Motorsport eNews Issue 55 - May 20-26, 2008

The world of motorsport every week – directly to your desktop

Issue No. 055 20 - 26 May 2008

BATHURST one-two FPR plans twin strategies for v8 enduros

SHOOT-OUT

Reynolds v Zukanovic for autobarn seat

Editorial Editor: Grant Rowley grant@mnews.com.au Deputy Editor: Andrew van Leeuwen andrew@mnews.com.au Staff Journalist: Phillip Mahoney philm@mnews.com.au Executive Editor: Phil Branagan editor@mnews.com.au

Australasian

The ‘A’ Team

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MD / Publisher

Chris Lambden publisher@mnews.com.au

Contributing Writers F1: Will Buxton, Mark Glendenning, 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.

Freelance contributions are welcome, and while all care will be taken, Motorsport eNews does not accept responsibility for damage or loss of material submitted.

Opinions expressed in Motorsport eNews are not necessarily those of Australasian Motorsport News or its staff.

Issue No. 055 | 20 - 26 May 2008

news 4 Enduro Spots 6 TDR 8 Repco Rallies 10 Indy 500 14 Caratti V8

Who’s in the running ...

Expansion on the cards OZ and NZ get backing Power in, but Aussies crash Glenfords QR test

chat 20 5 minutes with ... Cody Crocker Aussies making up the show opinion 22 Branagan race 24 Shannons Nationals Tander and Caratti win 28 AMRC 32 NASCAR 36 OS 38 Aussies OS

Queensland Raceway hosts All Star Race at Lowes FIA GT, WTCC, DTM Abay on a charge

trade 40 Trade and Industry / Raceshop / Classifieds

welcome We won’t be letting Lee Holdsworth back on our computers anytime soon ...

International photos supplied by Sutton Images, www.sutton-images.com – click here to check out their exclusive poster deals

Is FPR eyeing a Bathurst 1-2?

V8 SUPERCARS

FORD Performance Racing is leaving its endurance racing options open – and may shoot for an historic 1-2 at Bathurst.

While most of the championshipcontending V8 Supercar teams will choose to pairs its regular drivers at Phillip Island and Bathurst, FPR is looking into both options and, at this stage of the season, it is an even bet which way the team will go come September.

FPR boss Tim Edwards faces the same decision as last year, when the team ran a ‘split livery’ on its two endurance cars and paired Mark Winterbottom and Steven Richards for Sandown and Bathurst. While he would not confirm it, MNews believes that the team is already working on a livery design to combine Winterbottom’s Orrcon sponsor with Castrol, which backs the Richards car.

“We are still faced with same the two dilemmas,” said Edwards this week. “But don’t forget that Richo is only 100 points away. So, do you put all your eggs in one basket or go each way? The jury is still out.”

Last year’s Bathurst performance only

ramps up the argument, either way.

Winterbottom put the lead entry on pole position and looked to have the race at his mercy, until a late-race excursion while leading put him out of contention.

But after qualifying, Edwards told MNews that he believed that either of the team’s driver could have taken pole position.

“We went with a very strict plan; one driver did set-up on qualifying, and that was Frosty, and Richo did the race setup. We were never away from the pace, even though Richards never did any laps on green tyres. If Richo had a crack in qualifying, it could have been a head-tohead battle between our two cars.”

Edwards also says that the team’s choice of endurance drivers, the experience duo of Dean Canto and Luke Youlden, adds another angle to the discussions.

“It’s a nice problem to have?” Edwards says. “With the endurance drivers we have, we could go either way and still have a good crack at the winning the race.”

And a 1-2 finish, not achieved since the Holden Dealer Team did it 24 years ago?

“That would not be out of the question.”

Dirk Klynsmith

Which way to go: Will FPR split its drivers, or its liveries, like it did last year?

news

Shootout!

Dirk Klynsmith

Reynolds and Zukanovic to fight it out for HSV enduro seat

Zukanovic

s u s r ve Reynolds

Peter Bury

Phil Williams

FUJITSU V8 Supercar drivers David Reynolds and Marcus Zukanovic will be pit against each other in a ‘shootout’ to determine who will partner Paul Dumbrell in the Autobarn Racing Commodore VE in the endurance races this year. eNews understands that Reynolds and Zukanovic will both drive either a Holden Racing Team or HSV Dealer Team Commodore at the organisation’s Winton test next week to see who will fill the role in the #16 Autobarn Commodore best.

Zukanovic was announced preseason as an endurance driver for the HSV Dealer Team, presumably based on the HSV’s sponsorship deal with Opes Prime. However, since the financial company’s demise, questions have surrounded if Zukanovic’s role will remain as first announced.

With the impending shootout at Winton, it seems that Zukanovic’s role within the factory team isn’t locked in concrete.

Both Reynolds and Zukanovic race ex-Walkinshaw Performance chassis in the Fujitsu Series, with Reynolds running fifth (378 points) and Zukanovic 11th (292).

– GRANT ROWLEY

Dirk Klynsmith

V8 SUPERCARS

news

Tony D’Alberto Racing set to expand as soon as ‘09 V8 SUPERCARS TONY D’Alberto Racing is considering expanding its operations in 2009.

The Victorian team is moving from its Kilsyth base to a modern new factory in Knox within the next few months, and the team is aiming at securing a Main Series licence to enter two cars in the V8 Supercar Championship Series.

This year, D’Alberto competes under the Rod Nash Racing licence, and with that relationship ticking along nicely, TDR wishes to add another car to its Main Series fleet to push both RNR and TDR further up the field.

“We’d like to expand to a two car team next year,” he told eNews.

“It makes a lot of sense having a teammate and having someone to compare yourself to. It would make the whole operation more efficient.

“The new shop will be big enough to house three or four cars, not that we want to go that big straight away, but two Main Series cars and a Development Series car is where we’d like to head.

“It’s possible that this could happen next year, but if not, then probably 2010.”

TDR would like to confirm its plans for next season before this year is finished.

“We’d like to have something locked in before Bathurst,” he said.

“It gives us a bit of time to make sure we can source equipment and take on the job properly.

“We are having a few chats with some people at the moment to find out who is serious.

“I think we’ve proven we can run a good operation. We are growing as a team every round, and a think a two-car team will make it that bit easier for us.”

TDR are the reigning Fujitsu Series champions, and is running David Reynolds in the series this year.

– GRANT ROWLEY

Dirk Klynsmith

news

AUSTRALIAN RALLYING REPCO’S sponsorship of this year’s Rally New Zealand and the 2009 Rally Australia has prompted talks about the future of local rally racing.

At the launch of the multiyear Repco sponsorship, CAMS CEO Graham Fountain told eNews that there have been discussions between Australian and New Zealand’s rally bosses about combining some of the rounds of the respective championships.

“We’ve discussed the

whole concept of providing opportunities that will help Australians compete in New Zealand, and New Zealanders compete in Australia, and how we might be able to align calendars and other things to facilitate that.

“We’ve had discussions in Hamilton with MotorSport New Zealand to initiate those discussions to align calendars and standardisation where we can. We realise that some of them will be able to be done easily, and some that will take a bit more time.”

Jeremy Rogers

Trans-Tasman Challenge?

Fountain says the early talks have been “positive.”

“It’s been positive on both sides of the Tasman,” he said.

“We’re in the process of organising follow up discussions, and we’re still at least a month away from agreeing on a list of priorities of what we need to do to work more co-operatively together.

“And it assists when you’ve got a sponsor (Repco) who is working with both country’s events. It provides a good catalyst for this type of arrangement.”

One likely option that has arisen for early dialogue is the chance of a ‘Trans-Tasman Challenge’ – a once-a-year combined rally.

President of MotorSport NZ Steven Kennedy said that such an event would be ideal for both championships.

“It wouldn’t be for every event, that wouldn’t be the way forward, but certainly one or two combined challenges or clashes a season would be fantastic if we could achieve that,” he said.

– GRANT ROWLEY

“When the ARC was in Coffs it was not only an incredibly good rally but one the whole championship looked forward to,” said Bates.

Bates, who has numerous victories to his name during the original decade of ARC rounds in Coffs Harbour, said he was excited about the prospects of tackling it in

his Super 2000-spec Toyota Corolla.

“The whole town got behind it, the stages were unbelievably good and it is a lovely part of NSW. I have no hesitation in saying it was the favourite rally on the calendar and I can’t wait to go back there.”

– RYAN LAHIFF

Coffs Returns AUSTRALIAN RALLYING

Joel Strickland

AFTER an absence of eight years, the Australian Rally Championship will return to the NSW north coast town of Coffs Harbour this season.

It is understood that the move came about after the onoff outing in Forster last year was roundly criticised by locals and business groups.

“ARCom has been working for some weeks with members of the NSW rally community to identify a time and location

for the NSW round of the ARC following advice that the ARC event would not proceed at its original Forster location,” confirmed ARCom Chairman Colin Trinder.

Forster Clerk of Course Mike Bell has agreed to remain on with the CHDCC to assist in promoting the event.

The news of Coffs Harbour’s re-inclusion in the ARC has been welcomed by the sports leading drivers, including veteran Toyota stalwart Neal Bates.

Aussies into the Wall, into t

Power overcomes crash, joins Briscoe in 33-car field INDYCAR

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33

9 10 6 3 7 11 26 4T 27 20 12 99 06 14 18 02 15 22 16 17T 24 67 8 41 5 33 23 19 36 34 2 91 25

Scott Dixon Dan Wheldon Ryan Briscoe Helio Castroneves Danica Patrick Tony Kanaan Marco Andretti Vitor Meira Hideki Mutoh Ed Carpenter Tomas Scheckter Townsend Bell Graham Rahal Darren Manning Bruno Junqueira Justin Wilson Buddy Rice Davey Hamilton Alex Lloyd Ryan Hunter-Reay John Andretti Sarah Fisher Will Power Jeff Simmons Oriol Servia EJ Viso Milka Duno Mario Moraes Enrique Bernoldi Jaime Camara A.J. Foyt IV Buddy Lazier Marty Roth

NZ GB Aus BR USA Br USA Br J USA RSA USA USA GB Br GB USA USA GB USA USA USA Aus USA Esp Ven Ven Col Bra Bra USA USA USA

226.366 226.110 226.080 225.733 225.197 224.794 224.417 224.346 223.887 223.835 223.496 222.539 222.531 222.430 222.330 222.267 222.101 222.017 221.788 221.579 221.550 221.246 221.136 221.103 220.767 220.356 220.305 219.716 219.422 219.345 219.184 219.015 218.965

Red Leaders: Scott Dixon and Dan Wheldo join Ryan Briscoe, above on left, on the front row on Monday morning, Australian time. Danica Patrick, below, is one of three lady drivers in the race and the fastest American qualifier.

Honda Racing

10

sutton-images.com

WILL Power has qualified for his first Indianapolis 500, despite a crash.

Power’s third attempt to ended when without warning, a crosswind sent him into the first turn wall. The car’s left side made initial contact against the wall and slid into the second turn where it made light contact with the SAFER barrier. Power climbed from his badly-damaged car without assistance but with his confidence shaken.

“There was a lot of blustery wind out there,” said Power, who had set second fastest time of the day.

“I just got caught out. I wasn’t even up to speed yet. The car came around on me, sending me into the wall.”

Power qualified 23rd with a fourlap average of 221.136mph, while front row starter Ryan Briscoe, who was running his backup car to work on his race day set-up, also made heavy contact with the first turn SAFER barrier, hitting rear first after a quarter-spin.

Team Penske admitted they made a change to the car and took responsibility for crash.

“I think the tyres were getting a bit old,” said Briscoe.

“It must have looked pretty big because it felt really big. I lost the rear going down into (turn) one.

I was a bit surprised because I wasn’t at full speed. I must have caught some dirty air from Marco’s (Andretti) car in front of me and just lost the rear.”

The heavy damage to the spare car means Briscoe will use his qualified, raceday car for further practice. Both Aussies, and the other 31 qualified drivers, will take the track in race trim on the famed Carburetion Day, this Friday.

– MARY MENDEZ

news

the 500 No need for Rescue INDYCAR

Green and Gold sees Red: Power qualified in 23rd place but only after his Indy baptism of fire, left. His Team Australia Dallara Honda was repaird overnight and Power was a relieved man to make it into the field for the 92nd running of the Greatest Spectacle in Racing.

SARAH Fisher made the field for her sixth Indianapolis 500, despite the non-appearance of her new sponsor.

Fisher announced two months ago she would be competing in three IndyCar events starting with the Indy 500, having formed her own team backed by little-known energy drink ResQ Pure Power. But the cheque never arrived, causing Fisher to use her personal savings to pay her crew and the bills.

Some fans visiting the Speedway garage area donated $100 to ensure her team continues.

“Any publicity is good publicity,” said Fisher, who may sue ResQ over the breach of her signed contract.

“It attracted IUPUI (Indiana University Purdue) and Hartman Oil of Kansas. Both of those associates would not have been on board if they hadn’t known we were having trouble. The more exposure we get, the more we can tell our story.

“It’s been a lot more work this May than I expected. I expected that once the cheque cleared, I could focus on racecar driving. But I’ve had to spend time on the ownership. The rain hasn’t bothered me from being a team owner, but is has as a driver. It’s the devil on one shoulder and the angel on the other.”

– MARY MENDEZ

Max, Mario miss out INDYCAR

Honda Racing

BUMP Day returned to the Indianapolis 500 yesterday [Sunday], with 33 drivers qualified for the big race.

Four drivers entered for the race did not make it into the field, with the last three spots in the

race going to AJ Foyt IV, Buddy Lazier and Marty Roth. The last-named driver won the $50,000 Firestone Indy 500 Final Qualifier Award.

The drivers to miss out were former Gold Coast winner Mario Dominguez, Max Papis and Roger Yasukawa. American Phil Giebler did not make a final day run after a practice crash.

11

Tomorrow’s problem Today NASCAR may step in to force teams to toe the line NASCAR THERE are signs that NASCAR’s elite engineers are getting to grips with the new Car of Tomorrow – and the news is not all good.

A spate of loose wheels during races has led not only to competitors losing out on potentially race-winning positions but to the rulemakers clamping down on the latest generation of creative interpretation of the rules that govern the latest generation Cup racecars.

The CoT was devised to vastly reduce costs by mandating flat side panels and proportionate car bodies. Previous Cup cars featured off-centre bodies to aid aerodynamics in the high speed banked turns, and that in turn led the well-

funded teams to develop specific aero packages for different types of track.

Teams ended up with as many of 30 cars, some of which were raced at only one track each season. The new car effectively put a stop to that.

However, at least one team has started a trend and, at this point, NASCAR officials do not see the need for a particular rule to prevent it. It appears that engineers have devised a way for the rear axle housing to have toe-in on the left side and toe-out on the right.

This makes the nose of the car point to the left entering the corners and shows up with the car visibly crabbing on the straights.

The set-up, which was noticed by NASCAR officials at Darlington last

week, is putting considerable strain and side load on housings, bearings, shafts, and appears to be, at the very least, a contributing factor as to why some teams have been experiencing loose wheels.

Things became even more obvious this past week at Lowe’s Motor Speedway in Charlotte when the Penske Dodge of Sam Hornish apparently had 1¼ inches of toe angle on each side.

This led to the somewhat farcical sight of a collection of 800 horsepower racecars – capable of up to 310kmh on the track – unable to be driven up the ramps for pre-race technical inspection ...

Look for NASCAR to instigate a rule this week to limit the amount of rear axle toein and toe out allowed.

– MARTIN D CLARK

NASCAR MEDIA

12

news

BUSCH TO TEST F1

Max Stays

NASCAR

Suzuki Racing

WORLD SUPERBIKES

NASCAR MEDIA

COULD Kyle Busch be the next American Formula 1 star?

That is the question being asked after the news that Busch, who has won a staggering eight races this season in NASCAR’s Sprint Cup, Nationwide and Craftsman Truck Series, is to test a Toyota F1 car at the end of the year.

Busch, 23, is expected to test with the blessing of his team owner Joe Gibbs.

“We're working on a test session right now at the end of November or beginning of December, sometime going to Japan and doing a little exhibition sort of deal and see what it’s like,” Busch said at Lowe’s Motor Speedway last Friday.

“We’ll take the Cup car over there, too, I think. Just kind of run around there at either Twin Ring (Motegi) or something like that and show them what the Cup cars are like and try to get in the Formula 1 car, too.”

Las Vegas-born Busch would be the second current Cup driver to have tested a Formula 1 car. Jeff Gordon tested a Williams-BMW in 2003, while a number of former GP drivers race against Busch in Cup. But, could the American race F1 full-time?

Busch said his ultimate ambitions may include racing in the international open-wheel series.

“We’ll see how good I test, first,” he said.

“We’ll see if my neck can withstand the g-forces of the braking and everything. I wouldn’t mind it. If I can do it and I’m good at it, then I’ll give it a shot and try it. It seems as though their racing isn’t all that great — they kind of get stuck in line and the aero takes over everything.”

SUZUKI has moved swiftly to secure its latest Superbike star, Max Neukirchner.

Team Suzuki Alstare has taken its rider off the market by signing the 26-year-old to a new two-year deal to race in its World Superbike squad.

In his fifth season in the category, Neukirchner became the first German rider to win a race in the WSBK with his maiden victory at Monza earlier this month.

Prior to his signing, media reports connected him to the new BMW team, which will enter the championship next season with an all-new 1000cc four-cylinder superbike.

13

Independent’s new move Second-tier national series offered a new home – the Independent Race Series AUSTRALIAN MOTORSPORT

T

14

Dirk Klynsmith

HE shape of Australian national motorsport will change yet again, with former AASA series mangers Rod Dale and Garry Willmington set to rejoin the CAMS fold.

A new competitor-based series called the ‘Independent Race Series’ will launch later this year for a four-round series.

Three rounds are scheduled in New South Wales (two at Eastern Creek and one at Oran Park), with a fourth round set for Queensland’s Morgan Park Raceway. All meetings will be held over one day.

The new series will not affect the Australian Motor Racing Championship (which Dale and Willmington were formerly involved with).

CAMS CEO Graham Fountain told eNews that potentially having more people run under CAMSsanctioning is the first step towards unification of secondlevel national motor sport.

“We believe that having more participants under the CAMS umbrella is good for the sport,” he said.

“We believe that the current fragmentation of the sport is detrimental to the sport itself and the individuals within it.”

Fountain is confident that once the former AASA runners get back in the CAMS environment, steps will be taken to better facilitate national competitors and series.

“Once they fall back under the CAMS umbrella, opportunities for meaningful dialogue and discussion will occur.

“We’re still yet to talk about how we’re going to go about it but one thing that we are extremely conscious of is the potential syphoning of competitors away from existing categories, including the Shannons Nationals, and we’re taking steps to make sure that doesn’t happen.”

The weekend’s chat of the new series has caused some unrest amongst existing national series and categories, who believe that there is only room for one second-tier series.

The AASA-sanctioned AMRC (which ran at Queensland Raceway over the weekend), will continue, and series and circuit owner Mick Ronke told eNews that “the AMRC will continue. We’ve got some major things happening.

These people who are talking about new series need to pay their bills before they starting thinking about other things.”

The introduction of the Independent Race Series comes at a pivotal time for the local scene. The Shannons Nationals completed its third round at Mallala last weekend with a total of 97 entries, while the AMRC at QR had just 53.

– GRANT ROWLEY

news

Carrati’s Queensland V8 test V8 SUPERCARS CARRERA Cup front-runner Aaron Caratti will have his first taste of a V8 Supercar when he tests for Paul Cruickshank Racing at Queensland Raceway next Wednesday.

Caratti drives for PCR in the Carrera Cup, and says he doesn’t quite know what to expect when he takes the wheel of Fabian Coulthard’s BF Falcon next week.

“Everyone tells me the V8s are really soft, so I don’t quite know what to expect,” he told eNews.

“I know I won’t be able to get on the power as quickly as I

do in the Porsche, and I would expect it to move around and roll a bit more.

“But it will be okay. A car is a car, so I should be able to get my head around it.”

Caratti also revealed that the test could be a precursor to his 2009 plans, with the Fujitsu V8 Supercar Series well and truly on the radar.

“We’d love to have a look at the Development Series. In this country it is all about V8 Supercars, so it will be good to get some laps.”

The test will be a double header for Caratti, who will also do laps in his Porsche.

– ANDREW VAN LEEUWEN

Major Australian representation at ‘The Ring NURBURGRING 24 HOUR AUSTRALIAN race drivers are launching a huge assault on the famous Nuburgring 24 Hour race this year.

Warren Luff, Shaun Juniper and Max Twigg will compete in Juniper’s Porsche 997 RSR, used by Juniper, Twigg, Paul Kelly and David Russell to finish fourth at

this year’s Dubai 24 Hour, pictured above.

Other Australian Carrera Cup drivers who are entering the race include Craig Baird, who’ll team up with his regular enduro buddies Tony and Klark Quinn in the team’s similar RSR machine.

Another Porsche stalwart, Peter Fitzgerald is driving Quinn’s old 996 model car.

Dual Australian Rally Champion Simon Evans will get his first taste of the 22km track when he teams with Colin Osbourne in the CAMS President’s Toyota Celica. Stuart Jones and Iain Sherrin will team up with the pair.

Nurburgring regular Mal Rose will also be back, taking his Commodore VX for another attack at the race.

15

MINI the White category for Damien MINI CHALLENGE

Marshall Cass

DAMIEN White looks set to race in the MINI Challenge Series for the remainder of the year following a successful on-off drive at Barbagallo Raceway on May 11.

With no other permanent race seat for 2008 the MINI Challenge looks to be White’s best shot at a season behind the wheel, and his round win has signalled that he is up to the task.

“I registered to earn points in the category,” said White, “and after Barbagallo I’m in the top 10 in the championship.

The series already boasts a few well-credentialed drivers, including Grant Denyer, Paul Stokell and Neil McFadyen who constantly battle out race wins.

“The MINI Challenge presents to any competitor an awesome opportunity to showcase their ability to the crowd and to the people within motorsport,” said White.

“From a purest point of view I’d love to have a rearwheel-drive car, but if you can get around that, and push it out of your head they’re actually a jet to drive.”

White is yet to secure a full-time drive, but it now looks likely that we will see him in the remainder of the series.

“Any race driver who’s not employed full-time is always out there to drive something, so the focus now is on securing a drive in the MINI Challenge for the rest of the season.”

– PHILLIP MAHONEY

AGT/AMAC team up AUSTRALIAN GT

Dirk Klynsmith

16

THE Australian GT Championship and the Aston Martin Asia Cup have formed an alliance that will see drivers compete in the new one-make Aston Martin series.

In addition, the relationship will also see some drivers coming to Australian to race in Australian GT. With the first round of the Aston Martin Asia Cup kicking of in Shanghai next weekend, the Australian GT Championship will be represented by Mark Eddy and Marc Cini.

Australian GT competitor Aston Martin’s will carry the Australian GT Championship

logo as part of the agreement.

Drivers in the series will pilot identical Aston Martin V8 Vantage N24s when it all gets underway in China.

“The Aston Martin Asia Cup (AMAC) is very pleased to have formed an alliance with the Australian GT Championship and welcomes Melbourne Grand Prix round winner Mark Eddy and Marc Cini to the opening race in Shanghai,” said AMAC Series Director Ian Geekie.

“We are very excited to be involved with the GT Championship and look forward to working with the AGTSG to look at the possibility of bringing some cars and drivers over to compete in Australian events”

news

John Morris/Mpix

Gore future in doubt FORMULA FORD TAYLOR Gore’s immediate future in the Genuine Ford Parts Australian Formula Ford Championship is in doubt following the collapse of one of his major backers.

As a result the youngster has limited finances for the remainder of the year, and may not even make the next round at Sandown unless a new sponsor comes on board.

“We’re not too sure about Sandown. We’ve

got one sponsor who is umming ahhing about it at the moment, but at this stage I’d have to say Sandown is a no.

“We’ve been talking to some people around the Geelong region about coming on board, and we need that to keep racing.

“And I don’t want to stop racing, so I really hope we can find a new sponsor.”

Gore has been racing for Minda Motorsport as part of the Britek Motorsport Scholarship.

– ANDREW VAN LEEUWEN

Spectrum has an Aussie rival Listec moves from state level to AFFC ... and they are ready to take on the big boys FORMULA FORD A NEW Australian chassis will make its debut at the third round of the Genuine Ford Parts Australian Formula Ford Championship at Sandown.

Glenn Welch and Team Sydney will make the first National Series outing for the Listec chassis, which has, up until now, been running in ‘Kent’ configuration in the NSW Formula Ford 1600 Championship.

While the Sandown debut is not set in stone, should the all-new car be completed in time, it will be on-track.

“We’re very, very hopeful that we’ll be at Sandown,” Welch told eNews.

“It just depends on whether or not we finish the car, because when you’re building a car from scratch, it takes so long to get it right.”

While the build and development is a long process, Welch says it is also an

enjoyable one.

“It’s a lot of fun to be involved in building a car from scratch. I’ve learnt a lot about the engineering side of a racing car, and that’s good because usually when you’re a driver you just get in and drive.”

Welch added that expectations for Sandown will depend on how much preevent testing the Listec gets.

“It all depends on track time,” he said, “but we’d like to be in the top few.”

Welch and the Listec will run the remainder of the series after Sandown, and is likely to expand into a twocar operation at a later date, when appropriate development has been done on the first example.

– ANDREW VAN LEEUWEN

17

Watch out, here comes Lines SPRINTCARS

And the title goes to ... WA FORMULA SAE

THE University of Western Australia has won the World Championships for Formula SAE. The world finals were held in Detroit, USA, and featured 122 Universities from around the world. But the cream of the crop was UWA, who staved off mid-event challenges from Dutch college Delft University to take the title.

In the end it was UWA from the Technical University of Munich, University of Stuttgart, and 2007 winners University of Wisconsin.

Melbourne’s RMIT finished fifth, their sicth-consectutive top five finish.

UWA also won the Arvin Meritor Award for the integration of the Kinetic suspension system, as well as the Honda Award for Outstanding Dynamic Performance.

18

Geoff Gracie

SOUTH Australian Steve Lines will compete in his first American Sprintcar racing trip at the end of next month.

Lines will drive for well-known car owner Jeff McCall in one of his 360-engined J&J Sprintcars.

Based out of the JSM Enterprises, which is owned by McCall, in Cherryville, NC, Lines will start his trip in late June and wrap up at in early October.

The 23-year-old will compete in a total of 24 race meetings throughout nine American states.

The highlight race meeting for Lines will be in early August when he will compete at Knoxville Raceway for the running of the 2008 Knoxville ‘360’ Nationals.

The Mount Gambian is very exciting about his maiden American trip.

“This is a wonderful opportunity to give me some more racing experience, and I’m looking to grab it [the opportunity] with both hands,” he said.

“The main aim is to just learn as much as possible, and I haven’t set any goals, I just want to go out and there and see how things go.”

19

5 Minutes with ...

CODY CROCKER

He’s still the form man in the Asia-Pacific Rally Championship, and has some good ideas for the ARC ANDREW VAN LEEUWEN too. Cody Crocker tells all ...

How could the ARC be promoted better then?

I think the key is marketing.

It’s a very promotable sport; the biggest obstacle is getting people out into the forests to go and watch.

But if you look at Europe and how popular the sport is there, it can work. I’m probably not the best person to talk to because I’m not a marketing person, but I’m sure there are marketing people out there who have plenty of ideas to get the sport to level it needs to be.

Just to be able to sustain itself.

So is there a call for joint Australian and New Zealand rounds then? Should there be more correlation between the two championships to make them both stronger?

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Joel Strinckland

MOTORSPORT NEWS: There is some talk there might be a trans-Tasman challenge for the alternate years that the WRC isn’t in town for Australia and New Zealand. Do you see this is a positive idea?

CODY CROCKER: I guess so. If you can’t, for whatever reason, have the WRC round, you need something to promote the sport at a high level, an event that can be promoted internationally.

And it would seem that Australia isn’t able to afford a high-level championship.

The ARC is pretty dismal at the moment. There are some strong competitors, but a couple of strong competitors doesn’t make a strong championship.

Maybe an international-type championship may help, but promotion is the key.

Yeah, but there needs to be cooperation between the two to make sure it actually happens. We had a transTasman challenge before and it wasn’t promoted. It has to be simple.

What about Repco signing on for both WRC events … as one of our top rally drivers, do you see that as a positive thing?

Absolutely. Sponsors are very valuable in this sport, so we need to be able to give them value as well, give them value in what they are spending so it can become a great thing.

Do you think you’ll be in a position to compete in both Repco events when they come around?

I don’t know. It’s very hard to know, and it all comes down to sponsorship.

I’d love to be able to, but my focus is on the Asia-pacific championship. Although I’d love to do more events, but it’s hard, especially with Subaru’s position on rallying in Australia.

Speaking of Subaru’s position, and coming back to the trans-Tasman idea, would

that reinvigorate Subaru’s involvement in rallying here, do you think?

It’s very possible, and I’d like to see that happen. If that was the outcome, it would be fantastic.

If it can be promoted properly, it could attract all sorts of manufacturers, not just Subaru Australia.

Back to the APRC, you had a great run in Canberra. You must be pleased with how that is ticking along at the moment.

Canberra was awesome. We hadn’t been in the car for nearly six months, so it was great to jump back in and be on the pace.

We had a great fight, but that’s a bit of a worry, because normally we’ve got it pretty easy.

Do you see that depth as a good thing?

It seems that the APRC is definitely growing, which is good for everyone.

There’s always going to be trouble, and everyone runs into trouble at some point. And what happened last year was that events were thinned out

if one or two competitors had trouble. It became a whitewash.

Now, you’ve always got someone coming back at you, and that’s a great thing for the championship.

You’re still running one of the old Subarus at this point …

Yeah, until we develop the new one to at least the point we are at with the old one we will. And there are theories suggesting we will get to that point, but it’s down to time to test the car and get it how we want to. We have to go and do the testing and then design our shocks and diff settings and that sort of thing based on that testing.

And then we have to go and do more tests. So it’s a long timeframe.

We’ve got everything in place to do it; it’s about getting it all to happen.

So there’s no set competitive debut yet?

No, it won’t be until we are happy with the car. We won’t confirm a date and then run it then because we said we would. We’ll wait and run it when it is the best car we can make it.

chat

Joel Strinckland

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The Biggest Spectacles in Mot opinion Phil Branagan eNews Executive Editor ONCE upon a time, there was nothing to watch on television. Then, Kyle and Jackie O took over Big Brother.

Okay, I am being a tad facetious. There is lots to watch on television and this weekend is the blockbuster weekend of the year. It is a combination of

NASCAR, IndyCar and Formula 1 and, with a bit of luck, it is going to be a great weekend to be an Aussie.

First up, Nationwide at Lowe’s. Look, I know that Marcos Ambrose is like the man with the wheelbarrow at the moment (ie, the job is in front of him) but the racing in the second-tier NASCAR series is brilliant to watch. The coverage is first-rate and while Marcos might not win the race

(okay, he definitely is not going to win the race) that applies to pretty much anyone else not inside a Gibbs Toyota at the moment. But the interest is in, which JGR car, and how it will unfold.

Next, Monaco. Every year we hope that Mark Webber will break through in the Principality and most years, something happens to whatever car he is in. But, the facts are these; ths year’s Red

Bull is a good thing (ie, it does not blow up) and the lad from Quenbeyan is something special on a street circuit.

So, there is good reason for optimism.

Next, the Indy 500. Two Aussies this time, or 2.5 if we claim Scott Dixon as one of our (he was born in Queensland).

A win is a big ask, that race can break a million hearts but, with a little fortune, it could be a breakthrough weekend

Letters

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

Speeding I have just read Rusty’s comments regarding Pit Lane Speeding.

I am inclined to agree that its time to address these infringements with all data available after the race.

It would also allow a more consistent 30s penalty rather than a variable (depending on the track) and more sever sentence of a drive-through.

The indication of the

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offence could be given as it is now with the option to appeal the decision after the race.

This would have the added advantage of putting pressure on others to close gaps rather than cruise on home.

No one would suggest that speeding is condoned but the penalty does appear harsh in shorter sprint races.

Jim Becus email address withheld

V8 Touring V8 drivers should be able to drive in the development series.

I think that it would add a bit more depth into the category.

But I do have one objection and that is that it takes up seats to the up and coming stars. I think that instead of the main series guys driving in the development series that they should drive in the new V8touring category.

I think that it would be

great to see the stars in their former cars. It would be awesome to see Mark Skaife or Greg Murphy driving an old Commodore or Steve Johnson, Richo or even Seto driving an old Falcon. The category should become a support to the V8s. You would have the current cars, Fujitsu series cars and the cars of yesteryear on the same weekend.

Mark Piccoli email address withheld

opinion

torsport for either Ryan Briscoe or Will Power. Both excellent drivers and good blokes to boot, and teams at the peak of their powers. On the other hand, an Andretti win would be something to savour, a million dancing fans want Helio Castronves to waltz away with it and there are three ladies on the grid. Plenty to savour.

Finally, the 600 from Charlotte. I have been absolutely knocked over to the reaction to Network 10’s NASCAR coverage this season.

Even if the particular ratings have not been gigantic, people are following the sport more closely than ever and we can only hope that 10 shows as many Sprint Cup rounds as they can in 2009 (hint). I was fortunate enough to be at the race a year ago and the emotion of a packed superspeedway will stay with me for a long time.

NASCAR is addictive, it has a growing following here and the race is always a cracker. It is going to be a bunch of tired eNews staffers who stagger into the office next Monday …

eLETTER OF THE WEEK It’s a Keeper Having read eNews for the past couple of weeks it is interesting to read the street versus circuit debate.

I went to Hamilton and really enjoyed the atmosphere and racing.

However, passing was limited which is sometimes a feature of street races, as drivers don’t take the normal risks.

Having watched all of the racing at Perth on TV, I would have to say it is a great track because of the

passing opportunities and tyre wear issues that allows guys with fresh tyres to drive through the field effectively creating great racing.

Keep the circuit and make it compulsory to drive over the kerb at turn three. I saw a shot of Van Gizza way up on two wheels!

That has got to be one of the best corners on the V8 calendar when driven like that.

Mark New Zealand

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

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SHANNONS NATIONALS ROUND 3 – MALLALA MOTORSPORT PARK

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race

One-two, two-one

Tander and Caratti shared the wins at Mallala as the Formula 3 title tightened up ...

Dirk Klynsmith

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Dirk Klynsmith

FORMULA 3

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Phil Williams

LEANNE Tander and Nathan Caratti have became the first double-race winners of the 2008 Kumho Tyres Australian Formula 3 Championship after braving the weather – and each other – at Mallala at the weekend.

The pair raced nose-to-tail for the entire first race and some of the second, though with the positions reversed, in an unpredictable round of the Gold Star.

After taking pole in wet conditions, Tander led Race 1 from the outset and, though Caratti followed closely, was never truly troubled to record her second win of the season – eliminating some of her 27 point championship deficit in the process.

Caratti, as a sign of things to come, set fastest lap in Race 1 before taking a lightsto-flag win in Race 2.

Caratti won by over a second with Tander leaping to second place (and setting the race’s fastest lap) after passing both Neil McFadyen and Nick Percat during the race after a slow start.

Percat continued his run of impressive Formula 3 performances and finished his weekend with third and fourth in the championship class results.

Slip, slidin’: Ash Samadi had this wild spin in the fickle SA conditions, while Caratti, above, led hime Tander in Race 2.

McFadyen scored a solid haul, while former series leader James Winslow went into damage control to salvage points after a horrible run in qualifying and practice.

Winslow could do no better than 11th and ninth in qualifying and salvaged 10th in Race 1 after stalling at the start. Fifth in Race 2 continued his strong championship charge.

The cat amongst the race-leading pigeons was F3 returnee Karl Reindler, who mixed it with the championship class contenders in his National classspecification Dallara F304.

Reindler qualified third for Race 1 – taking advantage of the performanceequalling conditions offered by the rain in Qualifying 1 – before going on to finish third outright in the race. Reindler also won his class in the second race and only missed out on a perfect round score after missing the races’ fastest lap.

Andrew Mill and Jesse Wakeman split Trophy class honours.

– RICHARD CRAILL Points: Caratti 93, McFadyen 89, Winslow 86, Tander 85, Sofi 47.

race

SHANNONS NATIONALS LUKE Youlden made an immediate impression in the Kerrick Australian Sports Sedan Series in Round 3 of the Shannons Nationals at Mallala Motorsport Park last weekend.

In his first Australian hitout aboard a Trans Am Ford Mustang he has raced in New Zealand in recent years, Youlden, above, took out Race 1 and the Clem Smith Cup Race 2.

He was also on-track to win in the final race, before making an error at Turn 3 and dropping to fourth. The primary benefactor was Tony Ricciardello, who was on the

recovery trail after missing Race 1 due to mechanical woes and failing to finish Race 2.

The West Aussie set a new lap record en route to the win, leading home Hossack – who also missed Race 1 – and Youlden, who won the round.

“We weren’t sure how the car would fare against the established guys when we brought it over from New Zealand, but it’s been a perfect weekend,” Youlden said.

“Two race wins and a round win is a great start to the series, I’m looking forward to the rest of the year.”

Round 2 of the Tankworld

Australian Supertruck Nationals saw Steve Zammit take the overall honours, after winning two of the four races and finishing second in the Superprix.

John Falk struck mechanical problems late in the Superprix which ended his shot at the round victory, while a consistent Bob Middleton maintains his points lead.

Ironfarmers HQ race wins were split between Gavin Porteous and Keven Stoopman, who won the one-hour night race on Saturday after Porteous was struck down with technical problems on the penultimate lap.

Phil Williams

Immediate impression

Paul Morris again raced in the class after a cameo at the Bathurst Motor Festival, but had a tough weekend including engine problems.

Seventh place in Race One was his best result.

Mallala saw the debut of the new Shannons V8 Touring Car Series and Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge, with positive signs from each category.

Adam Wallis (VX Commodore) took out the inaugural V8 round win, with Graeme Cook clean-sweeping the Porsche races.

The Shannons Nationals continues at Phillip Island on 14-15 June.

Marshall Cass

Phil Williams

Successful debut: The new Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge category kicked off at Mallala with much promise. Graeme Cook, above left, took the win, whil ethe HQs, above right, were upt o their old tricks.

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AUSTRALIAN MOTOR RACING CHAMPIONSHIPS ROUND 3, QUEENSLAND RACEWAY

Setting Sail

Darren Saillard was too good in the Touring Car Championship at the latest round of the AMRC at Queensland Raceway. MARK JONES reports 28

race

James Smith

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AMRC THE Australian Motor Racing Championship made the first of two stops in Queensland at Queensland Raceway.

While just 39 series cars attended, 21 Queensland Improved Production Cars made up for the numbers with some fantastic racing.

Darren Saillard (Ford Falcon BA) won the Touring Car Championship round but was surprised by veteran Queenslander Rod Dawson (Ford Falcon AU) making his first appearance in the series.

Dawson won the first race of the day, resisting pressure until Saillard spun. Saillard reversed

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the trend in the remaining races, with Dawson slowing to conserve fuel in Race 3’s longer race. Darren Formasa was third all weekend, suffering fuel pressure problems, which began with a broken fuel rail and continued with running repairs. John English (Mitsubishi Magna) had brake problems all weekend but picked up fourth for the round after a misfire ended the entertaining run of Robbie Bolger in his Monaro Drift racer.

Thundersports saw Chris Clearihan win the weekend on a count back after tying for points with Robert Free. The pair, along with

Rodney Barnes, staged some spectacular battles, while problems struck the rest of the pack. After winning the first race. Jade Barnes faded as the races continued, with engine dramas ending his third race. Kerran Del-Maso lost control under brakes on the opening lap of the third race and crashed through the pack backwards.

Super TT and Production Touring raced together with Stephen Anslow (Mazda RX7) winning Super TT from Gary Carson (Falcon Ute) and Todd Betland (Falcon EA).

The WBR Subaru Imprezas of Lee Castle and Brian Smallwood dominated

production Touring, with a final race tyre failure to Castle giving Smallwood the round.

Hans Riehs (MINI) completed the podium after Jeremy Gray's (Falcon XR8) engine died on the back straight.

John Teulan (Ferrari F430) motored steadily to victory in the Gran Turismo Championship ahead of Roger Lago (Porsche 997 GT3) with Rod Wilson (Maserati Trofeo) picking up third after Kevin Miller spun his Ferrari F430.

David Skillender’s V8 Supercar-powered VH Commodore won Improved Production from Justin Wade (BMW M3) and Graeme Wilkinson (Ford Escort).

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James Smith James Smith

James Smith

It’s like a game: John Teulan, left, dominated Gran Turismo ahead of Roger lago, while Brian Smallwood, top, took out Production Touring in a close round. Hans Riehs attempted to get his MINI off the ground, above, and finished third in Production Touring.

Queenslander Rod Dawson, below, gave Saillard a run, but just missed out, finishing second in the Touring Cars.

James Smith

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NASCAR SPRINT CUP ALL STAR RACE – CHARLOTTE, NC

After finishing only fifth in the heat race, Kasey Kahne needed the votes of his fans to make the $1m race. They voted him in, he started last – and you can guess the rest ...

THAT’S WHAT FRIE 32

NASCAR Media

ENDS ARE FOR

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IT’S nice to be important – but it’s important to be nice.

Kasey Kahne is one of the most popular drivers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and, after finishing fifth in the Sprint Showdown ‘qualifying’ race at Charlotte, the Dodge driver was out of the All-Star race – unless he was voted in by the fans.

And that is exactly what happened. Fans voted on the internet, by phone and in Sprint stores, and Kahne made it into the field, starting 24th. The Gillett Evernham Motorsports team ran the #9 Charger on used tyres, skipped a tyre change at the final stop and held on to win.

Just like that, Kahne was $1m richer.

“I would have loved to have raced my way in, but we have great fans, and it’s cool they voted for us and got us in the race,” Kahne said.

“We need all the fan support we can have. They’ve stuck behind us. I was going to head home, drink a couple of Budweisers and watch the All-Star race.

“The car was mediocre in that open [Showdown], but we just kept fighting. I just can’t believe we won a million dollars. [Crew Chief ] Kenny [Francis] made the right call – no tyres at the end.

I didn’t think we needed them, either.”

It was looking like Denny Hamlin was going to win the race and, when his Gibbs Toyota took the lead on the lap 76 restart, another JGR win looked to be on the cards. But when the

Camry lost an engine on lap 86, Kahne was back in the lead for good.

Greg Biffle took up the chase but the Ford came up short, while Matt Kenseth and Jimmie Johnson were next.

“I could have forced the issue,” Biffle said, referring to getting alongside Kahne just after he regained the lead.

“I had one opportunity, and he kind of closed the door on me a little bit, and I figured, ‘No sense pressing it right now – I’ve got plenty of laps to go.’

“Then it just got tighter and tighter as it went, and I never got a chance to get back at him again.”

Dale Earnhardt Jr led during the race, which is ‘cut’ into four 25-lap dashes but his Hendrick Chev came up short. He will be looking for more in this Sunday’s 600-miler ...

NASCAR Media NASCAR Media

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NASCAR Media

Junior and Junior: Dale Earnhardt Jr led the All-Star race but in the final segment, his Hendrick Chevrolet was not fast enough to challenge for the win.

Here he races former DEI teammate Martin Truex Jr. Earnhardt finished eight, Truex 16th.

Kyle Busch, below, dominated qualifying and looked to have the race in his grasp until his Toyota dropped a cylinder.

NASCAR Media

NASCAR Media

More Toyotas: The NASCAR Sprint Pit Crew Challenge final saw Brian Vickers’s Red Bull Toyota crew beat the JGR FedEx Toyota crew of Denny Hamlin by 0.109 seconds. Dale Jarrett, below with Michael Waltrip, finished his last All-Star race in 21st.

AJ breaks through they were already safely into the All-Star race.

“I felt like I won the Daytona 500,” said Allmendinger.

“Nobody understands what this means to me after what we’ve been through.

“I’ve got to thank Sam Hornish. He was faster than me at the end, but he raced me clean, knowing we were both in.”

It’s early days yet for the man at Red Bull Racing, who was replaced by Mike Skinner earlier in the season after failing to make three straight races. But there are signs that AJ can yet make the grade with the Good Ol’ Boys …

Martin D Clark

THERE were some who wondered whether AJ Allmendinger was going to be staying in NASCAR. The former Champ Car star has had a rough time since joining the Stock Car circus in 2007, and with plenty of young and American talent at the front of the field, AJ was starting to look like a man who made a bad career choice.

But all that changed in the 40-lap Sprint Showdown.

Allmendinger won the race from fellow open-wheel refugee Sam Hornish Jr, with most of the star drivers following well aware that

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WTCC

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Huffing and Puffing

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ROUNDS 6 and 7 of the World Touring Car Championship were dominated by Chevrolet team-mates Robb Huff and Alain Menu, who shared the wins in Valencia.

Race 1 saw Huff lead home a gaggle of SEATs in Gabriele Tarquini, Jordi Gene and Yvan Muller.

By taking the first race for the weekend, Huff grabbed his and Chevrolet’s first WTCC win after he started down in fourth position.

“It was a very good weekend for me,” said Huff. “Eighteen points for the championship.

I could not have dreamt of a better result.”

After SEAT’s domination last time out, it was a surprise to many to see Huff pass and pull away from the diesel cars late in the race.

With Race 2 seeing a reverse grid format of the top eight drivers, Alex Zanardi and Menu ended Race 1 with a spirited battle for eighth place, and the pole for the second feature, with Menu winning out.

From pole Menu was able

to hold of his hard-charging team-mate Huff to take the win in Race 2, completing a dominating win by Chevrolet.

“It was a good weekend for Chevrolet,” said Menu.

“Two race wins today was a great result for the team and I hope it will continue like this.”

The Chevy duo led home the BMWs of Andy Priaulx and Jorg Muller after continued pressure

throughout the race.

Tarquini now leads the championship from Muller as the championship heads to Pau in France on June 1.

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Chevrolet shines at Monza FIA GT

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IT was a good day in Monza for Chevrolet as Christophe Bouchut and Xavier Maassen took their C6R to victory in Round 2 of the FIA GT championship.

After a predominantly a wet weekend last time out at Silverstone, Monza offered dry race conditions ensuring some good racing, although practice was wet.

Last round winners Karl Wendlinger and Ryan Sharp finished down in seventh position in their Aston Martin and now trail Bouchut/Maassen in the championship.

Miguel Ramos and Alexandre Negrao finished second for Maserati, 24 seconds down on the leaders. Allan Simonsen and Phillipp Peter finished third to consolidate their third placing from Silverstone. The pair now sits comfortably in the title race

A day in the sun: Christophe Bouchat and Xavier Maassen took out Round 2 of FIA GT at Monza, above, while, Allan Simonsen and team mate Phillipp Peter, main, took home third to stay in championship contention. in equal second overall.

In GT2 Richard Westbrook and Emmanuel Collard finished first for Porsche ahead of two Ferrari 430 GT2 cars. However due to a pit lane refueling

infringement they where excluded and the win was inherited by Silverstone winners Toni Vilander and Gianmaria Bruni.

The championship will remain in Italy for Round 3 at Adria on June 21.

A first time for everything DTM

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winners and Scheider leads the championship after some consistent results. Di Resta and Jamie Green are still in the hunt, second and third respectively in the championship standings.

In just his fourth DTM race, Ralf Schumacher continues to struggle and finished 13th just ahead of Christijan Albers.

The next round of the championship will be at Norisring in Germany on June 29.

Mixing it up: Paul di Resta, above, became the fourth different winner in DTM this season, while, Mattis Ekstrom, below finished third for Audi as the marque rounded out the remaining podium spots.

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PAUL di Resta has claimed his maiden DTM victory in Lausitz last weekend.

In a weekend of firsts, the 22-year-old Mercedes-Benz driver also claimed his maiden pole position and set a new lap record on his way to victory.

“I am really happy and I cordially thank my team for a great job throughout the weekend and for a perfect car,” said di Resta.

“Our pit stops were great.

The race was not as easy as it might have looked like; I had to stay focused and another Safety Car period would have destroyed my advantage. After second place in Mugello and my victory here I hope this will continue.”

Timo Scheider finished second for Audi, while Mattis Ekstrom took the final podium spot for Audi.

With four races down in the championship there have been four different

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Penske 1-2 in fine desert battle ALMS

TIMO Bernhard and Romain Dumas have taken victory in the latest round of the American Le Mans Series at the Utah Grand Prix last weekend.

The Penske Porsche pilots finished 22s clear of Patrick Long and Sascha Maassen in the second Penske Porsche entry.

“The key to the victory was the race strategy,” Bernhard said.

“They brought me in during the second yellow and put me out of sequence, so I had a clear run to the end.”

The pair took their first win since the Sebring 12-hour

earlier this year.

Gil de Ferran and Simon Pagenaud finished third in the de Ferran entry, almost 30s back.

Australian David Brabham finished down in 24th position in a disappointing outing in his Acura.

Marco Werner and Lucas Luhr won LMP1, but finished well down in seventh overall.

Australian Tom Drewer continued his good form in the US taking out both races in the IMSA Lites L2 category, setting new lap records in the process.

Drewer has now won all four races this season and is well clear in the championship.

The next round of the ALMS will be at Lime Rock on July 12.

VICTORIAN STATE SERIES ROUND 2 of the Victorian State Circuit Racing Championship was held at Phillip Island last weekend in trying conditions.

A dominant Ben Small won both Formula Ford races comfortably after Race 1 was cancelled due to several incidents.

Small steered clear of the carnage behind as Nicki Templer and Gerald McLeod came together at Turn 1, bringing out the red flag just after the Safety Car had pulled in for an earlier incident and the event was declared a no-race.

Mort Fitzgerald dominated the MG class by winning all three races, even though he

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started from the rear of the grid in Race 1.

Historic Touring Cars and Saloon Cars raced in a split-grid format where Gary Edwards came from behind to win in the wet in his Holden Torana. While Ryan Millier blitzed the Saloon Car field. Edwards went on to win Race 3 of the Historics, while Robert Braune (Valient Charger) won Race 2.

Corey Ludeman (Falcon) and Simon Tabinor won the other Saloon races.

There were three different winners in Sports Sedans, with Ian Rice (Commodore) winning Race 1, Charles Talbot (Commodore) Race 2 and Rod Smith (Falcon) the final.

In Porsche 944s Robert Lange dominated

Robert Lang

Small on a large charge

the first two races, but spun of the track in the final as John Morris picked up victory.

David Frith (Sabre) won the Formula Vee round from Daniel Reinhardt (Sabre) and Kieran Glover (Jacer). Steven Lloyd (Commodore) won both dry races in Improved Production, while Cam McKinnon (Datsun 1600) dominated in the wet conditions in Race 1.

In Sports Cars Ross Lilley (Lamborghini Gallardo) secured victory in the opening two races. Ian Palmer won Race 3 in his Lamborghini Gallardo. Superkarts also competed with Stephen Castle winning the final from Rod Prickett and James Sera.

– AARON SHAW

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Italian Double for Perez

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BRITISH F3 ROUNDS 5 and 6 of the British Formula 3 International Championship were completed last weekend at Monza.

Australians John Martin and Sam Abay were both present and had some mixed results in both races.

Martin finished 15th and eighth in the two races, while his countryman Abay was consistent with sixth and 10th place

finishes to his name.

After his result in Race 1, things looked good for Abay, however starting mid-pack he was caught up in a first lap incident which dropped him to last. Abay managed to claw his way up to 10th position by the end of the race in a great comeback.

“We didn’t qualify well for this weekend’s second race,” said Abay.

“When that happens you run the risk of getting caught in someone else’s accident

at the start.

“Nevertheless we’ll take away the positives and look forward to next weekend’s event at Rockingham.”

Championship leader Sergio Perez took both race wins for the weekend. The second coming from well down the grid in a sterling drive.

Perez extends his championship lead heading into the next round at Rockingham next weekend.

Cousins dominate at Thruxton FORMULA RENAULT UK

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COUSINS Adam Christodoulou and Riki Christodoulou have dominated Rounds 7 and 8 of the Formula Renault UK Championship at Thruxton on May 18.

Adam cleaned up in the first race leading home Riki, however Race 2 saw the tables turned as Riki took the win, while his cousin languished

down the order.

Aussie Josh Scott had a good first race finishing ninth, and he backed that up with a second place in Race 2.

Scott qualified seventh for the second race, and fought his way through the pack to take the second step on the podium.

The championship now has a two week break before heading to Croft on June 1.

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rear of grid

Wet, encouraging debut FANS of everything Porsche now have a new series were well catered at Mallala Motorsport Park last weekend.

The Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge is the latest addition to the Shannons Nationals card and made an impressive debut.

Identifying a hole in the marketplace, existing competitors Sven Burchartz and John Trende and series’ administrator Jodie Zylstra have put the pieces in place over the last two months to form a series that caters for Porsche competitors from all walks of life.

The Porsche 996 GT3 Cup Car is the series’s parity benchmark with the respective classes within the series having parity

formed on a power-to-weight basis.

Thirteen cars, including eight 996 Carrera Cup examples, contested the Mallala round with series administrators tipping that the strong feedback from the competitors should boost fields for the second round at Phillip Island in August – and for future rounds this season and beyond. ”We’ve started with 13, but I believe that we’ll have 20-plus from here on in,” Zylstra said.

“To get here there has been a lot of hard work, late nights and ringing around, but once you have a goal and a dream and can stick to that you’ve got a future and things come

into fruition. ”Some of the local guys that were only planning to run here (at Mallala) have indicated that they will be coming to join us for the remainder of the year, or at least at Phillip Island, because they have enjoyed themselves so much.”

Burchartz, who finished second overall in the opening round, said he believed that the series would cater to a wide variety of competitors – all seeking a similar racing experience. ”This series is for guys who didn’t want to do club/super sprints any more but wanted to step up to a national series without the expenses and associated items associated

with a professional-level championship,” he said. ”I’m stoked with how this round has gone. The fact we’ve had 13 turn up here is great.

The driving standard has been terrific and the guys have an understanding that while the ‘Tin Cup’ is nice to have, you don’t want to have a smashed car.”

The Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge will contest three further rounds of the Shannons series this season, including a ‘double header’ round at Oran Park in August that will see the series share the track with the Victorian Porsche 944 challenge in a grid that could reach 40 cars.

– RICHARD CRAILL

Dirk Klynsmith

Odd Spot ONLY in NASCAR, or only in motor sport?

Phillip Pruzensky thought that the best way to ask Janice Scarfe of Orange County, California to marry him was to plaster some stickers on the back of Carl Edwards’s, #99 Office Depot Ford during the 2008 NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race at Lowe’s Motor Speedway.

Well, it worked, she said yes! Good work, guys.

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