The world of motorsport every week – directly to your desktop
Issue No. 066 4 –11 August 2008
THE CLOCK is TICKing
Homebush looks good as September deadline looms
, S W E N GOOD S W E N D BA Indy 300 confirmed for 2008, but ...
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
Production Graphic Design & Web: Jayne Uthmeyer design@mnews.com.au
Advertising National Sales Manager: Oriana Kennedy oriana@mnews.com.au P 03 9596 5555 F 03 9596 5030
Administration 357 Nepean Highway, Brighton East, VIC, 3187 (PO Box 7072, Brighton, VIC, 3186) P 03 9596 5555 F 03 9596 5030 admin@mnews.com.au
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. 066 | 05 - 11 Aug 2008
news 4 (Home)bush Series
Deadline looms on SYD race 6 Good news, bad news 2008 is go, 2009 is ... 9 Rating Rubber Teams to test new tyre 11 It’s a new car! Garry’s gets a newby 12 Devil and Fellows Bad luck for Ambrose 15 Hynes means Biz Marc and the gang are here
chat 20 5 minutes with ... opinion 22 Branagan race 24 Triple Great 30 Owen not Slowen 34 Baxter’s Back! 38 Backflippery 42 Kiyo-to agreement
Jonathon Webb Speaking American Tander wins three-way Another FV8 win for Steve Ute action from Winton Edwards wins in Poconno Brands and Bikes
trade 46 Classifieds
welcome Ingall’s got an important engagement at home ... very important!
International photos supplied by Sutton Images, www.sutton-images.com – click here to check out their exclusive poster deals
Homebush: 2009 Date Government appoints committee: we’ll know by September
V8 SUPERCARS ANOTHER step towards a V8 Supercar race at Homebush has been taken by the New South Wales government – but the deadline for a decision about a 2009 event may be only weeks away. Premier Morris Iemma confirmed last week that his government was behind the concept of the race and appointed a committee to evaluate the proposition and execution of the event. But V8 Supercars Australia CEO Wayne Cattach
said at the weekend that details as to exactly what the committee would report on, and when, was not clear. “We have not seen the terms of reference of that committee,” he said. “We are aware of the people who are being proposed to be appointed to it. But at this stage, we cannot comment too much. We don’t have too much information.” The government committee does not have representation from V8SA and Cattach said that the latest that a 2009
event could be given the green light was “probably September.” “It has to report fairly summarily because we are in the processes of getting our calendar finalised for next year and that process includes submission to the FIA,” he said. “But there will be additional charges that will apply, in nominating an event after the calendar has been submitted. So we would, probably, submit a similar date at another venue.” While Cattach would not say what that
FOR FORMULA 1, MOTOGP AND WRC NEWS, OPINION AND ANALYSIS CLICK HERE TO
news
Imminent
V8 SUPERCARS
Dirk Klynsmith
that Singapore’s position in the international tourism arena has lost ground to the Middle East – where motorsport, including Bahrain’s V8 round – is growing at a rapid rate. The Singapore bid revolves around a new, purpose-built track close to the Changi Airport. The 20ha seafront facility is expected to include a track between 2.8 and 3.5km, which would host three international events a year. – PHIL BRANAGAN
John Morris/ Mpix
venue would be, he did confirm that there was a “fallback position”; “I am not at liberty to tell you what that is but, at a point that it may be appropriate, we may have to resort to Plan B.” Already, the government and V8SA have agreed on a cost ‘cap’ that, should there be an increase in the costs of hosting the event, would see V8SA bear the increased costs. V8 Supercars Events would promote the round, which would include a major concert and entertainment element. – PHIL BRANAGAN
V8SA Chairman Tony Cochrane and Events boss Shane Howard missed the Winton round of the series because of commitments in Asia. The pair flew to Singapore on Sunday for the latest discussions about hosting a round of the series on the island nation from 2010. This follows the recent visit to the Sandown round by a delegation from the city state. Recent reports suggest
sutton-images.com
... and Singapore could be next
O ACCESS THE WORLD’S FIRST INTERNATIONAL ‘VIRTUAL’ MOTORSPORT MAGAZINE ...