VOLUME 3 - ISSUE 6
it’s our best oil yet... www.castroledge.com.au
3th APRIL 2013
V8 Supercars trek south for Ta The V8 Supercars Championship hits the track this weekend as crews head south to Tasmania for Round 2 of the series. The all new Car of the Future regulations have really spiced up the field with several new players emerging at the pointy end of the field. Of the Castrol-backed contingent it’s Ford Performance Racing’s Will Davison leading the way, currently third overall in the standings. Davison showed strong speed in his Pepsi Max Crew Falcon on the streets of Adelaide and will be looking to take this form to Tassie. Next up is the surprise package of Russell Ingall in the Castrol-supported Supercheap Auto entry. Ingall, a long time ambassador of the Castrol brand, is fourth overall after an impress show of speed last month in South Australia.
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Next up Rick Kelly flies the flag high for the newly introduced Nissan Motorsport squad, 11th overall in the standings heading to Tasmania. Jack Daniel’s Racing drivers Rick and Todd Kelly will both look to take advantage of the new 60/60 race format, with the pair enjoying the close nature of the racing at the Symmons Plains Circuit. The 60/60 format will see the drivers take to the circuit on Saturday with two 60km races separated by a short 15 minute intermission. The grid for the first race will be decided by a 20-minute qualifying session, while the second race will feature a progressive grid, based on the finishing results from the first encounter. On Sunday there are two 100km races, each with its own 15-minute qualifying session, providing plenty of on-track action for spectators.
“I’m really looking forward to the 60/60 sprint format, all it’s about is getting in the car and going out there and racing as hard as you can from when the lights go off, until when you get the chequered flag,” Todd Kelly said. “You don’t have to worry about strategy or refuelling, it’s really down to the driver and less about the team and what they do in the garage. It’s about looking after your tyres managing your own race and going out there and driving as hard as you possibly can for the duration of it, which is very similar to how the formats were when I started in V8 Supercars, so I can’t wait to get out there and rub a few panels.” After a gearbox issue ruled him out of Race 1 in Adelaide (which he led after the opening turn) Castrol-backed FPR
TASMANIA MICROSOFT OFFICE 365 DETAILS:
WEEKEND SCHEDULE
Circuit: Symmons Plains Circuit Location: Symmons Plains, Tasmania Circuit Length: 2.4 kilometres Qualifying Format: 20-minute qualifying Saturday; two 15-minute qualifying sessions
Saturday
Sunday
Melbourne 7Mate 12.30pm - V8Xtra 1pm-4.30pm - Saturday races
Race Format: 2 x 60km races on Saturday with progressive grid; 2 x 100km races on Sunday 2012 Saturday Pole Position: Mark Winterbottom 2012 Saturday Race Winner: Will Davison 2012 Sunday Pole Position: Craig Lowndes 2012 Sunday Race Winner: Jamie Whincup
asmanian challenge driver Mark Winterbottom will also be one to watch in Tasmania. Despite being 15th in the standings the Ford squad have showed firm pace this year and will be looking to slot their star driver up the pointy end of the field.
*Check local guides
Sydney 7Two 12.30pm - V8Xtra 1pm-4.30pm - Saturday races
Brisbane 7 11.30am - V8Xtra 12.30pm-3.30pm - Saturday races Adelaide 7Mate 12pm - V8Xtra 12.30pm-4pm - Saturday races Perth 7Mate 9.30am - V8Xtra 10am-2.30pm - Saturday races Sunday Sydney 7 1pm-5.30pm - Sunday races Melbourne 7Mate 1pm-5.30pm - Sunday races Brisbane 7 1pm-5.30pm - Sunday races Adelaide 7Mate 12.30pm-5pm - Sunday races Perth 7Two 11am-3.30pm - Sunday races
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Castrol-backed Skoda driver Jan Kopecký claims a hat-trick of “Canary” victories STRENGTH TO PERFORM
Castrol EDGE-backed ŠKODA Motorsport has won the Rally Islas Canarias for the fourth consecutive time with driver Jan Kopecký completing a hat-trick of victories at the event. Kopecký and co-driver Pavel Dresler have now moved into the outright lead of the European Rally Championship (ERC). W ith two appearances in this year´s ERC, Kopecký and Dresler have achieved two victories and are top of the standings as a result.The “Canary hat-trick” winner was was ecstatic about his third consecutive victory on the rally.
lovely tracks and many fans,” said Kopecký. “ŠKODA has won here for the fourth time in a row, and we have achieved three of these victories – that´s great! Pavel and I wish to thank the whole team for preparing the vehicle absolutely perfectly.”
“The local rally is one of our most favourite ones – a high-quality surface,
“Jan and Pavel are the right crew to top the European Championship standings.
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“Jan put in a very mature performance here. He proceeded perfectly in line with all our tactical instructions, did not get upset by the start of the rally that was not really ideal and now he is celebrating his third victory here, said ŠKODA Motorsport Manager Pavel Hortek.
The results achieved by the Fabia Super 2000 at this rally speak for themselves, and the Rally Islas Canarias is thus probably our most successful event.” The Canarias rally has become the most successful event in the history of the Fabia Super 2000 project as well as for the ŠKODA brand. Second place on the Canary Islands was taken by Craig Breen in a Peugeot, Luis Monzón (of the Canary Islands) in a Mini came third. The European Championship continues over April 25 -27 – this year´s fourth event takes place on the biggest of the Azores Islands, Sao Miguel.
Ford Innate Motorsport to Return to Form at the QUIT Forest Rally The Castrol EDGE-backed Ford Innate Motorsport rally team is hoping to return to form at Round 2 of the Australian Rally Championship, the QUIT Forest Rally to be held in Busselton, Western Australia from 5 -7 April. The team, representing Ford Australia in this year’s Manufacturer title chase, had a disappointing home round at the National Capital Rally in Canberra in early March but despite the problems, the event wasn’t a total loss with solid stage times set on Sundays’ stages. “My times on Sunday were pretty good considering that my confidence was
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down.,” said lead driver Adrian Coppin. I learnt a lot about driving the car and when I relaxed the pace came, so I think that we can look forward to a more competitive run in Western Australia.” Inexperience at this event will present a challenge for the team, as they have never competed there before and the roads are covered with gravel, that resemble ball bearings, make gaining traction a real challenge. “I am certainly not under-estimating the job ahead of me in WA. It is going to be a steep learning curve but I am up for it.
I am looking forward to a good clean run in the Fiesta and then seeing what the gap is to the more powerful G2 cars.” Despite their personal ambitions for outright places, the team is remaining focussed on the bigger picture and understand the importance of the Manufacturers title for Ford. “We’ve got a long term plan to win an Australian title and no one in the team underestimates the importance of cementing our relationship with Ford to achieving that longer term goal” Coppin added.
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Castrol-backed Kawasaki sets new Australian Production bike land speed record
A Kawasaki Ninja ZX-14R has recorded a new Australian motorcycle land speed record on Lake Gairdner in South Australia, charging down the salt flat at a speed of 334.99kph (208.153 mph). In the P-P 1650cc class (production frame - production engine), rider Ralph Nicholls set the new record on the green machine.
racing and on the final day of racing on what was to be the Ninja’s final run of the meeting we set the record. It was an amazing feeling to travel at that speed. I was literally skipping along the salt. It was certainly a life experience I’ll never forget.”
“It was hard work in extremely hot and hostile conditions,” explained Nicholls. “Over the week we progressively refined our approach to this unique form of
The new mark was set during the DLRA Speed Week. The only adjustment made to the bike from the road going version of the Kawasaki Ninja was the
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removal of the speed limiter and some adjustments to timing and gearing. The chassis was the first of that model to roll off the production line at Kawasaki in Japan (#0001). Even more remarkable was that it was the first attempt by the Kawasaki Australia supported team consisting of Team Manager Leanne Knowles, Crew Chief Anthony Mack and assistant Peter Mack, along with Nicholls.
They were and still are, enthusiastic Castrol users and supporters with a long history of involvement in motor sport, successfully designing and building several sports and racing cars, some of which hold Australian records. Hooper and his wife Marsha owned British Off Road, a specialized Land Rover /Range Rover workshop and parts business, which they ran for many years and sold a couple of years ago. Hooper has always had a soft spot for British motor cycles and in 2008 he purchased a fully restored 1959 Velocette single cylinder motor cycle. Shortly after he decided to modify it to chase some long held world records, one of which was still held by Burt Munro, whose deeds were immortalized in the film “World’s Fastest Indian”. Stuart designed and modified the bike and successfully and created an Australian record at Lake Gairdner in 2008 reaching 131MPH at top speed.
Stuart Hooper breaks land speed record on his Castrol-lubricated 1959 Velocette Stuart Hooper and his small but enthusiastic band of helpers achieved a new world land speed record at South Australia’s Lake Gairdner last month aboard their Castrol-lubricated, fully restored 1959 Velocette single cylinder motor cycle.
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In 2010 the bike was rebuilt again and raced at Lake Gairdner to attain a new World Record of 139MPH breaking Burt Munro’s 40year old record. The next year he travelled to Bonneville Salt Flats in USA and attained an AMA record of 147MPH, making the much modified Velocette the fastest single cylinder bike in the USA. This year Stuart and his helpers again, after serious modifications to the engine and particularly the aerodynamics of the machine, travelled to Lake Gairdner and achieved a new World record of 171.6MPH. Stuart is now semi retired and has the time to dedicate his energy and resources to chasing some serious records. Stuart uses Castrol Edge Professional 25/50 in his engine, which produces around 80 horsepower and uses GPS in the gearbox . Now approaching 60 years of age Stuart believes “you have gotta do something in your old age” which motivates him from record to record.
Castrol to sponsor Ho Touring Car Champion Honda have unveiled a new livery on the eve of their first full season in the World Touring Car Championship, with Castrol coming on board as title sponsor. Castrol’s deal sees the Civic WTCC livery in a green, white and red format in time for this weekend’s season opener at Monza. The team will be known as the Castrol Honda World Touring Car Team.
team principal Alessandro Mariani after the unveiling at the WTCC media presentation in Turin. “Like Honda, Castrol has a long and proud history in the world of motorsport and their enthusiasm and passion for racing matches our own. I look forward to our partnership in 2013 and on achieving the success and results we are all aiming for.”
“We are delighted to have Castrol join us as our team’s title sponsor,” said
Donald Smith, Castrol Global Marketing Manager, added: “For us, and I’m sure
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for racing fans around the world too, there is also something special about the coming together of two brands with such rich and successful racing pedigrees. “Equally, it seems so fitting that the new livery works on so many levels too – from Castrol and Honda sharing the red and white, to the combined colours reflecting the nationalities of the team and drivers.”
onda’s World nship challenger Lead driver Gabriele Tarquini said: “The livery on the Civic looks absolutely fantastic and I’m sure it will wow the fans this season. I know a lot of thought and time has gone into its design and it’s the colours of the Italian flag too, so I couldn’t be more pleased.” Teammate Tiago Monteiro’s personal backer Brose has also come on board as a co-sponsor. “Castrol is such an iconic brand and sponsor in the world of motorsport, so I feel very honoured to be flying their colours this season,” said the Portuguese driver. “I’m equally pleased that Brose, who has been a long term supporter of my career, is joining the team as co-sponsors. Like Gabriele, I will be looking to repay their support with results.” Thomas Spangler, President of Brose Asia, added: “Brose has been a long term supporter of Tiago Monteiro, so we are really pleased with this announcement today that we are not only supporting his efforts in the WTCC campaign, but the entire Honda team. We saw a glimpse in the last three races of the 2012 season what the team is capable of and we can’t wait to see the team reach its full potential in 2013.” It was a brilliant start for the Castrol Honda World Touring Car Team after securing the season’s first podium in the WTCC with Gabriele Tarquini taking a fighting 3rd place in race 2 at a very wet Monza in Italy. Starting from 5th position for the second race of the event, the experienced Italian made a stunning start to be in second place by the time the grid reached the first chicne. Using
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the road holding capabilities of the Honda Civic WTCC to the full Tarquini drove around the pole position driver Darryl O’Young to lead the field at the end of the first lap by 1.5 seconds. Race 1 winner Yvan Muller was already cutting through the field from 10th on the grid and he overhauled Gabriele on lap 4. Tiago Monteiro also made a storming start from 15th position on the grid to move up 4 places on lap 1 and also gain
a place on each of the next two laps and to move into 8th place by lap 5 of the 10 lap race. By lap 6 the number 3 Honda Civic WTCC was under pressure from Michael Nykjaer which took the position on lap 7. Tarquini bravely re-passed around the outside of the Lesmo Curve but Nykjaer squeezed past again at the Ascari complex. With rain still soaking the track Gabriele held on for a close 3rd place to the delight of the Castrol Honda team waving from the pit wall.