FORD BREAKS SILENCE REACTION TO PARITY ROW SINCE 1971
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AERO CUT COMING Supercars set to trim Mustangs
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AUSTRALIAN GT driver Peter Major will make his debut in the SuperUte series at his home track in Perth, in Charlie Schwerkolt’s Team 18 Holden Colorado. The now repaired ute was badly damaged in Adelaide when Dean Canto was involved in two major incidents during the weekend. The SuperUte series will bring its first of two performance upgrades to Western Australia as well as reverting to the 2018 race weekend format.
MORE TYRE FREEDOMS FOR SUPERCARS BY MARK FOGARTY
SUPERCARS CO-DRIVER and International GT driver David Russell will race alongside his father Geoff Russell at this year’s Bathurst 6 Hour. The Russells’ have raced at The Mountain together before, competing in the 2003 Bathurst Two Hour Production Car Showdown. Geoff Russell himself has had 10 Bathurst 1000 starts, including a top six finish co-driving with Rusty French in 1984. This year the pair will drive a BMW 135i, prepared by Sherrin Racing. TOYOTA 86 Racing Series driver Luke King competed at Philip Island last weekend. The 2018 series runner up announced that Jason Bright will be joining his team as a mentor as well as bringing in a new sponsor, Pertamina Lubricants. “To date he has built himself an impressive career with the resources he has had available and is really putting in the hard yards to become a professional in the sport,” Bright said. TRUCK ASSIST has expanded its Supercars sponsorship further becoming the naming rights sponsor for the Winton SuperSprint. Truck assist is the leading sponsor of Jack Le Brocq’s Tekno Autosports Holden Commodore as well as the sponsor of the starting grid on the Supercars telecast..
TEAMS ARE set to be allowed an extra set of tyres at each sprint and non-enduro street race event from next year as Supercars calls for expressions of interest in a new supply deal. There’s talk that the allocation will be upped from 28 to 32 tyres per car in a move aimed at giving drivers more time on fresh rubber. Auto Action also understands that under the proposal, teams would get an all-new supply of tyres at each non-enduro event rather than ‘squirrelling’ used rubber from previous events. The idea to relax restrictions comes as Dunlop’s longrunning deal as the supplier of the Supercars control rubber is up for renewal at the end of this year, with other tyre companies making enquiries. This season is the last of a two-year extension of Dunlop’s contract from 201217 and Supercars has begun the tender process for a new multi-year arrangement.
Dunlop has been the exclusive control tyre supplier since 2002 and provides Japanese-made hard and soft compound variants (officially designated as soft and supersoft). Apart from a glitch with revised tyres in 2016, which were upgraded in 2017, the Dunlop boots have proved to be durable and safe, as well as cost-effective, across two decades. Each Dunlop Sportmaxx Supercars tyre costs under $300 in a heavily subsidised deal. Supercars confirmed that talks were under way with Dunlop and other potential suppliers. “There is a competitive tender process in place, of which Dunlop is a party, and expressions of interest have been received,” Supercars said in a statement to AA. “Dunlop is a highly valued long-term partner and an integral part of the on-going success of Supercars.”
It is understood that rival tyre makers Hankook, Kumho and Pirelli – all of which have control race rubber deals in other local or international touring car and GT series – are eying bids for the Supercars contract from 2020. Hankook and Pirelli are known to have pitched for the Supercars control tyre business in the past, along with Michelin. Dunlop remains the favourite to renew, with Supercars understood to have already spoken with senior executives of Goodyear & Dunlop Tyres Australia about continuing. According to informed sources. Dunlop would need to know by the end of June whether its deal is continuing to arrange production for the earlier start of 2020 season, which is set to begin in January. At regular Supercars events this season, teams’ allocation of tyres per car has increased from 24 to 28 because the field has been reduced from 26 to 24 cars following the withdrawal of two entries by Triple Eight and Tickford.
The only exception is the flyway round at Pukekohe in NZ, where teams are allowed 32 tyres per car. From next year, the intention is to allow teams 32 new tyres at all events that are not designated as long distance races. This year’s allocation for the Enduro Cup rounds is 36 tyres at Bathurst, and 32 each for the Gold Coast and Sandown. Giving teams all-new tyres ae every round means teams will no longer need to stockpile unused or lightly used tyres from Friday practice for use at later rounds. It means teams will have allnew tyres from Friday onwards rather than juggling their backlogs. The idea is that with an expanded stock of fresh rubber, they’ll be able to set more representative times in practice, especially at events where the three-phase qualifying system is used, and give them more strategy options for the SuperSprint- and SuperStreetdesignated races.
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MALAYSIA’S SEPANG International Circuit is hoping to attract an influx of Australian fans for a unique car and motorcycle racing world championship double-header in December. Sepang, outside the capital Kuala Lumpur, hosted the F1 Malaysian Grand Prix from 1999-2017 and remains on the MotoGP calendar. The track, which was the first of the modern Hermann Tilke-designed international circuits, is staging the final round of the FIA World Touring Car Cup and FIM Endurance World Championship on December 13-15. It’s the first time the final rounds of car and motorcycle world series have been staged on the same track, with an eight-hour EWC bike enduro on the Saturday and WTCR races on the Sunday. SIC chief executive Dato’ Razlan Razali is hoping the unique car and bike double-header will attract Australian spectators, as well as Aussie competitors. Razali, who was in Melbourne last week to compete in a triathlon, thinks the end-of-year event would have particular appeal to West Australian enthusiasts looking for a close-by international racing holiday. “Australia is a key market for us,” he said. “We’re about five hours from Perth.” According to Razali, the Malaysian MotoGP event attracts about 2000 ticket-buying Aussies, while the F1 GP used to draw around 3000. WA fans flocked to Sepang from 2013-17, when local hero Daniel Ricciardo was a front-runner with Red Bull. He won the Malaysian GP in 2016. “We look at F1 and MotoGP, for example, and we have healthy numbers come over from Australia, especially from WA,” Razali said. “And MotoGP, of course, it’s the next closest to Phillip Island.”
He added that Australians were among the top 10 foreigners at the F1 and MotoGP events. They are valuable visitors because they buy race tickets and spend money as tourists in their often-extended stay in KL and Malaysia. “For us, it’s all about ticket sales,” Razali said. “For the country, it’s the spending they do.” New international events in addition to MotoGP are important to the government-owned track since it let F1 go. Although busy with track days, corporate events and regional race meetings for most of the year, it needs an international component to justify its government funding. Razali said SIC planned to start actively promoting the end-of-year car and motorcycle world championship double-header in Australia around the middle of the year, offering attractive race and travel packages. “We are hoping that as a package – a single weekend with one ticket to the event – to have two world championships in a weekend offers a unique proposition for Aussies to come,” he said. “We hope as a weekend, it offers something different to Australians. “It’s also the last world championship race meeting of the year. It’s the finale of the world championships in Malaysia.” An added drawcard might be that several Australian motorcycle racers are expected to enter the EWC finale as it is a qualifier for next year’s Suzuka Eights Hours, one of the most prestigious bike enduros in the world. SIC CEO Razali is an Aussie V8 fan and had serious talks with previous Supercars boss James Warburton about an event at Sepang.
STRONG TCR GRID SHAPING UP RECENT ANNOUNCMENTS have further enhanced TCR Australia’s inaugural season with new manufacturers, further Supercars involvement and name drivers capping off an exciting period. A four-car commitment from Kelly Racing will complement the team’s Supercars program split between two manufacturers, Opel and Subaru. Opel’s Astra TCR is a race winner in the ADAC German TCR title with construction managed by Lubner Motorsport. The Top Run Motorsportdeveloped Subaru has experienced less success, but has not been a consistent entrant after first being conceived in 2015. Co-team owner Todd Kelly can’t wait to start Kelly Racing’s new venture in earnest. “It is very exciting to add to the TCR Series cars to our racing program for 2019 and beyond,” said Kelly. “We’ve been keeping an eye on the developments of the category, both here in Australia and around the world, and with the resources and skill-base we have at Kelly Racing, it was a logical fit for us. “Now that we have secured the cars, we will make our announcements around drivers and partners in the near future.” Former Supercars driver Jason Bright will enter his own two-car team after securing two ex-Team Engstler
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Volkswagen Golf GTIs and major sponsorship from Taskforce. Bright is confident he has the right package to fight victories at the Sydney Motorsport Park’s season opener on May 17-19. “I’ve have been looking at the TCR Series for some time and it’s great to confirm that I will be driving in the series this year,” said Jason Bright. “The class is perfect for Australia. Affordable, competitive and relevant to the current motoring market. I really feel it’s going to be a great addition to the motorsport landscape. “I went to Malaysia and purchased the car that actually won. I know it’s got good form, so I can’t wait to get it to Australia, have a test and get ready for Round 1.” Joining Bright on the grid will be two previous Super2 champions in the form of reigning winner Chris Pither and the experienced Tony D’Alberto. Pither will contest the series with Garry Rogers Motorsport, being the first announced to drive one of the team’s Renault Megane TCRs. The Kiwi is excited by the opportunity is confident of continuing his Super2 results in the new class. “It’s a great feeling to continue our successful relationship since winning
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the Dunlop Super2 Series together last year,” Pither said. “TCR is growing internationally so to be competing in the series from its initiation in Australia will be exciting. “TCR will be a new challenge adapting my driving style and understanding the set-up characteristics. “Now I have some positive direction, I look forward to driving the Renault Megane RS TCR and working hard towards another successful season.” A Wall Racing Honda Civic Type R is D’Alberto’s weapon of choice as he returns to the solo sprint format for the first time since his Supercars days, after competing in production cars and GTs recently. “I’ve been working hard on getting into the TCR Australia Series,” D’Alberto explained. “The category has a lot of potential in our racing market here in Australia. “Personally, I’m really excited to have my own car for the year. Over the past few years, I’ve been driving lots of different cars with other people. It will be nice not be a co-driver for a change!” As expected, Nathan Morcom has been announced as HMO Customer Racing’s first driver in one of its Hyundai i30N TCR entries.
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FORMULA E
Mitch Evans scored his first-ever Formula E victory in convincing style.
EVANS TAKES MAIDEN EPRIX VICTORY NEW ZEALANDER Mitch Evans has claimed his maiden Formula E victory at the Rome ePrix in Italy, in doing so the Jaguar driver becomes the seventh winner in seven races. Evans beating Andre Lotterer to the line by 0.9s in a closely fought battle for the win, the Kiwi’s victory giving Jaguar its first in the series and making it the seventh team to win this season as well. Former McLaren driver Stoffel Vandoorne claimed his first podium in the series. The race began in damp but drying conditions. Lotterer, who took pole position from Evans, led into the first turn that was the way it stayed. In the opening laps Jose Maria Lopez was involved in several incidents. Starting from third he made a poor start and immediately dropped behind Vandoorne and Sebastien Jean-Eric Vergne crashed out on the streets of Rome in an incident that red flagged the race.
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Buemi, then trying to regain positions the Argentine out braked himself into turn 1 and plummeted down the order to 11th. Moments later Lopez made a move on championship contender Sam Bird, rotating the Brit into the wall, forcing Bird to limp back to the pits, before recovering to finish 11th. With 42 minutes to go Lopez lost the rear, hit the wall at 18 and with the rear across the track got hit by Gary Paffett and JeanEric Vergne. The incident blocked the track and caused a red flag. Before the green flag restarted the race, half of the field chose to use Attack Mode the highest place car was Robin Frijns in fifth. Nineteen minutes remained in the race when Evans took his first use of Attack
Mode, and then with one minute remaining he caught the back of Lotterer, looking on the outside at Turn 9 and again at Turn 10. Evans got a great exit and was able to cut back up the inside, taking the lead with a robust move into Turn 11. The overtake allowed Vandoorne to close in and have a look at the vulnerable German but it was to no avail. With eight minutes of the race remaining, Lotterer took his final use of Attack Mode, Lotterer now right back on the tail of Evans,
but the Kiwi stayed ahead despite Lotterer having the power boost. Once the German’s Attack Mode ran out, Evans was able to cruise to the line to win his first Formula E race and his first race win since GP2 in 2016. The Championship fight remains close as most of the leading contenders failed to score solid points in Italy. The top four in the standings are separated by as many points, with Belgian Jerome d’Ambrosio who finished eighth reclaiming the championship lead by a solitary point over Antonio Felix da Costa, while Lotterer jumps into third. POINTS: d’Ambrosio 65, da Costa 64, Lotterer 62, Evans 61, di Grassi 58, Frijns 55, Vergne 54, Bird 54, Mortara 52, Abt 44
ARC
The debut for the Toyota Gazoo Racing team couldn’t have gone much better, with Harry Bates taking a resounding victory in WA.
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HARRY BATES GAZOOS THE OPPOSITION HARRY BATES and John McCarthy dominated the opening round of the Australian Rally Championship, the Forest Rally in Busselton, Western Australia. The pair won both heats, plus the bonus point for winning the most stages during the rally, taking 13 of a possible 18 stage victories. Toyota Gazoo Racing Australia in fact recorded a one-two on debut, as Bates’ younger brother Lewis and co-driver Lewis Bates backed up his older brother to take second Anthony McLoughlin finished second in in both heats. both heats. The elder Bates was in a class of his own over six minutes off the pace. all weekend, claiming eight of the 10 stage Ford Fiesta competitors Richie Dalton and victories that made up the first heat ahead of Dale Moscatt were running well in the first Lewis, who was making his debut in the AP4 heat, before suffering a battery failure. But Yaris, by 29.9s. thanks to the demise of Taylor and Read, Tom Wilde and Madelin Kirkhouse rounded they recovered to be running third before out the top three for the opening heat in a Dalton rolled on Stage 16. Both escaped Subaru Impreza WRX STI, winning the ninth unhurt but the accident was enough to end stage of the day. Just behind Wilde and the rally for the pair. Kirkhouse were Molly Taylor and Malcolm As a result, Windus and Brick inherited Read in the factory Subaru Impreza WRX third, finishing the final couple of stages STI, finishing the day 58.4s off the leaders. trouble free, only 34.9s behind the heat Former ARC title winning team Activ Rally winners. Sport fielded four cars in the opening rally. Bates and McCarthy leave Western Two suffered mechanical failures in the first Australia with the maximum 81-points, heat but Darren Windus and Daniel Brick leading teammates Bates and McLoughlin finished an impressive fifth in another Subaru by 13-points. Windus and Brick sit level third WRX STI. with Wilde and Kirkhouse on 52-points, while The Bates brothers once again dominated Taylor and Read are a further six-points back the second heat, with Bates and McCarthy level with John O’Dowd and Toni Feaver in edging out Bates and McLoughlin by 12.9s. the 2018 championship winning Skoda Fabia Taylor and Read showed signs of good R5. speed and ran as high as second before The next round is the first of the one day mechanical issues dropped them from third sprint events, the National Capital Rally in to sixth by the day’s end, eventually finishing Canberra, on May 11. .
Former ARC frontrunner Tom Wilde proved to be the leading Subaru contender in his home rally.
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