Motorsport eNews Issue 135 - December 15-21, 2009

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Issue No. 135 December 15 - 21 2009

v8s Step In decision pending on QR’s v8 future lead driver pairing ban

all the comment that matters

Editorial Editor: Andrew van Leeuwen andrew@mnews.com.au Executive Editor: Phil Branagan editor@mnews.com.au National Editor: Mitchell Adam mitchell@mnews.com.au

Australasian

The ‘A’ Team

Production Graphic Design & Web: Jayne Uthmeyer design@mnews.com.au

Issue No. 135 | 15 - 21 Dec 2009

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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) Drag Racing: Dave Ostaszewski (USA), Ken Ferguson, John Bosher, Luke Nieuwhof National: Lachlan Mansell, Mark Jones, Aaron Shaw.

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, Paris Charles, Neil Hammond, Joel Strickland, Ash Budd, Mike Patrick (UK)

news 4 QR by V8SE?

Ipswich round future 7 Rotten Pairs New rule for ‘10 enduros 8 Sonic Boom Blanchard coming ‘home’ 11 Polar Power Bundy expands to two 13 Old Dogs, New Tricks Jarno, Heikko get F1 lifeline

chat 24 5 minutes with ... opinion 26 Branagan 27 van Leeuwen

race 28 Karting Enduro 30 Speedway

Andrew Thompson Motorsport’s Most Powerful Thomspon and Reynolds Seven Tenths!

Tatnell’s PCR win

trade 32 Classifieds That’s eNews Editor van Leeuwen in a kart at the TMIC 4.5 hour enduro ... he still can’t walk. No, really.

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

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V8 Events takeover the key to V8 SUPERCARS

Q

UEENSLAND Raceway’s future as a V8 Supercar venue is up in the air and dependent on the success of negotiations for V8 Supercar Events to take over as the event’s promoter.

Next year’s round has been listed as provisional since the 2010 calendar was announced in September, and negotiations are continuing between the circuit and V8 Supercars Australia.

Rumours reached eNews during the past week suggesting the round was in jeopardy, with some sources even saying it had been scratched.

However, eNews has since learned that, while the future is still not yet locked in, both parties are working towards an outcome that should see the round continue.

Queensland Raceway Operations Pty Ltd is understood to not want to continue as promoter of the round, which was reportedly hit hard by the introduction of Townsville this year, and is working with V8 Supercar Events to see the latter hire the circuit for the weekend, April 30-May 2, and take over as the promoter.

Shane Howard, General Manager of V8 Supercar Events, confirmed to eNews that negotiations were under way to do just that:

“It’s [the event] currently marked TBA; we have made an offer,” he said.

“First of all, Queensland Raceway have advised us that they no longer wish to be the promoter, that they’re more interested in straight track hire arrangements.

“We have made an offer to Queensland Raceway to hire the facility with V8 Supercar Events to become the promoter and we’re now in the final stages of those negotiations.

“It would be the same as what we do with Phillip Island and Sandown. We were quite happy for John Tetley and his guys to promote it, until they advised us that they no longer wanted to be promoters; that they were only interested in track hire.

“From that, we’ve gone back with an offer and we’re in the final negotiations with that.”

When asked if it looked likely it would all come together, Howard said he “couldn’t go that far.”

“We need a decision from Queensland Raceway prior to Christmas for us to move forward. We’re hopeful that it will be resolved before then, so we can give a clear indication to the public on that round.

“If those negotiations are unsuccessful, we won’t of course be running at that venue.

We’ll see what happens with the negotiations and from that we’ll determine what we’re doing.”

While Queensland Raceway CEO Keith Lewis wouldn’t

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PD’s first test V8 SUPERCARS

PAUL Dumbrell will sample Ford Performance Racing equipment for the first time at Winton today (Tuesday).

While Dumbrell won’t be in the exact chassis that he will race in 2010, he will be able to get a good understanding of how a Ford V8 Supercar works, having spent his career in Holdens.

“It’s just a good opportunity for me to go into the break with some good information about what I’ll be doing next year,” he told eNews.

“The Holden and the Ford might be similar on speed, but the fundamentals of the car and the philosophy of engineering are very different. It will be nice to know what I’ll be playing with next season.”

In the meantime, Dumbrell will undergo minor hip surgery next Monday.

Dumbrell’s first FPR drive comes during a spate of ‘firsts’.

Andrew Thomspon and Fabian Coulthard had their first Walkinshaw Racing laps last Friday (see separate story), while Jason Bargwanna drove a Kelly Racing car for the first time at Winton yesterday (Monday).

– ANDREW VAN LEEUWEN Dirk Klynsmith

o QR future

for a negotiated settlement.

“It’s a pressing issue for them and for us and we are keen to get something resolved.”

Both parties are working in the same timeframe, identifying the coming week as the deadline for the deal to come together.

Should V8 Supercar Events take control of the event, it will join Townsville, the L&H500 at Phillip Island, Bathurst’s Supercheap Auto 1000, Symmons Plains, Sandown and Homebush under the V8 Supercar Events banner.

If not, it will be a headache for the Championship heading into the New Year break, and a blow for Queensland-based teams who test at the circuit.

– MITCHELL ADAM

Dirk Klynsmith

comment on who would promote the event, he remained optimistic it would take place: “We’re currently in negotiations with V8 Supercars, the Queensland Government and Ipswich City Council,” Lewis told eNews.

“The negotiations haven’t been finalised at this point in time.

“I would expect the round to occur at Queensland Raceway on April 30 and 1 & 2 May – we’ve got it in our calendar, they have it in their calendar, we just have to sort out of the commercial terms.

“I don’t think V8s would’ve gone so far as announcing dates and support categories if they didn’t feel there was room

THE TEAM BOSS Ross Stone

THE new rule does not mean an awful lot to Stone Brothers Racing, really.

This year, we put Shane Van Gisbergen and Alex Davison together for Phillip Island and Bathurst. A few years back we had Russell Ingall and Marcos Ambrose together. But other than that, we have always run with the drivers in their ‘own’ cars. So we have been in

this position before.

Some people say that the costs will rise but there are two sides to that argument.

One is that the drivers will be offered more money; but the other is that a young driver may well get to partner a regular runner.

Everyone wants to do well at Phillip Island and Bathurst, and a youngster might do it for next to nothing, or nothing at all. You would like to think that there are people out there who would believe that a good result in one of the big races is worth more to them – some of them – than a big

driving fee.

It does not make any change to the way we will plan our races. What we do want to do is to sign up our co-drivers as soon as we can and we are, pretty well, doing that in the next week or so.

We only do two races of the year with codrivers but that involves more and more mileage and testing all the time. They will need more seat time, but if we are already at a track and the cars are running, another few laps are not going to cost a team much, are they?

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‘Primary’ driver pairs banned V8 SUPERCARS

THE decision by V8 Supercars Australia to end the practice of teams pairing their lead drivers in one car for the endurance races appears to have been made by the teams themselves before being ratified by the Board.

Months of deliberation over the matter came to an end last week when V8SA announced the change in policy.

It will mean that teams’ fulltime drivers will be ‘tied’ to their particular entry, barring force majeur, and that endurance

drivers will be highly soughtafter commodities. eNews has been told that the move came after the board took the unusual step of requesting REC holders to vote, one vote per entry, on the matter.

No numbers on the vote have been detailed, but one team member confirmed to us that the margin was “clear and decisive”.

That would tend to indicate that the vote was decided more by the smaller teams than the bigger-funded entries, which indicates a rare win for the little teams in the sport.

The change will also provide a plus for the media, which has in the past had to explain why drivers have transferred from their regular drive to a teammate’s entry.

It is also likely to be wellreceived by TV viewers for the same reason..

Teams which have paired their regular drivers in the past have often had just one car in contention; now, there is the potential to have more cars in the fight for the lead, later in the race, than in previous years.

The news has sent the endurance driver market into

warp drive, with a number of well-credentialled drivers being signed this week.

Already, it appears that a number of teams have their endurance line-up complete – in December! – while some drivers are considering multiple offers.

On the other hand, current Phillip Island and Bathurst Champion Garth Tander has called the decision “ridiculous”.

Tander has not shared a Bathurst entry with other than a regular driver for more than a decade, and has claimed that the move will see costs increase.

DRIVER PAIRINGS – THE REACTION THE EXEC EDITOR Phil Branagan

ONCE the news of V8 Supercars’ new codriver rule broke last week, the world has, it seems, turned upside down.

A number of drivers have been outspoken about the new policy and at the forefront of those has been Garth Tander. That is logical; GT is experienced, speaks well on such matters and, in case anyone forgot, is the current Champ from both PI and Bathurst.

Predictably, Tander is aghast at such a rule coming into the sport. Since he made his Bathurst debut in a GRM entry he shared with Cameron McLean in 1999, Tander’s list of co-drivers reads like a who’s who of V8 Supercar racing; Jason Bargwanna, Jamie

THE DRIVER Paul Dumbrell

FROM a driver’s perspective, the change is interesting.

I am for it. Before it happened, there were six or seven pairing that were strong, and there was not the depth on the co-drivers’ market. When you are up against a Garth-andWill pairing, or similar, you are always going to be compromised. Blokes like Craig Baird or

Whincup, Cam McConville, Rick Kelly, Mark Skaife and Will Davison.

“One of the traditional aspects of Bathurst is it’s a two-driver race,” Tander told AAP, meaning two ‘lead’ drivers.

No, it’s not. Far from it. Jacky Icxk, Brian Sampson, John French, Gregg Hansford and Tony Longhurst all took Bathurst wins as ‘once-a-year’ drivers. Of course, that was years ago, but maybe “tradition” only started in 1997. The actual tradition of the Bathurst 1000 is one of evolution, and this change is just one more part of this process.

And, one more thing; at least in part, the Walkinshaw Racing’s teams prompted this change. This year, Paul Dumbrell was drafted into HRT red to drive the enduros with Craig Baird, then returned to his Autobarn entry. That action was well within the rules, and the team had a perfect right to do that,

which is exactly why the rule needed to be changed.

With two-car teams growing to three and maybe four, ‘tying’ drivers to their entries for the whole season was the logical outcome for the board to come to.

Tander claims the move will drive up costs. Maybe, maybe not. A co-driver might have wanted a top-dollar wage on a seat as ‘cannon fodder’, with a best-case scenario of a sixth place finish with a part-time co-driver.

Would someone in the twilight of a career charge less if they thought a superstar could get them a maiden Bathurst win? Maybe.

There is no such thing as a level playing field in motor racing but the new rule, at least, flattens the bumps a little. Watching how Tander, and everyone else, copes with the change is just one more fascinating part about 2010.

I, going up against them, is always going to be a big ask. Now, it’s different.

On the other hand, you are always trying to reduce costs and this is going to add millions of dollars in costs – across the whole category. I heard rumours that on Friday, as soon as this went through, drivers were being offered $150,000 for the two races. Whether that is informed or uninformed, who knows. But if it’s true …

How much to people want to win the championship, or win Bathurst? Now, in someone like Roland Dane’s position, what

do you do? If your blokes are running 1-2 in the championship, what do you do?

Prior to the decision, I thought that it was a good thing for the category to do. Now that it has happened, it has highlighted things that had not been considered.

I swapped from Autobarn to HRT this year, and that is an element to this. If there are four-car Superteams, they could swap drivers here and there, and that thinking has probably come into it. It is not a bad thing by itself, but there are other things that come with it that you need to consider.

McConky in Red V8 SUPERCARS CAMERON McConville has no signed deals for an endurance drive but the racing driverturned-TV host-turned tyre retailer looks set to join the Holden Racing Team.

McConville, who stood down for full-time racing last week after finishing the season with Brad Jones Racing, confirmed to eNews that he has “a couple of offers” but sources continue to tell eNews that he will drive for the red team at PI and Bathurst. Ironically, that would mean that he would race for the team that denied him, and

co-driver Jason Richards, a Bathurst 1000 win this year by less than a second.

While endurance pairings are a long way from being settled, eNews would expect McConville and the almost identically-saized Will Davison to team up, with Tander joined by Craig Baird, the two having raced together in the past. In the Bundaberg Red entries, new lad Fabian Coulthard looks a likely codriver for David Reynolds, leaving Andrew Thompson to be joined by someone with experience – possibly 2009 Autobarn driver Steve Owen.

Price?

Free!

V8 SUPERCARS

SHANE Price is a free agent for the endurance races next season.

Price raced for Walkinshaw Racing at Phillip Island and Bathurst this year, sharing the #10 Autobarn Commodore with Steve Owen.

But with Cam McConville joining the squad for the enduros, David Reynolds being relegated to enduro duties, and Owen and Craig Baird expected to be retained (see separate story), Price is likely to go into the New year as a free agent. And with the new enduro driver pairing rule, he will be one of the top draft picks going.

“I’d say I’m a free agent, to be honest,” Price confirmed to eNews.

“I will hopefully find out very soon if Walkinshaw Racing has something for me, but if not, I’m definitely on the market.”

– ANDREW VAN LEEUWEN

Blanchard to test for Sonic FUJITSU V8s

SONIC Motor Racing will test Tim Blanchard and James Winslow at Winton today, as it looks to replace James Moffat in the Fujitsu Series.

The pair will share a day in one of the team’s Falcons, as they both aim to race in the series fulltime next year.

Former FFord champ Blanchard has spent the year on the sidelines, while 2008 Australian F3 Champ Winslow made his Fujitsu Series debut at Homebush with Jay Motorsport.

“Mick’s [Ritter] running a car, he said I should come up, do some laps and see what I think,”

Blanchard, who won the FF title with Sonic, told eNews.

“It’s a good opportunity to get some laps, and laps in a V8, which is good after being out of racing for the year.

“I’m assessing my options for next year, there’s nothing locked away. Everything is progressing on the sponsorship front, a little bit slower than I’d have liked, but hopefully it’ll all be sorted by the end of the year.

“There’s a few teams on a shortlist that we’d run with. We’ve narrowed it down a bit and Sonic’s definitely one of them, but there’s still a bit of water to go under the bridge.”

– MITCHELL ADAM

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Skaife: Man in Demand V8 SUPERCARS

MARK Skaife has become a man in demand for the endurance races and looks set to feature in a leading Holden entry at Phillip Island and Bathurst.

Skaife abstained from voting on V8 Supercars Australia’s board decision last week because of his status as an endurance driver and, since the news was announced last week, has received “about a thousand phone calls” since the new policy was confirmed.

Early reports have linked Skaife with a drive with TeamVodafone, but several other teams are believed to be more than interested in signing the five-time Bathurst winner for part-time duties in 2010.

Perhaps the man best qualified to comment on his current qualifications is Greg Murphy, who co-drove with Skaife at PI and Bathurst this year in a Sprint Gas Racing Commodore.

“I would have him back in a heartbeat,” said Murphy.

“I would absolutely have no problems. We had a great run, it was easy. I enjoyed it and I

think that he enjoyed it.”

Having said that, one man who has expressed a desire to race at Bathurst with Skaife as his co-driver for some years is Russell Ingall. The Supercheap Autos racer, who moves into a T8-build Commodore next season, has said for some time that he wanted to partner his former rival, some would say enemy, in the endurance races.

With both careers in their final phase, and a fast seat on offer, perhaps the fight to get Skaife’s services will be inside the same team …

eNews’ Top 10 Enduro Draft 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Cameron McConville Mark Skaife* David Besnard* Craig Baird Shane Price* Warren Luff Craig Baird David Reynolds Marcus Marshall* Dean Canto*

* Indicates the driver is yet to be signed for a team.

First laps for new signings V8 SUPERCARS BUNDY Red Racing duo Andrew Thompson and Fabian Coulthard had their first official outing for Walkinshaw Racing last Friday.

The pair took part in the

team’s ride day at Phillip Island, with Thompson driving the ‘T2’ ride car, and Coulthard driving both the ride car and sampling a Holden Racing Team racecar.

Nick Percat, who has a long-term Walkinshaw deal, was also present and in the

Winslow’s 888 test V8 SUPERCARS

ENGLISHMAN James Winslow got his first-taste of V8 Supercar Main Game machinery last Wednesday.

Following his debut in the Fujitsu Series at Homebush, the 2008 Gold Star Champ drove with TeamVodafone at their Eastern Creek ride day.

Winslow drove Craig Lowndes’ #888 Falcon, which also had Marcus Marshall and James Moffat taking guests for hotlaps during the day, with Lowndes in Queensland filming Australia’s Greatest Athlete.

– MITCHELL ADAM

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driver’s seat at Phillip Island, his second day with the team.

According to Thompson, the seat time was about getting to know the team.

“It was my first official outing with the team, so yeah, it was really good,” he told eNews.

“It was nice to work with

the guys and see how they work, and give them a chance to see where I’m at. Now I’m looking forward to getting in the proper racecar.”

Thompson will next test for the team at the official Winton test next February.

– ANDREW VAN LEEUWEN

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Bundy Red, on the double Andrew Thompson joins Coulthard in ‘Bundy Red’ for 2010 V8 SUPERCARS IT will be doubles all round at Bundaberg Red Racing in 2010, with Fabian Coulthard joined by Andrew Thompson.

The rum brand, which entered the series as sponsor of David Reynolds’s single-car entry, will now be sponsor of a two-car team. Reynolds has been retained as the team’s enduro driver.

“We have had a wonderful association with the team at Bundaberg Rum and our preference was to maintain that relationship,” said CEO of Walkinshaw Racing, Craig Wilson.

“Experience shows that two car teams have greater opportunity and resources to be able to consistently challenge for race wins and podium finishes and we feel that Bundy Red Racing is now in a position to do that. We also anticipate

their increased presence will provide a new level of exposure for the Bundaberg Red brand and our other sponsors.”

Thompson’s most recent experience in V8 Supercars was with PWR Racing in 2008, but the team folded at the end of last. He teamed up with The Botte-O Racing for the endurance events this year where he finished a respectable 14th at Phillip Island and 10th at Bathurst driving alongside Tony D’Alberto.

Reynolds: Supercup?

V8 SUPERCARS DAVID Reynolds is looking overseas for season 2010, and will attempt to break back into V8 Supercars on a full-time basis in 2011.

Reynolds has been replaced at Walkinshaw Racing by Andrew Thompson for next season, but will be retained by the squad for the two endurance races. But while he has two weekends worth of work locked away, Reynolds says he needs a full-time gig in 2010.

“I would like to look at an opportunity overseas,” he told eNews.

“I have to be racing something full-time, and it has to be something challenging.”

Reynolds was unable to comment on his overseas option, but eNews believes it is in the Porsche Supercup in Europe, which is a support category for selected

rounds of the Formula 1 schedule.

But while his immediate future is overseas, Reynolds insists that his longterm plan is a return to V8 Supercars.

“I’m disappointed that I didn’t retain the seat for next year, because I was starting to get on top of it by the end of the year. In every category that I’ve raced in I’ve taken a year to understand it, then come out firing the second year.

I was hoping to get that chance in 2010.

But I’m still doing the enduros, and the package that Walkinshaw Racing has offered me is very good.

“I want to be back in 2011, that’s for sure.

“I had a great year and I’ve learnt a lot about driving and a lot about the business of motor racing. I’ve still got a strong link to Bundaberg Red, and I want to keep that.”

– ANDREW VAN LEEUWEN

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Schumacher return deal close?

FORMULA ONE

sutton-images.com

A MICHAEL Schumacher return to Formula 1 is looking more and more likely.

German newspaper Bild recently reported that the seven-time world champion had agreed to a one-year deal with Mercedes, partnering Nico Rosberg. There were no quotes in the story, and both Mercedes and Schumacher have since declined to comment.

However, a Schumacher/ Mercedes deal makes plenty of sense. The German was once a Mercedes junior driver, and has a lot of experience with the team’s head honcho Ross Brawn. It would also satisfy Mercedes’ reported wish to have an English team (McLaren, with Button and Hamilton) and a German team.

Schumacher made his willingness to return to F1 known this year when he almost stood in for the injured Felipe Massa at Ferrari.

Erickson out of AMSF Formula ONE HD FORMULA ONE

AUSSIES OVERSEAS DANIEL Erickson’s plans to race in America next year have taken a big hit with the news that he won’t be an AMSF International Rising Star in 2010.

Erickson received funding from the Australian Motor Sport Foundation this year while competing in the British Formula Ford Championship, but despite a promising Star Mazda test in the States recently, he has been denied funding for next year.

“The AMSF decision took me by surprise, because I achieved everything that could reasonably have been expected of me this year,” Erickson said.

“I finished fifth overall in the British

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Formula Ford Championship, and was the highest ranked driver with no previous experience on British racetracks.”

“I’ve come back from adversity many times on the racetrack, and this off-track setback is no different – it means I just have to try even harder to secure the entire budget for the next step in my journey to Formula 1.

“I might be down, but I’m definitely not out.”

Erickson was hoping to use AMSF funding to do a full season in Star Mazda in the US next year, after reportedly impressing during his recent test.

The 2010 International Rising Stars are yet to be finalised. The AMSF declined to comment as to who was in the frame for funding.

FORMULA 1 will remain on One HD until at least the end of 2015.

Ten has signed a five-year extension of its broadcasting agreement with Formula One Management, which will commence in 2011.

All races will be shown live on One HD along with delayed qualifying sessions, while Ten will air the Australian Grand Prix live and delayed telecasts of other races.

“Formula 1 has always had a large, passionate and loyal following in Australia,” David White, General Manager of Sport for Ten, said.

“With Mark Webber’s two great wins this year, along with the emergence of several exciting new franchises challenging the ‘old guard’, Formula 1 is attracting a legion of new fans.”

Ironically, the news means that ONE will not broadcast the events in HD. Unlike other highlevel forms of the sport, including V8 Supercars, Formula 1 is broadcast in standard definition …

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Trulli, Kovalainen confirmed at Lotus for ‘10 FORMULA ONE

JARNO Trulli and Heikko Kovalainen will race for Lotus F1 next season.

The pair have been heavily linked with the team for some time, and their confirmation as the new-for-2010 team’s drivers became a certainty as soon as Takuma Sato revealed he was out of the running.

Late yesterday (Monday), the line-up was announced by Malaysia’s sports minister Ahmad Shabery Cheek, along with Malaysian Fairuz Fausy as the third driver.

“I’m personally impressed with Lotus F1 Racing driver line up for next year,

with its good combination of experience, drive and stamina,” he said during a press conference in Malaysia.

“I’m very pleased that local talents have been recognised to help drive the team, with key appointments being made among Malaysians in particular. I’m very elated that the driver development program is already underway to promote motorsports as an affordable sporting activity among Malaysians.

“This project will not only make the country proud but will be a launch pad for Malaysia towards future growth, especially towards high-tech industry.

Indeed, this project should be 100

percent supported by Malaysians, individuals or corporations to ensure it becomes a success.

“Since the prime minister announced the 1 Malaysia project in September, I’m very happy to note that the team has achieved significant progress, with the car being fully built and tested and I believe they are on track to make an impact next season.”

The announcement is a lifeline for both Trulli and Kovalainen, with Trulli being left in cold thanks to Toyota’s withdrawal from Formula 1, and Kovalainen being dumped from McLaren in favour of World Champion Jenson Button.

sutton-images.com

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It’s Truckyle Toyota Motorsports

NASCAR TRUCKS KYLE Busch is going truck racing, in his own team.

The Nationwide Series Champion and Sprint Cup star announced his new team, Kyle Busch Motorsports, last week.

The team will field two Toyota Tundra trucks in the 2010 Camping World Truck Series, with Tayler Malsam in the # 56 entry and Busch himself in the #18 Miccosukee Resort & Gaming Toyota whenever the Camping World Truck Series runs with the Sprint Cup Series.

On the ‘other’ weekends, the entry will be driven by Brian Ickler, above with Busch.

“Everyone knows how much I love to race, and the Camping World Truck Series is one of my favourite places to race, so to

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be a team owner in this series is a perfect match,” said Busch.

“We started KBM two years ago with the Late Model program and this seemed like the next natural step. I’m also very pleased with our driver lineup – having young and talented guys like Tayler Malsam and Brian Ickler.”

Perhaps Busch’s biggest coup is the recruitment of Rick Ren to run the team. Ren has guided Ron Hornaday to two of the past three Truck Series championships at Kevin Harvick Inc. Crews and crew chiefs are in the process of being recruited and will be announced soon.

In the meantime, Busch will defend his NW title and mount an assault on a maiden Cup crown with Joe Gibbs Racing.

Danica signs wi NASCAR THE wait is over, and we can all get on with our lives; Danica Patrick has confirmed her NASCAR program.

Patrick, 27, announced last week she has signed with JR Motorsports. The American will debut in the ARCA race at Daytona International Speedway on February 6, sponsored by GoDaddy.com.

“We’ve all been working very

hard for some time now to bring this all together,” Patrick said, who already signed to compete in the full 2010 IndyCar season with Andretti Autosport.

“There’s much relief there, but I’m starting to get a little bit nervous that now it’s time to do my part of the deal and get out there in these cars and perform. It’s no doubt going to be challenging.”

Patrick will also compete in a number of Nationwide races

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... and Milka goes along for the ride sutton-images.com

NASCAR

Honda Racing

ith JR

in 2010 to prepare her for an eventual move up to Sprint Cup. “If I end up running in Cup one day, then I need to learn how to race against those guys and earn their respect,” Patrick said. “So I’m very excited about that. This is an opportunity to try and show what I’ve got.”

In other Danica news, Patrick will unveil her own fragrance next year after signing a deal with SA Fragrances.

– MARY MENDEZ

WITH Danica Patrick’s NASCAR deal signed, she may have some company in the ladies’ room in Stock Car racing.

Her former IndyCar competitor Milka Duno will participate in the ARCA open test at Daytona International Speedway on December 18/19, driving the Braun Racing’s #90 Toyota. This will be Duno’s first oval race in a stock car, although she has raced on the road course to finish second in the 2007 24 Hours of Daytona.

“This will be a new challenge for me and one that I’ve been looking forward to,” said Milka, who will wait until after the test to decide any future NASCAR involvement. “I know it won’t be easy – it will be hard work – but work that I’m ready to take on.”

“My goal was to reach openwheel racing in the United States and the Indy 500. I just completed my third season in IndyCar and this year I decided not to once again pass on an opportunity to get behind the wheel of a stock car.”

– MARY MENDEZ

Simona says INDYCARS THE ranks of female IndyCar drivers may increase, after Simona De Silvestro tested with HVM last week.

The 21-year-old Swiss, who finished third in the 2009 Atlantic Championship with four victories, completed147 laps in two days at Sebring, and looked comfortable by the end of the first day.

“Simona was very impressive,” said Keith Wiggins, HVM Racing team owner, who already has Robert Doornbos signed for 2010.

“From the first laps, she showed she was capable of driving the car fast and she progressed rapidly. She was fast, consistent, and gave good driver feedback. In fact, by the second half of the first

day, we were so comfortable that we began working on development of our 2010 program using her feedback.

By day two, I think everyone forgot she wasn’t a seasoned professional. Everyone enjoyed working with her.”

De Silvestro, above, who brings financial support from the online game Stargate: Worlds, has targeted a moved to the series next year.

“If we can get everything together our goal is to run the IndyCar series next year,” she said. “That will be a new challenge for me because I have never stepped foot on an oval. I have a big sponsor behind me with Stargate Worlds. We are working hard on putting something together to do a complete IndyCar season.”

– MARY MENDEZ

15

2010 TCM Calendar TC MASTERS AS we went to print, the Touring Car Masters announced its 2010 calendar.

Seven of the eight rounds will be held on the V8 Supercar calendar with one still to be added.

“We are extremely pleased with the make up of our 2010 series calendar - it’s a strong, balanced mix of high profile events,” TCM Chairman Chris Stillwell said.

“The Touring Car Masters is going from strength to strength … we have increased from five rounds with V8 Supercars this year to seven confirmed V8 rounds for 2010, with the remaining eighth round still under negotiation.”

The series is negotiating for a new naming rights sponsor, following Biante’s decision to not renew their contract, as reported in last week’s eNews.

2010 TCM Calendar Clipsal 500, 11-14 March Winton, 14-16 May Hidden Valley, 18-20 June Bathurst, 7-10 October Symmons Plains, 5-7 November Sandown, 19-21 November Homebush, 3-5 December (Plus one round TBA)

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TPCR’s Stewart coup SPEEDWAY IT’S been over 12 years in the making, but NASCAR champ Tony Stewart will finally return to Australia later this month.

Stewart will compete at Tyrepower Parramatta City Raceway in a four-race schedule with Garry Rush’s Pick ‘n’ Payless Sprintcar outfit, lining up alongside Donny Schatz, who drives for Stewart’s team in America.

He’ll saddle up for his first meeting at Parramatta’s annual Boxing Day Sprintcar GP meeting, returning on December 29 (rescheduled from the 27th) and completing his short Aussie holiday with the Scott Darley $50,000 to Win meeting on January 2-3.

“After starting his own NASCAR team at the beginning of the year Tony has had a very long

year and his main focus is to come to Australia to unwind while enjoying some time away from the pressure of racing at the top level,” Rush said.

“However, he is a true racer at heart and has jumped at the opportunity we have provided him to race at Tyrepower Parramatta Raceway while combining it with some holiday activities both around Sydney and other parts of Australia.”

Craig Brady will step down to allow both Stewart and Schatz to race in Rush’s two J&J entries, making it the strongest team ever seen in Australia.

Joining Stewart and Schatz for the four TPCR International meetings will be All Star Sprintcar Champion Tim Shaffer.

Meanwhile TPCR has cancelled its annual New Years Day meeting.

– GREG BOSCATO

news

James Smith

Fujitsu Series developments FUJITSU SERIES V8 SUPERCARS has introduced a raft of initiatives aimed to strengthen the Fujitsu Series.

Prize money within the series will be reduced to $5,000 for the round winner, $2,000 for second and $1,000 for third.

V8 Supercars will take

ownership of the signage space on the side skirts of each car in the series to sell additional sponsorship.

As reported in last week’s eNews, tyres will be at the heart of the moves, which were approved by the V8 board last week. Teams who contest the full season will get their tyres for free. After paying for tyres at the first round they

contest, a team won’t have to pay for their Dunlops for every successive round they contest.

At the end of the season, teams who have done all seven rounds will get their Round 1 payment back as a bonus.

To boost the level of presentation, all teams will be required to display a pair of tear-drop flags and an A-Frame board with team and driver

Andre’s new toy FORMULA FORD

ANDRE Borell will race a Mygale in next year’s Australian Formula Ford Championship for Evans Motorsport.

Having campaigned an ageing Van Diemen this year, Borell has been weighing up options for 2010, and was linked to both Mygale and Spectrum chassis for the New Year. But in the end Mygale won, Evans Motorsport set to run a Master Electricians/ Simpro-backed car for Borell.

“It was a tough call, but it came down to my driving style,” Borell told eNews.

“I think the Mygale will suit me better than

a Spectrum, and I don’t want to spend half a season just learning how to drive the car.”

Borell also says his expectations will shift for 2010, with the Mygale likely to be much more competitive than the Van Diemen.

“I’m really hoping to be running

details in a common format.

The first 20 paid and processed 2010 series entrants will receive the flags and boards at no charge.

Similarly, early-birds will get a free video montage of the series to help selling sponsorship, while all registered teams will have access to a sponsorship proposal template.

– MITCHELL ADAM

consistently in the top five,” he added.

“Winning the championship would be a big ask, but if I can have some good results and maybe win a race or two, I’d be a happy camper.”

– ANDREW VAN LEEUWEN

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Two Up for TanderSport FORMULA 3 Dirk Klynsmith Dirk Klynsmith

TANDERSPORT is aiming to expand to a pair of outright contenders for the 2010 Formula 3 Australian Drivers Championship.

The Melbourne squad has purchased a second F307model Dallara, having sold their National Class-spec F304 Dallara.

Joining their existing F307, the team has purchased the exPiccola F307, last raced by John Martin for a pair of wins in the Indy support races, left.

“We tried to sell the ’04 last year to buy a second F307, but it didn’t come through,” team boss Leanne Tander told eNews.

Kiwi Ben Crighton drove

TanderSport’s F307 this year, finishing fourth, while Tander and West Aussie Bryce Moore each did a round in the National Class F304.

In 2010, TanderSport is aiming to run both F307s for the outright championship.

“We’re hoping to have two drivers in the cars for the year, there’s a few people we’re talking to but nothing’s signed.

“Ben is in the frame, he made a lot of improvements during the course of the year.

“We’ve just got the car, so we’re going to have a look at it, before we look to make arrangements and start to go testing in early January.”

– MITCHELL ADAM

It’s a tough life...

SPORTSCARS

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DAVID Wall and Matt Kingsley represented Australia at last Friday night’s Porsche Motorsport Night of Champions in Germany.

After winning the Australian GT Championship and Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge respectively, the pair made a flying visit to Europe, where they were among the Porsche champions presented with silverware.

The pair took in the Porsche Museum, David pictured, visited a Supercup team and even got in a sneaky trip to the Nurburgring.

Well played.

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Ute drivers for 1st Test Dirk Klynsmith

Next Brit Thing?

FORMULA 3

ANOTHER Englishman has set his sights on V8 Supercars.

Ben Barker, 18, looks set to move and race in Australia next year after competing in this year’s British Formula Ford Championship. Barker finished ninth, scoring a win at Knockhill and finishing fourth in the Formula Ford Festival.

He’s currently in Australia, residing with James Winslow in Sydney, eyeing options for the 2010 season. This Friday, Barker will test a Formula 3 car with title-winners Team BRM at Winton as he weighs up options for 2010.

“It should be good, I’ve tested an F3 car before in England and loved it,” Barker told eNews.

“At the moment, it’s about having a go and seeing what I want to do next year from there. Australian F3 is on my radar, I want to race here next year and move on towards racing V8 Supercars, which is my main aim.

“I’ll do the test and try to work out what’s the best step to make it [getting into Supercars]

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happen.”

Last month, he got his first taste of a Supercar. Barker accompanied Winslow to Fujitsu team Greg Murphy Racing’s driver evaluation day at Winton and got a run in the car late in the day.

“I really liked it, it’s very different to anything I’ve ever driven before,” he said.

“It finalised my decision that I want to race V8s. The test went quite well, I did 11 laps at the end of the day and ended up about 1.5 seconds off James’ fastest time.

“Running in the Fujitsu Series is definitely something I’m looking at doing in 2011 after a year learning the Australian tracks.”

– MITCHELL ADAM

V8 UTES MITCHELL Johnson’s best efforts off a long run will look pedestrian and Daniel Vettori won’t be getting much assistance from the deck, but Australia and New Zealand will battle it out in a Test Match next year.

Hamilton’s V8 Supercar round will host the V8 Trans Tasman Challenge, pitting

the Top 16 drivers from the Yokohama Australian V8 Ute Racing Series and the ENZED V8 Ute Series against each other in three nonchampionship races.

“We’ve been working with New Zealand V8 Ute Racing on this concept for a while so it’s good to see that it’s finally come together,” V8 Ute Category Manager Craig Denyer said.

news

“The promoters of the Hamilton 400 have given both the NZ and Australian V8 Utes a great opportunity to entertain in front of New Zealand’s biggest motorsport audience at one of the marquee motorsport events of the season, and I am sure the fans will love the sight and sound of 32 Ford and Holden Ute’s door to door around the Hamilton street

Simpson to Sonic

circuit.”

An off-shoot of the Australian Series, the ENZED Utes have a strong presence in New Zealand.

Australian V8 Utes last visited New Zealand in 2006 for an exhibition event at Manfield, won by Charlie Kovacs and Simon Wills, which paired an Australian and New Zealand driver together in each car.

FORMULA FORD RYAN Simpson will switch to Sonic Motor Racing for the 2010 Genuine Ford Parts Australian Formula Ford Championship.

Simpson was fifth in his maiden Formula Ford season with Synergy Motorsport in 2009. Next year, he’ll link up with Sonic, lining up alongside Geoff Urhane and a third, to be confirmed driver.

“We had the choice between staying with Synergy or trying something else,” Simpson said.

“I wanted to race a Mygale next year, so Sonic was the obvious choice.

“This year went pretty well, it could’ve gone better but fifth wasn’t a bad result. It was always going to be about

John Morris/Mpix

s pad up t

learning the cars, the racing and I hadn’t been to a lot of the circuits before.

“Next year’s calendar is pretty similar to this year, so I know the tracks. I want to start winning races and have a crack at the championship. Sonic is a proven quantity, the pieces are in place and it’ll come down to me.”

After winning the 2007 and 2009 titles with Tim Blanchard and Nick Percat in Mygales, Sonic will upgrade to the French manufacturer’s new SJ10a.

“The new-model car is coming out, so the team will upgrade,” Simpson said.

“When everything’s ready we’ll start testing mid-next month and go from there.”

– MITCHELL ADAM

Morcom goes NZ FORMULA TOYOTA

Dirk Klynsmith

EXPECT Nathan Morcom to tackle the Toyota Racing Series in New Zealand this summer.

The 2009 CAMS Rising Star driver spent two days testing with TRS team European Technique at Manfeild, and impressed the team in the process. Now, the New South Welshman, 18, is expected to make the step up to wings and slicks.

“He did a great job,” confirmed team boss Trevor Shuemack.

“It was his first real test and he slotted in well. He spent two days in the car and didn’t put a foot wrong, and he was on the pace by the end of it all.

I’d say at this stage there is a good chance we’ll have him for the season.”

Morcom finished 13th in this year’s Australian Formula Ford Championship.

– ANDREW VAN LEEUWEN

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Yamaha Racing

Max tops Cal WORLD SUPERBIKE

Mladin for WSBK?

AMA Legend has Superbike offers – maybe with BMW

S

WORLD SUPERBIKES AN intriguing suggestion may see another Australian race in the World Superbike Championship – Mat Mladin.

Reports have connected the seven-time AMA Superbike Champion to the series and recent updates from the allegedly retired 37-year-old have not doused the idea. On December 9, Mladin posted the following on his Twitter page: “a couple of world superbike offers have come my way in the past month. 1 of them very good in regards to machinery. decisions decisions ;-)” The Nevada-based Australian cited his dissatisfaction with the new administration of the US series with one of the main reasons for

his recent decision to retire. But, with the impact his rival Ben Spies made on the WSBK in one year, another season, this time on the world stage, might be enough to change his mind.

Mladin has long-established links with Yoshimura, which recently announced a wildcard program in the series, but the favourite for that ride appears to be former Suzuki WSBK race winner, Yukio Kagayama.

But there could be a BMW link, with Reitwagen Motorsport planning to enter a privately-run BMW S 1000 RR for Austrian Roland Resch. That shows that the maker is not averse having its bikes in privateer hands.

Mladin has a proven team behind him, and maybe, one more goal to tick off in his career ...

MAX Biaggi will enjoy his Christmas dinner after topping a two-day World Superbike Championship test in Valencia.

The Italian was the only rider under the 1m34s barrier on his Aprilia, just shading Suzuki newcomer Leon Haslam and Yamaha recruit Cal Crutchlow.

The test, which was attended by Yamaha, Aprilia, Suzuki and Ten Kate Honda, was not all smooth sailing for the Italians. Leon Camier had a series of problems with his Aprilia and was slowest of all, and suffered a series of crashes.

Ducati missed the test, with a number of changes to the 1198Rs meaning that its bikes were not ready in time. Privateer Ducati squads, like the Altea team, will run factory-style fly-bywire throttles and upgraded suspension in 2010.

Vermeulen starts his rescue mission WORLD SUPERBIKES

CHRIS Vermeulen is aiming to lift Kawasaki out of the doldrums after his first test of the marque’s Superbike.

The Queenslander tested his new ZX10R in Spain last week, and came away encouraged by the progress he made.

“It was a really positive test at Cartagena,” said Vermeulen.

“I now have a good base set-up and a solid platform to work from for the rest of the pre-season.

“For sure there’s still a lot of work to be done, and I certainly wouldn’t be

22

challenging right at the front if the championship was starting now. I’m under no illusions how hard it’s going to be in 2010, but the goal is to get this thing up the front and I’ll be doing all I can to make that happen.”

Kawasaki has bolstered its WBSK effort with the engineers involved in the now-concluded Hayate MotoGP effort, and Vermeulen was pleased with the results. He and team-mate Tom Sykes have two more Spanish tests scheduled before Christmas: at Almeria on December 18-19, then another twodayer at Jerez on December 21-22.

news

THE BEASTS ARE BACK

DORNA fixes “biggest mistake”: 1000cc returns in 2012

Yamaha Racing

MINI CHALLENGE

WORLD SUPERBIKE FINANCIAL dramas have forced Stiggy Racing Honda to close its World Superbike Championship team.

The Swedish-owned team, which has been in financial strife for some time, has announced its immediate withdrawal from both the WSBK and Supersport World Championships after splitting with its financial partner.

Johan Stigefelt launched the team five years ago, and 2009 was its most successful season.

Leon Haslam, below, scored four podium finishes and ended the season sixth in the WSBK, and the best privateer rider in the series, while Ant West took three Supersport podiums on his way to seventh in the championship.

Honda Pro Images

MOTOGP will return to 1000cc engines from 2012 onwards.

The premier category’s flirtation with 800cc engines, which Valentino Rossi has described as “'the biggest mistake the world championship has made in the last 15 years” will end, and the bigger engines will return.

“It was a very important meeting to decide the future of the MotoGP class,” Dorna Chairman Carmelo Ezpeleta said via the website motogp. com.

“From 2012 the bikes will have an engine capacity of up to 1000cc, have up to four

cylinders and the maximum bore will be 81mm.”

The four-stroke MotoGP era started in 2002 at the behest of the manufacturers, which ceased to support two-stroke 500cc engines.

But the 240hp 990cc engines caused concerns and 800cc motors were mandated two years ago, despite advice from the makers that rapid development would meant that the smaller engines would not slow the bikes.

And they didn’t.

Riders will be restricted to a total of six engines each in 2010 and ‘wildcard’ riders will be allowed two motors. Further details of the new 1000cc regulations are expected to emerge during the coming year.

Stiggy shuts down team

23

5 Minutes with ...

ANDREW THOMPSON

‘Thommo’ spent most of 2009 on the sidelines, but a promising run in the ANDREW VAN LEEUWEN endurance races has seen him land a Bundy Red ride for ‘10 MOTORSPORT NEWS: Talk us through how this deal all came together.

ANDREW THOMPSON: I started talking to Walkinshaw Racing at the start of the year, initially about driving in the enduros with them. But they’d already filled those spots.

After Bathurst, I gave them a call, trying to get in early for the enduros for 2010. That was all I was trying to secure, so I could relax and not have to worry too much about next year. But I did say if they ended up with a spare race seat, that I’d be happy to talk.

Then a week or two later we got a call, and it progressed from there. The team was working away to fill the hole left by Autobarn, and they have a great relationship with Bundy Red, who decided to step up and sponsor a second car, so the team could concentrate on the driver.

It still hasn’t quite sunk in yet. I’m still waiting to wake up and be told that I didn’t get the drive! It still doesn’t feel real right now.

Last week when I got the

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call to say I had the drive it was an awesome feeling of relief that I’m finally going to be in the right environment. I’ve been working on that for two years now. It’s now my turn to perform. It’s been a lot of hard work to get to this point, and it’s going to get about three times harder when we go racing next year. It’s so competitive out there.

that often that you get a second chance to redeem yourself. Even now, I’m still surprised that it’s all happened.

It is weird doing things like getting suits measured, and figuring out where I’m going to move to in Melbourne.

Around Christmas, hopefully I can sit down for a day or two and let it sink in. That’s when it will really hit me.

Was there a moment at the ride day last Friday when you had ‘the moment’, and realised that you are Andrew Thompson, Walkinshaw driver?

It was more on the Saturday or the Sunday. Friday I was still tripping out, because it was only Wednesday that I got told and on Thursday the contract was signed. On Friday I was still walking around in a daze.

But yeah, it’s a weird feeling.

I’ve never been in the situation where I’m going into a team this good. It’s weird to think that I’m going to be in that team full-time next year.

I was almost on the scrap heap after 2008, and it’s not

How hard was spending most of this year on the sidelines?

To be honest, the first six months were pretty easy. I went away, did some things outside of motorsport, and got experience in other areas, which I actually enjoyed.

But once I got back in a car for the endurance races [with Tony D’Alberto], especially with it being a Walkinshaw car, it showed that I’ve got good potential. That made the last six months really hard.

When you have a break it is okay, but as soon as you come back the bug bites hard. I don’t know how I would have coped if I wasn’t back full-time next year.

You mentioned how competitive the series is – you’ll have enough competition in your own garage next season ...

That was the biggest thing that got me interested. I’ve never really had a team-mate before, now I’ve got three of them (laughs).

If you look through the garage, Garth [Tander] has won a championship, Will [Davison] has won a heap of races, so to be able to draw off those two is rare. And Fabian [Coulthard] isn’t slow, either.

He’s moving into a bigger and better funded team, so he’ll be stepping it up. He’ll be right up the front.

This sport is strength in numbers. It’s like a fight; the more people you’ve got, the better you chances.

Now the deal is locked away, do you think you’ll enjoy a glass or two of your sponsor’s product?

I’ve already beat you on that one, I had a glass on the weekend. Maybe I’ll have another one over New Years.

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ABSOLUTE POWER

POP Quiz: Who is the most powerful person in motorsport?

Jean Todt? Nope, too easy and besides, the Frenchman has not grown into the job of FIA President yet. Danica Patrick? So far, too much icing, too little cake. Dale Earnhardt Jr? No, his profile is high but this season, he has driven like … me.

Jimmie Johnson? Jenson Button? Michael Schumacher?

We are getting close, but still, No. I reckon I have picked it. It’s Valentino Rossi. Really, it is.

Think about it. A couple of years back, Vale was making noises about getting onto the same rubber as Casey Stoner, or else … or else. Soon, a control tyre is announced for MotoGP, Michelin (whose engineers had delivered

heaven-know’s-how-many Sunday specials to Rossi, and only to Rossi, over the years) is out of the top level. Result.

Next, 800s. Dorna introduces them to reduce costs. The makers complain that they will not be slower. Nothing happens. Many of the riders complain about the fact that the bikes do not produce good racing. Nothing happens. Rossi complains, and 1000cc bikes are back for 2012. Result.

Why? Because the downside is too horrible to contemplate;

opinion Phil Branagan Executive Editor No Rossi. The veiled Vale threat is, if he does not get what he wants, well, there is WRC, or Formula 1, or something else that will occupy his mind. The smiling kid, Elvis in yellow leather, will walk away and take his multi-million dollar brand somewhere else.

Motorcycle racing is addicted to Rossi. For the moment, at least, the feeling looks to be mutual. So long as he does not get bored and quit anyway, or accidentally stumble across one of Tiger Wood’s cell phones, we are okay. For now.

John Morris

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opinion

Un Bearable ANDREW Thompson’s appointment as the fourth Walkinshaw Racing driver is a bitter-sweet situation.

On the one hand, Thompson is a kid worthy of a drive in the main series. His campaign in 2008 for a half-hearted PWR Racing effort was never going to let his true colours shine through, and his ability shouldn’t be judged on that alone.

However, in some decent equipment at Phillip Island and Bathurst this year with Rod Nash Racing, Thompson looked the goods. At one

stage during the L&H 500, Thompson slotted in behind pace-setters Jamie Whincup and Will Davison as a lapped car – and was then held up by them. It was a good reminder that he can drive.

But then there’s poor David Reynolds, who finds himself out of a full-time drive next season after just a single year in the Bundy Red Racing entry.

He too deserves to be in the main game, and deserves another crack, Reynolds’ debut year in the main game followed his career form. In both Carrera

opinion Andrew Van Leeuwen Editor, eNews Cup and Formula Ford, he took a season or so to get into the swing of things, and once he was, he was unstoppable.

Reynolds is one of the most talented blokes to ever sit his bum in a racecar, but he’s not a ‘drive out of pit-lane and give it hell’ sort of driver. He builds up to it, and when he feels comfortable, he smashes the opposition. You could see the same sort of thing was going to happen in the main game, especially given how well he drove at Barbagallo Raceway and Homebush.

Some pretty good sources

are suggesting that he will join Porsche’s Supercup in Europe next season, and as he’s proven both here and in New Zealand, Reynolds knows how to drive a Porsche. There will be no building up to it there, he’ll be straight on it.

My worry isn’t that Reynolds won’t be able to break back into V8 Supercars – it’s that he won’t want to, after a year of potentially winning races on Grand Prix tracks all over the world.

And to lose such a great young talent would be a great shame for our series.

27

TMIC CHARITY KARTING ENDURO TODD ROAD – MELBOURNE

Close Call More than four hours of racing reduced to seven-tenths of a second ... that was the story of the 2009 TMIC Charity Karting Enduro.

By ANDREW VAN LEEUWEN

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race

I

T’S hard to believe that less than a kart length could decide a 4.5 hour endurance race at Todd Road, but that was the winning margin for TMIC Charity Karting Enduro winners Lee Mitchener and Zane Wyatt last Saturday.

With a quality field on board for the third running of the Matt Wall-inspired event, the pace was always going to be hot. And qualifying proved that even the favourites weren’t going to have everything their own way, with youngsters Adam Lindstrom and Travis Kodric combining to take pole position in their Rotax-powered Arrow.

In fast, grippy conditions, the rate of attrition was high ... and remarkably, it was pre-race favourites that suffered early. On lap 106, Kel Treseder and David Sera were out thanks to a mechanical failure, and on lap 129, Wall and Shane Price were also forced into retirement when a broken chain holed their radiator.

All of this paved the way for a late charge from Wyatt and Mitchener, who began their run to the front with 25 minutes to run. At that point they were second, although they sat five lapped karts behind then leaders Zeke Edwards and Mitch Cuzens. In no time they were in the lead, Wyatt holding out Cuzens in a thrilling battle to take the win – after an amazing 280 laps of racing.

“Today was just a amazing day, undoubtedly one of the most challenging races that I’ve competed in,” said Wyatt.

“In the end I was doing everything possible to hang on; I wasn’t going to give in easily as we’d battled too hard for four hours to throw it away in the last part of the race.

“To complete 30 laps around here in a race is a pretty physical deal, but when you do around 140 laps in a day it really tests you. In saying that, though, I’m really looking forward to next year’s event already. I’d like to thank Lee and all of his crew for giving me the opportunity to come over to the ‘big smoke’ and race.”

James Sera and Adam Willison were third, while Remo Luciani and Shane Piper won the Masters class, and finished eighth outright.

In the other classes, the battle for the 30-lap Clubman final was as thrilling as the main race. Leigh Nicaloau won after a massive fight with Jordie Lindstrom, Steve Scoble, Wall, and Sarron Caddy. Jordan Nicaloau capped off a great weekend for his family by winning the one-hour Junior National enduro.

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Brooke bounces back SPEEDWAY

BROOKE Tatnell put the disappointment of the previous week’s WSS round behind him with a brilliant win on Saturday night at Tyrepower Parramatta City Raceway.

Krikke Motorsport driver Tatnell emerged a clear winner over an impressive Roddy BellBowen, with current TPCR track champ Mitchell Dumesny third.

Tatnell left Parramatta’s WSS round with plenty of work to do, after finishing a lowly 14th, but the crew rectified a number of issues during the week in time for the final Sprintcar shootout before Christmas.

Results from the two dash races saw Robbie Farr and Garry Brazier sharing the front row for the A Main, with Tatnell and Dubbo racer Jeremy Cross in Row 2. Brazier brilliantly led the opening 10 laps, but after sliding off the track and having to restart from the rear, the Aussie #1’s challenge was over.

Tatnell and Farr were the main combatants before Farr flipped out of the race and into retirement, leaving Tatnell unchallenged to score a great home-track victory, which had been missing from his record for a number of years

30

Bell-Bowen tired to catch Tatnell but had to settle for a distant second-place with Dumesny third. They were followed by a hard-charging Ian Madsen who started from position 21 and stormed into fourth, with James Thomson and Jeremy Cross making the Top 6.

Local racer Martin Lawes was superb in setting quick time with a 12.147s lap in a new Allan Woods-built Sprintcar, with NT star Danny Reidy and Marty Perovich completing the top three. Heats saw wins to Kelly Linigen, Mark Blyton, Damian Abbott and Bell-Bowen, while the B Main went to Reidy with Warren Ferguson and Gary Rooke the top three finishers.

– GREG BOSCATO

race

Aussies strong KARTING THREE Australian karters have scored Top 10 finishes in the Rotax Max Challenge Grand Final Ghibli Raceway in Sharm El Sheikh last weekend.

Victorian Luke Rochford, below, took the ‘Top Aussie’ honour, finishing fifth in Junior Max. He started from 11th, avoided a first-corner incident and brought it home in the 20-lap race, won by Japanese driver Ukyo Sasahara. Of the other Aussies, Jack Howard finished 17th from 33rd, while Pierce Lehane fell from the Top 10 to 27th as a result of a last-lap collision.

“I am pretty happy. We were fast all weekend and I ended up fifth and that’s not a bad result,” Rochford said.

“We didn’t have much luck so I should be happy. It is nice to know that I was able to run as quick as the fastest Rotax guys in the world.”

The Senior Rotax win went to UK driver Luke Varley from Estonian Mario Vendla, while Queenslander Tyler Greenbury ran as high as fifth early on. Having earlier qualified third, Greenbury encountered a handling issue late in the race but still came home eighth.

Jason Pringle got into the Top 10 in the DD2 Category after a troubled run. Following a DNF in a heat, Pringle had to fight through the last chance race into the final and was due to start 16th.

A fuel issue in the roll-up laps saw him start at the back of the 34-kart field, though, but he moved up the order to finish 10th.

South African Caleb Williams took DD2 .

BRP-Powertrain - soa-design.com

John Morris/Mpix

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rear of grid

Insert one more Brawn headline MUCH has been written about BrawnGP over the season, so here is one more thing.

Actually, we just wanted an excuse to run the pic.

Y’see, Jenson Button and Ross Brawn started the year unsure whether they would have

a job at all this season, and they ended it as Champions [insert Clarkson-style pause for effect] of the World.

That might be a slight exaggeration. Ross is fairly cluey, and JB knew that the car was a rocketship after about four laps practice in

Spain. But, considering that the team existed less than a year and won two titles, it would be remiss of us not to mark the occasion.

Button and Brawn picked up the serious hardware at the FIA’s annual prizegiving gala in Moncao at the

weekend. Next time they appear in public, it will be as rivals, and BrawnGP is no more, having morphed into Mercedes Grand Prix.

Still, as Dr Elden Tyrell told us in Blade Runner, “The flame that burns half as long burns twice as bright.”

sutton-images.com

A Red Hot Read

YOU know the feeling.

Auntie Merl, the relative no-one ever mentions out loud, is coming interstate for Christmas dinner. You got her in the family Secret Santa, but while she needs mouth-wash and corn pads, you have no idea what she wants.

Fret no more. Brocky, sub-titled ‘Peter’s Own Story: A Life in Top Gear’ is a sure-fire Christmas winner.

Long-time Brock confidant (and author of Brock’s first authorised autobiography) and former

Motorsport News editor David Hassall has poured years of anecdotes into the tome, which traces the Great Man’s life and career.

Whether you believe that Fords Rule, that the Polarizer was actually the work of Druids or that Slug actually won the Great Race in 1975, there is something in the book for everyone.

Brocky is available at $34.95 via http://www.palmerhiggsbooks. com.au/brocky-p-40.html or from selected bookstores.

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