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AUSTRALIA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE OF MOTORSPORT
FORD COMMITS TO F1
BUT NOT HAPPY!
STILL FIGHTING FOR GEN3 PARITY
MUSTANG’S FIRST WIN
BRT WINS TEST DEBUT RACE THE ROSSI FACTOR
12 HOUR CROWD FLOCKS FOR A DOSE OF MAGIC
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HAAS UNVEILS BOLD NEW LOOK HAAS F1 Team kicked off the 2023 Formula 1 launch season by showing off a bold and new look VF-23. After two years of running a predominately white car, Kevin Magnussen and the returning Nico Hulkenberg will race a sleek black based livery with new title sponsor MoneyGram. At the launch team owner Gene Haas made it clear that regular points is a priority. “The aim is to score points consistently and with Kevin and Nico I believe we’ve got an experienced driver pairing more than capable of delivering those points on a Sunday.”
DJR RETAINS FAMILIAR FEEL DICK JOHNSON Racing steps into the 2023 Supercars season with a familiar look on its two Gen3 Ford Mustangs. The new scheme is the latest evolution of the style of livery the iconic Ford squad has carried since 2017, with the Gen3 version carrying some extra yellow. While the overall theme remains the same, yellow appears on the splitter for the first time since 2020, plus the mirrors, side skirts and more colourful rear-end. Will Davison and Anton De Pasquale will drive cars #17 and #11 respectively in their third season together at the team.
GROVE BACK IN BLACK GROVE RACING will be back in black with two clean Penrite backed Mustangs for the new Gen3 of Supercars. Incumbent David Reynolds and rookie Matthew Payne will drive two identical looking cars, which are the team’s first built in-house. Grove Racing carries a revised and simpler livery, with a black base, white splashes and red highlights. It is a clear step away from the busier Penrite schemes Grove Racing has used in the past. Rookie Payne was simply thrilled to just see his name on the car. “To see my name and number on the cars is pretty special,” he said.
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GODZILLA BACK ON THE MOUNTAIN REMINISCENT OF the domination of the Nissan Skyline in 1982, Brad Sherriff stunned observers with his Nissan Skyline GTS-T R32’s speed on Conrod Straight in the Duggan Family Hotels Combined Sedans races at the Liqui Moly Bathurst 12 Hour. With 1170 horsepower (872.5 kilowatts) at the rear wheels the 4WD chassis sports sedan with its Bullet Billet RB26 engine, clocked 327 km/h through the timing loop which isn’t at the fastest point on the straight. It was around 30 km/h faster than the top spaceframe Sports Sedans competing and easily eclipsed any speeds set in the past by a Group 3-type racing sedan.
Previous registered speeds include 313 from Angus Fogg’s NZ Central Muscle Car Ford Mustang, 300 plus from the 12 Hour Dodge Viper and Daytona while Glenn Seton hit 304 km/h in his Ford Credit EL Falcon. It was only Sherriff’s second time on the track. “We came up in November for a look at Challenge Bathurst where we shared the sister car. “I did seven laps over the two days which gave us an bit of insight to which way the rack we went. We since found that the undulations were a bigger problem, with the horsepower we are putting down, than we thought. We have to get the car to look after its tyres better.”
Sherriff plans to contest rounds of the Precision International Australian Sports Sedan Series and said that his outing at Sandown in the sister car (driven by Liam Hooper at Bathurst) late last year proved that it is fast. He cited Queensland Raceway as a track that would really suit his car but was apprehensive to its suitability to Winton. It currently holds the outright track record at Baskerville Raceway. Sports Sedans will be at this year’s Bathurst 1000 where Sherriff believes there will seconds gained with good tyres and setup while the quick sports sedans will be close to the two minute mark. Garry O’Brien
TCM AIMING FOR HERITAGE CLASS GRID BOOST THE TOURING Car Masters series is making it easier for pre-2014-built TCM cars to rejoin the grid and run in their own TCM Heritage class. It is an initiative aimed to get more cars on the grid, with Heritage Group N and C cars also invited to join. TCM Category Manager Liam Curkpatrick hopes that the initiative will help draw some of these exciting and entertaining classics out of hiding for the coming season. “The idea was to get some of those cars that haven’t run for a long time, the pre-2014 TCM cars, and have them operate as a race within a race, a bit like we’ve done with the invitational class at some events.” With some of the change in regulations over the years, affording more development, many of the original TCM cars have disappeared from the grid. Many of the owners and drivers felt that they weren’t able to compete up the top level. The newer TCM cars after 2014 had suspension development, more horsepower, and could run with much lighter minimum weights. Many of the older spec cars could not easily be modified to match the performance of newer cars being built. At the time, those kinds of modifications left some of the older TCM competitors in the dust. Several owners who either couldn’t afford to make the adjustments, or simply didn’t want to for the sake of preserving their classic machines stopped racing. The fan favourite category is now calling for their return, with a reduced entry fee made available in a bid to lure them out the garages.
“Initially they will run with half-price entry fees to see if they’re into it, and they’ll run in their own class so there’s no pressure, and hopefully we’ll get them coming out the garages. “It’s about making a serious effort to cater to the people who have existing cars sitting in garages, and then looking at people who are interested in joining the category and have appropriate machinery to do so.” Curkpatrick said. The Heritage cars, whilst running in their own class for their own points and trophies, will also be eligible for full series points. The category is hoping they can lure some cars out for Tasmania, with the grid not expected to reach the 20-car mark until the Newcastle Supercars round. “At the moment there’s about 15 mainland cars entered for Tasmania and we’ve already had some interest from some locals who have some Group N cars, so we’re aiming for around an 18 car grid to kick the season off.” TW Neal
MOFFAT’S TRANS AM FORMER SUPERCARS driver James Moffat will taking on the 2023 national Trans Am series with Garry Rogers Motorsport. Making the switch from the team’s TCR Australia Program into its championshipwinning Trans Am squad, Moffat will drive the Mustang chassis that Nathan Herne took to dual championships. The Moffat/Mustang pairing is certainly not an unfamiliar one, with James’s father, legendary Touring Car great Allan Moffat, having won seven ATCC races in a Bud Moore-built, Mustang Boss 302 in the early 70s. After racing in TCR Australia since its 2019 inception, the three-time Bathurst podium getter had a small taste of Trans Am in 2021 at SMP, taking a win and a podium. On that weekend (pictured), he competed in a livery that depicted the famous Coca Cola Mustang colours that his father used in the late 60’s and early 70s.
“I’m excited to be driving in Trans Am – I really enjoyed the races I did at the end of 2021,” said Moffat. “The racing is clearly exciting for both drivers and fans alike, and has become more competitive over the last couple of years as well.” Despite Moffat’s extensive experience racing rear-wheel drive V8s, he knows just how competitive the 2023 crop of drivers will be. His GRM stable-mate alone, Owen Kelly, will be a tough prospect to race against, and with the likes of young Jett Johnson, Lochie Dalton, Brett Holdsworth, and Ben Grice, he’ll have his work cut out. “There’s plenty of young talent coming up through the category, and also plenty of drivers with experience, which creates a good mix out on the race track,” he continued. “Each year we’re seeing more quality drivers up the front of the field and there’s
Image: Daniel Kalisz now plenty of variety with different teams getting involved. “It’s creating a racing product that only gets better every time the category goes racing, and with that Hoosier tyre leading to plenty of sliding across the track, it makes for some pretty exciting racing.” In terms of the challenges facing Moffat, he’s clearly looking forward to the argybargy, and believes he’s a chance to give the championship a shake.
“The main challenge for me will be adapting as quickly as I can, and fortunately I’ve got that prior experience to draw on from 2021. “As with any championship, consistency will be the key, but even more so in Trans Am where it’s proper elbows out racing. “GRM has a great data pool to draw on for each round now, and I know I’m driving for the best team who will provide me with a great car.” TW Neal
THIRD GENERATION McRAE ERC BOUND MAX MCRAE will enter the 2023 Junior European Rally Championship (ERC), becoming the third generation McRae to compete in Europe’s premier rally series. The 18 year-old from Perth was in the thick of the ARC’s Production Cup title in 2022, and will now turn his attention to Europe in his quest to capture Junior WRC seat. McRae’s father Alister also competed in the ERC, along with his legendary Uncle Colin, and his Grandfather Jimmy. The up and comer will compete in the six round series, which will provide the perfect footing to climb the rally rungs. “Junior ERC is the perfect step for me. Competing in Australia has been amazing for the last couple of years,” McRae said. “I know I have to make the move and head across to Europe and that’s what this season’s all about. “The potential career progression from Junior ERC is really clear, and that’s what I’m looking at now. “There are some amazing events on the European calendar – events that offer massive diversity in the nature of roads.
“There’s the super-quick stages of Poland and Latvia, to the asphalt rounds in Rome and Zlin, and the new Royal Rally Scandinavia in Sweden also.” It’s the second trip to Europe for young McRae, competing in Donegal, Ireland, in a Rally 4 car, and at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in Sussex, England.
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“Competing at those event’s showed me that Europe’s the epicentre of our sport. There are so many rallies going on all the time right across Europe. It’s the place to be.” European Rally Championship manager, Iain Campbell, said he’s elated to have the McRae name back on the European continent. “The McRae name is one of the most iconic in rallying and we are now incredibly honoured to have a third generation of the McRae family competing in the European Rally Championship,” Campbell said. “I am sure he will follow in the footsteps of his father, uncle and grandfather and be standing on ERC podiums in the very near future. “The Junior ERC is a perfect stepping stone for drivers like Max coming from national level to the Junior WRC.” McRae’s first European hit-out will be the ERC’s 79th Rally Poland on May 20-21, with his team and Rally5 car announcement to be made shortly. TW Neal
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Alan Jones’ 1980 world championship winning Williams will be one of the many attractions at the Island Classic.
JOHANSSON TO RETURN TO ADELAIDE FORMER FERRARI Formula 1 driver Stefan Johansson will return to Adelaide, for the SA Motorsport Festival. Johansson will drive the #28 Ferrari 156/85 he steered to P5 at the 1985 Australian Grand Prix on the same streets, during the festival on March 25-26. The Swede was a veteran of 79 Grand Prix starts and 12 podiums. In addition to Johansson driving his old car, the sister #27 Ferrari 156/85 which took the 1985 Canadian and German Grand Prix wins at the hands of Michele Alboreto will also be seen in Adelaide.
RARE FERRARI 308 RALLY CAR HEADED FOR ADELAIDE A BEAUTIFUL and rare Ferrari 308 GTB Group 4 rally car – prepared by the famed Michelotto group with a Ferrari supplied chassis – is heading to the Adelaide Motorsport Festival on March 25-26. The mid-engined V8 was highly competitive on the European Rally circuit, winning the Monza Rally in 1979, the Tour de France Automobile event in 1981, and the 1982 Italian Rally championship. Its crowning moment however was a WRC podium in Corsica in 1982, Ferrari’s only top-tier podium in the category. A Group B version was also constructed with a Quattrovalvole V8, before Group Bs were banned in 1986.
VIC STATE SERIES KICKS OFF THE 888 Home Loans Victorian State Circuit Racing
Championships returns with a bang this month at the traditional home of the opener, Sandown. There will be plenty of on-track action with a total of 10 categories racing around the “Home of Horsepower”. Formula Ford, Formula Vee, Historic Touring Cars, HQ Holden, Hyundai Excel, Improved Production, MG / Invited British Sport Cars, Porsche 944 Challenge, Saloon Cars and Sports Sedans are the categories on show. From 9.00am to 5.00pm on February 17-18 there will be continuous, adrenaline charged motorsport at its most visceral. For more info visit www.vsrs.com.au .
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FORMER BATHURST WINNERS TO FACE OFF AT ISLAND CLASSIC ALMOST A quarter of a century after they won the 1999 Bathurst 1000 together, Steven Richards and Greg Murphy will face off at the Phillip Island Classic. The former Supercars stars will be squaring off in a pair of Nissan HR31 Skylines in the C and A class. The additions of Murphy and Richards will produce added excitement to the event, which also welcomes former F1 star Eddie Irvine, plus a host of former Grand Prix cars. Chris Stillwell will be in one of the quickest Ford Sierras in Australia and expected to fight the Nissan duo with a combined total of 40 Supercars race wins, 899 starts and nine Bathurst 1000 wins. Ian Tate also confirmed another old fan favourite will be racing in what shapes up to be a very competitive class which will enjoy a 50km feature race on Sunday. “There are some very competitive cars to take it up to Greg and Steven in the two Nissans,” he said. “Another car to watch will be Paul Stubber coming from Western Australia in an ex Allan Moffat Mazda RX7, which is a very quick motor car and I am sure it raced a Bathurst, so
another significant car. “We have 425 entries with a week to go and hopefully we get a few more.” Q and R Sports cars are also expected to shine across a 50km race. Andrew Kluver will drive an old Lola 332 openwheeler which has been transformed with a sports car body, while a Repco Brabham sports car is also coming down. One of the main events will be the Phillip Island Historic Classic Grand Prix which will be held across 36km with a number of glittering former F1 cars racing. A James Hunt Hesketh, a Surtees driven to the podium by Carlos Pace and Nigel Mansell’s first F1 car will all be going for glory. Alan Jones’ 1980 world championship winning Williams will not be racing, but will be on track heading the field on the parade lap. It will join a number of other impressive cars which will be on display at Phillip Island such as a Rick Mears IndyCar, an Arrows F1 car, a pair of Ferrari’s and Mario Andretti’s March 701. Thomas Miles
RESTART FOR LONGFORD MOTORAMA By BRUCE WILLIAMS THE ANNUAL nostalgic event celebrating Tasmania’s great racing days of the 1950s and ‘60s has reverted to the name Longford Motorama. The event has been saved, with assistance from Events Tasmania, after grand plans for a ‘Longford Grand Prix Expo’ faltered last month. The Tasmanian Government, through Events Tasmania, has now made $150,000 available to organisers of Motorama, which had run the previous three years, to stage the event at the world heritage-listed Woolmers Estate on March 10-12. Woolmers, a farming property established more than 200 years ago, is 4km south of Longford township, which is 20km south-west of Launceston. Motorcycle and car races were run on highspeed public roads on the other side of Longford in the 1950s and ‘60s – including the Australian Grand Prix in ‘59 won by Stan Jones, and ‘65, won by Bruce McLaren ahead of Jack Brabham. Seven Formula One world champions and some of the world’s top motorcycle racers competed there. Organisers are expected to announce in mid-February what this year’s hastily-arranged Motorama will include.
Central to it is sure to be the huge memorabilia collection of Longford racing buff Rob Knott, one of the key organisers along with his associate Justin Brown. The Singapore-registered DX Industries of Hobart entrepreneur Jeremy Dickson, a son of former touring car racer and Bathurst and Gold Coast Indy promoter Ron Dickson, had been going to stage the Longford Grand Prix Expo. The Tasmanian Government committed $450,000 last August to that Expo, which was to have been in the Longford township on the
same March weekend, but Dickson announced in early January that he had cancelled it because of various difficulties after reportedly receiving $370,000 of the government grant. Motorama will comprise various displays and entertainment in the expansive grounds of Woolmers looking north towards the old race circuit, with some track activity at nearby Symmons Plains on Sunday, March 12. Daily admission will be $10, with discounts for three-day attendance and admission to Symmons Plains for those who have been at Woolmers.
WAKEFIELD PARK SHAPING THE NSW ELECTION AGENDA THE NSW state election has Wakefield Park firmly on its agenda, with Liberal MP Wendy Tuckerman hitting back at Labour’s recent million dollar pledge. Since the Benalla Auto Club-owned track closed in September after a NSW Land and Environmental Court decision, a political tug of war has continued to simmer. The Labour Party announced last week that they’re promising $1million towards helping Wakefield Park “re-open” its gates if elected at the March polling booths. Labour leader Chris Minns visited the facility, along with Shadow Minister for Sports Julia Finn to announce the election initiative. “The Wakefield Park Raceway is hugely important to Goulburn, providing not just driver training programs and recreational driving opportunities, but tourism dollars and jobs,” Minns explained. “An elected Labor government will work with local councils and stakeholders to resolve these issues and get this important facility back on track.” Finn has been in public support of the independent Save Wakefield Park Group, whose record-breaking support petition collected over 29,000 signatures. But an attempt to have it debated before the NSW Legislative Assembly fell through
when the government’s sitting period closed. Tuckerman, the Liberal Member for Goulburn & Minister for Local Government, came out against the Labour election tactic. “Labor’s announcement is not a real solution. This is buying a headline, and not much else,” Tuckerman said. “I can guarantee you $1million will not be enough to make Wakefield Park viable for the owners to re-open the track. “I am committed to a true solution for Wakefield Park not a band-aid fix. Nothing changes with this announcement … it’s not a plan for the future.” It continues the political back-andforth between her and Finn, with both sides accusing one another of not understanding the issue. “It was clear in Julia Finn’s speech (to the NSW Legislative Assembly) that not only did she not understand the core of the issue which resulted in the facility’s closure; she has not recently engaged with its owners, nor has she proposed any substantive solution other than crying out “do something,” Tuckerman reacted back in November. In that address to the Legislative Assembly, Finn had said: “Months of inaction have dealt a real
JULIA FINN (left), Christopher Minns-NSW Labour Opposition Leader and supporters, at the announcement of Labour’s election commitment of $1 million to help with the reopening of Wakefeild Park. blow to Goulburn. There appears to be no recognition by the Government … putting your head in the sand will not make it go away. Motorsports is a big driver for tourism in the region and the Government has been absent … Ministers have checked out.” The political weigh-in ahead of the elections doesn’t stop with Labour’s announcement, with The Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party (SFF) – which has two members in the NSW Legislative Council –
also calling Labour out. Goulburn Mulwaree Councillor Andy Wood, who was announced as the SFF’s Goulburn area contender for the election, called Labours pledge “laughable,” and that they’ve “little recourse to bring the council and the planning bodies to the negotiating table.” Polling for the NSW State elections runs from March 18-24, with the results declared on March 25. TW Neal
THE VICTORIAN STATE RACE SERIES
ROUND 1 - SANDOWN
FEBRUARY 17-19
Presented by the MG Car Club • Round 2 Winton Combined • Round 3
Fantastic entries across many categories.
April 22-23
Phillip Island/PIARC May 26-28
• Round 4 Sandown/ASSA
August 11-13
• Round 5 Phillip Island/VMC
September 22-24
• Round 6 Calder/Combined
October 27-29 TBC
• Formula Ford • Formula Vee • Hyundai Excel • Improved Production • Sports Sedans
• MG/Invited British Sports Cars • HQ Holdens • Historic Touring Cars • Porsche 944 Challenge • Saloon Cars
Spectators will be well catered for with access to the paddock.
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MSR SCORES ‘BIG WIN’
MATT STONE Racing became the first team to drive a Chevrolet Camaro Gen3 Supercars racer at Queensland Raceway on Tuesday. The Yatala-based operation put the chassis MSR003 through its paces at Ipswich with rookie Cameron Hill completing the historic first laps, before more experienced teammate Jack Le Brocq also jumped behind the wheel. The car ran in a unique test scheme, featuring black panels and the Truck Assist logo on either door. MSR’s second Chevrolet Camaro is yet to be completed, but the team hopes jump to over “another hurdle” and finish it by Thursday when it returns for another test at the “Paperclip”. The liveries the two-car team will carry in the 12-round 2023 Supercars Championship will be revealed at a private launch event on Monday, February 13. But the main focus now is to come to grips with the new car, which has received
a “perfect” start according to Hill. “What a special morning for me to be the first driver to drive a Camaro racecar this year,” he said. “The day has gone super smoothly, we did a couple of installation laps and we came in for the boys to have a look at the car. “It has all been perfect, so a great start to our test programme.” Hill steps up to the main game after finishing fifth in last year’s Super2 Series where he represented Triple Eight Race Engineering across a solid campaign, highlighted by three podiums, while he also won the Bathurst 6 Hour. The 2021 Carrera Cup champion joins Le Brocq, who’s suiting up for his second year at MSR. The one-time race winner is already a big fan of the “unreal” Gen3 Camaro and predicts tyre wear to become a big factor at the season-opening Newcastle 500. “We ran MSR003, the first Supercars
Championship car that Matt Stone Racing has built as a team, which is very exciting,” Le Brocq said. “The car is unreal, heaps of power; it’s going to be pretty interesting on the rear tyre especially come Newcastle for 90-odd laps. “Huge credit to the guys at MSR to be the first Chevrolet Racing Camaro on track in Supercars apart from the prototype. We are very excited to show the livery off in the coming week.” For MSR team owner Matt Stone, being the first Camaro squad to complete a Gen3 shakedown was not something he took for granted. He said it was a “momentous” moment to see his team roll the car out of the garage after the deadline date appeared “iffy” on occasions. “Momentous occasion for the team to be the first Gen3 Camaro out on track,” Stone said. “We’ve started the learning for ourselves
now; we’ve seen a lot through the prototype and heard a lot so it’s good to be out here getting our own information. “To be the first Chevrolet Racing car out there is a big win, so we’re stoked to represent the brand today. “With the supply chain issues, we’ve just been working to fluid timelines. There were a few times we thought today was going to be iffy but we had a couple of good weeks and we got here without too much stress. “Getting our second car out in just two days’ time is proving to be another hurdle as parts continue to be the big issue, but we’re confident we can keep working towards it. “It’s been a good day. It’s been surprising; there’s similarities to the old car and then some things that are very different. “It’s a very new beast and it’s exciting to have it in the flesh on a track and start the process of getting ready to race.” Thomas Miles
DAVISON REFLECTS ON ‘SPECIAL’ MAIDEN GEN3 LAPS
WILL DAVISON said it was a “real privilege” to drive the first laps of a Dick Johnson Racing Gen3 Ford Mustang. DJR completed its maiden Gen3 Supercars shakedown at Queensland Raceway on Tuesday with both Davison and Anton De Pasquale jumping behind the wheel. The famous ford squad shared the “Paperclip” with Matt Stone Racing, which became the first team to shakedown a Chevrolet Camaro Gen3 Supercar. DJR is the second Ford team to roll out a Gen3 Mustang after Blanchard Racing Team broke the mould last Wednesday. Todd Hazelwood jumped behind the wheel of the #3 car at Winton again on Tuesday. Making it to the Ipswich tarmac was a
major moment for DJR, after more than 12 months of hard work in the Gen3 project. Being Ford’s homologation team, DJR was charged with developing the new Gen3 Mustang along with Supercars. Davison has seen the hard work first hand and this was not lost on him as he drove the latest car to wear the iconic #17 out of the garage. “Very exciting to run our first Gen3 Mustang,” Davison said to Supercars. com. “It’s always a special moment, a real privilege when you see the amount of work that has gone into this project. “It’s special for all of us to fire it up for the first time, to turn its first laps. “It all starts here, our journey to to learn and get on top of this new package. “But certainly an exciting milestone
today. (Tuesday)” The shakedown marks the latest chapter in DJR’s journey to Newcastle after it revealed its livery for the upcoming 2023 season, which is a subtle evolution of the well-known look it has carried since 2017.
Both DJR and MSR will return to Queensland Raceway on Thursday and will have more Chevrolet Camaros for company in the form of Triple Eight Race Engineering and PremiAir Racing. Thomas Miles
SVG FINDS IT “HARD TO BE HAPPY” AFTER 12 HOUR
SHERRIFF WON’T ARREST NISSAN PERFORMANCE BRADLEY SHERRIFF has revealed he will not race his Nissan Skyline rocket ship if it’s restricted by Motorsport Australia. Almost the entire Australian motorsport community was left jaw-dropped when it witnessed Sherriff - the Tasmanian engine tuning specialist - clock 327kph in his Nissan Skyline GTS-T R32 in the Combined Sedans support category at the Bathurst 12 Hour. With 1170 horsepower delivered at the rear wheels, produced by the car’s heavily modified Billet blockedRB26 engine, no one in the 56-car Combined Sedans field had an answer as it blazed into the distance up Mountain Straight. Even with the amazing straight line speed, Sherriff was unable to collect any wins having retired from race 1 due to a mechanical issue, and race 3 after a heavy crash at Reid Park. He stormed from last to second in the Saturday morning race, but was demoted one position to third after breaking the pre-regulated minimum lap time of 2:09.0s. The moment in question was recorded on lap 7 of the second race when he was clocked at 2:08.8336s. Despite fan speculation, there has been no indication Sherriff will not be allowed to race in the future, and
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Motorsport Australia has released a short statement clarifying its stance. Currently no changes have been made to the Sports Sedans vehicle eligibility regulations, but the governing body did not rule out amendments in the future. A Motorsport Australia statement supplied to AUTO ACTION read: “At this stage, there have been no changes to Sports Sedans’ regulations regarding vehicle eligibility. Motorsport Australia may consider changes to ensure all vehicles can run safely at Australian circuits.” Sherriff has been in contact with Motorsport Australia and said he still holds ambitions of racing in the Precision National Sports Sedans Series. But he said if his Nissan is restricted it will become a “display piece”, rather than remain a race car, believing the time he loses in the corners is greater than what he gains down the straights. “If it comes down to the car being limited in any way, it will be something that will sit in my shop to look at,” Sherriff told AUTO ACTION. “The plan is to run this car and the sister car (#44 R32 Skyline GTS T) Nissan at a national level in the Precision National Sports Sedans
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events. “From the conversations I have had with Motorsport Australia they are being very cagey, but I don’t believe there will be a track limit applied or enforced to this car. “This thing will go well over 300kph at Sandown and Phillip Island. The strength is straight line handling. “If I was to (be limited and) give away a 35-50kph advantage, I can’t make up the time the other cars gain exiting slow turns where they have extra mechanical grip. “Most of those cars are 200-250kg lighter, so to limit the area the car is strong and still be competitive I don’t think can happen.” The 2023 Precision National Sports Sedans Series is braced for a big year, kicking off at the Tasmania SuperSprint in May 19-21 before finishing with a bang at the Bathurst 1000 on October 5-8. Although Sherriff was apprehensive at racing in Winton, he has plans on contesting rounds of the Precision National Sports Sedans Series, including Bathurst where he believes seconds could be gained with fresh tyres and setup changes. Thomas Miles
THE LEADING Triple Eight Race Engineering #888 Mercedes salvaged a top-five finish after an up and down day at the Bathurst 12 Hour. However, lead driver Shane van Gisbgergen found it “hard to be happy” with the result after the car was in contention for much of the race, eventually won by Kenny Habul, Jules Gounon, and Luca Stolz. The Supercheap Auto backed Mercedes AMG sat second across the first 60 laps after the first two rounds of stops were completed. It then hit the lead and controlled the field from lap 61 to 91, before slipping back down the order as the car struggled to have the outright pace on cold tyres. However, worse was to come as a breach in pit stop regulations resulted in a costly drive-through penalty, which put car #888 down a lap and out of race-winning contention. Although the team fought back to salvage P5, van Gisbergen was disappointed with the weekend, which also included younger co-driver Broc Feeney preferred for Qualifying duties. Seeing SVG struggle to find his best at Bathurst was a strange sight given his recent dominance, and he struggled to put his finger on a reason why. “This weekend was difficult,” van Gisbergen said. “I never really got comfortable in the car, so I tried my best but I didn’t have any speed on my side. It’s hard to put into words. “Fifth is hard to be happy about, but it’s still an okay result.” Feeney on the other hand, van Gisbergen’s junior Red Bull Ampol Racing Supercars teammate, impressed many with his qualifying speed on Saturday, appearing to have the pace for pole until Maro Engel produced a magic lap at the death. Feeney also had the honour of finishing the car, saying it was a relief to cross the line after a big weekend. “It’s been a tough weekend. We had limited practice laps so it’s been hard for all three of us to get comfortable in the car,” he said. “I qualified on Saturday and it went really well. To make the Top 10 Shootout was cool, and then to go up against Maro and set up a front-row start was pretty special. “We just struggled for race pace quite a lot. Maxi was really strong off the start this morning and during the first couple of stints, but then we faded a lot during the day. “We got a pit lane penalty when we changed the rear wing in pit lane instead of in the garage, but the change made the car much better so we were a lot more comfortable after that. “But it was tough – the double stints are really long in these cars, and it was gruelling and hot. I was glad to see the chequered flag.” Thomas Miles
PREMIAIR WINS
TOP FUEL TITLE FOR SAM
Peter Xiberras and the PremiAir Team ... won the one they wanted ... Below: PremiAir blast-off! Images: JOE MADAY
PETER XIBERRAS and PremiAir Racing recorded an emotional Atlantic Oils Top Fuel Slam triumph at Sydney Dragway in honour of the late Sam Fenech. A capacity field of more than 200 cars were greeted by a capacity crowd, who
packed into the venue to also salute Fenech. The highly emotional night started with a special tribute to the 55-year-old, who recently passed at Willowbank Raceway – both Xiberras and visiting American Larry Dixon had the honour of pulling
the first passes. The PremiAir Racing driver had to not only overcome the moving moment, but also belt issues throughout the night. But that did not stop Xiberras from securing victory with a scorching 3.846/483.66kph pass in the A-Final against Phil Read. Xiberras was thrilled to secure the team’s first win since the 2021 Internationals and dedicated the success to Fenech. “It has been a while!” Xiberras smiled as he collected the Top Fuel Slam trophy. “This one was always about Sam. After it happened, I think everyone for the last three weeks has been on tenterhooks and talking themselves in and talking themselves out, I know I have been. “I wanted to come here for Sam and then work out what I wanted to do, and I am just so proud that I could do it in his honour.
“He was such a loved character, and we won’t forget him. I had his brother and his son come and see me today, and it was such a vote of confidence that they approve of what we do still. “Thank you very much to everyone, and to my team – I just can’t believe it, this is just fantastic. “And to Phil, to race him and his team is an absolute honour and a pleasure.” Xiberras started the night on the front foot by winning the first pass with a 4.337 second effort at 317kph, which was an impressive result having thrown a belt. PremiAir Racing then secured its spot in the A-Final with a second straight win, this time at the expense of Shane Olive. Xiberras was able to beat Olive with a 4.612 second pass at 248kph despite losing a burst panel and experiencing more belt issues. PremiAir Racing had to push the limits to take out the A-Final after a tense fight with Jim Read Racing. Phil Read set a solid benchmark of 4.162/352kph, but that was not enough to stop Xiberras, who produced a lightning 3.846s run and speeds of up to 483kph. The win arrived at the perfect time for PremiAir Racing, which has a busy month ahead. In addition to the Top Fuel Slam, it also completed its first Bathurst 12 Hour last weekend and is currently working hard to get its two Gen3 Chevrolet Camaro Supercars ready for the upcoming season. But before the Supercars Championship gets underway in Newcastle on March 1012, Xiberras will be hunting more success in round 5 of the Burson Auto Parts Australian Top Fuel Championship. The March 4-5 event, held at the Perth Motorplex, doubles as the 51st Westernationals. Tim W Neal
WEATHER INTERRUPTS OPENING DAY THE OPENING day of the Atlantic Oils Top Fuel Slam at Sydney Dragway was interrupted by inclement weather, but that did not stop some fast times being set. Qualifying took place on the Friday ahead of the main action on the weekend. Proceedings were slowed by bad weather with Pro Stock the only Group 1 category able to complete both rounds before mother nature intervened. But that did not stop stop Rob Dekert from securing top qualifying honours. Dekert achieved the feat with a 6.98 second pass, which was a noticeable improvement on his first run. “It went really well,” he said. “In the first round we only went 7.14s, we just went to three-quarter track and
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Rob Dekert – 6.98s ... IMAGE: CRACKLING PIPES PHOTOGRAPHY then shut it off as we were just looking to get a tune-up as it was quite humid and warm and we didn’t want to melt anything. “(Then) on the second pass we ran it
out the back door! We were very happy with how it went.” In the Burson Auto Parts Australian Top Fuel Championship, Phil Read stormed to the top of the timesheets.
Read completed a 3.81 second run, reaching speeds of 318.99 miles per hour to be the top qualifier. Despite achieving the impressive pace, Read believes he could have gone even quicker if he got another go. “We were very happy with that run, it was smooth and it felt slow, which means it went fast,” he said. “It was unfortunate that we didn’t get the last run in, as we were looking to go quicker and we felt we could possibly go to the mid-70s. “But the session wasn’t completed due to the rain falling mid-way through.” Friday’s running set the scene for what was to become an event to remember both on and off the track. Thomas Miles
Kelvin Lyle v Daniel Gregorini in Top Fuel ... Below left: Jeremy Callaghan, Pro Mod winner. Below right: Chris Matheson took out Top Fuel Bike. IMAGES: CACKLING PIPES PHOTOGRAPHY
RACERS GO FOR GLORY IN HONOUR OF MATE
MORE THAN 200 racers from all over Australia descended on Sydney Dragway to honour former driver Sam Fenech. The fourth round of the 2023 Burson Auto Parts Top Fuel Championship and Australian Drag Racing Championship was an emotional Atlantic Oils Top Fuel Slam where a big crowd greeted a big field. Ceremonies on the moving night kicked off with a Missing Man formation put on by the Top Doorslammers, speeches, videos and songs. Once all of the touching tributes were completed racing got under way and the drivers left nothing on the table as they all pushed the limits to score a big result in Fenech’s honour. Xiberras was able to overcome top qualifier Phil Read in the Top Fuel Championship and secure top honours. It finished the winning streak of Damien Harris, who had won the first two rounds and looked in ominous sign to chase a third Top Fuel Championship title, but now he will have a fight on his hands. The B-Final was a battle of the teammates between American drag racing star Larry Dixon and local boy Wayne Newby. It turned out to be a one-sided affair as Newby could only manage
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a 4.461/281.06kph run after the header flames went out early, to the disappointment of his home crowd. The result proved no match for Dixon, who used his USA experience to score the win in dominant style with a light-speed pass of 3.932/501.17kph. There was hype surrounding the C-Final, which was supposed to be an all-LTFR C affair with Shane Olive and Phil Lamattina to go for glory. However, it proved to be a solo show with Olive taking centre stage after Lamattina was unable to front for the run due to issues with his Top Fuel Dragster. Eventually Olive was able to take out the trophy with a 4.467/290.07kph pass. The Top Doorslammer category was dominated by Kelvin Lyle. Lyle not only won the Atlantic Oils Top Fuel Slam, but also secured top qualifying and the A-Final win from the postponed Willowbank Raceway event which was held at Sydney on the Saturday. His Sydney Dragway success was only possible after a nail-biting A-Final. In an all Western Australian affair, Lyle lined up against Daniel Gregorini, who was also on a Hugh after taking out the postponed Willowbank Raceway B-Final from Matt Abel. Gregorini gave it his best shot, but
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in the end fell just six hundredths of a second short of Lyle. Lyle’s run of 5.729/409.45kph proved edge out Gregornini’s 5.776/407.45 effort. The Top Doorslammer star said to collect to so many trophies on such a special night will remain with him for a long time. “This means a lot,” Lyle said. “And it is not just about getting the two trophies, but to just do it in Sam’s honour. It means a lot. “I was racing him at that last meeting, and to have that happen was just tragic. “So, I really, really wanted these, for him.” The Top Fuel Slam B-Final saw John Zappia take on Emilio Spinozzi. After being the first Doorslammer ’60’ of the weekend, the title and overall third place went to Zappia with a time of 5.692/405.25kph, beating Spinozzi’s 5.882/399.95kph. Rob Dekert proved to be too tough to stop in the Atlantic Oils Pro Stock class. Dekert was the early favourite being the top qualifier and cruised to the A-Final where he came up against Chris Soldatos. Soldatos recorded a 7.125/308.69kph pass, but this proved no match for his opponent. Dekert took the win with a 7.011s pass at 315.59kph and said he blitzed the final. “The final felt really, really good,” he grinned.
“I looked behind me after fifth gear and Chris (Soldatos) wasn’t beside me, so I said, ‘it must be mine! “It was a good weekend and we topqualified as well, so it was good all round and it was great to see everyone come out to honour Sam Fenech.” Rick Chilton was able to secure third for the round after winning the Atlantic Oils Pro Stock B-Final. Chilton’s 7.065/311.70kph was enough to emerge victorious over a red-lighting Toby Polito. There was a scary moment prior to the C Final which turned out to be a singlecar affair. This occurred due to a nasty incident for Bruce Leake, who suffered a shunt after crossing the line as the Round 2 winner. Fortunately Leake was able to exit his damaged car under his own power. However, it meant Mario Polito completed a solo on the C Final, crossing the line and taking the honours with a 7.415 second pass at 275.41kph. Jeremy Callaghan took out the Pro Mod trophy after breaking the 400kph barrier and going 10kph quicker than competitor Neil Murphy. Third for the round and B-Final winner was Robert Campisi, who overcame Steven Athans by two-tenths of a second. The Top Fuel Motorcycle class went to Chris Matheson. Matheson’s 6.306/344.26kph pass was enough to comfortably topple Rob Cassar to claim the big trophy. The fourth round of the 2022/23 Burson Auto Parts Australian Top Fuel Championship and the Australian Drag Racing Championship will be held at Perth Motorplex’s Westernationals on March 4-5. Thomas Miles
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