Motorsport News Issue 322 - November 9-22, 2005

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- Mark Webber Optimistic for 2006, despite 2005 hiccup

JE Pistons & Performance Wholesale Australia would like to congratulate Shane Hill & the team at Holden Motorsport Engine Department on their outstanding record of 5 Bathurst Victories in a row using m

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HMorspon Issue 322

9-22 November 2005

www.mnews.com.au

news and opinion 4

All Smiles JC, Ingall and Frosty get comfy seats

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At DJR, we’ll save you No, that slogan Is already taken

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It’s all-Japanese! Except for Agurl's Aussie designer 10 If Dan goes here ... then that leaves Ryan at ... PKV? 13 Webber Plains If you see him at Symmons, say G’day 25 Motor Mouth Glendenning and the International things 26 Box Seat Now do we have to call Saward ‘Super Joe’?

82 Taik Converter You're still on about Bathurst? YikesI!

GROUP

helT^ falcon »,HELIA

foaturos 28 Five Minutes With Jason Richards He is just wild about Tasman 30 Five Minutes With Fetter and Atko Subaru’s WRC comedy double-act 32 EXCLUSIVE Courtney Love Nobody was permitted behind the scenes at James Courtney’s first Stone Brothers test session - except Motorsport News 36 Back to Work Ryan Briscoe details his recovery from that accident 38 American Up a Creek A chat with A1 Team USA’s Bryan Herta 40 Work to Rule Campaign Some heavy hitters react to FI’s latest rule changes 42 Now for Christmas! Mark Webber discusses his tough season at Williams 46 Rossi-free zone Some V8 stars, and the editor, get the leg over(some bikes) 64 Crystai Baii + Ciay How the World Series Sprintcars season shapes up

race coverage

50 Frogs Legs and Burgundy all around! France dominates Australia’s A1 round. We go alright and Japan is lucky to escape from a mega-shunt 58 Ouvre le Woop Ass The Loeb Show cruises ever onwards in Catalunya .r 60 Winning Finish Cody gives Subaru and triumphant exit from the Globalstar ARC

motorsport

COURTNEYS FIRST BIDE DuMUmN

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Photos: Cover: Dirk Klysnmith, Jeremy Braithwaite and sutlonimages.com Contents: Klynsmith, Ford Racing Media, sutton-images.com

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regulars 20 Stateside 64 Speedway

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62 Rallying National Scene

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Courtney/SBR: Three years- Ford-backing- Ready to win

#9 Alive

RUSSELL Ingall has formally re-signed with SBR. After slightly protracted negotiations, Ingall finally inked a two year deal, with further options, on the Friday prior to the team's announcement that it had secured James Courtney as its other driver.

"There's no question, they're a great team," said Rusty, "and the fact that Caltex has re-signed for three years as the car's major sponsor also helped, "With that out of the way, I can now go into these final two rounds of the championship with no other distractions - and going in with a 66 point lead is a fair way better than going in 66 behind!"

Ingall completed a solid day's testing with the team last Tuesday and is confident that the team has found a sustainable, if modest, gain in suspension set-up.

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AMES Courtney and Ross Stone both pronounced themselves very happy after the former undertook some preliminary laps in Marcos Ambrose's car ss during an SBR test last Tuesday.

The 'behind closeddoors' test took place the day after SBR announced a three-year deal with the young Aussie international, as well as the signing of US company Jeld-Wen as a replacement sponsor for the departing Pirtek (see other story).

Courtney's signing comes in the face of a mega-dollar offer from Japan and an offer from HRT. "Everything happened remarkably quickly in the end," Stone told MNews as Courtney reeled off laps.

"I needed to finalise the deal with James last week and be able to announce it on Monday, so he could be part of this final test day for the year for us. James is off to Japan tomorrow for the final round of the GT Championship, and it's the only time Marcos and he could be here at the same time.

"In the end we finalised the deal on Thursday. It wasn't a long negotiation and, really, it wasn't about money. There were a number of other factors and our offer clearly

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Winterbott®*" Rider

gave James what he / was looking for."

Without saying as much, Stone was suggesting that equal number one status with Ingall at SBR was more attractive to Courtney than a number 2/3 role at HRT. Stone confirmed that Ford had "come to the party" as part of the offer and that Courtney has a matching threeyear deal with the blue oval.

MNews was the only print media on hand to see Courtney acclimatise to SBR, the 25 year-old enthusing about his new home, comparing the team to the successful UK Carlin Motorsport team, with which he contested Formula 3: "I got on really well with all the guys and we worked really well together. These guys all seem pretty laid back while, on the other hand, they are obviously real racers and want to win - so it fits me well."

Courtney reeled off a series of three-lap runs, getting to within a few tenths of Ambrose. His next appearance in an SBR car will be in Februar/, when the Stones roll out a brand new Falcon, liveried in the colours of new sponsor Jeld-Wen.

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For more on Courtney's test and contract dealings, see page 32.

THE much-coveted seat with Ford Performance Racing will be filled by Mark Winterbottom.

The former Konica V8 Supercar champion is believed to have gained the approval of his current team boss Mark Larkham to join the Melbourne-based works team on what MNews has been told is a multi year deal. Confirmation of the move is expected to be made later this month.

FPR Team manager Tim Edwards would only confirm that he has his man for next season.

"We have already sorted our driver lineup for next year/' he said on Monday."We have been comfortable for a while."

Larkham announced last month that he had picked up the options of both of his drivers, Winterbottom and Jason Bargwanna,though it now appears that he did so in full knowledge that FPR wanted 'Frosty' to join Jason Bright. MNews has been told that Ford said it preferred to have Winterbottom at FPR. The move means that there is a vacant seat at Larkham's Orrcon-backed team. Sources suggest that a number of drivers are under consideration for the drive, though the favourite appears to be Steve Ellery.

The Queenslander has been told he is being dropped

by Triple 8 at the end of the season and has been in solid form during the second half of 2005.

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Irish Eyes at Symmons FIRST it was James Courtney trading a Japanese GT ride for a V8 Supercar. We expect to see Richard Lyons chatting to V8 Supercar team owners in Tassie this weekend.

Lyons is the 2004 Formula Nippon champ and recent Nissan GT driver and only a year ago, was being talked about as a possible FI candidate.

■ Dick Johnson's Shell Flelix display car was set alight by vandals on Sunday morning at 4.30am. The Ford was shipped over ahead of the team's transporter and race equipment and was in a holding bay in Devonport.

The Ford is usually seen in the merchandise paddock at the APVC (Accor Premiere Vacations Club) site.

No one was injured and no other equipment was damaged. The $45,000 Ford was completely written off.

Police are investigating.

■ Jason Bargwanna will become the 20th driver to compete in at least 100 rounds of the V8 Supercar or Touring Car Championship this weekend at Symmons Plains.

■ The driver of the A1 Team Japan Lola that prompted the Safety Car at Eastern Creek has been released from hospital. Flayanari Shimoda was declared fit on Monday after spending the night in the Fligh Dependency Unit of Westmead hospital under the care of the trauma team.

Jeld-Wen ink with SBR STEGBAR’S parent company, US-based Jeld-Wen, has signed a multi-year deal to sponsor the Stone Brothers Racing Falcon to be driven by James Courtney.

The company also owns other wellknown window and door suppliers, such as Corinthian, and will use the sponsorship to broaden its corporate ID in Australia.

Ross Stone confirmed that the deal came together remarkably quickly, following the surprise withdrawal of long time backers Pirtek: “It was all happening at the same time as we were putting together the drive deal with James, so there was a lot going on.

“But it’s a multi-year deal and gives us some stability.”

In the end, with time so short, the team was only able to concoct a ‘promotional’ race suit for the Monday announcement, Courtney testing the following day in a plain race suit.

-CHRIS LAMBDEN

9 November 2005

■ As reported last issue, Fosters has signea on as the major sponsor of A1 Grand Prix Team Australia. The deal marks something of a departure for the brewing giant, which has a long history of supporting events but has rarely put its logo onto a car.

■ Greg Crick will return to full time racing in next year's Australian GT championship. Crick blew the cobwebs off his Viper, dormant since the end of Nations Cup, to race at Eastern Creek last weekend. It paid off too, with Crick taking the win in Saturday evening's one-hour race.

■ The legal battle between At Grand Prix of Nations, Australia Pty Ltd and the Australian Grand Prix Corporation is still kicking along.

The AGPC has alleged a number of infringements of intellectual property rights which it asserts it owns in a number of trade marks, including the term 'Australian Grand Prix'. At Grand Prix of Nations, Australia Pty Ltd, meanwhile, believes that it is entitled to use the terms 'A1 Grand Prix' and 'A1 Grand Prix of Nations' as the event title.

The two parties will return to court on 16 December.

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Brabs back,and one more Kelly THE V8 Supercar Silly Season has started early this year, with two drivers being stood down by their teams for the final two races of the season.

Greg Ritter will miss the final rounds of the Series after being replaced by David Brabham.

The endurance veteran, who drove for FPR at Sandown and Bathurst, will make his first starts in sprint races in the OzJet Falcon alongside Jason Bright. But the move does not mean that he is under consideration for the full-time seat (see separate story).

"David knows the team, he knows the car and he was sitting on his bum doing nothing," FPR Team Manager Tim Edwards said this week.

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I His Frank Gardner impersonation needs work: Brabham, left, returns to 2 FPR, while Davison has stepped out of the Autobarn VZ for the last time.

Autobarn Commodore in the Kelly, who finished fourth at "He had finished his future. Alex Davison has been Bathurst, will be racing on commitments internationally released by team boss Larry home ground at Symmons so we asked him back."

Plains and may have to Perkins who is clearly of the On the other hand, there is a mind that the 2004 Carrera fordsake his Super Cheap Autos enduro deal for a black strong chance that Owen Kelly Cup champion has could drive full-time in the Commodore next season. underperformed this year.

Johnson: Home A-Loan? Cruickshank WESTPOINT is staying in V8 Supercar racing - but possibly, not for much longer.

The property and finance group will continue its involvement with

the spokesman said.

Motorsport News believes that DJR will run its two car under new colours next season as part of what one insider described as the "Dick

Dick Johnson Racing until the end of the 2005 but its participation beyond that point is unlikely, at best.

A spokesman for the company was not able to clarify the long-term future of the Perth-based company; "We are wanting to get through the last two rounds of the championship, at which time there will be an

Johnson brand". As part of that branding,Johnson has become involved with V8 Mortgages, a mortgage broker that offers customers property financing from a number of lenders, including some of the country's biggest banks, under the branding of a single supplier.

The same insider said that the deal was 'significantly bigger" than the

announcement regarding the future,"

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Westpoint sponsorship and that the new arrangement was one part in a larger picture.

MNews sources say that the new DJR deal has been worked out carefully, so not to infringe on the long-term deal that Wright Patton Shakespeare holds with V8 Supercars Australia. Under that arrangement, WPS owns the sole rights for any financial services branded 'V8 Supercar'.

Industry rumours have connected Westpoint to a number of teams, including HSV Dealer Team and the Holden Racing Team. As first reported in MNews,HSVDT will carry Toll signage next season and we do not believe there is any deal between Westpoint and HRT,or any other team.

One source suggested that the reports were "made up" and that the company would take its time in deciding whether to continue in the sport or to place its dollars in other areas, including hospitality and conventional electronic or print advertising.

- PHIL BRANAGAN

Scifleet to drive, 888

PAUL Cruickshank Racing will make its debut in the V8 Supercar Championship Series in 2006.

Although the Queenslander would not be drawn on the finer details, MNews understands that he will enter an ex-Triple 8 chassis for Phillip Scifleet, with major sponsorship from Rietmans and secondary support from Doric. The BA Falcon, which was last seen in the hands of Steve Ellery earlier this year, will be Stone Brotherspowered.

The last piece of the puzzle is the licence to enter the championship, and Cruickshank has purchased the #7 Rod Nash Racing licence.

Cruickshank's main series debut in 2006 also means that he will split with current business and racing partner Jim Morton {see separate news story). Both parties motorsportnews

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Signed? Sealed?

Whincup and ^vjson

Beirutwatch AN Australian A1 GP race official took the faux pas award for last weekend's round at Eastern Creek.

The Friday drivers briefing was well underway when proceedings were interrupted by a jet car, which was part of the on-track entertainment. The behemoth cruised to a halt right outside the window of the briefing room and unleashed a series of motar-style blasts from its nether regions, accompanied by the obligatory flames. The meeting paused until things quietened down.

"Must be like living in Beiruit," said the official during a lull between the explosions. The reaction from Team Lebanon is unknown. n There was a strong police presence at last weekend's A1 GP round, but signs were that the crowd was too well behaved for the boys and girls in blue to have much to do.

One policewoman was spotted passing the time by giving her radar gun a workout on the A1 cars during qualifying.

JAMIE Whincup for Triple 8 Racing; Will Davison for DJR - those are the as-yet-unconfirmed 2006 V8 Supercar driving spots which MNews believes will be firmed up in due course.

Neither Triple 8 nor DJR is confirming signings just yet, but usually impeccable MNews sources from within the blue oval bunkers are suggesting that both deals are very much done,if not actually inked.

Whincup has let the time limit required to accept a Tasman Motorsport offer pass (although strictly speaking there is no impediment to re-negotiating a deal there).

steps

chassis, SBR power!

Insist the split is amicable.

It seems that Cruickshank's biggest coup in his new deal is the sponsorship. Doric has backed Scifleet's efforts in the HPDC V8 Supercar Series this year, but Rietmans is a new backer of the sport. Rietmans is an Australian company, which supplies a range of concrete garden and architectural landscape products.

Scifleet, 28, currently sits fourth in the HPDC V8 Supertcar Championship and drove with Garry Rogers Motorsport in the endurance races.

Cruickshank, who is currently recovering from a broken ankle, would not comment in detail on his team's moves, other than to say "everything has progressed well and we are just waiting for signatures."

- GRANT ROWLEY

9 November 2005

while Davison - who has contested the last two rounds of the A1 Grand Prix series for Australia - has only been able to confirm his availability for further A1 rounds up until the end of January.

MNews was able to contact Triple 8 team principal Roland Dane on Monday,as he prepared to board a plane in Bangkok. Dane insists that a driver hasn't been signed.

That may well be the case, but in motorsport a signature is, of course, the last item to be applied, once a deal is 'done'...

As they say, watch this space.

Jason stays put JASON Richards has re-signed with Tasman Motorsport and the team will conduct a testing shoot-out before naming its second driver.

The kiwi accepted a two-year deal last week, despite a reported strong offer from Ford factory team FPR, citing continuity as the key to success in V8 racing:

"Some of the off-track things on offer were interesting, but my priority is on-track success," he told MNews this week.

"The key people (at Tasman)are extremely experienced, clever and determined, and it has good leadership and management- it's probably unique in that way."

At the same time, with other '05 team member Jamie Whincup seemingly headed north to Triple 8 Racing, team manager Kevin Murphy confirmed that there was no desperate hurry to finalise a replacement.

The team is scheduled to test in mid-December, and Murphy suggested that a number of drivers could well be given a try-out at that time.

While he wouldn't clarify who they were,current driver market movements do suggest that Luke Youlden, Andrew Jones and Nathan Pretty could be among those hoping for a test day call-up.

For more,see Five minutes luith Jason Richards, page 28.

n Fans at A1 GP last weekend were treated to an almost full compliment of entrants, with Japan making a return to the series after sitting out the last round. Only Team Indonesia failed to show, with driver Ananda Mikola opting to skip Eastern Creek in favour of trying to wrap up the Asian F3 Championship. n A1 Grand Prix has banned pre event testing after Brazil, Mexico and South Africa caused controversy in the paddock last weekend by running in F3 and F4000 cars at Eastern Creek a few days prior to the race.

Drivers are now banned from driving any motorised vehicle around an A1 GP track during the season, and from 120 days prior to a race meeting. Exceptions will be made for drivers who had competed in a round of a championship at a venue prior to signing up with A1 GP. China, India, Russia and Lebanon have also had allowances made in order to encourage competitiveness. None of the four teams have yet managed to score a point so far this season. n The A1 GP cars were around 14s quicker than a V8 Supercar, but according to Team Netherlands, the unofficial lap record is rather more impressive. Apparently, Jan Lammers tested at the track in the TOM'S Toyota TS010 Sports Car in 1992 - an era when Le Mans Prototypes were quicker than FI cars. Just for perspective, a reasonable V8 Supercar lap around there is in the 1 m32s range. Nicolas Lapierre's fastest qualifying lap was a low 1m18.1s. Lammers and his Toyota?

1 m06s. It's not often we'd pay to watch testing, but if true then that day would have been an exception.

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Agun goes Super monda b^ks new team, Aussie designer;^mJ^rrows^'fMtory

I liked the team so much ... Suzuki was an Arrows driver in '92 and now, his team will be based at its former HQ. There are several current Formula 1

WHILE Aguri Suzuki has been confirmed as the man behind the new Honda-engined Formula 1 team, the identity of his chief technical officer has raised eyebrows.

Mark Preston, a former Arrows engineer, seems set to head up Aguri's technical staff, along with a number of former Arrows colleagues, the team to be based at Arrows' former headquarters, at Leafield,in then UK. The name of the new Hondabacked team will be Super Aguri FI and the cars will be known as AguriHondas. The team will be headquartered in Tokyo, close to the Honda head office but, as we revealed in our last issue, the factory will be at Leafield, where the company has acquired the Menard Engineering facility, formerly the Arrows FI factory.

The team has a tyre deal with Bridgestone and is talking to drivers, but has yet to confirm that its principal sponsor will be Softbank, although talks are at an advanced stage.

The new team filed its entry with the FIA on October 26 and must now wait until December 1 to find out

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TOSHIBA J^SATOSUISAN

There is also composite specialist Rob Neumann,another former Arrows design engineer.

It is not clear how far Preston

whether the entry has been accepted.

Super Aguri FI Ltd is a new British company,incorporated on October 31, and the only known appointment at the moment is that of Preston as Chief Technical Officer.

After his time at Arrows, and then McLaren,Preston decided that he was going to try to raise the money for his own FI team,called Preston Racing. This was headquartered in the Silverstone Innovation Centre and recruited a number of former

Racing had got in its design of a Formula 1 car but it may be that a design is ready and that Super Aguri Racing will now only need to find a way to manufacture it in time to launch the team early next year. The design (if it exists) will need to be altered in order to fit a Honda V8 engine.

One thing that is clear is that Honda is keen not to disrupt its major FI operation in order to help Super Aguri Racing get off the ground.

An internal team memo written by team boss Nick Fry says that "it is Honda's number one priority to achieve race wins and championship success with our team. That is why Honda chose to buy BAR. "It is in Formula I's interests to increase the number of teams and

Arrows and TWR staff, including designer Paul Bowen, who was chief designer at Arrows in 1996 and 1997.

each car manufacturer gave its commitment to supply a second team with engines and teclmical support.

teams investigating a second team.

Notwithstanding this commitment to supply another team and the announcement in Tokyo, the first priority is this team and we will not allow any significant diversion of energy into a potential second team or any project other than winning."

-JOESAWARD

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Umm ... Guess Who? WITH Michelin and probably Bridgestone both looking at tendering for the NASCAR Nextel Cup supply deal in 2007, Goodyear may be reconsidering its attitude towards supplying Formula 1.

The American giant has been losing market share in Europe to Bridgestone in recent years and has very little profile in Asia. The company is already moving to change that situation and recently relocated its Asia-Pacific headquarters from the United States to Shanghai.

Goodyear aims to increase its business tenfold by 2010.

Michelin is also investing heavily with plans to create its biggest ever factory in Shanghai and Bridgestone too is investing heavily in its production in Tianjin.

Goodyear, however, has the most to gain from FI and may therefore be willing to bid more than its rivals.

Goodyear has won more racing championships than any other tyre company but pulled out of FI in 1998 after 361 Grand Prix wins. It withdrew from CART and IRL the following year but has remained the main player on the booming NASCAR scene.

It is worth noting that the Korean tyre company Kumho has plans to enter Formula 1 and it may also decide that it can afford to make higher bids than others for the FI contract.

-JOE SAWARD

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I' motorsport news

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Son of a Gun!

Reds testing FERRARI continues to test while other F,1 teams are keeping to their testing agreement. The Italian team, humiliated this year in FI, was testing last week at Vallelunga and is planning a four-day test in Bahrain in the middle of November. Felipe Massa and test driver Luca Badoer were in action at Vallelunga while Massa will be joined

by Marc Gene in the Bahrain test.

Rosberg Jr gets the call from Williams,joins Webber for '06

by JOE SAWARD WILLIAMS FI has now confirmed that Nico Rosberg is to be Mark Webber's partner in the Formula 1 World Championship in 2006.

The move is not unexpected but is unusual, in that the 20-year-old has only a limited amount of experience in FI compared to some of the other drivers available. Williams seems to be convinced that Rosberg, son of 1982 FI World Champion Keke, is a star in the making.

This assessment is based on Rosberg's performances in GP2 in which he won the title with the ART team this year. The only slight concern being expressed by seasoned observers is that the ART team's cars seemed to be 'rather better' than those of the opposition in GP2 and that Rosberg was made to look a little better than perhaps his previous results have suggested.

Certainly his efforts in Formula 3 were less impressive, although he did

have a very good first year in car racing in Formula BMW in 2002 and won the title at his first attempt. Fie did his first FI test that year, at the age of only 17.

The team says that Rosberg was chosen for his "depth of technical understanding over the months spent as a test driver this season." This is all well and good, but it must also be backed up by pace on the race track.

The team has decided not to take up the option to continue with Antonio Pizzonia and is now looking for a third driver. As running a third car is going to cost the team several million dollars, it is anticipated that the drive will go to a youngster with some available cash. The signs are that the man most likely to get the job is Holland's Robert Doornbos, who has nowhere to go at the moment, following the recent purchase and rebranding of Minardi as Squadra Toro Rosso by Red Bull.

Michelin’s latest advice to the FIA:

Bite Moi i

IN an annoucement that was clearly planned to coincide with the FIA election, IVIichelin launched a blistering attack on Max Mosley for the FIA's "incoherent" rule-making in Formula 1.

Michelin is annoyed at the FIA's plans to change the tyre rules for 2006 which it says does not make any sense considering that the FIA has long been championing a policy of reducing costs. Michelin said that the new rules will immediately increase tyre development, production and logistics costs by 15 percent.

"This decision reveals a lack of technical understanding of the product and of what a tyre really is," Michelin said.

"In fact, tyre wear and grip are 9 November 2005

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calculated to ensure an optimum performance for a specific distance.

To switch from a tyre designed to run for 350 kms in 2005 to a tyre that can be changed every 100 kms (or less) in 2006 will require tyre manufacturers to design an entirely new generation of tyres and will therefore increase costs.

"As many have said and written in the past few weeks, we can only question the meaning behind this decision which negates all of the benefits of Michelin's research in 2005 to design a tyre capable of rurming for 350 kms, allowing its partners to win 18 races throughout the year."

Michelin went on question the FIA's "hidden motivations" for the

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n It has emerged that Formula One impresario Bernie Ecclestone had a meeting during the Chinese Grand Prix weekend in Shanghai with Vicky Chandhok, the President of the Chennai-based Federation of Motor Sports Clubs of India, to resume discussions about a future Indian Grand Prix, Swiss newspaper Motorsport Aktuell reported that Chandhok, the father of A1 Team India driver Karun Chandhok, has arranged that for Ecclestone to visit the nation next month to inspect possible sites for a Formula 1 circuit.

The FMSCI is affiliated to the FIA but the national soorting authority is the Motorsports Association of India in Mumbai. n Along with a possible Goodyear bid, Kumho is reported to be evaluating a pitch for the Formula 1 tyre supply contract in 2008. Of the current suppliers Bridgestone and Michelin, the latter is expected to pull out at the end of 2007.

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n Juan Pablo Montoya's annual Race of Stars karting event returned to the streets of Cartagena, in Colombia, last weekend with a strong international field including indyCar Champion Dan Wheldon,two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Helio l Castroneves, Montoya's McLaren team-mate Pedro de la Rosa and former Williams colleague Antonio Pizzonia plus Red Bull drivers Christian Klien and Vitanonio Liuzzi and the new Midland FI driver Christijan Albers.

2006 FI regulation and concluded that "once again, this event illustrates FI's problems of incoherent decision-making and lack of transparency."

Mosley responded by saying that the rule change was carried out by "entirely democratic voting procedures" and,inevitably, took a pot-shot at Michelin by referring to "the same regulation as in 2004 when their tyres ran without problem at Indianapolis."

It is anticipated that Michelin will not even bid for the one-tyre FI contract in 2007 and is now aiming at getting the NASCAR tyre contract which comes up for tender at the same point.

-JOE SAWARD

n BAR Honda still intends to attempt a 400kmh Formula 1 speed record attempt on the Bonneville Salt Flats, even though the surface is still too wet. The team ran its adapted (but FI-legal) V10 racecar for the first time today (Friday! on the 10,000ft Mojave Airport runway in California, for driver Alan van der Merwe to test various specially developed systems.

The team acknowledges, however, that the speed run might have to wait until next year. n Franz Tost, the 49-year-old BMW Motorsport track operations manager, will become the team principal of Squadra Toro Rosso on 1 January, it has been confirmed by Red Bull owner Dietrich Mateschitz.

Until then, the team (formerly Minardi) will be directed by executives from Red Bull Racing.

-SAWARD/SPURRING 9

Marshall Last-Ga

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MARCUS Marshall attempted unsuccessfully to reclaim his Champ Car seat with Team Australia for last weekend's final round in Mexico.

Marshall applied to the Supreme Court in Brisbane to compel Wright Patton Shakespeare to provide a drive for him with Team Australia in the race after the team terminated Marshall's drive over what it called "certain breaches".

MNews believes that these breaches relate to Marshall breaching an exclusivity clause in the contract.

While the legal

Atko Sorted

SUBARU World Rally Team is expected to confirm within the next week that it is retaining Australian Chris Atkinson for the 2006 WRC season.

Atkinson has produced a string of convincing performances in his rookie year, highlighted by a podium in Japan and top 10 finishes in New Zealand, Cyprus, Argentina and Catalunya. His ability to learn quickly and adapt to an array of unfamiliar surfaces, including ice and

tarmac, has drawn praise from SWRT team manager David Lapworth, who commented recently that the Queenslander had done enough to justify his place in the team alongside 2003 WRC champion Fetter Solberg.

Atkinson is currently back on home turf for his second attempt at Rally Australia this weekend, where he will be looking to improve on his remarkable fifth outright (in a Group N carl) last year.

- MARK GLENDENIMING

Dan Joins the Club

DAN Wheldon will take part in the Race of Champions at the Stade de France in Paris on December 3.

The new Indy Racing League champion will join other new signings Sebastien Bourdais(Champ Car), Dakar winner Stephane Peterhansel, seven-times Le Mans winner Tom Kristensen and former DTM champion Mattias Ekstrom. Kristensen and Ekstrom will form Team Scandinavia and will take on France (Sebastien Loeb/Jean Alesi), USA (Jeff Gordon/Travis Pastrana), Brazil (Felipe Massa/Nelson Piquet Jr.), Britain (Colin McRae/David Coulthard) and Finland (Marcus Gronholm/Heikki Kovalainen). .

Bourdais and Peterhansel are expected to form a second French team and Wheldon may join forces with DTM champion Gary Paffett in a second British team. ^ - JOE SAWARD^i^l UT

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Wheldon a Gana

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IRL Champ could be bound for Ganassiand is Briscoe switching camps?

A NEW option appears to have opened up for Indy 500 winner Dan Wheldon - Target Team Ganassi.

The highly-rated Briton, who looked set to secure at least a testing deal in Formula One, has been linked to team by a news report broadcast by an Indianapolis television station.

Wheldon would not comment on the matter and referred the station to his manager, Julian Jakobi.

MNews believes that Ganassi has, at the very least, sounded Wheldon out on such a deal. It would mean that the team would, in all likelihood, follow Team Penske's move and abandon Toyota engines in favour of Hondas. If that were to happen Wheldon's current team, Andretti Green Racing, would likely cut its squad from four cars to three.

Wheldon's contract with AGR expired on November 1 and it is

believed that the Ganassi offer dwarfs anything on the table from AGR or, indeed, from FI. The report also said that the Ganassi team would cut its driving squad from three cars to two and that Wheldon's team mate would be New Zealander Scott Dixon. That begs the question of what becomes of Ryan Briscoe, who raced for Ganassi this season, Briscoe, who expects to return to the USA this week after recovering from his injuries from his Chicagoland crash, moiorspori news

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It’s a Date for Willbo!

sp Fails proceedings were in motion, Marhshall travelled to the race, ostensibly to fulfill his end of the contract should the hearing go in his favour. Not only did the Court dismiss the matter, WPS's costs were awarded against Marshall.

WPS boss and Team Australia co owner Craig Gore released a statement: "It was disappointing to have to endure the court process considering the circumstances involved in the action," said Gore.

"Obviously it is satisfying to be vindicated and now it's important we get on with the sport of motor racing and go win some races for Australia, which we have wanted to do for sometime and I believe are now in a position to do so.

"I don't want to be drawn any further into this matter and will be making no further corrunent."

Marshall was replaced for the event by recently-crovmed Toyota Atlantics Champion Charles Zwolsman.

SSI Man?

FI To Avalon PAUL Stoddart is to move his fleet of two-seater Formula 1 cars to Mellbourne,to make up a pivotal part of the promotion of his new OzJet airline business.

Stoddart is currently completing the sale of his Minardi FI team to Red Bull, but the Australian confirmed to MNews while at the Lexmark Indy 300 that he will retain the two-seaters.

"We will be bringing them out here in the New Year and have them running in Australia," said Stoddart.

"We will most likely be running them at Avalon (Airport). They whole idea of the cars will be to

use them to promote OzJet, and we will be announcing in the near future a number of promotions where OzJet customers will get the chance to have a ride in the FI cars.

"We will use an airport like Avalon because the whole idea is to get as many people in the cars as possible, and we have found that the airport environment|is mthe best for that." n ' OzJet will launch a Frequent Flyer operation soon after its launch and this will also be linked to the two-seaters. What a scheme - cash in your OzJet points for a ride in an FI car.

Sounds good to us.

- CHRIS JORDAN

Kronos Scores

n A seven-round schedule has'been announced for the 2006 V8 Supercar Development Series.

As was the case this year, the 'feeder' series will begin in March at the Clipsal 500 and end at the BigPond Grand Finale at Phillip Island, Only two stand alone events are to be run, at Wakefield Park and Mallala, which moves to the weekend after the Sandown 500, rather than the usual proceeding weekend.

As we reported in September, Fujitsu will be the new naming-rights sponsor for the championship. The announcement of the three-year deal has been delayed until Phillip Island in keeping with the wishes of Fujitsu.

2005 Fujitsu V8 Supercar Development Series R1 R2 R3 R4 R5 R6 R7

March 26 Clipsal 500 Wakefield Park May 28 July 23 Old Raceway Oran Park August 13 Mallala September 17 October 8 Bathurst December 10 Phillip Island

n Formula Ford Champion Daniel Elliott successfully tested a Formula Renault car at Oschersleben, Germany three weeks ago.

Elliott tested for the Motopark Academy, which runs a driving school and the local German Red Bull team.

"The test went well," he told MNews. "I didn't go there to set the quickest lap times or anything like that, but it was basically just an opportunity to drive in a car with wings and slicks. It was a track that I haven't driven on before, which was quite challenging, so I was learning the car and the track at the same time."

as-.

could not shed any light on the matter this week.

"1 hadn't seen that at the time," he said somewhat carefully.

"Interesting."

Coincidentally, Briscoe's name has been connected to a drive in the rival Champ Car World Series, as a potential replacement at PKV Racing for Jimmy Vasser - the first man to win a title for Flonda. Is there fire behind the smoke?

As they say in the classics, watch this space ...

9 November 2005

WILL Davison will be Australia's man in the A1 Grand Prix Series for the next five rounds.

Davison said in Sydney at the weekend that he will be at the next race at Sepand in Malaysia and will be available for the next four or five rounds after that. But the Melbourne driver coyed up a little when asked what was happening past that...

Christian Jones will also remain on with the team for the next block of races. For a full report on A1 Team Australia's fortunes at the A1 Grand Prix at Eastern Creek, please turn to page 50.

AS expected, dual WRC Champion Sebastian Loeb will drive a works-assisted Citroen for Kronos Racing in 2006.

Citroen, which is taking a one-year sabbatical from the WRC, will loan their star Frenchman out to the privateer team for the year ahead of their planned return in 2007 with a newly-developed C4 model.

Loeb is expected to be joined at Kronos by Xavier Pons. Kronos has been running Pons and Manfred Stohl in this year's championship, however the team has been competing in rallying for more than 10 years and has a relationship with Citroen. Along with Kronos, Citroen will be supplying Xsaras to Team ORECA and PFl Sport next season.

n Over 250 people attended a function held at Le Montage Restaurant in Sydney's inner west to aid Australian Formula 3 driver Chris Alajajian's career on Friday November 4.

Guests including Kostya Tszyu, Greg Rust, Grant Boyden and Steve Liebman were among the guests, that also included family, friends, supporters and corporate guests.

The event was used to thank those who have supported Chris's career to date, attract new supporters and launch the next phase of his career.

ri

Dutch Treat at Midland CHRISTIJAN Albers has been named as one of the drivers for the Midland FI team in 2006.

It is expected that he will join forces with Portugal's Tiago Monteiro. Both men are providing the team with sponsorship, with Monteiro rumoured to have as much as US$12m from various Portuguese sponsors, including the national oil company Galp, the Ministry of Youth and Sport and the real

estate firm Remax.

Albers is believed to be bringing money to the team but it is not entirely clear where this is coming from, although Albers has links with the ABN Amro Bank and Peter Jan Rubingh, a major player in the WP Stewart financial business, which was involved in talks this summer to buy Minardi. We hear that Albers has agreed to bring around

US$6m in sponsorship.

The Midland Group says that it will be re-launching the former Jordan team formally on November 15, the date the entries close for the 2006 Formula 1 World Championship.

Albers is due to do his first tests with the team on December 7 at Jerez.

- JOE SAWARD

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Qualifying? It's a Knockout!

Formula One gets 'elimination' system to decide 'OG grids

FORMULA 1 qualifying will undergo its fourth change in as many years as the sport reacts to the need to spice up the action.

As predicted in the lead-up, the recent Formula 1 Commission meeting, rubberstamped the proposal which will see three-phase qualifying. Five cars will drop out after a first 15-minute session and another five after a second period. The remaining 10 cars will then fight for pole in a 20-minute final session.

As a result, tyres will again be free in 2006 with the only restriction being that drivers are restricted to 28 identical tyres for the weekend (ie a tyre decision must be made on Friday).

The FI Commission agreed 12

that the teams could continue to use third cars next season. despite the fact that some teams wanted to get rid of the idea, which gives the bigger non-top four teams an advantage.

The rule was designed to help the smaller teams get a little testing at races but the rule also meant that this year, for example, McLaren was able to run a third car and gain set-up advantage from that.

The rules will remain as before with the top four teams not being allowed to run third cars, which means that that next year we will see Williams, Honda, Red Bull, BMW, Midland and Squadra Toro Rosso running a third car on Fridays (assuming they can all afford it).

- JOE SAWARD

Eliminate ME? How will qualifying experts like McLaren's Kimi Raikkonen adapt to a new qualifying system? And can watch please, Network 10?

CDG Wing accepted

THE FIA's publicity coup, in releasing details of its radical 'central downwash generating' rear wing on the morning of the FIA FI Commission and General Assembly, appears to have been a success.

The double rear wing (see last issue) was preliminarily accepted by FI teams, who knew nothing about it before the day of the FI Commission.

Indeed, several of them read about the idea in the newspapers that morning after a carefully-orchestrated leak to the major British newspapers.

The teams said that they would agree to a package of changes for 2008 including wider wheels, slick tyres and the new rear wings and added that they would accept the changes in 2007 if eight of the 10 teams on the Technical Working Group agreed with the idea before December 31 this year. It remains to be seen if this will happen.

-JOE SAWARD

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I'm Coming Home and I'm bringing me car!

No he isnX but Webber will be in Tassie and Melbourne

AUSSIE FI star Mark Webber will surface in both Tasmania and Melbourne during a brief visit home this weekend.

Webber will be in Tasmania over the weekend to put together the final pieces of the proposed second running of the Mark Webber Challenge, in the Apple Isle, late next year.

Given the coincidence of timing, he is expected to turn up at Symmons Plains to catch up with a number of people in relation to the Challenge as well as a number of former Formula Ford rivals contesting the V8 Supercar round.

Monday sees the official launch of the 2006 Foster's AGP, at Melbourne's Federation Square,from 12 noon to 2pm. For the first time, the launch will be open to the public. with Webber on hand to literallv sell tickets to

the public. "Wanna ticket to the GP mate? ..."

On the eve of his quick trip home, Webber has expressed a degree of optimism as the Williams team goes about recovering from its worst FI season for many years. The likelihood of a strong V8 engine from Cosworth, the switch to Bridgestone tyres (with tyre changes now re-introduced) and the view that Williams has overcome the wind-tunnel problems which compromised its aero design in 2005, has our man in FI jumping to get back to business: "I'm ready to go. I don't need to have a break. I'm ready to go already. Bring it onl" he told MNews during an exclusive chat as he prepared to jump on a plane home.

For more -see page 42.

We’re okay, eh?

CHAMP Car has acquired the rights to promote the Toronto street race from the Canadian beer company Molson. The race has been taking place on the streets of the city's Exhibition Place since 1986 when Molson first took on the role. Plans for the event date back to 1968 but it was not until Molson became involved that the race took off, the earlier plans being stopped by local opposition. Molson is still expected to sponsor the event and will maintain the exclusive right to sell beer at the race. n Championship Auto Racing Teams Inc, the former sanctioriing body of Champ Car racing, has filed for its liquidation with the Securities and Exchange Commission. CART shareholders will receive around $0.28 per share. This is around half what the shares were worth when the Champ Car World Series acquired was formed with the assets from CART. The company was floated on the New York Stock Exchange in 1998 with a share price of $16, a move which raised $75m.

The company continued to trade in that price bracket until 2002 when confidence in the company collapsed. At the end of 2003 CART n filed for bankruptcy. n The inaugural race in the new Grand Prix Masters series, at Kyalami, South Africa, on 13 November, will be contested by a field of 14 of the 'spec' DeltaNicholson V8 single-seaters, the promoter has revealed. The drivers will be Renb Arnoux, Andrea de Cesaris, Eddie Cheever, Christian Danner, Emerson Fittipaldi, Alan Jones, Stefan Johansson, Jacques Laffite, Jan Lammers, Nigel Mansell, Riccardo Patrese, Hans Stuck, Patrick Tambay and Derek Warwick.

No Bull,Testing the Future

AS we exclusively reported a month ago. Red Bull has decided to put Austrian Franz Tost in charge of Squadra Toro Rosso, the renamed and soon to be upgraded Minardi operation.

Tost will take over his new role at the start of January 2006. For the last five years Tost has been in charge of track operations at BMW Motorsport but prior to that was employed by Weber Management as Ralf Schumacher's personal manager.

Tost started out as a mechanic at the Walter Lechner Racing School but went on to compete at Formula 3 level on occasion in 1983,1984 and

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in German Formula 3, winning the championship in 1988 with Joachim Winkelhock, in 1990 with Michael Schumacher,in 1992 with Pedro Lamy and in 1993 with Jos '^^^1 Verstappen.

L I Tost is not a high profile individual and the team's political g decision-making is most likely to ''/W A ^ be done by Red Bull boss Dietrich Mateschitz and his right hand man 198.6, initially with the Lechner team, but later with his own RaltDany Bahar, who was previously employed as an assistant by Italian Volkswagen. In this period he raced Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi. Tost against Willi Weber and when his will look after operational activities own racing career ran out of steam. at Faenza.

Tost joined Weber's WTS operation and ran the team with much success -JOE SAWARD

n Team Penske is on the move.

Well, part of it is; the most successful team in US open-wheel racing is moving that part of its team from its long-time HQ in Reading, Pennsylvania to the heart of NASCAR country in Mooresville, North Carolina. The two-car IRL effort will share a new shop with Penske's NASCAR and new Porsche American Le Mans Series outfits.

Team Penske had been based in Reading since 1973, and in Pennsylvania since its establishment in 1966, The Reading facility employs about 90 people. n Ford launched its new Formula Ford engine at the Brands Hatch Formula Ford Festival recently. The new leOOcc Duratec engine ran in the back of Christopher Frohm's Spirit chassis and Mygale and Van Diemen also had cars present at the Kent track.

- SAWARD/MORRIS/ADDISON 13

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Smiths X 2 EXPECT to see two Smiths Trucks Commodores in the Fujitsu V8 Supercar Series next year.

Team owner Robert Smith confirmed that his older Commodore VX has been rebuilt

by Paris Acott into VY-spec. The car is next-to brand-new and is exactly the same specification as the current Smiths VY, which has been driven by Lee Holdsworth in selected Development rounds this year.

The new car is getting its final bar work at Paris Acott’s chassis workshop in Melbourne before its expected race debut in next

season’s Fujitsu Series.

“It’s nearly finished and hopefully we’ll have it on track before the end of the year for some testing,” Smith said.

“At the moment, we are putting all our focus on (the last round at) Phillip Island. Bathurst was really rough for us. We had a lot of speed there and we didn’t get a result. I was very disappointed, so we want to turn things around at The Island.”

Negotiations are taking place with potential sponsors and drivers for the two cars for next season.

- GRANT ROWLEY

Experien You can ride in Nathan's supercharged Hoiden

EVER wanted to feel the power of a V8 Commodore on the racetrack - without trekking to the big smoke?

Well, you can, following the launch of the Pretty Roar V8 Experience at Winton Motor Raceway on Monday. The track and Wodonga's favourite driver Nathan Pretty have joined forces to scare the heck out of passengers in a 600 horsepower supercharged Holden.

"One of the first questions I'm always asked is ‘how do I get to go for a ride in your race car?' but I have never been able to give a satisfactory answer. Now I've got the answer; 'if you're

game enough, jump in'," Pretty said.

"The Pretty Roar V8 Experience gives a ride as close to a V8 Supercar as possible. It looks good, it's loud and it goes fast, and fans will be able to feel the full capabilities of a V8 race car - the acceleration, the awesome braking and cornering."

Bookings for the Pretty Roar V8 Experience's early new year sessions, making it the ideal Christmas present for race fans and thrill seekers, are now being taken and can be made by contacting Winton Motor Raceway on (03) 5766 4235.

False Start

Focus to debut in 2006 after late Bathurst withdrawal

FORD'S much-anticipated ARC debut at the Rally of Bathurst was put on ice after Ford TeamRS withdrew its new Focus from the event.

According to a Ford statement, a "thorough inspection of components following recent testing highlighted key i modifications to some parts that would be necessary before i the team was happy to enter competition."

The company refused to name the components that required modification, however MNews sources suggest that the problems lie with the driveshafts.

The team still had a presence at the rally, with driver Michael Guest and Mark Stacey completing reconnaissance at the start of the event, but the car will now have to wait until the first round of next year's championship to take to the roads in anger for the first time.

Morton readies JIM Morton will go V8 Supercar racing alone in 2006, after it was confirmed that Paul Cruickshank Racing and Morton have split and PCR will make the step to the V8 Supercars main series next year.

Morton, the owner of Decina Bathrooms, has retained the exRussell Ingall BA Falcon and will campaign it in the Fujitsu V8 Series under the name Speed FX Racing.

The Sydney resident is currently in the final stages of purchasing a new factory in Mona Vale, NSW, where the

team will be housed, along with a new transporter.

Morton, a former Australian importer of Tony Kart, has guided many young drivers through the early stages of their careers, and told MNews that he would like to see one of his proteges make the step into the Development league.

"I'd like to run a karter that I've had dealings with in the past," he said. "We are not ready to make an announcement at this stage, but 1 would really like to give a young guy a go."

While Morton has steered motorsponnews

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Alfa Surrenders ALFA Romeo has formally confirmed that it will not contest the 2006 FIA World Touring Car Championship, whatever the outcome of this year's series in Macau.

Series promoter KSO is hoping to put together a deal that will release some of this season’s Alfa Romeo 156 racecars to private teams and this has not been ruled out by the manufacturer, which has indicated that it might return in 2007 with a new racecar based on the new 159 or another car from its model range. QS n Opel Motorsport has decided y not to release any of its 2005 DTM racecars to private teams, leaving the German-based 4-litre V8 'silhouette' track racing series with only Audi and Mercedes-Benz in 2006. Opel has been courted by at least five independent teams since revealing that it intended to pull its Vectra cars from the series at the end of this season. QS n Dr Kuldeep Kaur Bhangal, an orthopaedic specialist in London, has been nominated for a Medical Futures Innovations Award for her "multi layered disposable apron", designed to combat the spread of infections in hospitals. The idea came to her when she was watching Formula 1 drivers using disposable tear-off visors. The Bhangal Apron has 10 detachable layers, each of which can be torn off and discarded after every contact with a patient. JS

Porter Buys vy

for 2006 many karters through their early days, MNews believes that former Formula 3 champion Michael Caruso could be in a prime position to get the drive.

Since winning the F3 crown in 2003, Caruso has had limited race time. He drove in the first two rounds of the 2004 Development Series with John Faulkner's Holden Young Lions team, and has competed in selected local F3 rounds this year.

Speed FX Racing was last seen in 2004, when Brad Tilley drove the ex-SBR Falcon.

- GRANT ROWLEY 9 November 2005

FOR the third time in his V8 Development Series career, Mark Porter will swap manufactures.

The Hydraulink driver has purchased one of the spare PWR Commodores, which was last driven by Paul Weel in the China round of this year's V8 Championship.

Series regular Porter will enter the 2006 Fujitsu V8 Supercar Series in the exHRT/PWR Commodore in Hydraulink colours, but is unsure of who will prepare his car. The Kiwi did confirm however that ex-BJR/GRM engineer Phil Curtis will be his team manager.

Porter said that the deal

was influenced by an alliance with a main series V8 Supercar team.

"The cars are obviously good," he said. "It will be competitive car, but I've still got everything sorted out yet."

Porter drove an AU Falcon in 2002, before driving an Independent Race Cars Commodore in 2003. In '04, he drove with Team Kiwi, before stepping into SER's Falcon this year, above.

Porter said it does not phaze him which colour badge is on the front of his car.

"It doesn't worry me," he said. "The cars generally behave the same these days."

- GRANT ROWLEY

n The BTCC will mirror the WTCC by 2007 by being open only to Super 2000 specification cars. The series currently allows the BTCC and Super 2000 cars to compete together, but the international regulations will be favoured in 2007. Although the existing BTCC cars will be allowed to compete they will be handicapped to encourage the use of WTCC-type cars. By allowing the regulations to mirror the WTCC,series boss Alan Gow is hopeful of capturing second hand cars into his market, thus bumping up grid sizes. DA n Next year's BTCC will retain reverse grids, but will be a random number of carsi This year's third race has included a reverse of the top ten finishers from race two, but next season the number of cars included in the reversal will be between six and ten. The race two winner will open a mystery envelope that will reveal how many cars are affected.

Series boss Alan Gow is ken to retain the reverse grid idea but has come under fire for the carnage it produced at Brands Flatch - this is seen as a way of reducing the possible damage. Whether trackside fans find the opening of an envelope really entertaining is unclear: the British are an odd race! DA 15

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Directional Change?

Big events remain, but V8 Utes weigh up CAMS Series move THE V8 Utes Series is currently considering joining the list of categories running rounds on the new CAMS National Series schedule in 2006.

The popular category is confirmed to run at the Hidden Vaiiey V8 round, Australian FI Grand Prix, Ciipsai 500 and Manfeild in New Zealand, and is ciose to a deai with the Lexmark Indy 300 organisers. But other rounds couid be run either with V8 .‘^uffoo-ffTiJj'es.com

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Supercar rounds or with the new CAMS Series. These rounds wiii give the Utes an opportunity to gain teievision exposure, an opportunity limited at V8 Supercar meetings as a resuit of the new make-up of the Ten Network’s motorsport coverage.

“We are looking at ali options,’’ said Austraiian V8 Ute Company’s Bili West. “We wiii be having our AGM with stakeholders on Saturday and will

finalise plans there.”

V8 Utes may also add another stand alone event, most likely in 2007, at Barbagallo in Perth.

Formula 3, Commodore Cup, Saloon Cars, Production Cars and Australian GT make up the core group of categories involved with the new series, with Performance Cars also in the fold, having decided to leave the V8 Supercar support bill.

-CHRIS JORDAN

RL cuts testing

THE Indy Racing League will eliminate its restriction on team testing m the IRL IndyCar Series next year.

I From the start of the season, each IndyCar team will be allowed a maximum of three private testing days. The new testing policy reduces testing to eight days from 12 in 2005.

I In addition to the private tests, the IRL will sanction Open Tests for the IndyCar Series on the road course and oval at Homestead-Miami Speedway (March 1-6) and Richmond International Raceway (June 22). The Richmond test will be the first Open Test held in conjunction with a race event weekend. Engine manufacturers Honda and Toyota will be allowed a single day of manufacturer testing for full-time teams that use their engines. ^ Teams will be encouraged to assist in the development of drivers from ^^^the Infiniti Pro Series, as IRL teams that also run IPS programs can earn up jHFto three additional testing days for each Pro Series car.

- PHIL MORRIS

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by CHRIS JORDAN TEAMS have secured the 25 Team Agreements on offer by Cup Car Australia for the 2006 WPS Carrera Cup Championship.

Most of the agreements and the new 997 Cup Cars accompanying them were awarded to existing teams as per Cup Car's selection criteria, which rewarded those already competing in the championship.

Cup Car CEO Jamey Blaikie is believed to have fielded over 50 requests, but informed applicants recently of the successful candidates before travelling to New Zealand to see 2005 Champion-in-waiting

Leanne goes F3 in '06 lohn Mofris/Mpix

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LEANIME Tander will join the Australian Formula 3 ranks full-time in 2006.

The 25-year-old has purchased an Opel Speiss-powered Dallara F304 from European F3 team Swiss Racing. The car ran at Eastern Creek last weekend at the hands of Michael Ho, while Tander got some extra miles under her belt in one of Piccola Scuderia Corse's Dallara F301s.

Tander and husband Garth will run the car themselves from their home in Melbourne, and are still searching for funding for the 2006 Gold Star campaign.

Tander has driven a variety of tin-tops in recent years, most notably in V8 Supercars as a

\ \ GRM endurance driver in 2001 and Konica programmes in 2001 and 2002, but her last full season in an open-wheeler was the 2000 Formula Ford championship.

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Chosen Ones

Cup Car selects 25 entries for 2006 Carrera Cup

Fabian Coulthard clean sweep the first round of the New Zealand Carrera Cup Series.

While several teams such as Greg Murphy Racing, Sonic Motor Racing and Paul Cruickshank Racing were believed to be keen on expanding, the only two operations afforded extra cars will be Sherrin Hire

Racing, which stretches from one to two, and WPS Racing. Paul Cruickshank Racing's line-up will now consist of two cars, for Jonathon Webb and David Wall, PCR having established a technical alliance with a

a Carrera Cup team but will run two cars next year as part of the Team Australia ladder system. WPS is also the naming-rights sponsor for the series.

No drivers are confirmed at this

Porsche Supercup team that tested Webb recently.

WPS Racing does not currently run

stage for the team, although Craig Gore's brother Shane is believed to be a possibility for one seat.

2006 Cup Car TLAs Three Team Agreements

Greg Murphy Racing Australia Team VIP Petfoods

Two Team Agreements

Sherrin Hire Racing WPS Racing Sonic Motor Racing* Paul Cruickshank Racing** Supabarn Motorsports (James & Theo Koundouris) International Motorsport NZ

One Team Agreement

Freestone’s Racing (Paul Freestone) Fitzgerald Racing (Peter Fitzgerald) Jim Richards Racing DG Racing (Dean Grant) ADAMCO (Mark Cini) Globe Racing (Ash Samadi) ADRAD Radiators (Bryce Washington) * One of Sonic’s TAs secured by Rodney Jane Racing ** One of PCR’s TAs secured by Jonathon Webb

9 November 2005

Why didn’t Larry think of this?

AUDI tried to exploit a loophole in the DTM regulations at Hockenheim: the rules say that you must make two pit stops, but don't say that you must do a lap in between. Therefore, Audi mechanics changed the tyres on Manias Ekstrom's car, dropped it to the floor, raised it again, did the second tyre change and sent him on his way. The organisers said foul, but reconsidered late in the evening and re-instated him in the results. n Could this be the start of d bizarre trend? n Terry Labonte and Tony Raines will share duties for the new Hail of Fame Racing team owned by former NFL greats Troy Aikman and Roger Staubach. With HoF being a new team, they will not be eligible for provisional staring slots until after the fifth race in 2006, but hiring two-time champ Terry Labonte almost guarantees that the team will make the field in those events using his past champion's privilege.

Raines will take over for the remainder of the year starting with , race six, with Labonte taking the *■ helm again for the two road course events along with driving 10 races already scheduled with Hendrick Motorsports. Joe Gibbs Racing will build the first five HoF, cars with chassis and engines provided by Gibbs after that point.

■ Denny Hamlin will take over the Joe Gibbs Racing FedEx Chev in 2006. Hamlin, currently in his first full year in the Busch Series, is sitting fifth in series points for Gibbs and in his first two Cup races during October brought the FedEx car home eighth on both occasions. He will also run the full Busch schedule next year.

■ Ryan Newman won pole for the Texas race on the first of two qualifying laps, but slapped the wall on his second lap and was forced to start a back-up Penske Dodge at the rear of the field. Jeff Gordon qualified second, but the rule book states if a car goes to the rear of the field the whole row moves forward, leaving Gordon remaining on the outside.

■ The Wood Bros have confirmed that Ken Schrader will replace Ricky Rudd at the wheel of their Ford next season, and will more than likely bring his current sponsor Swann's with him.

Rudd has not yet said whether he will end his career this season or run one more year with another team.

The Woods will also move to a new larger facility over the off-season, teaming up with ST Motorsports to field multiple Busch and Truck efforts under the JTG banner.

-ADDISOIM/CLARK

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HSD^S> Basing wttT give five young drivers a chance in a W St^arcar at Ob^MBfand Raceway this week.

Formuta Easd Irani-runner David Sieders will be joined by Russia Racing Car's Brad Lowe, former KartStars champion ^UtdrewTJwnvson, Queensland state runner Damien Flack and ruuuur feo^ta Atjgfitics driver Josh Hunt in Howard Bktt^s Youth DeveSopment Program. The test will be condwcted tndSy (Werirresdayi in the team's spare AU Falom.

Team manager VYarren Dav*s said that he won't be foaus^ o«-the stop ‘.vatch during their on-track time, he a relaxed approach to the day," he said.

"I ‘want them to have three of four short stints each, see how they react to car changes and look at their abilities with data.

"Ttera is a chance that one of these guys could drive with us fre*t-year, but the fastest driver won't necessarily be the one chosen. VVe are looking for the whole package. He neefts to get to be fast, sensible, intelligent and p-ramotable."

- GRANT ROWLEY

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Globalstar on brink ofARC withdrawal

by JON THOMSON AUSTRALIAN Rally Championship sponsor Globalstar is on the verge of withdrawing its support for the series after two years as naming rights sponsor for the series.

MNews understands that ARCom boss Garry Connelly held crisis talks with the managing director of the

agnuss-Force Jan leaves Toyota for BMW JAN Magnus^en will switch from Toyota to BMW in the Danish Touring Car Championship next season.

Magnussen and team-mate Henrik Lundgaard will suit up in two BMW E90 WTC-spec cars for Karsten Ree’s team, sponsored by The Blue newspaper.

Magnussen will combine his DTC program with another year in the American Le Mans endurance series, in which he drives a Chevrolet Corvette C6.

company, Peter Bolger, last week in a bid to retain Globalstar as major sponsor of the series.

This comes in the same week that the sport's strongest competitor Subaru announced a complete and total pullout from Australian rallying.

The Globalstar boss stunned many rally competitors and manufacturers representatives at the post-rally presentation evening in Bathurst last month by firing a broadside at the sport, citing many areas where it needed to be changed and improved.

It is understood Bolger and Connelly dined with manufacturers representatives in Bathurst as part of the strategy to retain Globalstar's backing in 2006.

In recent times, Globalstar's rally focus, including a TV commercial made with the major ARC teams, has been scaled back in its marketing campaigns, indicating that the association with the sport is no longer greatly valued by the company. motorsportnews

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Tall Tales From Mexico

USTIN Wilson has capped a vastlyimproved second year in Champ Car by winning the season-ending Mexico City round.

Wilson and AJ Allmendinger dominated the event, occupying the front row and coming home in a 1-2 for RuSport.

Wilson led 65 of the 70 laps at the former FI venue, fending off challenges from his team-mate in the late stages when a Safety Car led to a restart with five laps remaining, "It feels great," said Wilson. "Friday we really struggled. AJ was fantastic. I saw his set-up. We kind of evolved each other and were able to work together like that to try different things, see if it works.

"That's what we did this weekend. It's great. Flopefully we can get a few more (12s) next year."

Allmendinger, who graduated with RuSport to Champ Car from Atlantics, was complimentary of his team: "You know, I mean, as Justin and I would admit, we've probably given away a couple 1-2 finishes this year we should have had," said Allmendinger.

"To finally give Carl (Russo, team owner) a 1-2 finish, I think it's absolutely fantastic. You see the tears that come down his face after we do well, you can see how much he cares for us as a team."

Series Champion Sebastien Bourdais failed to finish for the first time this season after an altercation with Cristiano da Matta at the first corner with nine laps remaining. Bourdais hit the back of da Matta's car, sending both into

j

the gravel trap.

Paul Tracy salvaged a result by finishing behind the RuSport pair in third. Tracy was dicing with Wilson and Allmendinger early in the race, but a puncture almost put Tracy a lap down.

"After that, I pretty much thought we were out of it," said Tracy. "Then we started to catch up, passed some guys and got a couple lucky yellows at the end. I had a lot of 'push to pass' left, was able to make positions back, so good result."

Oriol Servia was fourth, just ahead of Rookie of the Year Timo Clock and Jimmy Vasser.

Team Australia had a solid but uninspiring

race, with Alex Tagliani eighth. Will Power 10th and this year's Atlantic Champ Charles Zwolsman 13th.

"It was great to today to get a full race under my belt," said Power, above in pits.

"I'm looking forward to next year. It will be great to enter my first full rookie season with two races already under my belt.

"Today was certainly the longest race I have done in an open-wheel car and it was tough at times, but physically I felt reaily strong at the end."

- PHIL MORRIS Final Points: Bourdais 348, Servia 288, Wilson 265, Tracy 246, Allmendinger 227, Vasser 217, Tagliani 207, Clock 202, Dominguez 198, Ranger 140.

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CARL Edwards took his fourth win of the year in an anything but a thrilling race at Texas Motor Speedway last Sunday.

Little happened until the final 11 laps. Edwards pitted after a caution along with Tony Stewart and Jimmie Johnson, while Mark Marlin, Matt Kenseth and Casey Mears stayed out on the track.

Coming off two straight wins, Edwards is now just 77 points in arrears of Stewart for the title.

Johnson passed Stewart for fifth in the final laps, cutting his points lead by five points, with Mears good for fourth behind a trio of Roush cars.

Denny Hamlin again performed amazingly, finishing seventh. In just four Cup starts he's recorded three top 10 results.

With just two races remaining in the Chase and the top five mathematically in with a chance to win, the contenders took six of the top 10 places. But although Greg Biffle led 16 laps early, a loose wheel saw him pitting off sequence. He later spun twice to finish 20th and

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drop to fourth in points. Fellow contenders Rusty Wallace finished 22nd, Newman 25th and Mayfield 35th.

- MARTIN D CLARK Final result: Edwards (Ford), Martin (Ford), Kenseth (Ford), Mears (Dodge), Johnson (Chevy), Stewart (Chevy), Itamlin (Chevy), Earnhardt (Chevy), Sadler (Ford), Kurt Busch (Ford).

Point standings: Stewart 6255, Johnson 6217, Edwards 6178, Biffle 6133, Martin 6132, Kenseth 6120, Newman 6081, Busch 5974, Wallace 5940, Mayfield 5848.

The Atlanta Brave CARL Edwards became the first driver in 13 years to win two races at Atlanta Motor Speedway in once season on October 30.

The Roush driver outpaced the field following a pitstop and held off Jeff Gordon for the win.

"I was really worried," admitted Edwards."Both Dale Jr. and Jeff Gordon were really fast at the end."

Dale Earnhardt Jr. led for 142 laps and allowed buddy Tony Stewart to lead a lap early, giving Stewart, who finished ninth, a 43 point advantage over 16th-placed title rival Jimmie Johnson.

"We raced the race," said Stewart.

"It may not have been the prettiest top 10, but we weren't a top five car like we thought we were going to be.

Rusty Wallace was the first Chase

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"I'm not a quitter," said Wallace, "but today pretty much wiped out any chance I have of winning a second title."

Ryan Newman won his sixthstraight pole in Atlanta, but could only lead a lap through pit strategy and ended up in 23rd place, while fellow Chase contenders Kurt Busch finished 36th (after cutting a rear tyre) and Jeremy Mayfield 38th after drivetrain gremlins terminated his day and slim title hopes he may have had.

- MARTIN D CLARK Final result: Edwards (Ford),] Gordon (Chevy), Martin (Ford), Earnhardt (Chevy), Kenseth (Ford), McMurray (Dodge), Biffle (Ford), Burton (Chevy), Stewart (Chevy), Sadler (Ford).

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21

Pass the Red! /●

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MICHAEL Schumacher is to abandon his Formula One career and take up motorbike racing. Not. The seven-time World champion swapped four wheels for two last month when he tested a Ducati MotoGP bike at Mugello. After initially lapping the track 50s slower than Loris Capirossi might in anger, Schumacher picked up 30s during the course of the day.

"I'd been looking forward to this for a long time," commented Schumacher. "It was worth it, super fun."

Ducati and Ferrari share a number of common sponsors, including Marlboro, Bridgestone and Shell.

TROY Bayliss is going 'home' - to Ducati's World Superbike team.

The 36-year-old from Taree will return to the team with which he won the world title in 2001, partnering Italian yoimgster Lorenzo Lanzi. The move brings to an end three frustrating years in MotoGP with Ducati and, this year, the Pons Honda team.

"The biggest thing is that it feels hke I'm coming home ... and I don't mean to Australia!" Bayliss said at the announcement.

"I'm really looking forward to hopping back on a Ducati Superbike.

Even though the bike has changed quite a lot, the engine is still very similar and has been much improved since I've been away so it's a built-in package already waiting there for me.

Lanzi raised eyebrows this year when, as a replacement for the injured Regis Laconi, he stepped onto the factory 999F05 and scored a firstup win at the German round of the series at the Lausitzring.

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Burning Down the House

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YOU have to admire Loris Capirossi.

The Ducati ace was cleared to race at Valencia last weekend after his

Vermeulen knocks back Hoifeli IP next

horrible Phillip Island crash but could not fly - so he toured down to Spain in his motorhome. However just outside St Tropez in southern France the motorhome went up in flames and was burnt to the ground, so Loris had to continue the trip by car!

"My desire to race is so great that I would have walked all the way to Valencia if I had to!" he smiled.

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partner 21-year-old Michel Fabrizio on two CBRIOOORRs. Chili rode for Klaffi Honda in 2005 while Fabrizio

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stepped off in practice at the Sachsenring was auctioned for charity last week on eBay. Apparently, the leather brought more money because they were crashed; Vale does not crash very often. Oh, and they brought $62,834.95.

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YAMAHA continued its 50th Anniversary with another one-off colour scheme for its MotoGP team, n-ie works YZR-Mls of Valentino Rossi and Colin

n Mat Mladin will not race in the

Edwards sported the red, white and black colours seen on many of Yamaha's past factory racmg bikes. Exactly 30 years ago, Yamaha won its first GP500 world championship with Giacomo Agostini riding the then revolutionary two-stoke OW23 YZR500, also painted in Yamaha's corporate racing colours.

It was the second time this season that The Doctor and

Daytona 200 next February. The AMA Superbike Champion has ended speculation on the Internet that he would ride a GSX-R600 in the race, which is now to be run under AMA Formula Xtreme regulations because of concerns that Superbikes were overstressing rear tyres on the oval/road course.

The Texas Tornado donned new hues after the yellow, black and white look at the USGP at Laguna Seca.

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Ending it with a...flourish MARCO Melandri took his second win of the season and led a rare Honda 1-2 in Spain.

The Italian was in stunning form, taking the lead at the start of the race and never giving up the lead in front of 124,000 hopeful Spaniards. Nicky Hayden was second on the HRC entry and Valentino Rossi third.

Therein lay the tale of the weekend. The World Champion took a tumble at the start of Saturday's qualifying session and, nursing the odd bruise, took a career-worst 15th on the grid. After scalding past seven bikes on the opening lap, he charged after the Hondas but had to settle for 'another' podium finish.

"It has been a perfect weekend for me. said Melandri after the race.

"Not only have we sealed the runnerup spot in the championship but we did it with my second consecutive win. I started the race planning to control my advantage in the standings without pushing too hard but I got a good start and was leading into the first corner."

If he was thrilled, team-mate Sete Gibernau was not. A late engine change after the warmup did not good and the replacement started to vibrate early in the race. It was no surprise when it blew, leaving Giberbau wLnless over the course of the season.

In his last race for Ducati Carlos Checa was fourth ahead of Alex

Barros, Max Biaggi and Loris Capirossi, still hurting from his Phillip Island crash.

And Melandri crashed on the

victory lap, ending the season on something of a comic note ...

Points; Rossi 367, Melandri 220, Hayden 206, Edwards 179, Biaggi 173, Capirossi 157, Gibemau 150, Barros 147, Checa 138, INakano 98. '

CASEY Stoner finished the 250cc Grand Prix season with third place behind an inevitable Spanish 1-2.

The Aussie followed home Dani Pedrosa and Jorge Lorenzo, the World Champion ending his two seasons in the 250 class in emphatic style ahead of his adoring fans. The result cemented Stoner's runner-up position in the class before both he and Pedrosa, probably, move into the MotoGP class next season.

Alex de Angelis was fourth ahead of Hector Barbera and Hiroshi Aoyama.

Points; Pedrosa 309, Stoner 254, Dovizioso 189, Aoyama 180, Lorenzo 167, Porto 152, de Angelis 151, De Puniet 138.

MIKA Kallio won the battle but Thomas Luthi war and took the 125ss world title in Spain.

The 19-year-old took ninth place, while Gabor Tamasci backed up his team-mate for a KTM 1-2. Mattia Pasini was third.

Points; Luthi 242, Kallio 237,Talmasci 198, Pasini 183, Simoncelli 177, Lai 141.

Match Stoner to Ducati Step Up? Spaniard puts nightmare season to rest by signing new deai THERE could be another Aussie in MotoGP next season - Casey Stoner.

The runner-up in the 250cc title may follow World Champion and great rival Dani Pedrosa to the premier class, and both may be riding Hondas. However, while Pedrosa is expected to suit up for the factory Repsol-backed HRC team, Stoner looks set to move to the Pons satellite team.

The Australia is well-regarded in the paddock and may join Max Biaggi. The Italian veteran has been put in the shade by team mate Nicky Hayden this season and was overlooked by Suzuki in favour of Chris Vermeulen (see separate story).

If he returns to the Pons team, for which he rode in 2004, it appears that Biaggi will be forced to end his career on semi-works machinery...

24

SETE Gibernau will contest the 2006 MotoGP World Championship with Ducati.

The Spanish rider will join Loris Capirossi, who renewed his contract with the squad before September's Japanese GP. Gibernau is optimistic about his future: "After achieving some great results and much satisfaction during the last few years, and after a season at the highest level but with some difficulties, I decided to make a change in my career," said Gibernau.

"First of all I want to thank the people who helped me achieve so many good results.

But now it's time to find some new motivation."

Gibernau will test the red rocket at Valencia, starting today (Wednesday).

OPINION

For Car And Country c — ONFESSIOIM time. When I first heard Sheikh Maktoum Hasher Maktoum Al Maktoum's personal twist on motor racing's most famous four words-"Gentlemen,for the pride of your nations, start your engines" -1 thought that it was contrived, and kind of dorky.

In retrospect, I was probably half-right. It's all about context.

When you hear the Sheikh say it while surrounded by flashing lights and giant screens at a glitzy launch, it sounds like little more than a cheap gimmick.

But when he said it from the podium at the start of last weekend's Al GP Feature Race it made absolute sense. The nation versus nation angle of the self-styled 'World Cup of Motorsport' may be a marketing device, but it is a very powerful one. And more importantly, the signs at Eastern Creek were that it worked.

There was a lot to like about last weekend. From a fan's standpoint, the cars look good, they sound great when at full throttle, and the racing is entertaining. The series has also established its own sense of identity extremely quickly.

helped to a huge extent by the distinctive 'barcode on acid' motif that is emblazoned on anything that stands still. You couldn't walk three steps without seeing lots and lots of coloured lines. It kind of looks like all of the world's flags have been put into a blender, which of course is exactly the idea.

Formula One is cosmopolitan by default; Al GP achieves the same thing by design.

By and large, I saw nothing in the paddock all weekend to suggest that the teams were anything other than completely sincere in their enthusiasm for the 'racing for your nation' concept. There were flags everywhere - on flagpoles, in grandstands, on cars and, in Team USA's case, on racesuits.

The Team Flolland garage had a sign informing all and sundy that entry was restricted to people wearing clogs.

But more importantly, the fans seem to have taken it on board.

Organisers claimed a three-day crowd of 51,000, which seemed a trifle optimistic, but there is no argument that the Sunday attendance was everything that they could have hoped for, and more. It would have been nice to see the grandstand full, but otherwise things looked busy. To the people of Sydney, well done.

However, the real kicker was that it appeared that Al GP has tapped into an entirely new audience. I have no remotely scientific way of being able to back this but the crowd at

Eastern Creek looked very different to the crowd at your standard V8 Supercar round. Al GP has frequently said that it wants to reach out to people that may never have attended a race before, and there was every indication on the weekend that they succeeded. The apparent breadth of the demographic in the grandstand and on the hills was one of the weekend's highlights, and proves that releasing a CD full of beer drinking songs is not necessarily the best way to find a wider audience.

“There has been some criticism of the standards of driving in the Al series, but to be honest it struck me as being entirely appropriate.

The number of incidents during the weekend might suggest otherwise, but the pool of talent in the field is actually quite deep. Yes, there were a couple of complete muppets.

That's OK - you could say that about almost any series. But the likes of Nicolas Lapierre, Alexander Premat(who did not race in Australia) and Nelson Piquet Jr are on the verge of cracking the big time, while there is no shortage of ability amongst guys like Portugal's Alvaro Parente and Mexico's Salvador Duran, even if that talent is still a little unrefined.

Bear in mind that a lot of these guys are still kids - and more than one of them were causing problems for well-credentialled veterans like Jos Verstappen and Herta

Motor Mouth

wtthMarkGlondennlng

Teams like India and Lebanon might be on the back foot, but it is to Al GP's credit that nontraditional racing nations now have a chance to compete at a n high level without buying test drives with FI teams. Sure, they might be slow. But over time, they'll improve. Canada sucks at cricket, but we'll still let them play at the next World Cup. Al GP still has some way to go, but based on last weekend's round, the series obviously has enormous potential to grow into something special, something that could eventually work its way onto the radar of the general populace. Anything that gets a swag of new people involved in racing - even if it's only once a year - cannot be a bad thing.

The Power I

The Box Seat —» n III111 JOU OoWalU

AM all for Aguri Suzuka running an 11th Formula 1 team. The sport needs new people and with Aguri, we know that he is a man who is passionate about his motor racing. His heart is in the right place, unlike some of the others who have stumbled into FI in recent years for reasons that are sometimes deeply mysterious.

Dietrich Mateschitz of Red Bull has a load of money to spend, running two teams is not a small commitment, but

you only ever see the Red Bull boss at around half the races and one wonders whether it is the racing he likes or whether it is simply a question of publicity so he can make some more money. I would love to understand how it is that FI is going to do anything for Midland, particularly when the organisation does not seem to be very interested in paying for things. The automobile manufacturers can afford to pay and have an obvious purpose in FI.

Beyond that, the only people who can survive in this mad world are those who love the sport - men of the,calibre of Frank Williams and Ron Dennis. The disappearance of Peter Sauber, Eddie Jordan and Paul Stoddart is very sad but never forget that this is a sport that moves on and waits for no man. It is all about finding the money and putting together the right package.

Aguri has made a good start with a Honda deal, a ready-touse FI factory and even what

Aguri Suzuki's hero was Jackie Stewart because, he said, he drove "fast and drove very inteiiigentiy'

i

26

a very rare thing in the FI appears to be the bones of a world. Aguri had a brain and technical team. It will still be a at the same time he knew how huge struggle to get it all to go about racing. You cannot together in the time available go 100 percent all the time but if anyone can do it, Suzuki without burning out, he said. can. He is a man who gets Like an engine. things done.

1 remember interviewing him back in 1989 and People that Suzuka came forget up through the ranks discovered that unlike most with oil under his fingernails, racing drivers who something which binds worshipped Gilles Villeneuve, together members of the Suzuki's hero was Jackie racing fraternity who do not Stewart because, Aguri said, forget the long nights and he drove "fast and drove very family sacrifices that got them intelligently". I was also to the top. It is rare thing to impressed by the fact that this find people like that nowadays toothy guy with big ears talked about enjoying reading novels. because the good kids (and

the rich kids) go straight into professional karting organisations and their lives are not a struggle.

Aguri and his father Masashi did it the hard way. Masashi was an important figure in Japanese karting and helped get the sport started in Japan in 1968. When Aguri was eight he was travelling to races with his father. When he was 10, his father built him a kart.

Later when it was time to gc to Formula 3 his father sold some family land to pay. It did not work out and in the end father and son set up a business selling oil to raise motorsporinew

FORMULII ONE

of Passion money to go racing.

Ultimately Aguri finally got his feet on the ladder when Nissan hired him to be a factory touring car driver in 1983. The nice thing about Aguri is that he has never forgotten his roots. Soon after his retirement from Formula 1 in 1997, he announced plans for a scheme to promote young Japanese racing drivers. I remember the launch in the old Circuit Flotel at Suzuka but try as I might, I have yet to dig out the old

orange brochure which is hidden away somewhere as I am sure that somewhere in there, Aguri made some remarks about helping young Japanese drivers to get to Formula 1.

The thing about Aguri that he was always a was realist, unlike some of the others who championed the FI cause in Japan. Kojima, Maki, Leyton House and Footwork are all names that have come and gone with

differing degrees of success.

And along the way they realised that it was best to use Western expertise to teach the Japanese how to do things.

The early efforts were entirely home grown and it was a lesson that had to be learned the hard way by Honda and others. They could do the engines but when it came to chassis, it was necessary to go to Europe.

Honda is working on exporting some of that expertise back to Japan and

perhaps one day having an FI team that is truly Japanese.

What Aguri wants to see is the Japanese flag fluttering n over an FI podium.

Back in 1990 Aguri was the first Japanese driver ever to stand on an FI podium. It would be 14 years before Takuma Sato matched that achievement in Indianapolis in 2004. Now, it looks like the pair of them are joining forces to try to go one better.

And we can only wish them well in that quest.

2'

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If I close my eyes I can almost see it: New team owner Aguri Suzuki was the first Japanese driver to make an FI podium, above with Nelson Piquet and Roberto Moreno.

9 November 2005

£

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1 27

Five minutes with

Jason Richarils

Done Racing's Jason Richarhs wiii suit up in Tasman coiours tor another stint. BRANT ROWLEY spoke to the Kiwi about the team, their recipe for success and being a wanted man three years of experience with the same people around.

I truly believe that Tasman Motorsport is going 'to be one of the leading teams in the near future.

MOTORSPORT NEWS; You've signed on for another stint at Tasman Motorsport. Was this your best option?

JASON RICHARDS: The main thing for me was keeping the momentum we've got with all the people involved. Continuity is a big part of being successful and at the end of the day my primary focus is to be successful in the championship and I believe Tasman are going to give me that opportunity.

MN: As far as momentum goes, the past three rounds have been very solid. Was the recent success part your decision?

JR: Definitely. It goes back to Oran Park where we qualified third. We ran third at Sandown, second at Bathurst and qualified second at Indy. Those are achievements that are pretty tough to get in this league.

We've shown some really good car speed, and in the enduros, it was nearly second to none.

And really, this has come because Wally (Storey, Tasman engineer) and I have gelled together and been able to get the best out of the car. Ron Harrop and Neil Burns are delivering great engines and we're all starting to see the fruits of these efforts now.

MN: From your view, where are Tasman's main strengths?

JR; It's still a small team so it's been able to quickly change its direction without much drama.

It's effectively like a small business operation, so changing direction isn't a hassle.

The key people are extremely experienced, clever and determined, and its got good leadership and management so probably unique in that way.

MN:The rumour mill has been doing some overtime in the 28

MN:The team showed some pace in the early part of the year, but after your Queensland Raceway shunt, Tasman seemed to turn a corner.

JR: Well, I think we’ve had a fairly good chassis for the past couple of years, but over last six months, engine development and driveability of the engine have really come on, which is pretty impressive.

Even to be competitive early on was a surprise, but we've ironed out, improved and narrowed in on the areas where we lacked.

w

It'S very flattering to be put in a position where you've got a few choices"

-Jason Richards on being Mr Ropularity

past few weeks and you were linked with a Ford deal, in particular Ford Performance Racing. Was it tempting to cross the border?

JR: It's very flattering to be put in a position where you've got a few choices.

Really, for me, it was a tough decision. It's all crystal ball stuff as to what's going to happen in the future.

I'm firmly confident though that the decision I've made is the right one for next year, and the year after.

MN: How tough was it to make a decision like that.

considering you have to 'crystal ball?'

JR: The thing with this championship is that you haveXo be successful. If you are successful, it guarantees you a future. If you're not, you get left behind. I was very flattered by the offer, but it was just a matter of going through the pros and cons and working out what was better.

It was a big decision to make ... and the timing wasn't really right. And what I've learnt in my five years of V8 Supercar racing is that continuity is such an important factor in winning. This is the first time that I've ever headed into a championship with

MN: Now for our Historic Touring Car fans. You drove Paul Stubber's Camaro, pictured above, at Eastern Creek recently. How did you find that?

JR: Well as I said to the guys, I have definitely enjoyed technologies advancements!

Look, it was really good. Pretty reasonable power - I don't know how far away from the V8 Supercar it would be, power-toweight ratio wise, but it would be fairly close.

The big improvement in technology has been in braking.

Although Paul’s car does stop, the pedal feels a bit mushy and you're sort of waiting for it to stop ...

At the end of the day, it turns properly and put the power pretty down well. It wallows a bit, but it does do everything pretty well. The cars seem to thrive on being sideways, I know it's not the best way to drive them, but it certainly was fun. motorsport news

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The boys in bine made a quick stop in Meibourne before heading to Perth for the finai round of the 2005 WRC. CHRiS JOROADI sat down with them both for a chat about their year MOTORSPORT NEWS: Rally Australia is a pretty important rally for you because you are trying to beat Marcus Gronholm to second in the championship.

How have you been approaching these last few rallies, where Sebastian [Loeb] has already claimed the title?

PETTER SOLBERG: There is no difference in any of the rallies that we do. I'll be going like hell all the time anyway, but it will be a race [to see] who can get the points to get second. We are on equal points at the moment but I think we can get the job done.

MN: How do you rate your chances in Perth? Marcus seems to go well in Australia.

PS: Yes, he has and so have I. I think we have a good chance but it will be difficult.

It may be difficult the first day.

Maybe he will have a small advantage because he is one car behind on the road. The advantage could be nothing, but when it is close everything helps.

MN: Do you think it will be a bit of a strange feeling at the end of Rally Australia, with the two French factory teams pulling out for '06?

PS: Ummm ... no. Citroen will be continuing and rallying is like any other sport. Teams are coming in and teams are going out. It has always been like that.

MN: How have you found working with Chris as your team-mate this year?

PS: He just really needs to learn to speak a little bit better English.

CHRIS ATKINSON: It's hard Petter because yours is perfect.

PS: It's good fun. He seems to be relaxing and it's good fun. You need to have fun together when you are together so much.

MN: Is that an important thing in rallying, getting along with 30

'Tve been looking forward to getting back all year

ff

- Chris Atkinson’s life changed after fifth in Perth last year your team-mate, because there is a lot of hard work to do, early mornings, travel, etc?

PS: For sure it is a good thing to get along. Life is too short. But when you are in the car it is all up to yourself and your driving. It is good to work together, but it is all up to yourself out on the road.

MN: For you Chris, Rally Australia marks a huge 12 months, but one change that came for this event last year was you switched co-drivers.

How has that worked out?

CA: It's going pretty well and it has proved the right decision to make after my brother didn't want to continue co-driving. So we had to respect his decision and I think Glenn (MacNeall) was the perfect choice for that next decision with all his experience and it was really good to have an Australian in there as well.

It has worked out really well and he is doing a good job so I hope it continues like that.

MN:This event last year was really the start of big things for you and put you in lights for a lot of people to take notice.

Are you looking forward to going back to Perth?

CA: Yeah, I really can't wait to get back and I've been looking

forward to getting back all year.

Last year was our first time and we were doing good times and we were fortunate enough to win Group N (and fifth overall).

Obviously it is going to be a lot harder this year and the top three guys in Marcus, Sebastian and Petter are going to go reasonably quick from the start.

So if we can be just behind them and push them on some stages then that's good for us.

MN: A lot has happened since 2004 Rally Australia for you.

It's been a busy time,so have you had the chance to think about all that has changed in your life since that event?

CA: Yeah, it has all happened pretty quickly and to be in this position now driving a World Rally Car and being team-mates with this guy, it's a pretty cool position.

PS: This guy? This guy! It's Petter.

CA: I could say worse?

PS: (laughs).

CA: So it is pretty cool and to do something like this in your life is pretty exciting and I'm loving it.

PS: It is better than being a journalist.

MN: I think that goes without saying! Chris, having driven a lot of rallies for the first time this year, do you take a

different approach into a rally where you know the roads?

CA: This year we have shown pace and done fastest times on stages we have never done before, but there is that confidence of knowing the area and that feeling of confidence that I took into New Zealand, Japan and now here.

The three events that I have done before are probably our best chance of getting a result, and that showed in Japan.

Especially when you are in a year where everything is new in the car, it just helps you with your lack of experience.

MN; Compared to what you were doing last year in Australia, how have you found making the step to the Subaru World Rally Team and working with a bigger team, more engineers, more technology?

CA: It is a big step but I think we have adapted pretty quickly on working with the car. I think mid year we lost our way a little and made some mistakes and it wasn't quite running to plan. But we've got back on track and have started to understand what I want with the car to suit my driving style and that has really been a turning point as the team start to understand more of what you want.

MN: Despite the dominance of Sebastian this year,things are still looking good for both of you for next year. How are plans for next year and the new car going?

PS: Yes we will be doing it with a new car and it will be very good I think. I am looking forward to it and hopefully doing it with Chris.

CA: I think we will be a good number two and with everything I have learnt this year I will be pushing to give good results to the team. moiorsportnews

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The rush to get the Courtney deal done was so that Marcos Ambrose’s / replacement couldjoin the SBR team at its ‘behind-closed-doors’ final test day for the year at Queensland Raceway. MNews'CHRIS LAMBDEN was in pit lane as Courtney ran with SBR for the first time

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V8 SUPERCARS

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OSS Slone is already beaming long before James Courtney climbs into the #1 Falcon for his first laps of Queensland Raceway.

"It's been a hell of a couple of weeks," he says,"what with having to put together the new primary sponsorship deal on tlie car as weU. But as far as the deal with James goes,it was really quite simple ... and I'm sure we've got the right bloke. He fits in perfectly."

Indeed. Ross defines his primary job as managing the various relationships and personalities within the team,so that everyone gets on well and thus gets on with business.

People-skills.

Taking a championship-winning driver out of a team and seamlessly replacing him with another capable of matching the feat isn't easy, but Ross may just have done it.

"The rush was so that we could get him here today.

He's off to Japan tomorrow for the final GT race of the year,so it had to be today ..."

"5 Courtney will get his initial laps in the familiar blue Falcon in between the necessities of a typical SBR test day.

On tWs occasion the team is testing a couple of new suspension geometry ideas,in parallel, on both cars. A fired-up championship leader Russell Ingall is completing a full day of comparison work, while Ambrose will mirror most of it. If both come up with the same conclusions, then it's been a good day!

As a matter of interest, the team is also conducting a short test for AVESCO on a potential new fuel brew from Shell. The reduction in 'black smoke'exhaust emissions achieved by the fuel brewed in China for the V8 visit was impressive enough that Shell is going to replicate it here.

SBR runs a short test and all appears to be well.

James will actually cop a bit of'new-boy' work today, each of his short runs utilised to bed in a series of sets of brake pads - enough for the team to complete the last two I rounds of the V8 series. It means a steady first lap, a quicker second, a quick third, then back in. Not glamorous, but nevertheless an opportunity to settle into his new home.

It's a smooth transition.

ITS been a really good start.

He looked right, It sounded right, and he didn't put a foot wrong. That's all you could ask. He fits in well with the guys. ITS good.

11

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-Ross stone on JC

Interestingly, James now becomes one of very few to have driven the best in Holden and Ford product in a short space of time. While he's not unprofessional enough to talk out of school on the comparison, there are a couple of basic observations: "It(the Falcon) is quite different from the Holden in a number of ways - especially seating position, where the pedals are situated, the way the steering is, etc etc. It's an interesting comparison for me - the team are also interested in what the differences are.

"You can feel a difference between Mark (Skaife)'s car and Todd (Kelly)'s car, even with the same set-up; little differences, the way the mechanicals work and so on,so between teams it's going to be more noticeable. For example, these guys operate the shift-cut (the electronic cut-out between 'flat' gearchanges) a little differently - it's very good,easy to use."

The #1 car is of course set up for Ambrose, but there's little difference between their seating requirements: "I prefer the pedal box a little bit further away, the steering a little bit higher - apart from that, they've just

Otri Kiynvnrth

continued on page 34 33

I

N the end, a strong championship and a life back in Australia won out over substantial money in Japan as Courtney and manager Alan Gow ; discussed the options for 2006.

"The championship back here is just getting stronger and stronger," says James.

"Having sampled it at Sandown and Bathurst, there's no doubt it's the biggest and best touring car championship in the world. You can see the top 10 are separated by nothing. This championship is now massive, so much tougher than it once was, so it's a serious challenge.

"Being offered the number one car in the championship made it a bit easier too ...

"1 see it as a very big challenge to come back and be part of the Big Game.

"Then there was the lifestyle issue. I've pretty much lived overseas, other than a bit of commuting over the past couple of years, since I was 15. So,the opportunity to race regularly in front of friends and family is good; to get them involved in what I do.

My parents have missed a lot of my life. They can be involved in it now. The lifestyle back in Australia is great...

"I went over when I was so young. Others from here went over after they'd done Formula Ford or whatever. I was over there for 10 years, a long time. But I've enjoyed what I've done, it's been a great

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grooming process, and I'm a lot better driver than I would have been if I'd stayed here and hung around in the Australian scene.

And while the money in Japan has been good, there have been down-sides. James won't say it in blunt terms, but in Japanese GT racing, you're forced to run with a local co-driver - and the standard is ... variable: "It's been a bit tough over the last couple of years. I'd think I'd done a really good job, got out of the car, then something happens when your co-driver is in the car... which is very frustrating.

"I'm a very selfish person ... so this year is going to be great; I'll be able to have the seat exactly as I want it, the car set up exactly how I want it, whereas the last two years has been a compromise between me and my team-mate.

"There were some awesome offers from Japan, but when we got this offer put to us last week, it was something we couldn't refuse.

There was no long negotiation process. It just came together really, really smoothly ... and it's great.

"We had interest from other teams here. They were a bit more complicated, complex deals. This wasn't. I think Ross and Jim sat back and watched what happened at Bathurst and Sandown, worked out what they had, and went for the guy they wanted. Here it is take it or leave it. And it was good enough to get me here."

continued from page 33 adjusted the belts and we were off. I'm not a super-picky driver - it was good to have such a smooth transition."

In, out. In the end, Courtney gets seven or eight three-lap bursts and he seems quite content- apart from a large blister on his left-hand "Still not used to that left-hand H-pattern!" he grins.

"Just have to toughen up ..."

At one point, the team puts in a passenger seat and James sits alongside the regular incumbent for a few laps.

Interesting observations banter back and forwards.

Already, he's comfortable with the team and his crew.

After discussing the options, the Stones have decided to leave the crew on car #1 totally unchanged - so James is communicating with Marcos's regular engineer Paul Forgie.

They're getting on well.

By day's end, the concensus is that James is a couple of tenths away from Marcos' benchmark in the same car.

That's fine.

"I'm just starting to get comfortable in the car and stuff like gearchanging is starting to become automatic. It's a good start," Courtney sums up.

He appears at home: "The team reminds me a lot of Carlin, when I was in the UK doing F3.1 got on really well with all the guys and we worked really well together.

"These guys all seem pretty laid back, while on the other hand they are obviously real racers and want to win -so it fits me well!"

Ross Stone is still beaming. There's even a rare grin from Jimmy. The first day at school has gone well.

"He'S looking comfortable.

The data Is showing he's very smooth. Comparisons?

There's a couple of thingsMarcos gets the car turned In a little stronger,for example - but running around on the old tyres they've had on all day, he's only a couple of tenths off Marcos at this point. Its looking very good.

If

-Paul Forgie on Courtney motorsportnews

5 3-

Rush hour: Such was the speed of the Courtney/SBR deal that the only 'Jeld-Wen'suit that could be created in a big hurry ivas a modified kart suit (above right), which could only be worn for promotional purposes! fC tested in plain blue, but dressed up to talk to our man Lambden ...

Courtney on... that Monza testing shunt “AT the time I was really, really upset, but now I look at it as a bit of a blessing in disguise.

“When all that happened, I saw a lot of things I really didn’t want to see in motorsport and at that level. 1 had to sit down and think 'is that what I really want?’

And I realised then that it wasn’t what I wanted.

“I’m a racer, not a politician. I want to race; I think that the top touring car and sports car categories are a lot stronger than they were. To get into F1 now you need money, so some of the talented guys have to look elsewhere ... which has brought things like the DTM and this championship to a whole new level.”

Courtney on... aspirations for 2006 “TO win races and win the championship. I don’t go into anything to come second. I know it’s going to be really, really tough, but I’m sure we can get a few race wins.

“I’ve got a whole lot of tracks to learn as I go along - the only tracks I’ve driven a car on are Sandown, Bathurst and now herel It’s all going to be about learning - the car, the team, the tracks, everything. I have to learn about the other guys - what they’re like when you come up to pass them, and so on; how the Clerk of Course rules things ... all that stuff.

“The first part of the year in particular will be like that, finishing as far forward as I can. I’m sure that in the later part of the year, we’ll be in a lot better position to attack.”

Who^ where and how

JAMES Courtney was born in Sydney, NSW,on the 29th June, 1980.

Courtney started karting early and progressed successfully through the junior ranks in Australia with Tony Kart under the guidance of Jim Morton. He raced in Europe as a junior in 1995 and won the Junior Intercontinental A world championship. He progressed to the seniors tour in 1996, and in 1997, Courtney won the Formula A title.

His racing car career was well planned. Courtney signed a 10 year management deal with respected entrepreneur Alan Gow. Courtney learnt the British Formula Ford ropes in 1999 (finishing fifth), before dominating the series in 2000. The same strategy was employed for his Formula 3 career.

One year to learn, the second to win. He finished fourth with Jaguar's junior squad in '01, before blitzing the field in the first part of 2002 with Carlin Motorsport. A major FI testing incident with Jaguar at Monza saw him miss two races and end the season second. In 2003, European options dried up and he headed to Japan. Courtney won the Japanese F3 Series.

For the past two years, he has contested the Japanese Super GT Championship, with selected races in Formula Nippon.

9 November 2005

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IN the end,the SBR/Courtney deal came together rapidly, in just a few days. The Stones had, obviously, been keeping a wary eye on likely options (if Larry Perkins had been unable to retain Steven Richards, he was one obvious good fit), and James Courtney's first-up performances at Sandown and I Bathurst were another’foCiis of interest.

"He obviously did well at Sandown," recalls team technical directror Ken Douglas,"but the conditions there were pretty I variable so it was hard to get a measure. .

"Then, at Bathurst, he went out and did an 8.5 (2m8.5s) on his 11th flying lap. We all sort of looked at each other, and from there on, I think we knew he was the one."

Ross Stone concurs: "We knew he had offers from elsewhere, both here and in Japan, and there was no way we could match the sort of money that was eventually offered from Japan. The other Australian offers involved him being the second or third driver,so we felt we had more to offer there - he and Russell are equal number ones.

"Ford had said that if we found a replacement for Marcos of similar stature, they would come to the party, so we put a package to Alan (Gow). James has a three-year deal with Ford and a three-year deal with us. It’s perfect.

"Money wasn't an issue -1 think it was only discussed once.

There were more important issues, like the equal number one status etc "And, you know, the money on offer from Japan was massive. But in the end an important factor was the fact that James has pretty much 'grown up' outside Australia, away from his family ... and Australia, and the lifestyle here, makes it just the best place to be ...

"I ideally wanted to finalise things and announce it on or before Monday,specifically so we could include James in this test. It's our last test day of the year and the last opportunity to have Marcos here as well.

"He’s been terrific in terms of'handover' and is happy to tell James whatever he wants to know. I guess if he'd been going to another team here rather than the US it mightn't have been quite so easy, but really, he’s been great!"

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MOTORSPORT NEWS: What tends to happen when people see an accident is this; we see the accident and then, a week or a month or a year later, the driver reappears. What happens in between?

RYAN BRISCOE; I was in hospital for eight days. I was released the day after I got off the oxygen: that was the factor that was keeping me in hospital.

I was also on pills for pain relief.

My fractures, my collarbones and foot, were still pretty fresh.

We were still not 100 percent sure what injuries I had in my back, whether there were any micro-fractures. It was pretty painful; my back hurt the most.

But that was it; I could walk around with only a boot on my 36

foot, limping but no problem!

By that time, my Mum had arrived so I went home to the apartment in Indy with Mum. 1 visited the team a couple of times but I could not really drive a road car. I could not turn the steering wheel and the fracture was my right foot.

MN:So during this time, were you able to do any rehab?

RB: I didn't really know what to do. It was still early, so the doctors told me to relax, not to walk too much and chill out to allow the bones to heal. I had a problem with my lung that meant I was not allowed to fly so 1 stayed at home.

As soon as we thought it was possible, the doctor yvho is

looking after me here [Ed: at Briscoe's long-term base at Viareggio in Italy] flew with me from Indy. He is Riccardo Ceccarelli, and he came to the hospital in Indy on the way from Italy to the Brazilian Grand Prix.

He came back via Indy and flew back with me. He really looked after me.

Then we figured out what we needed to do with the rehab. At Viareggio, he has the fitness centre. Formula Medicine, and his whole family are doctors. So for the last month, I have been doing the program and the improvements I have made have been unbelievable.

MN: How long does the rehab last every day? motorsportnews

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Ryan Briscoe survivetl this horrMM crai^ '. «'y at Chicagoiand and told PHIL BRitniAGA^ aii; about his recovery process

RB: Most days, I come here for treatments every morning at 9am, it is like ultrasound, for my back. From there, I used to be in the gym from 10 to 12:30 or so, then lunch, then come back in the afternoon. I stayed until about 8 in the evening and that has been the program pretty much for a month.

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MV 9 November 2005

MN: And they cleared you to have a run in a kart?

RB: Last Tuesday, I had a few laps, and Riccardo came up with me. That was fine and then Prema, my old Formula 3 team, asked if I wanted to go and do a test with them at the Lausitzring. That was Friday.

It felt good to be back in a racecar. I had to use a bit of

1'*.^^

extra padding on the seat back and over the belts for my shoulders but it was fine. I didn't have any trouble,at all.

MIM; What was the mental approach to that? Is there any trepidation or is it a matter of, 'Thank God I am back in a racing car'?

RB: I never really thought about it. I just concentrated on trying to do a good job and doing what you do on any test day - give good feedback and try to help the team with the car set-up. I was back with my old team and trying to do a professional job.

It felt good to be in the car because it had been a month and a half, so it felt pretty normal.

MN: Very few people who read Motorsport News ever have the experience of being in a car flipping at 350kmh. Is there any mental residue from the accident?

RB: I don't know. It was a bad accident but it is not something that you think about while you are out there. You do not think about what the consequences are of touching wheels, or if something happens. You just don't.

Out of the car, sometimes you think, 'It's pretty dangerous', but it was a pretty freaky racing accident and not something that happens often. It is in the past; you just have to get on with it.

Maybe there is something to learn from it, I am not sure.

37

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Surprised that IRL IndyCar driver Bryan Herta was part of Team USA at Eastern Creek last weekend? So was he. MARK GLENDENNING took the opportunity to talk to him MOTORSPORT NEWS: A lot of people were surprised to see you turn up for the A1 GP race at Eastern Creek - nobody really knew until a couple of days ago that you'd be here with Team USA. BRYAN HERTA: I didn't know until a few days ago either. I had been in touch with Rick IWeidinger, team owner]. He called me, I think, back in August or something, originally. We talked about me doing some races possibly later in the season, but then he just rang me up a week ago, or maybe less, and said 'can you come to Australia?'. 1 just said, 'yeah, why not?' It's Australia, you know ... you don’t need much of an excuse!

MN:So what's the appeal for you? You've just come off a long season, most of your rivals are probably out on their boats somewhere.

BH: Yeah. But again, the plan wasn't for me to be here, and it wasn't my intention to be here.

MN: You could have said no, BH: I could have said no. But Rick asked me to do it, and I thought it would be fun. You know, it's kind of nice to get out of your day job, as it were. Go and do a race weekend, and just try to have some fun.

And it's a good challenge. You learn something new - a new team, a new track, a new car. It's good to push yourself sometimes. I've been racing in the States for quite a long time, and you tend to see the same kinds of tracks, the same kinds of cars, and it's easy to get comfortable. So when you get outside your comfort zone, I think you can always learn something, and maybe bring back something to my IndyCar program that could maybe make me better there.

Plus, I miss the road racing.

We did three this year in the IRL, and I enjoyed that. So I was 38

keen to do a bit more.

MN: The A1 cars look like hard things to drive - they seem to move around a lot, and it doesn't look like there is a whole lot of grip.

BH: They are very peculiar, and they are very tricky things to drive, that's for sure. They take a very different technique.

If I'm honest, 1 really haven't had enough miles myself to get the most out of the car. But also, I think trying to learn what the car needs - we tried some things today that really weren't good.

MN: A couple of guys along pitlane have compared the A1 cars with Champ Cars.

BH: Hmm, Not guys who have ever driven Champ Cars, I wouldn't think. It's nothing like a Champ Car. Nothing like it.

MN: Another element of A1 that sets it apart from other categories is the fact that you're out there racing for the Stars 'n' Bars ...

BH: Yep. It's an interesting concept. I think it's a cool thing that the team is focussed on scoring points for the country, so there's no drivers'

championship. It takes the pressure off a bit. Especially because there are different drivers that can contribute throughout the year - it seems like everybody is using a couple of different drivers. So it adds to the uniqueness of the series.

MN: Is there a different kind of pressure when you are racing for your country?

BH: You want to do well, no matter what. Whether it's for your country, for yourself, for your team ... you always want to do well. So I wouldn't say that that really changes.

MN: And I guess the other thing about this weekend is that you can race open wheelers without being asked about Danica [Patrick]...

BH:[laughs] Well, until now!

MN: You had one win and three poles in the IRL this season. Are you satisfied with that?

BH: It was an improvement over last year. Last season was the first for us in the #7 car, it was

like a whole crew that they put together to run the fourth car.

We kind of showed some speed but we didn't get the result, you know, we didn’t get a win, we didn't get any poles.

And then this year we got three poles and won a race, and led a bunch of races. Really, we probably gave away one, and maybe even two other ones. But still, we didn't quite have the , n consistency on some of the *,: other weekends. So really, looking ahead to next year, that's what I'm looking at building on. j This year, I think we showed that we have race-winning ^ speed. We just need to show it on a more consistent basis.

A1 GRAND PRIM

A Surpnse MN: The thing that amazes me about that team is that it is so top-heavy in terms of driver talent, and yet there seems to be a genuine sense of camaraderie amongst the four of you.

BH: No, it all seems to work out pretty well. We all get on. I mean, don't get me wrong, we are all super-competitive.

Nobody wants to get beat by anybody else. But having four guys like that, I think it pushes you really hard. I mean it really, really pushes you to get the most out of the car all the time, because you've got three guys that you are competing against very hard, and you've all got the same tools.

MN: But you see a lot of twocar teams that can't get that kind of chemistry between their drivers, and you guys have managed it with four.

BH: Yeah. Well, It's a mentality

that you have to accept. A lot of racers and race teams, they go in, and really it's almost adversarial. You almost don't talk to your team-mate, you don't help them. And Michael Andretti and the team took a different approach and said, 'Well, look.

We're going to have four cars.

We're going to make our four guys work together to get the most out of those four cars. And then when it comes time to race, hopefully we'll have the best four cars and they can go out and race amongst themselves, rather than racing against the whole field.'

I think we all bought off on that concept and agreed to go along with it, and the results have shown so well that, why would we not keep doing it?

MN: You mentioned right at the start that you missed road racing. The IRL made its first foray onto road courses this year. How well did the cars adapt?

BH: They were great. I was really surprised. because they weren't really designed with road racing in mind. But

they worked oui really well.

It's been a really balanced car, a good car, really fun to drive. So I have no comp aints.

MN: What kinds of changes did they have to make to the cars?

BH: Very little. Different brakes, suspension - slightly stronger suspension for running over kerbs and things - and put a diff in instead of the spool that we run on the ovals. But really, we even ran the same wings that we run on the small ovals. So it didn't take a whole lot to get the car switched over.

MN:Putting the Australian hat on for a moment, what was your take on Ryan Briscoe's first year?

BH: He did a really good job.

He's very quick, no doubt about it. It's just a shame that it got cut short the way it did. The guy has got loads of talent. Everybody knows that Ganassi is a good team, but it wasn't the best year to be on that team. Hopefully he will get another shot at it next year. I haven't heard whether he is doing that again or what.

MN: There's one thing I have always wanted to ask you.

You were on the receiving end of one of racing's greatest overtaking moves(when Alex Zanardi drove around the outside of Herta at the Corkscrew at Laguna Seca during the 1996 Champ Car season). What do you remember about it?

BH: You know ... really, I haven't thought about it for a long time.

It was one of those things where, I was out of brakes and tyres, it was the end of the race, and Alex did a big lunge.

I started to turn in, and I thought it was just going to hit me. So I started to

Awesome foursome: Bryan Herta is part of the championship-winning Andretti Green Racing in the IRL IndyCar Series, below. He won a race this year, and finished third in the Indianapolis 500.

turn in, and I was just going to take him with me, if that's what it came to. And right at the last second I stopped, because I thought, 'no, he's not going to make it'. And he really didn't, he kind of bounced off, but he gathered it all up and got back on the track. And that was it, you know, there was no time to try and get him again. It sucked to lose a race that way, but by the same token it was a good race and second was a good result. But obviously, the win would have been a lot nicer.

MN: Well, you went back-toback at Laguna a couple of years later.

BH: Yeah. It was good to go back the next year and win, and I raced Alex really hard for the win. It felt like tit for tat, like I got one back. So it was alright.

39

Looking for tho Bpovc A

FTER what seems like a lot of talk. Formula One heads into its off-season with a new set of rules to ponder - yet again.

The Formula One Commission recently met and, much to the surprise of most in the sport, approved a whole raft of changes for the sport. Much of what was introduced to 'spice up the show' at the start of 2005 has been wiped out.

Tyre changes are back, the stupid two-tier qualifying system has been replaced by a 'knock-out' competition for grid spots and new technical rules will rule the game next season.

Reaction to the FI rule changes have been varied, ranging from Michelin's screaming ad-dabs against the FIA to the much more muffled reaction of others involved in the sport.

Michelin raved about the decision, which was taken against their will, calling it "incoherent with the cost reduction objectives sought by the FIA President" and saying that it was "a step backwards in regards to the 2005 regulations presented, at the time, by the FIA solely for cost

making it clear that Michelin was opposed to the change but this was ignored by the Japanese tyre company.

Whether this is entirely ethical is a matter of interpretation. Wliatever the case, Michelin was furious at what happened.

In order to get the votes necessary the proposal needed the support of two-thirds of the commission. There are 26 votes available to the Commission,so to achieve a twothirds majority, 18 votes are required.

We understand that Michelin users Renault, BAR,McLaren and Sauber all voted against the change and that 2006 Bridgestone users Ferrari, Williams, Toyota and Jordan voted for the change, along with Michelin user Red Bull Racing(an odd decision).

We understand that Minardi abstained, which in effect meant a negative vote. Some of those present felt that Bernie Ecclestone had also abstained but, according to the FIA, he voted for the change. The other question was over the proxy vote of Australian promoter Ron Walker, which some felt was not cast, but others say was given to Canadian

I

r . iLp-yii ‘‘ The way things were in 2005: Renault won the Drivers'and Constructors' titles, above, and Ferrari had 22 people not changing tyres during pitstops, below. Left to right. Bob Bell, Nick Fry and Luca di Montezemolo.

reduction purposes."

The criticism did not stop there, with Michelin going on to say that "once again, this event illustrates FI's problems of incoherent decision making and lack of transparency".

There is no question that the changes for 2006 were not expected to get through the FI Commission and, after the event, there were several people we spoke to who were there but did not understand how the vote had been won. Two tilings were clear, however: the first was that Red Bull Racing voted for the change(and by doing so screwed their 2006 tyre supplier) and Bridgestone voted for the change, despite the fact that the Japanese tyre manufacturer was sitting on the FI Commission representing the interests of the two tyre companies.

As we understand it, Bridgestone had received a letter from Michelin

promoter Normand Legault.

It was not a big surprise that Ferrari was in favour of the changes.

"This is a good move as tyres had become too important," said Luca di Montezemolo."And being unable to change tyres made races more dangerous. The drivers were forced to drive like taxis over the closing laps. It is right to give the tyres some degree of importance but not to transform the championship into a tyre championship. The drivers, cars and engines should make the difference, not the tyres."

Montezemolo was also in favour of the new qualifying "We could not go on having people turning on tire television for only the final 10 minutes. It seems to me to be a good solution as a spectacle and a challenge. The race for the pole has to come down to tlie last second."

Some of the other teams preferred

motorsportnews

FI ANALYSIS

\lew World A raft of changes means that Formula One will look much different in 2006.

JOE SAWARD cornered some of the

sport's leading decision-maker's for their opinions of the changes to remain quiet but some were in ● favour of the new qualifying but not of the reintroduction of tyre stops.

"We're quite positive about the new qualifying," said BAR'S Nick Fry. "We think the knock-out format is going to be great fun and will ensure there's plenty of action tlirougiiout tire hour on Saturday. It also has the potential to jumble up tire grid, which is good for the racing.

We're not quite as keen on the change in tyre regulations as those of us on Miclielin tyres clearly had a big advantage over our Bridgestone rivals on the one race tyre. However, I've got full confidence in Michelin's teclmical capabilities and I'm sure they will still be fully competitive next year."

Let us not forget tliat the

qualifying idea actually came from the teams, as it was dreamed up when they were going through the process of thinking up new ideas for a future championship (not necessarily an FIA one). But the decision has come a little too late for some.

"Had we known about tlris

regulation change some time ago, then I tlrink the design of the cars would have been optimised differently," said Renault's Bob Bell.

"In reality, it is too late to make any changes to the car, so it

fundamentally has no impact. It is certahrly a manageable change, because if anything you would want

and there are some subtle

complications within it - the tactical advantages that could be gained from qualifying around the fringes of the top 10 rather than tenth, for example.

We will need to present and explain the format carefully, to make sure that comphcation doesn't become confusion for the general public."

Bridgestone, funnily enough, is happy with the rule changes but was obviously feehng a little defensive after Michelin's public outrage.

"Red Bull has

successfully managed to annoy its tyre supplier for 2006 and can look

forward to a frosty relationship next year" "The changes in regulations have been made for several reasons," said

a Bridgestone person. "Firstly, television viewers and spectators have made it clear that they would prefer to see tyre changes as it adds to the excitement of Formula 1.

Secondly, from a tyre point of view, allowing tyre changes increases safety and for Bridgestone, safety is a priority. Bridgestone did not request a change to the regulations and we were willing to compete under the existing regulations if tlrat is what tire FIA and teams wanted as it would

the single-tyre formula to take advantage of the likelihood of shorter

have given us the opportunity to try to beat our opposition under the single tyre rule. However, tire FLA and teams have opted for a change and we are happy to meet these new challenges."

The one team that is guaranteed to

But the real problem is the huge burden it places on the tyre companies, who will have to make significant investments to meet the

new regulations. The question is whether that is appropriate in the current climate where all parties are

talking about the imptbrtance of cutting costs?"

■ ■-

The qualifying will produce some interesting new tactics as weU, at

least that is what Bell thinks is going to happen.

"It is a more complicated format, 9 November 2005

Michelin completely overshadowed

Bridgestone in the tyre war last season. The

Japanese company has expanded its list of users for 2006.

Wings, I have. Gimme some tyres:

to reduce the fuel tank size relative to

race stints.

Battles to be watched:

come out of the whole business as a

loser is Red Bull. It has successfully managed to armoy its tyre supplier for 2006 and can look forward to a

frosty relationslrip next year, which is not what you want when you are trying to improve the performance of the cars.

But then, of course, no-one wants to talk about that.

Red Bull, right, voted at the Commission

meeting in a manner that may upset its tyre supplier Michelin.

Pole up for grabs: How will the new

qualifying system affect pole contenders like Juan Pablo

Montoya, below.

ntentions

(

On the eve of a brief visit heme, Mark Webber refiected with CHRIS LAMBDEN on a dijl^bLl^^ but explained whv bc^looWniittiBBMiia^^M^Bi

MOTORSPORT NEWS: If you were summing up 2005, you'd probably say that the momentum built up at Minardi amd then Jaguar faltered! How to you react to that and what can you do about it?

MARK WEBBER: It was a frustrating year. Williams is a top team, but this year was very hard for us. Renault and McLaren were the form teams, but we went through a particularly bad phase in the middle of the championship when races were coming a bit fast for us. We lost a bit of direction through that critical part of the championship, which is hard for everyone to take.

The best thing was that there was a bit of light at the end of the tunnel - Spa, Suzuka and Shanghai. Safety Cars cost us a bit there, but the package was better. In fact, it was what we should have had mid-year, but didn't...

But, you look back at the season and take stock and, in a funny kind of way, as a positive. I learned a lot about how to deal with a tough year - racing against 42

people you shouldn't really be racing with was something I had a bit of difficulty dealing with for a bit.. The momentum I took in from Jaguar was there, but a bit of adversity and a bit of a kick every now and then is part and parcel of anyone’s career. Noone's career goes that smoothly and you've got to have that tough one - I hope that's the one behind me now.

MN: Aero, as such,seemed to be the source of the team's shortfall this year, in particular aero 'efficiency'- can you explain what that's about?

MW;There's not a driver in pit lane who wouldn't give up 20 horsepower for a stronger aero package. It does make life so much more comfortable if you can have a car that is working efficiently - ie having very good downforce in the corners, which gives you confidence in terms of entry speed and so on, while still being quick on the straight.

People often think straight line speed is all about horsepower, which does play its part, but you also need a car to be clean and efficient through the air.

That's something that was hard for us throughout the year. That's the difference between a good

aero package and one where there's still work to do.

At the end of the year we had quite good load, or downforce, on the car - the first sector at Suzuka, the middle sector in Shanghai, were quite good, as was the test at Jerez before those races. But if you break it down, the time in corners was good for us, the full-throttle time wasn't.

We could have done with more power and been more efficient with the aero ...

So, yes, that was one of our problems. But there were also some DNF's on my side, for varying reasons, which started to accumulate - I’ve learned from those too.

We were on the best tyre - no ' problems there - and the engine was ... reasonable. I had no race failures, but we could have had a bit more poke.

Overall, the car wasn't 'flexible' enough to go to different tracks and be competitive.

MN:In terms of designing and building the FW28,is the team on top of those problems?

MW: Time will tell. There's a huge amount of modelling which goes into the whole process and, in terms of aero in particular, decisions have to be made in terms of exactly where you need to be strong. You can't be strong

everywhere, so it’s a game of compromises - most of FI is.

Those decisions are crucial and this year, some of them weren't , the right ones.

You don't know whether you're right or wrong until you race.

McLaren and Renault were probably unhappy vvitlTsome of their decisions, but it's only when you race that you get to know where you are - or aren't.

1 think we understand where we need to be stronger - whether we can go out and bridge the gap, which is quite big (in an aero sense) to McLaren and Renault, who will be carrying momentum forward from this year, is the r challenge.

MN: As an indication of the complexity of it all, how many of Williams staff are actively engaged in the aero department? And what is going on at Williams now in order to come up with a better package in '06?

MW: Williams has about 450 people all-up, of which 85 make up the aero department.

Switching to Cosworth is one of the things that will help them, in that having the engine manufacturer in the same country, with all the backwards and forwards goings on, is a good thing.

We’ve got an interim car almost molctspBilnsi^'

FORMULA -I

1 1

ready. The FW27 has been converted to take the Cosworth V8 - which isn’t a five-minute job.

The whole rear end for the winter testing programme will be V8/new gearbox/Bridgestone tyres, and we have to run an aero package which best reflects what’s coming on the FW28. That should hopefully make for a smooth testing programme leading into the launch of the full ’06-spec FW28 in January.

From what I’ve seem, there’s no doubt the FW28 will be a lot, lot faster car than the 27 - and that’s the big step we’re hoping for.

MINI; To what degree does this early testing, with the interim car, affect the final design/look of the FW8?

MW: All the big mechanical stuff wheelbase, base chassis, suspension etc - was drawn up quite a while ago.

Aerodynamically, a lot can change, as it does as the season goes on.

During the early testing, we’ll learn a lot about Cosworth, about Bridgestone. Williams has done all its learning on the FW27. There’ll be nothing much to learn car-wise until the FW28 rolls out - and there’ll be a huge, huge difference there...

I :

MN: You have the biggest changes of all the major teams - new engine and tyre suppliers, plus for the first time the 'Friday driver' option.

Pluses and minuses there?

MW: Cosworth will be very, very 9F?'"“l3er?505

competitive. They know their V8s well. They made some key decisions very early on and they are well down their development path - they’re ready to go now!

The Bridgestone thing is looking better now that tyre changes are back in. We’d have been facing a very hard season if that hadn’t changed. Nevertheless, if you think back to the end of ’04, when tyres were designed to go just 100km, Michelin were matching Bridgestone, so Bridgestone still have a lot of work to do in terms of their one lap performance and going back from 350km tyres to 100km.

It’s very important that the Friday driver thing works well, because if it does, you can save weekend engine mileage for the two race drivers. If we have the right guy in there, who can come up with good tyre and brake data, doing the long runs (it takes 6-7 laps for brake temperatures to stabilise), you won’t see much of our race drivers on Friday. Saving miles will also help us in terms of power availability in races, as we can then run the engine on a more ’aggressive’ cycle. It’ll also save on tyre usage - all of which has a nice knock-on effect.

Of course I’d like to be in the car more, but it’s all about maximising your package for Sunday, and having the right guy doing the miles on Friday can be a big plus.

MN: You mentioned 'the right guy' twice. It is an important role, isn't it?

MW: Yeah. If someone’s off the

.V

From what I've seem, there's no douht the FW28 will he a lot, lof faster car than the 27"

II

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/'■

- Webber. Crickey, we hope so... pace with the brake data, then I find out half-way through the race that we’re not going to finish the race on brakes...

MN: You have yet another new team-mate in Nico Rosberg.

What do you know of him and what are you expecting from him?

MW: To be honest, he couldn’t be any better prepared. GP2 has proven to be a very successful category, with all the pitstops etc as in FI. They’ve done as much as they can in terms of driver experience to make GP2 the learning ground for FI. Flis testing for the team has been very, very good so we’ see.

You can’t crystal ball what he’s going to do, but he totally deserves his chance. Fle's got the credentials to roll into a race seat and this is a good time - the change to a lower-power V8 is good for someone coming in this year. For those of us who’ve used

the VI Os, which were fabulous engines, there’ll be a bit of adaptation back to something a fair bit slower.

Nico will be fine. I’ve had many team-mates, and they’ve all approached it differently, and I’m sure he will too.

MN: What do you do over the off-season to 're-energise' after what has been a frustrating year?

MW: Going into ’06 there are many things to be positive about the Cosworth situation, the tyre regs pulling things back our way a bit ... and a bit of continuity.

Don’t forget, I came in for the last five minutes of a relationship, with BMW, that had been souring for quite some time, which made ’05 a tough year for everyone. It won’t be like that next year ...

I’m ready to go. I don’t need to have a break. I’m ready to go already.

Bring it on!

43

Singin' in tiu

Sydney's weather might have made it a promoter's nightmare, bu healthy crowd of real enthusiasts turned up for the f Muscle Car Masters, including CHRIS LAMBD

I

T Castro! i

y.imes Smith

Pete Geoghegan's Mustang has recently been restored and was on display at Eastern Creek for its first public apperance. Interest was very high for the famous Ford. Only wet weather forced it to sit idle in pit lane for most of the day.

HE previous Sunday was a beauty, the day before was a beauty, but when Sydney woke on the Sunday morning of the Muscle Car Masters, it was bucketing down. The signs weren't good, but an astonishingly good crowd nevertheless made its way to Eastern Creek for what may well grow to become Australia's version of the UK's Goodwood Festival.

The main grandstand was 90 percent full at its peak, with nostalgia buffs taking in a series of Biante series Historic tourer races,(see National Scene, page 70 for race coverage) along with others for Group A/C - with cars

up to the late 80s.

In behind the pits was an of famous'and collectible to cars, including Pete Geoghegan's famous Musis recently restored and sold a auction to Sports Sedan ra'ai Des Wall. A beaming Wall r happy to confirm that $32C, had changed hands at the : Shannons auction where hi acquired the beast...

The one disappointment \ that a number of the truly famous vehicles on hand couldn't even get out for a parade lap or two as wet weather tyres weren't avai'i to them.

Nevertheless, there seen few disappointed punters. \

pain disappointment there was was countered by the number of former racers on hand, several of whom spent most of the day signing just about anything that was put in front of them. Harry Firth, Peter Brock, Bob Jane, Ian Geoghegan were all kept busy, while Allan Moffat was literally rooted to the same spot, pen in hand, for some six hours.

Others - Kevin Bartlett, John Goss, Colin Bond, John Harvey - wielded pens when they weren't involved in on-track activities, while Bob Morris, Fred Gibson, John French, Spencer Martin et a! couldn't go far from the 'Legends Room' without having to sign something.

Of the modern generation, Glenn Seton was on hand, albeit without the ex-Dad Capri he was to pilot, which suffered an engine problem the previous day. Tasman's Jason Richards proved the current generation star, by driving Paul Stubber's

■VIUSCI.E CARS

Group N Camaro and Group C Torana in occasionally consecutive races and having a ball - despite being in totally unfamiliar surroundings: "Gauges: "I've never had to read them before, we usually get alarms and advice from the pits," he quipped.

Tacho: "What's that? We rev 'em till they stopi" Brakes: "Well, they will slow you down but don't ask them to stop youl" Look for many more V8 Supercar pilots in 2006 when, if current plans come to fruition, the racing programme could well be augmented by a field of FBOOOs. Now fhaf will be worth seeing ...

In the meantime, the 2005 Masters 'experiment' has to be earn a large tick. The atmosphere (apart from the climatic one) was superb and it would be a major surprise if a single fan went home disappointed. Roll on 2006.

- ?5ar@i L12 t® Keeping dreams alive: From top, Torana heaven, a busy Eastern Creek grandstand, Jason Richards tries a different Flolden, Leo Ceoghegan's Charger, below, and Brock's ex-Bathurst winning Commodore VK.

Sa

I

Bondy^tajues MNews readers for ride

MOTORSPORT News readers Lex Devine, above left, and John Parinetto, right, got the ride of a lifetime around Eastern Creek.

The pair were chauffered around the Sydney circuit by former Bathurst winner and Australian Rally champion Colin Bond as part of their prize in MNews's Biante competition.

Bond was an admirable substitute for John Harvey and Fred Gibson, who could not do complete the laps due to licence complications.

45

Rebels for

r A

use

4 get together with 800guys, a few girls and at least one dog?

When some of V8 Supercar's best drivers donned two wheels to remember a mate, PHIL BRANAGAN ta^ed along

B

ARRY Sheene would have loved it. For the day when thousands of motorcyclists were heading for one of his favourite tracks, Phillip Island, Victoria had turned on its first real spring day of 2005.

The temperature was in the mid20s; there was a blue sky that went forever, a light breeze,just enough to sneak down the front of a leather

jacket and keep you cool. The Island was no "gateway to hypothermia" this day.

The third running of the Sheene Ride was the best yet. It was the biggest; officials reported that more than 800 riders signed on prior to the off, but it seemed much bigger than that. At one stage of the ride, the line of bikes stretched 17km.

-B

xmi7/s \ \. .tv.

-

It IS about the bike: Richo and Murph got to compare KTMs, above, while Weely kept in contact with the real world. There were a variety of models, like this postie bike and off-road warrior, below, and a variety of models...

If any of our biking brethren were Ford fans, they were to be disappointed. Sheene's great mate Russell Ingall, usually a mainstay of the Ride, missed out this year due to some immovable commitments. Bank on his return in 2006. So all the V8 Supercar driver on the ride were Holden pilots, fresh from Bathurst.

Commodore fan heaven.

Unusually, European bikes ruled the lead group; more accurately, KTM did with its new Super Duke V-twin roadie. Steve Richards had his own, already tastefully modified. Greg Murphy and Paul Weel had borrowed 'Dukes'for the ride, though Murph has one on order. As usual, the Kellys agreed on some things (like helmets and a 600cc engine capacity) but disagreed on others. Less than 72 hours after his first Bathurst win, Todd arrived in Alpinestars on a Yamaha; Rick was a model of Hondaness in Joe Rocket.

Then there were the 'other' Hondas,Jason Richards dorming an L plate so he could ride a 250 twin, and Network lO's Leigh Diffey on a Deauville. This 'Florida Tourer' is 46

t\

i

t 1 kind of a Gold Wing Lite and just the cushy ride for a bloke still recovering from a broken-on-a-dirtbike leg and in the middle of the Bathurst-PI-Indy blur. In the surrounding three-week period, Diff had all of one day off. No wonder he lost his voice at Phillip Island.

Along with a few of their mates, then there was me, a lonely middleaged reporter on a sole BMW about to get reinforcements from an unexpected source [see breakout].

Remember, this was straight after

●it

Bathurst and the idea of a journalist joining V8 drivers 'on hols' may not have been ideal, had it not been for the enforcement of the 'footy trip' rule. In other words, lots of things that happened on the road stay on the road. Barry would have loved it.

Like, where did those guys go when they left the peleton, and how far did they ride in so short a time?

Who was it that exchanged registration plates between the bikes, and how did the victims notice?

I will never tell.

The fun started Wednesday evening, with aoncharity auction at the Bairnsdale RSL Club.

There were all sort of items up for grabs but then, spontaneously, we had an example of not just the popularity of V8 Supercar racing but the generosity - and competitiveness - of the participants. Todd and Rick got their heads together and offered a two-lap blast around Calder in their K2 Ride Car to the punters. Barely two minutes later, $2000 was in the kitty.

moiorsportnews

Weely and Murph were not going to let that lie so topped the lads from Mildura with three laps in the PWR Commodore at Phillip Island. That went for $2800. But Jason Richards was not to be trifled with a trumped the lot; three laps of PI in the Tasman VZ,on the Friday of the Grande Finale, three-day race tickets and a tour of the team garage. That brought $3100,after Jason auctioned it himself. Almost $13,000 was raised for Leukeamia research and the oncology department of the local hospital. Barry would have loved it.

T

he next day was a blur. Paced by a police Commodore, the pace at the front was 20 kays under the speed limits, so that the rear of the pack did not have to break the law to keep up.

And what a day. For four hours, we enjoyed great roads and towns filled with thousands of waving spectators. Schools let kids out for a while, retirement homes had seniors cheering from the footpaths and shopping centres came to a standstill as the line of bikes motored through.

And what a variety they saw; new bikes, old bikes, vintage bikes.

Sidecars, trikes, road racers, cafe racers, tourers and cruisers. Harleys, Brits, Germans, red hot Italians and more Japanese models than you can imagine. One neat Aprilia RSV Mille had a dog named Jett on board.

9 November 2005

People were there from Cairns and Perth; one guy was riding a postie bike.

If it was fun riding in such a large group, there were drawbacks.

Because of the low speed limit, anything larger than lOOcc(which was just about all 800 bikes) was running well under the speeds for which it was designed. Than meant that there was no wind on the chest to take the weight off your arms. It was a relief for me when Todd also complained of sore wrists; I thought I Was just getting soft. The plods may tell us that speed kills but a lack of it

hurts your wrists.

In the afternoon, after a stop in San Remo,it was time to cross the bridge and complete a lap of the track. This is the part that Barry would have hated; because of the number of bikes, organisers slowed us to almost walking pace, meaning frustrated riders paddled around the track with idling engines and slipping clutches.

But the racing teams entered into the spirit of the moment,riders and mechanics coming out of the garages to wave us on. A logical end to the trip but if it is that slow next year, I am sitting it out.

And just like that, it was over. Of course, many of the bikes to make the trip were staying for the Grand Prix. I had to get home;in the late evening, with the sun setting and air getting cool, the time was right to do what bikers do when there is a lot more traffic coming the other way than there was in my direction.

I am enforcing the footy trip rule here; I am not going to say how fast a BMW R1200S can go. But it does go plenty fast. Barry would have loved it. continued on page 52 47

Swimmer thumps Boxer If you have to get out-muscled, it helps to lose out to a sporting legend

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WAS happy. Not thrilled, but happy. BMW Australia had come through with a new R1200ST for the ride to the Island.

Beemer's flat-twins are familiar territory; I have owned two and ridden lots. There is something comforting about the quirky Boxer design, which the Bavarians have been refining since Moses won the Jerusalem TT. The styling of the 2005 ST might be, um, different, but there is no mistaking that it is a BMW. It is just that, well, / wanted a K. If the Rs echo 80 years of BMW flat-twin history, the K1200R is as modern as tomorrow;four cylinders. Star Wars suspension and serious street cred. With 163 horses, it may not quite be the mother of all road bikes - but it is a close female relative.

And then, while I was contemplating all this in Bairnsdale, suddenly there was the K12R, looking mean in

athlete and fair dinkum Aussie legend, Kieren Perkins was discouraged from throwing his impressive leg over a motorcycle. Coaches feared that one tumble would end years of work, which is understandable. But in

K for Kieren: Two Kellys, two Richards and two gold medals in one room. features to the assembled and admiring V8 Supercar heroes.

It's all about the engine.

From a bloke who dominated one of sport's toughest events for almost a decade, mainly by Si

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You can reach Howard and his staff at: 44-68 Racecourse Rd, North Melbourne, Vic, 3051 Ph (03) 9326 6088 Fax (03) 9326 3822 melbourne@racebrakes.com.au 9 November 2005

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OTORSPORT showed Australia its newest face at Eastern Creek last weekend when the A1 GP Series the 'World Cup of Motorsport'made its first visit to the southern hemisphere.

Tw'enty-four nations turned up, but there might as well have only been one. France dominated every session that mattered leaving everyone else to battle over the scraps.

Cross-channel rivals Great Britain took second in the Feature race ahead of Switzerland, and Team Australia put on a display for the home crowd to salvage a sixth place from what looked like being a difficult weekend.

But underlying all of this was a rare sense of history. A1 GP is a new series and a new concept, and a few years down the track 51,000 Sydneysiders will be able to boast 50

that they were there when it all started.

Race 1(19 laps) France andregards, a lot of the people crashed. won, In those Sprint Race did not offer a lot of surprises.

For Nicolas Lapierre at least, things were pretty straightforward.

The Frenchman got away cleanly from the rolling start, survived a couple of early Safety Car spells, and then blitzed the field once things settled down. His fastest lap was lml9.751s, over 0.8s quicker than anyone else was able to manage, and he had a 8.7s lead in his pocket when the race reached its 30 minute cut-off point, bringing the chequered flag out one lap early.

"At the beginning of the race we had fresh tyres, and the car was

fantastic," Lapierre grinned."So I just had a big push to open the gap. The plan was to push at the beginning and then control at the end."

Tire only blot on Lapierre's race came right at the start, when he inadvertently knocked his Power Boost button at the wrong time.

"I did a bit of a mistake at the start, because I used the Power Boost twice and I didn't mean to do that," he said wryly. "So I only had two of the allocated four) left."

He still had the two Power Boosts left when the race ended.

Alvaro Parente was no match for Lapierre, but the Team Portugal car had enough on tap to deal with Brazil's Nelson Piquet Jr. Piquet had pulled a neat move around the outside of Neel Jani at turn one of the first lap to pluck third place away from Switzerland, but Parente was making life more difficult. Yet the

cards had all been in Brazil's hands when Portugal ran out of Power Boosts towards the end of the race.

Piquet still had a couple under his belt, and unloaded one at the exit of the final corner with five laps to go in the hope of getting a better run down the straight. It was to no avail though, and despite showing signs of having an advantage in outright speed. Eastern Creek's sinuous back section and Parente's determination conspired to ensure that Brazil's efforts were unrewarded.

Starting from the middle of the field in 13th, Will Davison was perfectly placed to get caught up in what seemed certain to be a messy first couple of corners. As expected, there was a clash, but Davo was well clear and worked himself up into the top 10 within the first four laps. He survived a series of attacks from the very British Adam Kahn in the Team

motorsportnews

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Pakistan car, but by the halfway point of the race he had been shuffled back to 11th by Italy's Enrico Toccacello.

The Team Australia car had Toccacello in its sights over the closing stages of the race, but with no more Power Boosts left in the account, Davison was forced to spend the rest of the race staring at Italy's bright blue rear wing, and finished just outside the points.

It wasn't the result that he might have wanted but at least he had a straight car, which was more than could be said elsewhere along pitlane.

New Zealand's Jormy Reid had beaten Davison into the first corner, but his good fortune turned around to bite him when he found himself squarely in the middle of Tomas Enge (Czech Republic) and Steven Simpson (South Africa) while they were busy having an accident at turn two. Reid and Simpson lived to fight on; Enge

9 November 2005

was not as lucky and clambered out of his broken car and onto a grass verge to watch the rest of the field bunch up behind the Safety Car. Race control gave the command for the green flags to start waving again on lap four, but German teenager Adrian Sutil was having none of it. He'd gotten away with running three-wide with Toccacello and Mexico's Salvador Duran through the first corner, but while the Italy car wisely opted for selfpreservation and momentarily lifted, Mexico and Germany stayed on the gas into turn two - with predictable results. Mexico; gone. Germany; gone. The Safety Car probably never even had a chance to come to a stop in pitlane before it was called back out again.

There was further drama on lap 9 when the South African car, evidently feeling invincible after surviving its

scare on the first lap, decided to live dangerously again and got tangled up with Basil Sharrban of Lebanon.

Sitting in the middle of the track facing backwards, Simpson thought he'd dodged another bullet and tried to flick the car back in the right direction, which was about the time that he realised that his left-rear suspension was broken. At least he was dose enough to the pits to get the thing back into the garage under its own steam.

Race 2 (35 laps) IFintermpted first race was French blitzkrieg onlya by the odd brainfade from Le Tricoleur's more mortal rivals, then the Feature Race followed exactly the same formula.

The only real differences were that a) it was twice as long, b) Australia did a whole lot better and c) we got yet

another rather unsettling demonstration of just how robust the safety cells in modern open-wheelers are.

Once again, the only thing that stopped Lapierre from winning by about 30s was the proliferation of Safety Cars, including a long spell towards the end that very nearly saw the race finish under yellows. From a standing start, Lapierre was beaten into the first corner by Brazil (the only nation other than France to have won an A1 GP race thus far). But Piquet's moment of glory only lasted until turn two, where he went in fractionally deep and allowed France to dodge past. Aside from a few memorable laps where Lebanon got out of sequence on pitstops and led the race, that was as close as anyone got to France for the rest of the afternoon. continued on page 53 51

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Crash-fest: Japan, Germany and Mexico get mixed up at Turn 1 and 2.

WHEN the V8 Supercars were running around Eastern Creek in May, a lap in the lm32s range was something to be proud of. A few years earlier, in 2000, a lm22.5131s from Tim Leahey in a Reynard 92D Formula Holden put the man from Orange into the record books as the circuit's all-time lap record holder.

Friday:

Dirk Klynsmith

52

Then, last Friday along came Nelson Piquet Jr. The painfully quick Brazilian with the world's fastest haircut swarmed into the Sydney circuit, took one look at the place, and smacked all of the records over the fence with a lml9.266s. And he wasn't even trying. A1 Grand Prix cars might be weirdly styled, but by God they can go fast in the right hands. When the time came for the teams to start throwing new tyres around in qualifying on Saturday, it was going to rock.

China's Tengji Jiang had a couple of tries at damaging his car before finally getting it right and backing into a wall, pictured.

For Team Australia, it was a low-key start. Christian Jones took the wheel for the first session but had a frustrating time of it. He spent the first five laps bedding in a new gearbox, by which time his new tyres had lost their edge.

His hopes were further scuttled by a succession of red flags and inclement weather, and he ended the session 18th.

Jones handed the car over to Will Davison for the second session, and with Jones's old tyres still on the car, Davison was always going to be on the back foot. At the fall of the flag, he was 16th fastest with a best time of lm22.581s.

"Early on we weren't really that happy with the car, and I was still fighting my feet a little bit," Davison admitted. "By the time felt comfortable, the tyres were well past their best. So 1 sort of had my hands full for a while there. But we are not as far off as the times indicate."

- MARK GLENDENNING

moiorsportnews

A1 GRAND PRIN I himself a spot on the race highlight I reel with an awesome mo\'e on I; Piquet early in the race after the pair ■I drove a third of a lap side-by-side.

The constant Safety Cars and restarts kept Lapierre in Kerr's sights, but the Brit was never able to come close to staying with his French counterpart on the restarts. Often, France was able to create a 0.5s buffer before the cars had even left the last corner.

"He was dictating the pace," Kerr said. "And also, a couple of times, we had a stutter on the engine at full power, which obviously hurt our restarts. But Nicolas was controlling everything, and we had to react."

Switzerland was third, completing a good weekend for Jani.

"I was really happy about the Safety Car phases, because I was able to relax and take a rest," he said. "But the rest of the time I was just concentrating on not making any mistakes." continued from page 51 "I made a bit of a mistake on the first corner, because the track was very dirty and I slid a bit too much," Lapierre explained. "So Nelsinho got past me, but I overtook him under braking on the second corner. So it was OK. And then it was a very good race. It was very nice."

About sums it up, really.

The French cause was further helped by its two strongest rivals, Brazil and Portugal, sabotaging themselves. Parente was cut off at the knees right at the beginning when he jumped the start and was called in for a drive-through penalty, eventually finishing in seventh place.

Meanwhile, Brazil's hopes were scuppered when Piquet served a drive-through as penance for a stray tool in the pitbox, capping what had already been a disastrous stop for the team after problems with the rightfront wheel. They wound up 10th, just behind New Zealand.

Great Britain partially reaped the rewards of Portugal and Brazil's misfortunes to finish second, although Robbie Kerr also earned

The same corner also caused problems for Austria and the Czech Republic on lap 18, who tried to use the same piece of road at the same time. They had plenty of time to talk about it as they walked back to the pits while the Safety Car again wheeled out to facilitate the clean-up.

China spun harmlessly into retirement a few laps later, and shortly after that Japan got it all wrong at turn one. The car skidded sideways into the gravel, dug in and larmched into an airborne barrel-roll

largely did everytliing that they were meant to do (with the exception of the roll hoop, which ended up 30 metres from the rest of the wreckage).

The car was ripped in half, but Hayanari Shimoda escaped with little more than a concussion. It all left a hell of a mess, and by the time it was cleaned up there was just enough time left for a two-lap sprint to the flag.

So after all of the hype, the fledgling A1 GP series and Apstralia met one another for the first time. It

that was brought to an end by the catch fencing. It was a bug shimt, the kind that newspapers like to run under 'Driver Escapes Death'-style headlines, but the car's safety systems

is very obviously a new series, and one that is not without its teething problems. But it is equally obvious that there is a world of potential waiting to be tapped. Fly the flag.

3-

Jos Verstappen gave Team Netherlands its best result to date with fourth, while Alex Yoong of Malaysia managed to stop Team Australia from taking fifth. As it was, sixth was a good result for Davison after starting from the middle of the pack.

Davison got a fantastic run down to the first corner, despite admitting to a relatively poor start.

"The initial getaway actually wasn't that good," he reflected. "Way too much wheelspin. I got away and went around the outside at turn 1, and managed to pass someone there, and then I got past Verstappen and another car at turn 2.

"To be honest, it was a 50/50 move - it was a bit daring - but it is so hard to overtake here that it was just a case of 'now or never'."

Once again there was plenty of carnage elsewhere in the field, with the Safety Car slowing the race down so much that it was declared finished at the one hour mark, five laps short of the scheduled 40.

Russia and Mexico were first in the showers, summoning the Safety Car after a turn 2 clash on lap 9 that almost took Lebanon out of the race as well.

THERE is more to winning than simply going out and driving fast, but if Saturday was anything to go by then Team France has every bit of the equation covered.

Strategically, the French were brilliant. The car was wellsorted, the team looked relaxed, and they managed their tyres so perfectly that they managed to slaughter everybody and still have two green sets left over for Sunday. And it didn't hurt that Nicolas Lapierre - a GP2 frontrunner with Arden and the youngest-ever winner of the Macau GP - had the blinkers on, either.

By the time qualifying was half over, Lapierre pretty much had everybody else screwed. A1 qualifying sees the drivers get one flying lap in each of four 15 minute slots, with their fastest two lap times being combined into an aggregate to decide the grid. First time out, Lapierre did a 1m18.886s easily the fastest lap of the weekend so far. "It was a safe lap," smiled the affable Frenchman. " It was my first time on new tyres, so I was being safe."

In his next run, he improved to an astounding 1m18.150s, for an aggregate of 2m23.036s. After a token run on old tyres in the third segment, he didn't even bother going out for the fourth session. Job done.

For Australia, it was another day of frustration. Will Davison was nominated as the team's race driver for the weekend, and began the day on a good note by briefly topping the timesheets in morning practice. But the team made a series of changes to the car before qualifying that steered things in completely the wrong direction. The car was better when Davo went out for his third run, but by then the team had used all of their new Coopers.

"We haven't had much continuity between the team and the driver, which has made things hard," said a disappointed Davison, "We're starting to get somewhere, but we're on the back foot a bit. Still, we have made some gains, which is a positive. We're starting to learn more, and we are finding improvements. We just haven't had a chance to show that on the timesheets yet."

At least they beat New Zealand, who would line up one spot behind them for the sprint race in 14th.

- MARK GLEIMDENNING 53

Give me a Boost ONE of the distinctive characteristics of the A1 GP car is the Power Boost system.

Similar to the Push To Pass function in Champ Cars, the Power Boost button gives drivers a limited number of opportunities (four in the Sprint, eight in the Feature) to get a bit of extra noise out of the engine and, hopefully, encourage overtaking.

So how does it work? A hidden nitro tank? Exotic engine mapping?

Actually it’s way more simple. The engines are normally revlimited to 9000rpm; when the driver hits the pass button, this jumps up to 9500rpm. Team Australia engineers estimate that it is worth about 40-50 extra horses.

Unlike the Champ Car systems, which are time limited, a Power Boost will last until it is deactivated - either by the driver letting go of the button, or by lifting to less than 50 percent throttle. So theoretically, if you stayed on the gas, you could drive an entire lap with Boost activated. Of course, if you are good enough to be able to drive a lap of the Creek without lifting, chances are that you wouldn’t need Power Boost in the first place ...

- MARK GLENDENNING

And the carnage continues: Mexico and Russia got a some of the Turn 2 blues in the second race.

Australia calling: Will Davison finished a respectable sixth in the feature event, above main.

Dirk Klynsmilh

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Countiy V Country Team v Team THE A1 concept is sold on the basis of nation versus nation. But if you peel back the 'World Cup' layer, you get something that is equally interesting.

Sure, we get to see the old-school rivalries Australia versus New Zealand, and India versus Pakistan, and Britain verus everybody. But if the thought of Team Lebanon conjures images of a bunch of blokes who three weeks ago were farming goats suddenly trying to figure out how to dial mid-corner understeer out of a 550 bhp race car, then you are miles off.

What you are really watching are international open-wheeler heavyweights like DAMS (Team France 9 November 2005

and Mexico), ASM (Team Brazil), Arden (Team Great Britain), Carlin (Lebanon and Japan), Super Nova (Pakistan), ADR (Australia) and West Surrey Racing (New Zealand) going head-to head with equal machinery. The overwhelming majority of the crews are made up of Brits, including Team Australia's (and yes, it is mildly unsettling watching a bunch of Poms wearing the green and gold and going in to battle on our behalf).

Opportunities to watch the leading teams from GP2, F3000, World Series

by Renault and Formula 3 fight it out on a level playing field have previously been few and far between. At A1 GP, it is just one more thing to savour.

- MARK GLENDENNING

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HE non-championship 2005 Formuia Ford Cup at Eastern Creek attracted a record field of 36 Formula Fords, with a range of championship regulars and state level drivers taking the opportunity to get a head start on their 2006 national level campaigns.

It was the national level farewell to the current specification Kent engine that has served the series so well, before the new Fiesta-based engines are introduced among other changes in 2006.

Victorian State Champion John Martin won the round with pole position and two heat victories.

Martin led the way early in the first race of the weekend, from NSW State Champ Paul Laskazeski, Cade Southall and national Formula Ford rookie of the year Shane Price.

Tim Slade had his first race meeting since the Mallala Formula 3 round in April, and his first time amongst Formula Ford ranks since the 2004 AGP support races.

Slade started well, qualifying on the front row of the grid. When the lights went green, though, he dropped back to sixth off the line.

The Safety Car was called for early after Brad Lowe was assisted into the turn eight sand-trap on lap two.

At the lap five restart, Laskazeski put a textbook move on Martin to take the lead into turn one. Martin returned the favour three laps later, slipstreaming down the straight and

retaking the lead.

Price, who had been biding his time in third place, then pounced at the next corner, going around the outside of Laskazeski at turn two to take second place.

Martin held on for the win, ahead of Price, Laskazeski, Ashley Walsh and Slade.

In a change from his regular V8 Ute ride, James Moffat returned to Formula Ford, having previously run a number of Victorian state events, and finished 10th in the opening race.

The second race went right down to the wire. Price took the lead off the line from Martin, while a clash at turn two on the opening lap with Ashley Walsh put paid to any hopes Laskazeski held of battling it out at the head of the field.

Martin moved past Price on lap three, but only held the lead for a lap, with Price soon able to reclaim control of the race. The pair remained virtually inseparable for the remaining laps, with Slade tagging onto the back of the battle in third place.

At the end of 10 laps, there was a scant 0.0184s between the pair, with Price taking the win over Martin, the latter having battled a misfire. Slade finished third.

Luke Wood snuck past Southall on the last lap to claim fourth place, ahead of Jake Williams, Stephen Payne and Simon Arthur.

The final race was something of an anti climax, with just a handful of racing laps

completed out of the original 13 lap distance.

From the outside of the front row. Price assumed the lead with Martin and Slade in pursuit.

Price’s Spectrum started the race sporting a slightly different set-up, with the aim of maintaining pace late in the race. It sacrificed a little early speed, which allowed Martin to get by and take the lead into turn one. The first Safety Car followed shortly after, when Kyle Wood found the turn nine gravel trap.

After that restart on lap six, Laskazeski had made his way through from the rear of the field to 15th place. Fie didn’t get any higher than that, as he was caught up in a coming together between Matthew Radisich (second cousin to V8 Supercar driver Paul) and Grant Doulman, also at turn nine a short time later.

It ended Radisich’s race, dropped Laskazeski to an eventual 26th and brought out the second Safety Car, behind which the race and weekend finished.

Another clash between Jake Williams and Sonic Motor Racing driver Todd Fiore, below, saw Williams leap onto two wheels.

For Martin it was two wins from three starts, with Price and Slade completing competitive weekends with second and third respectively.

Luke Wood was fourth ahead Southall, Arthur, Payne and Moffat.

- MITCHELL ADAM

A1 GRAND PRIN

Alajajian wins, but the title is gone Aaron Caratti wrapped up the Gold Star crown at Eastern Creek amongst big F3 field

H

E wasn't in the same dominant fonn at Eastern Creek that he's displayed in recent rounds of the Kumho Tyres Australian Formula 3 Championship, but Aaron Caratti succeeded in wrapping up the 2005 Gold Star with one round remaining.

Caratti entered the weekend with six wins in succession and one hand on the title, but unlike recent rounds, he wasn't the driver the rest of the field were aiming to catch.

In qualifj'ing, that honour went to reigning Gold Star Champion Neil McFadyen. Having his second Formula 3 meeting, he scored pole position for both races for Team BRM. McFadyen put it to good use in the opening race. He got away from the line cleanly and took the lead, ahead of Carrera Cup runner Ian Dyk. Also driving for Team BRM,Carrera Cup regular Dyk returned to Formula 3 for the first time in over 12 months.

The duo built a comfortable gap to the rest of the field, and Dyk eventually put himself in a position to make a move - and did so on lap 11.

He took the win by just over a second, with McFadyen second.

Having his first run for Astuti Motorsports after moving away from Team BRM,Michael Trimble settled into third place, ahead of Chris Alajajian.

Alajajian soon spun after clipping a kerb on lap two and dropped to seventh. He quickly set about rectifying the error. He reclaimed his third place by passing Chris Gilmour, Caratti, Tim Macrow and Trimble.

Alajajian reset the lap record along the way.

Caratti finished fifth, with Macrow, Gilmour, Piccola Scuderia pair Leanne Tander and Michael Caruso, and Nathan Caratti completing the top 10.

The start of the second race wasn't as kind to McFadyen. He stalled and dropped well down the order. It provided a concerning moment or two for those behind him,but it was of little concern to Trimble, who took the lead from P2.

The lead wasn't to last long, though. He and second-placed Dyk spun off at turn nine after slipping on oil. Trimble was beached and out of the race, while Dyk was significantly delayed.

This handed the lead to Alajajian.

He didn't squander the opportunity and made the race his, building a lead over champion-elect Caratti in the remaining laps and taking the

9 November 2005

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win by five seconds.

Gilmour stepped up from an '01 model to an '04 model Dallara for the weekend. With development of the car still in its infancy, it wasn't exactly as he wanted it, but third place was a good result.

Just like the first race, Tander and Caruso had a race-long, battle, with Tander again beating the former F3 champ. Nathan Caratti finished eighth, ahead of Michael Ho and the recovering McFadyen.

In Trophy Class, Bill Maddocks wrapped up the title, but only after a dramatic weekend. He crashed heavily in qualifying, causing considerable damage to his '96 Dallara.

In order to race and gain points.

Maddocks took over the car of teammate Lauren Gray.

Graeme Holmes was the first of the Trophy Class driver's home in the opener, ahead of Rod Anderson and David Choon. Mike Beeley bounced back from a DNF in the first race to top the group in the second race, from Holmes and Anderson. Maddocks scored a fourth and a fifth to put the class title beyond doubt.

Caratti may have added his name to Gold Star recipients, but there is still another round to go.

The field will return to Eastern Creek for the third time this year on December 2-4.

-MITCHELL ADAM Outright Championship Points: Caratti 242, Trimble 168, Alajajian 151, Gilmour 122, Macrow, 73, Caruso 48, McFadyen 42, Tander 29, Matt Sofi 26, Ricky Occhipinli 26.

Trophy Class Points; Maddocks 169, Marc Williams 139, Graeme Holmes 124.

Big and busy: From the top, Chris Alajajian won the round; Aaron Caratti sealed the CAMS Cold Star crown; Neil McFadyen took both poles; and Nathan Caratti and Tim Macrow clashed, below.

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EBASTIEIM Loeb has cruised to his 10th victory of the year with another easy gallop through the Catalan countryside to win the Spanish round of the World Rally Championship Loeb made it look like a doddle, just as he did the previous weekend in Corsica, the Citroen driver wasn't able to win every stage as he had in France the previous week although he came close.

Backing up Loeb was team mate Francois Duval, the Belgian finding the sometimes damp tarmac to his liking. Fie made up for a disastrous performance in Corsica by claiming a 1-2 for Citroen to secure the Manufacturers' title.

With a lead of almost a minute going in to the final day, Loeb won the opening stage before throttling back and cruising to the win over the final two stages, beating Duval by 1m21s.

With the package of Loeb, the well-balanced Citroen Xsara and the best rubber from Michelin, team manager Guy Frequelin clearly had the advantage in the chase for the Manufacturers' title, while rivals at Peugeot suffered yet another character building rally in the team's penultimate event.

Loeb won nine of the 15 special stages, toying with the opposition who all struggled to match the pace of the lead Citroen. The victory gave Loeb a perfect score of four from four on tarmac rallies this year.

"I always wanted to win here one day," said Loeb.

"It's been a dream weekend.

the end result of the passion and the work put in by everyone in the team. This 10th win is a symbol of our perfect season, and I would like to dedicate it to them."

Citroen very nearly took a clean sweep in Spain, with local driver Xavier Pons in the private Kronos-run Xsara missing third place by just 1,2s, edged out on the last stage by the unpredictable Mikko Flirvonen in a 2004 model Ford Focus.

Flirvonen posted a stunning drive on the final stage to beat Pons by seven seconds and grab the final podium spot to salvage some honour for Ford after misfortune for team leader Toni Gardemeister on Day 2.

Gardemeister was in the box seat for a podium finish but a brake problem saw him slide off the road, losing 12 minutes and dropping him to 13th. Fie continued on, only to slide into a ditch on the last day, recovering to make it across the finish line well out of contention.

Roman Kresta in the other nominated Ford did come home in fifth after a consistent drive to snare some points and give the Blue Oval a strong hold on third in the title.

While Pons just missed the podium, Citroen did also clinch the JWRC category thanks to Dani Sordo in his Citroen C2 Super 1600.

It was left to Chris Atkinson to deliver Subaru its best finish in this rally, taking ninth despite the fact that it was only the third tarmac outing for the young Aussie, Fie drove an intelligent rally, molorsport newts

Perfect 10 The WRC swung into Catalunya, and once again Sebastian Loeb left everyone to fight over the scraps.

JON THOMSON reports

SuUon-inutncs.com

Is there anybody else out there?

Loeb and Citroen, above, have been on a different planet to the rest of the WRC field this year and Catalunya ivas no exception.

Blue streak: Tarmac might still be new to Atkinson, but the Aussie ivas still the best of the Subarus, right.

starting steadily, learning the conditions and moving up the order each day to bring the car home unscathed.

"At the start of the weekend we set an agenda of speed where we would like to be by the end of the rally, and by midway through the second day I think we were right on target," said Atkinson.

"The most pleasing aspect is that when you look at the times over our three tarmac events we are continually getting faster and adapting to the conditions very quickly. I have been very happy with the improvement with each stage, but there is still a lot more to come before I can comfortably push 100 percent."

Marcus Gronholm was the only real challenger for Loeb on the opening two legs, however the Finn's challenge again came to a halt with a problem on the final transport to the overnight halt on Day 2. This time, the troublesome 307 overheated and cooked its engine before he could make service. Despite the fact that he was the closest rival from an opposing team, thirdplaced Gronholm was over 2m11 s behind Loeb when he was forced out, indicating just 9 November 2005

"I'm feeling a slight vibration": When your wheel looks like this. right, you are not going anywhere in a hurry, as Solberg discovered.

how impregnable the Loeb/ Citroen package was.

Nicholas Bernard! in the second Peugeot had a classic battle over the closing stages with Anthony Warmbold in his privateer Focus and Jan Kopecky in the lone surviving Skoda. The young Frenchman would snare sixth in only his second drive for Peugeot.

Frenchman Alex Bengue again showed his talent in the Skoda, capturing times in the top four before he succumbed to a gearbox problem on stage two, Armln Schwarz finished 11th, backing up Jan Kopecky's pointscoring finish.

The Japanese manufacturers certainly didn't reign In Spain this year, with both Subaru and Mitsubishi suffering plenty of troubles. Subaru lead driver Petter Solberg must be counting the days till 2006 after a shocking run In recent rallies.

The Norwegian slid into a bank on Day 1, damaging the front suspension and putting him out of the rally. Fie returned under Super Rally rules but was never

m^OOS

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in contention and finished 13th.

Subaru's great tarmac hope Stephane Sarrazin rolled out of the rally in spectacular style on the last stage of Day 1, with the car catching fire and burning beyond repair. Sarrazin and his co-driver Denis Giraudet both escaped unhurt.

At Mitsubishi, Gigi Galli was looking good in fifth at the end of Day 1, sitting just a handful of seconds away from third place.

The young Italian attacked hard on Day 2 and moved up to third with fastest on the second stage of the day, only to crash out.

Team-mate HarrI Rovanpera limped around all weekend, suffering the same gear change problems that he had encountered the previous week in Corsica, but he still managed to finish In 10th.

1 Sebastii^Loeb Fra Citroen Xsara Daniel Elena l Fra ;3b31ni07i0s; 2 Francois Duval B Citroen Xsara 3h32m28.93 B Sven Smeets 3 Mlkko Flirvonen Rn Ford Focus RS 3h33m53.7s Jarmo Lehtinen Fin E Citroen Xsara 4 Xavier Pons 3h33m54.9s Carlos Del Barrio E 5 Roman Kresta Cz Ford Focus RS Cz 3h34m31.6s Jan Tomanek 6 Nicolas Bernard! Fra Peugeot 307 3h35ml6.4s Jean-Marc Fortin Fra 7 A. Warmbold D Ford Focus RS D 3h36m07.3s Michael Orr 8 Jan Kopecky Cz Skoda Fabia 3h36m29.3s Filip Schovanek Cz Drivers’ Points: Loeb 127, Solberg 71, Gronbolm 71, Gardemeister 58, Martin 53, Duval 37, Kresta 26.

Manufacturers' Points: Citroen 178, Peugeot 135, Ford 100, Subaru 91, Mitsubishi 63, Skoda 18.

WRC RD15 CATALUNYA 59

Cody Wins The weather was dodgy, the roads were unfamilar but the result was another notch on the belt for Cody Crocker and Subaru.

JON THOMSON reports from Rally Bathurst

c

ODY Crocker completed his dominance of the Australian Rally Championship with yet another exemplary display to win both heats of the inaugural WPS Rally Bathurst,the final round of this year's title.

In extremely changeable conditions, Crocker mastered warm temperatures and choking dust on Heat 1 and a torrential downpour and slippery roads on Day 2 to seal a near-perfect performance in the Drivers' Championship this year.

Crocker still won 12 of the 16 stages, overcoming the handicap of sweeping the roads on Day 1 and a strong challenge from outgoing Toyota driver Ben Barker to take his fifth win of the year.

Team-mate Dean Herridge was able to secure second in the drivers' title, beating Toyota's Simon Evans in both Heats to complete the Subaru 1-2.

Ford was a scratching prior to the start of the rally, with driver 60

_

Michael Guest citing a missing vital component as the reason why the team was not prepared to take the risk of running, leaving rally fans to wait until 2006 to witness the return of the Blue Oval.

Surprise packet of the rally was Barker who, with the prospect of being without a drive in 2006, led for four stages on the first Heat until a puncture on stage six delayed him by more than 90 seconds and cost him any chance of a Heat win.

From that point, Crocker never looked like being beaten, and not even the heavy rain on Heat 2, which saw a number of forestry stages cancelled, could prevent the Subaru team leader from claiming another win Crocker clinched Heat 1 by 11.3s over Herridge, and backed that up with a massive 46.1s advantage over his team-mate in Heat 2.

"It was a bit of a worry at the start of day one when Ben Barker was beating us," Crocker said.

"I thought perhaps we may have selected the wrong tyres, but I was sweeping the roads and that was costing me time.

"Once we went into the second loop over the stages I was able to get back on top, while on Day 2 we had a great wet weather set-up and being first car on the road was a big help."

Barker's speed on Heat 1 had everyone talking, with the Bega driver finally coming to terms with the Corolla after a difficult couple of seasons. Free of pressure in what was his last drive for the team and advantaged by a good road position, everything came together for he and co-driver Damien Long. The 27-year-old had signalled a major improvement over the last two rallies, but that was not good enough to help maintain his job at Toyota in season 2006. Barker eventually finished seventh on Day 1 and fifth on Day 2.

Surprisingly, Evans appeared slow out of the blocks and was

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down the order on Saturday morning before finding more pace in the afternoon. A puncture mid-way through the day didn't help his cause, and despite some fast times he had to settle for third behind Herridge, The rain and cancelled stages cut short his attack on Heat 2, ruining any chance he had of beating Herridge and taking second in the title.

"Things went against us a bit on Day 1 said Evans.

"We were second on the road sweeping gravel and that cost us, while the cancellation of SS11 after [Scott] Pedder's off spoiled the attack.

"Having so many stages cancelled on Day 2 didn't help our cause at all, but that's rallying, I suppose."

Redder caused some worrying times for his team and organisers on Saturday afternoon. The Mitsubishi driver fired off the road and was taken to Bathurst Base Hospital for motorsponnews

ARC

Farewell gesture: Barker, right, used his last drive with Toyota to produce his best performance of the year.

The smell ofsuccess: Sue Evans ensures that Crocker's racesuit will need drycleaning by drenching it in bubbly, while Herridge wisely keeps out of the way, below.

Under cover of darkness: Bates cops the brunt of the region's notoriously changeable weather, below right.

Neil Bljdkboum

f RESULTS HEAT 1 SATURDAY

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precautionary checks on his back, which was causing him some pain. The Lancer was repaired by the Mitsubishi crew, and he returned for Day 2 to finish fourth after claiming a stage win on the opening leg.

Pedder's failure to score on Saturday meant he dropped from second to fourth in the Drivers' title, capping a season of lost opportunity.

11 was a rally of disappointments 1 for Neal Bates, who would probably have taken second on Heat 1 had he not been delayed

by Juha Kangas. The Finn suffered a puncture mid-way through the opening day and stopped to change it, coming back on to the road just in front of Bates.

"If his day was already stuffed why wouldn't he wait and let the car behind get past?" seethed Bates.

9 November 2005

"For the rest of the stage I had nothing to see but a wall of white dust! I was down to first gear in spots because the visibility was zero."

Bates struggled for grip in the mud of Sunday morning and finished eighth behind Kangas, the man who caused him so much angst on Heat 1.

For Kangas, it was an ordinary result In what is likely to be his last event for the Les Waikden Subaru satellite team, the Finn returning home in 2006 after a disappointing year.

Steve Glenney's meteoric rise continued, with the South Australian horse trainer taking fifth in Heat 1 and fourth on Sunday, enough to clinch the Privateers Cup ahead of reigning Cup holder Brad Goldsbrough.

The Privateers Cup battle was separated into two groups, with Glenney way out in front while

Golsdsbrough battled with Martin Lintott, Benni Tirant and Mark Thompson, who was making his return to the ARC after a layoff this year.

Jack Monkhouse had another miserable weekend, rolling his Lancer early on Heat 1 following that up with a steady 12th in the mud of Sunday.

The Subaru RS Challenge finished with a flourish, with Victorian Eli Evans clinching the title after rival Will Orders suffered a range of problems including a broken driveshaft, exhaust and flat tyre on Heat 1. yVith the Driver's title all wrapped up the focus turns to 2006, and the decisions of Subaru and Mitsubishi and exactly who will be driving what.

There's little doubt Toyota will be far more competitive, and whatever Subaru and Mitsubishi decide, the title will be more open than it has been in years.

1 Cody Crocker/Dale Moscatt Subaru Impreza - 1h08m33.8s 2 Dean Herridge/Bill Hayes Subaru Impreza !.;:<1h09m10.6s 3 Simon Evans/Sue Evans Toyota Corolla , 1h09m21.9s 4 Neal Bates/Coral Taylor Toyota Corolla Hi;t1h09m36.0s 5 Steve Glenney/Bernie Webb 1h09m44.7s Subaru Impreza 6 Ben Barker/Damien Long Toyota Corolla : ; 1h10m42.2s 7 Brad Goldsbrough/Paul Humm Subaru Impreza uJh11m15.5s 8 Benni Tlrant/Ben Searcy Subaru Impreza y.;,, 1h11m17.5s

1

HEAT 2 SUlVDAY 1 Cody Crocker/Dale Moscatt ..j,'Subaru Impreza 35m35.2s 2 Dean Herridge/Bill Hayes Subaru Impreza .; 36m21.3s 3 Simon Evans/Sue Evans Toyota Corolla .. 36m49.9s 4 Scott Pedder/Glen Weston Mitsubishi Lancer..,,. 36m53.0s 5 Ben Barker/Damien Long ^Toyota Corolla , ._ 37m10.4s 6 Steve Glenney/Bernie Webb ^Subaru Impreza 37m22.7s 7 Juha Kangas/Julia Rabbett 37m25.2s ,Subaru Impreza 8 Neal Bates/Coral Taylor 37m32.7 _. Toyota Corolla Final Points: Crocker 227, Herridge 148, Evans 144, Redder 128, Kangas 102, Bates 87, Glenney 64, Barker 57, Goldsbrough 52.

ARC RD5 Rathurst 01

End Of The Road QLD Fini

THE long-rumoured withdrawal of Subaru from Australian rallying has finally been confirmed, however the extent and finality of the withdrawal has taken some by surprise.

Subaru is withdrawing all its resources from the sport from the end of this year including the two-car Subaru Rally Team Australia, backing for the Les Walkden satellite team, support for the one-make Subaru Rally Challenge and sponsorship of the Tasmanian and Canberra rounds of the ARC at the conclusion of current contracts.

The withdrawal of Subaru could trigger another withdrawal from the ARC, with budgetary pressures at Mitsubishi causing some questioning of the Adelaide-based company's priorities.

Subaru has left the door open for possible involvement in tarmac rallies by offering current driver Dean Herridge a contract to explore tarmac opportunities. Cody Crocker, who is contracted until the end of 2006, will be offered the chance to compete with a privateer team next year.

In announcing the withdrawal, Subaru MD Nick Senior cited a change in the customer base of Subaru and the strategic direction of the brand, as well as having a veiled dig at the introduction of the Group N prototype rules, which have allowed Toyota and Ford back into rallying.

"A decision of this magnitude is not taken lightly, but earlier this year we conducted a wide-ranging review of our strategic direction and that included our commitment to rallying," said Senior.

"In 1996 we entered the sport, knowing that the next decade would see an increasing number of Subaru performance vehicles introduced into this market.

"To establish our credentials as a performance brand and cement the link between the Subaru Impreza WRX and Subaru's World Rally program, rallying was the chosen motor sport."

It's known that Subaru is annoyed that Toyota has been granted so many freedoms n for its Corolla Group N (P), telling other manufacturers in a meeting at Bathurst two weeks ago that it was worried that consumers would think that a $19,990 Corolla could beat a $60,000 WRX STl. It is also upset that prototype entrants are able to call their cars Group N (P), which it believes waters down Subaru's position in the sport.

"Cody's performance this year to win the championship against heavily-modified Group

N (P) vehicles has been nothing short of sensational, and he would have to be ranked amongst the top 15 drivers in the world at present," said Senior.

The effects of Subaru's withdrawal will be far-reaching and will leave an enormous hole in the sport, which the remaining companies will struggle to fill.

As mentioned, Mitsubishi is itself considering a withdrawal, Toyota has scaled back to a two-car effort for 2006, while Ford will at best make up the numbers and already has a strong commitment to V8 Supercars.

ARCom Chairman Garry Connelly said that while it is sad to see Subaru go, it is inevitable that manufacturers come and go in a sport such as rallying.

"The fact that Subaru has taken its annual sales from 8500 when it started rallying 10 years ago to over 35,000 this year is an indicator of how successful rallying has been for them," said Connelly.

"It is not a surprise, we have had inklings of this for the last nine months or so. But it is still sad to see them go."

"Just last week, ARCom was approached by a European manufacturer asking whether S2000 might be acceptable in the ARC and what our plans are for that category with a view to entering our championship down the track."

Asked about Subaru's apparent displeasure with Toyota's increased competitiveness, Connelly said that Subaru had been a part of discussions regarding Group N (P)from the very start and has had an input into the rules every step of the way.

"Subaru was at the initial discussions at Mazda five years ago when this was first mooted and they, along with Mitsubishi, have had a say in every specification and freedom granted to Toyota," said Connelly.

"If they are unhappy it is a bit late to be saying something now, and quite frankly no other company has input into what Subaru engineers put into its Group N cars. So from that point of view Subaru has an advantage."

Connelly told MNews that the cost of the TV production wilf be continue to be spNt between the existing manufacturers', whether that is three, two or one participant.

"The participants know that the cost for Ten to broadcast the series is a set amount, and if there are two companies involved the cost is split between them. If it is three, the cost is divided by three," said Connelly.

- JON THOMSON

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62

START looking for accommodation on the Sunshine Coast in late October 2007.

That's the message that came from a manufacturers' meeting at the Bathurst Rally, where.ARCom boss Garry Connelly told company representatives that the Sunshine State would be the new host for Rally Australia - as reported exclusively in MNews in August.

Connelly has been publicly cagey about revealing any details of exactly who bid for the chance to host the rally and where it was headed, but a manufacturer's representative in the meeting told MNews that Queensland had been openly discussed as the new host state.

The story was backed up by

Japan On The Ropes?

ALL is not well in the Land of the Rising Sun after the withdrawal of the major backer for Rally Japan.

The Mainichi media group, which underwrote the Japanese WRC round, has withdrawn its funding.

A source close to the WRC in Europe told MNews the problem with Japan is financial with the cost of underwriting Rally Japan proving much greater than Mainichi planned while the returns have fallen well short of expectations as well.

“Insiders in Japan have told us that financially it was way out of court," said our souce. “And of course, one wonders to what extent Mainichi, which only really promoted the event locally in Hokkaido rather than nationally, could ever expect the rally to be effective.

“In Japan this year we kept sensing a ‘keep costs down’ attitude, and I suppose this is the logical conclusion.”

While the Japanese rally is still on the calendar, the problems, combined with the ructions in Australia, may trigger a decision to bring some of the potential new rounds waiting in the wings on to the calendar at the expense of these two events.

“If people in various other countries suspect that neither Japan nor Australia can make proper plans for 2006, let alone 2007, the struggle will be to stop the FIAfrom dropping them both and letting in some of the candidates,” the source concluded.

- JON THOMSON motorsportnews

RALLYING

McRae Oz-Bound

ns Fop Rally Oz another high-ranked source, who was in Bathurst over the weekend, and reflects investigations by MNews with several of the rumoured bidders,including SA and the ACT, which revealed that both were no longer in the race.

While the ACT was interested,it only wanted in if CAMS would underwrite the risk. SA withdrew from the bid when some bad economic news broke in the state, including the large-scale retrenchment of workers at GMH and

for the state and the delay in moving the WRC round has been the catalyst for the revised attitude. However,it may still be too late for SA to re-enter the race.

other companies. It was felt at the hme that to bid for a costly motor sport event would send the wrong signals to SA voters.

However,since then some major new projects have resulted in the equivalent number of jobs being

Connelly refused to comment on where the rally will be staged, but said that the bidder, who was selected a fortnight ago,is still committed and is happy to sign a contract to stage the rally from 2007.

- JONTHOMSON

added back into the SA economy.

Although Queensland seems to have clinched the bid at this stage, the one-year delay in moving Rally Australia to the east announced a fortnight ago by ARCom has prompted SA to consider re-entering the race to secure the event.

The turnaround in economic news

See You In 2007 AFTER months of deliberation, Citroen has confirmed that it will return to full-time competition in the World Rally Championship from 2007.

Citroen will return to the series after a one year lay-off in 2007 with a revised car based on the C4 Coupe. The proviso for the return was based on a reduced motorsport budget for the teann, coupled with cost reductions on a sporting level, including technical regulations and changes to the calendar.

"The decision to return was taken very quickly," said Citroen motorsport boss Guy Frequelin.

"The new regulations allow us to meet our budget targets.

There is no longer anything standing in the way of our return to the sport."

During the team's one year sabbatical, a privateer operation will continue to run a Xsara WRCar for dual World Champion Sebastien Loeb. No

announcement has yet been made on which privateer team will run Citroen's effort, although current teams Kronos and ORECA have both been mentioned as possible candidates.

Frequelin will remain on with Citroen until at least the early part of 2007.

- RYAIM LAHIFF

IT has been a busy few weeks for former WRC Colin McRae as he tries to find a way back into a full-time rally drive for 2006.

On the eve of the recent Catalunya Rally in Spain, McRae revealed that he'd been testing with Italian manufacturer Fiat, which is rapidly progressing with development of a Super 2000 prototype.

McRae was reported to have been pleasantly surprised by the Fiat.

"There isn't a great deal of torque and you have to keep the thing going to get it to work properly," said McRge. "That was a strange feeling for a four-wheel-drive car. My ideal formula has always been to do away with turbos and have passive transmission. Super 2000 isn't too far away from that."

The Super 2000 regulations, like the Australian Rally Championship's Group N (P) rules, allow a manufacturer that doesn't produce a four-wheel drive to utilise a common transmission, gearbox and suspension components to develop a rally car to rival the traditional Group N stalwarts Mitsubishi and Subaru.

Unlike Group N and Group N (P) the Super 2000 cars are normallyaspirated and designed to provide a way into the top levels of rallying for manufacturers without the massive development costs of producing a World Rally car.

McRae, who returned for a one-off drive with Skoda at his home round for Rally GB, was also confirmed by the Czech manufacturer prior to Catalunya for another outing with the team at the upcoming season finale Rally Australia.

"Australia is an event I always enjoy, even though the surface and the nature of the roads makes it one of the most difficult in the championship," said McRae. - RYAN LAHIFF

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^

What a hand. But which card will come up trumps? CHRIS JORDAN previews the the 2005/06 Proton World Series Sprintcars Championship. own under-funded team, Shane weekend at Brisbane HEY are four of the best Ace Krikke's persistence has finally International Speedway, rolling Sprintcar drivers on the paid off and Tatnell now has an Brooke Tatnell into its biggest-ever schedule. planet. Their respective Australian ride worthy of his Extra rounds at Rockhampton teams all present with the brilliance. and Latrobe in Tasmania (a (Toyota Genuine best gear in the business and After his US success, not only double header), a superscreen at luckily for us, all four are Parts Cool) will his fan base now likely about to embark on a 19every round and one of the best

T

round battle royale for the 2005/06 Proton World Series Sprintcar Championship.

World Series Sprintcars will commence its 19th season this

TV deals in sport on Channel Nine are all great things for the fans, but really, it is the battle for the crown that is capturing everyone's attention.

OUR Ace is Brooke Tatnell.

Coming off a simply outstanding World of Outlaws season, Tatnell's star is huge at the minute.

After years struggling with his

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challenge that of Max Dumesny off the track, his results on the track will see he and Dumesny head-to-head battling for the crown.

The last few seasons have seen Tatnell forced to overdrive to try and compensate for his equipment, allowing Dumesny to look the cooler customer, driving with more in reserve.

As the Australian Sprintcar Masters proved as Speedway City last weekend, Tatnell's Krikke ride now sees him as arguably the quickest out there and the new man to beat.

He will just have to match the consistency of Dumesny, who is always around the mark.

KingMax Dumesny (Valvoline Maxim) THE World Series format suits

Dumesny to a tee. Rarely do you moiorsport news

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A familiar sight? Will we see a chequered flag regularly slung out the side of Brooke Tatnell's new Krikke ride? Max, right, hopes not. see the Valvoline car upsidedown or smoking, and Dumesny's success is simply put down to his combination of speed and consistency. Farr, Madsen and Tatnell may take their fair share of the single events each season, but Dumesny always has the upper hand over the distance.

Tatnell seems to have got up to speed with his new team extremely quickly, but it's hard to bet against Max.

Queen Robbie Farr (Titan Maxim) LAST season was Farr's first at Ttan, and while World Series didn't quite bring the desired result, late season Farr and Ttan ran like a blur.

This season Farr knows his team well and Ttan's in-house engine program has benefited from a season of Outlaws running. In horsepower terms, Farr's black Maxim is the car with the most ponies.

Farr may be overlooked by some as people look to the Tatnell versus Dumesny battle, but Farr is potentially every bit as fast as Tatnell and consistent as Dumesny - on his day.

If Farr has enough good days and luck falls his way. Reeve Kruck may be a very happy man come January.

9 November 2005

JackJason Johnson (Supaloc Eagle)

JOHNSON and Disbury were rightly lauded as the highlight of the 2003/04 World Series, Johnson joining the illustrious list Americans to come second in World Series (Daryn Pittman is still the only yank to win). Then, last season, the much-hyped Disbury-Johnson attack failed to eventuate, bar one win at home.

If the earlier version of the team arrives this season, Johnson could very well go all the way, having won Outlaws features in the States this year. The signs so far are positive, and let's hope this continues. World Series is at its best when an American is battling it out with our boys at the front.

The Young Ones

THE second generation will be out in force this year in World Series. Cameron Gessner is likely to lead the young flock challenging the top four in the Performance Wholesale car. On his day, Gessner is right up there among our 'pack of champs', but he may struggle to match the performances of his predecessor in the Speedflow car, Shane Stewart, who has decided to stay home his summer.

Northern Territorians Danny

Reidy and Ben Atkinson will also be ones to watch, as will South Austrlians Luke Dillon and last season's Sprintcar Hall of Fame Rookie of the Year Dylan Jenkin, On nights when attrition claims some of the top seeds, look to these guys to collect a trophy.

A few wise heads will also be challenging, with the everconsistent Mike van Bremen and Ian 'Fly' Lewis both in form, especially at their native Victorian circuits.

Jokers COME Speedweek, World Series is traditionally turned on its head as a cast of invaders seek to raid the extra prizemoney on offer. Americans

Brian Brown and Travis Rilat will be amongst the front guys in the compact 'mini-series', making the championship chailenge all the more interesting. Remember Tatnell and Fred Rahmer's clash at Murray Bridge in Speedweek last year?

Locals are also an ingredient to through into the equation.

Todd Wanless will be a force to be reckoned with at any Queensland track and is likely to do Speedweek, maybe with an American team-mate ...

West Australian's Ryan Farrell and Veronica McCann are also evaluating running Speedweek, all with the view of denying Dumesny his third-straight Jumbuck - how many Protons can one man owni

Action Irack

TROY Little again showed why he won last season's Parramatta City Raceway Track Championship after the Sydney star showed a clean pair of heels to the quality Sprintcar field in winning round 5 of the prestigious Tyrepower Track Championship last Saturday night.

Little was a clear winner from Trevor Green with Adrian Maher third.

"I wanted to stick with the American Racer tyres and it would have been good to win with the JEI chassis," said Little. "It's capable, but I think we changed too much at the start of the year. Now we have got a bit of a target, we're back on track."

Going into the night's racing. Little was leading the track points tally but still hadn't won a race after reverting back to a brand new Eagle chassis the previous week. After setting third quickest time in qualifying with a 11.883 second lap, the Kimbo Transport driver blitzed the field. While Maher won the start, it was Little who took control on lap two, going on to take an unchallenged victory.

After starting from position 10, Green forged into second mid-race, going on to finish behind Little. In the closing stages an intense battle for fourth with Grant Tunks, Garry Rush and Andrew Wright trading places with Tunks, Rush and Wright making up the top six.

TWO weeks ago Robbie Farr steered the Titan Garages and Carports Maxim to victory at the Tyrepower Parramatta City Raceway, defeating a very on-form Mark Blyton with Adrian Maher picking up third place.

Farr took the race lead from Blyton just before half-race distance and ran the remaining laps virtually unchallenged. Behind Farr, Troy Little and Martin Lawes traded positions late in the race with Little gaining the upper hand to finish fourth, Lawes fifth and an impressive finish for Jamie Jones in sixth.

The night started up tough, we didn't qualify where I wanted, 11th quick," said Farr. won a heat but in the A-Main the car was tight early, so I knew we would be in good stead for later in the race. I'm happy with the car, Parramatta has never been an easy place to win, especially with 55 cars.

BROOKE Tatnell has taken little time adjusting to his new surrounds in the Krikke Motorsport team, winning the 20th Australian Sprintcar Masters at Speedway City.

In the traditional warm-up event to World Series Sprintcars, Tatnell, who is still recovering from a broken hand, continued the great from he has shown in World of Outlaws this year to defeat Robbie Farr for the , prestigious title.

Tatnell time-trialled fastest, but after the heats he began the AMain from third, behind Jason Johnson and Farr.

At the green, Johnson led away, but Farr soon took the ascendancy. Tatnell eventually leap frogged both of the black cars to claim the lead. A relentless Farr, keen to defend his Masters crown, ran with Tatnell, taking up the fight as Johnson lost touch with the fast flying duo.

While the action up front was n taking place, Dumseny had , started his quest in;climbing his way through the order, moving from sixth passing Luke Dillon, Danny Reidy and eventually Johnson to claim the final podium position.

At two-thirds race distance the only stoppage of the race occurred when 2005 Rookie of the Year Dylan Jenkin contacted

The start of the 30-lap A-Main was marred by a huge crash for West Aussie Ryan Farrell coming into Turn 4, pictured below. Farrell started the race from position sixth and was forging forward but after flipping over his throttle struck open sending the very damaged Maxim into the outer wall just at the pit exit.

Farrell was unhurt but the car was wrecked.

Six laps later while battling for the race lead Trevor Green and Max Dumesny got tangled, again in Turn 4, pictured below. Both were able to restart from the rear but Green with a damaged front wing and bodywork finished the race in last position. From there Blyton took control before Farr forged by and Maher, who after starting from position 10 was a big mover, was third by lap 9.

Points: Little 1220, Maher 1190, Green 1186, Blyton 1168, Loudoun 1152. lohit Alorris/Mpi

Flying Start

fohn Morris/Mpix

IAN Lewis, Matthew Reed and Brett Milburn put on a great display of Sprintcar racing to kick off the 2005/2006 Victorian Season at Avalon on October 29 in Round 1 of the Eureka Garages & Sheds Series.

While Reed led the majority of the race it was Lewis who took the win in the Adtrans J&J ahead of Reed with Quentin Tanner taking a fine third place.

In one of the strongest season starts for some years, 35 cars fought it out for the 16 feature starting positions at a meeting which also saw the return of Canberra’s Darren Saillard after a 20 month lay-off due to injury.

- BRETT SWANSON

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Dream Team

Tatnell-Krikke combo wins on debut at

the Turn 4 wall. This again bunched the field up but with a lapped car between each of the top three, it made it difficult for a thrilling run to the flag. At the restart Tatnell sailed into the distance while Farr and Dumesny fought their way through the slower traffic.

Johnson claimed fourth ahead of a much-improved Reidy.

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Bad start: Cameron Cessner's

Reigning South Australian title holder Luke Dillon had both arms full, holding out two former national champions in Todd Wanless and Phillip March, who had both worked their way through the field.

Victorian's Troy Shiells and Mike Van Brenen rounding out the top 10.

- PARIS CHARLES

season began with this crash.

Brown dominates in Tasmania

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AMERICAN driver Brian Brown has smashed the opposition in Round 2 of the Farmer's Union Tasmanian Sprintcar Series at Garrick last weekend.

Driving one of Robin Dawkins's cars in preparation for an assault on World Series Sprintcars later this year, the Missouri-based star was simply too good for the field in the AMain, starting from pole and driving away from the field.

Jason Redpath was second and Tim Hutchins third. Brown leads the series points after Round 1 was washed out two weeks ago. n Garry Brazier made an unexpected return to the TPCR last week after accepting on offer from Knoxville-based Lynton Jeffery to race his brother Paul's new J&J Vortex Race Products machine.

Lynton and Garry are good friends and now Paul has returned to Australia and Lynton plans to stay in the US, Brazier was offered and accepted the ride in the new 410 Sprintcar. There r are no firms plans at this stage,just week to week agreements, but Garry' will again step into the #70 machine this Saturday night. n Drag racing identity Troy Pearson has purchased the entire Linigen Racing team, cars, truck and spares with Kelly Linigen being retained as a contracted driver.

Rumours of a Rocket Industriesbacked deal have spread, but this is not the case, as Rocket doesn't sponsor individuals, instead backing the entire speedway fraternity.

f

America's Cup

AMERICAN driver Dean Jacobs has taken out the WA Gold Cup at Round 1 of the AHG Sprintcar Series at the Kwinana Motorplex on Saturday night.

Jacobs who is running the full AHG series with the Kendrick Team was awesome all night and showed why he is one of the US's top drivers.

"I was happy with the car and the team is very professional," said Jacobs.

Jacobs started out of position 10 in the A-Main and worked his way forward. Luche Monte had the early lead and looked like he would run away with it, but Jacobs ran him down and they swapped positions several times whilst lapping traffic.

Ryan Farrell arrived on the scene and it was a threeway battle for the lead until Jacobs caught a break when Monte and Farrell came together and Jacobs flew through and was gone.

SPEEDWAY

Several laps later Monte crashed heavily with Ken Satori ending with both cars flipping. Farrell settled for a strong second and Michael Figleomeni fought his way to third.

"After the heavy crash last week (at PCR)this was a good finish for us and it gives us something to build on," said Farrell.

- DARREN SUTTON

n The start of this season saw Troy Little debuting a brand new JEI chassis and was using virtually all different running gear to last summer. While Maxwill have supplied Troy with race winning engines over the past few years, Kendrick Engines from WA have come on board with Little this summer and along with American Racer tyres the entire deal is certainly different this year.

Two weeks ago, Troy and his team headed by Bill Roberts built up the other brand new Sprintcar in the workshop, an Eagle, getting a win second time out.

- STAFF/GREG BOSCATO

Hoosier Tire Australia 2005 WORLD OF OUTLAWS CHAMPIONSHIP Australian Distributors for 2005 Standings to 8/10/05

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*^ RACING TIRE For more information on Hoosier Drag and Speedway Tyres eali:

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9Novemiier2005

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67

The Quick and The Canned National Drag Racing at Willowbank has a funny knack of attracting evil weather. KEN FERGUSON witnessed history, and then saw history repeat...

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New and old: Above, Wayne Newby was 'The Man'in Top Alcohol. Jay Upton, below, was quick in Top Bike, while the Nitro Funny Cars, bottom, were very spectacular.

OTHER Nature not only forced an early end to the 40th annual Australian Nationals, but also robbed the diehard spectators of a possible first Top Fuel pass in the 4.50s zone.

Willowbank management, along with ANDRA officials, were stuck in the same predicament as they endured 12 months ago, with inclement weather forcing the cancellation of the second Nationals event in as many years, before a race was run on the third and final day.

Rain hadn't actually arrived when they called the event off, but it did finally hit around lunch time, justifying the decision made by management.

The event has been cancelled, not postponed, with no dates available for a re-run due to other events schedules.

Darren Morgan piloted the Fuchs, Lamattina Top Fuel dragster, above main, to the three quickest passes ever seen at Willowbank Raceway.

His best came in the first round of qualifying with a 4.615s at 315.79mph. Morgan shut off around 200 feet short of the finish line, which would no doubt have seen the first ever 4.5s pass in the country.

His other two passes of 4.66s and 4.68s in the following rounds were encouraging, but the cancellation of the event meant the time record remains intact... for now.

'Pommie'Steve Read was next quickest with a 4.73s at 305mph in the third round of qualifying, but his run was disqualified after touching the centre line and dislodging a timer block. His earlier 4.91s at 298mph was good enough to secure third spot behind Morgan and Phil Read's 4.90s.

Roy Smith and Mick Atholwood almost exceeded their personal best of a 5.01s at 277mph with ah early shutoff 5.07s at 244mph. Smith clicked it early after pushing out a gasket, but incremental times indicated he was on track to record a high 4.8s or low 4.9s timecard.

Wayne Newby set the standard in Top Alcohol, going 5.71s at 227mph off the trailer to grab top spot.

Newby held the number one position with that pass. He led two other dragsters. Dean Oakey, and Gary Phillips who both recorded 5.81s passes. The remaining five in the field were Furmy Cars. Mark Brew, Brett Stevens, Ben Bray, Damien Harris and Steve Reed were all off their usual pace.

Top Doorslammer was the most eagerly anticipated class of all, with many wanting to see John Zappia repeat his five-second form from Sydney in his 'world's quickest' HQ Monaro.

The first round of qualifying saw Gary Phillips take top honours with a 6.07s/234mph in his Lucas Oils Products'53 Studebaker. It was a time that could not be beaten.

Ben Bray slotted into second spot early with a 6.18s at 238mph. Zappia was next best, recording a 'lazy' 6.21s at 234mph. Denis Brijeski got off it early after getting out of shape and crossing the centre line. He improved in the second round, recording a 6.33s at 223mph. Robin Judd improved on his first round 6.28s effort with a 6.19s at 231mph.

The next pairing saw Zappia against Ray Bernard. Both improved on their first rounds,Zappia going 6.15s, and Bernard going a full second quicker than his previous best

motorsportnews

DRAG RACING

LaHaie to retire

Final Grab

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with a 6.44s/220mph.

The third and final round of qualifying was highlighted by Bernard knocking Deno Brijeski from the field by one thousandth of a second, with his quickest-ever 6.330s at 220mph. Zappia also improved,recording a 6.10s.

Jason Grima grabbed the top spot in the Pro Stock field in his Ford Probe with a 7.34s at 185mph on his first attempt. He was never headed in the following sessions. Denis Whiting snared second spot with a Round 2 7.34s at 184mph, failing by two thousandths. Jon Andriopoulos and his Dodge Avenger failed to show in the first round due to a bearing failure, but safely made it into the field with a 7.35s at 185mph in the third round. Mike Tirmey and Dave Rogan held fourth and fifth positions while John Barbagallo and Nick Xerakias debuted their new ZX2 Ford Escorts, and made it into the field in sixth and eighth spots.

Shane Tucker filled the gap between the two in his Pontiac Grand Am. Pro Stock Bike saw Daniel Peatey top the field with a 7.37s at 180mph on his Suzuki.

Jay Upton upstaged a mob of Harley's in the Top Bike class to grab the number one spot with a 6.57s at 212mph to edge out Brett Stevens' 6.63s at 201mph.

Paul Shackleton debuted his brand-new Bob Meyer built AA/Altered in the Competition bracket and went straight to the top of the field with an early shutoff 6.33s at 200mph.

Other top qualifiers in Group 2 at the event included Ross Sacre in Super Stock, and Ross Lemberg in Comp Bike.

9 November 2005

THE final event of the year on the IMHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series proved to be a huge weekend for Schumacher Racing.

Gary Sceizi wrapped up the Funny Car title, while newly-crowned '05 Top Fuel Champ Tony Schumacher and Melanie Troxel made it an all-Team Schumacher Top Fuel final at Pomona last weekend.

Sceizi wrapped up the 2005 POWERade Funny Car crown despite losing to Tommy Johnson Jr. in the second round of eliminations.

Ron Capps, who trailed Sceizi by two points heading into the final event, ended his bid for the title when he lost traction in the same round. In the last pair of the round, John Force lost on a holeshot to ex-employee and event winner Tony Pedregon.

Scelzi's title, his first in Funny Car, makes him only the second driver in NHRA history behind Kenny Bernstein to win championships in both Top Fuel and Funny Car. After clinching the 2005 POWERade title in Las Vegas, Schumacher posted his fifth-straight victory to close the season. The win also gave Schumacher a consecutive round win record of 20, surpassing the old mark of 18. After clocking passes of 4.48s/326mph, 4.51 s/324mph, and 4.52s/321mph in the early rounds, the U.S. Army dragster used a final round 4.49s/324mph to defeat Top Fuel Team-mate Melanie Troxel, who fouled at the start.

Pedregon posted his second Funny Car win of the year, defeating Eric Medlen in the final round, 4.75s/319mph to 14.59s/68mph.

Pedregon's Quaker State Monte Carlo stopped brother Frank Pedregon in the first round with a 4.75s/320mph, took Force out of the title chase with a 4.77s/316mph, and advanced into the final with a 4.73s/324mph win over older brother Cruz.

After defeating Allen Johnson, and the two-car team of Greg Anderson and Jason Line in the early rounds, Coughlin, stopped Tom Martino in the Pro Stock final, 6,72/204 to a redlighting 6.73/205.

Schnitz scored his third Pro Stock Motorcycle win of the season when Andrew Hines left to soon and drew a red light start.

Hines defended his POWERade Pro Stock Motorcycle championship. His first-round win over a red-lighting Chris Rivas combined with an earlier loss by second-place rider GT Tonglet kept the title in the Vance and Hines Screamin' Eagle Harley-Davidson VRod camp for the second-straight year.

- DAVID OSTASZEWSKI

IHRA Adds Floppers

TORCO Racing Fuels owner Evan Knoll and the IHRA have reached an agreement that will bring Nitro Funny Car racing back to the IHRA. Pro Nitro Funny Car, will be part of IHRA’s schedule at all 11 national events during the next three years.

It will feature a purse and payout structure that mirrors the recently revamped IHRA Nitro Top Fuel program. Entries will receive a free car and driver entry as well as eight crew passes. A revised 2006 IHRA schedule will be forthcoming and nine of the 11 2006 events will be scheduled on ‘non-competing’ weekends, meaning that the IHRA will not hold races on POWERade NHRA national event weekends.

The 2006 World Champion will win $150,000 while the runner-up will take home $50,000.

- DAVID OSTASZEWSKI

FIVE-TIME NHRA champion Dick LaHaie will retire as crew chief of the Larry Dixon-driven Miller Lite dragster after the season finale in Pomona.

Assistant crew chief Don Bender will take over the tuning responsibilities of the Miller-backed rail in 2006. Bender, 45, joined Don Prudhomme Racing in December 1999 and has served as LaHaie’s assistant crew chief since the 2000 season. Prior to joining Snake Racing, Bender spent 10 years at Kalitta Motorsports working with drivers Scott and Doug Kalitta.

LaHaie, 63, scored his first career victory at the 1980 Summernationals in Englishtown, N.J, He won five races en route to capturing the 1987 NHRA Top Fuel title, and collected 15 career Top Fuel victories before retiring from driving following the 1991 NHRA season. He scored his final win as a driver at Houston Raceway Park in 1990. After a year away from the sport, LaHaie was hired by Kalitta Motorsports where he tuned Scott Kalitta to 13 victories and two-consecutive NHRA Top Fuel crowns (1994-95). He then tuned Doug Herbert's dragster for two seasons before joining Don Prudhomme Racing where he tuned Dixon to consecutive championships in 2002 and '03.

LaHaie's tuning abilities have enabled Dixon to become the winningest active Top Fuel racer, calling the shots for 31 of Dixon's 38 career Top Fuel victories.

In his career, LaHaie collected 46 wins as a crew chief, and remains the only competitor to win a Top Fuel championship as both a driver and crew chief. n AMS Staff Leasing and Torco Race Fuels have announced that a new deal will allow the Pro Modified category to remain a part of NHRA national event programs for the next three seasons. n Mike Ashley's defeat of Lee Smith in the first round of the ACDelco Las Vegas NHRA Nationals recently enabled him to become the first driver in the five-year history of the series to win two-straight AMS/TLR Cup world championships.

Ashley's win over Smith finally closed the book on a late-season run from Jay Payne. Payne won the Nationals title, then crushed both time and speed records two weeks ago in Dallas at 6.000s and 239.23mph, but ran out of time in his quest to offset Ashley's huge points lead from the first half of the season.

In the AMS Vegas event, Joshua Hernandez recorded a final round 6.08s/232mph to hold off the 6.20s/232mph of Payne. The win was the fourth of the season for Hernandez.

- DAVID OSTASZEWSKI 69

natimal Biante title to Tilley scene

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HE inaugural Australian Muscle Car Masters played host to the final round of the Biante Historic Touring Car Series at a soaking wet Eastern Creek, with Brad Tilley collecting enough points after Race 2 to clinch the title.

A shortage of suitable rubber for the big cars saw Holden Toranas run rampant all day, the Generals giantkillers filling the podium in all three races after some stunning performances from the XU-1 pilots in very tricky conditions.

Trevor Talbot won the round with a second and two wins from fellow Victorian Alastair MacLean and Alf (uncle of Jason) Bargwanna.

Pole wirmer Andrew Wilhams (XU-1)retired early in Race 1 with bent steering after hitting a huge puddle and spinning as Tilley(XY GTHQ)and Bathurst round winner Chris Stillwell(Mustang)struggled down the order with the wrong tyres.

MacLean led home Talbot and Bargwanna with Dodo Racing's Jason Richards(guest steering Paul Stubbers Camaro) next.

Talbot led early in Race 2 as Garry

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Treloar bogged his Camaro after running off at turn one.

Making its first appearance after a huge testing shunt two years ago was the Falcon of Doug Westwood,the former Jose Fernandez machine locked in a big dice with Greg Toepfer(HQ Kingswood).

Talbot beat MacLean home. Alf again got the better of the busy Richards, who also drove the ex-John Harvey HDT A9X in the Group C and A races.

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A real highlight was the drive of Ian Sawtell, finishing fifth off the back of the grid in another XU-1.

Tilley slithered to 12th, putting the Biante Series out of reach for closest rival Steve Mason (Camaro), who bagged sixth.

Talbot grabbed the hole shot in Race 3 while Darrin Davies(HQ Monaro)copped a drive through penalty for a jump start.

Jason Humble(RX-2) was quickest of the smaller cars as Talbot took the win,less than two seconds in front of MacLean, Bargwanna and Sawtell.

Richards the first non-Torana in fifth.

-DARREN KNIGHT

GREG Crick and Allan Simonsen shared the race wins in the non-championship Speed Energy Drink Australian GT Championship and Porsche Drivers Challenge at Eastern Creek last weekend.

The opening race was a one hour affair late on Saturday, with a compulsory one minute pitstop, and an option to run a second drivet^ Some cars took that option, with Sportscar and V8 Ute ace Allan Simonsen, F3 driver Chris Gilmour, Carrera Cup charger David Reynolds and Porsche veteran Peter Fitzgerald among the 'ringins'. Others, including Dodge Viper pilot's Greg Crick and Darcy Russell, who elected to go solo.

Huglin started from pole position after Simonsen's qualifying efforts in the Ferrari

360GT, alongsideXrick. Huglin dropped back through the field as Crick took the lead ahead of James Koundouris, Russell and Reynolds.

Koundouris stayed with Crick in the opening stint, as trouble struck Russell's Viper;, an extended stop induced by a throttle problem.

Huglin was in 19th when he pitted immediately when the pit window opened. He handed the car over to Simonsen, who begun his charge; promptly re-setting the fastest lap of the race.

At the head of the field, Crick stayed out until the very end.

He rejoined with an extended margin of nearly 30 seconds and built it to 50 by the time he greeted the chequered flag.

Grant Johnston in the GT3 RS he shared with Mark Eddy made a late move on fellow motorsportnews

NATIONAL SCENE

NZ Kick-off JOHN McIntyre was the class of the field at the opening round of the New Zealand V8 Touring Car Championship at Pukekohe last weekend.

McIntyre, driving the Ford Falcon BA of Hydralink Racing, won the opening race, but was then served a drive-through penalty for a bizarre infringement while leading at a restart in Race 2, relegating him to 19th.

"When the Safety Car goes off you are supposed to sit at 50-70kmh,before building up to speed after crossing the start/finish line," said McINntyre of the new rule.

"Hey ... it was going to happen to the car leading the field - that just happened to be me."

McIntyre put the incident behind him in Race 3, starting from third and taking the win in the feature race ahead of Kayne Scott and Andy Booth.

Australians Cameron McLean was fourth, Luke Youlden sixth and Shannon O'Brien eighth in the feature.

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Points: Booth 174, McIntyre 164, Scott 160, Pedersen 144, McLean 141, Fogg 138, Youlden 126, Perkins 124.

MATTHEW Hamilton and Daniel Gaunt shared the wins at the opening round of the Toyota Racing Series at Pukekohe last weekend.

Gaunt earned pole but a faulty airbox ruined his first race sapping horsepower from his car, dropping him to fourth and allowing Hamilton to drive away and take the win.

Hamilton was again victorious in Race 2, but Gaunt recovered to be second before wirming the third race. Mechanical woes for Hamilton slowed his car and dropped him to 12th.

British driver Jay Howard was on the podium in all three races and now sits second in the points standings. Bahraini driver Hamed al

Koundouris and Stephen Borness to steal second.

Simonsen's run would eventually net fourth for the odd couple, ahead of Ash Samadi, Max Twigg and Fitzgerald and John Teulan, who had a late-race spin while challenging Samadi.

In the seven lap sprint race, Simonsen stormed up from fourth to take the lead from Crick, only for the Viper to re-pass the Ferrari which mysteriously, and temporarily, slowed on the front straight.

Simonsen put on a bold move around the outside of the Viper at turn four to retake the lead and, eventually, the win. David Wall was third ahead of Borness, Samadi and Skinner.

- MITCHELL ADAM 9 November 2005

Fardan was also competing in TRS, having raced this year in Formula BMW Asia.

Points: Gaunt 196, Howard 187, Hamilton 178, Harford 157, Templeman 152, Orr 153, Doran 121, Williams 108.

In the Battery Town Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge, guest driver Fabian Coulthard upstaged the locals with three wins from three starts.

Coulthard, who has all-but wrapped up the WPS Carrera Cup in Australia, beat reigning champion Craig Baird and regular NZ driver Rick Armstrong.

Coulthard was a guest driver in the Placemakers-backed car, which will be shared over the course of the year with Matthew Halliday and Jim Richards.

East V West in Motorkhana Champs NEW South Welshman David Collier won the 2005 Australian Motorkhana Championship held at the AHG Driving Centre at Perth Airport last weekend.

The battle for outright honours was between Collier, who was the leading Class G competitor in his Renault Special, and local driver Scott Bennett in his Class F Turben Special. Both drivers took out their respective class championships, with Collier grabbing the outright victory by just two hundredths of a second from Bennett.

The minor placings were hard fought in the 20 entry strong Class F field, Wayne Skyrin'gs and six-time Australian champion David Beames making up the podium.

Peter Motley, Phil Motley and lain Chambers enjoyed a great battle for the Class B win, with all three drivers sharing the same Westfield.

Chambers dropped out of contention in the final set of tests with a penalty, leaving Peter Motley to win the championship.

As usual. Mini Mokes dominated Class A. Brent Matthews was the best, leading the timesheets at the end of every set. Simon Ridgewell was second in the class, albeit 11 seconds behind Matthews.

Craig Williams had little competition in Class C, steering his new BMW Mini to the championship ahead of Duane Joubert's Toyota Sprinter.

Class D featured two unlikely winners, with a Holden Camira driven by Ian Towart taking out front wheel drive, and a Rover SDI driven

by Gavin Little winning rear wheel drive.

Rauri Soutar-Dawson was too good in the 4WD class E, steering his Pulsar GTi-R to victory.

- ANDREW VAN LEEUWEN

Rain no pain in WA

PATCHY rain ensured an interesting farewell to the WASCC's 2005 season at the Endurance Challenge at Barbagallo Raceway recently.

In Sports Cars, Simon Emmerling grabbed pole by a couple of tenths from Walter Epple, however it was Peter Major who snuck through to take the win in the wet Race 1. Epple was back on top in the second heat, and went on to win the final 25 lap race.

Histories qualified in the dry, with Lance Carwardine taking pole ahead of John van Leeuwen. Neil McCrudden's Race 1 win was enough to secure him the 2005 historic racing cars state championship. Steven Williams took out the two handicaps in his NKD Holden Special.

Daniel Ricciardo made the most of qualifying by taking pole in a Fastlane-prepared RF05. Race was deemed a non-result after it was red

opening heat of the Price Attack 100 in Peter Bowra's car. Nathan

Callaghan took out the second heat.

In the 30 lap race, it wasn't long o before Ricciardello hit the lead and i started to pull a seemingly I unassailable gap, however a I mechanical fault left him stranded on i lap nine. This left Steve Raisin to Q cruise to the flag.

In the Saloon Car co-driver event, flagged after just two laps because of heavy rain. The track improved Clint Harvey won the opening heat. for the second race, with Mark Dean Fiore proved his worth in the wet to win Race 2 in his brother Douglas finishing a great season with a win ahead of Simon Paul's car.

Wheeler.

Grant Johnson pulled an early gap Peter McLean enjoyed a great debut for his new Monaro in the Historic Touring Cars, qualifying second to Leigh Turners Mustang.

McLean went on to take three race wins after Turner slipped off the track in Race 1.

Tony Ricciardello took little time settling into HQs, winning the

in the 25 lap endurance race, although Fiore eventually slipped through. Despite leading at half race distance, a mistake in the pit stops dropped the Fiores to third and allowed the Harvey/Watts to win the race. Callaghan and Kerry Wade were second.

- ANDREW VAN LEEUWEN

71

The Borg and The Beautiful PENRITH-based Charlie Borg proved to be the dominant force in the Mini spectacular at Goulburn’s Wakefield Park Raceway last Saturday.

Borg, steering the Mini Cooper S, was outpaced by Tim Tritton in qualifying and posted the second quickest lap with Greg Malaure third amongst the 18-car field.

In the opening race, Borg captured the win after polesitter Tritton failed to finish after encountering mechanical dramas.

Malaure and Warwick Agustin finished second and third respectively.

Borg proved to be the strongest in Race 2 and the Trophy race.

Agustin and Peter Crocker placed second and third in both.

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Charlie's Factory: Borg was too good for his Mini rivals at Wakefield Park.

In the fourth and final race, a handicapped start allowed Agustin to take an upset victory over Borg and Rocky Canto (father of Dean), who led he opening laps.

- DANIEL POWELL

All things Done in the Dark

FORMER V8 Supercar peddler Mick Donaher dominated proceedings in the Group IM class recently at Oran Park Raceway during the New South Wales Road Racing Club 'Do it in the Dark' meeting.

Having been out-qualified by Cam Worner, Donaher in the #70 Laurie Donaher Chev Camaro, fought back to score Race 1 and 3, while Ron Shepherd emerged victorious in Race 2. In the 12-lap trophy race under lights, Donaher battled hard with Shepherd for the majority of the distance. In the end, Donaher took the win, with Warren Gay capturing third place.

In the Formula Vee action, it was youngster Guy Lingard who scored an upset victory in the trophy race after front-runners Ryan Simpson, and Tom Ballard crashed out. Behind Lingard in the trophy event were Stephen Butcher and Matthew Pearce in second and third respectively. Earlier in the day, qualifying and all three races were dominated by Simpson, below, with the likes of Ballard and Adam Proctor keeping him honest.

Peter Hennessy drove with a cool head in the Combined Touring (which included Street Sedans and invited Sedans) to take out Race 3 and the trophy race ahead of Phil Coles and Michael Barbara on both occasions. Earlier, Coles was the dominant force after taking out qualifying and Race 1 and 2.

After finishing second to Chris Jackson in this year's NSW state series, Anthony Macready blitzed the opposition by topping the time sheets in qualifying and taking that pace into the races. He took out all four races in a comfortable fashion. Mark Smith and Craig Wilderidge managed to fill second and third at various stages.

Other winners throughout the meeting included Tom Brickley (AF2/ Supersports 1300), Rob Street (Improved Production), Sam Zavaglia (Superkarts) and Robert McGrath (Kingswood/HQ Holdens), - DANIEL POWELL

72

A STRONG field of historic racing cars provided a blast from the openwheel past at Eastern Creek Raceway.

Cars from 1972 through to 1936 and classes such as European Formula Two and Formula Atlantic/Mondiale were eligible.

In Group R, the ground effect utilising Ralt RT4's were, true to the era, the car to have.

In a newly-finished RT4s,Ty Hanger won the opening race, but succumbed to gearbox woes in the second while leading. Engine problems later prevented him from starting the final.

Stephen Borness benefited from Hanger's misfortunes and led Race 2,

but had jumped the start and would later have a heavy crash with Ray Hanger which ended both drivers' weekends.

An ex-Jacques Lafitte RT4 in Gitanes colours didn't turn many laps during the weekend,but the car driven to ‘ third in the 1984 Gold Star by Peter Hopwood was among the cars drawing plenty of attention in the pits.

Ian Ross, aboard an ex-Nelson Piquet RT4, had a best finish of 15th.

Richard Carter won the second race, while Sean Whelan was second outright and the best of the Group R drivers in race three.

Taking a dominant win in the final race, despite a spin, was Christopher Farrell, above, in a

The ^ther'rac IF horse racing wasn't your cup of tea last Tuesday,then Sandown Raceway was the place to be, with the nowtraditional Cup Day meeting at the Melbourne track.

After only half a lap of Superkart racing, the red flag was out due to an incident at turn two. On the restart, it v/as evident that Scott Ellis was the only Class A runner as he bl itzed the field in his 250cc. Second place went to Jason Mclnty-e who battled with the eventual third placed Dennis Jones - both Class B drivers.

More red flags were seen in the MGs. Paul Trevethan spun up the back straight while in second place. Alan Richardson and Graham Thomas took

control of the race and gapped eventual third placegetter Jim Robertson.

In an action-packed Formula Vee race. Drew Beachem came out on top by 0.3s in what was a nail-biting finish with Jason Kerr.

In the end, Paul Sexton grabbed third.

Brett Bedggood once again dominated Sports Cars at Sandown. He led every single lap over the two races. Brian Power powered his way into second place, leaving Kane Rose to claim third place. Ian Wilson in his Triumph was always prominent during the start but faded away at the end, finishing fifth.

It was a case of Commodore fever with Tony Floreani's VH motorsportnews

HATIONAt.SCEHE

Ferrari Feature ONE of Australia's most competitive tarmac rallies will get under way in under two weeks when the Classic Adelaide Rally begins in South Australia.

The five-day event will have Ferrari as the feature marque this year, with Stefan Johansson and Vern Schuppan I; two of the lucky drivers to pilot the classic machines, of which over 100 are entered at a cumulative value of if approximately $35million.

Johansson's visit to Adelaide will not be his first, having finished third in the 1986 Adelaide FI GP for the prancing horse.

"We have cars ranging from the 1958 Ferrari 250 LEW being brought from the USA by owners Stephen and Lynn Dudley to the latest Ferrari Scaglietti with its front-engined 5.7 litre V-12 housed in an all aluminum space frame and body," said Classic Adelaide Chairman David Edwards.

Jim Richards and 2004 winner manufacturer was represented.

Rex Broadbent will be flying the Gilles Villeneuve's 1975 Formula flag for Porsche for outright Atlantic March 75B was driven by honours, but MNews's own Howard Blight to a best result of Chris Jordan will be trying to seventh in the final race, while keep them honest, co-driving for another March of note and present Bill Lakstins in a 1974 Mkl Ford was Nikki Lauda's Formula Two Escort RS2000. htle-winning 722.

-MITCHELL ADAM

Historic I

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Group Q Chevron BT35.

They weren't as quick as Farrell's Chevron,but a pair of beautifully presented Brabham BT36's run in the 1971 European Formula Two championship by Rondel Racing (owned by Ron Dermis and Neil Trundle)for Graham Hill and Tim Schenken were among the cars ensuring the successful Australian

e on Tuesday dominating the Improved Production races. Cameron vanden Dungen was busy looking in his rear mirrors towards the end of the race as the fast-closing Leanne Tander was slicing through lap traffic.

But there just wasn't enough laps as vanden Dungen held on by just under a second.

Dean Camm got a flyer at the start of the Sports Sedans race.

But it was Daniel Tamasi in his Calibra who came from midfield to have the lead by half race distance and was never headed. A drive through penalty in the first race cost Tamasi a potential win. A distant third was Luke Chambers in his Mazda RX7.

- AARON SHAW 9 November 2005

Did everything stop at 3pm? The fields were healthy at Sandown, above. Floreani, below, won IP.

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Adelaide Masters: Stefan Johansson and Vern Schuppan will suit up for Classic Adeliade

Climbing the Mount THE Mt Tarrengower Hill Climb was held three weeks ago in mostly dry conditions, with the occasional light shower.

Seventy eight cars and 14 motor bikes made up a diverse field.

With a north-easterly tail wind, and no hay bales lining the track, many competitors recorded their fastest time ever up the Victorian course.

Unfortunately, Ray Sprague's AMX had engine problems during practice and was forced to use his back-up car.

While MGs dominate dthe entry list, Noel McLaughlin in his Torana XUI, pictured above, won fastest time of day (43.84s) and Mick Panayi on his Norton Twin won fastest motorbike (44.64s).

Another highlight was Andrea Lawton, the only

female competitor, in her MGC GT, recorded her fourth class win, with a time of 54.15s.

Derek McLaughlin's Ford V8 special won fastest Pre-war car (49.63s).

Debutant John Clark in his A/FI Sprite, had a class win, after he nudged out Bob Lewis's quick MG TC on the last run of the day.

Garry Ball in his immaculate Jaguar D-type replica won his class (47.49s) and Peter Whaley in his standard special recorded his first class win (57.81s).

73

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A

by MARK WICKS JAMES Sera and Mark Cowley won the two cars on offer at the 2005 Leopard finals at Puckapunyal last weekend.

Sera edged out Matthew Wall in a brilliant Leopard Light final while Cowley, after trading the lead with Michael Cross for much of the race, broke away to a comfortable win in Heavy.

Sera was in contention all weekend. Having recently switched from Tecno to Trulli chassis,James qualified third and carded fourth and second in the heats then third in the pre-final behind Wall and Clint Cathcart(both Arrow).

With a Hyundai Getz up for grabs in each of the winner-take-all finals, it took some time to get the main races underway.The first start in Light was red-flagged after Corey drivers flipped out of the mid-pack. The ensuing re start resulted in more chaos. Wall got turned around ahead of the pack before several others piled into him.

underway with Wall leading off pole, but Sera was ahead before the lap was complete. Sera, Wall, Cathcart, Barclay Holden, Ben Edwards and Simon Salvatico made up a six-kart lead group with Wall and Salvatico both carrying damage from the earlier incident.

While Sera and Wall disputed the lead, Holden (Trulli) and Edwards (Monaco) were looking particularly racey, taking Cathcart for third mid race and starting to hassle the leaders. But then the two made contact and flew off the track at turn one. This elevated Cathcart to third with Salvatico (Trulli) fourth.

And what of fastest qualifier David Sera? With nearly 0.3s on the field in time-trials, David won both heats and was leading the pre-final when he sailed off the end of the straight.

"There was dirt on the previous comer and when I got to the end of the straight,I couldn't pull it up," he said.

Wall confirmed he almost joined Sera m the sand trap for the same reason.

From grid 24,David came home fifth.

Karting Briefs TFIE AKA has a new President.

NSW President Richard Erdmann defeated Donald Wells at the AKA's AGM recently. Other positions went to: Ian Mooney (Vice President), Pam Arnett (Secretary) and Max Laybutt (Treasurer). Additionally, the Junior MAX class was granted experimental status, the W80 Comer cylinder and engine were approved for Midgets and competitor race licences have dropped by $20. n The new control spec exhaust for Clubman classes in 2006 will be available for sale and use in competition from November 14. The Powermac device is similar to the AKA14 used in the National classes and is mandatory from January 1. The 'AKA39' has a RRP set by the AKA of $132, inclusive of GST and AKA levy. n 2005 Junior MAX winner Luke Ellery had his last meeting as a Junior at Puckapunyal's GCPS final round.

74

In Heavy, Cowley started the final from pole, but Soutlr Australian Cross went really deep under brakes and took the lead around the outside of turn one. These two ran together and traded positions several times in the opening two-thirds of the race.

Heat 1 winner Jeremy Anderson (Monaco) was also in contention, moving to second before tagging Cross's rear tyre and falling off the track.

While Cross(Arrow)and Cowley (Monaco)slugged it out for the lead, Jason Hamilton (Arrow) was making impressive progress and had clawed back much of the deficit to the leaders and got by Cross in the closing laps for second. Cross held on for third well clear of Jason Stania (CRG)and Kelvin Crane.

MATTHEW Wall and .

Waylon Sims were dbuble ' winners at the recent Tasmanian Championships at Briant Park.

Wall (Arrow) lifted the Clubman Light title ahead of James Sera and Steven McGarry. Rotax Light also went to Wall, but at the expense of Cameron Thorpe who was leading when his kart dropped a chain with only a lap and a half to go.

Ben Walter was secbnd.' ' ; Tasmania's Sims (Azzurrp) J defeated Mitcffell Evans in ' Junior National Light and * Daimpn Shelton in Heavy. . i The Clubman Heavy final H was a classic. Clint Cathcart took the win after battling with Zane Wyatt and Jason Pringle.

Jamie Brieknell and Leigh Nicolaou had a weekend-long tussle in Junior Clubman, Nicolaou, taking victory as 4 Brieknell broke an engine late?.' in the final. ‘ Other wins*v\^'nt to Mark Brown (Snr Nat Heavy), Ricky' Capo (Midgets) picturedabove, n Seb GSritz(Snr Nat Light), Dale Madden (Snr Nat Over 40 Heavy), Chris Hays (Rookies), Dale Patterson (Rotax Heavy), Andrew Jackman (ClCibman S/Heavy) and Lyn Cengia (Snr Nat 040 Light).

-MARK WICKS

I

we need some backing," Ellery said. /EUERV

Vic State-bound: Luke Ellery's immediate future is karting, with FFord testing for 2006.

The 16-year-old moves to Rotax Light for the upcoming South Australian Championships at Bolivar later this month. Ellery will continue in Rotax for 2006 and is one of several karters making the move to Formula Ford having recently purchased a 1998 Spectrum 06B. The intention is to get miles in the car during 2006 before an assault on the Victorian state series in 2007.

"Racing next year isn't out of the question, but first

n Cost reduction was the theme from the recent World Council meeting. The CIK-FIA will place tighter restrictions on the volume of equipment used at international events in 2006 with less tyres, chassis and engines able to be used during the 'official' stages of a race meeting. Four-day meetings have also been cut back to three. As in FI, that actually means the teams will need to spend more time and money outside of an actual race event to ensure they turn up with just the right equipment on race day ... n Queensland's Andrew Gillespie competed at Hamilton, New Zealand, last month.

Racing in the NZ Junior National class (a mix of JICA, Junior MAX and Vortex ROK engines) Gillespie used JICA engines and qualified 15th in the 21 kart field. He was holding down eighth place In the final when he suffered an engine failure. Kiwi-turnedAussie Scott McLaughlin also competed (using a Junior MAX engine), but didn't get to take a start in the final due to an incident in the roll-up lap.

- MARK WICKS

moiorsportnews

INDUSTRY NEWS

Special ^/letal

Performance Metals Australia has moved into a bigger premises at 18 Park Rd Vineyard, NSW. While the move is small in distance the need for a larger warehouse is an indication of the success of Performance Metals in providing prompt service at a competitive price. The new facility will help improve the despatching of orders and allow for further growth and customer service.

Performance Metals Australia is a specialist wholesaler and retailer of metal tubing/sheet supplying Motorsport, Aircraft, Wheelchair, Agriculture, Military needs. Their extensive branch network covers New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria, Western Australia, South Australia, TAS and NT. The Performance Metals product range includes tube,round,square, rectangular, streamline, solid, sheet and plate. Grades of materials vary from 4130 AQ Chrome-Moly to condition N. Alumiiuum and Titanium, with other exotic materials available upon request.

With years of experience and now a larger premises.Performance Metals will be able to hold a larger range of stock to accommodate all markets.

Contact Performance Metals on 02 4577 7769 or visit www.performancemetalsaustralia.com.au for further information.

Peter Brock Seat Covers

Peter Brock fans can now show their support wherever and whenever they cruise in their cars thanks to the new range of Brock seat covers from Aunger. A variety of styles and colours are available to suit most car interiors and tastes.

If you are a Brock fan but don’t drive a Holden, don’t worry you haven’t been forgotten. The unique Aunger fitting system allows the Brock Car Seat Covers to fit most cars on the road, which makes sense as Peter did race a variety of areer including Toranas, ns, Monaros, Porsches uring his Career, Peter d name thanks to his 10 id dominance in the g Car Championship, olved with the designs approved the final ing the packaging.

Brock seat covers are ing premium quality fabric adding for increased art. The unique padded ice the racing style and cket seat covers and rear covers are available: seat cover is emblazoned ir’s signature and features famous 05 number.

The Brock range is n available from leading automotive accessory retailers. For more information or the r location It of your nearest stockist please visit ww.aunger.com.au

9 November 2005

Making Tracks in

Yokohama Tyre Australia has released a new premium tyre to suit the needs and driving styles of today's 4WD and SUV owners. The Geolandar H/T-S combines excellent road manners with off-road capability, Research has shown most buyers of 4WD's over estimate the amount of off road driving they will do. The result is a tyre choice which is not ideally suited their driving styles, a decision which is critical to the comfort, safety and overall enjoyment of the vehicle. The Geolandar H/T-S(Highway -Terrain) overcomes this problem with carli0lN^^BKfjR^like handling,superior comfort and off-road capabilities which should suit 95 percent of most four wheel drive owner's requirements. The Geolandar H/T-S provijles a comfortable, quiet and safe ride on the road while' ViyHmaLntaining excellent off-road abilities, Ym superb balance of highway performance and offjjBBroad stability is achieved with Yokohama's proprietary tread compound developed especially for SUV tyres. The large shoulder blocks provide strength and stability for outstanding handling and braking, with the twin wide ^Dstraight grooves enhancing water dispersement for increased traction and wet weather handling. ^ The release of the Geolandar H/T-S compliments the entire Geolandar range with a comprehensive choice including Mud Terrain, All Terrain and the new Highway Terrain Geolandar to let you optimise your 4WDs capabilities. Owners of 4WD vehicles need look no further than the Geolandar name when choosing a tyre to suit their needs and driving environment.

The Geolandar H/T-S is available in 23 sizes to suit rim diameters from 15” to 17" and are available from Tyres & More, Bob Jane T-Marts and Yokohama Dealer Neh\'ork stores.

P t

DVD History

The latest releases of Motorsport titles from Capricorn Media have something for everyone.

The new titles include Sudden Impact, The Barry Sheene Story, World of Superbikes and The History of Le Mans.

The Barry Sheene Story is an authorised life story on film of the British racing legend and was made with his full participation. It details his fantastic career including anecdotes from family and celebrities from the world of racing. Barry shares his memories with Murray Walker in an open and honest account of his career and life. The twin DVD pack highlights Barry Sheene's favourite races with personal comments from the legend himself.

Offshore Powerboats, Rallycross, Dragsters, Sports Cars and Supertrucks crashing at high speed are featured on Sudden Impact. This DVD shows how SUDDEN^ things can go terribly wrong when the limits are pushed.

Sudden Impact is a quality production which includes

L

helps the viewer gain an insight into what it feels like to crash at high 1 interviews withspeeds. the drivers involved in each incident and World of Superbikes follows the development of Superbike racing since its inception in the late 1980’s.

Australian champions including Kevin McGee feature in this unique record of World Superbike racing as it evolves from a fledgling series into major category on the world stage.

Over the past eighty years, Le Mans has been regarded as one of the world's greatest \SuoBibiiies motorsport events. The History of Le Mans DVD showcases the cars, drivers and drama which has made this event famous worldwide. It looks at cars from the pre-war era and the development through the 50’s and 60's to create a fascinating history of the event.

All titles are available from Big W and leading DVD retailers. For further information or trade enquiries contact Shock Entertainment on 03 9014 0354.

75

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\\ J Group Nc Boss 302 Mustang, winner Biante series 2002 and 2003. Over 500 h/p 10 minilites, 3 diffs, 2 gearboxes and much more. $110,000 or best offer by 10/12. John 324 0407 781 846. www.myl05.com/32529

NC XU1 TORANA, Well known reliable car.

1 owner 9 years, 300HP roller engine (3 meetings old) Brand new Advans, ready to race with all spares including 4 diff ratios, 1 spare gearbox, 4 spare wheels, galvinised till trailer and Dorian timer. For more infer call Mike DYER (02) 9982-1233. 35000 Not 324 Neg. Mike 0299821233 www.my105.com/170

64 Mustang, Fastback, rare but genuine.

Bog stock, 289 manual Tlo, good body, built 11 December 1964. Great for group NB appendix J project. $37,500. John 02 6295 323 7054. www.my105.com/28114 Alfa Romeo, Built for Tarmac rallies no expense spared. Reg’d. Eng balanced 175bhp, lightwt pistons, 11.3/1 comp, 48mm webers, very torquey, head refreshed 2003, Bilstelns, c/r gearbox, 50% LSD, f/glass panels, plexglass windows, 15x7 wheels, 2 sets of Yokahama tyres, aluminium/foam fuel tank, vent/discs, 4pot calipers, fun car ready to rally. $29,990 324 ONO. Brian 0418519948 www.myl05.com/62958

Porsche 944, 1 Build for 944 Series, 2004 Championship winning car, no expense spared, current spec engine, spare wheels and tyres, Sparco fi re system, EC. $29,750.

323 Kane 0408 103 815 www.myl05.eom/69044

79

Porsche 993 GT2 Race car, 1996 Engine RSCS 3.8 L up rated to 360hp. Eligible tor Porsche drivers challenge. State series and endurance events. Three sets wheels LHD very competitive car very well presented, max 0419996289 324 www.myl05.com/59999

s Lotus Elise Sport 200, Lotus Ellse sport 200 - Chassis LS1-000C LHD Ex Lotus Motorsporl UK car. Never Raced. Rebuilt from the ground up, 200 Hp steel engine, SC/CR g/box with LSD, Stack Motorsport Dash with predictive lap timing, DTA programmable ECU, Up graded fuel system. Safety Devices cage AP Racing Brakes. In excellent condition. 100,000 ONO. Steve 0404 802 901. 322

Van Diemen RF95 Stealth, maintained by Anglo Motorsport, Lamer Engine, data logger, beacon, springs, bars, wheels, wishbones, spare panels plus extensive spares package, full set of ratios, koni adjustable shocks. $47000 ONO. Gerry 0296532067 / 0418255739 323 www.myl05.eom/70545

Van Diemen RF96 - RACE READYI, Excellent condition - complete and ready to race. Price includes approx $1,500 worth of spares. Competitive State round car. $21,000 Neg. 02 4954 7560 / 8am - 8pm virww.myl05.com/79985

www.myl05.com/23862

Lotus 7 Replica, Lotus 7 Replica with Mazda Series 6 RX7 twin turbo motor, running gear and suspension. Car is registered and complianced. Needs paint & trim to complete and make it your own.

Very quick car. $34000 ONO. Craig 0427143388 / 0354821850 323 www.myl05.com/32678

Group N Torana XU1, outright winning car CAMS championship leader, 2 yrs running.

Lap record holder. Just rebuilt and painted for 2006. $32,000. Garry 0409 314 108 324 www.myl05.com/42279

Suzuki Swift GTI MK1, Swift GTl Mkl. U2 sports sedan. Full cage, race seat, 4 point harness, 4 wheel disc's, koni shocks and adjustable suspension, 14" slicks, Fresh engine, Autronic, LSD, Grp A Drive shafts etc. Plenty of spares, wheels, engine, brakes, standard seats and trim. Reliable and enjoyable first car. $7500 ONO. Steve 0404 802 901.

322

Formula Ford and Enclosed Trailer, Complete bare chassis rebuild. Ready for next season. New fully enclosed trailer.

Both car and trailer in new condition. May separate. Call Chris 0411 351 404. $25,000. 0411351404 www.myl05.com/93154

www.myl05.com/94843

Formula Ford, FORMULA FORD MYGALE SJ2000. Absolutely first class condition. Known history. Quantum adjustable shocks. New OZ Racing Rims (8). For sale with both Kent and Ztec motor( Scholar motor with new Race ECU ). Trailer and spares. Complete Package $ 39,500.

0405 123 666 or 08 8391 4612. 39500.00' ONO. Neville 0405123666.

322‘ www.my105.com/13820

Open Wheelers

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zrO Porsche 996 GT3 Cup 04, availiable in cup version or endurance (90liter tank, Nordschleife suspension,...). € 89.000 Euro Or Best Offer, joerg viebahn +49(0)226154900.

322

RF04 Van Diemen, Ready to race in state series with top running Ritter engine + spare. MSE data logger with PI c dash, complete with spares package. Easy conversion to nationals engine spec, wally 0419993155 324

www.myl05.eom/57630

www.myl05.com/35135

Ralt/Atlantic, A fully restored rolling chassis.This is a matching number car.all correct ID#'s,Log Book and COD,rare pushrod car,the 86 is by far the quickest and user friendly Atlantic ever buiit.Comes with gear sets and spare wheels.New Jennings BDD available.Custom built enclosed trailer available. $47,500 Not Neg. peter 0418 556934 / 03 9890 6586 323 virww.my105.com/758

.1 .i'TT53EBroTf!>

F3 Dallara 01 Spiess, Winner Mallala, Gold Coast Indy 2004, Currently fastest 01 in Aust, Engine Fresh from Spiess before Wakefield Park. Car race ready BRM prepared. Spares package available. Will trade road car. Phone Gil 0418856227. .

322 $65,000.

wwwjjujIOSjCom/SeO^

TiMFwayto sell your gear! From just$25" lustlog on

(*$25 applies to ads entered directly onto myl05.com) Advertising can also be suppiied using this form (S10/$15 surchage to text oniy/text -f pic advertisements) Advertisements wiil appear in next possible issue of Motorsport News pnjgt\e myl 05.com website forthree months, Please read & cross the desired services and calculate the total.

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NOTICE TO ADVERTISERS Please use the form provided and print clearly. Please no te W8 are unable to return photographs supplied (or use In classified ads. Ads will appear as soon as possible after receipt. MN/myl05.com classifieds are lor the sale of private goods and vehicles only, not business advertising Photos marked 'proor wiil not be used,

motorsport news

CLASSIFIEDS Engines

Coventry Climax F/N M Engine, excellent condition, ex Fire pump. $1,500. Kerry 03 323 5480 6000 www.myl 05.com/80990 Speedcar Gearte Engine, Fresh out of (John Sidney Racing), new pistons rings brgs crack tested, elec ign and battery.

Headers muffler, Hillborn ino, KSE front brakes eng plate hoses and fi lter fuel pump and lines Kinsler air box 320+ HP, desel rockers Callies crank, ready for Dyno or race. 02-03 and 03-04 ST Aust Title engine. $18,300. Peter 0422 306 258 or 0401 040 323 193 www.my105.com/20817 ENGINE PARTS. W/Shop Clearance Ford 4 Cyl Engine Parts BDAType Pushrod Type Twincam Engines Please Tel. 02 99973252 or clivehO@ozemail.com.au for complete list www.myl05.eom/42042

parts suitable for circuit, drag or speedway, SB Zoomies HPC. & adaptors standard spacing $200.80th SCE copper head gaskets SB 4.060 new (pair) $100. D shape blower teflon x2 $50. Pete Jackson gear drive new SB $300. SB Brodix 10 heads race ported, S.D. valves, roller springs etc, pair $2,000. SB APR solid heads race ported, SD valves, roller springs etc $2,000. New brownfield heads race ported, titanium valves, roller spring, caps etc, equal to Brodix 12, pair $4,000.

Jessel shaft rockers 1.5 SB complete, set $950. Jessel shaft rocker mounting bar, pair only $400. 80th moly push rods SB Crow 7.950(16)$100. 80th Moly push rods SB Crow 8.150 (16) $100. 3/8 push rods SB 7.810 (16) $50. 5/16 speed pro push rods SB 8.000 x 2 sets $50 per set. 3/8 adj. push rods 8.2050 - 8.500 1 set $50 per set.

SB guide plates & 7/16 studs lot $50.

K1000 H roller springs 280 to 800, set $300. Late SB rear seal adaptor $50. 5 Ridgecrest steel splayed caps, SB $200.

Supamag cap & rotor new etc $100. Chev SB finned edelbrock early tappet covers pair $150. Chev SB rodeck 5x4 bolt steel main caps $100. New radng plugs to suit SB Chev, 7 sets x 8 NGK B10es, 2 sets x 8 NGK B8es, 1 set NGK B9es, 1 set NGK B5es start up, 1 set Autollte Racing 2593 323 $200. Bob 0411 575 557 www.myl05.eom/23061

Wanted

VOLVO TRANSPORTER, FRIEGHTER 40FT 2 CAR FULL HYDROLIC TAILAGTE NEW KITCHEN LOADER WORKBENCHES AIRCOND GENERATOR ANNEXE. 55000 ONO. NANDI 029709 323 3300 www.myl05.com/82762

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fENTCDr RACE CAR TRANSPORTER, 3 oar capacity, rollaway cabinets, hyd tail lift, 13 kva generator, complete fitout lounges kitchen/lounge... leather TV/dvd/surround sound A/C, Stereo with speakers outside, full annex just been repainted inside etc etc. 210 000 Neg. Paul 325 0418787976.

Leaver www.myl05.eom/36330

FT200 gears and parts wanted, FT200 second gears 14/34 and 17/41.also crown wheel and pinions 10/31 and 9/31. les 0299973610 323 www.myl05.com/2226

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322

Commodore V6 Ex Saloon Car, professionally built and maintained by Gary Brown (QLD) complete with custom made extractors and stinger EMS. $3,000 ONO. 322 John 0411 759 092 www.myl 05.com/18295

Enclosed Race Car Trailer, enclosed race car trailer dual axle electric brakes 2 side doors ramps 7m x 2.5m 3 months rego .

323 $5900. Colin 0415 286 986 www.myl05.com/83244

Single axle enclosed racecar trailer, 2Enclosed single axle trailer with tonneau cover, internal 2990mm x 1780mm plus space for nose, suit open wheeler or clubman, tows very well but could do with a tidy up. $1250 ONO. Michael 0418804620. www.my105.com/71983

GEARBOX PARTS. W/Shop Clearance Hewland Mk8-9/FT200 Ratios New & Secondhand Please Tel. 02 99973252 or clivehO@ozemail.com.au for complete list www.myl05.com/42225

«

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1

Parts

Nissan GTIR being dismantled, most panels and mechanicals available, also aftermarket suspension, John 0418 320 323 517. www.myl O5.com/1602 Parts, Saenz 5 speed gear box, 5th 1 to 1, fi ne spline, Chev mount pattern, current freshen up, $5,500 ono. Ex Glen Seton EF, EL diff housing complete with axles, CV joints, wedges, and spindles, hats and rotors $2,500 ono. $2,500 ono. Rod 03 323 5792 2527 (bh). www.my105.com/59590 Longacre Corner Weight Scales, new! newl all models available. Lowest prices in 327 Australia. John 0418 320 517 www.myl05.eom/88073

9 November 2005

Toyota V8 Tow Vehicle, Toyota V8 tow vehicle for 5th wheeler, 5 speed, HWY diff, LPG, bullbar, crome rims, towbar, in car phone. 15,000.00 Or’Best Offer. Gavin 323 0418329122. www.my105.com/67874

Luxury Transporter, Prof built 30ft L 20ft living 10ft bay. Self contained. Too much to list. Has to be seen, Chev 3500 Silverado top of the range 6.5 turbo diesel. Many extras. $180,000 will separate. David 323 0417 479 002 www.myl05.eom/94507

TILT-TRAY, 2004 Hino Dutro Hi-Grade 4.6Ltr. OHC 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. .

323 0408-305210. $42,850. www.my105.com/96083

car trailer, Suit open wheeler or clubman sized vehicle.new tyres,wiring,alloy ramps & tray.suit new buyer. $3500AUD Neg. David 323 9824 3717 www.myl05.com/99431

/ am very happy with the service I received. Ail three of the enquiries you forwarded were firm buyers and it was sold on a first come first served basis.

Again thanks.

I. Hills

Get it seen Get it sold!

81

T i

■OURMrt www.mnews.com.au EDITORIU STAFF

Tasman Series return During the 1960s the Tasman Cup was a popular series that attracted a lot of international

PRODUCTION

drivers to participate. As Formula 4000 is struggling to survive, perhaps the time has come to consider introducing the Tasman Cup in this category.

A new Tasman Cup series could be a six or seven round series with three or four rounds held in Australia and the other three in New Zealand. The final round of the series could be held

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in October as a support event at either Bathurst or perhaps the Champ Car round at the Gold Coast.

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

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To win the Tasman Cup could also help a young driver gain an international profile.

I This series would of course need a major sponsor to make it become a reality. A new Tasman Cup event could attract its fair share of

357 Nepean Highway, Brighton East Vic 3187 (PO Box 7072, Gardenvale, VIC 3186) Ph: 03 9596 5555 Fax: 03 9596 5030 Email: admin@mnews.com.au

international drivers to participate, particularly from Formula 3000 and Indy Lights. A new Tasman Cup could help bring life to Formula 4000.

Malcolm Webster

CONTRIDUTORS

Ferntree Gully, Victoria ED: Right idea, wrong category.

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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, AFl Images, Neil Hammond, Allsport, 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 not be reproduced in full or in part without the written permission of the publisher. Freelance contributions are welcome, and while all care will be taken, Australasian Motorsport News does not accept responsibility for damage or loss of material submitted. ●Opinions expressed in Motorsport News are not necessarily those of Australasian Motorsport News or its staff.

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82

Family sport lacks family facilities at Bathurst As a former Victorian, now living in WA,I have been making the pilgrimage to Bathurst for the last seven years.

I have seen all weather conditions and have braved them all returning each year for the love of my racing.

This year, however, I have gone with different eyes as I am three months pregnant and wonder how I can take my child next year knowing the lack of facilities I will face and the icy conditions in which I need to feed

Talk converter Send us your thoughts: mail: PO Box 7072, Gardenvale, VIC 3186 fax: 03 9596 5030 www.nnnews.com.au you can't even see the cars properly anymore. It is obvious your passion is the corporate client and not the true racing fan with their family. It is not 1960's, women and children are no longer at home while daddy goes watching car racing, and kids have rights these days to decent provisions.

Christina (surname withheld) via email

Anthony’s Bathurst Awards

The Dick Johnson Award for weird incident that wrecked the chances of a car that possibly could have won the race - the balaclava incident with Marcos Ambrose. Past winners include Steven Richards's kangaroo incident, Skaife's swinging door, Lowndsey's plastic bags and Murph's five-minute penalty.

The Leigh Diffey Award for completely irrelevant but somewhat

and change a baby.

Most of my time is spent at the bottom of the Mountain, particularly the end of the Chase. I stopped going to the top because of the utter repulsiveness of the men up there who feel it is OK to make lewd

Ambrose and Murphy,although honourable mention goes to Shannon O'Brien in Carrera Cup. The Dan Brown Award for best conspiracy theory - Ambrose having to go through the pits twice for the balaclava. If the stewards were really interested in safety, why was Lowndes allowed to drive without a windscreen?

Perhaps the whole thing was designed to make for a more interesting championship?

The Ray Martin Award for best little battler of the weekend - tie behveen Tasman Motorsport for its second place and Car 88 in third.

The Jerry Seinfeld Award for most amusing moment of the weekend Mark Skaife for nearly getting serviced at Team BOC,and the fact that one of the guys almost did change his tyre. Flonourable mention for seeing stunt bikes fly behind Bill Woods's head whilst he was talking.

The Great Houdini Award for best escape - the kangaroo that nearly got hit at the Cutting in the Development Series race.

The David Thexton Award for most disappointing weekend - Brad Jones and John Bowe The Tim Allen Award for Best motorised fridge - Car 888.

The Carlton Midstrength Award for best new ad - all the new Super Cheap Auto ads - gotta love Steve Lenda.

Anthony Pearson inotn 34@tiotinail.com

Bathurst needs victory lap

What has happened to the victory lap at the end of Bathurst? For the second

comments and gestures to women who are probably the same age as their daughters.

So with the knowledge that in 2006 I will be taking a baby,I wandered around searching for facilities so I would know what I was up for. I did not find one baby change table, no quiet and clean areas out of the icy wind to breastfeed, and appalling woodchip & clay walkways on which pushing strollers is a mission for even the most devout fan. Goodness knows how the disabled in wheelchairs get around some places.

AVESCO, you are hypocrits. You promote a family-orientated philosophy (as it is politically correct) and provide nothing except large entry fees and glitzy pit areas where

amusing coincidence - The fact that the top two finishing cars have the same colours of the AFL and NRL premiers 2005(Red/White Swans/FIRT and Orange/White Tigers/Tasman). Also interesting is that in all three cases, the blue and yellow guys were favourites (Lowndes, West Coast, Eels).

The Jason Richards Award for best crash - the crash between

Would somebody please think of the children?

Reader Christine wants AVESCO to install more family-friendly facilities at Bathurst.

year in a row, I have found it disappointing to see the V8s quickly pull into the pit paddock on completion of the race, giving fans and drivers alike, no chance to celebrate the end of such a massive, hard fought race, other than on the podium in pit lane - a seemingly impossible hike from some spectators at higher vantage points of the track.

I am aware that scrutineering reasons contribute to this, TV time restrictions may also impact too. It just begs the question whether the successful drivers on the day too, feel a little short changed too at the completion of gruelling battle?

Nic Sutherland West Lakes, South Australia ED: They haven't done victory laps at Bathurst, but used to go around on a truck after the podium.

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