VOLUME 1 - ISSUE 32
it’s our best oil yet... www.castroledge.com.au
14th DECEMBER 2011
2011 SEASON REVIEW
v8 supercars WSBK MX & Super-X WRC RUGBY …AND MORE
1 t r a p
SILVER LININGS ON TOUGH V8 SEASO Two of the Castrol EDGE-backed V8 Supercars outfits – Kelly Racing and Paul Morris Motorsport – had challenging years in the tough Series. Melbourne-based Kelly Racing had numerous highlights – including three victories for Rick Kelly, along with Australian motor racing’s first ever reality TV program – the Castrol-backed Shannon’s Supercar Showdown – which gave Cameron Waters the opportunity to be the youngest ever Bathurst 1000 starter. Rick’s brother, Todd had arguably his toughest season in the category – however managed podium positions
in both New Zealand and Sandown in wet conditions – where Rick had taken victory. Rick added to his career win tally in Darwin’s heat in a dramatic Saturday race, which saw fellow Castrol driver, Mark Winterbottom lead for much of the race before a four way skirmish into turn one ended with Kelly at the point of the field. A mid-season re-shuffle within the team’s management saw much of the day-to-day management removed from Todd, which would allow him to concentrate more on racing. Team drivers, Greg Murphy and David
Reynolds – both in their first seasons with the Braeside squad – had mixed years. Kiwi Murphy, who joined the team with support from the Pepsi MAX Crew rounded the season out with a string of strong results, including pole position for the Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000. Meantime, Reynolds – in his fulltime return to the Championship – had mixed results throughout the year. Certainly his 19th placing in the points table belies the speed he was able to show on occasion. Paul Morris Motorsport welcomed Fujitsu Series Champion, Steve Owen to the fold in V.I.P. Petfoods colours.
SEASON He joined Russell Ingall – in what would prove to be Ingall’s final year at PMM before shifting to Walkinshaw in 2012. Owen impressed on occasion – recording several top 10 finishes. His qualifying speed at certain tracks raised eyebrows and although he ended the season in 17th, Owen is given a high rating by many in V8 Supercars land. Ingall on the other hand had a lacklustre season by his standards. The Queenslander – now a veteran of the Series – had his season highlight in the final race in Sydney when he finished fifth. He produced one of the best races of the year at Queensland Raceway,
duking it out with good mate James Courtney. His 20th in the Championship is a fair reflection of his speed throughout 2011, however in 2012, it could be expected he takes a step forward with Walkinshaw machinery – where once again he will join forces with Castrol and Supercheap Auto.
CASTROL HONDA’S INJURY PRONE 2011 It has been positive comeback for the Castrol Honda Superbike team after returning to the World Superbike Championship in 2011. Despite a season filled with injury the team had five podium finishes, including two on the top tier, courtesy of team rider Jonathan Rea and his Honda CBR 1000RR Fireblade. Rea and his teammate Ruben Xaus finished seventh and seventeenth in the championship, in a testing season where both riders were unable to compete for months at a time. Rea was forced to miss three rounds of the championship after fracturing his right wrist and causing ligament damage in a crash at the Misano round. He was replaced by British Superbike Championship rider Alex Lowes for the
Aragon, Brno and Silverstone rounds. Rea returned in Germany for the Nurburgring round, finishing the season in Portimao putting in several impressive qualifying sessions, his renewed momentum resulted in him posting his best results for the season in the last few rounds of the 2011 championship. Spanish team rider Ruben Xaus was also forced to miss several rounds, he sustained leg and back injuries in Brno. He was diagnosed as having a fracture to his L3 vertebra. Australian rider Karl Muggeridge was chosen to replace Xaus however was forced to pull out after yet another injury for the team, this time a sprained wrist sustained while training on a mountain bike ruled him out. Last minute replacement Italian rider
Fabrizio Lai rode the Silverstone round and Japanese rider Makoto Tamada rode in the Nurburgring round for the injured Xaus. Xaus made his return at Imola, it was the first time teammates Rea and Xaus had rode together in four rounds, with Rea taking first place in race one, both riders were looking forward to a strong end to the season. It however was not to be; with Xaus advised to pull out of the next round, Magny-Cours by medical staff after a crash in practice left him with a neck injury ruling him out for the rest of the season. Muggeridge was called up for the final round in Portugal where he and Rea flew the Castrol flag for the final time in 2011, Rea was able to finish the round and the season on a high with two third place finishes.
TO TEST OUR STRONGEST OIL WE ENGINEERED THE ULTIMATE TESTS OF STRENGTH.
New Castrol EDGE with Titanium Fluid Strength TechnologyTM is put through extreme tests of strength to ensure unsurpassed ability to minimise metal on metal contact and provide top engine performance no matter how you drive. Find out more at castroledge.com.au
CASTROL EDGE & THE WALLABIES – A SIGNIFICANT MILESTONE One of the biggest announcements in recent times for Castrol EDGE in Australia was the launching of the company’s partnership with the Australian Rugby Union.
Castrol EDGE is a performance partner of the Australian Wallabies over the next four years. Instantly, the partnership tasted success, with the Castrol EDGE Tri-Nations finale falling the way of
the Australians under rainy skies in Brisbane. It was the first time in many a year that the Wallabies had been able to defeat the All Blacks in the Northern capital. With the Wallabies sadly bowing out of the World Cup in the latter stages, virtually straight away the focus of the team – under the stewardship of Robbie Deans – switched to 2012. It was announced that the Tri-Nations competition would expand to four Southern Hemisphere teams with the inclusion of Argentina – and it would be completely re-branded to become The Castrol EDGE Rugby Championship. The partnership has already delivered a significant result for Castrol EDGE and the Tri-Nations victory was central to the re-launching of the new formula Castrol EDGE with Titanium Fluid Strength Technology to the Australian market. Castrol EDGE gives the Wallabies the Strength to Perform and the Freedom to Drive.
FORD RUNS LOEB TO THE The Castrol EDGE supported Abu Dhabi Ford World Rally team have wrapped up the 2011 World Rally Championship with a close fight to the end for the drivers’ and manufacturers’ championships.
Despite a mid-season slump from both drivers – Hirvonen kept himself in the game with some well timed podium finishes, none more so than on home soil in Finland.
Mikko Hirvonen ran Sebastien Loeb right to the end, finishing just eight points behind the Frenchman and Jari-Matti Latvala rounded out the season in fourth.
The new Rally Australia course proved difficult for all, but for Ford it came up trumps – the pair ending the Rally in first and second, whilst the Citroen pairing both struck trouble.
The two Finns flew the Castrol EDGE flag high at the first rally of the year, with Hirvonen and co-driver Jarmo Lehtinen winning in Sweden and Latvala and co-driver Mikka Anttila completing the podium on the tricky snow covered roads. Rally Mexico saw Hirvonen and Latvala once again on the podium, in second and third and leading both the drivers’ championship and the manufacturers championship. In Jordan, Latvala and Sebastien Ogier fought out the closest WRC finish of all time – just two-tenths separated the pair.
This result really set Hirvonen on a collision course with winning the overall World Championship. The season finale in Wales was to be Hirvonen’s shot for the championship, however cruelly he was forced to retire on day two after hitting a tree stump and damaging his radiator and his championship hopes beyond repair. Teammate Latvala picked up where Hirvonen left off and benefitted from Loeb’s collision with a civilian vehicle to win the final rally of the year.
WRC END
INCONSISTENCY COSTS KAWASAKI The Castrol-backed Monster Kawasaki Team has had a mixed year in both MX Nationals and Super-X competition. Headed up by Scotsman Billy Mackenzie, American Phil Nicoletti, Lites Rider Dean Ferris and Under-19’s lady racer, Meghan Rutledge – the Kawasaki team showed speed on every single outing – however converting that speed into consistent race results proved difficult. The tendency to end races on the deck was ultimately what cost the riders across all divisions the chance to seriously challenge for Championship glory. The team took numerous Moto wins and ended several rounds on the podium. Ferris and Nicoletti respectively led the MX Nationals Championships at various stages, but when it came to the crunch, crashes and injuries (particularly to
Nicoletti) were crucial to the charge. Mackenzie finished the Pro-Open MX Nationals category in third place with Ferris right behind in fourth. Nicoletti was able to salvage third placing in the Lites Title. With the longer form of competition complete in winter, it was time to switch attention to the arena-based Super-X. The short and sharp series was tightened even further in 2011, meaning that staying on the bike and avoiding injury was critical. The Castrol-backed team was boosted by the addition of Australian Female Motocross Champion, Meghan Rutledge. Rutledge held her own for much of the Series, consistently making main event transfers.
Having another competitor land on her at Campbelltown ruled her out of the Maitland Super-X event with concussion, however both Rutledge and the team walk away with confidence following the Series. Overall, Mackenzie finished his first season of Super-X in fourth placing in the Open category. Meantime, Dean Ferris ended the Lites season in eighth. He led many of the events, but fell at critical stages. The team has been bolstered by the news that reigning Super-X and four times MX Nationals Champion, Jay Marmont will join the team from 2012. The announcement last week will be a great new challenge for formerly Yamaha mounted Marmont!
CASTROL’S KARTING STARS Castrol EDGE re-affirmed its commitment to the grassroots of Australian motorsport throughout 2011 by taking on presenting rights to the CIK Stars of Karting Series. The partnership yielded a strong result for Castrol EDGE, with the karting fraternity jumping behind the brand and contacting the technical hotline for setup advice when using Castrol EDGE in their karting engines. Pierce Lehane, Jake Spencer and Tyler Greenbury joined illustrious company when they were crowned Champions in the CIK Stars of Karting Series presented by Castrol EDGE. Lehane’s title was his second consecutive in the Pro Junior (KF3) division and in claiming the win becomes only the third
driver in series history to complete the feat. The other two being IndyCar star Ryan Briscoe (1995/1996) and Kristian Lindbom (2003/2004).
of Karting Series, presented by Castrol EDGE continued to establish the Series among the karting fraternity as the benchmark.
A third and a fourth place finish in the final round was enough for Jake Spencer to become the Pro Lite Champion.
Castrol EDGE was proud to be associated with the Series and continue it’s development of the future stars of Australian motorsport.
Defending Champion, Cian Fothergill (Gladstone, QLD) was the favourite to snare the title from Spencer’s grasp, just seven points separating them entering the final race, however he was to be denied a second straight Championship. Toowoomba’s Tyler Greenbury took out the Pro Gearbox category, taking it winning the championship by a mere six points over Kel Treseder. Overall, the second year of the CIK Stars
THE
POWER BEHIND THE
PACK BEHIND THE
PACK!