners. "What we have now that we didn't when the category first started is the ability to add weight and make adjustments throughout the year, so it will all work out."

and Lowe Range FFord winner, Aussie Racer and V8 tester. If it has wheeis, Brad Lowe drives it f

weekend,in both categories(he also steered the Aussie Racing Car), and I knew I was going to do well. As soon as practice hit, I knew that I had a chance." Lowe qualified on pole and won the first race before finishing second overall for the weekend in his Anglo Motorsports Van Diemen. While Oran Park may go down as his best result for the season, his test with V8 Supercar team WPS Racing at Queensland Raceway gave Lowe a new career incentive. "I didn't get many laps in the Supercar due to a shortage of time," he said. "I only got about 10 laps, but the car felt awesome. It's such a different car to what I've be driving

12 October 2005

"I was straight Into the flat changes. It all felt rr good -Lowe was quick to pick up the art of driving a V8 Supercar this year. I thought I adapted pretty quickly. I did a 15(lml5s), 1 was happy with that, considering my lack of experience. I only missed one gear and I was straight into the flat changes. It all felt good."

"I would like to do Supercars, and stay in Australia. If the opportunity arose to do something overseas. I'd enjoy that challenge, but I'd like to race Supercars." In the meantime, Lowe has his sights set on another season of swapping between cars - again, in the same vain as John Bowe. "I find it easy," he said. "It hasn't been that hard. Once you've done practice in both cars, you know where to brake and where to change gear. I don't have any problems adapting to different cars, all year I've been hoping in and out of cars and it hasn't fazed me. Last year I did Speedway,and this year I've just become used to it." - GRANT ROWLEY

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NATIONAL SCENE

Brits run one-two

on claims historic World Championship in Portugal for Gillard BRITAIN'S Oliver Oakes won the lOOcc Formula A World Championship at Braga, Portugal on September 25. Oakes and the Gillard team overcame the might

seasoned veteran Davide Fore. CRG's Jonathan Thonon qualified fastest and took victory in one heat but failed to show the required pace to challenge outright.

shoulder with three heat wins aboard his privatelyentered Birel. Arnaud Kozlinksi (Sodikart), Marco Ardigo (Tony Kart) and Miguel Molina (Intrepid) were the other heat winners. Tony Kart locked out the podium in the pre¬ final, Ardigo, Edoardo Mortara and Fore putting on a dominant display. But come the final, the green team's decision to use up two of their four new tyres had consequences. With more grip. England's Mark Litchfield (Birel) and Oakes soon took over the front running. Oakes went on to score a magnificent victory while Litchfield and Ardigo both eized their engines in the closing laps. New Zealand's Mitchell Cunningham qualified 55th. Despite consistent finishes in his heats, he failed to score enough points to transfer to the pre-final and was classified 54th of the 72 contestants. Tony Kart won the World Cup for teams. - MARK WICKS

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Karting Briefs REMO Racing has announced the type of cars that are on offer at the inaugural Australian Leopard Finals at Puckapunyal next month. In association with the Hyundai Motor Company, Remo Racing will provide the winner of both Leopard and Leopard Heavy with a new 2006 model Hyundai Getz. The highest CGrader in each class will also take home a $1000 Remo Racing product voucher. The Leopard finals will be held in conjunction with the last round of the Golden City Power Series.

n Josh Hart and Mathew Wooding will be New Zealand's representatives at next month's Rotax World Finals. Hart (19) and Wooding (14) confirmed their participation by olinching the New Zealand Rotax Max Challenge series in Auokland recently. Last year. Kiwi Junior MAX driver Earl Bamber finished third. I

n First Karts NSW has announced they will be importing

the RBI Rotax chassis from America. RBI is made by First Kart in Italy for the American market. "(We hope to) build a great relationship with the company so if our team drivers or customers want to race in the USA, that door is open for them," said a First Karts release. The RBI chassis is designed by RBI Racing Team and manufactured by First Karts in Italy. n There will be a change of pace at the Victorian Karting Association's annual prize presentations later this year. The famous Puffing Billy steam train has been commissioned to take guests to the presentation venue I Admission tickets can be arranged through the VKA. n The NSW Speedway Kart Club held a unique race meeting at Nepean Raceway last month. The inaugural Celebration Day was to commemorate the input and contribution of the club's life members as well as members who have passed on. The club hopes

the Celebration Day races will turn into an annual event. n Australian Superkarting has a new web site www.SuperkartsAustralia.com. The new site has been put together by returning superkarter Jon Crooke and provides a quick link to the various state superkarting sites. These include a revamped Victorian site with lots of information explaining the costs, speeds and classes of Superkarting. n Ben Waiter pocketed $2500 when he successfully defended the Masport Cup at Highclere last month. Walter (Arrow) defeated the cream of Tasmania's Rotax Light drivers as well as Queensland Azzurro pilot Richard McLeod. Shane Bond (Phoenix) won the pole shuffle and subsequently took the lead at the start of the 20 lap final with Walter right on his tail. It didn't take long for Walter to find a way through and he recorded an easy win. Zane Wyatt(Arrow) moved up for seoond ahead of Bond and McLeod. Stephen Swain (CRG) was the first Heavy driver home. - MARK WICKS

JAKE Chapman won back to back Junior National Heavy titles at the Numurkah's Australasian Kart Titles meeting last month. One hundred and eighty karters coped with slippery conditions on the Saturday before an excellent day of racing on Sunday. The meeting featured demonstration runs by Graham Powles' fleet of historic karts, plus a special Ladies Clubman class. Gippsland's Leah Aspinall took the win ahead of Melissa Cosson and Sarah Gray. Other winners included Ryan Sanderson (Clubman Light), Tim Vohmann (Clubman Heavy), Robert Munnerley (Junior Clubman), Mark Breen (Leopard Light) and Liam Morey (Midgets). - MARK WICKS

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Indy history on DVD Roie Brakes forges ahead in Melbourne THE Race Brakes franchise in Sydney has closed. However, Race Brakes customers can still buy the company’s quality products directly from head office in Victoria. Race Brakes apologises for any confusion or inconvenience customers may have experienced in recent months with the status of the Sydney outlet and are committed to providing the best service to all customers. Race Brakes has been serving the motorsport and vehicle community since 1980, specialising in the design and manufacture of race and high-performance brake components. Race Brakes is the authorised distributors for AP Racing clutch and brake components, Endless, PFC, Hawk and Pagid disc pads as well as DBA disc rotors and PBR brake components. Race Brakes stocks a full range of race and performance pads, disc rotor hats, disc cooling ducts, clutch systems, disc rotors, pedal boxes, braided hoses and brake fluids. For more nformation contact Howard Reynolds and his team of experienced brake technicians on 03 9326 6088, visit the workshop at 44-68 Racecourse Rd, North Melbourne, or check the net on www.racebrakes.com.au 12 OGtober2005

CAPRICORN Media has released a range of motorsport titles which will appeal to fans of all ages. New to the rcnge is a series showcasing the highlights from each decade of racing at Indianapolis. The first in the series is Indianapolis 500; The 60’s, which follows the final days of the the Offenhauser front engined roadsters and victories by drivers such as Jim Rathmann, Roger Ward, Parnelli Jones and Bobby Unser. The Sixties also features the introduction of the dominant mid-engined Ford racing machines and international Formula 1 drivers Jim Clark, Graham Hill, Dan Gurney and Mario Andretti. Separate titles look at the Indianapolis 500 in the 70’s, 80's and 90's, featuring stars such as Fittipaldi, Mears, Donohue, Villeneuve, Unser Jr, Lazier and Brack. Indianapolis 500: The 70’s features individual race recaps, complete box scores, drivers biographies and interviews. A special Sid Collins tribute and the Legacy series of commercials are also included. The 90’s DVD includes features items such as the original calls from the IMS Radio Network, new interviews, photos, trivia and plenty of bonus material. The complete DVD series forms a unique history of the event over the past 40 years. All titles are available from Big W and leading DVD retailers. For further information or trade enquiries contact Shock Entertainment on 03 9014 0354. COUtCIOI S tBHUI otucTfli s tempi .-1^,

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AtuminiumTube and Sheet fo r all your Metal requirements 1/ Offer t. all Motoisf>oi:t NewS’ieaders FREE S(; FREE Motorsport News 6 month subsaiption or pair of uraden handheld radios and charger with every order. Conditions apply. Ask Matthew fi>r details.

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more race vehicles and parts for sale at www.myt05.com

BRABHAM 2004 Porsche GTS Race Car > Ex David Saelen Car (top 3 in Europe) Imported to NZ early in 2005 and raced at one meeting only Motech Computer and all the normal spare wheels and tyres., 205,000 AUD Or Best Offer. Peter 006421524917.

Starting life as the 1963 Brabham "works" Junior FJ/9/63, this car was driven successfully by Denny Hulme in the International Junior Series (a close 2nd outright to Arundel). After the Series, in October '63, it became the first Brabham to be fitted with a Ford Twin Cam. The engine was supplied by Cosworth and fitted by Frank Gardner at the Brabham factory. TASMAN HISTORY - Frank Gardner, driving for Mildren Racing, who purchased the car from the factory, contested the '64 Tasman Series including the Australian Grand Prix at Sandown.At Lakeside, he finished an impressive 4th outright behind the big-engined internationals. Later in '64 the car was sold to New Zealand champion Roly Levis who went on to win the New Zealand Gold Star in the car. He contested most of the '65 and '66 Tasman events including the Australian and New Zealand Grand Prix and was a regular class winner and often near the front outright (Levin 1966 4th behind Jim Clark).

321

www.myl05.com/74979

BMW 325i E30 Tarmac rally / circuit race car

Class winner of Rally Tasmania & Targa Tasmania. Built &

iffe LU

pi n maintained to the highest standard by Northern BM with a ^ ] 100% finishing record. Vehicle is currently in rally trim with 2 Sparco 2000 seats, Terratrip & Intercom. Coil over suspension ^ with Koni inserts & Eibach springs, AP 4 spot front callipers U with 280mm discs on front BMW Avus blue in colour. This car p can easily be converted to E30 racing specifications. Vehicle B has normal Vic registration. . $40,000, Phillip 03 9499 3088 / 0418 367 004.

www.myl05.com/71916

CHEV LS1 5.7LT ENGINES CHEV LSI 5,7 LT ENGINES. LOW KMS COMPLETE INC NEW LS6 INTAKE MANIFOLDS COIL PACKS, ECU ETC GREAT CONVERSION. $2600 Not Neg. BRAD 0418928953.

RESTORATION - Purchased from New Zealand in 1999, the car went through a detailed, professional restoration which retained the original chassis, most major components including the gearbox. Immaculate throughout. The all-steel 1500 Cosworth engine produces 184 bhp (dyno sheets). Well sorted suspension. Only 3 race J meetings since restoration. ^

PERFORMANCE Frank Gardner in FJI9/63 Australian GP 1964 Unquestionably one of the country's front running M & 0 Group cars, yet simple to drive and maintain. At the 2005 Phillip Island meeting, the car convincingly won the Group M (pre ‘65) category, breaking the lap record (Imin 44 sec) and finishing 2nd outright. It also had race and class wins at Winton (long circuit) and Mallala. FJ/9/63 comes with a complete documented and continuous history. Included are letters of verification from the International Junior Registrar, past owner correspondence, period photographs and race results. Current FIA and CAMS papers. Comes with spare body shell, block and pistons, gear ratios, comprehensive spares and all set-up data. Serious enquiries only please. Contact I.McDonald Bus: (03) 9682 4644 Mob: 0418 502 335 AH (03) 9589 1217 Email: ihmcd@bigpond.net.au

12 October 2005

321

www.mylO5.eom/57570

1984 Mitsubishi FM Transporter ●I

Set up as sprintcar transporter. Comes with NSW RWC. Electric winch, power and lights In pan. Aluminium ramps. CD Player. This truck Is mechanically sound. Inspections welcome. The rego expired on 21/9/05. $14,500 Neg. Phillip 0418143310. 321

www.myl05.com/43183

ISUZU TRUCK WILL FIT FORMULAR FORD $17,500 ONO. Nick 03 93 700 300. 321

www.myl 05.com/70908 87

Fidania lightweight aluminum ilywheels. adiusiahle cam surnckets and Fleiinlaies

The leader in High Perlormnace Street Legal lyres and Drag Racing Slicks. Availabie to suit most vehicles including Sport Compact.

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The Fuel that is used and recommended by Champions

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ILSON

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RaceCarbs Tools & Eijuiptnent QM Paris Electric Pumps W

n W Hi dm ill. Hi \/isil our wetsite www.rocketinil.coin or call one olour Irieorllf stall on(02)88251900. Jrade enquiries welcome 1

CLASSIFIEDS VX Supercar Aero Kit, VX Supercar Bumper, Rear Bar, Wing, Sills, Front Guards, lights, ducts etc. All supercar parts, all carbon / kevlar. Various. Ryan 0419 425 275. 321

www.myl05.com/59519 I

Polar 1997 FV 1600 For Sale, Built and maintained by Peter Verheyen. All sorts of spares including 2 noses. Full 1600 conversion including inboard front Konis with Van Dieman adjustable rockers. Armtech Speed Shift. If car bought before October 30th, will throw in a set of 1 meeting-old Dunlops for $600. Owner moving overseas. $18,950 or $19,950 with F/C trailer ONO. Richard Warland 0411 275 740 / 02 9489 2548.

Koni Alloy Shocks & Springs, Alloy adjustable Koni dampers 13.5 inches centre to centre, sperical bearings used twice with 450.b & 2001b new eibach springs. $1850.00. Gregg 0428 745651. 321

www.myl05.com/80409

321

www.myl05.eom/42790

MOTEC DASH - ADL 8, Motec ADL 8 Backlight Dash. No options enabled. Complete with Basic Harness, Beacon, Backlight controler, software etc (other sensors available). 5500. Ryan 0419 425 275. 321

www.myl05.com/91118 OHLINS DAMPERS, Ohiins TT 44 Dampers. 4way adjustable. Piggy back cannister Suit supercar rear. Others available, 50mm Strut, 3B two way adjustable rears, etc. $ 3500 pair. Ryan 0419 425 275.

TILT-TRAY, 4.6Ltr. OHO AfterCooled TURBO Diesel. 5 Speed.AirCond.Power Steering. Electric Windows. Front Discs & ABS. Polished Alloy BullBar. Hvy Duty Tow Bar. 4.5metre Tilt Tray & Alloy ramps. Loading Winch (1000kg single pull). Car License OK.. $42,850. 0408-305210.. 323

www.my105.com/96083

321

www.myl05.com/47753

ERA - Low cost racing. New cars in Kit or fully built. Space frame chassis, 1.8L, 16V twin overhead cam Ford Zetec engine, twin Webers with Alpha ignition or fuel injection with throttle bodies, MK 9 Hewland gearbox. $55,000 (Kit). $63,000 (Built). Prices for Webers. Contact Bemie Mylon, Australasian Kitcars, 0408083100, 0260563100 0260563100 / 0408083100. 321

www.my105.com/25878 I

Nascar for Sale, Nascar Pontiac complete with 600 + hp motor. The car has Thunderdome and circuit racing set up, big brakes, full floating 9" diff, Bilstein Shocks, triple plate cluth. Aluminum radiator, new harness etc etc. It would make the ideal donor car for a sports sedan or improved production. 29,000. Daryl 0417 672 700. 321

www.myl05.com/38956 Race Car Spare Parts, Mazda RX7 Holinger gear box, conventional H pattern 5th gear overdrive, fully reconditioned by Holinger, receipts for $5300.00 Price $5300.00 AND Mazda RX7 Group "C" rear wing and sports sedan front spoiler $250.00 each. Phone 0414 239 781 Email srso@bigpond.net.au. 0414 239 781 / 0414 239 781.

Holinger / Modena, Holinger 6Dog H6S Gear-sets, complete. Brand New. Modena 5Dog gear-sets (little use). H6S InternalsShafts, Shifters, Forks, Dogs, Hubs, input shafts etc. Cali with your requirements. VARIOUS. Ryan 0419 425 275. 321

www.my105.com/52411 Harrop Uprights / Suspension, Harrop front suspension components. Front Hubs, Uprights, Shock tubes, mounts, steering plates,racks, control arms, swaybars, AN excellent cond, some new. NEGOTIABLE. Ryan 0419 425 275.

Racecar Transporter, 1 owner prime mover single axle, Long range fuel tanks, bull bar, clean skins all around. Trailer set up for low sedan or similar. Work bench and steel cabinet aluminuim chequered plate floor, with kitchen and lounge area. Some storage underneath, wheel racks, and spoiler area. Phone Mark 0409846717. $66,000 Neg. Mark 0409846717. 322

www.my105.com/10178

321

www.myl05.eom/50824

Transporters/Trailers n i r j

321

www.myl05.com/38695

ELFIN NG FORMULA VEE, Current NSW State Champion. Complete and ready to race with spares. Excellent presentation. Freshly painted with new sticker work. All dyno, sealing sheets and log books available. This is an excellent car for an introduction to motorsport into a very competitive class. Very reliable and always well maintained. $11,000. Sydney Neg. Stephen 0412 565 089.

V8 Supercar engine,Perkins 18 degree chev.Full service history, recent $20,000 rebuild including brand new heads.Complete with Dry sump pump,extractors,engine loom and Autronic ECU. 20,000. mark 0407981122. 320

www.my105.com/78121

321

www.myl05.eom/69051

Engines Commodore V6 Ex Saloon Car, professionally built and maintained by Gary Brown (OLD) complete with custom made extractors and stinger EMS. $3,000 ONO. John 0411 759 092.

Wheels and Tyres, 3 piece alloy 4 off 13inch X lOinch, 4 off 13inch x 15 1/2 inch. PCD 3 1/2 inch centre bolt, 9 off rim halves all new $500 each. Avon wets 2 off 225/600 R13, 2 off 330/620 R13 $200 each. Dunlop wets new 2 off 220/600 R13, 2 off 295/620 $250 each. Chas 03 9752 7639(b - ah). 321

www.myl05.eom/25230

322

www.myl05.com/18295

Parts HOLINGER 5SPEED GEARBOX & SHIFTER, (IN HOLINGER CASE) EX PERKINS 1-1 5TH. $7,500. Ian (08) 8384 6933 or 0414 815 955.

accessories open wheeler, quick lift jack suit open wheeler, front wing, nose cone and mould, ex F 3000. $200. Alloy sub partly built similar F300. $200. Chas 03 9752 7639(b - ah).

Fully enclosed trailer. Built to carry class 1 off road buggy. Rocker suspension, electric brakes. Internal shelves. Internal and loading lights. Hand winch. Built all new in 2003. 11.000.00 Or Best Offer. Eric 0400592677. 321

www.myl05.com/41594

Purpose Built Race Trailer, 48FT PURPOSE BUILT RACE TRAILER 4.1m HIGH. FITTED OUT FOR RACE CAR, WALL CABINETS, ROLLER DRAWERS, BENCH/OVERHEAD UNDER CUPBOARDS. 3.6m MEZZANINE FLOOR, TYRE RACK, DROP DOWN TAILGATE, COMPRESSOR, 7KVA GENERATOR, LIVING QUARTERS. $93,000.00 ONO. Tony 03 5940 2034 / 0419 109 915. 322

www.my105.com/35594

Wanted

Race Car Drop Deck Pantech, incomplete project. This trailer is an Aluminium ripple side that is in the the process of converting to flat sides. The materials to complete the flat sides are included. Also included is kitchen cupboards and lounge to help fit out the trailer. Spring suspension, clean skin tyres, good brakes. 8,000. Daryl 0417 672 700..

Natec engine management system, and looom to suit chev 8. Chas 03 9752 7639 (b -ah). 321

www.myl05.com/55923

Karts for sale

321

www.myl05.com/10753

321

www.myl05.com/84286

321

www.myl05.com/91154 Longacre Corner Weight Scales, newl new! all models available. Lowest prices in Australia. John 0418 320 517. 327

www.myl O5.com/88073

12 October 2005

Mazda Close ratio Gearbox, 4 Speed Needham, based on RX4 Gearbox with new close ratios, Gearbox purchased from Selectmaz. Only used once. Sydney. $2300. John 0403957543. 321

www.my105.com/38852

Car Trailer, Car Trailer dual axle - tool box tyre rack - full 15 ft tray. $3,250.00. 0414 239 781 /0414 239 781 . 321

www.my105.com/47203

Arrow / Rotax, Engine & kart have only been run in. No racing as yet but engine is started regulariy. Engine blueprinting & kart setup by Stones Bros. AIM Mychron3 50mm axle, adjustable gauge, camber/caster. Comes with trolley, vertical stand, ail oils & some tools. $5600 ONO. 320

www.my105.com/8193

OPINION

motorsport

I^vww.mnews.com.au

Ambrose caused the 'big one'. If it had been anyone else, you would have backed off and

Editor: Phil Branagan l editor@mnews.com.au Deputy Editor: Mark Glendenning l mark@mnews.com.au National Editor: Grant Rowley l grant@mnews.com.au Staff Journalist: Chris Jordan l chrisj@mnews.com.au

conceded the position after you stuffed up at Griffins Bend. But no, you saw who it was, and you weren't going to give him an inch.

EDITORIM STAFF

PRODUCTION Graphics/Prod. Co-ordinator: Jason Freeman l admin@mnews.com.au

ADVERTISING

Brendon Sheridan - PR Driven Tel: 03 9877 7271 Fax; 03 9877 7207 mobile: 0407 007 286 l ads@mnews.com.au

Managing Director/Publisher: Chris Lambden l publisher@mnews.com.au

CONTACTS A;

5:41 3

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CONTRIDUTORS

FI: Joe Saward, Adam Cooper, Paolo Filisetti Europe: Quentin Spurring, Gary Watkins, David Addison US: Phil Morris, Martin D. Clark Speedway: Brett Swanson, Julie Pearce, Geoff Rounds, Tony Millard (UK), Greg Boscato, Darren Sutton Rally: Jon Thomson Drag Racing: Dave Ostaszewski (USA), Nick Nicholas, Ken Ferguson National: Mark Wicks, Mark Jones, Daniel Powell, Erin McCowatt, Andrew van Leeuwen Photographers: Sutton Motorsport Images, Dirk Klynsmith, Bothwell Photographic, Marshall Cass, Nigel Snowdon & Diana Burnett, AF1 Images, Neil Hammond, Ailsport, John Morris/Mpix, Frank Midgley, Peter Bury, Mike Patrick (UK), Chris Carter, James Smith, Paris Charles, Bob Potts 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 hot be reproduced in full or in part without the written permission of the publisher. Freelance contributions are welcome, and while all care will be taken, Australasian Motorsport News does not accept responsibility for damage or loss of material submitted. ●Opinions expressed in Motorsport News are not necessarily those of Australasian Motorsport News or its staff.

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'gentleman's agreement' regarding balaclavas was going to be revoked? No memo to teams, or

Look, 1 agree with you, sometimes he drives as if he's the only one on the track, but the last time I looked, you were a race car driver and not part of the problem that is known as Race Control. Just get over 'it' {ijour problem with Marcos)and stick to doing what you do best... driving. Ron Dekker

statement during the Driver's Briefing as either would have been referred to during debate/discussion over the issue. Looks like SBR were the victims

converter Send us your thoughts: mail; PO Box 7072, Gardenvale, VIC 3186 fax: 03 9596 5030 www.mnews.com.au

alkycat@ncnbk.net.au

ADMINISTRATION

>■

Letter to Murph Sorry Murph,but you and your attitude towards Marcos

Marcos needs a lesson

slow exit off the corner.

I can't believe that after racing in so many categories that Marcos Ambrose can still say he is a Devil Racer. To assume that Murphy would just move over and let him have the run into the Cutting is just stupid. I am sure when he races in the

Ambrose was already past him when he drove Ambrose clean into

USA he may see a lot more of the concrete wall. Paul [surname withheld] Sydney, New South Wales

Murph in the wrong I have finished watching another Great Race at Bathurst and Holden's 25th victory and although I would prefer a Ford win, I keep telling myself there is always next year and we can settle for a victory in the Championship. However, I would like to express my disbelief at Greg Murphy's disgraceful driving and subsequent behaviour and antics towards Marcos Ambrose after the lap 144 accident. If Murphy thinks anyone who saw the helicopter footage of the accident believes he is not 100 percent responsible for destroying the chances of the Pirtek, GRM, Orrcon and Autobarn cars of a race finish then maybe he should spend the rest of the year in the Development Series learning appropriate drh’ing tactics and racecraft. Four wins at Bathurst doesn't

the wall. Not only did he prematurely end his own race, but also the championship leader's as well. Wake up Greg and stop blaming everyone else when you don't win. TVfter watching the telecast, I am no longer interested in a single word Murphy has to say. I feel Ambrose was hard done by and will now support liim and the Stone Brothers team. I would like to wish Marcos and the Stone Brothers all the best in the future and hope the car is repaired in the near future Angela and Malt angelagunn@aapt.nel.au

Dirty on Murph and the Balaclava fiasco Thanks Murph for ruining a potentially great finish to an eventful Bathurst because you're dirty: on yourself for making a mistake at Griffin's Bend; on Ambrose for getting past you; and dirty driving tactics in an attempt to reclaim fourth. And what of the gentleman's agreement with non-gentlemen? Where was the notification that the

of sour grapes and bad pit lane politics. Now that brings the sport into disrepute. Angela Koelink via email

Skaife deserved a penalty Can you guys please explain why Skaife evaded a penalty for crossing the pit line early and passing through another teams (manned) pit? This could have been a serious safety issue had any member of the BOC team not been aware of the incident. Is the answer again limited to three letters, HSV? I can't wait to hear the Stewards' explanations on the balaclava situations. Why suddenly choose this race, this year to enforce a previously disregarded offence? Wayne Mair iurm@bigpond.net.au

Bring back Power After watching an enthralling opening AIGP round, I have to admit to a burst of nationalistic disappointment with Sunday's second round. Where was Will Power, who did so well at Brands Hatch? Sorry Christian Qones), Dad may run the team but you're clearly a bit short on the level of experience required - dicing with the Indians was embarrassing. I'm planning to go to eastern Creek - but please tell me Will will be back in the car or I might reconsider! Michael Anderson North Ryde, New South Wales ED: Will was away signing some important papers (see news pages), but we hear Will Davison will be in the car for Round 3, in Portugal, next week. Eastern Creek? Don't know yet - we'll be the first to let you know. Dale Brede will be there too ...

necessarily make someone a great champion and Tm sorry to say that based on the post-accident antics on Sunday, he showed he has a lot of learn if he ever wants to be V8 Supercar Champion and be respected as such a Champion. John Arklay jsaxuorld@ozemail.coin.au

Murph fan switches to SBR As a former Greg Murphy fan, after watching Bathurst I will no longer support him because in my opinion he should have given Marcos Ambrose racing room after making a

Hmmm, should I write to Talk Converter? MNews readers have divided opinions regarding the Murphy/Ambrose Bathurst clash.

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