Motorsport News Issue 355 - February 21-March 6, 2007

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THE NEWS BEHIND THE NEWS r

No. 355

21 February - 6 March 2007 Australia $6.50 NZ $8.00 inc GST

EXCLUSIVE

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THE AUSSIE FI ENGINE I THEY HAD BANNED

CLOSE CALL HRT/HSV OVERCOME LICENCE THREAT-JUST IN TIME

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21^ebruary - 6 March 2007 www.mnews.com.au tf^j V^HIssue 355

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. NEWS

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33! !_y?SUWwc*wpBam^ Photos

4

Boy Wonder

SBR signs a van driver

*

6

A testing time

At last: Noise on the racetracks!

8

Bowe in Black

Which Holden team almost got JB?

Cover:

Euan Cameron

^1^

10 The Oranges

sutton-images.com

Spyker unveils its new weapon

Contents: f

Munizstaysput Sorry, Frankie's changed his mind

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^j^OPINION 3^

25 Motor Mouth

Catching cheats or looking good?

26

Box Seat

Saward talks mud. Yep, mud

28 Opinion

Bathurst and Ambrose on TV!

82 Talk Converter

Red. Blue. Seto, too!

T FEATURE 30

Five Minutes with Steven Richards

a

32 Five Minutes with Kevin Harvick 2007 V8 SUPERCAR PREVIEW

35 From A to Z Q A look at some (well, 26) of the issues to keep an eye on 44 Shy and Retiring John Bowe talks on life in blue 46

New World Racer

How Toll built Rick and Garth's Commodore VEs

48 A Cheap and Meaningful Discussion SCAR'S Jeff Grech tells why he returned to V8s SO New Lease on Life

Another BA? No. Why Ford's BFis Different

wc/as-}7arT:r‘

52 The Revolution that Never Happened

EXCLUSIVE: The Aussie-built engine that could have

changed the face of FI technology - until it was outlawed r.^

58

There's No Business like Snow Business

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Two rallies, two winners in Scandanavia

NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL

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20 Rally

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62 International

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64 Speedway 66 Drag Racing

" It 70 National Scene

76 Race Shop/Industry News 79 Classifieds

TRADE Tt

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^jLxiDiiEiaaa

James Smith

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NASCAR Media

Dirk Klynsmith Toyota Motorsport sutton-images.com

HRT/HSV

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NEWS

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S,^l problems.

Holdenfactoryteamsmake Now, for the racing

..ic?

changes to avert TEGA licence

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HOLDEN'S defence of its V8

The Walkinshaw-HRT-Toll

have to address those questions

Supercar titles will proceed

relationship]. We have had them on some fairly tight deadlines, in terms of how things were arranged."

to the teams."

MNews believes that there

as normal after the Toll/HSV

Dealer Team and the Holden

Racing Team made changes last week to satisfy the operational guidelines of the Touring Car Entrants'Group.

Both teams have

However, he would not confirm that there was a threat

to the teams' licences, which are

"We will be looking at more teams throughout this year and next, to ensure that they comply

was ongoing concern within the

in a number of areas," he said.

TEGA board about the teams'

'These investigations will be

arrangements with Walkinshaw

conducted on a random basis.

Performance, particularly in terms of some overlap between

"The sport is moving forward at a very fast rate and the current

the two outfits in terms of 'shared'staff. There was also a

TLAs come to an end at the end

question over who controls the

will undertake discussions about

how we will move forward during the year."

their ongoing relationship with technical partner Walkinshaw

held by Mark Skaife (HRT) and John and Margaret Kelly (Toll/ HSV). Rumours swept through the sport on the weekend that

Performance to ensure that they

the licences had been either

staff - the teams themselves or WP - and both were asked to

meet the regulations outiined in the TEGA Teams' Licence

suspended, pending clarification to a number of enquiries from

circumstances some members

Simon McNamara would not

Agreement (TLA).

TEGA, or terminated. However,

operate.

comment on the matter on

accommodated changes in

TEGA Chairman Kelvin O'Reilly

confirmed on Monday that there had been changes made at the request of TEGA. "We have been doing an

investigation,"confirmed O'Reiiiy.

"We queried a number of licence requirements that arose from that situation [Ed:

structure of the teams and that

O'Reilly said that he was not in a position to give any details to the changes made;

TEGA will require clarification in

of."

ongoing enquiries about the

As was the case last year,

the near future.

Toll/HSV and HRT will share a

changes in circumstance to what

was there last year but you would

future.

days through the course of the

"There have been some

common testing log, limiting the teams to a total of six two-car test

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before Seton joined them on the

it unveiled Glenn Seton as its

fact, Skaife's car, chassis WP01,

endurance driver.

is the prototype used in all the aero testing, while Kelly's is

Seton at the launch."The car

WP03.

looks great, Ican't wait to drive it, and Ifeel pretty good in red!"

Skaife and Todd Kelly unveiled

(Rick Kelly) and WP04 (Garth

www.mnews.com.aii

We also believe that there are

O'Reilly expanded on the concept and said that other teams may be audited in the near

in Melbourne last Friday and, as MNews reported a week ago,

the team's new Commodore VEs

Holden Motorsport Manager

earlier this week.

stage.The cars are the first to be built in Clayton under the new Project Blueprint guidelines; in

"It's a relief, actually,"smiled

provide clarity as to under what

Monday, other than to say, "As I stand here today, there are no licence problems that Iam aware

that was not the case and both teams were able to test at Winton

SETO GOES RED MEANWHILE, HRT's launch took place at the Crown Casino

of the season. Because of this, we

Toll HSV will field chassis WP02

Tander).

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- PHIL BRANAGAN

5

Tasman Tool Time TASMAN Motorsport has gained sponsorship from the GMC Tools company. The Commodores of Greg

Murphy and Jason Richards will carry the familiar hues of the company in two rounds of the V8 Supercar Championship Series this year, while Firepower will return for four rounds

later in the season. Main sponsors for the other rounds of the series will be named later.

■ Psst! Do you like Craig Lowndes?

And Australian Storyl Then, be glued to the telly on March 5 because The Kid is going to be on the national broadcaster's acclaimed profile documentary program. The half-hour will cover his Bathurst J 000 win, his relationship with Peter and Bev Brock and Craig's behind-the-scenes life. and has chats with Bev, Rick Kelly, Neil Crompton and Lowndes's wife Nat and dad Frank.

■ Get readyfora battle of the

engineers in V8 Supercars this year.

While we've seen father and son race

one another on the track plenty of times before, father and son taking one another in with headsets on is

something new - but it will happen this year as former FFord and V8

Ute rdcer James Small joins Garry Rogers Motorsport to engineer Lee Holdsvvorth's #33 Commodore while his father Les will look after the Sirromet Wines car of Paul Morris.

School is back in: Steven Johnson did the majority of the running in the Jim Beam Falcon, top, while Craig Lowndes, above left, and Jamie Whincup, above right, dialled Triple Eight for Vodafone. Todd Kelly, below, did the day's running for HRT with Mark Skaife to test on Tuesday at Winton.

■ While Castrol will back Steven

Richards' Falcon, the oil giant also be seen on the Team Kiwi Falcon of Paul

Radisich run out of the FPR workshop.

A new partnership with Castrol New Zealand sees their logo on the side of the #021 car. Radisich, who took part in a four-day bootcamp with Richards and Mark Winterbottom in

Queensland, will switch to right foot

braking to start 2007 due to ongoing pain and weakness in his left ankle, a

byproduct from The Rat’s big crash at Bathurst last year.

■ The Voice will be at 12 rounds of

the V8 Supercar Championship Series.

No, not Johnny Farnham, but Barry Oliver will grab the mike again at all races, except for Pukekohe (which

clashes v/ith Targa Tasmania) and Bahrain, which will clash with the Mt

Buller Sprint in November.

6

motorsport news

NEWS

The boys are back on track Winton and Queensland Raceway come alive to the sounds of V8 Supercar testing MONDAY was a big day at both Winton and Queensland Raceway as V8 Supercar teams

VE for Dean Canto with Lee Holdsworth in the

hit the track for their first official tests of the

ex-Canto VZ, while Steven Richards debuted

WhileTeam Vodafone ran two cars for Craig Lowndes and Jamie Whincup, Jim Beam Racing

season.

his new Castrol Edge/FPR Falcon, a brand new

only had the one on hand for Steven Johnson

It vyas the first proper test of the new VE Commodore in the hands of a variety of teams,

chassis.

while Ford's BF Falcon also made its debut at

with Mark Winterbottom completing laps in

both circuits.

both cars while his #5 Orrcon car sat in the

At Winton, the Champion Toll FISV Dealer

Team were joined by Holden Racing Team, with Garth Tander handling driving duties for the former in #16, while Todd Kelly drove the new #22 VE.

Garry Rogers Motorsport wheeled out its first

and Will Davison while Davison's #18 car had

Paul Radisich drove the Team Kiwi Falcon,

garage.

Team BOC had Brad and Andrew Jones on

track, whileTony D'Alberto, Mark McNally and Greg Murphy Racing (Sam Walter and Dale Wood) represented some of the Fujitsu Series

Drivers champion Rick Kelly and Mark Skaife were due to test on Tuesday in their respective

teams to hit the track.

chassis, after we went to press.

Jack Daniel's Racing ran its first VE with Shane Price behind the wheel while Jack Perkins spent the day in a VZ.

Bright and Alan Gurr on Tuesday, where they

However, the team remains touch and go on the completion of the second VE so they decided there was no point in wasting a test day by just running one car. lirfect.com

Ford teams from firing up.

Britek Motorsport were due to run with Jason

would be joined by the first run of Tasman's VE with Greg Murphy and Jason Richards to drive.

The team says it will definitely have two VEs on track for the Clipsal 500 on March 2-4.

Meanwhile in Queensland, a lot of teams

were due to run at Queensland Raceway on Tuesday, though that didn't stop a brace of

the final touches added to it, and is due to hit

the track this Friday.

Johnson was recorded as the fastest of

the day with a 1ml 1.8s, closely followed by Lowndes with a 11.9 and Whincup with a 12.1.

It was the first time the DJR-run cars have

hit the track since having new Triple Eight components fitted during the off-season.

Max Wilson debuted the new red and yellow Wow livery his #8 Falcon will run this year, while Jason Bargwanna turned laps in the other #10 WPS-liveried car.

Fujitsu Series outfit Howard Racing gave Andrew Thompson and Brit Adam Sharpe their first test of the year, with Stone Brothers due to

run on Tuesday and Team Sirromet Wines due to debut its new VE this Friday.

-AARON NOONAN '"I aT

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New looks: Steven Richards, above left, and Paul Radisich, above, drove

the FPR-prepped Falcons, while Dean Canto, left, and Shane Price, below. played with their brand new VEs. Max Wilson below left, debuted a WOW

of a car with a new-look for the #8 WPS Racing Falcon. ^'

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7

eeping with the enemy Touring Car Champion hanging up his helmet from full-time V8s at

IN the wake of the Glenn Seton

to Holden Racing Team news, John Bowe has revealed how

the end of this season after more

close he came to joining the red

than three decades in the sport.

According to Bowe it was a

side for season 2007.

tough decision to make.

"I haven't lost the hunger, or the

Bowe, who recently announced TEENAGE Damien Assaillit will join the Fujitsu V8 Supercar Series this year in the Falcon AU campaigned by

a one-year deal with Paul

desire, or the enthusiasm," he said.

Cruickshank Racing, told MNews that he was tempted by an offer

"But Ithink it's the right time;

Chris Either last year in Kanga Loaders colours. The car will aga'in be run

by Bruce Partington for the young

to race with the Jack Daniel's

I'm no spring chicken. V8s are like

,squad in 2007.

"I was very close [to a deal],

a war and there is some talented

Queenslander, who has most recently competed in Formula Challenge in NZ.

Bowe said.: "It was more a moral issue than

H Former Bathurst winner Tomas

Mezera won't return in the role of

Driving Standards Observer for the Carrera Cup this year. Mezera, who took on the role shortly after the category began in 2003, cites his increasing schedule with the Porsche Driving Experience at Mount Cotton and a wish to spend more time with his family as the reason for his decision.

■ In Bathurst 12 Hour entry news,

Garry Holt has taken deliver of a pair of BMW 335 Twin Turbos for the race.

young blokes coming through so it's time for me to get involved in

that, do some mentoring and that kind of stuff.

anything else.The deal was a

Iwas so far down the line with

"[But] I'm not going to retire from motor racing -1 don't think I'll ever retire from motor racing.

Paul that he had all his sponsors

As long as Ican get something to

much better deal financially than Idid with Paul [Cruickshank], but

convinced that this was what the

drive, somehow, Ireckon I'll race

team should do and Ijust couldn't

until I'm 150!"

Bowe's plans beyond 2007 are

leave him in the lurch.

likely to involve the Australian

"Although Ithink the VE Commodore is going to be the car

GT Championship, in which he'll be racing a Ferrari at this year's Clipsal 500, as well as a possible

to beat, to be honest."

Bowe's first year with Glenfords Racing will be his last in V8 Supercars, the 1995 Australian

entry in Carrera Cup. -d Media

-ANDREWVAN LEEUWEN

Barry Morcom, Beric Lynton and Tim Slade are among the six-driver line-up across the two cars with an ex-Formula

1 driver slated to join the crew.

Former V8 and GTP driver Bob

Pearson has entered two Lancer Evo

8s for the event, with Anton Mechtler

among the driving line-up. Trevor Keene is bringing the Mini Cooper back to Bathurst with one of the

new generation models while Allan Shephard is building a new Mazda 3 MPS to take on the factory Holden

Astra Turbo in the Hot Hatch category.

■ All cars in the Australian

Performance Car Championship this

year will ride on a control Pirelli tyre.

Pirelli motorsport distributor, Trofeo Motorsport, has won the three-year tender to supply.

The opening round of the GTP series will support the Fujitsu V8 Series at Wakefield Park on March 30-April 1.

■ Speaking of GTP, the category has confirmed its 2007 calendar. The

proposed round at Sandown has been dropped and the series will instead venture to Hidden Valley in Darwin.

Each team heading to the event will receive a travel subsidy from the Northern Territory Government for the trek north. Category organisers are negotiating with the promoters

to hold a 200-kilometre race, giving teams the chance to share the costs v/ith a second driver.

GTP hopes to hold another 200km

race at another round during the year, which would include refuelling.

8

motorsport news

NEWS

V8 SUPERCARS and the Seven Netwrork have

revealed the 70 percent increase in vieuring hours this season.

This year. Seven will broadcast 157V2 hours of V8 Supercars and support categories - the Fujitsu V8 Supercar Series, V8 Utes, Carrera Cup, GTP and Formula Ford - along with a dedicated television program focusing only on V8 Supercars.

The network has secured the broadcast television

rights to the Lexmark Indy 300 on the Gold’CSasf^

October, which means that the’Refwork%|^;hpur * telecast will featureVSs, Champ gans-antl supports.

JheTirRafnder of th^Chanfp'^r World Series will be broadcastai'Elfore on a delayed basis on

JJetyyork'fa

Seven's partnership with V8 Supercars starts this

Saturday with a one-hour profile of drivers and teams in this year's Championship.

"We are delighted to be back in the game,"Saul Shtein, Seven's Head of Sport, said.

"We have more hours as a starting point -

stretching across Saturdays and Sundays. We also have some innovations in our coverage that we will see in the opening round of the Championship and some others that we will roll-out as the season

unfolds. We're looking forward to giving fans the ride of their lives."

Early finishes at three events - Winton,

Queensland Raceway and Oran Park - will enable Seven to fit broadcasts in its AFL commitments,

while Round 5 of the Championship at Eastern Creek will stretch across three days, with the main races on the Queen's Birthday Monday.

The Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 will receive a record 20 hours of coverage over three days, while the Gold Coast Indy (12 hours), the Clipsal 500 (9 hours) and the Sandown 500 (8 hours) will receive

more coverage than ever before.

BJR calls on Caruso /

EXPECT to see Michael Caruso

line up with Team BOC in this year's endurance races.

The young Sydneysider, inset, made his Bathurst debut with

the team last year when he was recruited short notice to

repiace Mark Porter, who was fataily injured in an accident

during a Fujitsu Series race earlier in the weekend.

Caruso completed a few

laps in one of the team's cars at a ride day earlier this year, and will spend the season contesting the Fujitsu Series as part of the new Ford Rising Stars Racing outfit alongside Grant Denyer.Team BOC is still yet to finalise its second enduro driver.

Meanwhile, the team gave

its 2007 cars their first airing when Brad Jones and Andrew Jones took their Falcons

testing at Winton on Monday, right. vuww.mnews.com.au

;.imes Smith

9

THERE are fears that the loss of the V8

Supercar races in Melbourne will hit the corporate hospitality sales of the Australian Grand Prix, with reports saying that an internal Australian Grand Prix Corporation memo reckons that the cost of the absehce of the V8s

is around $4m when corporate sales

and gate receipts have been taken into account.

The organisation says that there is no formal estimate of any possible loss but has accepted that some of the corporate customers who are involved with the V8s have not bought hospitality packages this year.

■ The Grand Prix Manufacturers Association has lost Renault as one of its members. The French manufacturer

says that now that the FIA has voted for an advisory commission for the

major manufacturers in FI, there is a forum for discussion for GPMA

members and so there is no longer a need for an external organisation.

The news means that the GPMA now

has only BMW, Honda and MercedesBenz as members as Toyota and Ferrari have previously left. There may again one day be a need for a similar

Orange Crush THE Spyker FI team has unveiled its F8-VII design at Silverstone.The car is a development of the Midland Ml 6 but, since Mike Gascoyne's arrival in September, the team has been working on the next step forwards which it hopes to present in the middle of the year.

It seems that this will be a B-specification of the new car rather than a brand new model, but there are probably going to be changes to the chassis as newer monocoques emerge.

organisation but for the moment there

The F8-VII designation relates to Spyker's tradional numbering system with the 8 referring to the number of cylinders and the VII is the year of

seems little reason for it to exist.

manufacture.

-JOESAWARD

■ Renault sponsor ING is going

to have a major presence on the

trackside signage this year with plans for hoardings at no fewer than 15 of the 17 races, including the title

sponsorship of the Australian 6P. In addition to that the firm will

have signage at Sepang, Bahrain, Barcelona, Monaco, Canada, MagnyCours, Nurburgring, Hungary, Istanbul, Monza, Spa, Fuji and Shanghai.

■ The Renault Driver Development

Programme will have five drivers this year led by ART 6P2 racer Lucas di Grassi. He is joined by Remain

fi

Grosjean, 20, who will be racing with ASM in the Formula 3 Euroseries.

British racer Ben Hanley, 22, will be challenging for the title with Prema Powerteam. Frenchman Nelson

Panciatici, 18, will race in the French

and European Formula Renault 2000 series and Dani Clos joins the Formula 3 Euroseries Championship with the Signature team.

Jose Maria Lopez who had a disappointing year in GP2 in 2006, has been dropped.

-JOESAWARD

JO

SCUDERIAToro Rosso launched its new STR2 last week and confirmed thatTonio Liuzzi will remain as the lead driver in 2007.

We believe that Liuzzi will also be with the team in 2008 and that

at least another year before he is given the drive in 2007.

For his part, Liuzzi appears to have reached the conclusion that

car is down to the fact that team

staying where he is is probably the best idea, waiting to see what happens with Red Bull Racing, where David Coulthard is getting older each year and Adrian Newey

principal Gerhard Berger wants Speed to extend his contract by

has a car with Renault engines.

Speed's position is rather

the reason for the team's failure to

name Scott Speed in the second

different in that he knows that he

has less chance of being plucked from Scuderia Toro Rosso and

placed with RBR so does not want ' to tie himself down for too long, in case a better offer appears.

Being an American with FI racing experience is a valuable position to be in, and Speed may wish to remain flexible.

-JOESAWARD motorsportmiews

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/

Warming up the Spa WITH a revised track layout that is untried and untested at Spa Francorchamps in Belgium, Formula 1 teams will get a sneak peek before the race in September with a test in July.

The track has been undergoing major work in recent months and still needs to be officially cleared by the FlA.The teams want to discover the changes, particularly to Eau Rouge corner, before they go to Belgium for the race.

This is great news for the local authorities, which intend to use the FI test in the days after the British Grand Prix in July to make some cash, to publicise the event, and get some excitement going in the neighbourhood.

After many years as a once-a-year road circuit, work was finally completed in 2001 to turn Spa into a permanent facility, whereby it began to host tests as well as races.

It is a circuit built on a grand scale, however, and so having the necessary medical teams and marshals available, and the often uncertain weather in (he region, meant that the track never did get much testing trade and the track has been dogged by financial trouble for years.

This led to loss of the Belgian Grand Prix in 2006, but the locals once again invested and made the necessary changes to bring FI back again.

-JOE SAWARD www.mnews.com.au

- sutton-mages.com

11

Webb gets Ambrose BA THE double championship-winning BA Falcon

of Stone Brothers Racing will again be rolled

Matt back in matte black Zealand in the next A1 Grand Prix round at Durban in South Africa this

weekend, replacing Jonny Reid.

Halliday hasn't drivenfor the team

That leaves their Fujitsu V8 Series driver

out of the team's garage for the start of the

Jonathon Webb to drive the ex-Ambrose car for

2007 season.

Adelaide before he steps into the 2006 Ingall car

After being pressed back into service following James Courtney's accident at last year's season opening Clipsai 500 for a few

the Clipsai 500.

rounds, the former Pirtek Ford had been

KIWI Matt Halliday will return to the driver's seat of'Black Beauty'for New

introduction.

destined to become a museum piece.

But with a new BF Falcon coming for Russell Ingall, SBR is unwilling to debut the new machine at the car-crunching street circuit in Adelaide and have instead delayed its

that the 'Enforcer' will start this season with at

"After last year Idon't think we would take a new carto Adelaide again!"said Ross Stone.

"Russell will have a new car for, maybe. New Zealand and Jonathon will start in the old Ambrose chassis and move to Russell's current

car once the new car is ready."

-AARON NOONAN

since the Beijing race in November.

"He's had more experience than Jonny of street circuit racing but he's

been superb in supporting Jonny and the team and deserves this

opportunity,"said team seat holder

Colin Giltrap.

■ A three-car outfit from the Asian

F3 Championship will be on the grid for the Australian GP F3 support races.

Team Goddard will field Moreno

Soeprapto, Paul Ip and Asian series leader Henri Karjalainen.

■ Nelson Philippe looks like landing with Eric Bachelart's team in the Champ Car World Series.

The frenchman tested with

Conquest Racing at MSR Houston last week, as the team appeared for the first time since losing long-time sponsor Mi-Jack and part owner Mike Lanigan.

■ Speaking of the Conquest team, drug enforcement officers paid the team a visit last week to ask questions

pertainingto Bachelart's involvement with Dutch racer Charles Zwolsman, who drove for the team last year.

Zwolsman's father was arrested

last November for drug trafficking so officers ordered everyone out of the

Indianapolis race shop and searched

uml Frankie No THE pre-season Champ Car Atlantic testing schedule has put pay to Frankie Muniz's plans to race a Formula 3 car at next

month's Australian Grand Prix at Albert Park.

The child star was in

Motorsport contacted us on behalf of Frankie with a view to

having him contest the Australian Formula 3 Support races at Albert

Park, to help him gain experience in different cars and at different tracks as he works towards a

negotiations with BRM regarding leasing a drive for the Formula 3

professional racing career,"Team

support races at the AGP.

a statement.

BRM owner Bronte Bundle said in

However, an Atlantic test

Unfortunately the limited time

at Laguna Seca in the week preceding the Grand Prix has

between him arriving in Australia and the Grand Prix event itself

made it impossible for Muniz to fly to Australia with suitable

meant that it was impossible to get Frankie in a car to test before

preparation time.

the meeting.'

-ANDREWVAN LEEUWEN

"Eric Jensen from Jensen

Bachelart's home.

■ Dutchmen Jos Verstappen and Robert Doornbos are in the middle of

a tug of war for the second Forsythe

Guess where JB is spending Easter

Championship Racing seat.

The latter has a bigger budget and

FORMER Eastern Creek 12 Hour winner John Bowe

may bounce his countryman out of the way, though has a back-up in the form

will attempt to win his first

very different discipline to other forms of Australian motorsport, especially V8 Supercars,"said

Bathurst 12 Hour crown this

Bowe.

of Minardi Team USA, for which he has

year at Easter.

already tested. Doornbos is already signed to Red Bull Racing's FJ team as

Bowe will pair with Jack Elsegood and team owner Chris Delfsma in a Century 21

"The race is absolutely relevant to the motoring industry and deserves to grow in stature.

"The car Iwill be driving is a normal car you can buy out of

a test driver.

Hazelbrook-backed Falcon BF

■ Mexican Adrian Fernandez will

return to the NASCAR Busch Series

for the third year running in his homeland. The former Champ Car and IRL race winner will drive a Hendrick

Motorsports Chevrolet at the Mexico

City event on March 4.

12

XR8 for the race, which will be

the showroom. It is standard

held on Easter Sunday on April 8.

"I've previously won the 12-

everything and while Idon't

Hour race with Dick Johnson in

a Mazda RX-7 and think they are fantastic events. They require a

expect us to be an outright contender Ido hope to go well in outclass.

"Chris is new to racing and

● ●●

I'm hoping to be able to give the benefit of some of my experience to assist him with his career."

motorsport news

NEWS

/

Denyer to miss Clipsal, Winton FV8s ford's Rising Stars Racing has officially confirmed Michael Caruso and Grant Denyer to lead its two-car squad in the Fujitsu V8 Supercar Series, although

Denyer will be forced to miss not only round one in Adelaide but the Winton event as well.

A clash with the filming schedule for his new'Australia's GotTalent'showon Channel 7

has meant his place in the team's #77 Falcon will be filled by reserve and test driver Daniel Elliott.

However, MNews can reveal,

that Ford Performance Racing Technical Director Phil Keed will

■K'

OHEUk

■Acco:i)rerr

VA(TlONfl^‘‘

engineer the Denyer/Elliott car during the year as part of Ford's assistance to the newly-branded team.

"It's a bit of a shame, but

when I've got my first full time opportunity since Ileft

Sunrise, Ineed to give it my full commitment and prove I'm worthy of a prime-time slot," Denyer told MNews last week.

"It's sad, but I'll still get plenty of miles which hopefully make me an endurance race possibility for a team in the main series,

"it's an awesome platform for Daniel to take advantage of, Ijust hope he returns the keys and

when he hands it back!"

Denyer finished ninth at Bathurst last year in a Dick Johnson Racing Falcon with Alex Davison and also finished

ninth.in last year's Fujitsu Series after missing the Wakefield Park round - also due to a television commitment.

The team tested last week at

Oran Park, giving its ex-Larkham 'Motorsport BA Falcon a run with Denyer and Elliott sharing seat time and Caruso driving his own ex-Ingall SBR Falcon.

gives the car a cut and polish for

-AARON NOONAN

Testing times: FRSR tested anew driver and new coiour scheme at Oran Park iast week.

FasTAZ Racing CURRENT Victorian Formula

Ford 1600 Champion Taz

likely to have one more test day before the season-opener

Douglas will race a privately entered Mygale in this year's

at Adelaide next month.

Australian Formula Ford

he admitted.

Championship.

Douglas will step into the Mygale SJ06a that Dale Wood

"So I'll just suss it out first couple of rounds, then

took to two round wins in last

results later in the season."

year's championship.

The 22-year-old will prepare

level Formula Ford is Jonathon

the car himself, a process he is familiar with having run his Van Diemen in the state series.

"Now that I've got it all sorted, I'm very excited,"said Douglas.

"It's been a bit of a struggle getting to this stage, but we're

finally here."

Douglas was due to test the Mygale for the first time yesterday (Tuesday), and is only

"I'm going in a bit underdone,"

hopefully get some good Also stepping up from stateGrant, the 2006 Queensland

runner-up campaigning a Van Diemen RF06 for BF Racing.

The addition of Douglas and Grant takes the number

of entries for the opening round to 26, the highest since the Duratec engine was introduced at the beginning of last season.

-ANDREWVAN LEEUWEN,iff

.4 White at the front WOLLONGONG Performance Racing has unveiled a new sponsor on the eve of the team's full-time move into the Fuijtsu V8 Supercar Series.

The team's Commodore, to be driven by Damien White, will be backed by SELECTV, the country's newest digital subscription TV service.

After debuting in the season finale round at Phillip Island at the end of last year, the #85 ex-Morris car tested at Oran Park last week and will be engineered by former FPR/Britek engineer Des Conway. www.mnews.com.au

13

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Hi Mom and Dad! You know when I wrote you after Saturday's Busch race and said that life could not get any better? Well, I drove 500 miles on Sunday and things got a heck of a lot better. Your loving son, Kevin 4.00

5.00

2 7.00 8.00

9.00 10.01 11.00

12.00 1.00

YOU

James Couitney said he wanted to get his feet wet in V8 Supexcar racing last year.

Seems like the he felt .. .

ot:

at us ,a

kustx

lad liked what

of

not'

txoius 2.00

3.00 4.00

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taut.

gto

2007 FEBRl Thursday

Week 8 -053-31'

There are certain moments when

^ j motor racing seems like a bunch of fun. Then,

someone drives

5_( over your head in a kart

Fridc Week 8 ■ 054-3

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10 11 12

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it

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Saturday Week 8 ■ 055 «r

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V/hen drag racing is a drag . . .

Pro

Stock veteran Peter

Ridgeway had it all go wrong at

the WSID.

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27

28

April 2007 M

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W

2

I 1 Cup Car appoints new CEO

Doohan flies into Carrera Cup

THEO Psaros is the

new CEO of Carrera

Cup Australia.

Psaros, a former CEO of Queensland

Rugby Union Ltd, takes over from

Jamey Blaikie and his

5-

f

1

FORMER World Motorcycle Champion Mick Doohan will join the Australian Carrera Cup field

"I've been talking to Mick since towards the end of last year asking for some advice about racing

for 2007 - as a sponsor.

overseas because he's pretty involved in the scene over there,"

Doohan's Global Jet Services

first job is to lock down a title sponsor for the category that enters its fifth season this year.

Its television package has also been

company will sponsor the Paul Cruickshank Racing-run Porsche GTS of open-wheel racing convert Michael Trimble.

Global Jet is a recent business

locked in with live coverage on Channel 7 the main attraction - a first for any support category in recent years, in addition to live races and highlights shown within the V8 Supercar telecasts, Carrera Cup will also have its own dedicated 30-minute program to be

venture for Doohan, who owns

three Citation plans for private and corporate hire.

AARON NOONAN

seasons.

The venture into Carrera Cup is

Trimble told MNews.

Trimble's first-ever race in a sedan.

"It became soon evident that we wouldn't be able to do the British Formula 3 title so we decided to

After driving for Sonic in Formula Ford, the Gold Coaster has driven

Formula 3 for the past two seasons.

look domestically and it has just come about from there."

Trimble had his first test of the

Doohan is due to be trackside

this year for a number of the rounds. He hopes to be at the Clipsal 500 but is expected to be definitely on-hand for the

Porsche at Queensland Raceway in early February and had his second hit-out on Monday.

"I love the cars. They are

Grand Prix at Albert Park where the Porsches will race in a non

American's time in Australia late

much more enjoyable to drive

last year in Queensland.

championship event.

that Ithought they would be.

The company looked after Hollywood star Matthew McConaughey during the

post-produced.

particularly after stepping out of the Formula 3 open wheelers I've been driving for the last few

I,

f

-AARON NOONAN

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P039S8S5340 motorsport news

NEWS

Fitzy to step aside for MM

Jim waits on 2007 M noonan

6lS soLynoi lyj

m

I

MARCUS Marshall looks likely to return to Carrera Cup racing this

season driving for Peter Fitzgerald's team.

The Gold Coaster, who was replaced by John Bowe in the Glenfords/Paul Cruickshank Racing Falcon for 2007, intends to keep his eye in by driving in the all-Porsche category.

Fitzgerald, who last year celebrated his 30th anniversary of Porsche racing, had been looking since mid last year for a driver to take the reins, with Marshall testing the car at Phillip Island

yesterday (Tuesday) and due to have another drive on Friday.

It would be a return of sorts for Marshall, who raced in the inaugural season of the category in 2003 for the VIP Petfoods team.

"It's not a totally done deal as of yet, but there's no real reason why

it won't be," Marshall said on Monday.

"Fitzy has said for a while that when he stopped racing he would step aside and give someone else a go, and he has and that's great."

Marshall is also on the market for the endurance races and said

that scoring a full-time drive in Carrera Cup was vital.

"You really need to be racing something throughout the season and Carrera Cup has proven to be a good place for the V8 teams to see the potential endurance drivers in action."

-AARON NOONAN

FORMER Carrera Cup champion Jim Richards will wait right up until the last possible moment

before the opening round of the series in Adelaide to decide his

2007 plans in the category.

The inaugural champion in 2003, Richards told MNews on Monday that his team and car are all ready to go but the final decision on the make-up of the team is yet to come.

"It's all ready to go and I've offered someone a ride in the car

and they just have to come up with a little bit of money," said

through the year and the right

Richards.

let them have a drive.

MNews believes that the man is none other than former rival Alex

"I'm not totally against driving myself, but at the same time, if the right package came along, I'd

Davison.

The 2004 Carrera Cup champion

person came along, I'd probably

consider my options."

drove a Glenfords/PCR Porsche in

Richards finished sixth on the

last year's series, though has been

weekend in Rally Tasmania with long-time navigator Barry Oliver and the duo will compete in as

out of a ride as 2007 loomed.

Richards said that he won't

decide until right before Clipsal on what will happen.

"I might drive or Imight not.

If something happens halfway

many as eight more tarmac rallies this year. None of those events clash with any of the eight round Carrera Cup calendar.

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77

«1'

Green and m TEAM Australia's Will Power has

topped the timesheets in a twoday pre-season Champ Car test

i.

at MSR Houston.

The 2006 Rookie of the Year

only completed a handful of laps due to massive rainstorms on the

opening day, but clocked a new track record on the test circuit on ii

the second day with a 1 ml 0.040s lap to eclipse Graham Rahal's Newman/Haas'machine and new Red Bull PKV team signing Neel

i

Jani.

"The fact that we understand the car and how to make the car fast

is the most important thing we

got out of today, but it's nice to be fastest at the end of the day," said Power.

"I pretty much knew what I wanted to get out of the car and the crew did a great job getting it done."

Oz 1, France 0: Will Power, above, took Team Oz to the top of the times, while Sebastien Bourdais, right, was the closest to the Aussie's time.

by the team as driving alongside series champion Sebastien Bourdais, was less than a tenth of a second clear of Jani.

On the other hand, 2003 series

champ Paul Tracy had what he

New Team Australia signing Simon Pagenaud topped off a great day, clocking sixth fastest

RuSPORT ran Brit Justin Wilson

as well as Champ Car veteran Oriol Servia in their second car while

The Team Australia cars were

also among the few that did not

and therefore was not officially

MinardiTeam USA.

timed.

Pre-season testing for the Champ Car World Series will resume at Laguna Seca on March 7-10 with Spring Training and the opening round will be in Las Vegas on April 8.

develop the Panoz DPOl chassis.

use the Power-To-Pass button,

which provides extra horsepower,

during the two days of testing.

Rahal, who was four-tenths of a second slower than Power and

is yet to be formally confirmed

Bourdais was fourth fastest

ahead of former team-mate Bruno

Junqueira in the first of two Dale Coyne Racing cars - Katherine Legge drove the other.

I

V.

T3

separate story).

of my career' in a day where his fastest lap came after the chequered flag had been shown

for the test as teams continue to

m

time in addition to announcing his new race deal with the team (see

described as 'the worst test session

The Aussie completed 51 laps

'.r

Robert Doornbos again tested for

Just one more time HE just can't help himself - Michael Andretti will return to Indianapolis this year in a bid to score that elusive Indy 500 victory.

After finishing third last year and narrowly missing out on helping son Marco win on his first appearance in the Brickyard classic, the Andretti Green Racing co-owner will line up for his 16th start at Indy.

He will again drive a Dallara/Honda backed by Jim Beam.

"Last year when Ireturned, at first it was all about getting to race with Marco," Andretti said.

"Then, we both had a shot at winning it, and Iknew it would be very tough for me to walk away knowing that I'm still very capable of winning that race."

Team Australia goes French Atlantic Champ Pagenaud teams with Power REIGNING Champ Car Atlantic Champion Simon Pagenaud will Join Will Power in Team Australia's two-car Champ Car squad for this year's

The 44-year-old will make no other appearances in the IRL IndyCar Series this year, leaving his signings Tony Kanaan, Dario Franchitti, Danica Patrick and Andretti Jr to try and wrest back IRL IndyCar

domination from the Penske and Ganassi squads.

'* juior^ 1

series.

m

The Frenchman will drive the team's #15 Aussie Vineyards Panoz DPOl, replacing AlexTagiiani who will move back to Rocketsports Racing's single car operation. a t:

"With the new car and all the new changes, the Champ Car series is getting stronger and stronger. I'm very happy where Iam at this time and

onage

I'm ready to grow with the team and the series," said Pagenaud.

Pagenaud scored six podiums and one pole last year on his way to the Atlantic title.

18

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More Gain GIGI Gain's plans for the remainder of

the year are looking a little more solid, with the Italian confirming that he has secured further backing from Pirelli for Portugal and Argentina.

Galli announced his plans to contest an eight-round WRC prdgram for 2007 earlier this month, but at the time he only had Pirelli support for the events in Sweden and Norway.

Pirelli is delighted to underline its

support for Gigi over two more rallies,' said Mario Isola, Pirelli Competizioni's Rally Manager.

'We believe that on events such as

Portugal and Argentina, where Gigi was third last year in a Bozian Peugeot 307 WRC, he is more than capable of repeating his more recent exploits.'

Moving Ford PIRTEK Rally Team says that it is making good progress with the construction of a pair of world-first Super 2000 Ford Fiestas for this year's Australian Rally Championship.

Six weeks out from the opening round in Western Australia, the works Ford team has one Fiesta being

pieced together at the Melbourne workshop of Britek,

pianned entries in Sardinia, Greece,

which is running the team, while the second car is going through final fabrication updates.

Meanwhile, UK-based Mountune is completing the

Finland and New Zealand remains to

engines while the transmission package is being built by

be seen.

Sadav in France.

■ Ford's third WRC team, the allSouth American outfit Munchi's, had

months," said Chief Engineer Glenn Rees.

an eventful start to life on the world

in the world to undertake the Super 2000 exercise.This

Whether Pirelli's enthusiasm for Galli will be further extended for his

'It's been an extremely busy period over the last three

stage in Sweden when Argentine driver Juan Pablo Raies managed to incur a 15,000 euro fine and a four

minute time penalty - before the event had even started!

everything in our power to get two cars to the first event in Queensland."

Drivers Michael Guest and Darren Windus both

visited the workshop recently for seat fittings and team

stage.

has done so far," said Guest.

"The levy of a fine only would not the number of times the speed limit has been exceeded," said the FIA in a statement.

meetings.

Darren and Iwere very impressed with what the team To see the progress and actually sit in a car was very exciting. The good thing with the visit was we didn't have to make too many adjustments. The driving position was pretty much spot-on. As a driver it makes you feel a whole lot more comfortable when everything is tracking well.'

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We still have a lot on our plate, but we are doing

Raies was caught breaking the SOkmhspeed limit a whopping 29 times during recce, with 21 of the indescretions coming on a single

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New era: Guest and Windus tour the workshop, above, while the new Fiesta engine takes shape in

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motorsport news

RALLYING

Strategic alliance Orders scores a new car - and links up with Herridge WILL Orders and fellow Subaru privateer Dean Herridge have formed an alliance for this year's Australian Rally Championship.

The pair will compete as separate teams and handle their own sponsorship, but will otherwise combine resources to help make the

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The deal also effectively confirms Herridge's return to the ARC, thO Western Australian having earlier flagged hopes of securing a

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Meanwhile, Orders, below, gave his newly-acquired Subaru Impreza Group N car its first shakedown in central Victoria last week.

Orders has purchased the car formerly owned by Darren Windus, who has stepped up into the second factory-backed Pirtek Rally

Team Ford Fiesta.

"I have moved up in my seeding position for 2007, so Iwill be

higher up the order,"Orders said.

"My old Group A car was quick, but we worked out that it would be cheaper to just buy a Group N car than to update the old car to Group N spec.

"Being a Group N car it has less grunt at the top end compared to ..

the Group A, but the guys at Race Torque have built a great car and it feels fantastic. It's really well-built, and Iam confident that it will be a great car for the season." -

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Fine-tuning the ARC

DIRT CHAMP

RALLY South Australia has been moved back one week

heat to rejoin and score points.

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from its scheduled date.

two 'wildcard'gearbox changes during the year, which will allow them two opportunities

The shuffle means that the ■feurth round of the Australian

Rally.Championship will now be run on August 10-12.

The change is one of several that was introduced by ARCom

two weeks ago in an effort to improve the championship for both competitors and spectators.

Other tweaks include the introduction of a restart rule, which will allow drivers who

encountered problems during a www.mnews.coin.au

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to replace a gearbox without incurring a penalty.

Heat lengths can now be set between 90 and 120km, and

tyres have been capped at a maximum of 20 per event to

cater for the possibility of longer events.

Meanwhile, testing will be limited to eight hours per driver during the week of each event.

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f^ale wants all of DEI

y I

1 1

DALE Earnhardt Jr is looking for majority ownership in Dale Earnhardt Inc, the company started by his late father and

Yates to hand over RYR at end of2007

now owned 100 percent by his stepmother Teresa.

Earnhardt Jr, whose contract

runs out at the end of this year, met with newly-appointed President of DEI Global Operations Max Siegel for the first time recently.

"The money part doesn't bother

me. Ilike the team and how things are going, but my father has been gone for five or six years so Iwant AFTER 40 years in the sport which began when he worked at the famed Holman Moody Racing, veteran team owner Robert Yates, above left, is planning on handing over the reins of

RYR to his son Doug, above right, at the end of the year. Currently Doug heads up the company's engine company, Roush Yates Engines.

Yates Snr will continue to hold a 50

percent stake and, with the newlyannounced merger of Roush Racing and Fenway Sports Group, Roush will own 25 percent and Fenway the remaining quarter.

majority ownership,"said Jnr. He later admitted on one sports TV show that he's starting at the top and looking for 100 percent ownership, which generally is the key rule in negotiating.

However, if the sport's most

popular driver were to leave - no doubt with sponsor Budweiser and many associates - Dale Earnhardt Inc would be nothing but'incorporated'and surely

something Teresa could not afford to let happen.

-MARTIN D CLARK

■ NASCAR will use a smaller fuel cell and a different left side

tyre compound for the March 10/11 running of the Cup and Busch races at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

A 13-gallon fuel cell will be used (down from the roughly 17.5 gallon tank mandated this year) after a rule change lowered it from the previous 22-galion unit.

The changes come following the revamping and resurfacing of the track

/77B

that has increased the banking from 12 to 20 degrees and saw several cars wreck during separate Goodyear tyre and then NASCAR-sanctioned tests

where speeds were uncomfortable for most drivers.

The smaller fuel cell will see more

frequent pit stops, hopefully erasing any possible tyre-blistering issues.

■ While Dale Earnhardt Jr has

made his intentions known about

his future at DEI, the company has 'kept things in the family' by signing up Jeffrey Earnhardt, grandson of Dale and son of Kerry, to a long-term development contract. The 17-year-

'

old v/ill drive in the NASCAR Busch East

Series this year in addition to a Late Model.

■ Chevrolet teams will have a new

R07 V8 engine this year. The transition from the current SB2 motor to the new

one will begin in March.

-MARTIN D CLARK 22

moiorsportiniews

NASUR hands out huge penalties Waltrip's Toyota Camry confiscated, points and financial penalties dominate pre-Daytona headlines martjgdi dark TWO-TIME Daytona 500 champion Michael Waltrip, left, and his self-owned race team

received the biggest penalties in NASCAR history prior to the weekend's season opener when an illegal oxygen-producing gel was found in his Toyota's intake manifold during pre-qualifying inspection.

Waltrip was allowed to qualify with a second manifold, but his time was disallowed and he was

made to start at the rear of the

selkup I

wm

ROUSH Racing announced officially the sale of 50 percent of Roush Racing to Fenway Sports Group on February 14.

The new entity will now be known as Roush Fenway Racing

NASCAR confiscated his primary car and engine, forcing Waitrip to race his way into the 500 with the back-up machine.

Waltrip and his rookie signing

David Reutimann had to qualify or race their way into the 500, while

and Kasey Kahne's Evernham

been said.

back on in the team's debut with

Motorsports chief man Kenny Francis were both suspended for

of NASCAR that drivers have

Toyota.

four races and fined US$50,000 each with a loss of 50 driver and

started the season with a negative points tally and for Waltrip, it is a

hadn't done anything wrong," commented a dejected, but not ejected Waltrip.

"Everyday that went by it

owner points each.

serious embarrassment.

we plan on firing anyone until we know what happened, and we're aggressively trying to find out

- MARTIN D CLARK

docked another record 100 driver

with five in both NEXTEL Cup

and car owner points. www.mnews.com.au

It is the first time in the history

"Last Sunday (qualifying

and the Busch Series and three Craftsman Truck outfits.

Roush Fenway Racing will run 13 teams this year in NASCAR,

and beyond and nothing has

weekend) Iwas confident we

what happened."

Waltrip's crew chief David Hyder and team manager Bobby Kennedy were suspended indefinitely by NASCAR. Hyder was fined a record US$100,000 while Waltrip was

in the partnership.

Evernham is appealing the latter penalties as he used the

past champions provisional to fall

US$50 and $60 million.

John Henry, Fenway principal

maintains operational control

In separate incidents, four other crew chiefs were sent home.

centre drilled bolts last season

became more and more obvious

number is inaccurate, although

A little bit on the holey side: The Evernham Motorsport Dodges had hollow rear spoiler mounting bolts. NASCAR didn't think it was so good ...

Matt Kenseth's Roush Fenway Racing crew chief Robbie Reiser

to me that somebody pulled something off - or tried to, anyway.

"We haven't fired anyone nor do

team founder Jack Roush, left,

I

third driver Dale Jarrett had a

for a reputed sum between

and owner of the Boston Red Sox Baseball team, says the

I

field in his qualifying race in a back-up car.

Evernham's other two crew

chiefs - Rodney Childers for Scott Riggs and Josh Brown for Elliott Sadler - were suspended for two

Then to put the icing on the cake, Jeff Gordon's qualifying race winning Eiendriok Chev was found to be one inch too low on the

races each and docked 25 driver

rear due to a loose left rear shock

and owner points.

Kenseth's Ford had a plate missing inside the inner rear panels allowing air to pass through, while the Kahne Dodge had a hole taped off.

But the tape was cut in such a way that it opened up the hole when air passed onto the area.

The other Evernham Dodges of Riggs and Sadler had holes drilled

absorber mount.

in the centre of the rear spoilermounting bolts allowing air to escape from inside the boot.

The mount was apparently not aligned correctly in its serrations before the race. NASCAR supplies shocks to teams at the Daytona and Talladega races to level the playing field.

"It had the potential of being hazardous with the bolt being loose," said NASCAR's Robin Pemberton.

"We're sure this wasn't

intentional, it would be marginal at best if there was any advantage."

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OPINION ' «

The Importance of Sounding Earnest I

T was actually a relief to see

area, many think he and his team

the cars race at Daytona

should have been sent packing -

it. Obviously, this week has been

over the weekend after the

along with the cars of Matt Kenseth, Kasey Kahne, Elliott Sadler and

pretty mind-boggling when you look at the severity and the

Scott Riggs.

consequences that come along

turbulent pre-race activities.

It was pretty amazing that

, Michael Waltrip managed to race ' his way into the Daytona 500 after

NASCAR did barWaltrip's crew chief David Hyder and VP

and yet we still continue to see

motor mouth mth martin d dark

with that."

mncws nascar editor

NASCAR are quite obviously

an illegal oxygen-producing gel was found in his fuel system and his qualifying time was disallowed.

of competition Bobby Kennedy

enforcing zero tolerance toward

indefinitely, while they sent home the other crew chiefs for two to

teams that circumvent the rules.

Jimmie Johnson's crew chief was

NASCAR officials confiscated two intake manifolds, then his engine

four races (see news, page 23).

sent home prior to last year's 500,

Then, to put the icing on the

but such is the depth of the top

obviously, NASCAR is not going to

and, ultimately, his car. In a car that hadn't seen a lap on track since

running teams, Jimmie and the

turn a blind eye to that thought

January (when his rookie driver

cake of the Daytona'cheating' issues, Jeff Gordon's qualifying race winning Hendrick Chev was found

process in the future and, with its reputation at stake who can blame

David Reutimann drove it) two-

to be one inch too low on the

Hendrick organisation went on to win the race. So what good does it really do?

time 500 winner Waltrip finished

rear, due to a loose left rear shock

eighth in the 150-mile qualifying

absorber mount.

teams but, with all due respect to

Team Red Bull and Bill Davis Racing, Waltrip is the company's pin-up

boy. With 61 entries for 43 starting spots, he had to make it to the race.

been levied and 250 points have

and the money, but was told to

outed from the beach, but it didn't

s.

^mrn

begins.To many, it's like a daytime soap opera. But all the drama did was overshadow Tony Stewart's

hierarchy who wanted Waltrip

happen, probably out of respect for Toyota and Waltrip's sponsors.

stretchCup theteams rules as far as they Nextel routinely

●.i.

been deducted before the season

were some within the NASCAR

help but wonder how second-

something funny you don't get the

.V

has always come down hard. There

start at the rear of the 500.1 cannot

money?

"NASCAR continues to try and

«

that six team members have been

sent home, $250,000 in fines have

placed Kurt Busch feels about that; shouldn't it be a case of if you try

r

Some fans may enjoy the fact

ating back as far as the 1970s,

D fuel additives have been an

But was it necessary to take such cjesperate measures?

can, and with fuel being a sacred

them?

area in the past where NASCAR

This was an embarrassment;

country's GDP on its three Cup

with the'it ain't cheating unless you caught scenario'. But quite

NASCAR itself supplies shocks to teams at the Daytona and Talladega races to level the playing field. Gordon got to keep his win

race.

Yes, Toyota has spent a small

the rules in NASCAR, almost to the point where its been applauded

set a precedent to prevent it from happening," said Gordon. "The fines and penalties are more severe

*

Hyder was fined a record

wins in his Duel 150 and Budweiser Shoot Out.

One has to believe that sending

US$100,000 and the team docked 100 points. But when the race pays

teams home has to be NASCAR's

$200,000 plus for last place, and

But it's playing Devil's Advocate with a fine balancing act by taking sponsors out of races. If NASCAR is to gain recognition as a professional racing series - and not just a 'show'- it has to level the

you've got a $20million sponsor

on the side of your car, what's one hundred grand in real money to make NASCAR's biggest race?

There has always been a

next step in its war on cheaters.

t

Mud, Mu F you are looking for a news story every day, there is no doubt that Formula 1 testing is a godsend. There are cars running around and around and people opening and closing their mouths whenever they think there is a chance of a bit of publicity.

If this was a chemical experiment, one

I

fascinating predictions. But, after I was sent to a few tests, Ilearned that the one thing you cannot easily find out is what the teams are actually doing.

They will talk blithely about "aerodynamic mapping"or"experimenting with the gafferdazzler" but the truth is that they are not telling the truth. So all you can dots look at the shiny

And if you can find someone - anyone - who can answer that question, you are doing well.

Engineers all have opinions (some have rather a

could dissolve this substance called news in a

cars and have a few lunches. At the end of each

lot of them) but there is no definitive, scientific evidence in the way there is when the official qualifying sessions begin. Those results mean something.

The rest of the testing is there to mislead.

Some teams are trying for times. Others are not.

suitable solution and then boil it to see what the residue would be. The sad result would be

day, one knocks up a list of times and avoids making any judgement as to whether these

that the test tube would be pretty much empty.

The real news is minimal.The opinions are there, sure enough, but you have to hope that

Team people say contradictory things. Perhaps they are confused or - whisper it - perhaps

actually mean anything.

they are trying to push "the pressure" onto their

these are moving very swiftly from printing

Prost Grand Prix was banging in awesome pre-season times in order to impress sponsors

Do weIn recent really have idea?important No, not really. years,any a very element

who had no idea at all that they would be spending the rest of the year failing to impress

has been reliability and the consistency of lap

press to chip wrapping and that no-one ever goes back and reads them again because there is a very real danger that anything ieft behind in indestructibie eiectronic form wiii be there

Trusting the times is simply too dangerous, a

forever as evidence that the author was taiking

themselves.

The recent test in Barcelona was a case in

a load of old rubbish.

point. One day the Red Bull was a dog of a car

and Mark Webber's career was apparently in hen Iwas a younger and more gullible spring chicken of a reporter, Iused to religiously follow all the tests, trying to see who was quick and who was not.

And I would write learned articles making

W

rivals.

fact I learned painfully some years ago when

dire danger and the next day, David Coulthard set the fastest time and Webber looked to be

on course for the World Championship.

So what was the real story?

times and a lot of the analysis has been based on this - although it was, of course, dependent on tyres.

if

|d, Glorious Mud The important thing was to look at the 20lap runs rather than the one-lap wonders, as these gave a much better indication of likely race pace.

But even then, that could be misleading

So if you want to know who is going to be winning races in FI in 2007 - particularly in Melbourne -1 recommend finding a nice

muddy puddle and stirring it up with a stick.

Then peer into it for a long time and perhaps you will see something as the gunk settles.

because some of the teams were not playing it straight. No-one weighs the cars in testing

That will tell you about as much as we know at

and it makes no sense at all to put on all the

the moment,

best aerodynamic stuff because that simply means that the new ideas are seen and copied

before the rush of the FI season begins.

Half of the value of such an advantage is that it remains an advantage for as long as possible, so timing is essential. You don't bring out trick new aero widget with six weeks to go before the season begins. You bring it out in the final test, or perhaps even the first day

ut then, this is part of the excitement that

B is now building.

Ferrari, McLaren, Renault and BMW all seem

to be pretty well matched. But then again, the gap to Williams, Honda and Toyota is minimal

whistle past Ron Walker, his hair stands a little

and it may be that we will see one or more of these cars leap-frogging to the front. The Williams, despite the remarks of Webber, looks like a Toyota B team that is faster than the Toyota A Team. And the Honda is simply a

more on end than usual.

mystery.

of running in Australia, so that when the cars

The car does not seem to be on the

ultimate pace but there does not seem to be any panic at all in the Honda camp and one can only conclude that there is a fair bit of showmanship going on there.The team wants to make maximum impact this year (hence the new green livery, which will be unveiled in a few days) but it also wants - needs - results.

The best engineers in the business have pored over the data and concluded that at the moment, the McLaren has the edge but they say also that the difference is marginal.

Ferrari seems to be giving off vibes of a team that is not totally at peace with itself but every now and then, there is a quick lap to

One day, the Red Bull was a dog of

catch the attention. Renault has a weakness

a car and Mark Webber’s career

to maintain the pace and development and production. Red Bull seems to be like an on

was in danger.

The next day, David Coulthard set the fastest time and Webber looked to be on course for the World

Championship

wpWifTiiiTJvt.eajMiii

box seat with joe saward

of the driving front, so they say, and BMW will probably not be able to keep up because It does not have the industrial infrastructure

and off switch.

And there you have it: the definitive preview for the 20.07 season!

Clearer than mud.

’y'

!

0 *K''0

r:.

<*rt

'■■■ ■>

Bathurst drive, anyone?

I'D hate to be a V8 Supercar team owner right now who

account. That works against the hopefuls from Carrera Cup

doesn't have their endurance drivers locked down.

and Forraula Ford who have

On the face of things, there

rainiraal testing time to figure a V8 out.

remains that the talent pool

a red shirt working for Flpiden

is getting thinner by the years - and the signing of enduro

Motorsport's PR department but it's funny how life turns

drivers gets earlier and earlier to ensure teams get the best of

at MNews will be intertwined

out sometimes and my role

are still some quality seat^ up

It works to the advantage of

the best available.

with a move into the big, brave

for grabs but all of the regular

the Fujitsu V8 steerers, but the main game is always a different

Then there's the dilemma of sponsor pressures with separate

world of television where I've been entrusted vvith a

prospect.

car sponsors each wanting 'their'

microphone to call the V8

driver to drive 'their' car.

support racing on the Seven Network through V8 Supercars

suspects are either taken, retired from V8s (Jim Richards springs to mind) or have other commitments (Ryan Briscoe

As far as Ican see, there are

sorae plum rides up for grabs: alongside James Courtney at

The door remains open for

a hoie in terms of talent. The

race winning cars with two

a young gun to turn the V8 world on its ear with a big time performance in the enduros -

talent is there, but it would

great drivers.

be a fair bet to expect some surprising combinations come September at Sandown.

but the opening is getting

settle on?

and David Brabham).

Which leaves something of

With mileagejn V8 Supercars a high consideration, out and out speed has to be taken into

^

SBR, Steve Richards at FPR.Two

But who on earth will they It will be a shame if driver

smaller and smaller by the year.

On a personal note, I must say it's still something of a

selection simply comes down to picking the best of an

surprise to have ary byline back

unwanted bunch, but the fact

I've had sorae time away in

in MNews.

Television.

Those who know mein the

industry are aware that this was always a long-term career aspiration of mine, so to get the call up is a good feeling.

There's plenty Of great racing and good stories in the support paddock at a V8 Supercar round, so 2007 will be busy for sure.

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28

motorsport news

/

OPINION

^45? %

Learning the ropes and secure inside the top 35.

The second thing going on was really just my inexperience. I'd

rnOtOr mouth /

wiiK marcos

ambroie

nascilf busch series driver

WELL, I had my first race in the NASCAR Busch Series at Daytona

Daytona before,

and it was a quality field with

some pretty talented drivers. So I just wanted to make sure that did as many laps as Icould, stayed out of trouble, and learned as much

was to get off to a strong start to

So there were a few things going on. We would have been happy to finish the race Inside the top 20, and to finish 16th was

times to just stay out of trouble if something happened up at the front - which it did. We just ran laps for a while, and then with 30 laps to go we started to move

race you are guaranteed a start

We were racing pretty hard

if you are inside the top 35 in the

there with Paul Menard and Ward

points.

Burton, and they are talented

plan was to qualify the car with a

So we wanted to make sure that we gave ourselves some comfort

drivers, and we had Tony Stewart

race set-up. My team-mate, Jon Wood in the #47 car, was set up for qualifying lap and he spun out of the race on lap three. Iset it up for a race run, and within four

going into the next four races, and then we can sort of start racing for points and positions and be safe

behind us for a long time during the day, too. So we're racing in good company, holding our own, and learning all the time.

are looking for, and what you are trying to do.

All the races are tough, but some are tougher than others.

Daytona was a bit of a bogey track, a bit of a lottery, just from not knowing how things were going to run - it's easy to get caught up in someone else's

We were just very conservative.

We went to the back two or three

excellent.

trim. It just depends on what you

outcome.

as I could.

We had two or three things going on; we had the owner points - at the end of the fifth

was changing tyres on his car, and we were as happy as Larry in race

that if we'd been more aggressive in our strategy then we could have finished higher, but at the same time, considering my position, it was the perfect

last weekend, and all I wanted the season.

laps things were reversed - he

On one hand I'm actually a little frustrated, because Ithink

accident.

Imissed a couple over the weekend, which was good! But Iam just really pleased to get to the other side of it, get some

forward.

We started from 40th, but the

decent points, and then look forward to driving a bit freer at California and then having a redhot go on the road course in Mexico.

Small screen star:

Proof that Marcos Ambrose Is fast-building a profile in the United States is this official NASCAR television commercial.

In the commercial Ambrose is asked by a fan to sign an autograph, at which point souvenir shirts at a nearby merchandise stand start to sledge him, such as a Kevin

lL_

Harvick shirt calling him "the Australian turtle."

The clip can be viewed online at www.nascar. com/promos/daytona_tvads.

-if

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Five minutes with

●●●

STEVEN RICHARDS Richo is the highest profile V8 Supercar driver with a new ride for 2007. After his first day of testing in the Castrol Falcon, he was, he told us, just starting to find out what all the buttons do ●●●

MOTORSPORT NEWS: Among the top half dozen teams, you are the person who's upped stumps and moved teams. The wait to get into

the FPR car has been a long one, so how - physically - did you find it on day one?

STEVEN RICHARDS; Whenever

you go to a new team there's

just so much change - not only personnel, but in the car, getting everything to your liking. Realisticaily, the whole first morning is Just getting acclimatised. Imust admit, Ifelt a

bit at sea with the car, just working out where all the bells and whistles were and where all the functions for the dash. ^Castro!

This afternoon, once i'd put in quite a few laps, it all started to feel m ore like home.

it is early days, but you have crossed the red/blue line - any

Vi3 ■-■

I.

-early fundamental differences

^between last year's Holden and

can concentrate more on the detail

this year's Falcon?

stuff.

It really is a bit hard to say at this stage. As Isaid. I'm really just coming to terms with how the

team goes about changing the car, learning the language the team speaks in terms of car set-up and

/

Mark (Winterbottom) and Iwill

I was just flat out taking on board

where the basic stuff, like the brake balance adjusters were

terminology. I'm not there yet, but I'm getting there - my dialect is

- Richo gets used to his new life in a Falcon

starting to get a bit better!

probably swap cars tomorrow as well. There are small differences between the two so that'll be an

interesting gauge of how things are going.

Again, any things in the FPR car that you thought'hmmmm, that's

That is a crucial thing and it's not something you can pick up in a day. It does take time, but things

was a bit of a waste of time - you

about. It was about me and Phil

good'?

know what it's like for us blokes...

Keed working together, getting me used to the car. He was making

Oh ... a number of little things.

are starting to make sense ...

once!

some of the normal changes they'd make to the car in the

the track and all that will clarify

Apart from the verbal

The unofficial times suggest you

course of a weekend and Iwas

think about it.

communication, is the physical

were getting right onto the pace later in the day, so things must have settled reasonably quickly.

Yeah, they did. The fundamentals

providing some feedback.

I'm happy ... but there's still a long way to go.

are still understeer and oversteer and while the communication isn't

What then are your priorities on the second day [Tuesday]?

quick, to deliver quickly?

Idefinitely have an expectation

efficient yet, we can still fumble our way through. We had a better set of used tyres to put on at the end of the day and we did a time but, even in the middle of the day when it was quite hot, the times

Firstly a good night's sleep, after a good chat to the boys in the team.That should help things a

of my own. Because the team are

layout within the car that different from what you are used to?

Quite a bit. My brain is still

absorbing it ail. For example, we've just had a debrief and some of the

things we were talking about from early in the day are a bit fuzzy, because Iwas just flat out taking on board where the basic stuff, like brake balance adjusters were and how they worked; anti-roll bars the same. The basic things.

The debrief from this morning 30

can't focus on too many things at

were quite competitive.

But that's not what today was

But we've literally just come off

itself when Iget a minute to sit and Given that FPR was a team on top

of its game at the end of '06, do you feel any pressure to settle in

where they are, and because of the experience I've had, Idon't want to

little bit. But really, more of the

be a 'third wheel' come Adelaide.

same, more familiarisation. Each

That's the hard thing at the

time we go out, simply driving the car, knowing where everything is,

process. Between now and Clipsal,

becomes less of a factor and we

that's going to be the big factor.

moment - there's so much data to

motorsporinews

liij

0'

Fiveminutes with

●●●

KEVIN HARVICK Harvick had never won a race at Daytona until a last weekend. Wins in the Busch Series and the Nextel Cup opener coud hardly have been a better welcome to the sport for Shell. This is what he said after the 500 QUESTION: What's it feel like to win

race, and Iknew we had won the

the Daytona 500?

race, and Iguess Ijust didn't realise how excited Iwas. Ipunched the dang mirror out of the car. It just kind of hurt my hand a little bit.

Just over-excited, Iguess, Iknocked

KEVIN HARVICK; I'm cold right now.

They got me with the water there.

Ismell like Ihave a heavy alcohol problem. But it's just hard to put into words.

the mirror out.

Imean, we got ourselves in a little bit of trouble there with a

You were courted rather heavily to go over to Toyota, and you gave it a

hole in the nose and got really hot and had to drop out of the draft there with about 20 [laps] to go.

Luckily we got a caution and were

lot of thought before you decided to stay with Richard Childress. How

do you feel about your decision now you've won Daytona?

Well, it wasn't ail my decision. I

able to come back in and fix the front of the car.

Iknew I was going to be the bad

guy there at the end with Mark [Martin] leading. But we just held the pedal down and hoped for the best.

Is this the wildest finish or the

»

mean, it was our decision as a

group. We wanted to make sure

WeVe been extremely focused on

our racecars and let them do the

wiidest final 40 laps you have ever been involved in?

I know for me Itold them on the

talking for us - TWO FIRST PLACES AT DAYTONA SPEAKS PRETTY LOUDLY

radio, Isaid, 'i don't know what's

happening out here but I'm putting myself as close as Ican

to the wall so I'll hit something as ieast hard as possibie'. There at the end, peopie were dragging the walls.

The entire week has been all about

this cheating. Does a finish iike today's heip heal things a little bit?

think Ihit the back end ofthe#17, straightened him back out there, in the next to last caution. It was the

Ineeded to do, and that's what we

Goodwrench and Dale Earnhardt

change, and we had to move

conference]. Yesterday was your first win as a driver here. Can you just take us through what your

forward.

But winning is what makes the shadow less, and being successfui on the racetrack and making things

the issues that happened.

happen.That's what makes it iess.

But like isaid, winning is what

What did Richard [Childress] say to you today right after this win?

He just kept looking at me saying, 'Man, this is the Daytona 500, can

The new colours and sponsor are a chance to establish your own identity a little bit more and finally emerge from the shadows. How big a step is this win in doing that?

We've been extremely focused on

Knowing the history of Richard and RCR and everything that he's done in NASCAR racing, it's hard to put into words the history of RCR and how much they've meant to this sport. And to be part of that history is something that is just hard to put into perspective. And until we get further down the road, it's hard to put it all into words right now.

32

our race cars and let them do the

did.

This is the second straight day

take a little bit to get over some of

you believe it? It's the Daytona

me at RCR and feit iike that's what

that got RCR to the point that it is today.Things change and sponsors

wildest thing I've been a part of in a long time.

500'.

I've got a lot of friends and a lot

No matter what the colors, GM

and Richard, are aii the people

on the racetrack, it heips mend things. But Ithink it's still going to

You know, you have to follow

your heart and let it guide you sometimes and let things happen how they're supposed to happen. of loyal people that were behind

go on this week. You know, Ithink some of them were probably a

think any time there's a good race

We wanted to win races. Imean, that's what we wanted to do.

first race, and winning the Daytona 500, [it] is pretty big.

Weii, there has been a lot of things

Iknow Ihit the wall two or three little bit further than the rest of times there at the end of the race. I . us ever thought it would go. But I

that we were aii on the same page and puliing in the same direction.

it's ail about. And that's the best

way to create your own identity, is

you're in here [the winner's media

emotions were this weekend?

It's been a reaily calm week for us.

Like Isaid earlier, we've kind of tried to do our own deal and just really concentrate on getting our cars to handle.

to be successful. And we've been

It's pretty incredible, to be

fortunate to have some success

honest with you, to finally break

over the last couple years. We've won the Brickyard 400. But Idon't think there's anything that can

that wall down and then win two

days in a row, and then win the biggest race of the whole season.

match a Daytona 500 iri stock car racing.This is what it is, and this is as big as it gets, i'm just glad that

work that our guys have put in over the winter and over the past years

on our own agenda, and we felt like we really stuck to our agenda and our plan and did things as we

we're able to accomplish that.

to get to this point. I've probably

In Victory Lane you said something

have done good.

wanted to.

Shell and Pennzoil have been

about you thought you broke your wrist. Can you explain that a little

You know, it's been a lot of fun to be a part of this weekend.To

great to work with. And [with

bit?

win the Saturday and Sunday race

them] coming into the sport, [their]

Igot so excited at the end of the

just makes it that much sweeter.

talking for us. We've laid low this week and over the winter and just

really trying to do things kind of

It's a lot of fun. It's a lot of hard

screwed more of them up than I

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Something old: John Bowe on retirement (Page 44)

Something new: VE gets VEry close (Page 46)

Something borrowed: JeffGrech talks SCAR (Page 48)

Something blue: Falcon changes (Page 50) IE

V';

US PREVIEW

B3

is for Britek

YOU cannot help but be impressed with Britek Motorsport's situation this season.

Jason Bright heads'home'to his bespoke squad to join Alan Gurr, who will drive the team's second entry and there is a litany of international companies coming along for the ride. Fujitsu has been very patient waiting for Bright to return but it is the list of 'other'sponsors that impresses; IRWIN Tools, Caterpillar, Sonax, Delphi, Ford and so on. One only hopes that Brighty and Gurr do not have to do too many sponsor appearances.

Q is for Adelaide GET it wrong around the streets of Adelaide, and you

different matter. Getting the car

itself fixed might not be too big

will pay a heavy price.

a drama, but finding panels to

The combination of

temptingly fast corners,

put over the top of it could be another thing altogether. And

minimal run-off and lots of concrete means that mistakes

if ever there was a track that ate panels, it is Adelaide.

tend to be harshly punished.

An incident that might have

This might not be a concern

grass at Winton can easily

for the Ford teams, who are continuing with the BA/BF, but they have their own concerns

amount to an overnighter for

-especially the ones in

the mechanics at Clipsal.

Queensland.The championship

caused a bounce across the

But this year, ending the weekend in good shape is even more crucial because

the ramifications of a badly damaged car can extend way beyond starting the season with no points.

Bright may have parted with long-time engineer Phil Keed but Geoff Slater, who had a 'roving' role in the team last year, has stepped in to concentrate on the #25 entry, while former Subaru rally ace Greg Foletta will be on Gurr's car. So there is no lack of experience in the team.

is due in WA three weeks after

Adelaide, and the trip from Adelaide to the Gold Coast and then across to Perth is

long enough without having to factor a rebuild into the

equation too. Most teams have

Most of the Holden teams

spare cars, but having to wheel

will have brand-new VEs ready in time for Adelaide, but spares

them out for the second round

for the new Commodore are a

year that anyone has in mind.

is probably not the start to the

B is for Courtney HE may not have won a race or

round as many had suggested would occur in 2006, but there's no

r

D1

doubt that James Courtney is Stone

isforDJR

D is for Dick Johnson Racing, or as we should correctly refer to it in its 2007 guise, Jim Beam Racing.

The arrival of the bourbon giant

has helped bring the team back to

line-ball rather than put it heavily in the black, but the sheer good news alone that the oldest team

on the grid has a more solid base to build from is important.

Brothers Racing's 'go to' man this year.

He knows the tracks and looked

performances.

And our spies in Queensland report a much trimmer Stevie J at the team's launch a few weeks

back. While it has happened before only to go back the other way, if Johnson Jr can keep up his

off-track work rate, things aren't looking too bad in DJR world.

The fact that other teams were

Some of the results dragged out of their cars last year by

lining up to snatch Davison away late last year, should the DJR ship go under, speaks volumes of his

Steven Johnson and Will Davison

talent.

were simply brilliant, considering

very comfortable in his surroundings from mid season last year - and let's not forget - the guy is so talented in a race car in general that it's scary.

He put team-mate Ingall into the shade from mid season on with

stronger quali^ing performances and, given Russell's dramas with qualifying speed, there's nothing to suggest that won't continue.

Used to develop the new Ford D3 cylinder head last year, Courtney won't be a test bed this year, although the simple fact was that someone needed to do it last year, no matter who it was.

the lack of cash - and therefore

! : ■.

development.

,t-,— V — ^ t

■ 1

It's easy to overlook, but

Not afraid to rub a panel or three and now very much settled into the

category and the adaption to the driving style of Supercars, 'JC' is one of

Johnson finished ninth in the series last year.

the real contenders in 2007.

Virtually by stealth-like consistency, the big lad from the

Can Courtney take SBR back to the podium in regular fashion like the

■●I

Gold Coast didn't get a podium

finish but had plenty of top 10 www.mnews.cotn.au

N.

bloke who now races in NASCARs in America?

35

V8 PREVIEW

QisforEnZed IF you are from the Shakey Isles and love your V8 Supercars, you

have never had it so good, cuzzy.

The big-offseason move in black and silver land was the expected shift from Holden to Ford by Team Kiwi Racing. The news is great for Ford fans, with Paul Radisich, who showed some recent glimpses of speed in the underfunded Holden, now on board the ex-Jason Bright Falcon. The Rat has recovered from his Bathurst crash and can hardly wait to get his paws on the FPR-tended BF. But Holden fans are not to be disappointed, with Tasman Motorsport now taking the mantle of the 'unofficial' NZ Commodore outfit. With favourite son Greg Murphy joining Jason Richards, all red eyes from across the Tasman (and in Bondi) will be focused on the Tasmaniacs.

i

is for Great Race

f

SOMETHING to argue

Or is it? You only have to

over a beer: if you were

look at the mainstream media

given a choice, would you

coverage in the aftermath of

rather win Bathurst, or the

the race to see that a win at the mountain still resonates

championship?

Q is for Fantasy

Surfers Paradise after it.

about with your mates

The Great Race has been

part of the championship for almost a decade now, and there are some who think

that being absorbed into the

louder than anything else in the V8 Supercar championship - possibly even more than the

crown itself. And it's certainly not hard to find spectators

HERE'S a few things we here

at Phillip Island, Frosty needs

calendar has diluted some of

who can rattle off Bathurst

at MNews would like to see

to get his maiden solo round win out the way now. Courtney

its lustre.

winners from the past 30 years

needs to do likewise, while Will

drivers'CV than winning at

Davison would really benefit by winning a race or two this

Queensland Raceway, but at

during season 2007, but probably won't...

A driver's photo that only features people who are about to get in a race car and drive.

season. Same goes for Jason

the end of the day it earns the same amount of points.

And what about some biffo?

Richards - time to turn that

And where teams used to put

qualifying speed into a race win.

In October we'll be looking for two enduro-only drivers to

October in their diaries at the start of the year, we are

Let's get a real rivalry going, just like Marcos and Murph or Russell and Skaife.There was

an opportunity for a Lowndes/ Kelly stoush, but pesky sportsmanship got in the w/ay.

There's a few of the younger generation who we'd like to see get some results in 2007.

Having notched up a race win

win at Bathurst. Just imagine

it: Simonsen and Lyons win the Bathurst 1000. Classic.

And finally, we'd like to see

Sure it looks better on a

a large black circle around increasingly seeing a new approach whereas teams treat

it as just another round.

someone from V8SA use the

OK, there are differences there are two drivers in each

phrase'unexpectedly modest

car to worry about instead

crowd.'

of one, and the nature of the

race requires a completely different strategic approach.

But it comes back to the fact that Mt Panorama is another

opportunity to score points, TEAM Red is out of step.

Two Fridays ago, the Holden Racing Team's launch was postponed.

When Motorsport News enquired as to why, we were offered two different explanations; then a third. When it was rescheduled (to last Friday), we were told a fourth; at the launch itself, we got a fifth. Either HRT is having an unpredented run of bad luck or not everyone is on the same page and there is much confusion around.

To be blunt. Ford Performance Racing stopped acting like this two years ago, and the results started to happen. HRT has the talent, the

like Sandown before it and

but can't remember who won the title in 2005. '

And on the team front.

The Great Race offers an

unmatched opportunity to salvage something from a year. '

that, from a championship

f

perspective, could have been derailed by that stage in the

year. A Bathurst podium can certainly take the sting out of an otherwise hard season.

Whether Bathurst has

suffered from joining the championship is something you can debate amongst yourselves. But there is still no

race that any V8 driver would like to win more. And it's still

the one we fight the hardest over attending here in the MNews office.

resources, the budget and the drivers to mount a championship

assault. They need a chief - and only one of them. And they need one because the competition - which is really, really tough - all have theirs in place.

And then we will get what we want: a competitive Team Red. 36

motorsport news

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o

O K for Ingall THE 2005 champ was forced to hand back the #1 plate at the end of last year and saddles up again under the #9.

So is the Enforcer in danger of becoming the Enforced?

The critical numbers need to

be improved upon if he's to be counted as a serious title threat.

Prognostications THIS year is the 20th anniversary of Mark Skaife dehuting in the championship.

The Holden Racing Team driver debuted at Sandown's touring car round in 1987 in the two-litre Nissan Gazelle in which

he won the separate two-litre touring car title in the same year. Ah, memories!

■ Speaking ofrecords and stats, John

With qualifying so important in the main game now, we have -to analyse it before we look at Ingall's strong points.

He madejust four of last year's Shootouts and averaged a qualifying position of 13th which, no matter how well you race, makes winning or getting

struggled through a year where he hit the depths at Oran Park,

qualifying a nasty 23rd.

But we're not Russell bashers.

The guy still has plenty of form.

He makes good starts, races extremely well and doesn't get

involved in chaos and carnage.

He just sucks at qualifying, something he himself has admitted.

He is one of the few in

Supercar world to be good for a quote and remains a fan

favourite. It's too early to go

calling for blood or demanding he sit back on the Gold Coast

and leave the Caltex cockpit to another pilot.

onto the podium just about impossible.

Team-mate Courtney clearly

over at the end of the year,

got to grips with extracting pace from the sister Falcon from midway through '06, while Rusty

a must do in 2007 to see what unfolds ...

But with his current contract

monitoring R.Ingall is definitely

Bowe will become the new record holder

for most round starts in the championship come round two at Barbagallo in late

Js

March.

'JB' begins the year with 211 starts, one shy of the late Peter Brock.

Bowe debuted in the series in a turbo

is for Jim & Jack

THE bourbon war has begun.

Volvo in 1986 and has been a regular in the championship since 1988. He will achieve the mark in his 22nd year in the series. The next highest currently-active

A little over 12 months ago the world learned that Jack Daniels was replacing Castrol as the naming rights sponsor at Perkins Engineering, and at that time we speculated as to how long it would take for like

driver on the list is Mark Skaife with 187

And here we are with Jim Beam doing exactly that, with every possibility of further financial input from other brands of liquor in the

companies to jump aboard theVB Supercar train.

starts, which puts him sixth on the alltime list.

future.

That's why it's such a big deal when these big companies start throwing their cash at racing cars, because it makes others do likewise.

Look at Formula 1. Ciggies are a thing of the past and suddenly there's an influx of financial companies fighting over real estate. ING,

■ This year's championship will be the longest ever at 14 rounds.

It will also be the first time ever that

touring cars/V8 Supercars have not played

;

!

HSBC and Allianz are all on-board.

support to the Australian FI Grand Prix at

i

Then there's Vodafone, launching a major sponsorship program in V8 Supercars and Formula 1 simultaneously. Is it only a matter of time

either Adelaide or Alber.t Park, something

that dates irght back to the very first

until otherTelcos follow?

Adelaide GP in 1985. Dick Johnson won

-. ^

that race, in a Ford Mustang. So long

J

ago...

■> Team Kiwi Racing is saddling up for'

r

its first-ever V8 Supercar season in a Ford.

Ever since the team debuted at

Bathurst in 2000 it has campaigned solely Commodores.

The last time driver Paul Radisich drove

a Blue Oval machine he actually finished second to Marcos Ambrose in the 2004

season finale at Eastern Creek, driving in

his final appearance for the Triple Eight squad.

The Fujitsu V8 Supercar Series will return for its eighth year after debuting in 2000.

Hard to believe, but Ford has not been beaten in a round since Alan Gurr won

Wakefield Park's opening round in 2004 for the Smiths Trucks Commodore team.

x"

/

WE'VE never been in the

Leaving the Holden

position to find out for ourselves, but you would

connection to one side for

imagine that winning the V8 Supercar championship would put you into a fairly

a moment, the V8 Supercar audience seems to be fairly neutral towards Rick, which is odd considering that the guy

relaxed state of mind. When

racked up two Bathurst wins

we bump into Rick Kelly in Adelaide, we'll ask him.

and a title before he. was 24.

It's going to be interesting

neccessarily do all that he could to help his cause. He

to see how Rick settles into his

All that said, Kelly doesn't

the side of his Commodore -

has never made a secret of the fact that he is uncomfortable

and also, to see how the public responds to the new Champion.

with the promotional aspects of being a V8 Supercar driver,

season with the #1 plate on

even if he probably would like a higher profile. But as the reigning Champion, the demands for his services will be greater than ever in 2007.

How will the new Champion

be received by the public this year?That's entirely up to Rick. moiorsportnews

V8 PREVIEW

O is for Lowndes BE honest, all you hardcore Holden fans; do you actually hate Craig Lowndes?

Yes, he crossed the Great

Divide, but so have lots of

others. And yes, he finally has the weapon to beat some Holden heroes. But do you HATE him?

Even after finishing second last year, many rate Craig as the People's Champion. He is the boy from the 'burbs who is still the man most fans want

it because Vodafone has

already started leveraging their star, and Seven is sure to

follow. Don't be surprised to see Craig's backyard, Craig's recipes and Dancin'With Craig on a 42-inch plasma near you sometime this year...

The good news is that The

Artist Formerly Known as The Kid can back it up behind the wheel and, no matter what

happens, come out smiling.

Which is good, because we have seen him dance and it

to meet.

We better get used to

ain't pretty...

THE figures are different for 2007 and all in all, that's a good thing.

Paying points down to 15th is one of the better things V8 Supercars Australia has done in a long while.

It encourages those outside the 15 to have a crack late in a race in a bid to simply earn a few points, rather than running a major risk

of losing a small amount which the old system helped generate.

It also discourages teams from patching up cars that are running many laps down to simply finish and score a handful of points, which they really don't deserve for limping around in 420th.

The margins between points are far more rewarding for those who finish in the upper end, rather than simply finish - exactly how it should be.

Also in numbers land, all 14 rounds will count towards the 2007

championship.

13 is for Network Or to be totally correct, the Seven Network.

IS for Outgoings THIS is the column in the V8

Supercar teams' accounting books that everyone will be

keeping a very, very close eye on.

The 2007 marks the beginning

of the era oftheTREC (Total Racing Expenditure Cap), the new initiative introduced by TEGA as an attempt to force V8 teams to ij- keep their costs under control

and thus preserve the financial viability of the championship.

Whether it is actually going to

work depends upon whom you ask. There are some teams that

dream of having the maximum

good, hard look at their situation.

This could conceivably mean Job losses as teams trim down staff to fit under the TREC. But it

could also mean employing a lot of accountants and lawyers to search for loopholes or grey areas that could be ripe for exploitation.

There are some smart minds

behind the TREC including Ross Oakley, who was involved with successfully Introducing the salary cap to the AFL several years ago.

But motorsport is a very different world to a ball sport, and it is going to be interesting to see

allowed $6.75m to spend on a

how the TREC committee handles

two-car racing program this year,

some of the extra complexities.

We know that engineers and mechanics are covered by TREC. But are accounting and legal

others that can accommodate

the limit fairly easily, and a few mostly at the front of the grid who are going to have to have a www.mnews.com.au

expenses?

For all of the naysayers who predict doom and gloom and V8 Supercars being buried into

a late night timeslot, it ain't gonna happen.

From the pre-season adverts, it looks like Seven will be

Ten set the bar high and Murray Lomax, the EP of V8 Supercars TV, and his team have some new ideas to implement which will make tuning in

come Clipsal 500 time well worthwhile.

The signing of Neil Crompton was vital and while final airing

pushing the V8s and AFL barrow hard in 2007, which can only be a good thing.

The network is strong in its

times and the like should be

cross-promotion and that can only be a winner for V8s in a

It all sounds and looks good, which Tony Cochrane said it

released around the time we go to press, expect more live racing and more hours overall.

bid to establish some more

would. Damn, we hate it when

mainstream cred.

TC is right

I

V8 PREVIEW

s'-'

55^

Q is for Project Blueprint THERE have been a number of technical

changes during the off-season but the most telling are to the cars' aero kits.

For years, the aero differences between the Corhmodore and the Falcon have been

discussed'.The general opinion is-that there has been a slight edge in rear downforce for the Holden and slightly more'front'on the BA. Now, their BF uses the same front design as the VE and both cars' rear wings have the same profile, even if they are mounted differently.

With more high-speed braking than ever

before (at tracks like Bahrain) the timing of the 'equalisation'could hardly be better.

There are also changes to driver safety, with

f'

mandatory intrusion panels and the driver's position moved inboard.

i

*

R.

is for Rogeirs

ROGERS. Garry Rogers, to be precise.

You get the feeling that GRM is flying under the radar a bit at the moment. The team was starting to show some momentum towards the end of the season, not least because of the efforts of Dean Canto and Lee

Holdsworth.The young duo had a 18

n

HOCDEIU

surprisingly good 2006 season, and with that extra year of experience under their belts could bank some

handy results this year.

And even if they are way off the pace, look for a funky new silver livery to replace the blue/red on white scheme that Garry has been using since forever.

AT the end of 2005, it was

pretty obvious that Formula I needed a qualifying revamp.

The single-lap format was boring and slow, and it took an ingenious knock-out concept to get the punters back in front of the box for

that hour on Saturday arvo.

And now V8 Supercars is following suit.

This year we'll see an F1style knockout system, with all 31 cars taking to the track for a 15 minute session, the top 20 from that session staying out for a further 15 minutes, then the top 10 getting a final 15 minute session to go for the pole.

The good part is that we

i

should see some dark horses

in prime grid slots. At tracks such as Barbagallo Raceway and Symmons Plains where 40

the field is separated by almost nothing, a bonza lap from some of the better mid

fielders will see them through

s,

is for Skaife

to the top 10. Andi a missed

MARK Skaife has become V8

apex from the guns could see them sitting out after only a

Todd Kelly but mostly, Skaife has

Supercars'greatest enigma.

been the recipient. Some are self-

After five titles and five Bathurst

induced, some are the team and

quarterof an hour.

The other change is that the

wins, he shares the record for the

some, perhaps, are kharma.

Skaife will turn 40 in April and,

most ATCC/V8SCS rounds with

shoot-out will be shelved for

Peter Brock - and seven race wins

all rounds except Sandown

so far, no-one has really suggested

and four poles in 2006 shows that

that his days are numbered. But when racing drivers turn 40, the

and Bathurst, with the 2006

qualifying format retained for those meetings.

That's a good thing, because it allows the shoot-out to

return to being unique to the big races. And it's not as if we'll be missing masses of excitement, as the final

speed is not an issue. It's just that something is wrong.

There are bugs in the HRT

system. Sometimes, they affect

question appears on the radar.

For his part, Skaife has suggested that he will continue to drive until he no longer enjoys racing, it is hard to believe that a

man who sets such high standards for himself enjoyed finishing 18th in the 2006 championship.

If not for his ownership role

minutes of the third part of qualifying is going to pretty much a Top 10 shoot-out;

with HRT, the most obvious

but with traffic! Now that is

other drivers have; make a fresh

something to watch!

start with another team, regroup and start to win again ...

suggestion would be to do as

molorsporl news

I*

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^ id

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FOLLOWING on from the new qualifying format comes the issue of who is going to be in

that Top 10 at each meeting.

You can pretty much pencil in eight of those

spots. Holden and Ford both have two lead

teams; on the red side it's HRT and Toll, on the Ford side it's FPR and T8. So you can expect the octet of Skaife/Kelly/Kelly/Tander/Richards/

Frosty/Lowndes/Whincup to be in the final

The next to step up is likely to be James

Courtney; well liked by Ford, plenty of speed and

full support from SBR.That leaves 10th as the magical number.

Bright is an unknown in terms of car speed, but a well proven quantity in terms of raw

qualifying pace. He could well be the 10th.

Or will it be a real dark horse? Davison,

McConville, Canto are all possible candidates.

Watch this space.

session of qualy most of the time.

Prognostications WAVE goodbye to Pukekohe this year.

The track outside Auckland will have

its final V8 Supercar round this year after it was first introduced to the calendar in 2001.

Very much a Greg Murphy zone - the Murph has four round wins from six outings there - it's a shame to see the fast

layout disappear from the calendar. But pack your bags for Hamilton's street race

u,

in 2008.

i

■ Hat tricks are hard things to achieve in cricket, let alone in the V8 Siipercar

I

Series.

But Steven Richards has a golden chance to achieve one at Barbagallo

A

r

Raceway this year in Round 2. After two successive wins in a Perkins Holden, Richo will front up in an FPR Falcon as he aims at the treble.

The only bloke to ever go three-up in Perth was Craig Lowndes from 1998 to

\

f /

IN the poem of the same name by Alfred, Lord Tennyson, Ulysses, the King of Ithaca, has become dissatisfied with years of battling the Trojans and, approaching middle-age, questions his life as he tries to go home.

r,* /d 7

Vf

IS for Ulysses

t

2000.

■ Eastern Creek makes its return

to the V8 calendar in 2007 after being skipped by the Siipercars in '06.

If your mind needs refreshing, Craig

The modern term for that might be'mid-life crisis' (which is the reason Harley-Davidson sells so many motorcycles).

The average age of V8 Supercar drivers is plummeting but there are still some 40-somethings with something to say. As the season starts, only four drivers will have blown out 40th candles - Russell Ingall, Brad Jones, Paul Radisich and John Bowe- but they will be Joined in ^ April by Mark Skaife. / While JB has announced his intention to step down at the end of the season, and some are predicting that Ingall and The Rat will be making their plans, no-one has yet - publicly - put Skaife in that category.

Lowndes won in 2005 from Marcos

Ambrose and Greg Murphy.

Something a little different this year will be the fact that we'll be racing on the Queen's Birthday Monday holiday at

V.

is for VE Commodore

the Creek.

AN awful lot of Holden team

The Sandown 500 will celebrate its

members are going to roll up in Adelaide wondering whether they had an off-season at all.

40th running this September, Mark Skaife is due to notch up his 200th round start in

serious undertaking at the best

■ In terms of milestones, there are a

few to be reached this year.

Building a pair of new cars is a

the final round at Phillip Island, while HRT

of times, never mind trying to

team-mate Todd Kelly will hit 100 at Oran Park's eighth round.

build two of a brand-new model like the VE Commodore. Which is

■ Ford's new - albeit cosmetically -

teams - HRT,Toll/HSV and Jack

Falcon, the BF, has big shoes to fill.

The car it follows, the BA, became the most winning car in the history of the championship with 29 round wins, the

last of which was posted by Jason Bright in Bahrain last year.

The BA is ineligible in the main series

this year, though will form the hopes of Ford drivers in the Fujitsu Series.

precisely why only a handful of Daniel's Racing - will arrive at the Clipsal 500 with both of their replacements for the outgoing VZ ready for action.

Most other teams will have

one new car lining up alongside an older one, and will have

preliminary shakedown before packing the car off to the City of

the opening practice session.

Churches.

going to be the thing to have for

But not everybody; SuperCheap expects to have its first VE finished just in time for Clipsal, which means that Paul

Time will tell whether the VE is

the next few years in Supercars.

But for now, with spares still

thin on the ground and Ford going into battle with the quite

taken advantage of a two-day

Dumbrell's mount will turn a

useful BA Falcon, the scene is set

test at Winton to conduct a

wheel for the first time during

for an interesting initiation period. motorsportnews

V8 PREVIEW

is for X-Factor

Xe FEW people polarise opinion in the V8 Supercar paddock to the same extent as Tom Walksinshaw, but there is no argument that

1

NO, not that lame talent

quest that lasted one

since his company Walkinshaw Performance took the reigns at /

season, but the X-Factors

Clayton, the HRT and Toll/HSV cars have started going faster.

There is a conception that underTom's umbrella is a four-car team with two paint jobs, but is this true? Despite popular opinion the four cars are not identical at every race, and there is some of evidence of the two teams taking different routes in terms of strategy or philosophy.

Indeed, Toll/HSV was one of the most consistently strong teams in the entire championship last year, and regularly beat its red stablemate - which must have caused some furrowed brows deep within the Holden corridors.

are the unpredictable things that happen from time to time that can - maybedetermine championships.

And, after they happen, usually the image is so

image. Like ... Skaife's start at Bathurst. Rick hits wall during the Indy Shootout. Lowndes's comeback at Sandown. Drivethrough penalties, fair or not.

Briscoe at Sandown. Whincup at Bathurst. The list goes on.

There are a million

indelible that it takes on a

moments that happen during a season. The X-Factor ones

word or two to conjure the

are

why we all watch.

r

But Tom does have his own way of doing things. Shuffling his drivers between teams for the enduros last year was perhaps abiding by the letter of the rules rather than the spirit, and when the move effectively cost Garth Tander a shot at the championship there was a sentiment in some quarters that Walkinshaw got what he deserved.

Walkinshaw did have the last laugh when Rick Kelly came to the rescue and sealed the title at the final round, but even that raised

some hackles when it appeared that he was getting rather more help from the three other cars in the family than was warranted.

Walkinshaw is rarely far from the news, and now that he has the TREC to contend with in 2007, it's hard to see that changing.

AS covered in the U is for

Ulysses words, the average age of V8 Supercar drivers is dropping like a lead balloon.

A lot of that is due to

Larry Perkins. His promotion of junior stars Shane Price and Jack Perkins, both aged ■!

just 20, has taken the youth movement to a new level.

And then there's the mid-

20s brigade, encompassing the likes of James Courtney, Will Davison, Jamie Whincup, Lee Holdsworth and Dean

Canto. Oh yeah, and some bloke called Rick Kelly.

is for Zoolander YES. That's right. Derek Zoolander, the incredibly good looking male model played by Ben Stiller in the film of the same name.

Well, not really. We just struggled to think of something that started with'z'.

But have you seen the fashion sense some of your V8 Supercar stars have of late? Pit lane sometimes looks more like a cat walk sometimes!

Whether it be the crocodile skin shoes of Supercheap Auto signing Paul Dumbrell or his competitive partner in fashion crime Jason Richards’ hairstyles, there's plenty to poke fun at.

And don't get us started on Alan Gurr's fat white sunglasses or Murph's sideburns - when they are in season of course!

But we just want to know who will attempt to take on the afro record set a few years back by Cameron McLean.

Now THAT'S a challenge ...

43

i

One more time

with ,1.

feeling

After 35 years in the motor racing game, John Bowe is calling it quits at the end of the 2007 season.

He told ANDREW VAN LEEUWEN aU about retirement OTORSPORT NEWS: Your deal with

will rally around. Idon't expect to win any races,

What's in the pipeline for 2008?

Paul Cruickshank Racing for this year has been one of the worst kept secrets in motorsport...

but I'd like to move the team on a bit.

you didn't!

I'm going to try and do a few GT series races this year anyway, because Ilike the cars and Ilike the racing and Ithink it's got a lot of potential as a category. Idid a lot of Nations Cup racing and Ireally liked it. So I'm going to do that and see if it leads into next year.

I'll consider the Carrera Cup and I'm half interested in doing some Group N-type racing, because I've done some magazine tests and

out of a job with Murphy going to Tasman, and Ilike Andy, I've got a lot of time for him, so I

So what if you go out there, the car's on the

they're not too bad to drive. , Iguess I've got to concentrate on where/m

thought it would be a good thing to open up

you'll do one more year?

going at the moment, but I'm a fairly active kind of character and I've always got a few strings pulling.

M

JOHN BOWE: Ipersonally think we should have said something at the end of the year, because everyone knew about it anyway.

I've been contemplating stopping full-time V8 driving for a couple of years because we've had a pretty lean time when Iwas driving for Brad. Ithought Andy Jones was going to be

And then probably I'll stay involved with him and help a younger guy, and if we can raise the budget we'll run two cars, or a development car and a main game car. Ithink that's the way his business needs to go, and he agrees. Iknow a lot about racing and people, and after 35

years, you'd have to be a bit of a dickhead if

pace, you score some points. Any chance

an opportunity for him because otherwise, he

(Laughs) Idon't think so; you just look like a

wouldn't have one.

dill!

The PCR thing kind of came about later on in the equation, and I'd already resigned myself to the thought that Iwouldn't be racing this year.

Paul and Igo a long way back and we're friends, so the opportunity came along and I'm quite

You see Alan Jones retire too early, Jack Brabham says he retired too early, and everybody retires too early and then makes a comeback. Ialways said that when Istopped I

excited about it, more excited than I've been for a while.

What are your expectations for this year with PCR? They were starting to show some speed

would stop, so what I'm saying is that I'm not going to retire from motor racing. Idon't think I'll ever retire from motor racing, as long as I

can get something to drive, somehow, Ireckon I'll race until I'm 150, because I'll live that long!

Where are you going with the GT plans?

I'm going to drive in Adelaide as a one-off in

a Ferrari for Mark Coffey, and I've been having some talks with Lamborghini Australia because they've got a car that they think they can get.

Obviously the series has started so I'm not

going to do the series, but Ilike that style of racing; I'm a techno head without really knowing what I'm doing!

toward the end of last season ...

Yes they certainly got better. Paul's a good operator, by which Imean tying all the bits together. And he's got some good plans, long and short term. The car that Marcus [Marshall]

crashed at Bathurst is the car that I'll be driving, which has been repaired and it has had a real serious birthday. And he's bought some Triple 8

bits, which is good.

As for my expectations, Idon't know. I've

been around too long to make bold silly statements, so Idon't know what to expect.

From my point of view Ijust want to do a good job, and hopefully if Ido a good job, the team 44

After a couple of uncompetitive years, Bowe is leaving the BJR squad for greener pastures. motorsport news

V8 PREVIEW,

So what about some open-wheeler racing?

Idrove an open-wheeler for the first time old Brabham and it was so fantastic to drive.

Happy as Larry

You forget how pure and precise they are, whereas V8 Supercars, which is just glorified Touring Cars, they're fast and they're brutal

JB*s a Ford man through and through, but he did come pretty close to joining the red side

in ages at Speed on Tweed, it was a 36-year-

and spectacular and you can understand why people like them

But in the purity in the sense of driving

they're nothing like open-wheelers. Icouldn't believe how delicate' it was to drive, like you

jump on the brake pedal like you do' in a V8 Supercar and all the wheels stopped turning!

A lot of people have asked me, but Idon't think Iwant to race a Ralt. Iraced a Ralt back

then, and Ifreely admit that Iwouldn't drive it as well as Idid back then, so why would I? I'd like to race something Ihaven't raced before.

MOTORSPORT NEWS: How close to a deal

with Larry Perkins did you get?

JOHN BOWE: I was very close. It was more a moral issue than anything else. The deal

was a much better deal financially than I did with Paul, but Iwas so far down the

beat to be honest.

But there's more to it than having the car to beat. For me, this year it's about getting some satisfaction out of it.

line with Paul that he had all his sponsors convinced that this was what the team

should do and Ijust couldn't leave him in

That must have been a nice offer.

I was quite flattered. Larry's a terrific bloke

the lurch.

and some of the best races I've ever had

And I've done more races in one marque of car than anyone else, and that's a Ford

in my ife were against Larry, in terms of fairne; s in competition. He was always a very fa ir bloke to race against if you were

Will it be a sad day sitting on the grid at

obviously; more than Peter Brock ever

Yes. We had a meeting at Paul's place and all

in a Ford, so I couldn't quite get my head

Phillip Island in December?

around leaving them. Although I think the VE Commodore is going to be the car to

did in a Holden or Dick Johnson ever did

fair ba:ktq him.

So ill would have been interesting.

the sponsors were there and it kept coming up,'this is JBs last year.'And it kind of rocks me

every time Ihear it, because I'm not thinking like that. Ihaven t lost the hunger, or the desire, or the enthusiasm. And Iget up every morning vv

and go and train - this is a cliche because all

racing drivers say it, but I'm seriously fitter than I've ever been in my life.

But Ithink it's the right time; I'm no spring

chicken. V8s are like a war and there is some

/,■

talented young blokes coming through so it's

time for me to get involved in that, do some mentoring and that kind of stuff.

So I'm really grateful that firstly I've got the opportunity to do it like this, rather than just disappear, and I'm grateful that I've been able to do it this long. www.mnews.com.au

I u . l.-

45

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team could not wait to show the world their Billion Dollar Holden Commodore VE last

August, then the general's racing teams were, at the very least,

champing at the bit to get their hands on the V8 Supercar version.

The VE is, perhaps, the most significant V8 Supercar since

the first-generation cars hit the

tracks in 1992. It is not only a newgeneration Holden, it represents

which will be supplemented with a growing number of controlled

the new Project Blueprint-

items in the future, mean that the

specified method of building the cars around a purpose-designed floorpan.

The idea is, mainly, to stop the

VE is much quicker to build and

for many of the teams. The

old cars,"explained Toll/HSV team

cost spiral that has seen $250,000 Supercars turn into $500,000

unofficial 'prize'for building two

cars the quickest went to the Toll/

Supercars over the last few seasons.The new build guidelines.

HSV Dealer Team, which roaded its VEs in a Drive Day at Winton

manager Rob Crawford.)

That made it a busy four weeks at Clayton for the defending

repair than its ancestors.

Even so, it was a busy summer

almost two weeks ago.

(And, before any blue-eyed fans yell 'unofficial test!', the day was overseen by a TEGA observer.

"Unfortunately, we had to use the new cars because we sold our

double Champions.

V*

Be a part of the , jrYOieDHAMA

Australian Production Car GhlliplteH^S Eight rounds-Four states-Close sprint raCekChallenging endurance races

&

3

>y-'

JT

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i't.T

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Racing that isn't

The opportunity is here for you to race true Production Cars in the 2007 APCC as well as compete in t

12hrRACBl

Bathurst.

The season begins at Bathurst in Aprii and takes to the tracks of Phiilip Island, Qld R/way, Eastern Creek, Phillip Island, Mallala, Oran Park and finishes at Sandown in December.

This isgreatvaluefor a National Australian Championship with excellent TV coverage. Register NOW for the 2007 season Contact the PCAA for vehicle lists and other information regarding the 2007 Championship Garry Mennell Mob 0407 272 165 or go to wwvv.pcaa.com.au

46

motorsport news j

V8 SUPERCARS

VZ so we just allowed it all to fit."

Apart from the new model designation, there are differences in the cars'aero kits.

"The difference is that we have

lost a little downforce overall, and that has been matched to the

downforce on the Falcon. In the

aero tests at Woomera, it appeared to be status quo between the two teams."

Aero adjustability is equal to that of the VZ, but there are also

new safety regulations to be taken into account. Side intrusion panels DirkKIynsmith

on the driver's side front and rear

doors are mandatory now, though

"It was a much shorter build,"

the exit space is the same as the

says Crawford, above.

VZ's, built to FIA specification.

"We received the cars from

"The new regulations are not

Walkinshaw Performance mid-

a problem at all, with the new floorpan. We moved them over

January and, basically, had them finished at the end of last week.

When we got them, they had already been fitted with wiring

looms, painted and plumbed, so the guys had to fit the suspension, engine, drivetrain, all the exterior panels and details.

"It is pretty similar to building

the old VZ but the fabrication time is a lot shorter. That is something

that is helped by the way that the floorpan is."

(Walkinshaw's Dandenong-

based shop does the bodyshell preparation for the two Clayton

to the centre of the car as far as

we can and we put them back as far as we can. Our two drivers

basically sit in the same position and the little driver bits and pieces are exactly the same. Plus, they are both beanpoles, so fitting them

said Crawford."Initially, the drivers said that it feels pretty similar to a VZ, there were no problems, other than something with Garth's car

Motorsport [which uses Acott Racecraft] and SCAR, which

VE this season, there is also much

sources its shells from Dencar.)

With four cars coming from the same development team, even

page 50-51) and the blue oval teams will get their chance to come to grips with the new build regulations when the Orion takes

identical but Iknow that ours are," says Crawford.

"The suspension is the same as

mounting method on the VE is similar to last year's VZ. At the front, the splitter has been trimmed, right.

So, how did the cars perform with passengers aboard?

"I will tell you after we go testing!"

for a couple of hours."

While the spotlight falls on the

"I don't know if all the cars are

ons to both marques, which now share a rear wing chord, above. The

was no problem."

teams while other Holden outfits do their own, except for Tasman

if they are finished by different teams, they are identical, right?

Rarified Aero: There has been a rationalisation of the aerodynamic add

different in Ford's Falcon BF (see

shape later in the year, even if a racetrack debut is unlikely until 2009.

But for now, the VE certainly looks the business ...

There you are: Like all the drivers.

Rick Kelly, above, will be sitting closer to the centreline of the

car this year, in compliance with TEGA's new-for-2007 driver safety reguiatiorys. The Walkinshaw Commodores place the drivers back near the B-pillar; note the

length of the steering column extension, left. The cars had to be

I

I Safety First: The new side intrusion panels are mandatory. This is the front door ofHRT's VE, with the panel covered by a carbon fibre door skin. mnAi.mnews.com.au

treated carefully at first, below...

In a different red Once upon a time, Jeff Grech wore a red shirt at Clayton. He still wears a red one, but this time he is in Dandenong to turn around the fortunes of Supercheap Auto Racing. AARON NOONAN spoke to Grech as the team continues the race against time to have a VE Commodore on the Clipsal 500 grid

I

-tP This place and team has its own DNA and we want to build on that - GRECH ON HIS APPROACH TO JOINNG SCAR

T

HIS time 12 months ago, Jeff Grech was doing something he hadn't done in a very long

time.

He wasn't getting ready for

"You go through a bit of a break and I've been in it that long, that it's what Ithink Iknow the best

(motorsport).

"I was happy doing what Iwas

another V8 Supercar season; rather,

doing (away from racing). Ihad a

starting a small truck business.

little trucking company and Iloved it and istill do. It's still going - I've got a young guy in there who's doing a great job. He runs it and drives it. Idon't worry about it, all Iworry about now is trying to get

Fast forward a year and the man known as 'Hog' is back in a red shirt - but this time he's been entrusted with the future of PWR/

Supercheap Auto Racing.

So, the first question - why, after so many years, so many ups and downs, so many victories and successes, has Grech been lured

back to the V8 Supercar paddock?

"It wasn't planned,"Grech says.

"It was a by chance meeting and initially it was'maybe not'. I had a think about it and a talk to

(partner) Jane about it.

VEs built and go racing.

"I probably haven't had time to

sit down and ask myself'why am Idoing this again?'. Initially when Ispoke to Kees and Paul (Weel),

they wanted to try and build this team up to the next level.

"Not that it was at the low level,

but they had a pretty bad year with accidents and they thought I

may be able to bring something to

the table, and Ihope Ican.

"At the time of joining the team, there was VE, a new driver, some

personnel had followed Murph, so

it's been tumultuous for everyone,

not just Jeff Grech.

"The potential is great here but

there's a lot of road to cover. At

the same time we've brought a

lot of our departments in-house.

Our engine department is in here,

we do our own wiring now, but there's still work to go to build that

"Now I'm on another patch of

dirt and I'm going to treat it no differently. Anyone who comes near it - sledgehammer.

"But we're not the biggest patch on the grid.There's bigger patches than us so to earn the right to play at that level we have work to do.

"There's been a lot of money spent. But it's not all money. It's

based around personnel.

"The people come on top of the list, number two is the equipment

marriage between Grech and PWR

and number three is the driversin that order."

Grech talks of the DNA of the race team. But he doesn't talk

owner

about bringing what worked at

infrastructure up."

It's no secret that the new

Kees Weel seemed like an

odd one on paper.

After all. It had been Grech who was looking after the'red patch'

HRT across and implementing it at PWR. It doesn't work that way.

"I'm not going to be bringing

and Weel whose new move to

DNA from somewhere else. This

running Holdens from Clayton in

2003/2004 had pushed his team closer and closer to taking slices out of the Team Red pie.

"Well that was interesting

because before the (first) meeting with Kees Iwas wondering who

was going to bring the two

sledgehammersl"Grech laughs.

"It was an interesting first five

minutes but I'd like to think that when Itake on a challenge, I'm

loyal to the person or organisation.

place and team has its own DNA and we want to build on that."

But Grech isn't walking back in the door of a team that is riding the crest of a wave of successJn

the mould of the'glory years'at HRT.

The PWR team struggled in 2006 in the wake of on-track accidents,

Greg Murphy and other staff departing to Tasman Motorsport and a general lack of results.

There's a new face in Paul

"Yes, we were rivals. I'd been on

Dumbrell, a new VE Commodore

that same patch of dirt for 13 years

to be built before a second one comes on-stream and a lot of late

and it was dear to me and I'd gone

through a lot of ups and downs with the people on that same

nights still to be had.

patch.

helping the team go forward. I've

"If anyone got near it, you'd take

worked with Cam (McConville)

a big swipe at them.

"Both drivers are committed to

before but I'm new to Paul so motorsport news

i

k.

i

Shiil

>1 Oh, happy days: Grech greets MarkSkaife, above,

after victory for HRT at Phillip Island during the halycon days of the red team. At the same venue

last year, right, Grech pulled on a different red shirt for Supercheap Auto Racing.

there's a learning process for both of us there.'

But Grech likes what he

sees in the spirit of the crew at Dandenong.

"The guys work hard. When I came into this team at the very

end of last year there wasn't any dropped lips. Sure, they had had a tough year and burnt a lot of midnight oil fixing cars, but the

motivation levels were still there."

Getting the team's first VE Commodore to the grid at Clipsal will be a close-run thing.

■I It's likely that the final touches will be added in the garage in Adelaide before Dumbrell takes

the new baby onto the track for the first time in opening practice.

Certainly it's not the ideal scenario but it's the first step on the revival road for the team.

After 2006, things can only be upon the up for 2007.

But while it may seem that that's where the hard work ends

Grech knows that it's only just

beginning ... www.mnews.coffl.aiu

?rfray.

er equal new

fs less

Spot the difference It may not look a whole lot different, but Ford does have a new Falcon for season 2007.

ANDREW VAN LEEUWEN looks at the BF and how it will tackle the VE

w

FIY should Flolden have all the fun?

With the red side launching a whole new car - new platform,

new bodywork and ail that jazz-the incoming BF Falcon has been somewhat lost in the hype.

Not that it should be. After all, a Falcon in BA

form will be ineligible to take part in the main game from the Clipsal 500 onwards. While there will still be a hasndful of VZ Commodores

on the grid at Adelaide, the Falcons will be all new.

Of course there's a very plausible reason for that. The VE Commodore is a whole new car

while the BF is merely an update; a cosmetic update, mostly.

But that's not to suggest that the BF project isn't technically involved. The changes are aerodynamic, and crucial to levelling the playing field between the Fords and Floldens under Project Blueprint.

Ford's Racing Manager Ray Price explains the situation:

"The fundamental differences between BA 50

and BF are to do with the front spoiler, which can be noticed at some of the vehicle launches," he says.

"The nose is a bit shorter, and there's a slight modification to the grafting in of that. And side skirts, they're now similar to what Flolden has. Also there's a change to the rear bumper, with the angles and cut-out at the back being

balance between the Ford and the Holdep, which was covered in theTEGA testing,"says

modified."

from whichever end to achieve the net result,

Keed.

."They had a formula they wanted to achieve."

That formula will see both cars with less downforce for season 2007.

"Yes, it's likewise for the VE and the VZ.

Basically both cars had some downforce taken

The idea is that things will be equal between

which is slightly lower downforce car.The

the two marques, with both having a little less aero to induce a little more overtaking. This is good news for Ford, because the feeling around the paddock has always been that the

balance of both cars will therefore change.

"But it's very difficult to do comparative testing. IthinkTEGA do a good job, but it's still

Flolden has enjoyed a bit more high-speed grip

very difficult because there is a quite a lot of difference in the specifications that the teams

at the rear.That's handy, especially coming into

can run, and TEGA is only really able to fix

corners where you need to brake hard. The end of Conrod Straight at Bathurst, for example.

And more recently at Bahrain and Symmons

one specification when they do comparative

Plains.

be very equal."

Ford Performance Racing's Technical Director Phil Keed expects the playing field to be reasonably level under the BF/VE rules.

OK, so maybe there's more to this than just a cosmetic upgrade. According to Keed, the Ford teams genuinely have a new car to get on top

"It's all about a revaluation of the aero

testing.

"But as much as you can read into it they will

of in the BF. motorsporl news

1/8 PREVIEW

The most successful model In ATCC/V8

Supercar history. Notice how long the front splitter is and the straighter shape to the side skirts.

'We are hoping for a bit more adjustability with our aero package, which isn't a bad thing," Keed says,

brought more success to a single model than ever before in ATCC/V8 Supercar history.

"In fact, that's what the BA slightly lacked.

"Now we need to learn how the BF package

BA amassed three V8 Supercar titles (Marcos Ambrose in 2003 and 2004, Russell Ingall in 2005), a Bathurst 1000 crown (Craig Lowndes and Jamie Whincup last year), and 29 round

works, which is the big thing because we have no real opportunity to actually test it in

a proper anaiytical way. We pretty much just have to learn as we go to different tracks.

"These cars aren't incredibly aero dependant, not like a sportscar or an open-wheeler or

During its time as Ford's lead race car, the

wins, it's success wasn't limited to the main

series either, with the BA Falcon holding a perfect round-winning record in the Fujitsu Series since the start of the 2005 season.

something like that, but the aero still has an

"I think the BA came off a very controversial

impact, and any changes to that, the same as

platform in the AU and has provided some excellent results,"says Price.

"The car has been a good race car, it's had

changes to any other aspect of the car, take some time to learn.

"It'll affect each team in slightly different

ways."

But while Ford can busy themselves with the BF project, it's hard to ignore the VE whirlwind.

A fresh new look is aiways iikeiy to attract a bit

of attention, and while this is a parity formula with things set to be as even as ever, it must be daunting for the lads in blue to take on Holden's new baby.

"The VE has been packaged quite interestingly

with how they've fitted the car within the

Blueprint specifications," Ray Price adds.

"There's no doubt it will be a strong race car. as we expect them to take full advantage of the package they have. But our vehicle will not be anywhere behind them; we've had

some good results in testing and some good

data, and the mods to the aero will allow us to pick up some aspects of some circuits that we haven't been on top of in the past."

Thein theBF'smain integration meanscloses the endan oferathethatBA series, which www.mnews.com.au

some good drivers to take it round the track

and we've seen so many good results because of that. And overall it's done the job for us and we now look forward to what's next.

\Ne're already working our way through that; the vehicle make-up, the timing etc. We've still got a bit of work to do but we're working our way towards it.'

We are hoping for more adjustability with our aero - FPR tech guru Phil Keed is looking forward to the BF era

WORLD EXCLUSIVE

The Most Amazing FI EngineYou Never Saw In 2004, McLaren was a heartbeat away from unveiling an engine that would have changed the entire FI landscape -one that was designed and developed under a shroud of secrecy in Sydney. Then, at the last moment, the entire project vm sunk by a sudden change to the technical regulations.

MARKGLENDENNING explores the incredible story of the Bishop rotary valve FI engine

I

MAGINE this scenario: Ferrari

embarks upon a top-secret

program to develop a gearbox that will instantly render every other Formula 1 car a dinosaur.

It has the work done off-site,

partly because it does not have the technical expertise inside its own walls at Maranello, and also because it suits the need for discretion to have the work

undertaken by an engineering

headache of trying to get a rotary valve version to co-operate?

Well In a nutshell, the rotary

valve FI engine would have been more compact, much lighter, more powerful, more reliable and, by extension, less expensive.

Tony Wallis, who spearheaded the program at Bishop, explained the benefits.

"There are two issues you have got to look at that affect what

company located in a small street

happens in a Formula 1 situation,"

in a Johannesburg suburb.

And then, after several years of work, a sudden change in the

Wallis said.

regulations kills the program just as it was nearing completion.

Now, replace'Ferrari'and 'gearbox' with 'Mercedes-

llmor'and'engine'. And for Johannesburg, read Sydney.

Apart from one weekend every

March, Australia is accustomed ● to viewing FI from a distance,

particularly where technology is concerned.

Yet for seven years. North

Ryde-based company Bishop Innovation was very quietly

working on a program with llmor to develop a rotary valve engine for Formula 1 (see sidebar). Had a sudden ruling by the FIA in 2004 not led to the technology being

banned in FI, these engines would have been powering Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton around Albert Park this year.

The basic concept was not

new - rotary valve engines have been around for more than 100

years, although they had been

tarnished with a reputation for

being temperamental. And with their trusty poppet valve cousins

readily available and easily

understood, why bother with the 52

of the car, because there is less

bulk in the body of the car that the air has to clear.

"The other issue is power. On

both single-cylinder and VI0

engines, we ended up seeing that

that were designed to run at poppet valve speeds. [ED: By 2004, the engines were running at 18,500rpm].

"But if you'd said,'OK, we'll

design the engines to run much

the power outputs were pretty

faster' - because you can with a

much the same between the

rotary valve - then it would have

poppet valve VI0 and the rotary

had a clear advantage."

valve VI0.

"However, we were putting

rotary valves on bottom ends

hen Bishop began

w developing its rotary valve

"One of them is the packaging and weight.The V10 rotary valve was 16 kg lighter than the equivalent poppet valve engine and was the lightest three-litre

FI engine ever built. It weighed in at under 80kg. By comparison, the 2.4 litre V8 has a minimum

regulated weight of 95kg!

"As cars have to comply with a minimum weight limit, the savings cannot be used to reduce

the weight of the car. However it is extremely important from the point of view of where the centre

of gravity is on the vehicle.

"In the case of the rotary valve we had a huge advantage,

because we had a 16 kg weight saving that was all taken from the top of the motor. The saved weight could be run as ballast at the bottom of the car.

"So it had this double-whammy effect where the centre of gravity was lowered much more than you would have thought when first

considering it. That was a huge advantage.

"And the physical size of the engine was a lot smaller than conventional poppet valve engines. That gives you

advantages in the aerodynamics

What might have been: The valve drive train and

inlet tract arrangement in

the VI0 engine. motorsporlnews

INSIGHT,

Shell Needle Roller Bearing Face Seal

Exhaust Port

Face Seal

Drive Gear

Rotation policy: An exploded diagram of the FI rotary valve assembly, left, and a single-cylinder version of the engine being put

Shell Needle Roller Bearing Carbon Face Seal

Rotating Face

engine in 1987, the priorities were initially to prove that the technology worked, both to the designers themselves and to the

wider world. Once they were satisfied that they were on the right track, they needed to find a way to spread the message.

The stigma attached to rotary valve engines meant that mere

words were not going to do the trick; instead, they needed to find

“HP Every engine that was made was designed to go in the car. It wasn’t something that was just done to evaluate whether it was going to work.

- Mark Boxsell, who worked on the Bishop rotary valve FI engine project engine manufacturers. With one

an environment where the engine

exception, they all thought that

could be publicly pushed to

this technology would work but

absolute extremes and still come

not many of them were prepared

through in one piece. Formula

concept would work,"Wallis said.

to back it. We got llmor interested, but it took a long time - we really only got going with them in 1997.

"Under the agreement we had with them, they would supply

"Once we had demonstrated to

the bottom ends, which we didn't

One was the obvious answer.

"After we started in 1987, we had

a low budget prograim to see if this

through its paces on Bishop's 18,500rpm dynamometer in Sydney, above.

really want to have anything

the cylinder heads and doing the testing. All the stuff was developed on single-cylinder engines, and llmor had their own single-cylinder engines, so we were able to back-to-back test them both here and in the UK. I

think that by about 2000, we had about 10 percent more power on a back-to-back basis."

Mark Boxsell was involved

ourselves that the concept would work, we went to Europe and

to do with, and we would

in the electronics and engine

talked to all of the Formula One

be responsible for designing

management side of the project.

and recalled that the project was under such a veil of secrecy in its early stages that not even Mercedes Benz was aware of what

was going on.

"Mario Ilien [llmor's co-founder] would come out for the Grand Prix

in Melbourne, and visit us on the

way," said Boxsell.

"It was funny, when he first signed the contract, when he continued on page 54

Rotary Valve 101 A quick look at how the rotary valve engine works SO what exactly is a rotary valve engine, and how is it different to what is being

with a single rotating cylinder that is

used now?

port. As the cylinder spins, the relevant opening is exposed to the chamber at the appropriate time. Doing away with the long valves and cams allows the head assembly to be much more compact than

Well, from the piston down, a rotary valve and poppet valve engine is pretty similar.The difference is in the heads. On

a poppet valve engine, separate valves shaped like a long trumpet with a disc at the end are used to open and close the inlet and exhaust ports.The valves are pushed by valve stems, which in turn are activated by the cams.

Rotary valves engines have been devised in varying forms, but the Bishop version replaces the cams and valves www.mnews.com.au

bored out with both an exhaust and inlet

its poppet valve equivalent.

The other point worth making is that

a rotary valve engine is a very different beast to a rotary engine, the latter being an arrangement where the crankshaft remains stationary and the entire cylinder block spins around it.

- MARKGLENDENNING

53

continued from page 53

was with the guy from Mercedes Benz, they'd fly to Sydney and then stay in a hotel in North Ryde somewhere. And the Mercedes

guy was wondering why he was staying so far from the city and airport, and of course Mario wanted to be near Bishop!

"It was all super-secret, even within llmor. Not even the

Mercedes guys knew, at that stage, because it was still the preliminary investigation.

Unlocking the code ISHOP Innovations was far from being the only company to have attempted to nail down the problems peculiar to rotary valve engines. Where the Bishop engine deviated from history was in the fact that its solution actually worked.

Work on the technology began in the mid-1980s. Bishop's founder, Arthur Bishop, had built his company around variable ration (VR)

power steering technology, and this remains the company's bread and butter, with Bishop power steering systems to be found in

everything from road-going Jaguars to several different FI cars.

Bishop felt that some of the problems inherent in rotary valve engines could be addressed by adapting the technology that he had

developed for power steering.The main problem was creating an effective seal while maintaining reliability.

"The basic thing with a poppet valve is, when it seals, it is sitting

against a stationary seat, and you have got the cylinder pressure pushing it onto that seat,"Wallis explained.

"As long as the seat and the valve geometry are good, it's not going to leak. The problem with a rotary valve is that if you want engine that has got a high breathing capacity, you have got to have something that has a very long window. And if you have something with a long window, essentially the window is going to be rectangular in shape. The problem is, how do you seal a rectangle opening against

/

a rotating valve?

"It's addressing that problem which has really been the nub of the issue. There have been a lot of proposals around on making these

i windows round, so they use a shoe with piston ring seals to bear i against the valve. - the shoes is a separate component that goes i into the cylinder head. It's like a small piston with a window in the

Sealing the deal: The engine's gas sealing arrangement was a key to its success. Four seals adjacent to the window were preloaded against the valve periphery. It works in a similar way to piston rings but is

’

sliding velocity, allowing the use ofiarge windows.

centre of it. The window is very small in size and the valve opens very

, slowly. The breathing capacity is very limited. To have high breathing i capacity you need a very fast open rate, you have got to have a rectangular window.

"There is one other issue that occurs with rotary valves, and that

is that you've got the inlet and the exhaust port in the same valve,

[

I

which means that you have got to seal between the inlet port and the

;

exhaust port.

"You can't allow the free passage of air between the two, and that is really where the problems start. You've not only got to seal the valve * from the combustion chamber, you've also got to seal the valve ports

I from one another. That's really the thing where everyone got stuck on

i rotary valves.

; "What people have done in the past is that they designed sealing ■ systems to address both of these issues, and a typical example was to put a sleeve around the outside of the cylinder. That sleeve would be

{

I pre-loaded against the opening of the valve.

I "The problem with that was that during combustion, you've got one face seeing combustion temperatures that are something like 2500 degrees Celsius, and the opposite face seeing induction temperatures

i

which are down around ambient. So you get a very high tendency

54

never subjected to a reversal of direction and handles a constant

for the valves to thermally distort. And as soon as you put a valve in preloaded sleeve and it starts to distort, the valve will soon seize.

"The literature always said that you would have problems with gas sealing thermal distortion, and excessive valve-drive torque. Where Arthur's big step was, he said 'well, we actually don't need a perfect seal between the inlet and the exhaust. We can have a small amount of leakage between one and the other. The pressures between the two are small, so a small amount of leakage would probably be acceptable'.

"So what he proposed was to support the valve on bearings, and run a small clearance to the bore. So you might run to a clearance of 0.1 mm. That would allow the valve to thermally distort a little but without hitting anything. With a clearance of 0.1mm and pressures between those ports of only a fraction of a bar, the leakage across

them is going to be very small.

"So that was the original concept, and that is really why this

particular concept got up. We sidestepped all of those issues that

created the seizing right from the start."

-MARKGLENDENNING motorsport news

INSiGHT,

"The secrecy was just beyond belief. There was this little

embryonic development that was like Mario's little child, and

it was Just tinkering away in the background. At that stage, there were probably about six people in the whole world that knew about it."

Two different generations of three-litre VI Os were built; the first in 2002, which ran until 2003, and a successor that was under

development right up to the point

where the regulations changed.

The death blow came at a

particularly painful time - at the moment that the engine was made redundant, it was on the

verge of being installed into a car and taken onto a track.

"It was very close [to a track test]," said Boxsell.

"It was unbelievably close. The bottom ends that we used” were

a minor adaptation of the current poppet valve engine of that year.

So every engine that was made was designed to go into the car.

,

It wasn't something that was just done to evaluate whether it was

going to work.

"Each engine we did was signed off and could literally have been bolted into a McLaren the next

day. We ran it on the dyno with the Formula 1 airbox! These were

being prepared to go in the car."

The sky with was abrought crashing down directive from Paris. For some time there had

been whispers of an unscheduled change to the FI Technical Regulations, and when they came, the ramifications for Bishop and llmor were devastating.

Rule 5.1.5 of the engine

regulations was rewritten to

declare that only engines with reciprocating valves were permitted. But as the name

suggests, rotary valves are all

about rotation, not reciprocation.

It was over.

"That was a horrendous period,"

Boxsell said. "A very scary time."

"The whole thing happened in a period of about six months,"Wallis remembered.

"It started in the first quarter of 2004, that there were rumours

that changes were afoot. At the time, we didn't know specifically that it was the rotary valve. All these changes were being driven by other matters. Imean,

nobody really knew about the rotary valve at the time. But what ended up happening was, once the environment for change was established, the rotary valve continued on page 56 www.mnews.com.au

55

INSIGHT

*1

continued from page 55

Run 798 145

- 6000rpm

CA

became a casualty."

The FIA cited cost control as

Velocity

the reason for the change, which seems ironic when you consider that the vastly extended lifespan

150

1

125

of the rotary valve head assembly would have made it a cheaper

too

proposition than its poppet

valve equivalent that needs to

75

be replaced after every second race. Not surprisingly, the project is now a bittersweet memory for

50

those involved.

25

"Even if the rotary valve engine had produced the same power as the current engines, it would have

'

been a monumental achievement/'

(m

0

-1)

Boxsell remarked.

"Can you imagine the discussion that would have surrounded

that engine? It would have been in every magazine you could possibly imagine.

"I was there for seven years. I am 45 now. They say you peak in your late 30s in your profession, and to be honest that project

probably took the best years of my life. It was an absolutely bitter disappointment in the end that we didn't make it fly, because we moved heaven and earth on that

thing."

We were very upset about it," Wallis concurred.

"All the guys here had put in a huge effort for the last seven years,

the engine regulations until 2008.

Our objective was to get this thing

it was on the brink of success, and

onto the track before that and

the thing was Just blown away.

have a couple of seasons, at least, of running with it.

"There's no question that that technology would have been introduced. The regulations that existed at the end of 2003 ...

there wasn't really any mechanism for them to change until 2008.

The last time the FIA made engine regulation changes, they agreed with all the manufacturers that

there'd be no further changes to

"The galling thing is that despite the fact that it was mandated

that these regulations couldn't be changed prior to 2008, they were, arbitrarily, four years early.

"Looking back now, there is a lot of frustration over the fact that we

had a good strategy and it was derailed through no fault of our

Breaking barriers: Bishop Innovation's Tony Wallis, above left.

Go with the flow: A CFD image demonstrating the airflow through a cylinder, above.

own. And Iguess when a lot of people put so much of their life and effort into something like this and it vanishes before their eyes, they tend to get pretty upset!"

The here and now

/

TFtE FIA ruling may have ended the rotary valve's FI career, but work on the project continues at Bishop, albeit in a vastly reduced form.

"We have a tremendous amount of money invested in this technology, so we wouldn't abandon it,"Wallis said.

"The problem is that when you go along to try to promote this technology, people say that there is 100 years of failure, it can't work, and they are not interested.

"We thought that if we could demonstrate

it in Formula 1, then most of these paradigms that are getting in people's way will be dispersed by seeing these things out on the track. The problem is that the technology

didn't get out on the track! So we are back to the same old issues.

"And the other reason that we went to FI

was that it made our Job a little bit easier. We only had to worry about the things that were important to FI, like power and packaging.

So things like emissions were not an issue, and those areas clearly need to be addressed

rotary valve cylinder head can be up to 150mm shorter than the equivalent poppet valve engine. It has big advantages in breathing capacity, low weight, low valve drive torque, smoothness of operation and the ability to run very high compression ratios.

"So in a production sense, it has some very

before you can go into a production engine.

attractive features. Also, there are technical

"I mean, there are some huge advantages - one of the most impressive is the much smaller cylinder head height. A production

problems that need to be addressed, like the emission. It's not that they can't be addressed, it's Just that they need to be addressed.

56

Spot the difference: Compare the height of the Mercerdes 230 CLKproduction engine on

the right with the single-cylinder rotary valve equivalent on the left...

"Also, the current industry is highly capitalised, and the introduction of rotary valve technology would require significant new capital," - MARKGLENDENNING

motorsportnews

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WORL?RALLY CHAMPIONSftfP

9

I

roun<if- nor way

IVlikko |irvonenled home d kor

into oblivjon andJI\efe^a|^ion anywhei;^ ydu «ared to l^kiMly Norwa^rfSed in the Wd

sutton-images.coni

&utton-iinagc5.com

58

left. motorsportnews

WORLD RALLY ' «

s

WEDEN hinted that a

tantalising WRC season is on the cards, but the

Championship's first visit to Norway last weekend has blown things wide open.

The third round of the year produced the season's third different winner, with BP-Ford

driver Mikko Hirvonen leading every kilometre of the rally to beat team-mate Marcus Gronholm.

A gap of almost four minutes

spot was as emotional as it was

Manfred Stohl were made a lot easier when the Austrian's OMV

dramatic when Petter Solberg found himself locked in a scrap with his older brother Henning.

on the final stage of the rally and dropped to 12th.

Kronos Citroen Xsara stopped

Daniel Carlsson had an eventful

Petter was elevated into third

team boss Malcolm Wilson to instruct his drivers to hold station

the Norwegian conditions somewhat when nominating their tyre choice prior to the event, and now Petter found himself running out of long-studded tyres.

But Henning, 1 Os down the

Kronos Citroen had gone into the final day lying in ninth place, but he was steadily taking time out

the Norwegian snow and sliced a large chunk out of Flirvonen's lead.

It was not enough to change the result though, and the young Finn was able to keep enough of a gap to take the second WRC

victory of his career.

"It has been a fantastic rally,"

Flirvonen enthused."! rate this higher than Australia because we

were leading from the start and

position.The team had misjudged

positions, with Jan Kopecky being shuffled up to take the final point for eighth in his Skoda.

Also worthy of mention was 10th place for Andreas Mikkelsen.

The 17-year-old needed special dispensation to drive on the road sections as he is too young to legally be allowed on Norwegian

start line.

It allowed Petter to slice the gap down to just 8.6s at the first split of the stage, and when Henning arrived at the finish he was unsure

whether he'd managed to keep his brother at bay.

pragmatic in defeat.

what can you do?" he shrugged.

Flis pain was eased considerably by the fact that Sebastien Loeb

had been struck by a rare and chronic case of mortality. For the second time in as many rallies,

Loeb found himself in the unusual

position of having to own up to errors. Despite an array of small mistakes in Sweden he was still

The departure of Pons and and Stohl earned Carlsson two

had no such problem and steadily reeled the Impreza in. He caught the Subaru on the last day and had pulled out a lead of 16s going into the final stage, only to face a possible disaster by stalling on the

and Sebastien."

Gronholm, meanwhile, was

of Xavier Pons, only to watch Xavi fire off the road and struggle to get his car moving.

road in his Stobart Ford Focus,

were really fighting with Marcus

"It would be nice to win, but

Petter, however, was in no

doubt as to the result, running to the Ford, hauling his brother onto the car, and punching the air on Henning's behalf. For Henning, the news took a while to sink in.

roads! The task of covering the road sections normally falls to his co-driver, Ola Floepe.

After one visit to tarmac

and two trips to the snow, the WRC now prepares for its first encounter with gravel when the show moves to Mexico on March 9-11.

And with Loeb looking to recover from a rare slump in form,

"F-king hell, Istalled on the start

Subaru debuting its new Impreza

line!"he repeated."F-king hell!"

Flenning's third place gave Ford a 1-2-3, the first time a marque has dominated a podium since Citroen's performance at Monte

WRC07, and Ford keen to build

upon its earlyradvantage, there is going to be plenty to watch.

RESUbl 5 RALLY NORWAY

able to salvage a podium, but Norway was less forgiving.

He got away with a trip into a

that Ford has managed it since 1979. Rally Norway was a great

1

snow bank on the first day, and

one for statisticians ...

2

but when he did it again a short

time later he was less lucky.The Citroen C4 became stuck in snow,

and with no spectators around to help dig it out, he lost eight minutes and a lot of positions before getting going again. He'd been in third at the time.

Loeb gradually recovered and was chasing the final point on offer for eighth place when, once again, he slid off the road. He eventually finished in 13th, and picked up one Manufacturers'

point. For a guy that has finished in the top three at every rally since Australia in 2005, it was unfamiliar territory. www.ninews.com.aii

Galli's efforts to take sixth from

The battle for the final podium

Subaru was in a far from secure

made a better stud choice for

P

things that can happen when the fight is fierce."

over the pursuing cars early on the final day prompted BP Ford

situation had been different on

m

Matti Latvala in his Stobart Ford

was rewarded with his first stage win and fifth place, while Gigi

"As for Seb, these are the sorts of

drive to seventh. The Swede's

the second day when Gronholm

1

10, there was something worth watching. A strong drive from Jari-

place when Loeb went off, but the

and cruise to the finish, but the

'K T"- -

"We've had better days,"said Citroen team principal Guy Frequelin dryly.

Carlo in 2003, and the first time

^ Mikko Hirvon^ Fin Jarmo Lehtinen

3:28:17.0

Marcus-SrSa&giY.. Rn

Ford Focus

Timo Rautianen

hris Atkinson spent a good

part of the rally simply trying to gain experience on snow after running into a snow bank on the second day and dropping well out

3

morning we would have been in the points," he said.

"I have struggled a bit with my confidence this weekend compared to Sweden; Ihaven't

been able to get the same feeling with the car."

Anywhere you looked in the top

Fin

3:32:01.6

Petter So] ISyL . Nor

Subaru Impreza

Phil Mills

6

although there is no doubt that without the mistake on Saturday

3:28:26.5 Ford Focus

5

of contention.

"It has been a tough rally for us,

Fin

HennjnjjSjEijto Cato Menkerud

4

7

8

Ford Focus

Fin

GB

3:32:18.1

Jit,Fin

Ford Focus

_ 3:33:47.7

MikkaAnttila

Fin

GigkGaDlijjS

Ita

Citroen Xsara

G. Bernacchini

Ita

_ 3:35:22.2

Daniel CarissoS Swe Denis Giraudet

F

Jan Kopej'iSit Filip Scliovanek

cz

Citroen Xsara

_ 3:37:40.7 Skoda Fabia

Cz

3:40:06.9

(hlwn l\)lnls. Cionholm 24, Hiivonen 20, Loeb 18, H. 'Wlmij 11, Sotdo 8, P. Solberg 8, Atkinson 6, Catlsson 6, GJidtnielslcrS.LaivaKi 4, Galli 3, Stohl 2, Kopecky 1.

Manufacturers'Points: BP-Ford 44, Citroen 28, StobartFord 16, Subaru 15, OMV Kronos Citroen 14.

59

WOljLD RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP round 2 - Sweden

M

ARCUS Gronholm

squared the ledger at Rally Sweden two weeks ago, responding to

was nevertheless encouraged by

and looped his Focus on the same

by our pace. We chose the right

the new Citroen C4's performance

stage.

strategy of making a cautious start, and what happened was just one of those unfortunate things."

in its first snow outing.

"With a new car, we were

Chris Atkinson had an eventful

Sebastien Loeb's win at the

essentially starting with a clean

season-opener in Monte Carlo

sheet," he said.

with a comfortable victory in the

"I was eager to see how the C4 performed in these conditions

weekend. A slow and steady approach to the rally looked like it was going to pay dividends when he found his Subaru sitting in fifth place and chasing Daniel

and Ihave to say Iam delighted

Carlsson's Kronos Citroen Xsara

Swedish snow.

With 11 wins from the 20 stages, Gronholm's win came with relative

with the times.The difference

late in the rally, but that came

ease. Having set the pace early on, the Finn continued to push out

between the set-up for snow and gravel is not all that big, so Idon't

undone with a small error on SSI 8.

his lead until late in the second

think we should be too far out of

day when, with the gap out to a

our depth on the coming rounds."

Mikko Hirvonen picked up the final podium place on offer, but the young Ford driver was made

minute, Loeb conceded defeat.

With his main threat having eased off the throttle, Gronholm

was able to play it safe and take a

risk-free approach to the final day.

He crossed the finish line with a

wining margin of 55s.

"It was a perfect weekend, with no problems from the car or my driving,"Gronholm smiled.

"It's my fifth win here, and that's an achievement Iam proud of."

Loeb may have had no answer for the pace of Gronholm, but he

60

Conditions had turned tricky late in the event, with patches of snow and ice melting to leave exposed gravel in braking zones.

Atkinson was one of those caught

to work for it. Mitsubishi's Toni Gardemeisterand Stobart-Ford

out, sliding off the road and into a ditch. The slip-up damaged the left-rear corner of his Impreza

driver Henning Solberg were both making life difficult for the young Finn before luck played its hand against each of them.

snow. Despite bent suspension, he was able to finish the stage and complete the rally, but the

Driveshaft problems on Gardemeister's car forced him to

and filled the radiator with

mistake cost him almost a minute.

"The mistake was disappointing,

complete the penultimate stage

because we were on track for

with only rear-wheel-drive, while

three more points," he rued.

Solberg was blinded by the sun

"But we've been encouraged

It wasn't the outcome that

Subaru wanted, but the faces

were even longer around team mate Petter Sol berg's camp. The Norwegian had shown good pace

early on the opening leg and for a while, appeared to have the pace to cause some problems for Gronholm, but it all came to an

end on the second leg.

Solberg was sitting in third place when he slid into a ditch on the second stage.The car was undamaged, but even an army of enthusiastic spectators were unable to get the car back onto the road quickly enough to salvage Solberg's weekend.

By the time he got going again he had dropped a full 14 minutes, and after completing a couple more stages the decision was made to withdraw him from the

event and save the car for Norway.

molorsport news

WORLD RALLY

With the Subarus out of the way, Carlsson was freed up to finish a comfortable fifth behind Henning Solberg, but the battle just behind him was a little more exciting.

Gardemeister was trying to rescue a result for the weekend after his

driveshaft problems, however he had the Kronos Citroen of Manfred Stohl to contend with.

Happily for Gardemeister the

problem soon took care of itself; Stohl losing time’to a spin and a bad choice of tyre studs.

Stobart-Ford team-mates Jari-Matti Latvala and Matthew

. 1.

Wilson were both forced onto the

sidelines on the final day when the icy temperatures froze the engine breather pipes, causing a

/ ]

I-

V

pressure build-up that caused oil spills.

Xavi Pons exited the rally on the

second day when his Mitsubishi's engine filled with snow, while Gigi Gall! (Peugeot) and Citroen's Dani Sordo both fell out of contention

Citroen Sport

through early spins.

I see Ice:

A bad tyre choice left Sebastien Loeb, above, with no chance

of closing the gap to Marcus Grdnholm, main pic, allowing the Finn to cruise home for yet another Swedish title.

Podium Man:

Another third place was Hirvonen's reward, below, while his Monte adversary Chris

Atkinson, left, was disappointed

to grab only one point for eighth.

Still, one of these guys grew up on the Gold Coast and the other is a Finn...

sutton-images.com

.-It

RESUIIil]g RALLY SWEDEN 1

2

3

4

5

MarcU®iailiijih-'Fin

Ford Focus

Timo Rautianen

Fin

3:08:40.7

Sebastiell

F

Citroen C4WRC

Daniel Elena

Mon

3:09:34.5

Mikbffllaaiii Fin

Ford Focus

Jarmo Lehtinen

Fin

3:10:22.2

Henning,!!'tei.Hpr

Ford Focus

Cato Menkerud

Fin

3:10:50.5

Daniel CarT^2o;. Swe

Citroen Xsara

Denis Giraudet 6

FA .

ToniGafiij

F

3:12:18.5

Fin

Mitsubishi Lancer

Jakke Honkanen

Fin

3:12:34.9

7

Manfred!Sli;

Aut

Citroen Xsara

Ilka Minor

Aut

3:13:53.2

8

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67

500 miles and 0.02 seconds /

martin d Clark

for Ginn Racing in the twilight of his career, he would have been the sentimental favourite to win.

K

EVIN Harvick won a wild

"We saw him up there,"said

Daytona 500 on Sunday,

Martin of Harvick.

making a move from sixth

"We were just doing everything

drafting past Mark Martin for the lead as they crossed the finish

we could, you know. It was the Daytona 500, man! Igave it what I could, but Ijust didn't get it done."

The race was reasonably

line.

calm until the sun started to

position on the final lap in a

green/white chequer finish and

Matt Kenseth and Kenseth just pushed the hell out of me there,"

set. Second-placed Kurt Busch rode up into leader and pre-race favourite Tony Stewart on lap 154

remarked Harvick, whose previous

of 200.

"I had Jeff Burton behind

best 500 finish was fourth.

"I bumped the Stewart car and

"I didn't know I'd won, I'd got

we were both taken out of the

so excited Ipunched the mirror. I

Daytona 500 off of my mistake,"

think Ibroke my damn hand!

said Busch.

"I was so excited when I came

across the start finish line Ididn't know what to do. We had to

take a chance and we got some

the heavy hitters out of the race in

attempt.

Now running a limited schedule

62

in flames but emerged unscathed, pictured below.

Juan Pablo Montoya's second Nextel Cup race saw him finish

missed every wreck, [it] was good, "it started really bad. We were

really tight and struggling, the car was so bad. We didn't change the car at all from the 150 Duel race, it just got tighter and tighter. But Iwas lucky to get a good run on the last restart."

Iapologise to Stewart. Iknow it

good friend at the restrictor plate

was attempting to win in his 23rd

Kenseth and Sterling Marlin. Clint Bowyer who ended the race crossing the finish line on his roof

move forward. That's all you can do. The way it played out we

doesn’t help any, [but] he's been a

high side and Ijust never let the pedal off the floor and all the holes just opened up in our favour."

Before the previous day's Busch race, Harvick had never won a

When the race restarted,

Kyle Busch looked like Martin's only competition, but with the chequers in sight, Busch caused an accident involving Jeff Gordon, Greg Biffle, David Gilliland,

19th on the lead lap after suffering gearbox issues during the race.

"Stock car racing is good," said Montoya post race.

"Here it's easy. You just get a good handling car and put yourself in the right position to

"We were poised for a good run at the end and we got bottled up.

momentum and got up on the

race at Daytona, while Martin

McMurray hit the wall exiting Turn 2, necessitating a red flag for track clean-up after some heavy damage and fluid loss.

tracks."

Jimmie Johnson was the next of

a wreck when he was swept into a crash on lap 175 with Denny Hamlin and Jeff Green.

Then Dale Earnhardt Jr and

Ricky Rudd were involved in a crash caused when Jamie motorsportnews

INTERNATIONAL.

Hey Kevin, do you like Daytona?

I ^ aath ANNUAL

KEVIN Harvick, the defending Busch Series Champion, won his first ever-race at Daytona last Saturday with a victory in the

THEGm

M+M = Pole Position Yates dominates qualifying at Daytona ●

THERE were rumours last year that Robert Yates Racing may shut its doors at the end of 2006, but six months later the

team Idcked in the only two guaranteed spots in qualifying for the Daytona 500, with David Gilliland grabbing pole with a 186.320mph lap and his new team-mate and mentor Ricky Rudd capturing the outside front row slot at 185.609mph.

With 61 cars vying for 43 spots on the starting grid, the two 150mile qualifying races that determine the remainder of the grid

Monte Carlo finished eighth.

Marcos Ambrose, competing in his first-ever Busch Series

race, qualified 37th and finished

Busch Series Orbitz 300.

a creditable 16th on the lead

Harvick won from Dave Blaney's Toyota, which was followed by Carl Edwards, Clint Bowyer and Mark Martin.

lap in his Wood Brothers JTG Ford Fusion. He took top rookie honours to boot after running mid-pack for most of the race.

"What drives me is driving the car, and to drive into Victory Lane

the season," said Ambrose.

"This is a really great way to start

is what it's all about,"said Harvick,

"Sixteenth here at our first race

who led the final 42 laps of the 120-lap race after starting 31st.

"It's rewarding to drive in there as an owner, to watch them drive

at Daytona is almost like a win. It feels really great. This was a real bogey track for us. It was more about getting to the finish and

in, but there's just something

not feeling intimidated out there.

different about trying to figure out where you're going and where Victory Lane is and putting the

race at Daytona was always going to be big so it was important to

whole day together."

Kyle Busch appeared to be the

feels great that everything went

"First race of the season and first

feel comfortable out there and it

driver to beat early on, leading for 46 laps before eventually

so well."

dropping out of the race with a fuel pump issue.

Tony Stewart, who was looking for his third straight Daytona

Saturday night at California Speedway followed the next weekend by a road circuit race in

Ambrose's next race is this

Mexico City.

Busch win in the Harvick owned-

- MARTIN D CLARK

were sure to be intense

Teams that finished in the top 35 car owner points in 2006 were

guaranteed a spot in the field, the top two qualifiers in the two 150 mile qualifying races not already locked in earn places, leaving four slots, one to the past champion and the remaining three going to Boris Said, Sterling M,arlin and Johnny Sauter, who qualified on time.

Tony Stewart won the first 150-mile Duel race over Dale Earnhardt Jr, with Jeff Gordon taking the second event from Kurt

Busch. Both the Team Red BullToyotas had poor qualifying speeds so had to rely on making the field through the Duels. But when Robby Gordon moved down the track Into the nose of rookie A.J. Allmendinger and caused a heavy wreck, it took Allmendinger out of the 500, leaving Brian Vickers holding the horns of the bull. That was until he cut two tyres In the second race, knocking him into

the wall.

The major talking point of the first Duel was Michael Waltrip, who started at the rear and finished eighth in a backup car. But

when Dale Earnhardt Jr passed Waltrip for the lead on Lap 18,

Waltrip moved up the track between the two where there was no room, spinning Junior.

"That was a mistake,"said Waltrip.

"At first Ithought Icould get between them, then Ichanged my

mind, but between the time Ichanged my mind and turning the

steering wheel it didn't keep me from running into him. He's spu n me out before so Ifigured he wouldn't be too mad."

Juan Pablo Montoya posted the fourth fastest time in qualifying

8it minigtmtint ctriinntic mm IJET-HOT sterling: sterling a Brilliant New Finish.

Reduced Engine Bay Temp.

Corrosion Protection.

and showed some style in his Duel race by leading 17 laps. His

Improved Performance.

progress was halted when his right front hub disintegrated and he hit the wall in front of Gordon, who was challenging for the lead at

Streamline Gas Flow.

Other Colours available.

We Coat New or Old Headers.

the time.

"The last time Iwas here Iled the 24 hours,"said Montoya.

"Now we led the 150. It was awesome running up front, but today

was easy because we started up front. Now we've got to start from the back.

"I learned how to run through the corners and Ithink we'll be fine on Sunday."

Eighteen drivers failed to make the field including Jeremy Mayfield, Paul Menard, Kenny Wallace, Bill Elliott, Ward Burton and 72 year old James Hylton.

- MARTIN D CLARK

www.mnews.com.ai!

Hi-Performance Pre-Coated Headers

Popular Brands: Pacemaker - Genie-HM Headers pre-coated.

For JET-HGT O/RECT listings of car makes and models see the JET-HOT web site.

Web: wwWijet-hot.com,au www.builddstreetmachineicomwwwibulldahot rod.com 63

1

/

f^'heft rocks Sprintcarworld

(I

1

I

A SUBSTANTIAL reward has been

offered for information leading to the recovery of $200,000 worth of racing engines and equipment stolen from the Titan

Maher of TPCR A VERY confident Adrian Maher took

victory at Parramatta a fortnight ago, defeating track Champion Trevor Green with a fast finishing Ian Madsen home

Racing Sprintcar Team.

The Titan Racing team believes ‘ thetheftofthe valuable racing equipment was an inside job.

in third.

Interesting, Maher's victory came using the smaller 372 engine fitted to the #10 machine in preparation for the Australian Title last weekend.

Maher's Bevelite Glass Maxim took

charge of the 30 lap A-Main around Lap 10, after storming by Troy Little.

Pole-sitter Trevor Green was the

early leader but dropped back into third position while Madsen was charging up towards the leading pack.

Mitchell Dumesny had a huge crash

on Lap 20, destroying his machine but emerging unhurt.

Thieves broke into the team's truck on the Melbourne docks on

February 7, stealing two Sprintcar engines and cabinets full of tools and spare parts.

Team manager Drew Kruck said he suspected that someone

"These tool cabinets and engines are very heavy, and had to be

in Australia."

The theft culminates with the

lifted over a bench, so we think

attempted theft of the Bunburybased Krikke Motorsport truck.

that this had to be done by at least three or four people with some form of transport."

"The team has had.it hard

enough, but if we can't recover our equipment, we'll have to start all over again, and that would be

Team owner Shane Krikke said

thieves tried to hotwire the late-

model vehicle and all racing equipment while the team was racing in Adelaide two weeks ago.

-GEOFF ROUNDS

close to the team carried out the

robbery.

"We're leaning heavily towards an inside job," Kruck said.

"The thieves knew exactly what they wanted and how to get it."

The truck was sitting on the docks waiting to be shipped to Tasmania for the Australian

rear after stopping to have a damaged front wing ripped off.

Sprintcar title.

Mr Kruck said the engines weighed about 300kg each and have distinct Titan markings while

That left Green in second, but he

the tool cabinets were bolted into

After a separate incident, secondplaced Little had to restart from the

to do to move them," he said.

an'extremely costly exercise.

"We've been building up this equipment for 10 years, but this could be the end of Titan Racing

position, so they would have been extremely difficult to remove.

"You have to know exactly what

was too far behind Maher to challenge for the win.

On the final tour Madsen took third

from Marty Perovich, with Mark Blyton and Ian Loudoun making up the top six finishers.

Little retired back into the pits

during the closing stages of the A-Main.

-GREG BOSCATO

Reeding the riot act MATTHEW Reed displayed patience, skill and awesome ^ pace to win the Victorian Open Sprintcar Championship at Premier Speedway a fortnight ago.

Expressions of interest The National Association of Speedway Racing (NASR) is the peak body for speedway racing in Australia and has particular responsibilities in the areas of safety, operations, training and management in addition to holding the ownership rights to World Series Sprintcars.

NASR seeks expressions of interest from suitably experienced and credentialed persons who may wish to be considered as a candidate to be offered the management rights for the operation of World Series Sprintcars for the next three year period.

The timing of this Expression of Interest co-incides with the timing NASR believes is required for the successful applicant to plan for the 2007/08 season.

For applicants to register their interest and to receive further information including an

Reed put together another well-

/

timed run in the 30-lap A-Main

reported he was recovering and undergoing some precautionary

to hold off a late challenge from

tests.

American Shane Stewart, while

the talented Domain Ramsay held

When the A-Main got

underway it was Ramsay who

out Warrnambool favorite Max

made the most of it, as Stewart

Dumesny for third.

dropped back to fourth. Reed

In a night that had nine rollovers, Queensland's Todd

began well and he held off early challenges from Steven Lines and

Wanless made the most dramatic

Dumesny.

Reed took no time to get in

exit of ail.

Entering Turn 4 at full speed, a stop broke, sending Wanless helplessly into the concrete. He spent some time unconscious and was taken to the Warrnambool

Base Hospital, where it was

front and stay there untii Lap 12 when David Murcott rolled his JEI

in Turn 4, hopping the cushion,

launching skywards and ending his title hopes.

-GEOFF ROUNDS

information brief, please contact: Mr Tim McAvaney General Manager

National Association of Speedway Racing PO Box 269

Stepney, SA, 5069 PH 08 8139 0777

E-mail manager@nasr.com.au lOCWIIK'

● tF>{n3»CV!.->A

64

Expressions of Interest close Wednesday 28 February motorsport news

SPEEDWAY

Is there anything this guy can't win?

Tatnell on top again at the Australian Sprintcar Championships out the Murcotts 24hr Caltex Australian

from pole and he blasted away from the field to win convincingly ahead of Adrian Maher

Sprintcar Championship at Latrobe's

and Ryan Farrell.

Mountain Dew Ice International Speedway in

The preliminary A-Main got underway with Tatnell starting ninth. Initially it was David

lead.

Tatnell went into the event having only arrived back in Tasmania on the Friday morning

Murcott who led, but after he rolled with 10

the field to catch the Champ, who had the experience to weave his way through the

prior to practice and time trials.

where he stayed.

Needing only to finish his last heat to assure himself of a Top 10 starting spot, Tatnell charged from last place to finish fifth, which qualified him in third behind Farr and Farrell.

DEFENDING Champion BrookeTatnelf took

Tasmania last weekend.

The defending Champ hadn't got off to a

good start, when in his opening heat - the

third for the weekend - he was involved in a rollover with Tasmanian Malcolm Lee.

Officials strangely brought on an 'open red,'

meaning crews could make repairs to cars and Tatnell's crew were able to make the repairs for

Both Farr and Farrell had been the two

From there it was going to be hard for traffic.

Farrell fell back to fifth as farmer champion

Max Dumesny started to make his move mid race. Dumesny got by Murcott and Farrell to challenge Farr for second position. Farr wasn't ready to relinquish second, while at the same

dominant cars from when the first wheels

time tried to catch Tatnell.

were turned in hot laps on night one. Farr was successful in setting quick time in the first time trial session after drawing the last place marble.

for a third place finish.

A second place finish in his next heat meant

Then, when the field became Inverted, he

Eventually Dumensy drove by Farr for second and couldn't manage to catch Tatnell as the laps ran out. Farr finished third ahead of a hard-charging Green, Farrell, Maher, Murcott,

Tatnell qualified ninth for the preliminary A-

couldn't repeat the time, and it was Farrell who

with the first Tasmanian home Adrian Redpath

Main on night one.

bettered Farr's first session time.

in eighth.

him to resume racing. He managed to recover

:

laps to go, Robbie Farr moved into the lead,

jumped to the lead entering Turn 1, while Tatnell got past Farrell and heading down the back straight dived inside Farr to assume the

The third round of heats had Tatnell starting

HoosierTire Australia Australian Distributors for

At the start of the Championship Main, Farr

WORLD SERIES SPRINTCARS 2006/07 CHAMPIONSHIP

Final Standings

-DAMON KINGSHOTT

-i ^

^ ^ RACING TIRE for more Info on HooslerOrag & Speedway Tyres call:

NSW: VIC:

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65

'li

JUST NOT CRICKET ^ Freddy Flintoff and the English cricket team took four months to figure out how to win in Australia. But Pommie Steve Read has it all sussed at The Wizard the heat in eastern Australia was no match for Steve Read in the

2007 Summernationals crown at

the Western Sydney International Dragway.

The Queensland-based driver

was consistent throughout the weekend and downed namesake Phil Read in the final to claim the

Top Fuel title with a 4.931/252.33 to Phil's 5.767/154.261 mph.

"We went into this weekend

with a simple plan and managed to cut good lights at the start and everything just slotted into place," said Steve Read after the final.

"Once again, the crew performed

admirably in hot and humid conditions and made sure the turnarounds between rounds

—

■'

K+N=Win:John Andriopoulos survived the close racing to take Pro stock

above, but Jay Upton dominated Top Bike, below.

were first-class."

Read was fast all weekend,

running a 4.8 from his opening

pass in qualifying. His 4.840/285.35 took care of Phil Lamattina in

the opening round and ran a

4.819/269.51 to edge top qualifier Allan Dobson out In the semi.

The West Aussie had notched a

personal best 4.604 In qualifying

Poms, Americans:

but his 4.829/246.35 was not good

Steve Read rode the Spirit of Las

enough to stay in the fight.

Vegas to the Top Fuel win, above,

Brett Stevens ruled In the Top Doorslammer field. The bracket was decided not in the final but in the semi, when number one

while Dion Prowse's Buell was

once again the Pride of Milwaukee when he won the Pro Stock

Motorcycle crown, below.

qualifier John Zappia and Gary

Phillips faced off. Phillips took the holeshot and Zappia was all over

the top man in Pro Stock, with

the track but the Monaro was well

some typically narrow wins in his

ahead when its supercharger blew.

That put Phillips in the final

Dodge Avenger. After sneaking

by ShaneTucker by 0.003s and Ian Brown by 0.04s, he and Andrew

against Stevens, who had benched Ben Bray in the semi-final. Steven beat Phillips away but it was quickly over when the Lucas Oils car broke, Stevens winning in

Andriopoulos's 7.192/189.66mph too tidy for the Ford on a

6.016/242.28mph.

Stevens also defeated Phillips

Jay Upton dominated Top Bike, his Triumph burning out 6.3s

in Top Alcohol, but this time, it

in the semi (against a troubled Craig Bonwick) and againstTroy

was in a semi-final. After parking Steven Reed and Debbie Reed

respectively, Stevens outed a loose Phillips, 5.676/253.75 to 5.719/248.11 to face Wayne

Newby in the final. Stevens beat Newby away but was soon in

trouble, leaving Newby to take the title with a 6.166/142.10.

Jon Andriopoulos emerged as 66

Stavroulakis went at it in the final,

7.211/189.15mph.

McLean's Harley in the final. Britain beat America 6.369/217.84 to

McLean's 6.956/174.14mph.

Pro Stock Motorcycle was as competitive as the four-wheeled version, with Dion Prowse taking another title on his Buell. Daniel

Peaty ran him close in the final after losing on the holeshot. moiorsportnews

iPAfti pwwr-

(

a

!

I ]

I I

I

wnAnnf.mnews.com.au

5

/

Scotty Cannon.

● IV'

returns inIHRA PRO Mod icon and former fuel Funny Car pilot Scotty Cannon will return to the nitromethane wars after a three

year absence.

Cannon, will drive Evan Knoll's

personal Top Fuel dragster and fly the banner of the Seelye-Wright Auto

Group throughout the 12-event IHRA Championship Drag Racing series. He will serve as his own crew chief with assistance from Jim Ermolovich and

Todd Blakely.

Harker/Conway Top Alcohol team-up KATE Marker, daughter of Australian Alcohol Funny car racer Steve Marker, will team up with Team Owner and Crew Chief Tom Conway in 2007 to challenge for the NMRA Top Alcohol Dragster Championship.

This is not the first time this pair has lined up for

The team will debut late March

competition. In late 2006, Conway and Marker made

during the IHRA Texas Nationals in

three event starts and earned a semi-final finish at the

San Antonio, Texas. The six-time Pro

Snowbird Nationals at Bradenton Motorsports Park in

Modified world champion moved to the fuel Funny Car ranks in 1999 before

November.

returning to Pro Mod for a brief stint.

Cannon's last few seasons have been

spent tuning and training his son Scott ir in the Torco's CompetitionPlus.com Pro Modified division.

■ The popular AMS Staff Leasing Pro Modified Challenge has announced its 2007 racing schedule. In addition, Tindle Enterprises has joined the

"Last year was a great learning path for me,"says

However, this will be Marker's first season

competing as a driver in the MHRA Lucas Oils Sportsman Drag Racing Series.

After making passes at Frank Hawley's Drag Racing School behind the wheel of the school's Blown Alcohol Dragster, Marker completed herTop

mph behind the wheel of Conway's dragster in late

rounds of the Lucas Oils Division 4 series.

The pair will run a similar schedule as contended by Conway last year focusing around the south central and eastern parts of the NHRA tour.

■,' - DAVE OSTASZEV(fSKI

Marker was then invited to join Conway and his team as driver at the LODRS Division 7 race event and

■ ImpalaSS has become the flagship body of GM in Funny Car competition for 2007. 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 utilising a 3D computer-aided-design process. Don Prudhomme's Skoal team received the first two, with several others set to debut them either in Phoenix or Gainesville.

■

Racing Fuels, a leading

manufacturer of high performance fuels, has signed a multi-year

agreement with NHRA to become the title sponsor of the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series event held in the Chicago market.

The 10th annual Torco Racing Fuels Route 66 NHRA Nationals, June 7-10, is the 10th of 23 events in the NHRA

POWERade Drag Racing Series. The event, held at the Route 66 Raceway

in Joliet, Illinois has produced some of the quickest times and fastest speeds in drag racing history.

-OAVEOSTASZEWSKI 68

be competitive on the NHRA tour.

"It helped make my transition to Tom's car very

September 2006.

two post-season races in Florida, where Marker and

Las Vegas.

"Mum and Dad taught me a lot about how the Alcohol cars work and have shown me what it takes to

Motorplex with a biistering 5.355 second run at 258

series as the sponsor at all 10 events.

Indianapolis, Dallas, Richmond and

Marker.

smooth process."

Conway and Marker have scheduled a full season of racing including ten National events and all six

Alcohol Dragster license at a test session at the Texas

The 2007 Pro Mod schedule will

include stops in Gainesville, Houston, Atlanta, Madison, Bristol, Englishtown,

Conway made a semi-final round finish.

Her identical twin sister, Diana, will be joining her as a licensed Top Alcohol driver later this year and is scheduled to attend Frank Hawley's Drag Racing School to learn the Top Alcohol ropes on April 9-11.

Marker spent last year as a full time crew member on her parents NHRATop Alcohol Funny Car, doing everything from helping build the engines to managing the logistics for the team.

Jerry rocks bade to radng JERRY Toliver, a five-time NHRA

Funny Car national event winner, will return to racing

later this year with a new deal from Rockstar energy drink on

a new Toyota Solara.

What might be considered

even bigger news may be that he has talked Mail of Fame

tuner Dale Armstrong out of retirement to serve as his team

, manager and initial crew chief.

Me last competed in the NMRA series in 2004 when

he won the season-opening ! CARQUESTAuto Parts NMRA Winternationals. Me has five

national event wins in TO final

rounds showings.

Toliver plans to test extensively, and may hit the track with the new team as

early as Gainesville. _E>AVE OSfASiEWSkI

A/o, that ain't Mall of Fame tuner Dale Armstrong: But she sure looks a bit prettier than Jerry Toliver, who will return to racing later this year. motorsportsiiews

DRAG RACING ,

Todd too quick in NHRA opener

I

ISMi^ostaszewski TKE NHRA POWERade season

got off to a fast-paced start as reigning Auto Club of Southern California Road to the Future

Award'winner J.R.Todd found the winner's circle in Pomona.

Also victorious at the 47th

annual CARQUEST Auto Parts NHRA Winternatlonals was four

time champion Gary Sceizi, as he shook off a tough 2006 season

by taking the Funny Car win, and three-time Pro Stock world champ

Greg Anderson, who defended his

race title from a year ago.

Todd showed the Top Fuel competitors that his success in 2006 has carried over into the new

Off and racing: J.R. Todd, above. took the opening NHRA Top

season and that he'll be a'threat at

every stop on the tour. In the final

Fuei event of2007 over Brandon

his 4.48/324 drove away from a tyre-shaking Brandon Bernstein.

Bernstein, ivfrose father Kenny, left, made a return to Funny Car. Bernstein Snr didn't qualify.

Todd's victory in the Skull Shine dragster was his fourth in just 20 Top Fuel starts.

After qualifying fifth at 4.48/324,

Todd scored a 4.69/295 round one

Anderson sawed down the Christmas Tree in Pomona with a

win over defending event winner

0.020s reaction time average on

Melanie Troxel. He followed with a pair of 4.47s at 322 and 324 in

wins over Doug Kalitta and David

scored a 6.65/207 to 7.00/163

victory over Greg Stanfield.

He missed backing up the run to

but his final effort of 4.84/321,

three qualifier qt 4.49/331, ran

make it an official national record

stop when racers take to Phoenix International Raceway for the

4.49/326 wins over Alan Bradshaw,

by 0.001s.

Kenny Bernstein made his return to Funny Car competiton in

kept him out of the record quick show, which was anchored by Jim Head's 4.795.

23rd Annual Checker, Schuck's

progressively quicker during the day with 4.51/327,4.51/329, and

.

After struggling last year with

The tour will make its second

and Kragen NHRA Nationals on February 23-25.

Bob Vandergriff, and Rod Fuller.

the Monster Energy Drink Dodge,

in the first round after smoking

Forcing Ashley to be Funny

Reigning Top Fuel World Champion Tony Schumacher, the top qualifier at 4.472-seconds, lost his tyres against Joe Hartley, who

anchored the quickest field in history at 4.575s.

V-

In the final round, Anderson

Grubnic.

Bernstein, the nunrlber

I

race day.

his starting-line reaction times.

The Funny Car final featured

THE much-anticipated Nitro

victory celebrations in both lanes as Robert Hight's Auto Club of Southern California crew

grabbed much of the media spotlight in Pomona at the

members cheered the win light the scoreboards only to have

on

NHRA officials quickly determine

that Hight crossed the centreline, automatically giving the win to Sceizi.

Sceizi clocked a winning

Funny Car debut of Ashley Force

season opener.

After carding a 4.80/281 on her opening pass, NHRA's latest 'rookie" saw her next two runs

aborted by tyre-shake and tyresmoke. Early in the final session, she watched as her father, John

4.71/332 in the final for his 34th career NHRA win, at the same time

bumped her out of the program.

becoming the third driver to win

occasion one pair later as Ashley

the season opener in both Top Fuel and Funny Car, Joining Kenny

The new team rose to the ?

blasted to a 4.79/312 to get her

I

I

Castrol GTX Mustang into the

Bernstein and Don Prudhomme.

field. She faced and fell to team

Hight was a slight favourite going into the final after clocking the quickest Funny Car pass of all

mate Robert Hight in the opening round, once again shaking the tyres and losing traction.

time at 4.646s in the semi-finals. wiAraf.tnnews.com.au

-DAVE OSTASZEWSKI 69

■i

NATIONAL SCENE Edited by Andrew van Leeuwen

The Rat II MATTHEW Radisich will join the Kumho Tyres Australian Formula 3 Champion

ship from the Australian Grand Prix meeting onwards.

Radisich, 18, is the nephew of Team Kiwi V8 Supercar driver Paul Radisich, and will race a Dallara F304 for his

family-supported Radisich Motorsport team.

"1 think the only disadvantage I have is that Idon't have any experience

in wings and slicks cars before joining Formula 3, and that Ionly know Winton, Sandown, Phillip Island and Eastern Creek," Radisich said.

"I might not have raced at the track, but it's going to be great to race at the Grand Prix. I've been putting in a lot of miles testing on the PlayStation to learn the Albert Park circuit in time

for the Grand Prix, so I'll be ready for that!"

Radisich Jr has secured sponsorship from McDonalds New Zealand.

■ Chris Pither is set to re-join the Yokohama V8 Utes Series this season.

Pither spent 2006 racing a Kanga Loaders-supported AU Falcon in the Fujitsu V8 Supercar Series.

He will continue to have Kanga backing when he steps back to the BF Falcon ute.

"I'm looking forward to the close

racing of the Ute series again as I really enjoyed my time in 2005," he said.

"There's always a lot of action in

MInda Motorsport attempt land-speed record - in a Van Diemen RF91 AUSTRALIA could be home to the world's fastest

have been replaced to be as free-rolling as possible,

Formula Ford following the upcoming Lake Gardiner speed trails.

Minda Motorsport is planning to run a Van Diemen RF91, similar to the car pictured above, at the salt lake in an attempt to set the fastest-ever speed in a classlegal Formula Ford. The car will be drive by Jeremy

while a new Peter Larner-built Kent engine that has

,

been tuned for top-end power will be fitted with a

special exhaust system. The car will also run longer differential and gear ratios.

"I thought'! wouldn't mind doing that/and then Paul Stubbertold me he was taking his Camaro,so I

"We want to keep the car as legal as possible,"added Beasley.

So what speed does the Van Diemen have to do to be the fastest? That's still not exactly clear.

"We haven't been able to find anything of a reference point as of yet," said Beasley.

"But we are aiming between 262-278 km/h. Given what we've run at Bathurst, that should be possible,

decided to go along as well."

While the Van Diemen will be only slightly modified,

speed."

Mantello, one of Minda's state Formula Ford drivers.

"I suppose it all started when Isaw the movie The World's Fastest Indian!'sa\d Minda team owner Bruin

Beasley.

it has undergone a rigorous preparation process,

including the chassis being stripped right back to properly test its strength. The wheel bearings

but we haven't found an official record terminal The Lake Gardiner trials will run in the week

following the Clipsal 500.

-ANDREWVAN LEEUWEN

the races and this time Ihave returned

with much more experience up my sleeve."

■ Victorian karter Elliot Barbour

will combine karting with HQ Holden racing this year.

The 16-year old will compete in the Victorian Motor Racing series aboard Rob Southouse's Mercbits HQ.

Barbour, who started racing karts three years ago, will continue racing

his Arrow in Clubman Heavy.

■ The CUE Endurance Series for

Production Sports Cars starts this Sunday at Eastern Creek Raceway with the running of the opening round of the 2007 season.

The five-race program has attracted support from CUE Clothing Company.

Phillip island getting ready for German invasion MORE than 500 entries have

1 car, the 804. There will be

been received for next month's

some of Porche's greatest sportcars too, such as twoTarga

Shannons Phillip Island Classic, with cars from all over the

Florio-spec 908s and a Le Mans

world coming to take part.

936/77.

Porsche will be the featured

A record number of Formula

marque, with seven original cars coming from the Porsche

5000s will take part in the VACC

museum in Stuttgart, including Porsche's one and only Formula

International Challenge, with cars

from New Zealand helping

make up the 25-strong field.

But they won't be the fastest

open-wheelers at the meeting,

with two Ferrari Formula 1 cars and the ex-Alan Jones Lola-Flart.

There will also be a couple of exJackie Stewart Tyrrells and an Eagle Indy car.

f

While the Endurance series is based

'i

'y

in NSW, the Production Sports Cars have also included races in Queensland

and Victoria, giving the CUE series a strong east coast presence.

TP--

2pnol|

BOSCH jf

-STAFF/WICKS 70

motorsport news

NATIONAL SCENE

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KartStar shooting through?

AUSTRALIAN karter Jason Pringle will attend this year's Formula BMW Asia Scholarship evaluation test at the Bahrain International Circuit later this month.

The former KartStars Champion will attend the test in the hope of gaining one of the US$50,000 scholarships for the Formula BMW Asia season.

Pringle, who hails from Melbourne, has previous driving experience

in a Formula BMW machine. Pringle won a Formula BMW test with

the Red Bull JuniorTeam at Estoril in Portugal after winning the 2005 KartStars crown.

Australian drivers Michael Patrizi and Sam Abay have previously finished runner-up in the Formula BMW Asia Championship, with Daniel Ricciardo also competing in last year's championship.

-DANIELJORDAN

Zukanovk turns driver/manager REIGNING V8 Utes Champion Marcus Zukanovic will return to

the category this season - as a team owner.

. While Zukanovic's own driving

n

"i

career will see him race in the

Fujitsu V8 Supercar Series this year,

he will keep in the Ute series by running his franchise for ex-HQ driver Layton Crambrook.

And to make life even busier

for Zukanovic, his Action Racing operation will expand to a twocar effort, running Garry Treloar's franchise for Wayne Lamont.

"It's all about me not wanting

to sell my Ute franchise," said Zukanovic.

"It's not so much a financial

thing, IJust don't want to lose my franchise.

"So I'll have some guys running the cars full-time on weekends

that I'm racing the Supercar, and then be involved when the Utes

are running on there own. Ilike my racing, so it's good to be involved whether I'm driving or

i

not."

-ANDREWVAN LEEUWEN www.mnews.com.au

77

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VMRC kicks off THE Victorian Motor Racing Championship opened season 2007 with a twilight meeting at Calder Park Raceway last weekend.

All competitors had two races

Open season in WA WESTERN Australia's racing season got underway under lights last

Saturday night with the SmokeFree WA Night Masters at Barbagallo

notable absentees in the final.

Geoff Bowles held out Paul

Raceway.

Glenn McNally dominated proceedings in Formula Ford, taking all

Kertes by less than a second to win the opening BMW E30 race. Craig Munro raised his

game after Race 1 and won the

on the full and short version of the circuit, with the short run

following three races by narrow margins from Bowles to take out

under lights.

Harry Withem dominated the Super TT field, scoring

the round.

two Historic races in front of

four wins from as many starts.

Running the short circuit under lights gave Peter Bartolo in his

Garry Edward and Robert Braune.

Ray Chains DNF'd the opening race but made amends winning

Westfield a chance to match Withem as he wasn't blown

away on the straights, but he couldn't overcome the Porsche.

Under 2-Litre driver Brendan

Woods had things his own way throughout the meeting, winning all four races. His only blemish was a second placing in qualifying. John Camm pushed hard under lights but never got close enough to challenge

Scott Slater won the opening

both night races. He won the third race after a last lap move on Slater down the back straight.

Phil Aiken and Graham Francis won a race between them in

close claustrophobic HQ racing style. Aiken took the round spoils after a consistent day whilst Dallas Crane held of many challenges to win both HQ races under lights. ^ AARON SHAW

Rod Smith and Dean Camm

Sedans. Smith won both races

three races and setting a new lap record in the first. Clint Harvey was the best of the rest with two second places.

The Street Car races saw Matt Cherry and Troy Stones go at it in rival RX7s. Cherry did well in his new role as LF Performance team leader, taking two wins ahead of Stones. Mark Greenham took the Race 2 win.

Jez Hammond took three wins in Formula Vee, but didn't find the

going as easy as he did in 2006. Derek Burns chased Hammond hard in his 1600cc Aurora, but couldn't find a way past.

Robert Marcon was the big winner in the HQ Holdens, taking victory in the first and last races. Serge Alfieri took a win, however Grant Howlett took the prize for consistency with three second places and two fastest laps.

Leigh Turner made the most of Paul Stubber's absence from the Historic Touring Cars field to take two wins and a second, with Peter McLean taking the other win. In the pre-1965 class, Martin Bullock's

/

Improved Production saw a Subaru trifecta, with Dean Herridge at the front of the field in Race 1 before Kevin Ledger won Races 2 and 3.

-iif

under lights whilst Camm took

full advantage of the long straights winning two races. rl.

at the rear.

I

«

Simonsen: Rally gun!

ALLAN Simonsen has

Robin Bailey won three MG

races but failed to start the final, leaving Rob Whitwell to take the spoils by more than 30s. Fellow

using his Ultra Sports racer to full effect in all three heats. Steve Maitland, Richard Shillington and Kevin Ledger all took home a second place trophy each.

Reigning Saloon Car Champion Kerry Wade was too good, winning all

Cortina took all three wins.

had two wins apiece in Sport

Camm won his first by coming through the field after starting

three race wins. Cade Bell was just as consistent, finishing second on each occasion. The other standout performer was Christopher Reindler, the younger brother of Australia's A1GP driver Karl Reindler. Reindler Jr rounded out his debut weekend with two third place finishes.

Peter McKenzie was unstoppable in the Night Masters feature races,

Bruce Welsh was the class of the 1200cc FV field.

with a win and three seconds,

Woods for the lead.

● - Matthew Oswald!

Follow the leader:

maintained his 100 percent

Racing was close in the

winning record in tarmac rallies

Historic tourers, below, while

front runners in Alan Richardson

Robin Bally dominated MGs,

and Neil Hopwood were also

above.

rally ace Cody Crocker to victory in Tasmania.

The victory remains

by winning last weekend's Rally

uncertain, however, with third

Tasmania.

Fresh from his Lake Mountain

place finishers Jason and John

White protesting the legality of

Tango victory, Simonsen and

the two leading cars.

co-driver Ben Searcy led home

'1.

J.',

motorsportnews

NATIONAL SCENE

Kayne's the man at Manfeild KAYNE Scott didn't even have to win a race at Manfeild last weekend to take the series lead

in the NZV8 Championship.

Second place in Race 1, third in Race 2 and fourth in Race 3 was

enough for Scott jump to the top of the points, although he was

took the Race 1 win before totally dominating Race 2.

The final race win of the

weekend went to Mark Pedersen,

who grabbed the lead early from pole-sitter Tim Edgell and ran

McIntyre's misfortune.

Holding a slender lead heading

away with the race.

David Besnard had a tough weekend in the Hydraulink Falcon. Having finished third in the opening race, Besnard was

into the fourth round, McIntyre started the weekend in good form,

handed a time penalty for a racing incident, dropping him

coming home fourth in the first race. He repeated that result in the second race, however things

to fifth. He came home second

helped along the way by John

turned bad in the final, where mechanical problems left him in a

lowly 12th place.

in Race 2, before a broken axle ended his run to the front in the final.

Luke Youlden had a seventh and two fifths from the three races.

While it was a bad weekend for

McIntyre, it was a good weekend for Angus Fogg. The Falcon driver

Points; Scott 647, McIntyre 635, Fogg 623, Besnard 546, Clark Procter480.

Hallidayalltheway MATT Halliday and Fabian Coulthard shared the GT3 Cup

Challenge spoils at Manfeild.

Halliday took pole position and the first two race wins, while Coulthard chimed in with a win in the third and final.

Two third places keeps Craig Baird at the top of the points.

Points: Baird 746, Coulthard 732, Halliday 725, Jody Vincent 649, Jono Lester 456.

Van Gisbergen with the lot TEAM-MATES Shane van

Gisbergen and Daniel Gaunt

fought it out at Manfeild last weekend for the final round

of the Toyota Racing Series International Trophy.

Van Gisbergen drew first blood, taking pole position ahead of Gaunt and Andy Knight.

Knight got the better of

The final race was the

Dan Higgins Trophy, and Gaunt made the most of a collision between Harford

and Knight to win the race.

However second place for van Gisbergen was enough to hand him the International

Trophy byjust a single point.

THE first Top Gear Classic of the Queensland Raceway season last Sunday may have been interrupted by rain squalls, but thankfully

Australians Bart Mawer and LeanneTander both had

no crashes resulted.

Gaunt at the start of Race 1 and set off in pursuit of van

tough weekends. Mawer had

Brendan Whitaker dominated. Ash Lowe won the opening wet race

a best finish of ninth and was

well from Ross Loudon on his MX5 debut.

Gisbergen, but while Knight

involved in a big crash with

Stuart Maxwell (Capri Turbo) took all four wins in the Sedan division. John Duel (Toyota Mark II) took three seconds with Paul Chapman (Impreza STi) best of the rest.

Tim Whitten (Reynard 913) and Tony LeMessurier (Van Diemen RF06) shared the open-wheel wins with two each, while Bill Norman (Reynard 92D) was the only other look in for a top two finish.

Tony Saint (RXTTurbo) was the only multiple winner in Sports Cars with Bruce Horey (RX7 Turbo), Terry Forsythe (Radical-Suzuki) and Grant Wilson (Chevrolet Camaro) claiming the other wins.

was close to the back of the

Christina Orr in the final, while

black car, he couldn't find a

Tender recorded a best finish of seventh in the final race of the weekend.

way past.

He had to wait until Race

2 to get in front of van Gisbergen, making a better

Gaunt continues to lead the national series.

start and leading the entire race. He won ahead of Ben

Points: Gaunt 899, Van Gisbergen 738,

Harford and Gaunt.

Harford 714, Knight 692, Clucas 554.

wmv.mnews.com.au

The Mazda MX5 Cup held a 'pre-season' run in which John and

-MARK JONES

73

era headed OS MELBOURNE karter David Sera will contest the

2007 European Rotax Championships.

The 18-year old heads to Europe next month for the opening round at Salbris, France, on

Ui

M

March 25.

I m watching you

He will race in the Senior MAX class and will use an Arrow chassis.

"He wili race tor the UK Arrow importer, Neil

IT will be a case of Big Brother is watching when the international CIK events get underway in Europe shortly.

As part of the change to the new-

Walker Racing, so wiil stop off in England on the way over," Sera's father George told MNews.

As a result. Sera will only need to familiarise

rev limit?

Well, they won't be able to thanks to a piece of technology developed by

|

George added.

As a consequence of the Euro round. Sera will miss the opening rounds of the Victorian Rotax and Leopard series.

Sera has raced overseas before, winning the Yamaha All Japan Final in 2005 and running

the CIK-FIA in collaboration with the

year.

Reigning Australian Rotax Light Champion Hayden McBride is already a confirmed starter in the European Championship with Gillard. It is expected at least two more Australian karters, including at least one junior, will confirm their participation in the coming weeks.

is mounted on each kart that records

in the track (at the finish line) the maximum RPM for the kart on that lap

k

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-MARK WICKS '. -.-J.T.

who will immediately know if there is an over-rev issue.

j

Big prizes for'07

Held at Eastern Creek earlier this

month, close to 300 drivers competed Varley pipping Kel Treseder and Jason Hryniuk.

Other winners included Jason Burns

Oeckert (Junior Clubman).

■ Buoyed by the response to the recent Ladies Only race meeting, the

and one senior karter wiil be drawn from the three-

Offenbach at the front

of karting THE annual International Kart

and race wear for the '07

class to its 2007 Club championship.

Expo at Offenbach, Germany, drew thousands of karters and

season, other significant items on parade were production

■ Who says karting businesses are in decline?

A new retail establishment has opened in Melbourne's eastern

suburbs. .FCKO (East Croydon Kart Centre) is a retail outlet for the Australian Phoenix chassis.

They are also agents for renowned engine tuners Anthony Bartolo and John Lord.

-MARK WICKS 7A

industry personalities from

steering wheels for disabled

around the world.

karters (throttle and brake

Catering for both competition and rental karting industries, the Offenbach expo is one of the biggest each year.

West Australian company

twin-seat and power steered rental karts, plus a host of new engines including the small but powerful Wankel Aixro XR 50

Sniper were on hand demonstrating its products to the world, including itsnew V2

laser alignment system.

In addition to new chassis

receive VIP treatment at the

Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix, including corporate

hospitality and the chance

introduce a dedicated Ladies National

The first round at the Lithgow

round Central City Series to

to meet none other than Valentino Rossi.

combined Districts Kart Club will

circuit will be on March 17-18.

/

YAMAHA has upped the ante and announced a prize pool across multiple series and events in excess of $10,000.

In Victoria, one junior

over two days. The standout race was the Clubman Heavy final, Jason

(Junior National Heavy) and Ryan

TJ

Yamaha goes kart krazy!

CERMi„jY

H The locals are going to be tough

(Clubman Super Heavy), Matty Dorado

.7

\

to beat at this year's Nationals if the results of the Brian Farley Memorial are anything to go by.

(Clubman Light), Thomas Phillips (Senior National Light), Ryan Fulcher

IP'

’it

After a race, the complete RPM log detailed analysis.

sssus

LT*

is sent via a decoder to Race Control

can be downloaded from the device for

/JT

jfn'

competitively atthe Rotax World Final the same

AMB-it timing company. A small device

the RPM continuously. When the kart crosses the AMB timing detection loop

V.^

NiiMTi

equipment: "But he picks them up pretty quickly'

CIK has mandated maximum rev limits for the various classes. Different

ignitions systems are homologated for

1^

■ Ta

himself with the new tracks and not new

generation long-life KF engines, the

these classes, but who's to say those crafty Euro tuners can't circumvent the

i

incorporated into the wheel),

rotary engine.

Strangely, there were very few of the new KF generation motors to be seen.

-MARK WICKS

In NSW, the same prize will be offered to the Junior Clubman driver who leads

the Premier State Cup at the conclusion of round 5.

Additionally, a separate six-round Junior Yamaha

Challenge will run on Sydneybased tracks, the top three drivers to take home new

Yamaha engines.

In all series, only drivers who use Yamaha engines at

every round will be eligible.

-MARK WICKS

motorsport news

BART Price took a thrilling victory in Clubman Light at the Victorian Open Championships at Cobden on February 11.

Price (Arrow) fought his way to the front of a

five-kart pack to lead home Steven Scoble and Ryan Sanderson.

In the opening laps, pre-final winner James

Sera was freight-trained deep into the pack.

Meanwhile, fastest qualifier Matthew Hayes (Phoenix), who broke an engine in the opening heat, had charged back into contention, but contact with Price whilst battling for the lead put him out.

The other nail-biter was the Junior Clubman final. Amrit Kandola, James Kovacic and Jesse

After a frustrating run in Rotax, David Sera simply drove away from the pack to win all the Leopard Light races. Ex-junior Grant Smith turned heads with an impressive drive to

second place ahead of Ryan Sanderson and Matt Wall.

Now aboard Maranello, Ricky Capo dominated Midgets and was undefeated all weekend. He enjoyed a huge win over Matthew Smith who, in turn, broke from the

third placed pack led by Kyle Rethus. Remo Luciani achieved the same feat in Clubman Over 40s to rack up yet another state title.

Formula 100 continues to draw numbers, but

after contact with Brabham. Hart just held out Brabham in the run to the line, Liam Morey

picking up third.

Leopard Heavy was all about Kel Treseder

and Jeremey Anderson as they traded the lead, Treseder (Arrow) getting home first.

Treseder took home a second blue plate by winning Rotax Heavy. On a damp track, the Queenslander quickly moved to the front

past Nathan Van Es and Brett Davidson, who

finished second and third respectively.

After several lead changes, 2005 KartStars

champion Jason Pringle, pictured right, beat reigning Aussie Champ Hayden McBride in Rotax Light. Jono Taylor made it a double podium for the Gillard team with third.

www.mnews.cpm^aualB^M

the start and led almost the entire distance before Anderson stuck a move down the inside

with three laps to go. Lee Mitchener was third after battling Jason Varley and Kevin Millard.

Ryan Fulcher, Scott Simpson and Jason Stania were never more than a second apart

changes.

great racing and in Light current Australian Champion Chaz Mostert (CRG) picked up

The unicycle-riding Baxter retired mid race

Jeremy Anderson scored one for the locals taking out Clubman Heavy. Jason Pringle won

above, (Tony Kart) who edged away from Trent

second.

Matthew Hart, Matthew Brabham and Jay

Daniel Stein on a drying track in Heavy.

in Clubman Super Heavy, Fulcher (Top Kart) finally hanging onto first after several lead

James and Dominic Albanese.

Baxter fought out the opening laps of Rookies.

In Senior National,Thomas Phillips (Arrow),

pictured below, won a nail biter Light final to pip Dale Sinclair. James May hunted down

none of them could challenge Simon Slavatico,

Batson all had turns at the head of the pack until a scuffle sent Batson cross-country. This

gave Kandola a break, which he held to the end. Kovacic held off Aaron Johnstone for

Nelson third.

~ MARK WICKS

The junior National classes always provide another title after a great scrap with James Kovacic. Joshua De Maio was third.

Nicholas Tanti proved too strong in the final

of Heavy, pulling clear of a breakaway pack

where Gary Jacobson was second and Brendon I?

il

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356

79

TALK CONVERTER

The ball's in your court, Glenn,

Glen Goes Red #1

HRT-and Mark. Go run with it.

What am Isupposed to do now?

My favourite driver of all time (behind the King of course) in the

Damien Harwood

setonfanatic@hotmail.com

■ Editorial

same car as least favourite driver

Editor: Phil Branagan

of all time,

Talking TV

if you win Bathurst this year Skaifey, all will be forgiven. Mark

Now that Network Seven has worked out its deal with the AFL

editor@mnews.com.au

Deputy Editor: Mark Glendenning mark@mnews.com.au

News Editor: Grant Rowley

Skaife is a briiliant driver, even if

grant@mnews.com.au National Editor: Andrew van Leeuwen andrew@mnews.com.au

he does drive for the wrong side, and idon't have a problem with Seto driving for Holden either. But

■ Production

if they win this year, us Ford fans are never going to hear the end

Graphic Design & Web: Jayne Uthmeyer

of it.

design@mnews.com.au

■ Advertising P 03 9596 5555 F 03 9596 5030

National Sales Manager: Calvin Wood M 0439 566 265

cwood@mnews.com.au

■ Administration

357 Nepean Highway, Brighton East, VIC, 3187 (PO Box 7072, Brighton, VIC, 3186)

f1; Joe Saward, Adam Cooper, Paolo Filisetti Europe: Quentin Spurring, David Addison

means that at least someone on

while you're at it, forecast some rain and put Glenn on slicks and

for Glenn in his dream to win

the commentary team will know EXACTLY what they are talking

send him out.

Maybe with Network Seven this year we may get to see that Bathurst in-car footage again.

Where is Mike Raymond?

Old Timer

out his career in a Ford, while the

possibility of an HRT enduro drive Glen Goes Red #2

was little more than a pipe dream

Hearing the news that Glenn Se ton has taken up an offer to drive

in our minds. After all, didn't the

for HRT in the enduros is rather

man himself say that he would never drive a Holden? Again, the notion of loyalty clearly played out its natural course.

about, and actually have a passion for the sport they are covering.

Iknow V8SA are spouting on about 60 percent more live coverage etc, however Idon't know that this is necessarily a

better deal. Ipersonally didn't have a problem with the "delayed and packaged"telecasts Channel 10 did; we still got to see most of the racing, even the times when it was processional. Under the new deal, what happens in a Sunday race if there is a proionged Safety Car period? Do we get endiess ads

racing will understand why the

or constant shots from a camera in the SC? At least Channel 10

I'm sure fans of V8 Supercar

hard-core Seton supporters are

were able to edit this portion of

Pending the uitimate pace of

not as overjoyed as we should be.

those races.

the VE Commodore, there is no

Yes, it's a competitive ride. Yes, it's probably Glenn's best-ever chance

What if the races are runhing late for some reason, or arb even

reason to think that Glenn will not

Mitchell Adam

afraid.

berronew@bigpond.net.au

a race.

National: Mark Wicks, Mark Jones,

Bathurst. Loyalty can only cloud business judgment for so long, I'm The reaction of fellow long-time Glenn Seton supporters to this news has been equally mixed. We were all expecting Glenn to round

Rally: Ryan Lahiff

Drag Racing: Dave Ostaszewski (USA), Ken Ferguson,John Bosher

Crompton on board.This not only gives some continuity, but also Ford enduro drive, but it would

Darren Sutton,Tony Millard (UK)

Speedway: Greg Boscato, Geoff Rounds,

Already some things are falling in to place, and Iam ecstatic that Seven has managed to get Neil

surely be the absolute last resort

mixed from this long-time Seton fan's perspective.

It's been too long since Glenn has sat in a car capable of winning

US: Martin D. Clark, Phil Morris

mnews@mnewsxGim£au

Any chance of bringing the

admin@mnews.com.au

■ Contributors

PO Box 7072, Brighton, MlEr3l«6

we can hopefully get some good news on Seven's V8 coverage.

Nissan out of retirement? And

P 03 9596 5555 F 03 9596 5030

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

Send us yqurtfioughts:

to win Bathurst; but we can't

red-flagged? Iam 99 percent certain that Seven will not cut

Dirk Klynsmith, Marshall Cass, John Morris/

have the opportunity to answer the critics regarding his pace and form in competitive cars at

Blackbourn, Chris Carter, Coopers Photography, CBR Photographies, Paris Charles, Bob Potts,

Sandown and Bathurst.

It's sad that Glenn won't be

(UK)

driving a Ford in this year's

be expected to flock to the HRT merchandising tent straight away.

We've been brought up with blue blood in our veins.To adjust to cheering on HRT in their bid

endurance events.

to produce a competitive car, Just

to put up with), or do we miss the

Obviously, we don't know why Glenn chose HRT over a

to give Glenn a good chance of winning Bathurst is anathema to

end of the race coverage?

Photographers: Sutton Motorsport Images,

Mpix, AF1 Images, James Smith, Peter Bury, Neil Neil Hammond, Joel Strickland, Mike Patrick

Motorsport News is published by Australasian Motorsport News ABN 55125 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 contributionsace welcome,and whileall cate will be taken, Australasian Motorsport News does not accept

■

the fanbase that saw Glenn wipe

Hopefully we won't have to worry about this, but iam certain

everyone away in 1993, and win the title against the odds in 1997,

at some stage this year.

and Nissans at Bathurst, that left

us feeling deflated, year after year.

I'll still keep supporting Glenn,

1 year $148.50

2 years $285

as I'm sure the vast majority of the

A$210

A$390

A$270

A$495

history there not to support him, despite the change of brand, if

POST cheque/money order to the address above

he does win Bathurst with Mark

Seton fan-base will.

After all, there's too much

FAX credit card details (VISA or Mastercard) to 03 9596 5030 (int'l +613 9596 5030) EMAILto subsrSrmnews.com.au or

8 WEEK TRIAL SUBSCRIPTION AVAILABLE NOW

■ I

from as little as S25 (online payment only).

See website for full details.

these are things that will pop up Dean Turner

against better-funded teams,

including the HRT; and let's not

'Jr)3fSl'p-/r£J7J ■' New Zealand & Asia Rest of the World

(something a professional sport like V8 Supercars should not have

dturner@rocksolidgroup.com.au

talk about the near-misses in Fords

responsibility for damage or loss of material submitted.

'Opinions expressed in Motorspon News are not necessarily '_[jff.

Australia (incGST) Overseas (airmail):

into their AFL coverage, so do we have the race distance reduced

Does Seto look good in red?

Skaife it wouid be the fuifilment of what Glenn Seton has wanted

his entire life, and what his loyal supporters have been wanting as well. It would vindicate us against the barbs, that Glenn is past it, that

we have copped fnor this decade.

„

^L..,mnews

piisifiiniuvri poll results Do you support A1 Team

Australia?

I would if Team Oz were more successful: 45%

u

I have a passing interest: 32% I watch every round: 9% rmnotintoA1GP;8%

I watched Eastern Creek: 6%

I

82

motorsport Hiews j

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RX7 series 5

356

Jap import series 5, set up for Drift/Race, Huge Garett turbo, GReddy com, SARD injectors, HKS manifold & BOV, CAMS appr roll cage, bride bucket seat, very quick, call for more details,mustsell. $13500Or Best Offer.

CHECK LIST -have you supplied; Typed/written advertisement; category, photo; credit card details (number, expiry, name); your details (name, address, phone, email)?

Nathan 0401295723.

www.myl05.com/83927

356

SEHDTO: Mail: MylOS, Suite 8,11-21 Underwood Rd,

DATSUN 1600 IMP PRODUCTION CAR

Homebush, NSW, 2140

Email: mnews@my10S.com Fax:

Just II

02 9746 2100

rtucrsTWe are unable to , plifd:6iri!^ertUing.Ai^ '

'Wdt appear arsoOB as possiblealter receipt.' I MHeieAylOSda«dfle<b are fortht sale . .

matted‘'apuf' sSMI notbe^Mat. m

Ford Club Car/Street Machine refurbished.

High

horspower

Dry

Sumped SR20 Motec Throttle bodies MB Data Logging. Optionl Gearbox LSD Tilton 5

Selling Complete or willing to Seperate.

Meticulously built/prepared by Mick Webb's SVO. High 400HP and 575Nm 347W, Wolf

Ready For 2007

inch Clutch & Pedal Box. Big AP Brakes Fully

3D EMS, 6speed Richmond Gearbox, heavy

Adjustable Suspension. Much much more.

duty race clutch. 9" 31 spline diff, AP 4spot, two piece discs, EFI fuel system, Bilstein

Aussie Racing Car #60. Ready for 2007 season, including spare wheels & new tyres. Factory

Shocks,

Current or past .record holder of every Lap record in Victoria. Also full spares package & trailer if required. 20000.00 Neg. Robert Mills

race

Maintained. Proven Race Winner. Still time to

harnesses. Email for full details. 37500 Neg.

8

rims.

Stainless

exhaust,

be on the grid at AGP supports & Adelaide.

03 9722 2842.

Cliff 03 9721 2596.

$50000. phil 0401313966.

www.myl O5.com/17410

www.myl O5.com/14252

356

www.myl 05.com/80687

356

motorsDortnews

CLASSIFIEDS ,

RACE AND PERFORMANCE CLASSIFIEDS

Z

/

online classifieds Find hundreds more race vehicles and parts for sale at www.my105.com New BA Falcon V8

Mitsubishi VR4 EVO RS RallyCar Rjrp opfmuiaa/ to parchaBBB^etltiK Mcon

2L Twin Cam Turbo 4WD 4WS. Built from

(asEsntly ln-batd| wllh ait e? goad gv.

Standard. Walker Chassis Full Roll Cage, Sparco EVO Racing Seats, TRS 4 Point Harness's, Teratrip Headseats & Teratrip Rally Computer. Heavy Duty Extreme Clutch, New

Fujasj

sorlos

new

BA

23D5 dad 2006 mflHgitad faigloes, 888 P'coaied Bn

L quedlly sp.ires-mrl

IBBSC |Sl/B9riBh0p iBnasTteF/^anawover,^! lnt»<Lp(oven

Muoiin'- fof aie/spllt

available. POA. Dwld hlaidoag^

\

BI0598S438

vww.my 105.comW02 2 7

355

Shell. SI 3,000 ONO. Mark 0411 110 453 (S.A.).

www.myl05.com/72496

356

double adjustable Koni suspension. Front running car in right hands. All sensible offers considered. Must sell as new project is nearing completion. John Morriss0418 320 517.

» \

[e Fujitsu Pit amj WoEtatinp'Padage. GSrapJ^te^paiES

Porsche 944 LHD, Excellent Condition. Last round Philip Island Imin 52 sec. Fastidiously maintained, all the latest go fast equipment, HSD head,

For Sale Fujitsu Package 4St Tansporsei, Ccmpiere Tt> List, (SnO 727

fef

KYB Front Shocks & GAB Adj on the rear.

Complete with Spare's Car-Gallant GSR, Same Interchangeable Parts & also a VR4 Front Cut

o^d drive'

www.myl05.com/29512

356

9B7PDA, I,

www.myl 05,com/39609

■

■

1.

Unfinished Project /j

Left hand drive porsche updated to look like

in

11

a 79 . Has 16" c2 wheels & spare set of 16"

fuche wheels . Engine was rebuilt in USA & has done about 4,000 miles . Have run out

Porsche GT3 Cup Car Immaculate Cup Car with low race kms driven by Mark Webber!!! '03 model with '05

95WRX

Excellent cond. Fully TIG welded roll cage.

Space Frame Torque Tube Transaxle Hewland

$139K-FGST ONO. David 0419936941.

FGB oil cooler & pump new gear sets, ratios to suit ail tracks Motec systems Dash GT35/40 Roller bearing Series 6 13B motor dry sump, new rotors, housings, shaft, end plates,

www.myl05.eom/69606

hillclimbs. $17250 ONO. Ben 0409 467 136.

www.myl05.eom/49602

356

.’till

refreshed gearbox - already race prepared for

For Sale - Mazda Sports Sedan

swaybars, sparco race seats, plus more good

dirt rallying. Circuit racing, supersprints or

www.myl05.eom/20419

upgrades. Great wheels package. Recently

Drummond adjustable shocks, adjustable bits. Very adaptable, would suit tarmac or

of time & patience to make it into a race car . Can be fully registered . 25,000 Not neg.

Yogi 0428 636502.

'07 season. CAMS Log booked as Category 2B. 356

(Requires rebuild) Koni adjustable shocks, new "Ibac” springs new slicks, intermediates, wets on rims, body panels & moulds, genuine

inquiries only. $55,000. Luke 0352779296 /

1

0418582882.

www.myl05.com/53696

356

Ford Zephyr MKIII '64 Group NB Ford Zephyr MKIII 1964 Group NB Race Car. Very competitive class winning car, developed over many years. Alloy Cage, 6 Alloy Wheels,

Viper

Original Mkll GT Cortina

Brand new chassis. Rebuilt engine gearbox

Original log book Nc historic race car, new engine top HP, dyno sheet, 8 wheels & tyres

& proflex dampers. Ran top 3 targa 03

4 new, heaps of spare parts, won class at last meeting Morgan Park, turn key ready to race, cheap GTf&r race or street, will trade. $ 15,500.

suitable tarmac circuit. Ex nations cup. Big brakes. Fabulous to drive. $125,000. Andrew Miedecke 0418 653366.

www.myl05.com/24143

C/R Gearbox, Disc Brakes, New L.S.D. $13,000 + Spares, Neg. Phone Stuart (02) 9980 1125 (W)or(02) 9651 4489 (AH),

www.myl05.eom/22890

Drags

Allen 0419 700534 / 07 54851956.

356

356

www.myl05.com/51262

VX Race Car

Chromemoly Cage V8 supercar spec. New block, splade 4 bolt main come crank & rods,

Cheap HQ Racer

Cheap HQ Race Car great way to start racing or convert into muscle car for Bantie

series, fresh paint and spares. 4700.00 Neg. Michael 0413121202.

www.myl05.com/48482 wmr.mnews.com.au

356

dry Sump, forged pistons, Y Talloy heads, rollercam/rockers, VN group A twin throttle manifold, autronic comp. Alloy 9"IRS rearend, V8 supercar brakes & shocks, airjacks, centre lock wheels, 482 RW horsepower, would cost $140,000 to build. Never $55,000ONO. Eric 0411 -591-491.

www.myl 05.com/70027

Crashed.

Aussie Racing Car Aussie Racing Car #49, ready for 2007 Season, includes custom trailer, spare set of wheels, spare bonnet. Race at FI and Bathurst. 47,000 ONO. 0413 871514.

356

www.my105.com/66594

64 Tube Chev Nova

Full tube moly spindles setup bbc LHD complete

less motor n box immaculate.

41500 ONO. Ivan 0415700097.

356

www.myl05.com/99962

356

81

MENS TEAM POLO

MENS TEAM TEE

MENS TEAM FLEECE

S-3XL

S-3XL

S-3XL

RRP$59

RRP$40

RRP$75

LADIES TEAM SHIRT

LADIES TEE

LADIES TEAM POLO

8-18

8-16

8-18

RRP$79

RRP$25

RRP$45

I

I

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MENS TEAM JACKET S-3XL

KIDS TEAM JACKET 2-14

KIDS TEAM TEE 2-14

2-14

RRP$250

RRP $79

RRP$35

RRP$45

KIDS TEAM POLO

r

QLD

VIC

Loganholme: The Lions Den Hyperdome Shopping Centre Pacific Highway

Fountain Gate: The Lions Den

Logan City Queensland 4129

Westfield Shopping Centre Fountain Gate Victoria 3805 Phone: 03 8790 2934

Phone: 07 34516333

‘^''oduct available at participating Holden dealerships and Lions Den Stores or while stocks last.

AVAILABLE FROM SELECTED HOLDEN DEALERS AND LIONS DEN STORES.

LION r

DEN

holden.com.au

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CAM McCONVILLE

VS Supefear Legend

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^ SHANE WEBCKE

Rugby League Legend