Motorsport eNews Issue 41 - February 12-18, 2008

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Issue No. 041 12 – 18 February 2008

K C O H S

OUT! Gore shuts doors at WPS V8 team

s l i e v n u Tasman

And he walked away ...

W8 HINot!Lap

a V the GP. at age 8 See P

Editorial Editor: Grant Rowley grant@mnews.com.au Deputy Editor: Andrew van Leeuwen andrew@mnews.com.au Staff Journalist: Bill Riddell bill@mnews.com.au Executive Editor: Phil Branagan editor@mnews.com.au

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The ‘A’ Team

Issue No. 041 | 12-18 Febuary 2008

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Contributing Writers F1: Mark Glendenning, Adam Cooper, Paolo Filisetti Europe: Quentin Spurring, David Addison US: Martin D. Clark, Phil Morris Speedway: Greg Boscato, Geoff Rounds, Darren Sutton, Tony Millard (UK) Rally: Ryan Lahiff Drag Racing: Dave Ostaszewski (USA), Ken Ferguson, John Bosher National: Mark Wicks, Mark Jones, Aaron Shaw, Daniel Powell

Photographers Sutton Motorsport Images, Dirk Klynsmith, Marshall Cass, John Morris/Mpix, AF1 Images, James Smith, Peter Bury, Neil Blackbourn, Chris Carter, Coopers Photography, Geoff Gracie, Ash Budd, Paris Charles, Neil Hammond, Joel Strickland, Mike Patrick (UK) Motorsport eNews is published by Australasian Motorsport News ABN 55 125 120 702 Publisher: C Lambden Copyright: Material published in Motorsport eNews is copyright and may not be reproduced in full or in part without the written permission of the publisher.

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chat 20 5 minutes with ... opinion 2223 Branagan van Leeuwen 41 Rear of Grid

race 24 Bathurst 12-Hour 30 WRC Lat-mauler 34 BMF, not BMX

WPS closes shop FPR brings in new talent The Force (India) is with us A Mazda 3 really can Fly Honda holds key to Merge Luke Youlden Racing, not Racism Rocking around the Clock Skaifey in a Torana XU-1 Evolution – and Revolution Ford cleans up in Sweden Bathurst Support Races

trade 38 Trade and Industry / Raceshop / Classifieds

welcome David Wall was on pole at last weekend’s Bathurst 12 Hour. He’ll be hoping to do the same in a Porsche ...

Check out the latest eNews supplements via http://www.mnews.com.au

S W E N K C O SH

WPS RACING GONE! V8 SUPERCARS

Dirk Klynsmith

WPS/WOW Racing is out of V8 Supercar racing.

After weeks of quiet speculation about the future of the team, principal Craig Gore announced in a statement today (Monday) that his team was withdrawing from the series with immediate effect because of “personal business and health commitments”. The future plans of drivers Jason Bargwanna and Max Wilson are unknown (“both our drivers are contracted, but the terms and conditions of those agreements are confidential and will be worked through accordingly”) and all the team hardware, including its Ford race cars, is for sale.

Gore has sold his two Level 1 licences. One is expected to go to Larry Perkins who, shortly after Gore notified TEGA of his decision to put his licences on the market last Friday, registered an offer for one of the Level 1 licences, and notified TEGA that he was placing his Level 2 licence on the market.

Subject to approval by the TEGA Board, the probable

outcome of this will be that Jack Daniel’s Racing will enter its cars under two L1s this season and that TEGA will maintain the L2.

As eNews ‘went to press’ no buyer has been identified for the second licence, nor has a buyer been identified for the Perkins L2 licence.

Any sale also has to be seen as ‘provisional’ until teams’ group TEGA has given its blessing. As of late Monday TEGA had not received formal notification of anything – including Gore’s decision to quit!

Gore will reportedly maintain his other motorsport involvements, including the V8 Supercar Safety Car program (contracted for 5 years) and the Team Australia Champ Car team, which he co-owns with Derrick Walker. This is despite the fact that the team missed Champ Car’s pre-season test at Sebring. Walker is rumoured to be looking towards a future in the proposed ‘merged’ US CCWS/IRL Series.

Gore, 41, suffered an innerear injury in his helicopter in October 2007 and his medical advice is that he needs to avoid the constant loud noises, such

Turbulent Times

The Empire: As of last October Gore, above, had an almighty prescence in pitlane(s), top. But now, the V8 team is gone and, despite assurances, the US team hasn’t hit the track yet in ‘08 ...

as those heard at a race track.

It has been known for some time that WPS was considering a pull-out. The team was quietly offered for sale to an existing team owner prior to Christmas and, as recently as a fortnight ago, there was talk that Gore was offering the team as a going concern to a new owner who had not been involved in the sport as an owner.

While this has been going on, a number of people have already left the team for new positions with other southeast Queensland-based V8 outfits. As recently as last week, eNews was told that the team’s staff was down to 13.

WPS RACING came into V8s in 2004 and ran entries for a variety of drivers, including Alex Yoong and David Besnard.

Mid-season, Gore announced he had arranged to buy two L1 licences from Larry Perkins and ran two ex-00 Motorsport Fords for Craig Baird and Besnard in 2005.

When Mark Larkham’s team floundered at the end of season, Larkham arrived at WPS as team manager, bringing Bargwanna with him.

Larkham split with the team a year later.

Results have proven hard to come by.

At last year’s seasonclosing race in December, Gore issued a statement, confirming that both drivers were “presently under contract” that the team had a deal to buy two FPR Falcons, and was “excited about the future.”

The FPR deal has since fallen over and – it seems – so has the team.

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The all new Tasman Sprinter V8 SUPERCARS TASMAN Motorsport has a new sponsor, with Sprint Gas joining the Melbourne team.

The team will be known as Sprint Gas Racing for the next three years after inking a deal with one of Australia’s largest suppliers and exporters of automotive LPG/CNG conversion equipment.

The move means the end of Tasman’s unique ‘rotating’ sponsors, which often saw different names on the car from round to round.

“It’s absolutely sensational to have

Sprint Gas, a serious naming sponsor, on board,” team Managing Director Jeff Grech said.

“The time was right to go to the more traditional naming rights sponsorship arrangement.

“Tasman is entering its fifth competitive year. We’ve shown that we are in it for the long haul, we’ve got two competitive drivers and our technical programme is improving big-time.

“I think we are an attractive business opportunity, which has been reflected in serious competition for space on the car.

“We’ve got a new livery, a fresh look

and feel, with a great long-term sponsor and two fantastic new cars only weeks away. I think the team and the fans should feel pretty good about Taman’s future.”

It had been expected that energy drink Rockstar, which had naming rights on the two Tasman Commodores at the final two rounds of the 2007 season, would take over the naming rights role.

“All I will say is that Tasman was in deep negotiations with Rockstar and all was looking good for the relationship to continue in 2008, but they reneged on the deal forcing us to go to the market,” Grech said.

Bright’s Old Mate QR test to go ahead But slippery surface may make it a half day

V8 SUPERCARS

V8 SUPERCARS

John Morris/Mpix

JASON Bright has been reunited with an old friend – the Ford he raced in 2006.

Britek Motorsport has taken delivery of the Ford Performance Racing BF that Bright drove two years ago, after WPS/WOW Racing did not proceed with its intention to acquire it and another FPR car for this season. Marcus Marshall will race the car in Irwin colours.

In the meantime, Bright will race the car in which he ended 2007.

“We will run the car until, probably, New Zealand,”

Bright said.

“We have a new car almost ready but we do not want to rush the build of that. We want to be sure that everything is spot-on.”

Bright had a strong season in 2006, with wins at Sandown and Bahrain and second at Winton on his way to fifth in the V8SCS.

THURSDAY’S V8 Supercar test day at Queensland Raceway will still go ahead, despite a problem with the track surface.

A surface ‘treatment’ applied to the track surface, apparently to reduce ‘break-up’ did not cure properly during Queensland’s recent wet spell, with recent track users reporting lap times up to 10 seconds adrift of normal.

Although the situation has improved, teams raised valid concerns about Thursday’s open-to-the-public test. The

result is that the V8 Supercar Board has decreed that, should any team find the conditions unsuitable and complete less than 50 laps during the day, the day will only count as half a test day in terms of testing limits.

Race fans are still being encouraged to attend – with teams pledging close-up access to cars and drivers.

To preserve fairness, the same ‘less than 50 laps’ criteria will apply to tomorrow’s [Tuesday] similar test at Winton – where there appears to be the possibility of some inclement weather.

Marshall Cass

Dick gets a (fork) lift V8 SUPERCARS THE future of Dick Johnson Racing is looking bright after businessman Charlie Schwerkolt bought into the team late last week.

Schwerkolt, owner of three large forklift sales and rental businesses, has taken a stake in the company and assisted in creating a new business structure. He will assume a role administering the business and allowing Johnson and team manager Adrian Burgess to focus their attentions on the performance of the team.

“Despite fantastic support and assistance from our sponsor, Jim Beam, it’s no secret that as a business we have been struggling financially for some time thanks to the failure of past sponsorship programs among other things,” said Johnson.

“Charlie’s intervention has given us the business and financial security to ensure the long-term future of Dick Johnson Racing and to return us to the very top of V8 Supercar racing.”

A long-time friend of Johnson’s, Schwerkolt

has been involved on the fringe of racing for some years, supplying forklifts to prepare the Grand Prix and Indy circuits, to load the overseas bound V8 Supercars for Gibson Freight and the Manitou 4WD recovery forklift. His company briefly sponsored DJR, at Phillip Island in 2006.

“To be honest, this (his new partnership with Dick Johnson) is a complete surprise,” Schwerkolt admitted.

“I was trying to help Dick because of the predicament he was in but I had always

said I didn’t want to get involved beyond that.

“As it has turned out, the opportunity presented itself to become an owner on a very sound and viable business basis, otherwise I wouldn’t have done it.”

The announcement appears to be a setback for John Marshall. The No Limit Group chief had been investigating taking a stake in the team, following several other failed attempts to take a share in a V8 Supercar team, including Kees Weel’s former Supercheap Auto Racing operation.

Dean & Luke: Factory Men Ford-ceps

V8 SUPERCARS

V8 SUPERCARS

Dirk Klynsmith

FORD Performance Racing have announced Dean Canto and Luke Youlden as their endurance drivers for this year.

The experienced duo, with seven Bathurst starts and a top-5 finish each, will join the team at test days and the enduro driver sessions at four rounds in the lead up to the Phillip Island 500 in order to adapt to the team’s machines.

FPR had an option on last year’s endurance driver Owen Kelly to rejoin the team but, by mutual aggrement, will allow him to focus on opportunities in America.

“It is great to have secured two highly experienced and competitive V8 Supercar drivers as our endurance race drivers ahead of the start of the new season,” said Tim Edwards, Team Principal.

“Both Dean and Luke bring extensive endurance racing expertise to FPR, while their participation with the team this season will also be invaluable to us.”

It is unknown at this stage if the team will pair its lead drivers again.

FORD has a new arrangement to develop its V8 Supercar bodyshells.

All of the floorpans for the new Orion Supercars will be developed and built by Pace Innovations, under the gaze of Paul Ceprnich, the longtime technical nous behind Paul Morris Motorsport.

Ford teams will be able to take delivery of a Pace-developed floorpan, similar to the ones developed for the Commodore VE, and the build of the cars will carry on from there.

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Not straight up and down?

Different third gear may affect who uses sequential ‘box in this year’s V8 Supercar Championship V8 SUPERCARS

between the new and old gear boxes but that is something that will be monitored and evaluated during the year with a clear eye to maintaining costs at a reasonable level,” he said.

“Due to the amount of gearboxes being able to be used, there are no initial restrictions on which type is used in either two or singlecar teams. If teams are found to be using the gear boxes as a tuning tool there may be restrictions placed on them to prevent any unfair advantage.”

TEGA will evaluate the use of the two boxes when determining a phase-out period for the H6 S, which may well have its V8 tenure end at the end of 2008.

Dirk Klynsmith

A MINOR specification variation between the two gearboxes eligible for use in the V8 Supercar Championship Series may have teams scrambling to change them at races this season.

The new Holinger RD6 S sequential gearbox has a slightly different third gear ratio to the older HS 6, which uses an H-pattern shift. The new box has a 19:28 third, compared to the 19:29 in the older box, which will affect acceleration curves and, possibly, corner exit speeds at some venues.

“The new sequential gear box has been updated to increase

the service lifetime of the gearbox and, in turn, deliver better economies of scale for the teams,” explained V8 Supercars Australia Technical Manager Steve Brow.

“The ratios are in fact split more evenly than the previous HS 6 H-pattern gearbox which did have a minor variation. It is possible to update the older HS 6 H pattern to the new third gear ratio.”

However, teams contacted by eNews indicated that they did not expect parts to update the HS 6 box to be available until mid-season.

In the meantime, teams will be free to change boxes at will “At this stage teams will not be restricted in changing

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Webber encouraged by testing FORMULA 1

sutton-images.com

WITH pre-season testing well under way, Mark Webber is confident of greater reliability and keen to ensure the survival of his home race.

Despite a few issues with Renault engines the Red Bull package seems set to go the distance in 2008; though the team’s topping testing on the final day at Barcelona is not a true reflection of speed, according to Webber: “Reliability has been really encouraging for us,” said Webber.

“We are in a lot better shape than we were last year – going into last season the car was slow and unreliable. Now we’re sensibly on pace, need to find more, but the car is a lot more reliable.

"As far as the gearbox and a lot of the achilles heels

that we had last year, a lot of that equipment is being pulled down very well at the end of each day. We’re very encouraged by how those components are running at this early stage."

Webber is keen to see the Albert Park race continue and echoed eNews’ pointer (#40) that maybe it is time for the federal government to lend a hand.

“It would be nice if we can find a way to continue to hold the event. It’s been a tremendous event for us for several decades now, in South Australia and Victoria.

“Yes its expensive, yes its all those things, but maybe there is a way we can find that national support ... its something we should continue to be proud of.”

– BILL RIDDELL

Fan aplogises for Hamilton slur FORMULA 1

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ONE of the fans at the centre of the racial abuse aimed at McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton and his family at last week’s Formula 1 test in Barcelona have apologised to the McLaren driver for any offence they might have caused, following a week of international media outcry.

Toni Calderon, who was part of the group which turned up to the test with painted faces, told the Spanish daily Publico that he and his friends had simply “dressed up to celebrate Carnival. We wanted to give a touch of humour to Montmelo and have a laugh at the father of Hamilton.

“I am not a racist and it has made me ashamed to appear like that in the British press.

Half the people who saw us thought we were fans of Hamilton. Lots of people took pictures of us.

“We haven’t done anything wrong. I would not have any problem to explain it personally to McLaren and Lewis, who is a star.”

FIA President Max Mosley, however, has revealed in an interview with British newspaper The Sunday Times that such behaviour by Spanish fans had already been seen at the end of the 2007 season, and as far back as the China Grand Prix.

“Anthony Hamilton told me that there were some people in China who were also appallingly abusive; not Chinese fans, but people who had travelled from Spain,” he said.

The FIA was praised for its swift and effective action in not only denouncing the fans’ actions, but in threatening to take away both of Spain’s Formula One Grands Prixs.

Mosley went on to remind Spanish fans that the circuits would not be the only ones punished.

“If they went to Australia and did something like that, they could get arrested and we would know their names

and passport numbers and they wouldn’t get into another country,” he told The Sunday Times.

“We will do everything we can to stamp this out; we will do whatever it takes. We have sanctions and we could pull the Grand Prix.”

There are rumours that the FIA is currently working on an anti-racism campaign, which could see its launch at the Spanish Grand Prix in April.

Kimi storms desert FORMULA 1

TWO of F1’s richest teams made the trek to Bahrain this week for a lengthy pair of tests.

A Show FORMULA 1 THE Force India F1 Team has unveiled the VJM01, the car which it will use for the 2008 Formula One season.

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Experiencing the high temperatures that the teams will most likely face in the first three races of the season, Ferrari maintained the pre-season advantage which one would naturally have expected, but by a somewhat frightening margin over Toyota.

The first days of the test saw the Scuderia easily on top by an average of two seconds.

The F2008 has been fast at every test thus far in 2008, but few expected to see such a dominant display so early.

“Everyone reckoned that the drivers would find the car harder to drive with the electronic aids banned this year,” team manager Luca Baldisserri told Gazzetta dello Sport.

“But, so far, the F2008 has shown to be very sincere and with excellent traction - that’s why we got those lap times.

After a few days’ break, testing resumed at the weekend, with Ferrari again back on top.

However having shown its hand early on, Ferrari went on to record two worrying failures on the second day of the test as first Kimi Raikkonen and then Felipe Massa were forced to cut their running short during race simulations.

No such problems befell Toyota however, which managed to put its drivers Jarno Trulli and Timo Glock through a full practice, qualifying and race simulation in the space of one day.

With both drivers halving their previous gap to the red cars, Toyota’s chief engineer Dieter Gass declared the team happy with the day’s results as not only had Toyota moved forward, but the times were a clear margin faster than Toyota’s race pace in 2007.

The car, which differs little from that used by Spyker at the end of 2007, features a new white and gold livery, and sponsorship from Indian beer manufacturer Kingfisher.

The launch, which took place in front of Mumbai’s beautiful and historic ‘Gateway to India’ was a proud moment for new team owner, Indian billionaire Dr. Vijay Mallya, particularly as the team will race under an Indian license.

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They Crash OK, will they sell?

FORMULA 1 THERE has been good news from Super Aguri, as its 2008 monocoque was passed to race on Thursday.

“Today is a memorable day not only for me as the owner of India’s first-ever Formula 1 team, but also for millions of Indians who can today watch India occupy a place of pride as Force India becomes the first and only Indian Formula One racing team to compete with the best in the world, at the pinnacle of motorsport,” he said.

Mallya has set aside US$120

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w of Force

million for the forthcoming season, as technical director Mike Gascoyne works hard behind the scenes on updates for the VJM01, and the all-new car which will take to the track at the start of 2009.

“Most importantly, the Force India Formula One Team has come to epitomise the dream of every Indian and is powered by the passion of a billion hearts.”

The team has only been present for one F1 test thus far in 2008, citing limited resources for its quiet start to the season. But the news that their monocoque has passed FIA crash tests is evidence that the team is still moving forward despite the many obstacles in its path.

As reported in last week’s eNews, the much-vaunted investment deal with the Indian Spice Group does now appear to be off, with Super Aguri’s engine supplier Honda having already made clear their reluctance to accept Narain Karthikeyan as part of the deal.

There is yet more good news around the corner however, as Team Principal

Aguri Suzuki has admitted that the squad is close to signing a big investor.

“There are many things to be resolved at all levels.

But we will be alright, we will never disappear,” he told Tokyo Chunichi Sports newspaper on Saturday.

“We are holding talks with a few companies not mentioned before. I don’t think we will have a contract with any of the rumoured ones. We have had talks with them but various factors have cropped up,” he said, alluding to Honda’s effective veto of driver choice.

Super Aguri will be present at the three-day Jerez test, which starts tomorrow (Tuesday), before launching its 2008 challenger at Barcelona on February 19, in time for the last remaining test back at Barcelona on February 25-27.

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Zoom, Zoom, Roll

When things go wrong at Bathurst, they tend to go wrong in a big way.

Like when Len Cave’s Mazda 3MPS dropped a wheel in the dirt on his way into The Chase at last weekend’s WPS Bathurst 12 Hour ...

First it started to go wrong, and then it went wrong: From top left to bottom right, Len over-corrects on his way into the Chase, throwing the little Mazda sideways into the gravel at full noise. Naturally it rolls over, and after a couple of flips a front-wheel flies off. Soon enough the engine and gearbox do likewise, causing a spectacular fireball from the front of the still-rolling car. It eventually comes to a rest, with Len emerging relatively unscathed.

PHOTO SEQUENCE by eNews’ own photographic crash magnet JOHN MORRIS (Mpix)

BRIEFLY... n Long-time Koni engineer Ric Kemp is now a freelance damper specialist.

Kemp will also soon have access to a shock dyno to conduct completely independent testing. n Michael Slater is the latest sporting hero to sign on for the Celebrity Challenge race at the 2008 Australian Grand Prix.

The star batsman-turnedcommentator, a noted petrol head, is raring to go.

“I’m really geared up for the race,” said Slater. “Being a car enthusiast with a love for motor sport, it’s been a dream of mine to have the chance to take a spin on a GP track. I’m really looking forward to improving my driving skills and competing against the other sports people in what is sure to be a very competitive race.” n If you are a tradie, and fancy that you are faster than Marcus Marshall, the Ultimate Tradesman Challenge is for you. IRWIN Industrial Tools is offering the chance to measure, mark and drill a piece of wood at the Clipsal 500, Hamilton, Barbagallo and QR rounds of the V8 Championship Series.

Marshall has already posted a time of 33s, so if you are up to it, grab your tools and have a look at www.irwintools.com.au for more information. n Australia’s Troy Bayliss

FUJITSU V8s

THESE are two of the new liveries you will see in the 2008 Fujitsu V8 Supercar Series.

Jack Perkins will race a Marty Brant-prepared

Commodore feature backing from Mack Trucks, above, while David Seiders will run Gulf Western signage on his Seiders Racing Team Ford Falcon, below.

The series kicks off at Clipsal in a fortnight.

Owen’s One Off FUJITSU V8s STEVE Owen is likely to make a one-off appearance in the 2008 Fujitsu V8 Supercar Series.

The former main series driver is tipped to start Scott Loadsman’s VY Commodore at the Clipsal 500. Owen would be slightly familiar with the equipment already, with Loadsman’s VY the sister car to the one that Owen raced in Autobarn colours last year.

At this stage any deal would only be for Clipsal, with any further inclusion in the development series dependant on Owen’s plans for the two enduros at Phillip Island and Bathurst later this season.

Owen, who performed well for Rod Nash Racing in 2007, found himself without a main series drive after the Autobarn backing was switched to Paul Dumbrell’s entry.

He will be the third 2007

Marshall Cass

will definitely take his place on the grid in the opening world Superbike round in Qatar on February 23. The dual world champion, who will campaign Ducati’s allnew 1098cc twin, has been recuperating at home in Monaco following a crash at Phillip Island early last month.

Jack ‘n’ Mack

main series driver to enter the FV8 field, with Dean Canto and Jack Perkins already confirmed.

– ANDREW VAN LEEUWEN

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Carrera Cup wants reverse grids ...

But CAMS says no dice!

CARRERA CUP

Dirk Klynsmith

CARRERA Cup will not have any reverse grid races this year, despite a proposal being put forward by the category management to do so.

A decision was made by Carrera Cup last year to include the reversal of the top six placegetters for the start of selected races throughout the season, but CAMS knocked back the idea, stating that it was against the “straightforward guidelines” of running an Australian motor racing championship.

“We had a team owners’ meeting at Sandown last year to discuss the constant improvement of Carrera Cup racing,” said Theo Psaros, Carrera Cup Australia CEO. “The idea of full grid reversal was understandably smacked down, but we decided to copy what the Fujitsu Series does and reverse a handful of cars. We decided on the top six, drew up the regs, and CAMS said no.”

According to a CAMS spokesperson, “there are guidelines for championships

and they don’t allow reverse grids.”

The reason the Fujitsu Series can do it is because it classed as a series, not a championship, and therefore has a different set of guidelines.

“At the end of the day it’s our category and our business, and we had the teams buy in, but the governing body said no,” added Psaros.

“We are in the business of entertainment as well as motorsport and while I don’t

want carnage, I do want our racing to be as exciting as possible.

“So we’re really disappointed, and we’ll be revisiting the idea for 2009.”

In other Carrera Cup news, the subchampionship for non-professional drivers over 30 years of age will now be named the Pilatus Challenge.

The aircraft company replaces Tag Heuer as the title sponsor.

– ANDREW VAN LEEUWEN

Sherrin, Sherrin and Stokell CARRERA CUP

Marshall Cass

THERE will be another Sherrin in Carrera Cup this year, with Iain Sherrin replacing MINIbound Paul Stokell.

Sherrin will join his brother Grant in the Sherrin MotorSport entries, which will run slightly different liveries to reflect a split in their Sherrin Equipment company, into a manufacturing and a rental division.

“We’re both very competitive against each other, it should be good,” said Ian. “We’ve raced a couple of times in GTs and done some state racing together. We also

attempted to do the 12hr together as well, but didn’t have a very good weekend.”

Stokell, meanwhile, heads to MINI Challenge, joining the newly-formed DecoRug Racing team.

“The MINI Challenge Series looks great and the professional way in which Bill (Gremos) is approaching it was very appealing to me,” said Stokell, who finished ninth in Targa Tasmania in a MINI last year.

“These cars are true racing machines, racing on slick tyres and can hit a top speed of 240 kmh.”

– BILL RIDDELL

Cam for Carrera Cup CARRERA CUP

Sutton-Images.com

CAMERON Van den Dungen may make his national championship debut this year if a bid to enter Carrera Cup is successful.

The former Improved Production race winner and CAMS employee is currently working on a deal to get in the seat of a Porsche for season 2008, and says a deal may well be close.

“There is definitely a deal in the making, that’s no secret,” he told eNews.

“I’m working on a package at the moment and looking at some cars for sale, and if it happens, I’ll be out there for sure.”

Van den Dungen has previously raced against the likes of Leanne Tander and Tim Macrow in state racing, and isn’t worried about making the step to the top levels of National competition.

“It’d be a bit of a step, there’s no doubt about that,” he added.

“But I’ve raced against guys from national championships before, I’ve just never done a whole series myself.

“I’m itching to get back in the car, its been hard being out for a year.

“So hopefully the interest we already have from a few sponsors comes to fruition and I can get back out there.”

– ANDREW VAN LEEUWEN

Seton to join the Masters BIANTE MASTERS

Cant Stop the Fesitval BMF THE future of the Bathurst Motor Festival and the 12-Hour race seem secure after a bumper crowd and some great racing.

The events director, James O’Brien was amongst those praising the event which also had bumper support grids and eager for a return.

“What a great outcome for the third WPS

Bathurst Motor Festival, what an exciting finish to three days of action,” said O’Brien.

“We can’t wait to do it all again next year, we will definitely be back and a date for 2009 will be announced shortly.

“We had nearly 30,000 people through the gates over the three days, and I was really pleased to see the reactions of the crowd today to the action happening on-track.”

John Morris/Mpix

Glenn Seton will join the Biante Touring Car Masters this year, linking up with fellow Australian Touring Car Champions John Bowe and Jim Richards.

Seton will drive the 1970 RS 1600 Escort that finished runner up to Bob Jane in the 1972 ATCC in the hands of Michael Stillwell, whose brother Chris now owns the car.

The Escort will be hard

pressed keeping pace with the Chev Camaro of Bowe and Mustang of Richards (who plans to switch to a ’64 Falcon Rallye Sprint mid-year), but will make up ground under braking and hustling through the corners.

The trio won’t have things there own way, defending series Champion Steve Mason heading a pack of Camaros, with Gavin Bullas set to spearhead a Mustang revolt from Round 1 at Clipsal.

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Honda sutton-images.com

MOTOGP

YAMAHA bounced back into MotoGP reckoning with a strong testing performance and Sepang last week.

Valentino Rossi set the fastest lap time of the three-day test while Jorge Lorenzo sent his team home smiling after a particularly impressive final day on his Michelin-shod M1.

“I’m really happy about

today’s race simulation and about the overall balance of this test,” said Rossi.

“We’ve still got a lot to do but so far everything is progressing well. Now we’re looking forward to Jerez and seeing where we are at a new track alongside all of our competitors.”

Rossi was talking about the penultimate test of the season, which starts at Jerez this

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YAMS FAST AT SEPANG

Saturday. Ducati and Mr Stoner will be there, waiting …

MotoGP Test Times Sepang, Malaysia 1 Valentino Rossi Yamaha B 2:00.300 2 Jorge Lorenzo Yamaha M 2:00.705 3 Nicky Hayden Honda M 2.00.900 4 Shinya Nakano Honda B 2.02.049 5 Alex De Angelis Honda B 2:02.194 6 Olivier Jacque Kawasaki B 2:03.513 7 Tamaki Serizawa Kawasaki B 2:03.623

Who Chilled

Kenny?

MOTOGP

TEAM Roberts appears to be out of motorcycle racing, for the time being at least.

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Last week’s announcement of an 18-strong field for the MotoGP World Championship did not include the iconic American’s team. Kenny Roberts has intended to run a pair of worksbacked Ducatis in the series until sponsorship delays put his plans on hold.

Roberts is now believed to be looking at a delayed entry into this year’s series but, should he not get a deal in the next month, it is likely that the team will be ‘on hiatus’ until 2009.

Should that be the case, it is also possible that Kenny Roberts Jr, the 2000 World Champion, may retire from the sport.

news

holds key to IRL-CC merger

If Motegi-Long Beach date clash can be cleared, we may have lift-off ...

CHAMP CAR-INDYCAR

THE possibility of a unified American-based open wheeler series lies in talks in Japan between Honda and IndyCar officials.

IRL boss Tony George, left, and series presidents Terry Angstadt and Brian Barnhart flew to Japan last weekend to meet with the company to try to solve a date issue surrounding the Motegi IRL race set for April 19-20.

This is the same weekend as Champ Car’s Long Beach series opener, which cannot ben moved due to commitments with the City of Long Beach.

Should Honda agree to move the date

of the race at its circuit – or even cancel the 2008 event – it appears probable that Champ Car World Series could moves its marquee races, Long Beach, Toronto, Edmonton and the Gold Coast, onto the IRL calendar to create a single series.

George has warned against overoptimism until all issues were resolved and a deal was completed.

“Every time we seem to get close [to a successful merger], a new obstacle gets in the way,” he told the Indianapolis Star.

His opposite number, Champ Car coowner Kevin Kalkhoven, bottom left, agrees that the Motegi date is a big obstacle.

“As long as [circuit owner] Honda won’t

move Motegi, there won’t be a merger,” he told the Associated Press.

“It’s a major hurdle but it’s not the only one. There are significant advantages in merging but there are also significant advantages in not doing it. But at the moment there are no discussions until they move Motegi.”

In the meantime, CCWS team owners and drivers remain are ‘on hold’, waiting to hear what series they will be running in this season – and whether or not their Panoz Champ Cars – which were brand new only a year ago – are about to become very expensive show cars …

LE MAN 24 HOUR

THE 2008 Le Mans 24 Hours is shaping up into a war between Audi and Peugeot.

The four acceptances in the front-running LM-P1 division will be Audi Sport North America (with two Audi R10 TDIs), Team Peugeot Total (two Peugeot 908 HDi FAPs), Autocon Motorsport (Creation-

Judd), and Pescarolo Sport (Pescarolo-Judd).

In LM-P2, Penske Racing has decided not to take up its guaranteed place with a Porsche RS Spyder, while ORECA (now renamed ORECA-Courage) is changing categories and has submitted an LM-P1 entry form, and Binnie Motorsports has withdrawn.

This leaves Barazi Epsilon Sport (Zytek), RML (MG LolaAER) and Quifel ASM (Lola-AER).

The LM-GT1 teams exclude Vitaphone Racing and Scuderia Playteam Sarafree, whose Maserati MC12s do not comply with the ACO regulations. This leaves Aston Martin Racing (Aston Martin DBR9), Corvette Racing (two Corvette C6.Rs) and Luc Alphand Adventures

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Cracker grid for Le Mans 24 Hour

(Corvette C6.R).

In LM-GT2, the secured teams are BMS Scuderia Italia, Felbermayr-Proton, Flying Lizard Motorsport and IMSA Performance Matmut (each with a solo Porsche 997 GT3 RSR), while the Ferrari F430 GT teams will be AF Corse, Risi Competizione (two cars) and Virgo Motorsport.

– QUENTIN SPURRING

5 Minutes with ...

LUKE YOULDEN

Youlden has found a new endurance seat – with Ford Performance Racing

Is it a little bit strange to be leaving Stone Brothers Racing? You were almost a fixture there.

That is, pretty well, the reason that I am moving on. I did not want to become a fixture and I was very disappointed to miss out on the Main Game drive.

But it came down to financial reasons – that was why I missed out.

But, I missed out so I thought that it was an opportune time to explore my options. FPR is a really good team and it has the advantage of being Melbourne-based.

It is only 15 minutes from home and everything happened at the right time – it was the right time to move on.

It will be a little bit weird, but I think that is a part of the challenge of it. I did not want to become, not so much stale, but probably not a ‘fixture’, as you said. It is time to challenge myself with a new team and to see what it is like in a new environment. Hopefully, this is a good move, and I can move on.

What was the highlight of your races with Stone Brothers?

I would have to say, driving with Russell [Ingall]. I learned a lot from him and I learned a lot from [Marcos] Ambrose. We

Phil Williams

MOTORSPORT NEWS: This is a good new story Luke.

Congratulations.

LUKE YOULDEN: It is good news and I am pretty happy about it!

It was a good deal, basically, and when the opportunity came up, I was quick to grab it.

started well and I learned a lot from looking at their data.

When I got there, it was a team at the height of its powers. They had just won a couple of titles with Marcos and they won another one while I was there. I helped Russell get over the line with his title, and that will stay with me.

Is FPR the only Ford team that you would have considered after SBR? They were fast, and if I was not going to be with Stone Brothers then I wanted to be with FPR, for sure. I would like to think that there is a history with Ford, my family has a history with Ford [Ed: Luke’s father Kent Youlden is a longtime Ford engineer and won a Production Car title with Ford].

Considering how strong the team is, and looking at the speed the cars showed at the end of last year, it is a good time to be coming into that environment. It is a Super Team, the HRT of Ford and they have an awesome facility. It is good to be a part of that.

If you drove a Holden, your dad would force you to change

you name, wouldn’t he?

Not so much! Dad drove a lot of Holdens in his time, even when he was working at Ford. In the current Supercar environment, you have to go with the best opportunity. Is that a Ford team or a Holden team? You have to go with the nature of it, not with the badge.

You raced against the FPR cars at the end of last season – what was your impression of them?

They are, obviously, quick.

I did not do a lot of dicing with them, and the Stone Brothers cars were pretty sharp, especially in the endurance races. There was not a lot to choose between them.

But the FPR cars were a lot stronger in the post-endurance races and I am looking forward to hopping into the car tomorrow [Tuesday], to be honest.

Do you know Steve Richards and Mark Winterbottom well?

Yes, but not super-well. There is, obviously, the fact that we have been around for a few years and we know each other and, so far, it has been a pretty good relationship. I would guess that I will do a lot of

PHIL BRANAGAN driving in Richo’s car, because we are a similar height. I am looking forward to it.

It is a pretty ‘calm’ team at FPR these days, and you seem to be a pretty calm individual, so it looks like a good fit.

I think that it will be a really good fit. The team seems to look after its drivers pretty well and I think that it is pretty cool, calm and collected. I will be a bit brand new so I am anxious to get to the first test day and see how everyone operates in a pressure environment.

Every team is different. Stone Brothers did a lot of things really well and I think that I am one of those drivers who can fit in anywhere.

This year, there is a new angle on the endurance lineups – which is that teams can test co-drivers at four rounds.

What is your take on that?

Obviously, I am rapt with that.

We will be down a couple of test days, so that is not so good from my point of view, but we make up for that in those halfhour sessions. It will be good to go to some different tracks, which will be more beneficial than just testing at Winton or Willowbank. You get it pretty tough, wearing a groove around your test track so it will be good to get to some other tracks and test yourself.

FPR is definitely going to be putting us in for those sessions.

You will have to do it if the team is in the top 15, so we will be doing it.

If I was driving for a lower team, they might not do that, so everything is falling into place well.

chat

Time to step up, Fernando opinion Phil Branagan Executive Editor MOTOR racing fans are lucky.

So cynical have I become about some other sports that, when something special happens in athletics, or cycling, or swimming, I hesitate before applauding. I am waiting for the other shoe to drop – and that other shoe usually involves drugs.

Racism is another evil that motor racing has largely avoided – until now. Last week, a few idiots appeared at a Barcelona test, wearing black makeup and shouting abuse at Lewis Hamilton.

They were promptly dealt with, and thereafter followed comments from the FIA, the promoters and even Hamilton himself, all intended to head off any further unpleasantness that may lead to the track being sanctioned or, even, losing its Grand Prix.

But from one quarter, there has been a silence heard around the world. Fernando Alonso is in no way responsible for the actions of a few ratbags, but he is, clearly, the object of their affections. Prior to his successes in recent years, Formula

1 was not a major drawcard in his home country, compared to, for example, motorcycle racing. But that has changed, largely because Alonso.

At home, he is F1.

During his career, Alonso has become quite adept at manipulating the local media, and any number of the comments he made throughout 2007 about Hamilton and McLaren were aired through these sources.

Now, it is imperative that Alonso puts aside whatever happened in the past, and whatever he thinks of his former team and team-mate and speak out against the actions of a few whose stupidity pose a threat to the sport.

It is a great irony that this matter has emerged in a region that attracts so many tourists – many of them British – to Spain.

Even greater, so overwhelming is Alonso’s popularity at home now that it has forced him to become an exile and live abroad – in England.

‘Champion’ does not solely mean someone who wins a title, or two. It is also a verb, and means to support or defend a cause.

It is time for Fernando Alonso to start acting like a champion, and not Casting a long shadow: Should Alonso have entered the just like a racing driver who scored a racism debate? As champion, and a Spaniard, he should lot of points. have ...

Letters

Have your say, email us at mail@mnews.com.au. Keep letters to the point.

Pay or not?

I was checking out my Pay TV guide recently, and I noticed there was no mention of the Nationwide Series. Is Foxtel still going to broadcast it given that 10 HD is going to broadcast selected rounds, or are Fox and 10 going to share the rights?

Any information would be appreciated as the season

opener is on this weekend and us Marcos Ambrose fans are dying to see him take on the Yanks yet again and show ‘em how its done!

Matt Dalmeny, NSW Infrastructure – or fine food Chris Lambden, $10m to upgrade facilities at our greatest race track is an investment with permanent

benefits. Forking out $35m per year is like buying an expensive meal – you can only appreciate it once, then if you want more you have to pay another $35m.

Why pay for something we simply can’t afford any more? What’s better for Australia? Spending the money on improving our own infrastructure or paying for

Bernie’s annual holiday to Australia (which he sporadically attends).

PS. I’m not exactly pleased to be writing these words.

Simon Carlyon carlyon1@iinet.net.au LAMBDEN: Your point is well made and often debated The bottom line, though, is if Australia wants to retain a GP, then the Feds will need to help.

opinion

12 of the best opinion Andrew van Leeuwen mNews Deputy Editor WITH the second year down, the WPS Bathurst 12 Hour is in position to become a darned good event.

This year’s race was as exciting as a 12 Hour is ever likely to get, and I don’t mean that in a derogatory way, because it was exciting.

Sure, endurance racing lacks the in-your-face exhilaration of a sprint racing, but there is something enjoyable about watching a race unfold in a more tactical way.

Anything but silver ...

Just an observation about 2008 v8 supercar paint schemes.

Is it just me or has someone sent a memo to all the V8 teams to put silver on their cars? The number of teams with silver, red and black as their base colours seems ridiculous!

The major aim of paint schemes is to best represent a team’s sponsor, and to make your race cars stand out on the track is the best way to do this.

How can this be done when your car is almost identical to the one next to you?

Name & Address supplied

I suppose it’s a bit like One Day Cricket and test matches, and that parallel is even more fitting thanks to the fact that the 12 Hour is a Production Car race – warmed-up road cars going racing, just like the Bathursts of old.

My point is this; with a little more manufacturer support, this thing could really take off.

Why? Because it’s different; it’s not a B1000 copy; there’s a whole new audience that can be tapped into.

There are certain aspects of the B1000 that I’m glad aren’t shared with the 12 Hour. For instance, I took a wander from McPhillamy Park to Forrests

Elbow on Sunday afternoon, and it was great to not have to push through massive crowds.

That’s not to say there wasn’t a crowd, because there was, but it wasn’t as full on.

There were families backing their 4WDs up to the fence so Dad could enjoy a quiet beer on the tailgate (without a swarm of Police charging around), mum could sunbathe, and the kids could play on the grass.

Try doing that in October …

And then there was the racing. The 12 Hour itself was a cracker with Mitsubishis sprinting away and the constant threat of a BMW

eLETTER OF THE WEEK Is it just me or does the new rule about numbers for V8 Supercars just not seem right?

I know it was done so each car was more identifiable for the officials and the crowd and provide a bit more space for sponsorship, but a

race car without a number emblazoned on the side just doesn’t look right.

I know its being picky and its only superficial but something about seeing a DJR Falcon without the #17 painted on the side doesn’t sit right with me.

with two professional drivers behind the wheel. The winner, literally, wasn’t decided until the last hour.

And it wasn’t just the 12 Hour.

There were 90 HQs and 60 Formula Vees.

It occurred to me that I hadn’t seen either category since I left Barbagallo Raceway to join the big time with MNews, and it was fun.

This is the ‘second event’ that Bathurst has been waiting for, a chance to have a second genuine use for those awesome facilities and circuit.

So let’s not let it fall by the wayside like last time, please …

I’ve been watching since I was 5, when Dick was in the 17 Ford Sierra. That’s how I knew it was Dick (before there were names on the side windows).

The other way was the different coloured headlight covers on the Shell Sierras – if CAMS wants to identify the drivers better why not have a similar system?

Glen Sansom glensansom@yahoo.com.au

Horspwr Clothing is giving away a t-shirt each week for the most creative letter. Send yours to mail@mnews.com.au, or Motorsport News PO Box 7072, Brighton, Vic 3186

BATHURST MOTOR FESTIVAL WPS BATHURST 12 HOUR

Finally, the White result

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Dirk Klynsmith

Just a few months after having a huge crash at Bathurst, Damien White returned to the Mountain to win the WPS Bathurst 12 Hour with Graham Alexander and Rod Salmon.

By ANDREW VAN LEEUWEN

Dirk Klynsmith

B

ATHURST can be the cruellest and kindest of places – just ask Damien White.

Last October he was airlifted away from Mount Panorama, having had a monster shunt in qualifying for the Bathurst 1000 and ended his Great Race debut very prematurely, and rather painfully.

But last weekend it was a totally different story. Along with team-mates Graham Alexander and Rod Salmon, White conquered The Mountain to win the second running of the WPS Bathurst 12 Hour.

The day went full circle for the Mitsubishi crew. Having jumped to an early lead after a frenetic battle with Klark Quinn and Paul Morris (three wide up Mountain straight

on the first lap of a 12 Hour race), the White/Alexander/Salmon entry spent most of the day looking threatening without actually spending much time in the lead.

That honour mostly went to the Denyer/ Klark Quinn/Tony Quinn Mitsubishi, which was ultra-quick all day, and reigning winners Garry Holt/Paul Morris/Craig Baird.

But when the clock ticked 12 (or, more accurately, 6:30pm Sunday), the #87 Lancer was back in the lead.

“To start the race, lead the race, then come in and hop out of the car, go out the back and get changed and then come back to the garage and have it be only 8.00am was really quite weird,” said White.

“Now here we are and it is 7.00pm and we are winners, and that is a really, really good feeling.”

The way in which the White/Alexander/ Salmon entry came to be in the lead at the end of the day was quite sensational.

Firstly there was a couple of bits of handy luck, like the Quinns and Denyer copping a drive-through for a restart infringement while leading comfortably five hours in, and the pole-sitting entry of David Wall/Des Wall/Trevor Symonds/Martin Notaras needing a brake replacement and subsequently falling way out of contention.

But the real good luck came when White and Denyer cruised into pitlane together late in the race, and thanks to both being under the Ralliart banner, had to be stacked.

At the time Denyer was close to lapping White, but being held ahead of the TV star allowed White to stay on the lead lap.

Cue a spectacular rollover from Mazda

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Dirk Klynsmith

Cruising it in ... or so we thought: The Denyer/Quinn/Quinn entry, above, was nearly a lap ahead of the whole field at one point, but it all turned sour at the end. Reigning winner Paul Morris and his co-drivers lacked the outright pace to win, left, while David Wall, below, was on pole, but had dramas in the race.

Dirk Klynsmith

Another front-runner to have problems was the Mitsubishi Evo of Bob Pearson/ Anton Mechtler/Jason Walsh. Having topped the first two practice sessions, the #33 car was on front-pack pace when it had a complete brake failure at Bathurst’s last corner, crashing hard enough to require Mechtler to be taken to hospital for observation.

But perhaps the biggest retirement was that of Class D leader (and potential outright contender, at a long shot) the Holden Motorsport Sportwagon. The car was leading its class easily when, having picked up an early puncture, it seemed to shed a brake line on the way up Mountain Straight at the 1h30m mark. Nathan Pretty went head-on into the wall, taking Guy Gibbons with him.

John Morris/Mpix

driver Len Cave at The Chase and the ensuing Safety Car, and the gap was reduced. Race on.

The final nail in the Quinn’s coffin was another drive-through, this time for a tyre jack crossing a control line. Race over.

Morris/Baird/Holt finished a distant third, having shown less pace than expected over the race distance. Their plight wasn’t helped by an 11th hour (literally) drivethrough, thanks to over-lapping at a restart.

Typically of a 12 Hour race, there were casualties. One of which was the Barry Morcom/Steve Owen/Layton Crambrook BMW 335i, which had front-running pace, but was held back by an electrical glitch (which at one point had the car stopped on the circuit). They still finished fourth, albeit six laps off the lead.

First Class Citizens

This is how the individual classes were run and won at this year’s WPS Bathurst 12 Hour A – Sonax High Performance All-Wheel-Drive Damien White/Graham Alexander/Rod Salmon (Mitusbishi Evo IX) As the outright winners, this trio took out their class as well.

B – Penrite High Performance Rear-Wheel-Drive Garry Holt/Paul Morris/Craig Baird (BMW 335i) Last year’s victors were only good enough for third outright, but had little trouble in the rear-wheel drive class.

C – Hot Hatch Performance Cars Luke Searle/Peter Kelly (BMW 130) Another obvious winner; one pacey little

Beemer, two very capable drivers.

D – Disc Brakes Australia Production Vehicle Under $50,000 Garth Walden/Brian Walden/Michael Auld (Commodore) Most people had pencilled in the Holden Motorsport Sportwagon after qualifying, but brake problems 90 minutes in left Nathan Pretty in the wall, and the Walden entry with the class win.

E – Production Sports under $50,000 Colin Osborne/Neal Bates/John Roekin (Toyota Celica) The indestructible Celicas were always going to dominate this class, and the leading TRD entry was the best of the lot.

F – Under 2.5l Production Ross Buckingham/James Augustine/Brett Youlden, Greg Sticker (Hyundai Sonata) The guys from Kangan Batman TAFE did a solid job to keep the Hyundai going and take a well-earned class win.

H – Eco Diesel under 3.5l David Filipetto/Nathan Gotch/ Wayne Vinckx (Alfa Romeo 147 JTD) Sure it was the only entry in the class, but half of the battle in a 12 Hour is finishing the race, so these guys won fair and square. A great environmental step forward this class, but Diesels still sound funny on a racetrack …

– ANDREW VAN LEEUWEN

Marshall Cass

Dirk Klynsmith

Spongebrakes Squarefront: The Holden Sportwagon never got a good go at Class D, crashing early thanks to damaged brakes, above left. There were no such dramas for the Kelly/Searle BMW, above, which cruised to the Class C win, while the TRD Celica did likewise, below. A popular class win was that of the Kangan Batman TAFE Hyundai, left.

Marshall Cass

Dirk Klynsmith

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Dirk Klynsmith

WPS BATHURST 12 HOUR | Outright results Pos

#

Drivers

Car

Class Laps

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 DNF DNF DNF DNF DNF

87 29 20 11 43 3 10 26 24 25 13 72 14 5 94 31 68 40 88 77 93 17 9 21 71 7 34 36 80

R.Salmon/D.White/G.Alexander T.Quinn/K.Quinn/G.Denyer G.Holt/P.Morris/C.Baird B.Morcom/S.Owen/L.Crambrook M.Notaras/Des Wall/David Wall/T.Symonds L.Searle/P.Kelly M.O’Connor/A.Fisher/R.Buttrose D.Schulz/A.Knight/J.Winslow B.Walden/G.Walden/M.Auld K.Kratzman/I.Tulloch/B.Collins C.Osborne/N.Bates/J.Roecken A.Letcher/N.Callaghan/C.Harvey P.Conroy/T.Conroy/C.Schembri B.Nesbitt/T.Alford/P.Freestone R.Howe/D.O’Keefe/D.Neville B.Sherwood/H.Morrall/S.Jones R.Thomson/G.Willis/G.Gibbons R.Buckingham/J.Augustine/B.Youlden/G.Sticker J.Hunter/W.Bossie/M.Windsor D.Filipetto/N.Gotch/W.Vinckx D.Harris/N.Lange/L.Kearns J.Spychala/L.Yelland/A.Saliba D.Heath/W.Luff/I.Luff C.Delfsma/J.Bowe/P.Stubber D.Mertens/L.Mertens/T.Wyhoon R.Mork/D.Turner/R.Prince M.King/M.Trimble/M.Brame J.Camilleri/S.Nicholas/T.Sipp M.Brock/G.Young/J.Elsegood

Mitsubishi Evo 9 Mitsubishi Evo 9 RS BMW 335i BMW 335i Mitsubishi Evo 9 BMW 130 Lotus Exige Subaru WRX Sti Holden Commodore VY Subaru WRX Sti Toyota Celica Toyota Celica Honda Integra Holden HSV GTS Ford Falcon XR6T Toyota Celica Lotus Exige Hyundai Sonata Subaru Impreza RS Alfa Romeo 147JTD Proton Satrina Gti Ford GTP Falcon Ford BF XR8 Ford BF XR8 Holden VY HSV GT Honda Integra Mitsubishi Evo 8 Mazda 3 MPS Mitsubishi Evo 8

A A B B A C B A D A E E E B D E B F F H F B D D B E A C A

253 253 252 247 243 243 241 239 236 235 234 233 231 230 228 225 221 219 219 217 217 210 193 183 220 142 137 108 77

WORLD RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND 2 – SWEDEN

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Speeden in Sweden It was warmer and less snowy than it normally is in Sweden for this year’s traditional WRC second round, but it didn’t worry Jari-Matti Latvala. He just drove away from the field

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A

FTER an uninspiring debut for the team in Monte Carlo, JariMatti Latvala proved he was the right man for Ford’s lead team in Sweden, taking his first WRC victory.

The 22-year-old Finn became the youngest ever WRC event winner after three days of domination in the snow, taking over the record from Henri Toivonen, who was 24 when he won his first rally in 1980.

After the first day in Sweden Latvala was 48s clear of teammate Mikko Hirvonen. The second leg saw him ease out by another second, and by the end of the rally he was nearly a minute clear of the entire field.

It was that easy.

“Henri Toivonen is a big hero of mine and in my dreams, I wanted to beat his record, so this means so much to me,” said Latvala.

“I couldn’t have dreamed

I could win on only my second event in a works team, especially after such a disappointing start to the year in Monte Carlo last month. [So] I can’t really find the words to describe my feelings. I never thought I would win this weekend and it was only this morning that I started to realise I could do it.

“I started the rally so well on Friday and made no mistakes so I was able to control my speed. I felt comfortable in the car all weekend and the whole team has a reason to celebrate today.”

Making the 1-2 even sweeter for the BP Ford World Rally Team was the fact that Monte winner Sebastien Loeb didn’t make the finish. In fact, he didn’t even make it through the first day, rolling his Citroen C4 on a snow bank.

He got going again on the second day, but an engine

drama ruled him out for good soon after.

“I hit a snow bank with the front of my car on the inside of a fast left-hander, and that sent us into a spin,” said the reigning Champion.

“I tried to get the car back in line but we hit a bank and rolled. We landed on the stage but a problem with the clutch meant that we weren’t able to re-start at once.”

Third was the always spectacular Gigi Galli, who looked good throughout the rally in his second outing with Stobart-Ford.

One of the stories of the rally was privateer Subaru driver Mads Ostberg, who ran as high as fourth early in

the rally, before crashing out on Day 2. That allowed Toni Gardemeister to make it two points-paying finishes in a row for the new Suzuki team, coming home seventh.

It was a weekend to forget for Australian Chris Atkinson, who found himself stranded in the snow on just the third stage of the rally. He spent the next two days moving through the field from 45th to 21st.

“I’m disappointed we went off on Friday, but we’ve come back up through the field and still gained a manufacturer point,” he said.

“It’s been a difficult rally for us, but we take the point and now look to Mexico which will be a totally different event.”

WRC | DRIVER'S points Hirvonen 16, Latvala 10, Loeb 10, Galli 9, P Solberg 9, Atkinson 6, Francois Duval 5, Andreass Mickelsen 4.

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Mud Caked: Unseasonable warmth meant there was less snow and more mud at this year’s Swedish round, as demonstrated by Gigi Galli.

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Last Man Standing: Sebastien Loeb’s car spent too much time on the stands to bother the scorers, above left. There wasn’t much snow in Sweden, but ‘Atko’ still got stuck in the bit that was there, left. Privateer Mads Ostberg was flying high, above, until he crashed ...

s t r o p p u S r h Bathurst 12

Dirk Klynsmith

Slipstreaming to Victory FORMULA VEE

Simpson and his rival: Ryan Simpson trails Ben Porter into the dipper, above.

Over 50 Vees made it to the start of race, below.

Marshall Cass

Defending Australian Formula Vee Champion Ben Porter took overall victory in the Formula Vee support races at the Bathurst Motor Festival, winning two of the three races.

Porter qualified fifth, before working up to second in Race 1 behind multiple NSW Formula Vee champ Ryan Simpson. Porter and Simpson then battled hard in the second and third races, but Porter used the slipstream to slingshot past Simpson late in both races to take victory, with Simpson finishing a close second.

“I’m really happy,” Porter said after the final race. “

It was my first time here at Bathurst, and I improved my pace as I learnt the track.”

Nicky Herford, David Cutts and Gary Ogden each scored a third-place finish, but Steven Butcher ended the weekend third on points by virtue of his consistent performances across the three races.

The most spectacular incident of the weekend occurred at Griffin’s Bend early in the final race, when Jon Gaspero rolled his Formula Vee after a tangle with another competitor. Gaspero’s car caught fire; fortunately, he escaped the car with no injuries, and the fire was quickly extinguished by the marshals.

– LACHLAN MANSELL

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But wait ... there’s more HQs HQ RACING Two separate grids of HQ Holdens raced in support of the Bathurst Motor Festival.

V8 Supercar driver and Bathurst 12-hour competitor Paul Morris, pictured below left, won the first grid, in which points were also scored for round one of the HQ National Series. He also grabbed third and fourth places.

John Wood, below right, won pole by more than two seconds and dominated the first two races, but a touch with Morris in Race 3 caused him to spin down the order. Mark Buckell finished second (a great recovery after qualifying 12th) while Gary Bonwick finished third.

Two 10-lap races were held for the second HQ grid, and reigning HQ National Series Champion Kieren Pilkington won

both races. Neil Corey was a close second in the first race, but a drive-through penalty in the second race ended Corey’s chances of challenging Pilkington.

As a result, Buckell, who was competing in both grids, stepped up to second ahead of Queenslander David Blunt, who charged through the field after finishing outside the top-10 in the first race.

– LACHLAN MANSELL

Dirk Klynsmith

John Morris/Mpix

Kwiatkowski takes maiden win SALOON CARS

Jmes Smith

Steve Kwiatkowski took his first-ever Saloon Car round win at Bathurst.

Kwiatkowski, right, qualified his Falcon AU fourth and won both races to take early ascendancy in the series.

In Race 1, Kwiatkowski moved up to second off the start, overtaking Peter Dane and pole-sitter Kevin Weeks, who made a slow getaway.

Kwiatkowski then hotly pursued Kris Walton, making his way past the 2007 Saloon Car runner-up on lap five.

Kwiatkowski, Walton and Weeks became involved in a thrilling battle over the closing stages, with Weeks breaking the lap record and briefly taking the lead before

Kwiatkowski recaptured the position on the final lap.

In Race 2, Kwiatkowski quickly established a comfortable lead over Weeks after Walton retired from the race on lap seven with a power-steering and fan-belt failure, grinding to a halt on the approach to The Cutting.

The race finished under Safety Car, with Kwiatkowski winning from Weeks and Matt Lovell.

Defending Champion Bruce Heinrich was fifth in Race 1 and fourth in Race 2 after switching from Ford to Holden.

Garry Rogers Motorsport mechanic Ryan Millier won the TASCCO Challenge for the older-model cars, coming up with an impressive top-10 finish in his elderly EA Falcon.

– LACHLAN MANSELL

Earnhardt wins on debut with Hendricks Stewart, Busch in controversial clash NASCAR DALE Earnhardt Jr won an exciting and competitive Budweiser Shootout on Saturday night at Daytona holding off Tony Stewart, who has again been at the center of controversy, .

It was Junior’s first win since Richmond in May of 2006 and, just as importantly, his first victory in his maiden race entered with his new Hendrick Motorsports team since departing the DEI team at the end of 2007.

“I got some great help from my teammates,” said Earnhardt referring to Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon, “I didn’t win the race without Jimmie pushing me.”

Stewart and Kurt Busch had an on-track altercation during the Friday evening practice for the Shootout, both drivers seemingly vying for the same spot on the race track.

Busch side-impacted the wall with Stewart receiving less damage. That was until Busch slammed his Penske Dodge into Stewart’s Joe Gibbs owned Toyota entering pit road!

The apparent feud between the two hot-heads started in the Daytona 500 last year when Busch got loose under Stewart and wiped the pair out.

It then spilled over at Dover when the pair were fighting for track position and Stewart got into Busch. Busch hit Stewart’s car on pit road during that race endangering crewmen and netting him a US$100,000 fine and loss of 100 points.

Both drivers were called to the NASCAR trailer after the incident.

Although NASCAR refused to comment, Stewart apparently punched Busch before leaving the trailer. Both were summoned to a second meeting on Saturday, which Gibbs flew in early to be at.

Both drivers shrugged off the incidents with NASCAR. Should penalties arise, they will be announced by NASCAR early this week.

Clint Bowyer triggered a wreck in the same practice wiping out the cars of Ryan Newman, Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon and Bill Elliott among others. In all 11 of the 23 cars entered in the Shootout received damage prior to the race.

Johnson and Gordon’s team entered what amounted to short-track cars in the Shootout, but after changes the cars were obviously up to the task as they finished third and fourth.

– MARTIN D CLARK

Price, Pittam take C KARTING OVER 460 entrants competed across 16 classes at the Pettaras Press Victorian Open Championships at Geelong over the weekend.

Having never really enjoyed the ultimate pace in the lead up, defending champion Bart Price made amends in the longer Clubman Light final.

Starting out of seventh, Price charged in an action packed final to grab the lead from Leigh Nicolaou late in the race.

Local favourite Aaron Ivermee was undefeated in the heats and despite leading many laps, fell to sixth. Zeke Edwards and Matthew Hayes filled the podium for Phoenix.

In Clubman Heavy, SA’s Paul Pittam (Omega) was looking to upset the regular guns with a strong run in the heats.

Ultimately it was Matt Wall who wound up the winner ahead of Pittam and Peter Lawler.

After the qualifying heats, the heavy hitters of Junior

Clubman came together for the final. Unfortunately, front runners James Kovacic and Kayne Hughes were eliminated at the first corner. Scott McLaughlin took a largely unchallenged win over Luke Rochford and Damien Ward.

Kosmic had a great weekend, taking 1-2s in two classes.

James Sera headed a fast finishing Adam Hughes in Leopard Light with David Sera (Arrow) third. Then Cameron Waters and James Kovacic drove the purple machines to the top spots in Junior National Light.

Garry Jacobson beat Andrew Rae in Junior National Heavy.

Caleb Rayner and Joshua de Maio crashed out of the lead on lap two.

David Sera (Arrow/Parilla) was undefeated in Formula 100. Hayden McBride (Gillard/ Parilla) and Matthew Hayes (Phoenix/TM) filled the podium.

Arron Ivermee charging off the back of the grid to fourth.

Troy Woolston led home an Intrepid one-two in Rotax

race

Coopers Photography

Clubman in packed Vic Championships Ash Budd

Ash Budd

Ash Budd

Winner James Sera leads the Leopard Light field into Turn 1 (top); Above, l to r, victors Bart Price (Clubman Light), Cam Waters (Junior National), Garry Jacobson (Junior National Heavy). Senior National Light streams into the first corner (right), in which James May and Dale Beaton had the closest of finishes ...

Ash Budd

Remo Luciani picked up another Clubman Over 40s title while Jason Stania beat national champion Scott Simpson in Clubman Super Heavy. Leopard Heavy belonged to Top Kart’s Nathan Mills.

Both Senior National classes turned on thrilling races in the final, James May beating Dale Beaton by inches in Light.

Matthew Waters edged out Brendan Nelson in Heavy.

– MARK WICKS

Coopers Photography

Heavy. Daniel Rochford was second, but both positions are under appeal. Tom Williamson, now aboard Azzurro, was third.

In Rotax Heavy, Rick Pringle took an easy win on his debut with CRG ahead of stable-mate Simon Meyer.

After several position changes, Jake Dixon edged out Joshua Buggy in the Midget final. Adrian Lazzarro drove away from the Rookie field for an easy win. NSW’s Jonathon Venter was second.

rear of grid

Skaife winds back the clock V8 SUPERCAR pilot Mark Skaife recently tested a couple of Holden’s finest from yesteryear – 1953 FX 48-215 Holden and 1973 Torana XU-1 race cars.

Peter Brock Foundation Follow your Dreams DVD competition winner Peter

Horvarth sat in the passenger seat with Skaife for swift laps in both cars at Calder Park.

It was Skaife’s first drive in an FX or HDT Torana race car.

“What a ripper old beast this is” he said of the FX that Peter Brock last drove at the UK Goodwood circuit in 2006.

Odd Spot

LOWNDES FOR CANBERRA? Part 2

Following our Odd Spot back in December which revealed a voter who listed a string of V8 Supercar drivers as his preferred Federal Election candidates, the saga has re-emerged.

After a recount, the final result changed, but now there is the prospect of yet another count – as the margin between the candidates is very slim.

As the clipping from the Shepparton News illustrates, the intrusion of V8 stars into the reckoning could play its part in whether or not another count takes place ...

” I remember photos on garage walls of these when I was a young bloke but, contrary to popular belief, I was never old enough to see them race!

“I can see why guys like Bo Seton and Norm Beechey just loved racing them, and why Peter Brock took this car to England to show the Poms what Aussie racing was all about in the 50s and 60s.”

The Torana, according to

previous owner Paul Tate,was only ever seriously driven by HDT’s Brock and Doug Chivas back in the seventies, then recently by Allan Moffat for a magazine promotion. It is probably best-remembered as the out-of-fuel car Chivas strained to push up pitlane during Bathurst in 1973. The car also helped Brock to his first Touring Car Championship victory the following year.