Motorsport eNews Issue 231 - November 15-21, 2011

THE WORLD OF MOTORSPORT DIRECTLY TO YOUR DESKTOP

Issue No. 230 November 15 - 21 2011

UNTOUCHABLE

Whincup makes his play for the title with a perfect weekend in Tasmania

4.9! SIMONSEN ON THAT LAP AT BATHURST

www.mnews.com.au

1

THE BEST DEFENCE IS A GOOD OFFENCE “ T h e At t a c k Fa m i l y ”

it’s car care made easy!

([WHULRU ¿ QLVK FDUH PDGH HDV\ ZLWK RXU :D[ Attack random-­orbital palm polishers.

Included in each kit is our handy, custom carrying case with storage for everything included – two multi-­purpose foam pads, a bottle each of Car Wash and Carnauba Cleaner Wax, and 2 PLFUR¿ EUH SROLVKLQJ FORWKV This setup is ideal for general waxing and light surface defect removal with ease.

Wax Attack Palm Power Polisher -­ 240V Operated

Wax Attack Portable Polisher -­ Battery Operated

The Wax Attack can also be used with any of our quality Mothers® polishes, waxes and cleaners.

7KH 3RUWDEOH¶V FRUGOHVV GHVLJQ means you can take it anywhere

The Vac Attack is the latest in the Attack family WR FRQWLQXH WKH EHVW ODERXU VDYLQJ HI¿ FLHQW DQG reliable machines to make your job as easy as possible whilst providing exceptional results.

The Vac Attack is more than just a vacuum. Its powerful cyclonic action creates a super powerful combined vacuum and blower all in one!

The Vac Attack comes with a set of accessories that enable you to get into tight corners and its unique blower and suction feature allows for effective cleaning of vents and other hard to reach areas. Accessories include a crevice tool, vacuum KRVH À DW VXUIDFH WRRO DQG VRIW EUXVK Available at

2

And all quality automotive retailers

For best results in cleaning your car, van, boat, truck or caravan, we recommend

Vac Attack Portable Vacuum System -­ 18V Battery Operated

www.tcag.com.au motorsport news

Editorial Editor: Andrew van Leeuwen Executive Editor: Phil Branagan National Editor: Mitchell Adam

andrew@mnews.com.au editor@mnews.com.au mitchell@mnews.com.au

Editorial Enquiries 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

Contributing Writers US: Martin D. Clark National: Lachlan Mansell, Mark Jones, Callum Branagan Speedway: Greg Boscato, Geoff Rounds, Paris Charles Drag Racing: Dave Ostaszewski (USA), Ken Ferguson, John Bosher, Luke Nieuwhof

Photographers Sutton Motorsport Images, Dirk Klynsmith, John Morris/Mpix, AF1 Images, James Smith, Peter Bury, Geoff Gracie, Joel Strickland, Phil Williams, Rob Lang, Michael Vettas

Advertising National Sales Manager: Luke Finn: lfinn@chevron.com.au P 02 9901 6100

Circulation Director: Carole Jones

Subscriptions: www.mnews.com.au CHEVRON GROUP

Level 6, Building A, 207 Pacific Highway, St Leonards NSW 2065 Locked Bag 5555, St Leonards, NSW 1590

Issue No. 231 | 15-21 Nov 2011

news 4

Kellys deny make-shift.

No Nissans, despite rumours 6 Walkenforcer It’s Official: Ingall joins WR 9 Davo’s test success Andretti miles go well for JD 12 Blown Away Off-throttle Off for ‘12 20 Nyck Just Does It de Vries takes World Champs

chat 22 Five Minutes With ...

Chief Executive Officer, David Gardiner Commercial Director, Bruce Duncan Motorsport eNews is published by nextmedia Pty Ltd ACN: 128 805 970, Level 5, 55 Chandos St, St Leonards NSW 2065 © 2009. All rights reserved. No part of this e-magazine may be reproduced, in whole or in part, without the prior permission of the publisher.. The publisher will not accept responsibility or any liability for the correctness of information or opinions expressed in the publication. All material submitted is at the owner’s risk and, while every care will be taken nextmedia does not accept liability for loss or damage.

Privacy Policy We value the integrity of your personal information. If you provide personal information through your participation in any competitions, surveys or offers featured in this issue of Motorsport eNews, this will be used to provide the products or services that you have requested and to improve the content of our magazines. Your details may be provided to third parties who assist us in this purpose. In the event of organisations providing prizes or offers to our readers, we may pass your details on to them. From time to time, we may use the information you provide us to inform you of other products, services and events our company has to offer. We may also give your information to other organisations which may use it to inform you about their products, services and events, unless you tell us not to do so. You are welcome to access the information that we hold about you by getting in touch with our privacy officer, who can be contacted at nextmedia, Locked Bag 5555, St Leonards, NSW 1590.

www.mnews.com.au www.mnews.com.au

Russell Ingall

comment 24 Simonsen: Fours Be With You race 26 V8 Supercars 36 Formula 1 40 Formula Ford 42 Formula 3 44 Australian Rally Championship 50 NASCAR

trade 58 Classifieds 3

To Infiniti and Beyond? The Nissanowned Infinit M Series will launch in Australia in the third quarter of 2012.

KR, NISSAN DENY LINK

Paddock rumours suggest a deal is close, but Kelly Racing and Nissan say no V8 SUPERCARS

R

UMOURS connecting Kelly Racing and Nissan to a common Car of the Future at Symmons Plains appear to be wide of the mark.

The four-car team and the former Group A touring car overdog were linked by the V8 Supercar grapevine in Tasmania but both parties have made emphatic denials that there is any deal for them to partner up for the 2013 season and beyond.

“Absolute bulldust,” KR CEO John Crennan told eNews.

“There is nothing coming up regarding Car of the Future, or anything else. Our priority is to get in front of the teams that are in front of us. They have better funding than we do, and that is where we need to put our efforts.”

Nissan Australia spokesman Jeff Fisher

was equally definite in reporting that the company is not about to return to the sport.

“There’s nothing going on,” said Fisher.

“There is nothing to report. We have had some early internal discussions, and that is still a work in progress. We are keeping an eye on what is going on, a watching brief on what might happen, but that is what it is at this stage. Nissan has, we believe, the strongest motorsport heritage outside Holden and Ford in this country but we have not made a move.”

The pitlane suggestions were that Kelly Racing, as a four-car team with its own engineering base, was well-placed to offer a potential new manufacturer a partnership on which to launch a new program. Further to that, the recent presence of Tony Dowe, who is in the midst of assessing the team’s capabilities, would potentially fit with any such new program.

Of KR’s current driving roster, Todd and Rick Kelly are, clearly, pivotal in the team’s long-term plans. David Reynolds is expected to leave the team, to join Rod Nash Racing, at the end of the season.

Greg Murphy has obvious and strong ties to Holden, but eNews believes that he is currently committed to the team until the end of 2012. Should KR engage in any future deal that involved a non-Holden brand, it would not be active until after then.

KR has backing from Holden but the nature of the current deal does not reach much beyond parts and some technical support. A manufacturer coming into V8 Supercars would, in all likelihood, do so with strong financial support, branding and supply the team with road cars – which Holden currently does not to Kelly Racing.

www.revolutio 4

motorsport news

NEWS

LOEB’S LOVE-EIGHT RELATIONSHIP WORLD RALLY

SEBASTIEN Loeb is the 2011 World Rally Champion, after a dramatic season finale in Wales on the weekend.

Loeb and Ford’s Mikko Hirvonen went into Rally GB almost locked on points, but the fight was all but over on the first day when Hirvonen – who had taken an early lead in tricky conditions – punctured his Fiesta’s radiator when he spun.

His retirement left the title in Loeb’s hands, but the now eight-time World Champion didn’t make the end of the rally.

Loeb was involved in a bizarre road accident on a transport stage, when his Citroen DS3 was hit head on by a Spanish spectator’s car – believed to be driven by a friend of former Citroen driver Dani Sordo.

But while Loeb was unable to win the rally, the title was still his.

“What happened is fairly ordinary; we were on a narrow road and we came upon a car on the top of a crest where there was no visibility,” Loeb explained.

“The Spanish driver had the wrong reflex and pulled in to the right and we collided. The radiator was damaged and we were out on the spot. It’s proof that a rally isn’t over till you’re back in the parc fermé!

“Now we can celebrate with the whole team. All the titles are important and memorable, as they’re never put together in the same way. This season, the overall level was very high and we had to fight right down till the last rally.

“I’m proud to have become the most-titled racing driver, even

if one shouldn’t really try and compare the different branches of the sport. I never thought I’d achieve this when I started my career!”

Hirvonen, meanwhile, was left to rue the small mistake that had huge implications.

“I spun, which at first felt like a typically harmless Rally GB incident,” he said.

“I had a big slide and the rear of the car hit a bank. The front also touched the bank, hitting a tree stump and puncturing the radiator. I continued for another five kilometres, but didn’t realise

the engine was slowly losing water, causing big damage.

“It’s a huge disappointment.

The team worked so hard throughout the year. It was a fantastic effort from everyone, including Jari-Matti [Latvala], who supported me so much towards the end of the season.

“We did all we could to get into a position where we could still fight for the title and it’s such a shame it ended like this.”

Hirvonen’s team-mate Latvala went on to win Rally GB from fellow Ford drivers Mads Ostberg and Henning Solberg.

SIMONSEN SMASHES BATHURST LAP RECORD SPORTSCARS DANISH sportscar ace Allan Simonsen has smashed the lap record at Mount Panorama, Bathurst.

During last week’s Sprint Bathurst event, Simonsen took the wheel of Maranello Motorsport’s brand new Ferrari 458 GT3 car in a bid to set a new benchmark time. And he had

little trouble blowing away Craig Lowndes’ V8 Supercar lap record – a 2:06.8012s – putting down a best of 2:04.9560s in the Ferrari.

The bonza lap came less than a month after Simonsen finished on the podium in the Bathurst 1000, where he shared the Pepsi Max Crew Commodore with Greg Murphy.

“I basically just went 100 percent balls out to try and see

what it would do,” he told eNews.

“I was a little bit surprised, myself, with how fast it was.

Over the top of The Mountain, having done so many laps in the V8s now and stuff like that, I knew it was extremely fast.

“We spent two days developing the cars at Sprint Bathurst and setting it up with the Maranello boys, and we really wanted to have a good

crack at it on Sunday – I knew we could punch out a time that would be pretty special. We got up early and the air was very nice, cold and crisp, and the track was still warm.

“It was the perfect opportunity.”

– MITCHELL ADAM For more on Allan Simonsen’s record breaking lap, head to Page 24 for a full first-person analysis

onracegear.com.au www.mnews.com.au

5

INGALL WANTS TO WIN

V8 SUPERCARS RUSSELL Ingall’s move to Walkinshaw Racing is based on his desire to win another V8 Supercar title.

Ingall confirmed the move last week and will race a Supercheap Auto WR Commodore next season.

“There is no doubt that the performance of the team towards the end of 2011 has been pretty good,” Ingall said.

“If you look at Bathurst, and a few of the other races, they are there. I think that they are experimenting a little bit as well, and finding out what they have to do for 2012. I expect that they will come out of the gate pretty strong, so I am jumping on-board at exactly the right time!”

Ingall’s future is linked strongly to Supercheap but the deal for him to be the driver of the #74 entry is for one year only. The auto parts retailer, which features Ingall in its TV commercials, has a three-year deal, leading to suggestions that he could have one more year in the driver’s seat before moving aside for a younger pilot in 2013.

“They have made it very clear that they want to stay in the sport, not only as an event sponsor, but also as a team sponsor,” Ingall said.

“They really enjoy the motor racing side of it, and they want to be in it for, probably, the next 10 years.

They have indicated to me that they want me to stay on, in an ambassador’s role, after I finish racing. That will probably include giving them advise on who to put in the car. I would love to be involved with that.”

For more on Ingall see 5 Minutes, page 22

WR TIGHT-LIPPED ON FAB’S FUTURE V8 SUPERCARS FABIAN Coulthard’s future remains unclear, following the announcement that Russell Ingall will drive for Walkinshaw Racing in 2012.

Ingall’s Supercheap deal at Clayton leaves

Coulthard vulnerable. If he were to stay in a full-time drive at WR, as he is allegedly contracted to do, it would require the team securing a fourth Racing Entitlement Contract and re-expanding to a four-car outfit.

At the Ingall/Supercheap press conference, Holden were tight-lipped on Coulthard’s

future, a spokesperson stating that “an announcement will be made in due course”.

Should Coulthard leave WR, his options would include Paul Morris Motorsport, Brad Jones Racing, Garry Rogers Motorsport and Kelly Racing, with all four teams likely to have vacant seats ahead of the 2012 season.

The Ideal Christmas Gift!

50 years of the Australian Touring Car Championship is a detailed history of the Australian Touring Car Championship and the V8 Supercar &KDPSLRQVKLS 6HULHV 7KLV KXJH SOXV SDJH ERRN LV WKH GHÀQLWLYH history of our touring car racing.

To order please call:

Available December 6

Only $99

1300 361 146 or www.chevron.com.au motorsport news

NEWS

HOMEBUSH DEBUT FOR COTF V8 SUPERCARS V8 SUPERCARS’ Car of the Future will make its first public appearance at Homebush in December.

Both examples of the prototypes, one Holden and one Ford, will make laps of the street circuit around the Olympic precinct on Friday before the current cars take to the track.

Commission Chairman Mark Skaife will drive the Commodore, with fellow racerturned-commentator Neil Crompton in the Falcon.

The cars were tested last week, with Rick Kelly in the Holden and Mark Winterbottom in the Ford for the first time at Phillip Island.

“It was really good,” Frosty reported.

“I was actually surprised it was so close to being ready to race. You could give it to a

TO CHASE OR NOT TO CHASE?

team to race next week.

“They turn a lot better than a current car.

There is front scrub in the current car, but with the new one, you can make a mistake and recover.”

The cars will be tested at Winton again tomorrow. The new 18-inch Sprint tyre will be tested for the first time, following the four different constructions that were tested at PI.

V8 SUPERCARS

Dirk Klynsmith

MARK Winterbottom has opened the door to the idea of having a V8 Supercar Chase – but he is not certain it is a good idea all the time.

Winterbottom has had a strong points scoring run in recent rounds, and said that the post-race press conference on Sunday that he thought a Chase was a good idea.

But he has mixed feelings a day later.

“It’s only because it suits me at the moment!” he said.

“It would be a different concept. It would refresh the championship, and I can see that if five or six drivers go to Homebush with the chance of winning the championship, it would be packed. I am not sure it is a good idea every year, and there is something about it being a fad.”

While Jamie Whincup can seal the title with a solid performance at Sandown this weekend, NASCAR’s Chase for the Sprint Cup will go right down to the wire at Homestead. Carl Edwards leads Tony Stewart by a mere three points.

Without the Chase, Stewart would have been almost 100 points behind, and out of title contention.

Chevron has all your motorsport needs covered including classic race packages, Bathurst highlights as well as in-depth documentaries. See our website today for the full range of DVD’s available.

www.mnews.com.au

7

McCONVILLE TAKES HIS CHANCE AT SYMMONS V8 SUPERCARS

CAMERON McConville was just standing around, minding his own business, when he suddenly got a call to drive a car at Symmons Plains.

McConville, who was present at the circuit as the Driving Standards Observer for the final races of the Formula Ford Championship, subbed for the injured Jason Bright in Sunday’s Race 24. Bright finished Saturday’s race in pain after aggravating a

ribcage injury, suffered at Phillip Island in September.

McConville started the race at the back of the field, as required after not participating in qualifying. Hampered by his injury, Bright qualified 27th so the substitution meant a loss of only one position. He finished 19th after a solid drive – in all of Bright’s gear.

“All my gear is at Bathurst,” he told eNews.

“I drove Ted Hughlin’s Lambo on Friday and then jumped on a truck, and I left my gear on a plane. I didn’t think I would need it.”

Bright’s injury could not have come at a worse time, with back-to-back races at Sandown this weekend giving him only days to recover to race in Melbourne.

It was McConville’s first BJR drive since Sydney two years ago. Ironically, Bright made his V8 Supercar debut, as a substitute driver, at Symmons Plains in 1997, replacing Steve Richards in Garry Rogers Motorsport’s Commodore. Richards missed the race because of a clashing Super Touring event at Lakeside.

FIORE CLOSES IN ON DJR DEAL FOR 2012 V8 SUPERCARS

Andrew Hall

FUJITSU PULLS BACKING FROM DEVELOPMENT SERIES FUJITSU SERIES

8

V8 Supercars Australia is working towards finding a replacement.

“Fujitsu are in the midst of finalising their sponsorship agreement with V8 Supercars in 2012 and beyond,” V8 Supercars spokesman Cole Hitchcock said.

“V8 Supercars is finalising their naming rights sponsorship of the Development Series for 2012.”

James Smith

THE second-tier of V8 Supercar racing will get a new name in 2012.

Fujitsu General has elected not to continue in its sponsorship of what’s currently the Fujitsu Series. Fujitsu has been the naming rights sponsor of the ‘Development Series’ since 2006.

DEAN Fiore is closing in on a change of teams in 2012 – and it’s looking more and more likely it will involve Dick Johnson Racing.

The West Australian is believed to be in the frame to take over the Jim Beam-backed team’s #18 entry, currently driven by James Moffat.

If that is the way things go, it is likely that Moffat’s second season in the team will be in a car backed by Symantec, his personal sponsor whose colours are prominent on his racesuit and helmet.

“We are close to doing something different for next season,” Fiore told Motorsport eNews in Tasmania.

“It’s not sorted yet, but we hope it will be soon.”

Dick Johnson Racing is believed to have been working on plans to move to three entries for some time, and the arrival of Fiore would go some way to cementing that. The team currently operates under one REC owned by DJR and one leased from former co-owner Charlie Schwerkolt, in a deal in place until the end of the 2012 season.

Fiore’s own REC would allow the team to run the Moffat entry, and could offer the team longer-term options should Schwerkolt make other arrangements for 2013.

motorsport news

NEWS

NOW ON DVD UNINTERRUPTED! BATHURST HIGHLIGHTS

Features the best of the best racing, Top Ten Shootout, drivers, teams, cars and much more!

DAVISON HAPPY WITH INDY TEST INDYCAR

THE immediate future of James Davison is up in the air – but his first Indycar test in Florida last week went as well as he could have hoped.

“I don’t think that it could have gone much better for me,” he said on Monday.

“It was great to get my first Indycar opportunity with Andretti Autosport. I got some good experience working on car set-up, working with the team’s engineers. I also got an understanding of the Firestone ‘reds’ [Ed: Option tyres], where they peak, where they fall off, what you need to do to keep the balance underneath you. That’s half of the game; getting the car right off the track.”

Davison drove one of AA’s Dallara-Hondas at the 3.2km Palm Beach track, and quickly acclimatised to the experience in the fastest car he has yet driven.

“I didn’t find the performance overwhelming at all. I was able to get on it fairly quickly. After not driving an open-wheeler – other than driving a Formula 5000 at the [Australian] Grand Prix for a bit of fun – by the end of the day I felt like I was back in the groove of driving on the limit.

“Physically, it wasn’t too bad. I have not driven for six months and I knew that the first part of the day was going to be a challenge. As I suspected, about two-thirds through the day, my body got used to it and I was not tired, or huffing or puffing.”

Davison says that the budget required to get a drive is “a couple of million” but that there are ongoing plans that might have an impact on that number.

“Andretti has a seat to be filled. GoDaddy is keen on having a veteran driver in their car. My performance in the test will definitely have done me a world of good. There could be a chance of securing a fourth seats and Andretti has said that they are 80 percent of the way to securing the budget for the third seat and 60 percent there with the fourth seat. Until such time as I meet with them, I don’t want to speculate what could happen.”

There are a number of drivers in contention for the seat, but no decision on the team is expected immediately – though team owner Andretti has stated that he wants to see his four drivers settled prior to Christmas.

“I wanted to create an impression that would put me on the top of their [AA] list over a number of other rookie drivers,” said Davison. “I need to thank Michael Andretti and the rest of the team for this opportunity.” www.mnews.com.au

THE FULL RACE

Complete coverage of the weekend as broadcast. Watch all the action, uninterrupted!l!

PLUS EXTRA UNSEEN FOOTAGE!

Selected stores only.

More info sportsdelivered.com 1800 035 665

EXCLUSIVE TO JB HI-FI

V8 SUPERCARS 5-DISC DVD TIN FULL RACE+HIGHLIGHTS PROGRAM Complete weekend coverage as broadcast.

Watch all the action, uninterrupted on 5 high-octane discs.

The best of the best racing, Top Ten ShootOut, drivers, teams, cars and much more!

EXTRA UNSEEN FOOTAGE!

More info sportsdelivered.com 1800 035 665

9

NEWS

MOSTERT’S FPR FV8 SWITCH FUJITSU SERIES

Dirk Klynsmith

CHAZ Mostert has joined Ford Performance Racing for the final two rounds of the Fujitsu Series.

The 2010 Formula Ford Champion has switched from Miles Racing to the factory Ford squad, which is keen to evaluate him for a potential 2012 program. Starting this weekend, Mostert will drive the FG Falcon used by Mark Winterbottom for most of the year.

“Chaz’s record in the junior ranks is impressive and to this point in his career he has attained results similar to those achieved by a young Mark Winterbottom, so he certainly has all the right foundations for a career in V8 Supercars,” FPR boss Tim Edwards said.

“By no means do we have anything locked away

beyond these last two races of the year but we have a spare car so we thought it was the ideal opportunity to see up close what Chaz can do.

“We are doing so with a view to a long-term relationship so now he just has to make the most of the chance we’ve presented him with.”

FPR last entered the Fujitsu Series in 2010, with James Moffat. David Paterson will switch from engineering Paul Dumbrell’s Bottle-O entry to work with Mostert at Sandown and Homebush.

Luke Youlden will replace Mostert at Miles Racing, with the Queensland squad set to debut their new, ex-Triple Eight FG Falcon.

Also at Sandown, Cameron Waters will make his Fujitsu Series debut. The 2011 Formula Ford Champion raced a V8 Supercar at Bathurst with Grant Denyer and Kelly Racing, and will get back behind the team’s fifth Commodore at Sandown.

LONGING FOR UTE ACTION V8 UTES TONY Longhurst will drive the V8 Ute Racing Series’ AutoOne Wildcard Ute at Sandown this weekend.

For the two-time Bathurst 1000 winner, the outing in the Commodore will be his first race meeting since sharing a Ute with Grant Johnson at the 2010 Clipsal 500.

“I’m starting to go a little stir crazy being on a boat for the past 6 months,” Longhurst admitted.

“I’ve been chased by a shark, stared off by crocodiles, so I figure I am now well honed to be jumping back into the bear pit of V8 Ute racing.

“I had an overdose of racing after doing it for 20 – 25 years. I’ve got a new lease on life now and it will be great to have a run again. I think it will be a lot of fun racing the Auto One Ute.” Victorian Sean Carter will return to the series for his home round, while former Saloon Car driver Kris Walton will make his Ute debut in a Ford.

Dirk Klynsmith

THE $50,000 ANSWER FORMULA 3 THE inaugural Forpark Australia Formula 3 Scholarship has been awarded to Steel Guiliana.

Guiliana was one of three National Class youngsters vying for the scholarship in its maiden year, and an industry panel judged the 20year-old as the most worthy winner of $50,000 to put towards an outright F3 campaign in 2012. The New South Welshman won the National Class title by eight points over Ben Gersekowski.

“Having a company like Forpark Australia support young drivers like this is an incredible part of this championship and the reason we raced this season,” Guiliana said.

“I am proud to have been selected to receive the award and I can’t 10

wait to challenge for a Gold Star next season to follow up my National Class title this year. $50,000 will go a long way to funding our season next year and make things a lot easier as we step up.

“Ben (Gersekowski) and Josh (Burdon) have been fantastic competitors and we have pushed each other hard all season. Before the award was presented I was sure that all three of us had an equal chance to win – so it was a great feeling when my name was read out and I have to congratulate those guys for their season.

“I have to thank the R-Tek team for all their efforts throughout the season and for working with me this season. I have learned so much and progressed as a driver and as a person and I am really looking forward to pursuing my goal of Formula 1 by racing for the Gold Star in Formula 3 next year.” motorsport news

www.mnews.com.au

11

BLOWN EVERYTHING BANNED FOR 2012 FORMULA 1

sutton-images.com

OFF-throttle exhaust blowing – in all forms – will definitely be banned in 2012.

While blown diffusers had already been out-lawed for next season, through higher exhaust outlets being made mandatory, many teams were under the belief that some components could still be ‘blown’ by offthrottle gases under the revised regulations. However, the FIA has now issued a new technical directive banning any such practice, with engine mapping restrictions to make it all but impossible. Should a team try and blow any components, they will be found guilty of Article 3.15 of the Formula 1 technical regulations, which read ‘driver movement as a means of

altering the aerodynamic characteristics of the car is prohibited.’

But the news has not been well received by some teams.

With work on 2012 cars now well underway, McLaren boss Martin Whitmarsh told media recently that “the clarification is a bit late and a few people wasted a bit of time, money and effort, but that is the same for all of us. We will look forward now.”

“You have to take a decision now on car concepts and it is already too late,” added Renault boss Eric Boullier.

“Some teams like ours have already started producing concepts of the car, so the concept has been finalised weeks ago. We need to stop changing the regulations all the time.”

sutton-images.com

MASSA: TYRES LET ME DOWN FORMULA 1 FELIPE Massa has blamed his lack of pace compared to Fernando Alonso in Abu Dhabi on a combination of the medium compound tyres and having to use an older-spec front wing.

Massa was forced to abandon Ferrari’s newer front wing after struggling to make 12

it work on his car during Friday practice.

According to the Brazilian, the lack of downforce made his car too difficult to drive on the harder tyre, contributing to the late-race spin that left him in fifth place.

“I cannot be happy with this fifth place,” he said.

Things were going reasonably well while I was on the softs, but with the mediums

I was really struggling to keep the car on track because of the lack of grip. That’s why I ended up spinning, losing any remaining hope of staying ahead of [Mark] Webber.

“The fact I could not use the new front wing was more of a penalty when running the medium tyres than the softs, because with the harder compound you could feel the lack of downforce more.” motorsport news

NEWS

sutton-images.com

sutton-images.com

NO WARNING ON TYRE FAILURE, SAYS HORNER FORMULA 1 SEBASTIAN Vettel’s tyre failure was instantaneous, according to Red Bull Racing.

Team boss Christian Horner said that the telemetry from Vettel’s car offered no prior warning that the right-rear tyre would fail, leaving Vettel out of the race.

It was his first retirement since the 2010 Korean Grand Prix, when an engine failure put him out of a comfortable lead.

“The tyre was fine, going into Turn 1, and then you can see just an instantaneous loss of pressure,” Horner said.

“Basically, all we could see at the moment from the data is that he has had a tremendous start, He had gone into Turn 1 and, on the kerb, there has been an instantaneous loss of pressure.

“So, by the time he has arrived at Turn 2, there is no tyre pressure and that has caused the car to spin. That is what has

damaged the suspension and ultimately that is why we had to retire the car.

“At the moment we don’t know if it was a bit of debris from one of the support races, as he wasn’t particularly high on the kerb or anything like that. He just appears to have been unlucky today.”

While the result has little bearing on the World Championship, which Vettel wrapped up at last month’s Japanese Grand Prix, he was still disappointed with the DNF. “There wasn’t anything we could have done better really this weekend; we just need to look at what had caused the puncture. I had a good start and I was very happy with the car up until that point.

“To lose the race there, so early on, it hurts for sure. There wasn’t much we could do, so after that I took the opportunity to learn a little bit on the pit wall.”

RICCIARDO SHOWS GOOD PACE FORMULA 1 DANIEL Ricciardo is buoyed by his pace in Abu Dhabi on the weekend, even if he was forced to retire from the race.

Ricciardo was clearly the class of the Hispania Racing Team throughout the weekend, outqualifying both his own team-mate Tonio Liuzzi and Virgin Racing’s Jerome d’Ambrosio, with the gap back to Liuzzi more than half a second.

In the race, Ricciardo’s two-stop strategy had him racing Timo Glock for most of the 55 laps, before an alternator failure left him out of the race just three laps from the finish.

“I had a pretty good take off at the start, passing Glock and getting right behind [Jarno] Trulli, and then I stayed on the inside for Turn 1, which was probably a mistake as Glock overtook me on the outside,” he said.

“There were a few moves that I should have maybe committed to a bit stronger.

“The pace was good but I lost a few places at the start and had to play catch up. I closed the gap with Tonio, but then I couldn’t get past him.

“For the second stint I was able to keep up with Glock. I was then caught in traffic and, three laps from the end, my car stopped.

“It was a shame to end the race prematurely but, overall, the pace was good and I was setting some good times so that’s something to take into the next race.”

WŽƐŝƟŽŶ sĂĐĂŶƚ Ͳ ^ > ^W Z^KE

YƵĞĞŶƐůĂŶĚ ^ƉĞĞĚǁĂLJ ^ƉĂƌĞƐ ŝƐ Ă ůĞĂĚŝŶŐ ŝŵƉŽƌƚĞƌ͕ ǁŚŽůĞƐĂůĞƌ ĂŶĚ ƌĞƐĞůůĞƌ ŽĨ ƉƌĞŵŝƵŵ ƌĂĐĞ ƉĂƌƚƐ ĂŶĚ ĞƋƵŝƉŵĞŶƚ ĨŽƌ ƐƉĞĞĚǁĂLJ ŝŶ ƵƐƚƌĂůŝĂ͘

dŽ ƉƵƌƐƵĞ ƚŚŝƐ ŽƉƉŽƌƚƵŶŝƚLJ ŝŶ ƐƚƌŝĐƚ ĐŽŶĮĚĞŶĐĞ ƉůĞĂƐĞ ƐĞŶĚ LJŽƵƌ ĂƉƉůŝĐĂƟŽŶ ĂŶĚ ƌĞƐƵŵĞ ƚŽ͗

YƵĞĞŶƐůĂŶĚ ^ƉĞĞĚǁĂLJ ^ƉĂƌĞƐ ŚĂƐ Ă ŶŽŶͲƐŵŽŬŝŶŐ͕ ĐůĞĂŶ ĂŶĚ ŵŽĚĞƌŶ ǁŽƌŬ ĞŶǀŝƌŽŶŵĞŶƚ͘ ĂƐĞĚ ƐŽƵƚŚ ŽĨ ƌŝƐďĂŶĞ͕ ǁĞ ĐƵƌƌĞŶƚůLJ ŚĂǀĞ Ă ĨƵůů ƟŵĞ ƉŽƐŝƟŽŶ ĨŽƌ Ă ^ĂůĞƐƉĞƌƐŽŶ ĂǀĂŝůĂďůĞ ǁŝƚŚŝŶ ŽƵƌ ƚĞĂŵ͘

<ĂƌůĞŶĞ DŽƌƌŝƐŽŶ WĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ tŚŽůĞƐĂůĞ ƵƐƚƌĂůŝĂ WƚLJ >ƚĚ WK Ždž Ϯϯϲϲ >ŽŐĂŶ ŝƚLJ Y> ϰϭϭϰ ͗ ŬĂƌůĞŶĞŵΛƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞǁŚŽůĞƐĂůĞ͘ĐŽŵ͘ĂƵ

ƉƉůŝĐĂŶƚƐ ŵƵƐƚ ďĞ ĐŽŵŵŝƩĞĚ ƚŽ ĂĐŚŝĞǀŝŶŐ ĐƵƐƚŽŵĞƌ ƐĞƌǀŝĐĞ ĞdžĐĞůůĞŶĐĞ ĂŶĚ ƉŽƐƐĞƐƐ Ă ĚĞƐŝƌĞ ƚŽ ǁŽƌŬ ĂƐ ƉĂƌƚ ŽĨ Ă ƚĞĂŵ͘ DĞĐŚĂŶŝĐĂů ĞdžƉĞƌŝĞŶĐĞ ǁŝƚŚŝŶ ƚŚĞ ĂƵƚŽŵŽƟǀĞ ŝŶĚƵƐƚƌLJ ĂŶĚ ͬŽƌ ĞdžƚĞŶƐŝǀĞ ŽƉĞŶ ǁŚĞĞů ƌĂĐĞ ĐĂƌ ĞdžƉĞƌŝĞŶĐĞ ŝƐ Ă ƉƌĞƌĞƋƵŝƐŝƚĞ͘

ǁǁǁ͘ƐƉĞĞĚǁĂLJƐƉĂƌĞƐ͘ĐŽŵ͘ĂƵ

YƵĞĞŶƐůĂŶĚ ^ƉĞĞĚǁĂLJ ^ƉĂƌĞƐ ŚĂƐ Ăůů LJŽƵƌ ƐƉĞĞĚǁĂLJ ƌĂĐĞ ƉĂƌƚƐ ĂŶĚ ĂĐĐĞƐƐŽƌŝĞƐ͊

www.mnews.com.au

13

Ambrose nominated NASCAR

NASCAR Media

CUP: BRING IT ON! NASCAR NASCAR’S Sprint Cup will be decided this weekend at Homestead in a straight fight.

Roush Fenway’s Carl Edwards (L) and Stewart Haas owner/driver Tony Stewart go to Florida

separated by only three points, meaning who finishes in front of the other is practically guaranteed the title.

But there could still be a tie – and Stewart’s four wins this season, to Edwards’s one, would decide the title in Smoke’s favour if that was to happen.

MARCOS Ambrose is in the running to win the inaugural Tasmanian’s Athlete of the Year Award.

Last week , Tasmanian Minster for Sport and Recreation Michelle O’Byrne confirmed the nominations for the award.

Ambrose is up against Sam Beltz (rowing), Anthony Edwards (rowing), Daniel Geale (boxing), Matthew Goss (cycling) and Kerry Hore (rowing). The winner will be announced at Wrest Point Casino on December 8.

Meanwhile, there is work to be done. On Tuesday, the Marcos Ambrose will get behind the wheel of a Roush Fenway Racing Ford Fusion in a closed test session at Daytona International Speedway, as NASCAR attempts to create a new aerodynamic package for next year’s restrictor plate races.

Ambrose will be joined by fellow Ford driver David Ragan, and drivers from other manufacturers including Chevrolet representative Dale Earnhardt Jnr.

Mars avoids Busch link until 2012 NASCAR

14

NASCAR Media

KYLE Busch will complete the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series – but not in the colours of M&Ms. Busch raced at Phoenix on the weekend, a week after being stood down from the Nationwide and Sprint Cup races at Texas after his wreck with Ron Hornaday in the Track race. But Mars Inc, the parent company of the M&Ms brand, made it clear that they did not want their livery on the #18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota until 2012 starts in February.

“As a proud member of the racing community, Mars and the M&M’S brand strongly support the partnership we have with Joe Gibbs Racing and are

committed to NASCAR,” said Debra A. Sandler, chief consumer officer, Mars Chocolate North America.

“Yet, Kyle’s recent actions are unacceptable and do not reflect the values of Mars. While we do not condone Kyle’s recent actions, we do believe that he has shown remorse and has expressed a desire to change. We believe our decision will have a positive impact on Kyle and will help him return next season ready to win.”

Busch ran in the colours of subsidiary sponsor, Interstate Batteries.

“We strongly support Mars’ decision,” said Gibbs. “This gives us all time to work together to foster a positive change where Kyle can continue racing in a way we can all be proud of.” motorsport news

NEWS

POWER CLEARED TO TEST DW12 INDYCAR WILL Power is expected to test 2012’s new Indycar next week after being cleared to drive.

Power, who suffered two minor compression fractures of his thoracic vertebrae in the season-ending 15-car pileup at Las Vegas, was cleared to resumed driving last week after being examined by well-known American ‘racing doctor’, Dr Terry Trammell.

Motorsport Stocktake Sale Pattern

“I’m really looking forward to getting back in the car,” said Power, who has been resting at home in North Carolina since last month’s crash.

“I actually haven’t had any pain in my back in a couple of weeks and I am excited to continue testing the new Chevy Indy car.”

The Queenslander is expected to drive the Chevrolet-powered Dallara DW12 in two-day test at Barber Motorsports Park (where he won this season) in Birmingham, Alabama, today [Monday] and tomorrow, US time.

Sale Price Save

Size

R800 185/60 R15 (soft, medium) $150 $59 R800 195/65 R15 (hard)

$150 $70

R800 195/70 R15 (medium)

$165 $55

R800 205/65 R15 (hard)

$150 $81

R900 195/70 R15 (medium)

$165 $55

S700 225/640 R18 (medium)

$275 $92

TW01 180/580 R15 (soft)

$121 $121

TW02 210/645 R17 (super soft)

$130 $130

TW02 210/645 R18 (soft)

$130 $130

V700 185/60 R14 (medium)

$138 $69

V700 195/55 R14 (medium)

$145 $73

V70A 205/40Z R17 (soft, medium) $293 $146 V70A 205/50Z R15 (soft)

$251 $84

V70A 215/50V R13 (soft)

$225 $75

V70A 225/40Z R18 (hard)

$255 $128

V70A 225/45 R16 (hard)

$200 $125

V70A 225/50Z R15 (medium)

$256 $85

V70A 225/50Z R16 (medium, hard) $253 $126

Indycar Media

INDYCAR INDYCAR will break new ground in China next year.

The series will travel to the People’s Republic for the first time, racing on the 6.2km street circuit in Qingdao. The city, home to 8.7 million people, is between Beijing and Shanghai, and played host to the 2008 Summer Olympics Sailing competition.

“As the world global economy continues to grow and evolve, China, the world’s secondlargest economy, has become a top priority with most American businesses and the sponsors that are committed to Indycar,” Indycar CEO Randy Bernard said. ”Last year, www.mnews.com.au

at our sponsorship summit, China was the No. 1 place our sponsors wanted to go outside of the United States.

“We are very excited and truly grateful for the full support of the Chinese Government, Qingdao City Government and related Government Bureaus in providing the opportunity to bring the IZOD IndyCar Series to China. We are committed to doing our part in making this a fantastic race event weekend to be seen on the world stage.”

Other international events will be staged in Canada (Toronto and Edmonton) and Brazil (in São Paulo). The full 2012 Indycar calendar, and that of Indy Lights, is expected to be announced soon.

$234 $234

V70A 245/45Z R16 (medium)

$329 $110

V70A 255/40Z R17 (medium)

$332 $122

V70A 305/30 R18 (soft)

$286 $143

V70A 315/35Z R17 (medium)

$275 $275

V70A 335/30Z R18 (medium)

$304 $304

V710 245/40 R17 (medium)

$342 $114

V710 245/45 R17 (medium)

$342 $114

V710 265/45 R16 (medium)

$240 $130

V710 295/40 R17 (medium)

$225 $125

V710 335/35 R17 (medium)

$255 $130

TYRES FOR CIRCUIT - SUPERSPRINT - TRACKDAYS - TARMAC RALLY - DIRT RALLY

XDESIGNS (FSP020)

INDYCAR GOES EAST

V70A 235/40Z R17 (soft)

S700

V710

KU36

V70A

V700

R700

R800

R900

See www.fsport.com.au for your nearest Kumho Motorsport Dealer

or call 1300 4 Kumho National Enquiries John Mills ACT Notaras Racing New South Wales Peak Race Tyre Fsport Queensland Hornibrook Motorsport South Australia Kensington Park Tyrepower Tasmania Tas Tyre Distributors Tas - Launceston Beecheys Service Centre Victoria Tyrepower Essendon Western Australia Exleys Tyres and Brakes

0418 404 945 0405 509 943 02 9683 5511 02 9679 8044 07 3865 1072 08 8431 5856 03 6274 1640 03 6631 2948 03 9379 2616 08 9354 7855

15

John Morris / Mpix

SEVEN AT THREE FOR ‘12 RADICALS RADICALS NEXT year’s Radical Australia Cup will expand to seven rounds, but the series will only visit three circuits.

In its maiden year, five rounds were held in 2011, but two more have been scheduled for next year. Radical Australia’s base, Eastern Creek will host four of the seven rounds; two with the Shannons Nationals, one with the ARDC Sportscar Festival in May and the season finale with the circuit’s 8 Hour Production Car race on November 3.

Phillip Island will host two, one with the Shannons Nationals and the other with the 6 Hour Production Car race on April 28-29, with Queensland Raceway’s Nationals round completing the program.

MPA Projects will back the series, with the winner to participate in a round of the 2013 Radical Masters Series in Europe. Race formats will vary between ‘Enduro’ – a pair of 15-minute sprints and a 50-minute final – and ‘Biduro – a pair of 50-minute races.

The 50-minute races will feature compulsory pitstops, which will be used

to manage parity between Pro/Am teams and teams without a professional co-driver.

Podium finishers from the previous race will also make longer pitstops.

“The announcement of our plans for the 2012 Radical Australia Cup show how serious Radical Australia is to the continued growth and development of the series, now in its third year,” Radical Australia’s Greg Smith said.

“We are very excited about the plans implemented for next season and we are confident of averaging more than 20 cars per round.”

GT3 GOES COMPACT GT3 CUP CHALLENGE THE 2012 Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge will be held over a little more than five months.

To be run with the Shannons Nationals, the six-round schedule kicks off at Mallala in April and is followed by Phillip Island, Winton, Eastern Creek and Queensland Raceway, before the Phillip Island season finale in September.

After its introduction in 2011, the Jim Richards Endurance Trophy will be awarded

again next year, covering longer races at Mallala, Winton and QR – the latter two circuits new venues for the series.

“The 2012 GT3 Cup Challenge calendar features a great spread of dates and events at some of the country’s best permanent race tracks,” Porsche Cars Australia Motorsport Manager Jamey Blaikie said.

“The compact calendar provides teams with an even gap between rounds – about 4-6 weeks – which will allow consistency throughout the year while drivers won’t

have to endure lengthy breaks between outings.

“The Jim Richards Endurance Trophy proved to be a great addition to the 2011 season and, without hesitation, we decided to continue the initiative into 2012 and beyond.

“It’s also great that GT3 Cup Challenge is continuing its strong relationship with the Shannons Nationals, which continues to provide the perfect platform to run the category.”

PRE-ORD

NOW!ER YEAR YEAR BOOK BOOK The Essential Bathurst Annual

This is the original Bathurst annual hard-cover book, the definitive publication on Australia’s Great Race.

The story of this always-epic and often heartbreaking event is presented in 256 pages, illustrated by some 400 images shot by some of Australia’s best motorsport photographers. The book also boasts a comprehensive statistical analysis covering all facets of the race – there’s even a full race history record for each competing car. This fabulous annual hard-cover book is a collector’s prized possession, and a great gift idea.

Call: 1300 361 146 or www.chevron.com.au

16

motorsport news

NEWS

HEY YOU! AUSTRALIAN GT

Rob Lang

THIS is Maranello Motorsport’s other new Italian import – a Lamborghini LP600 GT3.

Nick O’Halloran shook it down at Sprint Bathurst, and is set to race it this weekend at Sandown, in the final round of the VodkaO Australian GT Championship.

STABILITY THE KEY COMMODORE CUP COMMODORE Cup has elected to stick with its established VS platform for the 2012 season.

The series had planned to introduce a new VE Commodore with a six-litre V8 engine next year, and a prototype was under construction, but that has been put to one side for the immediate future. Instead, competitors will stick with the VS formula, introduced in 2004.

A six-round series for 2012 has been announced, consisting of Shannons Nationals rounds at Eastern Creek, Mallala, Winton, Phillip Island, Wakefield Park and Sandown Raceway. Winton will again host a two-driver format for the Ashley Cooper Memorial Trophy.

“The 2012 V8 Commodore Cup Series represents stability for our competitors,” said Category Manager David Stevenson, for the Commodore Cup Group.

“It is important to give people plenty of

lead time to ensure they know what is happening with technical and sporting regulations. This year has worked well and as such we are continuing on with it into next season.

“We’re looking forward to returning to Mallala after a years’ absence as well as visiting some of the great circuits that have provided plenty of action this season.

“We’re looking forward to another great season with competitive racing and plenty of action just like 2011.”

2011 AMC Masters DVD

More than two hours of highlights from the 2011 Australian Muscle Car Masters at Sydney’s Eastern Creek Raceway. Held every Fathers day as a celebration to Australian Motorsport.

Relive some of the greatest moments from the nation’s premier annual muscle car event.

Bonus material features colourful track parades and great in-car camera footage.

This DVD is a must-have for any motor sport enthusiast and muscle car fan.

www.chevron.com.au

www.mnews.com.au

$35 .00

Only

Call 1300 361 146 or visit

Includes Postage and Handling Aust and NZ only

17

1000s: NOTHING CHANGES

Yamaha Racing

Honda Pro Images

New Looks: From above, Stoner on the Honda; Spies goes large on the Yamaha; a bigger Ducati for Rossi; new looks for Bautista and Bradl.

Honda Pro Images

18

Honda Pro Images

AS one may imagine days after completing a title-winning season, Honda has topped the first all-in 1000cc test of the new generation MotoGP bikes.

Dani Pedrosa topped the times in Valencia ahead of World Champion Casey Stoner, with Honda facing Yamaha and Ducati’s new litre bikes for the first time.

“In general, I’m leaving Valencia in a good mood, more for the improvements we’ve made than for the lap times, which are not so important for me in winter testing”.

Apart from new motors, the teams were coming to grips with different Bridgestone tyres, and the feedback from the riders was generally positive.

Ben Spies was impressive on Yamaha’s new bike, starting the test 1s from the pace of the Yamahas and halving that gap

as engineers developed the bike.

Cal Crutchlow and his new Tech 3 team-mate Andrea Dovizioso were next fastest.

Valentino Rossi tried a new, ‘conventional’ aluminium chassis on his Ducati, and finished the test only a fraction quicker than Karel Abraham, who rode a 1000c Ducato for the first time.

Nicky Hayden missed the team after breaking his wrist in the final race of the season.

Alvaro Bautista tried a Honda, an 800cc model, for the first time, while Randy de Puniet rode the Suzuki the Spaniard raced this season and has predictably announced he wants to race it.

Suzuki’s planned are yet to be formalised.

Four CRT bikes appeared at the test; Carmelo Morales (Team Laglisse’s Suter-BMW); Iván Silva (Inmotec); Moto2 rider Yonny Hernández (BQR’s FTR/ Kawasaki); and Federico Sandi (Gapam).

Ducati Corse

MOTOGP

ELLISON’S AIM IS TRUE MOTOGP ONE of MotoGP’s Claim Rule Teams (CRT) has confirmed its plans for 2012.

Paul Bird’s team, which has run Kawasaki’s works World Superbike entries for the past two years, will field a single entry for James Ellison. The team will run an Aprilia RSV-4 engine in a TBA chassis.

Ellison, 31, confirmed the news via Twitter last week.

“Well the cat’s out of the bag now,” he tweeted.

“Sorry to those I couldn’t tell before, it was hard not to shout it from the top of a roof. I’m so excited.”

The Briton has 38 starts in 500s and MotoGPs, with the Harris WCM and Tech 3 Yamaha teams between 2004 and ’06. motorsport news

MOTORSPORT NEWS INTERVIEWS THE BATHURST WINNERS

GARTH TANDER AND NICK PERCAT PLUS: THE COOLEST CORNERS IN AUSTRALIAN MOTORSPORT, A LOOK AT SEBASTIAN VETTEL’S TITLE-WINNING YEAR, WE HANG WITH LOTUS RENAULT GP DRIVERS VITALY PETROV AND BRUNO SENNA, STEAL DANIEL GAUNT’S DIARY FROM BATHURST, DRIVE A LEXUS LFA WITH SOME HELP FROM SCOTT PRUETT, HEAD TO THE GOODWOOD REVIVAL, PROFILE KARTING LEGEND DAVE SERA AND A WHOLE LOT MORE. No. 413 No vem

ber 2011

5 NZ $8.50

Mnews_413

_Cover.ind

ON SALE NOW ... www.mnews.com.au

d 2

inc GST

mnews.com .au

Australia $7.9

19

NEWS

FOTHERGILL UNLUCKY IN JAPAN KARTING

AUSTRALIAN kart racer Cian Fothergill was extremely unlucky at the CIK-FIA Asia Pacific KF2 Championship at the Suzuka circuit in Japan on the weekend, despite being one of the pace-setters throughout the event.

The Kosmic kart pilot showed great speed from the onset, setting quick lap times in practice in both the wet and dry before qualifying 13th in the field of 31 drivers after making a slight error during his fastest lap.

In what was his debut international race, the 22-yearold then set the fastest lap in two of the three heats, but had to settle for heat results of sixth, eighth and third after struggling with the slow speed at the starts.

“The starts over here are much slower than back home, probably about half the pace, so that took some getting used to, as did the international driving style, they’re not afraid to block you on the straights or dive back down the inside after you

pass them,” explained Fothergill.

“Suzuka is a great track, it’s tough and very fast – just like the competition I was racing against.”

After starting from P10 in the pre-final, Fothergill copped a hit from behind early and dropped back deep in the pack, but showed class as he charged back through the quality field to greet the chequers in a

creditable eighth place.

Disaster then struck for Fothergill when the starter motor on his kart failed for the main race.

“This really was an awesome experience. I learnt so much and while it was great to show good pace, I’m disappointed I couldn’t start the final but that’s the way racing goes, you can’t do anything about a starter

motor packing up.

“I’m extremely grateful for the opportunity and for everything the Kosmic Factory Team has done for me, they have been a pleasure to work with.”

The victory went to local FA Kart driver Arata Saeki who started back in 14th over Max Klingby-Silver and Damiano Floravanti.

– PAUL CARRUTHERS

NYCK ENDS KARTING CAREER ON A HIGH KARTING DUTCHMAN Nyck de Vries took out his second CIK-FIA KF1 World Karting Championship at Suzuka on the weekend.

In what was the final round of the championship, the Zanardi driver started slow by his standards on the opening day, qualifying well down the order before crossing the line in fifth and third respectively in the two finals held on Day 1. de Vries was in no mood to relax the grip in which he tightened on his second title, qualifying second fastest on Day 2. From there he also finished runner-up in Final 3, behind Italian Tony Kart driver Ignacio d’Agosto, who also won both races on Day 1.

Second place behind D’Agosto in Race 3 was good enough to clinch the crown, but as a good champion should, the Chiesa Corse Team driver went out of karting with all guns blazing when he won a 20

superbly contested Final 4 to close his kart racing career with not only the World Championship, but a farewell race win.

“It’s the best thing that could have happened to me today” said an elated de Vries.

“This was my last race in karting, so to end

my career with the World Championship and a win in my very last kart race is the best I could have hoped for.”

The McLaren F1 Driver Development Program-supported pilot will now focus his attentions on his car racing career in 2012.

– PAUL CARRUTHERS motorsport news

Get on board for the ride of your life!

Dmªl a^k^ ( NeZf A^lm ( Zg] a^k^ªl rhnk \aZg\^ mh k^\Zimnk^ Zee ma^ Z\mbhg _khf ma^ an`^er ln\\^ll_ne bgZn`nkZe ^o^gml Zm Hbe]nkZªl NngkZrlbZ MZ\^pZr #khng] ,$ Zg] KhkmeZg]' lhnma p^lm Qb\mhkbZ #khng] -$) Nh [n\de^ bg _hk leZf_^lm lmre^ h_ hg^ ^b`ama fbe^ ?hhkleZff^k ]kZ` kZ\bg` maZmªl .+++ ai Zg] ghp bml l^m mh ^qieh]^ Z\khll hnk gZmbhg) Dm pZl ]^\b]^] lbg\^ ^b`ama fbe^ kZ\bg` pZl mZdbg` ho^k bg ma^ PN<' <nlmkZebZgl lahne] `^m hg [hZk] Zg] NeZf A^lm inml hg Z `k^Zm lahp _hk ma^ _Zgl' pbma \Zkl maZm i^hie^ dghp) A^Zmnkbg` hg^ h_ ma^ fhlm li^\mZ\neZk ]kZ` \kZla^l rhn pbee ^o^k l^^' \Zimnk^] [r ho^k 0 \Zf^kZl ( bg\en]bg` bg(\Zk) Oabl _hhmZ`^ Zehg^ bl phkma ma^ ikb\^ h_ ma^ ?Q? ) Nh fZd^ lnk^ rhnªk^ Z NeZf A^lm ]hhk leZffbg` _Zg)))

ONLY

$35.oo

Dg\en]^l KhlmZ`^ ! CZg]ebg`

Call: 1300 361 146 Available November

www.chevron.com.au www.mnews.com.au

21

FIVE MINUTES WITH ...

RUSSELL INGALL The alarms sounded in Clayton last Wednesday – literally – when the new :\WLYJOLHW 9HJPUN KLHS ^P[O >HSRPUZOH^ YHJPUN ^HZ JVUÄYTLK 0UNHSS ZU\JR past security to tell PHIL BRANAGAN all about it MOTORSPORT NEWS: Is it a little bit strange being in here [HRT’s Clayton HQ]?

RUSSELL INGALL: It is. I think that I came down here ... the last time I was in here, and I think I got not much further than this doorway, was when I came here to pick up some parts for Larry [Perkins]. This [the doorway] was as far as I got!

I few a few sideways looks back then. I might be getting a few sideways looks right now, until people figure out what is going on! After today, I am sure that they will.

It is ironic, really. Especially in light of all those years when I was with Larry, this was the team that we revered the most and it was a thorn in our side, so far as getting more championships. Finally joining up with them, it is amazing how you come full circles, sometimes.

The team has been rebuilding over the last season or so. What is your impression of where Walkinshaw Racing is at the moment?

I don’t think that you ever stop building, in any team. There is no doubt, I think that I am coming in here at the right time.

They have made some dramatic changes in the last 12 months. From what I have read from the outset – and obviously, I have done my homework on this – it is all going in the right direction.

There is no doubt that the performance of the team towards the end of 2011 has been pretty good. If you look at Bathurst, and a few of the other races, they are there. I think that they are experimenting a little bit as well, and finding out what they have to do for 2012. I expect that they will come out of the gate pretty strong, so I am jumping on-board at exactly the right time!

What are your expectations about hardware? It is going to be absolutely identical to HRT’s?

For sure. That has all been undertaken.

Supercheap was very keen, that was one of their requirements. They want to absolutely step up to the level of not being just another car. They wanted to be involved with a factory team and that meant getting exactly the same equipment. That has been absolutely guaranteed.

I think that they are fairly keen on getting my input. I have driven a variety of cars over the years, particularly recently, so I can give feedback on where they are at. I am interested in the technical side of it as well, that is something I really enjoy. I hope my feedback can help iron out any little issues that they might have.

What is the duration of the deal?

For this year [2012]. Supercheap have signed up for longer. It’s for one year [for Ingall] and we will see what happens at the end of 2012, whether I want to continue on or not.

Is there any chance that this is the Russell Ingall Farewell Tour, Merchandise Available At The Exits?

No, that has not really been discussed.

They have left it open with me, you decide on what you want to do.

I have been very lucky with Supercheap, obviously with Holden as well. They have stuck by me. It has been a lean year, in 2011, to say the least. A lot of other sponsors might have started looking elsewhere, but they have stuck behind me.

They have said, ‘The best-case scenario is that you go out and start winning races again, and be in the top five in the championship and challenging for

the championship’. That is what we, as a sponsor, want to see you do. It is good to have that support and I want to repay them. There are a lot of things I want to achieve here – it is a bit like jumping in the car for the first time. When you are a lad, you want to jump in and prove everyone wrong. I have almost done the big roundabout and I am back to that stage again in my career.

I have to prove people wrong. All the pressure is on me. I am in control of my own destiny. If I do a good job, we will go again. If I don’t do a good job, we won’t.

When you do get to a position where you may not be driving full-time any more, do you want to take on a mentoring role – bring a younger driver along, and maintain the association with Supercheap?

Absolutely. There is no doubt that is what is in Supercheap’s mind as well. They have made it very clear that they want to stay in the sport, not only as an event sponsor, but also as a team sponsor. They really enjoy the motor racing side of it, and they want to be in it for, probably, the next 10 years. They have indicated to me that they want me to stay on, in an ambassador’s role, after I finish racing. That will probably include giving them advise on who to put in the car. I would love to be involved with that.

There are a couple of people already in the category I give some advice to along the way. That is something I like to do, because I think that there is some really good talent there. I think that there are some very over-rated drivers in this category as well.

Name them.

Not yet! But I will. Give me time ...

All the pressure is on me. I am in control of my own destiny. If I do a good job, we will go again [in 2013]. If I don’t do a good job, we won’t.

22

motorsport news

CHAT

www.mnews.com.au

23

PUTTING THE ‘FOUR’ INTO 458 OPINION Allan Simonsen – Sportscar Ace EARLY on Sunday morning, Allan Simonsen created a piece of Australian motorsport history, turning the fastest-ever lap in a closed racecar around Mount Panorama.

And he didn’t do a low ‘six’ or even a ‘five’. In Maranello Motorsport’s new Ferrari 458 GT3, Simonsen clocked a 2:04.9560; hammering Craig Lowndes’ V8 Supercar mark of 2:06.8012 during practice for the 2010 Bathurst 1000. Here’s what the Dane had to say.

B

24

Rob Lang

ATHURST has always been a special place for me, so to pull something out like that was pretty good.

We spent two days developing the cars at Sprint Bathurst and setting it up with the Maranello boys, and we really wanted to have a good crack at it on Sunday – I knew we could punch out a time that would be pretty special. We got up early and the air was very nice, cold and crisp, and the track was still warm. It was the perfect opportunity. Being Sprint Bathurst, you were led out in groups and you’ve got a bit of a free track in-front of you.

So I basically just went 100 percent balls out to try and see what it would do. I was a little bit surprised, myself, with how fast it was. Over the top of the Mountain, having done so many laps in the V8s now and stuff like that, I knew it was extremely fast. All of my knowledge with the car from Europe, and having driven with Ferrari since 2002, and then knowing Bathurst from as many starts as I’ve had there – coming straight off the 1000 as well – it all just fell into place. It was one of those days that you don’t get many of. It was pretty special.

We had a top speed down the straight of 280[kmh], with the V8 Supercar you’re pushing 300. It was basically just carrying speed across the top of the Mountain, and down from Skyline; through the Dipper and into Forrest’s Elbow, there’s a lot of time being made up.

The new generation GT3 cars are very fast. Peter Kox was a works Lamborghini driver and he was driving Ted Huglin’s Lamborghini and he was punching out six-sixes (Ed: 2:06.6s) – the pace come the 12 Hour is going to be very strong. Something like the Mercedes SLS, that we race against when we do the Nurburgring 24 Hour race and events like that, same with the Audis; it’s the same style of track at Bathurst and we know those cars are very, very fast.

I can’t wait for all of the boys to bring out the guns at the 12 Hour; the Audi boys and all of these boys when they come out and we put a bit of rubber on the track. By then everyone has the latest, 2011spec cars and it will be fast – you’ll see some fast laptimes.

When the 2012 regulations for Australian GT and the Bathurst 12 Hour were announced, I had the biggest smile on my face, up to my ears, over the fact that they both actually adopted the 2011 GT3 rules, and it’s going to run by the European GT3 rules, which are set in stone. Everyone has a book you follow and you go out and race. It’s the best thing that’s ever happened for Australian GT, and you’ll see a platform that everyone can work with. They know what they can go out and do and it’s just going to be a very good year for them and it’s one that I’m going to be following very closely from my program from Europe.

Both Nick O’Halloran and Peter Edwards are very good friends of mine and they’re both planning to drive in Australian GT in the 458, and if there’s stuff that will fit in with my calendar, I’m sure they’d motorsport news

COMMENT

love me to come out and do a couple of races – and I’d be more than happy to come out and help them and do it. I’ve been lucky enough to be associated with Maranello Motorsport now for such a long time, and they appreciate my program in Europe and give me the chance to come out whenever I can. I’m sure it will be a strong year for everyone, but obviously the pace when everyone gets on with business will be strong. It’ll be interesting to see the Mercedes, the Audi and stuff when they get the parity they’re running in Australian GT now off them.

First, though, we want to go to the Bathurst 12 Hour and win it. This is very clear and it’s what we’re preparing for. In any long-distance race, which is what I mostly do, you’ve got to also make sure you don’t run into trouble. It’s not something that’s won in the first couple of hours, that’s for sure. A race like that is won by whoever spends the least time in the pits.

We have a strong driver line-up. Peter Edwards was driving during the weekend with me and did an extremely good job. I tried to www.mnews.com.au

help him as much as I could and he just kept improving. I was really impressed with his driving. He really loved it and got on with his car very well.

John Bowe’s done more laps than all of us put together up there.

He’s won there, he’s won Australian Touring Car Championships, he’s a legend and he’s good for our package. And Dominik [Farnbacher] races the Ferrari 458 in the German GT3 Championship as well as racing with me in the Le Mans Series. He’s a very fast driver, the only slight downside is that he hasn’t done Bathurst before which, unfortunately, is a little bit of a downside.

But then we saw someone like Peter Kox come out and drive Ted Huglin’s car, which is a 2010-spec, not 2011-spec, and still did a ‘six’ within a couple of days. So it shows that it can be done. You don’t really know Bathurst until you’ve done a few laps out there. Dominik’s a quick learner and he’s very fast around the Nurburgring and I put the Nurburgring and Bathurst in the same league. They’re two very quick tracks that you need to show respect in order to do a good job.

25

V8 SUPERCAR CHAMPIONSHIP RACES 23/24 – SYMMONS PLAINS, TASMANIA

Prime Numbers A Triple Eight Commodore will wear number 1 next season, after Jamie Whincup turned this year’s V8 Supercar Championship into a one-team battle with four races to go. He scored his 51st win and Holden’s 400th in a ÄYZ[ JSHZZ WLYMVYTHUJL *VUM\ZLK& PHIL BRANAGAN reports from Symmons Plains 26

motorsport news

RACE

Dirk Klynsmith

www.mnews.com.au

27

RACE 23: EASY AS YOU LIKE

A

S great races go, Saturday’s race at Symmons Plains wasn’t. Great, I mean.

There was overtaking – even for the lead. But the truth is, once Jamie Whincup leapt away from Will Davison at the race’s only restart, he might as well have been tapping away on his latest Nokia mobile phone.

Davison had chosen track position over late-race grip by taking only two tyres at his CPS; he was always going to running a compromise in the second half of the race. The only shock was the winning margin; almost 9s, in a year in which Bathurst was decided by less than one.

“For some reason, we have to work pretty hard to get a quick car here,” explained Whincup, who started from pole position, without any discernable pity.

That was the good news, so far as the championship went. The bad, or rather, less good, was that Craig Lowndes was second, after starting fourth. Typical Lowndes; that start should have been sixth, which was where he qualified, but Paul Dumbrell and Tony D’Alberto were 28

penalised three starting spots (from third and sixth, respectively) to boost #888 up two places. From there, he bided his time, stayed clean and used the car in the second half of the race.

“Our car was running fantastically from the mid-point of the race to the end,” he said afterwards.

So, the points damage, so far as Lowndes was concerned, was limited.

The race could not have worked out much better for Tander. He had car problems in qualifying (unspecified) and in the last three laps of the race (ditto) but between those two points, Tander was at his electrifying and ruthless best.

Tander’s effort was more meritorious considering he was slightly delayed in his pit exit by Greg Murphy who lost a wheel immediately after his pitstop.

“I had to wait in the pits for Murph to put his three tyres on.”

Boom-tish. Try the veal, and drive home carefully. Kelly Racing copped a $5K fine for releasing the Pepsi car in an unsafe condition.

Murph was not the only driver to have a wheel problem. Former team-

mate Russell Ingall did as well, a sign not that desirable in the first race that the wheel-change regulations have been changed, with an extra man now allowed so to avoid potential back injuries among the pit crews. Not that driving a 640 horsepower car on three attached wheels is what may be considered an example of adequate Occupational Health and Safety.

Of the rest, Paul Dumbrell failed to stay on the track enough to concern Shane van Gisbergen (or anyone else) over a top-10 finish; Alex Davison was not far behind his mo’d bro in sixth, and ahead of The Giz in a good result for a man without a known confirmed seat next year; ditto for Fabian Coulthard, two spots ahead of James Courtney in similar machinery.

The Clayton cars are still no match for their Vodafone counterparts but having three competitive cars in a good sign for 2012.

Van Gisbergen’s cause was hurt when he locked the rears at the hairpin, a split-second error costing him places and prompting him to nurse his tyres to the flag. motorsport news

RACE

Dirk Klynsmith

Dirk Klynsmith

Tough Cookie: Tander put in a typically bullish drive, above, while DJR went back to showing little sign of any real pace, below.

Still, at least they kept four wheels on the car, unlike Murphy, bottom.

John Morris/Mpix Dirk Klynsmith

James Smith

www.mnews.com.au

29

RACE 24

I

Dirk Klynsmith

30

F Saturday’s race was … steady, Sunday’s made it look like the Bathurst 1000.

It needed a Safety Car, possibly two, a flyover and maybe a track invasion by a herd of Kardashians to liven it up. It was not boring; things happened, but those things were not immediately apparent to anyone who was watching.

The FPR cars won the start, the TeamVodafone cars won the end.

Jamie Whincup took his second win of the weekend and 51st of his career. Holden celebrated its 400th win in ATCC/V8 Supercars and much was made of it being the first make to do so. (I am going to go out on a limb here and predict that the second make to do that will be … Ford.)

“The only hiccup we had was a bit of lapped traffic,” a remarkably low-key Whincup said after the race.

He reported “a rattle inside the car,” and there was a moment he slid wide onto the dirt, when he was “on the radio, screaming for blue flags and worrying about everything except driving the car”.

Will Davison was second ahead of Mark Winterbottom and Paul Dumbrell. At one stage, exiting the pits, Whincup looked to be in danger of having all three FPR cars ahead on him. In a trice, he was past and on his way to victory.

Davison reported that he was sick of finishing second to Whincup, and Frosty’s fuel consumption was not that of the other cars in the team. A 2-34 finish is not bad, and the form the team is showing indicates that wins are not far away.

Craig Lowndes was fifth. From 10th on the grid, a solid result, having gained four of those spots during the pit cycle (he stopped earlier than most) and one from passing Garth Tander, whose car was using its tyres at a race far beyond what the team predicted, and what it had on Saturday. Typically, Tander dug motorsport news

RACE

4: AND THEN THERE WERE TWO

Dirk Klynsmith

Bottle-O’d Up: Spending the first stint behind Dumbrell cost Winterbottom in the long run, above. McConville did a great job as a Super Sub for Jason Bright below, and the hairpin saw its usual carnage, bottom.

John Morris/Mpix

in and maintained sixth for the rest of the journey. Third and sixth on a weekend are not the results that any HRT fan dreams of, but it should be noted that it is a long way up the road from the 10th and 11th that James Courtney scored in Tassie.

Todd Kelly and Jono Webb both cracked top-10 finishes, good signs. Both Jim Beam cars were lapped; not good signs.

So were all three BJR cars, and the order there was McConville, Reindler and Bargwanna. Also, not what might have been expected when Cam got the call on Sunday morning.

The championship is now an intra-team battle. There will be plenty for the other teams to race for in the last four races of the season – pride, points, ego – but that championship off that list.

Whincup has pledged that regardless of whether he puts the title away this weekend, it will be on for all at Homebush.

“The guy or girl who pay their 80 bucks in Sydney does not want to see us cruising around collecting points,” he said.

Good point. What would John Farnham think of that?

John Morris/Mpix

www.mnews.com.au

31

WINNERS GARTH TANDER: Car speed not perfect but his driving is as solid as a rock.

FABIAN COULTHARD: Kiwi Male, wide ranges of interests including cycling, driving at 300kmh and occasional aerobatics. Seeks other with 640 horsepower racecar. Available from early2012, apply soon, please.

CAM McCONVILLE: Back at BJR after all this time, in Bright’s car, racesuit and helmet and drove past the team’s other two, regular drivers.

PREPARATION: Two races, 134 laps and only two DNFs – in Race 23, when wheels came off Murph and Ingall’s cars. That is outstanding reliability.

LOSERS JIM BEAM RACING: A year is a long time in motor racing.

SPRINT TYRES: The teams have all worked hard and appear mostly to be on top of the tyre situation. Shakeup needed – which is why V8 Supercars is still formulating next year’s tyre regulations.

NEW WHEEL RULE: Having two guys changing wheels make perfect sense, according to the OH&S experts. So having two wheels come off cars in the first race the rule is introduced is just plain bad timing.

SPECTATORS: Long gaps in the program – and no local racing category to fill in the gaps.

32

motorsport news

RACE

FPR: SPEED NO LAUGHING MATTER

Dirk Klynsmith

AFTER Saturday’s race, Garth Tander was asked whether there was any chuckling when he zoomed past both FPR cars into third place late in the race.

“Lots,” he said.

“They need to sort themselves out.”

On first look, they do. It appeared on TV that Mark Winterbottom and Will Davison had taken a liking to motor racing’s version of Seppuku (Japanese ritual suicide) at the hairpin with four laps left to run. Davo ran wide at the hairpin; Frosty did his best to get inside without losing car speed. In a trice, Tander was past both of them.

The explanation why happened at the previous corner. Troubled by a ‘sleepy’ foot (legacy of an ongoing back injury) Davison had run wide over the stutter kerbs, causing brake knock-off. When he got to the hairpin, the pedal went down and down, until he ran out of road.

“It wasn’t as bad as it looked,” said team principal Tim Edwards.

“It looked like a scrap but it wasn’t. Frosty had to go straight.”

On Sunday morning, the Trading Post FG had a modified seat but it appears thee are still some one-percenters to fix before FPR can capitalise on their recent car speed.

NO BRIGHT SIDE AT SYMMONS IT was not like Brad Jones Racing was having a terrific weekend but the insult of slow cars turned, literally, to injury on Saturday.

Jason Bright was suffering pain during the 50-lapper, and a trip to see V8 Supercar’s doctor, Dr Carl Le, revealed the reason. Le diagnosed Costochondral separation, which meant that Brighty had a rib torn loose from the costal cartilage and detached from the sternum. And he had had the problem for months.

Bright believes he sustained the injury in September.

“I’ve been feeling some pain in my rib since Phillip Island,” he said, “but have been able to keep it under control by just nursing it. Around here, with all the left-handers, it’s www.mnews.com.au

got pressure on it all the time and I’ve obviously damaged my rib quite badly.

“It happened just as I caught Russell Ingall before the safety car and I lost a lot of ground over that lap because I was in a lot of pain. I was very concerned about what it could be, but just gritted my teeth for the rest of the race.”

Considering that the L&H 500 was on September 18 – and that’s eight weeks ago – and Brighty has been gritting his teeth for a while.

Add into the equation Bathurst and the Gold Coast 600 – not to mention moving furniture last week – and it is clear that he could hardly have been at his best for a few races …

33

Results :: Race 23 – Symmons

Dirk Klynsmith

34

Pos

#

Driver

Team/Car

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 DNF DNF

88 888 2 5 6 4 9 61 34 1 7 47 55 15 3 33 49 14 12 18 19 16 17 21 8 30 39 11

Jamie Whincup Craig Lowndes Garth Tander Mark Winterbottom Will Davison Alex Davison Shane Van Gisbergen Fabian Coulthard Michael Caruso James Courtney Todd Kelly Tim Slade Paul Dumbrell Rick Kelly Tony D’Alberto Lee Holdsworth Steve Owen Jason Bargwanna Dean Fiore James Moffat Jonathon Webb David Reynolds Steven Johnson Karl Reindler Jason Bright Warren Luff Russell Ingall Greg Murphy

TeamVodafon TeamVodafon Toll Holden Ra Orrcon Steel F Trading Post F Irwin Racing F SP Tools Racin Bundaberg Ra Fujitsu Racing Toll Holden Ra Jack Daniel’s R Lucky 7 Racing The Bottle-O R Jack Daniel’s R Wilson Securit Fujitsu Racing VIP Petfoods C Jana Living Ra Triple F Racing Jim Beam Rac Mother Energy Stratco Racing Jim Beam Rac Fair Dinkum S Team BOC Com Gulf Western O Supercheap Au Pepsi Max Cre

motorsport news

RACE

Top 10 Points: Whincup 2817, Lowndes 2623, Winterbottom 2215, van Gisbergen 2201, Tander 2187, W Davison 2096, R Kelly 1977, Holdsworth 1713, A Davison 1664, Coulthard 1614.

Plains, Tas

ne Commodore VE2 ne Commodore VE2 acing Team Commodore VE2 FPR Falcon FG FPR Falcon FG Falcon FG ng Falcon FG acing Commodore VE2 g GRM Commodore VE2 acing Team Commodore VE2 Racing Commodore VE2 g Falcon FG Racing Team Falcon FG Racing Commodore FG ty Racing Falcon FG g GRM Commodore VE2 Commodore VE2 acing Commodore VE2 g Falcon FG cing Falcon FG y Racing Team Falcon FG g Commodore VE2 cing Falcon FG Sheds Racing Commodore VE2 mmodore VE2 Oil Racing Commodore VE2 Auto Racing Commodore VE2 ew Commodore VE2 www.mnews.com.au

Results :: Race 24 – Symmons Plains, Tas Qual

Pos

#

Driver

Team/Car

Qual

1 6 10 2 7 8 4 9 12 14 11 16 3 18 5 13 15 25 21 24 19 22 28 26 23 27 20 17

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28

88 6 5 55 888 2 9 7 19 61 1 15 33 11 34 3 39 18 8 21 17 16 49 12 14 4 47 30

Jamie Whincup Will Davison Mark Winterbottom Paul Dumbrell Craig Lowndes Garth Tander Shane Van Gisbergen Todd Kelly Jonathon Webb Fabian Coulthard James Courtney Rick Kelly Lee Holdsworth Greg Murphy Michael Caruso Tony D’Alberto Russell Ingall James Moffat Cameron McConville Karl Reindler Steven Johnson David Reynolds Steve Owen Dean Fiore Jason Bargwanna Alex Davison Tim Slade Warren Luff

TeamVodafone Commodore VE2 Trading Post FPR Falcon Falcon FG Orrcon Steel FPR Falcon Falcon FG The Bottle-O Racing Team Falcon FG TeamVodafone Commodore VE2 Toll Holden Racing Team Commodore VE2 SP Tools Racing Falcon FG Jack Daniel’s Racing Commodore VE2 Mother Energy Racing Team Falcon FG Bundaberg Racing Commodore VE2 Toll Holden Racing Team Commodore VE2 Jack Daniel’s Racing Commodore VE2 Fujitsu Racing GRM Commodore VE2 Pepsi Max Crew Commodore VE2 Fujitsu Racing GRM Commodore VE2 Wilson Security Racing Falcon FG Supercheap Auto Racing Commodore VE2 Jim Beam Racing Falcon FG Team BOC Commodore VE2 Fair Dinkum Sheds Racing Commodore VE2 Jim Beam Racing Falcon FG Stratco Racing Commodore VE2 VIP Petfoods Commodore VE2 Triple F Racing Falcon FG Jana Living Racing Commodore VE2 Irwin Racing Falcon FG Lucky 7 Racing Falcon FG Gulf Western Oil Racing Commodore VE2

3 5 2 1 15 7 4 9 10 11 14 6 8 16 19 24 17 20 NT 18 22 12 23 25 27 13 21 26 35

FORMULA 1 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND 18 – YAS MARINA, ABU DHABI

36

motorsport news

RACE

BACK IN BUSINESS It’s been a tough 2011 season for Lewis Hamilton, but when Seb Vettel ÄUHSS` YHU PU[V ZVTL IHK S\JR OL ^HZ [OLYL [V Z[YPRL PU (I\ +OHIP

sutton-images.com

www.mnews.com.au

37

U

sutton-images.com

38

NFORTUNATELY for Lewis Hamilton, the 2011 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix will be remembered for one thing and one thing only – Sebastian Vettel spinning out of the race on Lap 1.

It was the pivotal moment of the race, and about as exciting as the 55-lapper got. Having started from pole position, Vettel rocketed off the line to take a handy looking lead through Turn 1.

But a bit too much kerb on the exit cost him dearly, with the rearright tyre giving up as he tipped his Red Bull Racer into Turn 2.

Vettel spun out of the lead, and by the time he limped the car back to the pits, there was too much damage to the rear suspension and brake assembly, with Vettel recording his first DNF since the 2010 Korean Grand Prix more than 12 months ago.

This was all great news for Lewis Hamilton. As he looked to put his horror 2011 season behind him, Hamilton found himself with a handy Lap 1 lead. And that was it. While Fernando Alonso could shadow him for much of the race, there never seemed a point where the Spaniard might realistically challenge for the lead, leaving Hamilton to take a straightforward win.

“I saw immediately that something had happened to [Vettel’s] tyre, and that’s why he was going sideways,” said Hamilton after the race.

“I was just making sure that I didn’t collect him as he potentially [could come] across the track.

“After that, I just saw that I had two very quick drivers behind me and I was just trying to keep the gap. I think it’s very rare for us and for me to get the opportunity to be able to maintain a gap, to be able to control the race, but today I had the pace, I was able to put in the laps when Fernando went quicker, and whenever he closed the gap, generally was able to keep it the same or pull out a little bit more.”

Alonso was a very comfortable second, an amazing result given that he started fifth on the grid – not that he wanted to admit that he made another blinder of a start.

“I don’t think it was so good,” he said.

“At the start, I think we lost a little bit of ground with Jenson [Button], who was right in front of us in third, and we were fifth.

Then we braked and we risked, on the outside of Turn 1, to overtake Mark [Webber], so we gained one position there. We gained one position with Sebastian’s accident, and then one position with the slipstream with Jenson. I think we’ve had better starts than today.”

A KERS problem in the middle of the race meant Button was unable to fight for anything beyond third place, but with Webber and Massa fighting it out for a distant fourth place, Button was able to cruise to the final spot on the podium.

“We found a way of getting the KERS working again, but the problem was it would only last for a couple of laps and then it would stop working,” he said.

“There was no warning to tell me it had stopped working so I would just lose all engine braking. It was pretty tricky, so to get to the end and be on the podium, I am pretty happy with that.”

Webber, on a risky three-stop strategy, finished fourth after Massa spun with six laps to go. Behind them, the Mercedes duo of Nico Rosberg and Michael Schumacher battled it out to finish sixth and seventh respectively, with Adrian Sutil, Paul di Resta and Kamui Kobayashi rounding out the Top 10.

Meanwhile, Daniel Ricciardo took home no reward for an awesome weekend. He out-qualified not only his team-mate Tonio Liuzzi, but Virgin Racing’s Jerome d’Ambrosio as well, and started 20th after the post-qualifying penalties shook out. But, having covered Liuzzi for most of the day, a problem six laps from the end left him on the DNF list. motorsport news

RACE

sutton-images.com

Feeling Flat: A deflated rear tyre brought Vettel’s run of race finishes to an end of Lap 1, above. Ricciardo fought hard throughout the race, right, while Webber couldn’t take his chance to fight for a podium, below.

sutton-images.com

sutton-images.com

Results :: Abu Dhabi

sutton-images.com

www.mnews.com.au

Pos

Driver

Team

Qual

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 DNF DNF DNF DNF

Lewis Hamilton Fernando Alonso Jenson Button Mark Webber Felipe Massa Nico Rosberg Michael Schumacher Adrian Sutil Paul di Resta Kamui Kobayashi Sergio Perez Rubens Barrichello Vitaly Petrov Pastor Maldonado Jaime Alguersuari Bruno Senna Heikki Kovalainen Jarno Trulli Timo Glock Tonio Liuzzi Daniel Ricciardo Sebastien Buemi Jerome d’Ambrosio Sebastian Vettel

Mclaren-Mercedes Ferrari McLaren-Mercedes Red Bull-Renault Ferrari Mercedes Mercedes Force India-Mercedes Force India-Mercedes Sauber-Ferrari Sauber-Ferrari Williams-Cosworth Renault Williams-Cosworth Toro Rosso-Ferrari Renault Lotus-Renault Lotus-Renault Virgin-Cosworth HRT-Cosworth HRT-Cosworth Toro Rosso-Ferrari Virgin-Cosworth Red Bull-Renault

2 5 3 4 6 7 8 9 10 16 11 24 12 17 15 14 18 19 20 23 21 13 22 1

Top 10 Points: Vettel 374, Button 255, Alonso 245, Webber 233,

Hamilton 227, Massa 108, Rosberg 83, Schumacher 76, Petrov 36, Sutil 34.

39

AUSTRALIAN FORMULA FORD C’SHIP ROUND 7 - SYMMONS PLAINS, TASMANIA

FOSTER Q

UEENSLANDER Nick Foster was nearly flawless in his commanding victory in the final round of the 2011 Australian Formula Ford Championship, at Symmons Plains.

Qualifying fastest and winning two out of three races, the Steeline and Sonic Motor Racing-sponsored Foster finished the round 17 points clear of second-placed Daniel Erickson, and 21 points ahead of newly crowned 2011 Champion Cameron Waters.

It was a fitting end to Foster’s time in Formula Ford, as he spoke of his frustration with his results in 2011.

“It’s the first time all year that I’ve been able to put a consistent round together, which is a good feeling and a nice way for me to finish my time in Formula Ford,” he said.

“It’s also a nice way to thank the whole Sonic team for all their 40

AFTER A FRUSTRATING SEASON, NIC IN STYLE, WINNING THE SEASON FIN

work this season.”

Erickson was also pleased to finish with his most consistent round of the season, with the Bosch Batteries-sponsored Spectrum collecting good points from all three races to finish the round in second position.

While Linde Material Handling-backed Waters may have been better known to the local crowd for his television appearances and Bathurst debut, good qualifying pace and strong showings in Races 1 and 2 left no doubt that he was a worthy 2011 champion.

After winning Race 2, an error in running off track in the final led to heavy contact with the wall, ending his time in Formula Ford.

“Overall the season has been amazing, I’ve obviously had some downs, but a lot of ups and it’s awesome to win the championship with Sonic Motor Racing Services, I can’t thank them enough,” the motorsport news

RACE

Dirk Klynsmith

Dirk Klynsmith

CK FOSTER SIGNED OFF FROM FORMULA FORD NALE IN TASMANIA, REBECCA WYATT REPORTS

www.mnews.com.au

Cameron Waters, top, grabbed a race win, but his Formula Ford tenure ended in the wall in the final. Daniel Erickson, above, was second for the weekend, while Liam Sager got some air at the hairpin trying to pass Tom Williamson, below.

John Morris / Mpix

17-year-old said.

Fourth place for the round and a round-best fourth place in the final race sealed the Rookie of the Year title for Mathew Hart. Shae Davies scored his best Formula Ford race result with second in the final to tie on points with Jack LeBrocq – the pair recording a DNF each – although LeBrocq did enough to hold out Foster for second in the championship.

In his second national series start and first race at his home track, Callum Mitchell managed to chip away over the weekend and improve his lap times in the highly competitive field. A promising weekend was ended prematurely with driveshaft bolts shearing and bringing his final race to an early end.

Points: Waters 331, LeBrocq 257, Foster 251, Tom Williamson 201, Trent Harrison 156, Garry Jacobson 137

John Morris / Mpix

THE MAN

41

FORMULA 3 AUS DRIVERS CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND 7 - SYMMONS PLAINS, TASMANIA

AT LAST

FORMULA 3 VETERAN CHRIS GILMOUR IS NOW A CHAMPION. DA WATCHED HIM WRAP UP THE TITLE AT SYMMONS PLAINS

S

EVEN years after narrowly missing out on the 2004 title, Chris Gilmour has broken through to win the 2011 Formula 3 Australian Drivers Championship.

Gilmour fought it out with James Winslow for the Gold Star, but did enough over the three races at Symmons Plains to claim his maiden title.

Winslow started the weekend in style, setting a quick time in Friday’s second practice session to show that he – some 19 points behind Gilmour in the championship battle – was going to go all-out to win this weekend and take a second championship, a feat only one person has achieved before in Australian F3 history.

“The car feels good,” the Brit said. “It feels like it did at Phillip Island during race two when we won! There’s more to come and times were a bit slower than expected but so far, so good.”

Gilmour was also easing himself into the weekend, but his pace showed that he wasn’t going to be just accumulating points in Tasmania.

“We’re here to win, I’m not just chasing points,” he exclaimed.

“Cruising around trying to finish third and only do enough to win the 42

title isn’t my style. It’s going to be very competitive and I’ll be right in the fight with a goal to win.

“The car feels good. There are improvements to be made but we’re well on the right track.”

Winslow carried his form into qualifying, taking pole position and a bonus point to narrow Gilmour’s lead to 18, but the Queenslander lived up to his words in the opening race. In a thriller, Gilmour led home John Magro, who stormed through the field in the closing laps to dice with Gilmour for the win. Tim Macrow was third in his National Class Dallara, while clutch issues saw Winslow slip to fourth.

That gave Gilmour the upperhand, but Winslow kept it alive with a dominant Race 2 victory over Macrow, with Gilmour fifth after coming unstuck in the greasy conditions. A large crowd stayed to watch the Gold Star finale following the final V8 Supercar race of the weekend, and they were rewarded with a dramatic race and title decider.

Winslow greeted the chequered flag first, but was given a 10second penalty post-race for rolling at the start. That handed the race win to Macrow, with Winslow second. Magro and Mat Sofi motorsport news

RACE Dirk Klynsmith John Morris / Mpix Dirk Klynsmith

AVID CLIFFORD

James Winslow, top, couldn’t quite snatch the title. Tim Macrow, above, topped the National Class and won the final outright, while Steel Guiliana, right, sealed the National Class title.

www.mnews.com.au

Dirk Klynsmith

were third and fourth, and while Gilmour was fifth again, he’d done enough. After eight years and more starts than any other driver, Gilmour won the Formula 3 Australian Drivers’ Championship for the CAMS Gold Star.

“For years my ambition has been to win a National title in motor racing,” Gilmour said.

“And now I’ve done it. It’s an amazing feeling. I never thought I’d get to this point after what we have been through over the past six or seven seasons. After Morgan Park (Ed: where Gilmour won all three races) I felt I had a realistic chance to do it – and it was something I wanted so badly.

“This weekend was a case of doing exactly what we needed to do. I needed to win on Saturday because I was worried about the weather today. From there it was just doing what I had to.”

Macrow cleaned up in Forpark National Class, while a pair of seconds across the three races saw Steel Guiliana win the title ahead of Ben Gersekowski, who was second in the final.

Gold Star Points: Gilmour 210, Winslow 202, Magro 177 National Class Points: Guiliana 229, Gersekowski 220, Josh Burdon 155

43

AUSSIE RACING CARS ROUND 6 - SYMMONS PLAINS, TASMANIA

KEMAL IN CHAR

HE MAY HAVE SPLIT THE RACE WINS WITH ADAM GOWANS, BUT CONSISTE PAUL KEMAL THE AUSSIE RACING CAR ROUND WIN AT SYMMONS PLAINS

P

AUL Kemal took out Round 6 of the Aussie Racing Cars Super Series at Symmons Plains, while Tyler Owen now leads the series with one round remaining.

The Tasmanian circuit is the shortest the series visits, and the long straights lent themselves to three and four-wide braking duels between the nimble Aussie Racing Cars, but none of that troubled Kemal.

The former series champion won two of the four races, and fourth and second in the others was enough for him to seal the round win. Kemal led every lap of the opener to finish clear of Kyle Clews by 0.5s, with Tyler Owen third. Owen’s title rival, Adrian

Cottrell, meanwhile, was on the back foot. After qualifying 16th, the points leader made his way up to eighth.

From 11th on the grid, local Adam Gowans took out a frenetic Race 2, in which the Top 10 were covered by less than two seconds at the line. Owen was second, ahead of Peter Carr, Kemal and returnee Jack Perkins. Clews spent time at the head of the field but ultimately finished seventh, while Cottrell could only manage 10th.

With the Top 10 reversed in Race 3, the cream still rose to the top. Kemal won from seventh, while Carr and Gowans came from ninth and 10th respectively to round out the top three. Of the title protagonists, Owen was seventh and Cottrell 11th.

John Morris / Mpix

44

motorsport news

RACE

RGE

ENCY HANDED

Carr led all but two corners of the final, but unfortunately they were the two that counted. Gowans swept through to edge out Kemal and take his second win of the weekend. Cottrell shrugged off his early weekend form to finish third, ahead of Carr and Owen.

The net result saw Kemal win the round from Gowans and Carr.

Owen was fourth and Cottrell sixth for the weekend, handing Owen the championship lead by a single point with one round remaining.

Richard Fricker topped the Masters Cup in three of the four starts, including eighth outright in Race 2, with Glen McNamara grabbing the other class win.

James Smith

2010 Champion Adam Gowans, above, won two of the four races on home turf.

Jack Perkins, below, made a one-off return to the category, with fourth in the opener his best result of the weekend.

John Morris / Mpix

www.mnews.com.au

45

BOSCH AUSTRALIAN RALLY C’SHIP ROUND 5 - RALLY VICTORIA

JUST IN TIME

FOR MOST OF RALLY VICTORIA, IT LOOKED AS THOUGH JUSTIN DOWEL WOULDN’T WIN THE BOSCH AUSTRALIAN RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP. THEN, WITH THREE STAGES TO GO, THINGS WENT HIS WAY

Michael Vettas

46

motorsport news

RACE

www.mnews.com.au

47

J

48

Justin Collins

USTIN Dowel and Matt Lee are the 2011 Bosch Australian Rally Champions, following a dramatic season finale.

While Simon and Sue Evans dominated Rally Victoria to win their sole ARC start of the year, all eyes were on the championship battle between Ryan Smart, Dowel and Mark Pedder.

Having led the way for the majority of the year, Smart was in the box seat heading to Warragul, to the East of Melbourne, holding a three-point lead over Dowel, while Pedder’s chances were more mathematical than realistic. And that became a moot point early, with a mechanical problem in Heat 1 ending Pedder’s prospects, making it a two-way fight between Smart and Dowel.

While Smart was a strong second in Friday’s opening leg, 10 seconds behind the Evans’ Subaru, Dowel had to fight back from a spin on the opening stage to finish third, the best part of a minute in arrears.

That saw Smart’s lead grow to seven points, meaning Dowel needed to finish two spots ahead of Smart and co-driver John Allen in Heat 2.

For most of Saturday, it looked like that wouldn’t happen. Smart traded stage wins with Evans and sat second, well clear of third-placed Dowel. Then, with three stages to run, Smart’s Corolla lost drive on the front-right wheel and dropped six minutes.

It was game over.

“I’m absolutely shattered,” Smart, who eventually limped to ninth, said.

“After working so hard the whole year and having the pace, we are just so disappointed. A positive thing is that we have shown that we do have pace, and it was great to be able to get some stage wins over Simon Evans today. It obviously wasn’t meant to be ours this year.”

From there, Dowel did what was required, bringing his Evo IX home in second place to secure his maiden ARC title.

“Wow, I don’t know what to say,” Dowel admitted.

“It’s a really freaky feeling, and it really hasn’t sunk in yet. We had a good day today, but I had to pull my finger out this afternoon to put the pressure back on Ryan.

I knew that if we kept persisting then the result may come.

“We never gave up, even after yesterday’s problems when I put the car off the road.

The guys in the team just kept telling me to ‘keep pushing’ and it’s paid off. I can’t believe it.”

In the end, the Evans’ sealed the win by almost two minutes.

“It was our first Rally Victoria and I have to thank my wife Suzy for the great job she did as co-driver this weekend, it was fantastic and we proved that we have lost nothing despite the year off,” Simon said.

Coffs Harbour winner Steven Shepheard and John McCarthy finished fourth in Heat 1, but crashed out of Saturday’s running.

Behind Evans and Dowel were the winners of the 2011 RallySchool.com.au Junior Rally Challenge. The 4WD winners, Tom Wilde and Scott Allan rounded out the podium in their upgraded Subaru WRX, while Will Orders and Rian Calder were

fourth in an outright WRX – their prize for winning the 2WD section.

Eli Evans and Glen Weston were sixth in Heat 1, and despite a power steering problem that left them 22nd in Heat 2, they won the 2WD class in their Honda Civic.

Razvan Vlad and Raymon Nicoli sealed the 2011 title.

Geoff Portman and Ross Runnalls won the Classic section of the rally, leading a Ford Escort RS1800 trifecta.

Points: Dowel 340.5, Smart 327.25, Shepheard 199.5, Pedder 186, Eli Evans 186, Wilde 175 motorsport news

RACE

Michael Vettas

Simon and Sue Evans, above, made their one ARC start of the year count, winning both heats.

While Justin Dowel and Matt Lee held the trophy aloft, left, Ryan Smart and John Allen, right, were left to rue the heartbreaking end to their title bid.

Michael Vettas

www.mnews.com.au

49

NASCAR ROUND 35 – PHOENIX, AZ

‘

Kasey Cases Em! While Kasey Kahne ended a two-year winless streak, Carl Edwards and Tony Stewart set up a classic showdown for the Sprint Cup crown in Florida next weekend

TOYOTA Media

50

TOYOTA Me dia

Steamroller: Kasey Kahne rolled long-time leader Tony Stewart late in the race to score in Phoenix, main, inset right. Kahne’s jubilation translated into an overheating Toyota after a vigouous tyre smoking session, inset above. Stewart heads Matt Kenseth and Championship Chase rival Carl Edwards.

motorsport news

RACE

I

The win was Kahne’s first in a Toyota and first – and probably last – for Red Bull Racing, which faces possible extinction at the end of the season. Kahne does not; he will become Hendrick Motorsports driver next season.

“We couldn’t ask for anything more,” Edwards said. “It’s going to be fun. It’s neat to be able to go to Homestead and race it out. I’m sure these guys [Stewart’s team] are going to be good down there; they’re fast on the mile-and-a-halfs.

“We just came up two spots shy,” Stewart said.

“It was just a little too loose on entry those last two runs there. I thought that Darian [crew chief Darian Grubb] made a really good call there with just gas only at the end [on Stewart’s final pit stop on Lap 294], and we were able to run Jeff [Burton] down there and get back to third.

“Every point counts right now, and that’s why we raced Carl so

OUTSTANDING PIT DISPLAYS BY OCTANORM MANY OTHER DISPLAY OPTIONS AVAILABLE PLEASE CALL US TO DISCUSS REQUIREMENTS

SYDNEY (02) 9556 6012 MELBOURNE (03) 9394 3150

www.mnews.com.au

51

NASCAR Media

NASCAR Media

T is common that looking at who led the last lap of a NASCAR race is the important bit. But with due respect to Kasey Kahne, who led it in Phoenix, many were looking at who led the most laps around the one-mile oval.

Tony Stewart did. He finished third – one spot behind Carl Edwards. With the point that comes with that distinction, the latter two drivers head to Florida this week tied on points.

“We have great cars,” said Kahne,” who ended an 81-race winless streak, which stretches back to September 2009 at Atlanta, with the victory.

“I feel like each week I’m going to the race track with as good a car as anybody out there, which has been really nice this season.

“We haven’t won in a while. We put the whole race together today and then had a little luck. Everything that falls into winning a race, we had it today.”

NEED TO JOIN A CAR CLUB TO GET YOUR CAMS LICENSE? No matter what car you drive, Formula Ford Association membership is a cost effective way to get you on track.

CLICK TO FIND OUT MORE> 52

to advertise in Raceshop call us now

Luke Finn 0423 665 384 motorsport news

RACE

FORD Media

hard and Kasey so hard to make sure we led enough laps to lead the most laps today [160]. We are going for every single point we can get.”

Stewart dominated the first half of the race, taking the lead on lap 36 and controlling the pace of the race. Edwards stayed close, and when a yellow flew on lap 220 when Robby Gordon crashed, the title contenders restarted side-by-side. The Ford won the position and from there, Stewart’s Chevy lost ground.

Burton took fourth ahead of Stewart’s team-mate, Ryan Newman. AJ Allmendinger followed from David Reutimann, Marcos Ambrose and Paul Menard. It was a great weekend for the Aussie, who started third and ran with the lead pack for almost the whole race.

“We had a good car today, we just needed a bit of clean air to

Prickly pair: The unique desert setting at Phoenix, opposite. Marcos Ambrose had another strong weekend, the Australian this time coming home eighth. get the nose down and feeling good,” Ambrose said.

“I am proud of my DEWALT team, they did a good job and we were solid all day long.

“It bodes very well for next

season.”

With all but the two leading drivers eliminated from title contention, Jimmie Johnson’s reign of five Sprint Cup titles has come to an end.

Results :: Kobalt Tools 500, PHOENIX AZ Pos. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

NASCAR Media

www.mnews.com.au

No. 4 99 14 31 39 43 00 9 27 33

Driver Kasey Kahne Carl Edwards Tony Stewart Jeff Burton Ryan Newman A.J. Allmendinger David Reutimann Marcos Ambrose Paul Menard Clint Bowyer

Make Toyota Ford Chevy Chevy Chevy Ford Toyota Ford Chevy Chevy

Team Red Bull Roush Fenway Stewart Haas Childress Stewart Haas Petty Waltrip Petty Childress Childress

Sponsor Red Bull Aflac Office Depot/Mobil 1 Caterpillar U.S. Army Wix Filters Tums Dewalt Menards Cheerios

Qual.

10 9 8 14 30 2 7 3 11 28

Points: Edwards 2359, Stewart 2356, Harvick 2308, Keselowski 2294, Johnson 2291, Kenseth 2289, Earnhardt 2257, Kurt Busch/Newman 2252, Hamlin 2249.

53

THE VIEW THEY ALL SAW AT ZHUHAI ILMC THE 2011 Intercontinental Le Mans Cup came to an end at Zhuhai on the weekend, where it was the Peugeot 908 of Anthony Davidson and Sebastien Bourdais who easily out classed their sister car, and the faltering Audi R18 TDIs. The racing was close and hard in the opening stages of the six-hour event in China, as the Allan McNish/ Tom Kristensen Audi challenged the Peugeot of Bourdais hard for the lead.

But with a significant temperature change throwing a spanner in the works, the 908 of Bourdais came into its own, reveling in the hotter conditions to leave the Audis far in the background.

The race only got worse for the Audi of Mc Nish and Kristensen however, as an electrical issue caused by a collision with the Rebellion-Toyota left the lead R18 parking in the garage.

After the six hours had run its course, it was the Bourdais/Davidson Peugeot who lead home the sister car of Frank Montagny and Stephan Sarrazin by over half a minute.

Timo Bernhard and Marcel Fassler rounded out the podium in their fading number two Audi.

The Signatech Oreca-Nissan was the victor of the LMP-2 class.

In GTE-Pro, the factory BMWs did all the winning in the hands of Jorg Muller and Augusto Farfus, with teammates Andy Priaulx and Uwe Alzen following a lap behind.

Two-time Formula 1 champion Mika Hakkinen was back in racing action at the Chinese circuit, joining the AMG China Mercedes team in a GT3 spec SLS Gullwing for the weekend.

The weekend unfortunately ended prematurely with a DNF for the ‘Flying Finn’ and his team.

Andrew Hall

54

motorsport news

RRACE

James Smith

STAUFFER’S TASMANIAN COMEBACK ...

ASBK Jamie Stauffer fought back from qualifying in seventh place to take out Round 7 of the QBE Australian Superbike Championship at Symmons Plains.

After taking out Race 1, Team Honda’s Stauffer finished in second place in Race 2,

which was enough to secure the round win.

Josh Waters bounced back from a forced retirement with engine dramas whilst leading Race 1 to take line honours in Race 2.

The results from the weekend gave an injured Glenn Allerton an unassailable lead in the championship, making him just the fifth rider in the history of the ASBK to have

CALADO COLLECTS

Sutton-Images.com

www.mnews.com.au

clinched a second Australian Superbike title. A clash with Robbie Bugden during racing on Saturday left Allerton with a severely swollen arm, but he battled through the pain and discomfort to finish in fifth place in Race 2, enough to secure the 2011 title.

– REBECCA WYATT

GP2 ON his debut weekend in the GP2 Series, this year’s GP3 runner-up James Calado has taken victory in the second sprint race at the Abu Dhabi circuit on the weekend.

After finishing in eighth place in the feature Race 1, Calado started from pole position in the reverse grid Race 2, where he would remain at the head of the field until the fall of the chequered flag.

Along with his impressive debut weekend win, Calado was awarded 15,000 Euros by Pirelli for being the best performing GP3 graduate in the GP2 Series.

Fabio Liemer was the victor in the feature race, after switching from his old Rapax outfit to the Racing Engineering for the Abu Dhabi weekend. The Swiss driver looked dominant throughout the race, stretching out a 2.2 second lead from pole position by the end of the opening lap.

Luiz Razia was second in the feature race, closely followed by Jolyon Palmer in third place.

55

RADDATZ AND OTTEN SHOW THEM THE WAY WINTON 300 DAVID Raddatz and Shane Otten have continued their stunning form in clublevel endurance races, taking out the Winton 300 event in their Mazda MX5.

Raddatz and Otten ran third in the early stages of the race before the early leaders, Stephen Anslow / Hayden Pullen retired with a mechanical problem.

Nathan Jess / Matthew Thompson then

inherited the lead in their Future Racer, but fell back with a broken sway bar, allowing the father-and-son combination of Steve and Jake Shelly to finish second ahead of Matthew Holt and Brett Howard in their HSV Clubsport.

Experienced racer Dean Lindstrom teamed up with Brett Kay to finish fifth outright in a Mazda RX3.

While Sean and Graham Bell led home a strong complement of BMW E30s in sixth

outright.

Henry Draper and Linda Devlin ran strongly in the race’s early stages in their Mini Challenge car, but fell down the order after a gamble to change to slick tyres during a brief shower of rain failed to pay off.

Amazingly, the race was not interrupted by any safety-car periods, and 21 out of the 29 starters greeted the chequered flag.

– LACHLAN MANSELL

Hansen has a hansome weekend

Serge Mironenko

WANNEROO 300 BARBAGALLO Raceway continued the endurance racing trend on the weekend, as the famous Wanneroo 300 was run and won.

The race saw 17 cars from five different closed-car categories battle it out over 125 laps last Saturday, with Matthew Hansen and former state Formula Ford winner Cade Bell taking the honours in Hansen’s VY Commodore V8 Supercar.

The Hansen/Bell entry led home the Porsche 997 of Carrera Cup race winner Michael Patrizi and Adam Marjoram, with the gap standing at just 16 seconds after more than 267 kilometres 56

of racing. Allan Letcher and Kevin Ledger made it three different manufacturers on the podium by taking a distant third in their Subaru WRX Sports Sedan.

The fastest lap of the race actually went to New Zealander Daniel Gaunt and his team-mate Richard Bennett in their Porsche Carrera Cup Car, but the duo could only manage fifth in the race.

There was a two-driver, one-hour race for HQ Holdens as a support race, with Rodney Jenzen and John Wood taking a comfortable win from pole position.

Serge Alfieri and Grant Johnson were second, with Stuart Kenny and Malcolm Beale third. motorsport news

RACE

SMITH LUCKY TO WALK AWAY UNHURT AFTER SHUNT F5000 NZ legend Ken Smith has emerged unhurt from a Formula 5000 crash which has badly damaged his newly-restored Lola T332.

The kiwi was contesting just the second event since restoring the T332 in his original 70s ‘La Valise’ livery and was seemingly caught out by a slightly damp track at the rolling start for a qualifying heat at yesterday’s second round of the 2011/12 MSC NZ F5000 Tasman Cup Revival Series.

From pole, the car flicked left into the McRae of Canadian Jay Esterer, with both cars hitting the wall.

Roger Williams’ Lola was also hit from behind as he attempted to

avoid the pair.

“It was a biggie, alright,” said the three-time New Zealand Grand Prix winner, whose only injury was a tweaked left ankle caused when his car first hit the wall.

“I’ve never had one like that before. It was wet and the track was greasy and when I floored it at the start she just snapped sideways,” he said.

“There was nothing I could do. I could see the wall coming up and I knew I was going to go in hard.”

The heat was abandoned. The main event later in the day was won

by Dunedin’s Steve Ross (who now leads the series), from Stuart Lush and Aaron Burson, the three providing a McRae trifecta.

DOING THE RIGHT LINES IN AVALON SPEEDWAY REIGNING Grand Annual Sprintcar Classic winner Steven Lines has sent an ominous warning to his national counterparts winning the fourth round of the Eureka Garages and Sheds Sprintcar Series at Avalon Raceway in convincing fashion.

Lines inherited the lead of the 30-lap A Main as he was never headed in holding off Simpson duo John Vogels and Tim Rankin.

Vogels had topped the points after

qualifying, but Lines set the fastest time in the top-six time trials with a blistering new track record of 10.930 seconds, and would start off pole for the feature from Daniel Petska, Ryan Davis, Vogels, Mike Van Bremen and Rankin.

With a strong lineup of 46 cars in action, series leaders Jamie Veal, Darren Mollenoyux and Brett Milburn all had to transfer from the B Main.

Come feature time and Petska grabbed the lead early from Lines and Vogels, but

on Lap 4, Petska made contact with the unforgiving Avalon wall and ruined his right rear wheel.

Lines then led the field away at the restart with only a few laps remaining.

Lines held his ground to the chequered flag.

Vogels and Rankin have climbed up the point’s table to be in a position to challenge Veal who still remains at the top from Mollenoyux.

– GEOFF ROUNDS

QRDC ROUNDS UP AT LAKESIDE QLD STATE

www.mnews.com.au

Mark Pryor

THE final race meeting for the year in Queensland was the two-day QRDC event at Lakeside, which was run and won on the weekend.

The more notable appearance of the day was Fujitsu V8 Supercar outfit Miles Racing, who had entered a pair of Chevrolet Oz Trucks in the embryonic category.

Fujitsu Series racer Tom Tweedie was one of the competitors, along with former Formula Ford racer Ryan Cochrane. Cochrane won all the races while Tweedie was third for the weekend behind category originator Graham Struber.

Morgan Haber won the first race of the Suzuki Swift Series but was disqualified from the second, leaving Allan Jarvis to win both remaining races and strengthen his series lead heading into the Eastern Creek finale.

Michael Antonieff won the QR Sports & Sedans category but fell seven-points short of the QR Sports Car title behind Tim Ware. Scott Harrison (Mitsubishi Lancer) wrapped up the QR Sedans title over Jason Coram, while Shane Satchwell won Improved Production over Bruce Cookand Peter Lettice.

Hayden Cooper wrapped up his second title in seven days after winning all four QR Race Car races. Wade Scott was second in the title race over Matt Campbell.

John Prefontaine dominated the Production Sports Cars in his new supercharged Lotus Exige Sport ahead of Chris Romano.

Ash Lowe wrapped up the QLD Production Sports point score at the previous round in the 2F. In 2B Kerry Finn also had it wrapped up early with Garry Harris beating Henri van Roden to second, all in MX5s.

– MARK JONES

57

)+,!$# .* +

)+,!$# .* +

)+,!$# .* +

Ex-Redline UK Mint Condition, zero hours on gearbox Engine has 4000 kms, leakdown & compression tests excellent. No chassis damage, 2 extra sets of wheels, air lance, cover, beacon etc. $135,000 (plus GST) or best offer Must sell URGENTLY. 0418 320 517

One Season UK Carrera Cup 2010.

Re-shelled late 2010, immaculate condition.

Fresh gearbox (receipts avail). Engine 6358km, known history. Car with 3 sets of wheels, normal spares & tools $150,000 (Plus GST). 0418 320 517 000 '2 !)'

000 '2 !)'

)+,!$# .* + ("#' Awesome package - 2004 996 Cup Car. Fresh gear box and shocks, new clutch and brakes. Maintained to high standard. 2 x sets wheels, front bar, discs, air ducts etc.

Includes custom tandem designed for cup car, carries 3 x sets wheels, full LED lights. Race prepped and ready to go! (Price + GST).

0419 483 134

Professionally maintained to the highest standards. Includes two spare sets of wheels, auto throttle, blipper upgrade, Motec video logger, variant exhaust system. $215,000 plus GST. 0488 445 305 000 '2 !)'

000 '2 !)'

+ + %&#+ # /#+ %& Peter Conroy Motorsport has available it’s 2011 12 Hour Production Class winner available for lease to suitably experience drivers. All inclusive arrive and drive package including accommodation, food, entry fees, tyres etc. Contact Peter for details. 0400 754 741 +pcmsport@bigpond.com 000 '2 !)'

,.3. .*#+ *)+-, +# - &.# Near new ADR3, 100kg lighter than Radical with similar power plant. Massive spares inventory including uprights, body panels, ratios and new slicks. Raced 4 times since new. More than $90K spent, fantastic buying at just $55K. This is a genuine urgent sale. Call Mike Navybox for details 0417 462 664 000 '2 !)'

)(-% ! %+# %+" + (, ' )( +) 1 2006 model VZ GTO Monaros.

When purchased they were the last 2 new Monaros available in Aus and have been in storage ever since. 6 Litre, 6 speed manuals.

Odyssey in colour. New condition with less than 200kms on the odometer. $75,000 each.

0438 996 788

This is a Rally X Special factory order set up for tarmac racing, rallies or quick enough to be a drag racing vehicle. 5.7L GM engine with Harrop intercooled supercharger (highest spec). 750hp+ and 900NM torque, arming switch and missile switch roll cage, huge race spec list of extras and parts. 0414 787 686 000 '2 !)'

000 '2 !)'

58 30

motorsport news

rear of grid

Ed Overit

THERE are many things in the island state of Tasmania that are green.

This Ford is very green. In the usually sleepy town of Perth, half-way between the throbbing metropolis of Launceston and Symmons Plains, sat this lonely reminder of a bygone era.

A few locals got together and replicated

one of the most iconic cars of the 1980s, Dick Johnson’s Greens-Tuf Falcon Group C car. It was identical in every way to the racer – except, in every way.

All the lads who sat with the car wanted was for the Great Man to stop and autograph their Henry. As we flew back to the northern island on Sunday night, there

was no word on whether the deed was delivered.

If not, try again next year lads, and may we offer a word of advice. You may clear up a potential double meaning, and have a better chance of an autograph, if you place a comma between the third and fourth words on the sign ...

ON THIS DAY 13 NOVEMBER 1994

IT is 17 years since Michael Schumacher won his first World Championship – and the first by a German driver – in Adelaide.

Schumacher was leading the race on lap 36 when he ran wide and hit a wall. When he regained the track, his Benetton struck the Williams of Damon Hill, taking them both out of the race. As a result, Schumacher won the title by a single point.

sutton-images.com

www.mnews.com.au

59