VOLUME 3 - ISSUE 21
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30th OCTOBER 2013
TEAM EDGE RACE REPORT: V8 SUPERCARS - ARMOR ALL GOLD COAST 600 The Castrol-oiled Ford Performance Racing entry of David Reynolds and Dean Canto have won Race 31 of the 2013 V8 Supercars Championship at the Armor All Gold Coast 600. Starting from Pole position the Bottle O Racing entry couldn’t put a foot wrong and came home for Reynolds first win in V8 Supercars racing. “As soon as I crossed the line there was a lot of relief and I thought ‘finally a win’ which was really cool,” said Reynolds. “I was so spent by the end of that race and I was just trying to manage the gap to Coulthard at the end there. I had a great day with Pole position and my first win so I can’t complain, this is a great achievement. Everyone who has helped
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me out in my career can feel a little extra special today.” Castrol EDGE-backed Supercheap Auto Racing driver Russell Ingall showed he can still mix it with the best of them with a superb podium effort coming home in third. He and co-driver Ryan Briscoe drove a tremendous race, keeping their #66 Commodore out of harms way and in front of a hard charging Jamie Whincup come race end. “You don’t need to win a race to have a good race and that was a really good race. It’s hard when you have a guy like Whincup breathing down your neck so to hold him out and finish on the podium is a great achievement. Ryan has been a
fantastic co-driver and I really appreciate him coming out and being a part of our team.” Castrol-backed Nissan Motorsport also enjoyed a successful with Rick Kelly/Karl Reindler in sixth and Michael Caruso/ Daniel Gaunt in rounding out a top-10 double in 10th. Race 30 - Saturday Castrol EDGE-backed Pepsi Max Crews FPR driver Mark Winterbottom substantially closed the championship points gap in Race 1 after he and codriver Steve Richards overcame a midpack grid slot to finish third in the opening race. The #5 Pepsi Max FPR Ford finished
with a number of battle scars and the Bathurst winner admitted he was lucky to finish after hitting a wall three laps from home. Team-mates Will and Steve Owen finished sixth though confirmation of their result is subject to a post-race investigation after Will made contact with his brother, Alex in the second half of the race. Russell Ingall and Ryan Briscoe brought their Castrol-backed Supercheap Auto Holden VF Commodore home a fine fifth in Saturday’s Race 30 of the V8 Supercars Championship at the Armor All Gold Coast 600. Ingall started the 300km, 102 lap race from 15th, improving to eighth after a blistering first lap. He pitted under Safety Car conditions to hand over to Briscoe on lap 13. Ingall returned to the driver’s seat on lap 56 – he rejoined in traffic but in typical fashion he executed some impressive passing moves, improving to fourth. He pitted for a final splash of fuel 20 laps from home, easily maintaining his place within the top five during the final run to the chequered flag. Castrol-backed Nissan Motorsport scored a best result of 11th, despite showing a great turn of speed in the first race of the Armor All Gold Coast 600. Jack Daniel’s Nissan driver Rick Kelly/ Karl Reindler finished just outside the top 10 in 11th – but it could have been so much better for the new V8 Supercars manufacturer.
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2013 Championship Points Pos
Driver
Points
1
Craig Lowndes
2549
2
Jamie Whincup
2543
3
Mark Winterbottom
2461
4
Will Davison
2428
5
Fabian Coulthard
2153
6
Garth Tander
2067
7
Shane Van Gisbergen
2052
8
Jason Bright
1997
9
James Courtney
1909
10
Scott McLaughlin
1753
11
David Reynolds
1738
12
Jonathon Webb
1659
13
Rick Kelly
1485
14
Alex Davison
1443
15
Russell Ingall
1355
16
Tony D’Alberto
1315
17
James Moffat
1311
18
Chaz Mostert
1258
19
Alexandre Premat
1253
20
Lee Holdsworth
1181
21
David Wall
1124
22
Tim Slade
1064
23
Michael Caruso
1037
24
Dean Fiore
1027
25
Tim Blanchard
928
26
Scott Pye
919
FORCE WINS 16TH NHRA FUNNY CAR CHAMPIONSHIP The 64-year-old drag racer John Force has won an unprecedented 16th NHRA Funny Car championship at the 13th annual Toyota NHRA Nationals. Force and the Castrol GTX Ford Mustang defeated his daughter Courtney for the first time in a final round to clinch the Mello Yello Funny Car championship. It was Force’s third win in a row and fourth final in a row. The last time Force won three in row was 2005 and it was the 15th time Force has achieved this feat. “If there is anything I have done right is putting together this team effort,” said Force. “We pulled together when it looked like we were falling apart. I have great
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companies with me and they allow me do this. We won them a championship. We got a Mello Yello championship but next year I am going to try and win again. We are strong with Auto Club with Robert (Hight) and Traxxas with Courtney. My luck just turned around in a year when I needed it to sell corporate America. I remember Dale Earnhardt used to say ‘I’ll do the winning and you marketing guys sell me. I never had the nerve to say that but that guy was a winner so he could do it. I have had luck on my side the last three races.” Force was led to victory by an outstanding team effort with crew chiefs
Jimmy Prock and Danny DeGennaro. Prock became the third Funny Car crew chief to win NHRA Funny Car championships with two different drivers (Robert Hight and Force). Courtney Force made her seventh final round appearance today at the NHRA Toyota Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, but lost to her father in a heated side-by-side race. “It’s pretty cool to say that the last time we were here in the spring we were No. 2 qualifier and got a runner-up finish as well,” said Force. “We couldn’t get the job done in the final. It was definitely a tough race up against my dad. I was
a little bummed at the top end. I really thought we had the win, but he just outran me. We had lane choice and I thought that would help us, but he had the better car and that’s all there is to it.” Courtney and her father are now tied 4-4 in eliminations since the start of her Funny Car career in 2012. “I’m happy for my dad and his Castrol GTX team. It’s huge for John Force Racing for him to get that win and clinch his 16th championship. I’m looking forward to Pomona. I think we’re going to leave here and a really good note and that should help propel us into next weekend and get us into a good rhythm so we can go rounds and pick up more points. We moved up two spots this weekend, which is huge. We came close to moving up three spots which was our goal, but I’m happy and definitely proud of my Traxxas team because these guys have worked really hard,” said Force. Courtney Force and teammate Robert Hight will be battling for the No. 2 and No. 3 spot in the Mello Yello standings with one race left.
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CASTROL-BACKED VW WIN WRC MANUFACTURERS’ CROWN Castrol EDGE-backed Volkswagen Motorsport has clinched the manufacturers’ title in the World Rally Championship thanks to a one-two victory by Sébastien Ogier and JariMatti Latvala at Rally Spain. The Volkswagen Motorsport team has claimed the manufacturers’ crown in the 2013 FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) even before the final round in Great Britain. The factory team from Wolfsburg has won nine of the twelve rallies to date in the Polo R WRC’s debut year. “Winning all three World Championship titles in one season is simply unbelievable,” said Jost Capito,
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Volkswagen Motorsport Director. “Given that this is the first season we have competed in the World Rally Championship with the Polo R WRC, it is an even greater achievement. Winning the Drivers’ and Co-Drivers’ World Championship was an absolute highlight for the whole team. It was a dream come true for Sébastien Ogier and Julien Ingrassia in particular at their home event three weeks ago. But the Manufacturers’ World Championship is even more important for a car maker because it
proves that it’s not just the driver who’s exceptional – the product is too.”
with Volkswagen in the Manufacturers’ Championship.
Volkswagen only needed seventh place in round twelve of the series in Spain to add another World Championship title to the Drivers’ and Co-Drivers’ World Championship trophy already bagged by Ogier and Ingrassia. With the British rally still to come in November, the defending champion Citroën can now no longer catch up
FINAL RESULTS : Rally de Espana Pos
Driver
Team
Car
Time
1
Sebastien Ogier
Volkswagen Motorsport
Volkswagen Polo R
3:33:21.2
2
Jari-Matti Latvala
Volkswagen Motorsport
Volkswagen Polo R
+0:32.9
3
Mikko Hirvonen
Citroën Total Abu Dhabi WRT
Citroën DS3 WRC
+1:13.7
4
Thierry Neuville
Qatar WRT
Ford Fiesta RS WRC
+1:33.9
5
Evgeny Novikov
Qatar M-Sport WRT
Ford Fiesta RS WRC
+2:01.0
6
Mads Ostberg
Qatar M-Sport WRT
Ford Fiesta RS WRC
+2:26.0
7
Martin Prokop
Jipocar Czech National Team
Ford Fiesta RS WRC
+4:55.8
8
Hayden Paddon
Qatar M-Sport WRT
Ford Fiesta RS WRC
+6:55.7
9
Robert Kubica
Robert Kubica
Citroën DS3 WRC2
+11:14.1
10
Abdulaziz Al-Kuwari,
Seashore Qatar Rally Team
Ford Fiesta RS WRC
+13:26.8
STANDINGS – Drivers
STANDINGS – Manufacturers
Pos
Driver
Team
Car
Points
Pos
Team
Car
Points
1
Sebastien Ogier
Volkswagen Motorsport
Volkswagen Polo R
265
1
Volkswagen Motorsport
Volkswagen Polo R
382
2
Thierry Neuville
Qatar WRT
Ford Fiesta RS WRC
158
2
Citroën Total Abu Dhabi WRT
Citroën DS3 WRC
274
3
Jari-Matti Latvala
Volkswagen Motorsport
Volkswagen Polo R
144
3
Qatar M-Sport WRT
Ford Fiesta RS WRC
174
4
Mikko Hirvonen
Citroën Total Abu Dhabi WRT
Citroën DS3 WRC
126
4
Qatar WRT
Ford Fiesta RS WRC
169
5
Dani Sordo
Citroën Total Abu Dhabi WRT
Citroën DS3 WRC
117
5
Abu Dhabi Citroën Total WRT
Citroën DS3 WRC
63
6
Mads Ostberg
Qatar M-Sport WRT
Ford Fiesta RS WRC
89
6
Jipocar Czech National Team
Ford Fiesta RS WRC
57
7
Sebastien Loeb
Citroën Total Abu Dhabi WRT
Citroën DS3 WRC
68
7
Volkswagen Motorsport II
Volkswagen Polo R
40
8
Evgeny Novikov
Qatar M-Sport WRT
Ford Fiesta RS WRC
67
8
Lotos WRC Team
Ford Fiesta RS WRC
20
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CASTROL TEAM HAHN RACING WIN THIRD CONSECUTIVE EUROPEAN TRUCK RACING CHAMPIONSHIP Castrol Team Hahn Racing’s Jochen Hahn clinched the European Truck Racing Championship drivers’ title for a third consecutive year after an incredible weekend at Le Mans. At the final round, Hahn ranked himself to the top of the overall standings after the third of four races. After the last championship race of the season, the MAN pilot was then celebrated as old and new European champion. The weekend on the famous French race track started promisingly for the driver whose race truck already displayed the number 1 for the last two years. According to his own statement, Jochen Hahn started the day of the decision “at ease” with Castrol Team Hahn Racing and Jochen Hahn at the steering wheel
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of the green and white MAN race truck. The feat has only been achieved twice before in the history of the European Truck Racing Championship since its early stages in 1985 and for the first time since the Super-Race-Trucks class was abolished: they won the title hattrick. From 1997 to 1999, Heinz-Werner Lenz and his Mercedes won the Race-Trucks class three times consecutively – and now, Jochen Hahn and Castrol Team Hahn Racing secured themselves the number 1 for the third time in succession by another successful title defense. An exceptional victory that will surely enter the history books of this truck motorsport. After this renewed triumph,
Jochen Hahn thanked his team, his partners and all other helpers who supported the team throughout the season.
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CASTROL-BACKED BMW MOTORRAD FINISH SBK SEASON IN PODIUM STYLE Castrol-backed BMW Motorrad concluded its factory commitment in the FIM Superbike World Championship with a successful performance at Jerez. In the first race of the 2013 season finale, factory rider Marco Melandri fought for victory until the finish line, coming home in second on his BMW S 1000 RR and claiming the fastest lap. Unfortunately Melandri could not take part in race two due to his injured ankle. His team-mate Chaz Davies (GBR) finished the last races of the year in seventh and fifth respectively. Sylvain Barrier (FRA) showed a strong World Superbike debut on a third RR of the BMW Motorrad GoldBet SBK Team. He finished 12th in race one and fought within the top 10 in race two but crashed and slipped back to 13th. “During the last five years, BMW Motorrad have clearly shown a
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consistent growth, becoming one of the top teams in production based motorcycle racing in both Superbike and Superstock championships,” said Stephan Schaller - President BMW Motorrad. “In the last two WSBK seasons we established ourselves as a title contender, winning or being on the podium very often with both our riders.” Despite his injury, Marco only narrowly missed the victory in race one. Coming from fourth on the grid he improved to third right at the start. On lap two he put in the fastest lap of the race and overtook Tom Sykes (GBR) to take second. From then on he stayed on the heels of leader Eugene Laverty (IRL). The two fought an exciting battle until the chequered flag. Marco was waiting for his chance and took it on the penultimate lap. He got past Laverty and took the lead. It was only in the final corner, when
Laverty gave it another try and managed to overtake Marco. The Italian BMW rider crossed the line in second, slightly behind Laverty. Chaz meanwhile was not happy with his race. At the start, he improved from tenth to seventh, but he could not push to gain more positions. Thus, he stayed in seventh until the finish line. Sylvain had a faultless debut race in World Superbikes. From 16th on the grid, he put in consistent laps and improved some positions, coming home in 12th. After race one, Marco had to be treated in the Clinica Mobile again and unfortunately he could not start in the second race. Chaz improved to fifth right at the start and in the early stages he was fighting in the front group. Over the course of the race, the gaps to the front increased. Chaz stayed in fifth until the finish line. Sylvain was getting more and more confident on his RR. He fought exciting battles with some established competitors and worked his way up to ninth. On the penultimate lap he then unluckily crashed but was able to re-join and cross the line in 13th. The winner of this race was again Laverty. In the Manufacturers’ ranking, BMW finished the season in third with 443 points. This marks the best ever season for BMW in the Superbike World Championship with the previous best score of 421 points in the 2012 being topped. In the Riders’ classification, Marco is fourth overall with 359 points. Chaz follows directly behind with 290 points. BMW Motorrad congratulates Tom Sykes for securing the 2013 Riders’ title and Aprilia for winning the Manufacturers’ championship.
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CASTROL EDGE AND BMW CELEBRATE DTM SUCCESS The Castrol EDGE-backed BMW DTM team clinched the manufacturers’ title for a second successive year with a sensational win at an action-packed season finale at Hockenheim. ExFormula 1 driver Timo Glock drove an incredible race to secure his first ever DTM win, while Augusto Farfus – who drives the Castrol EDGE-liveried BMW M3 DTM – secured second in the drivers’ standings. Starting from fourth on the grid, the BMW Team MTEK driver produced a strong race in difficult conditions, crossing the line first after 41 laps in the DEUTSCHE POST BMW M3 DTM. In doing so, former Formula One driver Glock presented BMW Team MTEK with its maiden victory in only the team’s tenth race in the DTM.
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2013 Manufacturer championship
Bruno Spengler finished third in the BMW Bank M3 DTM to join Glock on the podium. Andy Priaulx (Crowne Plaza Hotels BMW M3 DTM) and Dirk Werner (SAMSUNG BMW M3 DTM) came home sixth and eighth to score valuable points, which ultimately propelled BMW to the top of the Manufacturers’ Championship to successfully defend the title it won on its return to the DTM in 2012. BMW ended the season with 369 points, ahead of Audi with 347. Mercedes finished third on 266 points. Augusto Farfus was the victim of misfortune: a collision saw the BMW Team RBM driver spin on lap one, dropping him well back down the field. Despite an impressive fightback, he had to settle for 11th in the Castrol EDGE BMW M3 DTM, and so narrowly missed out on a points finish. His team-mate Joey Hand crossed the finish line in 20th in his BMW M3 DTM. With both its drivers leaving Hockenheim empty-handed, BMW Team RBM ended the season second in the Team competition with 148 points. Martin Tomczyk (BMW M Performance Parts
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M3 DTM) and Marco Wittmann (IceWatch BMW M3 DTM) finished 19th and 21st after a difficult race. Mike Rockenfeller (Audi) had already been crowned 2013 DTM champion ahead of the final race. Farfus finished runner-up in the Drivers’ Championship with 116 points, while Spengler climbed into third (82 points) after his third place at the finale. With 49 points to his name, Wittmann ended the season as the best rookie in eighth. BMW Team Schnitzer comfortably won the competition for the fastest pit stops over the course of the season. BMW Motorsport can look back on five race wins in its second season
Position
Manufacturer
Points
1
BMW
369
2
Audi
347
3
Mercedes-Benz
266
since returning to the DTM – more than any other manufacturer. Farfus stood on the top step of the podium on three occasions (Hockenheim I, Oschersleben, Zandvoort), while Spengler (Spielberg) and Glock (Hockenheim II) both triumphed once. The four pole positions were claimed by Spengler (Spielberg, Hockenheim II), Farfus (Nürburgring) and Wittmann (Zandvoort). BMW also set four fastest race laps, courtesy of Wittmann (Spielberg, Zandvoort), Farfus (Hockenheim I) and Hand (Oschersleben). Over the course of the season’s ten races, BMW was represented on the podium on 12 occasions.
CASTROL-BACKED BAUTISTA EQUALS BEST MOTOGP RESULT Castrol-backed GO&FUN Gresini Honda rider Alvaro Bautista equalled his best results of the year and continued a strong late-season run for the former at the MotoGP’s Japanese round in Motegi. In an intense battle for fourth, Bautista was able to hold off the hard charging LCR Honda of Stefan Bradl. The Spanish rider had an extra role for Honda as the only rider race-developing Showa suspension and Nissin brakes, made by Japanese associates of Honda. The race was won by Jorge Lorenzo adding momentum to his lateseason challenge to regain the title lead at the final race. The Spanish defending champion’s chances were revived last weekend in Australia, where Marquez was
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2013 MotoGP standings Pos.
Rider
Bike
Nation
Points
1
Marc MARQUEZ
Honda
SPA
318
2
Jorge LORENZO
Yamaha
SPA
305
disqualified for an error in interpreting special one-race pit-stop rules. It means the World Championship battle will be decided at the final race for the first time since Repsol Honda rider Nicky Hayden defeated Valentino Rossi at Valencia in 2006.
3
Dani PEDROSA
Honda
SPA
280
4
Valentino ROSSI
Yamaha
ITA
224
5
Cal CRUTCHLOW
Yamaha
GBR
188
6
Alvaro BAUTISTA
Honda
SPA
160
7
Stefan BRADL
Honda
GER
146
CRT-category competitor Bryan Staring ( Castrol-backed GO&FUN Honda Gresini FTR Honda) finished 22nd on his first visit to the Twin Ring Motegi circuit.
8
Andrea DOVIZIOSO
Ducati
ITA
133
9
Nicky HAYDEN
Ducati
USA
118
10
Bradley SMITH
Yamaha
GBR
107
11
Aleix ESPARGARO
ART
SPA
88
12
Andrea IANNONE
Ducati
ITA
57
13
Michele PIRRO
Ducati
ITA
50
14
Colin EDWARDS
FTR Kawasaki
USA
40
15
Randy DE PUNIET
ART
FRA
36
16
Hector BARBERA
FTR
SPA
31
17
Danilo PETRUCCI
Ioda-Suter
ITA
24
18
Yonny HERNANDEZ
Ducati
COL
21
19
Hiroshi AOYAMA
FTR
JPN
13
20
Claudio CORTI
FTR Kawasaki
ITA
11
21
Ben SPIES
Ducati
USA
9
22
Katsuyuki NAKASUGA
Yamaha
JPN
5
23
Alex DE ANGELIS
Ducati
RSM
5
24
Karel ABRAHAM
ART
CZE
5
25
Michael LAVERTY
PBM
GBR
3
26
Bryan STARING
FTR Honda
AUS
2
27
Javier DEL AMOR
FTR
SPA
1
The penultimate round of the World Championship was dogged by bad weather – the legacy of fading Typhoon Francisco – with no practice possible all Friday and on Saturday morning. Each class ran one extended session to determine qualifying positions, and then extended race-day morning sessions – by when the weather had cleared and the track was dry for the first time.
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