Motorsport News Issue 329 - February 15-28, 2006

FORD LOCKS IN ITS VS STARS THE NEWS BEHIND THE NEWS

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\o.329 15-28 Feb 2006 Australia $5.95 NZ $7.50 Inc GST

Last chance - AGP comp!

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Skaife ^rabs ^ Briscde6^feils .

●CICN RArlMd TEAM

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Behind the scenes at top secret

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LAUNCHES AND LUNCHES It's that time of year

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opinion 26

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feature

4

Ryan High

Briscoe signs for HRT enduros

6

Kiss my Aston

Sebring and Le Mans beckon Brighty

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Renauit Rescue? WiilFlav swap Alonso forJuan?

10 Star signs

Ingalland Lowndessign up for more

U Spa Saga over

No more Eau Rouge.Damn it

25 Motor Mouth

Bowe and Lola,together atlast

26 Box Seat

Why Gerhard Berger is a Lucky Man

28 Opinion

Lowndes,Rossi and Skaife

S2 Talk Converter

You can write, email, dictate...

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30 Five Minutes with Marcus Marshall 32 Five Minutes with Lee Holdsworth 34 Green Day.Jason Bright's secret Aston Martin test We take you behind thescenes at Vallelunga 40 Jim returns, Briscoe arrives. HRT's endurance plans: Briscoe tells all abouthis first V8 Supercar races 44 It's JD allaround at Larry's but,at WPS Racing...

One Super Team and one team isjust...super 48 Testing Times in Formula 1

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SO Just another hard week ofLaunches 52 Michael Patrizisets his sights on another challenge 54 A look back at the immortalPete Geoghegan Mustang 58 A chat with Kerry Madsen at the end ofa greatsummer

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Issue 329 15 - 28 February 2006 \i\i\N\N.mY\e\NSXom.a\A

race 62 Go Canada!

And Team Oz takes third!

63 Younger than springtime Hamill's Bud ShootOut

18 Stateside 22 Bikes 62 Rallying 64 NationalScene

trade

70 Speedway 74 Drag Racing 77 Industry News/Race Shop 79 Classifieds

national & international

MARSHALL HAS PLANS Aftergreat A1 debut,MM sugge^s partnership with another team AFTER taking a brilliant third placing in his first A1 GP round, Marcus Marshall has suggested that AT Team Australia needs to develop a partnership with another team in order to keep moving forward.

AT series regulations prevent teams from making any major modifications to their cars, however the rules do permit n them to exchange data between themselves. Australia is one of the few teams not to have taken advantage of the rule, and Marshall said that unless it does so it risks losing ground to its rivals.

"I think there is a lot more work to do with the car," said Marshall from Indonesia, where he scored a third place atSentul.

"It needs to be a lot faster than it is. W6're getting there - it’s back 1

to a good baseline now. But it's tough, you're just looking at your own data. I'm not comparing it to anyone. I'm just looking at my own laps, and I'm just trying my own things.

"You can see with the other teams down pitlane, like France and Great Britain and Canada, and they are all sharing. And you just go forward so much quicker.That's what you need to do to go fast in that series;just lean on each other, each car try a different thing and then you look at the data or the drivers tell you whether it was good or bad, and that's how you go forward. I think that's what needs to be done.

"We're one of the only tea ms out there not doing it. It's just about everyone except for us. I don't know why. But I think it would help a lot,for sure."

Marshall is scheduled to drive for A1 Team Australia at the upcoming Mexico and USA rounds.

-MARKGLENDENNING For more on Marcus Marshall, please turn to page 30

HRT'S B

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BIGGER, better, brighter - and Briscoe.

These were the buzzwords when Holden Racing Team launched its 2006 campaign at the Melbourne International Motor Show last week.

Of all of them it is the last that is the most significant, with HRT having pulled off a masterpiece of recruiting in signing Ryan Briscoe to join Jim Richards in the #22 Commodore for the endurance races at Sandown and Bathurst.

"I've had my eye on Ryan for quite a while now and we've been speaking for some time, but it's only in the past week that we've 4

been able to put a deal together for him to come racing with us this year,"said Mark Skaife.

Briscoe, who spent last season in the IRL with Ganassi Racing and has been a test driver with the Toyota FI team since 2002, is still in the process of trying to hammer out a deal with PKV to race in Champ Cars this year, but the absence of any potentially clashing dates keeps the Sydneyborn driver free to suit up for Team Red. "I didn't really think I would be driving a V8 Supercar at this stage of my career,"the 24-year-old admitted."But motorsport is a funny game like that - you never know where it's going to lead."

Richards said that he welcomed

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HOLDBAi

RISCOE INFERNO Courtney got away from HRT

the news.

"The thing about guys like Ryan is that they are stars in their own right," he said."They are talented, they are not new to racing. You know they are going to be professional and do a good job, and that's all I want."

The team also unveiled its new paint scheme that is distinguished by a new,lighter shade of red, similar to the more televisionfriendly tones adopted by the Ferrari Formula One team in 1997.

The hues are carried through to the team uniforms (including some rather frightening-looking trousers).

15 February 2006

but Mark Skaife has grabbed Ryan Briscoe second new car is prepared.

On the sponsorship front,the ! team confirmed a multi-year deal with DodoTelecommunications (as reported in MNews last issue), as well as new arrangements - Briscoe with Puma and Toll. Long-term supporter Mobil 1 has also agreed to extend its 11-year relationship with the team for another three structure that will lead to the car seasons. preparation operations being moved into a dedicated workshop For Mark Skaife's view on Ryan in the team's Clayton headquarters.

Briscoe's HRT deai, piease turn to Skaife will debut a newly-built VZ Commodore at the season page 29 And to hear more from Ryan opening Clipsal 500, leaving Todd himseif,iook for our feature on Kelly to begin the year in the 2005 page 40 Bathurst-winning car while the

didn't really think I would be driving a V8 Supercar at this stage of my career^^ HRT will also go into 2006 with a renewed management structure that will seeTom Walkinshaw assume full responsibility for the team via his ownership and management of Holden Motorsport,freeing Skaife up to concentrate on his driving, and a shake-up of the team's

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We wuzrigged OOOH! Red faces must have been the order of the day when there was a breathless report recently about a Ford Performance Racing Falcon bouncing around on Prodrive's seven-post rig. Some of the news was accurate; Prodrive does own FPR,and even has an FPR V8 Supercar in that part of the world. If only the part about Prodrive having a seven-post rig wasn't wrong ...

Secret test leads to invite for Sebring and Le Mans!

There has been no word on China ; in the last 14 days, mainly because the fe'-:’ matter was due for discussion at the board ^A.'meetings of TE6A (yesterday) and V8SA

^vV(today). We do hear that a number of -M'teanls have already taken the initiative .^'though and booked the appropriate .^^accommodation for a possible Winton >p|&'ro1itid in June.

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' n ^^- CAIso on the matter of this week's Jv;;. board meetihgs, we have been advised .Mark Larkham does not have to stand 3- ‘ down in spite of his decision to sell his

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^1' Level 1 LMS licences back to TEGA. Because <he is now a part-owner of WPS Racing, and it owns two licences, there is no need for ■ a new election because there is provision Efor 'continuity'. The only way that would ,^,,j|change is if there is an extraordinary .^V^eneral meeting of the stakeholders and a M ;;hew election conducted. , ■ Flaying said that, a number of Ford le team owners have suggested to MNews that that is exactly what they want...

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Phillip Island will be a lonelier place in terms of V8 Supercar activity in 2006, with Super Cheap Auto Racing and l; . Ford Performance Racing switchirjg their testing activities to Winton, and Tasman, i BOC Gases and GRM maintaining the Benalla circuit as their nominated facility.

Two Fujitsu V8 Supercar teams have however, made the switch to Phillip Island, with GMAC Racing (nee Tony D'Alberto Racing) and Dexion Racing both joining the Holden Racing Team and Toll HSV Dealer Team in testing at the Island.

Q It's Open Day season in V8 Supercars.

For those who worship Wally lewis (Queenslanders), the Stone Brothers Racing workshop will be open from 10am to 2pm on Saturday February 25, with Russell Ingall and James Courtney both on hand to show off the new liveries for Caltex Racing and Jeld Wen Motorsport.

GRM will be open at the same time, but a day later on Feb 26 in Commonwealth Games-ravaged Melbourne. Dean Canto and Lee Holdsworth will be there with the Valvoline Repco Commodores, the Bathurst 24-Hour winning Monaro and the V8 Superllte.

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phil branagan JASON Bright looks set to compete in the world's classic Sportscar races this year with the works Aston Martin team.

The lead driver for Ford Performance Racing's V8 Supercar team flew out of Australia last week for a secret two-day test with the team atVallelunga, near Rome. So impressed was the team with his performance that the 32-year-old was pressed into tyre testing service on the second day of the test, meaning that he missed his planned flight back to Melbourne.

At this stage, and pending confirmation from the British team. Bright looks certain to join the team to compete at the Sebring 12 Hour next month, the Petit Le Mans 1000-mile race at Road Atlanta in late Spetember and the famous Le Mans 24 Hour in July.

Bright quickly came to grips with the team's 2006-spec 600hp, 1100kg DBR9, which will compete in the GT1 class of the ALMS. "The only way to approach something like this is with a pretty open mind," Bright said in Italy.

"The Aston Martin and the FPR Falcon definitely have some similarities, the layout of the

^^The Aston Martin is lighter and has a ton more downforce^^ - Bright, right

car is similar, sure, but there are differences. The Aston Martin is much lighter, it has a ton more downforce and much better tyres, in respect that they do not have the same tyre restrictions that we have in V8 Supercars. Then there are the carbon brakes, which have a completely different feel."

The test was especially important for the Prodrive-owned team, which was also testing exFormula 1 driver Nicolas Kiesa to join Pedro Lamy and Stephane Sarrazin at the track in the northern suburbs of Rome.

The only potential sticking point for Bright to fit in with Aston Martin's schedule is that the Sebring race is on March 15-18, the week before the opening race oftheVS Supercar Championship Series at Adelaide.

"The plan at this stage is to do Sebring, we still have to have a think about it," Bright admitted.

'The only part that is really hard is getting there in time, at the

moment there is a test at Winton on the Tuesday before the race."

FPR team manager Tim Edwards said this week that there was "some flexibility" in the team's schedule to permit Bright to make it to the USA in time for the race.

"We are working hard at having three cars race-ready for the start of the season," he said, "but we are probably able to move things a little to make sure Jason has every chance to do this."

Should all go as planned.

Bright will have a very busy June, with qualifying for the 24 Hour followed by the proposed Shanghai V8 round, then the 24 Hour race itself on June 14-18.

For an exclusive insight into Bright's test see page 34

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DOES MAX MAKE 4?

Hackett fr LONDON

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AND BRITEK GETS JOSE V8 SUPERCAR Development Series driver Jose Fernandez has been promoted to the big leagues, with Britek/Fujitsu Racing announcing that the Sydneysider will drive its second BA Falcon alongside Warren Luff.

Fernandez will carry #26 on his FPR-built Ford, which is currently undergoing a complete rebuild at the team's Melbourne base.

"This is going to be the toughest year of my life," Ferndandez said."I guess it will be a bit like a bullfighter stepping into the stadium for the first time. Everything will increase this year - my mental and physical fitness will have to increase, my driving skills and I'm sure the nerves will also."

"The entire V8 landscape changed with the recent demise of LMS and Team Dynamik,and with that, so too did our plans to field cars in both the Fujitsu Series and the main game,"said Britek General Manager Chris Jewell.

Fernandez, who makes the move with long-time backer Fujitsu, has been racing in the Development Series for the past three years, and landed himself on the podium at Winton in 2004.

15 February 2006

THE three-into-two scenario at WPS Racing may become a four-into-two scenario, with Max Wilson's name entering the frame last week.

The Brazilian, who has driven for John Briggs, Dick Johnson, Triple 8 and Tony Longhurst, right, is managed by Greg Siddle, a long time associate of new WPSR GM Mark Larkham.

The former IMS owner contacted Motorsport News last weekend but would not comment on the possibility of Wilson being in contention for the seat.

"It's still too early," he said.

Despite the continuing silence, there are some movements in the shadows. Last issue, we incorrectly pointed out that the 2005 WPS drivers, David Besnard and Craig Baird, were uncontracted for this season.

Baird has contacted MNews to advise us that he has a signed deal with WPSR until the end of the 2007 season.

We believe that Besnard does not have a contract,though there is some suggestion that he and Craig Gore were about to verbally agree terms before the changes happened earlier this month.

We also believe that Jason Bargwanna met with Gore last week and that the two came away from the meeting with what one source described as a "clearer picture". Indeed,there were suggestions that the two men actually agreed terms,though our informed sources say that a WPSR/Bargwanna deal is"not done, but close".

What looks to be the most likely scenario, and the most easily accommodated,is that Bargwanna and Baird will drive for the combined team and that Besnard and Wilson will be left to find endurance seats.This also looks the team's best chance to please Ford as, despite the fact that WPSR has had no Ford support, Bargwanna is definitely in favour in Broadmeadows. With Bargs, Larkham would appear to have a much better chance at getting support than without him.

Bargwanna is also well-liked

by Orccon, which moved with Larkham to the team earlier this month. On the other hand, what role the steel company will play in sponsorship of the team is not yet clear.

-PHILBRANAGAN

GRM BACK HOLDSWORT i 1

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GARRY ROGERS MOTORSPORT has finalised its driver line-up for this season's V8 Supercar Championship, with confirmation that Lee Holdsworth will join Dean Canto at the Holden squad .

As exclusively predicted

by MNews last September, Holdsworth will make the step up to drive the #33 Repco Valvoline Commodore this season after driving in both the HPDC V8 Development and Australian Formula Ford Championships in 2005.

Holdsworth drove for GRM alongside Phillip Scifleet at Sandown and Bathurst last year, as well as driving for the team at the final round at Phillip Island after the team parted ways with Andrew Jones.

"To get the full-time gig with the team for this year is something that I have dreamt of since I was a young chap," said Holdsworth, above with Rogers.

"I've been working at a deal with Garry for about a month now, so to get the contract signed is a big relief."

Holdsworth will take on a unusual role with the team, working full-time in the team's workshop as a mechanic when not on driving duties. Despite sporadic appearances in the main series, Holdsworth is still considered a V8 Supercar rookie, and will therefore have three additional test days.

-CHRIS JORDAN For more on Holdsworth & GRM, see page 32 7

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HSVAllStars BAHRAIN has put together an impressive list of celebrities for a Celebrity race at the opening Grand Prix of the season with former tennis champion Boris Becker taking on seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong, Brit rowing hero Sir Steve Redgrave and US sprinter Michael Johnson.

The celebs will drive specially-prepared left-hand-drive V8 HSV Commodores. . In the local version of the Celeb race, look for all four Wiggles, Tara ^ Moss, TV sports presenters Ryan Phelan ■ ■ ; and Tiffany Cherry, weatherman Steve \ Jacobs, Temptation host Ed Philips, former j" Brisbane Ljon Alastair Lynch and Tiffany t'\l.Cheefy to suit up in BMW 1-Series racers. ‘ fir..:

: ; -Formula One Administration, the . .^operating company for the Formula One ^ ^ group, has filed its annual returns for 2004 , and these reveal a huge profit of $600m on a turnover of $930m.

Tristan Gommendy has signed to drive alotigside Ernesto Viso in the iSport ■ft'- International line-up in the GP2 Series. ; The 26-year-old Frenchman won the ●ft; ; French Formula 3 title with ASM in 2002 ^ ,and has been a race winner in recent years ●fe, in the Benault World Series, finishing ^ fourth in the standings last year with KTR. ‘ -f:.

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^The Circuit de Catalunya is adding another 3300 grandstand seats at the eastern end of the track. Formula 1 is booming in Spain, thanks to the success of Fernando Alonso.

In recent days there have beerl rumours in Spain that Telefonica is pushing for Pedro de la Rosa to join Renault as Alonso's replacement in 2007.

Patrick Faure has confirmed that he will be standing down from his role as Chairman of Renault Sport sometime between July and October.

It remains to be seen whether the company will appoint a successor to Faure, who will be 60 in May and has been in the job since 1986.

Much will depend on whether or not the company's Carlos Ghosn decides to keep the firm in FI. Q Japanese Formula 3 champion Joao Paulo de Oliveira had his first chance to test FI last week in Valencia. The 24-yearold tested for Williams, thanks to his links with Brazil's Petrobras.

-JOESAWARD/STAFF

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GERHARD MKES CHARGE GERHARD Berger has become a 50 percent owner of the Scuderia Toro Rosso Formula 1 team.

The former Grand Prix star and subsequent head of BMW Motorsport will become the front man for the team and will no doubt handle the politics of the sport on its behalf.

Franz Tost will remain as team principal and will play a primarily organisational role. Red Bull will retain the remaining 50 percent of the team.

Red Bull boss Dietrich Mateschitz has been trying to convince Berger to join his FI operation for some time but Berger has given the impression that he was not really interested, unless it was a very good deal.

It seems that this is a very good deal for Berger as, in exchange for the shareholding in the team, Berger has agreed to give 50 percent of his trucking company to Mateschitz. This is also just what Mateschitz needs, as he is in the process of building up Red Bull's own distribution network and the deal will mean more work (and thus more money) for the trucking company.

Berger, above, will be a welcome recruit to the ranks of the FI team bosses, not least because he is well liked by most of the current decision-makers, notably Bernie Ecclestone and Max Mosley.

The new Toro Rosso STR01 ran for the first time last week in Jerez, although the car will not be officially launched until the days running up to the Bahrain Grand Prix.

The new car looks very like the Red Bull RBI although there has been some aerodynamic development work on the sidepods in particular.

The car is going to run this year with a rev-limited version of the Cosworth VI0 engine and there is already plenty of controversy over this and the fact that the team has been testing with the RBI chassis. The rules state that cars must be designed and built by teams independently of one another, but this does not mean that one team cannot use another team's car as a basis for a design.

-JOESAWARD

COME BACK NEXT YEAR SPA won't host an FI Grand Prix this year - but will return in 2007 with a five-year contract.

Upgrading work for this year's scheduled race was unlikely to be completed in time, so the regional government of Wallonia proposed a deal which will see it providing US$9m a year in direct financial aid for a five-year period, in addition to an annual sponsorship of the race which will be worth US$2.6m. The race will be promoted by Bernie Ecclestone.The government has also committed itself to paying for the required upgrading work.

-JOE SAWARD

McLaren has taken first place in the new FI livery stakes by unveiling a new scheme containing a primarily'chrome' look, incorporating new surface treatment technology.

The new 'chrome'look is expected to debut during testing at Valencia this week.

"A lot of research and months of work have gone into creating this unique chrome finish,"said McLaren's Marketing Director Ekrem Sami.

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PARLEZ MONTO JUAN Pablo Montoya is talking with Renault about his future beyond 2006.

Faced with the prospect of his client being dumped from McLaren at the end of the year, the Colombian's manager has initiated talks with more than one team, Renault confirmed this week as one of them.

With McLaren having signed world champion Fernando Alonso for 2007 ancj both its current drivers'contracts expiring at the end of this year, Montoya has confirmed that he's looking around - suggesting a lack of confidence in retaining his spot.

Alonso's signing looks like initiating one of the more active driver market reshuffles for some time.

-JOE SAWARD

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"We are always looking at innovative ways to allow our sponsor partners to differentiate their brands from the competition through their partnership with the team and this unique livery is designed to be extremely photogenic.

"Team McLaren Mercedes had the highest audited 'Share ofTV Voice'in 2005 - and we hope that this new identity will contribute to us retaining that status.

"When we created our previous

livery in the mid-90s, we established what we believed then was an innovative and groundbreaking new identity for McLaren Mercedes. What we have launched today is as revolutionary and we hope it will be the foundation of the team's livery for many years to come."

The shiny new look comes as a bit of a beacon at a time when the new McLaren-Mercedes Benz MP4-21 doesn't seem to be getting any more competitive,

with suggestions that the new V8 Mercedes engine isn't on the pace.

McLaren also suffered a setback with the announcement from Italy that NikolasTombazis is leaving his position as Vehicle Project Director at McLaren to become chief designer of Ferrari from March 1.

Ferrari has reshuffled its engineering team with Aldo Costa being promoted to be head of the Design and Development Department, reporting to

technical director Ross Brawn.

Tombazis will report to Costa.

Former chief designer Rory Byrne has become a consultant engineer.

The departure ofTombzais comes as a third blow in as many months to McLaren.The team lost technical director Adrian Newey to Red Bull Racing in November and recently revealed that its chief aerodynamicist Peter Prodromou will also leave for Red Bull at the end of his contract in October.

-JOESAWARD

I McLaren FI

WEIGHING OPTIONS RENAULT is being non-commital about its future in Formula 1.

Company Chairman Carlos Ghosn last week launched his plans for the company for the next three years and singled out Formula 1 for its success for Renault, but refused to give any guarantees about the future of the programme.

If it is in Renault's interest to stay, we will. We will take it year by year,"said Ghosn."As long as it remains a good investment for Renault, we will stay.

The day that it is no longer the case. we will go."

While the Renault FI team says that Ghosn is simply saying what other companies are thinking about FI, it is going to be much tougher for the team's marketing people to find a replacement sponsor for Mild Seven

without some form of long-term guarantee of the team's involvement in the sport.

However,a few days earlier; at the.* official launcih of the 2006 Renault FI programme, Ghosn had appeared more positive: 'As long as we continue to perform well, we offer a good show,and obviously we are at the top level of Formula 1,then there are not questions about the future in Formula 1,"he said.

"Obviously, there is some uncertainty about the conditions in which Formula One will evolve, beginning in 2008.

This is not a preoccupation of Renault alone; it is a preoccupation for all manufacturers trying to figure out what will be the environment of FI.' -JOE SAWARD

Dominos is on 18 IN a move sure to please many in the media, Betta Electrical Racing has signed a new deal with Domino's Pizza. The home delivery chain will have its famous dots on the roofs of the Fords of Craig Lowndes and Jamie Whincup for the next year, with special emphasis on recruiting new delivery drivers for the national chain.

Speaking of food (weren't we?), ever fancied sharing an egg with The Enforcer? .^ Some bacon with Brighty? Or cornflakes ,■L V with Craig (with custard?) Then get thee to fe. '.the Ford V8 Superbreakfast to be held at , the Adelaide Oval on Thursday 23 March, 'fyi Yes, ydu to can nosh down with the Blue gKf-'Oval<stars prior to the opening round of wlraf'2006 V8 Supercar Championship Series on t ®f.{h'^.'streeU of Adelaide from 23-26 March. ; tickets are priced at $89 (plus

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a^ ijooking fee) and can be booked though ‘Ticketmaster 7 at www.ticketmaster.com. ,^*?au or by calling 13 61 00. (ft

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Alan Gurr and Fabian Coulthard were due to have their first pre-season ■ V (- test of 2006 at Queensland Raceway itoday (Wednesday). The test, in a Paul |,;-''M9rrfs Motorsports-built Commodore VZ _ tne two will share through the course

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^%the season, will be part of the team's ijw'jpilpcatibn of the new Rookie day tests. ; ,PSul Morris will not take part in the^^^-i ref'.j.tes.t, his first outing set for March 15.

AIN'T NO LIMIT

RUSSELL Ingall and Craig Lowndes are staying loyal to the blue oval for the foreseeable future.

SUPERCHEAP Autos Racing has landed a major sponsorship deal with No Limit.

The 2005 V8 Supercar Champion and the three-time titleist have signed new deals with Ford. Ingall will stay in blue until the end of 2008 while Lowndes's new deal will run until the end of'09.

"An announcement like this is a great way to start my title defence,' said Ingall.

The two SCAR Commodores of Greg Murphy and Cameron McConville will carry signage of the Queensland-based property and financial services, as will the drivers themselves. The business is headed by John Marshall, father of Champ Car and A1 GP driver Marcus Marshall, who is expected to race this season against the SCAR team in the Paul Cruickshank Racing Falcon.

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West Australian open-wheeler driver Karl Reindler has put the off-season to .. good use by making a couple of flying visits ● to Japan for a series of Formula 3 tests. ● Reindler tested with the Inging team in December before returning for^nother run with Threebond. Both tests were at the Mine circuit in the country's west.

"The tests went well, but I'd have preferred some better weather," Reindler said. "I'd never driven in snow before ..."

The tests also gave Reindler the opportunity to sample some different machinery. While Threebond uses a Nissanpowered Dallara similar to that which i

Reindler has driven in the UK, Inging runs Toyota-powered Dome chassis.

Reindler is still in the process of sorting out his 2006 racing program, but said that he is looking at a number of options in both Europe and the US. □ As if he wasn't already famous enough for backflipping off of his Roush ford, NASCAR young gun Carl Edwards is to make a guest appearance in the television drama 24.

KIWI KUD TO V8S Chris Jordan CHRIS Pither will enter the 2006 Fujitsu V8 Supercar Series in a Kanga Loaders-backed AU Falcon prepared by a new team, Partington RacePrep.

The New Zealander will drive the car that fellow Kanga-backed driver Gary MacDonald last used in the Development Series at last year's Clipsal 500, with the car to be run by the new operation, headed by Bruce Partington, who worked on MacDonald's car at Steve Ellery Racing last year.

Pither, 19, was backed by Kanga in last year's V8 Utes Series, and now makes the step up to V8 Supercars with Kanga's support.

"Ever since my drive of Gary's V8 Supercar last year it was something I really wanted to do," said Pither.

"You can't believe how excited I was when Alan (Porter, boss of Kanga) told me I'd be driving a Supercarl It's an unbelievable opportunity, one that I don't intend to waste."

Partington RacePrep will be based out of Beenleigh,

Queensland, where the AU, pictured above, will be stored and maintained. When not assisting the race team or training, Pither will be working at Kanga, where he has just begun an apprenticeship as a fitter and turner.

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IN OUR FORD

riFOa

"I came to Ford in 2003 for one reason and that was to win a championship. In saying that, I'm keen for more success, especially after watching my team-mate Marcos Ambrose win two-straight titles."

The announcement of the Ford contract extension for Lowndes was also matched by his race team. Lowndes joined Team Betta Electrical at the start of last season, finishing second in the 2005 series.

"We achieved far more than I

ever imagined in the first twelve months,so the next four years will hopefully be even better,"said Lowndes.

"While it has taken me a while to find consistent success with Ford, I really enjoy the vehicles and love working with the Ford Racing group."

As well, both drivers have signed new deals with Caltex.

Both will carry ID and promote the oil company until the end of the 2007 season.

HANDY V8

COLIN Sieders will enter selected rounds of the Fujitsu V8 Supercar Championship this year.

In doing so, Sieders will become the first person in V8 Supercar to race with a disability. As a teenager, Colin was a passenger in 15 February 2006

a fatal road incident. Today, Colin, 24, has only 30 percent use of his left leg. His ex-Anthony Tratt Ford Falcon AU is likely to be equipped with a hand clutch, which will make Sieders the first driver to use such a device in V8 Supercars.

he said this week."A

COULD the next manufacturer to join the Australian Rally Champioi]isM^be Nissan?

That is the question being asked following the sudden departure of Ford Racing Operations Manager Ross Booth.The man who oversaw Ford's 1-2-3 in the 2005 V8 Supercar Championship Series, and its entry into the.ARC, suddenly left the company two weeks ago to join Nissan.

In his new role, he will head the marketing department of the Japanese importer, which has just launched its Tilda model,above.

"It was a good opportunity,"

mptorsport opportunity rpay exist for Nissan in Australia.> . » Super 2000 is something we ' ^e keen to keep an eye on/. '■ / ; Booth had been in the Fqfd j .

Racing role, which he had . described as his "drearh joh!i for less than a year. MNews believes that Nissan madeta' number of offers durfng the. i L course of 2005. to secure Booth, who was brand manager ’ / ● of the Ford Fairlane before ● replacing Stephen Kruk in the / . racing role in early 2005.

Ironically, Booth's Ford-toNissan move follows that of Howard Marsden who, ultimately, returned to Ford ...

"I haven't tested it yet, but I think I'm going to use it," said Sieders.

"I've been allowed to use hand clutches in all the other racing categories I've raced in, and V8 Supercars has been no different. It won't be so bad when I'm actually driving, the problem will be getting the car off the line. That is the bit that might pose a problem."

TEGA's Steve Brow and Kelvin O'Reilly have indicated to Sieders that if the hand clutch Is required, it will be permitted.

Sieders will compete under

#13 and will drive in at least four rounds of the championship, but has not committed to debuting on the streets of Adelaide.

"Clipsal is a place that can end your season before it starts," he said."If we get a sponsor, we'll do it for sure, but it would be a bit of a rush. I'm happy to wait for Wakefield Park."

Sieders finished second in the Aussie Racing Car Championship in 2004 and drove Aussies, Formula Ford and Lotus Trophy in 2005.

-CHRIS JORDAN 11

I'd like to thank...

FIA President Max Mosley has been awarded the Legion d'Honneur for his services to motorsport.

The 6S-year-old accepted the award from the French foreign minister Philippe Oouste-Blazy in Paris last week.The guest list a the event included Red Bull boss Dietrich Mateschitz, Austrian finance minister Karl-Heinz Crasser, Gerhard Berger, Guy Frequelin, Jean Todt,Tony Purnell, Bernie Ecclestone and Eddie Jordan.

Giancarlo Fisichella's FMS International GP2 team,a partnership with Coloni Motorsport, will be running 20-year old Luca Filippi for the next two ; seasons. Filippi drove for the Fisichella in last year's European BOOO Championship . lastyear and has since tested for Minardi.

I Giancarlo Minardi has recently acquired the right to use his own name in racing and will be involved in Euro 3000 this year in partnership with GP Racing, a .team set up by Mauro Loro and Tancredi ●r . Pagiaro in 1997. The team will be known ,’'“as Minardi Team by GP Racing and will run n ;in the traditional yellow and black livery :; of Minardi, with drivers Fabrizio Del Monte and Juan Caceres.

- ' ‘^JosVerstappen had an inkling in , ■ qualifying for the A1 Grand Prix round in Indonesia that something was not . right with his Lola. After a poor run that landed the Dutch in 13th,'Jos the Boss' asked series tyre supplier Cooper to check the cohdition of his allocation of tyres.

Sure enough. Cooper had given Jos one front tyre of a different compound to the rest, making his car unpredictable in its handling.

KARAOKE AT HONDA FI?

HONDA Racing FI has sign a five-year promotional deal with 19 Entertainment,a company which has masterminded 106 Number One hit singles in the UK and 83 Number One albums.

Company founder Simon Fuller created and managed the Spice Girls, manages Annie Lennox and Cathy Dennis and has played a role in promoting other talents such as Madonna, U2, Oasis, Britney Spears and Kylie Minogue.The company has represented David and Victoria Beckham and created the the 'Idol'TV show concept, which is now being broadcast in 35 countries.

Last year Fuller sold the business to Robert Sillerman for US$265m but remains MD of the business which has also acquired the global rights to the Elvis Presley estate in recent months.

Honda wants 19 Entertainment to develop the Honda Racing FI Team as a sports and entertainment 'brand': "Honda has a great brand that is known for its technology and its commitment to innovation," Fuller says. "I am looking forward to bringing my creative ideas and energy to this new partnership. I know that together we have a real opportunity to achieve spectacular results both for the Honda team and for the sport of motor racing as a whole."

Team boss Nick Fry says that such steps are necessary as motor racing needs to understand that it is in competition not only with other forms of racing and other sports but also with the entertainment business.

"The competition now for an audience is not just within motor racing but comes from Desperate Housewives and Chelsea Football Club,"said Fry. - JOE SAWARD

SUF>l=n nELJRI 1 ●'onmui

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That nice young man in the Team Brazil entry at SentuI last weekend was Christian Fittipaldi. The former F1 and Champ Car star, and nephew of A1 seat holder Emmo, will also race for the [other] green and gold in Mexico next time out.

NASCAR licensing deals bring in literally billions of dollars each year, but the marketing department for the good old boys might have gone too far this time.

NASCAR has signed a licensing deal with Harlequin for the publishing giant to publish 20 NASCAR-themed romance novels.

Kinda puts a whole new angle on the expression, "and he's heading towards Turn 3", doesn't it?

-JOESAWARD/STAFF

©

AGURI SUPERTEAM WHILE Super Aguri FI has yet to confirm its driver and sponsor line-up, it has revealed its management and engineering staff - and there is plenty of FI experience in the line-up.

Aguri Suzuki will be the team principal, although the day-to-day running of the team will be in the hands of Italy's Daniele Audetto, who has nearly 30 years of experience in the sport, including being the sporting director of Ferrari when the team won the World Championship in 1977. Audetto will be assisted by former Arrows men Kevin Lee and Wayne Humphries.

The team's chief technical officer is Aussie Mark Preston, a former Arrows engineer who went on

to work for McLaren before setting up his own team with the aim of getting to FI. The team's chief designer, however, is Peter McCool, a former Reynard designer who went on to become a director of Apollo Racing Design, a composite company which went out of business in 2003. Among the design team is Ian Thomson, a former Ferrari composites specialist who spent 10 years at Sauber and then moved to Prost GP. The team will have former Arrows team manager Mick Ainsley-Cowlishaw and chief mechanic Phil Spencer, who was formerly chief mechanic at Jordan.

- JOE SAWARD

motorsport news

news

WELL TAKE TWO YOU know the problem.

There are no chips in the cupboard, American Idol starts in 3m20s and the corner between you and the shop is called Eau Rouge.You do not want to miss Simon Coweli giving the latest contestant a verbal barrage, and you cannot face the black-shirted one without crunchy and convenient snacks, so what do you do?

You speak to Ben Scott-Geddes and Graham Halstead.The two former McLaren engineers are building the Freestream T1 just for you.The two set out to build a road car with 1 OOOhp per tonne and this is what they came up with virtually a two-seat Formula 1 car.

"To demonstrate our understanding of these issues we set out to design an optimum package for delivering 1 OOObhp-per-tonne,"says Scott-Geddes.

"Interestingly, the sweet spot on the curve that satisfies many of these issues is 500 horsepower in a vehicle with a mass of 500kg."

Halstead and Scott-Geddes formed part of the engineering team that worked on the McLaren FI and Mercedes-McLaren SLR. Like those cars, theTI will be built to meet all impact and environmental requirements and the team aims to put the cars in the hands of the owners for around £150,000(approx. $350,000).

The team expects the car to be on the road by the end of 2006 and aims to produce 25 units annually.

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MOTOGP World Champion Valentino Rossi's first public tests in a Formula 1 Ferrari did not start well in Valencia, Spain, last week.

On the first day, in the rain, Rossi spun his VI0 Ferrari F2004 on his first lap and beached it in a gravel trap. Rossi redeemed himself over the second and third days and wound up setting a lap-time of 1m12.3, compared with 1:10.9 by pace-setters Fernando Alonso and Jenson Button in the new V8 cars from Renault and Honda. Rossi's fastest lap was quicker than those driven

by McLaren-Mercedes drivers Pedro de la Rosa and Juan Pablo Montoya and Toyota's JarnoTrulli.

Rossi said of the tests; "Everything went well. It was all Interestlnq. ItfelH but maybe I need more experience of driving Jn-theTwetELdidlTrc prove anything, I just wanted to increase my knowledge-of-FormuIa would like to thank Ferrari for giving me the chance to do that.'

- QUENTIN SPURRING For more on Rossi's debut, see Opinion (page 27), and St Valentino's Day (p48)

15 February 2006

13

ThejjSaid it l l l We

have had a big taskjust painting everything blade!” harry Perkins muses over the change from being a Castrol man to a Jack Daniel’s man

My birthday doesn’t seem i mportant now.

Marcus Gronholm reflects on winning Rally Sweden on the day he blew out 38 candles

BiZNET

“I have know him (Red 6ull owner Dietrich Mateschitz) for nearly 20 years. It would be a good opportunity to work with a good friend. However, right now,the timing is not right.”

On February 1 Gerhard Berger denies he will join Scuderia Toro Rosso as co-owner. A week later, the deal is announced You can do a lawsuit for insurance company, but don’t have to personally attack my family and you don’t have to say the company hasn’t helped, when we’ve broken our back and been there and done things.”

NASCAR team owner Rick Hendrick, commenting on a lawsuit by the widow of a team member killed in a 2004 plane crash

It was a hard day at the office forSentul's Home Team, with Indonesia's Ananda Mikkola crunched by Czech Tomas Enge at Turn 7 in Race 7, top. sutton-lmages.com

Just in case anyone forgot who is Le Grand Fromage in A1GP,those helpful Frenchman told the story, middle right. sutton-lmages.com

A day after his ownership ofScuderia Torq Rosso was announced Gerhard Berger was hard at work with the team at Jerez, middle left. sutton-lmages.com

Last weekend's Rally Norway was seen as a rehersal for a future WRC event. The service park took on a local theme, being place inside a sports arena shaped like the inside ofa viking longship, right. sutton-lmages.com

14

motorsportnews

It looks a little odd in yellow, but Valentino Rossi, left, has carried his pre-ride ritual into 2006.

Camel Yamaha Team

Craig Lowndes loves a Domino's pizza, above, while Jamie Whincup tries to think ofsome new recipes with Triple cheese, Triple salami. Triple anchovies...

Triple 8 Racing

Mikko Hirvonen had a Swedish Rally to forget but on Day I, the Ford star was flying high over the 'Collins Crest'on SS5. sutton-lmages.com

15 February 2006

15

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The Single Life A DECISION by the A1 Grand Prix organisers to restrict all the teams to only one of the 'spec'Lola chassis to resolve a shortage of spare parts has done nothing to quell rumours to the effect that the new series may have run into cash-flow problems.

These began in earnest when all 50 A1GP chassis were temporarily impounded at Durban Airport last week on the orders of a South African court, apparently as a consequence of non-payment of insurance premiums.

An A1GP statement,issued when the teams arrived in Indonesia last week for their races at SentuI, said;"From this weekend,the 25 teams contesting the World Cup of Motorsport will run one -i; ;chassis, rather than one chassis and a spa.re. The teams must nominate which of their two chassis will be their race chassis.for the remainder of the season, then disassemble the other and send the '■‘i^i^ub back to AIGP's Technical Centre at : SilVerstone in England. The teams will keep . the parts removed during disassembly as spares, and A1GP will keep four complete chassis at each of the final three rounds to .'V; be used in case of accidents."

■t Maserati Corse is planning to field ■ I i a fartory team in the Le Mans 24 Hours ;s in 2008, according to reports alv. Maserati has confirmed that it |M^^infends to build a new GT racecar to replace controversial, all-carbon MCI 2, which t a ● is;not eligible for Le Mans. The new car will be based on the new Coupe GT model. which will carry its V8 engine at the front. '. Alongside its own factory team, Maserati plans to sell 'customer' cars for use in the FIA GT Championship.

I

Eddie Irvine has backed Ireland's bid to host a round of the World Rally Championship from next season.

"I fully support the Rally Ireland bid," said the former Ferrari, Jordan and Jaguar Formula One driver. "It would be great for Irish motorsport fans and rally drivers to have a world class motorsport event in Ireland."

This year's non-WRC Rally Ireland takes place on March 10-12.

Meanwhile, former WRC co-driver Nicky Grist will advise Rally New York USA and serve as one of the Stewards for the April 7-8 event. Grist, the 1995 world champion co-driver will also conduct a one-day Nicky Grist co-driving course, which will be held on the day before the start of reconnaissance.

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INTERNATIONAL RESCUE Manfeild awaits Canto after Anderson suspended DEAN Canto will drive a #34 Valvoline Commodore earlier than expected in 2006 after agreeing to fill in for the suspended Andrew Anderson in the New Zealand V8 Touring Car Series at Manfeild this weekend.

Anderson was heavily reprimanded for an incident at the last round between himself. Inky Tulloch and Adam Brook, which leftTulloch injured.

Anderson was handed a five-week suspension, and with the links with both Valvoline and Holden, Canto agreed to fill the void.

"I've never raced there before, but that's no problem," said Canto, who recently relocated to Melbourne for theGRM drive."I have a bit of MoTeC data on the place, so I'm learning the circuit that way."

Clanto will even use the #34, the number he will use in V8 Supercar this year. But the best news is surely that Canto has become engaged to his long-time girlfriend Erin. MNews extends our congratulations to the happy couple.

-CHRIS JORDAN

BRM EXPANDS LONG-TIME Australian Formula 3 team, Adelaide-based Team BRM, will diversify its racing activities and enter the 2006 Australian Formula Ford Championship.

Team BRM has purchased two brand-new Van Diemen RF06 chassis and three new Duratec powerplants and is in discussion with severai drivers about the seats.

MNews understands that South Austraiian Shane Wright is one of those in taiks with the team. Wright drove for Team BRM in the SA and Victorian Formula Ford Series last year.

Marcus Koch will engineer the two cars, having worked with the team in 2005 on Michael Trimble's Formula 3 car. Team BRM is keen to use its two open-wheel teams as a ladder for young drivers, allowing its

Formula Ford drivers to test its Formula 3 cars to gain experience.

"We think both programs will compliment each other really well,"said Mark Rundle, who has overseen all ofTeam BRM's Formula Ford activites thus far. "Running more cars allows us the ability to maximize the use of our resources, our experienced crew members and grow the team to a new level.

"The same people that run the Formula 3 cars will run the Formula Fords, which immediately gives us a great open-wheel experience base with which to draw on this season, something that will only help our chances of succeeding."

The cars are currently on their way into Australia, with an example of the stiking new Van Diemen, right.

motorsport news

news

West Aussie Michael Patrizi, who won the same award last season. Ricciardo won the award at a test and evaluation session at the Bahrain International Circuit.

The winner of last year's Australian Intercontinental A Karting Title has also competed in Formula Ford races for Fastlane Racing and appears likely to race for Minardi Team Asia in this year's series.

Abay will also run in the emerging series.

TWO young Australians will race in the Formula BMW Asia Championship in 2006, with Daniel Ricciardo and Sam Abay both confirming their plans last week.

Ricciardo has been awarded a BMW Motorsport Scholarship worth US$50,000 for the series,following in the footsteps of fellow

SIMON SAYS

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2000 build ex Besnard Caltex Falcon

ASTUTI Motorsport will enter two cars in the 2006 Kuhmo Australian F3 Championship,again fielding 2005 runner-up Michael Trimble, as well as adding an older name to the grid.

Simon Hartwidge, a former team owner in Formula Holden for the likes of Jason Bargwanna and Scott Dixon, has decided to make a return to driving for the Sam Astuti-led team this year.

Hartwidge is a former Formula 2 racer, and will run backing from VISA Australia on his F304 Dallara.

ForTrimble,this year's clear goal is to collect the championship and CAMS Gold Star, being run for the 50th year, after the Victorian lost out to Aaron Caratti last year, a season which saw Trimble collect four race wins and switch from Team BRM to Astuti mid-year.

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driving for Team E-Rain, which was the winner of last year's championship.The Victorian was a busy driver last year, driving in the Motorsport News KartStars, Porsche 944 and Australian F3 Championship. n Both Aussies spent last week testing for their respective teams at the Sepang circuit in Malaysia, above, where the opening two rounds will be held supporting the Malaysian FI Grand Prixon March 19.

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Hendrick hurt AN emotional Rick Hendrick has lashed

back following the announcement that the late Randy Dorton's wife Dianne has filed a lawsuit against Hendrick Motorsports for negligence in the 2004 plane crash that claimed the life of Dorton, Hendrick's engine chief, and all others onboard.

Dorton claims that John Hendrick, who had.his two daughters in the plane with him, rejected the pilot's decision to divert to another airport due to fog. Dorton also stated she had received no help from Rick ’ Hendrick, who lost his son in the accident.

"For Diane to say that we turned our ’ back on her or nobody helped her is , : inaccurate and uncalled for,"said Hendrick.

M -'I Randy's bonus in 2004,and paid her six months of 2005.She's got a BMW, . t paid her insurance, we had someone there helping her night and day. I met withiher any time she wanted to. You have insurance to take care of people and that's r^-K.;.v»ltat it's for. I don't understand the attack'" on my brother. I thought it was a cheap shot,*disappointing and totally not true.'

TOMAS Scheckter hasfound a new home in the Indy Racing League for 2006,joining Ed Carpenter in an expanded twocar line-up at Vision Racing.

The South African, who won last year's round at Texas Motor Speedway with Panther Racing has joined Vision,the team co owned by IRL boss Tony George after Panther severely scaled back its operation for this season.

Scheckter has taken his 2005 crew chief David Cripps across to Vision.

Vision also welcomed actor Patrick Dempsey onboard as a co-owner of the team. Dempsey plays Dr Derek Shepherd in the hit drama Grey’s Anatomy.

-PHIL MORRIS

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Bill Davis has lost a us District Court battle in Detroit against DaimlerChrysler, claimed he helped develop the Toyota .Tundra NASCAR Truck in 2003 while under a six-year contract with Dodge to prepare cars for,the Cup series. The jury awarded

PajirjterChrysler $8.8 million in damages. j®^;^p4viswas counter suing for breach of

^^contract on’Oodge's part and will appea4>the court decision.

- MARTIN D CLARK

POSITIOri VACANT A leading Fomuila Ford Team requires an experienced

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PANTHER LIVES

Meira joins and Pennzoil returns phil morris

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AFTER it seemed certain that each would be lost to the Indy Racing League,Vitor Meira, Panther Racing and Pennzoil are joining forces in a one-car assault on the 2006 IndyCar Series.

The highly-rated Brazilian driver lost his seat at Rahal-Letterman Racing to Ethanol-backed driver Paul Dana for this season, but will now race in the number four Dallara-Honda, above.

Panther has been a front-running IRL team since its inception in 1998,

winning championships with Sam Hornish Jr in 2001 and 2002.

Last year. Panther fielded two cars for Tomas Scheckter and Tomas Enge, but at season's end, looked to be out of business, with the rumoured loss of major backer, Pennzoil. In the off-season.

Panther auctioned off masses of equipment, but surprised most when it announced the retention of Pennzoil and the signing of Meira last week.

Meira, who was runner-up at last year's Indianapolis 500 and seventh in the series points, coincidently had his first test of an IndyCar with Panther back in 2001.

motorsportnews

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Malaysia M/antsIn MALAYSIA has put its hand up to host a round of the World Rally Championship within the next two years.

In an announcement last week.

Deputy Primer Minister Dato Srti Mohd Najib said that the government-owned palm-oil producer Felda would sponsor the country's domestic series as well as developing the infrastrcuture needed to run a WRC event.

Malaysia joins Ireland, Norway and Jordan in voicing its desire for a WRC slot.

Norway hosted its national rally last weekend with Daniel Carlsson and Hennig Solberg in attendance, while Rally Ireland ' is scheduled for later this year.

Jacques Regis, the current President of the World Rally Championship Cominission, will step down at the end of next month,

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A brief statement issued by the sports' . >gbverning body,the FIA, read;"Mr Regis, in mutual agreement with the FIA, has . r decided to step down from his position.

'Mr Regis will continue in the role until . the next meeting of the FIA World Motor Sport Council which will be held in Paris on : March 22."

Regis had been highly criticised in \ recent months, particularly by drivers, over the HA's lack of direction for the World ;Tj6aliy Championship as well as a number of ';’'h''khys safety issues including the'banning^rf - f,..'gravel note crews for top-line drivers.

■t-': '; - - RYAN LAHIFF/STAFF

WHERE TO NOW? DESPITE an outstanding third place at the Swedish Rally, Daniel Carlsson has admitted that he may struggle to find the backing to contest any other WRC rounds in 2006.

"It's not so easy for me to predict,"said Carlsson of his future plans to compete in the WRC. Carlsson's entry into the Swedish Rally came together at the last moment and included a switch in machinery,the Swede having originally entered the event in a Super 1600 car before landing a seat in the Mitsubishi Lancer WRC car that took him to l the podium - a result which he hopes will help to drum up more interest.

"I have no idea for the World Championship. It's like this - one week ago we had the meeting in England (with Mitsubishi) and I didn't have the budget sorted. After the recce I was still calling sponsors to get money for the Swedish rally. Hopefully, the sponsorship will come after this podium."

The pace that both Carlsson and Italian Gigi Galli showcased against the likes of Marcus Gronholm and Sebastien Loeb again highlighted the competitiveness of the Mitsubishi Lancer, despite the departure of the factory-backed team from the Championship last year, and leaves little doubt that the manufacturer could have seriously challenged the likes of Ford, Subaru and Citroen in 2006.

"For me to come here with no testing it shows the potential in the car, no doubt. For me, it was easy to get into it and find a good pace to match the pace behind these two very fast guys [Marcus Gronholm and Sebastien Loeb]. It's a good car, very good,"said Carlsson.

- RYAN LAHIFF

ATKO CHRIS Atkinson is set to make a cameo appearance in Group N next month when he contests Rally Ireland, a candidate event for inclusion in the 2007 World Rally Championship.

Atkinson will be joined be regular co-driver Glenn Macneall for the event, which starts from the host city of Sligo on March 10.

First run in 2005,the rally comprises 268 kilometres of competitive asphalt stages in counties Donegal, Fermanagh, Leitrim, Sligo and Tyrone. With the aim of becoming a round of the WRC series in 2007,this year's event will be run to full WRC standards and is the only full asphalt rally to undergo an inspection by the sports governing body,the FIA. "It's unfamiliar territory for me, but from what I've heard it's going to be a lot of fun," said Atkinson.

'I've never even been to Ireland before, let alone competed there, but I know it's a country where rallying is very popular and the local competition is bound to be pretty fierce. But it's great to have the opportunity to get more asphalt kilometres under my belt so I'm really looking forward to it."

"Gaining more experience on asphalt is one of Chris's development objectives this year," said SWRT performance director, David Lapworth.

"The challenging stages in

ENTRIES CLOSE

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GOING LARGE Ireland will be great practice for him.

"He needs all the asphalt experience he can get but, in

particular, coming from sunny Australia, he hasn't had many chances to drive in the wet - that shouldn't be a problem in Irelandl'

SUZUKI appears set to end almost two years of speculation over its intentions of competing at rallying's highest level, the World Rally Championship, after confirming that it will be making an announcement about its future plans at the Geneva Motor Show later this month.

The Japanese manufacturer, which has been the dominant force in the Junior World Rally Championship with its Swift and earlier Ignis Super 1600 models, has long hinted at the possibility of building an outright contending World Rally Car. If Suzuki indeed announces plans to enter a factory-backed outfit, possibly as early as 2007, it would prove a major boost for the WRC, which has been left lacking this season following the withdrawal of Peugeot, Skoda and Mitsubishi from the series last year.

-RYAN LAHIFF

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WITH Marcus Gronholm winning both the Motfte Carlo and Swedish Rallies, you'd be forgiven for tanking that the Ford team is flying high. However a water pump failure on the Focus of Mikko Hirvonen in Sweden has left the team concerned.

"It's a bit worrying what happened to Mikko. We don't really have the solution," admitted Ford team boss Malcolm Wilson.

Wilson and engineer Christian Loriaux were dumbstruck by the failure which sidelined Hirvonen on the final stage of the first day, particularly after the team experienced no major technical issues during the opening round in Monte Carlo or during winter testing.

"We've done lots of kilometres in testing and had no problems," Wilson said. "We do have some plans for the future to make some changes in that area, but we'll have to keep testing and find out what we can.'

15 February 2006

- RYAN LAHIFF

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ALEX Barros has ended weeks of speculation with the news that he has signed to ride for the Klaffi Honda team in the World Superbike championship.

The Brazilian, who won the last of his seven GPs in 2005 with Honda, will replace Max Neukirchner in the team.

"I am delighted to be able to accept this new challenge, and to carry on riding for Honda too, on a CBR 1000 RR Fireblade this time," Barros told reporters at Honda's European headquarters."! feel confident that I can play a leading roleinWSBK. "Honda and the Klaffi Honda Team offer perfect conditions to me.'

Barros last raced a Superbike in the 2002 Suzuka 8 Hour, when he finished third. He is expected to start testing in Italy this week.

... which just happens to look like a MotoGP bike

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THIS is not a BMW MotoGP racerthe German maker says so.

According to BMW Head of Development Prof. Burkhard Goschel, this is a mobile laboratory to study fundamental technological developments.

"The dynamics of powerful motorcycles operating at the physical limits are among the most complex phenomena in the field at the current time," he said.

"For our engineers, this is a highly sophisticated and, at the same time, fascinating task."

According to BMW, the motorcycle has only been ridden on BMW's own test circuits to date but will also be tested on other circuits "in the foreseeable future".

No other details of the bike have been released but, for the record, the rider in the photo does appear to share a resemblance to multiple world champion Luca Cadalora, who has raced in BMW's now-defunct Boxer Cup series...

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VALENTINO Rossi is getting good vibrations from his 2006 model Yamaha Ml - and some bad.

The Italian and team-mate Colin Edwards completed a successful threeday test at the Losail International Circuit in Qatar and set the fastest laps of the test. Carlos Checa made it a Yamaha 1-2-3 ahead of the Suzukis, with an impressive Chris Vermeulen shading team-mate John Hopkins.

But the threat remains Ducati, with the Italians only sending test rider Shinichi Itoh to Qatar after Loris Capirossi and Sete Gibernau topped a three-day test at Phillip Island. The red rockets edged Marco Melandri and an impressive Shinya Nakano (Kawasaki) in the test, while rookies Dani Pedrosa and Casey Stoner, left, added miles to their big bike CVs. Kenny Roberts appeared on the new KR Honda for the second time [following its Sepang debut] and the bike looked good, bettering the times of the'real'Hondas of MakotoTamada and Toni Elias.

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ITS WAR!!

THE Battle of Troys between Troy Corser and Troy Bayliss looks set to rage after the Ducati rider topped the final pre-season test at Valencia last week.

Bayliss headed a Ducati 1-2 while the riders were on race tyres, though the Italian bikes were split

by James Toseland (Winston Ten Kate Honda) who was second fastest on qualifying tyres.

Right behind the former World champion was Aussie team-mate Karl Muggeridge, while Max Neukirchner quickly came to grips with his new Ducati ride on his first appearance with Team Pedercini.

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WE^RE GOiNG TO MAKE THE 2006 FORMULA r FOSTER’S AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX A VERY SPECIAL FOUR DAYS FOR ONE MNEWS READER. COURTESY OF THE AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX CORPORATION AND MICHELIN, WE’VE PUT TOGETHER A ‘REHIND THE SCENES’ PACKAGE THAT WILL MAKE FOR A FARULOUS TIME. Simply by answering the question on the entry form you and a friend could win: l Air travel(from outside of Victoria), 5 nights accommodation, grandstand seats for two for the four days of the GP. PLUS l A scenic helicopter flight for two over the GP l A day’s (Friday) corporate hospitality at Michelin’s corporate suite. l A guided tour of the F1 Paddock, including the Michelin FI tyre centre. l A guided tour of the V8 Supercar Paddock.

If you’d like to join us Behind the Scenes,just fill out the entry form below and get It to us by Friday March 3.

You can enter as many times as you like, but you must use an official entry form cut out of MNews.

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Promotion Date: 04/01/06 - 03/02/06

BUSMAN'S HOLIDAY

MOTOR

WhyJB spenta rare weekend offatPhillipIsland

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I DO a bit of race car testing for Unique Cars magazine and,late last year, drove a couple of Lola sports cars owned by Peter Harburg - who has a fine collection of historic race cars.

I mentioned to him that I wouldn't mind having a proper drive in one of them, rather than the brief road test, and he rang me back and offered to let me race one if I wanted to.

The Lola in question was built in 1982 and I raced against it in the late 80s when the late Terry Hook imported it from England and raced it. The opportunity to race a car I hadn't raced, but raced against, was too good to resist.

Plus, people tend to pigeon hole you (this is my 20th year as a professional touring car driver), so it's nice to get out and drive something else. People may forget, but I started my career in open-wheelers.

I asked Mark McLaughlin,a friend of mine who,as you probably know, used to race and who now has an automotive business in Brisbane, where the car's based, if he'd prepare it. He has a good understanding of what's required in a race car,so he prepped it and off we went to the annual Phillip

Mark and one of his guys came down to help and we found ourselves sharing a garage with Peter's ex-Stilwell/Lex Davison Cooper and his ex-Jack Brabham Tasman Brabham-Climax. it was just great.These were cars I used to watch as a kid when I went to Longford - where there were some fabulous races - and Symmons Plains.

Also in our garage was Rob Sherrard, who also has a very fine collection of race cars that are prepared by Wayne Park(who amongst other things once raced one of Glenn Seton's Sierras). Rob's collection includes a genuine GT40 that Vern Schuppan drove,a Chev-powered Lola T70 MklllB that Parkie drove and a 962 ex-Le Mans Porsche that Bob himself drove.

The atmosphere was just great.

Over 400 entries, a well-run race meeting, with so many out-and-out race car enthusiasts.

Being me, I was actually a bit stressed about the whole thing before I got there - the car doesn't have any spares and so on - but as soon as we got out there and sorted a couple of things the car needed, I relaxed and just enjoyed it.

I was actually quite proud of myself. I got down there early on Friday, poured myself a seat, got the tyres mounted -just like I used to do, without all the people around you who help you now!

Everyone helps each other out, like they used to.

It's so laid back compared with V8 racing - which is like a war, and so corporately demanding, both from V8SA and your sponsors,that you barely have time to blink. There was plenty of time to just stand around and chat.

Those with a good memory will recall that I followed Vern Schuppan into AnsettTeam Elfin when the late Garrie Cooper gave me an opportunity,so it was just great to have the time to stop and chat with Vern. Lovely bloke.

They're all good blokes and so it was a great weekend of motorsport fellowship, if you like, with a few races thrown in!

I'm sure I'll do some more.

Especially if it involves cars that 1 haven't raced myself - I'm interested in what makes them tick.

And doing that, in among a warm, enthusiastic bunch of people, makes for a fun weekend.

John

H

aving said that, don't for one moment think I don't enjoy the challenge of V8 racing and driving for BJR. Again,the people in that team are, to a person, my friends and i like working in that sort of environment.

At the end of'04 we probably, in hindsight, underestimated what we needed to do and as a consequence struggled a lot more last year than I was comfortable with.

Since we last raced, everyone's been working very hard at BJR making some major changes to the cars. Major changes.There was also a lot of work to do to effect the installation of the Stone Brothers engines, which are quite different in many ways.

And, as you know,John Russell has joined the team. He's very experienced, not just as an engineer, but as a racer, and a lovely bloke, who's fitted in really well.

So we've got quite a lot to look forward to. I don't underestimate the challenge, because there's 30plus cars out there and most of the teams are full of very clever people.

But as the new season approaches again. I'm getting quite excited about it.

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Back then we were aTiappy-go-lucky gangtif'llinatics who vyent around Europe being decidedly irresponsible and, dnce in a while, taking part in a European Formula 3 ,Championship event. And where are we all now?

Eddie Jordan has retired as a team owner with a pile of money.

Gary Anderson, Eddie's old mucker and enemy (depending on the day of the week) went on to become technical director of several FI teams and is now happily semi-retired and working as a TV reporter with Ireland's Setanta network.

Kees Van der Grfnt, who used to run a team back then, has been Michael Schumacher's secret weapon as a Bridgestone tyre engineer in FI in recent years, a job that has enabled him to indulge his passion for collecting old Matra racing cars.

Roberto Ravaglia ('Bob Ravioli'as we called him then) went on to win so many touring car titles that even he's forgotten how many. Now he's a team owner and still winning titles.

There was that kid that used to hang around with Cathy Muller, who went on to become Yvan Muller and has won a long string of touring car titles (the ones that Ravaglia did not win).

Between the old European Formula 3 gang there are at least seven victories in the Le Mans 24 Hours with Johnny Dumfries(who owned half of Scotland but pretended not to), followed by John Nielsen, Davy Jones,

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times with Audi.

DidierTheys went off to America and won the Daytona 24 Hours, and is still racing over there, as is James Weaver.

Adrian Campos(who used to supply us all with ice cream - the family owning a huge frozen food business) now has his own GP2 team, while Tommy Byrne - one of the real stars of the show back then is settled in Florida and running a business teaching others to race cars.Tommy was always the great joker and the name of his business indicates that the humour has not gone away. It is called Crash or Byrne Driver Development,

T

here were some we did not really notice, who came and went: Franz Tost(now the team boss of Scuderia Toro Rosso) was there, working as a mechanic and sometimes getting a race.

One of the Jordan boys, Seamus Campbell, ended up as managing-director of Galmer Engineering.

It is all a bit blurry now but also around,though maybe a little later, was a German bloke with a taste for gold chains called Wilhelm Weber. We know what happened to him but sometimes I wonder what happened to Thomas Von Lowis of Menar(a descendant of a Scottish family that settled in Russia and ended up being German)or the Basque JeanPierre Hoursourigaray?

Others have popped up in unlikely places such as Christian Estrosi, who was not a very good Formula 3 driver but is now France's Minister of Regional Planning t is all so long ago now that they are selling posters from the old races for $65 apiece but

formula 1

there is one guy from that era who keeps on turning up like a bad penny: Gerhard Berger.

He can melt ice maidens with his puppy like eyes and easy charm and he is rarely seen without a smile. He speaks English in a strange back-to-front kind of way but you understand what he means.

Even now, I find it hard to believe that he was a Grand Prix winner, a Ferrari driver,for a time the doyen of FI drivers and a much-respected safety campaigner.Then he was the head of BMW Motorsport and now has suddenly become the part-owner of Scuderia Toro Rosso.

Who would have believed it back then?

When I look back and try to figure out why some made it and some did not, I do not really have an answer. Francois Hesnault was a pretty useful driver but walked away because he did not want to die. Gerhard stayed in the sport after a monstrous fiery accident atTamburello(the corner which later claimed his pal Ayrton Senna).

Gerhard may disguise it well, but he is a driven man. And he's lucky. We sometimes joke about what he achieved as a driver because even he admits(nowadays)that he was not as good as some of the others. Luck was part of that.

He went off a cliff in a BMW road car back in 1984 and somehow survived being thrown

out and breaking his neck.The first car that came along was driven by a neck specialist.

Unbelievable, but true.

Bernie Ecclestone is a man who understands success and his theory has always been that if a driver is unlucky he should be fired. Bernie is a big fan of Berger.

Gerhard made up for his lack of ultimate speed with his great charm and his canny ability to sniff out a good deal. He was always able to land deals that earned him huge sums of money, even if he did not win races.That acumen has served him well away from racing where he owns a vast transportation business in Austria.

He may not play a hands-on role but the success is not an accident.

Gerhard's new deal has all the makings of another of his clever deals. He has, as he says, killed three birds with one stone. Dietrich Mateschitz wanted his knowledge and FI know how; Gerhard wanted to get back into FI as a team owner but without paying for it; and he wanted to build up his transportation business.

And he's done it. As he always did.

When the TV cameras swivel this year to the pit wall of Scuderia Toro Rosso, you can bet that they will come to rest more often on Berger than on Tost. As they always have...

SI

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TRIPLE TREAT

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Triple 8 Race Engineering MD Roland Dane FROM the point of view of a V8 Supercar team owner, it is great to have a long-term deal with a driver of the calibre of Craig Lowndes.

It gives the whole team continuity, and if you get the opportunity to do a deal like that with someone who is, by most people's reckoning and certainly by mine,the best driver in Australia, you do it. It is a nobrainer. Craig is at an age when touring car drivers are, usually, just coming into their prime. He still has ultimate speed but he has experience so,for us, he is exactly at the right point in his career.

When you have that continuity, you can then build everything else. I have said before that, if Craig was only interested in money, he would be driving elsewhere, and earning more money. I know people out there are earning more than he is, but that is not the point. I believe that we can give him a consistently good package,and he knows perfectly well that if you rip the guts out of a team financially to take more money as a driver, it does not give the team enough money to operate with.

Now,<we know that Craig's deal with Ford matches the duration of his deal with us, and with our deal with Ford.

\

Individual deals with sponsors are always ongoing things anyway; we have different timing attached to many of our arrangements with sponsors but the basic things that underpin the team are, Ford, Craig,some of the key personnel involved with the team.That keeps things going continuously as much as possible.

That said, anything less than a championship win is not necessarily a failure. We do not judge things that way; we Judge success and failure by whether we have been competitive and whether we have been winning races. If we have, we can still have a successful season without winning the championship. For sure, we would like to, that is our objective. Sometimes -90 percent of the time-you make your own luck. Sometimes,it can get beyond you and,the way the scoring works in this championship, it is not necessarily the thing to win as many races as possible sometimes.

If it came to a choice between the championship and the Bathurst 1000,1 would rather have the championship. But having said that, it would be a close call! I rate Bathurst as one of the primary reasons for going about the challenge of coming here and racing V8 Supercars.

THIS IS NO The appearance Rossi in a Ferrariof atValentino the Valencia FI tests earlier this month confirms two things.

One: Ferrari is serious.Two: More importantly,so is Rossi.

There's a big difference between having a boon around Ferrari's private test track, because you can, because you're Valentino Rossi, and putting your credibility on the line by turning up for an official Formula 1 test. By doing that, everyone is sending out the message that this is a lot more than a PR stunt.

Apart from the theatre and farce of his first day - when he spun into the sand on his out-lap, having kept the media scrum waiting until 4:45 in the afternoon - the Italian settled in for more than 50 laps on the second day and, by all accounts, did a solid job.

In my view,this is Rossi going through the process of testing himself; of honestly assessing whether he could realistically follow in the footsteps of John

28

Surtees and Mike Hailwood before him and,someday, make the switch directly from the top of the two-wheeled world directly to the top four-wheeled category.

The times were irrelevant, more so than normal at an FI test. Lap time comparisons with anything or anyone else are stupid and futile - not that it stopped numbers of apparently intelligent media from doing so.The only people who will really know how he's stacking up are Valentino himself and the data engineers at Ferrari, who will have the material to do some form of comparison.

And 1 suspect they may well have passed on an opinion to Michael.

Valentino Rossi, apart from being brilliant on a bike, is clearly no fool - even if he occasionally does a great job of acting it for the punters! Anyone who makes sure that taking guru Aussie bike engineer Jerry Burgess along for the ride as part of switching from Honda to Yamaha - and then kicking Honda's butt first time out

motorsportnews

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opinion

YOUNG TALmmjj m

STUNT Motorsport News Publisher Chris Lambden - ain't short on grey matter.

There are two obvious potential outcomes from here on. At some point this year, Rossi will know, deep down, whether it's on or not. If he does prove to himself, honestly, that he could do it, and that it's a challenge,then he will and it will be with Ferrari - and it'll be terrific for Formula 1. If not, then I suspect he may go rallying, for fun. All this comes,of course, as and when he decides that there's no challenge left on two wheels. Given what's happened in the two seasons since he left Honda,that may not be too far away!

It won't be about cash. He already has plenty of that. It's about the challenge. Who knows, Jerry might go with him? Now that's an intriguing thought.

15 February 2006

IT is great to have Ryan Briscoe with us at the Holden Racing Team for the endurance races this year,just as it's also great to have Jim Richards back with us again.

Of all the drivers in this part of the world that aren't in the category all the time,Jim is the best driver that's out there and he has done a fantastic Job over the years. And for Ryan to come into the team and be with an experienced guy like Jim is great news for us.

We had a similar scenario last year and hopefully, this one will prove to be even better.

It took me about one minute - less than that, actually - after James Courtney signed for Ford for me to decide to contact Ryan.That's how immediate it was. And he was keen. He was impressed by the look and the business and what was there, and all that stuff. I didn't want him to do it if he wasn't really enthusiastic, but he certainly is, which I'm very pleased about!

When we did the thing with James and he chose to go to the dark side (actually I don't think he chose, I think his manager chose),from then on I was very committed to replacing James with someone who I thought was good for the team for the long-term.

I thought that Ryan and James were the two young guys - they were the superstar young blokes. So

Holden Racing Team Owner/Driver Mark Skaife previously when I thought about James, I thought about Ryan in a similar way.They were two young guys with a similar background,similar upbringing in motorsport, European experience and with a real desire to attack whatever project they are involved in.

It seems to me that drivers who grow up racing overseas mature a lot faster, because the level of competition is higher,the stakes are higher and the competition is intense. And the discipline of it is different, because you are away from home and you've got your head down and you're immersed in motor racing. And I've got no doubt,from when I did the European thing before,that the level of competition is very high. I think that, in terms of maturity, it certainly develops young guys a lot earlier.

In whatever Ryan and James have done, you can see that they've been very disciplined about how they've gone about their business.

So that's the 2006 objective for Ryan:come and do a good job for us. Come and drive with Jim. Come and learn this series and this business, and then let's see what happens going forward.

OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS Motorsport News Editor Phil Branegan I KNOW what is coming next. I can just feel it.

After some people read the comments made by Titan Racing boss Reeve Kruck on page 72-73 there will be ideas that MNews has not been fair; we should have contacted the authorities to counterbalance what he said, and what he criticised.

You know what? I reckon that

Reeve has earned, literally earned, his right to air strong views about the state of Sprintcar racing in Australia. As someone who has poured a lot of his life, not to mention a lot of money,into the business of going racing, he is wellplaced to talk about the good and the bad of oval track racing.

I also think that, rather than get defensive over what has been

said, this offers a real opportunity to improve the sport. Mark Skaife, above, could have muttered about how unfair it all was when HRT lost James Courtney; instead, he has moved on and signed Ryan Briscoe for the endurance races.

Skaife has turned what could have been a negative into a positive.

Now,the Sprintcar world has the same opportunity.

29

Five

MARSHALL

His fiL-st drive with the other' Team Australia in the Indonesian A1 Grand Prix went better than he could have dreamed, with a third place in the Feature race. After the race he spoke to A/IARK CLENDENNING MOTORSPORT NEWS: It's been a tough couple of months for A1 Team Australia, so it must have been nice to have a hand in helping to turn things around?

MARCUS MARSHALL:Yeah, definitely. I didn't expect to be racing the car - I w/as just going over to do a practice session and get a feel for it,Then I turned up on Saturday morning and found out that I was driving the car, which was great, and just built on it from there.

Given how quickly it all came together, could you see a podium result on the horizon?

Everything I do in racing I do to win. But we when we turned up on Friday in the wet with the car the way it was, and the way the car felt during that session, I thought 'man,if it keeps raining here ...'

Which we thought it would - we thought it was going to keep raining all weekend,so I thought I was in with a really good shot to win. We were in with a really good shot with a wet set-up.

But then it started to dry out and I was really starting to wonder then, because with the direction they have been going in the past couple of months,they have sort of stumbled onto a wet set-up with the car. In the dry, it's not very nice.

We made a lot of changes in the short amount of time that we had, which was a one-hour practice session. It was a little tiny bit better, but not fast. And in qualifying it felt good, but again it was not fast.

In the first race we made more changes again, and the car was actually terrible (laughs). I made a good start in that first race and got put off into the gravel trap, kept it going, got back on and got myself back up a little bit.

You only get 15 minutes before the feature race, but we improved it again just slightly, and that was enough to be consistent and drive the car fast. It was faster around the back section of the track, but on the two long straights is where 30

I struggled the most, because I didn't take enough wing off the car. That was just inexperience from me - I didn't know, but a lot of people were running three holes less overall wing than us, and that's why Canada and Malaysia flew past me on the start-finish straight so easily.

Well, going into a race like that is a good way to test it.

That's right. You could see people making mistakes.They're just driving their cars as if they were on new tyres on every lap, and trying to pass on the inside line, where it is so dirty it's not even worth doing it. You come out with

"I think it was 100 percent humidity. It's just a crazy place"

- Good thing MM was fighting fit before the race

Was it just the straights where you were hurting?

Yes. In sector two and sector three I could reel them back in and hold my own, but on the front straight ... I think their top speed was eight or nine kmh faster than me.

It was just the advantage that they had, and it's something that we have to do in the future.

How did you go with the humidity?

Oh, mate. I think it was 100 percent humidity. It's just a crazy place. It rains for something like 20 days of the month during this month. It's funny. But it's damn hot. I'm normally a bit of a sweater, but it was easy actually, compared to what I've been used to. I've been working really hard in the off-season on my fitness and it worked perfectly for me. I'm probably the fittest I've ever been in my life at the moment,and it helped out a lot.

so much crap on your tyres that it takes another lap to get it all off again. And that kept happening.

I think people were physically making mistakes in the heat.

Coming from Champ Cars, what were your impressions of the whole A1 show?

I was impressed. It's awesome - very, very professional.The absolute key ingredient is the cars being so similar. Everyone's got the same shock absorbers, the same aero package, the same engines...

There are no trick things you can do to the cars. You can't take them to a windtunnel and modify the aerodynamics, you can't take them to a seven-post rig and run the latest dynamic shock program, you can't have simulation software - you can't outspend each other, basically. All you can do is join up with someone else and get a little advantage there. You're allowed to

do that.

I think that's the key ingredient that makes it so special; the cars.

And it produces great racing, because you can actually get close to someone and follow them. In Champ Cars you can't get close enough to someone to follow them - unless you're in a Newman Haas car (laughs).Then you can pass anyone.

And also the whole system - nation against nation. I didn't go to the Australian round, but in Indonesia the people really got behind [Indonesian driver] Ananda Mikola.

So from here you're doing Mexico and the USA. Will you remain involved beyond that?

Beyond that, maybe. I'll leave China out of it because I haven't struck a deal with anyone yet, but if I do,then Champ Car starts again in April at Long Beach. So I have to leave it out.

But I haven't done a deal with anyone yet, so I'll concentrate on this, and keep pushing along and try to put something together.

Your name keeps popping up in relation to cars over here, too.

Yeah ... well, I've got to keep my options open at the moment. I can't leave myself sitting out in the dark, or I'll be left with nothing.

I've had a very good offer from a V8 Supercar team for this year, but I'm just trying everything I can to stay in open-wheelers. But it's pretty tough.

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Five minu

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From an endurance driver In 2005 to as a full-time driver this season, Holdsworth faces a big challenge in the V8 Supercar championship Series. He told CHRIS JORDAN all about it MOTORSPORT NEWSiThis deal with GRM is something you have been looking towards for quite some time. It must feel pretty good to have it all wrapped up now?

LEE HOLDSWORTH: It is good.

I did the endurance races with Garry last year and to get that was a really good achievement,so to get the full-time gig with the team for this year is something that I have dreamt of since I was a young chap. I've been working at a deal with Garry for about a month now, so to get the contract signed is a big relief.

I have Ryan McLeod to thank for this deal. He has done a lot of work for the Smiths Trucks team while I have been driving for them and he has helped me a lot as I have been learning. He helped a lot in talking with GRM and Garry and the whole process of the deal as well, so he has certainly been a big part of this.

You have already done three rounds with the team,the two endurances races last year and Phillip Island. Does that give you a nice little head start, knowing all the faces in the team already?

Yes, it does. I worked really well with the team and I get on well with Garry, so to have that head start heading into this season is really good. I know I can work with the mechanics at getting a really good car and work hard and doing the job.

You are going to have a very hands-on role with GRM this year, working on the car full-time at the GRM workshop.

Yeah, I'll be working full-time in the workshop, working on the car as a mechanic.The guys are going to train me up a fair bit on all the differenfcomponents and especially shock absorbers and it will give me a lot of time to work with my new race engineer, Adam De Borne. I think the role will give me a big benefit that other drivers don't get and that is that if you can work well with your team and be 32

"I think we must be the youngest team ever!"

- Holdsworth,23,looks up to the ancient Dean Canto

on the same level as them,they can see that you are putting in the effort and they will put in the effort in return. So I think it will be a great thing.

You're relatively inexperienced compared to a lot of other guys in V8 Supercars, but in terms of your outright speed at the end of last year in races and testing, you were quicker than many drivers with much more experience. Do you think you're ready for the main series?

Oh yeah, definitely. Last year I did Formula Ford and that was a great move,stepping back a level from V8 Supercars.The move to Formula Ford was really good. I improved my racecraft and I worked on the car, so I got a better understanding of the set-up and feedback and I kept on improving throughout the year.

I got the drive with SmithsTrucks and did five rounds with them and had some really good results. So last year proved to me that I am ready for the main series. As you said, I was doing a lot of times in the GRM car that were faster than some other guys in the main series, so I knew I was ready to step up. I know it's going to be a difficult year, but I think I'm ready for it.

You have had an unconventional path to the main series, starting in Commodore Cup,then Development Series, then Formula Ford as well and now main series.

Has the variation in cars and the amount of driving you've done helped you along to get to the top?

Definitely. I did two years of

Commodore Cup,one year of Formula Ford and two years of Development Series, and I think I fitted two years in to one last year. In the last year I have come a long way in my driving and it is a different path that I've taken. It's proven to be a fairly good way of going about it because look where I am now? I am in the dream seat that I've wanted all my life. I think that the path turned out right.

You drove two kinds of V8 Supercar last year with Smiths and GRM. Can you compare the two?

Well they are two totally different cars with totally different chassis and rollcages.They were a lot different to drive but they compared quite evenly in terms of speed when I drove them, but that is more to do with me.I'm sure when I get more time in a GRM car that I will get some really good times out of it. I look forward to getting more miles in the GRM car to see what it can really do.

GRM has a very young driver line-up this year with yourself and Dean (Canto). Despite the inexperience, do you think that will get everyone in the team motivated? GRM has a proud past of bringing on young talent.

I think the younger the driver and the more inexperienced they are then the more information they take in from the race engineer and the rest of the team.To have two young drivers is going to beneficial for both Dean and me,and the team, in that way.

I think we must almost have the youngest team ever! I work well with Dean and I think it will generate a bit of publicity and

keep everyone in the team going along well together.

At the end of last year you moved from Melbourne to Queensland, now you are moving back. Was the move north a sign that you thought you were out of the running forthe GRM gig?

(Laughs)Yeah, it was a sign that I thought I wasn't going to get it. I thought the safest thing was to move back to Brisbane because I had a job at the Holden Performance Driving Centre. But to get the call up from Garry and confirm the drive was great and I have no problem moving back! I'm making the move this week.

Have you set yourself any sort of goals so far?

I am Just going to do the best I can and see what I end up with. A good result would be some top 10 finishes and to end up in a decent spot in the championship from consistent finishes.

I just really want to keep improving throughout the year because in the last couple of years the level I have jumped up to has been a fair improvement.So if I can keep that going I should end up in a fairly good spot. But I realise it is going to be a really, really hard year, so if I commit myself and do all the mental and physical preparation then I should end up in a good position and a good result.

Do you qualify for the main series rookie status to get the three extra test days?

Yes, I am considered a rookie and get the three days on top. I think Dean will be there on those days taking in as much information as he can!

motorsponnews

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N February, it gets cold in Italy.That would go a good part of the way to explaining why it is that we are now seeing a load of skiing, skating and jumping on our TVs, beamed in from the northern parts of the land of pasta, Chianti and Ferrari.

But that wintry, chill-the-bones cold is not supposed to reach as far as Rome. In the south,the locals enjoy the Mediterranean climate that comes with living near... the Mediterranean. It is supposed to bejust chilly enough to encourage the locals to buy impossibly stylish overcoats with a view to impressing the passers-by rather than any necessity to keep out the chill of late winter. But this Thursday, it is absolutely bloody freezing.The temperatures are in the single digits About 30km north of the city, things are no warmer and getting noisier even than the most chaotic traffic in Europe. At I'Autodromo di Vallelunga, a large green transporter is surrounded by a few others, including a truck bedecked in a familiar shade of yellow. A few cars spear out onto the track from time to time,the noise rising as the drivers grab the next gear before kicking it back a little for the Curva Grande, an inspiring right-hander that, warm tyres and driver familiarity permitting, would be entered at around 230kmh.

It's cold. Bloody cold. But there is work to be done; Aston Martin has changed tyre suppliers during the off-season and the hard-

working men from Pirelli want to make sure that the British Racing Green DBR9 GTs get the most out of their tyres.

The men from England are accustomed to the chill and get on with their work. Not far away, a bloke exhales steam,stamps his feet and wonders what the weather is like in Melbourne.

Jason Bright has made a secret dash to England, then Italy, to drive this car. He was to have familiar company at the test but Phil Keed and Chris O'Toole, key people at Ford Performance Racing and therefore part of the Prodrive family, have been busy in the UK and have stayed there.

No problem; Bright is not here to socialise, he is here to do what he does best. He is here to drive.

T

he idea that a colonial better-known for wrestling a Clydesdale around some motheaten tracks in the far reaches of the Commonwealth might be able to contribute something to a bunch of European experts in a European thoroughbred is a novel one to many but not to George Howard-Chappell, Aston Martin's project leader.

"It came up as an idea back when George came out for Symmons Plains at the end of last year," explains Bright between sessions.

"He was looking at his calendar and we looked at our calendar and we decided that it would be a good idea to try to make it happen.

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L/IST WEEK JASON BRIGHT SECRETLY FLEW OUT OF AUSTRALIA TO TAKE PART IN ASTON MARTIN’S PRE SEASON SHAKEDOWN. MNEWS TAKES YOU BEHIND THE SCENES AT VAUEWNGA

15 February 2006

35

continued from page 34

"Until they knew what their program was going to be, nothing could be done. Up until it came together a couple of weeks ago, it could have been off."

The similarities in the architectures between the Falcon and the DBR9 worked in Bright's favour.

"I think that was a part of it," he says.

"I worked pretty closely with George while he was at Symmons Plains and Phillip Island - he was kind of looking over my shoulder.

I think that allowed him to decide to give me a go in the car. I have looked at trying to do some endurance stuff before when I was close to the Panozes, but there was never a year when Le Mans did not clash - either qualifying or the race."

So it was that last week, Brighty kissed his girlfriend Elysia goodbye and headed off to work - but in this case, work was on the other side of the world, not in Broadmeadows(FPR), Dandenong (Britek) or some test track up the highway.

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have looked at trying to do some endurance stuff before but there was never a year when Le Mans did not clash^^ -Bright has his eyes on the 24 Hour

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"I went to England and had a look at the ProdrIve facility, and I had dinner with David Richards. So it was more an opportunity to see all of the stuff that Prodrive has on this side of the world.They poured a seat at the factory, using one of the other cars, and that came down to Italy.

"The only way to approach something like this is with a pretty open mind.The Aston Martin and the FPR Falcon definitely have some similarities, the layout of the car is similar, sure, but there are differences.

"The Aston Martin is much lighter, it has a ton more downforce and much better tyres, in respect that they do not have the same tyre restrictions that we have in V8 Supercars.Then there are the carbon brakes, which have a completely different feel.

"The car seemed to be very well sorted.The team changed from Michelin to Pirelli this year so this test had two objectives; to look at Nicolas Kiesa and myself, and give us enough miles in the car, and to try and get the car suited to the Pirellis. That is what Stephane Sarrazin and Pedro Lamy were working on, mainly."

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motorsportnews

sportscars Those two ex-Formula 1 drivers are carry-overs from the 2005 program, while Bright and Kiesa are being looked at by the team as potential drivers. It is soon clear, after a half-day's running, that Bright has been moved from 'potential'to'probable'as his times are well in the hunt. In fact, in spite of losing almost a half-second in the first corner (which Jason happily admits he has not attacked in earnest yet) he is actually a little quicker than Sarrazin over the rest of the track.

The Subaru WRC driver takes it out on a few green sets of Pirellis to put things'right'...

So, it seems, Bright has impressed the right people.

"I think that the powers-that-be were already happy enough in themselves that I could do the job.

The big thing for me to sort out at the moment is that the Sebring 12 Hour is the first race of the season and there is a very tight schedule to get back to Adelaide.There is also some V8 testing set for before I head over to Sebring, so that is about the only concern.The V8 Supercar still has to be the priority this year, but as long as we can make it all work and not miss any

Visit our park - it’s unlimited in here! deadlines, I think that we will be able to do Sebring. I would prefer to do Sebring and have a race under my belt and then step Into the car in Adelaide.

"The plan at this stage is to do Sebring, we still have to have a think about it. The only part that is really hard is getting there in time - although at the moment,there Is a test at Winton on the Tuesday before the race."

After his first day's running was interrupted by drizzle. Bright sampled the 3.2km track in both variants of the Aston on Day 2, trying it out in the 450hp GT3 version of the car while the works team and the customer BMS Italia team tested its DBR9.

He liked the track.

"It is quite simple really, there is not as lot to it. It is bumpy in a few spots and there are some 180degree corners that make it busy.

But it is just like any time that you go to a new track; you drive at the appropriate speed until you are comfortable."

So, with what appears to be a successful test behind him, what are the chances that Bright and Le Mans will be an item come July? continued on page 38

would prefer to do Sebring and Hove a race under my belt and then step into the car in Adelaide^^ Warming up for the Ciipsal 500 in Florida

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Australia’s Home of Motorsport will sen/e up a veritable feast of factory-built high-performance specials, including Mustangs, C^aros, Monaros, Falcon GTs, Torana XU-1s and Charger FVTs, along with countless other offerings from General Motors, Ford, Chrysler and Shelby. : You’ll also see some of : Australia’s most famous and powerful competition muscle cars, led by Bob’s legendary ZL-1 Camaro, plus a rare appearance by Bob’s magnificent McLaren M6 Repco.

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Hot work (but not too hot): Bright quickly felt comfortable in the Aston, opposite page, and impressed the Prodrive engineers with his feedback.

15 February 2006

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continued from page 37

"It has been on my list of races to do for along time," he admits.

"When I drove the Panoz in Adelaide in 2000,1 felt pretty close to them and the opportunity was there to do something at Le Mans.

But it never fitted in. That is why I was so happy when Aston Martin suggested that they would like me to do it. Le Mans is an amazing event and to have the opportunity to go there and do it with a factory team is pretty speciai.

"The China date is on the weekend between qualifying and the race, i am really hoping that the Shanghai race goes ahead - it would be easy to travel backwards and forwards between France and China ...

"The plan was always to do Sebring, Le Mans and the Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta.The only tight race is going to be the first one. it makes it hard but I would like to do it but, in some ways, it is not up to me. All that travelling and driving different cars would be, in some ways, a disadvantage.

"But in some ways, it is an

The test than actually went a little longer Bright anticipated.

Without much to prove on the second day, Howard-Chappell put him to work on tyre testing so a leisurely trip to the airport became a mad dash.There is much to do back at base (even if there were many people inside FPR who did not know that he had gone)and there is a season to prepare for.

Ford Performance Racing is looking fora big season in 2006.

Britek has just confirmed that it will run a second car in the V8SCS this year. Now, Brighty has a bunch of Frequent Flyer Points to accumulate in some of the word's classic Sportscar races.

If you see him at an airport any time soon,feel free to ask for an autograph - but do Jason a favour and do it quickly.

Sportscar experience? Yeah,i have ioads;Bright last drove a Sportscar at the Race of 1000 Years in Adelaide in December 1999. He shared the Panoz with Greg Murphy and David Brabham who,ironically, left Aston Martin at the end oflast season - which prompted them to invite Bright to Italy for the test.

38

THEBDUD

advantage; Adelaide is a tough race and I think it would be good to have a tough race the weekend before,to get race-fit and get your head around racing again. Doing miles is always a great thing and doing an endurance race before Adelaide,the toughest race of the year, would be a great help."

The Jason Bright lastcar week in Italy is adrove V12 Supercar.

Aston Martin's DBR9 GT is based on the Aston Martin production Sportscar and uses the same aluminium cylinder i block and head as the DB9's ; 450bhp 6-litre VI2 unit, but with I modifications it produces"about" ; 600bhp and 700Nm of torque.

The DB9's double wishbone ; suspension configuration is j retained on the DBR9, but : features uprated components j ; i : ; !

and a revised geometry for racing. Carbon brakes with 330mm discs fore and aft are used all-around and a six-speed Xtrac sequential gearbox is mounted at the rear axle.

The DBR9 was styled by Aston Martin Racing's own design team who made extensive use of Computational Fluid Dynamics to optimise the aerodynamics before producing the final body surface.The panels are carbonfibre composite, helping the car to meet its 1100kg minimum weight and giving it a power to weight ratio of SSObhp/tonne - more than double that of the road car and about five percent better than Bright's FPR Falcon.

It is very impressive,"says Bright."The biggest thing is the downforce; I expected it to be much better than the V8 Supercars and there are a couple of quite quick corners here at

Vallelunga.Turn 1 is particularly quick; the downforce and the grip there is pretty impressive, that is probably the hardest thing to get used to. I have not driven anything with considerable downforce since 2000.

"Probably, earlier in my career, it might have been hard to adapt but you chop and change between cars and you get used to doing it. This is the first time I have jumped in something different for a while.The car is great; the steering is quite light and feels good,the brakes work well and do not do anything to

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In March Australia’s St tarmac rally driving team will be crowned “The Masters’ when Calder Park hosts Rally Masters - a challenging, action-packed tarmac rally staged entirely within the grounds of Calder Park.

Made in England:The bonnet packs a VI2, left, and the Interior is beautifully detailed - and looks a bit like a V8 Supercar's. catch you out. When you think about it, what the team has done is to make a car that is good to drive for 24 hours.

"This is also the first time I have driven a car with traction control and that system seems to be wellsorted as well."

The cars are made for either

private teams to race in the classic Sportscar events, or for collectors. Prodrive will fulfil your Aston Martin dreams for around £475,000, or $1,120,000. FPR is not in the business of selling V8 Supercars but if it did,that amount would get you about 2.5 Falcons...

To win the title, crews will have to master a range of demanding auto tests, including circuit sprints, drag racing, motorkhanas and go-to-whoas held on the iconic National Circuit, the daunting high-banked Thunderdome superspeedway, drag strip and courses set on other paved areas of the complex.

As an added challenge, Calder Park will reopen the awesome Grand Prix Circuit - a combination of the National Circuit and Thunderdome - the same track that hosted a round of the 1987 World Touring Car Championship!

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39

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v8 supercars i.

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that aphoto ofRyayi Briscoe irt ayi HRTracesuit^oaldohl^ be the prodact ofsome haad^ Photoshop poprk. '% MARK GLENDENNING spoke to Briscoe aboat the latest tu/ist in his career A

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1 ARK Skaife has the look of a cat that has been locked up overnight in a dairy.

"Good news, isn't it?" he grins when he bumps into MNews at last week's HRT season launch. "Bit of a coup!"

It is indeed. Skaife is still feeling the sting from James Courtney's swift metamorphosis from HRT endurance driver to Stone Brothers full-timer, but you could hardly prescribe a better balm than convincing Ryan Briscoe to team up with Jim Richards in car #22 at Sandov/n and Bathurst this year.

Aside from the fact that both drivers come from Sydney and have funky hair, the parallels between Courtney and Briscoe are easily drawn. Both left Australia for Europe in their early teens and saw little of their home country for the better part of the next decade. Both have extensive experience at international level that has left them with a maturity and professionalism that makes you forget that they're just hitting their mid-20s. And both have that sense of casual yet steel-edged unflappability that only comes from years and years on the pressure-cooker European circuit - a place where you can expect to be carved up in testing, never mind during the race.

So for Briscoe, driving a V8 Supercar for HRT at Bathurst is a relatively simple matter. He is a professional racing driver, and this gig is another job to be done. But that's not to say that he's not excited about it.

"It's amazing," he says. "It's not something I was really planning on doing so early in my career, having been focused on open-wheel racing. But I have been talking with Mark for the last couple of months and looking at what I'm hoping to do this year and it fits in with the schedule. It's a great opportunity.

"It has always been one of those things in the back of

m-

my mind to dp some day - Bathurst is one of those races/ that I have to do before the end of my career." ' Before he ticks that box in October though, there is the small matter of adapting to the 1355kg, 620+ bhp, six- " speed H-pattern, locked-diff peculiarities of a V8 Supercar' ■ to get used to. . T■ "I'm going to have to come to terms with that/' he V,/; admitted.

"It is a very different car, and this year we're going to try to have me come out a couple of times before Sandown, ; and just try to get me as well-prepared as we can. It's probably not going to be the ideal scenario, but I'm going to focussed TOO percent on it and do the best job possible.

"I've been doing a little bit of the Sportscars in America with the Rolex Daytona 24 Hour. Obviously this is still different, but once I get used to the shifting, sitting on the other side of the car, the kerb weight and everything ... from the experience i've had, most race cars, once you're sitting close to the limit, they are all very similar.

You change your feel a little bit, but... I'm just looking forward to it."

Briscoe is an easy guy to over-analyse. He likes driving racing cars - ideally an FI car, but pretty much anything will do - and that is more or less the whole story. In the past 12 months alone he has driven or raced an IRL car, a Formula One car, a Ghamp Car, a Formula 3 car and a SunTrust Pontiac Riley Sportscar. You get the feeling that if there wasn't already an over-supply of WRC drivers then he'd probably have given that a crack as well.

continued on page 42

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continued from page 41

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problem with guys like Ryan Briscoe is that they are hard to n frfb down. :%hen you are 24 years old and looking to turn thousands of milSs.in top-level open-wheelers into a full-time race seat, it is notfeasy to committo locking a couple of weekends out of your ; calendar to go and race a touring car on the other side of the ' world;. So although MarkSkaife was flicking through his filofax for n 1 Briscoe's;5pmber as soon as he heard that Courtney was a Ford man,it wa*sn't uritil last week that Ryan was able to put pen to .^1 V

14 ."paper.

,"Mark called me up late last year, and was asking what my plans rjiife jwere,and what my interest vwa5,'lBriscoe said. n ■', J 'i was interested, fj)r sure. I wasn't sure what my plains were this ^ayear, and up until the last couple of weeks we haven't been able to say yes or no. So it's really come together very late."

The lateness of the deal sort of sets the tone for the whole ,p,arthership. Whatever Briscoe does this year, one thing that seems ■' certain is that he will be busy. Couple that with the V8 Supercar testing limits, and it quickly becomes apparent that he will not get ,.i.a Ipt of seat time priorto Sandown. f;^-"We've spoken about testing," Skaife said. ^ said to Ryan before Christmas that we don't want to do this f ^d not give Ryan the best chance we can at doing a good job for ■ .me^eam. We'li package sonjrthing up through the year and make sUrp ‘^hat he's here as much as possible. But by the tima he finishes fll ■ S%'d.own, Ryan will be entirely up to speed. Our objective is for ■.:Ryan and Jim to go and do a really good job at Bathurst, and once » i they've done that 500km race. I'm sure that car #22 will be going fantastically by the time they speed around Bathurst.'

-MARKGLENDENNING

●/

"I just love to race," he shrugs.

'Obviously my focus has been open-wheelers, because I really have been focussing on trying to get into Formula One.That's still not out of my mind, but there's something about being an Aussie and having an opportunity to do Bathurst with the factory Holden team that's hard to turn down."

Another factor, as was the case with Courtney, is Briscoe's attraction to the prospect of driving on home soil. He made his tin-top debut in Australia when he steered a PHR Ferrari 360GT around Albert Park in the Nations Cup support races at the 2002 Australian Grand Prix, and hasn't been back behind the wheel here since.

"It's going to be great," he enthused."Especially with these two races. And then if I get the Champ Car drive, coming back to do Surfers. I'm really excited about this year, coming back home a few times and hopefully creating a bit of a fan base back here, it should be good."

As pleased as Briscoe is to have his name on a red Commodore, the prospect of getting a Champ Car seat for 2006 is occupying most of his thoughts at the moment. He tested for PKV at the end of last year and has his sights set on carryirig the team's banner in 2006, although there

are believed to be one or two aces up his sleeve should that deal fall over.

"I've got a lot of focus on what I want to do,and that's race with PKV this year," he said. "It's not a done deal yet, though.We're working hard on trying to close that in the next couple of weeks.

"It is taking a while. Motor racing is becoming a bit like that. It's testing my patience - it has been kind of tough. But that's the way it is. I'm still confident that hopefully I'm going to get the drive."

T

here's a spectre that follows Ryan everywhere he goes though,and it is called Formula One. It's fairly likely that not a day goes past where he is not asked about it; it's even less likely that a day passes without him thinking about it.

Having been a Toyota test driver since 2002, it's highly likely that he has done more miles in Grand Prix machinery than any other type of race car. As Anthony Davidson will tell you,there are no guarantees that this will ever lead to a race seat, but that doesn't mean that Briscoe has given up yet.

It is popularly assumed that when a driver makes a move like Ryan's flirtation with Supercars, it represents a waving of the white flag as far as F1 is concerned. But couldn't it just as easily be a good way to spend a couple of spare weekends while looking for an FI opportunity?

v8 supercars "I'm not trying to screw my mind up by thinking about the future too much"

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li "Right now, I still haven't ruled FI out as a possibility," Briscoe admits.

"But I think that this year is going to be the year where I'm going to have to say,'Alright, I can keep focussing on Formula One, or it's time to not focus on Formula One anymore'. I think, depending on results, that we're going to have to make an assessment at the end of the season. Is this year a watershed year? Every year is.

"I'm not really trying to screw my mind up by thinking about the future too much. I think this is just a great opportunity that has come up and I'm just going to focus on doing a good job with what's on my plate right now.

"It depends on what sort of season I have, what opportunities I've got either in America or Europe for next

year - in this business, you have to take it year by year. I think this is just a great opportunity, to come out and do it with the factory Holden team. We'll take it from there."

Skaife has made no secret of the fact that he is planning to secure HRT's driving future for the long-term - that was the original appeal of Courtney.

The team's deal with Briscoe is currently for one year with no options beyond that, so that part of the picture still remains to be filled in.

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But in all other regards, in landing Briscoe he has got a young endurance driver who offers just about everything that he was looking for. It's little wonder that he looks rather pleased with himself.

After all, how often do you get a win before the season even starts?

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43

Nearing the end ofthe2005season there were concerns thatLarry Perkins would notbe able to keep his team going.

There were no such whispers aboutMark Larkham.

Now,Larko is gone and Perkins is flying high.PHIL BRANAGANlooks at whathappened,and whatdidn't -m

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ITTLE more than Haifa year ago,it all looked so,so different.

made with Jack Daniel's and LMS is gone, gone, gone. What is left of the team is now at WPS Racing, including Mark Larkham himself, and two licences have been gratefully reclaimed byTEGA, leaving a sane 31 in The Show.

What happened?

happen to this team? Who was

associates were not capable of securing a sponsor,the duration of the Castrol deal had insulated the Melbourne team from having to do any major deals. |n other words, Larry had no prior form in getting sponsors On the other hand,there was no particular gossip about Larkham Motor Sport.The small team was

season^ that that nickname. And why has the

best-funded in pit lane,for ^ad been on the way down since 2004, at which time^

weiahPfl hadn't^f '"i‘ l u t Tn, ^ large-ish nnlth r One thought that was definitely

^a^Swanna finished eighth in the championship. LMS was the second-best performed Ford team that season and entered '05

oitTane rhan"^ pit lane chatter was any indication. vvhat was Larry Perkins going to do next season? The news that Castrol was going to end its a,soaat,on with LP had baen In the public forum for some months, fhmSt thought that Perkins and his 44

experienced people, a StoSe Brothers engine deal and the popular Bathurst winner partnered by former Konica champion Mark Winterbottom. It was nS all mL ,a|„„d yah„ee but the” we™ no alarm bells ringing.

Fast-forward to February 2006.

The mai-tais at Larry's are being

Firstly, cannot present recentwe explanations, or even comments, by Larkham or, in fact, anyone close to LMS. When the team released a statement on its 'merger'with WPSR Just over two weeks ago, a media blackout was enforced around the team.That is fine; that is the team's choice and, while it is a pain in the backside for the specialist motorsport media, it is also probably not the most effective way of dealing with the matter.There are always going to be things that cannot be discussed, and anyone in the sport has a right

As the V8 Supercars chugged along c ( 'their' half of , pitlane at Surfers Paradise,there were all kinds of thoughts running through he minds of some observers

to talk or not to talk, but choosing not to make any comment at all promotes speculation about what happened,and why.

For the record, Motorsport News made both formal and informal requests to speak to Larkham, whose only response(through his media representative) was "it's too early".

What we do know is that the team's financial limitations were being felt last season. LMS was not one of the best-funded teams in the sport anyway and when its deal with ICS Smartcard in 2001 turned sour, it cost Larkham and the team something in the order of$1 million. The team worked hard to secure new backing from Orrcon Steel and Tube (which will remain with the WPSR team for the time being) and a myriad of other smaller deals. With ongoing Ford support, and the expansion to two cars in 2003 and the arrival

motorsponnews

v8 supercars

of Bargwanna,things looked to be picking up.

As already noted,there was a stronger showing in 2004 but last year, it started to look like tough work.There were a litany of engine and gearbox problems, which usually indicates that parts were being over-lifed, and there was also an ongoing electronic problem. When MNews asked why that particular problem was

15 February 2006

recurring, we were told that the wiring loom was out of an old car and that there was no spare.There is nothing much wrong with that, except for the fact that these days, it is very rare that teams do not have a spare for such a thing ready to go.

Last year, Larkham announced he was seeking an equity partner in the team and, as recently as December, remained confident

"The ICS Smartcard deal cost Larkham and the team something in the order of $1m" that he would be successful and continue to run the team. Because of that, he insisted Bargwanna stay with the team, despite Bargs receiving at least enquiries from a number of teams.

Larkham has been visibly frontand-centre in the matter of cost

containment, and continues to do so (which will be interesting because WPSR co-owner Craig Gore had voiced an opposing view). How he will deal with what comes next will be interesting. continued on page 47 45

NOT SO MUCH A DEAL AS IDEAL HOW Larry Perkins amazed his friends, confounded his critics and secured his future

M

EETING the Jack Daniel's people for the first time is something that will stay in the memory banks for a long time.

As a sometime-visitor to Planet Perkins over a decade-and-a-half, one learns not to be amazed by what you see. A plane here, a special project there (I once saw a cylinder head marked with a brand I had no idea was involved in V8 Supercars), a Bell JetRanger there. LP's shed is, kind of,the intersection of engineering and dreaming, with a bit of motorsport thrown in.

But this was different.The place was spotless (it is usually clean, but this was like someone with OCD - or from McLaren - had cleaned up).There was much to note, like Perkins Engineering's latest 4WD desert camper (or, in Larry-talk,"A Shaggin'Wagon") and where much had been white before, it was now black.

Then,out the back, was the Shaggin'Wagon to end them all. It was the Jack Daniel's Experience, a mobile tribute to all things that come from Tennessee, particularly that state's favourite corn mash whiskey (note: It is not bourbon).

After wandering around in a daze, I was suddenly out in the bright sunlight, and immediately bestowed with a Mint Julep.

[For those of you - sorry, y'all - wishing to share the Perkins launch experience: Four fresh mint sprigs, 2floz Jack Daniel's, 2floz water, Itsp castor sugar. Place leaves in a tall glass, add sugar, crush with spoon, add water, JD, crushed ice. Stir, serve with straw, preferably on a veranda adjacent to cotton plantation.]

If our sources are correct, the spend is around $10 million for the first three years.

"We are not here for the shorthaul, we are here for the long-haul,' affirms Jack Daniel's Managing Director, Michael McShane,above with LP."Our involvement does not just extend to V8s. It is just one

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46

aspect of talking to our customers.

"We are brand builders. We looked at V8s in the past but it was not the right time. When we go into an area, we go in once and we go in well."

And, if Perkins had little recent experience at sourcing a sponsor, how did he pull off this coup?

Brilliantly; he answered the phone.

"We were in a meeting,"says McShane,"and I made a joke that the best thing would be to see two black Commodores in the V8 Series.

Within a week, one of the people at the meeting said,'You should talk to Larry Perkins'. Within another week, we were standing here. Larry has no middleman.We did a deal."

Larry's view;"They said what they wanted, I said what we wanted and we took it from there."

Sounds simple but there was a lot to work out.The financial year in the USA ends in April, so a short term deal had to be done so the team could be funded prior to the start of the 2006-07 financial year.

Designs had to be finalised; the team came up with four bonnet designs on computer and, unable to choose, painted four bonnets.

Then the usual uniforms, livery for the transporter("We have had a big task just painting everything black!"says LP) and the usual bits and pieces.

And that is the rub. In 2005, Dave Blaney piloted the #07 Jack Daniel's Chevrolet in the Nextel Cup before being released by the Childress team at the end of the season, replaced by rookie Clint Bowyer. Jack Daniel's has not grabbed Richards, or Dumbrell, it has grabbed Perkins. He is the product; he is going to be the one in the cardboard cutouts.

Blaney finished 26th in NASCAR last season but, according to our sources. Jack Daniel's merchandise was in the top five sellers to the fans.The brand awareness, and loyalty, is very high and McShane, Perkins and his drivers aim to do exactly the same down under...

This car is a complete turn-key package which is ready to race in V8 Supercar main series or Development Series. Full ongoing support is available if required.

$195,000 not negotiable.

P 0418 385 569 or 0416 216 780 oscarf@teamdynamik.com motorsport news

v8 supercars continued from page 45

0

BLUEPRINT IN BLACK

LARRY'S not here. But Jack is.

Actually, right now, Larry Perkins is not here. He is in America; more accurately, he is at Daytona,at the Daytona 500. He is not there in any casual capacity,though it would be a hoot to hear his Cowangie accent say,"Gentlemen,start your... look.You blokes know what to do, so just get on with it".

The fact that he is there, with Jack Daniel's Events Manager Narelle Bruhn,to visit his'opposite number'in the Nextel Cup, Richard Childress Racing, is testament to the brand's commitment to LP's team.

n a completely different course is Perkins. He wants to talk about Jack Daniel's - a lot.

"I am half-surprised to hear myself say [that I am excited]," he said last week.

"I was thinking,'Gee, I don't know whether I need this any more'. But there are a lot of guys here depending on this place and things have worked out just as I wanted them to."

It is an utterly different team to what it used to be. In the old days,Team Perkins operated from an aircraft hangar at Melbourne's Moorabbin Airport that, apart from the fact that there were a stack of Commodores parked out the front, was pretty much indistinguishable from any other hangar. Now,the team occupies two hangars.

Actually, there is another difference visible from the outside.

There is now a Jack Daniel's Racing sign outside the shop, and pot plants inside. Yep, pot plants.

"Never thought I would have pot plants,"says LP. "From now on,the sponsor is

number one. No more messing around.There have been times in the past when a sponsor was an ... unwanted distraction.They got in the way of working on the car.

We have all enjoyed the support of the usual automotive brands, but to get a blue chip brand name, and keep it a secret, is good for the sport."

It is. Any number of people in the sport, including owners of opposition teams, have made of point of ringing Perkins to congratuiate him on his coup.

Even V8 Supercars Australia has, we believe, been forward in congratulating the team though there was some chat at the launch that The Firm could have sent one of its massive staff to Meiljourne for the day to officialiy welcome Jack to The Show.

That aside, and apart from the fact that the media is going to be predictably welcoming to a product like JD,this is a big deal.

He may not be universally popular in pitiane, and he certainly is not in the corridors of power, but Larry Perkins is in V8 Supercar racing to stay and he has a powerful mate in black alongside him.

"We are pushing the association between Larry Perkins and Jack Daniel's and pushing the'Drink Responsibly'message,"says JD Marketing's Kate Mansour.

"We are making newTVC (Television Commercials)following the example of the NASCAR commercials in the USA. We are taking our own path,the thing that links us (Australia and the USA)is the responsibility."

The ads will rely on having actual race vision, so do not expect to see them until April, and there will also be the slightly terrifying prospect of life-sized LP cutouts appearing nationwide,in 1000 retail outlets and 500 pubs and clubs.

And that is the kicker; while drivers Steve Richards and Paul Dumbrell will be involved in the brand's promotions through V8 Supercar racing. Jack's man is most definitely Larry Perkins. As it has done with RCR,above and below,the team is the thing or, in this case, Perkins is The Man. Drivers will come and go,that is the nature of the sport but Perkins is now the Man in Black.

is here

II

www.motec.com.au 15 February 2006

47

I

IT'S a cold and misty morning in ^’the Spanish coastal city of Valencia.

The demeanour around the cafes is good - Valencia has drawn at home with FC Zaragosa the night before and reniains second in La Liga,the high-profile Spanish soccer league.

Europe is in the grip of an uncharacteristically bracing cold snap,so outside it's barely nudging three degrees. Not the sort of climate we associate with Formula 1.

Yet out on the fringes of Valencia,just past the airport, at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo,2.4 litre engines are being warmed up. Formula 1 is back in business before the<^a,son opener,in Bahrain, is on in earnest.

We're on hand to see the first day's running ofthb carthat it is hoped,will boost the fortunes of our own Mark Webber,the Williams FW28.While the engine and all-new 'seamless'change gearbox have done many miles in the back of a converted FW27,this is the first time the definitive FW28 will run.

And,as technical director Sam Michael has admitted, you can do all the wind tunnel work in the world, but until you validate it with on-track performance, it's all just theory.The wind tunnel work seven days a week for most of the off season - has gone well, but these are nervous times for Sam. Last year, a significant difference emerged between what the wind tunnel was saying and what the car was actually doing. It handicapped the team for some months until rectified.They're saying it's okay now, but it's today and the following few that will tell for sure.

Aero efficiency (ie dpwnforce without increased drag) is what it's all about and the word is the efficiency's looking good, while there's still a little more downforce in the pipeline. Indeed,in a late change of plan,one of the two completed FW28s is held back at the team's HQ in Grove for more aero work,leaving one for this preliminary test.

Thanks to the weather,there are limits on what can be done. It's going to be damp for most of the day but there's a suggestion, wrong as it happens,that the skies will clear late in the day.

"That's disappointing,"says Webber."It means we'll be doing primarily 'straight-line'stuff, engine work,and possibly some full wet/ intermediate tyre work - although it's probably even a bit cold for that!"

Even full wets aren't designed to perform at three degrees.

Though they're here and set up,the Renault team chooses not to waste a test day and stays inside. But McLaren, Honda,Williams, Ferrari and Red Bull are soon pounding around.

m

McLaren has its young test driver Gary Paffett doing the bulk of the donkey work, although Kimi Raikkonen makes a brief appearance at one point.

Down at Honda, new boy Rubens Barichello is sharing the work with number three Anthony Davidson.

But at Ferrari, there's no mistaking the red helmet of the main man.Stung by such a bad '05,the seven-times world champ has redoubled his personal commitment to testing,jumping between an all-new 248 FI and an interim F2004. Indeed, as his Aussie engineer Chris Dyer confirms,"this year was the first pre-Christmas tests that Michael had done for years.'

But Michael is going about his work under strange circumstances.

Normally,these regular tests would draw little public interest, but on

ST VALENTUMO’S DAY VALENTINO Rossi's first public day out in a Ferrari was pure theatre.

Arriving at the circuit around 11am (having been told an 'installation'lap was scheduled for 9am - "can't someone else do that?"), it was nearly six hours before the detuned '04 VI0 Ferrari rolled out into pit lane.

In the interim,the assembled media mob endured a day of growing frustration as Rossi, perhaps put off by the damp circuit, stayed out of view.

Finally, at 4.30 in the afternoon (the track due to close at 5pm), the bike hero appeared in the garage. Michael Schumacher, at the end of a run, almost had to cut a swathe through the photographer throng to get his car back to the garage next door.

It took a full 10 minutes to get the balaclava and plain red helmet on to his satisfaction, then a rush to get in the car as a break in the on-track action appeared (although a pair of Hondas would go out at the same time in the end).

The dull afternoon sky lit up with flashes as Rossi pulled out into pit lane and accelerated away. Photographers fought for pit wall position to record the first lap.

He never came round.Turn 10 was as far as the debutant got, spinning the Ferrari to a halt. The car was retrieved. Day over.

Rossi mumbled something about needing to improve his driving in the wet, and was gone.

Still, it was Valentino Rossi's first public drive in an FI car, and MNews was there - and somehow, we think there'll be a lot more to this story (see Opinion, page 26).

- CHRIS LAMBDEN

feature The V8s haven't returned to the track here yet, but in southern Europe the new generation of V8-powered F1 cars are racking up the testing miles.

CHRIS LAMBDEN spent a chilly day in Valencia this day there are quite a few hundred people lining the pit roof spectator area, and a good 20 photographers in pit lane. Surely they're not here to check out the new Williams? Errr, correct. Michael? No. The answer lies in the garage next to Michael's. An '04 Ferrari, with VI0, sits ready for the first public FI test of one V. Rossi. Michael is figuratively pushed to one side, left to get on with it almost unnoticed, as the scrum waits, and waits, and waits for the bike superstar to appear(see breakout).

Back at Williams, the first runs are very procedural - systems checks, engine calibration runs. You can sense the frustration.The good news is that the tight'packaging'of the bodywork around the engine bay hasn't produced any burning.Team new boy Nico Rosberg is lapping the interim FW27, doing more engine work, retiring to his luxurious motorhome between runs.

Later in the day there are a couple of longer runs for Webber in the new car, tyre testing and confirming 'heat rejection numbers', but it seems to have been a disappointing day, entirely due to the weather although every run generates data of some kind for the engineers to

pore over.

"It's gonna be dry tomorrow,"Webber says."That'll tell us so much more."

So, any conclusions? Times? Well,frankly they're meaningless. Literally.

While content-starved websites breathlessly report Driver A a few tenths -T> up on Driver B, it really is so much rubbish. Fuel loads? Tyres? Rev limits?

They may as well be comparing Volkswagens and Aston Martins. i About the best indicator is the pit lane grapevine. Even it is suggesting that we won't really know until the cars get to Bahrain.

But for what it's worth,the goss at this’pbint is that Renault and ,T Honda are looking strong: Ferrari is up there; and McLaren is in some i strife (engine down some 60hp on the best and some reliability 'issues').

Williams? Good engine, wait and see on the car.Toyota? Not working as. i well on Bridgestones as Williams. *5 Ferrari is going to Bahrain to test soon. If the weather doesn't pick up 1 in Southern Europe,that could well be the smart move which gives the red cars a significant race one advantage. But that's four weeks away.

Anything could happen in that time.

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YOU'RE INVITED TO BE PART OF AUSTRALIA'S FASTEST GROWING MOTORSPORT Why not see what it's all about for yourself? Attend a race meeting at your local club and talk to the drivers and crew.

There are classes to suit almost everyone from 7 years to 77+.

Midgets 7-11 years Rookies 10-12 years Juniors* 12-16 years (In two weight divisions) Seniors* - over 10 classes of varying power & driver weights to choose from.

* Other more powerful classes available for experienced racers.

15 February 2006

Era M0rjpf?S£0Rl4(^£/? fSMRTSSLa HERE!

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49

PLENTY OF LAUNCH,

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Late January: Williams unveils its new FW28 at Grove in England. The weather was cold but the hospitality warmed up the 100 or so invited guests, who dined in the Williams Conference Centre surrounded bysome ofthe mostfamous cars in the history ofthe sport.

I declare this car open:Ford made its star signings, below, work for their supper at the Melbourne Motor Show,Russell Ingall and Craig Lowndes unveiling the new Territory Turbo. As part oftheir penance,they were then sent offto have a bite with the press - which was mostly MNews.

k The home-delivered launch:Triple 8 announced Its new deal with Domino's with a delivery ofpizzas and a media release about Craig Lowndes and Jamie Whincup, now AKA Dougie The Pizza Boy. Note: Vegetarian deliveries may take a little longer than 'normal'pizzas...

50

motorsportnews

launches

BUT NO CONTROL AtMotorsportNews,we love a goodlaunch as much as the nextfreeloading motoringjournalistbut after the fortnight we have had,enough is enough...

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.Ms New clothes in the LP hangar: The Jack Daniel's Racing launch was one of the favourites, with Larry Perkins pleased to point out the facts to MN's Chris Lambden and Holden Motorsport's John Stevenson,above. WhatJohn Goss might describe as the mobile, ground-based fluid refreshment distribution facility, right, was a hit with the press.

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Friday on my mind: HRT's launch featured swimmer-turned-talker Nicole Livingstone, right, as a new ambassador for Team Red. Below, Mark Skaife had company from new team sponsor. Dodo Internet.

[Note: MNews has responsibly cropped the photo to spare sensitive readers the horror of HRT's new trousers, which are so awful, even Aaron Baddeley would think twice.]

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MOTORSPORT NEWS:You came second and won the rookie title in Formula BMW Asia last year, but 2006 offers a fresh challenge in FBMW UK.What will the main difference be between the UK and Asian series?

MICFIAEL PATRIZI; I think that it's fairly certain that the competition will lift another step by racing in the UK. Formula BMW UK has already confirmed around 28 entries for this year's championship and there is a limit of 32 cars. So the number of drivers quick enough to be challenging for the front will be a bit more than in Asia.

The calibre of drivers in FBMW UK this year will be quite high. Last year's Formula A World Karting Champion, Oliver Oakes, will be running and once someone like that enters a category, it always brings up the level.

When you entered Formula BMW Asia last year, it was something that was a bit of an unknown to Australians.

Was the idea of entering Asia always to use it as a stepping-stone to an overseas career?

When I raced karts in Europe, I was introduced to Formula BMW and everyone I was racing against at the time viewed it as the next step out of karts. Everyone in Europe wanted to do it. But when I returned from my season in Europe,the Australian idea of progression was that Formula Ford is a prerequisite to any motorsport career.

Unfortunately I didn't have the funds to do Formula BMW in Europe straight out of karting, so I came home to do things the Australian way, you could say. Marcos Ambrose helped me in a mentoring sort of capacity, and Formula Ford was where he had begun,so I joined up with Anglo Motorsport in Formula Ford.

But it just wasn't what I was looking for to be honest.

We did well in the state series, but it wasn't what I was after to make that next step overseas.

So at the end of 20041 went to Bahrain to do a scholarship test with BMW Motorsport and I got a scholarship for the following year in Formula BMW Asia.

Not only that, but the instruction I got from the BMW 52

instructors taught me so much, I became a better driver on the spot, i could tell that racing Formula BMW was going to teach me a whole lot more.

The cars are more technical than Formula Ford with the downforce and data, and BMW has instructors that coach the drivers through the whole season. So you are always improving yourself, as well as chasing results.

What goes into the coaching throughout the year. because that's something that you don't see in other forms of motorsport?

BMW Motorsport is always emphasising the four FBMW championships around the world as coaching and education programmes as well as racing series, because it is the category where you learn how to drive open-wheel racing cars and that's how BMW has designed each series.

So you're right.There is a lot more to a Formula BMW Championship than driving a car.The way I would describe my 2005 is that I went to'motorsport university'.

As well as working with your team,the BMW instructors teach you driving, technical aspects,fitness, nutrition. and even things to do with sponsors and media. It's all designed to prepare you for the next level.

SNOPE

Racing in Asia allowed you to travel to races but still live in Perth, but this year you wili be based in the UK. Is that an advantage to starting your overseas career via Asia?

Everybody seems to put down the Asian championship. but after doing a season over there, I think that's unfair.

All the races are done on international circuits - two of my events last year were on FI weekends - and the whole Asian motorsport industry is beginning to boom.

From racing in Asia, I was able to test a Formula Atlantic car in the US and have that option for this year, as well as h aving the option to return home to race and obviously. it got me the fully-funded BMW deal to race in Formula BMW UK this year.

To start with, racing in Asia seemed like a good idea

motorsport news

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interview

DREAM DEAL Buoyed by his strong 2005, A/lichuel Putrizi is heading to the UK with the backing of a motoring giant.

GRANT ROWLEY spoke to the West Aussie

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- now it's the best thing I've ever done. I'd recommend racing it to anyone in Australia, because at the end of last year, I had all three options.

You had those options for this year,so what made your mind up to stick with Formula BMW and take the deal to race in the UK? The reason I went to race karts in Europe in 2003 was because I wanted to make it to Formula 1,. So when BMW Motorsport offered me a fully-funded deal to race in the UK, it put me in European open-wheel racing, which is the road to Formula l.This deal makes me one of BMW's junior drivers, so hopefully I can show BMW that I deserve to progress forward into any other options that BMW may present.

Was another aspect to your decision that at 21, you still have plenty of time to race in the US or Australia, but Europe is something you have to try when you are young?

Certainly, if i thought I was too old to be going to Europe, I wouldn't be doing It. I'm 21,so the Amerclan thing will still be open to me for a long time yet.The way I saw it was,that if I went to America, it would be tough to get back to Europe. I've always wanted to race in Europe again and be involved in that racing scene.

You recently did four days testing in England. Having worked with your new team, Motoworld, how do you

15 February 2006

think you will perform this year?

Testing at Brands Hatch and Snetterton went really well and my times were very respectable,so I certainly don't think winning the championship is out of the question.

^^0 start with, racing in Asia seemed like a good idea - now it's the best thing I've ever done"

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Where would you like this season to lead you in terms of 2007?

The main priority is to maintain the relationship with BMW and move that forward into 2007. If I can show the ability on the track, then hopefully we can move forward together, perhaps into something like the F3 Euroseries.

At the beginning of last year, I looked to Australia for support to race in Asia, and the responses weren't so much a knock back, but more'let's see how you go this year and we'll talk about next year'.

-PatrizionFBMWAsia In that respect, I think it's fantastic that more young Aussiesare looking at Formula BMW Asia, because with each guy that does it, the profile of the FBMW Asia will grow and make It easier for the next guy to get backing. I'm also pleased a fellow West Australian, Daniel Ricciardo, has won the same BMW Motorsport scholarship I won last year to race in FBMW Asia in 2006.

I'm lucky to have the support of the Australian Motor Sport Foundation now,so with the AMSF,BMW Motorsport and my family showing their faith in me, I hope I can kick on and get the results they deserve.

A

53

‘

Meet an Aussie One of the legendary cars in Australian motorsport history has recently been restored and changed hands.

MNews lensman John Morris couldn't resist a closer look...

0

NLY a handful of Australian race cars will ever be spoken about in a legendary sense.

Ford's Mustang itself is one of those legends. In total, it has five Australian touring car championships to its name, which is two ahead of its closest rival, the Falcon BA. The Mustang first emerged on the Australian racing scene in 1965 and dominated the championship for half a decade. Introduced by Norm Beechey and Bob Jane,the Mustang was quickly recognised as the competition benchmark.

Beechey won the 1965 title followed by more'Stang success for Ian'Pete'Geoghegan in 1966.

But the following year saw the emergence of a car that

would become one of the most significant racing machines in Australian motor racing history.

The famous'white with green striped'Ford Mustang GTA helped Geoghegan claim three championships in a row between 1967 and 1969.

Geoghegan originally took delivery of the car as an automatic, but with the assistance of spanner whiz John Shepherd,the pair transformed the Mustang into the legendary machine that remains today.

Geoghegan overcame Norm Beechey's Chevy Nova at Lakeside in 1967,and easily won in'68 after Beechey failed to figure at Warwick Farm.

The Mustang's biggest test came in 1969 against a class field, which included Allan Moffat and Bob Jane in new Boss 302 Mustangs, Beechey in his Monaro and Alan Hamilton's Porsche. It was also

the first year that the Australian Touring Car Championship was run over multiple rounds, but Geoghegan scraped home by one point.

The car continued for the next two seasons in the hands of Geoghegan, before being sold to Clive Green, who was still scoring

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retrospective

Legend championship points in 1972.

Geoghegan's Mustang GTA is a national treasure and, after a recent restoration, has been purchased by former Sports Sedan racer Des Wall -for a cool $320,000.The car has been seen and will continue to be used in historic touring car races.

Grown men may lose sleep over the thought of seeing it in an accident, but the race track is clearly where Wall's Mustang belongs.

Taking it away from the bitumen and leaving it a collector's garage would be more of a crime than crashing it over McPhillamy Park at Bathurst... continued on page 56

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57

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MAD MAN

Kerry l\J\adsen stamped his name on world Sprintcar racing in 2005.

The 'A/lad A/lan' told CHRIS JORDAN he is even hungrier for success this year MOTORSPORT NEWS:Was 2005 the best year of your career?

KERRY MADSEN:Well, yeah, looking back since the Outlaws show last year, we won the Classic, we won sotne big races, won the Track Championship at Knoxville, so it's definitely the best year that I've had.

Has winning the track championship taken a while to sink in, as it is something that you have to work at for a whole season?

To be honest, it's really anticlimactic. If you win a race, you're like'yeah', but we led the majority of that deal, so in the end, you're just relieved.

I didn't really think it was that big a deal, but after a while of going around to some different places it is now a pretty cool thing to win, because everyone knows you're the KnoxvilieTrack Champion.

The KnoxvilleTrack Championship is the toughest track championship in the world.

How does it compare the touring series like the World of Outlaws?

Obviously the Outlaws is the toughek deal out there but Knoxville is definitely the premier deal there is at a non-travelling

level.

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Will you defend the Knoxville title?

Right now that looks like what we are going to try and do,so that should be cool. But we are going to try and get out on the road a bit more a lot more racing with the other guys.

Would the travelling be with the National Sprint Tour of World of

Outlaws Championship?

Both of them:That's going to be the thing to do next year,just pick and choose.

It hard to speak to a driver about being happy finishing sixth, but getting sixth at the Knoxville Nationals was a pretty big achievement and made you the best-ever Aussie at the Nationals.

Can you be happy with that?

To be honest, I was disappointed with the sixth because we had a car that was better than that. But we shot ourselves in the foot on the preliminary night and fell back to sixth in the prelim feature so we had to start 15th in the feature and to get from 15th to sixth in that field is something that I was really happy about. But in one respect it was disappointing, because I thought we could have done a bit better.

But it was still a pretty cool deal and it's my best Nationals result and any time you can run good in that race is just good ... if you run good in that race, it doesn't

matter where you finish, that's all that matters.

It is such a big race and the touring teams always save a fresh car and engine for the Nationals. Is it the same for you, even though you run at Knoxville all the time?

Yeah, it is, honestly. We built up a brand new car about a month before the Nationals and tried it out a couple of times. We always make sure the engines are freshened around Nationals time.

You run an Australian-built Cool chassis both here and in the US. How much does that have to do with your success?

You know, it all makes up a big part of it. Ever since we've been running the Cool chassis, we've been going good and winning races. So it's definitely been a big part of it, for sure.

The last two seasons here in Australia you have run an unpowdercoated Cool frame. Are

moiorsportnews

interview

you something of a test mule for John Cooley (boss of Cool Chassis)?

No ... when we put this car together last year for the Classic, we didn't have time to paint it and then it ran so good and we won. so I didn't want to mess with it!

You drove a short stint at the end of 2005 with the World of

Oh definitely, for sure, that's what I want to do.

What do you think of the local scene when you return each year?

I just can't believe how many guys have now got good equipment and how many cars there are now.The track conditions have changed a lot in the last few years and everyone seems to be

"... it was disappointing because I thought we could have done a bit better" - Madsen on sixth at the Knoxville Nationals, the best-ever finish by an Australian

Outlaws in a car owned by Kasey Kahne.Was anything ever going to come of that for 2006?

Yeah ... you know, I'm not sure. I was hoping to get that ride for this year, but I think they had a prior commitment with Joey (Saldana). It would have been a great ride to have got.They were cool guys on that team.

Is that a big goal of yours, to get a full-time ride on one of the two big travelling tours?

15 February 2006

preferring the American style of racing (ED:slicker tracks) over the old rough stuff. I think that's cool.

Opinions will differ, but a slick track seems to encourage more passing and more skill is involved in driver on them.

You know,there are two things involved. I know there is a dust issue, but with a slicker, wider track there is definitely more passing and definitely better racing going on, I believe.

Marcus Gronholm celebrated his birthday in style with his second 2006 win in Sweden - and Chris Atkinson and Subaru had a shocker u

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S if anyone did not know as much before the season started,the 2006 World Rally Championship is going to be a shoot-out between Sebastien Loeb and Marcus Gronholm.

The Finn backed up his Monte Carlo win with another in icy Sweden,though the two-time and defending Champion chased hard in his Kronos Citroen. Gronholm took the lead at the start, took a 10s edge on Day 1 and and stretched that to more than 25s on Saturday evening. Loeb won the opening three stages on Sunday but Gronholm turned up the wick and took the final four stages to win. Apart from Gronholm and Loeb, only Gigi Galli won a stage and Gronholm and co-driverTimo Rautiainen handed Ford its 50th World Ffally win.

"We had a scary moment on the final morning when hydraulic oil began to leak onto the windscreen midway through the last stage before service,"said Gronholm later.

"I had to use the manual gearchange system and had no active differential. I carried on until the end of the stage but lost a lot of time."

Things pointed to a Finnish win early, Loeb penalised a minute on the second stage for arriving at the start late after stopping to secure an errant bonnet pin,co driver Daniel Elena admitting he was at fault.

With temperatures dipping 20 degrees below zero,the fans needed something to keep them warm and they go it. Mitsubishi may have pulled out its factory team but that did not stop Daniel Carlsson and Galli staging a war over the final podium spot,the 60

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Notjust a road racer:For the second time in three railies, Skoda was heading for points on the final day,and for the second time in three railies, it all went wrong. This is former DTM champion Mattias Ekstrom.

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RALLY SWEDEN

Pos Driver

Nat Car/Time

1. Marcus Gronholm

Fin Ford Focus RS

Timo Rautiainen 2. Sebastien Loeb

local getting the nod over the blazing Italian by a scant seven seconds.

The rest was a matter of what might have been.JanneTuohino (Citroen) was on course for fifth but stopped less than 1 km from the finish of the last stage, allowing Thomas Radstrdm's Subaru to move up.The spot had looked the domain of Mattias Ekstrom (in his final WRC outing of the year) but the former DTM champion's Skoda crashed out offifth on the opening stage of Day 3. Now the Red Bull team has a problem replacing him with a gravel expert for Mexico.

That problem,though, was nothing compared to those of the Subaru team. Chris Atkinson came home in 11th place, a fair reward after the sniffling Queenslander snagged his WRX on a tree on Day 1, leaving him to wrestle the car for more than 40km with no power

Steering and dropping him to 26th place. From the moment he lost time, he was in 'testing' mode for the next round of the series on the gravel of Mexico.

Worse fortune befell Fetter Solberg: the 2005 winner had his rally go pear-shaped on the opening stage when he landed heavily and broke a driveshaft. Fie ended Friday in 21 st place and rose to 14th the following day, despite gearbox problems on SSI 1 and an off on SS12.The carfailed to start on the penultimate stage and dropped eight minutes,and when the starter would not fire the car without external assistance, Solberg was mercifully DQ'd.

At the end of the rally, Gronholm and Rautiainen celebrated his 38th birthday in style, spraying champagne and knowing, perhaps, that their French nemesis is not going to be happy with second for much longer...

Fin

3:09:01.9

Fra Citroen Xsara

Daniel Elena

Mon

3:09:32.8

3. Daniel Carlsson

S

Mitsubishi

S

3:11:58.7

I

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Bosse Holmstrand 4. Gigi Galli Giovanni Bemacdtini

I

3:12:05.7

5. Thomas Radstrom

S

Subaru 510 WRC

JorgenSkallman

5

3:14:55.2

6. Kosti Katajamaki

Fin

Ford Focus 04

Timo Alane

Fin

3:16:36.7

7. Xavier Pons

E

Citroen Xsara

Carlos del Barrio

E

3:17:37.5

8. Henning Solberg

Nor

Peugeot 307

Cato Menkerund

Nor

3:18:03.4

Drivers'Points: Gronholm 20, Loeb 16, Gardemeister and Carlsson 6,Stohl and Galli 5,Sarrazin and Radstom 4,Atkinson and Katajamaki 3, Hirvonen and Pons 2.

Manufacturers'Points: Ford 26, Kronos Citroen 24,OMV Peugeot 10,Subaru 8,Stobart Ford 7.

motorsportnews

world rally

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Men at work.Snowmen: Marcus Gronholm was the class ofthe field in Sweden,above, and held offa determined chase by Sebastien Loeb,right.

Everyone will bejalas: Kosti Katajamaki starred in his'04 Focus,left, and came home in sixth place.

MOTORSPORT DZ86R

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61

HOW DID I WIN?

orspQ

McIntosh zero to hero for Canada,MM third for Team Oz! What the heck, eh?

McIntosh, opposite top, was left puzzled on the podium. but the Team Canuck Lola had some good race speed, below.

Commonwealth Games: Marcus Marshall, right leading, took third on debut for Team Ozand will drive in the next two rounds in Mexico and California.

NOW,we've seen everything.

At the end of Race 1 at the Indonesian A1 Grand Prix at SentuI, things looked grim forTeam Canada and Team Australia. Sean McIntosh was the first driver’to retire from the Sprint race when the Canadian car got tangled up with Alex Yoong, while Marcus Marshall's first race with 'this'Team Australia ended up with a 16th, the former Champ Car driver plodding around with Team USA and Lebanon.

Fast forward four hours later and both were standing on the podium ...

The eighth round of the inaugural'World Cup of Motorsport'was like that.The threat of rain forced many teams to delay their pitstops in the feature race; McIntosh and Marshall rolled the dice and came up aces.

'This is unbelievable!"exclaimed McIntosh.

It was an honour to be on the top step of the podium singing 'Oh Canada'.The team did a great job and I want to thank them and Wade Cherwayko for the opportunity to race for A1 Team Canada. It certainly wasn't an easy victory but it sure feels good! We made some changes to the car between races as we felt we had nothing to lose starting from the back.'

Just to add to the drama.

McIntosh served a drive-through penalty for a pit lane infringement during his stop, and he is out of a job; Patrick Carpentier will drive for the Maple Leaf in Mexico and the USA. For Marshall, it was a great debut.

'It feels really good to be on the podium,especially after I didn't even know whether I was coming or not. We really struggled in the dry and a bit in qualifying but we kept pushing all weekend. We never gave up, and although there was too much wing on the car, which meant I was losing time on the straights, I was setting good times in the other sectors. I'm really stoked for the team, Fosters and everyone at home. A big hello to everyone in Australia."

Geez Marcus,that's"G'day"...

Splitting the pair, and making it a Commonwealth Games podium. was Yoong, who was on the pace all weekend for Malaysia. Fie also delayed his stop and was settled in fourth but South Africa had gambled on the rain and lost, and Team Netherlands ran wide with three laps left, promoting Yoong to second.

Team GB qualified fastest but Robbie Kerr also gambled on the rain, while Team France had an off weekend. Nicolas Lapierre won the Sprint race but found the car in a melee early in the Feature, costing him his front wing. After repairs, Lapierre returned but ran off the road, eventually finishing the race in eighth.

Fourth was Brazil, with Christian Fittipaldi visibly struggling after a long break from racing open wheelers, while Switzerland, Netherlands and New Zealand filled out the top spots in the Feature race.

The next round is at Monterrey, Mexico on February 24-26.

Points: France 132,Switzerland 104, Brazil 70,Great Britain 68, New Zealand 61, Netherlands 53,Ireland and Porugal 50, Malaysia 49, Canada 42, Australia 37.

moiorsponnews

international

martin d dark ONLY three rookies had ever driven in the Bud ShootOut. So needless to say, no rookie had ever won it.

But Denny Hamlin looks set to rest all kind of records in his first full season in the Nextel Cup. Hamlin played follow-the-leader for some of the Shoot-out,took the lead mid-race and, when a late-race yellow looked set to ruin his day, refused to give in.

Hamlin's FedEx Chevrolet had Tony Stewart and Dale Earnhardt on his tail over the final two laps but the kid in Joe Gibbs's Chevy was too strong in the dash to the flag.

"All during practice, I didn't have any help at all," he grinned after the race.

"What mattered in this race was that I had help, with Tony Stewart and then Jimmie Johnson.

"This will not be the last time they [the crew] will be in Victory Lane this year."

Perhaps the most impressive thing about

Hamlin is that he led and knew he could win.

"I was a sitting duck but, in ShootOut practice, we led and we knew we were going to be hard to beat. And my 500 car is even better. My main aim was not to make any rookie mistakes! There is no reason why we can't back it up next week!"

Earnhardt Jr and Stewart gave GM the whole podium,Jr having problems with his car after contact early in the race while Scott Riggs took fourth for Dodge ahead of Jimmie Johnson.

Matt Kenseth was the best of the Ford Fusions in sixth.

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15 February 2006

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More young Aussies ALSO testing at Oran Park at the Aussie Racing Cars pre-season test was Lucas Dumbrell. Lucas, the younger brother of Jack Daniel's Racing V8 Supercar driver Paul, is driving an Autobarn-liveried Commodore in this year's championship and came to grips with the cars well over the course of the day.

The quickest car in attendance was Nick Simmons in the Valvoline GRM '.Commodore,asserting the young New

QUINLAN GASSED UP

Orange-based karter gets BJR Aussie Racing Car drive for 2006 TOMMY Quinlan will pilot the Brad Jones Racing BOC Gasesbacked Falcon in the 2006 Aussie Racing Cars Championship this season.

Quinlan, 16, graduates to circuit racing from a stellar 2005 season in karting, driving for

.●■^>-’Sduth Welshman as the early favourite for ithe 2006 title.

■?; A V if Jim Richards and Barry Oliver have I :,^5jonfirmed that their attack onTarga 1^6/Tasmania will return to four-wheel-drive ■'‘^102006. . ' i y^;-.The duo have run a two-wheel-drive ' ' ^brsche 911 for the past two years, only .%fp be beaten in wet conditions by four^Wheel-drive entries - a Subaru WRX in ^(2004 and a Nissan Skyline GTR last year. gRt Richards sees the 15th running of Targa Tasmania as the toughest yet, thus the returijjto a four-wheel-drive car, in light s of Tai'ga's unpredictable winter weather.

Rjth'ards will now pilot a 2002-model jj^ . Pofsche On Turbo, slightly heavier than

m his rear-wheel-drive model of previoujs^ '■

however, sees the extra tyre wear from a heavier car as worth it. . ;●'I. "Barry and I have had a pretty 'V successful campaign in the two-wheeldrive Porsches but the competition is getting swift and reality is that the main competition Is in the four-wheel-drive cars," said Richards.

"I just couldn't compete with the four-wheel-drive competition In wet conditions. I figure if you can't beat them, join them. Tyre wear isn't an issue for me."

After viewing the form of the fourwheel-drive Lamborghini Gallardos at the recent Mount Buller Sprint, which Richards won, he sights the exotic Italian machines as possibly his toughest competition in this year's Modern Competition field.

"The Lamborghinis were incredibly quick at Buller and I have no doubt they will make for some great competition at Targa."

This year's Targa Tasmania will be held April 25-30.

Two classic McLaren FI cars graced the Timaru circuit in New Zealand last weekend at the Bruce Pidgeon Memorial Classic.

An ex-Denny Hulme/Mike Hailwood M23 and an ex-James Hunt M26 were the star attractions of the popular event.

the Redspeedteam in the Junior Clubman class. Orange-based Quinlan won the NSW Premier State Cup Series last year, as well the Queensland State Title and placed third at the Australian and NSW State Titles.

Quinlan tested an Aussie Racing Car at Oran Park last week, impressing with his lap times and technical feedback.

It was Quinlan's first time in a circuit racing car or a manual vehicle, as he does not have his road licence yet!

-CHRIS JORDAN

FALCON UTE EXPOSED! HERE is an exclusive look at the new BF-model Ford Falcon V8 Utes that are set to debut at the category's opening championship round for 2005 at the Clipsal 500 in March.

Sixteen of the new machines are being prepared by Les Small and his team at his Victorian workshop.The cars will bring the Falcon runners into line with their Holden rivals in terms of gearbox, as the BF Falcon adopts a six-speed manual transmission, upgraded from the 5-speed box used in the BA. The Falcons will also gain some extra legs with a 5.4-litre engine, as opposed to the 5 litre unit in the BA. Supply delays with the new braking package will mean that between six or eight of the new models will hit the track at Clipsal, with the rest to be completed

f

shortly after.

Many of the Falcon Ute teams sold their BAs to New Zealand teams while at the V8 Ute International at Manfield Park, and those that returned to Australia will be used until all the BF utes are ready, before also being sold to Kiwis teams, who are establishiing their own V8 Ute series with the vehicles.

-CHRIS JORDAN

motorsporlnews

national

UTE INVASION ■?

CHARLIE Kovacs and Simon Wills have won V8 Utes inaugural expedition across the Tasman Sea to win the V8 Ute International at Manfield Park in New Zealand two weeks ago.

The Adelaide-based pair was the undisputed winners of the weekend, winning the 24-lap final as well as ending the weekend as the highest scoring pair on points.

"It's an emotional win for us," said Kovacs. "After the season we would like to forget last year, this is the way to start a new year.

"Simon was outstanding. He fitted in so well with the team and showed that he is a very talented drive."

Four heat races in total were held over two days of racing before drivers combined for the two-driver final. Kiwi V8 Supercar drivers Jason Richards and Wills won the Saturday heats, while V8 Development Series driver picked up a heat victory on Sunday on his return to the category, with NZV8 Touring Car star Wade Henshaw picking up the fourth and final heat. Not only did New Zealand take three of the four heat victories, the Kiwi's wrapped up the Trans-Tasman trophy over Australia.

Kovacs began the final from pole, ahead of Richards and Kanga Loaders driver Chris Pither. Kovacs pitted out of the lead on lap 10 to hand over Wills, giving Pither the lead. But a slow pit stop for the Pither/MacDonald combination and a flat left rear tyre for Richards

let the Holden of Kim Jane and Rhys McKay get second.

The lead Ford finisher in the final was the IMB Falcon of twotime Champ Damien White and Dean Perkins, ahead of the Holdens of Pither/MacDonald and James Brock/Henshaw.

While Holden dominated, two of Ford's strongest runners had luck against them. Marcus Zukanovic had a' gearbox fail in Heat 4, ruining his and Aaron Slight's chances, while Jack Elsegood was controversially deemed to be at fault after contact with Pither on Saturday, and was subsequently black-flagged.

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15 February 2006

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GREATS Barth to drive one of his 935 Porsches. French had a win and a second whilst Barth finished just out of the placings in all three races.

Rob Sherrard brought his magnificent collection of cars to the Island. Wayne Park in the Lola T70 Mk3B placed third on Saturday and followed up with a second and fourth on Sunday. Rob drove the 962C to a fifth on Saturday but suffered DNFs in both races Sunday whilst Vern Schuppan finished midfield in the GT40.

John Bowe completed a successful weekend in Peter

Marburg's Lola T610 with two wins and a DNF. Terry Ashwood relegated Peter Brock to second place in all three races in Group A & C driving his Skyline GTSR past the Torana A9X of the Bathurst legend.

Tony Hubbard and TrevorTalbot fought out the over 3-litre Historic Tourers, with Tony's Chevrolet Camaro taking overall honours in the final race.Tony Hunter finished third in all three races in his Monaro. Jason Humble finished with two wins and a third in the under 3-litre class with his Mazda RX2.

Serious machinery:John Bowe,top, Peter Harburg s LoIg TSW to victory in Sportscars. Peter Giddings brought his ex-Fangio/Moss Maserati250F to the Island for a run. Terry Ashwood, below,shaded Petel^r,^ .

Brock in Group A and C Touring Cars in his Nissan GTSffi/'’ i

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a Mouth watering: Bob Tweedie in an Elfin Repco MS7 leads Rob Sherrard's Porsche 962C.

n I Ticket to Japan YAMAHA has stipulated spedfic qualifying criteria to determine which Australian karter will join the field at the 2006 Yamaha-Toyota All Japan Championship later this year.

The winner will have to take victory against 19 other drivers who will be allowed to compete in an invitation-only finale at Eastern Creek on September 1-2.

The race will be run under Clubman Light rules, but the drivers will not be allowed to use their own'gun'engines.

Instead, Yamaha will be providing each driver with a brand new sealed Yamaha KT100SD, drawn at random, for.thd duration of the meeting.This .: same procedure is used in Japan for the ●v .jL Championship meeting. ^Jo be included as one pf the 20 \!y 1 (tfiVers at the deciding final, competitors : vvili have needed to finish in the top n five (in.Clubman Light/Pro) at either ' the Nationals, Vic Open, North Shore ' f Pro Series, City of Adelaide Titles or n ;- Queensland Championships. Last year, Yamaha took Melbourne's David Sera to the Japan meeting, which he won.

The Rotax classes are likely to be on a different tyre later this year. . DPE, the importer and promoter of > ' Rotax, has requested that as of April 1, ■ K Bridgestone's YJC take over from the YGK.

SHAKEDOWN BREAKDOWN THE'Pre-Nationals'shakedown at Bolivar on February 4 and 5 has prompted more questions than it has answered.

Repair work will need to be undertaken to fix the surface of the Adelaide circuit after it started breaking up during the meeting.

The Southern Kart Club has made some major improvements to the Bolivar facility over the last 18 months,including a total resurface of the track.The asphalt, which is the same specification as that used on the Clipsal 500 track.

caused trouble at the 2005 South Australian Title. Repairs were affected but the same trouble arose two weeks ago on three corners.

Some drivers described the surface as"buggered", but club officials are confident the problems will be solved shortly.

Club secretary Jeff Boyd indicated the club was working with the bitumen company and that repairs were scheduled for this week,closing the facility.

Leigh Nicolaou grabbed the Junior Clubman/Junior National

Heavy double. Matt Wall beat James Sera in Clubman Light, while Tyson Pearce just held off a fast finishing Tim Vohmann to win Clubman Heavy.

Leigh Harrison led all the way in the Senior National Light final.

Brenton Locke was unchallenged for the Super Heavy win while Justin Tate (JNL), Roger I'Anson (SNH), Josh Tynan (Leopard Light), DayleTolosa (Rotax Light), Jeremy Anderson (Leopard Heavy)and George Gutierrez(Midgets) all enjoyed wins.

-MARK WICKS

PRO ERICKSON DANIEL Erickson has drawn first blood in the opening round of the Pro Series at Eastern Creek two weeks ago.

Erickson (Top Kart) picked up wins in Leopard Light and the highly competitive Clubman Pro class. CRG's Jason Hryniuk won the Clubman pre-final and'he and Erickson, pictured below in third, made a small break to lead the final. Corey Lean, Kyle Clews, Richard Rapa, Joshua Pontello and Nathan Mills were all running at the front of a very competitive field. Hryniuk pulled into the pits late in the race with a loose rear axle while Erickson went on to win ahead of Lean (Arrow) and Pontello (Parolin).

The Junior Clubman final on the Saturday drew much comment, Matthew Waters getting up to

win ahead of Queensland's Brendan Nelson and David Whitmore in a close race that featured lots of passing. Nelson also won Junior National Heavy and Luke Parsons picked up Light honours.

Fresh from his stint in NZ, Warren White Jnr dominated the Rookies class and Joshua Hunter had an equally-successful run in Midgets.

The Yamaha TAG100 spec class, open only to Cgrade licence holders, had its first official round.

Brian Tabbernal won ahead of Over40s winner Phil Warder. Other winners were Aaron Salter (Snr National Heavy),Thomas Phillips (Snr National Light), Benjamin Schippers (Clubman Super Heavy), Adam Burkett (Rotax Heavy), Mick Robson (Rotax Light) and Ian Mallison (Leopard Heavy).

-MARK WICKS

'■fi The YJC is a softer and faster tyre witjj^ similar performance to the MG Yellow f used in Leopard. DPE tested various MG, X Vega, Maxxis, Mojo and Bridgestone constructions and compounds before making the decision. The testing indicated that the YJC is "slightly faster than YGK, generally by two to three tenths but offering equal, if not less wear".

PRD Fireball and Rotax MAX engines were the winners at the first TaG event for 2006 at Newcastle last month.

CRG's Peter Lawler won TaG Light with a Fireball on MG Yellow tyres with Todd Davey second in a Formula Rotax spec MAX on Bridgestone. Ian Allen won TaG Heavy in a field of predominantly Rotax entries.

There have subsequently been a number of minor parity adjustments after this meeting, such as a weight increase for Fireball competitors.

Already fined $70,000 for cheating with his son's Junior Rotax engine, Peter Christodoulou has been slugged another $30,000 by Britain's MSA National Court for court costs from an appeal, and his son Chris's licence cancelled until September.

-MARK WICKS

m

New Arrow arrives ARROW has released its latest range of karts, the AX9.

Following the successful AX8 family of chassis, the AX9 features a host of new components, although the actual chassis layout is much the same.The AX9 B-Max for the Rotax classes, which is now CIK homologated for international competition, uses 32mm stressrelieved chrome moly tube.

One of the major innovations on the kart is its cam-adjusted rear ride height system.This operates

j

on new full-height rear axle bearing flanges that bolt to much smaller locators on the chassis.

The four-spot brake calliper no longer bolts to the chassis and now mounts directly to the alloy bearing flange, right.

The B-Max comes with a 50mm axle, adjustable alloy torsion bar. fully adjustable front end, 90mm hubs, distinctive Arrow plastics and new vibration-reducing Rotax exhaust mounts.

-MARK WICKS

motorsportnews

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.-1

PETER Ftm HiDIQ OVERCQMEA^ WHOLE HOST OF i§Sf ROUND DRAMAS/^f^ TOSEAL THE PERFORMANClCAlbCA^ CHAMPIONSHIR HE TOLD MNEWSriW n ; ●» IF IT COULD GO WRONG,#DID V'

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ONSISTENCYand race smarts was the key to Peter Floyd being crowned the 2005 Donut King Australian Performance Car Champion.

The season saw each round won by a different driver, with five of the seven events taken by different manufacturers. Winning the series was more about keeping the point score ticking, rather than shooting for outright giory.

Fioyd was the man with the most points at the end of the season, and after the penultimate event at Symmons Plains, it seemed that only a disaster could steal the championship from him.

But as they say in the classics, life was never meant to be easy. Floyd tells the story of his final round dramatics at Phillip Island in late-November.

"Because there was such a short period of time between our practice session and our qualifying session on Friday, things started going wrong for us then.

"The qualifying session had actually been running for about three minutes before we actually received our tyres to put on the car, so we lost five or six minutes in our qualifying session. We didn't have time to set tyre the pressures right and weigh the car as well.

"To actually come out second quickest in qualifying, I was

15 February 2006

1

reasonably happy with that and to have both our cars (team-mate for the round Trevor Scheumack) on the front row of the grid. It showed that the guys know what they are doing when they are preparing the cars and have built strong cars.

"Then the start of Race 1. Being more used to these vehicles, I got a better start than Trev. I got a bit of a jump and managed to lead him into turn one quite comfortably and got a fair bit of a gap on them before we got to Southern Loop.

"The last time I looked in my rear vision mirror, the cars were four or five car lengths behind me, so I wasn't trying to protect my lines or anything, I was taking a nice, wide approach. And all of a sudden I got walloped. I just was not expecting it... the other vehicles were so far behind me.

"I didn't realise who hit me at all, until we came to a stop and I looked across and sawTrev's car upside down. Once I did get hit

h

Qtt lists'

and we left the track, there was just no stopping the car. We went through the gravel trap so fast, it did not seem to want to slow down. Once we got on the other side of the gravel trap, I knew it was going to be a hard hit then.

"When I looked across and saw Trevor's car upside down, it was a pretty horrible feeling, especially because they are both our cars.

Trev got out of the car pretty quickly, so I was relieved to see he was OK. I got out of the car, had a bit of a look and there was very extensive damage to the front right suspension.

"I thought,'this looks like it might be all over for us', but when we got the cars back to the track, lifted the bonnet, the TAFE guys had a bit of a look, they sort of gave it a 50:50 chance of getting back out there on the Sunday.

"All the guys pitched in, and a lot of teams pitched in to help us pull the car apart to a situation where theTAFE guys could put it on a jig and start to straighten it out.

"The job seems to get bigger and bigger as you find more things that were wrong, but the guys just kept at it. They didn't let it get to them, they worked out every issue.

"Finally, when we were being called to the marshalling area, I got myself strapped into the car while they were still bolting bits onto the car. The guys were out on their sighting lap as they were letting it down off the jacks, so it was all very tight. They tell me we got into pitlane with only 15 seconds to spare before they were going to close pitlane. We were very lucky.

"It is the first rear-wheel drive, the first V8, first two-wheel-drive to win the championship since the whole thing was combined and you had Porsches which were the only other rear-wheel-drive car to win the championship. I think that's good for the category, to show that you don't need to be driving an Evo or a WRX to be up there."

69

STICK TWICE AS NICE mark Jones

Brooke Tatnell told MARK JONES why this Australian Sprintcar Title was even better than his first MOTORSPORT NEWS:Congratulations Brooke on winning the Australian Title. It's a great way to cap a great season, no doubt?

BROOKE TATNELL: We've had a good year. Shane (Krikke,team owner)and I sat down at the start of the season and our main goals were:World Series, The Classic, which we sort of failed at, and the other one was I wanted this Australian Title more than I wanted it last year.

I took a lot of bashings last year that I was the Stephen Bradbury of Australian Sprintcars and I think we shut a few people up tonight. ' It took so long to win one title, to have gone j back-to-back must bring a certain level of satisfaction?

Garty Rush said to me a long time ago,'Don't ' yvorry kid, it took me until I was 30 to win my first l title'. * - It took Max until he was 30 to win his first > title and it took me until I was 33 to win my first l '1 title. But he said'once you win the first, the rest . come a lot easier.The first one is always the n hardest.'Maybe the guy that won 10 times knew something.

Was it easier this year?

(Laughs) None of these things are easy. I mean none of these races are easy. Brazier had some bad luck, I don't know what happened with his l ‘'front end, but I saw him tag the wall twice early.

- Whether that had anything to do with it, I don't n know.

This race is about everything, you've got to ■' have a bit of luck, but you've got to be there at the end and you've got to be fast. There's no-one here that can walk away and say we weren't fast.

Your career has moved in a different direction and now you've been a full-time driver in the US for a couple of seasons now. Has that made a difference to how you see the Australian season?

70

I think winning last year's Australian Title changed my whole racing career. I was sick and tired of every interview saying'how's it feel to be the best Australian that's never won a title'. I mean it was aggravating, it was something to frustrate me. I used to go to America and every year I'd still be dwelling on what had happened at the Australian Title.

This year was the year we went over there and didn't have to deal with that. I was on a total high when 1 left here and it continued over there and there's no reason we can't leave here this year and go and give it our best shot and do better than what we did last year.

How do we see the 2006 season for you?

We've got a long gruelling year. We kick off on Tuesday or Wednesday night, it's a long year.

It's 85-90 races we've got coming up. Yeah I'm looking forward to it. I've got an A1 team behind me, both here and there, and I've got the faith in the people behind me and around me.

These things don't happen overnight.This team didn't happen overnight.This combination didn't happen overnight.This is something Shane (Krikke) and I spoke about for several years. We've both been around the sport long enough. He knew I do things a little different to the way his guys do, I know their guys do things a little different to me. It's matter of finding that gel. We both came off a year that we wanted to prove that we are a great combination together,and 1 - think we've done that.

This year has possibly been your best Australian season. Is that due to you finding a common ground with the Krikke team?

I mean they've had great years and we've had great years. I've won 24 feature races in one year.

One year we won World Series and the Classic and we didn't win the Title, this year we've won World Series, won the Australian title, but didn't win the Classic. It's a combination of both.

They've had a great year with Schatz in the past, they've had great success it's just been a great mixture right now.

Could you throw someone in this car and win races, yeah I believe they could, could I hop into another car and win races, yeah I could. We've just had a great year and a great combination right now.

We've had an awesome year, we just want to continue now.

BROOKE Tatnell successfully defended his Australian Sprintcar Title two weeks ago, and if anything it was a title more appreciated by the 34year-old US-based New South Welshman.

Last year's title was a race of attrition, but this year it was a race and Tatnell led the field for 33 of the 40 laps to lead home Max Dumesny and Cameron Gessner.

Terry Bracken topped the point score to take pole for the feature, the local continuing his Brisbane International Speedway form.

The field got away at the second attempt after fireball West . Australian Ryan Farrell started a multi-car pile-up mid-pack that eliminated Bryan Mann, Dan Morton and Ben Wright.The field was stopped again when Peter Lack crashed with only one lap completed.

At the restart Garry Brazier bolted, leaving the field in his wake. Brazier sprinted away until after seven laps the eye pulled out of the front axle and he spun into the turn 1 wall and out of the race.

"We've had a pretty unlucky weekend,"said disappointed Brazier."It's always between me.

Max and Brooke and Robbie, who was a bit unlucky too. I think the AMain was pretty done and sealed."

Bracken now led, but it was a fleeting hope for the BIS crowd.

Bracken did not have the car of those around. From there Tatnell would not be denied. Dumesny chased hard but was not quite good enough, settling for second.

"The car was working quite well after we junked it in the heat race," said Dumesny, who despite the frantic repairs of his crew and others, ran with a hastily repaired and bent chassis.

"Everyone kicked in to help us fix it and it was running quite well actually, but Brooke was in front of us and it wasn't a real good passing track and the lapped cars didn't play well. He did a good job."

The battle for third saw Gessner claw his way past Bracken after driving a meticulous weekend to be constantly on the tail of the big three throughout the meeting.

"The car was awesome,"said Gessner."The team's done a great Job and it's good to repay them in some way with a third at

motorsportnews

speedway

WITH NUMERO UNO

Brooke Tatnell made it back-to-back Australian Sprintcar Titles in Brisbane

the championship.

"I actually got tangled with Farreli when he flipped. On the 1 next start i got in the grease and lost a few spots and thought I had nothing left to lose. I'd rather come 11th and have tried something than run fourth and not tried anything."

A massive accident during a Friday night heat race saw Robbie Farr climb the wall in Turn 1 after getting huge air beneath the Titan Car. Buried in the C-Main grid after losing so many heat points, Farr was withdrawn after the Saturday heat races in what would be his last run in a Titan Racing car, see speedway news pages.

The other former Australian champion, Todd Wanless, also missed the A-Main, caught up in the farcical two lap B-Main.

Danny Reidy claimed fifth 15 February 2006

position ahead of Andrew Scheuerle while an ecstatic local pair,Tony Michell and Tony Wynne, survived to finish with NT's Warrenne Ekins the last finisher.

BIS hero Darrell Hodges rolled

late in the A-Main after contact with Andrew Scheuerle while fighting for sixth place, while Trevor Green did not even get a single lap under his belt after the car failed to fire for the first start.

The End: Brazier led early, but mechanical failure put him into the wall.

Ducking Curfew BRISBANE International Speedway's curfew bit with force into the final night.

By the time the C-Main started it was already 9:35pm.The B-Main did not begin until 10:00pm.Spins and no less than three mutlicar collisions saw the C-Main declared after four laps, and the B-Main after just two.

This eliminated a swag of rapid cars, including Todd Wanless, Adrian Maher, Drew Kruck,Troy Little and Ben Atkinson, with virtually no opportunity to make the ’■ A-Main, which finally got underway at 10:30pm and ran its entire length outside the curfew.

77

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372d engines will stayfor2007title THE Sprintcar Control Council of Australia has released the results of its nationwide

r

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poll on Sprintcar engine capacity in both the open and 360ci divisions.

The SCCA has emphasised that it will conduct the Australian Sprintcar Title to the current 372ci rules in 2007,as well as conduct a 360 Nationals meeting to that category's current specifications.

The voting results however, have done nothing to quell noises regarding 410 engines. Across Australia, 372ci engines V received more votes, but split across two f variafioii's of engine specification (one f'C' with.'down nozzle'injection). 410 engines rkeiveti 119 votes, 372 engines received 80 votesiand 372 with down nozzle 43. ,■ ."Therq is no mandate for the SCCA to change,"sa|d SCCA President Peter Mitchell in a statement, "although there is the opportunity for any state member club T to put forward a Notice of Motion at the . upcoming SCCA conference to retain or ^ change the existing specification for a period of time to be determined. The existing specifications expire on 30 June 2007.'

TITAN QUITS AU chris Jordan AUSTRALIAN speedway has been rocked to its core by the sudden withdrawal of one its premier teams,Titan Racing.

Brisbane team owner Reeve Kruck made the decision shortly after the Australian SprintcarTitle at Brisbane Internatinoal Speedway two weeks ago, the ciedsion effective immediately.

Kruck will continue to run son Drew and daughter Toni in low-key Sprintcar and Speedcar programs respectively, but the crackTitan outfit will no longer run on Australian shores.

Kruck confirmed the news to MNews last week, revealing that he will no longer run an Australianbased Titan Racing operation.

Titan Racing USA will continue to field Daryn Pittman in the United

States in the World of Outlaws Championship, but if Pittman returns to Australia next summer, it will only be for a holiday.

Titan's Australian-based driver, former Australian Sprintcar and Speedcar Champion Robbie Farr

Sprintcar season to replace Brooke Tatnell at Krikke Motorsport,see separate story.

Kruck has always been a candid and outspoken figure, but his investment in Australian speedway is unparalleled, running three Sprintcars I and a Speedcar this season.The brash Queensland businessman has pushed for change and an increase in professionalism in the top-level of Australian Sprintcar racing for some time, but has grown sick of his efforts falling of deaf ears.

"Basically I have run long enough and I have got to the end of my lead," Kruck told MNews.

"I'm sick of the stupidity that is running this sport and it has all become too hard.They will have to find another idiot to spend half a million dollars on a Sprintcar team."

^^They'll have to find another idiot to spend haif a million dollars on a Sprmtcar team^^ was to drive in a Titan Speedcar at the Australian SpeedcarTitle at Parramatta City Raceway last weekend, but Kruck's decision left Farr out of a drive for the Title until he was recruited to replace the injured Brett Morris.

Farr, one of the stars of Australian Sprintcar racing, has also been signed to race the remainder of the Australian

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^ American livewire Dennis Moore Jr has . conjRrmed that he will return to Australia in March to race at the two-night Krikke Boys Shootout at Bunbury Speedway.'DMJ'will ^drive for West Australian car owner Ala,n^ ■-'.J; Nash in a brand new Maxim chassis and use a Maxwill engine.

"I haven't been fit and well the last two '■ visits I have had to Australia with broken . . bones and injuries, so I am really looking forward to racing hard for Allan Nash and his team," said the extroverted Moore Jr. Defending Australian Champion Kevin Purton dominated the Australian Super Sedan Title in Toowoomba last weekend. With Friday night's action washed out, the entire 24 heats, B and A Main were condensed into Saturday night under threatening skies - a blackout for around 40 minutes was the only interruption to on-track action.

Veteran John leslight was the only one to trouble Purton in the final, moving past the Tasmanian with 11 laps remaining.

However Purton was supreme on the extremely slick racing surface and moved back past Leslight late in the race to take a comfortable victory, his right rear exploding as he crossed the finish line.

Victorian Lucas Roberts put in a fine drive to finish third. The 40 lap event ran unabated for 33 laps until Tim O'Shea spun in front of the leaders in Turn 1.

ALL-ROUND SUCCESS AMERICAN duo Jerry Coons Jr and Davey Ray battled it out for the 2006 Australian SpeedcarTitle at Parramatta City Raceway last Saturday night, with Ray taking the honours in a classic tussle.

The final ten laps produced a spectacular battle between the pair. Coons Jr tried hard to hold onto his lead, but with just two laps remaining Ray raced the Aussie-built Flawk engine in the Kiwi Aggressor chassis past Coons Jr in traffic to take out a brilliant victory, with Aussie Adam Clarke third.

The win is the second major victory for a Flawk car in recent times, after Tim McCreadie won the Chili Bowl for Steve Smith's Austraiian outfit in January.

- GREG BOSCATO

motorsport news

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speedway

STRALIAN SPEEDWAY ¥ARR] WHY TITAN QUIT Titan Racing ownerReeve Kruck speaks to CHRISJORDAN

Dropped by Titan, hired by Krikke HAVING been told by Reeve Kruck last Monday that he no longer had a job, Robbie Farr has been signed to run three big Sprintcar events for the Krikke Motorsport team,replacing Brooke Tatnell, who has returned to the US to begin his World of Outlaws campaign.

Tatnell has re-signed with KMS for the 2006/07 summer, but Farr's sudden availability has landed him the drive at t short notice at the Speedway City Nationals, Krikke Boys Shootout at Bunbury Speedway and Nanovich Tribute at Kwinana Speedway.

Farr is no stranger to the KMS team, having won the 2004 Australian Sprintcar Title with the Toyota-backed team.

Farr has already fielded several offers regarding the rest of the Australian season,such as the Easter i Trail, and also drives for next season, meaning his sudden redundancy has definitely not given him time to relax.

- CHRIS JORDAN

REEVE Kruck has always been outspoken regarding his push for change in Australian Sprintcar racing and, having now distanced himselffrom it, his opinionated approach remains.

"I feel like a flogged horse - it's just been that last straw,"said Kruck, who is still recovering from a neck operation that saw him miss many of January's big events.

"There have Just been too many decisions made this year that have been wrong and things aren't getting done."

"A couple of years ago I wanted to get the team owners talking about a franchise system for teams to get together and run a major series.The team owners would then have something - an item - to justify their investment. Well, I would have got a better reaction if I had abused their mothers!

"How are the same people that have been running the sport for 30 years going to progress the sport? It's such a great product, but nothing has changed for the past 30 years except that it costs three times as much to get in the gate.They are going to have to progress the sport without me.'

Last year Kruck opened an American operation, running Oklahoman Daryn Pittman in the World of Outlaws. Kruck will continue to build Titan engines in Australia and will retain as many of his Australian staff as is practical to continue running the US-based team. But Kruck sees his perspective on the US scene versus the state of the sport in Australia as a reason for his decision.

"One of my friends said to me last year'you can't go back to Australia to watch your team, because you'll look at it differently and you'll pull out.'He was right.

"From now on I will just run my son and daughter in Australia and be a hobby racer, i don't

WORLD OF OUTLAWS2006 CHAMPIONSHIP

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care if they run 410 engines or 372, because I have two brand new of each,so it doesn't worry me."

Something that will surprise many is that Titan will not field Pittman in a Titan car next January when many other Americans hit Australia.

"We only ran at Outlaws Downunder this year because it was a commitment we gave,"said Kruck, who is at odds with PCR promoter Brian Healey, with Kruck a staunch supporter of the World of Outlaws and Healey involved with the breakaway National Sprint Tour.

"I wasn't too happy about running it, but it worked out well because [Donny]Schatz and Pittman (ED:two drivers loyal to the Outlaws)took all of Healey's money."

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73

One With The Lot Quick times, close racing, major upsets - and a driver kissing officials. The Summernationals at WSID la^ weekend had it all l l l ONCERNS about WSlD's experimental 'rain day' format were thrown out of the window at last weekend's Summernationals, where a huge (and vocal)crowd soaked up some fierce racing in virtually all classes.

TheTop Doorslammer silverware went home with Brett Stevens, who survived a dramatic afternoon teeming with upsets.

Stevens took the final from Robin Judd by taking the holeshot and driving on to a 6.173s/230.61 mph pass, squeezing out Judd's 6.129s/238.28mph effot.

Although beaten in the final, Judd was a model of consistency all weekend.

posting 6.900s/239.27 and 6.098s/239.82mph efforts to defeat Steve Stanic and Deno Brijeski.

Stevens earned his spot in the final by driving past Ben Bray and Paul Greghini.

A lot of big names were sent off for early showers. Victor Bray was out in the first round courtesy of Brijeski, while Greghini picked up the scalp of Gary Phillips. He also gave Stevens a scare when the pair met in the semis before getting badly out of shape and nearly launching into the wall.

There was also plenty to see in the vibrant Top Alcohol class, and it all started when Ben Bray rocketed down the strip in 5.575s/257.04mph during

qualifying to register the quickesteverTop Alky Funny Car pass.

Bray backed it up by driving around Stevens to take the final with a 5.689s/249.95mph against Stevens'5.764s/250.09mph.

Bray had earlier dealt with Damien Harris (with a 5.646s and a new national record,thank you very much)and Dean Oakey, while Stevens claimed the scalps of a red-lighting Gary Phillips and Steve Reed.

Just six cars showed up for Top Fuel, but sometimes you don't need a lot of cars to create a highlight. On this occasion it came from Bob Shepherd, who got all his ducks in a row during qualifying to produce his first-ever four second pass, a

4.977s/288.95mph effort.

The crowed went wild, although whether that was in response to the E.T. or the sight of Shepherd kissing officials upon being told of his time is unclear...

It could also be that the crowd was still recovering from the previous run, in which Phil Read and Rachelle Platt ran side-byside fours with 4.784s and 4.999s passes respectively.

Shepherd eventually took his ex-Grubnic car all the way to the final, where he was downed by Phil Read.

Shepherd had earlier accounted for a tyre-smoking Splatt and

Mr. Everywhere: One minute he is accepting Australia Day awards,then he is winning Top Doorslammer,left, then he is winning Top Bike, right.

It seems that Brett Stevens is there every time you turn around at the moment.

motorsportnews

drag racing

We think not...

Read all about it:Phil Read ruled the Top Fuel roost, above.

Terry Sainty (surviving a scare against the latter when his engine let go at the 1000ft mark), while Read took out Darren Morgan and then enjoyed a bye before his appearance in the final.

You want close racing? Then go and watch Pro Stock, where Jon Andriopoulos edged out Dennis Whiting 7.339s/186.41 mph to 7.261 s/18S.08mph.The pair were glued to one another all the way down the strip.

Andriopoulos beat

15 February 2006

championship leader Dave Rogan and Jason Grima along the wray, while Whiting ended the weekend with bragging rights over fellow Queenslander Shane Tucker and Aaron Tremayne.

Stevens doubled up on his trophy haul for the weekend by taking out Top Bike overTroy McLean 6.706s/201.19mph to 6.795S/185.82, and then lived up to his status as a crowd favourite by riding the Harley back down the return road. Classy.

Making the final in three Pro categories at one event is a remarkable achievement in itself, but on last weekend's form,the day is not far away when Stevens wins all three, if what he has done to date can earn him an Australia Day medal,then three wins on the same weekend must put him in contention for a knighthood...

Meanwhile,there were some upsets in Pro Stock Bike when favourite Daniel Peaty was cleaned up in the final by Callum Godeassi with a holeshot.

Godessi made it down the strip in 7.780s/164mph against Peaty's time of 8.608S/164.39mph.

With the Sydneysiders having gone home happy, it's now Perth's turn to get excited when Top Doorslammer and Top Bike rolls up at Quit Motorplex for the 2006 Westernationals on March 4-5.

Missions accomplished; Things didn't go Ben Bray's way in Top Doorslammer but he made up for it in Top Alcohol, taking the win and setting the quickest time for a Top Alcohol Funny Car,above.

Meanwhile in Pro Stock,it was Andriopoulos all the way, below.

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drag racing

GIRL POWER Timed Out PROBLEMS with the elderly timing system at Adelaide International Raceway have forced the postponement of a number of ANDRA-sanctioned events.

Four, Six and Rotary Nationals, scheduled for 25-26 February, and the Super Charged Outlaws/Pro Stock/Pro Bike meeting scheduled for March 18 have both been deferred until further notice to allow for major work to be undertaken to bring the system into line.

AIR owner and operator Bob Jane . said in a statement,"Work will continue ", with our technical head of operations to overhaul the timing system wiring, while .

|lso supplying a totally new wiring system ; l'to tlie venue, which includes read-out

.- V ; towers. AIR will be back in action, it's Just ij taking longer than we planned."

-■=Other improvements for AIR are still £ ■ on the cards, including repairs to the drag V' strip surface, resurfacing of sections of ^ the road racing track, and improvements to track drainage and lighting along the drag strip.

Brett Stevens has accumulated a lot ● f

of silverware over the years, but the latest : 'addition must be the first that he has

FRANK GOES DUTCH THERE will be no missing Frank Pedregon on the NHRA circuit this year, with the owner-driver having signed a multi-year deal with fashion label Von Dutch.

The announcement coincides with the news that Pedregon will return to full-time competition after running an abbreviasted schedule last season. Secondary sponsorToyoTires has also re-signed with the team, having had a limited involvement last year.

Elsewhere, Kalitta Motorsports has extended its deal with Mac Tools, which means that two-time NHRA Top Fuel series runner-up Doug Kalitta will again take to the track in the distinctive red Mac Tools dragster.

Mac Tools will also be an associate sponsor on the cars of Dave Grubnic and Harry Will, and the Funny Car of Scott Kalitta.

picked up while stationary.

Stevens was presented with the -w. ■ ; Taboolture Shire Sportsperson of the ‘ Tear at the 2006 Australia Day Awards ; in recognition for his efforts in raising ovr $100,000 for the Kids With Cancer Foundation as well as his long list of career achievements.

4

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MELANIE Troxel, above, became the sixth woman to win a NHRA Top Fuel event at last weekend's curtain-raiser at Pomona.

Troxel beat David Baca in the final on a weekend that also saw wins go to Robert Hight in Funny Car and reigning Champion Greg Anderson in Pro Stock.

Look for a full report from Pomona in our next issue.

HAPPY AS LARPy

■

LARRY Morgan drove his zMax Dodge Stratus R/T to a win in the annual Pontiac Pro Stock Showdown two weeks ago.

Morgan was solidly in the 6.7s during qualifying and eliminations, but needed just a coasting 7.74/131 to secure the title after six-time NHRA champion Warren Johnson fouled away a 6.80/203 in the final round.

"It is a real honour to be presented with such an award," Stevens said.

"It is a little humbling, especially considering the talented individuals competing in all of the different sports."

John Force is making waves in pre season testing, having blasted fo a 4.678 at 330 mph - the third-quickest run ever recorded - to lead the action at the 22nd annual National Time Trials at Firebird

Morgan was driving the same Don Ness-built Dodge that Tom Martino drove to a runner-up finish at the 2005 Automobile Club of Southern California NHRA_Finals. He never ran slower than 6.783 as he defeated Erica Enders, Mark Pawuk, and low qualifier Richie Stevens in the early rounds.

- DAVID OSTASZEWSKI

International Raceway two weeks ago.

Scott Kalitta had a scary moment when the Kalitta Air Funny Car's burst panel came off, slid up and jammed into the injector, causing the throttle to stick open.

The car veered from the right lane into the left retaining wall about 100 feet past the finish line.

In Top Fuel, Dave Grubnic backed up a Saturday best of 4.454s at 327.98 mph with a steady 4.467s at 328.62 mph on Sunday to remain the leader in his category.

- DAVID OSTASZEWSKI/STAFF

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motorsport news

industry news

ELF WRF

RACE AND PERFORMANCE CLASSIFIEDS

has been chosen as the control fuel for the 2006 Australian Rally Championship.

Elf WRF was the control fuel for the 2004 and 2005 Australian Rally Championships. Elf WRF (World Rally Fuel) is specially produced for the World Rally Championship and several European Rally Championships.

online classifieds

Find hundreds more race vehicles and parts for sale at www.my105.com Sedans/Sports Cars

Elf is the motorsport research and competition arm of the multinational TOTAL group. As an FIA sanctioned fuel supplier, the Elf brand has had a long and successful relationship with motorsport, particularly within the intensity of World Rally.

Elf's association with the 2006 ARC ensures that all competitors will continue to use Elf WRF. Designed to comply with the strict specifications set by the FIA(CAMS approved: Schedule G). Elf WRF is unleaded, has a RON rating of 102 Octane and contains 2.6% oxygen.

Each drum of Elf WRF can be identified by batch number which can be tracked and acts as a proof of quality for both competitors and officials.

Sport Sedan

Winning Evo 7 Tarmac Rally Car Winner East CoastTarga, 2nd Rally Burnie, 4th Targa Tas. Professionally built & maintained.

Bond Cage, Motec ECU, Carbon Fibre interior.

New Race Tech Seats, Proflex Dampers, Eibach Springs, Brembo brakes. Only the best has been used for this car. Spares & set up info included. Call or email for further info. 47,000.00 Or Best Offer. Warwick 0418 299963.

KOl/L

Since the invention of stainless braided rubber hose, racers and mechanics have been fighting the problem of installing frayed hoses into the socket part of the assembly.

If you're lucky and get a clean cut on the end of the hose, you might get it in.

bJE /

_

►

class winning datsun 1200 coupe! gruopS closed race car 2003+2004.3.8ltr vn balanced flat top pistons stage three wade cam bullet chip. ISOkws at rear wheels, simmons 8x16 fronts 10x16 rears on slicks. 205x15 wets on sle rims. VS disk brakes front and rear, bias control, coilover koni adjustable fronts+rears.

Salisbury 3.08 LSD, tS gear box. fireglass bonnet/boot with group A spoiler and front splitter, all on trailer. 10,000 ono ONO. shaun 0419886235.

www.myl05.com/21510

www.myl05.eom/44087 330

Most of the time a little fuzz appears on the hose end where the cut has been made and the battle begins. The small metal barbs make it difficult to fit the hose into the socket, which is time consuming and it can get bloody. KOULtools is a new device which provides the solution and makes the assembly a snap.

KOULtools are simple to use and will save time and fingers from the frayed ends of a braided hose. After choosing the correct KOULtool for your fittings socket size, simply place the socket and adaptor (if required) into the KOULtool and clamp it into a vise. Lube the conical entrance and twist the hose into the socket, then check to see if the hose is in position. In less than 10 seconds you have it assembled and if required you can repeat the process several times without the need to re-cut the hose end.

Manufactured of a high tech composite, the KOULtool is virtually indestructible with no need to worry about vise marks or the tool wearing out. The tool can pay for itself the first time you don't have to scrap some expensive hose because it got too Hawk Racing Pads now available from Cebco Brakes short trying to clean fT5«r. up the end. And you . Ph 1300556640 will be amazed at the of time you > amount save.

This space could be yours.

Call Brendon on 0407 007 286 for details.

After using this tool, you will say to yourself, "KOUL". The KOULtool is available in 2 kits, each kit contains three sizes, a complete set of instructions and is a must for any engine builder or workshop.

For more information contact Crane Technologies on 08 8363 5566'

MAZDA RX4 Improved Production U1600 1981 Ford KA Laser improved Prod car. Setup on AVGAS with twin carbies, highiy modified engine ready for turbo if desired, adjustable Koni coii overs, upgraded to disc brakes all around. Recently rebuilt carbies, comes with comprehensive spare parts package. New seatbeits iast season. Log booked and ready to race in Under 1600cc class. 4,000 Neg. Andrew 0407 649 671 / 5499 2247.

www.myl05.com/47893

330

www.myl05.eom/20163 3 30

Historic Nc Morris Cooper S

Qld Gemini Series Car All new suspension inc. 2 sets of Koni ajdustable shockies, range of spring rates (brand new). 2 meetings since full engine rebuild. Dyno tested. Recently painted boot and engine bay in 2-Pac. C/W huge amount of spares including 3 gearbox's, fuii engine block, complete rolling chassis for spares, extra panels. Box of suspension components Inc. control arms, ride height spacers etc...

GC Yokohama A032R tyres. Log booked and ready to race in 06 Gemini series. 4,500 Neg. Andrew 0407 649 671 / 5499 2247.

www.myl 05.com/19246 330

15 February 2006

Mazda RX4 improved production State Champ car Ric Shaw 13B Bridgeport 51mm Webber 4:4 diff Top 10 Car. $10,000 firm.

Phone Garry (02) 4937 5314 or 0408 682 722. $ 10,000.00. Garry 0408 682 722.

One of the best prepared, maintained and competitive Nc Minis racing in Qid.This is one of 2 identicai Minis raced in Qld, All the right gear and car is ready to race. Caii to fi nd out more. $16,900 Neg. Keith 07 5522 0008.

www.myl O5.com/16428 330

Targa/clubcar 2nd in category 2005 East Coast Targa. Uitra reliable. Full steel roll cage. Immola race seats.

Sabelt full harnesses. 2 fi re extinguishers Extractors, ceramic exhaust. Giobe 15x7 wheels Terratrip/intercom.

Suspension upgraded for targa. Cross drilled front brakes.

Modified camshafts. Rally rego for event only.

All receipts for preparation. $8500.00 ONO. Craig 0414638428.

www.myl 05.com/45007 330

79

RACE AND PERFORMANCE CLASSIFIEDS

motorsport vehicle or anything to do with motorsport via our internet classified partners my105.com -for as little as $35!^

Find hundreds more race vehicles and parts for sale at www.my105.com

T3T77T

DaHara F304

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HOW?

c

Type/write your advertisement clearly (no more than 50 words), nominate

‘‘ your category and include your pic(s). . Jv Mail or email(include credit card and . your details)- see addresses below.

-41

- Ads without pics may be faxed, along * with your details/contact and credit

4

f Gibson Motorsport Nissan GRP "A" DR30 Skyline as driven by George Fury & Glen Seaton during 1986 & 87. Totally original & authentic In every respect this car is offered with spare Gibson Motor, original log book, homolagation papers & set up books as used

by Gibson. Full Price $12S,000.00. For further details contact Terry Ashwood on 0415 262 855. $125,000.00.Terry 0415 262 855.

331

Categories include:

R

Standard ad(no pic) - my105.com & MNews $45

Citroen Xsara 2004 spec Citroen Xsara. Class pole & race winner in National & State series.

Very competitive in APCC Class C & NSW Combined Touring Class E. Ready to go for 8 round National or 6 round state C/ship starting March. Can be tested on PCAA test day Feb 10. Comes with spares, set up data & bits to turn back to road car. Eligable for national series to end 2008. 19,950 Or Best Offer. Brendon 0409 952 905.

www.myl05.com/55644

330

Built by Allan Moffat for the'95 Bathurst 1000, and still logbooked as a V8 5upercar, this EB Falcon has been returned to it's "Cenovis" appearance. 5uitable for a collector, but could easily be prepared for competing in the Touring Car Challenge. Comes with original Allan Moffat logbook. Die Cast model of car available. Phone Ross on 0404 861 616. $75,000 ONO.ross 0404861616.

www.myl05.eom/34340

$10

$35 $20

Hq Race Car. Must 5ell, body work and a small amount of wiring required. Raced by John Goss In the Darwin 2hr legends of motorsport race. $2000 Or Best Offer.Tom 0417824792.

$75

www.myl05.com/62921

330

CHECK LIST - have you supplied: Typed/written advertisement; category, photo;credit card details (number, expiry, name); your details (name,address, phone, email)?

Ford Anglia / race car sports Very historic race car. Built and log booked in 1967 raced by Barry Wraith for many years. Raced in 2a sports cars but will be eligable for historic sports sedan.Barry 5eton 4.1 crossflow,fully adjustable fronVrear suspension,glass front clip and moulds, comes with spares and tandem trailer. 27,500 Best Offer. Paul 0408196602.

www.myl05.com/69112

330

SEND TO: Mail: My105,Suite 8,11-21 Underwood Rd, Homebush, NSW,2140 Email: mnews@my105.com Fax: 02 9647 1177 Notice to advertisers; We are unable to return photos supplied for advertising. Ads will appear as soon as possible after receipt.

MNews/mylOS classifieds are for the sale of private goods and vehicles only. Photos marked 'proof'will not be used.

331

Open Wheelers

Extra issues(per issue)

m

Allan Moffat Cenovis Falcon

HQ Race Car

Photo 'Colour' block ad (per issue) 'Feature'ad - MNews & my105.com

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Gibson Motorsport Nissan GRP

Sedans/Sports Cars; Open Wheelers; . Speedway; Drag; Engines; Parts; Transporters/Trailers; Employment; / Photographs; Wanted.

Additional options:

Partlly finished Toyota Sprintersuitable for improved prod, .rollcage, frontsuspension, willwood front calipers,race seat and harness all done.$4800 ONO.adrian 0413734000.

J n

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Race Car/shell

*(if directly entered onto my10S.com)

Either log on to my105.com and follow ,V .the prompts(photo must be digital, if required)OR you can still advertise via mail/fax($10 surcharge applies) and send us your car photo if you require . .i one($10 pic processing fee).

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-iwv.my70Sxo m/9343

Yes,3 months on myl05.com, plus an insertion here in MNews, all for as little as $35.

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SELL your parts,

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GET it]

F4000 Reynard 98D.Complete with Flolden Alloytec engine. MoTeC Dash and M800 ECU. Gearbox and Diff Just serviced. Awesome to drive.

Ready to race and win. Prepped and ready for season 2006. May trade. $85,000. Mark 0438 525 395.

www.myl05.com/5762

330

00'Porsche 996 GT3 Clubsport

Hi-Lite Your Ad

Road registrable, neat & tidy quick car ready for Targa Tas, Rally Tas etc. Comes complete with factory roll cage (CAM5 Homologated) Porsche RECARO seats, quick release Momo steering wheel. Unichip piggy backed ECU, navigator foot plate, 2 sets new PAGID front brake pads, 1 pair front discs & 12 rims all fitted with lightly roaded tyres. $155,000 For more info please contact. Greg 0418 130 130.

VPCommodoreforsale,Excellentpresentation, Dyno sheet shows Top Horsepower. Large number of spares, including wheels, gearbox, pactice tyres, etc. Regretful sale. $15,000.00 ONO.Mick 5chneider 0400 556425.

www.myl05.com/71939

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VP Saloon Car

Block Coloured Ads Out NOW!

330

Log oii to ~cam. online classmeos for Details moiarsportnews

classifieds RACE AND PERFORMANCE CLASSIFIEDS

7 FORMULA FORD - MYGALE SJ2000.Absolutely first class condition.Immaculately maintained.

Known Flistory. Quantum Adjustable Shocks.

New OZ Racing Rims (8). New Bodywork and Paint. Trailer and spares. Will sell as Roller or with Lamer Motor. Roller $31,900 or with motor $34,900 ono. Call Neville - 0405 123 666 or (08)8391 4612.39500.00 ONO. Neville 0405123666.

www.myl05.com/13820

oriTTne classifieds

Find hundreds more race vehicles and parts for sale at www.my105.com

Formula Ford VECTOR MG95with trailer

Formula Ford

377777

Excellent condition. Complete ready to race.

Lamer engine. Price includes custom trailer, 2 sets of wheels & tyres, 3 nose cones, nose box, 1 set wide pods, 1 set narrow pods.

Assorted spare suspension springs sway bars bellville washers. Assorted spare wishbones & suspension components. Lap timer. A MUST SEE. $21,000 Neg.James 0400 700 007.

www.myl05.com/32243

I Car trailer

330

Car trailer large tri-axle. Would suit any sedan or open wheeler $4,500.00 Des 0408 228 770.

0408 228 770.

330

Transporters/Trailers

www.myl05.com/83167

330

V8 Supercar Brake Sale .’Ti

Van Diemen RF93/95 Brand new Lamer engine - 1 meeting only, new paint, exhaust and harness, penske shocks. New rodends and wheel bearings throughout.3 sets of wheels Brand new spares inc - 4 sets of corners, assorted wide track and full set of narrow track wishbones, pushrods, driveshaft, sway bars, rollsprings, starter motor, camber adjusters, shock springs and steering arms, last used 19/07/03. This car is immaculate and ready to race. Maintained by Redback Motorsports. 29,000.0414277800.

www.my105.com/21350

FTransporter for Sale Transporter 40 ft drop deck Pantech in good condition including Kitchenette, 240vlt wired, 8kva generator. Tyre racks, winch. Fully enclosed annex, water tank, new brakes, good tyres, fits 2 large sedans. $35000 Neg. Ken 0439488960.

www.myl05.com/73395

330

330

392 Duel Fuel 88,000ks,5 speed auto,seats 7, new extractors, 23'body, wired for 240v, new winch, includes honda generator, excellent truck, suit speedway or circuit cars. This is a regretful sale. $32,000 ONO. Ian 0403 686 809.

www.myl05.com/82008 Wanted

Drivers wanted, Malaysia 12hr production car race Aug 16th-18th 2006, Sepang FI circuit, professional four car team, podium last 4 years. International license required, please ph Allan Letcher 0407 774 630. Allan 0407 774 630.

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Mako Buggy

330

330

Sprintcar parts

I

www.myl05.com/2248

www.myl05.com/11481

330

Drivers Wanted

New Extractors, Super Diff, Porche CV's Chrome Molly Cages, Power Steering, Rack and Pinion, Button Clutch, Stage Three Pressure Plate, Bilstein Coil Over Shocks, Jamar Shifter, OBX seats, belts in date. Fully Re-built. Log Book. Race Ready. $17,000,00 Neg. Kim 0418504893.

Large quantity of brake components for sale, ex V8 Supercar. These include; * Brembo 375mm front rotors * PFC 340mm rear rotors * PFC brake pads to suit AP & Alcon calipers.

Condition ranges from good to excellent.

Email alaws@britek.com.au for full details. $100 and up Neg. Adam Laws 03 9702 9555 / 0417 699 245.

www.myl05.com/4667

40'3 Car Transporter 3 car transporter. Includes Kincrome Roller Cabinets, tyre racking. Brand new cleanskin tyres & suspension bushes. Kitchen/lounge at front. Complete with 40'annex enclosed on 3 sides. $65,000 Neg.Tony 0418 551 867.

www.myl05.com/55657

331

MAXWHEELS 1 X RR 2 X LR SPLINED 550.00 KSESTEERINGBOXLONG 1200.00 ALUMINIUM RADIATOR 200.00 SNAPON ALUMINIUM JACK 600.00 2X SET OFF GEARS 600.00 FOR ALL MOOSE BLOCKS 150.00 FRONT REAR ARMS 50.00EA JACOBS LADDER 50.00EA SANDERS TORQUE TUBE AND BALL 250.00 6 PIN LR RIMS 150.00EA. mark 0407852768.

www.myl05.eom/48091

330

Speedway Properties

332

Mini Sprint 29 Suzuki Pirahna Very quick formula Libra under 2 litre. Comes with heaps of spares inc. tyres, wheels, suspension parts, gear ratio's, x2 body's 1/2 & full. Turbo charger with manifolds, not fitted. Semi enclosed dual axle trailer included. Existing logbook. 17,000 ONO. jay 0267626868.

www.my105.com/94090 15 February 2006

330

Great Tow Vehicle 4 Speed Auto. 2" lovered spindles and rear spring shackles. Billet grill. Billstein shocks.

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foster hi bar chassis.datsun motor with roller rockers,magneto,slider halibrand quick' change 4sets of gears.gardener steering box,3new max wheels for rear,2 welds on front,some new and used tyres.bailey rims 3inners,3outers with tyres,tail tank.complete ready to race and very competitive car.Spares it comes with a new moule chassis with bonnet,panels,nerf bars,l new D&f wing and heaps of spares. 11500.00. luke 0429957484.

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Get me into a V8!

I have to agree 100 percent with the article penned by Chris Jordan in regards to V8 Supercars taking a leafoutoftheSprintcar boys' book and allowing the paying public close-up access to these incredible speed machines.

I have been attending Sprintcar races at Baccus Marsh Raceway lately and was amazed at how easily my request to take a seat behind the wheel of one of these monsters was met.

I had the privilege to experience sitting in two of these cars and wow what a buzz!.

The view (or should I say lack of it!) is spectacular, a glance upward revealing that massive wing.

Peering out of the tiny meshed opening frontward you peer across the front mounted wing.

The thought of having some SOOhp in close proximity made me drool!

I somehow think that a request to the Supercar guys to do the same would not be met. Let's hope that things change soon.

David Taylor Kyneton, VIC V8 DVD not as before?

Quality control must have been asleep when they let the latest edition of the 2005 V8 Supercar Championship highlight DVD slip by.

Imagine watching the AFL Grand Final, but without the first three quarters - frustrating, pointless and mainly disappointing.

Well that's what its like watching V8's own Grand Finale. Races 1 and 2 are a no-show on the DVD; ditto Race 1 in New Zealand, which leaves a lot be desired.

Even the HPDC gets full race coverage including both the Phillip Island races.To use an over-used term,'go figure'?

The first Championship DVD in 2003 was good,and the 2004 edition improved on that and really set the standard, albeit missing a couple of races here and there-tolerable.

I

Send us your thoughts; PO Box 7072, Brighton,VIC 3186 Fax:0395965030 mnews@mnews.com.au

and disrespects the drivers and teams and the fans that deserve better. We can only hope they will wake up before the 2006 edition slips by.

Support the fans that support you.

Justin Heyfield, Victoria Ute Crazy...

After 16 hours of travel in the Mighty Citroen DS,from Auckland to Manfeild and back, I am still just bubbling over with the joy that was the V8 Ute Meeting this past week-end.

A crusty old 58-year-old, I just have to write and thank the promoters for taking the chance, and putting in the obviousiy immense amount of work that brought us this spectacular meeting, i hope it was a success for you and that it was worth the tremendous effort that must have been put in by many good folk, to bring us this polished and exciting series.

Without exception, your drivers and crews were affable and ready to talk racing, and the access, although limited to some extent, was about right with the signing

sessions well announced so that old sods like me could get down and have a quick chat and grab an autograph or two.

Wonderful stuff men and I hope that I get the chance to see it again next year.

Don't think I will ever get the chance to see them on home turf but with the splendid TV coverage available to us over here courtesy ofTVNZ, I am sure that we will get more than enough (can we ever get more than enough??)TV time to keep the New Zealand motorman interested and champing at the bit to get to the next NZed meeting.

Cheers Men, brilliantly done and thank you again.

Baz Cleverley Auckland, NZ Rough Justice Sad to see that Jason Bargwanna looks like copping the rough end of Mark Larkham's bail-out of team ownership.

Clearly, the little guy can't have known what was coming, or he'd have taken on one of the other options that might well have been available to him.

Is there any chance of a seat at WPS,or are David Besnard and Craig Baird locked in?

I'm sure there are a number of teams that would have grabbed Bargs if they'd known a little earlier that he was going to be dumped onto the market place.

If nothing else, I hope Bargs' contract with Larkham gets him a sensible payout and that there's a good long distance spot available to him to get through 2006.

Bad luck mate - mind you, it seems like there are several thousand car industry workers also facing the same uncertain future as yourself.Tough times.

David Quinlan Mount Gravatt, QLD

Future Shock:the V8 Utes drew a record crowd to NZ's Manfeild circuit.

But the lack of quality in the latest version just doesn't do the V8s justice. No hot lap, no warm up, not even a grid list before each race. Just a slap-bang race after race and, if you want to watch a race instantly, you're in trouble - unless you're after Race 1 of a round, you have to fast forward till you find them (like VMS).

I suppose we have to be thankful they bothered to 'chapterise' the rounds,so a big pat on the back forgetting that right.

The dismal effort on the DVD really sours a great championship

motorsport news

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