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JAPANESE DRIVERS SPOILED BY NEW CIRCUIT TOP FUEL FIRES AGAIN EARLY DETAILS FOR SEASON 2023 POINT TO ANOTHER BUMPER RUN By Paul Gover, News Editor THE REVIVAL of Top Fuel drag racing in Australia will shift up a gear in season 2023. As Peter Xiberras and Phil Lamattina continue fighting for this year’s Australian Top Fuel Championship at Hidden Valley in Darwin the series has already been expanded for next year. Seven races will be run including three new ones – at Alice Springs, Willowbank in Queensland and the new strip at The Bend in South Australia. For Queensland fans, it’s a comeback plan for one of the country’s most popular tracks, while The Bend will be all-new with construction of the drag strip currently underway. The season starts in September and, typically for drag racing, runs through to the middle of 2024 to ensure events can be run – spectacularly – in the cool of the night. This year’s Top Fuel revival, under new co-promoters Andy Lopez and Nathan Prendergast, has served up competitive and reliable racing to big attendances. The biggest, ahead of Darwin when the Fuel cars will share the weekend with Supercars at Hidden Valley, is a combined 16,000 people at Heathcote Park in Victoria. “It’s going so well because Top Fuel is a product that appeals to people. But they have never been able to see it at their local track,” Prendergast tells Auto Action. “We’ve taken Top Fuel to parts of Australia that have been starved for years and it’s delivering.” Apart from the venues, next year’s series has the potential for bigger fields under the round-robin format that keeps every car running through the whole event. There are 12 cars in Australia, including the third car at Rapisada Racing that was driven by American Larry Dixon at Sydney Dragway and the Rachelle Splatt car that could run with help from Peter X at Premiair Racing if sponsorship can be found. “We are always looking for new teams and drivers. We’re very pleased with the product we deliver. When other teams are ready to come and race we’re ready to accept them with arms wide open,” says Prendergast. While 2023 is being set, Prendergast says the 2022 title is still wide open. “The top two are only 10 points apart, and third to fifth are covered by another 25 points. There are 30 points for a round win, and bonus points for finals entry and victory. “So Lamattina and Peter X need to win, and go quick, to wrap up the championship.” AUSTRALIAN TOP FUEL CHAMPIONSHIP SEASON 2023 September 1-2 Alice Springs, Northern Territory October 1-2 Heathcote, Victoria November 11-12 Perth, Western Australia January 7-8 Willowbank, Queensland March 11-12 Tailem Bend, South Australia May 5-6 Sydney, NSW TBC Darwin, Northern Territory
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A PRIVATE DRIVING PARADISE IS HEADING FOR COMPLETION By Paul Gover, News Editor THE TILKE Engineering team which created most of the world’s new Grand Prix circuits, and helped to update the home of the Australian Grand Prix at Albert Park, is doing something special in Japan. It’s a private circuit called The Magarigawa Club that incorporates a state-of-the-art race-track with luxury villas in a package to rival the world’s best golf courses. The circuit is set to open early in 2023 and so will membership of Magarigawa – priced at a ‘if you have to ask you cannot afford it’ level.
Only 50 memberships are open and the eye-watering joining fee is $330,500. More fees will follow. If you want a villa, that’s extra, and certain to drain millions from your bank account. The developers, Cornes, sell Rolls-Royces and Ferrari cars in Japan and their well-heeled clients are expected to top the list of members. Their membership fees are also being used to help fund the building of the track. The circuit is 3.5 kilometres long, with an 800-metre pit straight and 22 corners. It’s a truly up-and-down layout, with a maximum climb of 20 per cent and a steepest descent of 16 per cent, for a total elevation change of 80 metres. Apart from the circuit, the ownership package includes a special clubhouse,
access to air-conditioned pit boxes, and everything from a fitness rooms to hot springs baths. Members are likely to include company CEOs and IT entrepreneurs to supercar collectors, with Ferrari, McLaren and Lamborghini badges expected to dominate the pitlane. All members will be provided by instruction on safe, fast driving from a safety team led by the 72-year-old former Le Mans winner, Masanori Sekiya. He shared a McLaren F1 GTR with Yannick Dalmas and JJ Lehto when they won in 1995. The Magarigawa Club is sited in mountainous country in the Chiba Prefecture in Japan, about an hour from Tokyo and Haneda Airport.
MARQUEZ SET FOR ANOTHER INJURY LAYOFF SIX-TIME MotoGP World champion Marc Marquez will spend an extended period on the sidelines as he heads into hospital for a fourth round of surgery on his right arm. The Honda rider has been plagued by injury over the last few years, missing nearly the whole 2020 campaign and the start of 2021 with separate concerns. After starting six of the first eight races this year, Marquez will now head to the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota for more surgery on his troublesome right humerus, which will keep him away from competition for at least a couple of months. Marquez has been hampered by the injury recently after last receiving surgical treatment 18 months ago, managing a best race finish of fourth in 2022. Dr. Joaquin Sánchez Sotelo will oversee Marquez’s treatment and recovery, which he will complete in Spain. “Unfortunately, I have to take a break from the 2022 season that will keep me away from competition for a while,” Marquez said. “After all these months of intense work with my new medical team in Madrid, my physical condition has improved and I have reduced the discomfort in my right arm to be able to
compete at the Grands Prix, but I still have significant limitations in my humerus that does not allow me to ride the bike properly and achieve the goals I have always set for myself. “I have made the decision to carry out a new operation with the aim of improving my position on the bike that will allow me to ride without the current limitations. “Personally, I have the maximum motivation and enthusiasm to continue working and to make the effort to return to compete at the highest level.” Dr. Sanchez Sotelo explained the medical intervention that Marquez would receive. “Given the lack of sufficient clinical improvement with the rehabilitation treatment, and advised by his medical team, Marc Marquez will undergo a new surgical intervention at the Mayo Clinic in the US, to improve the discomfort in his right arm
derived from the loss of mobility in the arm,” Sotelo said. “The surgery will consist of the extraction of the osteosynthesis material from his shoulder associated with a humeral osteotomy to increase the external rotation movement of the arm and maintain shoulder stability.” Marquez won his last MotoGP title in 2019 and has not finished higher than seventh in the standings since. Josh Nevett
BLANCHARD QUESTIONS PROMISE OF
2023 FACTORY BACKING IN LINKING with Walkinshaw Andretti United, Ford stated that it was providing factory backing to all Mustang teams in the Gen3 era of Supercars – however that is news to Blanchard Racing Team’s Tim Blanchard who is yet to see support from the manufacturer. Shell V-Power Racing Team, Tickford Racing, WAU, Grove Racing and BRT will all run Ford Mustang machinery in 2023 when Gen3 comes into effect. WAU made much out of gaining factory backing during the announcement of its defection to the Blue Oval, correlating the deal with a better shot at Supercars titles. Manufacturer support does not mean
the same thing to all teams under the Ford umbrella though, and currently to BRT Team Principal Blanchard it means nothing at all. “We’ve had meetings with them and are still having meetings with them but at this stage there’s no backing in place,” Blanchard told Auto Action. “We haven’t had any support from Ford and don’t have any currently. “The more backing and partners you have the better you’re going to be, with more resources at your disposal. It’s not a detriment to us not having Ford backing but it would be beneficial in the future. “It was news to me (the announcement that Ford will back all its teams). When I read it, I
thought ‘no one has told me that!’ Grove Racing, a team that has shown significant improvement so far this year, should also benefit from Ford’s promise in theory. Team Owner Stephen Grove was unable to shed too much light on the details of his deal with the manufacturer but revealed that 2023 will see Ford up its support of the team. “It just means that we have a commercial relationship with the Ford business here in Australia,” Grove told AA. “There’s some correlation back to Ford motorsport in the US, but that’s more based around the development of Gen3.
“2023 and beyond is an overflow of what we’ve had in 2021 and 2022. The relationship was originally established by Todd in 2021 and then we had the same relationship with Ford in 2022 and we’ve extended that relationship beyond 2023. “The relationship with Ford is based on what car we want to run. “There are some commercial realities around it, but that’s not the decisionmaking process. “Our decision was based on what brand we want to support going forward, it was about the relationship we have, the commitment they have to the sport and also the ability for us to run Mustangs.” Josh Nevett
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SUPERCHEAP AUTO BATHURST 1000 WILDCARD ANNOUNCEMENT IMMINENT
THE TRIPLE Eight Race Engineering Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 Wildcard team for 2022 will be announced at a family friendly public event this Sunday, June 5 in Brisbane. Supercheap Auto has sent out an open invitation to all fans to attend the unveiling, which will host the Wildcard drivers plus special guests from Triple Eight Race Engineering. The event kicks off 9am will be held at
Riverside Green Parklands in Southbank, opposite South Bank Piazza and is free to attend. Giveaways and an autograph session are planned for the event, which can only be accessed from the Southern entry of the Parklands. Speculation has been rife about the identity of the possible Supercheap Auto Wildcard drivers, with seven-time Bathurst 1000 winner Craig Lowndes tipped to take one
of the seats alongside either a Triple Eight Super2 driver or an international name. The 2022 Bathurst 1000 could be Lowndes’ last start in the main game, so the announcement of his entry would surely be a huge drawcard for Supercars diehards. Cameron Hill and Declan Fraser are both candidates for the co-driver position as current T8 Super2 steerers. Neither has started in the Great Race but both currently sit in the top five of
the second-tier standings and have impressive racing résumés. Alex Premat could also add some international interest to the grid. The Frenchman won the 2019 race alongside three-time Supercars champion Scott McLaughlin and has not been seen at Mount Panorama since then, however he has confirmed conversations with teams around a return for 2022. Supercar champion Russell Ingall and
MA TO RUN FERRARI DRIVER ACADEMY CAMP IN MALAYSIA MOTORSPORT AUSTRALIA has announced details of the next local selection program for the Ferrari Driver Academy (FDA). The next Asia Pacific and Oceania regional selection program will be held in June via an online webinar. The webinar, which will be held at 7.30pm (AEST) on Tuesday June 7, will include details about the application process as well as what to expect at the selection camp. For those that can’t make the webinar, a replay will be available on Motorsport Australia’s website. In September this year Motorsport Australia will run a Ferrari Driver Academy selection camp for the Asia Pacific/Oceania region in Sepang, Malaysia. Motorsport Australia Director of Motorsport & Commercial Operations Michael Smith explained the 2022 selection process would identify young talent in the region. “We’re delighted to be hosting our first ever Asia Pacific/Oceania Ferrari Driver Academy selection camp in Malaysia, giving young drivers from the region the
opportunity to shine and set up their future careers,” Smith said. “We know there are many eligible young karters in particular who will be eager to showcase their talents and why they should be part of the FDA in the future. “Motorsport Australia and the FDA work closely together throughout the selection process, and we look forward to welcoming interested applicants to our information session on Tuesday, 7 June. “This will be a terrific opportunity to learn about the whole process and the various requirements that will need to be completed throughout the application process.” Drivers selected for the camp will get the opportunity to drive a Formula 4 car on the Sepang International Circuit and take part in a range of exercises and assessments for the selection panel. In 2020, Motorsport Australia was selected to work with the FDA to run the Asia Pacific and Oceania regional selection program. Every year drivers aged between 14 and 17 are invited to apply to be included the
selection process. Countries included in the Asia Pacific and Oceania region of the Ferrari Driver Academy include, Australia, New Zealand, China, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Japan, Sri Lanka and many, many more. In 2020, Australian James Wharton was selected as the global winner and has since been part of the FDA, and this year is driving in multiple European Formula 4 Championships with FDA support. Following the webinar applications for the 2022 FDA camp will open. Motorsport Australia and the FDA will then select the best applicants to attend the Sepang selection camp, where one driver will then ultimately be chosen to represent our region at the FDA Scouting World Finals in October this year. Dan McCarthy
Another Aussie could join James Wharton as an FDA driver in 2022
Broc Feeney and Russell Ingall were in Supercheap Auto colours in 2021... who will it be in 2022?
A packed crowd is expected for the 2022 Bathurst 1000
BATHURST 1000 TICKETS GO ON SALE young gun Broc Feeney represented the Supercheap Auto name last year, retiring less than 20 laps from the finish. All details on the 2022 Wildcard will be revealed this Sunday. The Supercheap Auto Wildcard confirmation comes after it was announced last week that Super3 driver Michael Anderson will represent his squad, Anderson Motorsport, in a car purchased from Shell V-Power Racing. Josh Nevett
GRANDSTAND AND trackside 2022 Bathurst 1000 tickets are up for sale and are expected to be snapped up quickly. Trackside tickets, Paddock Passes, Priority Parking and Reserved Grandstand seating located on the main straight and in one covered grandstand at Turn 1 are all on sale to the general public. It has been announced that the Bathurst 1000 will return to normal in 2022. Notably the pre-event Drivers’ Parade and Autograph Session in Bathurst’s CBD will return this year, along with a precinct filled with merchandise, team and sponsor displays at Mount Panorama. Bathurst 1000 Event Manager Ryan Jones said that many thousands of fans have already renewed their camping and
grandstand spaces for 2022. “It’s pleasing to see so many fans have already locked in their spots on the mountain for this year’s event, which in 2022 returns to its traditional October dates,” Jones said. “We encourage fans planning on heading out to purchase tickets as soon as possible to ensure they are trackside on October 9 to see this year’s King of the Mountain crowned.” The remaining campsites that have not been renewed will go on sale on June 7. This year’s Bathurst 1000 is already set to be another classic, reigning Bathurst 1000 Champions Chaz Mostert and Lee Holdsworth are now in different teams, Mostert remains with Walkinshaw Andretti
United, while Holdsworth has returned to the championship full-time with Grove Racing. There has already been a number of Wildcards announced, Bathurst legend Greg Murphy will team up with fellow Kiwi Richie Stanaway in an Erebus Commodore. As well as this, a newly announced Ford Mustang Wildcard that will be driven by born and bred Bathurst-local Michael Anderson, a debutant in this year’s race. The Supercheap Auto Triple Eight Race Engineering wildcard team will be revealed on Sunday, June 5 in Brisbane. The Bathurst 1000 is set return to its traditional slot, taking place from October 6-9. Dan McCarthy
ADELAIDE 500 TENDERS OPEN THIS WEEK THE SOUTH Australian Labor government has announced that tenders are set to open this week for local businesses to secure work for the Adelaide 500. In 2020 when the pandemic broke out it was announced by then Premier Steven Marshall that the Adelaide 500 had been dumped, however Labor leader Peter Malinauskas announced that if he was elected into power, he would revive the Supercars Hall of Fame event. He was elected in March and has promised the event will take place in December. The recently announced State Budget will include $18 million in 2022-23 to run the event in December. With the Labor party adding an additional $3 million which has been set aside to buy back infrastructure sold off by the Liberals. The opening of tenders for the Adelaide 500 delivers an opportunity for local South Australian firms to secure work after the Supercars Championships two-and-a-halfyear absence. The tenders set to open include a wide
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range of things from track facilities including grandstands, overpasses and fencing to hospitality air conditioning and everything in between. HERE IS THE FULL LIST OF TENDERS: Temporary Grandstands Hospitality Platforms Portable Toilet Hire Pedestrian Overpasses On-Ground Marquees, Fit Out & Furniture Site Fencing Ticketing Services Security Services Greenery & Timber Decking Hospitality Air-Conditioning Hospitality Fridge Hire Temporary Shade Sails Track Resurfacing & Civil Works Cleaning and waste management services Pit Pavilion Air-Conditioning Grounds Maintenance Catering rights & supply Malinauskas is excited to make yet another step towards bringing the Adelaide 500 back.
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Anticipation is growing for the return of the Adelaide 500 “Momentum is building for the return of the Adelaide 500 and the issuing of tenders is yet another tangible sign the race is coming back,” Malinauskas said. “This is also a great opportunity for local businesses to tender for work, which will help support jobs and generate local economic activity. “That’s why this event is so much more than a car race – it’s a generator of jobs and a driver of economic activity.” The event has been set for a return date of December 1-4, with race categories, musical acts for the event and the launch of ticket
sales set to be announced in due course. SA Motorsport Board chief executive Mark Warren is delighted to open the tender process. “It’s hard to believe it’s only six months until the great race returns,” said Warren. “We’re working to a tight timeframe and we can’t afford to waste a second, which is why it’s exciting to begin the process of issuing tenders. “This also presents a massive boost to the local events industry, who have been starved of major events over the past couple of years.” Dan McCarthy
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PRODUCTS AND INDUSTRY NEWS
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Long-time motorsport suspension guru Greg Nolan has decided to slow down a little and has put his long-time business, Suspension Concepts, up for sale. Greg has been involved at the pointy end of the motorsport suspension business for many years and Suspension Concepts has been running as a business since 2007. During that time he has helped and supported a huge number of customers and has developed many great products that are in use today by many motorsport enthusiasts and racers across the country. Suspension Concepts has a large inventory of in-house developed products that are exclusive to the business. These include adjustable camber/caster strut mounts, radius (caster) rods, control arms, trailing arms and panhard rods through to competition style engine mounts. These products and tooling are included in the sale of the business, as are the exclusive distribution rights for a number of great competition suspension product brands. Among these are Spax shock absorbers, Nitron motorsport shocks and Faulkner competition springs – all out of the UK.
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The business also provides its many customers with motorsport support services that include machining, welding and fabricating, tyre heat treating and motorsport preparation services from wheel alignments and corner weighting, through to full race car set-ups. In addition to the Suspension Concepts products that are made and developed in-house, the business is also a major retailer to the aftermarket performance and 4X4 suspension market and has the key retail agency for some of the biggest brands in the market. These include Whiteline, Nolathane, Fulcrum/Superpro, Tough Dog 4WD and GVM upgrades, Lovells Springs and GVM upgrades, and King Springs. As well as being the regional outlet for a range of other competition components and tyres, including Yokohama, Bridgestone, Avon and Nankang motorsport tyres as well as Bilstein and Koni shocks. The business occupies very modern retail/workshop premises with a long lease, located in North Wyong on the Central NSW Coast.
So, if you are looking for a walk-in business that’s all about motorsport give Greg a call and have a chat with him on 0414 244 790 or email him on sales@suspensionconcepts.com.au
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AEM INDUCTION SYSTEMS APPOINTS VCM PERFORMANCE AS EXCLUSIVE ASIA PACIFIC DISTRIBUTOR
Innovative tuner company AEM Induction Systems has appointed VCM Performance as its exclusive Asia Pacific distributor for its extensive range of air filters, cold air intakes, and performance parts. AEM is the latest quality brand name to join the familyowned and operated VCM Performance. It is renowned for aligning itself with companies that offer only the highest quality products and services. AEM was founded in California in 1989 as a tuning performance shop specialising in the Sport Compact/JDM market. It used its experience in dyno testing, understanding intake energy dynamics, and racing to develop one of the first Packaged Air Induction Systems just five years later, soon after coining the phrase Cold Air Intake. Since then, AEM has continued to lead the way with innovative products, including developing its DRYFLOW® filter technology for its precision-tuned cold air intake system filters and OEM replacement air filters. Designed to increase horsepower, AEM’s DRYFLOW® non-oiled dry filters are heralded as the next generation in performance. They are easy to wash and reuse and offer a lifetime limited warranty.
“AEM’s founding and growth into one of the performance tuner market’s most respected brands through its handson approach and innovation perfectly align with the VCM Performance story. “We are proud to have secured a tremendous partnership with AEM and welcome them to the VCM Performance family.” AEM Induction Systems joins an extensive list of high-quality brands offered by VCM Performance, including ARP, ATI Performance Parts, Brisk Spark Plugs, Deatschwerks, GM Performance Parts, HP Tuners, Improved Racing, K&N Filters, Lingenfelter, Magnuson Superchargers, Mahle, Manley, PWR Performance Products, and Tuff Mounts. VCM also offers its own in-house designed and produced VCM Performance camshafts and cold air intakes. “VCM Performance’s range of quality brands and products is built around our necessity to provide our loyal customers with the best possible performance tuning solution for every situation,” Pancione said. For more information, visit www.vcmstore.com.au or contact Rob Willcox at rob@vcmsuite.com.au.
SUPERCAR WINTON SUPPORTS
BATTLE IN THE BUSH
Outright winner Caruso (Audi A4) heads the RX7 of Alex Williams, which finished third in all three races.
JORDAN CARUSO extended his points lead in the second round of the National Sports Sedans series with two race victories at Winton Raceway. As has been the case in recent times, it was Caruso and his Audi A4 battling fiercely against fellow frontrunner Steve Tamasi in his Holden Calibra, the latter taking out the opener at Winton before Caruso struck back with consecutive wins. “Awesome weekend at Winton bringing home the round win,” Caruso said. “We lead the championship heading into Round 3 but it’s close, there’s still work to do. “Massive thanks to John, Ian and Sheng for their consistently huge effort to keep us going. “Looking forward to Tailem Bend.” Race 1 saw Tamasi win with a broken sway bar, finishing over 12s clear of Caruso. Caruso was forced to start from the rear after an electrical problem on Friday, charging through the field to finish a lonely second. Alex Williams was 21s further back, completing the podium in his Mazda RX7. Dean Lillie and Shane Bradford weren’t far off podium pace, finishing fourth and fifth in Ford Falcon and Chevrolet Camaro machinery, respectively. On category debut, young son of a gun Mason Kelly finished eighth in a MARC Mazda 3. The two titans of Sports Sedans started off the front row again for Race 2, Tamasi taking an early leading through Turn 1. That left Williams and Caruso to battle for second in the early stages, Williams momentarily winning the tussle in his bright red Mazda. It did not take long for the championship leader to bounce back though, Caruso slotting into second on lap 2 before setting his sights on Tamasi 2s up the road. Setting the fastest lap of the race, Caruso made up ground quickly and was met with little resistance in taking the lead at Turn 8 on lap 4. There was plenty of competition for places further back though, as a tussle emerged for positions four to seven. Lillie was swamped by Bradford, Daniel Crompton and Ryan Humfrey, dropping from fifth to eighth in a matter of moments.
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Tamasi took a win and a pair of second places in his Holden Calibra. Kevin Stoopman’s weekend came to a premature end after just four laps, the Victorian pulling his Mitsubishi Evo 8 into pitlane and out of the race. The final race of the weekend ran to a similar narrative as the first couple, with an entertaining group vying for positions behind the dominant front three. Caruso won from Tamasi by just 2.771s this time around, with Williams third over 40s back. Robinson, Humfrey and Woodman jostled to make P4 their own, Humfrey emerging with the position at the finish. Robinson was fifth, Crompton and Woodman running close behind. Josh Nevett
Mason Kelly ran mostly in the top ten in his MARC Mazda.
Things got worse for Lillie shortly after, the BA Ford Falcon driver forced to retire with a mechanical issue. The racing was relatively clean throughout, although Ranald Maclurkin Snr steered his Aston Martin Vantage off the track at Turn 4. Off track excursions were not limited to those at the rear of the field – Tamasi left the tarmac on the final lap falling way behind Caruso. The final margin between the two title
contenders was 20s, while Williams finished third again. Michael Robinson scored a fourth-place finish in his Holden Monaro and Humfrey was fifth. A slightly reduced field rolled out for Race 3, with Scott Cameron and Maclurkin Snr failing to start the final encounter. Tamasi got the best start, however it took just a couple of corners for Caruso to take the ascendency again.
STANDINGS 1 2 3 4 5
Caruso Tamasi Woodman Crompton Robinson
266 256 192 186 164
SIEDERS DELIVERS IN UTES
Cop that! Supercars team boss Tim Blanchard returned to Formula Ford 15 years after his title win, and cleaned up Gen Z ...
BLANCHARD BEATS THE YOUNGSTERS MAKING A cameo appearance in the national Formula Ford Series, Supercars team owner Tim Blanchard dominated the weekend. The 2007 Formula Ford champion qualified second behind Ryder Quinn, but would go on to win all three races, beating the established youngsters in the class. Quinn took his maiden pole by 0.269s from Blanchard with James Piszcyk, Tom McLennan, Winston Smith and Valentino Astuti taking positions three to six on the grid. Although Quinn made the better start, Blanchard used his experience on cold tyres to find a way by on the opening lap and from there controlled the race. South Australian Piszcyk also found a way by Quinn – the pair came home second and third respectively. Astuti moved up from sixth to finish fourth
and in doing so broke the lap record. Jordyn Sinni and Smith rounded out the top six. Off the line in Race 2 Blanchard made the better start from the front row and led into Turn 1, Quinn made a great start, in fact a little too good, he was judged to have jumped the start. Although Quinn took second from Piszcyk he would be dealt a 5s post-race penalty. Despite Quinn having a 5s penalty Piszcyk wanted to get by to try to catch up to Blanchard out front – he was looking left right and centre but could not find a way by. On lap 3 Quinn spun at Turn 7. Piszcyk went to the outside and in doing so fell behind Astuti who was the major benefactor. Although he stayed in third, Piszcyk, with dirty tyres, was forced to defend from a gaggle of cars led by Sinni. After a couple of laps, however, Piszcyk was able to break away once more.
It remained the same until the chequered flag with Blanchard taking the win by over 2s from Astuti, Piszcyk and Sinni. With the penalty applied, Quinn finished the race in 18th position. Race 3 saw Blanchard make another blinding start – he comfortably led into Turn 1 from Astuti and Piszcyk. Out front the top three were all setting lap record pace, with Piszcyk beginning to harass Astuti. On lap 8 Piszcyk forced Astuti to defend at Turn 1, got a great run out of Turn 2 and made his way by at Turn 3. With just a couple of laps to go, Piszcyk was free and quickly began eating into Blanchard’s lead. However, the race was called one lap early denying a thrilling finish. Blanchard held on to take the race and round win from Piszcyk and Astuti. Dan McCarthy
AUSSIES TURN ON THE ACTION DESPITE ONLY winning one of the four Aussie Racing car races at Winton Motor Raceway, the consistency of Cody Brewczynski saw him prevail in the round honours. Brewczynski (pictured) qualified in fourth behind pole sitter Joel Heinrich, Tom Hayman and Courtney Prince. Heinrich led Race 1 of the weekend from pole, but was quickly overtaken by Hayman at the end of the first lap. Heinrich did not want to play second fiddle and struck back a few laps later and held onto the lead until the end. He took the victory by less than 0.2s from Hayman. Brewczynski came home third over 5s behind, just ahead of Lachlan Ward and Prince who fell to fifth. Race 2 was quite a tame encounter. Hayman made the better start from the front-row, overtaking Heinrich the long way around at Turn 1 giving him the inside into the second turn. Throughout the race there were several fierce battles just in and around the top 10, however the out front it remained as it was for much of the race. The top three spread out – however there
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Image: Ross Gibb Photography was a battle for fourth that went down to the wire; on the final lap around the sweeper Josh Anderson made his way by Ward and then held him off until the line. Out-front, Hayman led home Heinrich by 1.7s, with Brewczynski nearly 2s further back. The defining moments of the race came at the end of lap 7 and start of lap 8. Long-time race leader Reece Chapman ran wide onto the pit straight and allowed several drivers to get a run on him. He fell to p3 – however was determined to make up the lost ground immediately. Into Turn 1 he braked late, locked up, and took out an innocent Hayman. This shuffled the pack as Heinrich now led Brewczynski and Ward. Brewczynski waited until the final lap of the race to take the lead – and despite an attempt
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to get back by at Turn 7 Heinrich was unable to do so. Brewczynski took the win, while behind Heinrich was pipped at the line, Ward beating him home by 0.02s. Hayman was classified in 12th after Chapman was dealt a 15s penalty for the incident. From pole position in Race 4 Heinrich was judged to have jumped the start and subsequentially dealt a 5s penalty Brewczynski sat in second as the theoretical race leader until Hayman marched through on lap 2. The top three remained nose to tail for much of the race. Heinrich crossed the line first, but the 5s penalty demoted him to seventh position. Hayman won the race from Brewczynski who won the round. Dan McCarthy
THE SECOND round of the V8 SuperUtes Series was a great one for the Sieders Racing Team with David Sieders (pictured) victorious in three races and Aaron Borg in the other, besides three team one-two results. Borg (Holden Colorado) led all the way in the opener to beat his SRT teammate Sieders (Mitsubishi Triton) with George Gutierrez (Colorado) just behind. The next two spots went to father and son Gerard (Ford Ranger) and Jaiden Maggs (Triton). There were two Safety Cars, with the first after Ben Walsh (Toyota Hilux) tagged his wheel-spinning teammate Craig Woods (Triton) at the start and then Craig Dontas (Triton). The second was a brief one when Craig Jenner (Mazda BT50) spun at Turn 1 after contact from Rohan Barry (Hilux). Race 2 featured a reverse top six start. Sieders who started sixth, was through to the lead by the end of the first lap and then onto victory. Gutierrez and Borg diced for second until the latter pitted with a puncture. Dontas charged to fourth ahead of Gerard Maggs, Walsh after being off road early, and Jaiden Maggs. Woods was also off track on the last lap and finished eighth with panel and wheel damage. Both Races 3 and 4 were won by Sieders which gave him the overall honours. Borg chased Sieders across the line in both, each time ahead of Gutierrez. There was a crash after Turn 2 on Race 3’s first lap where Gutierrez and Jaiden Maggs touched which spun the latter. Maggs was hit by the luckless Dontas and also Ellexandra Best (Triton). After the race resumption, Gerard Maggs was fourth while Barry edged out Woods by 0.07s. Then followed Dean Brooking (Hilux) who survived a passing move at Turn 10 by Walsh when he spun off after they touched. In the last, Gerard Maggs and Woods were closing on the first three, until the final lap. Maggs was loose off Turn 3 and sideways when the closely pursuing Woods hit and catapulted off him. The incident elevated Barry ahead of Walsh, Jaiden Maggs and David Casey (Isuzu D-MAX). Richard Mork (Mazda BT-50) made it to the last for 12th after preceding axle and diff dramas. Garry O’Brien
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