Motorsport News Issue 362 - August 2007

GIBSON COLLECTION:RETRACING FRED'S SUPERCARS c

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No.362 AUGUST 2007 Australia $6.95 NZ $8.50 inc GST

WILL DAVISON

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NEWS

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news

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Whatis Davison's next move?

8

Honda hires and fires in Formula 1

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le Eshes Team Kiwi's back in the Game

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10 Pt^er Viewing

Willstars in USA -and it's on TV!

T2 Board Senseless V8Supercar, the Monopoly game!

OPINION 14 MotorMouth

Whose car are you driving?

22 Box Seat

There is such a thing as bad publicity

98 The Back Page

Looking backwards. OK, we're old

Photos Cover;

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Dirk Klynsmith Contents: sutton-images.com Kiynsmith John Morris/Mpix

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FEATURE:^ 20 Five Minutes with Jean-Pierre Jabouille 24 DJR's Will Davison spills his guts But he never spills his Jim Beam 32 Following the Family Business Nico - Williams's second Rosberg 38 Lime Rock Star -if

NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL

Hanging with Ryan Briscoe in the ALMS 44 Captain Fantastic

80 Speedway

Inside Roger Penske's back shed. Sort of

82 Drag Racing 84 NationalScene

46 V8 Supercar's Fu Fighters The Fujitsu Series has come a long,long way 62 Freddie Mercurial A briefhistory ofGibson's V8 Supercars

RACE 66 Old cars-h wet weather = Goodwood 68 Wheeeeeeee!ofthe Never Never Craig storms Hidden Valley. And smiles 72 How the Carrera Cuppers found Darwin(with GPS?) 76 FI:Raikkonen takes 10 points at Silverstone

TRADE 92

Race Shop/Industry News/Classifieds

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Stones confirm TKR deal

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SBR prepares Kiwi Falcon from OP with van Giz behind the wheel STONE Brothers Racing will prepare Team Kiwi Racing's entry in the V8 Supercar Championship Series from Oran Park onwards.

As exclusively revealed in Motorsport e News (Issue #013),the Queenslandbased team will prepare and maintain the all-black entry for young Kiwi star Shane van Gisbergen, who has been part of SBR's long-term plans for some time.

TKR owner David John's title within the team will remain as the team principal and licence owner.

The car that van Gisbergen will drive is Russell Ingall's current BF Falcon, with Ingall moving into a new BF chassis as from now. ^ SBR's Fujitsu Series engineer Lindsay Tht^pson will look after the #021 car at the racetracks.

Van Gisbergen finished second in New Zealand's Toyota Racing Series last season and tested with SBR at Queensland Raceway in May. The Falcon will remain in a similar livery to the ●WATTYtFord Performance Racing-prepared car that Adam Macrow and Paul Radisich drove in the first four rounds of the series.The SBR/TKR link up comes after a split between FPR and TKR in early June.

- GRANT ROWLEY

Drivers support Dunlop option tyre

THERE is a growing level of support for the introduction of an'option'tyre in V8 Supercars.

Dunlop was awarded a five-year deal last month to continue its exclusive supply of control tyres and, with a five-year tenure, the company and V8SA together have the option to develop and then implement an option tyre to run beside the current K5P5 tyre.

And there is a fair degree of support for the concept.

"It's a great idea,"said Steven Richards.

"My version of it is that it would work well if it has to be used, either from the start of the race or to have drivers go onto the option tyre at the [compulsory pit] stop.

"It would be good if the tyre was about half-a-second a lap, over a 60-second lap, faster than the 'control'tyre. That way, if drivers have a bad race, or are at the back after qualifying, they have the option of using four tyres and charging through. I thinkthatthe racing would be awesome."

Supercheap Autos driver - and Network 10 Formula 1 head Cameron McConville largely agrees.

"F/^ke "The

Nex^t S“tep a seminar designed to educate drivers and teams looking to move forward with their car racing careers

"I think it's a great idea, it's a good concept," he said.

"It sort of works in Formula 1 and created another element to the racing. Sometimes the problem is that everyone goes to the option tyre at the same time so it doesn't spice it up.

"But the important thing is to make sure the option tyre is substantially faster or slower. In FI, sometimes it's only two or three tenths of a difference. I'd say you'd need to make it half a second difference. It should be that if the back 15 cars (in the field) have changed to the option tyre and the front 15 haven't, then they can make up some inroads for a period of the race."

Speaking on the night will be Industry Leaders and Drivers

Bertrand Decoster Ray Price Manager Managing Director Mygale Cars ^r-»^Ford Motoreport

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ONE of Ford's young stars has made a big impression in the 2007 V8 Supercar Series, so much so that a range of teams are believed to be eyeing off the young gun for 2008.

With Russell Ingall virtually certain to be leaving Stone Brothers Racing after five seasons with the Queensland-based Ford squad, paddock talk has linked former open wheeler international Will Davison to the team for 2008 among a range of other teams who have been keen on securing the 24-year-old's services.

However, the Jim Beam driver says he has a contract with Dick Johnson Racing for next year the third and final on his current deal - and that he wants to stay, provided the team continues to move along and progress as it has done so in recent times on track.

"I do want to stay loyal," Davison told Motorsport News in this

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issue's main feature.

1 signed a three-year deal because I wanted to be there for three years and I felt that early in my career it was a perfect scenario for me to grow with a growing team.

"There would have to be certain criteria happen for me to want to move on. I'm happy to stick with them through the tough times and I've had to make some sacrifices to stick with them, but loyalty pays off.

"I'll know soon enough whether things are going to be all rosy there for next year and whether they're going to be able to fulfill what I need them to do for me to want to stay there. At this stage, that's all I want to do and I'm contracted to be there.

"I want to be there and I have a contract to be there.

"Unless something changes soon,there will be no reason why

anything changes.

"If things start to change throughout this year, you've got to do what's best for yourself. I've been in the wrong position quite a few times now and I know it's vital for my career I don't get stuck again."

Ongoing talk relating to the economic future of Dick Johnson Racing has been continuing around the V8 Supercar paddock, with the latest potential buyer being John Marshall, whose deal with Kees Weel to purchase Supercheap Auto Racing fell over at the 11th hour.

Carrera Cup category rights owners Sherrin Motorsport have also been linked to taking an interest in DJR, while Josh Thompson,father of Fujitsu Series star Andrew, has hosed down speculation about a possible involvement with the team.

-AARON NOONAN

Will Davo: 'A I

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS Age: Lives:

24 Gold Coast, QLD

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1995-1999 Karting 2000 1st,Victorian Formuia Ford Championship 2001 1st,Australian Formula Ford Championship 2002 4th, British Formuia Renault Championship(3 podiums) 2003 8th, British Formuia 3 Championship (Croft round win) 2004 7th, British Formula 3 Championship,Minardi FI test drive 2005/2006 A1 Team Australia driver,6th at Eastern Creek 2006 19th in V8 Supercar Championship Series(DJR) V8 Round Starts: 19(After Hidden Valley 2007) V8 Debut: 2004,Winton(Team Dynamik) Best V8 Result: 4th,Sandown 5002006 Best 2007 Result: 5th, Barbagallo Raceway Best V8 Qualifying: 4th, Hidden Valley 2007

For the latest motorsport news,first, digital,and FREE-available 24/7, new issue every TUESDAY morning

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BRIEFLVl ll

Honda Plays Tough

it'sYabba Dabba Dhabi WORK is pushing ahead for the inaugural Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on Yas Island.

The circuit website continues to count down to 1 February 2009 and there is still much to be done on the 6300-acre island. The marina area is already being excavated and the foundations for the pit buildings are underway.The marina will be able to accommodate 150 yachts, including 20 that are more than 30m long and six 60m. n The recent British GP was the first that local fans were able to watch the live on the big screen, thanks to Vue Cinemas.The Pommy version of Hoyts, which showed the race live from Silverstone to 30 multiplexes across the UK, says that the race was a largerthan-life experience and there were no commercial breaks.

This is not the first time FI has been viewed in a cinema,as something similar happened - unofficially - in South Africa some years ago... n GP2 Series, the Formula 1 'feeder' class, has unveiled its second-generation single-seater racecar, which will be used from 2008 to 2010. At the same time, GP2 director Bruno Michel confirmed the ongoing participation of Renault(for engines) and Bridgestone (tyres).

Also built in Italy by Dallara Automobili, the GP2/08 is visibly different from its predecessor, with a new engine bay and rear suspension layout, a new front-end with a much lower nose, and a single-keel chassis.

It was shaken down recently on the Paul Ricard test circuit in France by Renault FI test driver Nelson Piquet Jr, who completed 60 laps without problems. n The inaugural'Race of Legends' during the Historic race meeting at Laguna Seca on August 18 will feature double World champion Emerson Fittipaidi, multiple Le Mans winner Derek Bell, Vic Elford and Ove Andersson, and American racing stars Parnelli Jones, Bobby Rahal,Johnny Rutherford and the Unser brothers, Al Sr and Bobby Unser.

They will race 2.4-litre, 215bhp Toyota Scion tC sport coupes over eight laps of the Californian track and Toyota USA will award US $25,000 in prizemoney to the winner's selected charity. n Bridgestone PR director Nicolas Duquesne, who was seriously injured in a helicopter crash on the Saturday of the French Grand Prix meeting at MagnyCours, is to be released from hospital and transferred to another hospital near his home in Brussels, Belgium. Duquesne and his niece, Chloe Daudier de Cassini, who suffered multiple leg fractures, were the only survivors of the accident, which claimed three lives.

-SAWARD/SPURRING 8

Zander in,de Ferran out in team shakeup f

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Dream Team:de Ferran, top left, is gone and Zander,top right, has arrived to try to lift the under-performing Hondas.

HONDA has bared its teeth and made major changes in its Formula 1 team.

Sporting Director Gil de Ferran has left the team by, predictably, mutual consent, while former BMW.Sauber chief designer Jorg Zander is to be the new deputy technical director, under Japan's Shuhei Nakamoto.

Zander, who has been a key man in the development of BMW's hugely impressive FI.07, which has become the third best car in FI, behind the McLarens and Ferraris.This will be his second stint at Brackley, the German having worked for BAR-Honda from 2003-2005.

De Ferran's role within the team was something of a mystery, as one of the team's problems in recent years was that its race strategy - which would normally be within a Sporting Director's control - was not as sharp as other teams'. It is more likely that as a long-time Honda man,de Ferran was there to present a public face to sponsors and the media, while Nick Fry and co got on with work in the background.

WILLIS LOOKS GOOD IN RED RED Bull has ramped up its technical department with the recruitment of Geoff Willis.

The former Honda FI and Williams designer has been hired by Red Bull to be Technical Director of Red Bull Technology, reporting to Chief Technical Officer, Adrian Newey.The two men worked together at Williams in the 1990s, until Newey departed in 1997 to join McLaren.

Willis, right with Newey, was at Honda when the team stepped up in 2004, with Jenson Button finishing the Championship in third after scoring 10 podium finishes.

What this does indicate is that Red Bull is getting serious about is technical path. Willis is a pioneer in the use of computational fluid dynamics in FI and, with Newey's noted aerodynamic nouse,they could build a formidable team.Their efforts could also be spread to Toro Rosso, as'customer'chassis will be permitted from next season.

moiorsportnews

nets

D-Day loomsfor McLaren FIA takes over in Formula 1 espionage enquiry FORMULA 1's espionage saga will take a turn tomorrow (May 26) when McLaren faces the FIA's World Motorsport Council.

McLaren issued a statement last week that distanced the team from any alleged actions that designer Mike Coughlan may have been involved in.

It said,"no Ferrari materials or data are or have ever been in the possession of any McLaren employee other than the individual sued by Ferrari [ie, Coughlan].The fact that he held at his home unsolicited materials from Ferrari was not known to any other member of the team prior to July 3."

The team said that it is 'concerned"about the"erroneous speculation has arisen from inaccurate and misleading reference to the contents of confidential legal papers filed at court in response to Ferrari's UK action to recover its intellectual property.This is unfortunate and is prejudicial to a fair interpretation of these matters".

McLaren is continuing to say that it has "categorically established that no Ferrari information has at any stage been used to develop its car."

Coughlan and another of the players in the drama, Ferrari's Nigel Stepney, have become increasingly isolated. Stepney has been forced to return to England to escape the intrusions of the Italian media after allegations that he passed two CD ROMs containing 780 pages of technical information about Ferrari's 2007 racer.

Action brought by Ferrari again Coughlan and his wife Trudy in London was dropped last week and an affidavit from the couple has been submitted,though it cannot be used in Italian proceedings against Stepney.

For more on this drama see Box Seat, page 22-23

www.mnews.com.au

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THE veterans of Formula 1 look to have done enough to have secured something of a future, led by the news that Red Bull Racing has re-signed David Coulthard for 2008.

It's expected that Honda will ink Rubens Barrichello to another deal, while the chat continues to swirl regarding Champ Car Champion Sebastien Bourdais.The Frenchman tested again for Toro Rosso at Spa in mid-July and is still being linked to the Ferrari-powered team for next year.

Another reprieved man is Toyota's Ralf Schumcher. Schumacher's dismal 2007 has turned around of late and the

German has done enough to avoid the dreaded mid-season axe.

One man’who hasn't is Spyker's Christijan Albers,the Dutchman dumped by the team on the eve of the European Grand Prix at the Nurburgring,

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BRIEFLV,l ll 12 Hour makes a move to February THE Bathurst International Motor Festival is no more - sort of. The BIMF, which has run over the past two Easter long weekends, has undergone a name and date change.The Bathurst Motor Festival will now be held on February 15-17,2008, and will again incorporate the Bathurst 12 Hour.

The 200812 Hour will,for the first time,include the Australian Performance Cars and the V8 Utes.

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#^Athreeway tf/titlefight Power snatches Toronto as Seven comes to the Champ Car TV party

n Carrera Cup racer Marcus Marshall has sorted a V8 Supercar endurance drive with Jack Daniel's Racing.

The Gold Coaster will team up with Fujitsu Series regular Kayne Scott in the team's second VE Commodore while regulars Jack Perkins and Shane Price share the other car. n Ian Dyk has been confirmed as Australia's A1 Grand Prix driver for the 2007/08 season. The likeable New South Welshman will drive the Alan Docking Racing-prepared car for the entire season after competing in the final few rounds of last year's season.

Australia has the A1 Grand Prix record for the most number of podiums for different drivers (five) and have finished both championships in 13th place. n Fujitsu General has extended its deal with Britek Motorsport until the end of 2009.The deal is a two-year extension on the original three-year deal that was first signed when Jason Bright set up his own team in 2005.

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WILL Power has rocketed back into contention for the 2007 Champ Car World Series after taking his second career win on the streets of Toronto in July.

The title fight now seems likely to come down to a fight between Paul Stoddart's Minardi Team USA rookie sensation Robert Doornbos, reigning Champion Bourdais and Power's Team Australia machine.

Power's Toronto win was a strange one,the Toowoomba local qualifying a lowly seventh after losing track time during practice through a mechanical problem. But thanks to rain and some handy fuel economy. Power was at the front when it mattered.

The win came off the back of a third place finish at the first race of the Canadian swing at Mount Tremblant, a race that was won by Doornbos.

But the best news is that from the Edmonton round onwards Aussie Champ Car fans will be able to see all the action on the Seven Network. With the first seven rounds of the series going without broadcast by Australian TV, the races will now be broadcast on the Monday night following the round.

A Cupless Ambrose in the US

n The Yokohama V8 Utes Series has reached a four-year deal with V8 Supercars to be an official support category.The new deal means that V8 Utes Series will only appear on V8 Supercar events, except the Grand Prix bill. The Utes have run on just about every racing program known to man in the past, including V8s, PROCAR and the CAMS Series. n V8 Supercar teams will have the option of running sequential gearbox in 2008.Teams will be allowed to choose between H-pattern and sequential configurations. Teams may continue to use the current model gearbox (H6S), but won't be able to run that in sequential configuration. The price of the new RD6'boxes will be fixed at the H6S price. Fujitsu Series teams will continue to run the current gearboxes. n Tim Slade will drive in the Fujitsu V8 Supercar Series for the remainder of 2007- plus 2008- with Matthew White Racing.

10

MARCOS Ambrose's much-hyped NASCAR Nextel Cup debut has been put on the backburner -for now.

The Busch Series driver, who is currently running 10th in the NASCAR feeder series, was due to make his Cup debut for Wood Brothers at Infineon Raceway at the end of June.

Ambrose was originally

scheduled to pull'double duty,' contesting both the Busch race at Milwaukee, and the Cup race at Infineon the day after, but this did not eventuate.

Ambrose representatives claimed that the delay would 'better suit"the former V8 Supercar champion,although his results in America makes it clear that he is capable of racing in any NASCAR

league.The Cup ride was handed to flat-track specialist Boris Said.

Regardless, Ambrose is slated to make his debut in Cup later this year at Watkins Glen in early August. But despite the drama, Ambrose has continued to turn heads in the world's premier stock n car championship. After Daytona's July round, Ambrose sat 10th after 20 races.

motorsport news

nEuis

MotoGP heads to the Brickyard

Smiling Ryan

AUSSIE Ryan Briscoe continues to taste the champagne in the American Le Mans Series with overall victory at Lime Rock in mid July.

The Penske Porsche driver. teamed with regular partner Sascha Maasen,overcame the reduction in air inlet size as demanded by rulemakers to even the LMP2 class car's performance with the bigger LMPl cars.

A great strategy call by none other than team boss Roger Penske proved the difference as Briscoe drove to the line to rack up another win for the DHL-backed program.

Turn to page 38 for a further insight into Briscoe's program with Penske Racing/Porsche and how he has adapted to driving for one of the biggest teams in North America.

I

A DAYTONA-style Speedweek is a possibility at the newest round of the MotoGP World Championship,the Red Bull Indianapolis Grand Prix.

Officials from MotoGP, Dorna and the Speedway confirmed last week that the race would be held next September, on a three-year contract. All three classes, MotoGP, 250s and 125s, will race on a new anti-clockwise 14-turn track, based on the now-idle Formula 1 circuit. However,the bikes will race in the opposite direction to the GP cars.

The race will run alongside the tradition summer Laguna Seca event, which hosts only MotoGP and local support events.

Preliminary work has already begun on the new track and construction of a new four-turn complex inside the traditional Turn 1 will commence after the Brickyard 400 in August.

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Frosty chillsfor three more i

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FORD Performance Racing secured the services for Mark Winterbottom before Hidden Valley, locking him into a new three year deal that will see him be a factory driver until the end of 2010.

The 26-year-old was happy to lock away his long-term future.

"It is good to run for a factory team and it was not hard to sign," he said.

"We have the same engineers, with

Clinton (Wilson)and Phil Keed both staying with the team so it we are working well. It is a great thing to have continuity and confidence for the next few years."

Winterbottom,the 2003 Development Series champion,joined FPR last year and finished third in the V8 Supercar Series.

He scored pole this year - his first - at Pukekohe.

The Australian Karting Association s seeking nominations fronn suitably qualified people for each of the five dedicated Board positions un der ft's new best management practice constitution: l Finance D rector l Administration Director l Marketing Director ●Technical Director‘Competition Director

KARTHUG ASSOC.

The proposed constitution provides some of the desired general qualiti of directors, such as experience in organisational work in either private, pgsiness or community activities and specia isecf skills relating to the particular positions.

Further information including a copy of the proposed constitution and a directors outline, can be obtained by emailing Leonie Dunn,admin@austKarting.com.au All director positions are volunteer roles.

Nominations may be by letter, facsimile or email to the address provided above.

Nominations close at 5.00pm on Friday 17 August 2007. / www.mnews.com.au

77

BRIEFLV.l ll Barrett moves to FPV MANAGEMENT changes are coming at Ford Performance Racing, with the imminent departure of Rod Barrett.

The team's Commercial Director will leave at the end of the month to take over the General Manager's position at Ford Performance Vehicles, starting August 1. Motorsport Director Tim Edwards remains in his current role.

Barrett, who joined FPR two years ago, has extensive marketing experience, with roles at Coca Cola and Fosters Group before joining the racing team. n The British Racing Drivers'Club, the owners of Silverstone, has been warned that it can't be complacent after Lewis Hamilton's success boosted the British GP gate this year.'Lewisteria' gave Silverstone a sell-out crowd, but Bernie Ecclestone has warned the BRDC that it must,"Wake up and do something about the circuit's conditions."

From Aussiesto FI! Yesterday James Manderson raced Aussie Racing Cars.Today, he's in Formula 1 JUMPING from Aussie Racers to Formula 1 sounds like an impossible leap - but that is what James Manderson is going to do.

The former Australian Formula 3 champion, who has been cutting a swathe through the Aussie Racing Car field this season, is believed to have accepted an offer to join Toyota's FI team from mid-September.

MNews believes that the 25year-old, who is an engineer with Toyota Australia, will work in the Colonge-based FI team's aerodynamic department.

Manderson, who raced in the Formula 3 Euroseries in 2003, is well-known to Toyota, which 'adopted'him when he raced in the ARC support events at this year's AGP meeting at Albert Park. He

n Johnny Cecotto Jr, son offormer motorcycle champion and Toleman GP driver Johnny, will make his British F3 debut at Brands Hatch this month by way of testing for the International Formula Master race in September. It was at Brands Hatch in July 1984 that his father had his Fl-career-ending shunt.

already has extensive experience within Toyota's engineering ranks.

event,finishing 25th. n Fabled race car designer Gordon Murray has set up his own company, Gordon Murray Design, and is planning to operate within motorsport."We have room for three programs," he said,"and one of them will be motorsport."

-STAFF/DAVID ADDISON

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EVER wanted to own Moffat's street? Or trade in your Dick to get out ofjail? Sound like a bunch of family fun?

Well, it could be at the end of August when Hasbro and V8 Supercars release a very limited edition V8 Supercar Monopoly game.

Based on the famous Parker Brothers family board game,V8 Supercar Monopoly will have all of the classic Monopoly features - only instead of buying Mayfair Street, you'll buy Brock Street.

And instead of getting sent to jail for tax evasion, you'll be sent to the slammer for passing under yellowsIThe game,limited to just 8000 copies, will be on sale August 31.

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Forget the Development Series!

James Manderson is set to set up his new base in Germany working for Toyota's Formula 1 team.

New'board'for V8Supercars

n Derek Warwick returned to racing in the British GP-supporting Porsche Supercup race but struggled with the complexities of the car and finished 27th. Tim Macrow made his international race car debut in the same

having spent a year in Japan and, as a results, speaks Japanese, as well as German and English.

-PHILBRANAGAN

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motorsport news

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Toll goes with experience THE 2007 V8 Supercar endurance driver puzzle has nearly been completed, with the news (broken by eNews #011, pictured right) that Paul Radisich will join the Toll HSV Dealer Team.

Radisich replaces David Reynolds, who has been shifted to Supercheap Auto Racing alongside Paul Weel. Weel drove at the Queensland Raceway round after Paul Dumbrell was ruled out with a broken finger.

The appointment of Radisich to the Toll team will allow the championship-leaders a bit of flexibility with its driver combos at Sandown and Bathurst. Regular drivers Rick Kelly and Garth Tander could be split, considering that Radisich and Craig Baird are both solid V8 exponents.

In other V8 enduro news, Grant Denyer has been locked in as

the fourth driver at WPS/WOW Racing. Who he'll partner remains a mystery, but one thing is for sure that there'll be no problem with the four driver's height!

Bargwanna (169cm) is the team's tallest (sic!) driver,followed

by Caruso (165cm), Denyer

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(164cm)and Wilson (163cm).

Only two seats in the field remain 'officially' unsigned.Tasman Motorsport and Team BOC have yet to announce their plans. Jay Verdnik has been linked to the Tasman seat after he tested with the team back in April.

Walsh and Scott head for Festival

GP Masters uncertain THE future of the GP Masters Series is uncertain, with news that the series could fold unless it secures financial backing.

The series, which pits drivers from Formula 1's past against each other in identical Cosworth-based 650hp cars, has struggled to gain events and credibility since its debut appearance in November 2005. Four events were scheduled for its first full season in 2006, but the Monza round was cancelled due to noise concerns. One of this year's events. In Bucharest, Romania, was canned after the promoter had financial n -‘on* difficulties.

The series has two scheduled events remaining, for Kyalami in South Africa on September 21-23 and Losail, Qatar on November 15-17.

Borland,Spectrum and AMSF give Rising Stars the chance to make history FOR the second-consecutive year, Borland Racing Developments is sending two young hopefuls to the UK to compete in the prestigious British Formula Ford Festival at Brands Hatch.

CAMS Rising Stars Ash Walsh and Josh Scott will head to the UK after the sixth round of the Australian Formula Ford Championship at Sandown.The pair will race in a regular British FFord Championship round (at Brands Hatch), before undergoing a few test sessions in their Spectrum chassis, preparing for the allimportant Festival.

Regardless of their results, Walsh and Scott will return to Australia as winners.The pair have been promised a test by Alan Docking Racing in one of their National Formula 3 cars.

Last year, John Martin raced a Spectrum at Brands Hatch but failed to make the final when he was involved in a serious crash on the front straight. Past winners of the British Formula Ford Festival include Mark Webber,Johnny Herbert and Eddie Irvine.

The drivers are competing with the assistance of the Australian Motor Sport Foundation.

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HE rain is tumbling outside and the collective feet in the MNews office are nearly frozen as another Melbourne day in July ticks by.

What does it all mean?

Apart from an annual 'can we move this whole thing to Queensland please, Mr Lambden' thought, it also means that our very own Sandown 500 isn't far away and that Bathurst isn't much further away. Which gets me, eventually, to my point.

Enough of this chat about V8 Supercar drivers having to drive their'own'cars in the endurance events! While I'm sure it would be interesting to see which endurance co-driver could bag the biggest pay cheque if such a system ever came in (pit lane scuttlebutt suggests Messrs Baird and Radisich are doing very well out of Toll HSV already as it is!). I'd be equally as interested to see how a few teams would line up their 'restriction of trade' actions!

Making drivers drive'their' regular cars is just another part of how the endurance events have become swallowed up as part of the overall championship and made to fit into the scheme of all things'regular'.

I'm sure there are young guns like Rick Kelly and Jamie Whincup who would dearly love to win Bathurst in their own car. Whincup made the comment after his win with Craig Lowndes last year.

They'd love to be the ones to have qualified it, do the majority of the laps and drive it past the chequered flag - one of those 'things you dream about when you're a kid'races.

But I'd much rather see Lowndes and Whincup take on Tander and Kelly, Richards (Steven) and Winterbottom, Skaife and Kelly, 14

and Murphy and Richards (Jason) in a Bathurst brawl. Having the big guns duking it out across five stints at Bathurst reaks of 'Mountain classic'.

The mix of part-time drivers in among regulars in the various driving stints has an interest. The associated strategy of teams trying to figure out the best stints to get their co-driver's minimal allocation of laps out of the way to let their gun step back in and go for the podium adds intrigue.

Bathurst still retains its aura, its appeal and its importance.The winners get more press on the Monday after the race than the last 10 years of overall championship wins combined - and I can vouch.

When Greg Murphy and Rick Kelly won in 2004 - in my Holden PR days -1 spent from Bathurst to Gundagai in the car answering calls for interviews, congratulations and media enquiries on the Monday morning after. It got so much that I had to swap with a friend and let him drive so I could keep up!

How can having two regular drivers paired up be deemed, as it is by some in this argument, as an unfair advantage? They are employed by a race team to race cars. If they are in a position where they won't compromise one another's championship chances, then bang their names on the windows and let's go racing.

If teams have sponsor commitments for a specific driver to campaign'their'car, then that's the individual teams issue. Stiff.

The swap between HRT and Toll HSV for last year's enduros often is used as the ignition for this debate.

Making a driver drive their own car would have stopped the switch, but in the end, full-time drivers raced together (Skaife/Tander and Kelly/Kelly) and the interest in

Marshall Cass ●

liiotoR induTH

Aaron Noonan Editor

those two pairings gave far more pre-race media fodder than the regular combos would have.

You could bet your bottom dollar that if other teams were in the same situation and could have done the same thing they most certainly would have.

Some teamsfor have been struggling their endurance drivers this year. They will have bodies in their cars at Sandown and Bathurst, but they aren't necessarily their number one pick.

It's not the place to go naming just which teams they are, you can figure that for yourselves.

Remember that argument about'you need two full time drivers'to win in the enduros anyway? Do the numbers and it comes out 11-3 in favour of the 'full time' driving combos since 1993 at both Bathurst and in the Sandown/Queensland 500. The last non full time combo to win Bathurst was 2002 (Jim Richards pairing with Mark Skaife) and you have to go back to 1995 when V8 virgin Russell Ingall won with Larry Perkins in his fourth-ever V8 Supercar and third Bathurst start.

But let the teams choose who they want in their cars for the two big races. If a lesser-experienced driver is to make a mistake and cost a hot shot a Bathurst win or a championship, then let the teams make the call on putting them in and running the risk than the rule makers.

I

had to chuckle when I discovered the reason forV8 Supercars Australia calling a meeting with teams, drivers, officials and media on the Friday in Darwin.

The reason for the catch-up was to encourage the V8 drivers to speak their mind a bit more the issue explored in our last

s»

Full timers: Reckon Lowndes could have won last year with a non full-timer in the co-driver seat? interesting one huh... magazine - prompted by feedback from News Limited as to why our sport doesn't penetrate the papers.

I'd love to claim some credit, but the column and magazine was off at the printers before I discovered what it was all about.

And boy hasn't it worked?

Everyone bar the guy who scanned my pass at the gate ripped into Will Davison in Darwin and Jason Richards has 'gone to town' on Queensland Raceway in most recent times. Finally some fodder and some emotion coming through - and it can only escalate as the big races approach...

motorsportnews

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Mum warned me about two hands on the handlebars.

But she's not at Goodwood and won't see it unless it gets in MNews.Oh crap... it would appear it has

OF THE moriTH ^IPICTURES NASCAR is close.

NASCAR is generally on ovals.

NASCAR's don't generally lock brakes.

But at Infineon Raceway, on the road course,they definitely do. Dale Earnhardt Jr has the Goodyear smoking to avoid Tony Stewart.

‘

We love Valentino Rossi.

The guy is a gun rider but he knows how to have fun, which is probably why we like him, moreso than for his on-bike talent. We're not sure how his guitar playing is for real and whether he would truly rock, but when you're a multiple champion there's a fair chance you can work up to it!

1987

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THE VEflR THRT UJRS lll

The next big thing

Italian Stefano Modena was earmarked by some ofthe sport's most influencial people as Formula 1's GRANT ROWLEY coming man.But as Modena knows himself,not everything goes to script l ll

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EFLECTING on the past successes and failures is part of life. Stefano Modena is a testament to that.

After a long and rewarding career in karts, the talented Italian had an amazing rise through the major European racing categories and was driving in Formula 1 just two years after making his Formula 3 debut.

His first year of F3 saw him take fourth place in the Italian championship in 1986, with a season-best of second place at the Monaco Grand Prix support race. He also won the oneoff meeting at Imola, earning him the title of 'European Champion.'

With substantial financial backing, Modena moved straight into F3000 in 1987 with Onyx and his special talent was there for all to see.

He took the championship at his first attempt, winning three races at Vallelunga, Birmingham 18

and at homeatimola.

Stefano's name was on everyone's lips, including current FI supremo Bernie Eccelstone, who at the time owned Brabham's Formula 1 team. On the back of Modena's attitude and god-given speed, Eccelstone invited Modena to drive in the season finale at Adelaide - the Australian FI Grand Prix.

The world should have been a happy place for Modena from there on, but his career was littered with dud teams and bad mistakes.

After his AGP debut, Modena drove for an underperforming EuroBrun in 1988, before rejoining Brabham for two years. He scored the first of his two podium finishes in 1989 at Monaco,taking third place behind Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost.

In 1991, Modena moved to Tyrrell and looked like he'd found his place. He was

running second at Monaco before engine faiiure, and backed up that promise with third at Canada in the next round.

But consistent resuits were never forthcoming, and the italian seemed to lose heart.

His last season was with a very young Jordan team in 1992. it was an uninspiring way to end his tenure in FI, with his highiight coming in his final GP (Adelaide) with sixth place - his only point score for the year.

Modena stayed in motor racing for a number of seasons after Formula 1, driving touring cars in italy and Germany but it was his fast rise and mega promise that has, in time, marked him as a race driver who'should have,' rather than'did.'

"When I jumped in F3000, 1 was very lucky. I had a very good team and I won the championship," he recalled.

motorsportnews

Stefano Modena FI career Born: May 12,1963 Lives: Rome,Italy Races 81 (70 starts) Championships: 0 Wins: 0 Podium finishes: 2 Career FI points: 17° First race: 1987 Australian Grand Prix Last race: 1992 Australian Grand Prix

Stefano Modenain2007l ll

Slim pickings: Modena's first fullseason with Brabham in 7989, top, delivered his first podium, below with Senna and Frost. His only other podium was with Tyrrell, above left, at Canada, below with Piquet and Patrese. The Italian's final season with Jordan, above right, was frustrating.

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MOLSON iss) DU CANADA V&9S

is WHEN YOU GET OLD,YOU START TO THINK TOO MUCH.YOU CAN ONLY THINK ABOUT DRIVING - THINK ABOUT GOING FAST STEFANO MODENA "After that, there was no other place to go but to Formula 1. 1 was lucky there too. I was called

by Bernie Eccelstone to race in the final race of the season at Adelaide.

"I did quite a good race, but I stopped because I was physically destroyed.The car was too heavy to drive... not too difficult, too heavy.

I had to stop. I was going to create an accident.

"I was coming from Formula 3000 without any experience in FI and the car had something like 450 horsepower more than F3000. Everything was completely different.

"Anyway, it was a good experience. It helped me get into Formula 1 and go on to do a few good things."

Today, Modena is philosophical about his Formula 1 fortunes.

"What I did in my career was pretty good," he reflects.

"My target was always to win in what ever category I was racing -from go karts to Formula 3, Formula 3000 and Formula 1.

"I reached that target, apart from Formula 1 www.mnews.coni.au

where I never won a race, but all of the other categories I scored very good results.

"I had a very good time everywhere. I made mistakes, I was learning how to behave in the world, how to behave in different situations, but this is part of life. We don't know the future!

"I was young, I was without any thought in my mind,easy going. I didn't have any kind of probiem.

"My philosophy is that people should race in motor racing when they are young and they have no problems.

"When you get old, you start to think too much.You start to say'maybe this, maybe that.'

You can only think about driving - think about going fast. This is what I believe."

So, does Modena miss being out of the driver's seat.

"Not at all!" he laughed.

"I raced for 25 years. It was my life, it wasn't a sport, it was a Job. After 25 years it was becoming very heavy."

POST-RACING career,Stefano Modena still drives cars - a lot.

The Italian works as a tyre tester near his home at Rome, predominantly for Bridgestone. In fact, Modena has worked with Bridgestone for a very Ipng time since his days in karting,to be precise.Th'at''*''l relationship continued with the Japanese giant in Grand Prix racing, and he now works at the company's Rome plant testing and developing road and sport tyres.

"I get to drive on many different specifications of tyres, trying to achieve the most out of them.

"I am responsible for developing tyres, and what I have to do is select a tyre that is suitable for the car, but also I have to be in line with the expectation of the manufacturer that I'm working.

"For example,the(Bridgestone) Adrenaline project,that I worked on.That's more a personal tyre. Anyone can buy them. For them,it's more a personal thing and the system for testing is a bit different.

We take several cars with different characteristics and we develop the tyres for all the cars. We try to achieve the 90 percent or 95 percent of the balance.

Also, we try and put some of the personal things in the tyres -from a driver point of view."

But what does Modena like in a tyre?

"In motor racing, what allows you to go faster is to go into the corner and have proper balance, not having understeer or oversteer.

"A sport(or road)tyre should allow you to touch the limit in safe conditions.That means that the tyre shouldn't be too aggressive, or too responsive. It should be a very linear tyre, which means everytime you move your steering wheel, you have a response - but not too much and not too late.

"It also has to be very stable in the corner.

You should feel the grip and should feel the even balance."

-GRANT ROWLEY

79

5 minUTES UIITH ...

JERn-PIERRE JRBOUILLE The Frenchman was at this year's British GP to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Renault's first MARKGLENDENNING start in Formula 1.We sat down to discuss turbos and yellow cars MOTORSPORT NEWS:What Renault did in 1977 was a massive project - it was a new manufacturer, a new car, and for the first time, a turbo engine.

How prepared were both you and the team at your first race at Silverstone?

JEAN PIERRE JABOUILLE: We weren't at all prepared compared to how they are today.The Idea of the first race was to experiment with things that we couldn't test when we were just running on our own.

The critical thing with the turbo engine was the turbo lag. When you were running on your own you could anticipate it, and by going back on the throttle in the corners, you could reduce the time of the turbo lag. But when you were running with other cars, you can't dictate all of the parameters.

So it was about understanding how the car behaved in traffic with other cars, in race conditions.

The turbo lag was the issue with the engine, but the other new technology was the Michelin tyres; the radial tyres. At that time they were really hard to drive, because they went from very high grip to suddenly losing grip under braking.The more traditional tyre constructions were much more progressive.

And also, it was training for the team - it was a brand-new team of 15 people, and none of them had ever done FI before. It it was a way for the team to get used to Grand Prix racing.

Was it strange for you as a driver?

You were making your FI debut, you have everyone racing around you,and yet you were effectively testing.

It was exactly the same.The testing phase was the work outside the car, but once I was in the car,that all switched off.

Then, I became a racing driver, racing the guys in front, trying to catch the car in front,then the one after that.

I was completely focussed on the driving and the competition.

The testing mentality was outside 20

of the car; it stopped when I got onto the grid.

Despite the preparation work in 1977,the car was not reliable through 1978. Did the team start becoming discouraged?

Well, take the pistons,for example.

The demands of the turbo engines were completely different, and the company that made the pistons were used to making them for normally-aspirated engines.

They weren't just coming and putting proven technology in the car. Renault were coming with new technology and asking all the suppliers to develop new technology as well. It was a much bigger project than just Renault.

Compared to now, when everyone has got the same supplier, the same-spec engines, at the same revs, it's quite easy to come in and be reliable straight away because there is that knowledge base within the suppliers.

But back then,that knowledge base of how to make the parts had to be acquired by all of the suppliers, not just the team.

So the time that it took was normal.The team did not lose patience with it.

The turbochargers were done by Garrett in the States, and the first

ones they used were actually truck turbochargers that ran at very low speed. So Garrett were there along with the team developing the technology all the time,adapting something that was originally designed for a truck to work in a Formula One car. So all of them were on the adventure together in that way.

You finally cracked the win at the French GP in Dijon in 1979 - actually, a double-podium for Renault, with Rene Arnoux finishing third. Was it a result that the team had been building towards?

We'd tested there two weeks beforehand and everything had gone well - we'd done a full race distance. I arrived at the race very, very motivated. Once I was in the car, I was just the driver, like when I was in the normally-aspirated F2 car. I was just a normal racing driver managing my race, and then when I got to the end,that's when

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it felt special.

It was the first win for Renault, the first win for me,the first for a turbo, and as fate would have it, it was in France,too. And on top of that, there was the battle between Arnoux and Gilles Villeneuve behind me that made it such a historic and legendary Grand Prix.

You could argue that the race is actually better known for that battle for second than it is for you, Renault and the turbo engine getting the first win. Does that bother you,that your win was overshadowed?

No. I was the guy who won.The guys behind ... everyone feted them as heroes, but they were millimetres away from being conceived as complete idiots.

They probably took a lot of risks for little reward. But I was happy, because it was all happening behind me. I was out in front, I got the win, and I didn't care at all about what happened behind me.

THEY WERE MILLIMETRES AWAY FROM BEING CONCEIVED AS COMPLETE IDIOTS JPJ ON THAT RACE BETWEEN ARNOUX AND VILLENEUVE AT DIJON IN 1979 moiorsportnews

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FORmULR 1

JoeSaward Formula 1 Correspondent

S

TEPNEYGATE,or whatever you want to call it, comes at a time when there are tens of thousands of new fans coming into the sport because of Lewis Hamilton's amazing success.

Hamilton is the best thing to happen to Formula 1 since the greatest days of Ayrton Senna,and we in the Formula 1 media should be celebrating this extraordinary talent, rather than digging up dirt on a sorry business involving McLaren and Ferrari, and wondering whether the scandal will result in the loss of points for McLaren.

Ferrari has milked the scandal,as it tries to paint McLaren in a less than favourable light (as, indeed, would probably be the case if the positions were reversed). But anyone who knows Ron Dennis and other senior managers at McLaren knows that this sort of thing is absolutely not their style.

Ron has plenty of failings but dishonesty is not one of them and he is one of the most respected men in the FI paddock. He can be a complete pain in the neck and his own worst enemy - but he is straight and it pains me to see him being dragged across the coals.

T

here is a school of thought in some circles in FI that there is no such thing as bad publicity. Scandals and drama bring in more viewers because they create interest and draw people into the FI soap opera.

I disagree.There are times when FI needs to stop washing its dirty laundry in public.There was a time when the Tour de France bicycle race received enormous publicity in Europe but the drug scandals have undermined the whole affair. Why watch a sport when you don't know if it is straight or not?

I cannot claim to know the full details of what has been happening but I do know that there is a great deal more to this story than meets the eye. Nigel Stepney did not say that he"knows where the bodies are buried"at Ferrari without knowing exactly what he was saying.That was a message to someone at Ferrari.

Weeks ago, he told me he was being followed everywhere and hinted that he believed he was being set up.This was long before he went public with claims of car chases,tracking devices and private detectives.

If he is a fantasist, why did Ferrari employ him for the last 14 years and pay him an outrageous salary? It does not make sense.

Stepney denies sending anything to McLaren's Mike Goughian and,it seems, despite the threat ofjail, Goughian has not implicated Stepney in his affadavit.That suggests to me that perhaps Stepney did not send the Ferrari data to Goughian. So who did? Was there an accomplice? Or is it more complicated than that?

Walk around the FI will paddock forof a few minutes and you get a lot different conspiracy theories about this - each with no evidence at all to back'it (flj.-’ I do not know the truth, but what I do know is that this whole business smells bad, no matter what the outcome.It paints F1 people as folk who will do anything to win or to make more money.Sure,there is an element of that, but the majority of people in FI are good people, who work hard and are passionate about the sport.

Every now and then, every organisation finds a bad apple in its ranks. It really is just a matter of luck. As t;eams get bigger,so does the chance that someone inside the organisation will do the wrong thing.

I think the perpetrators should be hung out to dry - if there is evidence to convict them - but I do not like to see the kind of trial by media that is currently going on in Britain and in Italy. We do not want such things in the sport. We don't want sabotage, we don't want espionage, we don't what whatever the hell is going on at the moment.

The good news is that those who do pass data between the teams - and I am sure it happens a fair bit - will have seen that this is more and more dangerous.This is good news because when all is said and done, what we want most of all is fair and honest racing.

RON DENNIS CAN BE A COMPLETE PAIN IN THE NECK - BUT HE IS STRAIGHT AND IT PAINS ME TO SEE HIM DRAGGED ACROSS THE COALS

www.mnews.com.au

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Things are on the up For DJR’s OaviSQp, has helped push the team Further up the grid despite all sorts oF rumours about the outFit's Future. AARON NOONANjoined him For a oruise on the Gold Coast to taih through it

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JUST BECAUSE THEY HAVE A BIGGER BOAT OR MORE INCOME OOESNT MEAN THEY CAN INTIMIDATE ME ON THE HIDDEN VALLEY ACCIDENT AND THE CRITICISM THAT FOLLOWED

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T'S a cruisy Saturday morning with the sun warming the water and providing the perfect interview atmosphere.

Will Davison is behind the wheel, but instead of the Jim Beam Falcon he's on board his new pride and joy - a pontoon boat.

It's a world away from the swirling accusations that came firing at the 24-year-old after the first race at Hidden Valley, where contact with Mark Winterbottom brought some of the sport's more experienced drivers out into the media with all guns firing.

But as we glide into the loch to take us further down the water, it's all old news to Davison.

"I think some of those decisions were pretty, naturally knee-jerk reactions of people upset about their cars getting damaged," he says.

"They had to blame someone and I was probably the only person they could without them looking at it properly. Whether it was my fault or not, it was one 26

of those things that happens in racing. I'm not giving it anymore thought now. I generally don't get myself into nasty situations, so i learn from every mistake I make, i still have my view on the incident, where I feel 1 was squeezed to the inside, which caused it. There's no point talking about that anymore, move on.That was pumped up a lot more than normal. It was Race 1, you have to learn something from every situation and I'll probably be a bit more careful now in Race 1 of 3."

Davison leaves the topic alone for a while, but later in our trip, he re-visits it...

"The criticism was pretty funny, coming from some of the people that were talking. Guys that I am blown away by what they say to cover their own arses. I've got a lot of respect for them but it makes you laugh at what they're saying.

"Are they trying to intimidate me from not trying again? I don't go in with the attitude that the young blokes are making their big mark. I still feel honored to be

racing against some of the veteran names. I don't think'oh,this old fart I can smoke him'or ever go and punt someone off deliberately.

"They'll threaten to punt me off at the next race. Like, I'm Intimidated? Look where I've !raced the last five years.You think I'm intimidated by someone threatening me on-television?

We're all sitting in a car with four wheels around us. Just because they have a bigger boat or more income than me,and a bit more of a famous name doesn't mean they can intimidate me. We're just racing, it's all anyone is doing and having a crack."

And having a crack is what DJR has been doing. With well-known problems on the funding side of the equation,the results Davison and team-mate Steven Johnson have been able to grab have been impressive.

With Triple Eight customer parts now on board and a refined team under former Carlin and Midland manager Adrian Burgess, progress has been on the upward scale.

despite the paddock chat swirling about the team's future.

"As long as you are moving forwards and not standing still or going backwards,that's good for the confidence for everyone in the team.The more you move forward the harder it gets to reach your new goals.There's still a fair way to go.

"It's not as though it's a team that hasn't been successful in the past.

They've had some very lean years.

It's still a big team but lost a bit of direction and fell behind with development of cars. Even mid way through last year we started to perform well as a team,even though we didn't have the car speed of a budget.

"Adrian came in and focused on getting the team running well and getting a good group of people. We finished last year with all sorts of rumours going around about the financial state of the team. It was hard for us to really know what was going on. We kept positive, despite all the rumours and we were kept up to date

moiorsportnaws

U8 5UPERCRR

within the team - we were told to concentrate on the job. Dick's a battler and never once did I believe some of the rumours. From what I could see it was always going to be a battle but going to get through to this year.

"We knew we had a good bunch of people,so that's the hard bit to get right. Over the break we gave the cars a decent birthday and we had a really stable platform with people to build from. Nothing changed internally with the team and from where we finished 2006, we were a well-functioning team."

We continue our cruise down the waterway.To the right is Burgess'house. Davison gives the engine a major rev on our way by.

Twenty minutes later on the run home Burgess emerges.

"I knew it would be either you or Courtney ..."he mutters, looking like we had woken him on our first trip by.

But while the team internally may be working well, how does the on-going talk of Its future affect things?

www.mnews.com.au

UNLESS SOMETHING CHANGES SOON,THERE WILL BE NO REASON WHY ANYTHING CHANGES DAVISON ON A POTENTIAL MOVE FOR 5008 "It's a little bit disappointing,"says Davison.

"It went a bit quiet there for a while and everyone thought it was all saved. But after difficulties of last few years, it's not that simple.There's still a hole to get themselves out of, which they've dug a fair way out of.

"It's difficult for everyone to be able to brush it off when they keep hearing talk of what's going on.

Generally the guys are keeping us posted - all the rumours surrounding us,the team is still fighting on as hard as ever to perform at our maximum - that's all you can do and not let the other stuff get to you."

Davison has another year to run on his contract with DJR into 2008 and attracted quite a bit of attention at the end of 2006 from teams looking to sign him

up should DJR run aground. His loyalty in the past has caused his career to hit snags(Team Dynamik the best example), but he wants to keep the building process going at DJR. "I'm still positive I can shine where I am.We're not a race winning team yet but we're not far away. We've improved constantly.

"I do want to stay loyal. I signed a three-year deal because I wanted to be there for three years and I felt that early in my career it was a perfect scenario for me to grow ■with a growing team.

"At this stage, the team is not going anywhere. Ideally, they'd like some sort of partner in the business to help it move forward.

We want to keep the progression and continuity going. I have a continued on page 29

.

Two cans ofJim Beam,line astern:In his second fullseason in V8s, Davison has been able to show the way to Steven Johnson on more than one occasion. And there is plenty ofroom on board the boat, even for MN’s edl

's

BUILT FOR ROOM

ONE of the main images of a racing driver living on the Gold Coast is a boat moored out the back, ready to go for a cruise when required. In Davison's case,the new Queensland resident ended up with a party pontoon that is just as much an all-rounder as his driving career has been.

"One, I couldn't afford a cruiser," he tells us as we head off.

"I heard about these Aloha party pontoons and one came up - it's the best decision I've ever made. It's a good all-rounder, perfect for what I need. It's the best way to escape on your spare weekends. I was always going to sacrifice some money to get a boat but for value for money, it's perfect.

"You can fit 14 people on it - it's a bit squeezy but very comfortable for seven or eight people.The best thing is that there's no wiping your feet. You throw it up on Che beach,sand everywhere, split drinks and you just hose it off and it's brand new ready to go for the next day."

28

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continued from page 27 firm contract at DJR next season and there's no reason for that to change unless they give me a reason.

"I trust them and I'll go by what they tell me, not what I read in the magazines. So the future is still there and they tell me it's all steam ahead and there's a massive effort going in.

"There would have to be certain criteria happen for me to want to move on. I'm happy to stick with them through the tough times and I've had to make some sacrifices to stick with them, but loyalty pays off. I'll know soon enough whether things are going to be all rosy there for next year

and whether they're going to be so much money for such little able to fulfill what I need them to gain because they can. But do for me to want to stay there. At there's a lot of areas to improve, this stage, that's all I want to do we are still learning about the and I'm contracted to be there. cars we have got and in the last No one wants me to be there if I few rounds we've out-qualified don't want to be there and vice teams spending substantially versa. But at this stage I want to be more money than us. There's a lot there and I have a contract to be' more potential in our team,the there. Unless something changes way we're making decisions and soon,there will be no reason why learning about what we've got. anything changes."

"The team spends money where it matters at the moment to be Being a team operating on a budget that is nowhere near the moving forwards. You don't sit likes ofHRT,FPR,TollorTriple there and accept what we've Eights, DJR rates among the got. For our pre Queensland test category of'doing a good job with the guys had designed two new what they've got'. But it's been , parts, and the same for our engine doing the best with it that has 'development program,on a smaller scale than others. Look at been the key.

"Some of those guys spending our horsepower and we're among

the top engines out there.

"Things are tight at the moment, but one thing I've noticed since I've been there, no matter how tight things have rumoured to be,the money is always spent on preparing the cars well, no matter who is driving them. Everyone knows at the team that results are vital - there are no shortcuts and although things are tight with paying certain people, we're still going about our business as normal.

"The new development parts on the car from Triple Eight,the suspension and the car's gone to Jenny Craig like Steve did!They both lost a lot of weight! We don't continued on page 30

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continued from page 29 get any setup info from Triple Eight or anything like that. It's all different, but we're still going along the same path as last year in terms of setup.There's still bits in our cars that we've designed.

"When we first tested we could notice that everything was a bit nicer, particularly in the steering and the front end, which was a weakness last year. We can set the car up a bit differently and drive it a little bit differently. We've gained a tiny bit in every corner - you could definitely feel the different dampers over the bumps, being more compliant, and the front end more responsive."

In his second full season of Supercars, Davison had the added benefit of finally being able to return to tracks he knows in a V8.

But when does it'click'in terms of understanding what are generally regarding as under-tyred, heavy cars?

"I felt reasonably confident driving them at certain circuits last year, but I'd be quick sometimes and I didn't know why.Then I'd struggle and I didn't know why.

Sometimes I'd feel great in the car and other teams I'd feel at sea. In my second-ever race I finished sixth and didn't know why! I had a completely clean weekend and then after there it got difficult. It was a strange one. I turned that around pretty quickly -1 showed on a few occasions I could run toward the front, I just didn't have the experience.

"Around enduro time last year I felt pretty confident - at Oran Park I was starting to get my confidence up and I went under the radar a bit at Sandown and 30

Er, what's all the noise about?

You have to be careful when Jim Beam Racing/DJR team manager Adrian Burgessjust lives down the water way. Hell ofa way to have a post-race debriefthough!

Bathurst and starting to get my head around the car. Because you feel confident and relaxed in the car, you can think about other things like setup, what you'd like it to do better, the strategy, roll bar adjustments, pit stop calls, what moves to do and not to do.

"As long as I feel good in what I'm doing, then I'm happy. If I've done everything I can do,then I'm happy. You may have a good result but know that you didn't do the bestjob you could do,and I get down on myself.

"At Perth this year I finished fifth.

In race one I was running fourth and fell off on my in lap and fell back to sixth. From then on I was behind Steve. It was one little slip that cost me one position. Little things count more when you're at the front. Last year if I ran half the car off the track in 15th position, it wasn't such a drama."

From his time racing overseas, through Formula Renault and Formula 3, Davison owes money.

There's no other way to go across and have a crack at making it on the world stage. And it's something he'll be living with for a while to come ...

"I've got to pay off a lot of my debt from my time in Europe," he says, as we continue our trip back to his house.

"You live once and you can't live and regret. If I didn't do that, I would have lived a'what if?' I drove an FI car, did lots of cool things. It cost a lot of money but it made me the person and driver I am now.

"I still have a relationship with all my investors and supporters and had a dinner in Melbourne recently for them.Soon I'll be sending through the first payment back to the investors, which won't be a massive amount, but it's nice to finally give something back to them. A lot of them put their hard-earned into me - I'm looking forward to the day I pay them all back!"

As he end our journey and begin to zip back up the canopy roof on the pontoon boat, the conversation switches away from motorsport - a vital thing in itself to retain one's sanity when so embedded in the sport.

Turning the motor racing brain 'off' has always been an effort for

Davison, but interests away from the track are starting to take more of a priority.

"I'm finally starting to settle down now. My time in Europe was pretty crazy, you weren't home much, you were running amuck with new friends, trying to go racing with the pressure of money and you had no stability at all. But living like that taught me a lot.

'Since I've come home I've been trying to establish myself. When I moved to Queensland I wasn't still fully settled. I was still trying to get into the environment - but now I've got a good balance to feel confident in the series and where I belong in it.That's enabled me to relax a bit away from the track, whereas I always used to want to be at the race track. Now I enjoy a bit of time away.

"I'm still 200 percent trying to improve and establish but I'm starting to get the big hurdles out of the way and finetune the little

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"I raced against Lewis, Heikki, Kubica, Speed, Nelson Piquet Jr, Sutil, Doornbos, Rosberg a couple of times, Klein. I raced in that environment for three years and lived three miles from Silverstone, watching FI cars test regularly and got to drive one myself.

"I'm not one to say'I've beaten Lewis in a race, I'd be winning the World Championship now'.There were lots of good guys who didn't'make it' but are still bloody good."

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things now. I'm going to need to do some other things away from the track soon, to have some other interests.

"There's some things on the horizon but racing is always the number one priority - I've got a great girl in Riana (Crehan - the couple started seeing one another late last year), which is the best thing I've got going now. She's been one of the best things for me - gets my head in gear and gets my head away from it sometimes.

"I'm growing up and you've got to have some away time from the track to charge the batteries because they're pretty tolling weekends. You need to be fresh."

We've stepped back off the boat, journey and interview done.

Whether things improve at DJR or a new opportunity pops up, it's hard not to think that one day Davo is going to be able to get that bigger boat... www.mnews.coni.au

"I had just left Europe and thought I was out of open wheelers. All along I knew I would be back in V8s - if it had been 12 months earlier... but still, I enjoyed it massively. It's a category where you can get noticed, but it nearly stands on its own two feet - being a part of it was special anyway.

"There was unfinished business, but our team was at a disadvantage with some of the teams and data they had from running multiple cars, and the fact I shared a car (with Christian Jones) made is a bit difficult -1 made a lot of friends from all over the world, so it was really enjoyable.

WILL POWER “We've always had a rivalry - but besides a few'heat of the moment'words in F3 - there's nothing but respect for each other. He realises I wasn't on the ■ right end of a few opportunities in Europe, and lthings could have been different.

"I'm rapt for him to do what he's doing - he has worked so hard - he's pretty ruthless and very determined."

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BROTHER ALEX 'It would be awesome to drive together. He's someone who should be in the main game now what he achieved in Europe, as a 19-year-old in Germany living on his own in a little basement - he beat the Germans in Supercup and Carrera Cup, which you're not supposed to do!

"There were doubters about his 2005 V8 year, his confidence was drilled to the ground. I'd have no dramas as a part time driver he sharing with me for the enduros - he's as good as any full-timer out there now. The cream rises to the top. He's 27 but there's no doubt we will get another opportunity and put the doubters back into the hole."

31

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fls if being the son of a ULIorld Champion is not difficult enough, Hico Rosberg nouu has to deal uuith his long-time rival - red hot rookie Leuuis Hamilton - in Formula 1.

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IVE 30-something mums have just appeared on a TV screen over MN's shoulder, and Nico Rosberg has lost his train of thought completely.

"Ooh - who's that?" he asks.

"The Spice Girls! Is this a reunion, or what? Are the Spice Girls singing again? No way! All of them? How cool would that be?

That would be really cool, wouldn't it? Anyway,sorry, where was I?" With his impeccable bloodline (son of the 1982 world champion Keke), his privileged upbringing in Monaco, his multilingual fluency, even his immaculate hairdo,few drivers are better qualified than Rosberg to live up to the popular perceptions that surround someone who is trying to establish themselves in FI. But the best thing about public perceptions is when they break down.The guy on the opposite side of the table

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is intelligent, articulate, and becomes increasingly genial as the interview progresses - to the point where, when the recorder is turned off, rather than making a beeline for his private quarters in the Williams motorhome, he sticks around for a couple of extra minutes because he has decided that it is his turn to ask a few questions of his inquisitor.

It's not so much that Rosberg was particularly interested in the background of the person that had just interviewed him, but more that he has a natural curiosity about his surroundings.

So it was no great surprise to learn that if FI hadn't worked out, a career in engineering beckoned.

"I really was good at school and engineering, and I enjoyed it," he said.

"All my school friends kind of went off to do more study;that was the next step in life. And i went a completely different way.

which was racing.

"I wanted to keep the university option open, really. I don't know how serious i really was in my mind. But I mean, I went to visit the university [ED: Imperial College in London]and everything, "i was going to do aeronautical engineering, it is something that combined maths, physics and racing, so I was looking at that.

And also because it was something that... I think 60 percent of the class went into banking, after that.

So it was a course that could really have a very widespread outcome.

You didn't have to be an engineer.

It was a course that prepared you globally. It was a very, very tough course and people who graduate are very competent.

"But we're speaking too much about that, because I don't know how serious I was. In the end I probably wasn't very serious, because I always thought I wanted to be a Formula 1 driver. And I

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FORmULHI always thought I would be.

"Would I have enjoyed it? I think so, yeah. I mean,student life is a cool life. If you're in London, studying - because the university would have been in London that would have been a cool life, definitely. OK, not as cool as this one, but it would have been fun in its own way, "I would be finished with my studies now,so maybe I would be here anyway as an aerodynamicist or something. Who knows?"

In the end,the decision was made for him. Winning the German Formula BMW championship in 2002 earned him a test in a BMW Williams in Barcelona at the end of the year, making him, at 17 years of age, the youngest driver ever to test a FI car.

"That was actually the time when I had to make the decision of whether to go to university or not; right at that time when I first drove

the Formula 1 car," he said.

"I sat in the FI car and it was like, 7eeeez.'This has got to be what you want to do!'"

More success followed. His move from the F3 Euroseries into the inaugural GP2 series in 2005 ended with Rosberg being crowned champion,and shortly afterwards Williams secured his signature to place him alongside Mark Webber for 2006.

Rosberg announced his arrival into FI with a couple of points for seventh place on debut in Bahrain, and also posted the fastest lap of the race - again, making him the youngest driver ever to do so.

But since then, his results have not been in line with his effort.

Inexperience has certainly played its part, but the fact he spent his rookie year wrestling with the diabolical Williams FW28 didn't help his cause.

"It's nice that you do see that part!" he said with a wry grin.

"Of course I have stepped up this year; I think that's normal after the first year, especially as it was such a difficult situation. But I think we have all stepped up together; the team has given me a much better car, and it is also more reliable. It just goes hand-in-hand."

Williams technical director Sam Michael, who was a driving force in Rosberg's recruitment, agreed that the German has taken a major step forward since last year.

"I think he has come on a lot, over the winter especially," Michael remarked.

"I think that as a rookie year, he had a good year. He only really made mistakes in two races, which was at Hockenheim [where he crashed in the stadium complex], and then he was 50 percent to blame in Brazil [where he tangled with Webber], So that's not bad.

"But Nico is still learning. He's only 21, but he's learning a lot. He's probably sick of people saying he's continued on page 36

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/Mates in high places: Rosberg Jr came through the ranks with current FI rivals, Lewis Hamilton and Robert Kubica, left, and now shares race status with Alex Wurz, above.

continued from page 35 only 21, but that's what he is. He can't deny his age. He is getting more and more experienced, but he doesn't have any trouble absorbing things technically."

As with any driver, as Rosberg's technical experience grows, he becomes more confident in offering feedback to his engineers, and the

information that he gives becomes more valuable. He is up against a tough yardstick in that regard - several years as a test driver have given his new team-mate Alex Wurz an almost intuitive understanding of how a set-up change will affect the car, as Michael pointed out.

Every time Nico does a front camber change, Alex has done it 10 times more than that," he said.

"Whatever the change is, Alex just has a bigger database."

Rosberg, however, remains fiercely - almost defensively - independent.

"I don't think I have to hide behind Alex," he said flatly. "At the moment my set-up comes from me."

And experience, he is finding, brings respect within the walls of the garage.

fl Rosberg by Any Obher flame When Dad is your manager - and a former World Champion - things are never going to be simple ATHLETES recruiting their fathers as managers has a long and often ugly history in sport - you need look no further than the likes of Mary Pierce and Jelena Dokic in the tennis world for that.

Nico Rosberg's situation was a little different, not least because his father Keke had a history of driver management long before Nico came onto the scene, most notably with Mika Hakkinen.

Nevertheless, the decision between Nico and Keke to combine their personal relationship with a business one has not been easy, and Nico admits that the lines between father and manager sometimes become blurred.

"Yeah, it is hard," he said.

"Even in normal life, I am sure that there are a lot of people who work for their father in the family company or whatever, and it often is not easy. Especially because my father is a very successful person, and very wise and everything, and he has quite a dominant personality. So it is often not very easy.

"But we have found a good way to do it now, and it really works out well. He helps me a lot with various things, and I have someone close by who is really in between me and my father - someone who gets along well with both sides.

36

"My father has created a bit more distance this year, too. He doesn't come to all the races, only half the races. So it's nice. And also, I am maturing and I understand more about the way he thinks and the way he

goes about things. I understand more how to handle him, because he's a complex person.

So it's not easy."

-MARKGLENDENNING

motorsponnews

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FORinULHI "Oh definitely, the respect grows," he agreed."As you give more and more good information, the respect grows. I think that's normal.

"I'm someone who I think is quite capable. I mean,of course I see that I need to progress a lot, and there are some things that I do well, and some things that I do not so well. I'm aware of that. But there are many things that I can contribute now, and I can have a lot of Input on set-up and things like that."

Helping his cause considerably, of course, is that at the end of the day, drivers are judged by what they do on the track. And so far this year Rosberg has kept his more experienced team-mate in the shadows, particularly in qualifying.

It all points to someone who is comfortable in his surroundings, both within the team,and more broadly In Formula 1. But achieving the latter, Rosberg admitted,took some time.

"When you first come in, you're not prepared for the whole world," he said."It's a new world, and that is what you are not really prepared for. You can't prepare for that, you just have to get used to it. There are so many things."

In some areas however, he had a head start - not least in dealing with the media.

"I was lucky - because of my name, I got used to talking to the media pretty early on," he said."I have had many, many interviews over the years thanks to my name so,that helped me a lot.

"Actually, this year is a nice change.[In the past] I was always talking about my Dad,and this year I always have to speak about Lewis Hamilton. So It's a nice transition., really..."

Time Flies;Proud dad Keke Rosberg was on hand to watch his 17-year-old lad take the wheel ofan FI car for the first time in Spain.

UJilLiams: The flext Generation The first Rosberg impressed Sir Frank Williams. He likes this one,too MOTORSPORT NEWS:Amid all the talk of Lewis Hamilton, do you think Nico is flying under people's radars a bit?

FRANK WILLIAMS: I think you're right. Lewis is a big story, and quite rightly, too. Nice's problem is that he is driving an average-togood car. If his driving is going to be noticed he really needs a winning car, like everyone else does. Lewis has got everything going for him, and he is clearly a phenomenon. It's quite remarkable, what he has achieved in such a short space of time.

As with all drivers, Nice's abilities are coloured, good or bad, by his car; his equipment. Last year, in his first year, our car was really in the rearward third of the field, and now it is generally in the middle pack, behind the first three teams.

Our target is to make it into the first four teams, or to displace one of the first three teams. It's not impossible, but very, very difficult. And then certainly, Nico will become ... not necessarily a superstar, but the next big thing. Which he would have been if he'd been in a Ferrari or a McLaren last year or this year.

MN: Does it make it harder or easier for a young driver like him to come in with an uncompetitive car? In once sense, having a slower car removes some of the pressure.

FW: Probably, but to be honest if he'd had a

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choice when he came into FI and was asked whether he'd like to drive a Williams or a McLaren, he'd have said a McLaren, because he has got the right attitude. He wants a winner.

MN:There is an element of risk in a sense when you take a young driver on, but does it also give you the opportunity to mould them a bit into your way of doing things?

FW; Mould them ... that's kind of fanciful.

It's a matter of whether a driver has got it or hasn't got it. If he wants to work very, very hard then he can, like Carlos Reutemann did. I watched him all those years ago, as he hauled himself to the top. He was talented, but it took him a while to find it - and his experience helped him as well.

Nico and Lewis are very, very gifted, the pair of them.To Ron Dennis's full credit, he

spent a lot of money - and I think some of it was his own money,too - on bringing Lewis on for all these years, and now it is payback time. Nico has come along a different route, but if we or somebody else can give him a McLaren equivalent, I would think FI racing would be very interesting.

MN:You said that drivers either have it or they don't, but there is an element of how they fit into the team culture,too. In the past few years Williams has taken on some established drivers, and the results have not been what either side would have hoped for.

FW:There is a truth in that, yes. But that's because,at the end of the day,they couldn't deliver - and that's assuming that our car could deliver.

MN:People have often spoken in the past about certain guys having particular qualities that make them quintessential 'Williams drivers'; most recently when Mark Webber first joined the team. Is there any such thing as a'Williams driver'?

FW: No such thing at all. All the best drivers have a few things in common - they have the talent, they have a good racing brain and they have the ability, the wish and the desire to work very hard.

-MARKGLENDENNING 37

SRVING PRIVATE RYf Back on track with Penske after a year bouncing between different cars and countries, Ryan Briscoe is part of one of the biggest motorsport empires in the worid.

CHRiS LRMBDEN jetted Stateside to check it out '● 1

AST year I was driving just about anything that came along,"quips a relaxed Ryan Briscoe, during a break in practice for the Lime Rock, Connecticut, round of the American Le Mans Series.

"I spent half of every meeting getting used to something new.

That's a very difficult way to have to re-establish yourself This year it's one consistent programme, with a really strong team. It's great.

"It's more than that - being part of the Penske organisation is a big bonus..."

That bonus included a one-off appearance in IndyCar - at the biggest race of the year, the Indy 500, in a third Penske-prepared car.

Ryan qualified it seventh (having held pole, with his first run, for most of pole day) and, ultimately, finished fifth in a race decided by a rain shower, having been in the mix all day.

//

"It was a really great race, a really great month," he enthuses.

"I wasn't going to be there for the second day of qualifying (an ALMS clash) so all we wanted to do was be sure to be in the field after day one. My run was quickest at the time, so we pushed it back into the garage - while the other two (Penske) cars 'played the game'and went through all the stress of trying to get pole!"

Briscoe certainly is more relaxed than he's been for some years.

As the FI dream gradually clouded over, with Toyota soldiering on with 'name' drivers at the expense of its own nurtured talent, the move to the IRL with Chip Ganassi's team promised much but, in the end, delivered near disaster.

Ryan isn't one to pay out on a past employer: "There was really nothing wrong with the car we continued on page 40

inTEfinHTionHL

continued from page 39 had,or the set-up," he shrugs.

'We were just down on power compared with most and was trying too hard to make up the difference, i was way too inexperienced in IndyCar, particularly on ovals, and it bit me on the bum..."

In a big way. His fiery shunt,at Chicagoland, made the front pages worldwide. Although he recovered well,there wasn't ultimately going to be a spot at Ganassi in 2006.

It really was a take-what-comes along year -four IRL starts for Dreyer & Reinbold (with a best third at Watkins Glen), a couple of Champ Car starts for RuSport late in the year(including Surfers), a couple of AIGP rounds for Team Australia ... and so on.There was even the ill-fated endurance gig with HRT where. uncharacteristically, Jim Richards walled the car at Bathurst before Ryan had completed a racing lap.

Like he said, a tough way to try and re-establish your career.

And then along came Roger Penske: My manager had been in touch with Tim Cindric(who manages Penske's motorpsort operations), Penske spoke to Porsche and I did a test for them in November, 'That went okay, but then 1 had to go to Germany to do a physical test at Weissach,and after that took part in a 24 Hour simulation at Ricard.'

A pretty comprehensive entry test - but Briscoe was offered the continued on page 42

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Ryan s Captain:Not bad when the big boss Roger Penske is your own race strategist as weil!'The Captain'was the key to Briscoe and Sascha Maassen taking the outright ALMS victory at Lime Rock. While Ryan was offdoing interviews, below left, Lambden was busy chatting with Porsche Motorsport director Harmut Kristen, below. discussing the finer points ofthe Ryan's awesome yellow submarine.

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continued from page 40 gig soon after. And for once, he seems to be in the right place at the right time. After a mixed first season, Penske Porsche is now kicking butt, dominating LMP2 and grabbing a series of outright wins over the LMP1 Audis - to such effect that the ALMS put the squeeze on the LMP2 cars a few days before Lime Rock,chopping five percent out of the crucial airintake area.

"It'll hurt us at tracks where top end is important," Briscoe suggests, 'but maybe not too much here at Lime Rock..."

In the end, it was to be a perfect weekend for the Aussie, with Briscoe taking over the car at half distance from co-driver Sascha Maasen.With the benefit of a smart tyre call from Penske himself (who runs strategy for the #6 car).

but I definitely want to be part of compounds left to right,for and running down the sister car the Penske team," he confirms. for a second consecutive win, it example. worked out well.

Formula 1,and the "So,just like FI, it's a matter of machinations of the Toyota team, getting the car within the best "This has just been great," enthuses Briscoe as the Penske are well ahd'truly in the past. 'window'of set-up.That's the Briscoe's racing home is the US,at challenge, and I like it." team packs up after a successful Penske. And why not?

Penske is happy with his little day.

The Penske Racing set-up and Aussie star. Very happy. And Ryan's "These cars are terrific.They're its expansive'under-one-roof very happy with Penske.There's the closest thing I've driven since 1 NASCAR/iRL/ALMS facility tags it no real word on next year yet, left FI to an FI car.The technology as the'McLaren'of North America. although Ryan is definite that he level is high and there's the opportunity to work away at the car, wants to remain part of the Penske Tick for progressive team.

The day after the race, Ryan is family. develop the car, and build on it. All out on his jet-ski on Lake Norman Will that be another year of the other series here use'spec'cars, about 10 minutes from Penske Sportscars? IRL- if Sam Hornish but this is open.So, we can test in gets his wish to move to NASCAR? all areas. We're notjust optimising HQ,,in Moprsville, North Carolina Who knows what? Penske plays his - a few miles out of Charlotte. Hjs a particular car, we're evaluating house is nearby. He's on the water and developing new software,tyres, cards carefully but, as far as Briscoe is concerned, America's classiest most days,down at the factory a suspension and so on. and most seasoned,successful couple of days a week working "We go to each race with three with his engineers,the salary's not race team owner is the guy he different tyre compounds and so wants to work for.That much is there are choices to be made - we bad ...Ticklifestyle. certain.

Tick,tick. Ryan Briscoe is back can even mix up the compounds in the game,enjoying life, and on the car if we want to -this is a "In terms of where it goes from circuit where we can run different getting noticed. here, I just have to wait and see -

The R5 Spyder: R Proper Race Car

THE Porsche RS Spyder is, as Ryan Briscoe suggests,the closest thing to an FI car, technology-wise, racing in the US. Based on a full monocoque carbon-fibre chassis, with a water-cooled,eight-cylinder 3.4 litre V8 engine, with a six-speed sequential

electro-pneumatic gearbox (with'paddle' gearchange,auto'blip'downchange),the LMP2 car has a pretty respectable power-to-weight equation: Originally 370kw (480hp), albeit down to approx 350kw(455hp) at 10,300rpm as a result of the latest air-intake squeeze.

maximum torque (at 7500rpm)of 370Nm, propelling a 775kg car.Tyres are Michelin, 13x18 rears and 12.5x18 fronts. A Bosch engine (and traction-control) management system is allied to a MoTeC display/data collection set-up.

ACO/ALMS regs prohibit ABS.

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SETTING THE PACE AT THE V8 RACING SERIES Not satisfied with just being a legend of the road, Freightliner is now leading the way on the track as a new commercial partner of the V8 Ute Series and the WPS Racing V8 Supercar Team. A crowd pleaser on track, and standout performer for your business. Find out why so many operators are making more money with a Freightliner.

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House of Penske A trip to check out Ryan's racing would not be complete without a visit to Penske Racing.

CHRIS LAMBDEN Did we mention it is big? And awesome? Totally awesome...

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HE DHL Porsche ALMS team is one of three based in Penske Racing's massive headquarters in Mooresville, North Carolina - half an hour out of Charlotte itself.

In reality, a race shop is a race shop - but this is some Race Shop. It is 40,000 square metres (sitting one side of 100 acres of lush countryside) and 366 staff are the basic numbers that suggest this is a serious motor racing complex. It is - housing Penske's NASCAR/Busch racing effort (taking up over 60 percent of the space),the Mari boro-backed two-car iRL team and the Porsche operation.

All under one roof.This is just the base for the race teams. A few minutes away is a separate engine shop. Nearby is the jewei in the crown - the team's wind tunnei and seven-post rig

set-ups.The latter is a commercial operation, available to whoever wants to hire them at the going rate - when Penske's teams aren't using them.

"The building used to be a Panasonic eiectric engine manufacturing plant, but with it came the potential to completely redesign the place.

We completely stripped it and started from scratch," relates Penske.

The result is a weli thought-out, logical plan where - especially with the NASCAR operation - cars flow in from the internally-parked trucks, through a cleaning bay,to their allotted space.

Each team's engineer operates from a dedicated office right next to his cars, it all makes sense.

Typically, the place is consumer-friendiy. A sizeable merchandise shop leads to a long, raised spectator waik, with a panoramic view

across the entire(NASCAR)area.

The attention to detail is what Penske is famous for. Typical Is an area, complete with pit wail, set aside for practice sessions by the fulitime-dedicated pit stop crews, who train daily in the staff gym (yes, that too), before working on their respective routines.

Made up to a degree by athletes and footballers who may have not quite made it, or been injured, the crews earn a modest base wage - but bonuses for fast stops can earn a good operator weli over US$100,000 a year...

Yup, a race shop is a race shop - but this is one hell of a race shop.

Oh,and by the way,there are plans almost complete to build a full-on test circuit on the rest of the 100 acres. And it won't be just any circuit, will it...?

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TEAM boss Roger Penske is a selfmade billionaire businessman, with automobile sales and truck rental businesses primarily, turning over US$17-18 billion a year.

Amid the 38,000 staff and 315 car dealerships (selling over 40 different brands - from Audi to Toyota to Porsche to BMW to Ford to is the biggest Toyota dealership in the US, in LA, which alone rolls out 25,000Toyotas and 8000 Lexuses a year. It's so big, it has its own Starbucks...

Roger's not short of a buck, and has lived the great American dream, but the basic passion for sport remains.

Example? After overseeing the strategy which took Ryan Briscoe's Porsche to victory on Saturday afternoon at Lime Rock (no Sunday racing - a church nearby), Penske, his motorsport managerTim Cindric and a couple of key staff raced to a nearby

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Heard ofa seven post rig? This, above,is exactiy what one iooks like deep within the Penske workshop. And their wind tunnel, below,is not only for their own use - many other teams and manufacturers hire it out for their own development.

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airport, onto a corporate jet and were trackside in Daytona before the Saturday evening NASCAR race started. Next morning, off to Watkins Glen for the IRL race ...

"I'm a lucky guy," he told MNews."We are able to fund our racing through sponsorship and manufacturer support - $ 100 million a year comes into our teams. We work hard through the week and go racing at the weekend - and it's the best advertising for Penske Corp you could possibly have!"

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Development The Fujitsu V8 Supercar Series is now a pivotal part of the Australian motorsport landscape.

ANDREW VAN LEEUWEN looks at how it happened and where to from here l 'W» u,

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EVELOPMENT series; it's all in the name, really.

With theV8 Supercar Championship Series as professional and competitive as it's ever been, it's not hard to figure why the Fujitsu Series exists. Drivers, engineers and teams need somewhere to learn the unique workings of a V8 Supercar, and the modern version of the development series is the most successful proving ground professional motorsport in this country has ever seen - a place to develop skills, you may say.

From humble beginnings as the Konica V8 kites Series in 2000(the first race at Eastern Creek was won

by Wayne Wakefield),the Fujitsu Series has grown into everything that V8 Supercars Australia hoped it would be, as explained by CEO Wayne Cattach.

"Well we clearly needed to find a place for redundant V8 Supercars," says Cattach.

"We [also] wanted to find an environment where new teams could come and develop their skills so they could potentially step up to the primary series, and there are a number of examples where that has happened,and also, I guess, it was a breeding ground for the next generation of drivers, and again we've seen a number of those come in and be 48

very successful."

Those boxes have definitely been ticked, and in the process the category has changed.

While the first couple of seasons were all about stand-alone race meetings,the series now runs in conjunction with the majn game, except for one dedicated race meet at Wakefield Park. And while there have been experiments with the technical make-up of the hardware,the development drivers now handle equipment equal to that of the big guns.

And it couldn't be going better.

"We're encouraged with how the thing is going,"adds Cattach.

"OurTV audiences are still building, which is encouraging; We're looking at probably an oversupply of competitors with 40-plus showing up to races regularly; I think the presentation of the teams and cars has really improved over the years, and I guess it's servicing the objectives that we set when it started."

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hile the second-tier series may have started primarily as a way to keep the re-sale value on V8 Supercar chassis, it has fast developed into a pre-requisite for driver's wanting to make a career from touring car racing in this country.

Gone are the days of the Garth

Tander-style career path, which included winning the Australian Formula Ford Championship one year and racing V8 Supercars the next. Nowadays a solid Formula Ford season (and appropriate budget) means stepping up to the Fujitsu Series, where race craft is contorted to a form that suits the brutal nature of a V8 Supercar.You may call it the 'Shane Price'career path (runnerup in the 2005 Australian Formula :Ford Championship; runner-up in the 2006 Fujitsu Series; 2007 main-game driver for Jack Daniels Racing).

The exceptions still remain, but they're few and far between.

James Courtney is the most recent to break the mould, kicking off his V8 Supercar career at Stone Brothers Racing last year with no development series on the CV at all. He did, however,come knocking with FI and Japanese GT experience, as well as enduro starts with HRT in 2005. Max Wilson did likewise.Jumping straight in with FI and Champ Car experience behind him.Will Davison is another example of using European experience tojump into a main gameV8 drive, however even he did one development series round; Queensland Raceway 2005.

So, was it V8SA's plan to make

the development series a crucial stop on the way to V8 Supercar stardom?

"Yes it was,"says Cattach.

"Traditionally we had drivers coming up through the ranks of Formula Ford and so on, but the competition is now so competitive that you need that intermediate move.

"So a bit of open-wheeler experience is a tremendous advantage, but you then get the opportunity to race a real V8 Supercar at one level down.

It's not dissimilar to the two championships that NASCAR run."

Ah yes, the highly inevitable Busch Series comparisons. But is America's development series a direct model for the Fujitsu Series?

"Not consciously, but that seems to be how it's falling out by natural evolution,"says Cattach.

"We're all watching with great interest Marcos Ambrose work through the hierarchy of NASCAR, and it's in the same way that younger of less experienced drivers move through the ranks here."

The Busch Series features a lot of cross-over, with a host of regular Nextel Cup drivers (or 'Buschwackers') doing the double weekend in weekend out.That might not be the case at every V8 Supercar round, but count the

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Same but different: The 2007-spec version of the deveiopmentseries, left, looks somewhat different to the 2000 version, above, but the same principles apply.

The theory ofevolution: This year Shane Price and Jack Perkins are team-mates atJack Daniels Racing,left, but last year they were team-mates for Perkins Engineering's developmentsquad. below.

amount of Fujitsu Series front runners on the main-game grid comeSandown and Bathurst...

The technical make-up of the series is important to its status and popularity as a development series. After all, as Cattach points out,the whole idea is to give young drivers a full-blown taste of what their career holds, as well as allowing up-and-coming engineers to get a proper look at proper V8 Supercars.

"Past experience dictates that any time we try and make the cars anything but Supercars(ED:such continued on page 53

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continued from page 49 as higher minimum weight limits and less sensors) the competitors become disgruntled, because quite frankly they go to a race meeting, and they look at their iap times and they want a direct comparison between themselves and the main series. And if you look at some of the times, they would qualify in theTop 10.' so we've estabiished

Okay, that the Fujitsu V8 Supercars

Series is pivotal in developing drivers and teams in the sporting sense. But we ali know there's more to professional motorsport than the sport.

There's a brutal commercial side. and it plays Just as big a part in the development series as it does in the main-game.

To prove the point, the Fujitsu Series grid is made of Levei 3TEGA licenses, which don't come with the stringent conditions of their Level 1 and 2 big brothers, but offer fledging teams an insight into the business acumen needed to run a professional motor racing outfit.

There is also a 'Development Board,'set-up to keep the competitors involved in the running of the category. At each race meeting Al D'Alberto (TDR), Warren Davis (Floward), Robert Tebb (Sydney Star) and David Moulden (ANT) catch up and have a chat about the goings on it the Fujitsu Series, reporting their ideas toTEGA's General Manager Kelvin O'Reilly.

The other harsh commercial reality that accompanies the Fujitsu Series is budget. With the cars so similar in technical specification to main game V8 Supercars, the costs involved in

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development series are serious.

A season with a competitive car requires a handy sponsor, or some serious family cash. And, like any category, the difference between the rich and the poor reflects on the timesheets.

Not that it's much of a deterrent at the moment, with massive fields flocking to each round of the series.

But can it continue?

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'As I said, it's a good TV package and now we're running all but one of the rounds as a support category to the main series there's good exposure for the sponsors," says Cattach.

And providing you can offer them value I see no reason why it can't continue.' fyou carry on with the comparisons to NASCAR, the question of the future becomes one of a third tier to V8 Supercars.

The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series creates an even more basic entry to the world of stock car racing than Busch Series, and with massive stocks of old V8 Supercars lazing around (a issue soon to be worsened by the impending deregulation of AU Falcons in the development series), a third category is a viable cause.

But while it's been mentioned more than once in the paddock this year, Cattach says the issue is likely to be dealt in other ways, "i don't ever see us having more than two series, but eventually we will have to come to grips with the fact that we've got too many competitors," he says.

"And we're knocking on the door of that problem right now.

We don't have a soiution that i can share with you right now but we're aware that it's going to present a challenge for us. We're looking at various options."

Learning the ropes: The Fujitsu Series not oniy teaches youngsters how to pedal, but how to win, above, and how to deal with the media, below.

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Walking before running WHILE it's often said that any V8 Supercar stars of the future simply won't make it unless they come via the Fujitsu Series, the same is said for teams.

One team in the main series that has earned its spurs via the feeder series is Paui Cruickshank Racing, which stepped into theV8 category in 2003 running Todd Wanless, right, and ran a number of cars in it before finally graduating to the 'main game' in 2006.

Team boss Paul Cruickshank has always outlined his 'before we run we have to walk' business phiiosophy, and it's the same with the growth of his Gold Coast-based team, with the Fujitsu Series a vital part of the development.

"I think it's the oniy way it can be done where you get the experience you need," he says.

"Having done the Fujitsu Series and Carrera Cup, the development series was far more reievant in the way that the cars are a iot more iabour intesive, but the biggest thing we iearnt when we got to the main series was about how much we didn't actuaily know!

"With there only being seven rounds versus the 14 in the main series, that was why we did run Carrera Cup cars at the same time as the Fujitsu Series because we weren't doing

w L enough races for the team to learn enough.

"To be honest, I thought we'd do a year in the Fujitsu Series and go straight into the main game. Ross Stone aiways toid me it wouid take three and he was spot on."

Cruickshank's reiationship with SBR, from whom he sourced his first Falcons to join the FV8 Series, he believes was the main key from the start.

"If we hadn't had that relationship, we stii! could have made the main series, but it would have taken us another two years. It's just the little things, bits and pieces. If we'd started off with cars that weren't the quality that we had, then that would have made the job a lot tougher."

So often the focus is on driver development

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in the Fujitsu Series, however it's training for crew members, whether it be mechanics or engineers that is just as important.

"For mechanics and engineers, it's just as important as the driver side," says Cruickshank.

"Hayden Morris was the number one mechanic when we started in the V8s and now he's the race team manager. He's come up through the ranks iike a driver and pretty much al! of our staff - apart from a few additions when we went into the main series - have been here the whoie time from running in the Fujitsu Series to moving into the main game."

Getting PCR a soiid contender in the main game is the next step, but the one foiiowing that is a return to the Fujitsu Series as a 'main series team' rather than trying to become one.

"That's the next step for things, i'd like to get two cars in the main game, but until we have stablised it and have it how we want it, then the next stage for us is to run a Fujitsu car alongside the main series car.

"It gives us a progression to two cars and that's the beauty of it. You can go in and out [of FV8s] without it impacting too much on where your main focus is."

-AARON NOONAN

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he honour ro Winning the Fujitsu Series title is great, but it’s what happens next that matters. AARON NOONAN rates the previous winners and their impact since their title win

Dean Canto :: 2000/2005 THE inaugural champion. Canto used the first 'Konica V8 Lites Series'in 2000 to stake a claim to pushing into the V8 Supercar Series.

His ex-Seton Falcon was the best toy in the playground (save perhaps for David Besnard's late season appearance for SBR in two rounds) and the pint-sized Sydneysider scored enduro gigs with Ford Tickford Racing in addition to graduating with his own team.

Deals with Briggs Motorsport and then an enduro ride with Triple Eight didn't work out and he was back in the Fujitsu Series in 2005 with Dick Johnson Racing. Another title vaulted him back into the main show,and he now is in his second full season with Garry Rogers Motorsport.

"You only have to look at the main series and all of the former champions,except for one, have drives. I was in the very first year of the series and the main teams had just started looking for drivers from it as co-drivers for the enduros.There were a couple of teams putting young guys in their main cars, but it was the

only way to get track time in a V8 Supercar. "in 2000 i got a wiidcard into Clipsal after I'd done the first two V8 Lites (as it was known then) rounds. In practice in Adeiaide it was unbeiievable, guys were two seconds a iap faster and I thought i had better go do some more practice!

"Not too many guys have come through from Formula Ford lately. Certainly you get confidence if you've won the Fujitsu Series, but if you are a FFord or Carrera Cup driver, having an endurance drive is your best chance to really shine (for a main series drive).

"Getting the call up from Glenn (Seton)to drive for Ford Tickford was probably the highlight from those years, apart from winning the championships."

IMPACT:7/10. Canto proved that people notice If you win In the series- granted, by the time 2005 rolled around the series had become a proper proving ground, but it's been the best audition house for Canto's career.

Simon Wills :: 2001 AFTER two titles in Formula Holden,Wills moved into the series in 2001 with an exGibson Commodore run by Birrana under theTeam Dynamik banner.

He basically was too fast for Paul Dumbrell and his chasers, sealing the title at Mallala.

John Briggs liked what he saw and signed the Kiwi to replace John Bowe, but the relationship was over mid-2002 before endurance gigs with SBR (and a Queensland 500 win tool) and Team Kiwi led to the formation of Team Dynamik proper.

When it self-destructed. Wills was in the wilderness before coming back with Team BOC this year from Winton onwards.

But the 2001 title win did pave a way and prove he wasn't simply a good open wheeler driver.

"In the first year I did it, was when the Level 1 teams were starting to dabble. I ran against Gibson cars, a GRM car and SBR had a semi involvement through Michael Simpson. It was just starting to pick up then and you 56

could do it on a relatively smaller budget.

Thesedays it's getting a bit tougher, and you actually also learn what is ahead in the future in terms of on track, but also off-track with sponsor commitments and the like.

"I'd driven in the enduros for Wynn's, Faulkner and SBR,so to then do some sprint races, have control of my own car, qualify it and learn about new tyres was great.

"I did the last few races of 2001 in the main game in the CAT car, which was very competitive and I made a Shootout from memory and ran reasonably competitively.

So I felt like it was a good stepping-stone. But the thing was that in 2002 the car and team (level) deteriorated and it really wasn't that easy!

"I ran the first round [of the FV8s] in Adelaide this year and the depth is definitely there. If you have a bad day you'll struggle to get into the top 10, but when I ran, if you had a bad day you'd still be fourth of fifth.

"I don't think the competitiveness has got

stronger, it's just got more depth and the quality-of the teams is a bit higher too."

IMPACT:4/10. Is back in the game now but only due to Brad Jones'retirement from full-time driving. Driving fora 'father-owned'team at Team Dynamik from 2003 to 2005 makes it hard to reallyjudge further impact, but his 2001 title win showed good pace in debut year in V8 Supercars.

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Paul Dumbrell :: 2002 SOMETIMES wayward in Formula Holden, Dumbrell joined the series in 2001 in a Gibson-run Commodore. He narrowly lost the title to Wills, but came back a year later in a Marty Brant-run VX to pound the field.

That earned him a slot with Larry Perkins and he maintained the gig after a few years of highs and lows before moving onto Supercheap Auto Racing. He remains driver who has got better the longer he has driven, but hasn't been abie to penetrate and make the podium in the main game.

"The biggest thing back then was getting miles.They weren't giving the endurance gigs to young blokes because of a lack

of experience. It was a catch 22 situation, because you couldn't get experience unless you were in what was then the Konica Series.

"The race formats were similar to the main series before they started putting in longer races and reverse grids. It's the only way you can learn to drive the cars, the associated race craft and the tyre - which is a big factor.

"In the second year (2002), I got away with making small mistakes,so I wasn't as critical on myself as what I needed to be. I still made mistakes, but still won.You get into a habit of not working as hard, whether it be your fitness or whatever.

"When I got to the main series I didn't think

I would qualify in the top five, but I thought somewhere from 10th to 15th. At the Grand Prix I got a shock, I was 27th on the grid and it opened my eyes to the level the series was at.

"The costs have gone up in the last few years, but it was only a matter of time. In 2002 we worked with the best car available and personnel - it's what you do to win."

IMPACT:5/10. Never struggled for budget or great machinery during time in the series.

But drove it well and dominated 2002. Had glimmers ofform with Perkins and has become a mainstay in the main series. So has made an impact, but over a longer space oftime.

Andy Jones :: 2004

Mark Winterbottom :: 2003

After a few years in the series, Jones clinched the title in a BJR-run Falcon in 2004,finishing equal on points with Luke Youlden but victorious on a count back.

His sheer speed in the series earned him a drive with Garry Rogers, however things didn't pan out and one of the nicest guys going in the paddock struggled.The same followed with Tasman and he's now back with BJR trying to take them back up the grid.

"People don't only look at their own cars in the series, they look at everybody based on what cars they're in.

"Since 2004 it was definitely gone from strength to strength. It definitely set me up and made people take notice. Everything has a flow on and that helps towards building your future.

"I have heard Luke (Youlden)say I had a good car that year and yes, it was a really good car, but I feel like I drove it well. It gave me good confidence going into the main series and it all stemmed from the Fujitsu Series.

"It was the springboard to bring BOC into the main series.They were happy with the TV and coverage they got, and BJR is in its third year of sponsorship with them.

Drivers, mechanics, engineers and even sponsors have all benefited from having a feeder series. It's a place for people to see what they can get out of the sport and they get plenty and they get involved even further."

THE move from Formula Ford toV8 Supercars with Ford on his side meant great pressure, but Frosty responded beautifully.

Some time in the under-funded Larkham team helped him learn the ropes out of the spotlight but has become one of Ford's long-term stars of now with FPR. May have lost momentum in the eyes of many during the Larkham years, but those'in the know'never doubted the ability he had shown in the junior categories.

"In 2003 I was lucky, I drove with a Level 1 team and learnt a lot. I had good people to learn off and I learnt more than in two years at Larko's.

IMPACT:3.5/10.

Got into the main game on the back ofa 2004 championship butstruggied with GRM and Tasman. Back at home in Albury now and that may mean an improve in resuits, but career momentum slowed after winning the title and the next step hasn't happen.

www.mnews.com.au

What I did at SBR in the series set me up for where I am now, not the two years in the main series."

"Sometimes the times I did were equal to Ambrose, but because the events were a month apart and the track and weather was different, you didn't know whether you were the same speed or genuinely quick.

"Now, with being able to compare yourself to the main series by running in the session just before or after, you can compare apples with apples."

IMPACT:9/10. Has become a Ford star ofnow,not the future. The guy is quick and has made it through. Only previous FV8 champ to win a round in the main game in the iast five years.

Adam Macrow :: 2006 THE Formula Ford champ as far back as 1998, Macrow hasn't been able to penetrate beyond scoring endurance drives.

A move into the development series in 2005 helped him show pace and he scored third at Bathurst that year in a Triple Eight Ford with Steve Ellery.

And a crushing series win last year for Howard Racing showed in a good car he can do the job well.

"We couldn't have had a much better year last year, it was great,"says Macrow.

"Everything went pretty much seamlessly."

We posed a hypothetical question too - if a drive came up for him in Fujitsu Series, having already won it, would he run the series again?

"I'm a big believer in once you tick a box, you try and move on and put your efforts into that. I've won national championships in every class and car I've driven in, so if that isn't enough to prove I can do the job,then what is?"

IMPACT:2/10. Sounds harsh, but a guy who wins five ofseven rounds and the title and doesn't have a drive the following year in the main game hasn't made an impact. Enduro gig with Britek and fill-in with TKR in Adelaide the exceptions. Is he too old? Not marketable enough?Surpassed by the next wave ofyouth?

57

www-iicrfforntiaMicei

WERFORIIIUUICE ^■wholesale k 1^1 /V iJ

/V ■. ■

r-TTY

STROKE TYPE 3.750" 400 SB CHEV 374 SBC DE/STROKER 3.500" 3.480” SB CHEV 3.750" SB CHEV

MAIN 400 400 350 400

ROD .. . .EACH 5.70” . . .$220 6.00" . . .$220 5.70" . . .$220 6.00" . . .$220

4.500' 445445006535 4340 BB CHEV (THIS CRANK HAS SMALL MARK ON ONE BIG END JOURNAL)

454

6.535" . . .$990

QITY PART# 1 9104000R 3 940035006000 4 935034805700 3 940037506000

SCAT-BB CHEV

1

SCAT-CHRYSLER 1 2

P5007256 P5007258

SCAT-FORD

3 2 6

SERIES 9000 9000 9000 9000

NODULAR SB CHRYSLER STROKER 4.00” NODULAR SB CHRYSLER STROKER 4.00"

430230050921232 4340 4351W37506000 4340 935140060002100C 9000

CROWER 1 1 1

1

L/WEICHT 302 WINDSOR 3.00" 3.75' 351W FORD 351C FORD SVO 4.00"

95186C-PAE 4340 BILLET SB FORD BLOWER E95125X4400 4340 SB CHEV UL95120-B6 4340 SB CHEV U/UGHT (ROUGH BAIANCED TO 1720 GRAMS) UL95120-B6-2 4340 SB CHEV U/UCHT (ROUGH BAIANCED TO 1670 CRAMS)

340 360

6.123” . . .$330 6.123" . . .$330

302W 351W 351C

5.090" . .$1,100 6.00” . . .$990 6.00” . . .$550

350

S/J B/E .$2,530

PART#

DESCRIPTION

1SR

R500003-PW

SB CHEV 5.850" AUOY HEAVY DUTY BLOWER RODS, S/J B/END, .990" L/END, 7/16” BOLT SB CHEV 6.00” AUOY HEAVY DUTY BLOWER RODS, SJ B/END .927” L/END, 7/16" BOLT

CARRILLO 1 SR

GRP

1 SR

SCAT

1 SET 3SRS 3 SETS 1 SR

ML93900B3-8

GRP-SB1000

2ICR6000P 3ICR6000P 235062002000 2IS161002100945

DESCRIPTION

.EACH

1

01-0008CS

ROUERCAM, 255"/262“@.050", .651"/.65rUFT, 114"L/C

$110

2

12-206-2

HYDRAUUC CAM 2127212”® .050", .4257.425" UF, 110” L/C

.$154

1

12-4160

SMAIi BLOCK CHEV (Lfi shown b wrm 1.5 Rocker Rrtio)

HYDRAUUCROllERCAM, 2127218”® .050", .4887.495" UR, .$330

12-610-5

SOUD CAM 2567266” @ .050", .5407.534" UR, 104” 7C

1

12-612-5

SOUD CAM 265"/276”@ .050", .5627.557" UR, 106” l/C

1

12-000-5-JB

SOUD CAM, 256”/267”@ .050", .5427.536" UR, 106” L/C

$275 .$165

1

12-000-SIVU

SOUD CAM, 2507254”® .050", .5297.540" UR, 106”l/C

$165

1

12-000-8-FA

HYDRAUUC ROILERCAM 242“/248”@ .050", .5707.582" UR, 110" l/C, SMALL BASE CIRCLE

12-000-8-FP

HYDRAUUC ROUER CAM 2427248"® .050”, .5707.582" UR, 110” L/C

.$330

12K)0O9CP

ROUER CAM, 2627268"® .050", .6457.645" UR, 106”L/C

.$220

1

12-OOOOTM

ROLLER CAM, 268”/264"® .050”, ;609"/.609" UR, 108”L/C

.$220

1

12-910-9-RDRCB ROUER CAM 260"/264”@ .050”, .6607.630" UR, 106” L/C

,$1,100

.$1,210

SBC1000 SERIES, 6.00” AUOY RODS, L/J B/END

.$1,100

$220 $ 220 .$440 .$440 .$440 .$440

,$484

(DRILLED FOR REAR PUMP DRIVE & 1.875" ROLLER CAM BEARINGS)

BB CHRYSLER 383^040 (Lft shown using 1.5 Roa®! Ratio) 21-228-4

HYDRAUUC CAM (SINGLE BOLT), 241”/247"@ .050”, .5457.545” UR,

23-233-4

FORD SMAIi BLOCK 289-302W (Lft shown using 1.6 Roogs Ratio) 1

31-000-8-A1

.$165

SOUD CAM (3 X BOLT), 252”/260”@ .050", .5407.558" UR, 110” L/C

.$1,100

.$330

1

1

SB CHEV BlUR 6.00” RODS, S/J B/END, TAPER BEAM, 3/8” BOLTS

SBC I-BEAM RODS, 6.0” L/J B/END, PRESS FIT L/END SB CHEV I-BEAM RODS, 6.0" L/J B/END SB CHEV H-BEAM RODS, 6.200" X S/J. LSI H-BEAM RODS, 6.100" X L/J X .945" . . . .

(BAIANCED SHOP SOIIED) 4 SRS 235162002311927 351 FORD H-BEAM RODS, 6.200” X .927" PIN 3 SRS 246066052500 BB 460 FORD H-BEAM RODS, 6.605” LONG . .

. .

110” L/C

■mm'

.$275

1

1

C-283<655005-00 SB CHEV, 5.5" H-BEAM S/J, .927" PIN, 3/8” CARR BOLTS, .$1,980 TAPER BEAM, 534 GRAMS

CROWER

2S22

BIG BLOCK CHEV GEN VI (Lit shown is with 1.7 Roocer Rsho)

3.40”

SETS

1 SR

Fax: 07 3808 3050

COHSS^

1

$1,980 PER KIT

R500003-BE

Ph: 07 3808 1986

Q1Y PART#

2.200” B/E 3.50” 302W 6.00” . .$1,10 0 3.75" 400 6.00" . .$1,980 3.42” 350 S/J B/E .$2,530

SKITS XSBF408-351C-9000 408CI - INCLUDES SCAT 9000 SERIES CRANK & I-BEAM 7/16” BOLT RODS, SRP FORGED PISTONS, TOTAL SEAL RINGS, HIGH PERFORMANCE ENGINE BEARINGS

1 SR

PO Box 2366, Logan City DC 4114

112"L/C (SKI BOAT)

351C CIE/EIAND STROKER KIT - 9000 SERIES 9.2’ DECK

BME

j

c

^ Vj

SCAT-SB CHEV

6 Cronulla Court Slacks Creek Qld 4127

■ r>

ili

I

ABN 98 065 319 842

.$165

HYDRAUUC ROUER CAM, 2427248”® .050", .608"/.615" UR, 108” L/C

FORD 302-351C (Lft shown b with 1.73 Rocker Ratio)

. .$330

1

32-218-3

HYDRAUUC CAM, 20672D6”® .05D", .4687.468” UR, 110” L/C

.$165

1

32-642-5

SOUD CAM, 2507260”® .050", .6147.645" UR, 106” L/C

.$165

FORD 5.0L, SVO & 351W (Lft shown b with 1.6 Roogr ratio) 2

35-254-4

HYDRAUUC CAM, 2507256’® .050", .5547.558" UR, 110”L/C

2

35-522-8

HYDRAUUC ROUER CAM, 232”/240’® .050", .696"/.672" UR

1 1

35-000-8-PAEZ ROLLER HYD CAM, 252”/252”@ .050", .576"/.576" UR, 112” L/C . . . .$220 .$330 35-000-9-WS ROUER CAM, 240”/249”@ .050", .606”/.612"UR, 112” L/C .

1

35-000-9-BRAD ROLLER CAM, 264”/260”® .050", .7587.707" UR

(WITH 1.73 ROCKER RATIO), 110” L/C

(WITH 1.73 ROCKER RATIO), 102.5” L/C

$165 .$330

.$484

LS1 GEN III (Lft shown b with 1.7 Rocker Ratio) (SOME PACKAGING MARKED) 2

54-412-11

HYD ROUER CAM, 212”/218’@ .050", .522"/.529" UR, 114”L/C . , . .$583

2

54-414-11

HYD ROLLER CAM, 2167220"® .050", .525"/.532” UR, 114” L/C . . . .$583

4

54-416-11

HYD ROUER CAM, 220”/224”@ .050", .5307.534" UR, 112” L/C . . . .$583

2

54-418-11

HYD ROLLER CAM, 224’/228"® .050", .534"/.537" UR, 112" L/C . . . .$583

1

54-444-11

HYD ROUER CAM, 224”/230”® .050", .5817.588" UR, 114"L/C . . . .$583

1

54-448-11

HYD ROUER CAM, 238”/240”® .050", .605”/.609” UR, 112” L/C

$583

ALL PARTS ARE NEW UNLESS NOTED AND PRICES INCLUDE GST!

Tn

% PART#

ENGINE

HEAD

BORE STROKE

ROD

C/R.... SET

QTY

SRP FORCED PISTONS iincl pins & iocks) SB CHEV - 550 FIAT TOP 2 SETS 138086 SB CHEV 350 OEM 1 SET 175994 SB CHEV 350 OEM SB CHEV - 350/400 DOME 1 SET 231309 SB CHEV 350 OEM 1 SET 231310 SB CHEV 350 OEM 1 SET 142021 SB CHEV 400 OEM SB CHEV - 350/400 INVERTED DOME 1 SET 203196 SB CHEV 350 OEM 2 SETS 139627 SB CHEV 350 OEM 1 SET 138106 SB CHEV 350 OEM 1 SET 144994 SB CHEV 400 OEM 1 SET 147548 SB CHEV 400 OEM BB CHEV - FIAT TOP/INVERTED DOME 2 SETS 139480 BB CHEV 454 OEM 1 SET 139483 BB CHEV 454 OEM 1 SET 142974 BB CHEV 454 OEM BB CHEV - HIGH COMPRESSION DOME 1 SET 139536 BB CHEV 454 OEM 3 SETS 139542 BB CHEV 454 OEM 1 SET 140684 BB CHEV 454 OEM 1 SET 152157 BB CHEV 454 OEM CHRYSLER - 400/440 FLATTOP 1 SET 231521 440 CHRYSLER OEM SB FORD - FLAT TOP 1 SET 138735 SB FORD 302W OEM 2 SETS 138731 SB FORD 351W OEM SB FORD - DISH 1 SET 138725 SB FORD 302W OEM 1 SET 138728 SB FORD 302W OEM 1 SET 149605 SB FORD 351W OEM 1 SET 151865 SB FORD 351W OEM 1 SET 231599 SB FORD 351W OEM

4.040" 3.480" 6.000" 10.3:1 4.035" 3.500" 6.125" 10.3:1

$726 $770

4.000" 3.480" 5.700" 12.6:1 4.000" 3.480” 6.000" 12.6:1 4.155" 3.750" 5.700" 12.9:1

$792 $792 $792

4.060" 3.480" 4.020" 3.750" 4.020" 3.750" 4.030"" 4.000" 4.145" 3.750"

$792 $792 $792 $792 $792

6.000" 8.5:1 5.700" 9.8:1 6.000" 9.8:1 5.850" 10.4:1 6.000" 10.3:1

4.350” 4.000" 6.135" 4.530" 4.000" 6.135" 4.320" 4.000" 6.385"

9.0:1 9.4:1 8.6:1

$770 $770 $770

4.530" 4.310" 4.280" 4.600"

12.9:1 12.8:1 12.8:1 13.0:1

$792 $792 $792 $880

4.350" 4.150" 6.768" 11.4:1

$726

4.040" 3.000" 5.090" 9.7:1 4.040" 3.500" 5.956" 11.0:1

$726 $726

4.020" 4.060" 4.020" 4.030" 4125"

4.000" 4.250" 4.000" 4.250"

3.000" 3.000" 3.500" 3.700" 3.750"

6.135" 6.135" 6.385" 6.385"

5.090" 8.6:1 5.090" 8.6:1 5.956" 9.9:1 6.200" 9.0:1 6.250" 10.0:1

$770 $770 $770 $792 $772

JE FORCED PISTONS .(INCL PINS & LOCKS) 1 SET 1 SET

i

/

131636 170879

SB CHEV (DISH) 23" OEM 4.030" 3.480" 5.700" BB 460 FORD (DISH) OEM 4.390" 4.500" 6.700"

8.7:1 9.6:1

$770 $770

'S I S ROSS FORCED PISTONS.(INCL PINS & LOCKS)

SB CHEV-HEAVY DUTY FLATTOP 1 SET 92455 SB CHEV 350 23” OEM 4.035" 3.480" 5.700" 10.0:1 $550 1 SET 93465 SB CHEV 350 23” OEM 4.060" 3.480" 6.000" 10.2:1 $550 2 SETS 97755 SB CHEV 400 23” OEM 4.125" 3.750" 5.700" 11.1:1 $550 2 SETS 90008 SB CHEV 400 23” OEM 4.155" 3.750" 5.700" 11.3:1 $550 SB CHEV - LUDICROUS LITENESS FLAT TOP 3 SETS 90456 SB CHEV 350 23” OEM 4.030" 3.480" 5.700" 10.1:1 $550 SBC n LUDICROUS LITENESS FLAT TOP, CAS PORTED, COMPLETE PISTON KIT -INC RINGS 1 SET 99831 SB CHEV 350 23” OEM 4.030" 3.480" 5.700" 10.1:1 $550 SB CHEV-DOME TOP 1 SET 92461 SB CHEV 350 23” OEM 4.020" 3.480" 6.000" 12.9:1 $594 2 SETS 99563 SB CHEV 350 23” OEM 4.020" 3.480" 6.000" 12.6:1 $594 4 SETS 90461 SB CHEV 350 23” OEM 4.030" 3.480" 6.000" 12.9:1 $594 1 SET 94451 SB CHEV 350 23” OEM 4.035" 3.480" 5.700" 12.9:1 $594 1SET 94461 SB CHEV 350 23” OEM 4.035" 3.480" 6.000" 12.9:1 $594 1SET 99566 SB CHEV 350 23” OEM 4.040" 3.480" 6.000" 12.7:1 $594 1 SET 97451 SB CHEV 400 23" OEM 4.125" 3.480" 5.700" 12.6:1 $594 2 SETS 96651 SB CHEV 400 23” OEM 4165" 3.625" 5.700" 12.8:1 $594 SB CHEV - EXTRA HIGH DOME - DRAG RACE DESIGN, NOT FOR CIRCLE TRACK 1 SET 91452 SB CHEV 350 23” OEM 4.040" 3.480" 5.700" 12.9:1 $594 2 SETS 93462 SB CHEV 350 23” OEM 4.060" 3.480" 6.000" 13.0:1 $594 BB CHEV - OPEN CHAMBER WITH HIGH COMPRESSION 1 SET 99552 BB CHEV OEM 4.350" 4.000" 6.535" 13.3:1 $594 1 SET 99611 BB CHEV OEM 4.375" 4.000" 6.135" 13.4:1 $594 BB CHEV - CLOSED CHAMBER HIGH CDMPRESSION RATIO 2 SETS 82011 BB CHEV 454 OEM 4.280" 4.000" 6.385" 11.7:1 $594 FORD WINDSOR S02, 351 - tfs “tyuisted wedge", high port “street heat", canfield avenger 1 SET 99794 FORD 302W AS ABOVE 4.001" 3.400" 5.400" 9.7:1 $594 2 SETS 99800 FORD 351W AS ABOVE 4.030" 3.850" 6.200" 11.0:1 $550 FORD WINDSOR 302, 351 FLAT TOP 1 SET 99824 FORD 302W OEM 4.030" 3.250" 5.315" $550 BB CHRYSLER (USING 400 BLOCK MAKE 470CIN) 1 SET 99538 BB CHRYSLER OEM 4.375" 3.915" 6.535" F/TOP $550 1 SET 99874 MITSUBISHI 6072 4V 3.607" 2.992" 5.548" 9.0:1 $770 TURBO 91.6MM

piWMONq 2 SETS DIA11506 CM LSI 2 SETS DIA09064100

FORGED PISTONS .(INCL PINS & LOCKS) OEM 4.100" 4.00" 6.125"DISH 11.0:1.... $880 RINGS TO SUIT ABOVE PISTONS $154

PART #

#

ENGINE

HEAD

C/H

C/R

1 SET 63-32-WR HONDA INTEGRA OEM 81 MM STD STD 1.205” TURBO limUDES.82T pm & LOCKS) 1 SET 35-32-PW NISSAN RB30 OEM 3.445” STD STD 1.260” TURBO ILNCLUDBS PINS & LOCKS - LOW COMPRESSION) 1 SET 29-11-MR FORD 250 OEM 3.695” STD STD 1.664” F/TOP lINCLUDES PINS & LOCKS) 1 SET 31-11-SSRD HOLDEN V6 OEM 3.820" 1.390" F/TOP (SUIT.990'PINS - INCLUDES PINS 8, LOCKS)

1 SET 215485

SB CHEV 410 12° ALLAN 4.145" 3.8" 6.00" 1.100" 15:1 JOHNSON lINCLUDES PINS & LOCKS) 1SET 230465 SB CHEV 410PR0 AaiON 4.160" 3.75" 5.850" 1.193" 15:1 1+ 2 SPARE -10 PISTON PRICE) HIGH PORT lINCLUDES PINS & ROUND WIRE LOCKS) 1SET 253492 SB CHEV 410 CB2300 4.125" 3.80" 6.00" 1.090" 15:1 1+ i SPARE -12 PISTON PRICE) lINCLUDES PINS K LOCKS) SB FORD 1SET 230529

302SVO

1SET 242008

351C

C3 YATES 4.010" 3.00" 5.60" 1.00" 10:1 lINCLUDES MB'PINS & LOCKS) OEM351C 4.130" 4.00" 6.00" 1.175" 6CC DISH ICAN BE USED WITH 5.850'STROKE & 6.100'ROD)

SB FORD MODULAR a.GL/S.AL 1SET 254707 4.6/5.4L OEM 2V 3.572" STOCK STOCK 1.220" DISH, 1.020' OVER STD CAN BE USED IN 4.6L/5.SL) AUSTRALIAN CHRYSLER HEMI 6 1SET 226623 265 HEMI OEM 3.950" STOCK 5.70" 1.677" F/TOP BB FORD

429/460BB 429 COBRA 4.390" 4.300" 6.80" 1.350" DISH JET lINCLUDES PINS & LOCKS n CAN ALSO BE USED WITH 4.50"STROKE & 6.70'RODS)

'r SPERFORMANCE i PISTONS A 1SET KB228-030 1 SET KB228-040 4 SETS KB26OO30 2 SETS KB26CH)40 1 SET KB260D60

$440 $330 $330

$990 $880 $800

$880 $660

.$990

$550

lINCLUDES PINS & LOCKS)

1 SET 170879

PART #

$110

JE CUSTOM FORCED PISTONS

SB CHEV

QTY

SET

ROSS CUSTOM FORCED PISTONS

t

1

BORE STROKE ROD

C--

.$660

KB HYPERUTECTIC PISTONS

ENGINE

BORE STROKE

SB CHEV 350 SB CHEV 350 SB CHEV 350 SB CHEV 350 SB CHEV 350

4.030" 4.040" 4.030" 4.040" 4.060"

3.480" 3.480" 3.480" 3.480" 3.480"

C/R DOME/DISH ... l SET VOLUME 5.700" 10:1 FUTTOP $260 5.700" 10:1 FLATTOP $260 6.000" 10:1 FLATTOP $340 6.000" 10:1 FLATTOP $340 6.000" 10:1 FLATTOP $340 ROD

3 SETS KB122-030 SB CHEV 383 4.030" 3.750" 6.000" 10.9:1 FLATTOP 1 SET KB122-040 SB CHEV 383 4.040" 3.750" 6.000" 10.9:1 FUTTOP 1SET KB122-060 SB CHEV 383 4.060" 3.750” 6.000" 10.9:1 FUTTOP 1 SET KB134-020 SB CHEV 383 4.020" 3.750" 5.700" 10.9:1 FUTTOP, 1SET KB134-030 SB CHEV 383 4.030" 3.750" 5.700" 10.9:1 FUTTOP. 3 SETS KB134-040 SB CHEV 383 4.040" 3.750" 5.700" 10.9:1 FUTTOP. 1 SET KB134-060 SB CHEV 383 4.060" 3.750" 5.700" 10.9:1 FUTTOP. 2 SETS KB121-030 SB CHEV 383 4.030" 3.750" 5.700" 8.5:1 28CC DISH. 1SET KB121-040 SB CHEV 383 4.040" 3.750" 5.700" 8.5:1 28CC DISH. 1SET KB135-020 SB CHEV 383 4.020" 3.750" 5.700" 9.7:1 18CC DISH. 2 SETS KB135-030 SB CHEV 383 4.030" 3.750" 5.700" 9.7:1 18CC DISH. 1 SET KB135-040 SB CHEV 383 4.040" 3.750" 5.700" 9.7:1 18CC DISH. 1SET KB164-040 SB CHEV 383 4.165" 3.750" 6.000" 9.7:1 19CC DISH.

$320 $320 $320 $285 $285 $285 $285 $340 $340 $340 $340 $340 $350

2 SETS KB13(H)30 SB CHEV 400 2 SETS KB13CH)40 SB CHEV 400 1 SET KB159-030 -SB CHEV 400 1 SET KB159-040 SB CHEV 400

4.155" 4.165" 4.155" 4.165"

$380 $380 $330 $330

1SET 1SET

4.280" 4.000" 6.135" 10.2:1 25CC DOME .... $380 4.310" 4.000" 6.135" 10.2:1 25CC DOME .... $380

KB207-030 BB CHEV 454 KB207-060 BB CHEV 454

3.750" 3.750" 3.750" 3.750"

6.000" 10.2:1 18CC DISH. 6.000" 10.2:1 18CC DISH. 5.565" 10.8:1 12CC DISH. 5.565" 10.8:1 12CC DISH

2 SETS KB282-030 308 HOLDEN 1 SET KB282-040 308 HOLDEN

4.030" 3.062" 5.622" 10.2:1 FUTTOP 4.040" 3.062" 5.622" 10.2:1 FUTTOP

$340 $340

1 SET 1 SET 1 SET

4.030" 3.400" 5.400" 9:1 4.020" 3.400" 5.400" 10:1 4.040" 3.400" 5.400" 10:1

16CC DISH FUTTOP FUTTOP

$380 $340 $340

4.030" 3.480" 5.700" 10.2:1 FUTTOP 4.040" 3.480" 5.700" 10.2:1 FUT TOP 4.060" 3.480" 5.700" 10.2:1 FUT TOP

$360 $360 $360

4.030" 4.040" 4.060" 4.030" 4.040" 4.060"

$360 $360 $360 $360 $360 $360

KB366KJ30 SB FORD 347 KB246-020 SB FORD 347 KB246-040 SB FORD 347

KB FORGED PISTONS 1SET 1 SET 1 SET

KB9913-030 SB CHEV 350 KB9913-040 SB CHEV 350 KB9913-060 SB CHEV 350

1SET KB9914-030 SB CHEV 383 2 SETS KB9914-040 SB CHEV 383 1SET KB9914-060 SB CHEV 383 1 SET KB9926D30 SB CHEV 383 1 SET KB9926KJ40 SB CHEV 383 1 SET KB9926-060 SB CHEV 383

3.750" 3.750" 3.750" 3.750" 3.750" 3.750"

5.700" 11.1:1 FUTTOP 5.700" 11.1:1 FUTTOP 5.700" 11.1:1 FUTTOP 5.700" 9.7:1 18CC DISH 5.700" 9.7:1 18CC DISH 5.700" 9.7:1 18CC DISH

ALL PARTS ARE NEW UNLESS NOTED AND PRICES INCLUDE GST!

QTY PART #

MATERIAl.

SB CHEV 1

BORE

DKK HT

MAINS

CYLINDER HEADS

MAIN CAPS

31151111 CAST IRON 4.000” 9,025" 350 NODULAR IRON ....$1,900 (THIS BLOCK HAS A CASTING CRACK ON PAN RAIL ABOUT 11/4’LONG. BLOCK IS WARRANTED BY DARTj

am

SB FORD 1

STEEL 31385135 CAST IRON 4.000” 9.50” 351C .$2,500 (THIS BLOCK HAD THE SMALL LUC ON LEFT HAND FRONT OF BLOCK BROKEN IN TRANSIT)

1

31385195PW CAST IRON 4.000” 9.20” 302W STEEL ,$3,000 (THIS BLOCK HAS URER BORES THAT ARE BORED TO 1.060" TO SUITJESEL .937 KEYWAY URERS. CAM TUNNELS UNE BORED TO SUIT 55MM ROLLER CAM BEARINGS)

3 AC140019 2 AC140018

Intake Valve

Exhaust Valve

Chamber Machining

Price Pair

72 72 64 64

STRAIGHT ANGLED STRAIGHT ANGLED

2.020" 2.020" 2.020" 2.020"

1.600” 1.600" 1.600” 1.600"

CAST CAST CAST CAST

EA $275 EA $275 ,$847 $847

25° SBC PRO CAST ^PSS®:V: IRON UGHTIMIIMG c^pum 180CC INTAKE PORT l STREET PERFORMANCE, MAX THROTTIE RESPONSE & TORQUE UP TO 350 CIN

220CC INTAKE PORT - MAXIMUM STREET PERFORMANCE, OVAL TRACK & DRAG BRACKET 350400 CIN UP TO 7500 RPM

2 PR 2 PR 3 PR 3 PR

.EA $88

ACCEL CD COIL SUIT Aa CD IGNITION SYSTEMS & ACCEL 300+..

ACCEL FORD 4-TOWER STYLE EDIS COIL 1989-1999

Spark Plug Angle

1 only 223200080 1 Only223200080A 4 PR 223400080 9 PR 223400080A

IGMITICPtJ SirSTBMS ACCEL IGNITION BOXES & COILS

Chamber CC

223200020 223200020A 223400020 223400020A

MAUORY CD HYFIRE VII (7) SERIES IGNITION SYSTEMS

1

MA6678TR PROFESSIONAL CD, 3 STEP REV UMITER, 3 STEP RETARD, BOOST RETARD 3 MA667C PROFESSIONAL CD, 3 STEP REV UMITER, 3 STEP RETARD, HIGH SPEED ADVANCE 2 MA667CR PROFESSIONAL CD, 2 STEP REV UMITER, 4 STEP RETARD, HIGH SPEED ADVANCE 2 MA667S SPORTSMAN CD, 2 STEP REV UMITER, 1 STEP RETARD, AUTOMATIC START RETARD 1 MA28357 MAUORY IGNITION TESTER KTT, TESTS MAUORY IGNITIONS, DISTRIBUTORS, REV UMITERS, TACHOS, SHIF UGHTS ETC ....

1 only223200035A

.$462

2 PR 6 PR 1 PR 3 PR

.EA $396 .$297

2 PR 123200000 3 PR 123200000A 3 PR 123400000A

03-3009

1 onlYl23200020A .$1,188

PETERSON PRO-ROTOR 3 STAGE SPRINTCAR CAM DRIVE ..

MALLORY

MA5358514

JOE HUNT 1 1 1 5

JHM9800-A JHM9890-A JHM9892 JHM5100

MAUORY SB CHEV SPRINTMAG III 265-454 CHEV LATEST UPDATED DESIGN, LOCKED ADVANCE ...

3 PR 123200035A 3 PR 123400035A

.EA $1,320

1PR 3 PR 3 PR 4 PR

$1,210 JOE HUNT SBC MAGNETO INT COIL WITH ADVANCE $1,210 JOE HUNT SBC MAGNETO EXT COIL WITH ADVANCE JOE HUNT SBC MAGNETO H2 UTE INT COIL LOCKED ADVANCE ....$1,210 EA$99 JOE HUNT MAGNETO TIMING BUZZER

PART #

DESCRIPTION

.SET

COMP CAMS DUAL FLAT TAPPET SPRING WITH DAMPER 1.550" OD, 174LBS @ 1.900”, 452LBS @ 1.275” ....

.$165

COMP CAMS VALVE SPRINGS

3 SETS CC26094-16 E915044

6 SETS E915048 1 SET

E915049

3 SETS E915055

.$250 $550 ,$550 ,$550

ISKY1600 SUPER-RAD ROLLER CAM VALVE SPRINGS - 9900 SERIES^ SPRINGS THAT HAVE ADDITONAL PRECISION NITRIDE HEAT PROCESSING 7 SETS 1645 (9945RAD) 7 SETS 1685 (9985RAD) 8 SETS 1695 (9995RAD) 3SRS 1698 (9998RAD)

DUAL W/DAMPER, 1.625” OD, 250 LBS @ 2.020”, 690 LBS @ 1.245”, .775” UR DUAL W/DAMPER, 1.560” OD, 250 LBS @ 2.000", 610 LBS @ 1.280", .720” UR DUAL W/DAMPER, 1.570” OD, 250 LBS @ 2.030", 640 LBS @ 1.280", .750” UR DUAL W/DAMPER, 1.600” OD, 250 LB5 (a 2.050”, 735 LBS @ 1.250”, .800” UR

DUAL - NO DAMPER 1.610" OD, 275LBS @ 2.050", 680LBS @1.300”

72 72 64

72

72 64

F2204000200 F2204000215 F2208000180 F22080002Q0

64 64 58 58

64 58

CAST

EA $275

STRAIGHT ANGLED STRAIGHT ANGLED

2.020" 2.020” 2.020” 2.020”

1.600” 1.600" 1.600" 1.600”

CAST CAST CAST CAST

$1,144 $1,144 $1,144 $1,144

STRAIGHT ANGLED ANGLED

2.020” 2.020” 2.020"

1.600" 1.600" 1.600"

CAST CAST CAST

$1,144 $1,144 $1,144

ANGLED

2.020"

1.600"

CAST

EA $275

ANGLED ANGLED

2.050" 2.050”

1.600" 1.600"

CAST CAST

ANGLED ANGLED ANGLED ANGLED

2.020" 2.020" 2.020" 2.020"

1.6" 1.6” 1.6 1.6

CAST ..

CAST ..

CAST CAST

$1,144 $1,144

$880 $880 $880 $880

ANGLED ANGLED

215CC 215CC

2.020" 2.020"

1.600" 1.600”

$1,353 $1,353

PRO THUNDER ALUMINIUM BB CHEV 320CC INTAKE-PORT - STREET PERFORMANCE, MAX THROTTIE RESPONSE ANGLED

2.250"

1.880"

CAST

$2,035

360CC INTAKE PORT n MAXIMUM COMP., OVAL TRACK, DRAG & SKI RACE

4 PR 12419000360 119

ANGLED

2.300"

1.880"

CAST

$2,035

PRO THUNDER CAST IRON BB CHEV 320CC INTAKE PORT n STREET PERFORMANCE, MAX THROTTIE RESPONSE

3 PR 22419000320 119

ANGLED

2.250"

1.880"

CAST

$1,386

360CC INTAKE PORT - MAX COMPETHON, OVAL TRACK, DRAG & SKI RACE

3 PR 22419000360 119

$809.60 $809.60 ,$809.60 .$809.60

PSI CIRCLE TRACK ENDURANCE VALVE SPRINGS

2SRS PSia-1245

72 72 64 64

4 PR 12419000320 119

DUAL OVAL TRACK - NO DAMPER 1.610" OD, 235LBS @ 2.050", 645LBS @ 1.300” TRIPLE DRAG RACE -1.677” OD, 346LBS @ 2.100", 1014LBS @ 1.200” TRIPLE DRAG RACE - 1.677” OD, 346LBS @ 2.200”, 1160LBS @ 1.200” TRIPLE DRAG RACE - 1.677" OD, 410LBS @ 2.300”, 1200LBS @ 1.250”

1.600'

PRO CYCLONE IRON SB FORD WINDSOR 180CC, 200CC OR 215CC INTAKE PORT - STREET STRIP

4 PR F1204000215 6 PR F1208000215

\

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1 SET

2.080”

PRO CYCLONE ALUMINIUM SB FORD WINDSOR HEADS

VTALV'E SPRINGS OTY

ANGLED

235CC INTAKE PORT - SERIOUS RACE HEAD, UNUMITED OVAL/ DRAG 400 CIN + 8000RPM+

MAGNETOS & TIMING EQUIPMENT 3

72

,$792 ,$847 $792 $847

220CC INTAKE PORT - MAXIMUM STREET PERFORMANCE, OVAL TRACK & DRAG BRACKET 350400 CIN UP TO 7500 RPM

.$2,200

PETtRSON 1

CAST CAST CAST CAST

200CC INTAKE PORT - STREET PERFORMANCE & SHORT TRACK, RESTRICTED OVAL 327-350 CIN UP TO 6500 RPM

.$1,672 BARNES 4 STAGE SPRINTCAR CAM DRIVE BARNES 3 STAGE SPRINTCAR CAM DRIVE WITH OIL FILTER MOUNT....$1,782

BDEH32-99-1093 4 STAGE SPRINTCAR CAM DRIVE WITH FILTER MOUNT

1.600" 1.600” 1.600" 1.600"

235CC INTAKE PORT - SERIOUS RACE HEAD, UNUMITED OVAl/DRAC 400 CIN + 8000 RPM+

123200080 123200080A 123400080 12340000A

DAIL£Y 1

2.020" 2.020” 2.020" 2.020"

180CC INTAKE PORT - STREET PERFORMANCE, MAX THROTTLE RESPONSE & TORQUE UP TO 350 CIN

.EA $440

BARNES 9017-4C 9117-3C

STRAIGHT ANGLED STRAIGHT ANGLED

25° SBC PRO ALUMINIUM UGHTNING

.EA $440

DRYSUMP OIL. PUMPS 2 1

72 72 64 64

,$165

ANGLED

2.300"

1.880"

CAST

PRO CHRYSLER CAST IRON MAGNUM 360/318 IRON MAGNUM HEAD

1 only C2360A-HPST

ANGLED

1.920"

1.624"

CAST

$1,386

EA $110

PRO TORKER SBC REPLACEMENT CAST IRON 6 PR 2236794167-T 67 1PR 2237620167-T 76 1 PR 223769417-T 76

STRAIGHT STRAIGHT STRAIGHT

1.940” 2.020" 1.940"

1.500" 1.600" 1.500”

CAST CAST CAST

.$682 .$696 .$682

ALL PARTS ARE NEW UNLESS NOTED AND PRICES INCLUDE GST!

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CHEV BILLET ALUMINIUM BL

STRONGEST SB CHEV BLOCK AVAILABLE!

^psmam PART# BDS316-3S1/2-P SB CHEV 671 POLISHED BLOWER KIT

lx $4,400 kit PART# BDS348-3S1/2-P SB CHEV 871 POLISHED BLOWER KIT

/ ONLY PART# CN2040-174

^

1 X $4,950 kit

2 X BDS8426

$11,990

9.025" DECK,4.120" BORE,400 MAIN,WATER PASSAGE IN TOP HALF OF THE BLOCK,50MM ROLLER CAM BEARINGS.

377a QTY PART #

DESCRIPTION

EACH $495

CSI 1

CSI-904R

460 FORD ELECTRIC WATER PUMP KIT RED

1

ED8845

3

ED8866

SB FORD 5.0L V8 POUSHED AHOY 1986-1994 USING SERPENTINE BELT, HEAVY DUTY BEARING 429/460 FORD 1970-92 HEAVY DUTY ALLOY WATER PUMP

2 2 1 3 2

WP100S WP140S WP140U WP520 WPK510

EDEIBROCK

M BIERE

MOROSO 1

63557

PRECISION 1

WEIAND 1

W8209

AC9107 AC49204

2 1

AC52204 AC71101E

MAUjORY 1

MA3760001

351C FORD MECHANICAL HIGH VOLUME AHOY WATER PUMP . . .$165

k DESCRIPTION

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mENFJUj) HEADERS

DRAGSTER 4 INTO 1 DESIGN HEADERS

1 set i .EACH

SHD-1615V

1 7/8” - 2” STEPPED PRIMARY & 3 1/2” COLLECTOR

SB CHEV SPREAD PORT EXHAUST BOLT PATTERN 1 set

ACCEL CHEV V8 HEI BLUEPRINTED DIST WITH VACUUM ADV ..EA $132 ACCEL 302/351C REPLACEMENT POINT TYPE DIST. WITH VACUUM ADVANCE .$132

SHD-1615VSP 1 7/8” - 2” STEPPED PRIMARY 8, 3 1/2" COUECTOR

.$814

BB CHEV STD EXHAUST BOLT PATTERN 1 set

SHD-2317V

.$715

I

2 1/8" - 2 1/4" STEPPED PRIMARY a 4" COHECTOR

.$726

ACCEL 351W STREET BIHET ELECTRIC DIST. WITH VACUUM ADVEA $330 ACCEL AMC 290-401 BILLET PROOP ELECTRIC DIST. WITH VACUUM ADVANCE $220 MAHORY - SUIT AMC 290-401 V8, UNIUTE ELECTRONIC HIGH PERFORMANCE

,$220

MA3768501

2 3

.$220 MA4570601 MAHORY - SUIT 3.0L V6 FORD UNIUTE ELECTRONIC HIGH PERF.EA $110 MA8748201 MAHORY 283-454 CHEV COMP 9000 MAGNETIC BREAKERLESS WITH VACUUM ADVANCE ,$440

MAHORY - SUIT V8 CHEV, UNILITE LOW CLEARANCE, SUIT SUPERCHARGER CRAB TYPE CAP

MSD

MSD8546

$9,900pr

SB CHEV STD EXHAUST BOLT PATTERN

1

1

1 PRXCFE-BC18-C04

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$82.50

BB CHEV SHORT MECHANICAL HIGH VOLUME AHOY WATER PUMP 3/4” SHAFT, USED ON SB SUPERCAR $484

m.

rBB cm BIG CHIEF CniNDER HEADS

CFE FULLY CNC'D PORTED BARE HEADS,SUIT 2.400 INTAKE, 1.800" EXHAUST 11/32 STEM,BERRYLIUM COPPER SEATS,MAXIMUM COMPETITION. THE MOST POWERFUL HEADS YOU CAN BUY! FLOW 475CFM @.850"@ 28" ON INTAKE & 334CFM @.850"ON EHXAUST.

$297 $265

ACCEL 3 1

/ /

/

SB CHEV BILLET ELECTRIC WATER PUMP HIGH VOLUME BLUE . ..$330

I OTY PART #

Q

$440 HOLDEN COMMODORE 3.8L ELECTRIC WATER PUMP BLACK $440 HOLDEN COMMODORE 3.8L ELECTRIC WATER PUMP POUSHED . .$440 93-98 TOYOTA SUPRA TURBO ELECTRIC WATER PUMP . ..$528 NISSAN 1990 a UP TO SR20 ELECTRIC WATER PUMP KIT .$440

WP6202E SB CHEV SHORT MECHANICAL REPLACEMENT SHORT AHOY WATER PUMP SC41203

2 X BDS8007-M

BB CHEV ELECTRIC WATER PUMP BLACK

STEWART COMPONENTS 1

351W FORD 6.71/8.71 BLOWER MANIFOIDS UNPOUSHED, INCLUDES FACTORY STYLE WATER OUTLETS & BLOW OFF VALVE REQUIRES FLAT STYLE DISSY CAP - CUSTOM MADE ... ' EI A $1320 SB CHEV COMPETITION 6.71/8.71 BLOWER MANIFOIDS UNPOUSHED CAN BE MACHINED FOR BACKFIRE VALVE OR BURST PANEL EA $660

MSD 426-440 CHRYSLER PRO BILLET ELECTRIC DIST.

.$330

OTY PART #

DESCRIPTION

1

EBC350A

SB CHEV STEEL 350 SPLAYED 4 BOLT MAIN CAP SET

1

MIL11400 SB FORD STEEL 302W 4 BOLT MAIN CAP SET

3

F351CF

1

SB350C12 SB CHEV 350 4 BOLT SPLAYED MAIN CAP SET FOR 2 BOLT TO 4 BOLT CONVERSION

LUNATI

MILODON

.. . .$275 .$275

OUVER

351C FORD STEEL 4 BOLT MAIN FRONT CAP ONLY .

PROGRAM ENGINEERING

o

SlU PRICES INCLUDE CSTI

.SET

.EA$110

.$330

□

CD

Direct Deposit 8c Credit Card Payments Accepted

[Mastercaiti]

Clioose Items careffullv as there VISA are NO returns on sale Items. all PA.RTS ARE NEW UNLESS NOTED AND PRICES INCLUDE GST!

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For many years,Gibson Motorsport ran the factory Nissan racing program in Group A touring car racing. But when Australia moved to the current Holden versus Ford rulebookin 1993,the powerhouse switched to Holden and,later,to Ford.

The cars that came from the workshops in Dandenong,Melbourne,are the focus of our second in the series of tracing V8 Supercar machinery as AARON NOONAN takes up the story ...

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CH5 001 Best known for?

Barbagallo and Oran Park round winner in Jim Richards'hands in 1993 before being crashed by JR at the Triple Challenge a year later.

The first Commodore VP built by Gibson Motorsport, it was a kit car with parts sourced from HRT, Harrop and Perkins. Run by Jim Richards throughout 1993, it became the Anders Olofsson/David Brabham car for Bathurst where it finished fourth and Brabham was Rookie of the Year.

Crashed by Richards at 1994Triple Challenge and later repaired before being sold to Scotty Taylor.The Tasmanian privateer campaigned it from 1995 onwards,gradually upgrading from VP to VS spec. Last run in Xerox Shop colours in 2002.

The car was eventually bought

by Peter Champion, returned to Winfield livery and appeared at 25th Anniversary of Commodore at Bathurst 1000 in 2003. It's retained by the Queensland mining magnate last we knew ...

ooz Best known for?

The car heavily crashed by Mark Skaife at Eastern Creek in 1995from which the V8 champ miraculously escaped major injury.

The second kit car built in 1993, driven

by Skaife in the ATCC and he and Richards finished second at Bathurst to Perkins/Hansford in the same year.

Became Richards'car in 1994 after he crashed 001 attheTriple Challenge, later driven by Bond/Olofsson in Bond's last Bathurst start.

Converted to VR spec for 1995 but written off in massive accident with Skaife aboard at Eastern Creek Triple Challenge. Chassis scrapped.

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Best known for?

Mark Skaife's 1994 Australian Touring Car Championship-winning car- the first Holden to win the crown in 14 years.

Built new as a VP Commodore in 1994 and driven by Skaife to ATCC crown,joined by Richards for Bathurst. Updated to'VR spec for 1995 and driven by Richards from Symmons Plains onwards, became Steven Richards/Olofsson Bathurst car with Steven awarded Rookie of the Year.

Sold to GRM for Steven to drive in 1996 in Valvoline colours to win Privateer's Cup and then became Wynn's car in 1997 driven by Darren Hossack and propped byJFR. Ryan McLeod/Darren Pate drove at Bathurst in OAMPS colours before being sold back to GMSfor 1998 to become Pate's #31 Wynn's VS. Driven

by Simon Wills and David'Skippy'Parsons in enduros,crashed heavily at Bathurst by Wills in multi-car Forrest's Elbow wreck.

Sold to New Zealand where car disappeared until 2006 when it reemerged for same,in a purple livery in VR trim after competing in Kiwi Super GT category. Retaining log book, had an asking price of NZ$100,000. Did anyone step up and purchase?

www.mnews.com.au

Best known for?

Mark Skaife's last Winfield Commodore - won Eastern Creek 1995 ATCC round.

Built new as a VR Commodore in 1995 and debuted by Jim Richards at Sandown ATCC opener : - reverted to the recovered Skaife from Symmons Plains onwards.

Duo drove together at Bathurst but retired while leading.

Became GMS spare in 1996, used by Skaife in red livery at Sandown and at AGP and Indy in Sega colours. Skaife joined by

Mark Noske and Garry Waldon for Sandown before latter two drove at Bathurst.

Used by Skaife in early 1997 before he left for HRT,taken over

by Hossack and Ellery for enduros.

Driven by Hossack as #7 Wynn's car in 1998,Tomas Mezera also drove selected rounds.

Hossack/Pate finished sixth at Bathurst 1998 before car sold to England where Rick Wood competed in Formula Saloons with a 6.7-litre Chev.Wynn's livery changed to purple and we presume car remains in England.

63

CH5 005Best known for?

Sfeven Richards and Jim Richards'secondplaced car at Bathurst i997and Garth Tander's first V8 Supercar.

Built new as a VR in 1996 but crashed on debut with Skaife driving at The Creek. Driven

by Skaife for rest of season,saved for Sandown and joined by John Cleland for Bathurst.

Sold to GRM for 1997 and driven by Steven Richards,joined by father Jim to finish strongly at Sandown and runner-up at Bathurst.

C^//5 007 Best known for?

Being written-offin huge accident at Phillip Island Konica V8 Lites round In 2000

by John Trimble.

Built new as a VS Commodore by Gibson Motorsport and run by GMS as the

Steven's car for start of 1998 before he left for Nissan BTCC test role, so taken over as car #134

by Garth Tander.

Joined by Cameron McLean for enduros, car became Ultra Tune VS in 1999 for Mick Donaher until he split with team and Dean Lindstrom and Melinda Price raced it in enduros.

Konica Holden Young Lions car for Steve Ellery in 1998. Deal ended after the ATCC so the car was sold to John Trimble.

Wayne Wakefield drove car at AGP 1999 and then Trimble paired with Kevin Heffernan for the enduros before'JT' drove in 2000 at Phillip Island Shell Series round.

Returned for the Konica V8 Lites round later in the year at the same track, but massive rear-end impact entering main straight destroyed the car.

C.H5 OOf Best known for?

The double David Parsons car in Challenge Recruitment colours for 1999.

Built new with a Dencar shell (#39) by GMS in 1999 and became Steven Richards'Wynn's Commodore of that year.

Driven by Richards in sprint rounds before becoming David Parsons/David Parsons car for enduros,finishing fifth at Sandown in car run by GMS in Challenge colours.

Became Rodney Forbes'Wynn's car for 2000 and driven up until Calder and later used at Indy. It then stayed at GMS,'Truckle'Parsons won two rounds of the Konica Series in it in 2001 before sold in 2002 for Jamie Miller and Ron Searle to drive.

Miller used in '03 Konica Series as a VX run by Lansvale, using engine from chassis 008(1999 Bathurst winning car) purchased from Team Dynamik.

For sale in 2004 but destroyed by fire in Sydney later in the year. Reports of chassis sold to former racer Mike Imrie and repaired by Paris Acott, with Imrie allegedly purchasing the Log Book and other parts from 008 to're-create'the.

Wynn's Bathurst winner.

Donaher re-joined team and drove it again in 2000 until VT arrived, Price/Lindstrom stepped back into it for Bathurst.

Car returned to GRM where mechanicals were used for V8 Thunder Ute and shell sold to collector to restore to SEGA/Skaife livery from 1996. Has it been completed?

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OOf Best known for?

Steven Richards and Greg Murphy's Wynn's 1999 Bathurst winner.

Built new as a VT by GMS in 1999 and driven

by Murphy all season,joined by Richards for enduros including Bathurst win.

Became Kmart car in 2000 and again driven by Murphy before it reverted to Forbes Jnr's hands from Calder onwards, joined by John Cleland in enduros.

Sold to Team Dynamik for 2001, with Simon Wills winning Konica Series in car.

Laid idle in 2002 and converted to VY spec with HMS engine in 2003 for Wills to drive under Dynamik banner in main series.

He and Jason Richards nearly won the Sandown 500 before next being used at Indy and NZ. Run by Wills all 2005 season as a VZ,save for Mark Porter and Kayne Scott in enduros, sold to Fujitsu Series driver Dean Savage in mid-2006 but never appeared until Wills re appeared in it on a lease deal for a one-off start at the 2007 Adelaide Fujitsu season opener.

Best known for?

Finishing on the podium for Murphy/Richards at both Queensland and Bathurst In 2000.

New VT debuted by Murphy at Calder 2000, however car was completed after chassis 010 as 010 was first of the new generation kit bodies and was started as a floor pan before being put to one side and 010 was completed and raced first.

Murphy and Richards drove in enduros in 2000 before being sold to oval track racers Eddie Abelnica and Kim Jane for 2001.

Abelnica competed in handful of events and car then placed up for sale for many years.

Purchased by Milton Seferis and raced in Victoria as a Sports Sedan from 2005 onwards,

motorsport news

□8 SUPERCRR5

CH5 010 Best known for?

Steven Richards' Colder and Canberra winner from 2000.

First of the Gibson kit car shells, debuted by Richards at Phillip Island 2000 and won two rounds of series.

Run by Hossack/Finnigan in QLD 500 and HossackATruckie Parsons at Bathurst later that year.

Became Paul Dumbrell's Konica Series VT in 2001, finished runner-up in series before being bought by Robert Smith, who raced car in 2002 Konica Series.

Owen Kelly took over driving in 2003, Alan Gurr and Jonny Reid drove at Bathurst and then Lee Holdsworth's car in 2004 Konica Series. Holdsworth made one start in 2005 before car updated to VY specification.

Geoff Emery drove in 2006 Fujitsu Series before being placed up for sale by Smith at end of season - have there been any takers?

Best known for?

Well... Rodney Forbes must have set a spinning record...

C=/K5 011 The GMS designation given to the Stone Brothers Racing Falcon used

by Craig Lowndes when he switched to Ford in 2001. Covered in the last ■ part of our series in MNews Issue 360.

C/C5 01^

C.H5 01Z

The GMS designation given to the ex-Colourscan AU built originally in 1999 and bought by team in 2001 for Rodney Forbes to drive.

Joined byTruckie Parsons in enduros, Neil Crompton drove at AGP 2002 and then Forbes on occasion.

Sold to Terry Wyhoon who raced in Konica Series in 2003 and re-appeared in Touring Car Challenge (AMRS) in 2005, driven by Peter Vicary in TCC in 2006 in GulfWestern colours and currently up for sale.

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Best known for?

Craig Lowndes' 'green eyed monster' #00 Falcon from 2001 and 2002.

With chassis number 013 skipped thanks to superstition, the first Falcon constructed by GMS in late 2001 and debuted at Bathurst by Lowndes and Neil Crompton was 014.

Driven again by Lowndes throughout 2002, before being reverted to Rodney Forbes for 2003 for AGP and two V8 rounds. Wasn't sold along with the 00 Motorsport hardware to WPS Racing in late 2003. Last heard it was retained by Bob Forbes.

CH5 01 r

Best known for?

Heii Crompton's last V8 Supercar before he moved back into the commentary box.

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Built new with a Beehag shell in 2002 by 00 Motorsport, although work started prior to Gibson/ Forbes split when team was still known as GMS. Driven all season by Neil Crompton as #27, rested for enduros and sold to Tony Noske for son Mark to drive in 2003. Rick and Neal Bates drove in enduros.

Sold to WPS Racing but only competed in one race - Neil McFadyen driving 2004 Konica Bathurst support race and retained now as team's ride car.

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Think you have some updated information on any of the cars?

Know where some of them have ended up? Know of a recent purchase or something that may have happened with car ownership that we haven't heard about? Or want to query any of the facts outlined?

Make sure you fire off an email - noonz@mnews.com.au - or call the MNews office with what you know...

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HAT'S what it's all about, the Goodwood Festival of Speed; Stars and Cars.

And, in the case of the 2007 version of the world's best hillclimb, it was all about one star and his silver car.That's right...

Lewis Hamilton.

With the British Grand Prix still a fortnight away when the Goodwood Estate came alive with the sound of racing cars, Lewis was yet to see the Hamilton Hype Britain had caught first hand.

"I didn't really know what to think before I set off,"said the young man from Hertsfordshire.

"It's all a bit new to me. I can't believe how many people are here!

"I've been to the Festival of Speed before but only as a spectator but to be on this side of things, with so many people supporting me,is incredible. It's a privilege to be here."

Lewis braved the torrential rain to complete two blasts up the hill in his McLaren MP4/21,sending the massive crowd into a chorus of cheers.

On the (relatively unimportant) competitive side, fastest time of the weekend went to Pikes Peak hero Rod Millen, who set a best of 47.18s in his Toyota Takoma.The official winner of the hillclimb was Anthony Reid who set a 53.74s run in the Nissan 350Z GT car.

As for the rest of the goings on, we'll let the photos do the talking ...

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One brave official: A daring marshall stands in front of Carl Fogarty as he bags up the rear on his MV Augusta,left. Derek Bell threads his way through the haybales in a Porsche 956,above, while Anthony Davidson did likewise In the Honda-powered(naturally) Williams FW11, below.

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Team orders? Todd and Skaife bent doors at turn one at the start of Race 2, which ultimately cost them, allowing Lowndes, left, a free ride through to the round win.

Front-end loader: From right, Wilson, Canto and Murphy fought for the scraps at Hidden Valley.

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Midfield morons? There was action and panel damage down the back ofthe pack. Above,Simon Wills swapped ends,and Jason Bright, below,gave the wall a nudge in qualifying.

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RAIG Lowndes isn't a new addition to the top step of the podium - Hidden Valley was his 27th Australian touring car round win - but as far as Vodafone is concerned,this was the first.

His maiden win in Vodafone colours was an ominous sign for the day-glo red Fords, which have chased the tails of the fast Toll HSV and Holden Racing Team Commodores for the majority of 2007.

Was Hidden Valley a turning point?

"We've had some up and downs this year,"said Lowndes.

"Our car was a dream this weekend. It's about time we got back up there."

Pit stop efficiency shaped the outcome of the weekend, in the hot conditions on a track on which it is notoriously hard to pass,there were some who had their hopes dashed with pit-in error and ill-timed stops -Todd Kelly being the most notable.

On the flipside, swift calls and sharp stops were the key for Lowndes's overall win. He only managed eighth in qualifying after a driving mistake, but from there on,there were no errors just the Lowndes we've come to know.

His wins in Race 2 and 3 were set up by his compulsory pitstop in Race 1. An early stop proved to be the right strategy and it eievated him up fourth, which he turned into third after he executed a miracle move on Todd.

Race 2 was only a matter of patience for Lowndes. As the HRT cars argued over the same piece of road, Lowndes pounced and claimed a comfortable win. He made Race 3 his own,leading from start to finish, highlighted by a spectacular tail slide on the final lap.

"I had the luxury of a bit of space, and you're not allowed to do burnouts,so the next best thing is to slide it sideways," he grinned.

The Triple 8 cars had plenty of speed and looked after their tyres best in the hot northern conditions.The only thing that kept both Vodafone cars off the podium was that Jamie Whincup's car had an oil seal failure in Race 3.

Rick Kelly finished second in each of the three races, taking second overall, which maintained his 100 percent podium record for the year.

His weekend highlight was his pole position - his first in 31 rounds - but he lost some of the advantage when his car bogged down off the line, allowing his brotherTodd to jump him into the first corner. Rick passed Todd during the pit stops, but they were all beaten by Skaife, who like Lowndes,elected to pit early.

For Skaife, though,the good news ended there, and the five-time champ is probably feeling robbed that he wasn't on the top step of the dais.

At the start of Race 2, Skaife and Todd banged doors and mirrors down into turn one.Team-mates rubbing is never a good look, but worse came, when

Todd gave him the slightest of touches, unsettling Skaife and allowing Kelly and Lowndes through.

"I was pretty lucky not to spin,to be honest,"Skaife said.

"I initially thought that Todd had been hit from behind, but when you look at the TV, you can see that's not the case. "(But)Todd knows he's a red man ..."

Skaife eventually took fifth in Race 2, and backed it up with another fifth in Race 3 to take third overall. His Race 3 included an 'interesting' battle with Mark Winterbottom.The factory pair were embroiled in a dice that resulted in Skaife sending Frosty wide. Skaife redressed and soon repassed him, but Skaife was cleariy upset.

"I gave him a very unaccidentai whack up the arse," he said, "it was quite an interesting tussle."

Todd Kelly qualified second but his overall chances were destroyed when he made the slightest of pit bay entry errors in Race 2. it dropped him down the field and with the worst of his rubber on, he eventually finished eighth.

Garth Tander finished fourth overall. It was a quiet meeting for GT, who didn't have his car as hooked up as team-mate Kelly's but avoided any on-track aggro.

The worst bit for the West Aussie is that the points difference has now blown out 39 points - which under the current point score system is quite a margin ...

Best of the rest was Steven Richards.

The Ford Performance Racer continues to show consistency but lacks the few tenths that will put him up with theTSs and Walkinshaw cars.Three top 1 Os gave him an encouraging sixth overall.

The drives of the weekend came from Winterbottom and Davison in Race 2. Having been invoived in the controversial Race 1 crash {see next page), the Ford pair climbed their way from the back of the grid up to sixth and seventh respectively.

Having copped most of the flack(and exclusion from Race 1), Davison silenced the critics.

"Sunday was really good for me, really good for the team," he said.

"We had a heap of speed.That can just shut everyone up and show them what i'm capable of."

Stone Brothers Racing's endured one of its toughest weekends on record.

Every panel on James Courtney's JeldWen Falcon was replaced after his soft roll over in Friday practice. His car got its second body blow for the weekend when Steven Johnson tipped him off the road at the start of Race 2.

Russell Ingall's Ford was also in the wars. Heavy damage in Race 1 gave the SBR boys plenty to do on Saturday night, and it didn't let up on Sunday, when car #9's engine dropped onto seven cyiinders in Race 2,forcing a fast engine change. Ingall salvaged 11 th place - the team's best race result for the weekend.

69

QUALIFYING

Hidden Valley Notepad THIS one goes in the'Whoops File.'

At the start of the second race,Jack Daniels Racing pair Shane Price and Jack Perkins exited turn one at Hidden Valley side-by-side.

With James Courtney's car already bouncing off the tyre wall to the left due to a separate clash with Steven Johnson, Perkins jinked,clashing with Price and sending him spearing into the hapless Courtney.

The result? A very badly damaged #7 JDR Commodore,pictured above. and a post-race drive-through penalty for Jack.

■ The timirrg of a Safety Car period during Race 2 saw Greg Murphy drop down a lap - and out of the race.

The Tasman driver was caught in the ackward position where the SC was to pick up race leader Will Davison, however, Davison had just peeled off to complete his stop. Murphy was next in the queue, leaving him a lap down.

Murphy immediately pulled into the Tasman garage and parked it.

■ Paul Morris had his best round of 2007 at Hidden Valley, following up from two point scoring finishes at Eastern Creek. The Sirromet driver finished all three races in points paying position for 12th overall.

"The results are showing the benefits of our development program with the new VE Commodore," he said.

"We are finishing races and making gains with the chassis and engine. In the last race today I ran with some fast cars for more than 20 laps and we held our own."

■ The non-factory Falcons of Jason Bargwanna and Max Wilson had another typical weekend. Midfield pace but no strong result.

Bargwanna snapped a tailshaft in Race 1 and tried a brand-new start technique in Race 2, which he stuffed.

"I've been using the same start technique for 10 years," he said.

"I just got it wrong. I think we'll work at it on a test day, rather than in a race!"

Wilson scored his best race result of the year with eighth in Race 1. He went the wrong way on set-up in Race 2, dropping him to 15th, while a Race 3 offcost him points.

■ SCAR star Paul Dumbrell broke his middle finger in a pre-race mishap (moving furniture), causing him extreme grief while driving.

-GRANT ROWLEY K

New tactic,better result RICK Kelly admitted at Hidden Valley that his approach to qualifying has never been quite right.

You only have to look at the reigning Champ's statistics bank to get confirmation of that.

Before Darwin, Kelly had not had a pole position in 31 races. In fact, he's only ever had two career poles prior(Sandown 2004 and Clipsal 2005).

His quote after the session was pretty self-explanitory...

"My qualifying over the past two years hasn't been a strength ..."

Alongside Rick for the start of Race 1 was his brother Todd - a mere 0.05s behind.The #22 Holden Racing Team Commodore was a similar distance in front of his team-mate Mark Skaife.

TheonlyTollHSV/HRTcar that wasn't near the pace was Garth Tander.The championship contender was battling with an illhandling car and finished up ninth.

The big surprise of the session was the emergence of Will Davsion.The Jim Beam Racer took fourth (a career-best), and looked

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comfortable doing it.

Jamie Whincup was fifth from Ford Performance Racing's Steven Richards and MarkWinterbottom.

Tasman's Jason Richards had a weird qualifying session. He speared off the road at the first run and was lucky to clock a time inside the top 20. He made up for it in the second segment, topping the time-sheets, even if he had to use a green set of boots to do it.

Tenth place was the best he could end up with.

Remarkable (yet costly) was the

fortunes of the two Ford runners in 11th and 12th. James Courtney and Jason Bright both just missed the cut - and both made dire mistakes at turn eight.

Courtney rolled his car in practice, while Bright went in head first at the same corner in qualifying.

Fabian Coulthard had a seasonhigh moment in practice, finishing the session 11 th, but the PMM driver couldn't replicate that in qualifying, dropping to 25th.

- GRANT ROWLEY

arof DARWI' Champagne for some... R Kelly, Lowndes and Skaife cooled down after a hot Darwin round, above.

Irwin's Alan Gurr, below sequence, was involved in a clash with Fabian Coulthard and the tyre wall.

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motorsportnews

UBSUPERCHRS

WINNERS^ / CRAIG LOWNDES: Back in the winner's circle after a stint in the shadow of his team-mate Whincup. And CL reckons that the championship isn't out of reach...

I

Controversy

> j A NEW freedom of speech policy I within V8 Supercars got an : instant work-out in Darwin.

The multi-car Lap 1 incident in Race 1 saw Jim Beam Racing's Will Davison excluded from the results by officials - and slammed by his V8 rivals for his attempted passing move on Mark Winterbottom at Turn 4,aftermath above.

On Friday before the races, V8 Supercars Australia officials addressed the drivers and team members,encouraging them to be more'controversial'with their comments to the media, in an attempt to get more column

inches in the daily papers.

The message delivered by V8SA CEO Wayne Cattach may have been mixed, but it instantly created headlines - helped in part by the fact that Russell Ingall and Greg Murphy(two of the category's most outspoken drivers) were involved.

Winterbottom, Ingall, Murphy and Jason Bright were all eliminated with damage. All of them spoke their mind ...

Ingall;"These are the new stars of the sport, so called professionals - give me a break."

Murphy;"What a bunch or

morons. All the young blokes have been here five minutes and think they are superstars. If they want controversy,they've got it."

Bright;"It was gut-wrenching seeing such stupidity."

Winterbottom:"It's just frustrating.The bloke was up the front for the first time and it was a pretty stupid move."

Davison;"They would say that because they are upset but I haven't been to the stewards all year, haven't made contact with one car all year and I think they have probably been up there a few times more than me."

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888 1 2 16 22 6 88 3 5 18 34 67 8 33 55 9 17 10 Ill 51 20 50 11 14 12 39 26 25 4 7

Driver

Team/Car

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Craig Lowndes Rick Kelly Mark Skaife Garth Tander

TeamVodafone Falcon BF Toll HSV Dealer Team Commodore VE

Todd Kelly Steven Richards

Holden Racing Team Commodore VE Ford Performance Racing Falcon BF TeamVodafone Falcon BF

8 1 3 9 2 6 5 10 7 4 17 24 20 18 21 15 13 16 26 14 23 19 27 28 22 25 30 12 11 29

Jamie Whincup Jason Richards Mark Winterbottom Will Davison Dean Canto Paul Morris Max Wilson Lee Holdsworth Steve Owen Russell Ingall Steven Johnson Jason Bargwanna John Bowe Greg Murphy Paul Dumbrell Cameron McConville Jack Perkins Simon Wills Andrew Jones Fabian Coulthard Alan Gurr Jason Bright James Courtney Shane Price

Holden Racing Team Commodore VE Toll HSV Dealer Team Commodore VE

Tasman Motorsport Commodore VE Ford Performance Racing Falcon BF Jim Beam Racing Falcon BF Valvollne Cummins Commodore VE Team SIrromet Wines Commodore VE Wow Sight & Sound Falcon BF Valvollne Cummins Commodore VZ Autobarn Racing Commodore VZ Caltex Racing Falcon BF Jim Beam Racing Falcon BF WPS Racing Falcon BF Glenfords Racing Falcon BF Tasman Motorsport Commodore VE Supercheap Auto Racing Commodore VE Supercheap Auto Racing Commodore VZ Jack Daniel's Racing Commodore VE Team BOC Falcon BF Team BOC Falcon BF Team SIrromet Wines Commodore VZ Irwin Racing Falcon BF Fujitsu Racing Falcon BF Jeld-Wen Motorsport Falcon BF Jack Daniel's Racing Commodore VE

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1 2 5 3 4 8 26 9 6 7 15 12 16 10 19 11 18 13 24 14 17 20 DNS 22 23 25 DNF DNF DNS DNS

LIB 5UPERCRR CHRITIPIOnSHIP SERIES Points: R Kelly 336,Tander 297,T Kelly 245, Whincup 233, Skaife 219, Lowndes 213, S Richards 145, Winterbottom 140, Johnson 136, Davison 132, Courtney and Ingall 125, Murphy 97, Holdsworth 65, J Richards 54, Bright 50, Morris 38, Radisich 36, Owen 35, Wilson 34, Canto 28,

DARWIN, NT: The V8s have been going to the Top End for 10 years. 2007 produced perfect weather, exciting racing and plenty of biff{both on and off the track) WILL DAVISON: Slagged by the old guard as a 'midfield moron,'Davo let his driving do the talking ...

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THE DAILY PRESS: Got nothing to write about?

Too many useless press releases in their inboxes? Perhaps that has all changed now thanks to V8s new freedom of speech policy. Let fly, boys...

LOSERS

^

STONE BROTHERS RACING: Damage in practice, damage in Race 1, damage in Race 2 and an engine detonation. There was some busy bodies (and tension) in the SBR pit bay.

RICK KELLY: The popular saying goes something like 'second place is the first of the losers.' Rick finished second three times at Hidden Valley. (You guessed it, we've tried to put a negative spin on Rick's awesome consistency!)

ALAN GURR: Gurr emerged unscathed from his heavy brush with the wall.

Downside was a very damaged car. Upside was that he wasn't the only one...

Bargwanna 25, Price 16, McConville 13, Bowe 12, A Jones 8, Coulthard and Gurr 2.

71

CRRRERR CUP ROURD 3 - HIDDER URLLEV

Clean-sweep Reynolds gave the former champs a taste ofthe future at Hidden Valley. By GRANT ROWLEY

RISING star David Reynolds completed a clean-sw/eep in Carerra Cup at Hidden Valley - and vaulted himself right back into title contention in the process.

Reynolds qualified second behind Alex Davison but led every lap of the three races. His superior start technique over Davison was the key to his dominant weekend.

"It was my best weekend of the year," Reynolds reflected.

"I've found my feet again. Last year I didn't win a race until Sandown, and then I kept winning, I hope it's going to be the same this year."

Carrera Cup racing is notoriously close at the front of the field, but never was that going to be more true than at Hidden Valley.The race to the first corner was always the critical time of the race, and Reynolds was faultless. Despite his domination and the closeness of the championship, Reynolds isn't getting carried away - especially when he considers who he's up against.

"Alex and Craig (Baird) are still the threat. We are all as equally as quick as each other. It just going to be a matter of who is at the front at the end of the races."

Baird finished second for the round with a third and two second places.The reigning Champ's weekend was mildly uneventful but he slipped back to third in the title thanks to Reynolds.

Not so for Davison, who qualified fastest, but slipped down the order. He was second in Race 1, but then was passed by Baird in Race 2 and couldn't recover.

West Aussie Dean Fiore had a supremely consistent weekend, racking up two fourths and a fifth.

"It's great to be back in the top four," he said.

"I know I can run up there, as I proved it at the Clipsal 500, but Winton set me back. It is also good for the self-confidence so now it is just a matter of being consistent."

Marcus Marshall was the one who beat Fiore in Race 3, and while the pair were never far from the leaders,they didn't have those vital few tenths to stay with them.

While there was heat on the track, there was also heat off it. An alleged physical altercation in parcferme after Race 1 between team associate Mike Sherrin and rival driver Rodney Forbes saw penalties ! applied. As a result of a CAMS hearing on Sunday morning,category debutant(and Sherrin driver) Paul Stokell was excluded from the weekend because of the incident, which was prompted by he and Forbes making contact on lap two of the opening race.

«5 Sherrin team-mates David Russell and Steve Ellery were both || excluded from the Race 1 results and put to the rear of the field for race two but able to take part in the remainder of the weekend.

Heat, and heat winner:David Reynolds,above,leads the Carrera Cup pack.

Push Pop:This clash between Stokell and Forbes led to post-race controversy.

Points: Davison 486, Reynolds,456, Baird 438, Marshall 303, Fiore 283,Wall 243,Washington 213, Caratti 231, Russell 210, Ellery 165.

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Travel experiences you can't buy

Ahlan wah Sahlan - Welcome to Bahrain Island ofthe Golden Smiles

V8 Sugars signature TOUR hosted by brad JONES

Packages start from $3600 per person twin share

Round 12

1 ~ 3 November 2007

GREG RITCHIE TRAVEL

EXCLUSIVE OFFICIAL AUSTRALIAN TRAVEL AGENT APPOINTED BY BAHRAIN INTERNATIONAL CIRCUIT DESERT 400 BAHRAIN V8 SUPERCARS CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES Greg Ritchie Travel The Precinct Level 2,Suite 1 12-14 Browning Street West End QLD4101

v8supercars@gregritchietravel.com.au www.gregritchietravel.com.au Tel:07 3007 5200 Fax:07 32551277

slJpergArs /Aijsri-eAi lA

Fightback Package In two Grands Prix in France and Britain, Kimi Raikkonen left team-mate Felipe Massa in his wake,toppled McLaren twice-and put his World Championship campaign back on track JOESAWARD

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cLAREN and Ferrari are very evenly matched at the moment and after McLaren's domination in Monaco and the two North American races, it was Ferrari's turn to win the day in France and Britain.

The fight for the World Championship is really on now with Lewis Hamilton,the most consistent driver this year, 12 points clear of Fernando Alonso.

But the two Ferrari drivers both within seven points of the Spaniard. Hamilton has yet to finish off the podium in a Formula 1 race, with nine consecutive finishes - an astonishing record for a rookie.

Hamilton has shown many talents this year but in Britain and France he showed the maturity of a World Champion. He knew he could not beat the Ferraris. He gave it his best shot and then, when that was not good enough, he made sure that he picked the maximum number of ponts and thus kept the damage to his championship chances to the absolute minimum.

With eight races still to come, he is leading by 12 points and that means that if stays consistent he is going to be hard to beat, particularly as the other three challengers will be taking points from each other.

If anything,therefore,the last two races have shown that Hamilton does have what it takes to be a World Championship at his first attempt. At Silverstone, he made a mistake during his pitstop but he also minimised the damage that the mistake would cost him.The one thing that will mess everything up for Lewis is if he has a mechanical failure and fails to score.That will drop him back into the pack and make life more difficult.

At the same time, one cannot under-estimate Kimi Raikkonen.

He seemed lost in the middle part of the year but now that the Ferrari locomotive is back on the rails, he is dangerous indeed.The two wins in Magny-Cours and Silverstone show that he is worth what Ferrari is paying him and that he delivers when he can.

The one danger for him is that Ferrari will make another mistake, as happened back in April when the maintenance on the windtunnel in Maranello was overlooked, resulting in a failure which put the tunnel out of action for around a month. Ferrari kept quiet about this at the time but in France,Jean Todt finally admitted that there had been a problem.

This was what caused the team to drop from the pace in Monaco and the two North American events.That is now sorted out but it will be interesting to see if the'Italianisation'of the team will have further hiccoughs or whether Ferrari will re-hire Ross Brawn and the old discipline will return. At the moment,there are signs that this may not happen.

i

Brawn wants a bigger job in the team and Todt may not be willing to give it to him.The adventures of Nigel Stepney are currently showing how things can go horribly wrong for even the most loyal Ferrari staff and elsewhere, foreign members of the team are slipping away to other offers back home in the UK. Ferrari is still a potent force in FI but the loss of good people is always hard for a team to cope with and there seems to be the feeling at Maranello that an era is ending. Whether there is a new era of Ferrari success is the key question.

The revival of Magny-Cours and Silverstone hints that this may be the case - but a little more time is needed to be sure that the crumbling at Maranello has now stopped.

Redvenge: Kimi Raikkonen, opposite, was a happy man after two wins in two weekends.

Lewis Hamilton Mania was put on a back burner, above, but, if the man can be outgunned and continue to finish on the podium, he will bag more than one World Drivers'title.

Jenson Button finally dragged a Honda into the points in France, below, but a week later was out in the first cut ofqualifying and has threatened to walk out on Formula i ifthings don't improve.

Mark Webber, bottom,and Red Bull team-mate David Coulthard ran with thousands offaces on their cars atSilverstone as part of a charity fundraising activity.

FORmULR1 Rouno g - SILUERSTORE

The'Riseofthe

S Iverstone SUrfer JOESAWARD

The race to be the first three-time winner this season was won by Kimi Raikkonen

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HERE could not have been a better story in qualifying at Silverstone as rookie local hero Lewis Hamilton pulled a brilliant lap out of his top hat amid endless cheering.

If the truth be told, that had never seemed very likely during the practice sessions and as the excitement died down,we wondered whether Lewis knew deep down that there was little chance of a win and that he would be happy to settle for another podium.The World Championship is more important than a British GP victory.

The man we were not sure about was Fernaando Alonso,for there seemed to be a renewed steel in the Spaniard. He was right up there - and he made it very clear that he had more fuel.

He was going to beat Lewis in front of Hamilton's home crowd.

Raikkonen should have been on pole. He was faster and had it in the bag - until he messed up the final corner of his final flying lap.

For any chance of a victory, Hamilton needed to take the lead and sprint away from the pack and take advantage of his lighter fuel load. At the start, he fended off Kimi Raikkonen but then, when he should have been pulling away, he found himself stuck, unable 76

The Red Rocket goes on: Kimi Raikkonen took his second win in seven days with a polished performance,above.

His cause was aided somewhat when team-mate Felipe Massa stalled at the start and had to fight past mid-fielders like Jarno Trulli, left.

Hamilton Fever ran through the crowd, below left, but the Aussies and Brazilians still had their supporters,left. Notso fora certain German, below...

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to gain any real advantage.The Ferrari tailed him, its driver like a shark waiting to gobble up its prey.

Hamilton stopped on lap 16 and it was obvious that it was all over for him in terms of the victory.

Raikkonen came in two laps later and, as expected,the canny Alonso ran two beyond that.This meant that when everyone was back out on the track, Alonso was ahead of Raikkonen and Hamilton was third, and falling away.

If Felipe Massa had not started

from pitlane Hamilton would probably have been fourth and off the podium for the first time in his FI career. Massa was charging up through the field but in the end could not pass Robert Kubica's BMW and so ended the day fifth, not a bad effort in the circumstances.

Alonso stayed ahead until the second stops but Raikkonen was always within striking distance, biding his time, knowing when to strike. McLaren had seen the

WE NO MISS ili

danger and had put Fernando on to a shorter middle stint to try to throw off the challenger, but it was not enough. Raikkonen stayed out longer and emerged from the pits after his second stop in the lead.

Raikkonen admitted that he had

motorsportnews

FDRfnULHI FORmULfl 11 Round 9 SILUERSTOHE DRIVER

CAR

Kimi Raikkbnen Fernando Alonso Lewis Hamilton Robert Kubica Felipe Massa Nick Heidfeld Heikki Kovalainen Giancarlo Fisichella Rubens Barrichello Jenson Button David Coulthard Nico Rosberg Alexander Wurz Takuma Sato Christijan Albers

Ferrari McLaren-Mercedes McLaren-Mercedes BMW Ferrari BMW Renault Renault Honda Honda Red Bull-Renault Williams-Toyota Williams-Toyota Super Aguri-Honda Spyker-Ferrari

RACETIME

Q

1:21:43.074 +2.4 secs +39.3 secs +53.3 secs +54.0 secs +56.3 secs +1 Lap +1 Lap +1 Lap +1 lap +1 Lap +1 Lap +1 Lap +2 Laps +2 Laps

2 3 1 5 4 9 7 8 14 15 12 17 13 21 22

Not Classified Ret 18 Vitantonio Liuzzi STR-Ferrari Gearbox/53 laps Ret 12 JarnoTrulli Toyota Retired/43 laps Ret 23 Anthony Davidson Super Aguri-Honda Mechanical/36 laps STR-Ferrari Ret 19 Scott Speed Accident damage/29 laps Ret 11 Ralf Schumacher Toyota Wheel/22 laps Ret 20 Adrian Sutil Spyker-Ferrari Engine/16 laps Ret 15 Mark Webber Red Bull-Renault Differential/8 laps Fastest Lap: Kimi Raikkonen on lap 17, lm20.638s

16 10 19 15 6 20 11

11 12 13 14 15

14 16 17 22 21

FORfTlULR 1 liiORLD CHRdlPIOnSHIP Drivers'Points: Hamilton 70, Alonso 58, Raikkonen 52, Massa/Heidfeld 33, Kubica 22, Fisichella 17, Kovalainen 14, Wurz 8,Trulli 7, Rosberg 5, Coulthard/Sato 4, Webber/Schumacher 2, Button/Vettel 1.

Constructors'Points: McLaren-Mercedes 128, Ferrari 103, BMW 56, Renault 31, Williams-Toyota 13, Toyota 9, Red Bull-Renault 6, Super Aguri-Honda 4, Honda 1.

had to work hard when Alonso was running light.

"I just tried to push as hard as I could," he said.

And so he picked up his second win in seven days, adding 20 points to his total and overtaking Massa in the championship.

Raikkonen is now within striking distance of Alonso, but still lags 18 points behind Hamilton,the Boy Wonder.That is not going to be easy to pull back, unless Hamilton makes a mistake or suffers a mechanical failure (or two).

Raikkonen is now the danger man but in this see-sawing FI season, it is hard to guess what will happen next.There is time for development before the German and Hungarian GPs and, of course, much depends on whether the cars suit the tracks.

The McLarens have tended to be stronger on the bumpier circuits while the Ferraris like the smooth tarmac of purpuse-built autodromes.These are general rules but, obviously, much is decided by the set-up chosen.

Hamilton admitted after Silverstone that he had had the wrong set-up all weekend and that it had not been possible to change it in the time available.

We like to think of FI as being all about driver ability, courage and natural speed, but the reality is that there is a lot of brain power needed as well. www.mnews.com.au

Diamonds? KubicZirconia THE battle between McLaren will pop up, but in the races, the and Ferrari and the other BMWs are picking up fifth and excitements of the FI season sixth places all the time. have somewhat obscured the The success is such that other teams have now turned on fact that BMW Sauber is doing a spectacularly good job in the Swiss operation and are what is only its second season beginning to cherry-pick the in its current form. best members of staff. This BMW took over the team is part and parcel of modern at the end of 2005 and did an ! Formula 1 and the great skill is impressive job last year, scoring a to maintain performance even podium now and then.The team if your staff is being targeted. So then built on that success and far BMW has followed Dr Mario this year is clearly the third fastest Theissen's plan almost exactly. team. Renault occasionally gets Next year the team needs to win near to the same pace and once to keep up that record.

-JOESAWARD in a while a Williams or a Toyota

WINNERS KIMI RAIKKONEN: In two races, he turned the doubters into believers and looked like he is worth every penny.

LEWIS HAMILTON: Had his worst race - ever!- and still finished third.The car was slower than he was,and that pole lap was a stunner.

ROBERT KUBICA: Just in case anyone failed to notice, the Pole was only 14 seconds behind Hamilton at the finish.

HEIKKI KOVALAINEN: We have been waiting for the third of this year's star youngsters to get into step.

Renault should be able to see the future now.

FERNANDO ALONSO: Oh yes, that World Champion chappie, isn't he? Isn't he the fellow who drives the other Lewis Hamilton car? Brazilian, I think. Or Portuguese. Foreign, anyway. How did he go,then?

LOSERS MARK WEBBER: This time,the seamless gearbox worked a treat but something else broke. Fabulous.

RALF SCHUMACHER: Not because our favourite FI punching bag drove badly - he actually drove pretty well, especially in qualifying. But a broken wheel ended what might have been a good race.

FELIPE MASSA: Nice recovery. But sonny, you're Number 2 at Ferrari now.

!°

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JENSON BUTTON: The Honda actually looked all right in France but, in front of all JB's rellies, it went like a busted bum. Nick, back up the ute, sweep what's left of this year's cars into the back and start again.

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FORmULR1 Rouno 8- mRGRV C0UR5

hings are turning Red

With Ferrari's technical department back atfull strength, Kimi Raikkonen and Felipe Massa turned the tide JOESAWARD -just as the biggest scandal in modern Formula 1 was about to break

M

cLAREN'S chances

of winning the last French GP at MagnyCours went up in the tyre smoke as the cars left the grid.

The McLaren strategy was a risky one that depended on being in the right position to hold back the Ferraris. But as Felipe Massa surged into an immediate lead from his pole position, and Kimi Raikkonen got the jump on Hamilton and moved into second place, there was never much chance for McLaren.

Hamilton, who needed to run fast in that early part of the race, was held behind Kimi, so he lost time. After 10 laps, it was just a question of which of the two Ferrari men would have the right strategy to win.

To begin with, Massa looked like the man as he built up a lead ofjust over five seconds to Raikkonen but then he pitted and we discovered that the Finn had three more laps of fuel to burn before he pitted.This put Massa back in the lead but it turned out that Raikkonen's consistent second stint won the day.

Massa was the first man to arrive in the traffic and suffered because of it. In the midfield, there was a decent scrap between Mark Webber, David Coulthard, Ralf Schumacher and Alex Wurz, all of whom wanted 11th place. Massa had to thread his way through them, and it all cost him time.

He needed to be around four seconds ahead of Raikkonen at the second round of stops if he was

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to emerge in the lead but traffic is not something one can build into a computer model. By the time he pitted, Felipe was just 3.3s ahead - and that was not enough. Again, Raikkonen did three extra laps and was on his way out of the pitlane before Massa made it through the final corner.

Red Alert: Felipe Massa struck trafficjust when it came time to stand up and win and Kimi Raikkonen, above, took over. Fernando Alonso found himselfJammed up behind some fast cars,like Giancarlo Fisichella, left below, and Nick Heidfeld, below.

Raikkonen was happy to end his drought of results but he was still not 100 percent happy with the Ferrari.

"The car was good all the time," he said."But it was not exactly perfect. Definitely, I am much happier with car after our last test.

"We knew what our problems were, we tried to improve them all the time,and the work starts paying off now. We are in the right place now and need just to keep trying to keep it up."

Over in Woking,the same attitude prevails. Ferrari had landed a big punch. Now McLaren must respond.

It is in this atmosphere that one must consider the effect of something like the'Stepneygate' scandal. Ferrari will not say it, but it is hoping that the problems with Mike Goughian will affect

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FORmULR 1

AUREVOIR, ETAMEN IT was the last French Grand Prix for a while and Formula 1 was waving goodbye to Magny-Cours.

It is a nice enough place to go on holiday - if you like greenery and cows - but it was never a place to host a Grand Prix.

Hopefully,the French will make a better choice of venue next time.The French Grand Prix should not, however, be allowed to lapse from the FI calendar.

It is the oldest motor race in the world and it was such an important event that it gave its name to the sport of Grand Prix racing.To lose that link with the past would be a mistake,even if governments in the Middle East and Asia pledge to pour huge sums of money into new venues.These attract fewer spectators even than Magny-Cours and will fade away when a new regime comes along which does not see the value of the sport.

France's problem was not lack of interest in FI but rather a poor choice of location. Avenue nearer to Paris(or another big city) with the right infrastructure will see the French GP booming again.There are several good options being studied at the moment and, while it is too late do anything in 2008 - except perhaps to get government money for one more year at MagnyCours - it is important that work pushes on to find a new venue for the longer term.

-JOESAWARD

McLaren's performance on the track, by distracting the team from its tasks.

It was not a classic event by any stretch of the imagination.

Hamilton did his best to get to third, his major challenge being to find a way past Robert Kubica as the strategies unravelled.

Lewis showed his class by forcing his way ahead. It was one of the few real overtaking manoeuvres of the race although there was plenty of close racing as those behind were held up by slower cars ahead of them and tried to find ways through.

The two BMWs were fourth and fifth, with Giancarlo Fisichella's Renault sixth. Fernando Alonso never really much of a chance after his problem in qualifying, as there was only so much he could do after starting 10th. He finished seventh.

Eighth place for Jenson Button was something to celebrate down Honda way. It was the team's first point ofthe year and has been hard-earned.This car is never going to be a winner, but at least it is showing signs of improvement. www.mnews.com.au

TAllianz

WINNERS^ FERRARI: After having their butts spanked in North America,the Maranello Maulers were their ^ old selves back in Europe.This sets up a fascinating second half of the season ...

NICKHEIDFELD: Not really common to call someone behind his team mate as a'winner'. But Nick is starting to look racey - like he did when he was in F3000, all those years ago.

GIANCARLO FISICHELLA: Apart from driving well, Fisi demonstrated that Renault's lads are beginning to get their heads around tyres that are not French.

Nevers Magny-Cours fsuttonjmages.com

JENSON BUTTON: Top 10 in qualifying and a point in the race! JB was on it - in a still-not-great car - in France.

RED BULL: Two Bulls started,two finished.

Okay,they were dog slow but hey, Rome was not built in a day.

FORinULH ^ I Round 8ITIRGHV COURS POS# DRIVER

CAR

RACETIME

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17

Ferrari Ferrari i McLareh-Mercedes BMW BMW Renault McLaren-Mercedes Honda Williams-Toyota Toyota Honda Red Bull-Renault Red Bull-Renault Williams-Toyota Renault Super Aguri-Honda Spyker-Ferrari

1 h30m54.200 +2.414s +32.153s +41.727s +48.801 s +52.21 Os +56.516s +58.885S +1:08.505s 69 laps 69 laps 69 laps 69 laps 69 laps 69 laps 68 laps 68 laps

3 1 2 4 7 5 10 12 9 11 13 14 16 18 6 22 21

Toro Rosso-Ferrari Gearbox/55 laps Spyker-Ferrari Pit SNAFU/48 laps Super Aguri-Honda Contact damage/1 lap Toyota Contact damage/1 lap Toro Rosso-Ferrari Gearbox/0 laps

15 20 19 7 17

6 5 2 10 9 3 1 7 16 11 8 15 14 17 4 22 20

Kimi Raikkonen Felipe Massa Lewis Hamilton Robert Kubica Nick Heidfeld Giancarlo Fisichella Fernando Alonso Jenson Button NicoRosberg Ralf Schumacher Rubens Barrichello Mark Webber David Coulthard Alexander Wurz Heikki Kovalainen TakumaSato Adrian Sutil

Not Classified Ret 19 Scott Speed Ret 21 Christijan Albers Ret 23 Anthony Davidson Ret 12 JarnoTrulli Ret 18 Vitantonio Liuzzi

Q

Fastest Lap: Felipe Massa on lap 42,1ml6,099s

FORmULR 1 UJQRLD CHRmPIORSHIP Drivers'Points: Hamilton 64, Alonso 50, Massa 47, Raikkonen 42, Heidfeld 30, Kubica 17, Fisichella 16, Kovalainen 12, Wurz 8,Trulli 7, Rosberg 5, Coulthard/Sato 4, Webber/Schumacher 2, Button 1/Vettel 1.

Contructors'Points: McLaren-Mercedes 114, Ferrari 89, BMW 48, Renault 28,Williams-Toyota 13, Toyota 9, Red Bull-Renault 6,Super Aguri-Honda 4, Honda 1, STR-Ferrari 0,Spyker-Ferrari 0.

LOSERS^ FRENCH FORMULA 1 FANS: Nationality and history means nothing. No, Magny Cours is not the most glamorous place in the world - but half a century of GP history ended when the chequered flag fell.

Singapore and Korea had better be sen-bloody-sational.

CHRISTIJAN ALBERS: He has never really looked like he was out of his depth in Formula 1 - until he joined Spyker. Being Dutch, with Dutch money in the team,is not good enough any more.

VITANTONIO LIUZZI: Many in pitlane rankTonio's talent - not to mention enthusiasm for all things FI very highly. But for whatever reason, it seems that the Italian is heading for the exit...

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BRIEFLV.lll No surprises as Dumesnywinsin Cairns MAX Dumesny took the honours in the Queensland Speedway Spares King of the Ring show at Cairns on July 14, proving he's just as strong in the off-season as he is when things are up and running!

The current World Series Sprintcar champion snatched the lead with four laps to run from Peter Thorley through lapped traffic and was never headed.

"The track was pretty good this year,"said Dumesny.

"Last year you couldn't pass on the high line whereas this time it was good all weekend. I used the high line to pass Peter and it worked nicely.

"Woodsy(Promoter Allan Woods) did a good job for his first go at it.

The event was a good one. It was a bit dusty, but it generally is up there. I'm happy we came up here and the money came in handy, as did the extra laps before the season proper." n Tyrepower Parramatta City Raceway has added the finishing touches to its 2007/2008 calendar for what promises to be a massive season.

The venue wili feature the return of World Series Sprintcars on December 1 with the Aussie Sprintcar Championship and Outlaws Down Under V (January 17-19) making it three big shows during summer.

TPCR's international sprintcar racing carnival will again commence on Boxing Night, December 26 with the annuai Valvoline Australian Sprintcar Grand Prix.

The NSW Sprintcar Championship is set to go on March 29.There are a total of 36 race dates with the season final on May 3,2008. n Tributes have poured in from speedway circles following the death on Wednesday June 27 of Rod Lyons, who passed away at the age of61 at his home in Irymple, Victoria.

Lyons, a life member of the Mildura and District Motor Cycle Club, was the father of Australian speedway rider Jason Lyons. Jason returned home to Australia to spend a week with his father late in May and had flown back to England to continue his racing season with his Birmingham club.

His father was a champion speedway rider in the late 60s and early 70s and had been placed in several Victorian Soio Speedway championships very early in his racing career. He iater became a chief steward, and then a President, of the Mildura Motor Cycle Club.

-GLENN MILNE/STAFF 80

A Brit breakthrough But Adams second and within Speedway Grand Prix title lead CURRENT World Champion Jason Crump and seven times Australian Champion Leigh Adams have a chance of winning the Speedway Grand Prix title this year.

With five of the 11 meetings completed, Adams lies second and Crump sixth behind championship leader Nicki Pedersen. The new points system means that consistent performances in the remaining meetings could close the gap but Pedersen continues to give a lively and competitive performance in each meeting without matching his dynamic display in the first two GPs. Crump and Adams both won their way through to the final in front of over 50,000 people at Cardiff's Millenium Stadium in Wales, with each winning his respective semi-final.

But that promise did not materialise in the final where they finished third and fourth.

While they have both closed the gap a little on Championship leader Pedersen,the glory belonged to young Englishman Chris Harris, who won his first-ever Grand Prix.

He came from behind on the final bend to pass American Greg Hancock and take the chequered flag.

The two Aussies had met in Heat 6 where Adams foliowed home Hans Andersen with Crump third.

Crump then went around Scott Nicholls to win Heat 12. Adams

Have some champers:Crump helps Brit Harris celebrate his first SGP win and in front ofa roaring home crowd, above, to boot. won a re-run Heat 13 to give him a chance of a semi-final place. A win from the outside gate in his final qualifying ride took Crump through to the semis.

The qualifying points meant the two Aussies were in separate semis and although each won their race to reach the final, it was Harris who took the honours to leave it tight in the title race.

"I am just happy to be back on the rostrum again after a lean 2007,"said Crump.

"Things went better tonight but i am still not going as well as I should in every race and that is a puzzle. My equipment seems OK but I must be more consistent."

Adams was somewhat more disappointed than his countryman.

"I'm not too sure how I feel to be honest," he said.

"My first thoughts are that I'm disappointed because it was really there for the taking. I made a flyer the first time in the final, but in the re-run, the rut i started in just wasn't there the second time and I spun up.

"There are plenty of positives though,and making threeconsecutive A Finals is something I really think is a massive breakthrough.

"I think there were a few people who probably thought I'd choke today but they were very wrong."

-TONY MILLARD Points; Pedersen 86, Adams 75,Hancock/ Andersen 67, Harris 56,Crump 53.

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THE'Sprintcar Racing Pty Ltd' company, which was formed late last year among a range of car owners and drivers, has now expanded to include some 30 financial members, representing a collective effort to market the sport beyond the regular realms.

Exposure to the corporate sector is cited as the main push by the organisation, which has a draft of a shareholders agreement now being scrutinised by the board, which includes team owner Darren Disbury, World Series Champ Max Dumesny, Shane Krikke,Tony Noske, Angie Reidy, Robbie Farr, Owen Kelly and Mandy Searle.

"This is a collective of people

who want to see Sprintcar racing in Australia reach a previously unattained level of corporate and broad human interest through the experience and marketing tools of an individual(s) with significant contacts in the corporate sponsorship world," says Disbury.

"If you can liken this effort to gain corporate awareness for the sport to that of building a race motor, we're looking to raise funds to build the biggest, baddest motor that this sport has ever seen."

Based along the lines of the Touringcar Entrants Group of Australia (TEGA), which owns 75 percent of V8 Supercars Australia, the group wants to try and push

Sprintcar racing further and give the teams more voice in the overall direction of the sport.

Former touring car team owner and speedway driver Tony Noske, who was heavily involved in the start of the same process in touring car racing in the 1990s, has been heavily involved in the process since it began in 2006.

"It isn't an attempt by the teams to take control of the sport, that was something that was very quickly dismissed," he said, "it's simply that the teams get a bit more of a say so they can help lift the profile of the sport and the quality of the facilities.

"They didn't go down the path of rushing it, it's been gone about very carefully and the

shareholder's agreement is now being reviewed by the advisory board. Where it goes after that we'll see."

The Sprintcar Racing shareholder agreement document covers Issues such as intellectual property ownership and licensing, group structure and asset protection, contractual arrangements between the company and theTV rights holder and also marketing rights holder and many other elements.

Once the agreement is finalised and the company capitalised, the appointment of a full-time CEO with a marketing and corporate background is the next progression.

-AARON NOONAN

South Oz silly season starts E

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www.mnews.com.au

V

AS South Australia Sprintcar teams take a break over the winter months,there is movement afoot as drivers switch and change teams for next season.

2006/07 South Australian Sprintcar Rookie of the Year Matt Egel has been replaced at Tony Bartlett Racing.

Despite consistent form that led him to his maiden feature race victory in the final night of the Speedway City season, Egel will be replaced

at the helm of the Bartlett Racing #75 Cool machine by Luke Dillon.

Dillon has sold his car to newcomer Sean Luxton from Whyalla, while Luke's brother Lee - who formerly occupied the seat of the Bartlett Racing Team the season prior to Egel taking over - started his own team last season, which has been supported by his father Gary and it is believed that operation will continue into the new season.

Egel has left for the United States where he will be crewing for Travis Rilat for the next three months, where they will be concentrating their main efforts on the ASCS 360 series, some selected events in the 410 category and also the possibility of some wingiess events.

"I'm keen to drive anything, 360 or 410 I'm not fussed just as long as I'm out there,"said Egel.

- PARIS CHARLES 81

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OZ drag racing secures mega television deal DRAG Ltd has announced that it has secured the largest television deal in the history of Australian Drag Racing, with the coverage shared across three broadcasters.

The total coverage will consist of 26 half-hour programs shown on Channel 9 fortnightly, 26 one-hour shows on SBS also shown fortnightly and 26 onehour shows on Fox Sports with repeats throughout the week.

The hour-long shows will include highlights from Groups 2,3 and 4, as well as Group 1 action.

Coverage will include all major ANDRA Group 1 rounds, from tracks all over the country. The new coverage will make it much easier for fans to keep upto-date with results from all the events, no matter where they are run.

■ Veteran Australian racer Graeme Cooper will race at the world's oldest and most prestigious drag race - the 53rd Annual NHRA Mac Tools U.S. Nationals at Indianapolis - in September.

Cooper, 49, will contest Stock Eliminator driving a 1968 Chevelle Malibu Station Wagon owned by Canadian Norm Lapointe and powered bya327ci V8 engine.

"Racing in America is every Australian drag racer's dream, especially at the U.S. Nationals. There's nothing bigger or more special," Cooper said.

It will not be the first time he has raced at the U.S. Nationals, Cooper having also contested Stock at the 40th Anniversary event in 1994. Then he made the class finals and reached the third round of eliminations.

"I thought 1994 was just a once-ina-lifetime opportunity, but I've got the chance to live the dream again," he said.

■ A capacity crowd of approximately 10,000 people packed into the Hidden Valley drag strip to see the record book thrown out the window at the 2007 NT Drag Racing Titles (July 7).

Brett 'The Boss' Stevens shattered his existing Funny Car track record of 6.56s when he scorched down the quarter mile track in 6.02s at 226mph (364kph).

The Funny Car match racing between Stevens and fellow racer Steven Reed saw some spectacular side-by-side action with Stevens just winning the best-of-three races 2-1.

However, Stevens's night took a turn for the worse on his second pass in his Top Doorslammer when he lost traction in the second half of the race track.

"Unfortunately for me I had some problems on my second run when I smoked the tyres at about half track turning me towards the wall but the car will be OK," he said.

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BRANPIl^ Waa. i^GastfOli

Forceful fightback

After 122 career wins, John Force's 123rd couldn't have come at a better time TFHIRTEEN events into this season and John Force has returned to the Funny Car Winner's Circle after his worst start ever on the NFIRA POWERade Drag Racing Series.

In Bristol, Force stopped long time rival Cruz Pedregon in what was also his first final round showing in '07.

Prior to that. Force had not advanced past the second round ■ with only two round wins to his credit. With his 123rd career win.

Force has secured at least one win for the past 21 seasons, one shy of Pro Stock legend Warren Johnson.

With five events remaining on the 'Countdown To Eight'format, and although his shot is slim.

Force is one of eight drivers, who are still contending for the final two Countdown spots, but with more than 16 quality cars showing up at every event, the DNQ lists have been filled by some unlikely cars and drivers. Ashley Force and Jeff Arend both failed to make the Bristol show, as did Kenny Bernstein, who raced to his best finish of the year, a runner-up effort at Norwalk one week prior.

Gary Sceizi, the qualifying streak leader after Englishtown, saw his streak end at Norwalk.

This season has seen John Force's 395-race qualifying streak end, as well as Tommy Johnson's 66-race and Ron Capps end his at 56. Currently the longestconsecutive qualifying streak in the Funny Car class now belongs to Del Worsham at 10 in a row.

Gary Densham is next with eight and John Force and Tim Wilkerson

Is the fightback too late? John Force, top, got back in the Winner's Circle at Bristol. Above, Pro Stocker Jeg Coughlin was also a Bristol victor.

have each qualified for seven in a row.

In Englishtown, Tommy Johnson Jr. overcame a devastating round one inferno, changing virtually everything on the car except for the chassis to come away with the event win.

The Funny Car racing at Norwalk found Mike Ashley, a winner in Topeka, follow up with two DNQs in Joliet and Englishtown, come away with his second career win.

In Top Fuel, Larry Dixon book ended his magical Father's Day winning streak with a pair of wins in Joliet and Englishtown.

Defending series Champion Tony Schumacher cruised to a win at Norwalk, while Brandon Bernstein raced to his fourth event win of the season at Bristol, stopping Bob Vandergriff Jr. in a repeat of the final earlier this year in Las Vegas.

As in Funny Car, Top Fuel looks

like eight drivers will vie for the final three spots in the eight-driver Countdown.

Defending series Pro Stock Champion Greg Anderson took a win at Englishtown, but was timed-out and disqualified in the opening frame at Norwalk.

One week later at Bristol, Anderson was dealt a first round loss on a huge holeshot, expertly executed by Kenny Koretsky. While Anderson still holds a sizable standings lead, two races like his last two, once the final eight have been finalised will hurt.

Victor Cagnazzi Racing team mates scored back-to-back wins at the following events with Dave Connolly picking up a Norwalk win, while Jeg Coughlin scored the win at Bristol. The Pro Stock championship picture looks to have six drivers fighting for three final positions in the Countdown,

motorsportnews

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Markerfamily success on the NHRA trail KATE Marker, daughter of Alcohol Funny Car driver Steve Marker, has raced to two consecutive runner-up finishes in her A/Fuel Dragster recently.

At the Summit Racing Equipment Nationals at Norwalk two weeks ago. Marker trailered Robin Samsel, Darrell Hitchman and John Finke, before facing defending Lucas Oil Top Alcohol Dragster Champion Bill Reichert. Marker, who has been brilliant on the tree, drew a 0.006 red light start, and lost while setting low e.t. of the meet at 5.26s at 271 mph.

A few weeks earlier, she advanced to the final round of theTorco Race Fuels NHRA Route 66 Nationals in Joliet.

Marker qualified in the number one position with a stunning 5.22s/269mph and advanced to the final after wins over Division 1 powerhouse Finke, Spencer Massey, and Canada's Ken Perry. In the final, Marker lost traction early and fell, once again to Reichert.

The following weekend, Kate was back at Route 66 to compete in the Division 3 meeting,

qualifying fourth with a 5.41 s/261 mph, but fell in the opening frame to event runner-up Marty Thacker. She is currently 15th in the National standings.

Kate's identical twin sister Diana was successful in earning herTop Alcohol license with a 5.52s run at 254mph. Diana plans to enter the Pro Mod ranks in 2008, with possible backing from Canadian company Pro Care RX. NHRA Top Alcohol Funny Car driver Steve Marker made his fifth final round appearance of the season and his third straight in as many races during the O'Reilly Summer Nationals at Heartland Park in Topeka, Kansas.

Marker set low-elapsed time of the event at 5.60s/254mph in his final round match up against formerTop Alcohol Funny Car Champion Bob Newberry, but drew a foul start.

Marker had qualified his 2006 Chevy Monte Carlo second in the field with a run of 5.65s at 252mph and easily defeated Casey Beal and veteran Vern Moats, before taking out Alcohol Funny Car newcomer Sean O'Bannon.

"We had the quickest and most consistent car in the class all weekend,it's tough to lose on a red light but that's how it goes,"said Marker.

"The driver let us down, but it makes the team and myself more determined to try harder next time, and we will."

At Joliet, Marker looked strong in qualifying, posting three straight 5.5-second runs to end up third best at 5.55/259. Unfortunately, Steve was on the losing end of a Doug Gordon holeshot, with both drivers recording 5.59second runs.

On the Division 4 trail. Marker stopped Kebin Kinsley in the final round at Cherokee County Motorsports Park in Rusk,Texas. Marker clocked a winning 5.94s/242mph to turn back Kinsley's 5.96s/239mph. Earlier, Marker recorded a pair of 5.96s/246mph and 5.90s/247mph wins over Jimmy Jones and Lee Callaway.

Marker sits fourth in theTop Alcohol Funny Car Championship chase and holds the Division 4 Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series points lead.

- DAVID OSTASZEWSKI

IHRA upsets in Top Fuel KEVIN Jones and his team were contacted by the IHRA to see if they were interested in filling out the eliminations ladder when Doug Foley elected not to return for the Knoll-Gas Torco Racing Fuels Pro NitroTop Fuel field in Tulsa.

With three days to get ready and head to Oklahoma,Jones pulled off the upset win, stopping a tyre-smoking Bruce Litton in the final round with a 5.13s/260mph.

Jones, the fourth alternate in the field, stepped up in eliminations to trailer Luigi Novell! and Mike Strasburg in the early rounds.

The Edmonton event saw two virtual Top Fuel unknowns battle it out for the event title, with Terry McMillen in Doug Foley's number two car defeat Jeff O'Neill, who was driving a second car for Bruce Litton.The pair collectively took out Mike Strasburg, low qualifier Foley, TJ Zizzo and Scotty Cannon.

Dale Creasy Jr., the defending

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Knoll-Gas Torco Racing Fuels Pro Nitro Funny Car world champion, continued his early-season success ! by stopping Andy Kelley in the final round in Tulsa.

Creasy entered the event with a slim three-point lead over Jack Wyatt in the championship points standings, but he stopped Wyatt in the semifinals before carding a 5.07s/289mph pass in the final for the win. Edmonton saw Terry took a slight lead at the start and Haddock take his first career win posted a 6.41s at 216mph to top closing out Creasy in the final.

Gahm's 6.41 s/216mph for a slim Pat Stoken won his first 0.002s victory. Berner continued career national event when he . to tally points, taking a runnerdefeated Quain Stott in the Pro up finish at Edmonton,falling to Robert Patrick.

Modified final, 6,14s/226mph to 6.30s/226mph.

In Top Alcohol Funny Car, Rob Edmonton saw Ed Hoover take Atchison scored a victory over in Paul Trussell's'63 Corvette to Tulsa defending world champion and current point leader Mark victory over Carl Spiering.

Thomas.

Defending Pro Stock Champion One event later in Edmonton, Pete Berner took an early step towards a successful title defence Thomas drove to his second when he knocked off Brian Gahm victory of the season.

-DAVID OSTASZEWSKI in the final round at Tulsa. Berner

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I Winners are grinners: Peter Berner took the Pro Stock win in Tuisa, top, while Dale CreaseyJr,above, won Funny Car. 83

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Falcon heck,Davo's in an Aston!

V8 Supercar young gun to try his hand at GT racing at Phillip Island,Sandown HE may have spent the majority of his career in open-wheelers, but Will Davison will add another tintop class to his CV in August when he takes to Phillip Island in the Australian GT Championship.

The Jim Beam Racing driver will race John Kaias'GT3-spec Aston Martin DBRS9 at both the Phillip Island round, and the recently announced Sandown GT Classic 500 in December,see breakout. "i am very excited to get behind the wheel of the Aston Martin,"said Davison.

"I'm sure it wili be an absolute weapon to drive especially at Phillip Island, and I look forward to going hard for the win.

84

"I have to thank John (Kaias) a lot for this a\A/esome opportunity and I can't wait to pair up with him at Sandown.

GT is something i have always been interested in, and it will be great to get a taste of what it's all about."

Kaias has already scored a podium in the car,finishing third at Queensland Raceway back in May, and believes that Davison will be able to get the car right up the pointy end.

"Will's perfect for the job,"said Kaias.

"I am thrilled about having a driver of his stature in the car and i am sure he will rattle quite a few cages among the top guys in the category. It will be invaluable for the Championship and for Aston Martin."

Sandown GT Classic THERE will be a different kind of Sandown 500 going on at the suburban Melbourne circuit this December.

The Australian GT Championship has confirmed that it will hold a 161-lap,500 kilometre endurance race at Sandown to form Round 8 of the series.

And included in the bumper field will be current V8 Supercar pilot and former Nations Cup racer John Bowe, who will drive a Lamborghini Gallardo similar to that of Championship front-runner Bryce Washington.

"With the GT Championship going from strength to strength in term of drivers and manufacturer interest, this long distance race on a circuit like Sandown is a natural progression for GT,"said series co-directorTerry Little.

"This year's Australian GT Championship is booming with the Lamborghini Gallardos of Bryce Washington and Ian Palmer about to be joined by similar models for John Bowe.'

Bowe is a former Sandown 500 winner,taking victory in 2001 when the event was for Nations Cup cars.

motorsportnews

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Jniaaesmne Gore going National

MINI Mama Pint-sized Challenge headed to Aussie tracks in'08 AUSTRALIAN motor racing will have a new one-make series next year with the announcement that the MINI Challenge is ready to go.

CAMS has given the series the tick of approval, and expects it to be tearing up the tracks next year.

"It is great to welcome the iconic MINI back to the Australian motor racing scene after so many years," said Graeme Emerton, Chairman of CAMS's Australian Motor Racing Commission.

"The MINI Challenge has been an incredibly successful initiative and MINI'S long term commitment to Australian motor sport with this series will provide confidence to competitors and event promoters alike."

The series will be run by Sherrin Motorsport alongside Carrera Cup, with MINI'S parent company BMW also involved.Twenty of the R56 generation 1.6-litre turbo charged will be built in Germany late this year and exported to Australia.

Similar series are already run in the UK,pictured above, and New Zealand.

MINI is no stranger to motorsport in Australia, with Bob Holden and Rauno Aaltonen

www.mnews.com.au

winning the 1966 Bathurst classic aboard a Cooper'S.'The pint-sized marque's most recent involvement has been in tarmac rallying through the likes of Grant Denyer and Paul Stokell with Team MINI. "We have very solid competition credentials both overseas and here in Australia thanks to Team MINI,"said Justin Hocevar, MINI'S National Manager.

"Thanks to the gripping on-track action, MINI Challenge is sure to find a strong and loyal following among racing fans both trackside and on TV. "The series is the ideal entry point to motor racing with competitors expected to be drawn from the ambition-rich ranks of go-karting and openwheel formulae.

"With MINI Challenge we will be bringing an affordable, competitive and very exciting series to Australia. It will be good for racers, spectators, sponsors and for motorsport in general."

The series is expected to cover eight rounds, with category management in discussions with V8 Supercars Australia about joining the V8 support bill.

VICTORIAN youngster Taylor Gore will step up to the Australian Formula Ford Championship in 2008 driving a Minda Motorsportprepared Spectrum.

Gore currently sits eighth in the Victorian Formula Ford championship in his debut year, having progressed through Formula Vee where he won the 2006 Island Magic round and the Young Gun of the Year award.

"I have found the racing aspects of Formula Ford this year to be a huge learning curve with having team mechanics, MoTec data and full team support,"said Gore. "[And it] has been invaluable this year,"Gore said.

"I am very appreciative of the support and opportunity I have received this year to do something that I enjoy."

lll

"Minda Motorsport has been fantastic to me all year and i can't wait to run in the National Championship with them next year."

Minda Motosport is relishing at the opportunity to bring Gore to the national scene of Formula Ford.

"We have been very happy with Taylor's progress throughout the season,"said Minda's Andrew Mclnnes.

"He has not had a significant 'off'or DNF all season which has allowed us to work with him extensively and continue to move forward without chasing our tails fixing the car.

"We are looking forward to taking Taylor to the next step in 2008, and his testing program will start immediately after the last round of this season."

- AARON SHAW

and so is Listec

SPECTRUM may not have a monopoly on Australian-built chassis in the 2008 Australian Formula Ford Championship.

Sydney-based manufacturer Listec has started work on a Duratec-powered car, and plans to take to the national series as soon as next season.

The team currently runs a Kent-powered car in the NSW Formula Ford 1600 Championship, with driver Glenn Welch taking the Listec WII05B to top three results at the first two rounds of the series.

But while a new evolution of the state car will be ready for the next NSW round. Managing Director John Calamos says his sights are firmly set on the national series.

"We're 95 percent ready to go,"said Calamos."We're going to start building an all-new car at the end of this month.

"We had to prove ourself in the state series, and I think we've done that. So we'll start building a Duratec-powered car and hopefully we'll be ready for next season."

-ANDREWVAN LEEUWEN

85

'The Creek'sets up Nationals Titles heat up after Shannons Nationals rounds at Mallala and Eastern Creek BRYCE Washington leads the Australian GT Championship as the Shannons Nationals heads into the second half of the racing season with several series delicately poised for a close run to the finish.

With no racing since Queensiand in May,the GT Championship returns at Phillip isiand in early August with the Lamborghini the car to have, aithough the Aston Martin DBRS9 of guest driver Wiii Davison could well be the thorn in Washington's side at the Island.

In the Supaloc Saloon Cars Bruce Heinrich has used the middle stanza of the year to win himself back into form,tasting success at both Mallala and Eastern Creek to close in on the championship lead as he looks to defend his 2006 title.

Geoff Emery leads the Commodore Cup, but a close battle with young gun Daniel Richert looks to set the scene for the remainder of the

championship. Marcus Graham and Brett Holdsworth have also tasted recent success.

Tony Ricciardello is a not-sosurprise leader of the Sports Sedan Championship whilst Garry Holt

maintains a commanding lead in the Australian Production Car Championship over his team-mate Barry Morcom and Leigh Mertens.

Steve Zammit was the king of the Supertruck crop at Mallala

recently, whilst Warren Mcliveen was crowned the first National Champion of the year when he secured his sixth national Superkart title at Eastern Creek.

- RICHARD CRAILL

Vic Series back on track atSandown ROUND 3 of the Victorian State Circuit Racing Championships at Sandown Raceway produced plenty of action with the safety car called upon in all three Formula Ford races.

Jake Chapman managed to overcome the competitive field to score two solid victories and now leads the championship from Trent Harrison, Martin Swindells and Cameron Spence, who are all within striking distance.

John Kaias brought his Aston Martin DBRS9 along and scored a blistering pole position in Sports Cars with a low 1ml3s lap in damp conditions. Unfortunately he failed to finish the opening race, leaving Brett Bedggood to dominate the round from Kane Rose.

David Frith's solid result in Formula Vee sees him lead the standings by a slender margin from Andrew McFarland and Andrew McLaughlin who are tied for second.

Ray Challis (Torana) is storming away in the Historic Touring Car championship as he leads Michael Hibbert(Charger) by a comfortable 49 points.

Gavin Ross'two HQ wins elevated him above Rodney Earsman in the standings while Rick Newman (TE50) still leads Improved Production despite finishing outside the podium.

Amazingly Robert Haywood sits on top in MGs courtesy of several key mechanical retirements over the opening rounds. Robert Lange continues to dominate the Porsche 944s while Andrew Nowland picked up two Saloon Car victories.

-AARON SHAW 86

Wet and wild:Jake Chapman,above,and Gavin Ross, below, were both among the winners atSandown.

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Loading up at Wakefield CURRENT Fujitsu V8 Supercar Series driver Scott Leadsman claimed the top honours in the Australian Touring Car Challenge for the second round in a row as part of Round 5 of the Australian Motor Racing Series at Goulburn's Wakefield Park Raceway last month.

Driving his ex-Lansvale Smash Repairs Racing VY Holden Commodore (previously driven by Cameron McConville), Loadsman led the way throughout the weekend. His success was highiighted by the fact that his nearest rival - and current ATCC leader - Darren Saillard was amongst the thick of the action all weekend.

Loadsman, a former Australian Production Car Champion,topped the time sheets in qualifying, then continued his front-running form by taking out the opening race. He then followed it up with a second and a fourth place in the two handicap races over a 10 and

12 lap distance.

At the completion of the weekend it was Leadsman that came out on top overall, but in second and third respectively on the podium for the round were David Gardner(VK Holden Commodore Group A)and the returning Paul Leabeater(Hyundai Lantra Super Tourer).The performances of both Gardner and Leabeater in the two handicapped races were solid, with Gardner finishing with a third and a win, while Leabeater placed fourth and second.

GT BA Ford Falcon Future Tourer driver Amin Chahda also tasted success over the weekend by claiming a solid victory in the second race.

While Saillard didn't have the best of weekends, he maintains his lead in the championship point standings over Falcon V8 Supercar driver John Vergotis.

In the other AMRS events at Wakefield Park, Luke Searle(BMW 130) regained control of the Production Touring Car championship by

taking out the round.

Tom Drewer proved too strong for his opposition in the Thunder Sports by taking two out of the three races, with feliow West WR1000 driver Graeme Cook claiming the Race 2 honours. In the Future Racers class Jeff Davy, Keeran Dal-Maso, and Jade Barnes were among the front runners all weekend.

Derek Hocking was the most consistent in the SuperTT/3.3 Litre Holden class and was rewarded with the overall rounds honours driving his SS Holden Commodore V8 Ute, while Ian McLean(HQ Holdens) and Anthony Moss(Kingswoods) were the best in their respective classes.

McLean capped off his successful weekend with a dominant victory in the annual Hopwood 100 which saw him defeat Simon Latchford and Mark Nottage over the one-hour race.

- DANIEL POWELL

Nesbitt and Young duke it out in Darwin BARRIE Nesbitt scored one for the V8 fans at Hidden Valley, beating the turbo cars to Round 3 of the 2007 Donut King Australian Performance Car Championship a month ago.

The HSV Coupe driver took the opening win of the weekend in Darwin, before finishing second and fourth in the final two races to seal the deal.

But it was a tight-run thing.Thanks to a win in Race 2 Gary Young finished the weekend on equal points to Nesbitt, but missed out on the round honours because of Nesbitt's better qualifying performance.

Mark King won the final, but dropped behind Young in the championship points after finishing ninth in the opener following a drivethrough for jumping the start.

T6nklt£^

Points: Young 220, Nesbitt 211, King 193,Peter Floyd 159, Graham Aiexander 159.

88

motorsportnews

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nflTIOnHL SCEHE

crunwand bang at The Valley Carnage for the Utes in Darwin,while Elsegood and Johnson fight it out at the top ofthe table

JACK Elsegood took back his title as overall series leader with a close round victory in the Yokohama V8 Ute Series at Hidden Valley last month.

The Coopers Pale Ale Racing driver snatched an oh-so-close Race 3 victory over Grove Juice Holden steerer Grant Johnson by 0.01 s to secure the round win and series lead.This is first time that Elsegood has held the championship lead since the end of Round 1 earlier this year.

"The boys set the car up to come on strong over the final laps of the race, which gave me a good shot at Grant," Elsegood recalled.

"We raced side-by-side for three corners before I managed to get through. Grant had another go under brakes and it could have been anyone's race on the run to the flag."

While the race at the front was close, the battles behind were tough and bruising. Race 3 was cut short early when a major incident on the first iap between turn 3 and 5 brought out the yellow flag.

Former Australian NASCAR champion Kim Jane was squeezed offtrack and onto the grass, clouting the tyre wali and becoming airborne.The Bob JaneT-Marts Commodore rolled onto Its side before settling back on all fours, having been hit by Matt Kingsley on the way through.The Victorian walked away from the incident with no major physical injury but a very badly bruised car.

It was a bad weekend overall for Jane, who was excluded from Race 1 (along with Matt Kingsley)for a technical infringement.

"After the exclusion , we were out all night trying to get a new sway bar sent to Darwin in time for the racing, it wasn't until five minutes before this morning's race that we managed to fit it to the Lite"explained Jane's team manager David Maidment "Then to see all our efforts literally shattered is a real disappointment."

Jane and Kingsley were both found guilty of sway bar infringements and excluded from the race, forcing both drivers to start Race 2 from the rear of the grid.

SAGE Commodore driver Gary Baxter, pictured inset, was the victor of Race 1, beating home Elsgeood, Johnson, Layton Crambrookand Kiwi Colin Corkery.

www.mnews.coin.au

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Ray Sidebottom scored his maiden victory, taking the Race 2 reverse grid race.

"What a weekend," he said post-event.

"This was my second round in Utes and just the fifth race meeting in the category for the GP Racing team,so it's just reward for them,and Shanan (Sidebottom)for doing such a fantastic job."

Local NT steerer Crambrook suffered a disappointing homecoming.

The former V8 Supercar driver showed good pace early in the weekend, qualifying sixth position and finished fourth in Race 1. However, a blown engine ruined Crambrook's chances for a podium result for the weekend.

"Everything seemed to be on track for a good result in Race 2 but then my engine began pouring out smoke and I started to lose speed," he explained.

Crambrook was unable to complete the remainder of the weekend.

Points: Elsegood 364,Johnson 363, Baxter 314, Darren Palmer 282,Stephen Robinson 280.

89

BRIGFLVl ll CIK for 2008?

THE Australian Karting Association is calling for expressions of interest from teams to revive a national CIK Championship series for 2008.

If sufficient interest is expressed, the AKA will purchase enough engines to power a 32-kart field,then lease them out to the teams on a random ballot system. An engine service contractor and tyre supplier would also be appointed.

The series would run for the new generation 125cc KF2 class and,if successful, would add KF3(Juniors) in 2009. It will run over five to six rounds in the eastern states. n The man behind ARC Engines, Frank Cesnik, has died.

The Melbournian was an outspoken character who was a passionate supporter of Australian karting and his ARC range of Aussie-built kart engines and components. Cesnik suffered a fatal heart attack.

Warren wins,Stevens spins

WARREN Mcliveen swooped to his sixth Superkart National Championship when he won the 250 International category at Eastern Creek on July 16.

Two wins and a second gave the Stockman driver the title ahead of team-mate Sam Zavaglia and Queensland's Carlo Chermaz.

The third race was declared null and void after a sickening accident saw the red flag appear on the second lap. Anton Stevens, pictured right, made contact with Zavaglia, sending Stevens into a series of wild flips. The Kiwi spent the night in hospital and was lucky to suffer only minor injuries.

Jason McIntyre successfully defended his 250 National title while Kristian Stebbing broke through for his first championship with victory in 125s.

-MARK WICKS

n Ryan Sanderson celebrated his first outing with the Gillard Karts Australia factory team with victory at Swan Hill's Sun Centre Titles recently.

The 21-year-old has joined Giilard's Rotax Champion Hayden McBride and fellow Victorian Jono Taylor in the Leopard Light class. His signing has not only boosted Giilard's local squad, but could lead to him joining McBride and Luigi Cantanese in Europe.

Sanderson will continue his association with Pro Karting using their engines for both Leopard and Clubman Light, where he will remain on Arrow. n The Victorian Superkart Club will not conduct a round of their state series atWinton this year.

Instead, an event at Calder Park has been added and a unique hillclimb at Morwell confirmed. This could be one of the final outings on the hillclimb, which is set to be de-commissioned due to the encroaching open cut coal mine.

The revised schedule for the rest of 2007 now reads; Calder Park (August 4), Morwell Hillclimb (September 2) and Phillip Island (October 20). n The Kosmic network of dealers continues to expand with Redspeed (NSW 8i QLD)and KartForce(WA) announcing they will stock and race the purple and pink karts from Italy.

Jason Burns will spearhead the Redspeed effort while in WA KartForce has announced Brad Fitch, Lloyd Bilick, Lee Foster Jnr and possibly Anthony Higgs as Kosmic pilots.

-MARK WICKS 90

name is

Steel the ane!

AUSTRALIAN international junior Steel Guiliana placed second at the Austrian Masters at the Speedworld circuit near Vienna earlier this month.

Competing in Junior Rotax, Guiliana was only sixth in qualifying but worked his way through the pack to second in Race 1.

He held the position in Race 2 but was unable to unsettle Intrepid Force Rotax team-mate Daniel Schellnegger for the win. While not the consolation he might have been looking for, Guiliana did receive a pleasant surprise on his return to Europe - the IFR team manager arranged a new chromelook helmet as a 16th birthday.

-MARK WICKS

lll

MATTHEW Brabham is putting his famous surname into the history books,the youngster winning his first state karting championship recently.

'Brabs Junior'(son of Geoff) put his name to the winner's trophy in Rookies at Toowoomba after a close race with Mathew Hart and Cameron Waters for the QLD title.

Aaron Seton was another famous'son-of-a-star.'

Starting from the back of the Midgets field (due to a pre-final DNF),Seto Jr blasted through the pack to take fourth and fastest lap.

Standouts in seniors were David Sera and KelTreseder, both winning two classes.

-MARK WICKS

motorsportnews

nRTIOnRL 5CEHE

The rules they are a-dianglng THE Australian Karting Association made some major decisions for the future of the sport at the National Karting Council mid-year conference recently.

The most significant, and controversial, is the removal of C-grade licence holders-and therefore newcomers to the sport-from the 125cc classes such as Rotax, Leopard and TaG effective from January, 2008.

This has caused much angst in the karting community,from both competitors and the wider industry, as the 125 TaG classes have become a popular entry point to the sport. Without doubt this will affect many existing and potential karters, however AKA President Richard Erdmann told MNews it was a matter of safety.

"We have had a continuing issue with safety (in those classes)," said Erdmann.

"It was partially resolved a few years ago when C grade drivers were placed behind the Bs on the grid, but that caused its own problems."

Interestingly, only one state voted against the change. A grace period will allow existing C-graders time to obtain a B licence if they desire.

Related to this change will be the mandatory use of clutches in all classes for 2009. Again,safety is a major factor(no more pushers falling over when starting karts), but the popularity ofTouch-and-Go seems to be what newbie karters want.

"Yamaha already have their electric start engine on the market,so bringing the clutches rule forward a year is to entice new competitors into a 1 OOcc category without having to add another class," added Erdmann.

A new plastic'smart card'electronic licensing system is due to start making an appearance late next year. Swiping the card to enter a race meeting will cut down on paperwork and administrative functions. It will also provide data for the AKA to analyse regarding trends in the sport and could possibly be used for driver grading in the future.

The system and hardware will be provided to all clubs at no charge.

-MARK WICKS www.mnews.com.au

The new rules at a glance

lll

- 125cc class unavailable for C-grade license holders(includes Rotax, Leopard and TaG) - Clutches to be fitted for all classes as of2009 -'Smart Card'licensing system - Mandatory display ofan AKA promotionalsticker - Wet weather tyres not to be fitted until meeting officially declared wet - Parity adjustment in Midgets to increase competitveness of Yamaha 'J' - Calling for nominations to a board ofdirectors to move the Association towards governance -Implementation ofthe AKA Airbox moved to January 12008

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Cable KHs for in-cockpit bar adjustments also readily available V Distributed In Australia by -

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motorsport news

CLASSIFIEDS ftA CE AND PERFORMANCE CLASSIREDS

7Af

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fftKl

Transpoters/Trailers

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SOLD

Hydraulk Tilt Race CarTrailer

8Ft Race Car Transporter

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38Ft D^ax transports^ now for s^e as l^hayg changSJ diisam»in'j®y igcBg’K& fan BBBtor home Mife'tes in

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a4uay105.com/17155

Birel Kart Package

Nssan Patrol Tow Vehicle Sraat looking SO. 7 .^ter 4wd vyagon. iBadylbrdtM^^Has economics, petrob lUHi i^minstnlssloiv^^^i^ di{^||t ●^g^-iiuLiuei. stepsr Pioneer & mud flaps. at nsw

Extensive Package, almost everything to go Race. 3x Q30X Chassis', IX AR4.6 x KTIOO Engines Blueprinted & maintained by Peiper Motorsport, ARC watercooled engine. Sniper laser and heaps of guages,trolleys,sprockets. ...too much to list. 3 Kart Trailer, 6x3 metre Marquee. $15,000 ONO. Dennis 0418284658.

www.myl O5.com/13942

363

363

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2008 Drives Available

www.myl O5.com/18141 Open Wheeler

A

363

www.myl 05.com/27048

J

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Innes

363

(0

Enclosed Race CarTrailer

Great condition. State Title winning Karts.

Enclosed Trailer $1,000 2 Complete Kios Rolling Chassis's $1,700 & $1,200 Wheels/ Tires. 1 KT Open Engine, Built by Lighting Karts in SA $1,500 30mm Complete Rear Axle $250 6 Complete Tire Rods $20 each 2 Kios Stub Axles $30 each 1 Karting Racing. Plus Lots More. Adam 0407 072 212.

Formula Ford series for suitably funded drivers. Drive for the latest factory supported team to enter the championship. BARRIE 0437145500.

Engines

'is'-

Dirt Go Karts & Spares ForSale Van Diemen Race Cars have limited seats available for the 2008 National

www.myl05.com/89975

<9 SUBARU BJNOieo J

roooa

www.myl05.com/46 *E6

worfefihp & space "or-two open wheel CMsPr^ants ras & w^ und^ ^JBcment c-ost Tow ggit, arai^e calf for ^,de^ $84500.00 oM Russ 0468793695/0B4492860.

363

Has been just been given the once over.

Side opens up and does come withs parts for side annexe. Dual wheels trailer. Fits in shipping container if needed.1740 between wheels guards other wise 1930 inside width. 4400 tow hitch to rear tailgate and 3700 front to rear enclosed section. $4500. Scott 0419381533.

www.myl05.com/24719

Speedway

Cosworth BDG 295 hp 1997CC 4cyl low milage hiliccimber from UK Rally or Race Spec, New crank, rods, pistons, valves and springs, disambled for inspection can XRay and reassamble, when did you last see one of these advertised. $28,000. Peter 0418755246.

www.myl05.com/59424

363

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Speedway Car Swift Complete, tidy car. Runs well. Suit FF entry level. Very negotiable on price.

Second complete Swift SC95K (black) also available. Buy both and have a sponsorday/display car, $17,000 Or Best Offer.

Peter (02) 9873 1773 / (02) 9873 1773.

www.myl05.com/64369

363

1

s.

Commodore Ex Super Sedan, has all tin work, fuel tank, coilover shocks, dyna diff comes with 9" diff, 2 fibreglass seats, quick release steering, reduction steering, spare wheels & tyres, neckbraces, tearoffs, harness,needs motor & gauges to go racing, selling due to injury cant race any inquires please ring. $3000 Not Neg. Bruce (03) 6429 1163.

www.myl05.com/41466

Mack CH 97 Cab Chassis Only 7315mm wheel base. 400hp engine 13 speed R.R. Rebuilt drive line 400,000kms engine, 150,000 trans/diff. Ready to fit your own car carrying equipment. Excellent condition. $66,000. Paul 0418920375.

www.myl05.com/76659

363

363

Collectable/Memorabilia

11

ia 360 class legal Sprint Car Eng

Fire Sale SJ 97 Mygale

360 class legal Sprint Car Engine, Kiwi Iron Heads, Dart block refreshed 05/07 by KRE race engines, dyno figures available 653HP 550FTLB complete engine with pipes.

0400 521 700 $28,000 ONO

www.myl05.com/28784

363

Fantastic car to start your Formula Ford Career - Cheapest On The Market. Car driven

by Australian Formula Ford Champions Luke Youlden and Greg Ritter. Competed as a G-Force Mygale Factory Car since that time. $16,995.00 Neg. Greg 0419 729 298.

www.myl05.eom/20532

363

Tilting CarTrailer

Mallala Photos Photos for sale from Mallala Shannons Nationals Rd4. Photos of most cars In all class'.

For details phone David on 0412 181 695 or email dbmp98@westnet.com.au

www.my105.com/22311

363

Quality built & engineered tilting car trailer.

As new condition with lockable storage, winch plate, wheel carrier and 12mths rego.

Quality radial tyres and alloy wheels. $4,500 QNO.Tim 0418 501 509.

www.myl05.com/21108

363

95

■/'

RACE AND PERFORMANCE CLASSiFIEDS

7Ar

SELL your partS; motorsport vehicle or anything to do with motorsport via our Internet classified partners my105.com -for as little as $45!*

online classifieds GET

^

we race wifeitote and jcerts idr said aewHur.rrv'JtliS.cwn

HSVVY BOOkwGTS It isnning AustBDan Perfaiinenre C?r. eligible for 20^ BatbuS 1.^ asan o^ght (Qt fre^ engibe anan^^ui, licmi shocks. 2 gs of 9»tB AMBfem.

IJen't iws opporturrity to purchase this highly competitive S±i. For Sa19 or comprehensive airBayoiicLdragl |^se package It . SM.0Q0 Not Neg.

Yes,3 months on my105.com, plus an insertion here in MNews, all for as little as $45.

www.my 105.com/69997

*{if directly entered onto my105.com)

ALS'mm ■' - Ihr_

366

997 GT3 Cup Car Either log on to my105.com & follow the prompts (photo must be digital, if required) OR you can still advertise via mail/fax & send us your ad & car photo if you require one ($10 processing fee applies).

This K

Type/write your advertisement clearly (no more than 50 words), nominate your category & include your pic(s).

Mail or email (include credit card & your details) - see addresses below.

f

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CHECK LIST - have you supplied:

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Notice to advertisers: We are unable to return photos supplied for advertising.

Ads will appear as soon as possible after receipt. MNews/myl OS classifieds are for the sale of private goods & vehicles only. Photos marked'proof will not be used.

9S

366

IT

i SS

Fully restoced, ndj

ith CAMS histtjdc

leg book an^igill May 2887.

It

hismTTT QBig III a wll^^B $30,880 ONO. Denis Nobjnim ,/QiES!83{l877

illgree.

73'l

www.my105.com/35589

354

1st SA State Championship (Over 3000cc), 1 St '04 Vic State, 2nd '03. New 289 (dyno sheets) with all the best parts. Preparation K&A Motorsport.

Lots of spares including Close Ratio Top Loader, 2 pairs new front rotors, rear shoes. 12 wheels - 4 Dunlop wets, others Yokohama's (4 one meeting old), $60,000. Lyn 0417 826 284.

www.my105.com/67290

Current Cover Car for July Zoom Magazine 40,000 engine, 18,000 gearbox, 8,000 stereo, 4000 in body kit, 4,000 brakes, $5,000 suspension, 4,000 rims and tyres, 6,000 interiour and guages. at least another 10,000 in computers, intercoolers, and other bits I don't remember. $49,900 Neg. Aaron 0288147426.

www.my105.com/8202

996 GT3 Cup Car Sbgine refreshed New Shod! absorBBs recently

shafts seriOBfl

Brake & .clutctr^em ● foverhauT^ New duHl &' : flywTieel C®ently e iu GT IpjWng Porsche CB No exEgnse spared. $149.0^® CiST. Mick ®17 246 607 / (Oaj 9S7 2966.

www.my105.com/65735

3©

Sedans/Sports Cars

364

420Kwatw +

MylOS, Suite 8,11-21 Underwood Rd, Homebush, NSW, 2140 Email:

i

'65 Mustang State Winner

$75

Mail:

www.my 105.com/375S:

-V* ■ -

Typed/written advertisement; category, photo; credit card details (number, expiry, name); your details (name, address, phone, email)?

Fax:

almost new. Car f)§s (j|2003.updates including engine and wide body kit Car is oitnplete and cones with an array of sriHBK $320,000 IJIg. P£t£T«4073S5360.

Prad Eleven

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

Photo

is in

www.my 105.eom/70392

Ads without pics may be faxed, along with your details/contact & credit card details.

Additional options:

Etigine reft^ed HfjgSded gear set Upgraded LSD New drive shafts® New ^ck ;|bsD(hers Brake & clutch systems sOIgd Neyv clutch & flvwh^ ise spgpd PC2&.

04' :/|Bg) 97W 2966.

Porsche GT3 RSR

363

1990 turbo rnx5

'll'

Tidy car, greedy exhuast manifold, TD04H turbo, haltech plug & play computer, 1/2 cage & harness's, custom exhuast & intercooler pipes, heavyduty clutch, lightweightfiywheel, later model LSD diff, mags, fi berglass hardtop removable, new rotors & upgraded brake pads, only running 5psi but doubled factory horsepower. $14,500 Neg. Ben 0422 613 976 / 3290 4039.

www.myl O5.com/11548

364

CLR55IFIED5 RACE AND PERFORMANCE CLASSIREDS

online classifieds GET IT W ikmfliwis iwre raee reiWctei awrBarts fcr sa# af »ifiKra|fi£iS.c«n

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sou>

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WRX STI Ex Vic State Champ Car ■3S

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Subaru WRXSTi Fully professonally prepared & maintained huge range of enhancements full cage, motec peddle box, alcon brakes, nothing to spend, vie registered excellent spares package arguably one of the fastest WRX's around, gravel set up available $38,900 Not Neg. Peter 0418566928.

www.my105.com/99109

Toyota Supra Los Booksd £ Bsteur. Flfiarh Boad C^. Custoa Tlirbo Be. Miaotech with paid l^glng DaSr, Braided bake BtT^, Bstcefism fii^ wganm with 3 lift

‘I-

T

ww w.my 105.eom/48016

www.my105.com/37706 Spectrum 07 Fully Updated- 09 -f

I

Haynes Clubman

a -

Well sorted package, 4AGE 20v 1600,T50 box, Microtech MTS, S/Steel exhaust, LSD, New 3 core radiator and rack, Dunlop Slicks. Spare set wheels with new Yoko A048's, CAMS logbook. Trailer. Eligible for Supersprints, Clubman Challenge, AMRS Thundersports. $24,000. Dennis 0418 284 658.

www.myl05.com/21977

www.my 105.eom/70935

363

XF stockat many spares $2,000; 4 cly wtfh spares ^000; light speedway trucks $5,000 to $2*®;CV8MonarO‘SUper sedan with spares 514,000 ONO. ®feais neallng work 2/ sprmt chases; W modified prrrrii ii-Hnns isuru (B Qt@4car lima; Bsomi@rt of lace spares a\^^^ S 7.m>. Graeme 042S63662D

cusb^

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S^ed cHi-1 for the past 3%ents. $isk sp^t in preparadon for 3B(g. Sale due to new proj^ so maljgoffer. $34,500.00 0r Be^aE^Clf g 0418140069.

Ready To Race

ptirma^Wige ank Bnsrh maiD pump. parts.

r-

363

Strong Freshly Rebuilt engine (New Forged Pistas & Rods) Modena 'Super' □og Box R180 DIfF & Profl^ Engine, gearbox ^nd 3 diffs a leb^

363

Escort Rally Group 2,2 litre

Must Sell, Urgent Salel EuUy updated to 09 specs: Complete, rpady-m AdjustabJ,# Periski shocks, full, Mot^ystemWM sensors. Top Smith Res^tth MIy enclosed trailer, gear ratios, spar4 susfSKion arms, aligmnga bats, spaQ discs, wheels, varioos mpanSl^ & engii@(Bts Indndsig spare Bead & ina|)y mote extras. Quick SIE (fflljHgB Neg. Brad Qdy 02BS32Ja9S / 0S2 911 079.

www.myl 05.com/18230

This Car has been Re-Everythinged, There is nothing that has not been rebuilt or renewed and is set to go, just add your helmet and you're away. CAMS logbook PRC or Historic.

Body strengthen Bilstein Works Struts Adjustable tops .Bilsten Shocks Big Discs. Call for Full List Perfect for Alpine. $9,800.00 Neg. Russell 0430 455 776.

www.myl05.com/45455

363

363

363

KrintoidU J

69 Camaro

Saker SVS GT

m "Jim 2006 VW Golf GTI Perfect Car for 12hr Bathurst 2007 Performance or Production Car Series, Kw Dampers, LSD, all new equipment ie seats harness etc. Must sell due to personal reasons. $42,000 Plus GST Not Neg. Kosi 0419524752.

Unique opportunity Aust factory race car Spaceframe/Composite bpdy MoTeC ADL /M800, AP Brakes, Koni Shocks & spares, Airjacks. Outstanding power, weight & grip suitable for all levels of competitor. Build to order also available. Full factory engineering/ support & lease options available. $97,000 neg, Marcus 0411137230.

www.my105.com/31322

363

www.myl05.eom/72403

Rally Car For Sale v8, 5 speed, 4:1 mini spool diff, bilstein suspenson, 4 spot front brakes, disc brake rear end, hydraulic hand brake, light pod, terratrip 202 terraphone head set, some spares, spare 6 speed gearbox, some tyres, rego may 2008. $9,500 ONO. Matt 0427104696 / 02 43245606,

www.myl05.com/58864

Ground up build 06 Engineered to highest std.Composite wheels. Gold track dif 12 bolt. Exceptional car. HTC or Biante TCM. $ 119,000.00. Tony 03 97617590.

www.myl05.com/52998

363

Parts

I

363

Datsun 1200 Coupe

BP1800 turbo engine & LSD box. Koni adjustable shocks & platforms front & rear.

Has been used in super sprints & improved production, great entry level race car, cheap and simple to run with lots of spares. $8,400 Neg, (02) 9886 9098 / 0401 719 438.

Professional ground up build 05, no expense spared, full chrome moly cage, seam welded, 935kg, 2 pack all over, log book, WA reg, TRDc/rSspd, TRD LSD, 4.8 & 5.4 ratios, quad body efi, Motec, 130rwhp on 98 ulp, pedal box, 6 X Simmons 15x7. Ready for targa or any tarmac. $35,000 Neg. Tom 0417939070,

U2L Imp Prod, SR20, Quad Throttle Bodies, Motec, forged pistons, port/polish, cams, balanced, runs avgas or UPULP, 160 kW at wheels, brass button, strong LSD, 4 wheel discs, Mintex pads, Willans Harness, Sparco Seat, Logbook, A048s, superlites, 2 spare sets tyres, some spares. Very fast, strong package.

Car trailer also available separately. $15000, Daniel 0407 259 390 / 02 4422 5748.

www.myl05.com/72745

www.myl05.com/84554

www.myl05.com/53883

Sprinter AE86 4AGE 16v 1600 NA

Affordable club motorsport

363

363

363

Motorsports Clearance Sale We are massively overstocked, everything must go Call and make an offer on Racesuits!

Minimum of 25% off all floor stock only, Pitboards, boots, underwear, gloves, suits, nets, helmets, communications & plenty more Must end soon, call Rick on 02 9679 9744 for detailsl 0296799744/0422437259.

www.myl O5.com/11090

363

97

THE 'H' TERm

THE BHCh PRGE THE MOTORSPORT NEWS IMAGE ARCHIVE IS EXTENSIVE AND THERE'S NOTHING BETTER THAN A WALK DOWN MEMORY LANE ...

n Editorial Editor: Aaron Noonan

1 I

noonz@mnews.com.au Executive Editor: Phil Branagan editor@mnews.com.au News Editor: Grant Rowley grant@mnews.com.au National Editor: Andrew van Leeuwen andrew@mnews.com.au

gi

n Production Graphic Design & Web:Jayne Uthmeyer design@mnews.com.au n Advertising P 03 9596 5555 F 03 9596 5030 National Sales Manager: Calvin Wood M 0439 566 265 cwood@mnews.com.au n Administration 357 Nepean Highway, Brighton East, VIC, 3187 (PO Box 7072, Brighton, VIC, 3186) P 03 9596 5555 F 03 9596 5030 admin@mnews.com.au Managing Oirector/Publisher: Chris Lambden publisher@mnews.com.au n Contributors f7;Joe Saward, Adam Cooper, Paolo Filisetti, MarkGlendenning Europe:Quentin Spurring, David Addison US: Martin D. Clark, Phil Morris, Mary Bignotti Mendez Speedway:Greg Boscato, Geoff Rounds, Darren Sutton,Tony Millard (UK) Rally: Ryan Lahiff Drag Racing: Dave Ostaszewski(USA), Ken Ferguson,John Bosher National: Mark Wicks, Mark Jones, Aaron Shaw, Daniel Powell Photographers:Sutton Motorsport Images, Dirk Klynsmith, Marshall Cass,John Morris/ Mpix, AF1 Images,James Smith, Peter Bury, Neil Blackbourn,Chris Carter, Coopers Photography, CBR Photographies, Paris Charles, Bob Potts, Neil Hammond,Joel Strickland, Mike Patrick(UK) Motorsport News is published by Australasian Motorsport News ABN 55 125120 702 Publisher: C Lambden Printed by; Webstar Printing Distributed by: NDD Ltd Material published by MOTORSPORT NEWS is copyright and may not be reproduced in full or in part without the written permission of the publisher. Freelance contributions are welcome,and while all care will be taken, Australasian Motorsport News does not accept responsibility for damage or loss of material submitted.

"Opinions expressed in Motorsport News are not necessarily those of Australasian Motorsport News or its staff.

5U£j5c;nprjD}'J5 Australia (inc gst) Overseas (airmail); New Zealand & Asia Rest of the World

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POST cheque/money order to the address above FAX credit card details(VISA or Mastercard) to 03 9596 5030(int'l +613 9596 5030) EMAILtosubs@mnews.com.au or PAY ONLINE at:

www.mnews.com.au 98

We love liveries!Remember when SergeantJohn Faulkner,above,raced a Police-backed Commodore at Winton in 1999? Different liveries are commonplace in NASCAR but the trend hasn't gained much momentum here in Australia. But how about Fred Gibson, below, hooking the GTHO onto the main straight at Oran Park in 7972? Gun!

A classic contest:Johnson and Brock fight for the 1981ATCCin the decider at Lakeside. The former won but both men showed their brilliance, never separated by more than a few car lengths.

Wrnfjrmrwi^

8years ago

0

i

0

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Issue158-July 30,1999 REMEMBER when MNews was in the big newspaper format?

Ah the good old days!The V8 world was abuzz after the Calder round where Craig Lowndes was tipped onto his lid and would miss a round after knee surgery. And in other news... n Cameron McConville, Lowndes'partner for the enduros, got the call up for the next round at Symmons Plains with'The Kid'out injured. n The Super Tourers were announced to race in a 500-kilometre Bathurst event in October. It happened, was wet and miserable and never rah again. n Canberra was 50/50 for a V8 street race in 2000.

It happened - for three years - and fell back off the radar. Our fingers are still thawing out... n Mark Webber looked close to doing a test deal with Jordan FI. AGPC Chairman Ron Walker was batting for Our Boy hard, however the deal didn't come through. n Eddie Irvine (remember him?) won the Austrian Grand Prix to close to within two points of FI title leader Mika Hakkinen, with Michael Schumacher out

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injured with a broken leg suffered at Silverstone. n Paul Morris won the Oran Park Super Tourer round, his BMW too strong for the Volvo of Jim Richards and the Audi of Brad Jones. n Panoz bought G-Force and Van Diemen. n Tony Kanaan swept by an out-of-fuel Max Papis to win the US 500 Champ Car race at Michigan. n Ryan Briscoe clinched the Italian Karting Title.

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