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RICCIARDO SPECIAL UNWRAPPED Probing Daniel’s Renault revolution EXCLUSIVE Jones, Webber, Brundle and Hill rate his chances
SVG’S NEW DEAL
Secret extension with Triple Eight
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SVG’S NEW DEAL WITH TRIPLE EIGHT BRUCE NEWTON reveals l th thatt th the Kiwi Ki i superstar t iis now llocked k d in i until til 2021
HOLDEN HERO Shane van Gisbergen has extended his driving agreement with Triple Eight Race Engineering for a further year to the end of 2020. Auto Action has learned that van Gisbergen quietly agreed to the extension back in late 2018, aligning him with Red Bull Holden Racing Team teammate Jamie Whincup, who renewed for an extra season in October, along with taking an ownership stake in the squad. It is understood that the timing of the 2016 Supercars champion’s re-signing reflects an as yet unannounced one-year extension of Red Bull’s naming rights backing to the end of 2020 as well. AA understands that the energy drinks giant is unprepared to commit further until it sees the shape of the next Supercars media deal, which is being negotiated now and is due to kick in from 2021. Meanwhile, T8’s deal with Holden is up at the end of 2019, although as we report on page 6, the company is publicly talking positively about a renewal. Team owner Roland Dane was unwilling to make any definitive comments about the Holden and Red
Bull negotiations, and was certainly not prepared to confirm the latter had extended. But his explanation of why both drivers were locked in only through 2020 seemed to reflect Auto Action’s understanding of the team’s situation. “We have just rolled it over,� said Dane of the SVG agreement. “His first deal with us was for three years, then we extended it into 2019 and now we have extended it into 2020. “I’ve got to make sure as a company we are able to deliver what he wants and we can afford to have two top-line drivers. “I don’t want to over-reach the business, so we just take it a step at a time. “Shane likes being here and we like having him.� Van Gisbergen displayed his fighting qualities in Adelaide last weekend to claim two third places behind Scott McLaughlin and his dominant Ford Mustang, despite struggling to sort the Commodore ZB on the now mandatory linear spring. “There’s no point leaving when I am in the best team, having a lot of fun and in the best place,� he said. “There was no pressure [to re-sign], it was easy and it wasn’t a long
THIS WEEK’S RACE CALENDAR
conversation. “I have a lot of fun. The best thing is I can go back to New Zealand a lot and race overseas as much as I can.� Van Gisbergen is second in the championship – 42 points behind arch-rival McLaughlin – and made it clear in Adelaide the ZB does not have the pace of the Mustang, all six of which demonstrated strong pace at some stage over the weekend. But as van Gisbergen pointed out, he won both races in Adelaide last year and finished second in the championship, but he finished third on the street circuit in 2016 and went on to win the title. “It’s harder this year losing Craig (Lowndes), but our endurance lineup is really strong and I have the best teammate in the field. We are up against it, but we are working together. “But we definitely have a lot to do to catch them.� Van Gisbergen spent time in the two races chasing McLaughlin and his Shell V-Power Racing teammate Fabian Coulthard, and Monster Energy Racing’s Cam Waters. He also found himself defending his position against attacks from Chaz Mostert (Supercheap Auto Racing) and Will
Davison (Milwaukee Racing). So, while he has as good an understanding as any Holden driver of the Mustang’s advantages, SVG is refusing to accept the Ford may have an advantage – such as aerodynamics – over the Holden that cannot be bridged by tuning and development. “I am not allowing myself to think like that because I can’t do anything,� he said. “In the areas they are better, I have to make my car better because I can’t change that [body] stuff. “With our car, we haven’t got turn and drive this year like we had with the trapezoidal spring. That’s why I was on the roll-bar [adjuster] so much because we haven’t got a handle on it yet.� While Dane clearly hopes this is just one of many extensions he and his star Kiwi driver agree to, he was far less definitive about seven-time champion Whincup. “Jamie is probably thinking about what the next steps [beyond driving are],� Dane noted. Apart from the 2016 drivers’ championship, van Gisbergen has scored 20 of his 30 Supercars wins for T8, as well as claiming second (2018) and fourth (2017) in title chase.
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DOOHAN TAKES F3 PODIUM DEBUTING AT the final round of the Asian Formula 3 Winter Series, Australian Jack Doohan took a pair of podiums at Sepang. Although the weekend was a success, it ended in disappointment for Doohan thanks to an incident with title contender Ye Yifei which ended the Chinese driver’s tilt at the title.
Doohan and Yifei were battling for the lead when they clashed, dropping the Australian to 14th and handing Rinus van Kalmthout the inaugural Asian Winter Series. The opening two races of the weekend were dominated by Yifei and Doohan, with both taking the top two positions in
each race. Yifei staved off the challenge of Doohan during both, though van Kalmthout was lurking behind, finishing third and then taking advantage of the collision in front of him to take the flag in the final. It was Doohan’s debut weekend in Formula 3, but comes after an intense pre-
season training regieme, which prepared him well for the hot conditions in Malaysia. “I’ve been trying to work on [fitness] over the summer in Australia,� said Doohan. “I’ve been back for the past month and a bit. In Australia, out in the sun, doing a bit of cardio, so when I’m here, it’s like a breeze.�
OILS CAUSING FRICTION RIVAL OIL company sponsors have brought a split between the Victorian Historic Racing Register and the Group S Racing Association. The VHRR enjoys backing from Penrite for the upcoming Classic Festival of Motorsport at Phillip Island, Winton’s Festival of Speed and Historic Sandown. The GSRA, on the other hand, has ongoing sponsorship from Gulf Oils Australia for signage/ decals on competing vehicles at Historic events – subject to the agreement of the Event Organiser. Last year the two could co-habit as the VHRR had agreed to allow Group S to run with Gulf signage, provided there was no other external advertising except inside the garage or marquee areas. Last month the GSRA lodged
a similar request for this year, but the terms of the agreement between Penrite and the VHRR specifically preclude any other competing oil company sponsorship at their events. Thus the request from the GSRA was denied. The Historic Production Sports Cars category therefore has elected not to support the Winton and Sandown events. Competitors wishing to compete at Phillip Island will be required to remove or completely cover any Gulf Oil signage. They will be closely monitored and any cars with visible signage will not be permitted onto the circuit. A letter sent to VHRR members and Festival of Motorsport entrants concluded: “It is extremely disappointing that we
have reached this impasse, but it should be noted that competing sponsorships can never easily coexist and the VHRR is committed to the Penrite relationship which has existed for 30 years. Whilst we will continue to invite and actively encourage Group S competitors to participate in our events, we trust that the GSRA may source an alternative suitable sponsor which avoids this issue in the future.� Coming off a hugely successful event at the Bathurst 12 Hour, the stance taken by VHRR creates a difficult situation for the GSRA in its own deal with Gulf Oil. This refusal places them at odds with every other promoter nationally, as all other 10 calendared meetings received promoter approval.
Group S had hoped for two grids for Phillip Island and had encouraged its members to enter en masse – but without success. With the situation as it is, Group S is now resigned to alternative events to compete at in Victoria. The Association has already entered into discussions with other event promoters and are confident that it can announce new events in a matter of weeks. The committee didn’t take the
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decision lightly, consulting with previous presidents for their experience. All fully supported the move to withdraw support from the VHRR events. A letter from the GSRA to it members acknowledged that the decision was not taken lightly and that it was in the best interest of continuing to grow and support the category, whilst understanding that the it may be at odds for some. Garry O’Brien
FRUSTRATION FOR AUSSIE JOINING CHAMPIONSHIP winning team Jackie Chan DC Racing for the first time, Jake Parsons experienced a tough weekend at the final round of the Asian Le Mans Series at Sepang. It was a troubled weekend for the team with Parsons sharing with the experienced James Winslow and Rick Yoon. The Jackie Chan DC Racing Ligier JS P3 the trio shared encountered issues that meant a good result was unattainable, finishing 25 laps down. “The weekend was quite a challenging one to be honest,” said Parsons. “We spent a lot of time during practice and qualifying chasing some set-up issues, that we later found out were due to a failing component in the rear left.
“It eventually broke during the race, meaning we had to pit for a long time to change the damper. That, along with a penalty for an engine change, set us back several laps. We and the team did all we could, it was just one of those occasions where an unforeseen anomaly bit us, preventing us from achieving our true potential.” Up the front, the Algarve Pro Racing Ligier JS P2 driven by Andrea Pizzitola, Harrison Newey and Ate de Jong won the race, ahead of series winners Paul Di Resta and Phillip Hanson in the United Autosports Ligier JS P2. Aidan Read was the best placed Aussie in 10th and sixth in LMP3, Neale Muston and Michael Simpson finished 15th outright and ninth in LMP3.
VALE - DOUG STEWART DOUG STEWART was a rally competitor, leading businessman and rally team manager. He won the 1957 Ampol Round Australia Trial with Jack Witter in a VW. He finished equal first in the 1958 Ampol Trial and finished fourth in the 1964 Ampol event and fifth again in 1970. He was a regular competitor in Australian Championship rallies until the late 1970s. In business, he helped to establish the Travelodge motel chain in Australia, and was made International Marketing manager for the company, based in San Diego and then Australia, responsible for over 400 motel properties. Doug was also involved in motor sport administration at the highest level. He chaired the NSW State Council, became the NSW delegate on the National Council of CAMS and was CAMS President from 1969 to 1971. As a CAMS steward he was forced to fine Jack Brabham for displaying advertising signage on his Redex Cooper Bristol racing car, a decision he found ridiculous
although it was required by CAMS regulations. He fought hard to have those regulations changed and eventually succeeded. On the motor sport side he made early contact with Mitsubishi Japan through rallies in New Caledonia and New Guinea, managing a team of Colt fastbacks with Colin Bond and Bob Riley as drivers. Stewart ran the successful Mitsubishi team in the Southern Cross rallies of the 1970s, Andrew Cowan winning the event five years in succession from 1972 to 1976. This sealed a permanent link with Mitsubishi which culminated in him being granted the Ralliart franchise for Australia in 1988. When off road racing came to Australia
in the 1980s with the Wynn’s Safari and the Australian Safari he supported these events with strong teams from Mitsubishi, scoring wins with Ross Dunkerton, David (Dinta) Officer, and even himself in 1987. Mitsubishi vehicles won the event on seven occasions. Doug Stewart was a good natured and popular figure in motor sport. Although successful in competition he was never arrogant, and often helped up and coming drivers in their careers. He enjoyed a peaceful retirement in a manor style home in Hagley, Tasmania, where he nurtured an impressive collection of rare motor vehicles. A true gentleman of motor sport, sadly gone. Bob Watson
VALE - COLIN DUNN THE V8 Utes fraternity has mourned the passing of Colin Dunn. Universally know as Col, True Blue or Dunny, Colin Dunn raced over nine seasons in the ute racing series, competing in 100 races. His best result was second overall in the two-driver event that supported the
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Bathurst 24 Hour in 2003, where he shared with Warren Luff. He passed away on February 12 this year at 68 after a battle with cancer. A well-attended service to celebrate his life was held at the Peppers Craigieburn, Bowral on February 21. Garry O’Brien
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Formula One
2019 Season Preview
BURNING QUESTIONS With new rules, new driver line-ups and other changes, DAN KNUTSON is optimistic that we are in for a fascinating Formula 1 season full of unknowns
T
HE AUSTRALIAN Grand Prix is always one of the high points of the Formula 1 season – and that is truer than ever this year. There are the usual reasons why the event is one of the favorites for the fans, teams and drivers, including the wonderful Melbourne venue, four days of fun and action on and off the track, and the anticipation of the first grand prix of the year. What makes the 2019 AGP even more appealing is that there have been so many changes on the F1 scene during the off-season, which in turn has led to many questions about the upcoming season. And because Australia hosts the first race, it is where the initial answers to those questions will start to become apparent. There have been massive changes on the driver front, with only Mercedes and Haas retaining the same line-up as in 2018. Driver moves include Daniel Ricciardo going from Red Bull to Renault; Kimi Räikkönen moving from Ferrari to Alfa Romeo (née Sauber); and Carlos Sainz trading Renault for McLaren. The technical regulations have changed considerably as well, with the cars featuring new rear wings and simplified wider front wings, as well as other tweaks aimed at improving overtaking. On the engine front, Red Bull now uses Honda rather than Renault power units. Three rookies will make their debut at Albert Park – George Russell with Williams,
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Alexander Albon at Toro Rosso and Lando Norris with McLaren. Antonio Giovinazzi, who has two previous F1 starts under his belt, will make his fulltime debut with Alfa Romeo. And in one of the greatest comeback stories in F1 history, Robert Kubica is back racing in the series for the first time since 2010, following an horrific rally accident in early 2011 that has kept him out of F1 in the meantime. Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton arrives in Melbourne as the reigning world champion and ready to embark on his quest for a record-approaching sixth title. “I am hopeful that it is an exciting year, particularly with the drivers moving around,” Hamilton says. “You have a lot of young drivers. I am definitely interested to see the growth and journey these youngsters embark on, and see their progression and the pitfalls they come across, which every driver does, and how they spring back from it. And, naturally, I get to race against some of them as well. “I feel stronger and fitter than I have ever been all round. Hopefully, that reflects in my driving.” Hamilton’s teammate Valtteri Bottas was squeezed out of at least three victories last year, so he is determined to make amends. “I don’t want to be in that situation again where I feel like that and I start to question myself if I could have done something better,” Bottas says. “I just want to make sure that this year I’ll do everything I can
to achieve those targets. My target for the year is to win as much as I can.” Ferrari looked very strong in pre-season testing with Sebastian Vettel and his new teammate Charles Leclerc. Vettel won the first two races last year, but over the rest of the season, his championship quest fizzled out. “Overall, the progression is there,” Vettel says of Ferrari’s and his pursuit of the crown. “We’re getting closer together yearby-year. I hope this year we can have a lot of fun, win a lot of races and fight for the championship. “That’s what we want, but at this point it’s very far away.” One of the questions for 2019 is how quick Leclerc will be in relation to
Vettel. “He (Leclerc) is young and he’s going to make mistakes,” Hamilton observes. “He’s obviously very quick, very talented and most likely he is going to surprise many, many people. But you’re talking about a veteran (Vettel) out there now who’s a four-time world champion. “There’s no substitute for experience, so it will be interesting to see how those two parallels work together.” There will be a similar scenario at Red Bull Honda, where
A WING AND A PRAYER
THE MOST visual change to the 2019 regulations are the giant front wings, which have grown from 180 cm to 200 cm in width. These are much simpler affairs than in the past with the end plates now just a single piece, rather than the complicated affairs they have been in the past. This change has been put into place to improve overtaking opportunities by creating a less turbulent aerodynamic wake for the car behind. Whether it works or not is yet to be seen. Other changes in this quest are a higher, simpler rear wing, which has a more deeply dished profile and a DRS that is 25 per cent more powerful than in 2018. The brake ducts are also simpler so that they cannot be used quite as much for aerodynamic gains. And the bargeboards on the sides of the cars also have some new restrictions. One of the most crucial regulation changes cannot be seen: the driver, his equipment and his seat must weigh a minimum of 80kg. This helps level the playing field because it means that lighter drivers can no longer place as much ballast weight strategically around the car, which the heavier drivers were unable to do. DK One of the biggest unknowns will be the new partnership between Honda and Red Bull (above). George Russell is one of three rookies debuting in Australia (right).
Max Verstappen at the still-tender age of 21 is embarking on his fifth season in F1. His new teammate is Pierre Gasly, 23, who moves to Red Bull after a single season at Toro Rosso. “I think it’s too early to talk about expectations,” Gasly says. “We need to understand the car a bit more before having any expectations.” The Honda power unit in the Red Bulls and Toro Rossos is an evolution of the one used by the latter team last year. “We worked not only on the performance, but also reliability,” says Honda F1 technical director
It’s back to the future for Raikkonen as he joins the refreshed Alfa Romeo neeSauber squad.
Toyoharu Tanabe. “We believe we improved both. The development area is not only a single part – we reviewed every part.” The question is how much the Honda has improved in the power and reliability stakes, both of which were lacking last year. One of the reasons Ricciardo decided to leave Red Bull for Renault was the uncertainty over the potential of the Honda. Whether the Australian made the correct choice has been delved into on pages 24-27. Of the newcomers, it will be interesting to see how Norris and Russell cope in their rookie season,
as Williams in particular appears not to have produced a very quick car for the start of the season. There will also be questions about whether it is the car or the driver – as in Kubica’s physical ability to race – if the Williams is not performing well. Not all the questions will be immediately answered in Melbourne. But two of them will be. How many of those new wider front wings will survive intact through the first lap, never mind the entire race? And what is the fastest driver/car combination of them all? That will be known after qualifying and following the Australian Grand Prix itself.
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