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VICTORIAN GOVERNMENT LAUNCH NEW MOTORSPORT INITIATIVE A NEW initiative launched by the Victorian Government is dedicated to backing community clubs, participants and volunteers, while encouraging greater female participation through the Community Motorsport Program. Launched last week by Minister for Community Sport Ros Spence, the Community Motorsport Program, forming part of the State Government’s $7.4 million Racing Into a New Era for Motorsport initiative aims to address a wide variety of issues within the grassroots level of the industry. Areas targeted by the funding include improvement of motor sport infrastructure and equipment, the training of volunteers and
officials, the support of young motor sport participants and enabling women and girls to become involved in the sport. “Motorsport and motorcycling clubs are a safe space where people can compete and learn,” said Ms Spence. “This funding will help pave the way for the next generation of women and girls in motorsport, from grassroots to the professional level.” The two categories that grants are available through the Community Motorsport Program are: •Motorsport Club Assistance –initiatives to boost women and girls participation (up
to $5,000); hosting events and activities (up to $20,000); funding to purchase safety and operational equipment (up to $10,000); training for volunteers and officials to build club capacity (up to $5,000). •Infrastructure Upgrades and Equipment – funding to purchase critical facility equipment (up to $50,000); and deliver minor (up to $100,000) and major infrastructure developments (up to $500,000). Motorsport Australia CEO Eugene Arocca welcomed the timing of the new funding initiative with the motor sport industry in Victoria supporting more than 4000 jobs and contributes close to $700 million annually to
the state economy. “The new Community Motorsport Program grants could not come at a more important time and will go a long way in helping grassroots clubs get back on track and doing what they do best,” Arocca said. Motorcycling Victoria CEO Robert Mestrom emphasised the importance of the announcement and urged clubs to apply. “These grants will make a real difference to motorcycle clubs and initiatives around the state. I’d like to thank the Victorian Government and encourage our clubs to get on board with the opportunities this program has to offer.” HM
CARRERA CUP DRIVER A SPRINTCAR WINNER PORSCHE CARRERA Cup Australia driver Max Vidau is keeping race sharp by competing in the 410ci Sprintcar Cup on the clay, recording his first heat win. Racing at Whyalla Speedway for the first time in a 900hp 410ci Sprintcar, Vidau took his maiden win in just his second start. Based on his previous performance at Murray Bridge, Vidau was granted dispensation to qualify and not start from rear of grid. “I started from pole in the second heat and just drove away,” Vidau recalled to Auto Action. “I thought they were right behind me the whole race, so it was just eyes forward and hammer down the whole time trying to try to get away, but I ended up winning by the length of the front straight.” In the final Vidau started from seventh but described how different the car handles in the longer affair. “The cars are a completely different animal in the final race with massive fuel loads, the car handles completely different,” he said. “It took me about 10 laps to work it out a bit more and I just started to catch the guy in front but ended up eighth overall.” The rising star is loving every second behind the wheel of his 900hp beast, but told AA that the power was not the most difficult area to adjust in. “It is very different,” Vidau explained. “The 900hp wasn’t the big thing for me, it was driving the car in on the throttle and driving through the corner on the throttle which makes the car turn.
“Obviously, what we’re used to being bitumen drivers is we get the car on the nose and turn it that way, but completely different on dirt.” Vidau has always had a passion for racing on clay and even began his career dirt karting before moving to bitumen. “I started my racing career in dirt karts and that’s where it all started for me,” he said. “My old man works on V8 Chevs, he grew up doing that and we’ve always thought about
doing this, but just never got around to doing it because we’ve been so focused on the bitumen side of things. “But it all came together, and all the sponsors came together, they were all happy to jump in and we went racing.” The 19-year-old believes not only he as a driver is improving, but his sprintcar is also developing into a quick package. “It’s just such a weird thing to get your head around, but I’ve got some good guys around
helping me out, so I’m very lucky,” Vidau said. “We learned a lot from Murray Bridge and how the car was handling. “The car was trying to roll me over at Murray Bridge, but at Whyalla the car was a lot better, a lot easier to drive, and we’re only going to move forward from here.” For more on Max Vidau read the latest Young Guns feature on the tall talent from pages 40-41. Dan McCarthy
RACING TOGETHER DRIVERS CHOSEN DRIVE AGAINST DEPRESSION CONTINUES WITH AASA RACING TOGETHER, the program designed to create an Indigenous motor racing team, has selected the 11 members of its squad. The group of 11 are all from Logan just south of Brisbane and were chosen by a panel of experts out of more than 30 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander participants. Each driver took part in a several assessments at the Norwell Motorplex, the challenges included driving and mechanical aptitude tests. The selected team members now plan the build of their Hyundai Excel race car under the guidance of Racing Together founders Garry and Monique Connelly, 2014 Bathurst 1000 winner and Norwell Motorplex operator Paul Morris and Gunya Meta Indigenous mentor Michael Orcher. In 2021 the car will be entered into the X3 Circuit Excel Racing Series allowing Australia’s first indigenous racing team a chance to develop in motorsport. “There is currently no representation of our indigenous people in motorsport in Australia,” said Formula 1 race steward Garry Connelly. “A few months ago, we decided to do something about it, and we decided to sponsor a pilot program to bring kids 12 to 16, boys and girls, into motorsport.
“The next step will be to start building a Hyundai Excel to compete next year. We may use different drivers at different events. While the build is occurring, the drivers will do intensive training under Paul Morris and his team at Norwell.” The Racing Together project hopes to eventually expand into level motorsport with the goal of putting an indigenous driver into the prestigious Ferrari Academy (Asia Pacific). Connelly said the weekend program at Norwell was a great success. “The enthusiasm of the participants was high at the start but grew by the hour as they drove a number of track activities in dry and wet conditions,” he explained. “We did classroom sessions on road safety, car construction and design, first aid, personal health and conditioning and learning also about how to become an official.” Braedyn Cidoni aged 16 and Karlai Warner, 14, were both chosen as drivers within the 11, but team members may have a chance to have a turn at the wheel. “We’ll see how they all develop. Some of them also have excellent mechanical abilities,” Connelly said. Dan McCarthy
AASA HAS announced that Drive Against Depression will continue as its official charity into the 2021 season after a successful year in 2019. Drive Against Depression (DAD) is an organisation aimed at bringing together people with a shared passion for motoring, by creating judgement-free, non-confrontational environments in which people can have conversations about mental health issues. Mental health is a topic that has prominent during the COVID-19 pandemic with many people stuck isolating away from friends and family during lockdown. DAD co-founder and director Sarah Davis explained that it is important to get the message out there and support people close to you. “Our involvement with AASA and BAC was a huge part of 2019, it gave our participants the chance to enjoy different types of motoring and motorsport activities and gave people a whole new level of joy,” Davis said. “Looking ahead to 2021, we’ll be starting our social drives again and we’ll be looking
to dovetail those occasions with some events at Winton, such as the Friday Test and Tune sessions where some people might like to enjoy the experience of driving their car around a race track.” AASA business manager, Stephen Whyte expressed that the AASA is fully committed to continue the support of the DAD cause. “There is an overlap between the demographics of motoring enthusiasts and the demographics likely to suffer from mental illness, so there are some synergies with our involvement with DAD,” he said. “We’ve been promoting DAD to our competitors at a variety of events, especially circuit racing and tarmac rally and in 2021 we’re aiming to raise awareness of the cause in other disciplines such as off-road and speedway. “DAD continues to provide terrific support in the mental health space and we’re proud to be associated with them.” Last year DAD facilitated social drives on public roads and used the AASA connection to form a relationship with the Australian Tarmac Rally Championship. Dan McCarthy
EXCELS TO CONFORM UNDER NEW TENDER CIRCUIT EXCEL competitors will next year be permitted to run a sole suspension package after Supashock won the tender to supply the class. In previous years, Supashock was one of the three choices competitors could choose between, but will now be the sole supplier for the growing state-based category. The announcement also confirmed Federal Tyres as the control tyre supplier, a position it has held for a number of seasons. “We were very impressed with the quantity of submissions from a variety of partners interested in the category, but more impressive for us was the quality of a number of companies who wanted to get involved,” said Circuit Excel Racing Association president John Broadbent. “The tender process involved not just technical capabilities of the product the competitors would be using, but we also considered the commercial position of the product to ensure our competitors would be getting the best value for money.” “After lengthy analysis of all submissions, including laboratory testing and some track tests, as well as extensive meetings around commercial implications for our race competitors, we are very happy with the products put forward by both Federal Tyres
and Supashock.” “We are very excited, and look forward to see this roll out to our competitors on January 1, 2021.” Supashock is already installed on many of Australia’s fastest Excels as company CEO Oscar Fiorinotto also announced the addition of a training program for young drivers and engineers to enhance the category’s reputation as a development proving ground. “Supashock is proud to support Circuit Excel Racing Australia. With a rich global history in motorsport, and success in the Excel Circuit,” said Fiorinotto. “Supashock are pleased to be offering a high quality and cost-effective Controlled Suspension Package developed for the Hyundai Excel Racing series. “Supashock believe the Excel racing category to date has provided a fantastic stepping stone for the development of young drivers, and offers a path into the Australian Motorsport industry. To help aid development in the category, Supashock will offer a training program to help mentor and educate young drivers and aspiring engineers.” “We are extremely excited to be awarded the right as control tyre for the Circuit Excel
Image: LAT
Association under Motorsport Australia from 2021.” Federal Tyres motorsport manager Jeff Newick was pleased to continue its standing as the control tyre supplier for Excels. “Both Neta Tyre Sales and Service and Exclusive Tyre Distributors have worked closely together to ensure uninterrupted
supply to all members in the past and this will continue into the future,” said Newick. “We feel the Federal 595 RS-R is the best suited tyre for the series as it ensures ultimate performance and value for money to all competitors.” “We are both looking forward to a prosperous future with the Circuit Excel Association and its members.” HM
Images: Insyde Media, AMRS/Ricciardo Benvenuti
Since its introduction onto the Australian Motor Racing Series calendar in 2018, the one-make Mazda RX-8 Cup has rapidly built a solid following in what is a crowded motor sport marketplace. HEATH McALPINE investigates how cost-effective this series is and why its popularity continues to grow. A CONVERSATION between co-drivers during the Bathurst 6 Hour spawned the concept of RX-8 Cup, a class that has experienced steady growth over the course of its inaugural three seasons. The man behind the series is noted production car racer and rotary specialist Ric Shaw, who was determined to provide an accessible option to get into motor sport. “After a 37-year career in motor sport spanning whatever I’ve done, I just decided in some respects that it was time to give something back to the sport,” explained Shaw. “I’m fairly strong on the idea of giving something back to the sport for the guys,
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who want to start motor racing that don’t currently race, so it’s orientated around grassroots at the beginner-type level. “It’s for competitors that want to race easily and affordably at a level that’s not rocket science. Easy to build a car, easy to maintain, easy to run, you don’t need a transporter, no need for a cast of thousands to specially run it. “That’s the incentives I had towards it.” And from all reports, RX-8 Cup achieves those goals. Shaw’s development started with devising a control parts package in mid-2017, similar to the formula used in the Toyota 86 Race Series, but remaining very much production car based. With the initial package decided, the
first RX-8s hit the track in 2018 as part of the Australian Motor Racing Series where competitors have competed at circuits including Winton and The Bend Motorsport Park. The category is aimed at beginners, but also experienced competitors continue to join the series, some have even used the class to return to motor sport after a long hiatus. Enter former production car frontrunner of the early-1990s, Terry Lewis. RX-8 Cup caters to both national and state-based competitors through the AMRS with entry fees hitting the $1000 mark, which includes a garage and Friday practice. A weekend encompasses four or five
practice sessions, qualifying and four races. While plans for next year are not set in stone, it is envisioned RX-8 Cup will conduct a six-round national series, plus four-round state component. The category employs four-staff, including its own scrutineers to police the strict rules put in place by the regulations. To get involved in the series there are a variety of pathways. One is to acquire and build a Series I RX-8 (2003-2007) into a race car, another is to purchase secondhand and finally leasing one is also a possibility. A road-going RX-8 can be bought for anywhere between $2000-$7000 depending on its condition. To convert
Mazda RX-8 Cup is one of the fastest growing categories in Australia, consistently attracting 20-entries a round (left). Building a car is relatively easy to do, a kit is bought through Ric Shaw and is troublefree to install (above). Shaw is the creator of the series (below).
the platform to RX-8 Cup specification can cost as low as $12,000 or top end builds can reach $35,000. Anymore than that and Shaw says it’s a waste of money. “Guys are building RX-8s from go-towoe, $20,000 for a brand new car,” Shaw told Auto Action. “It depends how much you buy the car for, whether its $2000 or $5000 and then our control package is $4100. “The cheapest RX-8 to be put on the grid cost around $12,000, but realistically, a well-built car that I could do competitive lap times in costs around $20,000. “If some guy – and this goes for any category – starts with a shell, strips it, puts it on a rotisserie, sandblasts it, builds it from there with new nuts and bolts on the thing, yeah sure he could spend $50,000, but it would be a waste of money. “I think the most someone’s spent to build a car is $30,000, because they’ve rebuilt the motor and the gearbox with everything new. Did it go any faster? No. “When you look across the board, most people have got a very cost effective, wellbuilt, reliable car on-track for $20,000.” The roll cage is not controlled, but must meet Motorsport Australia National specifications, though most competitors use a bolt-in unit that can be installed at their home for $4000.
Next, a RX-8 Cup control kit is needed to complete the transformation, which is purchased directly through Shaw. At a cost of $4100, the kit comprises an MCA suspension package including springs and shocks, a Ric Shaw Performance exhaust system, a set of 18 x 8 Speedy Wheels rims including open wheel nuts, a set of Nankang A1 tyres, Circo brake pads and a category supplied air intake utilising a K&N filter. Shaw designed the kit to not only be cost-effective, but easy to install limiting the requirement for professional help. “I think 99 percent of the cars on the grid have been built at home,” explained Shaw. “Everything that bolts on is all off the shelf, really, really easy provided you have some mechanical ability, you can do that. “You don’t need to come to me or another mechanical workshop and ask us to build you a car, you could build one yourself if you wanted to.” Although, keeping costs low was a high priority, it didn’t compromise on the quality of the product as Shaw researched and tested the concept to achieve the desired result. “I didn’t want the cars to be super, super cheap, but horrible to drive because they were on an unsuitable tyre, I didn’t want that,” said Shaw.
“I wanted them to be pretty good to drive, quite rewarding to drive and to feel like they cost more than they already do. “We’ve sort of achieved that and that’s what everyone says, the package is good and they’re surprisingly good to drive for the little money to get it that good.” Getting the components is also an easy process with Shaw maintaining a large inventory. “We have a supply chain of absolutely everything,” Shaw said. “If someone comes to me who is building a car, we can supply him 100 percent of every component they need right down to bonnet pins at a competitor price. We have a discount on everything, right down to lithium batteries, seat mounts, isolator switch mounts, we have everything that is customised for an RX-8. “As soon as they’re apart of the category and they’re building a car, they are entitled to those discounts.” Extra items that can be fitted include an improved clutch plate developed by Direct Clutch in Queensland, a category bespoke PWR radiator, suspension bushes, stock brake rotors are commonly replaced with DBA 4000 Series, adhering to the same size as the original component. “Where the rules allow freedoms is either it’s a needed safety item or to
make it reliable and motor sport savvy,” emphasised Shaw. “There’s still enough to adjust and tune, ride height, shock settings, wheel alignment and tyre pressures without having too much. It’s enough for the average first-timer to get their head around and play with. “The RX-8s less modified than a 3E production car because those are allowed to modify the brakes, we’re not and certainly we can’t touch the engines in any way or the engine management in anyway.” Speaking of engines, the famous Mazda Rotary is a reliable base for the category and maintaining it during the season is trouble free. “The requirements of servicing are low, it’s not like a piston engine, there are no timing belts or valves to adjust,” Shaw explained. “You pretty much don’t have to do anything to them other than servicing the ignition system, like changing spark plugs, changing oil and filters. It’s really simple basic servicing stuff that gets done. “It is dependent on the competitor, some spend a little more time polishing things, but some guys are rather lax and do little more than change the engine oil. They are quite maintenance free, so very light, general servicing, bleeding brakes,
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NATIONALS wrap n compiled by garry o’brie
TWO RALLY ROUNDS, TWO WINNERS
TWO TEAMS celebrated at the Adelaide Hills Rally on October 17-18. Guy Tyler and Mike Dale were the winners of round two before Aaron Bowering and Heath Weedon won round three and took out the AGI Sports South Australian Championship. The National Motor Museum at Birdwood acted as the service park and Tyler (Mitsubishi EVO 9) started in hot form and won the first four stages of round two. He built up a near 30s lead ahead of Luke Anear and Andy Sarandis (Ford Fiesta R5) with Zayne Admiraal and Matt Heywood, and Aaron Bowering and Heath Weedon the next two crews in their Subaru WRX’s. Anear hit back in stage five after repairing some clutch issues. However, any gains made on Tyler’s lead were nullified after exceeding the allocated time for the service and he was late to the regroup. A 3min time penalty dropped him to 21st. Tyler and Anear swapped stage wins as the clutch on the Fiesta seemed to be sorted but the time gap lost was too big to make up –
even when Tyler limped home on the final stage with clutch problems himself. Tyler had banked enough of a time gap to hold on for the victory ahead
of Admiraal and Bowering, who both pushed hard to make the podium. A second win for the season put Tyler in a commanding position to regain the championship after last
winning it five years ago. The Sunday round three morning stages were run in Mt Crawford Forest before the afternoon took to the closed road sections North East of Birdwood. Tyler again started hot ahead of Anear with little between them at the top of the time sheets. It was on the fourth stage that everything fell into place for Bowering. Tyler’s brake, clutch and engine gremlins from Saturday had reappeared and he pulled out, effectively putting an end to his title bid. Anear also succumbed to reliability as an exhaust issue led to some bigger issues under the bonnet. Admiraal broke a drive shaft that caused gearbox to fail and left him stranded in Mt Crawford Forest until the end of the competitive stage. Bowering powered on ahead now unchallenged for the win and the championship. Jamie Pohlner and Adam Branford (WRX), and Daren Herring and Matt Woods (EVO 6) led the charge to chase down Bowering and finished second and third. Stuart Daddow
Jimmy Marquet (Lotus Exige Targa GT) who were quick from the start and won the first two stages. Third were husband and wife Bill and Glenys Stagoll (EVO 9) from John O’Dowd and Toni Feaver in their leased 2004 Porsche 996 Turbo. White had a fuel regulator issue and looked unlikely to be in contention. contenti On day two Rullo made up enough time in the first four stages to be equal first with Greenham. Rullo pulled away in the last three stages before overheating from a broken belt retired them. Meanwhile there was a tie for third between Morse and Foster. White finished fifth ahead of Heaton, but O’Dowd had issues with a slipping clutch and dropped to ninth. Rullo was back for day three, won two and finished equal first in two other stages. O’Dowd won the first stage of the day and finished with a class seventh
behind Heuson Bak/Roger Tan (Lotus Exige). All Competition Classic stages before the last day went to Simon Gunson and Peter Morley (Ford Capri Perana). They won four out of the final six to finish almost 5mins ahead of Tim Wolfe and Scott Beckwith (Porsche 911 Carrera RS) and had the sixth fastest time overall. Third in class were cousins Nathan and Keven Ellement (Chev Corvette C4) ahead of Kim Stewart and Frank Zanotti (Ford Mustang). In the speed restricted Targa 165 class Ben Pang and Brandon Chin (Honda Civic) easily won ahead of Nick Rahimtulla and Lisa White (Alfa Romeo 2000 GTV 105). Husband and wife Jurgen and Helen Lunssman (Telsa 3 Performance+) clean swept the Targa 130 stages ahead of David and Anna Hodges (Holden Commodore VF SSV). The 2 Day Rallye went to Paul Pernechele and Ben Trager (Ford Falcon XY). GOB
GREENHAM/ESTERBAUER CONTROL TARGA WEST PRESERVATION WAS critical for Mark Greenham and Steph Esterbauer as they went on to win the Make Smoking History Targa West event on October 23-25. In their Competition Modern Mitsubishi EVO 9 they started the final day with a healthy lead and won by 2mins 22s. Meanwhile the fight for second went all the way to the wire. Jeff and Catherine Foster (Porsche GT3 RS) started the day 11s ahead of Will White and Matt Thompson (EVO 9). White was 1.0s behind into the last stage and took second place over the Fosters by the same margin. Fourth went to Brett Morse and Rodney Ng (BMW M2 Competition) who were third earlier but lost time due to tyre
degradation and placed ahead of David Heaton and Caleb Ash (Nissan GTR Nismo). The 16th edition of the event feature 54 starters and was held over 36 stages and 268 competitive kilometres in around Perth and the surrounds. Greenham led at the end of day one from Peter Rullo and
Images: Targa West/CMR Photographic/Turn7Media
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Images: Stuart Daddow
2WD RALLY SURPRISE IN AN upset result, Tony Sullens and Kaylie Newell scored the victory in the Midstate Freight Caves Classic, round two of the Motor Traders’ Association of New South Wales Rally Championship on October 10. Based out of Oberon in the Central West of the state, the event attracted 45 entries. Sullens and Newell piloted their Citroën DS3 R3T to a 2.1s victory over Mal Keogh and Andrew Bennett (Audi Quattro). Thomas Clarke and Jim Gleeson (Mitsubishi EVO 9) a further 9.1s away in third, retained the title lead. Rain fell a few days before the rally. It did little to settle the dust but did create some wet and boggy spots. Keogh took fastest time on the opening stage, by less than a second from Clarke who ran first on the road. However, Clarke found the loose gravel slowed him. He thought that running down the order a bit, with the road swept, was an advantage, particularly for Keogh. Clarke hit back when he won stage two from Keogh, and Sullens who was equal third with Ron and Jo Moore (EVO 6). Clarke was also first on stage three, before he lost time in stage four with a brake issue and dropped back into the clutches of his pursuers. Later, a rear suspension drama cost even more time. To the last couple of stages, Keogh was in control, by just 3.1s from Sullens and 6.8s to Clarke. Clarke flew through the second-last stage retrieve second, just 1.4s behind Keogh. The final 9.45km stage went to Sullens by 4.8s, which saw him leap-frog Keogh and Clarke. The 2WD car found the faster, more
Images: Bruce Moxon flowing roads well-suited to it, and Sullens commented that all he had to do was “drive at 11/10ths all day and not crash”. This was Keogh’s first visit to the area, while the Moores, with two stage wins and finished fourth, live just up the road in Bathurst. Keogh took the East Coast Classic part of the event from Nathan Quinn and Ray Winwood-Smith (Mazda RX2) who were fifth overall. EVOs filled the next four positions with Tim and Peter Joass ahead of Chris and Katie Giddins, Bethany Cullen/Mel McMinn, and Chris Jaques/Hugh Taylor. Taylor Gill and Peter Harris (Subaru Impreza WRX) were 10th. Bruce Moxon
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