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INTERNATIONAL NEWS
HYUNDAI’S DUAL TCR ATTACK DESPITE WINNING last year’s World Touring Car Cup, Hyundai has released another TCR model which will race in the US this year, the Veloster N TCR. The purpose of the car is to further promote the N brand and as the i30 N isn’t sold in the US, building a TCR homologated model based on the Veloster N was an obvious choice. “The Veloster is a perfect fit for the IMSA
Michelin Pilot Challenge as we expand our motorsports efforts,” said Dean Evans, vice president, Marketing, Hyundai Motor America. “The all-new 2019 Veloster and Veloster N are playful, fun-to-drive cars, and thanks to Bryan and his team we’re excited to introduce them to racing fans across North America. In 2018, we won a manufacturer’s championship, so it is great to get back to racing with our proven
veterans, a pair of great young drivers, and this brand-new car.” Bryan Herta Autosport are behind the new venture after dominating last year’s touring car class in the Pirelli World Challenge. The team move across to the IMSA-aligned Michelin Pilot Challenge where it will fight for honours against the Honda Civic Type R TCR, Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR and Audi RS3 LMS TCR.
INDYCAR’S NEW TITLE SPONSOR
BUSY BTCC SILLY SEASON
The BTCC grid is quickly taking shape. Most of the key seats have been filled, but there are still some sought-after seats left for this season. Here is a rundown of who is where ahead of the 2019 season: The factory Honda team, Halfords Yuasa Racing, is one of the few teams that will remain the same for 2019, with both Matt Neal and Dan Cammish re-signing with for this season. 2018 BTCC Champion Colin Turkington has also opted for consistency, deciding to defend his crown with BMW West Surrey Racing. The second seat last year contained a father and son combination. Rob Collard drove the car until he was injured at Snetterton, being replaced by his son Ricky Collard for the final four rounds. Tom Oliphant will now replace the pair after leaving Ciceley Motorsport at the end of his first season in the BTCC. Andrew Jordan will once again fill the third WSR car driving the Pirtek backed BMW for a third straight year. 2018 runner-up Tom Ingram will continue with Speedworks Motorsport, last year with a customer Toyota Avensis. In 2019 Speedworks has stepped up as a factory Toyota supported squad, the move also seeing the team change to a Corolla. Motorbase has re-signed the experienced Tom Chilton after he finished third in the standings in 2018, while also announcing the arrival of new signing Ollie Jackson to the team. Its third driver is expected to be announced in the coming weeks. Team HARD has re-signed both Bobby Thompson and Mike Bushell for 2019. After giving former National Hot Rod World Champion
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“The success we had last year with the i30 N TCR inspired us to expand Hyundai’s motorsports program and bring the Veloster N TCR into a tougher series, with longer races and more experienced drivers,” said Bryan Herta, President and CEO of Bryan Herta Autosport. “Transforming the Veloster’s lightweight, rigid architecture into an endurance race car will help us build credibility for Hyundai’s growing N brand and bolster the reverse-halo effect that the Veloster brings to Hyundai’s diverse vehicle lineup. We can’t wait to get this new car out on the track and into competition.” Michael Lewis and Mark Wilkins lead the driver line-up, with the duo teaming up with youngsters Mason Filippi and Harry Gottsacker in a two-car attack. The Veloster N TCR is a near exact duplicate to its i30N TCR brother underneath, with both models sharing 85 per cent of core components. They are built are at Hyundai Motorsport Customer Racing Team headquarters in Alzenau, Germany. The Veloster N TCR is fully homologated for competition but priority for deliveries will be given to markets that sell the Veloster N.
Carl Boardley a drive at Knockhill last season, the team has signed him for a full season in 2019. The team’s fourth driver will be 2018 Ginetta GT4 Supercup AM champion Michael Crees. Sam Tordoff has moved from Motorbase to the AmD Technik Essex team, where he will partner Rory Butcher who remains with the team for a second year. The Ciceley Motorsport team has announced it will scale back to two Mercedes A-Class cars in 2019, its drivers being team co-owner Adam Morgan and rookie Daniel Rowbottom. The third Mercedes will still be driven by Aiden Moffat, but the Laser Tools Racing Team will be racing as an ndependent operation rather than through Ciceley Motorsport. Jake Hill has signed with new team Trade Price Cars Racing and rookie Rob Smith has signed for new team Excelr8 Motorsport, with both teams yet to sign their second drivers. Matt Simpson, who recorded his first race win last year at Oulton Park, will continue to drive for his own Simpson Racing team in 2019. Both the Vauxhaul and Subaru factory outfits have not announced driver line-ups yet, nor have along many independent teams. With names like Jason Plato, Ashley Sutton, Jack Goff, Josh Cook and Rob Collard still on the market the BTCC silly season is far from over.
INDYCAR HAS announced a new multi-year title sponsorship with NTT (Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation), after the end of its five-year Verizon deal. Verizon has signed another multi-year contract with Team Penske, which will see the Verizon sponsorship on the cars for many years to come. As well as being the title sponsor of the series, NTT will also be the technology partner of the series, in which the company hopes to improve the fan experience by delivering digital innovations. The Japanese company approached IndyCar about becoming the title sponsor in September 2018, and the deal came together quickly late last year. “Based on our lengthy and successful experience, including work in mobile applications, analytics and user experience, we will help IndyCar create the next generation of fans globally who aspire to enjoy racing through a more digital experience,” said NTT’s president and CEO Jun Sawada. “NTT is proud to be associated with IndyCar and accelerate the future of
smart racing. Technological innovations have the potential to change the sport and fan experience drastically.” NTT Data, the sister company of NTT Corp., is the main sponsor of the #10 Chip Ganassi car which in 2018 was driven by Ed Jones, who finished 13th in the final standings. This year the #10 car will be driven by IndyCar rookie Felix Rosenqvist. Although the Swede is an IndyCar rookie, he has plenty of racing experience in Formula E, DTM, Super Formula and many other championships. “Having a strong technology partner is critically important to IndyCar’s continued growth,” said Mark Miles, President and CEO of IndyCar, “so we are thrilled to welcome NTT as our new title sponsor.” The first race of the IndyCar season takes place on the 10th of March on the streets of St. Petersburg in Florida.
BRABHAM NAME TO RETURN TO LE MANS BRABHAM AUTOMOTIVE has announced its intension to race in the World Endurance Championship GTE Pro class as a factory operation, starting in 2021/2022. The team will be run by Brabham Automotive and race the Adelaide-built Brabham BT62. The BT62 has done hundreds of test kilometres around the new The Bend Motorsport Park in South Australia, with testing focused on developing the car for high performance endurance racing. “Returning the Brabham name to Le Mans is something I have been working on for years, so it’s fantastic to make this announcement,” said David Brabham, Brabham Automotive
Managing Director and former Le Mans winner. “Brabham Automotive only launched its first car, the BT62, in May 2018 so we have a long road to travel to earn the right to compete at Le Mans. That work starts now with a long-term racing commitment.” Brabham Automotive also plans to compete in the GTE AM class, in which Brabham Automotive would provide customer teams with BT62’s. The Brabham name has great history at Le Mans, with both brothers Geoff and David winning the historic 24 hour race in 1993 and 2009 respectively.
“Our plan to go on the journey back to Le Mans is a statement of intent that Brabham Automotive is back and here to stay. In the BT62, we have already built an outstanding, unrestricted track car now with a road legal option,” said Dan Marks, Commercial Director of Brabham Automotive. The BT62 has made a number of public appearances around the world to date, including at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, Laguna Seca and the Adelaide Motorsport Festival. The car will also cut some laps at the Superloop Adelaide 500 in just over a month.
SUPRA SUPER GT RETURN TOYOTA HAS revealed a concept of its Toyota Supra Super GT car, which it plans to race in the series starting in 2020. That year will see Super GT adopt the new Class One rules which were jointly created and developed by Super GT and DTM. The Supra has a proud racing history, being raced in touring cars, endurance racing and even drag racing, but it was in drifting and the Super GT championship (formally known as the All Japan Grand Touring Car Championship) where the Supra has previously had extensive success. Toyota won four championships in Super GT between 1997 and 2005 with the Supra, even though manufacturing of the fourth generation road car finished in August 2002. In 2006 Toyota decided to replace it with the more road relevant Lexus SC 430. Since the luxury Toyota brand took over in 2006, Lexus has won five titles with three different car models, most recently in 2017 with the Lexus LC 500 in the hands of Japanese driver Ryo Hirakawa and New
Zealander Nick Cassidy. In 2018 the pair finished three points behind the champions, 2009 Formula 1 World Champion Jenson Button and Naoki Yamamoto. The fifth generation Supra will begin production this year, Toyota seeing it as an opportunity to bring back the model name to GT racing.
A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO RACE ONE OF AUSTRALIA’S MOST ICONIC RACE CARS IN THE 2019 NATIONAL SPORTS SEDAN SERIES The Audi B7, Sports Sedan is offered to an appropriate driver as arrive and drive package requiring a very modest budget for the 2019 National Championship to be held over five rounds. Identified as one of the fastest Sports Sedan ever built this car iconic car currently holds lap records at all the major tracks in Australia. Previously driven by Darren Hossack, and Jack Perkins to multiple championship wins and during 2017/18 seasons Jack Perkins won 13 national events in a row. The package includes fully race prepared car, with all previous data available to assist with comparative speeds and includes substantial body work space available for sponsorship signage.
National Sports Sedan calendar 2019 Rd. 1 Rd. 2 Rd. 3 Rd. 4 Rd. 5
April 6-7 Sydney Motorsport Park July 12-14 Tailem Ben August 2-4 Queensland Raceways Aug 31/1 Sep Sydney Motorsport Park Oct 26/27 Sandown Raceway
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31 JANUARY – 3 FEBRUARY 2019
R E Z A L B L I A R T the He has forged a pathway that many young Australian young drivers aspire to follow. Porsche factory driver Matt Campbell’s rise has been rapid after being born into a motorsport mad family. On the eve of his busiest racing season yet, HEATH McALPINE spoke to Campbell about his journey so far
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T HAS been a whirlwind five years for Queenslander Matt Campbell, as he has gone from racing a historic Datsun 1200 to pedalling the latest Porsche 991 RSR during the night at last year’s Le Mans 24 Hour. A packed year awaits the Porsche Young Driver as he contests his maiden campaign in the World Endurance Championship with Dempsey-Proton Competition in the GTE-Am category. Campbell will also race in the fiveround Intercontinental GT Challenge, encompassing the Bathurst 12 Hour and Spa 24 Hour, while also contesting oneoff events like the upcoming Daytona 24 Hour. For Campbell, all of this will tick many events off the bucket list, but Bathurst is still the highlight of his year. “It’s very much looked at overseas, especially from my point of view, being Australian. It’s my only home race I get to do these days,” Campbell explained. “It’s really the biggest highlight after doing Le Mans, because Bathurst is my favourite circuit. I’ve done the 12 Hour since 2014 and it’s just one of
those races that’s so exciting. It’s a 12 Hour sprint race nowadays and the level of competition has grown so much over the last few years, so I’m really looking forward to it because it’s one of my favourite races for the entire year.” It will be the first time Campbell contests the 12 Hour in a full-Pro line-up, after strong finishes in the Pro-Am Competition Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3R which delivered a podium in 2017 and fourth on 2018. Joining Campbell is fellow Porsche Young Driver Dennis Olsen and the experienced Dirk Werner, in what is sure to be a contender, not that Campbell wasn’t been a contender in 2018 in the WEC.
It has been a swift rise for Matt Campbell since winning the Porsche Young Driver Shootout in 2016.
The Dempsey-Proton Competition team containing Campbell, Christian Ried and Julien Andlauer were leading the class title after winning in Shanghai, but irregularities discovered in the datalogger lead to the FIA removing all points scored in the season to that point. The trio had taken three wins and comfortably led the championship at
that stage. disappointment, Campbell Despite the disappointment is enthusiastic about the form he and the team had shown during the season, which was highlighted by a class win on debut at Le Mans. “It was a massive step up for me last year, obviously moving across from the Supercup into the World Endurance Championship in the RSR,” he admitted. “To get the opportunity alone to race at events such as Le Mans was an awesome experience. To be able to win on debut and get the first win for the team there made it extra special, that’s for sure. “We had fantastic pace all year, a couple of poles and three race wins, so undoubtably the car was fantastic and the driver line-up really, really strong and Campbell has been a star at the Bathurst 12 Hour as part of Competition Motorsport’s Pro-Am campaign (far left). The Australian also found immediate success in Porsche Supercup, taking third in his only year in the class (left).
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we were fast everywhere we went.” Speaking of the transition from sprint style racing in Porsche Supercup to the six-hour races that make up the majority of the WEC season, Campbell was able to draw on his previous experience in Australia racing the Pirtek Enduro Cup and Australian GT. “It was a smaller step than I thought originally going into the year. I suppose I was lucky in the sense that in the past years I’ve had plenty of experience in endurance racing all over, that wasn’t new for me,” Campbell reflected. “Obviously the racing, the tyre and the car were all challenges, but at the end of the day, it’s still a Porsche, it’s just another step and it always has that Porsche sense. I had a lot to learn, but I’ve been having fun driving the car and now I’m comfortable in it as well.” Speaking of his brief Pirtek Enduro Cup career, Campbell was a highlight when he debuted alongside Todd Kelly with Nissan in 2016, but the step up to partner then reigning Supercars champion Shane van Gisbergen was a difficult one. “That first year [with Nissan] was really, really good for me. Low stress and I got along with the team very, very well. I thoroughly enjoyed the
experience. It was definitely an eye-opener and a step in the right direction, getting an idea of I suppose (about) that level of motorsport. I mean obviously two years ago with Triple Eight, that was just another level in itself,” enthused Campbell. “I think it has put me in good stead in going to Europe and being involved with some very high teams within Porsche. You’re not as wide eyed when you first go there and experience a new car or a new circuit.” It has been quite the career so far, considering Campbell’s start in motorsport was rather untraditional. He holds sfond memories from his gradual rise through Formula Ford and the Porsche pyramid pathway, starting in GT3 Cup Challenge. “It’s been a bit of a different journey through my motorsport career. I didn’t do the traditional route of karting, I had a go kart when I was younger but it was just for fun and wasn’t really a proper thing, so I never raced a proper kart,” Campbell explained. “My whole family was heavily involved with the local car club, which ran the race track in Warwick (Qld),
Campbell took four wins during his first European season.
Morgan Park Raceway. “I learned how to drive a car when I was very, very young and I got involved as soon as I could. I was out at the racetrack nearly every weekend. I started competing in my own Datsun 1200 at the age of 14, did that for a couple of years, then did a test in a Formula Ford and did some racing, and a few years later we’re where we are now.
“It’s a different progression compared to most aspiring racers, especially in the younger years, but I wouldn’t change it for the world. I think it’s done wonders for me. “I always just wanted to give motorsport a shot but I never thought I’d make a career out of it, I was quite realistic. “We’ve had a crack at it and it’s ended up not too bad.”
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47th Grand Annual Sprintcar Classic - Premier Speedway Warnambool
FARR’S CLASSIC HOODOO OVER BY GEOFF ROUNDS
ROLLING CARS and wrecks were abundant as per usual at this year’s Classic. A total of 22 cars had rolled after the two nights of racing. In what is without doubt a first for the event there was a five-car roll in the Saturday night final, with John Vogels, James Inglis, Jye O’Keeffe, Kevin Titman and Brayden Parr all up-ending between turns three and four. THE 2019 Classic was another financial bonus for the Warrnambool and district economy. Over the three days of racing, around $3.5 million is injected into the city and the surrounding farming region and was a considerable moneyspinner for the Premier Speedway Club. This 47th year of the event around 24,500 came through the gates of this famous venue, peaking at around 10,500 fans on the final night.
ONCE AGAIN American drivers were part of the Classic. Just five of Uncle Sam’s men lined up to carry on the annual USA tradition which began when Ted Bohlander flew in to compete in 1974. 2014 Classic winner Tim Kaeding led this year’s USA charge with Parker Price-Miller, Carson Macedo and Cory Eliason all returning, and talented teenager Gio Scelzi made his Classic debut over the weekend representing the Stars and Stripes in fine style.
MOTHER NATURE roared loudly and put on spectacular weather show, washing out the 25th annual Kings Sprintcar Challenge at Borderline Speedway, Mount Gambier. The $10,00-to-win race attracted 44 cars but after eight qualifying heats and the time trials, rain hit and the race meeting was washed out as it was in 2017. Kerry Madsen had secured pole position and was on track to make it a hat-trick of wins, adding to his victories in 2015 and 2016. THIS YEAR’S 100 entrants is a long way from the 40 entries in 1973 who were vying for a total prizemoney of $2500 in front of about 12,000 people, where admission was just $1 for an adult. Total prizemoney in 2019 increased to a huge $220,000 with the winner pocketing $30,000 and adult admission was $37.
SPEEDWAY FANS weren’t just hungry for on-track action but just as hungry off-track. Between the venue’s two canteens over the three nights, patrons consumed 5000 pies and pasties (all made in Warrnambool), 8000 donuts, 2500 hot dogs, 1500 pizzas, 90 loaves of sandwich bread, 130 crates of flavoured milk and 50 kig of mixed lollies, all served up by 40 staff.
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FOR three decades Robbie Farr has been desperate to win Australia’s most prestigious Speedway race. He’s finally done it with an emotional victory in the South West Conveyancing 47th Grand Annual Sprintcar Classic at Warrnambool’s Premier Speedway. The 45-year-old from the Gold Coast held off some of the world’s best, and a life-long dream became a reality as he hoisted the most sought-after trophy in Sprintcar racing high above his head, having defeated past Classic winners Jamie Veal and Kerry Madsen “It’s been 30 years, the longest apprenticeship to win this race. Now I’ve just won the biggest race in the country, I have actually, finally won a Classic,” Farr told Auto Action post race. “Everyone was telling me it’s your year, it’s your year, but I hear that every year. I was getting to the point that I was wondering if my opportunity was gone. “This is not my best track, this is my worst track in the country. I’m happy to repay the guys for 15 years of service and (car owners) Barry and Felicity Waldron for this opportunity. I think I told Barry it’s just sinking what’s happening here.” Farr became the 26th different winner of the event and the 16th different Australian to win. His previous best result was third in 2016, ironically behind winner Veal and Madsen, the pair he beat home this year. From position four behind polesitter and early race leader American Cory Eliason and multiple Classic champ Brooke Tatnell, Farr took over the lead with 30 laps to go of the 24-car 40-lap A-Main after earlier sitting second. Eliason in the Diamond Bay Motorsport car was the heartbreak story of the night. After a superb weekend he got caught with lapped traffic on lap five and his Classic was over a handful of laps later, when he was involved in a crash on turn two. “That’s the way racing goes. I was really excited about our chances this weekend Brooke Tatnell finshed just off the podium in fourth.
American Carson Macedo won on night one (above) but Robbie Farr was the big winner (above right). Jamie Veal (here) contended as always.
and more so tonight. This is a great Sprintcar race and I’ll be back next year for sure. This hasn’t put me off, I’ll be back to win it,” Eliason said. Farr in his superbly set-up Cool by longtime crew chief Nick Speed ran midtrack on the racy surface. It was time he finally etched his name alongside seventime Classic winner Garry Rush, who was trackside to witness Farr’s efforts. “I have been driving to this place for so long I know every part of the road.
It always gives me time to think about winning it, what it might be like. Now, I can do this drive not wondering any more,” Farr said. “There is a lot of history here and a lot of legends have won this race and I’m proud to put my name near them, just like Rushy who is here, that’s pretty cool. “It was a thing missing off the resume and that completes that resume for me. In my mind the last couple of years, it felt like things were building towards something
47th Grand Annual Sprintcar Classic - Premier Speedway Warnambool
Things did not go well for Rusty Hickman (above) but went brilliantly for Robbie Farr (right).
really big, but you never really know. “I have dedicated my life to this sport and to win the biggest race in the country is pretty cool.” All drivers will be in Brisbane for this weekend’s Australian Sprintcar Championship but it was the most distant thing from Farr’s mind. “Right now, I have to enjoy something I haven’t been able to do (before) and that’s celebrate me winning the Classic, not celebrating with someone else for a change. I know I’ll really enjoy tonight.” Veal, the 2016 winner ,was again brilliant at his home track and said he had nothing left for Farr to make any late challenge. “We needed a little bit to get to Robbie and even more to pass him I feel. He ran a perfect race. Forty laps is a long way around Warrnambool and it got a bit harder as it went on to catch him,” Veal said. For Madsen it was his eighth time on the Classic podium and he showed his brilliance working through traffic from his 10th place starting position. “I went pretty hard at it. We made some great calls before the start of the A and it could of gone our way pretty easily. I was pretty happy out there passing cars and it was a lot of fun. I
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Premier Speedway turned it again for its annual Classic with 24,500 spectators through the gate. Kerry Madsen raced to third (right). Images: Geoff Rounds, Richard Hathaway, the Art of Speedway.
had a quick car and I’m really enjoying my time with Krikke Motorsport,” Madsen said. Victorian youngster Jordyn Charge won the Hard Charger award for his drive from 24th to a 12th placed finish, and earlier in the night Max Johnson’s car owned by Darren Wheeler was the choice for Best Presented Car at the Classic.
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CLASSIC FINISH: Robbie Farr, Jamie Veal, Kerry Madsen, Brooke Tatnell, James McFadden, Grant Anderson, Luke Walker, Matt Egel, Jamie Bricknell, Tim Kaeding, Carson Macedo, Jordyn Charge, Brad Keller, Sam Walsh, Darren Mollenoyux, Luke Dillon, Terry Rankin, Jock Goodyer, Tim Van Ginneken, Max Johnston, Brayden Parr, Steve Lines, Cory Eliason, Ryan Jones.
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