HOMEBUSH: THE WINNER IS ... SYDNEY!
Issue No. 074 30 September – 6 October 2008
JAMES SHOCK
COUrtney’s DEAL ... but whICH TEAM?
AMBROSE’s new NASCAR make is ... who, how and why
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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
Australasian
The ‘A’ Team
Issue No. 074 | 30 Sept – 6 Oct 2008
news 4 James Beam
6 Sydney’s 400 8 Oh what a feeling! 16 Howard Towers 20 Rising Stars 22 News Feature
chat 24 5 minutes with ... opinion 26 Branagan 27 Lambden
race 28 NASCAR 32 Drags 36 Renault 38 Extras
Courtney’s shock switch Try time for Cochrane Ambrose to drive Toyotas Early 2009 Fujitsu signings CAMS drivers announced Commodore heaven Tony Cochrane A big day at 357 Nepean The Streets Winslow wins, LT smokes The final fling Ricciardo, Walsh and the clan Karts, bikes and states
trade 38 Classifieds We searched far and wide for a cover photo for this issue of eNews. Controversially, this one was overlooked ...
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Backflip! dified Digitally mo
Courtney leaves a certain drive with Ford Performance Racing to help take Dick Johnson Racing to the front of the field
FOR FORMULA 1, MOTOGP AND WRC NEWS, OPINION AND ANALYSIS CLICK HERE TO
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NOW: James is off to DJRs V8 SUPERCARS
JAMES Courtney will race a Dick Johnson Racing Ford next season. The 28-year-old Stone Brothers Racing driver turned the V8 Supercar driver market on its head late last week when his manager Alan Gow agreed a deal with DJR. He will race one of the team’s two Triple Eight Racing Engineering-built cars, which will be powered by in-house DJR engines. The move came at what we believe was, almost literally,
the last minute. Sources have told eNews that he had a deal “on the table” with Ford Performance Racing and Jim Morton, the principal of the Ford Rising Stars team. According to our sources, the Courtney-Morton-FPR arrangement was virtually a done deal, and that there had already been several ‘accommodations’ made to ensure that the project went ahead to the satisfaction of everyone. One Ford insider has described the news that there was no deal as “a
complete shock”. Our sources say that both Ford and FPR management were stunned when the news came through on Friday. No formal comment has been made. Ford Performance Racing manager Tim Edwards, who was in Sydney for the launch of the Homebush street race on Monday, gave no comment to eNews, and Dick Johnson Racing spokesman David Segal said that there was similarly nothing to add from the team. However, we believe that
there is a common will to have the situation out in the open very soon and there will be a media statement aired from either Ford, FPR, DJR or all three, as early as tomorrow. While the move has come as a shock, it will not be because it has been rushed. Courtney’s manager Gow was in Australia in March to discuss his options and, while FPR was thought to be the favoured destination for Courtney for some time, there were discussions with a number of teams through the ensuing six months.
NEXT: Who goes where? WHILE James Courtney’s future is clear, the million-dollar question now is, what happens to Jim Beam Racing? A potential pairing of Courtney and Will Davison – both race winners
in 2008 – in the two Johnson Fords would appear to be a formidable partnership. Courtney won in Queensland and Davison has scored two victories (at Eastern Creek and Winton) in cars that first saw the racetrack five years ago. But there is a question mark over what happens now. Davison, 26, has not signed a deal with the team for next season. “I can confirm that Will has options,” said David Segal, his manager, “but there is nothing signed for next season.” Providing that there are no ‘non-signed’ agreements in place, Davison would be a prime target for FPR-
Morton, which is now left without a driver. But the team’s backing to run Courtney may not be ‘transferable’ to another driver. The other side of the coin is that a Davison-Courtney pairing would put Steven Johnson on the market. While Davison has been doing the winning for DJR, Johnson Jr continues to be highlyrated by several teams in the paddock and he could be a good fit for FPR. Regardless of what the final makeup of DJR, a battle between one team that loses its Ford backing at the end of the season – with the man moving from one of Ford’s teams to the other – and a factory squad that feels like it has been burgled is bound to be a tasty one. Revenge is a strong motivator, and the battle between the Fords next season looks like being a cracker. – PHIL BRANAGAN
O ACCESS THE WORLD’S FIRST INTERNATIONAL ‘VIRTUAL’ MOTORSPORT MAGAZINE ...
ivef m 0 $3 n i t n nme ney 400 r e v o NSW gdeal for Syd year
! n o s ’ It
V8 SUPERCRRS V8 SUPERCARS has its Sydney street race. The first in a five-year contracted series of ‘Sydney 400’ races will provide the Grand Finale to the 2009 championship, on December 4-6, at Homebush. “Today is the most significant day in the 12 years of V8 Supercar racing,” quipped V8SA Chairman Tony Cochrane shortly after NSW Premier (of three weeks) Nathan Rees had confirmed his government’s intention to sign a five-year, $30 million dollar contract to provide the infrastructure and services for the event. The rest of the annual event costs, and thus the risk, will be borne by V8 Supercars Australia. Premier Rees confirmed that, while he would have preferred to finalise the contract completely within the context of the new State mini-budget now
being prepared by his government, time was an issue: “So, we have taken the decision now to be involved, and the final contract will be completed soon. If we had not taken this decision, the event would have been lost to Sydney.” Cochrane confirmed to MNews that “there was a Plan B”, but would not elaborate further. ‘Economic benefit’ figures of $30m per year, international media coverage, and 15,000 international/interstate visitors convinced the incoming premier to complete the process started by his predecessor Maurice Iemma. Indeed, MNews understands Iemma was due to announce the event just days after his unplanned, sudden resignation. Under some calendar time pressures from V8SA, the incoming premier’s administration had to make a quick
decision, and did so. Cochrane is conscious of the difficulties in cracking the Sydney sports market (indeed Homebush’s ANZ Stadium drew just 20,000 to an AFL final just a fortnight ago, admittedly on a rainy night), but believes that the full-on entertainment weekend – including Saturday night concert – will do the job. Event tickets will allow free travel for the weekend on Sydney’s public transport services. A handful of demonstrators, a couple extolling the virtues of Eastern Creek’s expansion plans, shouted their message during the outdoor presentation, but were otherwise restrained. Three trees for each of the 140 that will need to be removed, will be planted. For more, see 5 Minutes with Tony Cochrane, page 24
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John Morris/Mpix
Puzzle solved V8 SUPERCARS PERTH’S V8 Supercar race has moved to late Spring. As previously reported in eNews, that is the major shift in the 2009 V8 Supercar calendar, announced today at Homebush. Confirmation of the Sydney 400 has also allowed V8SA to reveal its full 2009 calendar, which will consist of the 14 rounds, as it
does this year. The major shift is the swapping of the Barbagallo and Symmons Plains dates, the Tasmania Challenge now taking place in May. With the addition of new events in Townsville and Sydney, and including the nonchampionship Albert Park support events, V8s will race on six street tracks and nine permanent tracks next season.
2009 V8 Supercar calendar Mar 19-22: Mar 26–29: Apr 17–19: May 1–3: May 29–31: Jun 19–21: Jul 10–12: Jul 31–Aug 2: Aug 21-23: Sept 11–13: Oct 8–11: Oct 22–25: Nov 5–7: Nov 20–22: Dec 4–6:
Clipsal 500, SA Australian Grand Prix, VIC Hamilton 400, NZ Winton Raceway, VIC Tasmania Challenge, Symmons Plains, TAS SKYCITY Challenge, Hidden Valley, NT Townsville 400, QLD Sandown, VIC Queensland Raceway, QLD L&H 500 Phillip Island, VIC Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 Nikon Indy 300, Surfers Paradise, QLD Gulf Air Desert 400, Bahrain Barbagallo, WA Sydney 400, Homebush, NSW
Oh what a feeling! Amb NASCAR MARCOS Ambrose will drive a Toyota next season. The Tasmanian will race a Camry in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in a complex partnership between JTG Daugherty Racing and Michael Waltrip Racing. MWR will prepare and crew the cars and JTGD will provide sponsorship – from current backers Little Debbie and Clorox – and Ambrose. Ambrose’s current Cup crew chief at JTGD, Frankie Kerr, is expected to move to maintain his role. Kerr, himself a former Sprint Car driver, has previously worked with MWR. The idea behind the agreement – which is not a merger – is that with JTGD having just two Cup cars built and Waltrip a complete stable and a larger more functioning operation in the Cup Series, it will make the team more likely to succeed straight off the bat in Daytona next February. It also better-places the team with a manufacturer. Both Ford and GM are in severe financial distress and neither JTGD nor Wood Bros gets substantial Ford backing. But Toyota provides its teams
with substantial backing and technology through its TRD division, and JTG co-owner Brad Daugherty has been visibly courting a better deal for his team. With Ambrose’s long-term personal Ford deal, which he carried to the US with him in 2006, not being continued this season, there were no restrictions on which brand he drove next season. A month ago, Daugherty was thought to be close to a deal with GM, to run a Chevy with technology from Richard Childress Racing. But the MWR/Toyota deal appears to be a better opportunity. The Aussie’s Nationwide Series plans are less clear. JTGD will continue to run a Nationwide team from its facility, which it shares with the Wood Bros team, in Harrisburg, North Carolina. The branding on that team will also switch from Ford to Toyota and it may see Ambrose run a limited, ‘shared’ program alongside Coleman Pressley, the son of former series stand out Robert. Long-time Ambrose backer Kingsford is expected to stay on board but the #59 Camry may run in different colours for Pressley Jr.
JTGD secures chassis deal with Waltrip’s Toyota team, turning Marcos Japanese!
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brose goes with Toyota Carolina facility (just west of Harrisburg, where JTGD is located) is being upgraded, and is expected TOYOTA and Michael Waltrip to run four Cup entries next season. Racing present a great In 2010 NASCAR will limit the opportunity for Marcos Ambrose. number of teams owned by any The team, which was in the midst organisation to four. For example, of a cheating controversy by last season, has reorganised in 2008 and Roush Fenway Racing will have to lose a car by that point, but teams bounced back hard. MWR recently such as Joe Gibbs Racing and MWR started fielding in-house built have room to expand to four. The chassis – as opposed to those built theory for a team owner is that from an outside source – which has seen a vast improvement in on-track it’s more cost effective to run four performance, with David Reutimann cars than three and if MWR can have three – or even all four of its and Waltrip running inside the top four teams running competitively – 10 in the last few races. sponsorship is easier to acquire. The reason has been that the Waltrip is to lose sponsor UPS team has capitalised. Apart from at the end of the year – probably the dual Daytona-winning owner/ to Roush Fenway – so, Marcos driver, the co-owners are Johnny Ambrose, Little Debbie and Clorox Harris, a prominent real estate – which provides the option of developer and part-owner of the running in the famous blue colours Carolina Panthers NFL team, and of STP – becomes a desirable trio … New York-born Rob Kauffman, a While Waltrip and Reutimann have London-based financial investor gained speed during the season, the and founder of Fortress Investment team’s third driver, rookie and exGroup. Kauffman was ranked road racer Michael McDowell, could number 557 on Forbes magazine’s be replaced by Sprint and Midget list of the world’s billionaires. star Josh Wise, who has sponsorship The team has shown how serious pending for 2009. it is by hiring Steve Hallam, who Ambrose – whose last race in will depart his position as Head of Race Operations for McLaren Racing anything but a Ford was in the Honda Integra Young Guns race at and join MWR at the end of the F1 Indy eight years ago – would be the season. The Englishman has spent fourth cog in what is becoming a 27 years – and 430 Grands Prix – in better-financed and more powerful engineering and managerial roles wheel. within F1. – PHIL BRANAGAN The team’s Cornelius, North
NASCAR
888s options V8 SUPERCARS
FRSR secures Reindler V8 SUPERCARS
KARL Reindler has been confirmed as the replacement for Grant Denyer in the Ford Rising Stars Racing Falcon at Bathurst. The West Australian, who has been spending the season driving Fujitsu V8s and Formula 3 cars, got his first laps inside the FPR-prepared Ford at Winton today, lapping competitively in the #777 Falcon. Reindler has got the call up after Denyer broke his back in a freak Monster Truck accident. “So far so good,” Reindler told eNews. “I just spent the day getting used to the car. It’s quite different, much stiffer and the brakes take a bit of getting used to. “I’m not really nervous about
Bathurst at all, I’m taking a very relaxed approach. I don’t have a lot of pressure or expectation because of how late the deal came together, so my objectives are just to keep my nose and clean and be consistent. Mind you, I’m sure the nerves will come when we get up there ...” FRSR’s Jim Morton told eNews that Reindler was the ideal choice to replace the injured Denyer. “He’ll get plenty of time in the car,” Morton said. “He’s doing the Fujitsu Series, so he’ll get plenty of laps, which is a huge help for him. “I’ve known Karl since Karting days, we’ve had a good look at him this year. He kept out of trouble at Clipsal, and that’s not the easiest track to make your debut, so I think if he adopt there, he’ll be fine.”
COSTS and not horses are what might prompt Tripe Eight Race Engineering to take its engine program in-house. The team is considering a number of options, including re-establishing its own engine shop, to take it forward when its current SBR Engines deal expires at the end of the year. “It is a matter of looking at what is the most cost-effective thing for us to do for the next few years,” team boss Roland Dane said at Queensland Raceway today. “The SBR deal has served us well but that was [started] four years ago. This is about what happens in the next year.” Dane says that he is in no rush to announce what comes next and he did not rule out entering into a new deal with SBR Engines. “There are a number of options; SBR, DJR, our own, Jamie Noonan, Craig Hasted. We will probably announce something pretty soon.” A possible link with Dick Johnson Racing looks unlikely. The Jim Beam-backed team will run full T8-built chassis next season but team boss Dick Johnson said that there had been “No discussion at all” with Dane about supplying his motors to the Vodafone-backed team.
Vervaart out, as F
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V8s ready to rock Townsville
Dirk Klynsmith
THE countdown to the Townsville 400 is on. V8 Supercars Australia recently unveiled further diagrams of the street track, which will run its first meeting on July 10-12 next year. The track plans, pictured above, outlining the design of the new Reid Park V8 race precinct. Sport Minister Judy Spence recently outlined the some of the features of the circuit. “The Queensland Government is committed to bringing this international event to Townsville,” he said. “We are providing $14.61 million towards the total precinct construction cost of $29.58 million.
“In addition, we will contribute $2.5 million annually for the first five years of the event to ensure it is a success for Townsville. “With the construction footprint now finalised, we can progress the detailed design of the track and facilities for release in the coming weeks. “Last month I brought special legislation before the Parliament so that the development of Reid Park could be completed in time for next year’s series, and we will continue to work with V8 Supercars Australia, Townsville City Council and other stakeholders to ensure this event is one of the best in the world.”
FPR restructures V8 SUPERCARS
Dirk Klynsmith
FORD Performance Racing has parted ways with its Commercial Director, David Vervaart. Vervaart left the team last week after what team manager Tim Edwards described as a “restructure”. He joined the factory-backed team last December as a replacement for Rod Barrett, who moved to Ford Performance Vehicles. Edwards said that the commercial activities of the team were “continuing as normal” and that no replacement has been planned at this stage.
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In this issue of GPWEEK By And
Rossi takes title #8
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VALENTINO Rossi is no longer in seventh heaven. The Doctor is now an eight-time World Champion, having wrapped up the 2008 MotoGP title at Motegi in Japan last weekend. He didn’t need to win the race to seal the championship, but in classic Rossi style, he did, holding off a hard-charging Casey Stoner. “The race was like the championship with Dani [Pedrosa] and Casey,” he said later. “I had to decide whether it was okay to be second or to risk trying to win. But I had a great pace, so I was able to go ahead. “This year I rode maybe the best in my life. 2009 will be more difficult than this year. But I never have problem with motivation – even for the next three races this year, I want to win.” Stoner finished the Japanese Grand Prix second after leading early, a lack of fitness because of his wrist injury slowing him in the middle part of the race. The question is, can Stoner hang on for second in the title, leading Pedrosa by just 11 points? It was a forgettable day for the other Aussies in the field – Ant West and Chris Vermeulen both suffered braking problems, and were 15th and out of the race respectively by the finish. The series now heads to Phillip Island for this weekend’s Australian Grand Prix.
Loeb looking good as title hits tarmac
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HAVING enjoyed the month of September off, the World Rally Championship recommences this weekend on the tarmac of Spain. And with the Corsica round the following week (another tarmac event),
the question is just how close can Sebastien Loeb go to wrapping up the world title. He will start favourite for the blacktop rallies, and with thanks to a bit of good fortune in New Zealand, Loeb is looking good for the title.
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drew van leeuwen
Alonso: Prince of darkness
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THE first night race for Formula 1 has been run and won – by Fernando Alonso! Singapore’s streets came abuzz with Formula 1 cars on Sunday night, debuting a brand new circuit and a brand new concept of street racing under lights. Felipe Massa was the early favourite, poling his Ferrari by more than a half a second and sprinting away from Lewis Hamilton in the early laps. But when Nelson Piquet hit the wall on lap 15, bringing out the first Safety Car, the game changed. Any chance of Massa taking the win was immediately gone when he charged out of his pit-box with the fuel hose still attached. He was held up by the incident, and then given a drive-through penalty for pulling out in front of Adrian Sutil in the process. The incident should have left Hamilton in the box seat, but an early stop saw Alonso, who had started 15th, in the lead. And in the latter parts of the race he was simply too fast to be caught, leading home Nico Rosberg and Hamilton for his first win of the year. Kimi Raikkonen capped off a bad day for Ferrari by crashing out of the points with just three laps to run … Mark Webber was almost another beneficiary of the Piquet crash in strategic terms, but never got the chance to find out where he would finish, a gearbox problem ending his race early.
w e nro sue #30 onlClin ick he e
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Paul Newman
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AJ Feels the Ne SPEED
DINGER
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titles and 107 victories, with Paul usually in attendance. “Paul and I have been partners for 26 years,” said Carl Haas, co-owner of Newman/ Haas/Lanigan Racing. “I have come to know his passion, humor, and above all, his generosity. Not just economic generosity, but generosity of spirit. His support of the team’s drivers, crew, and the racing industry is legendary. His pure joy at winning a pole position or winning a race exemplified the spirit he brought to his life and to all those that knew him. We will truly miss him.” Although a very private person, the actor was also a great philanthropist, creating his ‘Newman’s Own’ food brand and donating all proceeds to charity, over US$250m, especially to his ‘Hole in the Wall Camps’ which he started in 1988 and since has hosted 135,000 children with illnesses. Newman, who was 83, is survived by his wife of 50 years, actress Joanne Woodward, five children (his son Scott died in 1978), two grandsons and his older brother. – MARY MENDEZ
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PAUL Newman lost his lengthy battle with lung cancer last Friday. Newman, who was nominated eight times and earned his only Oscar awarded for his performance as the pool shark in The Color of Money, passed away at his farmhouse home near Westport, Connecticut. The actor of more than 50 films discovered racing and his talent for it when he starred in the movie Winning in 1969. Newman started racing in 1972 and finished second in the 1975 Le Mans 24 Hour, and went on to win four SCCA National Championships. At age 70, Newman is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as being the oldest driver to win a professionally sanctioned race, the 1995 Daytona 24 Hour. In his final season, still driving at 82, Newman competed in his Corvette in the 2007 GT1 Series, winning two races at Lime Rock, his home track. As one of the most successful teams in open wheel racing, his Newman/ Haas/Lanigan Racing team earned eight championship
NASCAR SPRINT CUP
best result of the season, ninth, at Kansas, with Speed appears tough. But Speed, who leads the ARCA Remax Series points, recently completed a tyre test at Charlotte – in a Cup car – second-fastest overall. “It’s a tough situation,” said Allmendinger about losing his Red Bull ride so late in the season. “We’ve been through a lot together. We’ve had a good relationship with Red Bull. We’ve made a mutual decision to part ways at the end of the season. It’s disappointing. I believe we could have had something great for next year, building on what we’ve been able to do this year.” – CLARK/MENDEZ
AJ ALLMENDINGER has lost his Red Bull drive but may find a new seat – and soon. The American will lose his NASCAR Sprint Cup seat to Scott Speed but there is a chance he could fill the soon-to-be vacant Target ride at Chip Ganassi Racing, replacing Reed Sorenson, who is moving to Gillett Evernham Motorsports and taking the place of Patrick Carpentier. It is even possible that the three teams may put all these Musical Chairs movements in place before the end of the current season. RBR’s decision to replace Allmendinger, who took his
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Foyt gets a Brazilian INDYCAR AJ FOYT Racing has signed the Brazilian ex-Panther Racing driver Vitor Meira, to replace Britain’s Darren Manning after two seasons. Meira, who in turn lost his Panther seat to Dan Wheldon, will race the #14 for the first time at the Nikon Indy 300 in Surfers Paradise this October. Meira has a one-year contract with an option for a
second season. In 93 career starts, Meira won two pole positions, led 424 laps, and posted 27 topfive finishes, including two second-place finishes in the Indianapolis 500. AJ Foyt Racing has won two IndyCar titles, in 1996 with Scott Sharp and Kenny Brack in 1998. Brack also won the 1999 Indy 500 making Foyt’s fifth trip to victory lane. – MARY MENDEZ
eed for Speed REED
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A1: More Dramas A1GP
Yippee! Ooops Ganassi Racing
NASCAR SPRINT CUP JUAN Pablo Montoya took pole with his Chip Ganassi Racing Dodge at Kansas last Friday, but he was stripped of the award and forced to start at the rear of the field. The problem was that the
rear shocks of his Ganassi Dodge were found to have exceeded the 75psi mandated by NASCAR. Further penalties for the team, either monetary and/or involving a suspension of crew chief Brian Pattie and loss of points, are expected this week. – MARTIN D CLARK
THE new A1GP World Cup of Motorsport will get underway next weekend at Zandvoort – but with a smaller grid than was first expected. The series has experienced numerous delays of late and as a result, there will be a significant shortage in the amount of cars that will take to the track. Originally Mugello was set to host the opening 2008/’09 round but delays in building the cars led to the round being postponed, with Zandvoort taking over that role. Although not all nations will line up in the Netherlands, the round will still count towards
the championship. “The situation we find ourselves in is unfortunate,” said A1GP CEO, Pete da Silva. “We have a small number of teams who will not be in Zandvoort. While these teams are obviously very disappointed, they understand we have done everything possible but just ran out of time. “I am aware of how hard our teams have been working, and are continuing to do that day and night. The fact some won’t make the grid next week will not be for lack of trying.” The series is planning to have a full grid of cars by the second round of the championship in China on November 7-9.
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Ten rounds, Ten different tracks SHANNONS NATIONALS THE Shannons Nationals will run over 10 rounds at 10 different circuits in 2009. For the first time in a couple of years, the Shannons Nationals will head back to Wakefield Park, Winton Motor Raceway and Queensland Raceway after the ongoing political battle between CAMS and AASA has, it seems, come to reached a ceasefire. The Shannons Nationals will start at Bathurst as a supporter of the Bathurst
12 Hour. The other nine tracks (in no particular order) are Phillip Island, Mallala, Eastern Creek, Oran Park, Symmons Plains, QR, Winton, Wakefield Park and Sandown, which will host the final round. While there are still a few things to overcome before announcing the final calendar, series administrator Rob Curkpatrick told eNews that the 2009 fixture has come together perfectly. “This is the fourth time we’ve done this, and I guess that its pleasing that we’ve been able to work closely with people
that we haven’t in the past,” he said. “Everyone just seems keen to work together and if we can do 10 rounds at 10 race tracks, that’s a big step forward for us. “Each year, we look and try and drop a round, but the demand from categories seems to be there. The categories want to run with the series. There’s definitely no shortage.” All of the current categories that race on the Shannons Nationals bill will remain on the same bill. – GRANT ROWLEY
Dirk Klynsmith
Kiwi set for
Changing Brands AUSTRALIAN GT THE Australian GT Championship will receive a boost for the final round of the series at Sandown on November 29-30, with new cars and drivers set to compete. Former Carrera Cup racer, Dean Grant, has stepped away from his Porsche roots and purchased the ex-Ross Lilley Lamborghini Gallardo GT3. The Gallardo will be run by Jocaro Motorsport and will be sponsored by Harbour Town Hotel, Vodka O and the European Bier Café.
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This year Grant has been competing in the Aston Martin Asia Cup and has placed well with two podiums to his name at Sepang. Lilley, who currently sits third in the championship, will campaign a brand new Dodge Viper GT3 that is currently on its way from the US. The Viper will be the first of its kind in Australia and is the first of a series of new cars destined for the category. Also joining the GT Championship at Sandown will be three Trofero Motorsport Maseratis for Rod Wilson, Jim Manolios and Ivan Capelli.
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Christmas comes early ... David Russell and Grant Sherrin join Howard Racing for 2009 Fujitsu V8 Series FUJITSU V8s HOWARD Racing will expand its V8 Supercar operations in 2009, with the early announcement that Carrera Cup racers David Russell and Grant Sherrin will join the Gold Coast-based squad next year. Russell and Sherrin will drive two new Ford Falcon BFs, while the team’s current cars may well be filled with new or existing drivers, meaning they could run up to four V8s next year. The Falcons of Russell and Sherrin will sport identical Sherrin Rental livery, similar to the artist’s impression, above. Russell has contested the Development Series before, driving a Chance of a Lifetime Falcon AU in the 2003 series. Since then, he’s been restricted to production cars and Carrera Cup, but has never lost the desire to compete in the V8 leagues.
“It’s been a long time since when I did Chance of a Lifetime,” he said. “I planned to try and keep in the series, but it’s very competitive and very expensive. Carrera Cup has been great and has good competition, but there hasn’t been too many leading Carrera Cup drivers called up for big V8 drives. “The time is right to now get in and give it a good crack. I’m really going to enjoy the challenge band enjoy popping into another category.
“Howard Racing is a great team, and I want to learn s much as I can, get comfortable with them and move forward.” Team manager Warren Davis is excited about the early announcement – and in particular the signing of Russell. “We spoke to him about doing something in 2004,” Davis said of Russell. “We saw that he had the potential back then. He did a bloody good job in a car that wasn’t the best, so it’s good that we’ll finally be able to work
r Bathurst start CARRERA CUP
... and Brit set for first V8 test FUJITSU V8s
Dirk Klynsmith
James Smith
KIWI Darryn Henderson will make his Australian circuit racing debut at Bathurst in two weeks time, competing in the Australian Carrera Cup Championship. Henderson will drive for Greg Murphy Racing, replacing Sam Walter, who drove at the last round at Phillip Island. Having competed in five rounds of New Zealand’s Porsche series, Henderson is champing at the bit to get to Bathurst. “I’m excited, but you’ve got to be careful,” he said. “You only get 20 minutes in the car before qualifying, so its
not enough time to try and rush. “Getting used to the car is going to be the least of our problems. I just had three days in our own car last week, and our cars and the Australian cars are pretty similar, so its just a matter of learning the track as quick as possible. “I’m jumping in a simulator soon for three of four hours to get comfortable with the track. That should help a bit.” While it is his first time for Henderson competing in circuit racing, it isn’t his first competitive motor race. Henderson has raced in motocross competition some years ago. – GRANT ROWLEY
together. “I think he’ll do a good, solid job. He’s pretty pumped about it all.” Russell and Sherrin will get their first taste of a Howard Racing Ford Falcon BA at Queensland Raceway later this year. Howard Racing will continue to run at least one Formula Ford in the Australian Championship, as well as a V8 Ute in the Yokohama-backed Series next year. – GRANT ROWLEY
RECENTLY crowned Formula 3 Champion James Winslow has tested a Howard Racing Ford Falcon BA. Winslow got his first taste of a V8 Supercar at Queensland Raceway today (Monday), driving Karl Reindler’s regular #27 Novusbacked Falcon BA. The Brit, who sealed the Gold Star at Symmons Plains two weeks ago, has not been shy of his desire to make the leap up to V8 Supercars, and this test is his first step towards a possible future in the sport. – ANDREW VAN LEEUWEN
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IT’S VITA BRITS Rea, Byrne step up to SBK WORLD SUPERBIKES POMS will be thick on the groud in the 2009 World Superbike Championship, with two contenders stepping into the series. Jonathan Rea and Shane ‘Shakey’ Byrne have both confirmed that they will step up to the SBK next season. Rea, 21, will swap seats with Kenan Solfuoglu, who will return to World Supersport after a lacklustre debut season on the bigger bikes. Rea, below, has raced for the Ten Kate team for the current season, and currently sits second in the WSS series behind Aussie Andrew Pitt after scoring three wins. From Northern Ireland, Rea already has Superbike experience with the HM Plant Honda team in the British Championship, where he was team-mate to Ryuichi Kiyonari in 2006. Kiyo is expected to stay with Ten
Kate next season, along with current team-mate Carlos Checa. Byrne, who sealed the British Championship at Silverstone on Sunday, above, has confirmed that he will not defend the title but has not said which team he will race for next season. Suggestions are that he will rejoin Aprilia or take one of the vacant Sterilgarda Ducati seats. Fellow Brit Tom Sykes has already confirmed that he will race for Yamaha Italia.
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Corser signs two-year deal: Can he t WORLD SUPERBIKES TROY Corser will race for BMW for the next two seasons. The Australian veteran, currently second in the World Superbike Championship with Yamaha Italia, will join Spaniard Ruben Xaus on two all-new S1000RRs in next year’s SBK. “With Troy and Ruben, I feel confident we will have the best riders possible for our start in the Superbike World Championship,” said BMW’s Peter Mueller. “Troy has unrivalled experience in the series and that, together with Ruben's exuberance, is our ‘dream team’ and the combination we wanted, right from the start of this project. I feel sure that their knowledge of the series will definitely help us become competitive very quickly.” Corser, 36, has won the title
Yamaha Racing
Honda Proimages
BMW makes it O
twice, on a Ducati in 1996 and a Suzuki in 2005. He is the only man to have taken the title on different makes of bike, and the only rider to win titles on both a twin-cylinder and fourcylinder machine. In 300 SBK races, he has scored 42 pole positions, 33 race wins and 126 podium finishes.
news
WORLD SUPERBIKES APRILIA has taken the covers off its RSV4, the bike that will take it back into the World Superbike Championship. The bike features a 65degree V4 engine which,
in stock trim, pumps out around 180 horsepower. With a weight of around 195kg, the bike has many of the features now common in the opposition bikes, like a slipper clutch, fly-by-wire
Max’s new Ride
throttle and carbon fibre bodywork. It also features an unusual three-headlight front end, with the middle ‘eye’ similar to a ram-air intake. As reported last issue, Max Biaggi will race the bike alongside a rider TBA.
Official
take a third title?
YAMAHA TWO-STEP?
Spies may go Yamaha World Supers in ‘09, then Tech 3
WORLD SUPERBIKES
Suzuki Racing
BEN Spies rode his last AMA Superbike race on the weekend and it may have been his last for Suzuki. The news that Scot Honda has secured Honda’s sixth (and final) RV212V in MotoGP next season appears to have scuppered the American’s plans to race in the premier class in 2009 but it appears that he may move to Europe to race with Yamaha – in World Superbikes. There are suggestions that Spies, who won his third successive AMA title this season, will join Yamaha Italia for one season and then replace fellow Texan Colin Edwards at Tech 3 Yamaha in 2010.
Spies, 24, competed in three MotoGPs this season and his two wildcard starts at Laguna Seca and Indianapolis resulted in eighth and sixth places. Suzuki re-signed Chris Vermeulen and Loris Capirossi for next season and Spies’s final hope of stepping into a full-time ride officially ended late last week when Scot announced that 250 graduate Yuki Takahashi would step up next season. With the AMA Series in disarray following Daytona Motorsport Group’s takeover of the series, there is no reason for Spies to continue racing in the USA. So the notoriously reluctant flier may be better served learning the tracks and the European way of life on Superbikes for a year before stepping onto a prototype and the MotoGP circus full-time.
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news Dirk Klynsmith Neil Hammond
AMSF RISING STARS
On the rise: The new CAMS Rising Stars from top, Luke Ellery, Nathan Morcom and David Whitmore current Rising Star, Scott Pye, main.
Future Stars
Reindler tests FFord
Several V8 Supercar drivers are taking time out of their preparations for the upcoming Supercheap Auto 1000 to spend the night with the stars of tomorrow at the Oakleigh Kart Club in Melbourne this evening. Dual Bathurst Champion Steve Richards, who was a regular competitor at the Oakleigh circuit during his karting days, Garry Rogers Motorsport pair Lee Holdsworth and Michael Caruso along with Ford Rising Stars Racing’s Micahel Patrizi are attending the Victoiran Junior Development Camp. The quartet will join 55 young kart races, who range in age from seven to 15 years of age, to speak about their experiences both in a go-kart and throughout their careers. The annual two-day camp is designed to further educate newcomers to karting about a variety of aspects of the sport including driving techniques, kart preparation along driver training, nutrition and fitness with Sports Therapist Phil Young.
CHRIS Reindler is eyeing a full-time ride in next year’s Genuine Ford Parts Australian Formula Ford Championship after testing for Sonic at Winton last Friday. The younger brother of V8 Supercar driver Karl Reindler started the season off in the Australian Formula 3 Championship, but decided to head back to state Formula Ford in Perth after the second F3 round. Now, he is looking to come back into national competition, and took the first step by
KARTING
FORMULA FORD
testing one of Sonic’s Mygales. “We’re keeping our options open at this point, but national Formula Ford is definitely a possibility,” he said. “The test went well. Michael Ritter (Sonic team boss) was happy and so was I. We’ve got plenty of time to make a decision, so we’ll see how the next state round goes and have a think from there.” – ANDREW VAN LEEUWEN
Marshall Cass
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next year, while Whitmore will step up to a state program in either Victoria or New South Wales. As part of the program the drivers will receive financial assistance and will attend AIS training camps throughout the year. They will also have regular contact with team psychologist, mentoring from leading business persons and access to AMSF networks. As was the case this year, Borland Racing Developments will continue to provide racing services for the CAMS Rising Star program.
Neil Hammond
THE Australian Motorsport Foundation (AMSF) has announced their line-up for the 2009 CAMS Rising Star squad. Luke Ellery (18, Vic), Nathan Morcom (16, NSW) and David Whitmore (16, NSW) will join South Australian Scott Pye for next season. “The drivers were tested both physically and mentally during the selection process and they should all be proud of how they performed,” said AMSF Projects and Operations
Officer, Brock Rogers. “This year all three drivers were rookies in the Australian Formula Ford Championship (AFFC) so having Scott in the Program again next year means that the Program will again be looking to challenge for the title.” “Scott will also be able to help his team-mates by sharing some of his experience and knowledge with them and hopefully helping them with their development.” Ellery and Morcom will join Pye and compete in the entire national Formula Ford series
Neil Hammond
Rising Stars announced
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news feature of the week
Building Commodore C
Mallala endurance drivers starting to surface, and new technical regulations for 2009 set to spice COMMODORE CUP
C
OMMODORE Cup’s inaugural endurance race is shaping up as a beauty, with more than a dozen entries firming up, and more to come for the one hour race at Mallala Motorsport Park on November 2. No less than 12 driver combinations have been confirmed, with 20-25 cars expected to be on the track for the inaugural race. A number of drivers from other categories of motorsport have been confirmed as starters in the race, including
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Simon Wills, Darren Hossack, Lauren Gray, Geoff Emery and Taylor Gore, while there is expected to be more announcements soon. Series administrator Glen Holdsworth will again step behind the wheel, set to drive with his son and Fujitsu V8 driver Brett. Glen is pumped for the onehour Mallala enduro. “It’s looking good,” he said. “We’ve got some good lineups in the field. We were expecting a few more guys from Darwin, but there’s only about four coming now. “But Commodore Cup has come along well this year and
this will give it another shot in the arm. This is going to give it a go to expose it to drives who wouldn’t necessarily look at it. “I guess it’s going to be an iconic meeting, in respect to exposing it to the drivers in categories situated above Commodore Cup.” The Commodore Cup endurance race is just the start for the rejuvenated category. Next year, expect to see a different variety of race lengths, plus the expansion of eligible race vehicles. “I think next year we’ll introduce a number of different things,” Holdsworth said. “We’ll probably learn our
lessons from Mallala in a way. We’ll try and start the year of with some sporting regulations that have an innovative race formats built into it, a little in the way that V8 Supercars have gone with different race formats. “Also, providing it’s a Commodore, there’s no reason why it couldn’t be accepted into the series. “Rather than focusing simply on the VS, or the VT or VH Commodore, we’d like to see all Commodores race in the series. We will have to look at a process of handicapping the faster cars by regulations, but there are a number of ways we
news
Marshall Cass
Cup towards the future
e up the Holden action MALLALA ONE-HOUR ENDURO CONFIRMED STARTERS: Nick Parker/Darren Hossack Michael Tancredi/Dean Crosswell Nathan Collins/Simon Wills Denis Pana/Lauren Gray Brett Holdsworth/Glen Holdsworth Phil Brock/Christian D’Agostin Allan Hill/Adis Bebonis Chris Stevenson/Kane Millier James Smith
are looking at expanding on the series.” There are a number of existing classes that have eligible Commodores in it, including Future Tourers and selected Improved Production classes. “The cars would have to be generally a Commodore Cup spec, but there’s no reason why we shouldn’t have everything from a VE to a VH in the field, providing the components within them are similar to the current regulations.” The Commodore Cup endurance race will be held as part of the penultimate round of the Shannons Nationals Series at Mallala on November 1-2. – GRANT ROWLEY
Man in charge: Glen Holdsworth, Commodore Cup category administrator and father to Brett and Lee.
Non-confirmed, but likely: David ‘Skippy’ Parsons/Carey McCormack Stephen White/Andrew Parker Ross McGregor/Geoff Emery Phillip Menzel/Taylor Gore Matt Chick/Ryan Millier 23
5 Minutes with ...
TONY COCHRANE
It’s taken so long its almost become a religious crusade, but Tony Cochrane and his team have at CHRIS LAMBDEN last cemented the Big One – a street race in Sydney MOTORSPORT eNEWS: That was a long, long, process, stretching across several NSW premiers – you must have wondered if it would in fact happen? TONY COCHRANE: It has been a long time, but we never gave up. We always felt that this venue, this city was right for V8 Supercars and that we would get there in the end.
Just to confirm, then, $30m (over 5 years) from the NSW government in infrastructure, roads, and services, the rest from you. V8 Supercars is thus, as promoter, taking the risk. And it’s going to cost you around $10-12m a year to run? Yes, that’s right. In fact it’s $10-5-11million. Does that make it the biggest event for you now, in terms of dollar input and risk? It’s probably about the same
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James Smith
We understand it was actually a ‘done deal’ with the previous Iemma-led government – and then he quit before it could be announced. Did your heart sink when you heard that news? It did, because we didn’t know the new premier’s attitude to it, and time – in terms of a 2009 race – was running out. In the end, I have to say Nathan Rees and his team have been terrific. They understood the time pressure, looked at the paperwork, and agreed to go ahead.
we have to present the full package and make it easy for people to get here cochrane knows sydney’s market will be tough to crack as Townsville, to be honest. Bathurst is of course one of our events too and while it’s a major one, it has settled down in cost terms. This now makes five races that Shane Howard and his team will be running – so he’ll be taking on eight more staff, and he’ll be very busy … It also adds up to (excluding the non-championship AGP event) five street races. Is that it? Is that enough? Yes, probably – for Australia and New Zealand at least. There’s potential for one more international race, I reckon. Singapore? Possible. Shane and I spent five days there recently talking with them. It’s possible – but not until 2010 at the earliest. Back to Sydney. Sydney appears to be a hard nut to
crack for many sports – an AFL Final at this stadium only dragged in 20,000 recently. What are your plans to ensure you get the numbers? It is a difficult market, but Sydney is a very sophisticated city. We have to present the full entertainment package, and make it easy for people to get here. SEL has a history of putting on good ‘entertainment’ events and that’s what we’ll be aiming to do here. If there was a single negative at Hamilton earlier in the year, amidst an event hat was otherwise superb, it was that the track design itself didn’t deliver to the max in pure racing terms. Is this venue flexible enough to do that – to provide genuine passing opportunities and action? Yes, I think so. The streets
are very wide, which gives us a bit of room to move. There’s also a lot of 90 degree corners – they’re ideal for promoting passing in V8 Supercars. There has been a lot of driver input into the track – chicane angles etc – so I think it should be good. V8s have existed in this form for 12 years, and you’ve been at the helm throughout – and it seems like a Sydney street race has been on the agenda all that time. There have been ups and downs, but, personally, is this the crowning moment? Personally? Probably. Like I said earlier, this is the most significant day in the history of V8 Supercars – we’ve wanted a showpiece event in Australia’s biggest city for a while, and now it’s happening. It’s a big day.
chat
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Nothing Dull
Dirk Klynsmith
ONE of the interesting things about working at Motorsport News is that it is rarely dull. On Friday, we got notification that there was going to be some news announced on Monday, today, at Homebush in Sydney. That’s a Big News Story; Homebush has been the Holy Grail for V8 Supercars Australia for years, and represents a massive coup for V8SA. Plus, controversy
opinion Phil Branagan Executive Editor swirls around the event and the politics connected to it. Gold. Then, on Saturday, I started to get SMSs from the USA. Then, emails. Then, phonecalls. Ambrose-Toyota-Waltrip, done deal. Phew. Gold. Um, no,
Homebush, so … Silver. Then, when we started in the office, threads that the V8 Supercar driver market had made the jump into Hyperspace. Phone calls, office meetings, arguments, whiteboards. What had triggered this? James Courtney? Surely not. He was locked in at FPR. Surely. Wasn’t he? Nope. James Beam. Not
Gold. Platinum. Just like that, three mega stories, in one day. Sure beats being a bus conductor. It can’t get any better than this, can it? Well, that’s what I thought but, just before we stopped working today came confirmation of another yarn on who is going where. If we told you who and where, you wouldn’t believe us. But we will, in another issue …
Letters
Have your say, email us at mail@mnews.com.au. Keep letters to the point! Mad Dog Denyer I must say Grant Denyer is a very lucky man. Having read Phil Branagan’s opinion last week it sounds like the type of fracture is very serious indeed. It just shows how dangerous any type of motorsport really is. With how safe the cars are these days we often forget about the dangers associated with the sport, but Denyer’s accident proves that those
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dangers till exist. Get well soon, hopefully we’ll see you back at a track in the near future fitter than ever. Craig Smith Sandringham, Vic Fujitsu Series I read your article in last week’s edition of eNews #073 about Sonic heading to the Fujitsu Series with help from Triple Eight Race Engerneering. What a great move for Sonic
Motor Racing, but I think importantly it’s good to see V8 Supercar teams taking more of a vested interest in the series as a place and way to develop younger drivers. Obviously, there are teams in the Main Game that have links to Fujitsu teams already, but for a team like Triple Eight to get involved is a great thing. I’m sure they’ll be running at the front next year and I would hope that more Main Series
teams follow suit.
Micheal Barns via email
Busch Can you believe Kyle Busch’s luck. He dominates all year long and then as soon as The Chase starts he’s way off the back, often through no fault of his own. John Franks Stapleton, Qld
opinion
Winning Big opinion Chris Lambden mNews Publisher but, on the face of it, the ingredients are there for a successful event, for which the ball will be very much in V8 Supercars’ court. V8SA can’t afford it to fail. All the stops will be out. The latest (fourth) incarnation of the track design is promising. The streets themselves in the precinct are relatively wide and thus there is the opportunity for a little tweaking to ensure the circuit itself offers the pure motorsport spectacle that can (in some cases) get lost in a street race. They’ll just need to keep the fun police (who put that crazy chicane in the middle of the back straight in Hamilton) under control, and the Sydney 400 could well be a whopper. Dirk Klynsmith
CHRISTMAS certainly came early for Tony Cochrane this year. There were more than a few who thought that politics, and economics, would stall it – and Tony Cochrane himself admitted to a heart-sinking moment when former NSW Premier Maurice Iemma quit three weeks ago, just 5 days before he was to announce the event. Times are tough, but what swung it for V8 Supercars was that widely-documented report some 9 months ago which concluded that Sydney was failing to draw attention to itself via major events since the Olympics. That said, there is no blank cheque. The NSW government won’t pick up the tab if it doesn’t work out. It has committed to $30m of roadworks/infrastructure/ services over five years. The rest will be up to V8SA, as event promoter. A fair deal. It is Melbourne GP all over again. Yes, there will be a handful of noisy protesters
eLETTER OF THE WEEK Parity Mark Skaife is receiving a lot of the blame for the parity issue. Tell me if I am wrong, but I thought as the official homologation team all of the Holden Teams had to go through HRT on issues such as this as they have done. Why has it taken all this time for
V8 Supercars to check out the data supplied and as asked for; the easiest way to run the cars side-by-side run in a straight line this could have been done at a race meeting at a circuit with a long straight. Do Ray Price and Ford have something to hide, if they had agreed to it would have been finished with
months ago. I wonder if the boot had been on the other foot would V8 Supercars have ignored it. I would have thought this would have been an average race lap time over all Holdens and all Fords not just the top teams. Lionel Davis via email
Send your creative letters to mail@mnews.com.au, or Motorsport News PO Box 7072, Brighton, Vic 3186 27
NASCAR SPRINT CUP ROUND 28 – CAMPING WORLD RV 400, KANSAS
Highs and Lowes
Carl Edwards tried a move best saved for a computer game – and it failed to beat Jimmie Johnson in Kansas. By MARTIN D CLARK
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NASCAR Media
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games – sometimes, you just bounce it off the wall and you keep going, but it just didn’t work. Jimmie did a great job, I really wanted to win this thing, with it being my home track.” Greg Biffle piped an illfeeling Jeff Gordon at the finish line for third with Kenseth fifth. A.J. Allmendinger recorded a career-best ninth as he looks set to leave the Red Bull team early. After running strong before The Chase, the Joe Gibbs trio now hold the final three spots in the standings. Tony Stewart experienced contact and pit road issues, Denny Hamlin a soft engine and Kyle Busch had some fuel pick up and handling gremlins they never could put their finger on. Marcos Ambrose qualified his JTG Daugherty Ford in a strong 20th position but handling problems dropped him back to 36th
War footing: Jimmie Johnson led the field away from pole, top, and had his own private battle with Carl Edwards, above. Matt Kenseth, below, took fifth place, while team-mate Greg Biffle, below right, failed to make it three Cup wins in a row (and three at Kansas). AJ Allmendinger had his best weeked – and maybe his last – in the Red Bull Camry, right.
Ford Racing
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NASCAR Media
POLESITTER Jimmie Johnson led the most laps and held off a hard-charging Carl Edwards in his Roush Fenway Ford in the closing laps for his fifth win of the season at Kansas Speedway on Sunday. Edwards dived under Johnson in the final corner then washed up the track in front of him and hitting the wall hard but, amazingly, held onto second. “Those last two laps, I’m not sure where Edwards came from,” commented Johnson, who took the points lead from Edwards after leading 124 of the 267 laps. “I thought I had stuff under control, but he found some speed from somewhere and man, he closed up on me. I knew he was a dirt track racer and I knew the slide job was coming, I just got ready for it. He probably went in there 30 yards two far and pounded the wall. I had to keep focus, as I was so impressed watching him!” Edwards had two altercations on pit road that needed some minor repair work. The first was with Brian Vickers and the second with Dave Blaney, but he battled back from the rear of the field and passed under Johnson for the lead for the first time with 92 laps to run passing him again 20 laps later. Johnson’s Hendrick crew had him off pit road first again during caution six for what turned out to be race-winning track position. “We didn’t come here to run second,” countered Edwards. “I was doing everything I could. It works on the video
Fod Racing Media
NASCAR | CAMPING WORLD RV 400, KANSAS, KA 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
48 99 16 24 17 29 31 6 84 19
Jimmie Johnson Chevy Carl Edwards Ford Greg Biffle Ford Jeff Gordon Chevy Matt Kenseth Ford Kevin Harvick Chevy Jeff Burton Chevy David Ragan Ford AJ Allmendinger Toyota Elliot Sadler Dodge
Hendrick/Lowe’s Q1 Roush Fenway/Office Depot 34 Roush Fenway/DISHNetwork 18 Hendrick/DuPont 13 Roush Fenway/DeWalt 3 Childress/Shell/Pennzoil 36 Childress/AT&T 37 Roush Fenway/AAA Insurance 12 Red Bull Racing 14 GEM/Garmin 4
Mo’ Jo’
Johnson 5575, Edwards 5565, Biffle 5545, Burton 5454, Harvick 5439, Gordon 5432, Bowyer 5411, Earnhardt 5385, Kenseth 5383.
NASCAR Media
THE CHASE FOR THE SPRINT CUP | points
NASCAR Media NASCAR Media
Mark Martin took a very hard hit on the driver’s side against the wall when either NO driver has ever led the a right ear tyre exploded or most laps and won the something broke in the rear Nationwide race at Kansas suspension. The incident saw Speedway. Brad Keselowski take avoiding Denny Hamlin took care action in an eventful day for of that statistical glitch the youngster, but he rallied on Saturday, when his Joe back to finish sixth. Gibbs Racing Toyota totally Kyle Busch qualified 18th, but dominating the latter half of after changing some steering the race. Hamlin’s win, JGR’s parts, was forced to start at the 14th of the NW season, came rear of the field in his Braun only after Kevin Harvick Racing Toyota. To make matters suffered alternator issues – but it still netted the manufacturers’ worse, he was slowing to pit after experiencing a loose title for Toyota. wheel and punted hard into Hamlin started 19th and the wall by Mike Bliss. Busch’s headed series point leader day was done with a severely Clint Bowyer in his RCR torn up Camry, while Bliss went Chevrolet and a gaggle of on to finish 12th. Roush Fenway Fords – David Marcos Ambrose started his Ragan, Carl Edwards and Matt JTG Ford in the 16th slot and Kenseth – to the chequers. forged his way into the top 10 Harvick had the car to beat after leading during a final pit the field, leading 90 laps, but stop sequence. He held on to a slow pit stop on lap 93 of finish 11th and remains 10th in the 200 saw him second off pit the series standings. road behind Hamlin. Harvick – MARTIN D CLARK stayed with Hamlin until electric gremlins and a battery Points: Bowyer 4392, Edwards change put him down a lap, 4196, Keselowski 4124, Bliss 3906, which he would later regain to Ragan 3886, Reutimann 3791, (Ambrose 10th 3456). come home 13th.
NATIONWIDE
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DRAG RACING Spring Top Fuel Championships
Making the money r For most, the Spring Championships are over, but for some, there’s still a lot to play for. KEN FERGSUON reports on last weekend’s delayed Willowbank Raceway meeting
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race
round
Ken Ferguson
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Ken Ferguson
DRAG RACING
F
ollowing a fiery Top Fuel final, the inaugural Spring Top Fuel Championships held at Willowbank Raceway last weekend concluded prematurely, with the Top Alcohol final being postponed until January 2 at the first round of the New Year Series. The penultimate race of the night resulted in the dragsters of both Martin Stamatis and Allan Dobson erupting into huge fireballs, with the latter holding on for victory over his more fancied rival. With the event running late, and oil down in both lanes, the meeting will be delayed until the second day of the New Year. The Jim Read Racing team gave a dominant display in the first qualifying session of
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Top Fuel on Friday night, with Stamatis laying down a stout 4.57s at 299mph in his Billview/ Snap On dragster, only to be outshone by Phil Read’s Snap On/Auto One entry on the very next pass with a 4.56s at 301mph. Phil Lamattina’s Fuchs car and Rapisarda Uplift Cranes dragster of Allan Dobson also recorded four second passes throughout qualifying. Stamatis also recorded the top speed of the event with his 325mph blast on his second qualifier. Stamatis and Read were the hot favourites to make it an all-Team Read final, but Allan Dobson defeated the more fancied current National Champ, Read in the semi, when Read dragster was on fire early in the run, Dobson’s parachute blossoming early but still going 4.95s for the win. He made it a
double over Team Read with his victory over Stamatis in the final with both cars on fire into the braking area. Brett Stevens scored pole in the Top Alcohol class with a 5.60s pass in his Kitten Ford Mustang Funny Car, and made his way to the final with wins over rookie Trent Carter’s B & L Steel/Rome Central Chev Monte Carlo in the first round and the Lucas Oils funny car of Gary Phillips in the second. The second round win over Phillips saw the closest race of the night, scoring a 0.004s holeshot win, his 5.61s edging out Phillips’ quickest-yet 5.60s. Steven Reed put the Swarfega Funny Car through to the money round with victories over Steven Ham and Wayne Newby, recording bracket like passes with a 5.64s and a 5.63s. The final to be held on January
2nd should be an each way bet if both can hold their current form. Brett Stevens Racing fielded no less than four nitro Harleys in the very tough Top Bike class, with he and team-mate Kim Stevens facing off in the final. The Mack Trucks entry of Kim defeated Brett’s Jack Daniels entry with a 6.63s at 197mph over a troubled 7.04s. Tyronne Tremayne stamped his authority over the field in the Pro Stock class from the outset, the only car going into the 7.0s zone, with a best of 7.08s at a massive 193.8mph. Brother Aaron grabbed second spot with a 7.11s at 191mph in the record field, the quickest ever bump spot at 7.19s. The final saw Tyronne take the victory over Aaron in the final with a 7.11s at 186mph to a 7.19s at 180mph.
race
Ken Ferguson
Even Stevens: The Stevens tribe were in hot form at Willowbank, with Kim taking the Top Bike victory, above. Below, Brett was the man to beat in Top Alcohol. In the Pro Stock class, bottom, the Tremayne brothers were simply too good. Left, Martin Stamatis’s Fueller looks a little different now
Ken Ferguson
Top racer: Lamatinna was eliminated early from Top Fuel.
Ken Ferguson
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Crowning a Champ WORLD SERIES
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Renault Sport
GIEDO van der Garde finally sealed the World Series by Renault title in the latest round at Estoril, despite only finishing in eighth. The only driver able to stop van der Garde from winning the title at Estoril was Fabio Carbone and he did his best, taking out the weekend’s first race. But it wasn’t enough to stop the Dutchman after he was forced to retire in the second race. “This wasn’t the best weekend,” said van der Garde. “It was a big shame that P1 Motorsport team boss and engineer Roly Vincini wasn’t here to see this, but he needed to stay at home to be with his family. “You could see how much we missed him here. The team told me on the radio that Carbone was in the pits, so in the last six or seven laps I decided not to fight with [Marcos] Martinez. I felt, well I am the Champion now, so I am happy to let these guys take some points.” Miguel Molina scored his second victory for the season in the second race ahead of Charles Pic and Julien Jousse, who now sits just two points behind Carbone for second in the title race.
race
Title on the line for Ricciardo EUROCUP 2.0
Renault Sport
AUSTRALIAN Daniel Ricciardo got his Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 title campaign back on track with a Race 1 victory at Estoril. Ricciardo was joined on the podium by his championship rivals Roberto Merhi and Valtteri Bottas to gain a 13point advantage ahead of the second race. “Since Thursday, we haven’t been at our best, but yesterday we had a really good debriefing with the whole team and we came up
with the goods this morning with a nice pole position,” said Ricciardo. “The win was the result I was hoping for this afternoon.” Race 2 was not as kind to the Aussie, who after a bad start, dropped down the order to finish 10th. Bottas clinched the win to move to the top of the championship standings, but only one point separates the two heading in to the final round at Barcelona. “It was really hard work in the heat,” said Bottas, “but I managed to get a decent start
and get ahead. The Safety Car coming on twice could have put me under pressure,
but both times I did ok at the restart. I’m happy to be going to Barcelona in the lead.”
Ricciardo Dominates Estoril WEST EUROCUP
DANIEL Ricciardo continued his domination of the Western European Cup
Formula Renault at Estoril last weekend controlling both races from the front. Ricciardo, who was also competing in the Eurocup championship at Estoril, made the most of his busy weekend, recording three wins from four races in the two categories. “I’m happy to have won races in both the Eurocup and WEC this weekend, as it looks like we will have a title showdown in Barcelona in both series next month,”
said Ricciardo. “It’s my objective to win both categories, but I realise my closest opponents won’t make life easy for me. Next stop is Spa-Francorchamps, where we will have another two WEC races. I was very competitive there in pre-season testing and the World Series by Renault meeting this season, so I hope to have another go for victory again next week.” Fellow Aussie Ash Walsh continued his strong form of late and debuted a new car, finishing with a best position of seventh in Race 2. Walsh struggled in Race 1, initially stalling the car before receiving two drivethrough penalties throughout the race to end up 15th.
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GLOBE TROTTER
Wrapping it all up
Hungary 12 Hour
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John Morris/Mpix
THE inaugural 12 Hours of Hungary took place last weekend as part of the Toyo Tyres 24H Series, with the Schubert Motorsport BMW Z4M Coupe taking victory. The winning team of Stian Sorlie, Claudia Hurtgen and Jorg Viebahn led home two Porsches, with the Jettalliance Porsche 996 in a close race with the winners, with the two cars never separated by more than a couple of laps. However late mechanical dramas dropped the Jetalliance team to third behind the Porsche of Erik Behrens, Magnus Ohman, Lars Stugemo and Andrers Levin. Other class winners included the Bovi Motorsport Brokernet Silver Sting (SP2, Specialised GT and Prototype cars), Schubert Motorsport BMW 120D (D1), and the Endurance Club Hungary Ford Fiesta ST (A2). The Toyo Tyres 24H Series of Endurance will begin again in 2009 for the Dubai 24H on January 9-10.
NSW STATE TIM and David Mackie have taken out the 1-hour Production Sportscar endurance race in the final round of the NSW State Championships, winning in their Honda-powered Lotus Elise. Tim Mackie initially battled hard with the Porsche of Paul Whitmarsh, but gained an advantage in the pit-stop shuffle, giving David Mackie a 35s lead when he took over from Tim. Whitmarsh reduced the margin to less than four seconds by the end of the race, with Shane Smollen finishing third in his ex-Carrera Cup Porsche. Ryan Simpson took another clean sweep in the Formula Ford races, giving
him six round wins for 2008. Simpson is expected to step up to National Formula Ford competition next season. Nathan Morcom finished second for the round ahead of Tom Tweedie, who struggled with car set-up after losing an engine in Friday practice. Jim Pollicina won the Combined Touring Car round, but had to settle for runner-up in the championship, won by Matthew Holt for the second time. Bob Brewer snared a win in Race 1, but suffered mechanical problems in Race 3, and subsequently fell to fourth in the standings. Jacky Yick won all three Under 2-Litre Improved Production races, with Bob Jowett recovering to finish second in Races 2 and 3 after mechanical problems in Race 1. Louis Chan rounded out the
podium after a consistent run. The Over 2-Litre Improved Production class was a much more mixed affair, with Graeme Watts and Des O’Loughlin each winning races, before former V8 Supercar driver Garth Walden took out the final race, and the round, in his Mazda RX7. Scott Butler won an attritionfilled Sports Sedan round, with only four cars completing the final race. However, Chris Jackson won the championship despite chalking up a DNF in Race 3. Greg King won all the HQ Holden races ahead of the series winner Troy Green and Garry Pilkington, while the Superkart races were spilt three wins to one in favour of Sam Zavaglia over Warren McIlveen. – LACHLAN MANSELL
race
Tony Kart sweep CIK Championships CIK WORLD CHAMPS
Although only starting ninth in the final, young Czech Toman picked off drivers ahead of him, one by one to secure second place. “To finish in second place in my first world championship in KF1 I would not have dared hope for,” said Toman. “This race was incredible! I felt that I drove well and that I could get up to second place. “It was a fantastic weekend! Now I hope to return next year
and really impose myself.” In the KF2 support class Italian Flavio Camponeschi took the title from Tony Kart team-mate Oliver Rowland and Zdenek Groman. sutton-images.com
MARCO Ardigo made it twoin-a-row, taking his second FIA CIK World Championship at La Conca, Italy. The Tony Kart factory driver was pushed all the way by 17-year-old Libor Toman and fellow Tony Kart driver Gary Catt. “It was not an easy weekend,” explained Marco. “After my pole position secured
on Friday, I encountered problems during my qualifying heats and I was only fifth on the grid for the pre-final. “I got a good start [in the final] and found myself in a battle with Gary [Catt], my team-mate. But when he began to have problems I took command and I went clear of the pack. And here I am, the World Champion for the second time!”
Crump closes in on Pedersen SPEEDWAY GP
Mike Patrick
JASON Crump has closed the gap on World Championship leader Nicki Pedersen to 16 points heading for the final meeting in Germany on October 11. It could have been closer had Crump not suffered an engine failure in the Final when in the lead. But Pedersen will only need to reach the semi-finals in Germany to take his third World Title. It was the Dane Hans Andersen who had the final say on a dramatic night at Lonigo as he took his first Grand Prix win for over two years. “It’s been a long time but we’ve been pushing hard and I was really disappointed when I gave it away in Sweden,” said Andersen. “My ambition from the beginning of the
season was to get onto the rostrum and it seemed to have been slipping away. Today was a good one, it’s still going to be mighty tough but I’ll be there doing my best.” Andersen’s victory, which moves him into contention for an overall top three place, was only achieved on the last halflap of the meeting as an event which contained numerous twists and turns. Having failed to reach the semi-finals for the first time this season and with his great rival Jason Crump in top form, Pedersen was facing the prospect of a huge dent to his overall lead. The two title contenders both endured a painful evening, both finding themselves involved in two major talking points. Pedersen was first to crash, brought down on the second lap of Heat 2 by Fredrik Lindgren as the Swede became
trapped between Pedersen and Andreas Jonsson. On his spare machine, Pedersen was then excluded from his next ride when he hit the fence on turn three after colliding with Crump. – TONY MILLARD Points: Pedersen 161, Crump 145, Hancock 129, Gollob 127, Andersen 123, Adams 110.
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rear of grid
It’s Hip to be [in the] Square A1GP may be having its share of problems of late – actually, it is having way more than just one share – but there are some good news stories to be had. Monaco will run a team in the championship, whenever it may be that the championship ever actually starts, and what better place to show the new team off to the world that the Casino Square? So, last week, the Monegasque coppers sealed off the street, an old-style A1 car was fired up and Clivio Piccione hit the loud pedal. Piccione shattered the calm as he sped past Gucci, Prada, Valentino, Hermes and Lalique shops and into Casino Square, before he hopped out to have a bet on the Grand FInal. His Serene Highness Prince Albert II was there in person to pull a large Monaco flag off the car on the terrace of the Hotel de Paris before the assembled media got stuck into the canapés and Tarax. And no-one told Clive he was going around the Square in the wrong direction ...
Odd Spot
sutton-images.com
IT takes total dedication to win a World Championship and some drivers will stop at nothing. We always smile at the story (which you may not have heard) of one well-known racing driver in particular, who has won all manner of events in all kinds of cars. This bloke used to pride himself in getting under his team-mates’ skin by racing off their wives, girlfriends or both and, therefore, either start a new fight or ramp up an old one. But the youngster with a wandering left hand took the opposite track. At the CIK-FIA World Karting Championship at La Conca in Italy on the weekend, a couple of the Tony Kart drivers got up close and personal at the drivers’ photo session, and one in particular took the opportunity to put one over his team-mate. Or, perhaps, he was just being friendly. Or, he’s lonely. Whatever, we have chopped the heads off to make their identities a mystery and it will remain that way – unless the cheque bounces …
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