OSCAR PIASTRI’S COLUMN: MY JAPANESE BREAKTHROUGH!
E EXCLUSIV
AUSTRALIA’S INDEPENDENT VOICE OF MOTORSPORT
60 YEARS OF THE GREAT RACE
BATHURST MASSIVE PREVIEW ISSUE
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THIS YEAR’S GREAT RACE n FULL TEAM-BY-TEAM PREVIEW – WHO’S HOT AND WHO’S NOT! n MARK SKAIFE: HOW TO WIN THE 1000 n 60 YEARS OF BATHURST HISTORY
EXCLUSIVE
IT’S REAL! ISSUE 1871
ISSN 2204-9924
$10.95 INC GST OCT 5 to OCT 18 2023
Nascar digital image: SCOTT YORSTON SSMEDIA Main image: AUTOPICS.COM.AU
AUSSIE SUPERCARS TEAM’S NASCAR PLANS
LATEST NEWS
WALKINSHAW ANDRETTI UNITED HOPING “CRAZY” BATHURST BUILD UP PAYS OFF HAVING SUFFERED a nightmare Sandown 500, Walkinshaw Andretti United hopes a “crazy amount of work” leaves it on track for a return to form at Mount Panorama. Walkinshaw Andretti United is stumbling to this weekend’s Bathurst 1000 after its worst Sandown 500 performance since 1995. Neither the #25 of Chaz Mostert and Lee Holdsworth or the #2 of Nick Percat and Fabian Coulthard finished inside the top 20 on a day lacking of pace and full of frustration highlighted by Holdsworth’s frequent visits to the pits to repair battle scars. But now sights are set on Mount
Panorama where all previous frustrations could disappear with a strong performance at the biggest race of the year. Walkinshaw Andretti United has a proud history at the race and not even an untimely puncture could stop Mostert and Holdsworth from charging to one of the most peerless Bathurst wins of recent times in 2021. Mostert also scored a solid second at the Mountain last year, but being the squad’s first Great Race with the “Blue Oval” on board, previous history counts for nothing. Gen3 at Bathurst is a new challenge for everyone which is why Mostert said the team has undergone a
“crazy amount of work” since Sandown to rediscover some speed. “The holy grail is here, it’s Bathurst, there is nothing quite like this week.. “We have had a pretty big debrief as a team, the whole crew have put in a crazy amount of work in the last few weeks, it’s awesome to see the commitment from everyone! “It will be an interesting weekend. We know the Mountain could chuck anything at us, throw in the soft tyre which we have never used around here and it is going to be an exciting race.” Holdsworth carried on his momentum from his 2021 victory with Mostert into 2022 where he put the Grove Mustang on the
front row and led the crazy opening period of the race. Despite a disappointing trip to Sandown, he is sure WAU will bounce back. “I’m pumped to be getting back behind the wheel. A huge amount of work has gone into the last two weeks, so I’m confident heading in we can bounce back strongly,” Holdsworth said. “As we know, anything can happen at Bathurst, the track is one of the best in the world, the first time over the top will be special.” The first of six practice sessions begins at 13.20 AEST this Thursday. Thomas Miles
BRT UNVEIL F1 STYLE BATHURST WILDCARD THE BLANCHARD Racing Team (BRT) wildcard will take on Mount Panorama with a striking Mercedes Formula 1 style Petronas livery this weekend. After the #7 Mustang made its debut at the hands of Aaron Love and Jake Kostecki with Racer Industries colours at Sandown, the livery has received an upgrade. Replacing the Racer Industries red is the Petronas aqua, while the aggressive black look has been retained. The style is the Supercars version of the black livered Mercedes Formula 1 cars of 2020, 2021 and 2023. It is not the first time the worldwide brand has been seen at Supercars, with Petronas backing Tim Blanchard’s own wildcard ZB Commodore at Wanneroo in 2019 when he raced in silver. The BRT team owner said it is a thrill to have a famous logo on the doors of the #7 Mustang at the biggest race of the year. “For BRT, having PETRONAS on the grid at the Bathurst
1000 is an exciting prospect,” said Blanchard. “It truly validates our Super2 program – not only have we been able to develop Aaron and prove his skills by participating in the main game for this wildcard campaign, our PETRONAS partnership also steps up to the next level. “PETRONAS has an incredible legacy in motorsport, and without a doubt, the livery will be a standout on Mount Panorama. “Both Aaron and Jake put in a solid effort at Sandown, and with that experience under their belts, they should be in a position to have a great run at Bathurst.” Love arrived at Sandown as a fresh faced rookie with just three Super2 rounds under his belt in addition to his domestic and global Porsche career. He teamed up with the returning Kostecki and they achieved their
objective of greeting the chequered flag. After getting as high as 15th, the pair of young West Australians finished 24th, two laps down. Both drivers will be looking to build on the foundations made at Sandown at the biggest challenge of all, Mount Panorama’s Bathurst 1000 this weekend. Thomas Miles
OLIPHANT ADDS INTERNATIONAL FLAVOUR TO V8 SUPERUTES BRITISH TCR driver Tom Oliphant will add an international flavour to the V8 SuperUte Series field at Mount Panorama Bathurst this weekend. Oliphant will jump behind the wheel of the JKD Family Racing Toyota Hilux for the fifth round of the season. The TCR Australia driver is subbing for Dean Brooking, who the team stated “has not received the required medical clearance after his race 4 incident at The Bend in August.” As a result JKD Family Racing has called up the services of Oliphant, who will be racing with his familiar #115. The 33-year-old from Tarporley, England, has plenty of international racing experience behind him. Oliphant is a Ginetta GT4 Supercup champion and has two British Touring Car Championship race wins under his belt both at Brands Hatch in 2020 and 2021. He also scored a further eight podiums across his four full time seasons. In 2023 Oliphant has embarked on his first full TCR Australia season with Ashley Seward Motorsport. Driving the new Lynk & Co car, he took a reverse grid victory at Winton and currently sits ninth in the championship despite missing a round. “Oliphant has an impressive track record with two wins in the British Touring Car Championship, including success in Europe and The Middle East in GT Racing,” read a JKD Family Racing statement. “He brings a wave of energy and skill to our team that we can’t wait to see come to life on the track as he wrestles our SuperUte on the Mountain.” The V8 SuperUte Series stint presents an invaluable opportunity for Oliphant to get a taste of the Mountain before TCR takes it on at the Bathurst International in November. Adam Marjoram holds a narrow lead in the V8 SuperUte Series standings as four races lie ahead this weekend.
ANDRETTI F1 ENTRY APPROVED BY FIA ANDRETTI FORMULA Racing is in the box seat to become the 11th Formula 1 team after its application was approved by the FIA. Following months of a “rigorous and comprehensive” application process, Andretti Formula Racing is the only applicant to be put forward to the third and final stage, which involves Formula 1’s commercial rights holders. Although the FIA believes the team headed by 1993 McLaren driver and CART champion Michael Andretti fulfils the criteria, a place on the Formula 1 grid is not guaranteed however. It still requires a commercial agreement with FOM and there has been resistance to the field being expanded beyond the current number of 10 teams. If Andretti Formula Racing does make it, it will join Haas as an American owned Formula 1 team, but with support from General Motors through Cadillac. Following a call for expressions of interest in February, the FIA assessed each applicant “on the sporting and technical ability, the ability of the team to raise and maintain sufficient funding to allow participation in the Championship at a competitive level and the team’s experience and human resources and also sustainability management.” Aside from Andretti, only three other applicants made it through to the second stage of analysis, with New
Zealand’s Rodin Carlin, Hitech and the Asian based LKYSUNZ. FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem said Andretti Formula Racing emerged as the top pick after a very thorough selection process. “The FIA was very clear in establishing stringent criteria for entry from the outset of the Expressions of Interest procedure,” he said. “Our objective, after rigorous due diligence during the application phase, was to only approve prospective entries which satisfied the set criteria and illustrated that they would add value to the sport. “The FIA is obliged to approve applications that comply with the Expressions of Interests application requirements and we have adhered to that procedure in deciding that Andretti Formula Racing LLC’s application would proceed to the next stage of the application process. “In taking that decision, the FIA is acting in accordance with EU directives on motor sport participation and development. “Andretti Formula Racing LLC was the only entity which fulfils the selection criteria that was set in all material respects. I congratulate Michael Andretti and his team on a thorough submission. I also want to thank all prospective teams for their interest and participation. “The Expressions of Interest process builds on the positive acceptance of the FIA’s 2026 F1 Power Unit
Regulations among existing OEMs which has also attracted further commitment from Audi, Honda and Ford and interest from Porsche and General Motors. “I would like to thank all of the FIA team members involved in the Expressions of Interest process for their tireless efforts in ensuring a diligent assessment of all of the applications received.” Michael Andretti himself naturally welcomed the news. “Andretti Cadillac is honoured that the FIA has approved Andretti Formula Racing’s Expression of Interest for the Formula 1 world championship,” he said. “We appreciate the FIA’s rigorous, transparent and complete evaluation process and are incredibly excited to be given the opportunity to compete in such a historic and prestigious championship. “The formation of this distinctly American team is an important moment of pride for all our employees and fans. “We feel strongly that Andretti Cadillac’s deep racing competencies and the technological advancements that come from racing will benefit our customers while heightening enthusiasm for F1, globally. “We look forward to engaging with all of the stakeholders in Formula 1 as we continue our planning to join the grid as soon as possible.” Thomas Miles