Motorsport News Issue 353 - January 24-February 6, 2007 by V8 Sleuth

ALONSO SPEAKS MY NEW LIFE AT MCLAREN THE NEWS BEHIND THE NEWS

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No.353 24 Januaty -6 February 2007 Australia $6.50 NZ $8.00 inc GST

EXCLUSIVE!

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FORD SEES RED O s

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WEEKEND AT the ftUSSlE GP 02

STARS Auiste dazzles at Monte Carlo

BRILLIANT Dream Daytona debut for Marcm

Issue 353 24 January6 February 2007

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NEWS 5

Jedi Leader?

NotTeamYodafone,TeamVodafone

Young Fordies

A Blue Ova!'junior'program

And,for dessert? Abu Dhabigetsin on Fi act

Bruce Almighty Coming soon:McLaren,the movie

12 FI vs 320i vs ?

Speed Comparison on for AGP

OPINION 25 Motor Mouth

Marcos's first days at Daytona

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30 Five Miriutes withDohn/Sehatz 32 Five MinuteSVfIfh Alan Gurr ^Mj^lJing to Perform *‘^^A day on the road with FPR's Steven Richards 40 Troys take it to the Max A look into World Superbikes,2007-style 44 New year, new team...Even new hair Fernando Alonso takes to red and silver 48 NASCAR's Professor remembered Motor racing will miss Benny Parsons t

SO Audi,Beware! Peugeotgets ready for a diesel Le Mans war DM

M'<Dld^r Pironi revisited A sad end to a promising,almostgreatcareer

Only Total

d seiection... off|frs/you the winning piston ring technoiogy |

n Advanifsed Profiling. I Steel hiings / I ■I Diamond Finisl|.M Rings ■ Golidi Flni5h.M Riig Sets Di Gapless® Top* Rings i Gap less® 2nd Rings

n Napier 2nd Rings i Classic/Conveniional Ring Sets i Advantage Ring Sets ■ Gapless® One Piece Oil Rings ■ ProRall.M & Custom Oil Rings i PVD & IP Coatings

n Tight Tolerances n Custom Face Profiles ■ Any Bdre, Thickness or Radial Dimension m Bore Sizes Available in .001” Increments

Visit us ottiine for oiir ffiii product range avaiiahie from your nearest distributor www.performancewHolesale.com.au

Ph; 07 3808 1986

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Issue 353 24 January6 February 2007

vjiy

5 www.mnews.com.au

NEWS 5

Jedi Leader?

NotTeamYodafone,TeamVodafone

Young Fordies

A Blue Ova!'junior'program

And,for dessert? Abu Dhabigetsin on Fi act

Bruce Almighty Coming soon:McLaren,the movie

12 FI vs 320i vs ?

Speed Comparison on for AGP

OPINION 25 Motor Mouth

Marcos's first days at Daytona

m m

SO Audi,Beware! Peugeotgets ready for a diesel Le Mans war DM

M'<Dld^r Pironi revisited A sad end to a promising,almostgreatcareer

Only Total

d seiection... off|frs/you the winning piston ring technoiogy |

n Advanifsed Profiling. I Steel hiings / I ■I Diamond Finisl|.M Rings ■ Golidi Flni5h.M Riig Sets Di Gapless® Top* Rings i Gap less® 2nd Rings

n Napier 2nd Rings i Classic/Conveniional Ring Sets i Advantage Ring Sets ■ Gapless® One Piece Oil Rings ■ ProRall.M & Custom Oil Rings i PVD & IP Coatings

n Tight Tolerances n Custom Face Profiles ■ Any Bdre, Thickness or Radial Dimension m Bore Sizes Available in .001” Increments

Visit us ottiine for oiir ffiii product range avaiiahie from your nearest distributor www.performancewHolesale.com.au

Ph; 07 3808 1986

HOUIB

GB0&SB® PiBtBgl Rln0

‘pnlenteci 1 patent pencil

Ifijtgke 'B, We hate Eddie Maguire'. And lockjtin M tM questions to last issue's MNews qul^"^^ t.

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58 Alio'Alio, miWWiWme?^^^m

Loeb returns. In Monte CarlO^m^,

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NATIONAL & INTERNATimAfki^Z 22 Rally

Photos ' '^over: . xTeamVodatone

60 International 62 Speedway 66 Drag Racing 70 National Scene

. sutton^imqges.^m *' ', Jpdrd Rming Media ^^ Sdniehts; ' CfttseihSport ,^t4on-iiftages,com Tt^fh\Vodafohe » ■Nmcm Media %oss Sibb

76 Race Shop/Industry News 79 Classifieds > t.

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NEWS.. —

TeamVodafone breaks cover Lowndes and Whincup turn the blue oval into a red oval with telecommunications giant TEAMVODAFONE will certainly stand out from the crowd in 2007, with its two Falcon BFs turning red and chrome! As first confirmed by MNews back in October,the telco-backed team will wear red - the colour that has been more closely associated with Holden, and particularly the Holden Racing Team, over the years.The'red and chrome' look, which TeamVodafone shares with Vodafone-backed McLaren,is a first for V8 Supercars and will undoubtedly ensure the two Fords stand out on the grid. Triple 8 Race Engineering and the communications giant launched TeamVodafone in Sydney yesterday, the team becoming the first to have its launch beamed to thousands of handsets around the country. Vodafone's 3G subscribers were able to tune in to the occasion on their handsets at 11 am and watch on the dedicated TeamVodafone channel. Craig Lowndes and Jamie Whincup start testing the team's revised cars after the testing ban ends in the second half of February. -PHILBRANAGAN

AMBROSES'SSTUNNING DAYTONA DEBUT r;wiirtjiraiJl linn aSularnmn l nlMBm nil k'l B Rli

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AUSTRALIAN international driver Marcos Ambrose has concluded an impressive three-day test at Daytona International Speedway, setting top 10 times while learning the fast Florida superspeedway. The 30-year-old Tasmanian completed 209 laps over the three days in his #59A and #59B Kingsford Charcoai Ford Fusions around the famous 2.5-mile Daytona Beach circuit. Ambrose and his new crew chief Greg Conner got busy over the weekend, working on both solo and drafting runs. While Ambrose was pleased with his progress (his first time at the bumpy Daytona track), lap times weren't at the forefront of his mind. "I'm happy with what we have been able to achieve over the past three days,"said Ambrose. "The timesheets were not our priority. The important thing at this test has been for the team to work together and try some new things on the car. We've done that and made progress with every session. "I'm really pleased with how It's all gone.The team gelled right from the first session and we worked through a lot of things over the three days in terms of car set-up and getting our car to w/ork better on superspeedways." Ambrose's next run in the car will be in two weeks at Las Vegas for more testing, before returing to Daytona for the first round of the NASCAR Busch Series. For more with Marcos Ambrose,see Motor Mouth,page 24

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TeamVodafone n yf

vodafone

Vodafone

Make the most ofNow:TeamVodafone's Jamie Whincup and Craig Lowndes unveiled their hot new warpaint in Sydney.

False startfor Ford's Orion FORD'S plans to race its successor to the Falcon BF V8 Supercar,codenamed 'Orion', in time for the start of the 2008 season have been shelved. The Blue Oval teams will now face Holden's new-generation Commodore VE for 2007 and at least half of the 2008 season, although the new Falcon may not be introduced until the 2009 Clipsal 500. The delay has been caused by a policy shift within Ford.The company sees the road-going Orion, which is expected to be all-new, making up as big a part of its marketing strategy as the Commodore is to Holden's and, because of that, is not willing to do anything to lessen its impact.That means that to have a V8 Supercar under development in parallel with the road car (and, potentially, visible to the public or media), is an unacceptable risk. According to Ford Racing Manager Ray Price, the launch date of the Orion is still being finalised. "We are still working on it," he said this week. "We have made some progress but it is www.mnews.com.au

about four weeks before we will lock that in." The Orion had been planned to launch in early-to-mid March 2008 and be on sale shortly thereafter. Making a big impact is seen as an imperative, particularly in light of the fact that Ford is likely to face the same large-car image problems (driven by the cost of fuel) that have faced Holden with its VE. To maximise the impact of the roadcar. Ford is understandably keen to maintain a veil of secrecy over the Orion, even if it means racing the superseded BF model against the Holden for the whole year. But one option is to introduce the new car mid-season, as Holden did with its Commodore VT in 1998. "I would say 2008 is flexible for us, in that there is two entry[homologation] points for us," Price explained."There is one for the whole of the year and one in the middle of the year. We need to work out which one will be best for us." To understand the timeline of the development of the Orion, the best indicator is the VE timeline.The development team, .Holden Racing Team,took delivery of a shell

in late April 2006, in order to have a working prototype (forTEGA aerodynamic testing) by early September.The Commodore road car was shown to the world on July 16 and went on sale in mid-August. By the final quarter of the year, Holden teams were taking delivery of their bodyshells and work is now underway to have cars completed in time for testing, which starts in the third week of February. In order to have the Orion race cars trackready for the first week of March '09, Ford teams would have to have bodyshells by late-October/early November, and the development team (probably Ford Performance Racing) would need around nine months to develop a track-ready fleet of Fords to tackle the then-race-proven VEs. The question now is, not so much whether the cars will make the start of 2008 - they won't - but whether the cars will be ready in 2008 at all. If the BFs remains competitive in 2008, and Ford drivers are in contention for a title, a conservative route (and a March '09 debut) might just be too appealing to give up ...

NEWS.. —

AMBROSES'SSTUNNING DAYTONA DEBUT r;wiirtjiraiJl linn aSularnmn l nlMBm nil k'l B Rli

1i9R WPJ fl f?

motorsponiniet/vs

TeamVodafone n yf

vodafone

Vodafone

Make the most ofNow:TeamVodafone's Jamie Whincup and Craig Lowndes unveiled their hot new warpaint in Sydney.

NEWS %

ord's Rising Stairs

CAT stays with Bright CATERPILLAR will retain its association with Jason Bright after confirming a new deal sponsorship deal with Britek Motorsport. The arrangement will see Caterpillar signage on the front, middle bar and rear wing of Bright's #25 Fujitsu Racing BE Falcon. There will also be a new range of CAT Racing merchandise. "Caterpillar is an iconic brand and one that we feel very proud to be associated with," Bright said. Britek will unveil both of its cars early next month. n While Ford Performance Racing is coming off a great year, the axe came out at Ford Performance Vehicles last Friday. Managing Director Sak Ryopponen, Marketing and Sales Manager Roger Gray, Product Planning Manager Mark Behr and PR Manager Steve Colquhoun are also gone. No change has been made to the company's 50:50 Ford/Prodrive ownership and the new General Manager,Sales and Marketing will report to Prodrive AT Asia-Pacific. n Mike Gascoyne,the new technical boss of Spyker El says that the team will be building a second car later this year - a trick Gascoyne has used several times before - to close the gap faster. The team has now also announced that It will be working with a second windtunnel with Gascoyne doing a deal with Aerolab, the subsidiary of Fondmetal, which is located not far from Ferrari's headquarters in Modena. n Formula 11s expanding its intercontinental tests this year with planned tests in Bahrain between February 22-24 and February 27-28. There will also be a test in Malaysia between March 27-29,to fill the threeweek gap between the Australian and Malaysian GPs. Agreeing to hold these tests may result in the teams being convinced to more races as it makes little sense to have expenditure for fly away tests without the income that additional races would bring them. n Jean Alesi let slip recently that he is going to be racing at the end of 2007 in a new touring car championship that will feature races in the Middle and Far East. The plan is for a number of well-known names to be involved in this new development. - STAFF/JOE SAWARD 6

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IRWIN Industrial Tools

Morton's two Fujitsu V8s setfor major Ford support...and a TV star?

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TFIE expansion of Jim Morton's Fujitsu V8 Supercar Series from one car to two is set to include major support from Ford Australia. Morton, who recently purchased Shannon O'Brien's ex-Larkham Falcon, is close to finalising a deal to run his two Ford Falcons under the banner 'Ford Risjng Stars.'Current team driver Michael Caruso will spearhead the team, and if MNews sources are correct(and they usually are), then the second driver is set to offer the Sydney team a major slice of exposure. MNews understands that former Dick Johnson Racing development driver Grant Denyer sits in the box seat to secure the drive in the second Ford Rising Star Falcon. The Channel 7 personality is currently one season into a twoyear deal with the Ford Motor Company, which would fit in well with the Ford Rising Star program. Denyer and his management are expected to confirm his racing future within the next week. To coincide with the new proposed deal, the Morton cars would feature minimal Decina backing, with larger corporate support from Ford and other backers. The Ford Rising Star program also sits well with Morton's plans to enter the V8 Supercar Championship Series in 2008, which would give him a complete ladder for young aspiring V8 drivers - from the Fujitsu Series, to endurance driver and then main series. But getting into V8 Supercars

Britek secures Irwin and Gurr

Australia's got talent: Michael Caruso, above left, and Grant Denyer, above right, may spearhead a proposed Ford Rising Star V8 team. has always proved the hardest task for youngsters. And that's where Ford wants to help. Ford already has a long-term contact with Formula Ford, and the Rising Star V8 team will give the blue oval a chance to leverage that investment. Ford Racing boss Ray Price told MNews that there is a need to focus on harnessing young talent. "We need to foster the talented youth we have in this country," Price said. "Ford had a very good year in 2006 with young talent. Jamie Whincup won two rounds, James Courtney had multiple podium finishes, Mark Winterbottom finished third overall and Will Davison was a star. We want to . build on this platform we have." As for the Ford Rising Stars team, it seems likely that confirmation will come sooner rather than later. "There are a few things to work out," he said. "But directionally, that's what we want to do. We are definitely going to do something, its just a matter of sorting it out now." Ford has a history of supporting emerging talent in Australia. For four years (between 2001 and 2004),the blue oval backed the

Ford KartStars series, which saw Caruso, Winterbottom, Adam Graham and Andrew Thompson take the respective title. Ironically, Morton had a hand in the nurturing and development of all four drivers.The winner of the KartStars series were offered subsidised drives in the Australian Formula Ford Championship. Inaugural KartStars champion Caruso is the ideal man to head Morton's new Rising Star team. Caruso is also a former Formula 3 champion and finished fourth in last year's Fujitsu V8 Series. Denyer also has a karting background, but did not go down the open-wheel path, choosing the V8 Utes Series as a stepping stone for his progression through the ranks. Denyer acquitted himself well in his two seasons with Dick Johnson Racing,juggling television commitments and driving race cars. His standout performance came at Bathurst last year, where he teamed with Alex Davison to take ninth overall and first rookie home. Confirmation of the Ford Rising Star team is expected within the next few weeks. - GRANT ROWLEY

motorsport news

BRITEK Motorsport has secured a major deal with Irwin Industrial Tools to be the naming rights sponsor of the team's #26 Falcon in 2007. At the same time, the team also confirmed that it had signed Alan Gurr to complete its driver line-up alongside Jason Bright. IRWIN, a major manufacturer of industrial tools and equipment, has a history of motorsport involvement via its relationship with Roush Racing in NASCAR. But the deal with Britek represents its first foray into V8 Supercars. "In terms of the market we play

in, V8 Supercars fit nicely,"said Nick Pritchard of Irwin. "The popularity ofV8 Supercars amongst professional tradesmen and handymen is unmatched. "Irwin is a totally new name to V8 Supercars and an enthusiastic partner that wants experience on and off the track,"said Bright. "It shows that non-traditional motorsport sponsors are looking at V8 Supercars, and importantly, Britek Motorsport, as an ideal way to build their brand." Gurr, 24, arrives at Britek after spending 2006 sharing the #39 Paul Morris Motorsport

Commodore with Fabian Coulthard and Steve Ellery. "It is a really good opportunity," Gurr told MNews. "The team has had its two years of finding its feet and trying to work out what goes where,and now it is time to get results. Jason is obviously there to do that, and I want to learn as much as possible and support both he and the team, and also do as well as I can for myself. "I want to finish in the top 15 on a consistent basis. If Jason is in the top 10, I'd like to be in the top 15 somewhere. I'd like to be between

five and 10 spots behind him. That might not happen straight away, but as the year goes on I can try to move further and further forward,to the point where I am consistently scoring points." A deal that would have seen the second Britek seat shared by Adam Macrow and Simon Wills fell over at the 11th hour when a related sponsor was unable to commit within the team's required timeframe. -MARKGLENDENNING For more on Alan Gurr's new Britek deal, turn to our interview on page 32.

WPS/Larko split

The Endurance grab is on Thompson with DJR -GRM boys stay- Factory men leave WITH the entire V8 Supercar grid sorted (except for the proposed Walden Motorsport entry), the race is now on to secure the best possible endurance driver line up for each team. Heading the list of confirmed drivers is Andrew Thompson, who will suit up with Dick Johnson Racing at Sandown and Bathurst this year. The 19-year-old joins reigning Fujitsu V8 Supercar Series team Howard Racing in the Fujitsu V8 Supercar Series, and was part of DJR's three-car Fujitsu Series team in 2006.The fourth DJR driver will be announced in due course. On the Holden side of the fence. wiAraj.mnews.com.au

Garry Rogers Motorsport will have exactly the same line-up as it had at Bathurst in 2006. Dean Canto and Lee Holdsworth will pair in the #34 car, while Rogers was quick to snap up Greg Ritter and Cameron McLean, who will again team up in car #33. Ford Performance Racing and the Holden Racing Team could not confirm who'll drive their cars, can they can confirm who won't. Australian international drivers David Brabham and Ryan Briscoe will be unavailable to contest the V8 Supercar enduros due to a date clash in the American Le Mans Series, which both drivers compete. - GRANT ROWLEY

WPS Racing will continue into the 2007 season,despite team co-owners Craig Gore and Mark Larkham splitting late last week. Larkham,who wound up his own Larkham Motor Sport team a year ago to take a stake in the Gore team, has parted amicably with the team, which runs Falcons for Jason Bargwanna and Max Wilson. "I want to sit back for a while,"said Larkham this week."I have been in this business for 20 years and everyone knows that motor racing is a full-on business. "I am not certain what role I will take now, but I do want to create some opportunities and see what opportunities present themselves.The phone has already started ringing." The WPS team is now heavily in rebuilding mode as it prepares from the coming season, with a number of key positions either waiting to be filled by newly-hired staff of vacant. Keith Evers remains as team manager and Adam Perry (who joined the team with Larkham)is still general manager. but otherwise, it looks all-new. Greg Wheeler and Jamie Wattam, who respectively engineered Bargwanna and Wilson last season, have both gone,Wheeler's move to A1 Team USA coming with two races remaining last year. Ian Brown will continue in the Wilson role he assumed late last year, while Daniel Kroehn moves into the team from Brad Jones Racing. There are also changes above that level, with Shane Gore vacating the role of Director of Motorsport, his duties expected to be acquired by Tony Manson, who joins the team after Stints in operations roles withTIGA and CupCar Australia.

NEWS %

ord's Rising Stairs

-JiiiinK

IRWIN Industrial Tools

Morton's two Fujitsu V8s setfor major Ford support...and a TV star?

«sr

Britek secures Irwin and Gurr

motorsport news

WPS/Larko split

A full day ofJV

Diamonds at Maranello THE 60th anniversary of Ferrari as a car manufacturer is being celebrated this year with a Ferrari road rally which will begin in Abu Dhabi on January 28 and will then visit 50 countries on all six continents before ending in Maranello in June. The event will give Ferrari the opportunity to showcase its cars and its technologies. Abu Dhabi has been chosen as it is the site of the new Ferrari theme park and an important market for the Italian firm. The a1)u Dhabi government holding company Mubadala was also last week named as a Ferrari FI sponsor, with Kimi Raikkonen and Felipe Massa both wearing caps with Mubadala branding. n Randstad has expanded its involvement in formula 1 with a threeyear sponsorship deal with the AT&T Williams team. n The company had a successful time with Williams last year and has decided to expand its activities to include oncar branding. n Former Williams FI sponsor Federal Express has moved on to join McLaren.The US firm has been in FI since J 997 but has spent the last two years with Williams. Prior to that the company sponsored Ferrari and Benetton(now Renault), making a habit of switching from one team to the next depending on which FedEx believes will be the best bet. n McLaren is currently building a new paddock facility which is rumoured to be based on the America's Cup Pavilion, known as the Edificio Veles e Vents,in Valencia. The team has a strong Spanish theme with drivers Fernando Alonso and Pedro de la Rosa and several sponsors so a little architectural homage is not a bad idea. n PanasonicToyota Racing has donated a Toyota TF105 show car to the FIA Institute for extrication training programmes for medical and safety officials at Grands Prix around the world. TheTFJ05 car will be used to improve techniques of driver extrication following accidents, and has been specially modified with a jig fitted to allow the FIA Institute to easily roll the car upside down. -JOE SAWARD 8

JACQUES Villeneuve will join Peugeot Sport for the Le Mans 24 Hours. The French company will run two cars in each of the six Le Mans Series events this year with Nicolas Minassian, Stephane Sarrazin, Pedro Lamy and Marc Gene being joined at Le Mans by Sebastien Bourdais and Villeneuve.The team will retain Eric Helary as its test and development driver. Villeneuve has spent the recent weeks trying to put together a NASCAR package for the future, but it is clearly not going to happen for 2007 and Villeneuve may do just a few races in America prior to launching his NASCAR career in 2008 - if he can get a deal together. Going to Le Mans is a logical move for Jacques now that his FI career come to an end. He has won the FI World Championship,the Champ Car

title and the Indianapolis 500, and adding victory at Le Mans would make him unique. Graham Hill is currently the only man to have won the Indianapolis 500,the Le Mans 24 Hours and the World' Championship - although he never won a US national championship. The Peugeot 908 is being

designed in-house at Peugeot Sport in Velizy under the supervision of technical manager Bruno Famin. The technical team will include head of chassis design Paolo Catone, a former FI engineer, with ex-Dallara aerodynamicist Guiilaume Catellani and designer Jean-Marc Schmit. -JOE SAWARD l'"’

Abu Dhabijoins the circus

ABU Dhabi will host a Grand Prix in 2009.The news, which will be confirmed on February 1, will come as a big blow to Bahrain, which had hoped to maintain its dominant position in the Middle East. The Bahrainis signed a deal for the exclusive right to host a Formula 1 race in the Middle East and North Africa, but it was never clear how long that deal would run. It is normal for the Formula One group to do race deals for seven years, but usually there is an escape clause for both parties after five. Bahrain held its first race in 2004, so the fifth event will be next year. There is little doubt that the Abu Dhabi government is happy to throw money at Bernie Ecclestone as it has seen the impact of the Bahrain event- in terms of global coverage rather than filled grandstands - and has decided that it wants a piece of the action. The ruling family looked very closely at buying an FI team early in 2005 but then decided to go down a different route and bought five percent of Ferrari,

using its Mubadala Development Company as the holding company for the purchase. Mubadala has since become involved in Spyker Cars NV as well. More recently, the company signed a three-year sponsorship agreement with Ferrari. These, however, are small deals alongside the Abu Dhabi's government's plans for the development of Yas Island, a project on which it intends to spend a startling US$40bn in the next eight years. In addition to that another $6bn is being spent to expand the Abu Dhabi International Airport to bring in more tourists. Yas island is a 6000-acre development which will include the Ferrari World amusement park'and the new racing circuit. But there will also be beaches, entertainment, shopping, hotels, residences, golfing and equestrian facilities.

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This is all part of a long term plan formulated to wean the country off its current dependence on its oil reserves, which currently amounts to around 30 percent of the revenues. - JOE SAWARD

motorsport news

NEWS,.— %

Setting the ground rules KIMI Raikkonen ahdifOlip Massa aretobeOquals Team boss Jban fodt has toidThe Italian media that Kimi ► 'Raikkonen and Teiipe Massa"are “rftT! ftee-te4ight^rrtheTTO"Tfagir~" this season provided that their rivalry does not harm Perrari. "It will be healthy if the " two drivers compete against each .^.^wiHsbmsHf^^fRSIWB^bestiof 5?r^“^ur,n destructive because the »' ' ambitions Of Ferrari come first. ■ " ' Raikkoneri and Massa know this.' Todt's attitude will hopefully ^^->ragiauiLidais.w,av. but he has always seen his job as being to deliver the best possible results for his employer, and if that involves the sport suffering, he

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has never minded in the past. | The team has also been giving 'I details ofhow it \«ill operate under the new managemeint,' with Stefano DomeniGaHrumniiiia- : the teams operations at events but Tbdt still aippearimg at every race,even if he will spend less i time at race meetings. fVlario AimondOi the new | -●teehmeai^ecHJr.'Winhol'”'’' ~ ; attend all races but has a slightly different role to that of Ross Brawn,as the Englishman was technical director and also running the technical operations at the circuits. This-year,the racing-side^f*"*— n the job will be overseen by Luca Balderisseri. - JOE SAWARD

Government property

the investment is likely to be much THE government of Bahrain has taken more important than that and probably a stake in the McLaren Group. Ron Dennis and co-owner Mansour will result in the construction of a McLaren facility in Bahrain. It would Ojjeh have each sold half their shares in the McLaren group to Bahrain be logical to suggest that this will be Mumtalakat Holding. If the deal is in the new Sakhir City, which is due to begin construction soon. approved by regulators, the Bahrainis It has already been announced will own 30 percent of the team, with DaimlerChrysler keeping its 40 percent » that the new development will house a manufacuring plant and and Dennis and Ojjeh each retaining 15 showroom for the German car firm percent. Ruf Automobile GmbH, which builds It is thought likely that the Bahrainis its own high-performance vehicles will also have signed a covenant to and converts Porsche models to Ruf vote with Dennis and Ojjeh on all specification, matters which will leave the pair in ft could be that McLaren is now management control of the business. "The decision to buy a share in looking ahead to a new factory in McLaren stems from a keenness to the Middle East where it could have diversify investment in hi-tech sectors, the space and the lack of restrictions particularly car manufacturing and necessary to fulfil the company dream affiliate industries," said a spokesman, of having its own testing facility (named McLarenello by wags back in adding that the move will also help the 1980s) for FI and road cars, as rival Bahrain as it tries to build itself a Ferrari has with its tracks at Fiorano and prominent position on the world's « Mugello. sporting and tourism map. While there are obvious links in FI, -JQ^ SAWARD -t'.

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McLaren the movie THE life of New Zealand racing legend Bruce McLaren is to be made into a movie. Barrie Osborne, the Oscar-winning producer responsible for Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, has announced that he is planning to make a film based on a script by Matthew Grainger about the founder of the McLaren Racing team before his death in a testing accident at Goodwood in 1970. Most notably, Osborne made The World's Fastest Indian, the heart-warming tale of NZ eccentric and motorcycle racer, Burt Munro. The McLaren film does not yet have a title nor a cast but all this should become clear in the months ahead. Filming should start in about a year and the aim is for an international release, probably in late 2008 or early in 2009. The news was announced at theTaupo round of the AT Grand Prix Series with members of the McLaren Family and friends, including Sir Jack Brabham, Chris Amon and Emerson Fittipaldi and New Zealand government minister Jim Anderton. -JOE SAWARD 9

NEWS

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STR Still TBA WILL Scott Speed and Tonio Liuzzi keep their Formula 1 drives with Toro Rosso? The team has still not confirmed its drivers and co-owner Gerhard Berger told 'Auto Motor undSport'magazine in Germany:"They both showed weaknesses in 2006. We want to discuss these with them.You don't see superstars iike Schumacher and Alonso at too many parties... We have serious goals for Toro Rosso. Ifthey share these goals,they will sit in our cars. Ifthey do not,further cooperation would be a waste of time." n As ifto fuel the controversy over alleged'customer'Formula 1 cars, new Super Aguri race driver Anthony Davidson initially outpaced Renault's Giancarlo Fisichella and Heikki Kovalainen when they shared track time last week at Jerez, Spain. The Renault drivers were shaking down the new R27,ahead of its public launch in Amsterdam, Holland, on 24 January, and both men went faster than Super Aguri's Takuma Sato on the second day. Davidson was driving the'interim'Super Aguri which, critics claim, very closely resembles the Honda that won the 2006 Hungarian Grand Prix. The FIA has declared that it can make no ruling on the legality of Super Aguri's new car(and nor Toro Rosso's, which is similarly controversial) until they are presented for inspection in Melbourne in March. An FIA spokesman pointed out that what the teams test during the winter is up to them. n India could stage a Formula 1 Grand Prix in New Delhi as early as 2009, according to businessman Vijay Mallya, who has signed up his Kingfisher Airlines company as a sponsor of the factory Toyota team. Speaking in Koln, Germany, during the launch of the new Toyota TF107, Mallya remarked:"It has always been my dream to bring Formula 1 to India. Bernie Ecclestone is a great personal friend of mine and has been for many years. The government in Delhi really wants a race and I'm optimistic that we'll be able to host our first Grand Prix in 2009." Ecclestone's Formula One Management company confirmed last year that it was in negotiations with an unidentified Indian regional government vrhich was willing to fund a new circuit. -STAFF/SPURRING 10

IT has been a case of Old, New, Borrowed and Red in the opening of the 2007 Formula 1 launch season. Toyota, Ferrari, McLaren and BMW Sauber have all shown their initial offerings for the new Grand Prix season and there has been plenty of confident chat. All cars feature substantially different chassis and bodywork, in order to meet the stricter 2007 crash tests. Scuderia Ferrari (the'Marlboro' moniker has been dropped) has heavily revised its 2006 248 FI model with the F2007, which has a longer wheelbase than its elder. An all-new gearbox features a new quick-shift system and is much narrower than its predecessor, which has allowed designers to heavily revise the rear suspension in order to deal with the much stiffer Bridgestone 'spec'tyres. Interestingly, the car was launched quietly inside the team's factories and no viewing (or photos) of the rear of the car have been permitted. The team immediately tested the car at Fiorano. While the good old days would have seen the lap record smashed to appease theTifosi-mad Italian media,the significant thing was that only Felipe Massa drove the car. With no prior experience of Aldo Costa-

designed Ferraris or Bridgestones, Kimi Raikkonen is obviously being kept on the bench until a'bigger' opportunity. At McLaren,the MP4/22 is much different as well. While visually the biggest different is the Vodafone signage,the mandatory 6mm side impact panel has dictated major changes to the chassis, while the sidepods feature a high 'pinch'and vertical fins, which are bound to be changed in regular aero updates through the season. The car also features a new transmission, gearbox and clutch development starting prior even to the 2006 season. BMW Sauber's FI.07 is firstly significant as the first'proper' BMW,as the 06 was designed, at least in part, before the German company acquired Sauber. The chassis, built in HinwiI, Switzerland, has a new nose and wing mounts and new suspension, along with revised sidepods.The gearbox is smaller than on the 06, and the rear suspension is new. "in 2006 we exceeded our own targets,"says BMW motosport director Mario Theissen."Now expectations are rising faster than the team can develop.That's the punishment for excelling yourself." Toyota won the first race of the season, as the first team to roll

out a 2007 car.TheTFlO? is much changed from the disastrous 106, and features a taller chassis and a seamless seven-speed gearbox for the first time. Once again,the team has announced its aim to win this year. "Our fundamental challenge this year is to get the first victory," says Chairman and Team Principal TsutomuTomita. "We announced that a year ago, but we failed to succeed in 2006. And therefore we want to repeat that challenge in 2007." The team has also made much

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of the fact that it is the only one to carry forward the same fundamental package as 2006; engine and tyre suppliers and drivers. But, given that the latter are serial under-achievers Ralf Schumacher and JarnoTrulli, that hardly seems to be a positive.

Renault's new car has already tested and will be launched today(Wednesday).

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Swiss Miss: BMW's first FI car looks pretty, but will it be fast? 20O6's success has put a bit ofpressure on the HinwiI squad,as well as Nick Heidfeld and Robert Kubka. www.mnews.com.au

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Renault's new car has already tested and will be launched today(Wednesday).

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Swiss Miss: BMW's first FI car looks pretty, but will it be fast? 20O6's success has put a bit ofpressure on the HinwiI squad,as well as Nick Heidfeld and Robert Kubka. www.mnews.com.au

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Fernand no hideaway BMW Sauber, Ferrari, McLaren and Toyota all revealed their 2007 cars this week, but McLaren upstaged all the others by launching in the home nation of its new number one driver. More than 200,000 Spanish fans turned up to watch Fernando Alonso demonstrating last year's McLaren MP4-21 on a street circuit specially laid out in the city of Valencia. The World Champion and his rookie team-mate, Lewis Hamilton, also drove a number of Mercedes-Benz road cars prior to the launch of the McLaren MP4-22. The subsequent unveiling of the new McLaren in the city's Ciudad delas Artesyde las Ciencias area, was seen on live TV by an audience of 4.4m viewers on the Tele-5 station. Two days later, almost 8000 watched Alonso shaking down the ne w car on the permanent Valencia circuit on the city outskirts. Alonso shared the track with Nick Heidfeld's BMW Sauber FI .07, which had been revealed the previous day in the Feria de Valencia exhibition centre. ■ Michael Schumacher might have retired, but there is a bidding war in progress for the 2008 Formula 1 TV rights in Germany. Five pay and freeto-air broadcasters. Premiere, Arena, RTL, ARO and SAT-1, are involved, and Formula One Management expects substantially to increase its take from the nation. Currently RTL is paying €80 million ($131 m) a year and Premiere and DSF €45m between them. RTL reported 14.8 million viewers for Schumacher's final race, the Brazilian Grand Prix in October. ■ ThetownofPortimao,on Portugal's Algarve coast, is going ahead with its plans to build a Formula 1 specification racing circuit on 800 acres of land. A private company called Parkalgar has been granted a 10year tax break and a low annual rent for the land and will invest around $250m in the project which will include a 200-room five-star hotel and 160 apartments in addition to a technology centre, which will service the automobile industry. The aim is to start work as soon as possible and to have the track finished by September 2008. The local authorities are going to fund the construction of a viaduct from the A22 highway to the track, thus making access much easier. QUENTIN SPURRING/JOE SAWARO 12

THE end of tobacco in Formula 1 was always seen as being a day of reckoning, but the sport has been attracting a lot of new technology companies in recent months and as the link with tobacco fades we also expect to see more consumer brands working out that FI offers them a very good deal in terms of global exposure. For the moment, however, it is computers that are at the forefront with FI's image of high

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technology, speed and efficiency suiting companies that want to sell their products ina market where speed and efficiency are key to sales. The Spyker FI team has just announced deals with the German computer company Medion AG and Dutch software company Exact. Elsewhere, McLaren has its new deal with Aigo, the Chinese MP3 manufacturer, and Ferrari has its new deal with Alice, the broadband provider owned by Telecom Italia. Interestingly, last week a photograph of a Williams covered with branding from the Chinese computer maker Lenovo jllDeared on the Internet. -JOESAWARD

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TOYOTA has landed a major new sponsorship deal from India's Kingfisher Airlines. The company has been in operation only since 2005 but supported by the UB Group, which has a 47 percent share of the beer business in India, a market value of around $2bn and is the third biggest spirits company in the world. The airline is owned by Vijay Mallya, who has long had ambitions to turn the Kingfisher brand into a global entity, along the lines of Richard Branson's

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Virgin company. The company is involved in beer and airlines but UB also has real estate operations and is involved in footwear, technology, processed foods, pharmaceutical products, perfume and media. Mallya has long been an avid FI fan and has been heavily involved in the running of Indian motorsport in recent years. He is well aware of the value of FI sponsorship as Kingfisher Beer was a sponsor of the Benetton team in the 1990s. The deal makes sense for Toyota as it is aiming to build up its image in India, which is expected to become a major market in the years ahead. -JOESAWARD

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itflNfiive Access All Areas GP Competition, ip§ Box 577, South Melbourne, Victoria 32-05 Note:' To partake irt the CA'/MS Marshal element of the prize, the winner will need to pass a< medleat, meet height and weight oOnditlons, be briefed at the Oireutl on Thursday, f® 'Mamh and, attend the dally briefing on Friday 1‘6 March, full detail of the Marshal's Involvement In the event can be founds on www.eams.cem.au/ge/agp ** Pulli terms aiadi eoiiidillens for tohe Gompetitipn are available ori the grandprix. eom.au, website

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Champ Car heading back to Europe Biela bumped FRANK Biela's long assodation with Audi looks to be coming to an end after he was ignored from Audi Sport's 2007 plans. A seat at Le Mans in a third R10 is seen as his only likely chance of racing, as seats have already been filled by Allan McNish, Dindo Capello, Emanuele Pirro and Marco Werner, plus seventime Le Mans winner Tom Kristensen. In addition, Audi has announced that it will not tackle the European LMS against Peugeot as it doesn't feel that there is sufficient promotion to merit its involvement. n James Thompson has confirmed that he will be returning to Alfa Romeo for the 2007 WTCC. Thompson,a former BTCC champion, switches from SEAT and is expected to be one of the leading lights in the championship. However, Alfa Romeo will continue to use the venerable 156 and this is expected to struggle against the new development versions offered by BMW and SEAT. n A British driver is expected to join Audi's DTM squad this season. Danny Watts, Adam Carroll and Oliver Jarvis are all understood to be on Audi's shortlist, but Jarvis has already signed to race in Japanese F3 for TOM'S, Watts shone in the British Porsche Carrera Cup last year, whilst Carroll is a GP2 race winner, and both have DTM experience from driving Mercedes'in the BRDC/McLaren Young . Drivers evaluation tests. The lucky Brit will join Tom Kristensen, Mattias Ekstrom, Martin Tomczyk and Timo Scheider {in 2007 cars) with the older machinery driven by Christian Abt, Lucas Luhr and Mike Rockenfeller. n Vauxhall unveiled its new Vectra at the Autosport International -almost. VX Racing instead exhibited a rebranded car from 2005 which was a stillborn project! Fabrizio Giovanardi and Tom Chilton will continue to drive, but Gavin Smith seems to be out of the equation. n The absence of a local free-toair TV deal has caused the cancellation of the A1 Grand Prix Brazil, which had been scheduled for 18 March 2007 on the Jacarepagua circuit near Rio de Janeiro. -ADDISON/SPURRING 16

Seiders goestwo-upfor07 THE Sieders Racing Team will expand to a twocar outfit this year. Colin Sieders will return to the Fujitsu V8 Supercar Series in his Ford Falcon AU, while his younger brother David will steer a Falcon BA, which the team has recently purchased from Brett Hobson. David Sieders successfully competed in the Aussie Racing Cars and the Australian Formula Ford Championship in 2005, but was left without a full-time drive last year when the Lotus Trophy series fell over. However, he was kept busy as test driver to leading Ford V8 team Ford Performance Racing. In 2007, he will suit up with his Sydney-based family team. "Finally, I've got a full season to look forward to," he said. "The opportunity to be FPRs test driver was

invaluable, and that will put us in good shape early. "In the first round, I'd like to finish in the top 10 and get that one under the belt. From there we can work towards top fives and top threes. "Both Colin and I are going to have to work really hard, but the car I have is well built.There's no reason why we can't get to the front of the field." The ex-Hobson BA started life as Steven Ellery's first Supercheap Auto BA Falcon in 2003. Ellery and Luke Youlden paired in the car to finish on the podium at both Sandown and Bathurst that year. The Sieders team is currently on the hunt for a major sponsor and a lead mechanic for David's car. They are expected to test for the first time at Oran Park late next month. In the meantime, both Colin and David are heading to the United States, and will be taking in the Richard Petty Driving Experience school at Las Vegas."

In Antunes NATHAN Antunes plans to race in the World Series by Renault have stalled thanks to a budget hike as the teams confirm their line-ups for the 2007 season. After completing several successful tests with Eurointernational at Valencia last year, Antunes looked set to join the grid atthe opening round at Monza. However a premium on available seats has sent prices through the roof for the competitive drives. "Budgets are just going crazy at the moment,"said Antunes."Teams are raising their costs a lot, which is making securing a drive a lot more difficult. It's still a possibility, but more of a long shot now." While it seems unlikely he will be on the World Series grid, Antunes is still planning to race overseas in 2007. He has been in discussions with F3 Euroseries teams, as well as receiving some tempting offers to return to Germany's Recaro Cup, where he impressed at the end of last season. "Euroseries is the preference and we've had discussions with some top teams,"he said. - ANDREW VAN LEEUWEN

LARRY Perkins Engineering will not enter the Fujitsu V8 Supercar Series in 2007. With former Fujitsu drivers Shane Price and Jack Perkins stepping up to the main series, team boss and six-times Bathurst winner Larry Perkins has elected to concentrate his Jack Daniel's team's efforts on his rookie pairing. "There's a multitude of reasons that make you want to do something, but on balance, it didn't make sense," he said. "With the very late program of the new Commodore VEs coming on stream,the workload associated with that, it wasn't going to work. Something like this needs to have been organised in August, not January." Perkins was quick to not rule his team out of future competition in the development series. - GRANT ROWLEY

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THE Champ CarWorld Series will return to Europe this year. Champ Car has announced that it will expand its schedule to 17 races with the addition of races in Holland and Belgium.The one-make series will race at the TT Circuit in Assen, Holland on September 2 and September 9 at the Zolder circuit in Belgium. "2007 continues to shape up as one of the most exciting in recent memory for Champ Car and today's announcement raises the anticipation level even higher," said Champ Car President Steve Johnson.

"We considered a number of options for our return to Europe and these two events will prove to be very successful for our teams, fans and sponsor partners." Both tracks have undergone major upgrades recently. Assen was cut to 4.5km last year, while Zolder, which hosted Formula 1 Grands Prix in the 1970s and 80s, is now 3.97km in length. CCWS last visited Europe four years ago. Sebastien Bourdais scored the first win of his career at Brands Hatch and backed it up with a win at the EuroSpeedway Lausitz in Germany a week later.

Abay confirms UK plans AUSTRALIAN international racer Sam Abay is set to contest the Formula BMW UK Series this year. Abay, 19,tested late last year with two teams at Donington and Snetterton, and is heading back to England this week to get himself grounded for his second season in Formula BMW,having finished second in the Asian championship in 2006. "I'm ecstatic to be racing to England," Abay said. "I know the cars, I know the way they behave, so it will just be a matter of learning the tracks and living in a new country. "I already know most of the tracks from my Playstation. Playing the games has given me a good idea on where the tracks go. I'm looking forward to getting into it. Abay tested well in his debut drive on English soil, and his performance has given him confidence to push for the top of the podium. "It was a very good test. Very positive," he said of his test with the Fortec team. "Donington is an unbelievable track. My guts were in my mouthl" Having finished runner-up to New Zealander Earl Bamber is last year's Asian series, Abay is not aspiring to take any second place trophy. "I want to win the championship," he stated.

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AS MNews was closing for press, Neel Jani was announced as PKV Racing's driver for the 2007 CCWS. The 23-year-old Swiss will pilot a Red Bull-branded car for the Indianapolis-based team. The deal comes after Jani had a disjointed 2006, combining FI testing duties with roles in GP2 and A1GP. PKV boss Jimmy Vasser is "very excited"about the news.

Driver/Manager CCup Champ set to take on Team VIP

CRAIG Baird will not only defend his Carrera Cup title with Team VIP in 2007, he may well be the team manager. Discussions have taken place between Baird and team owner Tony Quinn for Baird to take over the day-to-day running of Team VIP Petfoods, after former team manager Scott Poppe left the team before Christmas. Quinn said that his VIP Petfoods business is now taking more and more of his time, and Baird would be the ideal man to take the reigns of the race team. "I didn't want to get someone from another team," he said. "Craig is a good young guy, a good thinker. Basically with the Carrera Cup series, there's no development work to be done on the car,just maintanence and set-up.Throw in driver and tyres and you pretty much have

your team. "We've done so well in the past at an argricultural level, maybe we could do even better at a professional level. "The race department is about 10D metres from my office, and I'd be lucky to go in there once or twice a week." Team VIP Petfoods will again campaign three cars for reigning Champ Baird,Tony Quinn and his son Klark in the all-Porsche championship. The trio, along with Kevin Bell recently contested the Dubai 24 Hour in an old 996 Cup Car, finishing a respectable ninth after mid-race dramas. The team is now trying to source a 997 RSR,specifically for the endurance racing. A car of this nature would allow the Petfood boys to compete at the front of the endurance fields. - GRANT ROWLEY

"If you go into it thinking that third or fourth is good enough, that's where you'll finish. We'll wait and see how the year pans out but it's going to be a challenge." -GRANT ROWLEY

www,mnews.cfflm.au

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"If you go into it thinking that third or fourth is good enough, that's where you'll finish. We'll wait and see how the year pans out but it's going to be a challenge." -GRANT ROWLEY

www,mnews.cfflm.au

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LAST year's Formula BMW UK runner-up OliverTurvey will race a Formula 3 car at the 2007 ING Australian Grand Prix. Turvey, 19, will race at Albert Park as part of the four-race Asia Pacific F3 series, which started at Zhuhai last weekend and includes the AGP, a round at SentuI in Indonesia and a finale back at Zhuhai in July. According to the 2006 McLaren Autosport BRDC Young Driver award winner, it's all about time in the seat. "It's mainly just to get some practice in a Formula 3 car, because hopefully I'll either be racing in the British or European Formula 3 series as my main 2007 program/'Turvey told MNews. It will also be Turvey's first race in front of the Formula 1 paddock. "Obviously that helped influence my decision," he said. "It's a great opportunity to race a support race at a Grand Prix, and to do it in Australia will be a great

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Formula 3 Championship is Austrian Walter Grubmuller, who will race for Astuti Motorsport. - ANDREW VAN LEEUWEN For more on Oliver Turvey see pages 72-73

Patrizi tests FV6 Asia MICHAEL Patrizi has denied rumours he is heading back to race in Asia, despite being spotted testing a Formula V6 Asia car at Sepang last week. The West Australian took to the track for his old Formula BMW team Meritus Racing, however has stated that it was purely to gain seat time, not be evaluated for a return to the Asian Festival of Speed. "One hundred percent no," Patrizi told MNews. "I Just went to do some laps. Peter Thompson from Meritus was kind enough to give me some testing just so I can keep my hand in. Hopefully that will help me with my proper program for this season."

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the Aslan F3 Championship, and will line-up for the full Australian Championship with returning team, ex-champions Piccola Scuderia Corse. Also confirming plans for the 2007 KumhoTyres Australian

Formula 3 Championship is Austrian Walter Grubmuller, who will race for Astuti Motorsport. - ANDREW VAN LEEUWEN For more on Oliver Turvey see pages 72-73

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STATESIDE m

m Chasing Points

AS Motorsport News went to press, NASCAR was expected to make an announcement regarding changes to the point system and the Chase format. Its widely speculated that 12 drivers will now enter the 2007 Chase {up from the current 10)and it also looks likely race winners will receive an extra 10 points versus the current five. n Juan Pablo Montoya will run 26 Busch Series races for Ganassi Racing in a number 42 Dodge this season, entering the companion events on Nextel Cup weekends with crew chief Brad Parrott, while little known Busch driver Kevin Hamlin will run the stand alone events. Montoya's duties will include one circuit race -the Watkins Glen round in August. Montoya will also enter the Daytona 24-Hour in a Ganassi Lexus teaming with Scott Pruett and Salvador Duran. n Similar to a move made by Chevrolet Chrysler Group, Dodge has announced that all of its Car of Tomorrow-style race cars will have the Avenger badges and styling in the 16 COT races this season, running alongside the Charger. Chevrolet announced earlier the Impala SS will debut at the COT races while the Monte Carlo will remain in service for the current-look cars. - MARTIN D CLARK

r THE big news leading into the opening round of the NASCAR Nextel Cup at Daytona 500 is that Dale Earnhardt Jr. could leave his family team at the end of the 2007 season. Earnhardt has a contract with Dale Earnhardt Inc, the team formed by his late father and now owned by his stepmotherTeresa. Fiowever, Earnhardt's contract allows the team to negotiate with him solely through the end of June this year. If a contract is not signed with DEI up to that point, Jr. has the option to shop his services(and no doubt sponsor Budweiser and a multitude of other endorsements elsewhere). It has been well documented In the past that Jr. has a strained relationship with Teresa. This would open the question as to which team he would drive for. And the first word off most people's lips is Richard Childress Racing, with 'Little E'suiting up in the #3 made famous by his father. Fiowever, he recently moved his self-owned Busch operation (JR Motorsports) to a brand-new larger

purpose built facility. So could he run a self-owned Cup team? With Teresa not in the public eye and rarely attending races, the operation lacks a leader that it had with the late Earnhardt and her recent interview in the Wall Street Journal where she stated Jr. needed to decide whether he wanted to be race car driver or ^ personality, did nothing to help sway her stepson's decision. During Daytona testing, when asked about the comment made by Teresa, Earnhardt was not impressed. "I don't know, maybe she was having a bad day," he replied. "I really didn't appreciate it. I don't want to get too personal, but the relationship we have today is the same we had when I was six years old. It is what it is, it ain't a bed of roses." As they say in the classics, watch this space ... - MARTIN D CLARK

IRLINDYCAR starlet Danica Patrick has tested with Andretti Green Racing's American Le Mans Series outfit at Sebring International Raceway and is under consideration for a race drive in the new car this year alongside confirmed driver Bryan Herta. Patrick is no stranger to Sportscars, having competed

in the ALMS for Prodrive and its Ferrari 550 Maranello at Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta in 2003. She also raced in Grand-Am's Rolex 24 at Daytona in 2006, but is not taking the grid this year. The three-day AGR test will serve as the first public running of the team's Acura-powered Courage in the series'LMP2 class. Three teams will compete under

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BOBBY Hamilton lost his year-long battle with neck cancer on January 7. He was 49 years old. A four-time winner in the NASCAR Cup Series and former Truck Series champion, Hamilton was a popular figure within the NASCAR community. He competed in just three Truck Series races last season. Hamilton won three races with Petty Enterprises and Morgan McClure Motorsports driving the Kodak-backed Chevys and STP Dodges in 1996,1997 and 1998 and then won at Talladega with Andy Petree Racing in 2001. The elder Hamilton won a Busch race in 1989 and went on to capture the Truck Series title in 2004,collecting 10 wins. Hamilton openly admitted he grew up on the wrong side of the railroad tracks in the rough part of Nashvilie, quitting school when he was 13 to race at the Nashville Speedway. Racing kept him out , oftrouble and earned him $18 million in winnings over a 16-year period. His self-owned Bobby Hamilton Racing!will continue to operate DodgeTrucksforKen Schrader and Chase MlHer this season. but beyond that it's unclear what future the team has. Hamilton,a true hard core racer will be sorely missed withini the racing community and in particular the Truck Series. -MARTINO CLARK motorsport news

the Acura Motorsports factory banner in 2007. Lowe's Fernandez Racing and Flighcroft Racing join AGR. Bryan Herta will lead Andretti Green's lineup, in his first drive in the series since 2002.The former Champ Car winner will be joined by Dario Franchitti and brother Marino. -PHIL MORRIS

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JACK Roush,pictured below,is likely to sell a 50 percent stake in his racing organisation to John Henry's Fenway Sports Group. The Fenway Group owns the Boston Red Sox baseball team, and the deal to buy Roush Racing the deal is reputed to be worth US$62 million. An announcement is expected either during next week's media tour or possibly during Daytona speedweeks. Roush Racing confirmed late last year that it wwas looking at potential partners. - MARTIN D CLARK

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RALLYING

{ I

A Shiny New Pug THE new Peugeot 207 S2000 will make its world debut at next month's Swedish Rally,the second round of the WRC. The car, which has been prepared at the team's workshop in Velicy in Paris, will be driven by reigning Swedish Rally Champion Jimmy Joge. The Peugeot 207 S2000 was homologated by the FIA in early January, along with the VW Polo 5 Super 2000R, which was developed for South Africa but will debut at the opening round of the domestic Polish championship in two weeks. With Fiat and Toyota's S2000 cars having been homologated last year, there are now four makes of Super 2000 vehicle available for international competition. n Young British driver Guy Wilks will make his WRC debut in Norway. Wilks, who finished second in the JWRC in 2005 and third in 2004 and 2006 as a Suzuki driver, has secured a deal that will see him steer a 2005spec Ford Focus WRC prepared by Ramsport,the same team that runs a Focus for young Norwegian Andreas Mikkelsen. n The shakedown for last weekend's Rallye Monte Carlo was cancelled due to saftey concerns regarding spectators, it is not the first time that the Monte has encountered such dramas. Traffic problems on road sections caused stage cancellations last year, and spectator concerns also caused the abandonment of the opening stage in 2004.

econd chance for Pons

Hanging by a Thread

Xavi pops up in a Mitsubishi

MITSUBISHI Australia's plans for the upcoming Australian Rally Championship reportedly hang in the balance after the < head office in Japan enforced a decision to cancel all nationallevel motorsport. The decision was made in December,sending the plans for Mitsubishi and Alan Heaphy's Ralliart operation into a spin. It is not the first time the manufacturer has put a stymie on regional motorsport activities. A similar decision almost derailed Les Waikden's activities for Mitsubishi when Ed Ordynski and Juha Kangas were driving for the team. Latest reports from within Mitsubishi Australia indicate that last-minute negotiations are underway to try to re-enthuse Japan, or at the very least find an acceptable compromise. Meanwhile, Heaphy has been hitting the phones to try to secure

JUST weeks after ruling himself out of the WRC in 2007,Xavier Pons has resurfaced alongside Toni Gardemeister in Mitsubishi's M2level team for the opening three rouncis. Pons contested last weekend's Rallye Monte Carlo and will remain with the team for Sweden and Norway, however the plans for both the Spaniard and the second Mitsubishi Motor Sport entry beyond that point remain unclear.

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The Finnish leprechaun WITH the challenge of the inaugural Rally Ireland still many months away. Ford's Marcus Gronholm is hoping to achieve some pre-event experience by lining up in February's Galway Rally, held in western Ireland.

Gronholm, who will steer a current-spec Ford Focus WRC through the tight Irish roads just a week prior to the Swedish Rally, hopes that the experience will give him a step-up on his rivals later in the season. Under FIA regulations governing the WRC, drivers are allowed to enter non-championship rallies to gain experience of the road conditions likely to be encountered on future events, provided that they do not cover the same stages. While Gronholm lacks any prior knowledge of the surfaces and conditions in Ireland, his team, M-Sport, is not new to the roads, with Stobart's Matthew Wilson claiming the inaugural Rally Ireland at the end of 2005 when it was run as a mixed asphalt and gravel event. - RYAN LAHIFF

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Crocker/LWR go back to the drawing board CODY Crocker and Les Waikden Racing have abandoned plans to contest this year's Production World Rally Championship after failing to raise the required funding. Crocker, who last year added the Asia-Pacific Rally Championship title to his three Australian championships, had hoped to step up to the PWRC with LWR for 2007, but according to Waikden,time ran out before the budget could be raised. "We are probably still half a million short," he said."So we have made a decision to concentrate on running Cody Crocker in the Lake Mountain Sprint and Rally Tasmania, with another Asia-Pacific campaign and even an Australian Rally Championship entry still a possibility."

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i SUZUKI Sport will make its i WRC debut in Finland,after confirming a three-round i World Championship'entry I program'forits new SX4 WRC. The team has been granted j permission to compete in Finland, Corsica and Wales I Rally G6,aliihoughHit wllhn'otbe I eligible to score manufacturers' I ipoints. No drivers for the team ^ have been confirmed yet, j although'tearhiJWRC driver #(| Andersspn has been linked to ; a seat.

a budget to at least continue to run Scott Redder in the ARC. There also remains a slim chance that Redder, who

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RALLYING

{ I

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OPINION

special piace. It's bumpier than 1 thought Daytona is a pretty it was going to be, but it was a thrill to be testing the Kingsford Charcoal Ford with Wood Brothers for the first time. The team has taken a risk on putting me in the car, so it's just a thrill to be at the track, be in the draft and learning how to run the track. The test days are pretty much set-up so that the cars are about 500-800 metres apart,just so you don't get any draft from any other car out there. Basically, if you're on the back straight an you can see another car, you're too close.They do that in the morning, and then in the afternoon,they open it up for drafting.They have two lines down the front straight - one for drafting and one for solo runs. Over the past days, we've worked on a mixture of both solo and drafting with what I'd call a very conservative set-up - especially compared to some, who are being 'experimental' and shown some ingenuis interpretations of the rules! In pre season testing, we don't actually go through any official inspection

Some teams were being experiemental and shown some ingenius interpretations ofthe rules!

motor mouth

with marcos ambrose nascar busch scries driver

- AMBROSE ISN'T READING INTOTHETESTING FORM OF SOMETEAMS

so sortie of the cars that have been out there won't be seen on race day like they are. The majority of our testing has really been about running in the draft, working in the pack and fitting in. I raced atTalledaga last year and that was wide open and pretty straight forward. At Daytona, it's so bumpy, you have to learn how hard you can push and how much the tyres wear. I day wasof in testing the topand 10 after first I wasthe also the fastest Ford, but it's very difficult to look at the lap times seriously. Some people setdon't. their times in the draft, some If you've got six cars in front of you, you're going to go half a second slower compared to if you've got a pack of 12 cars in front of you. It's not really an accurate pointer to where we're at. Our car for this year has lower

drag, while the other.has better downforce. We have two cars here at Daytona {#59A and #59B) and we're trying to make #59A the one for us.

he Busch car handles very differently to the Truck that 1 raced last year, It's a bit hard to get a full appreciation of the Busch car on the Superspeedway.The Busch car has a huge rear wing on the rear spoiler to try and slow them down, plus there's a flat bar on the roof that is there to create a bigger whole in the air for cars behind. There's a lot of stuff going on there at Daytona with the Busch cars, but I can tell you all this, a Busch car doesn't suck up as well as theTruck.TheTruck punches a bigger hole in the air because it's got a bigger body on it. In a Busch car, you can easily lose the draft of

the packif you're too far back. In the test, I dropped only a few car lengths off the pack I was racing with and I couldn't catch back up. A Busch car is also much more slippery through the air. A lot faster in a straight line, a lot more braking,and a bit looser at the rear end because of the shorter wheelbase.

e've had a great couple of days with the local press and media,and there's been a bit of international interest with Juan Pablo Montoya and myself here now. I'm just happy to be here, running with an American team with a great sponsor.Yes there's a bit of international interest, but that's not why we're here. We are here to run well at the race tracks, befriend the American race fan and get them to buy some Kingsford Charcoal.

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OPINION

Some teams were being experiemental and shown some ingenius interpretations ofthe rules!

motor mouth

with marcos ambrose nascar busch scries driver

- AMBROSE ISN'T READING INTOTHETESTING FORM OF SOMETEAMS

drag, while the other.has better downforce. We have two cars here at Daytona {#59A and #59B) and we're trying to make #59A the one for us.

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HRISTMAS came late for Bernie Ecclestone. While the rest of us were busy demolishing poor defenceless turkeys, Mr E was busy talking bankers into submission and he emerged a few days ago with a whopping great loan of $2.9bn. Now,the dollar is not worth what it used to be worth but even so, this is a huge amount of cash that the sport will have to pay back in the course of the next 10 years.There is not much that anyone can do about it and indeed,the FI teams were not even consulted before the deal was done.They will get involved when it comes to the next round of commercial talks in 2012 and you can bet that there will be a decent fight - if Bernie is still around. In the meantime, Ecclestone is rushing around pushing up prices left, right and centre.TV companies can expect to pay more next time around and the circuits are going to be bled even drier - if indeed,that is possible. The FI commercial rights holder has already done deals for new races with South Korea and Abu Dhabi - the latter will be announced shortly - and he is currently negotiating with several other serious candidates for events which will begin in or around 2010. Bernie is keenest on sweet little deals like the

ones in China and Bahrain where governments are so keen to get the races that they don't really query the costs. It is all public money,isn't it? There are some strategic issues that need to be addressed. For a start, Mr E is contractually bound to keep certain races in Europe.The FIA has a piece of paper that says that Ecclestone must keep races in Britain, France, Italy and Germany,so he has been looking at alternatives to the current weak venues that exist. Two German races have been merged into one and it is hard to see how Imola will ever get back on the calendar. In England, Ecclestone has tried to get a race in London but has failed to convince the wily London mayor Ken Livingstone.The most likely result of all of this is that, one day, Ecclestone will be given control of Silverstone and left to run the event himself France is obviously going to need a rethink as well, and the logic has always been to move the race to Paris - although there is currently no sign of that happening. Things may change after the foitlicoming elections. Europe is not short of venues with relatively serious projects in Valencia (FI is booming in Spain, thanks to Fernando Alonso)and in Greece, where the rjovranment may become involved. And then there is Itussia, where Bernie has been trying to get a race or(|,iniserl since 1980. (he Uniii.'d 'itates remains a problem, but 26

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Indianapolis can afford the race if it wants it Canada has usually been pretty keen but without Jacques Villeneuve, interest may start to wane. Ecclestone also needs a race in South America but currently cannot find one,other than at the outdated interlagos- although one could imagine Bernie going to oil-rich Venezuela, which is run by the flamboyant President Hugo Chavez,just the sort of man that Ecclestone needs when it comes to selling races. It will help matters no end that there Is a Venezuelah driver in GP2,Ernesto Viso.

ut where things are really interesting now are in the Middle East and Asia. New Delhi and Singapore are both very keen. The latter is talking of a night street race in the downtown area - which will be a huge challenge. There are certainly some lame ducks that will probably fall away soon enough. Malaysia is looking more and more exposed and,after the shenanigans last year,Turkey is drifting away from its dream of joining Europe and thus,the raison d'etre for the Turkish GP is not as strong as once it was. And money is short out there. Now it may just be me, but from where I am sitting, the race in Melbourne seems a little less shiny than

once it was.The bills increase each year for the Victorian government and the crowds are not what once they were - particularly in the high-spending corporate hospitality world. Australians have so many events to choose from these days that the Grand Prix is not quite as exciting as it used to be. Mark Webber has yet to break through. If he does, then there will be no questions about Melbourne for years to come but if it comes down to a spending match between Melbourne and a high-rolling Asian venue, it is hard to see Melbourne winning the day. The current situation is manna from heaven for Mr E. He likes nothing better than getting a bunch of different promoters together and playing them off against one another. He knows that there are sound reasons why they will go on raising their bids. The FI circus does bring a certain cachet for a miserable place like Bahrain or New Delhi. If will really help a place that has no tourist industry - so long as there is something other than a racetrack to get excited about. Some places have it, others try to build it. Their aim is to get a little of the glitter of FI to rub off on their city. That lasts a few years and then it can go away as local needs(and politicians) change.Then FI packs its bags and heads off somewhere else where the money is good. There will be a challenge to maintain the Melbourne race. Do not be surprised to see all manner of support for Webber, Red Bull and Renault even from the corridors of power - come March ...

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OPINION..— %

2007

Why we should, and shouldn't ride at Dakar THE Dakar is one of racing's great events; one that single-handedly retains the link to the very first motorsport competitions - pointto-point races between Paris and Bourdeaux, or Paris and Rouen, or Paris and Madrid. Events that later evolved into the Mille Miglia, orTarga Plorio. Events that no longer exist because they kept killing people. I'm a traditionalist at heart, and Dakar appeals deeply to that part of me. But for motorcycles, it is becoming harder and harder to justify. Since its inception in 1979> over SO fatalities have been officially recorded on the event. Including competitors, spectators and crew. That averages out to a couple a year, a figure that was neatly reached this time around when Elmer Symons Crashed fatally early in the event, and Eric Aubijoux suffered a heart attack in the final days. Both were motorcyclists, as was Australian Andy Caldecott, who died in last year's event (along with a couple of spectators a few days later). Jose Manuel Perez and Fabrizip Meoni, also motorcyclists, died in 2005.

gl Safety measures were upgraded for 2007 following Caldecott's death, but clearly more needs to be done. Or, maybe the event in its current form just can't be made safe on two wheels. All the padding and GPS in the world is not going to help you when you are covering 10,000km in 16 days at extremely high average speeds in searing heat on a motorbike. That's like doing a marathon every day. Sooner or later exhaustion is going to set in, and an exhausted rider is going to be at far greater risk of a lapse in concentration. When you are alone in the desert, it doesn't take a huge error to have dire consequences. Like le Tour de France, the immense difficulty of Dakar is the what gives it its unique appeal. But when a couple of riders a year are failing to come home, you've got to start wondering whether it is worth the cost.

OK, so it's a little difficult to argue with cold hard stats, and with 50 people now having been kiiled while tackling the gruelling Dakar Raliy, taking the pro side is an uphiil battle. But I'll give it a go anyway, because I honestly believe that taking on the Dakar desert aboard a two-wheeler is one of motorsport's great endeavours. People getting killed is a bad thing, there's no arguing that fact. But there are some things that have to be considered here. For starters, nobody is forced to jump on their motorcycle and ride off into the desert; each and every competitor does so because they want to. And it's not as if the dangers are a secret; each and every of the 50plus deaths (of which only half have been actual competitors, it should be noted) has been well publicised. Yet year in and year out they have plenty of people willing to enter. But maybe that's the key. If it were easy end safe, it wouldn't be anywhere near as exciting a prospect. People do it because surviving it is an achievement, and getting it wrong cart have dire consequences. That's the basic reasoning behind motorsport's existence. So if you ask me, motorcycles still have their place in the Dakar. The idea of Formula 1 wasn't abandoned during the rather lengthy era where Grand Prix drivers were killing themselves at regular intervals, so let's keep the bikes in the desert.

All of a sudden 2007 is looking like a very good year for Aussie motorsport. Over the New Year break, I'd started to become just a little despondent over some of the stuff we're being served up, particularly in prime-timeTV, under the guise of entertainment. Am I slipping into a sad minority that doesn't ■'see a great deal of worth in shows about fat people losing weight and programmes that used to be current affairs shows dishing out a constant diet (sic) of weight-loss ideas, angry neighbour stories and "I was ripped off'tales? Things don't seem much better In the UK, where the weekend's ■ prime news centred around a foul-mouthed professional Big Brother contestant getting flung (from both the show and a number of lucrative 'deals') after bad-mouthing an Indian actress who, for whatever reason, chose to subject herself to the ultimate embarrassment. And we haven't even started on Dancing with the (C-List) Stars ... Okay, I feel better now, and even more so after 48 hours which has me convinced that motorsport fans here are in for a bonanza year. Yup, I knew already that the V8s are looking good - courtesy if nothing else of a points system change which should to a fair degree get rid of the'riskmanagement'driving which had set in of late. No, It's been a couple of individual, international efforts which has me looking forward to perhaps a little too much time in front of theTeev. It started on Saturday when it became apparent that Chris Atkinson was going to kick arse in Monte Carlo. Subaru has joined the rest of the WRC field on the same brand of rubber and it's made the difference immediately. But not only did Atko show his superstar team mate Better Solberg the way, he also got in among the pace setters, overcoming Ford number two Mikko Hirvonnen at the last, literally, tenth of a second to snatch fourth place, his best result to date on tarmac, which is not said to be his favoured surface. After two days of intense WRC action, Atko went into the only

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final day stage, a Monte Carlo street special, eight-tenths of a second behind the Finn. It was a test of character. So? Atko won the Stage outright and beat Hirvo by two-tenths of a goddamn second. Fantastic. Across the Atlantic, Marcos Ambrose was working through one of the most important weekends of his motor racing career to date. Not only was it his first serious test in a Busch car, it was his first meeting With the infamous Daytona tri-oval. From this distance, it looks like Marcos did an excellent job. Back here he used to divide people a little, a bit like Lleyton (don't start me), but in my view he is one of the very best, smartest drivers to leave these shores.

THE ANNUAL 2006:

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NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS AND SERIES V8 Supercars, Fujitsu V8s, Carrera Cup, Formula Ford, Formula 3, Rally, V8 Utes, Aussie Racing Cars, Saloon Cars, Commodore Cup, Australian GT, Sport Sedans, Production Cars, AMRS

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SPECIAL EVENTS Australian Grand Prix, MotoGP Phillip Island, Rally Australia, Goid Coast Indy, Targa Tasmania

INTERNATIONAL WRAP Formula 1, GP2, WRC, WTCC, DTM, NASCAR, Champ Car, IRL IndyCar, NHRA, MotoGP and more!

hope so. Throw in Chris and Marcos and Foxtel and the good news is The Biggest Loser isn't ever going to be a topic of conversation at my place!

NATIONAL EVENTS Speedway, Drag Racing, Karting. Trucks, Drifting

AUSSIES OVERSEAS Webber, Atkinson, Ambrose, Power, Stoner, Vermeulen, Bayliss, Crump, Tatnell

ODinion with chrisYambden mnetvspublisher

what I can see, he and the team worked their way through a pile of logical test programmes, getting quicker as they went. On the final afternoon, Marcos was 12th fastest, fourth-best of the non-Nextel Cup regulars. A great start. Like FI, testing times don't necessarily mean much, but I have this feeling that Marcos is going to deliver for Ford this year. Atkinson and Ambrose enough to justify the Foxtel subscription alone! My week will be complete if, on Friday, Mark Webber discovers what we all hope will be the case - that design guru Adrian Newey has delivered a weapon in the shape of the new Red Bull-

He avoided the temptation to go for the headlines; to get into a drafting contest with the bigname Nextel Cup guys who also run Busch to score a time. From

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Renault FI car. The situation is unlikely to be really clear until the teams all . ^tart on long runs at the extensive 'hot-weather'Bahrain test later jp February,or even qualifying in Melbourne but, deep inside, Webber will have half a clue quite soon. A good car is usually a good one out of the box, isn't it. Unlike a high number of the, er, general Australian sporting media, who appear to have written Webber off on the basis that the string of Williams failures and the team's sad demise must have all been his fault (!?), I remain along with, it must be said, a high proportion of FI journalists - a believer. Webber will, as has been the norm,dominate his team-mate and, in a competitive car, will win Grands Prix. Will Red Bull be the car? They're being circumspect, as usual, but I reckon the base ingredients are all there. Hell, I

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OPINION..— %

2007

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THE ANNUAL 2006:

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SPECIAL EVENTS Australian Grand Prix, MotoGP Phillip Island, Rally Australia, Goid Coast Indy, Targa Tasmania

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hope so. Throw in Chris and Marcos and Foxtel and the good news is The Biggest Loser isn't ever going to be a topic of conversation at my place!

NATIONAL EVENTS Speedway, Drag Racing, Karting. Trucks, Drifting

AUSSIES OVERSEAS Webber, Atkinson, Ambrose, Power, Stoner, Vermeulen, Bayliss, Crump, Tatnell

ODinion with chrisYambden mnetvspublisher

He avoided the temptation to go for the headlines; to get into a drafting contest with the bigname Nextel Cup guys who also run Busch to score a time. From

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Five minutes with

lll

DONNYSCHATZ

Since arriving in Australia, Donny Schatz hasjust kept winning and winning,adding both the $50,QQQ-toGREGBOSCATO win and the Outlaws Down Under crowns to his already-bursting CV we went wrong and we are now capable of going back to that car and be in good shape.

M.OTORSPORT NEWS: Last year you left Australia saying that you would win the World of Outlaws 2006, which you did. Was it a satisfying victory? DONNY SCHATZ:You always look forward to try and win every race. I remember there was only a couple of times last year that we weren't in contention to win. It's one of those deals, it's fun when you can go racing when you know you're going to be the car to beat every night and you're going to be racing for the victory. You know there is a little satisfaction in that especially when that's your job, your passion, that's you're life.

Are you happy to have everyone back racing in the World of Outlaws? Definitely. It didn't help any of us at any point to have it split up. You know, I just wanted to go racing, that's all I wanted to do. I didn't feel that they(WoO) had done anything wrong at that point and then to leave them ... Everyone is your friend off the track but when you put the helmet on, it's about getting to the checker first. Its fun to have the guys back and we'll go back and race as hard as we can.

Coming out to Australia every year, is that a help or a hindrance to your racing program? It's a bit of a hindrance. It doesn't have anything to do with seat time, we get plenty of seat time after a half-lap in Hot Laps. So when you're been out of a car for a couple of months, you're right back into it. Even though you're not in the car, you're always racing, you're always thinking on how to make your car better, how you should be entering a corner, exiting a corner,things to make it a little better. It's all part of the job. You just keep yourself racing all the time. Keep consistent, keep focused and the on-track stuff will come on its own. It's been another successful tour, although the new car wasn't as great as the older white car from last year,.. All cars are different. You get some you like and some you don't.That white car [the car he used to win last season], it's really good here, the way it's built. And we now know why that is, so I know why the other car isn't like that. I can take the yellow one back out tomorrow and make it do the same as the white car is doing now ,but it's a bit foolish to do it right now! We did it to learn from our mistakes; now know where 30

What was the highlight of last year? I don't know, last year it was all good. We were consistent every night. If vye weren't racing for the win, we were right there racing. We were just having a lot of fun. When things are good,they are really good but when it's bad it's really bad! All year long, it's like that Knoxville win hasn't really sunk in yet, the Championship hasn't sunk in yet. I guess we go into every race the same way. We did that the year before we were Champions, it's the same thing. Once you're won the championship, it all means nothing today, it's all about tomorrow. What you can do tomorrow,that's the way we attack it.

You just keep yourself racing all the time. Keep consistent, keep focused and the on-track stuff will come on its own - SCHATZ EXPLAINS THE FINER POINTS OF WINNING

Have you set yourself any New Year goals? We have goals, but you have to set them pretty high to beat what we did last year. We just want to go out and be consistent. I want to be able to be racing for a victory every night and when I'm not racing for a victory, learn from my mistakes. That's what is going to help me for tomorrow,just learning from my mistakes today.

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Five minutes with

lll

DONNYSCHATZ

You just keep yourself racing all the time. Keep consistent, keep focused and the on-track stuff will come on its own - SCHATZ EXPLAINS THE FINER POINTS OF WINNING

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Five minutes with

lll

ALAN GURR

The final piece in the V8 Supercar driver puzzle for 2007 dropped into place last week when Alan Gurr iVIARKGLENDENNlNG signed on to drive the second Britek Falcon. Here's what he had to say MOTORSPORT NEWS: Last year you probably didn't get the seat time you were expecting,so it must be nice to have the prospect of a full-time ride with Britek awaiting you for 2007? ALAN GURR:Yes. Last year, I think I did three sprint rounds. You try to get into a rhythm,and it's really hard when you are doing one round on and three off, one round on and three off. I think we've got 13 rounds this year, so I'm stoked! 1 can't wait. When you're only racing occasionally against those guys who are doing it week-in, weekout, by the time you get really up to speed you're mid-way through the first race.The weekend's gone. The situation as far as Britek's second driver goes changed a lot over the Christmas break. When did you finally seal the deal that will see your name on the #26 car? Oh ... it is still unfolding! I have not gone to Adelaide yet! (laughs). No, it was discussed, but it wasn't finalised until really recently. I was a part of it, and then I wasn't a part of it. it has sort of been myself, plus four or five others in contention for the drive over Christmas, and obviously when we came back a lot of people worked fairly hard to get it to come together, including Britek. I think a few people's holidays were cut a bit short because of it! But it is only recently. Like, within the past week. Is this more that you had been hoping for a month ago? Was there a Plan B? A month ago I Just wanted to drive a car! Any car. Anywhere. At the end of last year I wasn't overly fussy, I faced the prospect of not driving a car at all, and I thought,'it's going to be a pretty shit year if I don't get to drive a car And at that stage, the Fujitsu Series really looked like the only 32

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I want to finish in the top 15 on a consistent basis, which means that we will be scoring points - GURR HAS NO PLANS TO JUST MAKE UP THE NUMBERS

option. Paul Morris had himself and Fabian Coulthard in his cars; that deal was done and finalised without me really being aware of it happening, although I sort of figured that that was how it was going to work. So basically, we looked at the Development Series, and we were setting our sights on that. We were still in discussion with Britek, but because of the options that they had with so many different drivers, we thought that we were up against it a bit, and the team was obviously a fair way into discussions with some of the other guys. We thought that it may have been a possibility, but there was

still a lot of work done at both ends to make it happen. It should be a good opportunity for you. What are you looking forward to about working with Britek? Everything. Learning.That's the big thing, learning, especially from Jason [Bright]. He is a switched-on guy, he is really good at set-up, and it is his team so he has a vested interest in it. He wants to see both cars do as well as possible. So I think that is good, because it is the first year that he is involved and he wants the team to prove itself The team has had its two years of finding its feet and trying

to work out what goes where, and now it is time to get results. Jason is obviously there to do that, and I want to learn as much as possible and support both he and the team,and also do as well as I can for myself. I want to finish In the top 15 on a consistent basis, which means that we will be scoring points, and from there I just have to try to work further and further up the field. If Jason is in the top 10, I'd like to be in the top 15 somewhere. I'd like to be between five and 10 spots behind him.That might not happen straight away, but as the year goes on I can try to move further and further forward, to the point where I am consistently scoring points. Obviously Jason will be doing that too, and ... everyone's happyl It's a good time to be getting on board - the team has settled in, the guys are enthusiastic ... It's’a team on the way up, on paper. It's a good opportunity.The team has been around a while, but they are still in the baby stage and want to grow. Are you still going to be working during the week, or are you a full time driver now?[ED: Gurr is a signwriter by trade]. To be honest, I haven't gone that far into it all. The first thing was to lock away the drive. I'd like to really focus on the driving side of things, if I can. But I have still got a lot of stuff to do as far as signwriting goes anyway; I've got existing customers and all the rest of it. i'll still be doing that, but motor racing is going to eat into a lot of that time, i am going to be needed a lot more, with all the race weekends, testing, things like launches and sponsor commitments ... there are quite a few things as far as that goes. It's going to be a 50/50 split, probably.

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ALAN GURR

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I want to finish in the top 15 on a consistent basis, which means that we will be scoring points - GURR HAS NO PLANS TO JUST MAKE UP THE NUMBERS

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INSIGHT,

OTORSPORT NEWS: Your move to Ford Performance Racing was not exactly a well-kept secret last year. Is it good to be able to talk openly about it now? STEVE RICHARDS: It is. But I you're under contract to your previous team,and you abide by the contract.There was no harm from anyone; FPR didn't mind. There was a need to protect the property of the people who supported our team last year. We all knew what was going to happen,and I suppose everyone else did. We just couldn't say anything. No big deal. Discussions with FPR started a iong time ago. it wouid be more than a year ago, wouldn't it? Yes, it would be. It would have been 2005.That was at a point in time where Castrol had stopped its support of Larry's team,and Larry wasn't sure what he had for 2006. Then ofcourse Jack Daniel's came along and that solved that problem. But my contract was carrying over, and Larry had obviously realised that if he didn't come up with any money, he probably wasn't going to be able to run a team. So he suggested in the meantime, with the whole Marcos Ambrose thing going everywhere, that there should be some interest. And it's natural, when a team thinks that your contract is

up, if they are looking for a driver - and of course, at some point last year, FPR knew that it was going to need another driver - there was contact. It's like anything,though. It was all pretty loose,'what are you doing nextyear'type of thing, and it progresses from there. Obviously in 2006 when Jack Daniel's came along it wasn't an option, but for 2007 it was. So what does this deal represent for you? Well,the whole reason for doing it is to win championships,to win races.The team performed incredibly well throughout the whole of 2006,there was an opportunity, the door was open, and I am the lucky guy sitting in the seat. I am not under any illusions as to how difficult this year will be, because the competition is going to be better than it was last year, and it is going to be tough. But it is nice to be going into a team that has a fair amount of form on the board from 2006,and that is the best position you can be in. And you are representing a manufacturer,too. You have had manufacturer backing in the past, but this is different. Yes! For sure, it is. I suppose FPR is the flagship Ford team,for lots of reasons. We carry the right colours in terms of the generic Ford brand.

|F you are going Jo hpOk uFi with Ford's newest works driver to talk liabout Where the Blue Oval is going,there's no better place to do it than somewhere that shows Where it has been. fhe iFOfd Discovery Centre,located near the company's factory in Oeelong,just a short squirt around the bay from Melbourne,should be a Mecca for anyone whose allegiances lie on the blue side of the equation. It's pretty much an immersive Ford experience. A huge collection of fmmacuiately-presefved {or restored) Ford machinery,dating right back to the beginning, gives it a museum feel, but there are also prototype and developent vehicles, as well as interactive displays demonstrating the various processes involved in design and production of road cars. Normally when interviewing a driver, it is the magazine's job to arrange a location. But the credit for this one lies with RiCho. 'I remembered seeing the signs for the Discovery Centre when Td be driving down to Torquay or Something,"he said. 'I knew what it was but I had never been here before so I thought it would be worth a look.il always like seeing the prototype stuff, and the things with a bit of history. Probably the best display from my point of view was that old XE - it was the original car that did ail the work Out at the proving ground with Dick Johnson.If that was available, it would'be worth a lot of money to somebody!And when you look at the prototypes you can see all the little things that the engineers were doing. That realiy interests me.' iri.total, MNews and Richards spent a good couple ofhours atthe Centre, not including a visit to the gift shop afterwards. Doing some research?"the woman behind the counter asked when Richo walked up wielding a couple of DVDs about Ford history and his credit card. No,"'he replied.''Personal interest.' Ford's racing future appears to be in good hands. “MA'RKGLENDENNING

Ross Gibb

and ofcourse we are aligned with FPVas well.They are pretty big shoes to fill, but I am looking forward to the challenges that lie ahead. It's a five-year deal, as I understand it... Well, in the scheme of things it is five years ... Something, pius options? Yeah, exactly. Either way, it is stiii a big show of faith from both yourself and FPR. It is. i have always been a big believer in not doing short deals. Probably in the past,the

difference has been that I have always gone into a team that has been in a growth period; not necessarily a team that has started in as competitive position at the start of the year as FPR should do. There is a lot to be said for stability, and there is a lot to be said for growing. I know from talking to the guys that they are still looking for things to get out of the car, to make it perform even better. So we're not there yet.The team is not there yet. Quite obviously,they have had plenty of wins, plenty of podiums, but we're after the championship. You don't go into any year thinking that you're not going to ■MM

ROSS Gibb

Poiar opposites: At the Ford Discovery Centre you can see how Ford were made way back when, above, and now, below.

Are you giving yourself and the team a year to figure each other out, or is it 'game on'from the start? No. Not at all. The time I have spent in the circus to date ... I shouldn't be in the position where I need some sort of settling - in period. I should be able to jump into these cars now and do the required job.

Official duties: Richo signs his first autographs as a FPR man. 36

be a shot at the title, but they can take a couple of years sometimes. You need to give yourself that freedom, and not put yourself under the pressure of looking elsewhere at other teams that may distract you from doing the Job of winning the championship. So to me it is pretty important to have a longer deal, rather than a two-year sort of thing.

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Sure, there are little issues in the short-term, simple things that you probably don't think about normally when you are driving a car.Things like, as you come into turn 8 at Adelaide and it starts to rain, you don't have that two or three seconds to work out where the windscreen wiper switch is. it has to be instinctive. In my mind, it is the little things that you have to get absolutely right. Were is the anti-roll bar adjuster? Where is the brake bias? How do you change the dash on the steering wheel? You can't ask yourself those questions during a race; they have got to just happen. I can tell you about plenty of times where certain circumstances like a drink straw falling out of your mouth, or a conversation from the team that

Formore on the Ford Dismvery Centre, visit it on the web at www.forddiscoveryitomjm or iphone 03) 52278700,

has come across at the wrong point on a lap that can make you miss your braking marker. All of these things, when you are working with a whole new group of people, a whole different car, are still very important in helping you to achieve a result. Driving the car is a small part what you see from the driver is a small part of the whole preparation. So my role leading up to Clipsal is doing exactly that - cementing my relationship with the team, and getting involved in making sure I iron out all these little things that I want to make sure don't turn into issues come Adelaide. Then, when the car is good enough, we will get a result. continued on page 38

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INSIGHT,

Ross Gibb

ROSS Gibb

Poiar opposites: At the Ford Discovery Centre you can see how Ford were made way back when, above, and now, below.

Official duties: Richo signs his first autographs as a FPR man. 36

motorsportnews

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Formore on the Ford Dismvery Centre, visit it on the web at www.forddiscoveryitomjm or iphone 03) 52278700,

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continued from page 37 You made it down to the workshop for the first time earlier this week. Flave you had a chance to get a feel for the team? I have. My impressions of the team go far beyond that ofjust walking into the workshop on the 15th of January.You take note ofthe things that that team has achieved over the last 18 months, and they are a standout. There is no question about that. So already you can tell the culture of a tea m by the way that it has developed over that time, and clearly from the perspective of me joining that outfit, you can tell a lot by the way the team operates. And that is a lot like the way I operate.They are a very tight-knit group, and they very much enjoy the fruits of their success together, and they celebrate that. And to me,that is just sensational. They are a team that does want, in every aspect... all teams do of course, but every team goes about it in a different way, of trying to achieve that real tightknit environment where everyone is a friend as well as a work-mate. It's probably fair to say that you are going into your golden period as a driver. Given that, and the length of the deal, this

looks like it is pretty much the decisive move of your career. Is that how you see it? It is. No doubt.There have been many times over the past 10 years where if I had have gone in another direction, things could have worked out differently, in terms of stepping into something that was perhaps little bit more competitive. In saying that, I don't have one regret. I have had a lot of people that have supported me. But this is the first time I have gone to a team that genuinely has race winning form,straight out of the gate. While I realise that I have got to entangle myself into that successful formula,this is the best shot I have had. No doubt about it. We've got great funding, a great team, we've got all the resources ... to me, ultimately,this is the way that motor racing around the world operates at this level. And this is my best opportunity ever to win a championship. No question. FPR won the final race of 2006, thanks to MarkWinterbottom. What will it be like to work with Frosty? Frosty is a lot like I was when I was younger. Fie has got a sensible head on his shoulders, and he is

ll guess it is pointless to talk about goals and objectives for this year ©h, we all know what they are. Every driver in the series has exactly the same idea. It is the way that you^ set about trying, to achieve that that makes the difference. So we'll be looking at a very set ,pian once we get into the thick of it It has to be structuredi otherwise it can be a bit disjointed.

probably one of the few guys that, when he came on the scene, you could see that if the cards fell his way,that he was going to be a pretty successful guy. And that has proved to be the case last year. I raced around him a bit last year but not too often, because he was going really well for the whole of the year and we were probably back a little further than we would have liked. But I have been around him, and he drives really well, really maturely. That's when you are racing together, but I also think we'll work really well togethej. We both have personalities that are pretty easygoing, which is great for the team. I know that Frosty plays in the FPR indoor cricket team,and he entrenches himself in the team, and that's what we need.We don't need guys who just wander in. You said that you wer^not quite where you thought you should be last year... We weren't. At the start of the year we had some great results. We won the Grand Prix, and we won Bargaballo. But from that point on, there were other teams that lifted the bar, and I thought that while our cars were competitive, it wasn't like 2005 where we were battling for top five positions in qualifying.

Realistically, we were fighting for fourth to 10th, and that is the nature ofthe game. There were some great points at Larry's, no question. But I just thought that probably mid-to-late last year, our star probably wasn't as high as it could have been.

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What did you learn from all those years with Larry? Larry is an incredible guy. Fie has an incredible wealth of knowledge in lots of different areas, and the way he operates

But there are also huge risks. If you are lying In seGond and you get fired off the road and score no points, that's a worse scenario! So I still think...- in some ways, sure, the higher you' finish, the more reward you are going to get for the position. But the loss is twice as bad,

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that team„with the amount of guys that he has... you've got to remember that he is not a

Especially with the new points system - you pay a heavy price for getting something wrong. The point system ... everyone raves about it, but it is still going to be

one bad round, It can put you out of the equation. So I am not letting any secrets out by saying that you still have to be consistent. Sure, there are rewards if you are running second, you are right behind the guy who is leading, and there Is a

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factory team, but he has got all the resources there to pretty well work at that level. Probably the biggest thing I learned from Larry is just that he was such an open and honest guy. You ask him a question, you got an answer.That's great, because it doesn't leave you in any doubt as to where you sit. So that's been

good.

There are no grey areas ... That's right. And I appreciate everything that Larry and the team did. But five years in the one team is a long time, and I didn't achieve ... for whatever reasons, and that's not really here nor there. Some of them were me-related, some were team-related, but we'd

both agree that we didn't achieve

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If you got a championship or two, would you be the type of guy to stick around and try for a

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Definitely. The only other thing I have ever entertained the idea of doing outside of winning a V8 Supercar title is perhaps doing the 24 Flour race at Le Mans. So those opportunities, when you are under the Prodrive umbrella, potentially exist. We've seen that Jason Bright has gone and done Sebring, so who knows? They are not tangible realities at this stage, but Ideally I would love to do that.

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TOP PRO

The Prodrive link with FPR potentially opens the door to doing some other things, such as the Aston Martin Sports Car program. Is there any appeal, any opportunity for you to follow that path?

what we set out to achieve.

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changes the picture a bit, because then you really have to Chase them. Until we

he Winning every weekend.. If they have

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●PROTEKNOMEX SUIT FIA I ●SPRINTER GLOVES ●SONIC BOOTS ..PLUS GEARBAG BONUS,

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What did you learn from all those years with Larry? Larry is an incredible guy. Fie has an incredible wealth of knowledge in lots of different areas, and the way he operates

Important to finish In that top six

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that team„with the amount of guys that he has... you've got to remember that he is not a

Especially with the new points system - you pay a heavy price for getting something wrong. The point system ... everyone raves about it, but it is still going to be

actually et geing, th@r@ ar? all §©rt§ ©f machinations,

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few more, or would you consider

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●PROCIRCUITNOMEX SUIT FIA ●WINNER GLOVES ●RACE PRO BOOTS ..PLUS., ●GEARBAG BONUS,

If you got a championship or two, would you be the type of guy to stick around and try for a

My goals have never changed; my goals have always been to win races and win charnpionships,

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The Prodrive link with FPR potentially opens the door to doing some other things, such as the Aston Martin Sports Car program. Is there any appeal, any opportunity for you to follow that path?

what we set out to achieve.

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SUPERBIKES

Start Me Up

In 2007,World Superbike has all the elements of great theatrerevenge, punishment,a new beginning and aJoker in the pack PMIILBRANAGAN

F ever there is going to be a year to watch the World Superbike Championship,this is the one. Okay;there is a PR person or advertising guru, somewhere in the world, who seemingly says that every year. So, why is 2007 different? Because we have a dominant Champion, his hungry (if not starving) predecessor out for revenge and a bunch of up-andcomers trying desperately to knock the veterans off. And,for good measure, we have the controversial, moody but no-one-can-deny-it brilliant Italian, trying everything he knows to re-establish his career after being shunned by almost the entire MotoGP circus. So, welcome to Troy Bayliss,Troy Corser and Max Biaggi. With due respect to a bunch of other riders (like Steve Martin, Lorenzo Lanzi, James Toseland and Fonsi Nieto), most of the headlines will centre around the two Aussies and Biaggi. As this is written, it could be well-argued that Bayliss is the best bike racer on the planet, having not only dominated the 2006 Superbike season but ending his title year with an emphatic win in the final MotoGP of the year, in a guest ride at Valencia. "Winning the final MotoGP race last year was an incredible race for me," he says. "It was an incredible year and to finish it off like that was very special. It was good for all of us here in World Superbike; it just goes to show the level in our championship and all the rest of the riders here. It is possible that they could go there and do the same thing." Corser is the man who chased his hardest, only to lose his seat to Biaggi in the end-of-season shuffle. And Max is ... Max. "All is going well at the moment but this year is going to be tougher than ever," Bayliss admits. "Everybody is riding well and the bikes are coming along good as well. I am under no illusions about how much work I'm going to put in but I'm happy with the way it's going and I'm getting into my rhythm." Following the last pre-season test at Phillip Island, Bayliss has reason to be pleased.The man fromTaree was more than a second inside the lap record and led a Ducati 1-2, while the rest of the teams looked on in awe. "i'm pretty happy with the bike and the team is working well," said Corser,"but we just need a bit more testing, and this is only the second or third day of riding a Yamaha at Phillip and it was quite a bit different to ride from the Suzuki, but I'm enjoying it. You need to change your style a bit when you go jumping from machine to machine and that can work against you. You do have to keep changing your style." That, certainly, works in favour of Bayliss. While 40

the Suzuki and Yamaha are both 1 OOOcc in-line fours, there are big differences, especially with the Yamaha. After years of five-valve engines,the 2007 model has four valves in each cylinder, as well as variable-length inlet trumpets. "Troy has been on a Ducati for most of his career, so he knows howto ride a Ducati,"says Corser. "So for him it's second nature. For me,I'm learning again,jumping on something different. So it's taking me some time to get there." But that sword is double-edged; while the other teams have new bikes to play with, Ducati is sticking with its 999, as its replacement,the 1098 - which is damn near as fast as a Superbike in stock form - is over the Superbike capacity limit and thus ineligible. For Biaggi,the challenge is huge. Four world titles on 250s and 13 GP wins on 500s and MotoGP machines mean little when you have to step onto production-based machine. But after a strong testing performance, does he expect to challenge for podiums from the opening race? "1 wish ..." he says."That is one of our first goals. We don't have really the pace at this moment to fight with the other guys, I have never been challenging with these guys here and for sure they have a lot of experience on these motorcycles. "For me, after a year off, I am now on a Superbike. I can say that the machine is a lot different from what 1 am used to. I am not learning a different machine 1 am just learning the ambience.The way of riding is not so close to MotoGP or 250. It was a big surprise to me to go to the first test at Valencia and set one of the fastest times there." So, who will win? The smart money says Bayliss, an established fixture in the Ducati team and with two years left on his contract, this is the twilight of his career. On the other hand, Corser has a great opportunity with the Yamaha Italia team which,for all intents and purposes, is the factory team Yamaha finally had to have to beat Ducati. "The top speed and the engine feel is not so bad," he says,"but we are struggling a bit with rear grip coming out of corners. We are a bit too sideways. So the lap times are not coming for us at the moment." The other challenge will be from team-mate, Noriyuki Flaga, a consistent winner at this level. And, what of Suzuki? "The package that I have is quite OK"says Max,"it's good,and the team are working very hard for sure to win races. I know the Japanese are putting in a lot of effort. Every time we go back on track we have something to test - something to try." Win, lose or draw,the Superbikes promise fireworks this year. And everyone likes to watch fireworks...

Carbon Copy: Troy Bayliss will continue to chase a #7 this season - even if he is carrying #27,left. Three times the fun: It stillseems a little odd to see Biaggi's familiar number on the front ofanything but a Grand Prix bike, below left. Back in Red: »>. n

Corser wants more stability out of his Yamaha Italia Ri, below.

Ifit's white,it must be a Honda:Former world champion James Toseland tested for Ten Kate in white,far left, but Aussie Steve Martin stayed in Spain to getsome miles on DFX's new CBR 7 OOORR at Valencia, centre. Meanwhile Fonsi Nieto really gave it to the Kawasaki, below right. Yes, his elbow is on the ground...

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SUPERBIKES

Start Me Up

In 2007,World Superbike has all the elements of great theatrerevenge, punishment,a new beginning and aJoker in the pack PMIILBRANAGAN

Corser wants more stability out of his Yamaha Italia Ri, below.

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HERE was one question everyone wanted to ask Fernando Alonso in Valencia this week - what's the story with the severe new haircut?

Not surprisingly, the cynics had already suggested it was done to appease Ron Dennis's desire for neatness and uniformity, which contrasts so starkly with Flavio Briatore's preference for a more colourful, shaggy approach. "It was not a McLaren decision," smiled Fernando. "It was completely my decision. I wanted to cut my hair last year, but I'm so superstitious, and I didn't want to cut my power..." It might have been a personal choice, but the new image was somehow symbolic of the start of this latest chapter in Fernando's 44

career. And it was rather nice of Ron and new sponsor Vodafone to lay on the best possible welcome party in Valencia, and showcase the new silver and red Alonso front of the Spanish fans who had grown so accustomed to cheering for a man in blue and yellow. Some 13 months have passed since Fernando was announced as a McLaren driver, but only in the last couple of weeks has he really got into overdrive with his new employer. Prior to Monday's event he had been on team duty more or less non-stop since the start of the year, and on Wednesday the serious stuff really began when he took his first laps in the new MP4-22. It's already very apparent that this is a marriage made in heaven, and that both parties are even happier

than they might have expected when the deal was done. Perhaps the long lead time has contributed to the current euphoria, as it has given both sides plenty of time to consider what might have happened had they taken an alternative path. Both have no doubt come to the conclusion that they got their decisions, and theirtiming, just right. Not counting the brief Nigel Mansell debacle, the only other World Champion Ron Dennis has brought to McLaren was Niki Lauda, and he did pretty well. Alain Prost and Ayrton Senna (and for that matter Juan Pablo Montoya) had shown championship-chasing form elsewhere, and just needed the circumstances to be right. Mika

financial incentive to move on, one that he believed that Renault couldn't match. Quitting the team that had given him his break was a big decision, but as in any walk of life leaving the nest and taking on the next challenge can be extremely appealing, however comfortable you might be. Sometimes a driver can feel that he's taken a little for granted,

Hakkinen and Kimi Raikkonen had done their apprenticeships and shown some potential, but to some degrees they were gambles. Stealing Fernando away from Renault looks like a no-brainer. To understand Fernando's side of the arrangement you have to go back to October-December 2005, when he was romanced and won over by Dennis. Raikkonen had just pushed Alonso hard for the title, and McLaren clearly had the quicker (but less reliable) car for much of that season. In Fernando's mind, there were doubts about the long-term commitment of both Renault and Flavio Briatore, and there was no reason to assume that Renault's

perhaps because everyone he works with has known him since he was a wide-eyed novice. Go somewhere else as a proven champion, and you are perceived in a very different way. It all makes sense, but at the time the news was a shock. It's

2005 form would automatically carry into the V8 era. One assumes that there was also a significant

easy to forget that we used to view Fernando as much a part of the Renault fabric as Lewis

motorsportnews

wmmi.mnews.coffl.au

Hamilton is at McLaren right now . Alonso's move does, of course have uncanny parallels with Michael Schumacher's switch to Ferrari, which also came on the back of two World Championships after five years in the Briatore camp. If you're talking challenges, you could argue that the Scuderia was in a much worse state back then than McLaren is in now, but then again Ferrari did win a race in '95, something that McLaren failed to do in '06 ... Atlike Valencia, reallyand was a kid inFernando a candy store, there was a lot of talk about high levels of motivation on both sides. McLaren is gradually discovering a driver who is very different from Continued page 46

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Continued from page 45

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his immediate predecessors, and takes more of an active interest in everything that is going on than anyone they've had since Senna. His personality, which made him adored by all at Renault, is doing the rest. "I call it new McLaren because with all the new sponsors and everything it feels like a new team," said Fernando. "And all the people are so excited about this new year, this new project, after not having success in the past, they feel that this is the year to come back. "I feel confident. I feel more confident even than last year at the beginning of the season. We changed from VI0 to V8, 1 was in Renault, I was thinking what's going to happen this year with the V8?This year with McLaren, I'm not thinking what is going to happen with the new team, I think it will be OK with the new team. "With the team I've been working 10 days in a row basically in January, and it feels very good.The atmosphere in the team has really impressed me, how they focus on winning. "It's probably the nicest car I've had in my hands, but we need it to be quick, not nice, so we'll see. I think all the information we have

now from the wind tunnel and the engine side, it's so good, it's maybe too good to be real! So we need to put the car on the track and see what exactly is the performance of this year's car." Fernando discovered that when he ran the MP4-22 on Wednesday,and crucially he had a good reference point. Getting him into the old car on the last day of 2006 testing was a huge coup for McLaren. It gave driver and team a chance to get to know each other a month earlier than expected. Sitting in the cockpit and getting down to business with the engineers is worth more than weeks of talking. "Neither Martin [Whitmarsh] nor i was involved in the process,'says Ron Dennis."I saw this always as a contractual issue between Renault and Fernando, and he asked Renault to be released. "Obviously Flavio discussed it with his colleagues and they agreed to release him, and we facilitated him to drive the car for a day, under very clear guidelines. Obviously no branding, and what we said both then and now was very limited. "No one at any stage asked for money, and there was no money paid. Where that came from, I don't know.There was never the issue ... In the end,this was a

matter between Fernando and Renault. It was almost at the end of the year, they were very comfortable to do it, and we were delighted that it happened.' If that's the case,the free rfelease was one of the best bargains Dennis has ever had:'I think it was an invaluable experience. It gave us a very clear confirmation of where we were on the interface of the tyre and the car, which was very important. He made some observations; it would be totally inappropriate to make any comment about comparisons, he just came out of the test very excited.' Fernando himself plays down the value of that day in the grand scheme of things, but nevertheless admits that having a go in the old car did have some specific benefits. "I learned not so much I think,"he said when I asked him about it. "Beoause it was a one-day test, and the team was similar to what I [was] used to.The best thing of that test was the tyre situation, having less grip in the tyres. Not changing your driving approach but having less grip makes the car a little more difficult, it's good because if not I was testing the new car now in January, and maybe I was thinking that it was the car, that lack of grip, so it was good to have a comparison between last year and

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this year's car." Details like cockpit comfort preferences and familiarity with the car's controls were certainly useful. One very specific reason for getting him into the car early was to get a handle - no pun intended on Fernando's very specific driving style. His aggressive turnin worked at Renault, but clearly there were concerns that it might be an issue and require some major set-up changes. That bonus month gave the team an extra chance to tweak the new car to suit him, but it seems that there were no real dramas. "I feel OK, I feel comfortable with everything so far. In the test I ran with Pedro [de la Rosa's] set-up from the previous day, and I had no difficulties, so that was good news for us, because we don't need to change too many things. "For sure I will need to adapt a little bit, and the car needs to adapt a little bit.This is normal. It's not because it's a new team. If I stayed at Renault, I needed to adapt myself a little bit to the tyres and the car also a little bit to the demands of the tyres, so their were no surprises. Everything was according to plan, and nothing to worry about at the moment." Martin Whitmarsh concedes that it was a relief that the driving style issue was not a problem. www.mnews.Gom.au

"It doesn't appear to be," he said. "I think Fernando has a distinctive driving style by comparison with his colleagues in FI - clearly a pretty effective oneand there was a thought inevitably to what extent does he tune that to Renault, or was the Renault being tuned to him? it was a much lesser issue, virtually no issue at all, when we put him in the car with next year's tyres. It was a very confidence-boosting day for him and the team." One specific benefit that Fernando brings is that this year's McLaren has more of a rearward weight bias, and that is what Alonso has been used to at Renault. Whitmarsh admits that as time passes there will be lots of areas where the Spaniard's accumulated knowledge will be valuable. "However much you try to do everything the best possible way,"' says the McLaren Chief Operating Officer, "it's useful having someone who is astute and intelligent with the credibility of Fernando to come and say why are you doing that, why are you doing this? It's early days yet.There are mixed emotions. You'd like him to come on board and say,'This is perfect, I can't improve upon it.'I'll be pleased when he finds - which he will do - things that he can

contribute to. And I think there's every sign that he will." Interestingly, Alonso himself insists that despite his inexperience Lewis Hamilton will also play a role in determining what direction McLaren takes. "Lewis will I think be a help for the team," he noted. "In a way he has no experience, so we can think that maybe he's not helping the team, at least at the beginning of the season. But I think completely the opposite. I think because he's young and quick, he can give us some fresh ideas into the team, and some fresh air, that maybe we need. Because sometimes FI teams get stuck in some of the ideas, traditions, things like that, and I think we can get something from Lewis." "We will be doing teamwork a lot. I think it's one of the things that is changing in McLaren a lot this year. They're really focussing on the team, on getting both drivers the same conditions, and between us work we'll work together to improve the car. I think Lewis will have a very good opportunity because between all of us, we can improve. I will learn things from him, because as I said sometimes it's fantastic to change your ideas, and he wiii learn a lot from everybody in the team as well. I

feel really, really optimistic with this relationship." It's clear that McLaren insiders feel the team has created a championship-winning package, but the ever-cautious Fernando is reserving judgement for now. "There are always top teams like Ferrari, Renault, Honda that will be fighting for sure,' he says. "And maybe surprises, like maybe Toyota is quick this year, or BMW.Who knows? But at the end of the year there will be only two of these teams fighting for the championship, and hopefully McLaren will be one of them." Inevitably, we're going to hear a lot of talk of comparisons between Alonso and Raikkonen this year. The world is waiting to see how the shuffle plays out, and if any McLaren folk have already made judgements,they're not about to say anything publicly. But there is one intriguing aspect that hasn't really been touched upon. Last year Jean Todt and Ross Brawn made it crystal clear that Kimi had always been their target as Michael's successor, and Fernando had never entered the equation. If Alonso needed any further motivation to become the first man since Fangio to win consecutive titles with different teams,that curious snub will surely be it... 47

TRIBUTE

Benny Parsons 1941-2007 1973 Winston Cup champion and Broadcaster

BYE BYE

Always smiling: Parsons was never happier than he was around cars, like his LG DeWitt-owned Chevy in 7972, above. He won at Atlanta in 1974,far left, and drove Fords in 1988, below. Greg Biffie, left, credits Parsons for his big break, while BP was a natural with the microphone,even for a TNT network promo with Ron Hornaday, below.

NASCAR Media

a battling but enthusiastic racecar driver,then a Winston Cup champion and then a folksy educator to NASCAR's millions of fans. So, when he was diagnosed with lung cancer last August, even at 65, he was certain he would fight one more battle and beat it. He received treatment five days a week and was cleared of the cancer, but lost the use of one lung as a result of the aggressive therapy. . "As my radiation oncologist told me today, John Wayne lived and had a great career with one lung," he wrote on his website on December 18."There is no reason why I can't do the same. If given a choice between cancer or losing a lung I would say that I got the right end of the deal." Three days later, his message hold was,"Enjoy your families and Iv. them close. Enjoy much laughter! It's good for everyone!" Five days later. Parsons was admitted to hospital with severe complications. After being placed

[Ford Racing Medi^

ENNY Parsons, a poor kid from North Carolina, always overcame the odds to become,first,

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'69, he won the ARCA title, and stepped up to NASCAR the following year. His first of 21 career wins came at South Boston Virginia Speedway in 1971 and two years later, driving a Chevrolet owned by LG DeWitt, he put together an amazingly consistent season. He won only once - at Bristol - while title rivals had dominated: David Pearson took 11 wins, Richard Petty had banked six and Cale Yarborough four. But the gods seemed to smile on Parsons at the final race of the season,at Bristol. When Benny was involved in a melee on lap 13, it all looked over but his Chevy was patched up with much help from rival crews and he mustered a 28th position finish. Engine problems stopped Petty(who had qualified on pole) and that allowed Parsons to snatch the title. in an induced coma, he never He Won most of the classic races recovered consciousness. oftheday. In 1975, he won the Perhaps the greatest tribute to Daytona 500; in 1980, he added the popularity of the man from the World 600 at Charlotte and in North Carolina is the fact that 1986,the Atlanta 500. He was the many people may have braced first man to qualify for a NASCAR themselves, should the news be race at over 200mph when he took bad. But that forewarning has not pole at Talladega in 1982. stopped the emotion and tributes Through it all. Parsons was flowing non-stop from all corners hugely popular around the sport. of the sport for the man known as When he drove for Rick Hendrick in 1987, his relationship with crew 'BP'and'The Professor', and who was a friend to all. chief Harry Hyde became the stuff of legend; at Darlington, Hyde The Benny Parsons story is a refused to let him pit for repairs typical one in the sport. Born because the crew was on an into a poor family in Wilkes icecream break.The incident was County, he was raised by his greatrecreated in the Tom Cruise movie grandmother'Mama Julia'inamazingly enough - Parsonsville, Days of Thunder. During the 1980s, Parsons after his family (including a brother) moved to Detroit.To had begun pitlane commentary make ends meet, he later worked appearances on ESPN and moved into the role full-time when he as a gas station attendant and taxi driver; it was the former that he stepped down from driving after the 1988 season. In his first season, noted may have caused his cancer. he won an ACE Award for the While he gave up a pack-a-day best sports analyst on cableTV smoking habit in 1978, working and created the popular segment with asbestos brake linings in the Buffet Benny, a critique on the days before the dangers of doing food available at racetracks. His so were well-documented may Fast Talk with Benny Parsons on have had long-term effects. Performance Racing Radio was In 1963, he started racing and a must for any NASCAR fan and two years later, was the ARCA Rookie of the Year. In 1968 and he kept the show going until just

before his death. Parsons was inducted into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in 1994 and named one of NASCAR's 50 greatest drivers in 1998. in ^ 995, he was inducted into the National Motorsports Press Association's Stock Car Racing Hall of Fame.The following year, he won an Emmy for his work on ESPN. He was also a great talent spotter; when Jack Roush was left without a driver in his fledgling Truck team in 1996, Parsons suggested he try Greg Biffie, whom he had seen racing in Arizona. On that recommendation alone, Roush hired him,and Biffie has repaid the debt with titles in Truck and Busch and a second in the Nextel Cup. "Benny Parsons is not only the person I owe my NASCAR career to, but he was a true friend to me from the day we met. I will always appreciate his friendship and what he did for me," Biffie said last week. . Since his untimely death, any number of identities from the radio,television and print media have also paid tribute to Parsons for his advice and selfless assistance. Many have stated that their big career breaks came courtesy of the man with a heart as big asTalladega. But perhaps the last word should go to former rival driver and commentator Darrell Waltrip: "Benny Parsons was the kindest, sweetest, most considerate person I have ever known. He was almost too nice to be a racecar driver, and I say that as a compliment. In my 30-odd years of racing Benny Parsons, I never knew of anyone being mad at Benny." In latter years. Parsons established Rendezvous Ridge winery on the very site of the house in which he lived with Mama Julia until he was 10. A man with a great sense of his family and roots, Benny Parsons is survived by his second wife Terri, sons Kevin and Keith (by his late wife Connie) and many friends in the US racing community. 49

TRIBUTE

Benny Parsons 1941-2007 1973 Winston Cup champion and Broadcaster

BYE BYE

NASCAR Media

[Ford Racing Medi^

ENNY Parsons, a poor kid from North Carolina, always overcame the odds to become,first,

motorsnort news

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on the runways on the Velizy-Villacoublay airbase, across the road from Peugeot Sport,on December 31!

Peugeot was dominant at Le Mans in 1992 and 1993 - the latter being a clean sweep 1-2-3 for the team,then run by Jean Todt. But the decision to go back to the race was made long before Barge took over his current job from former rally star JeanPierre Nicolas. he challenge," says Michel Barge, the boss of Peugeot Sport,"is to beat Audi.' And that is one hell of a challenge.The German firm has dominated Le Mans since the year 2000 with six wins in seven years - the other win going to Audi's sister company, Bentley. Barge is an automobile industry man and at 60, he's coming to the end of his career with the company. But he's no stiff in a suit. In 2005 he raced in the Classic Le Mans event in a Ford GT40. He has the fire of competition in his bones. 50

Nicolas had presented the Peugeot Sport chairman Frederic Saint-Geours with a list of different options that included Le Mans, the World Touring Car Championship, FIAGT and even rally raids. But Saint-Geours decided on endurance racing because it was the most interesting from a technical point of view - and the most cost-effective. "We are going back to Le Mans because it has stable rules,"says Barge. "That was one of the reasons we left the WRC. Endurance racing is also closest to what we are looking for in production cars. Reliability is really important and then there is the spirit of innovation that

Le Mans has. We have won Le Mans before but this time we want to do it with our HDI diesel technology. We will use a lot of our knowledge from road cars in the programme and at the same time thanks to our efforts in competition,the production diesels will improve. But to beat Audi we must be perfect. We must make all the right decisions." Saint-Geours announced the project as long ago as the summer of 2005 and talked at the time of a stimulating challenge that would inspire the Peugeot staff and dealers around the world. It is a sentiment echoed today by Barge. "The objective is to create a feeling of pride for everyone within Peugeot and within the sales networks," he says."It is not about star names. It is about a group of individuals working together to move mountains." And move mountains they must because j Peugeot Sport is very different from the organisation that won Le Mans back in 1993. ■s After Peugeot decided not to build FI motorsport nows

chassis, many of the engineers involved in the Le Mans chassis programme slipped away and Todt took some of the best engine people with him to Ferrari. Others, who wanted to stay in FI, went to Asiatech and others to Renault. Getting the new team together has been a rush. The technical director Bruno Famin joined the team in October 2005 and it was not until January 2006-just 12 months ago-that the three major technical men joined the staff;

Perhaps more importantly the engineers decided to design a closed car, rather than an open prototype like the Audis. "The choice was dictated by the aerodynamics and because of the rigidity that we needed from the chassis," Barge says. Cooling too was important, as diesels tend to run hot and need a lot of cooling.There were 500 hours spent in the windtunnel but there also had to be a rethink when the Automobile Club de I'Ouest(ACO)announced some new rules for 2010, although one of these was that all prototypes must have closed cockpits - a decision which means that Peugeot is ahead

Peugeot believes that it is ahead of Audi in horsepower, its 5.5~litre V12 pumping out 700hp

Paolo Catone, to head chassis design; Claude Guillois to run the engine department and Guillaume Catelani to do the aerodynamics. After three months the decision was taken to build a 100-degree VI2 engine - to lower the centre of gravity of the car as much as possible. The engine is mid-mounted and drives a sixspeed electro-pneumatic gearbox designed for Peugeot by the UK engineering company Ricardo Motorsport. www.mnews.com.au

of the game. The company also believes it is ahead of Audi in terms of horsepower, with Guillois's 5.5-litre VI2 pumping out 700hp. The first mock-up of the car appeared at the Paris Automobile Salon in September but the delays caused by the ACO decision meant that getting a car running in December was a very close call. Eric Helary, who was one of the triumphant Peugeot drivers in 1993, did the first shakedown run of the prototype

Ten days later the team was at Paul Ricard to begin a four-day test, with Nicolas Minassian being the first to run. The rush means that Barge is remaining realistic for 2007. "This year our aim is to make progress and develop the 908 for all the different circuits so that we can get to a level that will allow us to challenge for victory in 2008," Barge says. "Going to Le Mans is a warm-up this year but we are going for a win in 2008." The driver line-up is solid with Minassian being joined by Stephane Sarrazin, Pedro Lamy and Marc Gene for the rounds of the Le Mans Series with the two additional seats at Le Mans going to stars Sebastien Bourdais and Jacques Villeneuve. The latter got all the headlines but he was an obvious choice as he has won the Formula 1 World Championship,the IndyCar title and the Indianapolis 500. Winning Le Mans as well would be unique. Bourdais too is a man who wants to win at Le Mans. He has done all he can do in America and dreams of FI and a win at Le Mans - his home town - would do no harm to his Grand Prix aspirations. It is not going to be easy this year but Peugeot hopes that the new project will ultimately bear fruit. Not that Audi is going to make life easy for them... 51

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on the runways on the Velizy-Villacoublay airbase, across the road from Peugeot Sport,on December 31!

Peugeot believes that it is ahead of Audi in horsepower, its 5.5~litre V12 pumping out 700hp

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LEMANS

What are diesels and why do they matter now? THE coming battle between Audi and Peugeotfor bragging rights at Le Mans will be fierce - and there are an awful lot at stake. Diesel engines can burn a less refined oil than petrol motors, so it is cheaper to produce (the high price at the Aussie pump is because of taxes and excise). Diesel has a higher density than gasoline and, in modern engines, offers as much a 40 percent better fuel economy and up to 30 percent lower greenhouse emissions per litre consumed. The other side of the equation is that a diesel engine produces less power,so many road car diesel engines(and all race engines) are either supercharged or turbocharged. Because of the power shortfall, diesels have been rare in motorsport. In 1931,a Cummins Diesel Special finished the Indianapolis 500 and while the car did not win, it completed the 800km distance without stopping for a refill. BMW won the 1998 Nurbupgring 24 Hour race with its 320d (which was virtually a diesel-engined Super Touring car)and Audi's assault on Le Mans last year has been well-documented (the marque also won the Sebring 12 Hour on the F(T0 LMP's debut). Needless to say,the high price offuel in has driven up diesel sales in the 21 st century. Aided by developments in engine technology and the wide availability of low-sulphur diesel ; fuel, there has been a boom in sales around the globe. In 2006, Peugeot sold a total 52

Le Bleues: Clockwise from above, Nicolas Minassian made it out to test the 90S on December 31. Peugeot Sport Chairman Frederic Saint-Geours and CEO Michel Barge have high expectations.

Track testing has already started at Paul Ricard.

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The driving squad already has some trophies. L to R:Jacques Villeneuve, Marg Gene,Pedro Lamy,Saint-Geours, Eric Helary, Barge, Sarrazin, Minassian and Sebastien Bourdais.

of 1.96 million passenger cars world-wide of which about one million were diesels. In Australia, 40 percent of Pugs sold in 2006 were oil-burners but with new 207 range offering a diesel model (its predecessor,the 206, did not) Peugeot expects that 45-50 percent of local sales to be diesels this year. Both Audi and Peugeot are accustomed to success at Le Mans so the looming war will be riveting to watch. But it has an interesting side note from almost 150 years ago. Diesel technology was invented by German Rudolf Diesel, who believed that fuel in an internal combustion engine could be ignited by high compression rather than by a spark. After some unsuccessful experiments(one explosion almost killed him) he proved his theory and was granted a patent. Diesel, above, was born in March T8S8 - but not in Germany. He was born in Paris the home of Peugeot...

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stephane Sarrazin is most unusual in the modern era. He was a winner all the way up to Formula 1 but never quite made it beyond one race with Minardi ini Brazil in i’999, when he was standing in for an injured Luca Badoer.The race ended with a big crash but Sarrazin walked away unharmed. He went on to become a test driver with Prost Grand Prix before fading from the FT scene. Unusually, he had a second chance when Toyota picked up as a test driver -in 2004 but by then he had embarked on a different challenge - as a rally driver. He won the French title at his first attempt in a Subaru and made a big impression in a one-off outing in the Rally of Catalunya WRC event. He was

signeditoi drive for Subaru in 2005 and 2006 but that promise was never fulfiiied andihe was dropped at the end of last year. "Subaru gave me the opportunity to show what I was capable of doing,"Sarrazin says, looking back."Ithink that i| proved on asphalt that II was pretty close to Petter Solberg.ill had some good times although I did; not get a lot of testing on gravel. "It was only recently that il did' a lot of running on gravel with the 2007 Subaru. It was the first time ii had driven that muchi and I enjoyed myself. Now l am happy to return to circuit racing - aithough i| did not really ever leave it because I was regularly doing endurance races with Aston Martin.The Peugeot drive is a big opportunity for a French motorsDorinews

driver and it was an Offer that H) couid not refuse." Stephane was with Peugeot iback in the dark days of the PrOstPeugeot relationship. "That was Compietely diferent," he says,"butI do know some Of the Peugeot mechanics now who I have met around the tracks. Pind'inii'OUt about new team members is one of the nice things in this kind Of a programme andil want to get down to work to get to know the engineers because they are always interesting and rewarding reiationships." lit is an interesting d rive I ine-u p? "if a group of drivers get on and work in the same direction it really makes things easier,"he says. 'And!that is more important with a> project like this one- ifthink we are going toform a goodbunch of pals.Two years agol was racing www.mnews.com.au

with Pedro(Lamy)at Aston Martin. I know Sebastien (iourdais) very welll and I raced with 'Nicoias (iMInassiani) in Formula Renault, Formula;3 and iFormulai 3'000. We go back about 15 years. When you stop and think about it that Isa ipretty long time!i|i was with Marc (Gene)briefly at Minardi but then we both ended lup in the iNiissanWorid Series and so Jacques (A/iiiieneuwe) is really the only one I don't know - and l am looking) forward to getting to know him." they are not all Sportscar racers? "i think that they are all sufficiently taientednot to need much help driving prototypes," Sarrazin says."There is certainly a period when you need to adapt but with ati the tests we have planned before Le Mans they will have plenty of miles by the time we get there. At Le Ma ns it is more

about learning the circuit, but I think with their experience and attitude they are going to be a plus for the team and will help us to stay focussed on what needs to be done. "We all know what the others are

capable of achieving and we are all going to bring our own opinions and experiences to the team." “lam really looking forward to it!" -JOESAWARD

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Le Bleues: Clockwise from above, Nicolas Minassian made it out to test the 90S on December 31. Peugeot Sport Chairman Frederic Saint-Geours and CEO Michel Barge have high expectations.

Track testing has already started at Paul Ricard.

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The driving squad already has some trophies. L to R:Jacques Villeneuve, Marg Gene,Pedro Lamy,Saint-Geours, Eric Helary, Barge, Sarrazin, Minassian and Sebastien Bourdais.

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capable of achieving and we are all going to bring our own opinions and experiences to the team." “lam really looking forward to it!" -JOESAWARD

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Greatnessand Sadness This year marks the 20th anniversary of Didier Pironi's death in a powerboat race. GRANT ROWLEY looks back at the man who wanted to be France's first Formula 1 world champion

NE passing move defined his life, and a spate of tragic events ruined what would otherwise have been a world-class career. Frenchman Didier Pironi made 72 Grand Prix starts, won three races, and as a young racing driver working his way through the Junior formula, was determined to be France's first Formula 1 world champion. Sadly, Pironi didn't live his dream. Didier came from a businesssavvy and wealthy family, and his ability to spend money on the best race equipment,especialiy in the junior formuia, and arrive to the circuits in glamorous road cars enraged many of his rivals, to the point where Pironi was never the most popular figure in the paddock.This came despite the fact that he was quietly spoken, highly motivated and devastatingly talented behind the

wheel.

Pironi started his racing career in 1973 with Elf backing through the Winfieid School. He raced in 54

France's national Formule Renault championship but was plagued with engine problems,finishing sixth in thetitie. Flis poor results inspired him to start his own team in 1974 with continued Elf support. And it worked. Fie won the crown and moved to Formula Renault Europe in a Martini chassis in 1975. Again, his first season was hamstrung with engine problems, leaving him third in the championship, despite only completing half of the races. Pironi was a determined soul. though. While not entirely pleased with remaining in the category (he wanted to race Formuia 2), he stuck at the European series and convincingly won It. From there, he got his opportunity in Formula 2 with Elf/ Martini-Renault in 1977. it proved to be a difficult year to shine, with a handful of future Formula 1 stars competing, including his team mate Rene Arnoux, PatrickTambay, Ricardo Patrese, Bruno Giacomelli and Eddie Cheever. Arnoux won the title, while Pironi took third. with one race win at Estoril. He

also found time that year to win the Monaco Formula 3 race - his only start In an F3 car. For 1978 he signed a two-year deal with Ken Tyrell to drive in Formula 1 with the under-financed Tyrell team. After two years using the spectacular P34 six-wheeler. Pironi joined the team when It introduced the more conventional Tyrell-Ford 008. It was a simple chassis, with no turbocharged engine, but it gave Pironi a stressfree introduction to FI. The year yielded seven world championship points but, he had made his presence felt enough. So much so that he was nearly pinched by Renault for 1979. Part of Renault's desire to hire Pironi was that he had just won the Le Mans 24 Hourforthem. Aboard one of three works AlpineRenault A442BTurbos, he drove with Jean-Pierre Jaussaud to victory in the classic French race. The 1979 season saw more financial trouble strike Tyrell, until rescued mid-year by italian appliance manufacturer Candy. With cash to spend, Didier secured

his first podium at Zolder, and claimed another In the season finale at Watkins Glen. Pironi was snapped up by Ligier in 1980 and overshadowed the incumbent Jacques Laffite with some exception drives, including his debut victory at the Belgium Grand Prixat Zolder. But his time with Ligier lasted just one season. Enzo Ferrari liked what he saw and hired Pironi for the 1981 season. Pironi's decision to drive at Maranello proved to be career-defining and short-lived. Teamed with Gilles Villeneuve, Pironi was outclassed by the Canadian in 1981. Pironi's best result was a fourth place finish, while Villeneuve finished seventh in the world title (Pironi was 13th). And then came 1982. Ferrari produced a brilliant chassis, and with one of the best driver pairings in the field, it should have been a red year. Unfortunately, red was a colour that we saw too much of. in Round 4 at imola,just 14 cars fronted when the bitter war between FOCA and FISA affiliated

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teams came to a head. Ferrari and Renault were the only teams of note on the grid, and when the Renaults expired, it was a race between Pironi and Villeneuve. Toward the end of the race. Ferrari ordered them to slow to conserve fuel and reduce the risk of mechanical failure. And depending on who you ask, a pit board was allegedly shown reading '1-Vil, 2-Pir.' Regardless, Villeneuve thought that Pironi was to stay in second piace, but Pironi was on a different page. Flaving passed each other on numerous occasions through the race, Pironi passed Villeneuve into theTosa hairpin on the last l ap to take the win. Why did Pironi pass Villeneuve? For the win, obviously, but Pironi's relationship with the Ferrari hierarchy was exceptional at the time, and some think that Pironi thought he could dodge the wrath of his team. After the pass, Villeneuve vowed never to speak to Pironi again. Tragically, he kept his promise. In the next round at Zolder, Villeneuve was killed In qualifying while trying to beat Pironi s provisional pole position. Villeneuve's furious state of mind is considered to have contributed to the incident, where he clipped the back of Jochem Mass's slowing March,throwing the Ferrari, and Villeneuve, Into the next life. Ferrari and Pironi withdrew from the race, but the championship

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was now Pironi's for the taking. But while he looked destined to become France's first world champ, he copped flack for his contribution to Villeneuve's death, and there was more sorrow to come. In Canada a few races later. Pironi stalled on the grid. Riccardo Paletti crashed into him, where Palettl's car caught fire, killing the young Italian. Flaving now been involved In the deaths of two of his rivals, and the breakdown of his own marriage, Pironi's state of mind changed.The usual cool customer now exuded cockiness and over¬ confidence, and was absolutely convinced that he would win the world title. Alas, it wasn't to be. On a drenched Flockenheim circuit in practice at the German Grand Prix, Pironi was lapping the circuit like he had something to prove. Unsighted, he smashed into the back of Alain Prost's Renault, sending his car into the wall it ripped the front of his car off and horrific damage to his legs meant he never raced again. More than 20 operations later and four years out of the cockpit Pironi made a testing comeback with the French AGS team. He wa . s quick, as expected, but couldn't find a ride for 1987. He resorted to powerboat racing, which ultimately took his and his two co-drivers lives on 23 August, 1987. It was a very sad end to a promising yet unfulfilled life.

Greatnessand Sadness This year marks the 20th anniversary of Didier Pironi's death in a powerboat race. GRANT ROWLEY looks back at the man who wanted to be France's first Formula 1 world champion

wheel.

Pironi started his racing career in 1973 with Elf backing through the Winfieid School. He raced in 54

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/Kei

How'd you go? The quiz is over for another year.So how do you think you went? Pole position in the smartstakes? Or did you fail to make the cut in qualifying?The results are in Answer 1: Felipe Massa scored his maiden FI podium at the Nurburgring. Pedro de la Rosa was on the podium in Hungary (second)and Robert Kubica took third in Italy. A2: Glenn Seton was the main man at the Sandown 500 and the Bathurst 1000. A3: False. While no Aussie flags have appeared in Daytona's Victory Lane,2006 winner. Kiwi Scott Dixon, was born in Queensland. A4: NASCAR-bound AJ Allmendinger won the CCWS Rookie crown in 2004, while 2005 winnerTimo Glock is BMW's FI test driver.

A12: Webber will wear #15; Montoya #42; Richards #6; Ingali #9: Ambrose #59. A13: Michael Guest and Darren Windus will drive the rally Fiestas. A14:The V-fours belong to Honda, Ducati, Suzuki and llmor. Yamaha and Kawasaki will race in-line fours.

A6: Five drivers have driven for both HRT and BJR. Jones himself and, in V8 Supercars,Tomas Mezera. in Audis, Cameron McConville, Paul Morris and Greg

A15: Michael Schumacher is the third-youngest double world champion.

A7: Ambrose was on pole at Kentucky Speedway's Ford Built Tough 225. A8; A trick question. Chevrolet's Impala SS, Ford's Fusion and Toyota's Camry will fight out all Nextel 56

A19: At the!974 Surfers Paradise ATCC round. Brock debuted HDT SLR/5000 Torana,Johnson drove the team's XUI in a one-off. A20: Eight Holden models -Torana XU-1 ('72),Torana L34('75),Torana A9X ('78/79), Commodore VC ('80), Commodore VH ('82/83), Commodore VK ('84), Commodore VL ('87), Monaro CVS ('04).

A11: 1 am Hans Joachim Stuck.

A5: Under TREC,a two-car team is allocated $6.75m,a single-car gets 60 percent,three cars get 120 percent and four 130 percent.

Murphy.

80 last year, a feat that will be equalled in 2007 by Phil Hill, the 1961 champion.

A16: No, Rick Kelly was 23 years and 23 days when he won the title, in 1996, Craig Lowndes won his first title 19 days before his 22nd birthday. A17: Hollinger Engineering supplies the V8s with gears, MoTeC with brains and Alcon with stoppers. A18: Sir Jack Brabham turned

A21: Skaife will turn 200 starts old at Round 13, Symmons Plains. A22;TK will turn 100 starts old at Round 8, Oran Park. A23;Three wins between the last two V8 Champs. 2x Russell Ingall (05) and lx Rick Kelly (06).

successful The Bowin P4A to be exact. ABO: BrookeTatnell finished sixth in the 2006 Outlaws competition. A31: Donny Schatz did the Outlaws/Knoxville double in 2006. A32: Jason Crump wrapped up the Speedway GP crown in thp Czech Republic. A33:There were still two Speedway GPs reamaining, Latvia and Poland. A34: Leigh Adams best Speedway GP finish of 2006 was third in Sweden. A35; Mario, Michael and Marco Andretti have only one Indy 500 win between them.

A24: Shell Championship Series.

A36: Marco became IRL's youngest ever winner at Infineon Raceway.

A25: GRM used to run #34 and #35 in the V8 Championship.

A37: Eddie Cheever had a blue with the Andrettis.

A26: Jim Richards (2003), Alex Davison (2004), Fabian Coulthard (2005), Craig Baird (2006).

A38: Helio Castroneves'fence climbing antics have earned him the nickname'Spiderman.'

A27:The Australian Formula Ford champs have racked up 17 Bathurst wins between them.

A39: Las Vegas will kick off the 2007 Champ Car World Series.

A28: 15 Australian Formula Ford Championships have been won in locally built chassis. A29: Bowin has been the most

A40; And then Zuhai will host CCWS'first visit to China. A41: Gil de Ferran won the 2001 CCWS in a Reynard, making him the last Champion not in a Lola.

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QUIZ ANSWERS. c

? 3

§■ Dt

Mow'd you go?

PERTH

The quiz is over for another year. So how do you think you went? Pole position in the smart stakes? Or did you fail to make the cut in qualifying?The results are in

Answer 1: Felipe Massa scored his maiden FI podium at the Nurburgring. Pedro de la Rosa was on the podium in Hungary (second) and Robert Kubica took third in Italy. A2: Glenn Seton was the main man at the Sandown 500 and the Bathurst 1000. A3: False. While no Aussie flags have appeared in Daytona's Victory Lane, 2006 winner. Kiwi Scott Dixon, was born in Queensland. A4: NASCAR-bound AJ Allmendinger won the CCWS Rookie crown in 2004, while 2005 winnerTimo Glock is BMW's FI test driver.

Cup races but Dodge is having an each-way bet. The Dodge Avenger will run in all 16 Car of Tomorrow events but the faithful Charger will be seen in the other races. A9: FI drivers can use seven sets of'dry'tyres, four sets of wets and three sets of'extreme weather'tyres. A10:Tyres are; FI: Bridgestone. V8 Supercar, DTM and BTCC; Dunlop. WTCC;Yokohama. A11: 1 am Hans Joachim Stuck. A12: Webber will wear #15; Montoya #42: Richards #6; Ingali #9: Ambrose #59. A13: Michael Guest and Darren Windus will drive the rally Fiestas.

A5: Under TREC, a two-car team is allocated $6.75m, a single-car gets 60 percent, three cars get 120 percent and four 130 percent.

A14:The V-fours belong to Honda, Ducati, Suzuki and llmor. Yamaha and Kawasaki will race in-line fours.

A6: Five drivers have driven for both HRT and BJR. Jones himself and, in V8 Supercars,Tomas Mezera. In Audis, Cameron

A15: Michael Schumacher is the third-youngest double world champion.

McConville, Paul Morris and Greg

A16: No, Rick Kelly was 23 years and 23 days when he won the title. In 1996, Craig Lowndes won his first title 19 days before his 22nd birthday.

Murphy.

A7: Ambrose was on pole at Kentucky Speedway's Ford Built Tough 225. A8: A trick question. Chevrolet's Impala SS, Ford's Fusion and Toyota's Camry will fight out all Nextel 56

A17; Hollinger Engineering supplies the V8s with gears, MoTeC with brains and Alcon with stoppers. A18: Sir Jack Brabham turned

80 last year, a feat that will be equalled in 2007 by Phil Hill, the 1961 champion. A19: At thel 974 Surfers Paradise ATCC round. Brock debuted HDT SLR/5000Torana, Johnson drove the team's XU1 in a one-off. A20: Eight Holden models -Torana XU-1 ('72),ToranaL34 ('75), Torana A9X ('78/79), Commodore VC ('80), Commodore VH ('82/83), Commodore VK ('84), Commodore VL ('87), Monaro CV8 ('04). A21:Skaife will turn 200 starts old at Round 13, Symmons Plains. A22;TK will turn 100 starts old at Round 8, Oran Park. A23: Three wins between the last two V8 Champs. 2x Russell Ingall (05) and lx Rick Kelly (06).

IF Vv-

TR,

A42: Andrew Pitt and Alex Barros are moving to MotoGP for 2007.

A30: Brooke Tatnell finished sixth in the 2006 Outlaws competition.

A43: Simon Pagenaud won the 2006 Champ Car Atlantic title for Team Australia.

A54:To beat Doug Kalitta and win the NHRATop Fuel title, Tony Schumacher had to beat Melanie Troxel and set a new elapsed time record in the final race of the year. He completed both tasks.

A44: James Davison and Michael Patrizi joined him in the team.

A55: 'Quick' is time (ET); 'Fast' is speed.

A45: Six Aussie A1GP drivers (Will Power, Christian Jones, Will Davison, Marcus Marshall, Ryan Briscoe, Karl Reindler).

A56: Andrea de Cesaris had 16 retirements in 1987.

A67: Anthony Davidson broke the unofficial lap record at Valencia with a 1 m08.540s at the wheel of a HondaFI car during testing just prior to the start of the 2006 season.

A57: Johnny Herbert started 161 races, none of which from pole.

A68:Will Power had a F3000 test with Draco Racing.

A58: Luca Badoer started 49 Grands Prix without scoring a single point.

A69: Sebastien Bourdais wears red-framed glasses.

season was won by Mark Winterbottom.

A70:The Le Mans-winning Audi R10 was entered by Joest Racing.

A78: Peter Brock finished 12th at Targa Tasmania.

A71: The 2006 Race of Champions was staged at Stade de France in Paris.

A79: He also won the V8 Ute races in partnership with son James.

A72: Michael Guest was replaced at Rally of Melbourne by Rick Bates.

A80: Jamie Whincup and Will Davison are housemates.

A31: Donny Schatz did the Outlaws/Knoxville double in 2006. A32; Jason Crump wrapped up the Speedway GP crown in the Czech Republic. A33: There were still two Speedway GPs reamaining, Latvia and Poland. A34: Leigh Adams best Speedway GP finish of 2006 was third in Sweden. A35: Mario, Michael and Marco Andretti have only one Indy 500 win between them.

A24: Shell Championship Series. A25: GRM used to run #34 and #35 in the V8 Championship.

A37: Eddie Cheever had a blue with the Andrettis.

A26: Jim Richards (2003), Alex Davison (2004), Fabian Coulthard (2005), Craig Baird (2006).

ASS; Helio Castroneves'fence climbing antics have earned him the nickname'Spiderman.'

A27: The Australian Formula Ford champs have racked up 17 Bathurst wins between them.

A39: Las Vegas will kick off the 2007 Champ Car World Series.

A29: Bowin has been the most

-f

successful The Bowin P4A to be exact.

A36: Marco became IRL's youngest ever winner at Infineon Raceway.

A28: 15 Australian Formula Ford Championships have been won in locally built chassis.

L‘-

Ofstra

A40: And then Zuhai will host CCWS'first visit to China. A41: Gil de Ferran won the 2001 CCWS in a Reynard, making him the last Champion not in a Lola.

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A46: 1 am Michael Caruso. A47: It was even at the top of the Fujitsu Series; five Fords, five Holdens. A48: Andrew Thompson won on his FV8 debut at Bathurst in 2006. A49: John Hopkins kicked the heck out of his Suzuki at Losail, Qatar because of its constant engine woes. A50' Carl Edwards does a back flip when he wins a NASCAR Nextel Cup race. A51: NASCAR uses Goodyear rubber. A52:Talladega Superspeedway is the longest NASCAR track (2.66 mile tri-oval) and Martinsville is the shortest (0.526 mile oval). A53: Scott Kalitta loves WSID the day after Christmas, winning there for the past two years.

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A59: Michael Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello started a record 102 races as team-mates. A60: GabrieleTarquini failed to qualify for 40 Grands Prix. A61: Aughtie Drive and Lakeside Drive make up the Albert Park circuit. A62: According to designer Mike Hewland, DG stood simply for 'Different Gearbox', believe it or not.

A66: The second driver to win a GP in a car bearing his own name was Bruce McLaren, who won the 1968 Belgian GP in a Cosworthpowered McLaren.

A73: Kronos Racing's 2006 driver line-up comprised Sebastien Loeb, Dani Sordo and Xavier Pons. A74: Ryan Briscoe made his Champ Car debut with RuSPORT. A75: Mikko Hirvonen won Rally Australia. A76:Thetop of the DJRcars sported characters from The Wacky Races. A77: The final race of the 2006

3 3. s. 3 ●2.

A63; Paul Stewart beat everyone to get Mugen donks in British F3. A64: Michael Schumacher raced Formula Koenig after karts. A65: Jacques Villeneuve and Tiago Monteiro skipped karts. 57

WORLD RALLY CHAMPiQNSHiP round 1 - monte carlo

IT ^

Clean slate: There was no sign ofSubaru s problems from 2006 as Atkinson, above,produced one ofhis career-best drives to take fourth. He finished ahead ofteam-mate Fetter Solberg, who celebrated anyway. above right.

'4,

T'S not smart to make broad predictions about a season based on just one round, but last weekend's WRC curtainraiser in Monte Carlo suggested that any driver who doesn't have their name on the window of a Citroen C4 could be in for a long year. World Champion Sebastien Loeb treated the Monte as his comeback event after losing the end of 2006 to a shoulder injury, and it was as if he had never left. By the end of the second day he had a 25.2s lead over team-mate Dani Sordo, and a 50.5s buffer back to the pursuing Ford Focus of Marcus Gronholm. Unsurprisingly, the Citroens could afford to relax on the final day and cruised home fora comfortable 1-2. "It's really fantastic because there were so many unknowns before the start, what with the new C4, my arm, our rivals and the new stages," said Loeb. "We've risen successfully to the 58

Champion returnjn^^f^ overvRallyje Mon|^cjrr|jpJ £■

challenge on asphalt, now fresh challenges await us on snow and dirt." There was a serious question mark over the Frenchman's fitness going into the event, with Loeb admitting just prior to the start that he was still yet to regain full mobility and strength in his damaged shoulder. Last year it was often said that Loeb could win with one hand tied behind his back; at Monte Carlo last weekend that's virtually what he did. Back in a distant third place. Ford's Marcus Gronholm could do little but watch as the Citroens vanished into the distance. "It didn't seem like the Rallye Monte Carlo because the weather was so strange," he remarked, referring to the absence of snow and ice that normally characterise the event. "It was more like a really difficult asphalt rally with the wrong tyres. There wasn't really such a big difference between my pace and

fc that of Seb compared with last year." Gronholm's cause was not helped by a gearbox problem on Friday, nor by a clout with a wall while pushing to reduce the gap to the red and white cars. While the new C4s were busy thumping everyone into submission, the real story of the rally was provided by Chris Atkinson in his Subaru. Atkinson was having his first shot at the Monte in a current-spec Impreza, having taken a back seat to third driver Stephane Sarrazin last year, and along with Fetter Solberg, he was also giving Subaru its first competitive outing on BF Goodrich tyres after the team split with Pirelli at the end of 2006. Coupled with Atkinson's relative inexperience on tarmac, there were plenty of unknowns - which is why everyone sat up and took notice when he took two stage wins early in the weekend, his first-

ever stage wins on asphalt. Atkinson's speed set him up for a fierce battle for fourth place against the works Ford driven by Mikko Hirvonen, a battle that he was winning until the Subaru stalled on the second day, costing Atkinson around eight seconds. His misfortune gave Hirvonen a 0.8s advantage going into the final Super Special on the Grand Prix track, but Atkinson responded rather nicely by winning the stage - his third for the weekend - and edging Hirvonen back to fifth by just 0.2s. "Getting fourth place back from Mikko on this stage is a massive result for us," he beamed. "To be fighting like this on asphalt is so encouraging for the team. I was just trying to be quick and neat rather than spectacular. I think this is one of the best rallies we've ever had. It feels like we've reached a new level on asphalt and the team is coming along very well."

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Where worlds collide: The track looks familiar but not with WRC cars on it, above. Meanwhile Kronos returned with new coiours and a new driver in Manfred Stohl, left, whose weekend was hampered by brake problems. Over in the Ford camp, Hirvonen was just as enthusiastic about the battle, if not the outcome. "I enjoyed a brilliant fight with Chris and just lost out,"said the Finn. "But full credit to him, he won fair and square. We struggled a little with out set-up and tyres. I really wanted fourth, but this is a solid start to the championship. I feel disappointed now, but it is a good result and one I would have been happy with before the start. Solberg brought his Subaru home in sixth, giving the team an encouraging start to the season after a disastrous 2006, with the final points going toToni Gardemeister in a Mitsubishi and Skoda's Jan Kopecky. As always there were tales of iMww.mnewsxom.aui

misfortune elsewhere around the service park. Jari-Matti Latvala spearheaded the Stobart VK M-Sport team for the weekend and looked set to claim a point before skating into a wall, while team-mates Henning Solberg and Matthew Wilson spent the weekend adapting to what, for them, were unfamiliar conditions.

The 75th edition of Rallye Monte Carlo took on a very different look to its predecessors. The warmer-than expected weather played havoc with drivers tyre choices; the need to pre-nominate compounds ahead of the event leaving several competitors with rubber that was too soft for the conditions. But there were also changes to

the Rally itself.The two Special Stages on the opening day were held on roads to the north-west of the Principality that have not been used for a decade.The two stages were also held in total darkness, another feature that has been missing from the WRC for 10 years, and thus a new experience for much of the field. From the tarmac of Monte Carlo, the championship now wheels out the studded tyres in preparation for the snow of Sweden. A new Super Special at Karlstad awaits, as does the usual hazards like snow banks and icy gravel that make snow events so unique. Last year it was Marcus Gronholm all the way, and on February 9-11 we'll find out whether he can do it again.

g M ONTE CARLO 1 I SebastfeiGogj) Fra Citroen C4 Daniel Elena Mon 3:10:27.4 2 DanMls) Citroen C4 .Esp Marc Marti 3:11:05.6 Esp 3 MarcgsG^iliMln-iFin FbrJTocus WRC Timo Rautianen Fin 3:11:50.2 4 Chris Atkinsd! Aus Subaru Impreza Glenn Macneall Aus 3:12:55.5 5 MikkpHirypnSik Fin Citroen Xsara WRC Jarmo Lehtinen Fin 3:12:55.7 6 PeftefSgl^j§^__Nor ^baru Impreza Phil Mills GB 3:13:39.4 7 Toni Gardegpj-viFIn lancer WR05 Jakke Honkanen Fin 3:14:05.5 Cz Skoda Fabia WRC Jan Kppei 3:15:06.3 Filip Schovanek Cz i’Points: loeblO, Sotdo 8, Gronholm 6, Atkinson oncn a, P. Solborg 3, Gardemeister 2, Kopecky 1. Manufacturers' Points; Citroen 18, BP-Ford 10, Subaru 8, Kronos Citroen 2, Stobart M-Sport Ford 1. 59

WORLD RALLY CHAMPiQNSHiP round 1 - monte carlo

IT ^

'4,

Champion returnjn^^f^ overvRallyje Mon|^cjrr|jpJ £■

motorspors toews

INTERNATIONAL

I I

The Incredible Hulkenberg

The tortoise beatsthe hare

German youngster continues to impress with double A1GP win at Taupo

Slow and steady Mitsubishi beat runaway VWs to 2007 Dakar crown

Desert Storm

NICO Hulkenberg and A1 Team Germany continued their domination of the 2006/2007 A1GP season with an effortless double victory at Taupo last weekend. Having struggled to make an impact during the practice sessions, Hulkenberg jumped to the top of the time sheets for the first time in qualifying, taking pole ahead of French rookie Loic Duval and home town hero Jonny Reid. And that was that; Hulkenberg was hardly troubled at the front of the field throughout either the sprint race or the feature race. Such was his dominance that he managed to gap the field by 3.7s in the first race and a massive 19.5s in the feature. "I got into my rhythm, I was able to find my pace and I could make a little gap between us,"said Hulkenberg. "My manager was a little bit sick this week and I think I have caught something off him but I am all right. I drank a lot, about four litres before the race, and I am okay. "I want to say a big thank you to the team as we had a good strategy and a great pit stop. I am so pleased to be here and to have won the race and I am really looking forward to Australia now." Duval carried his qualifying form into the races as well, impressing on his first A1 GP outing with two second places. He didn't do it as easy as the German, however, having to withstand constant pressure and numerous overtaking attempts from New Zealand's Jonny Reid, pictured right. While Reid couldn't overcome Duval or Hulkenberg, he did do enough to record the best homeresult in A1GP history. "It was tough out there," Reid said."I was sliding around. I knew if I could get in front I could pull away gradually. "There was not much between us. I think we were quicker overall but I just couldn't put that into second place. When we had the backmarkers I knew that would cause some confusion so I put the pressure on but there were no mistakes made by the French team. "Loic did a very good job under

pressure and credit to him.That was a tough race for us all and I am happy with third place." Not so happy with its place was A1 Team Australia. A bad qualifying session for Karl Reindler put the team on the back foot right from the start, having to line up 20th for the sprint race. The team did its best to move up to 13th by the end of the feature race. Australian/Singaporean Christian Murchison had an eventful weekend for A1 Team Singapore. Having qualified 19th, Murchison was unlucky in the sprint race, copping a wack from behind from Lebanese driver Alex Khateeb. He was unable to continue in the sprint race, but recovered in the feature race to

finish 15th. Points: Germany 65, France 46, New Zealand 43, Great Britian 36, Mexico 34, Malaysia 30, Italy 29, Switzerland 29, Canada 28, Netherlands 26, USA 21.

WHEN it comes to racing in the desert, it pays to be patient. For the opening week of the 2007 Dakar, it looked like a Volkswagen benefit. Carlos Souza,then Carlos Sainz won early stages; when they hit trouble, Giniel de Villiers took over the lead and Mark Miller moved into the tailgunner position. And the opposition struggled. Mitsubishi's new-generation Pajeros had two problems; they were slow (well, slower than the Touaregs, which could fire past the Mitsus at will) and they were unreliable.The new 'double'clutch system, designed to allow drivers to make repairs without mechanics' assistance and in very little time, was proving to be a nightmare. And then, on Stage 8, nearTichit in Mauritania, it all went haywire. Sainz fell back with power steering problems;the following day, De Villiers, with a 31-minute lead, had an engine valve escape and start an engine fire.The day after that, Sainz lost any remaining hopes of a win when he was stranded by electrical woes and had to be towed out of the stage by a service truck. Stephane Peterhansel and Luc Alphand took over for the Mitsubishi 1-2 and,just like that, the team won its 12th Dakar. VW won eight stages (Sainz alone won four) but will have to wait another year. AVWdid not even make the podium;that

DULLER Motorsport has retained its mortgage on theToyoTyres 24 Hours of Dubai,repeating its 2006 success with victory at the Dubai Autodrome a fortnight ago. Fresh of second place at the Bahrain 24-hour race last December,the team of Deiter Quester, Dirk Werner, JarekJarnis, Jaimi CampbellWalter and Phillip Peter were in form heading into the Dubai race. And true to that form,their BMW Z4 carried them to a three-lap win, despite having earlier lost six laps with ignition problems. Bahrain winners Konrad Lechner Motorsport had to settle for second place this time round.The team of Franz Konrad,Wolfgang Kaufman, Luciano Da Silver, Stephan Rosina and Michael Schrey did manage to lead the race with several hours remaining, however technical issue denied them of the win. Pole-sitters Oktanas had suspension troubles with its Porsche during the race, leaving Nemunas Dagilis, Nerijus Dagilis, Egidijus Dapsas, Jurgen Alzen and Uwe Alzen down in fourth behing Pro Speed Competition. In terms of Australian competitors, the VIP Petfoods Porsche of Craig Baird,Tony Quinn, Clark Quinn and Kevin Bell finished ninth outright despite some technical issues. TheTeam Mirage Australia entry of Mai Rose, Peter Leemhuis and Tony Alford finished first in the A1 class, with the second entry of Paul Stubber, Ray Stubber and Ron Moller was third in class.

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t: honour went to Jean-Louis Schlesser, whose Ford-powered 2WD buggy took two stage wins.The other notables were opposite ends of the motor racing scale; Nasser AlAttiyah was fourth after taking BMW's first stage win on four wheels(and the first by a Qatari driver) in the svelte BMW X3 Raid. And Robby Gordon was eighth"after winning a stage in the bellowing black Hummer which, as he is about to switch to Ford in his

NASCAR program, will possibly not be seen in Africa again. On two wheels, Marc Coma took over the lead on Day 3 and looked set for a second successive win until he lost his way on the penultimate competitive stage and hit a tree. While he was medivacced to a Dakar hospital, suffering head injuries. Frenchman Cyril Despres took over the lead to m.aintain KTM's domination of the event.

Crossing thi Pacific

■*

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HENRI Karjalainen was the star of the opening round of the Asia-Pacific Formula 3 series, leading home Oliver Turvey and Walter Grubmuller in the first two races at Zhuhai. Turvey took control of

the third and final race, finishing first ahead of Moreno Soeprapto and Philip Forsman. However he was demoted to third after the race thanks to a penalty for his aggressive move on Karjalainen.

INTERNATIONAL

I I

The Incredible Hulkenberg

The tortoise beatsthe hare

German youngster continues to impress with double A1GP win at Taupo

Slow and steady Mitsubishi beat runaway VWs to 2007 Dakar crown

Desert Storm

finish 15th. Points: Germany 65, France 46, New Zealand 43, Great Britian 36, Mexico 34, Malaysia 30, Italy 29, Switzerland 29, Canada 28, Netherlands 26, USA 21.

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Crossing thi Pacific

■*

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HENRI Karjalainen was the star of the opening round of the Asia-Pacific Formula 3 series, leading home Oliver Turvey and Walter Grubmuller in the first two races at Zhuhai. Turvey took control of

the third and final race, finishing first ahead of Moreno Soeprapto and Philip Forsman. However he was demoted to third after the race thanks to a penalty for his aggressive move on Karjalainen.

SPEEDWAY

It's a new car!

Just like old times WORLD SERIES SPRINTCARS

round 14- bis

ii i

i'j RESUli!5wss ROUND 14(30 LAPS) 1 1

POS

NUMBER

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

A1 USA21

9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18

jm V5

USAO US«5 Q7 Q69 Q95 Q56 USAS Q61

DRIVER

Brooke Tatnell Bud Kaeding Brent Kaeding Max Dumesny Paul McMahan Jonathon Allard Michael Carber Robbie Farr David Murcott Ben Wright David Muir Andrew Scheuerle Danny Reidy Cameron Gessner „ Shane Stewart Jason Johnson Dean Jacobs ToddWanless

BROOKE Tatnell stormed to victory at Brisbane International Speedway a fortnight ago, but all of the interest was centred on what was happening behind in the championship battle. Tatnell had been absent from Sprintcars since November with family commitments, but he was in fine form, qualifying second and leading all 30 laps for a triumphant return, "it's good to come back,"Tatnell said."I've always loved Archerfield, and it's always been fun. "Soto come back here and kick the year off... I just take my hat off to Krikke Motorsports." The two spots behind Tatnell were an all Kaeding family affair. Sort Bud Kaeding beating father Brent for second place. The championship was down to two men; Max Dumesny and Jason Johnson.Johnson got the better of Dumesny in time trials, snatching quick time with Dumesny taking third. But Johnson's night turned sour in the A-Dash, where,starting from pole, his car had an ignition problem and stopped out on circuit. He would start the feature in 11th: Dumesny eighth. Johnson's night went from bad to outright disgusting when the he went backwards during the

WORLD SERIES SPRINTCARS '

A-Main, dropping to as low as 14th, and then on the ninth lap fellow American Dean Jacobs hit - and then rolled over,Johnson's front. l The pair had a quick verbal exchange out on the track, but it didn't change matters - Johnson was out ofthe race. Meanwhile Dumesny was slowly progressing through the throng of Americans. On the final lap Dumesny passed Paul McMahan to finish in fourth place. - DARIUS KOREIS

One step closer to title #7 WORLD SERIES SPRINTCARS

RESUiij3WSS ROUND 15(30 LAPS)

round 15p - bis NIGHT one of the World Series Australian Sprintcar Open (WSS final round) at Brisbane International Speedway inched Max Dumesny even closer to the championship with another A-main victory. "Good race, I was enjoying that," Dumesny said."I would have stayed on the top (line) until someone would shove IWii.OBII.__. their nose under me." Brooke Tatnell had been cut Dumesny's championship on track to pull off a double lead by only one point to win, starting the feature from 264 points, making his task pole, and initially pulling a gap of stopping Dumesny from over Danny Reidy, and then winning a seventh crown Dumesny. extremely difficult. Dumesny then started to "He caught the wrong rein-in a few car lengths, and ferry, I think," Dumesny said. was almost right on top of him "Everything that could go until Tatnell slowed on the wrong did go wrong for Jason circuit, and pulled off with a tonight." deflated right-rear tyre before Johnson finished the 25-lap the race was half run. feature in second, after earlier After that it was Dumesny's calling for a doctor or physio to race to win, and he happily help him with a pulled muscle in his neck. obliged. Jason Johnson,pictruredright, Reidy was on the verge of 62

POS

NUMBER

DRIVER

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

Max Dumesny Jason Johnson Robbie Farr Danny Reidy Paul McMahan Dean Jacobs Shane Stewart Mike Carber David Muir Shain Matthews ToddVI/anless' Jonathan Allard Peter Lack' Brooke Tatnell Bud Kaeding David Murcott

capturing his first podium result in the series, but he was passed by Johnson for second and then robbed for third at the last minute by Robbie Farr to finish fourth. "He's a good mate of mine too," Farr said."But racing is racing, and we're not here to do each other favoursi" Despite his retirement, Tatnell was the highest scorer for the night, and was in the top position to win the next night's 50-lap, $20,000 to win World Series finale. - DARIUS KOREIS

13 14 15 16

us NTS U3 U25

Q95 jLiII

m A1

V91

round 15f-bis

MAX Dumesny won an unprecedented seventh World Series Sprintcars title while Brooke Tatnell came away with a $20,000 payday to win the World Series Australian Sprintcar Open at Brisbane International Speedway. "I'rrl absolutely stoked," Dumesny said."To be in every championship that's ever been run, and to have won a bit over a third of them, it's pretty damn good." "I was Just really trying to work out how to win this race," he said, "it would have been a double bonus to win this race and the series, but it's still been good for us tonight." Tatnell won the A-Dash and Robbie Farr collected the B-Dash, with championship battlers Jason Johnson and Dumesny in third and fourth. Farr jumped Tatnell at the start and Tatnell parked himself directly behind to take advantage of any mistakes. Tatnell began to press the attack, and on a couple occasions

The lights turned green and Tatnell nailed the restart, executing a beautiful move around the outside of Farr through turns one and two,taking the lead. The 50-lapper was the closest thing to endurance racing, but Tatnell showed no signs of taking it easy, brushing the wall on a handful of occasions and once givingthe walla large whack. ' "The biggest thing is that we hit it square.You can bang up against them a few times as long as you hit them straight/'Tatnell said. Meanwhile,Johnson was behind Dumesny and it was clear who would win the title. Tatnell stormed away during the green-flag period that lasted almost 40 laps, and the yellows returned with a couple of laps remaining, but Tatnell had a buffer of a handful of lapped cars, and won the race comfortably. Farr had been running second until he hit trouble with his rightrear tyre, and managed to limp home with a flat in eighth. Dumesny looked to have

second position in the bag, but Paul McMahan passed him on the penultimate lap, leaving the Victorian with third on the podium - but a championship win, with Johnson in fourth. "This is awesome; it's great for this race team,and great for World Series to be putting up this kind of money thanks to Titan Garages," Tatnell said. - DARIUS KOREIS

Final Cha^ionshjI' Points: Max Dumesny 8509,Jason Johnson 8200,David Murcott 6603,Danny Reidy 5278, Robbie Farr 4972, Daniel Morton 4299,Allan Haynes 4140, David Muir 4008,Garry Brazier 3785.

result!WSS ROUND 15(50 LAPS) POS

NUMBER

2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18

Q36 USAS USA21 Q7 NTS V91 Q19 Q95 Q58

DRIVER

Brooke Tatneli Paul McMahan Max Dumesny Jason Johnson Shane Stewart Bud Kaeding Jonathon Allard Robbie Farr Michael Carber Danny Reidy ToddWanless David Murcott Cameron Gessner Ricky Mitchell Dan Morton Shain Matthews . Dean Jacobs Peter Lack

Crump takes title NOT content with winning the World Speedway Grand Prix title, Jason Crump has taken out the Linddales Labour Hire Australian Motorcycle Speedway Championships with victory at the final round at Mount Gambler. Having won the opening two rounds. Crump went into the final with only a slender threepoint lead overthe in-form Leigh Adams. But the World Champ proved too good when it counted, taking six wins from six races at the final round to wrap up the title. "Every win is special you know, but to come back to Australia and race in this Linddales Championship as the World Champion meant a lot to me, said Crump. "It's been a great series for me, Leigh pushed me all the way. Mildura is a difficult track to ride

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got alongside, but Farr was able >:°ward him off until the yellows came out.

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and I've never been to Gillman before, so it's not much of a surprise that Leigh had the goods on me at those racetracks." Crump is referring to the two rounds preceding the final, where Adams bounced back into contention after a slow start with victrories atMilduraand Borderline. The first atMildura was a tight one, Adams lucky to hold off a resilient Crump in the final. Still, Crump wasn't about to be disappointed with second place, especially given he finished last in the opening heat. The Borderline round was almost identical, with the leading duo battling it out at the front of the field. Once again Crump couldn't quite

get past Adams,and even found himself being seriously challenged by Chris Holder, who had bounced back from a nasty crash at Mildura to run with the front-runners. But despite the two wins putting Adams within a handful of laps of Crump heading into the final, second was as good

as it got. "Newcastle really cost us when you look back on it," he said. "Had we not had the two DNFs there we would have been right with Jason coming into this round. "We didn't give up, I gave it my best shot, but just couldn't get over him in the end." 63

SPEEDWAY

It's a new car!

Just like old times WORLD SERIES SPRINTCARS

round 14- bis

ii i

i'j RESUli!5wss ROUND 14(30 LAPS) 1 1

POS

NUMBER

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

A1 USA21

9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18

jm V5

USAO US«5 Q7 Q69 Q95 Q56 USAS Q61

DRIVER

WORLD SERIES SPRINTCARS '

One step closer to title #7 WORLD SERIES SPRINTCARS

RESUiij3WSS ROUND 15(30 LAPS)

POS

NUMBER

DRIVER

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

13 14 15 16

us NTS U3 U25

Q95 jLiII

m A1

V91

round 15f-bis

Final Cha^ionshjI' Points: Max Dumesny 8509,Jason Johnson 8200,David Murcott 6603,Danny Reidy 5278, Robbie Farr 4972, Daniel Morton 4299,Allan Haynes 4140, David Muir 4008,Garry Brazier 3785.

result!WSS ROUND 15(50 LAPS) POS

NUMBER

2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18

Q36 USAS USA21 Q7 NTS V91 Q19 Q95 Q58

DRIVER

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got alongside, but Farr was able >:°ward him off until the yellows came out.

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(

SPEEDWAY

HotSchatz t-.ti-',

CHEVROLB

NASCAR star Tony Stewart took victory in the O'Reiily Chili Bowl Midget Nationals a fortnight ago. The two-time Nextel Cup champ won his second Golden Driller trophy, leading home J.J. Yeley and Justin Allgaier. n Brooke Tatnell has a busy scheduie ahead as he tries to sort out his new Volcano Joes Coffee team's re entry into the World of Outlaws. Tatnell told MNews that it's a rush job trying to get it all together, repurchasing the Eagle chassis used last year as well as Marty Perovich's truck and trailer in the US. "We're running late with the motor program but that wiil be sorted out shortiy/'hesaid. n Natalie Sather, 21, was so happy that she could be in Australia racing with sprintcar legends like Steve Kinser and Donny Schatz. After starting her racing in speedway karts at the age of nine,she moved into 360 then 410 sprintcars at 17 after a successful time in the karting ranks. Coming from North Dakota she grew up watching Donny Schatz race and for her first tour to Parramatta legendary crew chief Kenny Woodruff(long time crew chief for Schatz amongst others) aiso made the trip to help Sather out. She is focused on her sprintcar program hoping to one day move up into NASCAR or iRL, but now she is concentrating on running in selected Outlaws, All Stars and Knoxville this year. While not one of the fastest Americans racing in Outlaws IV, Sather certainly impressed many, chalking her visit to TPCR as experience. - STAFFBOSCATO 64

Donny Schatz keeps that winning feeling alive at Outlaws down under gregijSbscato THE unstoppable Outlaws Champ Donny Schatz continued his brilliant form at the Parramatta City Raceway, winning last Saturday night's Outlaws Downunder IV. Schatz has been the racer to beat this summer and despite the 'King'Steve Kinser taking out the two preliminary A-Main features, come Saturday night's 40-lap final the Garry Rush-owned J8d of Schatz took control. He went on to take the victory with Kinser second, Aussie Champ Brooke Tatnell third and Robbie Farr, Max Dumesny and Sammy Swindell completing the top six finishers. Over 20 top Americans headed to Australia for the 2007 edition of the Outlaws Downunder contest, up against the very best Australian lineup. 75 Sprintcars were parked at Parramatta on Thursday night for the first of three nights of competition. Thursday night's qualifying saw American Jonathan Allard setting quick time, but an incident in the first heat saw his #0 machine hitting the outer wall hard forcing the American's team to purchase

another frame for the next night. Fellow American Jason Solwold (who set second quick time in qualifying)jumped into the lead of theThursday preliminary AMain after winning the opening Dash race, and looked to have the 30-lapper in his control. Running in second was Steve Kinser, but Solwold had his measure until driveline failure saw him out, giving the lead and win to Kinser with Max Dumesny forging into second place and American Paul McMahan third. Brooke Tatnell had an unusual night, with his father George taking III at the track.Tatnell Jr raced off to hospital and looked to be out for the night. Thankfully, Tatnell Sr was alright(he was back for both Friday and Saturday nights), allowing Brooke to return only to find his spot in the Dash had been given to another driver. He raced in the A-Main picking up eighth place. Interestingly, both Joey Saldana and Kerry Madsen had to qualify from the non qualifiers' race, with Madsen forging back up into theThursday night field to finish a creditable 14th in the A-Main.

Schatz had problems on Thursday night, qualifying into the A-Main from winning the B-Main. He made no mistakes on Friday, setting quick time in qualifying with fellow American Sammy Swindell second fastest. Kinser looked impressive after winning the opening Dash, 'The King'starting off pole in the Friday preliminary A-Main. Impressive Knoxville based Aussie Lynton Jeffrey shared the front row after a superb win in the second dash race. Kinser jumped into the lead but it was Swindell who by Lap 6 was on Kinser's tail. The pair then battled lap after lap fighting for the lead and the win.The track was very slick and no matter what Swindell tried Kinser held his ground to take out his second A-Main win of the weekend. Saturday night's final saw the top four locked into the Dash races with Kinser, Dumesny, Schatz and Farr joined by Swindell, Meyers,Tatnell and Solwold in the dash after another round of heat races. Kinser continued to dominate, winning the six-lap dash from Dumesny. The final 40-lap race saw a

motorsporiiniews

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strong 27-car field with most of the Americans and top Aussies in the line-up. Missing was lady racer Becca Anderson, who afte r getting involved in a crash in the B-Main was transported off to hospital suffering from back pains. Kinser won the start but had Dumesny pressuring him early in the A-Main. Schatz was holding third early on _ but after Dumesny made a

A huge Sprintcar field landed at TPCR,top. Natalie Sather did it for the girls, above, while KInser looked good in the Q Machine, above right.

slight mistake the 2006 Outlaws Champ forged by, before taking Kinser just before mid-race distance. Schatz quickly moved away from Kinser, with Tatnell moving by Farr and Dumesny to run in third by the end of the final.

●■racing tire

NSW: VIC:

0296791990 0393316477 0883320800

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F029679V87 F03 93317444 F0883640296

anywhere on the race track. It got to back running around the middle and right now Donny's pretty tough." Brooke Tatnell (3rd Place): 'We didn't have anything for Donny tonight. He was better than everyone here,the fastest car wins and Donny had the fastest car. "We'll take third and it wasn't an easy race we had worked hard to get up into third. It wasn't a bad weekend." - GREG BOSCATO

WORLD SERIES SPRINTCARS 2006/07 CHAMPIONSHIP Round IS(final) Brisbane

♦

rormoreinfo on HooslerDrag&Speedmy Tyres calk

Donny Schatz(1st Place): 'Tonight's where the money's at! The last two nights we were all ok. It was a little frustrating after I had passed Kinser then had to go back. "I knew if I was good enough I would be back by. He's the best driver there is and he's one guy you don't want to pass and not make it stick." Steve Kinser(2nd Place): "It wasn't too bad, I can't complain with two wins. "We got where we could run

HodsIti'Tire Australia Australian Distributors for

Whatthey had to say

^ 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

JasonJohnson Robbie Farr Danny Reidy Paul McMahan Dean Jacobs Shane Stewart MikeCarber David Muir Shain Matthews

12 Jonathan Allards 13 Peter Lack 14 Brooke Tatnell 15 Bud Kaeding 16 David Murcott

Final WSS points 06/07 3

David Murcott

4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Danny Reidy Robbie Farr Daniel Morton Allan Hayes David Muir Garry Brazier Paul McMahon

6603 5278

PCR/MSAQ

3 4

4972 _5 4299 1 4140 2 4008 3 3785 4

Troy Little Ian Madsen Ian Loudoun Ben Wright Andrew Scheu erle Cameron Gessner Steven White

3550

Terry Bracken

2835 2803 2797 261 249 239 198 197

(

SPEEDWAY

HotSchatz t-.ti-',

CHEVROLB

motorsporiiniews

ra;

A huge Sprintcar field landed at TPCR,top. Natalie Sather did it for the girls, above, while KInser looked good in the Q Machine, above right.

●■racing tire

NSW: VIC:

0296791990 0393316477 0883320800

www.mnews.Gom.au

F029679V87 F03 93317444 F0883640296

WORLD SERIES SPRINTCARS 2006/07 CHAMPIONSHIP Round IS(final) Brisbane

rormoreinfo on HooslerDrag&Speedmy Tyres calk

HodsIti'Tire Australia Australian Distributors for

Whatthey had to say

^ 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

JasonJohnson Robbie Farr Danny Reidy Paul McMahan Dean Jacobs Shane Stewart MikeCarber David Muir Shain Matthews

12 Jonathan Allards 13 Peter Lack 14 Brooke Tatnell 15 Bud Kaeding 16 David Murcott

Final WSS points 06/07 3

David Murcott

4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Danny Reidy Robbie Farr Daniel Morton Allan Hayes David Muir Garry Brazier Paul McMahon

6603 5278

PCR/MSAQ

3 4

4972 _5 4299 1 4140 2 4008 3 3785 4

Troy Little Ian Madsen Ian Loudoun Ben Wright Andrew Scheu erle Cameron Gessner Steven White

3550

Terry Bracken

2835 2803 2797 261 249 239 198 197

Mouse in the house Dion Prowse has taken the Australian Pro Stock Motorcycle Championship by storm

ION Prowse has come from drag racing obscurity to be the most dominant racer on the Australian scene.

Just six months ago, Prowse had never raced a Pro Stock Motorcycle down the quarter mile. In fact, he'd hardly competed on bitumen at all, let alone in a drag race. So how does someone with no drag racing experience come and win the first three rounds of the Austraiian Pro Stock Motorcycie Championship? The answer is all In the S&S Buell he rides. "It's the best Pro Stock Motorcycle in Australia. It would have to be," Prowse said, "it comes down to the time and the effort that the American boys have put into it. it's an amazing bike. I don't think i would have achieved any of the results we've had without this bike, it has made it happen for me." It doesn't matter how good the bike is, though.Someone has to be able to pedal it down to the other end of the strip, and Prowse has been able to that that, despite his lack of experience, "i've shocked myself with those resuits, three out of three now," he said. "Brett, Charlie and Troy and our crew chief Woody have worked with me and taught me how to ride the bike. Considering the amount of time, and the results we've got out of It so far, it has been amazing. "I didn't think i'd have any chance of winning my first meeting. But the results have come through and so far. I originally thought that I would have been battling to try and figured

it all out and sort out the bike. Everything is looking^up,though. Prowse has come from a motorcycle racing background, including two years of competition as a solo speedway rider. And according to team owner Brett Stevens, he was the perfect fit. Stevens didn't want a rider with prior Pro Stock experience. He wanted someone fresh, with no nasty drag racing habits. Stevens seems to be one a winner with Prowse.

6RANTRMLEY

"Brett approached me about riding the Pro Stock bike," he said. "We went over to the States, saw how it's done over there and then we came home and he taught me how to ride. "The first time i rode the bike, I came back with a stunned look on my face.The crew asked 'how was it?' I said'what just happened!'it was totally different to anything I've ever done. "We've got a computer on board which tells us everything the bike can do.The guy who came over from the States told me that the bike was ieaving the line at 2.4gs. i have never experienced anything like that on a dirt bike. I couidn't believe how hard it took off. It nearly threw me off the back of the bike. I thought 'woo, what was that?' "I've got a grip on that now. It's still very adrenaline pumping - and the fact that it oniy last seven secondsi" So,three rounds down,three wins in the bag. If Prowse wins the next round at Sydney in two weeks, he'll be the Australian champion. But the speed of Prowse's Buell is going too fast for' him to consider his future ... at this stage. "I haven't really look at my future yet," he admitted, "i'd love to win the championship, i'd iove to win four from four. But the other competitors will be very hungry to beat me.The current Australian Champion Daniel Peatey has got a lot of sponsors on his bike and he'll want to win In Sydney. "Still, I'd like to get four from four, and if we do that, I'ii be the Australian champion. But anything can happen in drag racing ..."

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From Funny Cars to Top Fuel,Allan Dobson can race with the best in the business

EST Australian Allan Dobson impressed many seasoned observers at Round 4 of the Australian Top Fuel Championship, recently held at Willowbank Raceway in Queensland. Driving for Santo Rapisarda in the.Uplift Cranes dragster, Dobson went to a runner up spot and was one half of the quickest side-byside drag race ever in Australia. As a driver, Dobson IS like a secret WA treasure,spending his time in the Greene Machine Nitro Funny Car and the Crank-n-Stein Top Fuel dragster, both owned by Allan and Cheryl Greene and campaigned in match racing on the west coast. And he has a personality that can't be matched, always instantly liked by race fans due to his ability to commentate his run by using odd analogies and^ even sound effects! Dobson said his first trip down the track in the ex-Scott Kalitta dragster, which recently ran Australia's quickest pass of 4.51s, was an unreal experience. "The acceleration as each

stage of the clutch came in w.as incredible," he said. "My head was pushed back so far I couldlee the top of the roll cage. I really had to pull myself back hard,these are expensive race cars to run so you can't Just abort."

Needless to say, Dobson,49, had soon fashioned himself a chin strap to use in the next race. It wasn't Dobson's first time atWillowbank. He raced a Top Alcohol Funny Car throughout the 1990s around Australia, but it was his first time into Willowbank's notoriously tricky downhill end and braking area at over BOOmph. "It's the Willowbank rollercoaster, when I felt my stomach start to come up through my throat I knew I was at the finish line," he said. "The ear got bouncing 50 metres at a time and I really had to haul it up in the last few hundred metres of the braking area." Dobson is confident there will be more driving for Rapisarda, with the veteran team owner impressed by his skills. "He certainly said I'd be allowed

to pedal for him again,"said Dobson. "Santo hasn't committed to anything more yet but he will pick his favourite rounds and do those." While the dragster's outright 4.71 s pace is far quicker than Dobson has ever been,for excitement it is hard to beat his regular drive, the Greene Machine. Nitro Funny Cars are now a rare breed in Australia, confined to match racing in WA, but Dobson's passion is certainly in the fan favourite 'plastic fantastics.' "Funny Cars are unpredictable, life threatening machines," he said. They change direction very

LUKENIEUWHOF

quick,they're twitchy,and having that motor right in front of you is intimidating." Excitement is seemingly a life goal for Dobson. His day job is as a fire fighter and his racing history even includes V8-powered bikes he used to wrestle down the quarter mile. Dobson says national championship racing in Top Fuel is a goal, but it won't come at the expense of his commitments to the Greenes and Western Australia. "I would rather forfeit national rounds than miss WA events," he said. "It's a family thing,the Greene team is like family to me. "Ideally, we will be able to blend both of them and benefit from each other." The next round of the Australian Top Fuel Championship will be the Summernationals in Sydney after the Perth round had to be moved due to some teams not being ready for the haul across the Nullarbor. Dobson is not sure if he will be racing but fans are certainly in for a treat if he makes it.

Mouse in the house Dion Prowse has taken the Australian Pro Stock Motorcycle Championship by storm

ION Prowse has come from drag racing obscurity to be the most dominant racer on the Australian scene.

6RANTRMLEY

motorsportnews

A secrettreasure w

From Funny Cars to Top Fuel,Allan Dobson can race with the best in the business

LUKENIEUWHOF

DRAG RACING

mtesili p^stason test SSMsna

Vale Dick Landy DICK Landy,the popular cigarchomping engine builder and driver who campaigned successful Dodge factory race cars in a variety of classes including Pro Stock throughout the 1960s and early 70s, died on January n ofkidneyfailure. He was 69. As a pioneer in the Funny Car and Pro Stock ranks, Landy acquired a winning reputation in NHRA nationalevent and match-race competition. Landy's considerable skills as a driver and engine builder were equaled by his flair for showmanship, as evidenced by his trademark cigar and bumper scraping wheelstands. n Renowned Pro Stock clutch specialist Terry Adams has been hired to work with Warren Johnson's GM Performance Parts Pontiac GTO and son Kurt Johnson's ACDelco Chevrolet Cobalt for the 2007 NHRA POWERade season. n Jack Beckman will return to Don Schumacher Racing for the 2007 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series to drive the Mail Terminal Services Dodge Funny Car. Team owner Don Schumacher has also confirmed that he has signed Beckman to drive for DSR through the 2009 season. Beckman, a former Top Fuel racer who joined DSR after the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals in 2006 to replace Whit Bazemore in the Mateo Tools Dodge Charger, went from Funny Car rookie to the fastest and quickest Funny Car pilot on the planet after posting national-record passes at the season finale in Pomona of 4.662s and 333.66mph. He also claimed his first NHRA Pro victory in only his fourth Funny Car race, in Las Vegas. For 2007, the Dodge Charger Funny Car that Beckman powered to those national records will take on a new look as Mail Terminal Services comes onboard as primary sponsor.Todd Okuhara will continue as crew chief, along with assistant crew chief Phil Shuler. Mail Terminal Services is a business-to-business mail-sorting and forwarding company, which has a strategic partnership with the U.S. Post Office and DHL Globalmail. MTS is headquartered in Weston, Florida, and operates 23 terminals throughout the United States. -DAVID OSTASZEWSKI

The Force is with her Ashley Force Set For Pomona Funny Car Debut FOLLOWING a year of testing and months of media speculation, John Force has confirmed that his daughter Ashley will drive a fourth Ford Mustang Funny Car for John Force Racing, Inc., Castrol and the Automobile Club of Southern California. Ashley, 24, will pilot a 8,000 horsepower Castrol GTX Ford prepared and maintained by first-time crew chief Dean 'Guido' Antonelli who,for the last 12 years, was a member of the crew that helped John Force win 10 of his 14 NHRA championships. l Last year with Antonelli making the tune-up decisions, Ashley

covered the standard quarter mile in 4.809s and 4.826s last October during testing at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, where she also earned her competition Funny Car license last April. She also was clocked at 320 miles per hour. Following pre-season testing over the next two weeks at LVMS and Firebird International Raceway (Phoenix, Ariz.), Ashley will make her professional debut in the 47th annual CARQUESTWinternationals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona, California, which is the opening race of the 2007 NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series. -DAVID OSTASZEWSKI

wason hand with his sixcar entourage.made up of his four Funny

Ashley Gearing Up

Former Pro Mod champion and rising Funny Car pilot Mike Ashley is gearing up in a big way, having assembled an all-star team including crew chief Brian Corradi, veteran driver and former world champion Mark Oswald and 'blower wiz'Chuck Ford. Even past champion Frank Hawley, known for his mentoring and training to the sport's top stars, has joined Ashley's outfit.

In a new shop in Brownsburg, Indiana,just outside of Indianapolis,the Gotham City Race Team's headquarters was literally four bare walls

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Cars, including the Ford Mustang driven by his daughter, Ashley, and thejwo Super Comp entries piloted by his other

Impala replaces Monte Carlo

Mfo.'t. MiinicmD

PRE-SEASON NHRA testirtg began as teams assembled at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway last weekend. With most of Sunday's testing CO mpleted,leading the way in the Top Fuel ranks were the Kalitta team-mates David Grubnic and Hillary Will. . Grubnic clocked a late Sunday pass of 4.48s/322mph to lead Will, who docked a pair of 4.48s at 319 and 323mph respectively. Will's car is utilising a completely new clutch and motor combination and the results look promising. Clay Millican's 4.71s/227mph was next, followed by Bob Vandergriff's UPS entry with a 4,78s at 236mph and Doug Foley, who both recorded 5.2s passes. In Funny Car,Tommy Johnson in Don Prudhomme's Skoal Racing Chevy Impala SS had the quickest run on Saturday with a 5 01 s/219mph, but was surpassed on Sunday by Eric Medlen's 4.86s/260mph, Jeff Arend's 4.95s/261 mph in the blue CSK car,followed by Gary Densham s Racebricks Torco Chevy with at

IMPALA SS will become the flagship body of GM in Funny Car competition beginning with the series'first event at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona as the 2007 NHRA POWERade Series kicks off. The new Impala SS Funny Car, which has been over a year in the making, is the first GM drag race body devised and developed utilizing a 3D computer-aided-design process. Don Prudhomme's Skoal team has received the first two, with several others set to debut them either in Phoenix or Gainesville. -DAVID OSTASZEWSKI

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Ashley clocked a Castrol GTX Mustang, Sunday in her new while defending Champion Force docked a 5.26s/205mph, which was seventh best among the Funny Cars. ^ On Saturday,just before her father s fina'I run, Briittany's made a moveln the left lane and scraped the wall. Brittany quickly emerged from the car unhurt and there was relatively little damage to her dragster. Kenny Bernstein was present with his new Monster Energy/Lucas Oil Dodge Charger Funny Car and had to record passes better than S.SOs to renew his flppper license. _ DAVID OSTASZEWSKI

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just 60 days ago, and is now bustling with employees and is full of racing equipment and a machine shop. A new Murf McKinney Funny Car is undergoing final preparations for its opening laps at the Time Trials in Phoenix and is flanked by a race-ready backup car and motors and heads lined up like soldiers prepared for battle. Corradi said the team is set to take delivery of a third car within the next month that will be used exclusively for testing on Mondays following National Events. - DAVID OSTASZEWSKI

AUSTRALIAN Funny Car racer Garry McGrath vvill launch an Aussie-flavoured assault on the NHRA Funny Car circuit with a variety of Australianthenried liveries, including the Kick Arse Kangaroo, the Great VVhite Shark and the Croc Car. McGrath has signed a deal with sports marketing group Premiership Strategies Internationat(PSli) that will see'Outback Mac'contest the 2007 NMRA POWERade Drag Racing Series season. "Americanslove all things Australian,"said McGrath. "We've already had;a huge response with the Croc Car at prornotionaii events in Dallas,Las Vegas,and California'.the marketingipotentiai'ofthecarls

j 'limitless, and iPSl has been workiwg ihtrdiiiniibothi , Australia and the U'.S. on the necessary sponsorship I for a big'NHRA season in 2007 and beyond'. , 'Tt's a great opportuni'ty for Australian companies looking to get huge exposure in the United States," said fSI Mahaging ©ireetor Robert Macdonald." The ehthusiasm is contagious. We are working closely with Outback Mac Racing and prospective sponsors t© ensure Garry does what he does best and 1 wins races."

Millican safe EVAN Knoll has purchased the Top Fuel team from Kenny Koretsky and has retained the services of driver Clay Millican, allowing the 6-time straight IHRA Champion to follow the 23-race NHRA POWERade Series tour. Millican and crew chief Mike Kloeber combined to win 50 IHRA national events on their IHRA championship run since the team was formed in 1999 under the guidance of Peter Lehman. Millican has appeared in 59 final rounds in IHRA competition. -DAVID OSTASZEWSKI

DRAG RACING

mtesili p^stason test SSMsna

wason hand with his sixcar entourage.made up of his four Funny

Ashley Gearing Up

In a new shop in Brownsburg, Indiana,just outside of Indianapolis,the Gotham City Race Team's headquarters was literally four bare walls

um I

Cars, including the Ford Mustang driven by his daughter, Ashley, and thejwo Super Comp entries piloted by his other

Impala replaces Monte Carlo

Mfo.'t. MiinicmD

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NATIONAL SCENE ,.

NATIONAL SCEN Edited by Andrew van Leeuwen

Besnard continuestofly in NZ DAVID Besnard received the

BRM R GO GO GO TEAM BRM has secured the services of young Italian driver Marco Mapelli to drive the #4 Gawler Farm Machinery/ John Deere Dallara F304 in the 2007 Kumho Tyres Australian Formula 3 Championship. Mapelli, 19,is a former front runner in many European and national karting championships and also Formula Renault racing. Born in Seregno, in the north of Italy, Mapelli began his karting career in 1999 and has since gone on to amass a number of race wins and championship podiums in many European Karting Championships. In his first year of car racing, Marco finished fifth in the Italian Formula Renault 1.6 championship. "We are very pleased to be able to confirm Marco Mapelli as one of our drivers for season 2007,"Team BRM owner Bronte Bundle said. "It looks like we've started a trend with what we achieved with Ben Clucas last season. Marco looks to be a very talented young driver and we are looking forward to working with him as he tackles his first year as a Formula 3 driver." Team BRM has also confirmed that it has reached an agreement with the PHR team to run both Stuart Kostera and Maher Algadri this season.The PHR/Audi Centre Melbourne cars will be based at Team BRM's Adelaide workshop and will be run by the team throughout the championship. Chris Alajajian will also be supported by Team BRM in a limited program,encompassing the A1GP event and the Australian Grand Prix. n The 2006 CAMS NSW Competitor of the Year is Ryan Simpson. Simpson,19, has taken Formula Vee by storm the last two seasons, winning the National and NSW titles, as well as setting two lap records. n The final calendar for the 2007 CAMS National Racing Series has been released, with Wakefield Park and Winton Raceway both withdrawing since the draft schedule. The series will now kick off at Oran Park on April 21 before heading to Phillip Island (May 5), Queensland Raceway(May 26), Mallala (June 30), Eastern Creek (Jul 14), Phillip Island (August 11)Symmons Plains (September 1), Mallala (October 13), Oran Park (November 3) and Sandown (December 8). 70

GEORGE Miedecke will race in the V8 Utes Series this year. The son offormer touring car driver Andrew Miedecke will drive the ex-Andrew Flynn Ford Falcon BA in the Ute Series, with major sponsorship from Lubrimaxx. After winning the AMRS's Production Touring Car Championship last year, Miedecke is now looking forward to n competing in the competitive Utes Series. "It's a massive step up from what I did last year," he said. "It will be a learning year,though.

We aren't putting too many expectations on ourselves. We hope to be in the top 10 after a couple of races. If we do well, then that's a bonus, and we'll really attack it in 2008." The 21-year-old tested late last year with a number of V8 Ute teams at Eastern Creek, Oran Park (short circuit) and Wakefield Park. In preparation for the first round of the V8 Ute Series for Adelaide's Clipsal 500, George will have a one-off race in the AMRS's Super TT class, which caters for

a wide variety of cars. George will use the race meeting to get to know the car better before heading to Clipsal's daunting street track. The Falcon will be prepared by Miedecke's own team out of its Sydney base. One interesting note is that Andrew Miedecke is the V8 Utes Driving Standards Observer. So, will George get any favours from his father? "I'll get judged harder!" he quipped. - GRANT ROWLEY

perfect present on his 30th birthday last Sunday,scoring the feature race win for the NZVSs atTaupo. Besnard dominated the 20-lap race, storming from 14th on the grid to be among the top five within five laps. It only took a couple more laps for him to hit the lead, however his progress at the front of the field looked doubtful when an oil leak began to affect the handling of his car. However luck was on Besnard's side,the problem not stopping him from taking a comfortable five-second win ahead of Angus Fogg and fellow Aussie Luke Youlden. "It was p.retty fierce during the opening half of the final race, I had to do everything I could to pull up and avoid the hits,"said a relieved Besnard. "It was just a matter of picking up positions as they came along and keeping out of trouble. "The oil was leaking out slowly, but it was consistent - and by the second to last lap the power steering went, which made life pretty interesting behind the wheel. "It was good to finish my birthday with a race win, especially after all of the dramas we had this weekend. I don't think

SJSIS

there was a session where we didn't have some sort of drama. "We're now third in the championship but only 33 points behind the leader and there is still a long way to go." Besnard's first lot of bad luck came in the first race, where after starting and finishing second behind John McIntyre, he was penalised for jumping the start

DARREN Saillard will make a return to circuit racing after an 11-year hiatus, confirming his involvement in the Australian Touring Car Challenge in 2007. Salliard will drive the ex-Tony Longhurst EL Falcon V8 Supercar, which has previously been campaigned by Brad Lowe and Garry Willmington. In February 2004, Saillard suffered a frightening Sprintcar crash at Parramatta City Raceway that saw him sustain a broken neck among other

racing. "Some people have said I'm crazy getting back into racing, but motorsport has been my whole life, and it's not just something you can just eliminate from your system,"Saillard confessed. "The past few years they have been the hardest

period of my life and for my family too, and they are fully supportive of my move back into road racing. "To be honest there was a short period where I wanted to return to Sprintcar racing, and there is a time in your life where you have to consider the people around you and the pain they have been put through, so they had no dramas about me stepping into a V8 Supercar compared to getting back into Sprintcars."

motorsponnews

round win following Besnard's misfortune, however a lowly 25th in final race handed that honour to defending NZV8 Champion Scott. The next round starts at Manfeild on February 16. Points; McIntyre 493,Scott 466, Besnard 460, Fogg 453, Clark Proctor 377,Youlden 331, Dean Perkins 298, Mark Pedersen 268, Paul Pedersen 267, Andy Booth 262.

As good as a Hafliday

Salliard setfor tarmac return

injuries. He made a remarkable comebackjust two years later, however soon found himself back in hospital after being involved in another crash, breaking his neck again. So, with Sprintcar racing no longer an option, Saillard has decided to make a return to road

and dropped back to fifth. This allowed Paul Pedersen and Kayne Scott to round out the Race 1 podium. Besnard was once again in.the thick of things in Race 2, however a gearbox problem left him out of the race, with McIntyre, Scott and Pedersen again filling out the podium positions. McIntyre looked set to take the

ihane \lfan iisberiien was thestarofthtfoi^al*f^**'i fenigs supportfaGesatliaupo last weekend.

thiiHGi.nrid' 'XifahiGiShergen was winner, despite ript actually winning)any ©f the three'rraces. iWe tedk Ih&wsurs thanks t© G©nsistenCy, while his hMa1S fpr-tunes ebbed:andiflPvved. Ben Marf©rd was exciting

www.mnews.com.au

t(D waitchiiliitiheiffiti>a'lii(iaGe,

wiihnihg a thrilling; dice with VfanGisbergen and:'Hiaimad:Alifard'ani. Ben CluGas wdn the ®ienin|; race ofthe weekend; while iaee lihonoMtis went the way of series leader ©aniel Gaunt. iaftoniMawer irahiinside the m i'0 at his first TRS outing. Points: Gaunt 704, Marford 593,Glucas 554, Andy Knight 550,VSn.GiSbergen 542, AtFardansso.

MATT Halliday was too good at Taupo last weekend,taking a hattrick of wins in the Battery Town GT3 Cup Challenge. To do so, Halliday had to fend off the all-stars of Australian Carrera Cup racing, with both Craig Baird and Alex Davison having a crack at the lead. Baird's efforts saw him record to second places in the opening two races,finishing within 2s of Halliday each time. Davison had his go in the final race, and even managed to jump out to an early lead. But Halliday was just too quick, hunting down Davison before passing him with just two laps left to run. "It's been an excellent weekend," said Halliday."The guys have done a great job on the car, it's been running well all weekend." Points; Baird 598, Fabian Coulthard 523, Halliday 515,Jody Vincent 474, Jono Lester 371.

NATIONAL SCENE ,.

NATIONAL SCEN Edited by Andrew van Leeuwen

Besnard continuestofly in NZ DAVID Besnard received the

SJSIS

motorsponnews

As good as a Hafliday

Salliard setfor tarmac return

ihane \lfan iisberiien was thestarofthtfoi^al*f^**'i fenigs supportfaGesatliaupo last weekend.

www.mnews.com.au

t(D waitchiiliitiheiffiti>a'lii(iaGe,

NATIONAL SCENE

Sti

●'ll.

* 3

/?.

KAY,so in the scheme of the international drivers that will be heading to Albert Park in March,the name Oliver Turvey isn't exactly a huge one. But amidst all the Raikkonens and Alonsos and Schumachers, Turvey will be there, doing his best to impress the big guns on pit wall from the cockpit of a Dallara F304. And if the 19-yearold's 2006 form is anything to go by, it may just work. Turvey's visit to the Australian Grand Prix will form part of his campaign on the Asia-Pacific Formula 3 Series.The four-round mini-series has been designed as a prelude to the Asian F3 Championsbip, with round two joining the Aussie F3 campaigners at Albert Park. With a full year of Formula 3 competition back in Europe ahead of him,the chance to bank some serious race miles was too god forTurvey to pass up. "It's mainly just to get some practice in a Formula 3 car, because hopefully I'll either be racing in the British or European Formula 3 series as my main 2007 program,"says Turvey. "So doing the Asia-Pacific Series means that i can get a lot of seat time and practice before heading back to Europe." A similar line of thinking brought British Series front-runner Bruno Senna to Albert Park for the Formula 3 races last year, and, like Senna,the thought of supporting a Grand Prix went a long way towards tempting Turvey to Australian shores. "Obviously that helped influence my decision," he says, "it's a great opportunity to race a support race at a Grand Prix, and to do it in Australia will be a great experience.The Formula BMW UK Championship never supported a Grand Prix, so I'm very excited about running in front of the Formula 1 people. So it's going to be great experience. And,of course, it'll be the first Grand Prix of the year. "So it definitely helped my decision, but the main reason I chose to do the Asia-Pacific Series was just the race experience." And what does Turvey know of the deceivingly technical Albert park circuit? "Well, I've watched it on TV," he laughs. "That's really all I know. I've never been to Australia, but it looks good. Street circuits are always a bit of a challenge so it'll be very different to what I'm used to. "So there'll be plenty of laps on the Playstation taeforehand, which

motorsportnews

\ 4

is pretty normal. I like to use that to learn tracks!" Rewind back to 2006. What started as a disaster for the Cumbrian young gun, actually turned out to be what he describes as the best season of his career. When the 2006 Formula BMW UK season started, Turvey wasn't there. As so often is the story with young drivers, a lack of cash got in the way and he cou Idn't afford to be on the grid. But after missing the opening six rounds of the series,Turvey finally got a drive. And once on the track, he was almost unstoppable,finishing the season with five wins,four seconds and a third place. For those of you playing at Home,that's 10 podiums from 14 races, enough to leave Turvey second in the points behind Niall Breen. Fie also found time to do a one-off British F3 race, finishing third in class. "I'm very happy with the season, it was my best so far. "At the start of the year we didn't have the budget to race and I missed the first six races of the Formula BMW UK championship, SO when I joined in Round 7 I ;o wasn't even thinking about the championship. So to win five races and finish second overall was great, and _ . then to win the McLaren Autosport BRDC Young Driver Award made it an amazing year. If anything's going to make up for not winning a championship because of budget constraints it s pocketing £50,000, thanks to the prestigious McLaren Autosport BRDC Young Driver Award. Not only do you get a serious helping hand with the following years budget, but they also throw in a test in a McLaren Formula 1 car for good measure.

www.mnews.com.au

"That was absolutely amazing," reflects Turvey. "It's such an important award for a young driver to win, and a lot of the past winners have gone on to have successful careers in Formula 1, so hopefully I can follow in their footsteps and be racing Formula 1 in a couple of years. "When it was announced at the Autosport Awards in London it was almost unbelievable to hear my name called out.Then I sort of realised that it was me and that

Man of many talents:2006 saw Turvey get up dose and personal with everything from FI cars, top left, to Formula BMW,top above, to Formula 3, above.

was an amazing feeling. Obviously the £50,000.will help me a lot with my racing this year, and the test with McLaren will be a great experience. "Driving a Formula 1 car is one of those things that you never think will happen to you. It's like a dream come true. But looking at it more seriously, I'm going to get the chance to test for a top team,and that'll give me the opportunity to know what I have to achieve to be on the FI grid in the future." So with a helping hand in the finance department,Turvey can now look forward to a full season in 2007,and the chance to properly challenge for an F3 title, wherever it may be. "We've talked to a lot of the top teams in both the European and British Series. We haven't raised the full budget yet, but we ve raised a considerable amount, and we're confident that we'll have that sorted in the next few weeks so we can get a deal signed. "It totally depends on my sponsors.They're both great series very prestigious, so I'll leave it up to the sponsors and what they want to do." But first he's got to tackle Tim Macrow and co at Albert Park. And that's going to be worth watching. 73

NATIONAL SCENE

Sti

●'ll.

* 3

/?.

motorsportnews

\ 4

www.mnews.com.au

Man of many talents:2006 saw Turvey get up dose and personal with everything from FI cars, top left, to Formula BMW,top above, to Formula 3, above.

NATIONAL SCENE (%

Prokait expanding

●r

Choose your weapon

OK, so you're probably aware that karting is responsible for the majority of motor racing's biggest names. But you may not be aware of how diverse the karting world is. MARK WICKS investigates

Golding gets cash for NZ Trophy

Superkarting

QUEENSLAND'S Jessica Golding will receive some funding from the Australian Motor Sport Foundation (AMSF) to contest this weekend's CIK Trophy of New Zealand in the Formula TOO class. Golding is the first female to have received financial support from the AMSF. M Former CIK President Ernest Buser has passed away at the age of 75. Buser held the Presidency from 1978 to 1999 and was a member of the FIA World Motor Sport Council throughout that time. He was made an Honorary Vice-President of the FIA in 2000. ■ Three karters were part of the winning RMIT team in the Australian Formula SAE event at Werribee last month. Lee Michener, Alistair McGregor and Rob Storey were part of the five driver squad that piloted the car in various track tests. Mitchener also drove RMIT's entry when they won the world final in Detroit.

THESE things are insane. Non-gearbox entry-level classes allow sprint kart like equipment, meaning very economical racing. Eighty, 125 and 250cc gearbox classes cater for varying speeds and budgets. The top-

PROKART has confirmed it will be running another 12-hour endurance race as part of the Lexmark Indy 300 on the Gold Coast. Held in the Broadwater car park, the circuit has been slightly reconfigured compared to when AKA sprint events were run there several years ago. Last years event was restricted to 20 invited karts but this year the field will be opened up and increased to 30. The race will take place on Wednesday October 17.

"It's far and away a standout event for us," Prokart's Tony Pullen said. Prokart will also be conducting a second car park enduro race in 2007. An enduro will be held in a privately owned vineyard car park in the HunterValley in July.The event will cater for the twin-engined Prokarts plus support races for the single-engined Super Sprint 4 category. -MARK WICKS

Oztax

AUSTRALIA will have

■ Swiss Hutless International has confirmed they will be using lAME's Parilla Reedster engine in 2007. As the new season approaches, nobody really knows which manufacturer has done the best job building the new-era 125cc engines. With Swiss Hutless a former Vortex customer, the move is a shot in the arm for lAME who will be supplying a number of other top teams. ■ Thewinnerof Formula JMA at Lismore's 2007 Young Guns Titles in May will earn a sponsored drive at the Rotax Nationals. The prize comes with technical assistance from JT Motorsport. The event doubles as the first round of the Queensland Rotax series. ■ The 45th running of the AKA National Karting Championships will be televised. The Eastern Creek event will air in two one-hour telecasts on Foxsports. The telecasts will feature driver interviews, technical specials, the finals for each class and the trophy presentations. 74

Rochford Rocks Them DANIEL Rochford has drawn first blood in the Junior Top Guns Series, winning Formula JMA at the opening round at Oakleigh last Friday night. Rochford (Arrow) battled with fastest qualifier Jake Spencer in the final with Jesse Fenech third. Cameron Waters (Rookies), Mathew Smith (Midgets), Ben Lincoln (Junior Clubman), Josh Milburn (Junior National Heavy)

and Luigi Cantanese (Junior National Light) won the other regular classes. Caleb Rayner and Joel Jordan won the Junior National Light and Heavy classes for C & P grade licence holders. The meeting was the largest in the history of Junior Top Guns and boasted entries from every state except WA. -MARK WICKS

representatives in all three classes at the 2007 Rotax World Final in Dubai later this year. Australia's Senior MAX entry will be the winner of a Rotax Medium class at the Rotax Nationals at Ipswich. Our three Junior Rotax drivers will come from the NSW, Victorian and Queensland Formula JMA series. The winners of senior Rotax in the NSW and VIC series will compete in the DD2 class. Significantly, the DD2 class will no longer use the Rotax RMl kart.The one-make chassis to be used will be announced later in the year. As an indication of

-1

Sprint Karting

A LOT of motor racing people are familiar with sprint karts. It's where nearly all the stars started out because you can race from the age of seven. There's a huge range of classes to suit budget/experience/body mass and ambition. A healthy club-based racing

scene leads to-state, national and international competition if one desires. Sprint karts race on dedicated circuits littered across the country. Sprint karting is the most popular form of karting in Australia and is governed by the Australian Karting Association. «

A’. .'

Endurance Karting FANCY a three, six or 12-hour race? What about a double-lap of the clock,just like LeMans? Endurance karting is what you're looking for. Groups of drivers share the driving, pit and

. -

"ilV

strategy work making this a real team effort.The karts are robust and built for the rigours of long hard races and usually have two four-stroke engines. LeMans starts, pit stops and pace cars are all part of the deal.

Dirt Karting

IF drifting sideways and shooting rooster tails of dirt high into the air gets you excited, then dirt speedway karting is for you. There's a number of dirt clubs in the AKA competing

performance. Arrow have been conducting rigorous testing with their DD2-specific chassis, which wasn't that far off Intercontinental-C times around Todd Road. -MARK WICKS motorsport news

giUonoi

fanes

■lea

level 250cc karts lap many tracks quicker than the V8 Supercars. Six-speed sequential shift, disc brakes all round plus full bodywork with wings and slicks stick these machines to the track like glue. Superkarts race on fullsize racecar circuits.

Hiitork www.mnews.com.au

PART of the sprint kart world, the historic movement is gaining momentum with an official

group and rules. Catering for karts from 1959 to the mid-1980s, this form of karting is broken

on unsealed'road'courses and speedways. An even larger group of karters race under AIDKA (Australian Independent Dirt Karters Association) who have many circuits throughout Australia.

into groups by era. These restored machines are run at selected venues each year. 75

NATIONAL SCENE (%

Prokait expanding

●r

Choose your weapon

OK, so you're probably aware that karting is responsible for the majority of motor racing's biggest names. But you may not be aware of how diverse the karting world is. MARK WICKS investigates

Golding gets cash for NZ Trophy

Superkarting

Oztax

AUSTRALIA will have

-1

Sprint Karting

A’. .'

Endurance Karting FANCY a three, six or 12-hour race? What about a double-lap of the clock,just like LeMans? Endurance karting is what you're looking for. Groups of drivers share the driving, pit and

. -

"ilV

Dirt Karting

IF drifting sideways and shooting rooster tails of dirt high into the air gets you excited, then dirt speedway karting is for you. There's a number of dirt clubs in the AKA competing

performance. Arrow have been conducting rigorous testing with their DD2-specific chassis, which wasn't that far off Intercontinental-C times around Todd Road. -MARK WICKS motorsport news

giUonoi

fanes

■lea

Hiitork www.mnews.com.au

PART of the sprint kart world, the historic movement is gaining momentum with an official

group and rules. Catering for karts from 1959 to the mid-1980s, this form of karting is broken

on unsealed'road'courses and speedways. An even larger group of karters race under AIDKA (Australian Independent Dirt Karters Association) who have many circuits throughout Australia.

into groups by era. These restored machines are run at selected venues each year. 75

RACE SHOP

NATIONAL SCENE

CAPRI COMPONENTS

Going back to school

l Light and Compact l Lever Adjust To siBt rBl^ styte competitjon.

l Knob Adjust

MOTORSPORT NEWS;You've

to drive on the track. I even get them to sit on the ground so

two days with 30 juniors - a mix of Midget, Rookie and Junior drivers - plus a day with 13

different than teaching the kids?

to their advantage.They do a number of track sessions [cones

some of them do tire quite

Distributed in Auslraiia by -

EARLES pernguANCt pimuen

'fm4cr/o/v wyokohama motorsport

It's about the same,although quickly!

How many of these camps have you done? That was the first one i've done in South Australia, but there's been about six in Victoria which have

juniors, they do a fitness beep test and also talk about diet and hydration. The beep test seems to be a

been run by theVKA. More and more clubs are

popularthing ... Yeah, it's the Institute of Sport

organising these for their members. For example, I'm

one and gives a rough idea of fitness. But I've found it's also a good indicator of track performance, because the ones that really

heading to Port Macquarie in a few weeks time. What sorts of things are covered? We start with a track walk in the

push themselves in the beep test tend to do well on the track as well.

morning and talk about where

Do you find any particular problems are common? Yes. Drivers placing their hands on top of the wheel. And I'm surprised at how many have no idea about apexes.

AV#N

They just drive around the corner to get onto the next straight when in fact the race line has to be considered as one

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What experience levels do the participants have? Most are pretty new to the sport, but we do get some of the more experienced drivers turn up.

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Junior Development Camps are being run by various state karting bodies to help young drivers get more from the sport. MARK WICKS spoke with Peter Woodgate,a regular instructor at these camps just come back from a driver camp in Adelaide ... PETER WOODGATE:Yes, we did

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NATIONAL SCENE

CAPRI COMPONENTS

Going back to school

l Light and Compact l Lever Adjust To siBt rBl^ styte competitjon.

l Knob Adjust

MOTORSPORT NEWS;You've

to drive on the track. I even get them to sit on the ground so

two days with 30 juniors - a mix of Midget, Rookie and Junior drivers - plus a day with 13

different than teaching the kids?

to their advantage.They do a number of track sessions [cones

some of them do tire quite

Distributed in Auslraiia by -

EARLES pernguANCt pimuen

'fm4cr/o/v wyokohama motorsport

It's about the same,although quickly!

How many of these camps have you done? That was the first one i've done in South Australia, but there's been about six in Victoria which have

juniors, they do a fitness beep test and also talk about diet and hydration. The beep test seems to be a

been run by theVKA. More and more clubs are

popularthing ... Yeah, it's the Institute of Sport

organising these for their members. For example, I'm

one and gives a rough idea of fitness. But I've found it's also a good indicator of track performance, because the ones that really

heading to Port Macquarie in a few weeks time. What sorts of things are covered? We start with a track walk in the

push themselves in the beep test tend to do well on the track as well.

morning and talk about where

Do you find any particular problems are common? Yes. Drivers placing their hands on top of the wheel. And I'm surprised at how many have no idea about apexes.

AV#N

They just drive around the corner to get onto the next straight when in fact the race line has to be considered as one

All Classes 13" 15" 16" 17

f0883628811 penske@nttyres.com.au

CAMS RACING & RALLY LICENCE COURSES at Oran Park monthly - in your car Includes race lecture & OUT (race/rally)

Formula Ford Zetcc Drives-$695 for 40 laps in our Van Diemen 98/99 Zetec tars. No pre-requisites. Held

automotiveRa^ Engine Fasteners I aCamDonenis

Ph:08 83624417 Fax:08 8362 8811 racing@nttyres.conn.au

PERFORMANCE ivyt1 P. T.^ coa,

iuyiijs if]jxnfihjru ●/sifi ioifP ] Tel: 08 9353 1155 Fax: 08 9353 1222

lx! ●T! atltEDmia}wmiciB

Bryan Miller M 0417 274 507 P 02 9524 3389 1 Tamba Place Lilli Pilli NSW 2229 easternracepart s@ihotinail.com

P 03 9357 0469

Fully enclosed custom built race car transporters Professional race car logistic & ^nt sped^ists_ Security for car & equipment Cy ● Contact Neil Griffiths 0110418 474 816

Drivers

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.●*

‘ dillM ■ 1

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T E c H N I O U E 338 Swan St Richmond VIC 3121 ■/ P 03 9428 5547 Technical Support Contact Trevor Sheumack 0418 548 578 ' ,4* Orfk-4l ditOfbutor q( p. -

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motorsport news

111 I

[g^,^&anKiaa;o

most affordable shaft type

Call now for your nearest dealer Ph:1800 797 344

SUSPENSION TECHNOLOGY

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AUSTRALIAN DISTRIBUTORS

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r 3„

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Learning curve: Young karters such as Gemma Deakin get the benefit of Woodgate's knowlegde.

Single adjuster through 4 way adjusters available

* JC

GOOOfVCAR

What experience levels do the participants have? Most are pretty new to the sport, but we do get some of the more experienced drivers turn up.

^RAONG SHOCKS:

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International

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You've been doing a few days with adults now.Is that much

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adults.

MG V8 Racecar preparation

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ri?r

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Advertising in RACE SHOP costs as little as $75 per issue!

leA*f

Competition LSD's 8f Gears

CLOSE RATIO GEARS & FINAL DRIVE

DIFFERENTIAL

NEW EXPANDED RANCE I ^?03^^Ws40?^^NSW 024577 2400 SA 088340 4333 } } VIC 039553 4200 OLD 07327447^97 WA 089331 8488 !

llollcu

Holley Performance System Distributors

www.cranecams.com.au

I Call 08 8132 1888 for your nearest distributor

Phone: 08 8363 5566

Fax; 08 8363 5633

● Supreme quality at sensible prices

■

Call now for your nearest dealer Ph:1800 797 344

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mteiv

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■ Engine, chassis, go-kart or motorbike

DynoLog

mKKKP' ID ynamometer

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including a huge range of one piece

o n i c

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111

B a J_ a n c e r s

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● ●

Easy to read computer etched timing marks Available in economical cast iron Street, all steel SFI approved Race & new Serpentine for Chev,LS1,LT1 etc

NOCOMPROMISES It's Quicke r It's Cooler It's Patented Dealer Enquiries Welcome

need

Car TtansportEr/Mot

2i laths.

'fiewiKj^iib.faplacemwrt. afe KUrESn, Bunks ^ Vto WotaaaBth.ieerrcnwA frlt^l Alf-comp. Drill Rtess, Hydraulic ●01gatB:Bjtf!y,'Lei±Ers, S30,a00 Rebuild aa.235nS liifeb EngtnE, 12/HBV. Gas Stem. New iyife-CUrtenSf^*t “Ide ®ll for $1W)0 esmer ^^l^labte. Trev 04k<U36 m. www.myl 05xom/49806

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lOmtr tray, seats 7, hydrolic

water, shower,

ramps, 5 sta'r living, gas microwave, cook top, fl at screen tv, dvd surround sound, full kitchen, professiona ly

ilujJ/ijJJu'a ul ha/'Mbtn /jii. yufiz'. ' l Tel: 08 9353 1155 Fax: 08 9353 1222 J

built, a/c reverse cycle, 2x370L water tanks, 12/24/240 volt, suit long dragster, falcon

m I FS^EEDrLOWS Tc.

mw cm

super duty pushrods

P 03 9357 0469 F 03 9357 0001

visit our website: www.crowcams.com.au

COMPLETE HISTORIC RACING CAR ^ PREPARATION, RESTORATION . & CHASSIS SET UP.

Premium Motorsport Hose & Fittings! Contact your state distributor...

FULLY enclosed TRI-AXLE RACE TRAILER

electric brakes on all axles, internal storage, will take any size race or drag car anywhere. $33,000.00 Josh 0439 731 695. email: Attention to Josh at info@bcglaw,com

Hardiman Auto Supplies Motorsport Connections Victorian Speed Pro Performance Wholesale Crane Technologies ^^gt^^ing Services

(02) 9771 5877 (02) 9838 7272 (03) 9794 5177 (07) 3808 1986 (08) 8363 5566 3 4400 (08)

® tuning available »in-housc electronic corner weight scales * computerised in-house engine dyno facility Au.sTra//an agent for Pace products Phone Peter or Jamie Lamer r 0:t 9439 8986 M 0419 379 024 f 03 9431 2419 WWW. larnerengines. com. a ii larner@mitterva.com. ail

r -● -w Two Car Transporter Drop deck two car race

wr'irra

IireliT

for ffco conpitto Pkslii Coaptlllion tttago d ClrcBlt, Cena Eocd legal ediy Ijm teppoded Tredakio Alteadesn, Expert liniag osd Adrice, (oobet y«ti Pirdll Hotenport DWiSislor siaco 1996.

Contact: Rod Wilson

Trofeo AAotorsport Pty Ltd 42 Industrial Park Drive. ULYDALE, ViC

Pht (03) 9735 2588 30 Fax: (03) 9735 2955 Mobile: 041 7511 911 : rbd@motorsporltyrcs.com.au

Isuzu FSR 550, 6 speed, p/s .near new

354

motorsport news

uuww.mnews.GOnn.au

pattern, Brake Parportioning Valve. 2005 AGrade SA#5, Club Class Champion. Selling due to work relocation. Minus Engine &Trans. $2500 Or Best Offer. Justin 0437 061 139.

www.myl05.com/48854 354

WHERE SPONSORS . FIND YOU!

Post Your Proposal Today

National exposure for 3 months. www.sponsorseek.Gom .au

winii.niv105.com

Speedcar/ Compact older style speedcar with freshly rebuilt

Offer, nigel 63557799 / 0427590609.

cheap entry point into racing. $8000 Or Best

www.myl05.com/51148

Hi-Liie Your Ad

rated to 2 ton, 21 ft pan set up to carry 2 open

www.myl05.com/99585

Visit out website www.precisionparts.com.au

U Holden Torana. Built 2 years ago. Fibre-

Glass body shell, Toyota 28-Splne Axle & Locked Diff Assembly. Ford/Toyota Hilux stud

used for state level racing, tows very well bargin at this price, don't miss out. $11000 00 ONO, Ben 0413121201.

radials

wheelers, can easly fit a sedan, lounge a/c, inside fridge, microwave, TV, heaps of storage : paint job, 240V & belly lockers under, 2pac lighting & power, a very well set up truck, mechanically Al . $45,000 ONO. Kosi 0419

■ J

engine, good beginners car has a tall and fat boy chassis, new seat and window nets,

all round, rego May 07, Full height tail loader

524 752.

Dirt Circuit Super Sedan

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transporter, plenty of storage space, new tyres all round, winch,

www.myl 05.com/51170

Isuzu Race Transporter Pirelli Motorsport Distributor

kit, led lights, lift up back door & side acess. $16500 Or Best Offer. Andrew 0409000177 / 0263631173.

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mags. Four wheel electric brakes, break away

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measurments of 6500x2400x2000h. Trailer is

354

355

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Can Arrange Finance! $115,000, Ian 0418879 611.

W 11

CaroBuilt Sporting Trailers, Have a br& new enclosed car trailer for sale, has internal

1*-

arm & park leg, kitchenette, cupboard space & forward living area, secure external lockers,

tail lifter with

to go racing. Consistent front running car. $38,000 ONO.Alan Matthews 0419 030 911.

Speedway

sedan / commodore, ect .fit out 6 mths oW,

|W H '

bars, rods, driveline, front end, shocks, gear sets, diff, wheels & tyres etc. Tri-axle trailer

Enclosed Trailer

loading Winch, super strong chassis - towing

Transporter / motorhome Hino2000

P 02 6937 8888 F 02 6921 7536

Head office ● 07 3807 6870 0417641 814(Bris)*0414661 744{Melb) www.performancefriction.com

Tpertt

profiles using unique computer controlled machines for unrivalled accuracy

ruel fnlection Systems a Pumps, Air Density. Gauges a Gomnonems ^

email: Infi

ttj toiifi 10O Series Fsnps, iri* ci h&i tMUrKfcfl. hJ ksoger ed petfytn bWMlss efl e*5f F5aT»bBxlifjffcnl, Oertidil caittepor arf wddb bpdhM r«4 XBicifj ooi tea M aWi cskiog e B«dtob»j‘ i' pacptWhUcnepiaxaS

● Custom ground roller, solid and hydraulic

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maEziERE^

● Fast profile design service to your requirements

$30K Below Market Value

FIO-FAST wQ ItoiilcT 5 gobai «f (gtl ia Itti ibn I mhote. Goat cri ib tlori»(inbs a (aaecl. . FLO FAST u 6a« deeU a jwfcx Ml t! yeet 701 01 7051 inn. Sityfy '

$5990#p AltindtSiv

Maxim 360 Sprintcar, new: powdercoat, pannels, outlaw tank, and wings. Spare:

complete viiith pit equipment set up ready

' I

MOTOR HOME

^lonno^^ol ● all pros inOuflo GST. Fro^ht is adOtio^

● Bikes ● Cars ● Trucks

Fully lined; wired 24 & 12 volt fully lit, electric

CROWCAKMS

,LT.

-$495*

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● Accurate, Repeatable, Versatile ● Take manual control or hands-free ● Local design, support, development, installation and on-site training ● Top names demand top equipment For more information afidia - users include: NIZPRO, HSV,

demonstration contact; ARFX Computing PO B ox 151 Montrose 3765 P03 97511142 F 03 9751 2173 M 0408 055 541 aelder@mel'b,pc.org.au'

■i

Jl ’^g')Ph: 1300 76 55 39 Fax: (07) 5478 9833

REMARKABLE WINDOWS OF OPPORTUNITY for engine experts

HRT& John Sidney Racing

2 tonne and 6 tonne capacity

- 360 Sprintcar Package

$295*

$99Jair 11$ 139* pair

MOTORSPORT WHEELS

www.stuckey.com.au

JI*

Stands

nif: : C0MP0M077VE VIC 03 9386 5331 NSW 02 9676 8655 SA 08 8387 3522 WA 08 9293 3500 TAS 03 6273 7555 NT 08 8941 5388 OLD 07 3217 1188

,1 .

Transporters/Trailers

XMlov

● 1000kg and 3000kg Capacity ● 12 month warranty ● Weights I

Inserts

Find hundreds more race vehicles and parts for sale at www.my105.com

HOQB

Racing Car Jacks ● Full FIA range In stock ● Available in Red, Black or Blue ● Bolt down, detachable or wrap around

*Tl»-

online classifieds

Roller Lifters Camshafts Roller Rockers Ignition Systems Valve Springs & More! CRANE TECHNOLOGIES PTY. LTD.

Lightwoicit^t

Titanium Valves,

RACE AND PERFORMANCE CLASSIFIEDS

f^RAIME %^ams www.holley.com

CitiBstn Usinllii Bltltllawt

Retainers, locks Guides a Seat

CLASSIFIEDS.

Silverado and Daytona Trailer $78,000 ONO. Garry 0413 879 879

www.my105.com/11740 ' 354

/ am very happy with the service I received. All three of the enquiries you forwarded were firm buyers and it lYas sold on a first come first served basis. Again thanks. I. Hills

Get it seen Get it sold! 79

Advertising in RACE SHOP costs as little as $75 per issue!

leA*f

Competition LSD's 8f Gears

CLOSE RATIO GEARS & FINAL DRIVE

DIFFERENTIAL

NEW EXPANDED RANCE I ^?03^^Ws40?^^NSW 024577 2400 SA 088340 4333 } } VIC 039553 4200 OLD 07327447^97 WA 089331 8488 !

llollcu

Holley Performance System Distributors

www.cranecams.com.au

I Call 08 8132 1888 for your nearest distributor

Phone: 08 8363 5566

Fax; 08 8363 5633

● Supreme quality at sensible prices

■

Call now for your nearest dealer Ph:1800 797 344

'i ^

mteiv

6t«ine afurtniumfseel

■ Engine, chassis, go-kart or motorbike

DynoLog

mKKKP' ID ynamometer

Special DLl and Dasb2 $2990.00 racetechnology.com.au

including a huge range of one piece

o n i c

a|-»T388'

● Matching race valve train components

PERFORMANCE [} I ■ WHO I-E s A L E ciyi^uiaxxe'jmiupiiciw.amWMHiiinEm I

111

B a J_ a n c e r s

The True Performance Alternative .

Extremely durable bonded dampening material

● ●

Easy to read computer etched timing marks Available in economical cast iron Street, all steel SFI approved Race & new Serpentine for Chev,LS1,LT1 etc

NOCOMPROMISES It's Quicke r It's Cooler It's Patented Dealer Enquiries Welcome

need

Car TtansportEr/Mot

2i laths.

iiii

www.myl05.eom/34024

lOmtr tray, seats 7, hydrolic

water, shower,

ramps, 5 sta'r living, gas microwave, cook top, fl at screen tv, dvd surround sound, full kitchen, professiona ly

ilujJ/ijJJu'a ul ha/'Mbtn /jii. yufiz'. ' l Tel: 08 9353 1155 Fax: 08 9353 1222 J

built, a/c reverse cycle, 2x370L water tanks, 12/24/240 volt, suit long dragster, falcon

m I FS^EEDrLOWS Tc.

mw cm

super duty pushrods

P 03 9357 0469 F 03 9357 0001

visit our website: www.crowcams.com.au

COMPLETE HISTORIC RACING CAR ^ PREPARATION, RESTORATION . & CHASSIS SET UP.

Premium Motorsport Hose & Fittings! Contact your state distributor...

FULLY enclosed TRI-AXLE RACE TRAILER

electric brakes on all axles, internal storage, will take any size race or drag car anywhere. $33,000.00 Josh 0439 731 695. email: Attention to Josh at info@bcglaw,com

Hardiman Auto Supplies Motorsport Connections Victorian Speed Pro Performance Wholesale Crane Technologies ^^gt^^ing Services

(02) 9771 5877 (02) 9838 7272 (03) 9794 5177 (07) 3808 1986 (08) 8363 5566 3 4400 (08)

r -● -w Two Car Transporter Drop deck two car race

wr'irra

IireliT

for ffco conpitto Pkslii Coaptlllion tttago d ClrcBlt, Cena Eocd legal ediy Ijm teppoded Tredakio Alteadesn, Expert liniag osd Adrice, (oobet y«ti Pirdll Hotenport DWiSislor siaco 1996.

Contact: Rod Wilson

Trofeo AAotorsport Pty Ltd 42 Industrial Park Drive. ULYDALE, ViC

Pht (03) 9735 2588 30 Fax: (03) 9735 2955 Mobile: 041 7511 911 : rbd@motorsporltyrcs.com.au

Isuzu FSR 550, 6 speed, p/s .near new

354

motorsport news

uuww.mnews.GOnn.au

pattern, Brake Parportioning Valve. 2005 AGrade SA#5, Club Class Champion. Selling due to work relocation. Minus Engine &Trans. $2500 Or Best Offer. Justin 0437 061 139.

www.myl05.com/48854 354

WHERE SPONSORS . FIND YOU!

Post Your Proposal Today

National exposure for 3 months. www.sponsorseek.Gom .au

winii.niv105.com

Speedcar/ Compact older style speedcar with freshly rebuilt

Offer, nigel 63557799 / 0427590609.

cheap entry point into racing. $8000 Or Best

www.myl05.com/51148

Hi-Liie Your Ad

rated to 2 ton, 21 ft pan set up to carry 2 open

www.myl05.com/99585

Visit out website www.precisionparts.com.au

U Holden Torana. Built 2 years ago. Fibre-

Glass body shell, Toyota 28-Splne Axle & Locked Diff Assembly. Ford/Toyota Hilux stud

used for state level racing, tows very well bargin at this price, don't miss out. $11000 00 ONO, Ben 0413121201.

radials

■ J

engine, good beginners car has a tall and fat boy chassis, new seat and window nets,

all round, rego May 07, Full height tail loader

524 752.

Dirt Circuit Super Sedan

www.sponsorseek.com.au

transporter, plenty of storage space, new tyres all round, winch,

www.myl 05.com/51170

Isuzu Race Transporter Pirelli Motorsport Distributor

kit, led lights, lift up back door & side acess. $16500 Or Best Offer. Andrew 0409000177 / 0263631173.

SponsorSeek

mags. Four wheel electric brakes, break away

www.myl05.com/59445

3S4

www.myl 05.com/80293

.■!

measurments of 6500x2400x2000h. Trailer is

354

355

«>'●

www.my105.com/45551

fitted with independent suspension,! Sinch

www.myl05.com/72855

Can Arrange Finance! $115,000, Ian 0418879 611.

W 11

CaroBuilt Sporting Trailers, Have a br& new enclosed car trailer for sale, has internal

1*-

arm & park leg, kitchenette, cupboard space & forward living area, secure external lockers,

tail lifter with

to go racing. Consistent front running car. $38,000 ONO.Alan Matthews 0419 030 911.

Speedway

sedan / commodore, ect .fit out 6 mths oW,

|W H '

bars, rods, driveline, front end, shocks, gear sets, diff, wheels & tyres etc. Tri-axle trailer

Enclosed Trailer

loading Winch, super strong chassis - towing

Transporter / motorhome Hino2000

P 02 6937 8888 F 02 6921 7536

Head office ● 07 3807 6870 0417641 814(Bris)*0414661 744{Melb) www.performancefriction.com

Tpertt

profiles using unique computer controlled machines for unrivalled accuracy

ruel fnlection Systems a Pumps, Air Density. Gauges a Gomnonems ^

email: Infi

● Custom ground roller, solid and hydraulic

^=UEt INJECTION

web: www.waranaimports.com

maEziERE^

● Fast profile design service to your requirements

$30K Below Market Value

FIO-FAST wQ ItoiilcT 5 gobai «f (gtl ia Itti ibn I mhote. Goat cri ib tlori»(inbs a (aaecl. . FLO FAST u 6a« deeU a jwfcx Ml t! yeet 701 01 7051 inn. Sityfy '

$5990#p AltindtSiv

Maxim 360 Sprintcar, new: powdercoat, pannels, outlaw tank, and wings. Spare:

complete viiith pit equipment set up ready

' I

MOTOR HOME

^lonno^^ol ● all pros inOuflo GST. Fro^ht is adOtio^

● Bikes ● Cars ● Trucks

Fully lined; wired 24 & 12 volt fully lit, electric

CROWCAKMS

,LT.

-$495*

PERFORMANCE FRICTION BRAKES

demonstration contact; ARFX Computing PO B ox 151 Montrose 3765 P03 97511142 F 03 9751 2173 M 0408 055 541 aelder@mel'b,pc.org.au'

■i

Jl ’^g')Ph: 1300 76 55 39 Fax: (07) 5478 9833

REMARKABLE WINDOWS OF OPPORTUNITY for engine experts

HRT& John Sidney Racing

2 tonne and 6 tonne capacity

- 360 Sprintcar Package

$295*

$99Jair 11$ 139* pair

MOTORSPORT WHEELS

www.stuckey.com.au

JI*

Stands

nif: : C0MP0M077VE VIC 03 9386 5331 NSW 02 9676 8655 SA 08 8387 3522 WA 08 9293 3500 TAS 03 6273 7555 NT 08 8941 5388 OLD 07 3217 1188

,1 .

Transporters/Trailers

XMlov

● 1000kg and 3000kg Capacity ● 12 month warranty ● Weights I

Inserts

Find hundreds more race vehicles and parts for sale at www.my105.com

HOQB

Racing Car Jacks ● Full FIA range In stock ● Available in Red, Black or Blue ● Bolt down, detachable or wrap around

*Tl»-

online classifieds

Roller Lifters Camshafts Roller Rockers Ignition Systems Valve Springs & More! CRANE TECHNOLOGIES PTY. LTD.

Lightwoicit^t

Titanium Valves,

RACE AND PERFORMANCE CLASSIFIEDS

f^RAIME %^ams www.holley.com

CitiBstn Usinllii Bltltllawt

Retainers, locks Guides a Seat

CLASSIFIEDS.

Silverado and Daytona Trailer $78,000 ONO. Garry 0413 879 879

www.my105.com/11740 ' 354

/ am very happy with the service I received. All three of the enquiries you forwarded were firm buyers and it lYas sold on a first come first served basis. Again thanks. I. Hills

Get it seen Get it sold! 79

RACE AND PERFORMANCE CLASSIFIEDS

online classifieds

Find hundreds more race vehicles and parts for sale at www.my105.com

motorsport vehicle or anything to do with motorsport via our internet classified partners myl OS.cqm for as little as $35! Yes,3 months on myl05.com, plus an insertion here in MNews, all for as little as $35. *(if directly entered onto myl05.com)

HOW? Either log on to my105.com and follow 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 one ($10 pic processing fee). Type/write your advertisement clearly (no more than 50 words), nominate your category and include your pic(s). Mail or email (include credit card and your details) - see addresses below. Ads without pics may be faxed, along with your details/contact and credit card details.

Categories icidiude;

Sedans/Sports Cars; Open Wheelers; Speedway; Drag; Engines; Parts; Transporters/Trailers; Employment; Photographs; Wanted.

Worlds Fa^est tst Generation Civic

*\»

■I

iZESt Cim.it

tie lBtp;//iwww.(BBt£Dtmul|3dCam/arfit|es„ $15,000.18 OHS. Aneus Buttfis

r.my 105.com/53661

Photo

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ssa

2006 Vw Golf GTI Perfect

Car

for

12hr

Bathurst/

2007

Performance or Production Car Series, Kw

Sedans/Sports Cars

Dampers, LSD, all new equipment ie seats - harness etc. Must sell due to personal ~ reasons . $50,000 Plus GST Not Neg. Kosi 0419524752.

)f Wanneroo iJ oonci 3

www.myl 05.com/72403

354

aiLAl _

Escort Sport Sedan ready to race mkl escort 13bpp Slida s5 gearbox new 40mm billet axles ap rotorsfi

IPRAWA # 10 Race Winner

calipers new coil overs 2 sets of 16x10 wheels

WINNER '06 C/Ship 2L-3L class 2nd outright

many new parts comes with dual axle trailer

WA State Championship also o/right winner WASCC Gold Star C/Ship. Built brand new for

lots of parts tyres enough parts to race for a season . 19.500 Neg. tony 0411191796 / 0738510513.

'06 season with best of everything, adj. susp, brake bias, selectmaz close ratio gears, Mazda racing diff. Rotomotion built 13B Bridgeport. Very quick & reliable package. $20,000.00, Graham 0413 445 738,

www.myl05.com/4639

354

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1W0 W' f

Standard ad (no pic) - my105.com & MNews $45

Additional options:

CD i8s/6or^?am:LinouaniiiM

nnttaw^eobiemt. For ijsaiMBiyMM

L:t

czr it Cul^ englnpered and It very

X-7 Roadster Chassis kit for the Original LS-1 RoadsterfPre Elfin) The prototype (photos) ran easy 63's around Calder in road legal trim with stock LS-1 and gentimen driver ( me ) Includes Chassis.a/arms.rack, uprights.all fibreglass inci floor, rear end with reco 3,45 LSD centre, 320mm rotors etc. 6000 Neg, Greg 0411275678.

www.myl 05.com/23090

354

BMW E461V13 Datsun 1600 Imp Production Car Offered for sale with full spares package and trailer. High horspower SR20 Motec M8 Data Logging MDD Mini Dash..Option 1 Box..LSD Various Ratios..!2 Wheels New tyres Tilton Clutch,.Pedal Box ..AP Brakes Adjustable Suspension.. Much more.. Current or past record holder of every Lap record in Victoria. 29000,00, Robert Mills 03 9722 2842.

Current model M3,350hp engine chipped, full exhaust, Bilstein coilovers, full welded cage, harness, seat, could be eligible for Bathurst 12 hour, only done sprints and AROCA 6 hour, no hits. $49,000 Neg. David Peak Automotive (02) 9683 5577 / 0417 682150. 354 www.myl05.eom/5604

EVO 8 Race winning car EVO 8 Race winning car. Get ready for Bathurst 12hr or GTP 2007 series. V8 Super car support and Channel 7 TV. Many extras. Call Garry 0413 879 879.

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354

www.myl O5.com/17410

SEND TO; Mail:

A/lx5 Racer for Sale

My105, Suite 8,11-21 Underwood Rd, Homebush, NSW, 2140 Email: *5

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_ Notice to advertisers; We are unable to return photos supplied for advertising. Ads will appear as soon as possible after receipt. MNews/my10$ classifieds are for the sale of private goods and vehicles only. Photos fill. marked 'proof' will not be used. ji'.lU.

BIViWE36iV13 Very reliable Club track car, full exhaust, chipped for 350hp, Bilstein coilover shocks, full welded cage, harness, seat, no hits only done super sprints & AROCA 6 hour. $25,000. (02) 9683 5577 / 0417 682150.

www.myl 05.com/5154

354

1994 Eunos roadster MR2 supercharger/ custom intercooled wolf 3D engine management 8 way Adjustable shocks High capacity injectors big bore exhaust 15 in Potenza RE55S road/race rubber Odessy 800 battery Corbeau race seat Chubb extinguisher lm24sec Malalla 37 sec Collingrove Runs in 2-3ltre Marque sports. 15,000 ONO. Roger Trethewey 0402428986. 354 www.myl05.com/6326

Group NC 911S Porsche Historic Rare anid competitive car, twin plug head, best of everything, new motor and suspension $85,000.00. Phone Guy 07 3343 1566. 354 www.myl O5.com/10628

motorsport niisws

CLASSIFIEDS.

RACE AND PERFORMANCE CLASSIFIEDS

/Z22J^ZIMa!m} online classifieds Find hundreds more race vehicles and parts for sale at www.my105.com

F3 for Quick Sale Excellent condition ready to race, full set of

Ready to Race Supercar

spares and spare engine available. $50,000 Neg.Stephen 0418 685 575.

This car is ready to run this years touring car challenge at the front as it did iast year. Priced to sell. $80,000 ONO. Dean 0414735353.

www.myl O5.com/19093

www.my105.com/68331 I

353

354

. !|

-1 i

VAN DIEMAN RF96 Modified bodywork, Perkins engine spares include nose & mould full set of wishbones,

Hq Sedan Drag Car / Show Car Bargain. Hq GTS drag car that just needs a driveline to be complete.The rear clip, ladder bars, rollcage and tub fabrication have been done by John Traverna and is Excelllent. Runs 15x12 convopros with like new hoosier slicks, the paint work on the car is simply beautiful. Lots more. $10,000 ONO. David 0401 436 084.

www.myl05.com/61208

assorted swaybars, driveshafts wheel alignment bars excellent condition MUST SELL. $16 000 ONO. Jason 0895246606 / 0422510434.

www.myl05.com/57968

354

Skyline Unfinished Project Genuine GTR rear quarters fitted, Vielside side skirts, GTR fibreglass front bar, Kirkey alluminium seat, 8 point chrome moliy

Engine Dyno and Dyno Room Dyno Dynamics, twin retarder engine Dyno. Ex V8

Supercar unit. Uses electrical "eddy current" for load, so does not require water storage for water brake. Suitable for 1200 Hp. Complete with Fan, Insulation, oil tank, PC, Controler, Printer, Windows, Doors, Ducting, Attenuator, Exhaust,Wiring,Guages,cost well over $120000.$35,000 ONO. Ryan 07 5591 8198.

] www.my105.com/98165

354

roll cage, GTR rear diff and cradle assy. Powerglide with transbrake. Rb26 head/RB30

Chevron B29 Chassis B29-75-30. Ex Brian Redman & Hans Binder European F2 1975. Originally fitted with BMW Ml 2 engine. Now in 1976 Formula Atlantic configuration with 1600 Cosworth BDD. very original, been maintained by experienced race engineers. Engine recently rebuilt. 1 of best maintained & presented historic race cars in Aust. 2 sets of wheels including wets. Some spare body panels, sub frames & gear ratios. $85000 Best Offer. Peter 08 74211414/ 0403 388 982.

www.myl05.com/58147

F- FORD SPECTRUM 011 2006

block. Custom fuel system inc Bosch pumps, speedflow line & fittigs etc. Must see to apreciate. $13000 Neg.Stuart 0425 34 99 23.

www.my105.com/62155

354

Speedway

TMwr

354

JA Excellent condition ready to race in 07

harnesses, quick rack, WCX member, quaff box, fierra rear end,4WDB, Davis suspension,

Australian Championship. Maintained by Borland Racing Developments. Kept in top condition, only raced 5 meetings. 3 sets of wheels, spare body parts, full gear ratios, motec data logger. $70,000 neg. Contact Frank 0407 465 278.

twin webbers, pedal box, 15 mag wheels,

www.myl05.com/63805

Ford Escort RS2000 Rally Car Mark II 2 door, crome molly cage, rally seats,

354

8 new rally tyres, 4 bitumen tyres hot wires, spares. Tandem trailor available $2000. Cams log book, road reg 12 months. $12500.00 Neg. HUGH BELL 0417136006.

www.myl05.com/89153

354

For Lease Champ Winners Qld Gemini Race Series cars available for AASA & CAMS events, including Topgear meetings. State Championship racing. Hill Climbs, Sprints & track days. We can cater for the individual or for multiple entries, as

Formula Ford Swift 1992 1992 Swift Formula Ford. Competed in last

well as corporate track days. We cater for

year's NSW state championship. In good condition. Comes with some spares including

all budgets & specialise in CAMS licence

floor, gear ratios, corners, wheels. Good engine. Great beginners car. $18000 Neg. Matt 0248 722 622 / 0411 404 352,

Open Wheelers

www.myl05.com/50020

354

upgrades, as well as cater for the recreational racer. see http://www.racecarleasing.com Ph today for a package to suit your needs. Russell 0412375742. www.myl05.com/48523 Engines

Ralt RT4

Lite Weight Bowtie. Kinsler Injection. Brodex

Spectrum 09 2002 Car is offered complete with: Motec data logger with updated loom, Penske Shocks,

Rebuilt RT4 with Historic Log Book in as new condition, fresh engine plus spare if required, excellent U.S. and recent Australian

Targeted scrutineering compliance. Hans modified safety belts. Original and current historic log book . Chassis no: 592. Rebuilt

race history. $70000 Not Neg. Stephen 0418685575.

engine,zero hours. $75,000 Not Neg. Richard Carter 0409993606.

Spare sway bars. Top HP lamer engine, Spare rims with tyres, Spare Nose Cone,. $31000 + GST.Veijo 0414469250.

www.myl05.eom/53018

www.myl05.com/85166

www.my105.com/41994

tmjimi.mnews.com.au

354

6LT SBC Nascar Engine 669HP

Great Aust history. Bap Romano, Ken Smith, Ray StLibber. Brett Lupton rebuilt then maintained by Spectrum. Comes with set of spare wheels and Avon wets etc. Fox shocks.

RT4 for sale

355

354

18deg Heads. Dry Sump. Crower 3.375 Ultralite Crank. LA Kryptonite Rods. Ross Pistons. Jessel R/Rockers. Belt Drive. Isky Gold Stripe Springs. Titanium Caps. Roller Lifters and Cam.Engine just rebuilt. All the good bits. Too much to list. Call for more information. 25000 ONO.Jeff 0418 712 654.

www.myl 05.com/24402

354

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Bright Spark

n Editorial Editor; Phil Branagan

editor@mnews.com.au

Deputy Editor: Mark Glendenning mark@mnews.com.au News Editor: Grant Rowley grant@mnews.com.au National Editor: Andrew van Leeuwen andrew@mnews.com.au n Production Graphic Design & Web:Jayne Uthmeyer design@mnews.com.au n Advertising P 03 9877 7271 F 03 9877 7207 Manager: Brendon Sheridan M 0407 007 286 ads@mnews.com.au Advertising Admin: Margaret Nelson artwork@mnews.com.au n Administration 357 Nepean Highway, Brighton East, VIC, 3187 (PO Box 7072, Brighton, VIC, 3186) P 03 9596 5555 F 03 9596 5030 admin@mnews.com.au Managing Director/Publisher: Chris Lambden publisher@mnews.com.au n Contributors FINoe Saward, Adam Cooper, Paolo Filisetti Europe: Quentin Spurring, David Addison US: Martin D. Clark, Phil Morris Speedway:Greg Boscato, Geoff Rounds, Darren Sutton,Tony Millard (UK) Rally: Ryan Lahiff Drag Racing: Dave Ostaszewski(USA), Ken Ferguson,John Bosher National: Mark Wicks, Mark Jones, Mitchell Adam Photographers:Sutton Motorsport Images, Dirk Klynsmith, Marshall Cass,John Morris/ Mpix, AF1 Images,James Smith, Peter Bury, Neil Blackbourn, Chris Carter, Coopers Photography, CBR Photographies, Paris Charles, Bob Potts, Neil Hammond,Joel Strickland, Mike Patrick (UK) Motorsport News is published by Australasian Motorsport News ABN 55 125 120 702 Publisher: C Lambden Printed by: Webstar Printing Distributed by: NDD Ltd Material published by MOTORSPORT NEWS is copyright and may not be reproduced in full or in part without the written permission of the publisher. Freelance contributions are welcome,and while all care will be taken, Australasian Motorsport News does not accept responsibility for damage or loss of material submitted. “Opinions expressed in Motorsport Hews are not necessarily those of Australasian Motorsport News or its staff.

Australia (incGST) Overseas (airmail): New Zealand & Asia Rest of the World

I enjoyed your in-depth interview with Jason Bright last issue. It was one of those rare occasions where

1 year $148.50

2 years $285

A$210 A$270

A$390 A$495

what a driver(who just happens to be a team owner) had to say, made real sense. There are no doubt many people who think that he is mad to be leaving a team, FPR, which is starting to get long-overdue results, but I don't think it will be too long before Bright's Britek car will be in the top 10 action. I wish him well.

flag would be waved and that as soon as it was apparent that the track was blocked then the

Send us yQurtfioughts: PO Box 7072, Brighton,VIG,3186 rnnews@mnews.com.au

Actually, your last issue was a terrific read all-round (Damon

coffee table hissing at me when I left the house.

Hill, You Tube aren't phrases that would normally end up in the same sentence). What an

But, my mood today is the best it has been for a long time. I am ashamed to admit that when I

interesting ex-World Champion. There are perhaps other (ex-World Champions) who could learn from him.

went to sleep last night, I was not that optimistic about the chances of Chris Atkinson overhauling Mikko Hirvonen for fourth in the

Adriano Gianfranco

Monte Carlo Rally. But he did, and there is only one thing to say: You bloody beauty! I hope that the daily media realises that fourth - behind both Citroens and Marcus Gronholm -

Lane Cove, NSW More than it seems Your report that the Adelaide track is to change said that the change involves moving the main straight and a new sweeper leading into the Senna chicane.

is a great result and gives Atko and Subaru the credit they deserve. But, given the shit I read

second yellow flag would be being waved. While this was happening,the flag point radio operator would be reporting the situation to the control tower. When the Clerk of Course was made aware of the situation, he/ she, and only he/she, would then have ordered a red flag at all points if the situation warranted such a call. Mr. van Leeuwen then goes on to state that"when racing drivers are committing a car tp a sweeping corner,flat out in top gear,they aren't paying a lot of attention to the flag points" If they aren't paying attention to the flag points when two yellow flags are being waved,then how are they going to see a RED flag? The problem is that too many drivers don't think to check any flag points and then wonder why accidents happen. It takes over 100 people to man the average race meeting. Many of these volunteers are not members

Am I wrong in suggesting that the diagram looks like the whole track within the racecourse is

in the papers about motor racing, not too likely, I suppose. Thank Christ for Motorsport

going to change. It looks like a new tight section where the cars enter the park as well as a new, but similar hairpin.

weekly,the happier I'll be. Alistair Jackson

of a car club but are there simply because they enjoy motorsport.

sense of extreme euphoria before the end of 2007

Email address withheld by request

Very often clubs have difficulty manning every required position at a race meeting. Perhaps racing drivers should consider assisting at their local race meeting where they are not racing.They might find out what volunteers have to

The other 29 will have had eight unbelievable weekends

I guess progress is progress, but the Senna Chicane will never be

News. Please, the sooner you go

Red or yellow? I realise that this letter is a little

the same. Coming at it from a leftright sweeper cannot be the same as approaching at warp speed, as the driver after whom it is named

your National editor Andrew van

did. He'd be disappointed. David Moncrief

Leeuwen go unanswered. In issue 350, he comments on

Gleneig, SA Well played, Atko! It was raining this morning, so I was grouchy when I woke up. My missus burnt the toast and when I walked over to the sink to scratch the rust off it, 1 stepped on the cat, which is was still hiding under the

late in being sent to you, however, I couldn't let the comments of

a meeting at Phillip Island, where an incident/accident occurred, which partially or wholly, blocked the track. This guy has obviously never assisted with the running of a race meeting - in any form! He states that, at the flag point only a couple of yellow flags were

put up with from racing drivers. You produce an informative magazine but perhaps your own

One in 30 people taking X Challenge will experience a

of racing a thoroughbred Lotus. Everybody else? They get to watch them on television, Whether you are building a career as a pro driver or want to experience one-make racing at its best. One Prestigious marque, eight rounds, four states, three classes and one fair and unique way of deciding who IS the X Challenge champion.

they may be able to comment in a more enlightened manner than they at times seem to do. Richard McMillan New Zealand

No Lotus? No worries (lease one from us).

As for your comment on race drivers officiating, as part

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of holding a CAMS licence in Australia you must be involved with race marshalling, which is

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Atko was a star in Monte Carlo. A stone cold star.

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why even I have waved the flags on previous occasions.

motorsport news

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No budget? No worries (we have finance options).

X Ch.illengc .s not .issocinted with iho fanner Lotr,. Trophy senes or its operators 82

Challenge

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don't agree Richard. While officials do a good job, this was a mistake, one that could have had a dire outcome.

‘taste’ the life of a racer, try some X Challenge and

staff should try volunteering at a race meeting nowand again.Then

AVL: Having been right at the scene of the accident, I'm afraid I

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displayed and that the situation called for a red flag. I would suggest that the moment the flag marshals saw the incident occur,the first yellow

■*-

One in 30 people taking X Challenge will experience a sense of extreme euphoria before the end of 2007 The other 29 will have hack eight unbelievable weekends of racing a thoroughbred Lotus. Everybody else? They get to watch them on television. Whether you are building a career as a pro driver or want to 'taste' the life of a racer, try some X Challenge and experience one-make racing at its best. One Prestigious marque, eight rounds, four states, three classes and one fair and unique way of deciding who is the X Challenge champion. No Lotus? No worries (lease one from us).

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